#i do not ever think i will understand rich people fashion

[shaymins]

fashion brand namesakes

[sanzaibian]

I am Chris Albanese. Self-made billionaire, ravenous businessman and pussyhunter.

I am the best businessman to ever exist, the world basically belongs to me. If someone doesn’t act like I want them to, I can pay them off, pay someone to off them, or do it the old fashion way by wielding my fists. You see, I used to be a sportsman. A boxer, to be precise. However, unlike my dimwitted adversaries, I knew how to use that to my advantage. I used sports as a way to gain some quick bucks and gain fame, and when finally a business venture extracting lithium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I jumped on it and finally ended that dumb career hitting people for other’s excitement.

However, it’s not as if everything was smooth sailing…

Today was a very bad day. It started with a demonstration in front of my building, with those wokes saying that I am complacent in the bloody civil war in the DRC. I mean, I don’t care about those Congolese, I’m just extracting lithium and selling it at high prices ! Those wokes will always find a reason to hate hard-working people. But after that, I got complaints that my employees are over-worked and under-payed, and that they threaten a strike ! I fired a few of those so it’s okay, but then I get told that the shareholders believe that I don’t take enough advantage of the electric vehicle boom, and that my management is unsatisfactory ! Don’t they understand that those “green politics” will just explode on their faces and that I’ll have to pay for “mismanagement” ? Those fuckers…

When I get home, I decide to call my pussy... I mean, my third wife, but let’s call things what they really are. I need to unwind a bit, after all. When she comes to my penthouse, she goes off on me about how she was busy, and how I just call her when I want her but I’m never here when she wants me. Women, am I right ? So I just shut her up with a new Gucci bag, and start undressing. She watches me as I undo the buttons of my suit, revealing the manly coat of hair I possess. But as I fling my top across to the couch, she dares to tell me :

“You know, Chris, you gained a bit of weight since the last time we had fun… You should really start working out again, you know, like when you actually did sports.”

Although she was telling me that with a look of concern and of lust, my anger was so built up since the beginning of the day that I just went off on her.

“What, do you want me to be a moron that can only punch others ? That is better than the piece of hotness you have in front of you ? I’m rich, I’m powerful, I’m the best person in all of humankind, and this is what you tell me ? That I should be ‘taking care of myself’ ? I’m taking care of myself just fine ! - Chris, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that, I’m just worried for you…” I cut her. - You wretched woman, don’t say lies, I know you’re just not happy with hunting just one guy ! You sluts are all the same ! You come here saying ‘oh no, I’m so busy buying clothes’ and ‘you should work out and do everything I say’ and expect me to do nothing ? To listen to your orders ? I’m fucking Chris Albanese ! The best man on Earth ! You fucking greedy slut, you’re fired !”

She looked at me with weird eyes, as if I said something that didn’t make sense.

“You… fire... me ? You- You know I’m your wife, not your employee !”

She looked at me with pleading eyes, trying to seduce me out of firing her. Sluts are all the same, I tell you !

“Well, you’ve heard me nice and clear, you’re fired ! And never dare cross my path again, else I sue you for harassment !”

Utterly bewildered, she took her things – including her new bag, that greedy bastard – and started going, when she told me, with a shaky voice :

“You’re going to regret this, Chris !”

And then, she slammed the door. Good riddance, I think, but that doesn’t get rid of my tension.

After scratching my head for a small while, I decide that the best course of action is to offer her the possibility to buy her position back with “actions”. Smiling, I go to the door to announce to her the good news, when I suddenly get a headache.

I stumble and take support on the kitchen counter. Where did that come from ? My head feels so bad, it might as well be about to explode ! What was I thinking about ? Yeah, something about a person I needed to meet with… but whom ?

Another ache, this time on my stomach. As I breathe in, I feel something working in my stomach, and as I breath out, I have the impression that my stomach goes farther than it used to. It continues for a while as another ache, this time in my legs, hits. I feel weird cramps in them, as if I had just done leg day and was suffering through its consequences. I fall down harder, not able to support myself on my legs, but am able to break the fall with my arms. Just as I do that, I feel my arms get those similar cramps, and I just fall flat, aching everywhere. As my eyes are on the same level as the floor, I notice that it seems a bit dirty. Has my maid not done a good job ? She’s fired ! ...

… Who’s fired ? I can’t quite remember… Ugh… I should really clean my floor, it’s so very dirty, a ton of dust, and a ton of sweat… Sweat ? I look down at my expensive suit pants, and only find sweaty sweatpants… and hairless abs. They’re also quite sweaty… Yeah, makes sense, since I was working out just now ! … … What ?

I stand back up. What has just happened ? I don’t work out anymore, yet I’m convinced that I just finished working out. Plus I have the biggest headache, like I’m forgetting something important… I pace around, my body aching less and less, and feeling more and more pumped up. I also feel my hairless face and body… I feel as if I’m missing something very important. Then, suddenly, it jumps out to me.

The coach ! I’m late for my next match !

I run through my dingy flat to take a track suit and run to the boxing club. On the way there, I feel as if something is intensely wrong. As if I’m not supposed to be in the boxing club, as if I’m not supposed to be in a dingy flat, as if I’m not supposed to be in a good shape… yet I can’t quite put my finger on it, still having that headache preventing me from thinking normally. When I arrive, coach berates me as he leads me to the locker room to prepare myself. When I’m ready, I go to face off against my adversary.

When I enter the ring, young women cry of joy, and between them, I see a very beautiful one that seems weirdly familiar… but she’s not really my type, she’s too old for little young me.

Me and my adversary fight for a while until I’m put K.O., and as the referee starts counting. But as I try all I might to get up, I see my adversary on top of me, acting all dominantly. And then the most surreal thing happens.

I get a hard-on.

[cryptotheism]

(politely) the kneejerk reaction to dismiss anything as a 'conspiracy' is just as bad as believing something without thinking about it critically. yes, csa is something that is oversensationalised, but understand that elite crime (specifically sex crime) is of a very different character than sex crime commited by the man on the street. high-end fashion is an especially dirty scene. i dont know how you can read about something like pizzagate and think 'yep. nothing fishy going on there. steven colbert told me so' yes, there is always a lot of ill-informed 'noise' around such topics, and god knows we need more rational voices in the discussion, but too many are too eager to debunk stuff regardless of evidence; and it only strengthens the conviction of the people of people who believe there is a coverup. same reason no one takes snopes seriously anymore. criminals do love hiding in plain sight, they do communicate with eachother by means of secret symbols, and many of them are in high positions in entertainment, fashion, government, police, etc. this is fact. its a recipe for paranoia to start seeing it everywhere, but its just ignorant to deny it happens. also, such abuse often involves drugs and psychological torture, and sadly victims often do sound like crazy people when they try to tell their stories; especially if they are children. the mcmartin preschool, for example. although the whole trial was a mess, they did actually find suspicious tunnels under the ground (though not where the children claimed) filled in with concrete, there are a number of other strange things about the case. but no one will ever know the truth now, because the absurd publicity around the trial guaranteed that no truth or justice could come about from it. sortof a fitting metaphor about how even if any given 'conspiracy theory' were to be true, no one would ever be able to know anyway.

(politely) Conspiracy research skills are not a kneejerk reaction. Sex trafficking at the highest echelons of power is a problem, but you are deeply and conspiratorially misrepresenting it. It's not this crazy James bond fantasy of drugs and torture prisons and secret codes, it's just rich assholes breaking the law.

There was nothing suspicious about Comet Pizza. That whole crock of horseshit came from a single white supremacist on twitter. He lied and it went viral.

Also there were no tunnels under the McMartin preschool, that's been repeatedly disproven.

You want know what really helps my research skills? Comparing theoretical conspiracy theories to actual, proven conspiracy theories like MK-Ultra and Iran-Contra, both very real things that happened.

Here's the thing; sober, critical, research into a conspiracy theory involves wading through a river of sensationalist bullshit, and it's no wonder that people get lost. If you want an example of conspiracy research done right, I HIGHLY reccomend Gerald Posner's Case Closed, it's a veritable master class on how to research weird conspiratorial bullshit like as a journalist while keeping your head on straight.

[yandere-wishes]

Okay so not an ask more of a Headcanon based on observation and the character he is based on, but I see Honest Fellow as someone who would both idolize/emulate and resent the rich. By his design his clothes, while they pay homage to Honest John with the patchwork pantleg and the misding pinky tip on his one glove seem very well-kempt, on top of that his hat and cane are practically emaculate that cane alone couldn't have been cheap though I wouldn't put it passed the sly fox man to have either swindled someone out of it or stole it from them outright. Point is I'm getting wants to be a rich man but hates the rich people vibes.

All of that is set-up for my headcanon that if he ever had a S/O you can bet he would get them jewelry and expensive clothes. Basically just adorn them in finery he had acquired through whatever means (cough, likely stolen or purchased with dirty money, cough) and proudly have them stand by his side. The thought to use them as a pretty little lure to catch even bigger fish might cross his mind, but I doubt he'd ever use them like that. Personally, I feel like he'd be to possessive to do that even if his darling wanted to help like that, after all what if he let's them go off alone and someone tries to take advantage of his poor darling? He doesn't think they're weak or foolish per say but who could protect them better than him? I think he'd have a difficult time even leaving them alone with Gidelle (only 90 percent sure I got that right), of course he trusts Gidelle, well as much as he can truly trust anyone anyway, but he's the brains of the outfit and unless he's personally by his darlings side he won't ever be truly assured something won't go wrong.

Let's say that darling isn't quite so understanding or compliant, his possessive side would certainly get worse. He can't leave them alone for one second qhat if they try and sneak off. Perhaps to save his pride he'd be a bit delusional, they're just a sweet little naive skittish thing that doesn't know any better, possibly they've never known a love as deep and unshakable as his, it's only natural there would be a learning curve for them and who better than he to teach them? I highly doubt he'd ever use physical punishments on his darling, probably doesnt like punishing them as he thinks they are just still learning, but that doesn't mean he won't find other ways to punish them if necessary. I do think if they actively tried to run he wouldn't waste a minute getting something along the lines of a necklace with a chain, something fashionable but functional as a reminder while they're learning, if that reminder isn't enough though he might go for a bejeweled pet collar and leash. If all else fails isolation in a secure location with him as their only source of human, or well beastman, contact would certainly allow them to see how much they needed each other. Whatever he has to do to make them understand it'll all be worth it later once they're settled and he can spoil them like they deserve.

TLDR: Honest Fellow would love to lavish his S/O in (possibly ill-gotten) finery and would actively and proudly show them off on his arm. Everyone can look and admire, but only he is allowed to touch.

This has got to be the most effort anyone has ever put into something they sent in my ask box!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Okay so right off the bat let me say that YES!! This is canon I don't care what anyone says.

I can see him as "wanting what they have" but "not wanting to be them". Essentially he wants the ability to give his darling the best of everything. Yet still ultimately preserving his own "personality". Like you said Fellow hates the rich. They're insufferable, self-absorbed and loathsome, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't crave the glitz and glammer.

Now I can kinda see Fellow only really interacting with his darling at first to use her as bait. Winning her over with expensive gifts and pretty cloths (all from dirty money ofc) and sure darling does start to fall for his tricks. But here's the thing, the moment his darling begins to show the tinest interest in him Fellow FALLS HARDER!! All of a sudden he doesn't want ANYONE near his darling! Just him only him. Sooner or later his darling will start to feel suffocated, she'll be desperate to get away from him. Forsaking the pretty presents and charming "boyfriend" for just a moment of freedom. But Fellow's a sly fox, always one step ahead. He knows how to ensnare his darling before she's even run away.

Overall Fellow will lavish you, treat you like a queen, getting you anything you desire (through underhanded means) but you'll never be allowed to leave him. Forever trapped by his side on the island of pleasure…

Quick question is Fellow meant to be the same age as the third years or is he older??

[pippin-katz]

I need a cast audiobook of RWRB. If no one else, then at least Taylor and Nick reading Alex and Henry. I need it in my life.

And in ACD fashion, here’s a few lists of lines/conversations from the book that I am desperate to hear them say. I want to hear them read all of the lines, but these are the ones that pop out to me!

Post Writing Note: These turned out to be way longer than I thought they were going to be 😭😂

Alex Lines:

Oh yeah, that was a wild night. Two whole keynote speakers. Nothing sexier than shrimp cocktails and an hour and a half of speeches on carbon emissions. - page 5

'Archnemesis' implies he's actually a rival to me on any level and not, you know, a stuck-up product of inbreeding who probably jerks off to photos of himself. - page 7

Jesus Christ, it’s like they can see into your soul. Cornbread knows my sins, Henry. Cornbread knows what I have done, and he is here to make me atone. - page 77

I always thought you’d kill me in a more personal way. Silk pillow over my face, slow and gentle suffocation. Just you and me. Sensual. - page 80

Shut up, shut all the way up, oh my God. - page 131

For fuck's sake, man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me good-night. - page 145

What in the rich-white-people-sex-dungeon hell? - page 149

Bisexuality is truly a rich and complex tapestry. - page 194

Listen: I'll fly to London right now and pull you out of whatever pointless meeting you're in and make you admit how much you love it when I call you "baby". I'll take you apart with my teeth, sweetheart. - page 204

You don't get to sit up here and pretend like it's someone else's problem. None of us do. - page 209

i want to see a cage match between your grandmother and this fucking ghoul running against my mom. - page 221

I do think I got a gut feeling with you, I just didn't have what I needed in my head to understand it. But I kind of kept chasing it anyway, like I was just going blindly in a certain direction and hoping for the best. I guess that makes you the North Star? - page 244

Henry! Your Royal fucking Highness! - page 269

Really nice. Fuckin' ghost me for a week, make me stand in the rain like a brown John Cusack, and now you won't even talk to me. I'm really just having a great time here. I can see why y'all had to marry your fucking cousins. - page 270

I fucking love you, okay? Fuck, I swear. You don't make it fucking easy. But I'm in love with you. - page 271

I'll leave, as soon as you tell me to leave. - page 275

Okay, I'm into making history. - page 280

I completely fucking love you. - page 291

I'm there for whatever you decide you want to do, just, like, let me know if I need to start practicing gazing wistfully out the window, waiting for my love to return from the war. - page 296

AN INCOMPLETE LIST: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES Note: just the entire list, I need it, but I'll point out some of the best ones anyway lol

9. How hard you try. 10. How hard you've always tried. 11. How determined you are to keep trying. - page 303

16. Your huge, generous, ridiculous, indestructible heart. 17. Your equally huge dick. 18. The face you just made when you read that last one. - page 303

20. The fact that you loved me all along. - page 303

God, I want to fight everyone who's ever hurt you, but it was me too, wasn't it? All that time. I'm so sorry. - page 303

Listen, I'm telling you right now, I will physically fight your grandmother myself if I have to, okay? And, like, she's old. I know I can take her. - page 312

You and me and history, remember? We're just gonna fucking fight. Because you're it, okay? I'm never gonna love anybody in the world like I love you. - page 312

Sería una mentira, porque no sería él. (It would be a lie, because it wouldn't be him.) - page 317

but i've kissed your mouth, that corner, that place it goes, so many times now. i've memorized it. topography on the map of you, a world i'm still charting. i know it. i added it to the key. here: inches to miles. i can multiply it out, read your latitude and longitude. recite your coordinates like la rosaria. - page 319

give yourself away sometimes, sweetheart. there's so much of you. - page 320

Zahra, you're my mean friend. - page 339

I've never... I haven't been through anything like that. But I've always felt it, in him. There's this side of him that's... unknowable. But the thing is, jumping off cliffs is kinda my thing. That's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. On purpose. I love him on purpose. - page 344

For what it's worth, that is the bravest son of a bitch I've ever met. - page 347

My life is a cosmic joke and you're not a real person. - page 371

You are, the absolute worst idea I've ever had. - page 372

FIRST SON ALEXANDER CLAREMONT-DIAZ'S ADDRESS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OCTOBER 2, 2020 - pages 372-375 Note: just, the entire speech, the whole thing

America: He is my choice. - page 374

Henry Lines:

Hmm, I always liked Luke. He's brave and good, and he's the strongest Jedi of them all. I think Luke is proof that it doesn't matter where you come from or who your family is--you can always be great if you're true to yourself. - page 45

The turkeys are not going to Jurassic Park you. You’re not the bloke from Seinfeld. You’re Jeff Goldblum. Go to sleep. - page 82

You are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life. - page 73

fucking eyelashes - page 142

I shall just have to make it the best orgasm of your life. What can I do to make it good for you? Talk about American tax reform during the act? Have you got talking points? - page 196

How is a man to get anything done knowing Alex Claremont-Diaz is out there on the loose? - pages 202-203

They wanted something less fruity than the truth, but truly, what is gayer than a woman who languishes away in a crumbling mansion wearing her wedding gown every day of her life, for the drama? - page 205

Someone else's choice doesn't change who you are. - page 229

Most things are awful most of the time, but you're good. - page 230

The phrase "see attached bibliography" is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me. - page 241

Should I tell you that when we're apart, your body comes back to me in dreams? That when I sleep, I see you, the dip of your waist, the freckle above your hip, and when I wake up in the morning, it feels like I've been with you, the phantom touch of your hand on the back of my neck fresh and not imagined? That I can feel your skin against mine, and it makes every bone in my body ache? That, for a few moments, I can hold my breath and be back there with you, in a dream, in a thousand rooms, nowhere at all? - page 242 Note: based on the parts of this we did get to hear Nick say in the film, I think this would kill half the fandom lol

When have I ever, since the first instant I touched you, pretended to be anything less than in love with you? - page 272

I never thought I'd be stood here faced with a choice I can't make, because I never... I never imagined you would love me back. - page 273

The Mail will write mad speculations about where I've gone, if I've offed myself or vanished to St. Kilda, but only you and I will know that I'm just sprawled in your bed, reading books and feeding myself profiteroles and making love to you endlessly until we both expire in a haze of chocolate sauce. It's how I'd want to go. - page 294

Here lies Prince Henry of Wales. He died as he lived: avoiding plans and sucking cock. - page 298

"Because I'm not like the rest of the men of this family, beginning with the fact that I am very deeply gay, Philip." - page 298

But the first time I saw you. Rio. I took that down to the gardens. I pressed it into the leaves of a silver maple and recited it to the Waterloo Vase. It didn't fit in any rooms. - page 300

I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I though, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire. - page 300

And then, inexplicably, you had the absolute audacity to love me back. - page 300 Note: I really wanted to just type out most of the page, but I restrained myself lmfao

I don't know if I would have chosen it yet, but it's out there now, and... I won't lie. Not about this. Not about you. - page 338

Bit short for a stormtrooper. - page 340

I've bloody well had it. I've sat about long enough letting you and Gran and the weight of the damned world keep me pinned, and I'm finished. I don't care. You can take your legacy and your decorum and you can shove it up your fucking arse, Philip. I'm done. - page 347

I've been as gay as a maypole since the day I came out of Mum, Philip. - page 353 Note: there's never too many times to hear the words "gay as a maypole" and the emotional infliction here is lot different lol

Both:

Am I offending you? Sorry I'm not obsessed with you like everyone else. I know that must be confusing for you. Do you know what? I think you are. Only a thought. Have you ever noticed I have never once approached you and have been exhaustingly civil every time we've spoken? Yet here you are, seeking me out again. Simply an observation. - page 18

This is idiotic. Let's get it over with. I'd rather be waterboarded. Your country could probably arrange that. Go fuck yourself. Hardly enough time. - pages 36-37 Note: yes, I know Nick read this part in his book-to-screen video thingy but it's not the same as having them both saying the lines fully in character.

What does Jedi have? Fuckin' Ewoks. Ewoks are iconic. Ewoks are stupid. - page 52

yo there's a bond marathon on and did you know your dad was a total babe I BEG YOU TO NOT - page 84

I'm going to die. I'm going to kill you. Yes, you are. - page 133

You were jealous. You want me. Yes, you preening arse, I've wanted you long enough that I won't have you tease me for another fucking second. - page 137

Hi. Hello. I'm gonna take your pants off now. Yes, good, carry on. - page 141

Ugh, you look ridiculous. Should I-- What? No, of course not, keep them on. Oh my God, what are you doing? I can't even look at you. No, Jesus, I just mean--I'm so mad at you. Just, come here. Fuck. I'm quite confused. Me fucking too. - page 150

I'm not... historically great at talking about things. Well, I wasn't historically great at blowjobs, but we all gotta learn and grow, sweetheart. - page 165

Bitch, you took me there. alskdjfadslfjad NORA YOU BROKE HIM - page 212

D'you know what I want? What? I want, to do the absolute last thing I'm supposed to be doing right now. Then tell me to do it, sweetheart. Fuck me. Well, when at Wimbledon. Just so we're clear, I'm about to have sex with you in this storage closet to spite your family. Like, that's what's happening? Right. Awesome, fucking' love doing things out of spite. - page 217 Note: I think this conversation could singlehandedly kill the fandom if we got to hear Taylor and Nick deliver these lines

Can't you ever just do one thing without having to be so goddamn extra about it? That is bloody rich coming from you. - pages 260-261

What do you want? I want you- Then fucking have me. -but I don't want this. - page 273

You seem... less pissy. You're one to talk. I wasn't the one who stormed the palace in a fit to call me an 'obtuse fucking asshole'. In my defense, you were an obtuse fucking asshole. - page 277

I honestly have never thought I deserved to choose. But you treat me like I do. You do. I think I'm actually starting to believe that. - page 279

What about you? What about me? Christ, Alex. The whole bloody time. The whole time? Since the Olympics. The Olympics? But that's, that's like- Yes, Alex, the day we met, nothing gets past you, does it? 'What about you,' he says, as if he doesn't know- Shut your mouth. - page 283-284

Hello, what was that for? I just, like, really love you. - page 286

What are you doing? I'm taking a picture of a national gay landmark. And also a statue. It's funny. I always thought of the whole things as the most unforgivable thing about me, but you act like it's one of the best. Oh, yeah. The top list of reason to love you goes brain, then dick, then imminent status as a revolutionary gay icon. You are quite literally Queen Victoria's worst nightmare. And that's why you love me. My god, you're right. All this time, I was just after the bloke who'd most infuriate my homophobic forebears. Ah, and we can't forget they were also racist. Certainly not. Next time we shall visit some of the George III pieces and see if they burst into flame. - page 289

If Alex from this time last year could see this. He'd say, 'Oh I'm in love with Henry? That must be why I'm such an arse to him all the time'. - page 387

[smileydk]

The Town Weirdo

Pairing: Misfit!Wooyoung x Popular!Reader

Summary: Jung Wooyoung was a misfit. He didn't look different, he didn't dress too differently, he didn't act different, someone just decided that he didn't fit into the frame, and everyone hopped on the idea. Everyone except one, who didn’t want to judge before knowing both sides of a story.

cw/tw: bullying, harsh language, mental and physical abuse, domestic violence, fluffy, angst, mentions of rape and kidnapping

They acted as if he didn't existed. They all thought that maybe if they don't think about him, he'd disappear. He was like a bogger in the school's nose, like an eyelash in your eye. Simply there to annoy, never to do any good.

Even the adults treated him like nothing.

He was never called on in class, even if he raised his hand. He rarely ever got his tests back, grades would be shit because they didn't like him.

He hadn't done anything to be hated. He had always kept to himself, he'd always studied, he was (technically) a straight A-student, he'd never done anything to offend anyone.

He always wore an oversized, black hoodie, black, baggy cargo pants and a pair of purple air Jordans. Occasionally the hoodie would change color, but mostly he wore all black. He fit into the school's fashion perfectly.

Yet, for whatever reason, the football team decided that since everyone hated him, why not make his life fucking miserable? His life wasn't hard enough already, with everyone avioding him like the plague.

A young girl, no older than 5 years, had gone missing a few months ago. In such a small town news traveled fast. Everyone knew about her disappeareance.

At first everyone were worried, everyone looked for her. But as time passed and nothing was found, people needed someone to put the blame on. So why not choose the most hated boy in town?

Jung Wooyoung.

He had nothing to lose anyways.

''You know the girl who disappeared? He probably took her. He's probably a little pervert. He probably got her locked up in her basement and uses her whenever he feels the urge to''

Comments like these were almost normalized in the small town. Something that didn’t sit right with one girl.

She couldn't understand what he ever did to be hated, even by his own mom. She'd seen him sleeping on a bench, outside an old and abandoned restaurant.

She felt bad for him. Her own family was of high status in the town. They were rich and donated a lot of money to the small hospital, the two schools and such.

Kim Jiwoo, the youngest in the whole family, had always been rather open minded. She never liked judging people by others words. She wanted to know him, not what everyone thought about him.

She sighed as she heard her "friends" talking about the boy once more. They weren't really her friends, they simply hung out with her because of money and status, and they never had anything kind to say about anyone but themselves and Jiwoo.

''Hey, do you actually think he keeps her in his basement?'' Ara asked in an amused tone, knowing very well that Wooyoung heard her.

''Yeah, of course he does'' Hana replied in even more amused tone as she noticed that Wooyoung posture changed slightly. ''He’s a pervert. He probably keeps her in the basement, has her way with her when he wants, and he probably keeps pictures of her in his phone and rubs one out while watching it''

''I hope he falls down a well and withers away, alone in the dark'' Ara finished before they both started cackling.

Jiwoo let out a tired sigh and turned around in her seat. ''Would both of you shut up? There's no concrete evidence that Wooyoung's done shit, and how would you feel if people spread a rumour about you murdering someone? Or raping? Or kidnapping?''

Minho, the quarterback smirked. He heard the whole conversation since he literally sat next to Jiwoo. Jiwoo'd just assumed that he never listened to them.

''Challenge accepted!''

Jiwoo turned to the boy. ''A) Did you just Barney Stinson me? B) What challenge?''

''I'm gonna steal Wooyoung's phone and prove that he's a pervert!''

Jiwoo sighed. She decided, for once, to take action instead of being all talk. So she stood up, in the middle of the teacher's introduction, and walked over to Wooyung's desk.

The corner in the back.

''Can I sit here?''

The boy looked up from the desk, on which he was currently carving a face, since no one cared what he did anyways. He looked confused. Why would someone wanna sit with him?

He mumbled a quiet ''sure'' and put away the knife and sat up straight.

He knew carrying a knife around and carving shit into the furniture didn't exactly support his attempt on proving himself innocent, but after a while he stopped caring about what everyone thought about him.

''Do you wanna hang out after school?'' Jiwoo asked, still that gorgeous, model smile on her lips.

Wooyoung felt a bit ashamed as he stared at her lips. He wondered what they’d feel like. What they’d taste like.

''Why would you wanna hang out with me?'' He asked and turned his attention back to his little carving.

Jiwoo shrugged. She didn’t know why. She was simply a social butterfly. And he intrigued her.

''I like being social. You intrigue me for some reason, and you’re the only person in the school who doesn’t kiss my ass for status and money ''

''Well, sorry little miss daddy's Princess, but that ain’t gonna happen, ever''

The girl realized how it sounded. ''No! I didn’t mean it like that. I like that you don’t do it. To be honest, I don’t really have any real friends''

Wooyoung let out a sarcastic laugh. ''Oh yeah? Couldn’t daddy’s money buy you some?''

That was it for Jiwoo. Here she was, being as nice as humanly possible when you don’t know someone, especially when there’s a rumor that he’d murdered someone and another one stating that he’d kidnapped and raped a five year old girl.

She always tried to keep the judgement low, or non-existent. But anyone would be kind of concerned with a murder rumour. She thought she was doing a great job at being nice, yet he treated her like a piece of shit.

''Listen here you fucking asshole, I came over here to try and be nice. I wanted to prove to the town that you’re not some weirdo, kidnapping rapist, but apparently you hate everyone, and I can’t judge you, but I have never done shit to you. In fact, when we were in 4th grade, I beat up Dae for bullying you, but fuck you''

Jiwoo started packing up her stuff to go back to her other desk. They both knew all eyes were on them since Jiwoo’s outburst wasn’t the most silent person in the universe.

Wooyoung cursed himself for being such an asshole. It was a habit at this point. If someone tried being nice, his defense mechanism would turn on. He just assumed no one ever wished him well.

He grabbed her arm. ''Look, I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just… with everyone being nice to me, and then shoving me down a well or similar, it’s hard accepting when someone’s being genuine''

Yes, it had actually happened. Wooyoung was seven and his "best friend" had asked him to come to his house and hang out. He did, and his "best friend" shoved him into a well. In which he had to lay in for three hours, crying his eyes out.

The girl smiled. She could accept that as an apology. And it seemed quite logical what he said. Survival instincts.

She sat back down and smiled. ''So, do you wanna hang out? My dad’s pulling out his ugly old barbecue. When he cooks, there’s enough to feed the whole town. I promise, if they do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you can leave ''

The boy thought about it. ''Sure, uhm, but I gotta do one thing before we go to yours''

Whispers followed his reply. People were sure that Jiwoo pranked him, that she only asked him out of pity, or because she had a bigger plan. All were wrong. She genuinly wanted to get to know the man.

The boy intrigued her, so she acted on it. And to be fair, he was ridiculously good-looking under the black hood.

As the class went on, Jiwoo couldn't be more bored. ''Does anyone know the answer to question 10?'' The teacher looked at the class.

Wooyoung raised his hand, something Jiwoo'd seen him do a lot, but he never got to answer since the teachers seemed to hate him just as much as the students.

''No one?'' The teacher asked, his gaze avoiding Wooyung's corner.

''1939'' Wooyoung said out loud, tired of being ignored.

''Don't speak unless I tell you to!'' The teacher snapped in a rude tone.

Wooyoung rolled his eyes and sunk back down in his seat. ''Asshole'' He mumbled under his breath, causing Jiwoo to chuckle.

While Wooyoung packed up his stuff Minho passed by their desk. It confused them both since he sat in the front.

Without missing a beat Minho snatched Wooyoung's phone from the table and rushed out of the classroom. Jiwoo cursed the fact that Minho was the quarterback. He literally got the position because he could run.

Wooyoung let out a quiet sigh and slung his bag over his shoulder. Jiwoo copied his actions. ''Let's get your phone back, eh?''

''Uhm, I can survive without it''

''Wuss, I'll do it. Let's go''

They headed out of the classroom and spotted everyone in the hallway, gathered around the tall quarterback.

Jiwoo let out a quiet sigh. She walked up to Minho, after pushing her way through the small crowd. She tapped him harshly on the shoulder. When he turned around Jiwoo quickly withdrew her arm and punched the boy in the face as hard as she could.

A small crunch was heard and Wooyoung's phone dropped, right into Jiwoo's expecting hands.

''Don't take things that aren't yours'' Jiwoo smiled sweelty and threw Wooyoung his phone.

Wooyoung pointed behind her. Jiwoo turned around and spotted the quarterback charging at her. ''Why does he have to make things so difficult? Hold this, love'' She handed Wooyoung her bag.

Wooyoung froze for a short moment. Jiwoo called him "Love".

Minho stopped before her and stared down at her. ''Listen here Kim-''

''No, you listen her Park, you've been an asshole since the day I met you. You've never been nice to anyone but your minions, you've never treated Wooyoung as a person. My parents basically run this town, my dad's a lawyer, my mom's... important, let's see who wins?''

Minho fell silent and stared at the very short, yet fiesty girl. ''Well... fuck off''

''Now to the rest of you assholes, did you find a single picture of anything? Any proof? Anything?''

No one said anything.

''That's what I thought!''

''He had a picture of you!''

Jiwoo slowly turned around and looked at Wooyoung. He looked horrified. ''Can I see?''

Wooyoung unlocked his phone and handed it over to Jiwoo. She scrolled through his cameraroll and found two pictures of her. One in the dining hall where she sat alone, side profile towards him as the sun came through thw window, and one of her lauhging about... whatever.

''I look amazing- wow'' Jiwoo mumbled and zoomed in on herself. ''Be gone, idiots! I see no harm in these'' She handed the phone back to the owner. ''Let's head to mine then, loverboy''

''Jiwoo! You coming?'' Ara and Hana asked and turned to their friend. They were planning to hang out earlier, but she wasn't too excited about that anymore.

''No, I'm gonna hang out with Wooyoung'' The girl replied without even looking at her two friends.

The two girls scoffed and looked at the boy. ''Why? He's a kidnappeing pervert''

''So? Do any of you have any proof, whatsoever, of anything? I'm heading out with him, bye''

Wooyoung followed Jiwoo out to her car. His eyes widened. ''Holy fuck, that's a nice car''

A chuckle left the girl's lips. The laugh sounded like heaven to Wooyuong's ears. ''Well, get in. Where did you need to go?''

Wooyoung snapped out of his daydreaming and looked at the girl. ''Oh, uhm, just outside town. I do some charity work at a orphanage there''

Jiwoo smiled. ''You're such sweetheart''

The boy blushed. ''Well, I know how it is living without parents so.... yeah''

She smiled and started the car. Jiwoo drove and Wooyoung gave directions to the building.

When they stopped outside the daycare and Wooyoung got out, he was immediately ambushed by kids. He squatted down and held out his arms as the kids hugged him.

Jiwoo smiled as he spoke with each of them, asking about their day. ''Oppa, who's she? Is she your girlfriend?'' One of the small girls asked with a smirk.

Wooyoung turned around and looked at Jiwoo. ''No, she's a friend. Be nice to her''

A few of the kids immediately walked up to her and started introducing themselves with wide smiles. One girl in particular had a tight grip on Wooyoung's pant leg. She seemed very shy.

Jiwoo walked up her and squatted down in front of her. ''Hello, I'm Jiwoo. What's your name?''

She hid behind Wooyoung's tall frame. ''Uhm... Arin''

''Pretty name, fits perfectly for such a pretty girl'' Jiwoo said and smiled as sweetly as she possibly could.

Arin seemed to accept it and smiled. ''You're sp pretty, Unnie. Are you Oppa's girlfriend?''

''Just a friend I'm afraid''

The small toddler pouted. ''But you're so pretty!''

Jiwoo chuckled as she leaned closer to her. ''Can you keep a super secret secret?'' The girl nodded excitedly. ''Oppa is really handsome, but you can't tell him''

''I promise!'' She giggled and ran away.

The girl stood up straight and looked at Wooyoung, who was frozen in his spot.

Kim Jiwoo, the perfect dream girl, thought he was handsome? The town's misfit, the weirdo creep?

''You there Wooyoung?'' Jiwoo waved her hand in front of his face.

''Hm? Yeah''

''Ah! Wooyoung, right? Welcome!'' Chaeyoung greeted the boy happily as Jiwoo introduced them.

Wooyoung's eyes widened as she squeezed him in a tight hug. He looked at Jiwoo with a panicked look. No one had ever shown him this much love.

''Yah, eomma, you can't just hug people I bring home. Not everyone's comfortable with that!''

The woman immediately pulled away from the hug. ''I'm so sorry Wooyoung, it's just... Jiwoo's girlfriends are all... rude, and you seem to sweet''

The boy was still surprised, as well as confused. ''So you've not heard the rumours?''

''Yeah, well, I prefer creating my own opinion'' The woman smiled sweetly. ''Food will be on the table in a minute, unless your father screws it up again''

Jiwoo chuckled and led Wooyoung up to her room. Wooyoung only stood awkwardly in the door opening, as the only time he'd ever been at someone else's house was with an old "friend" who didn't allow him on the furniture, as if he was a dog.

''Sit wherever'' Jiwoo threw her school bag into her closet and closed it. She sat down on her bed, removed her shoes, and crossed her legs.

Wooyoung carefully sat down in her office chair. He wasn't sure what to do.

''So, tell me about you. I wanna get to know you! I doubt you're a kidnapper since you volunteer at the orphanage''

The boy chuckled. ''Well, uhm, there's not much to know about me. I'm homeless since my own mother hated that everyone knew her son, especially for something bad. I volunteered at the orphanage before that. Uhm, then the girl went missing and since everyone already hated me it was easy to put the blame on me. And yeah, the rest you know''

''You can stay here if you want. We have a spare bedroom'' Jiwoo offered with that same, sweet smile she always wore when she spoke to him.

Wooyoung didn't know what to think about it. He adored it. It made the girl even more beautiful, if that was even possible, but he also felt like she only acted like this out of pity.

''Look, if you're only doing this for some kind of Univeristy resume, or pity, or some kind of... attention from the whole town, just drop the act now and I'll never bother you again''

Wooyoung was ready for her to either lash out on him for "exposing" her, or laugh and throw him out, or continue her lie, but she didn't.

''I know you think I'm doing this out of pity. I know you only see me as some... rich daddy's girl, but I genuinly want to help you, and I really think you are sweet, if you want to at least. Carving faces into the wall works against you, but yeah''

The boy was stunned.

''And I didn't lie before, you are really handsome'' Jiwoo winked and smirked.

''Thanks'' He blushed slightly and pulled up his hood again.

Jiwoo chukled. ''You're a blushy one'' She teased and took out her phone. ''Give me your number''

Wooyoung was hesitant but did as requested. ''Why?''

''Kids! Food!''

''So we can hang out again'' Jiwoo said in a duh-tone.

Wooyoung made a quiet "ah" sound and quickly entered his number into her, much newer, phone. Jiwoo took Wooyoung's phone and did the same to his. She held it up and took a silly selfie before handing it back.

''Smile'' Jiwoo smiled and directed her phone camera to Wooyoung's face. The man did as requested and smiled. ''Pretty, now let's go eat''

''So, Jung Wooyoung, correct?'' Jiwoo's father, Changkyun, turned to the new face.

''Yes, sir''

Changkyun smiled. ''He called me Sir, I like this one!''

Jiwoo chuckled as she ate. Her father loved meeting new people. Especially if they looked up to him. He enjoyed the ego-boost.

''Well, how come you two are hanging ouy? Jiwoo only has mean friends, but you seem really sweet'' Changkyun asked bluntly.

Wooyoung let out an awkward laugh. ''Well, Sir, she sat with me in math. Why I have no idea''

''Because he was intriguing, and my friends are all assholes, might as well make some new ones. And he's the only one in school I haven't spoken to before''

Chaeyoung chuckled to herself. She enjoyed Wooyoung's company, and her daughter seemed to enjoy it as well.

''So, any girls, Wooyoung?'' Chaeyoung asked.

''Eomma!'' Jiwoo glared at her mother.

''Uhm, no ma'am, afraid all the girls in school hates me or are terrified of me, well, except Jiwoo apparently'' Wooyoung smiled sweetly.

Jiwoo looked at the boy with a sweet smile. Well, according to her mother it was "adoring". Chaeyoung was convinced her daughter had found her "one".

Jiwoo and Wooyoung finished their dinner and were quick to disappeared up to her room again.

Wooyoung cursed himself as he caught himself staring at Jiwoo's lips once more.

''Fuck her lips are pretty- even prettier when she smiles''

''I can see you staring'' Jiwoo chuckled and smiled. ''You got lip-fetisch, or what?''

''N-n-no! I just- your- I- your lips are pretty''

Jiwoo chuckled and sat down in front of him. ''Oh yeah? They're pretty?''

Wooyoung didn't know what to do. He was panicking on the inside while also keeping all his focus on Jiwoo's lips. She was so close. He could smell her sweet scent. He could see the glitter specks in her pink, cherry lipgloss.

''Wanna feel them? Or taste them?'' Jiwoo knew she was frisky. But she thought she'd picked up some... hint. A small, subtle nod. Jiwoo smiled again, that sweet, gorgeous smile. That smile Wooyuong had never seen, before she looked at him.

Her smile made him feel like the only person in the entire the world. Her smile made him feel like every problem he'd ever had had disappeared. Her smile made him lose his mind and not focus on anything but her.

Jiwoo chuckled and laid a hand on Wooyoung's shoulder. ''You sure? You don't have to kiss me unless you really want to''

''I- I-... I really want to kiss you, I'm just worried that you'll be let down by me doing... being, well, me''

''Come on, my first was Minho in our class, it's hard to let me down'' She laid a hand on Wooyoung's cheek. ''And who knows, maybe I'll let you down?''

''You could probably never let me down'' Wooyoung smiled weakly.

Jiwoo smiled and laid her small hand on his cheek. She leaned closer, slowly if Wooyoung wanted to back out. He didn't. Jiwoo pressed her lips against Wooyoung's.

Wooyoung might be new to this whole thing, altough he had his fair share of kisses, but he carefully wrapped his arms around Jiwoo's waist and pulled her into his lap.

A small smile rose to the girl's lips as she straddled him. She wrapped her arms around Wooyoung's broad shoulders and pulled him closer.

The man was touch-deprived, and slightly desperate. His hands landed on her hips and his thumbs automatically started rubbing circles on them.

Jiwoo parted her lips slightly, allowing Wooyoung to do as he pleased. Wooyoung accepted the invite and started exploring her mouth with his tongue.

A small, breathy moan left Jiwoo's lips. She was also, slightly, touch-deprived.

She pulled away and chuckled slightly. ''Someone's excited''

Wooyoung blushed and rested his forehead against Jiwoo's shoulder. ''You're mean''

''Yet here you are, without your pent up walls''

''For you only''

[justrainandcoffee]

A Manual of Good Behavior and Polite Accomplishments (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc)

Or the first time that Rose said 'fuck you'.

Alfie Solomons x Rose Coldwell (ofc). Masterlist

Summary: An awkward encounter between Rose who was 10 years old, and her mother's employer ends with the girl teaming up with Alfie, also 10, teaching Da Vinci, the cockatiel, a new vocabulary. If the old man thinks he can control her, he's wrong.

Warnings: Old fashioned thoughts, even for a story set in 1890s. Otherwise it's just a kids shenanigans.

Words: 1.7k || The title of the fic is a real book that existed back then.|| I missed writing for them as kids 🥺❤️.

1898

Rose was only ten years old and it was with her mother in the house where she worked to help her. Mary Coldwell was visibly pregnant and couldn't do all the chores that the owner of the house wanted.

Very often Rose heard her mother talking to Mrs. Solomons, their neighbour, about this man: Mr. Clarkson. A rich gentleman about 50 years old, very proud of himself. He's everything a man living in London in 1898 should be. Richard Patrick Clarkson was a respectable man who drunk whiskey and smoked cigars. He played croquet and poker with friends that were from the same old school as he was.

The imminent arrival of a new century wasn't something that Mr. Clarkson wanted. Why, he asks himself, time has to pass? The nineteenth century it was a good century. He grew up in it and he couldn't complain about his achievements and the man he was. He wished he could say the same about the new generations.

He's in his living room reading the newspaper when he saw the daughter of his servant carrying some towels to the bedroom upstairs because her mother couldn't do it anymore. The child was whistling a song that she learnt in school and Mr. Clarkson found that incredible unacceptable. A little girl like her, shouldn't be whistling. That's for thugs and those teenage boys who spent their days bothering people. Whistling shouldn't be for girls, never.

"What's your name? And, how old are you?" he asked when the kid was coming down.

"My name is Rose, sir. I'm ten."

"You're a young pretty lady, Ms. Rose. I have something for you," the man said giving her an old book. Its yellow pages showed that it's some decades old and it had been accumulating dust on the bookshelf. "It belonged to my eldest daughter. She lives in Boston, now. She married a banker and has three kids. I want you to read this and give me your opinion next time you come here with your mother again."

"Oh… okay. Thanks, sir."

The book, thought Mr. Clarkson, it was going to help the girl to understand the importance of behaving like a proper lady.

Evidently, Mr. Clarkson didn't know Rose Coldwell.

The book caused the opposite effect on her. It was written a lot of decades before she was born and undoubtedly it was old fashioned. Something that a girl born in those years couldn't even imagine.

And that was what Rose said to him next time she went with her mother there. Obviously that wasn't the answer that the man was expecting.

"Young ladies do not speak unless a man allows them, Ms. Rose."

"But you asked me, sir. When a person asks something, usually the other gives an answer."

"You're a very disrespectful, girl! At your age my sweet daughter was very educated and knew the etiquette that girls like you don't know anymore!"

"What century was that, sir?"

"You're going to grow up one day, child. And you're going to be one of those who act like a man. Spitting out and whistling like you were doing the other day. Do you know what those women are? Slu…"

"I begged you do not talk to Rose ever again, Mr. Clarkson," interrupted Mary Coldwell, "my daughter's education is my responsibility so I'm going to request you to stop interfering with that."

The woman grabbed her daughter's hand and both went to the kitchen where she was cleaning the windows.

"Did he say something to you, Rosie?"

"No, mom. Nothing important at least."

She couldn't wait to return home to speak with her best friend, Alfie.

Alfie was also ten years old. He knew that after school his neighbour went to her mother's workplace to help her while her younger brother was with their grandmother. But he didn't know that the old man treated Rose bad. He knew her his whole life and as far as he knew, she wasn't very different from other girls he knew from school or the neighborhood.

"We're all whistling that stupid song," he said "how old is he?"

"Old enough to believe that a woman only speaks if a man wants to."

"That's ridiculous. Me mom, she probably can kick his ass if she hears that."

"He's unbearable. Do you want me to help to prank him?" Her childish smile made her friend smile as well.

"Of course, Rosie!"

"Aren't you going to ask me what I planned?"

"I don't care! If he said something to ya, then it's personal!" the boy put a hand on her shoulder "tell us your plan."

Mr. Clarkson had a cockatiel called "Da Vinci". Da Vinci repeated Shakespeare's sonnets that his owner taught him from the moment he acquired him. The bird also knew other phrases in French and some in Latin.

But any bad word.

Alfie hated birds and it wasn't a secret for anyone around him. Everything started seven years ago when a pigeon ate his loaf of bread. And he never forgave it. So Rose knew that he was going to hate Da Vinci, despite being a cute cockatiel. The plan was simple: taught the bird how to swear. To much Mrs. Solomons despair, her son was good at it.

After Mrs. Coldwell warning, Mr. Clarkson didn't speak with the girl again even when he still thought that she needed discipline. He wasn't against physical punishment, if it was necessary, and the Lord knew that she needed to feel it at least once. But he said nothing.

Da Vinci used to spend his afternoons in his cage next to the window, facing the street and enjoying the view of that corner of London. That day, Rose left the window open and threw a pebble out of it to show Alfie, who was waiting on the other side of the street, that he could approach.

"You're awful, mate!" Alfie said poking the cage with his finger "okay, Rosie needs me, right? And you're going to listen to me, bird."

For two weeks after school, for at least an hour, Alfie stood up under that open window to teach the bird his talent.

'Cunt' was the first word that the bird learnt causing a horror expression in his owner's face.

"It was you? Did you teach Da Vinci that word?"

"It wasn't me, sir. Besides, I thought you told me that I couldn't speak until a man allowed me. And there's not another man besides you here, so I didn't speak. Expect to my mommy who clearly told you do not talk to me."

Mr. Clarkson pursed his lips and with his hand told the girl to leave. His poor Da Vinci was being corrupted and he didn't know who it was.

"It was really fun," Rose said later to Alfie while they were doing the homework together. "I think you did it well!"

"I didn't finish, Rosie. I think I'm starting to understand that stupid bird. Maybe you can try, too. Just say fuck you in front of him, the beast learns quickly."

Rose was still a girl and despite what Mr. Clarkson thought, she didn't behaved like a thug. Her mother taught her well and she did learn. And until that moment in her short life she had never said the word fuck. Alfie clearly was, all the time.

By the end of the third week, Da Vinci was Alfie's best student. And his words were a mix of Shakespeare's sonnets and English slang from that century.

The day that Alfie couldn't go to his usually spot under the window, Rose approached the bird with a cookie in her hand.

"Hello, Da Vinci," Rose said.

The cockatiel looked at her. He knew the girl, so he didn't seem to be upset by her presence.

"Hello, hello!" repeated him.

The girl checked that the door was locked and approached the bird knowing that she was going to say it. She felt it in her heart. Mr. Clarkson would suffer a heart attack caused by the indignation, but the girl was ready. So she said it.

"Fuck you!" and she giggled covering her mouth with the hand.

It felt good, not to say it to the bird because she wasn't. But to imagine the man hearing it. So she repeated it several times. After that she gave Da Vinci the cookie and she ran away from there.

"What did you do, Rose?" her mother asked when she saw her daughter.

"Nothing, mum!"

"Rose…"

"I swear! I just gave the cockatiel a cookie," the girl replied. In part was true.

Alfie hugged his friend when he knew the good news. "It wasn't that bad, eh, Rosie? It's fuckin' easy!"

"I feel like an idiot, giggling after that."

"I want to hear it! It's not fair that only the bird heard you! I gave you the idea!"

"I'm not going to say it to you, Al!"

"Oh come on! I know you're not saying it to me! We're friends!"

The girl looked at him and said it. Both kids laughed out loud, Alfie didn't know but he opened a door that Rose never closed again. Swearing was part of her now.

And was part of Da Vinci, too.

It was six in the morning when Mr. Clarkson woke up. His maid already prepared him the breakfast and left the cockatiel on the same table as he was because the man liked to have breakfast with him.

"Would you like a cookie, Da Vinci?" Mr. Clarkson asked.

After few seconds in silence, he spoke.

"Cookie! Cunt! Fuck you! Cookie!"

The man sighed.

He didn't know everything yet. On his favourite chair in the library he had, was the book 'a manual of good behaviour and polite accomplishments' covered by Da Vinci's poop.

Rose left it there with the intention of giving him the answer he asked for.

[misspoetree]

So the lovely @haahka and I were talking about Tay and how it's a bit sad that the fandom only ever seems to send him on shopping tours or focus on his fashion (you guys know that I'm obsessed with the KinnPorsche Fashion myself, but it's just a little...unadventurous, you know).

And then I got waaay to deep into headcanons with the equally lovely @tumsa (I'm not even sorry for the spam 😌❤).

Now, there are two things I want to do: first, I'd love to hear more Tay headcanons - feel free to throw them at me (as an ask, in the tags, added to this post, whatever you prefer). Because I'm really curious. 👀

And second, I'm going to share a few of mine:

Tay is way more capable than anyone thinks. (But no one needs to know that.)

People treat Tay like a princess within the show - I mean, he isn't even allowed to help in the kitchen at Porsche's. But I don't think Tay IS a princess. I think it's a protective façade. Because letting oneself be underestimated is a (survival) strategy in a world of money and constant power struggle, and a smart one at that. Yes, Tay is really good at reading people in general, but I also feel like people tend to let their guard down around him. Because he's kind, and understanding, and compassionate - and he seems harmless, a bit spoiled even. His 'softness' puts people at ease, makes them talk, makes them more honest than they probably should be. He's not a threat after all. I bet he knows a lot of things he shouldn't. I bet he's smart enough to use that knowledge (to help other people, to help himself, if needed). And I bet Tay could be fucking dangerous if he ever chose to (and wouldn't that be exciting 👀).

I also like to think that Tay has a strong survival instinct that goes beyond 'pretending to be incapable'. He and Kinn have been friends for ages, their families know each other, he basically grew up surrounded by mafia. He probably witnessed Tankhun's kidnapping back in the day. The horror and trauma of it. Tay's family is rich. He's close to the Theerapanyakuls. To the future head of the family. But he DOESN'T have an army of bodyguards following him around. And the downside of 'being harmless' is looking like an easy victim. Tay is too smart to be unprepared. So in my headcanon he knows how to handle a crisis, knows how to deal with danger, knows how to survive. Knows how to get out of the country quickly, how to get money without leaving a trail, how to get an unregistered gun. How to land a mean punch even though he hates it, how to apply (good) first aid EVEN THOUGH HE HATES IT. (I do think that he really isn't a fan of physical stuff, so the princess image is not completely off. Or, well, he lets it work in his favour.)

Tay's reaction to being hurt, being really hurt, is to shut his emotions down completely.

I don't enjoy how Tay's often written as dramatic and over-emotional in his confrontations with Time after what happened at Hum Bar. He isn't sober when he catches his boyfriend shoving his tongue down another man's throat, and well, his boyfriend is shoving his tongue down another man's throat. So of course he's fucking angry. And emotional. Right then and there. But the thing is, Tay had time to think, time to cool off in those other confrontations. And that's just the way to describe Tay's demeanor then: cool, cold, like ice. I like to think that he just freezes over. Turns into a statue of neutral disinterest. Just imagine: someone like Tay, always so kind and compassionate, staring you down with an expressionless face, not reacting to anything you say, looking close to fucking bored. Imagine what that would do to Time, always so full of himself, always so used to getting reactions out of Tay. Walking straight into a wall of ice. Completely out of his element. Really forced to put the work in for once. And it truly is hard work to break through to Tay once he closes his feelings off from you. A little bit of grovelling might be necessary. (That said, dealing with his emotions like that isn't good for Tay either. Of course not.)

There's...'something' between Tay and Vegas, some kind of understanding

I never got over TAY asking after Vegas in the final episode. Or the way Tay watches Vegas as he passes him during the auction. So I'm having a lot of fun wondering about the 'relationship' between Tay and Vegas, or how potential interactions could have gone down.

I mean, Tay 'belongs' to Kinn. We know that Vegas wants everything that belongs to Kinn (I bet he thinks Kinn must have fucked a pretty boy like that at least once. Even though it's not his usual type. Why else would he stick around?). Tay's caring and understanding. We know how Vegas can react...to something like that. (Not him falling in love after one free therapy session or something like that.) Tay is really good at reading people, he is really good at reading Kinn. And we know Vegas is not so different from Kinn (in some ways), even though he would murder anyone suggesting something like that to his face. Or maybe that's exactly what Tay does. Telling that to his face. As Vegas tries to seduce him, in the earlier days. But Tay doesn't try to wound him with that, to be cruel or mean, it's just an observation, spoken in that calm and understanding tone of his. And a younger Vegas is so shocked by that statement that he just...stops? And stares at Tay who just keeps going with that warm look in his eyes and those observations that hit a little too close to home until he can't take it anymore and turns on his heel to...definitely NOT run away like a dog with his tail between his legs.

Vegas keeps his distance after that. That princess isn't worth the effort, he tells himself. Or maybe he doesn't. Maybe he stops trying to seduce Tay, yes. But they end up talking again. And again. Because Vegas desperately needs to know what Tay meant with those things he said. And there's just... something about their conversations that keeps Vegas coming back. Until (stealing some thoughts from @tumsa here <3) Tay tries to convince Vegas that the competition between him and Kinn is dumb. Vegas does keep his distance, then.

And Tay gives up trying to help, trying to make him see how futile all of this is because it's clear Vegas won't listen to anyone but his father. But he still cares about Vegas, and seeing all the things Vegas does to himself without realising, seeing that ever-growing self-destructive obsession with Kinn sits like a leaden ball in Tay's stomach. The knowledge that he can't do anything to help is a bit like its own form of torture.

Anyways, (stealing again from @tumsa) Tay definitely ends up going to the hospital to visit Vegas. In secret, of course. And seeing Vegas and Pete together, seeing Vegas being changed by love, seeing him try to be a better person for Pete, putting all this effort in to make it work - maybe all of this forces Tay to reflect on his own love life for once. To reflect on the things he wants. The things he deserves, after all.

Nearly everyone had a crush on Tay, one time or another

You guys know the thing we do with Vegas? Like how VegasPete is the holy grail of endgame ships but it's so much fucking fun to ship Vegas with everyone and to imagine all his possible encounters and escapades? Because he's manipulation, seduction and psychological issues stacked on top of each other and wrapped in a velvet shirt?

Well. I like to do the same thing with Tay. For more or less opposite reasons. Because he's understanding and warm and compassionate and smart (and really pretty). In a world full of violence and trauma and repressed emotions, only sharp edges. I mean, who wouldn't crave the warmth, who wouldn't want to bathe in the sunlight for a while? I'm pretty sure people are falling en masse for Tay. And I think Tay doesn't always know how to handle it. Or genuinely doesn't realise what kind of effect he has on those poor bastards for doing nothing more than showing them a bit of kindness. Or maybe he's simply choosing to ignore it because he only has eyes for one person and one person alone.

Anyways, a lot of fun directions to go with this last headcanon for now. (And I'm keeping it intentionally vague and without examples because otherwise, this would turn into a multichapter fanfic I don't have time to write just now. 🤡)

[royalskarsgard]

i think (and this is just personal opinion) a lot of the times wags are hated just because of who they're dating. most of the fans don't care about their problematic behaviour. they just use it to further their agenda. these fans are the same ones who make excuses for their favs (re: Lando fans defending his comments about Trump or max fans when it's brought up that max willingly supported Nelson Piquet and called lance stroll (or esteban) a mongol as an insult). but when it comes to these two driver's partners people will bend over backwards to drag them at any given point but don't reserve the same energy for the drivers (I'm not saying that the wags should not be criticised but a lot times the criticism is rooted in misogyny (like calling Kelly, "an old hag" or saying she looks ugly) there's so much they could've chosen from, but most of the time (from what I've seen; totally not saying that there is not valid criticism present about them not being a good person, supporting questionable leaders etc.)

also, this idolation of the exes. like that relationship is over, why are you still hung up on it? 😭 both the parties have moved on to different relationships, it's been a fucking year, give it up guys. especially with charles and charlotte and carlos and isa. the carlos fans (and a lot of gossip pages, other fans) call rebecca a prostitute or an escort and say how much better isa was to rebecca and how rebecca is not good for carlos yadda yadda as if sainz is not a 29 year old grown up who knows what's best for him. they behave as if rebecca has physically restrained him and is preventing him from doing whatever he wants. same with lando, as if he's not an adult who probably knows about his partner's actions and chooses to stay with them.

and don't get me started on the performative activism of F1. every breath that these people take is hypocritical. when will stans understand that they don't care about you or anyone other than themselves. most of them grew up rich and privileged, in a protected bubble. i don't expect them to have a good take on the world issues.

I'm sorry for this rant but I've been following this sport since last year and i have lurked on gossip pages because I just enjoy low stakes funny gossip or driver transfer gossip (which i do have thoughts about if you're interested in listening to them) but what I was bombarded with was a very misogynistic discourse and micro analysing of every move in a wife or girlfriend's life. like goddamnit just enjoy the damn sport and the silly little memes 😭 😭. i just want to be able to enjoy a healthy discourse on wags fashion, leo the cutie and drivers and low stakes, funny haha bullshit

I feel like a lot of the crazy stans use the wags as an outlet to take out the criticisms of the driver. Cuz if their fave does something fucking stupid they can’t look dumb by supporting it so they take it out on the girl. This is wrong!

And it’s all patterns with the guys, but they don’t admit that and will just use the girl as the excuse. Lando choosing magui depending on how you view her own choices, can be a pattern. But they’re never gonna admit he may be the actual problem they’re just gonna hate her. People have flaws but nobody in the spotlight can make a mistake and if they do, they can never change for the better they will always be defines by that one mistake!!

But yes you’re right like none of these people have ever had to worry what goes on outside their own bubbles why would they start now.

This driver drama is giving me anxiety I’ve always hated musical chairs and now add millions of dollars??? Pass the tums. Estie Bestie being out was on my bingo card but it still hurts???

[salted-caramel-tea]

i have so much to say aboht the avavav runway

can we hear it? because from one side i get it, the whole thing is about the rush of the fashion world, the hidden part that people don’t get to see. but from another side… idk it looked kinda corny to me… there were some cool outfits but overall i found it underwhelming

I forgot about this ask so im gonna give a very brief rundown of what I think then maybe get into it once I get my fashion blog set up properly bc im too scared to write on it rn .

long and short of it is that these runways are less about the clothing itself and more about the impact and presentation of the collection. its more of a performance art piece than it is an opportunity to observe trends in high end fashion and this is something that avavav is popular for- their Milan fw23 show creating this narrative about fast fashion and the superficiality of the fashion industry with the clothes intentionally breaking and falling apart as the models walked down the runway. 2022 I think was her first show where all of the models intentionally tripped and fell and it sent the fashion realm into a tizzy bc ppl were so upset at the bad quality of the show which is exactly what she wanted to happen bc it was a commentary on the seriousness of the fashion industry and the desire to seem rich that causes this disconnect from our humanity because we want to be perfect we want everything to be perfect and I love her for that .

avavav runways are just so iconic to me I love the way she utilises clothing, the set, even the models to create this story and bring to light an understanding within the audience of the internal problems of the fashion industry like this one about how designers are expected to churn out designs keep on top of ever-changing trends and how designers struggle to meet these expectations because their creative freedom is limited by time constraints and pressure so its this display of unfinished garments it starts seemingly fine until the model turns round with and 'add back? note where the rest if the garment should be and that evolves to become these shapeless oddly structured garments like the styrofoam blocks the duct tape the post it note suit to close the collection that just visualises the designers desperation to finish the collection on time now just using anything around her to add to garments that she can fix later she can shape later she'll do it she's just under so much pressure right now hence the collection title no time to design .

I love beate karlsson I think its such and interesting display of activism and commentary through fashion snd I bet its fun for the models too .

[unecoccinellenoire]

Do you ever wonder what would it have been like if Nathalie had met Gabi Grassette instead of Gabriel Agreste? What if Gabriel hadn't changed his name and such?

Honestly I never had considered this scenario just because...it is Gabriel Agreste that Nathalie meets and falls in love with and a lot of that history is tied up in him being that person that would change his name.

If Gabriel still meets Emilie first then I feel like the version of him that stays Gabi (although we don't know for certain if that is his legal name or just a shortening he went by) Grassette is both less sucessful and sucessful less quickly. So maybe he's doesn't get into the rich conspiracy and he's not of interest to Tomoe so she never introduces him to Nathalie.

And becoming Gabriel Agreste, creating this persona and idea of what an Agreste is, is I think is very strongly linked to this desire to create Adrien as The Perfect Son/Model/Boy. Admittedly we don't know Emilie's feelings on the matter and her being the one to actually create Adrien and making him look so like her definitely speaks to a desire to have a biological child that no one else has any claim on. But I feel Gabriel in this scenario is much more likely to consider adoption or going abroard for surrogacy rather than chasing after the Miraculous.

So again we end up in a scenario where the canonical meeting with Nathalie doesn't happen.

But let's try again, maybe the boy that stays Gabi Grassette doesn't dare to dream the way the boy that becomes Gabriel Agreste did. He isn't brave enough to apply to art school, or to try to become a fashion designer amongst people who look down on him without a safety net, or ignore his parents' concern about his career. He's softer- less willing to cut off people he thinks might way him down.

So he doesn't meet Emilie. And if he does maybe he's not brave enough to reach up to this star out of his orbit.

And thus he doesn't meet Nathalie.

But you're asking about if he does meet Nathalie, except the first question is how?

What's Nathalie doing in Paris, or Normandy or the Region Sud or wherever Gabriel lives in France rather than hunting relics on the other side of the world. What's Nathalie's backstory? Is her life different too?

I think that regardless of their universe Nathalie and Gabriel always work well together. They have this instinctive understanding of each other and in some ways they're very compatiable- they both treasure the quiet times together, physical affection means a lot to them, they love fiercely but they're also mean- they don't care about the people they don't love and they almost enjoy that, certainly they'd be the type to cattily gossip about things together.

They have their differences. Both of them only truly cleave to a small network of people but Gabriel wants this wider adulation, he wants to be seen as sucessful, as good, as in love in a way that Nathalie has no interest in, and frankly prefers not to be perceived. Some of that internal/external validation discrepancy also shows in how Gabriel has to justify things where Nathalie owns her decisions.

All of that is still there. But Nathalie loved the Gabriel who's ready to take that leap of faith and do anything for what he wants. Can she love a Gabi who doesn't?

And is Gabriel resenful about how his life's turned out? Does he wake up and work and wish he'd chosen to do something he loved? Does he feel like he doesn't have a future or a career - just a job selling chips from a trailer in the rain?

Does Nathalie feel like adventure to him? Or is she put off by the anger she can feel inside him?

Or does he have friends? Is his life unexciting but full of love and life? Does he go for a drink on his free days and get unencouraged to settle down, and he's never go over the girl who got away but now Nathalie feels like another chance?

I mean it's a fun scenario because (unless you go full chip shop AU and Nathalie's his employee) Nathalie isn't his subordinate here so that changes the dynamicc in of itself but there's just so much to figure out how this would work.

That said, I'm pretty sure @silver-hibiscus does have an AU for this scenario so go send some questions her way.

[the-devils-girl94]

YOO HOW BOUT THIS, a reader with a REALL REALLY good fashion taste, the bros sometimes summon them so they could pick on what they wear!!1! (+ undates)

((I didn't add the new characters because I haven't progressed enough in the game to really get to know them, but enjoy anon! Sorry for taking so long.))

Lucifer:

Look, it's a pride thing. You wouldn't understand. Lucifer is literally the type of demon who legit takes pride in his wardrobe that we have seen this man be hurt when he has to wear something utterly ridiculous. He don't do cute, not the least bit interested in fast fashion. This man is conservative, professional, and classy. And it seems you know this about him very well. Too well in fact. Lucifer would definitely take offense if you were to comment on his clothing choices, saying that instead of pairing this with that, he should've paired that with this. But he sucks it up for once when he has to ask you for your help because he gets stumped on what to wear for a meeting. All of his best suits seem no good for this particular meeting so he requires your expertise, but be warned. If you make him the laughingstock of the meeting, he will spare no mercy in punishing you. But, fortunately for you, you don't do that. Instead Lucifer gets hit with so much praise and compliments from those dazzled by his charming, good looks coupled with his equally dashing outfit picked and fitted by you that he calls on you everytime.

Mammon:

Mammon would be seriously greedy for your fashionable intel. You know that Mammon likes to dress rich with jewels and gems hanging off his neck and wrapped around his fingers. Even for simple outings, he's wearing hundreds, probably even thousands, of dollars of clothing. So, if he ever calls for you, you already know his style, his go-to colors, and whatever jewelry he needs for any and all occasions.

Satan:

Satan enjoys seeing your mastery and knowledge regarding the fashion side of things. He, too, prides himself in his wardrobe, simply because it annoys Lucifer so much. But he probably doesn't realize that it annoys the shit out of you too. You've always observed Satan, and damn his fashion choices have accrued high fees of your loathing. So you are insanely happy and skipping over daisies when he calls for you to go shopping with him. Finally, you get an opportunity to dress him, and when he sees you happy, he's happy. He even loves the clothes you pick out that he had no idea suited him so well.

Asmodeus:

Honestly, Asmodeus is really the fashionista out of the bunch. If anything, when Asmodeus calls for you, it's really to brag and get some suggestions on how to enhance the look. I can totally see you guys hosting fashion shows starring only you two with clothes you just purchased.

Leviathan, Beelzebub & Belphegor:

These three, I think, wouldn't call you as often. If it's for any event that's fancy, like a party at the Devildom castle or something equivalent, then they would call you for that. But, ultimately, these three are kinda comfortable with how they dress. Mostly because Beel and Belphie value comfort, while Levi is mostly a shut-in who mostly goes to cons that is more suited for cosplay than fashion.

Diavolo:

He would definitely call for you daily. He's the Prince of the Devildom and that means he's constantly meeting people. So he has to keep his appearance up as well. With your guidance and expertise, not only does he look good, people are even asking for his stylist and even praising how good he looks. He seems so serious when he offers you to stay as his permanent stylist, going so far as to offer a very generous pay plus dental coverage.

Barbatos:

Won't summon you as often but happy to offer up his body for your fashion needs if you create clothes too. Happily accepts any items of clothing you get for him and will ask questions on how to best wear the item in question.

Simeon:

If only to get closer to you, he would definitely call you for help when it comes to picking out an outfit. I like to think that Simeom dresses way too formal, even for informal events or outings, so I can see him asking you for help on how to dress more appropriately for things.

Solomon:

This man is thousands of years old. So I can only assume he calls you just to get him more accustomed to the modern world through clothes. And fashion is constantly changing anyway, so you're also helping him keep up. I wouldn't be surprised if this man still had fits from the 80s or even the 1700s in his closet.

Luke:

Luke is totally a kid who just needs help picking out clothes. I can see him calling you to go shopping with him because you have a better eye for clothes that suit him than he does. Of course you'll try to sneak in an occasional cute outfit in for your enjoyment, which he will scold you for.

[nsfwflint]

Red flags of what? It's the most blatant display of the girl being a massive sugar baby i've ever seen, girl knows what is worth and only a mature dude who has done well for his life can give that to her, she's off limits for a guy of her age unless he's rich. Good reminder of how conservative the Korean society is, women want security and men a trophy wife. I'm pretty sure this girl enjoys playing golf and eat at fancy restaurants at her age /s. Of course not, she's there cause daddy wants her there and she enjoys the status, she's a full on sugar baby making daddy earn that ass. It's freaking hilarious how people have fantasized so much over this and yet when they see it happen they can't believe it, it's more common than they think and there's nothing wrong about it.

Ah yes, because sugar daddies are the pinnacle of healthy relationships /s.

It's a red flag because that much of an age gap almost always leads to extremely unhealthy power imbalances in the relationship. I don't feel like explaining an intro to Psych class to you, but there's plenty of reading and research out there to show why relationships with age gaps that big just aren't a good idea.

The other red flag might be personal, because maybe I'm old fashioned but I feel like you need to be with someone a LOT longer than a YEAR to decide if you want to spend the rest of your life with them. A year is just way too short of an amount of time to decide "yup this is the rest of my life right here."

And then retiring from the entertainment industry as a whole is the last one. Like it's one thing for her to retire as an idol. That's understandable, Elris and Alice never really popped off and being an idol is stressful. But going "yeah I'm not even going to model anymore" as well feels like a lot when she did have a good amount of success doing that. Maybe you're right and she just never wants to work again, who knows?

Look, at the end of the day, I want her to be happy. That is the only thing I care about as a fan. If this marriage is what she truly wants, then I sincerely hope it works out from the bottom of my heart. Truly. I'm just saying I'm not gonna put money on this to last.

But also, I'm just a stranger on the internet, who cares what I think? She'll never read this post anyway.

[charlietheepicwriter7]

Hey, Little Songbird

Chapter 31 - AO3

“End Days? What, could Hawkmoth not think of a better name?” Felix scoffed, dodging a blast of orange light from Rossi’s hand. “And what are you wearing? It looks like its from the sixties. Is that what was fashionable back in Hawky’s youth or was that dress your idea, Liar Rossi?”

“Stay still!” She screeched, her voice like nails on a chalkboard, sharp enough to shatter glass.

“I’ve never listened to you before, Rossi, what makes you think I’ll listen to you now!?” Felix baited with a laugh, smoothly darting around her desperate lunge. “Honestly, did you lose some braincells upon transformation?”

“You’re going to pay, Felix,” she snarled. “Once you and everyone in this damned class is under my control, no one will be able to stop me! Not you, not Dupain-Cheng, not even that pathetic Ladybug and her pet cat!”

Felix yawned. “Oh, a mind-control akuma. How original. That’s not been done a million times or anything.” As relaxed as he tried to appear, he was sweating internally. Chat Noir typically did poorly against mind-control akumas… At least Ladybug wasn’t here for him to sacrifice himself for.

“You’ll regret mocking me once you’re enslaved under my power!” She smiled sickly, her hand glowing with violet light. Felix tensed, ready to dodge. “But don’t worry. You’ll love serving me; everyone does.”

Instead of shooting at him, Rossi attacked the dreadlocked girl. The girl’s body was engulfed by the light, bubbling and growing to epic proportions. The light died down, leaving Horrificator in its place.

Shit.

Rossi crowed with laughter. “That’s what I’m talking about! Who would have thought pathetic little Mylene could have been such an hideous monster inside?” She smiled cruelly at Felix. “So, my monster, attack that—”

Before she could finish her order, Horrificator glomped Rossi, hugging the akuma tight against its slimy body and… purring. Rossi screeched in disgust, desperately trying to break free, but it appeared as though superior strength was not one of the powers Hawkmoth gifted her. Felix and his classmates bolted for the door.

“No!” Rossi howled, her voice echoing down the hall as they raced away. “After them! Catch them!”

Horrificator roared. Felix glanced behind him; the monster was close behind even as they reached the entry hall of the school. A gooey mass sped towards them and Felix braced himself for impact when—

A hero kicked him out of the way.

Felix fell over the second-floor railing, landing back first on the floor. Head ringing, body aching, Felix quickly tried to right himself as a high-pitched, whiny voice sent a bolt of pain through his head. “Oh, ew!! I had hoped I’d never have to see your slimy gross face ever again! Why do bad things always happen to me!?”

Oh, God. Please no. He’d just been saved by Chloe Bourgeois.

Standing on the stairs above him in her Queen Bee attire, Chloe sneered down Horrificator, hip popped and arms crossed, looking for all the world to see like a bratty rich girl in cosplay. But no, somehow this girl was an actual hero for reasons Felix could never understand. Was he hallucinating? He didn’t think he hit his head—his ribs throbbed in agreement—but that was the only explanation he would accept for being saved by Chloe of all people.

Horrificator charged down the steps, but a blur of black and a flash of silver batted the massive creature back down the hall it’d come from. Chat Noir stood in front of Chloe, staring down at Felix with worry etched onto his face. “Are you okay, Felix?”

“Peachy,” he groaned. The goth girl—the jock had fled when Chloe arrived—helped him into a sitting position. He took stock of his body; ribs hurt, maybe cracked? But his legs and arms felt functional at least.

“What’s the deal with Big, Ugly, and Smelly?” Queen Bee complained. “I thought we were here to take care of Rossi, not some small fry.”

“Rossi can brainwash people by transforming them into their previous akuma forms,” Felix said. “Not sure how that works on people who don’t have an akuma form, but I suppose we’ll find out eventually.”

“Ugh!” Queen Bee groaned. “Could this day not get any worse?”

“As and you will receive~!” Rossi called out, appearing from down the hall with Horrificator cowering behind her. The goth girl helped Felix to his feet. He whispered a thank you to her, getting a nod in response… he really had to learn her name after this. Maybe Marinette would tell him, so he wouldn’t have to ask? “Aw, what’s this? A temp hero, just for me? You shouldn’t have!”

Chat Noir faced Rossi, scowl on her face. “Lila Rossi, you are under arrest for voluntarily working with Hawkmoth. Surrender your akuma or don’t; either way, any supposed diplomatic immunity won’t protect you from collaborating with a terrorist.”

A butterfly mask lit up over her face. “What? You… How could you know that, you mangy cat?”

Felix cleared his voice, sending all attention to him. “Maybe you shouldn’t grab butterflies in the middle of a school hallway? Anyone could be around, you know? And in this day and age, everyone has a smartphone on them, so videos can easily find their way to the heroes.”

The mask shattered as Rossi glowered at him. “You.”

He smiled up at her. “Me.”

She fired a blast of purple light at him and the goth girl, but a mass of brown body slammed them out of the way. Felix’s scream died in his throat as the monkey man—whatever his name was—scooped them both over his shoulder, jostling his ribs, sending pain lancing down his spine. He needed a hospital. Damn, his mother and Marinette were going to kill him.

“Sorry I’m late, guys!” The monkey man called up to Chat Noir and Queen Bee. “Ladybug is still passing out the other Miraculous, so she won’t be here for a while yet!”

Another flash of the butterfly mask, of Gabriel talking to Rossi he assumed, and Rossi nodded. “Horrificator, get them!” She pointed at the heroes present before running off.

Felix slapped the monkey man’s shoulder. “She’s going off to look for Ladybug, you dunce!” He shouted over the fight.

“What?”

“You literally just told an akuma that Ladybug had multiple Miraculous on her, and didn’t expect her to try and steal them!? Go stop her before she figures out you lied!” he hissed at the buffoon.

“I can’t leave them to fight alone!” he protested.

“They have dealt with that akuma before!”

The monkey man tried to protest again, but hissed in pain. The goth girl dug her sharp nails deeper into his neck. “You are not messing this up for Ladybug,” she said, voice low and threatening. “Fix your problem, before I fix you.”

The monkey man agreed, tears budding in his eyes before the goth girl let go, and set them down. Felix hissed in pain, his ribs throbbing again. The temporary hero ran after Rossi, leaving him and the goth girl as alone as they could be with a massive battle happening on the stairs above them. “Thank you.”

She eyed him from underneath her bangs. “Do you still have a job to do?” She certainly didn’t beat around the bush.

“I do. Will you be safe if I leave you here?”

“I’ve been in akuma attacks before. I know how to run.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it.”

Stumbling a bit at first, Felix sprinted towards the back of the school, the direction Rossi ran towards. He had to keep her attention on him. But how could he do that if she was now focused on stealing Miraculous—

“That girl was suuuper intimidating, right?”

Felix instinctively slapped Duusu. The kwami soared across the hall, hitting the opposite wall with a faint squeak. “Have you been here the entire time!?”

“Maybe!” Popping up like pain or physics didn’t affect it—and for all Felix knew, that was the truth—Duusu immediately got in his face again. “But you gotta admit it, I certainly appear whenever I’m needed! And what an entrance too!”

“I don’t need you,” he said, picking up the pace.

Duusu flew along side him. “You dooooooooo. At least, you do if you want Rossi’s attention away from Ladybug. And back.” A poke. “On.” Poke. “You!” Poke.

He stopped, eyeing the little creature. It vibrated with excitement. “You want me to wear your Miraculous.”

“You’re already wearing my Miraculous,” it corrected. “I want you to be a hero.”

“I’m not a hero.” The reply was instinctive.

“You don’t have a choice. Not unless you want your uncle Gabby to be arrested properly. Just think of how angry he’ll be when he sees you dressed in my indigo and pink. He’ll be livid.” It chuckled evilly.

The idea was… attractive. Felix lived for pissing off his uncle. But still… “I’m not a hero. I’m not selfless, or compassionate, or courageous. Shouldn’t you be encouraging me not to use you for selfish reasons?”

“I’m the kwami of emotion,” it said, shrugging. “That means all emotion, you know? Just because you humans have labeled some emotions as good and others as bad… doesn’t mean they are. And Felix? You are so filled with emotion. There’s so much passion and malice and sorrow and anxiety in you, and all of it makes you perfect.”

“…Really?”

“What would I gain by lying? I haven’t met someone so fitting of my Miraculous since my Emilie; I’d be honored for you to be my next true holder.”

Felix looked down at the Miraculous pinned to his hoodie. It was like he was seeing it for the first time. The five, dull gold feathers that made up the body of the brooch distorted his reflection, and the five teardrop garnets sparkled in the florescent light. Such a little thing, with so much power. He didn’t know what to say.

“Plus… you want to keep Marinette safe, right?” His head snapped up. Duusu grinned smugly down at him. “Every second you’re away, Rossi could change her mind and go after her. If you want to keep her safe, say the magic words: Duusu, spread my feathers!”

Felix licked his lips. “Alright. But we need to find a closet or bathroom or somewhere else private.”

“What? Why?”

“I literally just called Rossi out for transforming in public; there’s no way I’ll make the same mistake as her. It’s bad enough I was even talking to you in a public place.”

“…Fair enough. Let’s goooo!”

Felix already regretted agreeing.

Taglist: @graduatedmelon @novicevoice@dur55@kris-pines04@18-fandoms-unite-08@moonlightstar64@bee-a-garbage-shipper@sol-o-shade@kittyotakunoir666@tinyterror333@allieoftheenemy@marichat00@xgxmxtx@two-faced-biatch@feliciakainzofspades@evil-cricket@emilytopaz@spicybelladonna@chocolateherringtacofan@user00000003@wannajointhecrabcult@happymonster-pants @duquesapincarrasca  @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen  @sxltinette @kittydemon9000 @thetrashypanda423 @unoriginalmessess @toodaloo-kangaroo @troycattribunny

[goldendynastys]

castles crumbing (pt. 1) | ksm

summary: molly usher had the world in the palm of her hands, endless money and a family reputation that would save her no matter what. the young woman had everything. until one day, her father made a deal with the devil, a deal that put her in the forefront. now she had nothing, except being forced into an eventual marriage to kim seungmin, the most dangerous member of the mafia who was not afraid to get his hands bloody and would do anything to protect molly.

pairing: kim seungmin x fem!oc rating/genre: 18+, MDNI | mafia au, arranged relationship, enemies to lovers, yandere, angst, fluff, eventual smut word count: 21.3k warning/tags: manipulation, yandere, obsession, alcohol usage, violence, organized crime, molly is a rich bitch, toxic family dynamics, betrayal, weapons, seungmin is possessive of molly, comedic interactions, suggestive content, inspired by the fall of the house of usher, i think that’s it but if i miss anything please let me know (i’m new at this), hope you all enjoy reading! <3

disclaimer: all members of Stray Kids are faces and name claims for this story. this is entirely a work of fiction and by no means is meant to be a projection, judgment, or representation of real-life people. any scenarios or representations of the people and places mentioned in works are not representative of real life scenarios.

this story will be written in 3rd POV in which the oc has a name and faceclaim. i understand that the majority of people prefer x reader (and i completely respect that), but i just wanted to give a warning so people know what to expect before reading this story or if they want to avoid it entirely. please do not attack me, as i do prefer writing with names and faceclaims sometimes and i just want to write what i want to write. any hate comments will be blocked.

sadie sink as molly usher

chapter one: a wolf in sheep’s clothing (next →)

When Molly Usher was only seven years old, she knew what her family meant to the world and what the world meant to them. She was sitting in her first grade classroom and listened as different kids talked about their families and what they believed their parents did for work. Granted, the majority of the families were in the same line of business, but they each had different jobs and did different things, so it was always an interesting topic of discussion.

No one had asked Molly what her parents did, even though she was a part of the conversation. When she tried to share, a student shut her down by saying, “we know what your parents do for work, Molly. Your family is bigger than all of our’s and some of our parents work for your parents, so you don’t need to share.”

It was at that moment that everything started to make sense to Molly Usher. Why her parents were always pestering her about looking presentable, why they scolded her every time she said something rude or improper, why they told her to be better than everyone else in school and in sports. They wanted her to best, to uphold the Usher reputation and be the perfect daughter she could be. After all, their family had built their empire from the ground up and gained fame from all of the work that they did. They could not risk losing that within a matter of a few seconds, especially something that took years to build.

And from there on out, Molly began to live by the message her parents had been feeding to her ever since she learned how to speak. She never complained about the ugly dresses she had to wear, finding ways to make it more fashionable and suitable for her taste. She always spoke eloquently to her peers and teachers, and even began to try harder in her class. Despite only being seven years old, Molly made sure she got perfect scores on the homework and made sure she knew all of the answers to her teacher’s questions.

And this behavior became embedded within her mind as the years went on. Molly began to juggle harder classwork and extracurricular activities ranging from captain of the volleyball team to president of the debate club and the humanitarian organization her high school had. Nevertheless, she still ranked the highest student in her graduating class and got into some of the best schools in the country. All thanks to that one student in her first grade class who reminded her who the Usher family was (and her parents, of course). Those two things changed the trajectory of her life for the better.

With all the hard work and ambition Molly had, she was seen as the best and strongest Usher child, something she wanted ever since she understood the competition amongst the Usher siblings when she was nine. John Usher, her father, never outwardly said he had a favorite child, but Molly could tell he was lying by the discreet look he had in his eyes. Everyone was oblivious to it except for Molly and her mother, Katherine.

He wanted to have a favorite child, a child he knew would carry on the Usher dynasty and uphold the family name with no cracks within it. With an empire with that much power, who wouldn’t? He needed reassurance that everything he worked for wouldn’t fall once handed over to the next person. So, John watched his children in silence, scoping out who was the most hardworking out of all of them and how willing they were to be the best and uphold the Usher name. Some children were completely oblivious, while others caught on and played into the game. Molly was one of them, but she knew how to play it right so that she would become her father’s favorite and be the next successor of the Usher dynasty.

And so, Molly did whatever it took to be on top. So what if she didn't necessarily have a “normal” childhood? She’d much rather be working towards something important that would play a significant role in her future than do something unproductive and stupid with her peers. Granted, Molly did enjoy going out to clubs wearing the most expensive clothes she could find, but it was only once in a blue moon. The majority of the time, she just put her head down and got to work. As she got older, the work paid off greatly.

Molly graduated at the top of her class in university and obtained her business degree with flying colors. Now, at the age of twenty-two going on twenty-three, she was about to start her own business, one that interested her greatly and was going to help people around the world. Quite frankly, it was better than anything else her siblings had been working on. Their passion projects were . . . cute, to say the least. But it didn’t bring pride to the Usher name, it was only for their benefit and they were doing it to make themselves look good, not the family. Sure, their father would fund the business and help them out, but he wouldn’t be proud of the work that they were doing.

And that was precisely why Molly went in a different direction; she created a business that not only piqued her interest, but one that would bring change to the world and had the Usher name behind it. It was a genius idea, an idea her less intelligent siblings could not come up with on their own (Molly did love them, but it was the truth. It wasn’t her fault the intelligence gene was passed down to her). It would bring about more pride and good omens to the Usher name, and the young woman so proud of what she had accomplished. She did it all by herself (with the assistance of her father’s money, of course), designing the whole business and contacting the right people to work with. Her dream was about to come into fruition.

Molly stood in an office located in the Usher headquarters. It was a massive building with many floors and offices for her father and other employees to work in. She was able to take over one of the floors and use it for business planning, to which she was very grateful for. She needed those rooms to host meetings, get her products together the right way, and just having a space to get work done. There was a lot that went into starting a business, as Molly learned through countless hours of planning and crying, so she was going to take whatever she could (besides her father’s money) to get it up and running.

But she got everything done, like she always did. It was only a matter of putting the final pieces together and scheduling a press conference so important investors and news reporters could be in attendance to cover the entire event. Molly sat at the office desk, reading through emails and sorting through the remaining paperwork she hadn’t gotten to yet. She was almost done for the evening, just tying up some final things before her driver came and escorted her home. There was one final task Molly had to do before she left, which was already about to get done now that one of her assistants, Aubrey, had come walking through the door.

“We’re all set for the launch event next week, there are just some final forms you have to fill out that I can scan and send back so you can get your brand officially trademarked. This is so exciting, Molly!” Aubrey exclaimed as she placed the papers on the desk.

Molly only smiled as she skimmed through the documents and began to fill them out. They were just agreements she and the trademark representatives went over a few weeks ago, it was only a matter of the youngest Usher actually filling them out so they could be approved and processed. She handed them back to Aubrey once she was done. “Yay!” the woman spoke excitedly. “You’re almost there! We just have to get the conference room fixed up for next week and finalize the clothes. It’s going to be amazing, you should be proud of yourself, Molly!”

“Thank you! I’m really looking forward to this. I thought it would be a no-go given the complications of finding the right investors and getting the clothes looking pretty and organized, but we pushed through,” Molly smiled, thinking back to how this project had a rough start but was able to get back on stable ground after figuring out some details.

“You pushed through. This was all you — we just helped you make sure your head didn’t fall off!” Audrey laughed. “But seriously, your dedication to this project is admirable. In a few weeks, you are going to be helping women all around the world get what they need — clothes, food and water, books for school. This work and ensuring half of the profits the company makes goes towards women in need is truly remarkable. You are going to change the world, Molly Usher.”

She couldn’t help but blush at the comment. It was true that the business she was building was going to leave an impact — it was something Molly had wanted to do for quite some time now. Despite coming from wealth and of a high class, she wanted to give back to the world in any way she could. Several years later, she was able to launch something that could help people, especially women, in need and assist them in whatever they needed help with.

Of course, there were other companies that did this line of work and commitment, but Molly wanted to go about it differently. She had heard horror stories of how companies made a promise to donate to charity or help those who were suffering, but completely lied about it and took all of the money they made and invested in the business. Molly didn’t want to do that, she wanted to ensure that half of the profits that were made from selling the clothes were given back to the community, which is why she did countless hours of research to make sure the investors and other people she were to work with were reputable. Negotiating a fair contract was another challenging part, hence why starting this business took her longer than expected.

Even after the long hours and days where it felt like the business wasn’t going to make it, Molly still managed to get everything organized and pushed through the rough patches. Now, she was only a week away from the initial launch and she was more than thrilled. Not only because she would finally get the hard part over with, but because it would bring great reputation to the Usher name. Bettering their reputation would make her father proud and she could finally be seen as his favorite child. Once she had that, the world was her oyster and Molly could finally gain a sense of peace.

“Thank you, Aubrey. You’re too kind to me, you and the rest of the team did amazing work, too. Give yourself some credit for my sanity,” Molly laughed. “Seriously, you helped me so much. I haven’t been the easiest person to work with on this project, so your commitment to me and the company just means a lot to me.”

Aubrey shrugged her shoulders. “It’s business, honey. We’re all going to get angry from time to time, it’s a natural part of life,” she reassured the girl. “Your passion and admiration for me and the other employees was what made us stay. And we will continue to work with you for as long as you let us. Now, let me get these documents forwarded so you can go home and rest. You need a break.”

And she was right. Molly had been so focused on the business and building it for the past few not months, working long days and even coming in on the weekend to get work done. Now that the final tweaks were quieting down, she could finally take a weekend to herself and do whatever she wanted. The free time she now had left her dumbfounded: what was she going to do? She could sleep, for one, or read some books she had been meaning to read when she had the chance. She could hang out with her father and see what he was up to. 

Molly seemed to get an answer to her question, however, once her phone started to ring. She glanced down at the screen and noticed her friend, Serena, was calling. She briefly looked at Aubrey, who gave her two thumbs up and began to walk out of the room with the documents. Molly smiled as she brought the phone to her ear. “Hey Serena, how are you?”

“Um, I don’t know. I guess I’m happy ‘cause my best friend has officially started her own business!” Serena screamed, squealing over the phone. Molly couldn’t help but start laughing at her friend who was super excited for her. “You did it! All the heavy lifting is done! You’re officially a CEO, how fucking sick is that?!”

Molly only laughed. “There’s still so much work I’m going to have to do, but yes, the business is official and is going to be announced within a few weeks. I fucking did it, Serena.”

“Yes you fucking did! You did it, congratulations. I am so so proud of you, you worked your ass off and you deserve this so much. Molly Usher, CEO. That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” Serena congratulated the woman. “We have to celebrate. What are you doing tonight?”

Molly began to gather her purse and make her way out of the office. “Um, I’m not sure. I was going to stay in and catch up on some sleep, or watch a movie with my cat, I haven’t decided yet.”

“Hmm, I’m thinking no. Molls, we have to celebrate this! You haven’t gone out in ages and what better way to celebrate than going to the club and partying?!” Serena suggested. “Come on, the girls and I miss you so much. We want to have a night that’s all about you, to honor the hard work you’ve been doing. Please? I’ll pick you up and drive you home, even if we end up crashing at my place. You don’t even have to lift a finger. Just for tonight, and I’ll let you catch up on sleep and watch a movie with Morella the rest of the weekend. That sound good?”

Molly playfully rolled her eyes as she unlocked her car. She gave it some serious thought before eventually agreeing to her friend’s plan. “Deal. But my one ask is that you come to my house before so we can all get ready together. We haven’t done one of those in a while, either.”

Serena squealed once more and clapped her hands together. “Yay! That would be so much fun. Okay, I’ll let Ester and Camille know to come to my house first and then we’ll drive to your’s. I cannot wait, this is going to be so much fun! I have to get my shit together, I love you, talk to you soon. Bye!”

“Love you too!” Molly called out, and then the call disconnected. She laughed at her best friend. She had always been thankful she had someone like Serena in her life, someone who pushed her to do things even when she didn’t really want to for the sake of going out of her comfort zone. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she would rather go out with her friends than stay in for the night.  

She was glad she said yes to Serena, and Molly had a good feeling about tonight. She had no idea why, but she was optimistic that it would be a night none of them would forget. The Usher woman turned on her car and began to drive home, excited to share the good news with her father and friends, and to celebrate everything she had been working for.

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Music started to blare from the speaker Esther brought from her house. It was imported from a luxury brand in Paris, a Christmas gift from her mother when she went there on a holiday trip by herself. It was a great speaker, as the entire group used to listen to music whenever they got ready to go out or were just spending the night together.

Camille came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but flared pants, trying to figure out what bra and top to wear. “I feel like my areolas look weird. One looks smaller and the other looks too big. Am I crazy, or . . .”

Esther rolled her eyes while she finished applying her makeup. “Yes. The girl you’re going to sleep with does not give a fuck about what your aeorelas look like. You’re fine, just decide on a top and stick with it, we have to leave soon.”

Camille turned towards Molly and Serena, who were smoothing out their dresses. “What do you think?”

Molly turned around and smiled at her friend. “I think you are beautiful the way you are, your areolas are fine. Our bodies are meant to look different, so really, there’s no standard of how they should look. You’ll be fine, Camille,” she reassured, to which the other woman gave her a sympathetic smile. “And I say the pink one. It’s sparkly and it goes well with your orange pants. Which are so adorable, by the way.”

“Thank you! I got them from this store in California. Only three hundred dollars, what a steal!” Camille smiled and then ran into the bathroom to quickly get dressed.

Molly only laughed and looked at herself in the mirror. She decided to wear a short silver dress that was covered in sequins and had an open back. She was supposed to wear it to a New Year’s Eve party but ended up going with another one because of how “short” it was (Molly was a little too uptight back then when it came to her clothes). She didn’t care much about it now, as long as she looked and felt good, she didn’t care what it looked like. Molly finished putting in her earrings and touching up her red lipstick.

“Can I just say that you look hot as fuck?” Serena commented, causing Molly to blush and for Esther and Camille to cheer in agreement. She wrapped her arms around the redhead’s shoulders. “That dress looks amazing on you. I told you you should’ve worn it to that New Year’s party!”

“Thank you. You know how stingy I was back then, I hated how short it was. But tonight is a fun night and I want to look sexy while doing so,” Molly laughed. “You look amazing too. The Chanel dress with the sneakers is such a cute and trendy look, I’m obsessed.”

“Yeah, but it’s nothing compared to how you look. I just threw this on at the last minute, you look gorgeous and sexy. Everyone is going to be looking at you, and one of them might be lucky enough to go home with you tonight!” Serena exclaimed, to which everyone cheered in unison while Molly laughed it off. “I’m serious, you’re going to catch some serious dick tonight. Or pussy, whatever makes you feel comfortable and good. As long as they’re not ugly, then we do not give a fuck.”

“Or a criminal! Haven’t you heard? So many members of the mafia are taking women and forcing them to be their wives, it’s scary. You have to make sure the guy you’re gonna fuck isn’t going to try and kidnap you. That’s all I’m saying,” Esther commented. 

Molly couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Ester’s concern for her and the group’s safety was understandable, as there have been stories on the news of women going missing presumably because of mafia members and their “hunt” to find the perfect woman for them. It was scary for sure, and Molly made sure to carry an extra can of pepper spray whenever she left somewhere late, but they did not have to worry. After all, she was the daughter of John Usher, one of the most powerful businessmen in the world who had many resources that would be able to find either one of them if they were to ever be kidnapped. 

“I appreciate the concern, Esther. I do, but we are going to be fine. Camille’s bringing her pepper spray, Serena’s dad forced her to have the police on speed dial, and I have my pepper spray too. Plus, my dad’s one of the most powerful people in the world. If something were to happen, he would be able to find all of us in a matter of no time. It’s okay to be scared because what’s happening is fucked up, but I think we will be okay. We’ll just be careful with who we talk to,” Molly reassured her friend, wrapping her arms around her shoulders to give her a hug. “You look beautiful — the blue eyeshadow compliments your hair and outfit very well.”

Esther smiled and placed her hand over Molly’s. “Thanks, Molls. I want to make sure we’re safe. You just never know who’s out there.”

Before she had the chance to respond, Camille stepped out from the bathroom and gave a twirl for everyone to show off her outfit, “Okay, I think I’m ready to head out. You were right about the color — it really does stand out!” Camille announced.

“I am too. I ordered our Uber a bit ago and it should be here in . . . shit, three minutes. Are we all ready?” Serena asked as she linked one of her arm’s with Molly and the other with Esther.

The women looked at each other and all shrugged their shoulders. They looked ready, and they looked hot as fuck. It was rare that they all got to hang out with each other, as Molly threw herself into starting her business while the others were busy building their careers. To have a special night where they could dress up and go out into the city was truly exciting for all of them. They definitely needed a night like this, especially after all the hard work they had been doing.

They unlinked their arms once they remembered they needed their coats to keep them warm, in which they threw them on and began to walk out of Molly’s room. As the redhead was about to walk out of the door, she saw her father sitting in one of the living rooms, presumably reading emails on his phone. A small smile arose on her face as she quietly knocked on the wall to get his attention. He looked up from his phone and smiled as well. “Ah, my little entrepreneur is at home before ten o’clock. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, Dad. Finally got all the documents signed and forwarded to the right people — Audrey said the launch can happen within the next week or so!” Molly clapped her hands together.

John Usher’s smile faltered slightly once she said those words. He remained happy for the sake of the conversation. “That’s amazing, you should be extremely proud of yourself. You are going to bring great press and news to the Usher name,” he complimented. “But, there’s one small thing . . .” Confusion started to arise on Molly’s face, her heart falling to her stomach. “W-What? What do you mean by one small thing . . . what the hell happened, Dad?”

“It’s nothing major, uh . . . one of our investor’s pulled out. Said he got a better opportunity for another company, better rates,” John admitted.

Molly’s stomach dropped completely. Anger began to take over as she looked at her father, her hands forming into fists. “Which one was it? Why the fuck did he pull out?”

“It was Simon Hollingsworth—”

“That bastard! That fucking bastard, I knew he was a snake and was going to pull out when shit hit the fan. What a coward,” Molly spat. She began to slowly hyperventilate, becoming more and more angry as the truth began to settle in. “What does this mean? Do I not get to launch the business next week? I swear I—”

“You can still have a launch next week, it might be a little harder because of the dropout. But there’s some investors I can talk to who I’ve grown close with and—” John started but was cut off by Molly shaking her head. “Molly, I can help you out. Getting investors this late in the game won’t work, but I can convince them to invest because they know me. Don’t you want that?”

“I don’t want your help. You said I had to do this on our own, you told all of us that. I don’t want to be the only one who got help from you, I don’t want to get shit from them at Christmas saying how they never got Daddy’s help and taking jabs at me. Especially Enzo, he’s always loved to tease me because I’m the youngest,” Molly explained.

Her father shook his head, showing that he understood what she meant. Molly could feel tears start to prick her eyes and she held them back immediately; she didn’t want to ruin her makeup or show her dad that she was going to cry. She could feel his hands rest on her arms to try and reassure her. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. I shouldn’t have said anything, I ruined your night and I’m sorry. Go have fun with your friends and we can talk about this tomorrow, okay?”

Molly nodded her head slowly. As much as she wanted to try and forget about this, there was no way she would be able to. Perhaps getting drunk at the club would help take her mind off it, that seemed like a good solution. “Okay, I’ll do that.”

“Good, because you deserve to have this night for yourself,” John reassured his daughter, planting a small kiss on her forehead. “Go have fun, Molly Dolly. But don’t do anything too dangerous — just make sure you can get home safely!”

She gave him a smile and laughed. “I’ll try. See you later, Dad.”

Molly ran outside to her friends, who were starting to get into the Uber. Serena waited outside with a concerned expression on her face. “Hey, is everything okay? We figured we’d wait outside so you two can talk and so the Uber doesn’t drive away. You guys okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just . . . nevermind. I’m not going to think about it until tomorrow. Right now, all I’m thinking about is having a fun night with my girls and getting drunk as fuck. So let's go before the bar gets crowded and people try to make us pay for their drinks,” Molly reassured her friend, who giggled at her words. The two made their way into the Uber, and the four were off.

While Molly tried to have a good time, she couldn’t help but think about the evil investor who decided to drop out. She was screwed, as Mr. Hollingsworth invested the most money into the launch and business as a whole. Molly had no idea what the hell she was going to do, but she decided to shake it off as much as she could. Tonight was supposed to be a fun night with her friends, to celebrate all that she had achieved. She could forget about it for one night and then get back to work tomorrow. One night off would not kill you, as Audrey constantly reminded her.

Molly shook her head and smiled at the girls, who were listening to whatever song was playing on the radio. She laughed and started to sing with them, hoping this energy would remain consistent throughout the entire night: just pure happiness and bliss.

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Music blared loudly throughout the club as Molly and Esther danced together. The club was filled with multi-colored lights flashing through the place and people dancing the night away. Everyone was either too drunk or too high to care about what they were doing, and even the sober ones were just happy to be in a fun environment.

Camille and Serena had returned from the bar, carrying four shot glasses that were filled with what appeared to be tequila. The girls squealed as they each took a glass, clinking them together and throwing it in their mouths. The alcohol burned in Molly’s mouth, but it went away after she took a sip of her gin and tonic, and she was swaying to the music with a smile on her face.

The DJ decided to change the song to a more modern, more upbeat song that everyone seemed to know and love, because the crowd began to cheer and move onto the dance floor. Serena took another sip of her drink and grabbed Molly’s hand, while Esther grabbed Camille’s. “Come on ladies, I love this song and we have to all dance together!” 

They entered the sea of people and began to dance to the song. Others decided to join them and the dancing became more fun for everyone. Some people decided to do extreme dance moves, which was entertaining to watch, but the majority of it was just everyone dancing calmly to the music. It was a great song choice; everyone (including Molly) seemed to know the lyrics and were shouting them loudly. The energy that radiated within the club was powerful, powerful and fun.

The women continued to dance to the other songs that came on, which were also upbeat and popular, and did not have a care in the world. Molly was enjoying herself, just letting her body sway to the music. It wasn’t until Serena tapped her shoulder that Molly stopped dancing completely and came back to reality. “That guy has been staring at you for the past, like, ten minutes. Hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since we started dancing.”

“I think he wants to fuck you!” Camille shouted as well.

Molly playfully rolled her eyes and looked out into the distance. It wasn’t hard to spot the man that was looking at her — he had dark hair and wore a nice leather jacket, a drink in his hands that he brought up to his lips as she continued to stare at Molly, not breaking eye contact. He was cute for sure, the way his hair sat nicely on his head and how he stood with confidence. Molly was definitely intrigued, to say the least. She gave him a small wave and he responded with a curt nod, causing the four women to start giggling.

“You have to go talk to him, Molls! He’s totally into you, and he’s hot too!” Esther exclaimed. “If all goes south, we’ll back you up for sure!”

“Yeah, if he’s a prick I’ll punch him in the face and steal his credit card,” Camille added.

Molly laughed once more and shook her head. “If he wants to talk, he can come to me. I’m not chasing after him, I don’t have time for that bullshit!”

She glanced at him once more, in which he stared right back at her. Molly motioned for him to join the group with her hand, hoping he would get the hint and come join them. Within a matter of seconds, he pushed himself off of the wall and started to walk towards them, placing his glass down at the bar.

“Holy shit, it worked! How do I look?” Molly asked.

“Like a million bucks, babe. You got this, we’ll be right over there if you need us. If it goes wrong, just text us or rub your nose. Yeah, yeah rub it so we know if it’s going badly. We’ll come rescue you,” Serena answered.

Esther and Camille agreed with her words, and Molly nodded her head. “Okay, wipe my nose if it’s bad, got it. Shit, he’s almost over here.”

The three began to walk in the opposite direction, reassuring the Usher woman that everything would go smoothly; Esther and Camille even decided to imitate sex positions to tease Molly, which she flipped them off, causing all four of them to laugh. 

Molly turned around to see the man now only being a few feet away. A smile arose on her face once he was right in front of her, while a small smile arose on his. “Hi,” he broke the ice by speaking first. “You and your friends seem to be having fun.”

“Hi,” Molly responded, dragging out the word (either from her nerves or the alcohol; she couldn’t tell). “We are, the music is great and the alcohol is just . . . spectacular.”

The man laughed. “I bet, it’s a great night to be out. I was actually about to leave, but then I saw you dancing and decided that I wanted to talk to you. I mean, how could I leave without at least trying to talk to the prettiest girl in the room?”

Molly laughed and playfully rolled her eyes once more. “Aw, thanks. Do you use that line on all the women you talk to?”

He shook his head. “I don’t, believe it or not. Normally I just try and talk to them about their drinks or music. Simple, easy way to start a conversation. But with you, I just thought of that on the spot.”

“Sure,” Molly laughed. 

“I’m serious! I never say that unless I’m looking for a drink to be thrown in my face. I mean it, my first attempt at flirting with a girl when I was like . . . what, eighteen? I called her pretty and she threw her Fireball in my face. My eyes burned for days after that,” he explained.

“Oh, so you admit that you’re flirting with me? I mean, you said you learned from that mistake and don’t usually do it when you flirt now . . .” Molly asked with a smile on her face, the alcohol starting to kick in a little more. 

He shrugged his shoulders, causing her to giggle. “All right, you caught me. I am flirting with you. If you want to throw a drink in my face, do it now so I can get it over with. And please, for the love of God, do not use Fireball.”

Molly laughed once more and shook her head. “No, no, no! I like that you’re flirting with me, you’re honestly super cute! Like, super cute. I’m glad you’re flirting with me . . . you didn’t tell me your name. No wait, let me guess . . . Michael.”

“Close! Well . . . not close at all, actually, but I applaud your effort. It’s Seungmin,” he introduced himself.

Molly nodded and took the man’s hand into her own to shake (normally she wouldn’t do this sort of thing, but the alcohol was getting to her, once again). “Seungmin, it’s nice to meet you. You have a really cool name. Can I ask what it means?”

“Thank you, I get that a lot. It means quick and clever in Korean,” he explained. “And your name is . . .”

“Molly. People often make jokes about how my name means drugs, because of the drug Molly. I wanted to beat you to the punch because I’ve heard it so many times,” she explained, finishing up her drink and setting it down on the nearest table.

Seungmin shook his head. “I was gonna say your name means star of the sea, or beloved, or even brave warrior. Your name has many meanings, it’s pretty. A pretty name for a pretty woman, don’t you think?”

Molly could feel her cheeks start to become warm and flush with a light pink color, as no one has said anything like that to her in a while. “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I already knew I was hot as fuck, but hearing the real meaning behind my name is really cool too.” 

“Yeah, that too,” Seungmin laughed.

The two stood in silence for a brief moment, the music getting louder and making it harder for them to hear one another. Seungmin was attractive, to say the least, with his dark hair and confident posture. He was taller than Molly, that was for certain, but not too tall to a point where she could barely see his face or hear his words. No, he was the perfect height, in her opinion. His brown eyes were so innocent, but held much strength at the same time. 

Molly couldn’t help but stare at him, admiring who he was as a person and studying his features, until someone bumped into her unexpectedly. Another man had been having too much fun dancing and accidentally danced right into Molly, who fell forward and onto Seungmin. Luckily, he caught her without hesitation and wrapped his arms on her waist, pulling her close to him while he sent a harsh glare at the man. “Watch where you’re going, asshole!” He shouted.

“Fuck off!” he spat at Seungmin, shaking his head while he returned to the dance floor.

Molly gave him the middle finger and rolled her eyes. The man did not see, but she really didn’t care. He was acting like a dick and someone had to let him know that his behavior was not okay, nor was it cool. Seungmin couldn’t help but laugh, which caused her to giggle as well. She couldn’t help but rest her hands on his chest as she turned to face him. “Is it really a good club night if some random asshole bumps into you?”

“No, I don’t think so. But it does not give them the right to act like a dick. As long as they apologize, then it’ll make for a fun club story,” Seungmin explained.

“True. Or if he spilled a drink on me, then an actual fight would have broken out. Did you know that this dress cost me almost 2500 dollars?! Well, I should say it cost my dad 2500, but still. Ruining an expensive dress is one of the worst things you can do at a club, especially if it’s one of mine,” Molly ranted. 

“2500 is honestly not that much for a dress. Pricey, for sure, but where I go shopping, I’ve seen scarves cost way more than that. Scarves, Molly. Literal scarves,” Seungmin explained.

“Oh, really? Well, what stores do you shop at? I must not be going to the good ones if all I’m seeing are prices between a grand and three grand,” Molly asked, impulsively wrapping her arms around Seungmin’s neck.

“I can’t remember the names, they’re very obscure, but I guess I’ll have to take you to them myself and show you around. After all, we want only the best dresses and accessories for Miss Molly, don’t we?” He joked, his grip on her waist getting a bit tighter in a more protective manner. 

Molly couldn’t help but giggle at the way he spoke, nodding her head. “Indeed we do, Mr. Seungmin.”

He smiled while tucking a strand of hair out of her face. She was able to get a better look at his eyes, realizing how pretty they actually were. How pretty Seungmin was. He was very pretty to Molly, and she would’ve told him that if she had not consumed that much alcohol. She didn’t want him to think that she was lying, that it was only said because she was tipsy. So she stared at him deeply, eventually bringing a hand up to his cheek to caress it.

Their silence was interrupted by Serena, Esther, and Camille, who came sprinting towards the two with their bags and jackets. “We really hate to interrupt, but we have to go. Camille has an important family event tomorrow and her mom wants her home in half an hour.”

“And my dad’s pissed because I forgot to submit something for a work project I’m working on,” Esther added. “I know it’s super early, but we have to go if we don’t want to get in serious trouble.”

Their comments took Molly back by surprise, but she slowly nodded her head. As much as she didn’t want to leave Seungmin just yet, she didn’t want to let her friends leave without her, especially since they came as a group and it was their night out. “O-Okay, yeah sure, let’s head out. Did you grab my purse and jacket from the lockers? I can order us an Uber—”

“Yes I grabbed your things and I already ordered the Uber. Here,” Serena gently handed Molly her purse and jacket. “It should be here within a few minutes, so we should just wait by the entrance.”

Molly nodded her head. “Okay, I’ll be right behind you,” she reassured her friends. She sadly turned to Seungmin with an embarrassed look on her face. “Look, I didn’t expect for us to leave so early, I’m so sorry. I have to go, but I really enjoyed talking to you. Is there any way I can get your number? I want to talk to you more, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, absolutely. Hey uh, I know we just met and all, but I can drive you home if you want? Our night doesn’t have to end because your friends are leaving, you know. We can go back to my place and I can take you home whenever you want. It’s up to you, but if you don’t want to go, you have another option,” Seungmin suggested.

Molly hesitated. She knew it would be better if she left with her friends to ensure they got home safely (and herself too, of course), but she also didn’t want to leave Seungmin just yet. She wanted to keep talking, to leave with him just like her friends wanted her to do while they were getting ready. Who knows when they would be able to talk again? She had no idea what the hell he did for a living, and with Molly’s company launching soon, she was going to be very busy within the next few weeks. She wanted to make the most of tonight, to have fun and do spontaneous things.

The Usher woman nodded her head. “Okay, as much as I really want to go with you, how do I know you aren’t planning to kill me? I mean, it’s one of the basic horror movie plots where the girl goes off with this guy and then boom: he stabs her multiple times or shoots her right in the head. So how do I know you aren’t planning to kill me?”

Seungmin chuckled. “You make a good point, but I promise you that I am not going to murder you. You can check my pockets and my car for any murder weapons if that makes you feel comfortable. I’ll have my GPS on so you know I’m taking you back to my place the way I normally go. But again, if you really don’t want to, we don’t have to. You can always give me your number and we can meet another time.”

Molly hesitated once more. She stared at Seungmin for a brief moment before making her final decision. She was probably going to regret this in the morning, but all she wanted to do was keep talking to Seungmin and hearing more of what he wanted to say. She wasn’t ready to give that up yet, and besides, her friends wanted her to meet someone tonight, so shouldn’t they be happy that she was going home with a really cute guy? 

She sighed and nodded her head. “All right, I’ll go with you. But, if you try to kill me, my father will make sure you get the worst prison sentence and make sure that everyone knows how much of an evil person you are. Just letting you know now.”

“Understood, Miss Molly,” he nodded his head in a joking manner. Seungmin placed Molly’s jacket over her shoulders and handed her the small Prada purse she brought, taking her hand into his. “Come on, let's tell your friends what you’re doing so they know what’s happening.”

Seungmin guided Molly through the club, holding her hand both gently and tightly. It didn’t take them long to reach the exit, in which all three of Molly’s friends were entering the Uber. Serena stopped moving once she saw her standing with Seungmin, a bit confused. “Are you coming with us?”

“I’m going to hang out with my new friend some more, okay? I’ll text you my location so you know where I am in case anything happens!” Molly shouted. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Of course! Have a fun night and treat my girl right, Molly’s new friend!” Serena shouted. 

“Yeah, use protection and don’t be too loud!” Esther laughed, causing Camille and Serena to laugh as well while Molly buried her face in Seungmin’s arm in embarrassment. 

“I’m going to kill you all!” Molly shouted.

Camille and Esther’s only response was to mimic sexual positions and facial expressions, while Serena sent a heart made with her hands. Their Uber left within a few minutes, in which Seungmin began to walk Molly towards his car.

“I’m really sorry about them. They just like to tease me sometimes,” Molly apologized.

Seungmin shook his head in a reassuring manner. “My friends would be the same way if they saw me here with you, so I get it. They would probably do a lot worse. But they don’t have to worry: I know what I’m doing when it comes to treating you right, if you know what I mean,” he winked.

Molly could feel her cheeks start to get warm again, and she couldn’t help but playfully roll her eyes with a smile on her face. Seungmin caught on and laughed as he unlocked his car, which appeared to be a black sports car that looked very expensive. Molly gawked at the design. “Holy shit, this car looks so cool. What kind is it?”

“Mercedes-Maybach Exelero. I wanted a Bugatti or Ferrari, but the designs looked awful, so I chose this one. It’s kinda cool, right?” Seungmin asked, opening the passenger door for Molly and helping her get inside.

“It’s so fucking cool, like holy shit! And I thought the car I was driving was chique, but it’s nothing compared to this,” Molly exclaimed. “I love it, it’s seriously the sickest car I’ve been in. Or seen, really. You have good taste, Mr. Seungmin.”

“Why thank you, Miss Molly,” he bowed, to which the woman laughed. “I’ll show you the gadgets that come along with it once I turn it on, yeah?”

Molly nodded her head enthusiastically as Seungmin closed the door and made his way to the driver’s side. Within seconds, he turned on the car and began to drive out of the parking garage, intertwining his free hand with Molly’s as he did.

──────────────────────

The drive to Seungmin’s apartment was quick, but eventful at the same time. Somehow, he managed to make a short trip more fun than one would normally expect from a quick car ride. Since his car was so new, he showed Molly all of the cool features it had and even played some of her favorite music to keep her happy and entertained. Normally, she’d be bored out of her mind when men talked about their cars, but the way Seungmin did it, it was so interesting and it made Molly want to learn more. 

Seungmin’s hand was intertwined with her’s the entire car ride home, gently stroking her thumb every now and then. It was comforting, Molly was glad he didn’t let go. She didn’t know why he was being so nice to her, especially since they just met only a few hours ago. Maybe it was because he wanted to have sex or he was just a nice person, but she was glad that he was making this whole experience fun for the both of them.

Music played quietly as the two made their way through the city, a playlist dedicated to a mixture of songs. Pop, R&B, Soft Rock — it was all fitting for the night they were having. Seungmin occasionally spoke up, asking Molly what her favorite type of music was and if she liked any of the songs on his playlist. She explained that she liked everything, from old music to more popular, modern songs like the one on his playlist. Other than that, it was mainly quiet between the two.

It didn’t bother Molly how silent it was. Normally, she hated it when she just met someone and there was awkward silence that couldn’t be escaped. But with Seungmin, it was just different for some reason. She didn’t mind it at all, it was quite peaceful. His presence kept her calm and just made her feel like their interactions weren’t like the awkward ones she experienced before, which was very refreshing.

After what felt like a long but short period of time in the car, Seungmin pulled into the parking garage of a luxury apartment building. He only stopped to show the guard his I.D. to prove that he lived in the building, and then he effortlessly backed into a spot closest to the entrance, with his hand still intertwined with Molly’s.

“See if I were the one driving, I’d park the farthest away from everyone so I wouldn’t hit anyone when pulling in. And it would’ve taken me twenty times to get in the lines evenly,” Molly blurted out, slowly realizing that she sounded kind of stupid and nervous when she announced that.

Seungmin laughed at her comment and opened his door. “Good thing I was driving, then,” he said. Right when Molly was about to open the door, he spoke up. “Stay right there.”

He quickly jogged over to the passenger side and opened the door for her, which made her laugh and playfully roll her eyes. “What a gentleman,” she told him as she reached out and grabbed his hand.

“My mother always said that a man should always come to the door if he’s taking a lady on a date and to always open the car door for her. I try to live by what she tells me,” Seungmin explained.

Molly nodded her head and the two made their way through the garage. She couldn’t help but notice all the expensive cars that sat next to each other; Teslas, Bugattis, Bentleys, Ferraris and Jaguars all lined up next to each other. She had never seen these many expensive vehicles in one place. Sure, she saw them at business events she attended with her father or for networking purposes, but that was different. That was at a public event with many people coming in from different places, this was from people all living in the same apartment building. 

She brushed off that thought and focused her attention to the beautiful lobby that they just entered. Both the floor and walls were made of stone, many paintings hanging from the wall and furniture that looked as if it was imported from many different countries. The bellman greeted Seungmin and Molly, who both said hello to him as they walked by. He guided the woman into the elevator and pressed the top button. It took her a moment to realize that they were going to the top floor, which meant that Seungmin lived in a penthouse apartment. Holy shit.

Molly looked up at the man, who looked a little concerned with her current facial expression. “You okay?” He asked, gently rubbing his thumb over her hand.

“Uh, yeah. I just . . . I didn’t realize you lived in the penthouse. Like, the top floor of this entire apartment building. It’s great, I just . . . it caught me off guard completely,” Molly sheepishly explained. 

“Oh, yeah, I do. A lot of people look at me funny whenever I press the button, assuming it’s my father’s. But whenever I tell them that I live alone, they get shocked like you do. The only difference is that when they do it, it’s annoying. But with you, it’s cute,” Seungmin explained, causing Molly to lightly hit his shoulder and for him to laugh.

“It’s not cute, I was just surprised. And very impressed, by the way. You’ll have to tell me what kind of work you’re in that allows you to have this sort of lifestyle,” she explained.

The elevator had brought them up to the top floor and the doors had started to open slowly. Molly followed Seungmin as he guided through the long hallway, admiring the walls and the paintings that hung on them. Some were old, given the nature of the colors and what the paintings were, but they were mostly modern. Decorated with abstract details that proved they were painted within the past few years. Molly stared at them in awe while Seungmin watched her slightly while he opened the door to his apartment.

Apartment was beginning to sound like an understatement now that they had arrived. It was more of a penthouse, a mini mansion, as Molly saw it. A chandelier hung from the ceiling and under it was a nice table filled with Red Tulips placed in the center of it. A huge staircase stood a few feet behind it, with a home office to the right of it. On the other stood a small area where coats and jackets could be placed. Many pairs of shoes and some expensive, chique-looking jackets hung from the wall. Molly snapped back into reality once she saw Seungmin taking his shoes off, prompting her to do the same.

She followed the man into the living room, and that was when Molly let her jaw drop. “Wow,” she whispered while staring at the large windows in front of her. The entire city lit up on the other side of the windows, a remarkable view to have. A balcony was stretched out on the other side as well, filled with nice chairs, tables, and plants. It was truly beautiful, the way everything came together.

The light from outside reflected nicely into the living room, which was adorned with a nice couch and coffee table. A flat screen TV hung nicely on the wall amongst the other photos Seungmin had placed there, mainly of himself, his family, and friends. Behind the couch stood the kitchen, which had a refrigerator and typical kitchen attire. Even then, it still looked flawless and something out of a rich catalog. And that was only a small fraction of the penthouse; there were still more Molly had yet to see, and she was even more intrigued now that she had gotten a basic introduction.

“Your apartment — penthouse, it’s just . . . wow. It’s marvelous. I mean, the way you set up the balcony and how the city lights reflect perfectly into the living room and kitchen . . . it’s stunning,” Molly complimented as she continued to look out the windows and explore the area a bit more.

“Thank you. I hired contractors to make the windows bigger — wanted to see more of the city. My whole place really is the same as this: simple decor, but that’s what makes it stand out,” Seungmin explained. “I can show you the rest of my apartment if you’d like. Fair warning, my bedroom’s a bit messy. Haven’t gotten a chance to do my laundry yet.”

“Absolutely. I’ve never seen a penthouse like yours before. Most of the ones I’ve been to were very old fashioned and lacked modernism — probably because the people living in them were much older. So yes, I would love to see what else you have done to this place,” Molly answered enthusiastically, clapping her hands together with a smile. 

Right when Molly was about to walk down the hallway, Seungmin’s voice made her stop and turn around. “Do you want something to drink? I have beer, red and white wine, vodka, some sodas, and water.”

Molly returned to the kitchen to see the man rummaging through his cabinets to find glasses for them. He quickly opened the fridge to show you his arrangement of beverages, and she couldn’t help but giggle at how neat and organized they were. “Hm… I think I’ll have your white wine. I think this occasion calls for some wine, don’t you think?”

Seungmin only shrugged his shoulders. “I’d say so. I only have wine when I have guests coming over, and since you are a guest, I’d agree.”

Before he could grab some wine glasses, Molly took the bottle and held it close to her chest. “Why use glasses when we can just drink out of the bottle? We aren’t expecting anyone else, are we? Why waste two perfectly clean glasses when we can just share? It’s better for your electricity bill if you don’t run the dishwasher, you know.”

Seungmin laughed as he took the bottle from her grasp and grabbed a wine opener. He handed it back to Molly once it was open, to which she gladly took and placed her lips to the bottle with a smile. He couldn’t help but smile as well once she handed him the bottle. “I think it tastes better out of the bottle, don’t you think?” Molly asked.

“Oh, most definitely,” Seungmin answered, taking a sip as well. “Good decision on your part, Miss Molly.”

“Thank you, Mr. Seungmin,” she thanked the man. It was then that Molly realized she wanted to see more of the penthouse and decided to walk out of the kitchen into the hallway. “Come along, you can show me all the wonders and secrets that live within your home.”

She could hear him grab the wine bottle and trail behind. Molly turned a corner and was met with a glass door, a long pool on the other side and a hot tub on one end. Molly stared at it in awe, quickly opening the door and walking along the side. The water was as clear as ever, the lights from above reflecting nicely over it. She placed the tips of her fingers in, only to be met with the cool temperature of the water, causing her to pull it away quickly. “This is so cool, you can see the entire city here as well. Like, holy shit.”

“Thank you. I added it in ‘cause I had this extra space and wanted a pool that wasn’t outside, that way I can go swimming anytime I want,” Seungmin explained. There was a brief period of silence between them until he decided to speak up again. “Do you like to swim?”

“Of course, it’s super fun. When I was younger, my family and I always went to this fancy beach resort and my father had to physically take me out of the pool sometimes because I refused to get out. We don’t go as much, but my friends and I are planning to go to Cabo San Lucas in the summer when we can all get the time off of work,” Molly explained. “We went to the Bahamas one year and they were all obsessed with tanning and did not want to swim in the ocean or the hotel pool. Which I get, but it was so annoying ‘cause I wanted to swim with them so badly.”

“Who would want to pass up swimming in the warm ocean water? I wouldn't,” Seungmin asked.

“That’s what I said!” The woman exclaimed. “I love tanning as much as the next person, but we’re in the Bahamas for fuck’s sake, we can swim for at least an hour or two and then go back to tanning.”

“Exactly!” He agreed. “Can I ask what you do for work? It must be hard for you all to get the same week off, but I’m curious as to what your job is? You seem like you work hard and are passionate about what you do.”

Molly took a minute to respond, gently taking the wine bottle out of Seungmin’s grasp and bringing it to her lips. She took a long sip and placed it on the ground between them. “I am currently in the process of launching my new company. I’ve been working on it for months, many meetings and documents to sign, but I’m finally in the end stages of getting it out there.”

Seungmin nodded his head, impressed by her work. “That is very inspiring. Better than any work that I’ve done, really.”

Molly gave him a look, one that indicated that whatever work he did was not better than what she was doing. He literally lived in a penthouse that overlooked the city, how would his work not be inspiring or better than her’s? He only laughed and shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, okay. I do have a good job, I do, but you just seem more driven and passionate than I am, therefore it makes your work better than mine. What is your company going to do?”

“It’s a clothing store. Not as high end as Chanel or Louis Vuitton, but not necessarily cheap, either. I think the prices are fair, and it’s a regular clothing store that sells sweaters, jeans, sportswear, and business attire. A clothing store for women of all ages, really,” Molly explained. “Half of the proceeds will go to women in need. Both here and in other countries around the world, whatever they need most. Food, clothes, books, education supplies, shelter, menstrual projects — you name it, we’ll provide it. The other half will go to employees to ensure they all get paid fairly and equally.”

Seungmin whistled, to which Molly playfully rolled her eyes and smiled. “I guess I was right: you are very driven and very passionate,” he commented. “But that is truly impressive and inspiring, Molly. You are going to change the world, we need more people like you, who care for others.”

“Thank you. It’s all because of my dad, really. Without his help, I wouldn’t have been able to start this as quickly as I did. I’m super grateful for him and I hope I can make him proud,” Molly added. 

“He definitely will be. I mean, he did help you and invest in this idea, no? If he’s not proud, then he can go to hell. I know he’s your dad and all, but it’s the truth,” he stated.

“Yeah, he did, but that doesn’t always mean he’ll be proud. There were some businesses my siblings started or things they were working on that weren’t successful, and he just got disappointed. I honestly think he started liking them less,” Molly admitted, taking another sip of wine to make herself stop talking. She was definitely scaring Seungmin with all of her words and stories. He was probably thinking of ways to get her to leave as quickly as possible.

But the man only nodded his head and took a sip of wine as well. He seemed to be intrigued by what she had to say. “That sucks. It’s not their fault the projects didn’t go well, they can’t predict shit like that. How many siblings do you have?”

“Five, with me being the youngest. So there are six of us in total, and my dad makes seven. We all have different moms, except for my oldest brother and sister,” Molly answered. “Some of their projects and businesses were successful, while the others weren’t. My dad makes a deal with us, basically giving us the money to start our projects and we have to make sure they go well, to keep up with our family name and status.”

“Holy shit, that’s definitely not a lot of weight to be carrying around on your shoulders,” Seungmin responded sarcastically, to which Molly nodded her head in agreement with a small smile. “You must be pretty well off if he’s able to provide that much money to all of you.”

“Yeah. Perks of being a daughter of the CEO of Fortunato Industries, I guess.”

A puzzled look appeared on Seungmin’s face as he processed Molly’s words. It took him a minute to understand what she said and his eyes widened once he realized who she and her family were. “Wait a minute . . . you’re John Usher’s daughter? As in, the John Usher? The CEO of Fortunato Industries and other investments related to it? Oh my God, that’s why you look so familiar—”

“Yes, yes that man is my father and he is the CEO of Fortunato Industries,” Molly laughed, standing up from the ground and making her way back into the penthouse. “I think I have shared enough about me for you to get the full picture of who I am.”

“Mmm, I don’t think so. All I know is that your name is Molly Usher, you’re beautiful as hell, and you’re launching your own business soon. There’s more to you than just that,” Seungmin refuted, standing up as well. “And I would like to know more.”

“Well, you’re going to have to show me around your home more if you want to learn more about me,” Molly smirked as she opened the door and walked out, with Seungmin trailing right behind her.

She made her way through the hallway, admiring the walls and the other rooms that stood there. By the looks of them, one appeared to be an at-home gym filled with treadmills, weights, and other exercise machines. The other room looked like an at-home movie theater, filled with a large screen and a few rows of reclining leather chairs. Molly looked at them in awe and turned to Seungmin, who had a small smirk on his face. 

“Clearly, this is my gym and movie theater. This was all here when I bought the place, with the exception of some gym equipment my friend recommended I get. I workout sometimes and watch my movies here if I want the movie theater experience without wanting to leave my place,” Seungmin explained. “Down this hallway is my living room, where I just have guests sit and talk if the kitchen gets too crowded.”

Molly followed the man down the hallway, revealing a living room on the other side. It was big, the ceiling higher than any of the other rooms she had been in. A grand piano sat in the corner with some picture frames sitting on top. Inside them were photos of Seungmin, from when he was younger and more current ones. He stood with what appeared to be his family, and the others were of him and his friends. Seungmin looked happy, surrounded by love and support from both his friends and family.

She looked up to see some more photos decorated on the walls, mainly of Seungmin and his family. There was a portrait of him that looked like it was done just recently, his posture and emotionless facial expression screamed power and status. He looked handsome, even Molly could feel herself blushing as she stared at it longer.

“Like what you see?” Seungmin smirked.

“Shut up! I just like it. The artist did a really nice job for you . . .” Molly trailed off, noticing that his name was engraved at the bottom of the frame. Kim Seungmin, it read. She was glad to have finally learned his full name, it suited him. “I was just reading your name on the frame, it’s very cool the way it’s etched in.” 

“Sure. You can admit that you were staring at me ‘cause you think I’m cute, I won’t judge,” he responded, to which she playfully hit his shoulder and he continued to laugh some more. It was then that Seungmin made the bold decision to lace his fingers with hers and guide her out of the room. “Come, there’s other rooms I want you to see.”

Molly followed the man through the hallway, briefly looking into the fancy dining room filled with fine china and a long wooden table. Seungmin claimed it was the most boring room out of his entire penthouse, and though Molly disagreed, she just nodded her head.

They approached another staircase, much smaller and more modern than the one near the front door. It didn’t take them long to reach the second floor, in which there was a much longer hallway filled with multiple rooms. Seungmin started with the closest one, which was just a supply closet filled with tissues, toilet paper, towels, and band aids amongst other things. There was a gaming room, filled with a chair and big monitors. Molly couldn’t help but giggle at the site of it. “I like your game setup, do you get to play often?”

“Sometimes,” Seungmin shrugged. “I get busy with work, but sometimes I’ll hop on after a long day or when all my friends want to play with me. I can show you how to play, if you want. Probably not tonight, since no one will be on this late.”

“Sure. I’ve never played them before, but I’ve always thought they were so interesting. I’d love to learn,” she admitted as she admired the room and its bright colors some more. 

“Then I will be happy to teach you. I’m the best out of all my friends, but don’t tell them I said that,” he joked, making her laugh. 

Seungmin led the way towards the other rooms. There was a big bathroom, a nice shower and big bathtub in the corner, and two sinks within it. One of the guest bedrooms was also there that looked as if it was the master bedroom because of how big it was. A queen-sized bed, a small couch, and a nice TV that hung from the wall made up the space of the room. It was simple, but so elegant at the same time. 

The other guest bedrooms had the same set up, except with a different color scheme and bigger windows than the first one. Another closet was next to those bedrooms as well, mainly filled with different medicines like Advil or Tylenol, along with extra bottles of shampoo and conditioner for guests or even Seungmin in case he ran out. It wasn’t until they approached the end of the hallway that Molly became very intrigued. Double doors stood next to each other, and Seungmin reached out to open both of them, revealing his room on the other side.

It was much nicer than the guest bedrooms, Molly would admit. They were nice rooms, of course, but Seungmin’s room was by far the best. His king-sized bed adorned by black and white sheets made it look expensive and chique. A big TV stood at the opposite side, sitting on top of a small dresser. Molly noticed the closet behind it and gasped, making her way towards it. She stared in awe once she opened the door, revealing a walk-in closet filled with a lot of designer clothes and accessories.

“I love walk-in closets! I have one myself, but I just love seeing other people’s closets! This is so cool,” Molly exclaimed. Her eyebrows furrowed a bit once she stared at the other side of it, which was completely cleared out. “How come this side is so empty? I mean, why don't you use the entire closet for your things?”

“Oh, I just got rid of a bunch of clothes and things I didn’t want anymore. I’ll have to go shopping soon, but I have more than enough clothes,” Seungmin explained, clearing his throat. She only nodded her head while she continued to look at all the brands Seungmin had in his closet. Prada, Dior, Chanel, Versace — this man definitely had a great sense of style. Not as good as her’s, that was for sure, but it was nice to know that he cared about his appearance and wanted to look good.

The array of watches and earrings that sat in one of the jewelry cases also caught her eye. Some of them were from the same brand her father and brothers had, but the earrings were surprising. “I didn’t know you had your ears pierced, that’s pretty cool. Do you wear earrings often?”

Seungmin leaned against the doorframe and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Occasionally. I have a lot, but the only ones I really show off are my two conch piercings and a small lip piercing, which I got because I lost a bet. It’s pretty cool, but it hurt like a motherfucker when I first got it done.”

“A lip ring? Interesting, it suits you. You’ll have to show me what it looks like,” Molly commented as she brushed past the man. She made her way to the big windows, arguably her second favorite part about the room (the first being the walk-in closet, of course). She admired the view of the city from this part of the penthouse, as it overlooked the other apartment buildings and could get a better picture of the streets below. Molly loved Seungmin’s place — it was everything she ever wanted in a home. Sure, there were a few things she’d change, but overall it was a beautiful home that Molly wanted to have some day. 

Seungmin stood beside Molly, admiring the view like she was. Except, he was more focused on her and couldn’t help but stare at her in admiration, wanting to understand her thoughts and what she looked like when she was so focused on something. She looked beautiful, there was no doubt about that. The way her wavy hair fell onto her shoulders and how there were small freckles on her face that could only be seen if you looked closely. She had such grace and elegance within her when she spoke, so careful and thoughtful with her words. He wanted to know more about how she viewed the world and what else she was passionate about. Lucky for him, he was going to have all the time in the world to learn about that very soon.

“You have a beautiful home, Kim Seungmin,” Molly broke the silence, causing the man to snap out of his thoughts and turn towards her. “It’s so cool, between the gym and the pool and your awesome bedroom. The whole design of the place is beautiful. I hope to have a place like yours someday.”

“Thank you, Molly Usher. I am sure you will. By the looks of your business and your commitment to it, you definitely will,” Seungmin thanked her. 

“Not so sure about that,” Molly began. She debated on whether or not she should continue what she was saying, as she had just met this man and did not want to overshare nor set herself up for failure, but she decided that she did not care. “One of the investors pulled out at the last minute, so I’m not sure how I am going to get the money within a week and sustain it long term. If nothing works out, then a series of unfortunate events will occur, and yeah, getting a place like this won’t be on the cards for me.”

“Oh, shit. Molly, that’s terrible—”

“It’s okay, I don’t really want to talk about it right now. I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry,” Molly quickly apologized.

Seungmin shook his head. “Don’t apologize, I’m sure everything will work out on its own. Not that that message helps or anything, but I think you’re going to be okay.”

“Thank you,” Molly smiled kindly, returning her gaze towards the window and continued to look at the city.

It was quiet for a few moments, until Seungmin stood right behind Molly and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Butterflies arose in her stomach once he rested his chin on her shoulder and took one of her hands into his. “If you look this way, you can start to see the outside of the city and into the other towns that surround it,” he spoke gently.

She looked closely at the city and, just as he said, saw the lights coming from the smaller homes that stood outside of it. “Oh my God, that is amazing. It’s so beautiful. I can’t even imagine what it’s like at sunrise and sunset. I bet it’s stunning,” she said.

“Hmm,” was the only sound that came out of Seungmin’s mouth. The man was now only focused on Molly and her dress, as he carefully hooked his fingers under one of the straps and let it fall down her arm. Her breath hitched, both in nervousness and desire; it had been a while since she had been this close to someone, so she did not know how to react. It was not until Seungmin started to place gentle kisses on her shoulder and collarbone that Molly began to feel less anxious, letting her eyes close and moving her head to give Seungmin more access to her neck, which he was happy about.

He began to kiss on her neck softly, making Molly throw her head back slightly. Seungmin then started to suck her neck in a slightly harsh way, attempting to leave marks on it, especially on the spot that was very sensitive. Before he did so, he turned Molly around so that she was facing him, and pressed his lips to hers. She eagerly kissed back, placing her hands on his cheeks as they did. 

They continued to make out until Seungmin went back to kissing her neck, only more harshly this time so he could leave hickeys on her neck. Molly closed her eyes and let out soft moans once he started to reach the sensitive area, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her moans became louder, however, once Seungmin decided to squeeze her breast, in which she couldn’t hold back trying to be quiet.

“S-Seungmin,” Molly managed to get out, smiling as he continued to kiss her neck. “You’re going to leave marks on my neck, everyone will see them.”

“So? Let them see, let them know how well I took care of you tonight,” he mumbled, leaving some final kisses on her neck before moving to her lips, in which she kissed back immediately. His hand made its way to her breast again as they continued kissing, in which Molly moaned louder, causing Seungmin to smirk into their kiss. “You sure are enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes. Y-You’re making me feel so good, Seungmin,” she stuttered out, making him groan at the way she said his name.

They continued to make out for what felt like hours until Seungmin pulled away, gently pecking her lips once more before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Molly couldn’t help but giggle, her cheeks becoming red as she continued to stare at him. She gently took his hand and held it in her own, placing it right over her heart. Seungmin couldn’t help himself and pressed another kiss on her lips, and Molly did the same to him once he pulled away.

Seungmin took Molly’s hand and led her over to his bed, sitting her down on the end while he took a few steps back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you said that you didn’t want to talk about this earlier, but . . . I think I found a way for your business to go on successfully. I thought about it when I showed you the towns outside the city, and I wanted to hear your thoughts.”

Molly couldn’t help but get excited at his idea. She was running out of time and solutions, so she was open to any suggestions or ideas anyone had. Her eyes widened as she nodded her head. “Yeah, absolutely. Please share your thoughts because I am desperate and running out of things I can do. So please, share.”

The man stopped himself before speaking. Rather than standing away, Seungmin brought himself to Molly, sitting beside her and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and placing a hand on her cheek. “Be with me,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. What did he mean? A relationship? Friends-with-benefits? She only stared at Seungmin and gently rested her hand on top of the one that held her cheek. “What? What do you mean?”

He took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m not the best with words, so I’ll try to explain what I mean,” Seungmin started. “I have a lot of money. Clearly, from what you’ve seen. That money isn’t going anywhere, and there will be more to come in the future for sure. Take me on as one of your investors, I’ve learned a lot from the business I am in and know a good project when I see it. Let me help you with this, I can make sure your company has enough money and you won’t lose anything. All I ask is that you be with me. A relationship, if you will. I know we just met, but I really like you and I think this could work. We’ll get to know each other and I’ll take you out on fun dates and I’ll make you feel good, in any way you want. I know this is a lot and seems . . . insane, but I promise you won’t regret this. It’ll be great for both of us, you more than me. What do you think?”

A million thoughts flooded Molly’s mind, she had no idea what to think. She needed an investor, badly. And finding another one so late in the process was going to be challenging, nearly impossible. A man with a lot of wealth was offering to help her, a quick solution that she needed. The only thing he wanted was to be with her, to be in a relationship together and fall in love. Seungmin was kind, from what Molly could tell. He was kind, funny, cute — everything she wanted in a partner. Though she didn’t know him well, the time they were spending together was much fun and she believed it would be the same as they continued to see each other. She could picture how everything would play out, and she honestly really liked what she saw.

But there was another part of Molly that wanted to say no. She didn’t want their relationship to be merely transactional, she didn’t want Seungmin to resent her over the years because of the money he invested in her company, especially if it wasn’t successful. Molly also didn’t want to bring work into her relationship; she wanted to keep them separate for the sake of her sanity. If she took Seungmin on as both a boyfriend and an investor, the boundary lines would start to blur and then it could negatively impact their relationship, and she didn’t want that. 

Molly placed her hands on top of Seungmin’s and sweetly smiled at him. “Oh Seungmin, you’re too kind, but I can’t accept your offer. It’s not that I don’t want to be with you, I had such a fun time tonight and you can probably tell from . . . what we just did, yeah. But I just, I don’t want us to hate each other in case my company doesn’t go well and I don’t want to bring work into my personal life, and vice versa,” Molly explained. “But you’re so kind and so generous, I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, and he couldn’t help but smile as he began to rub his thumb over her fingers. “I understand, I just wanted to offer. No worries.”

“I know, and for that you are so kind and thoughtful. It means so much to me,” Molly reassured him. “I do want to see you again, though. I had such a great time tonight and I want to do everything you said you wanted to do with me, even more than that. I can see us working out too, even though we just met. Would that be okay?”

Seungmin nodded his head, his lips curving into a small smile. “I would really like that, Miss Usher.”

“Perfect! We will figure out a date to meet again, Mr. Kim,” Molly exclaimed. She decided to stand up, helping Seungmin up as well by grabbing his hands. They stared at each other for a while as they let the silence fill the space between them. Molly couldn’t help but giggle as the man continued to look at her. “Why are you staring at me?”

He only shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Admiring your beauty, I guess.”

The woman playfully rolled her eyes. “Sure,” she spoke. “I hate to end the party, but I think I should get home. It’s pretty late and it’s the first weekend in a while where I don’t have a million things to do, so I just want to get home and relax. Do you think you could order me an Uber?”

“Let me drive you. I didn’t drink much tonight and I wouldn’t want you to take a car alone this late at night,” Seungmin answered. “I’ll walk us downstairs and then we can find my keys, okay?”

“Okay,” Molly whispered. 

Right when she was about to make her way to the door, Seungmin gently grabbed her arm and turned her around, pressing a long kiss on her lips. She couldn’t help but giggle as he continued to kiss her, leaving one last peck before pulling away. “What was that for?”

“Just ‘cause I wanted to,” Seungmin shrugged. 

She rolled her eyes with the biggest smile on her face and made her way to the door. Molly was about to open the door until she heard Seungmin sigh behind her. Confused, she turned around to see him standing on the other side, running his hands through his hair. “Is everything okay, Seungmin?” Molly asked worriedly.

“Yeah, I just . . . yeah, I can’t do this anymore. I was going to wait until the next time we saw each other, but that could be weeks and I’m getting impatient,” Seungmin explained. He sighed while she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “About my offer . . . you actually don’t have a choice in this situation.”

It was as if something had shifted in the room. The once innocent, caring atmosphere the two shared turned rotten, more dangerous and deadly. Molly shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms over chest. “What? What . . . What do you mean, exactly? I just gave you my answer, and now you’re saying I don’t have a choice?” 

“Look,” he spoke sternly, his demeanor changing completely. He was more assertive, stronger than before. Seungmin didn’t seem angry, not like he was going to get violent or shout (Molly hoped not). He just seemed to be more . . . dominant. Like he wanted to take control of the situation and was holding himself back before. Now that he didn’t have to, he was just letting his real self shine through, which was unexpected and a bit frightening. “Your father is one of the most powerful men in his line of work and quite frankly, the world. Don’t you think so?”

Molly shook her head. “What does that have to do with anything?” “It has a lot to do with this, actually. See, with the power your dad has comes a great reputation to uphold. I mean, if everyone found out about how awful John Usher really was and the terrible things he did to get to the top, he’d be in jail for life. And the Usher name would bring nothing but shame and disgust,” Seungmin explained. “Your father would’ve done anything to protect his name, to have a clean record. And he has been able to do that, courtesy of the previous mafia leader, Kwon Dae-Hyun.”

Molly furrowed her eyebrows more. She could barely say anything due to how confused she was. “What the fuck—”

“No swearing,” Seungmin cut her off. “A pretty mouth like your’s shouldn’t be saying ugly words like that. We’ll talk about that more later. As I was saying, your father made a deal with Kwon Dae-Hyun many years before you were born. Dae-Hyun would protect John, Fortunato, and his family from any bad press that would come their way. Make sure he won every lawsuit he faced and kept his record clean. The only things Dae-Hyun wanted was that he help him and the mafia with whatever they needed, and that one of his daughters marry the new leader of the mafia when the time comes. To make their alliance stronger.”

She could feel her heart shatter into a million pieces, her stomach now in knots and her eyes glossy with tears. “No, no that’s not true. You’re lying. My father would never do such a thing, he would never do that to my sisters, especially not me. H-He wouldn’t.”

Seungmin shook his head. “Ah, but he did. Yeah, your dad’s a selfish piece of shit and would do anything to protect his prestige image. After everything he did to obtain Fortunato, there was no way he was passing up an opportunity like this.”

“So my dad just sold me off to you in order to protect the Usher name? No, that doesn’t sound like him. He’s always told me to put myself and my work before a man. He wouldn’t force me to marry someone, let alone the mafia leader. Whatever fucked up angle you’re trying to get at, it’s not working,” Molly spat, her hands now in fists and turning red with anger.

“I’m not trying to get at any angle, I’m just telling you the truth,” Seungmin said, trying to act innocent. “See, I’m not the leader of the mafia by any means. When Dae-Hyun wanted to step down, he held a competition for his members to see who would be the next mafia leader. I was close to winning, but my friend Chan beat me out fair and square. Part of our work was to learn about you, since one of us would be taking you as our wife, but Chan wasn’t interested. Mainly because he has a girlfriend he’s madly in love with. He declined that part of the deal after he won, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. For my and your dad’s sake, since he wouldn’t want to risk losing everything he built.”

“What the fuck—”

“Again, stop swearing, or else I’ll have to punish you for misbehaving,” Seungmin cut her off. “I went to your dad with some information I had on him and Fortunato, the horrible things both he and the company have done and what they are still doing. I made him a deal: I keep all of this a secret so long as I get to marry you. He agreed once he figured out I was a part of Dae-Hyun’s mafia, probably because he trusted me. So yeah, that’s how we ended up here. It’s wonderful, don’t you think?”

Molly was at a loss of words. She didn’t know what to do. Part of her wanted to rip Seungmin’s throat out for bringing her to his home and lying straight to her face, for making such a horrible deal with her father. The other part of her wanted to throttle him for lying about her dad. There was no way John Usher would do that to his children, let alone his youngest daughter. Sure, the man had weird ways of showing his love and had favorites, but he would never do something as awful as that. Why would Seungmin say such a thing? Probably to scare the shit out of Molly and make her his property, of course. 

She only stared at the man, who had a small smirk on his face and with his arms crossed over his chest. She wanted to punch him in the face right then and there, make him bleed and lose his front teeth. Molly refrained and only sent him glares, shaking her head. “I don’t believe you, you’re lying. I’m not going to marry you, hell I don’t even like you anymore. You knew everything about me and still pretended like you didn’t know me? Bringing me to your home? And now you’re lying about my family? I honestly don’t know which is worse,” Molly

spat. “Might as well go ask him myself, right? Oh and don’t worry, I’ll make sure your life will be a living hell after what you did to me.”

“You would do anything to make your father proud, wouldn’t you?”

His words made Molly stop in her tracks. She turned around and glared at Seungmin once more. “Don’t do that, don’t use my family against me to make me want to stay with you.”

“I’m not. I’m just saying, you’re the type of person to do anything to make your family proud. Great grades and extracurriculars all throughout high school and college. You’re the youngest of six, and you’re working your ass off to start your own company because you know it’ll make your dad proud. That you’ll stand out amongst your five siblings,” Seungmin explained. “Your father must know about your little investor problem, yes?”

“Yeah. What does this have to do with anything?” Molly questioned.

“Well, I think your father would be quite proud of you in this scenario,” Seungmin answered, causing Molly to furrow her eyebrows and almost walk away from the conversation entirely. “He would be so happy to hear that you found an investor at the last minute, someone with a lot of money to give and power to use. Having me as an investor will bring you more and more opportunities than you can imagine, and no doubt make the company more successful. Your father would be so proud that his youngest heir came about to be such a successful entrepreneur.”

Molly only rolled her eyes, as she did not believe anything that came from Seungmin’s mouth. What he said next, however, made her start to question her decision. “Your siblings would be so envious of you, and they wouldn’t be able to hold your fuck up against you because you fixed it. They’d be angry that the youngest daughter got everything: the glory, the respect, the attention, and being your father’s favorite child. They’d leave you alone for good, wouldn’t they?”

Before Molly could retort, Seungmin continued to speak. “And wouldn’t your father be happy to hear that his youngest daughter was married off to such a great man? A handsome, wealthy young man who can provide you a home and financial security? Someone who has the same status as the Usher’s, if not more? Surely men in your circle have no idea what they’re doing with their lives and waste their parents’ money as if it’s nothing. Who knows where they’ll end up in a few years, and if they can be a good asset to you and your family?”

Molly bit her tongue and stared at Seungmin. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of being right. His points were correct, she did want to make her family proud and her father always talked about how when the time was right, she should marry a man who had a lot of ambition and power. The way Seungmin explained it to her, by agreeing to this deal, she could make her father more proud of her than he already was. Marrying someone with a lot of money and power and finding a solution to her problem all on her own and with someone who can help make her company more popular. Being his favorite child and finally earning some respect from her older siblings, Molly realized that perhaps Seungmin was right.

But there was another part of her that still thought Seungmin was lying, that there was something he wasn’t telling her. Her father wouldn’t do something like that, he wouldn’t sell her off to a random stranger in exchange for protecting the family name. He had his faults for sure and was not perfect by any means, but he wouldn’t do such a terrible thing, especially to one of his children. Something was wrong about this whole ordeal, Molly believed. There was something she was missing, and she couldn’t figure out what. 

But if Molly were to enter this “agreement” with Seungmin, she would get to the bottom of it before it was too late.

She turned her back to Seungmin, who started walking towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. He brought his lips to her ear. “Be with me,” he whispered. Seungmin took one of Molly’s hands and held it in his, intertwining their fingers. “I can make you happy, give you a wonderful life that you deserve. We can be happy together and you can make your family proud. I’ll love you until the end of time. Just be with me, Angel.”

His touch was soft, one that Molly knew she shouldn’t like and crave, but she did anyway. Seungmin was warm, and his embrace made her feel safe. Like he actually meant the words that he whispered in her ear. His words were like honey even though they were filled with poison. Sweet at first, but would slowly drain the life out of the woman she once was. It was a tempting offer: to live in a grand penthouse and have everything she wanted right at her fingertips. To marry and love an attractive man who promised to love and cherish her as well.

If Molly didn’t know what she knew now, she would’ve accepted Seungmin’s offer in a heartbeat. But now, she would do anything to never see him again.

And for that to actually happen, she would have to play along with his little game. Act like she wanted to be with him and run the second she got the chance. Run for the hills and tell her father everything, and make Seungmin’s life a living Hell. That wouldn’t be so hard to achieve; he seemed smart, but Molly Usher was smarter. She would figure out how to get away and forget about this situation for good, even if it took a little bit of acting and time.

“Okay,” Molly whispered, slightly leaning into Seungmin’s touch.

He hummed in response and turned Molly so that she was now looking at him. He kissed her gently and for a few seconds before pulling away. “Good girl, I knew you would make the right decision,” he told her, pecking her lips once more. “It’s getting late and you’ve had a very stressful day. Why don’t we wash up and go to bed, yeah?”

She only nodded her head. Seungmin sat Molly down at the edge of his bed and went into his closet. He returned within seconds with a pair of black pajama bottoms and a gray t-shirt, presumably his. He set them down on her lap. “I don’t have any clothes here for you yet, so you can just wear mine for tonight. Tomorrow we’ll go out for brunch and then do some clothes shopping for you. Maybe go ring shopping as well?”

The thought of shopping for wedding rings made Molly want to vomit, but she just nodded her head and gave him a small smile. Seungmin smiled as well. “Great. You can get changed in the bathroom and brush your teeth, I put out an extra just for you.”

“Thank you,” she thanked him softly as she made her way to the bathroom.

Molly immediately shut the door and locked it to ensure her privacy. She didn’t want Seungmin coming in and stealing a look while she was naked, she couldn’t risk it with how insane he was acting. She unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor, the cool air hitting her body. She threw on the t-shirt and bottoms and then picked up the toothbrush that sat next to the sink. 

It didn’t take Molly too long to brush her teeth, she just wanted to make sure her teeth were clean and her breath didn’t smell like too much alcohol. Once she was finished, she picked up her dress and opened the door, nervously walking towards the bed. She could feel Seungmin’s eyes on her the entire time with a smirk on his face. He seemed to enjoy seeing Molly in his clothes, probably a possessive thing, knowing that she was his and no one else’s. His gaze made her uncomfortable, but she tried her best to ignore it.

“On second thought, maybe we won’t go clothes shopping tomorrow. You look so good in mine,” Seungmin joked. “Kidding, kidding, but you can wear mine as often as you want.”

Molly laughed, a laugh she used whenever she had to pretend something was funny or had no idea what was going on. She didn’t say anything in response and instead climbed under the covers of the bed. His sheets were soft and would eventually provide Molly with warmth the longer she slept in it. His mattress was soft, too, which made it easier for her to get comfortable. 

It didn’t take long for Seungmin to wash up, either, and he was walking back towards the bed within a matter of minutes. She could feel him get under the covers behind her. What caught her off guard, however, was when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. As much as Molly wanted to fight him off, she was too tired and did not want to start an argument with the man. Instead, she just rested her hands on top of his and tried her best to fall asleep.

“Goodnight, baby,” Seungmin whispered, planting a soft kiss on her neck. “We’re going to have such a beautiful life together.”

His words made her stomach churn, but she brushed it off and tried to fall asleep. “Goodnight,” she mumbled.

Silence filled the room after she finished speaking. And although Molly was scared shitless, she knew she would get out of this. She just had to make it through the night and then she could escape

tomorrow morning. In twenty four hours, this day would become a distant memory and Molly could focus on relaxing and launching her business. It was just a little bump in the road, but she had Seungmin right where she wanted him, and she would be back to normal in no time.

Little did Molly know, Kim Seungmin knew exactly what she was planning. He didn’t know the full extent of it, but he could tell she was lying straight through her teeth. He knew her willingness to agree to this so suddenly was odd, and it was then that he realized what she was doing. Luckily for him, Seungmin had a plan in mind, a plan that would confirm his suspicions and ensure that Molly didn’t run away from him. She was a smart woman for sure, it was one of the things he liked most about her, but Seungmin was a clever bastard. A clever bastard that no one could outsmart, not even Molly. 

He knew he was in for a rude awakening when he would wake up in the morning, but for now, Seungmin wanted to enjoy these few minutes of peace with his new girlfriend (fiancé? future wife? He had no idea what to call her) while he could. And so, he drifted off to sleep, holding Molly securely in his arms not only to make sure she didn’t run away, but to provide her comfort and warmth as well.

──────────────────────

The moment Molly could feel the sunlight in her eyes, she knew she had to run. She barely slept the night before, her anxiety levels higher than ever because of the situation with Seungmin. She had no idea what he was going to do, he was unpredictable and she had to be alert at all times. Thus, it was hard for her to really fall asleep. Molly dozed off here and there, but always woke up in the middle of the night to make sure she was safe. 

This time, however, she fell asleep until the sun came out, which was good considering how much she kept waking up. Seungmin was still fast asleep, his grip on Molly tight, groaning slightly whenever she tried to move away from him and just held her tighter. Luckily, Molly was able to move his arms off of her body and made it so he was hugging her pillow. That way, he wouldn’t wake up and wonder where she went off to. It took her a bit, since his grip was still pretty strong, but she managed to get out of it. 

With that, Molly immediately found her dress on the floor and changed back into it as she possibly could. She did not want to wear Seungmin’s clothes anymore, it felt strange to wear them knowing what he did to her just a few hours ago. Despite it being so early in the morning, Molly would rather wear her dress than be in his clothes any longer. She felt a bit better once she slipped it back on. 

Molly tiptoed quietly to the door, opening it so it didn’t make a sound. Seungmin stirred in his sleep, but didn’t open his eyes once. She sighed in relief as she opened it more to let herself out, shutting it quietly and making a beeline for the staircase. She made sure to move quickly but quietly, that way she didn’t make a lot of noise and wouldn’t disturb Seungmin. After wandering the hallways for what felt like several minutes, she managed to find the living room and front door. Her purse still sat on the wall with the coats and shoes, and her heels and jacket were there as well. Sighing in relief once more, Molly grabbed her belongings and opened the front door quietly.

Once it was closed, she bolted for the elevator at the end of the hallway. She slipped on her jacket and managed to find her phone, which thankfully hadn’t died overnight. Molly sent a text to her friends that read SOS. Talk to you later. As she approached the elevator, she pressed the button multiple times to make sure it would open. She began to order an Uber in the meantime, frantically pressing the buttons as she did. The Uber was successfully ordered and then the elevator door opened. With her mind slightly eased, Molly stepped in and collected herself.

While she made her way down to the lobby, she put on her high heels and wrapped her coat around her body. That way, Molly could still uphold her status and not look like a psychopath running around the building. The elevator had stopped on a few floors to let people on, but Seungmin was not where to be found. As long as he wasn’t awake, Molly did not care how many stops they had to make.

The elevator had finally gotten to the bottom floor, in which Molly was the first one out. She followed the crowds of people, hoping they were heading towards the exit like she was. Some of them were, while the others just wandered off to different places. As Molly followed the crowd, she noticed a young man walking towards the elevator. He looked the same age as Seungmin: dark hair, lean build. His eyes were the most alluring, something about them made them stand out as his best physical feature. They briefly made eye contact, the man giving her a smirk as she passed by. Molly didn’t have time to react, she just walked faster once she saw the exit and her Uber waiting right at the door.

She didn’t hesitate to climb into the vehicle, verifying the driver the second she shut the door. Within seconds, they were leaving the building and making their way onto the main road. 

Molly wondered what would happen now. Surely her father would be outraged, outraged at the fact that someone put her in danger and was lying about him. The police would be called immediately, and a restraining order would be placed against Seungmin, and she would never have to see him again. Then, his life would slowly get worse and worse. No money, no penthouse, nowhere to run and no one to go to. His life would fall apart, and after everything that happened yesterday, he deserved every awful thing that was coming his way.

Traveling from the city to the suburbs always took longer than expected. Despite being so close, it was always busy between the traffic and construction being done, so it took longer to travel from place to place. Molly didn’t mind; the drive helped soothe her mind and she was able to think more clearly and rationalize her thoughts, instead of frantically thinking. She watched the cars and the houses she drove by to help time go by faster.

Almost a half an hour had passed, and Molly was finally on her street. Knowing that she was closer to home made her feel even more relaxed, because she knew that she was safe and everything would be fixed within the next day or so. Still, the nerves ran through her body as she tried to figure out how she was going to tell her father what happened. What he would do to make it end, how this would play out going forward. Molly just wanted to make sure this was all squared away in an efficient manner, she didn’t want this to linger for months and constantly be worrying about what Seungmin or his gang would do. Her mind began to race as the car pulled up to the gate, in which Molly showed her face to the guard and the gates opened within seconds.

The driver pulled all the way up to the front door, and Molly immediately jumped out. As she made her way to the door, the driver began to speak. “You have a beautiful home.”

She turned to the man, who looked about the age of her father, perhaps a bit younger. Molly gave him a sympathetic smile. It was simple acts of kindness that always made her heart warm. “Thank you,” she whispered. The man only nodded his head and began to drive off, leaving Molly all to her lonesome. She took a deep breath before opening the door; her father never bothered to lock it, especially when they had the gate to protect them from anyone trying to break in. Molly never understood ever since she was a child, but never questioned it because her father was “in charge” and “could do whatever he wanted.” His words now made her roll her eyes, but it was just who he was, and Molly never doubted her father. Not when he had always been correct and successful.

The house felt still, as if no one was there. It was early in the morning, so perhaps her father was still sleeping. He was normally an early riser, waking up before the sun rose in the sky, so it would be strange if he was still asleep. Either way, she had to wake him up to tell him about what happened and how she needed his help. It didn’t matter if he would get upset, he’d understand why once she explained what happened.

Right when Molly was going to go upstairs, she saw Bertha, one of the maids her father hired a while ago, cleaning the kitchen. She approached the woman calmly. “Good morning, Bertha. I was just wondering if you’ve seen my dad at all?”

“Good morning, Molly,” Bertha greeted. “Your father is in his study, with Sylvia. Apparently working on something for the company, I don’t know. They don’t tell me anything.”

Molly couldn’t help but laugh. “They barely tell me anything, either. But thank you so much,” she thanked the woman, who gave her a kind smile in return.

The youngest Usher walked through the numerous hallways that filled the manor, almost like a maze. It didn’t take her long to find the two large doors that divided her father’s study from everything else. Molly considered knocking on it, but after giving it some thought, she just decided to open it. What Molly didn’t expect to see was her father making out with Sylvia, his third wife. Molly gasped and covered her eyes, while Sylvia gasped and immediately stepped away from John, who gasped as well and was a little pissed off.

“Jesus, Molly! Haven’t you heard of knocking?” Her father scolded, groaning in frustration.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you would be doing . . . that. But we have bigger things to worry about,” Molly explained. “We have to call the police.”

Both Sylvia and John looked concerned, their frustration towards the woman now going away once they saw how scared she looked. “Let us have a moment, Sylvia. I’ll tell you what happened after we talk,” John whispered to the older woman.

She only nodded her head and made her way out of the study. Before she left, she placed a hand on Molly’s shoulder and gently rubbed it as her way of showing support. She placed her hand on top of Sylvia’s and quickly pulled away so that she could leave the office. Once the door was shut, her father began to speak. “What the hell is going on? What are you doing here so early? I thought you went home with Serena? Also . . . why is your neck all purple and red?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Molly rolled her eyes. “I met a guy at the club last night and he was really nice. So nice that I decided to go back to his place. We were talking and he was really nice and then . . . then he offered to be a new investor in my business? In e-exchange for me to his . . . girlfriend, I don’t know. I told him no, but then he explained to me that I didn’t have a choice.”

Her father furrowed his eyebrows. “What? What does that even mean—”

“He explained that he made a deal with you. He claimed he had some bad information about you and would leak it to the press if you didn’t give him what he wanted, which was my hand in marriage,” Molly cut him off. “I told him that he was lying. I mean, he has to be. I stayed the night ‘cause I didn’t want to make him more upset, but I bolted the second I woke up. That’s why I’m here: we need to call the police and get this squared away.”

John looked stunned, unable to say a word. He looked as if he was guilty, guilty for what happened. Molly caught on and an uneasy feeling arose in her stomach, but she brushed it off once her father began to talk. “He . . . what? Who does this guy think he is? I’ll call Gary down at the station and get this sorted out. Targeting my youngest daughter and threatening to tell the public lies about me? No, he’s going to pay the price for that bullshit he tried to pull.”

“I know, that’s what I said! I knew this guy had to be lying, there’s no way he knows information about our family,” Molly exclaimed, running a hand through her hair. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her father. “Are you going to call Gary now?”

“Yes. Can you pass me my phone there? It’s charging on the table,” John asked and quietly thanked her once she handed it to him. He started to call Gary, and after a few rings, both he and Molly sighed in relief. “Gary, hey. How are you? I’m sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but I have to report an incident that happened with my daughter last night. Yeah, it’s pretty scary. Says she was with some guy who said I made a deal with him. If I let him marry Molly, then he won’t tell the world about all the bad stuff I’ve done and how awful of a person I am. Crazy, right?”

A sense of relief washed over Molly as she listened to them talk. This would be figured out and she would never have to see Seungmin again, and he would be in his own personal Hell. Hearing that brought a sinister smile onto Molly’s face.

She snapped out of her thoughts once her dad called for her attention. He placed his hand over the speakers of the phone. “What was the guy’s name? The one who told you all of that stuff?”

“Kim Seungmin. And I highly suggest hanging up the phone now unless you want things to get ugly. Or my friend can do it for you, he knows a thing or two about hacking into phones.”

The familiar voice made Molly’s stomach drop and chills run up her arms. Her father looked appalled, scared at what had just happened. His phone was still next to his ear, but he jolted once he saw that the phone call had ended abruptly. He nervously gulped as he continued to stare at the door. Molly didn’t even want to turn around and see who was standing there, but she wasn’t a coward, and so she turned her head with an angered expression on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.

As expected, Kim Seungmin stood at the doorway, his figure leaning against the frame. A smirk sat on his face, his hands shoved into his pockets. What took Molly by surprise was the gun sitting comfortably on his waist. Her chest tightened in fear, worried he would use it against them. She backed away from the door, all the way to where her father’s desk sat. Seungmin took this as an invitation to walk in, sauntering over to the oldest and youngest Usher. 

“How the fuck did you find me?” Molly spat, placing her hand over a stapler in case Seungmin got any closer.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I may or may not have had my friend put a tracking device in your phone. And he got into the computer system here so I could get in without having to stop for the guard. He’s really great at hacking, I don’t even know how he does it. I also had my other friend come by my place to let me know if you had left or not. I’ll give you some credit, sneaking out while I was asleep and being quiet, it was a smart idea. You’re a smart girl, it’s one of the things I like most about you. You just forgot that I’m me, and I’ll always find you, no matter where you go,” Seungmin explained. “It’s a shame, I was really looking forward to sleeping in and cuddling with you before we went shopping, but you just had to misbehave, didn’t you?”

Molly almost lunged at him with the stapler, but he backed up before she could hit him. He snickered and held his hands up in surrender. “Woah, careful there, Angel. You’re already in trouble for acting like a brat, but you’ll be in much more if you try to hurt me. I’ll admit, this attitude of yours is cute, but it’s not going to serve you well in the long run, so stop acting out unless you want to get punished.”

“What the fuck do you want with me?!” Molly spat, her face becoming red with anger. “I told my dad everything, so you’re going to jail. Worse, even. The cops already know and they’ll be on their way soon, and you’re so fucked. And now you have nowhere to run.”

A confused look fell on Seungmin’s face, but then something clicked in his head, and another smirk arose on his face. “Oh shit, you didn’t tell her, did you, John?” He snickered once more, causing Molly to become confused and turn towards her dad for an answer. His face was still, that guilty look back on his face from when Molly first told him what happened. Seungmin caught onto this and smirked once more. “Shit, you didn’t tell her. Well, she didn’t believe me when I told her, so she might actually listen if it’s coming from you. Go on, John. Tell her about the deal we made.”

Silence filled the room, Molly looking at her father with a pleading look. He didn’t look away from Seungmin, his hands curling into fists as he sent him a nasty glare. “I said . . . I said you could have her when she turned 25, not now. You know the agreement, why are you breaking it now?”

Molly’s eyes widened with fear and anger, tears glossing in her eyes. She couldn’t believe what her father just said — all this time, she thought Seungmin was lying, that he would never do something like this to her. But it was all a lie, a lie she could not believe was real. No, it was impossible. Why would her father do such a thing? What could be so important that he would compromise his own daughter in order to keep himself safe? Matter of fact, why was it even on the table? Why wasn’t John’s first instinct to pay off Seungmin or get the police involved? Why didn’t he protect Molly first, why was she the scapegoat? It made no sense. Her father wasn’t an evil man . . . he just couldn’t be.

“Yeah, about that, actually . . . I changed my mind,” Seungmin explained. “I was going to wait, but then I saw Molly walking out of your building one day, and she just looked so beautiful. So beautiful that I couldn’t have other men looking at her, letting them think they had a chance with what was rightfully mine. So I went to the club and brought her home. I wanted her now and didn’t want to wait. And if there’s one thing you should know about me, John, I always get what I want.”

“You sick bastard—” John started. He too was about to throw a punch or something hard at Seungmin, but stopped himself once he raised his gun and backed up, causing John to surrender immediately.

“Am I really that sick for taking what’s mine? Or is it you, with all the shit you pulled in the past to get where you are today. Don’t forget, John, I know everything about you, and have no problem exposing you to the public for the piece of shit you really are,” Seungmin asked, his gun still pointed at John. He brought it down, however, once he saw Molly’s concerned face pleading with him to stop. “I own you now, so you do as I say. Let me have Molly and I won’t say anything about you. Or refuse, and I’ll leak the information and make Molly mine anyways. Either way, she’s coming home with me, so the choice is yours. I don’t give a fuck about what happens to you.”

Molly turned to her father, tears falling down her face. She wanted him to do something — he could change everything now and she wouldn’t bat an eye. Pay Seungmin off with money or whatever he wanted, anything that wasn’t her life. John Usher was a powerful man who could do anything, he could make the right decision now and save his daughter, his own blood from letting this happen. How bad was the information, anyways? Couldn’t their family sue for false information and win, therefore saving their image? There had to be another way out, one where no one would get hurt.

She stared at her father and waited for him to speak. He only stared at Seungmin, who had a smirk on his face, which made Molly want to punch and kick him repeatedly. She gave her father another look, a pleading one asking him to do something. He only looked at her with an emotionless expression. “That won’t be necessary,” John spoke quietly. “There must’ve been a misunderstanding on my part. I am sure you and Molly will be very happy together, all I ask is that you just treat her right.”

It was as if her heart had shattered into a million pieces. She couldn’t believe what happened, what her father agreed to. More tears began to fall down Molly’s face, her sadness turning into anger the more she looked at him. She was too stunned to say anything; she didn’t know whether or not she should scream or cry, to beg her father to fix this mess. But she remained still, because it was all too much. And in all honesty, Molly never wanted to speak to her father again. 

“Right decision, John,” Seungmin told him. He wrapped his arms around Molly’s waist and pulled her back into his chest. “Come on, Angel,” he whispered in her ear, gently kissing her cheek. “Let's go home.”

Molly glared at her father one final time before leaving the study. Right when Seungmin was going to slip his hand into hers and guide her out of the room, she pushed him off harshly and walked out on her own. She heard Sylvia call out her name multiple times, but she just blocked it out and continued to walk away.

She had no idea what to do. Her mind was racing, both in anger and in fear. Everything Molly Usher once knew was gone, her whole life a lie. All of her hardwork and dedication she put into her projects meant nothing, because it was all going to be taken away from her now that she was forced to marry Seungmin. Who knows what he would be like, how he would treat her and what he would force her to do. Would he let her go outside? Would she be able to see her friends again? Would she be able to still work, or would she have to be a housewife until the day she died? The thoughts raced in Molly’s head and she had no idea what to do, how to feel.

The world around her seemed different than before. It was off, like it had been tainted with darkness, a new truth had fallen out and the world had shifted on his axis. The people she thought she knew were nothing but lying cowards, nefarious people hiding by an innocent exterior. How could Molly trust anyone after what happened? How could she look at everyone the way she used to? 

Today proved that the world was not as great as people made it out to be. The innocence she once had was now gone and no way of returning. And now, Molly Usher would have to embrace this change. She would have to get used to life with Seungmin, pretend like everything was perfect on the outside and never let anyone know what went on behind closed doors. She would have to accept that her father was a selfish, horrible man, and not the perfect person she made him out to be. She would have to accept her fate, because there was no way she could change it.

Actually . . . screw that. Molly Usher did not settle. She would not settle for a life she did not want, certainly with a man who treated her as a possession. No, she was going to make Seungmin and her father’s life a living Hell for what they did to her. And she didn’t care about how they would react, she was going to do it anyway. Anything to get back at them and to get her life back.

She was an Usher, after all, and Usher’s don’t wait for something to be given to them. They take it, no matter how hard it is or what they have to do in order to get it.

[anghraine]

Would love to hear about your modern AU concept as well, if you're happy to talk about it :)

*the modern P&P adaption that is, sorry if it wasn't clear

Now that my exams are over, I am! And it's predictably long and rambling, so there's a quick summation at the very end.

Anyway, the concept for me is driven by two different gripes with US modernizations of P&P.

The first thing I'm grumpy about is how, although Austen famously prioritizes the experiences and perspectives of her female characters over the male ones, queer US modernizations (whether fic or adaptation) seem to skew strongly towards queer male experience. Individually, that's okay, but as a trend ... I do find it aggravating that m/m predominates so much over f/f even with an author as preoccupied with female experience as Austen. Lesbian Darcy/bi Elizabeth rights!

My second issue is with the ... not universal, but not-that-unusual treatment of modern US American Darcy as conservative or at least old-fashioned in the context of 2022 (or 2015 or whatever—I think it's a bad take regardless, though particularly egregious now). This is generally a way of "updating" his snobbery, but ... the original character's positions are fairly progressive for his time and circumstances, if with a blind spot about socioeconomics, and his tastes are modern.

Funnily enough, that is probably the easiest thing to translate into a modern US setting despite many other cultural differences, because "fairly progressive with a blind spot about socioeconomics" is THE stereotype of US liberals and especially "coastal elites." And relatedly, I think the reluctance to update the direct political power of families like the Darcys and Fitzwilliams as ... direct political power is both an understandable avoidance of a minefield but also kind of toothless. The closest US analogue to a Whig earl in the House of Lords isn't some random businessman, it's a senator from a Democratic political dynasty.

Also, I dislike Pemberley-as-corporate-enterprise on general principle. I much prefer things like Darcy's open-to-the-public art collection to be represented by an art gallery rather than the visual equivalent of elevator music.

So. In the modern adaptation of my dreams, Elizabeth's family comes from a western red state, where they've managed to hang onto a small family farm thanks to the comparatively low cost of living—but that's rising thanks to rich people bringing up prices. Enter Bingley with his fortune in trade micro-chips or something (truly the nicest Silicon Valley bro to ever bro). The Darcy character is Bingley's college BFF, who is clearly wealthy because a) she exudes it, b) Bingley's sisters "mention" it, and c) she owns a good-sized house in Seattle and runs a prestigious art gallery there. Nobody realizes she's one of those Fitzwilliams until later, however.

The easiest way to convert Darcy's names to a modern US woman's is simply to swap them to Darcy Fitzwilliam. That said, I like to give Darcy a pretentious first name and amuse myself by calling modern f!Darcy Narcissa—both because of her arrogance and because Fitzwilliam is the only person who can call her "Narcy" and live.

I don't think the exact initial insult would make a lot of sense translated literally, but there definitely is one, and Elizabeth basically sees Narcissa as a cross between "rich artsy type with no concept of normal life" and "the Seattle chill given human form." Narcissa, meanwhile, is the sort of US liberal who holds genuinely progressive positions—some more so than Elizabeth, in fact—and thinks that The Community should do everything within their power for LGBT+ people in hostile environments, but also doesn't get why they don't just ... move.

There is also definitely a (male) Wickham whom Elizabeth is regrettably fooled by.

I think the tension between Mrs Bennet and Elizabeth is complicated by a few things. I definitely see Mrs Bennet as a pushy where-are-my-grandkids type, and as someone who can be fairly indifferent about her less-favored children's personal happiness but a total helicopter mom about their life/career decisions, which clashes badly with Elizabeth's easy-going but very independent personality. I also suspect that Mrs Bennet is a non-voter because, while she's not aggressively bigoted, she just doesn't care that much and insofar as she does, it's all about the parasocial relationships. Elizabeth can't ever talk to her about her life (or most things) without it becoming all about Mrs Bennet's feelings, so she doesn't bother.

Mr Bennet is pretty much his familiar self—he resents his wife and is openly contemptuous towards her (I imagine there's some reason that Mrs Bennet can't work or isn't about to). He's indifferent to his younger children, but fond of Jane, loves Elizabeth in his way, and has supported the last two through some tough spots. At the same time, he's never bothered to save enough to pay off the mortgage or put any of his children through college, so the girls' loans are a point of legitimate frustration for Mrs Bennet (though her spending is a significant part of the reason they couldn't do more, since "keeping up with the Joneses" isn't exactly a FAFSA income deduction category).

I have some other ideas, but those are the basic ones!

TL;DR—lesbian Darcy/Elizabeth with political undercurrents, but none of them are Republicans. The Darcy character in particular is a smart, socially progressive (but rich and out of touch) artsy Seattle lesbian from a Kennedy-style Democratic dynasty. Elizabeth, meanwhile, is chill and personable, bi, and very independent (to the dismay of her wannabe-helicopter mother).