#i'm sorry i have never liked the slice of life or coming of age stuff

[squishosaur]

"hey i think you'd really like heartstopper 😊" name one thing about it i'd like and you cannot say gay people. okay go

[loganwritesprobably]

I Can't Do This Anymore

Inspired by some chatting about Shanks I was doing with @fanaticsnail and @maritimebird

Content/Warnings: Shanks/GN!Reader, breaking up, arguing, hurt/no comfort, Shanks is characterised as a bad guy/ kind of toxic

Four years. Four entire years of your life dedicated to Red Haired Shanks. He was globally revered and respected, considered one of the strongest of a generation, a real contender for Pirate King as an apprentice and honorary son of Gol D. Roger. He was also a scumbag. It seemed like you were the only person who knew that, though, and frankly you were ashamed it'd taken you this long.

You'd woken up today feeling stronger than you had in ages, and when you sat for breakfast alone once again, you knew it was over. You were already gone, you'd emotionally left your partnership months ago, you'd just been hanging on for the sake of nostalgia, because of the man he'd been at first, who you'd wanted him to be. Who he hadn't been in a long time. Plus, you were finally coming up on an island and the Red Force would be docking, so you'd be able to completely leave Shanks, the ship and the crew. A clean break.

He wouldn't wake up for hours, you knew that now. No matter how many times you'd told him it would be nice to spend the morning together, to be quietly present for each other when you first woke up, he never stirred til after noon. It was because of his drinking of course, and you knew that, but he wouldn't cut back on that either. Why would he do that?

You left the kitchen before Lucky had even finished preparing breakfast with just a slice of toast in hand. You didn't feel like food this morning.

You sat on the deck with Beckman while he smoked, and you explained to him what you were about to do. He accepted it, had even seen it coming, and agreed to help you leave without Shanks clinging on or lingering on the island to try to make you come back.

When Shanks finally emerged after lunch had already been served, you headed to take a shower while Yassop and Hongo helped to pack up your stuff from Shanks' room, wanting to cause as little suspicion as possible.

Freshly washed, in the perfect outfit for the occasion which made you feel confident, you returned to the deck. Shanks sat with Beck, one smoking and the other drinking, idle chatter occasionally passing between them.

"Shanks, I need to talk to you." You said, interrupting whatever they'd been speaking about. "Sorry doll, I was just chatting with Beck, can you give me ten mi-" "No. I can't. This is more important." You said, voice firm, expression stony. "Oh c'mon just a few-" "No Shanks. Not this time. We can have this conversation here and now if you really want, I don't care, but it might be better for your ego to go somewhere more private." You said, and Benn awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, clearly wishing he was anywhere but there. "Go on then, gorgeous, what's up?" He asked, taking zero regard for your serious tone or the look on your face. Of course he didn't, nothing ruffled the feathers of Red Haired Shanks.

"You are, you overgrown child," you hissed, surprised as the words came out of your mouth, you'd been intending on separating peacefully but clearly that wasn't going to be happening, "I am sick of you, and your bullshit Shanks! This? Us? It's over, I'm done. I'm getting off at the next island, and I'm not coming back." Shanks paused, looking temporarily confused, before a smile came back over his face and it made your blood boil. "Oh c'mon, is this cause I missed breakfast? You know I try, I just don't do mornings. I'll try again tomorrow." You'd never wanted to strike someone more. "I don't know why I bothered even trying to have a conversation - I can't even have a damn argument with you! I'm fucking leaving, you cannot grin and laugh your way through or away from that. I'm leaving this ship, this crew - I'm leaving you." You couldn't stop your anger from pouring out in your words, your hands slightly trembling from the rage coursing through you. "That feels like a bit of a rush decision, love, are you sure you've really thought about that?" Shanks replied, now looking concerned for you, as if you were experiencing some sort of meltdown.

"Oh- I've never been so fucking angry. Rush? I've been planning on leaving you for months! I'm so tired of the way you treat me, Shanks. You treat me like I - and frankly like nothing else - matters! You can't just laugh and shrug all your problems away, and ignore my attempts to communicate and tell you when there's a problem in our relationship. I have dedicated four years of my life to you, and most of those years were spent being delusional and convincing myself that it wasn't that bad, and I just had to remember how could things could be. But they never went back to being that good. I'm not even sure they were that good to begin with, you just charmed me with your words." It was a lot to scream at someone in public, knowing the crew had all stopped what they were doing to listen to you, to witness what would happen when you raised your voice at the Captain like that. "There's no need to yell doll, c'mon. This should be private." You couldn't believe him. A wave of unstable, humourless laughter overcame you that you couldn't help releasing, and Benn eyed you warily. "Oh you are so lucky you're stronger than me, because if I thought I had any sort of chance, I'd attack you." You told him, still laughing just a little. It was a cruel sort of power imbalance between you really. "Is that a threat?" Shanks asked, and you pinched the bridge of your nose, the humour passing and being replaced by just.. exhaustion.

"Benn, my stuff is all packed, I'm going to go sit with it until we dock and then I'm gone." You said to the first mate before turning on your heel to walk away. "Where are you going? Are you seriously just walking away from me like that?" Shanks yelled after you, standing from his chair. "Yes! That's exactly what I just told you I was doing!" You replied, but you didn't turn to look back at him, just continued on your way.

When you docked, Shanks appeared to have disappeared. You hauled your stuff from the ship, and hugged the crew goodbye. It wasn't fair that you'd lose your friends just because you'd split with Shanks, but that was just the way of things. They were his men, not yours. You sat on top of a crate, rubbing hands over your face as you shoved down the rising tide of emotion in your chest.

"Hey," Benn said, stepping up to stand beside you, "if you ever need anything.. I mean it anything, just call." He said, handing you two pieces of paper. One piece held the number for his den den, while the other was blank - his vivre card. "Thank you." You said emphatically, and then he walked away, back to the crew.

You sat there, just observing, as the crew ran to quickly board their ship with their small restock, and undocked from the port, Shanks stood on the deck observing you.

The red force sailed away, and you heaved a deep sigh of relief. You finally felt like you could breathe again.

Tags: @claryeverlarkf @uselessboots @cainnoable

[thefreakandthehair]

first of all i adore everything you post and im, probably constantly in your notifs lol

i'm hoping you'd be able to give me some fic recs? i miss reading steddie, but my reading comprehension tanked this past year or so. so i can only read one shots or completed fics that arent that many chapters. and i feel like i dont have a lot of luck just scrollin g their aos tag

anything you'd recommend? im not really into slice of life/lighthearted stuff, i want the intensity baby.

ty in advanced sorry if this is annoying lol

you're very, very kind, thank you so much!! I'm happy to suggest some steddie recs! this is hard because there are so many fics I've read recently that I just love and I'm positive I'm gonna miss some, so this is by no means an all-inclusive list. (I also asked a few friends for their recs because I'm a little bit of a wimp, so the definition of "intensity" may vary 🥰)

if you have others, feel free to comment them for our lovely anon!

Saltwater Prayer, by Asgardian_Pirate (disclaimer: it's tagged as domestic because it is in many ways, but in a sort of "nostalgia is intertwining with the present and what do I do with that???" sort of way, if that makes sense? there's so many layers to this one and I could go on and on for ages about it.)

Among the Wildflowers, by ParadimeShifts (another disclaimer: this one is sort of slice-of-life and tagged as such, but there's an emotional intensity to it that gripped me in a way that's never let me go. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it, and I can't recommend it enough!)

In A Mirrored Room, Talking To Myself, by entanglednow

scheming on a thing, by greatunironic

Destroy the Silence (Drummer Steve), by ArtaxLivs

‘cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run, by stellarpoint (pettifogger)

Heart On Your Sleeve, by brbsoulnomming

searching for the elephant, by Adure

to live my own way, by Macellarius

Idle Hands (With Time to Kill), by teddywesworl

a special privilege for the resurrected, by theopteryx

i've been having a horrible time pulling myself together, by deadratz (disclaimer: this one is a little longer and has more chapters, but it's just too good for me to not list here. it's from 2022 so there's a chance you've already read it, but it was one of the first steddie fics I read and I just loved it! also by the same author, bereft in deathly bloom had me texting @sporecircles at like, two in the morning sobbing)

so what if right now everything's wrong? by Civil_Hearing

how to wake a dead boy., by sleepingoffyourdemons

memoria (come as you are), by emryses

I will stay one night beside you, never go back to the sea (I will stay and be thy husband though it be the death of me) and also My wounds cry for the grave (My soul cries for deliverance), both by mywarisalreadywon

you can also check out @steddieunderdogfics, I've found some great fics from those recs!

[ijustwanttoreadfanfiction]

Dirty Dancing

Jim Hopper x AFAB! Reader One day I'll write a story which actually has strange things happening but today is not that day. Bob didn't die, Eleven closed the rift at the end of Season 2 everyone is happy, leave me alone. I'm a Jopper fan 'til I die, but not for the purposes of this. Set 1987 - Jim is approx 44/45, reader is approx 30/31.

Warnings: Swearing, p in v sex, lots of references to Hopper's size, creampie, multiple orgasms, slightly rough Hopper, cock bulging, age gap, nicknames - baby, babygirl.

_______________________________________________

Jim has been oddly detached and quiet since yesterday evening. The stars had aligned along with your busy schedules and you’d managed to have a rare date night, going to the movies to watch ‘Dirty Dancing'. You thought he had enjoyed it, seeming engrossed rather than trying to get under the skirt of your dress like normal, but when you asked him what he thought on the drive home he simply shrugged and went to bed.

The following morning he’s still in his funk, not saying a word, departing for work with a distracted kiss to your cheek, a far cry from his usual passionate goodbyes that often left him running late and you in a state of undress.

His attitude bothers you all the way to the Diner.

“How was date night?” Donna asks you cautiously when you arrive, instantly noticing the way you fling your purse to the side and how you punch your card in with slightly more force than necessary.

“Well, I thought it went great, I really enjoyed the movie, evidently Jim’s experience of the evening was vastly different.” You rant, trying to tie up your apron, before giving up, elbows resting on the counter, head bowed in frustration.

“He didn’t like it?”

“I’m guessing he didn’t, but how would I know? He’s barely said two words to me.” You mumble despondently, the whole thing has left you feeling rattled, you and Jim fought plenty but you’d never been given the cold shoulder without a good reason. Donna opens her mouth to speak but is interrupted by Joyce coming in to collect her usual lunch order to share with Bob.

“Hey! How was the date ni-?” She greets you excitedly, cutting off at the look on your face, and Donna’s frantic shaking of her head. “What happened?”

“Jim hasn’t spoken to her since the movie.” Donna stage whispers, hastily departing to wipe down tables at your glare. 

“Hop’s not talking to you?” Joyce asks in concern, sitting on one of the vinyl stools.

“Apparently not.” You grunt, making up Bob’s sandwich.

“Did you have an argument?”

“No, we went out, we watched ‘Dirty Dancing’ then he was just off with me and still is.” You snap, knife ripping through the slice of bread you had been buttering, Joyce reaches across taking your shaking hand in hers. “Sorry Joyce, I didn’t mean to -” You trail off gesturing at her apologetically, she gives you a small understanding smile in return.

“Bob and I went to see ‘Dirty Dancing’ last week, and I think I know what’s bothering Hop - he feels old.” She says softly.

“Old?” You ask, feeling lost.

“Sweetie, you gotta remember Hopper, and I -” She adds with a slight wince, “- we were in our twenties in the sixties, the stuff they do in the film, the dances, we were doing that years ago. I think maybe it’s made him feel his age.”

“That's ridiculous! You and Jim aren’t old.” You say laughing.

“But we’re not young either, certainly not as young as you” She reminds you gently.

When you and Hopper had started dating a year ago it sent shockwaves through Hawkins, which was ironic considering all the other crazy shit that had happened, kids going missing left, right and center, secret government lab, literal demon creatures crawling out of the ground. Oh no, all that was nothing compared to the chief of police dating a woman 14 years his junior, 29 to his 43 at the time, never mind that you were a fully consenting adult, and you were the one that had pursued him.

Jim couldn’t for the life of him work out why ‘a sweet young thing like you’ could ever want ‘a grumpy, fat, miserable, old guy like him’, you couldn’t give him a proper answer, all you knew was that you loved him and there wasn’t a single thing he could do or say that would change your mind.

"So what should I do to make him feel less old?” You ask Joyce somewhat desperately.

“I might have a suggestion.” She grins wickedly, leaning in close.

_______________________________________________

The plan was in place. Jane was staying at Max’s for another evening.You had primped and prepped yourself, wearing a dress not too dissimilar from Penny’s red halterneck in the film. The wine was poured, a couple of glasses already consumed for Dutch courage, you’d thrown pieces of coloured cloth over the table lamps to give the cabin an orange-reddish glow, and finally you had one of Jim’s favorites from his vinyl collection queued up and ready; Solomon Burke’s Rock ‘N Soul. You wring your hands nervously upon hearing the truck pull up outside, straightening out your dress, and quickly rechecking your hair in the small mirror on the wall as Jim tiredly trudges in toeing his boots off without looking at you.

“Hey baby, sorry I’m a little late Callahan screwed up a report and I -” He trails off finally glancing up at you, brows creased slightly in confusion, as he surveys you and the cabin. “ - what’s all this?” 

“I know what’s been bothering you since yesterday, and I want you to know that I understand why, and I want to help.” You say softly, approaching him, going up on bare tiptoes to kiss him gently. He returns the kiss eagerly albeit somewhat surprised, a large hand coming up to cup your cheek.

“Baby, I'm at a loss here.” He murmurs against your lips, but allows you to pull him by his belt to the centre of the room nonetheless.

“Joyce said the film last night might have made you feel - nostalgic, and I want to show you that you’re not down and out just yet Jim Hopper.” You purr, leaning away to put the record on, Cry to Me filling the room. “Dance with me?” You ask quietly, unable to keep the pleading edge out of your voice.

Jim lets out a shaky breath, as you loop your arms around his neck, your height difference making him lean down slightly, chest to chest, his strong hands splayed across the top and small of your back.

You weren’t one hundred percent sure how to move so you simply rocked your hips, letting the music take control, running your fingers through the hair at the nape of Jim’s neck. He sighs softly, eyes closing at your touch, and you smile as you feel him start to move along with you. You experimentally lean back, pressing into his grip, he follows you lips tracing against your throat, before bringing you close again. You’re both smiling now, swaying more, his pelvis flush with yours, grinding against each other. You unbutton his police shirt, the fabric falling forgotten to the floor, leaving him in just a tight white vest, hands wandering again tracing his muscles stopping just shy of crotch. 

“Tease.” He rumbles.

“Not teasing baby, just dancing.” You say sweetly.

Jim’s touch snakes from the small of your back to the flesh of your ass, gripping firmly, using his hold to hook one of your legs up, slotting his broad thigh into the gap, smirking wickedly when you gasp at the pressure against your clit, the material of your panties shifting with Jim’s movements.

“Hop -” You sigh dreamily, as he uses his strength to rock you back and forth.

“This is how we used to do it in the good old days, baby.” He says, voice gravelly. “You’d hold your best girl tight, dancing nice and close.” He grips you harder for emphasis, dress half bunched up around your waist, fingers digging into the soft swell of your ass.

“I’m your best girl?” You ask softly, clinging onto his shoulders, gyrating slightly as your head falls back.

Jim lifts you up suddenly, your legs automatically locking around his thick hips, breath catching in your throat at the look of desire in his eyes. 

“My best everything.” He whispers before bringing you to his lips in a searing kiss, tongue licking languidly into your mouth. You reach up, pulling at the straps of your halterneck until they come undone, the dress slipping past your bare breasts. Hopper groans, nipping at your earlobe, your jaw line, your throat, you can feel his hardness pressed to your center straining against his slacks.

He carries you to the bedroom, lowering you gently to the bed, pupils blown wide as he steps back to watch you pull the dress off your lower half, taking your panties with it, leaving your glistening core on display.

“Shit baby, I am one lucky son of a bitch.” He breathes, yanking his vest over his head, you crawl towards him on your knees, unbuckling his belt, both of you working with frantic hands to get his pants and underwear down.

Jim wraps his arms around you again, manhandling you with ease to rest against the pillows, his large frame dwarfing you. Your kisses are messy, verging on desperation, hands petting each other heavily, hips bucking with need. 

He rubs his thick cock over your dripping slit, and you let out a soft moan, back arching up into his strong chest, nipples peaked and sensitive.

“This all for me, baby girl?” He hums, grinning as you nod wordlessly, rocking the swollen head of his dick against your aching pussy, slipping in just an inch before pulling back again.

“Don’t tease me Jim.” You pout, hands on his ass trying to bring him closer.

“Not teasing baby, just dancing.” He coos smugly, filling you with a single thrust that has you crying out, cunt clenching at the delicious stretch.

His hips are flush to your own, the coarse hairs at the base of his cock tickling against your clit, heavy balls slapping your ass with each drag and hit. Hopper is marking up the delicate skin of your neck with multiple hickies, like you’re teenagers, the harsh suck and gentle soothing lick sends you higher, a fresh surge of wetness coating his cock in a ring of cream.

“I can feel you squeezing me baby.” He growls, muscular arm braced against the headboard, driving him harder and deeper into your fluttering cunt.

“Hop!” You squeak, unable to do anything other than grip his shoulders, anchoring you to him through the onslaught of pounding thrusts. You feel your slick dribbling out, pussy squelching obscenely, being made to fit around Jim’s hard length.

“You gonna cum for me baby girl?” He asks, panting, the large hand that was gripping your hip moving to stroke over your swollen clit. 

“J-Jim…” You whine brokenly, orgasm rushing through you like a flash-flood, wrapping your legs around his hips again, cock hitting you relentlessly.

“Yes - shit - so good, my best girl.” He groans, flipping you suddenly so you’re on top, limp like a rag doll as Jim squeezes your hips in a bruising hold, rutting up into you. “You’re getting my balls wet baby.” He chuckles, voice strained, you can only whimper, nails digging into his chest, back arched, skin covered in a light sheen of sweat.

He sits up, strong arms wrapped tight around your back, jackhammering his cock so deep you feel your belly concave with the bulge. You’re keening into his mouth, tongues sliding against each other, your stomach tightening again with a telltale warmth.

“Jim - I’m - oh my god.” You stammer weakly, foreheads pressed together.

“That’s it baby girl cum with me, let me fill you up.” He says roughly, grunting as you clamp and spasm around his cock once more, drawing out his own release, spurting thick heavy loads deep within you.

There’s a vague ringing in your ears, and you register that the record has long stopped playing, the only sound in the cabin being your light gasps and Jim’s staggered breathing. He kisses you tenderly, as he pulls out, dick twitching at the sight of his seed dripping from your puffy cunt.

“I love you so much baby.” He murmurs, cradling your face, laying back against the pillows, with you still sprawled listless on top of him. 

“I love you Jim.” You smile blissfully, pressing kiss after kiss to his lips. 

“Sorry for being a grump.” He sighs.

“Hop - I don’t care how old you are, I’d have loved you when you were twenty, and I’ll love you just as much as I do now when you’re sixty.” You say sincerely, giggling when he grimaces at the word ‘sixty’. “There’s no one else I’ll ever want.”

“You keep saying sweet things like that, we’ll be dancing again.” He warns, hands slipping down to squeeze your ass.

“Sure you don’t need a rest, old man?” You tease, choking on a moan, as Jim presses his rock hard cock back into your tight wet heat. 

“You’re in for it now baby girl.”

_______________________________________________

[theokusgallery]

What do you think about middle aged sunflower ????

Okay I'm going to pretend I'm normal and didn't just have a conversation about it yesterday within which I had to restrict myself because of Discord's stupid character limit

Anyway. Gonna talk about fanfics briefly, because fics tend to get more complex with characterization.

A while ago, I got really into Marvel, and for two months I did nearly nothing except read spideypool fanfic all day and night. If you know anything about these two (that isn't from the MCU) (I hate the MCU, I hate it so so much, this is not who Spidey fundamentally is, he is supposed to be a friendly neighborhood loner loser and you Cannot just give him an Iron Man suit and a mentorship with Stark and intergalactic missions at 16 or however old he is in those movies when the essence of the character is that he is an average struggling teenager who just happens to get superpowers and fucks up a lot at the beginning of his journey and mostly works alone and quit the fucking Avengers himself) (wow I started rambling sorry. Ignore that), you'll know that they are both around... 25-30ish, currently. Something like that. The only other fandom that I read as many fanfics of was Ace Attorney, where depending on the timeline, they can be from 23 to like, 35 with a kid. So I'd say me being so invested in a ship with 16 year-olds is... kind of an anomaly.

I don't usually like the coming-of-age, teenage love stuff, and I honestly have never found a single sunflower schoolfic I liked (except Spiral of course but even then they're in college) because all of them tend to... infantilize both Sunny and Basil at great length. And also tear down anything that makes them interesting characters. I think a lot of OMORI artists (that includes writers) are very afraid of doing anything substantial with teenagers, despite, you know, the actual plot of the game, and as a result, a lot of the time most fics where the characters aren't aged up tend to be... incredibly boring. Of course there are some that are good — exceptional even — but in the end all I can think of is the huge gap in... quality? that sounds wrong to say about a creative thing... interesting-ness, let's say (a very personal and subjective concept), when I stopped reading Marvel and went back to OMORI. I stopped reading fanfics altogether because I just couldn't find one I liked as much as the average Marvel fic that I hadn't already read.

Maybe it's a result of the writers themselves being young? I know OMORI's fanbase is generally a lot younger than Marvel's, so that could affect it. I mentioned schoolfics because there's a lot of them and because they were mentioned in my rant yesterday, but it's not really about the fact that they're schoolfics, it's about the fact that more often than not, the setting is the plot, and since it's just your average highschooler writing their favorite blorbos into their own environment and projecting (which is very cool btw, 99% of my own writing is projecting), the plot is... basically nonexistant. It's boring. It's boring and the characterization is usually dull. But even outside of schoolfics, I think I stopped trying to read fics that start with Sunny getting out of the hospital after the True Ending for the same reason : it's often plain and plotless and boring. And, fuck, my favorite books and mangas and such are slice of life, I'm all for mundane plots! But there's a difference between a mundane plot/realism and just no plot at all.

(This is not, like, an attack of OMORI writers who make schoolfics or fics that start with the above mentioned premise, btw, I want to make that very clear. It's very much a personal preference. I think it's boring because all of the fics I read in Marvel had a very unique plot/premise is my point. And also because the characters were a lot more mature and complex. Different strokes for different folks)

I think that's what I'm kind of sad about. OMORI characters tend to be complex and morally grey in their own way, and people tend to forget about that because they're teenagers and obviously no one can do no wrong before the ripe age of 18. Children are all innocent and therefore cannot be more morally complex than cinnamon roll soft boys/girls (looking pointedly at Sunny, Aubrey and Basil. But mostly Basil). Also, I think people tend to straight-up forget that 16 year-olds aren't, like, 10? Of course they're not going to be as mature as grown adults, especially Sunny OMORI, Dissociative Amnesia World Champion, but like... When I was 16 reading OMORI fanfics, half the time I was like "a 16 year-old would not fucking say that". But also generally more mature characters are inevitably more interesting to explore to me because I prefer more mature themes — I'm simply extremely upset at the fact that people don't explore the complexity that's already there when they're 16, including the very mature themes that are already there.

TL;DR: I love middle aged sunflower, I love middle aged ships in general ! In fact, I will tend to prefer sunflower when it's aged up.

(... I probably should've led with that.)

[jackals-ships]

JACKAL I must apologize I was like I WILL GO CHECK F/O LIST because I am not 100% sure which bot you ship with (<- did not care about robots until suddenly I cared A LOT) though I thiiink it's Megatron bUT sorry if I'm wrong fkdjashkj BUT BEARING IN MIND I HAVEN'T FINISHED S1...I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SHIP(S) 👀 and perhaps read fic at some point if you are able to find it @goldenworldsabound

(<- did not care about robots until suddenly I cared A LOT) IS AN ENTIRE MOOD THO HFKF tfp is like some sleeper cell activation code i SWEAR,,, + ur all good !! i gotta fiddle w my f/o list a lil and then repost it bc i kept meaning to make minor changes an then forgor,

BUT ANYWAYS YES !!! he's also, hilariously, one of the f/os i have a physical lil guy of despite being not on my radar as long as like garrus hf

also a read more bc i woke up Rambly today <3

he gets to sit with the ponies :} bc he canonically likes mlp at least according to the lil ask Megatron bit + there was a whole comics crossover (2 I think actually?)

breakdown + knockout are also My Besties they started out as like kinda baby crushes <- local aro can't tell the difference between Feelings even in fiction more at 11 [lighthearted] before megs came for my braincell with the fuckin. steel chair HFJ so seeing you go 👀🥰 at knocks i was like FUCK YEAH LETS GOO !!! im dropping into his work station from the ships vents like oooo someone's got a cruuuuush ooooo you wanna be all (⁠ʃ⁠ƪ⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠）don't u knocks- (jackal is once again banned from the nemesis)

okay okay but; i rlly only have one fic Finished and luckily had the foresight to post it to AO3. it's a lil older so not totally in character + canon but still silly and cute hjfkd

NOW GETTING INTO MY RED STRING TERRITORY-

when i get into something with a lot of continuities i tend to kinda? squish em together? or take bits and pieces going >:3 my city now, so the jackal x megatron ship is Primarily TFP but ive also absconded with fun movie details (like megs being i think it was 30? 40 ft tall? Fuck Huge,,,,) and also bits of comics lore/designs (holomatter is an interesting concept and im chewing on Meg's as we speak. gnawing on his arm even-)

but regardless this ship is totally my Slice Of Life Comedy Hour Chill LoFi Beats type of ship HKF like im a sucker for darker stuff higher stakes but i think this one has 0 stakes

like. like jackal and megatron literally met because jackal enjoys long walks on the beach exploring places Away from the city and Generally Away From Ppl to just sorta vibe. and ofc the normal thing to do when coming across a Definitely Alien And If Not Alien Then Like Secret Government Ship is to walk away. NOT wander ur happy lil ass inside like :0 yooooo what do These buttons do

and then when you get kicked out instead of getting squished like the bug you shouldn't come back via the air vents. again. and again and again and AGAIN and AG- until the local alien warlord gives in and is like "yeah okay this is my life now ig???" (soundwave was totally helping them btw. he likes drama 😌 and also has his own human hi adri so he can't say shit-) (also I've never decided on the Actual number of times they break it, in my brain it keeps slowly going up jus bc I find the concept SO funny. pov you're an alien warlord worried you got alien rodents and oh no NVM it's the human again. FUCK-)

it's absolutely the slowest burn too bc Meg's Refuses to admit that he has a crush on the weird squishy thing that keeps breaking in (until he's decided they're dating. and doesn't bother mentioning this) while jackals just 🥰 hehehoho big robot friend who calls me scraplet and sweetspark and sometimes puppy 🥰🥰🥰 also threatened to kill any mech who was mean to me 🤔🤔 weird. aaanyways

THERE'S ALSO a running joke in my head of that "what do you have?" "A KNIFE" "NO-" but it's jackal running off with energon bc you can't SHOW ME a cool liquid and have me NOT want to drink it !! Just a sippy. jus a lil- we'll have the hospital on speed dial pleeeeaaaase-😭

anyways tldr jackal megatron is "I'm not trapped with him he's trapped with me yaaaay :D" and "robot google; weird fuzzy feeling in spark?? how to remove weird fuzzy feeling?? robot google human exterminator near me-"

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hello, I'm the one from twitter yesterday....Do you mind if I ask for BL manga/manhwa/manhua recs? I already seen the Bl recs you gave to anon some time ago, is it better to give my favorite BL manga like that? (Sorry if I get this wrong.... )

My favorite themes are : childhood friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers, taking care of child/children, happy ending....

Sorry again if the themes are too much, if you want to pick either one, I'm really happy....

Welcome back! Actually, people being specific about what they're looking for (theme, platform, tropes, dynamics etc.) makes it easier for me to narrow titles down. I have my own favorites so obviously those are what comes to mind immediately, but when people come to me asking for something specific, I go back to digging old stuff back! Some series provide a good read, but not to a point where I remember them, let's say, 6 months down the road :,) It's also a by-product of reading a lot. N e gays, let's dive!

Enemies/rivals to lovers is a trope I love as well, and I actually have made a short list of titles I like with that trope. Putting that one here in case you have missed it.

Childhood friends is not a big favorite (if it's a childhood friends + a love triangle I avoid it like plague 😣) but there are series that I loved available on Futekiya:

Love and Howling (Masa Masaru) - This one also contains some supernatural elements, overall, it was an interesting read.

Perfect Propose (Tsurukame Mayo) - Has dubious consent BUT older bottoms are chef's kiss imo and it's sooo pretty. If you love domestic life, this will be up your alley.

I'll Make You Cry (Nozomu Hiiragi) - I'll never shut up about this one!!! Sooo cute and extremely funny! I personally love delinquents with an attitude 💞

Revival Blue (itz) - I have my own reasons for avoiding childhood friends that include a love triangle and this one avoids that route BUT the rivalry part still feels a bit forced and bland. Yet! This one has age gap and a bit of angst sprinkled with a happy ending, it was sooooo good!

Life in Our Hometown with Me and You (Isino Aya) - This one is as slice-of-life as it can get. Very chill and perfect for a comfort read.

Not from Futekiya but Living With Him by Miyata Toworu is another chill, very sweet childhood friends-to-forced-to-live-together-bc-of-their-mothers-to-lovers story! Just reread it today 💞

Also, here's a very interesting manhwa on Lezhin (free to read) called Count Tachibana. Love the historical aspect and love the expressive art style with bold colors more! (The list was getting long so I cut it short but if you need more childhood friends recs hit me up again ^^)

Now, BL with kids is less of a favorite. I don't avoid them completely, but don't go into them excitedly as well. Looking for Omegaverse titles would be more likely to find such titles. I'll list a couple that I found cute (despite the kids xD):

Our Dining Table (Mita Ori) - Another down-to-earth, cute and chill title. The kid in the story is actually the brother of one of the male leads (they have a big age gap) but the story is centered around their domestic life and food, super sweet.

Would You Like to be a Family? (Koyama) - I remember reading this on Futekiya, it was a single dad story I believe.

Sorry I don't have a lot of recs that have children in them, the one's I've read are titles that everyone know. For the rest, I tried to go for titles that I don't see circulate around as much, hope they'll be to your taste as well. See you around ~

[doublegoblin]

Introductions!

Hello hello!

 So I’m a little late on making an intro post but better late than never I would hope!

Pronouns: He/Him

Age: I was born in the 90s

A little about me:

I’m newer to both the writing and tumblr side of the internet. Long story short I took up writing as a hobby when I was going through a rough spot in life and was between jobs. I was feeling the need to be creative and I had always been interested in short stories and stuff. So I just started writing in a google doc with my first WIP. Which was a good outlet and really helped through the rougher times. Now I have really latched onto it as a nice hobby. When I get time and also have the craving to write. I don’t have any aspirations of fame or greatness; I just really like writing stories and figured I should pester somebody other than my partner with them. So here we are!

Favorite color is red (more skewed towards crimson or scarlet)

I play MTG (Commander/EDH mostly).

Reading has always been a chore for me so I tend to listen to a lot more things than read, which is nice because my job lets us have headphones. I mostly listen to long format videos ranging from video essays to lore discussions.

All in all, like my profile says I’m just a little guy looking to have some fun. Also I may occasionally come back to this and update things when new things happen or I figure out how to talk about myself more lol.

Chapters for WIP and One Off stuff will can be found on the Desktop view of the profile or as an embedded hyperlink in the title of the WIP under the Read More tab. Recently figured out how to do this so give it time to be up to date lol.

More edited chapters can be found on my WattPad

What you can expect to find on this blog: 

Style wise most of my stuff could be called horror or horror adjacent. When I write I'm more writing to fit a vibe rather than to fit it into a genre ya feel? That vibe is usually spooky in some flavor though so here we are.

Rituals and Red Tape(Tag is RART): My first WIP. Slice of life/horror story told from the first person perspective of Alex, manager of the auditing department. Set in a dream like world crafted by an enigmatic group of outer beings known as The Board. Their main duties are to stop problems before they happen that break the rules of reality, or, fix the problems if they are too late. When I've described the story to people I've been told it is kinda Douglas Adams like but with a Lovecraftian varnish. *Update* Please know that the stuff I post is the first draft, please feel free to comment in...the comments any questions or suggestions that could be of help during the editing process.

Content warnings for this story (I'll try my best to include everything that will/may show up in changing degrees): Body horror, loss of identity, ego death, unsettling imagery, language, drug and alchohol use, manipulation, worker exploitation, uncomfortable situations, power discrepancy.

Abnormal Analytics(Tag is CavernCC): Found footage/document style story. Very heavily inspired by things like the SCP foundation and minorly inspired by content surrounding what is known as the 411 phenomenon (never read or watched the movie but have watched things tangentially related and just found the concept neat). This story, or rather each "case", is experienced via the messages and emails between members of some kind of research organization. While these is no main POV character it can be assumed that most of this information is viewed through a single terminal.

Other Fandom related stuff or things I like.

Closing words:

I guess I’m excited to just kind of vibe on here. Sorry if a lot of this stuff is kind of vague. I’m not trying to be mysterious or enigmatic, I just don’t know how to talk about myself lol. So if you have questions I am more than happy to answer them…when I have time. As I’m also still newer to writing I’m open to advice! 

[homo-ousios]

Watch list tag game!

Tagged by @benkaaoi <3

I have a discord server for organizing my life, and one channel on there is exclusively dedicated to keeping track of shows. If I were this organized about my research, the book would be published already. Oh well.

☼ Currently Watching (Binging)

Previous seasons of Take Guy Out Thailand (yt). Not only is it gay and stupid and a great way to listen to unscripted colloquial Thai, but Lek Davika is one of the podium leaders <3 Downside is almost no subtitles, but it'll really bootcamp your listening skills.

Merry Queer (gaga). After His Man finished airing last week, I went looking for other gay reality shows and found this. Obviously it's meant mostly to educate straight viewers, so it's very gender theory 101 and all, but you do get to learn a decent amount about queer history and culture in South Korea, which I found interesting. Plus, the stories are incredibly sweet.

☼ Currently Watching (Airing)

180 Degrees Longitude (gaga). This is excellent. I'm worried about how it will end because it's serious gay media, so it might be tragic. It's not protected by the bl/romcom genre conventions. I hate sad endings, so prayer circle for this one.

Minato's Laundromat (gaga). I hate age-gap romances, but this is done pretty considerately. It's a sweet, slow-paced, slice-of-life drama, and to me it's worth watching for Japanese practice.

In a similar vein, Takara to Amagi (gaga). Again, it uses a lot of tropes that I hate (infantilized uke, oh no sex is terrifying/so sorry for having a libido, we would rather die than communicate clearly, etc.). But Japan produces relatively little bl, and it's always short, so I just watch it anyway. I need listening practice and I refuse to watch anything hetero. They need to put out a second season of Rea(L)ove, with more queers this time.

Returning to Thailand, The Eclipse (yt). I like it well enough so far. It's weird to try to see First as a high school student after Not Me, but he's a delight to watch regardless. I like that GMMTV is producing this subgenre of queer-directed anti-establishment bl. Very cash money of them.

Vice Versa (yt). I'm trying y'all, but I just don't like this one very much. It's much more in GMMTV's normal mode: cute but sexless, and without much of substance to say. Which is fine obviously, romcoms don't need to say anything. Make as much gay cotton candy as you want. So long as someone else is making KinnPorsche, Not Me, and the Pornographer, I'll be happy.

Love in the Air (yt). I've actually only watched 1 ep of this, but I'll catch up eventually. I know everyone clutches their pearls about how problematic MAME's stuff is, but I've honestly never thought it was as bad as all that, and at least it's not boring.

☼ Rewatching:

I'm not rewatching anything at the moment. It's been a few weeks, so I might take KinnPorsche for another spin. I've also been thinking about rewatching Bad Buddy, just to try and figure out what everyone's so into. I mean I enjoyed the show when it aired, but to me it was just more GMMTV normie fluff. Perfectly nice, but forgettable. People are still posting about it though, so maybe I should give it another chance?

☼ Looking forward to

Be On Cloud's new movie. I have watched that trailer 900 times and I will watch it again.

The announcement of KinnPorsche season 2. Come on, Be On Cloud, I know you got me. Don't leave me hanging.

The Cherry Magic movie. Speaking of cute and sexless fluff. Whatever though, Kurodachi can give me diabetes for all I care. I just wanna see them live happily ever after.

GAP the series. Woahhh, lesbians.

Tagging: @liyazaki @nerasvalhalla @decaffeinatedmate @snake-and-mouse @bwatchesdramas @rythyme @bitacrytic @scarefox i mean literally whoever feels like it, i will read and like your post

[spookybias]

first time again ‣ [ yang jeongin ] ✧

pairing: yang jeongin x gn! reader

genre: comfort, angst, slice of life

synopsis: an attempt to return a love letter leads to a cycle of all too familiar events.

content: exes to almost lovers again, exes to friends au

warning: reader threatens to kill jeongin twice, insecurities, self-blame

for: @districtninewriters' dear skz, with love event. please be sure to check out all the fics written for this event! everyone in the net worked hard on them :)

word count: 2.4k

note: i want a jeongin :,)

You studied the envelope you were holding, flipping it over a few times in your hands. The quality of the paper was nicer than normal, almost like whatever was inside was more important than just a regular letter. You weren’t expecting anything, let alone anything important or special.

But it was definitely your name on the front.

You took in the minimalistic decoration of the beige envelope, mentally noting the small piece of looseleaf paper that had been torn at an aesthetic angle and taped down. Your name had been written in rainbow calligraphy on top of the looseleaf, a font you immediately recognized because your ex had used it plenty of times when decorating the tags on gift bags and appreciation cards to you. Each letter of your name casually leaked into an ombre of cool shades, and hand drawn sparkles littered the envelope.

You dreaded opening the letter, and wished you could stop feeling as blue as the ink your ex had used to write your name.

You were tempted to toss it in the trash, and bury it under the used romance novels you no longer wanted, but as quick as the urge to scream and throw away everything related to your ex had came, it had left.

Adrenaline coursed through you. Your fingertips were fast at ripping open the packaging, while your brain was hesitant to remember the pretty bleach-haired boy who had stolen your heart and then unintentionally crushed it just awhile ago.

Your ex's words were written on skyline stationary. Red and blue stripes twirled along the edges of the paper and a stamp of a smiley face followed by squiggly lines appeared at the top right corner. You were too scared to skim over a single paragraph. So you stood there, staring at the greeting instead.

I know this is sudden, ____.

Four minutes passed. And then you began to read.

You declined your group of friends' invitation to walk to the local bakery and then home with them after school. You had been holding in an immense amount of anger for your ex since you had read his letter to you last night. The letter could've easily been thrown in the trash after reading, but you couldn't help but become entangled in the words he spewed out into sentences.

It's not fair, You thought to yourself as you stomped up the stairs to the platform of the train station. It's not fair that he gets to remind me of everything and I don't get to say anything back to him. It's not fair that I have to think about why our relationship was so pretty.

"Pretty" is the word everyone used to describe the relationship you had with your ex. The both of you had taken it as a compliment back then, but now you knew why everyone referred to the two of you with such an adjective.

Pretty meant your relationship was attractive, it was pleasing to the eye on the outside, it was held at a fair degree. But what was it like on the inside? It was tame and decent, but complicated. Your ex always questioned what he truly felt for you, and it always made you wonder if you were doing something that made him doubtful.

Things had ended because you didn't want to feel more and more insecure as the days went by. It was fruitless to keep trying. Well, at least, it was to you.

"I'll kill him," you grumbled to yourself. A couple people waiting for the L train gave you a weird look. You tried to ignore their glances and the feeling of wanting to reminisce on the train ride you and your ex always shared before and after school during your relationship.

The two of you lived in the same apartment complex, but nowadays you did your absolute best to avoid him. You could've approached him there, instead, but you were so on edge you felt the need to return the letter before you got home. You had stopped taking the train a long time ago, too, desperately trying to avoid him at the train station as well. Now here you were trying to find him.

"I'll kill you!" You practically shouted at your ex. You grabbed him by his shirt collar and yanked him forward. You had forgotten what it had been like to stand so close to him, but you tried to ignore the blush that was pushing its way onto your face and the urge to pull him into a hug.

"What did I do?!" Yang Jeongin looked around awkwardly at the handful of people staring at both of you.

He was unsure of his emotions. One part of him was embarrassed by getting caught up in your sneak attack and the other part of him was happy that you were at least talking to him, even if you had just threatened his life. Jeongin was able to pry your hands -he had noticed how much smaller they were compared to his- off of him. He grabbed your hand and walked you towards an empty section of the platform.

Your heart fluttered, and when you glanced up as he pulled you along, you were seeing your surroundings in a sakura filter.

Jeongin stopped once you were at a spot without anyone around. "I-" He began to say, but you cut him off.

"Get your hands off of me!" You flailed your arms around until he took a step back.

Jeongin held his hands up in surrender. "Before you kill me, please tell me what I did."

"What is this?" You wasted no time in pulling out the crumpled envelope from Jeongin. "You're sending me love notes? After we already ended things?"

Jeongin looked like a deer caught in headlights. "H-how did you get that?"

"Your stupid ass sent it to me!"

"I- I did but-"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted you to know how much you mean to me."

"Well I don't care and I don't want this! I don't want you anymore!" You crumpled the envelope and letter into a ball and threw it at Jeongin's chest. It bounced off, and rolled onto the floor.

"Okay," Jeongin replied, his voice cracking. "You don't have to accept it. It was wrong of me to send you something after we had already broken up." He reached down for the crumpled up paper.

Jeongin held it up, hurt written across his features. The letter seemed to mean a lot to him, and even though he had hurt you in the past, you never wanted to make him feel bad.

You tried to snatch the mess you had made away from him but he held it up.

He furrowed his eyebrows, looking annoyed. "What?"

"Give it back," You told him, trying to reach the crumpled letter.

"You just said you didn't want it." It was unlike Jeongin to raise his voice. "If you don't want it then I'll take it back."

"Why?"

"Because I care about what I wrote in it and I want it!"

"Stop!" You continued your attempt to take it from him.

You and Jeongin fought over the crumpled papers like two nine-year-olds fighting over a toy truck. You were able to get a good grip on his love note. You were holding on to his love and you refused to let it go this time. You lied when you said when you didn't want him, and you yanked the paper towards you. Only it didn't come to you as a whole.

It ripped in half.

"Look what you did," Jeongin said, not realizing the weight of his words.

Look what you did, ____, You scolded yourself. You messed it up again.

That was the last straw. You were tired and frustrated and still heartbroken. You crouched down, head in your hands and tears slipping down your cheeks. You were nothing left but sniffles and sobs and torn pages and haunted by the word, "pretty".

"It's not fair," You choked out. "Why did you do this to me?"

"____," Jeongin had calmed down and reached out to you. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not," You told him. "Why did you send that if you didn't want to be with me anymore? What was the point of reminding me?"

Jeongin took a deep breath, gathering up whatever courage he had left. "Who says I don't want to be with you anymore? That's why I wrote you the letter. I'm just... not sure if you still want to be with me."

You didn't cut him off, so Jeongin took that as a chance to continue.

"I still think about you all the time. I wasn't sure how I felt about you when we were dating because we were both inexperienced and we rushed into things. That's not your fault, so don't think it was. I was the one who immediately said yes when you asked me out. I realized now that I did like you then and I still love you now, but at the time, I didn't know at all how to differentiate romantic feelings from platonic ones. I shouldn't have immediately said yes, I should've waited at least a day to confirm with myself that I did like you. If I hadn't rushed the both of us into something, we wouldn't have broken up. There wouldn't have been doubts or insecurities or anything wrong with us." Jeongin continued to rub your back soothingly. He was relieved that you had stopped shaking. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for making you feel like everything was your fault. And I'm sorry that you received a letter from me, because all it did was make things worse between us."

"Jeongin, I- I still love you too," You managed to get out.

It was in that moment that Jeongin realized he had said that he loves you. He gritted his teeth and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"But I need more time," You told him.

"I understand that." He nodded his head and gave you a small smile. "But can I walk you home?"

You nodded, and took the hand he offered to help you up off the ground. It felt like the first time again.

Jeongin barged into his younger brother's room. "Were you looking through my stuff?"

"Yes," His brother responded, scribbling into his notebook and ignoring the urge to give his older brother eye contact. "I was helping mom clean in your room."

"Why did ____ receive a letter I wrote ages ago before we broke up?" Jeongin crossed his arms, demanding an answer.

Jeongin's little brother blinked twice before turning to him shocked. "You wrote that before you guys broke up? It looked recent so mom sent me to the mailbox to drop it off."

"Well thank you for mailing it," Jeongin tried to end the conversation, but his brother pressed on.

"Oh I know why it looked recent," His brother have him a sly smile. "You kept it in good condition since that was the only thing of ____ you had left before they dumped you." Jeongin's little brother chuckled, going back to his notes. Then a thought popped into his mind. "Wait. Why are you thanking me?"

"No reason. Just, thank you," Jeongin told him sincerely. "Now stop touching other people's mail."

"Hey, what?" The younger was confused. "I don't understand you-" But Jeongin was already out of the room and heading back to his.

Jeongin sat at his desk in front of his bedroom window, and looked at his half of the ripped love note. He smiled to himself. He had written the letter ages ago and wanted to mail it to you as a cute gesture, but you had broken up with him the day after he had written it, and demanded all of your stuff back.

Jeongin held up his half, analyzing the piece of paper. He had the ending of the letter.

The boy caught sight of you at your bedroom window, staring from across the complex. You held up your half and smiled at him.

You had the start of the letter.

( THE LETTER )

I know this is sudden, ____.

But I wanted to send this to you because you mean a lot to me, more than I initially thought. I just want to talk to you all the time, and thinking about you puts the biggest smile on my face. I want to send you letters like this every week. No, everyday. And I want to fill your mailbox up with love notes and other things I hope you'll find adorable and wholesome so that when you go outside to open it, it explodes in an endless supply of my affection and my words kind of just fall around you. And you can think, "Wow, Jeongin really likes me. He likes me." Because I do like you.

Okay. That was pretty cheesy of me. It's only the truth, though. I have real romantic feelings for you, and I've been thinking about how much I like you for awhile now.

I remember when you stomped up the steps to the platform of the L train just a few months ago. You looked pissed and about ready to kill me. I won't lie to you, I was fearing for my life and I thought, "This is it. This is how I go. At the hands of a beautiful human." But you didn't kill me. You grabbed me by my shirt collar and you gave me a quick kiss and said, "I like your stupid ass." Not the most romantic confession, but it's the only confession I've ever gotten. It's the only confession I want and need.

And I remember you tripping and falling right after. I wanted to carry your bookbag for you, but you wouldn't let me. We kept asking each other why. "Why can't I carry it?" I asked, "Why do you want to carry it?" You asked. "Because I want to," I would say and then you would yell at me and tell me to give your bookbag back. We looked like ten-year-olds.

The train had pulled in and you tried to grab my hand and lead me inside, but you tripped over my foot and fell down instead. You fell so hard you started crying and I panicked inside. But when I rubbed your back and asked if you were okay, you said you were upset that you made me miss the train. I offered you my hand and you took, and now, I want to hold your hand forever.

So yeah, I like you a lot. I'm sorry it took so long for me to say it. I can't wait to see where we go from here.

With love, Jeongin.

all rights reserved | copyrights © spookybias. do not repost, translate, moderate, or copy any of my works.

[lu-undy]

100th Sniper/Spy short - The honeymoon 2

Here it is, the final request! Made by my dear friend, Vana, bless him.

Here we go!

"Ready for your first day in my country?" 

"Yeah, show me your home, darl', let's go!"

"Wait, before we go. You know why I took you here?" Lucien asked. 

"Yeah." Mundy smiled, his cheeks turning pink. "For… I mean because…" He looked at the ring on his hand. "Our honeymoon." 

"Then I need to say it before we proceed."

"Say what?" Mundy asked. 

"I love you." Lucien looked up with those ice-drop like eyes at his husband. 

"So do I, darl'..." 

Their lips met, they needed it like a period to their sentence. Lucien and Mundy exited their hotel and on they went under the bright sun of… Bordeaux!

"Some would argue she is the capital of the South West of France." 

"Are you part of those 'some'?"

"Oui, I am. Bordeaux is what Paris would die to be, but never will." 

They strolled along the streets.

"Paris and Bordeaux have very similar architecture styles. The difference is the mentality of the people, the rhythm of life and look above your head…"

"The sky?" 

"Oui. Blue sky here, while Paris has pollution, rude people and almost more tourists than rats!"

"Sounds like you don't really like yer capital city, eh?" Mundy said with a smile. 

"It is cultural. Paris thinks they have the elite and the rest of us are peasants. We know that they are played like fiddles, working like sheep, while we get the good weather and the smile on our faces." 

"I see…" 

The visit lasted the entire day. Churches, places, squares, parks and of course, vineyards! They did it all. Come the evening, they finished their dinner in a restaurant by the quays of the river, La Garonne, and decided to stroll along the riverbanks. 

The buildings along La Garonne were brightly lit with their yellow lights, slicing through the blue of the night. The street lamps were made of intricate wrought iron laces and some shed multicolored lights. 

They dragged their feet lazily on the quays, their gaits waving left and right, exchanging their usual banter, the one that made them more than friends. 

"Gosh that was one hell of a long day…" Mundy said. 

"Are you tired?" 

"A bit yeah."

"Let us sit down somewhere. Is this bench over there alright?" Lucien asked. 

"Sure." 

They stopped and took a seat. In front of them, the river reflected the city lights, deforming them slightly under the current of the stream like an oil painting. It was fairly calm now and the quays had their success in the evening. Passer-bys of all ages, families and couples were enjoying the same warm evening than Lucien and Mundy.

"That's quite a lot of bridges you have over the river." Mundy noticed. 

"Indeed and the traffic is always dense on them. The right banks used to be full of factories while the left ones were where the selling of the products would happen. But nowadays it has all changed. The factories became ultra modern apartments and the buildings you see behind us, those made of those beige stones, part of them are a museum and the rest is fancy offices." 

"Ah, I see…" 

Silence fell and they could now hear someone playing the guitar somewhere behind them. The quays had been converted to a space for all. There were playgrounds, gardens, benches, spaces for picnics…

"Lu'?"

"Oui?"

"D'you think… things happen for a reason?"

"To some extent, oui, I do. Why?" 

Mundy took a deep breath. The air smelled of the river passing in front of them mixed with the flowers that laid along the quays. 

"I don't know, it's just… I think that's it."

Lucien raised an eyebrow. 

"That's it, what?" 

"That's it, I'm happy." Mundy answered. "I spent my adult life alone, hunting because that's the only thing I know, and look at me now…? I'm here in France with you and I'm… I'm bloody married now!"

Lucien chuckled. 

"Indeed you are, and so am I. But I understand your point. Oui, it seems that the life of running and killing is over, or for you, driving and killing. What I find comical is that it all took me back where it all started, in Bordeaux."

Lucien's eyes went on the river, the lapping sounds of the current, on the surface. 

"I love you, Lu'."

"So do I, with all my heart." 

"You know, my mind's been a bit stuck on the vows we took." Mundy said.

"Ah, the wedding vows? Strong words, hm?"

"Yeah… Strong words. I thought it was just a movies' thing, y'know, all made up and exaggerated and all… But no. When I said I'd stay with you and only you till the end, I meant it. I meant it in a very serious way, it wasn't jokes or made up."

Lucien smiled and leaned his head on Mundy's shoulder. 

"I meant my words too, Mundy. For better and for worse, in health and in sickness." The Frenchman repeated. "Because I know all too well that 'home' isn't a place. It isn't a flat, nor is it a house. Home is when I'm with you, regardless of what is around us. Today we are in Bordeaux watching La Garonne flow, but who knows where we will be tomorrow…?" 

"Still in Bordeaux cause the return ticket is for next week?" Mundy answered with a chuckle. 

"I guess, oui, but you understood what I meant."

"Yeah, I do." Mundy took Lucien's hand and sandwiched it in both of his. "Gosh I can't think about anything else but you. It's like I've met you and I know I'm in love with you but we didn't meet properly yet and you don't know what I feel for you. You know, those days before you tell someone you love'em, when you're just obsessed, and it's all only in your head, cookin' and boilin' on its own…!"

Lucien smiled. 

"Oh I know what you feel and I feel it too. Although in my case, this is quite a first."

"First marriage?" Mundy teased. "You plan on havin' others?" 

"Non…!" Lucien laughed on Mundy's shoulder. "That is not what I meant. It is the first time that I sit in front of the river and show her the face of a happy man. I doubt she even recognises me with the grey hair and the tired eyes with lines at the corner." 

"I'm sure she does." Mundy answered. "Hard to forget them."

"Forget what?" Lucien asked. 

"Your eyes." 

The Frenchman felt it in its core, the warmth. He slid his fingers between Mundy's and he felt the ring there. It brought some pink to his cheeks. 

"Merci."

[Thank you.]

"Thank you too. You're a good guide, y'know." 

"You sound surprised." Lucien said. 

"Yeah, nah, I don't know. The more I know you, the more I find things that I like in you."

"Have you found something that you didn't like so far?" Lucien asked. 

"Your music taste." Mundy answered. 

"What?"

"You have a problem with your music, I swear you must be the only one likin' French stuff from the fifties!" 

"Non I am not! It used to be hugely popular and it still is!" 

"Popular? Stuff from the fifties? In French? Nah… Only an old frog like you could like that."

"Ah…" Lucien sighed. "The younger generation has no taste whatsoever." 

"Oi, I like some good stuff!"

"American pop songs that are broadcast on loop on the radio and dull your senses? The same that have no lyrics, or barely any meaning, no poetry? This is no taste, Mundy, I am sorry." 

Mundy chuckled and tilted his head to lean it on Lucien's.

"Funny old man." 

"Acceptable young one." Lucien teased. 

"Acceptable? Really?"

"Look here." Lucien said and Mundy looked down at him. "Oui, acceptable and only by me."

In the dark of the night, their lips met between their smiling lips and their closed eyes. When they parted, they added to the lapping sounds of the river. 

"You will be the end of me." Lucien said. 

"Can I be everythin' before that too? I feel like we're skipping quite a lot of things before we got to that point."

"Of course you can, and you are. I love you." 

Mundy softened and tightened his grasp on Lucien's hands.

"Love you too, darl'. You're everything." 

[randominternetbosonignog785]

Mikans last Christmas.

So this story was something I was going to release on christmas but then i gave up on it, but then I diddnt, so here you go. Disclaimer its kinda gory n stuff has some naughty language and its a tad bit suggestive but its pretty pg bois.

Twas the night before christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Though there were no stockings by the walls, nor trees or presents to brighten up the halls, but instead were cupboards and draws blocking out the doors and half flipped scattered tables to shield a man that was barely keeping himself stable.

Every piece of furniture was stripped from their place, only to be used as blockades to keep out any new face. In normal circumstances many people would think  the house was a tip but when it came to the biggest, most awful, most tragic event in human history, everyone had to get a grip.

Behind one of the half flipped tables near a cracked television, a large man wrinkled with age sat roughly on the floor with his rear resting against the desk's backside. The man had a slight beer belly, his scalp was just beginning to lose its hair and overall he just about had enough of life; what you'd expect from a fifty year old man who was down on his luck in the world, although ever since a certain wanker decided to ram a glass dagger into his right arm - ever since the world went tits up out of nowhere, his lucks been shit.

"Haaaarrgh...grrrrrr!"

The man gurgled and growled out his pain as he attempted to thrust a towel he found in one of his daughters med kits onto the red bleeding pool that flushed out of his arm. '

Apply with firm pressure? Even the fuckin manual's trying to kill me.' The squirming man thought to himself. Soon enough, he simply gave up and just decided to lie on the floor of his living room to try and get at least a wink of sleep, trying his best to ignore the niggling and nagging of the nerves in his wounded arm. It was hard finding the peace of sleep though, as the outside world he once knew had now become a hostile alien planet he might die in at any given moment and it didn't help that the air felt thicker than usual.

A few weeks.

It had only been a few weeks since he had his last pint, but now everybody started stabbing each other. It had only been a few weeks since he last relaxed watching his favorite shows on his favorite armchair, but now he was shivering on the floor, lacking the courage to go and sleep in his own bedroom. It had only been a few weeks since his worthless daughter had enrolled in some school for smart sods...

But now she was probably dead.

"Daddy?"

Almost feeling like a second after his conscience finally slipped into slumber, the rugged man abruptly snapped awake once more upon hearing a voice call out from the darkness, presumingly for him.

"Daddy? Are you still here?"

The female voice sounded so slender and savoury yet innocent and playful and it chilled the man to his bone. The man couldn't figure out how someone broke through his homemade barricade, but he couldn't feel surprised either, but it didn't matter now. He was now sharing his house with the one of many psychopaths that infested the outside world.

"Daaaddy~ where are you?"

'The sick fuck must be getting some sort of kink out of this' the man swore in his mind. Suddenly without warning, a heavy shower started to spew and spatter outside and somehow, the individual splats and taps managed to pierce through the man's ear drums, yet at this point the girl's calm yet threatening voice was able to drown out the rain itself.

That bitch was getting closer.

The man now knew he had no time left. He knew that it was do or die, he knew it was time to be a man. The voice sounded like it belonged to some kid, so why was he pissing his pants in his little time out corner? Finally, he remembered that he had one of his kitchen knives sitting around his used med kit and picked it up. He wasn't gonna let some little shit be the end of him.

"There you are daddy."

Before he could even start to gather his courage, that cold, icey siren of a voice was already singing next to him and a chilling warmth somehow caressed his ear. The man's heart skipped a beat. She was this close already.

He should have just skedaddled, the man should just have vamoosed but instead his bottom was eternally bound to the floor and all he did was instinctively turn around in complete despair. The man expected the intruder to stab his stomach or simply inject another piece of glass into his other arm, but instead, The very same second his heart refused to beat, his mouth was suddenly covered by some sort of thick tissue and then caused a sudden drowsiness to spread inside him. He felt weak. Before his very being fell into darkness he only caught a brief glimpse of his assassin's eyes, but it was enough information he had to know to effectively deduce who it was that had sealed his fate.

Out of anyone in the world that could have taken away his pointless life, it of course had to be his very own daughter. It was the same child he had neglected for so many years and if it was her out of all the other crazy fuckers ending his life; the man didn't seem to mind.

The man's muscles soon refused to twitch let alone break his fall as he plummeted, back first onto the floor. Despite the fact that his entire body was instantly shutting down though, somehow he managed to keep the dumbbells weighing upon his lids alift for a few seconds longer, just to try and see for certain if whoever stood above him really was who he thought and sure enough the thin girl that invaded his thoughts toward before the man.

Her straw-like hair was tangled and drowned in scalp snot and her usual nurse-like outfit was filthy and terribly torn. Her small speckless face though, in a way relieved the man with its familierality but at the same time horrified him with its grave difference in expression. The constant worry from her puppy-like eyes was gone, now replaced with an expression that the man couldn't possibly describe as happiness, but she was smiling; harder and more larger than she ever smiled before. 'Come to think of it', the man last thought, he had never seen his own daughter smile. He regretted that he had to think such a thought and he regretted how it came to this. He regretted everything and in his last moments of consciousness all the man could do was regret.

Why didn't he ever notice that he had such a beautiful daughter?

The saw sinks right into the leg bone~

The right arm tears off the elbow~

Apply firm pressure, don't leave the wounds open~

Don't forget to sterilise with cream~

"I did it daddy. Merry christmas."

After what seemed like an eternity, feeling as if at random, the man's eyelids finally decided to open, while at the same time his stomach felt as if it was still debating whether or not it wanted to burst open. He was on a bed and it felt impossible to get up. The man's sight invited him back to a blurry mess of a world, mangled with muddy pixels of blacks and greys that were meshed with a glowing orange that most likely represented light, and on top it all off, he was just about having the shittiest headache he ever had in his life. He wasn't dead at the very least, but dear god he might as well have been.

"Daddy, you're finally awake!"

Listening to that voice yet again...he now unmistakingly knew that it was his daughter who was talking.

"Mikan, what happened? What are you doing here?" The man's gritty growl of a voice, strained from obvious- stress finally uttered the name of his child. The pixelated colours that represented his proposed daughter were still mixed in with the blacks and greys of the room but slowly yet surely, he could already tell his sight was reorganising the world back together again.

"The outside world daddy." She purred. "It's scary out there. People who I thought were my friends started stabbing each other and some even started slicing off their hands and fingers and if it wasnt that they'd end up killing themselves. I was so scared."

She wasn't being serious. Given The context of her small speech, the man should have been able to feel some small amount of sorrow, but he felt none. All he could catch was the disguised yet painfully clear sarcasm in the girl's voice, which drained all the weight from her words.

"I came back home because I knew it would be safe."

That wasn't true, was it? She was back to kill him, just like the rest of me. It was the only thing that made sense; to get revenge on how he treated her. After thinking about it for a second though, the man probably deserved it.

"I saw you fainted on the floor when I found you daddy. So I took you to my room and took very special care of you."

Another obvious lie added to the man's paranoia and was beginning to feel iller by the second. What in God's name did mikan-

!

He couldn't move his right hand. No. He couldn't feel his right hand. In disbelief as well as desperation, the man worriedly wiggled every last limb that was still attached to his body, and where his lower left leg should have jolted...

Shit! He was drugged right? He must've been dreaming right? It was a dream. It had to be a dream! The meshy fog in the man's eyes finally felt like clearing and with all his inner strength he turned his head round to face his right arm; but all that was left was the arm and all that came out of its tip it was a small lump of thickly layered bandages, dyed in dry blood.

It was a fucked up dream. The man continued thinking. He couldn't feel the pain right? So it was just a fucked up dream, birthed from his newfound daily stresses. The pain from his old arm injury must have been giving him a horrific nightmare.

"It was hard patching you up when you were bleeding so heavily daddy." The bitch went on. "I had to give you a ton of painkillers and stuff to keep you from feeling the pain. I'm sorry. You must feel terrible right now. It's a good thing I saved you."

She was fucking insane. Painkillers? No- the only reason he couldn't feel the pain was because he was dreaming; This was just my mind's way of punishing him. There's no way he should still be alive like this.

"Good thing the ultimate nurse was here to save you daddy and don't worry I'll take care of you. I won't let you die like everyone else daddy. You're safe with me daddy."

"All you need now is me."

Fuck. Shit. fucking shit. This cant be fucking happning! How the hell did it come to this? The man couldn't curse enough. This was too fucked up to be a dream, but at the same time it was too fucked up to be real, but it just had to be fucking dreaming. Being drugged by his own daughter had to be a fucking dream. All of the last few weeks had to be a fucking dream. He had to believe it was. He had to for the sake of what small sanity he had left, and as if by reading his thoughts the monster smiled. Mavoilevent, vengeful and pure evil were the only words that spawned when the man's now mushy mind attempted to decipher such a grin. This was how he died: by the hands of his own fucking kid. Now accepting that, the man then realised that keeping himself aware of the living world was only going to make him fearful of the inevitable and so he let his heavy eyelids fall just so he could at least have the luxury of dying without knowing what hit him, but something out of place then uttered from Mikans small lips.

"So what do you want to do first?"

A question instead of a threat. Was it curiosity instead of bloodlust? Despite still hearing that wrongfully playful tone in his daughters still silk like voice, for whatever reason, the girl's strange question gave the man enough hair on his balls to open up his eyes to his assassin yet again. This time he was eye to eye with mikans face; her straw like hair gravitated towards him and her skin: crystal clear, causing what was left of her innocence to glow, while also horribly smudged with scars and bruises of the past, reminding the man of why he was here now. She was almost on top of him and only her slender arms held her above the man, acting as cemented pillars beside his neck. The man's response was delayed by the surprise of Mikan's random actions and all he could offer in exchange was a limp wimper of confusion.

Was she going to kill him or not?

Mikan then suddenly retreated from her pose and sat down at the end of the bed, avoiding squishing his leg. Well, the one that still had an end to it.

"Comon’ daddy, now we can play anything you want. Maybe you can try drawing on me, everyone always loved doing that back at school so you should give it a try!"

"What?" The man finally spat out.

"I'm sorry!" She blurted apologetically, while also completely out of place. "Maybe that's too weird for you. Do you want me to squeal like a pig again? You always loved doing that daddy. Roleplay was always your favorite."

Why? Why was she asking this? Did she develop a thing for fucking massicasisom while she was gone? He couldn't question everything enough, the man's mind just began to melt from stress and confusion. Despite the lingering silence the man couldn't help but create though, without any sign of permission Mikan settled onto the floor boards on all fours and simply started to squeal like a pig.

This was it. This was hell. This was God's heavenly punishment.

"@#$@%*!"

It was his fault she ended up like this. The man knew this now. Why did fate have to ram the fact down his throat?

"#$@%*^=!"

He fucking got it. He made his kid into a fucking physcopath. Big hoo-fuckin-ray! Just kill him for it already!

"Oink. €£#$@%*^=! oink oink."

But the universe thought death wasn't enough. Oh no, the sweet release of death was never enough to right this mans wrongs, experiencing the end of the world was never enough, being disected like a fucking frog was never enough. No.

"#$@%€¥₩! Oink."

He had to endure the desperate screams for attention. Take in the blood curdling cries for mere notice. He had to tolerate the broken girl's ungranted wishes for a better father.

"₩¥€*$%@! $$%£@!"

And he did...until he couldn't.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

She stopped squealing, but the animalistic screams still remained in the man's ears.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

"...Daddy?" She mumbled, somehow sounding shocked at his response.

"Shut...up. please." The man begged. He couldn't take it any more.

"I'm sorry Daddy." The girl apologizes again. With her voice finally sounding more mellow than sadistic. "I forgot you liked to see me do that with all of my clothes off...give me a second."

At this point The man was truly bewildered how he raised such a sad creature.

"Mikan." The man once again called out the name of his child as his eyes began to leak. "Please, enough of this."

Mikan then climbed back onto the end of the bed and locked with my eyes; hers instantly succumbed with certain grief as if she feared those words from the start.

"Daddy I thought you liked playing with me."

I stared back into her eyes with an assertive glance. One way or another, she had to learn that tearing off people’s limbs was some fucked up shit and no way to get what she wanted. It was the only way of redeeming himself, yet not even several seconds passed before she couldn't bare the silent treatment.

"Don’t ignore me Daddy. Dont do that again, please dont ignore me! please forgive me. I know I cut off your arm and your leg but I only did that so you wouldnt leave me alone again, I only did that so we could play forever. I only did that for us Daddy, because I love you! And Daddy loves me."

....

"...right?"

The man did not deserve to admit he loved her back because now he realized that He never deserved love. Not from his daughter, not from his late wife, hell, not even from his own old folks. The man now realised that he was human shit and all he ever offered was a shitty stench to smell for everyone around him and now he had intoxicated Mikan with his vulgar stink. The least he could do now was to relive some of the fumes and stop his daughter from absorbing any more of his odour. All he had to do was ignore her and be lucky for the man: that was what he did best.

!

As if satan himself sent everything he had to crush every shred of the man's newfound resolve, an intense surge of pain he had never felt before, striked at the ends of the dismembered body parts the man had almost forgotten about. He already saw his arm freshly bitten off and his leg cut clean but his mind was only now reacting to his sights and now every ounce of thought he once carried was instantly drowned out by a powerful, primordial pain.

"Ahhh...ahhhhhggghha. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhh!" This time it was the man's turn to squeal like a pig. The entire world's suffering encapsulated in one single moment - all the man could do was vent all the pain out for all to hear.

"Daddy, Don't scream! Please...please stop screaming like that!"

Panic flourished in the depths of the girl's mind. The painkiller's effect wore off more quickly than she had originally calculated and it was only a matter of time before her dad died of the pain caused by his dismemberment. She knew she had to drug him back to sleep immediately and wait for his wounds to heal, but somehow, the few words that slithered out of the dying man's lips, kept her sat, frozen on the bed.

"Mikan...help me please."

Those few words changed everything.

Her legs were glued. Her heart beated faster and faster but her head paused and her sense of urgency plainly disappeared. The girl's body simply couldn't be bothered to move anymore. What was this feeling?

"Mi-kan....Mi-"

Daddy was dead.

The girl felt no grief. No regret, no remorse, not a trace of despair birthed from her mistake.

She just sat there.

The nonexistent glue still sews her short legs to the mattress of the bed. Her beating heart was still rapid, but her mind acted first.

That feeling was so close to euphoric. She might have been unusual but she always imagined the death of her only family would make her sad but she felt far from that. Then she knew why.

"Daddy...-I was the last person daddy was thinking about. I was the last person on Daddys mind."

All she wanted was attention, all she wanted was agnolegenent, all she wanted was to be loved. Her patients were always weak and broken but thanks to that they depended on her, they were grateful for her and they gave her all the attention she could ever ask for. Drugging daddy and immobilizing him was just a way to make him like one of her patients and if dismembering daddy was going to make him love her forever then that was what she should do. Instead though she ended up murdering him and now she was all alone again But still, that emotion remained. The fact that she was daddy's last thought accelerated her and the feeling of knowing that made her feel so relieved and somehow Mikan couldn't barely bring herself to regret what happened. Daddy was nothing but a corpse now, she knew that she had failed at being the so called 'ultimate nurse,' she knew she'd never see, touch or talk with her father ever again and yet the final begs and pleads for his life felt like more attention than he had ever decided to give to her.

"Daddy is dead." She sobbed. Lines of tears streamed down her skin.

"But I was his last thought. Daddy yearned for me. Daddy wanted me to save him." She giggled. She didn't know why but she went on giggling until the giggles evolved into laughter and eventually the seeds of her laughter bloomed into a savage song of sorry cackles. The conflicted emotions of depression and pleasure clashed in war inside Mikan's mind and the effects of their battle gushed out of Mikan in the form of chuckles and sobs. She didn't know what she should have felt anymore. Mikan had now truly lost her mind.

!

Warmth. Embrace. Love. It was all in a single moment. Her beloved.

"Jun-ko?"

"Shush now Mikan. It's okay."

Her beloved was here and for the first time in ages, Mikan felt cleansed. Her wobbling knelt legs gave way and tumbled down sideways like skyscrapers that crashed down onto the dovay, as the warmth from Junko's breasts aroused her. A Slender yet tender arm caressed the girl's hip and softly squeezed her core; while another gently stroked off the pieces of dandruff burrowed within her straw like hair, giving Mikan an inviting fuzzy feeling inside. It was pure love. If only the world could let her stay like this forever.

"Junko..." Mikan began to vent. "Your plan didn't work. D-daddy just decided to ignore me in the end." She went on. "A-and when he died he said my name, he begged me to save him and then I-I had this strange feeling."

Junko's voice then hummed in Mikan's ear. Her boiling breath was gentle and warm and just like the sun in a snowstorm, it melted every little bit of Mikans of well earnt fatigue.

"What kind of feeling was it?"

"It was a pleasure. I-I felt good. I even felt happy, even though he's dead now..."

Before a seed of panic could begin to spread in Mikan's soul, the slight sound of Junko's voice once again quelled any flames of anxiety lit within her and the words that were delivered with that voice, finally Settled the mental storm brewing within Mikan.

"You're just like me Mikan."

That was it. She was just like her beloved. It made so much sense now and with that everything was right again. Suddenly the frail girl broke free of the others hug just to turn around and dive into the cushiony breasts of her beloved and just like that she let it all out.

"Merry Christmas my little Mikan." Junko made one last whisper.

"Now get on the floor. I wanna hear you squeal like a pig again. Dont forget to strip down nude this time you little shit."

"Of course." Mikan faintly mutterd and soon did. She diddnt like it, but if it was what her beloved wanted hee to do. If it made hee beloved happy, then she was more than willing to do anything for her.

***

Hajime.

A skinny girl, dressed in a smart yet tattered nursing uniform stood anxiously outside a holiday cabin. This girl was no ordinary girl though as in the last few hours she had mercilessly murdered two of her own classmates. The girl felt no grief, no regret, nor remorse as she felt nothing but joy when being the last reflection of someone's eye before it was darkened forever. Ibuki and Hyoko were really nice friends and they just had to be her next victims to help relieve herself, as well as in helping along Junoko's killing game but for some reason, instead of covering up her tracks, her instincts brought her here. To her neighbor's beach cabin who was coincidentally investigating her crime.

It was a dumb move in the persective of a killer to randomly show themselves up to the detective but to Mikan; it was something she had to do. As expected, the door was open and just by opening the door the girl could see the boy she was looking for completely conked out on his bed. Being the ultimate nurse she could instantly tell that hajime was sleeping on the investigation due to obvious stress but despite that she couldn't help herself and without a second thought the girl dug under the boys covers and gently squeezed the slumbering life saviour to her core. Just like last time in the hospital, her hunch was correct. Hajime was just as warm, soft and comforting as her beloved.

She held the boy tight and as the emotions that came with the memories of her last Christmas came back to haunt her, she held tighter and tighter. The raging battle inside her soul was back. The truce of those emotions was not going to last forever. The fight between love and pleasure. What was more important to her? Seeing her friends free themselves from her beloved's killing game and live out the rest of their lives together? Or was it making sure that she was the last face, the last person, the last thought everyone would have minds before they finally die and witnessing all their anguish and hatred for herself? The attention she always craved was so close in her reach but the accursed emotion of guilt she thought she had repealed long ago was getting in the way again.

She then came to an ultimatum And whispered in hajimes ear

"Hajime. I did it."

...

...

He was still asleep.

With her internal struggle more or less settled, the girl squeezed the boy one last time and slept peacefully beside her second yet brief love.

Art credit:

Picture made by 'lil Mikan.' https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/1118770/manga

[girlwithshipsshitshow]

Part 16

(Misaki sat against the gate with his final exam in his hands, not only did he pass, but he got extra credit questions right as well. He smiled, he was so excited he was finally graduating, going on a trip with Usagi, building a home with him, and marrying him, his life finally beginning, he was insanely happy, the sound of a horn honking snapped him out of his thoughts he jumped a little and looked up, Usagi rolled down his window and looked at Usagi over the rim over his glasses).

Usagi: Hey hot stuff, need a ride?

Misaki: (laughs and stands up), shut up, (walks to Usagi's car and quickly kisses him on lips before getting in).

Usagi: So how'd the test go?

Misaki: (hands Usagi his test), see for yourself.

Usagi: (looks over paper then grins), Misaki! this is awesome! i'm so proud of you. (leans over, kisses Misaki on his cheek).

Misaki: I know, told you I was great at psychology.

Usagi: I know, I never doubted you. So what's next?

Misaki: Now I graduate. Oh and Monday I have to pick up my graduation packet. I really just need my robe and cap.

Usagi: Why didn't you get it today? Did they not have it in extra extra small.

Misaki: SHUT UP!! they aren't coming in until monday, so no one has them smartass.

Usagi: (Rolls eyes), whatever helps you sleep at night.

Misaki: (turns in seat to face Usagi), The only thing that helps me sleep at night is being wrapped in your arms.

Usagi: (Grins, places his hand on Misaki's warm face, rubs his thumb against his cheek). That's sweet, (whispers), you have no idea how much I want touch you right now.

Misaki: (softly), I think I do.

Usagi: (leans in for a kiss).

Misaki: (pulls away), Usagi, that'll lead to something more and, we can't.

Usagi: (Leans back in seat closes eyes sighing), I know.

Misaki: Let's just go get lunch.

Usagi: Okay,where do you want to go?

Misaki: Pizzakaya.

Usagi: Alright, (pulls car out of lot, heads down the street).

(Rose sat in the hospital cafeteria in her scrubs, she was biting on a fry wating for Eri, they decided to meet at the hospital for lunch because it would be easier for Rose, she also got called in early so she didn't have long, Eri rushed to Rose's table sliding into a chair almost knocking it over).

Eri: Sorry i'm late, and I know we don't have much time. (leans over and kisses Roses), I lost track of time.

Rose: That's okay, want some fries? we don't have much time for anything else.

Eri: Sure. (grabs a handful of fries)

Rose: How was your morning?

Eri: Good, busy. I'm almost done editing one of four books that Akihiko wrote.

Rose: That's good.

Eri: Yeah, how was your morning?

Rose: Pretty good, I did a lot of chores around the house, since I work a double and won't be home until tomorrow night.

Eri: Okay, good.

Rose: (grabs a handful of fries), Yeah. (pager beeps, she glances at it), Oh hey i gotta go, shift is starting. (stands up, kisses Eri on the lips softly), i'll call you later.

Eri: Okay, I better go too, Akihiko is working his ass off, if he keeps this up, i'll never get a break.

Rose: (laugs), Why is he working so hard anyway?

Eri: (stands up, grabs Rose's hand, they walk towards the elevators), It's for Misaki.

Rose: He really loves that little dude doesn't he? (presses the call button).

Eri: (Smiles), more than anything.

Rose: (they step onto the elevator, she presses the button for the fifth floor). That's really sweet.

Eri: Yeah, i've known him for a long time, he's never felt this way about anyone.

Rose: what do you think makes Misaki different?

Eri: Well he's never been in a relationship, ever. But I don't know there's something about Misaki, Akihiko's never let anyone in or close before, everyone was surprised when we found out he had a roommate or a boyfriend.

Rose: When he was in the hospital, did you mean it?

Eri: (confused look), what are you talking about?

Rose: When you offered to be their surrogate, did you mean it?

Eri: Of course, I mean if they want kids, I would be happy to do that for them.

Rose: (nods), well if they do Ren, his doctor can help with that, he has a ton of specialty's.

Eri: good to know.

(Rose steps off the elevator heading towards the nurses station while Eri heads to the first floor, she exits the building heading back to work).

(Usagi and Misaki sat down at a table at Pizzakaya, Usagi cleared his throat as he opened a menu, shut it, placed it on the table and grinned at Misaki).

Misaki: (Tilts head and smirks), Can I help you.

Usagi: You're so cute did you know that?

Misaki: I do, you tell me at least fifty times a day.

Usagi: I love this place, especially the garlic fry pizza.

Misaki: I know, you love that pizza, it's so gross.

Usagi: Yeah, but I get to pick this time because you picked last time.

Misaki: I remember. But I want garlic balls. And we have to get beer.

Usagi: I wish they had wine here.

Misaki: yeah, well they have beer, we have wine at the house.

Usagi: I know, but I still want wine.

Misaki: Okay.

Usagi: Fine, i'm going to the counter to order, what beer do you want?

Misaki: (Shakes his head to get hair out of his eyes before looking up at Usagi), whatever you get is fine.

Usagi: (clicks tongue, giving Misaki a thumbs up, heads to the the counter).

Misaki: That was weird. (His phone rings, it's Eri) Hey Eri.

Eri: Misaki? I didn't tell you could call me Eri.

Misaki: Hey, you're like one of my closest friends, i'm going to start calling you Eri now.

Eri: Okay, so I called because you did take the roll of being Usagi's assistant right?

Misaki: (Glances at counter were Usagi is wating for beers to be poured), yeah I did.

Eri: Okay, well I need to you to help him write the speech for your graduation, I know they typically want it long but you know Usagi.

Misaki: People also don't want to sit through long speeches, i'll make sure it's at least two minutes.

Eri: Give me a sec, let me check the email... Yeah that should be fine

Misaki: Okay, I'll have him write it by Wednesday.

Eri: That should work. Has he said anything about-

Misaki: I gotta go. (hangs up,places phone on the table as Usagi hands him his beer). Thanks baby.

Usagi: (sits down in front of Misaki), yeah of course. (sips his beer), so who was on the phone?

Misaki: Oh, Eri you have to write your speech for my graduation ceremony, you should have it done by Wednesday.

Usagi: Okay.

Misaki: It doesn't have to be long, I know you hate public appearances, just like two minutes.

Usagi: Okay. I don't know what to talk about.

Misaki: weren't you at the top of your class, didn't you have to make a speech for that? (Sips his beer, gently sets it down, takes Usagi's hand).

Usagi: I choose not to make the speech.

Misaki: Well talk about that, talk about being at the top of your class, and discovering your passion at a young age, talk about stuff like that, it's a two many speech, you're a local famous young author, they want you there, all the girls are really excited, and the guys are upset that their girlfriends are blushing over you.

Usagi: How do you feel?

Misaki: I just want to graduate.

Usagi: I mean about my giving a speech.

Misaki: (Reaches over to touch Usagi's face), I already told you, I want you speak, if I didn't want you there you would know, (pulls hand back), I want to get a new suit, I know I have a lot but this is a big deal.

Usagi: Okay.

(A bell dings in the restaurant and their pizza comes out to them, Usagi grins grabbing three slices of pizza and plopping it on his plate, Misaki rolls his eyes and picks at the garlic rolls).

Usagi: How do you feel about people fanning over me?

Misaki: Please, i'm used to it. Usagi I realize how you look, i mean you're hot, you're sexy. I am aware of your looks I get it, and i'm-

Usagi: (grabs Misaki's hands), You are so fucking cute, and sexy in your own way.

Misaki: Not like you.

Usagi: (snorts), i'm not with you because of your looks, you know I love you and I love your personality. But you are so cute Misaki, and you really are sexy. I mean your not with me because of my looks right?

Misaki: Nah, i'm in it for the money.

Usagi: Funny.

Misaki: (Smirks), I'm with you because as annoying as it is I am really happy that you're always here for me, and you make me feel brave, and I love you, and yeah maybe we aren't the best idea, and people might look at us weird because of the age difference, but I think even without my brother, no matter how we met, you and I would be sitting right here today engaged enjoying a pizza.

Usagi: Wait, say all that again, i'm going to use it for my vows.

Misaki: Shut up, that was supposed to be a meaningful moment.

Usagi: I know, it was really sweet, but I had to say something funny because I didn't want to cry.

Misaki: I love you so fucking much.

Usagi: I love you too. (sniffs) Let's finish up and go find a suit.

Misaki: (smiles) Okay.

Usagi: What about this one?

(Misaki turned to face Usagi, he was holding a red suit, Misaki laughed and shook his head, they were at the store that Usagi loved getting all his Suits from, and all the ones he special ordered suits from, they had good quality suits and did good business).

Usagi: Why? (he held it up), what's wrong with it?

Misaki: (scuffs), It's red Usagi, and it's not even a good red, it's a bright red, I am so not wearing that. I need like a light blue, or a dark blue, but not navy blue a little lighter than that. (Misaki turned around looking through the racks of blue suits, he found a suit the color of the ocean.) Like this, but it's not in my size.

Usagi: (walks over to Misaki, takes the suit from his hand) We can get it sized for you.

Misaki: yeah, by the twenty-second?

Usagi: That's next sunday sweetheart, I think we can do it by then.

Misaki: Okay, because I think it's perfect.

Usagi: Speaking of perfect, should we start planning our wedding?

Misaki: Uh, no.

Usagi: Why?

Misaki: (Twists engagement ring) well we just got engaged and what's the rush?

Usagi: (takes his hand as they walk to the front of the store). Well I mean, I healed, almost and your graduating soon, and we are going to look at the place where we will be building our dream house. (they stop at the front and Usagi places the suit on the counter, Usagi leans against it as they wait for someone to come up to take the suit).

Misaki: Right, I know but I want to wait.

Usagi: Until we tell the public?

Misaki: (laughs nervously), Exactly.

Usagi: okay well, I think we can just leave this here with your size, i've done it before. (He writes down Misaki's sizes and his number on a piece of paper, then takes Misaki's hand and they walk out of the store).

Misaki: Thank's Usagi.

Usagi: Anytime.

Misaki: (Smiles at Usagi, looks at his car then pulls him into the ally beside the store).

Usagi: What are you doing?

Misaki: (pushes Usagi against the wall, stands on his toes, wraps his arms around his neck passionately kisses Usagi, he runs his fingers through his hair, he can feel himself blushing and getting hard, and pulls away, places his hand on Usagi's face softly caresses his cheek).

Usagi: M-Misaki, what was that for?

Misaki: Because I love you, and I really wanted to kiss you.

Usagi: (short laugh) In an ally?

Misaki: Yeah.

Usagi: Do you want to go home?

Misaki: Yeah, can we cuddle on the couch? Maybe take a nap? Watch Grey's Anatomy?

Usagi: (Smiles) That sounds like a perfect afternoon.

[dylanxmin]

A Little Serendipity

Part.20

before / next

•masterlist•

pairing; min yoongi x reader

genre; fluff, slight angst, slice of life au, strangers to lovers au

rating; PG-15

warnings; swearings, drunk yoongi, slight fighting(just yelling)

word counts; 3k

a/n; well, it is quite a long part right? lol,,, IM SO SORRY that it took ages to write, (it’s 2 week) but i had a writer’s block for this fic, and again, i’m so sorry,, but let’s chat a little, how did you find this part? i hope you liked it,, thanks for reading, ily ♡

''Y/N, can you take out the trash?'' after hearing Soobin voice, I blow a breath to the air, taking out trash never felt this tiring in my life, and probably this was all because of me laying on my bed for all day and doing nothing. My body slowly turned into a jelly by days, as I do nothing but pitying myself and yes, I know that is one miserable move, but no one can judge me at the moment, as I won't let it.

''Is it okay if I take out myself as trash?'' Soobin looks at me worriedly, fixing her posture to give me a response, raising her head from Taehyung's legs, ''We are still miserable, huh?'' With her move, Taehyung looks at me with flat lips, probably he was worried about me too, as Soobin tells him everything, and I'm totally okay with this because he is a good guy, making my best friend happy and all. At least one of the people who live in this apartment were happy. ''I am totally okay! Can't you see how fine I am Soobin?'' I scoffed but it wasn't intended to hurt her or anything like that. I just so sickened myself with these behaviors, and now they were stuck with me, and won't let go of me for a second. ''I'm sorry,'' misery was hearable by my tone, but I didn't mind it.

''Okay, that's enough!'' Taehyung and I were surprised by the sudden yell coming from Soobin, as we didn't expect it at all. She is looking very frustrated at the moment, and I can't deny that I'm low key scared at her. ''You. Sit.'' she points the light green couch with her finger, demanding me in a tone that I immediately obeyed. Taehyung's wide-open eyes wandering on Soobin, he was surprised as much as me, which it's understandable because I don't think that Taehyung made Soobin this angry before, and I can say that this is my specialty. ''I. Sit.'' after sitting to the couch I said in irony, but I only wanted to ease the tension she got in her veins but sadly, it backfired.

''Cut the crap, Y/N,''

''Okay, honey. I think we need to calm a little, huh?'' Even though I appreciate Taehyung's efforts to calming Soobin, I knew that it would backfire, too. Her deadly gaze gathers on him and he goes silent in a second, which I tried to hold my laughter as watching them will never make me less entertained, but right now I need to be serious, for not to be killed by Soobin. ''I don't want to become this, but you literally forced me to do this, Y/N. You know that right?'' she holds her hands on his knees, lifting one eyebrows judgmentally. I nodded, and if I have to be honest with this situation, whenever I feel or act miserable, Soobin is the one who always pulls me up with her attitudes, with her rough but correct words, so in a way, it was a relief to see her in this attitudes.

''Look, I know you and Yoongi for a long time, and I can't say that he is a bad guy, but if he said that he doesn't want you, then you have to move on sweetie. It's for the best,'' after she ends her words, Teahyung nudges her with his elbow, shake his head in disapproval, but I ignore his kind warnings. ''Well he didn't say that he didn't want me or anything,'' murmuring in my own didn't go as I plan it, and I understand that by the wide-opened eyes, staring at me in surprise. ''Wait a minute, what?''

''Why did you say that he rejected Y/N, Soobin?''

''Because she was living in her bed for almost a week now, and not doing anything apart from eating, and breathing which she barely eats. I thought that he rejected you, Y/N!'' Both of them now looking at me, their puzzled glances stay on me until I start to speak, which is a very uncomfortable moment for me. ''He never officially rejected me, but with his lack of interest, finally, I understand that he doesn't want to be with me.'' With an exhausted whine, Soobin puts her head in his palm, covering her face, while Taehyung shaking his head, and he tries to hold back his laughter by biting his lip.

''Y/N, what did he say to you?'' Instead of giving him a decent response, I just shrug my shoulders because remembering the moments we had wasn't the best thing I wanted to at this moment, but eventually, I gave up. ''Well, he said that he needs some time to deal with his problems and all, that he couldn't find the answer yet, and something like this.''

''You are such a stupid person, Y/N,'' Soobin start to talk under her breaths, looking at me in disappointment, but I couldn't understand the fuss about what I said. He clearly rejected me with his behaviors, didn't he? Taehyung gets up from the couch to come to my side, holding my shoulders after sitting right beside me. ''Honey, I'm sorry but you totally misread the situation.'' his lips were still flat, but I could read the pity that he feels for me, and still I couldn't understand what they were trying to say.

''If he didn't reject you 'officially' then that's mean, he didn't reject you Y/N, because Yoongi isn't a guy who interprets his words or, his behaviors. He would totally speak to you, in a case like this.'' Taeyhung start to explaining to me, probably gets sick of my silly looks, as I can't understand what they were trying to say to me by calling me stupid. ''He is one straight guy, like the straightest.''

''Firstly, I don't think this word exists, and secondly, are you sure? Because it feels like he rejected me.'' Soobin literally growled at me, before start to talking and telling how stupid I am, all over again, and in a way, I agreed with her. ''I'm telling it for the last time, I know him, okay? I know him and yes, it is not a rejection. Get this, Y/N.'' The room buried in silence, after what she said. I tried to order my thoughts for a second beside my emotions because if it's true, and if he really didn't reject me, so that's mean I still have a shot with him. ''I guess we broke her, baby.'' Taehyung's words were nothing but a whisper for me at the moment, thrill just takes over my body, heartbeats reach my neck, goosebumps appear. Even though they explained to me more than one time now, I still couldn't believe it and didn't want to believe it mostly. Because if I hold my hopes high one more time just to drop them all over again, I couldn't bear the idea of this. I just needed to suppress it, give this possibility a good thought then, maybe I can be happy about it. Yes, this plan sounds good to me.

Well, I gave it a good amount of thought this idea, but whenever I think, it feels like it's not real at all, sounded like a dumb idea but every time I call this idea 'dumb', Soobin was there to punch me or kick, and if she can't be my side physically, she would simply call me dumb as quittance, which I find it very childish but who am I the judge? I literally stayed at my bed for weeks and cried like a highschool girl, and being a high school girl isn't a bad thing unless you are not a grown woman, who has to work for paying her bills, for food and all. I'm almost twenty-six and my behaviors would tell the very opposite.

''Y/N, we are leaving! Are you sure about not coming with us?'' Whoops! I totally forget the dinner thing, but even if I didn't forget it, I wouldn't dare to go out and face with him as nothing happened before or, how many times I thought about his feelings for me, as according to Soobin and Taehyung, he had feelings for me or, didn't reject me? Whatever it is, I just couldn't face him, so I just passed tonight's event. ''I'm pretty sure Soobin, have fun!''

''Okay, I love you, have fun!'' And after the last yelling, she closes the door very loudly that I jumped on my chair. ''Jeez. woman,'' But after a moment, her words start to itching my mind, how could I have fun in this home, with my thoughts? She was clearly mocking with me, but I decided to let it slide away. As I have to deal with my work stuff, and I meant writing when I say it because I need to get my work done or, my publisher is going to kill me eventually. Okay, maybe killing is a little exaggerated will but still, I couldn't judge her, as I came back Seoul for almost four months now, and I did nothing, rather, I have to write at least half of the book that I'm working on these days.

Hours had passed, and I could barely write a decent storyline as most of my paper had a lot of crossing on the words that I wrote but still, it was better than nothing, I guess? When I finally straighten my back cracking voice reach to my ears, shut down my eyes when I feel the pain, the ache reaches through my neck, and I sighed. I didn't know how much time had passed now, but according to my back pain, I could say that it is a lot. ''Okay, now what I am going to do?'' I ask myself out loud, lean on my back until I touch the chair, rubbing my eyes because they were itching in exhaustion. So, I stayed in this pose until I heard the door ring, which it's a semi-surprise for me, as I didn't wait for Soobin to come back this early, but probably she felt sorry for me and decided to cut the night early this time. I stand up swiftly to open the door, which I still couldn't understand why she wasn't using her keys. ''Are you too drunk to open-''

''How did you know that I'm drunk?''

''Yoongi?'' My jaw drops to my chest after seeing the boy leaning on the corner of the door, a silly grin hanging on his lips, looking at me in shock, as I 'know' that he was drunk. After a moment of not knowing what to do and failing to talk to him finally, I could be able to gather my courage to talk. ''Okay, I guess you need to come inside,'' and before I could finish my words properly, he takes a step to the small apartment, walking to the couch as he was familiar with this apartment more than me. I close the door, before following his steps, and watching him sitting to the couch cozily. ''You didn't come today,'' he said as making a statement, but it was obvious that I wasn't there with them, as he came to my place but he was drunk so I hold myself from saying something ironic. ''Do you need to drink water?''

''You didn't come,'' he just ignored my question with a very demanding voice. I didn't know what to do for a second, so I just ignored him just like him. ''Maybe coffee. So we can purify from all the alcohol, huh?''

''You didn't-''

''Yes! Yes, I didn't come today Yoongi. What are you trying to say? For god sake!'' We both look very surprised, as neither of us waiting for this aggressive yelling from me, but hearing the same thing over and over again starts to irritate me, as I could feel the tension between us growing rapidly, his chest starts to move swiftly as well as mine. I watch his expression to go angry from shock, but without waiting any minute, I continued to talk. ''I have a life beside you. You know that right? Plus, I don't need to explain it!''

''Oh you have a life, huh?'' his husky voice spread into the room, misty glares of him stayed on me, there were some emotions that I couldn't understand but decided to ignore it. ''Yes, and this surprised you because?''

''You can have a life but I can't?'' now his voice starts to raise, leaving me in shock with his statement, so he decided to continue. ''When I say that, when I say that I have a life and have something to deal with, you scold me. But here we are, you say that you have a life!''

''Okay I think you are overreacting right now, Yoongi,'' I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his reactions, which his attitudes now making me a little uncomfortable, but what I said made him angrier I guess, as now he stand up swiftly with shaky hands. ''Am I overreacting? Overreacting!'' his hands start to brush his hair, now his whole body was shaking in rage, for a second I thought he was going to throw something at me but thankfully, he did not.

''If I am overreacting then what are you doing? Why are you not coming when we all hang out? Are you chicken out for being at the same place as me? Just because I said that I need some time?'' if someone could see the two of us, probably would think that he was having a tantrum with all of these hand gestures and yelling but luckily, we were alone. But the one who is not lucky right now is no one other than Yoongi. As he called me a 'coward' after all, he has to pay this. ''I am not. Chicken out. I have some things to deal with, you know?''

''Haha. Funny but I am not buying this crap.'' his imitation of the laugh was highly ridiculous and unnecessary, but somehow he manages to trigger my anger. ''What do you want, Yoongi? One second, you want me gone, don't want to see me, but then coming to my house and scolding me. What do you want?'' breathlessness takes over me at the end of my words, semi-coughed for fixing my throat, but just when I stop talking, his husky voice covered the room. ''I'd never not want to see you, Y/N,''

''What?''

''How could you think that? I'm dying to see you every damn day, every moment.'' When he stopped talking, I just stay there quietly, staring blankly at his face because words were pretty hard to establish for me, as what his words now wandering in my mind, trying to make it sense but doesn't work. He sigh. ''I'm not a bright person like Hoseok or, funny like Jin. I don't even know how I got to be friends with them Y/N. I am not an outgoing person. I'm just a man who goes to his studio, locks himself to there, and just works on his music.''

''And you think that I am best at being funny or anything else? I called you Min Yoongi for days, Yoongi,'' I said immediately after he finishes his words because he was being ridiculous.

''Everyone loves you Y/N. You are funny, caring, pretty-'' his eyes widened after what he said, taking his sight from me to landing on the room. ''You think I'm pretty?'' I questioned because I had to. It is just too much information for me at one time. First, he says that he wants to see me every day and then calls me pretty? This man wants me dead, for sure. His shy smile appears on his lips, only to cause me more ache on the heart, taking my breath by my lungs, so we both stay silent. Nevertheless, I could hear my heartbeats, throbbing loudly, and I'm pretty sure that he could hear it too.

''Yes. Yes, I think that you are pretty, beautiful and amazing. As I know that I'm a stupid man who is afraid to break your heart or, couldn't fulfill your needs, but I am sure about one thing that I want you in my life, as more than a friend.'' he ends his words, raises his brows as waiting for an answer, but I couldn't talk at the moment. Neither I manage to talk, nor breathing. Jaw drops to the chest, mouth dried in shock, vacant stares placed on his weak smile. I waited for this moment, for almost three months, and now instead of jumping to his arms, I just stay there, petrified like a statue.

''Okay, I guess this is the time where you say that you want me in your life as more than a friend or, I am going to freak out,'' An instant laughter takes over me until I start panting, his face grows more worried now, but it was so cute. ''I.. Of course I want you in my life as more than a friend, Yoongi. Stop looking at me with those doe eyes.''

''Thank goodness! For a second you got me, Y/N,'' his chuckles echoed with mines, as his steps start to get closer to me, while I could feel my pulse on my body, wriggle on the stomach, as he holds my wrist to pull me closer, nodding as asking for permission. Rather than permitting him, I bumped my lips to his soft ones, tiny giggle slides by his mouth when he deepens the kiss.

''Did I mentioned that you are talented as well?'' he asked after breaking the kiss, caused me to chuckle, and I gave him a little hard hit on the shoulder, but he responded it with a giggle, before leaning to kiss me, he said, ''Well, just to make sure, you are very talented.''

taglist; [ @mochiloverbts ]

[superfreakerz]

Are you still up for a story request? May it be about our ship already in their 80's, reminiscing all their wonderful memories together while up in a hill doing stargazing. I think of this idea 'coz my grandparents anniversary will be in Jan 14. So excited! 😘😘

January 14th, you say? Then I am just in time! ;D Also, I’m sorry in advance if this is too sad, idk why I’ve been writing some angsty things lately. I hope you like it!

“Trip Down Memory Lane”

Rated T for mentioned character death?

Summary: A night under the stars with her husband recalling their old memories together was just what eighty year old Lucy needed to get rid of her fears.

Trip Down Memory Lane

The walk up the hill was hard, especially for Natsu, as he helped wheel Lucy up the hill. Her legs were weak, and she wasn’t able to walk long distances anymore. Not that he minded. She was still the beautiful girl that he’d fallen in love with, even with the gray hair and wrinkles adorning her face.

Aging was a vital part of life. If Lucy was being honest, there were times in her life in which she had trouble believing she’d live up until her eighties. With all of the dangerous jobs and battles she’d fought, could anyone blame her?

But here they were, still alive and breathing. Their lives were peaceful- well, as peaceful as they could be considering they were part of the most rambunctious guild on Earthland. Every day they managed to go to the guildhall and see their friends, who were aging just as graciously as them. They were blessed with two beautiful children, Nashi and Lucas, who were now fine adults. And despite their old bones, they still made time for some dates.

Once they reached the top of the hill, Natsu laid a blanket on the grass before helping Lucy out of her wheelchair. They slowly lowered themselves onto the ground, gazing up at the starry sky. This spot was special to them. Natsu had surprised Lucy many years ago by bringing her there to look at the stars, knowing that it was something she loved to do. Since then, they’d found themselves perched on that hill at least once a week.

Lucy’s lips curled into a smile. They were deep into the forest, far away from all the hustle and bustle of Magnolia’s streets. It was so relaxing.

“We’ve been here so many times,” Lucy said, her voice quiet as if not wanting to disturb the peaceful aura around them. “And yet, I never grow tired of coming here.”

Natsu laughed before joking, “Yeah, because you aren’t the one walking up this damn hill every time.”

“Oh hush. You know I’d do the same for you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

The two smiled, locking their fingers together. Lucy silently noted that the callouses on Natsu’s hands had long disappeared ever since they stopped training and going on jobs. They still held a hint of firmness to them, but not as much as before. He was aging too.

“Do you remember the first time you brought me here?” she asked, a frown stretching over her face. She’d hoped he remembered, but his memory was slowly deteriorating. He remembered all of the big things, but he’d forgotten so many of their smaller moments. Moments that were precious to her. Even though they didn’t talk about it, she knew it was happening. They both did.

Natsu nudged the girl, giving her a grin. Even after seeing that smile for over sixty years, it still managed to make her heart leap in her chest.

“‘Course I do, weirdo,” he said, his hand tightening around hers. “This is where I told you I loved you for the first time. It’s also where Nashi was conceived. That, or Gray’s bathroom. I hope it was here, though.”

“Me too,” Lucy replied with a laugh. “We’ve shared so many memories together. And not just here.”

“Yeah, we have.”

“They weren’t all good ones,” Lucy said, her mind reeling back to all of the times that life had crushed her spirit. Breaking Aquarius’ key, the night Natsu and Happy had left to go train for a year, the entire Alvarez war, they were all memories that brought a frown to her face. Still, everything had worked out in the end, so she couldn’t be too upset about it.

Natsu nodded. He had some bad memories of his own. Igneel’s death, the time he watched Future Lucy die right in front of his eyes, the day that Happy died, there were too many times to count. But all of those times had made him the man he was today. The man who had the world’s most beautiful wife, the two greatest children, and a guild he had been in since he was a child.

“Remember that time the gang switched bodies?” Natsu asked, a grin spreading over his face.

Lucy snorted. “Of course I do. I was terrified! I thought I was going to be stuck as Gray for the rest of my life! There were literal ice cubes coming out of my mouth!”

“Thank god we somehow managed to switch back, because I don’t think I woulda fallen in love with you if you were stuck in that prick’s body.”

“Hey!”

“Kidding, kidding!”

Lucy still nudged the boy before turning her gaze back to the sky.

“Remember when I was sick and you uprooted a whole tree for me to see?”

“Hmm. Nope. Don’t recall.”

“What!?”

“I’m just messin’ with ya, Luce! Of course I remember that! Happy and I got beat by Gramps because of that!”

The two smiled sadly at the thought of their old master. It had been years since he had passed away, Laxus taking his place as master. They were sure that he was watching over them, face-palming every time someone in the guild destroyed something while on a mission.

“Tell me some more memories you remember,” Lucy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Natsu frowned, noticing that the smile on her face didn’t reach her eyes.

“Remember that time we met Ichiya and the others from Blue Pegasus for the first time? And how the guys were all over you and Erza? I wanted to turn them to ashes because of that!” he said, recalling his old jealousy. He didn’t get jealous as much anymore, knowing that no matter how other guys felt, he had Lucy all to himself.

Lucy shivered, the thought of Ichiya sniffing her freaking her out. “Believe me, I remember.”

“What about that time after we beat Erigor and we were starving for days because we couldn’t find any good food?”

“I remember that too! Erza made me try that weird monster she sliced up even though it tasted disgusting!”

“Sounds like Erza!”

The two laughed, the sound filling the air. Natsu turned towards Lucy, only to find tears sliding down her face.

“Lucy? What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I'm… I’m scared, Natsu,” she answered, holding his hand tighter.

“Of me forgetting things?” His wife nodded. “Who cares if I forget a couple of things, Luce? All that matters is I remember the important stuff.”

“But what if you forget those too? What if one day, we come up here again and you don’t remember why this place is special to us? What if you don’t remember that we have two kids? What if you don’t remember me?”

Lucy covered her mouth with a hand, sobbing. The thought of her husband not remembering her was heart breaking.

Natsu quickly sat up, gently pulling her up into a sitting position with him. With his hands on her shoulders, he stared into her eyes, the moonlight washing over her features. His eyes trailed over every strand of hair, every wrinkle, every feature of hers.

“N-Natsu?” Lucy called out. “What are you doing?”

“I’m committing all of you to memory,” he answered, still looking her over. “You’re scared of me forgettin’ you, right? I know that I could never forget you. That’s just not possible, Luce. But if you’re so worried about it, then I’m gonna do my best to make you worry less about it. So, I’m gonna make sure I get every detail right so I can remember you forever. And when the kids visit next time, I’m gonna do the same thing with them. And even with Gray and Erza, and everyone else at the guild. I’ll make sure I won’t forget anyone.”

Lucy’s cheeks warmed as she smiled through her tears. “I hope this works.”

“It will. Look, Luce. I can’t promise that I won’t forget anything. The truth is, I will forget some stuff. But I can promise you that I’ll never forget the moments that count the most. And I’ll never forget you.”

Lucy nodded, and they both laid back down on the grass.

“Remember that time you challenged Erza to a fight and lost right away?”

“Which time?”

Lucy laughed, snuggling closer to her husband as she stared at the stars. Their bodies were aging, there was no preventing that. It was a scary process at times, but their wrinkles, gray hair, and in Natsu’s case, deteriorating memory, were signs that they made it through their worst of times and managed to live long, happy lives together. They were signs of their perseverance.

Their time left together was short, they both knew that. But they were going to make each day a fun adventure anyways.

[sohaveyoubeento-blog]

V is for Vietnamese & Vintage

Us three ladies had always played it pretty safe by way of our lunch dates. Not to say the local deli isn't absolutely kick ass - it's very tasty and very enjoyable every time we go, but in much the same way as I struggle to go to the same country more than once on my holidays (excluding India, you can never have enough India) I couldn't help but think that life's a bit too short to sit in the same eatery every time we meet for lunch, given that the whole day is ours, and within reason, travel is no issue.

The three of us decided that we would try different cuisines every week, and with the girls (Laura and Dani) living in the quieter, leafier suburbs of Otley and Burley in Wharfedale, with me (Alex) living in what I frequently describe as the bronx, 5 minutes from central Leeds but gloriously populated by some of the best food joints in the country (confirmed) they usually end up meeting at mine and then we go into town to try somewhere a bit off the beaten track. Invariably, being three mums of young children, we eat at the speed of rabid dogs and end up having a bit of time to go explore some local weird shop or two, never anything mainstream like a department store. Oh no. We like vintage shops. You know the type, they smell like damp and the inside of your nan's wardrobe, and we prance around pretending to overlook the fact that we are just in a well laid out, slightly more selective charity shop without the undertone of giving. Usually there's some blue haired student with a headscarf and a faint stench of Bobby Orange pawing through piles of shirts and jumpers that are deemed as retro, when they've actually some of them originated in C&A - we remember that place the first time round,depressingly. The whole vintage scene is a bit ironic and try hard and a bit sad at times, but the one thing that it does offer is the piece you are often looking at, generally is one of one only in the store. The same goes for charity shops, generally. We like stuff that can't be bought in bulk.

Dani owns Deluxe Blooms, and is a luxury faux florist, and very good at it too. Laura is a nail technician and spray tanning afficionado, and the owner of Maibella Nails and Tanning. I own a salon called Lexa Hair, and the three of us work together frequently. The ridiculous thing is though, that work is going really well for us, and while in the past we may have dug around in charity shops for a bargain simply to be economical, now it has begun more of a habit. And you know what they say, old habits die hard. We don't have to eat streetfood on picnic tables anymore, and we can shop anywhere we want, but at least just for me, I don't like extravagance and I'm not impressed by labels or price tags. I like pieces that are unique,with a story behind them. My two accomplices sort of get dragged in to it I think, but they seem on board with most of it. I hope.

And street food is the best food on earth, everyone knows that.

We kicked things off with a visit to a fairly new (maybe a year old I think) Vietnamese place on North Lane in Headingley named VietBaker. Inside it's very wooden looking, quite industrial and urban, stained wood everywhere and dark red leather chairs. It smells like the rice cooker that's chugging away in the corner, mixed with plenty of garlic and of course, the fresh baguettes that are stacked up in a glass cabinet above the front desk.

We opted for a sharing platter for £9, and from the menu us Yorkshire ruffians requested spring rolls (the deep fried ones, not the fresh, healthy ones obviously), prawn toast, and 'rustic chips'.

This was skin on chips with salt and pepper (well cooked and so tasty) and the prawn toast was understandably made of baguette slices. It made for a much heavier slab of prawn toast and therefore an even more unhealthy treat but man alive, was it good. The spring rolls were pork, prawn and the usual crispy vegetables inside. Not floppy or soggy, totally crispy and served with a really light and watery sweet chilli dip that's more sweet than chilli. It was all very lovely.

I've personally eaten from here a number of times and I think the Vietnamese have got it absolutely nailed when they make sandwich. Or a Ban Mih. Laura and I opted for one each, chicken for her and pork for me. Dani went for something off the new part of the menu, the fusion section, which even featured a take on beef bourgignon, Vietnamese style. She tried the Shanghai pork belly, served with rice. Her whole bowl was piled high, and we're not talking a polite, peanuts size bowl. More like a ‘free ceramic crunchy nut cereal box’ bowl, with the with tokens on the back of the pack, that you’d send off as a kid. It was huge. The second bowl was just plain rice, which worked really well as the pork alone was…. alot. It was sticky and tangy and rich and all those other wanky words that just mean amazing. I'm trying so hard to limit the wankiness. I like writing and eating, combining the two is hard work though. Bear with me. The slow cooked pork made me feel a bit gutted I went for a sandwich until I got stuck in.

Vietnam was a former French colony, and much like their neighbour Cambodia, found their local best offerings being bastardised to accomodate the 'local palate'. The nice version is that the baguette was the French's gift to the Vietnamese, although I imagine it was more a case of 'put your lovely meal in my baguette for me or you're in deep shit.'

I've never been to Vietnam but having visited Cambodge a few summers back, I remember being astounded at the gorgeous, light, dairy free Asian cuisine that had been shoved in a crusty, warm baguette. Whoever's story was true, it's the absolute bollocks.

They cut this freshly baked baguette open and spread it with patè on one side and on the other mayonnaise (already weird but hang in there) - add a ton of crispy green leaves, cucumber, pickles, coriander and fresh chilies, and add some meat into what little room is left. Enough meat to give you meat sweats. It. Is. Superb.

The pork was very finely sliced, dark and sticky again (here she goes) and you can bang on a fried egg, too, if you're an absolute wrong un. No thanks.

Laura had the chicken which was a milder flavour but none the less tasty and flavoursome. I noticed Laura pulling bits off her sandwich and delicately chewing away at them, while I picked it up and ate it like I'd been sleeping in the dark arches for the last month. I even had to be asked to wipe my face. Sorry, not sorry. No messing with a Ban Mih. Especially not this one.

The bill was a very respectable £11 a head, and they threw in a free set of spring rolls for us, which was a nice unexpected surprise. The place had a steady flow of traffic, and although wasn't packed, I've been on an evening and I think it's safe to assume that's the bulk of their trade. It was fantastic food, very reasonable and highly recommended. Great staff and great location. We'll be back!

Afterwards we drove for about 3 days to find a parking spot anywhere near Hyde Park, so we could check out the newly (ish) renovated (OK sign replaced and possibly ownership changed) Vintage something or other in Hyde Park.

I forget the name, and if I'm brutally honest I can see why. It's alright, but it used to be alot better. The last time I went in there was alot of very old apothecary style wooden drawer units, some weird taxidermy, and unusual pictures in frames that would look incredible in the lounge. This time there was quite a bit of formica, and some hideously orange stained TV units that I guess in some context would be deemed as cool again.

The music collection seemed to be where the most effort had been made. The clothing was actually quite 'quirky' in the sense that you wouldn't actually wear alot of it, there was a whole department that seemed to have been handed over by the owner of the late knob head Jimmy Saville, shell suit after shell suit in every colour of the rainbow, in that non breathable fabric you'd get a two man tent in. Hideous. Still, there are some absolute finds in there. I would encourage people to bear in mind that these shops have a high stock turnaround and in their uniqueness, and ability to replace items based on sales, any vintage shop can be a complete bag of shite one week and a total gold mine the next. Its the luck of the drawer, I love that about them. That and the fact that we call them vintage shops. The three of us refer to them as shit shops, but potato patato.

I find it depressing that as I mentioned before, alot of the 'retro' stuff is just normal stuff we, in our 30s, encountered in our youth. There was a 'vintage phone' that was £15 and I'm pretty sure my gran has it now. It's literally a BT £10 phone still in argos, but clearly it had lived with a heavy smoker, adding to the aged facade.

Some of it was very authentic, some of it was broken crap, but the general feel of the place is a good one. There is more 70s stuff than anything else which is quite cool, but like I say, stock changes very frequently. Dani bought an oversized T shirt with a University football team logo emblazoned across it, and to be honest I would have too. There was a vast array of university related large varsity based sweaters, some unnecessarily cut in half width ways (why?!!!! Serves no purpose now, you fools) and that's the kind of thing I would have liked to look at. But as I was in charge of a one year old who was bombing around the floor, doubling as a human sweeping brush and coming back with more dust on him than the inside of the V6 after the attic stairs have been tackled, I gave it up as a bad job and put my bank card back away. No spending for mum today. Gutted.

The shop is pretty fabulous, on the whole. They do know how to charge when it comes to furniture, but the clothing is far more reasonable. It's not all one off pieces, a couple of items make an appearance a few times and that kind of ruins it for me, I start picturing some huge factory in China making hideously outdated clothing and leaving them in a damp garage for a few years, chucking a bit of tea down them and wearing the cuffs and collars down, before exporting the newly knackered pieces to us dumbasses in our 'quirky vintage shops'. Who knows. It's well laid out, and pretty cool, and although not my favourite, I imagine the next time I go it'll be a whole different experience. Swings and roundabouts with these places. It was an interesting look, and if Parker hadn't been doing his best ferret impression I would have definitely bought a jumper. Well worth a look.

Until next week!

Laura, Dani and Alex X

VietBaker, Headingley

https://www.thevietbaker.co.uk

Vintage Boutique, Hyde Park

https://vintageboutique.com