#i'm sure he has lots of support and no matter what the role was a breakthrough for him

[bizarrelittlemew]

Not to be parasocial and project my emotions, but I really lost it when I imagined Rhys hearing the news about the cancellation. Of course I care about everyone else in the crew as well, but it hit me like a truck when I thought about him and how he might've reacted. It was *the role he was born for*. It made his friend fall in love with acting again.

This was truly a labour of love and I hope the crew is coping well (because I sure as fuck am not, and I don't even want to imagine what it feels like for someone who was involved in the series) ❤️‍🩹

yeah i can't imagine how the cast and crew are feeling, i don't think i'm ready for when Rhys eventually posts or talks about it. i hope and think he'll do more drama roles in the future, since he has shown how incredible he is at it (while still able to be hilarious at the same time), and has talked about how he wants to do more drama. hope to see so much more of him and his work

[andy-wm]

On a personal note...

This is a personal story, so feel free to scroll on past (if you're only here for the Jikookery I can respect that).

I'm posting this because it's connected to what Jimin and Jungkook (specifically Jimin) may or may not be doing with this album and their travel series "Are you sure", and by that I mean coming out publicly as queer and as lovers. If it sounds vague, it is, because I don't know what they're doing yet. I don't know how far Jimin is taking this or what direction he'll go. But if he is going to make his private life public, then my post is relevant even though my experience is a microscopic spec 0f what he will encounter.

I live in a conservative little town on the edge of a big city, we're almost the last stop on the metro train line. This place has 10 000 residents and a reputation for being a little on the rough side. It's not a bad place and the people are not bad people but they won't step aside if you pick a fight, lets put it that way.

There's one high school in our little town, and I am the school librarian. I also run the school's pride club and when I started it 5 years ago (that's when I joined this school) it kicked up a bit of a stink. The community had mixed feelings. I wasn't out as trans at that point, only as queer. The school principal supported the club but wanted me to keep it quiet (I didn't). She wanted me to be appeasing (I wasn't). And when we had challenges from homophobic students, she wanted me to 'let her handle it' ( I didn't).

I responded to bigotry with patience and kindness, modelling the behaviour I expected and having many many conversations about prejudice, the patriarchy, learned behaviour, fear of the unknown, and minding your own damn business....

When I came out as trans to the school community - changing my name and pronouns - I faced some real push back from both staff and students. Students were less openly hostile but sometimes the subtle attempts at bullying are worse. My line manager was really difficult about it. I was a hot topic of conversation. It wasn't a good time. But I stuck with it, partly because I couldn't go back and partly because the Pride Club students were so empowered by what I was doing. They thought I was really brave. I couldn't let them down.

It was a tough time for me personally. Every day was a struggle as I navigated my wavering sense of identity and tried to be true to myself. Most of my family and friends were okay with it but some were not. Some flipped back and forth, some thought I had lost my mind. I had to let a few people go from my life, including one of my closest friends. I've lost a few more since then. I've cried more in the past few years than I have in my whole life and I am pretty tough, so you gotta know - it was a lot.

Fast forward to now. The pride club is well established, homophobia still exists but it's less overt and it's no longer ignored, and we have staff who are active allies. It's definitely a success. Our students to have a safe place where they can be themselves, and slow change is coming to the culture of the school.

It has come at a personal cost though. Not a HUGE personal cost but enough for it to matter. I am recognised and known around town because, well, most people in small communities know each other. But more so because of my role in the school, and because I am the only out and vocal queer person on school staff (yes, there are other LGBTQIA+ staff but they keep it quiet, and I don't really blame them).

At school i still have to correct people on my pronouns on a daily basis, and occasionally a student will throw a comment my way but it's not often these days. I have to come out to all the new staff pretty much as soon as I first meet them otherwise it's awkward. It's just an everyday thing. It's not a big deal but it's tiring, and it's something cis/straight people don't ever have to think about.

What is tough, though, is sniping from the community at large every now and again. I have been targeted on community socials and I've had had some pretty brusque service from local shop owners and service personnel in local businesses. Sometimes I see kids from school at the shops and they point me out to their parents. I pretend it's because they're happy to see me (what the fuck else am I going to do - hide in the apple crate?) They may say a friendly hello... or they may following me through the aisles of the supermarket trying to menace me - yes, that has happened - I just have to wait and see.

I do have allies in the community too - like the gorgeous pharmacist who always gets my name and pronouns right and compliments me (on whatever he can think of) every time I collect my meds. There's a stern woman in the hardware store who makes a point of loudly correcting herself when she uses the wrong pronouns (often). I appreciate this, I really do, but honestly it would be great if she could be a little quieter.

I am not a celebrity by any means, just a small town school librarian. But wherever I go in my small town - to the doctor, the supermarket, the park, or the gym - there's a chance I'll encounter someone who knows my face. Sometimes that makes me nervous.

The point of this long and boring post is to give people who may not know what it's like, a bit of insight into the experience of a regular, everyday person who lives in a conservative place and who is both recognisable and queer. It can be exhausting, and from time to time I struggle with mental health issues. So I have no doubt that for people who are really well known, it would be much, much worse. They would be the subject of public debate on news sites and TV. They'd be tossed into arguments by politicians on both sides of the divide. They'd encounter hostility in person too, and that's really frightening.

So please remember that if the celebs you admire choose NOT to come out, it's because they've weighed up their choices and that's the safest option for them. Support them where they're at, so they can live their best life under the circumstances.

If they do come out, they'll probably need even more support. Please love them, defend them, celebrate them, and validate them. They need you more than you know.

And above all else, be a good human.

PS, no need to comment here, this is purely a PSA <3

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Kalim, Vil: Pyrite, Prince, and Pauper

Wah 😭 I really love the initial art!! The water shimmering and making a rainbow… ✨ (Not used to seeing Kalim without his headscarf though, feels weird to see him bare!)

A Tale as Old as Time.

If Kalim had to pick one word to describe what he was looking at, it would be celebration.

It was both humble and extravagant at once—the city streets, the venue, livened up with flags, confetti, and fanfare. A large elephant fitted with a vest and hat towered over the gathered townsfolk. Seated upon him was a young man in a turban and glaringly white robes, an arm extended to the sky.

A grand party for the public, and all were invited. Children and adults, animals and humans, nobles and street rats.

Kalim broke out into a wide smile. “Wow, it looks like everyone’s having so much fun!��

“You never seem to tire from the idea,” Vil commented dryly.

The supermodel patiently tapped a manicured nail against his arm. “I suppose a host showing his best face to the public is far from undesirable. I’ve certainly been to my fair share of events where the host was less than that.”

“Gahahah! You’re famous, so it makes sense you’d be in high demand at parties. Jamil told me about that red carpet you walked a little while ago. I managed to catch some of it on TV!”

Kalim’s garnet eyes glinted with excitement.

“You were all sparkly and the crowd was so happy to see you! You’re like the prince in this painting, hyping everyone up.”

“My, thank you for your support.” Vil’s lip curled. “I’m sure you’re in high demand as well… albeit for different reasons than I. Many would love to have the attention of the Asim heir on them.”

The third year chuckled, a hand tucked under his chin. “It’s only natural for people to be attracted to that which shines.”

“Shines, huh…”

Kalim folded his arms, inclining his head to one side. His mouth pinched slightly, disrupting the arc of his smile.

“… Hey, Vil. Can I ask you something?”

“You need not request for my permission.” Vil waved a hand. “Continue.”

“Do you really think I shine? Like, on stage.” A pause, then he quickly added, “And you can be honest with me. Please… be honest with me.”

“What’s this now?” Vil planted his hands on his hips. “Certainly, you’re not ordinary by any means, but I’d hesitate to call you a refined gem. A one month boot camp isn’t enough to polish your singing and dancing skills to that of a pro—but you’re not talking about VDC, are you?”

“Ahahah… Looks like you caught me.” Kalim let his arms fall to his sides.

“You can’t fool this actor’s eyes,” Vil said simply. “So? What is it that you’re actually after? It’s not like you to talk in circles.”

“It’s nothing. I… A lot’s been on my mind since winter break. Too many things. When I think about it for too long, I start to wonder if I’m really what people say I am.”

You’re so talented, Kalim-sama.

So handsome.

So smart.

So kind.

The very best.

“Sometimes...” He tugged at his collar, watching how it sparkled and shifted as he maneuvered the fabric. “it feels like I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go. Or like my clothes don’t fit me right.”

The golden boy, the prince to make way for, the sun all looked to. They were the roles he wore, but suddenly they felt hollow.

Lies set adrift on an errant wind.

Dust of pyrite, fool’s gold.

Am I pretending to be something I’m not?

“… I’m not making a lot of sense, am I?” Kalim laughed softly, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have made today feel sad.”

“On the contrary,” Vil tutted, “I understand all too well. All the makeup in the world, the nicest clothes, and the most skilled stylists cannot make a pauper become a prince. A pauper is a pauper, no matter how they present.

“However… a perfect little prince is not all that has value. I’ve played enough parts and been in enough productions to know. There are swash-buckling pirates, daring space heroes, dastardly villains, and, yes, even clever, honest street rats who find themselves in the public eye. Perhaps they did not start off as diamonds, but in the end they proved themselves to be diamonds in the rough.”

Vil lifted his chin—indignant.

“Regardless of how others perceive you or what ensemble you wear, you remain yourself. So long as you hold true to your own moral compass and principles, you shall always be someone who shi… Ough!!”

He could scarcely finish his sentence before he was tackled. Kalim was embracing him tightly, only pulling back when Vil muttered that he was creasing both of their suits.

“Thanks, Vil!! Talking with you made me feel so much better! You’re really not as bad as they say you are.”

Vil frowned. “I’m aware that I have my detractors, but you must learn to be more tactful with your choice of words.”

“Tactful, right! Got it! I can do that.”

Kalim released him and spun around, splaying his arms out. He pretended to present the painting with a flourish, looking back at Vil.

“Someday, maybe I’ll be as sparkly as he is here!”

So I can meet everyone’s expectations. Talented, handsome, smart, kind, better.

But no matter how I might change, I’m still me.

Still Kalim Al-Asim.

And that was something worth celebrating.

[brainddeadd]

baby devil and the team finding out about matttt with however the pole ended!

Support and Shovel Talks

I'm so sorry this took so long! Life has been crazyyyy!!

I hope you enjoy !!

As the only female player on the New Jersey Devils, you had a unique role within the team. The guys didn’t just treat you as one of their own—they treated you like family, more specifically, like a little sister. And when it came to dating, they were very protective.

For weeks now, you’d been hiding your feelings for Matt Rempe from the Rangers, but keeping it a secret now that you're dating from your team felt impossible. But you trusted Nico, the Devils’ captain and the steady hand in your life. If anyone would understand, it’d be him. And maybe, just maybe, he’d help soften the blow for the rest of the team.

~~

The two of you sit down after practice, a few of the guys giving you curious glances as you pull Nico aside. But you brush it off, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in your stomach as you look up at him.

“So, I have something to tell you,” you begin, fidgeting with your water bottle.

Nico raises an eyebrow, that familiar, gentle smile on his face. “Go for it.”

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself. “I… I’m dating Matt Rempe.”

For a split second, Nico’s smile freezes, and you can see the gears turning as he processes what you just said. But then he relaxes, a look of quiet understanding crossing his face. “Rempe? From the Rangers?”

You nod, trying to gauge his reaction. “Yeah. And before you say anything—yes, I know he’s from a rival team, and yes, I know this is probably crazy, but… I really like him, Nico.”

Nico chuckles softly, leaning back in his seat with a look of amusement. “You’re right, it’s a little crazy. But if he makes you happy, then that’s what matters.”

Relief floods your chest, and you break into a grin. “You’re… you’re really okay with this?”

He nods, his expression warm and genuine. “Of course I am. Just because he plays for the Rangers doesn’t mean he can’t be a good guy. And you deserve to be happy.”

You practically throw yourself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Thank you, Nico. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

He laughs, patting your back. “Anytime. Just… you know I have to keep an eye out for you, right? Someone’s got to make sure he’s treating you right.”

~~

True to his word, Nico doesn’t just leave things at a friendly acceptance. A few days later, you find yourself waiting for Matt outside the Devils’ locker room after a post-practice interview. Little do you know that Nico is already a few steps ahead, seeking Matt out for a very important conversation.

Matt’s surprise is evident when he spots Nico waiting for him in the quiet hallway outside the locker rooms.

“Hey, Rempe,” Nico says, his tone even but laced with an undeniable seriousness. “Got a minute?”

Matt looks a little taken aback, but he nods. “Yeah, sure.”

Nico wastes no time getting to the point. He folds his arms, looking Matt straight in the eye. “So, I hear you’re dating our girl.”

Matt’s face softens a little, but there’s a spark of nerves in his gaze. “Yeah, I am.”

Nico nods, his expression unflinching. “Look, she means a lot to this team. She’s like a sister to all of us, and we’d do anything to protect her.” His voice grows more serious. “If you hurt her, if you break her heart, you’ll have all of us to answer to. And trust me, that’s not something you want.”

Matt doesn’t waver, holding Nico’s gaze. “I get it, and I respect that. She’s important to me, too. I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

For a moment, there’s a tense silence as Nico sizes him up, but then he gives a nod of approval. “Good. Because if you’re serious about her, then you have my support. But only if you’re serious.”

Matt offers a small smile, a spark of gratitude in his eyes. “I am. Thanks, Hisch.”

~~

When Matt finally makes his way over to you, he’s quieter than usual. You raise an eyebrow, nudging him playfully. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

He chuckles, scratching the back of his neck. “Not exactly a ghost. But your captain did just give me the shovel talk.”

Your eyes widen, heat rushing to your cheeks. “Nico gave you the shovel talk?”

Matt nods, his lips curving into a slight smirk. “Yeah. Seems like he’s pretty protective of you. He wanted to make sure I’m serious.”

You shake your head, though you can’t help the warmth that spreads through you. “That’s so embarrassing.”

Matt’s smirk softens into something more genuine. “Nah, I get it. And honestly? I kind of appreciate it. Just makes me want to take care of you even more.”

Your heart skips a beat, and you smile up at him, the weight of your secret feeling a little lighter now that Nico’s in on it.

“Well,” you say softly, threading your fingers through his, “if you can survive Nico’s shovel talk, you might be around for the long haul.”

Matt pulls you closer, a playful glint in his eyes. “Good. Because that’s exactly what I’m planning on.”

And just like that, the world feels a little brighter, the future a little clearer, knowing that you’ve got Matt by your side—and Nico watching your back.

[scoonsalicious]

6.2 Lily

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Summary: Lily McIntyre, trainer for new SHIELD recruits at the Avengers Tower, has been in love with her best friend, Bucky Barnes, from the moment she met him. She's been content with her role of the #1 girl in Bucky's life, even if it means she has to sabotage a romantic relationship or two. It'll be worth it when he realizes that they're meant for each other, right? There's just one small problem: Lily McIntire never expected Bucky Barnes to fall for You.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, toxic plants being manipulative and toxic.

Word Count: Bucky done fucked up.

Previously On...: 2.5k

A/N: Please note: I will be taking a one week break from posting starting on Thursday, May 16th, to focus on writing. I will resume posting on Thursday, May 23rd.

If you ever feel so inclined to support my work, hop on over to buy me a coffee; it's much appreciated! <3

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

He was on his way! 

After disconnecting from her call with Bucky, Lily bent down to her front driver’s side tire and, using her car key, pried out the nail she’d run over to ensure it would go flat while she ran the trail. Walking to the edge of the parking lot, she hurled the nail into the woods, getting rid of any evidence that she’d manufactured the current predicament she “accidentally” found herself in.

It didn’t matter if Bucky hadn’t come home from his date last night. Hadn’t told her that he’d even been on a date to begin with. What mattered was that, when Lily had called, Bucky had left the bitch behind and had come running. To her.

And that meant something. 

Right?

Bucky could go out with some slut if he wanted to, but when Lily had needed him, Bucky had dropped everything to be there for her, and that knowledge made Lily’s insides glow with warmth. She was still his number one girl; she shouldn’t have let herself get worked up over one date that probably didn’t mean anything. Bucky had dated before, and Lily had made sure none of them stuck around for very long. This time wouldn’t be any different.

So, Lily waited. She checked her email, she played some games on her phone, she listened to a podcast. Finally, a little over an hour after she’d hung up with Bucky, she saw one of Tony’s sportscars speed into the parking lot and make its way to the trailhead.

Her heart sank at the thought of Bucky sending Tony Stark to help her in his stead, so it was quite a shock to her system when the car pulled up next to hers, turned its engine off, and Bucky himself stepped out. He wasn’t wearing his usual tshirt and jeans, no– he was wearing a rumpled burgundy button-up, sleeves rolled up to the elbows and the first couple of buttons left undone at his neck, and a pair of fitted, black trousers. 

Lily swallowed. His hair was a mess, but she could imagine how put together he must have looked the night before, and that made her stomach twist. He’d made an effort. He’d made a real, genuine effort to dress up for this date that he lied to her about.

“Hey, Lil,” he said, once she got out of her car to meet him. He smiled, but she’d known him long enough to be able to tell when his smiles weren’t genuine, and this one didn’t reach his eyes.

“Hey, Jamie,” she said, offering him a fake smile  of her own to hide her distress. “Thank you so much for coming out. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

“I’m sure Steve or Sam or anyone from the Compound would have been more than willing to help you out, Lil,” Bucky said as he walked to the back of her car. “Could you pop the trunk for me so I can get your jack and the spare?”

Lily bent her head back inside to unlock the trunk, rolling her eyes as she did so. If she’d wanted someone else to change her tire, she’d have just done it herself. Or, you know, not popped her own tire to begin with. But that was beside the point.

She walked around to the back of the car so she could help Bucky move things around in her trunk to get to her spare. “You’re dressed awfully fancy for a Sunday morning,” she said, watching him out of the side of her eye. “You find God and suddenly decide to start going to church?”

Bucky chuckled. “Something like that,” he said. Lily stole a glance in his direction and caught him smiling softly to himself as he pulled her spare out from the trunk with his vibranium hand. Taking her car jack in the other, he moved around to the driver’s side and began loosening the lug nuts with his left hand. Lily shivered when she considered how strong he was, how much power that one hand contained.

Once all the nuts were loosened, he slid the jack under the frame of the car and began raising it. He was annoyingly efficient at this, Lily thought, and she realized her window of time with him wasn’t as big as she had originally anticipated.

“So, where were you when I called this morning, really?” she asked, leaning up against the side of Tony’s car as she watched him work. She just wanted him to be honest with her. She didn’t think she could take it if he continued to lie.

Bucky stilled in his motions. “I… I, uh, had a date,” he said after a moment.

Lily paused, playing confused. “A date on a Sunday morning?” she asked him. “That’s a really weird—oh.” Bucky left the car suspended on the jack and turned to face her, hands shoved into his pockets, and the guilt in his eyes nearly palpable. 

Good, Lily thought. Let him be guilty, now that he realizes I know he lied to me. “I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone, Jamie,” she said, voice deliberately meek and soft. “Why didn’t you say something?”

Bucky sighed and leaned back against her car. “It’s new,” he said. “Like, really new.”

Good, she thought. This hasn’t been going on for a long time. There was still a good chance she could nip it in the bud before it grew into a real problem. “So, when you said you were out with Sam last night…” She left it hanging in the air. Let him be the one to say the word.

“I lied to you,” he said with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

“Why, Jamie?” she asked him. “I didn’t think we lied to one another.” She thought about the hole she’d punched in her own tire. Well, she didn’t think he lied to her.

“We don’t, Lil,” he said. “I just… It seems like whenever I start seeing someone new, you just…” he paused to consider his words, and Lily started to get nervous. Did he know… did he suspect the things she’d done in the past to keep other girls away from him? He couldn’t. She’d been so careful… “You just form a lot of opinions on them, really quickly,” he said, and she released a breath. He didn’t know anything. She was safe. “I wanted to get to know this girl on my own, without any outside influences, before I decided to find out what everyone else thought about her.”

“I only tell you what I think because I care about you, Jamie,” Lily protested in her gentlest voice. She was going to have to walk a very delicate line here, between stressing her point and sounding sympathetic. “I’m just trying to look out for you, that’s all.”

“I know,” he said with a sigh. “I know you are, and I do appreciate it, but… I want to be able to figure out how I feel about this one before I start soliciting opinions about her from everyone else. Does that make sense?”

It did. Fuck, it did. Usually, Bucky was so eager to talk about the new girls he was dating, to introduce him to his best friends and find out what they thought about her, to get their opinions. If he was reticent this time, it could only mean one, horrible thing:

“You really like this girl, don’t you, Jamie?” Lily asked, trying so hard to keep her voice light, when inside, she felt like she was dying.

Bucky looked up at her. “Yeah, Lil,” he said, his dazzling white smile beaming at her and making her heart stop. “I really do.”

“That’s great,” Lily choked out. She turned back to the trunk of her car, pretending to busy herself with its contents so she didn’t have to look at him. “That’s really great.”

She heard Bucky move around and start working on the tire again. “Not really,” he said, his voice sounding dejected. Lily moved her head around from the back of the trunk to look at him. 

“What do you mean?” she asked, a spark of hope coming to life in her chest. 

Bucky let out a long sigh. “I think I might have blown it with her,” he said as he worked to take the flat tire off of her car. 

“Oh no,” Lily said, trying to keep the smile out of her voice. Maybe she wouldn’t have to do anything, afterall. Maybe Bucky had managed to fuck it up on his own. “What happened?”

Bucky was silent for a moment as he replaced the tire with ease. “I don’t really want to talk about it,” he said eventually. “Let’s just say that we left things very… ambiguously. I asked her if I could call her later, she didn’t really give me an answer either way. Just kind of shrugged. If she wanted me to call her, she would have just said so, right?”

Lily felt her stomach do a happy flip, but she put on a fake pout. “Oh, Jamie,” she said, fake sympathy oozing over her words, “please don’t tell me she’s playing mind games like that with you already! If a girl wants you to call her, she’ll tell you to call her, not play hard to get.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Bucky said defensively as he began re-tightening the lugnuts on the tire. “I just… I did something she didn’t like, is all. And she’s probably rightly pissed about it.”

Lily walked around the car to stand next to him as he finished up. “I don’t think I like this, Jamie,” she said cautiously. “You’ve barely started dating this girl, and already she thinks she can dictate your actions? That doesn’t seem healthy to me, at all.”

Bucky stood, running a hand across his face. “Nah, Lil– you’re… you’re getting it twisted. I made a mistake. I know I did, and she’s got every right to be mad at me about it. I need to talk to her, to sort it out.” Lily was losing ground; thankfully, she’d come prepared.

“Listen, Jamie,” she said, abruptly changing the topic in the hopes of getting his mind off this mysterious skank, “I was planning on having lunch up here today, since it’s so gorgeous out. I probably overdid it when I packed my food. Do you want to join me?”

Bucky heaved a sigh and looked like he was about to decline.

“Consider it my way of saying ‘thank you’ for you coming all the way out here to rescue me,” she added, knowing that she was laying it on thick, but not wanting him to walk away. “Come on, we’ll make a picnic of it. It’ll be fun!”

“Yeah, alright,” Bucky said, letting a smile cross his face. “I could eat.”

Bucky Barnes always did have a soft spot for a damsel in distress. With a grin, Lily opened the backseat of her car and pulled out the cooler she’d preemptively packed in the hope that just such an opportunity would arise. Lily was nothing if not prepared. 

Bucky reached for it. “Here, let me,” he said, taking it from her. Lily smiled to herself as she reached back into the car to pull out the picnic blanket she’d packed. 

“Such a gentleman,” she said as she closed the car door and led Bucky down one of the trails. It was a gorgeous late-summer day, and Lily could almost convince herself they were on a real date together. Almost. God, what she wouldn’t give for this to be the real thing. 

After they’d walked for about fifteen minutes, Lily veered left off of the trail and into the woods. “You bringing me back here to kill me?” Bucky asked in a playful tone as he followed her with the cooler.

“Yup,” Lily teased right back. “I definitely have faith in my ability to take out a super soldier on my own.” Her heart swelled when she was rewarded with an amused chuckle from Bucky. 

Soon, they reached her destination: a cozy clearing that sat along the bank of a creek that ran through the park, with a small waterfall that fed a crystal clear pool below.

“This is nice,” Bucky said, coming up behind Lily as she fanned out the blanket. “How’d you find this spot?”

Lily sat down and reached to take the cooler from Bucky, beckoning him to join her. “I was scouting some potential off-trail runs for the recruits and just kind of stumbled upon it,” she told him. She opened up the cooler and began taking out the food she’d brought– all of Bucky’s favorites.

Bucky nodded, then looked at the spread with wide eyes. “You packed all of this for yourself, Lil?”

Lily felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks– she had not, in fact, packed it all for herself, but specifically in the hope that he would end up joining her, though he could never know that. “I guess I just overestimated how hungry I’d be after my run,” she told him as she handed him a bottle of water. “Thanks for joining me so that all this food doesn’t go to waste.”

“No problem,” he said as he began to tear into the food she’d brought. “Thanks for getting a flat tire, I guess,” he added with a laugh.

They ate amicably, making small talk about their upcoming plans for the week, and how Lily’s latest batch of recruits looked. Lily was itching to ask Bucky more about his mystery date, to find out who she was, if she was someone Lily knew; but she didn’t want to bring it up– the less Bucky talked about her, the more likely he was to just forget about her all together, right? Especially if he’d done something to piss her off. Better to keep him distracted so that the window of opportunity for any reconciliation closed without him noticing it.

Soon, the food was gone, the sun high in the sky. Lily and Bucky both lay back on the picnic blanket, staring lazily up into the blue sky. “We should do something today,” Lily suggested, trying not to sound too eager.

Bucky chuckled. “Aren’t we doing something now, Lil?” he asked.

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Later, I mean. Like, we’re having a good time; we should continue it. Go somewhere nice for dinner, do something after, like go to a club or see a show or something. Make a whole ‘friend-date’ night out of it!” Anything, she thought to herself. I’ll do anything, as long as I’m doing it with you. And who knew what could happen in the right romantic setting?

“Yeah, that sounds like it could be fun,” Bucky mused. “Sure.”

“Really?” Lily couldn’t believe her luck. “Leave all the planning to me, then!” She’d make sure she got a table at the most romantic restaurant she could find, and get them tickets to something steamy that would put Bucky in the right mood… She knew just what dress to wear, to show just enough skin to be tantalizing…

Yes, tonight, things were going to change. Lily could feel it.

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[hello-nichya-here]

Every now and then I just remember how Riley was painted as the victim in his relationship with Buffy and it just makes me so mad. The writers keep telling us that she didn't appreciate him and his way of loving her, but we are SHOWN that it was actually the other way around.

Buffy was not perfect, and it's clear she first got attached to Riley because he was a normal dude and she very much needed something in her life to be normal - but when it turned out he also had a secret life, that he was also the "hero" of his group, she accept it. She continued to like him. She still wanted him around.

Riley meanwhile seemed to resent her for being the slayer, for being stronger than him, for having other stuff going on in her life, for having dated/being the object of affection of guys that were stronger than him.

His insecurity is ridiculous. He was literally willing to die just to be a very strong, but also very dead guy, instead of being a completely healthy dude with the strength of a regular dude. He even acts like him not being able to beat Buffy in a fight, even with the "power up" is what is causing her to be "distant" sometimes, not the fact that, like he said himself, she needs to prevent the end of the world every other week and that's kinda stressful and takes a lot of her free time.

He also complains about her asking him to take care of her younger sister, the most important thing in the world to her, so she doesn't have to worry about that while out killing vampires and demons - and he thinks of that as her "not letting her be useful", and then complains again when she gives him a bullshit role in the whole "stopping the doom of all of humanity", even though he just refused the thing that would make him actually useful. He also conveniently forgets things like Buffy asking HIM specifically to take care of her after she was wounded in a fight. He doesn't see any of that as her truly including him in her life and full on needing him like he wants her to - because it's not in the way that allows him to pretend he is THE hero, not the hero's boyfriend. Being important TO her doesn't actually matter, what he really wants is to feel superior, to be more important than her.

And even outside of the Slayer stuff: this dude really heard that his girlfriend's mother was potentially dying, and instead of thinking of how he can be there for her (something he CLAIMS he wants to do) all he can think about is "Why didn't she immediately call me? Why did she tell Spike first?" (I'm a spuffy fan, but come on, she only told Spike because he just happened to show up at the very second she was ready to open up about it and just needed a shoulder to cry on). Everything, even his girlfriend's struggle with the possibility of her parent dying and her needing to step up as a parent to her sibling, needs to be about HIM, his feelings, his wants and needs.

The fucker even has the nerve to cheat on her during all of this. Compare that to Angel going to Sunnydale to give her emotional support after Joyce died, or Spike comforting her before even knowing WHY she was crying and then sending flowers without a card to honor her mom and offer Buffy some compassion, but without disrespecting her very explicit "stay away from me, Spike." It's very clear which of these three guys never actually cared about her, even a little bit.

Hell, Riley is 100% sure that the only way for Buffy to "prove" her love is to suffer for him. Her sister tells him "I like you much more than her ex, you would never break her heart like he did" - and somehow, he doesn't take that as "Buffy and her family fully trust that I'm a good guy that would never do anything to hurt her" (something Buffy herself says to Angel's face in his show) but rather as a "Nothing I do would ever hurt her because she doesn't actually love me the way she loved Angel."

Not to mention: his assumption that Buffy was only ever attracted to Angel because he was a vampire, and thus any other vampire like Draculla or Spike could easily steal her from him, just shows how much he didn't understand her at all.

Buffy started crushing on Angel thinking he was just a normal human that knew about the supernatural and wanted to fight the good fight. She didn't find out about him being a vampire until he lost control for a second and went vamp-face after their first kiss, and it freaked her out.

She fangirled for a second meeting Dracula, but man, come on, OF COURSE the slayer will be excited to see the most popular vampire ever, and she was more than willing to kill him. The whole reason there were any flirty vibes between them was because the dude had literal mind-control powers.

Spike is the closest Buffy ever got to "dating a vampire because he is a vampire" and that was because she was literally craving death. Even then, she was horrified at her own attraction to him, AND there was a different side to their relationship, with Buffy liking Spike because he was the one person that wasn't disappointed and resenting her for being depressed.

For fuck's sake, she had a thing for PLENTY of normal guys - RILEY VERY MUCH INCLUDED!

He was the one that only cared about "who is stronger" and kept insisting that Buffy was the same even after overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

And for the show to then make HER go after him, make HER all sad when he is dating someone else, make one of her closest friends blame HER for everything that went wrong in their relationship, and then make HER basically claim he was right with bullshit lines like "I wasn't there for him like I was for Angel" is ridiculous - specially when, again, what made Buffy want to be with Riley in the first place was her trying to not fall into another unhealthy relationship like the one she had with Angel. They were codependent and when he left it nearly destroyed her. OF COURSE she's gonna try not being as obsessed with the next boyfriend (or with the one after him) because she knows that shit doesn't end well.

Again, say what will about both Angel and Spike, but at least Angel walked away after realizing their relationship was a dead-end that would never make Buffy truly happy, and Spike put himself through hellish torture to get his soul back and make sure he'd be a better man who would never make Buffy suffer.

RILEY being framed as "the perfect guy Buffy couldn't appreciate and let get away" is just insulting. Of all the guys Buffy has ever been with, he is the one that deserved her the least.

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

i don't get why Perfuma is considered good trans representation or just.. trans representation at all.

even if we put aside the fact that she's not a very interesting or well-written character, it doesn't even seem like she was written to be trans. the only reason she is considered a trans woman is because her character designer said that they intended her to be trans. and i think Nate said somewhere that he supports the headcanon. that's it.

it's basically the same as Catra being Latina (or any kind of POC, for that matter). it's not ever mentioned in canon, it just looks like it was added as an afterthought. you would only know that Perfuma was designed to be a trans woman if you were deep enough into the fandom to discover what her designer said about her.

and i get it. i want casual queer rep too, where not everything has to be verbally confirmed. a lot of trans people pass as their gender anyway, and it's not always easy to tell. it's not great to label certain features or body types as strictly feminine or masculine either.

but if that's the motive, they could have at least made Perfuma a more interesting character, so that her being trans wouldn't be one of the only notable aspects of her character.

OR they could have made any of the other characters trans - Entrapta, Scorpia, Glimmer, or Adora herself would have been good candidates. you know why? because they were actually interesting characters and not 2D vegan horoscope girl stereotypes.

a good example of a canonical trans character is Terry from TDP. he's not a main character, he is introduced as Claudia's boyfriend. he doesn't play a huge role in the narrative but despite this, he is still an interesting and fleshed out character.

for one, him being transmasc is actually canon. he talks about it to Viren, how the other elves treated him like a woman at first and how he chose his own name. and this was done in a natural way without coming off as too sudden or expository.

this serves a purpose other than informing us that he's trans. it also helps to build a connection between him and Viren, who was initially disapproving of Terry but responds to this situation with actual empathy and understanding.

Terry also has some notable moments dedicated to him despite being a side character, like when he had to kill an elf in order to protect Claudia and was plagued with guilt because of it. his relationship with Claudia is also pretty well-written and actually healthy, despite the fact that Claudia is a villain. Terry is also a decently powerful character who is actually useful to the plot.

he is also voiced by a transmasc VA, which definitely helps the case. i'm pretty sure Perfuma's VA is cis.

in short, Terry being trans doesn't seem like an afterthought or fanservice, because it was seamlessly integrated into the story and he was already an interesting character in his own right. he was only introduced in the fourth season and he's already a much better character than Perfuma, who was introduced in the first season (if i recall correctly).

[a-star-that-burns-brightly]

The scene where Xander stabs Teruko is like, hands down one of my favorite scenes in the entire series so far. Can I like, talk about that for a bit? It is genuinely such a god-tier setup for not only the themes of trust and deception in DRDT, but how it sets up one of my favorite things about the writing of DRDT as a whole. That is: how painfully aware DT-Dev is of how the standard Danganronpa tropes affect how us as audience members and fans (former or otherwise) of the canon series read and interact with fangans.

lets play spot the komaeda

()()()()() is like the byakuya/nagito/kokichi of the cast

I just hope ()()()()()() doesn't go crazy and kill in chapter 3. that would be way too predictable

()()()()() will obviously die in chapter 5

I think this scene in the LGI MV is the most upfront example of this (and though I won't get too into it because this post isn't about the David MV, I do think it's particularly interesting to note that this scene is in David's MV. Y'know, the liar character. The character that is known to put on a metaphorical mask to hide parts of himself.) And what I love so much about this is that DT-Dev uses these preconceived notions we've gained from our experience with the canon games, and uses that experience to enhance the themes of distrust and deception that are so prevalent in DRDT's story. Enter: Our lovely british boy.

this picture choice has nothing to do with the analysis by the way, I just think it's cute :) Xander is set up throughout the prologue and the first half of CH1 as Teruko's support character, presenting a very similar role to Sayaka Maizono from the first DR game, or Kaito Momota from NDRV3. Kind, upbeat, and supportive, so much so that David basically praises him for it

David: You're always full of energy and bravery to achieve your goals, no matter what they are. Yet at the same time, you're a compassionate person who takes the time to help others.

At the same time, he is by far the most mysterious character at this point of the story, due in part to his missing eye and the knowledge that it was uninjured before the events of the death game. This factor of early-game mystery also brings up some parallels between Xander and characters like Ultimate Impostor and Rantaro Amami. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone was expecting Xander to survive. Given the similarities he shares with first victims of the first game I'm sure a lot of people suspected he would be the first victim of DRDT, and if not that, most likely die in Chapter 5 due to canon danganronpa's self-fulfilling prophecy of killing off the support characters in the fifth case (Chiaki, Kaito, and Kyoko if we're counting DR1's bad ending.) And this is the thing that really makes me go insane. The way DT-Dev subverts these tropes that we've grown accustomed to is by taking them and spinning them on their head. Usually giving us the same, or a similar ending to these tropes, but twisting the execution in ways that leave us surprised and second-guessing what we know. But DRDT doesn't do this immediately. In fact, the first ten episodes of the series follow a very similar formula to the danganronpa games, even having a very similar motive to the first chapter of DR1 in the form of loved ones being threatened. That is, until the end of CH1-5, in which you are hit with this.

Xander: Sorry for this.

This scene makes me go insane. Apart from being wonderfully animated, executed, and amazing for both Teruko and Xander's arcs, it is also the first clue to us as an audience that this is not an ordinary fangan, and that fully putting our trust in the knowledge we have from the canon danganronpa games is a mistake. Because that knowledge will be used to deceive us when we least expect it to. In simpler terms: All that glitters is not gold - not everything is as it seems.

[iamnmbr3]

You might not be interested in this ship, but I was wondering what are your thoughts on lucissa? It seems many people think that it was a marriage of convenience and that they didn’t really like each other.

It probably was a marriage of convenience to some extent - I mean, there are only so many eligible pureblood bachelors, especially if you're a Black and thus have very high standards in terms of who has an acceptable level of wealth and social standing and blood purity. Interestingly Lucius is the first Malfoy on the official Black family tree. I've always liked to headcanon that the Malfoys were a bit newer on the scene compared to the Blacks and thus slightly looked down on and that it was a big victory for Lucius to finally land a Black as a bride. I also like to imagine that maybe Abraxas had designs on Walburga but couldn't get it to work. It's a good match for Narcissa and for Lucius. Perhaps given Lucius's accepting attitudes towards Snape in the book 7 flashback as opposed to Bellatrix calling Harry a filthy half-blood, the Malfoys might be considered a bit too liberal for the tastes of some more conservative family members, but are able to make up for it with their tremendous wealth. That said, it's certainly a respectable, acceptable marriage by her family's standards, and probably a mark of how the Malfoys have come up in the world.

That doesn't mean that there wasn't also affection there too. They certainly don't seem to dislike each other - and are definitely seen together a lot more than Bellatrix and her husband for example. Narcissa certainly gets angry on several occasions when Lucius is insulted in her presence. I do think she is markedly more protective of Draco, much quicker to speak up in his defense no matter the circumstances, and more concerned with his safety and his interests. You could say that's just due to the different relationship that a parent and child have versus a wife and husband, and while that is undoubtedly part of it, I also tend to think that her love for Draco is perhaps a bit stronger and more uncomplicated than her feelings for Lucius. She likes Lucius, and she cares about him. But I'm not sure it's a great love for the ages.

Especially in the later books when she has to step out of her traditional pureblood wife role I think perhaps she starts to find him a bit lacking and her respect for him diminishes a bit. I think they are both changed by the war. She draws on skills and fortitude she never knew she had. And in contrast he becomes diminished, unable to navigate the complex and dire situation he has unintentionally condemned his family to, and too overwhelmed and afraid to truly try. For example in the beginning of book 7 it is she who is able to discern how they should react and who has to take charge of the situation. It is she who is looking out for her family, with little support from Lucius who seems mostly concerned with looking inwards. (Admittedly Lucius has the most to worry about since Voldemort's anger is especially focused on him.) This may leave Narcissa feeling isolated and frustrated and make her respect Lucius less than she once did.

I think Draco takes after his mother a lot more than his father - especially in terms of his magical skill, his aptitude for occlumency, his resourcefulness and creativity. And I think he's more appreciated by his mother. Lucius always struck me as a bit colder towards Draco - willing to send him far away to Durmstrang till Narcissa intervened and publicly humiliating him in book 2 etc. I think perhaps part of Lucius's affection for Draco is more for the idea of him as the Malfoy heir than as an actual person. And I'm sure Lucius is disgusted by Draco's lack of stomach for true violence or cruelty. After all, Lucius's idea of a good time is getting drunk and engaging in a bit of muggle torture with his mates. This too probably proves a source of tension, especially in the later books.

However, I really can't imagine them with anyone else. I think they are both generally aligned in their world views and attitudes. While the marriage may well have been semi-arranged I think both believed in the process and probably went into the marriage with enthusiasm. And I think they're happy to continue the relationship after the war though I'm not sure either would contemplate dying for the other or anything like that. I also don't think interpretations where Lucius is going around terrorizing his family or beating/torturing/abusing Draco fit with canon. I don't think he would do that. Nor do I think that Narcissa would allow it if he tried.

I think their relationship is flawed - but so are they. A nice little, 'awful people being awful together' ship. And I think iterations of them where they are a bit more lovey dovey with each other than I see them are also a valid reading that has a good basis in canon too.

[ambrosiagourmet]

Not to absolve Toshiro of anything, but I wish Izutsumi could know about that little moment

Maizuru: Asebi is missing! Toshiro: She'll find us if she wants to Maizuru: But she hates us! I made sure of that! Toshiro: She'll Find Us. If She Wants To.

It's not a big courageous gesture, but. Izutsumi, it's another someone who saw you and cared about you.

Okay, I've seen this version of the dialogue around a bit and I've been so confused where it comes from? Apparently it's in the anime dub, specifically. Both translations of the manga use pretty similar language, as does the original sub of the anime:

It is in an official source now, so I don't think it's exactly wrong to treat it as canon, but... even then, I dunno. I'm not sure I view the interaction as Shuro being supportive of Izutsumi there, and Maizuru as being the bad guy.

I understand that a lot of people really dislike Maizuru, some to the point of discomfort, and that's fine - I have similar character types that can make me too uncomfortable to like/engage with, so I do understand the negative feelings around her.

But I like her! I think she's an intriguing, messy character. I think she's someone further along in the path of compliance with a toxic system, who has settled into her role as both perpetrator and victim within it, and I think that's interesting.

Maizuru acted as she thought she was supposed to, and it hurt Izutsumi, but I don't necessarily think she singles her out or treats her particularly different from the others in her care... I mean, the hag spell is something she used on Shuro too, when he was younger. She fucking SUCKS at childcare, and she treats people like the are sure to eventually fall into their roles. But she also didn't choose to "purchase" Izutsumi, or to be put in charge of her.

She's only 15 years older than Shuro. At what age was she put in charge of caring for him? Did anyone help show her how to do that? Toshitsugu certainly didn't, and his wife resents Maizuru. Also, for that matter, how old was Maizuru when her affair with Toshitsugu started... and how old was he?

She didn't choose the role of childcare at all, as far as I can tell. She was a ninja, before that, and she tried to use that training to raise kids, and it went uhhhh badly! Shocking! But I don't honestly know that like Hien or Benichidori would do that much better, if they had to make that transition.

I think it's interesting Maizuru's hag is specifically pointed out as using its weapon incorrectly. I feel like that's not just meaningful as a lesson for Izutsumi... I think it says something about its creator, as well.

Anyway, uhhhh, what was I talking about?

Oh yeah, Izutsumi leaving.

I don't personally think Maizuru asking after her was a matter of control rather than concern (it's probably both, really), and don't think Shuro's response is a matter of concern rather than disinterest (maybe that is both too, though).

Even if it was, though, I actually like that Izutsumi isn't there to see it. Shuro should respect her when she's not around just as much (if not more) than when she is. I think it's valuable for people to do well by someone they've hurt (or who has been hurt in the name of the system they benefit from) without that person's gratitude even being an option.

Maybe this is just my personal experience, but I sure know that there are people no longer in my life from whom a choice to respect my boundaries, that I never learn of, would make a positive impact on me. A more positive impact, specifically, than if they made the exact same choice in a way where I'm aware of it.

Sometimes the wounds need time, and sometimes they will never fully heal at all. Sometimes distance is a kindness. Sometimes "she'll make her way back if she wants to," means she'll never make her way back, you know?

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's my wish for Izutsumi, honestly. May she never be asked to grapple with feelings of the people who enslaved her, good or bad. May she never have to think of them again, if she so chooses.

[melleonis]

list of worm characters and how good they would be at force fem

beware spoilers

UNDERSIDERS Taylor (Skitter): unless there's an estrogen spider somewhere in the world, no shot Taylor (Khepri): unfortunately, unlimited power comes at the cost of a rapidly-dwindling understanding of gender Grue: lacks both the ability and the inclination. his fragile masculinity makes him a fine target, however. Tattletale: you'd think she'd be good at it, or at the very least sufficiently-advanced egg detection, but she also believes everyone on the team is straight, so this is gonna be a blind spot for her. Bitch: shockingly good at it if the end goal is puppygirl, stone useless otherwise. Regent: i mean. he could, but what's in it for him? easily bored, no patience for process. at best he could manage getting someone into a tutu for a lark before losing interest. Imp: gaslight girlboss of course she's gonna be great at this. what's this? all the contents of your underwear drawer replaced? you didn't do that... did you? who else could have? so you must have wanted this...right? Parian: if you will not wear the dress, the dress will have to come to you. Foil: nah

EVERYONE ELSE Accord: ugh who wants a tidy feminization? Bakuda: hey maybe you'll get hit with the fem grenade! probably you'll just die, or worse. Bonesaw: oh now we're talkin. unparalleled biomech horror force fem game. the mechanical spider tapped into your spinal column decides when it's time to get you prettied up for a tea party. Canary: shania twain karaoke incident feminizes twelve, birdcage for sure. Cherish: trivially easy to set up an emotional conditioning system. wearing skirt? dopamine hit! wearing pants? kill yourself - whoops. well, she'll have a lot of time at the bottom of the ocean to figure out correct feedback intensities. Clockblocker: in theory one should be able to get up to some mischief while someone is frozen in time, but i'm not sure dennis has the ability to freeze someone without also freezing their clothes, which means this has limited utility. could play a support role for someone else. Contessa: effortlessly trips you into a chain reaction that completely reshapes your life as part of a twelve-thousand step plan to improve humanity's long-term odds of survival by a fraction of a percent. thank you for your service. Echidna: all your evil monster clones are girls for some reason. whether this works depends entirely on how you respond to awkward post-incident questions your friends have about it. Eidolon: yeah i mean he could. but it doesn't make him feel globally, historically important so he's not gonna. Gallant: is "feminine" an emotion he can inflict? girl feelings beam attack? shame we'll never know, RIP. Gregor the Snail: nothing in canon says he can't secrete a mildly acidic ooze that turns you into a slime girl. Jack Slash: broadcast shard should in theory mean he can easily manipulate other capes into getting feminized, but that's less time spent on self-aggrandizing mass murder, so. Marquis: bone structure matters less than you'd think in the grand scheme of things, but yes he can reshape your jawline and cheek bones, give you those child-bearing hips. pros: he doesn't kill women, so you're that much safer. cons: it is going to hurt like a motherfucker. Number Man: oh no your company has fallen on hard times and you've been laid off! and how peculiar that the only business hiring anywhere near you is the maid cafe. it says they're very strict about their dress code but that's probably fine. and food's gotten so expensive but wait these odd imported protein shakes are absurdly cheap... Panacea: you know what the joke is already, come on. Scion: has Path to Victory and would never in a billion years think of using it for anything fun.

and finally,

the Simurgh: best in show. sure, it'll take four years for the triggers and conditioning to work their way through your subconscious but when they do...

BONUS Simurgh/Dragon double-team: Defiant probably never spent enough time close to the Simurgh to get affected, plus he had those high-tech earplugs he designed himself, so surely he's fine. nevertheless, his focus wanders during a critical moment while editing Dragon's source code, and now she's bossier, maybe even a little meaner, and the prosthetic parts she's making for colin's cyborg body are... different. curvier, softer. and every time he tries to find the problem in her code he gets distracted, and she gets more and more imperious. can he find a way out of the Simurgh's conditioning and his AI lover's domination? will he have to seek help from Saint - or worse, Teacher? surely they wouldn't take advantage of him in his vulnerable cyberdoll state?

[chahnniesroom]

tenderness | chapter 1: goodbye hello

[noun] /ˈtendərnəs/

1. the quality of being gentle, kind, or loving

2. the feeling of pain, aching, or soreness

pairing: bang chan x female reader

summary: in a world where soulmates are rare and precious, you don’t know why the universe has decided to give you one. you never could have imagined that they would be an idol, and one that you worked with at that, or the challenges that would arise from your bond.

chapter word count: 3.3k

chapter warnings: none :)

masterlist | next chapter | read it on ao3

"I'm sorry." You stare down at where your hands are twisting together in your lap. "I don’t really know how to say this. But these are going to be the last few weeks that I'm going to be working with you."

You're met with no response and when you dare to look up, all the members are staring at you in disbelief.

"What?" Jooyeon finally breaks the silence in a small voice. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not going anywhere, but I'm being transferred,” you reassure them. “I was asked to join the Stray Kids team, a lot of their future work is going to rely heavily on communication with companies that only speak English and so they want to support the translators as much as possible."

The room bursts into noise at that. It's a bit of relief, the lighthearted threats of demanding that the members of Stray Kids hand you over, the declarations that they're only going to speak English from now on to force you to stay. You get to laugh instead of cry, even though you still have mixed feelings about your new role. It'll be a fantastic opportunity and you know you'll learn a lot, but you're still not sure if it's worth how much you'll miss being a part of the Xdinary Heroes team.

When the group quiets down, Gunil shuffles closer and takes your hand.

“Thank you so much for working with us for so long. We will miss you a lot, but don’t worry, we’ll make sure to work hard so that we can go on tour and steal you back! Fighting!” The rest of the members echo his words and suddenly pull you into a group hug. You blink back tears and try to bask in the warmth of their arms, already missing them.

“It has been an honour working with you. I’m so proud of all of you and am very excited for what the future holds. I still can’t believe you’ve accomplished so much, I still remember when you were still trainees and looking like babies.” You stop to clear your throat but end up having to hold back a laugh when there are immediate protests.

“Hey!” Jungsu whines, pulling back. “You’re not even that much older than us, noona. Gunil-hyung is older than you so you can’t call him a baby!” 

“You guys are all my babies," you say affectionately. "You always will be. I’m so glad I got to watch you grow so much.” You ruffle his hair playfully and ignore when he swats away your hand. "No matter what happens I'll always be on the sidelines supporting you!" 

You tug everyone back into a hug and smile wistfully when you notice more than a few misty eyes. Xdinary Heroes will always have a special place in your heart, not only as the first group that you were a manager for, but also for their bright personalities and unwavering determination. Not for the first time, you wonder if you’ve made the right decision. All you can do is hope.

—

Although nothing has been announced officially yet, there are enough transfers within JYPE to subtly signal big things in the works for Stray Kids. On your first day, you’re relieved to find that you’re not the only new member of Division 1, nor are you the only one coming from Studio J.

The orientation finishes quickly as most policies and procedures are company-wide so you and the other transfers are already familiar with them, although it still takes up the bulk of your morning. The only highlight of training is a short break where all of you are filed into a practice room and are shocked to find yourselves face-to-face with Stray Kids themselves. Introductions are done in a flash, each person basically only has enough time to bow, quickly say their name and a greeting, bow again, before they’re all led out.

While you’ve worked at JYPE long enough to not feel star-struck in the presence of celebrities, you still found yourself caught off-guard by the eight pairs of eyes that had been on you during the brief moment that you had spoken. Of course, you had seen the members in the building before, but that had been more like passing by in the hallway instead of actually having a conversation. Chances are, they had never given you anything other than a perfunctory glance.

After lunch, you’re brought to your new team where more introductions are done and the specifics of your new role and responsibilities are explained. You’re focusing on reading documentation that details all the work that has already been done for the tour when a hand suddenly clamps down on your shoulder, making you jump and let out a little scream. You turn quickly to find a familiar face that’s crinkled with laughter.

Eunsung was one of the first friends that you made at JYPE, back when you were still an intern. He had also been young and new to the company, so it was easy for the two of you to gravitate towards each other even though you worked in different divisions. One of the things you had been most excited for when transferring was the chance to finally work directly with Eunsung after so many years of knowing each other.

“Always so focused, Y/n-ah. It makes you so easy to scare,” he teases.

“Yah!” You stand and smack his arm in response. “It’s my first day here Eunsung-oppa, if you’re too mean to me then I’ll report you to HR for harassment.”

“You’re the one hitting me! And it’s not your first day, if it were then wouldn’t it be your fifth first day or something?” he says, clutching his arm dramatically. “Someone please call for a first aid attendant, I’ve been wounded!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know you’re one of the team’s attendants. I’m sure that you can treat yourself,” you sniff, turning away. 

“Hey, but really, I’m glad to have you finally join the team,” he says genuinely. “I won’t bother you any longer, I know you have a lot to catch up on. Have fun!”

You give him a goodbye hug, then settle back in your seat as he leaves. As much as you enjoy bantering with Eunsung, you’re conscious that it would look bad if you talk too long, especially since your team lead, Yonghwan, is only a few desks away and can likely hear what you’re saying. You feel a bit better when Eunsung stops at Yonghwan’s desk and they exchange a friendly greeting. When Eunsung gestures towards you and they both look over, you smile and wave, a bit sheepish that you were caught watching them.

You turn back to your computer to concentrate again. You’re already beginning to feel overwhelmed by all the files you still have left to look at and the constant emails with new information and meeting invites, but are determined to prove yourself in this new position and help the team as much as you can.

—

The first time that you have an actual conversation with one of the members of Stray Kids, it’s totally unexpected. You’re on the phone with staff from one of the venues in North America and have stepped out into the hallway so you don’t disturb your coworkers. You’ve finally settled into your job and one of your responsibilities includes the organisation of coordination meetings for the venues, something you didn’t realise would be so time consuming or frustrating. 

Partway through your call, Felix passes by the alcove that you’ve tucked yourself into and does a double take when you reply to something in English. One of the vending machine water bottles that he’s balancing in his hands thuds to the ground.

He stares at you with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. Startled, you quickly finish the call, promising to email as a follow up, and bow to him.

"Hello Felix-nim," you say politely, switching back to Korean. "Did you need help with something?

"You-you’re Y/n-nim, right?" he splutters.

“Yes,” you say, surprised. “I just joined your team recently, I’m surprised you remember me.”

“There’s not too many staff members close in age to us, and even fewer are female,” he explains. “You would have stood out even more if I knew you’re so good at speaking English!”

"Ah, yes," you say sheepishly. "I was transferred to help with Stray Kids as your team prepares for your upcoming tour. They wanted more people who could communicate with the overseas companies and venues without needing a translator and I'll also be going with you to help organise things during the tour too."

"Wow! I didn't realise, now I have someone other than Channie-hyung to speak with! Do the other members know?"

Without waiting for a reply, Felix grabs your wrist and pulls you towards the practice room. The rest of the members are spread throughout the space, but all turn to stare as Felix bursts through the door and drops all the remaining water bottles onto the ground in front of them.

"Guys, guys!" he exclaims, waving the hand that was still wrapped around your wrist. "Did you know Y/n-nim spoke English?"

"Oh?" "What? "Say something!"

Ignoring the explosion of noise as they all the boys react, Felix turns back to you. 

"Did you study overseas? You're so fluent!"

"Ah no no no," you say, waving your hands quickly in denial. Your cheeks are heating up quickly under the sudden attention. "My English actually isn't that good. I went to school in Seoul, but it was my minor when I went to university. Actually, this job is good practice since I don't speak it much anymore."

"Say something in English!" Han insists, using English to emphasise his request.

"Uhm, I don't know what to say," you reply, flustered.

"Explain to them why you're working with us now, say what you said to me." Felix nudges you, playfully. 

"I'm working to help the team before and during your upcoming tour. They thought it would be good to have more managers that can speak multiple languages and I'm grateful to have the chance to work with you. Please take good care of me!" You say, bowing to the whole group. Inwardly you cringe at the overly formal tone that you adopted.

"We're glad to have you working with us! Felix is right, your English is very good." Chan pipes up. 

Everyone else jumps to agree, commenting how impressed they are. It quickly dissolves into chaos as they start to yell out any and every English word or phrase that they know. This continues on until someone's phone chimes with an alarm and they all groan, but get up to start practising again.

"I don't want to practise!" yells Seungmin, still in English. "Y/n-nim, take me with you!"

He throws himself in your direction and maknae line follow suit, Jisung going as far as to grip the hem of your pants. You laugh, backing away towards the door.

“I wish you could come with me too, but you probably don’t want to sit through all the boring meetings in my schedule for this afternoon. So really, I think I’m sparing you.” 

The last thing you see before the door closes is Chan, still sitting on the couch at the back of the room. He’s looking over the members, amused but immeasurably fond.

—

You’re quickly integrated into your new team and find that, although you were initially pulled in to help with the tour, the responsibilities of all the managers are blurred. As the tour is still almost a year away, priorities are centred around the upcoming comeback. When one of the staff calls in sick, you find yourself bundled into a van and heading to the boys’ next schedule. 

Not really certain of what you should be doing, you try your best to keep busy doing miscellaneous tasks and staying out of the way. It's not your first time at a schedule, but you've always been there with a definite purpose before, not just as an extra set of hands.

You're in the middle of hanging up different outfits when the members arrive.

Felix brightens immediately when he sees you and switches to speaking English, forcing you to do the same.

"Y/n!" he calls out. "I didn't think you'd be here! It's nice to see you outside of the company building for once!"

"Felix." You bow quickly and glance around to see if anybody is staring at the two of you, slightly relieved when you find nobody is paying attention. "It's good to see you too! I wasn't originally going to be here, but someone else wasn't feeling well so I'm helping out instead."

"Will you be with us the whole day?"

"Uhm," you quickly pull out your phone and check your calendar. "Yes, I think so. Unless they decide that they don't need the extra help."

Felix's smile seems to light up the whole room. Someone from across the room calls his name and you quickly sift through the clothes you've been hanging up to find the ones with his name on the tag.

"These are for you," you hold them out for him to take. "Good luck and have fun! Fighting!"

"Fighting!" he echoes, holding up a fist. “I’ll talk to you later!”

“Sounds good, now go!” You shoo him towards the changing area. You turn to see Minho just on the other side of the clothes rack, watching Felix go with an amused look.

“He’s been so happy to have you on the team,” he says in Korean. “He doesn’t have many people willing to indulge him. A lot of the Division 1 staff have been with us for a few years and back then, even if they could, they weren’t allowed to speak English to help him learn Korean faster. So a lot of them still don’t.”

“Oh,” you say, suddenly unsure. “I- Sorry. Nobody said anything about that. I can do the same if you think that’s more appropriate.”

At that Minho finally looks at you and holds a blank stare for a full minute before his mouth curves into a smirk.

“It’s good,” he finally says. “If anyone deserves spoiling on this team, it’s Yongbokkie. We’re all glad to have you with us as well. Just know that he might end up clinging to you as much as he can, don’t be afraid to tell him if you are too busy for it. We don’t want you to get in trouble on our behalf.”

Before you have a chance to say anything, he leans forward, pulling his outfit off the rack and walking away without another word. Flustered by the strange interaction, you don’t know if you should be flattered that you seem to have approval from one of the more intimidating members of the group or worried that you’ll be scolded by Division 1 about the reason that Felix has taken a liking to you.

—

Although you only attend schedules sporadically, they are definitely your favourite part of your new position. True to Minho’s words, it becomes something of a routine for Felix to latch onto you at schedules when the other members are preoccupied with work or getting ready. He didn’t have to worry about potentially mussing your hair, smudging makeup, or getting caught in accessories. This was especially common on longer shoots, when he grew exhausted and didn’t have the capacity to be so careful about translating everything. He would speak to you in a mix of Korean and English while blinking sleepily, voice growing deeper the closer he was to falling asleep.

The skinship was gradual at first. He would lean into your side while watching something on his phone, fiddle with your hair, or play with your hands, delighted that they were even smaller than his. If the breaks were long enough, then you would let him doze, leaving him vulnerable to the other members who would constantly take pictures of him nodding off. He began to greet you with hugs, wrap his arms around you when you sat on a couch with him instead of just leaning, and the two of you had dropped formalities, especially when speaking in English. 

You have also grown close to the rest of the boys, although you didn’t quite share the same level of familiarity or skinship. It had happened naturally, if Felix was slouched against your shoulder, it was easy for another member to drop onto your other side. They all perked up when you entered the room with drink trays or containers of food, knowing that you had made the effort to learn their favourites. You even shared a quiet camaraderie with Chan, from times where the two of you sat together in silence, both focused on completing as much work as you could during breaks. 

You were surprised but thrilled to be so quickly welcomed and trusted by the group. You couldn’t deny that you were touch-starved and that the skinship was as comforting to you as it was with Felix. It was strictly platonic and apparently common enough for Stray Kids that none of the staff even blinked at the sight of Felix wrapped around you. In fact, it was somewhat of a running joke among the managers, one that you didn’t hear of until about a month into your new position, that sitting on the couches in a waiting room during a schedule was just asking to be glomped on by one of the members.

Even though your main responsibilities were still centred around organisation of the upcoming world tour, you were slowly becoming the go-to manager to fill in when someone else was unable to attend a schedule. As long as you continued to prioritise your work well enough to meet all your deadlines, you were even allowed to be the one to supervise member live streams or help film tiktoks. The tour was still months away, but you were getting increasingly excited for it and the chance to hang out with the group without feeling guilty about other work you could be doing.

—

You’re not quite sure how it all happens. It’s just a blur to you. One second you’re at a schedule, sitting on the couch reading through the details of a contract that you’re helping finalise during a break and the next, there’s a body crashing into yours. 

Your only thought is despairing that you haven’t saved the document recently so you desperately try to protect your laptop from any damage, pulling it away before it can collide with a stray body part. As a result, you lose balance, tipping forward and fall straight into Chan, who’s sitting on the ground tucked between the couch and the low table so that he can work on his computer.

A jolt of energy seems to pass through your forehead, right when it knocks into Chan’s arm. You scramble to right yourself, rubbing at the spot where you touched while Chan does the same to himself. He hasn’t changed into the outfit that the stylists have assigned for him, instead wearing a shirt that has the sleeves cut off, leaving his arms exposed. In the background, Felix, Jisung, and some of the other members are squabbling, but you can barely hear it over the thud of your pulse. 

“Did you-” you start to say.

“Feel that too?” Chan finishes your sentence in a low tone, his disbelieving expression matching how you feel.

Slowly, Chan reaches out and takes your hand in his. The second you touch, there’s that same startling jolt. You’re filled with a strange sense of comfort and you can feel an unfamiliar warmth that’s coming from where your skin makes contact with his.

You and Chan stare at each other, eyes wide.

Soulmates.

masterlist | next chapter

[morganski-19]

Eddie and Shannon's story will never not be heartbreaking to me. It will never not be heartbreaking. It is something that hurts so much to think about, and has so much nuance to it that just adds so much depth and pain that makes the situation ever more heartbreaking.

They were just kids. I am older, in this moment, than both of them when they had Chris, and I couldn't even imagine what was going through their heads. And, if I'm remembering/doing my math correctly, I am only a year younger than when Shannon was when she left. Like that is something that is so crazy to me.

They were really just victims of circumstance. They got pregnant, and given the way they were raised, and where they lived, they might not have had a conversation about all the options. And even if those conversations did happen, they chose to have him. So young.

Eddie, having no idea what to do, and with the fear of not providing for his family, signed up for the military. He grew up in a home with strictly enforced gender roles, and his father's actions forced a mindset onto him that he needed to provide, no matter what that took. No matter what he sacrificed. In many situations, that can lead to the military. Which is what he chose.

And Shannon. Oh, Shannon. If you have no defenders, I am dead. Because I cannot imagine the pain and turmoil you must have gone through. To have, what was possibly your only support system, leave without so much as a conversation is hard enough. Then you go and add the overbearingness of her in-laws, who question her every decision. Because they don't see her as a mother, they see her as a child that messed up, or worse, the person who caused their son to make a mistake.

Shannon carries so much guilt for things that are not her fault. Mainly because she was surrounded by people who probably told her, repeatedly, that it was her fault, in some way. Getting pregnant was a two-way street. And birthing complications are horrible in any sense, but not the mother's fault. It wasn't her fault, and yet she felt like it was.

And then Eddie came back. I'm not sure if it ever says how soon after he returned home she asked him to move to California, but given Chris' age at the time, I can assume that it was too soon. He was dealing with PTSD, and feeling like the failure of a father. Just like he said, he needed time.

So did she.

A lot of people demonize Shannon for leaving, and while I am not saying that what she did was ok, I am saying that it is an incredibly nuanced issue. There's also a point to all of this that I haven't seen anyone say, that certifies her love for her son even more. She left because she knew she could. Eddie was back, so Chris was going to be ok.

She didn't leave when Eddie was deployed, she powered through. She could have, we saw her tell Eddie when she found out her mother's cancer came back. Even though he was going to get honorably discharged, she didn't know that. Shannon waited for him to come back so she didn't leave Chris with his parents. She waited to make sure Chris would be loved in the way she wanted, and the way he deserved.

Do I think that leaving was the best option, I don't know. I cannot fathom being put into either of their situations. Again, I am not much younger than Shannon when this happened. I cannot fathom any of it.

What I do know, is that Shannon thought Chris was better off without her. She truly thought that. With everything piling on top of each other all at once, I can't blame her for that. Not when there is so much that led to this moment.

In the short moments that we did get to see Shannon, there is no doubt in my mind that she loved Chris. There is no doubt in my mind that she did what she thought was best.

And after rewatching season 2, I think they wrote Eddie's perspective of this very well. He was hurt in this, and that made him hesitate. But he still loved her, he understood why she left. He listened and understood why she didn't come back. And while he may not have understood why she asked for time again, or for the divorce, I think with some time, he would have.

I do think they really loved each other, at least at some point in their time together. Whether that be before Chris was born, after, or when they were reunited. They loved each other, and so they kept trying.

Their story was just always headed toward heartbreak. If she had lived, I don't think they would have stayed together or tried again. It wasn't right, for either of them. But they would still love each other, and their son. I firmly believe that.

[ghostflowerhotpotch]

How do you think the spider gang would react to Gwen coming out as trans? I think they'd all be supportive, but I'm curious if you have details

I am going to be honest with you anon, I had been looking at this question for weeks, thinking about it, and...I am not coming up with much.

I am trans, I don't have that much experience with people reacting to that- and I am not making any more comments about that.

Going back to the original question- I think all of them would be supportive; regardless of background or history, I feel doing anything else would be a disservice to the characters, and also, a type of story I really don't have interest entertaining, (Would Noir, being from 40s, be reasonable to have his apprehensions and need to overcome it? Yes, I am interested in seeing something like that? Personally, fuck no.)

Now, it doesn't mean there cannot be hiccups- all well intending, of course.

(Specific characters under the cut because, as always with me, it got long.)

Peter B I see going over the top; talking how brave Gwen is, and that he supports her no matter what, he also reads a book on trans people and tell hims about the people in his universe who are trans. Gwen appreciates it, but it can be uncomfortable at times.

Noir, regardless of time period, would be supportive, but mixes up terminology. The poor guy already struggles with the pop culture lingo, so throwing queer lingo into the mix can make things awkward; specially since, as a spider-man, he has defended the marginalized people of his dimension and is aware of the community, but- that community had its own terminology that may not be appreciated to day. Is a growing curve.

In my opinion, Ham is a much of a man as Bugs Bunny, meaning gender isn't as important as commitment to the bit; so I can see him busting a dress all of the sudden and saying "I get you sis." Accordingly, if asked about his own gender, he is pretty much "normally a guy, but in general whatever fits better with the scene."

Peni I headcanon as nonbinary, so I think she would be happy to meet another person who isn't cis. Definitely would have lots of talk about presentation, tricks for clothes a make up, the works.

Margo is cool about it, there isn't much to say there; she just tells Gwen that it doesn't change anything between them, and she is still invited to come for the slumber parties (Margo has thrown a bunch in the Spider-Society, because anything to spend as little time mentally at home as possible.)

Pavitr: "Oh so you are like a hijra? That's so cool!" (This is a term from a place I am not from, so I can't talk in length about it, feel free to look it up because it is indeed, very cool.) While not the same, he ends up telling more about how people in his dimension see transgender people, Gwen finds it overall really interesting.

Hobie is, of course, cool about it. He is a punk, noncomformist, and "hates labels," he could probably tell Gwen a stupid amount of things about queer history, intersectionally, so far and so forth. Despite using he/him pronouns, I believe with all my heart Hobie would not give a shit about gender roles and dress how he likes, and be okay with any pronouns. This has nothing to do with your question, but I headcanon that Hobie has been the queer awakening of many other teens of the Spider-Society as he strolls down in whatever outfit he feels like it.

Now Miles, is obviously supportive. I think he may be oblivious to many things (I headcanon him as bi for a long awhile, but I am not sure if that's something he knows already or has yet to discover,) so he asks questions, but is always respectful and has no trouble answering. Overall, Gwen thinks is cute how much Miles dotes on her, and reminding her that she will always be the prettiest girl alive to him.

Huh, I guess I had more to say that I expected, this was fun! Thanks for the question and sorry for the delay.

[unma]

Fuck it. I have to do shit myself. Okay. Post time. It's midnight but sleep can wait.

HEY, HAS ANYONE NOTICED THAT HONG LU IS BEING SET UP AS THE SECONDARY FOCUS OF THIS CANTO OR IS IT JUST FUCKING ME?

Okay. That one was incredibly obvious, but let me go into detail.

Yeah sure, we're suddenly getting lore for him again and all, but I wanna draw attention to two things. Firstly, Hong Lu's shinning left eye is compared to the stars in Don's eyes. Secondly, said blue eye is said to have been fading, apparently, which is a "Hey, Dante, what the FUCK did you mean by that? What do you mean it's fading?"

So this is the part where I pore through line after line forming my thesis, but it's midnight and I don't have the time. So I'm just going to talk about my idea of Hong Lu and Don, and those of you more unwell about these characters can jump in the notes of this post ad correct me, capiche? Thank you, let's begin.

Hey. Hey. Do you think Hong Lu's ever-bright personality is going to fade? No, this is a serious question, as he's being confronted by apparently the most amicable of his siblings, who clearly fucking hates him, and Don, who is being directly compared to him and is the only one who has managed to keep a similarly joyful demeanour the entire game, is very clearly about to go through some shit. Like, she's already had to give a lot of way to reality in her delusions, but she's refusing to budge now and the world is refusing to let her be. She is going to have to confront the truth of the matter and open her eyes to see the world for the way it really is, a la the battle with the Mirrors from the source material, and given Hong Lu's blue eye, something that definitely seems to at least support the ever so happy image Hong Lu has going on, is said to have been fading, it is likely Hong Lu will have to go through something similar.

Alas, my not reading the source material here is very clearly biting my ass, because I have no idea what is going to happen to Hong Lu. He's definitely going to be taking a major role here but idk what. Assuming it'll be similar to Heath in Canto V feels much to hasty to me, it might perhaps be like the Intervallo where the two sinners of focus go through separate arcs at the same time, though perhaps much more intertwined. I think Hong Lu's definitely going to be a point of reference for Dante when dealing with Don, or at maybe someone who will be relied on to help with what's about to go down. This is all just speculation on my part, but I cannot help but focus on that comparison. The two are similar, of course, but I need to know how this Canto is going to use that. It's driving me insane that I need to wait until the 17th to see what comes next.

[moon-alight]

Hi, i loved ur "nightmares" jo fanfic and wanted to request an ot9 reaction where they have a nightmare where they lose their s/o and can't find their s/o (and they like cry a lil cuz i feel like nicho cuz he's a softie and maki would a bit but let's leave it at that cuz it's a ot9 reaction) and srry for my vad english, anyway i love ur writing so yeh bye-bye 💗💗

Hello! :) I like this idea, I think it's absolutely adorable. . . also, what does everyone have with nightmares? Do you guys need someone to talk to or something? I'm glad you like my writing and your English is good enough for me to understand so, you're good. <3

Masterlist

&Team reaction to waking up from a nightmare and not finding you

Warnings: fluff, angst, sad &team

Word Count: 1359

-K

He wakes up in the middle of the night with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. The recent events of his nightmare still fresh in his mind, he reaches out to find you but somehow can't.

He quickly opens his eyes and looks around. The spot on the bed where you would usually be is empty and right now he really would've loved your support. He looks around before remembering that you are currently at your house because you have to wake up early tomorrow.

He turns on the lights, sits up on his bed and stares at his phone on his nightstand. He has a discussion in his head, contemplating whether or not to call you but he decides against it. 'It was just a nightmare anyways' he would tell himself.

(He would tell you the next morning and you'd both talk about it which makes him feel better)

-Fuma

He has had livid dreams, sure, but never did he have such a livid nightmare and honestly, it scares him. He opens his eyes and looks around wildly only to find your side of the bed empty.

"y/n?" His voice is shaky but he tries to hide his fear as much as possible. He throws the blankets off of him and stumbles through the hallway. He hears faint voices come from the living room and decides to check it out only to find you watching tik-toks on the couch.

"Hey, baby." You say, smiling softly.

"What are you doing here?" Fuma asks, sitting down next to you. You close your phone and put it down next to you.

"I had a nightmare and didn't want to wake you."

"Me too." Fuma replies and wraps his arms around you. "We shouldn't have watched Nightmares on Elmstreet last night."

-Nicholas

His nightmares are usually about bad performances or something but this one was much, much worse. He lost you, the love of his life, after an argument which he could've fixed. When he wanted to apologize, he got the news that you had died in a car accident.

It all felt so real.

Especially because you two fought literally right before going to bed. He reaches out once he wakes up but you're gone. Instant panic spreads through his body. Did you walk away? Did something happen? Are you gonna break up with him?

You walk inside the room two minutes later to find your boyfriend crying on the bed. "Nico?" You ask, your voice is soft as to not scare him. He looks up, his eyes red and there are tear stains on his cheek. You had never seen him like this.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, you run to his side and sit down next to him. "We fought and you left and then you died! I couldn't say how much I love you, I couldn't say how much you mean to me--" *Hiccup* "You were just gone."

"I'm here, love." You assure him. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise." You pull him in your arms. "I love you, doesn't matter how much we fight I will always love you."

-EJ

He is stressed out. He has been ever since he got the role of leader which meant that he now has so many responsibilities meanwhile he also tries to take care of you. . . it's a lot. Nightmares aren't very uncommon but you not being there is.

He wraps a blanket around his shaking body and he is off to find the love of his life in the middle of the night in the dark dorm. Boy is determined to find you and ultimately does. He sees you stand at the kitchen counter with a cup of milk in your hands.

He walks over and embraces you from behind, letting his body weight fall on you. You jump slightly but laugh when you realize it's your own personalized teddy bear.

"Hey, baby. What's wrong?" You ask, taking another sip of your drink.

"Nightmare." EJ mumbles back. "You weren't there."

"Oh, I'm sorry, bubba. Want some milk to make up for my absence?"

-Yuma

He is absolutely terrified but will pretend he isn't just for the sake of being the protective boyfriend who doesn't need protection but the moment he realizes you're not there. . . he freaks the hell out!

"Princess?" He sits up and looks around with sleepy eyes. "Angel?" A scary sound comes from outside and he's up. "Sweetheart?" He asks again. Nothing. "Bab---AAAAAHHHH!!!!"

You slam your hand over his mouth to stop him from waking the other boys though you're sure they're awake by now. "What's wrong?" You ask but Yuma doesn't reply, no, he wraps his arms around you and holds onto you like you're his lifeline.

"I thought you were kidnapped!" You chuckle and rub your hand through his hair gently.

"Let's go back to bed, shall we?"

-Jo

My baby. ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡) Anyways, he would wake up and stare at the ceiling unable to move. When he finally catches his breath he feels around the mattress with his hand only to find that you're not there.

He would want to go look for you but he's absolutely terrified to even as much leave his bed so he waits this one out. When you finally return to the room he does sit up and looks at you with teary eyes.

"What's wrong?" You ask, cradling his face in your hands. He sobs lightly and you gently wipe his tears away.

"Just a nightmare, it's stupid." You reassure him that it isn't stupid and climb in beside him. Jo holds onto you like a koala for the rest of the night, just making sure you won't leave again.

-Harua

Has a dilemma when he wakes up. Harua had positioned himself against the wall with his phone in his hands, your contact is visible but he isn't sure if he should call you. You were at home, asleep peacefully, he shouldn't wake you but he had clicked 'call' before he could stop himself.

"Yes?" Your groggy morning voice sounds. Harua feels so damn guilty about waking you up. "Harua?"

"M sorry." He reaches to end the call but your voice stops him.

"What happened?" You sound so worried, so caring.

"Nightmare."

"Want to talk about it?" You ask. He hears blankets shuffle and knows you're sitting up now too. So he decides to talk to you about it.

-Taki

He feels indifferent. He had a nightmare but he has had them many times before. . . then why is he currently grabbing onto his phone like an idiot? It rings four times before you pick up.

"Yes?"

"Where are you?" Taki asks, knowing you should've been besides him but you weren't.

"Bathroom."

"Oh, ok." He hangs up and stumbles out of bed. He walks towards the bathroom and knocks a couple of times.

"Yes?" You ask again, still tired from waking up only seconds ago. The door suddenly opens and Taki walks inside. You're glad you just pulled your pants up before he came in. "Hello, a bit of privacy?"

"I had a nightmare." Taki tells you, he looks rather shaken up. You quickly wrap your arms around him and comfort him the best you can.

-Maki

Pain. He feels pain. So much that he can't breathe properly and tears stream down his face. It looked and felt so real. He reaches for his phone and calls you immediately.

"Sorry for waking you." He apologizes when you have picked up. "But I had a nightmare and didn't know what else to do." You were up, you couldn't sleep so this sounded like the perfect opportunity to go to the dorms since you live close by.

"On my way." You arrive about seven minutes later and find him on the couch. His hair is messy and he is still wiping away his tears. "Oh, Maki." You say softly and sit down next to him.

He clings to you and buries his face in the crook of your neck. You chuckle lightly and rub up and down his back, comforting him.