#i drew them from memory so uhh sorry off model?

[spaceistheplaceart]

began playing professor layton with a friend. we started it kinda late so I was tired and submitted mongus as an answer but the game registered it as "3" and thus I got the answer right. so little luke will too. great game so far, wtf was the dog puzzle

[stuck-in-hawkins]

October 28th, 1993- Reunion

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)

Pairing: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler

Read on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24656785/chapters/60958708

Will felt completely exposed. He just stood there breathless, staring, with his heart pounding a mile a minute.

Mike stood up from the couch, with that big beautiful smile. Before Will could pick his jaw off the floor, Mike was over to him in a few strides and had wrapped his long arms around him in a hug. Will was trying to process it all, but thoughts, sensations, and memories were crashing like waves against the shore and he could barely keep up.

His senses taking in all the familiar and new with Mike. How there seemed to be a place that Will just instinctively locked into in the embrace. The secure pressure of his arms wrapped around, the scent of some new cologne or deodorant that combined with the familiar smell of Mike that he could never quite pinpoint. There was the feeling of being small in his arms, and an onslaught of memories that beckoned. Will knew he’d lose himself in them if he dwelled but there would be time for that later. It just felt so good to be held by Mike again.

“Hey, Will.”

Will’s mind commanded, ‘Say something!’ He needed to recover so that he didn’t look like some lovesick puppy. But he was still taking everything in. He had only seen Mike a handful of times since leaving for college. He wasn’t used to how wide his shoulders were or how soft he’d gotten. Since 7th grade, Mike had been a beanpole, tall, bony. But now, all his edges were softened. He even had a bit of a belly. Will’s arms wrapped around Mike and felt… hair? Mike had a ponytail.

“Hey, hippie.” He pulled back from the hug. There were curls in the front of his face that were still too short to reach but it was plain as day: he had a ponytail. Will chuckled, “Since when did you decide to do a ponytail?”

“Since the last time the barber hacked off my hair.”

Will laughed, “You mean that buzz cut? That was two years ago!”

“Yep.” He took the hair in hand and flopped it so that it rested on his shoulder. It was a little past his shoulder. “This stuff grows like weeds.”

“Well, I’m still betting you’ll be the first to go bald.”

Mike held his hands up. “Don’t curse me like that, Will.”

“Sorry, but only models can have hair this perfect without paying for it later.” He hadn’t meant to, but he touched Mike’s hair as he said it. This would have been fine if he had just played it off. But, when he realized where his hand was, he drew it back so hard he hit himself in the chest.

Will thought, ‘Oh dear, God. Could you be any more obvious, Will Byers?’

And there it was, beneath the familiarity and laughter of friends, all the intimacy that had come during that time. The memory of being someone else’s other half was still ingrained in his every motion. The pathways in his brain had been carved out with each touch and a wall had come down. It could only be held up with conscious effort.

The motion was not lost on Mike and there was a recognition that crossed his face. But Mike smiled. Was it sympathetic, guilty, or just awkward? Will couldn’t tell. He mentally scolded his cheeks, trying to forbid them from blushing. But he could feel the heat rising. He hated being such an open book.

Mike broke the silence, “You always work on Sundays? Busy life on the prop scene?”

Will felt instant relief. Work was a safe topic. “It has peaks and troughs. Right now, I’m working on a bit of a passion project, making a monster.”

“Wait! Holy shit, like for a movie? What one??”

“It’s not for a movie, per say. It’s more like a talent scouting thing.”

Dustin interjected, “He couldn’t tell us, even if it was for one.”

Mike turned, “So you don’t badger him for info, then. Right, Dustin?”

“Uhh. Do you even know me, Mike? Of course, I do! He’s got to crack at some point.”

Will watched the way Mike’s eyes crinkled with those familiar laugh lines. And without even trying, Mike had made Will fall for him all over again. A part of him wanted to fight it, to just be happy with being friends. He wanted to save himself from the hurt that would follow. But this love was a familiar and warm embrace. It woke him up from the pain of that morning’s rejection. It was hope.

Mike was here for the first time in years. He was within reach again. He was gorgeous and smiling. But why was he there? What brought him out to Burbank after so long?

��When did you get in?”

“I think my plane landed at… 3?”

Dustin added, “Yeah. About then.”

“Feeling any jet lag?”

“For that crazy three hour difference?” He laughed. “It’ll probably just feel like a long day. I’m hoping that I can power through until 10.”

“Sounds like a late night for you, old man.”

Mike smirked, playfully, “Listen, just because you are some cool Hollywood cat now,” he poked Will in the stomach. Today of all days, he was wearing his crop top. And the contact was direct, skin on skin, Mike’s fingertips in his stomach for the briefest of seconds. Will felt his heart leap inside him. Mike did a double take looking at his mid drift, which had clear muscle tone. “And apparently working out?” Mike was astounded.

Will flustered, waving his arms, “I’m not like a musclehead, or anything! It’s just a thing I do with my friends from work.”

Dustin leered, “Don’t listen to him, Mike. It’s ‘cause he’s single and trying to bring home a beefcake.”

Will’s head snapped to Dustin. He was getting redder by the minute, “What the fuck, Dustin? BEEFcake?”

“Listen, you can’t bring home gorgeous men and me not talk about it. Seriously, Mike, these guys are all 10’s.” He winked.

Will was staring daggers at him, “I am never making you breakfast again.”

“WAIT! No!” He stretched his arm out, “I’m sorry!! I take it back.”

“Too late. It’s Captain Crunch for you from now on.”

Dustin groaned, and flopped over the couch, defeated. Will’s eyes flicked over to Mike and saw him suddenly self-conscious.

Mike caught his gaze and said, somewhat sheepishly, “I can’t say I’m really surprised, though. You're a catch, Will.” There was a sadness in it. As if Will was out of reach. As if he had been the one that got away.

The sincerity of it left Will speechless. Was he misinterpreting it? He wanted to let him know that the door hadn’t closed, but he didn’t want to be wrong and make things awkward. He’d clear the air later, when Dustin wasn’t there to watch. He couldn’t look at Mike’s face now.

He tugged the longer side of his hair behind his ear. A useless and nervous gesture, as the hair went right back in his face. “It’s not- I’m not-” He stopped himself. Take the compliment, he told himself. “Umm… thanks.”

Will saw Dustin smirking. Was he trying to play cupid? Will was going to chew him out the second he was alone. This was not something to play with.

Will desperately wanted to change the subject, “So, how are we going to show him the best California has to offer?”

“How about Gauman’s?”

Will shrugged, “Sounds good. What do you think, Mike?”

“That’s the place the Oscar’s are filmed at, right?” Mike asked.

“The very same. But, when there’s no Oscars or premiers it’s just a regular theater,” said Dustin.

Mike nodded. “Sounds awesome.” Will smiled seeing the childlike excitement on Mike’s face, the kind he used to get before a much anticipated movie or comic release. Will felt flutters and wondered if he would be coming down off of cloud nine anytime soon.

“Cool,” Will said. “I’ll go get dressed.” He needed to sort out everything going on inside his head.

Mike looked down at his own clothes, “Do we need to dress fancy or something?”

“Well, not exactly. You’re fine. But cut offs aren’t exactly something I wanna wear there.” He gestured at his own clothes.

Mike’s eyes flicked down and immediately looked away, his face beat red. “Oh. Yeah, of course.”

Will blushed. Holy fuck. They were both absolute disasters right now. He walked down the hallway to his room and flopped on the bed. Breathe. Why had Mike gotten so flustered? Why had he looked down? He could feel his stomach flipping at the suggestion in the question.

He had to calm down. But everything inside him felt like an amusement park, spinning, and jumping. How in the hell was he supposed to keep himself together? He had to wait until Mike was alone. It would be better to get it all out, clear the air. But what in the hell was he even supposed to say?

‘Hi, Mike! Nice to see you, by the way, I’m still in love with you. Is this a mutual thing? Or should I have gotten over all this years ago?’

He put the pillow over his head and groaned. He could get through this. At the very least, they would be in a theater. It was a familiar space, where they could forget everything else and just be the Party again, picking apart movies. Unravelling cinematography, digging up meaning, and concocting theories and Will could collect himself.   ______________________________

They bought tickets for Return of the Living Dead 3. It was one of those gritty B rated movies that the party had always loved tearing to shreds. After they gave Mike the unofficial tour around the handprints, they went inside and paid for their tickets. They were making their way past the various displays of movie props and costumes encased in glass when Will’s eye caught sight of something. He turned so fast he nearly got whiplash and made his way over to the case. Inside, there was a set up for Halloween: a town of monsters, each with unique and incredible designs. The setting looked like an ink drawing come to life, complete with the texture of hatching lines on the ground. This parade of characters was led by a charming skeleton in a Santa suit and a girl that looked like a cross between a rag doll and Frankenstein. He read the plaque beside it: The Nightmare Before Christmas.

“Don’t drool on the case, Will.” Dustin teased.

Mike came over, “What is it?”

“These are the stop motion puppets from the movie,” Will answered. He couldn’t take his eyes off the figures.

“Oh, Stop motion! Like the special effects for the older Hollywood films?” Mike asked.

“Or like Rudolph,” Dustin added.

Will stared, “It’s like a cross between the two. It’s completely embracing the horror aspect of the medium and combining it with the whole Christmas movie tradition.” He couldn’t get over the character designs, the idea behind it. The premise intrigued him and he desperately wanted to watch it.

“Should we see that one instead?” Mike suggested.

Will turned, “No! No. I’ll definitely have to come back to watch it though.”

Dustin leaned in, “We have to go see that movie with him, Mike. He’s gonna totally flip shit the whole time.”

Mike crossed his arms like he was studying Will, “You think like Labyrinth level freak out?”

“Hard to say,” Dustin retorted.

Will shook his head, “Nothing will be Labyrinth level freak out. That was a once in a lifetime movie. A high fantasy setting with elaborate backdrops and the most insane special effects featuring David Bowie as the Goblin King, himself.”

Dustin smirked, “Not to mention those pants.”

Will stood up, “Why does everyone always bring up the pants?”

“Because it was an enlightening experience. I finally understood what you see in men. And now I know with certainty that if Bowie were to ever ask I’d- OW!”

Will punched Dustin’s arm. “You’re not gonna finish that statement.”

Mike chimed in, “You know better than to speak blasphemy against The Thin White Duke around Will.”

Dustin played it up, soothing his wounded arm. “Aw, come on, Will. I didn’t mean it, I know you get first dibs.”

“How kind.”

They laughed as they went into the theatre together.   _________________________________________________

It was a tradition of theirs that following a movie showing, they would stand around the lobby and dissect it. However, since the theatre was getting crowded, Will suggested they relocate to the nearby diner. They began picking it apart in the car, shouting over one another the most grotesque or ridiculous parts. Will had the edge in these conversations now, because he could usually determine what exactly they used for certain effects. The guys enjoyed hearing Will’s insight into the behind the scenes techniques. Once they got in the diner and got their seats, the conversation quieted a bit and their ruminations became more well thought out. They cited different camera angles, acting, and plot points. It felt like old times.

After they ordered their food, Will asked, “So, Mike, how long are you in town for?”

“I’m staying for the week.”

Will almost dropped the fork he’d been messing with, “The whole week?!”

“Yeah, I have some vacation time that the boss told me I needed to use before December.”

“You didn’t want to save that for Christmas vacation?”

“Nah. A lot of families take that time off. School, you know?”

“That’s cool of you.”

Mike shrugged, “It’s just the decent thing, you know? El doesn’t really care about the holidays too much so I can be flexible.”

And a cloud swept over Mike’s face. Something he hadn’t wanted to bring up. Someone he didn’t want to mention. And Will could see him brace for the question.

Dustin asked, “How-?” He felt clumsy. “How is she doing?”

“She’s okay. She has her good days and her bad. I told you she lives with me now, right?”

Dustin nodded.

“That day I got my hair buzzed? Bad day.” He laughed it off, “I don’t think she recognized me for two weeks. The worst part? I actually bought a wig.”

Dustin nearly spit out his drink, “You what?”

Will laughed. “You didn’t!”

“Oh yeah. My first toupee. Looked like a fucking mop.”

Will joked, “Oh, please tell me you still have it. I’d pay money to see that.”

“No way. It’s haunting some thrift store now.”

Will shivered. “The worst thing to find there.”

Mike chuckled. He asked, “So, when is Lucas getting here?”

Will perked up, “What??”

Dustin suddenly looked awkward.

Mike turned, “Shit. Was that supposed to be a surprise? I thought he already knew.”

“No, it’s okay. Recover it! Surprise, Will!! Lucas will be here tomorrow!”

The smile on Will’s face could have lit up the city. He couldn’t contain his joy. His friends would be back together for the first time in so long. He didn’t see the way Mike was looking at him, the content smile and the eyes that just couldn’t get enough of Will’s warm glow.

Dustin was beaming, “Max will be picking him up and they’ll be staying at a hotel nearby.”

Will couldn’t believe it. “Dustin, did you put this all together?”

His friend got a little bashful and tried to shrug it off. “I mean… I just made a few calls. Lucas told me he’d be home in time for Halloween and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for a reunion.”

And then, something sank inside Will. Halloween. It had been ten years... Was that why Dustin was doing this? He coached himself, ‘Stop. Stop. Stop. Just enjoy this.’

He smiled. “It’ll be so good to see them again.”

The change wasn’t immediately visible to the guys.

Mike suddenly got excited, “Are we going to have a Halloween party or something to celebrate?”

Dustin answered giddy, “Oh, hell yeah! I mean we have the monster maker himself here!” He clapped Will on the back.

It shook Will out of his head. He saw how excited they were. Maybe this whole thing was orchestrated out of concern for Will, the thought of it stung his pride a bit. But then again, maybe it was the only way to get everyone together. The last time they had all been together had been when Hopper found El… She had been broken, disoriented, and wandering around New York City. The reunion had been one of grieving, trying to heal, and being there for Mike.

That was what going their separate ways had meant- only seeing each other for the big things: weddings and funerals so to speak. So, Will watched Mike and Dustin talking animatedly and let himself get caught up in it, too.

“As much as I’d like to bring the studio stuff home, I don’t think I could get it past Anderson. They get extra uptight at the shop with props and stuff around Halloween. Everyone wants to borrow stuff for their own parties. But I might be able to whip up something homemade.”

Dustin bragged to Mike, “It’s too bad you won’t get to see The Werehouse, Mike. It’s like a cinephile's wet dream. They have a full on werewolf! Fur and everything!”

Will asked, “Why wouldn’t he be able to go?”

“Because visitors are banned.”

“No, you are banned.”

“What do you mean, ‘I’m banned’???”

“You were touching literally everything!”

“And that was enough to get me banned?”

“You gave Scottie such agita, I thought she was going to have an aneurysm. Do you not remember her following you around, asking you to put things down?”

Dustin grimaced, “I got a little caught up. It was a lot to take in.”

Mike asked, “So, does this mean I get to go?”

The idea of showing Mike his work space was elating to Will. There was that familiar feeling that Will had everytime he handed Mike his sketchbook or a new drawing. The hope of approval and praise for his art.

Will eagerly nodded, “Just don’t touch anything.”

Mike smirked at Dustin, who groaned, “That is SO not fair!”

“Sorry, Dustin.” Mike shrugged as he scooted out of the booth.

Dustin pouted, “Are you, though?”

“Well, not really that sorry.” He laughed, “I’ll be right back.” Mike excused himself to the bathroom.

Once he was out of earshot, Will looked over at Dustin.

He didn’t want to ruin the moment but he had to ask. “Is there a particular reason you got us all together?”

“Because Lucas is coming home.”

“He was home a year ago. We didn��t get together then.”

Dustin’s shoulders sank and he started fidgeting with his napkin. “You said it yourself. It’s been too long. It was an excuse for us to get together. And… well, it has been 10 years...”

“You say it like it’s some kind of anniversary.”

“I mean, it kind of is. You making it out of all that alive is something to celebrate.” Dustin said it genuinely, his heart in his words, “We watched what we thought was you, pulled from the quarry. We listened to you calling out for help. It affected all of us, Will.”

Will suddenly felt selfish. He’d seen this whole thing as some kind of elaborate pity party, but he hadn’t been the only one to suffer. He hadn’t been the only one to face that thing.

But a question still nagged at him, “Did you tell anyone… about the nightmares?”

Dustin tightened and looked guilty. “Just Mike… he….”

“Dustin you promised!”

“I know. I know. But I was worried, Will! I didn’t know what to do.”

“There is nothing for you to do. It’s something that I’m handling.”

His friend looked at him, anger tempered in his brow, “They’ve gotten worse. Don’t tell me they haven’t.”

Will’s fingers dug into his knees, his knuckles turning white. He felt humiliated. It was true. They had been getting worse. It wasn’t so bad when he had someone sleeping next to him, but on the nights he was alone? There was a 50/50 shot at waking up in a cold sweat. A few weeks ago, he had woken up with a yell in his throat and Dustin’s panicked face above him, trying to shake him awake.

‘Please… don’t tell anyone, Dustin. Please…”

But of course he did.

“Will, you don’t say when things aren’t okay. You shoulder them until something breaks. So, I made a judgement call. I didn’t want you to go through it this year alone. I wanted you to know that you have us. That we’re here.”

Will put his head in his hands, “But why did you have to tell Mike?”

“Because I didn’t know how to help. And it’s damn near impossible to get him out of Hawkins these days. But he’ll do it for you.”

His insides did a somersault. “That’s another thing, Dustin.”

“What?”

“Please, stop playing cupid with me and Mike.”

He was quiet, mumbling, “I wasn’t trying to before, at the house. I was just messing around.”

“I know but the jokes were hitting a little too close. There’s a lot of stuff I don’t want to dig up. It’s complicated between us and we need to figure that out ourselves.”

Dustin looked like a puppy getting scolded, “I gotcha. Sorry.”

Will added, “And, I swear to God if I ever hear the word ‘beefcake’ from out of your mouth, I am mailing your nudie mags to your mom.”

His eyes got wide, “You wouldn’t!”

Will rested his chin on his hands, “You really want to gamble on that?”

He held up his hands, “Fine. It is stricken from my vocabulary forever.”

Mike was making his way back over and Will tried to tuck everything back inside. Mike slid back into the booth. He pulled a small notepad from his back pocket and put it on the table.

“Okay. So what are we doing for costumes?”

And Will laughed. All of a sudden, the years melted away. He remembered how Mike would spend the remaining days of summer planning out their Halloween costumes, their trick or treat routes. The jubilant energy of new ideas spreading across his face, the excitement in his voice. It all came back. This time was precious. Their lives would undoubtedly fall back into their pattern before long. Lucas and Max would likely move back by her job in Silicon Valley. Mike would go back to Hawkins. Back to El. So, Will needed to hold onto every moment and make them last.

[dragonsploosh]

Sebaciel Advent Calender

The Corpse Groom

Based on Tim Burton’s ‘The Corpse Bride.’

Chapter one

*

"Smile."

Ciel blinked, pulled from his reverie by the gentle voice. He'd been staring listlessly out of the carriage window for hours, just watching the grey English countryside roll by, and only now did he notice his mother staring at him with concern.

"Smile, Ciel," Rachel continued. "This should be a happy day for you."

Ciel swallowed the lump that had been building in his throat for most of the journey."Happy," he repeated, bitterness thick in his tone.

The boy's father, Vincent, didn't seem to have picked up on the mood. He lowered his newspaper, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Ahh, to be young again. I remember when your mother and I were due to be wed. Did I ever tell you how I managed to sneak away the night before the ceremony, all the way to the East Wing where Rachel's entire family were staying and -"

"Vincent!" Rachel snapped, elbowing her husband and looking a bit pink in the face. "This is about Ciel's wedding, not ours."

"Right, of course," Vincent agreed, waiving one black-gloved hand obligingly.  "And I'm sure the day will go just as smoothly for him, nothing to worry about."

Something snapped in Ciel; it could have been the casual way his father spoke, or the way his mother expected him to smile like this was all a big treat. "At least you got to choose who you might wed," he snarled.

There was icy silence for a moment within the carriage.

"I thought we were past this," said Vincent quietly. The jovial tone had gone from his voice.

Ciel recognised the danger - his father was an accomplished leader and a great role-model, but nobody ever talked back to him. The boy set his jaw in defiance. "I just don't understand why -"

"Your brother understood."

"My brother isn't here," Ciel retorted.

"No, he is not. And that is why you must take up his mantle, as the sole heir to the Phantomhive name. It should be a privilege, to take on the role of Earl."

"I just don't see why I need to marry Elizabeth now." Ciel persisted, changing tactic. "Can't it at least wait a few years?"

It was Rachel that answered this time. Her voice was softer, but the message was still the same. "Our families need to merge, Ciel. This has been the plan from the start, you know that."

'Almost the plan.' Ciel thought bitterly. It had been his brother that was meant to wed their cousin, not him. He barely even knew the girl. Ever since his twin's death a year ago, all the responsibilities of the future Earl had fallen to him, including this marriage.

"Phantomhive's never go back on their word," Vincent said firmly. He looked at his wife and something seemed to pass between them. "That's why everything -"

She nodded. "Every last little thing -"

"Must go according to plan," he finished.

Their tone was final. This wedding was happening, whether Ciel wanted it to or not.

***

Midford Manor looked different to how Ciel remembered it. As the carriage pulled into the forecourt, the boy peered curiously out of the window and up at the vast mansion. He hadn't visited for a while - family visits had grown sparse in the time since his brother's death, and it seemed a lot had changed in that time. Where once there were rolling lawns and bright flowerbeds, now there was gravel. The grass that bordered it was thick with frost, and it certainly wasn't the neatly trimmed affair that Ciel was used to.

The Phantomhive's coachman helped the family from the carriage, bowing politely before going to see to the horses. Ciel and his parents made their way unescorted up the few stone steps to the front door, where Vincent took the large bronze knocker in gloved fingers and rapped smartly at the wood.

They didn't have to wait long. The door creaked open on slightly rusted hinges to reveal the grand entrance hall, the Midford butler, Emil, greeting them politely as they made their way inside. Coats were taken despite the lingering chill, and Francis and Alexis Midford descended the central staircase wearing what looked like their most formal attire.

"Good afternoon. I trust that your journey was favourable?"

"Sister," called Vincent merrily, though Alexis was the one to bound forward to greet them.

"There's my nephew!" He said exuberantly, pulling Ciel into a one-armed hug. The boy was always taken aback by his uncles enthusiasm, and he didn't even return the gesture before Alexis was hugging both Vincent and Rachel, crinkling his suit in the process.

"Alexis," Francis hissed. Unlike her husband, she wasn't very keen on what she termed 'improper behaviour'. She turned to her brother and sister-in-law, ignoring Ciel completely, and inclined her head. "We'll be taking tea in the Dayroom," she announced formally.

"Excellent," Vincent replied. "I'm parched."

The adults all started to make small-talk about the weather (it had started to snow) and the Midford's Christmas decorations (a sparsely decorated tree in the corner which Rachel proclaimed as "lovely.") The four all started to make their way towards the Dayroom as they spoke, though Ciel lingered behind, certain that no one would notice his absence. They didn't.

Alone, Ciel peered more closely around the entrance hall. It seemed bigger than his last visit; everyone had still been in their black mourning clothes then, and he'd spent the day in the music room, away from everyone else. He hadn't even spoken to Elizabeth that day - it hadn't occurred to him, back then at the age of seventeen, that he'd be marrying her just a year later.

Family portraits still lined the walls, a vase of lilies set on a round table next to the staircase, but otherwise there was very little in the way of furniture. Ciel remembered a grand piano taking up the space by the far wall, a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, but both were now gone. Instead there was a simple candelabra, and the piano had been replaced with another instrument. Beneath the portrait of his own family rested a small violin, the bow laying across the strings in a facsimile of a cross. The violin had once belonged to Ciel's brother.

He peered up at the portrait as he approached; it depicted a happier time, where all four Phantomhives smiled back at him, his twin wearing an identical outfit to himself. He picked up the violin reverently, touching the fine maple neck and losing himself in memories. Ciel was always the least skilled of the two when it came to music. Still, that didn't stop him from raising the bow and positioning the instrument, playing a tremulous note and listening to it linger.

He drew the bow across the strings again, as if in a trance, and soon found himself playing a melancholy tune, one of his own composition. His fingers were quick, the notes true, and it almost sounded as good as his brother. Almost.

"You play beautifully," came a voice from behind him.

Ciel almost dropped the violin.

"Elizabeth!"

There she was, looking exactly the same as the last time he'd seen her, yet somehow everything was different. Her hair was pulled back, the usual blonde ringlets tamed into a high bun, and her dress was formal but fashionable. The usual bright colours she preferred had been traded for a more pastel tone, the pale pink of it making her look older. More grown up.

"In view of the circumstances," she said, "it might be more fitting that you call me 'Lizzie'."

"Lizzie. Of course."

Lizzie had been his brother's name for her. The word tasted like ash in Ciel's mouth.

"I'd always dreamed of my wedding day," Lizzie said wistfully, gazing up at the portrait. "Of walking down the aisle in my mother's dress. Of all the guests smiling - him waiting for me. Silly, isn't it."

"Yes, silly," Ciel replied. "No - I mean, not at all." He set the violin back on the ground, feeling stupid. "This just isn't how any of us imagined it."

"I suppose we should make the best of it then."

Ciel glanced at her and was horrified to see tears threatening to overflow, her lower lip quaking. They hadn't even gotten married yet and already he'd managed to upset her.

"Indeed - that is to say, I'm sure it will be fine." As if 'fine' was an adequate way to describe a marriage. Ciel mentally kicked himself. "So, uhh," he went on, trying to diffuse the conversation. "Do you still play piano?"

"Not of late," Lizzie replied, clasping her hands in front of her. "I've been busy with fencing practice. Mother says that one must be steady with the sword - calm. Music is far too emotional."

Ciel wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. "Ah. And how is fencing?"

She looked away, her face going slack. "It was going well for a time - the Queen was even considering me to become part of her personal guard. I would have been the first woman to ever serve royalty in such a way, but it wasn't to be. There have been so many misfortunes in our family lately, such terrible-" she cut herself off, eyes widening. "I'm sorry - that was insensitive."

"It's quite alright," Ciel said, inclining his head. "I couldn't help but notice -"

He was cut off before he could finish that thought, Francis's thundering voice echoing around the room.

"What impropriety is this!"

Lizzie took a guilty step back as the four adults came into sight, Francis leading the charge.

"No chaperone! Where's Paula?!" The woman snapped, fixing her gaze on her daughter.

"I just -"

"You just nothing, young lady! Now, back to your room - we have a rehearsal to prepare for, and everything must go according to plan."

***

The rehearsal took place that evening. Ciel barely had time to change out of his travelling clothes and into a tailored suit picked out by his mother; the subtle lines of the expensive charcoal-grey fabric accentuated his slim figure, the colour making his smoky hair look darker and more refined. His cravat was a dusky blue that made his eyes stand out, or so he was told, but he didn't care about any of that. As the carriage pulled up in front of the church, it rather felt like he was arriving at his own funeral.

They were greeted by a small gathering of guests who had arrived early to make the most of the holiday. With the wedding to be held on Christmas Day, two days from now, the crowd was abuzz with merriment. Ciel's heart sank when he realised there'd be almost twenty people witnessing the rehearsal, though that paled in comparison to the expected turnout of the actual day.

"Ciel!" Someone called, and the boy was almost knocked off his feet as someone barrelled into him.

"Argh! Get off!"

"My friend, I'm so happy for you," a familiar voice sobbed next to his ear.

Ciel managed to extract himself in an almost-dignified manner, rearranging his cravat and directing a scowl at Soma.

"At least someone's happy," he muttered, before spotting the Prince's butler behind him and inclining his head. "Hello Agni," he said, slightly louder.

"May the great God Ganesha bless and watch over you in this joyous time," Agni replied, smiling.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Ah, Ciel," said another voice, two new faces joining them. "Good to see you."

"Grey. Phipps," Ciel greeted, noting with some curiosity that there was a small chicken on Phipps' shoulder.

"Sorry to hear about our Lizzie not making the Guard. Still, no hard feelings, ay?"

Charles Grey smiled brightly while his companion kept a polite silence. The two had been in Elizabeth's fencing class for as long as Ciel could remember, and Ciel grimaced on his cousin's behalf.

"Sure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll just -"

"Boy, there you are!"

Family get-togethers were always exhausting, Ciel thought, but this one was especially excruciating.

"Hello, Baron Kelvin," Ciel answered, his hand getting swept up in a formal handshake.

"What a marvellous day for a wedding," the Baron informed him.

Since the snow was beginning to settle, white flakes covering his shoulders and making him shiver, Ciel couldn't disagree more.

"EVERYONE! CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!"

Vincent Phantomhive seemed just as flustered as Ciel, the onslaught of well-wishers obviously taking him off-guard.

"The rehearsal will be commencing now, if you would all just take your seats."

Ciel turned back to the church doors and joined the throng of guests as they began to file in, that sinking feeling returning to the pit of his stomach. Candles lit the pews already, casting a warm glow in the otherwise cold church, and Ciel could see the Midford's near the altar already, conversing with the vicar. Vincent gave Ciel a firm nod before taking his seat, and the youngest Phantomhive was left to make the rest of the journey down the aisle alone.

*

"Let's try it again."

It wasn't going well. The guests were all seated and hushed, and the vicar was looking at Ciel with barely concealed exasperation.

"We'll take it from the start," he said, speaking extra slowly. "Repeat after me:

With this hand, I will lift your sorrows                                                                                                                                 Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine                                                                                         With this candle, I will light your way in darkness                                                                                       With this ring, I ask you to be mine."

Ciel heard the words, but it was as though he was in a dream. This didn't seem real. Lizzie was stood next to him, her own vows recited perfectly, and she kept glancing at her mother as if begging for help.

Ciel cleared his throat, wanting nothing more than to just get this over with.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows," Ciel said, discreetly wiping his sweaty palm on his trouser leg before reaching for Lizzie's. Judging by her expression, Ciel would say she'd noticed. "Your cup," he began, trying not to think of how uncomfortable he felt just touching her hand. "Your cup will never be empty." She felt clammy. "For I will be your wine."

The vicar cleared his throat.

Ciel's face grew hot when he realised that he should have released her hand and prepared the wine instead. He snatched his hand away so violently that he almost upset the metal chalice that sat on the low table.

"Move on," commanded the vicar.

"Right, yes. With this candle," Ciel blustered, skipping the wine entirely to hold a stem of tapered wax to the flame beside the chalice. The wick stubbornly refused to light. "I will light your way..." He tried engulfing the candle at every angle, growing more frustrated. "In darkness," he finished, still unsuccessful in lighting the thing.

The vicar sighed. "Do you even want to be married?" He asked in a low voice.

"No, no," Ciel replied, beaming when the flame finally lit. He caught the vicar's eye and realised what he'd said, hastening to amend himself. "I mean, no of course -"

"Tell me you've remembered the ring, at least," the man said, unamused.

"Yes." The band of gold was fished from his pocket, and he held it aloft for all of a second before his sweaty palms betrayed him, the ring slipping from his grasp and bouncing onto the ground.

Some of the onlookers gasped as Ciel scrambled onto all fours, candle and all, crawling after the ring which had rolled under the table. Ciel snatched at it, knocking it sideways and bumping into the table leg for his efforts, which sent the wine flying.

"My shoes," came a high-pitched squeal, closely followed by the sound of running footsteps.

Ciel successfully closed his fist around the ring this time, backing up reluctantly to face the damage. His foot hit something soft just as he was free of the table, and he spun around on one knee.

Right into the voluminous folds of his Aunt Francis's dress.

This would have been embarrassing regardless, but since Ciel's left hand was still clutching the lit candle, it quickly became a disaster. The dress caught faster than a pile of kindling, and he stared dumbfounded as smoke began to pour from the fabric.

"Mother!" Elizabeth cried.

She rushed forward just as Ciel leapt into action, the two of them making to pat out the fire, though they only succeeded in butting heads instead. The heavy 'thump' was hard enough to make Ciel see stars.

"Ouch!" Lizzie yelped.

Ciel backed away as more of the guests raced down the aisle, smothering the flames with jackets and shawls while the boy edged towards the door. He blew out the candle, tossing it away from him as though hiding the evidence, though everyone had already been witness to the calamity.

"BOY!" Vincent yelled back at him.

"I'm just... uh, some fresh air," Ciel called back, groping for the door handle. "I'm sorry," he added to Elizabeth, who was looking as though she might cry again.

The last thing Ciel heard was the vicar shouting angrily at him to learn his vows, before he hurtled into the night and away from the second-worst experience of his life.

***

The youngest son of the Phantomhives was not born for greatness. Unlike his brother, he lacked the ambition to become the great leader their father was. Ciel had once had dreams of opening a toy shop, of leaving the family Manor and moving to the city. Always the quieter twin, he'd thought about having his own little town house, a log fire burning in the hearth and a whole room filled with books where he could just read, undisturbed.

That dream was dashed just over a year ago, when his brother was found dead in their shared bedroom. The covers had been thrown off Ciel's bed too, his pillow shredded, but he hadn't been there. He'd been sick that night, raiding the pantry for honey to help dull his cough.

He knew his parents hadn't forgiven him. He could see it in their eyes every time they looked at him - why had he survived, - the weak, younger twin - when the Phantomhive heir had been left to die?

The killer was gone before the body was discovered. Full resources had gone into the investigation, but it hadn't been any use. Nobody knew who had targeted the Phantomhive's like this, or indeed, why.

*

Ciel shivered. He'd taken refuge on a stone bridge at the edge of the village, the river looking black as it rushed along beneath him. He thought about throwing himself into those icy depths - just letting go and allowing the river to take him. It was just a thought, however - he was too much of a coward to ever really do such a thing.

Instead, he turned to face the forest on the other side. It looked gloomy and dismal, which was just what Ciel needed right now. A thin layer of snow glittered in the moonlight as he made his way past the tree line, his fine leather shoes precarious on the frosted moss. Ciel didn't care. He walked faster, replaying the last half-hour over and over in his head.

"With this hand, I will lift your candle," he said aloud, picturing the blaze. He realised then that he'd said the line wrong and huffed at himself.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows," he corrected. "Your wine will never be empty, for I will cup your... Oh, dammit."

He needed to clear his mind, but it was almost impossible. He tried to focus on the gnarled trees instead, walking faster and taking a deep breath.

"Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine," he said perfectly, hopping over a fallen log and feeling emboldened. He snatched up a twig, holding it aloft. "With this candle, I will light your way in darkness." In his mind, the wick lit easily. "With this ring," he continued, throwing it and catching it easily in his palm. "I ask you to be mine."

He gracefully placed the ring on a dead branch jutting from the ground, satisfied that he could say his vows just fine without the impending prospect of actual marriage. If he could just shut off his mind on the day, then things would surely run more smoothly.

The ground shook under Ciel's feet and he blinked. Earthquakes were not exactly a regular occurrence in England, though this certainly felt like one.  Powdered snow began to drop from the nearby branches as the tremors grew, and Ciel took a step back, eyes darting around wildly.

It was as if the very earth was caving in on itself. The branch that held the gold wedding ring stirred and icy dirt fell away, a wide hole forming as everything shifted. Ciel watched, frozen in horror, as something rose from that hole - a figure, dressed all in black.

It appeared to be a man, though it wasn't like any man Ciel had ever seen; his skin seemed far too pale, his eyes an unnatural shade of red. Hair as black as ebony framed his face, sooty lashes blinking down at Ciel, but that wasn't what unnerved they boy - while this stranger certainly radiated an ethereal beauty, his most prominent feature was probably the gaping hole in his chest, or perhaps his missing left arm.

"Excuse me," said the stranger, reaching down and snagging up the branch - or at least, it used to be a branch. Now, instead of twisted brown twigs, there was a set of bones; a bleached white arm, the hand still sporting the golden wedding ring. The man proceeded to shove the entire humerus up into his gaping sleeve before jerking his shoulder and making a satisfied 'ahh' sound.

That skeletal hand gave a test wriggle, and the strange man gazed down at the wedding ring with a curious expression on his face. "I do," he said.

Ciel ran. He didn't even think about it; his feet moved almost as fast as his thundering heart, carrying him deep into the woods and away from that eerie figure. He didn't even know where he was going - the trees all looked the same, branches snagging at him as though they were trying to hold him back. He only ran faster, the blood rushing in his ears, breath burning in his lungs.

He hit a patch of ice and his foot slipped. It hurt. He turned his head and saw that the man was still pursuing him, a dark shadow amongst the trees. With his feet back under him, Ciel managed to make it away from the ice and up onto a small bank decorated with dozens of huge stones.

He dodged the first few before realising what they were. Gravestones jutted out of the ground around him, some of them looking so old that they were crumbling to pieces. He carried on running, zigzagging past the graves and feeling like this night couldn't get any worse when a crow flew low overhead, cawing. It was followed by an entire murder, the black birds flying right for Ciel. He threw his hands in front of his face and ducked, changing course hastily and blundering onwards.

He only slowed down when he heard the sound of the river. That rush of water was so welcome, the promise of safety just beyond the bridge. Ciel gasped and panted as he broke free of the trees, dodging the crows as they swooped and cawed overhead, his feet finding the solid ground of the path as he made it to the crossing.

He was going to make it.

And then he heard a noise behind him, a sort of grating noise, like the whisper of old parchment. He spun around, back knocking against the stone wall of the bridge, and that figure was on him. A skeletal hand wrapped around his wrist, the sheer height of the man dwarfing Ciel, and he tried to scream but no sound came out.

The man pressed closer, his head tilting down. "Let us seal our marriage with a kiss," he murmured, his voice surprisingly deep, and that was the last thing Ciel knew before something cold touched his mouth and the world went dark.

[aroha-x-astro-blog]

Home Sweet Home

So this is for the sweetest most amazing person on here, Yeng aka @astrobinn​!! I’ve had the pleasure of being her Secret Aroha and as my gift to her I’ve written an AU just for her!! Yeng, I hope you like this! It’s my first time writng something like this and I want you to be able toe enjoy reading it. ❤❤❤

Word Count: Roughly 2.9k

Chapter:  One. Two. Three

Genre: Fluff, kinda ansgty, highschool au

Summary: Things weren’t going your way recently. Your parents had just split up, you had to move to a completely new city, leaving behind the town you had grown up in and all your friends, and to top it all off, you were starting at a new school. But, you were trying to see the better side of things, because when things are looking down, why not try looking up?

Astonished at this new information, you couldn't do anything but look at him.  

“You- you’re the boy who knocked me over by the main office?!”

“ I’m really sorry! I would have helped you pick your books but I was in a hurry. I know that I should’ve stopped to help you, but I was already running late and I just… I’m really sorry.”  

“No, it’s okay. You don’t need to keep apologizing ” you assure him.

“What..?"

“Yeah it’s fine. I mean, it’s not like you meant to crash into me…”

“But I still feel bad.”

Not knowing how to respond, you reiterate, “Seriously it’s okay, you don’t have-”

This was the first time you really looked at him. He was a bit taller than you, He’s kinda cute, I guess.

The bell rang again, only this time, it was signaling the start of the next class

“Oh crap! We’re gonna be late for class!” Scrambling to grab your stuff, the two of you run to class. You made it there at the same time as the teacher, completely out of breath from having to run across campus to reach the English building.

You attempt to explain why the two of you were late, but the teacher, much to your relief,  let you off this one time since she knew it was your first day.

For the first half of the day, you were asked to introduce yourself to the class in various ways, and in each of them, you were welcomed with open arms. In Drama, you played name games the entire time just so that you could learn everybody's names; in US History, you were given the task of explaining your life by drawing a timeline with some of the small but significant moments in your life as your introduction. The environment in each class was so different, and the school was so big that you had almost a completely new group of faces to remember.

The one familiar face you saw for the first half of the day was Moonbin’s. Surprisingly, he is actually a sweetheart. The flurry of apologies had ceased, replaced with jokes and normal conversation. The awkwardness from earlier was a distant memory, compared to how well you were getting along now. Honestly, you were thankful for Moonbin’s presence. Despite all the events from this morning, having one new thing in your life that made you happy and smile felt like a blessing.

The weeks that had lead up to the divorce, and the weeks after it had been hard on you emotionally. Even now it was hard to think about everything that had happened, but having this sense of normalcy back in your life helped you to almost forget about it all. It provided a distraction from all the pain of the past with laughter and conversation.

The natural routine of being in school came back pretty quickly too. You were a whole month behind, but that didn’t stop you. Some of the kids in each of your classes had made a collection of notes from the first from the part of the year you missed so that you could get caught up. Apparently, Mr. Gonzales had come around to all your classes and asked the students if a few of them could make a compilation of notes so that when you got here, the stress of having to get caught up would be reduced.

It seemed like everyone here was trying to make the effort of welcoming you into their school, and they were succeeding. The gratitude you felt towards them was beyond words. Considering how the day had started, you felt more like yourself since the divorce than you had in awhile.

Just as your History teacher finished the PowerPoint about the affects of slavery not only on the slaves, but the slave owners themselves, the bell went off.

“Okay, class might be over, but don’t forget to pick up the reading by the door. We’ll be having a discussion about it in class so actually do the reading please,” the teacher shouted over the noise of backpacks shuffling and the chatter of the students. She eventually gave up and went back to her desk.

Now the most dreaded part of the school day was here: lunch. You’d think that being a junior in high school would get rid of that stupid lunchtime fear of “Where do I sit? Who do I sit with?”

Moonbin has disappeared on you at some point after class had ended, which left you stranded to find out how to actually get to the cafeteria. Considering how helpful the map had been earlier, I’m probably better on my own.

You spent a good five minutes just aimlessly wandering through the halls until you found the cafeteria, though not before taking a couple of wrong turns. Ultimately, the smell wafting from the kitchen is what drew you to it. Considering how good the food smelled, the idea that this was a school for royalty didn’t seem as farfetched as before.

Not really knowing what to do, you follow the other students who looked like they were buying lunch too. As you got in line, you felt kind of lonely. Your guide had disappeared, and you didn’t really know anyone.

As the line inched forward, you wondered where Moonbin was and where he had vanished to. Maybe he just forgot something else in our homeroom.

Not really thinking about it, you grab the plate closest to you and just shuffle down the line. With how hectic of this morning it had been, you had forgotten to make your own lunch, which forced you to buy one instead.

I have to go grocery shopping once school’s out… where even is the grocery store around here? You hung your head in annoyance. Note to self: find out where the grocery store is and buy food.

“Miss, what’s your number?”

Snapping back to reality, you realize that you’re at the front of the line.

“My what?”

“Your student ID number. So that you can pay for your lunch.”

“Uhh, I’m sorry, it’s actually my first day and I don’t know my number yet. I normally would have brought my own lunch, but I forgot it this morning on accident…”

Her eyes widened a bit, getting a grasp on the situation. “Okay, I’ll let you go this one time, okay?” the lunch lady says jokingly. “Go enjoy your lunch. A good meal can make any day better.”

You thank her, and a sigh escapes your lips as you walk past the counter. It was nice of her to let me get a free lunch. Maybe this’ll be the meal to brighten my day.

You stepped back into the cafeteria, faced with a new problem: where to sit. You start scouring the room for an empty table, when Moonbin walks in

“Hey, where were you? I couldn’t find you after class.”

“Sorry, I realized that I had forgot my jacket back in our homeroom and ran over to get it,” Moonbin clarified.

“Are you usually this forgetful?” The conversation continued all the way to the table that Moonbin had set his backpack down at. Maybe it’s because he’s your tour guide, but it’s still weird.

He just sat down and smiled up at you.

“Aren’t you gonna sit down? I told some of my friends to sit with us, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” you reply. Placing your tray on the table, you finally had built up about half the courage you really needed to ask why he was hanging out only with you all day. “Hey, Moonbi-”

“Bin is fine.”

Taken aback, you don’t really know how to respond. You just take your seat across the table, looking at him.

“Or Binnie, if you want. I’m fine with either, really.”

“Okay... Binnie?”

He nods his head in response. “Yeah?”

“It’s nothing really, I was just kinda curious about where you-”

Completely out of the blue, you hear, “HYUNG! WE FOUND YOU!”

“Oh my God, who was that?!” looking around, trying to identify the screaming voice

“Kill me now,” Binnie mutters under his breath. You spin back around, hoping for answers. Apologetically, he looks back up at you and explains, “That’s one of the friends I was talking about.”

Curious as to who exactly are these friends of Binnie’s, you turn back around, trying to find them in the crowd. You scan the entire lunch room, until you spot an unnaturally tall boy running towards you with his tray in hand. Right behind him is a considerably smaller boy, who looked like he was trying to get him to stop. Trailing behind them were two more boys who just looked amused at the show happening before them. One of them was taller than the other, but the difference didn’t seem as great as it was between the other two.

“Hyung!” the tall boy exclaimed. “Is this the girl you’re showing around today?”

“Sanha!” the shorter boy reprimanded. “Don’t say that, it’s rude.” Giving you a remorseful look, he apologizes, “Please forgive this idiot. He has the mentality of a four year old and ends up blurting out the first thought that comes to mind.”

“I’m not an idiot!”

“Yes, you are. Now sit down.”

“But hyung, I’m really not and idiot! I’ll prove it to you.”

“Oh, I’d like to see you try.” The bickering somehow led to the two having a trivia contest about who knows what.

“Could you guys maybe try and pretend like you’re both not complete idiots?” Binnie pleads with them from behind your turned back.

“Binnie, I don’t think that’s possible for them. They were born idiots; you can’t change human nature,” you hear, the voice coming from your right side. You turn to face the new voice, only to meet the eyes of someone who you swore could be a model if they wanted to.

“May I sit here?” Awestruck, the only response you give is a nod.

Flashing you a smile, he replies, “Thank you.” Man I wish I had my camera out right now. The light is hitting him so nicely right now…

Absolutely overwhelmed, you look at Binnie, hoping for some sort of explanation for who all these people were, but now, next to him sat yet another new face. This one just looked at you, and after a few seconds, just started to eat his lunch.

Not being able to handle all this, you just sit there, utterly lost. You subconsciously grab for your camera case around your neck, holding on to it.

“Guys, could you be quiet for just one second, please?” Binnie begs them, holding his head in his hands. As a sigh escaping his lips, Binnie looks up at you and starts his explanation. “First off, I’m sorry if these morons startled you in anyway.” Objections were elicited from each of the newcomers, but Binnie simply ignored their protests and continued talking.

“I’m also sorry that these are these morons are the friends I was talking about earlier,” which was met with even more objections. The chaos just get getting more out of hand, and you could tell Bin

“For God’s sake, would you just introduce yourselves already?” Binnie cries out in despair. “(Y/N) still doesn’t even know what you names are.” This stops the dispute of who’s the bigger moron real quick.

They all look at you, and then at each other. Then the shortest out of all of them starts talking.

“We’re sorry if we startled you at all.” He walked over to the other side of the table and sat down next to Binnie. The taller one followed suit, and sat down on your left.

“My name’s Park Jinwoo, but most people call me JinJin. I’m a senior and it’s nice to meet you, (Y/N).”  The first thing you noticed about him, other than his height, was his dyed hair. He had blonde hair, which actually suited him really well. He also had his ears pierced. Maybe that is a normal thing here. He was wearing a pair of pretty tight black jeans and a yellow hoodie. Over that he was wearing a white jacket. Is he just cold or does he normally wear that many layers? He had a pair of headphones around his neck that you assumed were connected to his phone. There was something calming about him and his presence that you couldn’t put your finger on.

“I’m sorry if we surprised you,” he apologizes, scratching the back of his head as he looked at you.

“No, don’t apologize, I’m fine,” brushing his apology to the side.

“We wouldn’t have surprised you if JinJin-hyung hadn’t called me an idiot,” the tallest of them all mumbled. “Oh! I’m Sanha, by the way. Yoon Sanha. I’m a freshman this year so I’m still new to the school too!” He flashed you a smile that seemed so genuine, you couldn't do anything but smile back. Sanha had dark hair that was styled really cutely. He also had braces, which added to the cute factor. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a soft pink sweatshirt. Wow, he’s just a ball of cute, isn’t he?

“It’s nice to meet you, Sanha,” you respond, a small smile playing on your lips. He seems so innocent.

You were starting to calm down a bit. The tension that had built up in the midst of the chaos was starting to unwind.

“Ahem.” Facing forward, you realize that is was the model boy who was clearing his throat. “I guess I’ll go next then. My name is Cha Eunwoo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The first thing other than his looks you had noticed was how smooth and soft his voice was. You were a bit taken aback by it. He was wearing a thin gray hoodie and a blue jacket over it. It was a simple outfit, but he made it seem like something that could be shown on a runway.

“Oh!” Binnie recalls. “Hyung, I still have your minion snapback.”

His what?

Eunwoo’s face broke into a smile. “Of course you were the one who took it. I was looking for this everywhere.”

“Wait,” interrupting their conversation. “You like minions? As in, the small yellow people in the Despicable movies?”

“He does, and we have no idea why,” says the last boy through a mouthful of food. This was the first time you had heard him speak, though you only half heard him really due to the fact that he was talking with his mouth full. He was more interested in the food in front of him than he was in the conversation happening around. His ears were pierced too. Is it more common for boys to have their ears pierced here than to not or something? He was tank top that had “Dance God” written on the front. He looked like he had just come out of practice or something; his hair was plastered to his forehead with what looked like sweat. Maybe he’s part of a dance crew.

“Oh,” he says, finally taking a break from his lunch to look up at you. “My name’s Minhyuk, but everyone calls me Rocky. I’m a sophomore. Nice to meet ya.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” you answer back. Rocky flashes you a small smile and goes back to his food. With the way he was wolfing it down, you would’ve thought he hadn’t eaten in days.

“Hey, Rocky? You can have my portion too, if you want,” you offer.

You wish you had your camera out to capture the look on his face. He looked like you told him that he had won a lifetime supply of his favorite brand name or something.

“N- no, I can’t,” he stutters out. He goes back to eating his own food. “You need to eat food too, and besides, it’d be rude if i took your food on the first day that we’ve met.”

“But I offered it to you, so it’s not rude at all. Besides, I’m really not that hungry,  and I don’t want to just throw this away,” you try to reason. You could tell it was working when he starts to look you back in the face. “You’d actually be doing me a favor if you ate it for me.”

Rocky looks at his hyungs for approval with puppy dog eyes. You see JinJin give him a little nod in your peripheral vision.

“Thank you, Noona!” Rocky takes the plate gleefully and starts on your plate. I have never seen someone wolf down so much food in such little time.  

“Rocky, slow down or else you’re gonna get a stomach ache,” Binnie scolds. “We have practice after school, right?”

Muttering his response through a mouthful of food, he slowed down. With a satisfied look on his face, Binnie went back to his own food. Everyone was just talking about whatever, trying to include you into the conversation as much as possible. The rest of lunch was them getting to know you.

They all seem really close. The thought crosses your mind as Eunwoo is scolding Sanha for spilling juice on his snapback while the rest of them laughed. I wonder if I’ll find a group of friends that I’ll be this close with.

Without realizing it, you start to enjoy being in the company of these five boys and for the next 40 minutes, you forget about what happened this morning and just enjoy yourself.