#i hate public swimming pools and the changing rooms in those but. i DO love swimming so it's tuff

[vampirekinn]

i can't help it i just love standing under warm running water and staring at the white walls of our shower

[writingwhimsey]

Sexy to the Rescue!

Part of @xxsycamore's Late Summer Rendezvous challenge!

Day 1: Sexy Lifeguard

Fandom: ikesen

Suitor: Shingen Takeda

Modern AU, NSFW content, fingering, PIV, unprotected sex, female reader

Sexy to the Rescue!

I took a deep breath as I made my way out of the women’s locker rooms at the public pool. It took every ounce of self confidence I had to put on this bikini, but…I had to try something. I’d been coming to the pool almost daily now with my best friend. Swimming was the best way to beat the heat during this sweltering summer we had been experiencing…but that wasn’t the only reason we had been coming.

“I saved you a spot here!” Misa, my friend called to me.

I smiled at her as I made my way over. “Did you make sure we have a good view?” I asked.

Misa grinned. “Oh most definitely.” She said, giggling. “Just sit down and take a look.”

I sat down on the lounge chair next to Misa and looked across the pool. The lifeguard stand was directly across from us. Currently the stand was filled by a young man with light brown hair, but we knew that he was due to go on break soon. “Oh, once he comes out, we’ll have the perfect view.” I said, grinning.

Misa giggled. “Definitely. Plus he should be walking right by here.”

“We’d better apply our sunscreen then.” I told MIsa.

Misa nodded. “Very true.”

We grabbed our bottles of sunscreen out and slowly began to apply it. Just as I was putting it on my legs, the doors to the guard house were coming open and the real reason we had been coming to the pool was walking out. Mister Tall Dark and Sexy, all broad shoulders, rippling muscles, and washboard abs. Not to mention a one hundred watt smile that was too charming for any woman to resist. The lifeguard known as Shingen.

He sauntered out, looking ever the picture of sex appeal. He smiled and nodded his head at everyone who greeted him as he past. He paused briefly in front of me and Misa. “Well, hello ladies. It’s good to see you again today.” He greeted, that smile the most charming thing I had ever seen, making my heart do flips in my chest.

Despite my racing heart, I smiled at him, hoping it would be as seductive as his own smile. “Good to see you as always Shingen.”

He smiled at me and opened his mouth to say something when the other lifeguard was calling out to him in an annoyed tone. “Shingen! Stop flirting and get over here! It’s my break time and you have duties to attend to!”

Shingen sighed. “I’ll be there in a moment. I can’t let beauty go unappreciated.” He was then turning back to me and Misa. “You ladies stay safe and I’ll see you at the next guard change.” He was then walking away, the eyes of every woman following him.

“Oh, I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him leave.” I murmured.

“I hear you.” Misa replied, fanning herself. “But did you notice he came over to talk to us? He didn’t stop at any of the other sunbathing ladies…and mentioned that we were beautiful. Though I am certain his eyes were on you.”

“It’s hard to tell with those sunglasses.” I replied. “I would only be so flattered.”

“Bet it’s that new bikini. I told you to go for it.” Misa replied. 

“He was probably just being nice.” I replied. “Though I won’t lie, I do enjoy the attention. It’s a nice confidence boost.”

“You know that bastard didn’t deserve you and everything he said was a lie.” Misa said, referring to my ex. “And I bet you that Shingen does fancy you.”

“In my dreams.” I replied. “My very..vivid and sexy dreams.”

Misa giggled. “Do those dreams include a rescue?”

“Sometimes.” I answered.

“Why not make those dreams a reality?” Misa asked, a mischievous grin on her face.

By this point we had finished applying our sunscreen and were both reclined back on the chairs, our sunglasses on, hiding the fact that we were ogling Shingen. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Go in the deep end and pretend to drown…maybe you’ll even get lucky enough for a little mouth to mouth.” Misa answered with a giggle.

I felt my cheeks heating up. “I don’t think I could do that…”

“I could push you in if that would help.” Misa suggested. “Come on, you’ve been making googly eyes at him all summer and he’s been stopping to talk to you. Take some action.”

“Well…I mean he would be doing his job…” I replied.

I don’t know how I ended up agreeing to this, but the next thing I knew, Misa and I were walking to the snackbar. We picked a spot where it was especially slippery by the pool and Misa pushed me in, though made it look like an accident.

I let out a loud eek as I fell in the pool, closing my eyes and holding my breath to brace myself. I heard Misa letting out a convincing scream as I fell into the water. She was a good actress. It was a few moments later there was a splash in the pool and very soon, I felt two large arms wrapping around me and we were soon breaking the surface of the water.

I was being carried out of the pool and though I knew I needed to keep my eyes closed, there was no way I could. I cracked my eyes open just a bit and sure enough, I was being cradled against that broad chest belonging to Shingen.

“Are you alright?” He asked me, his voice so gentle and filled with concern.

Reflexively, I opened my eyes and looked up at him. His sunglasses were off now, revealing the most gorgeous gray eyes…the term bedroom eyes flitted through my mind as my breath caught. I nodded, unable to find my voice being this close to someone so sexy.

He smiled at me before turning to speak to someone else. “I’ll be taking her to the medical room in the back of the guard house to look her over.” He said.

“Oh, that would be best. Thank you.” Misa’s voice said, sounding so concerned even though we both knew I was fine.

Another lifeguard was coming out to keep watch as Shingen carried me to the medical unit in the back of the guard house. Once we were inside, he was sitting me down on an exam table they had. “You know, you didn’t have to put on that show just to get me alone. Though it was a good excuse.”

I looked up at him feigning innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s a bit slippery out there.”

Shingen chuckled as he came to sit down beside me on the exam table beside me. He lifted a hand to my wet hair, taking a strand between his fingers and toying with it as he leaned in close. “Are you trying to tell me you haven’t been trying to get my attention all summer? I know I’ve been trying to get yours.”

I felt my cheeks heating up. “Shingen…”

He leaned in, his face mere inches from mine. “I noticed your beauty the first time you walked out of the locker rooms. You are a beautiful woman and I would be lying if I were to say I hadn’t been hoping you would be in need of a rescue on my shift…though I was hoping to get to do mouth to mouth.”

“Well…you don’t need the rescue for that.” I found myself saying.

Shingen grinned at me and the next thing I knew his gorgeous lips were on mine. The kiss quickly deepened as his tongue teased my lips open and his arms wrapped around my waist, his large frame completely enveloping me in an instant.

My own arms wrapped around his neck and I found myself pressing my body close to his. With our swimwear, we were both already mostly skin to skin…and I felt hot all over. Our tongues twisted and tangled together, as I felt Shingen’s large hands moving over my curves and up my back before going to the string that held my bikini top on.

I gasped into the kiss as I felt him tug on the strings and my top was sliding off. We broke the kiss and Shingen gave me a sheepish look. “Forgive me…if you don’t want this…”

“I…I do.” I replied, breathless. “I…I am just surprised…and what if someone were to walk in?”

“I’ve locked the door.” Shingen replied, grinning at me.

“Well…it looks like you’ve thought of everything.” I replied. I was then throwing myself at him, pressing my lips to his. His arms were around me once more and he was pulling me into his lap.

I found myself becoming bold, my hands roaming over the defined muscles of his body as his own hands explored my dips and curves. His hands were so gentle and warm. I could feel the press of his erection through his trunks as it continued to grow stiffer beneath me.

I found myself grinding against him, wanting to feel some type of friction. Shingen groaned into our kiss. “Angel…you’re going to make me grow impatient.” He murmured against my lips, his fingers toying with the strings of my bikini bottoms.

“Y-you’re…not the only one…” I replied.

Shingen grinned at me as he pulled on the strings, taking my bikini bottoms off quickly, now having me fully bare while I sat on his lap. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

“You’ve…been imagining…?”

“You are a beautiful woman, my angel, my goddess. How could a man not imagine worshiping you?” He replied before swiftly moving us so that I was lying back on the exam table. He leaned down to spread kisses over my body, his lips covering every inch as his hands had earlier.

He reached my breasts and lavished them in affection, taking a hardened peak into his mouth, licking and sucking as his hands moved to rest on my thighs, squeezing and massaging. His thumbs gently moved on the insides of my thighs in a circling motion.

“Ah…Sh-shin…gen…” I moaned from his touch, but also wishing for more.

Shingen smiled around my breast as he moved one hand slowly up my thigh, bringing his fingers to the center of my heart. He began to stroke my sensitive bud, causing me to let out a cry of pleasure. I clapped my hand over my mouth, not wanting to draw attention from anyone outside.

“That was a beautiful sound.” Shingen said, beginning to increase the pace of his fingers between my thighs before moving to slide two inside, while his thumb circled my clit.

I gasped and moaned, biting my hand to keep myself quiet as the waves of pleasure washed over me.

Shingen kissed back up my neck, his free hand moving up to take mine from my mouth. “I can’t have my goddess injuring herself to keep from attracting attention.” He cooed. “I’ll have to help you.” His lips were on mine then, swallowing my gasps and moans as he continued to work me.

I bucked my hips against his hand, enjoying the sensation and yet still craving more. It didn’t take long for Shingen to pull his hand from my heat. I let out a sound of frustration and pouted into the kiss.

Shingen broke the kiss to smile at me. “Don’t worry my angel, I intend to take care of you.” He said, sliding his trunks off. “I’ll have you thoroughly worshiped and pleased by the time we leave this room.”

The next thing I knew, he had positioned himself between my parted thighs and I soon felt him sliding into my wet entrance. His lips were on mine once again, swallowing the moan I let out at the feeling of his length filling me, hitting so deeply inside me and stretching me in the most wonderful of ways.

I clung to him as he came to rest inside me a moment before slowly pulling back out and then sliding back in. His thrusts began slow and deliberate, getting me used to the feeling of him. His massive frame engulfed me as he held me close.

His pace increased and soon a lewd slapping sound filled the small exam room, accompanied by our pants and gasps. The coil in my core wound tighter and tighter with each thrust and soon, I was falling over the edge, my walls clamping hard around him. I moaned into his mouth and he groaned as my release pulled him into his.

We were panting as we came down from our high. Shingen smiled at me. “How would you like to do this again…when my shift is over at my place?”

“I…I think that sounds like a wonderful time.” I replied, returning his smile…and I knew this was all only the beginning.

taglist: @zulablaise @limonzu

[messrchase]

@your-resident-boat-person Some notes :D 1. Agreed that there is a broad popularity for the few rather than the deserved many. The "North Ballin Trio" of Imperator, Vaterland and Bismarck (if it happened) certainly made everything else on the market second rate in luxury (despite the horrific maze those divided uptakes made, the public rooms and exterior of Vaterland was particularly well executed)

One also has to consider the hardly discussed Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kronprinzessin Cecilie, the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria and the virtually forgotten Cap Polonio (that winter garden, that open air swimming pool seen below!) - all great ships.

A side note to this, I never consider Vaterland and Leviathan the same ship. After the Americans had rebuilt the ship, it really was something different entirely (see below, the original scheme of the dining salon in first class actually eclipses Lusitania and France imo)

2. Your preference for decorative styling is, honestly, the best and only choice! The sometimes eclectic and always grand ships before the Great War were so varied, though their influence lasted into the 1930's with the wonderful Empress of Britain and the third Britannic still with a firm decorative foot in the past. Then of course, there was the Italians! Duilio, Saturnia, Vulcania, Esperia, Principessa Mafalda, Roma, Re d'Italia, Conte Grande (seriously if any ship lived up to its name, of course before the post war modernization, below is the ballroom)

- all venerable palaces at sea. Though I think Paris had one of the most stunning interiors before the first fire - the Salon Mixte was a perfectly airy space that recalled the elegance of the absolute idea of the Grand Hotel sur mer (seen below set for a dinner dance perhaps).

I find the H&W products with their Heaton & Co interiors tended to always have...A "taco bell" approach to their spaces - different ship, same ingredients. The Alcantara of 1926, for example, has more of less the decorative scheme for Britannic of 1914! No a bad thing of course, but it does lead to a bit of interior bingo. Regarding Deco ships, I agree. Normandie did what Ile de France, Champlain and (especially) L'Atlantique had already done and mostly they had done it better. What say you of the Big U's interiors? I used to hate them, now love them when I think of them populated by people of its first years of service. The use of grey in the ballroom was for a similar reason to that of Nieuw Amsterdam's - it helped highlight evening gowns. (both seen below)

3. Now here is the interesting thing about Conte di Savoia - it is rumoured that it was to be an entirely modern ship but the owners got cold feet about an entirely starkly modern ship and awarded Coppedè with the decorative contract for the main lounge! I do think it odd they didn't also change it though because they did that (wrongly) to Saturnia and Vulcania where Pulitzer Finali DESTROYED their beautiful Coppedè lounges to basically install a space that looks like it should have been in Savoia (another rumour is that Coppedè and Pulitzer Finali weren't each other's favourites. Both lounges of the motor ships seen below)

(an interesting fact about Vulcania and Saturnia, from the get-go they had an entire deck of balcony suites!) A side note, Indepence and Constitution of American Export Lines of 1951 might have sterns of interest to you :D

4. This is why I am sorry - I can't shut up about passenger ships. But I will say thank you for the outlet and your answers!

Alright, I want your opinions. Entertain me if you please! 1. Do you think German liners beyond Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosser and Bremen/ Europa don't get enough recognition for all their (especially) luxury "firsts" (elevator, cover charge restaurant, winter gardens, lidos, those Vienna Cafes)? 2. What era of liner decoration is your preferential movement? And a prime example of this for you would be? 3. Conte di Savoia's Salone Colonna - Beautiful room, but in the wrong ship and they just should have gone full modern with Rex being a wonderful period piece against it? Or do you think it was right do a Lloyd's of London/Bowood House arrangement? *sorry*

1. I do think that the German liners tend to be unfairly overlooked. I think people tend to focus a bit too much on Cunard and White Star. Don't get me wrong, I adore them and their ships, but I think other lines and countries deserve some more attention. I'm particularly a fan of the Imperator class of ocean liners.

2. My favorite era would probably be the Edwardian/ pre-war stuff. My favorite is probably a tie between the Olympic, Oceanic, and Mauretania. Other examples include The Big Four, Lusitania, and the plans for what the Britannic would have looked like had she survived the war. A close second would be the art deco ships, but I'm specifically referring to the Cunarders here. I'm really not a fan of the Normandies interior design, for example. In terms of the exterior of ships, I would say my favorites are from 1930 to the mid-50s. My favorites are the MV Georgic, Bremen, the planned but unbuilt RMMV Oceanic, and SS United States. The Big U definitely has my favorite exterior. 

3. I do think it would have been nice for the Rex to contrast the Conte di Savoia (especially considering the Rex was the last ocean liner that had a clipper stern), but it's also important to remember that they were originally being built by two different companies and intended to be rivals. They became running mates purely by accident when the companies merged. I'm not sure how far along in the building process they were when the merger happened, but I wouldn't be surprised if they just didn't think it would be worth it to swap around the interior decor after installation. 

4. Why are you apologizing? I love questions like these! Thank you so much!

[eddieismypimp]

Jealousy is a nasty disease.

Oscar x Plus Size Reader @chaneajoyyy here you go babe, thank you for being so patient with me :( Warnings: It's kind of like that one episode but obviously I changed some dialogue. This is fucking terrible, like it's so cringe like I HATE IT! But I hope you like it bby <3

    ��                      Y/N POV "It's so hot!" I complained out loud as I laid in Oscar and I's bed. The fan was directly on me and I was still burning. Oscar left a few hours ago to handle some business, and he left me here alone in this hot ass house. I checked my phone as it buzzed. Uggggghhh, it's just Monse. There's nothing wrong with Monse, I was just hoping it was Oscar telling me he was on his way home.

Monse- you wanna come to the pool with us?

I gasped in excitement. I forgot the public pool was opening today.

Y/N: ummm, fuck yeah I do! imma get ready and meet y'all there

Monse- okay, we'll be here

I hopped up and put my bathing suit on. I grabbed a tote bag and put all of my essentials in it. I put some sandals on and walked out of my room. As soon as I was about to walk out of the front door, Oscar walked in. "Hey babe." I said kissing his cheek. "Hey, where the hell you going?" He asked. "To the pool." I replied. "Oh yeah, with who?" He asked raising his eyebrow. "Monse invited me." I said. "I'm going with you." He said. "Okay, go get ready, I'll wait for you." I said going to sit at the table to wait for him. After about 5 minutes, Oscar walked out in his swim trunks. "You ready babe?" I asked him standing up. "Yeah." He said wrapping his arm around my shoulder as we walked out to his car.

                       -Time skip-

After we left the pool, we all decided to go to the fair. Going to the pool was much needed and I got to spend time with Oscar and Cesar. That rarely happens because Oscar is always handling business and Cesar is always with his friends. The only bad part about the day was when Jasmine got puked on. It ALMOST got on Oscar and I but we dipped quick. It was hilarious afterwards though. So hilarious in fact, that Oscar was still weak as fuck about it even as we walk through the fair. I wasn't about to kill his vibe though. I love hearing him laugh, and his smile was gorgeous. Jasmine on the other hand, was getting very annoyed. "I'm gonna go get drinks." She said. "I'll take a corona. I won't need a lime though, I'll just pick one out of your hair." Oscar said busting out laughing. Jasmine looked at me with an unamused face. "Get your man girl." She said walking away. I just chuckled. As jasmine walked away, Oscar wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck. "Hi baby." I said smiling at him. "Hi." He said kissing my cheek. Just as Jasmine was coming back with two big slushie drinks and a corona for my baby, we heard a whistle. Everybody's heads turned to the direction it came from. I had no idea who they were but they looked like babies for real. They were staring at us and I was mad confused as to why. I looked up at Oscar. "Babe, who the fuck are they?" "Don't worry about it." He said, unwrapping his arms from me and walking over to them. I looked at Cesar in confusion but he just shrugged his shoulders and went back to talking to Jasmine and Monse. I was not liking the vibe that was being created in the studio today so I just decided to walk around the fair for a little and play a few games. I had only been playing for a few minutes when I heard someone walk up behind me. I figured it was Oscar so I didn't turn around. "Hey babe." I said. "Hey." A voice said that definitely wasn't Oscar's but it sounded very familiar. "Jefe?!?" I asked turning towards him. "In the flesh." He said grinning at me. I squealed and gave him a hug. "How are you? Where have you been?" I asked. "I been here and there, taking care of shit, you know how it goes." He said. I nodded my head. "I been good though. How's everything going here with spooky and everything." He asked. "Everything has been really good here lately actually." I said. "We came here together but he had to go do something real quick, he should be back any minute." I said. "Oh, well I can keep you company until he gets back if you'd like." He said. "Of course!" I said.                    -Time skip- It was like 15 minutes later and Oscar was still talking to those people. I could see him from where Jefe and I were standing so I wasn't to worried about it. Jefe was playing a ring toss game, trying to win me a giant stuffed sloth. It sounds mad corny but I LOVE stuffed animals for real. *DING DING DING* "Ayee, that's what I'm talking about." He cheered as he grabbed the sloth. I started laughing. "You're stupid."  "Thank you though." I said smiling at him. "I'll carry it for you, this bitch is heavy as shit." He said hoisting it over his shoulder. " Thanks bro." I said laughing. "No problem." He said. After a couple more minutes of us walking around and talking, we decided to get a slushie and sit down at the nearest picnic table. "You're deadass a pussy, it's a stuffed animal." I said laughing.  "You're really under estimating how heavy this motherfucker is." Jefe responded defensively. "Alright, Alright." I said putting my hands up in surrender laughing again. We were just enjoying our slushies, catching up when Oscar walked up. "Babe! Finally!" I said getting up and kissing his cheek. He moved away from my kiss. "Um, excuse me." I said taken aback. "Why you dissin my kisses for?" I asked annoyed as fuck. "Who the fuck is this? Oscar asked pointing at Jefe. "This is Jefe." I said. "I've told you about him a few times, remember?" "Nah, I don't remember shit." Oscar said. "Bro, why you bein so rude for real?" I asked. "He been all up on you this entire time." Oscar said. "Don't think I ain't been keeping an eye on you." I just stood there for a second. Jefe and I made eye contact and BUSTED out laughing. "What the fuck is so funny?" Oscar asked, clearly still pissed off. "Baby, Jefe is gay." I said wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. He stood there for a minute. "I'm pissed." He said finally. "Now I'm out here looking stupid as fuck." Me and Jefe DIED at that shit. "Hey man, it's all good." Jefe said. "It happens a lot surprisingly. I thought it was obvious as fuck though." Oscar laughed. "That's my bad homie." "It was good to see you y/n, but I gotta dip." Jefe said standing up. I gave him a hug. "Keep in touch with me for real." I said. "I will, I promise." He said letting go. I turned back to Oscar. "You're carrying my sloth for that shit you pulled." I said playfully. "Yeah yeah, on one condition though." He said, "And what’s that?" I asked. "You better never call me bro again." He said. I laughed. "See, you over laughing like shits sweet but I'm so deadass." He said. "Like I'm deadass not your bro." "I know, I know. I won't call you bro again, I promise." I said. "Good."

[brelione]

Purple And Yellow (Kiara Carrera X Smart!Reader)

If you’re one of those folks that say “PaN SeXuAliTy iS bIpHoBiC” than leave,peace out and dont come back until you have a better attitude:)

Kiara had stared at you longingly everytime you stepped inside the wreck

She had memorised your order of a coffee milkshake with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles and a small order of fries

They never had rainbow sprinkles until you started coming to the restaurant

The sad expression on your face when she told you there were no rainbow sprinkles had literally hurt her soul so she made a mental note to always keep a container of rainbow sprinkles just for you

Everytime she was you you were wearing something yellow

You either had a yellow bandana,a yellow shirt,a bracelet or a yellow hairtye holding your hair in its messy drooping bun

If the color yellow was a person it would be you

As you became a regular she would make small talk with you

“I really like your shirt...im guessing yellow is your favorite color.”She giggled.You nodded,pulling at the fabric of your shirt lightly. “Yeah,its a really good vibe that i’ve got going.”You grinned.She agreed,watching as you left the restaurant.

That night she had taken tweezers to separate the yellow sprinkles from the others to surprise you when you came in for your milkshake

She had asked for your phone number once which was awkward because you didnt have a phone

You had a snapchat though so you gave that to her

You two made plans to go to the beach and she said she’d pick you up

She wasnt really expecting your house to look the way it did

It was small and originally white but was covered with random yellow,pink and blue hearts

You had come out of your house,struggling to keep your cat behind the front door

You werent wearing anything yellow that she could see which made her thought that maybe something was wrong

But her worries washed away once you got to the beach and unbuttoned your white shirt to reveal a mustard yellow bikini underneath

“You know,I feel kind of uncomfy in a bikini in public.”You sighed,looking along the beach.There were only three other people at this beach in particular.She had done that on purpose so she wouldnt run into anyone she knew.She giggled,making you raise your eyebrows. “What?”You asked. “Uncomfy.”She laughed.

You two spent the day searching for seashells and seaglass

You let out a loud gasp as you came across a small puddle of water high up and away from the water

“Uh oh.”You mumbled.Her eyebrows furrowed,trying to figure out what you were looking at.You rushed to take off your flipflops,making the small crab that had been trapped in the puddle get onto the white material.You ran down to the water,scooching it off the shoe and back into the water.Kiara had recorded the whole thing on her snapchat,giggling. “I SAVED IT!DONT WORRY!”You exclaimed,running back to her with a smile on your face.

When you got to her house after your beach trip you decided to paint some of the seashells you found

“Hey,hey you wanna know a fun fact?”You asked.She nodded,waiting for you to continue. “Seashells hatch.”You answered.She wasnt sure how true that was but she grinned,acting amazed.

She had asked you to sleepover

You obviously said yes after calling your sister to confirm

You two made vanilla milkshakes and added food coloring to make it your favorite colors

Hers was purple and she decided to add some blackberries to give it an even deeper color

“You dont seem like a purple girl.”You sipped your milkshake.She bit her lip,squinting. “What does that mean?”She asked.You shrugged. “I dont know,just doesnt seem….you seem like a red girl.”You told her. “Red?Why?”She asked.You shrugged. “Well,in literature the color red often symbolises anger,passion and adventure.And to me you seem like a very passionately adventurous person.”You explained.She nodded,blushing. “I love that.What does yellow symbolise?”She asked. “Umm….usually happiness,creativity and madness.Kind of like Alice from Alice In Wonderland.She’s quite yellow,id say.”You explained,tapping the side of your glass.

You two decided to go swimming as the sun was setting

She was wearing a purple bikini with a cool flower pattern

You two sat on pool floaties,watching the sky change color

“This sunset has both of our favorite colors...like look at those clouds.Those ones are yellow and those are purple.”She observed,pointing to the clouds. “You know,clouds arent really a color.It appears to be the color of whatever reflects against it.”You grinned,closing your eyes.

When she introduced you to her friends she regretted it because Pope literally stole you

The two of you would talk about science and you’d get into super deep and passionate talks about the history of neuroscience

When she felt like she was drifting from you she’d come up behind you and wrap her arms around your shoulders as you talked

She bought you a really cute yellow dress to wear on dates

She loved studying with you

She hated the studying part but the way you got so excited when you talked about certain topics made her listen

You taught her to take important notes on only purple paper or with a purple pen because studies show that you’re more likely to remember something if the color of it is pleasing to you

As you were talking about the importance of balanced meals she interrupted you with the “Alright,Spencer Reid.”

“Ive been thinking lately and I think you are a purple girl.”You spoke one night,your face buried in the crook of her neck. “Yeah?”She asked.You hummed. “Why is that?”She asked.You grinned. “Because purple is associated with royalty and you’re my princess.”You giggled,waiting for her reaction.��

You spent the weekends at her house all the time to make friendship bracelets and colorful food

Your personal favorite was purple macarons

When you went to see her after she had a bad day you would wear a lavender colored bra with matching underwear because you knew she loved it

“Im just saying we should take over the Kook Academy and then we can turn the auditorium into a movie theater and the cafeteria into a ball room.”You were a bit drunk.She nodded. “Yeah,yeah that is such a beautiful and well thought out plan.”She laughed.

She let you paint her nails with yellow nail polish with purple polka dots

For pride month she painted your nails the color of the Pan flag

JJ was fascinated by your existence because you were so pure and giggly and couldnt understand how you and Kiara got along so well

As he put it you were like cloud bread and Kie was sourdough

He was high when he said that of course

She had ‘adopted’ your famous yellow tshirt that you had been wearing the first tme she saw you

You got back at her by stealing a purple snake ring she had gotten off of amazon

Pope was just glad to interact with intelligent life

John.B was jealous of how happy you and Kie made eachother because he doubted he could do that for Sarah

You graduated highschool a year early and started doing online college courses so you wouldnt have to leave Kie

You learned how to play “Cant help falling in love with you” on the ukelele

Whenever she couldnt sleep and you couldnt come over she’d facetime you and youd play it for her until she fell asleep

[thistreasurehunter]

Outer Banks: Reality TV AU

Okay, this was supposed to be a quick little imagine/headcanon, but it kind of got away from me… I actually feel like I’ve just experienced an entire season of Big Brother in the last 30 mins while I was writing this! (The images above are from Pinterest)

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Okay, but imagine if they all met on a reality TV show instead. Big Brother, for instance…

VTs + entrances:

JJ would be set up by the show as the sexy one that all the girls are going to love – a 2D dumb hottie.

He’d love his entrance, grinning and waving and high-fiving the cheering audience.

And Pope’s VT makes him sound like a bit of a straight-laced nerd.

And he’s a bit shy on his entrance walk, but he still gets a big cheer.

Sarah and Rafe would come in as a brother and sister duo,

But as separate housemates.

Rafe makes a couple of ~questionable~ comments in his VT and he gets a mixed reaction from the live audience.

Sarah wears a slinky floor length gown and looks amazing as she makes her way in.

Kie mentions sea turtles twice in her VT.

She opts for more of a casual-glam look, but still owns that catwalk as she enters the house.

The Kie/Sarah arc:

Kie and Sarah are framed by the producers as powerful, confident, head-strong women.

So at first, the audience all think they’re going to clash over which one of them gets to become queen bee of the house.

And, to be fair, they do clash a bit to begin with,

Because they’re both so strong-willed and sure of their own mind.

But really, it’s actually all just low-key sexual tension.

Because those girls have the hots for each other!

But they’re both a bit too proud to say anything at first.

Then, slowly, they realise they’ve got so much in common.

And they bond over environmental issues and feminism and convincing their housemates to recycle more.

And they become friends.

Friends who both look really hot in their bikinis when they hang out in the pool or the hot-tub;

And who have long, soft chats late into the night, kind of curled up in the cosy chairs in the garden;

And who often sit with the other’s head in their lap.

And who take turns doing each other’s hair and make-up;

And who talk about how hard it is style different hair types or apply good make-up on a skin tone other than your own, so they teach each other.

Then one night they’d be messing about in the pool, laughing and splashing each other, and suddenly Kie would just lean forwards and kiss Sarah. And Sarah would kiss her back and they’d both be wet and pressed up against each other in their bikinis, and all the cameras would suddenly be pointing at them.

The video of it online would become one of the most watched clips of the show ever and it would go down in BB history.

And then they kind of become an awesome power couple.

And everyone would just know that the house was ruled by two queens.

The JJ/Pope arc:

At the beginning, the audience think JJ and Pope are going to annoy each other. Because they’re just so different: like, stereotypical cautious nerd vs stereotypical reckless jock.

And in the first few days, they don’t spend much time together, because they both did kind of low-key judge the other from a distance too.

But then to spice things up, Big Brother teamed them up together for a task.

And to begin with, they were both so dejected at having to endure the task with the other.

But when they actually started the task they ended up getting along so well.

Like, their personalities complemented each other’s, and they worked really well together.

And they were surprised by how much they could make the other laugh.

And they ended up acing the task.

And then they just sort of… fell into hanging out together.

All the time.

JJ brought out Pope’s fun side and Pope brought out JJ’s sensitive side.

JJ would do something daft, and Pope would join in and they’d both end up creased in laughter.

Or Pope would be a bit sad about something and JJ would be right there, making him feel better.

And their bromance literally became the highlight of every episode.

The entire show, really.

Because everyone just LOVES watching them hanging out, having fun, looking out for each other and just hyping each other up every chance they get.

It was the friendship that shouldn’t have worked, but just did.

And they form a little friendship group with Kie and Sarah. And they all just get along and have a lot of fun together.

One time, one of the other housemates said something mean and unfair to JJ. And JJ was about to get angry in his direction. But then Pope cut in and just verbally took that guy down!

And JJ was just so bewildered, because nobody had ever stood up for him like that before.

And then in letters-from-home week, JJ is happy for everyone, but also a bit sad because he knows he won’t have one – I mean, he knows his dad definitely wouldn’t have bothered.

And Pope asks JJ to read his letter from his parents and it’s beautiful and JJ chokes up a bit and they both hug afterwards and it’s really emotional.

Then just when JJ thinks they’ve finished, there’s one letter left at the bottom of the box, and it’s from his JJ’s BFF from back home – John B.

And Pope reads it out to him, and it’s really lovely and John B tells JJ all the funny things that have happened since he was gone and also that everyone on The Cut is really behind him and JJ is laughing and welling up and just so happy. And all the other housemates – the nice ones – kind of get that this was a big deal for JJ and sort of envelop him in a big group hug, Pope right there in the middle holding him.

And throughout their whole friendship, the camera doesn’t miss the way Pope and JJ look at each other.

And they become the will-they-won’t-they pairing of the series.

They both get asked a ton of leading questions about the other in the Diary Room.

And they get such a huge audience following and end up having a load of fan accounts dedicated to them.

They even get a ship name.

Well, two ship names.

And nobody can really decide which one to use.

But the boys just keep it completely bro-mantic and platonic, to the dismay of the audience.

Even though it’s completely obvious to everyone that they clearly have ~feelings~ for each other.

The Rafe arc:

And, of course, every season has it’s ‘baddies’.

This year it was Rafe and his gang of stuck-up, snobby ‘Kooks’.

Rafe gets a little bit too drunk on the first night and decides to go for a middle-of-the-night swim.

There’s a lot of flexing.

And some of the housemates are a bit wary of him because he comes across as quite unpredictable.

In general, Rafe’s ‘popular group’ are a bit mean to some of the other housemates, particularly JJ, who they keep tormenting,

They try to provoke him into getting so angry he’s removed from the house.

And they keep nominating him for eviction.

But week after week, JJ always survives the public vote.

But then one week he’s up for eviction against the most popular ‘Kook’ housemate and JJ is sure he’s going to leave.

And he’s sad because he knows how much he’s going to miss Pope and his friends in the house.

And on eviction night he can’t keep still and his leg keeps bouncing with nerves.

And the Kook is so over-confident.

Pope, Sarah and Kie all sit around JJ as the results are read out…

And the Kook is evicted and he gets booed when he leaves.

JJ is saved and gets a huge cheer from the audience outside and Pope, Kie and Sarah all pile on top of him in a big group hug.

And Sarah tries to talk to Rafe about cooling it. Telling him to stop being a jerk to everyone, especially JJ.

But it isn’t until Rafe has to do a task with Sarah, Kie, JJ and Pope that it really starts to sink in.

Because the task is really hard and they have to spend quite a bit of time just the five of them in a separate task-room.

And Rafe gets to know the others a bit better and sees how much fun they are and how much nicer they are to be around than the people he hangs out with.

And they all work together and win the luxury shopping budget.

And afterwards, Rafe kind of rejects the ‘popular’ group and starts hanging out with Sarah and the others.

And he just doesn’t tolerate any of his old friends saying anything mean about his new crew.

And so he gets a bit of a redemption arc on the show and the audience go from loving-to-hate him, to just sort of loving him in a he’s-a-bit-flawed-but-aren’t-we-all kind of way.

The Final:

Rafe, Sarah, Kie, Pope and JJ all make it to the final.

John B is in the front row of the audience with a massive sign that just says “JJPope Nation”.

And it’s really emotional when they say goodbye to the house.

Because they all know how life-changing the last couple of months have been.

Rafe’s exit interview is intense – he’s grilled about his change in attitude and he gets a bit emotional. He explains how eye-opening the experience was and how he want to move forwards as a better person and the audience all fall in love with him a little bit.

And Kie and Sarah both look incredible and work that catwalk as they leave.

In their interviews they both get asked a lot about that first kiss…

But the girls are more interested in talking about equality and sexuality politics.

And that just end up solidifying their new roles as LGBTQ icons.

Pope and JJ are the final two.

And as they wait for the final result, they just sit on the sofas a little in shock because neither of them ever expected that they could get this far.

And they both think the other deserves to win much more than they do.

And just before they get the results, Pope takes hold of JJ’s hand.

And when the winner is announced they both just hold onto each other and end up sobbing into each other’s shoulders, because they’re just so happy and shell-shocked.

And when they finally exit the house they both get such deafening cheers and they can’t keep the smiles off their faces.

And their Best Bits videos are amazing, because it’s basically like a montage of their whole friendship.

Their funny, chaotic, sweet, intense, glorious friendship.

And of course they get asked about whether there’s anything more between them than friendship.

And they’re both really evasive.

And they just cannot believe they have fan sites!

And the after-party is loud and wild and brilliant and lasts all night.

Afterwards:

Rafe has redeemed himself in the public eye and ends up being universally loved by the female audience.

After the show, he does a series of work-out videos that become hugely popular.

He also becomes a regular guest on TV panel shows.

After the show ends Sarah and Kie start their own ethical, environmentally friendly beauty brand and later add a fashion line.

They make sure they promote true representation and employ models of all ethnicities and body types, showing girls everywhere what true beauty looks like.

With some of the proceeds of their company, they set up a number of charities that focus on environmental and humanitarian projects all over the world.

And they live their best lives, knowing they’re helping make the world a better place.

After the first wave of interviews and photo shoots die down, JJ and Pope both sort of fall out of the public eye.

There’s still a lot of speculation about them.

And the fan sites never really give up on the ship.

They both occasionally post things to their Instagrams,

JJ mainly posts photos of the ocean or his surf board,

And Pope posts food shots and inspirational quotes.

Occasionally a photo shows up of them hanging out at one of Kie and Sarah’s glitzy fashion events.

And Rafe once posted a photo of the old BB gang, and also John B, in a bar somewhere. They were all crammed into the shot. But JJ and Pope were sitting really close, JJ’s arm slung over Pope’s shoulder.

That photo ended up getting a lot of likes.

And then a few years after the show ended, Pope posts a photo of a heart drawn in the sand with the letters P + J inside.

And then at almost the exact same moment, JJ posts a close up photo of Pope’s hand resting on his own, their golden wedding rings shining.

And so many people like the photos at the exact same moment the boys temporarily break the internet.

[hermit-pistol]

conspiracies and confessions (mista x reader)

This is for @honey-pea as the result of the 100 follower raffle! Yes it’s goofy...but I love it so- enjoy!  :>

You never thought that you would ever become a member of a gang, yet here you are. When Bruno Bucciarati asked you, just a common pickpocket, to become a member of Passione, you couldn't believe it. 

"You're joking, right?" 

"Passione is no joke. I think that you would fit in well. While we may have differing backgrounds, I treat my gang like family." 

He wasn't joking about that, once you passed Polpo's test and gained a "stand" of your very own, the other members of the gang welcomed you, surprisingly.

There was Narancia, an energetic young boy, Fugo, a little reserved in nature, Abbacchio, who hated your guts (or so you thought, anyway), and Mista. 

Oh, Mista. 

You probably got along the best with him. You two had the most in common, he was just so easy to talk to! More often than not you would be up until the early hours of the morning giggling about some stupid internet videos or chatting about the latest gossip. 

You would be lying to yourself if you said there were times where you thought of him as more than a friend. But, you didn't want to spoil the good relationship that you already had, although it may have been platonic in nature. 

Until then, you appreciated what you had.

----

It had been a little over a year since you joined Bruno's gang, and you could say that you had really found your home there. Another member had joined as well, going by the name of Giorno Giovanna. He was good, strong both physically and mentally, and was your team's secret weapon as of late. 

Given the nature of the missions from the boss lately, your group had been living in a tiny room inside of a turtle for longer than you would have liked. Between missions, everyone was grumpy and irritable, either camping out on the couches or floor or complaining that there weren't enough drinks in the mini-fridge. 

It also didn't help that Trish Una, the boss' daughter that they were in charge of protecting... was extremely demanding. 

After a couple of weeks of living in the furthest thing from paradise, Bruno decided that it was time for a change. 

"I've booked us a place for a couple of nights." It seemed as if everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. "It's only fair since we've been working so hard lately." 

"Is there a pool?? I wanna go swimming!" Narancia all but yelled as he stood up from where he was slumped on the couch, excitement shone in his eyes. 

"Did you get a hotel, Bucciarati?" Abbacchio leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. 

"I didn't, the boss did. He's looked so favorably upon us that we each get our own rooms too." He raised his eyebrows, which could barely be seen behind his bangs. "Pretty neat, huh?" 

"It's about time that we got some reward for our hard work!" Mista pumped his fist into the air. Sex Pistols cheered as well, probably at the thought of all the gourmet food that they were about to eat. 

"When do we get to go?" You asked, never looking up from your book. You had started it that morning. 

"Tonight, actually. Be ready to check-in in about an hour or so." You could hear a loud 'YAY' from under Mista's hat. How cute! 

---

Within the next hour, you were laying on a plush hotel bed, continuing your reading. Bruno, Giorno, Trish, and Abbacchio were relaxing in their own rooms, but you distinctly remember Narancia saying that he was going to drag Mista and Fugo into the swimming pool. He had also asked you to go, but at that time you had found that you preferred the quiet company of a book compared to screaming children (Narancia included) at a public pool. 

It was about the paranormal, one of your favorite subjects. Nothing beats reading about creepy facts in a hotel room in the early evening, right? Your mind was racing when you heard a knock on the door. 

Throwing your book on the bed, you padded along the plush carpeting to the doorway, looking outside the peephole. It was Mista, looking around. A big smile crept onto your features as you undid the deadbolt. "Helloooo~ welcome to my crib." You giggled at your stupidity. 

Thankfully, Mista appreciated your goofy sense of humor. "You dork, if you're gonna talk to me like that for the rest of the night I should probably leave." He said in a serious tone, obviously joking. 

"Yeah, be my guest." You settled back into your comfy spot in the middle of the bed. "I thought that you were going to be at the pool with the other guys?" 

"Eh, I told them that I would join them in a little bit. The Pistols wouldn't stop complaining about wanting to see you, though." He took off his hat momentarily to let out his mischievous stand. They circled around you chanting your name. "We've missed you!" they spoke in unison. 

"I saw you all yesterday. Talk about clingy." You giggled. "I've just been reading." 

"Ooh what about?" Mista asked as he sat down on the bed next to you. You always loved when he was interested in your hobbies.

"It's about creepy stuff. Did you know that if you wake up in the middle of the night it could be because your body senses someone was staring at you?" 

"I did not, but that's absolutely terrifying." He let out a nervous laugh. "Uh...now that the adrenaline is kicking in we should read it together. I didn't need sleep tonight anyways." 

"Good idea." You opened the book, with the Sex Pistols nestling themselves in between the two of you. 

After reading for about 30 minutes or so, Mista pointed out one interesting fact himself. He was so close to you, and you hoped that he didn't hear your racing heart. 

"It says that to avoid the influences of mind control, you should craft a hat out of...tinfoil?" Pffft. "Y/N I know what we have to do now." 

"Oh yeah? Where are we gonna get it? I most certainly don't have any tinfoil on me..." 

"Abbacchio. He has to have some. He does all sorts of crazy shit to his hair." You shrugged your shoulders. You decided to let him take responsibility as the two of you left your room to make the short walk down the hall. 

One embarrassing encounter later, you had learned that Abbacchio did not have your 'fucking stupid tinfoil' and proceeded to cuss you out accordingly.

Luckily, the little convenience store down the road carried some. You picked up a pair of scissors as well, and were soon walking back to the hotel laughing about what was to come. 

"Okay Pistols, do you guys want hats too?" Mista asked once the two of you had returned to the room. They all squealed with joy. Well, there was your answer. 

You un-boxed the scissors and started cutting the first strip of the foil. It made such a satisfying sound. 

You started with 6 small strips for each of the pistols. Once they were cut, you formed the easily-malleable substance into small cones. 

"C'mere guys." You placed each one on their heads, which fit perfectly. Next you set to work making two larger ones for Mista and yourself. 

"Mista look at me!" Number 7 floated around the comforter.

"MEEESTA! Number 3 ripped my hat!" Number 5 cried as he sat on your shoulder. The thought of knowing that he wouldn't be susceptible to mind control comforted him even though his hat was’t in the best condition.

You stopped your work and examined his hat. "Number 5, it looks fine to me. Big Brother won't pierce your brain waves today. Dry those tears." 

"O-okay." He sniffled. By this point you had finished the hats. You and Mista decided to take pictures of each other to see how ridiculous you looked. 

"I look like a pointy toe." You laughed out loud as you walked to the bathroom mirror. "Let's take a picture together!" 

"Alright." He was at your side, and just before you took the picture he decided to sling an arm around you. In the moment you jumped, therefore ruining the picture. "Lemme see! You gotta send this to me." 

You looked at the result of your stupidity: a blurry picture produced by shaky hand syndrome. "Uh, let's take another one." You readied your camera, determined to make memories. 

This time when Mista put his arm around you you didn't even flinch. It felt...natural. 

The two of you were having a good time until the power went out. You could barely see your hand in front of your face, and the Pistols started screaming. "M-mista!" You could hear the whimpers of Number 5 from the other room. 

"I'm coming guys!" Mista called. "Y/N gimme your hand." You reached around the bathroom blindly, and instead made contact with his exposed midriff. Oops. 

"Sorry, sorry!" You could hear the humility in your voice as you trailed your touch over his arm to eventually reach his hand. It felt quite warm. Yours were just clammy from being a nervous wreck. 

Soon all of you were huddled together on the bed again, using cell phones for lighting. "A hotel having a power outage..seems a little strange, don't you think?" You asked. 

"Is this our next conspiracy?" Mista smirked. You still couldn't take him seriously with his tinfoil hat on. 

"Yes, Mista. The conspiracy of the idiot in the hotel room. How spooky." Your heart stopped when you heard the scratching on the door. 

"W-what was that."

"You're asking me?" Through the dim phone screen lights, you could see a worried expression cross his handsome features. "I guess that means that we have to check it out." 

"We? This is all you buddy." You gave him a playful shove, although the tone present in your voice was anything but. 

Mista got up and straightened out his outfit. He walked up to the peephole on shaky legs. "There's..no one here." He breathed a sigh of relief. 

"That's weird." You relaxed a little, the Pistols curling up in your arms, tinfoil hats scratching you.

That's when the thumping started. 

Mista was still at the door terrified. "Come here!" You mouthed, and he wasted no time in sprinting back to the bed. "Mista, I'm kind of freaked out." 

"It's okay, I am too." He opened his arms, inviting you in. You fell into them without a second thought. The Pistols joined in as well, and soon all of you were a giant ball of cuddling and crinkled tinfoil. 

You felt his heart race as you pressed your ear against his chest. You figured that since you might not get another opportunity like this you might as well confess your blossoming feelings. 

"Mista I have something to say..." His dark eyes bore into yours. 

"Sure, what's up?" The thumps were growing louder and more frequent now. 

"I really enjoy spending time with you, and you've really helped me find my place in Passione. You're definitely the member that I've grown closest to and I appreciate that, but over the past year, I've realized that maybe..." You tightened your grip on his torso.

"Maybe what? That you have romantic feelings?" 

You were shocked. "Well, you took the words right out of my mouth." The Pistols let out a collective 'oooh'. You could have sworn that you heard a distinct, 'Mista has a girlfriend~' taunt coming from one of them...probably Number 3.

The thumping was so loud at this point, you let out a scream holding onto Mista for dear life. It seemed as if the door were about to fall off of its hinges. The door eventually swung open violently. With the intensity that it had made contact with the wall you could tell that the flimsy hotel drywall was cracked. 

The lighting provided by the emergency exit signs brought out the outline of a figure, with a flowing garb and...ears? 

Thoughts were racing through your head. You whispered over to Mista, watching the figure carefully, "I think I know what that is, I read about it in my book earlier. Page 343. It's a catboy." 

"A catboy?! What...I thought those were only-" 

"A cryptid? A figment of the imagination? Me too, but we are not your average goons. We are prepared," Your eyes looked up, indicating to your hats, "I think we should rush him. The book says that they're not that violent." 

"I'm following you on this one Y/N." He was too scared to look at the figure standing in the doorway. It was surprising that it hadn't yet made a move. 

"Okay, 3.." 

"2.."

"1.. CHARGE!" Mista leapt off of the bed and ran up to the creature, tackling him to the floor, his tinfoil hat flying off.

"TAKE THAT CATBOY!" You screamed as the two wrestled on the ground, and as if on cue the lights turned back on. 

"Get off of me!" The figure turned out to be Giorno Giovanna, wearing a robe and hair curlers. "Why are you attacking me Mista, why are all of you wearing those ridiculous hats, and most importantly why am I a catboy?" You could sense the anger in his voice, which was very uncharacteristic of him since he was usually so level-headed. 

"I-" you started, taking off your hat and shamefully placing it on the bed. "We were just having a little bit of fun. Then the power turned off and we got paranoid. I'm sorry Giorno." 

"I noticed the power went out so I went to check on everyone else, I did not expect to have you lock me out of your room and then be tackled to the floor." Giorno adjusted one of his rollers that had fallen out of place due to the beatdown. 

"Sorry man, let's talk about it tomorrow morning? When emotions aren't getting in the way." Mista gave a goofy grin, and Giorno rolled his eyes in response and bid them a barely audible 'good night' as he walked down the hallway. 

Once again, it was just you, Mista, and the Pistols. At least the lights were back on again. "You're gonna have to explain that catboy thing to him later, he seemed very disturbed." 

"Will do, but back to earlier-" He sat back down on the bed with you, grabbing your hand softly. "Did you really mean all those things you said?" 

"I really did, there's no one else that I would rather be an idiot with, idiot." You laughed and placed your discarded tinfoil hat onto his head. 

The Pistols cheered, with Number 5 shedding a few tears in the process, "Man, I just love a happy ending." 

"I think that a sleepover is in order?" You playfully nudged him. 

"Count me in."

[cheezritsu]

Drowning Lessons

May in Hyogo is always gorgeous, perfect. Years later, May is less gorgeous than it is isolating. Osamu tries to fix that.  

Miya Osamu x Reader

This is from the second chapter of my fic on AO3 Loving is Easy is you want to reader more. (TW: mentions of drowning)

Uneventful is peaceful, you tell yourself, as the days stretch into weeks and everything is routine. You wake up, go to school, wait for the twins outside the gym, go home; rinse, repeat for the next few weeks until it all comes grinding to a halt. 

Back to back holidays provide an impromptu long weekend. Cool breezes break into drier heat in Hyogo as May comes with full force. Outside kids are running around while you attempt to drown out their screams from the discomfort of your home. 

It wasn’t always like this, you think as curl into the couch to find a comfortable position. May in Hyogo is always gorgeous, perfect. The trees are at their peak foliage and picnics underneath them were frequent. This was back in the good old days of being seven and having no intrusive thoughts to corrupt the majesty of breaks. 

You used to spend this time outside, with the twins of all people. Your mother, a teacher with responsibilities even during this time, would drop you off at the Miya household. Despite their mother being an intelligent, kind woman who was Wonder Woman in both your child and now teenaged eyes, there was only so much she could handle having twin boys and then dealing with you. 

And so to the pool it was, where lifeguards were as equally responsible for you as she was. It wasn’t too long ago that you’d stopped going, and it hadn’t been for lack of ability. You just stopped feeling comfortable going.

It had happened in an instant, like all bad things. One moment you were happily swimming out to the deeper end, waiting for the twins to apply sunscreen. They always slapped it on with vigor and probably a healthy amount of brotherly malice, because it sounded like it stung. You were gliding on your back now, staring up at the mirrored perfect blue of the sky, and you just...sunk. 

Next thing you know, you’re underwater telling yourself to just exhale, just let it all go. Take a deep breath of chlorine and piss water and just sink even further. Your jaw tightened subconsciously, afraid you might actually do it. Or maybe you were simply willing. 

The twins came to your rescue. They hadn’t known that—and at the time neither did you—but you think about Osamu’s outstretched hand and his eyes, unblinking under the water. He was patient, and you took his hand, breaking the surface and whatever strange thoughts you had in your head. 

Years later, May is less gorgeous than it is isolating. Your mother and father are at work and everyone you know is too far and cares too little to see you. The closest friends are the Miya twins, but they are at volleyball practice.

You think about this a lot. You’re thinking about this and everything else as you’re laying down in your house, dissociated and mindnumbingly bored when you hear the doorbell. Banging follows, along with someone saying “Are you really going to ignore the one person trying to hang out with you?” 

Immediately you shuffle towards the door, unable to actually smile at the antics. You’re certain it’s Osamu—while he has a reputation for being more polite, it’s really just that he keeps his mouth shut. Once it’s open, it’s pretty much a mixed bag. 

Plus, you know his voice. Atsumu always has this mischievous lilt that makes girls swoon while Osamu’s voice is deeper and more serious and also makes girls swoon. 

You roll your eyes at the thought. You most definitely don’t want to swoon right now, especially as the banging continues. 

The door swings open to reveal the grey haired twin, looking quite pissed off at making him wait. It’s been several weeks of them insisting to keep the color, and the metallic glimmer has faded for both of them. Osamu’s is still nicer, having faded into an almost dirty silver. 

You're so lost in thinking about his hair that you don’t realize he’s just been standing in the doorway for about a minute. He gives your appearance a once over and his expression goes neutral once again.

“You look like shit.”

You could be inside, daydreaming a much nicer conversation with him instead of having this one. You consider slamming the door closed, but instead you sigh. “Don’t you have literally anyone else to be an asshole to?”

“Practice is over and Atsumu’s on a date with his person of the week so, no.”

You want to laugh, because it’s funny to see Osamu inadvertently say he misses his brother. But there’s something squeezing your heart that only produces a scoff. Osamu raises a brow, but instead of commenting on it he says “Are you letting me in?”

“Maybe I won’t,” you say, trying to keep a teasing air. You’re actually half serious about making him go home. 

He hums, then produces something from his jacket pocket. It’s a set of keys, marked with the number 4. “I had an idea.”

Now you’re intrigued. You step aside and let him enter, but he doesn’t go far. He sits on the step just behind the entryway, and you move to do the same. 

“You remember how we used to go to the municipal pool during break?”

You scrunch your eyebrows, looking at him with a strange expression. How on earth could he have been thinking of the same memory? What kind of soulmate shit was that?

“Yeah,” you say slowly, calculating what you’re going to say next. You’re still at a loss for words.  “Why?”

“Well I know you hate crowds,”

“That was one time,”

“And I also know you hate public pools so,” he swings the keys around in his finger. “I got the keys to the school’s practice pool.”

You looked at the tiny silver keys around his finger, then back to his face. He was donning the smile that meant he was up to no good, one generally reserved for Atsumu. He was serious though, you could tell. 

“How did you even come by those? Were they just laying around?”

“I have my ways,” he replies cryptically. “This is a timed offer, so I’ll need an answer now.”

“Now?” You screech, feeling pressured. This had to be some prank—why would Osamu come all the way to your house by himself to break into Inarizaki’s pool? 

“Why didn’t you text me and ask earlier?”

“I’d have to come all the way here and get you anyways.”

“I can get to school by myself.”

“Sure you can.” 

“Osamu,” you say seriously, hands on your hips and looking him dead in the eye. All teasing went out the window and he sighed, standing up. 

“You can say no.” And you hear a palpable disappointment in those words that makes your gut twist. It’s hard to deny him when he’s presented you with such a brilliant plan; one worthy of a teen romance, you dare to think.

He’s looking out for you. Maybe he’s bored and wants to do something hairbrained and reckless, like the good old days.

 But the Miya twins aren’t nostalgic, not in the way you are. Growing up with them, you were aware of their severe allergies to sentimentality. They never thought with retrospect or hindsight, preferring to barrel into a moment headfirst with each other. They never took the time to consider emotions, unless it affected them. 

You were different. You were exhaustingly romantic and analytical, to the point where Atsumu and Osamu had no choice but to bully you back into reality. You thought—thought you knew for a fact—their feelings for you weren’t as strong as your own for them.

You started changing. Getting more and more distant and lost in daydreams. Maybe they did notice, and maybe this was like Osamu’s hand pulling you out of the water all those years ago, during a May just like this. 

“I’ll go.”

*

It hadn’t occurred to you while you were getting ready, nor on the train ride to school that what you were doing might be a punishable offense. 

Osamu has seemingly lost his tongue, because he’s not speaking to you as you make the trek to Inarizaki. There’s a smattering of clubs still on school grounds, such as the track and field team who runs in circles around the outdoor track. The boys are in nothing but tiny race shorts and you snort seeing such big boys in bright red. 

“I never realized their shorts were so short,” you laugh, and then look at your companion. “Is that how you guys’ uniforms look?”

He spares a glance over you, then snorts. “I’d quit if they were.”

“I donno, I think I’d actually go to a game if they looked like that.”

He doesn’t say anything after that. The harsh afternoon heat makes you sweat almost everywhere, and when you see the gym marked 4, you’re glad for the reprieve. 

“Wait,” you say, peeking through the doors on your tiptoes. “Is it empty?”

“Why would I bring you here during practice? So you could stare at more legs?”

“Ha ha,” you reply. “No.”

“Since when did you get so horny?”

“I am not!”

“Sure,” he punctuates with the click of the lock. The door swings open to a moist and comfortable coolness. “After you.”

You smile at him in kind. It’s dark and damp with the lights off, and the surrounding floor has been mopped dry. Your eyes dart to the corners of the room, sweeping for cameras, but you find none. 

“Are you sure this is okay?”

There’s a loud noise as the skylight coverings retract. Sunlight floods in and bounces off the water, making those translucent waves appear on the walls. It’s your own pristine oasis. 

You turn to smile at Osamu when he reappears, but then you blanch. 

He’s in swim trunks, obviously, as this is a pool and he asked you to come here. Yet somehow you didn’t expect all of this; he has toned legs from years of conditioning, and oh shit, oh fuck he’s dropping his bag to grip the edge of his shirt. 

“What are you doing?” You blurt in a panic, certain your heartbeat is echoing off the walls because it’s pounding in your skull. 

He looks at you with nothing more than confusion. “I’m getting in the water?”

“You’re just going to,” you swallow, begging yourself to say the words because they’re just words, this shouldn’t be that hard. “You’re just going to do that out here?”

“You mean take my shirt off.”

And there’s the taunting curve to his lips you knew was coming. He’s not even reserved as he lifts the garment over his head and stuffs it into his bag. 

You immediately avert your eyes and he gives a full laugh. “You were just staring at dudes legs a second ago.”

“I was joking.”

He hums, walking the length of the pool. They hold competitions here, so the pool is Olympic sized, whatever that means. All you know is that it’s significantly deeper than the municipal pool, going to about 9 feet. It’s much taller than you, or Osamu. The thought of having water completely cover you like that sends a fear running down your spine. You’d drown in an instant. 

You stare at the unforgiving water, thinking about that day. Bright sunshine, kids screaming, and then suddenly a whoosh and then perfect blue. Nothing would have happened then; there was a lifeguard on duty, and the Miya’s mom was first aid certified. People were everywhere, people much taller than five feet. The twins would have pulled you up. Everything would have been fine. 

But here—you could die here, and no one but Osamu would know a thing. 

“Hey.” His voice is clear and very, very close. You let out an involuntary gasp and clutch your chest when he materializes beside you. His brows are pinched downward. You feel infinitesimal in his grey gaze. 

“Sorry, I was just,” thinking about drowning. “Thinking.” 

“About what?” He asks it like he knows something you don’t. Which is impossible, because you’re the only person who knows about this. This sinking, drowning feel that sucks you in even though you’re on dry land. 

But when you look at him, really look at him, you can see something akin to suffering in the furrow of his brow. 

His hands rest on the top of your shoulders, and for once you’re not wanting to pull away from the touch. His hands are firm, but not squeezing. Just right. 

The thought has you spinning, but then you actually are; your world turns and you’re falling headfirst into the water. 

The splash stings on impact, but the warm water is inviting. After righting yourself, it becomes warm and comfortable. When you open your eyes there’s the flourish of bubbles right next to you as Osamu plunges in. 

His hair floats in a grey halo around his head as he swims toward you, but you’re backing up just as fast. You’re good at swimming; you’ve been better than him after all those years. You swim towards the shallow end and plant your feet on the ground, breaking the surface for air. 

Your sopping wet clothes are stuck to your exposed skin, and it feels disgusting peeling it off. Osamu laughs as you try to stick your hands back into your shirt. 

“Stop laughing, asshole!” You say, splashing him with water as he gets closer. He still eases through chest-high water as you try to back up, but you inevitably meet a wall. 

“Let me help you,” he smirks, his hand meeting the billowing fabric of your top. “It’s the least I can do.”

There’s nowhere to escape him but down. You plunge your head underwater to alleviate the raw embarrassment of it all. You can’t hear his laughter underwater either. 

When you resurface he’s still waiting for you. You fling your ruined shorts over the wall and wince at the absolutely disgusting noise it makes on impact with the floor. There’s a lewd joke to be made in there, but you can’t even breathe with Osamu lifting the hem of your shirt over your head. His fingertips brush against wet skin and it feels horrible, mostly because you want to lean into it and have his fingers on your skin for the rest of your life. 

He doesn’t notice that you’re staring at him with doe eyes, shrinking even further back against the wall. He smiles genially, brushing a strand of wet hair from your forehead. Your heart feels like it’s going to collapse at how tender this six foot volleyball meathead is being. 

“I’ll put these outside, maybe they’ll dry.” You nod minutely and watch in awe as he pulls himself out of the pool with his upper arm strength alone. You hear his footsteps pad away and you sigh, submerging yourself yet again. 

It’s all so foreign—Osamu’s tenderness, this plan, everything is so uncertain. You can’t understand why he’s doing all this, why he’s toying with your heart so callously. It’s quite cruel, you think, sitting on the floor of the pool with your arms crossed. Criminal, really. 

You stay under the water for quite some time. You do miss swimming; you’d never been good at laps or competitions, but the sensation of gliding through water, being surrounded by warmth and surrendering control; it felt good. You wished you hadn’t turned this hobby into something so dreadful. 

You broke the surface again and you saw Osamu sitting at the edge with his legs in the water. His eyes drifted over you, watching as you swam smoothly under the surface up to his side. 

The way you looked up at him, your head cradled by your crossed forearms, face glistening with water; god you were angelic. Sweet and kind and ethereal with a far off expression, like you weren’t made for this world. Like you were borrowed from the heavens. 

“This was fun,” you said suddenly, and your voice echoed in the empty room. 

“You say that like we’re not still here.” 

“Considering the state of my clothes we’ll probably be here awhile.” He looks only slightly guilty about it. “Are they ever going to dry?”

He thinks of how much he had to wring them out. Even in this heat it would take more than an hour. “It depends. Do you want to leave already?”

“Why do you sound like you have something else planned?” 

“I don’t. Take all the time you want.”

You narrow your eyes at him. Something’s definitely on his mind. He keeps looking towards the bleachers like there’s something written on them. 

“Osamu?” He hums, finally tearing his eyes away from middle distance. “Why’d you bring me here?”

And then they’re gone again. He’s not looking at anything; he’s in his own head. Thinking, overthinking, running it by himself before he opens his mouth. You know the process very well. 

“I told you—“

“Tell me the truth.”

He’s stunned by your bluntness. Serves him right. 

It wears off pretty quickly, fading into a type of smile you’ve never seen on him. It’s bashful and unsure, and he’s trying to hide it from you, but you swim to his other side. 

He scratches the back of his head. “You’re somthin’ else, ya know that?”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“I’m gettin to it,” he huffs, but it’s more like a steadying breath. “I knew you’d be sitting at home, alone, and I know you hate coming to practices because you feel like Kita will hate you.”

“He does hate me.”

“He doesn’t even know you, and if he did, he wouldn’t care.” This is Osamu’s usual deadpan voice, but it’s paired with a look you don’t recognize. He continues. 

“Either way, I know you hate public pools cause you hate people looking at you. So I thought about a substitute and this came to mind.”

“What, breaking into school?”

“We have keys, (name).”

“Why are we alone then?”

It’s not as if he didn’t realize that. He must have, because when you brought it up something flared on his cheeks. His eyes are downcast and he’s sucking in a breath, that much is evident from how his bare chest puffs out and wow you really didn’t notice how water dripped off his chest before. 

You tear your eyes away when he starts speaking. “Because I have something to tell you.”

“You had to tell me here?”

“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”

“Oh my god,” you start, feigning a look of horror. “Are you going to kill me?”

The withering look on his face makes you laugh so hard your stomach almost cramps. You miss how the look softens into fondness, because he schools the expression once you’re looking at him again. 

“If I was going to kill you it’d be done.”

“You’d give me a quick death? That’s sweet.”

He rolls his eyes, giving an exasperated laugh. “You’re unbelievable. That’s not,” another breath, shakier this time. “That’s not why I planned this.” 

So this was a plan. Clearly it couldn’t be last minute if he obtained keys, but this had been on his mind for a while. How long had he wanted to do this? And what exactly—

“I know you hate it when things are different,” he starts, quickly, breathlessly, like he’ll lose his nerve. “And I didn’t want to make things worse but, well. I like you. A lot.” 

The arm holding you above water slips, and you fall back into water with all the grace of a beached whale. The sting of water reminds you that this, Osamu confessing, is real. 

And you just about drowned in front of him. 

You clambour back up only to have him reach out for you. You look up and see him giving you a half smile, and you take his hand. You sit next to him, your feet making ripples against the water as you idly move them back and forth.

“I didn’t think I was that bad,” he rubs the back of his neck, keeping his eyes on the water.

“It’s not you! I’m just,” you can’t think of the word. Something is taking root in your chest that makes it hard to breathe, but in a pleasant way. “I really did not expect that.”

He hums. Then he turns to face you. His hair is flat against his face and he has an endearing little smile that is so nervous it melts your heart. He looks like the little boy you took your hand in the pool in May. 

“You don’t have to say anything right now, I know it might be a lot.”

You don’t know how to respond. Your brain is racing to keep up, and every time you think you have the answer, the nerve to do so dies, and your head is just screaming, and—

And so you don’t think. You don’t use your head and you follow your body as you place a quick peck on his cheek. 

He stiffens when you look at him. You take a breath. “I’m glad you considered my feelings, but you’re an idiot,” you laugh, mostly to push the next set of words from your lips. “‘Cause I like you too.” 

The dopiest, most ecstatic grin you’ve ever seen curves into his face. He bites down on his lip to keep it from spreading any further, but the damage is done; you’re laughing at him. And when he tumbles head first into the water like you’ve knocked him out, you laugh even harder.

As it turns out, exhaling underwater is actually a very fun thing to do when you’re laughing at the boy who brings you so much happiness, you could drown in it. 

*

There are several drawbacks to this adventure:

Your clothes did not dry in time; not by a long shot. 

You had to mop up all the water in the gym and make it look like you were never there. 

You had to board the train and go into a convenience store with your crazy, semi dried hair, garnering more attention than you were comfortable with. 

You were willing to look past all this for a number of reasons:

Sitting outside in the simmering heat with slushees in hand was exactly like the American teen comedies,

Osamu had the foresight to bring extra clothes, and,

When he walked you home in golden hour light and cooling temperature, he slung his Inarizaki Volleyball jacket over your shoulders. Did it smell slightly of sweat? Yes. But it was warm and it drowned you and you felt surrounded by safety when he zipped it over your chin. 

The two of you stood outside your door, unwilling to part. He still had a lazy smile glued to his face, one that could definitely rival his brothers in terms of attractiveness. 

“Will I see you tomorrow?”

“You’ll want your jacket back.”

“I’ll steal Atsumu’s.” 

You feel bad letting him walk all the way home without one, but he doesn’t seem to mind. You’re still wearing his ill fitting shorts and shirt. You never realized how much bigger he was than you. It felt reassuring, somehow, to still be sizes smaller than a trim athlete like him. 

“You sure you’ll make it home okay?” You ask again. 

“Aw, worrying about me already, are we?” 

You scoff, finally turning the key to open your door. Osamu stays on the step outside your house, watching you as if he lacks object permanence. The sun behind him makes him glow ethereally, and none of this has any business being so heart clenchingly romantic because it's your friend, who is now something more.  

“I had fun today,” you finally say, hands behind your back self consciously. “That was really nice.”

“Yeah, I had fun too.”

The silence is tense with things left unsaid, but you’ll spare your heart the embarrassment. “I’ll see you later, Osamu.”

He flashes you a smile and a small wave, but he doesn’t move. “Bye, (name.)”

You tear away from the moment first, walking in and closing the door with finality. You slump against it, and then shout “Is anyone home?”

When nothing but silence greets you, you scream, jumping up and down with all the pent up excitement you’d been holding. You hugged Osamu’s jacket closer, relishing in what could possibly be the best moment of your entire life. 

Osamu, having heard your scream on the other side of the door, couldn’t agree more. 

[ddaeng-181338]

BTS Hyung Line : you accidentally turn them on in public

Y/n: smut smut smut

Seokjin - the straw incident

He didn’t really know what was wrong with him. Or why he was so hot and bothered by you simply sucking on a straw. But here he was, mouth dry and pants stupidly tight.

“Get a grip what the fuck...”

He couldn’t seem to listen to reason however. Maybe it was because you two had slept together in a month, or maybe because he was overly horny just seeing you. Ridiculous yes, but the heart wants what the heart wants or However that’s saying goes.

He shifted a bit, trying to figure out the best way to sit and be comfortable with the tent in his pants. “Seokjin? Everything okay?” You looked up from the menu finally when you saw him fidgeting. Lips gracefully leaving that damned straw as you looking him in the eye.

“N..not really.” You brows furrowed in concern and he felt his length twitch. “Damn you and your cute little expressions.” He merely mumbled the words under his breath as he tried to gain some composure. “It’s just...you...and the straw...and it’s been...so...so very long and..”

It clicked for you a second later, cheeks turning pink as a grin appeared on your cheeks. “So you got a boner, because I was drinking through a straw?” You loved how quickly he turned red, hands coming up to cover his face as he laughed. “Yes.”

“Would you like to maybe...go home and take care of the issue? We can just order takeout after...” your voice dropped an octave as you looked at him. Already getting aroused yourself.

“Yes please”

Yoongi - an accidental flashing

He told you countless times that the skirt was too short. “If you’re going to wear it at least put some shorts on under it...” he watched you move about the room to get ready. Way to focused on finding your damn mascara then to listen to yoongi’s pleas.

“Are you even listening to me y/n?” An amused expression crossed his face as he watched you absentmindedly nod. “That’s a no...” you cheered triumphantly as you found the bottle of black goo and unscrewed the lid. “Ready To Go Yoongi?” You weren’t even the slightest bit concerned about your skirt.

“I am, But y/n that skirt is so short...” you glanced down at the black mini skirt, only 2 inches away from showing your whole ass. You were going to a club, you were allowed to dress a little scandalous. “We’re going to a dark club Yoongi, if I flash anyone by accident they’ll barely even notice.”

“Not Exactly making it better...” he trailed after you as you left the apartment. All protests dying on his lips as he realized you weren’t gonna change.

The club was as packed as you expected — truly it wasn’t yoongi’s scene but he was doing this for you. He had to admit, you looked stunning in your outfit. The material hugged your body in all the right ways. Showing off your figure and making you look like a full course meal in his eyes.

“Maybe that skirt isn’t so bad...oh...”

What he didn’t expect was to get a full shot of your panties as you bent over to grab something. Pale blue lace exposed for a few seconds before you bounced back up. Within a few seconds he felt his member twitch, his pants going uncomfortable tight as he watched you. “What am I a teenager? It was her underwear...”

Funny how quickly he got turned on, Considering he had seen you completely naked long before tonight. “Y/n! Come here...” his voice reached you despite the loud music and you turned to him. “Yeah?” He gripped your waist the second it was in his reach.

“You have a problem to fix, and you’re going to fix it right here, right now. You up for that?” Your thighs brushed against the bulge in his pants and you smirked. “Of course I’m up for it.”

Hoseok - the dress incident

He practically begged you not to wear the dress. Knowing all to well that it was very revealing, and you’d be seen by many. Of course he had no jurisdiction over what you wore. It was your body, your choices, and he respected that. But this dress, this dress was something even he had difficulty accepting.

It was a long black strapless gown. A sweetheart neckline showing off your collarbone and shoulders. Paired with a skin tight material and a split all the way to your mid thigh. You looked “absolutely sinful” as he would put it. “Y/n Please... you have other dresses...”

You glanced up at him through the mirror of your dresser. Snapping your earrings into place you sighed. “I love this Hoseok. I feel confident in it. It will be fine.” He sighed, flopping on the bed and groaning in frustration. “They’ll all be looking at you.” A childish attempt.

You turned around in your chair, raising an eyebrow at him. “And millions of people look at you. I’m sure you can survive a night if 500 — 600 people tops looking at me.” You were right and he knew it. So he took a deep breath. Sitting up to look at you. “If I get turned on at any point tonight, you’re talking care of it.” You smirked triumphantly. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

Sure enough — 2 hours into the charity banquet — Hoseok was tapping his leg nervously. His pants awkwardly stiff as he watched you talk to Yoongi. You were breathtaking of course. But as the 3 glasses of champagne settled in, his thoughts began to wander. And his member became harder— “y/nnn—ah”

You glanced up at his sultry tone, laughter turning into surprise as you recognized the look in his eyes. “Really?” He smiled like a dope as you walked over. “Yes really...” you glanced down at his pants and felt your cheeks heat. “You know what. I asked for it.”

Namjoon - the nip slip

You knew for a fact that your bikini top was a bit too small. Your breasts spilling out the top just a bit. You had actually ordered a new top but it wasn’t scheduled to be delivered until the next day. “It’s just me and you by the hotel pool. At night. It’s fine, you look fine as well.” His eyes trailed over you once and you blushed.

You made it down to the hotel pool within a few minutes, one of namjoon’s t-shirts hanging loosely on your frame. It ended at your mid thigh but you still felt cozy in it. You laughed as Namjoon cannonballed straight in, water splashing up and almost hitting you. “You’re a man child.” Was the first thing you said when he surfaced again. The huge grin on his face only made you laugh harder. “Come join me!”

You walked over to one of the chairs, sitting down and crossing your legs. “I think I’ll just watch for now.” Namjoon’s eyebrow raised at that, you watched as he swam over to the edge of the pool before speaking. “So we came all the way down here for me to swim alone? I think not!” You watched him push himself out of the pool, absently mindedly noting the way his muscles flexed as he did so.

“What are you doing Joonie...” he made his way over to you, water sliding off him in streams. “I’m getting you into the water.” You were tempted to try and dodge him. But being it was a pool, with slippery spots where the water splashed up. And the fact that you were both pretty clumsy... that would be recipe for disaster. Instead you accepted your fate. Letting Namjoon pick you up and carry you bridal style over to the edge of the pool.

“Wait your shirt!” He waited for a moment as you slipped the thin material over your head and threw it back towards the chair. “Are you ready now?” You glanced up at him , but the look on his face told you weren’t getting out of this one. “Yes...” without a second hesitation Namjoon jumped into the pool, taking you with him. When you both resurfaced you were laughing.

“You’re so mean!” Namjoon merely laughed more, swimming over you chase you. That’s when he noticed it — cheeks flushing red. Your top has been pushed down, leaving both your breasts exposed under the surface of the water. “Uh...y/n...” he hated to admit it but he couldn’t look away. Hell he had seen those damn things more times then he could count but still. This time it was different... because it was in public. “Hmm?”

You followed his eyes and glanced down. Eyes growing as wide as saucers when you realized what had happened. “God damnit!” You quickly pulled the top back up, laughing out if embarrassment. “I told you this top was too...oh...” you stopped mid sentence when Namjoon’s arms wrapped around your waist.

“I know it wasn’t intentional but...” You smirked when you realized what he was insinuating — Especially when something rather...hard... brushed against your thigh. “Ahhh Namjoon I’d love to... but you’ll have to catch me first.” And with that you sunk under the water and out of his grip. “You’re such a fuckin tease!” Laughter bubbled out of the both of you as Namjoon chased you about the pool.

[aphrodites-law]

The Clarke Show

(A take on The Truman Show)

Nia Reign is as imposing as Lexa imagined. Her suit is a dark green with silver cuffs, nothing that Lexa could ever hope to afford. 

"Why Clarke?"

She isn’t the only live show, but she's certainly the most popular in the nation. Arkadia's darling. Arkadia's golden child. Lexa has never had the time or luxury for escapism, but everyone knows that even the nation's prince, Lincoln, trails Clarke in views by millions.

"Because Clarke is getting restless. It's a phase I'm sure you're familiar with––the yearning for the world you've never been a part of. She wants spontaneity. Adventure. We've scripted something that’ll show her the grass isn’t always greener. It'll make for a thrilling story arc."

Lexa looks at the hundreds of screens, each one a frame of the town built for Clarke and the twelve other Selected. The grocery store she shops at; the movie theater she goes to; the streets she walks on; the beach; the offices; the coffee shops; the parks; the neighborhood––every single place ready to spring to life should the Selected decide to take the trams there. It's an exceptionally well-oiled machine.

"What role would I play?"

"You'll be the dark horse. The wild card Clarke never thought she'd hold. You'll take her places she's never been­––new sets we've built. You'll win over her heart and then you'll break it, right in time for us to introduce Finn."

"Finn?" Lexa asks, still gazing at a screen where a bird briefly flits in front of the camera. She wonders if its species is native to the area or if it's even real at all.

"Clarke's future husband if all goes according to plan. Finn is a perfect match for her in every way. Your opposite."

Lexa turns to the control room below the glass panels. There are hundreds of employees in headsets pressing hundreds of buttons, rushing from right to left, biting into sandwiches and yawning while they craft the details of Arkapolis. There are workers in shirts designing objects on large screens; workers in lab coats testing liquids in vials; workers with grease smears tweaking the settings of androids. There is so much energy and talent being poured into a fake world. Lexa wonders why these people couldn't better their real world instead. Lexa’s neighborhood in Arkadia is crumbling apart, the infrastructure rusting and rotting, and yet here she is watching engineers design sets with swimming pools and amusement parks.

"No offense meant," Nia says behind her.

Lexa shakes her head. "I'm no princess."

"But you can be charming.”

Lexa turns to her. "I'm not a good actress."

Nia sits in her leather chair, utterly in control of the room and the conversation.  "I've seen the women you seduce. They don't hold a candle to our Clarke. Surely it won’t be difficult for you to muster some passion."

What Nia means is that prostituting herself for entertainment should come easily. Lexa knows that's exactly why she was picked for the role.

"Clarke made a whole nation fall in love with her the moment she opened those blue eyes onscreen for the first time," Nia reminds her. "Right now there are millions of souls watching her and yearning to spend time with her. Time you'll be afforded. You don't need to be a good actress, Ms. Woods, you need to be exactly who you are: a lowlife drifter who seduces lonely women to get something out of them. In this instance, more money than you've seen in your entire life."

Anger boils inside Lexa, but the words aren't all lies. "You think you know everything about me based on police records?"

Nia chuckles at Lexa's naïveté. "I don't care to know everything about you. I know what's necessary. You need the money and you’ll do anything for it. Am I wrong?”

Lexa thinks of her sister Anya and the medical bills sticking out of drawers; the leaks in her apartment; the skittering of roaches on their floor. She thinks of her nephew and niece––Aden's gaunt face and Marla playing with dolls made out of cans and wires. She thinks of the floor she sleeps on in the corner of Anya’s room, cold and damp.

"When do I start?"

Nia smiles victoriously. "You’ll go through scrubbing and fitting first. An implant will be placed in your ear canal; it’ll be used sparsely but I will be communicating with you when needed. It’ll also track your location. Training will take three weeks––you’ll need to know Arkapolis like the back of your hand, not to mention your new profession. You’ll spend time with your new best friends, Raven and Costia, for familiarity purposes. We’ll have Clarke meet Lexa in a month’s time.”

Lexa’s eyes flash at her own name being used so strangely, as if she isn’t the one being referred to. As if she will exist separately from the character they have made up for Clarke, the Lexa who’ll take pleasure in seducing and using and discarding the nation’s sweetheart. She wonders how hated she will be coming out of it. 

"I want the money, a weekly stipend, sent to my sister," Lexa tells Nia, looking at her with a set jaw. "You control so much of the media––I want a guarantee my family will be kept out of it. No one bothers them. No one even mentions them.”

"We can do that." Nia looks up and smiles, the once cruel curve of her lips turning tender. "Look."

Lexa glances back at the screens, watching as Clarke walks out of her small house with her dog. She waves at her neighbor and grins. Her life is so simple that Lexa feels some anger toward her. Why couldn't Anya have been one of the Selected? Why did Aden and Marla know more about suffering than Clarke did? All she will know of pain is an orchestrated heartbreak before true love swoops in.

Lexa doesn't pity her. If it keeps her family safe and fed, she'll lift Clarke Griffin to unimaginable heights before dropping her. She'll be the villain her story needs; take her heart and crush it with a smile.

"Do you stream everything live?" She asks Nia.

Nia seems bored now, the formality of convincing Lexa over and done with. "Clarke's channel is family friendly, with a slight delay in the feed. We expect you to alert us at the beginning and the end of explicit footage. The public knows Clarke is only broadcast live for eighteen hours a day. It'll make our lives easier if you'd ensure physical intimacy happened within the closed window, but if not the delay gives us time to cut to our planned programming. Obviously you won’t start conversations that further the storyline within those six hours either. There is nothing more frustrating to the public than missing out on milestones.”

Lexa rolls her eyes as she watches the ants hard at work in the control room. "How romantic," she drawls. "Bet those guys enjoy the show when it goes offline."

Nia hardly contains her disdain at Lexa's crassness. "We have a number of protocols in place for private scenes."

Lexa vaguely recalls that bathrooms have no cameras, but ‘private’ has an entirely different meaning for the Selected. Surely it was private when Clarke’s father passed away onscreen, followed by a close up of Clarke’s sobs. Surely it was private when she kissed a girl for the first time and embarrassed herself with a sneeze, not knowing the entire nation was laughing at her clumsiness. 

But if it bothers Lexa that Nia talks about someone's reality as footage and scenes, she reasons she should get used to it fast. Soon she'll be a part of the show too, and her life will be nothing more than snapshots stitched together for the purpose of entertainment. Nia suddenly stands by her, surveying the control room like a Queen would survey her land from her castle's highest tower.  

"Believe me, the novelty of working behind-the-scenes wears off quickly. These people aren’t different from you. All they want is to get the job done so that they may go home to their families. Surely you understand that."

Lexa looks at Clarke again, her body in a medium shot as she walks her pet with no worry in the world. In a month things will change for her. For both of them. Lexa takes a deep breath and nods, knowing exactly what she would sacrifice for her family’s sake.

[flutteringphalanges]

Summary: It is public knowledge that Zoe Van Helsing is the last of her blood line. Not to mention that, in a sense, Count Dracula is too. However, after an unexpected night of passion, both their lives dramatically change when Zoe becomes pregnant. Two unconventional parents, one extraordinary pregnancy. What could go wrong?

Rating: M

Pairings: Zoe Van Helsing/Dracula implied Agatha/Dracula

Read on FFN and AO3

A/N:  Thank you to all who have left kudos/comments/reviews and even have taken the time to read this story thus far! I'm having loads of fun writing this one and I'm hoping you are enjoying it too! Okay, enough of my blabber, here's the next chapter! Feedback is greatly loved and appreciated! -Jen

                                             Chapter Four

Twelve weeks. Two plums. At a development standpoint, that was the current size of each of the babies. It was a weird thought, comparing unborn fetuses to food. And yet, there was something slightly entertaining about it. The imagery. Zoe found herself in the market one day, the fruit section no less, picking up one and studying it carefully. She snorted to herself and placed a few in a basket. Plums. How peculiar.

"Well, are you going to grant me passage?"

Dracula stared intently at the scientist, an eyebrow cocked as he waited for a response. Zoe merely met his gaze dumbfounded until the realization of his unanticipated arrival set in. She frowned, one hand already gripping the door knob. Who the hell did he think he was? Had he honestly thought she'd willingly grant him passage as if they were friends?

"Why are you here?"

"I told you," he replied simply. "I came here to discuss an important matter with you. Well," once more his eyes flashed down to her stomach. A smile crept across his features that didn't settle right with Zoe. "A few things, to be frank."

"I think we've chatted more than enough," the scientist stated, moving to close the door. Dracula inserted the toe of his shoe just before she could, leaving a visible crack between them. "As much as you'd like me to, I assure you, I am not letting you come in."

The vampire seemed unfazed by her insistence, standing stoic in her line of vision. It wasn't until she got a good proper look at him that she noticed a folded piece of paper clutched in his right hand. Dracula caught on to her attention and, eyes flickering from her to his object, causally lifted the parchment up for a better view.

"What's that?" Zoe asked hesitantly, uncertain if she really wanted to know.

"A letter," the man replied. "I thought it would be appropriate to bring."

"A letter," the scientist repeated, frowning softly. "Since I've blocked you from texting me, you've resorted to physically mailing your harassment? Or hand-delivering it I should say?"

"Of course not, that would be dreadfully predictable," Dracula snorted, rolling his eyes. "No, this is something more than that. Far more important than a silly text or a friendly postcard." He paused, one of his sharp nails tracing the edge of the document. "It's a little something I had written up with Frank-you remember him, yes? Frank Renfield? My lawyer?"

As if someone hit the thermostat, the air suddenly felt colder. Uneasy settled in the pit of Zoe's stomach, and from the expression on Dracula's face, she knew he could tell he was getting to her. She remained silent, fingers still gripping the knob.

"Though I cannot be certain, I have a feeling that those who do know of your pregnancy, do not know who the father is." The count began to unfold the paper, mindlessly smoothing out the creases. "This is just a copy, don't worry," he assured her as if she cared. "Anyway, who knows and who doesn't, it's important...for now, at least. What is important is that I, just as you do, have every right to have access to my children." He held out the paper towards Zoe before adding, "...go on, take it, it won't bite you."

Reluctantly, the woman took the slip from the vampire. Her eyes scanned every word, every detail typed out before her. Arrangements. Custody. Child support. Zoe's heart began to pound against her rib cage to the point where it nearly hurt. Fury began to fester deep within her as she immediately snapped her head up to glare at Dracula.

"You're threatening me with a custody battle?!" She nearly hissed, clenching the document in her fist. "Is this some kind of morbid joke?"

"On the contrary," he assured her, tone serious. "I am very adamant about this, Zoe. I will have access to my children, even if I do have to go through legal measures." Dracula straightened up, clearly not taken by the woman's rage. "I thought that perhaps we could go about this with a civil prospective, you and I. Before it has to come to a point like that."

"You aren't taking them," Zoe said firmly, her free hand touching her stomach protectively. "They're mine."

"And I don't want to," Dracula rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "That's why I wish to talk. Only talk. Get everything out in the open so we can figure things out," his lips curled into a smirk. "As a family."

Family. He sure as hell was NOT her family. If looks could kill, there would be a million stakes embedded in the centuries old vampire's chest. The nerve. Christ, she had never despised someone more in her life. But as she stood there watching him, knowing deep down she had no other choice-hate it as she may-it had to be done. For the sake of her twins.

"You may…" she struggled, chewing on her bottom lip as she forced the next words. "You may enter."

Her grasp on the door handle loosened as Dracula offered a genuine smile before striding past her and into the main room. Out of the corner of her eye, Zoe could see Agatha's spirit giving her a disapproving look. Fantastic. Not only was she stuck dealing with the vampire, but now her great, great aunt's spirit had made its presence known too.

"Go away," she muttered under her breath, Agatha's stare reproachful. "I don't need your judgement right now."

"I'm sorry?" Dracula inquired, turning on his heels. "Did you say something?"

"No," Zoe exhaled tiredly, shooting a quick glare at her dead relative. "You can go sit at the table. I'd offer you some wine but…"

"But neither of us drink," he finished pleasantly. "At least wine, and in your condition, I believe the consumption of alcohol is frowned upon?"

"You've been reading up on pregnancy."

"A lot," he remarked. "It's lovely how much information the internet offers. Plus books on the subject are plentiful," his eyes flickered around the room. "If you'd like to borrow one, I suppose I can lend a few."

"That won't be necessary," Zoe exclaimed, somewhat irritated by the fact that he acted as if he cared, or implied she lacked the knowledge. "I can research on my own, thank you."

She eased herself down onto a chair, one that was as far away from the vampire as possible. So much for the quiet, uneventful night she had planned for. She could sense that Agatha was watching them, but apparition remained quiet.

"So," Dracula began, breaking the silence. "I suppose I should first say that I'm glad you're willing to meet on your own terms." Zoe opened her mouth, but he continued before she could get a word in. "Honestly, Zoe, for a scientist, I'm surprised how quickly you've jumped to conclusion-particularly about me. I am, after all, a myth. Legend. But facts are muddled. How are you to trust who someone truly is without getting to know them personally?"

"Your charismatic attitude only goes so far after I've literally witnessed you biting off one of my colleague's thumbs and murdering an innocent man," the scientist frowned, folding her arms over her chest. "Not to mention validated testimonies of your actions. I think it's very clear what kind of person-monster, you are."

"And yet, here we are, sitting about to discuss two offspring that share our same genetic makeup," Dracula smiled. "Fascinating, isn't it?"

"Your point?"

"Well, one might say we have more in common than you think," he paused, eyes narrowing just the slightest. "How are you feeling, by the way? I read by the end of your first trimester your biggest symptoms are fatigue and possibly morning sickness."

"You being here alone is exhausting," Zoe mumbled, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "So what exactly do I need to do to get you off my back?"

"As I said before, all I want from you, at the moment, is to become better acquainted with me," the vampire said simply. "Perhaps with the hope you'll see that the intentions involving our children are not sinister. Say...I dunno, how does a date sound?"

If Zoe had been drinking water, she would've spit it out at his words. Had he really just suggested what she thought he did? A date? The scientist stared at the man blankly, unsure of how to respond to such a preposterous invitation. First he threatened to take custody of her children and now he wanted to go on a romantic getaway? Surely she was sleeping. This had to be a cruel nightmare.

"Well?"

"Jumping into a swimming pool of broken glass sounds more inviting," she answered, looking appalled. "All of that sea water must've gotten into your head for you to even fathom that I have an inkling of a romantic feeling towards you."

"No one said it couldn't be platonic."

"We aren't friends," Zoe emphasized. "And we won't ever be."

"You've surely inherited more from Agatha than just your looks," the vampire chuckled. "You even speak like her."

His words might've sparked some hilarity if the nun hadn't currently been hovering over the other woman's shoulder. At least the ghost hadn't attempted to possess her. Agatha had some dignity in that. Zoe massaged her temples, all of this just inflicted her ever growing exhaustion. She could rescind his invitation, but Dracula wasn't one to give up easily. Especially if he'd gone to such lengths to threaten getting legally involved in the twins' lives.

"What are you suggesting?" The scientist muttered, clearly worn down to the last stray. "What will make you leave me alone?"

"Friday night, say...around nine? You come over to my humble abode and I cook you something and we have a nice chit-chat," Dracula answered. "I'm a rather good cook, all things considered."

"I have a doctor's appointment at eight…" she saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes. Of course he knew.

"I'll retrieve you at half past seven so we'll make it to the clinic on time and afterwards, we can get you something to eat," he smiled. "Anything certain you've been craving recently?"

"Your head on a platter," Zoe muttered.

"So something meat based," Dracula nodded, completely unfazed by her sarcasm. "I'll do some searching on the internet and find something to fit your palate."

"Wonderful," she rolled her eyes. "I'll be looking forward to it with bated breath."

The vampire grinned, rising from his spot at the table. The scientist did the same, a feeling of relief overcoming her when she noted he was making his way to the front door. At least now maybe she could get some peace.

"It was lovely to finally speak with you," the vampire stated. "Oh, and since I believe we'll be in contact more, I'd much appreciate you unblocking my number. It will make things easier," a glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes. "For the both of us."

Zoe merely glowered at him as she pushed the door open suddenly wishing the sun was out and the heat was past boiling point. Dracula stepped past the threshold, still sporting that ridiculous smirk as his eyes met hers.

"I'll be seeing you, Zoe," he smiled. "And I look forward…"

She slammed the door in his face before he could finish. Running a hand through her hair, the scientist sighed heavily. Her eyes fell to the crumpled piece of paper that lay abandoned on the floor. She was screwed. Royally. And something needed to be done about it. Hell would freeze over before she'd let him have access to her children. But until she figured something out, she'd have to play along. Whatever it took, she wouldn't let him win. Exhaling, she touched the apex of her stomach. She'd have the last laugh.

[things2mustdo]

I heard a family member make remarks on the ‘victims’ of Hurricane Florence, who knew well in advance the possible horrors which came crawling their way. But were those who decided to stay victims given the warnings? They also espoused, essentially, that rescue teams shouldn’t put their lives at risk for those who remained in harm’s way.

This brought me back to a conversation with a man who has been big on situational awareness in terms of avoiding assailants who aim to pierce your heart and rob you while you lie in a pool of your own blood. He asked this question about what one does when in a dark alley and you see a suspicious character coming your way? My response was something to the extent of whether or not I even had to be in the dark alley? That was his point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHq4dbQBa14

Now, I’m not remotely suggesting rescue teams avoid doing their job, but it did get me back to situational awareness and understanding the justice brought about when you are foolish enough to venture into a dark alley on the wrong side of town, or remaining in Florida when you damn well knew the potential risk involved.

That got me thinking about the recent political violence and acts of domestic terrorism caused by Black Lives Matter and Anti-Fascists. So, in regards to our contemporary state of the political and cultural arena, and what surely awaits us in the next US presidential election, here are some simple, basic tips about situational awareness and being prepared in case civil unrest breaks out.

1. Understand The Baseline Of Your Environment

Political rallies across the US demonstrate the capacity of violence and the willingness to assault in ruthless manners. Both men and women of more right-wing views have been assaulted, been threatened to be raped, have their families killed, get doxxed, have dead animals thrown at their living quarters, had their finances threatened, etc. It’s a goddamn nightmare on the more North Side of America than the South Side, where not everyone has a bamboo stick up their ass.

There are many great articles written on situational awareness. And that’s key: situation. The environment, in a general sense, has a baseline. It’s the basic overall feel and operation of that set area.

For example, you go to the mall. What’d you expect to see, generally speaking? People walking and talking, laughing and usually carrying a bag or two. It would, in this context, be out of the ordinary if an individual, dressed in all black, is quickly walking through a crowd while he has his hoodie on and hands in his pockets. It’s odd behavior. Same for someone moving nervously carrying a bag that does not appear to be bought at a store or, to add to that, he doesn’t have workman apparel. It’s out of the ordinary.

If I’m at a bank and someone walks in, sits in the corner for an unreasonable amount of time without engaging in any transaction and appears to not work there, I’m alert. Are his eyes moving around scanning for cameras, are his lips moving to suggest he’s counting something, is he in apparel which could perhaps more easily conceal a gun?

Same if I’m out sitting while enjoying coffee and an all-black car pulls in and just sits. Whether the engine is on are not does slightly change the degree of the potential threat of the situation. If it’s on, is it a quick getaway for a potential crime? And is it at night where there are fewer people and witnesses?

These are all pretty basic to practice, in my view. So it doesn’t help when everyone’s head is glued to their smartphones. Especially with women. They appear to be much less aware than men who themselves very much have this issue with their smartphones.

2. The Gray Man At Political Rallies

The concept of the Gray Man is simple: blend in. Do not create stimuli around you. Gray is often considered a very bland color. It’s boring, lifeless, moot. This isn’t to suggest wearing gray makes you undetectable, but the concept works well with this color.

Blend in so well to your environment that you essentially appear bland. But if you’re at a political rally, then you know anyone is a potential threat. Wearing a Trump hat or an American flag raises suspicion, creates stimuli from your political adversary, and now you are made. If you’re European-American, wearing a hat over your shaved head is a good idea in terms of lessening your presence because there is still widespread delusion about the reincarnation of literal Nazis.

People involved with BLM, AntiFa and other leftist gangs are already going to make assumptions about your character and will dehumanize you and engage violently. Perhaps lessening that delusion, if even possible, could potentially add to your safety and security, in some respects.

It’s not that one desires to give up their chosen headwear and so on, but weighing the pros and cons should be obvious if you wish to avoid conflict. Which, again, these days is hard to do.

3. Consider Your Neighbors And Conversation

Depending upon your living situation, if you’re in California, talking openly with your neighbors about politics in relations to conservatism, in a positive light, creates quite a stir of stimuli. And, given the next US elections are coming up, you’ve made an impression in their mind. If they believe you are a literal Nazi, you’ve coined a political adversary. If you’re in the deeper South surrounded by red-necks and American-loving Christians, chances are, from my observations, you’ll be less likely to be attacked for your political (or religious) views.

I personally despise having to sometimes lower my voice or take a quick glance around because I’m about to say something that might cause stimuli to a potential assailant. But, in these contemporary times, it’s up to you to decide what’s worth it and what’s not.

Conclusion

These are merely a few things of quality in regards to your safety and security. I’ve been quite observant. It’s not always intentional, but I’ve seen things and made assumptions (or had a strong thought about it) and turned out to be spot on.

Identity your adversary. Weigh in how much of a threat they are to you. Pay attention to who they know or talk to, then extend that person’s conversation partners and then extend it again. Leftist are ruthless, dangerous, hateful devils. And remember, if you ever see anyone wearing the hammer and sickel, then be even more alert.

Read Next: Being Situationally Aware Is A Matter Of Life Or Death

It is 7:30am on the day after Christmas in 2004. The sun is already up in the blue sky of the Andaman sea, and some rare tourists are walking on the main beach of Phi Phi island in Thailand. Most of the tourists are still sleeping, dealing with the usual hangover that comes with the traditional Christmas party.

The locals are busy preparing the long tail boats they use to cruise around the nearby islands. Some Westerners like me, who live here, fill and carry the diving tanks the scuba divers will use to explore the underwater reefs today.

In less than an hour, this idyllic landscape will turn into a dramatic nightmare and many of those people will die, crushed and drowned by the powerful wave of a tsunami coming from the Indian Ocean.

Was there a way to prevent that? Not more than preventing a hurricane in Florida or an earthquake in California. Scientists can predict it, multi-million dollar sensors can detect it, information networks can announce it through various media, but there is no way to prevent it from happening. But we can be more prepared than when I experienced this tsunami in Thailand. Governments and local administrations can invest in infrastructures to mitigate the potential risks and better inform the general public.

And individuals can be better prepared to deal with the consequences of natural events. The people who tragically died on this island were not different from any other people on this planet. As a matter of fact, a vast majority of them were young and relatively fit. They didn’t survive for only a handful of reasons, mainly:

lack of situational awareness

lack of appropriate mindset

lack of physical skills

The situational awareness and appropriate mindset are mainly due to the fact that, when we are on vacation on a tropical island, the last thing we want to think about is the remote possibility of a tragic event of any kind. If the place is nice and sunny, if the locals are friendly and smiling, we quickly feel safe and let our guard down. No pickpockets, no fire, no mugging, no earthquake, no car crash, and therefore no need to pay attention to any precursor sign, no need to keep our valuables and documents with us at all times, no need to have a look at evacuation routes, fire exits, etc. In other words we quickly become complacent when everything looks like paradise.

But this lack of situational awareness and appropriate mindset was only one side of the coin for the many fatalities that occurred that day in Thailand. One of the main culprits was the lack of physical skills. Many people didn’t survive simply because they didn’t have the physical abilities to deal with what happened to them and around them.

Some were not comfortable in the water and couldn’t swim across the strong current that the wave and the obstacles created. The event only lasted a few minutes but the water raised quickly and submerged the lowest part of the island.

Some were not able to hold their breath for a few seconds. When the wave hit the hotels and guesthouses near the beach, most of the rooms were submerged very rapidly, but not for very long. Surprise and panic killed a lot of people in their rooms.

Some were not able to hold on to fixed objects for more than a few seconds. The current was strong and being able to hold on something, or even better to climb onto something, was a good way to increase the chance of surviving.

Some were not able to run away and climb a hill or a stairway. For those who were on the beach and saw the wave coming, the proper action was to sprint and find high ground. Reaching the highest floor of a hotel or one of the nearby hills was a good way to avoid the full force of the tsunami.

Some were not able to push away heavy objects. Entrapment was one of the major risks in this event. Many people drowned because they lacked the necessary strength to move away the objects that the current pushed onto them.

The Western world tends to rely heavily on tools to make our life easier and tools to make it safer. Instead of dealing with the weather, we use tools to make it more bearable (A/C, heater, umbrella, raincoat, sunscreen, etc). Instead of moving in this environment, we rely on tools (a car or an ATV instead of walking and running, a canoe or a boat instead of swimming). We easily blame the lack of protection that can get us injured (“I cannot walk/run without shoes”, “I cannot float without a flotation device”, “I will fall and break my skull if I don’t wear a helmet”, etc).

Tools are fine and make our life more enjoyable most of the time, but what if? What happens when we don’t have them? That’s where skills and physical abilities make plenty of sense. Every one of us, regardless of age, gender and race should be able to do at least the following things:

sprint for at least 100 yards/meters in order to get out of danger (collapsing building, wild fire)

climb over a wall or fence at least shoulder high (to escape an angry pitbull or a group of thugs)

carry for at least 10 yards/meters someone of 3/4 of your size and bodyweight (to save someone from an immediate danger)

swim at least 100 yards/meters without stopping and float at least 10 minutes with no aid or support (to get out of a dangerous zone and wait for a rescue vessel)

walk 5 miles in an hour (to reach a gas station when you run out of gas and you cannot call for help)

perform some basic self-defense techniques (striking, grappling) to react appropriately in a mugging/rapping/life-threatening situation

hold your breath for at least one minute while walking/moving at a slow pace (to escape the toxic fumes of a building on fire)

crawl for at least 30 yards/meters to seek cover (active shooter situation) or rescue someone (a child hidden under a car, or someone trapped under or inside something)

If you think that any of those abilities is way beyond your limits, it’s maybe time to reconsider your priorities in life. Being self-sufficient and prepared doesn’t mean relying on tools—it’s knowing that you can deal with dramatic circumstances to the best of your abilities. Tools come in handy when you have physical limitations (age, injuries, illness) but they shouldn’t be the first line of defense.

Having some regulations that require a floatation device in every hotel room in Thailand will not save any life if the next tsunami in the region happens in South Korea. Use your body and your brain. They are the original tools, and you have them with you all the time!

Read More:  How To Improve Your Situational Awareness From One Minute Of Effort Per Day

[queen-of-the-avengers]

Never the Fall That Kills You

Characters: Bucky Barnes x Reader, the other avengers

Word Count: 1,649

Warnings: just fluff

Summary: While on break, your friends, also known as the Avengers decide to make a visit to you at your beach house for some fun.

Squared Filled: watching the sunset for @star-spangled-bingo // vacation for @goodthingshappenbingo // beach trip for @capsavengersbingo // stargazing for @marvelfluffbingo // swimming for @fluffbingo // flattery will get you nowhere for @as-the-saying-goes-bingo // never the fall that kills you (U2) for @buckybarnesbingo // youtube for @marvelbingo

Author’s Note: If you have any requests, please send them in! This is unbeta’d and any and all mistakes are all on me.

I am doing an 800 Follower Challenge and it would be awesome if you participated! It’s still going on!

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

Taking a break from being with the Avengers is probably the best thing you could have ever done for yourself. It’s not like you hated being around them--they were actually really good company and all of them were your best and closest friends. It was the job, the constant search for approval from the public, the need to always be better than everyone else--all of that was just too much on your emotional state.

You were easily replaced since all you did was hack into stuff and be their personal computer genius. Yes, there was Jarvis who was a lot better than you, but in certain situations, you were the person they looked for the most. That, and you had a special skill in mechanical engineer and helped create new and exciting technology for the team. It was fun work, but you like what you do now.

Now, you were a Youtuber, and you have a pretty big fan base since everyone was interested in your stories of being with the Avengers. Your Youtube channel consists mostly of you talking about the Avengers, having them on as guests to talk, showing off new technology that you create as a hobby, and reaction videos to comments and other things that fans want the Avengers to know. It was a fun job especially since you’re still on Tony’s payroll. It’s allowed you to live the lifestyle you want and to do the things you enjoy. He considers you family so he’s going to support you no matter what.

Those big paychecks have offered you a big beach house in New York where you can relax, go to the beach, test out cool technology, and anything else you wanted to do. Your beach house was huge, and it was often lonely for one person. There were at least eight bedrooms, six and a half baths, a big pool, a theater room, and a game room. Tony really wanted you to have it all and made sure to spoil you.

One of the great things about Tony is that he likes to surprise you when you least expect him. Usually, it’s just him, Steve, and Nat, but other times he’ll bring the whole group to hang with you. Times with them were so fun, and you had such great stories to tell your fans when they left.

About an hour ago, you had just finished recording and editing another video when you felt the wind pick up. It wasn’t windy all day, but then you heard the noise of Tony’s big ass jet headed your way. Looking at the sky, you shielded your eyes from the burning sun to watch the jet land on the sand. Almost all of the Avengers came piling out of it with summer items in their hands.

“Thanks for the warning,” you said, hugging Tony.

“I figured it was time for a visit. I brought the whole crew with me.”

“T-the whole c-crew?” you stuttered, feeling a blush creep up your neck.

“Yes, everyone,” he smirked, patting you on your back. He knew of your crush on the super soldier, and he used that against you every time he brought him over.

“Hey, it’s good to see you,” Steve smiled, giving you a hug.

“I thought Bucky was in Wakanda,” you asked, watching as the man of your dreams stepped off the plane.

“He was. We picked him up on the way. Good luck,” he whispered, patting you on the back. Great, Tony must have told him. Bucky made you so nervous, you didn't know what to do with yourself. He could ask you what the time was, and you wouldn’t be able to form a single word. It’s gotten better since you met him, but you were still a nervous wreck. If only you knew how he felt towards you, then maybe you could be better when it comes to presenting yourself to him.

Before he had a chance to come up to you and talk, you headed inside only to see Tony, Steve, and Clint messing with your Youtube equipment.

“Hey! Stay away from those! They are expensive!”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Tony smirked.

“Don’t make me smack you,” you glared. “So, what are you all doing here? I mean, I love your company, but you usually have a reason to visit.”

“We wanted to go on vacation. You have a beach house, and we figured that a beach trip was in order. Plus, I hear your pool is very nice,” Wanda smiled.

“Yes, it is. You all have Tony to thank for that. Alright, well, I guess if you’re all here, may as well make this a real party.”

It didn’t take long for you to get situated since everyone was super excited to be here. Alcohol, food, and party games were set up all around the house. There were people in the game room playing beer pong but with shots, some were watching movies, others were seeing how far they could hold their breath underwater in your pool. You wanted to join Bucky, Natasha, Steve, and Thor in the pool, but you were super nervous since you were worried about what Bucky would think of you in a swimsuit.

It was super nice, and you loved the style of it. It fit just right, showed off the best parts of yourself, and made you feel pretty good about yourself. It screamed at you to put it on and show it off, but you were just so worried of what Bucky would think of you.

“Come join us! The water is warm!” Thor announced.

“Yeah, come in,” Bucky agreed. Well, if he wanted you to come in, then who were you to deny him? Taking a deep breath, you walked back inside and changed into your swimsuit and wrapped a towel around you. Walking outside, you headed to the group of chairs the others were occupying. By the time you came out, Natasha and Thor were laying on the chairs and soaking up what little sun they had. It was nearing the end of the night, so the sunset was just beautiful.

In order for you to do this, you couldn’t even look at Bucky. Unwrapping the towel, you let it drop to the ground. Bucky noticed the way it looked on you before you jumped in, and that image will forever be etched in his mind. Steve noticed the way he was looking at you, and he nudged his friend in encouragement.

“Go talk to her, man,” he whispered before swimming off. When you surfaced, you rested your arms on the side of the pool to watch the sunset.

“It’s nice of you to have us over,” Bucky said when he swam to you. Your body froze, but you made sure not to let him know how much he affected you.

“It’s not a big deal, really. I like having you guys over. I miss you. I-I mean, everyone. I miss e-everyone.”

“Is that a new suit? It looks really good on you.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” you half-joked. It surprised you how smooth that sentence came out, but instead of questioning it, you decided to go with it.

“Duly noted,” he laughed.

“You look good too. I mean, I like your swimsuit. N-not that I was staring at you or anything, but--never mind,” you blushed. And the smoothness flies out the window as if was never there in the first place.

“Thank you,” he grinned.

The rest of the night was spent partying and having a good time with one another. It was only until everyone was asleep did you sneak out of the house to do your favorite thing in the world: stargazing. The stars were so pretty and bright this time of night, and because you don’t have a lot of pollution or light where you are, the sky was clearer.

It was silent and peaceful much like any other night, but you appreciated it more tonight. Maybe it was because you had guests over who were usually rowdy or whatever, but you did.

“Can’t sleep?” Bucky asked when he stepped outside. He noticed you standing outside all alone when he went to get something to drink and decided to see what was up with you.

“No, I just like to look at the stars,” you replied, your eyes not moving from the sky.

“They are beautiful,” he muttered, staring at you the entire time.

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

“Something had been on my mind the entire night, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I get it out.”

“What’s on your mind?” you asked, finally turning to face him.

“You. Everything about you.”

“I’m sorry, what? Me?”

“Yeah. From the way you look in the moonlight to the sunset to the morning. I miss having you at the tower because I miss you. You were the best part of my day.”

“Where is this coming from?” you whispered.

“I’ve been keeping this inside for so long, I needed to say it. It’s alright if you don’t feel the same way as I do, but I just needed you to know.”

Well, may as well come clean if he was.

“Bucky, I’ve been crazy about you since I first met you. God, if I knew how you felt, then maybe I wouldn’t have acted like such a fool in front of you.”

“So, we feel the same way for each other.”

“I guess we do,” you smiled. Bucky has been through a lot of shit his entire life. There have been a lot of things that could have killed him but didn't. He’s fallen so many times, he’s lost count. But one thing is for certain--it won’t be those things that will kill him…

… it’ll be you.

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[hag-lad]

Digging Deeper

Thank you to my radiant wonderful friend @alienfuckeronmain for sending me EXACTLY the type of self indulgent wind-down activity I wanted on this otherwise depressing weekend! If anyone else wants to answer FORTY-NINE QUESTIONS about themselves, I’m super nosy and will read it all! @fight-the-seether @ptolemyofchaos @butchwizard @metalbutch @nyndelion @comrade-ziltoid @leatherdear @kristalknobb Enjoy, friends!

1. Do you prefer writing with a black pen or blue pen? I prefer black, but I always feel like I write neater in blue??

2. Would you prefer to live in the country or city? The city, but only if it has breathable air, green infrastructure, and decent public transit. So like... definitely no city in America lmao

3. If you could learn a new skill what would it be? The ability to quickly become fluent in another language! I’ve been struggling with Spanish for literal YEARS and it’s honestly pathetic. My brain is so stuck on English.

4. Do you drink your tea/coffee with sugar? Look pal. If I wanna drink sugar, I’m gonna have a soda, not herb water or bean juice.

5. What was your favorite book as a child? I was OBSESSED with The Wish List, by Eoin Colfer (of Artemis Fowl fame). I remember being so fascinated by how dark it was?? It’s an afterlife adventure, where the main character has to escape purgatory by atoning for her crimes of robbery and fraud and whatever. I had a crush on her, so basically this book made me want to pursue a life of crime, even though it explicitly condemns crime and depicts Hell as a very real and horrible place. I was in like fourth grade and was super morbidly curious about Hell and the possibility of going there! Lol

6. Do you prefer baths or showers? Baths... but only when I’m not actually dirty going in. A bath is leisure, not hygiene.

7. If you could be a mythical creature, which one would you be? 100% fae! I would build my dwelling within a sidhe mound, steal shiny things in the middle of the night, make bastardly little contracts for no reason, and cause harmless mayhem and mischief because mortals really are fools (go off, robin goodfellow!) Also I love mushroom circles and dancing in the moonlight.

8. Paper or electronic books? Paper all the way! I read much more content electronically, but it’s usually in the short story or article format. Books are much better in print, I think.

9. What is your favorite item of clothing? Probably my rust-brown overalls.

10. Do you like your name or would you like to change it? I’ve always hated my name but no alternative has ever stuck, unfortunately. My name is Amy, and I don’t think it fits at all. If I knew I’d never have to correct anyone on it, I’d probably just change it to Amelia?

11. Who is a mentor to you? My little brother! He’s this genius musician, and he has taught me so much about song structure, polyrhythms, guitar technique, production tricks, all kinds of trivia that really deepen my appreciation for music and the LABOR that goes into it.

12. Would you like to be famous and if so, what for? No, never, not for anything. I cherish my anonimity so much, I don’t even put searchable tags on this blog cuz I get an adrenaline spike from anxiety if too many people interact with me. I also just think fame is a fucking hideous construct. I don’t think it’s even slightly cool or desirable.

13. Are you a restless sleeper? No, I’m a fucking log. I can easily sleep for 12 hours straight. Thanks, depression!

14. Do you consider yourself a romantic person? No, actually. I’m very much in love, and it brings me lots of joy to do nice things with and for my partner! But romance feels very difficult for me to connect with. I’m super domestic, like, I love the idea of marriage but not necessarily a wedding, or a moonstruck romance or whatever. Those dramatic gestures feel very awkward for me.

15. Which element best represents you? EARTH. Specifically, like... dirt, or soil.

16. Who do you want to be closer to? I want to be geographically closer to my family. We’re thick as thieves, but we all live like 50 miles apart from each other. I miss my brothers and my parents so much, I feel so incomplete and depressed without them to hang out with, especially since quarantine.

17. Do you miss someone at the moment? See above! Lol

18. Tell us about an early childhood memory. When my little brother was a baby, he had this grey car seat with a folding mechanism which held his legs in place. It made a very satisfying clicking sound when the mechanism moved, AND when it was fully unfolded, it looked a lot like a Klingon battle cruiser. (Or so my five year old brain thought.) So! My older brother and I would take this seat out of the car CONSTANTLY so that we could unfold it and “sing” the Klingon theme music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture while we scooched our car seat battle cruiser across the living room floor, pretending to shoot phasers into the TV or the dining table or whatever else got in our way.

19. What is the strangest thing you have eaten? Gifilte fish, maybe?

20. What are you most thankful for? My family, including my wonderful partner and all the cats in our lives!

21. Do you like spicy food? Yes! But my tolerance for extreme spice decreases every year, unfortunately. So I can’t handle as much heat as I used to, but I do enjoy a good kick.

22. Have you ever met someone famous? Lmaooo I made the regretful decision to PAY FOR a meet&greet with Fall Out Boy in like 2006, which was so fucking awkward and painful, I vowed to never approach that level of lame again.

23. Do you keep a diary or a journal? TONS! I’m an obsessive record keeper. Some years I journal more than others, and I’ve found that it is super difficult to keep up with it while working full time. But it’s absolutely one of my favorite hobbies.

24. Do you prefer to use a pen or pencil? Pen for writing. Pencil for drawing, and math.

25. What is your star sign? Virgo sun, Aquarius moon, Scorpio rising 🙃

26. Do you like your cereal soggy or crunchy? Crunchy! A shallow bath in that milk is key.

27. What would you want your legacy to be? My artwork. I go through these aesthetic phases every year that I become super obsessed with/ focused on, and I’ve always meant to catalogue them in annual art journals, but I’ve NEVER FINISHED ONE! They always get pushed aside by the need to work, and I hate that so much. If I could just take a year off work and backfill all of my missed concepts into completed books, I would be so happy. But I literally have NO WAY to pay for that, absolutely none. I fucking hate capitalism.

28. Do you like reading, what was the last book you read? I love to read, but finishing a whole book has been A STRUGGLE lately! Right now I’m chipping away at Tending Brigid’s Flame, which is a quaint lil devotional for the Celtic fire goddess. Very new agey, like cheesy Wiccan vibes. I love that shit!

29. How do you show someone you love them? Quality time!

30. Do you like ice in your drinks? Only if I have a straw. Ice touching my teeth kinda makes me wince.

31. What are you afraid of? Incompetance, doing a bad job, letting someone down, taking up too much space, being a nussiance, etc

32. What is your favourite scent? Incense! Especially cinnamon, dragon’s blood, and amber.

33. Do you address older people by their name or surname? I always call people, regardless of age, by the name they ask me to use. Sometimes it’s a surname or title, usually it’s a first name. I’ll ask their preference if I’m unsure. But I definitely don’t default toward a surname, that’s weird.

34. If money was not a factor, how would you live your life? COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY!!!!!! The need for money rules literally every single hour of my entire life, and I hate it so much. I’m naturally nocturnal, but my job requires me to get up super early and sit in a car for 11 hours a day. I wake up at 5am, come home front work at 5pm, spend an hour or two trying to unwind, then go to bed and do it all over again. I hate my life! Really! I never see the stars, I never exercise, I am completely exhausted and burnt out all the time, and I barely get any quality time with my partner. If money were no object, I would sleep til noon or 1, make art and hike all day, ride my bike and stargaze all night, stay up til 4am reading and playing with my cats, and sleep like a baby. My partner and I would cook dinner for each other and watch Star Trek and collaborate on art projects and I would be so happy.

35. Do you prefer swimming in pools or the ocean? Here’s my hierarchy: Private pool > ocean > public pool

36. What would you do if you found £50 on the ground? I’d look around to see if anyone obviously dropped it and try to give it back. If I couldn’t find anyone, I’d exchange it for dollars and deposit that shit into my account!

37. Have you ever seen a shooting star? Of course!! Hundreds!

38. What is the one thing you would want to teach your children? America is evil and needs to be destroyed.

39. If you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it? Lmao this is so cute. If you HAD TO HAVE a tattoo! I really wanna finish my damn sleeves, they’re literally 9 years in the making and barely half finished. But I’d also love more art on my legs! I DESPERATELY want Ziltoid in a lacy valentine heart on my thigh.

40. What can you hear now? Our fish tank water bubbling and my fan on full blast.

41. Where do you feel the safest? Home alone, doors locked, windows covered, lights low. I absolutely LOVE to not be seen or perceived in any way.

42. What is the one thing you want to overcome/conquer? My fear of discomfort

43. If you could time travel to another era, which one would you choose? I feel like I’d want to be a teen in the 80’s and an adult in the 90’s. Does time travel work that way?

44. What is your most used emoji? 😭 or 😎

45. Describe yourself using one word. Defeated

46. What do you regret the most? Convincing myself that math was too hard or boring (or something?) when I was in middle school. I feel like I’m actually a pretty intelligent person who could’ve totally overcome that difficulty and gone on to understand all kinds of patterns and concepts which have eluded me to this day! It’s so frustrating to try and fight that formative self-concept, which now comes naturally but ultimately sabotages me. 💀

47. Last movie you saw? I made my partner watch Troop Beverly Hills, one of my childhood faves. It’s so fun! I love chick flicks so much.

48. Last tv show you watched? Deep Space Nine. Getting through the first season has been harder than expected. It’s actually my favorite Star Trek show?? (Orrrr maybe that’s TNG, ahh! It’s so hard to choose!) But season one is so baffling and awful! Why is there so much space capitalism??! And racism? And war? And drinking alcoholic beverages? #notmystartrek

49. Invent a word and its meaning. I used to call a single strand of curly hair a “curly quink” when I was a child. Therefore, a “quink” is a section of hair, usually a particularly cute or iconic one.

[quaspoch]

Reflections of a Queer Asian PoC Christian

Growing up in white America, I wanted to erase my heritage. I wished I could’ve been born with fair, white skin, blond hair, blue eyes, the beautiful standard set by America. I hated my black hair, my big nose, everything ethnic about me that made me different. I wished I could be one of the many, and I hated myself and my parents for having me and making me Asian.

It wasn’t only my physical features, it was also my culture. I hated that my dumplings smelled, and often times I would not eat lunch to avoid embarrassment. I now wonder how many dumplings I threw away, how much I wasted, how much privilege I had to waste food to save myself humiliation and questions, when so many others go hungry.

I hated my parents’ accents, it was embarrassing. I never told them about parents day, because then my dirty secret would be exposed. I am not American. I am different. I am not white. I am different. I am unacceptable.

I hated my parents’ values, why didn’t they value freedom and privacy, like my friends’ parents did? Why weren’t they grateful when I finished my homework, and passed my classes? Why did they expect me to excel, to take after-school classes, to learn Chinese, to play piano, to spend what was supposed to be my free time, on miscellaneous things they valued? It felt unfair, and in rebellion, I did my best to learn as little as possible, work as dispassionately as possible, and exert as little effort as possible. Looking back, I recognize that privilege as well. I wasted time and opportunity that my mom worked hard for.

My mom didn’t speak much English, and she didn’t finish school. She often put herself down, saying that she wasn’t very smart and didn’t have the capacity to learn things. She was extremely resourceful and hardworking though. As a Taiwanese mother without English and/or other skills, she strove to provide my sister and I with opportunities she felt would help us in the future. She graded papers for a private math teacher, Tsai Laoshi, so that I could be in the classes. She taught Chinese school so I could attend Chinese school. She learned how to bargain and utilize her skills in ways to benefit her children, even if it didn’t mean financial rewards. Looking back, I can see my mom truly was a hustler.

My dad wanted to be fully assimilated into American culture, and hated that we were attending Chinese school and doing things “non-American” families do. That’s why he didn’t foot the bill for piano classes, Chinese school, or after-school math classes. My mom, who had no job and no degree, somehow was able to provide those opportunities despite the barriers.

My dad loved American football, and I learned from him about the Cowboys, beer, BBQ, and family vacations. In some ways, I internalized his hatred for being outcast, and wanted also to become one of the many here in America. I wished I could blend in, become invisible in a crowd, not different.

I hated family vacations, and yet, it was something my dad felt pride in. He said, no other Chinese families do this, they see vacations as a waste of money, but we do this. Just like the white families. We are more American. So, begrudgingly, we were forced to go on these family vacations together, so that my dad could feel a sense of belonging in the world he had immigrated to.

Growing up, I was surrounded by “family.” Second cousins, once removed, others who I called uncles and aunties, but had no blood relations. I was embarrassed of these gatherings. These gatherings consisted of potluck dinners in which every family brought a dish, all the adults would laugh and sing karaoke together late into the night, and the children would have to figure out how to stay occupied for the entirety of the night (in the other room).

Often, we ended up “sneaking out” to watch movies and other activities. The “cool” ones did at least. I now look back, a bit sad that I didn’t spend more time enjoying these large, raucous gatherings of misfits. I miss these gatherings where adults laugh and let loose, kids are left to spend time with cousins and folks we would never be caught with in public.

Looking back, what I miss are not the “white-passing” things that I pretended to do. It wasn’t the, swimming in the pool, eating hot dogs, watching movies that I miss. I miss the parts of me that were discarded and unvalued. I miss the dumplings my mom would pack. I miss the after-school math classes, in which I was surrounded with other ABCs irritated that we had to be there. I miss being surrounded by Mandarin conversation (when the adults would gather and conversation and laughter would flow freely). I miss Chinese school, I would play hooky less. I miss piano class, I wish I practiced more. I wish I could play piano for fun; I wish I had known that my mom was trying to gift me with a future. But I was too blinded by my fear of being outcast. Different.

All in all, I feel ripped-off. I was sold this American dream by my white peers, by the media, by American society. I paid for it by not engaging in my ancestral culture, by tossing it aside to put on the facade of being “white American.” Now, as an adult, there is nothing more sad, more superficial, more shallow to me than white culture. I cannot stand it. I’m angry that I was swindled, that I was tricked. I was a fool.

How would my life have looked different if society around me sold me a different American dream? One that valued diversity and cultural differences, one that valued immigrants? I would’ve felt proud of being Taiwanese American, I would have seen the opportunities given to me and taken hold. It didn’t happen for me and my generation. Perhaps it can change for future generations. It would be nice, if future generations could feel proud of being Asian American, or ——— American. Indian American, Mexican American, African American, Native American, etc. It would be nice if there isn’t a silent shame that permeates society, telling non-whites that who we are, are less than, and needs to be hidden and disposed of.

I’m glad to be here, and that I got to grow in Americanness and Asianness. I wish that I hadn’t bought into the lie that these were mutually exclusive. It didn’t have to be one or the other. Could it have been both? Could both have been celebrated?

Is this how all children of color feel in this white America? I hope that the TVs shows like Fresh Off the Boat, Never have I ever, Master Of None, etc, will help children to take pride in their identities, which includes ancestry, culture, and values.

[hunnywrites]

Arcade Dreams: Chapter Twenty One

Summary: There’s a new girl working at the Palace Arcade and Hawkins’ Family Video. Billy can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. No matter what everyone else seems to think.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/OFC

A/N: It’s a Thanksgiving miracle I’ve finally finished the chapter. I’m sorry this is so late! We’re heading into the summer of ‘85 now, but don’t worry! I’ll be writing a few chapters of Chasing Yesterday to fill in the spaces between Billy and Teddi moving in together and now. I just didn’t want things to feel too clunky. This chapter also ends a tad awkwardly, but I’m breaking it into two parts so the chapters don’t get too long. Hope you enjoy!

The Hawkins public pool was packed to the brim with people. As Teddi hopped out of her van and made her way through the parking lot, the sound of splashing, kids yelling and laughing and the Power of Love playing on someone’s boombox nearby grew louder and louder. Today was her day off, but since everyone she knew was working Teddi decided laying out by the pool was probably a better decision than staying home and watching Star Trek reruns all day. 

Teddi made her way inside the gates, passing the bulletin board that read “Meet our ‘85 swim season lifeguards’ in large yellow letters. Teddi’s photo was between Heather and Billy’s. Her hair was longer than it had been when she moved to Hawkins and no longer platinum. Heather had helped her dye it a more natural, golden, honey blonde at the beginning of the summer. The silver ring that had been through her right nostril had been replaced with a thin gold ring that Billy had gotten her simply to match the small gold hoop that was in his ear now (the silver dangly earring Billy had been wearing before was now in Teddi’s ear). Teddi was smiling brightly at the camera, which was a stark contrast from the cool, almost bored expression that was on Billy’s face in his photo. 

“Hey, Katie.” she said with a smile as she passed by the front desk. Katie was sitting with her feet up on the counter and a magazine in her lap. Katie threw a wave in Teddi’s direction, not bothering to look up. Heather was perched up in the lifeguard’s chair, glaring down at a group of kids who were running over to the diving boards. Heather waved at her before blowing her whistle at the kids loudly. 

Teddi walked over to the tiny snack bar window, smiling tentatively at the girl on the other side. Cheryl Burns had gotten a job at the pool at the beginning of the summer. Initially she had applied to be a lifeguard, but had quickly changed her mind. “You mean if someone totally disgusting starts drowning or whatever I have to like...give them mouth to mouth? Gross. No thanks.” were her exact words. So Freddy had stuck her at the snack bar. She of course hated it. 

Cheryl’s strawberry blonde hair sat high up on her head in a ponytail. She brushed her feathered bangs out of her eyes, her eyebrows raising expectantly at Teddi. “...Coke, please.” Teddi squeaked out. Cheryl was an intimidating girl, and she knew it. Sometimes Teddi was certain that Cheryl enjoyed making her nervous. 

Cheryl set down the can of coke in front of Teddi, sneering at it in disgust. “I don’t know how you drink that shit,” she jabbed one of her long, painted nails at the “New Coke” logo. “They totally ruined it.” she held her out towards Teddi. 

Teddi dropped her change into Cheryl’s hand. “It’s not that bad...you get used to it.” 

Cheryl rolled her eyes. “I’d rather shove old man Myers’ speedo in my mouth,” she scoffed, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. Cheryl was also the most dramatic person Teddi had ever met. Cheryl looked back at the red clock on the wall behind her, a smirk forming on her lips as she leaned forward. “Here comes lover boy,” she said in a sweet, sing songy tone, nodding her head towards the locker rooms. 

Teddi turned just as Billy was walking out. While Teddi enjoyed the summer time, Billy came alive in it. It brought out the Cali boy in him like flowers that bloomed with the warm weather. His sandy blonde hair had turned a few shades lighter in the sun. His skin was a deep, golden bronze. Billy had gotten a new air of confidence about him ever since he’d move out, but now it was something different. Something that Teddi wasn’t the only one to notice. 

Karen Wheeler and a few of the other moms showed up to the pool every day around mid afternoon for Billy’s shift. They weren’t very secretive about it either. Heather would climb down from the lifeguard chair and each of them would start adjusting their swimsuits and makeup while they waited for Billy to come out. 

“Look at them,” Cheryl scoffed. “It’s so gross how they’re all drooling over him. I mean, Karen has a kid his age. And like he’d want some dried up old hag anyways,” she said with an eye roll. “You should go over there and like french him or something and tell that tacky bitch to back off. I mean, who the fuck wears a pearl necklace to a pool?” 

Teddi couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled her eyes from Billy, turning back to Cheryl. “Cheryl, do you always have to be so...blunt?” she asked, taking a sip of her coke. 

Cheryl pursed her glossy lips. “I’m a leo. It’s what we do,” she said matter of factly. Teddi coughed on her soda, sputtering loudly. “Jesus, Larsson. Say it, don’t spray it.” Cheryl frowned, leaning away from Teddi. 

“Sorry,” Teddi cleared her throat. “Sorry...I’m gonna go. Always a pleasure chatting with you, Cheryl.” she gave the blonde an awkward salute, wincing at herself as she spun around on her heel and heading over to Billy. 

Billy smirked down at Teddi as he watched her approach him, pushing his sunglasses down his nose to look at her. “You stalkin’ me, Larsson?” he teased. Teddi stepped up onto a bar at the bottom of the lifeguard chair, balancing carefully as she reached up to kiss Billy. She laughed when she felt his fingers slipping into the back of her cut off shorts, smacking his hand away. No doubt a show for the group of eyes that were glaring a hole into Teddi behind her. 

“Aren’t you a little over dressed for the pool?” he asked, his hand resting on her lower back. 

“Cool your jets. I’m gonna change,” she rolled her eyes. “Are you busy tomorrow?” 

Billy looked at her cooly. “...Depends.” 

Teddi let out a huff. “Depends on what?” 

“On what you’re gonna ask me to do...and which bikini you’re wearing under there.” he was smirking again.

Teddi pulled a face, popping her hip slightly and raising an eyebrow. “Who says I’m wearing anything under this?” 

Billy’s smirk twitched just slightly before he looked over the top of his glasses at her again, his eyes trained on the white crop top that was covered in little daisies that Teddi was wearing before looking back at her. “...Where am I going?” 

Teddi laughed. Sometimes it was just too easy. “It’s El’s birthday tomorrow. Hop’s having a party for her at the cabin and then she and Max are sleeping over at our place.” dinner at Hopper’s cabin had become a regular weekly thing for Billy and Teddi. He’d started to invite them over after the fight between Billy and Tommy. Billy had of course been closed off to the idea at first. Teddi had gone to the cabin alone for about the first three weeks before she convinced him to join her. 

“You want me to go to some 13 year old’s birthday party?” he asked.

“She’s 14 now.”

“Whatever.” 

“Oh come on,” Teddi huffed. “It’ll be fun. There’s cake. How can you say no to cake?” 

Billy held up his hands. “I’ll go. But don’t expect me to play pin the tail on the donkey or whatever the hell those little dorks do at parties,” he grumbled. Teddi rolled her eyes. “Speaking of birthdays...what do you wanna do for yours?” 

Teddi let out a groan. Her 18th birthday was in a week and she’d been trying her damndest not to think about it. “I don’t know...do we have to do anything?” 

Billy shot her a look. “If I tried that with my birthday would that work?” 

Teddi sighed “No…”

“What’d you used to do back home?” he asked. 

Teddi thought about it. Birthdays in her family had never really been a very big deal. Her parents hadn’t even celebrated their own unless you counted the fancy new purse her dad would buy her mother every year. “...Me and Hannah would drive into the city and we’d ride the Staten Island ferry back and forth for a few hours and smoke weed.” she finally said.

Billy laughed. “Jesus, Larsson. As fun as that sounds, you got any other ideas?”

“Well what did you do for your 18th birthday?” she asked with an irritated sigh. 

Billy smirked. “Cheryl.” he said with a snort. 

“Ugh. You’re disgusting,” she groaned, Billy chuckling at her. “As fun as that sounds, I think I’d rather just go to the movies or something. Maybe we can go to Starcourt and bring Max and El.” she suggested. 

Billy’s smile faltered for just a moment. “Whatever you say, Birthday Girl.” he said cooly. 

Teddi frowned slightly, pulling away from him. “...I’m gonna go find a lounger and read for awhile. You gonna come see me after you’re done up here?” she asked. Billy’s smile was back as he nodded and leaned in to kiss her again as if nothing had happened. Teddi hopped down, not looking at Karen and her friends as she passed them and headed for an empty chair by the pool. 

She started to wonder almost obsessively about the look on Billy’s face when she suggested going to the movies as she peeled her crop top and shorts off. She knew that he was watching her strip down to her bright green bikini, but didn’t turn to look at him. Had he maybe planned something different? Was it because she wanted to go with El and Max? When it came to Billy there was really no telling what was going on in his head.

Teddi let out a heavy sigh, plopping down onto the white lounger and pulling her copy of the Fellowship of the Rings out of her bag. With her sunglasses on, she allowed herself to peek back at Billy as she pretended to read. He was watching her with a sort of confused frown before his jaw set tightly and he turned away from her. 

He was definitely up to something. 

---

Teddi was sitting on the floor in front of the couch, chewing on her bottom lip as she carefully folded the bright purple wrapping paper around the stack of books she’d gotten El for her birthday. Teddi had picked them out carefully. There was the Princess Bride, Alice in Wonderland and the Last Unicorn; each bound in intricate covers with a short message that Teddi had written inside each of them. 

The phone started ringing as she scrawled From Teddi and Billy on the little tag she’d stuck to the wrapping paper. “I got it,” Billy called from his room. Teddi didn’t pay much attention to him. She grabbed a smaller present, wrapped in the same purple paper, and set it on top of the other, larger present. “Yeah?...Oh, yeah hi,” Billy threw a look over at Teddi before he turned from her, lowering his voice to speak to whoever was on the other end. 

Teddi watched him with a frown. She grabbed the TV remote, muting the Starcourt commercial that was playing so she could hear a little better. “Just give me like...an hour. I’ll be there. Yeah. Alright, I’ll see you then.” Billy hung up. He turned, going still when he met Teddi’s eyes. She crossed her arms. 

“Who was that?” she asked. 

Billy shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nobody...uh, look Ted, I know I said I’d go to El’s party…”

“You’re cancelling? Billy, we were supposed to leave like ten minutes ago.” she huffed. Teddi stood, scooping the gifts into her arms. 

“Something came up is all. I gotta…” he shook his head. “I just gotta be somewhere, okay? El’s not gonna give a shit that I’m not there.” his tone was starting to get a little colder. Like Teddi was accusing him of something. It only made her more suspicious. 

“You know that that’s not true,” she argued. While Teddi and El had grown significantly closer over the last few months, Billy had also (begrudgingly) bonded with her much to Teddi’s surprise. “What’s going on here? You’re acting really weird. Why can’t I know where you’re going?”

She was trying to keep her tone light, playful. She even let out a little laugh at the end like she was teasing him. Billy’s jaw clenched, and Teddi’s stomach dropped. “...I gotta go. I’ll see you later. Tell El I said happy birthday.” he muttered, grabbing his keys and quickly walking out. 

Teddi glared at the door. The Camaro’s engine rumbled in the distance, slowly disappearing as Billy drove off. “Of all the nights to pull this shit…” she mumbled to herself, nearly stomping over to the kitchen counter and snatching up her keys. She spent the drive back into Hawkins going over theories to herself. Teddi found herself feeling ashamed when she wondered if maybe there was someone else. 

She liked to think that if Billy was cheating on her he’d hide it better. Or maybe that was just her ego. It was Billy after all. Teddi let out a heavy sigh. It had to be something else. She just had absolutely no idea what it could be. 

When she arrived at the cabin she pushed Billy from her mind. She wouldn’t let this ruin the party. Teddi grabbed the presents, hopping out of the van and heading up the porch, her boots thumping against the old wood. Hopper answered when she knocked.

“Hey, kiddo,” he grinned down at her, his eyes immediately looking over to the empty space beside her. “...No Billy?” he asked, his eyebrows raised. 

“Something came up last minute,” she explained, trying to keep her tone neutral. “It’s probably for the best. I’m sure he’d complain about the cake ruining his physique or something.”

Hopper chuckled and stepped aside to let Teddi in. He’d traded in his uniform for some jeans an old plaid button up. Teddi always thought he looked less intimidating in his own clothes. More like a dad that liked to tell cheesy jokes...which was exactly what Hopper was. 

The kids were all already there aside from Dustin, who was off at summer camp. They were all crowded around the dinner table playing a game of Candyland. The cabin was decorated with colorful streamers, balloons and a big banner that read Happy Birthday! was hanging above the kitchen. There was a small cake sitting out on the counter waiting for it’s candles. It was a soft yellow color with bright pink piping and Happy Birthday El scrawled in shaky lettering that Teddi assumed belonged to Hopper. 

“Teddi!” El said, smiling brightly at her before pushing her chair back and hurrying over to the blonde. Teddi set her presents aside before wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Jeez, Ellie Bean. When’d you get so tall? I don’t have to bend down to hug you anymore.” she laughed. All of the kids had hit a growth spurt over the summer. Teddi no longer towered over them. She wasn’t really sure when it had happened exactly. It was like one day suddenly Mike was taller than she was and she’d nearly had an existential crisis. 

El let out a small laugh. “Hop says I’m not allowed to get any taller.” 

“He’s right.” Teddi muttered. 

“...Where’s Billy?” El asked, peering out one of the front windows as if she expected to see Billy smoking out on the porch.  

Teddi winced a little at her disappointed expression. “He’s not gonna be able to make it. Something came up, I guess. He told me to tell you happy birthday.”

That had gotten Max’s attention. The redhead looked away from the board game, looking at Teddi suspiciously. “What do you mean something came up? Did you guys break up?” she asked.

Teddi let out a sigh. “No...it’s a long story. I’d rather not talk about it.” she mumbled, heading over to the fridge to grab a drink. El and Max shared a knowing look. They’d agree to drop the subject. For now. 

“Hey, how come we can’t go to the sleepover?” Lucas asked as Teddi pulled a seat up to the game. 

Max rolled her eyes. “Because it’s a girl’s night, genius. None of you are girls.”

“That’s pretty sexist of you guys.” Mike argued. 

Hopper scoffed loudly from his spot on the couch. “Quit while you’re behind, Wheeler.” 

“What do you guys even do during a girl’s night?” Lucas asked, looking between the three girls. 

“Summon demons.” Teddi said with a straight face.

Mike, Lucas and Will all shared a look. “...I’m pretty sure she’s kidding.” Will finally decided. 

After the game of Candyland (Mike won, but Lucas had accused him of cheating) they all crowded around El to sing happy birthday and eat cake. After the presents had been opened, Teddi held up the smaller gift she had wrapped earlier, motioning to El to follow her out to the porch. 

She handed the small, but long box to the teen with an almost embarrassed look. El smiled at her, making quick work of ripping the paper open. Inside the white box was quite frankly one of the tackiest necklaces Teddi had ever seen. It had a clunky, golden chain and a deep blue stone at the end of it. In the stone there was a constellation that was almost crudely carved into the stone. 

“When I was little and my dad started working for the city, he took me and my mom to this state fair so he could make himself look good for his bosses. There were all these game stands, and one of them was this little pool that had these little rubber ducks in it. You got to pick three of them, and if you picked the right one you got a prize. So I begged him over and over to let me play and I ended up winning that horrible necklace,” she said, her and El both laughing. “It’s how I found out I was a gemini. The girl that worked at the stand was a total hippie and gave it to me when I told her my birthday. The stone is supposed to be our birthstone and then that’s the gemini constellation...I don’t know. I found it again after I moved in with Billy and I thought you should have it. It’s ugly in kind of a cool way.”

El held the necklace up, smiling up at Teddi. “I love it.” 

“Yeah?” Teddi asked, letting out a relieved sigh. “Good! Here,” she took the necklace from El, twirling her finger to tell her to turn around and clasped it around her neck. El turned back towards Teddi, taking the small pendant between her fingers. “Perfect. Come on, we should go get Max and head out before Hop tries to kill Mike.” Teddi snickered. 

The two girls headed inside, El hurrying over to Max and pulling her to her room to grab their things. Hopper looked so relieved Teddi thought he might cry. He stood up from the couch, waving his hands at the door. “Alright, boys, the party’s over. You don’t have to go home, but you have to get the hell outta my house.” 

“This is totally unfair!” Mike complained. “I can’t spend time with my girlfriend on her birthday because of girl’s night?” 

“How ‘bout you complain to someone who cares, Wheeler. Let’s go.” Hopper said, herding him towards the door. El and Max came running back out, arms full with their bags and sleeping bags. Lucas and Will wished her happy birthday again before practically dragging Mike out to their bikes. 

“Don’t worry chief, I’ll take good care of them,” Teddi said, placing her hands on El and Max’s heads. “We’re gonna make crank calls and break out the ouija board.”

Hopper smiled thinly at her. “Funny. You two be good, alright? No boys or ritual sacrifices,” he leaned forward, hugging El and placing a kiss on her head. “Happy birthday, kid.” he said, smiling down fondly at his daughter. 

Once the three girls were in the van and headed back for the apartment, Max spoke up. “So...what’s going on with Billy? Is he being an ass again?”

“What happened to not talking about it?” Teddi asked. 

“Why not? The boys aren’t here. So, what did he do? What was this thing that suddenly came up?” Max asked, leaning forward excitedly. 

Teddi looked at the two girls in the rearview mirror before letting out a sigh. “...I’m not really sure yet. Someone called right before we were supposed to leave for the party and he said he had to go. And when I asked him what was going on he got all...weird.” 

Max and El looked at each other. “Weird how? Like weird weird, or Billy weird?” 

“Billy weird. He’s been acting like this all day. Like he’s keeping a secret or something.”

“We should find him.” El said with a firm nod. 

Teddi laughed. “Find him and do what? Spy on him?” 

Max looked at her as if the answer was obvious. “Duh. If he’s with someone else you can catch him in the act and dump his ass.”

Teddi actually considered it for a moment before shaking her head. “That’s insane. What about the sleepover? And how would we even find him? You want me to drive all around Hawkins all night?” 

“We can still have the sleepover later,” Max shook her head. El shot her best friend a brief, knowing look. Max looked back at Teddi with an unsure expression. “...El can find him.”

“Oh yeah? How?”

El smiled at Teddi sheepishly. “...Long story.”