#i'm excited about the actual school and classes too if i'm being honest

[halfdeadwallfly]

everybody shut up school starts in less than a week

[brotherwtf]

some age gap clegan bcs I'm honest to god going feral

(btw thanks to all of the people who wanted to see this, boosted my confidence a lot)

Gale first meets John when he turned 19, was introduced to the 38 year old Major when he was with his mother for dinner, all smooth smiles and friendly pats on the back when he had crowed at the sight of her.

"Your mama and I, we go way back. Would pick on me all the time during grade school, shocked to see you this far north," John had said, and Gale tries to ignore the way the timbre of his voice dislodges something deep in his stomach.

It was the first time his mother had smiled, genuinely, in a long time, and Gale couldn't help but feel that same joy at the way John smiles gently at him.

About a week later, Gale was beaten by his father with his mother watching, beaten until he had bruises and red welts over his arms and face. His mother had apologized profusely, promising Gale that something was going to get done, she was going to get help for them.

In the following days, John would come to the house every morning after Gale's mother left for work and take him to his classes at the university, or wherever Gale wanted to go.

"Your mama told me to look after you," John had said.

"I don't need looking after, I'm grown," Gale retorted, but couldn't help the way his stomach flipped every time John showed up at his door.

John took him everywhere he wanted, to museums and art exhibits and walks along the river, took him to a baseball game to explain the rules to him and force him to have some fun.

He would always appear looking dashing, if he wasn't in his uniform he was in perfectly pressed pants and a button up shirt, jacket slung from his fingers over his shoulder, and Gale actually started to look forward to their outings together.

Gale's father was often too hungover or still sleeping by the time John would come to pick Gale up, but one morning he was awake with the sun and saw Gale's bright smile when John's car rolled into their driveway. He slapped Gale, gripped his hair between his hands and called him a queer, called him all sorts of names for being excited to see a man come get him. Gale tried to push his father off of him, yelling at him to stop and trying his best not to cry.

John burst into the house, already had a key given to him by Gale's mother, and wrenched Gale's father off of him, punching him until he was bloody and unconscious. Gale begged for John to stop, grabbed his shoulders and pulled John off of his father's body, finally breaking down when John holds him gently and asks if he was okay

John takes him back to his place, a modest house for a man who lived alone and forces him to sit on the couch, allowing Gale to sob into his strong arms until he can only sniffle and whimper. Gale can't bring himself to let go of John, something big and strong and steady, and finds himself adjusting until his knees straddle John's hips, shoving his face into John's shoulder

John's hands are tense around him, not expecting the horribly intimate position Gale has put them in, arms still wrapped safely around Gale's shoulders. When Gale pulls away, he looks down at John with something akin to hunger.

"Wanna kiss you, John," Gale whispers and watches John's throat work as he swallows.

John shakes his head, taking his hands from Gale's shoulders and gently pushing him away.

"We can't Gale, you're too young," John tries to plead.

Gale would only whine, nudging his face closer to John's despite him trying to move away, still trying to put a valiant effort into keeping the space between them.

"I'm 19, I know what I want, and I want you, John," Gale whispers, moving his hands from John's shoulders to gently massage through his hair.

It's still so new to Gale, he had only just realized his deep rooted feelings for John when he had confronted Gale's father, and didn't know how he would survive without him. Even the way John's looking up at him with a wary expression is making Gale's stomach flip.

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you," John asks, daringly moving his hands from their defensive position on Gale's shoulder to gently rest just above Gale's thighs.

The contact makes Gale shiver and he nods, leaning in ever closer so that their noses brush together.

"I want it, please kiss me, John," Gale whispers.

It feels like his world explodes when John tentatively closes the distance between them, pressing their lips together sweetly. Gale wants so desperately for John to go further, to open up his mouth and claim him as his, wants so desperately to be John's. He whimpers meekly against John's lips and it's a silent beg for John to go further, be rougher.

John does so perfectly, opens Gale's mouth with his tongue and gently allows himself to explore the space, taking in all of Gale's sighed whimpers or groans in the back of his throat.

Gale never had much experience with kissing, had gently kissed his high school girlfriends lips and had gotten so flushed afterwards he could barely look at her. If he could see what Gale was doing now, he would faint. John has his hands on Gale's waist, so large that his fingertips almost touch on Gale's lower back, holding Gale in place as he devours his lips.

John pulls away from Gale's lips and sighs, pressing their foreheads together and rubbing a gentle thumb on Gale's waist.

"I'm gonna protect you, Gale, no one's gonna hurt you while I'm still swinging," John whispers, lips ticking up in the slightest.

Gale laughs a little wetly, pressing their faces closer together so he can feel the stubble of John's mustache on his lip.

Eventually, Gale convinced his mother that he was going to stay with John, keeping the fact that he and John were far more than friends to himself until he was out of his family's grasp. He felt terrible for leaving her behind with his father, but she gushed with joy when she knew her son was going to be safe. She thanked John profusely for taking care of Gale, kissing him on the cheek and sobbing into a tight hug from Gale.

It takes some adjusting for Gale to get used to living with John, but he had spent so long under his care that it felt like second nature, almost.

some smut for these guys coming down the pipeline soon if y'all want to see it

[penvisions]

garnish {chapter 10}

Pairing: Chef! Joel Miller x Bartender! Reader

Summary: Time doesn't heal all wounds, but it does make the heart grow fonder. You find yourself missing Joel, too stubborn to reach out but Ellie is tired of seeing you both pinning as she navigates classes with you and her homelife with Joel now that she's back in the city.

Word Count: 3.8k

Warnings: canon typical language, reader is a dumb dumb, reader is stubborn and heartbroken, mentions of reader's past, trauma, complicated family dynamics, stressful family dynamics, reader mourns her past relationship with father, verbal abuse (past tense), ellie being a scheming lil shit, language, sexual content, references to sexual relations (past tense), smoking, cigarettes, nicotine, drinking, consumption of alcohol, melancholia, manic depressive internal monologue

A/N: WE DID IT, we made it to the end!! i've never finished a fic before so this is all so exciting and a little terrifying, to be honest. i hope hope hope that i've done this lil au justice, with it growing a mind and story line of its own i never even planned for somewhere around chapter five. but we did it and i am proud of this lil one and maybe self-indulged a lot with my own birthday on the 17th! please tell me your thoughts!! a HUGE thank you to everyone that interacted with this. y'all made this possible by engaging with me and inspiring me to continue on even when my own brain was working against me ♡

i would love to take prompts for these two dummies to expand their universe and story in the future if anyone is interested? but i'm still getting used to having what little attention my fics are getting and i dunno if that would be something people are interested in ♡

ao3 link || series masterlist || main masterlist || ko-fi

“Well, you certainly have the enthusiasm, Ellie.” A smile passed over the desk, fingers curled over her application and subsequent documentation. She had already graduated from her Boston school at the end of the previous spring semester, already set up to TA for a favorite professor of hers in the new year after a successful first year of doing so for another. But she had a pending application for a secondary degree. One here in Austin. 

Her life laid out in front of you once she had begun school, having applied and gotten into an art program in England right out of high school, something she had gushed about excitedly for a few moments when you asked her about it. Sure, you had talked about it in passing over shared meals both in the comforting environment of father’s home and while out getting coffee that had developed as a regular occurrence any time she was in town.

She was only four years younger than you, both her and Sarah. So driven and excited about this time in their lives. Sarah having relocated to work for a company that fought for her attention and hire after a phenomenal performance in communications and social work out in California. Both supported and shown love in a way that used to make anger and jealousy flair up in you, but that you now saw as a blessing for those who had that kind of nurturing environment to flourish in.

“I just…the perspective of art and language of art you’re trying to explore is really fuckin’ interesting. I know it doesn’t necessarily fall in line with my focus of studies, but-“

“Classes that interest you are just as important as those that help along your degree.”

“And dad said that I could go for it, said if it’s what I want, he’ll help me in any way he can.”

“Ellie, it would be a pleasure to have you take part in the program. There is a two semester commitment, I will remind you. And the application you submitted for Austin is still pending. But if you’re on board, I can sign my approval and walk it over to the admissions office when we’re done here.”

“I was…actually going to see if you could give me a ride back to the house…dad was in a hurry when my car wouldn’t start, and I left my keys with him so he could take a look at it.”

“Oh,” Your bottom lip was between your teeth, nervousness taking ahold of you. “Um, well-“

“I totally understand not wanting to, but I would feel better going with you than taking a bus or somethin’.”

“It’s okay, I can. But let’s walk this over to admissions and see what we can get in the way of aid first, yeah?”

“Fuck yeah, thank you so much!”

Your class sessions were at nine and lasted for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday. Not wanting to over log the students with a long block of class time on top of all the reading you did end up requiring of them in order to participate in the discussions. Only two days a week to allow for some leeway with the readings on top of the other responsibilities you were all to familiar with. You had explained to Ellie once her application had been switched over from pending to accepted.

You did miss the social aspect of working at the restaurant, the different foods and drinks you could try on a whim, the ability to get as much or as little human interaction as you wanted. But…you had made a choice to leave it behind. For good. Focusing finally on the things that you wanted to do for the rest of your life and a plethora of memories and stories of a time now past.

And Joel….you missed Joel.

But you were stubborn, sure that the man wanted to wash his hands of you after never getting a response.

Ellie was banging her head along to the tape that had been stuck in the trucks deck for years now. An old one from your childhood, one of the only things you father had intentionally gifted you. His love of music something you shared despite the rift and space created between you both. Your birthday up until you moved resulting in a gift card to the local record shop and a few tapes or CDs he wanted to share with you.

The younger girl belted out the lyrics, the loose strands of her hair whipping around from the cracked windows. You sang along with her, though not as loud, indulging her despite the ache that had settled in your bones. Having overthought yourself into a weird mood before class.

Suddenly the music faltered before the warbling completely as the ribbon inside began to loosen from the spool and hang out from the deck.

“Shit, that’s not good.” Ellie lamented as she reached forward to push the play button in to pause the music. She hit the ejection button and carefully pulled the tape from the mouth of the player. Her charcoal stained fingers spinning the spools one at a time to wind the ribbon back where it should be. A few moments later and she was reloading it and pushing play but the speakers only crackled before the tape ejected itself.

“Damn, it died.”

You didn’t say anything, thoughts a whirlwind as you panicked over loosing the last tangible connection you had with your estranged father. If she picked up on your tense silence, Ellie didn’t comment on it, leaving the tape hang half out the deck and moving to use the radio for the remainder of the ride.  

The house looked the same, Joel’s house, nestled to the side of a small cul-de-sac. The neighborhood calm and quiet in the early afternoon.

The graying curls you would recognize anywhere peaked from where Ellie’s care was being inspected by Joel laid out on a roller underneath the carriage. The hood was propped open and a giant tool storage cabinet had been wheeled closer to the opening of the garage. She bounded up to him, talking too fast for you to make anything out from the curb.

But Joel must’ve been able to decipher at least some of it because his gaze turned to you, oil staining one of his cheeks and his chest puffing up with a deep breath.

You felt your own breath catch low in your throat, a lump of air making it hard to breathe.

You drove off with your heart hammering in your chest.

It was now February, the dreaded holiday of the month approaching and your birthday right along with it. A shame, that such a day overshadowed any plans you had once made. The holiday taking precedent with prefix menus that brought in generous tips from happy couples and friends. But this year, this year you could do whatever you wanted.

Stay in, go out, order takeaway, drown yourself in fancy truffles. Whatever you wanted. But the weight in your heart didn’t have you all too keen for the day to arrive. Wondering what Joel had decided for his special menu, the drinks Millie worked with Mary on to pair alongside it. Maybe….maybe you could snag a seat at the bar and indulge?

You let the thoughts trail off and focused on grading the papers in front of you. Needing to get them done before your attention was pulled by a movie night with your friends.

You were up at exactly one minute before the clock stuck midnight. Bleary eyes watching the progression of the last sixty seconds before it was officially your birthday. Your phone buzzed with two texts immediately, all camps too much to handle in the early hour. Turning it to silent mode, you turned over and listened to the faint sounds of Sweet Pea playing with a bell down in the living room, hoping sleep would come back to you.

Waking up for a second time was a whirlwind, snooze allowing for you to sleep in until the absolute last minute before you had to get up. Shoving the tube of fabric that was a simple, off the shoulder dress over your head and fluffing up your hair with dry shampoo and you were out the door and headed to the campus.

“Alright, everyone, since I’m feelin’ a little generous today!” You clapped your hands once, noticing Ellie slink in at the last minute before you typically announced the beginning of class. “I’m gonna play a documentary for today- but!”

You interrupted the happy chuckles from the group of about thirty or so individuals you had interviewed and approved for your program. “I will need a paper on the methods used to help identify the remains and artifacts, with your general interpretation of the cultural basis hypothesized from them due next class!”

“Professor, c’mon. It’s my birthday, it’s your birthday: let’s all just take it easy.”

A chorus of, “Is it really your birthday?! Why didn’t you tell us!” rang out across the room. Certain individuals looking genuinely upset that they had missed out on a chance to let you know how much they appreciated you and liked you. It made the ache in your heart lighten just a bit, weird mood about the day waning slightly in their unabashed openness. Ellie was oddly silent, normally one to engage loudly and enthusiastically, her phone in her hand, fingers a blur as she fiddled with it.

“If you really want to do something for me, please, concentrate on the documentary!” You turned your back to the class, booting up the video on your laptop and tugging down the projector screen that was closed and stored up above the whiteboard. Turning the lights off, save for one in the back for them to take notes with, you pressed play and offered one last tidbit before the opening credits rolled, “But it doesn’t hurt to bring a gift card for any local coffee shops.”

“Need a ride today, Ellie?” You asked the lingering girl, slow to pack her bag up once the class had ended and hesitant to disembark from the campus altogether. Her car was in the shop, something needing repair that was beyond Joel’s skill set. As well as a new set of tires they were waiting on to get delivered before installing them. The ones she had for the more intense weather seasons of Boston worn down over the years and needed replacing. You didn’t mind totting the younger girl around, offering her help with proof reading papers and going over terms that didn’t easily stick. Talking about nothing in particular, though Joel had been diligently inside the house or away each time you dropped her off at home, no more awkward glances since your little display of speeding off the first time.

“Was gonna offer to get you a coffee,” She wouldn’t look directly at you, setting you on edge. You were about to ask her if everything was okay when she suddenly swung her bag on her shoulder and faced you. “I’m helping at the restaurant today, assumed you wouldn’t be cool with dropping me off there.”

An hour later, you were both loaded in the car with too expensive coffee drinks and pulling up to the front of the restaurant. You didn’t want to test if you had clearance to park in the employee lot, not sure what would hurt more. The denial of your code beeping or the approval of your code chirping and opening the gate. Sighing, you put shifted into park and let the engine idle.

Ellie seamed to be taking her sweet time once again. Moving slow to collect her things, having hesitantly showed you the project she was working on for one of her art courses. The bell above the front entrance sounded as the door opened and your head snapped up to see Joel walk through it. He paused, holding the door open beside him as he gave a small wave to Ellie and a somber nod to you.

Yous lips lifted at the corners as you noticed the stain of what had to be beets on his otherwise pristine apron, the white of it displaying the dark red in a disturbing way. His other hand was behind his back, shrouded in the shadows of the interior. He shared a hushed work with Ellie as she finally exited the truck and slinked past him with a last wave toward you.

But Joel didn’t follow her inside.

He stepped outside completely. The door closing behind him with a soft thump.

He was walking toward the truck, the passenger window down all the way as Ellie relished in the fresh air before knowing she wouldn’t leave until well past midnight after the rush of the holiday. 

Your fingers dug into the skin of your thighs, dress having ridden up during the drive to expose the tops of them. The sun warm on them as your nails made crescent shapes in their softness, making your anxiety for the world to see. You were otherwise frozen, unsure of what to say, how to talk. He looked so good. Longer hair slicked back, sliver glinting in the sunlight at his temples and in the scruff of his face. A vaguely heart shaped patch where it didn’t grow in too tempting of a sight as you recalled the way it felt to pepper kisses there.

Joel’s eyes flickered down to your mouth as your tongue swiped out to wet your suddenly dry bottom one, his hidden hand finally shifting from behind his back.

You couldn’t help the little gasp that pushed from your chest as a boquet of flowers was revealed to be in his grip.

The colors of it shades of orange, gold, and yellow. A mix of chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and peonies all wrapped in a delicate tissue paper with a white ribbon holding it all together. In the middle of the front of it, there was something shiny.

“Thought it was an emergency, when she started blowing up my phone a few hours ago.” He finally spoke, stepping off the curb and up to the passenger side of the car. He extended the bouquet to you, hiding his face from you for a moment. You were able to make out the shiny thing in the middle.

It was a copy of the tape that had died the first time you had given Ellie a ride home. The one you couldn’t find anywhere online. The one you had almost just ordered a CD or digital version of. The one you had almost reached out to your father to ask about. It was impossible to find, to replace. But it was there, in the middle of a beautiful arrangement of flowers.

A sob suddenly wracked through your body, hands coming up to cup your chin and hold any others in as fat tears fell hot from your eyes.

“Oh no, no – this – this was supposed t’make you smile, darlin’, not burst into tears.” Joel quickly lowered it, moving it out of view of the windows frame and pulling it back behind him. “I’m so sorry, I – I was just trying to do somethin’ nice for ya on your special day.”

You hiccupped as you reached out a hand in a weak wave, wiping at your cheeks with the other.

“No, Joel, it’s…it’s really sweet of you to do this. I just…I don’t deserve it.”

“Of course you do, you deserve everythin’, darlin’.” He reached through the open window and gently placed the bouquet down on the passenger seat. Molasses eyes catching yours as he offered you a weak smile and a nervous display of his fingers slinking his hair back. “Just wanted to do somethin’ for you today. I didn’t know last year and well, this year I do.”

“Joel…”

“Don’t need anything from you, really. They’re for you and that’s that.” He shuffled on his feet, watching as the breeze ruffled your loose hair and the fabric of your dress, sleeves flowing in the wind, the shine of your necklace in the sunshine.

“Thank you, really. I- I appreciate it.” You reached over to tug the cassette from its secure spot. Turning it over in your hands, taking in the scratches on the plastic of the case. The memory of looking over the massive collection he had displayed in one of the guest rooms, the small shelving unit he had made himself to store all the tapes he had previously kept in boxes in the garage. “Joel, this is from your collection, I can’t-“

“You can ‘n I wanted to. Ellie told me yours got ate and I don’t listen to the tapes much these days, just the vinyl.”

Voice gone and heart beating fast, you nodded. Feeling the urge to lean over and pull him into the truck to drive around for hours and listen to the reverent offering in your hands. But he had a holiday menu to get back to and you had a new recipe to try out. Each on their own and in different worlds.

He patted the window sill twice with a wide palm before he was turning away and disappearing back inside. You watched him go, heart urging you to call out to him while your mind told you it wouldn’t ever be that simple again.

Friends had come and gone, sharing dinner and gifts with you. Crappy movies and good liquor, laughs abundant and feelings so alive. The kind of day that reminded you that you were alive and well. The kind of day that made everything else worth it, small moments tiding you over until you could feel like full and bright again.

You stared at the flowers until the alcohol in your system blurred them, the colors running together and dimming as sleep pulled you under in the late hour. The tape playing through to the end before the machine finally shut off, blanketing you in your passed out state.

You would stare at them, as if they were pulling your attention every time you were in the kitchen or the living room. Choosing to hide away in your office or upstairs when you were home where they were out of site. When they began to wilt and dry up, you moved them to the back patio, not able to through them out but not able to reach out to the man who had gifted them to you.  

Finally removing them from the vase and cleaning it out. You bagged them up and left them on the counter to deal with after class. One that went by in the blink of an eye, almost like the day was rushing toward something. Rushing you toward something. The slow thrum of…something deep in your bones as you engaged in the discussion, leading it back to the focal point if it got too off tangent.

The routine of giving Ellie a ride one that hadn’t been prevalent lately since her car had been fixed and the end of the semester rolled around. But today it seemed to be one of the things that time was ushering you toward. Driving Ellie home with post class treat of milkshakes this time, the weather beginning to inch toward the dry heat that was prevalent most of the year.

“Thanks again! See you Thursday, professor!” Ellie hollered over her shoulder as she all but tore out your truck and ran towards the front door. By passing the scene of Joel stood in the driveway, garage open behind him once again.

“I better! You have a final!” You hollered after her, no real malice in your voice.  

She whizzed past Joel who was stood at the front of her car, hood open and engine block exposed to his perplexed expression. His hands were on his hips, a wrench in one and a screwdriver in the other. He was looking down into the exposed parts with a look you couldn’t quite read from the curb but when he spotted Ellie he called after her.

“Babygirl, I don’t see anything wrong with it. You said it was making a rattling sound, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah! A rattling sound.”

“From…where, exactly?” He turned a furrowed brow to her but she was determined to get away from his prying gaze, scurrying off without any more words. Her bag thumping against her shoulders as she rushed toward the door.

You had been so focused on watching her nearly trip over the steps leading to the front door that you didn’t notice Joel rise from his spot tinkering with something on her car and approach the side of yours.

“Hey there,” His cautious voice greeted you too close through the open window.

“Oh jesus, fuck! Joel don’t do that!” You startled so bad the seatbelt locked up and tightened around you, preventing you from taking a deep breath to calm yourself.

“Shit, sorry. Thought you saw me comin’ over.” A sheepish rub of his hand along the back of his neck, had your eyes roaming over the picture he made in the frame of the open window. Perfectly fitted, as if he should be on the inside of the truck beside you instead of standing outside of it. Close, but not close enough.

Quiet fell over the both of you, Joel looking into the cab of the truck, grease and oil marring his beautiful skin and white t-shirt and you gazing just to the right of him, not able to directly do so now that his attention was focused. The words shared between you both, all of the good, all of the bad, and all of the confusing floating in the heavy air between two people who had lived far too much in such a short amount of time. Echoes of everything passing in the charged air between you both.

Your name being uttered had your eyes glancing at his, the sun lighting them up into a bright hue and your heart fluttered in your chest. You held his gaze for a few seconds, heat creeping up your neck from the pulse of warmth that only he could cause filling your chest.

“Alright, well…thanks for bringing Ellie home.” He reached a handout to pat the side of the truck before shoving away.

“Hey, Joel, wait…” You leaned over, hoping that the words in your throat didn’t get stuck. When he turned quickly back to you, there was a hopeful pinch to his features, lips pursed as he waited with bated breath for you to continue. Taking a deep breath, you locked eyes with him again, keeping up the connection. The hope that glinted in them helped the words to flow from you in a quick push.

“Do, um, do you want to grab a coffee sometime?”

previous chapter || end

taglist: @hiddenbabynyc @jessthebaker @clevergirl74 @anavatazes @samiamproductions @76bookworm76 @tuquoquebrute @sarap-77

dividers by the lovely @saradika-graphics

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Valentine’s Day! WWX and identity porn, or dealers choice ❤️

a continuation of 1

Jim was sort of excited about being shipped off to Tarsus IV because he loves space and seeing a planet in the early stages of development sounded really cool, even if the only reason he was going was because Frank couldn't deal with him for a second more.

Then he realizes that this place is just like Iowa but less technology and he's bored as shit.

He's staying with Frank's cousin who tolerates him better than Frank because she doesn't give a shit what he does as long he cleans up after himself and is quiet coming home, which he thinks might be some sort of psychic reverse psychology, because it turns out without anything to rebel against he feels like he can finally calm down for once in his life.

Maybe Frank was sort of right about him going stir crazy back home and making the rest of them crazy because of it. Jim is never, ever going to tell him that.

And maybe it is sort of fun, because high school is boring but there's an Orion girl in his class and he's, you know, fifteen, and working in the fields at least gives him something to actually flex at her.

Then he finds out there's a Vulcan on planet. Here. On a backwards bumfuck middle of nowhere planet.

Obviously he goes knocking on his door first thing.

He actually answers, which Jim hadn't been expecting. "What do you want?"

"Something to do," he answers, too surprised to be anything but honest. "What are you doing here?" He cranes his neck to try and see behind him, "Is it fun?"

"I'm working on my thesis, or trying to," he says, and something about the way he's speaking sounds a little off to Jim. He didn't think Vulcans talked like this - it's a little too casual and imprecise, but it's not like Jim and expert on Vulcans here.

"Want help?" he says. It's not like school is of any interest, and getting to talk to a Vulcan up close and personal is probably worth it anyhow.

He actually laughs.

Jim stares. "Are you sure you're Vulcan?"

"Now you sound like my father," he answers before stepping back. "Sure, whatever, someone has to organize my notes and I'd rather it wasn't me. I'm Sybok."

"Jim," he says, leaving off his last name because Sybok didn't tell him his father's name, and Jim thinks that's a good idea that he's going to copy.

[jimraisedmeup]

TICK // 14.1 - only the good die young

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Rating: mature (angst, language, sexual content)

Word Count: 1800

☾

Come out, Virginia, don't let me wait You Catholic girls start much too late Aw, but sooner or later it comes down to fate I might as well will be the one

☾

May 15, 1984 - junior year

That night in February sparked something fierce between you and Eddie.

Winter faded away, blossoming into spring. Hawkins was turning green with life again - birds sang their songs in the trees, snow boots and scarves were stuffed away into the backs of closets. 

But most importantly, Eddie's high school graduation was just over a week away.

You had everything planned out: the party to be held at your house while your father was out of town, the present you carefully picked out for Eddie, the 'congratulations, I'm so proud of you' sex to occur - hopefully multiple times - after the graduation ceremony itself.

As of the last three months, gone were the days where you would hide from Eddie Munson in the hallways. You met up after almost every class, either to talk by your locker or to find a new place to make out on school grounds. 

You would never be the kind of girl to open up to others about the gory details of your relationship, though, and still wanted to maintain your strong sense of privacy. The bond you had with the crazy Munson boy was precious to you. You wanted, needed, to keep it close to your heart.

You were so proud of him. Eddie worked hard to be this close to graduation. Even though, to be honest, he barely skirted by with his grades and reckless behavior. Hell, you were a lucky bitch to still graduate after spitting on a teacher. 

But you were a one-time offender, which Eddie was not. It took some effort on your part to pressure him to attend classes and stay out of trouble.

☾

You mighta heard I run with a dangerous crowd We ain't too pretty, we ain't too proud We might be laughing a bit too loud Aw, but that never hurt no one

☾

Eddie stared at you from across the crowded lunchroom, thinking deeply. 

The students were extra noisy and annoying this week, most likely due to graduation being within such close reach. Eddie Munson didn't care much about it at all. The fact that you cared so much is what solely fueled his high school education at this point.

You were still a junior, going into your senior year after the summer. You would continue at Hawkins High School for another whole year. 

Without him.

He watched you as you sat at a table with Nancy Wheeler and Harrington. You were laughing and gesturing with your hands.  

You always sat with your friends at lunch while Eddie caught up with Hellfire and his bandmates. 

You spent nearly every other night together. Without actually saying it out loud, the agreement to take some healthy time apart from one another was welcomed by both of you. 

…along with the status of your relationship. It really was a relationship, since you began calling him your boyfriend without either of you labeling it as such. Eddie couldn't have been happier to have his arm around your shoulders in the hallways without you running for the hills. 

A comfortable routine settled in, but the excitement of summer break approaching set Eddie's nerves on edge.

Though his life was far from stagnant.

Hellfire Club was fully established, Corroded Coffin was getting ready to book some dive bar shows over the summer, and high school was going to be a thing of his past.

The cherry on top was the woman in his life. You were a wildfire burning in his arms almost every night, a flurry of shaking limbs climaxing in his bedsheets. He loved you, he truly did - though neither of you had said it to each other yet.

He loved it when you bickered with him (which was daily). He loved it when you kissed him (which was daily). He loved it when you made him feel like he was capable of anything, even when everyone else around you seemed to think differently of the strange boy. 

Although Eddie was in the prime of his teenage years, he still couldn't shake his feeling of overwhelming restlessness.

He checked his watch. One hour until noon. His plan was about to be set in motion.

Out of the corner of his eye, you got up from your lunch table and said something to Steve Harrington. Nancy Wheeler, in turn, whipped her head towards Eddie and squinted at him with suspicion. 

Eddie made devil horns on the top of his head, sticking his tongue out at her. Nancy made a face and turned away.

He looked back to you as you were heading towards the rear cafeteria doors. Sneaking a quick glance in his direction, you exited.

Eddie swiftly followed.

☾

And they say there's a heaven for those who will wait Some say it's better, but I say it ain't I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints The sinners are much more fun

☾

"You guys will come to the party, right?" you pleaded. 

Nancy looked at you with apprehension. Steve seemed distracted, staring off into space while picking at the food on his tray. Tommy H. and Carol sat chatting loudly at the other end of the table.

You resorted to begging.

"Please, Nance? It'll be fun, I swear. It's nothing fancy. Just come for a drink or two," you explained, leaning closer to your friend to whisper. "I invited a lot of people, including you-know-who."

It was a fifty-fifty chance that either Nancy was nervous about going because Jonathan Byers would be there, or that she would want to go because Jonathan Byers would be there.

Lightly bumping your leg under the table, she whispered harshly to you, "That doesn't matter."

"Who's 'you-know-who'?" Steve's expression went from bored to vaguely interested.

You already had your answer prepared. "Oh, no one you know. My sister has a crush on this guy in band - she doesn't know he's coming."

"Quite the little matchmaker, huh?" Tommy butted in as Harrington looked away again. "Listen, I don't think we need to go to a party full of band kids and freaks. I bet you even invited Byers, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?" you snapped. Nancy looked anxiously between them, her eyes glancing at Steve every so often.

Carol had to steal the show with her comment, though. "I don't know how you hang out with people like that. Let alone date one. I heard a guy on the basketball team say that Munson worships the devil."

Tommy chimed in. “Does he collect the corpses of small animals?”

You burst out in laughter.

"Carol, I don't date him for his devil-worshiping skills. But thanks for that."

Popping her gum loudly, Carol just shrugged. You put up with these clowns because you saw something in Nance, a deeper friendship lurking beneath the superficial surface. 

Plus, you kind of enjoyed having some shallow friendships, not ever having to divulge your personal life. It was less exhausting that way.

You turned back to Nancy. "Just come for a bit, please? I never ask you guys for anything like this! I've never even thrown a party before - if no one shows, you guys can just drive away and pretend like it never happened."

Surprisingly, Steve responded first. "Fine, we'll go. Right, guys? It'll be fun."

Standing up and grabbing your tray, you stepped away from them. "See? Now that wasn't that hard, was it? Smell you later, Harrington." 

You purposely caught Eddie's eye as you left the cafeteria, knowing all too well that he would trail after you. 

☾

Said your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation Aw, she never cared for me But did she ever say a prayer for me?

☾

A poorly lit dead-end hallway near the drama classroom was the prime place for devious things to take place. Especially during lunch hour, when everyone was preoccupied with social gatherings.

Approaching your waiting figure from behind, Eddie clasped a warm hand around your mouth. At first, you jumped in surprise, but quickly realized that it was indeed your boyfriend who snuck up on you. His distinct callouses from picking at guitar strings were rough on your skin.

"Well, hello there."

Eddie held you tight, one hand still covering your mouth and the other roaming up your sweater. He could feel giggles rumbling in your chest. 

Backing up against a wall, blocked by some old stage props, you ran your fingers through his hair. His nefarious plan worked; the girl in his arms melted onto him like burning wax.

His hand trailed over your bra-less chest. It was personally one of his most favorite physical things about you. Eddie loved knowing that when you wore loose sweaters, your full, sensitive breasts were just free underneath. Waiting for moments like this.

You gasped when he lifted the sweater, exposing your breasts and grasping them roughly. You might complain to him about the gesture later, but Eddie knew well enough that the hallway was deserted.

In what seemed like your own bit of revenge, you pressed your backside against his already hard cock, pulling at his hair. 

As many times as they had done reckless shit like this before, Eddie didn't think he could ever not lose his mind over it. You were a straight-A student who soaked your panties over public nudity, but you would never actually admit that.

He dropped your sweater. Once he let go of your mouth, you spun around, kissing him and holding your body against his.

"Hi, you."

Checking his watch again, Eddie saw that he still had some time before noon. Time to play before the action began. His nerves tingled at the thought, but he locked those thoughts away to focus on you.

You grabbed his hand as he was looking at his watch and surprised him as you led his hand down the front of your pants.

Eddie knew you inside and out. You had taken the time to learn many things about each other - sexual preferences, sensitive areas. Having you teach him exactly how to please you was something he felt compelled to master just like a new song on his guitar.

So his confidence soared as he touched you in all the right places, rubbing gently, then faster. You held onto his neck and hooked a knee up against his hip, stifling whimpers into his jacket as you crumbled into pieces at his hand.

Sighing, you kissed his jaw. Like the flip of a light switch, you stepped away, adjusting your clothes.

You flashed him a wicked grin as you walked down the hall.

"Thanks for the orgasm, graduate."

Eddie chuckled, rearranging his now very tight jeans. "Not a graduate yet, babe!"

11:36AM.

☾

You know that only the good die young Tell you, baby You know that only the good die young Only the good die young

☾

(song lyrics credit: "Only The Good Die Young" by Billy Joel)

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[dangerous-disposition]

i could be honest, i could be human [Steddie WIP snippet]

THIS FIC IS NOW COMPLETE

Read it on my writing blog @gerrystamour (see pinned post) or on AO3

Here is a snippet of a fic I'm working on that is kind of a "5 times Eddie asks Steve who hurt him + 1 time he actually does something about it" and takes place over the course of the show and into post-S4 territory. When it's done it'll be 6 chapters and will be rated E. Mostly I need eyes that aren't mine to see it.

Steve Harrington did not feel sorry for himself.

Sorry? Absolutely. For himself? No.

He felt sorry for how he treated Nancy, for what he said to Jonathan, how he let Tommy make a mess of the Hawk’s sign. But not for himself, even if he couldn’t blink without wincing and something smarted when he moved his jaw. Even if his knuckles ached and a molar was wiggling a bit too much for his comfort. The way Steve figured it, all together that was roughly only half of what he deserved.

Getting the shit beat out of him for being an idiot wasn’t necessarily unfamiliar to him, though the low-grade agony in his face was.

With a heavy sigh, Steve dipped the rag into the bucket of pink, soapy water and returned to scrubbing the red spray paint off the Hawk’s sign. It was slow-going, and the sun was setting, but he had just a bit of the last letter to clean, and then he would be done. He would be free to go home and figure out his next move.

He didn’t have any more friends, what with his fight with Tommy and Carol, and he was pretty sure he didn’t have a girlfriend anymore. Not after his stunning display of class and conflict resolution.

“Well, well, well,” came a sarcastic, yet excited voice from below. “If it isn’t the King of Hawkins High himself, Steve Harrington.”

Steve groaned, the title bringing a sour taste to his mouth. Some king he supposedly was. He didn’t even recognize the voice, but that didn’t say much; Steve probably wouldn’t recognize the voices of most of the kids he went to school with because he was exactly that sort of asshole.

“Didn’t know you could actually do honest work,” the person continued, and the comment stung a bit, even if it was a fair assumption. “Though is it honest work if you made the mess in the first place?”

“Look man, I get it—” Steve started as he looked down, deliberately angling his face to hide the bruising, and abruptly froze.

Beaming gleefully up at Steve was the Freak. Something-Munson. His first name was escaping Steve, and not for any reason that was good or defensible.

Steve knew him by appearance and reputation alone, and he was pretty sure he could count the facts he knew about him on one hand. He dressed weird, had long hair, listened to shitty music, had an even shittier van, and dealt drugs. He had seen Tommy meet with him before they went to parties enough times to know at least that much. In the end, Steve had almost exclusively only heard him referred to as either the Freak or simply Munson.

“You were saying, Harrington?” Munson urged; his grin was broad but mean.

“What do you want, Munson?” Steve asked instead, returning to his chore.

“Heard from a little birdy that you were reduced to janitorial work. Obviously, I had to see that for myself before I would believe it,” he replied easily, and Steve scoffed.

“You came all the way out here just to watch me clean a sign? I’m honoured,” Steve muttered darkly.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I was already in the neighbourhood,” Munson said, and Steve heard the unmistakable sound of a lighter being flicked. When Steve glanced back down, Munson was leaning against the light post and taking a long drag from a cigarette.

“C’mon, man,” Steve practically whined as he scrubbed the last of the graffiti off the sign. He was done his chore and he really didn’t want to deal with Munson’s smug face when he climbed down and revealed his bruised face. “I know I’ve been a douchebag—”

“Been? You’ve been a douchebag? As in past-tense?” Munson asked with a loud, bitter laugh. Steve could hear the eyeroll in Munson’s voice when he added, “I don’t think you get to decide when you aren’t a douchebag anymore, Harrington.”

Steve was at a loss with that, wracking his brain for a single time he was ever rude or mean to Munson. The thing was, Steve was never deliberately mean to people, his fight earlier with Jonathan notwithstanding; he just didn’t care, or tried to seem like he didn’t, as if he was above caring. For fuck’s sake, Steve couldn’t even remember Munson’s first name.

Tommy and Carol were the mean ones, and he did nothing try to stop them. How many times, unbeknown to Steve, had Tommy harassed Munson and his friends? Or how many times had Steve just tuned it out?

“Fine! I know I am a douchebag, but don’t you think this is kinda childish?” Steve grumbled, crossing his arms over the top of the ladder and dropping his forehead onto them.

“Oh, it definitely is,” Munson agreed happily, and Steve shouted when the whole ladder shook. Munson had kicked it lightly, just enough to rock it but not so much that it actually fell over. “Gonna stay up there forever, Harrington?”

“Not forever,” Steve replied, shrugging. “Just until you get bored and leave.”

“Then you’ll be up there forever,” Munson sing-songed. “C’mon, Harrington. I don’t bite, promise.”

Steve felt his face heat, his chest and stomach fluttering with an emotion he couldn’t place immediately. Shame? Humiliation? He stopped inspecting those thoughts too closely and climbed down.

When Steve was back on solid ground, he turned to face Munson and stood up straight. He was taller than Steve by just a bit, but it was enough that he had to look up slightly to meet his eyes.

“Oh, Harrington,” Munson laughed—no, practically crooned, his eyes wide and bright as he reached up to touch the bruising. “Who did this to you?” he asked, his tone downright giddy.

READ THE COMPLETED FIC ON AO3

[raaorqtpbpdy]

A Little Chat

Jazz gets the chance to talk to the ghost boy before she knows he's her brother. When she talks to him after discovering the truth, their first conversation is still ringing in her mind.

For the prompts: What if Jazz had a conversation with Phantom before learning he was Danny? What does their next conversation look like when Jazz knows but Danny doesn't know she knows? [from atropos], and "What do you mean this isn't safe, I'm already dead" [from @princessfanonanona]

Read also on AO3

[Warnings for mentions of violence and death]

Casper High was all abuzz about the upcoming school dance, but Jazz couldn't care less. Dancing had never been her thing, much less at school where all her peers could watch her embarrass herself. That didn't stop her from getting asked, by Dash Baxter when she was tutoring him, by her lab partner in the middle of chemistry class (gag), by Danny's friend Tucker, who was asking out every girl in school and getting turned down every time.

Jazz was honestly more preoccupied by her ongoing existential crisis about ghosts being real, and her annoyance at how insufferable her parents had been since the revelation. She was nothing if not curious and determined, though.

Her parents said a lot of things about ghosts with very little research or evidence to back their claims, but Jazz wasn't going to just hop on the bandwagon and believe everything they said. If she could, she was going to get a first-hand source on this ghost situation.

Unfortunately, not intending to go to the dance didn't exempt her from the teen-girl bonding nightmare that was helping her friends shop for their dresses. She knew she was only a part of their little group because she tutored them, and she had very little in common with any of them. But she also knew that it was good and healthy for her to socialize with people her own age, and even if she couldn't really relate to them, at least they were nice, and always tried to include her.

That didn't stop them from gently ribbing her about how unhelpful she was being when she said they looked fantastic in every dress they tried on.

Shopping got a lot more exciting, however, when a dragon showed up. Jazz went to check it out, claiming she had to go to the bathroom so the girls wouldn't try to stop her. They were too busy changing to notice the commotion outside the store.

Jazz ran to the second floor railing to get a good look at the ghost boy fighting some glowing blue dragon with a huge amulet around its neck. Jazz watched and waited for the immediate Danger to be over before calling out to him.

"Hey!" she shouted. "Ghost boy!"

The ghost swiveled around in mid-air until he saw her. She waved him over. He shook his head and gestured over his shoulder like he needed to be somewhere.

"Come on, I'll be quick!" she shouted, waving him over more insistently.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, the ghost boy floated over to her.

"Can I help you, citizen?" he asked awkwardly

"Actually, yeah," she said. "I'm Jazz Fenton, you probably know of my parents. They have some very uh... opinionated views about ghosts, and I'm looking to learn more about ghosts from a first hand source. Could I trouble you for a moment of your time?"

"I uh... I don't know how much help I'd be," the boy replied. "To be honest, I'm kind of new to the whole 'being a ghost' thing."

"That's alright," she insisted. "If you don't mind, I still think I could learn a lot from talking to you."

"Uh... alright," he agreed, and settled himself cross-legged in the air just on the other side of the second-floor railing Jazz was still standing at.

This area of the mall had pretty much been cleared out when the dragon showed up, so the two of them were alone, even in the middle of a public place.

"Shoot," he said.

"Okay." Jazz considered for a moment what her first question should be before asking, "Do ghosts have obsessions that motivate all their actions, yea or nay?"

He hummed thoughtfully. "Sort of? Maybe? I don't really know. From what I've been able to get, it seems like ghosts have more of a tendency to be obsessive than humans do, but even ghosts with obsessions aren't motivated one hundred percent solely by those obsessions."

"So would you say that ghosts have free will?" Jazz asked.

"Yes, absolutely we do." There was no hesitation in that answer, no hint of doubt.

"I think I can guess the answer, but do you think ghosts are inherently evil?"

To her surprise, the ghost boy paused before answering, titling his head from side to side like he wasn't really sure what to say.

"Well... I'm not," he answered cautiously. "I haven't met too many friendly ghosts so far, but we're definitely not inherently evil."

"Why do you fight other ghosts?" Jazz asked. "Not that I'm not grateful, but... ever since you showed up, I've been curious about that."

"Why?" he repeated. 

He looked perplexed, although Jazz couldn't tell if it was because he didn't know the answer, or because he didn't know why she was even asking because it seemed so obvious to him.

"Well who else is gonna do it?" he asked. That answer did nothing to clear up Jazz's uncertainty. "I can't very well let them just cause chaos around here. They could seriously hurt people."

"What about you?" Jazz asked.

"What about me?"

"I just mean, couldn't they hurt you, too?" she asked. "I saw how you got tossed around by that dragon, and the lunch lady a little while ago. This whole situation, you fighting off ghosts ten times your size to protect humans you barely know... this just doesn't seem safe."

The ghost boy huffed a soft laugh. "What do you mean this isn't safe?" he asked. "I'm already dead, what else can they do to me?"

Jazz frowned, her brows furrowing.

"You still bleed," she said. "I've seen it. You bleed green, but you still bleed."

"So what, I bleed," the ghost boy shrugged, though his expression took on a melancholy tone. "So do you. You're telling me if you saw someone in danger, even if you didn't know them, you wouldn't try to help?"

Jazz didn't really know. Her self-preservation was strong, but so was her compassion. She would have to make that decision in the moment, not standing in a mall across from a boy her brother's age... who had died. 

Her brother had almost died, too, once, not that long ago. If she had been there... if she'd had the chance to save him from the pain of that accident at the cost of her own safety, would she have?

"Do you help others because no one helped you when you were dying?" she asked. 

Even as it left her mouth she could hear how rude and personal the question sounded, but it was out there now... and she wanted to know.

The ghost boy shook his head. "No one could have helped me," he said. "Even if they were there, even if they wanted to. There was no saving me. It would have just ended with two ghosts instead of one." 

She opened her mouth to ask a follow up question, but was interrupted when one of her friends appeared.

"Jazz! There you are!" Marci called out. "Oh my gosh, if you needed a break from dress-shopping, you could have just said so. You didn't have to disappear on a bathroom break for twenty minutes."

"Yeah, we were actually starting to get worried about you," Jenna added. "We heard there was some kinda ghost dragon somewhere in the mall a little bit ago. We thought you might've gotten hurt."

"I'm fine, I promise," Jazz told them. "I actually left to get a closer look, but I made sure to stay a safe distance away. I've just been talking to—" Jazz cut herself off when she turned and saw that the ghost boy was gone.

"Talking to who?" Marci asked, looking at the empty air.

"To whom," Jazz corrected absently. She shook her head. "Never mind. Did you girls pick out dresses you liked?"

"Marci did," Jenna said. "So far, I haven't found anything that speaks to me, ya know? I think I've decided on the color though, I want a pretty sunset orange, like a pink-ish, dark-ish color, maybe with glitter, you know?"

"That's a bold choice," Jazz commented. She didn't know much about fashion, but she did know she didn't see a lot of people walking around in orange most of the time.

"I'm a bold girl," Jenna agreed with a laugh. "I found one orange dress, but the shape made me look like a traffic cone, it was awful!"

Jazz snickered at that mental image and Jenna and Marci laughed with her.

"Come on, there's a couple more stores we can check out to see if they have something you like," Marci suggested. "And obviously we gotta stop at the bookstore, too. We can't leave our main girl Jazz without her lit fix."

Jazz laughed again and followed them toward the next store.

—

Ever since Jazz found out the ghost boy was her brother, she couldn't stop thinking about it. She'd decided immediately to wait until he was ready to tell her before bringing it up, but that didn't stop it from being on her mind all the time. She wanted to protect him but there weren't a lot of ways she could do that.

She nearly freaked out on him when they started doing ghost drills at school, and couldn't exactly explain why without taking away his chance to tell her his secret on his own. Luckily, she managed to change the subject and get away without giving herself away, but it was a close call.

She didn't expect to ever get the chance to talk to Danny as the ghost boy again before he told her it was him, because frankly, he did his best to avoid humans as much as possible in his ghost form, most of all his family.

A lot happened. Danny had a million dollar bounty on his head, everyone at school got sick with ghost flu, then a bunch of teenagers had to save all the adults in town (and, embarrassingly, Jazz) when they got kidnapped by ghosts using hypnotic music.

Then the town was sucked into the Ghost Zone, and the only thing protecting them all from a tyrannical ghost king was Fenton Works' ghost shield. And Danny planned to go fight the king himself. He hadn't said it yet, but she could tell by the grim look on his face when he went outside. Jazz followed subtly, but the time she got outside he was already in ghost form, staring up at the green sky.

"Hey, ghost boy, long time, no see," she said.

"Uh... what?" he said. "I don't... oh... right, yeah. Guess it has... been a while."

"You're gonna try to fight the ghost king, aren't you?" she guessed. "Please don't. Amity Park needs you, and if you go fight him... he could destroy you. I know you think you're invincible but this isn't safe."

Danny huffed out a bitter chuckle. "What do you mean its not safe? I'm already dead," he responded, just the same way as he had the last time she told him that.

But this time she knew it wasn't true, not completely.

She remembered the last time she spoke to him as the ghost boy, how he told her that no one could have saved him when he died. She remembered hearing him screaming in the basement from all the way up on the second floor and wondered if it was true. Sam and Tucker had been with him, and she knew they would have helped if they could have.

"You're right about one thing, though," he said after a moment. "Amity Park needs me. I can't flake out on them now."

With that, he flew off to god knew where, to fight the ghost king, or his skeleton army, or the Fright Knight. She just hoped he'd be okay. He was her baby brother, and she didn't think she could handle losing him for good.

He didn't deserve any of this.

[yeppeudau]

Chapter thirty-one: our couple aregyu 🩵🧡

banner by: @/seungstarss

⎙ synopsis: In which you and Soobin have a crush on the others bff, who which coincidentally, are dating. So you do what any other people with a common goal would, and try to break them up. Except it doesn't go exactly as planned...

⎙ word count: 1.5k (+1 photo at the end)

⎙ warnings: none I don't think?? povs fck me up !!

♡a/n: hi guys🧍‍♀️(i have posted this and edited it like 5 times I'm a mess its been so long)

As soon as class ends Soobin makes his way out to his locker, quickly grabbing his sweater and putting his books away before heading out of the building.

If he was being honest he was some what excited? To go and spend some time with his friends again (as well as the fact he would love some free money to spend on games). It had been some time since he had hung out with Heeseung and Jeongin, let alone Beomgyu. As they've both been preoccupied with other things.

One being the painful sight of having to see his best friend, and his crush eating each other's faces in the hallway. And maybe that was a little dramatic but still! It was something that would definitely be ingrained into his head no matter how much he wanted to forget it.

More over, he had to see you. Which, he was more than open to admit his distaste towards being in your presence, and you the same.

After the little argument the two of you had he's been in a worse mood then he would like to admit. You were just so pushy with EVERYTHING and he couldn't stand it. Boundaries? He was pretty sure you didn't know what those were. It was annoying him to say the least, but fortunately he needn't say anything when Beomgyu knew him like the back of his hand. He immediately sensed something was wrong and asked Soobin to come hangout.

He was happy to have a best friend who knew him so well, which also made him feel worse for even bothering with you in the first place. All this just to "not" break them up but "break them up" he was pretty sure even you were confused.

He felt a little guilty for agreeing to go along with your idea, but in its own way he's hoping all this would help him get over the bubbly student council president, thats what he's hoping at least.

Reaching the gates of the school he immediately noticed his friends, loud and running around like children. 'Why are they like this? ' Soobin thought to himself waiting for them to calm down and finally notice his presence. Thankfully that didn't take long as they greeted him happily patting his back.

Maybe this is exactly what he needed.

Y/N POV

You were ecstatic to say the least. You've finally gotten a chance to hangout with your dearest best friend again. Areum has always been a busy person but she has also always made time for you. Sometimes maybe a little too late but you could never hold it against her.

Walking into the store you were absolutely elated. You weren't a big fan of reading honestly, a wall of text really wasn't your go to, but stylized drawings along with smaller walls of text? Sign you up! The smell of books, the stationary you thought was too cute to use but would buy anyway, the merch of your favorite media, made you love this place.

Areum on the other hand was a big fan of those walls of texts. She actually didn't quite understand why you preferred comics and manga over a good book but she listened wholeheartedly whenever you talked about them. She was a great friend, more than you could say about yourself at the moment. But that was something you for you to push in the way back of your mind once again. 'Future me can deal with consequences right? ' and 'Enjoy the moment let's not go feeling guilty ' were all you said to yourself.

The two of you walked around the store together eventually picking out these cute sanrio matching keychains for each other.

"Areum I'm going to look at the manga 'kay?" you announced, to which she nodded and you walked off.

"today's going to be a good day I'm sure of it!" you assure yourself with a hearty pep in your step.

well, when do things ever go as planned?

SOOBIN POV/MIXED

"Choi Soobin?" Soobin freezes at the the call of his name. That voice was all too familiar and not in a good way.

Turning from his original position slightly, he slowly cranks his neck up to meet the person who assumingly called him. Eyes trailing up suspiciously only to be met with none other than you. Arms crossed, foot tapping, with that ugly look of annoyance you always wore on your face looking down on him.

"Why are you here?!" you whisper yelled at him, causing him to roll his eyes in return.

What? could he not be in a perfectly public place when you're around now? He already has to at school, one more place wouldn't kill you, unfortunately. Soobin scoffs at your question, getting up from his position on the floor to stand in front of you mimicking your expression and stance as he raises his eye brow at you "It's a public book store, and I like books-" he motions to the wall of manga behind him before pursing his lips at using the word 'books' "-manga." he corrects.

You glare at him for a moment and he swears he's never wanted someone away from him more in his life. A 10 foot pole wouldn't even be enough distance between the two of you. He didn't need your nonsensical bickering today, or anyday preferably for that matter.

He was supposed to be enjoying himself with his friends trying to win a cheap reward for a cafe he barely even gets to go to anymore, he is not supposed to be agitated and talking to you.

Just as he's about to turn back around, clearly opting to ignore you, you grab his arm much to his surpise and discomfort. "Are you here with Gyu?" you suddenly ask.

'Of course that's what she would ask ' he thinks to himself, and for a moment he contemplates lying to you, because well, why should he tell you? But as if you read his mid (which is something he never thought was possible) you open your mouth again.

"Listen before you say anything I'm here with Areum thats why I'm asking" you state throwing a thump over you shoulder in the direction of the shorter who was currently flipping through a book.

As he looked in her direction an expression of "She looks so cute" was practically written all over his face.

You roll your eyes.

Coincidentally at that moment she must have felt someone staring as she turns to peak over her shoulder only to meet eyes with Soobin. Her brows shoot up in a pleasant surprise before going back to normal, she smiles brightly sending him a wave.

Soobin feels his heart beat quicken for a moment at the small gesture before slowly waving back dumbly. Only looking back in your direction when you let out a particularly noisy groan.

"Great, she's probably coming over here now. Is he here or not?"

"Uh, yeah he's at the game shop next door. I didn't want anything so I came here.." Soobin trails off still staring at the girl who is now, in fact walking over to the two of you. Hes not sure if he should be happy about this or still annoyed with the fact he had ran into you in the first place. Unfortunately you don't give him enough time to weigh the pros and cons of it before you harshly step (more like stomp) on his foot.

"Ow!" Soobin winces quickly kneeling down to hold his foot, maybe he really didn't have to think about the pros and cons.

"Leave before Beomgyu comes in here and looks for you, would'ya?"

"Why should I when you just assaulted me??" he snaps.

"Because I'm sure you also don't want to spend your day out with our lovely couple, now do you?" you argue back crossing your arms over your chest like some know-it-all.

But at that he silences, you were right, unfortunately, but you were right. And as much as he tells himself he would be okay with just being in her presence, recently that hasn't really been the case.

Maybe its been like that for a while now and he's just refused to acknowledge it, but either way it's not the time to be dwelling on it. He doesn't have the chance to anyway as Areum had reached them.

"Hey, Soobin! I didn't know you'd be here" Areum says with a tilt of her head as she smiles him.

That smile will be the death of him he swears. So much so he fails to give her a reply other than just blinking slowly at her.

But that doesn't seem to phase her as she speaks again "If you're here by yourself do you want to join us?" she asks, probably out of courtesy. But if it was any other day he'd be saying yes.

A simple "uh" is all he manages to let out before you take it upon yourself to speak for him.

"He can't! He was actually just leaving right Soobin??" you question through gritted teeth.

"Ah... yeah actually, I remembered I have something to do, sorry.." he mumbles scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh no, its okay! I just thought I'd ask. Have fun doing what you have to!"

"Yeah thanks.." Soobin says bye to Areum and sends you a glare before leaving the two of you.

"C'mon y/n ready to check out?"

"Huh? Yeah let me just grab this last thing."

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blue meas couldn't be tagged </3 lmk if i missed you!

taglist(open): @maitenight @kori-roe @rich-man-v @gyuville @darrensos @etherealcherrie @jjunis @i-yeseo @igotkpoops @ashxxkook @ilvaussie @soobin-chois @cha0thicpisces @ineedaherosavemeenow @luvsoobs @sukunasrealgf @captivq @baekberrie @knownunknown345 @stellz581 @jaycheoluwu @txtbrainrot @90s-belladonna @soobssup @miyawwn @tyigerz @imsiriuslyreal @txtbrainrot

[tessenpai]

Kono Oto Tomare! Chapter 124 Scans and Rough TL

Disclaimer: Please DO NOT use this translation to make your own TL of the chapter!! The KOT TL group works very hard to give you the most accurate translation, that does as much justice to the original script as possible. This is a ROUGH translation. That means is faulty and there must be mistakes in certain places. This is just for impatient people like myself to get a grasp on what is going on in the chapter! You can REFERENCE my TL if you want to discuss the chapter but never USE it as it was your own.

Scans:

Page 1

Side text: Landing on the Northern Land...

Page 2

Side text: Seeking Love/Chika in the Summer/Natsu

Chapter Title: Ignorance is Bliss

Page 3

Isaki: Hold on, Takaoka-kun. Where are you going?

Tetsuki: Ah, I'm going to take the train from here. I will see you tomorrow, then.

Isaki: What are you talking about? I told you I rented a car, didn't I? Don't be shy.

Tetsuki: I'm not being shy, I'm just trying to protect myself.

Isaki: Hey, now.

Isaki: You're not pretending anymore, are you, Takaoka-kun?

Tetsuki: Aren't you the one having fun pretending to be dull, Isaki-san? Please stop it alrea-

Tetsuki: Ah. I'm sorr...

Page 4

Tetsuki: !! Uzuki!

Page 5

Uzuki: Takaoka-ku...

Isaki: Huh!!? Did you say "Uzuki" just now!?? That "Uzuki" I cannot forgive-

Isaki: ...

Isaki: "Uzuki"?

Uzuki: ...Yes

Isaki: The "Uzuki" that tormented Chika so much and also messed up my father's place...?

Page 6

Uzuki: ....

Uzuki: Yes...

Isaki: Is this the actual dude? I think even I could take him down!!?

Tetsuki: Well, the one who actually executed it was someone else...

Isaki: ...

Isaki: Ejem

Isaki: Nice meeting you. I'm Chika's aunt. It seems you brought my nephew a lot of grief. I was thinking about punching you after the National Competition was over.

Page 7

Isaki: Chika told me that he had invited you to listen to their performance. So you actually came.

Uzuki: ...I'm sorry. I am truly... regret... ful...

Isaki: I wasn't being sarcastic. After all, Chika was being serious when he invited you.

Uzuki: Eh? ....Ah....

Page 8

Isaki: You look pale. More like, you look like death. Do you even eat properly?

Uzuki: Eh...

Uzuki: !

Isaki: Have you eaten lunch?

Uzuki: I.... Have not

Isaki: I see. Us neither.

Tetsuki [thoughts]: Isaki-san, you are not planning to...

Isaki: Smiles

Page 9

Isaki: We are going.

Uzuki: Eh?

Isaki: Come on, start walking.

Uzuki: Um

Isaki: Takaoka-kun, you too. Quickly!

Tetsuki [thoughts]: Seriously....?

Mittsu: Fuaaaaaah

Kota: I'm starting to lose focus.

Page 10

Chika: You guys are pitiful. I'm still full of energy.

Sane: That's only you! You are the only one who is still lively!

Sane: We've already heard the performances of 23 schools, y'know?

Sane: Not even in class have I ever listened with that much concentration.

Takezou: Are you two okay? Is your first time at a competition, and with the volume of the sound...

Natsu: I'm tired, to be honest.

Atsumu: I'm having so much fun!!!

Atsumu: I thought all the performances were only koto, but there were high schools that had sangen* and shakuhachi**, too!

Chika: Ah! That was awesome-- I got so excited!!

Atsumu: Yes!!

3-baka: That's Yoshinaga, the heir of Chikaism, for you.

Mittsu: How many schools are left, by the way?

Sane: Let's see-- 1, 2... 9 schools.

Kota: That's an amazing number in just one day---

Page 11

Suzuka: It's not like is mandatory for you to listen to all of them, you know?

Akira: Guys, we have practice after we go back. It may be too much...

Mittsu: No... We've made it this far...

Keishi: Ahaha You don't have to be so stubborn-- Remember that the most important thing is your own condition.

Keishi: There are some schools that don't listen to other schools' performances so as to not be influenced by them in any way.

Keishi: I think a lot of them give themselves until the last minute to practice.

Keishi: But if you really want to stay and listen, that's no problem at all.

Sane: Uuugh...

Natsu: By the way, are there any strong schools within the remaining 9?

Page 12

Akira: Let's see...

Akira: Aah. If I remember correctly Chibana Girls High School is regularly a top school.

Sane: Chibana, Chibana... Ooooh dead last...

Natsu: Those are the girls that we saw in the hotel meal room, isn't that right?

Sane: Eh?

Natsu: They ones that seemed to be mad at you Senpais at the opening ceremony.

Sane: Those girls are from Chibana?

Natsu: They had CHIBANA written on their T-Shirts. And in the sign at their table.

Sane: You are so observant, dude---

Page 13

Natsu: As soon as they found out we were from Tokise, they changed their attitude real quick.

Natsu: I thought it would be funny if their performance sucked.

Sane: Woah. You are so bad, Momoya.

Natsu: I mean, I just got super annoyed.

Chika: Pats

Kota: Hugs

Natsu: What is this...

Takezou: For now, let's decide when Kurusu-san and Houzuki-san come back.

Sane: Right!

Page 14

Tomoe: Ugh.

Tomoe: Bleeeeegh

Chibana Student: Oooh maan. Come on, get a grip. You act so strong, but you're really nervous, aren't you?

Tomoe: Aaah shut up. This is just my constitution, my constitution!!

Chibana Student: Yeah yeah. There's not much time left anymore.

Satowa: Um, are you okay?

Hiro: Do you need us to call someone for you?

Tomoe: Ah, I'm okay--

Page 15

Tomoe: Ugh!!!

Tomoe[thoughts]: The girls from Tokise...!!

Hiro: !

Satowa: Ah.

Chibana Student: This girl gets like this before a performance. It's like a regular event.

Tomoe: Hey...

Chibana Student: You don't have to worry.

Tomoe: Blushes...

Tomoe: You don't have to say unnecessary things! I'm fine now!

Satowa & Hiro: ...

Hiro: The time just before a performance is nerve-wracking, isn't it?

Hiro: I'm the same.

Page 16

Tomoe: Eh...

Satowa: Ah, that's right.

Satowa: If you'd like, I've got some candy.

Satowa: Do you need some? To cleanse your palate...

Tomoe: Strawberry Milk...

Satowa: Ah! M- mint or citrus flavored would've been better, right? I'm sorry.

Satowa: Wh- When I get nervous or feel under the weather, these help me calm down.

Page 17

Tomoe: ...Thank you...

Tomoe: ...Thi- this candy.

Tomoe: I like it as well.

Page 18

Satowa: I'm glad.

Tomoe: Umm--- I- um-

Chibana Student 2: Tomoe!! How long are going to be chatting!? We are starting to move!!

Tomoe: I- I know!!

Tomoe: Thank you for this!

Satowa: Not at all.

Page 19

Hiro & Satowa: Good luck with the performance!!

Hiro: ...Hozuki-chan.

Hiro: Aren't those the candies Chika-kun always carries around...?

Page 20

Hiro: Sqeeeeal---

Hiro: Oh--- Gosh--- You are so cuuuute----

Hiro: I so totally get you. You start to like the same things the person you like does, right----

Satowa: Don't- Don't tell- Don't tell Kudou-

Hiro: Whaaaat---? I wonder, what should I do---?

Satowa: Hiro-senpaaai---

Page 21

Chibana Student: ...They were just

Chibana Student: Really good girls.

Tomoe: Yeah...

Tomoe[thoughts]: The first time I watched Tokise's viral video

Page 22

Tomoe [thoughts]: The club was in the middle of pushing for Nationals

Tomoe [thoughts]: While everyone was practicing hard and raising their spirits every day.

Video title: National Koto Club Member. The truth is revealed. Video discretion is advised.

Tomoe: ---Huh? What is this...?

User 1 Comment: This is the first time I hear about something like a "Koto club"

Reply to User 1: No fr. What's a koto club to begin with? Sorry lol

User 2 comment: If a club with a member like that can go to Nationals, then isn't the level in the mud? Lmao

Page 23

Tomoe [thoughts]: I was so mad.

Tomoe [thoughts]: Because of some random guy who doesn't know what he's doing…

Tomoe [thoughts]: The koto club

Tomoe [thoughts]: The national competition that we'd worked so hard to reach every year.

Tomoe [thoughts]: We were being made fun of by people who didn't know what they were talking about.

Tomoe [thoughts]: And they underestimated us.

Tomoe [thoughts]: Don't lump us together with the guy from that club...!

Tomoe [thoughts]: It was unforgivable.

Page 24

Tomoe's comment: I'm a member of a koto club. I don't want people like this to play. I don't want to be near them. They're a nuisance.

Tomoe [thoughts]: The thoughts and feelings that I spit out on social media spread quickly.

Tomoe [thoughts]: I received many messages of agreement.

Reply 1: What she said!

Reply 2: I'm also in a Koto Club! Well said---!

Reply 3: I missed the Nationals this year. And yet a club with a member like this... I'm so disappointed and frustrated.

Tomoe: ...!

Tomoe [thoughts]: They'll pay for that!! For sure!!

Tomoe [thoughts]: I will show you what a serious performance looks like!!

Page 25

Chibana Student: Well, I know it's a bit complicated, but let's concentrate on the performance ahead of us.

Chibana Student: What Tokise is really like... We will find out when we hear their performance.

Tomoe: You're right.

Page 26

Tetsuki & Uzuki: Uuuuuuuuugh

Isaki: You two are pathetic---

Isaki: I just ran a little.

Tetsuki: Isaki-san, your driving is not a matter of if you run or not

Isaki: What!?

Isaki: Whatever. Order whatever you like. This big sis here will treat you.

Page 27

Uzuki: No... I'm fine with just water...

Isaki: I said eat.

Tetsuki: Isaki-san

Isaki: You look so unhealthy. You don't eat enough on a regular basis, do you?

Uzuki: I don't... Have much of an appetite.

Uzuki: Food doesn't really... have a flavor.

Uzuki: I can't tolerate it.

Uzuki: ...I'm sorry.

Page 28

Isaki: Chika didn't eat any food when he first came to my house either.

Isaki: It was right after my father died. It was the same thing when the recent turmoil happened.

Isaki: When something happens, he loses his appetite. That child.

Isaki: It was like he lost his interest in life.

Isaki: You are the same. You give that impression.

Page 29

Uzuki: The same as Chika...

Isaki: Is not something to be happy about.

Isaki: Dammit...

Isaki: Listen, I don't care if you just order porridge or soup.

Isaki: Even if it's just a bite.

Isaki: You can leave it. You can spit it out. But first, eat.

Isaki: It takes a hell of a lot of strength to face what you've done and to live with it.

Page 30

Isaki: If you don't have that kind of resolution, you don't deserve to hear Chika and the rest's performance.

Isaki: Your face looks like death. This is not a joke.

Isaki: What Chika meant when he asked you to come. Think about it.

Page 31

Chika: ---I will stay until the very end, as planned.

Chika: I wanna listen for as long as I can.

Chika: I want to know.

Chika: You guys can go back first and rest---

Atsumu: I also want to listen!!

Satowa: That was our plan all along though?

Hiro: The ones who are tired can go back to the hotel, that's ok.

Page 32

Mittsu: ...Hey. Who is tired here?

Sane: I can't see them.

Kota: Our concentration power knows no limits--

3-baka: Let's goooo!!! To the very end---!!!

Atsumu: Stares...

3-baka: Let's get it. Hahahah.

Natsu: Sigh...

Suzuka: That is exactly what I thought would happen.

Akira: Right?

Chika: You don't have to force yourselves.

Sane: We are not-- Don't underestimate us.

Chika [memories]: No matter how much you cry or wail.

Page 33

Chika[memories]: The things you've done will never disappear.

Chika [memories]: The things we can do

Uzuki [thoughts]: Are probably things we can only do

Uzuki [thoughts]: Now, or

Page 34

Uzuki [thoughts]: From now on.

Tetsuki: --------

Isaki: Takaoka-kun, order whatever you like.

Page 35

Tetsuki: Fu Okay.

Side text: Only the accumulation of the present will make the "From now on (Future)"

---Kono Oto Tomare! will continue in the next issue---

[nogenderbee]

"Just you and me"

TagList: @yo4sblog

"Just tell me how you feel..."

In the end, you decided to go. After all there wasn't anything suspicious to you about this letter. Just your admirer wanting to meet you, so you can explain how you felt about that robot and letter he gave you. Who knows? Maybe he'll give you another interesting invention of some kind?

Since it already was after your lessons, you decided to go there and see for yourself. It wasn't anything serious like next to a tree, so you really thought it'll only be a conversation between 2 people who might become friends in the future. Not after long wait, a familiar purple hair with blue string ran up to you.

"Hello, YN. So how have your day at school been?"

"Huh? Pretty good actually. I really was lucky today that I didn't had to say anything in class! What are you doing after classes tho? Did you forgot something?"

"I'm glad! It actually was easier than I thought to make sure no one would interrupt you! And do you really don't know why I'm here~?"

"Wait... You did it?! And are here because... you're that person from letter?"

"It's all coming together now, doesn't it?"

"Well yeah but you really could just come and talked since we're classmates. We really had many opportunities!"

"You're right, but isn't the mysterious way sound more exciting?"

"Maybe you're right actually!"

"Told you! So how about you tell me what you thought of that bot I made for you? It wasn't too simple for your liking, was it?"

"No! It was pretty cute if I'm being honest! Just that red button really screamed 'EXPLODE' to me..."

"Ah, my apologies. Next time I'll try to make it more friendly!"

Rui and you stayed liked that in silence for a second untill he finally brought another topic.

"By the way, forgive me for my boldness but those word that robot said weren't lies... It was truly spoken from it's creator!"

Wait... wasn't it too late for it? Should you give him a chance tho? He looks like responsible guy!

❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉

➼ Journal

➼ Previous journey

❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉

[probablysimpledreams]

Omg hello Cam nation life has been wild but I wanna be on here more LOL I have two fics in the works rn (one Cora<3 and one Asahi <3 I have really been on my large and scary looking but actually loser sweetheart man kick lately <333) so hopefully spring break brings me creative energy or refreshes me so post-spring break me gets a creative streak

more to come regarding that

ANYWAYS

I started this post off half an edible last night and now am having a margarita at the airport since my flight got delayed💀 and since life has been crazy so the self ship brain rot has been INSANE lately esp bc me and one of my besties rewatched a bunch of HQ!! lately so I've been thinking about Asahi and am about to share all these ideas<3 I'm putting in undercut feel free to interact or share any of your self ships

We def met in class like some elective literature course. Our majors are so different with me being in anthropology and him in fashion school we both would pick some random historical literature class just to do something different and get out of our own departments. It would take at least half the semester for us to star talking though. I am notorious for a little classroom crush so I fell in love on sight, constantly talked about him to my friends, constantly had my friends asking if I had talked to him yet, stalked his Instagram to learn about him, etc. And though Asahi has a better grip on his anxiety when in college, he's still prone to anxious habits and after how people saw him in high school as "scary" he is not one to put himself out there. So he ends up having a lil classroom crush on me as the days go by and as I speak out more in class. I love a good chance to talk which I think he'd admire and it would make him fall for me. Half way through the semester I would finally make the move by asking him to be my partner on the newest assignment for the class. We'd both just be standing there like "holy fuck this hot person is talking to me" but not realize that the other is thinking it too LMAO. But you know as time went on and we got closer (being project partners meant the BEST reason to get his number see I be PLANNING) and I finally worked up the courage to ask him on a date and he said yes<33

Once finally in a relationship I feel like we'd have to opposite of a honeymoon phase. The first few months would be very awkward and we both overthink to the max so we'd be very scared of upsetting the other. After some time thought we'd finally have a nerve wracking yet honest conversation to actually establish boundaries, what we need, etc and like never have a relationship problem again. And that's when we both realize how much words of affirmations are both our love languages so we get comfortable being sappy<33 like we’re SO that couple saying cutesy shit 24/7 and leaving lil notes for each other on the mirror or in each other’s backpacks etc!! And we’re both not really PDA people so it balances perfectly😝

We have the same music taste for SURE like we both love some indie, mountain music I’m talking Briston Maroney, Noah Kahan, Backseat Lovers, etc we are both men with anxiety so this genre speaks to us🙏 However, Asahi does not understand the Lana hype but still supports me LOL sometimes I just have to cosplay a woman in a toxic relationship on the west coast (all things I’m just not💀) and he’s learned to let me have my fun after some reassurance that I just like the music and don’t actually think of him as bad (he’s too precious pls)

We are SO interested in each other’s line of work like I’m always excited over his sketches and pieces he’s making!!! And I’m always asking him a million questions about the process and all he does!! And on the same coin he’s always so fascinated with my research my main focus is on Pacific Archaeology so I always give him TedTalks™️ on everything he loves it!! I also intern at a museum so he’s always asking me questions about it. And a lot of what I’ve been lately at the museum is fashion history, so I love to tell him all about it!!

We compliment each other perfectly bc I’m very bubbly and outgoing!! So I’m very much a conversationalist and sometimes people think bc of that and my size that they can walk all over me. This is where Asahi’s natural intimation comes into play once mfs see him they KNOW not to fuck around. And on the other side, due to my extroverted nature I can easily jump into a conversation Asahi is actively trying to step away from without being rude. I feel like he gets quickly drained from strangers but I can talk to anyone for hours so I step him. This also is helpful bc I easily can make reservations and really any other scenario where he’s feeling too shy to directly say what he’s thinking/needs. I also am not afraid to fight for refunds and shit so he’s happy to let me take the wheel LOL

I just know we’d both get along with one another friends SO well😝 on that note Suga and I are so stoner buddies (you can’t tell me college suga didn’t smoke). Asahi would rarely smoke but when he does he just goes lol nonverbal and gets cuddly. Which honestly works good bc I just get happy and yap once again that perfect balance💗‼️

Most of our dates are just chill dates. We watch a LOT of TV together between anime and cooking shows and documentaries we just love a good lay in bed watching TV time. When we go out, it’s to museums and cafes!! We try and go to a cutey local coffee shop at least once a week just to get out. Sometimes it turns into homework dates or reading dates but mostly we just sit and talk and enjoy the fact there’s no rush. I currently have a coffee sticker book so he makes sure I always get a sticker when at new places🥺 I always switch up what I get but Asahi always gets a cappuccino and we usually split a lil pastry (usually I can talk him into buying multiple to try tho hehe)

I keep him updated on all the stupid TikTok drama bc I get disgustedly invested and that app can make me so mad so I go on RANTS about people being stupid it just always makes him laugh he thinks I’m just the most lovely thing all fired up even if it’s over something so unreal. I’m also OBSESSED with that Bistro Huddy tiktok series that is literally just one guy idk it’s SO good I make him watch it with me all the time LOL

Overall we are in love love🥰😝🥰

[donnerpartyofone]

One thing I really hate about being myself is that I can't understand math, like, at all. I got through high school basically because I was very good at memorizing things; I could remember what frequently-repeated math problems looked like, but I wasn't necessarily following the logic of them. Actually this same thing applied to all the rest of my classes too, but I have an aptitude for language, which pretties up the fact that I'm just regurgitating things by rote, and this has often tricked people into thinking I'm smart. I'm basically just selling people bad or generic ideas the way a used car salesman does. But if you ask me to actually use the facts I've memorized to create quality arguments or take a thought process a step further or whatever, I generally can't do it. Actually one time I had a teacher make an example of me in front of a whole class, about this; I cannot remember what the point of this was now, but there was like a special day in 5th grade where we all had to do this weird kind of abstract essay-writing test. There were a whole bunch of topics, and you had to write a piece of a certain length on the ones you picked. One of them was about your favorite animal, which I was excited about because I had probably memorized the entire encyclopedia entry on the corn snake--but then the essays were collected and evaluated, and the teacher like pointed me out to everybody and said, you know, Everybody thinks Claire is a smart and creative person, but her essay on the corn snake is a failure because it doesn't have any personality or interpretation or anything like that, it's just a bunch of boring facts. I think this was meant to encourage the other kids that you can be a good writer even if you've been given the impression that you're dumber or less artistic than a fucking nerd like I was. Looking back on it, I still think that was pretty fucked up, but I also think it was probably the only really honest and perceptive thing that an adult ever said about me (to my face anyway). Grownups usually liked me because I was weak and ingratiating and did my homework, and the truth is that people often think that you're really smart if you bow down to them and do whatever they say, because then obviously you have good judgment because you have such great taste in authority figures.

But anyway, about math. I really admire people who are good at it, I think math is really cool. I love the thing about how it's a universal language that can describe anything if you understand what to do with it and how to read it. It's pretty much the code of existence and it has such incredible creative potential. All the most mind-blowing people I've ever met had some aptitude for math, it seemed to be part of their ability to interpret how the whole world works and use that knowledge to their advantage. But I can't understand the first thing about it. I have to do even the most basic addition and subtraction problems with a calculator, and I can still get them wrong because of some misapprehension I have about what is question I'm even asking. I remember in high school I really wanted to do a good job in chemistry, I loved the teacher and I was interested in the topic, but I just couldn't figure it out. I even went to these after school tutoring sessions because I cared so much, but I was actually so bad at it that the teacher couldn't even figure out what I was doing to get my wrong answers, and I could never explain it back to him. I felt bad, he was really trying and he was genuinely one of the best teachers in the school, but there was just no point in trying to help me. I don't know how I passed that class, I just eventually had enough types of questions and answers memorized I think.

More recently in life I took all these classes at the local botanic garden to get a certification in horticulture. Of course I would never be good at that either because I'm stupid about both math AND anything material, I'm just very clumsy and useless physically, but wouldn't you know it, I had enough things mindlessly memorized to get good grades, yet again. But the parts about genes and chromosomes, I could not understand. It was exactly the same as when I learned about reproduction in high school, like there's a video of the microscopic process happening and at the exact same time there's a voiceover explaining what's going on and what things are called, and I'm like...OK I'll take your word for it I guess. It just requires too much logic, too much intelligence for me to grasp it.

Tragically, now I'm really curious about quantum mechanics. I don't even know if I'm properly identifying what I mean, I just know that whenever someone starts describing something with that kind of flavor to it, I get really excited and I want to hear more and more about it. But of course as usual I can't really reiterate the principles they're describing, I like the sound of what they're saying but it's not actually sinking in. I understand it just enough to know that it would enrich my life immensely if this were a line of questioning I could successfully pursue, but I have already discovered that there is simply no For Dummies version of the information that is truly dumb enough for someone like me.

Most of the time I can try not to worry about this. My long suffering husband does all math for me, and we have learned together that my desire and willingness to learn are not enough for him to effectively teach me how to do any math for myself. Besides, I already have a hard enough time with the things that I actually do qualify to participate in, there's already enough areas where I'm just barely getting by that I don't really have the bandwidth to also worry about all the stuff I'm not even trying at because my failure there is a foregone conclusion. It just bums me out. Math is really cool to me and not being able to do it makes me feel like I'm missing a limb or a sense and I'll just never know what it would be like to have that dimension added to my life.

[fizziepopangel]

Hi, it's me Crystal! I'm wondering if I should write a Striker x Reader fanfic or not, it would be the classic childhood friends troupe. So I ask, what do you think Striker's childhood and adolescence was like?

To be honest, I've always seen him as a typical problem kid, who played rough with others and was a bullie only to become a bad boy in his teens.

- Crystal 🎀💖✨️

@crystalofmoon19 I LOVE seeing your asks and I am so sorry it takes me so long to get to them sometimes, but I would absolutely love to read something like this!!! I've never thought about his childhood that much, but I do have a couple of thoughts on how he was raised and what I think kinda made him the way that he is as an adult. I'm not sure if this is what you were thinking, but I really hope you enjoy my headcanons and hope they inspire you to write!

Young Striker

Despite his rougher way now, Striker didn’t start out so hateful.

As a young child, he was raised by a loving single mother on her family’s farm in the Wrath ring where he was actually excited to work alongside his mother and other family members day in and day out.

He was encouraged to sing and play music by his mother and she often had him sing to the crops and animals, telling him it helped them grow and that it helped make them feel better when sickness passed through the farm. She also encouraged him to cook with her and his grandmother, telling him that food was an expression of love and that he should cook for the ones he loved.

His grandmother gifted him Bombproof as a child and taught him how exactly to care for the horse in sickness and in health.

When he was about seven, his grandfather taught him how to hunt and shoot, skills he would later apply to his little one man assassin business, but as a child, Striker wasn’t fond of hurting other things.

Being a hybrid imp, Striker was gifted with abilities not all other imps had, one being the power of hypnosis. He used that quite a bit to get his way in early years. It started out small, like hypnotizing someone in his family to give him a second dessert after dinner or hypnotizing a shop owner in town to give him a free toy, but after his mother passed away, he didn’t care much for morals.

Striker would say that his life fell apart when he was eleven years old. His mother fell ill and passed shortly after when they were unable to afford medical treatment outside of their ring. After pouring money into trying to get his mother medical care that he still believes would have saved her life, his family could no longer afford to own their farm and he lost the only home he had ever known. 

As his mother was essentially his moral compass, after her passing, Striker gave up most of the habits she had built, too angry and sad to do much that reminded him of her… So he did the opposite.

Smoking, stealing, picking on smaller demons, disrespecting his elders, cursing, drinking…. Anything to feel something outside of the anger and sadness he felt after losing his mother.

Unable to care for him and themselves after losing their farm, his grandparents used the little money they were able to save to send Striker to what they were convinced was a great boarding school-like program for troubled young demons. This school took lower class demons and trained them to serve and after graduation, Striker was sent to work for royals.

After graduating that boarding school program, Striker was sent to work for lower class royals outside of the Wrath ring. Still dealing with the ‘bad habits’ he picked up after his mom died, he was quickly reprimanded by his boss in ways that could be clearly classed as abuse. After not changing his way enough to please them, he was sent to a new ring with other nobles, where the cycle repeated itself until he decided he wanted to work until he could afford to buy back his family farm since it sat abandoned all this time.

By age fifteen, Striker had fixed his attitude and work ethic and became a trusted butler for a lower class noble family…. After hearing him talk about his plans to save his meager pay to buy his farm back and leave them, that family then bought it and destroyed it as a way of reminding him that he now belonged to them.

With the farm destroyed and the land bought out, Striker became extremely depressed. At first he didn’t want to live…. Then he decided the people who looked down on him and treated him the way he had been treated for years, were really the ones who didn’t deserve to live.

By sixteen, he ran from the life he lived with the nobles who abused him and lived on the streets of Wrath. Striker stole, cheated, and killed to keep himself safe in these times until he found the abandoned railroad he still lives in now.

The little money he had went to keeping his horse happy and fed while he did whatever he had to keep himself not dead and not a servant.

Living in the conditions he lived in and doing the things he did became…. Comfortable almost. It also triggered thoughts and he realized what he wanted to do with his life because he realized that every problem in his life started with the societal rules put in place by the noble bloodline, who rigged the system so they never really suffered the way he did.At the age of eighteen, Striker knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to kill the unkillable.

Being at that age where he was barely an adult, and having had very little people in his life to model business and work ethic in this venture for him, Striker’s plan definitely hit some bumps and he definitely screwed up a few times before he learned a few tricks of the trade, and he had to use his hypnosis powers to clean up quite a few oopsies, but the goal never changed. He wanted to end every royal and every blue blood he came across. 

His late teen years consisted of training and building up his portfolio of murder by using everyday demons to hire him as their personal murder machine so he could perfect his methods of kidnapping, torture, and murder for when he was ready for his real targets.

Striker spent a lot of time… perfecting what he does on ordinary demons. As he took his time to learn and tweak his methods, he watched as royals and nobles seemed to continue to ‘fix’ the system in ways that only seemed to favor them and his hatred had time to blossom into something bigger than he had ever imagined his body could hold.

By the time he reached his mid 20’s, Striker had build a name for himself within the world of assassins, but his goal still remains the same. He’s found that it would be a slow process, but he’s working on it.

[little-bit-of-everything-tbh]

Fake boyfriend..?

Bakugou Katsuki x reader x Kirishima Ejirou

Read first: announcement

Read next ^^ - here

Tw: cursing, also maybe some spoiler

Things you should know:

1. I will follow my storyline, there may be some spoilers! I will not focus on anime storyline, sure it will be there but I will focus on my storyline mainly.

2. I decided that this will be story, I don't know how long it will be, how much chapters will it have, I'm doing all this spontaneous and I just hope to have a good time writing this, and I hope you have a good time reading it!

3. No hate! If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it. I accept criticism but not hate thank you very much.

4. This is my first time actually posting what I write so please don't be too harsh on me :>

5. Reader is going to be using she/her and will be referred to as female

6. I may or may not change name of this story because I'm still not sure what to call it. If you have any suggestions you can comment or put it in my ask box or whatever it's called I'm still trying to figure out things here.

7. And the most important! Have a good time reading this. If you have any suggestion of how can I update this story/chapter don't be afraid to text me or comment or whatever!

Part 1 - 2 weeks before U.A High

Kirishima is my best friend. We met when we were little and we were practically inseparable, and, if we're being honest, we still are.

Now it's about 2 weeks before end of the middle school, and we're sitting in class talking about what high school we want to access. We were supposed to choose what school will that be like 10 times till now but I still don't know! I'm indecisive so it's hard for me...

I groan to myself and hit my head on the desk but it doesn't go unnoticed from person behind me. That's when i heard it—

"Pssst!" and a little poke to my back.

I slowly turned and I made eye contact with scarlet eyes that belong to my one and only best friend - Ejirou Kirishima.

"What?" I asked not in a mood to talk.

"Have you thought about that thing?" He asked all excited and happy.

"..." I broke eye contact, not answering.

"C'monn what's the worst thing that can happen if you choose it??" He insists.

I was quiet for a few more seconds and then I answered him.

"Fine, I'll enter for that stupid school" I said and rolled my eyes at him, not even a second later grinning from ear to ear.

"YES! You will not regret it y/n! I promise! We will go and be heros together. Man, i can't wait..." he then started mumbling to him overexcited self about how its going to be the best time ever, or something like that.

I just laughed a little and turned around waiting for class to be over.

When the bell finally rang for the end of the class it was lunch time.

"Yess babey! Lets go eattt!" I jumped and hyped up Kirishima to hurry up with getting his things.

"Jeez, y/n, calm down. I'm coming im coming!" He said getting his things in hurry.

"That's what she said!" I laughed out loud and exited the classroom waiting for him outside.

After a few second he exited as well and I 'boo'-ed at him scaring him.

"Jeez! You were dead 5 seconds ago and now you're all overjoyed!"

"I knooww, but now I get to eat, so I'm not grumpy" I laughed.

He just rolled eyes at me and continued to walk.

When we got in cafeteria someone yelled my name. I looked right and left only to find one and only girl who could yell my name in the middle of cafeteria. It was non other then pink alien girl - Mina Ashido.

"Hey Min!" I waved at her like fucking sims - getting my hand all the way up and then waving maniacally.

She came over and we started making small talk until we got our food and sat down at the table.

"So." Mina said shortly and clear.

We looked at her in confusion, then at each other and then again at her.

"So what?" Kirishima said while I was drinking my chocolate milk.

"Are you two together yet??" She asks and get up all excited, expecting for our answer to probably be yes this time.

We just rolled our eyes and i groaned.

"Mina, if you're gonna hang out with us only to try and get us together then we can't be friends bestie" I said half sarcastic half honestly.

She fake sniffed and just answered, "but you have to get together ONCE ALREADY"

"Yeah, but Mina you're trying to get us together almost 3 years now. Please stop for our and yours sake too" Kirishima said and I nodded agreeing.

She huffed, rolled her eyes and just said "Fine"

Later on we just had some small talk while enjoying our food. When lunch was over, there were some boring classes and I almost fell asleep like 3 times, but every time Kirishima poked me with a pencil, and whispered for me to 'stay awake'.

When last class was finally over, Kirishima and I walked out of school talking.

"So tomorrow you're going to train with me" he said

"What? I did not anticipate in that!" I disagreed

"Well, you didn't do any training all this time, and you have about 2 months before the exam. You better start as soon as you can." He reasoned.

And he was right damn it. "Fine. We'll train tomorrow, text me about time and place okay?" I asked and he just nodded.

"Will it be hard training?" I asked, not really wanting to die out there.

"You'll see" he said and just chuckled.

Great. I'm gonna die out there.

[lashysdomain]

Monotony

The blank stare that Vayu typically gives her laptop while in classes breaks when her professor announces a group project. Vayuya starts packing her things away into her bag as her eyes roll; who would be most tolerable to partner with for this-

Ah. 

Assigned partners.

A night later Vayuya's group meets, the rest of them having picked a place unfamiliar to her to study. While uneasy, there are enough people around that her nerves are steady. Though it being a bar, even in the quieter hours, is still a bit uncomfortable.

Project breakdown, division of work, and an outline are established in a short few hours, Vayu deeming herself the groups scribe and choosing to not bring much up herself. This is a required course, not one she even has much interest in, so why bother at all when others are excited about it.

Her mind begins to drift as talk moves away from class work to personal life, beginning to pack things away once again out of habit. A tapping at her shoulder breaks her autopilot, her mouse nearing dropping to the floor but the stranger catches it.

"... What?" Vayuya is clearly startled as she hisses the question; looking the other to get a general idea of them and quickly they’re deemed not the kind of person she'd typically enjoy the company off just by the vibes running off their smile alone.

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you; here." They hand her mouse back, and skitter out of their chair when Vayu immediately tries to beeline for the door. "H-Hey! I was gonna ask if I could walk you out! You're always alone unless it's like, one or two people so I figured I'd be ni-"

"Nice?" she spits the word, hand on the exit door as she wheels around, her eyes growing darker as they narrow. "What's nice about following me the full length of the bar when I clearly don't want to talk to you."

"Well. You didn't hear me out so I wanted to explain-- You didn't really say anything so I wanted to make sure-"

"Fucks sake- Can you not just leave me alone? Seriously?" Her lip curls up in disgust at just how insistent they are, opening the bar door and slamming it shut behind her to end the conversation. People from her school almost never want to actually be kind to her. Not people she's in classes with. The term had started months ago, there's no way someone had avoided the rumors for that long.

The sudden acrid taste in her mouth snaps her back to reality, glancing down at the ruined black polish on her nails as her feet slow to a stop. Turning her attention back to the world around her, the street she's on is unfamiliar; likely a side street she's never had to use in this part of town.

Pulling her phone out to check the GPS she feels a tap at her shoulder again, pointedly ignoring it as knowing one of these interactions is coming is always the worst. Scarbucks isn't too far since this was a college bar, but checking her phones calendar she curses. Levyil isn't working tonight.

"Hey- I'm sorry, but after what happened in there I wanted-"

"Oh, yeah, be honest with what you want. I know even though you won't get it, you'll tell people you did."

She doesn't even turn from her phone, just starting to head off in a direction at random.

"Would you stop that!" Vayuya nearly falls to her knees at how hard her arm is pulled back, glancing up at the green and pink bangs covering this trolls face. She hadn't even realized their voice was different from the others.

"I wanted to see if you were okay. That guy took off after you. I wanted to make sure you were fine." They huff, finally letting her go.

"Oh. Yeah. I'm fine." Vayuya glances away, a pit growing in her stomach at the misunderstanding. She can feel her posture changing to be less standoffish and more nervous for a moment, but after a shake of her head she's back to her normal self. "You can go now."

"I'd rather not, actually. They're probably still out here looking for you. Can I walk with you to somewhere you can stay safe for a while at least? I'll leave after. Promise."

"Uh. Yeah. Sure."

[umichenginabroad]

Madrid Week 6: The Honeymoon Phase

Hola a todxs ‼️‼️ Niko here again, and welcome back to week 6’s blog of my study abroad experience in Madrid. This post is a little more text/personal reflection heavy. We'll get to some more fun stuff next week :).

This past week was filled mainly with schoolwork and cooking — not too much exploration of the city — and I stuck mainly to my established routes between home and university. However, looking forward, I think that this routine will be significant in my international experience, too.

For the first few weeks living here, I got out as much as possible and tried my best to take advantage of everything Madrid had to offer. Trying all the cute cafes, seeing all the tourist attractions, exploring new neighborhoods, going out to all the clubs. But now that I’ve been here for a month and a half, it feels a bit like I’m actually ‘living’ here, and less like some kind of extended vacation. 

I actually have schoolwork to do now — projects, papers, presentations — and that leaves me much less time to simply exist. I think I can take that as both a blessing and a curse. For one, it’s a curse, because in reality, I would love to just skip around Madrid all week without any responsibilities, who wouldn’t? 

But now, I think I’m living more like how a student would who’s here year round. Let’s be honest — are Michigan students constantly going around Ann Arbor, discovering all the little nooks and crannies, experiencing all the most hyped up spots and exploring all the paths less traveled? Not really. Maybe I’ll hit the Kerrytown farmers market or the Blind Pig on a weekend, but honestly that’s few and far in between. Majority of my weekends at Michigan are spent around campus and at home.

I don’t want to say we’ve “become complacent” with Ann Arbor, because that inherently has a negative connotation. But we’ve certainly gotten used to living in this city, and simultaneously have tons of other things on our plate that we’ve got to attend to. Things aren’t as shiny and exciting as they were the first month of freshman year, and we simply have less time. It feels like something similar is happening here in Spain, for both reasons (although maybe to a lesser extent — I still have more free time than I do in Michigan, and Madrid is still, well, Madrid, Spain. Not quite like Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA). 

Now, my perspective of Madrid has shifted slightly, and with it my experience. Maybe one could say my “honeymoon phase” is over, but to be honest, I haven’t really started to find a lot of things I really dislike about the city. Things are just a little more like real life, which I think I'll end up being happy for.

As some of you may know, I studied abroad over the summer after my freshman year in Buenos Aires. That program lasted 6 weeks, and I stayed an extra with my parents after the program ended. School wasn’t as demanding, and I had ample free time all week. Those six weeks were incredible. It was my first time living outside of the United States for an extended period of time, my first time ever living in a big city, my first time immersed in another language and culture completely different from my own. 

Upon reflection, I think my ‘honeymoon phase’ lasted all 7 weeks of my experience in Buenos Aires. And now, I’m reaching week 7 here in Madrid. I’ll be here for a total of 15.

My experiences in Buenos Aires and Madrid have been similar in a lot of ways. The architecture of the cities, the language, the general warmth of the people and culture. Simultaneously, they’ve been different in more ways than I can count, and I think a big one I'm slowly transitioning into will be due to the amount of time that I have here.

Now, I’m left with an awareness of the challenge that comes with living in a foreign city, in a culture completely different from my own. In a class that I’m currently taking, 'Social groups and their cultural imaginaries', we had a lesson on Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities. One of the main themes of the book: Our interpretation of a city or landscape is based on how we are feeling, or what we want at that particular moment.

How will my experience of this city change with my perception and feelings towards it? What will I desire then, and what do I desire now? How will I interact with Madrid in week 15? How will that be different from week 1?

How will I continue to adapt to Spanish culture? What pieces of US culture will I still be holding on to, and what pieces of my identity will change?

Will I continue to find excitement and novelty in this place in week 15, or will I have to make an active effort to do so? Will living in Madrid at week 15 feel like living in Ann Arbor, or Arlington VA? Or are the places and cultures so different that the experience will never be comparable?

Will this lifestyle be something that I want to continue, or will I find that I’m most comfortable in the culture and community I grew up with?

I’ve asked a lot of questions here, most of which I have no semblance of an answer to. Some of them are small, some of them are pretty big. I’ll plan on coming back to this blog, maybe in week 15, maybe in a post-reflection — and I’ll try to answer as many of them as I can. Just writing them here increases my awareness, which enables more active reflection and growth in my day-to-day life.

One action item I’ve realized after writing this blog: I need to start taking a more active effort during the week to continue appreciating Madrid for all it has to offer me. At first, it came really naturally, but now, it’s harder. Moreover, as I’ll be traveling around Europe for the next few weekends, I’ll have less chances to experience Madrid without the pressure of everyday life squeezing around me.

Taking an active effort means giving myself more opportunities to be mindful, present, and appreciative of the environment I’m in. That includes waking up earlier and trying to establish more of a schedule with schoolwork, which will give me time to do things like going out on walks to take photos in the morning, or finding a new bar to enjoy a drink at during the evenings. Also, I hope to start meditating again — which has been something that has served as a point of stability for me throughout college.

Transition periods are never easy, and I've found myself in one yet again. The best advice I can give myself for now is to remain appreciative and accepting of all of the everything lives throws me, knowing that each one is an opportunity for growth — and I'll come out the other side more experienced, wise, and grateful that it happened.

In other news, this week I saw Dune 2 (highly recommend, ESPECIALLY in IMAX), kept cooking, and did a good amount of studying. Also, this past weekend I went to Italy (for the first time ever) and spent the weekend with an old friend. I’m headed to Sevilla this weekend, and I’ll detailing both a little more in next week's blog. Wishing everyone a happy hump day and a strong finish to the week.

Hasta pronto,

Niko Economos

Aerospace Engineering

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Madrid, Spain