#i’m actually fine now - this was a thought from earlier when i was still struggling with my lab report

[starbuck]

you know, i think my real issue is that i always have to be professional. gotta be professional at work, gotta create professional-level school work, gotta be professional as a volunteer…

what if i broke everything in my house and screamed until i lost my voice?

[gothamite-rambler]

Ra's Al Ghul began to wonder why Damian always acted "odd" compared to when he was a child. He had difficulty making eye contact, struggled to follow instructions at times, found it hard to share his interests, and had trouble expressing emotions—not in the way Ra's was accustomed to.

Silent concern gnawed at him. He feared Bruce might be doing something wrong, and the thought that he was ruining his grandson's development troubled him deeply. He couldn't admit that he actually cared for the boy; showing any semblance of weakness in front of his minions or even to himself was unacceptable.

So, he confronted Bruce:

Ra's: I've stayed silent about this for far too long, you better start talking, Bruce!

Bruce (dryly): Hi, it's good to see you again. What do you need?

Ra's: I need to know how are you raising him? Better yet, what have you passed down to him? He's struggling to look me in the eye, it didn't come from my bloodline. Tell me what you did cause I don't want him to end up as dim as you!

Bruce: Rude. There’s nothing wrong with Damian apart from the trauma you put him through.

Ra's: Trauma, you weak willed people. Well, there’s definitely something off about him and you're going to tell me!

Bruce: Ra's, you were around him for eight years. You didn’t notice anything about his learning difficulties?

Ra's: Hm, he did struggle to speak for some time. He has a hard time making eye contact, and teaching him certain things was a challenge. Plus, he’s not the best with emotions. But most of that is normal in my culture.

Bruce (smirking): You don’t know, do you?

Ra's: Know what? What did you do to him?

Bruce: I got him tested a few months after he got here. Ra's, he’s autistic.

Ra's locked up, horrified. His ideas about neurodiversity were outdated. At one point, autism was believed to stem from mothers not loving their children enough, I'm not kidding. It was considered a disease back in the 1900s and earlier (and to some idiots, it still is).

Ra's glanced over at his grandson, who was listening to music and twirling a pen.

Ra's: Oh Allah, how did this happen? Can we… What did you do? What did you give him? My poor grandson!

Bruce (trying not to laugh): I saw this coming, and I admit it’s still kind of funny. Ra's, he doesn’t have a disease; he’s not sick. He has a neurodevelopmental disorder, which is not a bad thing. I just have to raise him a little differently, no skin off my bones, honestly.

Ra's: Are you lying to protect your own ass?

Bruce: Nope. I’ve raised three kids before him, and each one is different. Damian is fine, he’s a great kid and my son. If you treat this like a problem that needs fixing, you’ll end up waking up in the Pit.

Ra's: Alright, I’ll believe you for the time being. But if I come back after researching this autism and I’m right, you’re going to be dealing with me!

Bruce: Cool, you can go now.

Ra's left, uncertain how to process this new information. He did the one thing many parents today fail to do: he researched the disorder and learned that it isn’t a deadly disease or a sign of parental failure, but rather something that one in every thirty-six kids is born with, and that they can lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Ra's defends his grandson

[nereidprinc3ss]

omg i'm obsessed with the idea of spencer and a university student and i looooved the one you wrote with reader struggling with finals (i relate so much </3) i'm not sure if you write requests or not (if not, then i'm sorry and please ignore this hahaha) but i would love to see more of their dynamic? maybe spencer for once arrives earlier from a case and goes to pick up reader from university as a surprise? i don't really know but i would love to see more 💗 thank you and i hope you have a good day!

AHHHH omg you have NO IDEA how excited I was to open my inbox and see a request!! i am absolutely obsessed w spencer x uni student too

i kind of took this and ran w it so its a little angsty and random LOLOL but here is (drumroll)

spencer picking up reader after you fail an exam (sorry lol) and you are NOT in a good mood but he loves you so its fine

Tears, partly from the bitter wind and partly from shame, blur your phone screen as you exit the lecture hall. Another missed call from Spencer. It’s the third one today—you've been ignoring them in an attempt to remain focused on the final that you just bombed. Part of you now wants to keep ignoring them out of sheer embarrassment. How can you admit to your super-genius boyfriend that you are a bona fide academic failure? Still, you don’t want him wondering about you while he should be working. Your numb fingers fumble with the phone as you try to call him back without running into anybody on your walk back to student housing. 

It doesn’t reach the second ring before he’s picking up. 

“Hey,” he sighs. “I was starting to worry.” 

“I’m sorry, I’ve been busy,” you exhale, cutting through some trees as you approach your building. “What’s up? How’s the case?” 

“Well... that’s actually what I’ve been calling about. We wrapped up this morning.” 

“What? But last night you said it would be at least three more days.” 

“Rare instance of me being wrong, I guess.” 

“So when are you flying back?” you ask, not wanting to get your hopes up. You know sometimes his team stays behind to help with processing a case. He doesn’t reply for a moment. “Spencer?” 

“I’m... thirteen minutes away from your school. Twelve.” 

Your brain short-circuits as you process his words, the cold metal of the door handle biting into your fingers as you stop dead in your tracks. 

“You--are you driving here right now?” 

“Yes,” he begins, sounding embarrassed, “I kept calling because I wanted to ask first, but I know you had your last final this morning and you were going to come over when I got back anyway so I thought you might want to come stay with me for a few extra days. You can say no, obviously—” 

Some of the icy despair melts in your chest. 

“Of course, I want to.” 

“Good,” he exhales a laugh. “It would have been awkward if you said no. Can you have a bag packed by the time I get there?” 

You’re speedwalking through the lobby now, hitting the up button for the elevator more times than is necessarily effective. 

“Drive faster.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

By the time you blindly shove enough clothing in a bag, text your roommate to let her know you’ll be gone for the rest of the week, and make it back outside, Spencer’s familiar vintage car is already pulling up to the curb. He doesn’t even bother cutting the engine—just puts it in park and gets out, rounding the vehicle as you close the distance between one another. His smile is brilliant, and though you don’t feel particularly deserving of it, it’s for you. 

“Hi,” you breathe shakily as he loops his arms around your waist. 

“Hi, pretty,” he says, already leaning down to kiss you. It’s soft and sweet over too quickly, but then he’s gently pulling you into him. You drop your bag and bury your face in his jacket, trying to right yourself before you go into an emotional tailspin. 

As usual, he smells like lavender, clove, resinous amber. It makes your head spin. Right away you feel yourself relaxing; feel your guard slipping, like it always does when he’s around. 

“I missed you.” The words are quiet to begin with, muffled further by the fabric of his coat, but you know he’ll hear you. 

“I missed you too,” he murmurs, stroking your hair. “Everything okay?” 

Why are you always surprised when a man who works for the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI accurately analyzes your behavior? 

“Just tired. Can we go home?” You pull back enough to look up at him, meeting his fond—and just a little concerned—gaze, averting your eyes before he has time to discern your... omission of truth. 

“Yeah, angel. Of course we can.” 

He opens the passenger side door for you, making sure you’re settled before tossing your bag in the back seat and circling around the back of the car. 

“Is that coffee?” You say as soon as he slides into the driver’s seat. His eyes dart down to the tumbler in the center cupholder as he buckles. 

“It’s from the jet. You won’t like it.” 

Despite his warning you reach over to grab it, taking a small sip as he puts the car into gear and pulls out of the parking lot. You make a sour face. Spencer glances over. 

“I told you it was bad.” 

You yawn, putting it back in the cupholder. “It was worth a shot.” 

Jazz music plays quietly from the speakers and the heat is blasting, but you’re too busy mentally rehashing question 37 to find it relaxing. 

“You didn’t get enough sleep last night,” he states. Not a question. Outside, the brick buildings of your campus roll by. You wonder if all the students rushing about on the sidewalks and side streets failed any of their finals.  

“Couldn’t,” you mumble flatly, picking at your nails.  

There’s a moment’s pause, and you’re imagining all the things you could have done differently. You’ve never failed a final before. If you’d just studied a little bit harder—if you’d stayed in instead of going out last weekend, if you weren’t so— 

“I’m going to ask you something, and I don’t think you’re going to like it,” Spencer says. 

“Mhm,” you hum, too afraid to speak because your eyes are already stinging again. Honestly, you’re surprised you made it this far without him getting the truth out of you. He offers his hand across the console as you slink down in your seat, and you take it, allowing him to run his thumb over yours in soothing lines. 

“How do you think your final went?” 

You bite the inside of your cheek, the bare branches of the trees outside blurring as you stare unseeingly. 

“Not good. Like, I definitely failed, not good. I'm an idiot.” 

“You absolutely are not an idiot.” 

“You didn’t see me taking the test, Spencer. I literally just sat there staring at it for ten minutes before I even answered one question. It was pathetic.” 

“Did you sleep at all last night?” 

The question takes you by surprise. Your frown deepens. 

“What? I don’t—that’s not—" 

“Just answer the question. Did you sleep at all last night?” 

“Yes!” 

“Don't lie to me.” 

“Fuck you! I slept for like two hours and had coffee this morning!”  

He squeezes your hand. 

“That’s why you failed.” 

The first tear traces its path down your cheek, composure overwhelmed by the confrontation. 

“I hate when you use your stupid interrogation tactics on me,” you say, voice wobbling. And then the crying begins in earnest. 

“I know, baby.” 

His hand moves to rub your back when you let go to cover your face. Torrential evidence of your frustration and utter exhaustion well over, slipping through your fingers despite your best efforts to stop them from coming at all. Having an emotional breakdown in the passenger seat of his car is far from how you’d wanted to greet Spencer’s surprise arrival, but you’re too worn out to mask your emotions—especially when he is so adept at drawing them to the surface. 

A moment passes like that before you take a shuddering breath, raising your head slightly and wiping your cheeks with your sleeves in vain. 

“I should have been able to do it. I just—it was like I was reading the questions and I knew that I should know the answers, but I couldn’t remember anything.” 

“You’re exhausted. Sleep deprivation has an immediate, devastating effect on cognitive functioning levels. My recall and processing speed start to fail when I’m tired, too. It has nothing to do with how smart you are.” 

It makes sense—but it doesn’t make you feel much better. You wanted to ace this exam. Of course, Spencer wouldn’t understand because school was as easy as breathing for him. He barely had to try to get three doctorates. It’s possible, you suppose, that dating a genius has put an academic chip on your shoulder—maybe you’ve set impossibly high standards for yourself.  

After a few minutes the crying finally ebbs, if only because you’re running into supply and demand problems with your tear ducts. You rub your weepy eyes on your shoulder, leaning against the cold window and watching DC go by. 

“You know, the final isn’t as important as you think it is. You’ll still pass the class.” 

“It’s symbolic,” you mumble, breath fogging up the glass. Spencer hums, still rubbing your back. 

“I know. I know it matters to you, but I don’t want you to think one bad grade is a reflection of who you are. Do you understand why it doesn’t make sense to measure something as abstract as intelligence by a metric as one dimensional as a standardized test?” 

“Yes.” 

“Good.” 

You shift in your seat, wiping your face with your sleeve and prompting Spencer to take your other hand once more. 

“Can your FBI friend hack the university database and give me an A?” you ask after a moment, sniffling. 

“Absolutely not.” 

“Pretty please?” 

“Nope.” 

“It’s like you don’t even love me,” you mutter, angling yourself away from him.  

He pulls your hand toward him and presses a kiss to the back of it. 

“I love you so much that I don’t want you to get expelled for academic dishonesty.” 

“It doesn’t matter anyway. I’ll probably just drop out.” 

You both know you’re just being overdramatic, but Spencer has a tendency to be sweet even when you don’t deserve it. 

“I’ll love you no matter what you do.” 

You blush, unable to come up with a sufficient reply. His eyes slide to you briefly and he smirks, clearly enjoying his ability to fluster you, and by extension, get you to shut up. 

“Eyes on the road, genius,” you grumble. But for the first time today you’re fighting a smile instead of tears. 

[pretzel-box]

Hello, I’m here now. I just wanted to say I like ur works, I think As Above So Below is my favorite series of yours so far.

And also, I wanted to make a request, cuz it was just my birthday and fuck it why not-

So like. Sebastian with an axolotl experiment reader (fem or gn), cuz Urbanshade was like “You know what would be dope? Regeneration powers” and because of all the injuries reader received, because they were big or very frequent, their body couldn’t keep up and so they are smol

(with a hint of possessive/yandere/whatever-the-fuck, maybe?)

may the tumblr deities guide this ask, that it may not be eated by the ask box, thank you for putting up with my annoying, okay bye :3

-🍪

Tags: Slight comedy, reader and wall dweller eat each other?

Words: 1k

Authors note: Happy Late Birthday! I'm sorry for the wait. I combined the ask with another one!

It was a challenge in itself to keep a close eye on you. At least, that’s what Sebastian thought as he glanced at you from the corner of his shop. He leaned against the wall, trying to focus on the file in his lower hand while his other two arms were crossed.

Earlier, you had quietly assured him that you could handle stocking the shelves and organizing the inventory on your own, despite your slightly smaller stature. You had carried heavy boxes from the back without a complaint, determined to prove you were capable.

Sebastian was surprised every time he saw you in action. Your odd regeneration skills were both a blessing and a strange curiosity he had witnessed more times than he cared to count. If it weren’t for your ability to regrow limbs, your most defining trait would be your absolute innocence. You had no sense of self-defense, no instinct to attack. The only time you’d ever react was to bite—though that was just to check if something was food.

Sebastian couldn’t help but admire your resilience, despite everything Urbanshade had put you through. But it also worried him. The world wasn’t kind to creatures like you, and without him there, it was hard to imagine how long you’d last in an actual fight.

His eyes flicked back to you as you struggled with one of the heavier boxes. For a moment, he considered stepping in, but he stopped himself. You were stubborn in your own quiet way, always wanting to prove you could handle things on your own.

Still, the smallness of your form tugged at his protective instincts. He pushed away from the wall, tossing the file onto the counter as he slithered over.

“Here, let me help,” he said, reaching out to lift the box effortlessly with his upper arms. You looked up at him, blinking in mild surprise, but didn’t protest.

“I was doing fine,” you murmured, though your voice lacked any real defiance.

Sebastian smirked. “Sure you were. But there’s no harm in having an extra set of hands—especially when I’ve got three of them.”

You gave a small smile, a soft warmth in your eyes as you watched him set the box onto the shelf. He noticed how you seemed content to let him help, not because you couldn’t handle it, but because you trusted him. That trust was something fragile, something he wasn’t sure he deserved, but he wouldn’t break it.

As you moved to the next box, Sebastian’s mind wandered. He had seen your abilities save you countless times, but each time you regenerated, it chipped away at you. Urbanshade’s relentless experiments had drained your body, and every injury, every regrowth, took more of a toll. He knew you weren’t as strong as you used to be—your small frame was proof of that.

He glanced over at you, your eyes focused on your task. "You know," he started, his tone softer than usual, "you don’t always have to push yourself so hard. I’m here. You don’t have to do everything alone."

You paused, looking up at him again, your wide eyes reflecting a quiet understanding. “I know. But… it’s important to feel useful. To do something.”

Sebastian nodded, respecting your determination. He couldn’t imagine what it was like—to feel so fragile, yet still want to help. His grip tightened on the box he was holding.

“Well, just remember, you don’t have to prove anything to me. You’ve already done more than enough.”

For a moment, there was silence between the two of you, broken only by the soft thud of boxes being set on the shelves. But in that quiet, an unspoken understanding passed between you. You didn’t need to say it, and neither did he—Sebastian would protect you, no matter how much you wanted to prove yourself.

As the last box was finally stacked, Sebastian stood back, arms folded, watching you with a faint smile. “See? Not so bad with a little help, huh?”

You looked at him, offering a rare grin. “Maybe not.”

Just as you finished stacking the last box, a faint noise echoed from the far corner of the shop. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance.

“You hear that?” he muttered, his voice low.

You nodded, your wide eyes darting in the direction of the sound. Before either of you could react, something small and fast darted out from behind a shelf—a wall dweller, skittering across the floor in its typical, chaotic manner. Its pale skin and spindly limbs flashed in the dim light, catching both you and Sebastian off guard.

The wall dweller moved first, throwing itself on you and biting into your arm like a piece of cheese.

Before Sebastian could move to intercept it, your instincts kicked in. Without thinking, you lunged at the creature, mouth open and teeth bared. In one swift motion, you chomped down on the wall dweller’s arm as well—not to attack, but because it was your way of testing if things were food.

Sebastian’s eyes widened in shock. "Hey, wait—"

The wall dweller let out a startled yelp, wriggling in your grasp, while you blinked in confusion, still holding onto its arm with your sharp little teeth. The creature’s skin tasted strange, and you quickly realized it was, in fact, actually edible.

You immediately released it, stepping back with an apologetic look as the wall dweller scampered away, rubbing its arm and glaring at you. Sebastian couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the tension breaking as he watched the scene unfold.

“Well… that’s one way to defend yourself,” he said, shaking his head in amusement. “Not sure biting’s going to work in every situation, though. But it healed your arm.”

You stood there, blinking up at him, embarrassed but still unsure what else you could’ve done, then you glanced down on your healed limb. “It… wasn’t food,” you murmured quietly.

Sebastian snorted, wiping a tear from his eye. “Yeah, I figured. But maybe next time, let me handle the wall dwellers, alright?”

You nodded, your cheeks warming slightly. Though your instincts had failed this time, Sebastian didn’t seem mad—just amused, and maybe a little impressed.

The wall dweller, still grumbling under its breath, disappeared into a vent, but Sebastian was already back to his usual self, arms crossed and that familiar smirk playing on his lips.

“Nice try, though,” he teased. “At least you gave it something to chew on too.”

[crackedpumpkin]

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝟎𝟳 |

[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ] | [ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ] | [ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ]

“This isn’t what I meant when I said that we needed to talk.” You roll your eyes at Cole’s griping, though the fact that he hadn’t removed the earbud out of his ears tells you more than you need to know. 

“Just shush for a moment and let me relax a little, okay?”

He lets you be, leaning back and letting his head relax on the brick wall behind him. After he’d suddenly dropped the whole bomb of needing to talk and all, he’d summoned Rocky and (dragged) brought you to the nearby rooftop.

Instead of actually talking about your feelings and thoughts, however, you’d pulled out your phone and earbuds, shoving one into his ear when he sat next to you and shushing him with a glare. 

As the music plays, your racing heart starts to calm. Staring up at the sky, you watch the clear blue slowly fade into hues of pink and yellow, the colourful rays dancing together as if they were in an otherworldly waltz of their own. 

“I’m still sorry, by the way.” You turn your head to see his closed eyes and tilted head back, exposing his Adam's apple. He speaks slowly, as if carefully choosing the right words in his mind to mould a cautious sentence. “The day we first met, Lloyd and I had just been mobbed earlier by a group of fans again, and I just wanted some quiet time to myself.”

Black irises meet yours, a shared stare filled with silent apology. “It’s fine,” you allow a slow smile onto your face. “I’d have reacted much worse if I were you. I’m sorry about hitting you though.”

He laughs, glancing down at his abdomen. “What, this old thing? Barely felt it. Maybe I’ve gotten used to your punches.” He chuckles when you shove him once more with a playful scowl, the air between you both settling into a much more relaxed mood. 

He hesitates, allowing the song to play for a few more bars before deciding to broach the long-awaited topic. “So what’s got you so riled up about soulmates anyway? I mean, you made your dislike pretty clear, but I thought most people look forward to meeting theirs.”

“That’s exactly what makes it annoying.” An exasperated sigh falls from your lips, running a hand through your hair. “Just because I have a soulmate doesn’t mean I have to automatically like them, do I?” 

He winces. “I didn’t think I was that bad…” He mumbles, looking down at his shoes and kicking away a small pebble. 

“No, it’s not- I just…” A groan leaves you, eyes fixed back onto a passing cloud as you try to sort out the mess of thoughts all clumped together in your head. “It’s complicated, okay? It’s not you, it’s me.”

“Right,” he nods. “Can’t argue there.” He hides a weak grin when you shove him with an annoyed laugh, copying your posture and looking up at the clouds. “So why? Why all this?” He gestures aimlessly. 

The answer’s hard to pinpoint, unable to conjure the right words to encapsulate the surge of emotion in your heart as it swells. The silence between you grows heavier with each passing second.

He notices your quiet struggle, and for a moment, the air between you both feels fragile. Breaking the silence, he speaks, his voice softer than usual. “I didn’t think I’d ever have a soulmate,” he admits, the rawness in his tone catching you off guard.

His gaze grows distant, barely focusing on the clouds in the sky. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes, one that mirrors your own uncertainty.

“After my mom died, I saw what losing her did to my dad. He was... broken. I never wanted to go through that kind of pain.” He pauses for a moment, gathering the courage to continue. “When I became a ninja, I thought I was untouchable. I had a purpose. I didn’t need anyone, least of all a soulmate.”

The weight of his words hangs in the air, and it hits you—his resistance, his fear, the walls he’s built. He takes another breath, a tremble in his words as he speaks. “I thought I didn’t need anyone then, and I’m still not sure I do now.”

His admission stirs something inside you, the unease morphing into something more complicated. You want to say something, anything, but the words seem stuck behind the unspoken tension that lingers between you both.

“Looks like we both don’t need soulmates then.”

Wow, I need to stop talking. Forever.

A flicker of surprise registers in his gaze as he processes your words. Shaking his head with a nervous laugh, a moment of silence passes between you both. Guilt starts to eat away at the edges of your conscience, mentally berating yourself for your response. 

He stands up, his fingers brushing against the earbud before handing it back, hesitation flickering in his movement. You stare at his outstretched hand, taking a deep breath as the words rip themselves out of your throat, an unspoken secret you’ve never shared with anyone.

“My mom and dad got divorced when I was 15.” The instant relief you feel is startling, like a weight that had been dragging you under finally loosened its grip. For so long, it had gnawed at you, a parasitic leech feeding on your spirit.

Well, until now. 

The sensation of a freshly opened wound is unnerving, raw and exposed to your soulmate who stands in front of you. He’s completely silent, which only adds to the growing nervousness that begins to spill over the jug holding everything inside. 

Coughing, you snatch the earbud from his hand and roll up the wires in a hurry. Standing up, you refuse to meet his eyes. “So, where’s Rocky? I’m pretty tired, so I kinda have to get home now.”

Another moment passes before Rocky materialises behind you both. I guess he’s finished recharging his dragon, you think to yourself as it bends down, sensing you didn’t really want to talk with his owner for the time being.

The ride back home is quiet, though your arms had found themselves wrapped around his waist once more from fear of falling off. You’d allowed yourself a brief moment of resting your forehead against his shoulder for a moment, breathing in his cologne that calms your racing heart. 

As the seconds pass, you can sense your raw wound slowly patching itself up, like a hastily plastered band-aid. It shouldn’t still ache like this, not after all these years. Yet, even now, the mere mention of your mom has a way of pulling at the fragile seams, threatening to tear them open all over again.

It’s like what your mom always said when you were younger. You’d always been an active and mischievous kid who constantly found herself in accidents. Every time you came running to her, she'd kneel down, her hands gentle but firm, tending to the wound. “Remember,” she’d say, “if you acknowledge it, you give it power. So ignore it, and it’ll go away.”

Back then, it worked. Chanting those words under your breath as she cleaned your wounds felt like a secret spell, something to cling to. But now? Now that you’re older, wiser, and have seen more than just playground accidents? It feels hollow. Because no matter how hard you try to ignore it, the pain still lingers.

Perhaps it’s the fact that you’re older now and more mature, but the phrase still stood strong. If you didn’t acknowledge the wound, then it wouldn’t hurt. If you didn’t acknowledge the fights behind closed doors, they didn’t happen. If you didn’t acknowledge the divorce, it wasn’t real.

But it is.

The thought makes you inhale shakily, choosing to press your forehead against his back, wanting nothing more than to burrow further into a deeper, darker hole within yourself. His back tenses slightly before relaxing, and you can sense his concerned gaze as he glances down at you before turning back to face the front.

He lets you remain there for the rest of the ride home, pretending not to notice your shaky breaths and occasional tightening of your arms around his waist. Opening your eyes, you spot the comic book store below, and it dawns on you that he’d taken the longer route back to your home. 

Suddenly, breathing gets a little easier. 

When Rocky finally lands, you’re back in your usual upright position. He lets you dismount first, then dematerializes his dragon, having learnt from the previous experience. You both head toward the building, his hands casually shoved into his pockets, and an odd sense of ease settling between you.

As you pause in front of the lift, you press the button, the soft glow of the floor numbers flickering in the reflection of the glass doors. "Thanks for today," you murmur, your voice quieter than intended but sincere. You catch his gaze in the reflection, his eyes meeting yours. The corners of his lips curve into a small, relieved smile.

“Maybe the next time we meet, it’ll be less awkward.” He jokes in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Yeah. Next time.” His words don’t go unappreciated, the warmth in your own voice surprising you. The lift arrives with a soft ding, and as you step inside, something makes you hesitate. You keep the doors from closing, holding the button down.

He’s already started to turn away, ready to head back. “Friends?” The word slips out, catching slightly in your throat. Extending the olive branch feels strange, but somehow necessary.

His body stiffens for a beat, caught off guard by the offer. Slowly, he turns back toward you, his expression shifting into a wide, genuine grin. “Friends,” he repeats, the relief in his voice matching your own.

As the doors close between you, you both share a nod of understanding, your expression mirroring his. The shared gaze filled with a sense of warmth and genuine trust doesn’t break, until the lift finally disappears from his view. 

— — — — — 

As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, you strangle the bitch for doing so. 

When it comes to Duolingo streaks at least. 

“Español? More like espafar,” you mutter, pressing the home button rapidly when the screen shows your broken streak. You’d been 7 days strong into the Spanish course but forgot all about it until now.

The lift doors open, and Holly steps in with a grin. “Buenos dias!”

“Don’t even,” you groan, showing her the screen of the animated green bird shaking its head in disappointment. She raises her brows. “I just keep forgetting everything except for like, the simple phrases. Why is it even teaching me how to say ‘the bottle is big?’” 

“Good point. I don’t think the topic of bottle sizes comes up in conversation often.” She agrees, stepping out of the lift when the doors open on the ground floor. 

“We still gotta find a company to research,” you grumble, wincing as the bright sun decides to aim its rays directly at you. Alan - another of your professors who insisted you remove the Dr. from his name had assigned your class another project on top of the already existing ones from other classes. 

“I’m basing mine off Papa’s Pizzeria,” she shrugs, narrowly avoiding a kid on his bicycle, the ringing of bells sounding through the bustling streets as they deliver newspapers from door to door. “His business model is crazy. He’s got like, what, four successful franchises?”

You sigh, the reminder of the cake you’d placed an order for just a single week away from being collected. The only reason why you’d even placed the order so early is because you knew you’d forget if you didn’t. Plus, if not for Cole’s presence, the earliest slot would’ve been months away.

“I haven’t decided mine yet,” you say, swinging your arms up in the air as you yawn, the effects of your morning americano already wearing off. Blinking sleepily, the bright lights of a building looming in the distance catch your eye. 

Huh. You squint a little, reading the words off the top. Borg Industries.

“Is that a big company around here?” Holly blinks, glancing from you to the big neon signboard in the sky. 

“You’re joking.”

The shrug you offer in return draws a snort of disbelief. “Borg Industries? The most innovative, cutting-edge tech alive? They make everything! Over two-thirds of the city uses Borg Industries products. What I would kill to sneak a look in their lab.” 

“Someone’s a fan,” you say sarcastically, flinching when she practically jolts upright. 

“Oh no, I’m not just a fan, I’m a fanatic.”

She halts in her tracks. “Actually, why don’t you do your project on it?”

You hum thoughtfully, mulling over the suggestion. “Sure,” you reply with a shrug. “Why not?”

“You can ask me anything,” she all but jumps in front of you with an excited smile. “I’ve been studying their stuff since I was a kid! My mom used to work for them, but she left because she got pregnant with my brother.”

“If I have any questions, you’ll be the first person I call. Or text. Most likely text.” The assurance makes her laugh, continuing the walk to the university. 

Luckily, today just has a few morning classes so you’re able to finish by 2pm. The iced latte you’d gotten on the way had been your primary source of fuel throughout the lectures and project discussions, chugging down the last of it as soon as class concluded. 

“That’s weird, what’s he doing here?” Glancing over at Holly, you follow her squinted gaze to a tall boy leaning against the wall next to the campus entrance. “What the fuck- Leo??”

You glance over, curiosity piqued. He looks up just as you approach, greeting Holly with a playful grin. “Hey, sis! You forgot your—” He pauses mid-sentence, his gaze landing on you. For a moment, you feel a chill, as if he’s sizing you up, but then he shakes it off, the charming smile returning.

He pushes himself off the wall, walking over to your friend with an air of effortless confidence. “Here you go,” he says, handing her a small package with a flourish, his demeanour playful and light.

“Thanks! You didn’t have to come all the way here,” she replies, genuinely grateful.

He shrugs, a cheeky glint in his eye. “Couldn’t let you go without your snacks, now could I?” He turns to you, his expression warm but with a hint of mischief. “And you must be the infamous friend I’ve heard so much about. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Infamous?” You question, fist-bumping him. “Not the wildest description I’ve ever gotten. I’m satisfied with that.” 

He pauses, turning to glance at his sister with a sceptical eye. “How’d you get someone as cool as her to be your friend? What’d you do, blackmail them?”

You grin. 

This is insanely validating. I like him.

“I did not,” Holly huffs, her cheeks flushing as she pushes her brother away with an embarrassed smile. “I gotta go for my elective now, have a safe trip home!” You wave her off with an amused smile, watching Leo protest vehemently to his sister. 

Upon reaching home, you quickly take a shower and change into a more relaxed fit. If you were gonna get beat up during a spar, you’d at least do it wearing lighter clothing.

A knock on your door draws your attention. Opening it reveals Emily holding a cup filled with a liquid so hot you can see the steam coming off the surface in wisps. “I made some tea for you.” Her voice is hesitant. 

Not again, you sigh internally. Every now and then she’d approach you with something like cookies or cake as a peace offering. You’ve always rolled your eyes and shut the door in her face.

However, you hesitate. Would it truly be so bad to accept it…? 

“It’s yuzu tea,” she interjects quickly, seizing the moment your silence creates. “I saw your friend’s mother today and gave her a whole tumbler. I was also hoping you could join us at the restaurant downtown for your dad’s birthday. I know you usually celebrate just the two of you, but… maybe this time we could celebrate together?”

Your heart sinks, frustration rising beneath the surface. Of course she’d ask for something in return. Stop pretending to be my mom. I never asked you to.

A part of you stops the harsh words from spilling past your lips, pressing them together. You know you’re being completely unfair to her, the recently opened wound beginning to throb. 

“Okay. I’ll be there.”

She blinks owlishly at your calm reaction, her hands remaining in the same position even after you remove the cup from her hands and drink from it. “Thanks,” you manage to say, angling yourself to squeeze past her figure in the hallway and walking to the door. 

Cole’s confession flashes through your mind as you glance at your dad who’s adjusting his tie in the mirror, steps slowing to a halt as you watch him hum in the bathroom.

“Hey munchkin, looking forward to your lesson today?” He spots you from the corner of his eyes, turning to you with a bright smile. 

You nod, adjusting your collar. “Yeah, thanks for signing me up for them.” 

His hands freeze, brows furrowed in pure confusion. Hiding a chuckle, you continue to the door, putting on your shoes and leaving quickly before they start asking questions. 

The phone rings in your pocket when you’re on the bus. Picking it up, you press it close to your ear as you alight, tapping the transit card on your way off. “Hello?”

“Class is cancelled today, Master Wu had to rush off to an appointment.”

“Oh.” You pull the phone away for a moment to see Cole’s name on the screen. “Why’re you the one calling me though?”

“We bumped into each other, but he forgot to let you know. He did tell me that dinner would be on us next time you come over after lessons though. Not like he’s paying me to cook anyway,” he grumbles at the last bit.

You hum in acknowledgement. “To be honest, I’m kinda…on the way already.” You admit.

“How near are you?”

You hesitate, your steps slowing to a halt. “Like…Right below the huge-ass mountain near? It’s chill though, I can just take the bus home.”

“No,” he pauses. “Just come on up. The rest of us are having Game Night, and we could use one more player.”

“Well…” You hum, glancing at the stairs. “If you say please, maybe I’ll consider it-”

“Please.”

Oh. Well, that was fast.

“You’re no fun, you know that, right?”

“You’re the one going up the stairs, aren’t you?” 

You pause, glancing down at the number of steps you’ve already walked. “Damn you, Brookstone.” His sharp laugh cuts off when you press the red button to hang up, continuing the climb with a roll of your eyes.

Reaching the doors of the monastery takes a significantly shorter amount of time than you’d expect, but it’s more likely due to the increased levels of physical activity through the amount of walking you do every day and Master Wu’s classes.

The couch potato in you is still not sure if you should be grateful for it or not.

Cole’s the one who greets you at the doors, leaning against them nonchalantly while waiting for you to reach. “About time.” He narrowly misses the punch you throw his way. 

“You couldn’t have asked Rocky to pick me up?”

“How could I? He’s resting right now.” You roll your eyes. “So how’s the project going?” He asks, referring to the one you'd been talking about over text a couple nights ago. 

“If you want, I could ask Papa to let you interview him,” Cole grins, taking the bag from you as you bend down to take off your shoes before stepping onto the varnished wooden floors. 

“It’s fine, I've changed companies. Ever heard of Borg Industries?” 

He tilts his head in thought. “I’ve heard about them, yeah. You're gonna do your project on them now?”

Your stomach growls, interrupting your sentence. The room you’re about to pass catches your eye, Cole raising a brow at your grin. Entering the kitchen to grab a snack from the private stash he’d shown you just last week, you eye the various bags of chips on the countertop. 

“You just got back from patrol?” At his nod, you veer toward the fridge and open it, grabbing a packet of frozen dumplings you’d seen him get during a random midnight grocery run at the convenience store nearby.

It’d been the first time you saw each other ever since ‘the talk’, but strangely enough, both of you immediately fell into lighthearted conversation when he asked about your classes.

He grabs the plate from a cupboard above. Spotting his fingers grasping at the edges of the plastic, you can sense the frustration brimming with every movement. Hiding a smile, you nonchalantly walk over and pull it away, examining it with the air of a professional before opening it with a simple tear.

“Call me mistaken but aren't you supposed to have, like, super strength?” 

He chuckles, shaking his head as you dump the soon-to-be delicious snack on the plate. He takes the now-filled plate from your outstretched hand, placing it into the microwave and turning it on.

“Now I just have to do research on Cyrus Borg. You wouldn’t happen to know his assistant or something, would you? That superstar ninjadom power would really come in handy right now, soulmate.” The conversation resumes as easily as it’d stopped, accepting the cup of tea he hands you and take a small sip. 

He takes a sip out of his own cup, shrugging. “I might know one of his assistants.” 

A solid thump echoes through the kitchen as you set down your cup, your gaze turning serious. “You better not be playing with me, Brookstone. I can and will drain you dry during Monopoly.”

“I’m just saying,” he points out, “that favours are a give and take. So, I’ll do you this favour and you do me another.”

“And what exactly is this favour?” Crossing your arms, you eye him with suspicion. 

“It’s no big deal. Just be Kai’s partner for Game Night.”

You blink, regarding him with scepticism. “That’s it? Just be his partner?” He nods, taking another sip. “Sure,” a slow grin spreads across your face. “I’ll do it. Then, you introduce me to this assistant and put in a good word.”

“Sure thing, soulmate.”

You watch him turn to take out the dishes from the dishwasher below the countertop, smiling softly. It’s almost insane how quickly everything had blown over. If not for him initiating the talk, you’re a hundred percent sure you would’ve continued to run away again and again until you’d been cornered.

In a way, you’re grateful for him. The whole romantic part of it would be sorted out by your future selves but for now? Being friends isn’t so bad. He sets the plate down, picks up a pair of chopsticks you’d set aside for use earlier and grabs a dumpling. 

You’re too preoccupied with your thoughts to notice he’d placed it closer to you, having poked a small hole to let the hot steam escape. “Gonna eat?” He asks through a mouthful, gesturing to the plate.

You pick up your chopsticks and pick up the dumpling closest to you, blowing on it to cool it down before taking a bite, and chewing slowly. Glancing up, you notice him looking away hurriedly. “What?” You ask with a blank stare. “Do I have something on my face?”

“Yeah, it’s over here.” He gestures to his left cheek and you use your knuckle to rub against the spot. “You missed it,” he huffs in amusement, leaning forward. Automatically closing your eyes as he draws near, you wait patiently. 

“Is it off yet?” His touch is almost feather-like, barely sensing it against your skin before you hear him sit back down in his seat. Hearing what you assume to be a sound of agreement, you open your eyes, only for them to widen at his red cheeks and teary eyes.

He uses his chopsticks to gesture at the hot dumplings as he chugs down a bottle of water, exhaling shakily when he finishes. “Hot.” Is all he can muster, roughly wiping away the tears while you dissolve into a fit of laughter.

After your initial laughter subsides, you let out a chuckle every now and then, continuing to eat. “Didn’t know you were here!” Looking up, you greet Jay with a casual wave as he saunters into the kitchen with a smug air about him.

“Heard you’re playing tonight. Prepare to get wrecked!”

“Please,” you scoff playfully, shoving off the arm he’d slung around your shoulders. “All the energy for my cancelled class is gonna go towards killing you guys off in Charades.”

“Don’t count your roosters before they hatch,” he shrugs in response, using Cole’s chopsticks to steal a dumpling. “Whose team are you on, anyway? Cole’s?”

“Kai’s.”

His arm freezes, and you can practically hear every muscle in his neck creak as he looks at Cole in silence. “...Kai?” He glances back down at you, his gaze filled with sorrow. “What did this despicable man do to make you agree?”

His arms are flung around your shoulders once more, but this time it’s in pity. “Wha- What did you make me agree to??” You demand, swivelling back toward Cole who simply smiles innocently as Jay pats your back.

Scowling at him, you bite down harshly on another dumpling, eyeing him in disbelief. Surely it wouldn’t be that bad, right? You don’t know what’ll happen or why Jay’s behaving this way, but surely it’s not terrible…

Right?

— — — — — 

“How the fuck are we getting negative points???” 

You can’t help the scoff of pure, utter bewilderment as you stare at the board in front of you. Turning to glare at Kai, he crosses his arms defensively. “Don’t blame me, you’re the one who couldn’t guess seagull.”

“In what universe was that a sea-” Cutting yourself off, you exhale, pinching the bridge of your nose as you try to calm down. “A seagull has two wings and a beak. Not an amalgamation of parts from Willy Wonka’s Factory.”

“That’s what I drew! Two wings and a beak and a body!” He splutters, the offended expression on his face instantly making you lose whatever remaining hope you have for the night ahead.

A snicker from the left draws your attention, turning to see Cole, Jay, and Nya instantly masking their expressions. They raise their brows in sync as if it were your idea to team up with Kai in the first place.

Your fingers curl into a fist, wanting nothing more than to march over to your stupid, dumb soulmate, and grab his collar, shaking him till he admits he’s wronged you. Unfortunately, reality sinks in when he stands up for his turn.

You watch as Jay and Nya cheer when Lloyd gets the charades right, Kai sulking next to you. “Fuck it,” you declare, grabbing his arm and pulling him to sit back upright. “We’re gonna beat these losers.”

“Those are some fightin’ words,” Nya pipes up, Jay giving her arm a squeeze in encouragement. 

“Yeah, I don’t know about you but based on facts…” Lloyd trails off, pointing at the whiteboard as Cole uses a red marker to write down yet another point under their names, “we’re in the lead. And you know the rules-”

“I actually do not-”

“Losers treat the next group dinner.” Cole cuts you off, finishing Lloyd’s sentence as he grins maniacally at you. 

Blinking, you can feel the last bits of your dignity slipping away from under you. Your partner and you exchange glances, fist-bumping each other. “Well, looks like you’ll have to get more sponsorships because we’ll be enjoying the entire restaurant menu on you guys.” 

“Sure,” Jay snorts, waving dismissively. “On us. As if you’ll be able to beat Nya and me at Jenga.”

— — — — — 

“You cheated.”

You shrug with an air of innocence. “Poor Jay…Sad, sad little Jay who couldn’t keep the tower from collapsing in on itself…Playing Jenga with a degree in Engineering and still losing…” Kai sighs sadly with a shake of his head, bending down to pick up the scattered pieces.

“Ugh-” Jay splutters, throwing his hands up in the air. “You cheated somehow, and I’m going to prove it. Zane!”

“From my calculations, it seems that she really did beat you, Jay. She tricked you by-” You cut him off with a loud hush, shaking your head urgently even as he mumbles out a response from below your hands covering his mouth. 

“A magician never reveals their secrets.” You glare at Cole when he gently removes your hands from Zane’s face, the latter now able to speak properly. “What do you want, Brookstone?”

“Just for you to let Jay marinate in his loss.” He chuckles, helping you stand back up. He ignores his friend’s cry of outrage, taking the Jenga bricks from your hand. Kai stands up too, dumping whatever he has into Cole’s hands before sauntering off to the coffee table with a victorious grin.

“Everyone,” Pixel gasps, standing upright from her initial place on the couch. The room falls silent, tension cutting through the air as all eyes turn to her. “I tracked down the villain’s hideout. We need to go now.”

The playful banter evaporates, replaced by a rush of adrenaline and urgency. Cole’s expression shifts from playful to serious in an instant, and you can feel the weight of the moment pressing down. “Are you sure?” he asks, his voice steady but laced with concern.

Pixel nods, her excitement palpable. “I’ve got the location and everything. This could be our chance to finally confront them.”

“You wanna come along?” Surprised by his sudden invitation, you grin. 

“If you insist.” 

“I didn’t but, okay-” He lets out a slight cry when you hit his arm with a scowl. You take a surprised step back when Pixal lifts up the dartboard attached to the wall, pressing a button that reveals a hidden lift. 

“Wait, you’re letting a civilian tag along?” Lloyd asks, placing an arm in front of you before you enter it. 

“It’ll be fine, she’s been taking lessons from Master Wu. Besides, it’d be great to have experience!” Kai points out. 

You nod along. “Yeah, what he said. Besides, I’m not just a civilian. I can hold my own,” you retort, crossing your arms defiantly. “I want to help.”

Cole steps closer, his tone firm yet encouraging. “She’s right, Kai. We need all the hands we can get. Besides, she knows what’s at stake here.”

Lloyd sighs, his arm lowering reluctantly. “Fine. But if anything goes sideways, you’re getting out of there.”

Pixal beams at you, the lift doors sliding open with a soft hum. “See? It’s gonna be fine! Just think of it as a field trip.”

As you step into the lift, you feel a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling in your stomach. The doors close, and the lift descends quickly, the sound of machinery humming around you.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” you ask, trying to distract yourself from the rising tension. “And out of curiosity, am I considered an honorary ninja after this?”

Cole cringes, shaking his head at your bad attempt at lightening the mood. “Maybe after you defeat the Overlord single-handedly or have an attack that’s targeted at you.”

“Or have an arch-nemesis out to get you,” Lloyd (unhelpfully) chimes in.

“Let’s move!” Zane calls out, adjusting his gear as he steps into the lift behind you. “We can’t let this opportunity slip away.”

Jay grins widely. “Yeah! Let’s catch those bad guys!” His eagerness is infectious, and you can’t help but smile through the sudden nervousness making itself known in the depths of your stomach.

Pixal quickly outlines the plan. “We’ll split into two groups. Lloyd and Cole will take the east side while Kai and Zane cover the west. Jay and Nya, you’ll cover the entrance to make sure they can’t run. If you find anything suspicious, signal each other.”

“Got it!” Jay replies, cracking his knuckles. “I’m ready to show those crooks who they’re dealing with!”

The journey over is quick, all of them using their own vehicles while Cole lets you ride Rocky with him once more. The briny smell of the seawater hits your nose before the docks come into view, grimacing at the scent. 

“Smells like piss.” Cole hums in agreement at your comment, diving down and landing. Once you disembark, Rocky dematerializes. The remaining vehicles come to a stop next to you. 

“Stay sharp,” Kai reminds everyone, his expression serious. “If we see anything out of the ordinary, we regroup immediately.” You take the earpiece he hands to you, taking a step back when a screen materialises in front of your eyes. 

“Hello. Do not be alarmed, this is merely a scanner to help detect and zoom in on anything we might find.” Pixal’s voice makes itself known in your ear, glancing around to see the rest already prepared to get in position.

“Let’s move out!” Cole whispers, nodding toward the entrance of the warehouse. You follow closely behind, your heart racing with each step. In fact, you’re not entirely sure you’re breathing at all. 

As you approach the massive doors, you can see the dim light filtering through the cracks, casting ominous shadows on the ground. Cole raises his hand to signal for a moment of pause. 

“On three,” he murmurs, his voice steady. “One… two… three!”

With a collective effort, you all push open the heavy doors, the sound of creaking metal echoing in the silence. As the doors swing wide, you expect to be greeted by the sight of henchmen or the stolen goods you’ve been hunting for. Instead, you’re met with…nothing.

The warehouse is empty.

“Shit,” you breathe, stepping further inside, eyes scanning the vast, open space. Shadows dance along the walls, but there are no signs of life. No stolen items, no villains, nothing but an unsettling quiet.

“Where are they?” Kai asks, his voice filled with disbelief. “They should’ve been here!”

Cole’s brow furrows as he surveys the area. “They couldn’t have just vanished. There must be something…”

Pixel, still communicating through your earpiece, adjusts her scanner. “I’m not picking up any heat signatures or movement inside. It’s as if they cleared out completely.”

Cole shakes his head, his determination unwavering. “No, this doesn’t feel right. They wouldn’t just abandon their hideout without a reason.”

A dim light flickers in the corner, catching your attention and drawing you away from the chaos around you as everyone starts to argue. As you step through the plastic shroud that covers the entrance to a separate area, an unsettling chill washes over you. The room is filled with silence, broken only by the faint rustling of your footsteps.

A massive map of Ninjago looms on the wall, its edges frayed and yellowed from the lack of sunlight. Red circles and ominous question marks encircle specific regions, each marked with frantic scrawls of black and red ink. The museum is crossed out, a bold slash that feels more like a threat than a mere ‘X marks the spot’.

“Guys?” you call out, your voice wavering as an unsettling feeling creeps into your gut. As the scanner detects something hidden behind the corner of the map, you feel your pulse quicken. You lean in closer, your heart pounding in your chest as you spot the edge of a photo peeking out.

“What’d you find?” Cole's voice breaks the stillness as he enters the room, pulling the plastic aside with a flicker of curiosity. He steps in, but his expectation for a casual discovery fades when he sees your face contorted in confusion and dread.

With trembling hands, you reach out and gingerly pull the photo free, a sense of foreboding washing over you. As you hold it up, the dim light reveals a bird’s eye view of you at a café, oblivious to the world around you, immersed in your work. The image is haunting, a snapshot of a moment that feels both ordinary and deeply unsettling.

The café looks familiar, but something about the angle of the shot feels invasive as if someone was watching you from afar, hidden in the shadows. You notice the way your focus is entirely on your laptop, unaware of the eyes that might have been tracking your every move.

“Is that…?” Cole starts, his voice trailing off as he takes a step closer, peering at the photo with wide eyes. The room feels colder now, the air thickening with the weight of unspoken fear.

“What the fuck?” you whisper, the realisation dawning on you like a dark cloud. This wasn’t just a coincidence; someone had been watching you. “They know me? They’ve been watching me?”

Something clatters to the ground as the plastic shroud is pulling away once more, each ninja entering one by one. “What’s wrong?” Nya asks, noticing the sudden change in your demeanour. 

Everyone falls silent when you hold up the photo with a blank expression for them to see. They have similar reactions, looking at you with grave eyes before Jay breaks the silence. 

“Guess you’re an honorary ninja now.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

“Is what I’m seeing real, or am I just dreaming?” Jay slaps his wrist, hissing in pain when it stings. “Nope. Real, definitely real.”

“Shh!” Nya hushes him, excitement bubbling over as she grips the edges of the doorway. Her eyes widen as Cole pokes a hole in the dumpling, lifting it with a flourish before placing it down near you. “I bet she’s his soulmate. She has to be!”

“No shit,” Jay mutters sarcastically, but his tone shifts when he notices Nya’s raised brow. “But isn’t he all ‘Oooh, I’m big and buff and strong, I don’t need a soulmate because I’m sooo independent’?” He rolls his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips.

Nya presses a hand over her mouth, desperately stifling a laugh at his poor imitation. “Look at them! They’re so sweet,” she sighs, fanning her flushed face.

“Yeah, they remind me of us,” Jay murmurs dreamily, only to blink when Nya glares at him. “What?”

“Don’t you remember how our first date went?” The reminder makes him stiffen, a sheepish laugh escaping him. He squeezes her arm, his eyes pleading for her to drop it.

“Oh!” His wish is granted as Nya’s attention shifts back to the scene unfolding before them. They both watch as Cole leans over the table, fingers hovering hesitantly above your cheek.

“Is it off yet?” you ask, oblivious to the sudden tension in the air. Cole’s face flashes with panic as he quickly brushes off whatever it is before sitting back down, fanning his flushed cheeks.

In that split second when you open your eyes, Cole grabs an unpoked dumpling and pops it into his mouth whole before letting out a pained grunt.

“What is he doing??” Nya practically whisper-shouts, her eyes wide in disbelief.

“Well,” Jay allows himself a moment of smug satisfaction as he watches Cole immediately regret his life choices, chugging down the entire jug of water, “at least now you know who’s more lame.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

Taglist: @candyquokka @mossy-mika @em-100-blog @cursedreader @alicesmile1 @alexa24 @raegreenie4 @burdeningbitch @viennasthings @cadencannot @ml3czqo @nanasemo @certified-cole-simp @beescomet @theblindhag @mitbin24 @sweetlittlebumblebree @brooklyniswriting @cantbecreative @something-else3 @iinlovewithfictionalppl @itz-moonlight @jebesovovise @ryeheep @letthelightin2112 @classically-bored @clearlawyereaglewobbler @anajellyc <-(So sorry i genuinely forgot to tag you!!!! forgive me pls 🙏🏻🙏🏻)

[soobnny]

loving is terrifying — han jisung. best friends to lovers. accidental confessions (1.6k words)

in the midst of ranting, han jisung accidentally confesses he’s in love with you

“And if I burn the whole school down, would you bail me out of jail, Hanji?”

You’re still only a few sentences into the important speech you were asked to write, and you’re starting to feel agitated, chewed up pencil carving out your thoughts on paper before finding its way abandoned on your desk.

It’s been a few hours, and you’d chosen to put the pencil down lest you want to bring yourself to insanity.

Pretty lies usually come easy to you, but now they’re burning holes into your skull and flicking the ashes into your brain. In the reprieve, all you can think about is your anger for the authority.

“Bold of you to assume I won’t be your accomplice.” Jisung retorts from where he’s seated next to you on the floor, arms crossed behind his head as he leans against his couch.

“There’s just so much wrong in the system. Their code of rules deprive students of their creativity. Only the top students have a multitude of opportunities waiting for them. And don’t get me started on how the authorities put so little value into culture and societal issues. Everything is wrong, just wrong in all ways!”

There’s a word count in Jisung’s head on how many times you’ve said wrong in one sitting, but he’s looking at you with a hint of something in his eyes. Almost adoration.

“And we can change it by burning the school down?” A tone of amusement is laced in your best friend’s voice, though you fail to search for a trace of judgment.

“We can start there. Then the world.” You take the pencil back and fiddle with it between your fingers.

“The world? That’s very ambitious of you.”

You glare at him.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t be by your side. I like ambitious.” Jisung smiles at you, making sure to lock his eyes with yours so you can see heavy genuineness where his pupils are. “What’s the next step then?”

“Climate change.”

Jisung throws his head back in quiet laughter, and the slight movement allows you a whip of his laundry detergent from the white shirt he’s wearing. “Okay, climate change.”

“You’re making fun of me.”

“I’m not!” His lips quirk up into a smile, eyes morphing from crescents to a full moon as he struggles to defend his name. There is still laughter even in the way he licks the inside of his cheek and takes your hands in his.

You fail to copy his laughter.

“Your eyes are upset. Are they directed at me?” Jisung softens his voice, only speaking one his laughter has boiled down. He pulls you closer than you already are, and you don’t notice the way he grabs the pencil between your fingers in the process to set it down.

“Of course not.” You mumble. “I’m mad at everything else, at everything wrong.”

A tally adds to his word count.

You sigh when you let go of his hands to take the paper in your own, eyes leaden as they scan across the sentences you had bullshited earlier. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to write this.”

“Just scream it out.”

“What?”

“Scream out what you actually want to say.” He grins.

You gape at him.

“I’m not screaming in your living room. Your neighbors are going to think someone’s being murdered.”

“Then just say it. Whatever you want to say. Everything wrong.”

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Okay, I’ll start then.” He smiles, and it’s heart-warmingly encouraging. “I wish it was easier to ground myself. I live in my head most of the time, and opening up is hard, and I wish forming any form of relationship wasn’t so scary.”

“Ji—“

“Okay, now your turn.”

“We are not going to ignore what you just said.”

“I said, your turn.”

“Jisung.”

“Please?” He places a hand over yours, and it’s enough for your brain to short circuit.

“Alright, fine. But we are going to talk about it later.”

“Now, what about those things that are wrong?” Jisung asks, giving your hand a gentle squeeze before letting go.

“Well, uh— our poor education system, that’s for one. And, the government. Blatant sexism too, how stupid the patriarchy is, how I still can’t parallel park for the life of me.”

You start with sporadic things, the ones that instantly pop in your head when you think about things that make you upset, and as you continue to talk, you dig a little deeper, and you don’t even realize you’ve stood up and your hands are flailing around like a salesman by the second.

“And, don’t even get me started on the transportation system. It’s so dumb how car-centered design came to be because how is it that the people who have access to private vehicles also have the easiest routes over the less fortunate who walk or commute? Like, why do we have to adjust to the roads?”

There’s a long list of things you want to say, finally letting loose and narrating all the things you’ve kept locked away in the back of your mind because you’re with the one person you can trust. When you meet Jisung’s gaze, he’s looking at you in awe.

“I hate how we’re branded as prodigies when we were younger. I hate the expectations that come with it, that we have to be great all the time, and, oh, this actually feels really good.”

Jisung chuckles at the way you come to a sudden realization, but he’s always known you were wiser beyond your years. “You’re brilliant.”

“Well, you have to say something too!”

Jisung fiddles with his fingers, trying to think of where to start. Though, the brilliance that is you and the opportunity of having this moment with you is enough motivation for him to follow suit.

“Uh, it’s so scary how superficial people are nowadays, and how so quickly they’re let down. It stresses me out how a single mistake could cost you so many relationships, but at the same time, who will stress out if not me? And it makes me realize how lucky I am to have the people in my life, and having an opportunity to talk like this really fuels my positivity in life, and it makes me realize even more how much I strongly feel like my life is for you guys, and there is nothing more important to me than being able to be a good person for you guys, like you. I wish I could be the bestest friend for you, maybe even more than that, but fuck, loving is so scary so I wish you’ll never find out how I’m so so in love with you— wait.”

The room falls silent and he’s thinking of a thousand different ways to die on the spot. He’s embarrassed. This is embarrassing, and he’s thinking it really wouldn’t be too late to jump off the bedroom window and hope for the best. A thousand different ways, maybe pretend he never said anything, stand still and maybe you’d think he wasn’t there in the first place. A thousand different ways.

“Han Jisung.”

“Soooo, haha, where were we in your speech again?”

Jisung doesn’t meet your eyes for the fear of rejection. He doesn’t think he has the heart to handle it right now, especially not after his accidental confession.

“Did you mean what you said?”

“About how superficial people are? Of course, it’s so scary. Hey, did I tell you about the tim—“

“Is being in love with me something wrong?”

He falls silent, and you can visibly see him start to panic, and his hands are pressed together as if in a prayer as he’s shaking his head profusely. “No, oh god no, it’s not. Honestly, it’s one of the only things I’m sure of, and that says a lot because I’m not sure of anything. I’m not even sure I’m in the right course or the right school or if I’m spending my money the right way, or if I’m even gonna live tomorrow, but fuck, loving you and everything about you is something I will never question.”

You can feel yourself start to smile, and Jisung finds himself copying you. It’s one of the first things he knew he loved about you—your smile, and the way you think, and the sound of your laughter. Despite his erratic heart beating and his fear of this exact moment, he still finds himself smiling when you do.

“I’m in love with you too.”

“What?”

You can visibly see the gears in his head turn, and he’s writing a story he doesn’t know the ending to just yet, but the beginning is so beautiful because it’s with you. Then, he laughs. It’s breathy, and you can almost hear the relief. “Did you just say you love me?”

“I did.”

“Oh my god. Oh my god.”

“I’m in love with you, Han Jisung.”

“I’m going to die.”

You laugh, and then he snaps back into reality.

“Can I kiss you?” His tone is so careful, but there’s a hint of something you can only recognize as a slight desperation—like he’s been thinking of it a while.

Jisung reaches out to wrap his arms around your waist, albeit a little shy. It’s a pattern that’s already so familiar. He isn’t a stranger to hugging you, in fact, he’s done it a million times, but the connotations to this one is a little different, and he can’t think straight at the possibility that you might actually consent to letting him kiss you.

“Okay.”

Words that haven’t left being translated into the motion of his lips moving against yours. Honestly, he doesn’t even know who went in for the kiss first. All he knows is his hands are gently rested on your waist and he’s actually kissing you right now, and you can feel the way he’s smiling into the kiss.

It takes a few minutes for you two to pull away, a little out of breath, and he leans in to try and kiss you again but your noses bump against each other’s, and the pair of you can’t help but laugh at how the events of the night had turned.

Jisung marvels at the way everything feels so simple, so right.

“I’m not dreaming, right? Like this is actually happening?”

You laugh even more.

Jisung’s always been afraid of venturing into the unknown, always kept his feelings hidden, and he’s always loathed his mouth for being so uncontrolled with the things he says. But now, with you in his arms, he couldn’t be any more happier about the slip of his tongue and how being with you feels like one of the rare rights among all the wrongs.

[biancasaidstfu]

Let me just start by saying that I do think there is more to all this than what we are being shown and I do think Nic and Luke are together. But I am curious your thoughts on this push of the adjacents? Ok, Nic may not necessarily be pushing it, but in my opinion, she is at the bare minimum leaning into the JD storyline. I guess I’m just questioning why now? Do you think it’s simply because they are just not ready to go public and are using these “relationships 🙄” to distract? I’m starting to wonder if these sudden J and A storylines might be because Nic and Luke want us shippers to back off? I mean we have Nic with her “my buddy” and “my dear friend” and Luke with his appearances with A.

But then I start doubting that too for a few reasons. I mean, they are both adults and could just ask fans to stop shipping them if it’s what they really want. Also, to us, we are so entrenched in it that I think alot of us believe that everyone is shipping them but I think it’s actually a small group of folks that are still on the ship in comparison to the Bridgerton/Polin GA. And I think the vast majority of us keep to our quiet little corner of the internet and keep our shipping discussions to like minded blogs, so it almost seems like they would have to be searching for the shipping discussions. Not saying that some people aren’t loud as fuck about it and posting/commenting on all their insta posts, but I am just saying most are shipping respectfully. And the last reason I will mention that I don’t think they care if we continue to ship them is because it’s always this same pattern: Nic/Luke start sharing stuff almost as a warning that something is coming, then we get hit with adjacent pap pictures or something, then we get what seems almost like coordinated posts that could be seen as a hint that everything is fine.

Or they just really are with these people and we have read everything so very wrong. Which I know is always a possibility. But at the same time I find it so hard to believe. Anytime we see Luke with A, he just genuinely doesn’t look like a man happy and in love. But then we see him with Nic and it’s like everything fits together perfectly. And I won’t even mention Nic and J because it just makes absolutely no sense to me.

I’m so sorry to have rambled on for so long. I guess I’m just feeling v confused and don’t have anyone to talk to about it. 🫨🥴 I would just love to hear your thoughts on this if you are willing to share.

Thanks Bianca, for your amazing blog! I know we don’t always make it easy for you, but we are grateful for all you do! 💜

The fact that there’s an established pattern here that a lot of people are aware is proof enough imo.

These things wouldn’t continuously happen like this if they were just out there “living life” in these pictures.

People really struggle with this when they only look on the surface level. These pics work on the GP who don’t actively participate in the deep fandom where these things are discussed which I believe is the goal.

They want people to believe they’re in other relationships currently.

Why?

I don’t know. I would like to think things are coming to a close soon but maybe they have deals they need to settle before then. Certain things need to be played out before that happens.

Maybe they don’t want to come out period, idk but I wish they would make that more known so I can go 🤣 because I’ll be so real I wanted to jet earlier this week because it’s starting to feel just a bit ridiculous and like we’re never going to reach a conclusion.

Regardless, everyone feels how they feel about this situation but from my perspective, they’re showing the public one thing and living out their lives in a completely different way away from prying eyes.

[perseephoneee]

sleigh ride [ficmas day 8] [castiel x reader]

↳ masterlist ↳ ship exchange ↳ taglist ↳ ficmas 2024

author's note: this is a day late bc my stomach has been killing me and also i was hella sleep deprived but you know what it's fine totally fine nothing to see here

playlist:

winter wonderland -- pentatonix

coffee -- tori kelly

7 o'clock news/silent night -- phoebe bridgers

You never thought about kids, not in your line of work. 

The reasons people got into hunting were varied. Most of it was personal. For you, you just couldn’t deal with the knowledge of the supernatural world and not bother actually doing something about it. Even though you knew that doing so would likely mean a young death.

This is why you stopped thinking about kids; you’d likely never have them. But being stuck in Leavenworth, WA, with Castiel gave you the same kind of glee. You imagine parents likely got excited to watch their children experience Christmas for the first time. That’s the same joy you felt watching the angel observe all the twinkling lights around you. 

The difference is that Castiel is not your child. And if he was, that’d be gross, considering you are harboring a major crush on him. 

Maybe you should’ve thought of a different analogy. 

You had been hunting with the Winchesters for a bit now. You all ran into each other on a ghost case. Your hula hoop of salt made their jaws drop, and the next thing you know, Sam is inviting you to hunt with them. You didn’t know that Castiel was a regular member of that group. 

Even in his vessel, you could sense something otherworldly about Cas. There was a sort of preternatural stillness, an ancient gleam in his eyes otherwise juxtaposed by his lack of knowledge of human nature. It was so easy to get lost in his curiosity. Sometimes, when he looked at you, you couldn’t help but feel his gaze observing every molecule you were. Like he saw you better than anyone else. 

Right now, you felt like you saw him better than anyone else, the angel so ready to give up everything for humanity. It was late, and snow was falling. You had all decided to take an extra night in Leavenworth after a Krampus case had gone wrong (don’t ask). Also, Baby was struggling to get out of the snow, and Dean was too wired up to ask for help. Fortunately, it was the Christmas season, and Leavenworth knew it. The town looked like the North Pole. You weren’t surprised it was a tourist attraction, not when there were actual reindeer and Bavarian-style buildings. The cup of hot cocoa you had earlier solidified this town as Christmas incarnate. 

“Aren’t you cold?” you asked, watching Cas catch more and more snowflakes on him. He just shook them off. 

“I don’t get cold.”

“Lucky you, I’m freezing,” you shivered, wrapping your coat tighter around yourself. Your nose was ice cold, and your breath came out in puffs. Castiel frowned, walking back over to you. He shucked off his trench coat and put it over your shoulders. You felt your cheeks heat as he made sure you were adequately cocooned. The jacket was surprisingly warm. “Thanks,” you murmured.

“I do not want you catching a cold,” Castiel said. “I am ill-equipped to handle it.”

You laughed. His lips quirked for a second before settling into their normal neutral expression. You would give the world to see him smile. 

“I’m going to go inside and get something to drink. Are you going to stay out here?”

“No, I will join you,” Castiel nodded. He paused for a second. “Is that alright? Dean often tells me people want alone time.”

You melted.

“Of course, it’s alright, c’mon,” you nudged him with your shoulder, still bundled in his jacket. You walked the short distance back to the inn. The idea of mulled wine sounded appealing at this moment. The inside was a picturesque log cabin with a roaring fire. You let out a sigh of relief from the warmth and were able to return Cas' jacket to him. You also were able to remove your hat and scarf. You probably looked like a sweaty mess, but you didn’t care. You chose a seat by the fire and tucked your legs under you as Cas came to sit across. A waitress came over a second later, and you ordered mulled wine for the both of you. 

“I don’t really drink,” Castiel added after the waitress left. 

“You can just tell me what the chemical compounds are,” you shrugged. Castiel looked out of place in his suit and tie. And yet, the light from the fire accenting his bone structure, contrasting the blue in his eyes, was enough to think that this was where he was always meant to be. 

He was frowning at the tree. 

“Why do humans put angels on their trees?” he inquired, brows furrowed. You looked up to see a stereotypical angel planted on top of the Christmas Tree. It had a little horn and everything. 

“I think people like to imagine there’s someone watching over us, that we’re not alone,” you sighed, turning back to him. “Even if it isn’t true.”

“It’s true for some,” Castiel murmured. “I watch over you.”

You felt your heart skip a beat, especially as Castiel looked at you with those intense eyes again. You had to wonder if he was really this clueless, or if he knew exactly the effect he had on you. You watched him lick a sauce off his fingers once, and it was enough to make you excuse yourself from the room. 

The mulled wine arrived a moment later. 

The spices were a perfect blend, and you felt yourself sink deeper into your chair as the alcohol invaded your system. Castiel took a sip and nodded. 

“Mostly ethanol and water,” Castiel sipped it again. You grinned as he listed off the ingredients. He would ruin anyone who wanted to keep a secret ingredient. 

“Last call for sleigh rides!” a man dressed as an elf called out, having come in from the front door. You perked up immediately. You had never been on a sleigh ride before but have always wanted to. You have a soft spot for horses. 

“We should do that,” you jumped up, grabbing Castiel’s sleeve. He spilled the wine, but you were already out the door. You barely had time to throw on your hat and scarf as you were running after the elf man. Castiel, to his credit, kept up with you. 

“One sleigh ride, please!” you said, breathless. The man just looked you up and down and then took your money as you jumped with glee. 

“What is a sleigh ride?” Castiel questioned when he caught up. He was not out of breath. 

“You get to sit in a sleigh and get pulled around by horses.”

“And this is entertainment?”

“It’s serene,” you smiled, getting good luck at the horses pulling your sleigh. They were beautiful Clydesdales, and even in their enormity, you weren’t intimidated. They were beautiful. Cas didn’t ask any further questions as you piled into the sleigh. You took one of the blankets provided and put it over your lap, bundling it up. The sleigh was going to pull you through the town, emphasizing the light installations and ice sculpting competition. The cold kissed your cheeks as the sleigh started moving. 

You both sat in companionable silence as the sleigh ride started. It was so quiet, and you welcomed that peace. When did you ever receive peace such as this?

“I understand now,” Cas nodded. “Why you were excited over this.”

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered. Someone had built an igloo, and you took your phone out to take a picture. Castiel just looked at you.

“I don’t measure beauty the same way humans do.”

“How do you measure beauty?” you inquired. Some part of you was worried that whatever he was going to say would dash your dreams. 

“By someone’s soul.”

That wasn’t the answer you were expecting, and you just blinked in response. It shouldn’t be shocking. You just never expected that maybe he would never see your face, only your soul. You wondered if your soul was beautiful. 

You didn’t say anything as you passed through a light tunnel, the brightness contrasting with the night sky. You could fall asleep out here if you let yourself. 

“What are you thinking?” Cas asked. He noticed your silence. 

“Is my soul…?” you trailed off. You barely had the guts to say anything at all. Castiel’s gaze softened as if he understood. 

“Your soul is like the North Star,” he answered simply. You kept looking at him. “It’s what one needs to follow to get themselves home.”

He was full of surprises tonight. You don’t remember anyone saying anything like that, especially not to you. How absurd was it that the first person to truly see you was not a person at all? Your heart picked up pace. 

“Cas…” you murmured. He never looked away from you, was never shy. It was unnerving and intense. He would never be too scared and proceed to look away. You couldn’t help but look at his lips. He noticed. His hand came up and brushed loose hair away from your beanie, his fingers somehow still warm as they brushed your freezing cheeks. You sucked in a breath. 

“I do not understand human courtship,” he whispered. “I would be interested in you showing me.”

You understood; how could you not? He just called you his home. You closed the distance between you two, going slow until you weren’t slow at all. Your hand cupped the back of his head, pulling him into you. You kissed him like you needed him to kiss you. Fortunately, Castiel was a quick learner. He nipped your lips and kissed your teeth like he had been doing it his whole life. You would sell your soul to kiss him for eternity, just like this. His hand was firm on your hip like he was afraid to touch anywhere else. You wished he would touch you everywhere. 

You had to pull away for air, even if he tried to chase after your lips afterward. 

“You’re a quick study,” you breathed a slight smile on your lips. Castiel grinned a true goofy smile that you had been yearning to see. You were the cause of that style. 

“Anything for you,” he responded. 

He kissed you until the sleigh ride was over, and the worker was rolling his eyes. He kissed you when you made it back to the inn, and you felt like you could feel his wings holding you closer. You would stay with him until you weren’t able to because with him, you were finally home. 

taglist: @thefutureastronaut @lover-of-books-and-tea @qardasngan @evasmlp

[hb-writes]

Alligators & Crocodiles

Summary: Mia is running late for an outing with her parents and Emmett helps her to speed things along.

Characters: Emmett Cullen & Mia Cullen (OC)

Twilight (Mia Cullen) Masterlist

Comfy-vember 2024 Masterlist

—

“Now, sit still until those dry,” Rosalie said as she collected the nail polish and stood up from the kitchen island. “Don’t touch anything for fifteen minutes.” 

Mia was notoriously bad at the part of nail polish application that required her to stay put and allow it to set, part of why Rosalie habitually said 'no' when her sister requested a manicure, but after watching Mia struggle to paint the fingers on her right hand for several minutes on account of the brace on her left wrist, she took pity and took over, finishing her sister’s nails in a matter of seconds. 

“But it’s quick dry...polish,” Mia started, her voice growing close to silent as Rose turned back to glare at her. “Ok, fine. Fifteen minutes. I know, I know,” she grumbled after Rosalie’s retreating form. Her sister hadn't actually threatened violence if Mia ruined her manicure, but Rosalie's thoughts on the matter were clear enough.

Emmett shifted into the seat beside Mia and grasped his sister’s hands, looking more closely at the black fingernails. Emmett was half-surprised to learn the girls even had black nail polish in the house. He couldn’t remember ever seeing it on any of them before.

“It’s kind of a badass look,” Emmett said as he admired the nails. "Very angsty teenager of you." 

“I like ‘em,” Mia answered with a shrug, pulling her hand away to admire the color herself. “Found it in Alice’s stash.” 

Emmett nodded. The information tracked. While Rose wore only shades of red on her nails, Alice was known for experimenting with various shades—she was currently exploring blue hues.

Mia pulled her gaze from her nails as Carlisle came into the kitchen, stopping on the other side of the island.

“You’re all ready to go?” Carlisle asked, his gaze catching her freshly painted nails, though he didn't comment on them. 

"Yup," she answered. “All set."

Mia was still a bit surprised she had pulled it off after ignoring three alarms and staying in bed far longer than she intended. She had planned to be up early enough to fit in packing, a full shower routine, and a manicure before they were due to leave, but her desire for sleep had gotten in the way of that, tightening her morning schedule. With the exception of her nail polish and her hair, which was still shower- damp against her back, she'd been successful.

“Very good,” Carlisle answered. Mia knew her parents were eager to get on the road to the airport. If it wasn’t for her, the whole family would have made the trip to Alaska on foot. It would be faster, and it was what the others were doing, but Mia couldn’t reasonably make the journey that way, so Carlisle, Esme, and Mia would be driving to Seattle before boarding a flight to Alaska. 

“The car is all packed, so we’re just waiting for you," he offered. "We should be on the road in ten minutes.”  

“Well, Rosalie said I’m not allowed to move for the next—” Mia glanced at the clock. “—twelve minutes.” 

“Well, we’ll be leaving in ten," Carlisle answered. She was always amazed at the way her father could be unremarkably human in some moments, especially where air travel was concerned. He always had them to the airport far earlier than necessary, fussing about schedule and timeline.

“Fine," Mia conceded, "but if these nails get messed up and she's mad, I’m blaming you and mom.” 

Carlisle snorted. “I’ll deal with your sister,” he answered. “You just get yourself out to the car. You’ve had your breakfast?” 

“Yeah, um, I’m good," she mumbled. "Not really hungry.” 

Carlisle raised an eyebrow. “You know the rules, Mia. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” 

She wasn’t allowed to leave home without having something to eat, especially not when they'd be in a car driving for the next few hours.

“I know, but it's early and I’m not hungry and my nails are wet and—” Mia stopped herself as her father just continued staring at her, eyebrows still raised. “Fine. fine I guess I’ll figure out some way to eat something even though I'm not—”

“I’ll help,” Emmett interrupted, a smirk on his face as he pinched Mia’s cheek. “It’ll be just like old times. Choo choo train and all.”

“Not too much like old times,” Carlisle advised, remembering how feeding his daughter as a toddler had often been a full out excursion, spanning hours and requiring a clean up crew. 

“We need to be on the road in—” Carlisle glanced at his watch “—eight minutes.” 

“Eight minutes,” Mia agreed. 

It wasn’t worth arguing that they need not be so early for the airport. Carlisle liked to be early, to make sure they wouldn’t be impeded by traffic or long security lines or whatever else it was dads worried about where airports were concerned. 

Emmett moved to the fridge, humming as he scoured for breakfast options. “What special breakfast shall we feed Miss Mia this morning?” he asked the question in a sing-song voice that had a bit of heat rushing to Mia's cheeks, the familiarity of the little jingle bringing her straight back to early childhood when her family sang to her before every meal, hoping to entice her into being cooperative with eating. 

“Emmett, come on,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t be making too much of this opportunity to tease her, but as he turned back to her, a cheeky grin on his face, she knew it would be too enticing for him to pass up. 

“There’s ketchup and olives,” he said, holding up the two options. 

“Emmett, it’s not funny. And Dad said we only have—”

“No? Okay, how about chocolate syrup and…eggs?” 

“Em, seriously we don’t have time for this,” Mia groaned, starting to stand up. “If you’re going to play, I’ll just do it my—”

“Yogurt and blueberries, it is,” he interrupted. “Take a seat, Miss Mia.” 

Mia slid back into the chair, mindful of her nails, and Emmett zoomed around the kitchen, rinsing the berries and putting everything together in a bowl. 

“Do we need a bib?” he asked, the first spoonful already poised and ready when he arrived beside her. "You used to make a mess with blueberries and yogurt. Picked all the berries out and dumped the yogurt all over—"

“I’m going to hit you if you don't stop.” 

“No, you’re not,” Emmett answered with a smile. “It’ll ruin your pretty nails.” 

Mia huffed. “A risk I’m willing to—”

Emmett pushed the spoon into Mia’s mouth, quieting his sister's threat with yogurt and berries which Mia had no choice but to chew and swallow.

“Can you not do that?”  

Mia covered her mouth this time as she spoke, protecting herself from any unexpected spoon feeding. 

“We’re on a strict timeline, kiddo,” Emmett answered. “Now, open up for the choo choo train. Chugga chugga chug—!”

“Stop or I’ll—”

“Eat all your breakfast?” Emmett suggested as he successfully delivered another bite into Mia’s mouth. “You do realize I’m trying to help you here, right?” 

Mia chewed and swallowed before continuing. “You’re being an idiot. I’m not a baby and it’s not—” 

Funny, that was what Mia was about to say, but instead another spoonful of breakfast crashed into the side of her mouth, landing half in and half out, yogurt dripping down her chin. 

“EMMETT!” Mia shouted as he leapt up, reaching across the island for a towel which he used to wipe his sister’s face. 

“I guess we did need a bib after all.” 

“You know, I may not be able to use my hands, but I can still kick you.” 

Emmett snorted. “Then it really would be like old times, wouldn’t it?” he asked, “A full on tantrum while you're in the highchair.”

“Can we just get this over with?”

“Stop talking so much and it won’t be a problem,” he said, scraping at the sides of the bowl. “Last bite, Mi Mi. Spaceship coming in for a special landing.”  

Mia huffed at the commentary, but opened her mouth, allowing Emmett to feed her the last bite. 

“You’re a menace,” she said as he wiped at her mouth once again. 

“You should talk,” Emmett answered. “An absolute terror.” 

“If I am, I learned it all from—”

Emmett lifted his sister in his arms, silencing the words from her mouth and removing the breath from her lungs as he rushed her out to the car. 

“Right on time,” Carlisle commented as Emmett dropped his sister into the backseat.

“Yeah, but at what cost?” Mia complained. “He got yogurt all over me and was acting like a—” 

“I cleaned it up,” he answered. “And it wouldn’t have happened if you just let the choo choo into the—”

“Don’t even say it,” Mia warned. 

“Into the station,” Emmett finished with a grin. 

“The choo choo?" Esme asked as she turned in the passenger seat to face Mia and Emmett, a fond smile on her lips. "You used to love the choo choo when you were a baby.”

“Yeah, well, that may be so, but I’m not exactly a baby anymore.”

“You’ll always be our baby, right, Carlisle?” she said, reaching out to squeeze her husband’s hand. 

"I'm afraid that's exactly how it works, sweetheart," Carlisle answered. "Nothing that can be done about it."

Mia took a breath. She tried not to get angry at her parents for expressing these types of sentiments, embarrassing as they could be. She knew they came from a good place, just like she knew she didn't truly mind them thinking of her that way. Most of the time, she quite enjoyed their doting nature.

It was just her siblings who annoyed her with it.

“That’s right,” Emmett added with a smirk. “You’ll be the baby even when you’re seventy-two. Better get used to it.” 

“Only if you get used to the fact that you’ll still be an idiot.” 

“An idiot who loves you even when you’re a menace.”

Mia opened her mouth to argue further, but Carlisle cut off the conversation, reminding them of the time and their need to get going.  

“See ya later, alligator,” Emmett said as he grabbed the seatbelt, pulling it around her and securing it in place.

Like the special breakfast jingle and choo choo train spoon feedings, the phrase was a blast from the past, something Mia had once insisted on when saying goodbye to her family members, but she hadn’t heard it from Emmett's lips in ages.

Still, the answer rolled off her tongue as if the response was automatic, as if she couldn't stop herself even if she tried.

“After a while, crocodile,” Mia answered with a well-natured eye roll directed at her brother, a bright smile on his face.

“Have a safe trip, kiddo,” he offered before placing a kiss on her forehead and shutting the car door, sending them on their way right on schedule. 

—

Twilight (Mia Cullen) Masterlist

Comfy-vember 2024 Masterlist

[pdriesta]

CHAPTER THREE

“how can i move on when i’m still in love with you”

genres — angst, angst, and more angst. suggestive.

word count — 4k

summary — two years ago, pedri shattered his childhood best friend's heart by ending their relationship. he was her first kiss, first boyfriend, and first love. now, as she prepares to start fresh while pursuing her master's degree, pedri reappears with a single mission: to mend the heart he once broke. can she trust him again, or will their past define their future?

an — the angst… i just want them to be happy 💔

masterlist

you showed up at pedri’s apartment because that’s what he suggested. after your meeting with him, you were overwhelmed. the emotions had left you raw, and you needed to clear your mind. you had called pedri earlier, requesting to talk in person, hoping it would bring you some clarity.

the phone call had been brief but intense. you dialed pedri’s number, your heart racing as you heard the familiar ring.

“hello?” pedri answered, his voice sounding cautious.

“pedri, we need to talk,” you said, trying to keep your tone steady.

“y/n, is everything okay?” his concern was palpable.

“no, it’s not. you show up at my dorm unannounced, and now you want to meet? i need to understand what’s going on.”

“i just… i needed to see you. can we talk in person? please?” he pleaded.

“fine. i’ll come over,” you agreed, though the tension in your voice was clear.

when pedri opened the door, you were met with a mix of nerves and anticipation. you had expected this to be a chance to address everything that had been left unsaid.

“stop doing this!” you exclaimed as soon as you were inside.

“doing what?” pedri asked, confusion evident in his voice.

“the truth is, when i needed you at my lowest points, you weren’t there, pedro.”

“mi vida,” he said, and the way he spoke that term of endearment made you feel as if you were collapsing under the weight of your unresolved feelings.

“don’t call me that,” you whispered, struggling to keep your emotions in check. pedri took a step closer and reached out to caress your cheek, his touch so light it almost felt unreal. you had to blink to convince yourself it was actually happening.

“why are you messing with my head?” you asked, your voice trembling.

pedri began to explain, but his words were scattered, failing to reach the heart of the matter. “i know things have been difficult, and I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me. I thought… I thought that if I came here and spoke to you, we could find a way to move forward. I never meant to cause you more pain.”

you remained cautious, unable to fully trust his intentions. “you think you can just show up and fix everything with a few words?”

pedri’s gaze fell, and he hesitated before speaking again. “is there someone else?” he asked quietly, though he didn’t really want to know.

your eyes widened in shock. “wow,” you said, pulling away from him. “how dare you. i’ve cried over you for two years, and now you’re accusing me of moving on?”

“that’s not it!” pedri protested.

“yeah right. news flash, pedri, there is no one else. there has never been anyone else—all because of you.”

pedri felt a mix of relief and heartbreak at your words. the realization that you hadn’t moved on only deepened his pain.

“y/n, i don’t want to argue. i just want to talk,” he sighed, his voice laden with sadness.

“what about what i wanted? for two years, i wanted you to fight for me, pedri. fight for us. but you never did. you knew how much i needed you,” your voice cracked, and tears began to fall.

pedri looked at you, his own eyes filling with tears. “i’m sorry,” he said softly. “i didn’t realize how much i hurt you until now. i want to make things right, but i understand if you need time.”

you shook your head, the weight of your emotions too heavy to bear. “i don’t know if i can ever forgive you.”

“just give me a chance,” pedri pleaded, his voice breaking. “please, y/n. I know I’ve messed up, but I’m here now, and I want to prove to you that I’m serious about making things right.”

you stood there, feeling torn between the lingering love you had for him and the pain of his past actions. the room was filled with an intense silence as you both faced the reality of your fractured relationship.

as you prepared to leave, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the last time you would see him like this. the sadness of the moment hung heavy in the air, leaving you both to grapple with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

as you arrived at your dorm, you noticed a delivery waiting for you at your door. it was your favorite food, accompanied by a note from pedri. the gesture brought fresh waves of emotion.

you stared at the note, feeling the old pain resurfacing. with trembling hands, you picked up your phone, debating whether to call him. the memories and feelings from your past with pedri flooded your mind, making it hard to decide.

you hovered over the call button, the weight of your unresolved emotions pressing heavily on you. as you took a deep breath and finally pressed dial, you knew that whatever happened next would shape the course of your future with pedri.

the morning sun cast a bright glow over the training field, but pedri’s mood was far from sunny. as the team stretched and warmed up for pre-season training already,  pedri remained distant, his mind elsewhere. his usual energy and enthusiasm were notably absent. he half-heartedly participated in drills, his movements mechanical.

as the session progressed, frenkie, who had always been perceptive, noticed pedri’s lack of focus. he jogged over, concern etched on his face. “hey, pedri, what’s going on? you’ve been off all morning.”

pedri shrugged, trying to brush it off. “just a lot on my mind,” he muttered.

ferran, who had also picked up on pedri’s strange behavior, joined in, noticing the tension. “you look like you’ve seen a ghost. what’s up?”

pedri hesitated, then sighed deeply. “i saw y/n yesterday. we talked, and… it didn’t go well.”

the mention of your name caused a ripple of concern among the team. frenke and ferran exchanged looks before frenke pressed on. “did you really think it was a good idea to show up like that? you’re messing with her head, man.”

pedri’s shoulders slumped. “i thought if i could just talk to her in person, she’d understand how much i care. i didn’t mean to hurt her.”

ferran shook his head, clearly frustrated. “you’ve got to think these things through. you didn’t just break up with her and walk away. you left her without any closure, and now you show up again and expect things to be okay? that’s not fair.”

frenkie nodded in agreement. “yeah, you can’t just waltz back into her life and expect her to be ready to forgive you. you’ve got to earn back her trust, and you need to respect her feelings. you made her cry, pedri. that’s serious.”

pedri ran a hand through his hair, guilt washing over him. “i know. i messed up. i thought i was doing the right thing by trying to make things right.”

ferran’s expression softened slightly. “we get that you’re trying to fix things, but you need to be more considerate. she’s been through a lot, and you showing up like that, it’s just confusing for her.”

frenkie added, “think about it from her perspective. it’s been years, and suddenly you’re back, stirring up old feelings. you’ve got to give her space and time to process everything.”

pedri nodded slowly, feeling the weight of their words. “you’re right. i need to step back and give her the time she needs. i didn’t realize how much i was pushing her.”

the practice continued, but pedri’s mind remained clouded with thoughts of you and the conversation he’d had with his teammates. he knew they were right; he had to approach this situation with more care and patience. he was determined to find a way to make amends, but it was clear he had a long road ahead.

later that day, after training had ended and the sun began to set, pedri found himself sitting alone in his apartment, the weight of the day’s events pressing heavily on him. he knew he needed to give you space, but the thought of not reaching out tore at him.

as he stared at his phone, contemplating what to do next, a notification popped up. it was a message from you.

mi vida: can we talk?

pedri’s heart raced. he quickly typed back,

pedri: of course. where and when?

mi vida: your place. tonight at 8?

pedri: i’ll see you then

pedri spent the next hour tidying up his apartment, his mind racing with thoughts of what you might say. he knew this was an important moment, a chance to really understand your feelings and to begin making amends.

as the clock struck 8, there was a knock on the door. pedri took a deep breath and opened it to see you standing there, looking both determined and hesitant.

“hey,” he greeted softly, stepping aside to let you in.

“hey,” you replied, stepping into the familiar space. memories flooded back as you took in the sight of his apartment, so much like it had been years ago. the air felt thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

“thanks for coming,” pedri said, closing the door behind you. “can i get you anything? water? tea?”

“no, i’m fine,” you said, settling on the edge of the couch. “i just… i needed to talk to you without all the noise and distractions.”

pedri nodded, sitting down across from you. “i’m listening.”

you took a deep breath, gathering your thoughts. “seeing you again has brought back a lot of emotions, pedri. i’ve tried to move on, to forget, but it’s been hard. yesterday, when you showed up… it felt like everything came rushing back.”

pedri looked down, his guilt evident. “i never wanted to hurt you. i thought coming back, explaining myself, would help. but i realize now i went about it all wrong.”

“why did you do it?” you asked, your voice trembling. “why did you leave that way?”

pedri sighed, running a hand through his hair. “i thought i was doing the right thing. my career was taking off, and i didn’t want to hold you back. i thought you’d be better off without me, but i see now that i was selfish. i should have talked to you, explained what i was feeling.”

tears welled up in your eyes. “do you know how much that hurt? i felt abandoned, like i wasn’t worth fighting for.”

pedri’s eyes glistened with tears as well. “i’m so sorry, y/n. i was young and scared. i didn’t know how to handle it. but i never stopped thinking about you, never stopped regretting my decision.”

the room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. you wiped a tear from your cheek, struggling to keep your composure.

“i don’t know if i can ever trust you again,” you admitted, your voice breaking. “but a part of me still loves you, and that’s what makes this so hard.”

pedri reached out, his hand gently covering yours. “i understand if you need more time, if you can’t forgive me yet. but i’m here, and i’m not going anywhere. i want to prove to you that i’ve changed, that i’m worth trusting again.”

you looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and regret reflected there. “i need to think about all this. it’s not something i can decide overnight.”

pedri nodded, squeezing your hand gently. “take all the time you need. i’ll be here.”

you stood up, feeling the need for some air. “i should go. but thank you for listening, for being honest.”

“thank you for giving me a chance to explain,” pedri said, standing as well. “goodnight, y/n.”

“goodnight, pedri,” you replied, leaving the apartment with a heavy heart. as you walked away, you felt a mix of emotions—pain, longing, and a glimmer of hope. the road ahead was uncertain, but you knew one thing for sure: you needed time to heal, and only then could you decide what the future held for you and pedri.

after leaving pedri’s apartment, you found yourself wandering aimlessly through the streets, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions. you needed someone to talk to, someone who understood both you and pedri, and there was only one person who came to mind: your sister, caro.

as soon as you got back to your dorm, you flopped onto your bed and dialed caro’s number. it rang a few times before she picked up.

“hey, y/n! what’s up?”

“caro, i need you.,” you said, your voice trembling. “it’s about pedri.”

there was a brief pause. “oh no, what happened?”

“he showed up out of nowhere, and we talked, but it was a mess. i don’t know what to do. i’m so confused.”

“hold on, let me find a quiet spot,” caro said. you heard some shuffling and then a door closing. “okay, i’m here. start from the beginning.”

you took a deep breath and recounted the events of the past few days—the unexpected meeting, the emotions, the argument at his apartment. caro listened patiently, occasionally offering a sympathetic “mm-hmm” or “oh, y/n.”

“i just don’t understand why he’s doing this now,” you said, your voice cracking. “and i don’t know if i can trust him.”

“it sounds like he’s trying to make things right,” caro said gently. “you know how much pedri cares about you. he’s always been there for us, even when he was back home. he’d come back every summer, always asking about you, trying to see you.”

you were shocked. “he did? i never knew that.”

“yeah,” caro said softly. “he would show up, hoping to catch you, but you were always away. it was like he was making an effort to be part of your life, even when you weren’t around.”

“i had no idea,” you said, feeling a mix of surprise and sadness. “i thought he just disappeared and didn’t care.”

“no, y/n. he really did care. he’s made mistakes, sure, but he’s genuinely trying to fix things now,” caro said. “if he’s reaching out again, it means he’s serious about making things right.”

rafa’s voice came through the phone. “hey, who are you talking to?”

“it’s y/n,” caro replied. “she’s dealing with some stuff with pedri.”

“put me on speaker,” rafa said. “i want to hear this.”

you chuckled through your tears as caro switched to speaker mode. “hey, rafa.”

“hey, sis. so, pedri’s back, huh? that guy’s always had a lot of respect from me. he’s like an older brother to me. i’ve seen him really make an effort, even when you weren’t around.”

“i had no idea,” you repeated. “i’m just so confused. part of me still loves him, but I’m scared of getting hurt again.”

rafa’s voice softened with encouragement. “look, y/n, pedri’s made mistakes, but he’s always been a good guy at heart. he’s not perfect, but he’s willing to fight for what he wants. if he’s reaching out now, it’s because he’s serious about making things right.”

“thanks, rafa,” you said, feeling a bit more grounded. “I’m just struggling with all these emotions.”

“you’re strong, y/n,” caro added. “you’ve been through so much already. whatever you decide, we’re here for you.”

“yeah, and if you need any backup, you know I’m just a call away,” rafa joked, trying to lighten the mood. “we’re all rooting for you and pedri to figure things out.”

you laughed, the tension in your chest easing slightly. “thanks, guys. i love you both. the last couple days have been hectic but i am starting to see things clearly.” 

the next few days were a blur of contemplation and introspection. you tried to focus on your classes and routines, but pedri was never far from your mind. his presence had stirred up so much that you’d buried, and it was hard to sort through it all.

one afternoon, while sitting in your dorm, your phone buzzed with a new message. it was from pedri.

“i know you need time, and i’m giving you that. but i wanted you to have this.” attached was a photo of a handwritten note with your favorite iced matcha latte sitting beside it. the note read, 

i’m sorry for everything. take your time. i’ll be here when you’re ready.

— your pedri 

a mix of emotions washed over you—anger, sadness, and a hint of warmth. his gesture was small, but it showed he was listening, that he understood you needed space.

that night, pedri sat in his living room, his phone placed conspicuously in front of him on the coffee table. lamine, alejandro, gavi, and fermin were with him, lounging on the couch after training, watching some comedy show that was playing in the background. but pedri’s attention was entirely on his phone, glancing at it every few seconds.

“dude, you’re going to burn a hole through that screen with how much you’re staring at it,” gavi joked, nudging him with his elbow.

“she said she might call,” pedri mumbled, not taking his eyes off the phone. “i don’t want to miss it.”

alejandro chuckled, shaking his head. “you know, obsessing over it isn’t going to make it ring any faster. relax, man. let’s watch this show.”

pedri sighed, leaning back but still keeping the phone within arm’s reach. “you don’t understand. this is important.”

fermin smirked, grabbing a handful of popcorn. “oh, we understand. you’re just in love, and it’s making you crazy.”

“if you’re not careful, you might end up like that guy in the movie who waits by the phone for days,” lamine added with a laugh. “seriously, pedri, she’ll call when she’s ready. stressing about it won’t help.”

just then, pedri’s phone buzzed, and he practically lunged for it, causing the others to burst into laughter. but when he saw it was just a notification from a sports app, he groaned, dropping back onto the couch.

“false alarm,” alejandro teased, mimicking the dramatic lunge. “calm down, romeo. she’ll call.”

pedri couldn’t help but laugh at himself. “yeah, yeah. you guys are right. i’m just really hoping she’ll give me a chance to explain.”

“and she will,” gavi said, patting his shoulder. “just be patient. and in the meantime, enjoy the show. it’s hilarious.”

pedri nodded, trying to relax as he joined his friends in watching the show. he knew he had to give you space and time, but the anticipation was eating at him. still, their light-hearted banter and support helped ease his anxiety a bit. they might tease him, but they had his back.

just as he started to focus on the show, his phone buzzed again. this time, it was your name on the screen. his heart skipped a beat, and he hesitated for a moment before answering.

“hello?”

“hey, pedri. it’s y/n.”

he felt a rush of emotions at the sound of your voice. “hey, y/n. thanks for calling.”

lamine, alejandro, gavi, and fermin gave him thumbs-up and exaggerated gestures of encouragement, trying to make him laugh. pedri rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile at their antics.

“i thought we could maybe talk,” you continued, sounding a bit unsure. “like you said, slowly.”

“i’d love that,” pedri replied softly. “let’s take it one step at a time.”

as he spoke with you, his friends quietly cheered and did mock victory dances, making exaggerated kissing faces at him. despite the seriousness of the conversation, pedri couldn’t help but laugh at their ridiculousness, feeling a sense of warmth and support from them.

and for the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope that things might just work out.

next

© PDRIESTA 2024

[brainddeadd]

Joking about trying choking in the bedroom with Matthew Knies and him being the one to be choked. Only for him to get flustered and realize oh fuck I DO want you to choke me. With #65 (“who would have thought that this is something you’d be into”) from the smut prompt list

Choking

warnings: smut

The atmosphere in the bedroom was charged with laughter and playful banter, the remnants of your earlier conversation lingering in the air. You were sprawled on the bed, scrolling through your phone, when Matthew plopped down beside you, a grin lighting up his face.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, peering over your shoulder. You quickly turned your phone away, a mischievous smile creeping onto your lips.

“Just some interesting… ideas for the bedroom,” you replied, your voice teasing as you set the phone aside.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. “Oh? Like what? You have my attention.”

You bit your lip, suppressing a laugh. “Well, I came across something that made me think of you… choking.” You let the word hang in the air, watching his reaction.

His eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across his features. “Choking? Like… me choking you, or you choking me?”

“Honestly, I was thinking more along the lines of me choking you,” you said, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. “Who would have thought that sweet little Matthew Knies would be into that?”

He looked at you, flustered, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. “Wait, seriously? You’re joking, right?”

You leaned in closer, lowering your voice to a sultry whisper. “Why not? You might like it. I mean, it’s all about trust, right?” You winked at him, watching as he struggled to process your words.

“Um, I mean…” Matthew stammered, scratching the back of his neck, a nervous chuckle escaping him. “I never really thought about it like that. But… oh fuck, I think I might actually want you to choke me.”

You burst into laughter, the sound bright and infectious. “Wow, who knew my sweet, innocent boyfriend had a wild side?”

“Hey!” he protested, his flustered demeanor only making him cuter. “I’m not innocent. I just… I didn’t realize it was something I could enjoy.”

You leaned back against the pillows, still chuckling. “Well, now you know! Just think about it—I'll take charge, and you’ll love it.”

Matthew shook his head, a smile breaking through his embarrassment. “You’re really trying to turn me into some kind of submissive, huh?”

“Maybe I am! But only because I know how much you secretly love it,” you teased, nudging him playfully. “Besides, it could be fun.”

He considered your words for a moment, a grin spreading across his face. “Alright, fine. But if I end up liking it too much, it’s your fault!”

“Deal!” you said, feeling a thrill at the thought of exploring this new side of your dynamic together.

As the playful banter continued, Matthew looked at you with a mix of admiration and intrigue, realizing that this unexpected conversation had only deepened your connection.

~~

The evening was thick with a charged energy, the kind that buzzed between you and Matthew as you both lay in bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light around the room. After your earlier conversation, both of you were giddy with anticipation.

Matthew shifted beside you, running a hand through his hair, looking both nervous and excited. “So, uh, how do we… start?” he asked, glancing at you with an amused yet anxious smile.

You turned to face him, your heart racing at the thought of what was about to unfold. “Just relax. Trust me, okay?”

He nodded, his expression serious yet playful, as you took a moment to gauge his comfort. “If it’s too much, just tap my arm or something, alright?”

“Got it. I trust you,” he replied, a hint of determination in his eyes.

You shifted closer, your fingers trailing lightly along his jawline, savoring the warmth of his skin. “Let’s start slow. Just a little pressure, nothing crazy.”

With a gentle touch, you placed your hand around his neck, your fingers resting lightly against his skin. Matthew’s breath hitched slightly, his eyes widening as he processed the sensation. “Okay, that feels… different,” he admitted, a hint of nervous laughter in his voice.

“Good different or bad different?” you asked, a teasing smile playing on your lips.

“Definitely good. Just… don’t squeeze too hard,” he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Promise,” you said, squeezing gently, enough to create a sense of restraint without crossing any lines. You watched his face for any signs of discomfort, but instead, he seemed to lean into it, a low groan escaping his lips.

“See? Not so bad, right?” you murmured, leaning in closer, your lips brushing against his as you maintained the pressure.

“Yeah, it’s actually really nice,” he admitted, his cheeks flushed. “Just… keep going.”

Encouraged, you tightened your grip slightly, feeling the pulse of his heartbeat under your fingers. You watched as his eyes fluttered closed, a mix of exhilaration and submission washing over him. “Just breathe, Matthew. I’ve got you,” you whispered, your voice low and soothing.

A soft whimper escaped his lips, and you couldn’t help but smile at how responsive he was to you. “You’re really into this, huh?” you teased, your thumb gently stroking the side of his neck.

He opened his eyes, looking at you with a mixture of vulnerability and desire. “Who knew I’d like being choked so much?” he said, breathless. “I just didn’t expect it to feel this… good.”

“Are you okay? I mean, really?” you checked, your heart racing from the thrill of the moment.

“More than okay,” he replied, his voice steadying as he locked eyes with you. “I trust you completely. Just… don’t stop.”

Feeling empowered, you leaned in, your lips brushing against his ear as you whispered, “You’re doing so well, Matty.”

With a soft smile, you pressed a light kiss on his lips before applying a bit more pressure, just enough to elicit a soft gasp from him. His hands found their way to your waist, gripping you tightly, grounding himself as he surrendered to the experience.

“Fuck,” he breathed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and pleasure. “This is so intense.”

You leaned back, studying his face. “You like it, don’t you?”

He nodded, a shy smile breaking through his earlier hesitation. “Yeah, I do. Who would’ve thought I’d be into this?”

You chuckled softly, feeling triumphant. “See? I told you it could be fun.”

“Definitely more than I expected,” he replied, leaning in for another kiss, his lips soft yet fervent against yours. “You’re amazing.”

You smiled against his lips, feeling a surge of affection for him. “Just remember, I’m always here to help you explore.”

As the kiss deepened, you felt a rush of excitement at this new layer of intimacy between you. The boundaries had shifted, and with them, a newfound trust blossomed, enhancing the connection you both shared.

[ts1m1kas]

Original Ask: hi sweet angel!! would u be willing to write a little something for domi? (: maybe like a blind date that a mutual friend (TRENT I LOVE HIM) sets up? (like a meet-cute) (@alit1sa who has now deactivated ☹️☹️)

Word Count: 918 words

(author's note: the people wanted domi, who am i to refuse? 🫡)

Dominik knew that many women would lose a limb to go on a date with him. That wasn't him being egotistical, just a simple observation he had made throughout his years as a footballer. However, finding a girl wasn’t his problem; he could have anyone he wanted. Dominik didn’t want just anyone. He wanted someone special.

The lack of companionship in his life weighed on his mind as Dominik pulled his training jacket over his head in the changing rooms. Trent wandered in, and his face broke out in a smile as he saw Dominik.

“Hey Dom, you okay?” He asked, noticing the downcast look on his friend's face.

Dominik nodded in response, hanging up the clothes he was previously wearing.

“Have you thought any more about what I asked you the other day?” 

“Yes, I’ll do it, what’s the worst that could happen?” Dominik replied.

A few days ago, Dominik had confided in Trent about how lonely he had been recently and the struggles he had run into when trying to arrange to meet up with potential dates. Trent had in response told him about one of his friends who was having the same problem.

“She’s gorgeous, Dom, and smart. She’s got a heart of gold too, I promise you.”

“How do I know I’m her type, though? What if she doesn’t even find me attractive?”

Trent looked at his friend in disbelief. “Are you serious? She’d be blind not to fall in love on the spot.”

Dominik snorted with laughter and told Trent he’d think it over.

After training, Trent gave Dominik the details of the date he had planned for the pair. He reassured Dominik that everything would be fine and made him promise to text him when he got home afterwards.

Once arriving home, Dominik rifled through his wardrobe, looking for the perfect outfit for the night ahead. He wanted to make a good impression on whoever ended up being his company for the night but he didn’t want to seem like he was trying too hard.

Once his clothes were laid out, he had a quick shower, freshened up his hair and got dressed. After pulling on his shoes, Dominik grabbed the flowers he had bought earlier and got into his car. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out of his driveway and drove to the address Trent had given him.

Y/N sat at a table in the dimly lit restaurant anxiously awaiting her mysterious date. When Trent had called her asking if she was up for a blind date she agreed immediately. However now, the nerves had begun to eat away at her.

Dominik gently pushed open the front door of the restaurant and looked around for the person who matched Trent’s description. When he spotted her sitting alone staring at her hands, he made his way over to the table.

“Are you Y/N?” He asked hesitantly, awaiting her response. 

“Yes, Dominik isn’t it?”

He smiled and nodded, moving to sit down in the empty chair across from her. Silence descended over the pair until Dominik remembered the flowers he still had in his hand.

“I got these for you, I hope they’re okay.” He told her, holding out the bouquet.

Her face lit up as she gently grabbed the flowers from his hands. “They’re more than okay. They’re perfect.” 

“So, you’re a footballer, right?”

“Yeah, I have been for most of my life.” Dominik replied, a smile appearing at the chance to talk about his favourite subject.

“Do you play with Trent?” She enquired, eager to know more about him.

“I do, that’s how we met, actually. Clicked pretty much instantly. It was nice to have a friend in such a new place.”

“That sounds lovely, I met Trent through my auntie. She’s good friends with his mum and we’ve known each other for ages.”

“I’m glad you have. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.” He said, cringing at how cheesy he sounded.

She laughed and Dominik thought it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

The conversation continued flowing as the pair got to know one another. Once the pair had gotten through their food and drinks, Dominik insisted on walking Y/N home. 

After arriving at her house, Dominik and Y/N stood on the doorstep, neither one of them wanting to end the night.

“It was nice meeting you.” Y/N said, “Could I get your number?”

Nodding, Dominik pulled out his phone and showed her his number. Once Y/N was done, she put her phone back in her pocket and slowly wrapped her arms around Dominik.

“I’m glad Trent set this up,” Dominik stated “I had a really good night.”

Agreeing, Y/N finally said goodbye and leaned up on her tiptoes to press a kiss onto Dominik’s cheek. They exchanged their goodbyes and Y/N retreated into her house, giving Dominik a wave as she did so. Dominik began walking to his car while dialling Trent’s number.

“How did it go?” Trent asked as soon as the call connected.

“Really good mate, she’s lovely.”

“Did you get her number?”

“Yes, she said she’d like to go out again at some point.”

Trent congratulated him and then they said their goodbyes as Dominik finally got into his car. On the drive home, he couldn’t help but smile. The date went better than he ever thought it would and it had given him hope that there was someone out there made just for him.

[cuddlepilefics]

Homecooked meals @fluff-cember

@hurtcember : 23 bedbound

Fandom: Stray Kids

Sickie: Seungmin

Caregivers: Stray Kids

TW: emeto

No one’s POV.:

“Lix, do you know if we have any tea left?”, Seungmin hummed as he shifted on the couch. Him and Felix were enjoying a quiet evening watching movies but he just couldn’t seem to get comfortable. Shrugging, Felix muttered: “I dunno, why don’t you go check? Do you want me to check for you?” – “Please”, Seungmin breathed. He wouldn’t usually make one of his friends get up but his stomach hurt and had he known for sure that they had tea, he would’ve gone and made himself a cup, but not knowing whether the effort would actually be rewarded made it hard for the vocalist to find the energy to get up. 

“Good news is, we still have some peppermint tea, though that’s all we have”, Felix informed, “I turned on the kettle in case you’re fine with peppermint.” – “Peppermint’s alright”, Seungmin mumbled, resting his chin on his knees that he had drawn up to his chest. Taking a seat next to the younger, Felix frowned: “Are you okay? You look peachy.” – “Stomach’s been bothering me since lunch and it’s really starting to hurt now”, Seungmin admitted, nervously palming at his middle. “What did you have?”, Felix asked since they had both spent the day out. Taking a shaky breath, the vocalist mumbled: “Some sort of stir-fry. Gosh, I can still taste it every time I burp and it’s not sitting right at all.” – “I’m sorry. I’ll get you your tea and we’ll see whether that soothes your stomach”, Felix cooed as he got up to head back to the kitchen.

As they resumed their movie, Seungmin slowly sipped his tea. It felt nice initially, until the liquid started to slosh around and he shakily placed the cup onto the coffee table. Curling even further into himself, Seungmin felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Felix reached over to rub his back for comfort but the younger couldn’t bear to be touched right now. A wave of heat washed over him and he felt the fabric of his hoodie cling to his skin when he tried to switch up his position. 

“I think, I’ll go sit in the bathroom for a bit”, Seungmin announced quietly, already walking off while Felix fumbled to pause their movie. The dancer was shocked, sure, he had known that his friend wasn’t feeling well but he hadn’t expected it to be this bad. Though, knowing how Seungmin always tried to hide his struggle, he should’ve known there was more to it the moment the younger spoke up about not feeling well. The sound of retching pulled Felix from his thoughts and he followed Seungmin to the bathroom, only to find the door unsurprisingly locked. Of course, his friend wanted his space. Since Felix didn’t remember who Seungmin had been out with, he texted their group chat afraid one of the other members might have gotten food poisoning too.

Felix had expected Seungmin to just shuffle out of the bathroom at some point when he felt like he was done but that didn’t happen. The Aussie had heard the lock click but Seungmin made no move to exit, so he went to check on the younger. “Here, I got you some water”, Felix hummed as he approached the slumped figure on the floor. A soft, pained whimper escaped Seungmin before he looked up at Felix, face ashy pale, his forehead coated with a sheen of sweat. Kneeling down next to the vocalist, Felix brushed the damp bangs out of his face and frowned: “Do you at least want to rinse your mouth? Come on, I’ll help you sit up.” Despite the Aussie’s help, Seungmin shook from the strain and weakly rinsed his mouth before leaning against the bathtub, closing his eyes.

Running a wash cloth under cold water, Felix gently wiped Seungmin’s face and whispered: “How are you doing now?” – “Awful, ‘s so much worse than earlier”, Seungmin groaned, holding his head, “’m so dizzy an’ my head hurts.” – “Should we get you to bed? I’ll bring a bucket”, the older offered, holding out both of his hands. It took him quite a bit of effort to maneuver Seungmin off the floor but even more to keep him on his feet. The room seemed to spin around him and Seungmin desperately clung to Felix to not lose his balance. “I got you”, the Aussie promised, “Just try to put one foot in front of the other and I’ll make sure you end up in your room.”

Seungmin shook from the strain as he collapsed on his bed, stunned that he could go from feeling a little uncomfortable to miserable in such a short time. Promising to be back soon, Felix rushed to fetch their cleaning bucket and Seungmin’s water bottle. The younger had curled up on his side and Felix cooed: “Can I get you anything? I’m sorry you feel so awful.” – “Could you stay and distract me? Please?”, Seungmin breathed, throat raw from being sick. Of course, Felix couldn’t deny him and sat with him gossiping about the protagonists of the movie they had been watching.

With how deeply he had fallen asleep to Felix’ rambling, Seungmin didn’t wake up when their doorbell rang and Felix rushed to open before it would ring again. The Aussie’s face lit up when he realized their friends had come over to help them out and he followed Minho to the kitchen, where the older started making some soup. Chan started the rice cooker and Jeongin picked up some of Seungmin’s favorite tea, knowing the other had run out of it only a couple days ago. “Changbin and Hyunjin are on their way too but they said they’d take a detour to pick up some medicine”, Chan informed softly, “How’s he doing?” – “Got really sick”, Felix pouted worriedly, “He was so dizzy, he could barely walk but he’s asleep now.” – “Oh dear, I’ll go check on him”, the leader sighed, quietly making his way to Seungmin’s room.

From outside the door, Chan could already hear Seungmin cough and rushed to step in. The younger had snatched the bucket off the floor and forcefully choked up a wave of what seemed to be mainly water. Chan was by his side in an instant and rubbed his back, wincing when he felt his dongsaeng tremble. He was quick to take a hold of the bucket when Seungmin was done, the boy’s energy spent, causing him to collapse back into his cushions. It was only when Chan had placed the bucket on the floor that he noticed the younger was full on crying and he gently brushed his sweaty hair out of his face, cooing: “Oh, Seungminnie.” – “’m sorry”, Seungmin whimpered hoarsely, “Wasn’t quick enough.” It took Chan a moment before he understood what the other was talking about. There was a wet stain on his blanket though it seemed that most had landed in the bucket.

Carefully folding the blanket up, Chan placed it on the floor and promised: “It’s okay, don’t worry, Min. Can you sit up for me?” Seungmin shook his head, tearily glancing up at Chan. The only reason he had managed to sit up was the adrenaline but now…. “Here, I’ll help you. You probably don’t want to drink right now?”, the leader hummed as he carefully sat Seungmin up by the shoulders. Shaking his head, the younger closed his eyes against the dizziness. Chan still steadied him by the shoulders and pulled the desk chair closer with his foot, explaining: “Your sheets are completely sweaty too, so I’ll help you move over to your desk chair and quickly change the sheet. With the way you look, you’re probably going to be bedbound for the next couple of days and you should at least be comfortable.”

Seungmin whimpered as he sat in the chair, the upright position not really helping. Chan had handed him the bin from under the desk, afraid the stench coming from the bucket would make him sick again. The leader made quick work of stripping the sheets and replacing them with fresh ones from Seungmin’s closet. When he was done, he carefully lifted the younger out of his seat and placed him back on his bed with the bin next to him. “Try to get comfy and I’ll be back in a moment”, Chan instructed, picking up the sweaty sheets, soiled blanket and bucket. While he started a wash load and rinsed out the bucket, Felix brought Seungmin the fluffy blanket from the couch, heart aching for his dongsaeng.

“Hyun-Bin hyungs will be here with some medicine soon”, Felix promised as he covered Seungmin with the blanket and rubbed his back through the soft material. Wiping his eyes to dry the tears, the younger sniffled: “I’m never eating out again.” – “That’s okay”, Minho chuckled sympathetically. They hadn’t heard the dancer appear in the doorway but Felix smiled when the older hummed: “I’ll gladly prepare homecooked meals for you if it means you’ll eat. We got soup and rice ready, so whenever you feel like you could handle a few bites, let us know.” – “Thanks”, Seungmin whimpered, still far to nauseous to stomach anything. Jeongin joined them with a cup and thermos bottle, whispering: “Your throat must be so painful, hyung. I restocked your tea because you said you ran out during our last vocal lesson.” – “I love you, maknae”, Seungmin slurred, making his friends gasp.

“We really need to worry now, Chan-hyung”, Minho frowned when the leader returned with the bucket. Nodding along, Jeongin explained: “Seungmin was nice and he said he loves me.” – “Oh, fuck off”, Seungmin groaned hoarsely, making the others laugh. “Guess everything’s fine after all”, Minho shrugged, turning to the door, “I’ll let Changbin and Hyunjin in when they get here and then you can take something to calm your stomach.” 

Seungmin kept dozing in short intervals with Chan tracing his back, while the others gave them some space. The medicine Changbin fed the younger helped some and Minho could even convince him to have a few bites of rice and a small scoop of soup before going back to sleep. Chan had been right, Seungmin was far to dizzy to get out of bed for the next few days, only spending a few hours a day on the couch when one of the members carried him there so he could get a change of scenery. Minho was able to nurse him back to health though, the vocalist’s trust in him probably being the only reason he let himself be talked into consuming anything at all.

Even after Seungmin recovered, he still preferred homecooked meals whenever he got the opportunity.

[girl-lostconnection]

this might sound a bit specific but can we get some graves fluff/headcanons about reassuring (if he would) someone that got forced into a university major against their will despite having other majors in mind that now wants to try their luck in university again after an academic crashout, basically with someone that was actually academically successful earlier but chose the wrong major.. if he would bother to support someone in a struggle like this, that is.. if you don't headcanon him to be a judgy guy about those :(

(sincerely, suffering).. :(

Oh, anon, I’m so sorry. Been there, almost done that. I hope things turn for the better for you, just don’t lose faith in yourself, yeah? You got this. And you got some Graves fluff coming right up!

Phillip doesn’t like feeling powerless and he doesn’t like feeling helpless in a situation where he wants to go all out and come with guns blazing. But it won’t help much in current circumstances, wouldn’t it?

Not like you would be happy with him threatening your dean or ramming his way through your faculty department just so you can get what you deserve.

He almost pauses at the thought, fingers drumming absentmindedly, but no. He still very much can’t.

At least not if he wants you to be satisfied and it does sit in the top three of his wish list.

So your dean sleeps another night (though maybe Graves will manage to convince you that the best offence is a good fucking offence).

For now he settles for pressing a kiss to the crown of your head, huffing out air when he notices you spacing out again.

“Seems like you are off to dreamland, sugar, come on, you gotta come back to me.”, he mutters almost softly, hands snaking their way to wrap around your shoulders as he leans on you.

Phillip doesn’t like to see you struggling and doesn’t like being “moral support” because it doesn’t feel like doing much, it mostly feels like fucking nothing and he annoys himself with it. Drives him up the wall at times.

But he resigns to ordering takeout, fingers tapping on the options across the screen — his eyes flickering to you from time to time, checking up.

Phillip doesn’t let you get too deep inside of your own head, overthinking and self-loathing and overthinking again.

“That’s enough for the beautiful bright head of yours, darlin’, come on, up you go.”

Graves practically hand feeds you, eyes focused on your face as he shares recent squabbles among Shadows, gossip his lieutenant brings him (no one gossips more than white men and he is the living proof of that) and that new pick of operators they just hired had a welcoming party so fun some of them are still hangover.

The party was three days ago, he notes, eyes glimmering with laughter, lips curling into a sharp smile.

Graves stops pouring out details in your ears only when you actually giggle on between bites, crease between his brows dissolving.

Finally. Here we go, that’s his sweetheart right there.

“Got your spirits back up, didn’t I, baby?”, he hums, swiping away the crumb from the corner of your lips, blue eyes unusually soft.

He knows you got that — that you are capable and brilliant and the most resilient person he met. But Graves hates seeing you strain and hates being on the bench when everything in him tugs to be on the field.

But Phillip can’t just hide you away behind his back, wrapped in his jacket and dizzy from his kisses. No matter how much he’d like to.

You are your own person and he respects that the most.

“‘ts gonna be fine, darlin’.”, Phillip is warm and solid against you when he pulls you into a hug, lips pressing to your temple and cheeks and neck, lips curling when you smile. God, how he loves to see you smile.

“You are beautiful, fierce and sharp as a tack. You’re gonna come out on top, just wait and see”, Graves exhales in your neck, breathing tickling thin skin of it, lips ghosting over crook of your neck.

It’s nice to have you this close, right back in his arms again — your laughter under his lips, your eyes a little brighter, lines of your face softening.

It’s nice to be able to be your rock. Even if there are things that he can’t resolve for you.

[guardian-of-time-if]

Final Days with MC Snippet: Gaderous

So it's been a hot minute since I posted the rest of these snippets, but this one was giving me trouble. Gat is one of the harder characters for me to write, and I struggled with this scenario. His will be the last one in the set (sorry Sentinel) because I cannot think of a scene with Sentinel that would fit the prompt as he also has a long lifespan.

An unusually warm autumn breeze swept through the air, brushing against Gat’s cheek. He sucks in the warm air from his spot against the towering oak tree. The weather was perfect for a nice quiet picnic, something so familiar it took little effort to get right at this point. 

He twists a flower between his fingers. If she was any later, he would keep them. He smiles to himself at the thought before setting it back in the place he arranged for it. His smile drops when he notices the flower seems out of place, and leans forward to adjust it again. He shouldn’t have picked it up even if he was bored. Now, he’s never going to get it back in it’s proper place.

“It’s just a flower Gaderous,” a voice calls out, grabbing his attention. “You’re not performing emergency surgery in the middle of a battlefield.”

Gat smiles, rising to greet his lover. “Unlike the healers you’re used to, beautiful, I give every patient my undivided attention, however insignificant they might seem to the rest of the world.”

“Is that why you pay so much attention to me?”

“You are not one of my patients,” he says, as they sit down. “You have my undivided attention because you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen walk the face of Tarken.”

She laughs. “Have you been reading poetry again, or are you trying to get me to agree to something you know I don’t want to do?”

“Oh, I definitely want something, but I’d bet money, its something you want to.”

She gives him the side eye. “This I’ve got to hear.”

Instead of answering, he reaches over and pulls her into his lap. 

“Gaderous!” She yelps, and he responds by kissing her ear.

“I was hoping for a kiss, but we can eat first since I made the effort.”

“Considering you made the effort because it’s my birthday, I think I get to decide what we do after we eat.”

“It’s your birthday?” He asks, earning himself a brief smack on the chest with no force behind it. 

“You know it is. After this many years you better know.”

“Or maybe I’m just getting old enough to not remember anything.”

She rolls her eyes, and reaches for some of the fruit, but doesn’t move out of his lap. As they eat, Gat tries to keep a perfect balance in the atmosphere between lighthearted banter, reminiscing, and flirting.

“What’s wrong?” She asks after Gat finishes a joke.

“What do you mean?” 

“You’re trying too hard. When you’re trying not to think about things, you occupy your mind with other things like the exact position of flowers.”

“What if I just really want to impress you?”

She rolls her eyes. “We’ve been together for decades at this point. You don’t need to impress me with a date.”

“We could be together for ten thousand years, and I would still spend every day of my life trying to impress you.”

“Gaderous,” she pleads, drawing out his name.

He sighs. “Fine. How long are we going to pretend this is normal?”

“What are we pretending is normal?”

“We celebrate your birthday every year as if it actually matters. You’re not actually getting older.”

“You want to stop celebrating my birthday?” She asks, drawing her eyebrows together.

“No. I-” He gently moves her off his lap. “You’re aging, and I’m not. I didn’t realize how weird it was going to be until we got here.”

“I-”

“Someone actually asked me the other day if you were my daughter.”

Her eyes double in size, and she coughs. “Daughter?!’

He nods. “We have now gotten to the point where I look old enough to be your dad. That’s weird, or at least it feels weird. Even outside of the appearance thing, I’m starting to notice that my mind is slipping. I made a joke about forgetting your birthday earlier, but I have been forgetting things more lately, and I’m not getting around as easily as I used to.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me that?” She asks, cupping his cheek.

“I didn’t want you to worry, but it has made me wonder, if you wouldn’t be happier without me.”

“Don’t say that,” she chides. “We’re in this together.”

“Before you helped me escape the cult, a lot of our members asked me to check on their elderly family members. Those visits were always rough. People becoming fragments of who they once were. I don’t want you to remember me that way.”

“Gat,” she breathes out his name.

“It would be one thing, if it was reciprocal, and we were both aging together, but it’s just me. I can’t do that to you.”

“Shouldn’t I get to decide that?” She asks, brushing her fingers through his hair.

“Obviously what you want matters, but even if you are willing to, I don’t want you to stay and watch me deteriorate.”

“Gaderous, look at me,” she orders. “Do not push me away from you because you’re afraid of getting old.”

“I’m not afraid of getting old. I’m afraid of losing myself. That aging will change who I am enough that I won’t be me anymore.” He leans his head into the crook of her neck. “I didn’t want to do this to you today.”

“Don’t worry about that,” she assures. “I’d rather know what’s troubling you.”

“I’d rather go back to trying my hardest not to think about it, if it's all the same to you.”

[destinygoldenstar]

🌟Is This Where The Season Gets Bad? 🌟 - Total Drama Viewer Reacts to Disventure Camp Season 3 Episode 7 “Ball Busters”

Yes, I had "Born To Drive Me Crazy" on loop drawing this.

The regular version though, not the DC cover.

My favorite song of that episode continues to be the "OUR BOYFRIENDS ARE ASSHOLES" song.

Anyway, HOLY SHIT GOLDEN IS BACK.

My followers know why I took a break. I went through a break up. I had to recover from that.

I also had an oral surgery. So I've been out recovering from that too. I actually lost quite a bit of weight from that recovery. Some of my pants don't even fit anymore. Yes I'm gonna get that checked out.

BUT DON'T WORRY, I'M BACK NOW. EVERYTHING IS FINE.

Ironic because I got comments saying THIS is where the season gets bad. XD

I actually enjoyed myself with the first six episodes. I did have criticisms so far, but overall, ya know.

My thoughts are mostly the same.

Predictions: I think the next elimination is Fiore. I do not see a world where Magenta (yes I finally got it right) doesn’t boot Fiore next.

I don’t see Yellow losing any more members. They’re all jello. UNFORTUNATELY (Get Yul Out)

I don’t see Ellie going right now. Even if I think she absolutely fucked up her game, the writers are gonna bullshit her surviving elimination if Cyan loses. Which in that case, sorry Tom.

I still think she and Gabby are going to be vital going forward. Gabby is STILL my winner pick. And I think her plotline is starting to unfold, especially since her girlfriend is, ya know, working for the bad guys.

I say Tom because I think after last episode with the whole “Jake getting cucked” situation, he’s going to come around and we’re going to get the explanation on why Tom wasn’t talking earlier.

What do I think it is?

I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say Tom has a boyfriend.

He met someone else. He’s doing well in his life with his new job. He realized he could have a happy life without Jake. He moved on.

And now Jake needs to move on too. Because, well, he has a boyfriend. It’s not you.

Jake’s gonna be LIVID, and probably screw himself over. But ya know. Not his choice to make.

Point is, their storyline is kinda wrapping up, and I can’t see a world where either of these two make finals. If Cyan loses Tom is gone. And that’s it. If Magenta loses Fiore is gone, but if they lose twice, Jake is gone. Because Ashley and Allyson are getting along, and Ashley’s gonna ditch him because he’s a dent to the team.

And if that’s not the case and all three of these Magenta folk merge, Jake is STILL the first boot of the merge. He’s problematic. And he’s not even a villain.

Allyson’s going to also be doing more in the future. But I STILL don’t understand her characterization in this season. Like, this does not feel like Season 2 Allyson at all. Sorry.

Like, hate comments are something we all deal with, don’t get me wrong. I can see a character struggling with this. But not Allyson. In Season 2 she never had a care in the world what people thought of her, and she always kept a cool head, even when she got paranoid Tess would steal her man. So idk. Also, SHES A GAMER AS A CAREER. SHE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT SHIT ALREADY.

You’re telling me she never got a single hate comment prior to Disventure Camp? I find that really hard to believe.

I need more from her. And I think we will get more. I want this fleshed out aside from “Some Internet people don’t like me and my boyfriend is careless and bad with kids 😭”

Like seriously that still surprised me. I thought Allyson and Hunter’s drama were gonna be a focal point of the season, but NO.

I still don’t like that. Especially since Hunter leaves so early. It just felt like “We need drama. Let’s have a couple fight.”

Even though we already have the Jake and Tom drama to cover for that?? And Riya and Connor even though I still think they’re just friends????Except that’s actually plot relevant drama????? So what’s the logic? And I think we’re gonna get Gabby and Ellie stuff. So…

Whatever. Point is I want to be won over with Allyson.

Anyway, enough rambling. You waited. I waited. Let's get back to the show!

"Uh, it's still not on Spotify, but we're working on it."

Well I don't use Spotify. I use iTunes. So...

And I looked up the song on YouTube, that's how I got it when I was making that drawing.

"Tom and Aiden kissed during their performance, causing some delicious reactions from one watermelon boy."

Krystal, you can just say he got cucked.

We hate Jake in this household /j

Also watermelon? I know he had a watermelon on his pajama shirt, but idk. Fruity boy sounds more accurate.

He might not even like watermelons.

"Oh that's a nice watermelon shirt! I assume your favorite fruit is-"

"Pineapple."

I never usually react to the recaps. They're just so boring to me. Krystal's voice while doing these narrations kinda kill it for me.

"Who will be voted out tonig-"

*Pie Adblock Ad*

RUDE.

Though it does fit that ad.

Didn't even let her finish the sentence XD

OH YEAH OLIVER GETS SHOVED OUT OF A PLANE. I FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART 😂

Wait is Oliver dead? I don't think we've seen him since the plane 😂

OH NO 😂

"Man, we really trashed this place, huh?"

Riya. Riya trashed it.

"What? You didn't like my showing?"

NO RIYA CAUSE WE GOTTA CLEAN UP AFTER SAID SHOWING.

"How was Riya not voted out? Isn't she the one who caused all this?"

Because she's a queen. 👑

Also it's called having a strong locked alliance consisting of Alec and Grett.

And also this other dude who was just too likeable to eliminate.

"How'd you know about that?"

UM, HE'S IN THE STAFF?!

ALSO HE WAS THERE?!?!?!

HELLO?!?

"I watch cameras all day, Connor."

YEAH EXACTLY. HE WAS THERE.

You getting Alzheimer's, Connor?

I've been out for...

*looks it up*

OVER A MONTH. Jesus Christ it was that long-?!

And I remembered that!

"Except for when you're using the potty of course."

Someone hasn't watched Total Drama.

They don't give a shit because they film your shit.

"Wait, so you can see everything?"

OMG CONNOR XD

"IF YOU LOOK IN A CAMERA, YOU CAN SEE STUFF?! 😲 WOW! THIS IS SUCH AN INNOVATION GEN Z CAME UP WITH!"

I'm Gen Z and I can tell you our gen kinda sucks.

"I'm sorry to see you go by the way. You were one of my favorites."

Is that accurate?

I don't actually know anything regarding Silly Billy's DC content aside from him voicing Trevor.

That would be hilarious context for this line if Connor is actually his favorite character.

"Riya was a real jerk."

That too I guess.

I'll still be the sole Riya stan.

"Sometimes you just gotta move on."

Oh it's hard. Believe me.

Also sad you were eliminated cause you could tell Jake that.

And Grett.

And... I guess Allyson even though they're not broken up. (Not saying they should have.) I'm talking about her internet shit in her case.

"Maybe... yeah. I should just move on."

Oh yeah Trevor's crushing on Krystal.

It's still so random to me.

Why is there a love triangle here?? Idk if Derek is into Krystal, but sounds like it.

My girl improved so much as a person she became the point of a love triangle. All the intern men want her!

Oh look at these two just chilling.

RIYA FINALLY GOT A CHAIR. YES QUEEN!

"I made it with my fine woodcutting skills! Wonderful showing, isn't it? Just a little project for my next showing to forget about the whole Connor incident. Wanna hear how I got the paint?"

NO RIYA DON'T LET THAT BE BIRD SHIT!! YOU'RE TOO CLASSY FOR THAT!

"Have either of you seen Yul?"

"Oh, I dissed the birds I scared the shit out of on him. He should be covered in such right now."

"He went for a walk."

"A walk or a hobble?"

*looks it up*

XD

Okay that's a great burn.

"If Yul mentions his foot one more time..."

"I will arrange my next showing to be me reenacting him getting his foot smashed with the light!"

I LOVE that she doesn't feel bad about it at all XD

"AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP! AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP BAP!"

"So, how are you feeling, Riya?"

Yeah I'm curious.

"I'm peachy, what's there to say? Connor was dragging me down like he always does."

You're lying.

"I know he was loyal to you, but he would have never worked with the villains."

Connor is not loyal to her. Not anymore anyway. Also he ditched her mid-challenge in the finale.

Not saying Riya's right, I'm just making a factual point here.

"Still, I kinda miss him."

Yeah. I actually thought their friendship was really sweet.

"What's the point in crying over the past?"

"Trust me! That did not work in my favor at all!"

That's actually a pretty good development line for her considering what happened in Season 2.

"Do I really have to do this?"

Do what?

MURDER FLOWERS YOU MONSTER?!

Yeah, when you pick flowers, THEY FUCKING DIE.

That's why I hate getting flowers as a gift. Because when you give people a bouquet of flowers, you are essentially giving them the plant equivalent of a child whose stomach was torn out so now they can't eat and they'll starve to death in your vase.

I'd be pretty insulted if I was given a bouquet of flowers personally.

"My real fans will know this isn't natural!"

And by fans, he means his mother.

(Say it in the reply if you get that reference)

"I would never gush over that 2/10!"

He sounds like a Dhar Mann antagonist.

"I was just picking some flowers!"

"I was just MURDERING."

Plant equivalent of murder.

This man is a monster.

I'm torn.

I want Grett to be happy.

BUT ALSO, if THIS is a version of happiness, maybe I should get you some angst and trauma instead.

"I wish I could show our fans on Instagram."

I'm sorry, who actually ships this?

Like okay you can ship whoever you want, fine, whatever, but... I'm just really curious WHY.

"Our fans?"

At least he acknowledges he has no fans.

"Even though most of those followers came from me..."

Oh it's opposite day! I get it!

Ha! And here I was confused!

"Woohoooooo..."

That was the fakest woohoo I have ever heard.

DO NOT MAKE A SIMS JOKE BRAIN.

DO NOT MAKE A SIMS JOKE!!

"People are so superficial. They care about things like 'personality', yet my influencer status means nothing?!"

PREACH GIRL.

"So I made a promise to not care what random nobodies think."

THANK YOU GIRL.

TELL ALLYSON THAT.

"That being said, it's really nice to have someone that respects that... and genuinely loves me."

Aw. I love you too, Grett. 🤗

NOOOOOOOOOO

TOM.

STOP IT.

STICK WITH THE FRUIT.

I WILL GET THE CLOTHESLINE OUT!!

HE LOOKS SO DONE 😂

Or she. Idk.

"Wow. Trapped again. This is what the twentieth time in my life now? *sigh* I'll escape this one too, just you wait."

OH-

*clasps mouth from shock*

OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD.

Also the squirrel escaped I flipping predicted that-

BUT OH MY GOD.

THEY'RE TALKING!!!!

THEY ARE TALKING!!!!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!

"Dammit Jake, that was supposed to be lunch!"

And he's still upset.

Tom will never eat lunch in this town again.

"I'm sorry."

Aw. He's sowwy.

"What's wrong?"

GEE, I DUNNO.

"I just thought we could finally talk."

THANK YOU.

"I've got a party of five expecting rotisserie squirrel in half an hour."

Tell them you found something else for lunch. 😏

I'm sorry, that's inappropriate right now.

"You always wanted me to talk to you before I jumped to conclusions, right?"

OH. COOK HIM.

"Well here I am! Talking to you! Take me seriously, please!"

AWWWW JAKE, HONEY ❤️

Yeah he learned a lot from last season, that's for sure.

"Oh... sorry. What is it?"

OH MY GOD TOM IS ACTUALLY GOING ALONG WITH THIS.

HOLY SHIT THIS REALLY IS NOT A DRILL.

"Do you like Aiden?"

Pfft. Oh wow. What a start.

"Where'd this come from?"

"You kissed."

"You cucked me on national TV, like what the fuck, man?"

"I thought you'd know better, that was for the challenge, me and Aiden are just friends."

THANK YOU.

FINALLY, THAT'S OVER AND DEALT WITH. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT SHIT ANYMORE.

It was funny. To me. But thank god we ain't dragging that shit, it's been five episodes.

"Then why do you keep avoiding me? Why did you keep ghosting me all these years?"

THANK YOU. PLEASE ANSWER.

WHY TOM? WHY WHY WHY??

I bet the answer is gonna be, "Uh, because you suck, and I've moved on. So... bye."

Though idk about ghosting. But I was given advice recently you have to shut out some people in your life, even if you care about them, because you have to work for yourself first.

I'm not expecting something that realistic though.

"All I wanted was for you to answer one lousy phone call. After all we've been through, all I'm worth to you is a dial tone."

AW JAKE, MY GOD I FEEL BAD FOR YOU ❤️

I don't think it's that simple on Tom's end though. I don't think that's the message he wanted to send.

WAIT.

OH MY GOD IS HE TEARING UP?!

HE ACTUALLY FEELS BAD?!?!

Yeah, he knows he fucked up. Good to know he's actually sorry though.

"Tom, I know it's been years, but I've still got these feelings."

Ooohhh 🥺

"I never stopped liking you, and if you're open, I was wondering-"

"I-I have a boyfriend."

*Spends a minute to process*

NOOOOOO

NOOOOOOOOO 😭

NO I WAS RIGHT?!

I CALLED IT!?!?

"I don't know if I can do that, I... I have a boyfriend!"

"Uh, yeah, and I have... uh... you heard Aiden! Man's got a man!"

*eyebrow raise*

I was kinda worried Tom was gonna say he had a boyfriend too for a second.

Oh that'd be heartbreaking if that was what was going on.

I FREAKING CALLED THIS!

I SAID "IMMA TAKE A SHOT IN THE DARK. TOM HAS A BOYFRIEND."

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE RIGHT!!! 😭

GODDAMMIT!

Nooooo I liked them... 😭

I knew this was gonna happen though. I knew it. I predicted the storyline.

THAT IS SO BOLD OF A WRITING CHOICE THOUGH.

You have this major ship in Season 1 that you're routing for, and then in the next season they're in you just say, "Hey. They did not work."

Something you don't see everyday that's all I'm saying.

THIS IS FUCKING BOLD OF YOU.

I wonder if this is gonna be a "They didn't work, but that doesn't mean their relationship meant nothing. They changed each other. They can move on with their lives and be just fine" story.

Cause the appeal of their ship was that they were two guys who loved each other but hated themselves. Tom had insecurities from his horrific past of torture and his career, and Jake had insecurities about his emotions and his poor relationships with others. They both believed they don't deserve love, and yet they found that each other found them interesting and pleasant to be around. For a fleeting moment it seemed like it would work and this relationship would be their way of finding love and happiness in life.

Only for Episode 10 to happen and now the show is saying "Actually no, them getting in a relationship is NOT the answer to their problems. They gotta love themselves and let each other go because they found good lives elsewhere."

That's at least what I found interesting about their relationship anyway.

Also I may or may not ALSO be going through what they're going through right now.

HOLY SHIT THOUGH. THAT'S DEVASTATING OF A REVEAL.

"Yeah. I've been dating him for months."

Damn. That's how you know he's not pulling this out of his ass.

"Hope you understand why I'm not saying much else. I... I just don't wanna ruin a good thing."

Yeah you're on TV. I get it.

"I wish you could've told me sooner."

"He wasn't ready to be all public about it."

Checks out. TV.

"I appreciate your honesty. I hope you're happy with this guy because... you... deserve the best..."

😭

HE IS BARELY KEEPING IT TOGETHER. OH MY GOD JAKE I LOVE YOU.💔

"We'll talk again soon, uh... but I-I have to go."

At least he's willing to talk now.

WAY TO SINK A SHIP THOUGH. 🛥️

THE SHIP HAS SUNKEN.

AND IT IS NOT COMING BACK.

Fine. FINE. I never liked them anyway. I was never routing for them. No no no. I predicted it. Therefore, I wanted this. I want them to suffer. I want them to never be together happily eating Chinese food.

NOPE. I NEVER SHIPPED THEM. I NEVER CARED!

WHY WOULD I EVER PUT INVESTMENT IN SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEVER WORK?!?! HUH?!?! HUH?!?!??!?!?

"So Tom's dating someone. That's... great!"

Oh he's upset. I called this too.

"Oh great. He's found someone else. WONDERFUL! I LOVE THAT I CAN'T FIND LOVE!!"

"I'm glad he was able to find happiness. I wish nothing but the best and... oh who am I kidding? I'm not over him..."

OH MY GOD HONEY 😭💔

Look this man in the eye and tell me with a straight face you do not feel bad for him right now.

Here. Have a virtual hug Jake.

It's okay. You'll move on. It's okay.

WE CAN GRIEVE TOGETHER.

"She went fishing with Ally."

They're having a girls night.

"Why wasn't I invited to girls night?!"

"Have they been gone long?"

"Couple hours."

DAMN. THEY REALLY ARE HAVING A GIRLS NIGHT.

"Seems like Ashley has a new friend. You're not getting jealous again, are you?"

Course not. He just needs someone to talk to. This is a lot.

"Oh shut up. She's just trying to help Ally feel better."

Yeah exactly. Jake is over this shit.

"Fool me once shame on you!" (Ellie)

"Fool me twice shame on me!" (Alec)

"Fool me three times... well shit I really am that hopeless."

"Sure princess, whatever floats your boat."

XD

He pulls a Marinette.

"If I disguise as a princess, I can stalk their girls night and I can prevent Allyson from kidnapping my friend!"

"Keep throwing shit on the wall. Maybe something will actually stick one day."

XD

OH THEY'RE ROASTING EACH OTHER.

Ashley and Allyson are gonna come back and there's already gonna be two children BURNING for lunch.

"You carried Trevor in those episodes."

Idk how accurate this is. But I care so little about those two that I am not bothering to look back at Season 1 to jog my memory.

They're all probably like "GODDAMMIT. HOW IS YUL STILL HERE?!"

ALSO GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF GRETT I'M NOT TELLING YOU AGAIN.

"Letter? W-what letter?"

THEY KNOW.

THEY KNEW SINCE EPISODE 5.

"Today's challenge will test how well you handle balls."

Har har. Insert dirty joke here.

"Excuse me?"

Nevermind Yul's so dirty he is the joke.

WOW.

THAT'S SO WELL HIDDEN /s

OH MY GOD I ACTUALLY CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE /s

THIS IS SUCH A HARD CHALLENGE /s

Oh?

What does that do?

"If you find it, you won't have to carry your balls up the hill."

What difference does that make? They're still in the challenge.

Also these are YARN balls. That does NOT sound like this would work. Won't those just, like, UNTANGLE? FALL APART?

You don't have yoga balls? Or bowling balls- no that would hurt.

Chris McClean would make them bowling balls if he was in charge of this challenge.

"Ashley, wanna be my player 2?"

Aw.

Aren't YOU player 2 though? That was a whole thing in Season 2- whatever.

"Can I join?"

"Not today I'm afraid."

DAMN.

"Hey can I play too-"

"NO."

They only have two controllers XD

"I'm putting you on demon child duty."

Demon child duty XD

They really hate Fiore that much, huh?

"Banzai!"

BANZAI! AYE GABBY!

"Aren't these dang balls supposed to be big as a bull? Where could they be hiding?"

Okay I'm convinced this is a blindfold challenge.

"Wish we could fast travel in real life."

"When you teleport locations in RPGs, that's what it's called."

Aw! Is Allyson pleasant again? Is she back to her old self?

HEY! TESS!!

What's up girlfriend? They haven't talked yet.

"Ashley's been a big help, and getting to sing that song on stage was so liberating!"

"It was amazing singing about how much of an asshole Hunter is! Ya know? Felt so good!"

"I can ignore those pesky feelings for now."

Why did she say it like that? That sounds very sus.

"I'll ignore them for now, but when they come back, I might go ahead and kill my teammates to cope. Or something like that."

"Sometimes it's better to just talk it out."

"I can't."

Um... I thought HUNTER was the one with the social issues. Not Allyson.

She never had this problem in Season 2. SHE was THE social one of these three.

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE GUYS.

"You were there for me last season when I felt my life was falling apart. I'd love to return the favor."

Yeah exactly.

Also let Tess return that favor.

"You'll always be my best friend."

"You'll always be my best friend" Proceeds to HOLD HANDS.

"Aww! Aren't you two the cutest?"

See even Ally is a shipper!

Ally?

See even ASHLEY is a shipper!

I messed that up.

"Oh what a shock. I was right again."

Jake is plugging his ears. 🎵"COUNTRY ROAD!!! TAKE ME HOME!!!"🎵

*unplugs ears* "Sorry did you say something?"

"I was saying that Ashley and Allyson hate you-"

*plugs ears* 🎵"COUNTRY ROAD!!!!"🎵

"You're being cast aside, Jake."

"Stop trying to make me paranoid."

He's so DONE.

He's so DONE with everyone trying to use him.

Now he's just like, "Fiore. Do me a big favor: SHUT THE FUCK UP."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! KNOW YOUR FUCKING PLACE, TRASH!!"

(Couldn't find the vine)

"If you want to join me in kicking out Ally next time we lose, you could have Ashley back all to yourself."

How about no?

That's a stupid idea.

"Do you really think she's abandoning me?"

...

GODDAMMIT JAKE.

I get it. You just got dumped. BUT ALSO.

"It's like what you did with James."

What?

James has nothing to do with this.

"Best to get rid of the problem before it gets you first."

Okay. *Proceeds to yeet Fiore off a ciff*

"Fiore did say we were exposed in a letter written by Miriam."

You DIDN'T communicate that to Alec?

That seems like pretty vital information to give to your fellow Jellos!

"Why wasn't I informed of this?"

EXACTLY.

"I can't believe we almost saved him last elimination."

Except you didn't?

That was a unanimous vote.

"Who cares? It's not our problem. Fiore and Ellie are the ones in danger."

She speaking facts.

Love Riya being the smart one here.

OH SHIT GABBY.

THAT'S HOW GABBY FINDS OUT.

What did I say? Her plotline is kicking off.

"Why didn't Ellie tell me she was a part of this?"

Honestly. I don't know.

I feel like Gabby would be more than happy to join them knowing Ellie was there XD

"Does she not trust me?"

No sweetie.

She's just making stupid game moves as usual.

"Jake confronted me."

"He came to our camp?"

"Yeah, he came over wanting to 'talk' to me. Ya know, no biggie."

"He came with a gun for some reason. Idk what that was about."

"Aiden, I would flee the camp if I were you."

"He thinks there's something going on with you and me."

"Oh god! Seriously?!"

Aiden is revolted by the idea XD

"EW! Me and Tom?! Bro he's not my type! I'm into shady guys!"

"I AM a shady guy."

"...oh wait, hold on-"

"What's the lucky boy's name?"

"Sorry, I'd rather not dive into my private life."

You're on TV.

"You know, especially since we're uh... on TV?"

YEAH.

I swear this is not a prewatch. I'm predicting the next line a lot today XD

"Jake can be... sensitive, but he can also be really sweet. I just hope he's taking it okay."

Meanwhile Jake is loading up the shotgun for his Cyan Team camp raid. HE JUST WANTS TO TALK.

"Jake is starting to really piss me off."

Over WHAT?

I know he shoved you, but OTHER THAN THAT, he didn't do anything else DIRECTLY TO YOU. He just stared at you condescendingly. Not even say anything, just looking. The only time you two talked is when he shoved you in that beach challenge.

I mean I get being mad cause he shoved you. Still.

"I'm starting to think he may have a hand in sending James home."

OH YEAH.

Nevermind. Completely justified. Forget I was defending Jake. Get your revenge, Aiden!

Did Fiore just get steamrolled by yarn?

That's embarassing.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.

Why did you think that would work?

Sure. Ashley doesn't need help.

Why is the yarn in the water-?

I don't have enough image slots for this guys!

I do for that though.

QUEEN SLAYS AS USUAL.

She's really good at finding this stuff, huh?

XD

"Yes Trevor. Do my bidding."

That was a useless advantage. Why was that included in the episode?

So what's the point of the colors then? Does that not matter in this challenge case?

I don't know. I don't get it.

"The team with the least amount of points wins reward and immunity."

Wait, LEAST?

I gotta see this in action. Cause I don't get these rules.

WHYYYY DO YOU HAVE FIOREEE IN DEFENSE????

PINK TEAM SUCKS AS USUAL

I want to see Yul get pummeled by a yarn ball though.

XD

AGAIN?!?!

IT HAPPENED AGAIN?!?!

I PREDICTED YUL GETTING HURT SECONDS BEFORE IT HAPPENS!

Do I have a superpower where I can just do this??

Also GO RIYA! 👑

"AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP! AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP BAP!"

"Hey Yul, you good to play human shield for us?"

OH YES PLEASE! I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT! 😀

Aaaannd Fiore is gonna be a pancake after this.

"What's going on? You seem down."

YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING. THIS ISN'T A GOOD TIME.

"Ellie's part of the villains alliance."

Sad thing about this is that Gabby NEVER faced any of the blunt of Ellie's scheming actions in Season 1. She got eliminated before that happened.

So it's a case where Ellie is shady and doing toxic things, but she has never done any of that directly towards Gabby. She genuinely does love Gabby.

But in doing these actions at all, she still hurts Gabby because she's not being honest with her on what her goals are.

Come on. You KNOW Gabby would join the Jellos if Ellie is a part of it too!

"Wait, you're part of the elite squad that is the villains alliance?"

"Yeah."

"Can I join?"

"Ellie's been pretty devious recently."

AS THOUGH THE LAKE ELIMINATION WASN'T? HELLO?!

"I'd say the alliance name suits her."

Eh...? Idk about that. She's more so an antagonistic character than a villainous character.

"But what hurts is... Ellie lied to us about it. She lied to me. Her own girlfriend."

AW GABBY NO 💔

"She gets... competitive. I'm nervous."

Yeah. Games can change people. Kinda hurts when it's someone you love.

Man Connor and Gabby would've had a nice interaction.

"We need your firecracker energy to win this challenge!"

I'm pretty sure both teams have already used up their balls at this point.

"HEY WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE?! SHOOT!! WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE TALKING?!"

"We can use this log to deflect our balls."

Is that allowed? I feel like that's not allowed.

Oh it worked.

"Oh no, it might come down to Magenta Team and us!"

XD

They're like "OH NO! A LOG?!??! WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO BEAT THAT!!!"

So this is why the season gets bad.

They get beaten by logs.

And they get beaten by yarn.

Pathetic.

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING AIDEN TO DEFEND?! HE'S THE WEAKEST ONE!

Fucking idiots.

"CURSES! WE'VE BEEN BEATEN BY A ROCK!"

HOW?!??!

I FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD COUNT.

"It's up to you, Jake!"

WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE AND NOT HELPING HIM?!?!

Did they say "Only one person can defend at a time?"

Because I DO NOT remember that being a rule!

(Edit: No. It was not established.)

OW! The fuck Ellie?

"Oh my god! Get a room you two!"

OH GODDAMMIT.

REALLY?!?!

THEY CLEARED THAT SHIT UP EARLIER THIS EPISODE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Are we STILL doing this?

I can't even laugh anymore. That's straight up bad.

REALLY?! THAT'S HOW THEY LOSE?!

I wouldn't be upset if they didn't clear it up earlier this episode. But they DID. So this is the one case where Jake falling for this makes no sense.

"That was a dirty trick, Ellie."

But not out of character. She LOVES watching Jake suffer. As she said herself last episode.

"I told you the ball was coming!"

Did you NOT see the shit Ellie pulled? If Jake was in hearing range, you were too.

"I'm fine by the way. Thanks for asking."

SASS. HELLO?!

"I just got CRUSHED."

"WTF man? Why didn't you do your job?!"

"I'm HURT."

"You had ONE JOB!"

"I think I'm concussed. I need a doctor."

"YOU HAD ONE JOB YOU FAT FUCKING FAILURE!"

"I was worried!"

Nobody asked you Fiore.

"He's predictable and easy to manipulate."

That's true, actually. They COULD use Jake if they kept him around.

But I don't think they're gonna do that. I think they're gonna get rid of him in either the next episode or the one after that.

"Good thing you're not Tipiskaw's soccer team!"

"I THINK MY NECK IS BROKEN FROM BEING CRUSHED-"

"NO ONE CARES JAKE! YOU COST US THE GAME!"

Beaten my yarn. PATHETIC.

YOU ARE SUCH A LOSER.

"You don't need to feel bad about the challenge."

LOSER

"We all make mistakes."

"Your mistake was thinking you deserve a break you loser."

"Did you see Aiden and Tom?"

"What?"

WAS NO ONE ELSE IN HEARING RANGE?! HELLO?!?!

ELLIE BROADCASTED THAT!

"I talked to Tom this morning."

"Oh really?"

She does NOT sound convinced.

"Oh really? I thought we were done with this!"

"Can we get rid of Ally?"

"Oh Jake come on!"

Yeah that's a stupid idea.

Fiore is the safer vote and everyone here knows it.

Just get Fiore off.

"I feel like you've been ignoring me and spending all your time with Ally."

She's been hanging out with her for TWO DAYS.

I get Ashley's your only friend. CALM DOWN.

"It makes me feel like you value her more than me. I'm worried you'll choose to work with her once Fiore's gone."

That is exactly what's going to happen.

Jake will fuck up his friendship, process the loss of Tom in a nasty way, and Ashley will decide Allyson is the better ally for her game. And they'll all ditch Jake.

"We've been friends and allies since Day 1, I can't believe you'd think that of me."

Yeah, well, the LAST person who claimed to be his friend talked to other people, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT.

I don't blame Jake after that trauma, actually. So I get it.

But also I am still frustrated.

"I will never vote for you. Understand? That's a promise."

Really?

Wow.

Did not expect that.

"I guess if it makes you feel better, I can consider voting Ally tonight."

Really?

Goddammit.

Allyson doesn't deserve that. Come on.

"Sorry. This Tom situation is just stressing me out. Forgive me, I'm being dramatic."

Yeah. At least he apologizes.

He doesn't want to antagonize anyone right now, he's just grieving.

"Hey, at this point, I'd be worried if you weren't a little dramatic!"

Yeah. That's just Jake for you.

We love him, but also, he's a pain.

Dammit. I guess they're gonna bullshit an Allyson blindside.

Which that makes no damn sense.

But oh right, this is where the season gets bad. So they're gonna do it.

I don't want Allyson gone. I know I've been having problems with her, but I don't want her gone.

"Man, I'm getting tired of seeing y'all's faces here."

Did Krystal just say they sucked? XD

Jake is gonna be like Cody in that episode.

"OW! THE YARN GAVE ME A REALLY BAD CONCUSSION! OH IT HURTS! I CAN'T SEE WHAT I'M WRTING!" *writes Allyson's name* "OOPS! THAT WASN'T WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO WRITE! SORRY UWU!!"

'ALLY'

Yeah yeah. Let's bullshit this.

'FIORE'

Yeah yeah hurry it up.

We know they're gonna bullshit this.

'FIORE'

😮

HANG ON. WHAT?

WAIT.

WAIT THEY MADE THE SMART CHOICE?!

OH MY GOD.

I know I said it would be her. BUT OH MY GOD.

THEY ACTUALLY MADE THE SMART CHOICE?!

Cause the Jellos are gonna dominate the merge if all their members make it. They gotta wipe out as many as they can.

So, "Screw it! Who cares about my own personal feelings? They don't matter! Let's get Fiore off."

"Karma's a bitch, isn't it Fiore?"

OH HE WAS PLAYING THEM.

OH I GET IT.

He was never actually gonna vote Allyson, he just wanted to test Ashley's stance to understand his security first, AND give Fiore a false sense of security.

👏

PROPS. PROPS TO THAT.

I GET IT NOW.

Wow, Jake NOT making an enemy out of Allyson. How about that?

"Jake's just too stupid to see he's already lost."

Well, yeah, he's gone next for sure.

But still. Just shut up. You're already voted out.

"I hope scar face and skunk hair do a little more than kissing next time!"

SKUNK HAIR?

HEYO DON'T DO AIDEN DIRTY LIKE THAT!

"Can someone please shut her up?"

Yeah, this child has just been bullying him this whole episode!

Oh hey I forgot Connor was here.

"What's crackalackin kiddo?"

"SHUT UP BOOMER!"

AYO

"I just can't help but wonder if she voted Fiore as revenge, or to save Ally."

YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS.

What's wrong with it being both?

Ashley's just happy. Good for her.

"YAY! NO KIDS!!! I CAN DRINK NOW!!!!”

My first episode back after a month. Good god.

Maybe the hiatus caused me to be like "Wait what is happening right now?" XD

Beaten by yarn.

Beaten by logs.

Beaten by a rock.

Beaten by a child.

Beaten by a dead ship.

Yep. Sounds about right.

Everyone's a loser.

Except Riya. Riya continues to slay.

Jake's gone next. If we're just talking about Magenta. Jake is gone 100%.

Gabby and Ellie are gonna be the major focus now. They're the ones with the setup and the direct link to the Jellos. The lesbians can infiltrate the game and that alliance.

I'm surprised to see Gabby feel betrayed like that. She was the #1 Ellie supporter. So for HER to not approve of Ellie's actions is definitely interesting. It might also lead to an Ellie redemption arc. Very interested in that.

Now that I realized by Yul Torture superpowers: Can we just have Riya and Alec spend next episode bullying him?