#i need to get ready while dancing and playing air guitars

[a-dash-in-the-middle]

the bad thing about knowing albums when getting ready is that you cannot hear one song from the album bc your brain automatically starts playing the next one

[joocomics]

1k followers celebration event — ⌞⌗ xdh drabble⌝

𓂃⠀𓈒 hyeongjun x fem!reader x jooyeon

genre: smut ( 18+ ) wc: 1k

request: “do you like making us mad?” + overstimulation

contains: threesome, sub!reader, overstimulation (f!rec), light corruption kink, brief humiliation (f!rec), dirty talk, oral sex (m!rec), light degradation (f!rec)

[ event masterlist | xdinary heroes masterlist ]

Attending your friends’ gigs is always a good time.

Sure, they’re still a rookie rock band, but they already know how to put on a killer show. Their popularity keeps growing with every small performance and tonight was no exception.

You watch them step off the stage, instruments in hand - Hyeongjun with his electric guitar, Jooyeon with his bass - after another successful set that leaves people buzzing. You push through the crowd, ready to meet up and head to your favorite club for drinks.

When you step outside, you see an unfamiliar guy, leaning against a car and curling his lips the moment he sees the boys next to you.

“This is Seungmin,” Jooyeon says, turning to you before giving the guy a high five. “He’s the sober driver tonight.”

After that, everyone piles into the car - you take a seat between Jooyeon and Hyeongjun in the back while Seungmin starts the engine.

You expected the usual post-show discussion, but tonight the conversation takes a different turn as Seungmin drives towards the club.

“You know,” Jooyeon tilts his head, eyes locked on you. “We had a pretty good view from the stage.”

“Oh?” You raise an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” he smirks - the smile that always make people swoon. “We were watching you the whole time.”

Before you can respond, Hyeongjun cuts in, wasting no time getting to the point.

“So who was that guy?”

“Who?” You blink before realising who they're talking about. “Oh! Just someone I went to high school with. We haven’t seen each other in years. We danced for a bit, that’s all.”

“Interesting way to dance with someone you haven’t seen in years.” Hyeongjun cackles, leaning against his seat at the same time his band mate moves forward to glance at him.

“Dude, he was all over her!” Jooyeon raises his voice, sneeringly. “Humping her in front of everyone like a dog in heat.”

“Jooyeon!” You whip your head towards him, shooting him a glare.

Despite knowing him for nearly two years, once you lock gazes, it feels like it’s the first time you look into his eyes; they're darker, intense in a way that makes your breath hitch.

“He wasn’t humping me,” you argue, repeating his ridiculous choice of words. “And even if he was… why would that be a problem?”

“Someone’s getting frisky.” Hyeongjun smirks, glancing at the dimly lit streets.

Seungmin peeks at the rearview mirror, but remains silent as the low music plays through his car speakers.

“Why? Are you gonna make me say it?” Jooyeon’s hand moves on top of your thigh, studying the area and how your body responds to his touch.

The tension lingers in the air even more evidently now; it's thick enough to make everything else around you disappear.

“You need someone who’s gonna fuck you, not hump you.” Jooyeon mutters and you can almost sense a feeling of disgust in his lower voice. “That guy was pathetic.”

You can feel Hyeongjun’s gaze flickering at you; unsure if that’s the reason, your right hand starts shifting places until it bumps into his. The electrifying contact causes you to act bolder, and you finally place your palm on his knee.

“Yeah, you deserve better than that,” Hyeongjun gets closer as he stares down at your hand gliding higher to his crotch. “Pick wisely next time and don’t embarrass yourself.”

His advice sounds more like a warning.

There’s almost no distance between you anymore; your bodies stick to one another, their breaths brush against the sides of your face causing your eyes to flutter shut. Your mind urges you to respond; to do something that will encourage their hands to touch you more, but... Seungmin is right there.

“You want to get fucked, hm?” Jooyeon's lips trace the shell of your ear as his voice alone doubles the warmth you feel in your body. “Don't be shy, we're friends, right?”

“Yeah, you can tell us anything.” Hyeongjun whispers beside you.

Your heart jumps when you feel his fingers pressing into your panties; Jooyeon's are squeezing the flesh of your inner thigh.

A slow, shuddering breath leaves you before you say yes, and they tell Seungmin to turn around and drop you off at Jooyeon's place instead.

Jooyeon’s bed fills the room with creaking noises, until they stop, because you cum - and you cum hard; body shaking as his hands on your hips keep you down while Hyeongjun’s made sure to stimulate your clit until you’ve reached your peak.

The way they effortlessly match their different dynamics without losing focus on you doesn’t go unnoticed. They’ve been taking turns to fuck you since you got here, and surprisingly, so far there’s been no dull or awkward moments between you like you thought it might happen - this is your first threesome and you didn’t know what to expect.

“Have you done this before?” The curiosity won’t leave you if you don’t ask. “Sharing one girl… at the same time…”

Running fingers through his hair, Jooyeon scrunches his face as in no.

“We’ve never liked one girl at the same time before.” Hyeongjun murmurs behind your shoulder.

“Even if we had,” Jooyeon rests a hand on his heaving chest, looking at you with piercing eyes, “would that be a problem?”

You catch on to the way he’s copying your words from earlier and that makes you smirk amused at his raised brow.

“I was just asking,” you say, “and stop acting smart by twisting my words.”

“Tsk,” He shoots a quick glance at his band mate, checking if he’s entertained by this too. “You’re asking for it tonight, aren’t you? Bad, bad girl…” His hand is quick to grab your face, squeezing just enough to intensify your heartbeat.

By the way he tilts your head left to right, it looks like he’s studying you, but in reality, he just uses the moment to enjoy how you clench around him, because as he assumed - his slaps and condescending tone arouses you.

“Do you like making us mad, huh?” He frees your face, - a bit roughly as the rest of his gestures - without missing out on your hips discreetly attempting to grind against him. “Does it feel good to have two guys put you in your place?”

“Answer,” Hyeongjun whispers in your ear, squeezing your boobs gently.

“It does,” you admit, “it makes me so wet…”

Jooyeon watches your head fall back as Hyeongjun’s tattoed hand travels down your body; you instantly shudder in his arms once he stops at your sweet spot. But the touch, though gentle, is overwhelming, making you hiss immediately at how sensitive you’ve become.

“Turn around then,” he says, retrieving.

You leave Jooyeon’s lap and bend down to level your face with Hyeongjun’s cock. The second you welcome him in your mouth, the mixture of the boys’ arousal and your own, settles nicely on your tongue.

“Fuck—“ he moans above you; with a slightly higher pitch you haven’t heard from him till now. “Deeper, baby… yeah, that’s it.”

A sudden slap on your ass causes you to whimper around Hyeongjun, just as he decides to keep you pressed against his pelvis, craving to stay inside your throat a second longer.

“Shit, I want to cum like this—“ he mutters in a rush; slowly fucking your mouth by deep, little gliding motions.

Jooyeon stares down in awe at your arched back and separated thighs; his one hand forms a fist around his cock that’s throbbing beneath his firm touch.

He picks your ass.

! please do not repost, copy or translate my works

! please keep in mind that english is not my first language. i apologise for any mistakes i’ve might missed

[pinkslipxox]

I love your sick fan fictions! Could you do one where the twins get travel/motion sick and the whole family is on a trip with them

hola mi amor! Omg yes i love it! Hope you like it 😘🙈

——————————————————————————

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as Billie and her wife, Y/N, packed the last of their bags into the family van. Their six-year-old twin daughters, Ava and Mia, were bubbling with excitement, their giggles and chatter filling the air like music. This road trip was a long-awaited escape, a chance for the family to bond as they explored new places together.

In the driver’s seat was Billie’s father, Patrick, with her mother, Maggie, beside him keeping an eye on the map. In the back, Billie’s brother, Finneas, and his girlfriend, Claudia, were already settled in, ready to enjoy the adventure alongside the rest of the family. As they pulled onto the open road, Y/N settled between Ava and Mia, glancing back and forth to see the wonder on their little faces as the landscapes changed outside.

“Are we there yet?” Ava chirped, her wide eyes peering out the window.

“Not yet, sweetheart. Just a little longer!” Y/N replied with a warm smile, tousling Ava’s curls.

Mia, who was happily munching on a snack, suddenly looked a bit pale. “Mama...” she said softly, her tiny voice filled with concern. At that moment, Billie’s sharp eyes caught her daughter’s change in demeanor.

“Uh oh, what’s wrong, Mia?” Billie asked, leaning over to gauge her daughter’s expression.

“I feel funny,” Mia whimpered, her small hand finding Ava’s for comfort. Just as Billie’s heart sank, Ava chimed in, “Me too! My tummy hurts!”

A wave of concern washed over the car as Maggie turned around in her seat. “Okay, we need to pull over and help them,” she said, her voice steady but kind.

Billie was instantly out of her seatbelt, moving swiftly to comfort her girls. “It’s okay, my loves. We're going to help you,” she cooed, gentle hands resting on their laps. “I know that feeling. Just take deep breaths with Mama and me; we’ll be okay.”

Y/N smiled supportively at Billie, grabbing the twins’ favorite stuffed animals from the backseat. “Here you go, sweethearts,” she said softly, handing the plush toys to Ava and Mia. “Squeeze them tight, and we’ll feel better together.”

As Patrick pulled the van off to the side of the road, Billie wrapped her arms around her daughters, lovingly gathering them both close. “Just breathe in and out—like this,” she said, her voice a comforting melody. “You’re doing so great, my tiny warriors.”

Finneas and Claudia chimed in from the back, singing silly songs to distract the girls, trying to lift their spirits. The atmosphere softened, laughter bubbling up despite the twins’ discomfort.

Ava started giggling as Finneas pretended to play the guitar on the side of the van, while Claudia did a little dance, pulling Mia into her antics. It worked; they distract their little ones just enough that the anxiety of car sickness began to fade.

Billie, still cradling her daughters, whispered sweet nothings to them, brushing their hair back gently as their breathing steadied. “You’re so brave, and I’m so proud of you both,” she murmured, kissing the tops of their heads. “Mama and I are right here.”

Eventually, once they were assured the girls were feeling better, Maggie and Patrick urged everyone to get some fresh air. They stepped out of the van, and Y/N took a moment to truly appreciate the warmth of the sun and the beauty around them. Billie stood with her twins, their little fingers entwined with hers, ready to explore the nearby stretch of grass.

“Mama, can we go pick flowers?” Mia asked, her face lighting up with hope.

“Absolutely, girls!” Y/N replied, her eyes sparkling as she watched Billie smile at the suggestion.

Together, they walked hand in hand, Billie forming a small circle with the twins, who bounced excitedly at the prospect of adventure. Y/N stood close by, watching them with a heart full of love and happiness.

As the family gathered on the grassy landscape, Billie leaned down to whisper sweetly, “Thank you for being brave, my beautiful girls. You can always count on Mama and me, no matter what.”

And in that moment, amidst the laughter and wildflowers, the road trip redefined itself—turning from a mere journey into cherished family memories that blossomed in warm sunlight, laughter, and love. They were a family united, no matter the bumps along the way.

[flowery-mess]

Matt filling in for your drummer

So I'm seeing all this Matt content today, not that I'm complaining. I was at a concert tonight and ugh I love a good female artist, BUT it sparked an idea in my little head...

I was giggling and kicking my feet in the air while writing this I hope you like it as much as I do

You as a singer are under Sumerian

That's how you met with Matt

Small talks led to a date

And dates led to a commited relationship

Sometimes it was hard with both of you being in the music industry and traveling for work

It's usually Matt away for months and when he comes back, you're leaving for your tour the next day

That's why Matt agreed to acompany you and your band and crew on your next tour in Europe

You being small singer, not as famous as BO, having concerts at small venues made it easier for you two travel and explore European cities together

Matt is touring with you as a your partner, he's not supposed to work

But he can't help it

He's always at the sound corner discussing with your sound tech that everything is ready

Which makes your sound tech uncomfortable, but you know Matt means well, he just wants everything to go perfectly so you don't have to worry and just enjoy performing

You enjoy this time spent together

And you really don't want Matt to work when he's supposed to enjoy his time off

But it wouldn't be your luck if everything went smoothly

Your drummer got sick, food poisoning

He really tried to work through it, but he was miserable

And who else can play drums?

Matt

When he saw you coming to him with your puppy face on, he knew you're going to ask him for something

"Can you play the drums for me tonight, please?"

And who could say no to your sad face

He didn't have to think about it, of course he's going to help in any way he can

He doesn't show it, but he's really excited about sharing the stage with you

He loves watching you perform, but oh to perform with you, he can't wait

He always gives you a kiss for good luck before the show, but tonight you kiss him for good luck back

The crowd cheers as your guitar player and Matt make their way to their spots

And they cheer even louder when you get behind the mic

After first few songs you make pause for a small talk

"So, sad thing happened earlier today, our drummer Josh got sick and he couldn't play with us tonight, but we found someone else, someone as good as Josh is, and I'm happy to introduce you my boyfriend behind the drums, please give a big applause for Matt Dierkes who saved this show tonight!"

You knew he's going to hate you for putting him on the spot later, but you could see his big smile when he waved at the crowd who cheered for him

You then continued with the show, enjoying every moment

You and Matt kept stealing glances at each other

You always dance on the stage, but tonight you danced infront of the drums a bit longer, watching Matt with adoration in your eyes

You love seeing him being passionate about something

But you also love seeing him play drums because it made him even more attractive

His arms, do I need to say more (I mean look at that last picture)

He has big arms and he wears short sleeves that show his muscles flex when he's hitting the drums

He has sweat on his forehead

When you make an eye contact with him, it sends shivers through your whole body, especially between your legs

You have to stop turning around to face him, because you're not going to finish the show with that view

After the last song all three of you walk off the stage and share a big hug

After this day filled with stress, because of the complications, everyone is tired and leaves the venue as soon s they can

Which means you and Matt are the last ones in the backstage room

"You're so hot on stage every time, but this view from behind the drums-" he stopped to place his hand over his heart "that's something I could get used to every single time." with that he put his hand around your thigh and pulled you down in his lap

You put your hands around his neck, leaning your forehead to his

"You can't imagine how many times I had to clench my thighs together just from the look of you on that stage tonight." you whispered in his ear which sent shivers down his neck

He placed his hands on your hips, giving you hint to start moving your hips

So you did, along with a moan that sent shivers down his neck once again

"Remind me what time does the bus leave?" he asks before attacking your neck with his lips

"They can wait." you moaned with your head thrown back giving him more space on your neck

And in fact, everyone on the bus had to wait that night

[cherrycola27]

false god

Series Warnings: Mythology!AU. Language, alcohol, drinking. Military inaccuracies. Mutual pining, unrequited love. Allusions to and eventual smut. Minors DNI. 18+. Individual chapter warnings will come as needed. Banner Credit @thedroneranger

Masterlist Previous Part Next Part

...........................................

Chapter 6: My Type

You and Bradley were both thankful that you were at a good place again in your friendship. The two of you returned to your previous routine of your Wednesday night hangouts, and the rest of August slipped away into a moment in time. September brought you two closer together as you still danced around the line of friends or something more.

It also brought along Mickey's birthday, and after the way the last party ended, the squad was ready to have a fun night out that didn't end in chaos.

Fanboy had never outgrown his punk rock phase, and for his birthday, he asked that every attend a cover band concert La Jolla. He had gone all out and even rented a party bus to take the group to and from the venue. Unfortunately, you had plans that night and wouldn't be able to attend. You made sure to send him a nice gift, though. Mickey was over the moon when he opened the autograph Star Trek poster and immediately forgave you for missing out on the fun.

Bradley, however, was extremely disappointed in the fact that you weren't coming. He was hoping that tonight would finally be his chance to lay his feelings on the line for you, but instead, he was drinking a beer, sandwiched between Payback and Bob, while Jake and Coyote made use of the stripper poles in the bus.

When they arrived, he couldn't wait to get off and get some fresh air. He had texted you a few times, but you hadn't responded. He checked his phone again to see that his messages were still unread. He sighed in disappointment before tucking his phone away and heading inside with everyone else.

Inside, an EDM DJ was playing some throwback Coldplay while a few techs were setting up for the band. The Daggers found a section near the right side and settled in. They gave their drink orders to a waitress who winked and Mickey when she found out it was his birthday.

Moments later, she returned with drinks and the promise to come back and see if they would need anything later.

With his whiskey in hand, Bradley leaned over to Fanboy and asked, "What's the name of this band again?"

Fanboy rolled his eyes. "The Styx. They do a mix of punk rock, eighties hits, pop, and some original songs. I heard them at a festival about a year and a half ago, and I've seen them a few places here and there. I'm pretty excited to see them again, though. Their lead singer left the band about five months ago to go solo, and apparently, an old friend of the lead guitarist stepped up and has been with them. I haven't heard her, but apparently, she's way better than the old singer." Fanboy explains.

Bradley nods his head and sinks back into his chair as he and everyone else waits for the show to start.

About ten minutes later, the DJ finishes, and some filler music comes through the speakers. The owner of the bar tells everyone that the band will start shortly. More people pour in. Bradley's mind wanders to you, and what you might be doing tonight.

...............

"How's the crowd out there?" You ask Lyla as she checks over her guitar once more. "The energy is fantastic. The place is pretty packed, too." She tells you with a smile.

"Great." You sigh.

A packed house

More people to watch you fail

"Don't worry, babe, you're going to kill it like you always do!" Mariana, the drummer and Lyla's sister, tells you. "Exactly. Just relax, we've got this!" Derrick, the bass player, says to the group. "If anyone boos, I will jump off the stage and shove my keyboard down their throat." Trent, Derrick's husband tells you. You can't help but laugh. You want to say something witty back, but you hear the stage manager start to introduce the group.

You can do this

You love doing this

You're going to be great

You take a deep breath and give yourself a once over in the mirror before stepping out. You look good— really good.

Netted tights cover your legs before disappearing under your cut-off denim shorts that show off your thigh tattoos.

A cropped black vintage Bon Jovi shirt covers your torso. You've cut some of the neck out of the shirt, so the lace of your bralette underneath is visible. Layers of silver chains with charms hug your neck and cleavage. A red flannel is tied around your waist.

Heavy, black, Doc Marten boots are on your feet, and your hair is loose and wild around your face. Sultry dark makeup graces your features, and you've traded your signature cherry red pout for a sensual shade of burgundy.

Rings and bracelets adorned your fingers and wrists. You truly looked the part of a rock queen. You look like sex on legs

Maybe you should pay Bradley a visit after this was over

You were broken from your thoughts by the cheers of the crowd. You took a deep breath as the rest of the group stepped out onto the stage. It was dark, thankfully, you couldn't make any faces out, and they couldn't see you just yet.

You turned to Lyla and the rest of the band who gave you the go-ahead.

..........

The Daggers, especially Fanboy, waited with baited breath as the band set up. Bradley sat there with a fresh glass of whiskey and prayed they were as good as Fanboy had made them out to be. There was nothing worse than sitting through a shitty band.

Soon, the opening sounds of Fallout Boy's "Centuries" filled the room. The band stayed shrouded in dim lights until the opening chorus finished, and then bright lits illuminated the stage.

Fanboy screamed in excitement as he leaned over to say something to Fritz, but Bradley's eyes didn't leave the stage. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He wasn't drunk. Surely, his mind had to be playing tricks on him.

Just as he was about to say something, it seemed like the entire group came to the realization at the same time.

"Oh my shit." Jake said. "It's that—"

"That's Hades." Bradley said before Jake could finish his question. "Holy shit." Bradley breathed out as he watched you on the stage.

You owned the space. You presses filled the room and demanded the attention of the crowd.

Bradley was captivated by you. He knew that he was attracted to you before. He'd tried so hard to keep his feelings pushed down, and when he kissed you, he knew he'd ruined his chances. But then—then you wanted to be his friend again, and he got the chance to fall for you all over again.

And this time, he fell harder.

Now, there was no denying his attraction for you. As he watched you on that stage, enthralled with your beauty and this new side of you he'd never seen before, Bradley couldn't help but let his mind wander.

The music continues, but now, it's all background noise to Bradley.

He isn't even sure what song you are singing right now. He's too busy watching the way your body moves to the beat and how he's sure you wore that outfit just to mess with him.

He knows that the last part isn't true because surely you didn't know that the Daggers would be here tonight. Fanboy had only asked if you were free tonight. He'd never told you the plans, but in the back of Bradley's mind, he likes to think that you wore that cropped Bon Jovi tee for him and the moment you'd shared months ago.

He watches the hem of your shirt catch on your fingertips as you drag your hands up your body and sway with the music. Bradley hasn't stopped staring at the patch of skin that is just visible between it and the waistband of your jean shorts. He is eager to know what you might have on under it and how it would look on his bedroom floor.

Maybe it was wrong of him to think it, but Bradley didn't care.

Haunting melodies poured from your wine colored lips. They weaved through the crowd and flooded his ears. Bradley was hanging onto every word you sang. His mind wandered as he wondered if his name would sound just as pretty as your songs did when it tumbled from your lips as he brought you to the peak of pleasure.

You were absolutely fearless in the way you put on a show. You worked the room and had everyone captivated. Bradley hoped that one day, he'd be able to find out if you would put on a show just for him in the privacy of his bedroom.

God, you were so fucking beautiful up there. And he knows he probably looks like an absolute ass because he has been ignoring the rest of your friends for almost the entire forty-five minutes you've been on the stage, but he can't help it.

He's so awestruck by you and this part of your life. It's another piece of the puzzle that makes you so unique and so amazing to him.

You're smart, witty, beautiful, funny, and talented on more than one front. Bradley loves that he's learned something new about you.

He wants to learn more new things about you. He wants to add more pieces to the puzzle until he has the whole picture.

He would give anything to spent eternity figuring you out.

You announce the final song of your set list, a rock cover of "Bad Romance," and Bradley finds it ironic because he would take any kind of romance with you. Good or bad.

With this being the last song, you go wild. You release all your inhibitions as you move about the stage and command the room, just like you command the sky.

Bradley has to discreetly adjust himself through his jeans because he gets distracted by the way your necklaces move.

The layers of silver chains of various lengths with charms scattered throughout them hugged your neck in the best way. Bradley didn't realize he could be jealous of a few pieces of jewelry, but as he grips his glass of whiskey tighter, he finds himself longing to replace them with his hands. He just knows that you'd look so fucking beautiful with his long fingers wrapped around your throat while he fucked you like the good girl he knows you would be for him.

Just when he thought you couldn't surprise him anymore, that night, you prove him wrong. When the bridge of the song comes up, you switch to singing in French. French? Since when did you know another language?

Now he wanted to know if you were fluent in it, and if you were, would you talk dirty to him in it. Fuck, you were still a mystery to him, in the best way.

As the song came to an end, you hit your knees for the final high note, and the entire crowd jumped up and screamed for you, the Daggers included. Bradley isn't embarrassed to say that he was definitely the loudest.

After you and the rest of the band thanked everyone for coming out and bidded the audience farewell, Bradley watched you disappear behind a black curtain.

More filler music started up as the squad sat down and looked at each other.

"So, Hades moonlights as a rockstar." Coyote said, breaking the silence of the group.

"Would it be weird if I asked her to get me an autograph from her band mates?" Fanboy asked.

"I don't think so. I just can't believe she didn't tell us." Phoenix said as she finished her beer.

"We all have things that we don't tell everyone about. Maybe she was afraid we'd make fun of her or something. Plus, have you met some of us? A few members of our group aren't the best at respecting other people's feelings." Bob said as he and everyone stared directly at Jake.

"For the last time, I apologized to her! Jeez!" Jake said as he threw his hands up in defense.

.............

Once off the stage, you downed a bottle of water and panted to catch your breath.

"We were amazing tonight!" Derrick cheers as he puts his bass away. "Hades, you killed it with the vocals!" Trent compliments you.

"I'm just glad you didn't have to fight an audience member, I doubt your husband would have bailed you out of jail—again." You needle Trent.

"Oh my gosh, it was one time, and they dropped the charges." Trent huffed.

Lyla and Mariana laugh as they put their things away. "You guys want to get a drink? To celebrate a successful show?" Mariana asks. "Absolutely. Hades, if you keep this up, we might not ever let you go!" Lyla tells you as she slings an arm around your shoulder.

"Lyla, I told you, I'm just helping you our until you can find someone to replace Candice." You tell her.

Lyla shakes her head as the five of you head out of the backstage area and to the bar. You take a seat with your back to the crowd. A few patrons come up and speak to all of you, but none linger too long. You've just put your pomegranate margarita to your lips when you hear a familiar voice call, "Well what do we have here? If it ain't Hades."

You set your drink down and spin on your stool. You're shocked when you turn around and see all twelve of your friends and coworkers standing in front of you.

"Oh my gods, what are you guys doing here?" You ask them.

"This is what I had planned for my birthday." Fanboy tells you.

"Oh, Mick, I had no idea. You should have told me, and I could have gotten you a front row spot!" You tell him.

"You could have told us you were a rockstar." Phoenix says.

You don't have a chance to respond before Lyla says, "Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Oh, sorry. Guys, this is Lyla, we were stationed together in Lemoore a few years ago. She was my wingman until she hung up her wings to be a mechanic. And this is her sister Mariana and Derrick and his husband Trent, and they are The Styx." You say.

"We are The Styx." Lyla corrects you.

After a few polite hellos, you turn to your squadron. "And guys, this is Fanboy, Payback, Halo, Omaha, Bob, Phoenix, Yale, Harvard, Fritz, Coyote, Hangman, and—Bradley." You say as you point out each one of them.

"Bradley—er—Rooster, is my new wingman." You tell your band mates.

"You are a lucky duck to be flying with her." Lyla tells Rooster. "She saved my ass several times."

"Don't let her fool you, Lyla had my back, too." You smile.

"So, Hades, how did you end up doing—this?" Bob asks you, never failing to address the elephant in the room.

"Lyla and I lived together in the barracks. We used to do karaoke on the weekends. She always played a little and decided she wanted to do music more seriously. Unfortunately, Lyla was in a training accident and shattered her left hip." You told them. You wince at that detail. It had been the one time that you weren't flying with her because an admiral had pulled you into a meeting.

"Not too long after Lyla's accident, I was transferred. We kept in touch, and she told me to call her if I was ever back in California." You told them.

"And I couldn't get back in a plane anymore after that, so I took to fixing them and playing guitar in my spare time. At an open mic night, Mariana and I met Derrick and Trent and Candice, our former lead singer. We hit it off, and The Styx was born." Lyla explains.

"But, Candice thought she was too good for us and moved to L.A. five months ago, " Mariana adds.

"Thankfully, Hades just happened to get station in San Diego. So, when she called me to catch up, I convinced her to do a show with us, and that's kind of led us here." Lyla finishes.

"Wow, that's insane." Payback says.

"Yeah, crazy." You shake your head, suddenly feeling on edge now that your work friends new more about your personal life. It wasn't that you were trying to hide this from them, but at the same time, you liked your privacy.

Secrets kept you safe

Bradley could tell that you were getting uncomfortable, so he tapped your knee to get your attention before grabbing your wrist and pulling you away from the crowd.

"You were amazing up there, Angel." He praises you as you tuck yourselves into a corner of the club.

"Thanks, maybe next time, you can join me, and we can hit them with some 'Great Balls of Fire.'" You laugh. Bradley chuckles.

A comfortable silence settles over the two of you. You both look at see the Daggers talking and drinking with your band mates.

"How did all of you get here?" You ask him.

"Fanboy got a party bus. Jake was recreating scenes from Magic Mike on the drive here when he was still half sober, I'm terrified to see what's going to happen on the way back." Bradley shutters.

"I didn't even get to have my drink, so I'm sober. I drove here, wanna ride home with me?" You offer him.

Bradley abso-fucking-lutely wanted to ride home with you. And then, when the two of you got home, he wanted to take you into his apartment, strip you down, and hear you sing for him in a different way. And he wanted you to sleep over so he could make you breakfast the next morning before he fucked you in his shower. However, he couldn't say that to you, so instead, he just said, "Yeah, Angel, that would be great."

The two of you quietly snuck out the back of the club. You had grabbed your things already. You made it to the car before Bradley, but instead of opening your door, you stood there, subconsciously waiting for him to do it. He smiled and opened the door and helped you in.

The drive back to San Diego was filled with playful banter, more singing, and flirty touches.

.............

Once you were back at your apartment complex, Bradley made sure to walk you to your door.

You wanted to invite him in, but it was late, and you were still high on adrenaline from performing, and you didn't trust yourself not to drag him to your bed. If you were going to do this with him, you were going to do it the right way.

So, you settled for a simple goodnight kiss on his cheek before tucking yourself inside your home.

After he said goodbye to you at your apartment door, Bradley bolted upstairs to his.

Tonight, he's thankful that he is your upstairs neighbor and that he has a corner unit where his bedroom doesn't share a wall with anyone.

Why? Because of the way your name sinfully falls from his lips while he touches himself and selfishly chases his release.

He's been hard for you all evening, and your flirty touches in your car on the ride home coupled with the way your soft lips felt on his cheek had him spiraling as he fists his cock.

He cums hard, spurts of it painting his hand and abs with hot white streaks. As he comes down from his high and cleans himself up, Bradley can't help but think about how his cum would look splattered on your thigh tattoo or dripping out of you. He groans, already hardening at the thought of it.

After quelling the fires of his desire with a cold shower, Bradley slips between the sheets of his bed and thinks of you and how he could make the two of you something more.

Taglist: @roosterscock @shanimallina87 @teacupsandtopgun @mayhemmanaged @wkndwlff @roosterforme @daggerspare-standingby @dakotakazansky @startrekfangirl2233 @hecate-steps-on-me @cassiemitchell @na-ta-sh-aa @katieshook02 @desert-fern @je-suis-prest-rachel @soulmates8 @sometimesanalice @diorrfairy @eli2447 @xoxabs88xox @djs8891 @roosters-girl @sebsxphia @rosiahills22 @dempy @callsign-magnolia @alchemxx @gretagerwigsmuse @withahappyrefrain @lt-spork @multifandomlover4life @beccaanne814 @bradshawsbaby @seitmai @kmc1989 @bcarolinablr @roosterisdaddy36 @itsdesiree86 @waywardhunter95 @hisredheadedgoddess28 @whatislovevavy @asshlyyyy @inkandarsenic @lillyrosenight @tomanybandstolove @jiminie-08 @dingochef @laracrofted

[yourlocalviolet]

"Music To My Ears" -Johnny Abbot x Reader

(GIF is not mine, All credits go to original creator!)

"Where words fail, music speaks"

A story in which you learn a new talent, in the oddest of places.

______________________________________________________________

The sun was setting quickly and you were thankful. After hours of running around the zoo, tending to plants and other small chores, you were exhausted and ready to call it a day. However, there was one quick thing you needed to do before that.

Most other workers had already left, returning to their rooms to await the next day. You, however, were currently walking in the hallways to the other side of the zoo. Johnny’s room was located close to the entrance and was about a five minute walk from your workstation. You didn't mind though, the man occupying the room made it worth it. Before you even approached  the door, which was already opened, you could hear the light music coming from the room. As you get to your destination, you lean against the doorway. Johnny, who is completely engrossed with the guitar in his hands, was sitting with his back towards you on the bed. He didn't seem to notice you, and you were content with letting him play. The melody, which was soft and gentle, echoed across the small room, and was played by graceful hands. You had wished you had learned an instrument before the crumble, but it never seemed very important then.  Unfortunately, while stuck in your thoughts, you didn't realize the music had stopped, and that Johnny was staring up at you. “That was beautiful Johnny” You tell him, a small smile gracing your face. He smiles back, and he can feel the warmth spreading across his face. “Thank you,” He says, “Have you ever played?” It was your turn to blush. Your abilities in the musical field were nonexistent, and you curse yourself for not having many hobbies. “Uh, no, I never had the time to learn, I suppose.” You can tell the gears are turning in his head, and he looks down into his lap, then back up at you bashfully. Silence awkwardly cuts through the air, and you suddenly become much more nervous standing in his room.  “ I should have learned an instrument before the crumble, y’know. It seems like a valuable skill now that music is such a rare thing.” You ramble out, a feeble attempt to fill the quietness. You feel like you're under pressure now, until Johnny speaks up again. “I could teach you.” He says in a whisper, so quiet that you would have missed it if you weren't paying attention. “Yeah.. that would be nice” You accept before even thinking about the offer.

Around 20 minutes later, you soon discovered why you never learned to play. It seemed that no matter how hard you tried, your fingers could not dance across the strings as gracefully as Johnny’s, and would create sounds that were more than unpleasant to one's ear. The darkness of the night didn't help either, and you had wished it had been brighter outside. You sigh in frustration, and Johnny takes notice of it. “Don't overthink it much, you're doing fine, you just need to find a rhythm” He says in a small attempt to reassure you. You look over at him as he adjusts his position next to you, coming closer and wrapping his arm around your shoulders. Suddenly, you are much more thankful for how dark it was, as you quickly feel the warmth spreading to your face once again. He takes your hand, and positions your fingers over the notes carefully. “Just like this,” He whispers, “Strum them lightly at first, try to repeat the same notes too.” You do as he instructs, with his fingers lightly ghosting over yours ever so often. Finally, a sound that could possibly resemble music with some practice was made. You smiled and let out a small laugh, and looked up at Johnny, and he was already looking down at you. It dawns on you how close you and Johnny currently are, with your back up against his side, and his face dangerously close to yours. “Well, that wasn't so hard” You mumble out in an attempt to hide your nervousness, but you doubted the tall man fell for it.  “So, does that mean you’ll come back for more lessons?” He replies, a victorious smile on his face. “Well, I suppose it does.” You reply, as his infectious smile seems to spread to you, and you don't know how to hide it.

But, you did know one thing, and it was that you were sure damn thankful you never learned to play guitar. 

[spaghttioboobio]

SONG OF THE DAY

Day #30

Today's song is You’ve Got The Love by UK band Florence and the Machine from their 2009 debut indie-rock album Lungs. The track is an adaption of Candi Staton’s 1986 dance number You Got The Love, but Florence and the Machines track is its own beast. The song was first performed for festival sets early on in their career, and Welch has described how “even in rehearsals, playing it was just the most euphoric feeling. Then playing it live... was like tearing ourselves open and just exploding on the crowd.” As Welch describes, it is an emotionally charged number with its dainty harp, melodious guitar, and of course soaring vocals. It pulls you in with its strings, ensnares you when it expands after the first verse, then unleashes like a top spinning with Welch’s spiritual chants into a glorious run at 1:58. It is cathartic, it is brimming with love, it is a lightning strike of joy… it’s everything I love about music.

Lungs was the first CD I ever bought when I was a teen, and I cried and screamed whenever I made eye contact with Florence Welch when seeing the experience live for the first time in my 20s. I truly believe my life winds and unfurls with Welch’s music since her songs are so tied to many of my life's moments: from playing Cosmic Love while getting ready for a school dance, playing What Kind Of Man while dealing with hormones and heartbreak, playing Hunger as I was becoming my own person, to playing Free while moving out of my parent's house. I know I am coming across as ridiculous, but Florence and the Machine have defined who I am as a person the same way performers like Queen, Radio Head, My Chemical Romance, or even Taylor Swift may have for you.

“Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

'Cause I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying ‘Lord I just don't care’

But you've got the love I need to see me through”

[thembohux]

4, 14, 24 for Layla and Eddie

1, 10, 20 for Vallah and Aemond! ❤️

Irma my love, thank you for asking and indulging me to talk about my blorbos!

Who is more likely to…

Layla and Eddie

4.) to know the lyrics of every song you play

Eddie 100% but not for the reason you’d think. It’s mostly because Layla plays the same tape in her car everyday and only about 4 of the songs actually have lyrics and the rest are classical.

He, begrudgingly, knows all the words to Dead Man’s Party and The Chain. He will sing along and do some sick air guitar because he knows Layla enjoys it and, even if she rolls her eyes at his dramatics, she’s amused by his antics.

14.) to plan a romantic date

Layla for sure! She needs to be in control of every aspect of her life or she will have a meltdown. And while Eddie’s dates are fun and usually go very well, she likes to plan a nice dinner for them where she cooks a multi-course meal for him (with wine pairings) and it’s just the two of them.

He does plan something VERY romantic when he proposes to her.

24.) to drag the other to the dance floor

No shock here but it is also Layla.

I have an idea of them going to a party the week before she graduated (and also before they started dating) where they both got VERY intoxicated and Layla dragged him away to dance and ended up grinding on Eddie.

Aside from that, because Layla is literally ancient, she knows a lot of ways to dance and has taught Eddie how to dance. He’s still very unsure of himself, though, so he needs some encouragement from her.

Vallah and Aemond

1.) to get lost

Honestly, Aemond is more likely. He relies mostly on Vhagar’s navigation skills to get places so on his own he’s a bit more helpless. ESPECIALLY once they’re out of the Red Keep.

Vallah was a strong contender for Warden of the North for a bit so she knows quite a bit about tracking and knowing where she’s supposed to be going.

10.) to cheat while playing a game

It’s both of them. They both have the issue of needing to be the best at everything so they really should not be playing games against one another.

Most notably, Vallah once realized she was losing and flashed her tits at Aemond so he’d get distracted and lose. It worked but she also lost because Aemond swiped everything off the table so they could use it as a surface to fuck on.

20.) to forget about someone’s birthday

Unfortunately it’s Aemond. Deep down he does know when his wife’s name day is coming up but he’s always so busy with whatever duties he has to the small council or whatever Aegon is asking him to do, before the king casually mentions that Aemond has forgotten his lady wife’s name day because he was too busy.

It annoys Aemond to no end that Aegon seems to do this on purpose and that he’d also forgotten in the first place. He always returns to their quarters like a kicked dog, ready to apologize or offer some way to make up for it.

He will more than make up for it by throwing a tournament in Vallah’s honor or arranging some other event be put on to celebrate.

(TOTALLY ignoring the dance and all of the war in this answer)

[newbookcats]

The Cruel Prince's Epic Song Playlist from Cardan to Jude…As Long As Current Pop Songs Can Be Played By Goats On Lyres

Originally posted on https://newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-cruel-princes-epic-song-playlist.html

All foundations of great relationships rely on two things: partners with shared interests and specially made mix-tapes presented on anniversaries or all-nighter parties. Meanwhile, if you were in a relationship that resembled the great 80's and 90's classic movies, then the above statement is nothing but an obvious necessity for the relationship to continue.

Although I cannot relate to burning songs to CDs or creating playlists for a significant other, my high school years were spent scouring Spotify and YouTube for the next "it" song. Thus, my time spent on these platforms were in the top 1% as a musical theater nerd and overall shy, hoodie-wearing hermit crab. Consequently, after engulfing Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy within three days and while surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, I immediately began to soak my sorrows with both tissues and sad break-up songs. These sorrows were eventually subdued after re-reading the stories again, leading me to identify all the dramatics, shared smirks, and obvious romance between Cardan and Jude.

Thus and in the spirit of the riddling fey, it only seems fitting for Cardan, if he were to grow up in the mortal world, to establish his relationship status with Jude via a mix-tape. However, instead of spectacular guitar riffs rumbling over the radio or MP3 player speakers, Cardan will have them recited by the lyre at any time Jude wishes...if only she doesn't attempt to kill him due to today's current pop hits.

Cardan's Epic Playlist of His Relationship with Jude...If She Can Even Trust His Music Tastes

Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please"

Jude may have been exiled from Elfhame in The Wicked King/The Queen of Nothing but definitely not from Cardan's "shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous" heart. Whether it is Jude's mortal ability to lie or Cardan's affinity for cruelty, Jude and Cardan have reasons to not trust each other; however, theses attributes level these morally gray characters and enhance the success of their kingdom. Still, there are moments when Jude's fruitless attempts to protect her ego from further potential heartbreak goes wayward with a classic Cardan smirk or when Cardan needs to pull Jude away from the knight-life. 

Carpenter's "Please Please Please" not only reflects Cardan and Jude's emotional rollercoaster of a relationship but can undoubtedly be the theme song of this trilogy.  

Olivia Rodrigo's "So American"

While Cardan may swap the lyrics to "So Mortal" for Jude's sake, Rodrigo's lyrics and voice are so reminiscent of Cardan's constant reminders of Jude's mortality. It's perfect!

Princes can be cruel year-round, not just in the summer. Still, readers know that even Cardan's "[F]ever dreams high in the quiet of the night" his gaze cannot keep from slipping to Jude...whether she is dancing in darkness or planning her next espionage.

Olivia Rodrigo's "Love Is Embarrassing"

While Cardan and Jude's relationship only heightens throughout the trilogy, we cannot ignore the growing pains both he and Jude experienced in their trials of romance. Cardan cannot help but be disgusted by his own desire for Jude; meanwhile, Jude remains confused and obsessed with besting him. Previously, Cardan was betrayed by Nicasia with his best friend, and Jude was manipulated by Locke while he was in a courtship with her sister.

Rodrigo's ode perfectly captures the embarrassing woes of love, whether its a first or a subsequent one. And, what a better way to describe the imperfect relationship of enemies to lovers?

Coldplay's "Viva La Viva"

Anytime Jude has to sneak into the Court of Shadows' lair, anytime she has to manipulate a situation to her gain, anytime she has to risk everything for the safety of others, Jude should have a "Get Psyched" mix ready. I can fully imagine Jude enacting her schemes of preparing Elfhame her forever home and chessboard while her heart rate rises with the beat of "Viva La Viva." 

Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night"

Jude may be busy with the paperwork and daily delegations of ruling a kingdom in The Wicked King; however, Cardan is busy with his endless number of parties overfilled with booze and excitement that trail into the next morning. Cardan may be stepping more into his role as High King near the end of The Wicked King, but that does not mean that Jude cannot forget the pleasantries of Elfhame.

Also, this pop hit would be an exhilarating addition to any coronation or celebration.

Queen's "I Want To Break Free"

Although Cardan's initial indifference in being the High King prevented him from enjoying his royal duties in the beginning, this quality along with his selflessness advanced him from ruler by birthright to a just, beloved leader. 

However, before all this pleasantness could resume, Cardan needed to express his trust to Jude and ask for her to remove her command over him. Plus, who would not love a rendition of Queen's "I Want to Break Free" featuring Cardan belting "I've fallen in love"? 

If no one else, then I will petition this for the movie when it eventually is made!

Queen's "Killer Queen"

"Seelie and Unseelie, Wild Folk and Shy Folk, I am glad to have you march under my banner, glad of your loyalty, grateful for your honor." [Cardan's] gaze goes to [Jude]. "To you, I offer honey wine and the hospitality of my table. But to traitors and oath breakers, I offer my queen's hospitality instead. The hospitality of knives."

Now they see me as the murderess queen.

Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now"

Cardan did a full 180 degree turn from elfin-eared, magical Nicasia into the mortal Daughter of Clay Jude's arms. As this song was on-repeat while I read The Queen of Nothing, this song commemorates any passive aggression of Cardan's directed toward Nicasia after she betrayed and a subsequent murder/not murder attempt...if otherwise, I will not be able to produce more posts when she finds this playlist.

Imagine Dragon's "Dream"

"We all are living in a dream, 

But life ain’t what it seems"

Both Jude and Cardan could be said to live in a dream land. 

Jude's parents were brutally murdered in front of her before she was whisked to Elfhame and forced to live amongst faeries; however, in the time she has lived in Elfhame, she has been raised like any other faerie - participating in academic studies and revelries held by royalty, learning swordsmanship and war strategies from her pseudo-father Madoc, and raised in a stable household (if you ignore the initial demise of her biological parents by Madoc). Yet, she still faces discrimination from other fey due to her mortality to which Jude responds with: 

"I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down. I promise you this is the least of what I can do."

Cardan, on the other hand, is the envy of all as a prince of Elfhame. From his expensive clothes to his large friend group to the reverence bestowed to him, there is much to desire from Cardan's life. However nice this may seem, Cardan was the product of two absentee parents, fed food scraps and dressed in tattered clothing as a young infant, and later assaulted by the instruction of his older brother. Add these traumatic childhood experiences to his hunger for a stable, loving family, and the reader is left to wonder whether Elfhame is as superior to the human world as the fey embrace it to be.

Imagine Dragon's ode puts into perspective both Jude's and Cardan's struggles, both while they are together and apart. 

Imagine Dragon's "Demons"

The majority of the trilogy is focused on the cruelty of Cardan, and this quality lends itself to the titles of The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and the overall environment Jude is in. As Jude has more interactions with Cardan, however, his toxic actions are revealed to be fueled by his spite for Jude and encouraged under Balekin's care and by his family's absence. 

I know what it is to say the clever thing because you don't want anyone to know how scared you are. 

Cardan's explanations do not excuse his behavior and treatment toward others, but Jude also lacks empathy for others as she attempts to gain power over other fey. Both Jude and Cardan have demons to hide but try their best to grow from their mistakes, particularly as they rule Elfhame in tandem and prepare Oak to become the next High King. 

Sia's "Unstoppable"

Lastly, Cardan and Jude have been an unstoppable pair since the beginning of The Cruel Prince. I cannot imagine a better ending of Cardan's playlist to be gifted to Jude, especially when he knows Jude herself is unstoppable. 

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As there were spoilers (considering this was a playlist overviewing The Folk of the Air trilogy), which of the books or novellas was your favorite? Furthermore, what quality of Black's intricate world made it so swoonworthy? Additionally, what songs would you have liked to see featured in this playlist? As many of these songs are on-repeat in my mind and Spotify soundtracks, I am incredibly biased but in love with the playlist above. Correspond with me below in the comments or via my social medias.

[beyejun]

yejun performs cake with team b | for ep 3

it's certainly not his first time on stage. yejun can only hope that it's not his last. if he's eliminated tonight, then what was the point of any of this? what was the point of losing his home, his relationship with his family? as dramatic as it sounds, it's quite literally what he sacrificed the moment he decided to appear on television. maybe it was inevitable. maybe yejun was always going to rebel eventually, play music with his friends or pursue idol-dom otherwise. but to happen now, on the eve of the first elimination round... it feels like a bad omen hanging in the air.

maybe the makeup on his face, the grungy costume to help sell their villain-eque concept, and the professional lights and cameras are still a bit new and overwhelming to him, but at least the weight of the guitar in his hands is familiar. he wraps his fingers around the neck, both muting the strings in case of any accidental sounds before he's supposed to begin and for his own comfort, like a child grabbing onto a toy. he glances at yuwol, seira, and chaerin and can't help but wonder if they're as nervous as he is. he hopes not; he feels awful.

the lights dim and yejun knows to be ready. they have some control over the start of their own song, after all; they're playing their own instrumental intro before leaving the instruments behind to get into the typical idol stuff, singing and dancing. he takes one last deep breath while he still has the chance, trying to shake off as many nerves as possible. yejun looks to his teammates and waits for their cue to start.

he hasn't played guitar on stage very many times, but it comes just as easily as hiding behind the drum set at the back of the stage had back when he performed with eat schmidt, dead calm, and then that's classified. there's something about an instrument in his hands, something he's confident in and has full control of, that makes him feel a little better. he's glad that they decided to do this first. by the time they're discarding their instruments and taking over the center of the stage, yejun has a moment to collect his bearings and decide that he does have the confidence to do this.

the good thing about all of this practice is that he already feels his endurance getting better from week to week, his voice a little easier and less breathless even during the harder parts of the dance. he feels stronger, more confident. yejun even feels good about the intricate hand movements that had made him doubt himself earlier in practice. chaerin is a good teacher.

i wonder if they're watching, he finds the red light of a camera, not quite realizing he's smiling into the lens until after it moves away from him. would they feel like he's mocking them, that he's rubbing his 'bad decision' in their faces? yejun hopes not; he hopes there's something left of his family he can return to once this is all over. but he can't stop to worry about them, his drummer's sense of rhythm keeping his body on beat, his voice singing his to heart's content.

as they strike the final pose, yejun can't help the smile across his face. no, this is exactly where he needs to be. this is what he was born for, what he was always meant to do. even if he's still making mistakes, if he still has a lot to learn, he'll do what he can to make it.

frankly, at this point, he has no other choice.

[atozphantomsquadron]

Chapter 12: The Long Road

July 4th, continued

It doesn’t take us long to pack … all of us have been living on the go, so to speak, for months, so we have our own “go-kits” … but we’re not leaving until tomorrow morning anyway.  The Salems insisted that we stay through the night, for my sake.

I have my overnight bag assembled, ready to go.  I set it just outside my room, allowing a stuffed hawk to guard it, eternally in descent toward prey that has long since disappeared.  Surprisingly, there’s not a lot of people mulling about.  I can’t even find William, as prone as he is to clinging to me like a loyal puppy.

“Anyone here?  Michi?  William?”

No one.  I’m on guard, and my hand is on the Sword, when I venture down the hallway toward the dining room.  My stomach’s growling: dinner will feel good, then I can resume searching for my friends.

William suddenly appears in my path.  Much to my surprise, he picks me up and carries me in his arms, walking through the doorway into the dimly-lit dining room.

“William, what’s up?  What are you doing?”  I’m laughing, but at the same time I’m a little worried.

“You’ll see.”  He simply grins.  The ride in his arms only lasts until he can carry me to the center of the room.  Once my feet hit the floor, the lights are thrown on at full power.

Dear God in Heaven, it’s a surprise party!  Amidst the bellows of “SURPRISE!” and the singing of “Happy Birthday,” I try to locate all of my friends.  Fortunately, it doesn’t take long: Michi and her parents are parting the crowd, carrying a large sword-shaped sheet cake, with Fahaian and Grandmother behind them.  William still stands behind me, gently urging me forward.

Sixteen candles.  Fahaian flicks his lighter, and the candles instantly start glowing, all at once.  Everyone around us cheers this trick.

William’s face is right by my ear.  He warmly whispers, “make a wish, Alanna.”

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.  What should I wish for?

I wish my family will be back together soon.

The air I’ve been holding in my lungs gets a quick journey out, extinguishing all sixteen candles in one puff.  Another cheer.  More smiling faces.  A gentle hug from behind by William.

You’d think we were normal people.

The party goes on for a long while, right up to midnight.  During the festivities, I learn a lot about many of the refuge’s supernaturals, many of whom already know me.  Some of them seem to have utterly useless powers, such as the man who was able to talk to amphibians (“Call me Frog-Boy, everybody else does”), or the woman who lays eggs that contain various vintages of wine (“I used to be really popular at parties, believe me”).  Others, I can understand why the New Empire might be afraid of them, since they have useful, offensive powers, ranging from explosive long-distance flatulence (“Just don’t stand behind me after I eat a bowl of baked beans”) to the Olympic javelin-thrower with a rubberized arm (“They could’a let me keep my gold medal, y’know, because it’s not my fault I’m a human slingshot”).

I mentally catalog every person’s power.  Later tonight, I’ll write down the whole list before I go to bed, that way I won’t forget.  I’ll need as many soldiers as I can get when the time comes.

When the blueshirts fall.

The party’s winding down, as many of the revelers are heading to bed.  A few of them are actually going through the Avalon portal tonight, so this doubles as their farewell party.  Michi comes over to my side, as I sit down to my third piece of birthday cake.

“Hey girl, I hope this is good enough of a party for you.  Sorry we don’t have any gifts …”

I shake Michi’s shoulder.  “Being with you guys … having you guys do this for me is the greatest gift I could get this year.”  I hug her gently.

William, in the corner of the room, has his guitar again and is playing, something lively.  Fahaian, looking nervous as hell, walks up to us and holds his hand out …

… to Michi.

“Would you care to have this dance, my lady?”  He has that charming smile on his face again, but it doesn’t hide his nerves, because I can see those in his eyes.

Michi looks over at me, like she’s asking permission.  Not like it really matters that much to me.  I simply nod quietly.

She looks up at Fahaian and gives him probably the warmest grin she’s given him since the night they first met.  “What the hell, sure.”  She takes his offered hand.  He helps her to her feet and leads her to the open space on the floor, where they begin dancing.  William, still playing, smiles at the two of them, much the same way I am I suspect.

Their dance is humorous, but also cute.  It’s obvious that Michi’s not much of a dancer, because she keeps stepping on Fahaian’s feet.  For his part, the prince is very patient with her, twirling her around, making her giggle.

Michi never giggles, unless she’s doing something violent.

I watch them for a while, and my focus shifts between the two of them dancing and William playing his guitar.  I could just grab him and dance with him right now …

I think that’s what this birthday girl’s going to do.  I stand up and cross the floor, coming up to right in front of William.  I hold out both of my hands to him.

“Let’s dance!”

He looks up, grins widely, and sets down the six-string.  By now, other people who can play are around him, their own instruments improvising a cheerful dance number.  I think William’s relieved by this, as he stands up and takes me in his arms again.  Before long, we’re dancing right alongside Michi and Fahaian.

There’s a lot of happiness in the air right now.  Desperate happiness.

After a few dances, the party finally breaks up.  Some of the musicians remain in the room, having an impromptu jam session, while the others make their way either out of the Ranch house or back to their respective rooms.  William escorts me down the hallway, and I sneak a look back to see Michi and Fahaian.

They’re holding hands.  She has her head on Fahaian’s shoulder, very familiarly.  Quite a difference from the first few months he was here.

“They’re cute, aren’t they?”  William’s question snaps me out of my reverie.

“Oh yeah.  Opposites attract, right?  They used to be at each other’s throats all the time … now look at them.”

There’s a wide smile on William’s face.  “I can understand how he feels.  How they feel.”

Now my attention is fully on William.  Reality is starting to settle into my mind.  “You know, when we leave here, that’s it.  We’re on our own.  Our friends won’t be able to help us, unless we can get back here.”

He nods gently.  “That’s why I wanted to do this for you.”

Now my eyebrows are raising.  “The party was your idea?”

“Michi and Kitty told me about what your birthdays used to be like on the rez.  So I improvised one for you.”

My face feels hot.

“Happy birthday, Alanna.”  He lowers his face and places the gentlest, most loving kiss I’ve ever had on my lips.  Soon my arms are around his shoulders, because my heart is wishing this moment can last forever.

~~~~

July 5th

I’m glad we had the party last night, because thus far the trip’s been utter hell.

We left early this morning, with a lot of cheering from everyone around the refuge.  Michi had a cursory once-over from her dad before she climbed into the truck.  As usual, Gabe’s at the wheel, but the truck’s a little overstuffed, now that our travelling party has nearly doubled.

One thing that surprised me before we left was that Grandmother asked to talk to me privately.  When I consented and we moved away from the group, she handed me a small card.

“Keep this with you, Alanna, and think of us.  You’ll always be home and in the heart of love when you do.”  And then she hugged me, with tears in her eyes again.

Who is her daughter, and why am I a reminder of her?

I have the card in my pocket.  Every so often, when we have a peaceful moment, I’ve been pulling it out and reading it.  It has a short, beautiful prayer printed on it:

-Lord in Heaven, Creator of Earth

-Remind me what in life has worth

-Family, friends, all those I love

-My shelter ‘til I meet You above

-And keep me safe ‘til the day when

-I see them again, in Your name, Amen.

Peaceful moments, though, have been very few and far between in the first six hours of the trip.  We’ve already had to fight our way through three blueshirt checkpoints, and it’s pretty much guaranteed that we’re going to encounter way more, as word reaches the others that we’re out here.

Speak of the devil … there’s another line of blueshirt cars blocking the road.  Chimney Rock rises behind them, taunting us.  My hand’s on the Sword already.

“Play it cool, Alanna,” Gabe admonishes.  “We don’t know if they know we’re us.”

“And the other checkpoints wouldn’t describe our car?” Michi angrily demands.

“Point taken.  Let’s just play it cool for now, let’s see what happens.”

It doesn’t take long to find out what happens.  As soon as they have us in their sights, the blueshirts open fire.  Hopefully we won’t need to take too long to clear these people out … and hopefully no supernaturals will be in the mix.  We all pile out of Gabe’s truck, hiding behind the doors and letting them take the brunt of the gunfire aimed at us.

Michi is powering a spell behind me: I can feel the glow against my back.  Behind her, I hear the growling that comes with William’s transformation. 

Better give them some cover.

When the gunfire slows down … probably for reloading … I peek my head around the corner.  The churning starts in my stomach, the churning I’ve been learning to control.  It eventually erupts.  I firecast toward the blueshirts, and watch them scatter.

Next thing I see is Fahaian, emerging from my fire stream and getting his martial arts kicks on.  Several of the blueshirts fall away from him.  Others are running … running for their cars, to run him over.

Michi stops that with a spell launched over my shoulder.  The blueshirt car with the revving engine has a catastrophic failure, exploding before it can even get moving.  Fahaian looks back over at us and flashes a thumb’s-up.

William’s turn, now.  More blueshirts are starting to approach, and another three cars’ worth of backup has arrived.  The wendigo is completely loosed, stampeding toward the massing forces.  I’m right behind him, getting ready to pull out the Sword.  The hilt’s in my hand …

A stabbing pain hits me in the small of my back.  My legs lose any and all strength, and I collapse under my own weight.  The Sword remains in its scabbard as I catch a mouthful of dirt.  I’m not so concerned about that right now, though.

I’ve been shot.  Again. 

After the initial shock of the strike, though, I’m finding that my legs are coming back to me.  I can still move them: after slapping my thigh I realize I still have feeling.  Michi and Gabe run up behind me: as Michi provides a shield for him, Gabe reaches me and places both hands on my back.

“What is it?  What happened to me?”

I feel a different pain, a stinging pain.  Then Gabe comes around to where I can see him.  “I don’t know if this is a joke or not, but …”

He’s holding a tranquilizer dart.  “Who shot me?!”

“I don’t know.  I’ll check this out later, for now let’s get you out of the line of fire.”

“Gabe, I’m fine.  I don’t feel like I’m getting knocked out, just a little shocked.  I’m going in!”

Gabe tries to stop me, but I’m too fast for him.  I’m running up to cover William’s back, Sword and wings out.  Once the Guardswoman is present, I flap my wings to lift off and speed toward the battle.  The weapon swings freely through the assembled blueshirt forces, cutting up cars and just missing the men in the uniforms.

Something’s different this time …

I still have control over the Guardswoman: the power is remaining under rein.  Thank you, Durga!  But something else is weird.  I feel like I have too much energy.

Aren’t tranquilizers supposed to knock you out?

My excess energy is translating into the Guardswoman, fighting more fiercely … more mercilessly.  It’s not long before the Sword tastes blueshirt blood.

Not the pawns!  They’re not worth it!

I’m quickly losing control again.  Before the Guardswoman takes another life, I force her to sheathe the Sword.  I’m back to myself, but I still have the bloodlust.  I grab a blueshirt and throw him … literally … over the top of his car.

William notices my anger, despite the wendigo, and rushes over to help me (stop me?).  I don’t seem to want to be stopped, though, and I keep tearing through the blueshirt lines, flapping to hover over them, firecasting with abandon.

There’s a taloned hand grabbing my ankle and yanking me down to the ground.  I look and see the wendigo.  Even without William’s eyes, the beast looks concerned.

“What’s … wrong … Alanna?”

I can’t tell him.  I can’t articulate what’s going on, although I can tell it’s taking all of William’s concentration to make the wendigo talk.  As this conversation goes on, though, an older blueshirt approaches us, weapon raised.

“Freeze right there!  Hands up!”

We see him, white hair in a ponytail behind his blue collar, blue eyes set in stone, his weapon leveled at us.  He can’t hold it too steadily, and the end of the barrel jiggles around at random.  Just as suddenly as he corners us, though, his face gets this unusual look.

He’s looking at me.  At my chest.  I feel really self-conscious about this pervert checking me out.  His mouth opens, and his words change my mind about him.

“Vibria?”

He spotted Mom’s maiden name on the shirt.  Who is this guy?

Some more blueshirts are coming our way.  We don’t have time to discuss things, but I need answers.  I grab the older blueshirt’s wrist and drag him down to face level with me.  “You’re coming with us, buddy.  Any complaints, take it up with him.”

He looks over at William, then back at me.  My nose is smoking.  I think we have compliance.  I stand up and drag him back to Gabe’s truck, with William, coming out of his wendigo form and gnawing on more moose jerky, behind us.

Gabe has a quizzical look on his face as we approach and throw the guy into the back with Michi and Fahaian, who clutch him tight as William climbs in. 

“I didn’t realize we’re taking prisoners now.”

I shoot a sharp glare at Gabe.  “This one’s different.  I want some answers.  Just drive, I’ll take care of him.”

Gabe shrugs and starts the truck up, continuing on the road to Wisconsin.  I’m not quite concerned about the driving right now, as I turn around and confront the blueshirt.

“All right, start talking.  Who are you?”

The blueshirt is ever defiant.  He glares at me.  “What are you doing with that name on your clothes?”

“That’s irrelevant!”

He grits his teeth.  “Then I’m not telling you shit, lady.”

My nostrils are smoking again.  I growl audibly.  “If you must know … it’s my mother’s maiden name.”

His eyes widen.  I hear a quiet whisper.  “Shanee …”

My eyes narrow.  “No.  Ariel.”  I have a sneaking suspicion …

The blueshirt’s face softens considerably.  I think he’s about to cry.  He’s starting to make me sympathize with him, and then he unloads the coup de grace.

“All these years … I thought I would never have any knowledge of that time again, never see any sign of it.”  His voice quavers.  “My name is Julian Vibria.  I think I’m your grandfather.”

[unhonestlymirror]

Ačiū for tagging me! :D sweetie, don't be sad because of some random internet users blocking you🫂 and you ARE talented, no one draws the same way like you do

1) Are you named after anyone?

Oh yes... When people hear my name first, no matter who: kids, adults, seniors, their first reaction is almost always, "OH MY GOD, FOR REAL??? YOU MUST BE JOKING!" My parents are really creative. 😅

2) When was the last time you cried?

Yesterday. I've tried to learn Kuźma Skryabin "You are your own country" on guitar, and the song was too sad for me. I miss my homeland sometimes.

3) Do you have kids?

Nope. I am not ready to have them now, but maybe in the future... when I get a stable job, an apartment, and enough money... Lithuanian air works on me in an interesting way. XD I think kids will make me more responsible and organised, I really lack those characteristics.

4) What sports do you play/have you played?

A LOT. Athletics, football, pole dancing, judo, kickboxing, all kinds of dances, air yoga, figure skating, gymnastics, acrobatics, volleyball, basketball, norwegian walking... I don't even remember everything. But where did my perfect body go? It was eaten by studies, and I'm repeating Sakamoto Days pathway, being not able to reach my toes while standing😭 I want to try climbing tho! :D There are so many interesting activities.

5) Do you use sarcasm?

No. 🙃

6) What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their faces, mimics and speech.

7) What's your eye colour?

Depends on the season.

8) Scary movies or happy endings?

My life is a scary movie already, happy endings please

9) Any talents?

I have good voice

10) Where were you born?

🇺🇦

11) What are your hobbies?

My followers know. XD

12) Do you have any pets?

Not anymore. I don't think I ever will again. Sometimes, I feel like I'm doomed to watch my close creatures die with horrible death.

13) How tall are you?

Too tall for average Ukrainian, too short for average Lithuanian.

14) Favorite subject in school?

Mathematics, Ukrainian language and literature, Biology.

15) Dream job?

The one which makes me feel needed. Plus, good salary, obviously. I can't stand stupid and senseless work.

Tagging: anyone who wants to join, there is nearly 2K of you, guys XD

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED!!

1) Are you named after anyone?

2) When was the last time you cried?

3) Do you have kids?

4) What sports do you play/have you played?

5) Do you use sarcasm?

6) What's the first thing you notice about people?

7) What's your eye colour?

8) Scary movies or happy endings?

9) Any talents?

10) Where were you born?

11) What are your hobbies?

12) Do you have any pets?

13) How tall are you?

14) Favorite subject in school?

15) Dream job?

Tag someone!

1. A video game character, if I remember correctly, but it just so happened to be a name commonly used to refer to Persephone as well! Lol

2. When I was in honor band practice like 3 days ago

3. Not unless you count the small version of myself living in my head

4. I played cross country when I was in 1st grade but that's it

5. Noooo, neverrr (all the time)

6. Their demeanor, whether they act kind or rude

7. Hazel!

8. Happy endings, mostly cause "scary movies" often aren't scary at all to me and they tend to just feel poorly done (even if I know they aren't)

9. I play bass, I draw, and occasionally, I write! I can also kinda sorta sing but not at an extraordinary level lol

10. No thanks ^^

11. At this point, making theories about Rangers Apprentice is my main one lol. Other than that, mostly reading, drawing, making/listening to music, and hanging out in nature

12. Yup, two! Jj, my cat, and Sunny, my dog. Here's photos of them!

13. 5'3", I think? I forgot lol but that's about right

14. Band!!!!!

15. I want to be an indie musician! Realistically I'll end up at a taco bell, but ey we can all have dreams

@an1d10t ,and if they've already been done, @fukin-shortass

[espritmuse]

hi there, could you write a oneshot with Ellie? Like Dina kisses ellie while dancing together but reader sees it and get sad because her and Ellie were best friend and reader thought that her feelings were mutual (turn out they are and Ellie reject dina)

𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒

⌕ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ellie Williams x reader.

⌕ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 1.3k

⌕ 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: not proofread and last time I wrote something in English was like two months ago lmao so don’t mind the typos but I hope you’ll enjoy it babydoll !! 🤍

—𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄��

Slow music filled your ears as you finally arrived at the dance hall in which most people were already dancing to the current song playing, an old 80s classic, a song from another time you wish you had known. You raised your head, ready to observe the scenery from afar— such events were your favourite. You adored these types of nights, where you didn’t feel like your life was constantly threatened by all sorts of bloodthirsty and lethal creatures. Just slow music, lovely dresses, peals of laughter, smiles, and her.

Heartbeat accelerating, breathing became harder and harder with each passing second. She looked fantastic, as usual. A simple plaid shirt and black jeans; all you needed to suffocate in your own lungs, the air quickly becoming your most threatening adversary.  You carefully patted your dress with your hand and took a deep breath before heading to the bar, where Ellie was.

But the closer to were getting to her, the better you realise the situation. In fact, you failed to notice one detail; she wasn’t alone here. Her arm was linked to someone else’s, a beautiful woman dressed in white, whose black hair was up in a bun, two front pieces framing her face. A smile was plastered on both of their faces, eyes glued on each other.

You stopped dead in your tracks, a strange and obscure feeling devastating your mind and body. Jealousy and envy never felt so sickening.

Defeated, you sat near the bar, where Ellie and Dina previously were before moving hands in hands to the dance floor. A whisky in hand, you couldn’t stop staring at them both. She wasn’t even looking for you, despite knowing you were supposed to spend the night with her.

And then, it happened. An endearing giggle, Dina’s delicate fingers on her freckled face and a timid yet audacious kiss on each other’s lips. It feels like watching someone take away everything you had, living the life you’ve always wanted. You couldn’t move anymore, the only thing you could do was to watch them together, tears clouding your vision.

You and Ellie have been best friends for years, spending all your nights and days at her place, watching movies and playing video games, watching her playing the guitar, secretly wishing she was yours. You always thought your feelings were returned- she was always writing songs for you, taking time to learn your favourite music to play them on Joel’s guitar, sketching your face on her journal, holding your hands during patrols… Little gestures which mean the world to you, turned out meaningless to her.

In all honesty, you barely remember busting out the door and running away back to your small house like a little child afraid of their parents. The scene was repeating over and over in your head, the way their lips touched, the way Dina closed her eyes to deepen the kiss, the way Ellie’s arms were sweetly holding her waist…

Closing your door behind you, you dropped to the floor, taking your knees between your arms to cushion and reassure yourself, finally allowing tears to swallow your dolled-up face. You shouldn't even feel this way, Ellie was never yours, not one moment, no matter what you considered was true, it was all in your head, a made-up relationship she never consented to. 

But then, you heard one knock at your front door, then another. 

“Jesse if it’s you please just leave me alone.” you asserted in a broken voice “It’s me, Ellie.”You heard from the other side of the door, your body instantly freezing at the sound of her raspy voice. Why was she even here? She probably saw you leaving in a hurry and thought you were ill -she knows very well how badly you can handle alcohol since you never had any before you came to Jackson.

Using the back of your hand to wipe the tears off your face, you decided to stand up and open the door only a few centimetres, allowing the pale moonlight to light up her  troubled face. 

“I’m okay Ellie don’t worry I just wanted to… go back home and sleep.” 

“ I saw you busting out the door and I just wanted to make things clear about me and-” She started with a panicked tone, stumbling on her own words.

“I’m happy for you El’. Now please let me rest, okay? I’m exhausted from today’s patrol.” You cut her off, not interested in the end of her sentence, convinced that she would do you more harm than good. “Just-” she stopped you from closing the door on her, “Just let me talk for five seconds.” She pleaded, sincere green orbs looking straight into your teary ones. She could definitely see that you had cried not so long ago.

“ There’s nothing going on between me and her, nothing at all, I promise you.” She started in a calmer voice, her steps leading her closer to you, both of her hands finding yours to hold them softly. “I’ll never see her as anything more than a good friend.” She finished, a soft consolatory and heartfelt smile painted on her face.

“But you looked like you were having a good time dancing with her and.. I thought we were supposed to spend the night together.” You retorted, placing your forehead on hers softly, closing the small gap between the two of you. “Hey, you’re the one who was late… i was waiting for you for a good hour.” 

“I was late because I wanted to be pretty for you” You answered her sarcastic comment, looking away from her, a bit ashamed by your own words. “And you look wonderful,” Ellie said with no hesitation, placing her hand on your jaw to make you look at her again. “Honestly.. a whole bird could shit in your hair I’d still find you gorgeous.” “Ellie that’s super gross.” “Yeah yeah…” She jokingly sighed, planting a small kiss on your forehead, letting the silence settle in the cold room for a while. 

“Hey, I still owe you a dance.” The brunette finally said, freeing your body of her warm embrace. “Do you still have the vinyl I gave you? You know the one with those cheesy romantic songs?” She asked, already snooping through your stuff “You’re trying to be romantic?” “Always been.” She replied, turning her head to you, a playful wink thrown in your direction. “Found it! Now come here.” 

Ellie placed both of your arms around her neck and positioned her own around your waist, pulling you closer to her, inhaling your sweet scent, the one you picked just for her ( well, more precisely the one she founds during one of her exploration outside Jackson.) 

“Since I made things clear with Dina I would like to… you know, make things clear with you as well,” she whispered in your ear while swaying very unhurriedly to the rhythm of the music. You nodded, impatient to feel her lips on yours after all of this time waiting for her to touch you. 

As expected, her lips were chapped -you honestly couldn’t even remember all the times you’ve told her to put something on her lips to hydrate them. but somehow, at this exact moment, it didn’t matter at all, it just felt too good to be true, unreal. Breaking out of the kiss, you took a second to admire her sweet features; her nose, her green eyes, her smile and god, those freckles, they’re gonna be the death of you. 

“Now I understand why every girl in this shithole wants to kiss you so bad.” “ I’m simply irresistible.” She replied, planting a small kiss on your nose. “Oh shut it.” 

𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 <𝟹

[vankaar]

Eddie twirled on himself to face Steve, throwing his arms around in anger.

"You're telling me that I cannot use my metal songs because you thought that the undead are pretty metal and that filtered in this shared reality and made them impervious to my fucking music??”

Steve shrugs a shoulder a little bashfully, not an easy feat while wearing full plate armor. It's not his fault Eddie pulled him into his weird fantasy mindscape. Steve likes to find the sunny side so he's kinda happy he's not strolling around half-naked anymore. The fur panties hitched like a bitch and he's really glad they were gone.

Eddie stomps around letting out frustration “Shit! Undead that are resistant to heavy metal.. Shit.”

Ok. Steve was man enough to admit that Eddie making him strong enough to bash in Vecna's face by playing that fast Dio's song was impressive.

But he's such a drama queen!

It wouldn't kill him to use something that's not metal, if that means getting out of this with all their organs still where they belong.

“Maybe you could..”

“No, nope! nonono don't say it! I know what you're gonna say, but just–don't. Don't say it.” He groaned with a hand on his face, eyes screwed shut.

Steve shook his head. Dramatic bitch.

The horde of undead was getting near, their moans and the crack of their rotten bones sickening in the silence of the night.

Steve sighed again unsheathed his morning star and started hitting the first undead in range with methodical efficiency.

Swing. Crunch. Rinse and repeat.

“umh.. Eddie? When you're ready– you know, some help would be nice,” he called out while bashing in a skeleton skull.

Eddie let out some more profanities and with a last scream of anger took up his guitar with a grimace. He started playing the first bar of a song, his expression as if in pain.

Steve looked at him with a startled laugh, eyes wide. He knew that song!

“Not. A. Word.” Threatened Eddie with a snarl.

As usual the rithmics, choirs, and all the parts of the song that Eddie wasn't performing got taken up by some local fauna, that seemed to pop out of thin air, with their tiny music instruments perfectly in tune.

It would look like Eddie were in a goddamn Disney movie if it weren't for the drums line being played by their enemies remains, using a couple of femoris as drumsticks.

That would count as metal, right?

Eddie started to sing.

“Sittin' here eatin' my heart out waitin'

Waitin' for some lover to call,

Dialed about a thousand numbers lately

Almost rang the phone off the wall”

Eddie was giving all of himself to the performance, like the pro he was, even if it wasn't his kind of music. Steve loved him a little more as he observed him shimmying his hips to the rhythm, hair swishing around.

It was stifling under the fucking armor.

“Lookin' for some hot stuff, baby, this evenin'

I need some hot stuff, baby, tonight

I want some hot stuff, baby, this evenin'”

The air in front of the undead started to shimmer and warble like the heat haze causing mirages, rising up from the asphalt in the hottest days of summer.

“Gotta have some hot stuff, gotta have some love tonight”

The scene was so surreal that Steve almost got beheaded by a skeleton as the choir made by three rabbit, a badger and a fox sang “Hot stuff” doing the silliest little dance.

He was a little bummed he couldn't give all his attention to his bard only because there were sword-brandishing zombies trying to cut off his limbs.

A pity, truly.

“I need hot stuff

I want some hot stuff

I need hot stuff”

With a thrust of his hips Eddie sent a small magic ball of fire from his guitar. The rippling air around them got lit with a deafening whoosh.

Flames roared high, licking the top of a nearby group of trees. One of his strings started glowing red, a clear indicator of an active spell.

“Wuoah! warn a man, would ya?” yelled Steve shielding his face from the scorching heat. If his eyebrows got singed they were going to have words.

A circular wall of fire sat between them and the horde of undead now. A half dozen of them didn't stop in time and walked right in, exploding in a pouf of sparks and ash. The others took some steps back from the heat and stayed there, looking at them with dead eyes. Swaying slowly. Waiting

“That's a cool trick," stated Steve with a smile while pointing at the barrier with his chin. "..but when the pyrotechnics are gonna fade we're still screwed.”

He felt a little guilty pointing out the obvious, Eddie was doing his best.

“Damn, I was hoping they would be more stupid,” said Eddie, drying some sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his blouse.

“We need a way to make them walk into the fire,” thought Steve, out loud.

Eddie tapped his lip, a mischievous smile slowly spreading on his lips. Steve wanted to grab him and taste that smile so much.

“How do ya feel about being a honeypot, big boy?” winked the metalhead twirling on himself to stop in playing position in front of Steve. Very close.

“Huh?” replied Steve unintelligently. His brain got this bug and it blue screened every time Eddie got so close he could smell him.

Eddie started directly from the chorus this time.

“If you want my body and you think I'm sexy

Come on sugar, let me know, ooh

If you really need me, just reach out and touch me

Come on, honey, tell me so, ooh”

He sang circling the other as he played and making the most over the top, silly, sexy faces.

A pink wave of glittery magic followed in his wake, surrounding Steve. The horde started to make sounds and swayed in Steve’s direction as one organism, getting near the thundering flames.

“He's actin' shy, lookin' for an answer

Come on, honey, let's spend the night together”

Eddie sang wiggling his eyebrow suggestively at Steve who answered with his bitchiest eye roll but was secretly impressed: Two of the guitar chords were glowing now, Eddie was keeping up two spells simultaneously. Not bad for someone that learned how that shit worked just that morning.

As the song continues the undead start to walk into the fire, going up in a popping series of blazers, sounding like popcorn and going out like insects fried in those bug zapper people use during summer’s nights.

Steve was glowing pink instead of violet like those lights but the concept was disturbingly similar.

When the last of the undead was gone, Eddie let out a deep exhale, his guitar stopped glowing, and everything went suddenly darker because the flames went out in a zap of red magic.

Eddie fell on his knees, propped up on his guitar, hair falling into his face. He was clearly exhausted.

Steve knelt beside him putting a hand on his shoulder

“You ok?” he asked softly.

“Yeah, yeah, give me a second. That was intense,” breathed out Eddie.

“Ok”

Steve pulled the other's bangs out of his eyes, tucking the longer strands behind Eddie's ear.

Big round eyes were looking at him with the expression of a deer caught in the headlights and Steve couldn't help himself.

“So… hot stuff, do ya think I’m sexy?” he said using an exaggeration of his most suave King Steve voice.

Eddie’s eyes narrowed and he slapped him repeatedly on the arm in a fashion eerily similar to Robin when Steve was being annoying on purpose.

Steve chuckled.

“You!!! You're on thin ice man– fucking thin ice!- he yelled, his pointer finger up menacingly like an angry teacher.

Steve saw Eddie fight the smile tugging at his lips and counted that as a win.

One day he's going to be braver and kiss this silly brilliant man.

[moonlight-melts]

Update!! Because I need to whine about our employer!!

So, we arrived at 5 pm and were supposed to start at 8:30. We connect our cables and everything, put the drums together... By the time we're done with our checks, it's around 7:30. We're ready.

We wait. 8. We go out to get some air. 8:10. 8:20. 8:30. The person who invited us comes up. "[Employer (I forgot her name. I don't care)] told me to tell you that she'll start dinner. You'll play after that."

We're all uuuuh?? What? What time? "9:30". Oh.

We don't really have a choice. We're a tiny, awkward group and it's our first time playing out of our school. We agree.

Employer then comes. She's had a few drinks and looks at us and then goes "You're still playing for us tonight right?" "Yes ma'am that's what you paid us for." "Oh, I have this song by Lady Gaga I like. Do you think you could play it for us?" We pretend to be awkward about it "It's gonna be hard ma'am. We have our setlist and it's gonna be hard to change." "Oh. Too bad. Okay."

A few minutes later, she comes back "Oh, I have a friend who's a guitarist, y'know. He can play with his guitar behind his head! Can't he do a little something with you?" "Ma'am we don't really have the necessary gear for that." "Oh, but you have enough guitars, I saw!" One of our guitarists steps up "He could take my place?" (Sweetheart. Bless his soul.) We disagree as hard as we can, still pretending to be vaguely embarrassed and not closer and closer to deck her. She goes away and DOES NOT COME BACK.

We go back inside at around 9 maybe. They ask us to MOVE OUR STUFF OUT OF THE WAY. When we're done it's 9:20. People have barely started eating. Employer is at a table, impossible to go talk to her. We go and sit in a corner. We're starting to get really antsy (and really pissed). At around 9:40, we try to see if we can at least eat! We do. By the time we're done it's fucking 10 pm.

At some point Employer comes up, says "everything okay? The food's good?" "Yes ma'am! Thank you!" (I whispered "fucking hypocrites" to us after that. At least it was funny) We wait another half hour, vaguely chatting.

It's 10:30 and we can finally play in front of drunk 60-year-olds who clearly don't give a shit, but it was fun to be between us. We did great.

We didn't even wait for Employer to thank us or anything really, we ran out of there. They had a DJ (really cool dude. Hyped us up and all) and that was good enough.

So tl;dr: Employer had us wait for 2 hours more than what was planned, made the most unrealistic demands with a persistence I did NOT describe, we could barely eat at 7 people on a table corner, and realistically mostly played in front of five children and three drunk girls.

It might be just me being bitchy, because we had fun while playing mostly, but we were absolutely not respected (by employer and the people there who mostly ignored us) and it makes me extremely angry.

While I'm at it, to anyone reading, I'll say this: as musicians, we like it when you're actually present during concerts. To see you sing and dance and jump around is the best thing ever. Sincerely. We're here for you. Be there for us.

Concert tonight I am not stressed (is shaking)

[b-ritney]

I Need You Tonight'

I still fully believe I will be a rockstar one day.

Rockstar Reader x Rockstar Eddie FLUFF but still a little skanky.

Here's an imagine of Eddie falling in love with a rock star who is actually really cute and shy off-stage but is still a BADASS don't even TRIP Reader uses female pronouns

PLEASE LEAVE RECS FOR PART 2 IN THE COMMENTS I'M HAVING SEVERE WRITER'S BLOCK.

Not Proof Read

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You burst onto the stage like a ball of light, you were dressed to the nines in leather and metal studs and every person in the joint was looking at you. Your green eyes seemed to shimmer along with the glitter that covered you from head to toe, you really did sparkle under the lights. Eddie watched from the bar as you shred one of your many guitars being handed to you by your technician. This one was neon pink with black details, it too had glitter mixed in the finish and looked like you had designed it yourself, with your autograph etched in the bottom corner. You were jumping and dancing and pulling off all your tricks flawlessly as Corroded Coffin was going over their set list for the night. Although Eddie was having trouble concentrating, his mind was conjuring up the dirtiest things, watching as you theatrically fell to your knees and rolled onto your back, still playing the song, his tongue almost fell from the confines of his mouth when you pushed yourself to the edge of the stage and held your mouth open while some guy poured beer down your throat. Your smile lit up the HideOut like the house lights, your talent was incredibly intimidating, and to top it all off, you were fucking gorgeous. They finished their line up, as your band bowed and ran off stage. The crowd was going insane, demanding an encore, At this point everyone in the building including Eddie had their eyes glued to the stage patiently waiting for the explosive return, but after a full 2 minutes, nothing happened. Suddenly the lights went down, a single spotlight landed center stage, the crowd began to chatter again; but erupted when a pair of cowgirl boots approached the circle. Then the sound of a lone guitar filled the heavy air, playing I Need You Tonight, by ZZ Top. The light panned up showing your smooth, shimmering legs, they went on for days leading Eddie to believe you might not be wearing anything at all; but then your encore ensemble came fully into view, black, leather boy shorts and a pyramid-studded bralette. Your arms were adorned with black fishnets and studded bracelets. "Close your mouth dumbass." Gareth teased, Eddie immediately tried to play it off like you weren't affecting him but he couldn't exactly hide the way you made him feel. You continued your strut down the catwalk when the rest of the band came in to accompany you, "Give it up for your favorite down girl y/n!! Today is her 18th birthday!" the lead singer shouted into the mic, Oh thank GOD Eddie thought. The singer ran up and put a tiara on your head causing you to blush and turn away from the crowd. You finished the seductive song and played one more party tune to close out your set, you bowed and jogged off stage. By this time Corroded Coffin was getting ready to come on, Eddie's Sweetheart was strapped around his neck as he tuned it to perfection, his head snapped up as he heard the gang of rowdy metal heads get closer to the corridor. He could only stare watching you laugh and carry on, riding on the drummer's back all the way to the VIP guest room. Something about seeing you so happy made his chest ache with fondness.

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Eddie was so invested in the show, he hardly noticed when you and your band came to sit in the wings to watch their performance. You had switched your boots for white socks and high tops and put a sweatshirt over your previously almost bare body. You sat cross-legged, attentively on top of a stage box, your tiara crooked on your head, you looked so adorable it made him weak. Eddie put on his best show, ripping through a solo that charmed you like a spell. When he noticed he had your attention he kept eye contact with you, he mouthed "Hi," and you kicked your feet out and giggled saying hi back. He smiled, "happy birthday" he mouthed again. You looked down at the floor before fixing the crown on your head, "thank you," you blew him a kiss, as he turned away to engage with the screaming fans... your pulse was racing, your drummer playfully nudging your thigh, "Seriously? Out of everyone, you make goo-goo eyes at a rival guitarist?"

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Part 2?