#i might just do it another time when i have more focus and energy <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[tls123]

i won't promise i'll do requests for jiujiu(ly) like last time, but if you have ideas or would like to see something specific giffed you can reply to this post and i'll try to keep them in mind 🌾💌

[flowers-that-sing]

guys i think my mysterious sleep disorder is that im nocturnal

[the-tarot-witch22]

Messages from your Higher Self - Pick a pile

Pile 1/ Pile 2/ Pile 3

My Paid Readings | My insta

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Hello everyone ! This is my another pick a pile or pac reading so please be kind and leave comment or reblog, and let me know if it resonated with you!

Note : This is a general reading or collective reading. It may or may not resonate with you. Please take what resonates and leave what doesn't. And it's totally okay if our energies aren't aligned!

How to pick : Take a deep breath and choose a pile which you feel most connected to! You can choose more than one pile, it just means both pile have messages for you!

I worked really hard on this pile please show some love by leaving comments, likes and reblogs!

Pile 1:

(The cards I got for you - the hermit, queen of wands and the moon)

Okay so the very first thing I feel and hear is, your higher is very self accomplished as well as happy within themself , they found the very thing they want, their love for themself, they stand up for themself, they fight without hesitating for themselves and their loved ones, your higher self is also very selective on who they let into their lives, they re vary of people at first and only trust after they know them, your higher self seems to be at peace, they like their alone time a lot, they value and love themselves, their might be something important happening in winter weather their just something about that, was so prominent, but anyways, their might be a period of darkness in your life, where you felt alone with the people, or they were just not for you but I see it getting better for you in future, you seem to be finding yourself and your light, i see lots of laughter and happiness in your life, you might be entering into your power era "bad ass vibe", going out of your comfort zone doing things you really like and enjoy, i see you being more confident in your body and self image, your higher self is also very sexy and seductive very confident but also a bit mysterious not letting anything get to them, and only opening up when it's necessary, your higher self is also very transformed. I also feel your higher self is very intuitive and have psychic powers which they are working on to enhance, They did not tell me everything, they just said "stick around and find out", "keep going and don't give up", I also feel your higher self is way more matured, very gentle and kind!

Okay so that's it pile 1, i loved reading for you, such beautiful reassuring messages for you! I just wanna say love yourself and live your life to the fullest~

Pile 2:

(The cards I got for you - 4 of wands, knight of pentacles, page of cups and 9 of pentacles)

Okay so the very first thing i hear is "wedding bells" gosh what a opening to the reading, isn't it? so cute, but anyways let's focus, okay so i feel your higher self is very happily married with the love of your life, i see someone with nothing but tears of joy! 11:11, 1111, 22:22, 2222, 444, are some angel numbers i keep hearing so it might be of importance to you, maybe you see these numbers quite a lot from past few days, I heard your higher self say, we are, where we supposed to be, such a reassuring message for you pile 2, you higher self seems content with themself and their choices, i also heard "there might some blockages happened , but those are just hurdles, and you will pass them", here another message that your higher seems very successful! Your higher self seems loved and admired from people close, there might be someone with bad intentions but i see you guys being careful, your higher self said "only trust the ones, if your gut says so", there might be a big reunion or gathering of sort for you guys, and they enjoyed that, a graduation? or just some celebration, but yeah!, I also feel your higher self climbed the ladder of success and money, they have everything, they seem happy, but i also see a bit of materialistic vibes from this group, i also heard "luxury", so your higher self seems to be worked for it, and they bought the things they love, this group might also be very independent, and have to grow very early mature beyond their years type of vibe, but i see you got the "i am gonna do it for you, let me do it for you husband/wife", your struggles seems to be paid of, your higher self is also very proud of your growth, for some of you i got flirty vibes even tho you are not trying to be lol x, very young at heart, your higher self seems to be very happy and travelled a lot, they are working or studying abroad , or just travelling there, your higher self is so sweet, telling me everything gently, i love that!

That's all pile 2, your higher self seems very sweet and matured, and plus they are happy with you and your growth! The messages are so sweet, i just want to remind you guys "you are beautiful"!

Pile 3:

(The cards I got for you - knight of pentacles, the magician and queen of cups)

Okay so the first thing i heard and feel for you guys is you guys seems to be very comfy and relaxed, your higher self is taking it easy one step at the time, i also heard "don't doom scroll too much", "time is important", I also feel your higher self is taking care of their health a lot, working out going to gym , yoga, dance classes, i also heard "you have potential , do use it, be not afraid to fail", your higher self is also quite grown, like became wise, "i heard - some lessons were important to go through", i feel they are also telling you that past and mistakes, were not entirely your fault, even if it was and you learnt from that, i get friendly vibes from you guys and as well your higher self, so adorable lol, anyways, your higher self is very self accomplished, just like pile 1, i feel there might be messages for you so do check that pile too, your higher self has a good stable job career, i am getting earth and fire sign vibes from this pile, especially Capricorn sun and Sagittarius sun/rising, I also feel your higher self is very passionate!, you higher self seems to be working hard for their goals too, and using their skills for their own and their career, i also heard "infinite abundance", this could indicate you living a good life! very stable and fulfilling life, you guys, your higher self is also very satisfied~, i also feel your higher self is more emotionally mature or express themself without the fear of judgement! you and your higher self seems so nurturing and caring, i also feel your higher self has a pet, like a life long dream and you finally adopt one!

That's all pile 3, amazing and sweet messages from your higher self, love that for you~

Thank you for stopping by! Take care and remember you are loved <3

[k-tarotz]

PAC - What good things will come in October?

Disclaimer; this is a general reading for everyone, please only take what resonates and leave what doesn't!~ from left to right 1-3. The pictures and dividers aren't from us, credits to the rightful owners.

Paid readings | masterlist | ko-fi | spells

Pile 1:

First of all what I see is that some of you don't see immediate results in certain areas which can be a bit frustrating, especially if you are rather impatient but this could be a chance to step back and instead of trying to focus on finances or your goals - you should focus on yourself, your health, your mental health and the things you actually want to do to enjoy yourself whether that's taking a day off and spend it with your friends/family or just to be alone and do whatever gets your mind of like playing games or watching that movie/series that you really want to watch but didn't had enough time yet. Even if things may feel slow or even uncertain, things will turn out fine for you. You will find your peace within other things, it's time for you to relax and do a bit self care~

Pile 2:

October will actually be a really good month for you, you might even feel energetic and more confident - but maybe that's also because you are a fall person. This month will bring opportunities in your life - for some of you this is related to work or accomplishing a goal, for some others this is about attracting someone new into your life - that can be platonic but it could turn romantic as well. Another good thing coming is healing, if there has been any lingering hurt or emotional pain, October will be the time when you finally process and release it. It's about facing those difficulties but in a way it leads to growth and clarity. Once you do you will feel lighter and more at peace, ready to move on, without that weight on your shoulders.

Pile 3:

First what comes through for you is that you will have more courage in this month, you will start standing your ground instead of letting other people cross your boundaries or take advantage of you. Therefore people will finally stop taking you for granted and start appreciating you more, which will be something you enjoy. You will handle things your way so lots of you will definitely feel more independent especially in your actions. Now there may still be some tension or disagreements but the good thing is; you will know exactly how to handle them. You won't get pulled into unnecessary drama or conflicts. Let go of what isn't worth your energy. You'll be successfully able to avoid unnecessary stress this month.

[just-a-ghost00]

Advice on manifesting your desired reality

Group 1 🌸 Group 2 🌷 Group 3 🌼

Group 1 🌸 Oh I never meant to brag ~

Shufflemancy : Rollin Limp Bizkit, The Search NF, Misery Business Paramore

Cards : King of pentacles, 3 of pentacles, 8 of pentacles

With all this emphasis put on earth related cards the major theme here is grounding. You need to ground yourself in your current reality to be able to see it clearly. Another think I’m picking up on is consistency. You may have a hard time focusing on one task at a time or being consistent in your efforts. It is really important that you deal with that. You are encouraged to work in cooperation with people around you. Isolating yourself is not the best strategy for you at the moment. You are encouraged to rely on your community and exchange with others, especially when it comes to your career. Teamwork makes the dream work. You are encouraged to study, to rely on your mentors. Their could be a masculine figure around you that can provide constructive criticism and help you improve in the areas you are wishing to work on. Standing your ground and being in your grounded masculine energy will help you manifest your desired reality. That would be true especially if you have major earth placements in your chart. I’m mainly picking up on Taurus energy. There needs to be more balance in your energy exchanges with people and situations. If you are currently spending more time and energy in one area of your life you are asked to focus on other priorities to restore the balance. Also, be confident about yourself. Spirit is saying you need to put an end to that impostor syndrom or modesty. I feel like some of you do not allow yourself to be successful because of how others would perceive you. You’re afraid that people around you will not appreciate you being more successful than them so you maintain yourself in a position that does not suit you. Your guides want to warn you that dimming your light for others won’t make them love or respect you more. It is time that you express your true power and claim your throne.

Group 2 🌷 Do whatever we want oh we don’t give a…

Shufflemancy : Stray Kids SKZ, Galaxy Kid Travis, Eye on you Wonho

Cards : ace of pentacles, Chariot, 7 of swords

You are advised to keep your projects and ideas to yourself and move swiftly forward without a sound. Take the opportunities that come your way if it feels right to do so without giving notice to anyone around you until you make it. I am getting that many of you are often times deterred from doing something that would benefit them because of the pessimism of others. There are people around you that do not have your best interest at heart. These people might not realize it or some may be very well aware of what they’re doing. Under the disguise of wanting what’s best for you, they prevent you from moving forward and manifesting your desired reality. You have to move past their illusions and one way to do that is to keep your intentions a secret. In some cultures they say that the more you talk about what you plan to do the less you’re gonna act on it. Don’t be just all talk and instead let your actions speak for you. Get going. Write that book you always had in mind. Create that online shop, go to that dance class, buy those shoes you really wanted. Don’t deprive yourself of good things. Don’t second guess yourself. You know what to do. You have what it takes. You just need to get moving. Some of you are encouraged to start a physical activity to help you deal with possible mental health issues. It is time you stop self sabotaging and also it is time that you don’t let people’s negativity rub off on you.

Group 3 🌼 You take the pain, make it feel good

Shufflemancy : Bad habits Ed Sheeran, Middle finger Bohnes, Lil psycho Kid Travis

Cards : 7 of wands, The World, 3 of wands

There were a lot of eyes on these cards in the deck that I used. So that could be a sign to work on your vision and visualization skills. If you have psychic abilities, honing them will be beneficial to you. Try to get yourself out of the daily drama of others and rise above it all. You need to gain a higher perspective of what is going on around you. If you are currently surrounded by pessimistic/toxic people and things, get yourself out of the eye of the storm. Traveling could be needed. Turn your gaze on the future, not the past. Keep your focus on your expansion. Maybe find inspiration in other cultures, in people that are very different from you or that have already gotten out of the storm and try to learn from it. Don’t get into petty fights. Don’t mingle in people’s business. If they try to grad you in it set boundaries. You are encouraged to plan and script your next steps. If you resonate with scripting as a manifestation method then definitely do that regularly. Write your daily intentions, your daily gratitude list, write your letters to the Universe. Write your desired reality on a paper and cleanse it with sage or any other purifying herb. Keep that paper with you wherever you go. Don’t put it under your pillow. You don’t want to sleep on your dreams, do you? However, you can whisper your intentions and affirmations to your water and drink that water. The good vibrations of your words will then circulate in your body.

[godzillabreath]

unfortunately I do have more to say about wwdits.

I think one of the most egregious things about the development of the show over the seasons is the tonal shift. I was watching it from the beginning to convince myself I wasn’t crazy for feeling the first three seasons were better, and I felt vindicated.

It was always a dark comedy, but it wasn’t always a zany dark comedy. It had been grounded in real, everyday life. The vampires prey on a LARP group, the vampires ride a late night bus to go to a city council meeting, Nandor tries for citizenship, etc. I think once they started introducing a slew of supernatural creatures like a monster-of-the-week a la carte, the show became increasingly less focused and outlandish. There are episode I don’t like even in seasons 2 and 3 that are emblematic of this shift. The siren, the gargoyles, the troll—they just feel out of place in a story that is supposed to focus on out-of-time vampires and how they engage with the modern world. They aren’t really adding anything to the characters or the plot when they appear either. They just make a flashy CGI appearance and give some quippy line, which ultimately eats up time where our main cast that we actually care about could otherwise be on screen, doing things. And then there was a point in time where this show just did not allow itself any more sentimental moments between characters. These moments, for me, made for refreshing moments between comedic situations. It balanced the humanity in all of the main cast. But the show opted out of those moments, and it just became a back-to-back comedic situation with less and less interesting character moments to look forward to. Anyway, I just find it kind of sad that the writers completely detonated all of the characters’ inner emotional lives by the series finale. I liked to see Nadja bored in her marriage and pursuing this lustful encounter with Gregor through reincarnated generations. I liked to see Colin challenged by another energy vampire undermining his territory. I liked to see Guillermo struggling with his fractured relationship with his family, his discomfort in his own sexual identity, and his need to cling on to this group of vampires that disrespect him if only to find family and personal liberation in their company. I liked Nandor being so disconnected from modernity that he became listless and depressed and lonely and clung on to the idea that he might make himself human again. I liked the romance that the writers were building literally textually and in all of their marketing material from season 3: that Guillermo (at least) had these unrequited and very frustrating feelings for Nandor and how that affected their relationship with each other. I liked the idea of Laszlo forming these personal connections with both Sean and Colin, even if I found their conclusive arcs to be lackluster, strange, or unpalatable (baby Colin to weird co-parent Colin was a bizarre arc.) I liked the idea of Nadja wanting power and community because of the impoverished, desolate conditions she grew up under (especially the class dynamic of marrying Laszlo and how that could be at times a schism in their relationship), even if the writers did not care to expand upon this. The potential just drives me crazy. I can’t believe they opted out of tying up any of these emotional hooks. I think it might drive me crazy forever.

[goddessinnerglow]

Become Your Best Version Before 2025 - Day 10

Mastering Your Emotions

How did yesterday’s relationship audit go? I know it can feel heavy to reflect on how the people in your life impact you, but it’s such an important step in becoming your best self. Today, we’re shifting focus from the external to the internal, mastering your emotional responses. Because let’s face it, life loves to throw curveballs, and we need to be ready to handle them without losing our balance.

You know those days when everything feels like too much? Maybe you had an argument with someone you love, or work piled up, or you’re just feeling off. Instead of spiraling (been there, done that), what if you had tools to steady yourself? That’s what emotional regulation is all about, it’s like having an umbrella when it starts pouring.

One thing that really helps me is simply naming what I’m feeling. When emotions are running high, it’s easy to let them take over, but pausing and saying, “Okay, I’m feeling anxious,” or “I’m frustrated,” instantly takes away some of their power. When you can put a name to it, the emotion feels more manageable. It’s like making the scary, unknown thing a little more familiar.

And if that’s not enough to shift your focus, grounding yourself can make a huge difference. You don’t need to meditate for 30 minutes to feel calm. You can try something like the 5-4-3-2-1 technique: Look around and notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. It helps pull you out of your head and back into the present, where things are less overwhelming.

Sometimes, resilience is about taking small, actionable steps when you’re feeling overwhelmed. I know it’s easy to look at a to-do list and feel paralyzed by the sheer amount of things to tackle. But instead of trying to do it all at once, pick just one thing. Maybe it’s answering a single email, making a phone call, or tidying up your workspace for five minutes. It sounds small, but breaking things down like this lets you move forward without getting caught up in the big picture.

And boundaries, let’s talk about those. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone else, but emotional resilience often means knowing when to protect your time and energy. It might look like turning off your phone for a bit, setting clear limits on work hours, or simply saying no when you need to. Don’t be afraid to put yourself first.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to do this all alone. Resilience isn’t about being invincible; it’s about knowing when to lean on others. It’s okay to share how you’re feeling with someone you trust. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or even a therapist, reaching out can make all the difference. Sometimes, just hearing someone say, “I get it,” can take a huge weight off your shoulders.

So today, I want you to think about one small thing you can do to strengthen your emotional resilience. Maybe it’s naming how you feel, trying a quick grounding exercise, or simply taking a break when you need it. Whatever it is, take that step. And remember, I’m right here with you, cheering you on.

See you tomorrow for Day 11, where we'll explore another step in becoming our best selves.

♡ ☆:.��� Keep glowing, babes! ♡ ☆:.｡ With love, Goddess Inner Glow.

[babyleostuff]

Hi!! I rlly love your fics and i saw your requests are open so can i request svt with idol reader that gets shipped with another idol that reader is friends with?? Like what would their reaction be I hope this isn’t too much thank youuu !!

idol partner gets shipped with another idol | OT13

I'm SO sorry you had to wait so long for this one, but I've just started my vacation and wanted to take some time off. Still, I hope you enjoy this one <3 !

☾₊ ⊹ currently playing: i miss you, i'm sorry by gracie abrams

𓆩♡𓆪 CHOI SEUNGCHEOL 

As a leader and an idol himself, he’d know that there was nothing he could do about it. Of course, he’d be jealous and very protective of you, but I think for the most part he’d be sad. Sad because HE’S the one you're supposed to be shipped with, HE’S the one that’s supposed to show you off 24/7, HE’S the one who should be allowed to share your adorable face on Weverse with his fans. But in the end, he would be very mature about the situation and keep your relationship as low-key as he could, still showing how much he loves you in every way possible. 

𓆩♡𓆪 YOON JEONGHAN 

For the most part, Jeonghan wouldn’t really have a problem with you being shipped with other idols - friends or not. He knows that situations like these might occur, so he’s ready for any new headlines with you and someone else's face in it, but it usually never really bothers him. Sometimes, especially if he’s feeling particularly insecure, it might slightly get to him. He will always tell you about it though, he doesn’t want to keep any of his emotional insecurities from you, nor cause any miscommunication that might arise from such a situation. 

𓆩♡𓆪  HONG JOSHUA 

Does not care. He is very confident in the relationship that you have, he trusts you with his life, so there is no reason for him to be jealous of someone else that you’re getting shipped with. He knows that there is no point in doing so because if he were to focus on silly stuff like shipping he would spend all his energy on that instead of you. So in his mind, let them ship you with whoever they want to because at the end of the day, he’s the one you’re going back to. 

𓆩♡𓆪  WEN JUNHUI 

In the beginning of your relationship when situations like that happened, he would get a little bit sad and distance himself from you for a while. You’d tell him every single time that he’s the only one that you love and want and that you would never choose anyone else over him. Thanks to your reassurance with time he stopped paying attention to any “shipping news”, realising that they’re a lot of bullshit anyways. It’s not like you’d run away with a random dude from the headline you’ve never even met.

𓆩♡𓆪  KWON SOONYOUNG 

Might get a bit insecure and a bit sad. He would try to put on a brave face for you, not wanting to add any more worries for you, knowing that you wouldn’t REALLY leave him. But inside, he couldn't stop the insecurities from getting to him. Every time he’d see any new news with you and another idol, he’d be really torn and full of worry, especially if it was a friend of yours. What if one day you decide that he’s better than him and leave? You’d quickly realise how sad your boyfriend seemed and get him back to his usual self with a lot of reassurance and kisses.  

𓆩♡𓆪   JEON WONWOO

Nah, he doesn’t care. He knows that you're his and he’s yours, period. There is no point in dwelling on stuff like that, he knows that it’s bound to happen eventually, both to you and him. Sometimes you’d even laugh about the absurd shipping and dating rumours, finding it hilarious how you could be accused of dating someone you haven’t even met before. If you were shipped with one of your friends, the situation wouldn't be that much different, he’d be just a bit more touchy with you in the presence of your friend, reassuring himself that you weren’t going anywhere. 

𓆩♡𓆪  LEE JIHOON

Another one that wouldn't bat an eyelash. Does not care in the slightest. You’re both very confident in the relationship that you have, you trust each other and always talk about any insecurities you have when it comes to your relationship, so there is no reason for him to be jealous of you. Both of you find the rumours hilarious, making some kinds of bets on who's going to be the next person you’d get shipped with. You’d turn these situations into games, making fun of it and not taking it seriously whatsoever. 

𓆩♡𓆪  XU MINGHAO 

Couldn't care less. He finds the whole “shipping” concept funny, because how can people ship you with someone you just GLANCED at? And you’re supposed to be in love just because you looked at each other? Please. He knows the consequences of your jobs, that you’d get shipped with other idols, so you both had to be ready for any new rumours that were bound to happen. He would be the one to reassure you every time anything happened, that he is IN LOVE with you and nothing could make him leave you. 

𓆩♡𓆪  KIM MINGYU 

Even though he trusts you COMPLETELY and tries explaining himself that you wouldn’t leave him, he’d get sad and really heartbroken. He’d be pouting every time he’d see any new news of you being shipped with a new idol, getting a bit insecure about himself. He’d try to cover his emotions about the situation around you, trying to be strong and unbothered, but you’d know immediately how he was feeling. You’d baby him and kiss him endlessly, telling him that he’s the only one you love. If you were shipped with an idol friend though, he’d be VERY touchy with you around him, showing him that you were only his. 

𓆩♡𓆪  LEE SEOKMIN 

Another one that would need a bit of reassurance. In general, he wouldn’t spend that much time focusing on any rumours or scandals that might occur because of shipping, but from time to time he’d need a bit of extra love from you. It happens usually when he’s away on tour or doing promotions when thousands of kilometres are between you two and he can’t be with you in person. He’d try to distance himself, but you’d know immediately what was going on. You’d stay on FaceTime for hours before one of you didn’t fall asleep, and you’d text a lot, more than usual, trying to silently reassure him that he’s it for you. 

𓆩♡𓆪 BOO SEUNGKWAN 

Soooo dramatic. Wouldn’t be jealous, but a bit angry. Not on you of course, but on the people shipping you with other idols. He knows it’s normal in the field of your work, but non the less, gets so annoyed every single time. He’d walk around your apartment with his phone in his hand and talk his head off, about the edits and photos he’d seen on his feed, bitching on the people that made them. Just because you breathed around another man doesn’t mean you’re in love. In the end, he would still seek a bit of reassurance from you, which you’d happily grant him - kisses and cuddles always brightened his mood. 

𓆩♡𓆪 CHWE VERNON 

He wouldn’t even know that you were being shipped with anyone. “Babe, did you I’m being shipped with Wonwoo?”. “What? 🧍” Neither of you cared about the rumours, you didn’t even bother checking any headlines or news. Jealousy wasn’t a big thing in your relationship, as you both had a big trust in each other and the communication between both of you was at its finest, so there were no reasons to feel any insecurities or doubts. If you were shipped with any of your friends, you’d just laugh about it, not making it a big deal. 

𓆩♡𓆪  LEE CHAN 

He would reassure you that he didn’t care every time you’d get shipped with other idols, but you knew he was actually sad about it (as if the big pout on his face wasn’t the biggest giveaway). You would give him a lot of kisses, telling him again and again that he was the only one you loved. Then, when all of his doubts were gone, he’d laugh with you about the situation. You’d probably go on TikTok and make fun of all of the absurd edits of you and the person you got shipped with. Even when you were sure he wasn’t feeling bad about it anymore, you’d give him some extra kisses, just in case. 

[chefkids]

I love your meta!!! It’s amazing that you’re still able to identify and connect new things that the rest of us overlooked. Do you have any predictions for next season? Not just with SydCarmy but also any thoughts about where the show may take us

Thank you!

I think a big focus of next season is going to be on their lives intertwining and their families coming together. Season 3 ended with Richie, Nat, Carmy, and Sydney all coming together to open the restaurant and including her in their core group like family. And like Ayo and everyone in the show has said, this is all about chosen family and real family. But I also think a lot of bad shit is going to happen, especially at the very start of the season.

After Carmy practically begging to meet Sydney's dad, I do think Emmanuel and Carmy will finally meet. I do not think he is going to like Carmy at the start. He is very sceptical of their whole arrangement, he knows Sydney quit for a minute and might have heard Sydney talk shit about him. And if he ever finds out what went down on opening night, I don't think he'll be too happy with Carmy. But I do think they will eventually bond and get to know each other, I think including that Sydney's dad was sober from alcohol is going to be a big conversation for them.

I think they were alluding for Natalie having some sort of complication maybe preeclampsia with her shoulder pain. I think she's going to give birth sooner rather than later. Natalie giving birth is going to bring Donna back and is what is going to get Carmy and his mother to finally see each other again after seemingly years apart.

I also think Donna and Sydney will meet. I think Natalie and Sydney are both going to try to get Carmy to at least try to give his mother a chance because they are both much more optimistic and forgiving people than him. I think it's going to cause a lot of tension between all of them because Carmy doesn't want Sydney seeing that side of his family.

Sydney's share/ownership of the restaurant comes back into question. I also think Carmy getting more credit/recognition than her in reviews or press will bother her. I think she will basically say that this place is not really hers. Someone tries to poach Sydney, Carmy freaks out. Sydney starts to consider if it is worth staying if another good opportunity comes along.

Marcus' mom is dead and gone. RIP to that lady. I think grief and how they all deal with it differently will be a big theme. Carmy ignored his grief for a long time and tried to use work to fix things. Sydney and her dad still keep her mom's memory alive but she still struggles with letting others know about her grief. I think Marcus will be letting others help him and be there for him and Sydney will be there for him. I think this will bring back things Carmy about his own grief and how he's still dealing with it.

Luca returns to fill in for him for a bit and emotional support for Marcus. Which I think will also bring us to see Competitive Carmy in full force as goes into Michelin Mode, for Syd's sake. No amusement or enjoyment. I also think this will kinda turn the crew against Carmy as they'll prefer Sydney, they kind of already do. Especially considering she was more involved in training them and in the build than he was. Plus she's just nicer than him.

Sydney will overwork herself and burn out, she won't trust Carmy on his own and will inevitably put a lot of pressure on herself. She's not going to want to quit or stop but Carmy and her Dad will be pressuring her to slow down because she's making herself sick. I think a large focus of Season 3 will be on their energy. In Season 1 it was all about the pressure of money, Season 2 about time pressure, and now they need to find the energy to keep going because they need to make back money in a set time frame. The focus on energy and their internal dynamics between them, rather than external issues like things in restaurant being broken.

Jealous Carmy. When he realizes Marcus likes Syd more than a friend, he's going to view everyone as competition and a threat, even though he's still to scared to do anything about it. I think Sydney will grow closer to Marcus and Richie and maybe even Luca or new guy Connor, not in any romantic way, but it is going to bother Carmy a lot that she never spends any time with him and that they know her outside of work but he doesn't.

Menu overhaul is inevitable, aside from Marcus dishes, most of the menu is not that remarkable and they really need to pull out new interesting ideas if they want a star. I'm sure we will see a lot more of Syd and Carmy actually testing recipes together. Carmy is just not as creative as Sydney when it comes to food, he struggled with the chaos menu. Mostly as Carmy's way to force proximity with Syd when she doesn't want to be around him.

I'm also still rooting for the return of the short rib risotto and the missing acid chaos ingredient. They have to bring it back.

Tina and/or Richie straight up comment on Sydcarmy. I think Tina knows and suspects a lot more than she lets on. She is very observant and protective over Sydney. She's overheard and seen a lot of what has been going down between them. She's going to put Carmy in his place and scare him a little on Sydney's behalf.

Richie on a similar note is going to put 2 and 2 together on what Carmy is feeling and basically tell him to stay away from Sydney because he doesn't want a Claire 2.0 to happen to her and he probably feels like Carmy does not even deserve Sydney in any way and he would just fuck things up for everyone at the restaurant.

Natalie finally says something to him and that's what finally gets him to do something and stop bottling everything in. She never commented on his relationship to anyone except Sydney, and that was more so to get her in the loop and protect her, because she knew Carmy was leading her on while seeing Claire and not telling her. She's going to subtly or not so subtly ask him wtf he is doing. I also think Jimmy fully thought Sydney was his girlfriend.

Fire Suppression System will tested for real with an actual fire. I have a lil theory that Sydney is going to be the one to accidentally start a fire next season. The fire suppression test was all a metaphor for Syd and Carmy suppressing their feelings and the spark/fire that they have. At the end of season 1 Carmy started a grease fire after Sydney quit, because he couldn't suppress his sadness and feelings for her. In season 2 they passed the fire suppression and Carmy decided to declare Claire his girlfriend. They managed to contain their feelings, but eventually they still came out with Carmy and his panic attack. But now I'm sure Sydney is going to be the one trying to suppress feelings because of how everything went down, and I think it will just blow up in her face literally and metaphorically. They spent so much time explaining the fire suppression system and the electrical wiring and the amperage of it all, that I think it's going to come into play again.

Carmy uses Sydney for emotional support without her realizing. When he texted her because he needed her comfort and forgiveness before opening Mikey's note, she didn't know that was what was happening. When he had panic attack and thought of her to calm down he used her for comfort, but she doesn't know all that. I think he's going to tell her or show her that she is his comfort person. I also think we will also see Sydney eventually reach for him for support and comfort as well.

Sydney's catering days and UPS flashback. Please I am begging. We need more of her lore. I think next season will be a lot of seeing her as more independent and being the boss, we only just started to see her at her peak performance in the last episode. I think we'll see more of her evolution, and also her flighty nature. She went from restaurant to restaurant. I think the idea of her leaving The Bear will hang around all season, but she won't leave.

Claire apology then goodbye within the same episode. Sorry to that girl. I think Carmy was already planning to breakup with her after he had the panic attack and the talk with Uncle Jimmy, which is why he freaked out when after he saw her at dinner. I don't think there would be much place for her unless they throw her into some hospital scenes with maybe Nat or Sydney being sick. I think her work here is done. I think she might make other appearances with the Faks. They are close family friends. Maybe she's friends with the elusive Francie Fak that everyone is dying to know what happened between her and Nat.

I think Richie will try to work elsewhere for a bit. He wants to prove that he doesn't need Carmy and that he can succeed without him. I think he'll come back when Sydney asks him to. The situation with him and Tiff feels very 50/50 to me. On the one hand I think it could be him learning to move on from his ex, on the other hand I think Chris and Joanna are all about second chances and I could see Tiff seeing Richie change and wanting to give things another chance.

I also think there's opportunity to see another city like we did with Copenhagen. I'm still rooting for Carmy to take Syd to Noma before it shuts down. I could also see a New York flashback episode with Carmy working at Eleven Madison and Sydney going on her NYC food tour and their whole invisible string coming together.

Not in this season, but The Bear Cookbook will happen. Trust.

And The Psychedelic Musical Episode. A girl can dream. But I do think we'll get another karaoke scene, maybe with the whole crew going out after a shift and just letting loose for once.

[cosmousee]

What Is Lunar Eclipse Bringing In For You!!🌜🌟

Hello everybody!!!

I'm back with another pick a pile🥰

I know I'm literally posting it on the DAY of the eclipse, but I got to writing it yesterday only, and with the last pile my laptop literally fell apart.

I completed writing it in class, because...who listens to lectures anyway🤪

ANYWHO! Enough chit chat!

Choose whatever pile resonates with you, whatever does not, remember to just pass it on🥰

Pile 1>>2>>3

Enjoy! (Posting it from phone, apologies if the formatting is bad😭)

Pile 1

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

For you I saw more of a building your own self sort of a thing. I saw an animation of you know sort of a stick figure thingy, and it was entirely made up of small paper bits, and you were rebuilding yourself again and again by replacing those bits with other bits. I think you guys are constantly figuring out which self is your most authentic self and the one where you are happiest being yourself. Ofcourse, this doesn’t come easy, which is why you are in a constant process.

For your oracle cards, we have

St. John’s Wort and Marigold: Against your will, there will not be; no entrance, no welcoming. Be Gone.

Witch’s Rosary: Craft your skills with intentions repeated, a practice of magick powered by purpose.

I’ll add your tarot cards here only, because I think they make more sense if I read them all together.

Your tarot cards are,

4 of Cups, 3 of Wands, The Fool and The Empress

For all of you, I believe you guys are free to choose, free to welcome whatever you want this lunar eclipse. It is your own decision, whatever path you want to choose, whether it may be your love life, your career, you focusing on your own self, focusing on forming a community for yourself.

I mean the list feels endless. Lunar eclipse is a fated time for things, and for you I feel like whatever you want this time, you’ll get it. Like it is up to you to focus on whatever and receive what you are focusing on. I have also heard that you shouldn’t manifest during lunar eclipse, or eclipses in general, but honestly, if you are feeling called to do so, you should listen to that calling.

The oracle cards are also saying that it you who is going to decide, nothing will happen if you don’t want that to happen. Everything is your will. And when you want something, be really really intentional and determined about it. Affirm about the things, sit and visualize those things, journal about them. Like keep that thing in your prayers and your thoughts sort of a thing.

Sit and reflect on what you think is the thing you need and want right now. Be determined but also be open about it like The Fool, open to the possibilities of it happening, especially if it feels like its something impossible. Be really fkn assured that whatever youre choosing to want is for your greatest good and you cannot, and will not fuck it up. Its such a fun energy to be in, because I am honestly extremely scared of eclipses, and I just spend the whole season crying my eyes out. I hope y’all are feeling well, because it seems to me that lunar eclipse isn’t forcing you to focus on one thing and deal with it. It letting you take the wheel and nudging you to take the steps this time, and the eclipse will help you achieve that thing and get that thing.

You might be confused as well, you know, that usually eclipses have a greater impact, but nothing is happening right now kinda thing. If you have something in mind that you wanna focus on, you can also ask for a hint, or even take this reading as a confirmation!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

Pile 2

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

For you, I saw a very barn type place, or like a farm-y place. It was very bright, sunny (not the kind where you’re all sweaty ugh), and there was a rainbow! I saw you being very very jolly, like literally sprinting and jumping with excitement and all the people you love, your friends and family were cheering you on from a distance.

Now, for your oracle cards, we have,

Harvest Witch: What sacrifices have you made for the greater vision of what is to be?

Adding your tarot cards here itself, because they give a better picture together,

The High Priestess, 10 of Pentacles, The World, 10 of Cups, 3 of Pentacles and The King of Pentacles

Now, the oracle card is talking about the chances you have taken to get out of your comfort zone, to get out of the habits of the current you, or the old you, in order to reach new heights. How much have you consciously put in the effort to grow and reach the highest of the heights you are supposed to achieve in this lifetime.

That’s the thing I saw when you were in that barn, that is such a happy version of you, and with the excitement that I saw, it really felt like either you were dreaming about it for a long time, or you just thought that this life was never possible for you.

Even with the tarot cards, they are telling you to follow your intuition, listen to it very closely. I think with the eclipse its calls would be getting louder by the minute, especially if you are missing the signs or outright ignoring the signs.

You are on a path to great success, you are yet to see the World and everything else that it offers, everything that you didn’t think it will offer.

I’m sure many of you might be content with where you are right now as well. But with this opportunity, you will feel content like never before. You know if you’ve got rose gold glasses on right now, pursuing this new path will give you ultra 4k HD rose gold glasses. There is a fulfilment you haven’t felt before, and it’s gonna come like fresh air to you, like you’ve breathed for the first time, like your lungs have felt the cleanest of the air in a long while.

Spirit might be showing you a collaboration or a partnership which is your ticket for this new world. You might be sitting frustrated about everything, and this opportunity will just drop in. Listen to your intuition, if its telling you to go for it, you better go for it. Don’t double guess it, listen to yourself and let your intuition get a breather because I think it’s been trying to get your attention for a while now!

Also, I think you might have to travel for this, like actually go some place far, which is why I saw your friends and family at a distance. But don’t worry, they are very happy for you and they are cheering you on, and obviously, you can always come back home for them!!

So get out there and you better enjoy the heck out of life!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

Pile 3

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

I saw you making snow angels!! Very happy, healing your inner child sort of a thing (I’ve never made a snow angel and I really really wanna). It also makes me think of leaving an impression, or a lasting imprint. Like you say something to someone and it really sticks with them, or you’ve done something that people always remember, even years down the line, they are like “Oh you remember [Name] did this amazing thing that time?” and you are fondly remembered.

It can be a really small act of kindness also that people remember, or you’ve helped someone and that memory is you know forever in their hearts kind of a thing.

Okay, so for your oracle cards we have,

Falling Leaves: Let go of the things that weigh heavily on you; you deserve to take up space.

Crow: Pay close attention to the winds; there’s a message making its way.

The first card again tells you to take up space, which is what you do essentially when you are making snow angels! (11:11 pm make a wish~) You take up space, you do your thing, and that is where you create your mark, your identity. It shows that you were there, you existed, you took up your space, you’ve marked it as your own.

I also think, because of the snow, that the winter season might be important for you.

Also, with the crow card, you might get an idea, an epiphany sort of a thing from someone else. You know when you are walking and you hear someone else say something and it just clicks for you, that yes! That message was definitely for me. You know literally wind coming up to you with a message, because..sound…carries through air.

Oh and crows are also related to ancestors, so it might be that they are contacting you, or telling you something important. Maybe they have some ideas for you to create an impact on this world.

Now for your tarot cards,

Death, 9 of Cups, Ace of Swords, 3 of Pentacles, King of Pentacles and 8 of Pentacles

With all of this pentacle energy, I feel like whatever the eclipse is bringing you right now, its gonna be long term, or its gonna unfold over a long period of time.

There's something you have to let go of, or remove from your life in order to have greater emotional fulfillment. In reference to the snow angel as well, you're healing your inner child by taking up space in the snow, so it's sort of like you have to let go of that part of yourself which inhibits you from pursuing those things, you know that part of you which thinks “no ew its cringey” because you feel like you'll he judged, but in reality if you go and do that thing, it's gonna literally feel like you're enjoying it from deep within your soul.

The Ace of Swords also tells you that you are going to get a new idea, some sort of epiphany, which can help you in your career and generate alot of wealth for you as well.

You may come up with this idea on your own, and then partner up with someone (King of Pentacles) who already has some expertise in the area, or they have the resources to take your idea to the next level. At this time you might be getting constant downloads of ideas, or you'll be getting opportunities or signs about collaborations or partnerships.

Grab these opportunities with full force, you're gonna have a lot of fun!!!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

[changbinsboobs]

* Timeframes for meeting their FS

Please

First things first, im shit with timeframes when reading tarot so this won't be straight forward answers, rather i think i'll be getting the energy of the time period they'll be in when they meet them but unless i specifically pick on something time-wise and say it - then i have no idea when they'll be meeting them.

"Timeframes" for Skz meeting their FS

Chan

Ok this is just a wild guess but i think it might be after skz disband or he in some way loses Skz. He'll be crying over this loss but my guy doesn't know that with closing this door another one opens. Again this is a guess, it could relate to other things too - the energy im seeing is that he loses something of value and grieves over it, but doesn't see what blessing is hiding just behind the corner. Oh also forgot to mention, this won't happen right away, thats the "activator" of their meeting, and during that transition period a few months may go by before they meet, although im not seeing much more than half a year AT MOST.

Lee Know

Ok, this is really interesting but im seeing him being extremely lucky and having already met his Soulmate (mind you not FS) years ago when he was younger and had no clue at all, and them life brought them apart. This is not really in the cards but rather my own personal feeling with this energy, that this is not his future spouse, so im susceptible to believe he either will not marry long into the future, or his FS is still undetermined, he won't marry at all or he will remarry, and thats why i may be reading on a second spouse, not the first. There's many possibilities here, do with that what u will.

Changbin

Ok this is a very unclear/difficult energy to read and im not picking on much other than that he's determined to find love and for him im actually seeing 1. a timeframe and 2. reaching financial success? So idk what to make of that. The timeframe shows 1 year. So he may have some sort of plan regarding his finances and he has put lots of energy into that till now, and still continues, but now his focus is also on love. Im seeing him already tapping, no being in the "energy field" of finding a soulmate/love, so maybe in a year something career or finance wise will happen, and that could be the "initiator" of their meeting to happen. This could be the last piece of the puzzle bringing him a certain feeling of security and peace of mind that might be missing right now. Im seeing things progressing very quickly too, in the matter of weeks after their first meeting, cuz my guy will eat her up and woo her as fast as he can.

Hyunjin

Ok this is also very interesting cuz i thought i'd be looking long into the future with those readings but till now, lots of them were actually kinda close energetically wise, except maybe for chan. But i guess it could be making sense cuz they're in their mid twenties and thats the time people already start getting married, and i guess they need to date for a while first if they're gonna get married in their thirties so it makes sense for them to be already close to meeting their fs or having already met them. Cuz meeting them at all doesn't always guarantee starting to date immediately yk. But anyways back to hyunjin😅 for him im seeing he either already met his FS a few weeks/months ago (like max. 3 months) or will be meeting them around that time in the future. But the thing with him is he would be absolutely clueless and either will have a bad impression of them or leave a bad impression on them...or both. Probably both😂 cuz im seeing him having this expectation for this to be some lifechanging experiwnce, fireworks firing, waterfalls falling, the world is singing around them - but in reality its not...not at all like that. He will probably be in a bit of an annoyed mood because of something else and his FS will catch him in a bad moment, and im seeing him being really defensive, sensitive, annoyed and just kind of dismissing towards them. As i said he'll be clueless that this could be his FS and probably act like a fool, and as said - leave a bad impression. This is just a hunch but i think between the initial meeting and them actually getting together is a bit of a gap, so yeah, as i said, just a sense but could be a few years or at least a couple few months before they get together.

Han

Omg another one with very present day energy. There's two possibilities. He either is running away from his FS currently, cuz he's just not ready for comittment, afraid of love and wants to keep his freedom and feel young - oooooorrrrr he's meeting them pretty pretty soon, like in the next like week or so, and he's meeting them in a very unpleasant situation. Im seeing him feeling very uncomfortable and anxious because of something, and them they come to his rescue and bring him a sense of balance and security, and breath some confidence into him. That would be the clues for their initial meeting - and im not quite sure which of the two versions apply for his case, so yeah

Felix

Oooohhhghhgc myyy godddd, those keep getting mire and more interesting. So for this one im pretty sure has not only already met them but actually been with them✨ what im seeing here that they were either having a fling or like just stepping into the first stages of dating etc. or they were in a full on committed relationship, but they had fights, couldn't get along and broke up leaving them both heartbroken. He has put that heartbreak into creativity. Not quite sure when that was taking place. Im getting months tho. Either the heartbreak took place a few months ago or they met around 3 months ago and they just recently broke up. Y'all should look out for the bangers that will come out of that heartbreak.😂🙌🏻✨🥲

Seungmin

No soulmates for him🥲💀 my guys just looking at the practicality and he's in thoughts who out of all his options should he choose (excuse mw how many do you have🤨) im seeing him being pretty comfortable but then once again im really uncertain between 2 scenarios, either first one is being he's already thinking about that and what(who) he should choose to deepen things with and get serious, orrrrrr, he feels like he should do that soon, but doesn't want to, so he enjoys his bachelor life a bit more as long as he can and then once he gets a few years older and has quenched his thirst his choosing quickly just "the next best thing" and is getting married. Wow. His readings always shock me so much.

I.N

That one's quite a bit into the future im seeing around 4 years from now, and they'll be meeting when he's in a really bad place mentally. Im seeing him going through a life-changing stage of his life, kind of like an awakening or dark night of the soul. Not necessarily in the spiritual sense but just his state of being, or even his physical life suddenly transforms so quickly he doesnt even know where it hit him from. And he'll have A LOT to deal with internally and even externally, it will be quite the process for him but at the end he'll reach "enlightenment" (or just the next, more conscious, stage of his life) and his FS will pop up out of nowhere. As his little gift✨

* Also surprisingly this went down much easier than i thought, i think i got quite some details and quite a few timeframes, didn't expect that honestly. Not complaining😌

[itsjustrosee]

Hii!!! Im literally in love with your work 😍it’s so good!!!! I was wondering if you could do a Minho x fem reader where the reader is really feisty and sassy on the outside but soft and scared inside. So when she first comes up in the box as the only girl, her fight or flight instincts come in and she starts running (sorta like Thomas in the beginning of the movies) and she almost makes it into the maze (bc shes really fast) but bumps into Minho who’s on his way out. He grabs her and after that he was instructed to always keep you in his sights bc he’s the only one who can handle/calm you? And you become a runner with him and grow feelings. Something like that idk!

Very cute idea!! I loved writing this, thank you so much for the request!!! This definitely helped me get out of my writing slump so thank you <3

UNDER CONTROL Minho x Fem!reader

Context: look above for summary ^

Warnings: Spice and cursing

Wordcount: 3.4k

! proof read but there might still be some mistakes !

You woke up just to be greeted by almost pitch-black darkness. Questions raced through your mind as your eyes slowly adjusted to your surroundings.

You were in some sort of box. All four walls, including the floor and the ceiling, were made of metal, and you could say that it was almost like you were stuck in a crate of some kind.

There were boxes of food and clothes around you but you didn't have much time to focus on that, not when the cage you were in moved up what seemed like some sort of elevator shaft at an alarming speed.

You tried standing up but you couldn't keep your balance. You landed right back on the floor so you shuffled over into a corner of the box, screaming for help until your throat became raw and you didn't have enough energy to scream anymore.

Hot wet tears streamed down your cheeks and you eventually passed out from exhaustion. When you opened your eyes again, the shaft was still moving but then suddenly it came to an abrupt halt.

You stayed in the corner, curious about what was to come next. Thoughts raced in and out of your brain as you tried to come up with an explanation as to why you were stuck in this cage. But that only made you question even more things. Where had you been before this? Who had you been before this? Who are you?

Your thoughts were interrupted as the crate's ceiling opened, and sunlight from above poured into your box. You looked up as your eyes adjusted to yet another change in lighting and to your surprise, you saw a large group of boys huddled around the perimeter of the box. They all stared at you, some shocked and some surprised.

You heard a couple whoops and hollers being exchanged from those above you and you could hear someone exclaim, "It's a girl!"

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Suddenly a hand reached down to pull you out of the box, "Welcome to the Glade shank," A boy with odd-looking eyebrows explained, the tone of his voice not welcoming once so ever.

"Come on Gally be nice to the greenie, I mean she is a girl," Another boy said, talking to the one who pulled you out of the box who you now knew was Gally. The boy who was talking to Gally was blonde and different from the others, he had a British accent.

You grabbed the hand of the boy hesitantly and got pulled up to the surface. You felt relieved to be standing on grass, let alone solid ground, until you actually looked at everyone around you. The only people you could see were boys. Only boys.

So that's what they meant. You were the only girl there.

Oh fuck no.

That was the only thing on your mind as you sprinted away from everyone. You shoved past the crowd of boys and ran. You ran like your life depended on it. Your heart beat out of your chest as you flew past everyone, you didn't even know where you were going but you just didn't want to be near anyone else, especially not them. This was too overwhelming for you and you shut your eyes as your mind raced almost as fast as you.

Just as you thought you would be successful in your escape, you slowed down your pace just slightly, finally opening your eyes and looking in front of you.

Walls. Four ginormous stone walls loomed over you.

All you could do was stare at them as you continued running, in awe and in horror.

You were too busy peering up at the walls to even notice the boy that you ended up running right into. You slammed into his chest but he barely even got knocked back by you, even though you ran like hell straight into him.

You subconsciously gripped onto both of his biceps with your hands to steady yourself while his hands both flew to your waist to keep you from falling. As you picked your head up to get a look at the person you collided with, your heart practically beat out of your chest.

Jesus Christ this man is hot.

He was much taller than you, your head only reaching his collarbone. He had a muscular frame and from what you could tell from the veins and muscles on his forearms, he was strong.

But it wasn't just his figure that made him attractive, it was also his face. He had a sharp jawline and a pair of hooded dark brown eyes that drew you in, like there was something just so captivating about them but you didn't know what it was.

As he looked you up and down for a moment, he had a mix of shock and realization on his face. "You must be new here, huh?" He said with a soft grin. God even his voice sounded hot.

You could only stare back at him, a look of terror on your face as you did so. As you looked past him and back to the walls, your eyes prickled with tears, ones that threatened to start streaming down your face any second.

Whoever the boy who stood in front of you was, took one good look at your face and his expression softened. "Hey look at me," He said, removing one of his hands from your waist and putting it on your chin as he moved your head so you'd look at him. "This whole thing seems terrifying, trust me I know, but it isn't as bad as you would think." He finished while putting his hand back on your waist.

"Where am I?" You squeaked out, your voice still slightly hoarse from all the screaming you'd done when you'd been stuck in that box.

"The glade," The boy answered. You gave him a look of confusion because it's not exactly like his reply really answered your question. He opened his mouth to speak again, "Alright it's kind of hard to explain all of this, and I really can't tell you all of it now. I know it seems unfair but you have to trust me, you'll learn everything in time."

"Okay," You mumble out with a small nod of your head.

"My name's Minho by the way," He adds as he removes his hands from your waist and crosses his arms, you quickly follow suit and take your hands away from his biceps and put them to your side. "You might not remember your name now, but you'll get it back in a couple d-" You cut him off before he can finish.

"(Y/N)." You say, the name almost sounding foreign to you, "My name is (Y/N)." You muster out again, this time more slowly as if you're actively trying to tie yourself to that name again.

"(Y/N), huh? You know, most people don't get their names back until a day or two out of the box. It's impressive that you remembered yours so quick." He says with a smile that makes your heart melt.

"Guess I'm lucky then," You say while the tips of your lips drag up to form a small smile.

"Guess so," Minho says, returning your smile as he looks back at you.

You hear footsteps approach and you turn around quickly, taking a step back as you do so. Minho puts a hand on your shoulder and suddenly you feel safe, protected almost, by his presence. You take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out. You don't need to run.

Your eyes land on the thankfully smaller group of boys than before, walking up to you and Minho. "Jeez Minho how the hell'd you calm her down?" Someone says while another replies, "Guess he's just skilled with the ladies," Nudging his friend's arm as they both snicker.

"Slim it Fry. You can't blame the poor girl for being totally freaked. I would've done the same if I were her," The blonde one states.

"Alright settle down," One of the boy's who is walking with them states. He's different from the rest though, he looks older, not by much, but just enough to set him apart. He holds himself with confidence and his voice drips with authority and respect.

The two boys next to him quiet down as they walk over. Gally, the Brit, the guy whose name is Fry, a short chubby kid who radiates little brother energy, and the one who you're assuming is the leader, all stood in front of you.

"That was quite the run you made there." The leader states before continuing, "I'm Alby, I sorta run this place, and this," He points to the blondy, "Is Newt, my second in command." He says while Newt gives you a wave.

"I'm (Y/N)." You state.

"Wow, you already remembered your name? It took me a while to remember mine," The chubby boy replies, looking at you as if you're the coolest person he's ever met.

You give him a warm smile and as you're about to speak, someone else cuts in, "Oh slim it Chuck. No one cares," Gally says rudely, "Shouldn't you be cleaning up klunk in the toilets right now anyways?" Gally says with a chuckle.

For some reason, you feel compelled to defend this little kid. "Don't talk to him like that. You don't run the place, so who are you to go around telling everyone what to do?" You say taking a step forward towards Gally. You disliked him already, despite only knowing him for a couple of minutes.

"I can talk to him however the shuck I want, greenie." Gally sneers as he steps towards you. "You just got here and I don't think that you'd want to get on my bad side already." He spits out.

You scoff, "Honestly, I couldn't care less whether or not I'm on your 'bad side'." You grin while mocking him which only makes him angrier. You're now standing toe to toe with him and his face was only inches away from yours. "What are you going to do, huh? Fight me?" You say while finding your ability to get a rise out of him beyond entertaining.

"You little-" Newt pulled Gally away from you before he could do anything he might regret but you just stayed right where you were. This wasn't over, not in your eyes at least.

"Oh come on. Let him at me. I mean look at him, he's practically frothing at the mouth like some sort of wild animal." You say with a chuckle, meanwhile, he looks like he wants to maul you, but you could care less. "What? Are you afraid of getting your ass beat by a girl or something?"

That was all it took for Gally to pounce on you, but Minho pulled you to his side with two firm hands on your hips before he could reach you. Gally missed the both of you in his attempt to tackle you, resulting in him on the ground. While he tried to get up, both Newt and Fry had to hold him back.

"That's enough." Alby's voice booms while stepping between you and Minho and Newt, Fry and Gally. "Gally you've been here for far longer than she has and you are well aware of our rules here," Alby states while staring at Gally, who, after thrashing around, stands on his knees and finally calms down. Neither of the boy's grip on him gets any softer though.

While Alby lectures the both of you, Gally's too busy glaring at you. He was giving you a look that would seem threatening if anyone else was doing it, but his eyebrows shred the illusion of it being anything close to scary or intimidating.

"Alright Gally you get one night in the slammer, and you," He turns his attention to you, "Though you didn't put your hands on Gally, you should still be held responsible for some of this."

"That's fair," You say with a shrug.

"Minho you aren't allowed to leave her side for the next week," Alby states without missing a beat.

"Wait, what?" Both you and Minho say in unison.

"But I need to go in the maze, how is she supposed to be with me then?" Minho questions.

"That won't be a problem because you will be teaching her to become a runner," Alby explains before looking at you, "I've seen a lot of shanks come up through that box and claim they want to be a runner all for the glory of it, but you, you can actually run." You feel a sense of pride as Alby finishes speaking.

Gally finally gets up and starts walking away and Fry walks with him. As Newt stands up, he whispers something into Alby's ear.

"Minho you're going to have to keep her under control and tour her around the glade tonight after you go to the maze room, alright?" Alby confirms.

"Alright," Minho replies in agreement and both Newt and Alby begin to walk away. He takes his hands off your hips and stands in front of you before you can walk away.

"Well, that was quite the introduction you made for yourself, huh?"

"Dude, what do you expect me to do? Do you guys just let him talk to people like that?"

"Well, unfortunately, that's just kind of the way that he is."

"Now that's just a shitty excuse," You say, rolling your eyes.

"Look, I'm not the biggest fan of the way he acts either but you just need to get to know him." He says while shooting you a pleading look.

"Yeah, I think I'll pass." You say with a chuckle.

"Okay I get it, you don't need to be friends with him or anything, you just need to get along with him well enough," Minho says with a sigh.

"Alright fine. I will."

"Good," Minho says with a smile, "Meet me at the box after dinner, I'll show you around the glade afterward."

You give him a thumbs-up and he turns away, walking to, you're assuming, some place called 'the maze room'.

Just as you're about to walk away, to god knows where because you seriously don't even know where the hell you are, you stop in your tracks as you feel someone tug on the hem of your shirt from behind you.

You turn your head to see the kid from before that you defended, and immediately your expression softens.

"Hey, you need something?" You ask softly while turning towards him.

"Oh um, no, I just wanted to thank you for earlier," He says and you are literally fighting every urge you have to just hug this kid and squeeze the shit out of him. "Not many people are really willing to stick up for me around here, so, thank you."

"Of course. I mean, I couldn't just let that loser push you around like that,"

He gives you a genuine smile before speaking again, "My name's Chuck by the way."

"Chuck, huh? Well, it's nice to meet you Chuck," You say, returning his smile, "You wouldn't mind showing me where we have dinner would you? I don't know where the hell I am," You add with a chuckle.

Chuck agrees happily, and soon enough, you were sat down on a bench at a table eating dinner. You sat down with Chuck and a few others, and you made sure that you stayed as far away from Gally as possible.

After dinner, Minho showed you around and told you about the glade and how everyone was kept in here in some maze. Honestly, you couldn't focus on a word he was saying because you couldn't keep your eyes off the way the moonlight perfectly hit his face. It made him look like some kind of god, and to you, staring at him was far more interesting than realizing you all were stuck in here like some sort of lab rats.

Ok so maybe you developed a little crush on him. Who could blame you? He was hot, but he also had a really good personality. The type of personality that lights up a room, one that makes people want to be around you. That's what Minho had.

As you got to know him more while in the maze and out of it, your feelings couldn't help but grow deeper. Not to mention that he was the only person in the whole glade that could actually handle you. Well, Chuck could too, you had become very close with him, but when it came to fights, you told him to stay out of it. After all, you always knew that Minho would be there to pull you away and calm you down, so you didn't want Chuck to bother getting himself into trouble while trying to bail you out.

And tonight was no different. You'd gotten into an argument with Gally at the bonfire, but this one was worse than most. His words were harsher this time, and it pushed you over the edge.

Minho could tell that you actually felt hurt at what Gally said, so he dragged you out of the bonfire and into his hut where he hugged you as you cried into his shoulder.

You never cried in the glade, not once, yet as Minho hugged you, his arms wrapped around your back tightly as he rubbed circles into it, you couldn't help but let out soft sobs into his shirt.

"Shh," Minho whispered into your ear, "Let it out. You're safe here," His words made your heart melt, partially because he was being so nice to you and partially because he was right. It didn't matter where you were, as long as Minho was there, you felt safe.

"It's just so stupid, I shouldn't be crying over this. He's mean to me all the time I need to get over it," You sniffled, your words muffled by the material of his shirt as you spoke into it.

Suddenly, Minho moved his hands to your shoulders and pulled you away from him slightly so you could face him. "Don't say that, alright? It's not stupid." Minho explained, "He was being a total shuck face you have a right to feel frustrated," He said while taking a thumb and whipping a tear from your cheek.

He rested his hand on your cheek as he looked into your eyes and you felt your face flush.

Suddenly, there was a thick tension between both you and Minho. It was a mix of longing and desire, which only intensified after looking back at him.

You couldn't help but glance down at his lips for a split second, hoping he didn't see it but he definitely did. His hand wrapped around your back moved to your waist as his face leaned into yours, and your lips collided with his.

He kissed you softly and tenderly and you couldn't help but kiss him back with the same amount of passion. You moved your arms around his neck as you melted into his touch. You wish you could savor everything about the way he kissed you.

Minho slid one of his hands down your shirt and up your bare back, causing shockwaves to spread throughout your entire body because of the skin-to-skin contact.

The kiss deepened as he became more and more passionate and desperate with you. You slipped your lips open to allow his tongue to enter your mouth and he proceeded to explore every inch of it.

The ache between your legs only grew greater as you felt Minho's bulge press onto it. He hummed into your lips as he moved his hand from your cheek to under the front of your shirt.

Suddenly, he pulled away, biting down on your bottom lip as he did so. He moved his lips to your jaw, down your neck, and eventually down to the sensitive skin on the crook of your neck. He softly bit and then sucked on the skin, leaving a hickey that multiple people were guaranteed to point out tomorrow.

You moaned softly as he did so, and before you and Minho could continue, you heard the door knob of Minho's hut open.

Shit.

"Hey (Y/N) I wanted to apologize for earlier, I didn't mea-" Gally begins to say, but you can imagine the rest of the words get caught in his throat as he sees you and Minho before him.

"Gally get the shuck out-" You say loudly but before you can even continue, Gally's already out of the door as quickly as he came in.

Alright guys, I did it! Heres another request fulfilled!! I actually really liked how this one turned out and I hope you guys do too!!!

I also wanted to thank each and every one of you who's been supporting me even while I haven't been super active, it really means a lot to me <33

ALSO THANK YOU GUYS FOR 50 FOLLOWERS!!!!! that is literally so insane to me. I cannot thank you guys enough for how kind you've all been

[luimagines]

You Realize You Like Him Part 3

Masterlist

Part 1 Part 2

Part 3 will include Legend, Sky and Four.

Content under the cut!

Legend

“And then I told him that he could fly from the top of Hyrule Castle for all I cared, I wasn’t going to buy something that only have a 40% success rate.” Legend finished his story.

You nodded along. You understood a solid...5% of what he was saying. But that’s ok. You like to hear him talk. He was nice enough and you liked his company. 

There was this energy that drew you to him. You’re not sure what it was. Sure he was cute but that couldn’t have been it.

Then again, he always had something to help save the day. He was fast on his feet and incredibly clever. He had enough experience under his belt to put most of the group to shame. There seemed that there wasn’t anything that he couldn’t do.

You respected him greatly.

Legend snorted and patted your shoulder. “I’m telling you, I know the ins and outs of most, if not, all sleezy merchants. If you want the best deal, you come with me and I’ll find it for you.”

You smiled. “Thanks Link. I might have to take you up on that.”

Legend faltered for a moment and blushed. “Hey... It’s not much. It doesn’t cost my anything.”

You chuckled at his reaction, feeling those little butterflies in your tummy. You smiled wider and felt yourself fluster a little. This was it. This is what caught you off guard time and time again. When he got soft or shy, you simply... followed suit.

It was infuriating to say the least. You wanted him to think you were cool, collected, suave. Hell, you would accept gravitas if you could reach it. 

For you to also lose your cool just because Legend was adorable was not the move for you. And Yet!

Someone called Legend for his opinion from the front of the group and Legend smiled at you again, soft and sweet and winked. He ran to catch up and ask what they needed.

It was the final nail in the coffin.

You bite your lip, feeling your blush grow over your face. Well this was hardly fair at all. You felt almost giddy with some unnamed excitement. Was this weird? Were you being weird?

You could almost feel the exact moment where your eyes turned into hearts- all the more thankful that he was no where near you at this point to see your descent. You liked him. You already knew that.

But to think you would feel like losing it over his stupid little wink and grin!! UGH!! This cannot be!! And yet!!! Here you are!!!

You covered your face with your hands, quickly putting your hood over yourself before anyone can get the impression that you were actually losing your mind. Which you were. 

You took a deep breath, then another, then another. That’s it. Breathe in. Breathe out.

So what if he was handsome and charming and smart and clever and cool? It doesn’t mean anything!

It meant everything.

Sky

Arguably, it didn’t take you long to realize that you were starting to fall for him.

You were only traveling with the group for a few months when you found yourself getting butterflies in your tummy whenever he would walk next to you or when you were staring. Period. You were staring. That should have been a dead giveaway.

But no, you were still trying to hold onto denial.

You were trying to keep pleasant but polite conversation with the young man. For some reason, you found unable to hold eye contact and you couldn’t seem to stop from blushing despite the fact that literally nothing was happening.

Still, you were giggly and happy and overall overjoyed so spend the time with him, even though you would have thought that he would have gotten annoyed with you at this point for being so out of it as you were.

That being said, when he put his hand on your shoulder, you had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep it together.

You couldn’t deny it any longer. That’s not a normal reaction. You were at least crushing on him. You had to admit at least that much.

He said some more things that you could no longer focus on before he patted your shoulder as a sign of good will before he walked on, no doubt going to talk to someone else of the group.

Once he was out of sight and hopefully out of earshot, you slowly sunk down and squealed to yourself. It was going to be a one time thing, you would have allowed yourself his much. Then you would get a grip and pretend it never happened and never do it again.

Somehow, the universe had other plans for you.

You had entered a new town and had to do some quick shopping to restock the supplies of the group. Which was all fine and dandy to be honest.

Until you ran into Sky.

Now you were blushing and flustered and giggling like a fool- even if he wasn’t even saying anything funny. The butterflies were back tenfold and they refused to leave.

Sky decided to stay by your side for the remainder of the day and help you out with the of the shopping. He even carried the bags for you. 

Your mind wanted to romanticize the entire thing and make it seem like it was a date when the more rational part of your brain wanted it to remain strictly business.

You had left for a moment to buy some things from the tailor shop for Legend and returned to Sky, who was holding onto some roasted food on a stick. He smiled, dare you say, bashfully. “I thought you’d be hungry.”

Your jaw dropped but you took the food anyway. “How did you know?”

“Because given the amount of things you’ve already bought and the fact that you started the second we split up, I was beginning to doubt that you had even bothered to feed yourself.” He answered quietly, scratching the back of his neck. “Is it good?”

You take a bite. “Delicious!”

“Good.” Sky smiles and takes the new bag from your hand. “Let’s continue then.”

The words suddenly sits on the edge of your tongue and you swallow it down with the next bite before it can escape. Could you love him? Could you plan to fall?

He certainly doesn’t make it difficult to do so.

Four

Honestly, you can say without a shadow of a doubt that Four was one of your favorite people ever.

He was so smart. And kind. And the best kind of sarcastic.

You loved to go toe to toe with his wit and he never failed to make you laugh no matter how stupid the joke was or how low hanging the fruit was.

...He would hit you if he heard you say that that one.

There’s was just something effortless about hanging out with him. Conversation flowed easy and there never seemed to be anything you couldn’t talk about. Even when you weren’t talking, the silence wasn’t awkward and there no need to try and one up one another. It was just casual and pleasant coexistence.

But then you started noticing... the little you did. At first, as usual, it wasn’t something that you paid attention to much because you had already established that you cared about each other and cared about each other’s opinions and the relationship between you had.

But you wanted... more of his attention. You wanted more of his time and his energy. You found yourself looking over at him more often and wanting to get his opinion on everything even if it was next to nothing.

It wasn’t until Zelda invited you and the group to a royal ball of sorts where you realized that you were subconsciously dressing up for Four instead of just trying to look your best for the princess’s sake.

You were thinking if he’d like the color, the cut, the jewelry they gave you to wear with your outfit. You had a passing thought that Four could make something better than this if they ever gave him the chance.

It wasn’t until you nearly blurted the question out loud to yourself that you caught on to your thoughts.

It realization hit you like a charging horse.

Just why did you care so much about what Four thought about this outfit? About you? About if he would think you looked good or not? It’s not like he’s the type of person to judge you for your fashion choices. If you wanted that, you’d ask Legend of Wild for their opinion.

But you still wanted him to pay attention to you like this.

You bit your lip harshly.

It... can’t be that? Right? 

No.

No, no, no- that would be silly.

You run your hands down your clothes and look back at the mirror. You think for a moment about your thought and break down in an instant. You’re a flustered blushing mess.

You think that Four would look very dapper tonight in his clothes for the party. And the thought gets your heart racing.

Would he want to dance with you?

Would you talk the night away?

...Would he even want to hang out with you tonight? He’s entitled to be around his other friends, of course. You don’t feel as if you have any right to demand anything of him.

...But you want it. You want it really badly. But why?

Are you crushing?

For a moment you  think you hear someone knocking at the door and you got to open it. It’s Four- looking just as dapper as you thought he would. You grin.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be!”

He’s so handsome!

....wait...

[kyri45]

Hoi there, it's me again

Thank you for replying to my list of questions (Hope it wasn't too much for ya ^^'')

I also got another question for you. Do you have a job? If yes how much hours do you do? Mostly asking because I'm curious how are you still able to have energy and motivation on doing art right after your shift is done?

I have been struggling with trying to balance my work-life and trying to get back into doing arts again like I used to. It feels so weird that I once had so much energy to do art and have fun with it during my time in university, but now that it's over the drive just suddenly paused.

It might have to do with burnout, but even so, it's weird.

Any tips on how to manage your time to be able to get your porjects done and be able to stay motivated to do art as well?

Thank you ahead if you see it.

Lots of hugs to you.

PS.: Stay Your Awesome self as always!

Hii! So like- in the past 3 weeks/ next 6 weeks my schedule is more or less the following:

I wake up at 5am or 6am, depending on how much i slept/how is my insomnia.

I work for commissions from 5 to 6am (or i sleep)

How I stay motivated? Well drawing the comics for me is what I do on my "free time". And for me is like my hobby/fun thing to do after work.

From 7am to 5pm I work as a windsurf/wingfoil instructor (sometimes during my break i still work on commissions or on the comics if i need to chill, and during my shift if I don't get caught when I don't have lesson I answer to some of your asks)

From 6:30/7pm to 10pm I draw, again mostly for my client/commission.

Every drawing that you see posted (both comics and other fanarts) I draw during my 2 days off)

I have no idea how I'm still functioning honestly. Might be that I have insomnia and this schedule works for me bc at 10pm (which is actually rn, i should sleep) i'm so tired that I'm finally able to fall asleep.

I think the thing is I'm way too tired to draw something for fun AFTER work. But on my free days I'm more rested and can only focus on having fun drawing or other things.

[from-memphis-with-love]

Songbird - Chapter 5 - The Final Curtain

Summary: It's been four weeks. Elvis' residency is coming to a close, but not without a bang. Ann-Margret and Priscilla are in attendance, and Valerie's gotta face some hard truths... and a hard question. Hilarity ensues thanks to Dean Martin and Tom Jones' hijinx.

The phone rang at precisely 7:13 AM, yanking me from dreams where Elvis' hands were finally doing more than just hovering near my skin. I fumbled for the receiver, still half-lost in phantom touches and promises.

"Valerie? Thank Christ." Joe's voice crackled with barely contained panic. "We got a situation."

I sat up, instantly alert. In Vegas, a "situation" could mean anything from Elvis deciding to redecorate his suite at 3 AM to the Colonel having another one of his nuclear meltdowns over seat assignments.

"What kind of situation?"

"Frank's coming."

"Frank who?"

"What do you mean 'Frank who'?" Joe's voice climbed an octave. "Sinatra! Chairman of the Board! Ol' Blue Eyes! He just called to say he's coming to E's last show."

My sleep-addled brain took a moment to process this. I winced, remembering my horrendous audition. "Isn't that... good?"

"Good?" Joe laughed, but it had a slightly hysterical edge. "Yeah, sure, it's good. Like having God show up to critique your prayer technique. Elvis is already doing karate in the suite. He's broken three lamps and Sonny’s about ready to sedate him."

In the background, I heard a crash followed by Elvis' voice: "Goddamn! The energy's all wrong in here! We gotta move everything southeast!"

"Not the piano again, boss," Sonny’s weary voice floated through the line. "Remember what happened last time?"

Another crash. Joe sighed. "Look, just... get up here? Maybe you can talk some sense into him before he rearranges the whole damn hotel."

"On my way." I hung up, already reaching for clothes. That's when my door buzzed.

Standing in the hallway was Tom Jones, looking distinctly un-Tom-Jones-like in a rumpled suit, holding what appeared to be...

"Is that a dove?"

"Peace offering." Tom thrust the cage at me. "For Elvis. Thought it might help smooth things over after... you know." The dove inside cooed mournfully. “He is with you, isn’t he?”

The dove tilted its head, studying me with one beady eye. Its feathers were the exact shade of Elvis's jumpsuit.

"He’s down the hall. And how do you even know my room number?” I sighed. “But Tom," I tried to keep my voice gentle. "Why would Elvis want a dove?"

"Well, peace! Unity! Plus they're very spiritual creatures." He scratched his head, causing a concerning amount of glitter to fall from his hair. "Though this one's a bit snippy. Bit me twice on the way over."

As if to demonstrate, the dove lunged at the cage bars with surprising violence. Tom yanked his hand back.

"Right." I carefully didn't take the cage. "Maybe we should focus on getting you sobered up first?"

"Not drunk!" Tom protested, swaying slightly. "Just... enthusiastic. About peace. And birds." He squinted at me. "Did you know doves mate for life?"

"Fascinating." I glanced down the hallway, where I could hear more crashes from Elvis's suite. "Look, Tom, this is very... thoughtful. But maybe—"

"Mr. Jones!" The Colonel's voice boomed down the corridor like judgment day. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

Tom straightened, attempting dignity while listing noticeably to port. "Bringing a peace offering!" He thrust the cage forward again. The dove made a sound suspiciously like a war cry.

The Colonel's face went through several interesting color changes. "A bird. You brought a bird. To Elvis Presley. On the day all the stars will be here."

"It's a dove!" Tom insisted. "Very spiritual!"

The Colonel's mustache bristled with indignation. "Get that feathered menace out of here before—"

But it was too late. The dove, apparently having picked the lock with its beak (which I wouldn't have believed possible if I hadn't seen it), burst from its cage like a feathered missile. It shot past the Colonel's head, leaving him spinning like a top, and disappeared down the corridor toward the service elevator where Lamar was just stepping in.

"Oh hell," Tom muttered.

The elevator doors closed on Lamar's startled face, the dove now apparently his traveling companion.

"Well." I looked at Tom. "That's one way to make an entrance."

Before anyone could respond, another crash echoed from Elvis's suite, followed by what sounded suspiciously like a karate yell.

The Colonel's face went from red to purple. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go prevent my boy from rearranging furniture according to mystic energy patterns. Again." He jabbed a finger at Tom. "You. Sober up. And find that bird before it decides to redecorate someone important."

As the Colonel stormed off, Tom slumped against the wall. "Thought the dove would be romantic. You know, symbolic." He looked at me hopefully. "Elvis likes symbols, right? All that spiritual stuff?"

"Sure," I patted his arm. "But maybe next time try flowers. Less likely to assault Lamar in an elevator."

That's when the fire alarm went off.

Welcome to Elvis's last day in Vegas. It wasn't even 8 AM.

*

By early evening, the International's lobby had been transformed into what looked like a military operation. Hotel security had cordoned off the main area with velvet ropes and potted palms, creating an exclusive island in the midst of the usual Vegas chaos. Outside the barriers, tourists pressed their faces against the brass posts, cameras flashing, while inside, some of the biggest names in entertainment moved in their own separate universe.

Four weeks ago, I'd been on the other side of those ropes, just another face in the crowd. Now here I was, watching Dean Martin hold court at the bar while Sammy Davis Jr. sat in deep conversation with his people at a corner table. The Colonel moved between groups like a conductor, orchestrating conversations and photo opportunities with practiced precision.

I couldn't help but remember my failed audition for Sinatra's people earlier in the month - how I'd bombed so spectacularly they'd stopped me halfway through. Back then, I'd thought that was the end of my Vegas story. Funny how life works sometimes.

And then Frank himself arrived.

He didn't make a grand entrance - Frank didn't need to. He simply appeared, flanked by two men in sharp suits, and the energy in our privileged little bubble shifted like someone had flipped a switch. Conversations quieted. Heads turned. Even the slot machines beyond the barrier seemed to ding more softly.

I watched from my spot near the elevator as he crossed the lobby, his shoes clicking against marble with metronomic precision. He moved like a man who had never doubted his right to be anywhere.

"Evening," he said as he passed, those famous blue eyes finding mine. His voice was cool, professional. "Better luck with Elvis than with 'My Funny Valentine,' I take it?"

First, I couldn’t believe he knew who I was. Second, the casual mention of my disaster of an audition made my cheeks burn. But before I could respond, the Colonel materialized at Frank's side, all false charm and calculated deference. "Mr. Sinatra, what an honor. Elvis will be down shortly—"

"I'm sure he will." Frank's attention had already moved on, dismissing me as easily as he'd noticed me. "Tell me, Tom, what's this I hear about a loose bird in the hotel?"

From his spot at the bar, Tom Jones made a sound suspiciously like a whimper.

I leaned against one of the marble pillars, taking in the surreal scene. Through the velvet ropes, I could see regular people - people like I'd been just weeks ago - straining for a glimpse of these legends. Now here I was, on the inside, existing in this rarefied air that still didn't quite feel real.

The Colonel's voice cut through my thoughts: "Everyone, please, if you'll begin making your way to the showroom. Elvis will meet us there directly."

As the celebrities began to migrate toward the elevator banks, I felt that familiar flutter in my stomach. Tonight was Elvis's final show. After this, everything would change. Memphis waited like a promise - or maybe a threat - on the horizon.

"Quite a view from this side of the ropes, isn't it?"

I turned to find Sammy Davis Jr. beside me, his smile knowing. "Different than looking in from the outside."

"That obvious, huh?"

"Only to someone who remembers what it feels like." He gestured at the slowly dispersing crowd of legends. "All this? It's smoke and mirrors, baby. Every single one of them puts their pants on one leg at a time - even Frank." He winked. "Well, maybe not Frank. Pretty sure he has someone for that."

I laughed, grateful for the moment of normalcy in this decidedly abnormal evening. But as we moved toward the elevators with the others, I couldn't help wondering: how long could I keep straddling these two worlds? How long before I had to choose between being on the inside looking out, or the outside looking in?

The answer, though I didn't know it yet, would come sooner than I thought.

*

The backstage area of the International's showroom had its own hierarchy, as complex and unspoken as any royal court. I'd learned its rules over the past weeks, knew my place in its careful choreography. Tonight, though, everything felt different. The usual pre-show chaos had an edge to it, like a guitar string wound too tight.

"No, no, NO!" The Colonel's voice boomed from the direction of the dressing room. "Those photographers go in the front row, not the back. And where's the seating chart? We need to—" He broke off as he spotted me. "Ah, Miss Pedretti. A word?"

My stomach dropped. The Colonel never wanted "a word" unless something was about to change, and never in my favor.

He drew me aside, mouth twitching with what might have been sympathy. "Slight adjustment to tonight's arrangements. We'll need Elvis's usual booth for some special guests. I'm sure you understand."

I understood, all right. "Of course, Mr. Colonel, sir." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Where would you like me to—"

"Joe will show you to a table. Good view, just... more discrete." He patted my arm, already turning away. "Better for everyone this way."

Better for everyone. Right. I watched him bustle off, barking orders about sight lines and photo angles. In the mirror-lined hallway, my reflection looked small and uncertain, like a girl playing dress-up in someone else's life.

"Don't let him get to you." Mary Lacker of all people appeared at my elbow, his face sympathetic. He was one of the quieter members of the Elvis crew, and I thought he didn’t like me. "Politics, you know? Gotta keep up appearances."

"Sure." I managed a smile that felt like plastic. "Appearances."

Joe, too, materialized. He squeezed my arm. "Look, I know it's not ideal, but—" He stopped, eyes fixing on something over my shoulder. "Well, hell."

I turned to follow his gaze. Down the corridor, a small commotion was building. Security guards appeared from nowhere, earpieces crackling with urgent whispers. The Colonel bent the corner like a ghost, moving faster than I'd ever seen him move.

"What's happening?"

"Change of plans," Joe muttered. "Big ones." He straightened his tie, professional mask sliding into place. "Showtime, kid."

Red appeared, looking harried. "Marty and Joe, we need you. Now." His eyes flicked to me. "You might want to make yourself scarce for a bit, Val. Things are about to get... complicated."

I should have gone. Should have found a new, more discrete table and let the machinery of Elvis world do its work. But something made me hesitate, lingering in the shadows of the hallway.

That's when I heard it. The distinctive click of expensive heels on marble, the rustle of designer fabric, the particular quality of silence that follows real star power. And underneath it all, a woman's laugh, low and knowing, like smoke given voice.

Ann-Margret was coming to Elvis's last show.

And from the urgent whispers now filling the corridor, she wasn't the only surprise guest expected tonight.

I pressed myself against the wall, suddenly very aware of my borrowed confidence. The hierarchy was shifting, and I was about to learn exactly where I stood in it.

Welcome to the real show, where the drama in the audience would rival anything happening on stage.

*

Ann-Margret breezed into the backstage area like a warm wind off the desert, all red hair and easy grace. She moved differently than the other stars I'd met. There were no calculated gestures or practiced poses, just natural vitality that made everyone else look slightly artificial in comparison.

The Colonel appeared instantly, mustache twitching with barely contained anxiety. "Miss Olsson, what an unexpected pleasure—"

"Oh, stop fussing, Parker." She waved him off with the casual confidence of someone used to getting her way. “It’s Mrs. Smith now, anyway. You know that.” 

Her eyes swept the corridor, taking in everything, missing nothing. When they landed on me, something in her expression shifted. Recognition, maybe, though not of my face.

She paused mid-stride, studying me with sudden interest. I couldn't read her expression, but something about the way she tilted her head reminded me of a card player spotting a tell.

"Well," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else. Then, louder: "You're not what I expected to find backstage at an Elvis show."

Before the Colonel could intervene, she'd crossed to where I stood. Up close, her face was more interesting than beautiful - mobile and expressive, with laugh lines that suggested she used her smile often and meant it.

"I'm Ann-Margret," she said, as if I couldn't possibly know. "And you are?"

"Valerie," I managed, trying not to sound as starstruck as I felt.

"Valerie." She tested the name, her eyes never leaving my face. "Not the usual..." She gestured vaguely at the corridor where various showgirls and admirers lingered. Then, surprising me: "Join me for a drink later? After all this circus is done?"

The Colonel cleared his throat. "Miss Ols–Smith, about the seating arrangements—"

"Oh, any front booth will be fine," she said firmly, turning that megawatt smile his way. Then, lower, just to me: "Some things you don't have to give up." She squeezed my hand once, a gesture that felt like both welcome and warning.

She moved off down the corridor, leaving behind the scent of expensive perfume and something earthier - motorcycle leather, maybe. The Colonel hurried after her, still fretting about sight lines and photo ops.

A commotion erupted near the main entrance. Ann-Margret paused, her posture changing subtly. Something in the air shifted, like the pressure drop before a storm.

Priscilla Presley had arrived.

I retreated to a shadowy alcove near the stage door, my heart suddenly hammering against my ribs. Through the gaps between passing bodies, I caught glimpses of her arrival.

Priscilla Presley moved like a queen, each step precisely measured. No wasted motion, no nervous gestures. She wore a white dress that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe, her dark hair swept up in a style that somehow managed to look both elegant and effortless. But it was her face that stopped conversations mid-sentence, turned heads, made the air itself feel different.

God, she was beautiful. Not in the obvious way of showgirls or movie stars, but in some otherworldly manner that made everyone else look slightly unfinished. Every feature seemed carved by an artist with a very particular vision in mind - those huge eyes, that perfect mouth, that jawline that could cut glass.

I touched my own face unconsciously, suddenly aware of my too-wide mouth, my strong nose, my stubbornly unruly hair. Four weeks of living in Elvis's world, and I'd managed to avoid feeling like this - like a sparrow that had wandered into a peacock's garden. But watching Priscilla glide through the corridor, accepting greetings with small, regal nods, I felt every inch the nobody.

She paused to speak with the Colonel, her voice too low to catch. Everything about her was controlled, contained. Even the way she held her cigarette seemed choreographed, the smoke curling up like a question mark. The perfect wife, the perfect picture. Elvis's living doll.

Red appeared at her elbow, murmuring something about her assigned booth - my usual spot, I realized with a twist in my gut. She nodded once, dismissing him with the practiced ease of someone used to managing staff.

From the direction of Elvis's dressing room came the faint sound of gospel music - his pre-show ritual, centering himself with the hymns of his childhood. Did he know she was here yet? Could he feel it, the way everyone else could?

"Quite something, isn't she?"

I startled. Ann-Margret had appeared beside me, her eyes on Priscilla.

"She's..." I struggled to find words that weren't tainted with jealousy or awe.

"Perfect?" Ann-Margret supplied, a hint of something sharp in her voice. "She should be. Took years of careful work to get her that way." She glanced at me. "Makes you wonder what she looked like before. When she still moved like herself."

Before I could respond, Priscilla's head turned our way. I shrank further into the shadows, but her eyes found Ann-Margret anyway. Something passed between the two women - some private communication in a language I couldn't read. Then Priscilla's gaze swept past our hiding spot, cool and assessing, like winter sunlight.

I held my breath until she moved on, following the Colonel toward the showroom. Only then did I realize I'd been gripping Ann-Margret's arm.

"Sorry," I muttered, releasing her.

"Don't be." She rubbed her arm, but she was smiling. "First time I saw her, I hid behind a potted palm. Least you picked a better spot."

Through the stage door, Elvis's voice rose in the chorus of "How Great Thou Art." The sound wrapped around us like smoke, like memory, like all the things we couldn't say.

Somewhere in the showroom, Priscilla was taking her seat in the booth where I'd watched every show for the past three weeks. Soon, Elvis would emerge from his dressing room, would see her sitting there, would have to navigate this minefield of past and present while hundreds - thousands - watched.

And I would be... where, exactly?

The answer to that question suddenly seemed very important indeed.

I ended up with three choices, each worse than the last.

The Colonel's "discrete" table was tucked in an alcove near stage right - the kind of spot reserved for Elvis's backup singers or lesser opening acts. From there I'd be able to see everything: Elvis commanding the stage, Priscilla in my old booth directly center, Ann-Margret holding court stage left. But sitting there felt like accepting defeat, like being officially relegated to the category of "someone who didn't matter anymore."

Then there was the empty seat at Ann-Margret's table. She'd made the offer casually as she'd passed me again: "Plenty of room where I'm sitting, sugar." It was tempting - a sort of subtle rebellion, aligning myself with the woman who'd chosen her own path over Elvis's version of perfect. But even I knew that would be playing with fire. The last thing I needed was to give the Colonel more ammunition.

The third option had come from Sammy Davis Jr., of all people. "Got a spare chair in the wings," he'd said, eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "Best view in the house - see everything, everyone sees you, but you're not really part of the show. Know what I mean?"

I did know what he meant. The wings were typically reserved for performers and close friends - people who belonged backstage but needed to watch the show. It was a sort of liminal space, neither fully public nor completely private. From there, I could observe without being obvious about it, stay close to Elvis without making a statement about it.

The crowd was filling in now, their excited chatter rising like steam. In the center booth, Priscilla sat like a photograph waiting to be taken, everything about her arranged just so. Stage left, Ann-Margret lounged with the easy confidence of someone who had nothing to prove. A man who I assume to be her husband sat next to her. They held hands. And somewhere behind me, Elvis was getting ready for his final show in Vegas, probably unaware of the careful choreography being executed in his name.

I had about ten minutes to decide where I belonged in this tableau.

Less than two months ago, I'd been a struggling singer slinging pancakes by day and working the bar circuit by night. I also taught music lessons in my free evenings. Now I was caught in some complex dance between Elvis Presley's past, present, and possible future. The thought almost made me laugh - would've, if my throat wasn't so tight.

The house lights began to dim.

Time to choose.

I found my spot in the wings just as the house lights went down. Sammy was right - you could see everything from here. The angle transformed the showroom into something like a diorama, every table its own small drama waiting to unfold.

"Coffee?" Jerry appeared beside me with two cups, looking grateful to have someone to hide with. "Got a feeling we're gonna want to be alert for this show."

From this vantage point, I could see the subtle shift in Priscilla's posture as the opening acts began - the almost imperceptible straightening of her spine, like armor sliding into place. She sat alone in the booth, a subtle but clear statement. No Memphis friends, no handlers, just her and whatever she'd come to prove.

Ann-Margret, by contrast, had drawn a small court to her table. She threw her head back laughing at something Dean Martin said, the sound carrying even over the warm-up act. But I caught how her eyes kept drifting to that center booth, something almost like sympathy in her expression.

The air changed as Elvis's entrance neared. You could feel it in the crowd, that electric anticipation. Behind me, I heard the familiar sounds of his pre-show routine: the soft murmur of prayer, the rustle of gabardine and silk, the quiet clicks of rings being put on like armor.

"Quite a crowd tonight," his voice came low near my ear. I hadn't heard him approach - he could move like a cat when he wanted to. His hand found the small of my back, warm through the thin fabric of my dress. "You okay back here?"

"Are you?" I kept my voice equally quiet, not turning. From the corner of my eye, I could see him looking out at the audience, taking in the scene I'd been studying.

He was silent for a moment. "Well," he said finally, "ain't this a fine mess."

That startled a laugh out of me. "That's one way to put it."

His hand pressed slightly firmer against my back, and I knew he'd spotted them - both of them. The wife he'd shaped into perfection, and the woman who'd refused to be shaped at all. The air felt suddenly thick with unspoken things.

"Elvis," Red's voice came from behind us, "two minutes."

Elvis's hand slid from my back, but he leaned close first, his breath warm against my ear. "Watch me tonight, okay? Just... watch me."

Then he was gone, leaving behind only the lingering scent of his cologne and what felt like a thousand questions.

The opening bars of "Blue Suede Shoes" began to thunder through the showroom. Elvis's signature entrance music, chosen because the crowd loved it.

From my spot in the wings, I could see everything:

Priscilla, perfect and still as a painting, her face giving away nothing.

Ann-Margret, leaning forward slightly in her chair, a small smile playing at her lips like she knew something no one else did.

And Elvis, about to walk out into what might be the most complicated audience of his career.

The music built towards Elvis’ cue. In the half-dark beside me, Jerry whistled low.

"Well," he murmured, "this ought to be interesting."

That, I thought, was putting it mildly.

Elvis hit the stage like a force of nature, all controlled power and dangerous grace. The screams were deafening, but from my spot in the wings, I caught the subtle tells most people missed - the extra beat before his signature smile, the slight tension in his shoulders.

"Well, well, well." His voice rolled through the room like distant thunder. "Looks like we got ourselves a party tonight."

The audience lost their minds, but I watched his eyes do that careful sweep of the room. They landed first on Priscilla, just for a moment - enough to acknowledge but not linger. Her face remained perfectly composed, though her fingers tightened slightly on her champagne glass.

Then Ann-Margret, who raised her glass in a small salute that somehow managed to be both warm and slightly wicked. The ghost of a real smile touched Elvis's lips before the showman's mask slipped back into place.

He didn't look at me. He didn't need to.

The band struck up "I Got A Woman" and Elvis was off, moving like lightning trapped in human form. But something was different tonight. There was an edge to his performance, a barely contained wildness. When he hit the line "She's there to love me both day and night," it came out almost like a challenge.

"He's showing off," Jerry murmured beside me. "Haven't seen him like this since Ann-Margret used to come watch him film."

When he launched into "Polk Salad Annie," it was with barely controlled violence. His karate moves were sharper, his hip thrusts more deliberate. It wasn't just performance anymore - it was exorcism.

"Jesus," Jerry breathed. "He's really going for it tonight."

He was. Every song felt like a statement, every move loaded with meaning. The audience ate it up, oblivious to the deeper currents moving through the room. They couldn't see what I saw - the way Priscilla's knuckles had gone white around her glass, the knowing look in Ann-Margret's eyes, the slight tremor in Elvis's hands that had nothing to do with withdrawal.

I watched Elvis prowl the stage like a caged panther, all that raw energy focused into something almost dangerous. Later when he went into "Suspicious Minds," the irony wasn't lost on anyone. His voice took on that rough, hungry quality that made the air feel electric.

"We're caught in a trap..."

In the center booth, Priscilla's perfect composure cracked just slightly. Something flickered across her face - memory maybe, or recognition. For just a moment, she looked impossibly young.

"I can't walk out..."

Ann-Margret was no longer smiling. She sat very still, watching Elvis with the focus of someone reading between lines.

"Because I love you too much, baby..."

Elvis dropped to his knees at the edge of the stage, pouring his heart into the microphone like it was confession. Sweat made his skin gleam under the lights, and that ever-present tremor in his hands was more visible now. 

During "Can't Help Falling in Love," he finally looked toward the wings. Found me standing there in the shadows. His voice softened on the bridge, became something more intimate.

"Take my hand, take my whole life too..."

Priscilla's followed his gaze. For a moment, our eyes met across the darkness. Something passed between us - understanding maybe, or recognition. Then she looked away, her face once again a perfect mask.

The show built toward its climax, Elvis burning brighter with each song. He was magnificent and terrible, powerful and vulnerable, real and artificial all at once. Everything that made him Elvis Presley was on that stage, raw and exposed.

But watching him perform for this particular audience - his wife, his former flame, and whatever I was becoming to him - I realized something. Elvis wasn't just singing tonight.

He was choosing.

Or trying to.

The real question was: what exactly was he choosing between?

The last notes hung in the air like smoke. Elvis stood center stage, breathing hard, his chest slick with sweat. For a moment, the mask slipped completely. He looked lost, almost surprised to find himself there under the lights.

Then the thunder of applause crashed over him and the showman snapped back into place. He threw his arms wide, accepting the adoration like a benediction. His scarves were gone, given to screaming fans. His rings caught the spotlight as he took his final bow.

"Thank you very much. Thank you very much indeed." His voice was rough, spent. "You've been a beautiful audience. Until we meet again..."

He backed toward the wings, still playing to the crowd. But as soon as he crossed into the shadows where I stood, something changed. The tremors were worse now - he'd pushed himself too hard, gone on too long. His breath came in short gasps.

"Joe," he called softly, urgently. "Need my..."

But it was Red who appeared, pressing something into Elvis's palm. The pills disappeared so quickly I almost missed it. Almost.

"Boss," Red's voice was careful. "Mrs. Presley would like a word. She's heading to your dressing room."

Elvis's jaw tightened. His eyes found mine in the darkness. "Give me five minutes. Need to..." He gestured vaguely at his sweat-soaked state.

"And Miss Ann-Margret?"

"Christ." The word came out like a prayer. "Tell her... tell her I'll see her at the party."

Red nodded and disappeared. Elvis stood very still for a moment, like he was gathering strength. Then, surprisingly, he laughed. 

"Some mess, huh?" He touched my cheek briefly, his fingers still trembling slightly. "You okay?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. He studied my face for a moment longer, then straightened his shoulders. 

I decided to change the subject. “Elvis, your show was amazing.” And it was true. It really was. 

"Well," he said softly, "time to face the music."

He moved off toward his dressing room where Priscilla waited. I watched him go, noting how he seemed to grow with each step, rebuilding his armor as he went. By the time he turned the corner, he was Elvis Presley again.

"Come on," Jerry touched my elbow. "Let's get you somewhere less complicated for a bit."

But as I let him lead me away from the wings, I caught one last glimpse of the room: Priscilla's empty booth, the champagne glass still sitting there like a question mark. Ann-Margret rising from her table, red hair catching the light like fire. And somewhere down that corridor, Elvis preparing to navigate between past and present while his pills kicked in.

The night wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

*

The International's penthouse suite had been transformed into a living map of 1969's star system. The gathering would have been remarkable enough on its own - Dean Martin, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash, Harry Belafonte, Petula Clark - any one of them could have filled a Vegas showroom by themselves. But they were all here for one man. Only Elvis Presley could pull stars into his orbit like this, could make legends act like fans.

He was the sun around which all these other stars revolved, and everyone knew it. Even Frank, the Chairman himself, had shown up to pay tribute. In Vegas, that meant something.

"Look at this crowd," Jerry murmured, appearing at my elbow with a fresh drink. "The Colonel's about to burst a blood vessel trying to keep track of all the egos in here. And Tom Jones is still apologizing to everyone about that damn dove."

Sure enough, Tom was making his way through the room, slightly rumpled and profusely apologetic, explaining to anyone who'd listen about his "peace offering gone wrong." The bird in question had apparently taken up residence somewhere in the hotel's ventilation system, occasionally making its presence known through well-timed coos during quiet moments.

"Watch this," Jerry murmured as Nancy Sinatra headed for the powder room at the same moment Priscilla stood up. "Three, two, one..."

The Colonel materialized like a mustachioed guardian angel, somehow managing to redirect Nancy's path without seeming to. Crisis averted, at least for now.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Hoo boy." Lamar's eyes lit up with gossip. "Let’s just say those two hate each other..." He whistled low. "Priscilla found out. How could she not? Every magazine in the country was running pictures of ‘em looking cozy on set."

"The kicker," Jerry cut in, "was Nancy showing up to a movie premiere wearing the exact same dress as Priscilla. Custom-made, mind you. Cost a fortune."

"No accident either," Lamar added. "Nancy knew exactly what she was doing. And Priscilla..." He shook his head admiringly. "Didn't even blink. Just smiled for the cameras and made sure she was photographed from better angles."

Tina Turner commanded attention near the piano, her presence electric even in repose. I was absolutely starstruck. Her laugh carried over the crowd as she worked with Elvis on some new dance moves, showing him how to make his famous hip swivel even more dangerous. "No, baby, it's all in the knees," she called out, demonstrating with characteristic fire. "You're thinking too much!"

Ike hovered nearby, his attention sharp whenever anyone got too close to Tina, though she seemed oblivious to his watchfulness.

"Ain't that something," Jerry muttered. "Tina's been teaching Elvis all week. Driving Ike crazy, but what's he gonna say? It's Elvis."

Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash held court by the bar, both of them looking slightly out of place among the Vegas regulars. Their country-boy authenticity stood in sharp contrast to the Rat Pack's polished performance of casualness. Though even they kept glancing Elvis's way, drawn like moths to his flame.

In one corner, Sammy Davis Jr. and Harry Belafonte were deep in conversation, their heads bent together like conspirators. The Colonel kept casting nervous glances their way - any gathering of stars discussing business made him twitchy.

And then there was Dean Martin. He grew progressively more theatrical with each drink. "So there's Elvis, right? Standing there in nothing but a towel and his guitar, and who walks in but—"

"Dean." Frank's voice carried that special note of warning that could cut through chaos.

"What? It's a great story! The towel fell right off and—"

"Maybe we save that one for later," Sammy suggested, breaking away from his conversation to play peacekeeper.

The Memphis contingent huddled on the terrace like displaced royalty, trying not to look overwhelmed by the Hollywood crowd. Red and Sonny ran interference, making sure no undesirable elements got too close to their territory.

Petula Clark breezed through the space between groups like a diplomat, equally comfortable chatting with the Vegas showgirls or the Memphis wives. She'd just finished a run at Caesars and carried herself with the easy confidence of someone who knew how to navigate these waters.

And then there was Priscilla, holding quiet court in a corner, her beauty making even the most seasoned stars do double-takes. The camera crews the Colonel had let in kept gravitating toward her, drawn by that perfect poise.

Elvis pinballed between groups with the kind of energy that suggested his post-show pills had well and truly kicked in. One moment he was practicing Tina's dance moves in front of an amused Tom Jones, the next deep in conversation with Johnny Cash about gospel music, then vanishing only to resurface telling stories to Harry Belafonte about his movie days.

The night spun on, a kaleidoscope of fame and careful distances. Each star carried their own gravity, but they all orbited Elvis. He was the reason they were here - the King, the star of stars, the center of this glittering universe.

And somewhere in the building's ventilation system, a wayward dove continued to provide inadvertent commentary on the proceedings below.

*

I tried to watch it all with anthropological detachment. That was safer than feeling.

Elvis moved through the room like quicksilver, but I noticed how he kept circling back to Priscilla. His hand would find the small of her back as he passed. He'd lean in close to whisper something that made her smile despite herself. Once, he even kissed her temple in full view of everyone, casual and possessive.

Each gesture was perfectly calculated for the cameras, yet held a strange intimacy that made my stomach twist. They had a shorthand, these two. A language built from years of shared space and secrets.

"Rough, isn't it?"

Ann-Margret had materialized beside me, a champagne flute dangling from her fingers. Her eyes tracked Elvis as he draped his arm around Priscilla's shoulders, playing the devoted husband for a photographer.

"He's good at that," Ann-Margret continued, her voice low. "Making each woman feel like she's the only one in the room. Even when she isn't."

"I'm just observing," I said, aiming for professional detachment and probably missing by miles.

Her laugh was surprisingly earthy. "Honey, nobody in this room is 'just' anything."

Before I could respond, Elvis's voice carried across the space: "Baby?" He was looking at Priscilla but had shifted slightly, unconsciously, toward where Ann-Margret and I stood. "Remember that night in Cincinnati when we..."

He trailed off, suddenly aware he was straddling worlds. For a moment, the mask slipped. I saw him register all of us - his wife, his ex-lover, whatever I was becoming - and something like panic flickered in his eyes.

The moment passed. Elvis recovered smoothly, finishing his story about Cincinnati. But something had shifted in the air. I watched Priscilla's perfect smile tighten almost imperceptibly. Watched Ann-Margret take a slow sip of champagne. Watched Elvis's hand fall to the small of his wife’s back.

"He loves her, you know." Ann-Margret's voice was gentle now. "Always will, in his way. Just like he loved me. Just like he..." She stopped, reconsidered. "The trouble is, Elvis's heart is like Vegas itself - there's always room for one more bright light, one more chance at hitting the jackpot."

"I'm not trying to hit anything," I said.

"No." She studied me over the rim of her glass. "That's probably why you're the most dangerous one of all."

Across the room, Elvis had moved on to entertaining Johnny Cash with karate moves, but his eyes kept finding me in the crowd. Each glance felt like a match strike against dry paper.

So much for detached observation.

The dove chose that moment to make another appearance, this time directly above Dean Martin, who was mid-story about that infamous towel incident.

"Jesus Christ!" Dean yelped as white feathers drifted down. "Tom! Your bird just..."

"Actually," Tom said with dignity, "I believe it's the hotel's bird now."

And just like that, the tension dissolved into laughter. Even Priscilla cracked a genuine smile. But as the room returned to its careful choreography of fame and friendship, I caught Elvis watching me again. In his eyes I saw everything I was trying not to feel reflected back at me.

As the night wore on, I found myself fascinated by the subtle dance of fame and power playing out before me. Frank Sinatra, who'd spent the evening treating most people with casual indifference, actually stood up when Elvis approached his table. The gesture was small, easy to miss if you weren't watching for it, but in a room full of stars it spoke volumes.

Even more telling was how the others reacted to that tiny show of respect - Johnny Cash's eyebrows rising slightly, Dean Martin pausing mid-story, Petula Clark hiding a smile behind her champagne glass. In Vegas's careful hierarchy, Frank Sinatra standing for anyone was like watching the Pope bow.

"Would you look at that," Jerry murmured, appearing at my elbow. "The Chairman rising for the King."

The two men spoke quietly, heads bent together like old friends rather than rivals. When Elvis laughed at something Frank said, it was his real one - not the practiced one he used for the cameras still circulating the room.

"Never thought I'd see it," Jerry continued. "Few years back, Frank was telling anyone who'd listen that rock and roll was just noise. Now look at them."

The dynamics shifted constantly as the night progressed. When Tina Turner spoke, even the loudest voices quieted. When Harry Belafonte moved through the room, the Memphis contingent tried a little too hard to appear comfortable. And when Ann-Margret laughed, every head turned - some openly, some trying to pretend they weren't looking.

But it all came back to Elvis. He was the center everyone else arranged themselves around, like planets finding their orbit. Even Frank, for all his own gravitational pull, seemed to understand this was Elvis' night.

A burst of laughter drew my attention to where Dean had cornered Tom Jones by the bar. "Listen, you Welsh wonder - the thing about that dove of yours..."

"Oh God," Tom muttered. "Not the bird again."

*

The party spun on, each star shining in their own way, but all of them - even the brightest - caught in Elvis's light.

Dean Martin's drink seemed to fall in slow motion. One moment he was gesturing wildly, telling some story about Frank and a missing toupee, and the next his martini was arcing through the air like a crystal waterfall. It splashed across Priscilla's white designer dress with devastating precision.

The room didn't exactly go silent, but there was a subtle shift, like everyone simultaneously holding their breath. Priscilla looked down at the spreading stain, her perfect features freezing in a way that made the temperature drop ten degrees.

"Oh God," Dean stammered, suddenly soberer. "Mrs. Presley, I am so..."

"It's quite alright." Her voice could have frosted glass. But her hands - those perfectly manicured hands - shook slightly as she dabbed at the fabric with a cocktail napkin. "This is only a thousand-dollar Givenchy."

The Colonel materialized with fresh napkins and profuse apologies. Priscilla's expression remained fixed in place, a porcelain mask of composure even as her eyes betrayed barely contained fury. A photographer moved in, scenting blood, but Red intercepted him with practiced ease.

"Here, let me—" Dean started forward with more napkins, managing to trip over his own feet in the process. His fresh drink went flying.

Right onto me.

The gin was cold and the olives hit me square in the chest, but something about the sheer absurdity of it all - the tension, the fancy dress, Dean's mortified face - just struck me as hilarious. I burst out laughing.

"Well," I said, plucking an olive from my dress and popping it in my mouth, "at least it's a good vintage."

Dean's face transformed with relief. "God love you, girl." He draped his arm around my shoulders. "See? She gets it! It's just a dress, right? Just a little..." He trailed off, catching Priscilla's arctic stare.

"Just a dress," Priscilla repeated softly. The words could have cut diamonds. She turned on her perfect heel and glided toward the powder room, the crowd parting before her like the Red Sea.

I was still fishing olives out of my cleavage when I caught Elvis watching from across the room. His expression was strange - something between amusement and revelation, like he was seeing something clearly for the first time.

Then Priscilla emerged from the powder room, somehow looking even more immaculate than before, and his face smoothed back into careful neutrality. But I'd seen it - that moment of recognition, of comparison.

"Come on, honey," Dean was saying, steering me toward the bar. "Let me buy you a fresh dress worth of martinis. And maybe one for your cleavage, since it seems to have developed a taste for them."

I laughed and let him lead me away, very aware of Elvis's eyes following us. Let him look. Let him see the difference between porcelain perfection and someone who knew how to roll with life's messier moments.

Behind us, I heard the Colonel trying to soothe Priscilla's ruffled feathers. "Now, Mrs. Presley, about tonight's photos..."

A distant coo from the ventilation system seemed to punctuate the moment with avian commentary.

"Not. One. Word." Tom Jones muttered to no one in particular.

Dean was good as his word, setting me up at the bar with a fresh martini while regaling me with increasingly outrageous stories about cocktail disasters through the years. "So there's Sinatra, right, wearing what's left of the Manhattan, and Ava Gardner just looks at him and says—"

"Dean." Frank's voice carried across the room. "What did I tell you about the Ava stories?"

"Spoilsport," Dean muttered into his glass. Then, brightening: "Say, Pedretti - that's Italian, isn't it?"

"From the old country. On both sides," I confirmed. "My grandparents never let us forget it."

"Ha! I knew it!" Dean's face lit up with ethnic pride. "We Italians, we know how to handle our liquor with style. Well, except maybe Frank over there..." He raised his voice on the last part.

"I heard that, Dino," Frank called back.

"You were meant to!" Dean turned back to me with a wink. "You're alright, kid. Not everyone can take a martini to the chest with such style." He studied me over his glass. "You know something? I get it now. Why he’ been looking at—" Dean's eyes flicked meaningfully toward Elvis, then back to me. "Well. Let's just say some people wear their spirits better than others, and I don't just mean the kind you drink."

From across the room came the sound of Priscilla's carefully modulated voice: "No, Colonel, I don't think another photo will be necessary. I believe we've documented the evening sufficiently."

I glanced over to see her positioned perfectly beside Elvis, not a hair out of place despite the earlier incident. The photographer was getting shots of them with various combinations of stars - Elvis and Frank, Elvis and Priscilla with Tom Jones (who still looked vaguely haunted by the dove incident), Elvis with the Memphis contingent. A careful catalog of approved moments.

But Elvis kept finding excuses to glance my way, his eyes carrying questions I wasn't sure I could answer.

"Know what your problem is?" Dean said suddenly, surprising me with his clarity despite the late hour and numerous martinis.

"What's that?"

"You ain’t fake yet." He said it like it was both a blessing and a curse. "And that’s dangerous in Vegas. Especially around—" He gestured vaguely with his glass toward Elvis.

Before I could respond, a commotion near the piano drew everyone's attention. Tina Turner had finally had enough of Ike's hovering and was telling him exactly where he could stick his "helpful suggestions" about her performance style. Her voice carried over the crowd with characteristic power.

"Now there's a woman who knows how to handle her spirits," Dean observed sagely.

The party's energy was shifting, winding down in that way Vegas parties do - not with a bang but with a series of negotiated retreats. The Memphis crowd was already thinning out, overwhelmed by so much Hollywood. The photographers were packing up their gear. Even Frank looked like he was calculating his exit.

That's when Elvis broke away from the official proceedings and made his way to the bar. He moved differently now - the post-show pills wearing off, that manic energy settling into something more subdued.

"Dean," he nodded. "Mind if I borrow Miss Pedretti for a moment?"

Dean's eyebrows lifted, but he stood with surprising grace. "All yours, amigo. Just... try not to spill anything on her. Girl's had enough dry cleaning bills for one night."

Elvis's hand grazed the small of my waist, still damp from Dean's martini. The touch felt electric even through the wet fabric.

"Come on," he said softly. "Let's find somewhere quiet before the Colonel remembers there's one more combination of stars he hasn't photographed yet."

I let him guide me toward the terrace, very aware of Priscilla's eyes following us. The night air hit my gin-soaked dress, making me shiver. Elvis shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over my shoulders in one smooth motion.

Behind us, Dean's voice drifted out: "So anyway, about that damn bird..."

The terrace offered an illusion of privacy, though the glass doors did little to shield us from curious eyes. Elvis leaned against the railing, his presence slightly dulled by fatigue and fading adrenaline.

"Listen, about tonight..." he started, then stopped. Through the glass, I could see Priscilla talking with the Colonel, both of them stealing glances our way. "Cilla's staying at the hotel. For appearances." He said it carefully, like defusing a bomb. "The Colonel thinks... well, with all the press..."

"Of course." I was proud of how steady my voice sounded. Of course she was staying. She was his wife. I was just... what? The girl in the gin-soaked dress?

A burst of laughter from inside made us both turn. Through the glass, I saw Ann-Margret watching us, something like recognition in her eyes. She'd stood on a terrace once, maybe, having this same conversation. She raised her glass slightly - to me? To Elvis? To the whole damn situation? - before turning back to her husband Roger with a small shake of her head.

"It's just for show," Elvis continued, his hands fidgeting. "You know that, right? Just playing the part, like always."

Like always. I wondered how many women had heard those words on this terrace.

"Elvis." Priscilla's voice came from the doorway, perfectly modulated. "The photographers want one last shot before they go."

She didn't look at me. Didn't need to. Her presence filled the space like expensive perfume, making me acutely aware of my damp dress and smeared mascara.

"Be right there, baby." The endearment slipped out automatically, practiced. But his eyes stayed on me, pleading for understanding.

I nodded once, pulling his jacket closer around my shoulders. He moved toward Priscilla, his posture shifting into performance mode. But at the door he paused, turned back.

"Valerie—"

"Go on." I managed a smile. "Your audience awaits."

I stayed on the terrace long after they'd gone inside, watching Vegas glitter below like a jewelry box full of broken promises. The night air carried the scent of gin and Desert Flower perfume - Priscilla's signature scent, I realized. It clung to Elvis's jacket like a claim.

Inside, I could hear the final photos being orchestrated. The Colonel's voice carried through the glass: "Now, Mr. and Mrs. Presley, if you could just..."

A soft coo from above made me laugh despite everything. Even Tom's wayward dove knew a performance when it saw one.

"One for the papers!" someone called out. "Give us a kiss!"

It was the moment every photographer had been waiting for - the perfect finale to Elvis's triumphant Vegas run. The King and his Queen, wrapped in each other's arms like a fairytale ending.

I turned back toward the party just in time to see it happen. Elvis drew Priscilla close, one hand at her waist, the other cupping her face with practiced tenderness. She tilted her chin up, camera-ready, and their lips met to enthusiastic applause. The kiss lasted exactly long enough for every photographer to get their shot.

"Beautiful!" The Colonel's voice boomed. "Now that's how you end a Vegas engagement!"

The room erupted in congratulations - for the successful run, for the perfect couple, for the whole glittering fantasy. Tom Jones started singing "Love Me Tender," because of course he did. Dean Martin wiped away what might have been real tears, though that could've been the martinis talking.

Through it all, I stayed on my terrace, still wearing Elvis's jacket, clapping softly. How could I not? It was like watching a movie I'd seen before but somehow forgotten the ending to. The way Elvis's thumb stroked Priscilla's cheek. The way her fingers curled possessively into his shirt. The way they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle I'd never be part of.

"Rough stuff, isn't it?"

I hadn't heard Ann-Margret join me. She stood just inside the doorway, holding two fresh drinks.

"I'm fine," I said automatically.

"Honey, nobody's fine watching the man they love kiss his wife in front of God and Frank Sinatra." She handed me one of the drinks. "Trust me on that one."

Inside, Elvis and Priscilla were making their way through the crowd, accepting congratulations like visiting royalty. His hand stayed at the small of her back, proprietary and familiar. She leaned into him exactly the right amount - not too much, not too little. They'd perfected this dance years ago.

"The thing is," Ann-Margret said softly, "he probably means it, in the moment. That's what makes it worse."

A distant coo from above sounded almost sympathetic.

Elvis's eyes found mine through the glass. Just for a moment, his perfect mask slipped. Then Priscilla said something, he laughed, and the moment was gone.

I downed my drink in one go.

Welcome to life with Elvis Presley, where even the hurt looked beautiful under Vegas lights.

*

The party began its final descent. Stars peeled away in careful order - first the Vegas regulars, then the Hollywood contingent, each exit timed to maintain proper hierarchies. Frank made a point of shaking Elvis's hand again, that small gesture speaking volumes. Dean had to be practically carried out, still trying to teach Tom Jones the "proper" way to sing "Return to Sender."

Tina and Ike left separately, which said everything about their evening.

"Come on, baby." Roger appeared at Ann-Margret's elbow. "Our car's here."

She squeezed my hand before going. "Remember what I didn't say," she murmured, and I nodded, though I wasn't sure which unspoken truth she meant. “I’d still love that drink anytime you want.”

The Memphis crowd lingered, uncertain in this glittering territory. They kept looking to Elvis for cues, but he was busy posing for endless last rounds of photos with Priscilla. The Colonel supervised every angle, every gesture, like a painter touching up his masterpiece.

"You need a ride home, Valley?" Jerry asked quietly.

Home. As if I knew where that was anymore.

"I'm on the same floor, Jerry. I think I can manage."

"That's not what I meant."

Before I could respond, Elvis's voice cut through the thinning crowd. "Nobody leave yet! I want to thank you all..." He was using his stage voice now, fatigue making him a little too loud. Priscilla touched his arm gently, adjusting his volume with practiced ease.

I took that as my cue to slip away. Let him have his moment with his people, his wife, his perfectly orchestrated life. I shrugged off his jacket, meaning to leave it with Red, but Jerry stopped me.

"Keep it," he said softly. "He'll want you to."

The walk down the hall was quiet except for the sound of my heartbeat and - incredibly - one last coo from that damn dove, somehow following me even here. Tom's peace offering had turned into the world's most persistent Greek chorus.

"Oh, shut up," I told it, and immediately felt better.

My key stuck in the lock three times before I realized I was trying to open the wrong door. Maybe Dean's martinis had hit harder than I'd thought. Or maybe it was just that everything looked different now, in the harsh fluorescent light of reality.

When I finally made it into my room, I caught my reflection in the mirror - smeared mascara, gin-stained dress, Elvis's jacket hanging off my shoulders like a question mark. Behind me, through the window, Vegas kept right on glittering, indifferent to the small dramas playing out in its showrooms and suites.

Someone had slipped a note under my door while I was at the party. The Colonel's handwriting was unmistakable: "Meeting tomorrow, 2 PM sharp. Re: Memphis arrangements."

I let it fall to the floor and went to wash off what was left of my makeup. In the bathroom mirror, I could still see the girl I'd been three weeks ago, before Elvis and elevators and doves with bad timing. She looked at me like she knew something I didn't.

"Don't say it," I told her, and turned off the light.

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[mcytblrconfessions]

Hi, little hater here from earlier. At no point when writing that out did I think it was misogynistic, but like. Yeah it might have been a little bit. Idk if I would care enough to yap about it if it had been just another guy being added. Maybe I am holding her to higher expectations then I would for a male creator.

I was hoping for other female creators to get in, and maybe since she was the final person announced in the 6 we expected I'm salty cause she 'took' the hypothetical slot that other creators I was hoping for for lifesteal. And that's stupid, and looking back I know that that's stupid. And that's not on Kab, that's on Lifesteal for adding 6 guys and 1 girl, and that's on me for bitching about it in a public place.

I've been watching her for a while now, and I really do want her to succeed. I think some of my hesitancy for her in Lifesteal is the sort of lack of commitment to real storybeats that we saw in the final stretch of s5, and Kab deserves to be in better stories. She's at the top of the artform of mcrp, and so far Lifesteal has not been. I want Lifesteal to do better, and maybe Kab can bring some of that to the server, but like unless they can reach that level idk if its the right place for her. I just don't want to see her on a server that refused to meet the energy level she brings to things.

Idk man. I'm not that pressed about it, just between seasons is the time to yap cause theres no streams to watch to focus on instead, by july 7th I'll be hyped to see her there. I'm sorry about that prior ask. I will be paying Kaboodle the unfair hater tax in the form of a gifted twitch sub tonight.

first off, thank you for the apology.

i dont have any real bias for lifesteal or kaboodle. i started watching lifesteal this week and im not familiar with kaboodle at all. and the reason ive stayed away from pvp focused mcrp is because it's so heavily male dominated especially lifesteal, ive been making jokes that there's a secret no girls allowed rule since ive heard abt it.

this fandom has a long history of not treating women well and when a woman is a fan-favorite she's really only allowed to be 1 of 3 things, a fighter, a girl-boss, or ur soggy poor wet little meow meow. its just not fair to creators to be essentialized and treated as support for their male peers. made to fit into men's stories instead of getting recognized and respected for their own. and smps themselves have horrible ratios, my favorite is hermitcraft but 5(4?) out of 27 is less then 20 percent! that's terrible! there's so many wonderful women ccs out there yet so little space is made for them. 2(3? idk squiddo's gender) out of 31 is the ratio for lifesteal 6. i dont need to point out how bad that is.

so to get an ask with "I just don't think that the vibes are going to be right with her there" put me really on edge. it's putting the fault on her, and it's ignoring that there was a group of lifestealers who already agreed that she was a good fit because she's on the smp! she's on the team! the difference between "the vibes arent going to be right with her there" and "they can't reach her level" is huge. but you know lifesteal better then me. if you say they cant match her energy i believe you! but if it's true, her and lifesteal dont work out because she did put her all in and they didnt that is still completely different from the thesis of your original ask

ive turned off the reblogs of the other post but i hope moving forward we can be more critical and careful with how we treat our women creators. there's already so little space for them in creator spaces let's not push them out of community spaces too.