#i will say though that uhh since like. object shows as a genre are not my current primary interest anymore

[moonsidesong]

was gonna drop I Want In after ep 3 since i was kinda put off by the toilet humor in the first couple of episodes and it didnt fully earn my favor back after that but the few osc people i still follow were raving about the most recent episode so i tuned in anyway and. Yeah i still dont like it that much... sad! well theres other shows

[bbangsoonie]

to my ex (best friend)

member: juyeon genre: fluff?? word count: 2,175 synopsis: thanks to kevin’s tiktok obsession, you end up sending out a google form to all of the people you used to call your best friends. one response brings back forgotten memories and feelings.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck with the Canada boys for another 4 years,” you jokingly groaned.

Today was officially move-in day and the beginning of your college life. After roughly unpacking in your dorm room, you went over to Jacob and Kevin’s room to hang out. Jacob had his guitar out and was playing random chords for you to hum along to. Kevin, on the other hand, was glued to his phone. TikTok had been his new obsession and he was constantly watching the endless feed of videos.

“Hey, we are the iconic trio,” Jacob insisted.

“Wow Eric is basically a TikTok star now,” Kevin commented as he showed you two the video that popped up on his For You page. “This kid is stuck on straight TikTok though.”

Jacob laughed, although he was unsure of what that exactly meant. Knowing this, you chuckled at his efforts to appease his roommate.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Kevin tugged at your arm in an urgent matter. “Can we also do that Google form trend?”

“Uhh which one?” you asked.

“The one where you send out a Google form to your ex-crushes or ex-friends,” he turned to Jacob to further explain. “So basically it’s a questionnaire either revealing your past feelings or confronting what happened between old friends.”

“I don’t know, man. Our high school years were pretty vanilla. We didn’t even have that many crushes,” you shrugged.

“Hmm I mean we did have that huge friend group freshman year. It’s a shame it kinda fell apart as time went by,” Jacob reminisced.

You were reminded of the people you once considered to be your best friends. It was you and twelve other boys, which should’ve hinted at the inevitable end. The beginning of the end started with Hyunjoon transferring to a different school. Then, as you all grew older and high school drama kicked in, you were the topic of many rumors. People didn’t understand—or like—that you were the only girl in an all male friend group. Girls called you all sorts of names and spread ridiculous lies about you that spread to neighboring schools.

No one in the group had any bad blood with each other. Life just pulled you in different directions and you simply grew apart. Some joined the dance team, which consumed most of their time. Some joined varsity teams and focused on getting a sports scholarship. Some became trainees and lost contact with everyone. Some, like you and the Canada boys, became busy with college applications. Everyone had their own reasons and there were no hard feelings.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to finally find out what they all think? Get closure before we start our journey as college students?” Kevin asked, eagerly.

“I guess,” you agreed.

“Alright! Then we’ll play rock paper scissors to choose who has to send them out,” Kevin declared.

Your unlucky streak, without fail, won you the embarrassment honor of writing and sending the form to all your former friends. You grumbled, displeased at the fact that you were now the scapegoat fulfilling Kevin’s curiosity. Nevertheless, you searched through your contact list to find everyone’s phone numbers and sent them the link, hoping that no one changed their number.

By the next day, you received responses from all 10 of them. The trio reconvened in Jacob and Kevin’s room to review the answers. The first few were essentially what you all expected. They explained how life became hectic and your paths just crossed less and less as your interests and goals changed.

When you came across Haknyeon’s comment, you couldn’t help but laugh.

“You still owe me ice cream for lending you my pen during our final exam,” you read aloud. You recalled the day; you were freaking out about your misplaced pencil case and he had kindly offered his extra pen.

“What else would you expect from the foodie?” Kevin laughed.

By the time you got to Juyeon’s response, however, you froze. Curious as to what caught you so off guard, Jacob took the laptop from your lap and gasped. Kevin peeped over Jacob’s shoulder and his jaw dropped after reading it. He immediately looked at you, wondering how you were taking the information.

You were confused. He had been the object of your love and attention for a good three years in high school. Not wanting anyone to find out, you had swallowed those feelings and the Canada duo were the only ones to ever catch on. You and Juyeon used to be extremely close—even closer than you and Kevin or you and Jacob. He always quietly took care of you and the two of you shared everything with each other until one day he suddenly became distant. Without an explanation, he left your side and never returned. You just assumed he wanted to stop being friends. It hurt but you didn’t want to force a one-sided friendship so you stopped reaching out to him.

“What the heck?” you finally blurted.

Jacob slowly closed the laptop shut, eyeing Kevin who seemed way too giddy. He felt uneasy, not knowing if this was a good thing.

“So your first love was requited,” Kevin said smugly. “I told you so.”

“Okay you had absolutely no facts to back up your assumption back then,” you argued.

“What did I tell you? My gut is never wrong.”

“Yeah but he also just cut me off out of nowhere. How else was I supposed to interpret that?”

“Clearly not the way we did.”

Jacob smacked his hand over Kevin’s mouth to shut him up. He knew how much pain Juyeon’s name brought you. You didn’t show it but you still had a soft spot for him.

“It’s okay, Jacob. Whatever feelings I had for Juyeon—good and bad—are history. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me,” you assured. “Besides, this doesn’t even mean anything. He wrote all of this in past tense. He’s just clarifying the reason why our friendship ended. Like Kevin said, I guess I finally got closure.”

“Closure? My brilliant idea has brought forth an opportunity for you to rekindle your love!” Kevin exclaimed excitedly.

“No. No way,” you shook your head. “The past is in the past. We are living very separate lives now.”

“Oh stop quoting Frozen and just try texting him,” he rolled his eyes. “Jacob and I never told you but he’s actually attending the same university as us.”

This prompted a very loud “What?” from you. Jacob buried his head in his hands, groaning. He was definitely going to get an earful.

“You’re bound to run into him eventually. So just take the initiative and face things head on,” Kevin advised. “Won’t that be less awkward than coincidentally meeting him after ignoring his response to the form you sent him?”

“And who’s the one who made me send it?” you glared, puffing your cheeks.

“You’re going to do it anyway so just hurry up and pretend you have no choice but to listen to me,” he snickered.

“Moon Hyungseo!”

At your use of his full Korean name, his eyes widened in fear and he jumped up to run away, barely avoiding your slap. Watching the scene in front of him, Jacob laughed. He had secretly hoped that you would reconnect with Juyeon as well. He knew how much you used to like him.

That night, you found yourself staring at Juyeon’s contact on your phone. Your heart raced at the thought of talking to him again. It had been years since you two last spoke and so many things had changed since then. You were no longer oblivious and clumsy teenagers. You knew each other’s past selves but didn’t know a thing about each other’s current selves. You were afraid that even if you became friends again, it would be too different. It was why you never harbored any hope for things to go back to “normal” with him. You couldn’t be disappointed if you never had any expectations to begin with.

Still, you took a leap of courage and sent a simple “hey” before you could chicken out. His reply was almost instant, which startled you.

You: hey

Juyeon: Hi Y/n

You: would it be weird if i asked to meet? i think we have a few things to talk about.. if that’s ok with you

Juyeon: Sure! How’s tomorrow at noon? We could talk over a meal at the school cafeteria

You: sounds good. see you then :)

You wanted to scream into your pillow. The awkwardness was driving you crazy but you were still looking forward to seeing him. He still had you wrapped around his finger and you hated it. But you still loved him.

The next day, your clothes were flung around all over your bed. You had rummaged through your entire closet to find an outfit you were satisfied with, resulting in you running a bit late.

Juyeon had arrived at the cafeteria early. He was so nervous that he couldn’t just stay still in his dorm. After all these years, he was finally confronting everything that he had concealed. He always felt guilty about the way he treated you and he was glad he could finally explain and apologize.

When he saw you approach him, he couldn’t stop himself from staring. It had only been a summer since he last saw you at graduation but your beauty still amazed him. He gulped, standing up to greet you when you reached the table.

The first few minutes were spent eating in awkward silence. Unable to bear it any longer, he cleared his throat to begin the conversation.

“Um so I guess my response to that form was a lot to unpack, huh?” he said sheepishly.

You almost choked on the food, surprised by his straightforwardness. He passed you your cup of water as you coughed.

“Yeah..” you mumbled.

“I want to start by saying I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I think I always had feelings for you. At first, it was subtle. I just liked spending time with you. I liked making you smile. I was content with just being friends. You know me, I’m the type to just watch my crush from afar. Then, as we got older, those feelings grew to be bigger than I could handle. I began to get greedy. And I felt that I could literally do anything for you. That’s when I realized how hard I fell for you and that scared me. I was afraid of ruining our friendship but I was also scared of my own feelings. So I started distancing myself from you. It’s a poor excuse but back then, I was a coward,” he confessed.

Juyeon had always been a very direct person. He never really beat around the bush and you liked that about him. That hadn’t changed about him but yet it still surprised you.

“If I could go back in time, I wish I could have done things differently. I knew I was hurting you but I thought that after all that’s happened, continuing to be friends with you would make you the center of gossip again. I didn’t want to make your life any harder,” he added.

“Juyeon, I cared about you a lot more than I did about those stupid rumors.”

“I know that now. But high schooler me was terrified of you finding out about my feelings.”

You contemplated on whether or not you should bring up your own past feelings. You wanted to reciprocate his honesty but were worried that it would be unnecessary. You took a deep breath and decided on the first option.

“You know, I was also terrified of having you find out about my feelings,” you admitted. Your words shocked him as he tried to figure out what you were implying.

“Wait, you.. You liked me too?” he gaped, making you blush.

“Let’s uh stop talking about that now,” you said as your cheeks reddened to a darker shade.

“While we’re opening up..” he looked at you with hesitance. “Is there any chance you still feel the same way now?”

His question caught you entirely off guard. You blankly stared at him, wondering if you heard him correctly.

“Juyeon, this is the first proper conversation we’ve had in years,” you deadpanned.

“That’s not an immediate no,” he lit up.

You wanted to laugh at his simplicity. His childlike innocence was still the same. It warmed your heart to see that he hadn’t changed as much as you were afraid he would. Yet, the fear in the back of your mind remained. You weren’t confident that you could even resume your friendship with him. At your silence, he tried to lighten the mood.

“So then would being friends again be okay with you?” he asked.

“I guess we could try,” you slowly nodded, bringing a bright smile to his face. You didn’t notice that your expression reflected his.

“Great,” he grinned happily.

And that was the beginning of a new story between you two.

bonus:

[jumukus]

A3! Event: Harugaoka Quartet Chapter 10 Translation

It’s show time! Heads up on the characters: Ennis: Citron Youta: Masumi Yuu: Sakuya Katsumi: Tsuzuru Machida: Itaru Toujou: Chikage

Izumi: (The play is set in Private Harugaoka Music School, the best boarding school for music in the country….)

Machida: “Saionji, why don’t you participate in the school’s chamber music competition?”

Ennis: “Me? Why?”

Machida: “Why, you ask? You’re also one of the students in this school, you know.”

Ennis: “I don’t have any interest in chamber music.”

Machida: “Well, don’t say that. To tell you the truth, there are some guys troubled because one of their violinists has to miss out on the competition due to injury.”

“You’re not preparing for any competition right now, yes? Why don’t you go help them?”

Ennis: “Only if the others are competent.”

Machida: “There’s also the school’s solo competition held at the same time, after all, huh. Well, they are fairly competent….”

Ennis: “...All right, I’ll help out.”

Machida: “Huh, really?”

Ennis: “Why are you surprised when you’re the one asking?”

Machida: “No, I actually just gave it a try and asked you. I appreciate that. I’ll contact Katsumi Hino from the third year—he’s the coordinator.”

Katsumi: “To think that the emperor will really join our chamber music….”

Ennis: “...And you are?”

Katsumi: “Oh, so you don’t know? I am Katsumi Hino from viola major. You accepted to be the pinch-hitter for the upcoming chamber music competition, right?”

Ennis: “Yes. I’m Ennis Saionji.”

Katsumi: “Everyone knows your name even if you don’t give it out. I’ll introduce you to the others, come with me.”

Youta: “I’m the first violin, Youta Mukai. I’m in first year.”

Ennis: “The first year is the first violin?”

Katsumi: “He came on top among the first years during enrollment, in addition to having promising future.”

Yuu: “Uhh, I’m in charge of the cello, Yuu Yoneda. I’m in the same year as Youta.”

“Uh, I love Saionji-san’s performance! I went to listen to your performance at the final selection for the competition——.”

Ennis: “I’ll be the first violin.”

Youta: “Huh?”

Ennis: “That’s obvious, right? It’s only appropriate for me to be taking the role, and I don’t have any interest in taking charge of other things beside the first violin.”

Katsumi: “Ah… But we already started practicing…”

Youta: “.....All right.”

Katsumi: “Huh? You’re really okay with that?”

Youta: “I don’t mind.”

Ennis: “What’s the song?”

Katsumi: “Haydn’s ‘String Quartet, Op. 74’.”

Ennis: “‘Knight’, huh…. The first violin stands out too much, and to make matters worse, the others who are already inconspicuous don’t stand out even more. That’s reckless.”

“If you do it at all, I think we can play Mozart’s ‘Spring’.”

Youta: “Huh……….?”

Katsumi: “No, but, we’ve already——.”

Ennis: “You should be able to play songs at this level right away. Will you please prepare the score?”

Yuu: “.....Eh!? Ah, m-me!?”

Ennis: “Do it quick.”

Yuu: “Ye-yes!”

Youta: “.....”

Katsumi: “As expected of Saionji….”

Ennis: “Let’s try playing the song lightly.”

Yuu: “Eh? Just by first look?”

Katsumi: “Are you for real….”

Youta: “*sigh*...”

Ennis: “.....”

“.....”

Audience A: ——.

Audience B: Eh…. Is he playing it live?

Izumi: (The audience is surprised since they didn’t think we’d be performing for real.)

(This is the highlight of the musical part… The audience is immediately drawn in just by listening to this live performance.)

(Moreover, his performance sounds more cold than the time when he played for Prince Tangerine. The tone on the other parts also sounds like something that he plays without emotion…)

(The only one who can change such emotion for the musical part is Citron-kun.)

Youta: ——.

Katsumi: (Amazing….)

Youta: (This sound is…. too overwhelming.)

Yuu: (This is the emperor’s music….! It sounds like it will swallow you in.)

Izumi: (Masumi-kun is as good as usual. He manages to express how Youta gets really into Ennis’ rendition well.)

(Tsuzuru-kun and Sakuya-kun’s casting is also perfect. They don’t look out of place even when standing next to Citron-kun and the others.)

Ennis: “....Any objection is out of the question.”

Katsumi: “Give me a break. It’s impossible for us to be able to play like you.”

Ennis: “You can, with practice.”

Youta: “...”

Ennis: “——.”

Youta: “——Ennis-senpai, please hold back a little bit. Everyone can’t follow you.”

Ennis: “Then, you should make an effort so that you can follow me.”

Youta: “....”

Katsumi: “We wouldn’t suffer if we could do that.”

Ennis: “Cello, you’ve been off-beat since the 43rd bar.”

Yuu: “Ah, I’m sorry….!”

Ennis: “Overall, your performance hurts my ear.”

Youta: “What——.”

Katsumi: “Ah—…..”

Yuu: “I’m sorry….”

Toujou: “You don’t have to say it like that, Saionji. This much will do for today.”

Ennis: “.....”

Yuu: “Uh, Ennis-senpai——.”

Ennis: “I’ll take my leave.”

Yuu: “....”

Izumi: (Not only the musical part, but how Citron-kun executes Ennis’ aloof personality in the play also looks very good.)

(It reminds me of the Citron-kun that I saw when he was a crown prince in Zahra. Maybe this is also a side of Citron.)

Katsumi: “Just as I thought, asking the emperor to perform chamber music is impossible.”

Youta: “I can’t team up with someone who doesn’t feel like coordinating.”

Toujou: “Hmmm, this is bad.”

Yuu: “I shall withdraw from this competition.”

Youta: “Huh!? What are you saying? We’ve promised to perform together.”

Yuu: “But I’m slowing you guys down.”

Youta: “If this is about Ennis-senpai, the one who should be dropping out is senpai.”

Yuu: “Ennis-senpai’s skill is the real deal—It’s perfect. Compared to me who can’t match your rhythm, I’m bad.”

Youta: “——.”

Yuu: “Youta? Where are you——.”

Katsumi: “Hmm, are the two freshmen absent? Well, the practice is dismissed for today. Good work.”

Ennis: “....”

Toujou: “Huh? Is it only you, Saionji?”

Ennis: “I was told that my play sounded lonely.”

Toujou: “Lonely?”

Ennis: “It was the first time someone said it to me. My performance has always been perfect. I never think it’s lacking something.”

Toujou: “You cannot play a song with one violin when it is meant to be played by a quartet at the very least.”

“Don’t you think that it is the only thing “lacking” in your performance, Saionji?”

Ennis: “....”

Izumi: (The adult group has also been given specific roles; they are supporting the performance well with their relaxed acting.)

Youta: “Yuu? If you’re practicing, it’s——.”

Ennis: “....”

Youta: “Ennis-senpai….”

Ennis: “Why did you not show up to practice?”

Youta: “You don’t even need me, right?”

Ennis: “A quartet song won’t be completed with one violin.”

Youta: “——.”

“....Got it. It’ll be alright if I show up to practice, right, If I show up. But please apologize to Yuu before that.”

Ennis: “Why do I have to do that? I’ve never done something that I need to apologize for.”

Youta: “——You, really,”

Yuu: “Huh? Katsumi-senpai?”

Ennis: “I haven’t seen his figure.”

Youta: “He’s likely hanging out at that place.”

Katsumi: “Sweet, I got it!”

Youta: “See?”

Katsumi: “Huh? What’s wrong, guys?”

Ennis: “What is this place?”

Yuu: “Have you never been to a game center before?”

Ennis: “No.”

Katsumi: “Do you want to give it a try, then?”

Youta: “What about practice?”

Katsumi: “There, there. This is part of social studies.”

Izumi: (Even though Tsuzuru-kun has tried playing characters who are really different to his real self, this one feels a lot more natural. I think this is because he uses Itaru-san as a role building reference.)

Ennis: “....Can I push this button?”

Katsumi: “The emperor playing a crane game is such a rare sight.”

Izumi: (The relationship between these four gradually changes…. Citron-kun expresses the change in Ennis’ feelings well.)

Ennis: “You need to be more gentle. Be aware of the anacrusis.”

Yuu: “....”

Ennis: “Second, you need to pull yourself out more with the same spirit from before.”

Youta: “——.”

Ennis: “The fourth bar just now didn’t sound that bad.”

Youta: “Huh….”

Yuu: “R-Really?”

Ennis: “Yes.”

Katsumi: “That’s rare.”

Youta: “It’s only the fourth bar, you know.”

Yuu: “But that’s a huge improvement!”

Katsumi: “Yup.”

Ennis: “——.”

Katsumi: “The emperor is smiling.”

Ennis: “What do you mean by that?”

Katsumi: “It means what it means.”

Youta: “It’s the first time I’ve seen t.”

Yuu: “Yeah….!”

Izumi: (As Ennis finally opened his heart to the other three, a gentle smile is naturally born on his face….)

(Citron-kun has really gotten good at acting…)

(He has it harder than anyone since he has more words that he needs to remember, but he has grown into such a fine actor without us realizing.)

Machida: “Heey, good work. Sorry for asking you for something that you’re not used to.”

Ennis: “?”

Machida: “Hm? Haven’t you heard?”

“You know, the guy from the quartet group that I told you was injured—Hino Satoshi; he has been doing good in recovery and it looks like he can make it in time for the competition.”

Ennis: “....”

Machida: “Ah, and Toujou-sensei is calling you. Go to the lesson room after this.”

Ennis: “....Got it.”

Ennis: “Excuse me.”

Toujou: “Yeah; it’s you, Saionji.”

Ennis: “What do you want to talk about?”

Toujou: “No, it’s just—there’s an international competition coming soon. Please give it some thought too, Saionji.”

“You’ve always passed up on that since the genre is different from yours, but don’t you think you should give it a try this year? Your performance has changed incredibly too.”

“Well, I know you also have that quartet-thing of yours, so don’t take it seriously——.”

Ennis: “I’ll do it.”

Toujou: “Huh, but don’t you have practices over there?”

Ennis: “It’s not a problem. It looks like the helper is not needed anymore.”

Toujou: “....?”

Youta: “Ennis-senpai, why didn’t you show up to practice?”

Ennis: “There’s no need for three violins.”

Youta: “Huh? Ah, that guy’s injury——.”

Ennis: “Excuse me.”

Youta: “Please wait! There’s no need for you to withdraw this late, Ennis-senpai.”

Ennis: “I wasn’t even interested in chamber music to begin with.”

Youta: “——.”

Ennis: “Good luck on your competition.”

Youta: “——Just as I thought, you were lonely! Were we the only ones who were having fun!?”

Ennis: “....”

Katsumi: “So, what should we do?”

Yuu: “And this is based on Ennis-senpai’s strings…..”

Katsumi: “Should we go back to our original plan and play ‘Knight’?”

Youta: “....Yeah, that’s fine. Ennis-senpai isn’t here anymore, anyway.”

Yuu: “Youta…..”

Ennis: “....”

Toujou: “Hmmm… It sounds like something you’d perform in the past.”

Ennis: “In the past?”

Toujou: “You’re too fixated on perfectionism. It sounds serious and stiff. Since you can’t concentrate like usual, I think we should really give up on the competition.”

Ennis: “....It’s lacking sound.”

Toujou: “Hm?”

Ennis: “No matter how many times I play, the music that’s flowing through my head is lacking sound. It can’t become the music that I imagine. It’s lacking.”

Toujou: “...Then, it may be a waste to practice even when you already found the music that you’re looking for. Please go home for today.”

Ennis: “——.”

Ennis: “.....”

Youta: “...Ennis-senpai?”

Ennis: “....”

Youta: “What are you doing here, aren’t you still in the middle of lesson? You’re going to participate in international competition, right?”

Ennis: “It’s lacking sound.”

Youta: “Huh?”

Ennis: “No matter how many times I play, the sound is missing. The music can’t become perfect. Ever since I withdraw from the quartet, it has always been——.”

Youta: “....A quartet won’t be completed with only one violin. No matter how many times you play by yourself, it’ll always be missing.”

Ennis: “——.”

Youta: “Please come back. I’ve discussed this with Yuu and Katsumi-senpai, and we think it’ll be better for us take a rest now.”

“We’re lacking too.”

Ennis: “....I got it.”

Izumi: (Then, during the performance, the four once again played “Spring”....)

(The performance sounds different from the one in the first scene. It sounds like the one they played to Prince Tangerine, a warm spring melody….)

Machida: “.....’Spring’, huh.”

Toujou: “I was wondering what would happen when the emperor joined a quartet, but it turns rather interesting, huh.”

Machida: “Asking him for the impossible was worth it in the end.”

Toujou: “They struggled a lot, though.”

Host: “And the first prize goes to——.”

Izumi: (The “Spring” melody in the distance gradually disappears…)

Tangerine: ——.

«Nii-sama, you’re indeed amazing….!»

Mika: «I expect no less from Citronia-sama. He shines bright wherever he goes.»

Guy: «It seems he managed to pull it off.»

Izumi: Well then, for the success of our first day, and for us to meet Prince Tangerine and Mika-san again someday——cheers!

Sakuya: Cheers!

Misumi: Chee~rs.

Citron: Cheers!

Tasuku: This has somehow turned multinational.

Izumi: Japanese food and Zahran food?

Chikage: I wanted to master Zahran food while Mika is here.

Izumi: There are some that I’ve tried before, but there are also some that I’ve never ever seen.

Taichi: Ah, is this kebab? It’s tasty~!

Izumi: This one looks like fried rice, but….

Chikage: It’s cooked with spices.

Izumi: Whoaah, it looks delicious!

Omi: We have a lot of Japanese dishes, too.

Tangerine: Ah, I love sukisuki!

Omi: You mean “sukiyaki”, right. Since this will be the last time you eat Japanese food, you can eat as much as you want.

Tangerine: Yes!

Tsuzuru: You cooked a little bit too much, huh.

Omi: Well, it’s fine.

Sakuya: It’s delicious!

Tasuku: It tastes good.

Taichi: Second, please~!

Tsuzuru: You have a point…. The amount of food is gradually decreasing.

Itaru: Here’s a souvenir for you.

Tsuzuru: Ah, you avoided giving him capsule toy.

Chikage: He gave him a figure instead.

Tsuzuru: It doesn’t change that much, you know.

Misumi: I’ll give you a triangle as souvenir~.

Tsuzuru: A local pennant….

Itaru: The Souvenir, huh.

Izumi: It might be a very Japanese-like thing in a sense.

Citron: This one is from me! It’s something that is very popular among adults and children in this country!

Masumi: Plastic model….

Itaru: I expect no less from Citron. You understand.

Tsuzuru: If you only give him things like this, the image of Japan will be….

Chikage: Will the diplomacy be all right?

Tasuku: Anyway, the quartet play was very good.

Misumi: The music was sparkling and beautiful~.

Tangerine: Onii-sama, Masumi, Tsuzuru and Sakuya were all amazing!

Masumi: That’s obvious.

Tsuzuru: Thanks.

Sakuya: I’m glad you watched it, Prince Tangerine!

Izumi: (Prince Tangerine has completely fit in, too. I’m sure Citron-kun is happy——huh?)

(Where did Citron-kun go? I should go look for him.)

Tangerine: ——Director.

Izumi: ?

Tangerine: Thank you for letting me stay in the dorm. I had a lot of fun.

Izumi: I see. That’s good, then!

Tangerine: The play this time is wonderful as well. And then….

There’s something that I’d like to officially request from you as the crown prince of Zahra.

Izumi: Huh….?

Izumi: ——.

(This melody…)

Citron: …..

Izumi: (Just as I thought, it’s Citron-kun.)

Citron: ——.

Izumi: Citron-kun looks really lively when you plays the violin.

Both your musical performance and acting were really beautiful today.

Citron: I had fun too. I appreciate Tsuzuru for granting my request to play the violin.

I’m really happy to be able to play “Spring” along with Spring Troupe. I’m also happy that Tangerine got to watch the play.

Izumi: Good for you, Citron-kun.

Citron: I’ll be sad when the final show comes. I want to perform the play 2,000 times more.

Izumi: That’s quite the long run…!

Citron: That’s how much I’ve come to love the play.

Izumi: Then… should we hold additional shows?

Citron: Oh?

Izumi: I just received an official request from Prince Tangerine whether we could perform the play in Zahra.

In terms of performance, I think common culture subjects like music could be easily conveyed to people of Zahra….

I’d totally want to take this chance as a general director——kyaa!?

Citron: Director! That’s awesome!

Izumi: Wait, if you’re spinning me round and round like this, my eyes——!

Citron: I’m so, so happy!

Izumi: Hold, hold on. Let me go for once!

Citron: I can formally do my “minister of exploding art” job in the end!

Izumi: Is there such a job position….?

Citron: I’m sure the people of Zahra will be happy! I’m looking forward to it!

Izumi: Yes. Everyone in Spring Troupe is looking forward to that too!

We’ll be travelling to a new world again. Then, our unforgettable performances and memories are increasing by a lot too.

Citron: My journey is still going on!

< Chapter 9 | Masterlist | Epilogue >

[skyecrandall]

Ghosts & Pizzas - ILITW Fanfic

Book: It Lives In The Woods

Genre : Comedy

Number of words : 3163

Summary: Noah believes that they should try and tame Jane. But will it all go according to plan?

Notes: This is my ILITW Appreciation Week Submission! Also In this universe, the group learned that Jane was actually Redfield and no one died back in the cave. Somehow the ritual was disrupted, they were able to escape and sealed again.

Pizza Mega:

"So Ava, what did you need us for?" asked Dan, who was sitting opposite her in the 8 person booth. "Hold on sweetie. Stacy, Noah and Kang are not here yet," replied Ava while toying with a coin. "Talking about the wolf, here comes Stacy," said Aaron who was sitting besides Dan. "Hey guys, how are you all doing?" Asked the cheerleader as she was about to sit next to Aaron. "Wait! Don't sit there. Noah told me to reserve his place there or whatever. I don't know what he is planning but might be better you move next to Lily instead," objected Ava. "What? You are guys are weird," said Stacy confused as she sat next to Lily when her eyes fell on Lucas who was scribbling in a diary on the other side of Lily. "I hope this not a study session," she said. "No, this is just some leftover work. I've been down in inspiration and figured that maybe if I bring it here something will come up but nothing seems to stick," said Lucas as he crossed over a certain section of the diary in frustration. "You definitely burnt out Lucas. You should have stepped down from some of your previous responsibilities," said Lily. "I did. Now I'm only president of 8 clubs along and have the usual council president going on," said Lucas. "That's still too much!" exclaimed Lily when Dan's voice, filled with terror could be heard.

"Wh-what is he doing here!" He said. "You better have a good explanation, a very good one, Kang and Marshall" said Aaron with a frown. Lily and Stacy were going to turn their head behind to see what caused the ruckus but as they are a special voice right beside their tables.... their stomach flipped. "Hell~oooo Fri~ends," said the voice all too familiar to everyone. Right beside them was standing Andy, Noah and Redfield in a trench coat and a large hat. "There, sit next to Aaron," said Noah as he invited Redfield to sit next to Aaron and then sat on the other side of the ghost. Andy dragged a stool on the side and placed it in the middle and sat. "Why is she...here? Why did you. two...bring her here?" Said an uncomfortable Lily.

"I was thinking that since we can't keep running away from Jane and our attempts to seal did not end well, we might accept her and try to make her less violent," said Noah. "Do you know how stupid you sound right now? And I can't believe how you of all person could agree to this, Andy," said Stacy with a disapproving glare. "Noah is really convincing... and if we could control her power. Wouldn't we all have a better life. I mean as terrible the consequences of her gifts was...it still was very beneficial to us...," said Andy after taking a deep breath. "I can see your points," said Lucas as he took off his glasses to wipe them. "Not you too Lucas!" Protested Aaron. "I know... but think about it. Befriending her and teaching her what is right or wrong might be our best bet at permanently pacifying her violent tendencies. If we teach her that sending moss monsters and infesting buildings with spiders and what not is wrong, we might no longer have to deal with these?" Continued the council president. "See Lucas gets it! Plus remember that it is actually Jane! Let's see how she behaves today and you'll see that we could continue with the plan," said Noah with a smile. "You know, I love you a lot Lucas, but sometimes you make it so hard to do so," said Aaron has he glared at his date this time.

"Me... very happy that friends...spend time together....My gifts," said Jane as she took out 8 dolls from the trench coat. They were made from dried vines, branches, flowers, leaves, feathers and fur. "Are these voodoo dolls?" Said Dan shocked by how each doll seemed to be representing one member of the crew. "Only one way to check," said Stacy as she dug through her purse and brought out a needle. She then took the doll that resembled Noah the most and stabbed it at where would normally be his groin resulting into a collective expression of pain on the group's face. "Well... since Noah doesn't seem to be hurt, I guess they are not voodoo dolls. Still I think I'll keep them. They will be useful when I have some anger to work on," continued Stacy as she stabbed the Noah dolls a few more times before putting every miniature dolls in her purse.

"Hold on, wasn't Ava the one who called us here? So does that mean you were also aware of this?" Said Lily as suddenly everyone's glare turned to the goth. Shocked by the turn of events, Ava only yelled for the waiter to come and take their order. "Don't worry Ava, this is just a discussion saved for latter," said Aaron. "Are you making threats Aaron? Remember I'm the one who makes curses here," replied Ava. "I'm a bad bitch Ava, your curses don't mean shit to me," replied Aaron. Their discourse was cut short as the waiter approached.

"Hello, I'm Daniel and I'll be your waiter. What would you like to order?" Said the waiter. "4 Mega Gourmet as usual?" Said Lucas followed by a series of nods. "And for drinks?" Asked Daniel. "Mr.Cocola here," said Andy. "Same here," added Noah. "Make that 3," added Dan. "Milkshake. Banana-Vanilla," said Stacy. "I'll have a coffee here with 1 table spoon of milk and sugar," said Lucas. "What the hell? Coffee with pizza? Are you nuts?" Asked Noah. "So what? I also need caffeine here," replied Lucas. "I'll also take a coffee. Dark and bitter... Like my soul," said Ava while constant staring at Lucas with a smile. "This is isn't a competition Ava," said Lucas. "I never said it was," replied with goth. "I'll take the Lemon Spritzer. I have always wanted to try it," said Aaron. "You'll love it Aaron! I'll take a Spritzer too. Tropical flavor though," said Lily with a smile. "I think that's it. Thank you," said Aaron.

"What about the one in the Halloween outfit? Won't they drink anything? I must say though, this is an amazing Halloween outfit. They will definitely be the king of costumes next week for Halloween," said Daniel. "Uhh no. Jane w-" said Aaron before Redfield cut him off. "Me take same as ... Aaron..." groaned Redfield. "Good. So the order is 4 Mega Gourmet. 3 Mr.Cocola , 1 Banana Milkshake, 1 coffee with 1 tablespoon of milk and sugar, 1 black coffee, 1 Tropical Spritzer and 2 Lemon Spritzer," asked Daniel. "Yes you got it," said Noah and then Daniel departed. "Wow, good thing that he didn't notice that it wasn't actually a Halloween outfit," said Andy. "Shut up dammit! He isn't gone yet.oh crap he is coming back," said the ex football star. Daniel returned to their table and tapped Andy in the shoulder as the latter started sweating. "Also could you please return the stool after you are done?" Asked Daniel. "Yeah... sure," said Andy, relieved that Daniel didn't here anything about Mr.Red.

After Daniel was gone, Aaron came back for Ava. "So? Are you associated with these two too?" "Ugh... Yes. They needed someone as back up if ever he went violet when they were negotiating with him. Plus they needed my collection of ghastly horror stories," said Ava, knowing that she can no longer avoid the topic. "Plus with Redfield around, I might be able to improve my abilities even more," she continued. "Anyway, let's start. Ava, ready the movie," said Noah and Ava took out her phone and played a video with a rather gruesome ghost attacking a group of people and dismembering them. "What kind of movies do you watch Ava? I know Noah asked for a dangerous ghost but isn't that far too violent?" Asked Andy with disgust. "No it is perfect. The more violent it is, the better it is. Anyway Jane, you see the video? This is bad. You must not do that! " said Noah. "This...bad?" Said Jane slowly. "Yes! This is bad! Jane isn't a bad girl is she?" Said Noah. "No... Jane... good girl... Me... not bad," said Jane. "This is ridiculous," complained Aaron. "I know right? In no way this will turn her more docile," added Stacy. "Not with this attitude! There is something called positive reinforcement," said Noah. "I'm not sure this is applicable here," added Lily.

"Moving on. Jane, if you truly are a good girl, you must not do that. Understood?" Asked Noah "Understood...Me...no longer...doing that," said Jane. "Good. If you are a good girl and angry.... you should do this instead... Next video Ava," said Noah and Ava changed the video. This time she played the video of how a cartoon ghost dropped the pants of a ghost hunter. "Only good girls do that if you are angry. You are a good girl aren't you Jane?" Said Noah. "Yes! Me ... good girl!" Said Jane with eyes glowing more than usual. "I don't know why but I'm having a bad feeling about all of this," said Dan.

And so for the next few moments, Noah kept teaching Jane proper behavior until the food finally arrived.

"Drat. They haven't cut the shares. Andy can you grab some knives," said Dan. "No... I'll do it..." said Jane and the next second 2 knives flew toward's Dan's head, missing it by only a few inches, even piercing through the glass pane beside him. "HUUUUH" exclaimed Dan shocked. "What the hell Noah! You said Jane will not try anything like that anymore," complained Stacy. "Uhh. This is wrong Jane. You must not be violent. This is bad," Noah scolded his ghastly sister. "Sorry... Here... apology," said Jane as she made two knives very slowly float towards the group when Andy grabbed them mid air. "That is far too slow! What if someone saw it" said Andy as he placed the knives on the table "Sorry..." said Jane sadly.

"Can you give me a fork Andy?" Asked Lucas. "Eh why? Pizzas are best when eating with hands," asked Andy. "He's just showing off his snob side," teased Ava. "I just can't have myself dirtying my paper with my hands," glared Lucas. "Fine...," said Andy as he was going to get off when Noah stopped him. "Wait, let's give Jane a last chance! Come on Jane, bring us a fork! Not too quick and not too slow and not in a way people will notice," ordered Noah. "Sneaky? Okay!" Said Jane as everyone stared at the vase containing the forks. A pair of tarantulas climbed on top of the can and took one of the forks and placed it on their body. They then quickly crawled towards the groups's table carefully avoiding the other plates. When they finally reached Lucas's seat, they separated and one grabbed the fork between its claws while the other took a knife and started cutting a piece of pizza. The tarantula with the fork then stabbed it and started walking on Lucas' arm to his elbow and then tried aiming the food at his mouth. Everyone was shocked by scene. "I don't know if this is cool, terrifying or plain disgusting," said Ava awestruck. "How about all the 3 of it?" Said Andy. "Are you okay Lucas?" Asked Lily. "Surprisingly Ye-" said Lucas before the tarantula was finally able to put the forked pizza in his mouth. "Sorry Lucas, I don't think I'll be willing to kiss you these few days," said Aaron, bewildered by what just happened.

"Jane I know you had good intentions, but this might have been a little too much? Dropping the fork on the table would have been enough," said Noah. "Sorry again..." said Jane as she started sipping her drink via the pipe and soon the crew also started eating, expect Lucas... too terrified to do anything. However very soon after however... "Dammit Aaron, I know you are grossed out and scared but no need to wet your pants!" Said Noah. "What the hell Noah! What are you imp-" exclaimed Aaron when he suddenly felt something wet creeping towards him. He looked at the source and found a juice puddle spreading from Jane's spirit. "Goddammit, Noah! Look what Jane did!" Said Aaron. "Hey! It's not her fault if she has an immaterial body?" replied Noah. "Still you might want to clean it up with some napkins, we do not want the management to see this," said Lily. "Also, Jane... No more drinks for you !" Said Stacy as she swiped the remaining Spritzer remaining from Jane. "Guys, quiet down. The she-devil is coming towards us," said Dan and indeed, Britney was coming towards the group.

"For your information Dan, I heard you call me a she-devil. Don't you know this is rude?" She scowled. "Well don't you know that coming uninvited to a lunch with friends is rude?" Replied Stacy. "This is a public building. I can go wherever I want," said Britney. "Then why don't you go and fuck yourself," said Ava. "Why don't you go do that yourself?" Replied Britney. "As you can see you are not welcome here so can you just go? I didn't know that you are as obsessed with us that you followed us," said Lily. "Don't be fucking rude. The world doesn't revolve around you. I'm just here for Lily!" Said Britney, really angry as she started hitting Stacy with her purse. "Hey! Stop!" Exclaimed Stacy as she tried to defend herself with her hands.

Their skirmish eventually caused Stacy's drink to fall down, spilling it on her shirt. "Oh no!" Said the cheerleader. "Heh, it is not any different from your usual trashy outfit," chuckled Britney but unfortunately her action caused a certain somebody to get angry. "YOU! HURT! STACY!" Yelled Jane as she used her telekinesis powers to levitate cutlery all around Britney. "What the hell is that? Whatever freak-stuff you are doing, you better stop it Ava," threatened Britney even if she was scared. "Oh no! She's gonna kill her!" Exclaimed Dan before he started hyperventilating. "Stop Dan. Calm down or you might faint," said Lily but it was too late, Dan had already fainted. "Noah stop this dammit !" Yelled Aaron as he checked on Dan. "Uh...Jane, stop this! What did we tell you earlier! You are a good girl aren't you?" Said Noah. Jane held the cutlery for a few more seconds before putting them back in the jar. Her eyes glowed and then Britney's belt undid itself before her pants dropped to the ground, exposing her underwear to the group. "Oh my god? Are those Bye Puppy underwear? I never knew you were into in this sort of thing Britney?" Teased Stacy. "I will repay all of you for this embarrassment. I swear it," said Britney as she quickly lifted back up her pants before rushing outside the pizzeria.

"Ugh. Crisis averted I guess? Sort of? Anyway I think I'll be returning home right now. Too much emotions and I do not think a few napkins will be able to save my outfit," said Stacy as she packed her stuff and left some money on the table before leaving. "I should probably go and check on Britney...Just to ensure she doesn't do anything too drastic," said Lily as she did the same as Stacy. "You are too pure Lily. I don't know how she can stand that harpy," commented Andy. "The same way we can stand Noah," said Lucas as he packed his stuff. "Wow? Is that a Lucas burn? Will the moon be blue tonight?" laughed Ava. "More importantly, are you leaving too?" Asked Aaron. "Yes. I came here to have fun but now all I have in mind now are nightmares. You need something?" Asked Lucas as he also dropped his share of money on the table. "Well I need a ride to get Dan home. Can't leave him like that," said Aaron as he put his and Dan's share on the table. "Does that mean it is okay with Jane now?" Asked Noah. "Absolutely not. The three of you better take care of Jane and ensure she doesn't cause anymore trouble!" Ordered Aaron before he left with Lucas with the unconscious Dan over their shoulders.

"I guess that's just the three of us now. Let's get the payment done and bring Jane back to the ruins," said Noah. "Where is Ava? When did she go?" Exclaimed a shocked Andy. "I knew she was a witch, but not a ninja. We can do this together An-dy? What the hell! You could have at least returned that stool!" Said Noah as he noticed Andy had run away while he was giving his monologue. "Don't worry Jane, we don't need the others! I'm more than enough to bring you back home," said Noah as he tried hugging Jane.

The Next Day - Westchester High:

"... So yeah, she's still shaken up and will likely try to avoid us now. At least I hope so," said Lily. "All I can say is good riddance," said Aaron. "I still can't believe she wears Bye Puppy stuff? Wasn't she the one who was laughing at Lily for supposedly wearing kid clothes," laughed Ava. "I should have taken a photo of her. It would be our weapon for whenever she tried to annoy us more," said Stacy. "Who says I didn't," smirked Aaron when he suddenly felt a cold hand touch him. He turned around and a gasp escaped his mouth.

"Hell~oooooooo fri~endssss," said the person... who was no other than Jane. "What the hell Noah? Didn't you say you took her back to the ruins yesterday?" Complained Stacy. "I did! I don't know what she is doing here though..." replied the brown haired teen. "Am I the only one more concerned about how she is wearing Lucas' outfit," said Andy. "She's even wearing my spare spectacles," gasped the student council president. "What are...you doing here ... Jane ..." said a shocked Aaron.

"Noah said...Jane was good girl...yesterday. Since me good... me thought that... she can spend more time... with friends... at school! Since me... good student... me needed good student clothes.... me took Lucas' clothes..." Hissed Jane when the class bell rang. "Bell rang... Let's go to class... friendssss...," said Jane as she we floated along the halls. "What...the...hell... just happened," said Aaron slowly as he fell on his knees from disbelief, slowly followed by the others besides Noah. "Come on guys, it is not that bad. It is just that Jane will be coming to school to us," said the beanie wearing teen as he shrugged his shoulder before walking away.

-----

Tagging: @teamtomsato @wlwkateomalley @nuttatulipa @lovethemarshalltwins Ive been teasing you guys with this too much, And also @choiceslife ! If you want me to tag you every time I post a fic do say ! I have one coming around for Halloween ;-)

I hope you guys enjoyed this story. I kept having ideas on and on and it eventually led to this being dragged out kdfjkfhdkfh. Also I have an idea as a sort of sequel to this fic, If you guys would love to read it, do tell! If I get enough people willing for it I’ll definitely write it. The sequel will likely not be as long as this though hehe.

Please do reblog and like if it entertained you! I’m also looking forward to your reactions to it.

Link To My Masterlist, If you want to check my other stuff out.

[angustdtt]

a/n: I'm planning on having this divided in parts, please if you liked show some love~its always appreciated <3 

Namjoon!FairyAU

wordCount: 2k pairing: namjoon x reader (she) genre: fantasy | fluff |  a little angsty later on triggers: none so far

pt I | pt II

masterlist

moodboard

Red and Yellow.

The most beautiful runway of fallen leaves adorned the path ahead. The trees on either side became more opaque as your favorite season approached. The crunching underneath your feet of the dry foliage brought a calm feeling of inner peace

Your feet led the way they made every year through forest religiously. They knew to avoid the bumps on the ground hiding under the leaves that could likely turn into a deadly trap.

The sound of children's laughter a tell-tale of that hidden, almost magical place. There in the forest - even at this time of year - beautiful flowers grew around an old wishing well. This was your favorite spot to visit. Ever since you were younger you collected these flowers and hid them between the pages of books, waiting for them to dry and release a sweet and intoxicating aroma.

You were about five years old the first time you started this habit. Your grandma walked the forest next to her cabin almost every day and knew the most beautiful parts of it. One peculiar day, she walked you to the secret well, claiming it had the ability to grant wishes. Of course, anything related to fantasy was, for a five-year-old, exciting and ignited the curiosity spark.

Once there you met for the first time with the magical place. The structure looked straight out of an old magic tale. The chiseled rock that formed it resembled more a fountain than a well. Adorned with vines which crept the sides of it and all the way up to the beam from where an old wood bucket hanged by a rope.

"Show me your hands, y/n," she said, wearing her best hussy smile and leaning down once you showed her the palms of your empty hands. "Now hear Gran, sweetie." she began. Granny placed a small coin between your hands and close them around it so you were cupping it. "The well here has magical powers. It can grant any wish your heart desires..." ,the tone of her voice narrating you of an old and grand secret that brought all the powers of the forest into action. "See that candle?” she asked and pointed to a small metallic lantern with a lit candle inside of it hanging from one of the columns of the well. “That means a fairy its present. When the light is on you can throw a coin as payment for the fairy to make your wish come true." you nodded, looking down at the hands together. "Now dear, you must not tell the wish out loud, keep it a secret from anyone and then throw the coin to the water. But remember, this wish must come from the bottom of your heart, pure and honest." you nodded again, repeating the rules she had gave you like a prayer.

Grandma took a step away and with a gesture of her hand, she encouraged you while muttering ‘Go on’ with a big smile.

One step, two step, got you closer to the edge. Holding the coin close to your chest you mumbled some inaudible words and threw it in the hole. After hearing the splash against the water you chuckled and turned to her with eyes full of hope. You were too young and don't exactly remember what you wished for but you remember that thrilling sensation of believing in such things.

Back to the present, the flowers you sought were a few meters further away from the good spot. Walking by the children who toss their wishes in the magical well you overheard two of them talking to a few more.

“Cross my heart!” one of them assured to the gathering. “Magic is real!” he shouted exhilarated trying to convince the other kids he was telling the truth. “I wished for a puppy and It came true!” He waved his arms in the air and grabbed his face in shock.

“He did!” the seeming friend of the ‘puppy’ kid affirmed. “And I wished for Tom to have a puppy too!”

“His name is Nanuk and we both play with it all the time!” Tom told and the rest gasped amazed.

You laughed at how the kids were in awe of the story he was telling, and how enthusiastic was being at telling it. Part of you felt jealous at their innocence. At how easy it was to believe in impossible things- like fairies, for example.

You were grown now, and all those credulous believing left buried in the past. You made a life of your own over the years like anyone else, and like anyone else you had the same problems and virtues. One of the most recent ones being of the matters of the heart; unrequited love.

The next day you felt like reading a book outside. Lucky for you, it was a week-day meaning child would be on school and nowhere near the forest. So, you could get some time to relax in nature's company. Grabbing a random book from grandma's shelf you let her know where you were heading, and bid goodbye.

Like the day before, you walked to that part of the woods; The clouds up above made way for the small beams of light of the sun. The cold, soft breeze of air carried the scent of what you can only describe as ‘autumn’ and you breathed out content.

Taking a seat in the stone from the well, and lifting your feet up you leaned against one of the columns to rest your back. Looking down at the water, you saw the coins at the bottom which glowed when the reflection of the light hit them.

You took the book and placed it on your lap, reading first the title on the front “The Secret Garden” By Frances Hodgson Burnett. You heard about the book once before; most likely your grandma talking about it.

The pages seem to be frail, an obvious sign of how old and how much the pages were read- but also how interesting it must be. ‘There was something mysterious in the air that morning..’ you read inwardly while taking a deep breath of comfort, enjoying the moment you and the forest share. While in the reverie, your eyes divert their attention. There is a coin lost between the cracks of the stone. You remember the words from yesterday- ‘Magic is real.’ Shaking your head you try to release your mind from those words, but they resonate like an echo and tempt you.

You closed the book determined and shook-off the awkwardness of what you were about to do. Reaching for the lost coin, you held it between your index and thumb fondling it and pondering. You clicked your tongue pronouncing the words of a wish to yourself while you left the book on top of the rock. Indifferent, you dropped the token to the well and heard the 'blop' it made after touching the water. You looked around you, not sure of what you were expecting. ‘Tsk, like if a wish were to come true immediately.’ you said, turning on your heels to leave.

“Pardon, y/n?” A voice called from behind, making you turn around in surprise. Meeting eyes with a rather, peculiar stranger. You looked around by habit, checking who he was addressing, but the stranger’s gaze was fixating on you.

“Me?” you asked, the volume of your voice coming out rather weak.

He nodded, twisting his lips upwards at the innocence of your question. “Yes, You.”

“I’m- sorry, have we met?” You searched for his face on your memories but didn't recognize ever meeting someone like...him. The man before you was someone you’d most definitely remember. He was sitting in the same spot you were before, his tall and lean figure slouched against the column of the well. He presented a rather calm and curious expression while staring at you with gentle eyes. What caught the attention first though, was his flamboyant purple hair.

“I can’t give you what you want.” The purple-haired young man in front of you said. He got up and stood straight- damn, he was tall. You gulped worriedly because the strange man was walking your way with a silent gaze. Backing up as he approached, you prepared mentally to find a way of escape in the case you needed it-after all you didn't know this guy. Once he was close enough he extended his arm towards you displaying a small object on the palm of his hand.

“Uhh…” You mumbled, confused on why this stranger was showing you a coin. Bringing your eyes up to meet his you analyzed what kind of wacko he must be when he talked first. “Excuse me?”

“It’s against my morals to change one's free will. I’m sorry, but you must ask for a different wish.” He tried to grab your hands while talking to you but you jumped away from his grasp. The guy looked at you confused by your sudden reaction. “y/n?”

“How do you know my name?” you asked, cautious.

He laughed gingerly, scratching the back of his neck embarrassed, looking for the right words to say. “I guess you were too small to remember.”

“Remember what?” you looked at him up and down.

“Me,” he replied.

With the coin still in his hand, he brought it into his pocket and walked back to where he was sitting putting a safe distance between the two. “My name is Namjoon, and I’m the fairy that lives on the well,” he explained.

‘Yeah, he’s crazy.’ you agreed inwardly. In an instant you found yourself running to your grandma’s house, leaving the crazy-haired man behind while he shouted “Wait!” to stop you.

“Oh shit, dear.” grandma shrieked, grabbing her chest worried. You almost fainted once you reached the door of the house and out of breath after all that running, but there was enough strength left to look at Granny wide-eyed at her cussing. “Oh shut up, grandma’s curse too. What on earth happened, y/n?” she queried grabbing your arm and helping you in. Grandma brought a chair to sit you down and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Unable to speak just yet —‘why did I rejected that pilates class discount?’ — you whined about the poor physical condition you were in.

“Here,” she offered the water which you gulped down in the blink of an eye.”Breath in and out slowly, dear.” she encouraged patting your back. “There, there.”

“Gran—!” you began telling her when your breath caught making your chest heave.“There was this guy!” you kept on going. “He- he had this, crazy looking hair and he- he- tried to give me this-coin I don't know why?!”   Grandma’s eyes lit up, her hand brought together, fingers intertwined. 

“Unbelievable,” she mumbled, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. She took her clenched fists and pressed them against her lips like she normally would do before praying to the glossary. “You’ve met him again.”

This was certainly not the type of reaction you were expecting. “Met who again?!” you exclaimed confused and somewhat irritated.

“The fairy of the well!” she replied, her tone of voice ringing with a type of - joy?

Sneak Peek Pt 2

“Listen, I’d like to stay but I can't just-”

“I understand.” he stopped your babbling with a sign of his hand and a nod. “I won’t force you to believe in the magic. Although,” he stopped. His ginger gaze traveling from your eyes to his feet and back again. His rosy cheeks showing up while he decided on asking a request from you. “I-If  you don’t mind...I’d like to see you again tomorrow.” He confessed biting down his lower lip, waiting for your reaction.

“Tomorrow? I’m- confused,” you replied, not quite catching Namjoon’s invitation. “Why?”

He pointed at the book ou held between your arms lazily. “I’d like to know how the story ends.”

[amirosebooks]

Tagged in a thing

Tagged by: @procasdeanating

Rules: Answer all questions, add one question of your own and tag as many people as there are questions.

1. Coke or Pepsi: Mexican coke 2. Disney or Dreamworks: Disney 3. Coffee or Tea: Tea or flavored coffee 4. Books or Movies: Depends on what I’m looking for 5. Windows or Mac: I like them both, but my current computer is a Mac 6. DC or Marvel: DC 7. Xbox or Playstation: Eh, they both have their pros and cons. We have an Xbox right now. 8. Dragon Age or Mass Effect: I love futuristic stuff and the name of The Geth villains (or whatever) in Mass Effect is one of my favorites ever (I don’t know why, it’s just pretty), but I think I’d enjoy playing Dragon Age more. 9. Night Owl or Early Rise: A night owl that has to get up at 4:30am everyday because adulting is bullshit 10. Cards or Chess: Cards 11. Chocolate or Vanilla: Dark Chocolate 12. Vans or Converse: converse 13. Lavellan, Trevelyan, Cadash or Adaar: Who in the fuck? 14. Fluff or Angst: BOTH. TOGETHER. OFTEN. 15. Beach or Forest: Both, both is good. (I’m from Northern California, I’m used to beaches having the woods dusted up along the shoreline.) 16. Dogs or Cats: Kitties 17. Clear Skies or Rain: Raaaaaain. 18. Cooking or Eating Out: I like food. If I have to make it, it can be fun, if someone else makes it that’s cool too. 19. Spicy Food or Mild Food: Spicy 20. Halloween/Samhain or Solstice/Yule/Christmas: Halloween. 21. Would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot: Too cold, for sure. 22. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? The power to duplicate myself at will (usually used to freak people the fuck out or intimidate them). 23. Animation or Live Action: Live Action. 24. Paragon or Renegade: What? 25. Baths or Showers: I like both 26. Team Cap or Team Iron Man: Team Cap, but Iron Man did have good points. CAN’T YOU JUST GET ALONG?! 27. Fantasy or Sci-Fi: Sci-Fi, but I like Urban Fantasy a lot more than hard edged either of those genres tbh. 28. Do you have three or four favourite quotes? If so, what are they: ♠ "If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you." —Henry Rollins (I believe this was in his book Black Coffee Blues, but it’s been years since I’ve read it.) ♠ “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” — Bruce Lee, from this interview ♠ “... and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’” — Jack Kerouac, On The Road (I just bought the kindle version of this because I love the quote cut exactly like this, and the internet tends to chop it up otherwise.) ♠ “Real life seeks the gentle slopes at the back of Mount Improbable, while creationists are blind to all but the daunting precipice at the front.” — Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion There you go, four quotes that I’ve thought about getting tattooed on my skin in one way or another over the last fifteen years or so. 29. YouTube or Netflix: Netflix, but I really do love both 30. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson: Harry Potter 31. When You Feel Accomplished: When I’m writing a lot. When I’ve checked off my to-do list. When I’ve made my husband genuinely smile. 32. Star Wars or Star Trek: I CAN’T CHOOSE. Star Trek: The Original Series. THERE ARE YOU HAPPY? 33. Paperback Books or Hardback Books: Paperback all the way, but I read on kindle 98% of the time these days. 34. Handwriting or Typing: Depends on what I’m trying to do. Sometimes my words flow best by hand and ink, other times I need to click them out on my laptop. 35. Velvet or Satin: Eh, I don’t really care. 36. Video Games or Movies: Movies. 37. Would you rather be the dragon or own the dragon? Own a dragon, but just a little one. Like the size of a housecat. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. 38. Sunrise or sunset: Sunset because of the colors in the sky and the stars coming out to say hello 39. What’s your favourite song? Goddammit... “Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly. I’m almost always in the mood to hear it and it always makes me smile. 40. Horror Movies yes or no: Yes, definitely yes, especially if it’s October. 41. Long hair or short hair: I like my hair long enough to hide behind 42. Opera or Theatre: Theatre 43. Assuming the multiverse theory is true and every story ever told has really happened somewhere, which one of the movie/book/tv show/game/etc worlds would you pick to travel to first? Oooo. My first instinct is to say one of these: X-Files, Fringe, Torchwood, Supernatural, Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl or Warehouse 13, but the fun in those would be being part of the “in the know about the weird shit” people, so as long as I can be one of those and get to shoot a gun and play with knives and maybe a badge I’d honestly be down for any of them. (Like I said earlier in this, urban fantasy is my jam.) 44: If you had to eat only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be? Carnitas plate from those Mexican restaurants we get here on the west coast where there’s always a slightly different name on the building but they all pretty much make the same food and have the same menu. 45: Older guys or young guys? Older... I guess, if I had to. Older women, for sure, but dudes... eh, that’s harder. Not younger for sure though. (By younger I mean, like, several years younger than me.) 46: If you could have a night with any fictional character doing whatever you wanted … who? Omg, thinking about potential answers to this is actually embarrassing... Uhh, Mulder and Scully (fuck you, I get two characters) just listening to them rant about whatever off the wall bullshit monster they’re looking for that week? 47: Singing or dancing? Singing 48: No internet for the rest of your life or your favourite show/book/game/whatever has an end so terrible it’s only aired once and never spoken of again? Bad ending tbh. Endings are hard and tv shows never seem to please everyone so, eh. 49: Your favourite TV show gets cancelled before an actual end or the end is just totally crappy/horrible, and you’re distraught for the rest of your life. See: Almost Human with the first part of that question 50. A movie/book/TV show that changed your life. Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux because it 1) completely changes the rest of the six books before it in the series and 2) made me realize just what books could do and 3) inspire me to start writing. 51. Do you prefer to drive or ride in cars? I prefer to drive and I like to do it with the music turned up loud.

Tagging: @malady579 ; @authorwrightnow ; @nickyoflaherty ; @ngpeltier ; @larchwood ; @morningstarcas and whoever sees this and wants to do the thing

[misskittydenoire]

Come Back

Title: Come Back Character(s) Mentioned: Natasha Romanov, Dr. Bruce Banner, Thor Odinson, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Vision, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, Tony Stark Pairing: Natasha Romanov x Y/N Genre: Romance/Song Fiction Song: Ya Me Entré by Reik Words: 2,350 Contains: Angst, Infidelity Author’s Note: Hello, my crazy, sexy and perhaps medicated sugar babies! Deadpool here, because the fur ball was too tired to write an explanation to her disappearance. I have to say she was tied up. Tightly. With leather straps. And a gagball. Did you know if you tickled—*Miss kitty moves Deadpool away from her computer* Okay, D. I think you’ve explained enough! …God… *Deadpool in the background with a pool donut with the head of a unicorn* I complete you! Alright. Hey there, my kittens and gentlecats, yeah, I am back with a new story! Yes, I know I need to continue on Gone and Mating Season. But Spider-copycat was right. Not literally, of course. *Deadpool yells* Spidey has a different style! I’m a unique, sexy spandex piece of ass with a lifetime guarantee of slaughter and rainbows! Riiight, anyway, I have to go deal with a certain mercenary who is in dire need of an enema. Here I present: Come Back *Deadpool screams* Ahh! No, mommy! Not there! That’s my special place! Only Wolverine is allowed to touch it! Summary: Natasha comes back to find you gone. Not only gone but with someone else. How did this happen? How did she let this happen?

Damn it. She should’ve just said sorry. That she didn’t mean what she said. However, it was too late to apologize, she was already with him. If things weren’t awkward enough between them, now including the fact that she ended up in Bruce’s arms made it worse. She believed that with some distance, they’d be better. Natasha never forgot the morning she came back and the news were given to her. ‘She left. Y/N moved in with Banner.’ And now, there she was, across the room with her arm wrapped around his. Her former lover kept stealing glances at the red-headed woman she fell in love with. As she looked into her serious stare, she knew what Nat was thinking. ‘I found out that there’s someone new caressing your skin. Some idiot that you’re trying to convince that you and me are in the past…’

“I’m sorry, Nat. She begged me not to tell you. And with all the fighting you two were having, I thought maybe it would be best.” Clint explained, his bluish green eyes avoided her gaze. He could already feel the tension rising between them. “And so, I’m the villain and the whole world believes her?” Romanov furrowed her brows in irritation. “She couldn’t stay. She said she was better off not seeing you. ‘Makes it less painful,’ She said.” The assassin didn’t want to hear anymore. Her rugged slender hands pushed herself away from the table and walked to her room. She wondered however, was she happier with another by her side?

She was simple civilian who showed up at the wrong place at the wrong time. During the battle of New York, she tried to escape from the Chitauri who had her cornered. Natasha was able to take in the details of her frightened face from up above and though she has always been about her main objectives, she couldn’t leave the young woman to die. In a flash, Romanov manages to jump from the alien vehicle, landing perfectly onto the two bodies of the ones who had their deadly spears in hand. She stared in awe at her, amazed by her abilities. “Wow… Thanks!” She exhaled, the woman with disheveled locks draped over her shoulder. “It was nothing, but you might want to head to a safer location. It’s only gonna get worse from here.” The Russian assassin smirked before she ran to reunion with the team. “H-Hey, wait! What’s your name?” Nat turned towards her who had a soft welcoming smile within her pink lips. “Black Widow.” Her beautifully savee chuckled, “No, your real name.” “…..Natasha.” The avenger hesitated cautiously but her mouth answered without reason. Her slender fingers brushed her hair behind her ear, and with bright shimmering eyes replied, “Thank you, Natasha.” Her voice was almost musical, speaking in a gentle soothing rhythm that allowed that brief moment to be pleasant. Nat thought she’d never see her again. She was wrong.

Walking around the city undercover, following her target into Moondance diner. Romanov made sure to stay a few tables away from them not to cause disturbance. Her green eyes were so focused on the situation at hand, that she did not realize the plastic wrapped menu sliding in front of her. “Good afternoon, miss. I will be your waitress today. Would you like coffee or tea to begin with?” The waitress beamed though already having been on her feet for two hours, her cheerfulness was false. The redheaded avenger plaster a fake smile, preparing to lie in order appear inconspicuous. “No, thank you. I’m wa-” Natasha froze, meeting the eyes of the woman she rescued. “Natasha?” She asked, her superficial smile fading into a genuine one. “Um…Hey, you!” The assassin stood up, wrapping her arms around her as if she knew her. “Not that I mind and everything but what are you doing?” The woman whispered in her ear. Romanov’s body tingled as her warm breath floated down her neck. “Shh, just pretend you know me.” “Oh my God, I haven’t seen you in forever,” The uniform cladded girl replied back in a confused tone as she awkwardly patted her back. Natasha noticed the target looking in their direction suspiciously. “Sound more believable.” “What do you want me to do?! I’m being hugged by an Avenger out of the blue, when I should just be taking your order!” She answered harshly in a hush, pressured by Romanov’s request. She rolled her eyes, still keeping her target in sight. Shit, they were still looking. Well, desperate times calls for desperate measures. “Kiss me,” Natasha commanded. “Say what?” The waitress asked in disbelief. “Public displays of affection makes people uncomfortable.” “Why yes, yes they do. So are you crazy?!” She whispered hissed in her ear, finally removing herself from the embrace. The redhead sighed, smiling happily yet falsely and she pulled the unsuspecting woman’s head and impacted with her lips. It was electrifying. Nothing she ever felt before, and she’s had a lifetime of trial and error. She pulled the avenger closer, wrapping her arms around her waist. Natasha tried to keep her eye of the target but she was falling deeper and deeper into the kiss. Her curvaceous body craved for more but stopped immediately when she noticed them leaving through the back door. Romanov had to chase after them! But the warmth of her body, the taste of strawberries on her lips was too sweet to resist. “Hey Y/N! No canoodling with the customers while working. Do that on your break time!” The owner and cook of the diner exclaimed from the kitchen. Y/n stepped away in a flash, “Ha-ha! Sorry, Mel! I-I, uh, gotta go.” “A kiss and no dinner? Classy. It’s fine, I need to be somewhere. Bye gorgeous.” Natasha ran without a goodbye and sped through the streets of New York to catch up to the person she was tailing.

Once again, that wasn’t the last time she came across her. After Tony overhearing a private conversation she was having with Clint, the billionaire thought it would be funny asking the diner to make a special delivery by a special deliverer to the tower. Normally, they don’t usually deliver that deep into the city, but who can’t say no to one of the richest and annoying man in New York City? “Um, hello? Excuse me? I have a delivery for-uhh, Mr. Stank?” “It’s Stark! God, it’s like they’re doing on purpose now. Hey there buttercup, is that my breakfast?” Tony smiled, walking towards the hot plate. “Yes, sir! It’s the breakfast deluxe, complete with eggs over-easy, waffles, and— H-Hey, what are you doing?!” Y/N yelled when the famous IronMan grabbed the large bag and threw it in the trash. He placed his arm over her shoulder, pushing her into the next room, “Oh, I completely forgot, I suddenly hate breakfast. Now, as I was going to say… Y/N? Can I call you Y/N? What am I saying? Of course, I can. I heard you’ve met our little deadly Natasha not only once but twice now. Now since it seems like you two already made it to first base, I thought you both should meet thrice. Natasha, I got you a present and though it’s wearing a poorly manufactured, not naturally yellow uniform, I thought you might like it!” He stated loudly as he shoved the young waitress into the living room in front of the rest of the team. “Oh God.” She mumbled through her teeth, frozen stiff while a large brawny man in armor walked to her. “Why are you making me turn around like a pig on a spit?” Y/N inquired out loud when Thor grabbed her hand and gently twirled her about. The God inspected her as if he was deciding if she was a suitable match for his team mate. The others began to join in, chiming comments of her appearance both good and bad. “She does have nice hair,” Wanda mentioned. “If it didn’t smell like burger grease.” Pietro included. “I win, tin can. Hand it over,” Sam grinned as Bucky pulled out a ten out of his wallet. He mumbled, “That doesn’t mean she’s not into guys also, bird brain.” “She has acceptable anatomical proportions, though her head is rather quite large.” Vision observed. “Wait, what?” The delivery waitress turned to him with a baffled expression. “Sweet cheese and crackers…” “Alright, are you all finished? I think you freaked her out enough. Move or she’s collapse from lack of oxygen.” Natasha finally said standing up, with a mug in hand, breaking up the group as if they were at an exhibition.

Wanda, and company left the area, though stayed close by to ‘for Romanov’s safety.’ “Hi?” She said, blindsided by everything that happened ten minutes ago. “Hi…” Natasha replied, placing her beverage on the coffee table. “I promise I’m not stalking you or anything. Mr. Stark—” “It’s okay. You’d think with all the genius and money, he’d use his time more productively…” The Russian assassin shook her head, waving her explanation dismissively. “So instead of taking me out to dinner, how about breakfast instead?”

Natasha continued to look on, Y/N’s smile spreading widely while she heard the others speak. She knew better though, that smile wasn’t reaching her e/c eyes. One of the many thing Romanov would notice whenever she smiled at her. “Who are you trying to fool? You know you’re my other half, Y/N…?” She said to herself, her black high heels hitting the hardwood floor but the loud music drowned out her movements. Romanov shadowed her, moving around the room. She couldn’t help but keep her eyes on her. Her locks bouncing and swaying with each turn of Y/N’s head. The way she parted her lips to drink from the clear wine glass. How they close on the rim of it and took in the bubbly rose colored liquid, and it slowly rolling down her throat when she swallows it. Y/N felt her eyes on her, but avoided her gaze because she knew. If she looked into those two pools of green, she’d run back to her. Nat was never one to beg, not only due to pride but by the teachings she was given, she must never show weakness. But the woman in her line of vision, falsely flashing a content grin to her audience beside him, was her weakness. “Just forget him, forget him and tell him I’m better. Your heart isn’t truly his, y/n. You’re mine and only mine, love.” She whispered to herself, half hoping she could hear her. Y/N was compelled to see her again but when she turned to find her, she was gone.

“Just leave him! Who imagines, mind you, that I never existed in your life.” Widow stated her claim. With a small lunch in hand she had prepared for Bruce, Y/N arrived to the tower just to drop it off but found herself with the red headed assassin. “Enough, Natasha…” She groaned, attempting to hold herself together before she makes another mistake and tries the relationship again. She was always worried, worried if the next day she’ll see her again. Anxious and stressed, waiting to any news of her return from missions. Several visits to the tower’s infirmary because something went wrong. She couldn’t. Her body no longer could handle the price that comes from loving her. The young woman, once vibrate and glowing, lost her light. Her eyes held dark circles from the nights she stood up to hear any update of her status. Her shiny soft hair, dulled over, unkept from brushing it back repeatedly as she sat in the hospital room for her to come to when she was injured. Slowly but surely, she was going back to her former self but her heart was still weary. Nat finally grabbed her hand, her temperature rising like Fall blooming into Spring. Her touch was the woman’s oasis. “Make it clear that no matter how hard he tries, you’re never gonna love him like you love me.” Black Widow pulled her in, enveloping y/n in her arms while she whispered the truth her love refused to believe. Silence fell, the area desolate and closing them in a world of their own. “You know the truth. You miss me as much as I miss you. I know you do… I already know. So why can’t you accept it?” “Because I know what are the consequences that comes from loving you, Nat,” Y/N’s voice shakes as she turns, “And it almost killed me the last time.”

She’ll come back. I’m certain that she’ll come back, The former KGB agent thought to herself. She sat at the foot of her bed, drowning in the moonlight that poured through her curtains. Her palms planted on her dark colored sheets while small droplets began to tap on her windows. The rain grew steady, their song playing just for her. “She loves the rain,” She said to herself, brushing her disheveled auburn hair back to watch the water dance on the glass. “You’re just with him for comfort.” Natasha said to herself. “You’re bored in his arms though. I saw it on your face.” Her head turned to the right side of her bed. Y/N’s pillows squeezed and distorted from the several hugs Natasha gave it to smell her scent again. However, her fragrance was fading, the final piece of her erasing itself from existence. “Who are you trying to fool, y/n?… You know just as well as I that you’re my other half… Please, come back…” Her ears picked up a few taps at her door, when she turned to the sound, it stopped. Perhaps just a figment of her imagination. Again, Natasha hears the flutter of whispered knocks, bringing her to her feet. She hesitated opening the door, her once stilled heart beating faster with each second she stalls. She turned the handle to the left, and gingerly opened the door…

[reviewsbyang]

Release Blitz

Title: The Girl At The Bar Series: standalone

Author: Nicholas Nash

Genre: psychological thriller

  Synopsis:

Rebecca, a brilliant cancer researcher, disappears after a one-night stand with a neurotic man with a questionable past. 

Her sudden disappearance in the midst of a high-stakes quest to cure cancer between two rival billionaires sets into motion an inexplicable chain of events as the bodies start to pile up. 

No one knows why she disappeared. The race to find answers ensnares everyone around her, one of whom is a deeply disturbed psychopath lurking in the shadows. 

Is Rebecca still alive? What happened to her? Who did it? And why? Questions about her vex everyone looking for answers. No one can be trusted and no one is above suspicion…

  This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sneak Peek:

Chapter 1

Day 1, Thursday

The King & Duke Bar, New York City

She was wearing a gorgeous black dress.

The first things he noticed about her were her slender legs and her delicate wrist. She wore a thin diamond bracelet that sparkled in the low light of the hotel bar as she drank her martini, almost unaware of her surroundings. She was a gorgeous golden blonde with features that were tough to look away from, or ever forget.

She pulled out her purse and started to go through it when something fell out of it. She bent over to pick up the fallen object, half sitting on the bar stool when he walked over to help her pick it up.

He didn’t know what got over him, but he had to walk over to help her, to get noticed by her, to be an infinitesimally small part of her life, even if for just a few moments. He reached out for the object, just a few moments quicker than her, their hands almost colliding mid-air when, to his horror, he noticed the object was a tampon. Rather than recoil he swallowed his fear and embarrassment and cupped the tampon and handed it gently and discretely back to her. She skillfully grabbed it from his hand and before he knew it, the tampon was back in her purse and she looked up and gave him a wide smile.

“Hi, I’m Rebecca. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m uh, I’m uh…..I’m so sorry. I just didn’t know it was a, a, a, you know, a..”

She burst out laughing and he took the bar stool next to hers, still red in the face, but feeling better knowing she found the whole episode amusing, probably more so given his reaction. Before long, he introduced himself, this time, actually telling her his name, trying not to think about the tampon incident.

“I’m Ragnar, Ragnar Johnson.”

“Scandinavian?”

“Yes and no. I’m American, but the name is Scandinavian. Norwegian actually. Believe it or not, my parents named me after a character from an Ayn Rand novel.”

“Atlas Shrugged, I know. The capitalist pirate.” She was suppressing a chuckle and smiling.

“Well, here’s the whole story. My parents adored Ayn Rand, her ideas and her books. They decided to name the children after key characters from Atlas Shrugged.”

“So you have a sibling named John Galt?”

“Close enough. Two brothers, John Johnson and Francisco Johnson. Thankfully we all got to keep our family last name. Can you imagine me as a Ragnar Danneskjöld?”

They chatted about what brought her to New York City. She told him that she was a medical executive and was traveling to the city for a large cancer conference that was well-attended every year by executives of large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, academic researchers, oncologists, as well as sales and marketing executives from across the spectrum of companies. Her company was presenting results for and launching their latest cancer drug, a highly publicized next-generation miracle drug.

Before she joined her company, she was an assistant cancer researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Gupta, the country’s leading cancer researcher, whose groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cancer fueled the laboratories of several large and small pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

“So Dr. Gupta is probably one of the richest doctors on planet, I presume?” he asked.

“On the contrary, he’s been so immersed in his quest to cure cancer, academic glory and possibly a Nobel Prize in medicine that he never really benefitted financially from his discoveries. In an effort to continue to push his research through the labs of the giant pharmaceutical companies at the fastest possible pace, he licensed out all his research without any real benefit to himself.” He sensed a tinge of sadness in her face and in a fleeting moment it was replaced by the same warm smile and she turned to sip her martini.

He thought that not only was she the striking beauty that one could not take their eyes off, or ever forget, she was also a smart, highly intelligent and a compassionate person who cared about the work she did for the broader good of humanity.

“And what brings you here today, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor, rescuing ladies who’ve dropped their tampons?”

No lie he could’ve made up would match up to what she was in reality. After all, he did get more than he bargained for since he first set eyes on her sitting alone at the bar. No lies, just the truth. The plain and simple truth. It did not matter to him anymore what she would think of him.

“I’m an unemployed trader. Nothing is more clichéd than a jobless failed trader in New York, I guess.” She put her hand on his saying, without any spoken words, that she was sorry and sympathetic. “I lost my job at one of the large investment banks in the city a few months ago. I worked on a trading desk, tracking complicated securities and setting up even more complicated trades. I was good at numbers growing up. I thrived as a quantitative analyst at the bank. A quantitative analyst analyzes reams and reams of trading information to identify trends and signals in the data that could help in predicting the direction of securities prices and hopefully make money in the process. I worked on setting up trades in arcane securities and made money day in and day out for the first few years, till one day the house of cards came tumbling down.”

He glanced at her to see her reaction. “Following a quick turn of events those trades lost hundreds of millions of dollars for the bank within days and I was thrown out of there before I could catch my breath or understand what happened. It turns out we were picking up pennies in front of a steamroller. We lost multiples of what we made in the last few years. I had a lot of my personal money invested in the same trades too. Not sure if I’m ever going to find another job again after that disaster.”

She was probably stunned by the admission, but did not show it.

“Anyways, I was at the Bowery Ballroom earlier tonight to watch my favorite indie rock band. They’re from New Zealand and they’re in the city for a couple of shows. Thought I’d stop for a drink after the show before calling it a night. My place is close by from here.”

She smiled. “You know this happened to my father too when I was young. He lost his job in security at the local Wal-Mart after an employee was caught for theft. She was skimming cash and shoplifting with the help of some other employees before they finally caught her. My father lost his job in the cleanup that followed. It took him over a couple of years before he found his next job. He was a changed person after that but he always said that those two years were the happiest days of his life.”

“I kind of miss the excitement and the thrill of the trading desk. I trade on and off with my own money but it’s not much to begin with. New York’s an expensive place.” He pensively stared at the beer he had ordered but not sipped yet.

“You know, I was a huge fan of 80s hair bands.” she said steering the conversation in a different direction.

“Why am I not surprised? So what’s your favorite 80s band?”

“Guns N’ Roses. You?”

“Def Leppard. Favorite GN’R song?” he asked, trying to imagine her head banging to Welcome to the Jungle.

“Rocket Queen. What about your favorite Leppard song?” She was clearly waiting for his reaction to her answer.

“Uh, Rocket Queen, huh. Mine’s uhh, it’s probably Bringin’ On the Heartbreak. You know the moaning in Rocket Queen is really Axl Rose getting nasty with..”

She nodded. “Umm hmm, that’s what I like about the song.” she said with an evil grin on her face, like she just got caught with a guilty secret. “Never would’ve counted you as a mushy type, though.”

They spent the next few hours talking about the 80s bands, must-go places in New York City, curing cancer, his former job, her days as a researcher and her father. The chemistry was undeniable and he was intoxicated by her beauty and intelligence and yet down-to-earth manner. He knew she felt their chemistry too.

“This is going to sound a bit strange, but do you mind if I crash at your place tonight? There’s construction that starts at night just outside my hotel window. Kept me up most of the night yesterday. I know it sounds strange, but..”

“No, no, no problem. You’re welcome to spend the night. It’s a small place, but I’m happy to spend the night on the sofa tonight. It’s quite cozy, honestly. You can take my bed.” He tried to be the nice guy and not too direct.

He sensed a hint of disappointment in her voice for a moment and then she was herself again. “Let me pick up a few things from my room and I’ll be right back. I’ll see you in the lobby in a few. Thanks Ragnar, I really appreciate it”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”

Goodreads link: http://bit.ly/2hPkt7D

  Purchase links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2iCqw1d

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iyVHN1

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2iCqCWD

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2j9ooBl

B&N: http://bit.ly/2iIbEko

  Author bio:

Nicholas Nash is the exciting new author of The Girl At The Bar, a psychological thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a brilliant cancer researcher and the quest to find her. Nicholas resides in the concrete jungle of Manhattan in New York City with his wife and three children. An accomplished finance professional, he has a passion for reading fiction and non-fiction books which inspired him to write an intriguing thriller. Nicholas hopes you enjoy his work. For news and updates, email us at thegirlatthebar@gmail.com.

Author links:

Website: http://bit.ly/2hQKZNP

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2iPs5c2

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2hSFlhn

Release Blitz: The Girl At The Bar by Nicholas Nash Release Blitz Title: The Girl At The Bar Series: standalone Author: Nicholas Nash Genre: psychological thriller…

[reviewsbyang]

Release Blitz

Title: The Girl At The Bar Series: standalone

Author: Nicholas Nash

Genre: psychological thriller 

Synopsis:

Rebecca, a brilliant cancer researcher, disappears after a one-night stand with a neurotic man with a questionable past. 

Her sudden disappearance in the midst of a high-stakes quest to cure cancer between two rival billionaires sets into motion an inexplicable chain of events as the bodies start to pile up. 

No one knows why she disappeared. The race to find answers ensnares everyone around her, one of whom is a deeply disturbed psychopath lurking in the shadows. 

Is Rebecca still alive? What happened to her? Who did it? And why? Questions about her vex everyone looking for answers. No one can be trusted and no one is above suspicion… 

Sneak Peek

Chapter 1

Day 1, Thursday

The King & Duke Bar, New York City

She was wearing a gorgeous black dress.

The first things he noticed about her were her slender legs and her delicate wrist. She wore a thin diamond bracelet that sparkled in the low light of the hotel bar as she drank her martini, almost unaware of her surroundings. She was a gorgeous golden blonde with features that were tough to look away from, or ever forget.

She pulled out her purse and started to go through it when something fell out of it. She bent over to pick up the fallen object, half sitting on the bar stool when he walked over to help her pick it up.

He didn’t know what got over him, but he had to walk over to help her, to get noticed by her, to be an infinitesimally small part of her life, even if for just a few moments. He reached out for the object, just a few moments quicker than her, their hands almost colliding mid-air when, to his horror, he noticed the object was a tampon. Rather than recoil he swallowed his fear and embarrassment and cupped the tampon and handed it gently and discretely back to her. She skillfully grabbed it from his hand and before he knew it, the tampon was back in her purse and she looked up and gave him a wide smile.

“Hi, I’m Rebecca. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m uh, I’m uh…..I’m so sorry. I just didn’t know it was a, a, a, you know, a..”

She burst out laughing and he took the bar stool next to hers, still red in the face, but feeling better knowing she found the whole episode amusing, probably more so given his reaction. Before long, he introduced himself, this time, actually telling her his name, trying not to think about the tampon incident.

“I’m Ragnar, Ragnar Johnson.”

“Scandinavian?”

“Yes and no. I’m American, but the name is Scandinavian. Norwegian actually. Believe it or not, my parents named me after a character from an Ayn Rand novel.”

“Atlas Shrugged, I know. The capitalist pirate.” She was suppressing a chuckle and smiling.

 “Well, here’s the whole story. My parents adored Ayn Rand, her ideas and her books. They decided to name the children after key characters from Atlas Shrugged.”

“So you have a sibling named John Galt?”

“Close enough. Two brothers, John Johnson and Francisco Johnson. Thankfully we all got to keep our family last name. Can you imagine me as a Ragnar Danneskjöld?”

They chatted about what brought her to New York City. She told him that she was a medical executive and was traveling to the city for a large cancer conference that was well-attended every year by executives of large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, academic researchers, oncologists, as well as sales and marketing executives from across the spectrum of companies. Her company was presenting results for and launching their latest cancer drug, a highly publicized next-generation miracle drug.

Before she joined her company, she was an assistant cancer researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Gupta, the country’s leading cancer researcher, whose groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cancer fueled the laboratories of several large and small pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

“So Dr. Gupta is probably one of the richest doctors on planet, I presume?” he asked.

“On the contrary, he’s been so immersed in his quest to cure cancer, academic glory and possibly a Nobel Prize in medicine that he never really benefitted financially from his discoveries. In an effort to continue to push his research through the labs of the giant pharmaceutical companies at the fastest possible pace, he licensed out all his research without any real benefit to himself.” He sensed a tinge of sadness in her face and in a fleeting moment it was replaced by the same warm smile and she turned to sip her martini.

He thought that not only was she the striking beauty that one could not take their eyes off, or ever forget, she was also a smart, highly intelligent and a compassionate person who cared about the work she did for the broader good of humanity.

“And what brings you here today, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor, rescuing ladies who’ve dropped their tampons?”

No lie he could’ve made up would match up to what she was in reality. After all, he did get more than he bargained for since he first set eyes on her sitting alone at the bar. No lies, just the truth. The plain and simple truth. It did not matter to him anymore what she would think of him.

“I’m an unemployed trader. Nothing is more clichéd than a jobless failed trader in New York, I guess.” She put her hand on his saying, without any spoken words, that she was sorry and sympathetic. “I lost my job at one of the large investment banks in the city a few months ago. I worked on a trading desk, tracking complicated securities and setting up even more complicated trades. I was good at numbers growing up. I thrived as a quantitative analyst at the bank. A quantitative analyst analyzes reams and reams of trading information to identify trends and signals in the data that could help in predicting the direction of securities prices and hopefully make money in the process. I worked on setting up trades in arcane securities and made money day in and day out for the first few years, till one day the house of cards came tumbling down.”

He glanced at her to see her reaction. “Following a quick turn of events those trades lost hundreds of millions of dollars for the bank within days and I was thrown out of there before I could catch my breath or understand what happened. It turns out we were picking up pennies in front of a steamroller. We lost multiples of what we made in the last few years. I had a lot of my personal money invested in the same trades too. Not sure if I’m ever going to find another job again after that disaster.”

She was probably stunned by the admission, but did not show it.

“Anyways, I was at the Bowery Ballroom earlier tonight to watch my favorite indie rock band. They’re from New Zealand and they’re in the city for a couple of shows. Thought I’d stop for a drink after the show before calling it a night. My place is close by from here.”

She smiled. “You know this happened to my father too when I was young. He lost his job in security at the local Wal-Mart after an employee was caught for theft. She was skimming cash and shoplifting with the help of some other employees before they finally caught her. My father lost his job in the cleanup that followed. It took him over a couple of years before he found his next job. He was a changed person after that but he always said that those two years were the happiest days of his life.”

“I kind of miss the excitement and the thrill of the trading desk. I trade on and off with my own money but it’s not much to begin with. New York’s an expensive place.” He pensively stared at the beer he had ordered but not sipped yet.

“You know, I was a huge fan of 80s hair bands.” she said steering the conversation in a different direction.

“Why am I not surprised? So what’s your favorite 80s band?”

“Guns N’ Roses. You?”

“Def Leppard. Favorite GN’R song?” he asked, trying to imagine her head banging to Welcome to the Jungle.

“Rocket Queen. What about your favorite Leppard song?” She was clearly waiting for his reaction to her answer.

“Uh, Rocket Queen, huh. Mine’s uhh, it’s probably Bringin’ On the Heartbreak. You know the moaning in Rocket Queen is really Axl Rose getting nasty with..”

She nodded. “Umm hmm, that’s what I like about the song.” she said with an evil grin on her face, like she just got caught with a guilty secret. “Never would’ve counted you as a mushy type, though.”

They spent the next few hours talking about the 80s bands, must-go places in New York City, curing cancer, his former job, her days as a researcher and her father. The chemistry was undeniable and he was intoxicated by her beauty and intelligence and yet down-to-earth manner. He knew she felt their chemistry too.

“This is going to sound a bit strange, but do you mind if I crash at your place tonight? There’s construction that starts at night just outside my hotel window. Kept me up most of the night yesterday. I know it sounds strange, but..”

“No, no, no problem. You’re welcome to spend the night. It’s a small place, but I’m happy to spend the night on the sofa tonight. It’s quite cozy, honestly. You can take my bed.” He tried to be the nice guy and not too direct.

He sensed a hint of disappointment in her voice for a moment and then she was herself again. “Let me pick up a few things from my room and I’ll be right back. I’ll see you in the lobby in a few. Thanks Ragnar, I really appreciate it”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Goodreads link: http://bit.ly/2hPkt7D

  Purchase links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2iCqw1d

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iyVHN1

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2iCqCWD

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2j9ooBl

B&N: http://bit.ly/2iIbEko

  Author bio:

Nicholas Nash is the exciting new author of The Girl At The Bar, a psychological thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a brilliant cancer researcher and the quest to find her. Nicholas resides in the concrete jungle of Manhattan in New York City with his wife and three children. An accomplished finance professional, he has a passion for reading fiction and non-fiction books which inspired him to write an intriguing thriller. Nicholas hopes you enjoy his work. For news and updates, email us at thegirlatthebar@gmail.com.

Author links:

Website: http://bit.ly/2hQKZNP

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2iPs5c2

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2hSFlhn

Release Blitz The Girl At The Bar by Nicholas Nash Release Blitz Title: The Girl At The Bar Series: standalone Author: Nicholas Nash Genre: psychological thriller