#i love when i randomly stumble onto a film and it turns out to be one of the best thing i’ve ever watched

[atruththatyoudeny]

Happy 28th! Here are the fics I read and loved this month. As always all my love goes out to the fantastic authors, not only in this fic rec but all over the fandom. Without you my days would look much  bleaker ♥

I've Got Demons, You've Got Scars - WIP | mission2feelike | [94k] Harry’s life has been ruined twice. Once, the first time his alpha raised his fist four years ago, and then again today when his job discovered that he is an omega in a world where omegas, especially bonded omegas, have no rights. Now, he’s stuck trying to figure out how he’s going to take care of his four-year-old daughter, Mia. Just when it’s looking completely hopeless, a possible job arises. Someone is looking for an omega to help an alpha in need. The only problem is that the alpha has been diagnosed with Alpha Rage, a crippling disease that causes an alpha to become feral, making them succumb to their most instinctual, primal versions of themselves. A story of an omega that’s been broken, an alpha that can’t trust himself, and their unlikely relationship. Lovingly known as 'The Feral Louis Fic'.

everything to lose | stylinsoncity | [92k] harry is a global popstar who's convinced the world he has it all -- a happy marriage to a devoted alpha, two beautiful children, two grammy awards, three platinum albums, and a budding film career. but some aspects of his image aren't as true as they seem. like the fact he's been separated for over a year, uses meaningless flings to cope and occasionally forgets responsibilities or commitments to his family. he and louis once commanded stages together. they tackled any challenges to their future. and no matter how hard things got, they always returned to one another. harry would always return to louis. until one day, he finds he can't.

The Pros and Cons of Breathing | HelloLovers13 | [82k] Omega Harry has always known he'd be married off someday, so when he's betrothed to Prince Louis, he's anxious about having to leave his life behind, but hopeful for a happy marriage. The hope doesn't last long, with his husband avoiding him at all costs and Harry being left to fend for himself. Can he find happiness even in a broken marriage?

Some Records Turnin’ | crimsontheory | [49k] “Harry, dear,” Niall said cheerily, his arms ladened down with more boxes they’d received from their shipment earlier that day. “I promise this isn’t a prank, but Louis Tomlinson is sitting in our office.” “I know,” Harry replied, using his hip to close the drawer of the cash register. “I let him back there.” “Wait,” Niall said as he sat the boxes in his arms down on the counter and then held up his hands with his palms facing out towards Harry. “You mean to tell me that this man who you have a massive crush on is in our store right now and you’re just letting him sit back there by himself and not trying to shoot your shot?” Or, Harry is a soft alpha who owns a record store and Louis is a closeted singer omega masquerading as an alpha who randomly stumbles into Harry’s store.

taken by lust’s strange inhumanity | CuckooTrooke | [20k] One of the reasons Harry said 'yes' in the first place was because he believed Louis Tomlinson, the campus’ most notorious “bad boy”, would be here. And much to Harry's triumph and dismay, Louis is here but the last time Harry got a glimpse of him, he had a pretty omega wrapped around him, clinging onto the flaps of his leather jacket while nosing his scent glands. Maybe that’s just the story of Harry's life; always infatuated with the wrong people. OR The one with all the jealous snarling, awkward first kisses and one unforgettable night.

Bitter Ends Turn Sweet | allwaswell16 | [30k] It had been four years since Harry first heard the song his ex wrote about him and far longer since they broke up. He forgave Louis long ago, and now his life was focused on his career, his family, and especially his son, Max. But Louis was back in Chicago, after all this time, and he’s not an easy man to ignore. Or a songfic inspired by the song Chicago

show me your love (grow up and see) | abaddxns | [22k] At only thirty two years of age, Louis Tomlinson has made quite the life for himself—he has his dream job, a place all his own, a nice car, and all the people closest to him are seeing success of their own. The only big thing he's missing now is having the right partner and starting a family with them, although he figures he has plenty of time for that yet. That is, until his best mate, Harry, comes to him with a proposition. Or: what happens when you agree to become your best friend's baby daddy.

Chicago | likelarry | [15k] Harry Styles is one of the fashion industry's best models and Louis Tomlinson is a world renowned rockstar. In the midst of Louis' world tour, Harry finds out he's pregnant.

Tupelo Honey | superglass | [54k] “What,” Louis starts, always hating how silence like this drives him crazy, “what exactly are you gaining from all this? All this, following a mediocre band around. Why do you do that?” Harry giggles around her cigarette, looking out at the alley. When she smiles, her teeth peek out behind her red lips, giving him the chills— right down to his core. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen a smile so pretty. So enthralling he can’t take his eyes off of it. “I’ve got nothing better to do, Louis.” or Louis is a roadie for a rock band, and Harry is their groupie. 1970s au.

Yours To Lose | loulicate | [25k] “I think I know the person that matches your descriptions of your dream alpha.” “Who? And oh not my dream alpha, god you’re making me sound like a teenage school girl. I’m a mum, H.” They laugh as they watch kids gather in front of the verandah, getting ready to go back to the orphanage. “Well, you’re gonna have to find out.” Harry winks before standing up to start cleaning their spot. - Or Louis always gets distracted with his mummy duty and he eventually catches Harry's attention.

and when it rains, you're shining down for me | martisgotaproblem | [37k] “This is Harry, he’ll be your patient,” Liam gestured politely. Harry froze when Louis’ eyes met his own once more. He felt himself getting lost in those eyes, so much so that he didn’t notice Niall and Liam leaving the room quietly but the sound of the door shutting behind them brought him out of the trance. “Hello, I’m Louis,” the omega said, extending his hand for Harry to shake. The alpha could still sense some nervousness in his stance but decided to ignore it. “‘’m Harry.” Or the one where Harry is a grumpy boxer who gets injured and Louis is the lovely physiotherapist hired to help him, but getting pregnant wasn’t exactly in his recovery plan.

In the middle of the night when the wolves come out | Marchessa | [30k] I. It's always darkest before the dawn The full moon was hiding behind dark clouds on that night, filling the air with something sinister. Harry lived that evening like an out of body experience, as if it hadn't happened to him. Because something horrifying like that can happen only to fictional characters and people from old-wives tales, not to actual breathing people. Or so he thought. Everything that happened after nightfall seemed surreal, and he couldn't put his finger on where it went off the track. Probably sometime during the train ride back to Holmes Chapel after a long, exhausting week of university classes. Or the one where Louis saves Harry's life by biting him, but the younger man has to pay the price for it. II. On such breathless nights as these “Do you wish to become my mate, the pack omega?” “I do.” Louis kneeled down in front of him, and took the omega’s hands in his own, holding them over his chest. “Then I will take you as my omega today,” Louis said with a firm voice. “I will keep you as my omega, my fated mate. From now on, you are mine to love. Mine to care for. Mine to pleasure,” he promised, leaning closer to the omega. Harry’s whole body flushed after hearing his alpha’s vow, and tears gathered in his eyes. As a newly presented omega, Harry has a hard time adjusting to his new life. Luckily he has the best alpha anyone could ask for on his side. The Moon had guided him to the most perfect mate in the world, and soon they will bond in the pale moonlight. He just has to survive the long road leading to the mating ritual.

Pray To God This Won't Be A Mess | xogucciblue | [28k] “You know,” Niall muses, voice too loud for the quiet of the afternoon, “this would all be much easier if you had a boyfriend.” Louis blinks one eye open lazily and turns to squint it at Niall. “I mean,” he continues as Louis let his eyes drift closed again, “all any of those twats seem interested in is who you’re screwing this week. Reckon if you had one steady bloke to point to they’d eventually have no choice but to go back to asking you about the music.” It’s not a bad point. Even as fucked up as he is, Louis is able to recognize that Niall is probably right – at the moment, the most interesting thing about Louis is his unattached status and resultant potential for scandal. If he were tied to only one person there’d be no room or reason for questions about his boy of the week or if the rumors that he was sleeping with his stylist’s nephew's older brother’s friend were true. --- When Louis is outed just weeks before his hotly anticipated second album is set to drop, Harry agrees to hold his hand in a few pictures to cool down the media hype. That's all it was supposed to be.

Until the Pearls Get Lost | LadyLondonderry | [25k] London, 1933. Harry Styles, alpha, elusive bachelor and happy third wheel to his coupled friends, receives a visit from one Liam Payne, begging for his help. Liam’s childhood friend Louis is about to become the talk of the city; left at the altar because the mating bond was rejected, Louis will spend the rest of his life in an institution unless Liam can find someone to take him in and care for him as he recovers. Most omegas with failed bonds are never the same again. With rumours swirling around about the reason for the rejected bond, Harry gives in to Liam’s pleas. He hasn’t the slightest idea how that decision will shape the rest of his life.

Where Life Changed Us | ExiledQueenCatalog | [22k] Omega Harry has a rare genetic disorder where he has no sense of smell. This has lots of odd effects such as him not being able to smell his own scent but most brutally, not being able to scent the way his inner omega desires. It also leaves him as a sort of odd-ball to the community, leaving him becoming touch starved as no one wants the omega who can’t scent. Until finally, he meets the right alpha.

[dreamescapeswriting]

Stray Kids Reaction | Cuddle Buddies But He Wants More [Request]

Stray Kids x GN!Reader

CHAN:

"Chan, please...You know I'm always awake at the same time as you but this ridiculous," You laughed as you sat on the sofa in his studio, he'd invited you to work with him during the night since you would normally curl up on the sofa together to get him to sleep, normally you were the only reason he could even settle down for the night. 

"It's almost 6 am...You need at least one hour of sleep," You told him as you dragged him down onto the sofa, pushing him to lay down behind you before snuggling against him in the usual spooning position as he rested his head in your neck. 

"Good night Channie," You whispered as you got comfortable with his arm around your waist, 

"Good night Y/n, I love you." The room froze and your eyes shot open to stare at the wall in front of you as Chan wondered if you'd heard him. 

"You love me?" You sat up and turned to look at him as he stared up at you, swallowing the large lump that was in his throat. 

"I do...I have for a while," He admitted as he looked from you to your hands that were nervously playing with one another, 

"We can't...I mean you're always busy...We agreed that cuddle buddies would be better...You don't have to worry about being busy all of the time." He placed his hands over yours to stop you from fidgeting too much and he smiled at you,

"I'll make time for you as I do now...I can't keep being your cuddle buddy when I feel this way for you." You thought it over as you realised lately, he had been spending more and more time with you than usual and taking a lot more breaks than he used to. 

"W-We can try," You admitted as you snuggled back down beside him, he placed a small kiss on your cheek as you relaxed against his arms.

MINHO:

No one would have expected him to be your cuddle buddy never mind admitting that he had strong feelings for you, you figured he liked you as nothing more than a friend. The two of you just sort of clicked with one another and cuddled since you both hated anyone else touching you besides one another, 

"So...If I asked you out, would you say yes?" He asked randomly one night when you were cuddled up together on the sofa in the dorms, you turned your head to look up at him, he wasn't looking at you. Instead, he was staring at the TV as it played a film the two of you were supposed to be watching, though now you were distracted by what he had just asked you. 

"Is that your way of asking me out? If so...Then yes," You said casually before snuggling against his chest, his grip on you tightened and he left a small kiss on your shoulder. 

"Good. Then we're dating." You smiled at the small exchange, although it wasn't anything huge and overly romantic it was the best feeling in the world to you, finally getting to date the guy you'd had a crush on for the longest time.

CHANGBIN:

"Oh look at him," Jisung teased as he walked into the hotel room he was sharing with Changbin to see him cuddling up to a pillow that was wearing one of your shirts that he'd stolen from you since they were going on tour. 

"He misses them, what's wrong with that?" Chan laughed as he stood watching Changbin, he was on his phone barely noticing the boys in the room as he scrolled through your photos together. 

"He's in love with them...He needs to tell Y/n before he can't control his feelings anymore," Jisung folded his arms over his chest and Chan raised his eyebrows at the boy, 

"What makes you such an expert on this? How do you know he loves Y/n?" Jisung pointed over at Changbin as he took in a deep inhale of your scent before rolling over and jumping when he noticed the boys. 

"Tell them. Message them right now," Jisung grumbled not wanting to listen to Changbin complain about how much he was in love with you and missed you the whole tour. 

"I can't just drop something like this over a message, I have to wait until I'm back so we can talk it through," He mumbled at Jisung who rolled his eyes, falling down onto his bed as he ignored Changbi while coming up with a plan to tell you himself that Changbin wanted more than being cuddle buddies with you. 

HYUNJIN:

Felix stared at you and Hyunjin from the door of the bedroom,

"What are you- Oh," Chan stopped as he saw you cuddled up beside Hyunjin, your head in his neck as you slept together. It had been a while since the boys had caught you together like this, Hyunjin must have asked you to go around in the middle of the night. 

"Has he asked them out yet? I know he's been wanting to." The boys left the room while talking to one another, not realising that you and Hyunjin were awake the whole time and pretending to sleep so they would leave you alone. 

"Hyunjin?" You sat up as you stared at him, he was turning redder by the second as he looked away from you. 

"Is what they said true? You've been wanting to ask me out?" He nodded shyly still not looking at you, he knew that when you guys started to cuddle together it was just as friends. Nothing more and nothing less, you would cuddle up to one another, finding comfort in being able to hold someone and someone holding you.

"Hyunjin...Don't ignore me," You whined, poking his sides until he started laughing and fidgeting around on the bed not being able to stand getting tickled.

"Yes! Yes it's true," He groaned, rolling over onto his side to face you properly he knew this conversation was going to come out eventually he just wanted a little more time to prepare himself for it. 

"So ask me then," You nudged him a little as you stared at him, giving no indication as to how you felt about the news of him wanting to ask you out. 

"Will you go on a date with me? A real date, not just cuddling in the dorms?" You could see how nervous he was about asking you but you decided to pretend to think about it as if it hadn't been on your mind since the moment you and Hyunjin grew close as friends. 

"Sure." You laughed softly, snuggling back down beside him and wanting to go back to sleep again.

JISUNG:

Jisung had been acting skittish since you got to the dorms earlier that night, it was almost four in the morning when meant you would have to leave soon enough and he knew that but neither of you had cuddled since you got there. The two of you had been best friends for years and lately, you'd grown to cuddle almost every minute of the day, your form of affection was touch and so was Jisung's. He would cuddle with you whenever he could, never wanting his feelings to get in the way but lately, he couldn't stop them. All he could think about was asking you to be his, every minute of every day and he was finally going to do it.

"I should go before Chan comes back from the studio..." You knew you weren't supposed to be there and if the leader of the group found you Jisung would be in trouble and you never wanted that. 

"Wait-" Jisung reached out his hand and you took it, running your thumb along his knuckles as he nervously looked at your hands together and he knew it was now or never. 

"Go out with me...I want more than this...More than just cuddling or hugging whenever we need it," You were shocked at the sudden hit that he wanted you to be more to him than a friend and you couldn't speak, racking your brain for the words to say to him. 

"Forget I said it, you clearly don't feel the same." He rushed out shaking his head and without thinking about it you grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips. 

"I'd love to go out with you." You whispered before getting up from the sofa, 

"I'll come back tomorrow, promise." You whispered before sneaking out of the door to go home before Chan caught you together.

FELIX:

It was no secret to the boys that you and Felix were cuddle buddies, you were always around the dorms whenever Felix needed you or when you needed him. Neither of you could fall asleep without the other so they'd all gotten used to coming home from work to find you waiting for Felix. 

"You guys still aren't dating? How long has it been now?" Minho laughed as he walked into the dorms to find you and Felix cuddling one another on the sofa as you faced one another. The colour drained from Felix's face as the question left Minho's lips, you stared at him waiting for him to confirm what Minho was talking about. 

"You know they'll never date, Felix is too scared to say anything," Jisung laughed from the dorm room as you sat up on the sofa still holding eye contact with Felix as Minho narrowly escaped the room as Felix began stumbling over his words, the boys had been teasing him about telling you how he felt but he never would have imagined them doing it. 

"You like me?" You questioned as you took his hand in yours, linking your fingers together as you waited for him to say something, 

"I do," He whispered and you smiled, leaning forward to kiss his cheek softly. 

"Good, I like you too," You admitted before going back to cuddling him on the sofa and watching a movie.

SEUNGMIN:

There was no denying that Seungmin had one of the largest crushes on you but he was never going to do anything about it, he didn't want something to spoil the good thing that was happening between you. You had been best friends since you were kids and cuddle buddies for a year now, you were always able to make his bad days good within a matter of seconds, he didn't want that to go away because he had a crush. 

"It's not just a crush, Seungmin you're clearly in love with Y/n," Jeongin said as you walked into the dorms, you stood back not wanting to interrupt them, 

"It doesn't matter if I'm in love with them, they'll never feel the same way for me." He mumbled as you felt your heart sink, without another thought about it you walked over to him and hugged him from behind. Kissing him on the shoulder as you snuggled your head into his back, 

"Who said I wouldn't?" You whispered as Jeongin smirked, he knew you'd be coming to the dorms soon and decided that it was down to him to get Seungmin's feelings out in the open so you would finally do something about it.

JEONGIN: 

Jeongin had known for a while that he wanted to be more than your cuddle buddy but he never knew how to tell you that so he let it continue on, 

"I bought everything we're going to need for the next three nights," He said as he walked into your apartment, your bed was in the living room as you looked up at him. You'd just had major surgery on your knee so using the stairs to go to your bedroom wasn't an option, you weren't allowed to do much for yourself and as your best friend Jeongin put it upon himself to be your caretaker for the time you healed. 

"Jeongin, you didn't-" He shushed you by handing you your favourite ice cream and going to put on your favourite movie, snuggling up beside you on the sofa as he made sure you were cuddled up enough and warm. 

Within an hour you were asleep in his arms and he was watching you sleep peacefully, 

"I love you Y/n...You don't have to know this...I just needed to tell you even if you're asleep right now," He pulled the blanket over you to make sure you were warm enough before he smiled, 

"I love you too baby bread," You whispered as you opened one eye to look up at him, he was blushing deeply as he realised you weren't asleep. 

"Get some sleep," You whispered as you reached up to kiss his jawline and snuggling down beside him.

Tagline: @taestannie​ @kneel-begyourpardon​ @minholuvs​ @sw33tnight​ @acciocriativity​ @that-anxious-bisexual​ @mwitsmejk​

[realcube]

haikyuu!! boys when you come out to them as bisexual  🏳️‍🌈

characters: yamaguchi, tsukishima & kenma

part two!!

tw// fem!reader, fluff, coming out, 

Tadashi Yamaguchi

ok so hot-take but i think yamaguchi is straight

(or maybe bi but with a heavy preference for females)

but rn he identifies as straight 

but like..he’s so supportive of the lgbtq+ community

like tsukishima gives off ‘gay but homophobic’ energy

but yamaguchi has ‘straight but a strong ally’ energy

and this is hugely bc while tsukishima fell down the alt-right pipeline, yamaguchi was going through that ‘women 😍🤩💕’  phase which i think every WLW has went through at one point

like while tsukishima was watching ‘sjw get rekt compliation #125′ , yamaguchi was watching those heart-wrenching lgbtq+ short films on youtube 

and on tiktok his fyp was probably originally cottagecore (bc it’s his ideal lifestyle ofc) and somehow he is now kinda on sapphic cottagecore tiktok 

like not to fetishize them or anything, just bc he’s awed by how in love they are and that’s kinda what he wants for himself

(also he uses them as date inspo for you and him DFBZVAYUL)

anyway this was just my lengthened explanation as to why - unbeknownst to you or anyone - he was an ally to the lgbtq+ community (if not apart of it)

you didn’t really expect him to be disgusted or unsupportive of it tbh - i mean, it’s tadashi ffs! 💞 you know he’d never break up with you or judge you for something like that, but that didn’t stop you from being slightly nervous

but he was ten times more nervous when you texted him, asking for him to meet you by the local park’s fountain bc you had something important to tell him

mans thought you were dying ngl

he almost burst out crying on the walk to the park bc he imagined a whole scenario where he was sitting next to your fkn death-bed 

but you seemed healthy enough so his next assumption was that you were going to break-up with him

so when he approached you by the water fountain and you noticed that his eyes were glossy and his hair was damp with sweat, you were quite worried for him now

‘tadashi! are you okay?! your eyes are all puffy and red! do you have hay fever?’

yamaguchi rapidly shook his head, hastily escorting you to a nearby park bench so you could sit down beside him, ‘it’s nothing; what is it that you want to tell me?’

‘oh’ you choked, quickly averting your gaze from his kind, damp eyes. ‘it’s- um, i don’t-’ you cut yourself off, mentally cursing at yourself as you had practised what you were going to say to him hundreds of times before he arrived yet you still couldn’t stammer it out

yamaguchi was hanging on each word you uttered, but once he noticed that you were struggling, he placed his hands upon yours and shot you a reassuring smile

you let out a sigh in hopes to relieve your nerves while rehearsing what you were gonna say one more time in your head before blurting it out,

‘babe, erm, i’ve been questioning for a while and i’ve concluded that i’m bi - as in bisexual; and i just thought i’d tell you bec--’

you genuinely thought that you might have to explain to yamaguchi what bisexual means so IMAGINE your surprise when he simply replies, ‘you’re bisexual? is that all you wanted to tell me?’ and once you hum in agreement, he lets out a heave of euphoric relief

‘(y/n), please don’t make fun of me but on the way here, i was almost gonna cry because i thought you were going to tell me something horrible.’ he clutched his chest, breathing heavily - usually he’d never admit to something like that but right now, he felt that it was appropriate

you snickered at his rather exaggerated actions, ‘awh, baby. i’m sorry.’ a pout formed on your lips as you soothingly rubbed his back.

yamaguchi rapidly shook his head before turning the tables and rubbing your back instead, ‘nonono, it’s fine! i’m fine!- and i’m glad you’re fine too.’ he stumbled, hastily placing a kiss on your cheek before whispering in your ear, ‘i’m so proud of you. congratulations!’

although you couldn’t see his face, you could tell from his light voice that he was beaming 

after that, he buried his nose into the crook of you neck and snaked his arms around your waist to pull you into a hug, which you both stayed in for a good 5 minutes

Kei Tsukishima

let’s be honest, tsukki’s definitely part of the lgbtq+ community but in deep denial

like if you ask him, he’s not even questioning his gender or sexuality, he’s just ✨straight ✨

so when you just randomly joked one day ‘oi, four-eyes, turn this shit off. she’s too much for my lil’ bi heart to handle.’ while y’all were watching a movie and you instinctively made an off-hand comment about how gorgeous the female lead was 

upon realising what you just said, you turned to him with the most awkward grin plastered on your face, ‘tsukki, i’m bisexual, by the way.’

‘no shit, sherlock.’ he hissed at your use of that little nickname 

you turned your head to look at him as you blinked rapidly, finally  mentally processing his response 

while he did the exact same thing simultaneously, dramatically turning his head to meet your gaze before muttering, ‘was that you coming out?’

your eyes widened as you realised, then nodded slowly

tsukishima smirked, shifting his attention back onto the movie, ‘congrats.’ he spoke in a mellow voice, a slight sense of amiability laced into his tone 

‘thanks-’

‘have you told your parents yet?’ he quirked a brow, his eyes remaining glued to the screen

you hesitated before shaking your head, ‘no.’ 

‘what about your friends?’

‘yeah, i came out to my friend group a few months ago - along with yamaguchi.’

tsukishima couldn’t help but frown at the fact you came out to yamaguchi before him but honestly, he couldn’t blame you - he was aware that his bitchy exterior probably discouraged you from telling him sooner, so he was just glad that you had the confidence to tell him eventually  

‘so how long have you known that you’re, like, y’know, bi?’  he inquired further

‘a while.’ you hummed, biting your bottom lip, internally so relieved that he wasn’t being too awkward or weird about it

‘good for you.’ he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, not a hint of sarcasm or irony detected in his voice for a change, ‘oh, and good luck with coming out to your parents’

‘thank you.’ you murmur, happily shifting your attention back onto the movie

 tsukishima honestly doesn’t mind/care tbh

like he’s supportive and will beat a bitch up if they don’t accept you - but in general, he thinks that it’s none of his business who you love

as long as it is him (ಥ _ ಥ) 

Kenma Kuzome

ok so fun story 

you were both chilling in his room on a saturday, he was playing on his nintendo switch as always and you were on your phone

you had been meaning to come out to him for a while now but every time you tried, it seemed as though something happened to prevent you from doing so 

for example, you tried to come out to him while y’all were chilling at the park but then a bunch of geese started terrorizing y’all and it completely ruined the mood

so you thought that now you were in his room - where there was less of an abundance of geese - it’d be a better time than any to just lift the burden that had been weighing on your chest

you were as nervous as any one would be but you kept on trying to reassure yourself that kenma would be supportive 

however, he had never discussed any lgbtq+ related issues with you so you had no idea where he stood with that sort of stuff but tbh, he doesn’t give off homophobic vibes 

after a while of staring at the wall and working up the courage, you finally spoke up, ‘hey, kenma. i think i might be bi.’

you mentally cursed at yourself as you didn’t ‘think’ that you are bi but rather you knew that you are bi, yet you felt the need to add that filler just in case things went sour

he perked up upon hearing this and turned to look at you, a small smile gracing his lips, ‘okay, that’s cool. congratulations.’ 

you couldn’t help but beam back at him, ‘thanks, babe.’ you almost whispered, gladly going back to whatever you were doing on your phone

honestly, you were happy to leave the interaction at that - i mean, his brief and calm response was satisfying beyond expected, as it was probably the least awkward way that could’ve possibly gone down

however, what happened next filled you with endless amounts of euphoria 

‘oh, and (y/n).’ kenma said to grab your attention, ‘i’m bisexual.’

you did a double-take 

your instincts told you to throw yourself into his arms and rave on about how proud you are that he had the courage to come out but after a moment of reflection, you had a better idea

‘okay, that’s cool. congratulations.’

kenma automatically pouted at how you used his own words against him when he was clearly expecting a hug, ‘(y/n)..’ he whined lowly, shifting his gaze back onto his game

but you were weak so ofc you pulled him into a hug as you both muttered sweet, reassuring things into each other’s ears

‘i love you so much, (y/n) no matter what.’

‘i know.’ you snickered.

‘bitch-’

‘i love you too. and i’m so proud of you for coming out - you’re so brave.’

‘aw, thanks. so are you, babe.’

‘i know’

kenma playfully nibbled at your neck for being such a clown during a sentimental moment

but anyway, you helped kenma come out so- yeah :))

[jaceyneedsabetterusername]

Sex Tape

Pairings: Johnny Depp x Reader

Request: “ If you take requests, would you consider doing johnny reaction to like theirs sex tape getting leaked? Reader may also be a celebrity or not. Whatever you prefer “ - @fanficshitandother 

Warnings: Mentions of sex but no actual smut

Word Count: 1800

A/N: Sorry this one is so short. I was having a harder time writing it than I thought I would. I hope you enjoy!

__________________________________

Shit. 

You knew this was a bad idea when he suggested it but no. He just had to have this video “for when he was away filming.” It always ended like this, though, right? It always started out as fun and games until bam! Celebrity sex tape leaked! 

The gossip talk show video that your best friend had sent you was still playing on your phone and you watched in silent horror as the red haired woman talked about your sex life to her male counterpart as if she had any actual right to have an opinion. In the top corner was a picture of you and Johnny at the red carpet for the premier of the Crimes of Grindelwald, his arm around your waist and both of you smiling for the paparazzi pictures. “Okay, guys. You are going to want to hear this,” She started, clasping her absurdly long acrylic-clad fingers together and holding onto her knees, “So there has been yet another sex tape leaked and I want you to guess who’s it is.” She looked over to her co-host. He had a push broom mustache that was bleached blonde to match his hair. 

The man hummed before waving his hand, which also donned long yellow acrylics, “I swear, Laurel, if this is another Kardashian or Paris Hilton tape, I’m gonna scream. That’s such old news.” 

“Actually, it’s someone that I certainly didn’t expect. Johnny Depp and his wife, Y/N L/N.” She dropped the news and the co-star’s mouth dropped. 

“Are you serious? Like Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd, Willy Wonka, Johnny Depp?” He asked in total shock, “I didn’t expect that either! But you know what? I feel like he’d be really good in bed.” 

He and Laurel both laughed, “You’re so bad!” She squealed, hitting him with the paper notes in her hand, “But, between you and me,” She leaned in, as if she was telling an actual secret that wasn’t being broadcast on the internet, “I did see it.” 

“And?” 

“It was pretty hot, I can’t lie. That Y/N is a very lucky girl indeed.” The pair giggled like a pair of school girls. 

You were absolutely mortified. How did this happen? How many people had seen it? Who had seen it? Oh God… all you could imagine was your family stumbling across the video or, debatably worse, Johnny’s kids. This had to be one of the worst moments of your life. 

You turned off the video and quickly dialed your husband. “Hello, love.” He greeted cheerily on the other end. The faint sound of cars passing in the background told you he was probably driving home from the meeting he had been at. 

“Did you see it? Did you hear it?” You asked frantically. 

“What?” He asked, confused.

“The video! The video got leaked!” You ran your fingers through your hair messily, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor. 

“What video?” He questioned, not sounding like he fully understood what had happened, but then you could almost feel the weight of realization falling on him, “Wait, our video?” 

“Yes! Our video!” You were yelling at this point, not at him but at the situation and thankfully he understood that. 

“Okay, okay. We’ll- Hang on my manager is calling. Probably to tell me about it. I’ll be home in five minutes. I love you.” He signed off your call quickly before hanging up without giving you the chance to respond. 

While you waited for him to get there, you spiraled down the rabbit hole that was the tabloids and social media. Your phone buzzed off the charts as everyone from your sister to Helena Bonham Carter called you to ask if you were okay. Of course, you weren’t. But it was one phone call from a former college roommate, Sheila, had really gotten your blood boiling. 

“It’s okay! If anything, this is just going to make you more famous! Look at all the other celebs who’ve had their sex tapes leaked. They’re like, super famous.” Sheila sounded more excited than she should have, which certainly made you question her motives behind calling you in the first place. Since marrying Johnny, you’d had the unfortunate displeasure of having to cut a few people off from your past who had randomly called you up after years of little to no contact, asking more favors in the movie industry, money, or even just for the clout of saying they knew you. There really was such a downside to this whole marrying famous person thing that nobody ever really talked about - not that you would take it back, though, of course. You loved Johnny more than anything. 

Still, when the words left her mouth, you felt a flash of anger swell up, “Contrary to what a lot of people might believe, being famous actually kind of sucks,” You spat angrily, “And call me crazy, but I don’t exactly feel thrilled at knowing the whole world as access to a video of my naked ass!” 

“At least it’s a good naked ass, though! Your boobs are looking pretty good too. Did you get them done?” She asked bluntly, still not a care to be heard in her voice. You swore you could almost detect a fake valley girl accent too. 

Your mouth dropped open in disbelief at the words coming from her voice, “I can’t believe you.” Without giving her a chance to respond, you clicked the off button before flipping her off through the screen, though you knew she couldn’t see it. The audacity of some people. 

The front door swung open, drawing your attention as Johnny hurried into the house, setting his bag down by the front door. “How bad is it?” You asked, knowing his manager must have told him the full extent. 

“Do you want the truth?” Johnny saw as panic and humiliation swept across your face, knowing that perhaps that wasn’t the best way to break it to you that it was pretty bad. He stepped forward and wrapped you in his arms, “I told Harrison to take ‘em down. Whenever he found one, he said he’d get it deleted. 

You sighed defeatedly, “That doesn’t stop the fact that a bunch of people already saw it.” Your arms wrapped around Johnny’s torso and you allowed your head to fall against his chest, trying to calm yourself with his scent- exotic spicy cologne and old books. 

His large hand came to stroke through your hair, “That is true,” He conceded with a heavy breath, “But, it also means that fewer and fewer people will continue to see it.” There was a pause in which neither of you said anything, only took a few minutes to hold onto each other while you thought about the future now, “Y’know, I can’t help but feel like this is partly my fault. I shouldn’t have asked to make the video. I’m sorry, Y/N.” 

You shook your head in disagreement, “I agreed to do it too. It’s on both of us. In retrospect, we should have put it on an actual VHS tape or something that would be more difficult to get into the tabloid’s hands.” 

You were tired of this - of this constant running from the vultures that prayed off your every misstep just to turn them against you and create headlining stories. You felt like you couldn’t even breathe without a scandal unless the media allowed it. You were just grateful that you happened to marry one of the most private actors in Hollywood, knowing that whatever pressure you felt, more public figures like Angelina Jolie had it much worse. Still, something inside you stirred, a decision that you’d stop living in fear. 

Johnny pulled back and gave you that infamous cocked eyebrow look of wonder, one that you’d mostly seen him use as Jack Sparrow. Little did everyone know, it was a gesture he’d picked up on doing in real life as well. “Do we even have a VHS player anymore?” 

You chuckled and buried your head back into his white shirt, “I don’t even know. I feel like there must be one laying around somewhere. And if not, I’ll go down to a pawn shop and pick one up just for you to use while filming.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean,” You leaned back, pulling on his shirt to bring him down closer to your level, “That if we’re going to be making you another one of these videos, it’s gonna be on something that stays only between us.” 

Your husband nearly choked on air, “Another one? After what just happened?” 

“Only if you want to and only if it stays on something physical like a CD or VHS that we can mutually agree to burn and destroy if anything happens.” You giggled and Johnny joined in with a low chuckle as well, “But… the video was leaked. We knew that was a risk when we made it. But, y’know what? I’m tired of living in fear of the paparazzi and public. They’ve already seen us fuck. There’s not much else we’ve got to lose.” 

His dark eyes flashed with mischief before he took off in a light jog down the hall without a word. You followed him, “Where are you going?” You giggled, turning the corner to find him digging through your little Harry Potter closet under the stairs. 

When he stood up, he shook his long hair out of his eyes messily and held up an old tape recorder that had to be at least twenty years old. Johnny swayed towards you, jokingly flirtatious as he spoke, “Well, Mrs. Depp, it would seem that you’re in luck because your husband likes to hoard old shit.” 

The grey and black machine seemed to stare at you and some hesitation set in again but then you remembered what you’d said: I’m tired of living in fear… there’s not much else we’ve got to lose. 

Johnny flicked open the side compartment and his eyes opened in surprise to find a tape still in there. He lifted it from the slide and looked it over, shocked to see that it appeared to be an unused blank tape, “Well, well, looks like we’re in luck.” 

Biting your lip, you looked up at him with those eyes before grabbing his hand and running upstairs to your bedroom, dragging him along. “The world thinks they’ve seen us fuck. They only got a preview.” 

“Only a preview? I thought we went pretty hard last time?” He countered with a low challenging laugh.

You turned around at the top of the stairs, one hand on the banister as you turned to face him. His body collided with yours, his hand reaching around the small of your back to steady the two of you and you arched your body into his, being sure to brush your body against his groin, “Oh, Johnny… we’re both throwing our backs out tonight.” 

[dreamiesdotcom]

shooting star | n.jm

Summary: You take a pen, resting your cheeks on your palms as you lazily think of words to write — now and then, you lock gazes with Jaemin and you pretend that the red in your cheeks is just of the cold.

Word Count : 3.9k

The rooftop is big, but it feels a little crowded.

The addition of people is not bad, you think, especially since those people make your friends happy. By tradition, you welcome the New Year in this rooftop, playing music and games just like the other days but this time, with more food and... well, New Year stuff — fireworks, things to make noise with. The addition of people is not bad. If you're observant enough, it can even be entertaining.

As an example, if you look close enough, you'll see that Renjun and Jisung have been just friends for too long. That, in the sense of Renjun watching Jisung playfully ride the beat, a smile that tips over the line of finding his carelessness unbearable in a growing-more-in-love kind of way.

He looks lost, maybe even intoxicated in the other's laughter, admiring the way Jeno can make his best friend easily drop his shyness. Renjun looks like he wants to know how. If you look close enough, you'll see the regretful heart behind his faux scowl.

Renjun looks at Jeno and Jisung with longing, the kind you're familiar with. He turns to you, and you avert your gaze a little too late because he's giggling as he walks over to your direction.

"So, you saw me, huh?" He asks, handing you a glass of whatever drink he first laid his hands on, no 'happy new year' or any appropriate first greeting. He leans against the railings and sighs wistfully, "Look, do you ever just fall in love with your best friend's boyfriend?"

"Out of random?"

"You don't fall for people at random." Bewilderment crosses his face, and he turns to you the same time you look at him. You shrug, and he arches a brow, "You let that build up and wait for it to destroy you."

You let that build up — the words echo inside your head as you break eye contact. Right across, Donghyuck pulls away from hugging Jaemin with a bright smile, handing him a gift. Jaemin sets it down, and probably feels your gaze on him because he looks up and beams at you. Red flushes your cheeks. — and wait for it to destroy you.

"Toast to that, I guess," you smile, watching him pretend to judge you and fail. Chenle calls out his name for a picture before they set up the fireworks, and before Renjun detaches himself from you, he bumps the rim of his glass to yours. You sigh.

"To the love we wished deserved and didn't."

Shock engulfs his features, then he laughs and he repeats the words before he leaves. The sudden lack of company feels a little cold.

You look at the candle one of them randomly lit, looking at it in stupor before picking it up. The wax trickles and scorches your skin, but you don't wince like you probably would any other feeling day. You hold onto it firmly until its golden glow is close enough to your hands, warm enough that you could pretend it's about to set you on fire.

All so suddenly Jaemin is beside you, blowing off the flame. You watch at him in question until he smiles.

"That'll burn."

"That's alright," you fake a laugh. "I want for a lot of things to burn."

###

It all starts on a Wednesday, a fine afternoon spent sitting at a cafe, waiting for Donghyuck. Your notebook remains open at your side, empty and waiting to be filled with unabashed emotions. The past eight months were spent uninspired, and you decided to look around the place in search of something — maybe the vintage items, the ivory wallpapers, the beautiful chairs — anything.

Something comes in the form of nervous eyes and flushed cheeks, a boy sitting at the far right of the place. He sits alone, fingers tapping on the table, sunlight grazing his skin. You almost hated how cliche everything had been — a boy, an uninspired poet, hands that so desperately itch to write about faded pink hair and a lost angel.

Your gazes meet, and everything unfolds way too softly for it to not be love at first sight.

At that moment, you knew nothing that good should be real. At that moment, you knew nothing that good could be yours.

You were right.

Donghyuck comes in, and he waves at you excitedly before furrowing his brows. Your best friend had always been adorably one of a kind, but none of his weirdness could have prepared you for when he walks straight to the boy's table, and you were almost certain he caught you two staring at each other and is waiting to set you two up, until he's walking back to your table with the brightest grin, the boy beside him.

Their hands entwined.

"He's my boyfriend!" He squeals, "Oh hell, should've said his name first. He's Jaemin, and he's my boyfriend."

"Oh..." you nodded, hands subtly moving to close your notebook. "Uh. Hi."

They both stand in silence before they start cracking up, inevitably making you smile. You excuse your awkwardness, and Donghyuck introduces you two again, and you shake hands this time. You pretend you don't feel shivers run down your spine.

The day passed in blurs of sugar smiles, a love story, a dull throb in your heart. The poetry being written in your head never got finished.

###

The first time you realize it, the world seems to forget you were even born, Donghyuck's across the world with his parents, and solitude is eating you alive. You find yourself stumbling back to the same rooftop, plucking rose petals with a sad face.

It's probably petty — honestly, it is, but it's not just that. It's not that you wanted gifts, or you wanted attention; you wanted to just feel special, to know that someone is glad that once upon a time on this very day, you were born. To belong. To feel wanted. To be told "Happy Birthday" because you are important and should be celebrated.

And maybe it's also because you grew used to it, waking up to several different ways of saying 'Happy Birthday'. Maybe you were used to midnight greetings, to people forcing you out of bed at 6 am, to eating breakfast and lunch and dinner together. Your home had been so empty and to have your friends fill that gap even just for a day is something you look forward to every year — the mournful feeling is there again.

8 pm glares at you on your lock screen, and it reminds you that you can't do any of that now. You tip your head back and let your back hit the floor. Maybe if you look hard enough, you'll see a shooting star and it'll give you a little something.

"What're you doing?"

You look up, surprised but not alarmed. Jaemin's soft smile greets your sight.

"I'm laying down and waiting for a comet to strike me."

The sound of his camera constantly breaks the static, and you realize that he'd been taking pictures of the nightlife. He makes a noise that tells you he isn't convinced with your answer, but you don't entertain him anymore. You just watch him take as many polaroids as he can, and you laugh because suddenly, the only thoughts in your mind becomes 'pretty, pretty, pretty'.

You force a laugh, "It's my birthday."

"Is today your birthday!? Nobody told me!"

"It's not important. I mean, who celebrates birthdays these days, righ— Hey!" The familiar snap sounds again and you stand up from where you're laying down, ready to hit him, but then he gives you the film. You look at his hands and back up, "What's this?"

"My gift." He shrugs as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. You take the picture from his hands, hesitant but relieved that it seemed to look nice, anyway. Jaemin smiles, "It's the image of an angel."

The world stops.

It's ridiculous and cheesy, even he knew that; the two of you laugh uncontrollably. It wasn't the kind of laughter that fades after a minute, but rather the kind that stops for a while only to start up again. The sound grows louder with each passing moment, and your eyes meet, but you don't stop until you both become embarrassed enough to blush; neither of you look away.

 Maybe you are in love.

Maybe you are in love, and maybe he is too — except this time, it's not with Donghyuck, who it should be.

###

"It's you I meet again," Jaemin chimes. "What's up, buttercup? What are you doing here, a coffee shop, at 3 am?"

You look around the cafe, the tables empty. You briefly wonder about when Jaemin started working here before you realize you're unnecessarily curious. You press your lips into a thin line, looking for someone.

"I'd like to assume you already know." Your forehead creased when you noticed the unusual absence, "Where's my favorite boy?"

"Am I not your favorite boy?"

Jaemin pouts, and heaven, how it made your heart skip. You blink, spending the moment in silence, waiting for him to give up. "You are, indeed, not my favorite boy," You smile sweetly. "Where's Renjun?"

"I'm here because he's not. Do I seem like I work here? I was drinking coffee before he passed me an apron and left."

You roll your eyes, a poor attempt at keeping in the words of agreement — you kind of do, you look pretty, I could write so much about you — and you pretend to want nothing but get your drink. It takes an eternity before he lets you go, but once he does, you get comfortable on a table and whip out your notebook.

You look down on the first page, tracing the neatly written words — a confession if anybody who knows you gets to read it. A confession more than a dedication.

To the boy I shouldn't have loved.

The very same shooting star who gifted me a lifetime of heartbreak.

You heave a heavy sigh. You take a pen, resting your cheeks on your palms as you lazily think of words to write — now and then, you lock gazes with Jaemin and you pretend that the red in your cheeks is just of the cold. From that moment, every word you write is either about lights so bright you don't forget how beautiful he was under them, or something so strong it erases every trace of him from your system.

Jaemin leaves the counter and takes the chair across you. You look at him in confusion.

"I don't think you can do that?"

"I just did so I suppose, I can definitely do that." He smiles brightly. "So, what're we doing?"

You eye your notebook before quickly closing it, and then your half-finished cup of coffee. It's still dark outside with only some cars and people passing by, none of them interested in coming inside the cozy place. You say something about just being about to leave, and you look at him as if to say whatever's inside your head. Then, you stand up and walk away.

"Stay," he whispers, light enough that you'd think you weren't supposed to hear.

You swallow the lump in your throat when you feel his hand wrap around your wrist, cold against warm, and you don't have to look at his face to know of the begging stare he has directed for you at the moment. You try to look away but you feel weak, so weak that you could only manage a thin, shivering voice.

"Let me go."

"I can't."

Then don't, the voice in your head whispers, the selfish one; the greedy one, the desperate one. In reality, you close your eyes and tug your hands back because what's wrong is wrong, and what's wrong can never be right.

###

The rain clouds come one of the many times Jaemin asks for you to accompany him, and the storm looms darker above you with each genuine 'yes'.

The way this set up started had been pretty simple — hanging out together as friends, getting closer for Donghyuck's comfort; best friend-boyfriend bonding as he called it. For a while, it was everything. It's just your best friend trying to get you to trust his boyfriend, getting to know each other, and that's all — that's the truth.

It was friendship until it wasn't, and that was the truth until it was not anymore.

The night was peaceful so you didn't expect anything to go wrong, but expectations aren't always accurate. The sea looks calm, the moon brighter than all the other days. Jaemin's playing a somber song, something magical that just fits right for him and bittersweet love. His eyelashes flutter in a way gentle enough to drive you crazy, his perfume mingling with the cold night sea breeze, and it's too much that it drives you insane.

"What's wrong?" He asks as if he already knows the answer. "You're not telling me something."

It's been three months and a year since you and Jaemin started hanging out alone, and the swirling guilt in your gut is unnecessary because you're not even doing anything wrong.

It's the fleeting moments, you think, those lingering touches whenever you try to take from him the keys — "I'll drive," you'd whisper when you see yet again that look. Jaemin would smile, "What, scared I'll crash? I'm not stupid." — and when he doesn't give them, you sigh heavily with a hopeful look in your eyes. "Where to?" You'd ask even if you didn't care, and he would let himself forget the world as he opens the door for you, whispering words only a dreamer would say: "Stars."

And maybe it's where everything goes wrong. He shouldn't dream much for hopeless cases.

"Hey, shooting star," you call. He arches a brow at the nickname, but you ignore him. "Do you love me?"

"Would you hate me if I do?"

"You're dating my best friend, so of course, fuck you." You chuckle, shaking your head. "I hate myself more, so don't take it personally."

You meet his gaze, and the world shifts yet again just like at that moment in the coffee shop — angel boy, uninspired poet. He looked at you the same way he did weeks ago at the New Year's Party, that in the way his eyes are saying so many words for him to not be in love with you. Except now, he's much closer. Except now, in the confinements of his car, nobody to witness but the sea and the stars, he's leaning in and his breath is tickling your skin.

Except now, he's about to kiss you and you're not stopping him.

I can't, the rational part of you whispered. You say that you can't, but you're almost always on the edge of something and you're brave enough to consider through the guilt; you hate to admit it but that's the truth. You say that you can't, but at the same time, you don't draw yourself away from him — why?

Because in each and every one of this I can't's is the nasty truth that reads I want to.

You look at the water, and you chase your thoughts out with a dive. Jaemin's lips are still hovering above yours, and maybe if you weren't so numb you'd feel his heartbeat. You want to tear away, you want to run home and make a call and cry a litany of apologies. You want so much. You want so much, but what you want the most at the moment is for him to do what you can't and just kiss you already — you'd rather break yourself than not have this.

You close your eyes and decide that whatever will come tomorrow is something you deserve. You'll break your heart and ruin your world just for a kiss, and he'll leave — but you'll know that for a while he loved you and everything else is forgotten. You choose him and you forget all the consequences.

Just for once, just tonight. Just right now you'll let yourself indulge. Just this time he can have everything.

Right before your lips crash, you catch yourself and swim.

"Would you give me what I want, because you love me?"

Your words come out raspy, your eyes glistening with tears. Jaemin smiles in a manner just as heartbreaking, "What do you want?"

Not him — dear moon, I want him so bad, but I can't — definitely not him.

"I want fire so hot it burns away all the bad thoughts in my head." You suppress a sob as you move away, leaning back on the seat, clutching the fabric of your clothes as if to search for any semblance of sanity. "I want light so bright I forget you."

"What… what?"

You look at him with pure misery, "I think we should stop seeing each other."

Jaemin doesn't reply, but he starts up the car and makes a turn. You close your eyes hoping that everything could just be washed away by the rain, and you don't look at him for the rest of the drive.

###

Never in your life did you even think of living life without your best friend. That just can't happen, and so, why give it a thought, right? You're with him all the time, and he's been there since you can remember, and it wouldn't make sense if one day you wake up and he's all too suddenly not there anymore. You're certain that he's not going anywhere, and even if you're unsure of what the future holds, you aren't so worried.

If you knew, maybe you should have been.

"Hyuck?"

"Are you gonna remind me of the time I almost drowned and you told me you'll kill me if I die?"

"I'm leaving."

The traces of his previous chuckles disappear, and it seems like a movie scene with the way yours bloom tragically as you watch colored lights reflect on his skin. Then, as if sunrise, a slow smile etches on his face. A brief moment of regret and pain crosses his eyes before love overtakes it.

"You don't have to." He murmurs, sight still cast at the sea. Both his hands are tucked in his pockets in such a leisure way, and then he casually peers at you, "You don't have to leave because I'm not mad."

The sea makes the wind blowing even colder, and suddenly, the docks that used to warm you with sunlight feels cold as snow.

He knows... of course, he knows. Donghyuck saw your iridescence from every side and he knew how everything looked by heart; of course, he knew, he's your best friend, after all. Oh, how evil you are. How evil you are for loving the boy who belongs with him. How evil you are that even after that, Donghyuck reaches for your hands and you let him hold you; you let him smile at you sweetly, you let him calm you still.

"How can I even get mad at you? I love you more than anything in this world," he chuckles, and it breaks your heart. "You're my best friend and I'll give Jaemin up if I have to, if that will make you happy."

If that will make you happy... if it will make me happy... why did I do that to you, love? How did I manage to... oh, sweet heavens.

"You're all I need forever," you answer weakly, breathless and breathing all the same in his hug. It's your way of saying no, absolutely no, your sadness would never make me happy. You thank the high heavens that he couldn't see your face and the pain in it when you whisper, "But at the moment, this is what I need. Distance."

The first tear falls from Donghyuck's eyes, and the sudden drizzle of rain washes it off him. You look up to him and see longing, wondering just why it had to be this way, almost begging you you stay. He looked like he's about to send the world away if it meant that you won't have to leave, but the truth burns down to your determination, that he always admired: you have made your mind and there's no stopping you. You know what is best for yourself, and Donghyuck trusts you.

Set yourself free, Donghyuck whispers before he walks home. After that, please come back to me.

###

When you meet Jaemin ten hours before you leave, he's standing at the very same place Donghyuck was the day before. He's wearing a similar jacket, standing in a similar manner, looking just as beautiful against the water. The only thoughts running inside your head is how perfect they are.

"Jaemin."

Not even 'shooting star' anymore.

He turns at the call of his name, and you're still standing on both of your feet, but it feels like diving deep. His skin reflects the very same lights Donghyuck's did, but it looked kind of different — be it red or yellow, white or the shadows; everything looked midnight blue. It feels like standing on a cliff and almost tipping over, eternally almost tipping over and falling into blue nothingness.

Jaemin smiles, not happy but breaking. It makes you hold your breath.

He laughs, "Don't break my heart."

"In the next life." Because it's all that you could have. You return his smile, "I hope I deserve you in the next life."

His laughter rings in your ear, but it doesn't make you laugh at all; instead, it makes you want to sob or scream or just hurt, yet again, to savor the pain because he doesn't want you to but it's all he could give. It feels claustrophobic to align in a way that's everything meeting with your soulmate should be, with someone who's not your soulmate. Or you are indeed soulmates, but not the ones destined to be together like that. Just two wholes that compliment each other but are meant to be torn apart.

"I just said don't break my heart, what did you do?" He tries to crack a joke, walking the last step to be closer to you. He tilts his head in that charming way, "Why did I fall in love with you?"

"Hey, Jaem... you're not. Forget that. Love him." You shake your head, fixing the collar of his shirt, an excuse for one last guiltless touch. Your voice breaks, "He's my best friend. I love him more than the world."

And just as he is to me, I would rather let you go and make him happy, you smiled at yourself. I'd rather you make each other happy.

"I know." he croaks out, a fragile smile on his face. "In the next life?"

You try to imagine a life where Jaemin isn't haunting your thoughts; you can't. For a moment, you fear meeting someone else and not being able to love them because they're not him. You fear that they'd be kinder, softer, gentler than Jaemin and you won't be able to love them back because oh, Jaemin was just right; he was too much but in a way where it's just enough — Jaemin who looks at you like you hold galaxies, Jaemin who would risk the world, Jaemin who is with your best friend. The doomed play goes on and you think again of a life where he isn't what you desperately love, and realize that indeed, hopefully, in the next life.

In the next life, because this love feels right but it's not. In the next life, because it's painful but you'll love him still again and again and again until your stars finally agree.

"In the next life." You nod, fingers clenching on the straps of your bag. You look at the ocean ahead of you, and the lights it reflects, and then you close your eyes as you feel the wind.

"Until then, shooting star."

—

yellow tags 💛

coffee shop

untitled1

[seodami]

Dearest treasure | KTH

|PART 1| |PART 2| |PART 3|

Summary: Every kid in town was afraid of Kang Taehyun, the old -slightly creepy- man living alone for years and years in the same run down house. Every night he would go into his backyard with a shovel and dig a hole into the earth. No one knows why and there are kids rumouring about him burying people. Jungwon was a bright kid, wanting to find out the truth behind this widely spread rumour for a school project. And what he found out would change his life forever.

Genre: fluff, angst, flashbacks, story of life, snippets of life, tiny bit humour

Warning: old Taehyun, mention of death, mention of suicide/suicidal thoughts, death

Word count: 10152 (all 3 parts together)

Pairing: Kang Taehyun x reader, (Yang Jungwon)

Note: Wow okay so this story took me a while to write and I listened to hours of das music to finish this🥺 this was honestly an emotional rollercoaster. But I’m so glad it’s finally finished so I can post it on here yayyy!!! I hope you like it an enjoooyy (please tell me if you cried I would really appreciate your responses haha bc I did)

Main Masterlist

2089 (present)

Jungwon took a glance down towards the camera clasped tightly in the palm of his hand. With a heavy breath, his eyes slowly moved up to the big house in front of him. Former white paint - now a dirty grey almost everywhere - was already peeling itself from the walls, dozens of thick ivy tendrils sneaking up to the dirty windows and even further. It looked just like the old spooky houses, Jungwon had secretly seen in horror movies his parents were watching. And it especially felt like it as well.

The cold wind was slowly whirling around the dead leaves on the ground, freeing the view to numerous mounds of earth spreading over the whole front yard and probably even backyard. Some were fresher than the others. Some were older than the others.

Jungwon could feel a wave of goosebumps hushing over his body, clearly not only being the cold winds fault. With one last reassuring nod to himself, he courageously made its way over the small path through the chaotic front yard towards the old wooden front door.

It had terrified him when he was a bit younger to even lay eyes on this house, let alone go any near it, and quite truthfully, Jungwon still felt a tiny wave of fear coming through. He had heard many things around this neighbourhood and school...creepy theories as to why the old man living inside this house was seen digging holes in his garden. From murder to even paranormal activities, everything was possible, referring one of the older kids at school, Park Jongseong, who tended to love scaring innocent young students with these stories. And he even heard parents trying to discipline their children, threatening them to pay ‘Killer Kang’ - that was the old man’s unfortunate nickname - a small visit if they did not behave. It was as if this small town didn’t have anything else to talk about than a lonely, slightly creepy, man. And if he remembered correctly, he never saw or heard anyone even trying to talk to him. So what did they know?

Jungwon heard a lot. To say the least, he questioned himself quietly if he should have just chosen another topic for his video and interview for a school project. He could have. But something deep down told him quietly not to judge too quickly, not to judge a book only by it’s cover. His parents and his grandmother taught him that early on and it stayed with him ever since. He wanted to give this poor scrutinised man a chance to actually explain himself. Why was he always digging these holes into the ground? Maybe he really was a serial killer and this would be Jungwons biggest mistake, but where’s the fun in not even trying? Right? He could only lose, well...his life...

The 14 year old boy quickly shook his head, trying to stay positive. And then he finally pressed the rusty bell on the side of the door. He heard nothing at first, it was as quiet as it could get, no steps, no talking, no TV. The eerie feeling hanging in the air didn’t make it any better for Jungwon to stay calm and not giddy. “You can do this! He’s not even creepy.” He tried to hype himself up.

He almost wanted to ring again, as his heart sunk. Damp slow steps were coming closer and closer, making him hold his breath unconsciously. The door opened in an awful slow motion, revealing the old man everyone was afraid of. White hair framed his sunken in face full of deep wrinkles. He used a walking stick to stand, his position was crouched forward, so he was about the same height as him, maybe even a bit smaller. And when Jungwon met his eyes, there was a glint in them, that almost scared him off like all the other kids would have. But he stayed put.

The man didn’t say anything, just stared at him, awaiting him to explain this very unusual visit. Nobody had ever dared to ring his house. Not even the mailman thought of doing so.

“Good Morning Mr Kang. Uhm ...I am Yang Jungwon.” The young boy began with slightly unstable voice, trying to get a hold of himself. “I am a student at Namgang Highschool and we are currently doing individual video projects containing an interview with someone we find fascinating and want to learn more about. And...I was wondering if...if maybe it would be possible to...interview you?” Jungwon managed to squeak out, hiding his trembling hands from Mr. Kangs boring hawk eyes.

He still hadn’t said anything, looking up and down the underaged student. Then his eyes met his shaky ones again. “Is this a joke again, boy? Because I have no tolerance for silly boy pranks.” He finally muttered out in a harsh tone, letting Jungwon flinch the slightest. He quickly shook his head, implying that this was his last wish to do.

“No sir, no I swear this is a very serious question and project. I wouldn’t dare to do anything but.” The boy rambled, now fiddling nervously with the hem of his uniform jacket. The man pulled his glasses somewhat higher on his nose before he gave the student a hesitant nod.

“You are the first person for years daring to come talk to me...” he noted absent minded, eyes wandering behind the boy to check if there really weren’t any stupid kids hiding inside the bushes. “How...extraordinary.” He muttered, clinging onto his walking stick as he began turning around.

“You said fascinating people, boy? I have to disappoint you, there is nothing interesting about me, I dare say.” A small sigh left his mouth, beginning to close his door slowly but Jungwon was quicker. What had gotten into him? Was it the surprise at his not so cold attire or maybe has he just gone crazy? But Jungwon wanted to know more about his story. There had to be more.

“Sir, no please. You may think so but quite frankly you are the talk of town every day.” Jungwon began but got stopped hearing the other one scoffing displeased. “Killer Kang...I know this nickname they all give me. Do you use it too? I don’t want to have anything to do with people like this.” His tone got harsher again.

Jungwon frantically shook his head again. “I don’t. I would never. This is the reason why I chose to interview you in the first place. I want to hear your part about everything. I think it is only fair to give you a proper chance to explain. They just don’t know.” He gave the man a pleading look. Mr. Kang hesitated again, letting the boys words sink in. He didn’t seem like he could harm a fly, he thought. Was is worth the struggle?

He didn’t know what or why he was doing it but the next thing Jungwon saw was him walking slowly into the house again, leaving the door open. Should he follow? A quick look over his shoulder told him he should. Jungwon couldn’t believe he really meant it so he still stood unsure, fiddling with the silver camera in his hands, metal cooling against his sweaty palms. “Are you coming, or what?” The now softer voice of the white haired man asked still trotting forward in a steady pace.

This woke Jungwon immediately out of his trance, stumbling clumsily stuttering and rambling while thanking him over and over again. He had made it.

He entered the dark hallway, suddenly being hit with a strong smell of a typical musty grandparents house. It remembered him of his own grandmother’s one, where he spent almost half of his childhood. With one swift movement, he gently shut the door and followed the tracks of this houses owner without forgetting to put his shoes off. There were some stacks of newspaper laying around randomly, old picture frames hanging on some of the white and dark green walls and old brown rugs adorning the cold floor. He noticed a small picture of a young lady in a baby blue dress, sitting on a self built swing while smiling ear to ear. But he quickly moved on. It was as every other old people’s home, Jungwon thought.

“Boy, say, do you want a cup of tea? Or water?” The young student heard the now calm voice asking him, seeing as they arrived in the living room. An antique looking glass chandelier was hanging right in the middle, brown couches placed generously inside the big room. Jungwon was surprised. He expected to shake with pure fear in his veins, but why did it feel like he was just visiting his grandparents? A friendly visit. That was the first moment he knew he misjudged the famously feared old man.

“No thank you. I was wondering if I could maybe...film the whole thing? The interview? I prepared some questions already if that is fine with you.” Jungwon timidly pulled out the camera behind his back and soon enough some pieces of paper. There was a moment of silence, Mr. Kang just looking speechlessly at the innocent and oh so polite brown haired boy. His heart already told him, despite his inner conflicts, that he was a nice boy. A really well-behaved kid. He could tell him, he could understand, and maybe even help. At least that was his hope.

“You are really something else. Jungho was your name?” With small steps he wandered to one of the couches, plopping down painfully slow with a nasty crack of his bones into an already deep hollow on the couch. Just like his grandparents. Jungwon by now was really overwhelmed by the mans compliance and...kindness?

“It’s Jungwon, Mr. Kang.” He added, earning an understanding nod from his side, followed by a motion of his hand for him to sit down. “Of course, of course. You can set up the camera on the table if you have to. It was a long time ago since...anyone filmed me.”

It didn’t took long for the eager student to put his camera on the table in a good angle. His script was already sprawled all across his lap and with nervous looks in between, he asked the man if he was ready to begin the interview. Jungwon was aching to know the truth behind the misunderstood lonely person in front of him. He finally wanted to clear the unpleasant rumours about him, wanting to know what really was behind his actions.

“Ready, boy.”

Jungwon clicked the red recording button on his camera, sitting down on the couch behind it. And he did not waste any time to start.

“My first question for you Mr Kang, has to do with your widely spreaded nickname. As you told me earlier, you were already aware of such name. What do you think about it?”

It was the second time, he heard him scoff in annoyance. “It’s ridiculous what people tend to gossip behind someone’s back when they are bored. Whoever believes these ignorant, mindless comments should go to school again and get educated. This nickname... ‘Killer Kang’ -“ he stopped to caugh out loudly, repositioning himself more comfortable in his seat before continuing to talk. “ - holds absolute no truth in it. I can’t seem to think why somebody even invented it.”

Jungwon immediately nodded in agreement, earning a small nod from the man himself. “That was exactly my point. It looked almost like people just invented some crazy untrue theories when they cannot seem to understand a certain...action.” He tried to find the right words. “It’s probably nothing new to hear, but people around this town, I think they came up with this name solely to...to find an explanation as to why...the holes...I mean you digging them with a shovel in your garden...is that...” he lost his voice in the end of his sentence, not wanting to say any wrong words.

But Mr. Kang just nodded, looking out of the window with a distant look. He suck in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “It’s probably not the answer you or all the people would like to hear. All the foolish theories. It’s something far more...simple.” He looked over to Jungwon, soft eyes under the thick crease above them. He was ready to tell someone. Just anyone. He longed for a conversation for too long, maybe that is why he agreed in the first place.

He was so lonely.

“Let me tell you my story right from the beginning. I hope you do have some time, boy, it might be a longer story.”

And then he began to tell his story. Your story.

[babysizedfics]

Roman involuntarily going into littlespace because he's repressing it, cgs comfort him that its ok to be little

so on saturday roman became upset by something, and usually he can cope. but the thing is, in the last few weeks he has been repressing his littlespace A LOT because he felt like he just got his adult life back, and he throws himself 100% into things

he threw himself into littlespace at first and now he threw himself into adult life and ignored his age dreaming. even when he wanted to he forced himself to keep being grownup - or in his teen headspace if he needed to get out frustration

but this time he couldnt actually help it, he accidentally started feeling really little to cope with his negative emotions. it wasnt even that bad what happened, but its the stick that broke the camels back yknow - basically he had to feed vee at snacktime and she got messy and roman complained she was gross then ppl on the blog called him mean for saying it

so roman was suddenly little, and went to sit with his family bc he didnt want to be alone but he still hid being little. he just stayed silent, even while internally he just kept thinking i want daddy i want my daddy i wanna be held i want mommy to say its all okay

then vee fell asleep in mamas lap and logan took her up to bed, and when he returned to the living room with patton and roman he jokingly asked "so i take it snacktime went well going by the applesauce all over her clothes?"

and romans face immediately crumpled and he started crying

it was so sudden and unexpected and out of character, the caregivers were frozen for a moment as roman desperately hid his face in his hands and folded into himself on the couch

when roman cries its very quiet too, so even though he was close to sobbing he bit his lip hard so he didnt make a sound and was just sniffling and tiny whimpers kept escaping

the caregivers hearts broke a little

logan immediately crouched in front of ro asking "roman what happened? why are you upset sweetheart?"

meanwhile patton jumped up from his chair and quickly scooched over on the couch to be right next to ro and put an arm around him "honey, can you tell us what you need?"

and at that roman just whimpered "daddy" in his super little voice, strained from holding back his cries

"oh little prince" patton cooed sounding heartbroken, he wiggled his free arm under romans legs and shuffled him into his lap in seconds. "shh, it's okay, daddys got you baby"

roman tensed and logan gave patton a stern look at the nickname slip, and patton hurriedly apologized - its just natural for him to use that word

usually roman is a tad insecure about the fact that hes taller than patton when hes in psttons lap bc hes worried it looks weird, but he didnt have the energy to worry this time and just lets his daddy cradle his head to his shoulder and rock him as romans cries got harder to hold back. it felt such a relief to finally be little and let his daddy take care of him, but it was v overwhelming since it was basically involuntary

logan swiftly joined them on the couch, pressing himself right up against patton and rubbing his hand firmly over romans back and shushing him gently and reassuring "good boy. it's okay, let it out. its okay to cry little one" because he knows how embarrassed roman gets about crying, especially when little

but then roman choked through his tears "n-not sposed to be - be l-little!" then sniffled and whimperd again and buried a sob in pattons shoukder

and logan calmly managed to coax him to talk about why, in the same way he coaxed vee into evaluating why she thought diapers werent for her in labd. lots of gentle prodding into why roman answers the way he does, why is he supposed to be big, why is being little bad

patton knew to stay quiet during this process, just squeezing roman to encourage him to answer, and kissing his wet cheek when he says something that makes pattons heart ache

then eventually logan got roman to admit that hes been forcing himself to be bigger because he thought he should be big to not bother the caregivers and to help look after vee and so he is "more of a real grownup" when hes with his friends

the thing is once you manage to break into that well of emotion that romans been repressing, he cant stop it from flowing. so once they reached that conclusion roman just kepts rambling (all while little and stumbling over his words)

"i i been tryna be a big big boy and big brother for vee vee cos shes a baby and needs a big brother... b-but i dont wanna be that big all the time, its too big, i wanna be a little big brother again. too much big"

then patton sighed "oh sweetheart, we know youve been much more grownup recently but we thought it's because you wanted to be big"

" i do!" roman argued loudly, more tears building "b-but little too a-and... and i dunno" he finished in a sob, and patton quickly pulled him closer to his chest and rocked him

logan realised roman is too little to have such a complex discussion about tricky emotions, so he promised that the following day they would all have a big grownup talk about how to help roman find a better balance.

"but for tonight" logan whispered, leaning down and kissing romans head and cupping his jaw gently and looking at him gently "mommy and daddy are going to take care of our sweet little prince. how does that sound, little one?"

romans lip wobbled and he nodded and launched himself into mommy lap to give him a tight hug

so that night logan and patton gave their full attention to taking care of roman and helping him be extra little - they watched disney movies and held their little prince and encouraged his headspace, singing along to the songs and poking roman playfully to get him to giggle and sing along too but much quieter than usual.

patton even reminded roman when to go use the potty, not because roman would ever have an accident but because its another way of showing roman that daddy is taking care of him and to reinforce that younger headspace that ro so clearly needed that night

they were all squished onto the one couch - its big enough for them to spread out but logan and patton sat shoulder to shoulder, with roman laid across pattons lap and his head on logans shoulder. with daddy letting roman play with his fingers as a fidget and logan scritching his nails gently at the base of romans neck which makes him sleepy

and every once in a while, logan would lean down and kiss romans temple so gentle, seemingly randomly but actually its that logan kept thinking about how little he knows about romans mental state recently. and whenever he thought "god i wish i knew what was going on in his head", he would lean down and kiss it in the hopes it plants the thought in romans mind that his parents love him

roman was actually very low energy - usually his littlespace is defined by playfulness and loudness and running and jumping and dancing, but on that specific night he was very quiet, very sleepy, and very very cuddly. he really just needed to feel protected because it was such a vulnerable state for him, being involuntarily little, so just letting his caregivers take full control and take care of him and look after him was exactly what he needed

he would never ever say this to anyone and the caregivers agreed to not tell vee or anyone else, but i think they actually had snacks at one point and roman was just so muted and sleepy and clingy that he didnt wanna let go of daddys hand to get some popcorn even though when patton asked roman admitted he was hungry... so logan offered to feed him, and roman very shyly accepted and let logan put lil pieces of popcorn in his mouth

he thought it was embarrassing, but it actually gave him more energy both because popcorn is yummy and because he found it fun and got kindve giggly - to which patton of course told him he was adorable

after the first movie though vee actually woke up from her nap regressed and the caregivers took it in turns looking after her while the other stayed and cuddled roman extra tight

but soon vee was put in bed for good for the night - roman actually got a little upset again because he assumed since mommy was putting the baby to bed, that meant it was romans bedtime too and he would have to be all alone in his room.

but then logan returned to the living room with the baby monitor in hand and immediately asked "so what movie next, sweetheart?"

bedtime be damned, the caregivers stayed up watching disney films with their little one until he fell asleep snuggled in his mommys lap

just imagine those really gentle vibes when you fall asleep on the couch as a kid and your parent gently wakes you up and leads you up to bed. Exactly like that, patton very gently woke roman up once the credits were rolling like an hour after roman dropped off to sleep

"mmh... daddy.. wha?" roman mumbled sleepily

and patton smiled, happy that roman was still letting himself be little. and of course in that moment he decided there was no way roman was going to sleep alone that night.

"c'mon honey, up up"

roman whined as logan helped push him off his lap and stand up

"i know sweetie. but you can sleep in my bed tonight, isn't that exciting?"

as soon as roman heard that it gave him more motivation to let his daddy hold his hand and carefully lead him upstairs to pattons room while roman is just blinking sleepily and letting his cg take full control and take care of him

logan helps to set up romans njghtlight in pattons room while patton helps roman brush his teeth, and then gives roman one last hug and big soft kiss on his head. "we can talk about it when youre big, but i promise you can be little for as long as you want, ok?"

roman sighed sleepily "ok mommy"

"good night little one, i love you" another forehead kiss

"love you mommy"

and then logan went off to his own bed while patton got him and roman settled in his bed for the night. logan honestly knew he wasnt the best person to take care of roman overnight because he really isnt a cuddly sleeper but roman really is, so he trusted pstton to be the primary caregiver and cuddle roman in bed

meanwhile logan kept vees baby monitor in his room which isnt how it usually goes. usually its in patton room bc patton is a light sleeper and likes to be the one to take care of his baby if she wakes up in the night, but logan took on that job for that night so that patton could focus fully on roman

...

the next day roman was still little but in the playful bouncy way again almost instantly! then when he grew up later in the day the three of them had a serious talk about how to help roman feel better about his littlespace/grownup life balance

logan broke it down into exact hours for roman - they realised that there was 20-25 hours every week where roman had to be grownup for various commitments and responsibilitiea. and the other 148 hours? (ish bc i cant remember the maths lol) logan and patton assured roman he could be little for all of those other hours if he really wanted to be and they would be completely okay with it

and seeing it broken down into numbers and basic stuff really helped roman , he is still going to struggle a little with letting himself be extra little when he needs it, and itll be tricky for him to find a good balance of little vs big because he gets so invested in one headspace so easily, but its backed up by those numbers and by the knowledge that his caregivers really do love to take care of him

[rosecorcoranwrites]

Klaus, El Dorado, and The Liar Revealed

Mediocrity vs. Cliches

Around this time last year, when we were young, innocent, and oblivious of the horrors of 2020, people in internet circles were loosing their minds over a movie called Klaus. You have probably never heard of it, but if you had, it would have been by stumbling across it on Netflix or from hearing a YouTube reviewer singing it's praises.

The main reason people loved it was that it was traditionally animated. In fact, it's director, Sergio Pablos, worked on several Disney Renaissance films, and it shows. The animation is gorgeous. The character designs are stylized and unique. What I found the most pleasing was the color palette, which I would describe as pastel watercolor. The film is set in the Far North, and the dour scenes feel cold and depressing while the heartfelt scenes look warm and cozy. The film was a visual delight.

The story? Eh, it was ok.

The reviewers I watched tended to focus on the beautiful return-to-form animation that we rarely see in the days of 3-D animated films while not noticing, or ignoring, that the story was kind of blah. It was a typical "rich-kid-layabout will get cutoff if he doesn't prove himself", with a heaping helping of "The Liar Revealed", which is one of the most annoying tropes in the history of narrative, but we'll get to that later. There's also a subplot that's basically the Hatfields and McCoys, and a randomly villainous matriarch who decides to keep being the villain because... conflict, I guess? Sure, there were a few original ideas—mostly involving Klaus's wife and the couple's struggle with having children—but overall nothing to write home about. The "feelsy" moments were unearned; I felt nothing.

Now, you'll notice that in the previous paragraph, I described many cliches, but I would not describe Klaus as cliche. I would describe it as mediocre. As I said, it was an ok story, but only ok. The problem was that it took its cliches and painted by numbers, which is why it could never rise above mediocrity. A film that knows how to play with cliches—not even necessarily subverting them, but just getting creative with them—can rise to greater heights.

Cliches as Genre: Road to El Dorado

Let's look at another gorgeously 2-D animated film: The Road to El Dorado. This film, too, is rife with cliches: Europeans being mistaken for gods by a non-western civilization, a witch doctor (basically), going native, the Leyenda Negra, and so on. It also features the cliche of two scoundrels going on what is basically a buddy-comedy adventure. The thing about many of these cliches is that they are part of the genre. That genre is as general as "Adventure fiction", where it's not unusual to encounter witch doctors and native tribes and such, and as precise as "Road to" comedies of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, which El Dorado is unarguably a pastiche of. Simply read the "running gags" section about these films on Wikipedia and you have a blueprint for El Dorado.

And that's the point. El Dorado follows a number of cliches because those are staples of its genre. Cliches, contrary to popular opinion, are not only not an automatic flaw in, but are often essential to, a work, especially when those cliches are what make a story a recognizable example of the genre in question.

El Dorado, however, plays with it's cliches. Most notably, it portrays the natives as normal human beings, which, lets be honest, a lot of old-timey adventure fiction didn't do. Miguel, one of the two main characters, sees the beauty of the culture he and Tulio, the other lead, find themselves in. The "white men mistaken for gods" trope is also played with in that the chief of the tribe figures out rather quickly (or possibly always knew) that Miguel and Tulio are just normal men like himself.

Thankfully, the film never strays into noble-savage territory, which lesser stories stumble into in their attempt to make up for the racism of the past. The natives have personalities, flaws, and vices. Chel, the female lead, is a floozy and a thief who happily joins the con that Miguel and Tulio are pulling, which she sees through immediately. Tzekel-Kan, a priest of a human-sacrifice-loving religion, is not only a zealot, but also a murderer, in that he sacrifices his own assistant to summon up a Jaguar spirit to hunt down the two false gods (yeah, that happens. Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out!). The characters, both white and POC, are fleshed out and three dimensional.

Finally, there is the story itself, and it's conclusion. Let's compare it to Klaus.

Conclusions

For those who never saw it, Klaus ends with a Liar Revealed scene where the scheme of the main character, Jesper, is revealed, and all his friends frown at him despite him obviously having changed by that point. Then a chase scene happens so Jesper can prove he's really changed, then a reveal that there was no good reason for the chase scene to have happened, then the main character is forgiven for his honestly-not-that-bad previous lies.

The whole story boils down to rich-kid learns a lesson and opens his heart, giving up his richness for the true treasure of generosity. Unfortunately, a lot of that was derailed by the weird Hatfields-McCoys subplot, which felt cartoonish next to the heartfelt-ness the rest of the film was trying (and maybe failing...) to achieve. It felt forced, in that the film needed that subplot so the chase could happen, and they only needed that so the Liar Revealed could make up for his Revealed Lies. Bleh.

El Dorado was more organic. Miguel and Tulio, by the last third of the film, have grudgingly decided to go their separate ways, with Miguel deciding to stay in El Dorado (the city), which he has fallen in love with, and Tulio and Chel going off with a shipful of gold that they presumably sail back to Spain ("And buy Spain!"). These are not happy conclusions, as it means a break in their inseparable friendship.

But then, Cortez, the Big Bad, shows up! Note, unlike the Hatfield-McCoys in Klaus, he is introduced in the beginning of the film as an actual threat, and has an understandable goal: conquest and gold. Miguel and Tulio, knowing this, decide he has to be stopped. That's when Tulio—the objectively more greedy, in-it-for-himself, not-gone-native of the pair—realizes that the only way to save the city is to crash his boat into the columns at the city entrance. It's a good plan, but will mean that he has to sacrifice what he wants: gold. But he makes the sacrifice, because he has become more that just a guy lying about being a god for money.

But then the boat isn't going to make it fast enough because the sail is stuck! It's gonna crash, and not in the way they wanted! Miguel, who had fallen in love with El Dorado and was willing to part ways with his friend and treasure to stay there, as to ride out on his horse and jump onto the mast to unfurl the sail. He knows the ship will then whoosh towards the columns and the only entrance to his beloved city with be destroyed, stopping Cortez, but also blocking him from the city forever. But he makes the sacrifice, because he cares enough about the people in El Dorado to let them go, and enough about his friend to not let him smack into the columns and die.

The Liar Revealed: Why It's Bad

Those were the conclusions to each movie, but not the conclusion to this blog. We still haven't discussed why the liar revealed is so lame, and how to fix it.

First, what is it? Basically, Main Character lies about something—his motives, his identity, etc.—for a large chunk of the story, then somewhere around the third act, his lie is revealed! Usually, this means that all the other characters turn their back on him, literally and figuratively, because they can't imagine how he could do something so terrible. Then, he does something to prove his mettle and his heart, and then everyone forgives him.

And I hate it. I hate it for three particular reasons.

First, it is just a different version of the thing that happens in romcoms where the main couple should declare their love for each other, but because the writer wouldn't know what to do at that point, they introduce a stupid misunderstanding that could be cleared up in two seconds if the leads talked like grown-ups. The Liar Revealed is that stupid, tired trope, but for kids.

Second, the lie is sometimes understandable, or not even that bad. In Klaus, Jesper claimed to be trying to spread hope and good cheer by sending kids presents, but in reality, he was trying to rack up the number of packages/letters he sent to prove to his dad he wasn't a useless layabout. How... despicable? Is it though? And can't he do both? He literally did, and he could have said so, except that the movie pulled a romcom and he got seperated from his friends before being able to explain that it started out mercenary and then quickly grew into the real deal. Even if it hadn't, though, like... is wanting to prove that your not a gutless layabout a bad thing? I don't get it.

Third is when the lie might be bad, but it's too late to care. In A Bug's Life, the colony learns that the so called warriors that Flik brought them are actually circus performers, so they have a reason to be miffed. Then again, they learn this on the eave of the day the grasshoppers will come to murder them all, and as Flik says, his bird doohickey will work. Not only does the colony have no reason to doubt this, they have no better options. Get all frowny and turn your backs on him after you lose the battle tomorrow, cause you have no time for such romcom drama tonight.

The Liar Revealed: When It's Good

Now, just because the Liar Revealed is awful doesn't mean that we can't keep having liars who eventually prove that they've changed in our fiction. But we don't have to follow the same tired trope.

For example, Over the Hedge has the Liar of RJ the Raccoon be Revealed, but saves the fallout between him and the other animals for a later action sequence, with hilarious results. Watch Schaffrillas Productions's video “Why Over the Hedge is Surprisingly Good” for a more detailed explanation of how this trope is dealt with in this film.

Or we have Tangled, where Eugene, by rights, should follow the Liar Revealed trajectory. He starts off scruffy and selfish, then slowly falls for Rapunzel and her good and pure outlook on life. He goes to give the Stabbington brothers the swiped crown that he no longer desires, but gets conked on the head by Gothel, who tells Rapunzel that he left with it cause he was just using her. We have a misunderstanding; we have a Rapunzel sadly walking away from the "liar"; we have the trappings of the last act of a romcom. But then, the real liar is revealed: Mother Gothel! And as soon as Rapunzel knows this, she never doubts Eugene, because that would be boring and nonsensical.

Finally, we have Road to El Dorado, with two liars, Miguel and Tulio, who are pretending to be gods to get wealth and adventure. They change over the course of the film to care about something more. They prove this change in a climactic scene We have all of the Liar Revealed, except for the reveal. There is no scene where everyone in the city frown and turns their backs, because that's not needed. The story isn't about the characters earning the forgiveness of the community like in Klaus, or proving themselves like in A Bug's Life. It's about two dudes who are scoundrelly friends going on an adventure, becoming a little less scoundrelly, and remaining friends. In the end, they both gave up what they wanted, but that's ok, because they have each other. Is it cliche? You bet! But that's way better than being mediocre.

[ficdump101]

SOMEBODY YOU LOVED.

JEON JUNGKOOK

GENRE: ANGST! ANGST! ANGST!

WORDS: 1787

REQUESTED? YES! BY @jeonchristineimnida​

PERMANENT TAG: @dreamescapeswriting​

A/N - SO I’VE DECIDED THAT ANGST IS UP AND RUNNING. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT, IF NOT I’LL RE-WRITE IT :)) SORRY FOR ANY SPELLING MISTAKES

Drowning. That’s what you felt. This is what you had boiled down to, an over worked and stressed shadowing accountant with, according to your boss, nothing to amount to. You were laid in bed, where you had been for the past two days, procrastinating on your workload and trying to recover from the recent dispute with your sister. Recent events had broken your heart beyond repair and made you want to hide from the world, making you (unintentionally) avoid your nephew. Your sister had rang and expressed her distaste in your actions stating, that you ‘sort yourself out and get back on track in his life or you can fuck right out of his life all together’. If only she could understand. If only you could express what you were feeling. If only he let you down slowly. You could feel the heartbreak tenfold at the mere thought of him, a wave of sadness started at your toes and rolled up your apathetic body. The tingling in your nose was a tell tale sign the tears were going to start building up but you were over crying. Over feeling like your world had been flipped upside down and something was ripped from you. This wasn’t his fault, you knew that. It was a mutual breaking up… but it wasn’t. You had loved him with all your being but he was the one who fell; he fell out of love with you and maybe you were the problem. You had rang Namjoon earlier in the week and spoke to him about everything - he had tried to give you advise on ‘moving on’ with your life but it didn’t work, all the distractions you had used failed because they reminded you of him. The music reminded you of all the times you had slow danced through the kitchen or when you had random dance parties to make you take a break from the assessments - it always worked. Painting made it worse, you always seemed to be painting his doe eyes and perfectly plump lips - he was all you thought about. You knew this wasn’t healthy for you but you couldn’t bring yourself around to care, days bled nightfall and you were surviving on coffee and red wine. Thinking back to your last face to face conversation made all of your fears of why the breakup happened become more realistic.

X

You and your boyfriend had been laid in his bed watching ‘Cry-Baby’, he was propped up on pillows with his head resting on the head board. Your head rest on his shoulder, humming along to Johnny Depp singing ‘Doing time for being young’. He had asked you earlier in the day to tell him 2 of your insecurities, you had straight away chickened out and told him that you’d tell him later. Well, this was later, and your random boost of confidence had decided to show.

“I’m insecure about my body.” You blurted out randomly, causing him to look down at you.

“What?” He chuckled, shuffled a little down the bed so he was face to face with you.

“You wanted to know what I’m insecure about. There’s a lot of things but my body is one of them. I also have the feeling that I’m not enough to be in a relationship with, and that you’re going to leave me eventually.” His answer felt like a warm hug, but the person hugging you is holding a knife to your back.

“Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you any time soon.”

X

 That was a load of bullshit. Not even two weeks later, he was messaging you to say that he felt bad for stringing you along when he held no feeling towards you any more. You agreed with him - letting your moment of happiness disintegrate into the ashes of self-doubt and loneliness. You let these feelings wash over you as you bathed in them - your hair matting and sticking to the back of your neck, your body feeling burdensome with no need or motivation to move and the skin of your cheeks feeling dry and stiff from all the tears that had been spilled but not wiped. You had tried to explain to your sister - tried to explain what it felt like to have part of your soul ripped from your body and you needed help. But every time you picked up the phone and typed out a text, you’d backspace it all and place you phone back down. You knew that if you could explain she’d help, you two were close sisters, more like best friends; you knew she would drop everything to help you out, just like you would (and have done) for her. You remember when her ex-boyfriend, and father of her child, left her when she was 8 months pregnant. You had took a leave from university, explaining your situation to your tutors and with the mutual decision of working from home, you hunkered down at her house. You pulled her through the pit of tar called depression and put her back on track the best you could - she started helping herself after that and you were the backbone, you were there for her when she stumbled and throughout the pregnancy. You wanted her help, hell, you needed her help but you couldn’t bring yourself to mess up the equilibrium of her now oh so perfect life. If only you could open up, you could be in a different place now. Last week, Jimin had showed up at your door (well let himself in really) and pulled you up from your bed - he quickly washed your face and pushed your hair up, stating that you were only going to a cafe and then McDonalds on the way home. You were clad in sweats and a hoodie pulled up over your head with drawstrings pulled, keeping your face covered. You weren’t sure if you were ready for this. You were sat in the small cafe a couple blocks away from your house and you were a mess; half crying into your caramel ice-tea as Jimin read through the text conversation with your ex, sewing venomous insults here and there as commentary. You were suppose to be happy for the distraction, but you were surround by couples who were deeply in love and this cafe was where you met him. He slipped you your drink, which he paid for, with his number and a kiss on the side. It was sweet… Bitter-sweet. You didn’t understand what you had done, he showed no sign of ‘falling out of love with you’ at all. You took your drink with you as Jimin ran you back home, of course you enjoyed your time with him and thanked him for his attempt at a distraction, but as soon as he left you were left alone to your destructive thoughts. In your heart was a gaping hole which you had no idea on how fix. You grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and launched yourself back into bed with the chicken nuggets Jimin had bought you, you wished he could’ve stayed the night but he was a busy superstar. You fell into a peaceful alcoholic pipe dream.

 X

You woke up to his face inches away from yours, a small smile gracing his features.

“Good morning baby. Sleep well?” You could feel the warmth of his body and duvet wrapped around you. You peered up at him, he was breathtaking, especially in the morning. You nodded slightly, kissing his jaw as the tears welled up in your eyes. You loved him more than life itself and here he was in front of you, closer than he had been to you in the past 2 weeks. His brows furrowed as your hand caressed his cheek, tears slipping down your cheeks.

“Hey now Jagiya, don’t cry. Pretty girls like shouldn’t be crying.” He pulled you close, his hand on the back of your head making you bury your face in his bare chest.

“You’re going to be okay, I promise.”

X

 You opened your eyes with your hand griping the pillow in front of you. Your other arm flung behind you as you patted the bed searching for him. You were met with the cold, fully made side of your bed, there was no lingering heat. He was never there. You cheeks felt wet and cold as your heart sunk into the pits of your stomach as you turned onto your back, facing the ceiling. You could no longer smell bis sent despite wearing on of his shirts and you wish you could, the smell could comfort you in the worst of times. But no comfort was offered. You slowly climbed out of bed, taking the empty wine bottle with you. You trudged out of your bedroom door and down the dim hallway towards the kitchen. You passed the living room keeping your eyes downcast in an attempt to avoid the happy memories that were laced throughout your apartment. Ranging from the times you’d fallen to sleep on the sofa with him watching random films to when you had a water fight between the kitchen and front door. You made you way past the sofa into the kitchen, placing your empty bottle beside the sink and opened the fridge. You pulled out a sausage roll when you heard your notification tone, it was either TikTok, YouTube or Instagram. Taking a big bite, you sat on the kitchen bar stool and unlocked your phone. You paused mid-chew as you saw that it was a notification that one of the boys had gone live as a surprise, you clicked on it and made a bet with yourself in your head. If it wasn’t Tae then you would order pizza, if it was then Chinese it was. You watched the blue screen load as the video came on. Well it wasn’t Tae. The man looked happy and at peace, you couldn't tell what hurt more, his eyes that held that certain sparkle which showed how happy he truly was or how broken you felt by the fact that he was fine. Jeon Jungkook was perfectly fine.

[makeitquietly]

Hello -- I am Randy Skretvedt; I wrote a little opus called "Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies." The latest edition has 43 years of my research in it. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy the forthcoming Blu-Ray or DVD of "The Ultimate Restorations." The discs will play worldwide. "The Battle of the Century" looks as though it has been carefully preserved for 93 years; you'd never know its tortured history. The other films are in magnificent quality, too, honest.

Hello! Delighted to hear that the films can be watched here too. Maybe it was mentioned somewhere and I just didn't see it. Not much luck in seeing/finding things for me lately; turns out that the near-complete "Battle" has been online for at least a year! I randomly found it while searching for something completely different a couple of weeks after ranting about it taking so long to become available. Kind of weird to have it on some video site before it's on DVD if the aim is to make people buy it now. Loved the added Charlie Hall bits and Stan's bump being similar to Charlie's in Laughing Gravy and the "what pie fight" ending.

Another great thing that happened not so long ago was me writing that Brothers Under the Chin is a lost film, and then I listened to a podcast with Rob Stone saying that it's not only been found but will be available on DVD soon, and more importantly, so will When Knights Were Cold! (I have high hopes for that one based on the stills I've seen.)

I might need to make a post about Hats Off! and just lean back and await for the announcement of its recovery... Better yet, maybe I should whine about how Stan's sold-page-by-page (Who does that? I hope they got fuck all for them.) scrapbook isn't available for everyone to peruse somewhere, and then inevitably stumble onto some scans or whatever by accident.

Will be getting all the DVDs and whatnots of course, and not doubting the quality very much at all, really. You do endorse the 21 DVD boxset in your book, though. I mean, I know nothing about film preservation/restoration but if those are "painstakingly preserved" as is so eagerly announced in connection with every single film, I can do without more of the same. But the promised rare photos and documents alone would be enough to make me curious, not to mention the commentaries.  

I consult your great opus all the time, just reread the "Battle" chapter; it's of course an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to know about the Laurel & Hardy films, the making of them and everybody involved. And good thing that it's relatively free from interpretations, although when I first started reading it I feared the worst what with your idea of Stan and Ollie the characters being so very different from mine. Also, I was surprised that you "dared" to name Helpmates as their finest short movie. It definitely has more soul than you-know-what. Beautifully expressed, btw.

Anyways, if you see this and aren't too miffed with my suspicions regarding the Ultimate/Definitive Restorations, maybe I could ask the one thing that's bugged me ever since I became a fan four years ago: Stan's first wife had a long life, why isn't she amongst anybody's interviewees? I'd like to think that people didn't just forget her existence or think that their daughter was some sort of substitute. I prefer imagining Lois Senior telling everybody to piss off and them being too embarrassed to tell that they tried, although I can't see how that would be worse than just plain forgetting her.

[marvel--queen]

Lucky People || Jason Todd || Song Fic

Fandom: DC Comics

Word Count:  2,136 (including lyrics)

Warnings: nudity, sexual mentions, theres like one or two swear words but thats it

Description: It’s Jason’s birthday and you give him his Rated PG present before the Rated R present. Plus you get a little surprise of your own

Song: Lucky People by Waterparks

Masterlist

A/N: (V/N) means vigilante name. Sorry it took so long but happy birthday to my baby bird Jason Todd!! Also recommend listening to the band Waterparks in general because theyre the fucking best

THIS IS NOT MY GIF. GIF CREDITS GOES TO THE OWNER

—

You close the door, thanking Dick for helping you throw Jason’s surprise party. All of Jason’s family came by to celebrate his birthday and even though Jason almost shot Tim at the start from startling him, it was a success. Dick was the last to leave, worrying about cleaning up the party but you told him you could take care of it. The minute the door closes, Jason’s arms are around you, nuzzling his nose into your neck. 

“Is there a reason why I didn’t get a birthday present from you at the party?” His voice was low. 

“Well.. yes,” You blushed lightly, “But not what you’re thinking about.” You turn around in his arms to look at his pouty face, "Not yet at least.”

You lead Jason to the couch and give him a nervous look. “Just, uh, give me a minute.” 

Jason looked confused as you hooked up your computer to the TV. You found what you were looking for and clicked on it. It was then where you returned to the couch and placed yourself on Jason’s lap. He wrapped his arms around you and snuggled into your neck. 

Grabbing the remote, you looked at Jason, “Happy birthday, Baby.” And pressed play.

The video starts with you in front of a camera with your guitar. “Hey Jay, right now you’re at the store grabbing me something and going on basically a wild goose hunt since Gotham doesn’t sell what I asked. But I’ll apologize later when you get back home.” You wink at the camera. “But when you see this it’ll be your birthday! So happy birthday Baby! I wrote this a while back but decided to hold off releasing it until after your birthday. Throughout this year, I’ve been randomly filming moments we had, I’m surprised you never asked but you went along with it and now you’ll finally know why.” 

You adjusted your guitar on your lap and spoke, “This one’s for you, I love you."

"Light us up until we pop I wanna burn bright 'til we're not Let's keep each other safe from the world.”

The recording stayed on you strumming and singing until the next line comes.

"I'll be your optimistic black hole Full of love I can't control Let's keep each other safe from the world From the world”

It changed to the two of you in bed laughing as Jason buried his face into your neck and blowing. You squirm away from him with a bright smile on your face before pulling his face towards yours for a kiss.

"Happy birthday, Merry Christmas To the one I call my Mr I'm leaving you love notes in the kitchen, say it all”

The video cuts to you making him pancakes in the morning before you leave for work. It zooms in on the note you placed next to the plate, reading ‘Good Morning my love, I’ll be at work by the time you wake up. Just wanted to let you know that I love you and that we’re having dinner at the manor tonight. Deal with it babe, XO (Y/N)’ 

"I know you said to mind my business But Cupid sent me on a mission It's got me sitting, wishing, waiting for your call Let's be lucky people, you and me”

You hobbled vicariously to the couch, hoping to not spill the wine you were carrying. Getting comfortable and making sure your leg is properly elevated, you open your current book and start reading. The video cuts to a later time, as seen by the darkness in the window next to you and your book soon was read through. Throughout the video, your face gets more worried and you check your phone more frequently than the start of the video. It’s the first time in a while where you weren’t out there with Jason patrolling Gotham but since you got in a bit of a scuffle last week with some of Joker’s goons, you were out of commission with a broken leg. The video cuts one last time to you almost asleep on the couch. Jason crawls through the window and takes off his mask. You jump at the sound but your startled eyes light up at the sight of your boyfriend and you open your arms wide at the boy. Jason gives you a tired smile and strips off his jacket and utilities before joining you on the couch. Careful of your leg, he laid with his head on your chest and your arms circle around him. One hand moves up to play with his hair and you see a dopey smile form on Jasons’ tired face as he falls asleep laying on you.

"My hourglass is in your hands You've got my time, you are my plans Let's keep each other safe from the world”

Your leg is fully healed and you’re on the roof of your apartment in your (V/N) outfit with Jason next to you in his Red Hood outfit. His mask is off, allowing his face to be seen with only a domino mask covering his identity. The sun is about to set behind you as you laugh swinging his arms with yours. You pull him closer to your body and started to dance. He gives you a look before giving in to your antics. The two of you are goofily dancing before it turns to Jason just holding you and swaying with the sun almost gone behind you both, casting a silhouette. You break from his grasp, giving him a sweet kiss and flipping backward off of the building. Jason is laughing to himself as he grabs his mask, placing it on and following you on patrol.

"You've got me writing sappy songs I used to laugh at on my own Let's keep each other safe from the world Because I know it's hard to let yourself be fine But I'll carry around our worried flurried minds But I'll let go if you do too"

You giggle as the bubbles from your bath tickles your skin. Your cat looks curiously at the bubbles from the rim of the bathtub and swats at some. You hear the front door open and close and Jason calls out to you. 

“In the bath!” You yell in response and you hear heavy footsteps. By the time Jason appears in the bathroom door, he’s already shirtless.

“Mind if I join?” You respond by moving forward in the bath creating space behind you for Jason. Doing this made some bathwater spill over the rim and your cat yowled in surprise before running off.

“Crazy cat,” You mutter to yourself as Jason climbs into the tub behind you.

“He may be crazy but you love him,” Jason tugs you into his lab once he settled.

“Seems as if I have a type.” You smile back at him as his face shifts into betrayal.

“You take that back!” 

“Nope,” You grab some bubbles and try and place it on his face, creating a beard. You giggle at how goofy he looks until he goes and nuzzles his face into your neck, tickling you. Screaming, you squirm in his hold as he starts blowing raspberries onto your neck. Once Jason stopped and you calmed down, you sink deeper into the bathwater and Jason places a kiss on your head. You tilt your head up slightly to look at your lover and he leans down to kiss you. It’s messy but it’s perfect at the moment. Jason tapped your nose lightly when the two of you pulled away from the kiss.

"Happy birthday, Merry Christmas To the one I call my Mr I'm leaving you love notes in the kitchen, say it all I know you said to mind my business But Cupid sent me on a mission It's got me sitting, wishing, waiting for your call Let's be lucky people, you and me"

You open the door to your new home and let your cat free from his kennel. He runs around the living room for a bit before losing interest and grooming himself instead. You laugh at your cats' reaction to the new house and jump when arms wrap around your waist. You turn your head to look at Jason and smile, kissing his lips sweetly. 

"My common sense is powerless And I'm convinced that you Caught me lucky, it's just the half of it The better half of me that I couldn't quit"

Jason is snuggled into your back, leaving kisses on your shoulder as you try and film. His hair tickling your neck as you giggle, trying to release yourself from his grip. Once he releases you, you flip him over so you're straddling his waist and the camera is poised on him. He pouts at you behind the camera and he looks sinfully adorable with messy hair from you pulling it earlier and dark bruises marking his chest from your kisses. You lean down into the frame and kiss his cheek. During then he catches you off guard and flips you over, taking the camera from your hand. You reach out to grab the camera but he dodges it and the shoulder of Jason’s shirt you're wearing falls exposing your shoulder. You scrunch your nose at him and make a goofy face at the camera, sticking your tongue out. It ends with you mouthing "I love you” to Jason before you covered the lens with your hand.

“ 'Cause now I'm flying across the country More than monthly for you You've got me more than clumsy But you're my yellow lovely"

For a month in the summer, you went home to visit your family. Sadly Jason couldn’t come with, he had duties in Gotham as Red Hood. During that month, you two must have facetimed at least once a day and you missed him so much, especially Larry, your cat. You couldn’t bring Larry along since your brother is allergic and the majority of your facetimes, much to Jason’s dismay, was you talking to Larry. Now the month was over and you were finally coming home. Immediately getting off the plane, you saw Jason. Looking like he just rolled out of bed, in one of your oversized yellow jumpers, he never looked better. Your smile grew and you dropped your luggage, running to the love of your life. He didn’t notice you until you were in the air jumping onto him. Luckily, Jason is used to this and he caught you with only a few stumbles. You litter his face with kisses and held on to him for dear life. 

“I missed you, I missed you, I missed you,” You repeat between each kiss before pulling away and looking straight into his eyes. “I missed you, Jay-bird.” 

“Sure seemed like you missed the cat more than me,” Jason muttered before squeezing your ass and kissing you hard. You smiled into the kiss and laughed at his comment. You may have missed your cat but you missed Jason even more.

"Happy birthday, Merry Christmas To the one I call my Mr I'm leaving you love notes in the kitchen and say it all I know you said to mind my business But Cupid sent me on a mission It's got me sitting, wishing, waiting for your call"

The video closes with you and your guitar and a kiss blown at the camera. 

“Soooo,” You drawl out peaking nervously at Jason. He had tears in his eyes and gaped at you. “Aw you big baby,” You cup his face and kissed his nose.

Jason looked at you with love in his eyes before trying to respond, “I- oh god. That was beautiful, (Y/N).” 

You blush and hide in his chest, “Was it really?”

“Yeah, it was. Just, uh, hold on for a second.” He picks you up from his lap and races towards your shared room. After a minute of fidgeting your thumbs, he returns and kneels in front of you. “This is not how I planned this going but after watching that there is no one else I’d ever want to marry. (Y/N) (L/N), I am so in love with you, will you marry me?” He opens the velvet box he had hidden behind his back to reveal a beautiful ring.

“Oh my god, holy shit,” You gasp, covering your mouth. “Yes, a thousand times yes, Jay.” He slides the ring onto your left ring finger and picks you up from the couch, kissing you. You break the kiss to look him in the eyes, “Now, for your other gift.” Somehow, still in his arms, you removed your shirt to reveal his favorite deep red lacy bra you own and he groaned loudly.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Jason smirks before carrying you to your bed.

[cottonwoolsocks]

Sense of Control

AO3 | Masterlist

@whumptober2019 - prompts 1, 3, 7, 10, 19, 21

Summary: Logan’s drink gets spiked at a party, and the others are nowhere to be found.

Relationships: none

Warnings: alcohol/drinking, unconsciousness, panic attack, vomiting, hurt no comfort If I need to tag anything else, let me know!

Word Count: 2261

———

Delirium (n) “an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence, occurring in intoxication, fever, and other disorders.”

Logan took another sip of the sparkling wine in his hand, eyes scanning the room and watching as the loud group of drunken freshmen he wasn't sure even attended his college stumbled from the room in a swathing mass of giggles. Patton had recommended this particular beverage, and although Logan had never really been one to drink unless he was having a particularly rough night with one of his assignments or projects, Patton had insisted it had a low alcohol content, and Logan had agreed. Only, Patton had disappeared along with Roman not long after they'd arrived, and even Virgil had spotted his friends Elliott and Kai and slunk off somewhere.

His Lonely Corner drinking buddy whom he had been standing silently with up until now suddenly decided they had better places to be, setting their glass down and heading back into the fray without so much as a second glance. Shame. Logan felt like they'd bonded in their mutual lonely drinking despite not having spoken a word, but apparently that wasn't the case.

Logan was drinking alone at a college party. Figures.

There was some loud, modern dance music blaring from the next room that made Logan’s head throb, and bright lights glared through the doorway. Logan was glad he had chosen the conservatory to hide in, as despite the busy couple in the corner and the spilled drinks by the door to the garden, this room was tame compared to the rest of the house.

And although it was Remy who had organised this party, despite it being someone Logan knew, he was still seriously questioning why he'd even come. He had, regrettably, assumed he and Virgil would stay together for the duration of the event as neither were particularly fond of parties, but even Virgil had found some friends. The same could not be said of Logan—all his friends had other, more party-appropriate company.

He sighed gently. Perhaps it would just be best for him to go home and try and finish some of the assignments he was neglecting through being here—it was nearly eleven thirty, after all—but the others would surely be disappointed if he left. Even though none of them were with him. Even though they were all happier elsewhere; not that he blamed them.

Clearly, the best thing to do would be to go and find one of the others, rather than wallowing in his own self pity when the others would (probably) love to talk to him.

Deciding this was indeed the most logical course of action he moved to place down his glass on the table, but started as he noticed that his hands had begun to shake.

He frowned. Why were his hands shaking? He'd only had one drink, and it had a low alcohol content, so he wasn't intoxicated. Sure, he was tired, but not enough so as to become jittery, and while he may be a little trepidatious about heading back inside to the party to find one of his friends he rarely got shaky with nerves, and now was certainly not such an occasion.

He clasped his hands together in an attempt to stablilise the tremoring, but they only seemed to shake harder in response, and now his mind was reeling.

He wasn't intoxicated, wasn't tired, wasn't hungry or dehydrated—perhaps it was a panic attack? Virgil said he got them randomly at times, with no prior warning, but Logan didn't feel any of the other symptoms—no shortness of breath, sense of impending doom, or chest pains. Perhaps he had become ill?

The corners of his vision began to gloss over and nausea started to settle in his stomach like the sticky film that begins to form over the top of old milk. He glanced around the room, suddenly apprehensive and looking for another human being to share his moment of confusion with, in the same way strangers make eye contact when something out of the ordinary happens or there's a particularly bumpy plane landing—but it was empty. Even the couple in the corner that had seemed far too preoccupied to consider moving had apparently decided they had to hurry somewhere else.

Perhaps he'd been poisoned?

It did add up—shaky hands, nausea, his mind slowly fogging over along with his vision, and he had just finished a drink.

But he'd kept an eye on it the whole time, hadn't he? And he'd watched the drink being poured from the bottle, he'd watched for that specifically, and it had all been fine, and he hadn't put down his drink once since then, and somebody would have had to drug it but there was nobody there, nobody had been there, nobody except—

The strange person who'd been standing next to him for the last twenty minutes or so, and just so happened to have disappeared right when he started to feel abnormal.

How had he not noticed?

He took off his glasses, rubbing at the lenses with the hem of his shirt in an attempt to clear away the fog gathering over them. His fingers trembled and the glasses fell to the floor with a distant thud, and Logan wondered fleetingly when the music had been turned down.

His eyes travelled down to his feet, down to where the glasses supposedly were, although his vision seemed to be fading in and out along with the pulsating beat of the music that seemed to course through the very body of the building. He squinted. Nothing to see.

A sudden wave of dizziness overcame him and he tried to reach out and steady himself on the table, but the next thing he knew his cheek was pressed against the wooden floorboards and his fist was weakly grasping for support on the ground that had been air only a moment beforehand.

The world was tilting this way and that like a ship on a choppy ocean, and Logan’s head was in spirals as he tried to push himself upright again, his shoulder sore from where he must have been lying on it awkwardly, stiff almost like he'd been there for more than just a moment. Which he hadn't, of course. Because he'd remember. He could always remember.

Something pressed uncomfortably into the palm of his hand as he managed to move into what he hoped was a sitting position, although it was near impossible to tell with the way the world seemed to rotate around him, picking up the offending object only to realise they were his glasses.

Three indeterminate attempts later his glasses were back on his face, although by this point he was now sure it wasn't fogged over glasses that had caused his wavering vision.

He needed to find one of the others.

Or call an ambulance. That— that probably made the most logical sense.

He patted his pocket, but there was no comforting hollow sound as there would normally be when his knuckles hit the hard backing of his phone.

He patted another pocket.

Nope, nope, and nope.

He took a deep breath, trying not to gag as it provoked the nausea he'd just about forgotten about under the dizziness and falling over to almost knock him back to his knees as he pulled himself upright by the corner of the table.

Blearily, he scanned the room, trying to formulate a plan of action which was proving considerably difficult considering he couldn't think.

Garden door. No point going out there.

Hallway door. Yes, that was what he wanted.

He took a step forward, but the moment the support of the table was gone from under his fingertips his knees crumpled like they'd never been there in the first place as the ground rushed to meet him.

His head might have knocked against the ground and there was the taste of something coppery in his mouth, but Logan was beginning to realise that the most comfortable option seemed to be to just fall asleep, mayhaps that be on the floor right here. 

No! screamed the louder voice in his head, the one that guided him most every day. Going to sleep whilst under the influence of an unknown drug can be dangerous. Find the others.

Find the others. Logan nodded, reaching his hand over to his opposite wrist to absently readjust his watch—a nervous habit, borne from always having a strict timetable and a wish for punctuality. 

Nothing. Just the odd smoothness of a watchless wrist, a naked wrist missing the usual accessory he was never seen without.

If Logan had been feeling sick before, he was now at least 87% sure he was going to throw up.

Somehow, somehow he managed to pull himself upright—he blinked, and he was at the doorway to the main house, the sound of thumping bass hammering through his body and reverberating in his rib cage. He shifted uncomfortably, shaking his head to try and get rid of the noise which only seemed to be growing louder. The empty space on his wrist was taunting him, heart beating faster at the lack of normality.

He was going to throw up.

Hardly able to follow his own thought patterns, Logan turned 180 degrees and began stumbling towards the garden.

Reaching the door he staggered through, almost slipping on the drink spilled on the floor and tumbling forwards onto the tiled path.

A dull pain dragged along the skin of his forearms and knees where he'd hit the ground, but it was a disconnected sort of pain: muffled, almost; he scrambled upright and almost fell over again as the world tilted to one side. 

Head reeling as his eyes grazed the garden, he realised there was not another soul outside, but he didn't have time to think about the significance of that as his foot caught on something that hadn't been there before and he tumbled forward, instinctively grabbing the bush beside him to try and break the fall.

He managed to stay upright, this time, but he could feel a clammy coldness along his spine telling him he was going to pass out any moment, so it was with great desperation that he collapsed to the ground, shielded by the bush in  what he hoped was a secluded area of the garden, where he could sit with his back pressed against the garden wall away from the noise and clamour of inside.

He choked, scrambling sideways in the nick of time as nausea got the better of him and he was heaving into the grass, gasping between retches in an attempt to bring some oxygen into his system and calm himself down.

His head was spinning, spinning, spinning and it was just him alone, in an empty world that was cold and damp and spinning and blind. There was nothing to hear but the insistent ringing in his ears, and the thoughts in his head were severed from him, locked away in a chest he couldn't open and preventing him from helping himself.

The vomiting stopped and he managed to pull himself away from the mess, collapsing against the wall and fighting to heave in a breath, but there was something tied around his chest or his lungs had shrunk and he couldn't seem to draw in enough air to be satisfied.

He was suddenly aware of how very alone he was, wherever he was, and how easy of a target that made him, pulling his knees up as close to his chest as he could and heaving off his tie as he tried to bring back a sense of control.

He couldn't think, he couldn't think, how was he supposed to do anything if he couldn't think? That was what he was good at, that's how he coped with situations, that's what everyone relied on him for, his ability to look at situations rationally and figure out a logical solution without getting worked up with things as trivial as emotions. He reached for his watch, only to be painfully reminded of the reliance he didn't realise he'd developed for the item.

He had lost control. He had lost control. He was going to die here, he was going to die alone in whatever place this was, he was going to suffocate and die because there must be something smothering him, must be something inhibiting his breathing because there was no way this was his fault, no way this was something he could control, he was always in control, he was always in control, he was always—

A cold shiver went through his body and it was like all the energy he had was suddenly drained away, his head lolling forwards and his glasses jabbing uncomfortably into the side of his face, although he couldn't draw the strength to move them.

Still couldn't breathe.

There was a wheezing sound coming from somewhere, but Logan’s head wouldn't cooperate when he told it to move, ears still filled with cotton wool and his lungs only half their usual size.

His head was getting lighter and lighter, so light Logan wondered if it was still attached to his body, eyes throbbing and fizzing, the static in his ears getting louder and louder, more insistent, almost like it was trying to communicate, trying to warn him.

He couldn't pass out he couldn't lose control not here not now no no no not alone not here not without— not without— not without...

[tomeandflickcorner]

Episode Review- The Real Ghostbusters: Knock, Knock

Wow, I remember enjoying this episode to the point that it’s among the episodes I remember the most strongly from the days when I’d watch the show as a kid.  But it really holds up due to how fun it was.

Right away, we get an action scene.  The Ghostbusters are in the middle of a bust at this bowling alley somewhere.  They manage to catch the ghost with relative ease, but not before inflicting some pretty sizable damage to the bowling alley.  I’m not kidding, there’s actually a moment where the camera focuses on the fire that the Ghostbusters caused. Of course, the episode glosses over this as we’re never told who is paying for the damages to the facility.  Instead, they simply exit the bowling alley to be greeted by the cheers of the crowd.  Interestingly enough, when Winston comments how the crowd loves them, Egon voices his doubt, saying he thinks it could be a trap. (What kind of trap would this be, Egon? Paranoid much?)

They eventually make it back to the Firehouse, where they are greeted by a rather sizable mess.  It turns out that Slimer has decided to have a huge gorge fest, consuming a sizable amount of food while they were gone.  Janine doesn’t hesitate to complain about this, announcing that they don’t need a receptionist, they need a babysitter, and a whole platoon of them. Being true to character, Peter reacts to this with his usual anger.  He makes a movement to fire his Proton Pack at Slimer, but Winston and Ray hold him back, giving Slimer the chance to get away.  Egon reminds Peter that he can’t go after Slimer, as he’s the only ghost willing to hold still long enough to be closely studied, and that being able to study a ghost is vitally important to the advancement of science and whatnot. On that note, the Ghostbusters decide to retire for the night.  But not before they head down the basement to place the captured ghosts into the Containment Unit.  Though the odd thing is that they’re acting like it’s some big chore.  Peter even briefly argues with Winston over which one of them will do the honors, with Winson insisting that it’s Peter’s turn as he’d already did the dishes.  I didn’t realize loading a trap into the Containment Unit was such a trial.

Meanwhile, deep below the city streets, a group of construction workers are hard at work in building a new subway tunnel.   As they’re tunneling along with their giant drill, they stumble across this large ornate door.  Now, this door is awesome.  Especially with the giant demonic looking face adorning it.  This door was a personal highlight of the episode for me, and I think I’m sad the door never appears again after this episode. (Though there appears to be brief cameos of the demonic face in the IDW comics.)  Anyway, the construction workers all pause for a bit upon discovering this door, with one of them noticing that there’s something written on the door.  As they start to try and figure out what the writing says, the demonic face on the door comes alive, declaring ‘DO NOT OPEN UNTIL DOOMSDAY!’  Obviously, this gives two of the construction workers pause, with them thinking it might be in their best interest to turn around and leave this door alone.  But their boss insists that they have a job to do, and this subway tunnel must be built, regardless of what some nut door might say.  (Dude, a door is TALKING!  I get you have a deadline or whatnot, but how jaded can you be?)  When the head construction worker orders the drilling to continue, the door lets out a loud growl, and then opens up.

Okay, I realize the door would have been opened anyway if the construction workers did continue on drilling.  But the door opened up before the drill even started up again.  So….technically, nobody actually opened the door.  It just decided to open up on its own under the mere threat of being opened.  Kinda a faulty security system there.

Anyway, when the door opens up, the construction workers are all seemingly vaporized, as they completely vanish from sight, and a bunch of poltergeist energy is released.  The energy ends up consuming a subway train, forcing it to become possessed.  And apparently, so does the graffiti etched onto the side of the subway train, as all of it becomes alive and runs off. This alone is pretty wild, as it results in various illustrations and logos sprouting legs and running about. We’re talking winged eyeballs with legs and arms and a giant green speech bubble featuring the word ‘soon’ bouncing about.

Needless to say, this leads to someone putting in a call to the Ghostbusters’ office, resulting in a pretty good joke from Janine. Something along the lines of ‘Something messed up in the subway?  How can you tell the difference?’  That was a clever one-liner, especially considering I’ve been on a New York subway.  I can say from experience that you can encounter interesting things there. After taking down the caller’s information, Janine heads up to the Firehouse’s sleeping quarters to inform the Ghostbusters, who were in the process of changing into their pajamas. They do kinda groan at the fact that they have to head back out again, but they proceed to get back into their uniforms.  (Random observation here- in a blink-and-you’ll miss it moment, when you see Egon zip his jumpsuit back up, you catch a brief glimpse of what I think was a patch of chest hair.  So Egon has chest hair?  Not a good or bad thing, of course.  But it’s just a bit jarring, since it indicates someone actually took the time to animate chest hair on the character.)

As the Ghostbusters enter the subway system, they quickly find the place covered in in ectoplasm, with Ray noting how it looks as if the whole place is turning evil (something he’s clearly thrilled about).  To their surprise, a subway train pulls into the station, despite the fact that they’d been told offscreen that the trains had stopped running. So of course they decide to enter the empty subway train, even though it’s pretty much a dumb idea to board an empty subway train even under normal circumstances.  Naturally, as the subway train begins to move, the lights briefly go off, and when they turn back on again, the Ghostbusters find themselves completely surrounded by a horde of skeletal ghosts.

At this point, the episode gives us an extended action sequence of the possessed subway train careening out of control, even to the point of literally jumping out from one subway entrance to another, leaping over the city streets Free Willy style.  While the subway train continues on its joyride, the Ghostbusters are busy firing their Proton Packs at the skeletal ghosts in an effort to keep them at bay as the Ghostbusters theme song plays in the background.  Eventually, the train ride comes to an end, with the possessed subway train stopping at a shadowy station.  When the Ghostbusters exit the train, it instantly deflates like a balloon. Upon consulting his PKE Meter, Egon notes the source of the disturbance is a 10 mile walk from their current location. But before they could begin to search for the origin point, their attention is caught by what appears to be a solitary woman standing at the edge of the subway platform.  Peter immediately approaches the woman, offering to help get her out of there, but it’s then revealed the woman is another one of those skeletal ghosts.  And then the skeletal ghost woman just kinda….explodes.  Okay, that was odd.

Of course, the exploding ghost lady does kinda serve a purpose.  Winston, upon backing up from the explosion, trips over a large stone tablet jutting up from the ground.  The other Ghostbusters proceed to examine the stone, with Egon noting that there’s something written on the stone in Sumerian.  (Even though close-ups of the stone show that the hieroglyphics don’t match actual Sumerian writing.  Nice try, show, but I don’t think any ancient civilization ever utilized a skull with a tongue sticking out as a hieroglyphic.)  Anyway, Egon, announcing that he can read Sumerian in his sleep, underwater with the lights turned off, translates the writing to say that the tunnel ahead leads to a door to the Nether-Region, and that this door was only to be opened at the end of the world.  He goes on to announce someone must have opened the door prematurely.  And much like a dam breaking, the flow of poltergeist energy will continue to consume everything.  Peter, for some reason, doesn’t seem to understand why this is a big deal, so Ray has to spell it out for him through this whole analogy of stinky socks in a closet.  I guess this analogy was put in for the benefit of the wee little kids watching this episode, in case the dam visualization went over their heads.  Either way, they determine that all of this spooky ghostly aura that’s consuming the subway tunnels is what was meant to replace everything after the world came to an end.  And if they don’t find a way to close the door again, this world of darkness with ghosts taking over everywhere will be the new reality.  With the mission clear, the Ghostbusters head further into the tunnel. (And the stone tablet randomly sprouts a face and begins to laugh for no discernable reason other than to further illustrate that things are going to get weird in this episode.)

So the Ghostbusters continue to head down the tunnel to locate the door.  Naturally, they encounter some strange and bizarre stuff along the way, such as a stone pillar covered with eyes that probably wouldn’t look out of place in a Jim Henson film.  At one point, they witness what appears to be a longboat that is constructed entirely of bones.  This longboat is being rowed by a group of human prisoners, with a skeletal figure overlooking their progress while pointing out random things like rocks and dirt like some kind of vindictive tour guide.  Oddly enough, the Ghostbusters decide to pretend like they didn’t see this and continue on their way.  Which is a bit upsetting, to be honest.  I realize the implication is that these people are condemned human souls that are beyond help since we hear one of the people state they’ve been rowing for 500 years, but it’s still a bit disturbing that the episode simply sweeps this under the rug with them never referencing it again.  Instead, we get some brief scenes interspaced throughout the episode to show what’s going on aboveground.  More and more subway trains are getting possessed by the spectral ghostly energy emanating from the door, and a news report announces that the Ghostbusters haven’t been seen since they first entered the subway tunnels two hours ago.

Eventually, the Ghostbusters begin to near the end of the tunnel.  But first, they have to make it through one final section that this creepy-voiced tree thing states is the Place of Lost Souls.  The Ghostbusters are informed that all new spirits must make their way through it, and that no living being has ever came out of it in one peace.  It then wishes the Ghostbusters a nice day as they press on.  (Thanks, creepy tree thing!)  The Ghostbusters navigate through the Place of Lost Souls, evading a dark room filled with a large amount of eyes and what could best be described as an Escher style series of paths.  Finally, they reach the site of the opened door, where a large glowing core of energy can be seen.

It’s here that Egon reveals a bombshell.  In order for them to put a stop to this, they have to actually enter the door and utilize the energy of the door’s Power Core to supercharge their Proton Packs in order to pull everything that was released back into the door.  The catch is, if the door closes up again when they’re still inside, they will be trapped there forever.  This idea is particularly distressing to Ray, as he’d just purchased season tickets to the Mets.  Peter accuses Egon of knowing this from the start, and Egon more or less confirms this, stating that if he had told them the truth earlier, they might not have been willing to come this far.

After a bit of back and forth, though, the Ghostbusters all decide to see this through to the end, crossing the threshold of the open doorway. Upon doing so, they fire their Proton Packs at the Power Core, with their packs in full dispersion mode, wide angle.  This results in all of the released poltergeist energy to be collected back up and, upon switching their Proton Streams back into Capture Mode, everything is drawn back through the door.  However, as all of the escaped ghosts and such are drawn back into the door, the Ghostbusters also find themselves being pulled inward as well.  In a last ditch effort at escaping before the doors can fully close behind them, Ray comes up with the idea of firing off their Proton Packs at the Power Core once again. Only this time in order to launch themselves back through the closing doors.  Rather like a rocket being propelled forward by the flames shooting out the back.  This ends up working, as the Ghostbusters make it out alive, seconds before the door closes up again.  As they dust themselves off, Peter jokingly states that they should do that again. But the demonic face on the Doomsday Door responds by repeating its warning of ‘DO NOT OPEN UNTIL DOOMSDAY!’

With the crisis averted, the Ghostbusters once again return to the Firehouse, with Ray stating he feels like he could sleep for a week. Peter, on the other hand, announces he plans to raid the fridge and eat until dawn.  Because saving the world obviously gives you an appetite.  Of course, when Peter opens the fridge, he finds Slimer has already consumed everything inside.  Naturally, this results in Peter’s renewed ire at the little green ghost, but the others seem to take the knowledge that Slimer just ate all of their food in stride, with Winston telling Peter he shouldn’t take it out on Slimer just because he had a bad day.  Egon then points out that perhaps the reason why Slimer eats all the time is because he wants to feel accepted.  As the others head out of the room, Egon reminds Peter that Slimer is a ghost who lives with a group of people whose job it is to bust ghosts.  He asks Peter how he would feel if he was in Slimer’s shoes.

Peter doesn’t seem to be in the mood to consider this, but later that night, we see him sitting in bed while the others are sleeping, seemingly deep in thought.  As the other Ghostbusters continue to sleep, Peter sneaks out into the hall, where he finds Slimer.  Covertly, Peter tosses him a rather small pizza, announcing that if Slimer ever told anybody about this, then he would simply deny it.  After delivering the small peace offering, Peter goes back to bed, as Slimer remains in the hall, chuckling to himself.  And it’s here that the episode ends.

This episode was weird but fun.  Sure, it’s a rather simple plot and a lot of the scenes are clearly there to fill in the time, but we get a lot of interesting visuals, so I say it evens out.  And in a way, it does serve as something of a secondary pilot episode, as this was the first episode of the show’s syndicated run.  So it’s entirely possible that this was the episode that would introduce the show’s premise to viewers who hadn’t been able to watch the first 13 episodes on ABC. And it was pretty awesome to get an adventure with high stakes involved.  Not to mention what is quite possibly the first onscreen death within the show, as it’s doubtful those construction workers survived.  Though it does beg the question of what happened with the subway tunnel plans.  Were the plans at constructing the tunnel completely abandoned after the incident?  Or did the construction company simply decide to chart out a different route for the tunnel?  Of course, this is a show that’s largely episodic in nature, so all of those questions naturally have to be forgotten after the credits roll.

(Click here for more Ghostbusters reviews)

[queensqewed0722]

Jon Snow and Sansa Stark :  The Game of Thrones OTP that I never saw coming

I’m going to begin this post by saying that I never watched a single episode of the HBO series Game of Thrones.  Nada.  I tried with the very first episode of season 1 but at the time, I was in the middle of the second book “A Clash of Kings” so I dropped the series.  Being the purist that I am, I prefer to finish the novels first before getting into their film or television adaptations.  This allows me to compare and to fill in any missing pieces in the adaptation.  I told myself that I would finish all the novels, then just catch up with the series.  But I kept on putting off both the novels and the series so now, here I am, still in the middle of “A Storm of Swords: Part 1″, and on the eve of the first episode of the final season.  I doubt very much that I’ll be able to finish all the novels in time for the final season run.  But I do have all the books, except for the one with the maps, and I’m looking forward to the final novel “The Winds of Winter”.  

So why did I have to premise what I’m about to say with that?  That’s because I want to emphasize that I never had any preconceived notions when I found myself falling headlong and getting onboard this ship called “Jonsa”.  

Truth be told, I did have a little bias initially towards the Jon/Daenerys pairing, but this was purely because of my having read the first two novels.  It had nothing to do with me thinking that they would make a lovely pair.  I just thought that it would make sense, plot-wise, given who they were.  At the onset, I already guessed that Jon Snow was no ordinary bastard, that he had a birth secret that would turn the game of thrones upside down.  And Daenerys is the last known Targaryen princess.   I guess I’ve watched enough anime and KDramas to be very familiar with this kind of twist in the story.  In any case, I didn’t get into the novels for the romance.  I just found this whole complex universe fascinating.    

So I don’t recall anymore how I found myself aboard the ship.  I think I was browsing YouTube randomly and decided to check out some GoT clips.  Then I think I stumbled onto some MVs made by creative fans, or I found the clips of their reunion scene and other scenes of Jon and Sansa together in season 6.  Either way, I decided to check them out.  Lo and behold! I found myself practically hit between the eyes with the sheer chemistry and sexual tension between these two!  It was the last thing I expected to see.  

I think what really did me in were their reunion on Castle Black, and when Jon kissed Sansa’s forehead on the battlements.  

That reunion was just so emotional.  Without saying much, only with their facial expressions, it was more than enough to tell me how much seeing each other meant to them.  Of course, if you think about it, it was probably out of sheer relief and a bit of hysteria because I doubt they ever expected they would see each other again, much less see each other alive and well, or as well as can be expected after what they’ve gone through.  But then, there was Jon, watching Sansa sip her soup, and the way he looked at her, it was as if she was something precious and delicate.  Sansa was more reserved during that scene, her feelings more of a puzzle to me.  As if after the adrenalin rush of their reunion had died down, she was not entirely sure how she would conduct herself in front of Jon, whom she never really interacted with when they were growing up in Winterfell.  But Jon’s words at that moment were very sure:  they will stay together.  “Where will WE go?”  

And then, after the Battle of the Bastards, when they talked and he kissed her on her forehead, it was, to me, the physical manifestation of that look that he gave her when they first sat together after their emotional reunion.  That to him, Sansa has indeed become very precious and I guess he only realized at that moment exactly how much.  

One can always argue that the forehead kiss is a sign of brotherly affection and Jon’s reassurance that he trusts her, in spite of what happened.  In all honesty, that was what my mind was telling me.  However, my gut feel was saying otherwise.  The vibe that I got when I first saw that kiss, and even during several repeat viewings that I did afterwards, where nowhere near the area of filial love.  It was something else.  If I didn’t already have an inkling about who Jon really is even from the books alone, I would have icked myself out with what I was feeling.  But knowing what I knew about who he was, it just occurred to me that this, this thing between Jon and Sansa, makes much better sense than Jon and Daenerys.  This is of course, based purely on the scenes from the series that I saw, and not from anything that I’ve read yet.  I haven’t reached that point yet in the novel series where Sansa’ character has grown enough for her and Jon to make sense together.  But if the series reflects the direction of the novels as a whole, then I would expect them to happen eventually even on paper.    

There were also the other scenes in between of Jon and Sansa together, where Sansa’s feelings were more on the surface.  I don’t have to analyze them in detail anymore as I’m sure so many have done that before me.  In any case, I don’t need further convincing as far as these two characters are concerned.  It’s just that, after having seen what I’ve seen of Jon and Sansa together, I can’t unsee it anymore.  It effectively destroyed whatever little bias I had for the Jon/Daenerys pairing from the novels that I was initially expecting.  

If the drama were to still go the route of Jon/Daenerys, after everything that it made happen between Jon and Sansa, then I will feel very shortchanged indeed.     

*Credits to lauraZvidZ, the owner of the video that I quoted on this post.  This was one fanmade MV of the Jonsa pairing that I especially love, more so because it compared them to Ned and Catelyn, and Ned just happens to be my most favorite Game of Thrones character of all time.  

[tiemeupspidey]

Big Bros vs Lil Bro

Tom Holland Imagines

Relationship: Tom Holland x Reader

Summary: Seb and Mackie teasing Tommo about you and how in love he is with you.

A/N: not my best work but this was one of my scrap imagines I just randomly had typed from when I was sick with the flu.

Masterlist

Y/N

It was Tom’s first panel with Sebastian and Anthony and honestly you were excited for him. Lowkey you’ve always wanted to see an interview with the three of them in person. Now was your perfect chance to witness this. You were sat in the audience at the front like the proud girlfriend you were.  Of course, Tom insisted on having guards near you so no fans attacked you. Only due to the one incident that happened he’s paranoid for your safety now. And you didn’t blame him, ever since then you are anxious to go out in public without him.

The crowd was loud with excitement as it filled the room. Everyone was waiting patiently as you sat there with everyone else. Tom was texting you how he was going to do a grand entrance. After reading the text you sit there and pray he doesn’t fall on his face and break his nose. Knowing him he won't fall, but you always were afraid since that one time he was on the set of Chaos Walking. You couldn’t help but laugh to yourself at remembering the facetime call you got when he broke it. The sight almost giving you a heart attack.

The crowd’s screams tore you from your thoughts making you scramble for your phone. Opening up your camera you raise your phone as the host continues to hype up the audience. You turn towards the opening when he mentions Sebastian’s name. Followed by Anthony who walked out with a smile. The crowd gets even louder if it’s humanly possible when the Spider-Man theme song starts playing. Tom runs out flipping over the couch of his sitting colleagues landing in a pose.

You cut the video after he waves to everyone and sits down. A mic now in his hand that the host gave him. He sits in between Sebastian and Anthony waving at the audience. You couldn’t help but smile at how happy he looked. Sebastian ruffles Tom’s hair which makes Tom smile even bigger. Camera flashes going crazy at the content they were providing.

“So what was it like being on set together?”

“Oh man don’t get me started especially cause of this kid” Anthony teases Tom by elbowing him lightly.

“What do you mean by that?” the host asks leaning forward in his seat. A small smile graced his face at he looked at his guests.

“This kid is a handful most of the time. It’s really fun watching him fight too because he’s so small” Anthony laughs leaning back into the couch. Tom’s reaction was priceless as he grabbed onto his biceps. The little pout he had made you laugh to yourself. Just because you see that at home if you don’t give him a kiss in the morning.

“Hey! I’m not that tiny...” Tom defends himself making the crowd and the host laugh.

“Don’t get me started on how much this kid talks about his girlfriend like kid we get it you looovvve her” Sebastian extends out the word.

“He in LOVE love” Anthony teases as him and Sebastian both mess with him. The crowd losing their shit over the scene being displayed in front of them. Tom squirms in the seat laughing as the two pester him. That was the relationship they shared. The two of them loved Tom and you knew it.

“Oi! Stop it you two!” Tom says into the mic fixing his hair.

“How was it being far from your girlfriend while filming?” the host asks making Tom look around the audience. A smile appearing on his face when he sees you and waves.

“Oh wow, it was incredibly hard to be away from her. I missed her a lot while I worked… I guess I did say I missed her a lot if it bugged these two” Tom gestures to his two colleagues with a laugh.

“Hi darling, you get to see what I deal with on a daily basis while I’m at work!” he talks to you as you face appears on the screen. A camera now aimed at you as you sat there. You waved to the camera shyly before looking back at Tom. Just looking at him eased your nerves.

“What you deal with?!” Sebastian exclaims looking at Tom.

“We have to deal with your juice demands sometimes” Anthony crosses his arms over his chest while everyone laughs. Tom covers his face in embarrassment as everyone laughs. Tom covers his face in embarrassment a pink hue to his cheeks.

“I’m not that demanding, my girlfriend can attest to that.” Tom huffs with a little pout. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes as he drags you into this. The interviewer asks more questions as time goes on. The hour went on about stories of onset shenanigans. Even stories of you got brought up when you were on set.

“I remember the time they needed an extra for a scene. And there was a scene where Spider-Man had to save a girl from a group of guys. Of course Tom’s lovely girlfriend was around and they had her just jump in set.” Seb laughed reminding you of the memory. You couldn’t help but blush because it was a moment you’d never forget. Tom couldn’t stop stumbling over his words making the cast laugh from his nervousness.

“His girl was wearing a cute little outfit and Tom was I guess struck by her innocent natural loo-”

“Oi!! This is embarrass Tom Holland for an hour” he groans tilting his head back. You couldn’t help but laugh at how they treated Tom. It was like he was their little brother. And you were glad Tom had these men in his life to work with. He’s grown in this industry and he’s a humble person.  

“I bet she has learned some acting tips since the two of you have been together for a while.” the host says to Tom who looks away from you and back to the host.

“I tend to run my lines with her and we always seem to have fun… I don’t know how she hasn’t acted in her life, she’s a natural when it comes to improv to be honest. So when she got pulled in for that scene she killed it after two takes! You’re amazing babe, I love you!” Tom spoke proudly smiling over at you. Your heart fluttering because his smile made you feel that way every time. There was a never dull moment with Tom, ever.

A/N: sorry this was shit.

[prxttylittle]

[Puts head on the other’s shoulder], “You’re the best thing to have ever happened to me.”, “You keep staring at me instead of watching the film. What’s up?”

[Puts head on the other’s shoulder]

{ v ;; the princess and the moon.

       The sound of his phone ringing at anytime after 11pm always reminded Prince of his dealing days but then he would remember where he was and recognise that, now, a phone call late in the night was usually never good news, it no longer meant money. They were woken up by a call close to 6am to say it was time to say goodbye to Cassie. Luna’s brother had texted in the middle of the night only to call the next day to update them when things got bad with her dad. Even when he was a kid, his dad would receive a call at 2am and then as a five year old Prince would be left alone with his baby sister for anything up to four days. The only time a phone ringing after midnight ever meant good news was when he and Luna were booty calls to one another when they were young. This time, it was bad news. The worst news, in fact. He’d gone to bed in a bad mood, after an icy conversation with his wife before they turned the lights off and he’d only just fallen asleep when the iPhone tone alarmed him, waking him up. Pandora’s face lit up his screen and he didn’t hesitate to answer, wiping the sleep out of his eye. Twenty minutes later Prince was at the hospital, rushing in search of his sister. Another fifteen minutes later, after dropping Leo off at Nick’s where Nick’s sister was minding all the other kids, Luna was right by his side. Nick was relaying what Panda had told them about the accident that day when a doctor appeared. She announced that he was going to be in surgery for another while, and was in critical condition but she couldn’t update them on his progress or make any comments. Prince stepped back and it felt like time around him was slowing down. He could feel people pass by, and could hear voices but everything was blurry. The sound of Pandora crying in Nick’s arms felt miles away, and he could barely feel Luna’s hand on his. His vision was blurred but it was only when he felt a drip down his cheek that he realised that it was tears blocking his sight. He stepped back again and this time felt Luna’s hand slip away from his. He didn’t say anything, he just walked away.

Prince got outside the hospital, feeling his insides churn inside him. He vomited into the nearest bin, tears still spilling down his face. He heard his name and turned to face his wife. “Is this enough for you? Is this me understanding loss enough for you?” He wasn’t angry with her. She’d had a point in their last argument when she stated he didn’t understand what she was dealing with after Cassie and her dad. He’d quite literally never lost anyone in his life. His mother walking away didn’t count, it wasn’t the same. It was no real love lost. And even now, Prince still hadn’t lost anybody yet. Matt was in surgery, there was a chance he’d make it. But Prince was no optimist. The doctor not being able to give them any positive news to cling onto other than the fact that he was alive didn’t give Prince much hope. He couldn’t believe that Matt was going to make it because after the loss of Cassie and Luna losing her dad, he thought maybe when it rains it just fucking pours. He shook his head, wiping violently at his eyes. “Fuck I’m sorry, I’m a fucking asshole. I didn’t mean that.” He wrapped his arms around her, tucking his face into the crook of her neck, despite the dampness of his cheeks. It didn’t make any sense for this to happen, for Matt to just get randomly hit by a car. It wasn’t fair, hadn’t they been put through enough as a group? It just didn’t make sense how Matt could be sending Prince voice messages with witty jokes one minute to being unconscious in an operating room the next. He let out a breath and pulled back, his hands going to cup Luna’s face. He wanted to speak, apologise for the tension between them at home. He wanted to tell her she could ignore him for the rest of their lives as long as she promised not to get ill or hit by a random truck on the motorway en route to work, he wanted to just tell her he loved her. Instead, he kissed her, because words never were his strong suit anyway. They returned to the ICU, to Matt’s room where the bed was vacant. Prince was still shaking as Luna led the way, hand intertwined with his. Pandora was sat next to the bed, holding onto the bed railing for dear life as if he was there. Nick was pacing up and down the hall outside the room, cursing out loud every now and then. Prince took a seat, Luna joining him. He felt her settle in, placing her head on his shoulder. He sighed and kissed the top of her head before they took one another’s hand and sat there together, playing the waiting game for word of Matt. Prince felt sick, like his lungs were going to explode but having Luna was helpful, having her hold onto him the way she was calmed him down.

Prince wasn’t even sure how many days had passed but Matt was still in his coma and he just wasn’t able to hold onto hope like everyone else. He felt like he was waiting to plan the funeral. He recalled conversations they’d had, where Matt joked about carrying his own coffin or playing stupid music as he was put into the ground. He didn’t know what Matt really wanted. He didn’t even know if Matt was more of a burial or cremation guy. He figured someone with as much money as Matt’s family probably had a will, even so young. He kept these thoughts to himself, not telling anyone he was preparing for the worst. He walked into the hospital room, frowning at the sight of the kids playing with cheap hospital toys on the ground. He glanced across to Nick who was on his phone. “What are they doing in here?” He hissed, quiet enough so nobody but Nick would hear him. Nick shrugged him off, barely supplying an answer. “Where’s Luna and Panda?” Nick still didn’t look up from his phone, saying he didn’t even notice they’d left. “Of course you didn’t, you can’t look up from your fucking phone for two seconds. Matt could wake up and you’d fucking miss it because you don’t give a shit. Asshole.” Nick did look up then, glaring at Prince. Before they could fight, Pandora and Luna returned. “Dad called Nick a asshole.” Prince blinked at Leo who stood up to greet his mother when she walked in. “Tattle-tale.” Katie giggled while Camille corrected his grammar. Luna just handed Prince the coffee she’d gotten him while she was gone instead of indulging the kids. Even with Matt lying lifeless in the middle of the room with wires and tubes sticking out all places, the kids still managed to stay oblivious, to joke around. Prince had never known innocence like that.

Sitting around his best friends’ hospital bed for even more days with no answers was draining. Prince was just waiting for the machines to stop beeping or for the doctors to come in with a final announcement that he was brain-dead, no sign of life. Part of him perked up whenever someone in a white coat came nearby, maybe they’d come in with good news. That had yet to happen. Prince decided to check on the kids in the hospital’s nursery. They had been going back and forth from the hospital to being babysat at home. Eli and Leo were playing with toy cars while the girls were drawing on a chalkboard with some other kids in the nursery. They were old enough to know something bad was happening but not old enough to be distracted from the importance of winning a toy race or colouring inside the lines of a drawing of a flower. “Prince?” Katie appeared in front of him. He knelt down in front of her. “Is Ava’s daddy going to die? Like my mum?” Prince frowned. “I just don’t want them to be sad like I am.”As Prince stepped back into the room, exhausted, he wrapped an arm around Luna’s waist from behind, kissing her shoulder over her shirt. “Any updates?” But he already knew the answer. She leaned back into his touch, resting her head on his shoulder like she’d done the first day, but now he was filled with even less hope and it wasn’t as comforting. Suddenly, despite no changes in the environment, the screen beside Matt’s bed started making rapid beeping noises. Prince stepped away from Luna as a nurse ran into the room. “What’s happening?” Pandora’s weepy voice challenged the nurse who was encouraging them all to leave the room. Another nurse and a doctor ran into the room, shouting medical terms at one another that Prince didn’t understand. One of the nurses started performing resuscitation, pounding on Matt’s chest. It looked painful. The rapid beeping turned to a steady sound. “He’s flatlining!” The nurse working on him called as the main doctor who’d been reporting to them entered the room. Prince knew what flat-lining meant and he couldn’t bear to stand around and watch his best friend, his brother, die. When Prince got outside, Nick was already out there. He had a cigarette in one hand and Prince noticed the flask in the other. It was less about Nick and more the image of Matt’s lifeless body that drove Prince to do what he did. “What the fuck is your problem?” Prince demanded as he shoved Nick from behind, causing him to choke and stumble forward. He grabbed the flask off Nick and threw it at the ground. “Your fucking kid is upstairs worried that Ava, Eli and Camille are going to be like her.” He shoved Nick again, who wasn’t fighting back. “But they won’t be because at least their other parent isn’t a piece of shit.” He shoved Nick yet again but insulting Nick’s parenting skills earned Prince a punch in the mouth that he wasn’t expecting. Nick’s name being hollered distracted both of them as Luna came between them, pushing Nick away from her husband. Prince insisted he was fine as she examined his face. He pushed her hands down. “I’m fucking fine. I came out here because I didn’t want to watch them announce him as dead–” Luna stepped in front of him and he couldn’t read her facial expression. Why was she looking at him like that? The words swirled around in his mind as he and Luna ran back to the room. ‘He’s awake’ and ‘he asked for you’. He couldn’t believe it. He literally couldn’t believe it. Maybe Luna had gotten her wires crossed. Nick followed them but Prince didn’t care. “Be careful, Eli. Your dad just woke up. Be gentle.” Pandora pulled Eli down from the bed just as Prince and Luna turned into the room. Matt looked awful, pale and groggy. His eyes were open, only barely and he was breathing into a mask and not moving but he was certainly awake. Prince’s breathing shallowed, he felt like he was going to pass out but Luna’s hand tightened around his and he calmed down and turned to her. “I’m going to kill him for making me think he just died. Don’t you ever end up like this.”

{ v ;; no reason.

      Jason looked in the rearview mirror back at Freddie who was eagerly holding a stuffed bunny in his hands, so tight that Jason was afraid the thing would explode at the ears and all the filling would pour out. He was babbling, telling Jason everything that was thrilling to him about having a baby sister. Jason couldn’t help but smile as he re-focused his attention on the road when the lights went green. Fifteen years ago, he wouldn’t have predicted he’d be this settled into adult, family-life. Finding out Iola was pregnant the first time had been such a shock and neither of them really knew what they were doing, taking each day as it went and taking help wherever they could get it. He still didn’t feel like they’d gotten the hang of it completely when she revealed she was pregnant for a second time, once again knocking him off of his feet. “I told the kids at school that I have a baby sister and guess what? My friend said he has two little sisters. Isn’t that cool, dad?” Jason chuckled and nodded. “It’s very cool buddy, but let’s just focus on one for now.” They rolled into the hospital car park and Jason had to try his hardest to keep Freddie by his side, the child was practically vibrating with excitement. They finally turned into the maternity ward and Freddie spotted his aunt before Jason did, worrying him when their hands become unconnected for Freddie to go running at her, ignoring Jason’s call to slow down. Jason caught up to them and Freddie was repeating everything he’d said in the car to Leah, this time introducing the toy rabbit he’d picked out for the baby. He heard Iola cooing coming from her room and took Freddie from his Leah’s arms, warning him to be gentle with the baby when they got in. “Hey, honey.” He beamed at the sight of his wife, kissing her on the forehead. She was cradling Marceline, whose face was poking out of a fuzzy yellow blanket. Jason kissed her, too. Despite not shutting up once since being picked up from school, Freddie had gone silent. He was standing at the edge of the bed, picking at a thread in the rabbits arm, staring at the floor. He had suddenly gone shy. Jason and Iola exchanged a knowing glance and Jason took the baby, cradling her gently. Beside him, Iola got out of the bed, going to kneel in front of Freddie. Jason focused his attention on Marceline and it felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest. He’d felt exactly like this the day Freddie was born, he loved this feeling. He loved having a family with Iola. It was the dream he never knew he wanted to come true until it did. Iola managed to talk Freddie down from his shyness, encouraging him to take a seat on the bed, his back against the wall. “You ready to meet your little sister, love?” He nodded to Freddie who looked at Iola and only when she nodded in encouragement did he answer that he was ready. Gently, Jason crouched down to Freddie’s level. “Now, hold your arms out. Be careful with her, put your arm under her head– yeah just like that. You’re a natural at this! Keep her head supported, okay?” When he was sure Freddie wasn’t going to drop the newborn like a basketball, he stepped back. He wrapped an arm around Iola’s waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. They gazed down at their kids with awe. Freddie started to talk, introducing himself and telling Marceline about her room and the difference of it from his, going on to talk about his favourite games that he was going to play with her. Jason grinned. “I knew you were good looking when I first met you but I never knew you’d make such beautiful kids.” He chuckled, kissing her on the top of the head as they continued to watch their children bond.

{ v ;; july 17th.

        Zayn wasn’t sure why his managers had suggested this tv show. It seemed to put him in the middle of a lot of unnecessary drama that wasn’t going to give him any good publicity, always fighting and fucking the wrong people. At first he thought it would be relaxing, living in a house with nothing to do each day but simply exist for the cameras. When drama and gossip sources got introduced he thought maybe he’d be protected by his team and it seemed so far he was since none of his dark secrets had been revealed yet. His brothers had, and a few of his friends. He realised a lot more people confided in him than he thought because he’d already known half the secrets being revealed. He knew Ari’s long before it was made public but he wasn’t expecting to feel so protective of her once he read the revelation online. Ari had told Zayn a long time ago about the abuse she received from her dad growing up. At the time, he saw red. His rage was no less existent when the Gyhab drama channel talked about it. He didn’t think she needed to be embarrassed of it but he hated that he knew nothing would be done. The whole world could know her dad was a piece of shit but he would suffer no consequences, not like what Ari suffered. He had plans with the other Ariana but he immediately cancelled in favour to seek out Arianna’s company. He didn’t even give an excuse, just cancelled and routed in his room until he found his laptop. He made his way to Ari’s room, stopping at the kitchen en route, and knocked on the door. There was no answer but he wasn’t accepting that. He pushed open the door, discovering the lump on the bed. “You should really lock that. A lot of weirdos live in this house.” She took a moment to stir but eventually poked her head out from under the covers and he smiled in greeting, struggling to hold onto the laptop tucked under his arm, the food balanced in the crook of his elbows and the cups of tea in his hands. “I’m seriously struggling here.” He knew the only reason she crawled out of the bed to help him was because she liked his tea, and wanted the cup designated to her. She lightened the load he was carrying and he shut the door behind him and locked it. “We’re going to watch a film.” Over an hour later, the credits to the first Twilight flashed onto the screen, and Zayn didn’t stir. Instead, he just went into the recommended and turned on the second one. Usually he would argue with her about wanting to watch these but he was here to make her feel better. “Zayn.” He glanced over at her, frowning at the sadness etched onto her face. He was able to understand she was more upset about the memories her secret reveal would bring up, rather than the revelation itself. “More tea?” He offered, if just to distract. He shuffled closer to her and brought his arm to hug her into him. “If you want to talk, I’m here but if you just want to watch crap movies, I’m also here.” He watched as she considered his options before settling into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. He felt his heart race just a little bit but he ignored it. Now wasn’t the time for feelings. He chuckled when she defended Twilight against his use of the word crap before settling back into the bed with her.

“You’re the best thing to have ever happened to me.”

{ v ;; the princess and the moon.

      Prince propped himself up on his elbow, watching Luna move around the room, hushing Camille with a Spanish lullaby. He didn’t understand the song despite how well he’d tried to learn the language over the years. He picked up on a few familiar words but overall couldn’t grasp the entire thing. A smile braced his lips as he watched them. Luna would whisper to Camille occasionally, calming her down and sometimes brushing at her hair. He knew she only did the hair thing because the baby’s head was unbelievably soft, like defy-science soft. It was the first thing that he’d noticed about his niece, after how miraculously tiny she was of course. Eventually Luna put Camille down in the crib and crawled into bed with him. He held the covers open for her and immediately scooted closer once she was in his company. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re good with her. She likes you.” He pointed out, keeping quiet. They’d offered to babysit just to give Matt and Pandora who were constantly yawning and sporting bags under their eyes, some time off. The couple jumped at the opportunity and escaped abroad for the weekend but Pandora’s video calls every hour just to check on her baby showed they weren’t prepared for how much they’d miss her. Prince agreed to keep the travel-crib in their own bedroom so Pandora knew Camille wasn’t alone at any point in the night. He wasn’t exactly used to having a tiny human present so he was doing his best to whisper. “She likes me too, really we’re great with kids.” He was hinting but his serious moment was interrupted by his phone ringing on the nightstand. He cursed and rolled over to grab it before the sound could wake up his niece just when they’d gotten her down. He rolled his eyes when Panda’s name popped up on the screen. He silenced the phone, put it down and turned back to Luna. “We’re asleep.” He tucked his face into the crook of her neck. They were quiet for a while, breathing steadily as the sound of soft music played from the plug-in Pandora had provided. Prince didn’t recognise if it was just general white noise or an actual lullaby. He didn’t really know any lullabies. He pointed that out to which Luna answered that Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was in fact playing. He hummed and nodded. He started tracing shapes against her skin with the tip of his finger, drawing stars in time with the music. “I’ll have to learn all the fucking lullabies for the next time we babysit.” He paused, his lips taking over from where his finger had been. “Or some Spanish ones because surely that’s what you’re going to play for our kids.” It was out there now and he couldn’t take it back and he didn’t want to take it back because Luna just seemed as happy as him at the thought of them growing their family. She’d mentioned it one day when Pandora was still pregnant and they’d gone shopping for baby stuff together but they didn’t dwell on it too much, they never did. He was enjoying married life. They had fun, traveling and making plans. Nothing felt like it was missing but he also wouldn’t be opposed to bringing something extra in. He sighed. “Then again, I could be a shit dad, for all I know–” Luna cut him off. “You’re the best thing to have ever happened to me.” He blinked at her as she assured him that’s what he’d be for a mini them, too. He smiled. “The best thing?” He snorted and then went quiet, worrying he was being too loud but the baby slept soundly. A few moments passed and he returned his gaze to her. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened me, too. More, even.” He kissed her. “Just imagine how good I’ll be when I’m singing Spanish lullabies to a baby Luna.”

{ v ;; no reason.

    Daddy, look!” Jason looked down to Freddie who was throwing flower petals into the air and he could feel the love for his son bursting through his chest. Jason knelt down and started playing with the blossoms, too, throwing them over Freddie who giggled like it was the most amusing thing in the world. Jason’s eyebrows shot up when Freddie stumbled and fell onto his butt, waiting for the child’s reaction. As per, Freddie just laughed, pointing out that he’d fallen. Jason chuckled and reached over to pick him back up. “Look how handsome you look.” Jason beamed, fixing the little bowtie wrapped around Freddie’s collar. He hadn’t really planned on dressing Fred up so much for this but the suit had been in the window of the store and he honestly couldn’t help it. Besides, Freddie seemed to love it. “Mummy is going to be so happy when she sees you.” He ruffled a hand in his son’s hair but was distracted by the sound of someone calling out that Iola was here. He explained the plan to Freddie one last time, watching as he nodded and made his way to wait expectantly at the gallery door. Jason made his way upstairs, always keeping an eye on Fred even though everyone in the room was friend or family and would follow him if he went wandering. Eventually the door opened and Jason hopped out of sight, before she could catch sight of him. He made his way to the unused part of the studio upstairs. There was a room with a balcony where Jason would spend mornings or evenings, watching the sun or the stars and waiting for inspiration. A few occasions he’d brought Iola up and pointed out the lights and colours that he admired. He never enjoyed any of the sights as much as he enjoyed looking at her. The room was usually empty bar one desk and chair but now it had easels against the wall, and a keyboard with a lady sat. Rose petals scattered the floor, along with tea lights. Fairy lights were hanging from wall to wall, crossing the white mesh hanging from the ceiling. The lights and petals led outside to the small balcony, which also had fairy lights wrapped around the railing. A small table stood alone, with a bucket filled with ice and a bottle of champagne and two glasses on top. In the garden under the balcony, Jason had hired a string quartet, but that part was just to show off. Their friends and family would gather out there once Iola and Freddie got upstairs. Inside, on the easels, photographs that dated back to their early days of dating up to as far as just a few days prior hung. Some paintings recapturing moments they’d not photographed but he’d remembered were present but he’d been too insecure about his art to use too much of those. He shook out his limbs nervously. Iola had always wanted to get married, she bugged him about it for years but here he was, sweating profusely as if he didn’t know the answer. In all honesty, he probably wouldn’t even be putting on such a show about it if he didn’t know deep-down she would say yes, but his nerves were just something that couldn’t be helped, his worry that maybe she’d changed her mind about him. The sound of Iola giggling and telling Freddie to be careful chimed from the hallway. Jason nodded at the pianist and she began to play just as Iola turned into the room. He watched Freddie let go of his mothers hand as she stepped further into the room, taking everything in. Jason beamed. “Hi.” It wasn’t part of his pre-planned speech but he had now forgotten all of that. He shook his head, chuckled and said hi again. “I saw you before I met you. I used to draw you from across the way in that coffee shop, and from memory when I got home. I wanted to know who you were, so bad.” On the easels, a few of the drawings he’d made of her which had been half-ruined in the rain on the day they met were hanging up. He chuckled again, nervous. He fumbled his way through his speech, forgetting things and making up most of it along the way. He led her outside, where the quartet started to play in time with the tune from the piano. “I know I’m just a giant pain in your arse and you could do way better.” “You’re the best thing to have ever happened me.” She corrected him and he smiled, feeling time slow down around them. He nodded, asking her to repeat and confirm those words. He’d managed to get this far without crying but she was on her way to ruining that. “In that case,” he looked over to Freddie who joined them, holding a diamond ring up for Iola. “Will you do me the honour of making my son legitimate?”

{ v ;; july 17th.

       The sound of rain crashing down from outside felt like the universe playing a sarcastic joke to Zayn. It felt like a movie, like everything was moving impeccably slow and slow music was going to start playing overhead any second to add to the pathetic fallacy of the rain. Playing into his cinematic mood, he went to the window, pressing his head against it as he watched rain drops race each other before dissipating with other drops. When slow music did start playing, faint and distant, Zayn initially thought he was just making it up, like his conscious was playing tricks on him because he was being so dramatic but he realised music was coming from upstairs. He frowned. He’d thought Ari was asleep. They barely spoke after coming home from the wedding but the last he saw her she was silently curling up under the bed covers. Wrapping both hands around the warm mug in his hands, he made his way up the stairs to follow the noise. He pushed open the door to reveal her wrapped up in a blanket at the end of the bed, watching something on the telly. His eyes went to the screen and he realised it was them that she was watching. I Knew I Loved You was playing, and his hands were on her waist and hers wrapped around his neck. It was from some event that Gyhab had put together and while they usually did their best to get out of things like that, they’d ended up at this one. He was dressed in a suit, the collar undone with his chest tattoos showing, and she was dressed to the nines except her hair had fallen down and his blazer was lazily strewn over her shoulders. He couldn’t place what event it was but he recognised from her hair colour that it was when they were happiest together. A few other people were on the dance floor but whoever was recording seemed focused on them and he could see why– they looked mesmerised in each other’s company. The way she was looking at him in the clip made a lump form in his throat. He coughed to clear it, clearly frightening her with his presence when she jumped. “Sorry.” He shrugged awkwardly. He stopped lingering in the doorway and joined her at the end of the bed. Her face looked wet and he spotted her wiping quickly under her eyes and trying not to sniffle but he chose not to comment. She paused the clip and he frowned and asked her to play it from the start since he’d only caught the end and she complied. The song was so romantic and they appeared so in love with one another but watching it now as they sat beside each other like strangers in a waiting room instead of a couple just felt sad. He sighed and shuffled closer to her. He took her hand and when she reciprocated he placed his other hand over theirs linked together. “I knew I loved you before I met you, I have been waiting all my life.” The song played and Zayn found himself humming along. The clip of them dancing together transitioned to a dramatic scene of a fight at the event, dragging the mood down completely. They were silent and he didn’t know what to do, or what to say. “Were you lying tonight?” He watched her turn to look at him. “When we were dancing at Reni’s wedding and you said you were only crying because you couldn’t wait for it to be us? Were you lying?” Zayn knew the answer. He wasn’t an idiot. The whole day had been impossibly awkward, pretending like they were anywhere near as happy as the next-to-wed couple they were supposed to be. Every time someone from her family would approach them and ask about their own wedding, Ari would smile brightly and spill out a new detail she was excited about. Zayn was mostly silent but smiled along with her even though he didn’t share her excitement. He didn’t want to dance but when she asked, it felt like a step forward and he wanted to share that moment with her. He wanted to be close to her even if it was artificial, but it all felt like that and all he could do was pretend like he didn’t know anything was wrong, pretend like he believed her every time she insisted she was okay. He didn’t know what else to do. The air around them felt heavy. She started to shake her head and when she wasn’t looking he rolled his eyes because he knew she was just going to lie to him again. He stood up and faced her. “You’re not happy, Ari. We’re getting married soon and I feel like your roommate, not a husband. You’re not happy with me.” Zayn wanted her to be happy, but he was selfish and wanted that to be exclusively with him. He wanted his presence to make her smile, and make her feel warm inside– like it used to, like she used to make him feel. He knew their relationship was in tatters but he wasn’t ready to give up on it, he just didn’t know what to do about it. She stood up, nearer his level now. “You’re the best thing to have ever happened to me.” And for once, she sounded genuine but it seemed a depressing occurrence for him, for all of this to be the best thing for her. “But?” He urged and she shook her head. No ‘but’, he was at least glad of that. He let out a breath and stepped close to her, cupping her face in his hands. He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m tired, Zayn.” She commented. Whenever the words ‘I’m tired’ slipped out of her mouth he had to hold back his sarcasm, or an empty laugh because it was so monotonous. He nodded. “Well, it’s 4am. You should get some sleep.” He knew that wasn’t the kind of tired she meant but ‘I’m tired’ was her segway to the end of a conversation and he knew it. As sad as they were, they ended up in each other’s arms as they settled into the bed. Neither asleep, but holding onto each other was at least a positive sign.

{ v ;; katie and leo.

        Halloween was Katie’s favourite time of the year. She loved to dress up in provocative outfits under the guise of a costume, loved how a girl could literally go out in underwear and add a veil or devil horns and it’s an outfit. She also loved the spook of it all, the wonderment that came with a holiday that had no rules, and different made up monsters. She had a love/hate relationship with scary movies but it was more love-based in October. Her favourite thing at Halloween time, though, was the parties. A house full of people dressed as witches or nurses or even mass murderers, with a shot of tequila in hand was just so amusing to her. She loved to dress up, and loved the compliments she received when she knew her costume was pretty bomb. This evening, it was Leo’s compliments she was seeking after, in the party she and the twins were throwing in their student flat. Eli’s snide comments about her costume meant nothing to her, not when they were matched with Leo interjecting that he loved how she looked. By the end of the night, the party wasn’t seeming to die down but Katie wanted to be alone with Leo. That was the perk of being a tenant in the house where the party was on, she could just escape upstairs and lock the door behind her. The house had Halloween decorations, but Katie’s room was done up in her own special way. She had bats strewn along the walls and pumpkin fairy lights were wrapped around her bed frame. She lit candles while Leo just lay back on her bed. She was looking forward to having this whole week with him. Usually she would go home on the weekends or skip out and miss him, but with college on mid-term she had more time to spend with him. She smiled as she approached him. “Can you believe I pulled the fittest guy here?” She tugged at his shirt to make him sit upright at the end of the bed. “And that’s saying something, Eli’s dorky friends are pretty fucking fit.” She straddled him, her hands placed gently on either side of his neck just as his rested on her hips. Her nails scratched at the nape of his neck, running through his hair there. She smirked when he kissed her, returning the action almost immediately. She pulled away, tilting her head back when his lips went to her neck. “I love when you’re here. I wish you’d come and live with us. I’m sure Eli wouldn’t mind sharing his bed with you.” She snickered and let out a screech when he suddenly turned them around so she was lying under him on the bed now. They were laughing, and having fun just being together when she pulled away and it felt suddenly like the room was going in slow motion, like she was seeing stars and spotlights surrounding him. If she looked hard enough she was sure she could see a real halo floating around his head. She smiled, but it wasn’t seductive or flirty like before. It was a soft smile, and she could feel it in her features too. “You’re my best friend. D’you know that?” Here’s hoping Ava wasn’t listening at the door. Katie giggled, feeling a little embarrassed. It wasn’t as if calling him her best friend was all that much of a confession but it had such a tender meaning behind the words and she knew she’d changed the vibe in the room. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.” He retaliated and she hated how she could physically feel her cheeks flush a deep shade of red. She brought her hands to her face, a little mortified. As he tried to pry her hands away, she turned her head to the side, shaking it and laughing. Her eyes landed on the crib by her bed which she never bothers to put away when she doesn’t have Cheryl with her. Her room had a crib by the bed, a toy box in the corner and a playing mat on the floor. It was difficult to explain the furnishing of her room whenever she brought a guy home. It was never her first instinct to detail how she had a one year old daughter who visits her on the weekends. To people she didn’t plan on keeping around for more than a night, which was most of them, she would just say she was a babysitter. A lot of the time people didn’t even notice the crib until the next morning and by that point she was already kicking them out. Last year she’d skipped out on Halloween partying to go home and be with Cheryl, and her dad. This year she didn’t even go home for the week off they got for Halloween. She felt a little guilty but it was why her dad had agreed to look after Cheryl, so Katie wouldn’t miss out on things people her age were doing. She didn’t know why but a wave of sadness hit her and she finally let Leo pry her hands away. She couldn’t help the twisting in her stomach, feeling like Leo would never show her this much affection when she was home to visit Cheryl. Would he be saying the things he was if her daughter was in the crib right now? She was just overthinking, and making this all up in her head but once she let the thundercloud hover, she couldn’t stop the rain. Eventually Leo managed to get Katie to pay attention to him again, quizzing her on where her mind just went. She shook her head and laughed claiming she didn’t know what happened before she pulled him in to kiss her, distracting herself from her bad thoughts.

“You keep staring at me instead of watching the film. What’s up?

{ v ;; the princess and the moon.

       Prince blinks at the sound of Luna’s voice, turning to look at her. He hadn’t expected her to follow him. He also wasn’t expecting her question and he doesn’t have an answer for it. She wasn’t wrong, he was staring at her. It was why he’d just got up and left the living room to go outside and get away. He watches as she shuts the door behind herself and repeats her question, but he still doesn’t answer. He thinks about it. What was up? Why couldn’t he keep his eyes off of her? They’d only slept together a handful of times and it’s not as if he has feelings for her, so what was throwing him off this evening? Looking at her   wasn’t that new to him, she was attractive and he’d always thought so, ever since day one when he first laid his eyes on her.

 “No, she’s not my girlfriend, well not really. Well, yeah okay she kind of is but we technically never agreed that I can’t hook up with other girls.” Prince raised an eyebrow at Nick’s explanation. Nick’s growing presence was starting to feel more like a friendship more than ever lately, his opinions were just as idiotic as Matt’s and he had no problem telling him exactly that. “That’s fucking stupid, Nick. You cheated on her, just admit it.” Prince didn’t understand why his friends kept getting into relationships when they had no interest in staying loyal to the girls they were with. Then again, he himself had never had a girlfriend so what did he know about relationships? Prince rolled his eyes when Nick attempted to continue to excuse himself out of the situation. As he was rolling his eyes, his gaze went past Nick and Matt discussing the technical definition of being  exclusive. Across the cafeteria, Nick’s friend Cassie was sat with someone Prince had never seen before. He couldn’t help but stare–  she was beautiful. She was laughing at something Cassie was saying and the way she smiled mesmerised Prince. He’d never seen anything like it. He could feel his staring getting creepy yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was as if she was moving in slow motion, like a dream sequence in a movie. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder and Prince felt like he was watching one of those laundry detergent ads where the flowers and sparkles move with her. She was dressed in the school uniform but it seemed she’d done as much as she could to push the boundaries of the dress code. Her gaze flicked past him when she went to look back to Cassie but she obviously felt him staring because she met his gaze along the way, their eyes locking on one another. He couldn’t tell what her expression was, if she was uncomfortable by his looking or if she was having the same thoughts as he was. Matt snapping his fingers in Prince’s face brought Prince back to the room, his attention returning to his friends. He felt as if he’d just been woken from a nap, dazed and confused. “What?” He snapped. The boys repeated their suggestion of going to the school garden to have a sneaky smoke before lunch break was over. He nodded slowly, pulling his schoolbag over his shoulder. As they passed the table Cassie and the other brunette were sitting at, Nick stopped to talk to Cassie, stealing food from her lunch tray. Prince and Matt carried on walking. Prince looked over his shoulder back to the girl who didn’t seem as amused by Nick as Cassie was. “Who’s that girl sitting with Cass?” He knew Matt was surprised by Prince asking about someone else. Usually, he didn’t care for new students or really anyone at all. Matt shrugged, providing her first name and nothing else as he didn’t actually know that much about her. “Luna?” Prince repeated slowly, ignoring the look on Matt’s face confused by Prince’s intrigue. “Luna Moon.” Nick supplied, joining his friends again. Prince had been looking at Luna but didn’t even notice Nick leaving them to return. The boys pushed the door of the canteen open and Prince finally stopped looking only because he couldn’t anymore. He shook off the disappointment he felt in his stomach now she was out of sight. “She’s Spanish, she just moved here. Her and Cassie act like they’re long-lost sisters or something even though they barely know each other.” Prince scoffed. That concept reminded him of Matt and Nick when they first started hanging out together. Beside him Matt was questioning in Spanish didn’t that make her name Moon Moon, meanwhile Prince was trying to get her face out of his mind. “I think she lives alone, like no parents or anything.” Prince raised his eyebrows, frowning slightly at Nick. “Lives alone? Is she not, like, fourteen?” Nick questioned why Prince cared so much, pointing out how out-of-character it was for him. Prince shrugged, pulling his cigarettes from his bag as they entered the garden, finding their usual bench that hid them from the security cameras. “I don’t care. Just curious.” Silence lingered for a bit before Matt spoke up. “I think she’s fit.” Prince returned to his natural state of ignoring his friends as they talked about girls, but this time his mind was focused on the brunette in the cafeteria that he couldn’t help but think was gorgeous, partly wishing they’d stayed at lunch so he could stare some more.

“I wasn’t fucking staring at you.” He glares at her when she steals the smoke from his hand, unsure why he really lets her do it. He watches her take a pull and for the probably tenth time in the last hour he finds himself absolutely 100% staring again. He catches himself and quickly looks away just as she starts to turn to him, cursing quietly. He knows she’s got an irritating smirk on her face, and he knows she’s more than aware he was lying about staring at her during the movie. He turns to her, his face icy cold now. “We should go back inside before someone wakes up and notices we’re gone.” But he doesn’t for one second mean any of his words because he had in fact been staring, and for a good reason.

{ v ;; no reason.

      It probably shouldn’t have been as much of a shock as it was when Jason and Iola learned they were going to be parents. They weren’t the most responsible when it came to safe sex. Whenever Jason would forego a condom, he would think more about the fact that they didn’t need protection from STD’s with each other, letting his mind fall ignorant to the possibility of conceiving a child. Jason was that careless that he didn’t even know if Iola had been on contraception. Regardless of their reckless antics in the bedroom, it was still difficult to comprehend that they were going to be parents to their own human baby child. They had created life. It was a power Jason didn’t even know he had the function to follow through on. After a while the hard-to-comprehend and the shock factor of it all faded and Jason was just a mix of nerves and excitement. It  felt like it was taking forever though. He knew pregnancy was a nine-month event but it felt like much more time than nine months had passed since Iola had told him that he was going to be a daddy, a real daddy, and he was getting impatient and also a little concerned. Every day that passed by her due date felt like an additional month. Would the child be ugly if it was overcooked? Have issues? He didn’t know. He tried to read the pregnancy books but after terms, and fluids and different birthing methods, his brain was fried. Easy to say he wasn’t going to be entering the career of an OBGYN anytime soon. He kept his concern to himself, worrying that if he made her worry it would stress out the baby or her womb or something. He watched her, keeping an eye out for any signs of a head or a foot hanging out of her, waiting for her to scream out in pain whenever she so much as reached for the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. She seemed to be fine, suggesting they have a date night in the form of cuddling on the couch and watching a stupid Netflix movie. He agreed but he couldn’t focus on the movie. What if her water broke at any moment and stained the sofa cushions? When Iola rolled her eyes and glared at him, her jumped slightly. “You keep staring at me instead of watching the film, what’s up?” He frowned but decided to just tell her what he was worrying about, knowing she would ease his concerns anyway. “Your due date was this week, I’m just worried you’re going to pop here and now and I’m not going to know what to do. I don’t know if you know this about me but I don’t know how to deliver a baby.” She was the one going through the discomfort of an overdue pregnancy yet he felt her hand on his back, shushing him and soothing him. She was making him feel better when he probably shouldn’t have been making this whole thing about him thinking the baby was overcooking. He had a lot of questions that he knew were too stupid to ask but he just didn’t understand the miracle of giving life, admittedly. She reassured him that her obstetrician would have informed them if there was anything worth getting worked up over yet, which she hadn’t. He nodded. “So you’re not going to ruin this movie by having a baby?” He chuckled when she seemed to get exasperated with him, leaning across to kiss her to make up for his idiocy. He stole some popcorn from the bowl that was sitting on top of her bump and grinned, his nerves once again overtaken by excitement.

{ v ;; katie and leo.

      It was easy to slip away from the group when snacks were being passed around. Katie slipped through the kitchen door and made her way to the front of the house, perching herself on the front step of Matt and Panda’s home. She liked coming here, it was luxurious and she liked to imagine someday owning such a beautiful home herself. Apparently Pandora had been forcing her brother and friends to have movie nights like this since they were teens, and Katie liked that the tradition extended to the kids. Katie was perturbed from her own thoughts when she heard the door click behind her. She didn’t even need to turn to see who it was, Leo spoke before she could. She shrugged when he asked what she was doing out here, letting out a sigh. Katie felt sad. That was the best way of describing it. She wasn’t depressed, or drowning in misery. She was just sad. She felt Leo drop to the step beside her, his leg brushing up beside hers. Involuntarily, she shivered. She watched as he pulled his jacket from around himself and placed it over her shoulders while also wrapping her up in his arms. “Cheesy.” She chuckled. Katie adored Leo-- all other dramas aside, she was so appreciative of his friendship. She lay her head on his chest and let out a sigh. "I  noticed that you keep staring at me instead of watching the film. What’s up?” She rolled her eyes and slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re gorgeous Leo but I wasn't staring at you, I was looking at everyone. You and your parents, the Kings.” She let out a sigh and rested her head on his shoulder. Silence lingered for a bit and Leo questioned what she meant, what was wrong with her. “I don’t know.” She felt pathetic when her eyes welled up and her voice cracked slightly, not expecting this emotional response. “If I tell you then you’re just going to argue with me and tell me I’m wrong.” Katie pressed her fingers under her eyes so no tears would fall down and ruin her eyeliner. She didn’t really feel like crying anyway. She spared him a glance when he encouraged her to go on. Her lip sunk beneath her teeth as she considered it for a moment but there wasn’t a version of this universe where Katie wouldn’t share her thoughts with Leo-Valentin. “I love coming here. Matt and Panda are so nice to me, and so are your parents. But” she paused and shrugged. “I just feel like an outsider sometimes. Me and my dad are just, like— there. You’re all this big family and then me and dad are just these two tag-alongs.” Katie wondered if her mother was alive would she feel this way whenever Matt and Panda threw some big party or got everyone together, if she had their own full family. She let out a sad laugh. “It’s stupid, I know. I don’t always feel like this. It’s just—” She looked at him again, appreciative that he was letting her rant. “Sometimes I just feel so disconnected from you lot.” She felt Leo’s arm around her pull her in closer and she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, tucking her face into the crook of his neck, despite how her makeup would probably stain his shirt. When Leo went to speak, she sat upright and her eyes met his. Katie already knew what he would say to her, she expected him to disagree with everything she said about being an outsider. She really didn’t want to sit through that, so she kissed him to shut him up instead. Giggling at his surprised reaction, she pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him to the ground and falling down with him. If she hadn’t gotten his shirt dirty before she definitely would now. Messing around with Leo, laughing with and kissing him was all the distraction she needed from her little crisis. So distracted, in fact, neither of them heard the front door opening and someone walking out until– “Seriously?” An irritated voice interrupted them and Katie pulled away from Leo with a hushed giggle as her eyes landed on his dad standing in the porch doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised. Katie couldn’t help but think that the scowl on his face suited him. Her face flushed as Leo sat up, fixing his hair that Katie had messed up by running her hands through it. Prince held out a hand to help them both up and Katie didn’t hesitate in wrapping hers around his. “If it was your dad that just found you two out here, I’d be down a kid.” The stern tone of voice Prince used when scolding them did nothing but make Katie’s cheek flush further. She smirked, lower lip sliding under her teeth as she shrugged, batting her eyelashes innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just in the loo.” She brushed past the Jameson men, hand catching onto and letting go of Leo’s in an instance. She looked back at them just in time to catch Prince fixing Leo’s hair for him. She was feeling somewhat better, now.