#i don't think that was champagne now that i think of it just sparkling wine

[cheayay]

Thank God it's over

[octuscle]

Bowling Night

"Bowling? Really?" Francis was fuming with rage. His friend was finally back home after two weeks away on business. He had dressed up. He had been looking forward to a romantic evening. And now his friend was taking him to a shabby bowling center full of fat rednecks. "Darling, please! I had five-course dinners every night for two weeks, had to make small talk in a suit every night. I was looking forward to seeing you so much. But I want to do something really simple tonight. I don't know how I came across bowling myself, but I passed this place on my way from the airport. And somehow I really felt like it now." Konstantin took his friend tenderly in his arms and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Francis tapped his pink sneakers on the floor. Konstantin knew his friend only too well. He knew he couldn't stay angry for long. He gently pulled Francis out of the parking lot and towards the bowling center. Maybe it was going to be a nice and relaxed evening after all. He had always loved going bowling as a child. He had loved celebrating his childhood birthday at the bowling alley. But it must have been…. "YUCK!" Francis cried out. "I'm not wearing those shoes in my life. They're disgusting. What brand is that anyway?" The young man at the counter rolled his eyes. Konstantin tried to calm everything down. Francis struggled to calm down. Konstantin had promised him a glass of sparkling wine. He could usually always calm Francis down with that. And it seemed to be working now too. Konstantin took Francis in his arms and they walked to their train together. Francis continued to grumble quietly to himself. "And when is my champagne coming now?" he asked. "Yo, two brewskis for two browskis?" Francis looked at the young man like an insect to be squashed

"I've already got a beer, you can have that. I'll get a second one for you, buddy." The young man pressed an ice-cold bottle into Francis' hand. He smelled of sweat and Axe. Francis almost had to hold his nose. But then he looked the waiter in the eye. Beautiful blue eyes. Damn, what a face. Features as if chiseled from granite. And even though he didn't know what was coming over him, he gave the waiter a fist bump and said, "Thanks buddy, you're such a lifesaver!" And to Konstantin he said "Come on then, let's throw some bowling balls." Shit, for supposedly still bowling, he was good. Damn good, Konstantin thought to himself. And how did Francis know the waitress? The two of them seemed so familiar, as if they'd known each other since kindergarten? A burp from Francis snapped Konstantin out of his thoughts. "Bro, like seriously? Wake up, it's totally your go!" Konstantin's eyes were almost watering from the stench of nachos, beer and cigarettes that Francis had belched out. They didn't have any nachos. And Francis didn't smoke. "Yo, Chuck! We're all thirsting for another round of brewskis, and hey, you got any cancer sticks on deck?" Francis called out to the waiter. The legs of his sweatpants were tucked into white socks that were no longer quite clean. And what had he done to his hair? Konstantin threw his ball. Strike! He turned around. And saw Francis openly grabbing the crotch of the waiter, who had just returned with beer and cigarettes, and sticking his tongue down his throat. Francis registered Konstantin's horrified look with a grin. "Yo fam, Chuck is gonna roll up later on. I'm thinking a triple threat situation would be straight fire to cap off this lit night, amirite?" Francis stood up, took Konstantin's head and pulled him towards him. And then he gave Konstantin a deep, long French kiss. Konstantin felt dizzy. Francis stank. No, he smelled male. Very masculine. And he tasted masculine. And he felt masculine. Konstantin wanted to run Francis through his curls. But there were no more curls. There was only cropped hair. Francis pressed his crotch against Konstantin's. Both their cocks were hard as steel. "We gonna have that lit threesome later, but right now, I need you, like ASAP, like yesterday! Hurry up, babe!" Francis whispered in Konstantin's ear. And pulled him towards the toilet.

Always when Stan rolled back from a away gig, Frank went total cray-cray like a hyped-up rabbit. Those two went at it like wild animals in the john. Chuck totally saw that coming, no more bowling for them today, duh. When Frank and Stan finally strolled back, Chuck was there waiting with three brewskis like a boss. "Yo, chill out outside while I dim the lights. Hope you've got some juice left for me!" Stan and Frank just grinned and nodded. They sauntered out to the lot, Stan sparking up a ciggie. The night was just getting started, y'all! 🍻💥✨

[thatwritingho]

Kloktober Day 1

Favorite Character or OTP

My favorite character is half of my OTP, so both!

Pairing: Relish! Which is Pickles the Drummer and Olive Axworthy, my OC. get it, because pickle and olive relish, hahaha

Rating: SFW, only mildly suggestive moments

Summary: Pickles makes a miscalculation when planning a date with Olive. Luckily, he thinks of a better plan, and so they ditch the fancy restaurant they both hated to relocate.

What a perfect night for a cemetery date.

.

It was beautiful.

Glittering crystal chandeliers, polished marble floors, spotless white tablecloths, and a bouquet of fresh flowers in the center of their private, tucked away table with a gorgeous view of the city, shielded by a wall of live greenery.

It was beautiful.

And Olive looked absolutely miserable. 

Gorgeous, in a black velvet dress that slit up to her hip and gave her immaculate cleavage, showing off both her sleeve and thigh tattoo. Her wild curls were more tamed than usual, her makeup dark and stunning. Around her neck hung the anatomically correct heart pendant he gifted her. Silver glinted from each of her ear piercings, bracelets dangled from her wrists, rings covered her fingers, her nails shone black and pointed.

She was gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking… but still miserable, all the same. 

As Olive finished the last bite of her dessert, Pickles gulped down the rest of his wine, bracing himself. 

"Everythin' okee, babe?"

Dark eyes flit up to meet green, and she shrugged. 

"Yeah. Everything's fine."

The raising of a single pierced brow was all it took, and she sighed, teething at her tongue ring.

"It's just. Y'know…." she gestured around with her eyes.

"What?"

“This place, it’s just…”

“Yeah?”

“...fancy.”

“Is dat a bad thing?”

Olive shrugged, “I mean, like, objectively, no.”

“Okee… And, uh, not objectively?”

“Subjectively?” sighing, she chewed at her lip, glancing around, “It’s just. Not really my thing.”

Pickles nodded, staring at her as he considered how to turn this date around. Where could they go now that she would like? Hell, where did she even like to go? It was too late for a museum or a bookstore, they were too dressed up to go break into some abandoned building or walk in a park. Where was he gonna take her, a fucking mausoleum?

Oh. 

Duh.

Grin curling up his lips, Pickles stood, carelessly tossing some cash from his wallet down onto the table, "Well what the hell're we doin' here, den? Let's get outta this place."

Smiling, Olive placed her hand in his offered one, standing to follow him to the limo. She snorted when Pickles insisted on opening the door for her, but thanked him anyway, waiting inside as he whispered something to the driver before joining her. The ride was largely uneventful, save for Pickles slipping down the straps of Olive's dress to snort a line or two or five off her tits. 

When it finally rolled to a stop, Olive pried her lips from Pickles', peering out the tinted windows as a large grin took over her face. As she turned back to him, dark eyes sparkling, face lit up in childish delight, and asked "Really?!" with more excitement in her voice than he had ever heard, Pickles felt his stomach flip, heat rushing to his face as his mouth went dry. 

"Y-yeah, dood."

Lips pressed to his cheek in a soft, sweet kiss, and Olive bumped the tip of her nose to his.

"Thank you."

Before he had a chance to respond, she gripped his hand and nearly drug him from the limo, but Pickles managed to grab the doorframe, stopping just in time.

"Whoah, dood, hang ahn! Jeezus, the skeletons aren't going anywhere!"

Pickles rummaged back inside, Olive pulling a face when he returned, a pierced brow raising in question.

"What?"

"Is there anything other than champagne?"

Pickles gave her an incredulous look. 

"...yew don't like champagne?"

"No."

"...okee. Well, there's a '78 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino or a '96 Domaine Leroy Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru in dere, too, if yah want one of those instead."

"I have no idea what that means."

Pickles grinned at her blank face, "Ones a barolo, ones a pinot noir."

"...I still don't know what that means. It's just wine. Whatever is fine, it all tastes the same, anyway."

The grin fell from his face at her words, replaced with an expression of shock, disbelief, and mild horror.

"Babe, yew… yew don't actually mean dat, right?"

Olive shrugged. 

"Yeah. I mean, aside from the color difference, it all just tastes like wine."

Shell shocked, Pickles swapped the bottle of champagne out for the ten-thousand dollar bottle of wine, the knowledge that it would be absolutely wasted on her beginning to set in. 

It just tastes like wine. 

Jesus Christ. 

He needed to take her to a wine tasting yesterday.

Shaking it off, Pickles slung his arm over Olive's shoulders as they walked through the gates of the cemetery, glancing around at the fog hanging low on the ground, the murder of crows cawing and pecking amongst the headstones nearby as they meandered along the path, the clack of Olive's heels loud in the chilled air. A gentle breeze sent her curls dancing, swaying and rustling the leaves left clinging on the skeletons of trees, an owl hooting somewhere off in the distance.

What a perfect night for a cemetery date. 

The moon shone bright behind the sparse, wispy clouds, lighting up her face, her happy, relaxed expression such a stark contrast to the one worn at dinner he could hardly reconcile the two.

"Wanna know somethin'?"

"Hm?"

Pickles leaned in close, whispering, "I fuckin' hate fancy restaurants, too."

Olive laughed, loud and sudden and so hard she snorted, slapping a hand over her mouth as Pickles laughed at her, the both continuing to giggle at each other as the conversation continued.

"Then why did we go!"

"I don't know, dood! A fancy dinner, dats, like, the date!"

"Yeah, but it sucks!"

"Yer tellin' me! Gahd, got all dressed up in dis stupid suit fer nothin'."

Pickles tugged at his already loosened tie as Olive laughed harder, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt

"Yew look hot as hell, though. 'least dere's dat."

Heat flushed to her face at the compliment, and she smiled, biting her lip as Pickles grinned his crooked grin at her.

"Oh, hey," Pickles grabbed her elbow, steering her to the side, "We're here."

Raising a brow as Pickles veered off path, Olive pauses to slip off her heels before following him barefoot amongst the graves, the ground cold and dew-damp on her feet. At the base of a tall, wide, old oak tree, Pickles plopped down in the grass, half-sitting half-laying against it's base.

Grinning up at her, he pat his lap in invitation, "Saved a seat jest fer yew, baby. Best one in da whole house."

Her deadpan made him laugh, and Olive rolled her eyes with a fond smile before dropping down. Freckled arms wrapped securely around her as she curled up in his lap, finger tips ghosting along her arm to raise goosebumps.

The two passed the bottle of wine back and forth, chatting here and there.

"Hey."

Lifting her head from his chest, Olive was met with lips on hers, tasting of wine and weed and cigarettes. His hand gently cupped her face, thumb caressing over her cheek as their lips met time and again, Pickles relishing the way Olive melted into him more and more with each press.

Parting his lips from her was no easy feat - it never was -  but Pickles managed, bumping their noses as his eyes sought Olive's in the moonlight. Their breaths puffed and mixed between them, curls scented of wine forming to dance on the crisp night air. 

Mouth curling into a crooked grin, Pickles kissed over to her ear and nipped, facial hair tickling with his next words, "Heh. Wanna go fuck ahn a grave?"

.

To be continued ;)

Thanks for reading, please let me know what you think!

If you'd like to read more of these two, check out Momento Mori, and Olive's Mtl OC Wiki page!!

[femmmie]

Ian throws Anthony a surprise birthday party

Such a timely prompt :D

I decided to combine this fic with this promt:

The Best Day Ever

November thirtieth, 1987

June seventeenth, 1984

September sixteenth, 1987

Ian never had to think about these dates. He just knew, from around a month before they were due, to buy a gift and send a card. Of course he would also just call his sister and he'd see Anthony every week anyway. It had been like that for years and years. But the last few of them had been painful.

September sixteenth, 2017. Ian had sent a card and a text. No reply.

September sixteenth, 2018. Ian had sent nothing.

September sixteenth, 2019. Ian had sent a text. Just a 'thanx' in return.

September sixteenth, 2020. Ian had sent a birthday meme. 'lol thanks'.

September sixteenth, 2021. Ian sent nothing.

And September sixteenth, 2022. Nothing.

But now it was August 16th 2023 and Ian was determined to make Anthony's upcoming birthday count for seven. He was pacing up and down his Los Angeles appartement, suddenly stopped and shouted: "that's it!" into the dullness of the evening.

"What's up with Ian the last few days?" Shayne asked Keith at the Smosh headquarters.

They'd barely seen Ian, which had been common but not lately, now Anthony was there too. They peaked into Ian's office.

"He's still on the phone?"

Shayne stroked an imaginary goatee. "He's up to something…!"

Then the invitations started to arrive at people's doorsteps. They were impeccably hand written in gold letters that made you feel guilty of even considering not going. "The Declaration of Anthony Day" was written proudly at the top of each invitation. People would ask each other if they'd gotten one in hushed tones, and soon it was apparent that everyone at Smosh - the cast, the crew, the supporting staff - they were all invited. This was going to be some hell of a party.

And then the day arrived. A dull Saturday morning, Anthony had invited Ian, Mykie and a couple of his close friends for a vegan brunch at his home. Nothing fancy. Turning thirty-seven wasn't a particularly remarkable feat and Anthony didn't want to remind everyone of how hot he was while being the oldest person at Smosh.

The brunch was nice and uneventful, and Anthony was ready to spent the rest of the day quietly but all of a sudden the doorbell rang.

"Did we order pizza?" Mykie asked.

"I don't think so?" Anthony said, confused.

He opened the door and his jaw might as well have hit the floor. Shane Told from Silverstein was at his doorstep, dressed in all black but casual garments, and said matter-of-factly: "Happy birthday Anthony! Are ya comin'?"

"Wh.. whaaaat?" Anthony laughed and looked around, and immediately found the culprit. Ian stood there cheesing like a fool.

"Are you behind this, bestie?" Anthony asked. Ian winked.

Everyone followed Shane down the stairs and then they saw it: a sparkling monstrosity of a party bus. It was already packed with people!

"Oh my god, Jenna? Justine? Ryan! Natalie?!"

It was like the bus was filled with the year 2005. Anthony loved it. All these OG youtubers he'd not seen for ages. All of them greeted him with hugs and kisses and giggles and there was wine and champagne, and Anthony's party entered the bus as well and they drove off into downtown LA. When they arrived, Anthony saw they were at Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine, one of the best vegan restaurants in the city.

The owner of the restaurant greeted the party at the door and said "In honor of Anthony Day I have prepared you the most delicious foods! Please come inside."

"Anthony Day?" Anthony wondered aloud, and Ian laughed.

The evening was simply wonderful and Anthony saw so many people he almost got dizzy. But the night wasn't over: Ian's phone rang and he said "Hey Anthony, it's for you!"

Anthony picked up the phone, and he saw his mom in her home, together with Ian's mom who was apparently visiting.

"Hello dear," they said in near unison. Anthony was on the verge of tears.

"Hi moms."

They exchanged some sweet words and congratulations and when they hung up, Anthony dived in to hug Ian.

"This means so much to me, Ian."

Ian smiled mischievously.

"What are you planning now?" Anthony said mock-accusingly.

"Well, Anthony, you've just eaten the best meal of your life, but not everything can be five stars on your birthday. I've made you something that you must eat, or I will be offended! But I can't promise you that it's any good, or edible at all…"

The chef appeared again and rolled up a cake with thirty-seven candles on it.

"You made the cake?!" Anthony asked Ian, with a quiver in his voice.

"I sure did buddy. You know the last six years I haven't gotten you a proper gift or anything. I want to make good on that."

"Oh Ian!" Anthony hugged him again.

"Alright, alright," Ian patted Anthony on the back but he smiled widely while he did it.

To be honest, the cake did taste mediocre, but Anthony didn't mind at all. It was all the more proof that Ian had actually made it himself. He ate a whole chunk of it, and it wouldn't have mattered, all the other things. Just this cake alone, and Ian, those were the best gifts he could have ever gotten. Anthony was blissfully happy. When he went to sleep that night, he croaked to Mykie:

"I love Ian so much, he's the best friend in the entire world."

"I know you do honey," Mykie replied sweetly. "I'm so glad you're finally back together. You've been so much happier, and that in turn makes me happier."

Anthony hugged her under the blankets.

"You're such a hugger, I love it."

"Come here, daddy wants his cuddles," Anthony joked. But he was so tired that he fell asleep almost immediately after that.

[skiplo-wave]

I need to vent. Don't worry it's nothing gross lol. I wish it was that tbh. I am really worried about my mom. If you knew my mom, you would have the same concerns. My mom never use to drink until she met a guy that she only knew for 3 months before marrying him. It was that quick. We manage to throw her a big wedding in a short amount of time too. Like within a week after becoming engaged. I didn't know she started drinking until the wedding day. It's fine, she's a grown adult. But again.... if you knew my mom. You would really be taken back by this. On her wedding day when I found out she started drinking was when we was doing her hair and makeup. They started off with mimosas for late lunch. That was 1 drink there. I don't know if she had anything with breakfast earlier that morning. The 2nd round was when they served champagne after the ceremony. I didn't really think much of it, you know, they are celebrating their marriage. Than they served white wine with the dinner part. I noticed she had 2 glasses right there. It's adding up to 4 drinks now. The wine glasses was filled to the brim btw. Than they had another type of wine - sparkling - when they cut the cake. That's 5 and again filled to the brim. Than came the dancing. My mom took multiple shots of tequila. The guests finished off 3 bottles that night. Worm and all. She had a glass of something that might had been whiskey. My mom was so plastered that she was passing out in the limo on her way to her honeymoon. She couldn't even wave at us. Her new husband was trying to kiss her and she her head was just resting on the window with her eyes closed. I don't want to come off as I am judging but like.... o_o

Ever since then she literally has been drinking every single day and how I know is that she's posting this stuff on FB. She's at the bar weekend with her new husband and so called friends who act like they give a damn about her. I tried to talk to her about it, because I am very concerned. But she got mad at me about it. I fear that there is a problem. I don't know what to do. She has lost her job. She doesn't drive anymore, probably because she's drinking every day. This is not her. I don't know if this is a midlife thing... I just???? If her husband and new friends cared about her, they be saying something too. Not encouraging her more.

Jesus fucking christs

Get her ass off the streets and to aba meeting or a doctor

[pisspope]

Attack on Titan + Favorite Cocktails

Part 1: Scouts

so I want to make actual cocktails that I feel like represent these characters but it's gonna take some time to craft. so for now here's the regular drinks I think they'd really like + links to the recipes if you want to try them for yourself!

I tried not to include rum in any of the scouts recipes because i don't think that's something they would logically have access to. Connie's recipe includes rum but it can be substituted with vodka quite easily, so i thought it was worth including.

Eren + Feuerzangenbowle

- a mulled wine, but with a sugar cone that u set on fire !!!

- this is one of Connie's favs too but they never let him make it because they don't want him anywhere near an open flame

- eren likes the mulled wine by itself too, when the scouts are in hiding he makes it as a treat on cold nights

- makes it as more of a social event as opposed to just wanting to drink. loves to gather everybody around him while he sets the sugar cones ablaze one by one

- his mulling experience makes him the best punch maker of the scouts too. In a modern!au he's always tasked with making the punch for parties and get togethers. he puts his hair in a little lunch lady style hairnet and gets roasted to shit by Jean.

Mikasa + Kirsch Royale

- red like her scarf 😱😱😱

- very very cherry flavored mixed with champagne

- like mikasa; beautiful, will knock u on ur ass

- historia introduced her to it at her coronation party. everyone's popping cheap champagne and historia Demands that they bring out the good stuff for her friends

- just likes vodka-soaked cherries in general; anything that's spent time submerged in alcohol is her finger food of choice

- if Jean/Mikasa endgame they bond over their love of cherry liqueur idk idk ((also kirsch?? kirschstein?? the flirting opportunities baby))

Armin + Aperol Spritz

- lightweight alert!!!!!

- usually a really light alcohol content, pregame type of drink. just a white wine and some sparkling water really

- armin has two of these when he first drinks and gets absolutely blasted. Someone (probably jean) snuck it from erwins office the night before shiganshina 2 electric boogaloo

- armin drinks it on special occasions. But he also likes to bring a pitcher of it down whenever he talks to Annie

- in the modern day he LOVES Pina coladas, but in universe he has no clue what a pineapple or a coconut is so

- when he goes to marley he also discovers blue caraçao and puts that shit in everything ("it makes whatever you drink look like the ocean!!!")

Jean + French Connection

- called "The Connection" because France doesn't exist

- just cognac with amaretto liqueur

- his dad drinks it; that's it that's the reason

- he thinks it's cool and masc because it's served in a brandy glass and only has two simple ingredients; wants to be seen as an adult and a man's man or w/e

- has a convo post-rumbling talking about how he "wished all alcohol wasn't so bitter tasting". man has had only cognac and a hint of amaretto his whole life. Annie buys him a sweet moscato wine ("her one good deed for the week") and his head explodes

Sasha + Rumplesnuggler

- literally creamy alcoholic hot chocolate (peppermint schnapps and Irish cream being the alcoholic part)

- sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet

- her dad made it for her one christmas and ever since then she's been hooked

- every time she drinks it it takes her back to the cold woods of her youth, of her loving family, and of her moms delicious cooking

- gabi and falco try the non-alcoholic version of this and love it too. instant sugar high

- she also really likes anything with vodka because it's made with potatoes lol

Connie + Green Demon

- midori and lemon juice!!! Toxic waste in a bottle!!

- azumabito brings a bottle of midori as a gesture of goodwill (likely called something else at this point) and Connie just 👀👀 "it's green. Like GREEN green"

- he's putting it in everything, like it's food coloring. Green water, green green tea, green coffee. Menace to society

- he lets niccolo try it and he ponders the taste for a second. "Let me try something". Squeezes a WHOLE LEMON into the glass (he's a chef not a bartender). Tastes it, immediately regrets it. Sooo sour. He's about to throw it out but lets connie try his concoction of the damned first

- Love At First Sip. man never tried that marleyan wine because it's just midori and lemons from here on out

- when he gets married they toast this instead of champagne. heck he might just get married to the bottle

- Connie Springer Midori Melon Man

Levi + Dry Martini

- my first thought was a U-Boot which is just beer with vodka poured in it. this man weighs 100 pounds soaking wet and 50 of those pounds have to be liquor before he feels anything

- instead it's gin and vermouth which is. Not much better tbh

- levi likes to be in control of what he drinks but also what he looks like while he's drinking it. No unsophisticated beer kegs or basic wine glasses. It's martini glass or bust. No martini glass? He'll just drink water.

- same with the olives or lemon peel. No garnish? No drink. he's a little picky

- definitely has a favorite bar that makes it Just Right. probably a bar he went to with Erwin when they were starry-eyed scouts

- in the modern day he also makes a hell of a mixer. Kenny 100% taught him how to make a killer trash can punch

?????????????????????????

Hange + ???

- do NOT engage hange in talks about alcohol do NOT pass go do NOT collect 200 dollars

- their fav drink does not have a name. it is a long island iced tea but made of GARBAGE

- the ingredients change every time but it is invariably disgusting

- attempts at mixing include: pickle juice, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, seawater, bone marrow, olive oil

- every once in a while a combo will come together that shouldn't work but absolutely does. do not trust this miracle to happen twice

@lemmetreatya @nuri148 @uwubraun u guys said u were interested so!! here it is!! i did it. my opus. im gonna do the warriors next and i already have Ideas

[spacexcowgirl]

hi rose!! do you have anything to share about the prongsfoot wedding crack fic?

hi cass!!

the title is so misleading bc it is. not that exactly, but I don't really want to spoil it? it's a collab I've been working on with @magswrite since like september, and it's reg's pov as sirius' best man & like wedding prep while he's like. you two should not get married.

it's fun and something we go to as something easy to write.

lil snippet below <3

“We’re doing a white wine, just have to decide what kind.” Sirius answers, which is really more of a nonanswer in the end. “James hates white wine.” Regulus blurts out, before he can really think about it. After the words leave his mouth, he wishes desperately that he could reach out and pull them back in, but it’s too late. Sirius is now narrowing his eyes at him, and James has a look mixed somewhere between embarrassment and awe. “I don’t hate it—” James starts, but Regulus has already come this far, so he cuts him off. “You do. You’re a total cliche, Potter. Red wine. Red velvet. Red shoes, for Christ's sake.”  The table is silent once more, and now Regulus can see Sirius assessing, glancing between James and himself. He purses his lips, then folds his hands on the table and shrugs. “Moony doesn’t do champagne, or sparkling wine. He doesn’t like the bubbles.” Sirius says, and that just makes Regulus’ head spin. “He likes white wine.” “Sirius, you don’t have to do all of this for me.” Remus cuts in softly, guilt written in his features. “I’m not the one getting married.”

[eldritchsurveys]

1162.

Did you ever go to daycare as a kid?: >> not even once

Who’s one of the most talented people you know? What are they talented at?: >> I'm sure everyone I know is reasonably skilled at something but I don't think any of them are particularly, like... prodigious? you know?

How long have you had your current mattress?: >> about eight months.

Do you usually pay with cash, debit card, or credit card?: >> debit card

What do you usually drink with breakfast?: >> tea

What’s your sexuality?: >> extremely xenosexual

What’s your gender identity?: >> I don't identify with gender, but I can always appreciate and sometimes even reenact a good performance

Are you the type of person who can make friends with just about anyone?: >> I am not this type of person

Have you ever experienced a medical emergency?: >> I don't think so What was the last thing you borrowed from someone?: >> probably a clothing item from Sparrow

What’s your least favorite time of day?: .

Are you muscular?: >> amn't

Do you know anyone who’s sort of snobby about the kind of music they like?: >> not personally, which is good because I hate that sort of thing

Do you ever happen to find yourself trying to force yourself to be happy?: >> I sometimes try to force regulation and equanimity, which I guess can equate to happiness, yeah. but it's stressful being so easily triggered and having so many emotions so much of the time, who can blame me

What are some things you like about the area you live in?: >> hmm. well, the accessible produce is nice

When was the last time you drank wine?: >> a few days ago (some kind of champagne-dupe sparkling wine. I made a mimosa with it) Would you rather be transported to 300 years in the past, or 300 years in the future?: .

Do you know anyone who has been to prison?: >> I used to.

Do you have one of those removable hand-held shower heads?: >> I do not and I still regard that as a luxury amenity, ngl

How many burners does your stove have?: >> four

When you go to a restaurant, do you prefer to sit at a booth or a table?: >> booth

What’s the first video game you remember playing?: >> the first video game as in non-computer game I remember playing is Guitar Hero. if we're including computer games (that never had a console release, just strictly for computer), then that'd be, idk... Oregon Trail? Have you ever been to San Francisco?: >> never

Did the high school you went to offer an ecology class?: >> Environmental Sciences, which I assume is the same thing, yeah Which room of your house is currently in the greatest need of cleaning?: >> right now it's probably... hmm. Sparrow did a lot of cleaning yesterday so I'm not sure. oh, probably the craft room, if that's the case. that place is always going to look like a tornado zone, though, I think

What’s something you think everyone should do/experience at least once in their life?: >> the attentive love and positive regard of a caregiver as a child. unfortunately,

When was the last time you shipped a package?: .

Have you ever made a homemade pie?: >> haven't How long does it take you to get to work/school?: .

Has your car ever been broken into?: >> one time someone broke into Sparrow's car but the door was unlocked and nothing of value was in it. they did take a bunch of napkins, though :V

How old is your oldest cousin?: .

[theorist-influencer-untitled]

8.6.23 Sunday

12:51 am

Self-realization right now, hoping that my angels here and there and somewhere can defend me or back me up in Iqor ( preposition in - places with boundary). Still, having windblow trap...

My English is influenced by English-English and American-English, I wanna point out my used of prepositions are mixed of English and Americans coz I read English-Penguin Novels... The English on is sometimes reverse on American English.

1:49 am

Still,having windblow trap hoping for wing-blow up!

Can't sleep and panicking...I need money and job... Still, "burning the midnight oil" ...I hate being killed by Iqor conspiracy on having 25... I want some positivity...

1:56 am

My aunt told me to learn English and some of my teachers way back told me to learn it coz my face was really cute and my adoptive parent's ( one is alien, a japanese ) meaning I had a foreign background of being a japoy ( japanese and pinoy) I should learn English.

I was just quiet, I followed their advice to learn English but I didn't really believe them that my face was cute...

Now, I still feel ugly,fat and old and reallly wrinkled even down there... I have complex and thinking of my "deep smile lines"..It is my self-pity these days...

9:41 am

Hmm.... Uncle Jun went to forest to meet Georgia and Betsilog'Z gang ( wearing a plastics coat??).

I just saw this... I pity that coke...

I used to buy champagne or sparkling wine.... Lifting up seats... Bitterish....

9:58 am

Uncle DD is here... Hmm.... Hmm...

The father figure is here...

12:36 noon

The Mystery Lover's ( Uncle DD and Aunt Karen ) went home already just checking the situation here. They covered some bills as bridging for now. Nothing extra's just for df and soap here and nothing else...

I still need friends to lift me up... That is the purpose of having friends in your life.

8:25 pm

Done,eating dinner and other routine that I usually do... Kinda tired, resting now but still I need to do stretching coz my S-bones are still aching... I'm so dying to have my massage therapy and hope God will hear me and good angels will guide me in this world.

I'm still thinking of money and job that can make me survive and for me to have a better future and for me to be able to buy Starbucks, I dream of buying it everyday ( if not at least I can every now and then )...

I still have complex... I still feel self-pity... Longing to have friends and I hope it will be the start, in a lil while...

I still have windblow trap and hoping and praying for a dinosaur along the way of meeting an another dinosaur... Praying to meet good souls that can really value with maturity the fresh bonding of friendship...

I'm out of lotions though Mystery Lover's( Uncle DD and Aunt Karen) gave some alms for dog's df and shampoo, of course I don't have extra now, I need help on John's stuff for the meantime...Life is scary if you don't belong and if you don't have friends...

I did buy df, shampoo for dogs and sachet of shampoo for me and paid the store again plus I bought a dewormer tabs for John ( coz he badly needs it now ) .. Still, they can't assist me correctly... But I appreciate and thankful for df and dog's shampoo...

I grew up since I was 13, I never let my skin expose without lotions... I always had so many different bottled lotions and cologne... One of my colognes during my teenage years was this "angel's breath" it is either the smile or giggle or love.

It is difficult to face the truth and some new unknown souls to me gave me wounds for judging and commenting on me, these days...

But this is living, this is life for now and this is believing...

[softesthobi]

i’m so ♥♥♥♥♥

[i-like-rocks22]

Some repeat offenders:

Hot pocket / TV dinner / other microwaveable food item - either not available or limited popularity depending on era. Replace Hot Pocket with Findus Crispy Pancake and you're probably on track.

Meatloaf - not as popular and synonymous with peoples childhood here. A more common dinner equivalent would be shepherds or cottage pie (mince meat with veggies topped with potato, served with gravy (bonus points if you name drop Bisto gravy)). We do have something similar to meatloaf known as 'Haslet' but that tends to be a cold sandwich filler, not eaten for dinner.

Eggnog - nope. I don't know anyone who drinks this, even in my parents and grandparents generation. Christmas drinks are: Mulled wine, mulled cider (remembering cider is default alcoholic in the UK, non-alcoholic is just called apple juice), Drambuie (Scottish liqueur), Hot Toddy (water, whiskey, honey and lemon juice), Irish Coffee, winter Pimms, Champagne or a "Bucks Fizz" which is champagne or sparkling wine and orange juice (so I think a mimosa to Americans?).

Porch- When you guys say porch you mean covered area that sits either at the front or back of houses or wraps around, like this, correct?:

But in the UK a porch is probably closest to an American mudroom, located at the front of the house:

Pretty much used for kicking shoes on and off, sometimes for shoe and coat storage if big enough. If you want an outdoor space, use patio for stone and decking for wood. If covered, use awning or pergola.

Also I am totally taking requests on this now; got a particular bit of research you're stuck on? Curious about random Britishisms? Let me know!

Dear non-UK fic writers; you're all wonderful and I love you, but if you ever want a native Brit to give your Harry Potter or GO fanfic (or hell, any fic with someone from the UK in) a read for Britishisms I am 100% happy to help.

It's just that I recently read a fic where someone said that bangers and mash is a breakfast food and I want to HELP.

[litgwritersroom]

Omg would you guys be willing to write something for Chelsea? Maybe where she develops a crush on MC instead of one of the Casa Amor boys?

RUIN OUR FRIENDSHIP

Chelsea / MC - 1800+ words - @mrsbsmooth

🎵 Jenny darlin', you're my best friend, but there's a few things that you don't know of.🎵

Chelsea frowned as she leaned in closer, inspecting the petals in the bedroom. 

Silk, she thought. Ugh.

“No good?” a voice called from behind her. She recognised the giggly Irish accent straight away, and grinned over her shoulder at her bestie. 

“No! They’re silk. Should’ve gone with latex, they look much realer.”

Jenny’s brow furrowed beneath her soft, dark curls. “Aren’t the silk ones, like, really expensive?”

Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “Expensive is not a synonym for good taste, babes.”

Jenny gasped, and beamed at her, and they squealed it at the same time. 

“PILLOW!”

They fell about giggling, the list of pillow-able quotes now in the dozens. The other girls glanced over at them, but shook their heads, content with not knowing what the two of them were raving about. 

“Chels, you know they’re only going to give us the bare minimum for Casa,” Priya laughed.

“Babes, I know, right? I mean, look at this champagne. Or should I say, sparkling wine.” 

She pulled a disgusted face as she read it, that matched the one on Chelsea’s. What is this, prison? 

“Yeah, God, Chelsea, it’s like we’re in jail or something,” Lottie said, a little coldly. 

“Oh em gee, I was just thinking that!!!!!” Chelsea squealed, and everyone cracked up laughing, though she wasn’t sure why. But she laughed along with them anyway. 

It hadn’t been the easiest ride for her this far. She hadn’t made that strong a connection with anyone, and now she was partnered with Gary of all people. Gary was flames, for sure, but he just seemed like the kind of guy who dumped his clothes next to the hamper instead of in it. Who left the bath mats dripping wet. The kind of guy who… no. Dare she say it? The kind of guy who… didn’t like throw pillows.

Severest of ew, gasp and horror, followed by an extreme no, thank you!!!!! 

Jenny hadn’t had much luck, either. Despite having all the guys (and Marisol) fighting over her, she’d been in nothing but friendship couples, except for a brief fling with Rocco. 

Mmmmm, Rocco. The scruffy, untamed, ‘help me, I’m a project!’  kind of boy was so deliciously appealing to her. Then again, most boys were deliciously appealing to her. Though for the last few days, she’d been vibing particularly hard with curls. And with Irish accents. 

She wasn’t quite sure why. 

Anyway, she hoped there was someone for both her and Jenny. Hopefully not the same someone, that’d be totes awkward. 

Chelsea’s hand slipped into Jenny’s, and they made their way out to the Casa lawn, waiting for the boys, and keeping her fingers and toes crossed that they liked different ones.

Well, they did. Kind of. 

They were all super hot, obviously, and Chelsea was immediately very flattered when Elijah started paying her lots of attention. But something felt… wrong. Even as she was making out with Elijah, and he had his hand inside her bikini top, it felt wrong. 

What was it?

It was an odd feeling. She wasn’t sure it was what she wanted. Almost like she wasn’t being true to herself, which was absolutely impossible. She was always true to herself. 

Literally gasp.

It hit her all at once. 

It must be Gary!!!!! She must’ve liked him more than she thought she did!

She sat as still as she could while Jenny did her makeup, going on and on about how angry she was at Gary. How frustrated she was by the things he’d put in her suitcase. How angry she’d be if Gary cheated on her, et cetera, et cetera, quid pro quo, mens rea.

Jenny agreed with everything she said, finishing off her makeup for her with a swipe of lipstick. Chelsea looked in the mirror and gasped at how great she looked, inspecting her lipstick in particular with great interest. “Babes, this colour is amazing!!!!!!”

“I know, right? It’s so cute. I love it.”

She grinned as Jenny lifted the colour to her own lips, intent on them matching. But as Jenny moved in closer to the mirror, Chelsea froze. 

From where she was standing, she could see Jenny’s reflection in the mirror. Jenny’s full, pouty lips looked so perfect as the colour glided over them. Her eyes were squinting, and she furrowed her brow with concentration. 

God, she was beautiful. 

Chelsea’s eyes fell lower, to the soft curve of Jenny’s breasts, the peek of her bra making her face a little warm. She snapped back to attention at the sound from Jenny’s lips as she smacked them together with a loud mwah. 

The entire night, Chelsea felt a bit weird. So weird, in fact, that she barely even noticed Elijah’s hands in her bikini top. Barely even noticed that he seemed a bit put off by the fact she decided to share a bed with Jenny, instead of with him. Barely even noticed the other girls as they drunkenly peeled off their dresses to jump in the showers.

She’d seen Jenny naked loads of times. It was kind of necessary after some of the challenges. What was she going to do, ask Gary to help her in the shower? No!!!!! It was always Jenny. 

But as she slipped into bed beside her, the smell of Jenny’s bodywash overwhelmed her. She always smelled good, like pears and wet limestone. There was a crispness to her that just felt so exciting. She was the human embodiment of champagne; bubbly and flirtatious, fresh, but with an edge that said ‘why don’t you take a sip of me?’.

Chelsea snuggled in close to her, wrapping her arms around Jenny’s middle. She sighed happily as Jenny’s nails scratched through her hair, gently pulling loose the few tangles that didn’t immediately fall free. 

The lights went out, and Jenny turned to her side, facing Chels.

“Hey,” Jenny whispered. “I kissed Arjun.”

Chelsea tried her best not to squeal. “And?!?!?!?”

Jenny shrugged. “It was okay. A bit sloppy.”

“Sloppy how?”

“I dunno,” she whispered. “Just, like…” 

Jenny took Chelsea’s face in her hands, and pulled her in, flicking at her lips with her tongue. She opened them, and Jenny slipped her tongue ever-so-softly in. Chelsea practically saw stars, but was completely frozen, as Jenny pulled away. 

“...Like that.”

Chelsea swallowed, hard, her heart racing.  “Um, I dunno, babes, it felt fine to me?”

“Mmm, maybe. I’m probably just being judgemental. Maybe I’ll have to kiss Elijah to be sure?” She teased. 

Chelsea giggled softly. “You go right ahead, babes, I’m not sold on him yet. We should definitely kiss as many people as we can while we’re here. You know, for science.”

For science.

Something was very, extremely, quite wrong. 

Jenny did her makeup again, lighter colours for the daytime, but Chelsea looked at herself in the mirror, and didn’t like it as much. 

“Can I borrow that lipstick again, babes? The one from last night?”

“Yeah, babes! Of course!” Jenny smiled. “Catch!”

She tossed it to her, and Chelsea caught it. She inspected it, the metal case feeling cool in her hot palms. She twirled it over and over in her hand, before some writing caught her eye. Chelsea glanced at the bottom of the case, and saw the name of the lipstick shade. 

Ruin our Friendship.

Huh. Weird, she thought, swiping it onto her lips. 

“You know what, babe?” Jenny smiled. “I want you to keep that one. Something about it just screams ‘you’ to me.”

Chelsea beamed at her. “Oh my god, babes!!!! That is like, so sweet? Thank you!!”

She walked over to Jenny, taking her face in her hand, as Jenny giggled furiously. 

“But we still have to match.”

Jenny pouted her lips, the way she had in the mirror, her eyes heavy as she looked seductively at Chelsea. Chelsea’s heart started to race again, as she thought about how Jenny’s lips had felt on hers. How soft they were. How delicate and gentle her tongue felt. 

She swallowed hard, and finished doing Jenny’s lipstick. “Um… done.”

“Thanks babes!”

The challenge was… it sucked. 

Chelsea grabbed Elijah, and pulled him in the pool to kiss him, but she wasn’t sure why, and it only got worse from there. 

Jenny kissing Carl. Jenny making Kassam blush. Jenny getting a piggyback from Arjun. 

Why was this driving her crazy?!?!

Every time one of the boys put their hands on Jenny, they looked like it was the best day of their life. And every time, it made Chelsea so angry.

Not one of these boys was good enough for her bestie. Not one. She wished there was a number smaller than one, because that was how many of them deserved Jenny.

Finally, Jenny’s phone chimed. “Take any islander of your choice into the closet for as long as it takes the others to…”

But Chels lost all sense of hearing as Jenny grabbed her hand. Her heart was pounding, as she watched Jenny running in front of her, laughing almost in slow motion. They reached the closet, and Jenny wrenched the door open, pushing her inside. 

As she closed the door behind her, Jenny moved in close to her. The scent of pears and wet limestone swirled around her head, almost making her drunk. They stood in the dark, Jenny giggling furiously, but Chelsea was quiet. 

“What’s wrong, babe?”

Chelsea took a sharp intake of breath. 

“That lipstick,” she whispered. “Why did you give it to me?”

Jenny said nothing, but drew a sharp breath herself. They stood in silence, the darkness surrounding them as if they were under the covers again. 

“Because you’re my best friend.” Jenny whispered. But she moved closer. Chelsea reached for her, her fingers brushing against the soft skin of her forearm. Jenny stepped closer again, and Chelsea’s hand traced up her arm. 

She could feel the heat from Jenny’s breath on her lips, and she hesitated for only a moment. 

“I wanna ruin our friendship.”

She heard Jenny’s breath catch. “Massive same, babe.”

Chelsea crashed her lips into Jenny’s, her hands in her curls, and she felt like her entire body ignited. Her heart was racing, her palms shaking, every inch of her completely in flames as she pulled Jenny’s face into hers. Jenny’s hands fell to her waist, and Chelsea gasped as her fingers traced her exposed skin. 

Everything about it was screaming in her head. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It was right. It was perfect. It was what she wanted. It was where she was meant to be. It was true.

The door beside them swung open, and they were blinded by the amount of light that flooded in to the small closet. 

Chelsea’s head snapped to the side with a scowl, and she was met with Elijah’s shocked face. 

“We’re done wi– Chelsea, what the hell?”

“Oh my god, Elijah, fuck off.” She reached over, and slammed the door shut, pulling Jenny back into the kiss. But Jenny cracked up laughing.

“Okay, so it seems like you might’ve wanted to do this for a while, then?”

Chelsea laughed, kissing her again. “If you didn’t want me to kiss you, you shouldn’t have worn such pretty lipstick.”

There was a beat of silence, before they both gasped. 

“PILLOW!”

[tyongxnct]

𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜�� - 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝐿𝑒𝑒

pairing: Mark Lee x reader

special guest: Jaehyun, Johnny, Yuta, Jungwoo, Taeyong, Doyoung, mention of Haechan

summary: Years ago, you were deeply in love with Mark Lee. He’s your first love and you thought he’d be the last. After finding out why he really dated you, he broke up with you and vanished. You were devastated and heartbroken. Now you were at the airport as the maid of honor of your best friend Aera, her wedding’s in Greece and you were flying three days earlier with her, her fiancé Jaehyun and his best man. Little did you know that Mark Lee was Jaehyun’s best man. Feelings you thought you had buried deep inside bloomed again.

song: back to you - Selena Gomez

genre: exes-to-lovers!au, angst, smut, fluff

warnings: smut, alcohol consumption, swearing

word count: 11.7k

A/N: I’m finally done. This is the last fic of my series and I can’t believe that i’m done with this series. This series means so much to me, not only because I love Selena Gomez, but also because of the meaning behind evey story. Thank you for all of your support, thank you for every comment, like, reblog, ask and follow. This is just the beginning. Also thank you for requesting that you want to read a second part to some of my stories, I’ll try to write them in the upcoming month, march. I hope you enjoy. Thanx

taglist: @alex-chann​, @aesthetichrj @bvbyxuxi​​

© tyongxnct on all platforms

Took you like a shot Thought that I could chase you with a cold evening Let a couple years water down how I'm feeling about you And every time we talk Every single word builds up to this moment And I gotta convince myself I don't want it even though I do

“I have BIG news!” Aera squealed as soon as you opened the door for her. She hugged you tightly and started jumping, you jumped with her even though you had no idea why.

“Why are we jumping around?”

“Greece! I’m getting married in Greece!” she yelled happily, “You know that it’s my dream to get married in Greece and my amazing soon-to-be-husband surprised me with it! Oh god, I  can’t believe I’m marrying Jaehyun in fucking GREECE!”

“Holy shit that’s great! But can we stop jumping I might puke.”

You sat down on your couch with Aera, “We need to start planning, the wedding is in 3 weeks. I’ve sent the invitations right before I came here. We booked a hotel with the best view ever and my wonderful maid of honor aka you are flying with me and Jaehyun a two days earlier, you know, to get stuff done and the others come one day before the wedding, your man too, by the way. I can’t wait for my bachelorette party- but remember, I promised Jaehyun no strippers.” Her eyes sparkled as she talked about her wedding and you started thinking about your own future.

Were you ever going to get married? You want to get married, you really do. But what if you never get the chance to? Your boyfriend hated to talk about commitment and marriage, he said living together and dating was enough, but you never felt the same way. You wanted to get married, you want a ring on your finger, and you wanted to call him your husband, not your boyfriend.

Aera left after a while and you were alone, until you heard the door open with a sigh. “I’m home.”

His voice, no, his existence alone triggered you and without knowing you plugged in your earphones. “I said I’m home Y/n. There she fucking goes again, god I’m not going to deal with you tonight.” And without saying anything after that, he left again. Minho, your boyfriend of two and half years, always left you alone. He never bothered to talk to you about the problems in your relationship and after trying and trying, you were sick of it.

Dating him was almost torture but breaking up with him was also difficult. You were so scared of being alone, of not being loved.

Almost three weeks later, you found yourself at the airport with Jaehyun and Aera. Jaehyun looked at his watch every two minutes and he looked really nervous too. “Where the fuck is he?” he mumbled and Aera kicked his leg. “Ouch?” he hissed in pain. “Sorry baby didn’t mean to kick you that hard.”

“What is going on here? Who are we waiting for?” you asked confused. “You didn’t tell her?” Jaehyun asked his fiancée. Aera shook her head.

“W-Well about that- uhm, there’s one thing I have to tell you, but don’t get too mad,” Aera looked at you nervously, “you, uhm… you remember Mark Lee, right? Please forgive me for not telling you, but- fuck, he’s Jaehyun’s best man. He’s coming with us.” Aera closed her eyes, scared of your reaction.

“You are joking right?” your heart pounded against your chest.

“N-No, I really didn’t know that you didn’t know- a-and you know, Mark’s my oldest friend and yeah, and uhm, fuck he’s coming act natural.” Jaehyun looked at his phone and laughed, even though his screen was dark and Aera laughed with him.

“How the fuck am I supposed to act natural?!” you almost yelled bus as soon as you heard Mark’s little hi, your heart stopped beating.

It’s been almost three years since you heard his voice. Every memory played in your mind like a sad movie, the second he asked you to be his girlfriend to the end of your relationship with him, the moment he broke your heart almost made you cry again, but Aera stepped on your foot and you came back to reality.

“Hi.” You said coldly, his last word replaying in your head over and over again.

Aera and Jaehyun watched you and Mark awkwardly and Mark couldn’t find any words to say, except for, “H-hi.”

“Sooo, now that everyone’s here,” Jaehyun handed you your tickets. “Thanks.” Mark mumbled.

You were about to go on board, you didn’t say a word since Mark came and he was busy talking to Aera and Jaehyun. “Y/n, we’ll see you guys when we land alright?”

“What do you mean?” you asked confused, “We sit together? Right?”

“W-Well about that- we are flying first class, we wanted to spoil ourselves a little- please don’t get angry I’m sorry I am so sorry.” Aera whispered and you felt like you could explode any second like a volcano.

“Y-You mean… you’re telling me I have to sit with him for the next couple hours?! All alone?!” you tried to whisper but it was loud enough for Jaehyun and Mark to hear.

“shh! Just, I don’t know, sleep, or watch a movie or maybe just talk to him like a grown up, please do it for me?” she pouted.

“I’m gonna be wasted when we arrive in Greece.” You couldn’t be angry at her. “As long as you don’t kill him.”

Jaehyun and Aera entered the plane first and left you and Mark alone. “So, how have you been?”

The audacity.

“Good.” You mumbled. How long until you could enter that fucking plane?

“Me too, well, I’d say ok-“

“Look, Mark. I’m doing this for our friends, okay? I’m not interested in your life. I don’t want to talk to you unless it’s about the wedding. Did I make myself clear?” maybe you were mean and bitchy, but after everything he had done to you, you didn’t care.

He just nodded and looked down to his feet.

Half an hour later, you were seated on the plane right next to Mark. It’s not your first time flying, but it was Mark’s first time, and he was fucking scared.

“This is captain Lee Taeyong speaking, I’m your pilot for our flight to Mykonos, Greece. My co-pilot for today is Kim Doyoung. Please enjoy your flight.”

After the announcement and the instructions, you were ready to go.

The plane started moving and you could feel Mark tensing up next to you. His grip on the hand rest tightened and his knuckles turned white.

You tried so hard to ignore him, but you couldn’t. You should laugh at him, take pictures of his suffering- but you held his hand and assured it him that it’ll be over.

Mark looked at you and then back at your hands. Your thumb slowly stroked his hand and he stopped thinking about the plane and he could only think about your hand holding his.

You held his hand until you saw the flight attendant walk around.

Mark thanked you but you ignored him.

“Hello, would you like to have some water or coffee?” the flight attendant asked you and Mark.

“Just a water please.” Mark said.

“Do you have something stronger? Wine? Or champagne?”

“Sure ma’am.”

“Alright I’d like to have some champagne.” You smiled and she nodded.

Mark looked at you, eyes a little wide.

Four glasses later, you were a little tipsy.

“I think you had enough-“ Mark tried to stop you from ordering another glass.

“You don’t know anything about me!” you protested.

“Y/n, get some sleep come on-“

“Mind your own business.” You plugged in your Airpods and ignored him. You didn’t want him to interact with you and If you have to stop drinking for him to shut up, you sadly had to.

You closed your eyes and leaned back. You didn’t notice Mark’s eyes on you, watching your pretty features as your chest raised with every breath you took.

Shortly after, you fell asleep.

You could break my heart in two But when it heals, it beats for you I know it's forward but it's true

Three years ago

“It was a game. I won and now it’s over.” Mark said coldly as he looked away.

“What do you mean a game? And what is over? Mark, babe, I don’t understand.” Maybe you knew, maybe you tried to hide the fact that you saw it coming. Your relationship was too good to be true.

“I told my friends that I could fuck you within a year, and I did. We’ve been dating for ten months. I won. I can’t believe I waited ten months to fuck you.” He said casually.

“What?”

“Are you deaf? I fucked you and I got a lot of cash in exchange. Now we’re over. As simple as that.”

“You’re joking? Right? You love me, Mark. We love each other. It’s not funny.” Your voice broke.

“I’m not fucking joking,” he showed you the money he got, “Now, please get the fuck out of my apartment. Oh, and take your toothbrush with you.”

You were crying and that annoyed him. “Why are you fucking crying?!”

“M-Mark please don’t do this- I love you. I have never loved anyone like I love you. P-Please tell me you’re lying.” You sobbed.

“You know what, I’m leaving. Leave before I come back.”

Mark didn’t want to leave, but watching you cry and sob hurt him, he would never admit that to you but deep down, he felt something for you. Mark thought ending things with you was better than walking on eggshells. It was a matter of time until you would find out. He didn’t want to risk you finding out from someone else. The least he could do was tell you, face to face.

You loved him, you really loved him so much. He was a perfect boyfriend. There was not a single day you doubt him or your relationship. It hurt, you first ever heartbreak and you didn’t know how to handle the pain.

I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to When I'm lying close to someone else You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it If I could do it all again I know I'd go back to you I know I'd go back to you I know I'd go back to you

After your breakup with Mark, you felt your life slowly falling apart. You were barely present in class and you stopped interacting with your friends. You drowned in self-pity and you fell deeper and deeper. Only Aera was there for you. After so many years of friendship, she always got your back.

“Is the pain ever going to stop?” you asked her between sobs.

“Honey, it’ll take a while, but I promise you, it’ll stop.”

Aera and Jaehyun were dating since first year of college and he told you that he had no idea about his oldest friend’s plan. Jaehyun was happy to see his friend happy- because was happy whenever he was with you. You went on double dates and spent so much time together, Jaehyun really thought that you and Mark were going to end up together.

“I swear I didn’t know. His other friends- that Haechan guy and the others were with him. He never told me because he know that we’re friends.”

“It’s okay, Jae. You’re not as childish as they’re. Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

And Jaehyun and Aera never left your side until college was over. During your time thinking about life and finishing college, you met Minho, your current boyfriend. You started dating and you thought he’d help you get over Mark, but he only made you feel worse.

He was a fuckboy, he fucked anyone with tits, and even though you knew it, you still agreed to date him.

Multiple fights and breakups followed, and you always end up at Aera’s or Minho would leave for a couple days.

Whenever you were lonely, and it was the case most of time, you thought about Mark. You missed him, his lips, his touches, the way he laughed and his silly jokes. You missed the way he said I love you and how warm and loved you felt with him.

No matter how hard Mark hurt you, you didn’t regret falling in love with him. You’d do it again and again.

We never got it right Playing and replaying old conversations Overthinking every word and I hate it 'Cause it's not me And what's the point in hiding Everybody knows we got unfinished business And I'll regret it if I didn't say this isn't what it could be

Two days until the wedding

Mark shook you softly and tried to wake you up. “Hey, Y/n. We’re here. Wake up.”

“Just a little longer Markie.” You mumbled in your sleep as you held his hand. When you landed, Mark got scared again and just held your hand without asking you. You were asleep after all.

Mark’s heart was about to explode. He blushed at the nickname. You used to call him Markie every time you were sleepy or acting like a baby to get his attention.

And every fucking time he fell for it and his heart softened. “Okay baby.” This time Mark stroked your hand with his thumb.

About three minutes later, the flight attendant came to wake her. “Sir, ma’am. You need to leave the plane. We landed almost ten minutes ago.”

You slowly woke up and stretched your arms. “What? Oh, sorry.” You stood up, a little too fast. Everything was spinning, Mark held your waist and you fell on his lap.

“Are you sure we landed? Everything’s spinning around.” You held your head, not noticing that you were on Mark’s lap. “Y/n, uhm, could you stand up? But do it slowly this time!” he still held your waist. “What? Oh, shit, sorry.” You stood up, a little slower this time.

“Y/n! Mark! What took you so long? What the hell?” Aera looked strictly but as she saw Mark’s arm around your waist she softened. “S-she’s a little tipsy.” Mark said, cheeks red.

“Of course, she is.”

“Am not! Oh my god, the weather is so good!” your eyes were slightly open but as soon as you saw the sea and the beautiful architecture your smiled brightly. You pushed Mark’s arm off and started unbuttoning your shirt.

Mark’s eyes widened, and Jaehyun turned around, he didn’t want to watch you take off your clothes. Aera’s mouth fell open and Mark kept on watching you. Your tank top under your shirt rose a little and Mark’s eyes travelled to your soft skin. You put your shirt in your handbag and took out your sunglasses.

Mark’s eyes never left your body, his eyes going up to your breasts. He needs to get away from you or he’ll lose his mind.

“You can turn back baby, she’s wearing something underneath.”

“J-Jaehyun maybe we should… you know.” Mark locked eyes with Jaehyun.

“What you mean Mark?” Jaehyun asked cluelessly.

“A car, you know, for the hotel.”

“Oh yeah right. Ladies, don’t move away, we’ll go rent a car.” Jaehyun kissed Aera and then they left.

“I’m going to kill him.” You breathed out after Mark left. “You won’t.” Aera posed next to you as you took selfies together. “I will. I hate him. He acts like nothing happened, like, like he never broke my heart. As if we’re old friends or shit like that.”

“He acts totally shy around you. I think you intimidate him. Did you see how he watched you when you took off your shirt? That idiot was and is so into you.” Aera always thought that Mark loved you, no matter what he did. You don’t date someone for months just for 50 bucks. “He’s a man. As soon as they see tits, they’re on their knees.” You laughed.

“Well, maybe you should let him kneel for you a little longer. I guess he’s into that.” She giggled.

“I can’t believe that you just said that.” You closed your eyes. “Well, Jaehyun’s into that.”

“Jaehyun’s into what?” Jaehyun asked as he heard his name. “Into me of course.”

“That’s why I’m marrying you.” He pulled her in for a kiss- a very steamy and hot kiss. “Hello? Keep it PG-13 please.” You looked at them with disgust in your eyes. Mark awkwardly coughed next to you. “The car is ready.”

You were in the backseat with Mark, he was a little close for your liking. “Your leg is touching mine.” You said. “And?” he asked.

“I don’t like it.”

“Sounds like a you problem.” He said back. “Excuse me?” you said in disbelief.

Jaehyun and Aera locked eyes for a second.

Aera turned the radio louder and it was your song.

“Y/n! Isn’t that your favorite song?!” she yelled through the music. Mark glanced at you. He remembered the song. You had your first kiss with Mark, and that song was playing in the background. You were in his car, just like right now, in the backseat.

“No. It’s not.” You said as you looked out.

“What? But it’s in your Spotify playlist. What was it called? Fav songs? Best songs? His songs? My songs?” she kept on asking and you couldn’t take it anymore. “’Our songs’ but I deleted that because that playlist was stupid. Now, please. Change that songs.”

Mark smiled to himself. You still had the playlist called our songs? Mark and you created that playlist when you were dating and you always listened to it, over thousand times and it never got boring.

“Fine.” She sighed. “No! Don’t change that song. I-it is my favorite song.” Mark said and you looked at him with furrowed brows.

“Okay.”

“Change it.” You demanded.

“Don’t.” Mark was looking at you too. “Aera, change the song.” You said through gritted teeth.

“Aera I’ll jump out of the car If you change it.” Mark threatened.

“He won, Y/n, sorry. He threatened with his life.”

You didn’t say anything because the song changed. You looked back to your phone, ignoring Mark.

“We’re here.” Jaehyun parked the car and you mouth fell open. The hotel looked stunning. “Holy shit. This place is fucking gorgeous.” Aera said happily. “Only the best for my fiancée.” Jaehyun was fucking cheesy but Aera loved it.

The hotel was not exactly like a hotel. It was more like little white house’s next to each other with a pool and a perfect view. The house was bigger than you thought, many guest rooms, a big room for the couple and a very big room for you and Mark, at the end of the hallway, far away from Jaehyun and Aera’s room.

“If you excuse us for a while, we have things to discuss in our room,” Jaehyun said as he winked at Aera. “But we’ll get dinner together. Don’t go too far, stay in your rooms or go swimming we don’t really care just leave us alone for an hour-“ Aera kicked his leg again. “or three.”

After unpacking your stuff, you decided to go to the pool. You changed to your black two-piece swimsuit and left your room and at the same time Mark opened his door and left his room. He was in his swim trunks and he stopped his movements as soon as he saw you leaving your room.

Mark tried to hide his gaze on your body, but he was quite obvious. “Stop staring.”

“I-I’m not staring.” He looked away.

“Sure.” You made your way outside, to the pool. It was extremely hot, you put your towel on the beach chair next to the pool and sat down, ready to put on some sunscreen. Mark entered the porch and looked at you. You put sunscreen on your legs and didn’t break the eye contact.

You wanted to tease him, provoke him so you put on a show. You slowly pulled the straps of your swimsuit down and slowly put the sunscreen on your neck and shoulders until you reached the upper part of your breasts. You didn’t need to look at Mark, you felt his eyes on your as he put his stuff down next to you.

“Mark?”

“Y-Yes?” he stuttered, his focus on your breasts.

“Could you help me? I can’t reach my back.” You said innocently.

Mark gulped, “Y-yeah I can, uhm, I can do that for you.”

Mark wasn’t the only one watching. You watched him too. You watched him take off his shirt and you couldn’t look away. He looked hot, hotter than before. Did he start working out? He caught you watching him and smirked at you. You threw the sunscreen to him and turned around. You untied the bikini bra but held it against your breasts.

He squeezed a little on his hand and slowly put it on your lower back, slowly massaging it into your skin. You didn’t know If his hands were cold or If the sunscreen was cold, but after he touched you, your entire body shivered. You got goosebumps, you even felt your nipples harden.

“Yes Mark, just like that.” You teased him again.

“Feels good?”

“Mhm…” you moaned.

His face was close to yours, you could feel his breathe against your neck. His hands slowly travelled down, slightly about your ass. “Hands up, Mark.” You pushed his hands up again, you wouldn’t let him touch your ass.

You leaned back, your head was resting on Mark’s shoulder. You were sitting between his legs and you grabbed his thigh after he put a little bit pressure on your back. You weren’t going to lie- it really felt good. Your muscles relaxed, you closed your eyes and just let him touch you.

“You want me to go harder?” he whispered in your ear. “Yes, please go harder on me.” And he did. You squeezed his thigh, your hand travelled higher and higher, “Fuck.” He mumbled under his breath and when you stopped, you moved forwards. “That’s enough.”

You tied your bikini bra back up and turned to him. He quickly tried to hide his bulge with a towel. “Are you perhaps turned-on Mark?” you mocked him.

“Your nipples are hard. I guess you are turned-on.”

He was right. You were turned on and your nipples were hard. “No, I’m not. Why would that turn me on? My nipples are hard b-because it’s cold. And stop looking you pervert!” you crossed your arms in front of you and made your way to the pool.

“Cold my ass.” He mumbled.

You slowly entered the pool, step by step. The temperature was good, you hoped your nipples would calm down. You watched Mark enter the pool, he was on the other side looking at you.

“This is my side and that is yours. Stay on your side and don’t bother me.” You told him strictly. Mark nodded and watched you. You just stared at each other and then Mark dove into the water. He swam towards you and when he got out, he was right in front of you, face, and hair wet. Chest rising and falling, eyes on you. Mark was really close, like, really close. You could feel the bulge against your thigh.

“What are you doing?” you asked.

“Swimming.” He caged you in his arms and pushed your body softly against the wall. He looked at you and the beautiful view of Greece and the ocean he had.

“Swim on your side of the pool.” He was annoying you so much.

“I have a better view from here.” Mark said as he looked you in the eyes. “Fine, you can stay here-“

“Don’t go.” He whispered. “Why? I’m blocking your view.”

“You are the view.”

You didn’t say anything back- you couldn’t. Your heart was beating against your chest, breathing got difficult and you couldn’t calm down. He was so close, you were about to lose your mind.

Mark wasn’t doing any better. You looked ethereal. You looked as beautiful as the first time he had met you. You were even prettier and the way you were so cold to him was kind of hot. Mark thought that his feelings for you died but seeing you after such a long time only made him realize, that his feelings for you got even stronger.

He always asked Jaehyun about you, but Jaehyun punched him and told him to fuck off because he had hurt his girlfriends’ best friend and his own friend, too. In Jaehyun’s eyes, Mark was a great friend, and he would trust him with his life, but after what he had done to you, Mark lost the right to know about your life. Still, Mark tried to find out If you were feeling any better after the breakup. If you were happy without him in your life, but he always failed and reaching out to you would be the worst thing he could do to you.

Mark’s hands were on your waist. He pushed his body against yours and he knew how nervous you were, but two can play this game.

Your hand was on his toned stomach, caressing it softly and then going down. You never broke eye contact and when your hand landed on his crotch, softly squeezing his bulge, he let out a moan. You were bold, you kept on playing with his bulge and Mark’s lips were attacking your neck. He placed soft kisses and started sucking.

“Fuck, Y/n. It feels so good. Please don’t stop.” He moaned as he squeezed your waist slightly. Before you could realize what exactly was happening, your phone rang.

“Ignore it.” Mark mumbled, his lips leaving your skin for a second.

“Mark- no.”

“Please… I’m so close.” He kissed your neck up to your jaw. You wanted to keep doing whatever the fuck you were doing with fucking Mark Lee, but your phone never stopped ringing. “You’re close?”

“Yes baby, so close.”

And you stopped your hand movements immediately. “W-What no please-“ he begged but you pushed him away. “You’re a big boy, right? You don’t need me.” You stepped out of the pool and wrapped the towel around yourself. Mark was painfully hard, and he was about to cum.

You took your phone and looked at the messages you just got. Minho texted you and you realized that you just gave Mark a handjob, even though he didn’t cum, and you totally forgot about Minho’s existence. Not that Minho always had you on his mind.

“You have got to be kidding me.” You said.

Mark looked at you curiously.

You called Minho immediately, not caring If you lost so much money since you called someone abroad.

“What the fuck does that mean?!” you asked angrily.

“I’m busy- I can’t attend the wedding.”

“Busy my ass, fuck you. This is my best friend’s wedding, the least you could do is to come to the wedding and stay next to your fucking girlfriend.” You were so angry, you didn’t care about anything.

Mark didn’t want to listen to your private conversation- and he had to jerk off- but after hearing the word girlfriend, he stopped in his tracks and listened.

“I have so much work and it’s just a wedding- I’ll make it up to you.” Minho said but you were distracted by the voices and music. “A-Are you at the club? You promised you’d never do that again?!”

“I’m with some colleagues-“ he lied.

“It’s fine. I don’t have time for this right now.” You hung up without listening to him any further. You were exhausted, so fucking exhausted. You turned to your left and saw Mark watching you. “Who was that?” he asked.

“None of your business.” You were cold to him again. Mark was about to say something, but you left without giving him the chance.

The only thing on your mind right now was Mark’s lips on your body. You took a hot shower and changed into a pretty sundress, perfect for the hot weather.

Mark was under the shower, after he jerked off, you still didn’t leave his mind. All he could think about was you and the person to whom you were talking.

After an hour, Aera told you to get ready- you were all going out for dinner. You all got ready and left the house. You were in the backseat with Mark again, not exchanging a word with the three, you were in your own world.

When you felt Mark’s hand on your thigh you turned your head to him. “Huh?”

“Burgers? What do you say?” he asked softly and pulled his hand back. “Sure.” You just wanted to drink, you didn’t care about food.

Jaehyun parked next to a restaurant and when you entered, you were all shocked. It was a beautiful restaurant with a terrace and a pretty view. Aera was next to you, Jaehyun across from her and Mark right across from you.

It felt like back then when you were going on actual double dates. “I think I have a déjà vu?” Jaehyun laughed awkwardly. “Ouch!” Mark yelped. “Sorry Mark, I wanted to kick Jaehyun.” Aera said. “Why would you want to kick me?” he asked his girlfriend. “Babe, shut up.” It was so awkward.

Mark looked at you, he knew exactly what Jaehyun was talking about. “Do you guys remember when the waiter pushed Jaehyun’s head into the cake?” Mark laughed at the memory the four of your shared. You didn’t say anything, but the others laughed. “Oh my god that was hilarious. He tasted so delicious.” Aera winked at him. “Okay, well, uhm, I wasn’t talking about that.” Mark scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“My baby likes it when her fiancée tastes like strawberries.” Jaehyun smirked at Aera.

“This is absolutely not something we want to hear, Jesus.” Mark said disgusted.

After finishing dinner, you walked on the beach together. “Hey, babe, what’s on your mind?” Aera pulled you back to talk to you. She knew something was up.

“I just- Minho isn’t coming and I’m not sad about it. Why am I not sad about it?” you asked her. “Thanks god- I mean, I think your brain started working finally. Do you even see a future with him?” she asked you. “No, I don’t b-but I’ll never have future with anyone- I guess I’m just not worth-“

“If you dare to finish that sentence, I’ll push you into the water.” Aera threatened you. “Listen, I know when you are happy, and there was not a single time you were happy in that relationship, not like you were with that dumbass-“ she pointed at Mark, “The last time I saw you truly happy was with him, and I’m not saying go get Mark, I’m saying that Minho isn’t worth it. You are too good for him and there’s someone who loves you so much and who deserved your love and attention. Not that looser.”

And your eyes never left Mark’s back.

Something inside you switched, you don’t need a man next to you to be happy, well definitely not a man like Minho- he wasn’t even a man. After all the tears and fights you finally opened your eyes, and you knew that you deserve better.

“Fuck this shit I’m breaking up with that piece of shit.” And you really did. Aera held your hand as you dialed his number and called him.

“Y/n? It’s fucking 4 am.” Minho said. “Babe-“ you heard in the background, but you didn’t fucking care.

“You know what, I don’t even fucking care. Do whatever you want- thanks god you aren’t coming. I don’t have to make memories with an asshole like you. Go back to your slut. I’ll get my stuff when I’m back. I’m done with you” And you hung up.

You felt better than ever before.

You didn’t feel like crying- you were happy, you wanted to make great memories with your best friend and after so many years, you finally broke up with Minho. You felt free and when you looked to your left, to the stunning view you had, you just smiled.

“I’m so proud of you. You know, there are a couple single friends of Jaehyun coming to the wedding, maybe you’ll get some dick.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Jaehyun’s friends? Are we really sure about that?” you joked, looking at Mark again.

“You are right.”

Meanwhile, Mark and Jaehyun were talking about you.

“Dude, she was talking about someone not attending the wedding and like, she said girlfriend or something, I don’t know- is she… is Y/n dating someone?” Mark asked, he was scared of the answer. He had hope to get you back, but when you were someone else’s, he couldn’t do anything.

“Yeah, Minho. Such a piece of shit, like, he’s worse than you-“

“Hey!”

“Sorry, but like, what you did was an asshole move but he’s like constantly an asshole, I think that’s worse than being a dick just once. He cheats and yells and is so fucking disrespectful, if it weren’t for Y/n I’d kill him and I can’t believe that he’s coming to my wedding, god.”

Mark was shocked, you’re really dating someone like him?

“Why isn’t she leaving him?” he asked Jaehyun. “I don’t really know, they started dating right after you left, maybe she tried to move on with him.”

Mark knew he had hurt you really bad, but you tried to move on that soon? Why did you touch him like that when you have a boyfriend? Why did you let him kiss your neck and be so close?

“Let’s go to the club!” you yelled happily, and Mark turned to you. “Club?” he asked.

“Yes, the fucking club, I want to get wasted!” you sang happily.

And the next stop was a club. After a couple shots (Jaehyun didn’t drink anything except for water, he’s the driver), you and Aera danced on the dancefloor happily together. You felt so alive and excited, you jumped around and Mark couldn’t keep his eyes away from you.

The way your dress slightly rose and exposed your beautiful legs. He hoped nobody else was looking at you like he did.

“You’re staring.” Jaehyun said.

“Am not.”

“You’re so fucking obvious, it physically hurts me to see you like this.” Jaehyun patted Mark’s back.

“Do you think she still hates me?” Mark asked. “Well, I would.”

“That’s not helpful.” Mark gulped down another shot. “Alright, I’m sorry. She’s like, pissed, but I don’t think she hates you.”

“Baby! Dance with me!” Aera pulled Jaehyun to the dance floor and he didn’t resist. He had to show everyone that Aera was his girl, his fiancée. Dancing slowly turned into a make out session and not even five minutes later, they left the dancefloor and entered the restroom.

After dancing for so long, you returned back to your table. “What are you doing here all alone?” you asked Mark.

“Drinking.” He drank shot after shot. “Share with me.” You sat down next to him, really close. Your thighs touching and his gaze on your legs made you smirk.

“Let’s play a game. We’ll ask questions and If we don’t want to answer, we take a shot. Okay?”

You nodded, that could get really interesting. You ordered a whole vodka bottle and started the game.

“Ladies first.”

“What a gentleman. Well, okay, I got a question. Did you get to cum today?” you asked boldly. “I did.” He smirked at you.

“Okay, uhm, were you turned on?”

You took a shot, yes you were so turned on, but you wouldn’t say that out loud.

Mark looked you in the eyes, “Do I look hot?”

“So fucking hot.” Mark said without thinking.

“Do you want me to touch you?” he asked now, you took a shot, which was a pretty obvious answer to him. He put his hand on your thigh. He squeezed slightly. “I never said yes.” You said. “You also never said no. Do you want me to stop touching you?”

“It’s not your turn.” Which meant that you didn’t want him to stop touching you.

After a couple shots, Mark finally asked you the question he was dying to ask.

“Did you miss me?” his face was serious, and he looked you the deep in the eyes. Whenever Mark asked you a question to which you couldn’t say no, you took a shot, just like you did at this question. Mark knew that you had missed him.

“I missed you. So much.” He came closer, nose brushing yours. Mark pressed his lips on the corner of your lips. He slightly pulled back and you looked at you, you weren’t stopping him, so he continued.

The next kiss landed on the tip of your nose and then on the other corner of your lips. Mark squeezed your thigh with a little bit more pressure as he finally placed his lips on yours. Mark kissed you slowly and without realizing it, you kissed him back. You shut your eyes and let him kiss you. He kissed you with so much passion, so much longing and you cupped his cheeks to pull him closer.

His right hand held you by your waist and squeezed it, you gasped, and he put his hot muscle in your mouth. His tongue was playing with yours, he sucked on your lower lip and you could feel yourself getting wetter with every touch and every kiss. You forgot that you were in public, everyone could watch your heavy make-out session with Mark.

“M-Mark-“ you moaned.

“Mhmm…” he didn’t want to stop-

“Mark- there are people around -fuck- us-“ when he started kissing your neck, you lost it.

“Don’t care.” And he kept kissing your skin. “I can’t get enough of you.” He smirked as he left a mark on your skin.

You opened your eyes and saw Jaehyun and Aera coming. You pushed Mark away and acted like you didn’t just have the best kiss of your life.

“We’re done,” Aera giggled, “We should go back, it’s late and we should get sober until tomorrow night. I want to remember my bachelorette party.”

You just nodded, grabbed your purse, and left the club with the others coming after you.

The car ride was awkward. Mark wanted to hold your hand, but you tried to leave as much space as possible between you. Your head was spinning, you wanted him but the voice in your head told you to back off.

Mark was silent the whole ride back and after you left, he could finally breath again.

“The others are coming tomorrow, I trust my best man to take care of them.” Jaehyun and Mark talked on the way back to the house and you tried to ignore the fact that Mark was really walking right next to you.

“Of course, dude. You’re bachelor party is going to be crazy, by the way.” Mark planed something big for Jaehyun.

“No strippers.” Jaehyun warned.

“No strippers for you.” Mark teased even though he was suddenly not interested in seeing women, except for you. You were on his mind and you just didn’t want to leave.

That kind of hurt you.

You accidently locked eyes with Mark, and he wanted to punch himself. “I- I mean I don’t want them either- you know? I swear I didn’t book any strippers.” Mark tried to save himself, but you just rolled your eyes.

“We’re going to have strippers though, Aera.”

“What? Aera, babe, I thought we said no strippers.” Jaehyun pouted.

“I told her! Y/n No strippers!” Aera panicked.

“No strippers for you.” You mocked Mark and he glared at you.

“No strippers and that’s final.” Jaehyun said strictly like a dad, pointing his finger at me.

“I was just joking- don’t worry. No strippers. Promise.”

You could break my heart in two But when it heals, it beats for you I know it's forward but it's true

The next day was hectic. Family members and friends finally arrived and you, as the maid of honor, tried your best to be there for them and for Aera. Mark on the other hand just hung out with Jaehyun. The wedding is tomorrow and the bachelor parties are tonight. Aera was a little stressed, even with your help. She was talking with the catering company and you could see how exhausted she was.

“Aera, go take a long relaxing bath, I got this. I have your list and all of the information. Let me manage this, you need to relax and enjoy this. I don’t want you to stress.” You told her.

“You’re right, I trust you with this.”

You did everything you had to do. You were done with the check list and when you were about to go to your room to take a quick nap, a voice interrupted you.

“So, Y/n. Did you get hotter? Or is it just the weather in Greece?”

You turned around and faced Johnny Suh. A close friend of Jaehyun and he was always flirting with you, even when you dated Mark, but it was harmless. He was always nice and kind and you flirted back, just for fun of course and well, you liked making Mark jealous.

“Oh look at you! Long time no see.” You hugged him and the other boys trailing after him. Mark leading the boys and watching you and Johnny flirt right in front of him.

You hugged the others, and they didn’t know how to act, since Mark was glaring at them, which you didn’t notice.

“So Y/n, do you need any help?”  Johnny said, winking at you.

“I’m actually done with everything, I was about to take a nap.”

“A nap? Come on, we’re in Greece. Let’s go to the beach.” Johnny suggested and everyone agreed with him, even Mark.

You thought about it for a second. Going to beach sound perfect, who knows If you ever come to Greece again.

“Alright, I’ll go get my stuff and change.”

You changed to your bikini and a sundress. You packed your back, a couple towels, sunscreen, and your sunglasses. The boys were already waiting for you. Jungwoo, Mark, Johnny and Yuta were the only ones who wanted to go to the beach. Jaehyun was napping and the others wanted to go to the city.

You were sitting between Jungwoo and Mark. Johnny was driving and Yuta took the passenger seat. You pressed your legs together, you didn’t want to touch Mark’s legs. After everything that happened last night, you were scared and you didn’t know what to do. Mark wasn’t doing any better. It was so awkward and if he could, he would kiss you again.

Not even 15 minutes later, you arrived at the beach and it was such a beautiful view.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.” You said with wide eyes.

“Not as beautiful as you are.” Johnny flirted and you softly hit him on the shoulder, “Shut up.”

Mark tried to ignore Johnny’s flirty behavior, but it was so hard, even back when you and Mark were still dating, he hated it whenever Johnny flirted like that with you. He didn’t even know why, he shouldn’t have cared, he was only dating you for the money, right? But now it was different. Now he cared even more, he wanted you and it drove him crazy that you ignored him all day.

When you settled down right in front of the beach, Yuta and Jungwoo dropped everything and ran straight into the water.

“They didn’t put any sunscreen on.” Johnny mumbled, “Can you help me put some on Y/n?” he asked you.

“Sure.”

Once again, Mark wanted to punch his friend.

The way you put sunscreen on Johnny’s back was quick, you wanted to annoy Mark, you didn’t want him to think that you were really interested in Johnny. Johnny thanked you and asked you if you need help too and when you nodded, Mark remembered when he put sunscreen on your back yesterday.

Mark smirked at the memory, you’re so beautiful and your moans were so pretty and-

Mark’s thoughts were interrupted by you.

“Johnny, you are so strong, it feels so good.”

How could you say that, Mark thought.

“Y/n are you still with that piece of shit?” Johnny asked you as he massaged your back. “No I broke up with him.”

“So you’re single right?”

“Fuck- Yes, single.” You closed your eyes and enjoyed the massage you were getting.

“Hyung, I think Yuta is calling your name.” Mark interrupted.

“I can’t hear anything?” you mumbled.

“For real, he called your name just a second ago, maybe you should go look after him.”

Johnny’s plan worked. Johnny could hear the jealousy in Mark’s voice. Johnny wasn’t really interested in you, yeah you were pretty and you have a great personality, but you were still Mark’s ex-girlfriend and Johnny knew that Mark still liked you, even though he never admitted that.

“Alright, maybe Mark can continue?” Johnny asked you.

“I don’t know… Mark’s not as strong as you are.” You teased.

“I am strong, did you forget about yesterday-“

“Okayyyy.” Johnny laughed awkwardly and left you two.

Mark placed his hands on your back, he softly massaged you. You were laying on your stomach and Mark slowly untangled your bikini straps.

“How is this?” he asked you as he put a little pressure on your back.

“G-Good, so good.”

“You like making me jealous huh?” his hand travelled down but he stopped right before your butt.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You said innocently even though you knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Oh baby, you do. You know what I’m talking about,” he put a little bit of pressure on your neck, “I really want to spank you for behaving like a brat.”

“Do it.”

“Don’t play with me.” Mark bend forward and pressed his lips on your bare shoulder. He left wet kisses on your skin and you closed your eyes and let him.

You missed him. You missed Mark so much. You wanted him and he wanted you, but there was still something holding you back.

You got interrupted by the ringing of your phone.

Mark pulled back and when you tried to stand up to reach for your phone, you forgot that your bikini was loose.

“Oh shit-“ you laid back and Mark giggled. He tied your straps back together and you finally answered your phone.

“Hi Aera, yeah we’re at the beach. Everything is done, don’t worry I took care of everything. Yeah be ready at 9 I’m not telling you what I’ve planned. The dress code is red and short. No Jaehyun won’t get jealous because he won’t get to see you until the wedding. Oh, I’m- I’m with Mark right now- would you shut up we’re not-“ you glanced at Mark who was already looking at you, “I’m hanging up now.”

Aera teased you with Mark, she asked you why you were alone with him and if you were doing dirty things with him.

“I’m going to the boys, are you coming?” you asked him softly.

Mark just nodded and trailed after you.

I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to When I'm lying close to someone else You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it If I could do it all again I know I'd go back to you I know I'd go back to you

After your fun beach day, you got ready for the bachelorette party. Aera’s three other friends were also coming and knew about your plan. You booked a limousine and a VIP place in a club, it wasn’t much, but Aera liked it the traditional way.

After changing to a short red dress with thin straps, you put on makeup and you were ready to go. The others were also ready and Aera tried to hide herself.

“Jaehyun can’t see me like this- he’d rip this dress off me, then he would fuck me and then he would burn it.”

“Calm down, Johnny told me that they already left.” You assured her.

“Fine. Fuck I look so hot.” Aera opened her front camera once again and looked at herself.

“Yes you do and now let’s get wasted!!” one of her other friends said.

Driving in a limousine was fun, Aera popped the champagne bottle carefully and after driving around the city for 3 hours and having fun in the limousine, you arrived at the club.

You entered the VIP lounge and the night started perfectly. Everyone was having fun, dancing, and drinking.

Aera secretly texted Jaehyun that she missed him and loved him. She also left for about five minutes just to talk to him in the restroom.

“Where the hell were you?” you asked her.

“I was talking to Jaehyun I’m sorry I’ll turn my phone off now.”

And she did, of course after she texted Jaehyun that she was turning her phone off, she didn’t want him to worry and also have fun.

After that, Aera drank and danced like there was no tomorrow.

You were also having the time of your life, it’s been so long since you danced freely in a club. No, it’s been so long since you had fun at all. When you were with Minho, you never had any fun. It was always about him, his pleasure, his feelings, everything about him. All you could think about was Mark when you were with Minho. No matter how much Mark hurt you, when he was your boyfriend, he was always perfect. He valued you more than Minho ever did. You shouldn’t be thinking about Mark when you were lying next to someone else, but you couldn’t help it.

“Y/n?”

You turned around and your eyes met Mark’s.

“M-Mark? Are you real? Or am I dreaming?” you giggled, you were tipsy.

“I’m real,” he stroked your cheek, “This island is so small, we ended up at the same club.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck and he put his hands on your waist. “I was thinking about you the whole day.” you admitted, you were drunk and drunk you always said the truth.

“Me too. Couldn’t get you out of my head.”

“Are you drunk?” you asked.

“No, but I’m still telling you the truth. I missed you.”

“I miss-“

“Y/n! Jaehyun is here and he can’t see Aera, it’s almost midnight! It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!” Aera’s friend giggled, “and she’s so fucking drunk and I’m so drunk too,” she giggled again.

You sobered up quickly, thanks god you didn’t drink much, there has to be someone sober enough to take care of everyone and you could never forgive yourself if anything happens before the wedding.

“I’ll take her back to the hotel, you guys can stay and have more fun.” You told her and she thanked you and told you to call if anything happens.

Mark followed you, he helped you carry Aera to the taxi.

“I’ll come with you.” Mark said.

“Don’t worry about us. I can take care of us, go have fun with the boys.” You smiled softly.

“No I want to be with you- I mean, I was bored anyway, and tomorrow is the big day, I should have some… sleep.” He scratched the back of his head nervously.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

When you arrived at the hotel, Mark helped you carry Aera to your room. She was going to stay with you for tonight, Jaehyun shouldn’t see her before the wedding.

“Sleep tight, tomorrow is going to be your big day.” you said as you tugged her in.

You turned to Mark with a small smile on your face, “Thank you. For helping me with her.”

“Of course. Uhm, do you, only if you want to of course, do you want to drink something with me? In m-my room if that’s okay for you. I mean it’s still early and I’m not really sleepy, you know.” Mark rambled.

“Yeah, sure.” You said shyly.

Mark opened the door and you entered his room. His room was clean and had a perfect view. Even at night, the view was beautiful. The lights in the dark, the moon shining brightly, it looked mesmerizing.

You stood in front of his window and Mark watched you with a smile on his lips to you, the view was everything but to Mark, you were everything. You looked absolutely beautiful to him.

Mark took a couple steps and was now right behind you. He wrapped his arms around you and put his head on your shoulder. You intertwined your fingers with his and pulled him closer to you.

“It’s beautiful.”

“You are beautiful.” He whispered softly against your ear.

You turned around, his arms still around you and his face so close to yours.

“I couldn’t tell you this in the club so I’m going to say it now,” you whispered against his lips, “I missed you too, Mark. I missed you so much.”

And without thinking twice, you both leaned in and kissed.

You closed your eyes immediately and you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him even closer, he did the same, he pulled you closer by your waist and pressed you against the window.

He kissed you gently and slowly, your heart pounded against your chest and Mark’s heart was racing, too. As if time stopped right there, as if they were never apart. Mark’s right hand was on your jaw, softly pushing your head up to get better access to your mouth, you let out a soft moan, Mark used the opportunity to meet your tongue.

The kiss was perfect, slow but still so passionate.

Mark pulled back, you were breathing heavily and heat rose from your stomach to your chest, a feeling you couldn’t really describe.

He left wet kisses on your cheek, down to your jaw and then your neck. You tilt your head back, Mark sucked on your soft skin as your hands tangled in his hair, lightly pulling.

You could feel yourself getting wetter and wetter, you just wanted to take off this dress and let Mark fuck you.

“D-Do you want this?” he asked you.

“Yes-“ you whimpered as he sucked on your sensitive spot.

Mark pulled you to his bed, with you on top of him straddling his lap. Your lips connected again, you tried to unbutton his shirt as he grabbed your butt softly and squeezed it.

You almost ripped his shirt, but you didn’t care.

It was your turn to press your lips on his neck.

Mark closed his eyes, the way his crotch met you when you pressed yourself against him, the way your lips kissed his soft skin, leaving pretty marks on Mark.

Mark couldn’t take it anymore. His pants were so tight, it almost hurt. He wanted to feel you, he needed to feel you. Mark changed positions, he was on top of you now.

“Take this off- please, fuck, take this off now.” He looked for the zipper of your dress and when he finally found it, he wanted to cry.

He took off your dress, and fuck, he was going crazy. You weren’t wearing a bra, only your black panties.

“Fuck, you’re so perfect.”

The way Mark looked at you made you feel so beautiful. You weren’t shy like you used to be, you felt good and you wanted him so bad.

You pulled him up for a short kiss.

Mark took off his pants as fast as he could and he was painfully hard. He couldn’t wait to be inside of you. His lips were on your nipple, he sucked on your breast and his hand was playing with the other one. After sucking on your one nipple, his attention was on the other one. “Mark- fuck, it feels so good. Please don’t stop.” You moaned.

You were so wet and feeling Mark’s cock against your thigh turned you so on.

While playing with your nipples, his one hand found your pussy. He stroked it over your panties, but then his hand travelled in your panties and he started playing with your wet pussy.

“Baby you are so wet. All for me?”

“Yes, yes. So wet for you, Mark.” You closed your eyes tightly. It felt so good to feel his hands on you again.

Even thought Mark wanted to taste you, he couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to be in you now.

“You can take me, right baby? I need to fuck you.”

“Please fuck me Mark.” You also couldn’t take it anymore, you needed to cum.

Mark took off his boxers and hovered above you. “F-Fuck I don’t have a condom.”

“You don’t have a condom? Why?” you asked him.

“Well, I didn’t think that I was going to fuck you here.”

“What if you’d met someone else here?” you asked curiously.

“I’m not interested in someone else. I want you- I always wanted you.” He admitted shyly.

You looked each other in the eyes for a couple seconds, he leaned in and pecked your lips. He pulled back and looked at you again.

“You can fuck me without a condom. I’m on the pill and I haven’t had sex in months,” You can’t even remember the last time Minho fucked you. “And I never fucked without a condom after I had sex with you.”

“Me too. I mean after… after you I haven’t fucked raw.”

“Okay.” You said softly.

“Okay.” He leaned in and pressed his lips on yours.

While kissing you, he slowly pushed his cock in you. You grabbed his biceps tightly, he stretched you, you haven’t been fucked in so long, you got even tighter.

Mark pulled back and looked at you. “You feel so good around me. So, so fucking good. I missed you so much.” With that, Mark pushed his entire length inside of you.

“Fuck-“

He was fucking into you, slowly but hard. You could feel his entire length and he always hit your sweet spot. “Right there- Mark, fuck.”

“I-I want to ride you. Mark, fuck.” You moaned.

Mark turned you, you were now on top of him.

You bounced on his cock up and down, his hands on your waist pushed you down and he thrusted his hips to fuck into you. Your hands were on his shoulder, holding him. Even though you wanted to ride him, he was fucking you hard and good.

“M-Mark I’m gonna cum. Fuck Fuck Mark-“

And then your climax hit you. You collapsed on top of him and he still fucked into you. “Fuck feel so good. Y-you feel so good.” Mark was so close and the way he kept fucking you overstimulated you. You clenched one last time and Mark came inside of you, painting you walls white. He moaned your name as he came and you could feel him twitching inside of you.

Mark wrapped his arms around you and pressed you against his chest. Mark pulled his cock out of you. You could hear his heart beating against his chest.

The night was perfect, after cleaning you up, you were wrapped in his arms once again. You talked about everything that night. Everything you had missed when you were apart.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

“Sure.”

“Did you ever love him? Minho or whatever his name was.” Mark was jealous, even though you were in his arms.

“No, I don’t think that I’ve ever loved anyone, except for you. I always loved you.”

Mark smiled and kissed your temple.

“Why were you with him? Why didn’t you break up with him? Jaehyun told me that he’s an asshole.”

“After- after you broke up with me, I was… lost. I didn’t know what to do. I felt worthless and just- useless. He made me feel- wanted? I don’t know. I needed someone to forget you and he didn’t care. He never cared about me but he made me believe that he loved me. And that’s all I wanted. I just wanted to be loved.” You whispered the last part. A tear escaped your eye and you were quick enough to wipe it away. But Mark still noticed.

Mark felt bad. He never wanted you to feel this way. You were a dream. You were so perfect and it was his fault that you felt worthless. If anyone was useless, it was Mark.

“It’s my fault a-and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that you felt that way, but it’s not true. You are so much more. You are perfect in every possible way. You are more than anyone could ask for. I’ll never forgive myself that I made you feel this way.” Mark teared up and pulled you even closer.

“C-Can I ask you something?” you asked this time.

“Y-Yes.”

“What did you do with the money?” you were always curious about that.          

Mark gulped hard, the memory pained him. “I gave it back.”

“What?”

“I couldn’t take money from a stupid bet, a bet that hurt you. I wasn’t proud of what I did. I wanted to forget that it happened, that I did that to you. I wanted to erase that from my memory. But I couldn’t erase you.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you. I loved you back then and I love you now. I never stopped loving you but I was too scared to reach out to you. I thought you hated me and it took me long to realize how much I love you.”

You looked up to him, you didn’t want to cry but your eyes were teary. “You love me?”

“Yes, I love you. I love you so much. There was not a single day without missing you, not a single day without regret eating me alive.”

“S-So you still love?”

“Yes. I love you.” He looked you deep in the eyes.

“I love you too.”

Mark smiled widely. Oh, how he missed hearing that you loved him.

“I’m sorry for everything.”

“It’s okay.” You pecked his lips but that wasn’t enough for Mark. He climbed on top of you and kissed you passionately.

His hand was on your naked thigh, stroking it softly. You were wet and when Mark put his hand on your wet pussy, you moaned.

Mark circled your clit and his tongue played with yours. It felt so good. He slowly put two fingers inside of your cunt and thrusted them in and out. You clenched around his fingers and you could feel your climax coming. Mark added a third finger.

His lips were back on your skin. Mark softly kissed your boobs and sucked on your sensitive nipples.

“Are you going to be a good girl and cum?” he asked you between his kisses.

“Yes- I’m so close.”

“Look at me.” His face was close to yours again, and when you looked at him, at his dark doe eyes, you came.

After you calmed down, you glanced at the clock in the room.

“Shit, Mark. It’s almost six in the morning. We need to sleep.”

You talked the whole night and after two orgasms and cuddling, you didn’t notice that it was already this late.

“But I’m hard.” He pouted.

“Do you want me to suck you off?”

“Yes, please baby, please suck me off.” He begged.

You were on the edge of the bed, your face right in front of his hard cock.

You slowly licked from the bottom to his tip. You pumped his cock in your hand a couple times before you put it inside of your mouth. After pumping him, you licked the slit on his tip.

“Babe- don’t tease me.” He whimpered.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Anything- but just please, do something.”

You put his entire length inside of your mouth, bobbing your head up and down and pumping the part of his dick you couldn’t put inside of your mouth.

You stopped bobbing you head and stared licked his tip again. “Babe- please. Please make me cum.”

Mark was going crazy. He needed to cum, his cock was so sensitive now, he twitched every time you licked or touched him.

“Okay, baby. I teased you enough, I’ll make you cum. You want to cum right?” you kissed his cock and he nodded. “Please. I want to cum on your face.”

You sucked his dick properly this time, he was so sensitive and so close, not even ten seconds later, he came on your face, just like he wanted to.

“Fuck, fuck fuck. That was so fucking good, babe, fuck.” Mark was breathing heavily, the intense orgasm tired him. You cleaned you face, fortunately he only came on your face and inside of your mouth.

You crawled back to him and kissed his lips. “Thank you.” He thanked you. “I love sucking your dick.”

“No, well yeah thank you for that too but I’m thankful for everything. Thank you for forgiving me.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

And you fell asleep in his arms.

I'd go back to you I'd go back to you What was there, wasn't sure But I'd go back to you I know I'd go back to you

Not even three hours later, your alarm clock woke you and Mark up.

“I don’t want to leave you.” You mumbled.

“I don’t want you to leave either. Stay a little longer.” He kissed your shoulder.

“I can’t I have to wake up Aera. It’s her big day, it needs to be perfect.”

“Everything you do is perfect.” Mark flirted.

“Shut up, I’ll see you later okay? Thank you for last night.”

“I love you.” He leaned down and kissed you. After kissing for two minutes to pulled back again. “I have to go.”

“Just five more minutes.”

Almost thirty minutes later, you tiptoed to your bedroom. Aera was wide awake playing with her phone when she saw you.

“Where the fuck were you and why are- oh my god.” Aera understood immediately. “You bitch fucked Mark didn’t you.”

“Yes, and now shut up and get ready for your wedding day!”

“I know I know, but like, I’m happy if you are happy. Are you happy?” she asked you worriedly.

“Yes. I’ve never been happier I think.” You smiled. You were really happy and so in love with Mark.

“Then I’m happy.”

Hours later, you found yourself in your maid of honor dress, looking absolutely gorgeous. Mark was helping you with everything. With the catering company, the guests and everything else that needed to be taken care of.

Mark stole kisses from you here and there and now he pulled you back to his bedroom and kissed you intensely.

“You look so stunning- I can’t stop staring at you. I love you, pretty girl.” He kissed you again.

“M-Mark fuck, you look so hot and I really want to fuck you, b-but, fuck we can’t.” you closed your eyes and let him kiss your neck.

“Okay, okay. I’m trying to stay calm, but fuck, you look so good I want to rip that dress off.”

“We’ll have the whole night. Let’s go back, people are going to get suspicious.”

When you went back, you met Johnny and Yuta on your way.

“Where are you two coming from?” Yuta asked.

“My bedroom- ouch.” You kicked Mark’s leg.

“What were you doing in your bedroom?” Johnny asked amused. “Do you want me to show you?” Mark asked with a smirk.

“Mark? What the f-“ and then Mark pulled you in and kissed you fully on the lips.

He could finally show Johnny that you belonged to him, that you always belonged to him.

“Well I guess we saw that coming.” Yuta laughed with Johnny. The two left and you were still kissing.

“Ew! He is eating her Mommy!” you heard a little girl scream.

You pulled away immediately and apologized.

Mark laughed his ass off as he walked you to Aera’s dressing room. “I’m going to eat you tonight. But not your mouth. I’m going to eat your cunt.”

“I can’t wait. I’ll see you at the ceremony alright? I need to stay with Aera now.”

“Okay baby.” He kissed you goodbye.

The wedding ceremony ended so quickly, next thing you knew you were in Mark’s arms slow dancing. Aera and Jaehyun’s wedding was truly beautiful. Everything went smoothly and you were finally resting in the arms of your lover.

Aera and Jaehyun were also slow dancing and smiling happily. Not only because it was the most important night of their lives- also because their best friends were finally happy together.

“Y/n?” Mark said your name softly.

“Mhm?” you hummed with closed eyes.

“I’m really sorry that I put you trough all of that, and I’m sorry that it took me so long to realize my real feelings for you. You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met in my entire life and I’m going to do everything I can to keep you in my arms. I don’t want to see sad ever again. I’ll love you until my last breath.”

You promised yourself you weren’t going to cry that night, but a couple tears still escaped.

“You know, I was hurt but I healed and I’m more than ready to do this with you again. It was you. My heart always longed for you, and I don’t think that there could be anyone I would love as much as I love you. You could break my heart thousand times, I would go back to you over and over again.” You looked up to him, he could see the love you felt for him in your eyes.

“I love you.”

“I love you.” And with that, Mark pressed his lips on yours and kissed you with so much love and adoration.

I'll go back to you I'll go back to you I know I'd go back to you I'll go back to you I'll go back to you I know I'd go back to you

[fiorserpen]

the faerie tilts her head slightly, staring up at him in mild confusion. she can't really tell if he's laughing at her or the comment she made. it's... safe to assume it's the comment, right? she hopes so. she's not really in the mood to be laughed at tonight.

" o-oh, military? " that's... well. he doesn't really seem like military, but then again, she can't say she's got any military friends or aquaintances. she wouldn't really know what they seem like, save for in movies and books, but of course agatha knows well enough to take depictions of things like that with a grain of salt.

...exact shoes? agatha isn't sure she knows what he means by that. maybe just that he's run into dates that were just rude, and, as he put it about her date, obnoxious as well. everyone probably experiences that at some point. " well... i-i think t-t-tonight's e-experience is enough to put me e-even more off of blind dates. " agatha admits with a sheepish laugh, glancing away as she rubs her neck.

agatha looks back up at john. strong moral compass, huh? she supposes she could agree with that. " oh, i-i-i d-don't drink the strong stuff. " she giggles, shaking her head. " i don't even l-like beer. i— i-i'm m-more of a wine o-or champagne person. even then, i don't... well, a-alcohol and i don't mix. " or rather, her depression and alcohol doesn't mix. depending on her mood prior to drinking, she could be either very giggly or very sad.

she glances away, thinking. maybe she could turn this night around, couldn't she? the night is still young, she's free now and he also has no one to spend this time with. agatha's gaze flickers back up to him and she smiles, her features brightening, her eyes sparkling. " um... j-john, right? at least, th-that's w-what the bartender said. i'm agatha. m-m-maybe y-you'd still let me b-buy you dinner? i-it's th-the least i can do and i'd really like t-to turn tonight around for the both of us. "

   trouble.  the  mere  thought  of  him  getting  in  shit  for  something  like  that  has  him  start  laughing.  genuine  amusement  mixed  with  a  clearly  boisterous  nature.  he  waves  it  off  with  a  flick  of  the  wrist. 

   "nae  -  ain't  gonna  get  shite  flung  back  at  me  fer  it."  a  snicker  passes  before  he  jabs  his  thumb  to  his  chest.  "military.  cap's  gonna  have  my  back  -  if  not  him,  then  my  lt  will." my  lt.  yeah  -  feels  about  right.  too  bad  he  couldn't  con  ghost  into  coming  out. 

   "payin'  me  back  -  hen,  i  dinae  do  it  fer  that."  he  shakes  his  head,  shrugging.  "jus'  am  not  the  guy  who  can  stand  other  obnoxious  guys.  trust  me  -  i've  been  in  yer exact  shoes."  he  grimaces  for  a  moment,  before  taking  another  sip  of  his  scotch.  yeah,  he  remembers  what  it  was  like  to  be  a  girl.  he  hated  it  -  he  can  only  imagine  the  struggles  as  he  stands  now  -  though  he  has  his  own  fair  share  once  he's  outed. 

   "call  it  a  strong  moral  compass,  aye?"  he  lets  out  a  chuckle,  remembering  all  the  times  he's  gotten  away  with  swinging  wildly.  always  choose  a  guy  who's  causing  more  trouble  than  hitting  him  would  splash  back  to  you;  that's  the  golden  rule  of  thumb.  so  far?  it's  worked. 

   "should  jus'  enjoy  yer  night,  lass."  soap  gives  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders.  "goin'  out  should  never  be  a  negative  experience."  yet  -  sometimes  it  really  is.  going  to  drink  had  become  normal  to  him  -  he  wishes  it  hadn't.  sometimes...  he  does  it  to  forget,  to  take  his  mind  away.  maybe  he's  doing  that  again  tonight.  he  doesn't  know.  "but  if  it's  been  that  bad,  remember  -  tequila  to  remember,  whiskey  to  forget,  aye?"

[museenkuss]

If I remember correctly, you once mused about Bilderbuch's lyrics and their play on words (I don't find the post, though, so I might be wrong?)... Now I'm curious to know if you have any favorite songs by Bilderbuch? ✨

Ahhh sweetheart!!! you're not wrong!! I did talk about them a while ago while talking about German books(..?) I think? I'll try to find the post 🌹🌹

first of, I have to say that I still prefer the albums up to and including Magic Life. But now.. Favourite songs!

[I know this is a very German conversation, language-wise, but since we're having it in English, I added lyric translations as well (as well as I could, considering their writing style and my limited poetic abilities)...🍊✨]

Feinste Seide I can't put into words how sexy this song is to me. It's bubbling cool champagne on overheated skin, it's smoke and divans, it's a boudoir and Basil's studio/living room in the first chapters of Dorian Gray and a bar with sticky floors. Utter decadence with that hint of rot - & sie tanzen wie die Fliegen um das Fleisch. But again....breathtaking imagery: Heiße Luft, so flüssig wie Kristall. [and they dance like flies around the flesh. // hot air, liquid as crystal]

Schick Schock Incredibly sexy as well, in a subtly different way. It's less dangerous than Feinste Seide, more utter confidence. More sequins, less Baudelaire. Another song I'd love to pour into a glass, drink up and embody.

Jesolo it's so shrill, so fantastical. In einem Land in dem Milch und Honig dir die Augen verkleben, wankst du durch einen Wald aus Menschen [In a land in which milk and honey glue your eyes shut, you stumble through a forest of people] - incredible imagery. Breathtaking. I also think it has that particular Puppenspiel/Gauklerspiel vibe to it that in my opinion works really well here. It’s very Hoffmann, it’s very Ur-Faust.

Karibische Träume I know I talked about this one before, but it genuinely is one of my favourite songs. Poetic, intricate, lovely. Wenn ich träume, träum ich nur von Dir / Wenn ich träume, fallen mir die Zähne aus. [When I dream, I only dream of you / When I dream, I lose my teeth] Hypnotic! Freudian!! ICH SEH AUS WIE EIN GEMÄSTETER SCHWAN <- girlie I am LOSING it. absolutely incredible. I genuinely love that line so much. [I look like a fattened swan]

Die Kirschen Waren Toll Again. I wish I could stop saying that their songs are sexy and decadent to me but - sieben Schläge mit dem Stock auf das Knie und ich steh noch. [seven strikes with the stick to the knee and I'm still standing] The Venus in Furs vibes of it all. Du bist ein Kampf mit dem Teufel auf dünnem Eis. [You're a fight with the devil on thin ice] <- the hunger, the way he draws out that "Du"... Exquisite. And him comparing his flesh to cherries, something sweet that that stranger sinks their teeth into only to break their teeth on the pit...I'm growling.

Venezianischer Spiegel It's just another of those "sad relationship and we don't talk about it" songs, I suppose, but somehow, it's dripping with wine to me. The slow, almost languid misery, the cold afternoon..Lovely. Besides, I honestly just adore the term “Venetian mirrors” for two way mirrors. The atmosphere, the implications…And then — Blick ich in dein Gesicht / In einen venezianischen Spiegel [I look at (lit. “Into”) your face / In a Venetian mirror] , only to contrast that, the mirror (delicate, cold, breakable) in the next line with the breaking of a promise and the not-breaking of a silence.…very big cinema etc.

Babylon The ease, the cheek, the sequins and sparkling lights of it all. It's less the lyrics in this one, but, god. To me, it's one of those songs you drink sparkling wine with juice to, eyes closed, the summer evening seeping in through the open window if possible, and voilà - ich lebe in Babylon, Babylon, Babylon, Babylon

Rosen zum Plafond This one just won't let me go. I know I keep saying they're sexy but, wow. It just hooks me from the very beginning, no matter how often I listen to it? Bitte gib mir deine Chance / Sonst treib ich Unwesen vor dem Maison / Pflück den Pfirsich von deinem Baum / Kein gutes Wort, nichts hält mich im Zaum / Ja, ich flüster mich zu dir / Ich bin nicht laut, doch du kapierst [please give me your chance / or else I'll be up to no good in front of the apartment / pick the peach from your tree / no kind word, nothing will stop me / yes, I whisper my way to you / I'm not loud, but you understand] Baroque. Marzipan-sweet, dirty, forceful, charming. And then the girl, who pushes and pulls, moans and throws her hands over her head, throws his roses to the balcony and him out of the apartment, who screams. I love them, I love the energy. And from the sound of this one alone — you can hear them circling each other on polished wooden floors, you can hear the shoves and whispers and moans and screams, the shattered vases and the hands fisted in silk bedsheets. Exquisite.

Kitsch Eine Hand voll Zucker und ein Mund voll Wein [a handful of sugar and a mouthful of wine] - that's exactly the delicious, oppulent imagery I'd been missing from their newer stuff. GOD I love it. It reminds me of Babylon in that, what, Catholic-adjacent hedonism? But also: It's genuinely just a very fun song to me? Same as Sneakers4Free in that regard, I just enjoy listening to it. I remember taking one of my little walks on a summer evening while listening to it and a man stopping his car to to try and chat me up, which is something I 100% blame this song for, you can melt into it and just let that easy confidence lead and move you for a while. Très sexy. And of course -- Aber white jeans on und immer Eau de Cologne!

Bonus: Listening to I <3 Stress always makes me feel like I'm trapped in a nightmare rendition of Patrick Bateman's apartment. Endless white hallways and tasteful 80s decoration and that tan-skinned, bleach-teethed creature somewhere behind me. Also Checkpoint is...okay. Imo. It's very much a late night car drive song, but the video?! The Video???! Amazing. I love it.

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne

Even though I had to exchange my bouquet of sharpened pencils for a pair of champagne flutes and a bottle of Dom Perignon, Lauren Layne's updated You've Got Mail retelling still managed to be the anonymous-dating-app-penpal to real-world-adversaries-to-lovers romance that I wanted it to be. Cheers for that!

Any romcom lover will delight in the opportunity this story offers to fall in love twice, because fall in love twice you will. At least I did. Once, when I was thrown amid the clever messages Sir and Lady exchange on MysteryMate, a dating app where users connect through words first instead of photos. And second, when Gracie Cooper and Sebastian Andrews engage in a battle of wills over what to do with Bubbles & More, the struggling family champagne shop she's inherited, owns, and runs in honor of her late father.

Gracie, the protagonist, was the epitome of a hopeless romantic. A dreamer. Tossing aside her own artistic ambitions to run the family business, to keep it afloat for her father after his death, she'd gotten stuck in a rut. She'd grown all too comfortable with thinking but not taking chances, with not truly living her life because it couldn't meet her expectations. She'd also idealized her perfect man down to the detail. Still holding out hope that she'd meet him one day. Somewhere...

(Enter Sir.)

Sebastian, her rival and eventual love interest, was a stoic dreamboat with aqua blue eyes plus a business proposition to boot. (He wanted to buy her out of her lease. Neither she nor her siblings wanted to sell. Naturally--conflict and heated repartee ensued. I am not complaining!) Emotionally-repressed-until-not seems to be how I like my fictional men so it should be no surprise that I enjoyed that trait most in him. And in Sir. He also helped give Gracie the push, the courage to be brave and follow her heart that she needed, so I admire him for that.

The plot was rather formulaic. Nothing all that subversive or surprising in its midst, but I didn't mind. I found I liked the predictable momentum that existed between the Sir/Lady and Gracie/Sebastian storylines.

It didn't hurt that the dialogue was lively, either. Or that the side characters added to my bevy of enjoyment. I think Keva, the friend/neighbor/cook, was my favorite--she was just so infectious, so vivacious! The things she could do with a makeup brush and some eyeshadow, though. Who needs a Fairy Godmother when you have friend in Apartment 3B who can do the trick just as good, you know what I mean?

(Pssst: can I get a Keva and Grady sequel, by the way?)

The rivals to lovers romance part of the story perhaps was not as developed as I wanted it to be, especially since they had an "at hello" attraction, but it worked well enough. Gracie and Sebastian's development was sweet, entertaining. I was more than happy to see my way through their meet cute to their cooking class shenanigans to their Sir/Lady reveal.

It was worth every fluffy, fizzy sip of sparkling wine!

Much like Nora Ephron's beloved romcom, this was cute, hopeful, jolly, and fizzy with champagne feelings. Like Kathleen Kelly would say, it was full of all those dating/courting nothings that, at the end of it all, "turn out to mean so many somethings."

Okay, fine, so that means it might have veered on the side of Cinderella cheesy at times but it did so in a way that allowed me to revel in the optimism that things will work out. That one day we'll follow, not merely acknowledge, our passions. That we'll find support where we need it in trusted colleagues or friends, in family members who will be there to lend a helping hand when it feels like the world's tumbling down on our heads. That we won't be afraid to strike out on our own, to try for something we want. That maybe, just maybe, we'll be lucky enough to bump into the love of our lives as we chase a twenty dollar bill, or log onto a dating app, or stand in line for coffee, or argue over the merits of lemon sorbet vs. gelato for no other reason than we can because the opportunity is upon us. It's there.

I think that's what was so refreshing about this novel: the hope it exuded, the cheerfulness. The promise of a happy ending. Couldn't we all use some of that happy magic right now? I know I sure can.

You know what, why don't you just leave me here all sappy sighs and grins? It's where I belong anyway... 3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my review!

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