#i think romanticizing voice leading will work

[achoshistor]

things i noticed about various character themes in dgs

hi guys. I cant motivate myself to work on my chemistry at all :'(. Anyways the onlhy thing i am good at determining by ear is meter and thats what unites all three (four?) of ryuu's pieces. Overture, Objection, Prelude, n Pursuit are all in a steady 4. Also instead of just follwing 1 2 3 4 theyre all at least majority 8th note rhythems (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +) or 1e+a2e&a which i bet serves to unite all these pieces or goes with the overall style which is out of 18th century 4 voice lines which these use 4 voices i think (orchestra) but most of those r like quarter notes so its probs not a time thing but this also again reflects the unity of ryunosukes character throughout the game.

[spoiler time lol]

kazumas themes on the other hand....... the original one is also def a steady four but his nocturne theme is like super slow and i would personally write this as a 2 but count 4... grand return is basically samurai w/ a mission so thats also a four (maybe i will listen closer later) BUT revived prosecutor on the other hand is def compound its got a p lilting feel... i think its 12/8 which is basically just evil 4/4 which def reflects what happened to his charcater (lost his memories) but it still contains the core rhythm of his theme cuz like hes still him when his memories are gone... also one more thing i think his main motif goes do re fa la(le?) or in intervals loike M2 M3 M3 i think but anyways i think they skip over 3 which is like super important bc it can change a chord (triad but whayever) from major to minor and this specific motif still holds its essence in both pieces bc of that i think. theres like a rhythmic device thats specifically this but i forgot

revival also contains elements of baroks theme (harpsichord) and the meters having some element of a 1 2 3. But i think baroks goes from 4 to 3 at like the first cadence (perfect authentic i think? the note for the melody sounds liek do assuming the piece starts on do and that makes 1 the highest voice too) which probably means something but now i am tired and cannot write more for now. goodbye.

[kpoperotics]

Yeji's touch x Male reader

Yeji is your best friend, with benefits. She likes things slightly rougher than the typical romanticism. She loves taking your cum in her mouth.

You finally got back home from a tiring day of work. Yeji was inside the house behind the door waiting to see you after this long day. As you open the door you see her and she throws herself against you, hugging you at first but then taking a small step back to look at you.

"So how was your day?" Yeji asks.

"Everything was fine, thank you. It was another tiring day." You answer.

"Mmm I'm glad" She says. Her hands are already undoing your zip.

"So.. now that you're at home I can finally have you all for myself" Yeji says, her hands massaging your balls softly.

"You go straight today.." you say softly"

"I do" Yeji says. She then takes your hand and leads towards the couch, letting you sit. Once you're sat, she takes off your pants, running her hands on your hardening shaft.

"I want you so bad" Yeji moans, her voice breathy as she gets more and more turned on.

"Then, don't waste anymore time" You answer, and as those words leave your lips, she doesn't hesitate to take off your underwear too, letting your already hard length show up.

She takes it in her hands, stroking you softly yet passionately. She lets you feel her touch on you. She keeps going for a little, just enough to get more aroused, as well as wet.

"I'ma make you cum in my mouth today" Yeji says before taking the tip of your cock in her mouth, her lips hovering around your tip.

She slowly moves, up and down, in and out, nice and slow. At first.

Then, she starts taking you slightly faster but deeper, needing to feel you more in her mouth. You can tell she's been waiting for this for the whole day, and now she has you all for herself.

She bobs her head up and down on your cock and she moans while taking it, her moans sending you more shivers down your spine.

Yeji takes confidence with your big cock and her hands are now on your balls, massaging them just like earlier. Her mouth works on your cock tirelessly, up and down smoothly. She loves the taste of your shaft in her mouth.

She pulls away for a while from your cock, during that, she works on your balls, sucking each of them greedily, just as good as she was doing on your cock.

Yeji takes your balls in her mouth and suck on them eagerly, unable to stop tasting you. Some slurping sound escapes her mouth.

She then leaves your balls to take your length back into her mouth, sucking harder this time, not deeper but surely with more determination to have your cum on her tongue. She can't really wait to taste you, she wants you to cum in her mouth so bad.

Her effort is obvious, she's so determined and the sight of your best friend sucking your cock is too mesmerizing for you to resist. So you're undecided whether to let go and pump everything you've got in her mouth, or let her suck your cock some more.

You don't even have the time to think about it, even because your mind is clouded with pleasure and you can't think straight.

You're cumming, you're cumming so hard in her mouth. She gasps, moans loudly and rolls her eyes back as she feels your warm sticky fluid running down her throat.

She swallows every single drop of your essence, pulling away once you're done cumming.

"Wow, I made you cum pretty much, huh?" Yeji teases.

"You did-" You answer, still unable to think completely straight.

...The rest of the night it's you and her sleeping together after your tiring day.

[ozzgin]

OZZGIN!

May I request an idea/imagine?

It is about yandere! mental asylum patient and psychiatrist! reader, who is very practical and strict regarding her job, takes no BS from others. But, for some reason, she has a soft spot for yandere! mental asylum patient. The reason could either be he had a hard childhood in which he had to do what he had to do, which brutally killed his father, who used to abuse his mother and sister, but when the father tried to sell the sister into prostitution to buy more alcohol, all hell break lose. Psychiatrist! reader thinks what yandere! mental asylum the patient did was OKAY, and she wants to get him out of the asylum. They love each other deeply and would do anything, so far as to kill for one another. If you can, make it as twisted as you can. I live for some dark romance!

Please ignore my request if you are not able to do it. I completely understand. Thank you in advance! <3

Oh my, this request hits somewhat close to home as I have a friend incarcerated for similar reasons. I'm pondering the logistics behind this context you've provided, since murdering someone won't necessarily land you in a psych ward unless there are other symptoms that come with it. And so I've taken the liberty to expand the character's profile if that's alright. (Conveniently enough I still have my psychopathology lecture notes)

I want to add, however, that this story in no way romanticizes mental illness! If anything, one may consider it an opportunity to reflect on the fact that so many people struggling with disorders do not receive the proper care for it, or only do so when it's too late. Furthermore a medical professional should never, ever behave like this and whatever is written here should stay in the realm of fiction!

Yandere! Patient x Psychiatrist! Reader

Featuring a patient that's pushing the boundaries of your work ethic and might even succeed.

Content/warnings: female reader, detailed mentions of mental disorder, violence, obsessive behavior, breach of professional conduct

You roll up your sleeve and check your watch. He should be here soon. Out of habit, you shuffle the papers for a quick case review, even though you already know all the details by heart. You carefully set aside the patient’s MMPI and WHODAS entry assessments, then your first interviews. Your eyes briefly rest upon the resulting report you’ve comprised: Schizophreniform Disorder (Provisional) with good prognostic features; Diagnostic criteria consisting of delusions, disorganized speech (frequent derailment with episodes of incoherence, echolalia) and comorbid catatonia. Responds well to antipsychotic (clozapine 25mg/12 h) with no imminent need for dosage increase. As it currently stands, he will be fit for proper incarceration in less than 6 months. Is it something you agree with? Not quite. You’ve presented your case many times and it has always been met with pitiful shrugs and dismissals.

The door opens and you fix your posture, sweeping the documents back into your drawer. “And? How are you feeling today?” You ask, flashing a professional, cordial smile as the assisting nurse leads the patient to his seat and prepares her leave. “My chest hurts.” The man answers in a low voice, glaring at the nurse. He taps his foot against the plush carpet, seemingly restless. “How bad would you rate it? Chest pain is a somewhat common side effect of your medication.” You retort, following the movements of the woman finally excusing herself and exiting the room. Once you’re alone, the man’s shoulders droop and he visibly relaxes. “It’s not that, you know it. When can I touch you again?” He pleads, despair twisting his features. You tense up at the words. “Behave yourself. It hasn’t been that long.”

It’s not something you’re particularly proud of. In fact, you might even call it one of your great shames in life. You’ve always been a textbook professional, perhaps even too strict according to your coworkers and most patients. Not even in your wildest dreams would you have dared to imagine you’d violate the code of ethics by falling in love with your patient. But something about his situation stirred your sense of justice. Surely one cannot be punished for protecting their loved ones. The only criminal in the equation, at least in your eyes, was that joke of a father and he had it coming. So you found yourself wrestling against a blooming protectiveness and favoritism towards the young man brought here last month.

What would have normally compelled you into action had therefore been silently swept under the rug. Or even worse, you secretly indulged in it. A patient showing signs of affection towards you would instantly be transferred to a different psychiatrist. Yet you couldn’t put away the letters written by this one. Erratic, crumpled notes of “I love you” written countless times, pencil dug so deep it tore into the sheet. Bizarre illustrations that looked almost threatening. His elaborate delusions before medication was introduced, where he’d detail in grand narratives how you were fated for each other and nothing would stop him from having you sooner or later. You do not know what forces possessed you into this addictive plunge, but you’ve come to enjoy his violent, frenzied confessions. So much, that during one of the unsupervised meetings you let yourself pushed into the sofa as his hands tugged at your body in rabid need. It was so out of character that you wondered if it truly happened, though the bite marks and scratches on your neck and chest proved otherwise.

“Are they going to send me to prison?” He changes the subject and stands up, walking towards your desk. “Most likely. What you have is the result of a traumatic event, not a lifelong condition. Sporadic episodes that can be kept under control with antipsychotics aren’t enough of a reason to keep you in the hospital.” You press your legs together nervously and glance at him. “Can’t you just say it’s no longer working?” He suggests, kneeling before you and placing a hand on your thigh. “You know I can’t lie on the report.” You really don’t like it when he manipulates you like this. “Ah, yes, because lying is worse than fucking your patient.” He scoffs, annoyed. “Don’t threaten me like that”, you say as you turn towards him, but you’re stopped by the rough grip of his hand over your cheeks. “I’m not threatening you, I’m threatening everyone else. Listen, (Y/N), I’m not fucking around. I don’t mind pretending to be crazy if I have to. Will the meds still be working if I steal a shaving razor and cut the nurse open?” You try to open your mouth, but his fingers are pressed into your skin, locking your jaw into place. “I’m not going to prison. I’m not. Then I’ll never see you again and that can’t happen. You know that.”

Eventually he releases his hold, allowing you to speak. "I understand. Then there's no choice but to arrange your escape." You sigh, defeated, and he raises his eyebrows. "Won't that get you in trouble?" You chuckle at his statement. "Either way I'll be in trouble. You said it yourself. Might as well quit before I have to stand in front of the ethics board and have my license revoked." You'd prefer to keep the last ounce of pride if possible.

He sits on the floor and you notice his trembling hands. "Nervous?" You ask. "No. Just really happy. I'm not a bad person and you were the only one here to see it. But God, (Y/N), I'd kill anyone if it was for your sake. I can't wait to hold you whenever I want." He gazes at you as a smile widens on his face.

[simpfordemetri]

Felix Volturi Soft Alphabet

A - Affection (how do they show affection)

Felix was unsure of giving or receiving affection from you,everyone is small compared to him and the fact that you are human scare the shit out of him.

So literally baby steps,he knows how to be gentle but what if he accidentally hugs you to tight?

However he loves affection,he is all over cuddles,kisses,hugs and once you two overcome this insecuritie of him he will be all over you,lingerie touches and forehead kisses.

B - Balance (how do they balance you, work/school/life?)

He is the Volturi executioner so whenever there is a trial or a mission he has to be there,but i dont think the Volturi are busy ALWAYS 24/7,for me thats a bit of bullshit tbh.

He loves quality time and loves preparing dates for you,lazy days consist on you two talking abouy everything and anything .

C - Cuddles (do they enjoy cuddling? what positions?)

As i said,yes he does,he loves laying you on top of him as if he were a pillow,your personal vampire pillow.He doesnt really understand why you love so much having your head on his cheast as its hard but he lets you be.

D - Date (what was your first date?)

He loves taking you on dates,it could be any kind of dates,too fancy or a cute picnic.

Your first date were you two at night at the beach,you love the sea but because of the sun he cant go there until night,but to his surprise you were more than happy yo go at night.

E - Excited (how excited do they get when they see you/are with you?)

A big smile is draw on his face,he feels at home when he sees you and he wish you feel the same towards him,he wants to be with you 24/7,even if its doing nothing,for him its perfect just the fact that you are near him.

F - Fighting (what happens when you fight)

Hates fighting but at the same time i think he can be a bit stubborn,however he knows how intimidating he can be so he would never raise his voice at you,arguments are calm and he have the patient of a saint.If you screan at him he will just stay there listening until you are done ,his expression is serious and he hates when you do it because its honestly hurt him.

G - Gorgeous (pet names. what do they like to call you? what do they like to be called?)

He calls you by your name most of the time,he loves hearing your name and the way its rolls out of his tongue,however he knows how much humans likes pet names and he probably uses “love” too.

He doesnt mind if you have a pet name for him or not,but callim him “Fe” makes his dead heart beat.

H - Hi (first time meeting)

He were on a mission in America,the moment they were done and almost heading to Volterra he smelled your scent,running to drain you as your blood smelled too nice,just to look deeply into your eyes and everything “clicked” in his head.

I - Intimacy (how romantic they are)

He is but its not good at showing it you know?He is pretty awkward when it comes to romanticism,he is not used to it but wants to show you all the love he has to you.Its pretty amusing tho,he will be giving you a big bouquet of flowers but at the same time he is just handing you the flowers while looking at the floor feeling the most cringe person to exist.

J - Jealousy (do they get jealous? how do they react to you being jealous)

He is really jealous and is not shy about it,he is very vocal about how you are only his,the mere fact about you having friends its just hard to accept to him,his possesiveness showing in every action or word he says.

He can get pretty “snappy” when he is jealous and honestly you just have to deal with it.

K - Kisses (where do they like to kiss you/how often?)

Kissing you its his number one favorite activity,however your neck its his favorite place to kiss,he loves to leave tender kisses there and it doesnt necessarily lead to anything more.

He loves picking you up to kiss you,specially if you are smaller(which you are).His lips feeling so soft against yours and its just the perfect mix of emotions.

L - Love (when was the first time they said I love you or realized it?)

He knew it from the moment he realized he didnt want to drink your blood the moment he saw you,you were just a human but he wanted you alive,he wanted you by his side because he love you.

The first time he said it was by accident,you cracked up a dumb joke that made him laugh so hard that probably all Volterra heard it,just by how much fun he was having with you and how comfortable it was to be around you it accidentally slipped.

M - Moving in (when do you decide to move in together)

He took you with him,he gave you the option go if you wanted to,but you decided to stay with him so it was just perfect.

At first you did have your own room but it didnt take much to share room with him permanetly.

N - Newborn (their reaction to starting a family)

He is not too fond on kids and the idea of having a babie that could be easily crussed by him its not very entertaining.He does fantasize about having a family with you but that wont happen.

If he were also human he would totally 100% have a family,even a big one with you.

O - Open (how open you are with one another)

He doesnt talk much about his past because honestly he doesnt remember his human life,but he does share his private thoughts with you and expects you to do the same.

He is an open book to you,you are his mate and he doesnt have any secret keep to you.

If you dont open up to him its fine,but if something its really wrong and its clear that is bothering you he is not giving you the option to shut down,he needs to know.

P - Photos (what kind of photos you take of them/they take of you)

Dont understand technology because he doesnt know how to use a phone,i cant really see him taking photos of you with a phone,however he does have a camera and he hace plenty of pictures of you.

Does not like the idea of you having photos of him in your phone because if Aro finds out the anger of Aro will be direct to you and he does not want that.

Q - Quirks (what random habits do you have that they love or hate/vice versa)

He is fascinated by how your voice sound when you are excited about something,he already love the sound of your voice but hearing you so happy its really something else.

He really hates self jokes,dont joke about yourself,if you have to make a mean joke about someone please do it about Demetri,he will literally say that.

R - Recovery (how you help them after an injury/vice versa)

He can't get hurt,but i think vampires can get really tires mentally and he just need your cuddles,nothing more,he doesnt need a warm bath or anything,your warm against him its more than enough.

If you get hurt its really a different story,his eyes wide open looking at the injuries while screaming who the fuck did that.He will kill that person later that for sure but first he need to get you a doctor.

S - Solution (how they resolve fights)

If the calm talk he tried to have with you didnt work,he will wait until the night,but keep in mind that he will not let his mate go upset to bed,he will lay with you even if you try to push him away,once you are in his arms there is no scape.Smothered in love.

T- Touch (when they need/want your touch, what will they do? how often?)

Always,will feel his heart hurt if he does not at least have you around.He is not one for PDA but his arm is for sure on your back,guiding you if you two are walking.

In private he is all over you,its like he is touch starved,will literally beg for attention.

U - Up ( waking up with them)

He is always there when you wake up,morning kisses are a must with him and long hugs until you finally get in the shower.

He will have you some warm coffe by the time you are out of the shower and will wait for you to dress up.

V - Vacation (where they travel with you)

Rome.He wants to take you there and show you everything,while telling you stories about those place.

The trip will be romantic as hell,he will as well take you out every night to the most expensives and fancy restaurants over there.

He loves spending so much time with you far from the castle,just the two of you without vampires Kings getting on his nerves .

W - Wedding (how they propose/where you get married/honeymoon)

Honestly he does not like too much the idea of marrying.

He is very old and mates bond are something more stronger than marrying someone,so there isnt almost any chances of having a wedding with him.

If you do,he will tell you he considered you his spouse long ago and found amusing that you didnt know it.

X - X-factor (what about you captivated them?)

How small you are in comparison to him.He knows everyone is smaller than him but never thought much about it.

But just the fact when you two interlaced your fingers and how small and tiny your hand feels,is something that really get him on his feelings.

Y - Yawning (how they act when they’re tired)

He will literally pout,his eyes are looking at you intensely waiting for you to understand he wants your hugs and he wants them now.

His head will be up yours,your hands are tracing soft patterns on his back as you leave kisses on his chest.

Z - Zzzz (how you fall asleep together)

He loves having you in his arms while you sleep,hearing your heart beat and your soft snoring ,his head is probably resting on your chest because of this,his big arms wrapped around your body as he just wait until the sun came up.

If you talk or mumble something while dreaming he will find it the cutest shit ever.

[cycat-carisi]

Lonesome Superhero

Pairing: Gator Tillman x f!reader (not romantic)

Summary: Gator keeps hitting on you and you finally give him a piece of your mind. He's not the sweet boy you once knew anymore - or if he is, it's far too difficult to see.

Tags: No spoilers! Angst. Post episode 1 and 2.

Warnings: language, misogynistic themes from the show

Length: ~1.3k

A/N: This just popped into my head and I needed to get it out. Gator is despicable and unless he has some major character growth, I can't bring myself to romanticize him. I do think his character is super intriguing though. I hope we get to dive deeper into what makes him tick throughout the season. (:

(Plus, I have a theory that Gator may have unintentionally been a witness to his mother's murder as a boy...)

Fic below the cut or on AO3 here

It's in the way the frosted glass door harshly swings open that immediately lets you know who is behind it. There could only be one person who felt entitled enough to barge into a retirement home like he owned the place.

You swallow thickly. Not again.

Turning around from your medicine cart, you find him standing there in his camouflage cargo pants and a black t-shirt that is two sizes too tight. His hands perch on his hips as his narrowed eyes and cocky smirk aim in your direction.

"Gator, please. Not today," you speak coldly.

His smirk only grows. "Oh, c'mon, babycakes, you don’t know what you're missin'!"

"Gator!" you scold, trying to hush your voice in front of your patients. "Come with me, please." Anger bubbles up inside of you as Gator's face contorts into a triumphant grin. He saunters forward as you lead him toward the back entrance of the small facility.

In the shadow of the building, the fall air nips at your bare arms. The chill, however, is easily quelled by your boiling blood.

"How dare you come to my place of work!" You waste no time laying into the Tillman son.

Your ferocity catches Gator off-guard, causing panic to dart across his features. He takes a half-step back, pulling his head and neck along with it.

Oh, but you’re far from done with him.

"For weeks now, you've been popping up wherever I go, asking me to go out with you in the most degrading ways possible! Every. Single. Time. I have turned you down, yet you clearly cannot take ‘no’ for an answer! And now you have the audacity to show up at where I work and do the same? No! It doesn’t work like that, Gator. I worked hard for my career. I went to college, got my license, and came back here to help my community. I am respected in this building, and I will not tolerate you waltzing in here like God's gift to women and disrespecting me in front of my patients!"

Out of breath and seething, you continue to stare Gator down. He looks downright gobsmacked – a mixture of a wounded pup about to run and a cornered hound ready to bite.

The silence is deafening. You wait for Gator to snap back like he always does – some moronic comeback that's as pathetic as his barbed wire LOL tattoo.

And predictably, he does just that. "What the hell?!!" he cries out, stepping towards you and invading your space. The pungent odor from his last puff of vape wafts off his breath. "I'm the law in this town! I'm a winner! All you ever do is humiliate me! You're fucking awful!"

"I'm awful?!" you scoff, eyebrows shooting skyward. You're about to rip him a new one when you simply stop and shake your head in pity. "What happened to you, Gator?"

Once again, the Tillman son is rendered speechless. His dark brow pinches together in confusion. "Wha-?"

You seize your opportunity to dive a little deeper. "I mean, what happened to the Gator from middle school? The one who used to be my friend? The boy who was sweet and kind and would spend lunch hours reading comic books with me. It's like you suddenly woke up one day and decided to become an asshole, always acting out in class and purposely bullying other kids. Doing reckless shit because your dad could get you out of trouble. And now? I think you've gotten worse! Hell, Mrs. Lakeland told me that you all but pushed Gladys Baker out of the way at the corner store the other day. What the heck is wrong with you? Who do you think you are?"

"I - I -" he stammers, head spinning. Then Gator swallows, puffing up his chest. "I take what's mine! I take what I'm owed. I made it through police training. People in this town owe me their respect, so I take it as I see fit."

"Newsflash! That's not how you get respect, sunshine," you retort. "Respect is earned, and from where I'm standing, all I see is a pathetic man-child whose daddy got him where he is today. 'My father is the sheriff' are the magic words that force people to step out of your way. That's not respect; that's notoriety from being a grade-A asshole!"

Gator's face twists into a snarl while his fists clench and unclench at his sides. You've clearly hit a nerve.

Even though you’d love nothing more than to lay into him some more, you remind yourself that it’s notworth the fight. Instead, your chest constricts with disappointment. "I don’t get it, Gator,” you speak softly. “Why do you let your father run your life? He says to jump and you ask how high. When are you gonna wake up and realize that he's just using you?"

If it wasn’t clear that you’d struck a nerve before, it certainly is now. Gator’s combat boot strikes the gravel, sending up a cloud of dust and dirt, and his cheeks glaze over with a deep red flush. "I don’t – He doesn’t –" Lost for words, Gator simply clamps his jaw shut. He kicks at the ground again and throws his hands to his hair, letting out a frustrated yell.

You hop back in surprise; a fearful gasp escapes you at his sudden outburst.

Gator's head whips back up, and those dark eyes meet yours.

Middle school was a long time ago, yet Gator remembers everything. He remembers how nice you were to him; how one day you saw this quiet boy sitting alone at lunch with a comic book and decided to come over and ask what he was reading. He used to dream of being as invincible as the superheroes in his books – Gator's way of shielding himself from everything that he'd seen. But then you came along and somehow made him feel a little less alone. He adored you and your friendship, eventually developing a little crush. That was, of course, before Gator was taught that girls weren't supposed to like comics, that men lead while women follow, and that his father's word was absolute. If he pleased his father, any situation could go Gator's way. The power sought after by characters in his comic books was right at Gator's fingertips; all he had to do was prove to the senior Tillman that he was worthy. Nothing else mattered.

And now? Gator almost had it. He was so close to having his father's approval. He was certain of it! Why couldn't you see that? Why couldn't you see how awesome he had become? He had buried his crush on you away while you were at college, but now that you were back, there was no reason to hide that he wanted you. And there should be no reason why you wouldn't want him either!

Except…your words today hurt. They made Gator feel puny and pathetic. How could you say that he was just his father's pawn?! He was his own man! A tough and strong and important man in this town...right?

You watch as despair briefly flashes across Gator's face before quickly being replaced by aggravation. He grunts again prior to spinning on his heels and stalking off.

No! Gator is his own man, and you were just the type of woman his father had warned him about! His crush is stupid, and so are you...

As Gator storms off, his ears catch your quiet words laced with pity. "Silly me for thinking that the sweet guy who read comics with me would still be in there.”

For the first time since he was a boy, tears stab at Gator's eyes. He scrunches his eyes closed and shakes his head, instead focusing on the sound of gravel crunching under his boots as he slinks away.

Thanks for reading! Feedback is loved ❤

| Series masterlist | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |

[moondustinfj]

MBTI AND ENNEAGRAM ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE CHARACTERS

Part 1

Louis de Pointe du Lac

Mbti

Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving

Infps are highly idealistic, sensitive and driven by their values

Especially because their leading function Fi (introverted feeling) allows them to be in tune with their emotions. Very much so that they are driven by their inner compass. They have a clear sense of right and wrong and it's not likely or easy for them to change their mind about something, especially moral issues

Armand: I would have made this woman a vampire. But I thought it best you have a hand in it. Otherwise you would not give Claudia up. You must know you wanted it

Louis: I loathe what I did!

Armand: Then loathe me, not yourself

Louis: No, you don't understand. You nearly destroyed the thing you value in me when this happened. I resisted you with all my power even when I didn't know it was your force which was working on me. Something nearly died in me! Passion nearly died in me! I was all but destroyed when Madeline was created!

Armand: But that thing is no longer dead, that passion, that humanity, whatever you wish to name it. If it were not alive there wouldn't be tears in your eyes right now. There wouldn't be rage in your voice

Infps are very emphatatic and sensitive. They want to make the world a better place and they try hard to help others

"But why, with this passion and this sense of justice, do you wish to call yourself the child of Satan!" - Armand

Louis: I'm incapable of your detachment. I know what it is, and I do not possess it and I doubt that I ever will. I accept this

Armand: I understand. I saw you in the theatre, your suffering, your sympathy with that girl. I saw your sympathy for Dennis when I offered him to you; you die when you kill

They are introspective and they desire to find their meaning in life

"It's a terrible feeling, not knowing, not understanding, not being in control of your own destiny" - Louis

"I would have to know from what... from what it comes. Whether it came from other vampires...or elsewhere" - Louis

They focus on the big picture and are very intuitive

"No need to tell him what to observe, or what to remember. He always knew such things. Years ago, when I'd done the dark magic on him, I hadn't had to tell him anything; he had savored the smallest aspects of it all on his own. Then later he said I'd failed to guide him. Didn't he know how unnecessary that had always been?" -Lestat

With their strive for authenticity and their sensitivity, they look for ways to express themselves through art and stories

Enneagram

Basic fear: that they have no meaning or significance

Basic desire: to have their own identity and purpose, their meaning

Type fours are sensitive, self aware and reserved. They are also prone to be moody and self conscious. They can suffer from self pity and melancholy

Type fours see themselves as fundamentally different from other people. More than any other type, they are acutely aware of their weaknesses and defiances. They see themselves as uniquely disadvantaged or flawed

And because they see themselves as so different, they feel like nobody can see their true selves and therefore no one can love them for who they really are

"For the first time in my life, I was seen"

They might romanticize pain and bittersweet feelings

"I think to be this happy is to be miserable, to feel this much satisfaction is to burn"

Type fours often feel like there is something missing in them that others possess. This thing can't be properly identified but they feel like there is a hole in them that can not be filled

"If I ever thought we have souls, mine is gone forever"

So they feel like with this thing missing, everyone but them can fully understand who they are and their meaning

Type fours struggle to let go of their feelings from the past. They nurse their old wounds and hold onto their feelings about people who hurt them

4w5 (four wing five): The Bohemian

This subtype is combined with type five. So they're more reserved than the usual type four. But they're also more observant and speculative

"Louis, the watcher, the patient one, was there on account of love pure and simple"

Overall, infps and type fours are generally sensitive, creative, melancholic, empathatic, understanding, authentic, emotionally expressive and introspective people

"Louis, whose green eyes are soulful, the very mirror of patient misery, soft voiced, very human, weak; having lived only two hundred years, unable to read minds, or to levitate, or to spellbind others except inadvertently, which can be hilarious, an immortal with whom mortals fall in love" -Armand

" And it occured to me. If Louis does end his life, if he does bring his supernatural journey to conclusion, how will I ever answer for it to Lestat or Armand? It was the love of Louis which had at times crippled Lestat, and enslaved Armand" - David

"The first thing I'd ever noticed about him-well, after his green eyes that is- was his black hair. No, all that's a lie. It was his expression; the passion and the innocence and the delicacy of conscience. I just loved it!" - Lestat

"If I knew a mortal of that sensitivity, that pain, that focus, I would make him a vampire in an instant. But such can rarely be done. No, I've had to wait and watch for you. And now I'll fight for you. Do you see how ruthless I am in love?" - Armand

"Louis, my handsome Louis, in his dark wool and old fashioned high-collared linen, gazing down on us with a look of thinly veiled amusement, but with a secret in his hypnotic green eyes" - Lestat

[greenerteacups]

Have you watched Fleabag? If so- your thoughts?

Love it love it love it. The writing is phenomenal the acting is phenomenal and the first season especially has the electric energy of a creative doing her first major project and utterly firing on all cylinders. The characters are fantastic and I enjoyed every episode thoroughly. I'm picky about writing on television and the acting sold it completely even though it's a tragicomedy and toggles between moods very quick, I never struggled to understand what Fleabag's headspace was in a given scene. The Hot Priest is, of course, a wonderful character, and their relationship is deliciously interesting. I wish that fan content treated him more like the morally gray character he is on the show — the "kneel" scene is romanticized as a kink thing, which, IMO, it is absolutely NOT and it's actually one of the most funbad exchanges they have! it's about him using her confession of grief in order to indulge in his own vices of power and desire! It's the culmination of the Priest acting irresponsibly throughout the season as he leads her on, almost always under the assumption that he's eventually going to leave her, until he assumes a literal role as the voice OF God and immediately incites physical intimacy with her! It tells us so much about his relationship with sex (as does his brother's backstory in S2E1 and the fox motif). AND it's hot as fuck. All things can be true at once.

If I were going to nitpick — which is what I always do, when I love something and think it's the best — I would say the tonal shift between seasons makes me think it would have worked better as two different shows. I get the idea that the first one is about sitting with grief and trauma and not being the Perfect Healthy Survivor all the time, and the second is about the non-linear grieving process as we seek connections with new people, but the disjoint between the actual story of the first one and the story of the second one made me squint a little, like maybe we were missing some episodes in between the seasons. Claire and Fleabag end on an apocalyptically cruel fight where Claire throws Fleabag's trauma in her face and betrays her for her dirtbag husband, only for Fleabag to eagerly help and care for her through her miscarriage in the opening scene of S2E1. Is that an unrealistic depiction of a very complicated sibling relationship? No! But it shows how much better Fleabag is doing, mentally, between S2E1 and the finale of S1, that she's willing to put that kind of fight in the past without even bringing it up. Considering how slow and arduous her grieving process was in S1, that sudden leap towards emotional stability is jarring, like hitting a pothole. You can see how we got from A to B, but it doesn't feel smooth.

There's also the problem that Boo doesn't really come up in S2? Which is strange, since S1 is "about" Boo, insofar as it's about anybody except Fleabag? And I didn't want to rehash the beats of S1, but this is the problem of the tonal pivot I mentioned earlier — S1 is much, much darker than S2 is, and so there are certain elements of S1 that no longer seem to fit in S2. But these are bugs on the windscreen of a Ferrari, you know? You wipe 'em off and enjoy the ride.

[eisforeidolon]

Question: So when you were doing Big Sky, between you and the female lead there was a lot of like kind of back and forth on will-they-won't-they get together and then it got cancelled and didn't continue. When you take on your roles, do you consider the physicality and intimacy of the role with the fact that you're married? Is that something you take into account?

Jensen: Uh, good question. I haven't really been, I haven't really had a role or a storyline or something that has really challenged that -

Jared: [fake cough] Soldier Boy.

Jensen: Yeah, I mean - I will say this, my wife gave me really good advice for a couple of scenes with Soldier Boy. And some - not all of them made the final cut, there were more. [Jared laughs and nods] But I was nervous about it and I was talking to her about it and I was like oh man, this is, you know, I don't know what this is gonna be like. And she said this to me, she said, as nervous as you might be for this scene that you have to do today, imagine how much more nervous the person is that you're doing it with. This is a person that has just been hired on to do this one thing, you're gonna keep doing scenes - I'm gonna keep doing scenes, keep working and be on the show. So that really helped me kind of put things in perspective and then I then was able to kind of treat the situation much differently. That being said, I haven't been in like a big kind of like love relationship on screen in - probably since Eric Brady. So it's not something that I've necessarily had to give much thought to this point. But I'm sure if there is a role or a project or a storyline that presents itself in the future, then that's probably a conversation I'd have to have, with her. But the good thing is that she is, too, an actress and has done those kinds of scenes and gets it and understands that it is so choreographed, and so - the intimacy and the romanticism that you see on screen is nothing like that when you're shooting it. Every move, every head tilt while you're kissing, your every hand placement, all of it is so choreographed like a dance or like a fight scene that it kinda takes that emotion out of it a little bit.

Jared: I think - I don't know about Dee, but for Gen, when I have a like [finger quotes] intimate scene, or whatever? She's - I mean, we met when we were in our mid-twenties, she knows I have had exes, I know she has exes, so, like, the kissing on camera stuff? She's like, oh, I know how uncomfortable that is -

Jensen: Yeah.

Jared: She is less comfortable with me having a scene where I'm like, hey I love you so much. So if it's something like that she's like, [angry voice] I don't like that! Like the whole physicality thing, it's like, I know how weird that is, I know that nobody likes it, the crew doesn't like it, the cast is like this is awkward, like Hey Bill, you know Frank, and in your underwear or a sock -

Jensen: Yeah, you're like on a couch making out with someone and literally like four feet away is this [holds microphone stand like a boom mike, staring downward] - We rolling? Yeah, great.

Jared: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jensen: So it is not - the intimacy again you see, what you see on camera is not how it feels when you're doing it. So yeah I don't think that there's that worry from our wives necessarily. But that's a good question, yeah.

[lausterdomyamong]

Can we learn a bit more about your hsr sona? What is her relationship with Ratio like? What does she think of Aventurine? (Considering how him and Ratio spend much of the Penacony quest bickering). What is her general view of Ratios trip to Penacony?

This is going to be long, I haven't checked my inbox this past month — sorry for such late answer in advance !

Moving on, I'm glad you asked this question about my sona! There are many things to explore between her character and her relationship with canon characters which I'm not really daring to talk about that much. I have her info in Thai, but since I haven't write anything in english for a while now, this might came out a bit wonky with the wording and all, feel free to ask more after you finished reading it!

I'll call her Lauster while we're talking, so it's easy to read than call her my sona repeatedly– let's go.

My HSR sona + relationship with canon characters.

With Veritas Ratio, the very first time they met — they were classmates at Intelligentsia Guild. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, thus meeting THE Veritas Ratio, making her feel admire as much as she despise to be on the same team with him, or opposite team, in any project. He was just that outstanding, so confident, so bright that she must close her eyes shut. Lauster hates how sharp-witted he is, hates how much he was so right about everything, hates how he never conceal or sugarcoating his words, hates that he constructively helping others. Slowly, that changes, after some times she spent with him, she feels genuinely attracted by said trait she sworn to hate so much.

She liked him first. She fell hard, she never knew how her heart would yearn for his voice, his stern look, his mind which never stuck to the past. She hated him before, but that changes. He was never selfish in her eyes, the egotistical, rude, and overly confident facade was just how people tend to literally perceived him just as that, it's not what he truly is. She didn't learn the hard way, because that was how Veritas always is. Not many people have such a tender and kind goal as his. To cure and help people to be free from their own idiocy, to be able to stand up on their own legs, even without any helping hand.

It was pure admiration that lead her up to this point, you can say that she is a Ratio defender, she literally is lmao. She is the epitome of hsr fandom if media literacy isn't dead — someone who doesn't judge Ratio by his cover and shallowly decided that was his whole character. Lauster has her own ego, one of them is to be someone who knows Ratio oh-so-well. But that kinda killing her too.

It wasn't completely one-sided. They dated at some point. Ratio does like her company, but he does think that she doesn't fit the life of a scholar, she is destructive to herself, too much of a perfectionist to the point that she suffered from her own idealization. He liked how she was a romanticism, it was interesting to explore her psyche as a person — surely noticed that she wouldn't survive a day in harsh reality, she will break, she feels too much, she would crumble from the inside out. You can say it is a opposite attraction, he is grounded to reality, where she is drowned in emotion and her own dream.

There were a lot of good time between tge two. But it was a sad relationship, honestly. She never once feel jealous of her love one's success. She truly is happy for how Ratio is thriving on his path, she was elated to be in his arms, to be lived by him, to see him persue his dream (that isn't to join Genius Society). But what killing their relationship is how her being a self-destructive perfectionist. She tried hard to be good on her works too, but there were too many external factors that keep her from being well, she tried not to a burden to him.

They loved each other, but they weren't meant to be. That realization hits Lauster first, it destroyed her. But Ratio view it differently, which is why he tried to help her, to grow, to be able to stand on her own feet again.

Then, stuff happened– she disappeared one day from Intelligentsia Guild. With thing left unsaid to each other, Ratio is striving to find her across the galaxy again.

___________________________

With Aventurine, to be honest, there wasn't so much depth I've been thinking about, they were civil and nice with one another. But one thing that is interesting to be reckon is Lauster actually hates the IPC. Her life on her planet was rough because of them, she hates their reputation, as she grew, she learned enough to acknowledge that IPC as a whole is awful.

But she does know the fact that Aventurine was a slave before, he doesn't have the choice to be engage in their system. He too — was a victim of IPC, she was well aware. So at least, on the first encounter where she met him, she was acting indifferent and being civil. She wasn't harsh or mean, but also not overly nice nor sending pitied eyes. It was a normal amount of kindness as one human shall receive. This is where Aven start to like her as a friend.

The two came around each other and form a beautiful friendship eventually. You can say that she is the only one who doesn't care (and I mean, her gaf is on vacation when she is with Aven) about his antics, even enable him to a lot of length. She doesn't really want him to buy her stuffs as a friendship reward. I can say they were really close friends where they can trauma bonding to a degree lmao.

____________________

The last question is— to be honest, if she's still with Ratio at the time, she may wish him a safe trip only. Despite being someone who lives in the fantasy, she doesn't want to visit Penacony at all. While she was intrigued in the concept of it long time ago, she already mentally living in a dream every day, so she wasn't interested to physically be in one (not really but you get what I mean). Living in a dream was sweet, but she has been like that her whole life, she knew how tiresome it would be sometimes. (Yeah, she is neurodivergent.)

Anyway, thank you for reading such a long post! If you have question, feel free to slide into my ask box !

[myg-butterfly]

Goodnight (Love)

Jimin x Reader – Spy!Au

Hurt/Comfort, Angst/Fluff, Enemies(?)/Lovers(?), Non-Idol Au, One-Shot

Part 2

Summary: You and Jimin hold an unwavering grudge against each other, but for what reason? Or, when you and Jimin get partnered for a case together, emotions arise, and so do the stakes. Pride and vulnerability are an explosive pair; will you both set each other off into flames?

Warnings (Buckle up folks because there's a lot): THIS STORY CONTAINS THEMES OF HARASSMENT AND IMPLICATIONS OF S/A!!! DO NOT READ IF THOSE TOPICS ARE TOO HARSH FOR YOU!!! Angst, panic attacks, anxiety, descriptions of violence (like a single fight), sexual assault (no non-con sex happens i swear), misogyny if you squint, Jimin is an asshole at times, trauma, trauma flashbacks, horrible communication tbh, implied abuse, implied s/a

Disclaimers: I am in no way, shape, or form trying to romanticize these sensitive topics, I simply want to show that comfort can be found after said situations. Please do not leave any comments about glamorizing any of the topic.

A/N: Hello hi author here! I haven't thoroughly proof read this oopsies but we'll get there when we get there. There's a lot of time-skips in this btw, and I also just made shit up because I don't really have any clue as to what spies or agents do or whatever (lol)

Taglist: @screamertannie

main masterlist

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

"This mission is risky, as it's heavily reliant on precision and strategy, so we'll have to be very careful with who we send."

"I have the perfect pair in mind."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

"You're fucking kidding me."

Jimin stares in disbelief at his bosses, Seokjin and Namjoon, not knowing why they thought it would be a good idea to partner you together.

"I don't care whatever personal vendetta y'all have against each other, you both are the most reliable option we have. So put your willy-nillies aside and get your head in the game."

Namjoon shoots Jin a disapproving glare at his choice of words.

"Please never say willy-nilly again."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

You never thought it was possible for so much tension to fit inside a singular car, yet you and Jimin seemed to be breaking that record currently:

"Listen, I want to get this done as soon as possible, so please just listen to me and do what I tell you and I can finally stay away from your annoying ass."

"As long as you listen to me as well, it'll be a smooth sail."

"And why do I have to listen to you?"

"We listen to each other, it's called teamwork; hence the fact that we're a team, and we work tog-"

"I know what teamwork is – I'm not stupid. But I specialize in retrieving information, so I think we both know who has sufficient knowledge to lead this case."

"One of the requirements to be recruited is being able to safely retrieve information, so technically even though I'm not centered in the encryption department, we still have the same level of expertise in the field of-"

"Do you ever shut the fuck up?"

"I do."

"Great well do that now."

"If it means you stop running your mouth as well then I will."

It isn't that Jimin hates you specifically, he just hates how stoic you are all of the time. No matter what case you had to take on, what was going on around you, your cold demeanor never faltered — and that pissed Jimin off.

I mean, who were you to be so stand-offish to all of your colleagues? Did you think you were better than everyone else? Is that why you never spoke up unless you were giving your 2 cents on the approach the organization should take on the case given. And it pissed him off even more how you were always right, how Namjoon and Jin always agreed with whatever you had to say.

Jimin didn't hate you specifically, but he hated your face and how nice it was to look at and your annoyingly smart brain and your voice that was so soothing to listen to.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

"Jimin, I'm telling you, having me go undercover isn't safe or efficient. The man who has the information we need is kno-"

"Are you admitting that you don't have the guts to complete this mission? What happened to commitment?"

Strategizing with Jimin felt like being a court trial where anything and everything you said would be used against you.

"I am committed. That's why I'm telling you that this isn't a good strategy."

"And why not? We've used it countless times before and it's worked, what's different now? All those men are the same, just play them to your will. Is that really so hard for you to do?"

"It's not good because it's not safe. Chances are that not only will I walk out of there severely injured, but you will too. And what happens then?"

"All I'm hearing is that you're too scared to do it. If that's the case, then why don't you just go home? I can even go ahead and call Jin hyung and tell him that you chickened out-"

"I am not chickening out."

"Then just trust my plan, princess. It's never failed me, and it's not going to start now."

"....... Fine. But don't call me that."

"No can do, princess."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

As you walk into the large fancy venue where the event was being held, the urge to run and hide became much more prominent.

You doubt that he remembers you, you were small when it happened, and now you'd grown.

That should bring some form of comfort, but it doesn't.

Because even if he doesn't recognize you, you would never be able to forget those months.

What he did changed you as a person forever, and for the worse as well.

You walk tentatively, saying hello to people you come across, until you find who you're looking for.

Upon seeing his face, it felt like a kick had just impacted your gut, like if you were dumped into a freezing lake with nothing on. Your mouth dried and the room began to spin, and you almost ran away, almost cowered back to safety, but you were stopped by-

"Dumbass, he's right there all by himself. Approach him, quick."

Hesitantly you started your way towards him.

"Jimin, turn my earpiece's mic sensitivity up."

"Why?"

"Please, I need you to be able to catch anything."

"Fine."

Seeing he was grabbing a glass of wine by himself, you took the opportunity to slide in next to him.

"Excuse me, sir? Do you happen to know what kind of wine this might be?"

"Cherry wine, madam. Would you like to try one?"

"Yes, please. Thank you."

"It's no problem. If you don't mind me asking, is someone accompanying you tonight?"

"Oh, no. I'm here by myself. I got invited by mutual friends."

"Ah, I see. So then, you wouldn't mind joining me tonight? I have a table right over there if you'd like to sit."

"I'd love to join you. Please, lead the way."

After some brief moments of small talk, Jimin gives you the okay to start trying to pull information out of him.

"This venue is so lovely, I wish I could see all of it in full." You started prying. "Well, actually, one of my closest partners runs the venue, if you'd like I could ask him if it's okay for me to give you a tour?"

"Would you really?"

"Of course, anything for such a delightful woman as yourself."

"Oh, you're too kind."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

The tour was going well as good as your given position allowed. You managed to ask about almost each room, giving Jimin any helpful information through your earpiece.

That was until you got to the third floor.

You were trying as hard as you could to push through being in his presence, when you'd been going up the stairs you stumbled for a second, and his hand reached out to "stabilize" you. You managed to regain your balance, still his wrinkled hand remained on the small of your back, a little lower than appropriate, and that was all it took to push you to the edge.

"Um, excuse me, do you mind if we pause for a short while so I can use the restroom?"

"That's totally okay. Do you want me to lead you to the one on this floor?"

"Oh, no. Thank you, I'll use the one from the previous floor. You can wait for me here. I won't be long."

Running down the stairs quickly, your head began to spin with fear.

All of the haunting memories you'd managed to drown out in the deepest parts of your brain resurfaced within a flash, and suddenly its like if you were back where you were less than two years ago.

Rough hands around your waist, liquor scented breath hitting your face, the cold air biting your exposed skin – you remembered it so vividly that you could almost feel it happening to you.

You could feel the harsh tone of voice, taunting you, painting you with shame.

'You should be thankful for all that I do for you. I'm the only person that can stand you after all.'

"Why the hell are you going to the bathroom? Don't stall, you idiot. We need to get this done."

"Right. Yeah. Right."

You stood up and walked towards the door, but you couldn't bring yourself to twist the doorknob. The thought of having to continue with him had your breathing quickening, and your vision shaking, it was all too much at once.

All Jimin could hear was your shallow breathing, and strangely, he found himself growing worried.

"Y/N? What's going on?"

"I can't- I can't do it-"

"What do you mean?"

"I- I need to get out of here."

"Y/N, what's wrong?"

"I can't be here, please Jimin."

Jimin burrowed his eyebrows in confusion, not understanding what caused you to get so worked up. He was even more confused when he felt himself progressively getting more concerned for your well-being.

"Where are you right now?"

“Um, a bathroom in floor 2."

"And you told the guy to stay in the third floor, right?"

"Yeah." You hear Jimin sigh, and you know he's upset with you, but your brain can't fully process that right now.

"I can't believe you're actually pussying out of this right now."

"Jimin, please."

The crack in your voice left an uncomfortable buzz in his chest, and Jimin found himself caving in.

"Okay, fine. I'll find a distraction for him so you can leave while he's busy. Only because we stil have tomorrow to do this and we've made progress."

"Thank you-"

"Don't, we still have to get this shit done tomorrow."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

You thought you'd be relieved as you finally got the chance to run out of the building, but guilt was heavy on your chest. The sound of Jimin's frustrated voice made you uneasy; you've never really been on his good side, but hearing him sound so disappointed in you drilled a hole into your pride.

He watches you as you open the car door and clumsily jump in, and Jimin can't stop his frown from deepening further when he sees your usually sparkly eyes tainted a light color of red, one that matches your nose and cheeks. You take his expression as one of disapproval, and you shrink in your seat, hoping that it'll swallow you whole. You were triggered as it is, an angry Jimin would not help you whatsoever.

Obviously, the only thing he could come up with was to scold you, because what else was he supposed to do? Wipe away your tears gently and destroy anything that would cause those tears to resurface? Yeah, of course not. Not that he wouldn't be willing to if you asked him, but he'll try to convince himself it's only because he's a good person. No ulterior motive.

"This better be a one time thing, eh? No one wants to work with someone unreliable, and leaving was one hell of a liability."

"I know."

"Then why did you do it?"

The words got stuck in your throat; you couldn't tell him that this guy had abused you for years on end of your adolesence. You refused to let anyone see that side of you.

"It wasn't safe, and it wasn't worth risking it."

"I didn't see any threats in the security cameras, and everything in your earpiece sounded fine. What was unsafe?"A tentative moment of silence passes before:

"Him."

You spoke so softly that you thought Jimin hadn't heard you, until you heard a sigh from him.

"We work with dangerous people all the time, there's no difference here, princess."

The name had clear condecendicy laced within it, and it made the sting in your eyes return quickly; it reminded you of him, and now the memories were fresh. You turned your face out the window, hoping that Jimin didn't catch sight of them.

But he did, and great. What else is he supposed do? to destroy himself then? Being harsh is supposed to be what keeps you from getting hurt by him, so why is that no matter what he does, the outcome is always rough?

The rest of the car ride was silent, the emptyness of nightfall very clear amongst the dark.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

"Will you stop moving so goddamn much? Some of us are trying to sleep here."

"Why are you referring to yourself with plurality? The only ones here are you and I, and your comment is directed at me so-"

"It's too late for your smartass."

"Well, it's currently 1 in the morning, so technically-"

"Less talking more sleeping."

"Okay."

You'd stopped moving, and Jimin was about to completely pass out, when the shuffling started again.

"Y/N I swear to god-" he groaned, annoyed that you interrupted his sleep again.

But when he looked over, you were sitting up on your bed, a pained expression covering your face.

Jimin sighed and sat up as well, mumbling under his breath about how 'it's always something with you'. Still he asked:

"What happened now?"

You hesitated to answer before responding.

"Did you do it on purpose?"

"Do what?"

"Send me in there, knowing who he is?”

"I genuinely don't have a clue of what you're talking about."

"I knew you hated me but I really didn't think you would go to such lengths."

"Stop speaking in riddles and just say whatever it is you want to say."

"Do you really not know about him?"

"Stop acting like you know better than I do just because you know about some rando that I've never heard of."

"I'm not trying to act like I know better, because I do know better. I know who we're up against, and I know that Seokjin and Namjoon would agree that sending me in there by myself is a shit decision."

"Why would they give us the case then if it's so dangerous, huh? Maybe you're just too much of a scaredy-cat to handle this case. Why don't you go and whine to our bosses that the task is 'too hard' if you're so set on them agreeing with you?"

Jimin's words felt like a stab straight through your heart, and all you could do was bleed out in silence.

"If I were them, I'd be real disappointed if someone I handpicked for a job as prestigious as this one called me and told me they didn't wanna do it because it's too hard."

The mention of disappointing your bosses made your stomach twist with anxiety. Just when you'd begun to learn to protect yourself, you're suddenly getting berated for it?

"Do you want me to complete this task or not?"

"Of course I fucking do. That's why I'm telling you that you need to suck it up."

"Degradation isn't going to motivate me, so you can stop trying to make me feel like shit. Are you happy? Because it sure is working."

"See? This is what I mean. For someone who acts so stoic all the time you sure are goddamn sensitive."

"Jimin, please. Drop it. I get it. You win."

"Stop whin- wait, what?"

You blinked at Jimin, before sighing and laying back down, shuffling around and throwing a blanket over your head.

For some reason, this made his heart twist in an uncomfortable way.

Jimin took a deep breath and told himself that it definitely wasn't because he felt like crying at seeing your defeated expression, he was just shocked that you didn't continue arguing with him.

Yeah. That's what it is. Totally what it is.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

Day 2 of the event begins, and your fear is drowned out enough to tolerate it by your desperation to get this over with.

"Okay, he's in there. Go. No chickening out this time, okay?"

"Yes. Whatever."

"Good."

You find him standing by the small bar they have across the venue, and you muster up any remaining strength inside yourself as you begin to approach the man who haunts your every move.

"What kind of wine are you honoring tonight?" You use the same conversation starter as last time, and the guy jumps; you caught him off-guard.

"Oh, my dear, it's you. I am so glad we meet again." His smirk grew, and if you didn't know any better, you would think that it's one of excitement rather than perversion.

"So am I."

"I was afraid you'd pulled a classic Cinderella on me after that first night, I thought I wouldn't see you again."

"Oh, I apologize for leaving so abruptly. Something I ate gave me a stomach bug, and I decided it'd be best to go rest before it could get worse. I'm just thankful it cleared up before the event ended."

"I am deeply grateful as well, I don't think I could've bared to not see you again. Say, why don't we actually complete our tour around the venue tonight."

"That would be lovely."

You had always hated how snobby rich people spoke, as if everything was fancy and business. The formalities and outdated vocabulary made you irrationally angry, and you weren't sure how much longer you were going to withstand this entire thing.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

Thankfully, you lasted a pretty good while. Everything seemed to be going as planned; you asked questions, he blabbered on and on about whatever you asked, he got more comfortable and started spilling more and more, and Jimin got more information.

“This floor is my favorite.” He says once you finish taking the flight of stairs you were just on.

“Oh, really? May I ask why?”

“My personal room is up here, it's supposed to be a guest room but since I spend my days here frequently, it's practically become my bedroom.”

“That sounds very comfortable. The people who own this place seem to show genuine hospitality.”

“They indeed do. And I was thinking, maybe I could follow in their steps, and extend that hospitality to you?”

“What does this said hospitality consist of?” You were skeptical, the glint in his eyes was evidently one that was ready to strike knives into your chest.

“Reconnection. Mending broken bonds. Making up for all our time lost.”

Your heart began beating rapid and panicked, afraid of what implications come with his statement. He seems to notice your expression fall, as he starts to laugh and even doubles over. Once he composes himself, he immediately makes his way towards you, the change in demeanor too quick to even respond.

"You really thought I wouldn't recognize you doll? Hmm?" He circles around you slowly.

It feels like you've fallen through a sink hole into the midst of hell hearing his words, it's suffocating, so much so that you're sure you won't make it out in one piece this time around.

"To be fair, you have changed a lot. You look much more mature, womanhood has treated you well." It takes everything in you to not break as he grabs your chin between his fingers, Jimin's voice playing on repeat in your head - 'no chickening out this time'.

You swallow and take a second to compose yourself, before speaking again.

"May we please continue our tour?"

"No need to hide from me, little one. I'd always told you, you'd come running back to me one day; and here you are. No need to be embarrassed about it, I'm more than happy to have you again."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

Jimin's blood runs cold when he hears what the man is saying; did you know him before? What history could you possibly have with this man?

"I'm n- not hiding. I just simply wish to continue looking around."

"Oh, trust me, dear. We'll have plenty of time to look around. But first, don't you wanna go somewhere private? So we can, reconnect?"

A shiver runs down your spine out of pure fear, and you're not sure if you can back down this time.

"Um, I don't know. I don't want to be gone for too long."

"No one will notice dear." He leans in closer to your face. "I know you want this just as much as I do."

His suggestive tone has you feeling sick to your stomach, and you pray to whoever sits above that Jimin realizes what's happening and comes to help you. You aren't sure what you had ever done to turn the universe against you, but you knew your prayers weren't heard when Jimin responds through your earpiece.

"Go. If you're worried about anything getting out of hand, I have this planned out. Just go."

You didn't know what plan Jimin had up his sleeve, but his annoyed expression on your face were imprinted in your mind, his words from the previous night still heavy: ‘If I were them, I'd be real disappointed if someone I handpicked for a job as prestigious as this one called me and told me they didn't wanna do it because it's too hard.’

"Okay, take me with you."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

He leads you to up another set of stairs, and into different hallways, before stopping in front of two big doors. You watch as he takes a key out of the inside pocket in his coat, and he opens the door, letting you step inside first and following after you. The room was spacious and slightly dark, the only light entering through the window from the lights outside.

"Ask him what part of the building you guys are in."

"This room is beautiful, what part of the building are we in?"

“It is quite luxurious, huh? This is the fifth floor. Main hallway, 3rd door. If you ever want to pay a visit, you're more than welcome to stop by.”

Jimin quickly jots down the room, and you hope he's satisfied, because you're shaken with fear at this man’s words. He locks the door from the inside, and proceeds to move toward you.

"He has a key, right?"

"Ah, yes." Pause. "I'll keep that in mind."

He smiles at you and grabs your wrist, walking towards the large bed in the middle of the room.

"Okay, get his key. Do whatever it takes, just get your hands on it."

He sits on the bed and grabs you by the hips, pulling you down with him.

"I can't believe I have you all for myself again. Even if its just tonight." You feel his fingers in your hair; the thought of shaving your head crosses your mind. If it means getting rid of any trace of him, you'd do it.

"Your features may be a little more grown, but you're still that innocent little sweetheart that I've always known."

His face seems so close; your body falls cold with fear.

"Tell me, how much have you missed me, sweetheart?"

He gets scoots even closer and cups your cheeks, running a thumb over your lips. He gets even closer, and all you can do is swallow and curse Jimin, because why isn't he doing anything to help you?

"I thought you would've learned to use your words by now." He chuckles, you wait for a hand across your cheek.

"Stupid little girl. Aren't you glad I'm so forgiving?"

He leans closer again, your foreheads touching at this point.

"I'll let you show me with your actions. Come on, show me."

Your breath hitches in dread, but he takes this a good sign. He kisses you and you do your best to "kiss" him back without actually doing any kissing. You tug on his coat, hoping he gets the message to take it off, and thankfully – you're not sure this is the right word – he does. As he shrugs it off, he keeps kissing you, and you take the chance to grab it from the inside, and flip it around so the key falls into your lap. You quickly put the key in your dress pockets and you toss the coat across the room in attempt to mask it as a move of interest.

He notices that his coat is gone, and it prompts him to begin trying to remove your corset. You realize that this is your chance to communicate with Jimin, though you're not sure if he can hear you if the silence from his side is anything to go by, while also prompting the man to get off of you.

"I've got it."

"You got the key?" So Jimin can hear you. You don't know if what fills your gut is relief or anger.

"Let me do it." He grips your hands and puts them aside, continuing to undo it himself.

"Yeah." You respond to Jimin. Pause. "I've got it, its fine. It'll be faster this way."

"Okay, we'll get him distracted now." Once again, you're torn between relief and anger.

"Don't you wanna take it slow? Enjoy our sweet time together?" His lips on your neck, and his hands getting lower and lower. You start to cry. Thankfully, he doesn't notice, because the intercom system im the building blares: "The auction is about to begin, 5 to auction." Hearing this, you take your chance to push him away, trying to get yourself back together.

"We should go, we wouldn't want to miss this." You move to get up, but he locks you within his arms.

"It's okay, you're the one thing I want."

"People will notice that we're missing."

"They won't. And if they do, let them. I'm more than glad to show you off."

He keeps on untying your corset, and panic starts to flow more prominently through your body as you realize that he isn't going to let this go easily.

"I really think we should go back. What if we miss something important?"

"Shhhh. Let this happen."

Another announcement blares through the intercom, but he doesn't even flinch this time.

"Auction is now beginning."

"Let's stop. I don't want to miss it."

He doesn't stop.

Doesn't even do a double take.

"If you want something from the auction, I'll get it for you. I'll even pay double the price. But I'm not letting anything take this away from me. I've been waiting to feel you for years. I'm not letting you go now."

You're on the border of cracking as he gets lower on the strings of your corset, not sure if you're gonna be able to get out of this unharmed. He moves to suck on your neck, and that's when you break.

"I don't, I don't want to."

"You're just nervous. I know you want this."

You shake your head, your whole body is visibly trembling now.

"I don't want to."

"Be good and stop talking."

He finally gets to the last string when his phone rings behind him.

He ignores it.

You pry him on.

"Are you not gonna take that?"

"Nothing is going to interrupt this."

"What if it's important?"

"What did I say? Be quiet. Why is it that now you're all chatter, but when I asked you earlier, not even a peep? It's like you want me to punish you."

A sob escapes you; where the fuck is Jimin?

He takes your corset off, leaving you almost bare.

"Such a pretty little thing."

All you can think is that 'This is it. This is it. What did I do to have to go through this again? Why is it tha-"

"I'm on my way up. I'll be there in a moment. I'm sorry I didn't come earlier. I'm coming."

You let out another sob at this.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

Jimin feels like his heart flew out from his chest because of how hard it was pounding.

He's desperate to get you out of there, and Jimin didn't know what to do.

His original plan to get the man distracted by random interruptions wasn't working, and he knew going up there on his own was risky, but listening to your situation made him sick.

He knew one of the guys on his usual team, Yeonjun, was monitoring the assignment, as they always have someone on standby in chances of emergency.

With his mind made up, he lets him know that he's gonna go in, but he isn't too fond of the idea.

"No, Yeonjun. You don't get it. I have to go up. He's- he's hurting her."

"You'll get caught. Especially if you and Y/N leave together."

"I have to go."

"Jimin-"

"Sorry, I have to get to her."

The line disconnects.

He was coming now.

Getting to you was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

You can't bare to watch as the man takes his own shirt off, and you feel like you could throw up at any moment.

"I'm on the fifth floor. Toss the key under the door if you can."

At this, your only string of thought consisted of 'Jimin's here' 'Toss the key' 'Jimin's here' 'Toss the key'

You quickly reach into your pockets and let the key drop by your feet, and you kick it so it's by the door. An eternity of seconds pass by, your brain simply chanting 'Jimin, Jimin, Jimin'

Everything happens so quickly that you don't even have time to process what's happening before Jimin tackles the old man. He punches and pounds, and all you can do is watch in horror as both men begin to swing at each other. You have no clue what to do, but thankfully, Jimin manages to catch him off-guard and injects him with a tranquilizer.

It's strong enough to paralyze him on the ground, but simultaneously doesn't knock him unconscious.

You run to put your shirt on and rush to look for the flash drive that's meant to have all the information you're looking for. Despite your frantic state, you miraculously find it in a drawer, relieved and ready to show Jimin.

But when you turn around, he's still on top of the man, beating him like a crazed man.

"You. Fucking. Bastard. How. Dare. You. Touch. Her. I will fucking kill you." He says in between punches.

He kicks, stomps, punches, even pulls out his blade, and he doesn't stop until he feels you tug from behind him, hearing your attempts to hold back sobs from escaping you.

Even as you're trembling, you hold up the small flash drive in your hand.

Jimin stares in shock for a few seconds, confused as to how you still went to look for the files even with the state you're in.

He looks back at the man on the floor, bloodied and now unconscious.

You wouldn't be surprised if Jimin beat him to death.

A pause of silence engulfs both of you, before he interrupts it.

"Let's go. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Let's go. We'll talk later. Come on."

You moved to step towards the door, but you were filled with such panic that your legs were giving out on you.

He stepped towards you, but you recoiled.

He knew that this reaction was to be expected, but it still felt like a flame was burning his chest seeing you jump away from him, looking absolutely terrified.

You stumbled and wobbled, but you were insistent on walking on your own.

Jimin respected your boundaries, but when you almost tumbled down the stairs, he couldn't take it anymore.

“Do you want me to carry you back to the car? It'll get us out of here quicker, you're gonna hurt yourself .”

He saw your facial expressions change multiple times in that short moment before you stepped toward him and let him lift you off the ground. You were tense, any touch making your head spin but feeling how securely Jimin is holding you, you can't help but loosen up a tiny bit.

Feeling you shake in his grasp, it hit Jimin like a bag of bricks; you had been one of his victims. That's why you told him that it wasn't safe for you.

How could he have missed this?

You'd been brought back to hell after finally escaping it, and it was Jimin himself that dropped you right back into the gates of it. Maybe if he had listened to you when you said it wasn't a good idea, maybe you wouldn't be shutting down right in front of his own eyes, wouldn't be shaking uncontrollably, wouldn't be face to face with a monster you were to never see again.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

In the car, you can't stop clawing at yourself in the passenger seat, unsure of how to get rid of all the anger and anxiety in you.

Jimin kept peeking from your eyes and back to the road, and for some reason, this made you angry; not in a scream and throw things way, but in a sob angry tears with harsh breaths until you pass out way.

“What did it cost you to listen to me? Your pride? Is your pride worth the touch of that monstrosity?"

"I'm sorry."

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

You get to the hotel and rip the dress off of you, wiping your lips and scrubbing your hands furiously, you pull your hair in desperation.

Everything feels so wrong and overbearing, it feels like its the end of the world.

Jimin feels like his world is crumbling at the same time that you are.

He goes to make you some tea, anything that will make you feel even the tiniest bit better. Seeing you in so much distress left only 2 things swirling around his head.

The first one being: He would, in fact, do anything to take back everything he's said, and to protect you from any harm that may come your way.

The second: He is so emotionally constipated.

Instead of letting himself understand and acknowledge what he feels for you, he put up a big fucking barrier, and now he’s responsible for your breaking point. Maybe if he could've been honest with himself, maybe if he had been gentler with you–

Well, there's no point in dwelling over it now, so instead he approaches you and removes your hands from your head to stop you from pulling your hair.

"Y/N? You're gonna hurt yourself."

"I don't care." You try to pull your hands away, but Jimin clasps them against his own.

"I made you some tea, it's in the nightstand by your bed. Go drink it while I put on a bath for you. And grab clothes once you're done."

You weren't sure what it was, anger? Gratefulness? Appreciation? Resentment? But something was coursing through your veins, and it all was clearly directed at Jimin. Feeling frustrated and confused, you broke down into sobs once more.

"We don't have to do anything, but I think getting washed up will help you feel better. Whatever you wanna do. Just, please don't cry, I don't like it when you cry.”

You look up and find Jimin crouching in front of you; his stare so soft that you think he might actually care. You can't help it – you launch yourself towards Jimin, neither of you are sure if it's an attempt at a hug or at knocking him down.

He wraps his arms around you and you begin to hit at his chest, your frustration and hurt showing themselves.

"Why didn't you listen to me?! I didn't want to tell you! You should've just listened to me! Then I wouldn't be hurt! It hurts, Jimin. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts."

You repeat that phrase over and over again until your breakdown begins to falter into hiccups, energy gone, and you melt into Jimin's embrace. The room is suddenly still, the only existing thing being you and Jimin on the floor, crying out hurt and apologies.

When he clutches so hard onto your shirt that his knuckles turn white, you know that he didn't mean to do it on purpose, that he's genuinely sorry for how things went down. And when you hug him back and shuffle closer to him, he knows you're willing to forgive him, you don't blame him for the decisions he made.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

Things feel fuzzy after that. Not necessarily in a bad way, there's just too much delicacy in the air for you to process things properly.

The cup of tea is warm in your hands as you wait for Jimin to finish filling up the bathtub.

After some quiet moments, he walks out of the bathroom and throws an apologetic smile your way.

"You're all set. I'll be out here, shout if you need anything."

"Okay."

You do think initially that a bath will help you relax, maybe get rid of some of the squeezing tension in your muscles, but it becomes clear that your mind won't be able to handle something as simple as undressing and getting into the tub.

Marks brokenly painted across your skin catching your stare, you needed to be forced out of it.

Even as you slowly climbed into the tub and sat down, the only thing running through your head was the image of your scarred form.

You cry out Jimin's name.

"Is everything okay?"

You beg the words to leave your tongue.

"Stay. Please."

Your voice is small and tired, and his heart jumps in a mix of adoration and pain, because you are ever so lovely, but you're hurt, and you're hurt because of him and his pride.

"Okay. I'll stay."

He takes a seat on the closed toilet, and you stare at him for a few seconds, trying to figure out how to ask for the support you need.

"I- can y- my hair."

Finally, it comes out strangled, but it comes.

"What about your hair?"

Jimin moves closer when you fuss a little at his question, splashing the water while doing so.

You rake your hands through your hair aggressively, and he thinks he understands what you're trying to say.

"Do you want me to help you wash it?"

Your face visibly softens – similarly to Jimin's heart – and you let out a little sound of confirmation.

"Okay, are you sure you're comfortable with that?"

"Mhm."

"Okay, pass me the bottle."

The warm water is soothing on your scalp and you feel yourself relaxing as soon as the shampoo touches your head.

“Sorry if I pull your hair.”

When you feel Jimin’s fingers raking across your hair, you start to cry again.

The way he gently rubs your hair makes you overwhelmed with a warm feeling that fills your chest at being handled so tenderly for the first time in so long.

"Love, why are you crying?"

If Jimin was already panicked at your tears, he’s utterly mortified now that the term of affection slipped out accidentally.

Thankfully, it seems like you're too caught up in enjoying the feeling to notice what he just called you.

“Thank you.”

His hand movements stopped for a second to think about his next words before resuming with a sigh.

"Don't thank me. I fucked up so bad. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I should've just listened to you. I'm so sorry."

Jimin's voice cracked, and it looked like he was going to start crying too.

Once he was done, he went to grab a towel, and you stopped him by putting a hand on top of his.

"It's okay. I know you didn't mean it."

"I'm still really sorry. You shouldn't have gone through any of that."

You simply hummed as a response, and you both knew that it meant forgiveness.

The moment felt so soft, soft in the way you were looking at each other, soft like the butterflies in your stomach, it was all just really, really soft.

∘⁺✧◞₊⋅✱

That didn't last too long though, because sleep has never come easy to you, and the events of this day only worsened it.

Every time you closed your eyes, his sickening face would appear in front of you. You could almost feel the way he gripped onto your skin, bruising it.

You could feel yourself falling into a panic spiral again, and your brain's first instinct for whatever reason was 'where's Jimin?’

You sat up and saw him fast asleep on his bed, and you grew hesitant.

What if he gets mad that you woke him up? What if he laughs at you? He's gonna tell you to toughen up.

But then you think back to how he's acted ever since he went to get you.

That wasn't just temporary, right? Was it just pity? Was he only nice to relieve himself of any guilt?

Your overthinking mixed with your already panicked state, and you once again felt like things were crumbling all around you.

You showed Jimin your weakest parts, he can surely use that against you. He probably thinks you're even more pathetic now. He's gonna tell everyon-

"Y/N? What's going on?"

You were so deep in your thoughts that you didn't realize how loud your sobs had gotten, nor that they'd woken Jimin up.

You looked up in horror as you realized that he was sitting on your bed, watching you cry.

The concerned look in his eyes only made you cry harder. You wanted to fall into his comfort, wanted to believe that he genuinely cared about you, but at the same time you were convinced that he was just pretending.

"Don't act like you care."

“Huh?”

"I know you're only being nice to me out of pity, you can drop the act now."

Your words came out broken and between sobs. After you finished your sentence your breathing quickened again.

Jimin felt his heart being shredded into pieces as he saw your state. Did you really think that he hated you?

He could deal with that later, right now his main priority was getting your breathing regulated.

"Come here, we're gonna breathe together, okay? Can you do that for me?"

You were hesitant to approach him, but the offer of closeness was too inviting for you to turn down.

Jimin waited until you were seated directly in front of him before continuing.

"Hands on your belly. Now breathe in, and out."

It took a while before you were breathing again, but now Jimin could tackle the second issue at hand.

“What can I do to help you?”

Jimin sees the distrust on your face at his words and his chest squeezes sadly.

"I'm not doing this to get rid of guilt or anything like that, if that's what's running through your head."

“How do I- know that you're not just saying that to say it?"

Oh what Jimin wouldn't do to hand you the world.

"If I genuinely didn't care I wouldn't be here right now. You'd know if I was lying."

You think to yourself before giving into his offer with a small nod. Jimin smiles at your response.

“Do you need a distraction? Comfort? Water?”

“I think– I think comfort.”

"Okay. Do you want cuddles?"

Your brain short circuited, and Jimin took your silence as discomfort, so he rambled on.

"When I was younger, if I was ever scared of something, my mom would cuddle me and it always made me feel better. If you're not comfortable that's fine, I just think it would help."

You took a second to digest what Jimin had just asked you, never in a million years imagining you'd hear him asking you that, before nodding your head.

"Okay then, come here." Jimin laid down facing you and opened his arms expectantly, so you scooted closer to him and let him embrace you.

There's an inexplicable safety you felt surrounding him that had you melting into his hold. For the second time that day, his fingers gently played with your hair and you felt your walls come down a little further, warmth encasing both of you.

"You're so warm."

"Fuck do you think I am, a reptile? Of course l'm warm."

You scoffed at Jimin’s words, but stayed snuggled into him nonetheless.

"Are you uncomfortable?" You asked him.

"No. I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. I love cuddles. But only from specific people. But don't tell anyone.”

A soft giggle leaves your lips at his words, and Jimin decides that it's now his new favorite sound.

You pull back so you and Jimin are eye to eye; you want to speak but words are hard to convey.

“What's on your mind?” He's attentive, eyes searching yours for any hurt or worry.

“Do you cuddle with all your mission partners?” You try to lighten the mood and he laughs, so you assume it worked.

“No, only with the ones I like.”

His voice is soft when he says this, and it makes you melt a bit more.

“I really did think you hated me at one point.”

“I never did, I'm just very emotionally constipated. In all honesty I really do admire you, but I forced myself to see you as competition to avoid any of the weird emotional shit. Looks like it didn't work.” He finishes his sentence with a bitter chuckle; shame evident in his voice.

“I mean, I wasn't really all that nice to you either.” You try to easy his guilt.

“I wish we would've gotten off on the right foot.”

“Me too. But what's done is done.”

“I'm really sorry for not listening to you. I thought you were saying all of those things just to mess with me, but now I realize how stupid my logic sounds. Hearing what was happening over your microphone had me sick to my stomach. I can't even imagine how it must've felt for you.”

“It felt like my world was ending, honestly.” Your voice is quiet, but not enough to conceal how it cracks while tears pool in your eyes again.

“I never thought I would see him again. I'm still so scared, Jimin.” You begin to hiccup sobs, and he wastes no time in pulling you closer.

“It's okay. He's never coming near you again. I promise. You're safe, okay?” Jimin's voice was soft, feeling the way his chest vibrates against your head that's now tucked under it only helped calm you further.

You both remain like this until you've completely stopped crying and relaxed in his arms. Everything around you felt warm and tender, lulling you into deep sleep.

The last thing your brain manages to process is a soft kiss on your forehead, and words that sound a lot like:

“Goodnight, love.”

[adistiany]

STUDIO CABANA: THE TWO SIDES OF LOVE

When we are in love, we will think it is the best feeling ever. The fuzzy feeling that tickles in the stomach, the warm burning sensation on the face and neck that we cannot control, and the skip of our shoes when we walk towards the person who has our heart in their palms.

That’s what Yukari Maki feels for Yuusuke Kusaka nowadays as she steps the stairs to the school’s rooftop. There, she sees how divine Kusaka is in her eyes; his features that are accentuated by the sun, the soft locks of his raven hair sway with the breeze, and, most importantly, when his eyes dart and lock eyes with her, she swears she catches sight of how his dark irises are glimmering like pearls from this distance.

When Yukari Maki falls in love, she falls hard to the point where she scrapes her knees for falling too hard. On the ground, she’s bleeding and winching in pain, not from the fall but from the realization that her heart will never beat in rhyme and sync with his, for his heart is clutched by another woman. This is a story of an unrequited love….

Studio Cabana is an on-going shoujo manga series written and illustrated by Uma Agri. The series was first released on 24 March 2021 and has been serialized in Pixiv Sylph magazine, published by ASCII Media Work. As for now, the manga has six volumes published in Japan, and sadly, the series has not been licensed in English yet.

The story of Studio Cabana begins with a diligent high school girl named Yukari Maki who keeps scolding Yuusuke Kusaka, the rumored delinquent classmate, for skipping class and school duties. One day, she uncovers that he is a member of a band when she follows him into a music studio called Studio Cabana, and she also discovers that Kusaka writes and sings a love song with such a lovely, melancholic singing voice. From that day on, she is enthralled right away by his presence, voice, and heart.

This manga doesn’t deserve my 3.5 stars rating because I still can’t get over the story and characters in it. I believe I have to change it to a higher number like 4 to 4.5 stars. Oh, but I digress. Studio Cabana is a shoujo manga that hits the nail on the head for me; something I’d been craving but didn’t know what it is before. It’s full of drama and pretty complex for a shoujo. Also, it’s a slow burn romance with a focus on the characters relationship and its development.

Studio Cabana does a great job of blending typical shoujo elements with dark and mature tones. We have soft and funny interactions between the protagonist and the male lead, and on the other side, we see the complicated love affair between the male lead and another woman. It’s like, one is a dynamic of sincerity and welcomeness, and the other is poisonous and destructive. One is showing the beauty of the world; the other is isolating the person from the world. One is pure love, and another is toxic love. To see two different sides of love in a love triangle is not something that I expected in a manga.

To shoujo demographics, love is sacred, love is everything that brings good and happiness. When a manga presents that love can’t be all sunshine and rainbows, and love isn’t shown in a perfect or idealized way, that shatters the concept of love in shoujo, in my opinion. It's not every day to see the portrayal of love realistically. In the real world, love can make people greedy, blind, and dependent on it. It’s such an interesting topic because love, as an abstract feeling, can be a very complex concept for humans. This manga addresses a deep subject that can be quite handful to write, but I’m glad the mangaka does it well.

As Nicole mentioned on her blog romancemangarecs.com in her review: “…Love isn’t romanticized in Studio Cabana. We see some difficult relationships, manipulative personalities, tons of emotion and struggles among the characters, and of course an unrequited love. The author explores a really important topic about relationships and the difficulty of leaving emotionally abusive partners.” I couldn’t agree more.

Obviously, the intention of the author is not always making it a sad, tragic, angsty love story. We get to see the main characters having their sweet moments together as they’re slowly progressing their friendship. It’s also a story about self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-improvement. One needs to learn and grow before they can break free from toxic patterns and unhealthy relationship dynamics. One needs to learn and grow before they open themselves up to new possibilities in love and understand the true meaning of it.

All in all, Studio Cabana is a manga that surpasses my expectations. It's a compelling series that keeps me interested and captivated by the plot, themes, and characters. I can’t wait to see more of it, and I’m glad I discovered this manga. At the end of the day, it’s always stories that I didn’t expect to love!

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC Review: The Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles

4.25/5. Releases 9/19/2023.

Vibes: boss/employee, an Heir Hunt, a hero whose love language is hypercompetence, soft romanticism with just the right amount of angst.

After inheriting an earldom, Rufus finds himself in a dispute with his uncle--who brings up another snag in Rufus' inheritance, one Luke Doomsday. Rather than fight Luke, Rufus decides to hire him as his secretary and make him his ally. The allyship thing becomes rather complicated, however--not only because Luke is a part of a famous smuggling family, but because Rufus actually super wants to bone him. And Luke might be up to more than Rufus realizes...

KJ Charles is one of those authors with such a strong, distinct voice. That's consistent here, as is the rich setting and sense of subculture inherent in her Doomsday books. I think I might still prefer The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, but that's pure taste (and me being in love with Joss Doomsday). This was a more than worthy followup, and the boss/employee romance that everyone who's uncertain about boss/employee romances should read.

Quick Takes:

--Yes yes Rufus is Luke's boss, and this is something they actually talk about (and, in a very consensual and flirty and normal way) fetishize together. But rest assured, the power dynamics are fully acknowledged and confronted. Like, Rufus initially does feel a bit bad about lusting after his secretary, and he does make it very clear that Luke does not have to do anything he doesn't want to do. (Luke is... significantly less concerned.) I appreciated that.

I also appreciated that Luke points out that an official legal title does not necessarily... peak power... make? Which is a theme throughout this book. Yes, Rufus is an earl, but so many people look down on him despite his title because he is an ex-soldier and isn't able to read very easily, among other things. Yes, Luke is this lower-class guy who's risen up to become a secretary (in part because his cousin Joss Doomsday is absolutely railing a local baronet, bless) but the Doomsdays are also quite powerful in the era. Their power may not be "official", but it has a lot of reach that Rufus and his family can't quite grasp. So that does give Luke a bit more leverage in the relationship, and I found that so different from a lot of historicals that worship the title.

--Going back to reading being a struggle for Rufus... I loved how this was approached by the book. I never got the sense that Rufus needed to learn how to read more easily in order to be seen as a valuable person by anyone who mattered. Anyone who got on Rufus about this issue was an asshole. The main reason why he really "needed" to do anything was because he needed to know what he was looking at re: certain documents related to his responsibilities as earl. The problem was practical, versus being connected to Rufus's intellect in any sense; and it wasn't presented as him being this poor little lost boy, either. It wasn't condescending.

It did give Charles a great opportunity to weave in one of the most touching parts of the novel, however. So much of Rufus and Luke's romance is about the little things that they say and do for each other.

--There's a lot of cozy domesticity in this book? Much of it takes place on this estate that Luke and Rufus are trying to whip back into shape, and they spend so much time working together. You really get this lived in sense of their relationship, despite the fact that they haven't been together all that long.

--In a similar sense, this is one of those books where you just kind of feel like love creeps up on the leads in this very normal way. Like, there aren't a lot of BIG ROMANTICALLY CODED EVENTS (though there are a couple). Luke and Rufus falling in love is woven in throughout the story and in their everyday lives. Like, there isn't some big "omg I love him" moment; you just know that they have truly slipped into love together. It's really lovely and really quietly romantic, and I loved that.

The Sex Stuff:

KJ Charles writes sex in a way that is explicit, sexy, and like... often kind of funny? The sex in this one starts fairly early, which is something I appreciated about Country Gentleman and something I appreciated here. Like, they're definitely into each other by the time they start hooking up, but... they also just really want to throw down, you know? I loved that Rufus and Luke falling in love was aided by this sexual relationship between adults. This is very much one of those books where they're like "OH DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST SEX, WE WON'T FALL IN LOVE!!!" Which I am trash for.

I really had a good time with this one. KJ Charles is just one of those undeniably strong writers, and I have to just give a blanket recommendation for her books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[zzencat]

Hii, can I know which Kpop idol my future partner/husband most resembles and I don't even know if it's possible to know from tarot cards, but I would like to know what is the academic status of my future husband? Meaning how educated are they??

🍭🔮🤎, ♑, SS

Thank you 🐭

Sending you lots of blessings and love 💕

hi SS!! i love that kind of question it’s interesting af hahah thanks for sending it in!! it’s pretty long but count it as your morning newspaper or bedtime story:

kpop idols your future partner/husband resembles (personality):

has leadership qualities and spends a lot of time alone

might be gullible or spends a lot of time browsing shopping catalogs (most of the time for retail therapy), falls in the rabbit hole of “oh that looks interesting too…and this one…hmm, do i need that one? i might need it…maybe…oh but this one-“ you get my point hahaha

^ but they have an innocence to it. like naiveness to things like that. they’re incredibly open minded, which pulls me more toward the possibility that they could be a leader of something

this person should remind you of an old friend, a very home-y and comfortable vibe — a person that would do anything and everything for you

like the leaders that engage with fans on their lives and get shy-ish easily

action oriented!! bro is productive af and creative. workaholic too

daddy vibes

this person…works wayyyyyyy too hard. they’re very hard on themselves and never rests. it’s like they have this never ending ambition to chase their dreams and goals, pursue their creative desires—it really sucks bc everyone can see it, how they’re trapping themselves in a cage that only they can get out of. if you tell them to take a break, they’ll look at you with bloodshot eyes (after like what, 2 hours of sleep for 3 days?) and a bright smile and they’ll be like “nah, im not even tired! i still have more to finish!” but in an optimistic voice still. they never wanna see you worry for them, but inevitably, you do. anyone with or without a brain can see how much heart they put into their work. 😔

and there’s a lion on my strength card —> could have prominent leo placements? but also lions are often called “king of the jungle” -> leader/leadership skills. they’re very strong people and don’t give up in the face of adversity. they stay strong in order to protect the team as well

i think they also romanticize the idea of how love is supposed to be so they’re are naive to it. they’ll get their heart broken easily and might get confused or thrown off guard when a conflict arises, and then they’ll try to win back the other person (which, let’s just assume is the toxic one for example). they’ll fall into this abyss of overthinking and feeding themselves negative thoughts — but that also leads us to another thing: they’re very prone to taking criticism to heart.

^^ relating to this point of the ceaseless abyss of ideas, they’re very introspective people. they often reflect on their actions and see what they can improve on. people who criticize them can’t even compare to this person’s own demons, living in the mind rent free. even though these people are extremely thoughtful and considerate of literally EVERYTHING that they do, they are very very veryyyy perfectionistic and negatively affect their self esteem. it’s a terrible cycle, and they might not ever take in a single compliment that they receive seriously, because they’ve been put in a position of too much responsibility, knowing how to decide for everyone else, except for themselves. (leads to lack of knowing your own boundaries and limits)

chances are this person has a younger sibling(s) and they’re the oldest, so maybe they felt a need to protect the people they love (esp in an abusive household)

this person throws themselves in the middle of the crossfire bc they’re like a shield with the mindset “if you’re gonna attack anyone, attack me” 😮‍💨

DOES NOT accept help easily. believes that they can do it themselves and don’t want to burden other people. (this is super frustrating tho)

some examples (male): rapmon from bts (damn i feel so old calling him that…used to call him that back in like 2016 omg), but like rapmon from the old days, not recent years; bang chan (skz), he gave me the most vibes; mark lee (nct) kept appearing in my head randomly when i first started reading your ask but i can totally see it; taeyong (nct. but not all qualities listed above), scoups (svt); hyunjae (the boyz. he’s not the leader but he displays a lot of leadership skills. i’d say a big difference is that he has wayyy better self esteem and is good at setting boundaries for himself and others)

academic status:

pretty unclear. they make a lot of money, but they either have gone to school (small hunch: had a prestigious/wealthy or nonconventional schooling, maybe even homeschooling) for only as much as they needed before leaving to start some kind of business venture before returning to school way LATER on OR they did enough to take over a family business. either way, family is involved in their continuing or discontinuing of school, but they’re apparently wealthy so they have no big worries about your fs’s job. something huge happened and the family was blessed with a sudden influx of money. whatever their education is, they have a lot of money at the moment as backup.

thank you for waiting so patiently!! i hope this clarifies things for ya :)

[masterjedilenawrites]

Dear Master Jedi Lena,

Happy Belated Blog-versary! I know it's long past Valentine's Day, but I was hoping, and only if you have time, may I please be set up on a blind date? I would like to meet a clone, but a gentleman with some compassion would do too.

I'm simple and, unfortunately, socially anxious, awkward, and quiet - I'm more comfortable in the background. I feel emotions intensely, which often leads me to trouble by being overly affectionate, but I'm lucky I'm hard to anger.

I tend to romanticize the world and love learning - mostly about how mechanical things work, and technology that can make life better. I also love propagating cuttings from the plants in malls, baking and enjoying desserts, and listening to music that feels like the colours of sunset and dusk.

I'm also shorter than the average girl, but the best thing about being 5'2” is that whenever I look up to someone taller, and depending on where shadows fall, the sun gives them a halo.

If you're unable, I understand. Thank you so much for your time and your fics. I enjoy reading them very much!

Sincerely,

Io

Sorry to keep you waiting, Io! I'm fresh out of clones at the moment, they all seem to be off on missions right now, but I do have a nice gentleman you may like instead...

Your date is...

✨Cobb Vanth!✨

This is a guy who clings on to those "old fashioned" values of treating a partner right. Calling you ma'am or sir, paying for your meal, insisting on helping you up and down steps, even if there's only one. He'll also ensure you stay well hydrated and protected from the sun; life in the Tatooine dessert is no joke. He finds himself blushing when you point out that the sun gives him a halo from your perspective. He'll think about that comment for weeks.

He's a tad self conscious that his small town may come across as dull to you, but there's also a sort of pride in his voice when you get him talking about it. You can tell he truly cares about all of his people. He does know a secret spot outside of town, a moisture farm with a thriving greenhouse underground. If he gets the sense you are enjoying this date, he'll ask if you want to stop by there on your way back to the space port. He loves the contented gleam in your eyes from looking at all the plants.

Cobb will have definitely fallen just a little bit in love with you. Though he gets annoyed when the townspeople tease him about you, he secretly hopes you'll be willing to come back to visit him and possibly even become his sweetheart. He knows he's just a humble sheriff, but he'd find a way to give you the galaxy if you gave him a chance.

✨

Blind Date with a Star Wars character masterlist

[ren3gade]

the funniest thing about the super mario movie is all the little girls in the theater (sunday matinee) were totally in love with bowser, especially at the beginning. they collectively lost it during the part where he's rehearsing asking peach to marry him (awwww, he's so cute, etc).

granted, this happens BEFORE bower tries to murder everyone, but i was envisioning a deluge of slate articles lecturing 10 year olds not to romanticize toxic partners

since bowser looks like jack black and sounds like jack black, he ends up being way more likeable than he should be, and i think that was definitely the right call, and the whole 'jam with me' scene was probably my favorite next to the very fun side-scroller sequences.

there's not really any reason for chris pratt to be mario, so if they ever need to cut some budget corners *clears throat*. i think the idea is pratt can do 'generic nice guy' but--get ready for this--anyone can. charlie day works as luigi though. seth rogan is about as good a voice actor as he is an actor, i truly have no idea why he was cast, but keegan-michael key had me in awe lmao

peach ticks all the boxes for What Female Leads Need To Be In A Modern Children's Movie and while it's predictable, i'm not knocking it. considering the source material, i appreciate they made a conscious effort not to damsel the otherwise-expert-female-lead in the final conflict a la Despicable Me 2 and that horrible racist viking dragon movie sequel thing that appears to have completely dropped from the public consciousness thank god.

as far as kids movies go, it was pretty on-par with most of the ones i've seen lately tbh. a notable difference was a lot of the "in world" jokes fell flat (idk how to describe this, the characters tell a joke and laugh, but none of the audience laughs because it's not a funny joke) and there are a couple of more adult jokes that felt out of place (i honestly kind of dug the existential dread star guy but i don't think the kids got it at all).

I think they could have seriously condensed the beginning that sets mario and luigi up as losers who get kicked around by basically everyone. but the runtime felt ok and though there weren't a lot of laughs throughout, the kids seemed to enjoy it and everyone clapped at the end (this is an embarrassing regional thing, but it usually only happens in family movies people genuinely enjoy)

[chilopodacrudus]

Who do you Want to Be? Chapter 20: It Only Takes a Second

CW: Graphic depictions of violence; cannibalism, cults, (extremely NON romanticized) physical and verbal abuse, major character death, death, blood and torture.

Piers frantically walked over to Casey; hesitating before stepping out of the cage, his words finally hit him. “Me? Getting out...no you are too if I am.” Adrenaline hit. He stared down at the keys in Casey’s hands and rolled his head back with a soft laugh; eyes wild. “You’re really in it this time Casey.”

Casey: He had long since given up hope for himself but the least he could do was release Johnny’s attack hound to deliver a final bite. “No...I..I have doubts for me but you’re getting out; I’ll make sure of that.”

Piers: A plan; he had a plan, some many moons ago, he filtered through the pages in his mind. He saw a syringe; a sedative, the medical room, he knew how to get there. He remembered something else. “Do you remember the promise I gave you?”

Casey: Shaking he laughed and led Piers out of the basement. “Vaguely?”

Piers: “I promised I’d keep you safe didn’t I?” A smile on his lips; allowing Casey to steer him up the stairs and to the main hall. It was dark; good, he could work with this.

Casey: “I’m kinda...I’m kinda playing this by ear here so I’m was hoping you would have...something...to go off of after this.” Panic was setting in; he had snatched Johnny’s keys as the man lay sleeping, he prayed he’d not noticed but he couldn’t be sure.

Piers: “He’s got a gun.” Smiling down at Casey as he pieced the situation together. “You’ve got the keys though.” Gripping his hands against Casey’s wrist he navigated the map in his mind to the medical storage room; urging Casey to unlock it. “Ketamine…” As Casey undid the lock Piers rushed in and frantically searched through the copious amount of drugs in front of him. “If he’s still asleep...not instant though...he could still try something but he needs to go under.” He had found it; grabbing a syringe he shakily filled it and brought it with him. Grasping onto it in a white knuckle grip; eyes wide. “Are you ready?”

Casey: He had long since been ‘done’ but was he ready for this? That’s a very different question. “Sure.” He’d just follow Piers’ lead as they both make their way to the small holding room near the kitchen.

Piers: Making one last stop; he walked into the small room. A flood of voices and names filled his head; he had done a lot of work here in his time travel, he thought, his blade had kissed flesh more times than he could count. Grabbing the blade in his free hand he flashed a determined look to Casey as the shaking man took the lead; taking them to Johnny’s room.

Johnny HAD been asleep but the sound of footsteps triggered him to roll his eyes over and spit in a panic as he grabbed for Piers’ muzzle remote; causing Piers mouth to snatch shut. But Piers wasn’t fazed; Johnny’s eyes turned to Casey as he instinctively reached for his gun and fired off a shot at him, drilling Casey in the arm and causing him to give a sharp yell. Piers saw red. Casey snatched the remote to Piers muzzle before Johnny could test out the third button he had installed, unlocking Piers mouth then holding the device close to his chest. Piers rolled his jaw and grinned. “You missed me.” A stern voice on his lips and Piers was upon him. “THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? DOWN YOU STUPID DOG.” Johnny snapped to the side; repositioning his gun as Casey wrestled it from his hand, Piers helping by pinning him to the bed, syringe still clasped and ready. “Not this time ‘master’. Are you okay Casey?” His voice turned calm; nonchalant. Johnny had heard this voice many times before, it lit his mind on fire. “NONONO YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THIS...they’ll never stop…” He smirked. “They’ll never stop hunting you if you do this you FUCKING IDIOT.”

Casey: “I’m...I’m hit but I’m okay...I think…” Panting he drank in the expression on Johnny’s face; rolling his eyes back at his words. He knew it would be bad for them after this; he didn’t care. Piers didn’t either.

“Well that’s just something we’ll have to deal with as it comes along now won’t we.” Piers spoke as he secured Johnny under him. “Just enough to keep you from getting away; wouldn’t want you to fall unconscious too soon now would we?” Taking the syringe he pierced Johnny’s neck; injecting just enough to sedate him, he wanted him to be awake for this, he needed him to be.

Johnny: His attack dog had finally turned on him. He laughed to himself 'he was always crazy'; his eyes rolled to catch Casey's. 'Didn't figure the idiot had it in him; bad move.' There's something inside of him that made him eager for Piers' bite; eager to feel what he unleashed on the dozens of people that met their end from the fangs of his weapon. He didn't know why; he let those thoughts escape him. All he could feel was fear now; all he could feel was anticipation to an end.

Numbness; but only partially, lit through Johnny’s veins, he thrashed and yelled spitting out whatever words came to him before he saw the glint of Piers blade come into view, ‘fuck he’s really doing this’. “I’ve got money…” Johnny blurted out; gripping onto that thought with all his might. “I’ve got a looot of money Piers...and I can give it to you; money, girls anything you want anything you want at all.” Casey piped in sarcastically. “Yea and you sent quite a bit of money to my bank account didn’t you?...The meek little errand boy couldn’t hurt a fly.” Wildness in his eyes. Piers voice rang in Johnny’s ears. “Looks like we don’t need your money. I can see some other things you don’t need too...you know…” Seizing Johnny’s eye open; it was met with the bite of the tip of his blade, a scream called out, it was over, your pet made his choice. “Why did you have them remove the eyes? I thought that was odd...’religious’ reason maybe? I never was too fond of religion…” Johnny was wordless; only screams met Piers’ ears, he drank them in, they were intoxicating. Plucking the beast’s eyes from his face he ripped them forward and tossed them to the side. Shock hit Johnny; there were no more words. “Can you still hear me?” Piers teased; a sick smirk crawled across his lips, followed by a snarl, then a bite to Johnny’s throat, tearing into his captor’s skin like butter before ripping back and spitting the rotten flesh to the floor. Johnny’s blood tasted like poison on his mouth as he whispered. “You don’t deserve to see me snuff you out.”

Casey had watched; he wasn’t sure if he wanted to but he needed to. He didn’t feel it yet but it was on the horizon. Relief but first they needed to leave; needed to get somewhere safer. “We need to go; gotta get Allison and Doc, we have to leave NOW.” Casey gripped his hand on Piers shoulder; Piers tensed and nearly snatched Casey in his arms as well but he held himself back, eyes rolling forward as he stepped out of the bed and looked down at the man before him. ‘I promised to keep you safe.’ He reminded himself; fresh blood dripping down his neck. He held onto that thought; the latch had no need for Johnny’s name.

Piers: He spurred into action. “You get Allison and Doc; hand me your keys.”

Casey: Handing Piers the keys to his van he took a deep breath and ran to Allison’s room. ‘We did it; we’re free...no no no not yet everything can still go wrong.’ “ALLISON.” He screamed out; stirring her from her sleep. “Johnny’s dead.” The words felt like ecstasy on his mouth. “We need to go. Now.”

Allison: She could barely process what she was hearing; it felt like every emotion hit her chest at once but she didn’t question it. Wordlessly she nodded to Casey; Doc had been sleeping with her that night, she gripped his leash, kicking off her heels and ran down the hall after Casey. “Where’s Piers?”

Casey: “At the van now. We need to leave.”

Allison’s eyes darted around as all three of them rush out to the Van where Piers sit waiting in the drivers seat; frantically tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel. He watched through the rear view mirror as they entered. “Where are we going?” Allison blurted out. “Somewhere else.” Piers met her just as frantic; as they all pull out of the field one last time and tear down the road to somewhere.

Piers: Hours past; the van wasn’t hooked up to the camper, they’d be much too obvious in it anyway, they were obvious in this van too. Piers finally pulled off road into a clearing in the woods; driving as deep into it as he could. He stopped abruptly; a list of tasks rang out in his head. “We’ll have to buy a new vehicle...we need to get an RV...a phone...several phones maybe...getting a job will be hard…” He looked at himself in the mirror and cursed to himself; the mask. “Fuck…” He laughed to himself. “Can’t get the mask off without that stupid cane…”

Allison: She frowned; her panic made way to numbness but there was a hint of excitement in it. She felt bad though. Unhooking her seat belt she crawled into the front seat and placed her hands along the mask making Piers jolt but then relax. “We’ll find a way...don’t worry. We’re past the hard part…” She thought to herself ‘honestly I doubt that’. “We’ve just got to keep going.”

Piers: He felt dizzy but forced a smile. Turning off the van he unbuckled himself and turned to Casey. “Casey’s been shot Allison.” He felt her flinch. “In the arm...I’m not sure how bad.” He leaned into the back seat facing a completely silent Casey; a loving look on his face. “I need to look at it...okay?” A nod from Casey allowed him to continue; he pulled Casey’s sleeve up and examined the wound. It was a bad shot; mostly just grazed him but it was deep enough, a good chunk of flesh had been chewed through on the surface. “You’ll be okay but we need to get some medical supplies. Allison. We’re going to have to drive to town...you’re the only one that can go in a store right now without getting the police called.” He gave a soft chuckle. “We play it by ear.” He reaffirmed with her; his panic lessening but the adrenaline had worn off.

“Yea...play it by ear.” Allison folded the front seat forward to make more room in the back. Urging Piers to crawl back with her. She grabbed Casey gently and laid up against both of them. Piers met them in kind and collapsed in an exhausted lump over top of them; shielding them, protecting them. Doc responded in kind and curled up at their feet. ‘Good People.’ Doc thought. ‘My new family is Good People.’