#hopefully live shows will bring new material

[escmemesandstuff]

Randomised sims be like

[joelmillerisapunk]

a sweet arrangement

sugardaddy!Joel Miller x f!reader

Masterlist ♡ Sugar Daddy Masterlist

Wordcount: 3,374

Summary: You sign up for a sugar daddy app. What's the worst that could happen?

Warnings: 18+, fingering, oral (both m&f receiving), light bondage, reader might have pullable hair (i dont rememeber if i took it out) quick mentions of slut, baby, sweet baby, sweetheart, darlin

Notes: tysm @saradika-graphics for the dividers. I was cheated on over the weekend, and I wrote this as a "I wish I could be here" instead of being sad." Just another rich!daddy fantasy

You've been feeling financially stretched lately, and after hearing about the concept of sugar daddies and sugar babies from a friend, you decided to give it a try. You sit on your bed and hesitantly create a profile on a popular app, describing yourself as a young, independent woman looking for a mutually beneficial arrangement. As you sit scrolling through, you can't help but feel a sigh of reluctance escape your lips. You never expected to find yourself on a sugar daddy dating app, but life has a way of surprising you sometimes.

After a few moments of looking around the site, a notification pops up. It's a message from a user named "Contractor_Guy."

Curiosity piques, and you open the message, hoping it's not some creepy come-on. To your surprise, it reads:

"Hey there. I don't usually do this sort of thing, but I figured it's worth a shot. My name's Joel. If you're interested in getting to know me, send me a message back."

Feeling intrigued, you reply:

"Hi Joel, I'm not sure what 'this sort of thing' is, but I'm curious now.”

The response comes quickly.

Contractor_Guy: "Haha, 'this sort of thing' is something I usually avoid. But hey, it's a new day, and who knows what it might bring?"

You: Hopefully luck! But seriously, what exactly are you avoiding?"

Contractor_Guy: "Haha, well that's a bit of a long story, darlin.”

You: "Oh, I don't mind a long story. I've got some time to kill. Besides, I find it intriguing that someone like you is on a sugar daddy app.”

Contractor_Guy: "Well, my last experience wasn't the best, and I'm just being cautious this time around.

But, here's the long version. I met a girl a few years back, and at first, things were great. We clicked, and the relationship was mutually beneficial. I was able to provide for her in a way she couldn't for herself, and in return, she was there for me when I needed emotional support. As time went on, she started to change. She became more demanding and less appreciative. It got to the point where she would expect extravagant gifts just for a simple text or phone call. I realized that she was only interested in my money and not in the relationship we'd built."

You: "I'm sorry to hear that. It's not easy to find someone who's genuine and appreciates what you have to offer."

Contractor_Guy: "Yeah, it was a tough lesson to learn, but I'm hoping to find someone different this time. Someone who appreciates the little things, too, not just the material things."

You: "I think that's a fair expectation. We all deserve to be appreciated for more than just our wallets. So, Joel, tell me more about yourself. What do you do for a living?"

Contractor_Guy: "I'm a contractor. I do mostly residential construction and home remodeling projects. What about you? What do you do when you're not scrolling through dating apps?”

You: "Lol, I'm usually at work. I'm a graphic designer, so I spend most of my days in front of a computer. It's not the most glamorous job, but I love what I do."

Contractor_Guy: "A graphic designer, huh? That's pretty impressive. I've always been more of a hands-on guy myself. But I must admit, there's something intriguing about a woman in the arts.”

You: "And who doesn't love a man who can wield a hammer and a chainsaw with equal ease?"

Contractor_Guy: "Oh, I'm definitely good with my hands darlin' ;). ”

You: "Maybe one day you'll show me just how good you are with your hands."

As the conversation continues to flow effortlessly, you both exchange numbers and agree to meet for a coffee date tomorrow. Before signing off, you send a playful message with a picture attached

You: "Well, I'm off to begin the countdown to our coffee date. I'll leave you with this little teaser. ;)"

Insert a picture of you posing confidently in a cute outfit, with a mischievous grin on your face.

Contractor_Guy: "Wow, that definitely has me counting down the hours! I can't wait to see you in person."

With that, you end the conversation eagerly anticipating your first in-person meeting with the intriguing contractor.

The two of you meet for the first time at a trendy coffee shop downtown, and you can immediately sense Joel's charm and confidence. You can tell he's done this a time or two. He offers to buy you a drink and pulls out the mattest black credit card you have ever seen to pay with. He guides you to a table in the back corner, and you both engage in light conversation, discussing your interests and goals. Joel is clearly intrigued by you, and you feel a spark of attraction towards him as well.

"So, tell me more about yourself," Joel says, his eyes locked on yours.

"Well, like I said on the app, I'm a freelance graphic designer," you reply, “It's not the most stable job, but I love what I do."

"I can imagine," Joel says, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I've always been a fan of the arts. But I'm sure you understand the struggles of making ends meet as a freelancer. That's why I'm interested in this arrangement."

"I do understand," you agree, your mind already contemplating the potential benefits of such an arrangement. "It would be nice to have some financial stability while still being able to pursue my passion."

"Exactly," Joel says, his tone firm but understanding. "And in return, I'd like you to be my companion when I need someone to spend time with. We can go on dates, attend social events, or just relax at home. I value your company, you're easy on the eyes and brain, and I believe we would make a great team."

"I think that sounds fair," you say, feeling a sense of relief wash over you. "I'm looking for something similar - someone who understands my situation and is willing to help me out."

Joel offers to take you to his place for a glass of wine, and as he leads you to his car, the conversation shifts to the details of the arrangement.

"Now that we've established the terms," Joel says, his voice low and serious, "I want to make something clear. I'm going to support you financially in any way you could ever dream of or want, but there's one condition."

"What's that?" You ask, your curiosity piqued.

"I want access to you whenever I please, however I please," Joel says, his eyes meeting yours. "I want to be able to use you for my pleasure whenever I want. Are you comfortable with that?"

Your heart races as you consider his request. You know what he's asking for, and you're not sure if you're ready for that level of intimacy. But at the same time, you can't deny the excitement coursing through your veins.

"I need some time to think about it. This is a big decision."

"Of course," Joel replies, his tone understanding. "Take all the time you need. But remember, this is the condition of our arrangement."

As Joel drives you to his mansion, you can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This is unlike any arrangement you've ever been a part of, and you're not sure what to expect. As you follow Joel upstairs, your heart races in anticipation. He leads you into a large, dimly-lit room, its walls adorned with black velvet and soft, glowing lights. A large bed dominates the center of the room, surrounded by various toys and restraints.

"I want to show you what I mean when I say I want access to you whenever I please.” Joel says, his voice thick with desire.

Joel leads you over to the bed, his eyes never leaving yours. He takes a seat on the edge, patting the space beside him. "Come here, sweetheart," he says, his voice soft and inviting.

You hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. But the curiosity and excitement pulsing through you win out, and you find yourself sitting down next to him. Joel's hand reaches out to gently brush a strand of hair from your face. "You're so beautiful, you know that?" he says, his gaze intense.

You feel your entire body get warm at the compliment, your heart racing faster than ever before. "Thank you," you murmur.

Joel's hand begins to trace a path down your arm, sending shivers coursing through your body. "I want to make you feel good, sweetheart," he says, his voice low and husky. "I want to give you pleasure like you've never experienced before."

Your mind is racing as Joel's hand continues to explore your body. You're not sure what to do, but you find yourself leaning into his touch, your body craving more.

"I want to show you something," Joel says, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He stands up and walks over to a large wooden chest at the foot of the bed. He opens it, revealing a variety of toys and restraints. Your heart races as you take in the sight. You've never seen anything like this before, and you're not sure what to make of it. Joel walks back over to you, a blindfold in his hand. "I want to show you how good it can feel to let go and trust someone," he says, his voice soft and soothing.

You hesitate for a moment but something about Joel's words and the look in his eyes makes you feel safe, and you find yourself nodding in agreement. He gently places the blindfold over your eyes, cocooning you in darkness. You can feel his hands on you, guiding you back onto the bed. You trust him, and you let yourself relax into the feeling of his touch.

Joel's hands continue to explore your body, tracing patterns and circles that send shivers of pleasure coursing through you. You can feel the bed shift as he leans over you, his breath hot against your ear. "I want to make you feel so good, sweetheart," he whispers, his voice barely above a whisper. Your breath hitches as his hands continue to wander.

Suddenly, you feel something soft and silky against your skin. It's a scarf, and Joel is using it to gently bind your wrists to the bedposts. You gasp at the feeling of being restrained, but the sensation is not unpleasant. Instead, it heightens your senses, making you more aware of every touch and caress.

Joel continues to explore your body, his hands moving lower and lower until they reach the waistband of your pants. He pauses for a moment, waiting for your consent. "May I?" he asks, his voice low and husky. You nod, your breath coming in short, sharp gasps. He slowly begins to slide your pants down your legs, his hands lingering on your skin as he goes. You can feel the heat of his touch, and you find yourself arching up towards him, wanting more. Finally, your pants are off, and Joel's hands are free to explore your body in earnest. He caresses your thighs, your hips, your stomach, each touch sending waves of pleasure coursing through you.

You can feel yourself growing wet, your body responding to Joel's touch in ways you've never experienced before. You moan softly, your hips bucking up towards him. Joel takes the hint, his fingers finding their way to your wetness. He begins to explore you, his touch gentle but firm. You gasp at the sensation, your body quivering with pleasure. His fingers move in slow, deliberate circles that send shivers of pleasure coursing through your body. You find yourself moaning louder and louder, your hips bucking up towards him as you chase the feeling of release. Finally, you can't take it any longer. You cry out as the orgasm washes over you, your body trembling with pleasure. Joel continues to touch you, his fingers gentle as they bring you down from the peak of pleasure.

Slowly, your breathing returns to normal, and you become aware of your surroundings once again. The blindfold is still over your eyes, and you're still bound to the bed. But you feel safe and content, your body still humming with pleasure. He unties the blindfold, and you blink your eyes against the sudden brightness of the room. He's standing above you, a wicked smile on his face. "Did you like that, sweetheart?" he asks, his voice low and seductive.

"Yes sir," you get out with a hoarse voice.

Joel's gaze travels down your body, taking in the sight of you spread out on his bed, still bound to the bedposts. "Mmm, such a good girl already," he says, his voice full of satisfaction. "I have so much more I want to show you."

He walks over to the wooden chest at the foot of the bed and rummages through it, pulling out a variety of toys and restraints. Joel turns back to you, a pair of handcuffs in his hand. "May I?" he asks, his voice low and seductive.

“You may."

Your heart racies with excitement as Joel cuffs your hands above your head, replacing the soft, luxurious ribbon, and securing you back to the bedpost. You test the restraints, finding that they hold you firmly in place. Your heart is racing with excitement, your body tingling with anticipation. He walks back over to the chest and pulls out a vibrator. He turns it on, the buzzing noise filling the room. You watch as he approaches you. He traces the vibrator over your body, teasing you with each touch. You arch up towards him, wanting more. But Joel is in control, and he takes his time, drawing out the anticipation until you're nearly begging for release."Are you ready for more, darlin’?"

“Yes please,” your breath coming in short gasps.

"Good girl." He traces the vibrator lower, teasing your clit with each pass. You moan, your hips bucking up towards him. But he pulls the vibrator away just as you're about to come.

You whimper in frustration, but Joel just smiles. "Patience, baby, patience," he says.

He continues to tease you, bringing you to the brink of orgasm again and again, but never letting you fully come. You're writhing on the bed, your body begging for release when Joel leans down and whispers in your ear. "Do you trust me, sweetheart?"

You nod, your heart racing. "Yes, I do," you whisper.

Joel smiles, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He leans down and captures your lips in a passionate kiss. You moan, your hips bucking up towards him. You're ready for whatever comes next.

Joel breaks the kiss, his eyes locked on yours. "I'm going to take you to the edge, sweetheart," he says, his voice low and seductive. "And then I'm going to bring you back again. And again. And again. Until you can't take it anymore."

Joel's hand moves back to the vibrator, tracing it over your clit once again. This time, he doesn't stop. He continues to tease and pleasure you. Suddenly, Joel pulls the vibrator away once again. You whimper in frustration, but before you can protest, he's replaced it with his mouth. His tongue expertly teases your clit. His hands roam your body as he brings you to the brink of orgasm once again. This time, however, he doesn't stop. He continues to lick and suck at your clit, his fingers entering you and curling against your G-spot as he pushes you over the edge.

You cry out, your body shaking with pleasure as you come hard against his mouth. Joel doesn't stop, his tongue continuing to torture you as you ride out the waves of your orgasm. As you come down from your orgasm, you gasp for breath, your body still trembling with pleasure. Joel's gaze is intense as he watches you, his face flushed with arousal.

"That was so, fucking good," you manage to gasp out, your voice still hoarse from your orgasm.

Joel smiles, his eyes never leaving yours. "I'm glad you thought so," he says, his voice low and seductive. "But I think it's your turn now."

"My turn?" you ask, your eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes," Joel says, his smile widening. "It's time for you to return the favor.”

You feel a pang of nerves flood your body. “But I'm still all tied up.”

Joel smirks, leaning in. He grabs the hollows of your cheeks, forcing you to look at him, “ I never said you needed to be untied, did I.”

You swallow hard, your mind racing with the implications of his words. Joel releases your cheeks, his gaze traveling down your body. "You're going to make me very happy tonight, sweetheart. Just remember - I want access to you whenever I please, however I please. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," you reply, your voice full of submission.

Joel's smile widens, and he reaches down to unfasten his pants. He steps out of them and his boxers, revealing a hard, thick, ready erection. He climbs onto the bed, his legs straddling your chest. "Now, I want you to take me into your mouth," he says, his voice firm and authoritative.

Your heart is racing as you obey. He brings it up to your lips, and your tongue darts out to lick the tip. You can taste the hint of salt and musk, and you find yourself growing aroused again. You open your mouth wide to accommodate his size. He tastes so good, so intense, and you can't get enough. You begin to move your head, your mouth sliding up and down his shaft. Joel gasps, his hips bucking up towards you.

Suddenly he grabs your hair and holds his cock to the hilt, filing up your entire throat, blocking your airway. You try to gasp for breath as Joel holds you down on his large throbbing cock but it's no use. Your head is swimming with pleasure and arousal, and you're not sure if you can take anymore. Just then Joel releases his grip on your hair, allowing you to breathe again. You take the opportunity to pull away, gasping for air. Joel smirks down at you. "Such a good little slut for daddy already," he says, his voice full of praise. "Daddy wants to see more. Show me how much you want me."

You nod, your heart racing with anticipation as Joel pulls away and undoes your restraints. When he's back on the bed, you take him back into your mouth, your hands roaming his beautiful, full thighs. You begin to suck and lick at his cock, your tongue exploring every inch of him. You can hear Joel growing more aroused, his breaths coming in short gasps.

You feel a hand on the back of your head, guiding you. Joel is thrusting into your mouth, his cock sliding in and out. You moan around him, your hands reaching up to cup his balls. He's tensing, his hips bucking harder with each thrust. Suddenly, he lets out the most primal groan you've ever heard, his cock swells in your mouth. He thrusts into you one more time before coming. You can feel his warm come filling your mouth, and you swallow it down eagerly. Joel groans, his hips stilling as he rides out his orgasm.

You pull away, gasping for air and Joel collapses onto his back, his chest rising and falling rapidly. You can see the satisfaction on his face, and you feel proud of yourself. You've never done anything like that before, and you're not sure how you feel about it. But there's a part of you that's excited, that wants to do it again.

You're both panting heavily, your mind still reeling from the intense experience you've just shared. Joel's gaze is locked on yours, his eyes full of admiration and desire. "You were amazing, sweetheart," he says, his voice a low rumble. "I can't wait to show you more." A wave of excitement washes over you as Joel reaches out and gently strokes your cheek, his fingers lingering against your skin. "I want to make this arrangement work, darlin," he says, his voice soft and earnest. "But I need to know that you're in this for the right reasons."

Your heart races as you consider his words. You know what he's asking, and you're not sure if you're ready for the level of intimacy and commitment this arrangement requires. But at the same time, you can't deny the excitement coursing through your veins, the thrill of being desired and pursued by someone like Joel. You nod, your heart racing with both excitement and trepidation. "I think I'm ready to accept your condition," you say, your voice low and hesitant. "But I need to know that you're in this for the right reasons, too."

Joel's eyes meet yours, his gaze intense and serious. "I promise you, I want nothing more than to care for and support you, both financially and emotionally," he says firmly. "And I expect the same companionship in return."

You take a deep breath, your mind racing with the implications of your decision. But there's a part of you that's eager to explore this new world, to find out what it means to be truly desired and cared for by someone like Joel.

"Okay," you finally say, your voice full of resolution. "I want to make this arrangement work too."

Joel's face breaks into a smile, his eyes filled with relief and joy. He pulls you into a warm embrace, his arms wrapping around you tightly. "Thank you, sweetheart," he whispers, his voice full of gratitude. "I'm going to make sure you never regret this decision."

---

Thanks for reading ❤️ let me know if you'd like more from these two

[onskepa]

Hey there, you've been writing good stuff so I thought I'd leave an ask.

Maybe a headcannon on Na'vi having favorite humans? Like Ikran riders have favorite pilots or healers like discussing healing with doctors/scientists? Like yeah humans are weird but my favorite human is clearly great and it's ironically the same among humans?

Hello there! Thank you for requesting and enjoying what I write. This is actually a nice idea, hopefully this is good for everyone to enjoy!

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

All as one

The loyal humans that stayed after the war had much to learn and adapt to their new home. Without the continuing outside resources, the humans had to be VERY creative in means to survive.

One of the things they were very grateful to have left behind was the many machines and other stuff. Metals were recycled and machines broken down to be reused for other purposes.

Since the human base wasn't that far to where the village was at, it was all too common now for the humans to assist the na'vi in reconstructing their home.

The relationship between na'vi and humans at first was wary and very tense. Not all na'vi trusted the remaining humans, still traumatized of the attacks, the killings, the lose of their people.

With the help of jake, things were slowly becoming normal. As normal as it can get.

As many people were injured, healers were much needed. And even then, there weren't enough to heal everyone. That is where the medical scientists came in. Basically doctors.

Of course not many were very welcoming to the humans, thinking of the worse especially with technology the na'vi cant understand.

Took some convincing but the doctors were able to heal more of the na'vi and at a faster paste. Better than the na'vi healers.

Surprisingly, it didnt create jealousy but rather the healers were impressed. And piqued their interest.

The healers and the doctors were the first to step aside their obvious differences and get to know each other. Learn from one another.

The healers taught the doctors their ways of healing, what plants to use, which herb is used for what, the materials, what healing method to use for a certain injury. The paste, the tools, all of that. And the doctors ate up all the information and began to use the na'vi style of healing.

But also, the doctors showed the healers some technology use of medical practices should in case the injured person is too far from the healing tent or the person doesn't have enough medical herbs to heal.

The information exchanged moved from skills to general life questions.

And they weren't the only ones to get along.

Warriors and soldiers. Now they were an interesting pair.

Both trained to fight in the front lines. Both went through horrendous trainings to get to where they wanted, up most loyalty to their people. Knows the ins and outs in a battle field. Willing to die for others.

When those two groups got to know one another, they learn both humans and na'vi aren't so different in those perspectives.

And much like the healers with the doctors. Both the soldiers and warriors would exchange information of how to use different weapons.

The humans showing possible weak spots on their armor and machines, where to hit and what weapons the na'vi use.

And all in between, the normal human workers and the local na'vi also come together as means to balance out one another. Share personal stories, interests, hobbies and a keen friendship

The union was definitely one of the centuries to remember. The communal dinners became bigger and more lively. The soldiers did their part of the hunt thus bringing in more meat and more spices, herbs, fruit, all of that.

There is never a night that isn't boring with the humans. Now seen as their brothers and sisters at arms. Seen as family.

The humans are part of the clan and part of the ever thriving tribe. Part as one, and as one with the people.

And that is it with this one! Hope you all like it! Until next time! see ya!

[gffa]

Hi :)

I'm a pretty new SW fan, not because I didn't like the movies/hadn't seen them but because I grew up thinking it was extremely nerdy and would often feel awkward trying to bring up anything related to SW.

Fortunately I've finally reached and met awesome people who love SW just like I did but I feel like I lost A LOT of important stuff and there's so much content to the saga that it's extremely overwhelming for me to even think about diving into the whole SW universe and catch up.

I've been following you for a bit and your posts are just extremely interesting to me but again, sometimes I'm a little confused about certain things and so I wanted to ask you if you had any recommendations about where to start catching up (besides the movies which I will be binge watching soon hehe)

Hi! Welcome to Star Wars fandom, I hope you're having a good time! And around here we embrace being as nerdy as possible--I mean, fandom is such a mainstream thing these days, but I still like to embrace being a nerd about things because it leads to a lot more happiness, to just be silly and having a good time with the thing that tickles our brains.

But, yes, it is pretty overwhelming when you're first arriving, I still remember when I first came back to SW several years ago, having really only watched the movies as a kid, and there was All This Stuff and it seemed impossible to ever reach the deep end of the pool, and that was before the last seven years of books, games, movies, comics, etc. came out! I will hopefully set your mind at ease with this, though: The vast, vast majority of content that Star Wars puts out isn't anything I would consider "essential". It's wonderful, fantastic stuff! But a lot of us have just been around so long that we're combing through the finer details of supplementary material, rather than those being absolute Must-Read/Watch To Get A Feel For Star Wars.

My recommendations for How To Get A Feel For Star Wars is basically, start with the animated series and the live action series, they're the second layer of foundation in the Star Wars building, all the comics and novels and such will be built on them, and in this order: - The movies, this is the foundation on which everything else will be built. - The Clone Wars, season 1-6 are part of George Lucas' story and they're pretty essential (at least in this corner of SW fandom) to understanding wtf anyone is talking about or even watching many of the live action series. (Season 7 is fine and should be watched! It's just not part of Lucas' Star Wars.) - Star Wars: Rebels, starts off light-hearted but really is one of the best developed shows and does a lot of connective work between the prequels and the original trilogy. - The Mandalorian, set 9 years after Return of the Jedi, this show just massively blew up and while each season is slightly less well-done than the previous one (imo), it's well worth watching for wtf fandom is talking about half of the time. (The Book of Boba Fett is somewhat optional in this corner of fandom, but imo worth the watch. Generally, it should go Mando s1-2 --> TBOBF --> Mando s3.) - Obi-Wan Kenobi, because this corner of fandom lost our goddamned minds about it and still haven't gotten them back. - Andor, which is a really great show and, as long as you've watched Rogue One first, you'll follow along just fine. Does some solid connecting the dots between the prequels and the originals, but not as much as Rebels did. - Jedi: Fallen Order, you can look up a "movie" version on YouTube for the story of this game, which is a really good plot, has some great new characters, has some genuinely effective cameos, and will be referenced fairly often in other materials/in fandom.

If you're not feeling overwhelmed by All The Star Wars You've Consumed, I would personally suggest going for the comics next, over any of the novels. The novels are great! But the vast majority of them are self-contained and meant to be supplementary material even more than the comics, which get to tell bigger, more connected stories. I always suggest starting with: - Star Wars 2015 by Jason Aaron + Darth Vader 2015 by Kieron Gillen, both of which are really, solidly fantastic stories about the timeframe just after A New Hope, like there are so many absolutely banger lines that came out of these comics. I won't spoil them, just know that I think these were legitimately good comics, not just legitimately good Star Wars comics. (The first six issues of each series are meant to be read concurrently, but after that, you can just pick one and read in that specific title.) - Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 2017 by Charles Soule, which is set in the immediate aftermath of Revenge of the Sith. If Gillen's Vader keeps the mystique of the originals Unknowable Darth Vader, then Soule's Vader is more about the absolute BATSHIT DRAMA that is blending Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. This series is BANANAPANTS in the absolute best way. - Obi-Wan & Anakin 2015 by Charles Soule, which is a five-issue mini-series set between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones and is both stunningly beautiful art and a solidly good plot that survives fairly serious analysis of. It's got some great worldbuilding details, but even more I like it for the look at why a young Anakin chooses to stay with the Jedi Order.

The one book I will recommend--for a list aimed at getting you caught up on what fandom is referencing--is the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover, that book is quoted constantly, and I'm not sure any other SW book has ever been as good as it is.

I feel like this is the best set of reading to get you familiarized with the source material that tends to come up the most! There's lots more that's really good, but once you get through the above, you can let me know what era or characters you're most interested in or if you have a specific question about something and want to see where it comes from!

But there's one thing to address and you're kinda going to have to figure out how to approach it on your own. 😂 There is a ton of stuff in SW fandom that's ostensibly from a book or a comic, but the version in fandom often comes from those who never actually read the books/haven't read them in a long time or are just picking them up from other fic and meta.

For example, the AgriCorps or Melida/Daan get referenced in fic and in posts all the time, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend reading the Jedi Apprentice series (I mean, I'm not your mom, feel free if you want to!) and often times how they're used in fic is not how they were used in the source material. Or the clones speaking Mando'a comes from the Legends books by Karen Traviss and she is a whole big can of ugly worms (both what she wrote and her IRL politics), as well as much of what she wrote was overwritten/discarded when The Clone Wars came out, but fandom likes the idea and so they put that into their fics (as they should, if they like it!). The idea of Mace using the lightsaber form of Vaapad is from Legends sources (the best source probably being the Shatterpoint novel by Matthew Stover, I'd guess?), same for his ability to see "shatterpoints" in the Force, which aren't part of Lucas' continuity or Disney's continuity, but fandom enjoys using them to flesh out Mace's character. This will get you started and, if you're looking for something more specific, feel free to ask, I enjoy these kinds of question--and don't feel you have to stick with any of the above if they're not fun for you. This is meant to be enjoyable, it's meant to have a good time, there's no wrong way to consume Star Wars media! <3

[secretlywritingstories]

"You look at my face a lot" | Phan one shot

Summary: Phil has a pretty new eyebrow slit but Dan decides that he could use a little make-up to highlight it. They end up in bed with Dan hovering close to Phil's face trying to do a good job while he's also trying not to ravish him or get (too) sappy.

Tags: 2024!phan, established relationship, domestic fluff, homoerotic make-up application

Word count: 3.8k

A/N: This fic is inspired by two things 1) Dan and Phil's birthday charity livestream where Dan manhandles Phil's face to give him the eyebrow slit and 2) this photo of lesbians doing each other's make up

Read on AO3 or below

The charity livestream for Phil’s birthday had gone much better than any of them had ever anticipated, even with all the technical issues. It was a good thing that their audience knew to expect chaos for them and hopefully found it endearing.

Still, Dan felt like he’d underestimated just how impactful their audience could be. He almost felt bad to have forgotten about it, when he got all wrapped up in his own head. But they’d reminded him so graciously in the last few months and tonight had just further cemented that.

He was happy to be back online, making videos regularly and he was hopeful for more live content too. Phil had dragged him back to the internet, and while he hadn’t been kicking and screaming, he had been digging his feet in. Now he was letting his heels rise and just enjoy it.

Last night had been fun and they’d both been riding that high for several hours afterwards. It had made it hard to get up for a tour meeting the following day, when he’d rather just stay wrapped up in bed with Phil or have a lazy breakfast together while they watched anime. Before he had slipped out of bed, he’d reached over to touch Phil’s face, and swipe a thumb across the new eyebrow slit. It really did suit him well, and Dan was quite excited to be matching with him soon.

He made himself leave the house. The we’re all doomed tour was important to him and it was time for the grand finale. It would be good. Less scary now that he’d dragged Phil into helping him with the live premiere. Unlike the other way around, there had been no need for dragging of any kind. Just a question and a quick agreement. Dan would never stop loving that aspect of Phil.

The meeting dragged on but he’d gotten a lot of questions answered and stuff planned. It had been months since the last show and he was worrying that the two shows would feel like starting over again. He was about to grab a taxi and head straight back home when he spotted a Sephora and had an interesting thought. A pull, if you will.

Something that might help bring Phil’s eyebrow slit the attention that it deserved. Give the blond hairs at the end a little bit of a lift.

He stuffed his purchase into his coat pocket and headed home to Phil. When he got home, Phil was in meercat mode, trying to avoid the never-ending builders in their home. Dan was very ready to have their home all to themselves, but they’d agreed to stick it out until everything they’d wanted was done. And between delayed materials and conflicting schedules for the workers, it had just taken ages.

“I’ve got a surprise for you later when we need to film later,” Dan had told Phil when he’d found him pretending not to be hiding in the office.

Phil had perked up. “Delayed birthday present?”

Dan had chuckled but shook his head. “Yesterday wasn’t enough?” he asked.

“You can never have too much birthday fun,” he countered and tried to wiggle his eyebrows.

It was about as successful as he was trying to wink, but it only made it the more endearing. It also drew attention to that eyebrow slit. Dan knew his eyes lingered on it.

“You really like it, huh?” Phil said, turning his head to give Dan a better view.

“Still a little emo kid at heart,” Dan muttered.

He did feel like that sometimes. As if he’d never really grown up, despite all that he’d done and all of the adulting he did now. So many responsibilities. Enough to overwhelm him at times. It was good that he shared most of those with Phil. It helped when they could share the weight.

“Should we be worried you’re entering your crisis twink era? About to break out the bleach?”

“I thought I wasn’t a twink anymore?” Dan teased. Phil had told him that last time he’d been on Dystopia Daily.

“Wasn’t that me?” Phil asked and there was a bit of a glimmer in his eyes.

If there weren’t builders in the house, perhaps Dan would have done something about it. Moved close and showed Phil that he was just as attractive as when they’d been young, if not more.

It was a gift seeing how they were changing. Phil letting his grey coming in should not have been as attractive as it was but Dan loved that he wasn’t hiding it anymore. In December when they’d looked back at themselves for the first decade of their relationship through the pinof videos, he’d not recognised himself at first. They were so different now, but they’d grown together. Hand in hand.

It wasn’t until their house was blessedly vacant of strangers, they’d devoured the Indian takeaway for dinner and they were about to set up to film a gaming video that Dan went to retrieve the item from his coat pocket.

“What’s that?” Phil asked, tapping away on the keyboard to bring up their recording software. “A pencil?”

“Yes,” Dan said twirling it between his fingers. And nearly dropping it. “Eyebrow pencil.”

That caught Phil’s attention and he moved up from his seat at the desk. “You bought an eyebrow pencil?”

He nodded and handed it over to Phil who was already making grabby hands.

Dan had felt wildly out of his depths as he’d stood staring at the rows and rows of make-up products. He didn’t know enough to make an informed decision but asking someone had also felt too daunting. He’d eventually caved and asked for help, only to be asked about the colours was of the person he’d be buying for.

He wasn’t confident enough to whip out a picture of Phil, so instead he’d tried to fumble his way through explaining the natural colours of Phil’s brows. It was a good thing that he had a lot of practice looking at Phil’s face. His eyebrows especially last night. Beautiful high arches, hair lightening from the middle out to the tails.

“Are you dissing my eyebrows?” Phil asked, removing the cap from the pencil and looking at it with suspicion.

Dan rolled his eyes, as if he’d ever diss anything about Phil’s face. Anything about Phil at all. It was his favourite face. He knew he was happy to wake up to it every day. He would however jest and play around nonetheless.  

“Not my fault your hairs are so pale,” he said with a smirk and then a hyena laugh escaped him at the mock offended expression on Phil’s face.

But he could see how Phil was studying the pencil with genuine interest and he was glad that he’d given into the impulse purchase. He loved when Phil was feeling himself. There was nothing hotter than when Phil realised that he was a fucking catch and looked good. Dan had known forever but it was different hearing it from someone who loved you and thinking it yourself.

“I’ll be right back,” Phil said, pencil clutched in his hand as he walked out of the room.

Dan took over at the desk, checking their camera was set up correctly and opened Steam on Poppy Playtime. They knew it would be a long video since they were going to do the whole chapter in one go. It was time to settle in for a long haul. Proper gaming YouTubers.

Phil was missing for longer than Dan had anticipated, so he went searching for him and he was surprised that he was in the bedroom in front of the big mirror rather than going to the bathroom and getting proper lightening.

“What are you doing?” Dan asked, leaning against the doorway to just observe. “That’s terrible lightening.”

“I think I’m going to mess it up,” Phil said, still staring at his reflection. “And I don’t like putting a pencil near my eye.”

A ploy. Phil wanted help. He wanted Dan to offer help. If his heart wasn’t so fond, then he’d perhaps laughed at him. He could just have asked but this was more of Phil’s style.

“You put contacts in at least a couple of times a week,” Dan reminded him as he walked into the bedroom. “Shouldn’t your fingers going into your eye be more scare than a pencil on your eyebrow?”

“Yes,” Phil conceded but he was already wearing his pleading expression. “But I have practice with that now, and the finger is not going into the eye. I hated it at first too. Might never have gotten used to it, if I hadn’t thought glasses looked too dorky.”

“I love your glasses,” Dan said, and walked up behind Phil to grab around his midriff. Pull him back against his chest and stare at their reflection together.

Phil snorted. “You didn’t see the first pair I got.”

No, he hadn’t. Whenever Phil mentioned something about himself that Dan didn’t know, or didn’t have been a part of, there was a little tug. Curiosity to learn more about him. Even after all this time, there was always more and he always wanted to know.

“I haven’t seen them in pictures?” he asked, hooking his chin over Phil’s shoulder and slumping against him. Just because he could.

“No, I think I made mum burn all of them,” Phil said and met Dan’s eyes in the mirror. “Help me with this?”

He wiggled the eyebrow pencil. And there it was. Dan had just been waiting for him to say it.

Dan hummed in agreement and grabbed Phil’s arm to drag him to the bathroom to get good lightening. He had almost pulled them out of the room before another possible location hit him. The bathroom was undoubtedly the most practical, but the other option would be more fun. Dan changed directions and dragged Phil towards the bed.

“I thought we were filming?” he asked, a laugh barely off his lips.

Dan resisted the urge to kiss it right off him.

“We are,” Dan insisted, even as he pushed Phil onto the bed. “Scoot up, head close to the headboard.”

Phil looked at him with narrowed eyes but complied all the same, moving the pillow up with him and lying down. Dan didn’t waste any time straddling his torso and he delighted in the way that Phil’s breath hitched. Just a little. Almost enough to distract him.

Almost.

He reached for the lamp above their bed and twisted it until it was all up in Phil’s face. He winced, shutting his eyes and throwing a hand over them.

“Warning next time? You just made me blind.”

“You were already blind.”

“Well, I’m double-blind now. I’m going to start to see black spots and rainbows,” he said moving his hand and turning his face away from the light as he started to blink rapidly.

“Black and rainbows, huh? You and me?”

“Shut up,” Phil said and slapped a hand against the outside of Dan’s thigh.

It was so easy to laugh and lean closer. He’d sat too far up on Phil’s torso to do this without breaking his back. He scooted down until he was sitting across Phil’s hips. Phil looked one second away from bucking him off judging by the playful expression in his eyes.

“Come here, you’re the one who wanted help,” Dan said and leaned down with the eye brow pencil poised.

“And this was the only way?” Phil asked, amusement in his face until the pencil came close to his eyes and he let them fall shut.

“It’s the only way,” Dan said insistently, as he reached for Phil’s chin to keep him from moving. Phil’s face moved under his touch, lips curving into a smile. “Stay still,” he ordered.

Dan didn’t really have that much experience with make-up either but he had dabbled here and there with his costumes. He always leaned into a more smudged on purpose look, but it was in part because he didn’t have the steady hand or patience to do anything too clean. And he knew himself, he’d be smudging it instantly anyway. It was fun but it was also an effort that he wasn’t sure he’d go through on a regular basis.

He was still happy when he thought about all of the hours that he no longer spent frantically straightening his hair. What a waste of time trying to conform and hide himself, even if he’d needed it back then. He hadn’t been ready but he got there.

He was gentle with the pencil at first, going to the eyebrow that hadn’t been slit. The employee from Sephora had said that the pencil shouldn’t be too dark, if the eyebrows were light, or it would look weird.

The colour was coming off, darkening the brows little by little. Dan focused on the end of the eyebrow where the hair turned the lightest.

“Aren’t you doing the wrong one?” Phil asked, eyes still closed.

Dan moved from grabbing his chin to kind of cradling his face as he gently moved Phil’s head to the side and back to see if he was happy with his work.

“It would look stupid with just one done,” Dan insisted, “you’ll have to do both.”

Phil’s eyes fluttered open and Dan hadn’t realised how close he was leaning in to be able to see properly. It really wasn’t fair that Phil was still able to knock the air out of his lungs after all these years, just as effectively as when they’d first fallen in love.

Dan hadn’t noticed that Phil had let his hand linger on Dan’s thigh, so used to having him close and touching but he noticed now when Phil’s other hand drifted up now in a mirrored position. Holding onto Dan on either side. A familiar look flickered in his eyes and this one wasn’t entirely playful.

“We need to film,” Phil said, even as his eyes darted down to Dan’s lips. It sounded more like it was a reminder to himself than to Dan. Just for that Dan wanted to lean closer and close the distance. But there was something about this too. The tension in the air between them. So close and touching but not there.

“I’m going to do the other one,” Dan announced, and he would have thought that Phil would close his eyes again but he was surprised when they stayed open. Attentive in a way that saw straight through him.

He was more careful now, mindful of avoiding the slit he’d shaved into Phil’s eyebrow just last night. It had been a little nerve-wracking to do it on camera, even if it was by far not the most stupid thing, they’d done on camera together. He’d wanted to make it look good, more focused on being precise and doing a good job, not even caring as he turned his back to the camera.

But this was different. There was no camera right now. Only the two of them in their home. In their bedroom. Dan really had brought this upon himself. There was no desire to perform to keep him in check.

He carefully swiped across the eyebrow on either side of the slit, watching the colour take. He did it gently with all of his focus, even if was much harder now that Phil seemed unable to look away from him.

Dan wasn’t entirely sure what Phil saw as he watched his face. Concentration. Determination. Love.

Dan had never quite been able to stop himself from letting it leak out whenever he was with Phil. He couldn’t even start to try and put it into words. He’d hit some pretty good metaphors for their relationships through the years but it was always just a little part of it. A quick glimpse into what they really were to each other. All of the different ways that they loved each other.

Phil still hadn’t been able to convince Dan that they were soulmates, because for that to happen soulmates had to exist, like something predetermined. He didn’t like that. They had found each other and fought for each other. He didn’t want to give fate credit for having them stick together.

No, that was all on them. He was sure of it.

Phil’s hands were warm on his thighs and he could feel him breathing calmly under him, moving both of their bodies a tiny bit with each inhale and exhale. Dan’s lower back hurt a little in this position, and he had a feeling the elbow he was leaning on was going numb but it didn’t matter.

They were suspended in that moment. Just the two of them, only the sound of their breathing and the gentle scratch of the eyebrow pencil.

He wanted to stay in the moment, but he wanted to do a good job more. He wasn’t going to overdo it. He pulled back, breathing deep for the first time in minutes as he tilted Phil’s head towards the light to survey his work.

It made a difference. The slit really got to have a moment to shine now that the hairs on either side was more defined.

“Good?” Phil asked, still lax in Dan’s hold.

“Yeah,” Dan said and his voice came out with a little grumble. He cleared his throat. “You look good.”

Phil was looking at Dan like he knew exactly what he was thinking. He let his hands trail up Dan’s thighs, going towards his ass. Dan was prepared for a grope. He was not prepared for Phil to grab his hips and toss him onto the mattress instead.

Dan let out an undignified squawk, bouncing on the bed while Phil got up, almost stumbling as he was laughing too much at Dan’s reaction.

“Traitor,” Dan grumbled, crossing his arms. “This is what I get for helping you!”

“You have to be nice to the birthday boy,” Phil said and walked over to the mirror.

“Your birthday ended yesterday,” Dan reminded him.

“We still have that party on Sunday, so it’s not over until then,” Phil reminded him, which really was only Phil logic. “Wow, it looks nice!”

And with that one comment, all of the fake annoyance at being tossed away rather than having his ass grabbed evaporated. Dan sat up and got up from the bed.

“Yeah?”

He hadn’t meant to latch onto Phil again, like he’d done before they’d gotten onto the bed, but it was instinct. If Phil asked, he’d just claim it was to see better, even if he didn’t need to wind his arms around Phil for that. Phil would see through it, but also allow it.

“Really good, I’m hot,” Phil said, with a grin and Dan snorted, trying to hide in Phil’s shoulder as he was shaking with laughter. “Don’t laugh!”

It didn’t stop Dan’s laughter but it did make Dan lift his head. “You’re always hot,” he said, breath hot against Phil’s neck just to be mean.

They really had to film but this was fun. Maybe Dan finally understood the inherent intimacy of doing someone’s make up. The couple of times that they’d been putting stuff on each other’s faces, they had usually been blindfolded and drawing cat faces or just slapping make-up on.

Though he guessed that when they were drawing whiskers on each other’s faces came close. Not exactly because they had been on camera and they were in the very chaotic mindset that those videos required. They’d drawn whiskers on each other for each TATINOF performance and removing them too, but that had been rushed, almost frantic while they were high on adrenalin.

Nothing quite like this. Quiet. Intimate. Between just them.

“You’re going to look good with one too,” Phil said, holding onto Dan’s arms around him, giving him a little squeeze. “I almost regret stopping you on the stream.”

“This alternate is better,” Dan said. “You get to have all the attention now, and I’ll get it on the 25th.”

“You were always going to get all the attention then,” Phil said with a soft laugh and he was swaying them a little from side to side. Like he was listening to a song only he could hear. Through their movements, Dan could almost hear it too. “It’s your big baby. Your show.”

Dan hummed. It had been his big baby and he had been happy about it. The tour itself had encountered issues here and there, things he’d rather not think about but he was happy with what he’d made and how the audience had reacted to it.

It had been exciting and he’d been looking to prove something for himself. He could do it on his own. He didn’t need Phil.

But he wanted him.

He wanted him so much.

The tour had only proved that further. He’d missed him at his side. It was maybe one of the reasons it had been easier to lean back into the gaming channel together. They were good. They’d always known that but to see that they hadn’t lost their touch was incredible. If anything, Dan felt like they might be better than ever.

They were out now. All of the gay jokes they’d previously passed up or edited out was included. There was a deep understanding with the audience. It was so much fun.

“Thank you for helping me,” Phil said, speaking so softly in the quiet room. Like he’d sensed that Dan’s thoughts had drifting off for a moment and he was gently bringing him back to shore before he drifted out too far.

Phil never needed to thank him for that. Dan would do anything for him.

“Let’s go film,” Dan said, reluctantly pulling away from the warmth of Phil’s body. “And then afterwards, I’m going to show you just how hot you look and get all up in that slit.”

He wiggled his own eyebrows and dodged out of the way as Phil pulled a disgusted face and tried to hit him. To pacify him, Dan grabbed Phil’s face in both hands and as expected, he went still at the touch. Let Dan hold him, even with the mirth still shining in his eyes.

Dan was never going to tire of looking at this face, even with every change it might go through. Aging, modifications, anything. Phil’s face and gazing into his eyes would always be home.

“Come on,” Phil said grabbing Dan’s wrist and then intertwining their fingers. “If you’re looking at me like that, we’ll not be able to film.”

Dan chuckled, shaking his head in disagreement, even if he knew Phil was right. The urge to toss him back on the bed ran deep and he should rein it in.

He let Phil drag him down the hall, as always trusting Phil whenever he dragged him anywhere.

[accio-victuuri]

YIZHAN’S 06.29 HK Event ( A Summary ) ✨

As the title says, this will be a timeline of sorts around the show. It’s always a treat to see them in one place so the next step is really to archive the story behind it. A mix of events, cpns & fandom reflections.

The last part of this is more on my words on why ( i think ) they didn’t interact or even see each other at the event, if you’re interested in that, you can scroll down and skip the others.

This is gonna be a long post, Enjoy! ^^

What is the event all about?

The name of the show is The Greater Bay Area Film Concert 2023 and the venue is in Hongkong. It is described as :

More than a hundred filmmakers, musicians, cultural and sports technology representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait as well as Hong Kong and Macao will gather on the banks of the Xiangjiang River to work together Write a new picture of Chinese-style modernization belonging to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

It is also a big event because it is broadcasted in multiple platforms:

CCTV 6 Movie Channel, Phoenix Satellite TV Chinese Channel, Phoenix Satellite TV Hong Kong Channel, Guangdong Satellite TV, Shenzhen Satellite TV, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Macao Radio and Television , Australia and Asia Satellite TV and other TV platforms live broadcast, China Central People's Broadcasting Corporation, Hong Kong TVB recorded and broadcast, movie channel Rong Media, 1905 Movie Network, Phoenix.com, Phoenix Show and other major media platforms of the whole network broadcast simultaneously.

I personally haven’t experienced an event they both attended — or actually even as individuals as endorsed as this. It is considered a “government” event and it would make sense that they will be present. Even if they are still considered “traffic” stars, this time, it works in their favor because they need the audience that these two will bring.

It is labeled as a “concert” but it’s truly a “party” for the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China. The actual date is 7/1, but this is a primer to that, and why it’s taking place in HK. This is a touchy subject so I won’t go into detail and i feel like a good number of us are happy to see them perform but at the same time knowing what this party is about makes us feel off. It’s always been a popular theory among turtles that our best bet for a same event and interaction is for a government approved celebration. This way, their fans will ( hopefully ) be in their best behavior.

The same sentiment was actually passed on to turtles the day before the event. Reminding that it’s not like the other shows where you can say whatever.

Before the 629 Party:

By the last week of June, there were already some buzz surrounding the show and who will be attending. The most talked about being XZ & WYB. Melons were already releasing news about it but there were still talk about them not being in the same place.

It could be the same show but they will be in completely different places. It got cpfs excited, knowing how rough the past days were with all the YBO business, this is exactly what a lot of fans needed. some really positive news. Though there were some minor signs that all is well, a loud sign like this was so much better.

6.26, fans were talking about a potential double airport which turned out to not be true. However, this added fuel to the fire that they will both attend.

6.27 for cpfs was of course all about celebrating CQL’s 4th anniversary and well it was truly a special day. The weekend before, cpfs were already sharing face-to-face events and online materials on the actual day was a lot. It is the answer to the question of whether the cp fandom was already broken. The answer is a very loud No. Same day, Yubin also shared a video that showed a split second glimpse of them back in 2018 and eating hotpot. At this point, it was only a matter of time for them to be in the same event.

6.28, around 8:30 AM there were videos and then photos of XZ leaving and flying to HK. This lined up with melons that he will leave on this day. Even if there are no official announcements yet, it was the answer we were looking for. He was looking so good and his hair was tied up — which of course made us think of all the times they both had this style. the best. and also how they look so similar. twins!!!!

and well, how it is sort of similar to how lei yu’s hair was tied too in BTF.

There is a speculation that he was really supposed to fly 629 but that information was leaked so they decided against it. Or they booked multiple flights. The reason is @ the airport, there was a video of ZZ looking through his bag when he was about to go to the gate and it seemed like he forgot important things. So his staff had to leave and get it. It leads us to believe that he may not be prepared to go on that flight in particular.

They were also on HS as attending. This goes to show how no one is over BJYX. lol. It still brings the heat, because of who they are as individuals and moreso as a pair. There are so many guests, a lot of them really well-know names to the general public but the entertainment blogs know who to talk about.

10:00 & 10:15 AM Movie Channel weibo account announced the attendees and two very familiar faces are on it. The news we have all been waiting to hear has been confirmed.

It’s cute that the photos they used were from the recent Weibo Night. GG’s is what he used for the event poster.

11:25 AM Yibo-official shared that WYB is attending.

Next up, the program list was revealed and ZZ & WYB are confirmed to be performing. WYB = Wuming OST and ZZ will sing Run Without Care.

An event like this takes careful planning and while i do believe that them attending is not about “pleasing cpfs” — it doesn’t take away the fact that it feels like a gift to us. the drama from the past days. cql 4th anniversary. The universe is on our side on this one.

2:00 PM - ZZ landed in Hongkong. 🛬

3:00 PM - XZS posts about ZZ attending

In the evening, Movie Channel weibo account had a pre-show livestream related to the event and ZZ & WYB were talked about and evaluated.

6.29, at approximately 8:00 AM, Bobo is seen at the airport and is on his way to Shenzhen then to HK. Wearing a really cute Pokemon shirt!!!! People are saying he took this route cause he doesn’t want to be photographed by the public.

The HS bringing them together is also trending so early, #7 on general HS and #11 on entertainment. Everyone is so excited! HK based media accounts on weibo are also joining in and posting about the event with the boys as the main photo.

( these screenshots taken at the time of posting, however hours later, they were edited to include other acts in p2 especially. )

Some videos about them were also circling around, i don’t really think these are necessary cause it’s different when a cpf makes them and meant for the fandom audience compared to the “media”putting their own spin to it. Stuff like these are definitely a hit or miss and may be antis in disguise.

Around 12nn, WYB is in Shenzhen and on the way to HK. His itinerary really caused the confusion before. cause people really thought there was another event in SZ cause why would he go that route.

BJYX was also on HS before the event. In the regular one, that high up, not even entertainment.

6PM , WYB is seen attending the rehearsal for the show. There were also talks of how far they might be seated from each other.

The program started 30 minutes earlier than the broadcast of 8:00 PM. That’s why the fancams were released way earlier. Yibo left right after his performance and didn’t spend that much time with the other guests/audience.

XZ was seen around 9PM, he spent time in the audience then performed as well. He also left right after.

Both of them were all over HS. moreso GG.

Media Compilation 📸

• XZ Studio

pre show photoshoot fire one | two

live photos

XZ’s performance of 潇洒走一回

• Yibo-Official

pre-show photoshoot b&w

live photos

WYB’s performance of Wuming

CPN clues here and there

1. The joint event is on a Thursday, and as we all know, Thursday is a good day to see you.

2. The song chosen for XZ was part of a record released back in 10-28-1991. It’s the same birth month & year as him, but the date is such a good coincidence. 28. Ai Bo ( Love Bo ) 🫶🏼

3. Emphasis on Yibo’s moles in one of the YBO photos. Bobo is known for other things physically but not really his moles, so it’s interesting how it was highlighted. A mole is really more of XZ’s thing so i can’t help but feel like there is something there 👀 ; a connection being made.

4. I know some people were bummed that ZZ was not in the audience, or hasn’t even showed up at the tables when Bobo performed. Well, he missed alot too. It’s not like it was only Yibo’s.

Same thing with WYB leaving the event right after his performance. We know this is his usual MO but we had hopes anyway.

I know it’s heartbreaking but we have to focus on the positive that they are in the same event ! ✨we will get there, we just have to be patient and remember that their safety is the most important.

5. ZZ’s table mates are Yoshi ( WYB’s BTF co star and friend ) as well as Huang Bo ( WYB’s One and Only co star ). What a coincidence. 🫢🫢

6. This photo from XZS. 📸 what a great shot considering WYB performed Wuming.

7. Here we go again with their usual strategy of not posting at the same time when they are at an event. You can say that this was somehow coordinated by the people from the show. We noticed WYB was scheduled at the start to get traffic early, and then ZZ close to the last to get people to stay till the final hours.

However, XZS really posted and showed XZ after WYB’s performance of Wuming was broadcasted. The screenshot i’m posting shows Movie Channel posted at :52, but that’s a bit late cause minutes before that other accounts have already shared. Even me. I was uploading the Wuming performance here on tumblr when XZS popped up on my Weibo notification.

Interpret it how you want, but the two are not here to “compete”.

A fan was able to see them shooting these materials 628, so they could have posted it anytime before the actual broadcast but didn’t.

8. Let’s go back to ZZ’s photos lol. It’s 18 photos uploaded but the actual number of shots is 33. What a good combination! Also his posting time is 20:50, or that can also be 8:50. 8/5. Yibo’s birthday 😭

9. The Movie Channel weibo accounted posted a video cut of their performance. Just them. And put a caption like “ it’s like the same stage” cause they did perform on the same stage, just at different times 😂 but then it was later edited out / deleted. Lol. Here is the video someone saved of the cut.

10. The IP address in ZZ’s video post is in Guangdong. Again, i’m not sure how these IPs work or if a staff is posting for him but the thing is this place is close to Shenzhen. WYB is rumored to be going from HK to Shenzhen again so who knows. It’s all CPN anyway ☺️

11. ZZ’s pants, it has a heart that is outlined with a color green.

There are probably more out there, but these are the interesting ones i’m including as of now. If some “big” ones show itself then i will just make a separate post on it. I find that the sweetest candies from events happen weeks or months later. When we get more “clues.” In the meantime i hope enjoyed these ones.

========================

Personal thoughts on “not interacting” and the reality of being a BXG.

I’m using this post/photos from one of my favorite BJYX fansite to start and give a general theme of what my stand is with this whole thing. “no need to prove it.”

I think most of us dare hoped, but the reality is, when it comes to same events with them, we should always manage our expectations. do not expect anything. There are some who are frustrated because of what they think ZZ/WYB should do or act around each other — as if we really have a say on that. As someone who has been on here for quite some time, it is a fact that being a BXG is hard. You don’t have to believe in BJYXSZD, but if you’re here to see cute interactions like how “CPs” do then this is not the fandom for you. It takes a whole lot of understanding of their status as celebrities and the toxicity between their solo fans as well as C-ent in general. Then add the whole 2*7 incident. Some may say it’s so easy to just interact and shut people up. No it’s not. Xiao Zhan is not just Xiao Zhan ; Wang Yibo is not just Wang Yibo. The reality is, at events like this, they are products. Both of them have millions or billions riding on them. So there you go. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks. I understand if people feel bummed — it’s okay to leave the CPF side of the fandom if that will be better for you. There is no shame in letting go if it only upsets you because fandom should make you happy. As I said, it takes a certain kind of person to stay and continue believing in them.

As CPFs, we should be kinder to them both. more understanding. not too demanding. We are the ones who are supposed to be on their side and know why they do certain things. It is tiring to be this selfless but it is what it is.

Now on to the more serious reason…

As I’ve mentioned above, this event is really not the “party” for entertainment everyone is making it out to be. It’s not an NYE program. It’s to celebrate the anniversary of HK’s return to China and you all know how that paints this as political. The same goes for celebrities who attended this event.

Both of them were already on HS leading up to it. HK media are focusing on them. Even during the event, the HS about them was so high up.

This is why I think they decided to not give any chance for the public to see them in the same space. If ZZ was there, the camera will surely pan to him when WYB was performing. If not, there will be fancams and people will scrutinize every micro expressions. Their solo fans will be at war. and well basically, the event will be about them. It’s not the greater bay area film concert anymore. It’s the BOJUNYIXIAO REUNION SHOW. Which is something they don’t want. The “celebration” shouldn’t be about them at all. Tho the media used them to hype it up. At the end of the day, they don’t want and need that kind of attention. It’s okay when it’s about their performance but not anything else.

They want to be known as individuals and not as a “pairing” even tho a lot of people and not just cpfs are interested in what will happen if they go on the same stage and interact 😂😂😂😂 These two really act like a real celebrity couple in c-ent who don’t interact in events!

Right now, I’m really happy to see them onstage and get all the content. I’m comforted that they are in the same city and were basically MIA days before they popped up at the airport to leave so hopefully they get to spend more time together!

To my fellow bxgs who believe, stay strong! ♥️💛💚.

[maxwell-grant]

Do you have any thoughts/opinions on Batman: Caped Crusader and its trailer? It's already giving me the vibe of "Batman wants to the The Shadow so badly".

(Spoiler for Batman: Caped Crusader, I guess)

Well now that the whole show is out I might as well talk about that instead, and I already wasn't very sold on the trailers. I'm mostly just gonna touch on the show here instead of certain particulars of it like Clayface or Two-Face and so on, which I do have more thoughts on it, but anyway. Regarding you bringing up The Shadow, I don't think this Batman wants to be The Shadow, I think this show is just what happens when you boil Batman back to the basics as much as possible, which inevitably means he's going to be doing what people might think of as Shadow material (and very boring Shadow material at that - again, I'm of the opinion that approaching The Shadow as a "noir" character is a lame idea, and I think that also holds true to a lesser extent for Batman). Problem upfront is, back-to-basics Batman is boring. Pre-Robin Golden Age Batman is just not a very interesting character, certainly not by Batman standards, he lacks charm and identity. It's not a coincidence that Batman started achieving success when he stopped ripping off The Shadow, when he started fighting Dick Tracy villains, when Robin joined in. Batman kinda sucks at being The Shadow, they've made a bunch of books about it even, and honestly, if Caped Crusader had been a Shadow cartoon, I would be incredibly depressed.

See, I love 1940s Golden Age Batman, I love Bill Finger's wisecracking Sherlockian bruiser who solves impossible cases with his fists and peerless trivia knowledge, but people don't love that Batman, people love the 1939 Golden Age Batman they've heard about, they love the idea of a grim and gritty and murderous epic Golden Age Batman that simply did not exist and if it did, was painfully and mercifully short-lived. There are very good reasons why Hugo Strange had to die to make way for The Joker and The Penguin, there are very good reasons why Batman throwback projects are either short, short-lived, or only really start as a throwback before settling on a new identity. Problem is, there is functionally very little difference between Golden Age Batman and Silver Age Batman, so if you adapted that guy, people would call it an Adam West throwback, so yes I get why everyone who says Golden Age Batman just does the first or so year when he gunned down a vampire or cracked a goon's neck against a windowsill and, basically just that. That was the basis they were working off for Caped Crusader, so what did they do with it?

Well, they were very faithful to 1939 Batman, in that the show is also just nothing but a basic skeleton of ideas that can and will be done better elsewhere, if not by other creators then hopefully at the next seasons for this thing. I was not very optimistic regarding Bruce Timm's involvement because I largely don't like Timm's work (although it's a good thing the show had other character designers, which you can tell because the women characters have different body types and facial features amongst themselves). The Greg Rucka episodes are decently written, and despite a truly horrendous start at the pilot, the show does get better and picks up as it heads to the finale.

But it only does so incrementally, never as good as it could be or should be, and the best it has to offer is too often just mediocre and unsatisfying. It's not visually interesting, it is so cheaply animated and presented that you would lose virtually nothing by experiencing this as a radio show on another tab (and at that point, you might as well listen to The Batman Audio Adventures), it's rushing past every plotline and emotional beat it grasps for and yet it moves at a glacial pace, and it doesn't seem to be a show made with any kind of clear intent in mind. I don't imagine any kids getting any enjoyment out of actionless, dull drama, but it's not committing nearly enough to being this dramatic and complex and nuanced show for adults that it keeps presenting itself as. It's terrible at threading the needle between what it wants to be and what it can afford to be. I don't think it's terrible, but I also don't think it's better than any other Batman cartoon other than Beware the Batman, the one nobody talks about. I wouldn't even say this is better than The Batman. At least The Batman took some weird new swings that it had to commit to and had great action and some genuinely really strong episodes, where as thislargely fails to deliver on the action and it's not doing nearly enough work on the writing and drama side of things.

The closest it gets to anything new are in it's new takes on Firefly, Gentleman Ghost, Harley Quinn and Two-Face, and while Firefly I thought a really solid, even great usage of a historically underwhelming half-baked character (and the strongest episode of the show, albeit one that barely features him), and Gentleman Ghost a decent twist on the character to make him more viable as a Batman villain (if still an abject downgrade from the regular character), Harley and Harvey I thought were incredibly unsatisfying and undercooked, the peak example of how much the show fails to deliver as compelling character drama in spite of having some legitimately fresh and strong new ideas at play here. As is, I'd say the best villain is Clayface, because his is the episode that convinced me to keep watching, and because while he is just Golden Age Clayface with not much of a twist on it, he was really fun, and delivered exactly on what was promised, where as the rest mostly range from mediocre and lackluster to outright terrible (again, I hate how dissappointed I am at this version of Penguin - I'm glad you are all having fun making fan art of her, I hope she has a better showing if she comes back, but goddamn man they really fumbled the ball on that episode).

I'd call Caped Crusader like a 6/10, and frankly that's me being generous, the more I talk about it after having watched it, the more I feel like it doesn't deserve past a 5 (but not anything below a 5 either, again it does get better, it isn't terrible, it's just not very good either). There is a good and exciting version of the show, and it is not the one they put on Amazon for me to watch, and frankly, I doubt there was ever going to be a great version of the show. I'm dead sure this is gonna get at least another season and because you guys ask me for Batman opinions, and because I gotta have my Batman, I will watch it, and I will hope it's more satisfying than this one.

[munsonsreputation]

I THINK THERES BEEN A GLITCH

CHAPTER THREE: SITUATION-SHIP

↢ chapter two | series masterlist | chapter four ↣

🎧 soundtrack

steve harrington x fem!baker + artist

word count: [9.5K]

warnings: no use of y/n, talks / mentions of self deprecation, mental spiral (overwhelming thoughts and anxiety), steve being an overthinking mess, overall fluffiness bcs we all need it rn.

summary: when Robin calls you with an impromptu invite to Hawkins you can't turn it down especially when you've been dying for an excuse to see Steve again. but it all comes to a daunting turn as Steve endures a night full of prodding and pestering by his friends. it gets the best of him, taking him down the familiar road of anxiety and fear, but that was before you strayed towards his side, showing him that this situation isn't as complicated as it seems.

“Look into his angel eyes, one look and you’re hypnotized…”

You hummed along softly with your hand on your hip standing in front of the kettle that boiled slowly on the stove. It was nearly midmorning and though you weren’t an early bird yourself, it felt nice to roll out of bed with the hope that today was going to be better…you were going to be better.

And better meant making an effort, one that probably would go nowhere, but at least you tried. It was about time you pulled yourself out of the slump instead of sitting around waiting for yourself to magically get yanked out of it with ease. Instead, you set the mood, turning your living room into its usual workspace that would hopefully help you get into the groove of things.

The curtains had been drawn letting the sunshine cascade the walls and floorboards of your apartment.

Your new ABBA record spinning on the turn table beside a freshly lit candle.

Paint bottles, brushes, and other material had been set on the coffee table, ready to be put to use.

A new canvas on the easel already primed and just waiting for you to step forward and bring your art to life.

“Okay,” You sighed, nodding to yourself as you took a sip of your hot coffee and walked towards your living room.

Setting down the mug after taking another sip, you reached for your sketchbook, flipping through the pages that you had filled over the course of the past few days. It wasn’t anything too out of this world, just scenes in your head that were committed to memory and couldn’t stop thinking about.

Four pages were full of rough sketches:

A piece of half eaten cherry pie on a plate.

A vase of flowers sitting on a window sill.

A pile of quarters sitting next to a jukebox.

And a silhouette of a man who looked way too much like Steve — shirtless and covered in beauty marks where he stood in your living room.

Who were you kidding? It was Steve. All four sketches had to do with him… the muse if you will.

The half eaten pie was a flashback to your first time meeting him and the longing gazes you two would share in his living room. The vase of flowers took you back to the day where he came over with summer arrangements in his hands. The pile of quarters reliving the moment he asked you to dance and gave you all his pocket change just so you could listen to your favorite songs over dinner.

And of course, shirtless Steve, a beautiful reminder that he was living in your head no matter how far apart you were and how blurry the lines between you both were drawn. Friends had a nice title to it, but there was that gnawing feeling of more, a kind of relationship you couldn’t quite place.

Embarrassingly enough, the sketch didn’t take you long. You even mapped out the littlest of details like the three moles he had resting on his stomach and the hair that decorated his chest.

‘It’s ten in the morning and you’re thinking about Steve, that’s so pathetic,’

Sure it was utterly pathetic and honestly downright ridiculous but you couldn’t sit there and pretend like you weren’t affected by him. Even if the sketch didn’t do real life Steve any justice, it was still Steve. The Steve that would send you into a love sick daze if you decided to paint him today so instead you opened for the slice of cake, just as memorable as shirtless Steve.

With the graphite pencil in your dominant hand, you used light strokes against the canvas, roughing out the original sketch and creating a guide that would make it easier for you to paint in sections. The details like the crumbs sitting on the plate and the mush from the cherries didn’t correspond the way you’d like just yet, but you know it’s part of the process and once the paint hits, it’ll come together eventually.

“Not bad,” You whispered under your breath, dropping the pencil down and stepping back to see the composition.

You had drawn the plate sitting against his wooden coffee table, a few crumbs littered across the dish with the fork resting on the edge. It’s a simple scene, something that you shouldn’t have to tilt your head at and begin to pick apart, but you do so without realizing it’s that incessant criticism again.

Even if it’s just a sketch, you’re already imagining the colors clashing together and looking murky if you even think about painting it. The pie itself doesn’t even look half eaten, instead it looks like it had been torn apart from the inside by maggots — disgusting and revolting.

“Nope, c’mon, get it together,” You shut your eyes tightly, shaking your head back and forth as if that would make the gnawing thoughts leave your head.

When you opened your eyes you could picture the slimy larvae creatures moving across the plate and onto the fork, making you groan as you flopped back onto the couch and ran your fingers through your scrap tugging at your roots frustratedly.

All of it felt so fucking impossible and you weren’t sure why. Maybe it was the fact that you weren’t strong enough to combat your own goddamn thoughts and pick yourself up or maybe it was beginning to dawn on you that your spark was gone.

The ideas that you had in your head and even the sketches that filled your book was just the remainder of what was left. Before you knew it, it was all going to be gone eventually and you’d have to settle for the fact that your dreams as an artist were going to be crushed. And not because someone else was telling you that you couldn’t do it, but because at the end of the day it was always you.

Where was the girl who was sitting across from Steve at the diner that she painted all by herself? Where was the girl who looked around that same diner and realized that her potential was not limited by herself? Where was that girl who powered through all that stress and walked away with all the experience that made her better?

Where was she now and how could you find her again?

RING! RING! RING!

The search party was over pretty quickly, you weren’t even sure if you would have been able to find her in the first place. Reaching for the phone from where you were sitting, you picked it up and pressed it to your ear while you relaxed your head back against the cushions.

“Yellow,” You answered with a heavy breath.

A gasp rang from the other line with excitement, “Green! Are we going in order of ROYGBIV?!”

The voice on the other line immediately erased the frown on your face, calming the anxiety that was brewing in your chest as soon as Robin came through when you needed her the most.

“Robs!” You greeted happily this time, “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” you asked, sitting up somewhat.

She let out a “mhm!”, and you could hear some noise, probably something on the tv that she was playing to pass the time, “I’m calling you from work actually. I hope you aren’t too busy.”

You let out a sarcastic laugh, glaring across the small space at the innocent easel and canvas, “Not busy at all, quite literally just giving my art supplies the nastiest glare in the world right now.”

“Still nothing new?” Robin wondered sadly.

You reached for your coffee mug, taking a sip and humming a reply before speaking, “Yeah, I think I’m throwing in the towel for the day.”

“Well don’t stress it, I’m sure it’ll come to you in no time.” She said encouragingly.

There was a special bond you and Robin had despite not knowing each other for long. For you, it felt like you have known her forever, possibly the bestest friend you’ve ever had because you didn’t have many.

Every thoughtful word came from her heart and you could feel it in the way she spoke to you with sureness even if you weren’t entirely sure of it yourself.

Your stress began to mellow, giving yourself the chance to finally breathe, “Thanks Ro. I miss you.”

“I know, I miss you too, buttttt we won’t miss each other for long because I was wondering if you’d wanna come down to Hawkins tonight!”

Her voice was always filled with excitement but this time around you caught the glint of hopefulness — as if you would ever turn it down even when you clearly had work to do.

You sat up wiggling your shoulders, “What the occasion?”

“Joyce and Hop are hosting a housewarming barbecue and because they’ve been hearing so much about you, they’d really love to meet you if you don’t have anything going on.”

You nibbled on your lip absentmindedly, “Hop and Joyce are the triplets parents’ right?”

You coined El, Will, and Jonathan under the nickname the triplets because of how similar they looked despite not being fully blood related. If Nancy hadn’t explained to you that the El was technically the boys’ step sister, you would have never guessed it.

You could hear the faint ding coming from what you assumed was the customer service bell followed by her saying, “Correct! So are you in?”

Glancing over at the time on the clock, you estimated that you had just enough time to start baking and then a little extra to get ready. From what you had heard, Hop and Joyce were the most laid back and involved out of all the parents. Knowing this you were more so excited than intimidated – if Robin and the rest of the group loved them, then so would you. 

“I’d be crazy to miss out on it, do you have an address?” You reached forward, picking up a ballpoint pen and napkin from your coffee table, ready to jot it down.

She mumbled under her breath, “Uhhh, hold on, I’m trying to remember.”

You were sure that you could picture the scene of her pinching her eyes shut and thinking especially hard with the “uh’s” and “um’s” from the other line. There was another voice in the background, a bit muffled yet closer and you wondered if it was Steve or their weirdo boss, Keith. Either way, you couldn’t hear what was being said, just the other person asking Robin something and her reply in pensive hums.

Then there was a slight shuffle, the phone feeling farther as she spoke. “Shit, here, talk to Steve while I try to get into El’s file.”

Your eyes widened and you sat up a little straighter, clearing your throat as you responded though you were sure she couldn’t hear you.

“O-oh, okay!”

Maybe it was because you spent a good chunk of your morning thinking about him and staring at the sketch of his shirtless body, but for some reason you had felt more skittish than normal. Almost debating on whether or not to hang up and let Robin call you back once she found the address. But it was just because you hadn’t spoken to Steve in five whole days.

It was Friday now and the last time you got to hear his voice is when he called you ‘sweet thing’ and you’d be lying to yourself if you said that you hadn’t been thinking about him saying it on repeat in your head — but that's besides the point.

It only took you five days of not speaking to him for you to realize that you missed him a lot more than you should’ve. That thinking about him the way that you were wasn’t entirely normal and the sketches even spoke for themselves. That night where he showed up to your gallery and spent the evening at yours was the catalyst to something inside of you that felt so foreign yet comforting.

By now it would be futile to try to pretend like you weren’t a plate of mush when it came to him.

“Hey, stranger.” He spoke smoothly.

His voice was cheery and you swore you could picture him leaned up on the counter with his phone pressed to his ear. A sight that you wish you could see with your own eyes instead of in your imagination.

You grunted out a short laugh, knowing there was no malice behind it, simply just trying to contain yourself, “Hiya, Steve.”

“How’s it going?” He asked with a short pause, “Being nicer to yourself?” There was a teasing lift to his voice that you caught making you roll your eyes playfully.

Laying back on the couch you kicked your legs up behind you, “I’m trying, but you know, I gotta say I’m a little annoyed at myself.”

He drew a breath in, voice coming out concerned as he spoke, “Yeah? Why’s that?”

“I’m a total idiot who forgot to ask the guy who bought me a dozen cronuts and my favorite latte for his number so I could thank him sooner,” you giggled, closing your eyes as you heard him laugh and the unease was replaced with humor.

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I’m an idiot for not leaving it. I just thought you wouldn’t want me flooding you with calls if I had your number.” He said it quietly trying not to be heard by Robin, but you ended up stifling your laughter as you heard her chirp in the background

“Oh, I already do that, and she doesn’t mind!” Robin quirked up as you heard him groan, hissing at her to be quiet.

“She really does and I don’t mind. one. bit.” You assured him, hoping he’d take you up on the offer and finally ask for your number. 

He chuckled, humming before he spoke again, “But seriously, how are you?”

You let out an exasperated sigh, prompting an “uh-oh” from Steve who picked up on your underlying mood right away. Even if he hadn’t asked, you probably would have ended up telling him anyway.

“I tried painting today. Didn’t really end up going well, seeing as though I’m sprawled out on my couch right about now.” You grumbled slightly annoyed at yourself for this reason.

He sucked in a harsh breath of air, “Yikes, sorry to hear that, but hey! You’re trying and that's what matters,” he tried his best to be encouraging.

“I guess,” you replied.

“You’re doing it again,” he warned.

You furrowed your brows sitting up, “Doing what?”

“The whole being means to yourself thing,” he said obviously.

“No, I’m not,” you defended yourself though you know that’s exactly the path you were about to go down and it just so happened that Steve caught you.

“But you kinda were.” You could feel the small smile forming on his face because you know he sees right through the facade even through the phone.

You paused, guiltily sighing, “Yeah, I kinda was.”

The two of you shared a short laugh, his coming from his chest while yours came from your throat. The tightening of the muscle loosening with the sound of his laughter easing all of the pent up stress and anxiety within you like an instant cure.

“Well, stop it.” He murmured, “I know whatever you’re working on is gonna be great when it’s finished. For now it’s just gonna take a bit of time.”

That’s what you were hoping for, just a bit of time to get you out of this funk so that you could return back to your regular self that didn’t see creating art as a task. You wanted to get back to enjoying it wholeheartedly instead of being so hard on yourself.

You smiled into the receiver tucking the phone closer to your ear, “That’s really kind of you, Steve, thanks for saying that… and I'm sorry for being—”

He swooped in before you could finish the sentence not knowing what you could possibly be sorry for.

“Nope, no sorries either. No more being mean to yourself and no more apologizing unnecessarily.” His voice was laced with determination like you should know this by now.

You giggled faintly, shaking your head, “Fine, it’s a deal.”

There was a short pause of silence, wondering if you should tell him that he could get back to whatever he was doing instead of keeping you company over the phone, but he spoke first.

“Are you coming tonight?”

You hummed wiggling the pen in your hand, “Yeah, unless Robin can’t find the address.”

“She’s gonna find it, she just sucks at using the computer.” He joked lightly before you could hear Robin in the background.

“Oh shut up, I found it. Give me the phone!”

You giggled, moving yourself to sit up properly with a pen and napkin ready in hand to jot down the address.

“Okay… here’s Robs,” Steve said, getting ready to hand off the phone to Robin.

“See you tonight, Steve,” you said bubbly, excited to see him and the rest of your friends later in the day.

You could hear the phone being passed back to her from the slight shuffling, but it was quickly retracted back to Steve’s hand followed by Robin’s gasp.

“Wait!” He said hurriedly taking you aback, “You’re gonna wanna take Cornwallis instead of Mirkwood,” he began.

“Huh?” You asked confused.

“On the map, Mirkwood is the shorter route to Joyce and Hop’s but it’s a sketchy back road so don’t take it. Cornwallis is the safer route, granted it will take you a little longer but it’s safer so just…please, take Cornwallis.”

You bit your lip, holding back a smile that was borderline self indulgent because he almost sounded distressed. Like the thought of you taking the shortcut would send him into full panic mode and who were you to do that to him? Never would you ever think about worrying him like that.

“Okay, I’ll take Cornwallis. Promise.”  You said firmly followed by a sigh of relief on the other line.

“Okay great, I’ll see you—sorry, I don’t know why, I’m saying that, I literally just said it five seconds ago.” He stumbled over his words apologizing unnecessarily. 

You grinned, biting back laughter. “It’s alright, Stevie. I’ll see you tonight!”

The nickname had slipped without you even realizing it. A sweet sweet nickname that rolled off your tongue innocently while it made Steve’s heart pitter patter a little faster in his chest, almost making him go dizzy because it was you saying it to him.

“Y-yep, gotcha, see ya tonight.” He stuttered, pulling the phone away from him.

“You guys make me sick,” Robin muttered jokingly, flicking Steve’s forehead as she took the phone and began reading you the address on file.

It wasn’t long before you and Robin said your goodbyes, reminding you to take Cornwallis once again after Steve had shouted it out from across the store. She whispered something about him being totally overprotective, but you didn’t mind, if anything you found it endearing as he was looking out for you and you knew Robs was just teasing.

So your productive morning didn’t turn out the way that you had planned it to be. Instead of fulfilling the blank canvas at home, you headed out to pick out some things for the party knowing it would be rude to show up empty handed.

At the farmers market you picked up a bundle of fresh rhubarb and a carton of strawberries — a gift to Joyce who made the best strawberry rhubarb pie according to her children. Then at another stand you picked up two bottles of cider, black currant and apple ginger for Hopper.

The rest of the things you picked up were little gifts like an assortment of freshly made jams that came in cute little reusable glass jars, a bundle of herbs, and a gorgeous bouquet of bright sunflowers.

Once you had arrived back home, you committed most of your time to assembling dessert. A trifle recipe that you had bookmarked in a cookbook yet hadn’t gotten the chance to try to bake until today — though in hindsight you should’ve picked something a lot simpler, but you always like to see how much you could crunch your time.

It wasn’t long before dessert was sitting in the fridge and you were covered in flour and pastry cream as you got to work personalizing gifts for the three siblings: El, Will, and Jonathan. Their gifts were practically free, coming from your collection of office supplies, yet also coming from your heart.

El’s was a baby pink spiral notebook, college ruled with over 200 pages she could write her heart out in. You had decorated the outside cover with silver and gold stars and in cursive letters you had written “El’s Secret Journal” inside of a heart.

Will’s was a tan sketchbook with thick pages where ink and paints couldn’t bleed through. You kept the cover pretty plain, using sticker letters to title it “Will’s Spectacular Sketches'', and adding a smily face in the corner.

Jonathan’s was a photo album that would store his developed film pictures that he had told you were starting to pile up in a random shoe box in his closet. You used newspaper clippings of letters to spell out “Jonathan’s Photography” in order to achieve the vintage sorta look you knew he was into.

All of the goodies were packed into a thrifted wickered basket that the family could repurpose whenever they wanted. And it also meant easy transporting for you considering how many things were stuffed into the basket. Surprisingly enough, everything fit perfectly and you were crossing your fingers that the family loved it just as much as you did.

“Okay, c’mon,” You rubbed your hands together before getting to work on cleaning up your place.

Once you were done you quickly got into the shower, rinsing your body off of the perspiration and baking ingredients that clung to your skin.

It wasn’t long before you were dried and throwing on a simple outfit: a floral cami paired with overalls and strappy sandals to match. You dabbed on a bit of makeup before throwing on your everyday jewelry and rushing out of your bedroom

The time on the clock read a quarter to six and by now you were supposed to leave ten minutes ago — way to go for time management.

Quickly you slung your purse over your shoulder before grabbing everything and hitting the road to what you hoped wouldn’t be too long of a drive.You couldn’t wait to meet Joyce and Hopper and most of all you couldn’t wait to see your friends again… and especially the person whom you saw more than a friend.

Meanwhile the sun was setting over Hawkins and in the Byers-Hopper front yard was a group of kids too busy screaming their heads off playing tag while the others finished setting up to get together.

Nancy and Jonathan were busy setting up the picnic tables, trying to figure out a way for the paper plates not to fly off. Robin was helping Joyce inside the house, getting the veggies cut up and plated, though both of them knew they were really spending more time talking. And Eddie and Steve lingered around the grill helping Hop with the barbecue duties.

El, however, was not participating in tag, tired from chasing around her friends and wanting to catch a break as she stayed close to her fathers’ side and talked his ear off about the girl from Roane who was going to be here any minute now.

“You’re gonna love her, dad.” El bubbled watching as her dad flipped the burger patties and Steve held an aluminum pan out for him.

Hop’s chest puffed out, peering down at her. “From what I heard she sounds like you’re grandma, so I’m a tad bit concerned.”

The young girl frowned sadly, detaching from his arm. “That’s what Mike said.”

Eddie and Steve both held back their laughs watching the way Hop’s face had fallen at the sheer thought of being compared to Mike. It was obvious that the man still had a hard time accepting the fact that his own daughter would ever consider dating such a little twerp — but to each their own.

Hop coughed, shaking his head regretfully. “Well, in that case, I'll take it back. She sounds lovely, all of you can't stop yapping about her so she must be nice,” he rolled his eyes somewhat though El didn’t seem to catch it.

“The nicest!” El gushed happily, clapping her hands together. 

Steve was smiling, not minding that the conversation was centered around you because… it was you. He honestly didn’t blame El for being so excited, after all they only got to see you a few days out of the week and when they did it was always something he looked forward to the most.

Eddie was the one who wiped the smile off his face, nudging him in the ribs with his elbow nearly making him drop the pan of burger patties,“Especially to Steve.”

“Asshole!” Steve shouted, regaining his grip on the pan and glaring at the metal head who shuffled a few inches away.

“Hey!” Hopper clanked the metal tongs together gaining the boy's attention, “Make fun of him all you want but don’t you dare drop the food. Spent way too much on all this crap and the last thing I need is dirt covered burgers.”

“Yeah, c’mon man, get it together.” Eddie chided with a grin as El giggled and shook her head, clearly amused by the grown men’s banter.

The sizzling of meat on the grill accompanied the shouts of the rest of the kids who were calling a timeout wanting to take a water break. The automatic porch light flickered on, giving light to the dim area as the sky turned darker with each passing minute.

“Isn’t she supposed to be here by now?” Eddie raised his brow, taking a look at the time on his watch.

“Probably stuck in traffic or something, Roane gets backed up pretty quickly.” Steve said, holding out the pan closer as Hop placed the cooked meats on top of one another.

Hop glanced around raising an eyebrow, “What’s so special about this girl, anyway? All I’ve been hearing for the past two weeks is Roane, Roane, Roane—”

Eddie snorted, crossing his arms over his chest, “Well for starters, she lives in Roane.”

The older man glared, responding sarcastically, “Wow, no kidding. Thanks Munson."

“Always my pleasure, sir.” Eddie saluted before patting Steve firmly on the back,“You. Why don’t you tell Hop about her since you two are soooo close?”

El giggled, reaching out to poke Steve on the cheek as he chuckled and shrugged away from her and Eddie’s teasing. But he couldn’t hold back his smile, not when it came to this and bragging about all the wonderful things that he had come to memorize about you.

“She’s an artist. Sells her own work at galleries and she gets commissioned for custom pieces from time to time.” He started, leaving out the bit about you painting an elaborate mural, knowing you’d like to tell them that yourself.

“And she bakes.” El chimed in.

Steve nodded with a smile before turning back to Hop, “And she’s kind, like insanely sweet, even to Mike and that’s saying a. lot. But she’s also super generous, gave Will a bunch of art supplies and will probably bring some more tonight—”

Hopper couldn’t help but interrupt the never ending list, pointing at him with the tongs, “Are you and her seeing each other or something?”

Steve blinked, shaking his head vigorously and pursing his lips. “W-what, no, we aren’t—”

“You sure?” Eddie tilted his head.

Steve groaned, narrowing his eyes at the metal head. “You’re literally friends with us, I’d tell you if we were.” he replied with a sigh giving him that knowing look.

The metal head shrugged, a teasing smirk pulling up at his lips, “Yeah, but I didn’t know you spent the night at her place until the next day.”

“You spent the night?” Hopper blurted crossing his arms over his chest.

Steve swallowed, “I wasn’t planning to, but there was a road closure and she offered. And like I’ve been telling everyone, nothing happened. We talked, then went to sleep.”

“And you got her coffee and did laundry before you left!” El added innocently, before slapping a hand over her mouth after Steve had widened his eyes at her.

“How did you know that?” He accused suspiciously as the girl took off shouting a “I don’t know” behind her.

Hopper and Eddie seemed entertained by the information while Steve on the other hand was mortified as to how she would know that unless you had told Robin who then had told Nancy who then told Max who then told her.

Knowing Robin for as long as he did, it was most likely her. You on the other hand had no idea that Robin was a blabber mouth and the world's worst liar — but she was still his best friend so there was not much he could do about it. 

“Husband duties already?” Hop joked, snapping Steve out of his worries.

He snorted, gripping the pan tightly in his hold, “I’m sure Joyce would have appreciated it when you and her started seeing each other.”

Hopper’s chest rumbled with a deep laugh and his face fell with a smirk, “Yeah, kid, I’m sure she did, but the difference is Joyce was my girlfriend but you, my friend, haven’t even asked—”

“You know what… that’s not the point!” Steve pinched his eyes shut, shaking his head to himself before opening them back up to see the smug smirks on Hop and Eddie’s faces, “I’m not a slob, I wasn’t going to leave her place without cleaning up after myself and at least thanking her for letting me stay over.”

The two men looked between each other, letting their shoulders fall with a shrug, “Sure, whatever you say.”

Steve was about to respond, a snarky comment about how Eddie shouldn’t be talking because his dating life was about zero to none and how Hopper should help Joyce with carpooling instead of rushing out of the house to get donuts every morning. But the remarks didn’t get a chance to break free as the front door of the home flung wide open.

“She’s here!” Robin shouted, jogging down the porch steps and whipping past the men at the grill setup.

He watched as she waved her hands up in the air stopping at the end of the driveway where your car had been approaching with the headlights dimming. As the yellow beacon of lights died, the car parked and he could clearly see through the glass beginning to unbuckle your belt as you smiled and waved.

“I’ll be right back,” Steve muttered, hastily thrusting the aluminum pan into Eddie’s hands as he jogged over to your car to greet you.

You should’ve known Robin wasn’t going to let you get out of the car before pulling you into a tight hug within the cramped space of your driver's seat. But you didn’t mind one bit, even if you were straining your neck to fully reach up around her and hug her just as snuggly.

“I’m so happy you came!” Robin squealed against you before letting you go.

“Thanks for inviting me,” you spoke gratefully as you took the hand she extended to help you out of the car.

And again you were met with “hello’s” and “hi’s” this time in rapid fire from the kids who quickly flocked around your car the moment they heard Robin screaming her head off. You honestly didn’t know if you had gotten to say hello to all of them before they ran off to wherever they were headed.

“C’mon, I’ll introduce you to Hop and Joyce!” She singsonged, skipping away before she had heard you say that you were going to grab some things first.

It already felt a lot better being here with your friends than being stuck at your apartment all alone tonight. These days the thought of leaving your sacred space to hang out with your friends in the next town over didn’t feel so overwhelming. If anything it was a tempting every second thought that crossed your mind as you enjoyed their company just as much as they did yours.

For you, nights like this used to be so rare, filled with loneliness and pacing your apartment fighting the urge to cancel plans — if you had any, that is. It felt nicer to be wanted, even in a simple setting like this one on a week night that should’ve been spent at home with work being done.

If you lived closer you were sure nights like this would be more common than not.

“Here, I’ll help.”

You felt him before you heard him and it honestly was the best type of anticipation that you could sense in your bones. Something you had picked up on from the first time that you met him. The way that he was always near whenever you were around and it was safe to say that you liked it.

Turning your head over your shoulder, you screeched excitedly.

“Steve!”

Your arms threw themselves around Steve’s neck, pulling yourself to him as he braced you with his arms wrapped around your back. He could feel you smiling against his collarbone as you tiptoed to try to reach the rest of him before eventually giving up and standing comfortably in his hold.

The only kind of hug that you and Steve ever shared was the fully immersed one where you’re both chest to chest, every inch of exposed skin sweeping against each other as you took one another in. It’s the only kind of hug either of you know when it comes to each other, the one that feels the most comfortable and right.

“Hey, you,” He murmured into your hair, taking in the scent that his memory wouldn’t let him forget.

Though it had already been five days since he used the collection of Body Shop products that littered your bathroom, it felt like he couldn’t wash it away, even overtop his cologne. And even if it was just his mind playing tricks on him, like torture for being away from you for so long — it felt nicer when the smell comes from you.

When your hair danced in the wind and filled the air with vanilla like a cloud that smothered Steve. He didn’t even dare to stop his senses from committing the blossoming jasmine and ripened peaches of a garden that you’re standing in the heart of to memory.

Hugs like this are a sort of delicacy to him that he hoped is the same for you, though he’s not sure if his Old Spice even comes close to the allure that you are — he can only hope.

“How was the drive?” He asked, finally fighting the urge to stop taking your aroma in.

He loosened his arms briefly to pull back and catch a glance at your face that was tucked to his chest. You retract only inches, staring up at him through your lashes with a smile never ceasing.

“Wasn’t too bad! I did almost get lost but I took a u-turn and took Cornwallis like you said.”

You forgot to tell him that you nearly took Mirkwood after having no clue of where you were going and your eyesight is too bad for you to read the street names on the rusty signs. It’s was already buried in the back of your mind, too happy that you made it here safely… his arms and the home, of course.

His arms tighten around you at the admission, squeezing you gently as he gave you an apologetic smile, “Sorry, you know if I wasn’t working today I would’ve come and picked you up.”

It’s not just something he’s said for show, you know he meant it wholeheartedly and if only he wasn’t working you would’ve taken him up on the offer. The passenger seat of his beemer is way more comfortable, not because it was a luxury car, but because he the one sitting beside you getting you where you need to be safely. 

“That’s alright, Steve,” You reassured him before hugging him close again, “thank you though.”

It isn’t long before the hug is interrupted by the shouts from Robin who is clearly amused by the sight yet very hungry and ready to sit down and feast. Steve muttered something unintelligible while you turned your head and flashed her a half smile from where she stood in between the home owners.

Steve knew the pointed look Robin gave him from across the driveway, the one that reads “don’t start with me!” and because of this he knew it’s best to let you go even when all he wanted was five more seconds to hold you like this.

He tapped the small of your back with his fingertips before he released, “Go,” he begins, chuckling as Robin begins counting down out loud like a threat. “I’ll grab the rest of the stuff.”

“Okie dokie,” You laughed, letting your arms drop from around his neck, leaving behind the rest of the stuff for Steve to carry.

Your fingers twiddle on their own accord as you approach the couple, smiling shyly, “Helloooo.”

“Hey, kid.”

“Hi, honey!”

Robin held her arms out wide, motioning to them both, “This is Hop and Joyce. Joyce and Hop, meet my friend from Roane!”

“Thank you for having me,” you beamed, unsure if you should stick your hand out and be formal.

Thankfully, Joyce didn’t hesitate to close the space between you, wrapping her arms around you lovingly and giving your back a rub, “Of course, honey, we’re so glad you were able to make it!”

She reminds you a lot like Dorothea, only less intimidating and shorter. But she’s just as warm and inviting, making you feel comfortable as if you’ve been here a million times before. As she pulled away, she gave your shoulders one last kind squeeze before you looked towards the tall giant beside her.

On the outside he looked scuffy, a thick mustache and a mean scar above his left eyebrow. But you know he’s the father to three wonderful and good hearted kids who praise him for being the best in the entire world, so you know he’s far from that — if anything his Hawaiian print button down would’ve told you anyways.

He was the one who broke the short silence, tapping the metal tongs together as he smirked, “So you’re the girl my kids won’t shut up about, huh?” He said jokingly.

Will and El don’t miss a beat to whine “Dad!” from the picnic tables where they were ready to eat.

You grinned walking into his side as you gave him a small hug, “I suppose so, it’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” He nodded, patting your back and letting you step away.

The car door slammed shut and Steve was striding over with his hands full, “You can lock it now,” he said with a chuckle. 

You nodded, digging your hands into your purse to find the keys as you clicked the fob and watched the headlights flash twice before hearing the beep.

“Thank you, again,” you said quietly, reaching for the goodie filled basket and taking the weight from him as he hums.

Turning on your heel, you held it out towards them, Robin already long gone and joining the rest of the group of watches from their seats.

“These are for you guys and the family,” You announced, letting Hopper take it from you as he began to inspect the contents.

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” Joyce pouted with gratitude.

You shook your head reassuringly,“It’s really no problem! I didn’t want to show up empty handed anyways,” you insisted.

“There’s a bunch of local stuff from the farmers market in there, but I also customized a few notebooks for the three based on their hobbies and whatnot.” You explained watching as he pulled out one of the bottles of cider and began reading the label.

“Can’t wait to add this one to the bar,” Hop snickered, waving the bottle around in front of Joyce as she scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully.

She looked at you, pretending to conceal her mouth as she muttered, “He added a bar cart to the kitchen and now he thinks he can collect all the alcohol he wants.”

The married couple's banter made you smile, happy to see that even in their middle age they were still finding ways to poke fun at each other without actually hurting the others feelings. 

Hop looked down at her with fake annoyance eyeing around the yard. “Yeah, well, this barbecue was actually supposed to be me giving everyone a grand tour but all everybody wants to do is stay outside.”

Joyce slapped  his arm lightly , “Hop, you’re gonna bore her, please,” she said embarrassingly.

You clutched your hands together behind your back, jutting your chin up with piqued interest, hoping to actually get a tour of the place. From the outside alone it looked cozy yet simple. Rose bushes lined the porch along with rocking chairs on the wooden deck.

“I wouldn’t mind a little tour, the place looks beautiful by the way.” You said cheerfully.

Hopper grunted, passing a smug smirk towards his lady before trading the cold dessert Steve was holding for his grilling tongs.

“You’re on meat duty. Come on, kid.”

The man began leading the way towards the front door before you offered Joyce another grateful smile as you followed along.

“Scream if he starts going on a home improvement tangent.” She called out half jokingly as you turned around and flashed her a thumbs up.

Steve chuckled to himself, flipping open the grill, “She’s too nice to do that. She’ll probably stand there and let him go on and on.”

Reaching for the aluminum pan that sat on the grill’s edge, he began taking off the last pieces of cooked meat hoping to get away before he smelled of smoke.

“She’s real pretty, Steve,” Joyce nudged him lightly with her elbow.

With a kind smile, he replied,“she really is, isn’t she?”

“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” She asked, genuinely curious and unaware of the circumstances around you both.

He furrowed his brows, lips twitching as he tried to hold back a grin, “We aren’t…I haven’t — we’re not dating, just…yeah, just not dating.”

“You haven’t asked her out yet?” She speculated.

He shook his head, shutting off the heat and closing it with a loud metal clang,“yes…well no, no because we’re just friends — friends, that’s it.”

The quietness from the picnic table should have been a red flag considering that everyone was usually talkative, especially the kids. But their silence meant one thing: eavesdropping.

“Now that’s just bullshit,” Mike barked out while Steve and Joyce made their way over with pans.

Steve glared, placing it down directly in front of the little shithead, “You Wheelers just love the word ‘bullshit’ don’t you?”

Truly, Steve put up with a lot when it came to the kids and while he had a soft spot for them, they were on thin ice these days because of their meddling. They stuck their noses where it didn’t belong, barging in on him at work to talk his ear off about dating advice as if they were the experts who could solve his problem.

“I mean he’s not wrong,” Max began shrugging her shoulders, “friends don’t hug or look at each other like that.”

He furrowed his brows, taking a seat in the middle of the open space,“like what?”

“You know what,” The red head retorted with a scoff.

He pursed his lips tightly tapping his knuckles against the grain. “No, please, someone enlighten me.” Steve challenged, looking at the faces around the table that looked away from his hardened gaze.

The last thing he wanted for tonight was to be pestered on by a bunch of fifteen year olds who thought that they had the whole dating thing down the tee. Half of them could barely even stand in the presence of their crush without fainting and the others were on and off again for stupid little things.

Lucas was the brave one, speaking up with his hands thrown dramatically in the air. “Like you guys long for each other! You act like you haven’t seen her in ages but it’s only been like five days.”

“You rushed the car like you hadn’t seen her in months,” Dustin added feeling less intimidated.

Steve’s eyes widened, pointing his finger at his best friend across the table, “So did Robin!”

She held her hands up in defense, letting her shoulders come up cautiously. “Because I’m like her closest friend out of all of us, you dingus! I have car rushing privileges.”

He clenched his eyes shut,“Oh my god,” he breathed heavily when he opened them back up, “what’s the big deal?”

It was a real question — what was the big deal about him being just as happy as everyone else to see you?

“The big deal is you obviously like her but you’re just sitting here not doing anything about it.” Mike gestured, half glaring at the man.

“Look, what we’re saying is you need to just take the chance and ask her out.” Max put it simply, glancing around at everyone else who nodded their heads.

“The worst she could say is no.”

It’s not their fault, the kids are young and don’t have much experience out of their little friend group that they’ve established, but what they don’t understand is that you saying no isn’t the worst case scenario — it actually quite the opposite.

Steve Harrington had been rejected many times before, and he had been to move forward with life, taking their answer for what it was and not trying to push. Sure, him asking you out and you saying no would totally leave him heartbroken for a few weeks, maybe even months, but he was never going to try to force you to feel the same way about him.

But that was the problem… he knows you feel the same.

Feelings are reciprocated between the both of you, something that had been developing and brewing over the course of just two weeks. And Steve’s no genius but he picked up on all the little things you do that affirm what he knows.

It like a looped movie in his mind, a compilation of moments that the two of you had shared:

Glances from across the living rooms when no one else is paying attention.

Lingering touches that feel like electricity sparking up his heart.

Gentle words of solace, like a sacred promise that you’d never break.

Laughter that is so contagious and never ending.

There’s no denying it, especially in the way that you and Steve acted when people were watching. A space or world that you two created and transported to whenever it’s just you and him. Nothing could ever be so easy to see through, it’s not even hidden in plain sight — just evidently clear. 

For once in his life his gut and heart worked in tandem, not trying to fight it off the feelings or fleet away. He shows it in the way he conducts himself around you, not holding back on the longing hugs or the sweet words, totally just letting himself be.

Things, however change when he thinks about moving further, like his brain switching and telling him to not trust his gut or his heart because it’ll only blow up in his face at the end. That this… whatever this was, it was too good to be true.

Steve could never see it in himself to be the man you would ever want to be with, even if you were all in already.

He can imagine that after everything you’ve told him about your past, that it can’t be easy for you to trust again, to give yourself wholeheartedly to another person after all those years yet here you were slowly giving yourself to Steve in the same way he was handing himself over to you.

You’ll hold him, give him the safe space to talk about anything, his awful parents and his stupid boring life, but he doesn’t know if he’s strong enough to hold you. If he has it in himself to give you the kind of love that you deserve… if the love he has inside of him would even suffice.

You’ve been hurt.

He had been the one dishing out the hurt.

But you’ve healed.

And he’s grown.

Yet it still feels like the two of you could be dancing with your hands tied and he can’t live to see himself be the one to hurt you — he can’t.

When Steve lost Nancy, it ate him alive, being so stupid and selfish for pushing her past the point of no return all because he couldn’t put his ego aside. But he’d been long over that, receiving her forgiveness and knowing that Jonathan loved and cherished her more than he ever could.

Losing you would kill him, just the thought of breaking your heart was sending him into a spiral of his thoughts.

He doesn’t even hear Eddie and Jonathan hissing at the kids to shut their traps and stop being so nosey. All of it feels like deafening silence even with the crickets chirping loudly in the grass and the dying charcoal sizzle in the grill a few feet away.

There’s a blank stare across his face, the expression so dull and lifeless, like his soul just got ripped away from him. Like a scene in a movie where the world goes on and on yet he’s still sitting there waiting for something to change.

“Steve, hey,” Robin said panicked, beginning to sit up on her haunches to get closer to him, “Dude, c’mon.” She said again, this time waving her hand in front of his face trying to pull him out of there.

The only thing he sees in front of him is his worst nightmare: you sobbing with your head in your hands, shouting that you never want to see him again as you get up and point him out the door.

No matter how loud Robin called for him to snap out of it and Joyce shaking his arm almost pleading — he couldn’t escape it.

The monster he’d become if he ever hurt you.

“What did I miss?” You piped up with your hand coming down to rest on Steve’s shoulders as you took a seat next to him.

It’s only then that he felt himself coming back down to Earth. Grounded knowing that you were right here in front of him with a smile on your face rather than a frown with tears coating your cheeks. You were happy right here with him, not trying to get away.

But your happy face quickly dropped with concern, hearing as though no one is answering you, not even Steve. He can feel it, the question on the tip of your tongue ready to ask him if everything is alright, and he doesn’t quite know the answer.

“I’m gonna go get a drink inside,” Steve finally spoke, getting up and leaving without saying another word to you.

Your eyes followed him, taking in his quick footing that took him through the front door in a matter of seconds. With your eyebrows furrowed, your voice drawled out, “Is he…okay?”

Looking around the table, the kids don’t dare to meet your eyes, not even innocent Will and El and that’s how you know something is up. Eddie only flashed you an apologetic smile as he shrugged his shoulders and took a swig of his beer. Nancy and Jonathan don’t even meet your eyes, theirs zeroing in on the living room window, trying to see where he went.

It’s Robin who takes a deep breath and lets her shoulders drop, “We don’t know.”

Joyce brings her hand to your arm, rubbing it warmly as she grimaces behind her smile, “I think he just needed some air, honey.”

You swallowed, nodding your head as you brace your hands on the wood and begin pushing yourself up, “I’m gonna go check on him.”

They didn’t try to stop you, insisting that it’s best for Steve to be alone right now because they truly don’t know what to do. The conversation had gone from all in good nature to triggering in a matter of seconds. 

You stepped through the front door making a beeline towards the kitchen where you could hear the ruckus of cans and bottles being shifted around in the fridge.

“Steve?”  You called out faintly, creeping around the wall to peek at him where he was hunched over in front of the appliance.

He turned his head over his shoulder, his face softening with just you in his sights, “Hey. Umm did you want a water or a soda?” He asked, holding up the two beverages in his hands.

You shook your head, watching as he forced a smile and put them back into the refrigerator, shutting it closed.

“Are you ok?” You approached him as he straightened up.

Steve nodded his head as if he was trying to convince himself, “Y-yeah, I’m fine—”

You knew he wasn’t. His easy going aura was replaced with someone that was tense and passive, trying his very best to put up a front. 

“Did the kids say something stupid?”

‘Insanely stupid and it sent me into a mental spiral’,  he thought.

“When don’t they?” He joked, rubbing a hand behind his neck as he tried to advert from your gaze.

You tsked, biting your lip as you watched him closely. “You usually don’t storm off like that, just had me worried, that’s all.”

“You shouldn’t worry about me.” He assured you, as if that would make your concern disappear.

“But I do,” You professed, no hesitation behind your voice, just you and your brutal honesty.

There’s not much to say, not when you both know what’s brewing between the both of you right here all alone. But in all honesty, the pot was boiling over, the point of no return but to just let it all go.

There’s so much Steve wanted to say, like the way he worries about you too. How he thinks about you throughout the day, that you’re taking care of yourself and being kinder like you had promised you would. Or how he wants you to know you can call him whenever you’re feeling alone and need the company — he’d drive to you no matter the hour whenever you called.

“Are you gonna drive all the way home tonight?” He started, looking out the window where the dark sky already clouded over the town.

“What?” You asked, clearly taken aback by the sudden question.

He swallowed, looking back at you, “It’s dark and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to drive home all alone. I mean you just got here, but by the time you leave it’ll be even darker and the roads are hard to see and—”

“Steve,” You whispered quietly, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze.

It’s enough for him to shut up, to want to reel in the moment of your touch on his again, even if it’s just for a split second.

“Yeah?”

“Do you want me to spend the night at yours?”

He cursed at himself, realizing that’s what he must have sounded like. A pig who was trying to get into your pants when really that’s not what he was insinuating at in the first place. He just wanted you to be safe. 

“I—I’m sorry… you could ask Robin or Nance to spend the night at theirs if you want, I just really don’t want anything bad happening tonight if you decide to drive—”

“Steve,”  You started again, this time your voice firmer as you weaved your fingers through his and never letting up on your grip.

“Do you want me to spend the night at your place?” Your voice was sure, confident yet soft, letting him know that you’re not trying to make fun of him.

He knows you understand what he means. 

“I do,” he breathed, nodding his head and giving your hand a squeeze, “I really want you to.”

“Then I’ll spend the night at yours.”

Your words were all it took for him to relax, forgetting why he was so wound up and anxious in the first place. 

All of it doesn’t seem to matter when his heart was already in your hands. You have all of him – his deepest fears and his wildest dreams. He’s committed to you like a promise, something he knows he doesn’t have to hold out hope for any longer because he’s strong enough. 

You knew it all along and he finally started to feel it. 

💌 reblogs, tags, comments, + likes are greatly appreciated! leave a comment and let me know if want to be added to my taglist!! 💌

a/n: chapter three is finally here!!!! thank you all for being so patient and sticking around!!! we're finally seeing some momentum picking up when it comes to glitch reader and steve...i wonder what they did at his place ;) HEHEEHHE (yes i am evil cackling bcs i have tricks up my sleeve 'cowboy like me' style) as always, a big big big thank you to my sweetest effie @translatemunson for helping me out with proofreading and guiding me throughout the whole process of writing -- theres no one i'd rather spill my guts to other than you, I LOVE YOUUUUU!!!! happy reading to all!!! 🙈🩷

taglist: @translatemunson @kennedy-brooke @manda-panda-monium @tvserie-s-world @givemeth @steveharringtonswife @astolenkiss @loving-and-dreaming @awkotaco24 @engenelxver @elfiaaaa @pbs-theundeadmaggot @johnricharddeacy @gaysludge @scoopshxrrington @micheledawn1975 @ihatepeanutss @bakugouswh0r3

[mittensdragon]

Tarot Card Reading

“The right people were always going to stay.” A Gentle Reminder • Bianca Sparachino

Hello everyone, welcome to my pick a pile tarot reading! Thank you for joining me today on this wonderful journey. Hopefully you find my message to you helpful today. 💜

As you read, pay attention to whether the information resonated with you or your life or not, if it doesn’t and you are confused then it’s a sign that pile is not for you. Nonetheless, thank you for your time, and if you’d like a more personal reading, visit my Etsy shop.

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Pile One: The Heart

Love

Good morning/night to pile one! Hope you are enjoying this day, and I hope you find this reading useful to you. Let’s get started.

Today you may feel as though your authority has been stripped away from you, perhaps from a situation or from someone you know has made you feel this way. This person or situation has made you feel as though you have no voice.

The Emperor card in reverse feels very significant here when it comes to this situation, and it points to someone in particular. With the card in reverse, the face of the emperor is facing the Queen of Pentacles. It could be a woman in your life that is making you feel like you have no authority, or perhaps someone with a very strong feminine energy.

Something about materialism comes up, either you or this person is very materialistic. If it is this person, then they are preventing you from receiving any good news that you are expecting. The Princess of Swords holds a letter of good news, but in reverse it feels like something is being withheld. If the Emperor were to be upright along with the good news, it would be facing the Princess of Swords. This shows me, that the person or situation in your life is holding you back from anything good.

There is also the possibility that this person or situation brings out the worst in you, which may make you materialistic or fall into habits that you may have been trying to get away from. This may resonate for some of you.

I feel like you are bottling up a lot of emotion, which is what takes away this authority big time. You can’t say what you feel, and eventually it will explode. Being able to say what you feel without worry that you will hurt someone’s feelings will benefit you. Always speak your truth, work on your throat chakra. Princess of Hearts in reverse is also holding a letter, I feel like you can find better. If you live your truth, live by what you feel is right for you. Not other people, because it’s your life. Do what your heart desires.

Speaking your truth is connected to your heart, I would say to work on listening to your heart. Connect with your heart chakra and you’ll be able to understand yourself more. Working on your throat will allow you to say what you want for yourself.

Ace of Hearts tells you to allow love into your life, allow the emotion. It’s not weak to show emotion, it’s a part of us. 💜

This is all for your reading Pile One! Hope this resonates for you and thank you for joining me.

…

Pile Two: The Butterfly

Transformation

Good morning/evening, pile two!

Hope you are enjoying today, as you should, my friends. I hope you find this reading helpful and useful for you. Let’s start!

Someone seems to be holding you back from being who you are. And I mean, who you truly are. This would be The King of Pentacles, a person in your life does not like to see you ride to victory, as we see with Six of Wanda in reverse. They do not like to see you become greater than they are. This is someone you have to let go, especially if they are preventing you from doing what you want in life. And from becoming your best self, The Empress.

Princess of Wands shows that an opportunity may come your way, and it’s a good opportunity. It’s something you’ll want to celebrate, maybe it’s something you’ve been waiting for. Whatever it is, it definitely feels exciting.

This may be what takes you away from this person that’s holding you back, maybe you will use this opportunity as an excuse to get away too. The other possibility is, this person is holding you back from this opportunity but I strongly feel it’s the prior since this event has not happened yet.

I feel like you need to take this in order to set yourself free from this person. To be able to find people that truly value you and your worth and that will celebrate every accomplishment you encounter. So, I really feel like this is necessary for you. It’s something you really need. I’m feeling a sense of urgency, maybe it’s the need to get away? Like some sort of vacation.

As I am writing this and listening to music a song comes on called Starting Over by Chris Stapleton, which this song also resonates a lot with what we are talking about here. It talks about getting away, starting over with someone new. Maybe this resonates with you.

Whatever opportunity and situation this may be, you are being told to take it. And I would love to hear more about this too. 🖤

I hope this resonated with you Pile Two. Good luck on your journey and get what you deserve, loves.

…

Pile Three: The Bear

Strength

Good morning/evening, Pile Three! I’m feeling energy with you guys, a good energy. Strong too. Hope this reading resonates with you in every way possible and helps you through this day! Let’s get started.

To start we have Strength, I feel this is definitely referring to you, my friend. Yes you, the reader reading this pile, don’t deny it. Don’t deny your potential. Why do you think you got The Bear?

There is so much going on for you right now, isn’t there? I feel like for you, it’s hard to even sit still. Maybe there’s a lot of anxiety or energy, you have to keep moving in survival mode. Your strength is what is getting you through all this, you know you have it. You know you can get through this. In the end, it will benefit you.

You may feel like everything everything is falling apart, your relationships, your stability, your sense of self and direction, your financial situation. But it’s not, you’re not losing anything. I know it feels that way, but you have to trust yourself and trust the moment that you are in right now is going to benefit you later.

Soon there will be peace, soon there will be resolution. Look forward to it. Don’t give up, that’s why you are strong. You are being given that strength to keep going. This is just a little reminder. A push.

You may be feeling stuck in a rut, like you want to do many things at once but you just can’t and you feel helpless. Strength is not just being able to bull doze through a brick wall. It’s also being able to sit still through the hardships and wait for the pain to subside. Wait for things to flow through easily. Like water. Water always finds its way out, it doesn’t do it right away but with years of eroding. Let things go, let go of control. Face your situation without fear, and approach it with calm. Like how an angel approaches a lion.

The Angel in the card of Strength approaches the lion without fear of getting hurt and without hostility. The lion in turn is calm.

Approach situations in this manner, and you will begin to see the change. The situations will shift from chaos to calm. And you will begin to see that all is not ending.

Thank you for reading and I hope this message has helped you. 💜

…

Thank you for reading and see you next time!

Mittens

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Ok, I have done some catching up! This mostly fell as I expected. There have been many shows that ended up far better or far worse than indicated by their trailers, so who knows how the final product will land, but here are my first impressions. (QL only, the hets are still boring to me).

Most excited for:

Revamp - pump it right into my veins, baby. The aesthetic still matches the original trailer, Boun looks so fucking hot, and if GMMTV has the sense to let BounPrem do what BounPrem do best, this will be an epic series. Sad about the loss of Boss. Looking forward to both Santa and Mark getting to hopefully break out of their usual innocence pigeonholing.

The Heart Killers - did not expect the FirstKhaotung and JoongDunk pairing, but I am here for it. Even though Joong and Khaotung do not look remotely related. Finally GMMTV has realized Joong should be killing people onscreen and we get sexy pursuing Dunk. First & Khao do feel a bit similar in vibe to Sand & Ray here, but presumably with the series they'll have no problem more fully developing them in a unique way.

The Ex-Morning - I don't always vibe with plotlines like this, but my baby Singto is here, and I like the meta-ness of giving him and Krist a story about former partners coming back together and relighting the spark.

Less excited, reserving judgement:

Us - I'm happy we're getting another GL, and I haven't seen Bonnie or Emi in anything before, but they seemed amazing, and the chemistry is on point. I'm just not a big fan of love triangle stories, especially with siblings. Also I want more of Sing being a bad boy with his tits out, less crying in the rain. But I will probably still watch to show support.

Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist - I am delighted that Mark is getting his well-deserved lead, and he and Ohm seem great together. I just don't love dentists as romantic leads. I know this is a me thing, the dentist's office is just a very stressful place for me, and having scenes there just brings up past experiences. I had the same issue with My Tooth Your Love. The plot also feels just so-so. But I hope this is just the start of a lot more Mark leading role material!

Thame-Po - similarly, really happy about Est in a lead, he and William have great chemistry. And I do think it's good to have shows pushing back at the public over this idea that idols aren't allowed to have personal lives. But it's also not a very original plotline.

Perfect 10 Liners - *weary sigh* We're going to end up with 40 year olds playing college students, aren't we? That said, I felt the same way about We Are, but I'm really enjoying it. So it could be fun. I'm happy to see Junior and Mark again. And according to online, we will also get AouBoom and MarcPoon (and it might be 3 series in full, good lord!?), so I'm on board with more of them.

Note to GMMTV: posting a slide that says "chemistry on point" before showing Perth & Chimon, does not make us believe in the chemistry! For the love of god, do some heavy duty chemistry workshops, or give Perth a new partner.

Ossan's Love - I haven't seen the original, but gotta admit, not a huge fan of this kind of comedy. I do like that the boss is an older man, represent, but I'm not sure if I'll enjoy this one.

[mattsdae]

help wanted part 4

read part 1, part 2, and part 3

tags: joe young x masc reader , leather/latex , frotting , making out , nipple play (?) , reader likes joe’s tits but can we really blame him , gambling ig , honestly not a lot happens , mostly fluff and plot shit

synopsis: joe looks good in his new costume, but reader feels like he’s being… watched.

word count: ~5.4k

a/n: sorry for the long wait! hopefully this is at least a little worth the 3 weeks with zero updates lol also i’m using readers forgetfulness to my advantage cuz idk any of the side characters names so i just wrote that reader doesn’t know anyones names.

joe was asleep by the time the lion king ended. turns out, crying your eyes out for the entire morning was tiring, so he took a little nap. the only issue was that he fell asleep on your shoulder. he was worried about you, so he got nice and close, cuddling up and falling asleep.

you had to sit through his nap, which sucked since the remote was out of reach and you couldn’t put another movie on. you sat still, listening to his little snores as he clung onto your arm. you let boredom (and comfort) take over, falling asleep with him on the couch.

you woke up a few hours later, curled up with a blanket over you. at first, you didn’t question it, rolling over and pulling the sheet up to your chin. it took a second, but you suddenly remembered joe. you popped up, looking over the living and dining room. you looked at the coffee table, finding a handwritten note.

Y/N,

you fell asleep, so i decided to go. i rewinded the tape for you! i had a lot of fun. we should do this more often!

:)

joseph young

you didn’t realize, but you smiled as you read the note. he had nice handwriting, simple but neat cursive that was still easily legible. he put a proper signature at the bottom as if it were a legal document, which only made you smile more. it was endearing to say the least. you kept the note, putting it in your bedside table drawer.

as you tidied up the tapes, you started to make up excuses in your head for what happened. it wasn’t like it was a date or anything. all you did was watch movies, it wasn’t a big deal. even though it ended with his head on your shoulder, so what? you could excuse all of it. you decided to ignore the dry humping and the fact that you came to the thought of loving him.

later that day, you got a call from dave talking about another orgazmo film you were going to do lighting for. you agreed a little too quick before catching the date and time. now, it was that date and time. you were talking to one of the prop designers, leaned up against the wall outside as you smoked a cigarette.

“honestly, i don’t get it, but maxxx asked for it so here i am.” he took a drag from his own cigarette. like most people on set, you didn’t know his name. people come and go pretty often, so you learned to tune out any names. it’s gotten to the point now that you can’t remember who anyone is, even if they’ve stayed around for months. usually, it gets to the point where it’s too awkward to ask.

“so is it supposed to be sexy? the whole orgasm-inator thing or whatever it’s called?” he shrugged with a smile.

“maxxx is into some weird shit, dude. i wouldn’t put it past him.” you nodded, smiling as you remembered multiple examples of his weird fetishes.

“y/n! need you in here!” dave called out. you answered before putting your cigarette out and going inside.

“what do you need-“

you cut yourself off, staring at joe as he spoke to the costume designer. he was wearing a new outfit, one made of latex or possibly leather. either way, it was tight fitting and shiny, hugging every inch of him perfectly. his shoulders and arms were exposed, which weirdly turned you on more than anything. you’d seen his dick, yeah, but never his bare arms.

he was muscular, much stronger than his loose button ups and long sleeves showed. his chest hair poked over the material, bringing attention to his expose collarbones. you felt insane, getting worked up over something like arms and collarbones. like an early englishman calling women harlot’s for exposing their ankle.

“you good?” you blinked, brought back to reality as dave snapped his fingers in front of you. your face heated, quickly adjusting yourself for no particular reason. “i just need you to set another umbrella by the couch.”

you nod, quickly getting to work to avoid any more suspicious. just as you tightened the knob, locking the angle in place, joe walked up.

“hey!” he grinned. you smile subconsciously.

“hey..” you hummed. you blushed, realizing you deepened your voice like a middle schooler trying to impress his crush. he giggled.

“why does your voice sound like that?” his eyes twinkled, a large grin on his face as he asked. you almost smiled just looking at him, but you stopped yourself.

“uhh, i’m a little sick.” you committed, keeping your voice weirdly raspy and deep. you felt your face warm up as you heard someone nearby huff out a small laugh.

“oh, really? are you okay?” his eyes widened, concerned. you shook your head, turning away to mess with the already set up light.

“yeah, i’m fine.” you turned away, squatting down in attempt to end the conversation. he put his hand on your shoulder.

“are you sure? you need to get some rest if you don’t feel well.” you shook your head, avoiding looking at him in case you spaced out again.

“i’m fine, joe. i promise.” your voice faultered. finally, you looked up at him. he always had a pout, a small downturn of his lips that only got more exaggerated with strong emotions like worry. you kept eye contact, refusing to look anywhere else.

“okay..” he leaned back. you went back to your job of acting busy, only for him to stay put. “did you see my new costume? it’s a little weird, right?”

“yeah, i saw it.” of coarse you saw it, it was the first thing you witnessed when you opened the door and yeah, it was weird. that’s why you were so freaked out about being turned on by it. “it looks good.”

“really? it’s a little.. tight.” you didn’t look, but you heard his hand run over the costume, likely trying to point out where it was tight. you refused to look, knowing what would happen if you did.

“i think it looks fine, man.” you keep your gaze away. he says a small hmph before walking away. you kept doing your work, finishing whatever dave asked you to do. eventually, you had a break and went outside for another smoke.

you heard the backdoor open slowly and shut just the same. you knew who it was, you didn’t even have to look. you felt joe walk closer, stopping a few feet away. you glance, catching a look at his costume in broad daylight. it looked just as hot as it did inside.

“are you okay?” joe asked. you nod.

“yeah. why?”

“you just.. you’re acting weird. ever since we kissed, you’ve been avoiding me and you didn’t even look at me when i was talking to you earlier..” you kept your head down, unable to say what was so clearly on your mind. “are you mad at me?”

“no! of coarse not! i just.. i dunno. i’m just not my normal self right now, you know?” he nods. he crossed his arms, subconsciously covering himself. “i think the costume looks great. sorry for not saying it earlier.”

“you think so?” he lit up, now smiling.

“yeah. you look really nice. can i say something? and promise you won’t laugh.” he agreed. “i wasn’t looking at you ‘cause i was worried i’d get hard.” you heard shuffling above you, but you decided to ignore it.

“really?” he beamed, clearly excited by the fact that you found him sexy. you nod. “i didn’t know people were into this stuff.. so you like this?”

the truth was, it wasn’t the outfit that turned you on; it was his body. the way it hugged every little curve perfectly and showed off parts of his body you never thought to notice. it showed how strong and sturdy his body is, contrasting his sweet gaze. it was whiplash, switching between eye contact to checking his body, going from an innocent little mormon boy to a strong man.

“yeah, i guess i do.” that was an easier answer. he nods, looking away. you flick your cigarette, glancing over his body again. “can i touch you?”

“hm?” you didn’t even mean for the question to come out, but with it now floating in the air, you committed.

“can i touch you? i think you look really nice and i.. i want to feel it.” you chewed on your lip as you waited for an answer. you glanced up above you, noticing the suspicious open window directly above the two of you. he looked around before taking your hand and leading you inside. as you two walked through the door, everyone looked before quickly averting their gaze. you blushed, narrowing your eyes as the entire crew acted busy while joe dragged you up the stairs and into a makeshift dressing room, which was just a bedroom with only a futon and different clothes hung up.

“where do you want to touch?” he asked, shutting the door behind you and locking. you glanced down his body, struggling to choose. deciding against answering, you instead responded by kissing him, pulling him close by the back of his neck and leading him to the futon.

as joe sat, you straddled him, legs planting on either side and holding him still. his hands moved to your waist, holding you as well. while his thumb rubbed circles onto your hip, you explored. your palms, sweaty from anxiety, squeaked over the material. he hummed.

“you look so good, baby..” he huffed as you felt over his chest, brushing over his nipples. “just can’t get enough of you, can i?”

he nods in agreement, unaware of the subtext. a subtle confession. you circle your hips, slowly grinding against him as he did before. he whined, fingers digging into your sides. you pull back from the kiss, glancing over him. his face was pink, rosy cheeks matching his flushed chest. his forearms tensed as he moved your hips himself, frustrated by your recess.

“you’re just too much.” another quick confession that could be covered up. you tried to stay professional, avoiding any hint of your true feelings, but you weren’t sure joe would notice if you were being obvious.

one of your hands wandered to his face, holding his jaw and cheek before returning to the kiss. it felt just as intimate and experimental as the first time. joe gripped your hips, still pushing and pulling. your brushed his nipple again, making him whimper. you pull away, looking at him.

“can i touch you here? is it okay?” you gave a little pinch to make the message a little clearer. he whines, nodding. you closed the gap, hand moving away from his jaw and to the straps of his costume. you slowly undressed him, studying how every touch felt. his arm lifted, letting you take it off. his skin was smooth, gentle and soft in contrast with the muscles underneath.

you removed the other strap, moving it low enough to expose his chest. you nearly drooled at the sight. the shock made you realize how little you’ve seen of him. even though you’ve seen his most private area, you still didn’t get the privilege to see the rest of him. his shoulders tensed, shy under your gaze.

“you look so pretty,” you hum. he nods, reassured. considering you were ‘straight’ only a month ago, you were shocked by how infatuated you were. his chest flushed, rising and falling slowly as he looked over you at the same time. his hands moved under your shirt, exploring your skin. you buried your face in his neck, moaning into his flesh as he massaged. you kissed, licking over the muscle and causing him to squirm.

“off..” he mumbled, pulling at your shirt. you pull back and he lets go of the material. you chuckle, leading his hands back to the hem.

“if you want it off, you gotta take it off.” he makes eye contact, expression nervous and seeking approval. you nod. he lifts the shirt over your head and looks at your abdomen. he stares.

“you’re skinny.” you start to laugh, which makes him shy. “no, i didn’t- you’re shirt..”

“it’s fine, baby.” he’d never seen you with a shirt or pants that actually fit, usually 2 or 3 sizes too big. he was confused by it, you could tell by the fact that he offered to give you extra shirts he had that would fit better when you first met him. his hands found their way to your waist. he squeezed, making you squirm and giggle.

“you’re ticklish?” he grinned. you shook your head, straightening your expression and pushing his hands off.

“nah, man. i’m not-“ he grabbed at your sides again. you whined, trying to wiggle away as one of his arms wrapped around your hip and held you still. you pushed against his chest as he smiled up at you. he let go after a few seconds.

“you’re such a liar!” he giggled as you complained. you felt a twinge in your chest, guilt burning for just a moment before he kissed you again, cutting off your rambling. a small smile formed, melting into his touch as he started to unbutton your jeans. your hands hovered over his, waiting for him to go for your sides again, but he was far too focused on what was in your pants.

you reached for his chest again, making him whine as he touched your cock over your boxers. he was gentle, almost scared to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. you grind into his hand with a moan, confirmation to keep going. you stayed attached to his chest, circling his areola. he shivered, bringing a smile to your face.

“you sensitive there?” you teased. he nodded, head kept low as he moaned. he touched you the same way you did him, trying to mimick each move in the same order. his thumb rubbed just under the tip, you moaning in response. “come on, baby. touch me. please?”

he obeys, sliding your boxers low enough to expose you to him. he stared for a few seconds, watching as you twitched in his palm. you whined, pinching his nipple to make him move. he moaned, his cock now twitching from within his suit.

“why don’t you touch yourself, too?” you suggested. he glanced up as you took a hold of his hand, tracing over each indent on his palm. “you got big hands, i’m sure you can hold both at the same time.”

he nods, also pulling his pants just low enough to expose himself. you bit your lip at the sight, watching him pull your hips closer. he hooked his thumb onto his cock before taking a hold of yours, pressing them together. you moan as he moves his hand slowly. he nodded, taking your moan as verbal encouragement and quickly jerking both of you off.

your hips bucked, thrusting into his fist every so often as you fondled his chest. you buried your face in his neck, licking the skin before attaching your lips. he moaned, his free hand grabbing onto your bicep. you pinched again.

“there.. just like that.” you moan into his mouth, mumbling praises as he sped up, desperation taking over sensuality. you whined as he moved away from your lips, pressing his face into your shoulder. he moaned rythmically, just as you did. you lifted his chin, pushing his head back before dipping down.

he gasped when you licked over his nipple, teeth grazing over it as he grabbed onto your hair. he twitched, the jump made evident by your touching cocks. you moaned as well, the brief friction taking you by suprise. you suckled on his breast, just like you did to girls. he whined as you did so, unable to decide between watching and throwing his head back in pleasure.

“i’m.. i think i’m close-“ joe whined, gripping harder as he did the same to your cocks, desperately moving up and down. you moan at the admission.

“you think you can wait for me?” he nearly wailed, making you smile against his chest.

“pleaseee..”

“kiss me. i’ll cum faster if you kiss me.” he quickly grabbed onto your hair, pulling you up and pressing his lips to yours. you melted, openly moaning into his mouth as you throbbed within his grip. he kept pulling, remembering how much you loved it before. he took advantage of it, yanking at your locks passionately.

before you knew it, you were cumming all over your own bare chest and his latex costume. he moaned as you did, rushing to catch up and cum at the same time. he succeeded, pulling your hair one last time as his hips stuttered against his own fist. it was overwhelming. his hand in your hair, fist squeezing your cocks together as it moved, his lips against yours. it was all too much.

you whined, softening in his grip as he slowly lets go. he whimpered, too. your cocks lazily pressed together, just barely overstimulating both of you. you finally pull away, ending the kiss. he looked up at you, pupils blown and eyes wide.

“what?” you ask, wondering why he looked at you that way. his expression didn’t change as his eyes flicked between each of your features.

“i know you’re a boy but..” he trails off. his hand reached up to your face, his thumb running over each of his favorite features. he parted your lips, noting their reddish hue after kissing, before caressing your cheeks while looking into your eyes. it was intimate, letting someone caress your face while pointing out their favorite features with each touch. you flushed under his gaze. “you’re pretty.”

“you think so?” you didn’t mean to ask the question, it slipping out before you could catch it. you voice was soft, barely above a whisper. he nods. you felt hot, heat suddenly overwhelming you as he looked away from your eyes and studied your features ahain. there’s a moment where both of you watch eachother, you being too scared to even think about what he meant. eventually, you pulled apart and cleaned up.

filming felt awkward now. for some reason, it felt like everyone was watching you. filming ended and while joe usually left soon after wrapping, he stayed behind, waiting for you to leave. at first, you didn’t understand why he’d stay, but he quickly made it clear as he made conversation.

“i’m hungry. do you want to get something after you’re done? my treat!” he smiled at you. you agree absentmindedly. “can we get mcdonalds? i heard the big mac’s good!”

“you heard?” you chuckle as he confirms. “so you’ve never been to mcdonalds?”

“no. my mom always cooked for us ‘cause that’s what a woman is supposed to do.” you grimace.

“you know, women can do other things, right?”

“yeah, but that’s what my mom and dad always said.” you decide to leave it there, too tired to explain feminism to him. you were frustrated anyway, considering you were left alone to clean up all by yourself. you assumed most of the actors left, but the film crew should be helping disassemble everything. you knew the lazy assholes maxxx hired as help usually fucked off and waited for you to finish, but at least dave would help. even he was nowhere to be seen.

joe stayed behind as you did a final sweep to make sure everything was reset. you found one of the doors shut and a distant rumble of voices behind it, a suspicious sight considering you assumed everyone was gone. you opened, slowly poking your head in and finding the entire crew, actors included, standing around yelling at eachother.

“no, dude! did you see the way they were looking at eachother? they’re totally fucking!” a voice called back, continuing a conversation you missed the first half of.

“man’s looks in love! they’re totally dating!” a girl spoke up.

“why not both? you’re acting like it’s one or the other!” you stepped in, shutting the door behind you as you entered.

“i swear! they were flirting outside and y/n was complimenting him!” you furrowed your brow, just barely recognizing your name in the sea of words.

“i just don’t see him as the type.. i mean he doesn’t even look gay. also, didn’t he fuck ava?”

“he probably likes both, dude. dave likes guys and girls, too.”

“he’ll fuck anything as long as it has a pulse. either way, joe’s the queer one of the two.” joe? why were they talking about him? you glared at the man who said it, who quickly realized you were listening in and stopped talking.

“what’s going on?” you asked slowly, watching as a few people held their hands behing their back. you stepped forward, looking at the producer, who turned with you to avoid showing his backside. “what are you holding?”

“uhhh…” you grabbed for his wrist, making a 100 dollar bill fall to the ground. you paused, staring at the cash as some people snuck out of the room. “why are you holding that?”

“y/n, it’s fine.” dave spoke up, directing your attention towards him. he was sat at a fold up table, a shoebox next to him along with a clipboard with multiple columns and rows. “it’s just a friendly little bet. gotta keep morale up, right?”

“what’s the bet?” at this point, the room was almost fully empty as everyone escaped. you and dave stared at eachother, him smiling innocently. he looked away for a second, fiddling with the corner of the paper.

“i just want to preface by saying, i didn’t tell anyone anything.” you furrowed your brow, only getting more confused. he slid over the clipboard. on the paper, you four columns, each labeled.

not gay | fucking | dating | both.

the worst part was, fucking was the most betted. you stared, mouth agape. “everyone saw you eyeing up joe the last couple of times you worked together, so when people started talking, i told them to put their money where their mouth is. most people thought you just had a fat crush on joe, but lily said she saw you guys flirting outside, which kinda skewed the vote.. everyone wanted to change their votes, but rules are rules. they know they can’t-“

“you’re fucking with me, right?” he paused before shaking his head. “how long has this been going on?!”

“yeah, well, people noticed how you changed your shirt in the middle of filming and how you stared at him. not to mention the fact that he’s waiting for you to finish putting everything away so you could go out. there’s actually a lot of proof. he keeps dragging you off into his dressing room, you spaced out when you first saw him in that costume..”

you stared in disbelief, unable to even find an excuse. everyone was watching. everyone knew you liked him and everyone assumed he liked you. you felt sick. the idea of the entire crew and a legion of pornstars betting on yours and joe’s queerness made you ill.

“obviously, i’m the bookie because it’d be cheating for me to vote since.. you know.” you cringed. “but it’s all for fun! i promise there isn’t any malicious intent.”

“you’re making a bet off of me and joe being gay, that sounds pretty malicious.” dave shrugged.

“it’s not out of ill-will. it’s just a fun bet-“

“about me and joe being gay?”

“yes!” you scoff, grabbing onto your hair and groaning.

“you have to call it off, dude. if joe finds out-“

“he’s not gonna find out-“

“if joe finds out,” you emphasize. “he’s gonna freak out.”

“how do you know? he seems pretty into you. he probably thinks you guys are already dating.” you rolled your eyes at the assumption.

“joe just got ex-communicated. if he finds out that what we’re doing is gay..” dave laughed, a large grin spreading as he held onto his chest.

“what? he really believes that bullshit you spew about just being friends?!” you glared, ready to argue back before he interrupted. “i know you think you know joe well, but be honest with yourself. you barely know the dude outside of sex, how would you know how he feels about being gay. did he ever mention the idea of being gay as a bad thing?”

you stayed quiet, realizing that no, he hadn’t said being gay is a bad thing. even when he questioned it, he never said it was wrong. he called it a sin once, but he easily could have meant masturbation. you looked away.

“maybe try talking to him. you know, not about how hot he looks in latex.” you flushed. “ava said you two were gonna go out to get something to eat, so you got the perfect opportunity. bring him to mcdonalds, get him some shitty nuggets and a big mac, large fry too, and ask him about himself. spend some time together. actually do something that doesn’t involve sex.”

you glared, genuinely angry at dave for assuming what you knew about joe. you hands trembled a bit before you huffed and walked off. you stormed down the stairs and found joe, sat cross-legged on the ground, poking around at some of the cameras. he jumped back when he saw you, quickly putting it back into place.

“oh, hey! did you see everyone? i thought they all left and they came down the steps, but they were acting all weird. did you talk to th-“

“let’s go.” you grabbed his hand, practically dragging him towards your car. “what do you want from mcdonalds? you said a big mac, right?”

“oh, uhhh.. i heard the nuggets are good-“

“whatever you want. you can get nuggets, a burger, a fuckin’ mcrib, i don’t care. it’s on me.” joe nods, following quickly as you opened the car door for him. he thanks you and you quickly get in on the other side, rushing to the nearest mcdonalds.

there was a few minutes of silence, you too angry to start speaking and him feeling the rage radiating off of you. you tried to think of an ice breaker. it was awkward, realizing that dave was right. you didn’t know anything about joe. you knew what he looked like and where he liked to be touched, but nothing personal. you cleared your throat.

“so.. tell me about yourself.”

he did. he talked about his childhood, being a middle child with 5 siblings. he talked about his mom, how she loved cooking and he always wanted to help, but she’d shoo him off and say it was a womans job. he talked about being mormon, what growing up was like within the mormon faith, he even mentioned a girl he was supposed to marry before they broke up. he also talked about what he liked and what he wanted to do. turns out, he always thought video games were cool, which started a conversation about your playstation and the games you had.

you got several things from mcdonalds, creating a buffet for the two of you when you got back to your place. you showed him the games you talked about and taught him how to play tony hawk’s pro skater 2. he loved it and you did too. both of you fell asleep on the couch, him laying on your chest while you played, mumbling to him about techniques, even though he was clearly unconscious. the next day, you hung out some more. you made breakfast together, went out to the mall together, got lunch together. it was amazing and by the end of the day, joe stood awkwardly outside your car door, fingers twiddling.

“so.. i’ll see you again, right?” you nod. he looks down. you took what dave said to heart, refusing to have sex with him during your time spent. you were sure that’s what he was thinking about. he had fun, but the one thing you two were comfortable doing was excluded.

“if you want to come by, just let me know. i had fun.” joe nods. there’s a moment of silence, only the crickets chirping making noise. he circles your car, going to the driver side. you roll down the window. “what are you-“

he kissed you. a quick peck like a couple would do before parting. he pulled away, taking in your features for a split second before rushing to his car and leaving. you flushed. maybe he did like you.

[natlacentral]

Elizabeth Yu is bringing the heat in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

In Netflix’s new live-action series Avatar: The Last Airbender, the actress dons the role of Azula, princess to the Fire Nation and foil to her brother Zuko (Dallas Liu) and our protagonists of the story, namely Aang (Gordon Cormier), Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley). Yu brings Azula to life with depth and thoughtfulness that has never been previously explored. Fans of the original cartoon will be pleased to see that their favourite cold, conniving (and downright psychotic) princess will be given so much more to do. In Book One of the animated series, we see nothing of Azula, but with this fresh retelling, we’re able to see the seeds of ambition, what drives her, the fraying away of her psyche, and everything that leads up to that inevitable breaking point. Yu plays it beautifully, through subtle facial expressions, to her graceful line delivery, we’re able to get a glimpse of what life is like for Azula back home in the Fire Nation while she plots and schemes her way into her father’s good books.

Yu knows what this story means to people being a fan of the animation herself. And while the fandom has been hurt by live-action in the past (we’re looking at you, 2010 adaptation), this series is being told by the fans for the fans. There isn’t a facet of this show that hasn’t been given the attention and love that it deserves; like most retellings, The Last Airbenderwill not be beat for beat of the animated original but will breathe new life into a story we know and love. With that in mind, Yu cannot be prouder of the series and hopes that new and old fans alike will love it just as much as she loved making it.     

In conversation with 1883 Magazine’s Dana Reboe, Yu discusses how she’s feeling about her whirlwind success, working on two massive hits like May December and The Last Airbender, what element she would bend, how she handles imposter syndrome, and so much more. 

Life has been crazy for you lately between May December and now Avatar: The Last Airbender. How are you feeling? 

How to put it into words? It’s insane. I feel so blessed. I get impostor syndrome all the time; all the craziness that’s been happening doesn’t feel like it’s happening to me. You know, I have to separate myself from it all. It’s incredible.

I’m sure seeing all the billboards with the shows you’re in must be an out-of-body experience.

It’s crazy. I’m waiting for when I go back home to New York, and hopefully, I’ll be able to see some Avatar ones while I’m there. I’ll probably tear up. [laughs]

Take me back to the audition process for The Last Airbender. Did you know right off the bat, what you were auditioning for? Or did they keep it a secret?

They gave me a completely different project name, storyline, and character background. I had no idea when I first read, but for some reason, something within me was like, ‘That’s a codename. I feel it.’ Once I got farther in the audition process, I thought, ‘I know what this is!’ And then they sent my second to last audition, word for word from the original show, just to see if I could do the original material. And so, at that point I was like, ‘You don’t have to put on a show anymore, I figured it out!’ 

And when you officially booked it?

Albert (Kim) called me and said, ‘I think you know what this is for.’ And I was like, ‘I do!’ [laughter]

Avatar: The Last Airbender is so beloved. What are you most excited to see as a fan? And what are you excited for the audience to see?

Excited to see what we’ve done or what we might do in the future?

What you might do in the future.

Hopefully, if we get to Season Two–

We’re speaking it into existence.

Absolutely! Seasons two and three would be great. The Ember Island episode where they’re all at the beach; that campfire scene has so much character development, it’s insane, I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Favourite scene I’m excited for everybody to see… [Elizabeth thinks for a second] I’m excited for people to see our take on this world and making it more plot-driven. I’m excited to hear what people think about what we’ve chosen to keep in and get rid of and how they think it works. I’m so proud of the way that it’s turned out. But yeah, I’m excited to hear the feedback.

Well, I can tell you my feedback: I thought it was incredible.

Thank you!

Not sure if this is a spoiler since this will be out when the show premieres, but what hooked me was seeing the Air Nomads being wiped out in the first episode. We didn’t see much in the animated series, but this was very graphic, and while I was watching, I was like, ‘Oh, so they’re not afraid to go there.’

That was so important to show because it kind of grounds the audience to be like, ‘Okay, now we know what we’re dealing with, and what the stakes are’, it sets everything up perfectly. 

I agree. And I know the internet is worried about some of the changes that’ll be made, but I thought they served the story well. It’s important to remember this is not a direct retelling. One change I really loved was that Azula was given more to do. You gave her so much depth. Other than the original series, what did you do to bring her to life? And did you touch base with Grey DeLisle at all?

Oh, my gosh, thank you for saying that. First, that means a lot to me. I sent Grey a DM but I think it must have been filtered out. I’m absolutely obsessed with her work. She’s so iconic, hopefully, somewhere down the line with the release of this show, I’ll be able to meet her. That’ll be like an absolute dream come true. I’m so excited. I’ve watched all the videos of people meeting her at cons and stuff like that, getting her to read those iconic lines, I’m getting butterflies! 

I think with the success of the show, that’s definitely on the cards! Two Azulas in one room, I don’t know if we could take the heat [laughter]. Circling back, how did you prepare for the role? How did you put your spin on her?

Albert Kim, our showrunner, kept saying, ‘The original show is the sacred text. We’re going to abide by that as much as we can’ I think that just rewatching the show helped and then there are a lot of these YouTube videos where that are over an hour long that go into the psychology of Zuko and Azula. I watched those religiously, I used those as my toolkit. We also had an awesome onset acting coach, Lee Hutton, who helped a lot. The only way to make these cartoon characters really human is to delve into the way that their mind works.

I caught myself a couple of times, throughout the first few episodes feeling (a little) sorry for Azula. She’s trying so hard to do well in her father’s eyes, and seek his approval, but keeps falling flat. You play it so well.

It’s important to note that she and Zuko, at the end of the day, want the same things. You see Azula in this first season mirrors the second season of the animated series, you see her kind of go crazy. You see that slow build-up; she starts out not that crazy and then gets pushed to that breaking point.

Switching it up a little bit; if you could choose an element to bend that’s not fire, what would you choose and why?

I vibe with water. I also think the whole blood-bending thing is sick and swamp-bending [laughter] here are so many different things, healing, too! That’s a big one! That would be iconic. If I could be a healer? It’s so useful in battle because you can continuously heal yourself if you’re hurt. Water is so OP (overpowered). 

What about Azula captivated you?

Oh, good question. I remember getting that dummy audition and the character description was Azula. It just fit her. I’ve never auditioned for a character like that. I probably sent out like 400 Auditions before booking Avatar. I’ve never had a character who was a young Asian woman who was smarter and better than everybody else. She is confident and conniving and is just desperate for power. Who wouldn’t want to play a badass?

You said in an interview with IndieWire that your imposter syndrome was massive. In those moments, how do you talk yourself out of it? Or do you just let it pass?

There’s something very grounding and humbling about imposter syndrome. You know, there’s a balance of being able to reward yourself and congratulate yourself for the work that you’ve done, but also understand that the amount of attention that these projects are getting has very little to do with you and has to do with a lot of other people who have worked on them. It’s a mixture and I think impostor syndrome comes through not knowing where that line is between the two, so I think that’s what I struggle with. I don’t have any ego; I say my pleases and thank yous, I’m not going to be that person, and then on the other side of the coin, I did a good job, and I should be proud of myself. I think that especially spending time with my friends from home and being home with the cats and stuff like that, those are moments where I can look at the big picture and be like, I did a good job I should be proud of myself and let’s move on to the next thing.

What have you learned about yourself working on projects like May December and The Last Airbender?

The number of Asian pros I’ve gotten to work with on these projects is a huge, huge part of my proud-to-be Asian journey. I grew up in a white town and I’m half Korean half white. Before I filmed May December or started work on ATLA, I’d never been in a room with more than 15 Asian people. Also, we filmed in Vancouver and the Asian community out there is huge as well. It was amazing getting to talk to people like me and having these conversations I’ve never had before. And in May December, I worked with other half-Korean actors as well. And having this feeling of family with these people, there are many layers to it; not only being Asian, and presenting predominantly Asian, but also being a mixed kid and having that white side of you and then the Asian side of you. These two projects have been so, so integral to me being so proud and loving that part of myself that I, for the majority of my early life, hated. It’s been amazing. It’s like that’s the greatest gift I could have asked for.

It’s so incredible to see these stories come to life with the proper representation they deserve. With films like May December and shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender hopefully, we’re on the road to seeing more. If you had the chance to work with any actor living or dead, who would it be and why? And what would the dream project be?

I’m really getting stumped by this one [laughter].

Do you want to come back to it?

Okay, can I choose two?

You can choose two.

Beyonce, please. Renaissance. Act Two. I’m waiting for it. And number two would be Andrew Scott. He’s absolutely killing it. In another life, I wish I could go back in time, and watch his Vanya that he did. He did a one man show of Vanya. Oh, and his Hamlet, too! 

It’s good to see him getting his flowers recently. Did you see him in Sherlock at all?

Yes! 13-year-old Lizzy was a SuperWhoLock girl. Do you know what that is?

Of course, I was on Tumblr in those days. I love Doctor Who.

Oh, don’t even get me started on Doctor Who. 

Well, now I have to ask who’s your favourite Doctor? 

Good God, you’re going to get me in trouble. I have to say Matt Smith, but David Tennant is fantastic, too. Like, let’s put some respect on his name. But yeah, I’d definitely have to say the Matt Smith run is my favourite.

Have you caught up? 

I’m not caught up. 

Okay. I won’t say anything. Not a word. Nothing.

I appreciate it [laughter].

Pivoting back – your career is flourishing. What is one hope you have for the future?

Something great about working on Avatar and May December was this sense of family with cast and crew members and the directors and Albert (Kim) showrunner. Both are some of the first projects I’ve ever gotten the chance to work on. You’re able to have this connection with these people. That’s why I love acting; we’re in this together. Let’s make something cool. That’s what makes me want to keep doing it. That’s a goal of mine – to keep making cool things. And I always learn so many new things, all different aspects of my life on every project, I’ve been blessed to be able to work with some amazing people. I just want to accumulate as many of those special moments onset as possible.

And my last question is, what is something you’d like to manifest for yourself this year?

I would like to manifest being booked and blessed, not being too hard on myself, and living my life to the fullest.

[caffinedragon]

The Son of Mystra Au remastered

This is a revised version of an Au that literally came to me in a dream a while ago. And as it happens with many of my idea's they tend to grow and change over time until they settle into exactly what they need too. So this, is the new version of this post:

Here we go:

TL;DR: Mystra makes a fail safe out of her oldest daughter, effectively making her a ticking magical time bomb that she uses to blast ambitious mages that threaten the weave off the face of Toril.

Only her daughter finds a way around it, The Karsite Orb, and is like "Fuck that shit and also I'm a dude now."

So Mystra assigns her son to bring her boys to become chosen instead.

Only he finds out what she does with them and is like "Fuck That" and trains his last pupil, Elminster, how to survive her and fucks off for a millennia.

However, Mystra's eyes eventually go astray and fall upon the young neighbor boy whom he talks magic with and sees as a little brother.

So he is like "Fuck you. I am not letting you have him!"

In response she rips the Karsite Orb from his chest, causing him to be lost to the Astral plane for about 20 years.

Once he makes his way back Bahamut shows up and is like, "Hi. I'm your dad now. Here is some of my blood to help reduce the severity of your flare ups but only if you keep using your magic. So to help with that, here is how to enchant stuff so you can regularly keep using your magic without it being weird and we can be a Father and Son team of traveling magic merchants. Cool? Cool."

Only then the Nautaloid happens, reuniting him with the boy he tried to save who now has his old orb in his chest and has been cast out for not being an obedient pet.

This is quickly followed by being swept off his feet by the blade of frontiers and figuring out exactly what the Absolute is and realizing the there is only one way it would be able to do what it's doing before they ever hear about Moonrise.

This means he also knew his mother's next move.

So in order to hopefully prevent it, he warns Gale and reveals to him the true nature of the gods. That way so when he is told to blow himself up he is much less inclined to both follow her orders or to become a god himself.

Instead they agree that if they cant find a way to destroy it that it is safest to return the crown to Mystra in order to keep the power out of mortal hands, regardless of Gale becoming Mystra's chosen again.

The rest of the game proceeds as usual after ,through a deal struck between Bahamut and Mystra, the ticking time bomb Mystra gave him is removed and he is turned into a draconic sorcerer with a mortal lifespan. Then after fixing Karlach's engine and helping Astarion walk in the sun again, he allows his gentle Wyll to put a ring on it, and lives out the rest of his life by the man's side, continuing the work of the wizard who had helped him in the first place.

For the Full Lore read under the cut.

After what Karsus pulled, Mystra decided that she was gonna make sure that she had a fail safe in case it happened again.

So, after she gave birth to several daughters, she had them compete with each other to prove who was the stronger magic user.

Andromeda, her oldest but also most "rebellious" daughter, proved to be the strongest despite her refusal to actively compete with her sisters and as a "reward" was gifted with a piece of Mystra that turned her into a weave generator and gave her the ability to see the weave as she did.

The unfortunate consequence for this was to make her a walking magic bomb on a timer, a wild magic sorcerer on steroids, whenever she was on the material plane.

This particular quirk proved useful for her mother, when others tried to repeat what Karsus did.

And since it made sense that she wanted to protect the weave and thus herself she didn't question when she was sent to the lairs and towers of ruthless and ambitions mages who insisted on repeating history.

However, everything changed when she was told about a wizard hiding in the ruins of one of the fallen cities of Karsus, that was currently using the Karsite weave for his own purpose.

Normally she didn't question her orders but there was something about how her mother was acting that gave her pause. But, when she tried to get more out of her, something she never had problems with in the past, her mother acted erratically and either refused to answer or changed the subject.

So, pushing down her suspicions for the moment to play the obedient daughter, she readied herself to be sent down as always.

When her vision cleared after plane shifting, to her utter horror she realized why her mother was being cagey.

This wizard indeed was hiding amongst old ruins of the Karsite empire but he wasn't alone.

An entire vibrant, bustling, and very much thriving town had grown up around the wizards tower. Men, woman and children were happily going about there day, laughing, loving, arguing, fighting and most of all...living.

Knowing she didn't have much time before tragedy would strike she took off towards the wizards tower, hoping to find an evil wizard who had used the karsite weave to put the entire town under a spell, or that maybe the town was just an elaborate illusion and should it ever drop, the villagers would be revealed to be a massive army of monstrocities or undead under the wizards control.

But when she got to the tower, the wizard was waiting to greet her, as if he knew she was coming.

He led her inside and showed her exactly what he was doing.

He told her of his brother who was born a wild mage. He had lost him to a mob after he accidentally turned the mayor's daughter into a sheep when he tried to cast dancing lights to impress her.

He told her of other wild mages who had met similar ends either by the hands of others or their own because of being burdened with magic that they couldn't control.

As he began to explain how he wanted to do something to help them, she searched him eyes for any sign of deception.

There was none.

The truth of why her mother had been so cagey about this place began to make itself known as he described how he had found a way to make the Karsite weave inert and harmless. In doing so he was able to reverse engineer it to make the very thing that was the reason this town built up around him.

It turns out, that the people that lived here were the descendants of all the wild mages he had saved by creating the Karsite Orb, a magical item that when placed inside the body of a wild mage, stabilized the chaotic forces within the sorcerer by feeding on the excess magic they produced that caused the bursts that they were known for.

She realized then why her mother wanted her to destroy this place.

She wasn't like her other sisters who took their mother's word without question. She had seen the writing on the wall. She knew her mother's true nature, as much as she wanted to believe otherwise.

She had hoped that being her child might make things different but it was clear it didn't.

So, as she felt the timer begin to get to it's final minutes, she leaned into her "rebellious" nature and showed the wizard that she too was a wild mage and that her godly mother had sent her to destroy him and his entire town.

But if he helped her break herself of her chain, she would be able to leave this place behind without so much as a scratch on the towers paint.

The man eagerly agreed and pulled out a shelf where several of the dormant orbs sat.

Over the next few moments he took the largest one that was the size of a fortune tellers crystal ball and activated it with a simple cantrip that set the orb to swirl and glow with a bluish purple light.

He beckoned her to open the tunic she wore, exposing her chest a few seconds before, "Brace yourself, this is gonna hurt.", and then slammed it into her chest.

The pain was extraordinary and caused her to pass out but once she re awoke, she cried as she realized that the timer that had plagued her for so long had not only reset but completely stopped.

After taking a few days to recover and to gain the copy of the orbs design for herself, she left the town just as she found it and began traveling the material plane of her own accord.

As she traveled and reveled in having powerful magic she had complete control over, she realized that the ticking time bomb in her chest hadn't been the only thing wrong with her and used her magic to remedy the situation.

By the time she saw her mother again, Andromeda was gone and in her place was Andrew, a man who still carried his long curly red hair and blue eyes but had shed every thing else.

Mystra didn't really care about the change but was mildly annoyed at what he had done to himself in order to obtain this newfound control.

However, once he showed her a copy of the design she begrudgingly agreed to leave the wizard and his town alone.

But now since she could no longer use him as a walking bomb, she reassigned him to the role of finding and training promising boy mages as her chosen, so that they could do the job he no longer could.

He accepted the task with a roll of the eyes and proceeded to head towards the first of what would be her many victims.

It took the disappearance of a few of his disciples after they left his side for him to get suspicious. When he would claim them for his mother he would always inscribe a tracking charm onto them in case they were needed and at least three of his "graduates" had seemed to disappear suddnely off the map. Concerned for these boys he pretty much raised, he tracked the signals to their last known locations.

And for the second time in his long life was struck with the true horror of how little Mystra cared for those that did her bidding.

Every single one had either let themselves die or took their own lives after his mother no longer found them useful and cast them aside like so much trash.

He tried to warn the rest of them but found, when compared to a goddess, the words of an old mentor meant next to nothing.

Eventually all of the ones he had raised met the same end, and by the time young Elminster was taken under his wing, he vowed not to let another suffer under his mother's gaze.

So, while he dutifully raised and trained Elminster to be her next chosen, he taught him how to see his mother as he did. He taught him how to recognize her tactics and not fall for them. He taught him to never try to be her equal for you are nothing more than a tool to her and if you play into it and never question her judegemnt, to her face, she would leave you to your own devices unless she needed something from you.

Thankfully, unlike his charges before, Elminster was a skeptical and rebellious kid like he was and followed his rules to the letter even after she took him as a lover.

This allowed him to eventually become one of the greatest wizards to ever live and gain a heavily extended lifespan that allowed Andrew, from having to send another lamb to slaughter for a good long time.

However, even Eliminster's great achievements weren't enough to keep her attention indefinitely and soon enough her eyes fell upon another young boy.

This time however, the boy was someone he already knew and had been in direct contact for several years. The boys mother lived in a house that was across the street form his magic store that supplied the nearby magic school with books and supplies.

The boy was a regular to the store, and would often talk about magic with him when the days were slow and his mother was busy running the household after his fathers sudden passing. Heart attack if he remembered correctly.

Overtime he had grown incredibly fond of the talkative kid and had come to care for him as an older borther would, helping him learn the magic he loved so much. The tressym that now followed the 8 year old boy around was a direct result of one of his lessons on how to summon a wizard familiar, in fact.

Tara, as she was called, had told him of how he had summoned her because his parents denied him a kitten. A story that had caused him to laugh so hard the tea he had been drinking went up his nose.

The kid was clearly a natural talent on top of being a lover of magic.

Which, as he got closer to the age his mother liked them, made him start to worry.

One of the worst days of his long life came the moment he felt his mother's eyes fall upon the young boy as he read peacefully in his shop.

"Are you okay, Danny? You look like your about to cry. Would you like a hug?"

Mystra wasn't happy when he refused to bring him to her and as retaliation, she used the orb designs he had given her to rip it out of his chest.

The resulting surge plane shifted him into the Astral plane, where he floated for 20 years before a second surge propelled him back to the material plane in the form of a fireball falling form the sky.

When he regained consciousness, he was in the back of a drake drawn merchant wagon with draconian runes carved on the inside and being driven by an older man surrounded by seven birds perched on various sides both inside and outside the wagon.

it took little time to realize who's wagon he was in.

As much as Gale had loved magic he loved dragons. Thier freedom, strenght and absolute confidence in themselves was somehting he envied and admired.

So there was no way he didn't know about the God of Dragon's favorite past time.

Unknown to both Mystra and himself, Bahamut had been keeping an eye on him for a long time, impressed by his sense of justice and strong will despite being the son of a goddess who hated both in her pawns. So when Mystra threw him away for the very thing he would have praised him for, he decided that if she didn't want her son he would claim him for himself.

With his consent of course.

Andrew eagerly accepted his offer, and was infused with Bahamut's blood in order to lessen the effects of his magic surges from city leveling to the occasional annoying or hilarious inconveniences.

The blood has it's limits however and for it to be effective he has to regularly use his magic to keep it from gettign built up to high. Luckily Bahamut had a simple solution, learing how to enchant and craft magical items. Enchanting items woudl allow him to reguarly purge the extra magic in his system and net him some decent coin as well so it was a win/win.

After he was confient in his new skills the two of them took to the road to find a good place to set up shop, the teo of them easily falling into a father and son realtionship as they spent the next 15 years as wandering merchants who set up temproary shops all across Fae-Run.

This life eventually led them to be running a shop in Yartar the day the Nautaloid split open the sky and started abducting people off the streets.

Andrew, who had up to that point had been teaching a young boy the finer points of his new sorcerer powers, saw one of the tendrils whipping down the street, heading straight for the the mother of the kids back.

Without a second's hesitation, he shoved the mother and child out of the way into Bahamut's waiting arms, letting himself get hit with it instead.

After the Nautaloid's crash, he finds himself reunited with the now adult Gale as his Mother's ex Chosen who now carried the orb that once resided in his chest, while at the same time finding himself being swept off his feet by the Blade of Frontiers that has only ever known courtly love before meeting him.

Of course, as they journey on and more information about their situation comes to light, he comes to a startling realization as to how the Absolute is able to do what it did with the tadpoles. Along with knowing that, if he is correct, he knows that it wont be long before his mother shows up to use her new walking bomb to take care of the problem like he used to do so long ago, only Gale wouldn't survive it like he could.

Not wanting him to suffer that fate, he explains what is going on to Gale who at first protests but, after a long discussion of who Andrew is and his history with her begins to believe him.

Then, sure enough, shortly after they start making the trip to Moonrise, Elminster arrives and tells Gale exactly what he expected Mystra to want him to do as well as giving him a message from Bahamut that Mystra struck a deal with him. The deal struck was that in return for letting him claim Andrew fully as a draconian sorcerer and one of his mortal dragons, emphasis on mortal, that she would remove the weave generator from his body, effectively negating any way he could use his power to get back at her for what she just asked Gale to do.

He readily agrees to the deal after he remembered having Gale use the orb in his chest to keep him from a pretty devastating magic burst that could have leveled the entire Risen Road/Emerald Grove Area.

Luckily, due to their previous conversation, Gale is a lot less willing to go through with it and instead begins to jump to ambitions of godhood. This prompts a conversation about the true nature of gods and how all the power they possess is actually in the hands of mortals because, without them, they wouldn't exist. And, as a god, you can't change and become better than you are like mortals can. Your stuck as the representation of whatever domain your given and that is all you will ever be.

This conversation ultimately convinces Gale to abandon his ambition and turns it towards perhaps finding a way to destroy it so another Absolute doesn't happen instead.

However they both agree, that if there isn't a way to destroy it, that it was safest to hand it over to his mother if no other reason than to make sure mortal hands can't get a hold of it again.

After the game, Andrew spends his time helping Karlach fix her engine, and to find a way for Astarion to regain his mortality or at the very least be able to walk in the sunlight again before letting Wyll change his name from Mr. Andrew Weave the Wandering Enchanter to Sir Andrew Ravenguard The Dragon Sorcerer of Baldur's Gate, living out the rest of the mortal life he was given by his side, using the original Karsite Orb design to help Wild Mages like that wizard who helped him so long ago.

[jadedrrose]

𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

art/other info is available on my masterlist.

With the sun barely shining over the Great Plateau, a new day was beginning. Rose, in her pink kimono and regular gear on, was at the Outskirt Stable bright and early. She needed to make some more preparations before she could embark on her new journey; part of which included getting materials to reinforce her armor. Dealing with the Yiga would be risky, even if she was now technically on their side. So she’d decided it’d be best to give herself extra protection.

Sitting at one of the tables inside of the stable, she was mindlessly looking through the newspaper while waiting for the traveling shop owners to show up. They typically rotated which stables they’d come to, and today happened to be when the man who specifically sold monster parts was supposed to be there. She’d hopefully be able to purchase the parts that she needed to upgrade her armor, so long as he had what she needed in stock. As the guests that had stayed at the stable overnight began to awaken, Rose figured that it was finally getting closer to business hours. Setting the paper back down on the table, she stood up from her seat and stretched, yawning as she did so. She didn’t typically enjoy waking up so early, but it had been necessary for her plan in joining the Yiga Clan. 

Heading outside, she was glad to see that the sun was fully up now, brightening the area around the stable. None of the traveling shop owners were in sight just yet, so with some time to kill, Rose found the Hylian Retrievers that lived at the stable and began petting them.

With a joyful grin, the brunette giggled as one of the dogs rolled onto its back, waiting for her to rub its belly. The second one began to whine from the lack of attention, though, and with another laugh, she moved her left hand to begin scratching behind that one’s ears.

“You two are so cute,” she mumbled, glancing between them. I wonder if they allow pets in the Yiga Clan, she briefly wondered. 

Standing up, Rose began to search around for a couple of sticks before luring the dogs over to the small grassy field beside the stable. Waving them around, she smiled as both retrievers began jumping around, eagerly waiting for her to throw the sticks. Tossing the branches, Rose watched fondly as both dogs took off after them before bringing them back to her. They did this a few more times, the dogs happily barking with their tails wagging wildly the whole time.

Looking back to the stable, Rose realized that the shop owners had finally arrived. Sighing, she glanced back at the dogs with a slight pout. “I wish we could keep playing,” she petted both of their heads again, “but I’ve got to go. Hopefully I’ll get to see you two again someday…” 

Approaching the shopkeeper who had an assortment of monster parts displayed, Rose started to look over his items. He had some hinox guts, but none of the lizalfos tails that she also needed.

“How much for three of the hinox guts?” She inquired.

Scratching his chin, the man seemed to think it over for a second, “hmmm, I think 240 rupees outta do it?”

Nodding, Rose pulled out some rupees from the small pouch tied to her belt. “Sounds good,” she handed the money over, in exchange for a pouch of the guts. Since he didn’t have the tails, all that was left to do for now was to hunt down some lizalfos. Though that would put a temporary stop on her plans, unfortunately. Thanking the man for the items, Rose walked away, intending on heading back towards Satori Mountain where she could go monster hunting in the woods or fields nearby. But before she could get even ten feet away, someone began calling her.

“Miss Rose! Wait!”

Turning around, lips pursed in confusion, Rose found that a Hylian man was trying to catch up from behind her.

“Is something the matter?” She asked, a bit surprised.

“Yes-“ he huffed, catching his breath, “over at Riverside Stable, they’re having a monster problem lately. Seems like the soldiers stationed there can’t deal with it properly, so they want outside help. I told them I’d track down Hyrule’s best bounty hunter for them,” he explained, a toothy smile on his face as he said the last part.

“I see,” Rose nodded. What could she do, though? She needed to get into the Yiga Clan, but it seemed like the people at the stable really needed her help… “I’ll head over today,” she decided. 

“Perfect! They mentioned that they’d pay any amount for your assistance, so it’ll be a good deal, promise!” The man exclaimed, shaking her hand.

“Money isn’t my concern,” Rose shrugged with a slight smile. “Though it is a nice bonus. I’ll be on my way shortly.”

“Well, I was uh… gonna ask if you’d uh, go on the journey with me, just you and I, you know?” The man awkwardly asked, clearly trying to hint at something. And Rose certainly wasn’t interested in traveling with a random man who was making such… odd comments.

“Don’t wait for me,” Rose brushed the comment off, willing herself to forget it. “Go ahead and tell them I’m on my way. I’ll probably only be a couple hours behind you.”

Stammering away, the man gave a “yes ma’am” as he walked in the opposite direction, more than likely embarrassed at the rejection.

With that, Rose made her way back to her cottage with haste, and quickly began to get ready for her unexpected job. Leaving the hinox guts behind and gathering whatever supplies she needed into her leather bag, she double checked everything before going back outside, heading down to the Outskirt Stable for a second time that day.

—

Three and a half hours into her trip, Rose had reached the Gatepost Town. Darkening clouds hung over the quite large settlement. The place had grown in recent years, and it seemed like there was plenty of liveliness going on as she entered. There was a food market going throughout, children running through the streets, laughing and playing, and tons of travelers passing through. That was the town’s purpose, after all. Travelers from all over Hyrule would stop in this town to rest. It was the perfect stop for Rose’s day trip to the stable.

Deciding that she needed some rest after walking for so long, Rose found a small tavern and dipped inside, avoiding the rain that was starting to come on. A few people sat at a bar, conversing though not necessarily drinking, especially so early into the day. It was only noon, after all. 

The bartender smiled to Rose, waving her in. “Hello, welcome. I take it you’re a traveler?” She asked.

“You could say that,” Rose replied, sitting down at the far end, away from the group of people who’d already been there. “I’m heading to Riverside Stable, but figured I should rest with the rain starting.”

The lady nodded, her blonde curls bouncing as she did so. “Oh yes. I hear they have a nasty monster issue over there.”

Rose hummed, “mhm, I’m going over to see if I can help with it, actually.”

“Oh, really? A pretty girl like you, fighting monsters?” The bartender teased.

Rolling her eyes, Rose shrugged. “It’s what I’m good at. Otherwise they wouldn’t pay me so much.”

The blonde gave a laugh at that, before turning to get a glass. “Well… Can I get you anything?” 

“Just water, please.”

Filling up the glass with water, the woman passed it over to Rose, and then headed back to the group of people, who were seeming to get rowdier by the second. Perhaps an inn would’ve been a better, quieter place to stop at.

Sipping her beverage, Rose finally got to relax, giving her aching feet a break from all the traveling she’d done. While the thought of having to get back on the road for a few more hours sounded agonizing right now, Rose figured she’d just use an elixir to help soothe the aches, and all would be well. At least, she hoped so. With this work being suddenly thrust upon her, she was delaying putting her plan into action. She needed to visit Kaysa to have her armor reinforced, but now that would have to be postponed until at least tomorrow, if not two more days. Not to mention, she didn’t even have all of the necessary materials yet. Letting out an internal groan, Rose found that she was getting a bit frustrated. Maybe if she would’ve just accepted Sooga’s initial offer all those weeks ago, she wouldn’t be dealing with any of this.

Half an hour later, when the rain finally began to let up, Rose figured that was her sign to get going. Pulling out her cloak from her bag, she threw it over her head before giving a couple green rupees to the bartender, and heading out the door. 

Though some rain was still falling, the clouds were clearing, revealing a darkening sky as the sun started to set. Looking to the exit of Outpost Town, Rose began passing between the rest of the buildings, finally getting herself back on the road. 

A short while later, as she rounded the bottom of Whistling Hill, Rose could finally see Riverside Stable, nearly within reach. Breathing out a sigh of relief, she pushed forward, putting a light jog into her steps to get to her destination faster.

Now at the stable, the brunette spotted the exact man she’d spoken to that morning. He waved her over to where he was standing with a couple of the stable workers, seemingly in conversation.

“She’s finally arrived! Hyrule’s best bounty hunter!” He announced, gesturing to her.

“Hello,” Rose gave a short bow to the two stable workers. “I heard you guys needed my help with some monsters?”

“Yes,” a young woman answered. She was shorter and a lot thinner than Rose, presumably a bit younger than her. Perhaps her parents worked for the stable. “Those lizalfos have been scaring the horses… It's terrible.”

An older man, who resembled the girl, crossed his arms and sighed. “Their camp is over by Batrea Lake. They’ve been crossing the river and attacking.” Overlooking his uniform, Rose determined that he must’ve been the stable owner.

“That’s strange,” Rose replied, “I’ve never heard of a stable being attacked by monsters…” shifting her feet to stand in a more comfortable position, she folded her arms. “I can try to investigate why, though it’s hard to understand why monsters do what they do.”

The stable owner nodded. “We’ve tried to look into that ourselves… all we can think of is that they’re enticed to come over whenever we cook fish?”

Humming, Rose gave that some thought. “Maybe… lizalfos do typically eat fish, after all. Okay… so I’ll try to eradicate their camp, because obviously they’re a huge nuisance. And as for why they’re coming over here… I’ll attempt to find out, but I think you’re right about it being the fish.”

“Thank you,” the stable owner smiled, a little desperation and relief in his tone. “We’ve been trying for weeks to take care of it… not even the Hylian soldiers were of help.”

“So I heard,” Rose frowned. What were Hylian soldiers even good for at this point? All they seemed to do was kill parents and be generally useless.

After Rose and the stable owner came to an agreement on her payment, she ate a dinner consisting mainly of Hylian tomatoes since they primarily grew in the area, along with some other vegetables and boiled potatoes. Then, she was able to finally get some, in her opinion, well deserved rest. 

Standing hunched over a tall wooden table, entirely focused on cleaning the blades of his prized dual swords, Sooga worked at his swords with a good amount of strength, determined to have them looking better than ever. 

He’d been throwing himself into various tasks, almost anxiously awaiting any news about what the Great Fairies’ Warrior was up to. Uki had departed earlier in the day, prepared to go entirely unnoticed so that Rose’s guard would be down, hopefully leading her into doing something that could give them a glimpse into the truth. 

Huffing, Sooga pulled back, looking over his dual swords. They were spotless. Putting them back into their sheaths, he then tried to find another task to keep himself occupied with.

But before he could find anything within the room, there was a knock at the door. Focusing his energy, he was able to figure out who was visiting. Uki.

Quickly grabbing his mask and fixing it back into place, Sooga spoke; “you may enter.”

The wooden door slid open, revealing an annoyed-looking Uki. 

“Did she do anything of interest?”

“No,” Uki huffed, a pout forming on her lips. “In fact, I almost couldn’t find her the entire day. She wasn’t at her cottage, nor at the stable that she frequents. Finally, I overheard someone saying that she had gone to Riverside Stable for some bounty hunting work. Though by the time I learned that, it was too late to start following her.”

“Hmm,” Sooga hummed, considering Uki’s words. Given her obvious foul mood, it probably wouldn’t be wise to send her back out. “I shall go investigate, then.”

“You might as well just snatch her and bring her here while you’re at it,” Uki groaned. “I can’t take this anymore. She’s… boring me to death.”

Sooga could tell that the woman was holding back her anger. “Uki… you should retire for the evening. And do not worry over Rose any longer. I’ll handle things from here.”

“Oh, thank Ganon!” She cried, a smile finally forming on her face. “I’ll go update Master Kohga. You go have fun with your little-“

Despite his face not being visible to the footsoldier, Sooga’s crossing of his arms said it all, and Uki immediately went silent.

“Forgive me,” she muttered, before bowing to Sooga and taking off. “Well, bye then!”

Gathering his swords and locking them onto his belts, Sooga prepared himself before forming a hand sign and transporting himself to the woods across the river from Riverside Stable. 

Appearing with a puff of smoke and tags, Sooga gazed at his surroundings, finding that it was quiet. The night air was a bit chilly, but it wasn’t anything that he wasn’t used to. Stealthily and silently, he began to make his way towards the river end of the woods, needing to get a better view of the stable.

Reaching the treeline near the river’s bank, Sooga scanned his eyes over to the stable, seeing that all of their lights were dimmed. Most of the guests and workers were asleep, then, aside from the few night owls who hung out by a fire. They chatted away, their voices loud enough to reach all the way to where Sooga stood. 

A few minutes had passed by before anything in the scene before him changed. A figure emerged from the stable, heading onto the road and towards the bridge that connected the stable to Batrea Lake. It was Rose, seemingly coming into the woods to investigate. It made sense, she was here for bounty hunting work, after all. Only what she was hunting, Sooga had no clue.

Returning deeper into the woods, Sooga continued to keep track of Rose’s every movement, watching as she headed towards Batrea Lake, stopping to watch a medium sized lizalfos camp. She observed them for quite some time, then made her way closer to where Sooga hid, keeping her eyes on the camp. So she’s hunting lizalfos, then.

With every step closer that she took towards him, Sooga’s anticipation grew more and more; expecting her to eventually notice his energy. They were so close now, and the fact she hadn’t realized it yet… how? Perhaps she was too focused on her task.

“You guys are gonna be a pain in the ass,” he heard her mumble, and through the trees, he could just barely make out the shaking of her head with a sigh following. She turned on her heel, heading back the way she came. Until… she paused after about six steps, her body visibly tensing. She’d noticed him.

The right hand of the inverted eye watched as her blue eyes, wide and still bright within the darkness, gazed around frantically. There was a look of concern on her face, and when she finally caught sight of him… she almost looked frightened, as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. 

Though Sooga’s were obscured by the mask he wore, their eyes were locked on each other’s for what felt like minutes. Finally, Sooga took a few slow steps forward, stepping into the clearing where Rose stood, staring up at him.

“So this is where you’ve been,” he mumbled. 

Brows furrowing, Rose looked up at him in confusion. “What do you mean? I… haven’t exactly gone missing, at least I don’t think so.”

“Our spy couldn’t find you for the entirety of today,” he clarified.

“So you did send someone to spy on me,” she pouted, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “…I was traveling here for most of today.”

Sooga gave her a nod, a strange tension taking over the silence between them. It was heavy and thick, with a tinge of awkwardness mixed in. As he gazed over Rose, taking in her features underneath the pale moonlight, he felt his heart skip a beat, then begin pounding the same way it did when he was in an intense battle. Why?

She seemed fearful, yet she made no move to run away from him. What was she feeling; thinking? This woman held so much mystery, and Sooga desperately needed to unfold the pages of her story. 

Finally, the brunette spoke again. “Why are you here?” She asked, playing with a lock of her dark hair that laid over her shoulder.

“To observe you,” he answered. “I still need to know the truth, Rose.”

Biting her lip, she finally broke her gaze, looking down at her boots. “I… can’t tell you… not now.”

‘Not now’? What did she mean by that?

Sooga folded his arms, his curiosity growing further. So she did have a secret, after all. 

Faint voices broke through the air, the men at the stable getting rather loud as they shouted around the fire. 

“I need to go. They’re expecting me back,” Rose said, sounding almost… disappointed.

Sooga gave her one last nod, not saying another word as she hesitantly began to walk away, giving him a few glances over her shoulder. Once she was about thirty feet away though, she took off into a sprint, quickly making her way back to the stable. 

—

The following day, Sooga returned to the woods nearby Batrea Lake. Knowing that Rose had bounty hunting work to do there, it was incredibly likely that she would be returning, too. 

Transporting himself to the same exact spot as he had the previous night, his eyes had to adjust to the sudden brightness of the outdoors. The clan’s hideout wasn’t exactly well lit, so the harsh light, even through the wood’s tree canopy, gave him a slight pause. After a couple seconds, he’d easily recovered and began to walk towards the lizalfos camp, quietly. They would more than likely be awake by now, keeping an eye out for intruders. 

Carefully, he crept around the camp and made his way over to the bridge, positioning himself behind a cluster of trees. Sooga had no clue how long it would be before Rose showed up, but he couldn’t afford to miss her. Leaning against a tree, he began to think, while keeping his eyes in the bridge’s direction.

What could he even say to her? She’d rejected his offer of joining the clan twice now, and while she didn’t seem opposed to being somewhat involved with them, she also didn’t act as though she was actively changing her mind. Uki had suggested that he blackmail Rose with their knowledge of her secret. But despite them using that sort of tactic on other people, Sooga found that to be too harsh of a method on Rose. He didn’t want to harm her in any way. It was as if… he almost felt the urge to protect her. But of course, he chalked it down to knowing a good warrior when he saw one. And Rose… she’d be more than perfect for the clan. Therefore, they had to minimize the risk of making her their enemy. 

Still, he couldn’t deny he felt so… strangely about her. He’d dealt with many people within the clan, but had never felt so strongly about any of them. Aside from Master Kohga, but that was entirely different from this. 

The image of her hadn’t left his mind since their meeting near her cottage. Her pale skin that glowed beneath the sun, her chocolate-colored hair that fell around her figure so… gracefully. And those large, blue eyes that always looked at him with a hint of hesitation. It bothered him, in a way he’d describe as an illness. Shaking his head, Sooga knew he was simply desperate to have her in the clan; highly anticipating being able to have her train under him. He could turn her into the clan’s greatest assassin. But was she willing to do it?

Realizing he was getting incredibly lost in thought, Sooga pulled his head up and focused on the present. How should he approach Rose, this time?

She was here to take down that lizalfos camp. It was a hard task for anyone, especially a lone person. Perhaps if he aided her in taking the monsters down, she’d be more willing to accept the offer. With that idea playing in his mind, Sooga locked his eyes onto the bridge, waiting for Rose to finally appear.

And when she did, he stood up straighter, making no attempt to hide himself or his energy. So naturally, Rose noticed him fairly quickly.

She’d just taken a couple of steps off of the bridge when she realized he was there. Her head turned to face the direction he was in, her deep brown hair swaying behind her in a smooth motion. Her rosy lips parted as though she were going to speak, but nothing came from them. Instead, she glanced behind herself before approaching Sooga, veering off the path she’d just been walking on.

Once they were both behind the cluster of trees, she began to speak in a hushed voice. “Why did you return? I… can’t afford to be seen with you,” she frowned.

What did she mean by that? Wouldn’t anyone else just assume she was being ambushed by him? Odd. “You’re here to fight off that camp of lizalfos. Even though I trust your skills as a warrior, I know the task is too difficult to handle alone. I’ve come to aid you.”

Her blue eyes widened, and she stared up at him with a confused but surprised stare. “What? No, I- I can handle it myself.”

“Perhaps you can. But I’m not willing to risk you getting torn to shreds by those monsters,” he replied.

Averting her eyes and pursing her lips, Rose seemed to think about it for a moment. When her eyes met his mask again, she looked a little more certain, though. “Alright. But I need to do most of the work. I’m getting paid, you know.”

“I don’t desire rupees,” Sooga unfolded his arms, resting his right hand on the hilt of his sword. “Just you… your presence in the clan.”

Rose’s eyes widened again, and a blush overtook her pale cheeks as she tensed up. “O-oh… um,” she didn’t seem to know what to say. “Really? Even after I… rejected you twice?”

Sooga nodded. “While I do not wish to resort to taking you by force, I believe it is in the clan’s best interest to have you among our ranks…” he clarified, “so I must persist.”

As they slowly got closer to the lizalfos camp, their voices grew much quieter. “Sooga, I…” his heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name falling from her lips. “I must ask for your forgiveness, then. I rejected the offer twice but I… think I’ve changed my mind,” she confessed. 

“So you will join?”

Biting her lip, Rose gave a hesitant nod. “…yes.”

A small smile formed on his lips, though Rose was none the wiser with his mask being on. “Master Kohga will be delighted to hear that.”

Rose’s eyebrows popped up a little bit, before she began to smile, herself. “Really? Even he wants me in?”

“Indeed. Perhaps more than I do,” Sooga said.

“That’s… nice, I suppose,” she hummed. “Although I need to make preparations at my cottage, still.”

Sooga gave her one nod, their conversation coming to a complete stop as they reached the outskirts of the lizalfos camp. Scanning over the base, Sooga found that most of them were either standing still, their big eyes twitching around, while some of them were swimming in the lake. 

“I can use the ancient arts to attack the ones in the lake,” Sooga suggested, waiting to see if Rose had a plan or not.

“I could strangle a few,” she mumbled, a pink glowing rose popping up above her palm, indicating that she meant to strangle them with her powers. “Cut down the rest.”

“It would also be wise to completely destroy the camp. That way, no other lizalfos will take it over.”

Rose nodded in agreement. With that, she looked to him, “will you be striking first?”

“If that’s what you think works best,” he replied. 

“Okay… go as soon as you’re ready, then.”

Sooga didn’t have to be told twice, forming a hand sign, he transported himself into the center of the camp, making all of the lizalfos jump out of surprise. He raised his hand into the air, making a swirling motion with it. A deep red glow emanated from it, and suddenly, he thrusted his hand down, slamming it against the grassy floor. The area became surrounded in a red field, and with one swing of his right sword, all of the lizalfos flew into the air, making awful noises that indicated they’d been injured. 

Glancing back at her, Sooga found Rose watching in awe, distracted from the lizalfos creeping towards her. Calling her name out seemed to break her out of the trance, as she jumped into action, drawing her katana. She slashed it in the direction of a couple lizalfos, thorns flying from the blade. They pierced directly through the lizalfos scales, instantly killing the two that she’d struck.

With two of the monsters out of the way, Sooga began working on killing the ones near and in the water. Rose took on the ones still on land, using her power to shoot vines at them, wrapping them around the oversized lizard's throats. She tightened her hand into a fist, squeezing the life out of the monsters so easily. Now it was Sooga’s turn to be in awe. 

Even if it was enhanced by the powers the Great Fairies had gifted her; Sooga could see as clear as the skies above them that Rose had a talent. One that would greatly benefit the clan. And to think she’d finally decided to join them- they’d be more powerful than ever.

As the three lizalfos she’d strangled disappeared with a purple puff of smoke, Rose turned to smile at Sooga, seeming incredibly proud of herself. But then her eyes widened, her facial expression turning to one of worry, her hand reaching out toward him. “Sooga!” 

Whipping his head around, the blademaster found that he’d failed to finish off a couple of the monsters that had been in the water. Just before he could strike them down, though, there was an explosion of smoke as Rose appeared behind the two lizalfos. She sliced directly through their scaley bodies with her katana, a pink color glowing from it as she poured her energy into the attack.

If all of his attention wasn’t now on the fact that Rose had transported herself, Sooga would’ve been cursing at himself for getting so distracted by her before that he hadn’t kept an eye on the monsters behind him. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh, eyes locked onto the woman before him. “I should have made sure they were dead. You have my thanks, Rose.”

She gave him a weak smile, a slight blush on her face. Though that was probably from all the fighting she’d just done. “You’re welcome, I guess,” she looked down at her feet, which were now a foot into the lake’s water. Sooga looked her up and down, concluding on something in his mind.

So she could intentionally transport herself, then…

Rose and Sooga stood at the now deserted monster camp, a silence having washed over them. Breathing heavily from the fight, Rose stood still and attempted to regulate her breaths, feeling as though she’d used too much energy. Maybe even with an evening of rest, the traveling she’d done had fatigued her far too much. If that was the case, she’d probably need to stay at the stable for another day, delaying everything even further. 

“We should destroy the camp now,” Sooga then suggested. “Otherwise, more monsters may take over.”

Nodding, Rose took in a deep breath before getting on with what Sooga had suggested.

When they were done with that, they returned to the woods, out of sight from the road. Sooga stood tall, his arms crossed, while Rose opted to lean against a tree, still not having recovered. 

“Rose, I must admit, you are an excellent warrior,” Sooga told her.

“Oh… thanks,” she quietly replied, her hands folded together in front of herself. 

“I look forward to seeing the power you’ll add to our forces. You’ll still need training within the clan, of course,” he added. “Speaking of- I shall transport you there myself. It will save travel time.”

Rose gave him a small smile, “really? Thank you. Although I should get some stuff from my cottage first. That and- I need to go back to the stable to report to them.”

Sooga nodded.

“Is it far?” She asked, then.

“Yes,” he answered. “Have you heard of Karusa Valley?”

Rose pursed her lips, thinking about it. Had she? Thinking back to everywhere she’d gone for work, she tried to recall if it had ever been mentioned to her before. But she couldn’t think of any instances of that, nor could she remember seeing it on a map. Shaking her head, she responded, “no, I haven’t.”

“It’s in the Gerudo Desert,” Sooga explained. “Towards the highlands. Our hideout is located there.”

“Which is why nobody’s ever found it, then,” she hummed, earning herself another nod.

“Indeed. Nobody would dare travel on foot into such a place. The desert heat would kill them before they could even reach the valley.”

“Not even the Gerudo have made it in?” She asked. 

“The ones who tried did not live to tell anyone of the location,” Sooga answered, darkly.

“…oh.”

For another awkwardly silent moment, the two hung out.

“Well, I need to get to the stable. I’ll come back here as soon as I’m done,” Rose then announced, breaking the silence.

“I’ll be awaiting your return,” Sooga nodded.

Pushing herself off of the tree, Rose began to head onto the path, walking back to the stable. When she was at the bridge, though, she began to feel slightly dizzy. Stopping to catch her breath, she decided right then that she’d definitely used too much energy today. Hopefully she’d be able to rest once at the Yiga Clan’s hideout.

—

Finally at the stable again, Rose found the owner. He was within the counter area, waiting for guests or customers needing horse services. He seemed incredibly bored. His head perked up upon her return, though. Approaching him, Rose gave him a smile, trying to hide her growing exhaustion.

“Well? Are they taken care of?” He asked, seeming desperate to hear her answer.

“Yep, the camp’s been destroyed, too,” Rose happily announced, causing the owner to immediately leap with joy.

“Oh, thank Hylia! I know we had agreed on your payment, but miss Rose, you should take an extra hundred! I insist!” He grinned.

“O-oh, no, that isn’t necessary,” she tried denying the extra rupees, shaking her head.

“You’re taking it! That’s final,” he exclaimed, shoving a bag of rupees towards her, tossing another silver one in. “You’ve done a great service to us- you deserve every bit of the money!”

Taking the pouch, Rose tucked it into her bag and gave the man a slight bow. “Thank you so much,” she smiled, sincerely. “Well, I have to get going now. Good luck with the stable!” 

Waving goodbye, Rose then headed back to where Sooga said he’d be waiting. Rushing across the bridge, the brunette felt her fatigue growing stronger. As she approached the woods, she slowed down significantly, and by the time she’d reached Sooga again, she was nearly ready to collapse.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked, his deep voice barely registering in her ears.

Huffing, Rose weakly nodded. “Y-yeah.”

Sooga then took a couple steps toward her, until they were nearly touching. Then, hesitantly, he reached his arm out. “Sorry- may I?”

“Huh?” She looked up, feeling more dizzy “y-yeah,” she then said, not even caring what Sooga was asking permission to do. 

But when his arm wrapped around her, she shuddered deeply, ready to begin swooning. As she swayed forward a small bit, she clutched onto the belts across his chest, stabilizing herself.

Holding her tightly against his taller body, Sooga formed a hand signal with his left hand, and with a puff, they disappeared.

Reappearing about ten feet from her cottage, Rose felt a rush of relief washing over herself. She was home; where she could hopefully go sit down, rest a little bit and then gather her belongings and finally go to the hideout with Sooga. 

“Gather whatever you need,” Sooga said. “Though do not worry about bringing everything. We can return to get the rest.” 

Feeling his arm relaxing as he carefully let go of her, Rose stumbled away from Sooga. The world around her was spinning- and his voice had sounded incredibly faint, despite him being so close. Barely, through the ringing of her ears, she heard him speak again.

“Rose? Are you alright?”

Vision fading, Rose opened her mouth to tell him that no, she certainly was not alright. But nothing left her lips, as her eyes fell shut. Feeling herself beginning to fall, the last thing Rose heard was Sooga’s voice, calling out to her again.

“Rose!”

[sequinsmile-x]

Driving Home for Christmas - Chapter One

Emily and Aaron's first Christmas together.

A Christmas fic, set in The Way Home universe

Rating: M

Warnings: Mentions/reference to canon typical violence, mentions/reference to addiction and recovery, Injury recovery, smut

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

December 1992

“Get your feet off the dash.” 

Emily rolls her eyes at her boyfriend as she’s done as he’s instructed, sighing and making a show of it as she lowers her legs back down to the floor of the car. 

“You’re such a dad.” 

“Even Jack knows not to put his feet on the dash in a moving car,” he quips, reaching over to squeeze her thigh, his hand warm through the material of her pants. 

“Aaron, Jack is 6. He couldn’t get his feet up there if he tried,” she replies, smiling lovingly at him, “But he is a mini you…so I guess you’re right.” 

She rolls her right wrist back and forth mindlessly, trying to relieve some of the ever present ache that seemed to live under her skin. She rubs at the surgical scar there as if it would bring relief, something she had gotten into the habit of almost as soon as it had started to heal. 

“Is it bothering you again?” Aaron asks, briefly looking over at her before focusing back on the road. 

She hums, “It’s the cold. The doctor said to expect it,” she smiles tightly at him, “the metal is just under the skin.” Aaron reaches for the button to turn up the heat inside the car as if that would cure her, and her smile turns genuine, “Thanks, honey.” 

He squeezes her thigh once more before putting his hand back on the steering wheel. She doesn’t miss how he grasps it tightly with both hands, his knuckles briefly going white. He still blamed himself for her getting hurt, all of his frustration at what happened that evening with Ian outside their old apartment building turned inward because it was the easiest way to process it. 

It had taken over two months for the bruises around her neck to fade fully. A rainbow of violence splattered across her skin, Ian’s mark left behind long after he’d been refused bail by the courts. She’d worn a turtleneck sweater to Aaron’s graduation from law school, completely out of place for the weather and the time of year, in the hope to cover the last remnants of how forcibly Ian had pressed on her throat. 

She could still feel it sometimes. She’d wake up gasping for breath, the ghost of his grip around her throat, still as tight as it had been that cold night. She’d feel the pain in her wrist, which had been surgically put back together, aching as if it had just been smashed into the wall, and the cold of the sidewalk through her jeans as she fell to the ground, unable to hold herself up. 

The only thing that was able to bring her back to herself in those moments when it felt real was Aaron. His gentle words, his soft touch as he reassured her that it was over, that Ian couldn’t hurt her anymore. 

She’d been dreaming about it more frequently lately. According to her therapist, that was because the trial was just around the corner. Ian had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, his last grasp at control over her as vicious as his hold around her neck that night, as he insisted on putting her through the rigmarole of court. It was due to take place just after New Year, and Aaron, in his unrelenting love for her, had taken the time off of work despite being relatively new at his practice to provide her support the entire time. 

“The hotel is about an hour away,” Aaron says, drawing her out of her thoughts, and she smiles at him, “What time do we have to be at your mother's?” 

“It starts at 7 pm, so I’d say we aim for never,” she quips, and he chuckles, shaking his head at her, “Probably around 7.30,” she says seriously, “We’ll show our faces, speak to some people and then hopefully head back to our hotel without my mother and I arguing.” 

“We don’t have to go, sweetheart,” Aaron says, and he offers her a kind smile, his eyes flashing to her before he once again looks back at the road, “I’ll turn the car around right now and we’ll head back home.” 

“And I love you for that more than I can possibly say,” she replies, reaching over and placing her hand on the back of his neck, playing with the short hair there, “But it’s best we do this. She’s…trying.” 

Shortly after the surgery to fix Emily’s wrist Aaron had called Elizabeth to tell her what had happened, his girlfriend still unable to talk well enough to face a conversation like that. He was sure he’d always remember the pain in the older woman’s voice as he explained Emily was in the hospital, that she would be for a few days, and that Ian had attacked her. Elizabeth had been at the hospital the following morning, her eyes wide and her reaction at seeing her only child in such a state clear to see, despite how she tried to cover it. 

Emily had told her, her voice still cracking and her throat burning, that she knew she was the one who had told Ian’s ex-girlfriend about her, unknowingly setting off the chain reaction that had led to this. To Emily being stalked for a year by a man hell-bent on vengeance and looking anywhere but inwards for answers as to why his life fell apart. To his attempt on her life. 

It had caused damage to the already tenuous relationship between mother and daughter. Emily’s already shaky trust in Elizabeth almost cracked beyond repair. It was difficult, and Aaron could see how they were both trying to save something that had never really suited anything. 

Elizabeth had kept her mouth shut when they told her that they were moving in together, even though Emily hold him she clearly thought it was too soon for them to do so. She’d simply bought them some furniture without comment, having it delivered to their new apartment with a note.  Emily was still so angry at her mother, for the disarray she had sent her life into, even though she knew this would never have been her intent, she was doing her best to get past it. 

Which is how they found themselves driving to DC the week before Christmas for one night to attend Elizabeth’s annual holiday party. 

Emily smiles when she thinks of the Christmas the previous year, how she’d attended the very same party alone - thinking of Aaron all evening as she attempted to convince herself that nothing could happen between the two of them. That he would never feel for her what she felt for him. It was only two weeks later, on New Year's Eve, when he proved her wrong, kissing her in the rain outside of a party he’d invited her to last minute. 

“I’ll be with you the whole time, Em,” he says, grasping her hand as she removes it from his neck, kissing her knuckles before he lets her go, “I promise.” 

“Good,” she replies, laughing at him, “Otherwise I’d have left you at home.” 

___

Aaron can’t help but smile at the sight of her, the beauty that radiates off his girlfriend at any given moment still enough to make him feel in awe of the fact she was his almost a year on. He watches as she stands in front of the Christmas Tree in her mother’s house, decorated to perfection. The lights from it illuminated her, the dark hair that cascaded down her back standing out against the pale skin that her dress was showing off. 

He walks over, closing the gap between the two of them, and he passes her a glass of champagne before he presses his hand to her lower back, his thumb skipping over the notches of her spine where her dress ended and her soft skin began. She turns her head to look at him, the lights of the tree shining in her dark eyes. 

“So,” he says, smiling down at her, “If we snuck upstairs to your childhood bedroom, would we find lots of posters displaying the embarrassing music taste of your youth.” 

She scoffs in face annoyance, turning and leaning into his side to look at him properly, “For a start, there is nothing embarrassing about Siouxsie and the Banshees, and you really can’t say anything considering you share your favourite album with a cult leader,” Aaron squeezes his arm around her a little tighter, any attempt to seem annoyed with her lost as it always was, “And secondly, we were never here long enough for me to really put my touch on the place,” she smiles wryly, in the way she always did when she spoke of her childhood, “Even if I had, Mother would have redecorated it all by now anyway.” 

Aaron sighs, kissing her forehead in a silent show of his love. Anytime she mentioned something about her mother and the way she had grown up he found himself feeling angry, overwhelmed by the thought that she deserved better. 

“I can always buy you a Siouxsie and the Banshees poster for our place if you want.” 

Emily chuckles, and wraps her arm around his waist, her hand slipping under his tux jacket as she leans in to kiss him, smiling into it as he kisses her back.

“That’s sweet,” she replies, “But I think I’m good,” she kisses him again, biting her lower lip as she pulls back and looks him up and down. “Have I mentioned you look good in this tux?” she says, her smile widening as she takes a sip of her drink.

“You’ve said it once or twice since we left the hotel,” he replies, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

She hums, “Seeing you dressed up like this makes it worth coming all the way here.”

He moves his hand up her back so his palm is entirely pressing into her bare skin, and he smirks as she shivers against the heat of his hand.

“You look pretty amazing yourself, sweetheart.” 

She beams at the praise, “We could always sneak upstairs later anyway,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Aaron opens his mouth to reply but is cut off by Elizabeth approaching. 

“Emily, Aaron,” she says, walking towards them with a polite smile on her face. Aaron shifts so he’s standing next to his girlfriend, his arm around her waist as he provides silent support, “I didn’t realise you’d made it.” 

“Hello Mother,” Emily replies, smiling back at her in the exact way she was smiling at them, “You were speaking to one of the Senators when we arrived, so we thought we’d leave you to it.” 

Elizabeth nods, “Are you both well? How is college, Emily?”

“We’re good,” Emily says, leaning slightly further into Aaron’s side, “I can’t believe I’ve only got one semester left.” 

“You’ll have to start thinking about masters programmes,” Elizabeth replies, and Emily smiles tightly.

She’d already made her decision and had applied to, and had responses from Social Work programmes back in DC. She, Aaron and Haley had discussed their plans between them, aware that any decisions they made would have to work for all of them. It has always been Aaron and Haley’s plan to move to the DC area when they graduated from college so he could work there, and it worked for Emily too.

She hadn’t told her mother yet, aware that she’d believe such work would be beneath Emily, still convinced her daughter would find a job in the political world as she had.

“Actually, Mother-”

Elizabeth is distracted by someone behind Emily, her gaze drifting past her daughter and her boyfriend as her society smile spreads across her face. 

“Tom, Andrea how lovely to see you,” she says, stepping past Emily to shake their hands, “Emily,” she says, turning back to her and Aaron, “You remember Tom and Andrea Benton and their son Matthew.” 

Emily’s smile falters ever so slightly as she turns to face them, coming face to face with her old friend and his parents. He looked better than he had the last time she’d seen him, frantic and standing in her old apartment as he asked for money. Aaron holds her even tighter, silently trying to let her know he was there. His eyes fixed on the man opposite them who he’d had to ask to leave her place before he held her as she cried afterwards. She’d only told Aaron half the story that night, the final pieces of the puzzle of what had happened in Rome, and why she felt so indebted to Matthew coming months later. 

“Yes, Mother,” she says, taking a sip of her champagne, “I remember Matthew.”

___

Emily isn’t sure she’s ever loved Aaron more for getting her out of that situation quickly, leading her further into the party under the guise of mingling with other people. They find a relatively quiet corner together that happens to be on the path of one of the waiters with a tray of champagne. 

“Are you ok?” Aaron asks, drawing her attention to him, and she sighs, taking a sip of her drink before she places it down on the table next to them. 

“Yeah,” she replies, smiling tightly at him, a humourless chuckle escaping her, “You’ve really got to commend my mother’s ability to hit me where it hurts…even when she doesn’t actually realise what she’s doing,” she clears her throat, wrapping her arms around herself as she looks down at the floor, “It’s quite the skill.” 

Elizabeth knew nothing about Rome, about what her daughter had endured there, and therefore could have no idea of the impact it had on Emily’s once very close relationship with Matthew. How he’d reacted himself as he got older, the spiral he’d fallen into that had led to him stealing from Emily to feed his habits. The money she would have given him if he’d asked, and a necklace from her grandfather she couldn’t replace gone, falling through the cracks of a friendship that would never be the same. 

“Sweetheart,” Aaron says, stepping towards her and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace, “We can go if you want, this is why we booked a hotel instead of staying here.” 

“I’d love to,” She groans, kissing him before she pulls back, wrapping her arms around his neck, “But then she’d only ask why and…it’s just easier to stay.”

Until she’d met Aaron, until she’d known what it was to be loved by him, that's what her whole life had been. Stuffed full of things that were never said because it was easier not to, almost suffocating in the silence she had grown up surrounded by. 

“Whatever you want, Em.” 

She smiles up at him, “Maybe we could have sex when we get back to the hotel, that would make me feel better.” 

He makes a big deal of making it look like he’s considering it, “Well, if it would make you feel better I’m sure I could do that.” 

She laughs at him, shaking her head, “You jer-”

“Emily?” 

She freezes, sighing before she turns around, grateful when Aaron’s grip on her loosens only enough for her to do so, his arm still tight around her. 

“Matthew,” she replies, smiling tightly at him as he takes a couple of steps towards the couple, “Happy Holidays. I didn’t expect to see you here.” 

“I’m staying with my parents at moment,” he replies, clearing his throat slightly, “I hoped to see you here,” he looks at Aaron and flashes him a smile, “Aaron.”

“Hi Matthew,” Aaron says, his eyes fixed on the other man, unsure about anything other than the fact he knew he wasn’t going to leave Emily’s side. 

“Can I have a couple of minutes alone, Em? I want to talk to you.” Matthew says, his eyes flitting  back and forth between the couple. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Aaron says automatically, realising he hadn’t even given Emily a chance to speak for herself only afterwards. She places a hand over his on her hip and squeezes and she doesn’t let go, which is enough of a sign for him that she doesn’t want him to go either. 

Matthew chuckles slightly, looking back at Emily, “Adesso è la tua guardia del corpo?” 

“I’m not doing that, Matthew,” Emily says, purposely replying in English, not willing to get pulled into anything as she had in the past, “Aaron knows everything, anything you want to say to me you can say in front of him.” 

“Everything?” Matthew says, frowning slightly as if he was surprised that she’d told her boyfriend what they had gone through when they were still children. 

“Everything.” 

There’s a beat of silence before Matthew sighs and nods, clearing his throat. “I wanted to apologise, I…” he chuckles humourlessly, “I tried to come to see you but that really stern building manager told me you didn’t live there anymore, and your mother wouldn’t give me your address again.” 

“That isn’t because I’ve told her anything,” she says, feeling the need to reassure him, even though she knew she didn’t owe him that, “We had to move and she is under strict instructions not to give my address to anybody.” 

Matthew nods, looking between her and Aaron again, clearly picking up on the implication that they now lived together. 

“Anyway, my parents would only let me stay with them if I got help, and there’s this whole thing about making amends and…you’re the person who actually tried to help me and I was awful to you,” he explains, “I’m sorry, for everything. And I hope one day you can forgive me.” 

“Matthew,” she breathes out, closing her eyes briefly, pushing back the emotions she doesn’t want to set free, “Of course I forgive you,” she says, smiling tightly at him as he beams, “We won’t…I can’t be what we were before,” she adds, feeling a spark of guilt as his smile fades, “We’ve grown up, and we’re different and I don’t think I trust you as I did then. But I will always be grateful for what you did for me, so I forgive you.” 

It takes a moment, but he slowly nods, “I can accept that,” he looks at the necklace around her neck, the bird pendant sparkling in the light, “You found the necklace?” 

She lifts her spare hand to it and grasps it, smiling as she does so, “No, I didn’t,” she replies, “Aaron got it for me.” 

Matthew smiles, “It’s lovely,” he looks behind him, aware of his parents looking at them, “I’ll leave you both to it, Happy Holidays.” 

They repeat it back to him, and once he’s turned around Aaron speaks, “Matthew?” He waits until he’s looking at them again, “Mi prenderò cura di lei.”

___

Aaron sighs as he opens their hotel room door, stepping aside to let his girlfriend in before he follows her. 

“Can you stop laughing at me please?” 

She chuckles, biting her lip as she turns to look at him, “I’m sorry honey,” she says, sounding anything put as she steps towards him, “But it was so cute.” 

“You’re the one who taught me some Italian.” He grumbles, making sure the door to their room is locked before he turns back to her.

She smiles, wrapping her arms around his neck, “And clearly we need to work on your pronunciation,” she quips, leaning in to kiss him when he raises his eyebrows at her, “But it’s sweet, and I love you for it.”

“I love you too,” he replies, holding her closer, “Even if you do make fun of us mere mortals who can only speak one language fluently.” 

She grins, pressing her lips against his, letting herself get briefly lost in it, her fingers trailing through his hair. 

“Thank you, for coming with me to this,” she says, as she pulls back, “It means a lot.” 

“You don’t have to thank me, Em,” He replies, his hands running down her spine, settling at her lower back, “I always want to be wherever you are.” 

She shakes her head at him, “You’re ridiculous,” she stamps a kiss against his lips, groaning as he deepens it, biting her lip as she pulls away, “I seem to remember you promising to have sex with me to make me feel better.” 

He hums, kissing her again, “I remember that too,” he smiles, kissing her, his tongue swiping her lower lip, “I guess we all have our burdens to bear.” 

Her outraged response is cut off by him kissing her, sweeping her off her feet as he hoists her upwards, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist. 

She’s already forgotten what she’s supposed to be annoyed about by the time her back is pressing into the mattress.  

-x-

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[chicknparm]

22 for your spotify wrapped

22. Casual - Chappell Roan

Oh thank GOD I get to talk about this I was really hoping someone would pick this one. No artist frustrated me more this year than Chappell Roan. So this will double as a review of a particular song but also venting my feelings about this artist and her reception over the last year or so. I'm gonna have to talk about a lot of outside stuff that doesn't have to do with the particular song, but hopefully you guys are used to that by now. I read a lot of Pitchfork in the early 2010s, I'm sorry.

Chappell Roan is very obviously going to be a star. Sooner rather than later. My introduction to her was on New Year's Eve in 2022. I was at a friend's house, and somebody showed me a few of her songs. Casual was among them, but we'll get to that soon. The most lasting memory of that first exposure is being drunk and dancing around a friend's living room to a song called "Femininomenon." It felt affirming and empowering and all of those buzzwords; dancing to a catchy beat and lyrics about how boys stink, dolled up and embraced and accepted and welcomed as Feminine. From what I can tell, this is the exact experience Chappell Roan wants people to have while listening to her music. It was basically the perfect introduction.

A few weeks later, I remembered Femininomenon while I was at work, and couldn't get the hook out of my head, so I hastily added it to my general playlist and queued it up. Friends, I know if this post ever breaches containment I'll be torn to shreds, but that song is Ass. I'm sorry, but calling something "camp" does not excuse bad creative decisions. If we are going to bring out the torches for Taylor Swift writing "in the pub we, are watching rugby" then I demand the same for "hit it like rom-pom pa-pom, get it hot like Papa John." It sounds like music for a Dreamworks Dance Party Ending if they made an animated adaptation of Drag Race. It is a testament to the power of Friendship and Alcohol that I ever enjoyed it.

Later, I listened to a few more of her songs, and found a frustrating and recurring theme. They were all better than Femininomenon by a considerable margin, but had very samey lyrics that felt like they were treading the same ground over and over again. It just felt repetitive. I dunno, it just bothered me for some reason. What were they about? Oh, well, you see, the thing is...um, well, about that, uh, ya see, what I'm trying to say is...*writes "I will not wade into Queer Discourse on a Spotify Wrapped review" 100 times on a chalkboard* Sigh. For an artist who I saw heralded as a "new queer icon" it was annoying that most of the songs I first heard were about how much dating men sucks! To be fair, she also does have songs about feeling liberated being with women, but hearing Femininomenon, My Kink is Karma, and Casual, all complain about men just reminded me that she may be a queer icon, but not for people like me. Much in the same way that I was put off by a girl in college saying I "couldn't understand Mitski because she writes about the quintessential experience of girlhood," I was also put off by the assertion that I must make way for a new icon, and give deference and reverence to a narrative that excludes me.

Wait, did I mention Casual there? Aw fuck! This was supposed to be a review for that song!

So uh, the thing is, Casual is basically a perfect reinvention of the classic lovelorn country song? Yeah, they play up Chappell's southern roots in a lot of her music and promotional material, but it comes through crystal clear on this song. The structure and melody feel exactly like the old country songs I'd hear at my grandparents' house, but the lyrics are youthful and conversational and explicit, with the chorus opening with "knee deep in the passenger seat, and you're eating me out, is it casual now?" The sleek, modern production keeps the song from feeling out of place among her other, more danceable singles, but the lyrics and vocals are still powerful and raw. I derided Femininomenon for having lyrics that boil down to "boys stink" but Casual feels like a genuine and specific grievance. It feels lived-in and genuine in a way that reminds me of Taylor Swift's "All Too Well," which if you know anything about my tastes or about Swift's fandom in general, you know that is a gargantuan compliment. Chappell's vocals are always a highlight when they're allowed to shine, but they fucking soar on Casual. When she hits the final "go to hell" on the second(!) bridge it feels so cathartic, and so earned, and feels like you just got done venting about a situation that had been eating you up for ages, which is precisely the tone she seemed to be going for. She fucking nailed it. This song is impeccable. I cannot say enough good things about it.

So why did I spend so many words bitching earlier? Well, for one, honesty. When she blows up even more, which she will, I don't want to pretend I was a Day 1 Ride or Die. I want the record to show that I have some Concerns. But the thing is, I opened this review by saying that Chappell Roan frustrated me. Not that she made me angry, not that she annoyed me, but that she frustrated me. That's because I found some aspects of her songwriting and presentation (and fandom but that's not her fault) grating, but I also saw obvious and undeniable talent. Even My Kink is Karma is a fine song on its own, but the sins of Femininomenon stain it too, in that the pleasure (explicitly, in the former) comes from talking down the shitty men Chappell has to deal with. Many of her other songs carry the even more egregious sin; corniness. While nothing as bad as Papa John, singing about "fugly jeans" and, uh, the entire bridge of Red Wine Supernova bring down otherwise good songs that are more concerned with sharing winks with a specific audience in a specific moment in time, than creating art that holds up on its own merit alone.

A couple years ago, there was buzz about a young up-and-comer named Olivia Rodrigo, maybe you've heard of her? She blew up with a gargantuan hit ballad filled with melodramatic teen angst and verses that were sung in cursive, years after that style became a punchline. "Well, this is a bit shit," I thought. But then when I listened to her album, there were a few tracks that I liked, most of them being more energetic with some pop-punk influence. "It would be cool if she went down this power-pop road, she's super well-suited for it," I thought again, though I assumed she'd try to chase Phoebe Bridgers in the Hunt to be the Heir to the Swift Throne. I think I was wrong on that one! From what I've heard of Olivia's newest stuff, she's bringing the shiny guitars and bratty/aggressive vocals to the forefront, and I really enjoy it! It is really nice to be pleasantly surprised, to be glad to be wrong about something.

That is why I'm hard on Chappell Roan. That is why I find the overwhelming praise irritating. Olivia Rodrigo received endless praise for one of her worse songs, and caught lawsuits and plagiarism allegations for one of her best. It is a goddamn miracle that she resisted the urge to double down on the sadgirl schtick. Chappell Roan has a terrific voice, biting lyrics, razor-sharp pop sensibilities, star presence that most would kill for, and can write hooks that rival the very best of my lifetime. The girl is money. Which is why it worries me that most of the praise I've seen for her focuses on such surface-level criteria. Quirky presentation, referential lyrics, and a crosshair on the current queer zeitgeist can certainly help your success and give you a few trendy tiktok audios. But she's got skills that can carry her forever, and no song in her still-brief discography showcases them better than Casual. In a few years, The Youth will inevitably laugh at what we now consider trendy. And Casual will still be a perfect song. If I live to be 100 I'll still be listening to it. I hope Chappell Roan makes me look stupid.