#i literally had to set a reminder to myself to not go alone because once i wake up i will feel daring and forget about it

[heromunson]

.

[wcbblife]

Paige as a girl/boy mom HCs!

a/n: So, keep in mind that some of these could be switched. Like this is just me exponentially running my mouth. I actually might do another part. Enjoy!

Boy mom:

Paige would absolutely be too excited for her son to be strong and old enough so that she can play with him. You constantly have to remind her to be patient and to at least wait until he can walk.

She would 100% put a basketball in his hands the second he has his first steps. I actually think she would even do it while he is still using his baby walker. Once he actually makes a basket, she’ll run laps around the house screaming because she enjoys the belly laughs her son makes.

She would read him stories and get too involved. Especially if they’re comics. She’ll be shouting out the sound effects and you have to walk into them bursting into fits of giggles. They both would have matching pouts once you tell her that he’s past his bedtime. (Btw she's definitely the fun mom).

Video games. That’s it. Although you two had a conversation about getting him into video games later in life, as soon as he set his eyes on Paige playing, he had been so adamant about playing that you both gave in.

She buys him a new set of clothes literally every other day.

“Babe, just imagine him in this. He’ll look like a little gentleman.” Like it's crazy how much clothes he would have.

She definitely takes him to her practices sometimes and even teaches him as soon as he shows any type of interest in basketball. (This reminds me...Paige would never push her kids into one particular sport BUT she would push them into an active lifestyle so trust she will always be doing something with them.)

Him and KK would be besties btw. Even when he used to babble out incoherent words, I can just imagine how chaotic KK would be with a baby boy and Paige would 100% not make anything better. “Bababa.” Your baby blows a raspberry. “You heard him!” KK shouts, turning to him, “Damn little man, I couldn't have said it better myself.” “KK, language.” You deadpan.

Once he’s out of that fragile baby faze and into that toddler stage, I get the feeling she’ll definitely fling him around (safely ofc). Like she’ll pick him up and just throw him to the couch or on to his bed, loving the sound of his laughs.

Beach days go crazy with them two. Literally two kids. Sandcastles, water fights, beach volleyball. I get a feeling they go home completely covered in sand and Paige carries him back to the car while he’s too sleepy to open his eyes.

She’s just so fun. Always in an adventure with him especially if it’s really active. Like camping, surfing, hiking …etc.

Horror/Space movie nights with a pillow fort and popcorn.

Whenever she does anything fun with her teammates or travels for her games, her first thoughts are about you and him and how much fun you guys could have. Def keeps a bucket list of places for you guys to visit

You’ve definitely found her sound asleep in his bed with him curled up to her side. It happened when you ask her to put him to sleep after practice but she’s way too tired herself to get up and out of his room.

You think she secretly enjoys playing with his toys more than he does lol. Like you’ve definitely found her playing with them while he's long gone.

She could not cook for shit in the early days of your relationship but as time went on, she learned just to be able to cook for you guys. I actually envision her as a grill dad lol. She’ll definitely wake up early in the morning, step out into the cold weather and cook you guys some breakfast.

"If they punch you, punch them back harder." Mom.

Paige strikes me as a mother that would particularly show an abundant amount of love for her boy. She recognizes that, just like girls, boys need reassurance and love.

You constantly find them breaking into fits of laughter and giggle alone. It's the cutest thing ever.

Girl mom:

Paige is absolutely smitten and head over heels even before the baby girl is born. She’ll lay her head softly on your stomach and talk for hours to her.

Once she’s born though it’s a whole other side of Paige. She’s usually clumsy, but you never see her be so cautious like when she’s holding the girl. Literally sloth pace once she has her in her arms. Honestly kinda funny.

She’d be way too excited and paint everything pink and have everything ready for her MONTHS before she’s born. Before she was born, you'd catch her just looking or sitting around the nursery room all alone.

Geeks about small girl clothes. Especially dresses and little sandals. You have to constantly deal with her sending you a bunch of pictures of clothes whenever she goes shopping with messages like “We’ll have a little princess walking around in our house soon.” or “I can’t wait to put this on her babe.”

Paige will 100% let her daughter put on makeup on her and it doesn’t matter how bad she looks; she’ll walk out with it on in public if her daughter asked her. Just imagine her sitting in a chair that’s wayyy too little for her, hunched over as your daughter tries her very best to apply some of that cheap kids makeup. omg.

Puppy eyes work on her almost too easily. And it’s hilarious.

“Hey…What did I tell you about candy at this hour?” Puppy eyes “Hmmmmm. Fine. But don’t tell your mother. And this is the last one!” Or… “I’m too tired honey…” Puppy eyes “Fine, let’s go.”

She does her signature hairstyle on her daughter’s hair, and it makes you laugh because she turns into a miniature version of Paige. Talking about a miniature Paige...trust that her daughter would literally copy her mother's sass.

Same with the makeup, Paige would let her daughter paint her nails. She always gets made fun of in her practices, but she couldn't care less. Strangely I think she would actually like going through her game pictures and seeing the chipped and uneven colors all over her nails because it was her baby girl who did them.

Protective as hell I’m afraid. Like she will not hesitate to smack the shit out of someone or scream at them if they're being weird or disrespectful or mean etc.

Matching fits. I think she would love to either match fits or color with her daughter (and son too dont get me wrong). Especially when showing up to games and they’re photographed together.

Watching princess movies with her is Paige’s favorite downtime activity. After a tough match or practice she absolutely loves getting home to her angel and just lounge around on the sofa while watching “The Princess and the Frog.” Especially when they either both fall asleep, or her daughter falls asleep and she carries her back to her room.

You’ve definitely found her sleeping on the floor next to the crib in the early days.

Paige in a rocking chair with her daughter sleeping on her. >>>>

Instagram feed would be full of her daughter's pics without her face. Even if fans know what she looks like she still likes to do it.

Paige would find it strangely soothing to play with her daughter's hair or even fiddle with her tiny little fingers absentmindedly.

[multiwreckedmess]

Kinktober Day 4

Prompt: Teratophilia Pairing: monster!IN(Jeongin) x fem!reader WC: 3,395 (I literally said “what” outloud...no way) Summary: Would you still love me if I was a worm? Of course you would! But what if I had three tails and claws and teeth sharp enough to rip your throat out and black eyes? Would you still love me then? This is a work of fiction, it does not represent IN or any Stray Kids member. On top of this it is an 18+ work. For my comfort and boundaries please if you are under age do not interact with this.  Additional warnings under the cut.

TW/CW: Idk a great tag for this but Jeongin’s conscious is essentially trapped when he shifts into a monster (unwillingly), the monster is very enthusiastic about fucking, Jeongin is not so much out of fear you’ll get hurt. That said IDK where to rate on the consent scale.

Also I use italics to indicate conversations between the monster and Jeongin. Sorry if that’s annoying or unclear.

Simple warnings - monsterfucking, big dick, humping, unprotected sex, breeding, knotting.

 “Babe, I think you need to know something about me before you start fantasizing about our dream apartment together,” Jeongin sighs. He knew this day was coming. For as excited as he was to dream about the future with you, he was afraid. He knew if it got to this point he’d have to tell you. Mentally listing the number of people who knew and the number of people who’d stuck around he found the number could be held in one hand alone.  You don’t even look up from your phone, scrolling aimlessly, waiting for him. Your eyes flick up to look at him as he fails to continue further. “Mhm. Okay?   “You know how you have a time of the month and like, I am super understanding and buy you supplies and have no problem going out to grab pads or even, like, lay down a towel because a good orgasm can really help cramps? I’m going to need you to be just as understanding okay?   Finally you look up from your phone, concerned. “You don’t need the monologue, what’s up?   He takes another deep breath, hands gripping his knees. Staring straight forward he blurts his whole prepared speech, “I’m actually a monster. A real monster with teeth and fangs. Once a month I need to lock myself to a chair because the need becomes too strong and I could-I could hurt people.”  You’re a blank, expressionless. It worries him, it isn’t a reaction he’d prepared for. “Okay? Like a theoretical monster or-”  “No, like a schedule three restricted access elevated permissions type monster. As in only a few people and even fewer know who are alive. Real serious shit type of monster.   Your brows furrow, “like a werewolf or…?”  At least you don’t look scared. It’s only natural for you to have questions he tells himself. “It’s complicated. Not like one of those hollywood types. Technically I think I’m ‘otherwise unspecified’ but, to summarize, think scales and teeth and wings and talons and black eyes.   The fear and regret and panic in your precious Innie’s eyes is hard to miss. The rapid way he’s rattling through the worst as a nervous habit proves his sincerity. You smile softly at him, “I think I need to see for myself.”  “What no. NO. I could- did you not hear me? I could hurt you if I-” he shudders. “If I get free I don’t know-I couldn’t guarantee-I’m not myself.   You shrug and turn back to your phone, “I trust you. I just wanna see.”

  It takes weeks of working on him to get him to agree to let you join him on his formerly labeled “boys night”. It was not without a long list of compromises on your part. You were to only observe through glass of the french doors in his living room. He would wear additional heavy duty cuffs and chains to hold him back in case the first set failed.  “No matter what,” he reminded you as you locked him into the recessed hooks behind his couch, “no matter what you cannot touch me and you cannot leave the next room. Not even to leave the apartment. The apartment door is the last line of defense and if I get out-”  ‘I know. You’ve said a billion times Innie,” you say as you push his hair back. “It’ll be fine. I trust you.   Jeongin shakes his head, holding his tongue. So stupidly confident, he knew no matter what he said he couldn’t shake it from you. Stubborn and confident in the face of the unknown. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he looked over your handiwork. Everything was just the slightest big large, for now and not for long. The faintest shimmer crossed his forearm beneath the cuff. “Leave. Now.”  Tucking back his hair again you can’t help yourself, tilting his chin up to kiss him. “I love you.”  The kiss dries his mouth, he’s so thirsty he could die. His tongue presses to your lips, eagerly licking into your mouth as you grant him permission. You taste so sweet, sweeter than any candy he’s ever tried. Chasing your lips hungrily his teeth snap at you as you pull away. The sudden aggression making you both jump.  “Are you deaf? Leave!” Jeongin’s fingers dig into his knees, veins popping out all over. Grabbing you he tries his best to toss you backwards, chains cutting his throw short. It’s just enough to send you stumbling backwards. A split second of fear shines in your eyes, a split second that he hates himself for. “Leave,” he whimpers, head hung as he hears the click of the door behind you.

  It’s just in time. Jeongin’s arms start itching, he twitches and contorts to try to relieve the nagging flares popping all over his arms and legs. Slowly the iridescent shine stays, black scales tipping his arms and covering his hands. He screams as the bones of his finger morph curling back and up before lengthening into claws. The human part of him that remains is glad he can’t find you, hoping you left fully and locked the door behind you. Pain shoots through his spine, forcing him to curl in on himself. His jaw unhinges, gurgling through the spit pooling in his mouth, teeth turning to fangs as two feathery wings sprout from his back.  Panting and screeching he’s a half formed creature. Part lizard, part bird, part wolf, and still some human left to spare. The doctors told him it would’ve been easier if he had been able to fully transform, that being in limbo is what made him able to remember it all. This partial transformation kept the sliver of human unable to act and conscious of his state. Full shift meant the human portion wouldn’t know, could escape the pain of knowing and being unable to act.  The creature inside was pissed. It was always upset but tonight the cuffs felt particularly tight and heavy. Tugging with all his might the metal left raw impressions in the scales. Teeth snapping into the night air in desperation. He wanted to feed. He wanted more than food.

  You sat in the small what the landlord considered “dining room” just beyond the doors. Hidden in the pitch black dark beyond the doors you followed your boyfriends’ instructions to remain still and calm. Watching the pain and anguish crossing his face, you want to burst through the door. Despite the various ways he could rip you limb from limb or otherwise harm you, he looked sad. Your heart ached as you watched him struggle, magnificent wings beating and folding and flexing to try to assist his fruitless tugs. Beautiful. He was beautiful, an angel even.

 Almost an hour passed of him fighting frantically with his restraints until he wore himself out, scraped and bruised. Pitiful vocalizations were all that was left of his resistance. Feathers covered the floor, some falling from stress and others from effort. He was still beautiful. Hair hanging into his eyes, he was still beautiful. You watch him for hours, staring, though he really didn’t do much more than doze off and tug at the chains. The way the light falls on him is entrancing, dark scales seemingly twinkling at you like he was covered in stardust. Moreover he still looks like your boyfriend, despite the additions. Your heart ached for him, face covered in tear stains. The once loose cuffs looked far too tight.

  The scraping of metal against metal perks his sensitive hearing. The most delicious scent of vanilla and coconut wafts past his nose. His breathing accelerates as the pat of a bare foot hitting the ground echos loudly in the otherwise empty apartment. The door clicks and his head snaps to face the intruder.  Your stomach drops as his black eyes turn to you, grinning. His teeth are sharp and slick with saliva. “Innie, it’s me,” you whisper.   Eat. EAT. Take. TAKEtaketakeeatdevourpossess. His senses go hayware, newly invigorated to tear at his bindings. What a delicious offering. What a snack. If only this body could have her whole-   He snaps and growls in your direction, chains straining and cuffs cutting in. “Innie! Yang Jeongin! I know you’re in there!”  The monster howls, doing one last tug before settling again. Don’t hurt her, you can’t hurt her. I will kill us if you hurt her. She’s not for eating, she’s not an offering. She’s my girlfriend. She’s my girlfriend. She’s my girlfriend. The monster huffs, head twitching to his shoulder, eyes narrowing as he gives you a once over.  “I’m going to come closer. I’m-we need to be able to get along.”  He sneers and growls at the thought. This tiny thing is right. No eating. Girlfriend. Fine. No eating. The monster appears to sulk as you draw nearer. What used to be your boyfriend’s body has grown much larger than you originally thought, almost completely covered in a pattern of smooth scales.   “I’m going to touch you, the cuffs look tight. I want to make sure you aren’t hurting yourself.”   Please no please no please no I can’t control it, I’m not- he’s not in my control. The monster gives you a sideways glance but makes no movement as you reach your hand out slowly. The scales vary from slick and soft like a snakes underside to thicker and more protective where callouses used to be. In particular where the cuffs encircle his legs and arms has built up a layer of armor. A small chirp noise eminantes from his chest over a deep rumble.   “Are you purring? Do you purr?” You smile as you continue to stroke the soft side of his body. “Is the big scaly boy purring?”  A small click comes from his throat, head shaking back and forth. Moremoremoremoremore this. Need this. Good. Hunger. Want tiny thing. Everywhere. Yes. Want everywhere. More everywhere. More now. More fast. Moremoremoremore. Practically panting his eyes slide closed into a state of bliss. Suddenly he flinches and pulls from you with a snap.

  Your blood runs cold, teeth inches from your shoulder as you throw yourself backwards to the wall. “Hey! Innie! Be nice!” No leverage to hold over your words, a rush of adrenaline has you giggling. “I know you don’t mean it. I know my Innie won’t let you. I trust him so I trust you.”  Stupid tiny thing. Pretty. Want. Want more. Need. He whines and hangs his head.  “It was my fault, I went too far and you didn’t know how to handle it. Just warn me next time, okay?” You approach him again, speaking in a low soothing tone. He’d been overstimulated, he didn’t know kindness, he acted out of fear not out of a wish you hurt you. You made every excuse in the book. Heart beating wildly you were closer than ever before as he leaned back, shaking his hair from his eyes.  Closer close, yes, close. Do not fucking hurt her, you know what will happen to us if you hurt her. Closetastytinyclosetastytiny. DON’T.  Both of you barely breathe as you stroke his hair, slowly pushing it back so that it doesn’t bother him. You’d politely not looked at his boxers, previously loose now stretched to the max, but it was hard to ignore the twitch at your thigh. His eyes slide closed again and you withdraw your hand, his mouth twisting into a frown. “This time you’ll warn me right?”  He chirps again. Stupid tiny thing more now more.  Instead of returning to his hair you start touching his chest. He’s still human here, morphing into fur on his stomach and then to scale on his thighs. Your hands shake as your fingers caress down to the band of his boxers. The faint rumbling starts again. Long strokes from chest to waist, steady as you feel the muscles below relax. As your fingers ghost over the band he growls. “Not there?” You ask softly, shortening your path.  Claim. Hurt hurt need claim. Tiny human need. Need. Breed. Spawn. Offspring. Yes. Tiny thing carry spawn. “Touch. Hurt.” The words are mumbled and unclear, monster unsure of the shape of the words when spoken.   Your eyebrows shoot up. “Hurt? Where, how can I help? What can I do?”   His head hangs down, staring at the nearly destroyed boxers. “Hurt.”  Thumbs slipping below the waist band you watch his face, his mouth, his claws as you tug downwards. The soft thud of muscle against muscle as, whatever is going on down there, hits his furry lower abdomen. The noise he makes is new to your ears, a pleased trill traveling high to low. Pheromones flood the room, musky and masculine. Your head rings, blinking to clear your vision. “That help?” You don’t dare look down. Whatever it was sounded as monstrous as the being that had changed your boyfriend.  Don’t you dare, don’t you dare let her. You can’t have her. You can’t. You’ll hurt her. The monster huffs.  Eyes glued above his waist you continue to pet him, opting to skim his collarbones and shoulders instead of lower. “How is that my sweet thing? See we can be friends. I can help you. You don’t need to be afraid of me.”   Purring, his head droops again, chin to chest, “more.”  You gulp, heart dropping into your gut. “Oh-okay. If you’re sure.” Holding your breath your eyes flick south. “Fuck, more? More?” Your voice trembles. Innie wasn’t normally anything to shrug at, perfectly average length and just a little bit thicker. This, whatever the monster did to his body, this was the most. Your abs flex, walls of your sex clenching. His dick looked mostly human, deep purple and blue veins ran the thick shaft, all the way up to the head, tapered and an angry red.  “Touch,” he insists. You’ll hurt her. She-I-. Your spawn too. Our spawn. Our brood. We breed. We spawn. He lightly growls as you hesitate.   Shooting a glare at him you scold, “be nice, or I leave.” His claws grab what he can, the lower half of your calves, sharp ends carefully pressed. You weren’t going to leave him. Whining he almost looks sorry. “You manipulative little shit.” Pressing your palm to the base his cock easily passes the length of your fingers. “There’s just no way-”   “Find. More. Moremoremore,” he moans and thrusts against you. The tang of need on his tongue. The chains rattle ominously. “Find. Hurt.”   “Let me just take,” you try to scoot away from him, his claws scratching lightly as he tenses. “I need to take these pants off. To help. If you want me to help--” the grip drops immediately.   Growling and snapping as you leave him he looks more like a feral creature than your beloved. Hair wild and wings stretching to his sides. She won’t leave. She should leave. God damn it, can you just control yourself? Listen to me and we can get through this. You’ll have her, fine, you’ll get to have her. My rules, her rules. You get your fucking claim can you just listen for once? The monster leans back, heels pressing into the floor.  Naked in the moonlight you straddle him, bolder than before as you hear the familiar clicking and rumbling. “I promised. I kept my promise. Now promise, no bite, no scratch, no eat.” Your elbows rest on his shoulders, pressing his hair out of his eyes to stare into him, trying desperately to reach the boy inside the beast.   He growls, burying his head in your chest. You heard her.  Tentatively you wrap your hands around him, needing both to cover his circumference. He’s already sticky with slick. Self lubricating perhaps, or from the steady stream of substance trickling from his slit. You squeeze and pump him as you rub against his scaled thigh. IN looks pleased at least, head back and eyes closed as he purrs. However your arms quickly start hurting, range of motion and girth a challenge to your muscles. Meanwhile you’re practically dripping down his thigh, quickly growing desparate.  Your scent is potent in the air, drool leaking from the sides of his lips. Delicious devour defile deep so deep want need wantwantwantwant candy dumb stupid tiny. Fragile mine mine have need mine. He grunts and whines, arms tugging again at the chains. For some reason despite the closeness, despite the fact that he could easily bite you, you aren’t afraid.  “Normally you’d prep me but,” you smile adoringly at his pleased expression, “I somehow don’t think that’ll happen huh.”   He chirps back, hips bucking enthusiastically upwards as your grip loosens.  You’re glad for the tapered tip as you position him at your entrance. It’ll still be a stretch no double but at least it wasn’t a blunt one. Baring his teeth IN growls, writhing and thrusting up into your wetness. “My speed!” You yelp as the head pops passed your entrance.  Her speed jackass go her speed! Warm, want more. Deeper need, need deep. Tiny thing is small tight warm warm tight need. He pants and groans as you slowly slip down, his hips canting and bouncing, eeking out whatever extra depth he could. Finally you settle, only able to take a little over 3/4th of him, leaving the bulbous, calloused base exposed. You bend forward and wrap your arms around his neck, rocking your hips as you get used to the burning stretch. With your ear to his neck you can better feel his pleased subvocalizations, trilling as your fingers scratch the leathery base of his wings.

  “Good boy. You’re being really good for me,” you mutter as you feel him tense and shudder. “Doing well, going my pace. Feels good. Good right?” Leaning back you grind against his lower abs, letting the coil in your stomach wind back. “Just a little more and then I gotta rest, okay?” Your walls squeeze desperately around him. Your beautiful monster. Dangerous and hungry but yours.  More need moremoremoremoremoremoremore faster go faster deep fast. He grits his teeth and yips, frustrated. His muscles flex, as his arms tug again. Grab, grab tiny. Grab fill breed fill spawn. Mate mine mineminemine. Hungry. Twisting and tugging again a link pops with a bang. Throwing you off balence, falling foward to grab him by the shoulders. Your overstimulated clit spasms, orgasm rolling painfully over you. Your scent floods his nostrils, sweet and musky and a little spicy now. Delicious. No don’t you dare don’t you dare. She’s my girlfriend don’t you dare. He tugs again, the second set of chains popping open. Our tiny. Our.  The curve of his talons perfectly fit over your shoulder as his arms wrap around you. It all happens in the blink of an eye, the chains popping, his arms gathering you between them, the force of his hips driving forward as he locks you in his embrace.  You’re screaming as he forces the rest of himself inside of you, practically roaring as you both fall forward. Hanging off of him he cradles you as he pounds brutally quickly into your cunt. There’s no art or finesse to it, only aim to drive himself as deeply as possible into your womb. Every noise he makes is strange and animalistic, rough tongue licking away at your neck as if he was preparing you for something much more sinister.  You’re moaning, maybe, or choking on air, could be screaming. The blood rushing in your ears clouds your perception of noise. Cumming again on him, drives as deep as he can go, base of his cock growing thicker and locking inside of you. Whiting out from the pressure, your body is limp and vulnerable to the monster.  Bitebitebitebitebitebitebitebite mate bitebitebite. He waits for the other man to speak. Bite? The other man has quieted or left. He bares his teeth, your neck exposed. It would be easy. He huffs, another spurt of release emptying into you, stomach distending slightly.  The monster gathers you, sitting back and draping your form over his chest as he purrs. You shiver, locked to him naked in the cool night air. Two wings wrap around you, cloaking you in what little he can provide. The man will be back in the morning light, the monster is satisfied and so are you.

I was thinking about this one and as I was writing I feel like next year I’ll do fewer prompts but just...all monsters. Like monsterfucker october for kinktober. Assign different traits to all the skz and atz members.

[pandenewie]

08 - It’s Giving Control Freak

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Being a pushover is one of Jungwon’s many… quirks you could say. He often finds himself using his rare off-time running around and doing favours for anyone who asks. It’s not rare for him to spend his afternoons in a random classroom, offering his help to whatever teacher needs it - much like today.

Except Mr Jeon isn’t here yet, and as much as Jungwon wants to have faith in his friend Ni-Ki, the one who set him up with this task, it wouldn’t be the first time the younger boy had set him up.

The clock strikes 10 past 3 - marking a marvellous 15 minutes that Jungwon has been waiting. Just as he’s about to go home (setting a mental reminder to email Mr Jeon and apologize for leaving) the door to the classroom opens and shuts.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Jungwon’s eyebrows furrow at the familiar voice, turning around to see a confused Y/n standing by the door. “Uh… I’m waiting for Mr Jeon.”Jungwon says, a slight waver in his voice. This is the first time he’s even made eye contact with Y/n since their… disagreement. Let alone spoke to them.

“Mr Jeon hasn’t been here all week.” Y/n says blankly. Oh. Well… that would make sense. Jungwon isn’t in any of his classes, so it’s not like he would have known.

“That explains why I’ve been waiting I guess… but why are you here?” Jungwon asks. From what he knows, Y/n doesn’t hang around after school. They’re not in any clubs or extracurriculars, and they’re certainly not the type of person to offer up their time like Jungwon is.

“Detention.” Y/n mumbles, almost embarrassed. Jungwon’s eyes widen at their words… they got detention? He can’t help but feel a little guilty - as if it is his fault.

“Uh… can I ask why?” He speaks hesitantly. Y/n sighs, fidgeting with their top as they avoid eye contact. “Skipping class… yelling in the halls… and… dress code.” Y/n mumbles, their voice almost going silent at the last part of the sentence.

Jungwon doesn’t know what to say. Well, he knows what he wants to say but he likes to think that his self-control is impeccable. Another one of his quicks. Unfortunately, his self-control seems to have clocked out for the day. Four words leave his mouth before he can even fully comprehend them himself:

“I told you so.”

Y/n’s head snaps up at Jungwon’s words, their eyes narrowing as his own widen in shock. He didn’t mean to say that… at least not out loud.

“Oh fuck off, Jungwon.” Y/n scoffs, turning around to leave the classroom. “I’m just saying… actions have consequences.” Jungwon mumbles, his eyes widening even further when he realises Y/n heard him. He mentally curses at himself to stop talking.

In the blink of an eye, Y/n is face to face with Jungwon, their index finger jabbing at his chest as their words cut through the air. “I don’t need you to tell me that actions have consequences, I’m not an idiot. But if you would focus on something other than yourself for once, you would see that no one likes the dress code. I’ll get detention every fucking day if I have to until it’s changed. Because unlike you, I sacrifice myself for other people.” And with that, Y/n turns around to leave once more.

Jungwon is the definition of being stretched too thin, and for possibly the first time in his life, he feels his restraint snap. All senses of rationality go out the window as Jungwon strides towards Y/n, ripping their hand off the door handle and turning them around to face him.

“You have spoken to me maybe twice ever, and both times have done nothing but yell and insult me. Who the hell are you to say that I don’t care about people? Do you have any idea how hard I have to work? How many people depend on me?”

“Oh boo hoo. It’s almost like that’s your job, Jungwon.” Y/n spits. “You’re literally the president of the student council, you signed up for this!”

“Name one member of the council other than me.” Jungwon challenges calmly - a stark change from the aggravation in his voice just moments prior. Y/n’s eyebrows furrow, they’ve never seen him like this. He squeezes their wrist and they quickly try to rack their brain for an answer…

Nothing.

“Exactly.” Jungwon mumbles, stepping back from Y/n’s frame and collapsing into his previous chair. Y/n watches curiously as he buries his head in his hands, letting out a tired sigh.

“I know the dress code is unfair, Y/n. But I can’t fix that. Not when I have all this other stuff on my plate. So please just… leave it.” Jungwon sounds almost desperate, and Y/n mentally curses at themself as guilt starts to form in the pit of their stomach.

Their body seems to move on its own as Y/n cautiously takes the seat next to him. The atmosphere is awkward and uncomfortable, and Y/n has to bite back a snide comment. They’re not that mean.

Swallowing their pride, Y/n lets out a sigh before mumbling a quiet “I’m sorry”. They can practically see the way Jungwon’s body tenses up at the words. He hates it when people pity him - hates feeling vulnerable.

“You can… stop, y’know. It’s not your job to do everything.” Y/n says quietly. “Who’s gonna do it if I don’t? Jungwon asks, awkwardly shifting in his seat. “Even if I did… pull back. The guilt of not doing things is just as bad as the burnout of doing it all.”

Well… now Y/n feels like shit. They always assumed Jungwon did everything for selfish reasons - that he wanted to be the centre of attention, the one with all the praise. Little did they know, he does it all because he has to. He was right, Y/n can’t name a single other person on the council this year. They thought it was because Jungwon was stealing all the spotlight, but it’s actually because he’s the only one doing the work. Heck, he probably does more than some of the teachers do.

Glancing at the time, Jungwon sighs as he rises to his feet. “I should go, I’ve still gotta finish my essay for tomorrow’s class.” He says, causing Y/n to look up at him confused. “You have an essay to write, and yet you were gonna spend your afternoon helping some random teacher clean their classroom?” They ask in shock. Jungwon smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as he nods. Y/n shakes their head, sighing as they go to move past him - knocking their shoulders together in the process.

“I don’t get you, Jungwon.” Y/n mumbles. The words cause an awkward chuckle to escape Jungwon’s lips. “That makes two of us.” He finishes his words with a sound of confusion as Y/n jingles the doorhandle once, twice, three times. 

“Is it jammed?” Jungwon asks curiously, moving his hand to push hard against the door. “Probably… yet another thing this stupid school needs to upgrade.” Y/n mumbles, ramming their shoulder against the wooden surface.

“You got a paperclip by any chance? Or like… a really thin pen?” Y/n asks, rummaging through their back to find any form of sharp object. Trust the one day they forget to bring extra bobby pins for the girls, to be the day they get locked in a room.

“Paperclip.” Jungwon says, holding the small piece of metal in front of their eyes. Y/n quickly takes the item from his hand, mumbling a quiet thank you which causes Jungwon’s ears to perk up - a small smile spreading across his face.

The smile quickly turns to a look of shock as Y/n stretches out the paperclip, quickly shoviving it into the lock. “Hey, wait… you’re gonna pick the lock?” Jungwon asks, pulling Y/n’s hand away from the door. “That’s destruction of poperty.” He adds, earning an eyeroll as Y/n yanks their hand out of his grasp. “Would you prefer we stay locked in here till tomorrow morning?” Y/n asks sarcastically. When Jungwon doesn’t respond, they go back to their task - the lock releasing with a click in no time.

As Y/n turns around to grab their bag, they furrow their brows at the sight of Jungwon crouched over a desk, writing what appears to be a note. “Watcha doing, Prez?” Y/n asks, pulling the piece of paper from his grip. “Writing an apology note for the broken lock.” Jungwon says matter-of-factly. He takes the paper back and grabs the tape from Mr Jeon’s desk, fastening the note to the classroom door.

“Oh my god, you really are a goody-two-shoes.” Y/n can’t help but laugh. “Oh, and here’s your paperclip back. Think of it as a souvenir.” They add with a wink, placing the broken paperclip in his hand before turning around to leave the classroom. Jungwon shakes his head as a small chuckle escapes his lips. He looks down at the paperclip sitting in his palm, before stuffing it into his pocket and following Y/n out the door.

The hallways are silent and dead as the two students make their way out of the school buildings. They walk side by side, but without spearing each other so much as a word or glance. Eventually, Jungwon breaks the silence with a sigh. Something Y/n has noticed he does a lot. “I’m sorry for yelling at you.”

Y/n can’t help the laugh that escapes their lips, causing Jungwon to look at them confused. “You’ve got to be kidding me. That was your definition of yelling?” They ask sarcastically, causing Jungwon to shrug. “Well… kinda.” He mumbles, causing Y/n to roll their eyes. “You really are too nice, aren’t you?” They ask before silence falls between them once more. A few moments pass before the peace is broken once again, only this time by Y/n:

“Just to be clear, I still don’t like you as a person.”

“That’s okay… the feeling’s mutual”

“Watch it, Yang.”

“Sorry.”

TAG LIST (closed): @kang-yeosangs-initials @kpopstanmeg @b1ndignity @soobiverse @dudufodd @mikadorbs @pagesofmiracles @tya0 @ilovewonyo @bringer-ofchaos @huening-ly @ifearjwn @callmeblondie @run2min @straykids-riley (can't tag) @rikimylove @chaechae-23 @lacimolela @n1ght-maring (can't tag) @luvvsjungwonn @yenqa @tzuyusluv @viyqe @vocaloshin @deadgirlwalking3

[epepepepepepe]

FLASHING LIGHTS AND BRIGHT COLOURS WARNING

my android footage masterpiece (translation and very extensive yapping under the cut)

Very important translations:

Ja sa zabijem-im going to kms

dopiče/cikokos-fuck/shit/generic curseword

Tam je-there he is

Ahoj-hello

Ma jeblo do barikady- i got knocked into the fucking barricade

A príde tu- hes gonna come here

Poď sem- come here

cant sleep so im going to yap about my experience seeing bilmuri and sleep token live. This was the first concert i actually wanted to go to and my first time going alone (dont tell my mom). I still remember sitting in my room and getting the presale email, the stress of buying my ticket and the fucking elation when i managed to get one. Theyre my favourite band currently so safe to say i was screaming crying throwing up. As the date was getting closer and closer i started to lose my shit aka telling literally everyone i know, overthinking about every aspect of that day and torturing my roomate with lore (which she accepted with grace).

The day of i could not keep still. Like literally I decided to walk to the popup store (which took me like 30 minutes) because i had to do something with my body. Honestly i was not expecting to get the tour shirt but i stood in line for an hour and a half and even met a lovely girl to go to the concert with! Its so nice to have a physical reminder of my experience, especially since the prague design is so beautiful. Then i went home for a bit (emphasis on bit, i just inhaled my lunch and forced myself to sit for 15 minutes) but could not chill tf out so i decided to go to the venue.

One thing about sleep token fans, they are awesome people. It was amazing to see how excited everyone was for the concert: the beautiful makeup and outfits, they were exhanging gifts, everyone was smiling, just good vibes all around. Soon i was blessed by a projekt euclid sticker (you guys are awesome btw thank you) from a volunteer who was dressed like a member of the band, old mask and all. They were cool but spooked me at first because they just sort of teleported into my peripheral vision. We talked a bit about how fabric markers are a bitch to use lol

When the doors opened everyone cheered and people started running through the venue (security did NOT like it), which was a longer walk than i expected (we had to like go underground and stuff it was crazy). The thing i was most worried about was that i was not going to be able to see (im 160 cm in platforms) but i managed to secure a spot right in front of the catwalk. Like second row. And this sense of realisation set in that i was actually there, seeing my favourite band and not only was i going to be able to see, sleep token are gonna be RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

The venue was so nice, i think it was one of the smallest ones on the uk/eu tour so it still had the atmosphere of a medium-ish? size concert. The worst thing about that whole day was the waiting because time goes by sooo slow when youre thinking about it and checking your phone constantly. Holy fuck i didnt even get to the actual concert yet

Bilmuri: i did not know anything about the band prior but listened to some of their songs in preparation for the show and i have to say, theyre very cool. Polar opposite vibe to st but sooo fun to watch. And the songs are all bangers (my fave is the one about cranking your mf hog). The singer interacted with us a lot, he pointed to someone in the audience like every 5 seconds, the saxophonist was INCREDIBLE holy shit. There were a couple fun moments, like when someone threw him a shirt with an eagle and the us flag on it and he wore for one song and then had to throw it back because it was too tight lol, then they complimented the crowd (they said that we were louder than the germans fuck yeah) and during the last song i think he pointed at me cause i actually knew the words for once. All around they were very fun, im proud to be an honorary american yeehaw. Theyre gonna be back in prague next year and i def want to see them again!

Sleep token: by the time we were waiting for st i could feel the stress and excitement from everyone around me. I really have to give props to the crowd cause we cheered at every little thing lol. Like even when they took dow bilmuris banner and you could see the giant st logo. I was a bit worried about the fog because with the house lights on it was so thick you could barely see the back of the stage, but it was fine in the end. Now, before i went to the show i told myself i was going to have fun but be normal about it. Well as soon as the lights went down that went out the window. I kinda scared myself with how intensely i was screaming lol.

I mean what is theyre to say. Incredible. Everything from the performance ( vessels vocals, iis a drumming god, iiis whole vibe, ivs screams, the FUCKING ESPERA MY GOD they sing like angels) to the lights and lasers (sometimes i would just look at the lights and get lost in the moment, especially furing atlantic, the summoning and tmbte) the crowd (at least from my pov everyone was having so much fun and my god we were loud, also at points there were like 3-4 different moshpits, people were hanging onto vessels every word, i mean we were cheering and clapping at every little thing)……im just very grateful for this experince. Legit top 3 moments of my life so far

During (i think) the offering vessel came sauntering down the catwalk and maybe this is gonna sound weird, but i realised that they were real?? Because they are anonymous i just kinda saw them as the funny guys and girls in my phone up to that point. So im like holy shit hes in front of me hi (i think i actually said hi out loud) and THEN before the breakdown iii and iv came down the catwalk together and i lost my shit again. And again. And again. Thank god they dont speak my native language

Other notable moments: iii grabbed ivs face like they were going to kiss, i got startled by the elevator during chokehold, vessel had a um...moment with iv during his solo, vessel bowed like 50 times at the end and did a surprisingly correctly shaped heart, someone yelled COME ON VESSEL in czech at the start of ascencionsim, project euclid was a success at least from my pov (im never getting rid of that piece of green paper), walkaline on the catwalk, iii and vessels moment before the granite breakdown (bro needed NO help with the pit), the whole of atlantic

Im not gonna write about every single song because this post is already way too long but my god. Just thank you thank you thank you

PS: a week ago i posted an artwork of mine on here and i never got so many notes on a post so thank you so much!!!i will def post more st fanart in the future

[eriisaam]

Just a probably-not-gonna-stay-gentle reminder: I only sometimes lurk on Tumblr. I'm not always online at all times, and the reasons why not can vary on a lot of things.

I might be in the middle of commute and literally not near any tech, let alone able to get on Tumblr, least of all after my phone decided to retire itself some time ago (anyone wondering why I don't play FEH anymore? That's why. The phone decided for me "Nope. Not anymore." And I hadn't got around to fixing that since yet.)

It could also be that I pretty much called it a night, be it to sleep, to rest up and unplug from social media after doing a sweep of going-ons, or I'm just really not in a good health or mood, and need to step away for a time to heal and recover. Seeing as I'm chronically ill, that happens a lot whether people like it or not. (Sorry for being snappy, I'm getting ahead of myself on the whys already...)

It could also be all manner of other reasons, like having to step away unexpectedly, stepping away to cook, stepping away to clean, stepping away for a bathroom break, or because I'm busy, or because I'm juggling all manner of things, so even being 'here', I might be slow to react or respond or whatever because I'm rotating through several different tasks on top of Tumblr.

And then there are moments I could be at my bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and peak health in the moment, only for Tumblr Jank ™️ to set in and fuck shit up anyways (messages getting lost, things being slow to post, things not loading for me, Tumblr updating the site so the UI completely shits itself again and I have to wrestle it to get it to work and show me shit, etc.)

The point being, if you messaged me (directly or via an ask otherwise), and if I don't respond right that instant, be patient, and I'll get to it when I get to it.

So far, a lot of this is very "No shit", and all my mutuals had been incredibly great about this.

The people who hadn't, however, had been coming in droves lately, and this led me to a fucking breaking point to even make this post in the first place after way too many of the (now-blocked) you's have gotten too fucking comfortable with lashing out at me otherwise, blatantly ignoring the above.

Lately, I've been noticing a trend.

I get a new follower.

They proceed to beeline straight to messaging me, give or take an ask too. (Usually the ask or message are copypasta's of one another but I digress.)

They proceed to completely dump a whole stream of messages on me.

Half of these messages are about whatever the hell they're here for. The other half, almost in the same breath and back-to-back of the first half, then proceeds to tell me some variation of "I'm so disappointed in you ignoring me", and proceeds to completely lose their shit.

Like paragraphs upon paragraphs of making broadsweeping assumptions of me, accusing me of beliefs and intents and all manner of things ranging from 'gross' to 'chill the fuck out' to 'ok seriously what the fuck is wrong with you?', and based on this headcanon of me they literally came up with on the spot, goes off even more on me.

I come back from my commute/from cooking/from taking a shit/from waking up/whatever, and see ALL of it, start to finish, all at once.

Literally whatever point they make originally gets IMMEDIATELY undermined by all the sheer level of wtf that immediately followed right after.

They get immediately blocked.

They inevitably make another alt, and proceed to do the exact same shit that got them blocked in the first place.

I make moody half-asleep posts like this.

It doesn't even matter what the point they came for was. I've had all range of shit from sugardaddy-wannabes getting impatient with me, to people getting huge mad I didn't react to their reinactment of goatse the .2 seconds they dumped it in my inbox when I didn't ask, crowdfunding, people having a one-sided conversation pretend-befriending me and then dump their crowdfunding on me, the point they're here for doesn't matter.

All this because, again, I could be away from my keyboard for all manner of things, and then come back immediately to this. It shouldn't even need to be said, yet here we are, because people got way too goddamn comfortable with just completely exploding on me for the crimes of not being so chronically on Tumblr I can blog in my sleep, not having teleportation powers to warp instantly wherever, and not being so well that I can sit here for long stretches of time instead of pass out or run off every which way for whatever things.

If you have so much disregard for me that you have unrealistic expectations of how active I need to be to serve you personally 24/7, and on top of that feel comfortable with getting really fucking ugly really quick when I can't or won't, I don't care what you're here for. You will be instantly blocked.

I don't owe you my time, owe you my attention, or owe you being so obsessively scrolling Tumblr on the constant - sleep or self-care or reasons pulling me away be damned - just so I don't disappoint you for not responding to you in the .2 seconds you sent me something.

Thank you for everyone else who are far more reasonable than all the people I had to mass-block who couldn't and wouldn't.

[reescrever-as-estrelas]

Five years earlier, Rey became the Queen of a prosperous Kingdom overnight. After it was clear that Ben was going to survive his near fatal wound, she immediately set the wheels in motion to have him crowned as King alongside her, and to claim all the land under their rule for Theed. Any traces of Exegol or the man she never wished to think of as her grandfather were quickly gone. It was the start of a new life.

And not long after, there was quite literally new life.

Some weeks after returning from war, it became clear to Rey that she was with child. The thrill of it was coupled with the fear of growing their family while ruling an entire Kingdom. And then there was Leia to think of, as her health was continually declining. But something unexpected happened when she heard the news of her first grandchild. It was as if she found a new drive to live and held firmly to it. 

They could all hardly believe that Leia was able to be there for the birth of Mira, let alone be able to enjoy the baby’s first few weeks of her life. Only then did Leia fall peacefully asleep in death, as if content that she’d had everything she wished for. It was bittersweet for Rey and Ben, because while they were grateful for the time they didn’t think they’d have, now they weren’t just missing a beloved mother, but also a grandmother for their baby girl. The last remaining piece of the generations that had come before them was gone now, with only memories remaining.

For some time after Mira, Rey began to think they wouldn’t be able to have another. She and Ben made peace with that, perfectly content with their little family. But now, with four year old Mira filling the halls of Theed castle with her laughter, it would soon be time to once again welcome a new little life. Things would be a little different this time. It made her miss Leia all over again, as well as her own mother of course. 

Mira laughed, making them turn their attention to her. She was giggling at the butterfly she’d been chasing, having landed right on her arm. “Look! He likes me!”

“Remember to be gentle, darling!” Rey reminded her. Then she sighed and looked up at Ben. “We’ll have to cut our walk short soon. I have correspondence to attend to.”

“As do I.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, chin nestled in her hair so that she could feel his words against her scalp. “But I hope you’ll not be so busy after dinner tonight? And after Mira’s songs, of course.”

Rey smiled. That was a nightly ritual which Mira absolutely insisted upon. Ben had to sing her exactly three lullabies before she would agree to settle down and go to sleep. 

“What exactly did you have in mind?”

She felt him inhale. “Oh, a number of things. But most importantly you’ll need a relaxing bath. Perhaps a massage as well, to ease the added strain on your muscles now. And I may have sent away for your favorite fruits. But of course, if the royal responsibilities can’t spare you,” Ben teased.

Laughing, Rey, wrapped her arms around his. “I feel sure I can take some time for myself tonight. I’ll never waste such an offer.” Her voice inadvertently became more serious. “I nearly lost you once, so I’ll not take a moment for granted.”

Ben chuckled, holding her tighter and leaning over to press a kiss to her temple. “I hope you know you were nowhere near losing me, sweetheart. Even if I had died… I’d still have crawled my way back to you.”

As she leaned back against Ben’s chest while they watched their happy little girl play in the field, Rey smiled to herself. Because she believed him.

Nothing could ever separate them again.

The End 🌹

- Look At Me: Chapter 17 (fanfic) by @writingwife-83

[real-odark]

if you were to ask me how i feel about a commercial jingle for regina comet, i might say its pretty good or something.

but if you asked me on a deeper level,

i'd tell you how much i absolutely love this musical. id tell you how im its biggest fan possibly ever, and i curse myself every day for not being able to see it. id tell you about my signed playbill of it being one of my most prized possessions and i used to sleep with it by my side. id tell you how the bootleg is one of my favorite things ever, and how many times ive listened to it, making timestamps for each song and even uploading a full version of it for myself to youtube. id tell you how its my third favorite musical of all time. id tell you how i didnt even know ben fankhauser until i found out about this musical and i dont think i could love any of his roles more than man 2. id tell you how i wrote my own self sustaining fanfiction for it. id tell you how i made up names for them. id tell you about my dozens of fanart for it, and how other man used to be muscle memory to draw, so whenever id go to draw something hed be the first thing to warmup. id tell you how i know just about every lyric of every song. id tell you how when i do home-alone theater karaoke, this musical is the first one i go to everytime. id tell you how literally any role in this would be my dream. id tell you how underrated its representation is, showing the exploitation of women in the media, and has such a good message. id tell you about how during silent reading time in class, id reread the script for this show over and over while everyone else pulled out icebreaker and stuff. id tell you how i have consumed every advertisement for this show ever. id tell you how i would go through every review article, and if they said anything even remotely bad about it, id find a way to counter it. id tell you how i used to go through every 2 pixel picture and video of the set (which is amazing by the way. im obsessed with it) and made a list of every single paper i could make out, how they asked the crew to write down musicals on sticky notes for it, and how i analyzed each of their sides of the apartment. id tell you how id do anything to see the original cast of this in person. id tell you about other mans bpd coding. id tell you about how i started to copy the mannerisms of these characters and actors and put myself in physical distress sometimes because it made me feel like them a little bit gulp thats not like the kind of physical distress youre probably thinking of btw i meant id like run laps of long distances because hearing myself breathe made me think of other man. id tell you how i dont think anyone could ever be more these characters than these actors. id tell you how i would just listen to the bass/piano/drums (all isolated) of the songs and learn the piano by ear. id tell you about the freaking haarrrmoonieeess in it. id tell you how cute and . cool the lighting is. id tell you how i much of the choreography i had(/have) memorized. id tell you how many times ive quoted this show (women in science. and, for a little bit of backstage stuff, nothing i will be woorrking.) id tell you how ive gone through all of their social media posts and every post theyre tagged in as well. id tell you about how i dedicated an account to it until i got locked out lmao?? id tell you how i may or may not have genuinely cried over this musical so many times. id tell you how i made floor plans for the flourishing pig (the hottest vegan nightspot in the meatpacking district) ((i got rid of them tho my bad lmaooo)). id tell you how even perfume just reminds me of this show now. id tell you how i have forced everyone i know at gunpoint to hear this musical at least once. id tell you about the complexity of man 2 and other mans relationship and nothing wouldve happened if they had just kissed sighh (/j). i would tell you about this show. id tell you about this. id tell you about. id tell you. id tell. id. i. .

...but ill probably just say "yeah its kinda cool"

[simmerdowndee]

uni_dayz episode twelve part eight

It’s our last night in Tomarang. Earlier today, we all went shopping around the tourist/market district. I found some very pretty jewelry and trinkets to take back with me. Theo tried to buy me everything I saw but I had to remind him, he still needed money for when he goes back to Windenburg. Sadly, he won’t be able to just come home with me.

Later that night, Theo asks me to get ready as he has a surprise for me. I’m not sure what he has planned to see, but most places are closed at this point.

We leave the house, and he takes me back to the resort club we were at earlier, but this time its only us and he set a romantic dinner for us.

Dakota: Awhh, Theo.

Theo: I wanted to do something special for you. We haven’t been on a real date in a while….

Theo: Here, let’s sit.

Dakota: This is really sweet babe.

Theo: I just wanted some alone time with you, without the group seeing I have to go back tomorrow.

Dakota: *Sighs* 

Theo: But I’ll be back home in 2 weeks.

Dakota: I know.

Theo: Let’s not worry about that right now. Let’s just enjoy the night.

Dakota: My favorite bottle again.

Theo: Its actually pretty good, you have good taste.

I know.

Theo and I spent the night talking about things we missed with each other while he was away. It seems like he enjoyed the program.

We talked about my clerkship and time at the firm. He was really proud that I was able to work on a that case.

I told him about how my mom and dad have been seeing each other and think I have no idea. They aren’t really good at being secretive.

It felt so normal to just be out with him and talk like we normally do. Once we finished dinner, Theo said he had one last thing for me.

We ended up at this private rental a few mins from ours.

Dakota: Why are we here?

Theo: I figured we could stay here tonight, so we can be alone.

Dakota: Theo, this looks very expensive.

Theo: I’m not worried about the money; I just want to spend time with you.

How much money is that program paying him?

When we get to our room, we put our stuff down and head to take a bath. It was so relaxing. Afterwards, we get ready for bed.

Dakota: Theo, now that we are back together, I wanted to talk to you about something.

Theo: Is everything okay?

Dakota: Yeah, I just want this to start off very clean, with everything on the table.

Theo: Okay.

Dakota:  For about 6 months, Noah and I dated.

Dakota: We never had sex, but we did date.

Dakota: We broke up because he knew I wasn’t over you….

Theo: I know baby.

Um, how the hell does he know?

Theo: Who do you think called me to come here?

nofuckingway

Dakota: That’s how you knew where we were.

Theo: Noah called me late the night before I got here and asked if I wanted to join you guys. He met me at the airport bar when I arrived, and he told me everything.

Theo: It was literally perfect timing because I was missing you really bad. So, I got on the next flight to be with you.

Dakota: You traveled over 9 hours in the middle of the night, because you wanted to be with me?

Theo: And I’d do it again.

Theo: We should’ve never broken up. That was the stupidest shit I’ve ever done.

Theo: I missed out on so many moments with you.

Theo: I hurt you & I’ll never forgive myself.

Dakota: Baby.

Well, if I didn’t believe him before, I definitely believe him now when he said he missed me.

Theo: I don’t ever want to lose you again. I love you, Dakota. I love you so much. I’m so sorry again.

Dakota: I love you too Theo. I forgive you.

We enjoyed the rest of the night with each other seeing it will be our last for 2 weeks. I don’t want it to end, I don’t want to go back home.

The next morning…

We’re all at the airport getting ready to head back home. I’m pretty sad because I finally got Theo back and I still have to be without him for a little while longer…

Theo and I are just going to hang out until my flight is ready to depart. He departs after mine.

Across the room

Laura: Look at them. They are so damn happy with each other. That’s all she needed.

Laura: Which is why you called him, huh?

Noah: I don’t know what you are talking about….

Laura: Mhm. You really did love her. So much that you put your own feelings aside to make her happy.

Noah: I told you; her heart is back where it belongs.

Back to Theo and Dakota

Dakota: Hey, where did you go? Is everything okay with your flight?

Theo: Yes, actually perfect. I have a surprise for you.

Dakota: What?

Theo: I talk to the customer service, and they were able to switch your flight, so that you’re ending destination is Windenburg…

Dakota: Wait, you want me to come with you?

Theo: I think we’ve been apart for long enough.

Theo: I was even able to get the seat next to me, so we can sit next to each other.

Dakota: Theo, are you serious?!!?

Theo: I didn’t want to have to wait to see you again.

Dakota: I love you.

Theo: I love you too babe.

Dakota: Let me go say bye to Laura and Noah.

I head over to tell them the news.

Laura: You say your temporary goodbyes?

Dakota: Actually, I’m not going home with you guys….

Laura: Wut.

Dakota: Theo wants me to come back to Windenburg with him. He got my flight changed.

Noah: That’s exciting Koda.

Laura: How you just gone abandon us?

Dramatic Laura strikes again.

Dakota: I will see you guys in two weeks when we both get back.

Dakota: Noah, can I talk to you before you go?

Noah: Of course.

Noah and I go off to the side.

Dakota: I just wanted to say thank you.

Noah: For what?

Dakota: For bringing Theo here. You didn’t have to do that.

Noah: I meant what I said to you Koda.

Dakota: What’s that?

Noah: I want to make you happy.

Goddamn it Noah.

Dakota: I’m so happy you are my best friend.

Noah: Am I now over Laura?

*Dakota laughs*

Dakota: Thank you again. I’ll see you back in Britechester soon.

Noah: Enjoy Windenburg.

I give Noah a kiss on the cheek and head back to Theo. Laura and Noah are getting ready to board. I’m excited to see Windenburg but most of all, experience it with the love of my life.

[fitzpirations]

haven’t really been on here in ages- had all these articles I was going to share and proper nerdy posts to make but really who has the time 😔

Also gave up all my socials for Lent and felt I’d get stuck on here if I returned. Made a year at my job @ the streaming service the other day which has been… idk how I feel about it. I still work a weirdo late shift so I may or may not be in the office now, sitting alone, getting the setting sun on my cheek. The schedule is not conducive of socializing. Have thoughts on the Tony noms,, although mostly petty ones as I have been so uninterested in just about every musical this season and only technically saw DOWAR, (off-Broadway because I feared I couldn’t recreate my magical/chaotic night @ the Atlantic) and Prayer for the French Republic V pleased for their collective noms. Re: Days of Wine and Roses-Idc that they closed. Where’s their best musical? Orchestration? Some of these nominees… I have to remind myself New York, New York was up for a TON last year. Sorry to all involved but BOY was that show,,, tragic to me. Had the bones on a surface level but refused to come together for me every step of the way. My friend won the lotto post-Tonys and we went on a lark, and our lukewarm feelings translated into the show announcing its closing that very night. My power, if you will.

volunteered @ my local theatre for a night and left wanting to cry because I’ve been getting v into ~acting craft~ recently, and all the community people are so nice but I can’t do any work on any production,, so sad but nice to be asked to stage manage a One-Act Festival,,,

I do background work on my weird Monday off from work & had two really cool experiences recently! Worked on a film with less than 30 others w/ a huge, half up-and-coming star that I’m pumped about- did they even look my way? No. But they were locked in & it was a real cool set-up. Would it have been nicer if the costume and prop and makeup people didn’t rub fake dirt over all of us extras? Yes. But I got paid the union rate and met some really cool people, including a gentleman 33 years sober who was greatly moved by Days of Wine and Roses! And you know what? He brought up the show, not me.

also did a fancy streamer show I’m quite stoked on- got placed right in the action in the scene, the lead walked right up to me as he swapped with his stand-in and said hi, which is such a minimal thing (and I don’t do it to leer @ stars or w/e) but he thought he was sitting next to me the whole scene and was being friendly. The seat next to me was unfortunately empty by design, but there were a ton of takes where the only people visible were the two actors & me. Which,, is crazy. Like they cleared the room and I was just sat there. Can’t give context, but boy was I actually acting for once. To the extent I was sure I was doing too much. But no one said anything, except the friends I made hours prior on the bus during our early call time, who were thrilled on my behalf about the great placement.

trying to join the union now which is crazy, and maybe a mistake, but the hourly pay is better than my full-time job at a v reputable media company. Know my worth or something? Even if I worked on just the occasional Monday, it’d be great money, and better gigs/placement on jobs. And who knows, maybe I’d put in for even better gigs. Right now I’m chained to the 3pm-11pm, and the dogs I walk in the morning.

saw Prayer for The French Republic with my friend a while back which we sobbed through & had a truly enriching convo on life & religion and such at dinner afterwards. I also saw Teeth at Playwrights which was a wild treat, it was still in previews, literal Michael R. Jackson was in the lobby, my mother felt bad I was going alone and INSISTED I bring her with,, imagine how I felt when my tickets were center SECOND ROW and not in the fourth row, and I was sat next to my mom watching vagina-has-teeth, the musical. She was crazed when we left. I warned her prior, but once she committed to going with me, it was pointless to remind her the concept of the show. Quite the time! It’s one thing to be close enough to occasionally make eye contact with the actors, and another to be locked in an intense gaze with Steven Pasquale as he plays a pervy gynecologist, plunging his arm into someone. Was shaking in my boots. They’re hinting on moving it somewhere which I am against! but as long as it lives off-Broadway it can still rock, I think.

anyway anyway. Trying to write more and be more around art & dig myself out of this rut I’m stuck in. This time last year I was fruitlessly waiting to hear if I got a Stage Manager fellowship with the City Center. It was a nice thought at the time! Maybe one day. The market is so weird I’d have to win the lottery and have a generous offer before I’d be comfortable actually quitting my job for something else. I’m unsure. Feels like I’m wasting away, in friendly enough company at least.

been reading War and Peace (or trying to!) which I jokingly refer to as WAP to myself. Tolstoy would get a kick out of that one, I’m sure. Enjoying Matt Koplick’s Broadway Breakdown podcast which may sound very geeky to admit but he’s very well-informed and isn’t afraid to have a real opinion on modern theatre! Maybe that sounds conservative-coded, but I mean he is never downright cruel, but willing to say some shows were bad (and why! In academic detail) and I’ve got into some great peices & performers listening to his work. I recommend. See also: BdJ on the Drama podcast recently, I am not a frequent listener by any means- the only other one I think I’ve caught was Kelli’s back last year? But what a great listen. (Seriously)

anyway anyway. I love a long-read. I think my writing is half-nonsensical here, but here we are. I enjoy the tiny little community of people I follow on here. Trying to go back to this blog’s roots- inspiration! Art! Action!

[nihiltism]

so I've told this story before, I'm telling it again, but this did happen to me once. let me set the scene

2022 maybe. I am nineteen years old. it is 2 am and I am home alone, my parents are out doing the objectively more important task of making sure my aged grandmother does not Die through the night. my parents trust me to feed myself. my parents trust me to not burn the house down. my parents trust me to not get any neighbors mad at them. and I love my parents so. much.

and I love the mac and cheese in the cupboard only slightly more.

see, I had spent the majority of that day in a trance of art. yknow that vibe when you're focused on something and you forget about literally every other bodily function until you're done? normal average neurotypical behavior? so when I finally put my pencils down I quickly realized I hadn't had a single meal and was ready to eat a full grown cow. so in an absolute Haze I poured my water, started boiling. walk away

I then smell smoke, and realize my mistake. Another important fact about me is that I am quite lazy and Quite unobservant, so when it comes to things like, say, all the gunk underneath our stove burner, it takes me years to actually deal with it. and every time it smokes, and every time I remind myself to deal with it. this would normally not be more than an inconvenience! this time in specific, though, I am faced with multiple issues.

1. I am home alone

2. it is 2 am

3. I am 5'10.

this third one is important because our living room smoke alarm, notably, is positioned exactly 6 feet above the ground.

I Am Distressed. I Am Afraid. if the smoke alarm goes off every one of my neighbors will wake up and be So pissed at me and i will not be able to shut it up. I could stop here. a sane person would stop here. cut their losses and eat shredded cheese out of the bag for dinner. if not for.

4. there is no autism friendly food in the fridge.

not even shredded cheese.

so what ensued was the most Terrified game of "a watched pot never boils" in the world. I found myself sitting in our (empty, notably) sink, reaching over every 5 seconds to stir the pot with Fear In My Heart, that if I let it go just a second too long the pasta might burn too. every water drop I accidentally let loose sizzles and Shakes me to my core. I pray to every God I know and some I don't. most are fictional. i wasn't calm enough to think. give me the strength to not burn this pasta and the wisdom to not burn this pasta and the courage to not burn this pasta.

and finally: it was done. the smoke alarm had not gone off. I finally got to partake in my reward. but I did not taste pleasure, I did not taste success in my work.

no, the only thing this wet eyed teenager felt while eating that mediocre box mac and cheese, right out of the pot, in its parents' dark little apartment. was a realization. of Just how little it takes to break a man.

[blokecorelouis]

honestly

just had the most annoying experience. i’ve been looking forward to clubbing for like a year now and my friend just came to visit to go clubbing and have fun and she literally just bailed on those plans an hour before we were set to leave. AND i had included another friend in these plans who I THEN HAD TO BAIL ON LIKE AN HOUR FROM GOING OUT. and another friend who is kind of a new friend who i also had to bail on. and she bailed because she has a fucking cough. i understand that health anxiety and health ocd suck but also like fucking why AN HOUR BEFORE WE WERE GONNA LEAVE ??? like take a fucking xanax or something. ik im being a cunt right now but im kind of pissed. also my partner has been like struggling with sex stuff and the idea of polyamory keeps coming up and i dont even know if i want that but like it feels like im already reassuring them all the time so despite what they say it feels like it isnt an option. idk i just wish everyone was on my wavelength and ik thats not how life works but sometimes that fucking sucks. like why am i 23 and i barely have sex once a week, make like $500 a week which is barely enough to survive, and i also havent been to a club in over a year. also i wish my partner liked clubbing but they dont. i just wish i didnt feel like im missing out on so much. ik i still have time but fuck it feels like even when i try to go out and be young and dumb and full of cum im being blocked from that experience. now its 2 am and instead of like stumbling out of a club and calling an uber im sitting in bed typing up this mess of a post on tumblr while my partner sleeps next to me and my friend probably scrolls through tiktok. and thats the other thing is instead of trying to salvage the evening and enjoy hanging out inside and drinking margs and having homemade dinner it was fucking depressing because she was mad at herself for not going out and it was just lame. like there was no reason for this night to feel boring and i feel like a precious saturday night was wasted. i know im just feeling like an asshole right now but tbh i wish i couldve just gone out with the other friends i had to cancel on and let her be mad at herself alone. but frankly i think that wouldve made me a kind of shitty friend and partner since my partner would have had to stay with her and have an awkward night. just overall feeling annoyed and wishing i had my partner to talk to about this but by the time my partner and i can actually talk its gonna be like three days from now after i come home from work. i hate my fucking job !!!! i wanna get out of food and bev so bad but i need the money right now. i have to remind myself it will end or i feel suicidal. also ik its not a big deal about clubbing tonight but this friend just lets her anxiety rule her life sometimes and i feel for her but also its shitty when that effects other people. and i kinda dont know what to do about my partner situation im feeling kind of trapped which sucks cause im so in love with them but idk i think i wanna consider couples therapy but they said they want to go to individual therapy first which is valid but they havent gone. and i get that it can be scary and triggering for people but i need something to change or i guess i need to settle for just wishing we had more sex. am i entitled for wanting more? i feel like every other part of our relationship is so great and the sex used to be so frequent and it just doesnt feel the same. i need to go back to therapy so fucking bad. idk im just having a shitty night and i wish it had gone differently. thanks for listening tumblr void.

[fledglingmaster]

Three weeks, three, without my full dose of SNRI.

There needs to be a better way to do this. Every year we are going to go through this all over again because insurance doesn't approve expensive medication for life. No in a year I might just magically be cured of fibromyalgia and my brain decides to work right. *sigh* I have jumped through all the hoops. I have tried every medication that is currently used for fibromyalgia. I have been on multiple antidepressants. It is well documented this is the only medication that helps my depression. Just as it is well documented that I have tried every treatment for migraines except that new thirty minute IV one that's extremely expensive and neuromodulation.

Every year insurance wants the exact same paperwork we sent over to get approved in the first place with. Shouldn't that be on file already? Isn't a doctor saying, "yes, patient responds well to this treatment and we want to continue it," enough? Why is the wait time so long for a medication that has been approved in the past? I can understand all the obstacles while trying to get initial approval. If something cheaper works insurance would rather shell out for that, I get it. But I did my part, I suffered through all those trials, my doctors have done their parts too. Why is this a year occurrence? They don't dispute any of my cheap medication. I'm not the one setting the price of my meds. I would love if the cheap stuff worked! My body is very drug resistant and as I never shut up about, it is wired wrong.

The pharmacy holds my prescription, even if I got some emergency funds out and attempted to pay myself. They won't fill it until they get the okay. They also can't spare you anything to tide you over, I understand that is a legal issue. But that's where there should be a process, one month before the coverage expires, insurance should say, "hey send us those papers." Then while it's processing you still get your next month's worth of meds and bam, you never had any interruption of medication because it's approved before you need your next refill.

I've noticed a shift in our mood lately. Bleu has been getting really down. I've lost track of how many times he's cried the past couple weeks. Today it was out of nowhere. Literally everything was fine and he fell to pieces. Very reminiscent of how we were unmedicated...I don't like that. It's not normal crying, it's full-on sink to the earth wailing and it can last for an hour or more. Worse yet, it happens multiple times a day without a prompt. Not only is it uncomfortable for everyone around, but it seems very harmful to our well-being. This isn't the letting emotions out kind of cry but ramping them up worse. Bleu has alerted me to where he is mentally, it's not great. I'm just glad Lilith is leaving him alone for now. He does not need any ideas. Thankfully I'm grounded enough that I can remind him it's that we're off our meds and this will be fixed soon. It's temporary.

Last night I got a bit dizzy but today...what boat am I on and how do I get off? I'm certain I would come off as intoxicated but what is really happening is neurologic issues and beginning stages of withdrawal. It's difficult to keep my balance, my muscles keep locking up, I'm having brain shocks, we're highly emotional, a mess. I took our normal afternoon dose as our meds should be in tomorrow and we need them. It's clear we can barely function without our medication. I truly believe if we were not put on it when we were we would not be alive currently. I know I shouldn't complain, I have known others that get their meds interrupted every few months. We're lucky it's only once a year. But that gap shouldn't happen to anyone.

[bilboyagathechickenfootedhobbit]

When I was in my 20’s I lived in a college town with a big homeless problem. The city passed an ordinance stating that it was illegal to sit for extended periods of time in public places in order to give them an excuse to arrest panhandlers. I could go sit on a bench and read a book for three hours because I was bathed and dressed in clean clothes. But if an unhoused person plopped down on the sidewalk to sit in the shade for a minute, they would be arrested. They didn’t make being homeless illegal, people would have rallied against that in my liberal college town. But by introducing a law that made it illegal to loiter anywhere in town, they effectively made homelessness illegal while avoiding the public backlash of ACTUALLY criminalizing poverty.

I live in the desert where temperatures during the summer regularly reach 118 (Fahrenheit) and people will literally die from exposure. Seriously, you can die just from being outside too long, not even exerting yourself. You could be sitting on a busy sidewalk with people all around you, not even in the middle of the wilderness, and the fucking heat alone will just fucking kill you. We set up watering and cooling stations, hand out free water and those straws that will purify water, we do what we can to help the people on the streets survive the summer but what they NEED are HOMES. What they NEED are resources to help them find jobs, or the mental health help they need, or health services to get them well enough to work, or a community that can provide a safety net.

Building a society in which people are punished simply for not having the same opportunities as everyone else is sick and twisted. I used to bike past several homeless encampments on my way to work and each day I would remind myself that my minimum wage retail working ass was one emergency bill away from that same situation. The difference was, I have a community that would have caught me. I had friends that would have helped me back on my feet and provided for me until I could. It happened more than once. And each time I remembered those unfortunate people I would pass each day, and I would thank my lucky stars for the opportunities and community I had and have. But not everybody has that and to punish people who are already suffering by making them suffer more is everything wrong with this society.

If you're willing to spend tax money on hostile architecture or jailing people for sleeping outside, you can spend tax money on housing.

If you're willing to spend tax money on jailing people for public urination, you can spend tax money on public restrooms.

If you're willing to spend tax money on jailing people for meeting a need the wrong way, you can spend tax money on providing it the right way.

[thatndginger]

reminder that this is a personal blog and sometimes i wanna shout at the void about my feelings~

It's been a long time since I've had a mental break this bad. Like, the last time I remember having this many consecutive panic attacks was first time I dropped out of university after failing half my classes for the second semester in a row. That was... seven years ago? Six?

I've definitely had some real low points since then, but dropping out is the closest example I have of being completely burnt out and at the end of my rope. And while existing as I am right now fucking sucks and I want to crawl into a cave and wither away, it's also a very bright example of how much I've improved in how I react and cope with difficult mental health episodes.

Six years ago I would have burned bridges. Crying in front of my boss? Admitting I need help to her? I'd have literally rather completely nuked my life and risked not being able to pay rent. I would possibly even have moved to an entirely new state on short notice to avoid acknowledging that I was not okay. The only thing I cared about at that time was my dog and staying alive for her and her alone.

But now? Yeah, I cried in front of my boss. I fucking hate that I did that and I'm trying to deal with some deeply-ingrained guilt about making people worry about me and 'not pulling my weight' at work. But I'm still going in to work today and looking my boss in the face. We had a very honest discussion about what we need to do and how much I need to cut back. I'm trying to think of small, easy things to do to bring joy back into my life. I'm trying to be kind to myself and making sure I rest. I'm letting people worry about me. I haven't once thought of quitting my job, running away, or any other number of self-destructive things I've done in the past.

I still feel like shit. Thinking of leaving my apartment makes me start crying, thinking of going to work sets of my fight-or-flight response. I haven't been able to track time in any form in months, sleep has been a constant battle for weeks, my back and knee are in almost constant low-grade pain, and I've had more migraines in the past few months and I had in the last year. Add on top of that the guilt of cutting my hours back because it means I'm not contributing as much money to household finances, the guilt of not writing, and it's a real bad time in my head.

But I have a support system to help me now. And I know how to fight the shitty thoughts. It fucking sucks and I have a lot to work on with the guilt and anxiety, but for maybe the first time in my life it doesn't feel like an impossible challenge to do that. a hard one, but not impossible

[casspurrjoybell-25]

Skating on Thin Ice - Chapter 52 - Part 1

*Warning - Adult Content*

Elijah Ellis

I had always felt like my life had never truly been mine.

I used to play a part, living in the background and unable to dig myself out of depths I had found myself falling into.

That all began to change when I moved in with my father.

The months had been long as I tried to find my place but in the end I did.

Now, the day after my high school graduation, I had to move onto a new chapter.

One that would hopefully improve on the last.

Joshua was driving the two of us home from the place Mandy had cater our graduation party.

She had sent us to get the food because, for some reason, she still had things she was cooking for the party while Dad set up tables and chairs outside.

"We're going to have left overs for weeks," Joshua said when we got home and started bringing the food to the back yard.

"Mandy will pawn most of it off on people I'm sure," I replied as he held the gate open for me.

Dad had already set up the food tables so we could set the trays down and grab the rest from the car.

Mandy watched us from the kitchen window, sending a wave our way.

After putting the food down, Dad enlisted our help in setting up chairs around the yard and not long after, Fox came strolling into the backyard.

He had a backwards baseball cap placed on his head, his hair curling out of the bottom.

"Need some help?" Fox asked with a grin as he made his way over, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me in for a brief kiss.

"Enough of that," Joshua complained, shoving Fox as he walked by.

Fox sent an amused glance Joshua's way before placing another kiss on my lips, earning a look of disgust from my brother.

"I can give you a kiss too, Josh, if you're jealous," Fox teased, grabbing the chairs from my hand and setting them up near the others.

"No," I immediately denied, shaking my head.

"I wouldn't want one from you," Joshua retorted, rolling his eyes.

"You look ridiculous, you need a haircut."

"Your brother thinks my hair looks sexy," Fox replied just as Dad came back outside.

I didn't say anything because it was true, I did think his hair looked sexy.

"I think your hair looks nice," Dad added with a grin.

"Thanks Dan," Fox said, looking over at Joshua with a boastful expression.

Joshua just rolled his eyes and didn't say anything.

We continued setting up everything outside for a while, Mandy and Ava bringing out more food once it was done cooking.

Mandy had been worried all week that we wouldn't have enough food for her ginormous family and all of mine and Joshua's friends.

I was convinced she had gone overboard.

"Fox, your family is coming, right?" Mandy asked after all of us were back inside, waiting for guests to arrive.

"Yeah, they'll all be here," he answered with a nod, taking a sip of lemonade.

"Perfect. I need to talk to Vanessa about our yoga class," Mandy replied.

Mandy and Vanessa had gotten close over the course of Fox and my relationship.

The two women would often spend time together as what started as doing things with Fawn and Ava, then transformed into a friendship between the two of them.

We had a little bit until guests were due to arrive, so Fox and I sneaked up to my room.

Well, there wasn't much sneaking involved because we had been caught by Dad who was sure to remind us to keep the door open, though he knew we wouldn't.

Once Fox and I were alone in my room, I tightly shut the door before moving to lie on my bed.

Fox took the opportunity to lie on top of me, hugging my waist and resting his head on my chest while I took his hat off and let my fingers play with his hair.

"Comfy?" I asked with a chuckle as my finger twirled a curl in his hair.

"Hmm," he hummed against my chest.

"I'm gonna miss this," I said with a sigh, causing Fox to pick his head up and look at me with a strange expression.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked me, his eyes narrowing.

"Our schools are literally five minutes away from each other. I think we'll manage."

Fox had gotten into Northeastern and their hockey team while I had gotten into Boston University.

The schools were right near each other in the city but I was still worried we wouldn't be able to see each other much.

"We're gonna have busy schedules," I reminded him.

"It's gonna be hard to see each other."

"I'm not worried about that right now. We have the whole summer together," Fox said, placing his head back on my chest and rubbing his hand up and down my abdomen.

"What I'm worried about is meeting your grandparents today."

I scoffed, tugging on his hair.

"Why are you worried about that?"

"Because there is a possibility that they'll hate me," he said, his tone suggesting I should have already known this.

I rolled my eyes and lightly smacked him on the head.

"It's impossible to hate you," I told him.

"Shut up," he grumbled, his face against my chest.

It was only a few seconds later when Dad called up the stairs for the two of us to come down, letting us know that my grandparents had arrived.

At the sound of my Dad's words, Fox shot up off my chest and stood next to the bed.

I looked up at him, holding my hand out for him to pull me off the bed.

"Are you ready to meet them?" I asked with a sarcastic grin as Fox clasped my hand in his and pulled me to stand next to him.

Fox had a pout on his face as he picked up his hat from the bed and situated it back onto his head, taming the hair I had messed up with my fingers moments before.

"No," he grumbled.

"Why is it that you're always nervous to meet my family, yet I'm not nervous meeting yours?" I asked him, opening the bedroom door and leading him out into the hall toward the stairs.

"Because you're more naturally likable than me," Fox replied in a serious tone.

"That's not it."

I led Fox down the stairs where I heard conversation happening in the kitchen.

As soon as we entered, my grandmother was in front of me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.

"Oh, Elijah, sweetheart, I'm so sorry we missed your graduation," Grandma cried in an exaggerated tone.

"Our flight kept getting delayed."

"It's okay, Grandma," I replied, returning her hug before she pulled away and went over to Fox.

"And you must be Fox," she said, wrapping her arms around him.

"It's so good to finally meet you."

I chuckled as he slowly returned the hug, his eyes darting to me.

"It's good to meet you too," Fox said.

"Enough of that," my Grandfather interjected.

"Let the boys breathe."

Grandma let go of Fox to place her hands on her hips as she glared over at her husband.

Grandpa ignored her glare in order to introduce himself to Fox, shaking his hand.

"Anyway, how was graduation?" Grandma asked, looking around at each of us.

"We didn't miss too much, did we?"

"It was fine," Joshua answered her with a shrug.

"You didn't miss much at all."

Our graduation was just like any other ceremony going on, nothing special about it.

There wasn't even someone who tried to get laughs by making a fool out of themselves.

It was just speeches and diplomas, boring.

"It was so boring," Ava added.

"When I graduate, I'm not going."

"You weren't even paying attention," Mandy pointed out.

"There was no way you could've been bored."

"You only graduate high school once, Ava," Grandma told her.

"You might change you mind when the time comes."

"Nah, she's right," I said.

"It was pretty boring."

Fox chuckled at that, standing close to me.

Since we were all sitting in alphabetical order at graduation, I wasn't near any of my friends.

Alex was a row behind me, trying to get my attention the whole time but Fox and Ian were closer to the back.

All I could do was sit there with no one to whisper to when I got bored.

"You'll look back on it with fond memories when you're older," Grandma assured me, placing her hand on my shoulder.