#i've been rotating this idea in my mind for a few weeks now. then made this whole thing in one day

[krismarine]

short cadmium colors pearl animatic!

[maximotts]

♱ 𝖑𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖎𝖓 𝖍𝖊𝖉𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖒 ♱

♱ 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖐𝖙𝖔𝖇𝖊𝖗 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: priest's daughter!Wanda Maximoff

I missed writing her and since it's been a year since @furys-eyepatch dropped this wonderful idea in my ask box, it felt right to start October off with one of my favorite squishies!

confessions of wanda maximoff AU. kinktober masterlist. 18+ only, minors dni. you don't need to add community labels, I've put adequate warnings below. wc: 3.9k. cw: innocent!Wanda/constantly horny!r. sex in a church. fingering. fucking from behind. strap-on use. begging. semi-public sex (no one is around). everything you shouldn't be doing in a place of worship. r thinks saying vulgar things to wanda and seeing her blush is peak entertainment.

“This is kinda the last place I want to be on Halloween, Wands..”

Wanda looked over her shoulder for the sole purpose of giving you an eye roll before continuing to tug you along through the back of the church. “I’m only picking up something for my dad, it’ll just take a second. I did say you could wait outside!”

“And hang around out there by myself? No way, it’s almost dark and there’s a cemetery!” You’d been sidetracked on the way to Natasha’s party, a texted errand from Wanda’s dad bringing you to his office in search of the large bags of candy he forgot to bring home with him. You didn’t mind honestly, the older man was always so kind it was hard to resist any of his requests— much like his daughter, the girl currently standing in front of you grinning.

She cooed at you in the confines of her father’s office, rubbing your cheeks while you swat at her hands. “Aww, are you afraid of ghosts? How cute..”

“Stop it, Wanda!” You scoffed, brushing her off and crossing your arms. So what if you were a little superstitious, who wasn’t? And you certainly didn’t need to let Wanda know; she’d hold it over you like she’d won the lottery. “Just hurry up so we can get out of here…”

Wanda kissed you quickly, soft and placating; an apology for teasing. She always saw you as someone fearless, it was nice to see a concept as harmless as ghosts rattle you. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything get us. If it makes you feel better, I’ve never seen anything creepy and Pietro and I used to spend tons of time here when we were kids.” 

Trailing off as she went about searching, you leant back against the wall with a pout, opting to watch Wanda while you waited. She had yet to change into her costume, insisting it be strictly for the party, but part of you theorized it was just to keep her outfit from her dad. Instead, her bunny costume lay folded up in the backseat of your car and her dress remained on, teasing you a little more each time she bent over. 

With the cooler weather, Wanda added tights to her wardrobe rotation, sheer black nylon hugging every curve from her ankles to her hips. You didn’t know what it was, but something about them left you drooling whenever you thought about the extra layer on your girlfriend for too long. In the past few weeks, you found yourself running your hands over her legs whenever she was close enough, often ending up playfully chided when you eventually grew too grabby during your shared lectures. But now, alone together with Wanda bent so far over the large wooden desk that you could catch just the barest hint of her underwear, you found it terribly hard to control your urge to grab her.

Hesitation gave Wanda enough time to shoot upright, victorious with heavy plastic bags in her tight grasp, “Candy acquired!” 

She made her way back over to you by the door, pressing her lips to the corner of your mouth as she passed, “Now let's get out of here before some big bad ghostie bothers you.” 

“I don’t think any ghosts want to be anywhere near us right now…” Try as you might, you couldn’t help yourself, eyes glued to Wanda’s backside as she led you back through the dark corridors behind the sanctuary. These weren’t proper thoughts right now, especially here, but it was Halloween… what better day to do something a little sacreligious.

“And why is that-” The end of her sentence was punctuated with a surprised oof, the shock of being shoved sideways into the wall cutting her short. Strong hands gripped her hips, balling the bottom half of her dress in your fists as you buried your nose into her long, dark hair. Instinct begged her to let the moan caught in her throat loose, but someone had to be level-headed here… or at least try to be. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I could ask you the same question, wearing this dress with no shorts and showing off.” You palmed her ass while she wiggled, sandwiched helplessly between you and the carved wood. Maybe you’d hoped that a simple bit of groping would satisfy whatever just took over, but it’d been wishful thinking; the more you touched, the more you wanted. “Did you know every time you bend over I can see your underwear? It’s not very nice to tease like that.”

“I-I didn’t know…” Wanda’s head was spinning, your sudden turn of mood rendering her flustered. Having never thought of herself in much of a sexual way, today’s lack of shorts was more of convenience rather than to tease. No matter how far she got from being a virgin, the intricacies of attraction and desire remained partially lost to her, always forgetting not only were you insatiable at times, but you wanted her. “I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry!” 

“No need to apologize, Wands, I’m not mad.” The last thing you wanted was to embed shame to how your girlfriend decided to dress; if anything, the uncharacteristic choice made the surprise more enticing. 

She shivered as you nibbled the shell of her ear, trembling more every second your hands continued roaming, exploring, groping her so shamelessly. “But you can make it up to me by letting me touch you.”

“We’re in a church…” Even so, it was just the two of you in the building, a fact confirmed by one quick glance out into the main room through one of the wall’s cutouts. All alone in the quiet, sacred space. Wanda knew she should protest harder, the mere idea should’ve been off putting, but it wasn’t. Nor was it the first time this scenario crossed her mind.

You’d be lying if you said the setting didn’t turn you on that much more and if Wanda’s shudder as you palmed over her covered sex was any indication, she wasn’t completely put off. Curious fingers poked and prodded, pressing against her in earnest until Wanda was gasping. “Why not? No one would know and it’d be fun.” 

You could practically hear the cogs in Wanda’s brain turning, working overdrive to come up with some answer where she could do the ‘right’ thing and keep those all too good sensations flowing from between her legs. “Maybe in the car?”

She’d expected the proposition to sound more convincing than it was, your contemplative hum against the nape of her neck showing Wanda she probably hadn’t swayed you either. Enticing as the car might’ve been in the past, it wasn’t what she yearned for right now. If you led her out, she’d follow and most definitely enjoy herself, but she’d think about this and what it could’ve been until this very rare opportunity presented itself again, if ever.

“Oh, but I want you right here, sweetheart. What if someone drives by and sees you outside? You know I like to keep you all to myself.” Wanda didn’t stop the hand sliding past the top of her stockings, fingers stretching the thin fabric in search of her panties— the second your fingertips grazed the embroidered cotton you groaned. 

Occasionally you caught her wearing the days of the week underwear she’d splurged on from some online boutique shop, something she bought with the mindset that no one would ever see them, but oh how wrong she was. Initially embarrassed for you to catch her wearing them, she was so relieved when you’d written it off as just another precious thing to love about her. 

“How are you always so pretty, babygirl? Makes it so hard to keep my hands off you,” Two inches further down, you discovered the beginnings of a wet spot, Wanda’s body giving her away despite her meekly suggested location change. “Especially when you get wet so easily. It’s my job to take care of that, being a good girlfriend and all.”

“I can’t help it,” she breathed out, trying to keep her breathing even for as long as possible. It was true, Wanda often found her thighs pressed together after a few touches or too long of a kiss; a fact she only recently discovered upon dating you. 

“I know, poor thing, let me fix it.” With your free hand holding the front of her dress, fingers splayed over her stomach, you held your girlfriend still as you moved the last barrier aside, sliding through her already slick folds as shamelessly as you would if you were in the privacy of your apartment back at home, laser focused on watching the girl in your arms go limp. 

The physical embodiment of a devil on her shoulder as you nudged her sweater out of the way, Wanda couldn’t possibly deny either of you further; the longer you waited, the higher the chance that someone else would wander in. Her cheeks burned red hot, unable to tell how much was from being manhandled mere feet behind the altar or the humiliation of how badly she wanted you to continue. “Please…”

“Please what, Wanda? Take you to the car?” Circling her clit almost did her in, knees buckling, hall echoing with the sound of the bags falling from Wanda’s hand to the floor. You let up and she whined pitifully, hips bucking in search for more of the fleeting pleasure. But if you were doing this, you needed your favorite part: her confirmation. “Use your words and I’ll give you whatever you want, baby.”

“Take me, right here…” She was nearly dizzy with need as she spoke, but the struggle was so worth it once your fingers began working her purposely now, promptly rewarding her acceptance. It was all too easy to forget any lingering worries and focus on her rapidly building orgasm, head and hands falling forward to brace herself as you slid two fingers into her. “Oh god, yes-”

You tutted mockingly, grinning into the crook of her sweet-smelling neck. “Now you know that’s not proper language for where we are. Mind your manners.” 

It was terribly hypocritical considering how lewdly you were stretching her open on your digits, letting her drip down your palm. You could pretty much count on her making a mess, but no matter how familiar of a sensation, it was all you could do not to fall to your knees and see for yourself; Wanda was the only person you’d ever felt so inclined to worship. “You feel so good on my fingers, sweet thing. I wish you could feel how tight you’re squeezing them.”

The poor thing did her best to keep up, but you were so fast, so determined to watch her walls come down in the place she should be doing the exact opposite… The most she could do was moan out her pleasure, heavenly music to your ears. “Can I cum? I’m so close-!”

“Go on, I want to feel you.” Wanda finished with a cry, muffled into her arm, still too afraid to be loud no matter how alone you might be. She shivered and shook, thighs trapping your hand in place as she rode out her orgasm. Even from behind Wanda was a sight, long hair falling over her shoulders as she tossed, hands clamoring for purchase anywhere on the wall she’d never look at the same way again. 

Satisfied with your work, thought she’d be done and more than ready to get out of here, but to your surprise, her hand grabbed your wrist before you could pull out. “What’s wrong, Wanda?”

“Nothing, it’s just..” Wanda couldn’t believe what she was about to say, but it’d be a terrible missed opportunity if she didn’t ask. Rubbing her backside against your front confirmed what she’d felt for a few seconds before, the telltale bulge in your pants providing Wanda the perfect setup to make one of her deepest fantasies a reality. She’d gone this far; what was a little more for the whole way. That’s what she kept repeating to validate this next want. “Do you think we could maybe, um..”

“Maybe what?” Her actions only gave you an inkling into what Wanda was hinting at, but surely she couldn’t be thinking what you thought she was. 

When it came to risky scenarios, you were constantly on the propositioning end, finding creative ways to present your new ideas for Wanda’s approval. What you’d just gotten away with was a giant push of luck, never in your wildest dreams did you ever imagine she’d ask for it. “The rules are you use your words. You have to say it.”

Of course you wouldn’t let her off easy, not when both of you were on the precipice of doing something so scandalous. She appreciated how dedicated you were to her enthusiastic consent, but if she thought about what she was asking too hard, she feared she might fizzle into nothingness. “I was thinking if you were up for it, we might go again?”

“Yeah? With my fingers?” You goaded her with a slow curl of your long digits, guiding her back until you could easily grind your clothed strap on against her, the sharpest squeak bubbling from Wanda’s chest. As you moved this time, you were slow, too slow, knowing as nice as it was, it wasn’t what she needed. Not when she remembered how mouthwateringly full she was a few days ago when you’d last had her in your lap.

“N-No,” Wanda shook her head, mousy and bashful. Her one advantage was facing away from you, fully aware she’d never have the courage to speak up that way unless you forced it out of her. “I meant with your strap…”

The words felt heavy on her tongue, as if someone else said them; anyone but the person she knew herself to be. But you heard them in her sweet, sheepish voice and something feral inside you snapped. You tore away from her unceremoniously, only for a second, just long enough to bend her a little farther, slapping Wanda’s ass once. 

“Fuck, I wish I could keep you here all night, just to see what else I can get a naughty girl like you to tell me what they’ve been dreaming up.” Ignoring her shout, you ripped a hole in her stockings, tearing wide enough that you could play with her from behind, shallowly dipping your fingertips into the hole you’d so cruelly left empty. 

“You’re all I want,” Neck straining over her shoulder to catch glimpses of you undoing your pants, Wanda’s eyes grew wide at the sight of the thick dildo set on your hips, only fluttering closed as you nestled the toy between her thighs, sliding it back and forth in an effort to wet it for Wanda’s comfort. Eager as you were, this one was bigger than she’d taken before and you’d never forgive yourself if you caused her any pain. “Hurry up before someone comes in..”

“Look at you, so impatient,” The tip teased Wanda awfully, drawing low moaned out pleas that were much too pretty to deprive yourself of so quickly. It wasn’t long until her wetness coated your strap, slick and ready for her as soon as you were ready to deliver. “Does my sweet girl want me to fill her up with my cock? Would that make you happy?”

“Mhm..so happy..” Something about being fucked left Wanda’s brain so.. empty, always coaxing her into a blissful relaxation. She supposed it had something to do with not only touch, but your words, sneakily dumbing her down until her only thoughts rested on you and when you’d give her what she waited for. 

Being taken in church was an idea she only allowed to appear in her deepest dreams, shaming herself afterwards for even daring to create such a thought. If anyone was going to give it to her now, it had to be you and to her credit, you’d started this. But logistics were way too much for Wanda to think about presently and, in a mission to make this impromptu sex as good for her as it already was for you, clearing her of any fears was your highest priority. “All I want to do is make you happy, Wanda.”

She knew that was true from the very first time you’d told her, those words only ever given with the most sincere honesty. Combined with the gentle patterns you drew over the sensitive skin of her lower tummy, Wanda let herself be lulled, trusting you to take care of her in the vulnerable state she so loved to fall into. 

“Spread your legs for me a little, just like that…” Everyone would be wondering where you were soon, Wanda’s father waiting on his Halloween candy delivery and Natasha for the drinks she asked you to get, but for this, for her? You’d say screw it all without hesitation to take your time and make this happen however she pictured. “Now beg. Confess to me, little church mouse.”

As you pushed the tip in and stopped, Wanda erupted into a fit of pitiful noises, fighting against your hold to feel that ever lusted after stretch, but you were stronger than her and wouldn’t budge. Being made to beg was equal parts hot and degrading; unfortunately you’d come to love to hear it, discovered it turned her on to do it, and now demanded it whenever the chance presented itself. “I need your cock, need you to fuck me.. please please!”

“There’s my good girl,” With one long push, you filled her completely, overwhelming the needy girl in all the best ways. You gave her just enough time to adjust, rutting into her tight pussy hard and fast as soon as possible. If she was wet before, Wanda was absolutely drenched now, making it all too easy to fuck into her as deep as you dared. “You look so pretty all fucked out, Wanda, begging to be fucked just outside of your dad’s office.. in a church, no less..”

“I.. I didn’t…” She truly hadn’t meant for any of this to happen, but she certainly hadn’t objected too heavily either, especially not to this. Each time your hips met Wanda thought she was done for, that coil in the pit of her stomach tighter than she could ever remember it being. Her entire body felt like a livewire, every touch you provided almost stinging. As soon as you found her neglected clit, Wanda was panting, chest heaving in the small, restricted space between her and the wall. 

She devolved into an incoherent mess, pathetic and helpless noises echoing throughout the otherwise silent halls. In a selfish act, you covered Wanda’s mouth, cementing the impossible to ignore wet sounds coming from your girlfriend to memory. “Do you hear how wet you are for me, baby? I would’ve fucked you earlier if I knew you needed me this much.”

Your teasing was too much for Wanda to bear; your crude words, being forced to listen to how aroused she was. Part of her still chalked this up to some insanely vivid dream. The moment your fingertips slid past her lips Wanda was sucking on them, albeit sloppy and lazily, reflecting how little focus she had as your strap hit her at the perfect angle. She was losing it fast, muscles threatening to give out the closer her second orgasm came. “P-Please, can I-”

“Of course you can. Poor thing, you just need to cum so badly,” Wanda’s pulse raced under your lips, but you kissed her there so sweetly it nearly felt like a joke. Below, your hips moved at a torturous pace, quick and brutal in time with the circles you rubbed into her almost too sensitive bud. If you could just see her come apart one more time- “Cum for me, I’ve got you.”

Wanda’s jaw fell open, spit covered fingers giving her slight reprieve while she bucked and twisted wildly, only managing to stay upright with the help of your strong arms. Fucking her through it all quickly became more for your pleasure, bottoming out to let you grind your own clit against the back of the toy at the join of your hips, clinging to Wanda’s trembling form as you came with a groan into the back of her hair. “I would’ve helped…”

“Trust me, you did more than enough,” you mumbled, nibbling the shell of her ear as you caught your breath. You’d never given much thought to the joys of a joint orgasm until Wanda, finding something special in sharing your highs. Always one to prove how useful she could be, Wanda loved being allowed to touch you, to see how good she could make you feel before you reached your end, but this time she was in no state to do so nor did you need it; watching her was more than you would’ve ever asked for. “You did such a good job, I’m so proud of you.”

Wanda wanted to say something back, couldn’t remember if she’d actually spoken out loud or not, but also couldn’t focus hard enough to think that deeply at the moment. She felt like she spent an eternity there, swimming in some cloud high above the church while your touches turned gentle, stroking over her hips and stomach until Wanda finally started to settle down. 

Thankfully the church remained empty so you let her take her time, holding Wanda steady while you pulled out. Careful as you were, she still whimpered, body worn out and tired, “Shh, you’re okay, pretty girl.”

Turning around let Wanda slump against your front as you leaned into the wall, green eyes hazy and heavy. She drew you into an almost sleepy set of kisses, thanking you with sticky, lip gloss smudge marks along your jaw… until she remembered exactly where she was. “Oh my god, I can’t believe we just did that.. We have to get out of here now!” 

Fumbling terribly, your girlfriend snatched the fallen candy bags from the floor in one hand and your arm in the other, dragging you as fast as her strength would let her. “Be careful, Wanda, or you’ll trip!” 

“I’m fine, just open the car!” She didn’t know if she should be mortified or terrified, praying to every power in the universe no one ever found out about this. Wanda’d never sped out of church in such a flurry, as if the quicker she moved, the longer she could escape the anxiety gaining on her. 

Unfortunately for her, you had no such issues and her inner turmoil only made you laugh. “Don’t forget you liked it. I’m pretty sure you were the one begging loudest-”

“You made me!” To you, Wanda would deny her enjoyment for a while and she’d never think of doing it again, but as silence settled in the car and you turned your attention to the road, she struggled to keep still and not squirm too obviously as she replayed your Halloween havoc.

[sroloc--elbisivni]

bunnyguard reflection

in the spirit of 'fuckit it's my own blog i can be sappy if i want to' as well as 'this took a year and 78k and i get to keep talking about it for at least one more day' now and here is the time and place for personal yap that did not go in the last author's note.

preliminarily speaking, i had this concept in mind before I'd finished either the usagi yojimbo comics OR watching Rise. i spent so much of both of those series fishing out little moments and choices by leo and usagi that made me go 'oh my god i NEED these guys to meet, i need to watch them bounce off each other.' I kept collecting snips of ideas, and dialogue, and encounters that never quite all panned out or fit together because this was just so much fun for me to play in. I had a lot of wanting to turn this into a real story but no concrete frame to build it on, and then in january i saw the year of the otp prompts go by. and went 'oh haha that looks fun.' it was even the year of the rabbit. and then i went 'oh!! what if i did VIGNETTES for these!!' and then less than three days later the Battle Nexus as political element of the Hidden City, complete with connections to the very different other iteration of it that we'd seen, fell into place and suddenly this silly little whim was an actual big project staring me down with an ambitious goal in mind, and I had no idea if I could pull it off.

structuring it as a month by month thing was something i'd never done before. it forced me to wait to find out what would happen, to keep building to something that didn't exist yet, to lay down the track while I was driving the train. and at the same time, it gave me space to grow, to practice putting together a beginning, middle, and end every month. and it gave me something to look forward to, and the excitement of dropping in threads that wouldn't pay off for months, and watching as it went to see what the audience reaction would be. were people getting out of it the things i wanted to give them? was i hitting the notes i wanted? i had the sketch of the year, but i was still learning what was going to happen until the moment the last word hit the page. plot and character choices, but also big thematic stuff! i described November's fic as 'the ten of swords' to Space and then went 'wait a fucking second' and realized that I could draw a connection, in order, between each fic and a numerical card of tarot's suit of swords. (mostly one-to-one --october straddles 9-10, and December loops us back around to the Ace of swords, for new beginnings.) i couldn't have done that on purpose. if i'd had that thought in january i would have gone 'no that's too pretentious and too hard' and avoided it.

also!! this has been a year of my life!! over the course of this series, i've had four different living situations (that lasted longer than a week), two different jobs, and gone back to school. i had to change meds, which was an anxious ordeal in 'am i even going to be able to focus on anything now?' the cat that was purring on my lap while i worked on the first few months has now passed away. this fic kept me company on the flight for my move to a different continent. it kept me sane in the middle of a very stressful summer. it's helped me meet and get closer to some really cool people. i can FEEL how it's made me a stronger writer.

and on top of all that: i am deeply, genuinely, truly proud of this series. i'm glad i wrote it. i'm amazed at how it's turned out. i can see things i would change if i did it over, but i'm glad i won't be. i'm glad this is the way it exists. and i am utterly blown away that there are people who told me they were looking forward to it every month, that they've been following it since the beginning, that they like what i've done with this place. this is the longest-term project i've ever done. it's the most words i've ever put into a single narrative. i can't believe it's never going on my wip rotation again. whadda hell.

i have no idea if i'll ever do anything like this again. i hope it won't be anytime soon--there are other things i want to do in the meantime. but god, am i glad i did it.

[crystalelemental]

Rune Factory 5 is going to be the death of me.

I'm at the Forest of No Return at this point, and things are simultaneously going really smoothly and really badly.  On the one hand, equipment is unreasonably good.  I made a Wind Cloak, which is astonishingly low level for the stats it provides, and now we're all basically immune to damage.  Even bosses are dealing maybe a couple hundred.  I managed to forge excellent twin swords as well, which covers Alice and Hina perfectly, and a Spiked Hammer that makes Beatrice somehow even stronger than I am without an elemental affinity.  I haven't been able to upgrade Elsja's punching gloves, but we'll get to that.

Town friendship is going well, if a bit slow.  Everyone except for Ludmila is level 5 friendship, and Heinz recently had salted rainbow trout as part of his rotating stock, so I bought several to give Ludmila over the next few days to speed that process up.  My wife pushed past my progress, so I know full well another character drops in the town if I do the forest and subsequent section, ruining this progress.  I'm on hold until then.

Which means it's time for sidequests!  Part of it is building up crop levels, which is going okay.  Spinach is level 9 and Kumo has a quest for level 10, so provided my sickle can get to 10, we're in business.  I am less than optimistic, however.  The bigger issue is the other side quests, which are steadily killing me to death.

One is making a gigantic vegetable.  I don't know if Spinach isn't able to become giant, or if I'm doing something wrong, but the Gigantizer isn't working.  Priscilla tells you "when they mature," which I thought meant before fully grown, but that wasn't it.  I tried again with fully grown spinach, but that didn't work either.  So I'm kinda stumped on how to pull this off.  I guess I could try with the corn?  I legitimately don't know what to do with it.

Then there's the tree seeds.  Ryker mentioned wanting oranges, and after like three weeks of having no idea how to find oranges, I cracked and looked it up.  Turns out, there are two completely hidden locations where you can randomly find seeds for apples, oranges, grapes, and general lumber with twinkle trees.  I have found zero orange seeds.  It's been over a week.  I have so many twinkle trees and grapes, but zero oranges.  I need to find these soon, none of the trees do well in winter and Ryker wants goddamned 20 oranges, I don't think I have that kind of time.

Around all this, there's supposed to be a looming typhoon.  My wife told me hers hit in summer, and I'm bracing for that one.  I tend to skip a lot of introductory dialogue since it's repetitive, but I think I skipped Hina mentioning her mom sensing the typhoon coming in, because everyone else was also talking about a big storm...but the next day was a festival so it was super sunny and nice, and now nothing is happening, and I'm wondering if the holiday negated the typhoon and I spent over 200k on Wettable Powder for nothing.

But the grand supreme champion of frustration...is Palmo.  Upgrading shops is wildly expensive.  Not by actual cost, mind you.  In sheer money dollars, I have so much raw cash I could buy every upgrade twice over.  Not even with Seed points, although those are rarer.  With the newest badges, I can farm Seed points whenever I wish, and it's honestly not too much trouble.  No, I'm talking about lumber and stone costs.  The first upgrades were sane.  The second were pricey, but could be achieved.  3000 lumber is downright ludicrous.  Those Twinkle Trees better be packing lumber on the order of 500+ if this is to be in any way achievable.  I've heard Heinz' rotating stock can carry it, but at 500 gold per piece, we're looking at 1.5 million gold per upgrade, for something to the order of 9 million for all upgrades.  This is assuming you can even hold that much on your person in a day, given his rotating stock only opens around 3, and he closes shop at 6.  Just by volume that feels like a multi-day project.  It's outlandish.

I know a lot of this probably isn't required, and I'm reaching the point I very well may consider it optional and move on with my life.  The postgame is also in question.  I don't have any true opposition, but at present there are just too many factors hindering my general progress that I can't even think about that right now.  Between lack of oranges, lack of any substantial progress toward renovating the town, and inability to move forward on story until we get Ludmila to friendship rank 5, I'm kinda souring on the game a bit.

[littlecarnet]

Man, I'd love to make zines again. I used to make them starting around 7 years old, before I even knew the term. I'd draw little comics about things like "What would cats do if they had hands like us?", and then just make a bunch of drawings about cats with hands. Or there was one I did in school based on a field trip to a tidepool and everything I learned. My teacher loved it so much, he made copies for the class.

When I got older, I made fanzines with my friends, mainly about games. At the time, games and game mags didn't focus on girls, so in a way, we were pretty ahead of our time. Just girls just talking about favorite games, tips, and glitches we found. One girl would write, I would draw, and another would take photos of the TV screen to paste into the zine. Then we'd take the mastercopy to Riteaid or the library to make copies. There was a comic shop that hosted local zines, and we'd be part of their weekly rotation.

I stopped when I graduated. I got too busy for creative stuff, and I lost some of my motivation when friends drifted apart due to moving and going to college. Sure I could've made a few on my own, but it wasn't the same. I missed the creative energy of a bunch of us together in the art room or at someone's house, the sound of paper, staplers, scissors, music and laughter as we brainstormed ideas, and eating pizza.

One of my favorite things was buying a blank page book, around 20 pages at least. We used it as a huge art collab book aka an Art Jam. Every week, we'd switch the book back and forth between us, drawing, writing slam poetry, pasting photos, writing down memories between us, and after it was filled up, we'd pitch in to scan it. We all got a copy. We all signed those copies. I have them still. They're treasures to me. They're like time capsules of one of the many eras I missed.

I can't recreate that mood anymore, but I have been wanting to create something again. I just don't know what exactly. I have some vague ideas though:

- I'd love to make a zine about wild foraging in my local area. Like this region specifically. I've never seen a zine, let alone a professional magazine tackle that topic. There's a few herb shops in my area that might appreciate those!

- Or I can make a mini comic! I like to think my art has gotten better since I was seven, so it couldn't hurt to do a little zine based on one of my fics, or something completely original. It could be in a style I've never tried before or medium I've yet to use.

- I could even make one about my camping trip with Lucky! How to introduce a cat to hiking and safety tips. That's the beauty about zines, they can be about ANYTHING!

I'll probably come up with other ideas during my mini vacation. But for now, those ideas feel more vivid in my mind. I have an idea of what I want them to look like, if they'll be in color, or how many I want to make.

[someplace-that-is-else]

GOOD MORNING, LIKERS!!! #also...HAPPY HUMP DAY!!! I hope now that #spring is here, the weather has started to get warmer for you.

And #speaking of warm...in case you missed the headsup yesterday...Amazon #uk was set to have my DARKENED series on sale next week. Darkened Soul, Darkchilde, and Darkened Tabula...#all at a discounted price. So...happy #Easter?

Now...how was the week shaping up? Well...let's see. Otherwise known as...EDITING, TYPING, and WRITING.

EDITING. Well...here we are.

It was the #final formatting sweep before the upload to Amazon for HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES. After that, I double...okay triple check how the formatting looks on Amazon.

It had been a minute for me. 2020 to be exact. I suspect already that the ebook would be a problem versus the book. But...we'll see...

TYPING. In case you missed it as well, my blog was #live!!!

YES!!! The elusive blog was no longer elusive. And it could be viewed with my other blogs at: https://www.tumblr.com/someplace-that-is-else/745798287550021632/traces-of-you-part-the-second.

Meanwhile, my mind was already onto the next blog. On one hand, yay!!! On the other hand, that meant that I had a few ideas in my head. How to #decide...hmmm.

I would like to get my blogging back up to its own routine. At the least, once a month again. It made me wonder...how creative could my mind be? One way to find out for sure. lol.

I #always wanted to rotate. I usually rotated. A writer-based blog one week. A tv show related blog the next. And then back again. So I felt that I would be doing that again.

I even had a tv show in mind. It's been on my mind for a while. And with a surprisingly amount of time on my hands as of late, I definitely had the viewing #research time. But that was going to be a chore for the tv show blog.

#Or...a good challenge.

We would see.

PS. I also have another writer based blog on my mind. Perhaps a #continuation of my 'Traces of You' series that I've been posting.

Hmmm...gotta love the brain and how it works when it's on fire.

WRITING. I was #adamant last week that I would find writing time. I was going to write. But...alas.

I only have myself to blame. So many balls in the air. What could I expect? Well...for one...#better time management. And that I was seeing going on a lot this week. Thank you, Universe, for my manifestation. ;)

So today should also be the return of writing sessions in my life. I felt a bit nervous about that. To be honest. lol.

But I think that was because I have not sat down with myself and outline where I wanted the story to go. And I was scared of my muse. Just like I was with HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES. Of course...same #muse. Also it has been a minute since I've touched on #horror...a genre I have been wanting to get back to.

So as I work today, I'll be mentally #plotting where I want the first few chapters to go. I'll be thinking about characters' motivation. I'll decide which prologue I like better cuz I have two. #suchawriter I would think about Ben (my main character)'s inner life.

In other words, letting the #wip breathe.

That's how this week was looking. :)

[fmpsteelmarrow]

Sliding Mechanic Rework

Over the last week (08/03/2024 - 14/03/2024) I've been developing a different version of the current sliding mechanic as I found it still had quite a few issues which needed to be resolved.

Regular Crouching

The first thing I wanted to try was creating the ability to just normally crouch without it just activating the slide. What I tried to originally do was have it so that you needed to be sprinting to be able to slide. I thought this made sense as with real Parkour you need to build up momentum to be able to do these stunts and moves. I set this up using Booleans which were activated if the character was sprinting or not. This would then go into a branch which would check if you were sprinting when the crouch key was pressed and if you were then the code would know if it needed to start sliding or if false then just crouch. This only half worked though which was frustrating as the crouching wouldn't work from the timeline and cause the character to bop up and down really fast. I then knew I was going to have to rethink how I was going to make the character crouch. I kept the true part of the branch for sprinting but disconnected all the false links to the crouching timeline. I then thought about using the built in Unreal crouching Components instead and this did actually work great. UNTIL I tried sliding on a flat ground which caused that whole chain of code to not work and cancel itself immediately? I then thought I must have to include some more Boolean branches in areas and messed about trying them in the separate crouching code and the sliding code but neither worked. I then decided that this was going to become too problematic to continue trying to solve and fit into my schedule for a mechanic that isn't really needed for my game to actually work. If I decided later down the line if I have time to have a go at it again then I will, but for now I'm done looking into that for the minute.

Braking Deceleration When Sliding Button Released

As you know from my previous video I made on my sliding. I have a bit of code that is triggered when you are sliding that will slow you down faster if you release the sliding buttons mid slide. This I found has been a big part of a lot of my problems such as: Sliding Camera not rotating, Sliding not initialising due to code delays being in place, Camera rotator flickering due to code clipping etc. The way I found out this bit of code was the problem was literally by simply disconnecting it all. After that my sliding works far far better now with only a couple of issues which I solved later. This then prompted the idea in my mind of just not using this code before as it no longer made sense to me really. In real life parkour you cant just be sliding down a slope and say "nah I'm gonna stop now" mid slide, that just doesn't work. This has now simplified my code down far more than it previously was making it far more accessible.

Removed code:

Sliding Up Hill Gradual Deceleration

After solving my many sliding bugs I had the idea to introduce a new feature which would be having the player keep their momentum if they had been sliding down a hill then up a hill which would gradually dwindle down until they stopped and then started going backwards. To go about doing this I just reused my sliding down code with a slight few changes such as setting the sliding down value to initially start at the current player speed. This was to stop any jarring movements or random boosts which I had previously encountered with the sliding down code. The code pretty much would pick between two different lines of code if it detected that you had been going at a certain speed. This is what that looked like:

I thought this was a great Idea until I found the Big issue. The problem was that sometimes if you were sliding on a flat surface and clipped a corner of something then it would think "Oh he must be sliding backwards lets launch him backwards really fast and not stop". For a work around I tried the only thing I could think of and that was to lower the flat surface sliding speed but no matter how low I put it the issue still persisted. I then came to another bad result of just abandoning this idea unless I think of a work around in the future.

Standing Up When not Possible

The final problem to tackle was to stop the player character from standing up underneath a slope when they shouldn't be able to. I had to look into my previous projects code on how you went about stopping this from happening. I found I was going to need to make a custom function and had to create a custom float variable which was set to the value of the capsules half height off of the event begin play. The function works by shooting out a line trace which checks if the capsule component has enough room above it to undo the half height

^ The only problem I had with this which I had to hop onto an unreal forum for was converting this function into a nav component. I found I had to check a box to turn it into a pure function and another to turn it into a const function allowing me to target 'self'.

Now that was setup I had to just implement it into the camera revert code lines on the event tick. I decided to put it before the sequence meaning that I didn't have to waste time having more than one of them.

Side Note Addition: I updated the map during testing of the standing up sliding bug to help me figure it out

Evaluation

Evaluation: this was definitely the most time consuming part of the project so far with many different issues and problems that weren't solved but more so removed. I feel getting this done early in the project though was essential to establishing that Polish to the later end result. In the future though I am going to aim to keep the code simpler and working initially rather than persisting with keep adding to it while known issues exist.

Gameplay Footage:

[purplesurveys]

1802

What's the highlight of your morning routine that sets a positive tone for your day? I'm not so sure how to answer this – I've been on an increasingly downward spiral and find it hard to smile these days. I wish I can get out of this rut :( I don't even have a thing in the morning that helps with my mood; when I wake up, I already have to exert so much energy just trying to get out of bed because it's become really difficult to do even just that.

Are there any new podcasts or audiobooks that have been accompanying your commutes? I have a horrible attention span when it comes to anything audio-centric that isn't a song lol, so podcasts and I were never able to bond well. When I drive or book a Grab, I prefer listening to music altogether or picking a video to watch. 

How do you wind down and relax after a long day? Any particular activities or rituals? I don't know anymore either...somewhere along the way I've lost even my free time because I've been OTing until 10 or 11 PM nearly every night this month. The one thing I refuse to miss out on, despite everything, is time with my dogs. Talking to them, playing tug of war with them, cuddling them...

Have you discovered any hidden gems in your local neighborhood recently? Maybe a new cafe or park? I really want to try that quaint minimalist café nearby, but I guess I'm just a little intimidated because the space is SUPER tiny and I feel I'd get too conscious if I go there alone. Maybe someday.

What's your go-to way of staying organized and managing your tasks right now? I have a virtual to-do list that I try to stay on top of.

Is there a specific dish you've been cooking or enjoying frequently in your current meal rotation? Yeah, I've been making chapaguri (or bibimyeon, if that's what I have at home) and samgyeopsal whenever I can. The noodles and meat just go SO well together and it's one of the few meals I can finish within minutes, knowing how slow I generally eat.

Have you made any changes to your exercise routine lately? New workouts or activities? I don't like working out. I've tried it so many times and everyone always says they feel great afterwards, but I'm always just so miserable during and after lmao. The only exercise I look forward to/find satisfaction in, would be walking.

What's a recent small achievement or milestone that you're proud of? For the first time ever I was able to confide in at least one of my parents about what I've been going through. I've been keeping everything in this whole time but there's only so much you can take, so I started messaging my dad last week about how hard everything has been, and letting him know I've been crying and stuff.

The whole experience has felt super freeing. My mom and grandma have also caught wind and are chipping in with their own ways of comfort and support, and I've been feeling grateful.

Another thing I was proud to finally confront my teammates about my plans to step down. I'm sick of letting it continue being a theoretical idea, so just so they know my resignation is nearer than they think, I just finally said it out loud so that too can be out of my system and out of the little corner in my mind I've been keeping in.

Are there any movies or TV shows you're re-watching and finding new details in? I feel this the most with wrestling! In the past I was largely into it from a very stan-ish perspective, so I was just kinda rooting for my 'crushes' and ignored the actual technicals of wrestling. Now that I'm older I see how it has changed, with me actually invested in what makes a match boring and less boring.

How do you stay inspired and creative during your work or free time these days? That drive to be inspired has definitely taken a harsh stop these days, with January hitting me with a mental blow you wouldn't believe. I'm in a slump, I'm in a rut, however you want to put that type of situation – I'm in it. In the limited free time I have I've been spending it lying on the couch, just anxiously awaiting the next work week and generally being unproductive; and it's frustrating having come to this point and momentarily feeling helpless.

The great thing about slumps is that they're all it is to them – they're temporary. I know enough about myself to know this isn't going to last forever and so long as I'm able to address the things in my way, I'll be back up again. That means going back to museums to feel creatively-charged, wanting to take myself out on weekends to experience new sights and sensations, and having that positive outlook in life I used to have. I'll be ok!!! Just need some fixing and internal troubleshooting, and a little rest :)

Have you come across any interesting articles, websites, or online communities recently? I mean, Reddit's got every interesting subreddit possible so I love hanging out in there. My feed is essentially space content, social history – photos of how life was back in the day, r/HobbyDrama is particularly a fantastic read, and all subreddits for my personal interests, from wrestling to K-pop.

What's the latest hobby or interest you've picked up, and what drew you to it? Not a hobby per se but I've been getting into Seventeen lately and have done nothing but watch Going Seventeen the past weekend. They've helped out a lot with this mental crisis I've been stuck in.

What's the most memorable interaction you've had with someone today? I had a very serious converstion with Trina today and it was me basically telling her to brace herself because I'm very likely to file my resignation by the 31st, latest Feb 1st. Kind of shitty on my part because I initially said I'd hold out for as long as I can and try to stick it out until March... but there's only so much I could take. I tried. I didn't just try, I fucking fought to keep staying.

But when you begin to cry every single morning to the point of hyperventilating and when you start feeling emotionless even towards significant job wins, and once your parents start being on a panicked frenzy because of how quiet you've been in the last 30 days and actually think you should be on suicide watch (I'm NOT getting ideas, but that's apparently how it translates to them lol), that's when you know the sun may be setting and it's time to go.

How do you inject moments of positivity into your daily routine, no matter how busy it gets? I mean I'll hop on Instagram and try to watch a couple of funny reels, and that helps me if only for a few seconds.

Are there any personal projects you're working on right now that bring you joy? Does journaling count? My sister got me a physical journal with these writing prompts – it's basically like these surveys LOL but I try to put in one entry a day. It even comes with a 365-day mood tracker, which, it's the first time I'm doing one so I've been super faithful when it comes to updating that motherfucker everyday haha.

What's a current goal that's shaping the choices you make on a daily basis? Resigning. GUYS IT'S NO LONGER JUST WORDSSSSSS AHHHHHH

Have you visited any local events or markets that have given your weekends a unique flavor? Tbh not really. Not a lot of exciting, hippie things happening on this part of the city.

How do you stay connected with friends and family despite your busy schedule? Instant messaging is always there. Everyone's reachable on Messenger so people haven't felt distant for a long time.

What's the most interesting thing you've learned recently, whether intentionally or by chance? Cody Rhodes was apparently working super small shows (like, high school gym level of small) back in 2016 when he left WWE. It's crazy how high he has soared since then, and even more inspirational to see him not rely on his last name and actually be willing to put in the ugly, dirty work knowing it's the only way he could start completely reshaping himself. Cody rules dude.

How do you maintain a balance between screen time and other activities in your day? I don't. I'm in front of a screen nearly 24/7 but tbh balancing it out is just not one of my priorities, simply put lol.

Have you experimented with any new methods of relaxation or mindfulness lately? Not really. I'm allowing myself to wallow in this rut first, but I'll be back in my element eventually.

What's your strategy for making the most of your weekends and recharging for the week ahead? I hardly sleep on weekends and spend my Saturdays and Sundays catching up with whatever content I've missed on social media – my Twitter feed, watching vlogs, soaking in K-pop shit – because I no longer get free time on weekdays with the ridiculous OT I have to put in.

Have you been dedicating time to any DIY projects or crafts that reflect your creativity? Nope, not really. I've never been artsy.

How do you incorporate learning and personal growth into your everyday life? I ask people about how they deal with things or ask them about their previous experiences about anything really, so I can learn from them. I also observe people a lot. It makes me see what I can emulate from them and what to avoid.

What's a unique tradition or habit that you've cultivated recently, making each day special? Answering the aforementioned journal that my sister got me as a Christmas gift last year.

[survivedsarchived]

it's easy to imagine maria there, welcomed by his mothers with a familial warmth, ushered around on a grand tour by his cousins, full of questions for maria and tommy both about jackson — never fully satisfied with the news adrian brings, the lot of them insistent he's a terrible storyteller without an eye for detail. (he disagrees.) their home doesn't feel as grand as jackson at times, with its slightly smaller walls and a lack of a bar, but it's comfortable and it's cozy and despite how much time adrian spends outside of it, it's home; there's little about it he'd change.

“i hope y'all can make it soon. my moms really wanna meet you.” neither feel comfortable braving the journey here, and he understands; it isn't for everyone. he doubles up on patrols, venturing further and creating his maps, logging infected to understand their movements, to ensure they never have to leave — that any threat is exterminated long before it reaches their walls. these alliances help; to know their borders makes it easier for adrian to determine when he needs to worry. of course, that's not the only reason he comes, to jackson or the other settlements a tentative partnership has been struck with — it's important to remember there's good people out here. that, though there are uninfected as dangerous as cordyceps, not everyone is an enemy.

that they can still live, and not just survive.

he smiles, head shaking slightly. “i know, i know. here one minute, then i'm gone. kinda my style. but i do appreciate the reminder,” he laughs. “—might take you up on it this time around, if a shower's included in a longer stay? i could find a river, but i'm feeling just a bit lazy.” a bone-deep tiredness is more accurate; he'd been away from home two weeks already before beginning the journey here, and the wilderness clings to him like a second skin. as much comfort as he finds in it, he wouldn't mind a rest.

even when that rest is predated by the hounds.

“you think it'd be weird if i asked to meet some of the new people?” he poses the question as he glances around, half-wondering if he can pick them out; it's usually not hard. they're the ones most guarded, as if they expect to wake up from this dream soon. “to ask a few questions. not an interrogation, i promise. just — i wanna know where they're from. and what's out there. i'm still making maps, you know.” she'd been gifted one, showing her the way to his home — marked with prominent obstacles, the typical pathways for infected. “unless you think they're too... unadjusted for it. i don't wanna bother anyone while they're settling in.”

asking maria for help feels bothersome as well, but it feels necessary; the proposal is something that both of their communities could benefit from— but the idea came to him so suddenly, and so when it's said now, it's still only half-formed. “well— uh. okay. it's, like, a long way between us, right? well, i kinda have an idea on making it a bit more bearable.” he pulls a map from his pocket, old-world, fading and scribbled on with indecipherable imagery and phrases, all of which is ignored as he points to a circled location. “this is a bed-and-breakfast, located almost exactly at a halfway point. it's a good building, one of those old-ass ones from long before the end, still standing with barely anything wrong with it. in a good, defensible position, too.”

adrian glances up at maria, a youthful glint in his eye. “what if we made it a... pit stop, or something, between us? get some volunteers from both of our communities to rotate out guarding it. it's within radio range, so anyone staying there wouldn't be isolated. i'd just need a few of your patrol guys to help me clear some infected that's gathered nearby, help with some repairs, which i've got a good idea on where to find supplies for...” he trails off, still looking at maria with a hint of pride — but saying it aloud makes it sound so... implausible. “do you... do you think it's a good idea?”

he could return again next week, and they'd still make him go through the process.  they have to be careful, they have to protect what they've worked so hard to build.  it's already hard losing people,  but losing people to the infection always hits even harder.  she's insistent for her people, for their future --- but she gathers that adrian isn't all that comfortable with it, so she lets it go, offering a warm smile instead.  ❝  i understand.  it's not always easy to get away.  tommy and i have been talking about heading your way for months,  but you know how that goes -- - bags packed, boots on, and suddenly, there's something new we need to take care of here.  but we'll get there someday soon,  ❞   she promises.  ❝  you know you're welcome to stick around longer when you come by, ❞   she reminds,  something she's told him before.  providing hospitality is important, even if he has no intentions of living here.  she appreciates the connection their communities have and finds it important adrian sees this as a second home, if ever he may need to turn to it. 

he eyes narrow in on him for a moment before she smiles and nods her head.  ❝  we'll stick to the dogs,  ❞   she promises.  it's not just about having them check for infection -- it's about the way they guard this place,  the threat they pose;  they've come to realize that people who only wish to cause trouble inside the walls of jackson might not see it worth the trouble.  their reputation is perfectly crafted in order to entice fear on the outside, full of warmth and a sense of home on the inside.  

she hums, glancing around the community for a moment before looking back to adrian.  ❝ people around here are usually understanding.  they've been without it before.  it's when we lose powers for days that people start to panic,  ❞   she notes.  luckily, it's been a while since that's happened.  they've done their best to prepare for the outrage in the meantime.   her smile fills with pride,  appreciative of his words.   ❝ i'm happy for it.  it feels good, being part of a community again.  it's not just this place that keeps us alive.  it's our friendships, our families.  ❞   she learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with her grief is to do something useful with it,  to pour her heart into building this community,  and as careful as they still are, it's nice, knowing they can still help people.  

she nods, pleased to hear that the notion of community is what's helped them, too.  but as he tells her he needs her help,  her head tilts to the side,  eyes glancing over his features as she tries to figure out what that may be.  ❝  not for trouble,  that's a good sign,  so --- what can i help you with, adrian?  ❞

[bangtanreadingcorner]

the fact is • jeon jeongguk

plot – you're a waitress that gets stuck serving jeon jeongguk, who can't make his mind up on what to eat.

words – 6.4K

"Indecisive snot, aren't you?"

The words are out before you could stop them. Your natural instinct is to take it back and apologize, but this idiot has pushed you over the edge. He has changed his order six times and that was after adding sides and removing this or that. The customer - the arrogant brat of a chaebol, you thought to yourself - looking at his menu snapped his gaze to you, eyes widening in surprise, disbelief and was that intrigue? Nope. Probably just a trick of the light.

"Excuse me?" He says, eyebrows still raised to high heaven.

You weigh your options silently for a few moments. You could try and kiss his ass and loose your job. Or you could finish what you started and loose your job. Because there was no question, you were loosing your job. Speaking to a customer like that, in a restaurant as high end as this? The ultimate no-no.

The choice was a no brainer.

You give him a flat look, "Are you deaf?"

A surprised scoff leaves him and for a moment he stares at you, and then a smirk pulls at the corners of his mouth. "Do you not know who I am?"

"Of course I know who you are, Jeon Jeongguk, I don't live under a rock." You roll your eyes at him.

"Huh." He frowns at you.

You frown back, "What?"

"I've never met someone so . . . outspoken before. Normally people are all compliments and well wishes." Jeongguk doesn't say how delightfully refreshing it is. Like a spring breeze, spreading through his veins and breathing colour into his monotonous life. This is the most excitement he's had since he went parachuting eight months ago. That is a sad thought, but unfortunately a true one.

"Yeah, well," You shrug, tapping your pen against your notebook. "Kissing ass and lying are two things that didn't make it onto my list of qualities."

"Speaking your mind, obviously did." He notes, still smirking.

"Excellent observational skills there, Sherlock." You deadpan.

Jeongguk laughs and you don't like the way it makes warmth simmer in your belly. He looks up at you with dark eyes and you privately think for all that the media gets wrong, they have one thing right. Jeon Jeongguk is ridiculously attractive. "What's your name?"

"Are you blind or illiterate?" You raise a brow down at him. He looks caught off guard for a moment.

"Um...neither?" It comes out unsure, hesitant.

"Then what exactly is stopping you from reading my name badge?" You ask, tapping the badge on your chest with your pen. You were already losing your job, so you might as well make the best of it.

He looks embarrassed for a second, eyes dropping to the table, cheeks dusting the faintest shade of pink.

You raise a brow, "So, are you going to order or are you going to complain to my manager and get me fired?"

"Fired for what?" He asks.

You want to snap at him, but the genuine confusion in his eyes made you hold your tongue. For once. In a 'duh' tone, you tell him. "Speaking my mind."

"Ah. Right." Realisation lights up in his eyes. "I could have you fired for speaking to me like that." He says, like the thought never occurred to him.

"I'll go get my manager then." You say and turn on your heel, not at all surprised.

Jeongguk's mind goes into an epic panic as you turn your back on him and he blurts a quick, "Wait."

"What?" You ask, turning back to him with an uninterested look.

"I said that I could. Not that I would." He tells you and it makes your speechless for about five seconds.

Then you squint at him with a slight glare, "What do you want?"

"Excuse me?"

"You obviously want something in exchange for keeping quiet. What is it?" You speak matter-of-factly. After a moment you add, "Just know, if it's something sexual or in that direction, I'd rather loose my job."

Jeongguk gapes at you, looking stunned. "I don't know whether to be insulted by the insinuation that I need to blackmail someone into sleeping with me or that you'd rather loose your job than sleeping with me."

"So sorry for offending your delicate sensibilities." You drawled sarcastically. "You still haven't told me what you want."

"Well, I like coming here often and when I do and you're my server, I'd like you to always speak your mind around me." He said, with the smallest of shrugs, looking down at the silverware on the table instead of at you.

Confusion sweeps through you, his request catching you off guard. "Really? That's it?"

"Yes." He nods stiffly.

"I don't understand." You admit.

"You don't have to. You asked me what I want, this is it." He looks at you again, eyes still dark and piercing and you can't understand what he's thinking.

"Fine, okay, yeah, I can do that." You nods eventually, noticing how his shoulders untense just a bit. You look at him, curious and full of questions, but cautious enough to not actually ask. "Are you gonna order now?"

"Why don't you surprise me? I can't decide what I want to eat." He says, handing you the menu.

"I'm shocked." You deadpan with a faux smile, before looking at him seriously. "Are you allergic to anything?"

"No." He shakes his head, lacing his fingers together and resting his hands on the table.

Your mind races for a few moments before settling on a dish. You nod at Jeongguk. "Okay, I'll be back with your food in a while then."

***

Three weeks later, you haven't served Jeongguk again. It's not that he hasn't been in, oh no, he has. You've seen him, caught him staring and then looking away quickly. He just hasn't sat at one of your tables again. Each week, the tables get rotated and there is four rotations, so you'll only be on Jeongguk's usual table next week.

You walked into the kitchen, just coming off your lunch break when Lee stops you and says, "Table 12 for you."

You look at Jae, who was on table 12 this week and got a hostile glare. You ignore her and look at Lee with confusion, "But I'm not on table 12 today."

"You were requested and customers here get what they want." Lee shrugs, giving you a 'it is what it is' look.

"By who?" You ask, having some idea of the answer. There is only one customer you know that would request you. You are always polite to the other customers but with an air of detachment, that keeps them from prying and you from getting into trouble. Until three weeks ago, that is.

"Jeon Jeongguk." Lee says, confirming your suspicions.

"Motherfucker." You swear.

Jae looks down her nose from you, "Don't he used to it. It won't last. He'll get bored of you soon enough."

"I hope so." You huff, as Jae walks away with a less than pleased expression.

"What?" Lee asks, her shock obvious.

"You heard me."

Lee tilts her head at you in disbelief and curiousity, "So, you're not trying to get into his pants?"

"Uh, no." You frown at her. Sure, he's hot but you know your place. You also need money than you need to get laid. "Why?"

"Most girls try when they work here, but everytime they try something, Mr. Jeon complains and they get fired." Lee explains.

Something suddenly made sense to you, "Is that what Jae's trying to do?"

"No one will say it to her face, but yeah, it is." Lee nods, shrugging a little. "She's jealous that he requested you, when you've worked here just over a month, served him once, and she's worked here for almost two years and he hasn't blinked in her direction."

"Huh," You frown, lost in your thoughts. "I wonder why he didn't get me fired then."

"Why? What did you say to him?" Lee eyes you curiously.

"Called him an indecisive snot." You smirk gleefully, happy that you got away with talking to him like you want and not getting fired because of it.

"Right." Lee says in a tone that made it clear she doesn't believe you.

"I did." You insist.

Lee waves you off, and you exit the kitchen, walking into the dining room, heading over to Jeongguk's regular table.

You look at him as he comes into your line of direct sight. His one leg was shaking, eyes shifting around the room, fingers tapping the table restlessly. When he spots you walking over to him, he stills completely. A smile - a cute one, you admit to yourself and no one else - spreads on his lips as he breathes your name, "Y/N."

You give him a look, "Did you miss me or something?"

"What? No." Jeongguk scoffs quickly. "I was bored. And you cure my boredom."

You raise your eyebrows at him, head going forward a little, "I cure your boredom?" You repeat, slowly. Maybe he's kidding.

But Jeongguk just nods at you as if it makes all the sense in the world, "Yeah. It's like live entertainment while I eat."

You scowl at him, "I'm not a circus clown."

"That's not what I meant!" He exclaims, voice a little too loud, causing heads to swivel in your direction. He takes a breath and speaks again, softer this time. "I just meant that it's nice. Or it was nice, the one time I actually got to talk to you."

"So, you did miss me." You tease good naturedly. Jeongguk doesn't answer, just stares resolutely down at the table. You sigh, feeling fond instead of annoyed. You hide a smile as you ask, "What will it be today?"

Jeongguk looks at you again, hesitantly at first, then fully when he sees your expectant gaze, "Surprise me."

Now you were surprised, "Again?"

"I liked what you ordered last time." He does that small shrug again. Actually, it's less of a shrug, and more a slight lift of the shoulders. You notice that he has broad shoulders, and the suit he's wearing only makes them look better. You push those thoughts away, focusing on the conversation.

"And if you don't like it this time?" You challenge.

"I did say surprise me, and surprises can be positive or negative." Jeongguk decides not to tell her that this is his favorite restaurant and he knows the menu by heart. He knows and likes every dish, so there was no way he wouldn't like something she serves him. And he's curious as to what she'll decide this time.

You snort, laughing lightly, "You know, you're not as bad as I thought you were."

Jeongguk looks mildly offended, "I'll have you know, I'm a catch."

"I'm sure." You nod, hiding a grin.

"I am." He insists and you had to admit, he is attractive.

"Yes, right up until the moment you open your mouth." You say honestly, writing down one of the dishes on the menu.

"Rude." He pouts a little and you suppress the urge to giggle, of all things.

"Maybe," You concede. "But it's the truth." You picked up his menu, turning on your heel to go to the kitchen.

"So, how do I . . . improve?" Jeongguk asks when you come back with his food, continuing with the conversation where you left off.

"Do I look like a life coach to you?" You set down the food. "Enjoy."

"Thanks." Jeongguk grins at her. "And, no, but if I went to one they'd tell me what they think I want to hear, not what I need to hear."

You stare at him for a few seconds and he looks back unflinchingly. "Well," You press your lips together. "I guess you should start with why you want to change."

That makes Jeongguk falter. He can't very well say, 'so I can impress you, since my money doesn't seem too' and he thinks for a bit. "I have come to realise that maybe I treat people unfairly based on how much money they have. I would like to change that."

Your eyebrows goes up, "That's surprisingly deep, coming from you."

"I'm not swallow." He defends himself.

You nod complacently, "Right, well, the answer is easy but actually doing it, will all depend on you."

"What do I do?"

"Just, think before you say something. Ask yourself, can my words hurt this person?"

"And if they deserve it?" Jeongguk wonders.

"The right answer would be to still be considerate, because two wrongs don't make a right, but I hate being a hypocrite, so go for it, if they deserve it. I mean, it's not like I held back when you annoyed me." You gave a shrug. "I should go. We're not allowed to loiter at the tables."

Jeongguk wants to ask her to sit with him and keep him company some more, but he knows he would be setting himself up for rejection. Instead, he just looks at her with a half smile. "Just when I think I have you all figured out, you do or say something that proves me wrong."

"My mom always used to say, you can spend a lifetime with someone and still learn something new about them every day. People evolve everyday and you'll never be who you are right now, tomorrow again."

"She sounds like a wise woman." Jeongguk remarks.

You smile, nostalgia making your heart warm, "Yeah, she was."

"I'm sorry." Jeongguk says, catching onto the past tense. A lump forms in your throat out of nowhere.

"Thank you." You swallowed thickly, clearing your throat. You gave him a shaky smile, hoping he wouldn't notice. "See, you're doing better already."

Jeongguk did notice but decided not to call her out on it. He just smiled up at her softly, watching after her figure when she walks away.

***

"You know, if I didn't know that you come here everyday, I'd say you that you are stalking me." You teased Jeongguk when you go to take his order for the fifth time in a row. You've had a day off, inbetween, but when you showed up for your next shift, Jeongguk was there and everytime he's requested you. By now, whoever was on rotation for his table, just lets you know whenever he shows up.

"And how do you know that?" Jeongguk raises a curious eyebrow at you.

"I complained to Lee about you and she told me." You explain to him, mentally running over the menu in your head. Jeongguk told you on the third day to just order for him everytime. So, when you walk to his table under the guise of taking his order, the two of you just talk.

"Lee?" He inquires.

"She's my friend and another server here."

"Ah." Jeongguk nods in realisation. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask, but that doesn't guarantee I'll answer." You say, giving him a cheeky smile.

She has a beautiful smile, Jeongguk thinks to himself. He shakes himself out of his thoughts and looks her in the eyes, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

You frown down at him, finding the question odd. He's never asked anything too personal. Just normal things, what you're studying, what you do when you're not working. Sometimes you'll tell him a story of something dumb you did as a kid, but he'll never outright ask. "No."

A thought suddenly occurs to Jeongguk and he doesn't really want to ask because that'll destroy every hope he has but he needs to know. He quirks a brow at her, "Girlfriend?"

You snort at the question, "No, I'm straight. My cousin swings both ways though. Nearly gave his mom a stroke when he came out at our annual Christmas family dinner two years ago."

"Oh." Jeongguk wants to sag in relief, wants to let out a thankful cheer, but settles for just a small smile and letting out a breath of relief.

"Why are you asking?"

He does that little shrug that isn't really a shrug thing. "I was just wondering. You never really talk about one, or even someone you're interested in."

"Okay, if there was someone, why would I tell you?" You are teasing, but he doesn't know as you look at him blankly.

"I was just curious." Jeongguk huffs defensively.

"Yeah, yeah, settle down." You snicker. After a moment you say, "I guess I don't talk about it because there hasn't been anyone to talk about."

"Really?" Jeongguk beams up at you hopefully, eyes glittering.

"Really." You roll your eyes, but there was a slight warmth in your cheeks that wasn't there before.

***

Seven months and many short conversations later – in which you learnt many things about Jeongguk and vica versa – you walk up to his table with a smile, genuinely excited to see your sort of friend. The smile fades from your face when you lay eyes on him – his whole body was tense, you could tell even from a distance, he was glaring out the window, clenched fists laying on the table. Something wasn't right. You quicken your pace, concern swirling in your belly. You stop at his table, feeling your heartbeat quicken. "What's wrong?"

"None of your fucking business." He snaps at you, words so venomous it makes you take a step back in shock, but mostly hurt.

Jeongguk regrets the words the moment they're out because he didn't mean them. He doesn't want to fight or argue. He came to see her to feel better. Now he snapped at her. He waits, for whatever tongue lashing she is about to give him. He'd deserve it and he'll take it. But she says nothing. Somehow her silence was much worse than any insult she can hurl at him. Her face closes off, he watches it happen as her fingers tighten around the pen and notepad she uses to take orders, and panic sparks beneath his skin, overriding all the anger he feels.

No. His mind rebels against the thought immediately.

"What can I get for you today, Sir?" Her voice is perfectly polite as she asks the question, like it was the first time he met her. Until he made her snap after changing his order for a sixth time.

No, no, no, no, no! Not this. Anything but this. His heartbeat quickens.

Jeongguk was quickly turning frantic, "Y/N, please, I-"

"We have a lovely special today." She goes on as if he didn't speak, eyes void of the usual fire when she'd argue with him or the gentle warmth when she sometimes smiled at him and called him an idiot. It was the only times he ever liked being called an idiot.

He listens to her droning on about he specials, explaining them. Jeongguk's heart drops all the way down to his feet. It feels like someone pulled a rug from beneath his feet, and he is thrown off balance from the how utterly wrong it feels, how much it bothers him, hurts him, that she is talking to him like he is just another random customer. Like she hasn't told him how she got stuck in a tree, climbing after the neighbors cat. Playing with their cat because her parents never allowed pets.

A cold feeling of dread washes over him because Jeongguk has no idea to fix whatever he just fucked up.

***

You very almost cry when Jeongguk snaps at you, feeling irrationally hurt by his words. You shove it all down as you pull up your walls and shut him out to protect yourself. You serve him as quickly as possible, walking away without a friendly word.

"Trouble in paradise?" Jae smirks at you when you come back from serving Jeongguk.

You glare at her, not in the mood for dealing with her jealousy today. "No, just looking at your face is enough to put anyone in a bad mood."

Jae's eyes widened, fury spreading on her face. "You bitch!" She yells, raising a hand to slap you.

You smirk, catching her wrist easily. "Careful, just now you break a nail."

You let her go, walking away. You wait until you're in the bathroom, safely away from prying eyes in a locked stall, before letting you face crumple, only letting one tear escape before getting yourself under control.

You finish your shift, completely exhausted by the end of it – emotionally and physically. The last thing you have the energy for, is Jeongguk, so of course he's waiting for you at the personnel entrance and exit when you step outside. Intent on ignoring him, you pretend that you don't see him and you start walking in the direction of the train station.

Jeongguk follows you, apparently not easily deterred. "Will you just talk to me please?"

"What would you like me to say, Sir?" You ask in your most professional voice, looking ahead and not glancing at him.

"I'd like you to talk to me and stop treating me like I'm a customer." He says, sounding frustrated and desperate.

"You are a customer, Sir." You answer, still not looking at him.

"For fuck sakes, will you stop with the 'sir' already and talk to me like you used to?" Jeongguk all but explodes, stepping infront of you, and looking down at you for a change. It's startling, for a moment. You always look down at him when he sits at the table and it never occured to you that he's taller than you. He sets his hands on your shoulders (they're big and warm and you feel surprisingly safe, even when he squeezes slightly), frantic and desperate eyes looking into yours. "You don't even have to talk, you can yell or scream or shout for all I care, just please stop."

"You want me to talk? Fine." You glare up at him, shrugging out of his hold and taking a step back. He's way to close for comfort. "Look, I get I'm not exactly from the same side of town as you are, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of empathy. I'd bet that I have more empathy than most people you know. So, when someone I see as a kind of friend, snaps at me when I ask them what's wrong out of concern, when they could have said they don't want to talk about it, it hurts." You rant, a little out of breath. "Do you understand that? You hurt me."

"I'm sorry. Fuck, I am so sorry, you have no idea. I shouldn't have snapped at you and I regretted it the moment I did it. I was angry, and I know it isn't an excuse but it's the truth."

"Sorry isn't going to fix it," You say, voice edging on being too sharp. Your heart twists when his face falls. You soften a bit. "But it is a step in the right direction."

Jeongguk perks up, "What's another?"

"For starters, next time you don't want to talk about me, tell me instead of snapping at me." You give him a pointed glare, crossing your arms over your chest.

Jeongguk gives you an apologetic look, "Again, I'm sorry. I honestly didn't mean to snap at you. I came to talk to you, hoping I'd calm down a bit. I had an ugly fight some dumbass that tried to sell low quality material to us and I took it out of you."

You are reminded of the fact that he is the heir to his father's multi-billion won international conglomerate and for some reason, it makes you sad. You smile at him, ignoring the sadness. "Well, you're forgiven but I'm not forgotting."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He grins cheekily. He paused for a moment, then smirks at you. "So, we're friends now?"

You groan, "I should have known that would come back to bit me I'm the ass."

***

A large bouquet of pink tulips is delivered to you the next morning. Inside is a card that reads:

Thank you for never giving up on me. -JJK

Lee whistles loudly when she sees them and your cheek burn. "Someone must really like you."

"It's from a friend." You say, ignoring the fluttering in your belly.

"My point still stands. Those are out of season, you know." She remarks.

You nod, "I know. They're my favourite."

You finish your shift with a smile on your face. Until your boss calls you into his office.

"Yes, Sir?" You ask, still smiling and the bouquet of flowers in your one hand, backpack up on your shoulders and ready to go home.

"Y/N. I'll get right to the point. There's been a complaint that you've been too friendly with one of our customers." He says bluntly.

You almost drop your flowers in shock, "What?"

"I'm sorry to do this, Y/N, but it is a direct violation of the contract you signed when you started here. Professionalism is our top priority. I have no choice but to fire you." He says, and he does look sorry as he holds out an envelope to you. "This is the week's wages. Again, I'm sorry. You are a good worker."

"You're firing me because of something someone accused me off?" You ask, indignant and a little angry. "You're not even going to ask me if I did it? And if I did it, why I didn't stop?"

"The accusation came from a very trustworthy customer that was concerned that our reputation might be damaged." Your manager says. "If it gets to the owner and he finds out I did nothing, I could loose my job."

You scoff, taking the envelope. If you didn't need the money, you'd have thrown it back in his face. "So, it's okay for me to loose mine?"

"I'm sorry."

"So am I." You say before turning around and leaving.

***

The first day she's not there, Jeongguk brushes it off, thinking she has the day off and forgot to tell him. The second day, he starts to worry, just a little. The third day, he almost thinks himself into a mental breakdown. The fourth day, he demands to see the manager.

"Mr. Jeon." The manager greets with a smile that was clearly fake. Jeongguk thought back to Y/N, who never smiled much but when she did, it was honest and pure and breathtaking. He misses it and would do whatever it takes to get it back.

"Where is Y/N?" He demands, voice and gaze equally cold and intimidating. It's a side of him that she broke through within minutes, digging up the real Jeongguk and pulling him to the surface. The past months, he's been able to breathe again, live instead of just existing, waiting for the next person that wants his money. But that cold and calculating side of him is still there.

The manager pales and Jeongguk's worry increases. Did something happen to her? The manager shifts on his feet but still doesn't answer. "If you don't answer me within the next five seconds, I will call the owner and ask him to answer me."

"S-she was fired." The man stutters out.

Jeongguk feels his stomach drop. She never outright said it but he knows she depends heavily on the income from this job. It worries him, because he has this urge to take care of her. He wants to give her as much money as she needs, for her to live comfortably, but he knows she wouldn't take it. He glares at the manager, "Why?"

"Someone filed a complaint against her. She was getting to friendly with y-you." The manager says, looking a little terrified.

Jeongguk clenches his jaw, "And instead of asking me if I have a problem with it, you fired her?"

"Her contract says-"

Jeongguk stands up, towering over the man in height and size. "I don't give a shit what her contract says. How many times have I filed a complaint when the servers made me inappropriate offers and crude suggestions? I never once complained about her."

Jeongguk doesn't give the manager anymore time to do anything other than letting out a squeak before turning around and leaving the restaurant.

***

Five days after you were fired, you started too feel it. The absence of Jeongguk's presence. At first, you didn't notice it. To wrapped up in finding another job, worried about money and going to classes to think about it. But today is Sunday and the diner you found a temporary job at two days ago, is closed on Sundays. It's crappy pay and not alot of hours either but it was something and it'll help until you could get something else.

You lay on your bed, listening to your mom vacuuming the living room. University housing was expensive and you'd rather live at home and save the money than having even more debt. You laze the day away, knowing that none of the projects you have, is due that Monday. Your thoughts drift back to Jeongguk, like it always does. You honestly didn't think you'd end up missing him this much.

You like him, so fucking much. You figured it out a long time ago. You also know that you come from two different worlds. You are fine with that, you accepted it and you were content to be his friend.

Now he's completely gone from your life. Ripped out of it without warning.

You go to your classes the next day. In your last one, you doodle absentmindedly on the corner of your notebook, only half listening to the Professor. When the class is over, you look at what you drew and then groan out loud. Jeongguk's initials. Of fucking course. You scoff to yourself, leaving the class and then the building. You want to go home and sulk in privacy.

Outside, the sun was shining and you stood still for a moment, soaking in the warmth.

"Y/N!" A voice yelled your name and your head whips in the direction because you know that voice. You look, eyes searching desperately because you are so sure it was his voice. You're not hallucinating and- and there he is, running over to you.

"Jeongguk? What are you doing here?" You ask when he stops infront of you, completely bewildered.

He looks panicked and frantic. Like that day he snapped at you. He grips your shoulders, the hold almost painful. "You weren't there. I went to the restaurant and you weren't there and the manager told me you were fired and-"

"Jeongguk, stop. Breathe." You say, reaching up to hold onto his wrists, lightly rubbing your thumbs over the inside of his wrists. You wait until his grip loosens, until he was holding instead of gripping. "How did you find me?"

"You told me where you go to school one day." He answers off handedly, eyes scanning over your face, almost as if memorising the little details. Guilt flashes on his face, "I'm sorry you were fired."

You laugh at his words, removing his hands from your shoulders because it was getting a little too intimate, your heartbeat speeding up. "You know, half the time I see you, you end up apologizing to me."

"Hey, it's weird for me too." Jeongguk pouts and you have this urge to rise on your tiptoes and kiss it. "I'm not used to apologizing."

"Don't worry about it, I'm not angry." You wave him off.

"Can we talk?" He pleads and you agree immediately because you missed him so much.

"Yeah, there's a park nearby."

"Scared to be seen with me?" He teases with a smirk, and for a moment it's like nothing has changed.

You snort, "Don't you know? The walls has ears and Twitter accounts."

Jeongguk laughs, loud and unrestrained, throwing his head back. You couldn't help but smile. "This way."

You guide him to the park. It wasn't very big, and not a lot of people came here either, so it was perfect to talk. You each sit down on a swing.

"What are you gonna do now?" Jeongguk asks.

You shrug, "No clue, but I'll figure something out."

A guilty look spreads on his face again, "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have-"

You cut him off, "Shouldn't have what? Let a server talk back to you? Yeah, probably not but we both enjoyed it, so it's on you as much it is on you. More on me though, because it was my responsibility as an employee to treat you with respect."

"You did," Jeongguk says immediately, sincerely. "Even when you were at your most brutally honest moments."

You give him a slight smile. "Well, fun as it was, it seems our path has come to an end."

"Why?" Jeongguk frowns heavily at you.

"Huh?"

Jeongguk looks you in the eye, gaze piercing. "Why does it have to end?"

You snorted, thinking he was messing with you but his eyes were completely serious. You answer in a matter-of-fact tone, "Because you're you and I'm me. Besides, most of the time we argued."

"Y/N." He says your name like it is his greatest wish. He stands up from his swing, making his way infront of you and pulled you to your feet. He looks at you, eyes impossibly fond, "That wasn't arguing. It was banter. If you think that's arguing, you probably think my parents goes to war every now and again." He smiles, a little nervous. "And foe the record, I would rather argue with you for the rest of my life than ever kiss another girl again."

Your mouth drops open in shock, and you really don't know what the fuck to make of that. "I-"

He cuts you off, "And I don't want this to be over."

Silence falls between you two. You stare at him, he stares back. Until, finally, you blurt, "I don't know what to say."

Jeongguk is a little bit disappointed, but not surprised in the slightest. At least it isn't an outright rejection. "You don't have to say anything. Just answer one question."

"Okay?"

"Would you want to date me?" You choke on thin air from shock. That means that he feels the same way as you do, right? Happiness makes your blood sing. Then it sinks in and reality comes back to you. Your happiness evaporates and you swallow thickly. You open your mouth to tell him 'no', but once again Jeongguk cuts you off before you could say something. "Forget about our social status, forget about what people would say and think about me and you. Together. Really think about it. I have, and I think we could work, if you gave it a chance."

"And if it doesn't work?" You ask softly, vulnerable in a way you've never been before. Distantly you wonder how he knew what you were thinking.

"Then at least we can say we tried." He shrugs.

You look down at the ground, wanting to think without looking at him, into those mesmerizing eyes of his. He could ask you to commit murder, and chances are that you'll do it if he looks at you long enough. When did you become so completely gone for him? You think about it, but there was never a moment where you realised, this is the person I like. Maybe . . . maybe it's because you've always liked him. Right from the start, even when he was infuriating. The thought is startling, but you aren't scared by it. It's more like another piece of the puzzle between you and Jeongguk has fallen into place. But there is the problem of your different social statuses. Yeah, Jeongguk said forget about it, but for how long? If you try and this does work out, then eventually you'll have to face the reality of everything that comes with being together. Somehow that scares you more than if it doesn't work.

You look back up at him, and you know – despite all your worries and doubts – it was never really a choice because you choose Jeongguk the moment you chose to accept his offer of being honest all those months ago. "Okay."

Jeongguk looks like he's ready to argue, "I-" You watch as your answer sinks in. The stunned expression almost makes you laugh, "What?"

"Did you want me to say no?" You give him an amused look, smile curling the corners of your lips upwards.

His eyes widens and he shakes his head frantically, "No, no, no, I just wasn't expecting you to say yes to quickly."

"That makes two of us." You admit. Jeongguk is right though, better to try and either fail or succeed, or never try and forever wonder what if. You smile up at him, heart soaring happily. "You make a good case. You should have become a lawyer."

Jeongguk's eyes light up, "Just wait until you hear the case I have to make on why we should kiss."

"Tell you what, if you kiss me within the next three seconds, you don't have to make a case at all." You bargained with a grin.

Jeongguk didn't need to be told twice. He leaned close and kissed you, slow and deep, one hand slipping into your hair and the other curling around your waist, pulling you close to him. He breaks the kiss, licking his lips and your eyes are drawn to the action. You lick your own lips, liking the taste of him. His voice is deep and rough, his cheeks flushed, when he asks, "Want to go get something to drink?"

"Yeah," You nod with a goofy smile, your own cheeks also flushed, feeling like you might float away at any second. "I could go for a smoothie."

"I love smoothies." Jeongguk grins back at you, taking your hand, lacing your fingers. His other hand was still wrapped around your waist and hold you close.

An old question flashes across your mind as you run your hands up his chest, liking the strong, study feel of it, until you can lock your arms around his neck. "You know, I've been meaning to ask."

"Mmm?" Jeongguk hummed in acknowledgement, showing that he was listening.

"Why didn't you get me fired that first day?" You ask, aware that you are suppose to be getting smoothies but it could wait for a bit.

Jeongguk had been expecting this question for a while, and had come up with an answer a long time ago. He looks down at her with all he feels for her, a content smile on his lips.

"Because you were the first honest person I have met in years. Because you put me in my place without thinking twice. Because when you glared down at me after I changed my order for the sixth time, there was a fire in your eyes that woke something inside of me that I couldn't control. Not then and not now." He leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers, the gesture shy and intimate. "Because the fact is, you had me at 'indecisive snot'."

the end.

A/N: Tumblr and it's 250 box limit will be the death of me, I swear. I get it, I do. But come on! This very almost didn't fit, I had to edit and mush several chapters into one. Eventually it fit, but NEVER AGAIN! It was exhausting and time consuming. I'll rather split it again, like I did with two of my other fics. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. This took me a while with all the editing. Purple hearts for all of you!! -Kayla.

[jooyeone]

check-in tag 🌟 tagged by @jimimon @butterjiminie @calicooky @introtae @honsool thank you sm loves!!

1) why did you choose your url?

baby army who had just seen the black swan mv and whose brain was nothing but jiminswanjiminswanjiminswan for a week straight

2) any side blogs? if you have them name them and why you have them.

this blog was initially a movie/tv blog, so i just relocated at @cosimads about a month ago because i miss it 😔 i am also the proud owner of @taeminandkkoongie which is exactly what the url says and which i constantly forget about.

3) how long have you been on tumblr?

over 10 years for sure. if anyone remembers the like/reblog buttons being at the top of a post instead of the bottom... yeah, that old.

4) do you have a queue tag?

used to be just 'q' but now it's 'house of queue' bc house of cards is that song <3

5) why did you start your blog in the first place?

the earliest fandom i can remember joining tumblr for was american horror story: murder house. since then, i've been navigating all sorts of movies/tv fandoms, but kpop got me in march last year, so here we are 💘

6) why did you choose your icon?

grape jungkook my beloved + i like my editing bc he looks like a skittle <3

7) why did you choose your header?

jungkook kissing his knuckles was the primary driving force behind it

8) what’s your post with the most notes?

it's this one of jimin and joon clowning jin. rightfully so 😋

9) how many mutuals do you have?

i have no idea tbh but it does feel like i have quite a few and i love them all

10) how many followers do you have?

way more than this blog deserves

11) how many people do you follow?

so many of you follow so few people 😭 currently it's 331 for me!

12) have you ever made a shitpost?

periodically, mostly when stuff happens live <3

13) how often do you use tumblr each day?

used to be a lot more, but i'm limiting myself to checking in a couple of times a day. also these days it's almost not at all bc real life hates me

14) did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? who won?

nope & i intend to keep it that way

15) how do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this’ posts?

depends on the cause and whether the information is easily verifiable and legit. but (and i think it was al who said this) tumblr is truly the last place i use to get my news from.

16) do you like tag games?

yep and i appreciate every single notification of being tagged in a tag game <3

17) do you like ask games?

yes!! loads!!

18) which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

hm i used to be more conscious of this back when i first joined the fandom & i've since become mutuals with some people i used to think of as 'tumblr famous' but tbh i'm really happy i'm at a point on here where none of that matters. it's just great people and pretty blogs and good vibes and jimin's cheeks. the way the lord intended 🤍

19) do you have a crush on a mutual?

i keep rotating between mutuals every now and then, like there's always this one day where i look at a friend's url and think to myself 'oh i REALLY like you wait i- 😳' and i either message them right away orrr i look at them with heart eyes from afar. lemme just give a quick shoutout to bday girl @jimimon and loml @userjiminie who are on my mind a lot these days <3

20) tags?

i'm not exaggerating when i say everyone already did this 😭 but okay even if you did do this, let me know bc i still wanna read your answers!! @butterful @userjiminie @flipthatjacketjiminie @jimindelune @kkulmoon @baekhycn @vhyunjin @sugajimin @ourownwings @minyoongislaysme @duckjinnie @springdqy @hobeah @joenns @taegiseok @floraljimin @hoseosk @eternal-bangtan @bisexualhobi @argentie @loversmore @intronnevermind

[robin-the-enby]

I've been wanting to request a Marvel one for a while now, but have just finally thought of something that I agreed on—

A oneshot with the avengers and the genderless reader celebrating their first birthday. Like where they came from, birthdays don't exist, the actual celebration and having a date of being born doesn't exist for them.

I'm also only familiar with the movies so I don't know what actually happened after Endgame— So spoilers outside that would be very appreciated if that's alright—

True meaning behind birthdays

Pairing: Avengers x gn!reader (platonic)

Summary: Reader comes from a planet where birthdays don't exist. The others decide to throw the best first birthday party ever for them.

A/N: I made this story so that it doesn't contain any spoilers. I really hope you like this, I tried my best.

Y/BD - your birthdate

Earth didn't have the best reputation among the other planets. Everyone you knew always told you it's a place not worth visiting. But that didn't stop you.

And oh wrong they all were. Sure, Earth didn't have the most impressive technology, but it compensated for it with many rich and diverse cultures. So many nationalities and religions, each celebrating their own holidays and traditions. Sure, some might say that it was impractical for so many cultures to live alongside each other, but you thought it was fascinating.

You've been on Earth for over half a year now and you already knew about many human customs, yet there was still so much more to learn, since they mingled with each other constantly, for example holidays typically celebrated in the U.S. migrated all the way to middle Europe.

However, there were some events that were celebrated by everyone. Like New Years Eve, when humans celebrated their planet's complete rotation around the Sun. Silly creatures. And the biggest catch? Different people celebrated New Years on different days!

You chuckled at the memory, focusing on your previous activity. You were relaxing in the compound's living room, since there weren't any missions that regular S.H.I.E.L.D. agents couldn't handle on their own.

You were soon joined by Tony, a very extravagant and bold man, but still a very friendly colleague of yours. He scooted over until he was sitting next to you and asked "So, how did you enjoy Nat's birthday party?"

Ah, birthdays, of course. Celebrating one's day of birth every year was something all humans did as well. The concept was very foreign to you, I mean, why would anyone celebrate being one year closer to death? Still, you could not deny that you enjoyed yourself very much.

"Are you asking just because you organized the thing?" you asked back with an arched brow. Tony looked at you as if you grew a second head "Y/N! You know I'm better than that!"

"But...did you like it?" he asked after a few moments of quiet. You laughed "Yes Tony, I really enjoyed the party." You could practically see his face light up like a Christmas tree (another thing you discovered during your time here) "Awesome! Say, when can we celebrate your birthday?"

Oh... "Uhm, well, I don't really have one..." you explained. Tony's eyes widened "What do you mean? Everybody has a birthdate!" he chuckled, but his tone was mainly confused. "Well, yes, of course I have a birthdate, but where I come from, birthdays aren't really a thing. We don't celebrate them or even really acknowledge them." you shrugged.

"Well, when is your birthday?" Tony asked. You thought for a moment, before replying "Well, we don't really divide our days the same way you humans do. You would describe someone's date of birth with the day, month and year, whereas we just describe it with the position a certain set of constellations has in the sky at that moment. You'd be surprised how accurate it is." Tony blinked a few times "Yeah, that doesn't clear it up much." You laughed again.

For the next couple of minutes you tried to explain to Tony how it all worked, using "your" constellation as an example, not knowing about the plan the genius playboy had in mind all along.

After he told you he finally understood what you meant, he promptly excused himself, saying he was actually just taking a break from something he and Bruce were working on. You said your "see you later"s and parted ways.

As Tony entered the lab, Bruce, who has been working on their project when Tony had his break, looked up to see who came in, before turning back to the machine set on the working table in front of him. "Hi Tony." he muttered "Did you enjoy your break?"

Tony walked over to his friend and leaned on the table he was working on "Yea yeah. Listen, I have an interesting idea..."

It took a lot of math and research, but after a few days, the two geniuses finally had it. They managed to convert your birthdate from your people's system to theirs and it was supposed to be on Y/BD.

Which was gonna be pretty pretty damn soon.

So they did the most logical thing. They called a secret Avengers meeting to get everyone in on the plan.

"Are you sure they even want a birthday party?" Steve asked, because the last thing he would want to is to make you uncomfortable.

"Of course, you know they like to be involved in everything." Wanda reassured him with a wave of her hand. "Still, I think we shouldn't throw a big party." Steve muttered. "I agree, it's their first birthday, we wouldn't want to overwhelm them." Vision nodded. Tony sighed and slumped in his chair dramatically "Ugh, okay then. You guys are no fun, I swear..." straightening up once again, he eyed everyone seriously "Okay, here's the plan..."

And what a plan it was. Wanda and Vision were in charge of making a birthday cake, Tony and Nat were in charge of the alcohol and your favourite drink. Thor was in charge of getting your favourite snacks, Bruce and Sam were in charge of decorating and that left Steve in charge of taking you somewhere nice until the others had everything ready.

It wouldn't have been that odd for someone from the team to ask you to hang out, but you couldn't help but notice Steve's eyes darting around almost as if in fear. He must've thought he was being sneaky, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

But once you were out of the compound, you could feel Steve relax as he took you to a restaurant that quickly became your favourite after a few weeks of staying with the Avengers.

You two had so much fun, talking about anything and everything. One thing you had in common with the captain was your love for exploring. Of course, he knew much more about Earth than you, but he still missed nearly seventy years. You two would often share your favourite music or artists you discovered, as well as movies or literature.

"What do you think about birthdays Y/N?" he asked you out of the blue. It caught you off guard a little. Just a few moments ago you were discussing if Disney was a good brand or not and now this...Especially when you discussed birthdays with Tony just a few weeks ago. Strange...

"I think it's fascinating how you humans find so many things worth celebrating. I mean, birthdays are a little hard for me to understand, why would you want to celebrate getting older? I thought that humans wanted to avoid that?"

This answer seemed to throw Steve off his rhythm for a bit. "Well, it's not really about that-" he wanted to explain, but was cut off by a buzzing sound. Steve quickly reached into his pocket, taking out his phone, the culprit guilty of disrupting your conversation, checking the text message he recieved, before putting it back and looking at you again "Sorry, Fury needs me for something. Do you mind if I drop you off and then go?"

You were a little sad that your good time had to end so soon, since you both were having so much fun, but you knew it couldn't be helped, so you just shook your head and smiled.

As you made your way back, you turned to Steve again "So, what did you want to tell me, back at the restaurant?" you tilted your head to the side.

Steve almost started talking again, but before any sound could escape his mouth, it seemed like he changed his mind "Would you believe me if I told you I really don't remember?" he chuckled awkwardly. You couldn't help but squint at him. He was acting very suspiciously... "Yeah..." you answered absentmindedly. Just what was going on?

You spent the whole journey back to the compound mulling it over in your head. Was it somebody's birthday? No, surely they would've told you if that was the case. Was it your birthday? But, nobody knew when that was. So what on Earth was going on??

You decided you were gonna confront Steve if he wasn't going o explain anything by himself. So as soon as you were about to pass the compound's living room, you quickly tugged him in, telling him you needed to talk to him before he had to go.

The room was darkened, somebody must've drawn down the blinds. That didn't matter to you in that moment, you wanted answers. Steve became a silhouette in front of you, so you couldn't see his exact expression. You looked into what you imagined were his eyes, and with the most serious look you could muster you said "Alright Steve, quit joking around. What is happening?"

But before your interrogation could progress, the blinds were drawn up and the room was suddenly bathed in light as people yelled "Happy birthday!!!"

You whirled around and saw everyone gathered in the living room, standing around the coffee table, upon which were various snacks that you grew to love during your stay here, complete with your favourite drink, and in the middle of it all sat a beautiful cake. The room was decorated with ornaments in your favourite colours and everyone had a big smile plastered in their face.

Well, you certainly did not expect that. After carefully looking around at everything, you couldn't help but laugh "So it's my birthday??" you asked, surprised.

"Wait, what did cap told you?" Tony asked, alarmed. "Well, nothing specific, but he wasn't subtle either." you smiled and looked at the now blushing Steve from the corner of your eye.

The rest of the day was great, possibly the best one you've had here. Good food, drinks and laughter all around. It warmed your heart to receive so many beautiful gifts, words couldn't express just how grateful you were. One thing still nagged in your brain though...

All of you were seated on the various sofas and armchairs around the coffee table, calmly chatting about beloved memories, exchanging funny stories and everything was heavenly peacful.

"I still can't wrap my head around why you would go throuh all the trouble for me." you shook your head, the disbelief still lingering in your mind.

"Well, that's simple. We like having you around." Tony shrugged. The others nodded. "Yeah, we appreciate having you with us. You're a great friend." Wanda added. "Celebrating birthdays is like showing gratefulness that the celebrated person is still with you." Bruce explained.

Their confessions were so heartwarming, you couldn't help but to shed a few tears. Sam, who was sitting next to you, put his arm around your shoulders, rubbing your arm comfortingly. So that's what birthdays were really about...

It was great to have friends.

[one-boring-person]

I Trust You.

Marko (The Lost Boys) x Chiraptophobic!reader

Warnings: very vague mention of abuse, but they do not apply to the reader necessarily.

Context: The reader suffers from chiraptophobia (the fear of physical human contact/touch) and has somehow found themself in a friendship with Marko, who has somehow managed to understand how to not constantly need to touch his friend to show affection, until they take a ride on the Ferris wheel.

A/N: This was interesting to write, so j hope it's turned out alright. I guess I took a little inspiration from Death Stranding's Sam, but I thought it would be fun to do which it was. I hope it's enjoyable!😊💛

Masterlist

It took Marko weeks to finally figure out why I always shied away from his advances, why I'd stared uncomfortably at his offered hand until he withdrew it when he'd tried to shake mine in greeting, why I always wore gloves even in the suffocatingly hot summer air (despite him doing the same), and why I wouldn't go near people I don't know personally, often doing my hardest to steer clear of others in general. Rather than ask, he tried to work it out for himself, observing my behaviour and mannerisms for hours on end, though he still couldn't get what was up with my actions. He'd had to ask for some help from the others, though only David and Dwayne could offer any plausible reasons as to why: maybe I'd been abused in my past and was now averse to unfamiliar human contact, or maybe I was a germophobe. When the young vampire had asked me about both, I'd quickly denied them, thinking that it is unlikely he'd understand the real reason for my odd behaviour. It was only when he saw another person try to shake my hand that he finally noticed the emotion passing through my eyes at the prospect, at which point it all clicked into place. I was afraid of the contact.

Explaining to him what chiraptophobia is was surprisingly easy, though he was a little disappointed by this fact, being a very touch-driven person when around others, even when not in a relationship, though he did manage to take it in his stride, taking time to inform the boys of this as well, in case one of them accidentally made me uncomfortable. He'd nearly ripped Paul's head off when the taller vampire tried to wrap his arm around my shoulders, only letting up when I told him it was alright, that there was no harm done, despite how uneasy I felt afterwards. Since then, Marko has become almost like a bodyguard for me, making sure no one ever comes into my personal space, all while keeping his distance, too, respecting my limits.

We became fast friends, so much so that he eventually told me his secret, revealing his true self to me on one of the nights we chose to hang out together, alone, on the beach, a night I'd never forget. Naturally, I'd been shaken by this revelation, but soon grew used to the idea, knowing that my friend would never hurt me, not intentionally. After a few months, I finally felt comfortable enough to let him touch my gloved hand, though it still made me feel a little uneasy, the sensation of another person's fingers on mine unfamiliar and disturbing to me, but it made the vampire unbelievably happy, a bright smile plastering itself across his face for the rest of the night. He tells me he had to fight off the urge to hug me, for which I'm very grateful - touching a covered hand is very different to being enveloped in an embrace. Since then, he's taken any chance he can get to hold or touch my hand, always beaming like a beacon when he does so, my discomfort in the contact fading a little over time, though I'd soon found that it was only with the curly haired blonde that my body reacted like this, having asked Dwayne to try at some point, to see if it improved overall. Having come up negative in this test, I gave contact one last try with David, who never seems to take off his gloves, only to find that his touch made me uneasy as much as Dwayne's had, despite the two layers of cloth between our respective fingertips. The memory still sets me on edge, though I am well aware it has nothing to do with either David or Dwayne, rather my own mentality.

A shiver goes up my spine as I feel a hand slip into mine, though I quickly recognise the young vampire stepping in beside me, my stance relaxing again when my body realises whose touch it is, though my arm still remains a little tense, out of habit. Reassuringly, Marko swipes a thumb over the back of my glove, glad that I haven't rejected the contact yet, meaning I'm doing better than normal.

"Hey Stranger." He greets, grinning widely at me.

"Hey Blondie." I reply, smiling back at him in return, before casting a quick glance around for the others, "What'd you do with the other three?"

"They're around. Not sure where." The young vampire shrugs, dismissing the question quickly, "How was your day?"

"Not too bad. I didn't get much work done though, I was too preoccupied."

"Preoccupied? With what?" Marko inquires, raising an eyebrow at me in confusion, though his lips are still quirked up into an amused curve.

"That's for me to know, and for you to figure out." I chuckle, tapping the side of my nose secretively.

"Challenge accepted." He smirks, eyes lighting up at the prospect.

I smile at him as we walk, knowing he'll figure it out eventually, the answer being a little closer to home than he thinks.

"Anyway, how'd you sleep?" I question him, eyeing the Ferris wheel off to the side of the Boardwalk.

"Better than usual, actually."

"Oh yeah? How come?"

"Paul didn't snore so much for once, and David wasn't muttering in his sleep either, so it was pretty quiet, altogether." He explains, smiling when I laugh at the mention of David.

"Wait, David talks in his sleep?"

"Yeah, but you can't tell anyone! And especially don't tell him that I told you, or I'll have my ass kicked to the moon and back." Marko grins, biting his thumb as if nervous, though I'm aware that this is one of his signature mannerisms.

"That's a lot of ass-kicking. Probably quite impressive to watch. " I muse, noticing his arm lift slightly, as if to give me a playful slap on the arm, as he normally would've done with someone else, only to briefly squeeze my hand instead, shaking his head in mock exasperation. I grin at him, before turning my gaze back towards the Ferris wheel, admiring the glittering lights in the black night sky, wondering what the view is like up there.

"Wanna take a ride?" Marko interrupts my thoughts, eyebrow raised in amusement.

"Huh?" I blurt out, not having heard his question, quickly snapping my eyes back to his.

"Do you wanna go on the wheel with me?" He repeats, gesturing with a nod of the head to the great circular structure a little way away.

"I would love to, but I don't have any money on me tonight. I forgot my change." I say, somewhat remorsefully, using my free hand to pat my pockets to check for any loose coins, though I'm well aware I have none, having spent it all on food earlier in the evening.

"Who said anything about you paying? Come on, it'll be fun!" The blonde vampire promises, pulling me into the crowd, which parts around us thanks to his reputation (and choice of company), meaning no one comes into touching distance. At one point, my arm brushes past some surfer's bare bicep, which sends uncomfortable shivers and goosebumps through my body, the bitter, irrational fear that comes with it soon biting at the back of my mind, my pulse picking up slightly in response, my muscles turning rigid under my clothes. Marko notices this, briefly stopping to make sure I'm ok, before turning to memorize the surfer's face, most likely intending to take it up with him later, before we continue on, swiftly reaching the shortening queue for the Ferris wheel. Beside me, Marko fidgets and shifts in place, clearly eager to get on the rotating structure, his thumb between his teeth as usual, doe eyes focused on the ticket booth.

"Calm down, Blondie. The wheel isn't going anywhere." I laugh, watching the people around us as they amble to and fro, inching out of the way as a group of made-up girls push past, wincing as I brush against Marko, only to feel surprised when I don't feel the usual discomfort rising up in me from the contact, setting a train of thought into motion. I barely notice as the queue diminishes, only really returning to the present when we reach the booth, at which point Marko buys two tickets and leads me into one of the seats. An attendant comes over to help us secure ourselves, but Marko quickly stares him down, doing the job himself with efficiency.

Not too long after, we've reached a decent way off from the ground, our feet swinging gently in the air as we watch the Boardwalk from above, grinning and joking with each other as we take it in turns pointing out random individuals, making comments about them until the other laughs. At one point, the young vampire manages to spot David, Dwayne and Paul, making some sort of remark about how the leader's hair "looks like a pineapple from the top", before comparing the latter's to a mop. I do my best to hold back my laughter, but it only results in me nearly choking as he starts pointing out more and more likenesses between his friends and everyday objects, tears threatening to spill as I struggle to contain myself. It is only in this moment, that I realise one thing, but it takes me a couple more minutes to act on the thought that has sprung to mind.

Slowly, I pull off my left glove, teasing each finger out of their designated space with a deliberate hesitation, wriggling them a bit once I've exposed them to the air, enjoying the sensation of the light breeze around my heated digits. Marko makes a point of ignoring this, turning his gaze up to the star-strewn sky instead, only to snap his eyes back to mine when he feels a single finger touch the skin of his hand. Gingerly, I trace it over his knuckle, expecting to feel a rush of discomfort, my movements careful and calculated, knowing this is the first time in years that I've had deliberate contact with another person's skin. From my fingertip, it feels as if an electric shock has travelled through me, butterflies suddenly appearing in my stomach. Biting my lip when nothing bad happens, I continue this movement with the rest of my fingers, cautiously slipping my hand into his, enjoying the feeling of his icy cold palm against my warmed one, my eyes finding his shocked ones as our fingers intertwine. In them, I find a tonne of questioning, though he makes no move to actually ask, instead remaining quiet, carefully tightening his grip around my hand as he tries his best to feel as much of my soft skin as he can, the calluses from the handlebars of his bike rubbing slightly.

"What does this mean?" He eventually queries, elated that he can finally hold my hand without a glove being in the way.

"It means that I trust you. I've had no reaction to your contact, and I think it's because I enjoy being with you, and also because you've increased my confidence levels a lot since we first met. I've been trying to figure out why I'm ok with you touching me and no one else all day, which is why I was too preoccupied to work, but I finally worked it out." I inform him, telling him part of the truth - in reality, my trust goes a lot further than wanting a platonic friendship.

Marko is quiet for a moment, as if not quite understanding what I've told him.

"You trust me?" His voice is laced with disbelief, eyes fixing on mine again.

"I do."

Eyes widening again, he smiles, his other hand coming up, as if to try and wrap me in a hug, but the awkward positioning of the barrier, as well as the reminder of my usual discomfort, stop him in his tracks, his hand tightening around mine instead .

"I'm really glad you feel that way, (Y/n). Not many people do." He chuckles, referring to the naturally predatory air he gives off, being a vampire and all, still surprised that I let him touch me.

"I feel safe around you because I know you're my friend, but not many people can have the same claim." I point out, watching the view a little, enjoying the sight of the many glittering lights sprawled out before me, admiring the tiny orange specks of fires on the beach, as well as the rapidly moving headlights of a train passing through the outskirts of Santa Carla, most likely heading out towards the Bridge.

"Fair point." Marko agrees, still staring at our joined hands, which he continues to do until we reach the bottom of the wheel again, at which point he has to let go in order to remove the barrier from our laps. As soon as we're back on the Boardwalk, however, I slip my hand back into his, a small feeling of warmth welling up in me as I see the bright smile splitting his face, clearly happy that I've willingly made contact with him again.

A whistle behind us draws our attention, the sound belonging to a grinning Paul, who approaches us, along with David and Dwayne, who are both smiling at the sight of us, the latter more so than the former, though both seem glad to see their friend happy. As they come closer, I make eye contact with Dwayne, who lifts an eyebrow in questioning, a smirk making its way onto his face when I silently give him a nod, knowing he understands what it means.

I've fallen hard for the blonde vampire who's helped me get over my fear.

[multifandom-kpop-scenarios]

*slides into inbox once again* Hi, i've been busy with work so i didn't read the stories till yesterday. Even then, i had no idea what to say bc they're so good and adorable. Is it ok if i request another? i just love the others you wrote they're amazing and i love them. If it is ok then i would like to request a chan scenario similar to the felix one, but maybe not in hs. Thank you so much for this! ~felix anon

Hello! Thank you for the request! I am so happy to hear that the other scenarios brought you joy. I hope this one lives up to the others! Enjoy~!

Admin Rex

You had just barely stepped one foot outside the threshold of your classroom when you were almost toppled over. When you straightened up, an arm was slung around your shoulders. You steady your breathing because you came this close to a face-to-face meeting with the cement beneath your feet.

“Hey, Minho.” You smile slightly at the taller figure currently leaning unnecessary weight onto your barely smaller body. He smiled that big, bright smile that he approached you with on the day you became friends, “Hello, Y/N. How was class?” Your soulless glare and half-hearted shrug told him all he needed to know. He laughed his signature laugh, and you found yourself chuckling along because it was just that kind of contagious laugh. He dragged you along, and you really didn’t know where he was pulling you. You didn’t mind, being able to just be with him is nice, considering you’re both uni students and don’t often have a lot of time for friends. Minho removed his arm from your shoulders, content with just walking beside you. He got you to chat about the most random things until he exclaimed a loud Ow! as his body jerked forward with weight that wasn’t his own.

“Hey! Minho, Y/N!” Another friend greeted. Jisung laughed as Minho attempted to softly jab him in the side. Jisung continued through his laughter and efforts of dodging Minho’s fingers, “I need to ask a favor.” Minho stopped, his curiosity piqued. When Jisung requested help, it either ended up being something incredibly troubling or just plain weird. Jisung put his hands together in front of him as he grinned at you and your best friend, “The radio station is really low on hands, and we really need help! Would you be willing to assist the valiant 3RACHA team?” There was a short silence and you thought you could hear the crows calling out - caw… caw… caw… - before he sighed, “Aw, man. You guys were my last hope.”

Seeing his defeated expression and hearing his troubled sigh, you felt your heart squeeze. You always had a soft spot for Jisung and his too bright smile, “Jisung, I’ll help.” Almost instantly, his smile returned with the intensity of four suns, “Really? This is why you’re my favorite, Y/N!” He then proceeded to stick his tongue out at Minho, who returned the childish gesture. Jisung turned back towards you, “When are you free?”

You took a moment to think. You were technically free, but you were hanging out with Minho. You also should really start that music project you’d been putting off. But Jisung’s hopeful eyes made it nearly impossible to say not now. “Well, I guess I can help out, too. We’re free now.” Minho seemed to have made the decision for you. Jisung enthusiastically grabbed yours and Minho’s wrists to drag you across the campus in record time. Eventually, you were standing outside the music building, the same one you’d just left over an hour ago. You followed Jisung and Minho as you were led up to the second floor. The door itself was like the others, grey with a glass pane. You wouldn’t have realized what room you were standing in front of if it weren’t for the bright red piece of paper decorated with three very different chicken doodles. You really wondered why they chose 3RACHA for their radio name. Actually, you wondered that about a few of the other clubs, too. Like the Newspaper club. Why were they called PepperJJANG?

Jisung pushed you and Minho into the room. It was definitely fit for being a radio room, and that was probably the intended purpose, too. The room was small to begin with, but it was even smaller now that it had been divided into two. One side, the one you were on, had many pieces of equipment - all of which you knew how to use thanks to your music classes - and a few chairs pushed up against the walls and desks. One the other side of the glass that split the room were the other two members of the radio station seated at a table covered in loose papers and cords. You only knew Jisung by name - he is your friend, after all - and you’d seen the other two around before. They both looked incredibly surprised at your arrival. Jisung had propped the door open as he entered the other room, allowing you to hear their conversation freely.

“Who…?” One of them asks, they’re all looking at you and Minho now. Jisung is waving his hand in a beckoning motion, so you and Minho awkwardly shuffle through the door. “These are the friends I was telling you might help us!” The blond one lets out a small ‘uwah’ before standing up, “Thank you so much for this, really.” He bows in your direction before nudging the person beside him to do the same. After making sure everyone was thanked properly, Jisung motioned for you to introduce yourself, “Hi, I am (Y/N). I really can’t turn Jisung down when he really needs help,” you chuckle nervously. The blond grins at you with a nod. Minho also introduces himself before Jisung’s teammates do. “Well, I’m Chan. This one is Changbin.” Just from hearing their names, you can deduce that Chan goes by CB97 on the radio and Changbin is SpearB.

Chan continued grinning at you while Jisung tried explaining what had to be done around Minho’s incessant interruptions. The older boy looked familiar to you, but you weren’t quite sure yet. You kept looking away from him to look at Jisung, but you just felt compelled to look at him. Everytime you’d look his way, he’d make eye contact, and it was flustering. Jisung and Changbin didn’t seem to notice you weren’t listening, but Minho made sure you caught his smirk.

It wasn’t until the following week that Jisung approached you and Minho again. Your first assignment for the radio club was to man the station controls, with the help of Minho, of course. It was relatively uneventful. You always tuned into the radio, so you were pretty much up-to-date with all school events, but there wasn’t anything going on this week. You suspect it has something to do with upcoming finals. You felt a twinge of nerves shoot through your body at the reminder. You know you’re pretty much prepared for all of your classes except for one: Music Composition. The final for that class was to turn in your own music piece putting all the knowledge you’ve acquired during the semester to use. You were stuck. Your piece just didn’t sound right to you, no matter how you edited it. You had half a mind to ask one of your friends who’d completed the course for help, but knew that they would be just as busy as you.

These were the thoughts on your mind as you find yourself wandering through the sections of books in the campus library. It always surprised you how many students actually studied in the library. You found yourself standing in front of the non-fiction books and you legitimately had no idea how these books would help you. You continued to stare at the books in front of your face when you felt a tap on your shoulder. Turning, you come face to face with Chan. He has a wide smile on his face when he asks, “What has you wandering the library like you’re lost?” It takes you a moment to clear your head of your current despair. You tell him about your upcoming final, and he nods, totally getting where you’re coming from. “You know, I could probably help you with your assignment.” Your eyes widen at him, “Are you sure?” Chan nods at you, clearly willing to help you.

In the time you’d been assisting 3RACHA, you learned that Chan was not only a music major, but a very selfless person as well. “That would be really, really helpful and I would owe you my life.” Were you being dramatic? Maybe, but you really would be in debt to Chan if he was able to help you. He laughed with you while saying that he wouldn’t mind being payed back. After comparing schedules, you settled on a day and time with him. He smiled, his dimples on display, “Well, it’s a date, then.”

On the day that you had to meet with Chan, you were nervous. Why? Well, you’re sharing a piece of music you, a newbie to composing, created yourself with a more experienced producer. And, Chan was really kind and you maybe think he’s good-looking, but that’s beside the point. You had told Chan that you could meet at the little café that was a few blocks away from your apartment. Unfortunately, when you got there, all the tables were occupied. Fortunately, Chan had already claimed a table. You greeted him with a wide smile that he full heartedly returned. After placing an order for drinks, you sat down across from Chan. You were pulling out your laptop rather quickly and skimming your files for the song you had composed thus far. You really wanted to get this done; you’d fail otherwise. Chan sat patiently until you rotated the device until it was facing him, headphones connected and ready to go. You busied yourself with waiting for your order while the 3RACHA member listened to your song.

When you returned with the drinks, Chan had his eyes closed and had an expression of focus. You took a sip of the drink you ordered, dreading when he would finish listening to the song. It wasn’t long before you were looking into his amazingly brown eyes, “Well, I definitely get what you mean by it sounding empty,” You felt a bit more nervous as he continued, “but I think I can really help you!” You couldn’t help grabbing his hand, “Thank you, really!” He smiled pointing out that he hasn’t even done anything to help you, yet. You continued to stare at him while holding his hand. The tips of Chan’s ears were beginning to turn red, and you realized that your cheeks were hot, and you should probably let go of his hand now. You withdraw your hands slowly, not looking away from him up until someone slammed their hands down on the table in front of you. You jumped horrendously, looking up at the culprit. Minho was smiling at you, but it was the all-knowing smile he would give you when you got caught doing something you wouldn’t openly share with him. Like maybe having a crush on someone. In that moment, you knew you’d have to tell him everything. Minho raised his eyebrows and you remembered, “Oh, I am so sorry Chan! I promised that I’d tutor Minho today. He really needs help because he sucks at English” You couldn’t help the last part. He did just embarrass you. Chan smiles, “It’s no problem. We can meet up some other time.”

When Chan stood and left, Minho slid himself into the now empty seat, claiming it as his own. He smiled deviously, “So.” You groaned and placed you head on top of the keyboard of your computer. He laughed before prompting you to speak. You start as you put away your laptop, “So what if I think he’s cute?” Minho grinned like a cat at your admission, and you knew you’d just sealed your fate.

A couple of days later, you were approaching 3RACHA’s room. Just as you cracked the door open slightly, you heard Minho’s voice. The only part you caught was “I think you and (Y/N) would be pretty cute together.” It seemed like he was feigning innocence and maybe some disinterest. You could hear Chan’s high pitched laugh as a form of response. Quickly, you whipped out your phone to text Minho: what do you think you’re doing??? You hear your best friend’s phone go off, but are startled when Chan continues, “I do like (Y/N). But, I don’t want to come off as too abrupt.” Minho mumbled something that sounded like “I don’t think you have to worry about that.” Chan made a little noise. You waited a few more ticks before opening the door. Chan’s back was turned so you stuck your tongue out at Minho. He shrugged just as Chan turned around. The blonde looked shocked to see you standing behind him, “Oh, hello, (Y/N).” He smiled at you before making a beeline to the door. You were surprised to see Jisung and Changbin already in their seats. You really hoped they didn’t somehow hear everything Minho and Chan said. You watched Chan as he pulled his phone from his pocket. A few seconds of watching Chan type later, your phone chimed from where it was in your hand. Confused, you checked it because Minho was in the same room, so he would’ve actually spoke to you. You were surprised to see a text from Chan: I know you still need help with your music project, but I would really like to take you out for some dinner. Will you go on a date with me?

If a sappy grin was on your face when you nodded at Bang Chan, then that was between him and you.