#i love being part of events too this is an honour
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
asktoxicgriefer · 3 days ago
Note
Tumblr media
hey there griefs, don’t you feel bad for old man thaniyel?
why’d you be so.. greedy? don’t you care about him too? unless there’s nothing but thoughts for your oh so important self.
(OOC: im so sorry for being mean this is for an event………..)
"Wh4t th3 fuck 4re you T4LK1NG about?! I- D0n't t4lk about my d4d l1ke that!!" Griefer's hands clench into fists, face twisting into a furious scowl.
"0F C0URS3 I C4RE ABOUT H1M!! I- I'm n0t- I'm D01NG this for H1M!! I'm st4y1ng away s0 h3 doesn't g3t HURT!! I kn0w I- I w4sn't- It w4s diff3rent wh3n I was tryn4 get V3n0msh4nk but..." All his fight seems to seep out of him as he turns away, clinging to himself.
"It's not l1ke that anym0re..."
13 notes · View notes
temis-de-leon · 5 months ago
Text
He has a nightmare where he rejected you
Characters: Asmodeus, Beelzebub and Belphegor (x reader, separately)
Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 4 , Part 5
Main Masterlist
CW: Asmo's having a bit of a mental breakdown, Beel literally has a fever dream and there's a brief description of lesson 16 in Belphie's part
.
Asmodeus – He didn’t want to play favourites
There’s an endless line of demons and witches alike willing to kill and die for him.
He can’t live without their adoration, their desire and their support.
While he knows you are not like everybody else, he can’t help but compare you to the rest of his fans.
Where’s the difference between your love and theirs? Can you give more than what they’ve already given him?
He can’t help but feel honoured by your confession, being chosen by their beloved human, but the idea of accepting your advances makes him feel ungrateful to his loyal fans.
The rejection comes out easily, just like many times before, and your reaction makes him sigh and almost offer his shoulder to cry on.
That would’ve been too cruel, wouldn’t it?
The uniqueness of your feelings doesn’t stand out until time passes.
It’s not just your attention that he misses, but also the tenderness in your eyes and the shy hint of your smile whenever he looks at you.
It became apparent that you cared not only for what he showed but also for what he hid about himself.
He tried searching for that same shade of love in your expression, but it faded quickly as weeks passed.
It all reached an end where, in a turn of events that made him sweat in fear and disgust, you started to look instead for his eldest brother.
He starts to work, desperately thinking that, maybe, if he made himself more beautiful or popular, you would change your mind and return to trying to be with him.
However, judging by the way you looked at Lucifer, he knew his reciprocation came a little bit too late.
You woke up to the sounds of sobbing, an animalistic yearning for comfort that pulled you out of your slumber. Hands grabbed the blankets covering you and a voice kept bubbling nonsense, an entire monologue full of sorrow that you couldn’t understand. In the end, it was the familiarity of the demon in front of you what fully brought you to the living world.
Asmo, kneeling beside your bed, cried even louder when he saw you opening your eyes. By the desperate moves of his hands you knew he wanted to hug you and that, mixed with the despair in his expression, tugged your heartstrings with painful force and made you open your arms.
He threw himself at you, burying you both in the cocoon of bedsheets and blankets and wept as you smoothed his hair and murmured words of consolation in his ear.
Almost half an hour passed until he could breathe with ease, but he wouldn’t look at you. Not like you were counting on it.
“You love me, don’t you? Do you still love me? Please, tell me you do. I love you, I truly do. I’d never reject you…”
“Reject me…?”
“I love you, I love you…”
Asmo hid his face in the crook of your neck, rocking the both of you back and forth in search of calmness. He ignored your questions and shaking hands, although you quickly realised he wasn’t entirely conscious about it. He seemed completely lost, repeating the confessions of his affections for you until he finally fell asleep from exhaustion.
You laid under him for the remainder of the night, too scared and shaken to rest again and hoping with all your strength that whatever put him in this state would disappear forever.
Beelzebub – He didn’t feel the same
It is indifference. From the moment you stepped into the house, what he felt for you was nothing more than indifference.
His room is empty and his twin’s absence occupies his mind more than it should, but he can’t do anything about it besides dealing with the loneliness.
Living with his older brothers simply isn’t enough anymore.
His family isn’t complete and the presence of a human in their home isn’t going to change that.
The first time he truly interacts with you is in the kitchen, in the middle of the night, willing to murder you over custard. The only reason you aren’t harmed is his brother’s fondness for you.
As a consequence, his room is no longer empty and he finds that quite enjoyable. Without any reason to be rude or mean to you, your short time spent together passes too quickly for his liking and, afterwards, he finds himself visiting you whenever he has the chance.
Beel values your friendship and he believes the feeling is mutual, even when you blush, smile with excitement and stare with bright eyes whenever he enters the room.
He is incapable of seeing how unbalanced your affections compared to his are.
His heart doesn’t stutter at your existence and neither do his words. You are his friend, a dear one, but nothing more; that’s what he tells you in response to your confession.
He pities your heartbreak and assures you your platonic relationship will remain the same, but his promises fall on deaf ears. The friendship is left hollow and unnatural and he briefly wonders if accepting your pouring heart would’ve been the better option.
Would have he fallen for you over time? If that were the case, although initially forced, would the love blossom into something strong and worth fighting for?
He hopes he will, too, go back to normal as weeks pass and you painfully overcome your crush, but when you’re finally able to look at him with non-romantic warmth, half of his face is red, his eyes twitch in adoration at each one of your smiles and his throat hurts from self-caused frustration.
Now it’s his turn to suffer the heartbreak.
There was a deep pressure on his chest when he woke up and as bad as Beel wanted it to be the comforting weight of your body, he knew that couldn’t be true. He didn’t feel the top of your head under his chin or your quiet breath against his skin. Had you actually been there, he would’ve never let you go.
His eyes were tired, itchy under heavy eyelids, and a pounding headache begged him not to move an inch, although he wasn’t sure he would be able to anyway; his muscles were glued to the bedsheets with sweat.
Groaning in exhaustion, he slowly turned his head sideways, staring at his twin’s sleeping form with deep-rooted fondness. Belphie was frowning, probably feeling part of Beel’s discomfort, and was twitching in his sleep, murmuring words he couldn’t decipher and lashing the tuft of his tail with weak movements.
An empty chair was also there, slightly facing his direction.
Quietly, the door opened and the dim glow of the hallway’s candles briefly lighted the entry, distracting him from the ache. A figure stepped in, tip-toeing while closing the door again and making its way to his bed.
MC…?
Was he hallucinating?
“Did I wake you up?” you asked in worry, unfazed by his silence.
He watched as you ignored the chair and sat beside him at the edge of the mattress, unsure of what to say or do. He wanted to touch you, take your face in his hand and make sure you weren’t a manifestation of his desires, but he wasn’t sure he was allowed to. In addition to that, his head felt full of cotton and completely detached from the rest of his body; he didn’t want to strike you by accident.
“My DDD ran out of battery, but I didn’t know where your charger was and I didn’t want to make noise. I just came back from my room”
You lifted your hand and he gasped in expectation, sighing with relief when you pushed away his wet hair and placed a kiss on his forehead. If he could return the gesture, he would, but he was barely able to keep his eyes focused on you, let alone talk or move.
“You’re still too warm” you informed with a frown, preparing yourself to leave his side. “I’m going to get a wet tow-… Honey?”
Beel sighed again, this time shuddering, exhausted at the effort of grabbing your arm and pulling you back to him.
Honey.
Your lips turned down in a sad smile, still coming down to kiss him again for a little longer.
“You’ll feel better tomorrow, I promise”
Honey.
“…ve you…”
You hummed a question against his skin, unsure of what he’d said, but he suddenly felt too weak to repeat himself.
“Go to sleep, okay? I’ll be here, Beel”
Honey.
Belphegor – He hated you
Your free will and your refusal to give up, going up the stairs despite Lucifer’s threats and helping the mysterious man imprisoned in the attic; stupidity and no sense of self-preservation trapped behind a weak shield of kindness and compassion.
Seeing you strive to help him is amusing; like a candle hoping to light the vastness of the night.
That you think he is a human is just an advantage to his plan, but how can you, such an insignificant creature, aid in his escape?
The mere sight of you sends bile to his mouth, but he can’t do anything besides entertain you whenever your human need of connection forces you to search for him.
You talk incessantly and he listens, albeit with no interest and borderline rude behaviour. He scoffs, shoots sarcastic remarks and brings you down whenever he has the chance, calling you stupid and naïve.
That’s why your feelings for him are so surprising.
You… like him? Do you like being lied to and degraded?
Okay.
He’s not going to complain.
It’s just another reason for you to help him without thinking twice.
And that you do.
A laugh blurts out of his throat when he finally closes his arms around your excited figure. You’re blushing and smiling like a fool and when you try to step away to ask if he’s okay, there’s nothing in your existence but pain.
Your desperate scratches are nothing for him and neither is the heartbreak of betrayal in your eyes. If anything, they make him want to hurt you even further, pushing your neck against the floor with inhumane strength and letting your body fall down the stairs like a child dropping a ragdoll would.
He comes to his senses no long after that; less than an hour. Your heritage is explained and his prejudices are proven to be incorrect, vanishing like dust at the prospect of sharing a friendship with you like his brothers do.
You were nice to him then, back when you didn’t know who he was, so why wouldn’t you be nice to him again now that there are no secrets between you? His actions were wrong, yes, but also justified.
Wouldn’t you agree, MC? He deserves the benefit of the doubt.
But why aren’t you looking at him anymore? Why do you hide? Don’t you trust him?
He said he was sorry! Isn’t that enough?
The door opened with a loud noise, then closed almost without notice. Something dragged across the floor until reaching your bed, a blanket, and if the soft hint of lavender didn’t let you know who just disturbed your sleep, then his words would make it obvious.
“You’re not in my bed” Belphie stated. You turned, confused at the abrupt interruption and the tone of his voice, which made it clear he was trying to hide something. His figure was indistinguishable amidst the dark, but his purple eyes stood out like stars. Before you could say anything, he talked again. “Why?”
He watched in silence as you looked around, trying to find a clue to understand what was happening. Still waiting for a response, he huffed as he climbed over you and settled on the other side of the bed.
“Like a cryptid, Belphie” you mustered in annoyance while letting him cling to your side. “You’re just like a cryptid”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re testing my patience”
“Why aren’t you in my bed?”
“I swear to God…”
You stared at him in disbelief, but something in his expression subdued your irritation. Now that he was closer you could see his glossy eyes, a frown twisting his whole face as his hands held on to you with more force than necessary. Although you had suspicions about what he wanted to hear, a sincere I love you, you still took the longer route and calmly answered his question.
“You kicked me out…”
“I never would” he quickly retaliated, sitting straight like a spring and hovering over you with determined and unblinking eyes.
“…because I had an accident in Solomon’s laboratory and my skin and clothes smelt like chemicals”
There was silence in the room for a few seconds and, after pushing him softly, Belphie finally laid down again, his features slowly relaxing until only a bitter expression remained. Your fingers carefully detangled his hair, but not even that seemed enough to fully calm him down.
“I’m sorry”, he said against your shoulder, delicately hugging your waist like you were made of porcelain.
“It’s okay, we can just go back to sleep…”
“I’m sorry, MC”
Your confusion was obvious, but he didn’t say anything and, by the time you gathered enough courage to ask, he was already deeply unconscious.
.
.
Taglist: @ilovecandys2010  @ollieoven @kingofspadesdelusion @whimsybloom
990 notes · View notes
miley1442111 · 6 months ago
Text
dinner revelations and reactions- r.cameron (part 3)
-------------
Tumblr media
-------------
a/n: this takes place in a au where the stuff that happens in the show doesn't happen :)
tropes: childhood bestfriends to lovers, enemies to lovers
pairing: rafe cameron x fem! reader, jj maybank x reader (dw, not for long)
(use of Y/n, and the nickname Bunny/ bun (but i promise not in a weird way there's a story to it i swear it's not just one of those weird smut things))
summary: rafe and you finally confront each other and it doesn't end as planned, neither does you night...
warnings: mentions of drugs and drug use and drinking, fighting, cursing, rafe is a dick, rafe's mental health, reader is going through it, smut (18+)(fade to black a little bit??) , kissing, alcohol, having sex while being drunk (?), drinking, kind of alcohol abuse, mentions of dead parents and sibling, rafe being jealous, rafe is also going through it (and I think that's it?)
not entirely proofread
-------------
Rafe sat across from you, and you felt his eyes on you the whole time. He had no right to be affecting you like this, making you nervous, making you irritated, worst of all, making you feel anything. 
“So, Bunny,” Ward started. “How are your folks? I haven’t heard from them in a while.”
You felt your throat close, and an uncontrollable coughing fit started. Sarah hit your back and it finally stopped, but you excused yourself for a moment, not knowing what to do. You walked to the kitchen, a glass of water in hand, different to the strawberry daiquiri on the table, the one that Rose had insisted on making you. You felt yourself tear up as you thought about your lonely life. The past 3 had been the worst of your life. Coming home to an empty house, having to clean out their bedroom and everything else they owned, having no choice in how they went. A lot of your college friends ditched you at that time too, you didn't tell them what happened and you stopped coming out with them, so you drifted. It was so fucking hard. And explaining it would be difficult too. 
You hadn’t even noticed you’d started crying until Rafe had put his arms around you. 
And then there was the Rafe heartbreak. Your best friend and first love drifting away mere months after you moved to a whole new place, full of new people, and new ways to live. It was unfunny how upset you’d been, not leaving your room (except for going to school or for mealtimes), you almost broke your phone, you were so upset, and you got rid of anything (aside from the friendship bracelet you still wore) that reminded you of him. 
But for just a millisecond, you allowed yourself to enjoy him being there for you. 
Despite promising yourself that you’d never speak to him again when you turned 16 and he hadn’t replied in months, when big life events happened, you’d texted him. You’d texted him when your parents died, when you graduated with honours, when you got accepted into your dream college, and every single time, it always said that he read your messages. He knew what was going on, he knew you needed him, and he did nothing. 
You pushed him off of you and sighed. “Don’t try to comfort me now. That’s not fair,” you whispered, trying to stop yourself from crying. 
“Bun, please I’m-” he started, trying to take your hand, trying to make you look at him. To see the distress he was in, to notice the effect you had on him, to know that he still cared about you. 
“No!” you groaned, crossing your arms and moving further away from him. Thank god they had a huge kitchen. Rafe was always the focal point in every room, he drew attention in from everyone. His charisma, his smile, his looks, everything. Every time you entered a room he was in you were engulfed by Rafe, and it wasn’t fair. “Rafe, I don’t want your pity!-”
“It’s not pity-”
“Well I don’t want your help!” You finally stopped crying, the sadness easing but all that was left in its wake was rage. “I needed you, when I was a scared 15 year old girl in a new city, on the other side of  the country, I needed you when my brother died, I needed you when my parents died, I needed you when I was scared to move to college, I needed you when my first boyfriend and I broke up, and you weren’t there Rafe. But just because I needed you then, does not mean I need you now. You are exactly what is wrong with everyone on this island. You’re a prejudiced, privileged, piece of shit, asshole, drunk, with too much time and money on his hands. Get a job, work for something, for anything.” 
Rafe just stood there in shock. You pushed past him, rejoining the table.
“Sorry about that,” you chuckled. “My parents…” You paused and took a deep breath. “They died three years ago, sorry I didn’t call to let you know.” 
-------------
Rafe sat across from you, and he had no idea what he was going to do. 
“So, Bunny,” Ward started and he rolled his eyes. Bunny had been a nickname Rafe had given you, and it had always bothered him when his dad used it, or when Rose used it, or when basically anyone but him used it . “How are your folks? I haven’t heard from them in a while.”
Rafe watched as your coughing fit began and he knew why. A sense of dread settled itself deep in his stomach and he sighed when you left to get a glass of water. He started getting up, then turned to Rose. “She doesn’t fucking like strawberry darquiri’s,” he spat.
He walked into the kitchen as quietly as possible, seeing how you sobbed with a hand over your mouth over the sink. He couldn’t help but feel partly responsible, and he hated seeing you cry. He felt you stiffen and quiet when he pulled his arms around you, then he held you closer as you started crying more. He’d missed you so damn much. He knew he should’ve responded, even after all these years, even when he fucking yearned to talk to you. But he’d made his bed and he had to lie in it. 
Losing you was one of the hardest things he’d ever gone through, and it wasn’t like his mom, where he could blame external forces, he was stuck with knowing that you being gone was his doing. That he’d driven you away at the ripe old age of 14. He loved you, and you’d left, but he just couldn’t see a universe where someone as lovely as you wanted him to stay, so he left. And he was stupid for leaving, and even worse for not apologising, but he was never known to go back on his word. As he held you, he thought about all the time his dad had said something, had hit him, and he thought about the fact that he could’ve talked to you. He could’ve called and asked for your advice, he could’ve heard your voice.  
And he noticed how your hands stayed on his body, not pushing him away, and he smiled. 
He felt awful for his behaviour. He should’ve been there for you when your brother and when your parents died. He knew he should’ve driven to fucking California and held you at the funeral. Let you cry on his shoulder. He should’ve been sending you supportive texts as you entered college, he should’ve been facetiming you asking about courses and classes, he should’ve been there to tell you that your asshole boyfriend wasn’t the shit. He remembered how he’d gone on a two-day bender when you texted him to say you had a boyfriend. He’d never been so jealous, and he hadn’t seen you in years. But he knew, he knew your spirit and he knew how beautiful you’d grown up to be. He knew your personality and your smile. It wasn’t fair what he did, but he knew this wasn’t about him. So, he just enjoyed being wanted by you, even if it was just for a few minutes. He didn’t deserve you in any capacity, but you still stood in the kitchen, his arms around you as you cried. 
You pushed him off of you and sighed. “Don’t try to comfort me now. That’s not fair,” you whispered. And the moment was over, but Rafe still had to try. 
“Bun, please I’m-” he started, trying to take your hand. He needed you to see him. He needed you to look at him, and look at the desperation in his eyes. He needed to explain that he hadn’t felt alive since you’d been gone, and having you here, being able to hold you? It had brought him back to life. 
“No!” you groaned, crossing your arms and moving further away from him. Fuck this huge kitchen, he wanted you closer to him, but he knew not to overstep. He stood at the sink and you paced slowly. Rafe was being driven out of his mind with these mixed signals. This wasn’t fair. “Rafe, I don’t want your pity!-”
“It’s not pity-” He tried to reason, his anger bubbling, but he took a deep breath to try and settle it. 
“Well I don’t want your help!” You finally stopped crying, the sadness easing but all that was left in its wake was rage. “I needed you, when I was a scared 15 year old girl in a new city, on the other side of  the country, I needed you when my brother died, I needed you when my parents died, I needed you when I was scared to move to college, I needed you when my first boyfriend and I broke up, and you weren’t there Rafe. But just because I needed you then, does not mean I need you now. You are exactly what is wrong with everyone on this island. You’re a prejudiced, privileged, piece of shitty, drunk, with too much time and money on his hands. Get a job, work for something, for anything.” 
Rafe just stood there in shock. You pushed past him, rejoining the table. He felt sick. No one had ever called him out like that, you had never spoken to him like that. He stood in the kitchen, and for the first time in years, he cried. He felt a genuine tear fall down his face and he knew he was fucked. 
-------------
You showed up outside John B’s place, wanting to find Jj. None of it made any sense, it never had. Rafe, your parents, your brother, everything. 
“Hey Y/n,” He smiled, opening the door. You pushed past him inside and to his bedroom. “Everything ok?” He asked, following you.
“Do you have something strong?” You asked and he smirked. 
“Yeah,” he reached behind you to a cabinet and produced a bottle of Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany Vodka. 
“What’s that?” You asked, looking over to Polish bottle. 
“95% abv,” he smirked. “Strongest out there.”
You uncapped it and took a large swig. Jj chuckled when you had no reaction. 
“Good,” he smirked, then took the bottle off of you and drank some himself. 
The night went on through a haze of alcohol, laughter, and a weird energy in the air, something you couldn’t exactly put your finger on. 
“You tired?” He asked, a smile on his face. 
You didn’t answer, just pressing your lips to his. His hands grabbed your waist as you pulled him down on top of you. You needed to forget, to be distracted for a few hours, for one night to not be inside your own mind. Jj could serve that purpose, and maybe more. You just knew you needed to stop thinking.
“A-are you sure?” He asked, pulling away for a beat as you pulled his shirt off. 
“So sure,” you nodded and kissed him again. He smirked as you desperately pulled at his hair. 
He pulled down your trousers and pants in one fluid motion and he groaned. “You’re fucking gorgeous. All of you.”
He smashed his lips onto yours once again. Next his pants were down and he wax putting a condom on, then he was inside you and fuck. He was big. 
“Jj!” you whined as he sunk into you. His forehead was already laced with sweat. 
“Yeah baby?’ he gritted out, using all of his self-control to give you a minute to adjust. 
“So big,” you groaned. 
“You can take it,” he grunted as he started to move. You were so wet, so tight, so perfect. He couldn’t get you out of his head, and this was a lot better than what he was imagining. 
-------------
You weren’t sure what time it was when you fell asleep, but you were fucking exhausted. You fell asleep with his arms around you, and you woke up the same way, with your head pounding and the uncontrollable urge to vomit.
What had you done?
-------------
obx masterlist :)
navigation for my blog :) (criminal minds, obx, the bear, marvel, top gun, the hunger games, challengers :)
taglist: (comment to be added :))
@hockeybabe87 @maybankslover @anightlikethisss @linaaaaa654 @ijustwanttoreadlols @ihe4rttwd @sunny1616 @wearemadeofstardust0 @rafeecameronsbitch @drewswifeeee @lovegeorgia @houseofperfecttaste @ymnizuh
226 notes · View notes
planetkiimchi · 5 months ago
Text
sixth time's the charm | w.jh
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
no. 1 of my 100 followers event (requested)
featuring: coworker!jun x gn!reader
word count: 8832 words
summary — your coworker jun is naturally friendly and a little chaotic, but he also mistakenly thinks you like his crush. this love rivalry persists despite the two of you being friends, at least until he realises that the one he likes is you.
author’s note: thank you to @fairyhaos for beta-ing this, your comments are so appreciated. especially knowing now that you have such high standards for fics, i’m so honoured to receive any sort of compliment from you <3 thank you ara for the request and i hope you enjoy!
Your first day of work was in January, at the tail end of winter. People were trading their thick winter coats for thinner wool sweaters and cotton hoodies, slowly switching back to sneakers instead of the chunky boots they donned in the winter.
The temperature was still cold in the mornings, especially when people were heading to work. The streets were filled with people walking briskly, as staying idle for too long would let the chill seep into one’s bones.
You were no different, a long coat wrapped tightly around your work attire, the most formal you could get. You cracked your knuckles nervously as you came to a hesitant stop in front of an office building, indistinguishable from the surrounding buildings save for the large “JH Corporations” displayed across the front.
Inhaling deeply, you stepped inside.
You were greeted by the warm air of the heated building, and you took in your surroundings as subtly as you could, taking small steps towards the reception desk while your gaze wandered about.
Everyone there seemed to be in a hurry, impatiently bustling past with briefcases, holding onto their laptop cases and thick folders. The constant clicking sound of high heels against the floor seemed to match your heart rate, going tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.
You made your way over to the reception desk.
“Good morning!” A cheery voice broke your train of thought, interrupting your anxiously racing thoughts and preventing you from spiralling.
Turning around to face the owner of the voice, you came face to face with a familiar face.
“Wen Junhui?”
The man in question grinned back at you. “Hi!”
So it was him. Junhui—”Call me Jun,” he’d said—had been there at your job interview, which had been done in a group, so both of you were probably starting at a similar level. Logically speaking, that day should also be his first day at work. However, unlike you, he looked a lot more at ease in this large building.
“Excuse me?” The receptionist tried to get your attention, and you blinked quickly before nodding.
“Yes, hi.”
You gave her your name and waited as she searched for your employee pass, before handing it to you, along with directions on how to get to your level.
You thanked her and turned to leave.
“I’m going to level three too, would you like me to show you there?”
Your heart, which had been beating painfully fast ever since you stepped foot into the building, slowed to a reasonable pace as you forced yourself to take a deep breath. Then, turning to face Jun, you smiled slightly.
“That would be great.”
Jun didn’t shut up the entire way to your desk. He looked tidy and well-kept, brown hair parted slightly off-centre, a tie around his neck. His smart black shoes clicked against the floor as he walked, and you noticed his fingernails were trimmed when he reached out to press the lift button.
“Y/n, right?” You nodded absently as Jun talked about this job, how his boss was rather friendly and how excited he was to be able to work in this team setting. Everyone was welcoming so far, and no one had belittled him as of yet.
During the elevator ride, you didn’t manage to get a single word in. Jun just kept on talking, somehow finding ways to fill the silence without you having to say a single thing. When he finally took a breath, you seized the opportunity to ask, “When did you start?”
“Last week! They asked me to come at the beginning of the new year, but I requested to start a week earlier instead, just after the winter solstice, so I could get acquainted a little earlier.”
Oh. That made sense. You briefly wondered why you hadn’t thought to do that yourself, stepping out of the elevator as the door opened onto the third floor.
You followed Jun through what felt like a winding maze of desks, all grey with some attempts at personalisation in the form of white mugs with “I ❤️ DAD” and “This is my fifth cup of coffee” printed across them, and cushions propped up on chairs for comfort.
“... And here’s your desk! Mine’s right across, so you can come over and ask me for help at any time. Just wave, and I’ll come over!” Jun smiled at you expectantly.
“Thanks?” you replied hesitantly.
“No problem!”
Smiling cheerily at you, Jun walked over and took a seat at his desk.
Breathe. You inhaled deeply, taking in your surroundings once more. This time, it felt a lot less scary. Each team had a semi-secluded area, with partitions sectioning off different teams, and your section was a little quiet but very conducive for working in.
The other people in the office had looked up briefly when you walked in, disrupted by Jun’s voice, waving politely at you before looking back down at their computers.
It didn’t seem like much, but you weren’t quite sure what you had been expecting in the first place. Setting your things down, you went over to find your team manager so you could officially start working.
Time passed too quickly. Soon enough, the project that the team had just undertaken was already almost half completed, and your working hours grew longer as the daylight stretched longer as well.
The sun set just after six, and you often got off work before then, so you would be home in time for dinner. Upon graduating from university, one of the first things you’d done was rent a house on the outskirts of the central business district.
It wasn’t the cheapest option, but luck was on your side, and the marketing job you had secured was enough to pay your rent.
Life wasn’t particularly luxurious; your flat was small and your meals were simple, but it was comfortable enough. On top of that, your transport fees were lower, since the office was located very close to where you lived.
That day, you were staying in the office a bit longer, staring blankly at the design drawn up on your computer and trying to figure out exactly what was off about it.
There was something about the design that didn’t work, and you intuitively knew that it had to do with the layout and the contrast in the colours of the background and the elements, but you couldn’t put your finger on what it was.
As the graphic designer on the marketing team, your workload was manageable, so this was your first time staying in the office past your stipulated working hours.
You rolled your neck around, hearing it crack, and fought the urge to rub your eyes. You turned the computer off and got up from your seat to take a bathroom break.
When you returned, there was a box of fried rice next to your keyboard.
Picking the box up, you looked around the section to see who had gotten the food. There were three people in the team still present; besides you and Jun, Yueyue was also working overtime that evening.
Yueyue had a reusable lunchbox by her side, and she took a mouthful of noodles into her mouth every once in a while, in between typing furiously on her keyboard.
Her clicks and the sound of her slurping the noodles were the only things disrupting the silence.
Jun was sitting directly opposite you, and he too had an open lunchbox beside him, along with a spoon, and he shovelled rice into his mouth every ten seconds or so. It was a bit strange that both of them had brought food from home, and yet there was takeout on your desk. It was especially strange because you knew you hadn’t ordered it.
As if sensing your confusion—or perhaps due to the fact that you had been standing in front of him for a good few minutes—Jun looked up.
He raised an eyebrow at you. “Are you planning to sit down soon? You’re kind of putting me off by just standing there.”
Oh. Embarrassed, you hurriedly sat down, but not before leaning over and asking, “Do you know who bought this?”, pointing at your own food.
“I did.” He looked back at his screen for a few moments, typed something out quickly, then moved his chair over so his view of you was no longer blocked by the screen.
“Minghao usually buys us food when we work overtime, but his mother’s health isn’t the best, so he took leave today to visit her in the hospital. Yueyue brings her own food, and I’ve started that habit too, but I noticed you hadn’t eaten so I got you something. I hope you don’t mind?”
You shook your head quickly. “No, I don’t. Thanks. I’ll pay you back, how much was it?”
Jun reached over to push your phone away. “It’s on me. Minghao even sent me money earlier on to make sure everyone in the team was fed, look.”
He showed you his screen, as if he felt the need to prove it to you, and you scanned Minghao’s texts.
Minghao (Team Manager): Make sure everyone eats well. Minghao (Team Manager): Tell them to go home before 7, it’s dark and cold outside, don’t want anyone falling sick. Minghao (Team Manager): Oh, also, tell Y/n to send me the draft of the advertisement by tonight. Minghao (Team Manager): Thanks.
“Say thank you to Minghao for me.”
Jun shrugged and put his phone away, “Already did.”
As you ate the fried rice, wrist cramping up from drawing the animations for the advertisement on your tablet, your heart felt extremely warm.
Becoming more comfortable with the members in your team also translated to becoming careless, it seemed.
One fine spring day, you awoke at eight-thirty to the sound of your ringtone blaring obnoxiously loudly in your ear.
"Please pick up, please pick up–"
"Hello?" you mumbled, voice a little raspy.
"Y/n! We have a meeting in an hour, where are you?"
Shit. You'd completely forgotten to set your alarm for that morning, having turned it off the day before for the Qingming Festival. You hadn't wanted it to ring while you were visiting the cemetery, which coincided with the time you normally woke up at.
To top it all off, after the long day, you'd had to take a long ride back to your flat from your hometown, which was a long way from Beijing.
You must have been so tired that night that you had forgotten to set your alarm.
"I'm still at home, is Minghao there?"
"Yes, and he's getting ready for the meeting already. He looks a bit pissed, you might want to hurry."
"Shit, yeah, okay. If he starts the meeting early, help me stall or come up with an excuse," you said.
Jun muttered something in acknowledgement.
"I'll hang up first, I've got to get ready and hopefully I'll reach on time."
"Hurry!" was the last word you heard Jun say before you hung up the call.
By some miracle, you ended up reaching the office 5 minutes before the meeting, wisps of hair falling into your eyes. You irritatedly pushed them away, taking the time to catch your breath as you turned your laptop on and tried to pull up your documents.
"Come into the meeting room now," Minghao ordered, and the team filed into the meeting room and took their respective seats.
You glared at the loading screen on your laptop, willing it to work more quickly. As Minghao said something about following the timeline and how the team was lagging behind and the client was beginning to get impatient, you did your best to listen and pull up the designs you'd done over the past couple of weeks.
However, luck was not on your side, because Minghao called upon you to present what you had done the moment he finished speaking.
You stood up hesitantly, eyes scanning your screen in a hurry, breathing still a little uneven. “Well…”
Jun let out a soft snort. You stole a glance at him, just in time to see him rolling his eyes before angling his laptop screen towards you.
“This is our advertisement video.”
Minghao took your cue to start playing the video, and you watched as your hard work came to life before your eyes. You’d watched it so many times, rewinding the animations over and over again until it was perfect, that it was no longer shocking to you how smooth the transitions were.
But seeing the video play in its entirety, not stopping every two seconds for you to fix something, you realised that you’d actually done well.
As the video came to an end, you launched into your spiel behind the technical aspect of the design elements, and Jun nodded attentively from his seat. Satisfied with your presentation, Minghao went on to the next person.
“Junhui, since you’re already prepared, tell us about the rest of the campaign and how you plan to manage the small budget we’re working with for this project.”
When Jun finished, Minghao raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Not bad, the two of you are a real match. Always good at thinking on your feet,” he said softly, just loud enough for the two of you to hear.
“A good match?” Jun fought to keep his volume down.
“I’m just saying, you’ve never called me when I was late.”
“Hao, when have you ever arrived any later than 8.30am?”
“It’s just a comparison.”
“I-” Jun threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. “We’ll talk about this later.”
Minghao shrugged and pointed at Jing Xuan, motioning for her to go next. You squinted at your team manager, then back at Jun, trying to figure out what their exchange could possibly have meant.
Yueyue went last, looking for you for help when she couldn’t recall the right word in Mandarin, and a couple of times you had to correct her pronunciation softly. She took it all in her stride, successfully completing her presentation of the segment she was in charge of.
Minghao ended the meeting with a short briefing on the development of the project and the client’s requirements, and gave updated instructions to each individual on the team.
Once he had finished speaking, the meeting was adjourned. Without hesitation, Jun grabbed Minghao’s hand and all but dragged him out of the meeting room, muttering something that sounded like “We seriously need to talk” as he strode away.
Curious, you did your best to subtly close your laptop and place it on your desk, before walking to the coffee lounge in what you hoped was an innocuous manner and casually inching closer towards the duo.
They were speaking in hushed tones, Jun’s brows furrowed and his tone of voice anxious, while Minghao was as relaxed as ever. In times like that, it was difficult to believe that Jun was a year older than Minghao.
You were a couple of years younger than Minghao, but you had changed jobs a few times, just like Jun, so Minghao was more senior than both of you.
However, Jun never really treated Minghao like a senior, although you could tell Minghao definitely treated Jun like a junior.
“What do you mean we’re a good match?” Jun hissed.
“I mean what I said,” Minghao replied, sipping his coffee.
“They like the girl I like, how could we be a good match?”
Too stunned to process Minghao’s reply, your mind blanked out as you heard Jun’s whispered words. In fact, you were lucky the cup in your hand didn’t shatter to the ground with how shocked you were feeling.
He liked Yueyue?
Yueyue’s English name was Luna, and she had joined the team at the same time that spring began. With her limited Mandarin, she struggled to communicate with the others, mostly electing to keep to herself and using Google Translate to send emails.
Having come from Singapore, your English was as good as Yueyue’s, and you were able to communicate effectively in Mandarin after your four years at university.
As such, for the time being, you basically acted as Yueyue’s translator, often helping her with her conversational Mandarin. Yueyue was a fast learner, and though sometimes she struggled with active recall, she was able to understand most conversations now without having to look the words up.
You hadn’t realised Jun liked her, but thinking back on it, you did remember Jun often looking at her while working, casting her glances when he thought no one else was looking. You recalled the way Jun hesitated before speaking to her, as if he had to gather his courage before speaking to her.
At the time, you’d simply thought it was because Jun’s English was extremely subpar, and the same could be said of Yueyue’s Mandarin, but now you knew it was more than that.
Even that time that Jun bought you dinner, you were fairly certain that he had gotten it for Yueyue, because it had come with a post-it note that was coming off the side, saying, “Enjoy your meal :)”. Jun must have been unsuccessful in removing it after he realised that Yueyue had brought her own food.
The puzzle pieces were all clicking in place, and your mouth invariably formed an ‘O’ shape as it all started to make sense.
Minghao elbowed Jun, jerking his head slightly in your direction. “Y/n’s staring.”
“Can you stop it, please, I—” Jun’s voice cut off as he turned to look at you. You were still deep in thought, and your unfocused gaze just happened to be facing Jun’s direction. “Oh.”
Minghao nodded. “Go on.” Then, as an afterthought, he added, “And remember what I said.”
Jun glared at him before standing up straight, leaving Minghao leaning against the counter with his mug of forgotten coffee, walking towards you.
He called your name, and you jerked your hand in surprise, spilling coffee on a stunned Jun.
He looked down at his white shirt in shock, frozen to the spot, and you covered your hand with your mouth. You hurriedly set the mug down, grabbing a bunch of tissue paper and pressing it against his shirt to dry it.
“I’m so sorry, you shocked me, I didn’t mean to stain your shirt. You can pass it to me, I’ll wash it, I’m really sorry—”
Jun called your name again, effectively stopping the flow of words that would have otherwise continued to stream from your mouth.
“Stop, it’s fine. It’s just a shirt, I can wash it myself.”
You opened your mouth in protest, and Jun’s eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. “Didn’t know this shirt mattered so much to you. If you want to wash it so badly, I’ll pass it to you after I’ve changed out of it.”
You could only stare in shock at his retreating back as he turned and left, mouth agape. What had Minghao said to him? It felt like the tectonic plates of your dynamics had shifted, but you wouldn’t quite be able to understand it until much, much later.
The first time.
There was a work party coming up, and you originally intended to ask Yueyue to go with you, if not as your date then as your friend.
Lo and behold, just as you opened your mouth to say “Yue”, Jun beat you to it.
“Y/n, would you do me a favour and be my work spouse for a night?” You furrowed your brows at his strange wording, glancing at Yueyue. The latter looked up, caught your eye, and shrugged helplessly.
“No,” you replied flatly. “Yueyue—”
“Pretty please?” Jun latched onto your wrist, tugging onto it like a little child would.
“No!” You pulled your hand away, shaking it in irritation. “Yueyue, will you please—” Before you could finish your sentence, Jun slapped his hand over your mouth, his other hand clutching your wrist again, preventing you from moving away or speaking.
When you finally struggled out of his grasp, you glared at him, beckoning him closer. As he leaned in, you stood on your tiptoes and hissed into his ear, “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want you to go to the party with Yueyue,” he said simply.
“Who I go with is none of your business.”
“Well, both you and Yueyue are my coworkers, so it kind of is.” Then, before you could reply, he said loudly, “Anyway, we’re going together and that’s the end of it. If any of you try to steal my plus-one, you’ll never hear the end of it from me.”
You whipped your head around to see Yueyue’s reaction, and saw her sinking into her chair, the smile on her face dissipating faster than you could blink. Jing Xuan hid her smile behind her hand, calming herself before removing her hand and continuing to work. Minghao had no visible reaction, but his deliberate ignorance was enough.
You were well and truly alone in this struggle with Jun. You took one glance at your gleeful colleague, sighing in defeat.
By the time the work party rolled around, it was already summer. You decided to pack your outfit, leaving it hanging by your desk throughout the workday. Sometime early in the afternoon, Jun got up from his seat, collected the suit he’d hung next to the coffee machine, and glanced at Yueyue.
She was too absorbed in her work to notice. Jun scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, and you subtly cleared your throat. “Yueyue,” you called softly.
She finally looked up, raising both her eyebrows at you. “Yes?”
You looked pointedly at Jun and jerked your head slightly in his direction. “He’s trying to talk to you.”
“Oh,” she replied, sounding surprised.
Jun smiled hesitantly at Yueyue, “Do you want to go get changed? Then we can take a taxi to the hotel together.” As he spoke, he moved his hands, pointing first at himself, then at Yueyue. His limbs felt longer than they usually seemed, and he looked like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with them.
Before Yueyue could reply, you cleared your throat again, causing both of them to turn towards you.
“Are you not inviting me to hitch a ride?”
Jun’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. Then, he and Yueyue spoke at the same time:
“No.”
“Yes.”
The two glanced at each other, and turned back to you.
“Yes.”
“No.”
Jun caved first, hissing in irritation, saying, “Whatever. As long as Yueyue’s fine with it.”
The person in question smiled warmly at you, and nodded in reassurance. “Sure, you can come with us.”
As Yueyue stood up, you locked gazes with Jun, smiling triumphantly at him.
The ride there was tense. Not entirely because you’d figuratively shoved your way into the car, although you suspected that might be a big part of the reason. No, for some reason unbeknownst to you, the typically outspoken Jun had turned silent, nervously glancing at Yueyue from time to time.
Seated in the passenger seat, you couldn’t help but steal a glance at the two behind you from time to time, and yet nothing changed throughout the entire ride.
Jun kept looking down at his hands, playing with his fingers, and Yueyue stared out the window mindlessly.
You debated trying to strike up a conversation, but just as you opened your mouth to speak, the taxi came to a halt. Looking out the window, you noticed that the hotel that had been booked for this party was much, much fancier than you had imagined.
The imposing building stood apart from the plain buildings around it, the stairs leading up to the entrance all lit up. The evening had just begun, and the sun was beginning to set, and the lights drew attention to the hotel.
Inwardly, you sighed in relief that you had chosen one of the more elegant items of clothing in your wardrobe to wear that night, because you were sure that being underdressed would have ruined your whole night.
Too caught up in admiring the grandness of the hotel, you didn’t make a move to step out of the car until Jun opened the door for you, and you stepped out. It seemed only natural to take his hand, although the moment your hand was in Jun’s, you realised that it might be overstepping slightly.
Jun’s hand was warm, enveloping your smaller hand in it completely. Yueyue came to stand behind you, amazed by the scale of the event.
“Let’s go in,” Jun suggested, and you nodded dumbly, following him inside.
Seeing Minghao eased everyone’s nerves a little, and soon there was a small congregation of five near the entrance, all keeping a close watch on the rest of your colleagues.
Since you often came to work in a sectioned-off area, and only worked closely with your teammates, you didn’t recognise any of your other colleagues. However, you couldn’t say the same for Jun.
As an elaborately-dressed young man walked past you, Jun seemed to recognise him, waving hello. Minghao could see that Jun was itching to socialise, and urged the rest of you to find people to talk to as well, leaving with a reassuring smile and a pat on your back.
You stuck to Yueyue like glue, the two of you acting like outsiders in this unfamiliar environment that was far out of your comfort zone, until someone Yueyue knew walked by and struck up a conversation with her. Not wishing to be the third wheel, you watched them walk off, standing awkwardly by the side and wishing the time would pass faster.
Fortunately for you, a kind soul noticed you standing on your own and came over, casually asking for your name and which team you were in. The man, Kun, had a warm face and a comforting voice, easily calming you down.
Halfway through a rather engaging conversation about stocks, you felt the need to visit the restroom, and looked around for someone to help you hold your things.
You would have gone to one of your teammates, but Yueyue and Minghao were having a heated discussion with a group of unfamiliar people, and Jing Xuan was nowhere to be found. Of course, there was Jun, but he flitted from group to group without giving you a chance to catch up to him.
You excused yourself to go to the bathroom, clutching your purse. Before you could leave, Kun reached out and offered to help you hold your things, and you thanked him with an embarrassed smile.
When you came out of the bathroom, you were greeted by an unhappy Jun.
He was standing in the corridor in front of the bathroom, not even on his phone, simply holding your purse and staring at the doorway, waiting for you to emerge. 
You had been expecting to see Kun waiting there, prepared to thank him once more. Instead, the person awaiting you was Jun, and the lack of a smile on his face was disconcerting to say the least.
You couldn’t remember a time you hadn’t seen Jun smile. He had a pleasant disposition and a happy-go-lucky attitude, so seeing him with a poker face was a rare sight.
You reached to take your purse from him without a word, but his grasp on it only tightened as your fingers brushed against his.
“Why didn’t you come find me to help you hold your things?” he asked, volume soft but tone threatening.
You shrugged. “Kun offered to help me before I could go to find you.”
“We’re here together,” Jun insisted. “You’re acting like you hate me.”
You raised your eyebrows, slowly appraising him. “Oh, really? Funny, that’s exactly the same sentiment I received earlier, when you outright refused to let me take the same fucking taxi as you. Is being in my presence such a horrifying thought that you would refuse to take the same car as me after asking me to be your plus-one, deliberately preventing me from getting the date I wanted?”
Stunned, Jun’s grip on your purse loosened, and you shouldered your purse and turned to leave. He grabbed your wrist, and you whipped your head around to glare at him, causing him to immediately let go.
“I’m sorry.”
You stood there, not speaking, but the fact that you weren’t leaving was enough for Jun to continue, “I didn’t mean to upset you. Yes, I wanted to go with Yueyue alone, and yes, I ruined your chance to ask her, and yes, it’s hypocritical of me to expect you to act nicely towards me when I’ve been nothing but an asshole this evening.”
“You left the team first, so anxious to talk to that friend of yours that you didn’t even spare the rest of us a second glance,” you accused.
Jun shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “I’m sorry.”
You nodded curtly in acknowledgement, ready to leave, but Jun called out your name before you could take a single step.
“You can join me for the rest of the evening if you want. Since we’re supposed to be together for the night.”
You looked at him slowly, taking in his pose, rocking on his feet, thumbs stashed into his pockets. He looked distinctly uncomfortable, and some sadistic part of you felt glad you were making him feel that way.
After a long moment of deliberation, you nodded. “Sure.”
The second time.
Jun introduced you as his work spouse for the rest of the night. The first few times, you raised your eyebrows in shock, meeting his mischievous gaze, and his disarming grin told you to leave it be.
So you did, not even batting an eyelash when he proudly showed you off for the rest of the night, your heated conversation from earlier almost forgotten.
You supposed that was one of his charm points, that he didn’t hold grudges. Jun had a forgiving personality, and it made interacting with him comfortable and easy.
As the night passed, your eyelids started drooping, and it became increasingly difficult to pay attention to the conversation topic at hand. Bidding goodbye to a few of your colleagues, you took some time to stand by the side, hiding your yawn behind your hand.
“Tired?” Jun asked, accompanied by a soft laugh.
You nodded. “I think I’ll head home soon.”
“I’ll send you home.”
You cocked your head at him, then shook your head. “There’s no need, you should stay if you want to.”
At that, Jun scoffed, then shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I’d rather not. Besides, it’s not like I would understand what they’re saying without you to translate; their use of technical jargon is way out of my vocabulary range. This entire night, I’ve been piecing together the meaning of their words from your replies.”
You laughed to yourself. “Really?”
Jun nodded. “I’m serious. Anyway, it’s dark outside; you shouldn’t go home alone.”
The corners of your lips lifted, “Didn’t know Wen Junhui was such a gentleman.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
You elected to ignore that sentence, turning on your heel to leave, and Jun chased after you, matching your long strides. Outside, you hailed a car, and Jun rushed to open the door for you.
You hesitated just a second before stepping into the car. Earlier that evening, you’d assumed that Jun had opened the door for you out of formality, because Yueyue was present and he was getting into character for having to spend a night with you.
However, with a night so bleak and the dim glow of the streetlights barely lighting up the roads, there was no one to see his actions then, and everything he was doing was just between the two of you.
Perhaps he really was a gentleman, and it was out of habit that he opened the door for you. You wouldn’t know.
Because Jun was right. There was a lot you didn’t know about him.
The third time.
That incident remained at the back of your mind as concerns about the project wrapping up took priority, especially when finishing the tail-end of the promotions. You were often busy working, and had little time to spare to think about other things.
By then it was summer, and it often rained in the afternoons. Sometimes it only drizzled lightly, and sometimes the thunderstorms were so loud that you could feel your eardrums vibrating.
That day it started out drizzling lightly in the morning. At first, you thought nothing of it, expecting it to stop raining by evening. However, an hour or so before you got off work, it was still pouring outside. The rain didn’t seem like it will stop soon, and you sighed in resignation. You'd foolishly hoped that the rain would have stopped after pouring the whole afternoon, so you'd be able to get home without getting soaked.
However, you were almost about to leave, and yet the rain was still pouring ceaselessly down. You rummaged through your bag for an umbrella.
Even though your hands were occupied, something at the back of your mind told you that you'd forgotten to put the umbrella in your bag this morning. Your search proved futile, and you recalled seeing the umbrella resting on the shoe rack that morning, but you had no memory of putting it into your bag.
You ran through the options in your mind. You could make a dash for it—the building wasn’t too far away from the bus stop—but you didn’t particularly feel like taking the bus home while soaking wet. The other option was waiting it out, but you hadn’t had dinner yet and you were absolutely famished.
You inhaled through gritted teeth, mentally preparing yourself to run through the rain, when a voice cut through your thoughts.
"Are you walking to the bus stop?"
You locked eyes with Jun, who'd just asked the question, and nodded.
"I'm walking there too, shall we go together? We could share an umbrella," he said.
Oh. You felt a ripple of warmth spreading through your body. He'd noticed. You swallowed and nodded. "That would be great. Thanks."
To be honest, you weren’t sure what to think of the gesture. Jun was nicer to you lately, and whatever odd tension between the two of you that had laced your interactions had died down too. You still talked to Yueyue, but more for work than any other reason. Jun, too, seemed to be taking it easy, reducing his attempts at chasing her.
Jun stood up, closing his laptop, and you kept your things as well. He came over to you, umbrella in hand, which caused Minghao to look up from his seat.
“Leaving so early?” This sentence was directed at Jun.
“Yeah. Gotta send my work spouse home, they forgot to bring an umbrella.”
You rolled your eyes at the term, but Minghao didn’t even flinch. “Okay, don’t get too wet.”
Tilting his head, Jun gestured for you to follow him out.
It was a silent walk to the bus stop, both of you all too aware of your proximity to each other, trying not to step too far out of the umbrella for fear of getting soaked. The sky was dark, covered by clouds, and the floor was slippery, so you had to take great care not to slip.
Jun maintained a small gap between the two of you, tilting the umbrella slightly to your side, but when you finally reached the bus stop, both of you were dry.
“Thanks.”
Jun looked up from the umbrella, smirking when he saw the grudging expression on your face. “No problem.”
The fourth time.
When Minghao said you would be going on a trip together as a team, you weren’t expecting that to entail camping in the middle of the woods—”Nature reserve, Y/n, I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve said that already”—and definitely not when you realised you’d have to put up your tents by yourselves.
Not that you were incapable of putting up a tent, but you weren’t keen on the idea of sleeping without a mattress. With your terrible posture and the way you kicked in the night, you could already foresee the backache that would result from this wonderful idea.
At least it was summertime, so you wouldn’t have to worry so much about freezing to death. Minghao and Jun were sharing a tent, of course, because there had never been much to debate about that. Yueyue and Jingxuan were sharing the other 2-person tent, which meant you were left with the smallest tent to yourself. Fortunately, you didn’t mind.
Putting up the tents was a two-person job, and you were embarrassed to admit that you needed help doing it. Obviously, stubborn as you were, you’d tried to set it up by yourself, but trying to place the groundsheet on the ground with only two hands was difficult. You could only hold two corners at a time, and the material of the groundsheet made it such that it kept creasing in ways you didn’t expect, so after a few minutes of trying, you eventually gave up.
You helped Yueyue and Jingxuan fit the tent poles through the loops of the tent, the three of you cheering when the tent started to take shape. Once the tent and flysheet were secured, you asked them to help you set up your tent, only to realise Minghao was the only one setting up his and Jun’s tent. Jun was standing behind you, watching the three of you awkwardly, grinning crookedly at Yueyue when she turned to face him.
Rolling your eyes, you went over to help Minghao.
Minghao raised his eyebrows when you came over, starting to speak before your hands even touched the pegs.
“I’m extremely particular about these sorts of things, by the way. That’s why Jun’s not helping me. So if you do something that I don’t like, there’s a high chance I’ll just undo it and redo it myself.”
You shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Also, please put the pegs in well, because I’d prefer to not have to wake up in the middle of the night to find my entire tent blown away.”
You nodded. “Sure.”
After a moment of silence, you tugged at the loops at the bottom of the tent, wiggling the tent pegs deeper into the ground. You packed the soil into the holes you’d made, shaking the pegs to check that they were secure, and stood up with a triumphant smile.
Minghao made his rounds, adjusting the flysheet. Hands on his hips, he walked one round around the tent, inspecting every small bit, using his shoes to check that the pegs were secure. Satisfied, he looked to you with grudging approval.
“Not bad.”
You smiled to yourself, knowing that in Minghao’s dictionary, that was a high-level compliment. Turning back to your own tent, you noticed that Jun and Yueyue were almost done setting it up.
You would have gone over to help, but you didn’t want to interrupt. You turned back to Minghao, who was already climbing into his tent and unpacking his luggage.
“Need help?” you asked Yueyue, deliberately choosing to use English because you knew Jun wouldn’t understand.
She shook her head. “We’re good, I think.”
You glanced at Jun, who was biting his lip in concentration as he slotted the bendy tent pole ends into each other until the tent began to take shape.
“Jun? I can take over from here, you should go ahead and unpack.”
Jun’s head whipped up, and he glared at you for a moment before realising Yueyue was watching him. “I don’t have much to unpack,” he replied simply.
“You sure? I saw how big your luggage is.”
“It’s fine, I can help Yueyue for a little longer.”
“Actually…” The two of you turned your attention to Yueyue, who continued, “I think I need to unpack. I’ll leave the two of you to it?”
You smiled warmly at her. “Go ahead.”
“Yue…” Jun’s voice trailed off as she walked away, glaring at you fiercely.
You pretended not to notice as you focused only on getting your tent up, and once it was set up, you finally paid attention to the way Jun was staring at you. He stood on his tiptoes to tie the knot that secured the tent poles to the flysheet, then stalked over to you.
“Y/n, what the fuck—” The moment the curse word left his lips, Jun looked almost apologetic. He pressed his lips together, silent for a moment, before deciding to continue. “Why would you purposely ask her to leave? We were doing fine, we’re literally helping you set up your tent, I don’t get it.”
“Don’t get what? I just reminded her that she still had to unpack.”
“It won’t take that long, don’t play dumb. It’s still bright, and we both know Minghao always gives enough time for everything. It wouldn’t kill her to start unpacking later.”
You shrugged, your gaze slanting towards the other tent. “Tell her that yourself, it’s not like I told her to leave.”
“Cut the crap, Y/n. Why are you acting like this? I thought we were friends.”
“Why am I sabotaging your attempts to hit on her, you mean? I'm not trying to. I’d just prefer it if you didn’t do it while setting up my tent.”
“I-” Just then, Minghao tapped both of your shoulders, jerking his head towards the centre of all the tents. He looked pointedly at Jun for a few moments, then left without saying anything.
“I’m going to set up a fire,” Jun said. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Maybe,” you muttered unhappily under your breath.
After dinner, which was cooked over the fire—definitely an experience—the five of you sat by the fire, admiring the orange-red sunset. As the sun disappeared on the horizon, the temperature grew colder, and everyone subconsciously shifted their chairs closer to the crackling fire, jackets wrapped tightly around themselves as they extended their fingers towards the glowing flame.
When all the conversation topics had been exhausted, so was Jingxuan, as evidenced by her sudden yawn. Claiming that it was time for her to turn in, she got up. Not wanting to leave her alone, Yueyue took her leave as well. That left you, Minghao and Jun by the fire, moving your chairs so each had a warm spot.
“Y/n?” You glanced at Jun, bracing yourself for the argument you felt was sure to follow. You were naturally argumentative, there was no denying it, and though Jun wasn’t one to start an argument, he always wanted to win them.
You jerked your head in acknowledgement, waiting for him to continue.
“Are we friends?”
You frowned. That wasn’t what you’d been expecting at all. “Yes?” you replied tentatively, unsure where this was heading. 
“Do you like Yueyue?”
You almost laughed. “No.” You didn’t and would never like her that way, probably. She was nice enough, but not exactly your type. You weren’t sure where Jun had got that notion from, but he seemed to be clinging on to that thought since you first joined the company all of 8 months before.
“Then what’s your deal? It feels like you’re doing this on purpose, trying to keep me away from her. If you like her, and she likes you back, fine. I’ll stop pursuing her. But you don’t even like her, so I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”
You pursed your lips together, trying to identify the feelings messing up your head, like water after a dirty paintbrush was dipped into it. 
Jun looked at you earnestly, eyes wide as he awaited your reply. After a moment of silence, you shrugged helplessly. “I can’t say what it is. But you’re right, I’m being unreasonable. So, how about this: I’ll leave the two of you be if you don’t flirt right in front of my face, deal?”
Jun stuck out his hand, adding, “You’re still my work spouse, right?”
Taking his hand, you nodded. “Sure.”
Just then, an ear-piercing shriek sounded in the otherwise quiet camping place, and the three of you gathered around the fire stood up simultaneously. Minghao was the fastest to get to Jingxuan and Yueyue’s tent, and the two of them ran out of the tent, Jingxuan’s face white with fear.
“There was a rat!” she cried out. “I swear it bit my fucking toe.”
Upon hearing this, Jun looked rather faint. You moved to help Jingxuan get her shoes, bringing her to the campfire to take a seat first. Yueyue helped Jun to sit down, and you left the three of them to get jackets for Yueyue and Jingxuan.
Meanwhile, Minghao took his phone and turned the flashlight on, inspecting the tent and the area around it.
He came back a couple of minutes later, having ascertained that the rat was gone, but by then everyone had grown comfortable and too tired to move. Jingxuan and Jun were fast asleep, heads propped up on their fists, and you watched Yueyue carefully.
Her hands were shoved into the depths of her pockets, her lips forming a pout absentmindedly, hair tucked behind her ears.
Yueyue tapped Jun’s shoulder to rouse him, and the two of you guided your half-asleep colleagues into their tents before everyone finally fell asleep.
The fifth time.
By then it was autumn, and September was drawing to a close. It was an ordinary work day, a couple of hours before lunch, and Jun suddenly stood up, rummaged through his bag, before procuring a card from his wallet and stalking over to Minghao’s desk.
“You busy?” Minghao nodded without looking up. Jun placed the card on his desk, saying, “I’m using this.” Minghao barely spared the card a second glance before saving his progress and getting up from his seat, gesturing for Jun to follow.
The two of them entered the meeting room, your gaze following them curiously. You met Jingxuan’s eyes, both of you just as confused as each other.
You stood up, walking over to Minghao’s desk, examining the card left behind on the desk. It said, in Minghao’s neat handwriting, “15 minutes of my time. Use whenever.”
You furrowed your brows, placing the card carefully back to where it had been before, heading back to your seat.
Jun and Minghao exited the room not long after, Jun looking conflicted. You followed him with your eyes as subtly as you could, watching as Minghao sat in his seat, looking at the card on the table and furrowing his brows. Looking up, he met your gaze, tilting his head.
Shit. Had you not put the card back properly? How did Minghao know? But to your surprise, your team manager didn’t speak, smirking before returning the card to Jun.
“Team drinks later after work,” he announced, not as a question. The other members of the team looked up briefly, nodded, then returned to their work. You continued to watch Jun sit at his desk, bury his head in his hands, then mess up his hair in frustration.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he opened his laptop and began to work.
That evening, the five of you sat at the front of the bar, talking between drinks. After Jingxuan’s story about her landlord drastically inflating the rent when he found out that Jingxuan and her roommate were splitting the costs, you recalled an incident you had just had.
A couple of weeks ago, you’d seen a stray cat on the streets, and decided to take it in. You’d since taken it to the vet for a proper check-up, and had made an appointment for it to get spayed. The only issue was that your landlord didn’t allow tenants to keep pets, and you weren’t sure you could keep it a secret when she came over to check.
“Come stay with me,” Jun said. His tone was teasing, but when you looked at him, his gaze seemed earnest, burning into you with his sincerity. The way he said it, it wasn’t really a question.
“I mean it. If you need a place to stay, come stay with me.”
Normally you would tease him for how serious he was being, but something about the fraught silence and the surrounding atmosphere stopped you from making fun of him. Instead, you watched him carefully, never breaking eye contact, and nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
“Lighten up, my work spouse. You’re acting like we haven’t known each other for a year already,” he said, already back to his old self. You only nodded in reply.
Bonus: the time where he leaves out the “work”.
When you first joined the company, little did you expect that three years down the road, you’d end up waking up next to the man you’d met at your interview, the one with brown hair and dark eyes and a sharp smile.
It had started out with him liking your friend, with tensions here and there due to both of your stubborn tendencies. Your personalities clashed often, resulting in disagreements that turned everyone’s moods sour.
However, you were still mature adults, and after a period of working together, you learned to be more accommodating of his differing opinions and habits and vice versa. Through the shared bonding over working overtime and walking home in the rain, you grew from mere colleagues into friends, growing close enough to talk about more than just the latest project you were working on.
Of course, growing from friends into lovers was slightly more complicated, and you had Minghao to thank for helping you along.
You never realised, but Minghao was the first to notice that you were starting to like Jun. If it weren’t for Minghao subtly helping Jun to grow closer to you, the rivalry may have extended for a far longer period of time than just a few months. Especially with the misguided notion that you liked his crush, Jun would not have been as willing to be your friend without Minghao’s constant nudging.
Almost a year after you had met, before getting drinks together and Jun’s fateful statement that led to the two of you moving in together, Jun had realised that he liked you.
He liked you, not Yueyue. The realisation had been startling, and in a daze, he’d used the card Minghao had given him for his birthday to ask for Minghao’s attention. In those 15 minutes in the meeting room, Jun had voiced out his concerns and desperately asked Minghao for some form of advice.
Jun later told you that Minghao’s answer then had been a simple, “I think you like Y/n.”
Having been in denial for so long, it took Jun a while to realise that his feelings for Yueyue had slowly dissipated over time, and that the lingering sentiments were only platonic, whereas his feelings for you had only grown.
Minghao had offered a simple solution to ease Jun’s heavy heart—drinks with the team. Unbeknownst to him, this action had led to Jun’s implied confession and indirectly caused the two of you to finally get together.
Jun snuggled into your embrace, interrupting your thoughts, nuzzling the underside of your chin and burying his face in the crook of your neck.
”Good morning,” you whispered softly, fingers running through his soft hair. He looked up at you briefly, as if checking over every feature of your face, before nodding in satisfaction and shutting his eyes again.
A peaceful smile came over his face, the blissful expression on his face causing you to smile as well.
”You should marry me,” he mumbled, hands tightening around your waist.
”That’s sudden. Where’s the ring?” You teased.
”Haven’t bought it yet,” he frowned. “But if you don’t say yes, then I wouldn’t have to return it.”
You let out a little laugh. Practical as always. “And if I say yes?”
Eyes still closed, he reached over you to the bedside table, fingertips trailing to the first drawer. He pulled it open, and you turned your head to look. There, sitting on top of your favourite books was a nondescript black velvet box. “Pass it to me,” he said, blinking his eyes slowly open.
You passed it to him without a word and he scrambled to sit up in the bed, both knees tucked under him in a kneeling fashion, opening the box to reveal a ring with a silver band, with a small jewel atop it.
”You said you don’t like fancy things, right?”
Struck speechless, you didn’t protest as he gently took your left hand, slipping the ring onto your fourth finger. He pulled your head in towards his chest, kissing the top of your head.
Just like that, Jun’s proposal to you was as simple and direct as the time when he asked you to move in, less of a question than a request, one that you would gladly agree to.
173 notes · View notes
bethanydelleman · 3 months ago
Text
Reminder that at the end of Persuasion, Anne says she was right to break her engagement to Wentworth and he agrees:
with regard to myself; and I must believe that I was right, [to break the engagement] much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you do now. To me, she was in the place of a parent [we know there is a strong respect/deference for parents in Austen's era]. Do not mistake me, however. I am not saying that she did not err in her advice. It was, perhaps, one of those cases in which advice is good or bad only as the event decides [ie: if you died like Fanny Harville or got wounded like Captain Harville, we might all think differently, hindsight is 20/20]; and for myself, I certainly never should, in any circumstance of tolerable similarity, give such advice [because I've become ROMANTIC!]. But I mean, that I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my conscience. I have now, as far as such a sentiment is allowable in human nature, nothing to reproach myself with; and if I mistake not, a strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion. [her duty to her family must be balanced against her duty to her husband]"
And then Wentworth shifts the blame to himself:
"Good God!" he cried, "you would! It is not that I did not think of it, or desire it, as what could alone crown all my other success; but I was proud, too proud to ask again. I did not understand you. I shut my eyes, and would not understand you, or do you justice. This is a recollection which ought to make me forgive every one sooner than myself. Six years of separation and suffering might have been spared. It is a sort of pain, too, which is new to me. I have been used to the gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I enjoyed. I have valued myself on honourable toils and just rewards. Like other great men under reverses," he added, with a smile. "I must endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve."
They both perhaps were at fault (I wish we knew exactly what Anne said when they broke up), but it was the right decision.
114 notes · View notes
w2sology · 1 year ago
Note
can i request a wedding day fic for harry pls? no worries if not. could also be a wedding day hc if that’s easier. thank u!
YES YES YES i'm so in love w this idea.... and i’m also so in love w harry 😣 tried not to make the descriptions of things too specific bc i know everyone has a different idea of what they want their wedding to be like, so most of this is up to ur imagination! <3
mrs wroetoshaw, harry lewis.
summary: you and harry get married, and it's full of so many emotions.
warnings: language, wedding jitters, that's about it!
Tumblr media
you both being a nervous mess. it's a canon event.
both of you in separate rooms but still feeling united in your panic
the boys would be trying to reassure harry whilst he pretty much undresses himself in stress, complaining that it's too hot
the girls trying to make sure you don't cry and ruin your makeup
but eventually you both get over it, realising that it's your special day and it's also the day you and harry become best friends for life
the girls all telling you how they've always known you were going to be mrs wroetoshaw from the beginning and you tearing up at that
he would be an absolute mess seeing you walk down the isle, he told everyone he wouldn't cry but god was he wrong...
is it really harry if he doesn't drop a few jokes in his speech? exactly.
olive as your ring bearer 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
once the ceremony part is over, everyone is honestly so glad that they made it through in one piece
being ambushed with kisses and hugs of congratulations from everyone !!!!
harry had his suit matching your dress, down to his socks and underwear bc happy wife = happy life xo
the after party... the boys literally could not wait for it
best man and maid of honour speeches pretty much exposing the both of you but you wouldn't have it any other way!
the slow dance us a must, and even though he'd nag on about how cringe it was, harry would be loving every moment of it
"you're so beautiful" and "can't believe i made you mine for life" being whispered to you by him all day
harry can't wait to use the phrase "my wife", he's literally been using it since you two got engaged tbf
"can this thing end already so we can christen the new home?"
"harry! we haven't even cut the cake yet."
handsy harry. SO handsy. he literally can't believe that he's married because he never saw himself as the type to settle down, but here he is and he's gonna show that off
once he has a few drinks in him he really starts to let loose
and so do you!
dancing with your girls, holding a random child's hands as you bask in the joy of the day
the older guests start to retire to their hotel rooms or homes before everyone else, and when the party starts to die down, harry quite literally scoops you up in his arms and leaves
lots and lots of smiley kisses, kisses on your cheek... anywhere that he can reach
harry fiddling with your ring, something he's always done when you wear them but this time, it feels more special.
you already making plans on what you'll do as a married woman, harry rolling his eyes but you already know he'd be right behind you
he'd be in such a hurry trying to undress himself when you guys get back to your room, a giggling mess in between a make-out session as he tries to take off his top
"i love you so much," he's mumbling to you. "my pretty, pretty wife."
and you're in for a hell of a ride.
443 notes · View notes
late-draft · 6 months ago
Note
Hello, Dema here!
First off—I have fallen desperately in love with your artworks. You have a very particular style, strong and fluid all the same, and I can't help but admire the way you draw and how you approach character design.
And talking about character design...
I saw your post about Zuko's bold design in S1 when compared to what we got in S3 and—as much as I love S3-Zuko—I completely agree with you. Something I've always loved about Zuko in S1 is just how striking he was, how much of a presence he had, even when he was being tossed around by a twelve-year-old. That being said, I love Zuko, I love him in armor and pointy shoes and with a ponytail, and I loved your alternative design for him.
What do you think about his S2 character design? How does it flow with the story beats and his overall character arc? Much has been said about the Hair-Growth-Means-Character-Growth (and I find it interesting, also, that he cut his hair again before joining the Gaang), but I'd like to know your opinion on how that translates to character design and how the decisions made in the show could be either good or bad in that regard.
Sorry about the long ask! I've just been thinking about this a lot, lately, and would like to know what you think. Hope you have a good day ❤️
AAAA Dema hii!!! I'm so happy I got a message from you, I didn't expect it!!
I'm super glad to hear, I'll wear it as a badge of honour and I must tell you that I also love your art, you wonderfully do volume and the shading done through a contrast of sharp and soft areas! Super solid anatomy too and I'd be lying if I said I didn't look up to your art!
Yess the character designs in the show actually are rather strong, I like a good balance between memorable and functional. Zuko is just *chef kiss* but, considering just how many appearance changes he goes through, some are bound to be weaker than the starting one. That said, I'm gonna go through a few of his S2 looks and make this reply long, ha!
The starting one when he ends up huddling with uncle Iroh with other poor refugees, fits extremely well for the narrative at the moment. It's actually one of my least liked looks for him, and that's great!! It's precisely how it should be, because he's also arguably at one of his two lowest moral points in the story - he basically lost almost all hope, no clear goal, nothing to fight for, he's desperate precisely because of the lack of orientation and thus his morals degrade and sink veeery low. He gets on my nerves so goddamn much in this period LMAO I want to beat him up, he looks like a recovering drug addict... annoying, entitled whiny jerk stealing food and anything shiny for his uncle, but even then he just does not cross the moral event horizon. Excellent characterization. He just looks atrocious and it's great because it fits this low point.
Tumblr media
Next he gets the standard boyish square of a hair, no notes here...
But theeeen, he arrives at one of my favourite looks of his, and it's not just because the clothes fit him very nicely (I've seen fandom say they look too big for him which, maybe?? But it doesn't look like he's swimming in them to me) And a thing I've noticed which, maybe it was just an accident on design part but I'm not sure considering they colour coded the entire cave scene; in this part his clothes match the shape of Katara's, first one in bottom then the one in top. The collar is the same haf-circle design but I don't know, maybe there was a limited pool of clothes designs guide which they cycled through. Or, he really is meant to come close but miss Katara by a beat, like sine and cosine chasing each other.
Tumblr media
But besides this outfit fitting the inconspicuous Earth Kingdom customer service persona, it also (perhaps inadvertently) does this VERY cool thing:
Tumblr media
It makes his shape look closed off and guarded, supposedly non-threatening. It's most visible in his fight against Jet, whose shape is open and goes in many directions like an aggressive star. But then look at what Zuko's shape does:
Tumblr media
When he attacks, it opens up to reveal the hidden aspect, again the aggressive star shape shows up! The same thing happens in "Zuko alone" episode but I think it's most clearly visible in this fight against Jet because here he has a direct contrast and comparing with Jet. I think this is an example where the outfit, whose similar design exists irl, overlaps with a great visual metaphor and enhances the narrative at that moment in story. He's still that combative firebender but he has to keep that aspect concealed most of the time. Plus it just looks badass as hell!!
Tumblr media
Animators really knocked it out of the park with many frames. I think Jun was too early and missed his better hairstyle, but Katara was just in time.
I agree it's super funny how his hair in the Beach is awfully long, covers his face to an uncomfortable degree and then he apparently shortens it before joining the Gaang, insane behaviour Truly an "I'm so angry and depressed I won't show my face nor be capable of seeing anything because there's nothing nice to see in my life" look...
I guess all his appearances in S2 cover his mental states, but only one of them is extremely Extra (the tea server, doesn't even take the apron off and goes to fight) and I don't see any spot where a similar tier design could be shoved in, narratively speaking. So all in all, S2 did as much as S2 could have. More tea server arc please though, the Guru episode really feels like it skipped 800 km of plot and everything that happened in it is so crammed and pretty sus in terms of character behaviour.
166 notes · View notes
just-a-little-cellist · 2 years ago
Note
Hi! I love your stuff I saw requests were open 😁
Could you Write a fem human reader x thorin who’s shorter than him, and she’s new to the quest meeting the company in Bilbos house, Gandalf already knows her and is like a farther figure.
Thorins a bit skeptical of her at first but those feelings die down as he realises she’s his one. Basically Thorin being a dick at first but warms up to the reader, some confessions are made and some fluffy/little-very tame nsfw stuff occurs when they reach Rivendell?
Thank you!! ☺️
(oh I love this so much! I hope this does your idea justice, there isn't smut in this one since it got quite long by itself, but I'd be happy to make a part 2 where they get to Rivendell if you'd like :) hope you enjoy :D)
(link for part 2!)
An Unexpected Guest (Thorin x female!human!reader)
Thorin watched you from across the campfire and tried to ignore the familiar tugging in his chest. You were too busy laughing alongside Fili and Kili to notice his probing stare, and seeing how easily you'd integrated into the group only made him more perplexed by your presence. He quickly averted his gaze though when he caught the look Balin sent him. The older dwarf simply chuckled and patted him on the shoulder, reminding Thorin of the evening he had met you.
The dwarves had been gathered at Bilbo's house for some time now, and evening had fallen by the time another, relatively quiet, knock sounded at the door. The hobbit almost seemed to be seething at the idea of more people showing up, but this time it was Gandalf who rose to answer.
"It seems our final guest has arrived." At this, Thorin shot him a glare that went unnoticed as Gandalf left the room.
"Gandalf! It's wonderful to see you again."
"Likewise, my dear. Come in, I shall introduce you to the company."
After you had hung your cloak up, you closed the door and followed Gandalf into the room where the dwarves sat. Thorin could only watch in disbelief as you politely thanked Mr Baggins for hosting the event and shook his hand (which appeared to at least partially dispel the hobbit's bad spirits). The wizard had really invited another without his consent - and a human woman at that.
With a gentle hand on your shoulder, Gandalf said, "It is my pleasure to introduce to you Y/n L/n, a student of mine. I have decided that she will accompany you along this journey."
Thorin rose from his chair abruptly, and all eyes turned to him.
"When were you going to tell me about this decision?" His voice was quiet, but his rage was betrayed by his clenched fists. "You do not have the right to-"
"Thorin, I have said she will go with you, and you should be wise to respect that." The wizard's face was dark, and Thorin paused before he reluctantly stepped forward to look at you. "I can assure you that she will be of use. She has studied under me for some time and is a rather excellent navigator, which I suspect will come in handy."
You bowed respectfully. "It is an honour to meet you, Thorin." You made brief eye contact with him as you rose and he felt something in his chest tighten, but he chose to ignore it.
"Don't get in the way," He muttered and returned to the table.
Later in the evening, he found himself stealing glances at you as you chatted merrily with some of the others. He couldn't quite figure you out - you seemed an intelligent young woman, but he couldn't risk compromising the quest, and he didn't trust humans in general, but just maybe there was a small part of him that wanted you to come, and there was this odd pulling feeling deep within him...
His train of thought was interrupted by Balin's hand on his shoulder, and he quickly realized he'd been staring for longer than he intended.
"Your feelings are written on your forehead, laddie."
Thorin cleared his throat and looked anywhere but where you sat. "I feel nothing for her. She's a liability."
Balin chuckled and patted his shoulder. "If you say so."
Balin had moved to sit next to Thorin in the time he was stuck in his own head, and spoke quietly with a smile on his face.
"You can't stare at her forever laddie." The glare he was sent did not deter him. "It's been the same with her since she first arrived, and I've never seen you like this before with any other lass." The two dwarves both looked at you, still teasing Kili over something or other.
Feeling the eyes on you, you looked across the fire and waved shyly with a smile when you saw Thorin watching you. And as much as he tried to resist, he couldn't help but give you a smile in return.
Now that he thought about it, maybe he had warmed up to you a little more than he'd like to admit. Something had drawn him to you and he couldn't quite place why.
"Lad, I haven't seen you smile like that since we started this journey. She makes you happy, and you'd be a fool to deny yourself that."
Thorin sighed. As if he was trying to pretend he wasn't saying it out loud, he murmured, "What if she doesn't feel the same?"
"She does, I'm sure of it. She has the same look in her eyes as you do." Balin put a comforting hand on his knee. "Y/n is your One, Thorin. You know it better than I do."
Oh. That... actually made a lot of sense.
Before he could respond, Kili ran over to them. "Uncle! Can you come and stand next to Y/n? She's making fun of me and you're the only one taller than her!"
Balin laughed and clapped him on the back. "Go on laddie."
Trying to settle his beating heart, Thorin stood and let Kili lead him over to his One (even if she didn't know it yet).
Fili pushed her lightly in Thorin's direction. "She thinks she's better than us because she's two inches taller than me."
"Is that so?" Seeing the slight blush on your cheeks, Thorin realized that Balin may not have been exaggerating, so with a subtle smirk on his face he looked down at you. He was only a few inches taller but it felt like he towered over you in that moment. "I don't appreciate the torment of my nephews, Miss Y/n."
You looked up at him and smiled with a teasing tone. "Well, they started it. I can't take all the blame, your majesty."
If his heart was beating too fast before, he was pretty sure it just stopped completely.
The two of you maintained eye contact for just longer than necessary, before he stepped away and cleared his throat. Fili seemed to have caught on to his uncle's unusual behavior, and with a wink in your direction he subtly directed Kili back over to Balin.
"May..." He paused, still uncertain. "May I speak with you, Y/n? Somewhere a little more private."
"Of course." Mahal, your smile was almost enough for him to forget he was nervous in the first place.
He led you a little further into the woods, just far enough from the group that they couldn't eavesdrop, and took a deep breath.
You smiled anxiously. "You're making me nervous, Thorin. What is it?"
In an uncharacteristically quiet voice, he said, "I think you're my One."
"Your One?"
"I..." He tried to calm the shake in his voice, to no avail. "I suppose you might call it a soulmate."
The blush on your face spread as you processed his words. "O-oh. I see."
"I must apologize for my behavior when we first met. I was skeptical of you, but you have shown yourself to be not only a valued member of the company, but also a caring and wonderful person." Thorin looked up from the ground to meet your eyes. "I have grown fond of you, Y/n, and I feel a connection with you that I have never experienced before. Something has been drawing me towards you every time I see you, and I can't pretend it isn't there anymore."
"Thorin, I-"
"If you do not feel the same then we need never discuss it again, but I-"
He was interrupted with your finger over his lips. You giggled at his confused expression and took his hands. "Thorin, of course I feel the same." You smiled sheepishly. "I was hoping to hide it for a little longer but Kili saw right through me."
"He is more perceptive than he looks," he chuckled, tracing his fingers over yours.
You lifted one hand to softly cup Thorin's cheek. "Either way, I'm glad the feeling is mutual."
Feeling your fingers in his hair when you tugged him down to kiss you, he had never been so glad for Balin's prying in his life.
1K notes · View notes
joansjusticiar · 9 months ago
Text
I’ve been a dog | Lin Beifong x f!reader
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Images do not belong to me.
Summary: Young!Lin
You and your former girlfriend (Lin) separated years ago due to her unresolved feelings for Tenzin. Ten years later your presence is requested at a Gala held in her honour. What will happen when you see one another after a decade of separation.
Word count: 1,531
A/N: dipping my toes (back) into the avatar fandom with this.
Tumblr media
The gala was in full swing, Republic City’s elite all gathered in their respective ceremonial garbs to celebrate Lin Beifong’s rise to chief of police. Your presence was necessary, alongside the other council members, but you would much rather be at home than spending your evening speaking to the serpent tongued bourgeoise. Wolves seeking out any slither of power they could grasp onto with their dirty paws.
No, you weren’t fond of these events at all. Yet this one was different. This one was held in Lin’s honour and you would do anything to see her, if only for a moment. After your break up, you hadn’t seen nor spoken to Lin in person. It was too difficult; too fresh even after all of these years.
You were still bitter about it, to be very honest. She had stated that she still had feelings for Tenzin despite being with you. Despite him leaving her for another woman. Despite you giving her everything in hopes that she would be happy, happy with you. But everything wasn’t enough.
And here you were, 10 years later, still in love with the woman that had taken your heart and shattered it without second thought. Not that you had tried to reach out to her either. Would she have answered if you had written?
Kya’s swift movements as she weaved through the sea of bodies caught your attention. Excusing yourself from the dull conversation you found yourself in, you set off to follow her. Lin’s eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went, glaring down at you from the multiple tapestries that hung from the ceiling rafters. It was unsettling to say the least, yet you pushed onwards.
“Kya!” You exclaimed as you got closer, loud enough for her to hear but quiet enough to still be a respectable volume.
“Hey! I wasn’t sure if you would show up.”
She turned to you and embraced you in a long overdue hug. You hadn’t been able to spend much time together recently, with your council duties ramping up and Kya’s chaotic work load as a healer. Apparently, in the time that you hadn’t spoken, Kya’s girlfriend- now ex- cheated on her with another woman.
Somehow Kya venting about her ex turned into your being pulled into an elaborate scheme to make said woman jealous. Kya wanted to show her that she was desirable and she could do just fine without her. You figured it couldn’t hurt to comply with Kya’s wishes for the night.
That’s how you found yourself discussing city matters over dinner with Kya seated on your right, playing the part of lovesick girlfriend for all to see. You couldn’t fault her plan as you could see it working, if her ex’s explosive reaction and swift exit were anything to go by.
What you weren’t expecting, however, was the seat to your left to be pulled out and a gravelly voice to ask if it was taken.
“Chief Beifong!” You gasped, surprised at her sudden presence as you hadn’t seen her all night. “Of course not. Congratulations on your promotion. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the pleasure of conversing with you yet.”
“Thank you, councillor.” To anybody else she would’ve come off as disinterested, but you knew Lin well enough to know that she was pleased with your acknowledgment of her hard work.
You took your time to admire her as she sat beside you. She spoke with confidence and pride whilst addressing the other members of the table, a subdued excitement glinting in her eyes when recounting her favourite tales from her earlier working years. It was bittersweet seeing Lin again; seeing her older and wiser, recounting everything you had missed.
You were glad she had achieved everything she wanted.
༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶
Lin swirled the burnt umber liquid around her glass, ice cubes clinking against the side, threatening to spill over the edge. She watched you from afar. Jaw clenched as Kya flung herself all over you like a common whore. She shouldn’t care. She wasn’t allowed to care. You weren’t hers anymore, she made sure of it by letting you walk away all of those years ago.
She was yours though. She dreamt of you every night; of what could have been. Did you dream of her?
“She isn’t going to know how you feel unless you say something.”
Lin jumped, turning to look at who dared interrupt her brooding. “Tenzin… and Pema, how lovely to see you too.” She drawled with narrowed eyes.
“All I’m saying is, you should take your shot before someone else does. We all know you two are hopelessly in love with each other. Even after all of these years.” Tenzin spoke in a soft voice, not wanting to spook Lin in hopes that she would act on her feelings.
“Someone like your sister.” She grumbled.
“Just think about it okay?”
“Mhm.”
Without meaning to, Lin found herself walking to your table and asking you if she could sit next to you. She begged to the spirits for the strength to converse with you. If only for a moment.
༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶
“So, councillor. Whatever happened to your admirer?” One of your coworkers asked.
“Oh god,” you groaned. “He wouldn’t leave me alone until I finally had to tell him I was married. Apparently, men only respect other ‘men’.” Your eyes flicked to Lin then but her gaze was fixed on her soup.
“Wait, you’re married?” They asked.
“Something like that, yes.” You nudged Kya in hopes that she would play along with your lie. It would reflect terribly on you as a council woman if you were caught out in it.
Thankfully she played along, just as you had with her earlier. Lin pushed back from the table abruptly. Her eyes avoided yours despite you asking her what was wrong. In fact, she ignored you completely as she said her goodbyes to the people around you.
Unhappy with the way she stormed off, you set off to follow her.
“Lin!” You called, desperate for her to turn and come back to you. She didn’t.
“Lin!” You repeated.
After the third shout you knew she wasn’t going to speak to you on her own accord. No, you would have to corner her like you would a scared wild animal. She had never reacted well to being cornered but you knew it was what you must do.
You caught her just before she left, grabbing hold of her arm to stop her from fleeing. She didn’t turn to face you though. Just stood there, still as a statue, as you grasped her elbow.
“Unhand me.” She demanded. “Please,”
“Lin, talk to me!” You begged. “I haven’t seen you in years. Please, don’t go just yet.”
You felt like a fool begging for scraps on the street corner. Scraps you wouldn’t get.
She pulled her arm away from you. “Don’t you have a wife to be getting back to? I don’t think she’d want you speaking with your ex.” She spat.
“What? Why would you even care about that!”
You were confused to say the least. She was the one who loved another whilst in a relationship with you. She didn’t love you. Why was she acting like she did?
She merely scoffed at you before turning to walk away.
“Lin please! Please don’t walk away.”
“What do you want me to do?!” She exclaimed. “How can you expect me to go in there and act like I’m okay with you marrying another? How can I go back in there and watch you with Kya when I waited for you for over a decade,”
“Lin,” you grabbed her again, gentler this time but she shrugged you off.
“And you didn’t wait for me.” She whispered.
“I’m not married.”
“What?”
“I haven’t been with anybody since we split. No dates, no relationships. Nothing.” You admitted. “I waited for you too.”
“You.. no, I. You never wrote to me.” She choked out.
“I didn’t know you wanted me to. Lin, my heart and soul, all of these years I thought you loved Tenzin.”
“How could I love anyone other than you?” She urged, reaching up to cusp your face between her rough palms. She drew even closer, breath ghosting over your lips. You froze, eyes darting frantically between her lips and eyes, back and forth, waiting to see what she was about to do.
Her lips brushed yours tentatively as she tested the waters. There was no need for her shyness though. You had needed this, much like you needed air to breathe and sustenance to live. Hands tangled into locks of hair, soft sighs puffed out between kiss swollen lips.
Yes. This was everything you needed and more.
You barely had the chance to enjoy it before she was pulling away, just enough so that she could look into your eyes. The whimper you let out at the loss would’ve been embarrassing if not for the look of pure adoration Lin was sending your way.
“How about I treat you to a long overdue dinner?” She rasped, a pink tongue darting out to anxiously lick over her lips.
“I would love nothing more.”
Tumblr media
238 notes · View notes
oceaneyesinla · 3 months ago
Note
Hiiii! Congrats on your milestone! I hope you have many more followers! :)
Id love prompt #6 (giving them a head massage) with Umemiya from Wind Breaker. I’d love to run my fingers through his hair and just listen to him. 🥰
Steph!!!! thank you so much 😊🤍 i love Ume so much and i fear it shows - this is disgustingly soft even for me, and we all know how soft and squishy my fluff gets!
Part of my Fluff, Fluff and More Fluff Event - submissions still open!
Prompt 6: giving them a head massage while they listen to the other one talk about their day
Umemiya Hajime x gn!Reader
Divider by @/adornedwithlight
Tumblr media
Umemiya Hajime is many things to many people. To the boys of Bofurin, he's a stalwart leader, a pillar of strength they can rely on through fair weather and harsh storms. To his inner circle, his Four Kings, he's a trusted friend, one they confide in and one they stand alongside with pride. To Kotoha, he's the older brother she will never admit she loves to have. She rolls her eyes and shrugs off his open, enthusiastic affection, but you know she appreciates the unconditional love he shows her. To the people of Makochi, he's a jack of all trades - the shop owners shower him in discounted goods and the elderly pinch his cheeks and remark on how he's a 'nice young man’ and the children idolise him, staring up at him with stars in their eyes as he tells them stories and lets them ride on his shoulders.
Umemiya Hajime is everything to everyone, But to you? He's your Hajime. Nothing more, nothing less. You love the man he is outside the walls of your home - strong, passionate and infinitely kind. He fights with his heart and loves with every fibre of his being and sometimes, when you watch him sing to his plants or mentor his kouhai, you feel like your heart will burst with all the affection you feel for him.
You know the responsibility he carries is a heavy load, and you feel honoured that he leaves that load at the door - shrugging off the weight along with his Bofurin jacket, hanging it up on the hook in the hallway and allowing you into the portion of his heart reserved just for you. Instead of being the caretaker, he allows himself to be taken care of. He puts the same trust in you as the members of Bofurin put into him, and you cradle his heart like the most precious treasure of all.
He lets himself soften when it's just the two of you, and there's a part of you that enjoys that fact. The great Umemiya Hajime placed his heart in your hands, and no-one else will ever see him quite the way you do.
Right now, if someone saw him, they would never believe his fearsome reputation. He's stretched out on the couch, silky hair free of product and falling into his eyes. His reading glasses are perched on his nose, though the book he was reading has been abandoned, now resting on his chest. His attention is occupied by the way your hand is gently carding through soft strands, nails lightly scratching over his scalp with each pass. A dopey, affectionate grin is stretching across his face, like he's some kind of Samoyed, and you're sure that if he was, his tail would be wagging,
He loves to be the centre of your attention, and lucky for him, you love to give it to him. It's as relaxing for you as it is for him - he's freshly showered, smelling of his favourite body wash and flowery shampoo, and the weight of his head in your lap is grounding.
"Do you feel better now, Haji? Do your knuckles hurt?” He came home roughed up, knuckles bruised and pretty face bloody. He looked far too content while you were patching him up, and you suspect he was just happy to have your hands on him, wiping the blood away with a gentle touch.
He slides his glasses off, mischief shining in his eyes, "If I say yes, will you kiss them better?”
You know the smile tugging at your lips is nothing short of adoring, and you reach for one hand, lifting it up and pressing a featherlight kiss to the damaged skin of his knuckles, "I'd do it even if you said no, baby.” You place his hand back on his chest, repeating your actions on his other hand. When both hands have been given your magical healing kisses, you lean down to press one to his forehead too, just for good measure.
He's beaming up at you, and your heart swells with love once again. Your hand slides back into his hair, and you resume your soothing rhythm, "Now, for the kisses to work, you've got to tell me about the seedlings we planted last month. Are they growing well?”
It's just an excuse to listen to his voice, and the little laugh that escapes Ume tells you that he's well aware. He indulges you all the same, just as you indulge him, and that's how you spend the rest of your night; Hajime gesticulating excitedly while he told you all about your seedlings, and his tomatoes, and the radishes a reluctant Sakura helped him plant - and you hanging onto his every word like he hung the moon and the stars in the sky, one hand still playing with his hair and the other resting over his heart. It's comfortable, it's familiar, and you're exactly where you always want to be - wrapped up in the love you share.
89 notes · View notes
tessarionbestgirl · 2 months ago
Note
Jaehaera and Aegon were too traumatised by everything to find any love in each other. You think you can write better make your own fantasy series and get back to me when it’s a best seller. Jaehaera is also said to be a slow child but everyone seems to forget that part of her character.
First, What does her being a slow child have to do with all this anon?
Tumblr media
Second, i wish to be a able one day to write a book and sell like Martin did. But I do actually could point you out stories that have enemies to lovers/rivals families that explore that same themes of fire and blood that are better than Fire Ans Blood.
See there is this play called Romeo and Juliet. Which explores the complexity of love born in the midst of a conflict between two families and the overall tragedy of violence and passion.
There is also this very much real event called war of roses that end with the wedding of two families creating one of the most popularized . And Henry loved her so much he according to one biographer, the death of Elizabeth "broke his heart" and "shattered him". To the point he become ill himself and isolated himself. People wanted him to marry again but he died a widower ( what a great way to call back to Viserys mistake as well if they done that to Aegon but alas) and when asked what he wanted in a wife, he described Elizabeth. Even on each anniversary of her death, he decreed that a requiem mass be sung, the bells be tolled, and 100 candles be lit in her honour.
All this is way better end to the civil war than what Fire and Blood got us and way better romance than Daenaera and Aegon.
44 notes · View notes
moirindeclermont · 3 months ago
Text
Day 7 of Kinktober and the prompt is Aftercare.
Because sometimes the after part is more important than the main event. I dare to say that sometimes it is the main event.
It's also mostly not physically horny but I dare to say this is a +21 years old level of emotional horniness. Proceed with caution.
Enjoy!
They played for some long house.
Pen was exhausted. Colin managed to bring her to the very limit of her body and mind.
It was a beautiful thing, really.
She loved when they played like that.
It was a powerful and intense experience, and she was always eager to play again.
Although if someone would ask her what was her favorite part, she would probably respond that it was the aftermath.
Tumblr media
It was a weird situation to be in: take right now, she was still roped to the bed, sweating and exhausted from the many releases he gave her, her mind still a bit overwhelmed by the experience. Her skin seemed paper thin, like Colin could say a word and it would break her.
Vulnerability, real vulnerability, was hard.
She learned that the first time they made love. Standing naked in front of him took a lot of courage.
Tumblr media
But being with him in those moments... It was only as he was approaching her that it hit her the trust you have to put outside of yourself to truly connect with another soul in that moment.
And then, they decided to take it to the next level, which was this essentially.
Acknowledging the need each other had to go deep, to know every part of the other as well as you know your own. To honour that trust with accountability and love, over and over again.
She had these thoughts before, but something about this scene brought them on the forefront of her mind.
Tumblr media
Not as words, not exactly.
Her brain still didn't have words, only sensations and feelings.
As her body and mind took a breath after the assault on her senses, it was time for the fall. Gosh, the fall was scaring. Every time, after such a scene, she would fall and she had to trust Colin was there to pick her up.
He never failed to show up, to be clear, but it was always scary nevertheless.
During the scene it was too intense to focus on anything else than the blinding pleasure or the exquisite borderline sensation in between pleasure and pain.
After, during the fall, she was being stripped bare naked in her own soul.
After, it was impossible to mask any armor, as what's left was just her.
Tumblr media
It was impossible for her to give such a power to anyone else but Colin.
Even to him it was a struggle, sometimes, when she was feeling a bit like her old self, before the miracle of Colin reciprocating her feelings happened.
Like tonight. She took a risk that she shouldn't have take. She didn't have to, she could ask for help. But she didn't want to be a burden. She was used to care for herself on her own. So, she didn't ask.
Colin found out and he was mad at her and asker her why and she couldn't answer that. So, he asked her if she wanted to fall. She said yes.
Tumblr media
Still, the words of her reasons were scarier to say than whatever thing he did to her body. During the fall, he always gave her some snacks and water, a blanket and plenty of cuddles. A bath sometimes if needed. He was hugging her so tightly right now, not asking for anything, just being there. His armor too was thin during these moments.
Still, she wanted to say the words.
She wanted to fall.
Tumblr media
"Sometimes, it is hard for me to ask. Not because I don't trust you or I don't think you can help me. You proved to me, time and time again, that I can trust you and of you can, you will always support me."
She whispered the words, tears spilling on her face as she tried to get to the next part.
"It is hard because I always think that, somewhere along the years, something will happen that will make you leave me. And I don't think I can bare it. Not now. Not after knowing you so deep. Not after being yours in every sense. So, sometimes I need this hard reminders of your love and devotion. It's not fair of me to asking them, but I'm always afraid of losing you, Colin."
Pen said,hugging him tightly.
"It's not you that it is asking. It's me that's offering. That s the difference, my love."
She smiled. When her heart settle on him all those years ago, did it knew this? Did her heart recognize his gentle soul? She liked to think so.
"I love you, Colin Bridgerton. You're a very god man."
"And I love you too, Penelope Bridgerton. Never forget that. I'll always be here. No matter what."
She smiled through the tears, kissing him. If this was falling, she was happy to fall again and again, after all.
46 notes · View notes
agent-grey-fics · 7 months ago
Text
Scarred Survivors | Part 1 | Finnick Odair x reader
Pairing: Finnick Odair x reader Wordcount: 1k
Summary: The Capitol announces a twist in the Quarter Quell: victors will be reaped, again. Y/N Green, the "Huntress" and winner of the 69th Hunger Games, is forced back into the arena. Furious and betrayed, she faces Finnick Odair, who volunteers to participate in the games once again, reigniting old tensions.
AN: Hi guys, it's been a while. My life has been turned upside down after the death of my mom. I am trying to make the best of it and find distraction by starting to write again. It was hard to start again, I am trying my best to fall in love with writing again. Be kind. Love always, Lexi
Tumblr media
It was two hours before the reaping when the capitol announced an emergency broadcast. You were sitting in front of the TV when they announced a change in the Quarter Quell: the two tributes were going to be selected from the existing victors group. ‘No!’ you threw your glass at the television as the realization set in. They screwed you over. Again. After you won your games you were promised a lifetime full of peace and prosperity. You didn't invest too much thought into it and simply allowed events to unfold. Trying to forget the trauma from the arena and the blood on your hands. During your games, Caesar Flickerman named you ‘The Huntress’. Instead of waiting the others out you actively hunted them down from day one, you were all going to die one way or another so you could at least try to survive. To your disbelief, you did. You became the winner of the 69 Hunger Games, being seventeen years old at the time.
Life after the games was never the same. There was a y/n before the games and a y/n after the games. The first weeks back home were a blur, between panic attacks and depressive episodes you drank your problems away. A little trick Haymitch taught you when you met him during your victor’s tour. When you settled in Victor’s village it was strange at first but you found your place among the others. Mags guided you as much as she could, just like she did in the games. It was nice being around people who understood what you had been through, and what you did to survive.
Tears were welling up in your eyes, Snow already took everyone you loved away from you. He no longer had any leverage to use you as one of his puppets, except to send you back into the arena. You ran your hands through your hair, you were not going to give him the pleasure of seeing you cry. You were going to look flawless and emotionless. He won't get you down, not this time.
Tumblr media
Two hours later you were standing next to Mags. She held your hand tightly in hers while you were waiting for the reaping. They had placed all the previous winners of the games in front of the audience. One group consisted of the female winners and a second group where the male winners stood. ‘The time has come to select one courageous young man and woman for the honour of representing District Four in the 75th annual Hunger Games. As usual ladies first!’  Not me, not me, not me was all that you could think. There was a one in three chance that you would be chosen for this Quarter Quell, and you hoped to hear Annie's or Mags’ name, not caring for their well-being at the moment. It was selfish but you were sure that you wouldn’t survive a second time in the arena. The Capitol escort dug into the glazed jar until a single piece of paper remained between her fingers. She tiptoed to the microphone in her ridiculously high heels and cleared her throat uncomfortably. Everyone held their breath, waiting to hear which victor had to re-enter the arena. Not me, not me, not me.  ‘Y/N Green.’ 
All eyes turned to you and you could see your face on the big screen that was hanging above the makeshift stage. You were dumbfounded and stood rooted to the ground. Mags squeezed your hand in an attempt to reassure you a little. Not again. ‘Fuck.’ you breathed out as the peacekeepers walked towards you and reached for your frame. ‘I can walk on my own, don’t fucking touch me.’ You slammed their hands away and gave them a poisoned look. You were furious. Several sighs left the audience, some of relief the others of disbelief. Annie and Mags started crying, they were relieved that they wouldn’t have to re-enter the arena. On the other hand, their hearts broke for you because they knew what hell awaited.
‘And now for the boys.’ You zoned out, not caring about what was going on. Flashes of your first games raced by. You never trained as a career, well not fully but you were pretty skilled in hand-to-hand combat both on the ground and in the water. During your games you hunted the other tributes down, Taking advantage of your skills in hand-to-hand combat. ‘Thomas Henderson.’ You were startled out of your train of thoughts when you heard his name. Unconsciously, you held your breath and let out a relieved sigh when you saw him walking towards the stage. That was the other thing, during your years in the victor's village and the Capitol you- ‘I volunteer as tribute.’ The public gasped in union when the words echoed through the air. His voice was laced with confidence, a weird sound in this kind of situation. Your jaw almost dropped. Thomas stopped in his tracks as the other was guided towards the stage. ‘What are you doing?’ You hissed as the bronze-haired man took place next to you. He gave you one of his famous smirks as you turned your head towards him. ‘Keeping you alive Green.’ His voice was as raspy as you remembered. ‘Since when do we take care of each other? Last time I checked you made yourself perfectly clear when you said you wanted nothing to do with me. Now I just have to go the extra mile to kill you too.’ He shook his head as he heard the threat. He and Mags were your mentors during the games while he was only a year older than you. He had the reputation of being a lady's man, charming everyone with his boyish grin. ‘I forgot how fierce you were, huntress.’ His cocky grin hadn’t changed over the last couple of years. It was a grin you loved at one point but now only despised, you wish you could smack it from his face. ‘Well, wait another week and you will be able to find out for yourself.’ He tilted his head a bit to the side, ‘Is that a promise y/n?’. Before you could say anything, the voice of the Capitol escort echoed across the square: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the tributes from District Four: Y/N Green and Finnick Odair.’
139 notes · View notes
ant111fragile · 2 years ago
Note
Hiiiiiiiiiiiii. Ok let me introduce myself. my name is seri. I’m a master shifter and my main destinations are different points in history. I have no idea why history isn’t more popular in the shifting community. Like the things I’ve experienced first hand are amazing. Like I’ve seen things with my own eyes that we learn about in history textbooks. It’s the most amazing experience. I’ve been to alot of drs too like hogwarts, mcu, fame, love dr, avatar and so many more but nothing compares to seeing our worlds history for myself.
Some of my fave times I’ve been too: ( I changed my gender to a boy for most of these drs because I wouldn’t be able to experience it properly as a woman because of the time periods and I didn’t want to change history )
The making of the pyramids
Cleopatras ruling
King Tutankhamen
The making of the Great Wall of China
The first man to land on the moon ( I scripted I was a part of crew for the mission )
Queen Elizabeth the firsts ruling
The independence of America
The battle of Hastings
Ancient Greek
Ancient Rome
Seeing the Mona Lisa being made
Meeting Vincent Van Gogh
The Black Death ( I didn’t go to see people die I lived as a part of the government cause I always wanted to know how they tried to deal with it. There was so much panic )
Seeing Martin Luther kind jr give his “ I have a dream” speech in person
The crowning of queen elizabeth the seconds coronation
Meeting William Shakespeare
The Christmas truce
Pompeii before it way destroyed ( it was beautiful )
Seeing the 7 wonders of the ancient world
Hanging garden of babylon
Seeing ancient structures when they were actually In use ( the colosseum, temple of Hera, so many more I can’t even list )
Getting the great honour to learn kalaripayattu in ancient India
And genuinely just getting to live life seeing these people go about their own lives. Beautiful
I’m not going to list anymore cause there so many but I have experienced the beginning of the first humans millions of years ago to the making of the I phone. I am so honoured I get to experience these events and meet the people in the stories we learn. It’s crazy because to us it’s this amazing history we can only imagine but to them it’s just life. They no nothing else. They don’t know how truely incredible they are in our history. I can’t wait to experience more. Maybe one day I’ll even go into the future. Who knows.
Also something else I did was meet Van Gogh and take him to the dr future to the Van Gogh museum so he can see he wasn’t a failure. So he could see he made it. I took this idea after watching doctor who and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I still get chills. To see this man who died thinking he was nothing getting to see a the future where he is known as one of the greatest artists of all time. My favorite shifting experience ever
Woooaaahhhh!! That's like suppoerr cooll!! I'm so happy for you and that is such a cool idea ajajajsk😭❣️
610 notes · View notes
someprettyname · 7 months ago
Text
✨GF FC INDIGO AWARDS 2024 PT 8✨
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13 | winner's list | after party
Some points to note before you move to the event visualizer : 
🟣 My anchoring style is highly energetic and bubbly so you can imagine me doing a lot of hand gestures, changing pitch and tones of my voice, moving around on the stage a lot, etc. Hehe.  
🟣 The theatre/event venue has been engineered by the best engineers of the world, with the most modern technology. The petals of the lotus can close or open to hide or reveal the night sky. It can also change its colours. For tonight, it's indigo!  
🟣 The "OUTFIT CHECK" were clicked in different places (according to where the member was spotted first) hence the different background. 
🟣 I didn't want to write too dialogues on yall's behalf but I can't really bother you with every small detail, so I hope whatever dialogues I've made up are not too out of character! 
🟣Ignore the contradiction of same blue locker entering the scene multiple times, pretend there are a few copies of each member 🥰👍����
🟣 Ignore the outfit mismatch in the edits (any edit after the outfit checks please, our editing skills only go so far 🙏🏻 ) 
🟣 I highly suggest that you listen to songs as you keep finding them being embedded in links for added feels and extra hype! 🔥
🟣 The performances where multiple songs have been used is supposed to be a mashup. You can imagine the mashup to be as you please! The songs I've bunched together are for the sole purpose of creating a particular vibe, so as long as to they are fulfilled it's all good! 😌🤝🏻
🟣 The posts are scheduled at a gap of 3-4 hours each, this event is going to be spread throughout 2 or more days. Feel free to go feral in the comments/reblogs/community my mates. 🔥 
🟣 I hope you enjoy this! Tagging all the attendees here : 
@glue-thief  @getosugurusbangs @bueris @soleilonthesun @galaxynajma
@sid3buns @mariyumemi @pinkinsect @refrigeratedboombursts @satosuguhastakenovermylife 
@10renz0 @simp-simp-no-mi @boinin @sharkissm @milkteansugar 
@thebestsetter@merlucide @jujutsustraycats @kurona-theshark @nskiyuriz
@asarajaa @writingonthewalls1832 @hooudie212back @sadao-tsuki @milaisreading 
@8-xnny @licoririce @rinitoshisgirl @luvingshidou  @duckydee-0
@kuro-min @gojoracle @marcsnuffy @filecurropt0 @riririnnnn 
@wroophruh @sanaexus @melodiclune
Previously on GF FC INDIGO AWARDS : 
Tumblr media
Indigo GRAND AWARD was introduced. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Groovy performances by TEAM RADIANT RAVERS (RHS) AND PLATINUM PRINCESSES!!  (LHS)
Tumblr media
@/Marcsnuffy was awarded as the best coach. [ Profile : 70 years of experience, Age : 19]
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. .·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. 
(*The grand gates of the stage fall open and @/10renz0 is seen walking out of it. The crowd is cheering loudly.*) 
10renz0 : Good evening! Good evening! ^_^ So the GF FC INDIGO GRAND AWARD FOR BEST STRIKER goes to.....
Tumblr media Tumblr media
🥁
🥁
🥁
10renz0 : NAMI!!!
Nami : (͡⁠°⁠‿⁠ ͡⁠°⁠)
Nami : *walks over with a grin*
Nami : Well, who thought? (*Chuckles affectionately, looking down at the award.*) 
Nami : I'm thanking my sweetheart Chigiri and his gang for this. I had no much interest on football whatsoever when I started dating him. Who knew all our football dates together would lead to this? I'm thankful to Hyo and his teammates, seeing them play together taught me what it truly means to be a striker. Then I'd like to thank our amazing coach @/marcsnuffy and of course MY FABULOUS TEAMMATES [ *camera cuts to certain GF FC players who are smiling proudly*] who pass to me! Haha! 
Nami : I'm honoured to be a striker for amazing team such as GF FC and I'm DEFINITELY looking forward to scoring AMAZING GOALS for this AMAZING TEAM! Thank you everyone! I love y'all sm, don't forget that <333 
Soleil : Well, Nami. That was certainly amazing, but we can't deny that there are far too many talented strikers in this world can we? 
Nami : ABSOLUTELY NOT SOLEIL!! And that's why have coming up on stage @/wroophruh to hand out GF FC INDIGO GRAND AWARD FOR BEST GOALKEEPER who saves us when we need it most!! Huge round of applause please!! 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
[ *A grand theme plays over speakers as wroophruh makes her appearance and takes over the mic.*] 
Wroophruh : Good evening to one and all! It's even more lovely to look at you all shining from up here, really!! Well, I don't think there's any doubt about who's taking this one home is there? Please put your hands together forrrrrrr......
🥁
🥁
🥁
Wroophruh : @/PINKINSECT !!!!
[ *Shidou can be seen giving a soul crushing hug to him as the camera cuts to pinkinsect, followed by a strong pat on the back. Shidou goes 🤑🤟🏻 at the camera while pinkinsect leaves to get the award.* ] 
Pinkinsect : I feel really REALLY honoured holding this award right now. It all started when Ryu wanted a partner to play with and I went "Alright. I won't let you goals get through." And rest has been a history. I'm really grateful for my work getting acknowledged!! I'm proud to be the goalkeeper for the best team there is!! Thank you everyone for this award everyone! It was not possible without your support!! 
[ *The crowd erupts into huge round of applause* ] 
Soleil : I can see all of your smiles. 
Nami : You're all reminded of all our victories in the past aren't you? 
Soleil : It all feels like a soft, pleasant breeze hitting your face doesn't it? 
Nami : And I know for a fact that it's a very pleasant feeling. 😌 Then why not intensify it? 
Nami : Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome on stage TEAM BREEZE!! 
Tumblr media
Nami : Damn Kira! Your voice really is ethereal!!  🥺✨
Merlucide : STOP YOU'RE FLATTERING ME 
Nami : It's only facts tho :3 you gotta song again later tonight, okay? 
Merlucide : Only if you're there with me too! 
Nami : well 🤭 if you insist!! 😁 It'll be a privilege to perform alongside you!! 
Merlucide : No 'coz I'd be more honoured!! 
Nami : NO ME!! 
Merlucide : NO ME!! 
simp-simp-no-mi : alright! Alright! Stop fighting you both and let's just welcome @/sharkissm on stage to give out the GF FC INDIGO GRAND AWARD FOR BEST MIDFIELDER, shall we? 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
[ *Oki walks up on the stage with a huge grin.* ] 
Oki : The one winning this award, is none other than....
🥁
🥁
🥁
Oki : @/DUCKYDEE-0!!! 
[ *She almost jumps out of her seat and Charles looks pretty hyped up as the camera cuts to him too. Shidou jumps over several tables to give her a encouraging thump on the back and ruffles charles's hair as they both watch her walk up to the stage to get the award.*] 
Duckydee-0 : I'm not really the one for speeches but i feel truly honored and uhh have a good day...or night...ggs 🫡🫡🫡🫡
Nami : (*chuckles*) Well Soleil, now that we're on the topic of midfielders i don't think we should shy away from talking about how much of a powerful weapon can metavision be for a midfielder and striker likewise. 
Soleil : True words Nami, and we have some amazing metavisioner sitting among us, don't we? 
Nami : 😁
Nami : We definitely do! So then, without any further ado, let's welcome on stage BILLI (@/bueris) for GF FC INDIGO GRAND AWARD FOR BEST METAVISIONER ON FIELD. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Bueris : Hi ma! :D
Nami : Hi Billi! :D 
Bueris : Hello everyone! For this one, I have some nominees, more like honourable mentions with me. 
Bueris : @/kuro-min [*camera flashes to @/kuro-min for a second*] You really just saved us that day when you saw through other teams formation. They were really slick with deceiving us. But thanks to your ultra vision we could prevent them from scoring a goal. 
Bueris : When it comes to goals though, @/asarajaa has really sharp and keen eyes when it comes to penalty area. Always having our backs and saving opposition goals last minute. 
Bueris : But the eye holder who's taking back home this glorious award tonight is.....
🥁
🥁
🥁
Bueris : @/nskiyuriz!!! 
[ *The crowd, once again erupts into cheers and hootings as the camera flashes to a very subtly pleased looking Sae. He shakes her hand and gives her an appreciation thump on the back before she makes her way to the stage, shaking hands with @/asarajaa and @/kuro-min on the way. What a beautiful example of camaraderie!!*] 
Nskiyuriz : aahhhh i'm honoured to be the winner for this award!!!! it means a lot!!!!
i've had this ongoing joke for a while that metavision is basically just autism superpowers which is something i connect with to an extent. the autism part, that is, not the superpowers sadly....but yeah!!!! i'll keep it brief but thanks for the nomination!! winning would mean a lot, so i'm grateful to have been considered for the award in the first place!!!
Soleil : We are definitely glad to have you on our side (⁠✧⁠Д⁠✧) 
Nskiyuriz : Haha! Thanks! I'm glad to be on the team too!! 
Nami : Well well well ~
Nami : Since we're on the topic of metavision I think we should also mention about this one player whose OFFENSIVE skills in particular is so STRONG and unpredictable, it leaves even the best metavisioner in awe. I mean, even I, as the winner of best striker award, would be wary is she were to be my opponent!! 
Soleil : I understand. I understand really well and that's why I think it's about time we put our hands together for @/thebestsetter who'll be announcing the winner of GF FC INDIGO GRAND AWARD FOR BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER!!! 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Thebestsetter : A very lovely evening to one and all present here! I think we must've guessed by now who Nami and Soleil were talking about so let me hear you give a huge around for.....
🥁
🥁
🥁
Thebestsetter :  IZZY RIZZY!! ✨✨
[ *The camera cuts to their table to reveal a scene where Shidou is so hyped it might confuse people on who really won the award. He's seen going "HELL YEAH YOU SEE MY WIFE?" On the face of other fellow blue lock members sitting around the same table while IZZY walks over to the stage after a hug.* ] 
Luvingshidou : If any of you want an autograph from moi, just ask I'll be glad to give you one. But the person I want to thank the most is my husband shidou. Love you insanely much more than anyone!! Thank you babes ‹𝟹
[ *The camera cuts to Shidou giving aggresive flying kisses and grinning like an idiot.* ] 
Nami : (*who noticed this whole scene unfold [I mean, who didn't?]*) Well, that was certainly a very energetic one, huh? 
Soleil : (*snickering*) Well, what can we say? They are a lovely couple. 
Soleil : Anyways ladies and gentlemen, it's time i introduce you to our next performer whose performance shall be a classy ending note to the awarding of our talented players and henceforth we can move on to the other segments. 
Nami : Please welcome on stage @/NSKIYURIZ with a HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!!! 
Tumblr media
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. .·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. 
Tune in for more grand awards!! 
[ organiser : @/someprettyname
script writing credits : @/someprettyname
proofread by : @/melodiclune
editing credits : @/soleilonthesun ]
40 notes · View notes
thorn-rosed · 4 months ago
Text
there's something christian / catholic in all versions of my rosekiller. i dont care what earth this is, guys. you're having a deeply complicated relationship to god.
fallenangel!evan x priest!barty
Evan was supposed to deliever a message to some random priest. it was an honour to be allowed on earth as an angel, you had to be outstanding. The message read "dont trust those who dont even acknowledge the bad", and evan didnt really think about it too hard. But when events on earth were unfolding, he realized that God had been in his way the whole time. He was the one Barty wasn't supposed to trust. Luckily, Barty didn't give a fuck and from that day on, Evan wad filled by a deep hate by God. The almighty took Evan's whole life from him and tried to take away his one safety boat too. And this was supposed to be the one millions of people trust and love? No, Evan decided to never trust him again.
Meanwhile Barty never really lost his faith. Sure, over time he became bitter towards God, and the more he got to know Evan, the more he resented the almighty. Yet he still believed in the ground principles and teachings of the bible. When he hit rockbottom, Barty prayed to God because he knew no matter what, God would take him back. He didn't know how or if the entity ever listened, but he knew that if He did, He'd be there for Barty and help him. After getting close to Evan and occasionally consuming his blood, God would be able to communicate with Barty. This was the craziest turning point in his life. Now, everytime he prayed, he'd make sure god would listen and wait for answers and help. Barty knew that this relationship wasn't the way it was supposed to, he knew he should give more into it, but at the same time, there was no way he'd actually worship God. Getting advice? sure. believing his existence? Yes. But respecting it and active support? No. From week to week, Barty lost his trust more and more, and even though he'd never give it up completely, he dishonoured his extremely catholic family by breaking all the rules and not giving a fuck about morals.
vampire!barty x scientist!evan
Evan had never been religious, God was just a concept that people made up to feel better about themselves. But when he tried to summon a demon, his intention was to ask how the true god was like, so Evan could live and believe the truth. over time, his Catholicism increased steadily, despite the horrible things he did to others, he read and studied the bible, prayed and went to church / confession once a week. Because God was real, and even if Evan would go to hell for murder and torture, he'd get into the good parts of it, because trusted gods plan. He'd probably say smth like "Obviously i killed thay guy! Last night, god told me to do so, its all part of his plan!" and if someone said that was blasphemy, Evan would answer with "I'm allowed, im catholic".
Meanwhile Barty... you would say that since he's been to hell and is hyperaware of God's existence, he's catholic or at least satanic (after all he knows satan personally and can't talk to his hell-bestie on earth anymore) but no. He doesn't pray to anyone, and he won't ever start. He says he loathes God for taking his mother away from him and forcing him to be tortured all his life... At this point Evan doesn't know who Barty even is, so the whole time he's like "????". But they figure it out at some point :) Yet, it makes him genuinely angry that Evan is becoming religious because of him. Why would the love of his life pray to the one entity that hurt him so much? God and their opposite views on him are some of their only fight points. While all Barty sees in God is a fake saviour who is lying through his teeth, Evan acknowledges His flaws, yet praises him for the good things. He doesnt care about breaking the rules - he's thankful for not being in jail and he's thankful for meeting Barty.
They both arent near perfect and neither of them has a "healthy" relationship to God, but I don't think that's possible in any universe.
Summary
Both versions of Rosekiller has one person that is more religious than the other one. While fallenangel!evan x priest!barty built on religion and wouldn't be able to exist without both of them being religious, there is no technical need for scientist!evan to become religious. vampire!barty might've showed him that hell is real, but there was no "real" reason for him to convert to Christianity, read the bible and confess. He knew that no matter what he did, he wasn't ready to change his behaviour for anything or anyone and would end up in hell anyway. I think, for him God was like a parental figure that had been missing his entire life, and before vampire!barty met him, scientist!evan knew he'd get no answer and wasn't even ready to try and become religious. But now that he could get an answer through vampire!barty, who showed him spells for contact, he felt like this was everything ever missing. A neglected child finally getting attention from the parent it needed his whole life.
Personal notes
The reason for Christianity/Catholicism being the only religion represented is because it was one I grew up with and I know the most about, also due to most of my friends being Christian. I would love to see people headcanon the skittles/marauders as other religions too, I simply didnt want to give misrepresentation.
28 notes · View notes