#i've had this in reserves for posting for a hot second but i had to go to the effort of using desktop bc mobile looooves duplicating text

[kinkshame-the-courier]

Here are the first couple of OCs I've designed as I've been plotting out Chaye's FNV storyline. These two are meant to replace the characters in the "Young Hearts" questline in the Boomers faction.

You find Mango where you would normally find the NPC Jack- though closer to the border fence and actively looking through binoculars, unlike in game. Talking with them reveals their mechanical expertise as well as their crush on a girl over at the Crimson Caravans headquarters, who they think they saw waving back at them a couple of times. They ask you if you’d be willing to go talk to her for them, as they can’t exactly leave the camp. When you do you’re met with the usual options: though Chaye specifically makes sure the girl Tangerine gets across safe.

She reveals through talking to her that she witnessed Mango falling off the watchtower trying to wave at her. (And you can’t convince her to go by making her jealous lol) Bringing her back not only helps the faction as a whole accept outsiders, but also unlocks the usual unique item of the rebreather, crafted by Mango.

Bringing Tangerine into the camp also connects the Boomers to the outside world via her family's caravan, further uniting the Mojave under the Courier's hand.

The tension in the Boomers is not only between them and outsiders, but the elder, traditional generation and the younger, bolder Boomers that are much more curious about the outside world. Having Mango on your side assists you and makes the overall difficulty of earning the faction’s trust easier. Mango is an orphan and only just recognized as an adult among their faction, and is Mother Pearl’s ward. Earning their trust earns you more of Mother Pearl’s and vice versa. In the end card of an ideal ending, Mango joins the Followers of the Apocalypse to aid the Mojave on a whole.

[punkshort]

Roommates | 8. forever

Pairing: pornstar!joel x f!reader

Chapter Summary: Tommy and Maria get married.

Chapter Warnings: language, angst, idiots in love, alcohol and food consumption, sexual tension, flirting, a wedding!

WC: 7.6K

Series Masterlist

"Oh, goddamnit," you muttered under your breath, pausing in your rush across the hot parking lot to tug your dress out from underneath your heel. You crouched down for a moment to examine the dress to make sure it wasn't damaged before you stood back up, this time bunching all the extra material in your fist before trotting as quickly as you could to the entrance of the restaurant.

"Slow down, you ain't missin' anythin', they haven't even sat down yet," Joel said, startling you from his post on a bench next to an ashtray.

"Oh, hey," you said breathlessly, then looked him up and down. "Were you smoking?"

He shook his head and stood up, dusting off his grey dress pants in the process. "Just gettin' some air. Tryin' to cut back."

"Good for you," you said, then nodded towards the door. "Ready? I need to get out of this heat."

"After you."

You thought for sure you would be in for Maria's wrath when you hit traffic and ended up being almost fifteen minutes late for the rehearsal dinner, but mercifully, Joel was right. The group was in the reserved banquet room but hardly anyone had sat down yet. Instead, people were mingling and laughing in small groups as the waitstaff filled up waters and placed open bottles of wine across the tables.

As you scanned around and looked for a seat, your eyes landed on someone familiar and a wide smile stretched across your face.

"Mrs. Miller!"

Joel and Tommy's mother beamed when she heard your voice and quickly abandoned the people she was talking to in favor of pulling you into a hug.

"Oh, honey, how are you?"

"Good! Late, but good," you laughed when she released you from her death grip. She kept her hands firmly planted on your shoulders and gave you a once over.

"Love that dress, my goodness. Doesn't she look beautiful in this dress, Joel?" she asked mischievously. You felt your cheeks warm and you looked down at the floor while Joel just rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Mama," he replied flatly.

"You'll sit with us, right, dear?" she asked.

"Of course," you said with a nod.

"Good, I want you to meet the man I've been seeing," she replied before wrapping her thin fingers around your arm to lead you to her table, which, of course, was shared with Tommy and Maria.

James seemed nice and he got along well with both Joel and Tommy, from what you could tell. Before he retired, he worked in construction, just like their own father before he passed away, and he seemed absolutely smitten with their mom. His arm was around the back of her chair or holding her hand the entire dinner and you could tell Mrs. Miller was adoring every second of it.

"Are you still seeing that lawyer, dear?" she asked right when dessert was placed in front of you. You felt your chest tighten as you stared down at your tiramisu and you focused on the skills you learned in therapy whenever you felt this type of feeling crop up. Take a few deep breaths, collect the data, put things in perspective. Just as you were about to answer, you felt Joel's hand on your knee and he cleared his throat.

"No, Mama. Didn't work out."

He must have given her a look when your gaze was still fixed on your plate because there was an awkward silence before she spoke again.

"No matter. Plenty of fish in the sea. Maybe you'll meet someone tomorrow at the wedding."

You forced yourself to meet her eye and smiled. "Yeah, maybe," you replied weakly. Joel's fingers tensed around your knee for half a second before he slowly pulled his hand away to pick up his fork. When she began to talk softly to James, you took the opportunity to shoot Joel a grateful smile, which he returned with a wink.

"Thank you," you whispered. "I could have handled it but... thank you."

"Welcome," he replied just as quietly. "And I know you coulda, but you don't gotta do everythin' by yourself."

Joel began to eat his dessert while you sat there, immobilized. For some reason, hearing him say those words knocked you on your ass for a moment. You were always the type to take on too much and rarely ask for help, another trait that contributed to your anxiety. The only thing that pulled you out of it was Tommy's voice aimed in your general direction. He was giving instructions to the wedding venue from the restaurant so you all knew where to go after dinner to do one quick walkthrough before the big day, so you nodded along and finally picked up your own fork.

"You wanna follow my truck?" Joel asked once dinner disbanded and everyone slowly filtered into the parking lot. You shook your head and pulled your keys out of your purse.

"No, I think I know where it is. It's not far from the hotel."

He nodded and glanced over his shoulder, checking on his mother. "You get settled in okay?"

You gave him a curious look. "In the hotel? Yeah."

The wedding wasn't too far away from home but most of the wedding party elected to stay in the hotel where the reception was being held so they wouldn't have to worry about getting a ride after drinking.

He nodded again and swiped his palm over his mouth. "Which room?"

You laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder, making him grin and stumble a bit over the asphalt. "What?" he asked innocently, but he didn't sell it. You rolled your eyes but couldn't stop smiling as you unlocked your car and opened your door, tossing your purse onto the passenger seat. As you were about to bunch up your dress and get into the car, Joel cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow, indicating he was still waiting for an answer.

"409," you said with a sigh. His tongue clicked against his teeth and he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"418. Right across the hall."

"What a coincidence." Propping one arm on your hip and the other on the roof of your car, you tapped your fingers on the hard plastic, waiting for him to say something else. His eyes drifted up and down your body before meeting your gaze once again, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. People streamed past you to their cars, heels clicking on the blacktop and soft chuckles floating in the air, but you kept your eyes pinned on each other, silently daring the other to say something more.

Against all odds, or maybe it was always inevitable, your relationship managed to mostly repair itself over the past few weeks. It was nice to have Joel back in your life again in any capacity he was willing to offer, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore your feelings for him. The morning you woke up on Tommy and Maria's couch with Joel's arms wrapped around you, holding you against his broad chest with his face buried in your hair felt like a literal wake up call. As you laid there listening to his deep, steady breaths, you tried to think back to a time when you fell asleep in his arms without sex preceding it, but you came up empty.

It felt really fucking nice, so you had closed your eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but it was impossible. You felt like yourself again. You spent months in therapy wondering where that feeling went when all along the answer was right there.

"See you at the country club," he finally said before tearing himself away and forcing his feet to move in the direction of his truck.

"Yep," you said softly, watching him longingly as he made his way through the cars until he disappeared from view. You took a deep breath and looked around the parking lot when your gaze unexpectedly met the deep brown eyes of Mrs. Miller, watching you from the passenger seat of James's SUV.

You felt something happen in that moment. Something unspoken passed between you through the glass and you had never felt more seen. Woman to woman, she held your gaze and you swallowed the lump in your throat, knowing your expression was betraying you by that point, but what could you do?

James pulled out of the parking spot and you blinked, snapping yourself out of your stupor. When the car passed, you could see the knowing look in her eye, one that told you you weren't fooling anyone, and then they were gone.

The event coordinator, Michelle, was a tiny little thing who also happened to be very bossy. She probably did at least one wedding a weekend the entire summer for god knows how many years, so she knew her shit, but considering the entire wedding party had just come from dinner with copious amounts of alcohol, her patience was wearing thin. She was barking orders at the first bridesmaid and groomsman at the front of the line while the four of you stood in the back snickering to yourselves.

"Goddamn, she ain't messin' around," Tommy said quietly with a grin.

"A woman after Maria's heart," you replied over your shoulder.

"I've never felt more calm in my life," Maria chuckled softly. "There's no way this isn't going off without a hitch."

On the actual day, it would just be you and Joel at the end of the line, but Tommy and Maria wanted to observe during the rehearsal.

Michelle was making her way down the rows of bridesmaids and groomsmen, instructing each set how to stand, where their hands should be, and what their cue was to start walking.

"Slow!" she barked after a pair began walking. You saw the bridesmaid's shoulders flinch and you had to hide your grin by biting your lip and looking down at your feet.

When she got to you and Joel, you straightened up. Suddenly it felt like you were back in high school and the vice principal was about to chew you out for skipping class.

"Closer together, please," she told you, waving her perfectly manicured, blood red fingertips at the two of you. Immediately, you stepped to the side and apparently so did Joel because you bumped into each other.

"Okay, not that close," she scolded. You had to hold yourself back from kicking a foot at Maria when you heard her snickering.

Michelle took you by the shoulders and placed you exactly where she wanted, then did the same to Joel, leaving just a few inches between you. You could feel his fingers impatiently twitching at his side and you got the feeling Michelle made him nervous, too.

"Okay, crook your elbow, like this," she told him, yanking his arm up and bending it before she flattened his palm against his stomach. "Great. Don't move. Maid of honor, loop your arm through, place your fingers here, hold your bouquet at your bellybutton. Both of you, straighten your spines and begin a slow walk once they make it to the first set of chairs. Any questions?"

You both quickly shook your heads and you looped your arm through Joel's, just as she instructed, and pretended to hold a bouquet at your waist with your other hand.

When you saw your cue, you both began to walk, praying you were going slowly enough. You heard her voice begin talking to Tommy and Maria, asking if they had any questions or if anything was missed, and you breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fuck, she's scary."

You giggled and glanced up at him. He was staring straight ahead but he had a little amused smirk tugging across his face and you could see that damn dimple creasing his cheek. You tried not to think about how close you were to him, how long it had been since that night on the couch, or how comfortable it felt to touch him again, and instead focused on where you were supposed to stand once you got to the altar.

Joel dropped his arm and you went your separate ways, taking your places at the front of the bridal party, and waited for the next instructions. Tommy and Maria came down the aisle talking with Michelle and motioning towards the chairs while you all waited. You let your gaze drift over to the men and you caught Joel already looking your way. You gave him a little smile and you watched him swallow before taking a deep breath, dragging his eyes away from you.

Michelle's commanding voice cut through the air and you snapped your head back in her direction. She was explaining the bullet points of the ceremony to everybody while she pushed Tommy and Maria up on the altar between you and Joel.

"Next, the officiant will say you may kiss the bride, you two will kiss-"

Tommy took that moment to wrap his arm around Maria's waist and bend her backwards before planting a wet, sloppy kiss on her lips, causing the entire wedding party to break into fits of whooping and laughter. Michelle clapped her hands sharply and the noise instantly ceased. Tommy picked Maria back up, who was pressing her palms against her cheeks with a huge smile, and he shrugged.

"Sorry, thought we were rehearsin'."

She cleared her throat and raised a thin eyebrow at him before she continued, explaining the music would start and Tommy was to lead Maria down the aisle, which he did without goofing around.

"You two," she said, motioning towards you and Joel. You both stepped forward and stood where Tommy and Maria were just standing. "Same as before, hold onto his arm, keep your bouquet at your bellybutton, and don't begin walking until the bride and groom walk down the entire aisle, got it?"

You both nodded stiffly and, once Tommy and Maria reached the end, you started to walk. Michelle began to instruct the next couple and Joel picked up the pace a little once he knew she wasn't looking.

"You're gonna get us in trouble," you teased.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

You gasped and gave him a little hip check and then you heard Michelle calling after you to stop fooling around.

Joel chuckled as you felt your face flush with an embarrassing smile. A few months prior, a comment like that might have sent you spiraling into a pit of self despair just for simply being reminded of the camping trip, but that day you managed to let it roll off your shoulders.

You joined Tommy and Maria and watched as the rest of the bridal party practiced leaving the altar. Joel casually stretched his arm behind you, leaning on a railing so he could say something to Tommy behind you and Maria, but when they finished up and Tommy began talking with his groomsmen, Joel kept his arm on the railing. The fabric from his button down was brushing ever so slightly against the skin of your back, exposed by your dress. Your jaw was tight from the effort it took to not react when his thumb skimmed over your spine, sending tingles across your skin.

"Did I tell you this dress looks nice on you?"

His voice was warm and deep against your ear and it took everything you had not to lean back into his shoulder, it was so hypnotizing.

"Your mom kind of did that for you," you reminded him quietly, keeping your eyes on the rest of the wedding party as they began to cluster around Tommy and Maria, laughing at some story Tommy was telling them about his tux fitting.

"Well, it does. This's your color," he said lowly and you could practically feel his eyes dragging over your soft curves being hugged by the delicate material.

"Thank you," you replied a little breathier than you would have liked. You tilted your chin to risk a glance at him, finding yourself immediately getting lost in his eyes. You searched his face, trying to read him, trying to figure out what he was thinking but you kept getting hung up on all the little details about him that you loved. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the patchiness in his beard, the little scar across the bridge of his nose.

Fuck, he was perfect. How did you ever let yourself take it for granted?

"What're you thinkin' 'bout?" he asked softly. Apparently he had been doing the same thing to you: trying to read your expression, see inside your head.

You swallowed and gave your head a little shake.

"How fucking stupid I was."

His eyebrows twitched up in surprise, his lips parted and you were certain he was about to say or ask something else when Tommy stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled so loud, the whole wedding party groaned and covered their ears.

"C'mon, let's all have one more drink back in our room, place is fuckin' huge," he announced, causing a ripple of laughter amongst the small group.

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Maria and another bridesmaid hooked their arms through yours, pulling you away from Joel and through the venue towards the parking lot, laughing and babbling suggestions for their hair the following day. You glanced once over your shoulder and caught his eye, clocking the tortured look he gave you. Even from a distance you could see the longing, the curiosity to learn what you meant, and the absolute frustration at having the opportunity ripped away.

Joel tapped lightly on your door the next morning but figured out pretty quickly he was too late. You had already left with the other bridesmaids and Maria to get ready at the country club, leaving Tommy and the groomsmen to get ready in the honeymoon suite at the hotel.

He tried to get you alone for just five fucking minutes the night before but the group was too small and it was impossible to tear you away without being obvious. He could tell you wanted to talk, too. He saw it in the way he caught your eye more than once in that measly little hour spent in Tommy's hotel room. Then he got caught in a painful conversation with another groomsman about golf and suddenly, you were nowhere to be found.

He excused himself and hurried back to his room, hoping to catch up with you, but it was no use. He hovered around your door, fingers carding anxiously through his hair, wondering if he should knock, debating over and over in his mind whether or not invading your space would scare you off until he heard an elevator chime and the doors slide open and he slipped into his room in a panic.

He should have just fucking knocked.

The next time he would see you would be at the ceremony. He wouldn't be able to talk to you til the reception, well after pictures and dinner and speeches were done.

It was going to be a very long day.

You up? We got breakfast here, get your ass going

Joel rolled his eyes as he continued to gather his things after his shower, wishing more than anything that you had just texted him instead of Tommy.

Be there in 10

He draped his tux over his shoulder, two fingers hooked through the hanger, and carried a small bag of toiletries in his other hand as he shuffled out the door, stealing one last glance at your room as he went.

He rode the elevator up to the top floor and stepped out, already hearing the men laughing and glasses clinking with the steady thumping of a deep bass line through the walls. Knowing he would have to be loud for them to hear, he made a fist and pounded on the wood, rattling the door in its frame. It swung open and Nick, the groomsman who monopolized his time last night talking about fucking golf, stood on the other side.

"Joel, mornin'. Come on in, got some catchin' up to do. We're already two drinks deep." Nick stepped aside with a friendly smile and allowed Joel to enter.

"Two drinks? Shit, might wanna slow down, gonna be a long fuckin' day at that rate."

Nick laughed and let the heavy door close, then patted him on the shoulder as he headed over to the little kitchen area. "We all put our shit in the spare room. Go ahead and I'll get you somethin' to drink. Got some food here, too."

"Alright," Joel replied, his eyes drifting around the living room as he walked towards the bedrooms. Tommy caught his eye and raised both arms in the air.

"I'm gettin' married!" he shouted excitedly. Joel grinned and kept walking.

He would have to be patient. As much as he couldn't get you off his mind, he had to be present for his brother. This was going to be one of the happiest days of his life and Joel would be damned if he messed that up for him.

Nick slid a glass of champagne in Joel's hand after he emerged from the spare room and he quirked an eyebrow.

"Pacin' ourselves," Nick explained with a shrug.

Joel nodded and took a sip, the flute looking comically small in his grip, before setting it down and forcing himself to join in the festivities. And he was doing a pretty good job at pushing you from his mind for once until a few hours later. All the men had gotten dressed and a hairdresser Maria hired was going around fixing loose pieces of hair on everyone when Tommy's phone pinged. He picked it up and a huge smile spread across his face.

"It's Maria."

He turned the screen around to show a picture she took. It was of the room where the girls were getting ready, a candid shot of bridesmaids in the background getting their makeup done or sipping on champagne. The main focus of the picture was Maria's left hand extended in front of her, her engagement ring sparkling in the light, but Joel hardly noticed the diamond when you were in the corner of the shot talking to another bridesmaid with a dazzling smile that always made him weak in the knees. You looked so fucking beautiful and you didn't even have your makeup done yet.

He wasn't the only one who noticed you, unfortunately.

"Hey, what's the deal with Maria's maid of honor?" Nick asked Tommy. "She's pretty and seems like fun."

If Joel had even a moment to think, he might have caught the way Tommy immediately looked in his direction, conflicted and unsure what to say. But it didn't matter because Joel set Nick straight instead.

"She's unavailable."

Nick swiveled to look at Joel. "Oh, damn. Figured as much."

Joel nodded and cleared his throat, trying to avoid the very obvious look his brother was giving him, and took a long sip of whiskey.

Once Nick wandered away, Tommy instantly sidled up to Joel and he knew he was in for it.

"Unavailable?" he repeated under his breath. "Got somethin' you wanna share?"

Joel shrugged, trying to look casual but he knew Tommy saw right through him. "It's the truth. She ain't interested in seein' anyone."

"Hm," Tommy said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, loving the way his brother was squirming under his questioning. "How'd you find that out?"

"She told me."

"Told you."

"Yep."

"And under what circumstances did she... tell you?"

Joel frowned and finally dragged his gaze to meet Tommy's. "We're just friends now."

"Didn't exactly answer my question."

Joel scoffed. "Don't you got shit to worry 'bout, like vows or somethin'?"

Tommy shook his head. "Nah, got that all locked down. Would much rather hear 'bout your friend."

He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Ain't nothin' to tell, I promise. Nothin's goin' on."

"Well, weddings are romantic. Drinkin'... dancin'... beautiful venue... dim lights. Might stir up some old feelin's."

Joel nodded and looked at his watch with a sigh. "Limo'll be here soon."

Tommy bit his cheek, wishing Joel would open up a bit more, but decided not to push it.

"Oughta wrangle everyone up. Almost show time."

"They're here!" a bridesmaid squealed when she saw the limo pull up to the front doors and the men slowly piling out, one by one.

"Well, guess he didn't get cold feet," Maria joked next to you as she fumbled with her earrings, but judging by the way her fingers shook, she was nervous.

You stood up to fuss with her hair, making sure the flowers that were carefully weaved in were still firmly in place.

"You look absolutely stunning," you told her warmly with a smile through the mirror. She took a deep breath and finally dropped her hands in her lap.

"Thank you. For everything. I know you got your own shit going on -"

"Nuh-uh, none of that. Today's not about me. It's about you and Tommy and I'm delighted you chose me to stand next to you today."

She smiled and reached behind her to squeeze your hand, which was curled around her shoulder. Tears welled up in her eyes and she nodded. Just one quick, definitive nod signaling the topic was closed, then stood up and brushed her hands over her dress.

"Well, let's go do this," she said, her voice wavering just a bit. The rest of the girls heard and cheered excitedly before scurrying around to check final touches on their makeup before filing out the door, where Michelle stood waiting.

"Ladies, the groomsmen just got in position and the groom is heading to the altar now. Maria, your father is waiting for you in the office. We'll hide you in there in case there's any late arrivals that might sneak a peek."

Once you all filed down to the foyer, you hung back to give Maria one last hug before she was whisked away into a small office where her father stood waiting with misty eyes.

When the door closed behind her, you gripped your pink and purple bouquet in one hand and gathered up the skirt of your peachy dress in the other and lightly jogged to catch up with the rest of the bridal party. When you turned the corner, everyone was finding their partner and whispering excitedly amongst themselves while Michelle walked around, making small adjustments to posture and checking everyone's teeth.

Joel turned around when he heard your heels clicking on the tile floor and couldn't stop his smile from spreading when he laid eyes on you.

"Sorry, just wanted to give her a quick hug," you said to him quietly as you took your place by his side. You were busy fixing your dress and batting pieces of hair out of your face so you didn't notice the way he was gazing down at you, temporarily spellbound.

"No problem," he finally managed to say, then caught Michelle making her way towards him so he quickly jut out his elbow for you to loop your hand through. After Michelle adjusted the placement of your bouquet and moved on, you finally glanced over, taking him in for the first time. He looked so fucking good, it was criminal. All the groomsmen were wearing the same tux, and all of them hand white button downs open at the collar with no tie, but Joel looked the best, by far.

Your mouth opened to tell him so, but at the last second you chickened out.

"Did you guys have a good morning?" you asked instead.

His eyes roamed leisurely over your face and the longer he took to answer, the faster your heart raced under his scrutiny.

"Yeah, it was alright," he finally said. Somewhere in the back of your mind you heard music begin to play and the first pair of the bridal party began to walk. "Wanted to catch you before you left this mornin' but you must've got an early start."

"Oh?"

He nodded slowly, eyes still trailing over you, admiring how beautiful you looked. He knew he was being obvious but he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Did you need something?" you asked, swallowing the lump in your throat. You knew you should have been paying attention, that you would miss your cue if you didn't, but you couldn't look away from his heated gaze.

"No, just..." he trailed off and took a deep breath, eyes momentarily fluttering closed before he reopened them. "You look really pretty."

Blood rushed to your cheeks and you smiled.

"T-thank you, you-"

"Best man, maid of honor, let's go!" Michelle whispered angrily, snapping you both out of your daze. Forcing a smile on your faces, you waited for your cue and began to walk up the aisle.

Aside from Maria, you two were the last to enter. The altar looked stunning. Not a single flower was out of place. The white rose petals the flower girl had scattered were evenly distributed along the deep red carpet that was laid over the grass to mark your way. You passed by rows and rows of friends and family, their faces lit up with excitement while the photographers bounced around in your peripheral vision, snapping pictures as you went.

When you reached the end of the aisle, Joel dropped your arm and you stepped apart, each taking your rightful place, just as you practiced.

The music changed and the doors opened, finally revealing Maria and her father. You glanced over at Tommy so you could see his reaction but your gaze locked with Joel, instead. His face softened and he shot you a secretive wink before dragging his attention to the bride.

The ceremony was beautiful. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot. Both of them remembered the vows they wrote, bringing out the occasional laugh or tear from the guests. It made your heart swell to see your best friend so unbelievably happy. And when Tommy dipped Maria backwards for a dramatic first kiss, even Michelle cracked a smile from her place in the back.

After the ceremony, the wedding party was whisked away to take pictures while the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour back at the hotel ballroom. If you weren't in the pictures, you spent most of your time with the rest of the bridesmaids and occasionally stealing glances in Joel's direction when he wasn't looking. Shit, you hadn't even drank anything since you had a mimosa earlier that morning and you still couldn't keep your mind off him.

It didn't help matters when, at one point, the photographer asked for a picture of just you and Joel. Under the warmth from the sun, he had began to sweat a little. You could see it from the way the exposed patch of chest glistened and when you got closer to pose for the picture, his natural scent mixed with the hotel soap he must have used that morning filled your nostrils, making it difficult to focus.

"You got your speech all ready?" he asked once the photographer moved on.

"I think so. You?"

He nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"We should probably do a couple shots first, loosen up," you joked, nervously twisting your hands together in front of you.

His face lit up and he unbuttoned his jacket. "Here," he said, handing you a small flask with his name engraved on it. "Gift from Tommy."

"Nice. All I got was this necklace," you said sarcastically with a laugh and a point to your neck before unscrewing the flask and taking a sip. The whiskey burned on the way down and you felt the warmth bloom in your stomach, your muscles instantly relaxing.

"Thank you," you told him, handing him the flask. His fingers brushed against yours briefly, sending sparks down your spine, and you quickly tugged your hand back, averting your gaze. "Oh, looks like your mom's up next. Might wanna head over."

He sighed and readjusted his jacket after pocketing the flask. "Duty calls, I reckon."

You nodded and pursed your lips, rocking back and forth on your heels. Why were you acting so weird? It was just Joel. But as you watched him stroll across the perfectly manicured lawn, you knew why.

After dinner and all the festivities were over, you were going to find the courage to finally tell him how you felt.

And you couldn't be more nervous.

It felt like dinner took forever. Michelle drilled into your head that your speeches would come after dinner and before the cake cutting, so naturally the entire time you were eating, you were a nervous wreck. Fortunately you were too nervous to even drink anything else past the small sip you had from Joel's flask, your stomach twisting in knots the longer it took for each table to get served. Tommy and Maria disappeared after they ate to greet each table and be back in their seats by the time dinner was finished, so you sat picking at your food with your heart hammering in your chest, scrolling the notes app on your phone, reviewing your speech.

"Nervous?"

You jumped at the sound of Joel's voice, who had somehow slid over to take Maria's chair without you noticing.

"That obvious?"

He shrugged and leaned back, surveying the ballroom.

"Your foot's tappin' so fast it's shakin' the damn table."

You giggled and dropped your face into your hands with a groan. He chuckled and took a sip from his glass of champagne, then paused when his eyes landed on an older woman at a nearby table looking in your direction.

"Who's that sittin' next to Maria's folks?"

You popped your head up and looked, then your face broke out with a wide grin. "That's my mom," you told him without taking your eyes off her, giving her a little wave. Joel looked back and forth between the two of you.

"You look alike, shoulda guessed."

"You think?" you asked, then your smile slipped when your mom pointed in Joel's direction and gave you a face before fanning herself with her open hand. You clenched your teeth and slashed your fingers in front of your throat, trying to tell her to knock it off, but she just laughed.

"Pretend you didn't see that."

"See what?" he replied innocently before giving your mom a charming smile and wave.

"Joel!" you exclaimed, smacking him in the leg. "Stop flirting with my mother!"

He threw his head back and laughed at that, his shoulders bobbing up and down and his hand clutching his stomach and just seeing him so happy and carefree made you smile and laugh, as well. Once he regained his composure he straightened up in his chair, his cheeks tinted pink and his eyes bright as he looked at you.

"Don't worry, baby, don't wanna make you jealous."

Your jaw dropped in shock and your brow furrowed but your heart fluttered excitedly in your chest at the term baby coming from his lips again. Before you even had a chance to formulate a response, he cleared his throat. "I'm just kiddin'. Tryin' to take your mind off the speech. Did it work?"

Did it work? This man had you spinning around in circles and he didn't even see it.

"Yes," you mumbled, mind still reeling. Baby, baby, baby.

"Good, 'cause we're up," he said, his eyes drifting over your shoulder, spotting the newlyweds heading your way. He stood and vacated the chair so Maria could sit back down.

You took a deep, shaky breath when the DJ cut the music and made the announcement that the speeches were to begin, and the whole ballroom fell silent, turning in their chairs to get a better look at the long table where you sat up front.

Joel went first, which initially you were relieved, but then about thirty seconds into his speech you realized you wish you could have just gone and gotten it over with because you could hardly focus on anything he was even saying. You faintly remembered him talking about growing up with Tommy and telling some embarrassing story that made everybody laugh but then ended up getting the guests teary eyed when he turned it around at the end, using the story as a sweet example of how Joel always looked out for him and he was now passing that torch onto Maria.

After a polite round of applause, Joel sat down and all eyes turned to you. The DJ told everybody your name, announcing you were the maid of honor, before walking over to hand you the microphone. You cleared your throat before standing on shaky legs and forcing a nervous smile for the room.

"Good evening," you began, then repeated your name. "I have not only the pleasure of being Maria's maid of honor, but also her best friend."

You stole a glance in her direction and you felt your nerves begin to subside when you saw the look in her eye and the warm smile stretched across her face.

With a deep breath, you confidently launched into your speech. You began by telling the guests how you met, how you bonded over one particularly painful meeting at work and afterwards got sushi together for lunch. Ordering the same dish by happenstance cemented your relationship and from then on you saw each other through countless breakups, illnesses, birthdays and even some vacations. After telling the room a silly story about a road trip the two of you took one year with no destination or goal in mind other than to have fun and live in the moment with the promise to stay close forever, you paused and looked down at Maria next to you.

"And then she met Tommy," you said, eyes drifting in his direction. "I knew from the day she came home and told me about him that he was different."

Tommy smiled and wrapped an arm around Maria's shoulders.

"I don't think I've ever seen two people more perfect for one another," you continued, turning your attention back to the room. "At the center of everything, they're best friends. They accept each other, faults and all." Tears began to well up in your eyes, trying not to draw comparisons to your own life as you pushed through. "And that's how I knew early on we would end up here today."

You looked back over at the newlyweds, Maria leaning into Tommy's shoulder, pure happiness radiating from them both as they gazed at one another.

Then you locked eyes with Joel and your throat went dry.

He was looking at you, hanging on your every word, and the expression on his face told you he must have been thinking the same thing as you. Unable to tear yourself away from the emotion behind his eyes, you continued your speech for the room, but it felt like you were talking directly to him.

"When two people love each other fiercely, when they're willing to do whatever it takes to make things work, when they learn to open their hearts and make sacrifices for the sake of that other person, their partner, their love... I believe that is what makes a relationship last." You dragged your eyes away from Joel and looked at Tommy and Maria once again. "And you've both proven time and time again you're more than capable of doing that for one another."

Maria swiped a tear from the corner of her eye and you picked up your glass, watching as the rest of the room did the same.

"I'd like to wrap up with this quote I found online, so I can't take credit," you said with a ripple of soft laughter echoing through the ballroom. "'Love is a friendship that has caught fire. So may your love burn bright for years to come'. Here's to my best friend and her new best friend."

After the room collectively toasted to the new couple and rewarded you with a round of applause, you slumped down in your seat with a sigh of relief. Maria tugged your shoulders, pulling you in for a hug that squeezed all the air from your lungs, whispering her thanks in your ear, then Tommy followed up with the same and a kiss on your cheek.

You tossed back the rest of your champagne and immediately looked around for a server to ask for more. Now that your nerves were finally at ease, you wanted to enjoy the rest of the party and relax, temporarily pushing the conversation you planned to have with Joel from your mind.

Tommy and Maria stood to go cut the cake, diverting the guests's attention so you could slip away to the bar with your empty glass. As you were leaning up against the bar, waiting for the bartender to refill your glass, you felt a familiar presence sidle up next to you. When Joel brushed his palm against your lower back, you had to suppress the shiver that tried to make it's way down your spine.

"Can I get one of those?" he asked the bartender when she returned with your drink. She nodded and placed a cocktail napkin on the bar before disappearing.

Joel's shoulder nudged against yours and he tilted his face towards you. "Nice speech."

You smiled and continued to stare down at the tiny bubbles rising and popping in your drink. "Thanks. Yours was good, too."

"Here you go," the bartender said, placing an identical glass next to yours. Joel nodded his thanks and lifted it up, raising it between your bodies for a toast. You obliged, gently clinking your flutes together before taking a small sip and turning around to look out over the ballroom. Across the way, Tommy and Maria were posing with their cake while photographers and guests took pictures.

"I liked that quote. 'Bout friendship that turns to love," he said nonchalantly. You bit your lower lip and tried to tamp down the rise of emotion in your chest, your nerves in desperate need of some rest.

"Yeah, I thought it was fitting."

Your eyes flickered to his, those deep brown eyes you'd had the pleasure of seeing in every shade, then to his mouth, his soft looking lips so inviting, you wondered what they tasted like in that very moment. Probably champagne, but you were willing to bet you would get a hint of chocolate from the wedding favors that were placed at every seat because you knew him well enough to know he couldn't resist sweets.

"You ever have that?" he asked, and you thought you could hear a little tremor to his voice. "Friendship that turns into love?"

Your heart hammered wildly in your chest as you took a shaky sip from your champagne, eyes now pinned on the newlyweds but you were hardly absorbing a thing that was happening. Your mind was racing with the implication behind his loaded question and you could hardly remember your own name.

Taking a deep breath, you answered him.

"Once," you said softly, then slowly turned your head, gazing up at his side profile while he appeared to be taking in the party, but you could see his pulse thrumming fast in his neck, his tanned skin twitching with every nervous beat of his heart. "You?"

He hummed and finally tilted his head in your direction, eyes drifting up and down your face, tongue darting out to wet his lips. "Yeah. Once."

You felt yourself practically melt under his gaze, your muscles going lax, your body being pulled like a magnet towards him. Was it too late? Did you miss your chance? Or was it possible something was still there, something that could be salvaged? Joel murmured your name, his hand rising from his side, and you had a feeling you were about to get your answer when a familiar voice shattered the moment.

"Joel! C'mon, take pictures with my phone while I dance with your brother. James can't see in this lighting, he won't get it right."

As Mrs. Miller got closer, she noticed you next to him for the first time and it was impossible to miss the look of regret on her face when she realized she interrupted your conversation.

"Oh, nevermind, I'll find someone else," she said, clutching her phone to her chest, eyes sliding back and forth between you both. You cleared your throat and stepped away with a smile.

"No, you go on. I have to find my mom and say hi."

Before he had a chance to stop you, you slipped away, weaving through the crowd until you disappeared from view.

"I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to intrude."

Joel shrugged and tossed back the rest of his champagne. "It's alright, Ma. Go dance with Tommy, I got it," he said, holding a hand out for her phone. Hesitantly, she placed it in his palm, then reassuringly rubbed her hand up and down his arm.

"Will you save me a dance for later?"

Joel gave her a pained smile and nodded. "'Course, Mama."

She pressed her lips into a thin line, easily picking up on her eldest son's dismay once you left. Right when they were about to reach the dance floor, she stopped and cupped Joel's face with both hands, looking up at him with an adoring smile.

"It's all gonna work out, honey. I promise."

Joel almost feigned confusion, almost put up his walls so to protect his feelings. But in that moment, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he sighed and nodded.

"I hope so."

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[pippin-katz]

Alex & Being Bisexual 🩷💜💙

I've seen a lot of people complaining about Alex not having as big of a crisis over being bisexual as he did in the books, but I feel like a lot of people are overlooking the development he does go through.

Henry is the first guy he has felt attracted to that he actually knew prior to getting physically involved.

Alex & Miguel

Nora's asks specifically about men Alex has "been with", not men he's liked or interested him. She means physically, and he knows that too. Alex doesn't even bother with giving any context or details for his high school hook up. His description of his hook up with Miguel is straightforward, direct, and factual, because he doesn't have an emotional attachment to that moment or Miguel.

This, and his interactions with Miguel, gives the impression that they don't really know each other that well. It seems like they met during the campaign, made out in a hot tub, and now occasionally they talk at school.

They don't seem like friends, rather acquaintances after a one night stand, which is pretty much what they did. Their first conversation is mostly Miguel trying to get quotes for his journal and flirting with him rather than any kind of real discussion.

Gifs courtesy of @phakphumm from this post

Alex isn't stupid; he knows Miguel is flirting with him, however he chooses not to acknowledge it. He doesn't discourage him, but he does not encourage him either.

He avoids saying anything about it at all. His expressions after the eyelashes comment show him at a bit of a loss for how to respond. Alex seems flattered by the compliment, but doesn't seem to have any real desire to hook up again.

Everything Miguel says, he says in an attempt to get something out of him, whether it be flirting to hook up and/or get quotes for his journal.

Same thing at the state dinner; Alex isn't fully paying attention cause he's busy staring at Henry, but Miguel opens with compliments, specifically about his memo, which is definitely an attempt to flatter him. Then he starts asking direct questions about the campaign, Alex doesn't answer, and he walks away. They're not really friends.

New Territory

It's one thing to admit being somewhat attracted to the same sex, under limited, physical circumstances. Lots of people often joke about "being straight/gay but I would sleep with this person".

It's another thing to develop an attraction to a person you know of the same sex when you've never had those feelings before. It's not just physical anymore, because you know and like this person outside of that context, and the physical intimacy gains a new meaning.

Alex VS Feelings

This is a new feeling for Alex. This man practically makes out with two women he barely knows without any qualms, but when he's waiting to see Henry? His close friend who he knows and plans to kiss?

He is nervous; not just a little nervous either:

Alex is a pretty confident guy, able to host massive parties and dance without any reservations about it, unlike Henry who awkwardly bounces. He's a fantastic public speaker. Excluding the wedding, which were extreme circumstances, he's able to navigate a room comfortably. We know from the closet conversation that he used to get scared, but it's clear based on his campaign efforts, the DNC speech, and so on that he's grown into his role and can play it well.

Here, Alex can't sit still. He doesn't know how to stand. He's shifting around, almost pacing. He visibly tries to muster up the confidence we know he has, but can't. He's trying to pose, or look confident, and almost gets there, but the second the door opens, he panics and just stands there.

"But that's just cause he really likes Henry!"

Yes, exactly; Henry is his first step towards fully realizing his identity.

Once the tension is broken, Alex is confident again and doesn't hesitate anymore. He may not be completely sure of his identity, but he is completely sure that he wants Henry. Those thoughts take priority when he kisses him. He knows physical intimacy. He knows how to kiss with someone regardless of who they are. He has been with a couple men, and is a man himself, so he knows what feels good. His confidence stays intact during their exchange when they get to his bedroom.

There are very small moments where you can see his nerves poke through.

When Henry pushes Alex over the couch, not only is it surprising to him, it also disconnects them for a few seconds. He has a chance to look at Henry while they're not touching or kissing, no direct distraction.

When Henry starts undoing his pants, he looks up, inhales quickly, blinks a couple times, and swallows; it's almost like he's thinking "okay this is actually happening now". Again, no direct distraction, as Henry isn't doing anything yet, and Alex isn't touching or kissing him.

Both moments go by fast though because he's focused on what he knows, the physical part. He knows he wants Henry physically, so he can focus on that, and deal with the other feelings later.

Alex is aware that he has feelings toward Henry that are new to him. He doesn't know what they mean, and it's nothing even close to what he feels later in Paris and at the lake house, but they're starting to form. He's the one who suggests that he and Henry see each other again, and you would have to be blind not to see the brief disappointment on his face when Henry says it has to be very casual. It's also important to note that this is right after Alex comes out.

The Bisexual Label

While his feelings make Alex nervous, Henry is still his friend and he feels comfortable around him. He's the first person he comes out to; he was unable to say anything definitive about his identity during his conversation with Nora, despite her best efforts to help him.

Henry is the first person he tells and he distinctly shows uncertainty when he first uses the bisexual label:

He's serious about it; not overly serious, but he's coming out very formally. He's nervous, even though he's telling Henry, who he literally hooked up with five minutes ago. Henry already knows he's attracted to men. Alex is not nervous about that; it is clearly the label that he's uncertain about.

Confidence

A lot of people get taken by surprise when they start questioning their identity because they had simply never thought about it before.

The uncertainty Alex has about his identity was initiated by his feelings for Henry. Alex clearly never considered the idea of being in an actual relationship with a man. Without Henry, he may have never figured out that he was fully bisexual. He may have continued fooling around occasionally with guys, never giving serious thought to the other possibilities, unless/until he met someone like Henry who basically smacks him in the face with a mirror.

Being with Henry makes him truly think about himself, and come to the conclusion that he's bisexual. Seeing/dating Henry also makes him more comfortable and confident in his identity over time.

While Alex hadn't acknowledged Miguel's advances before, after he sleeps with Henry, he actively calls him out on it and refuses without hesitation as soon as Miguel puts the suggestion out there. Miguel even says "Well, I don't anymore", confirming that had been his intention in earlier scenes.

He had been trying to hook up with him again, and because Alex never addressed it, Miguel thought that it was possible. Alex may not have addressed his comments, but Miguel could see for himself that they had a positive reaction; he felt flattered and bashful. That response coupled with the fact that Alex did not outright tell him to stop was enough reason for Miguel to think it could happen again.

Also, Alex told Nora that he got the feeling Miguel wanted to hook up again, but that he was a journalist, which does not say he wouldn't be down. He never says he wouldn't want to; instead he expresses his apprehension to the idea due to his job. So for all intents and purposes, before Henry came along, Miguel was correct to think it was a possibility.

This seems to be the first time Alex has ever actually addressed their tension, and it occurs after he starts seeing Henry and using the bisexual label.

Owning The Bi Label

Then Zahra finds him and Henry the next morning. She is kind enough not to tell Ellen immediately, because even if she won't admit it, she does care about Alex a lot and recognizes the importance of something like this. However, she makes it very clear that he needs to tell her ASAP or she will.

When he comes out to his mom, he is significantly more sure of himself when he uses the bisexual label. He laughs and uses the shorten term "bi" which is a small detail but indicates his confidence, compared to how he cautiously said "bisexual" when coming out to Henry. He's not at all nervous to use the term, and says it grinning.

This is also indicative of his confidence in his label because Alex doesn't lead with his sexuality. He leads with meeting someone, and clarifying that it's a man, and that it's Henry. So once they're on the couch talking, Ellen is also already aware that he is attracted to men, but this time, he's prompted about his label and he shows zero nerves about using the term "bi".

Queer Identity

By the end of the movie, Alex is able to publicly refer to himself as having a queer identity. Obviously, he was outed against his will, but he is still able to stand up and acknowledge who he is without nerves about it. He has been with Henry for a year, and he knows who he is, and he’s not ashamed of it. As he says, the leaks were an issue of privacy, not shame. Alex is not afraid to say who he is, and he is queer, he is bisexual. He’s a different person than he was before Henry. He’s learned about himself because of him.

Does he have a complete, computer-error-noise breakdown over it? No, he doesn’t, but he does not immediately start waving a bi flag around either.

Okay, that’s all! This took so freaking long to put together, but I hope it helps people understand how his bisexuality is addressed in the movie. Just because he has a different journey than he did in the book does not mean he did not have a journey at all, and I hope this allows people to see it more clearly!

Thanks for reading!! If you enjoyed this essay & would like to support me, you can give me a tip on my Ko-Fi! ☺️

[aetherghouls]

ghostsoap coffee shop au where Soap has been down bad for the past 2 years since he started working at the coffee shop and first saw the hot tattoo artist working across the street, but he had never made any moves because 1. he doesn't even know if Ghost is interested in men (or anyone, really) and 2. the guy seems too reserved to enjoy someone throwing themself at him, so instead, he just settled for small talk every time, trying to make Simon warm up to him slowly. They became friends, of course, no one could resist Johnny and his charm, even if the Brit always denied it and stayed rough around the edges. And then a new barista comes into the picture, a gorgeous one. They were all over Ghost the second they saw him.

To say that his blood was boiling every time he saw that would be an understatement, a big one. There was nothing in those moments he hated more and if looks could kill, the new barista would be long dead. Too bad it didn't work. Too bad Soap, instead of just telling Ghost he liked him, watched the way the new one was flirting with Simon so openly and the tattoo artist was playing into it.

Johnny had became so fucking grumpy after a week of that, everyone noticed, especially Ghost, because he was on the recieving end of it. And if there was one thing Johnny could do, it was being passive aggressive while mad.

Don't be fooled though, he wasn't unprofessional, but he definitely cut the small talk, turned down Ghost every time he tried to chat, gods, he even made up tasks to do just do he didn't have to be around Ghost and the new guy if they had a shift together and the artist came around. Everyone noticed.

Gaz tried asking, of course, the good friend he is. He knew Johnny fancied Simon, so the sudden change of hearts was unexpected until he saw the new barista with Ghost. It all made sense suddenly.

That's how Kyle came up with a way to force Johnny to finally talk to Simon.

To be fair, it wasn't hard, convincing his friend. The hardest part was making him admit that he was jealous, then it all went smoothly. Soap was of course, still grumpy and still angry with Ghost for not putting two and two together, but Kyle, gods bless this man's soul for putting up with it all, could be really persuasive.

And that's how, through a needlessly complicated and twisted plan that could have been executed in many more simple ways, Simon finally took a hint as to why his favourite barista was mad at him, and – of course – he did his best to make up for it. Not openly, he wasn't some soppy teenage boy that would turn into a puddle when someone he fancied was angry. It was just simply not him to act that way. So, instead, he left little gifts for Soap, nothing overly elaborate, he'd, for example, buy something to eat with his coffee, things he knew Jonny enjoyed and leave them for the Scot, instead of taking them, always brushing it off as "not having enough time to eat" when he finished his drinks.

It took a good month for John MacTavish to get over it, over thirty days of Simon doing little things for him so the barista would go back to his previous self. Him and Ghost may and may not have gone out after that, too, but that's a story for another day.

I wrote this at work mostly lmao (I don't even work at a coffee shop) (don't eat me it's the first writing I've posted properly in years) (you won't see me here for months after this 🫶)

it's embarrassing to post anything on Tumblr so if this flops I'm deleting my account and burying myself 3 feet under

[demonic-shadowlucifer]

LPSCon: How *NOT* to host an event

(Trigger Warning: Brief references to suicide/self-harm and gaslighting) Welp, I read about it, and knew it was something that needed to be talked about.

If you're an active member of the LPS Community, you might be familar with LPSCon. Maybe you've attended it before. Or at the very least heard the name. But for those who don't, put simply, LPSCon is a convention around Littlest Pet Shop (LPS) toys, and the community that surrounds it (Think LPSTube!). LPSCon has had issues, as all conventions do. However, this year was *especially* a disaster. Now, I have never attended LPSCon, and after the events and stories I've heard about this year's, I most likely will not ever attend. This is based on the experiences I have heard from multiple individuals, and sources will be linked at the end. What Went Wrong

For starters, the event took place during an incredibly hot day in Vegas. Vegas. In summer.

Of course, that went about as well as you'd expect. There was little to no shade, no water (And when there *was* water, people had to pay for it, which wouldn't be an issue IF NOT FOR THE FACT PEOPLE WERE DEHYDRATED AND EXHAUSTED FROM HEAT), and poor air conditioning, meaning that even indoors it was still very warm. People were fainting, some had to leave early due to the heat, and one attendee stated that a friend "basically got heat stroke" as a result.

As for food, there were only two food trucks. *Two*. And little variety. No outside food or drink was allowed, and the trucks eventually had to close due to overwhelming orders. I can only imagine how exhausted the staff at those food trucks were. Next, the venue. I'm just gonna cut to the chase on this one: The venue was an awful *awful* choice. It got overcrowded way too quickly, tables ran out of room. And the upper floors were reserved for VIP only, which didn't do anyone favors. It was also incredibly inaccessible, with the mics and hosts being extremely loud, which was overstimulating to some, and no way for wheelchair users to get around. On top of that, security was no help. At some point, they just gave up and let *anybody* in and barely did bag checks (Something that is INCREDIBLY fucking dangerous). On top of that, staff was rude and snarky to others, with one attendee being refused a slice of confetti cake very rudely during the cake-cutting event! As well as allegations of a diabetic attendee not being allowed food (or allowed to bring their own food?) On top of that, the event itself was a total disaster. During the event, there were goodie bags (Known as "swag bags") given out. Those bags were supposed to contain LPS toys, candy and other items. What most fans got were some G4 LPS that had missing heads, unwrapped candy that was most likely expired, a ton of random garbage, LPS that were *incredibly* dirty or broken, and some attendees got no LPS in their goodie bags at all!

Additionally, many people's items (Including LPS) were stolen or lost. And any attempts at getting them back were unsuccessful, with LPSCon not cooperating whatsoever. The prices on items were also *horrible*, with some LPS being unreasonably overpriced, and other items being unreasonably cheap, including raffle tickets.

And don't even get me started on the stupid foam party.

LPSCon's "Apology"

After the event, LPSCon "apologized" on their Instagram page. And I put "apologized" in quotes due to them failing to acknowledge the actual issues at hand.

They made a second post later on, that was arguably worse than the other. Instead of apologizing, not only did they double down, they also straight up made guilt-trippy comments.

Now, harassment is bad. I've made that clear many times before. But once you resort to gaslighting tactics, including a threat of SH or suicide, you lose all credibility.

In summary

LPSCon 2024 was a pathetic excuse of an event. Poor staff, awful prices, terrible prizes and management, and oh yeah did I mention that the organizers behind LPSCon may or may not be money-grabbing con artists?

We've seen many awful cons before. From Dashcon to whatever the fuck that Willy Wonka event was, this might be worse. This is a poorly planned event, and one that was all but doomed from the start. The organizers of LPSCon should be ashamed of themselves. And until there's changes made, I suggest you guys don't waste your money on this "convention".

Sources/accounts from others: LPSCon Experience Megathread on Reddit.

LPSCon 2024 was a Mess By ZombieXCorn.

What Really Happened at LPSCon by Sugar Diamond

Instagram post by felicitylps

Instagram posts by hudson_lps

Instagram post by written_wolf

[sizzlingpatrolfox]

if you're interested to know about the show- you really didn't miss much lol especially you having been a fan for so long what they showed in AYS wasn't anything we haven't seen before except for not hiding their bodies like they usually do. The show didn't show me anything new about their dynamic or them as people. They spent 80% of the time at restaurants or just eating the other 10% was actual activities 5% of them talking (which by the way they really have nothing substantial to talk about it which was probably the only surprising thing about this show- their conversations were either bringing up the other members or them bickering about something dumb) you can tell there was alot of dead silence that was edited out because one moment they're talking then it gets quiet then it cuts to them on their phone lol the last 5% i would say was what people consider typical jikook like jimin being affectionate playful touches yadda yadda yadda

all in all it was kind of eh. I feel as though tbe target audience was for heavily jikook biased only because as an outsider I can't imagine how boring it must have been- even for an army I bet it was okay for them.

Hi, thank you. It's okay, though 😅

After so many years I've learned how to navigate through content and watch only the parts I'm interested in, and that's basically what I did to watch Jimin's clips because I wanted to see what he looked like, or some of his opinions.

I can also tell when something might be relevant or it could be new information, so I watch that too. I'm also able to realize if I need more context around a clip or gif, and in that case I usually look for a longer clip, subtitles, translations, etc. I might even go to the source and watch the episode myself, which is what I did for example when taekook had that conversation in ITS 1. I never watched the show, but I have watched that episode. Gifs, pictures and clips without context are reactionary mostly, and people post them for fun or whatever. But when you go to the source content more often than not is not that impressive after getting the full picture.

As for the show, there's a post I made months ago, around the time it was announced, where I said I had questions about 2022, 2023, and they weren't going to give me answers, so I couldn't bring myself to be interested. And nothing has proven me wrong so far. Them saying they didn't really meet up in 2023 wasn't one of my questions, I was already certain of that so it was more of a confirmation. All in all, I knew how they were going to act because I've been watching them every single day for the past 7 years.

Watching Jimin listen to his music was probably the most relevant thing to me lol. Because we hadn't really seen that! He basically went MIA a while after face, and besides from the hot 100 live, we didn't get to see many of his reactions to his own music. I'm not talking about reacting to achievements but him just listening and appreciating his songs.

Also, his body. Like. I really thought we'd never ever see his full moon tattoo that way.

I've started watching the last episode because it's one of the last stuff Jimin filmed before enlisting, so I want to see it. I still haven't finished it, but yeah I'm watching that just fyi.

I disagree that Jimin was touchy, though. In fact I've noticed he's rather reserved in his interactions with Jungkook, compared to what he used to be like up to 2021ish. But that's also something that's been noticeable for a couple of years. For the record, I don't think any of them were touchy or clingy or none of that stuff. There's a reason the only clip people I've seen people use of them touching is the one from the first or second episode 😭 that's like 1 minute out of 9 hours of content.

[kobitoshiningneedle]

For the fandom hot take thing I've got two: The Death Penalty isn't really on the table for a great majority of AA cases, that's only really reserved for people who murdered at least three people (ie Dahlia) Due to the time period and drama and period typical sexism and such forth, Yujin was definitely priming for Susato and Kazuma to possibly get married in the future-- especially since he knows that the world isn't fair to girls like Susato (especially since there's a lot of opportunities that are kept from her SOLELY because she's a woman), and since there's no male Mikotoba heir, the next best thing would be to make sure she's set up for life with someone that is trustworthy and also respects HER as a person....... and Susato DEFINITELY had a baby crush on Kazuma that she was not subtle about due to being 6/7 XD

Hii! So, for the first one:

Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly disagree

So Ace Attorney first and foremost references Japanese justice system, and there is (as much as I know) death penalthy being practiced all way through (probably not for one murder, more likely serial killers will be punished too, afaik, murdering three people warrants the highest form of punishment).

But honestly? There are two things that make me lean towards considering death penalty as the most likely solution if someone's condemned. First of all, Ace Attorney's world is a caricature and it doesn't really have to perfectly mirror the real one. The second thing comes from that as AA is a very dramamtic series, and Phoenix being all dedicated to "save" people he defends in court is really in line with consideration that most of times this is a life or death situations. Aside from Dahlia the other examples that more vaguely imply: Adrian Andrew's situation in 2-4 being compared to Maya's deadly peril, so her situation is on more or less similar level of grave - if Phoenix indicts her as guilty, her life would be wasted. In 3-4 Terry Fawles was on a death row for supposedly killing Dahlia (well, he did some other bad things too like kidnapping etc). The other one is implications that at some point Morgan met Pearl for the last time in Japanese script, and Morgan even never killed anyone directly.

But what stops me to completely side with "Guilty verdict means death" opinion is how sometimes there is implied hope for the imprisoned? It was shown clearly in I2-2 with how Japanifornian prison, with all its faults, tries to rehabilitate people as members of society, inviting performers like Regina or assigning them to groom pets. This is a really positive aspect, and, adding to the fact that there are many sympathetic culprits in the series, you would want to think that there's some hope for them. So overall, there are some arguments in favor and against that, so I dunno

Now onto the Kazuma/Susato one

Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly disagree

Okay, this is a really controversial topic that probably may be repulsing from the modern Western perspective, but Mikotoba imagining Kazuma as a potential husband for Susato could really be the case. For a few reasons

There really was a Japanese tradition for sonless men from respectable families (Mikotobas were well off) to take in orphaned boys, adopt them (even giving them their family name!) and marry their daughters off to them to secure their lineage. Not 100% the situation with Yujin and Kazuma (it's unimaginable that Kazuma would change his name, he's tightly holding onto Asogi's legacy), but it's not unprecedented that basically adoptive siblings were expected to marry in some circumstances

About the sibling part: I do sincerely think that Kazuma and Susato's relationship are resembling of some sort of sibling bond (especialy post 2-5 when they all reconcile in the end) - cue the Japanese DLC case - but here's the nuance. Probably neither of them thought about their relationship in that way. They are not Miles and Franziska. Kazuma and Susato dynamic is a vast and deep topic and I have many thoughts about it, but now I wanna on;y say that 1) Kazuma, as much as he appreciated Susato's help and devotion, wasn't... fair to her, I think? In their relationship he probably always was a receiving party, and really really often he kinda subconciously dismissed her, preferring to be more open with his university friend whom he knew for a year instead. Adding the fact he was kinda distancing himself from Mikotobas already and didn't really view them as a family, he probably wouldn't call Susato his sister, and 2) Susato could view him as her honorary brother, but this does negate the "puppy crush" part as you said. It's probably more of a historical fiction thing, but really often "you're like a brother/sister to me" meant "i want to be with you forever". So the romantic feelings and appreciating someone as sibling really could intertwine, contrary to modern POV. Either way, the way Susato was dedicated to Kazuma's dream, shaping her profession and career path around him probably speaks in favor of her affection, whatever it could be - especially taking a risk of having a job in the sexist sociaty required really strong feelings from her. Maybe it could be the other way around and at some point Yujin saw Susato being that way to Kazuma and began to make wedding plans

Also Yujin would be really glad if his family and the family of his good friend were united

I don't actively ship Asosusa, but I think the implications that Kazuma and Susato were at some moment imagined to be a bride and groom has potential for angst. Especially considering they ended up crushing on the same boy

[andreafmn]

Collision | Chapter 18

Word Count: 3.2K Story Description: (Y/N) Uley is back home after being away for four years. Her life is at its first standstill and she is taking this time to find out who she is without school. But she never thought that coming back to the reservation would turn her whole life around. In the midst of secrets and mystery, a man crashes into (Y/N)’s and her life will never be the same. Chapter: 18/? Warnings: steamy scenes and foul language A/N: One day I'll manage both Twilight fics in a day, but today is not the day 😬😬 but hey, this is my longest story as of now, so hopefully if my creativity sparks I can consistently publish chapters like this story My content will always be free, but if you’re feeling particularly generous, you can leave a tip on any of my posts  or buy me a coffee to support me and my love of writing Follow 😊 -> TikTok • Instagram • BusinessIf you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story: click hereMake sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post! Please check if you're tagged in the story, I've reached the limit of tags on Twilight again it seems. 😅

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“Paul,” (Y/N)’s voice broke him out of his trance. She had started to slip on one of Paul’s many forgotten T-shirts, stretching her limbs after their latest encounter.  “You’re staring.”

“Oh, sorry,” he chuckled softly. “I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s fine,” she smiled. “I sometimes forget they’re there.”

It had been five months since she had been hurt, four months since they had left, three since she had decided to dig herself out of the hole she had fallen into and put her life back on track. And she couldn’t look back –at least not without feeling her heart wrench inside her chest.

(Y/N) had made the decision to move forward in her life, to allow herself to release her past and unbind herself from the Cullens. She had allowed herself to be her first priority –even if meant that she had to release some people she thought the world of. But she had to push forward. Staying stuck in the mud was the last thing she wanted.

Instead, she had spent the past two months and a half investing her time between med school, her entanglement with Paul, the people at the rez, and her work at the hospital. And it had been just the shift (Y/N) had needed.

“I can’t believe I was the one that did this,” Paul whispered as he joined her side. His fingers traced the rough skin of her scars, an electric shiver running through his veins. A few months before, the three ragged lines that ran down her arm had not been there. And in a split second, he’d changed her for life. “I’m so sorry, (Y/N). I wish I could take that night back.”

“I don’t blame you, Paul,” she breathed. Shudders ran through her body as he kissed her shoulder, his warmth still something she had yet gotten used to. “I should have listened to my brother and step away.”

“But if I had been able to control myself I wouldn’t have scratched you,” he said, his hand running up and down her arm. “I should have been able to protect you. Protect you from myself.”

 “It was no one’s fault, Paul,” she sighed at his touch, a teasing smile spreading across her face after. “And I’ve heard scars make people hot.”

“You were already hot,” he grinned. “Scars just added to it.”

“Okay, cool it, Casanova,” she chuckled. “I can’t go for a round three. I’ve got studying to do.”

“You and I both know that studying for you is a formality,” he groaned. “You’ve been axing all your tests. You already passed Step 1, and in a couple of weeks you’ll be in your clinical rotations.”

“I still need to study, Paul. I’ve gotta make sure all the information is fresh in my brain,” she explained. “And, still, it’s almost time for your patrol shift. So, you don’t have time for anything else either.”

“The bloodsuckers are gone,” he said before kissing her neck. “What is there to patrol?”

“Probably the people of this reservation,” she breathed, trying her hardest to suppress the moan that wanted to escape. But it was as futile as denying him. “But, maybe we can go for one more round.”

Paul could simply laugh in response and take her lips on his. His hands snaked to the small of her back, pulling her body until his legs reached her bed. (Y/N) grinned at him as he buckled against the mattress and used his surprise to push him onto the bed. He forcefully sat down, spreading his legs to allow (Y/N) a space between them. But she seemed to have another idea.

The Uley girl closed his legs together before placing her knees at either side of his thighs, straddling his lap. She placed her hands on his cheeks before kissing him again, telling him she was just as hungry for him as he was for her. (Y/N) would have never admitted it out loud, but Paul knew his way around a woman’s body —not that she had mi b to compare it to. Still, she would never say it to him, afraid that he would think it would lead to something else.

Almost every week she would check in with Paul to make sure they were still on the same page regarding their relationship, or rather lack thereof. The last thing she wanted was to lead him on and she had told him so over and over again. But every single time he would tell her that he understood what they were and what they would never be. That he could separate his feelings from his urges, and that at some point she would have to believe him.

Even with her doubts, she pushed on. She couldn’t deny that she loved the convenience of having him just a couple of houses down and the fact that he was all for their… benefits. Things just seemed to be working out perfectly for her, and she continually overthought her way into thinking that the universe would mess everything up.

Still, instead of dwelling on what could happen in the future, she had started to enjoy things as they happened in the moment. And at that very instant, (Y/N) had started to deepen the kiss between her and Paul. Her hands ran through his short hair, gripping and pulling softly at the dark brown strands. At the same time and unconsciously, her lower half started grinding onto his lap, searching for that much-wanted friction.

Paul’s hand had made a home on her backside, cupping the soft skin that peeked out of her underwear and moving with her motions. Even if he loved being the one to lead in the bedroom, he couldn’t say that was the dynamic with (Y/N). She held all the power in her hands, there and in their personal life. And for the time being, he seemed to enjoy it. Mostly because it was (Y/N).

As the man’s hands finally decided to move and try to remove the shirt that dangled from (Y/N)’s neck, a knock resounded through the house. At first, they ignored it, continuing their exploration of each other’s bodies. But whoever was at the door did not relent, knocking once more and harder the second time.

“Just ignore them,” he groaned against her neck. “They’ll get the hint soon enough.”

“It’ll only take a second,” she chuckled, pushing him away from her body. “I’ll see who it is, okay? You can go eat something in the meantime.”

“Ugh, fine.”

(Y/N) lowered the shirt onto her body, the massive size drowning her inside, and slipped on a pair of sweatpants. In the meantime, Paul did the same, adjusting the ignored hard-on that would tent his pants. It made the girl laugh as she noted the discomfort on his face that was quite evidently laced with annoyance.

“Don’t worry, Paul. It’ll go down soon enough.”

“That’s not funny, (Y/N),” he grumbled. “I was promised something else.”

“I promised nothing,” she laughed, coming down the last steps of her staircase. “And you’ll be fine in a couple of minutes. It’s not like you haven’t gone months without sex.”

“You think you’re funny, huh?”

“Oh, I know I am,” she smiled. “Now go away.”

(Y/N) opened the door and was surprised by the person standing on the other side. The Forks sheriff was nervously pacing back and forth on her porch. She could see the darkened bags under his eyes and his hair was slightly disheveled. Instantly she knew why he was there.

“Sheriff Swan, what can I help you with?”

“Oh, hello, (Y/N),” Charlie breathed out. “How are you?”

“I’m good, thank you,” she offered him a smile. “How have you been?”

“Well, I’ll be honest, I’m feeling a bit defeated at the moment,” he sighed. “That’s actually the reason why I’m here. It’s Bella.”

“Is she okay?”

“Physically, sure. But ever since her boyfriend and his family moved away she’s been the living dead,”  the man explained. She could tell how tired he was, tired of being the only one that cared for her well-being —to care for the both of them. “I’m not one to gossip but I know you also went through something a few months back when the Cullens left. Yet, you were able to move on, and look at you now.”

“I can’t say it was easy, but I was lucky enough to have a lot of people rally behind me,” she chuckled slightly. “Still, I’m not sure how I could help you with her.”

“I was wondering if you could talk to her. Something tells me you’re the one who will understand what she’s going through the most and you’re honestly my last resort before I send her back to Florida with her mom.”

“Well then, thankfully I have a free day tomorrow and I can come over,” (Y/N) offered. “I’ll do what I can, Sheriff. I honestly didn’t know she was that bad.”

“I’ve tried my best to help her these past few months, but I don’t know what else to do.”

“No worries, Sheriff. We’ll get her out of this rut soon enough.”

“Thank you, (Y/N). I truly hope there’s something we can do,” he smiled weakly. “And, come on, what’s this sheriff business? You know you can call me Charlie.”

“Alright then, Charlie,” she chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

“Tomorrow,” he offered her another smile, this time a slight hint of hope painting across his lips. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank me once I’ve done something, Charlie,” (Y/N) said with a laugh. “But I promise to try my best.”

“Alright then, I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good rest of your day, (Y/N).”

“You too, Charlie.”

The girl waited until the cruiser disappeared down her road before she closed the door, a rush of guilt washing over her. She knew she hadn’t been alone in her heartbreak, that there was someone else that had tasted the Cullen drug and had been ripped away from the supply in the blink of an eye. (Y/N) had somehow forgotten that Bella had also had her heart ripped from her chest, and it seemed like she had been taking it harder than she ever had.

“What did the sheriff want?” Paul called from the kitchen, holding a plate with a sandwich.

“As if you couldn’t hear,” she chuckled. “Did you know it was that bad with Bella?”

“I’d heard whispers that she wasn’t doing good,” he shrugged. “But, honestly, my focus was on someone else. If I have to pick between one leech lover or another, I’m always picking you.”

“That’s not funny, Paul,” (Y/N) sighed, reprimanding her friend with her gaze. “It looks like she’s taking this really hard. Has Sam not gone over to check up on her? I mean, he is the one that found her that night.”

“(Y/N), we were more worried about you,” he responded sternly. “You took this hard as well. Need I remind you of your brief visit into alcoholism? Bella Swan has other people to worry about her. We needed you to be okay.”

(Y/N) remained quiet for a second. She knew if it hadn’t been for Paul and Sam, she would probably still be stuck in the overconsuming darkness of her loneliness. She had done things that she never thought she would do, she said things she never thought she would say, and she had felt the most gut-wrenching pain she had ever believed she would feel.

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “I know I sent you guys through hell with how I was acting a few months back.”

“Hey, hey,” he called her attention, placing a hand under her chin before wiping away a few stray tears. Paul wrapped his arms around her, letting her head rest on his chest. “You were heartbroken, (Y/N). It’d be weird if you had been fine with it.”

“Still, you guys had to witness me at my absolute worst. You more than others. I wasn’t a good person during that time.”

“Sadness and loneliness make you do crazy things, (Y/N). None of us blames you for how you were acting during that time,” he told her. His voice rumbled through her chest and sent her calming vibrations. “We will always be by your side, no matter what. We love you and care about you. And we’re just glad you’re better now.”

“I’m glad I’m better now too,” she smiled against his chest. “And I wanna help Bella get better too. If the way she’s feeling is even an ounce of the way I felt, she shouldn’t go through this by herself.”

“Want me to drive you tomorrow?”

“No,” she sighed. “I think this is something I should do by myself. Bringing someone that is so against her ex might not be the best thing.”

“She doesn’t know what I am though. At least she shouldn’t know.”

“Because of the pact.”

“Yeah,” he responded. “We can’t say what the Cullens are and they can’t say what we are. So Bella shouldn’t know why I hate them so much. She probably thinks I’m just like every other person of the rez that dislikes the Cullen because of our ancestors.”

“Still, I think I should go by myself for now,” she smiled up at him. “The last thing she needs is to meet someone new.”

“Fine,” he smiled back before it morphed into the Cheshire Cat grin. “What’re you doing the rest of the afternoon then?”

“I still need to study, and Emily invited me over for dinner tonight.”

“What you’re saying is that you have like an hour to spare?”

“I don’t think that’s what I said, Paul,” she chuckled. “But I guess I do have some time to spare —more like thirty minutes though.”

“More than enough,” he smirked.

He placed his hands under her thighs, prompting her to jump onto his waist and wrap her legs around him. She kissed his lips softly, running her hands through his hair. (Y/N) held on tight as Paul moved them back upstairs and to her bedroom. 

Once back inside the now white walls of her room, he lay her softly onto her bed, his lips never leaving hers. He kissed her hungrily, not wanting to waste a single moment he was with her. He kissed her cheek, he kissed her temple, he kissed her chin, and he kissed her neck. It was one of his favorite things. To taste every inch of her skin for as long as she allowed him to.

“What are you doing for Valentine's?” Paul asked abruptly, the question coming out of nowhere. “There’s gonna be a bonfire that night. It’s mostly for couples but we can go as friends.”

“Great timing for that question, Paul,” she panted. “And I don’t know. That’s over a month from now. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m gonna be studying.”

“So do you wanna go if you’re free?”

(Y/N) wasn’t sure. Thanksgiving had passed, so had Christmas and New Year. She had gone through three big holidays that she had pictured spending with him, and there were still so many more that she would have to experience with other people when she only wanted to spend it with him. As much as she had chosen to move on and try her hardest to forget him, it still hurt.

Every day that passed hurt. Every second that passed hurt. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, her heart still wanted him and only him. But it was something she could not admit. Not to her mother, to her brother, much less to Paul. She said she was okay, she looked like she was okay, and she needed herself to be okay.

“I don’t wanna make a compromise like that when I don’t know what my schedule is gonna look like,” she sighed. “But ask me again on the seventh and I’ll let you know.”

“Fine,” he groaned jokingly.

“Now, can we talk about comparing schedules later and go back to kissing?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he smirked before going back to attack her lips.

As they were getting back into the game of bodies, ripping away their clothes and reveling in the other’s body, a shout from outside interrupted them. At first, they chose to ignore it, thinking it was teenagers having fun in the street. But the clear mention of Paul’s name startled them apart. It was a voice that was usually very quiet and had just recently joined the pack.

“Yo, Paul!” Embry Call yelled from (Y/N)’s backyard. “We’re supposed to be on patrol right now!”

“Gods, what fucking timing!” Paul groaned. “I hate how eager he is to follow the rules. Like, does he not know there’s no active threat right now?”

“He’s just trying to make sense of all of this the best way he knows how,” (Y/N) explained. “He’s keeping his head down and doing what he’s told. Just being able to shift is a big shock, but finding out that your father is someone from the reservation is world-shattering. The poor kid is also getting smoke at home from his mom, and he can’t ask questions because he would have no proof of where he got them.”

“You’re actually making me feel bad for him.”

“You should. Right now, he’s not only lost his friends but he’s had his whole life turned upside down. What he needs more than anything is someone to guide him and be by his side.” 

“Don’t look at me,” Paul scoffed. “That’s the alpha’s job.”

“I’m just asking that you don’t make his life harder than it already is,” she smiled at him. “He needs a friend, not someone to kick him when he’s already down.”

“Fine,” he conceded. “That kid is lucky you’re on his side.”

“Shut up and get dressed,” she laughed. “Don’t leave Embry waiting.”

Paul grumbled under his breath as he slipped on every piece of clothing he needed to get dressed in. As he complained and groaned, (Y/N) moved to the window, wanting to give Embry at least a heads up that Paul would take his time with going downstairs.

“Hey, Embry,” she called out. “Paul will be down in a sec, he’s too busy complaining at the moment.”

“Oh, hi, (Y/N),” he said as he blushed. “That’s okay. Sorry I showed up like this. Jared said that if Paul wasn’t at Sam’s that he was most likely here.”

“He is correct about that.”

“And don’t worry, I’ve been practicing suppressing my thoughts so that Sam doesn’t find out.”

“No worries, Embry,” she chuckled. “I know that Sam will eventually find out. So, it’s fine.”

“Oh, but still. It’s good practice.”

“I’m leaving now,” Paul interrupted, a definite scowl on his face. “As much as I don’t want to.”

“Well, I was saved by the bell,” she grinned teasingly. “Now I have more time to study. So, you can go.”

“Ugh, twist my arm why don’t you.”

“Go, Paul,” she chuckled.

“Fine,” he said before kissing her lips softly. “But I’ll see you later for dinner, right?” 

“Yes, Paul. You’ll see me later.”

Next ->

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...continued in comment section

[imaginidol]

Taemin: Scored

As requested. Please feel free to send in any requests!

Unbelievable, Taemin thinks to himself as he watches the television screen in front of him.

You had just scored your second goal for your team, putting you in the lead for the final of the Women’s World Cup.

Taemin’s eyes followed you across the screen as your team celebrated you, chanting their country’s name and pointing to your shirt number.

Your goal is replayed several times in slow motion. Taemin bit his bottom lip at the sight of your unbelievably accurate precision as you launched the ball swiftly under the goalie’s legs.

Damn, he searches the screen for your name, she's really thriving now...

Not more than two quick minutes had passed when the fanatic had found your profile again on Instagram, curiously scrolling through your posts one by one.

She even got prettier. How long ago did we break up...?

Taemin was so indulged into your profile that the loud interruption on screen caught him by surprise: the football narrator had announced the end of the game and declared your team as the official winner of this year’s Women’s World Cup.

Damn! Taemin’s attention focused back to the screen, very pleased and shocked at the final results. Two of those goals had been met by you.

Taemin looked back down to his phone screen, an idea sprouting in the back of his mind.

What if... what if I congratulated her?

It's not like she'll read it. But... it doesn't hurt to try, at least.

And so, Taemin decided to DM you for the first time in a long time, congratulating you and your team for your grand final, as well as to praise you highly for your performace.

Once the message was sent, he curiously looked over towards you again through the television screen, wondering....

--

A couple weeks go by, and Taemin had forgotten about his DM altogether. He was sitting in his dressing room as his hairstylist was trimming the ends of his hair for an upcoming photoshoot.

The boy was mindlessly scrolling through Twitter when suddenly an unfamiliar Instagram notification popped up.

He had received a new messagae... from you!

[New DM: Thank you for your kind words, Taemin. It's been so long since we've talked... I'm sorry I couldn't answer your message sooner. I've been busy since the final...]

Taemin smiled cheekily, biting his lower lip in wonder. He decided to respond.

[Taemin: That's okay, you should prioritize your career, anyway. Enjoy your win, you really deserve it...]

Your response came in much quicker this time.

[New DM: Thanks, Taemin. I hear you're touring right now, is that true?]

[Taemin: You still keep up with my activities? But yeah, I'm touring right now. About to head to Tokyo next weekend, actually]

[New DM: So I've heard. I was asking because I noticed your Tokyo dates align with my trip to Japan with my team... we're getting invited to interviews all over the world.]

Taemin gasped excitedly, feeling a small yank as his hairstylist re-positioned his head and told him not to move too much.

[Taemin: Oh that's great! If you accepted it, I'd love to invite you to my concert dates in Japan...]

[New DM: I'd wholeheartedly accept that invitation... :)]

And that was that, your first interaction since the breakup had finally happened.

It wasn't that bad. At least we weren't petty about anything...

Taemin couldn't help but smile at the pleasant surprise of texting you again, and how perfect it was that his concert date aligned with your Japan trip.

--

Taemin fixes his mic as his team is finishing up their styling, preparing to set the artist off on stage for the long-awaited Tokyo show.

On stage, the lights finally dim and the familiar opening beat of WANT starts blasting throughout the venue.

He's still got it, you think to yourself from the floor seats he'd reserved especially for you. Cameras and eyes from fans were not only on his hot performance, but they were also on you.

[BREAKING: Women's World Cup Champion attends Taemin concert in Tokyo]

Your name was already plastered all over the internet again, this time followed by speculations of you and Taemin possibly getting back together. Some speculated you were still good friends, and you were simply supporting him whilst on your trip to Japan as it aligned perfectly with his show. Others suspected something more.

After the concert, you were privately escorted backstage where you could meet up with the concert artist of the night formally.

I can't believe it. I hope I look okay, you think as a bodyguard made your way to Taemin's dressing room.

When was the last time we even saw each other after our break up...?

You knock lightly at the door, and a couple seconds later a distantly familiar face opens it, smiling.

"Taemin?" you hear yourself say, voice shaking. Am I nervous...?

"It's so good to see you, please come in," he invites you inside. He offers you a few drinks and snacks as well as a seat on a couch.

"It's good to see you, too. You did amazing tonight, Tae," you smiled.

"Me? No, the one whose performance we should be talking about is yours at the final. I haven't stopped talking about it with my friends since that night," he excitedly responds.

"You're just being nice," you laugh.

"I'm being genuine," he smiles again.

I missed your smile, you think.

I missed your voice, he thinks as well.

You spend the next half-hour catching up the way two old friends would, noting that nothing awkward existed between you both since your breakup.

He then invited you for dinner, to which you lovingly accepted. You could feel a long-awaited rekindling friendship sprouting once again after many years of not interacting.

--

It was both you and Taemin's last day in Japan, having shared two concert dates in Tokyo and now one in Osaka. You were set to leave for a football interview in Rome in two days, and Taemin was set to prepare for his next concert all the way in Beijing.

"Taemin," you begin that night's dinner conversation. It was rather quiet tonight between the two of you, probably because you both knew it'd be the last time you'd see each other, indefinitely.

"Yes?" he looks up from his wine glass.

"I've enjoyed... talking to you again. I've really enjoyed all these days I've spent with you. Thank you for... for being the one to reach out, first."

Taemin smiled, settling his glass down. "I can't thank you enough for the time we've gotten to spend together these last few days. It almost makes me really... upset... that it'll be the last time I see you."

Your eyes move towards the end of the table, noticing his hands fidget with his fork. He used to always fidget when he was nervous.

"What if... this wasn't the last time," you whisper slowly, your eyes searching his.

He looks up curiously, wanting to ask a thousand more questions, though the look in his eyes did it for him.

"I'm saying," you clear your throat again, "what if... there was a second chance?"

"Second chance?"

"Second chance... at us."

The boy's eyes brightened, but he didn't say a word.

You keep a prolonged moment of eye contact for a few seconds before he finally speaks up.

"You're suggesting," he begins, "that if you had a second chance to start over... you'd take it?"

You smile awkwardly, nodding in assurance.

"I think I would," you say.

He scoffs, but not in a rude way. More of like, in an I can't believe what I'm hearing sort of way.

"I think," he whispers quietly, "I would, too."

He smiles at you, reaching his hand across the table to take yours. You intertwine your fingers around his, feeling more secure in your decision of dating Taemin again this time than you had felt the last time.

Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this time it'll last... way more than just a year. Just as long as we find appropriate time to set aside for us and prioritize our relationship healthily, everything's going to be okay.

[bobfloydsbabe]

now that you're close (i feel like coming undone) || robert "bob" floyd x oc

Rating: T+

Prompt/request: Bob and Abby at a navy ball (requested)

Summary: At a navy ball thrown in the Dagger Squad's honor, Bob and Abby reach a pivotal moment in their relationship. Part of the Golden Hour anthology series.

Warnings: Fluff, so much fluff, hot and heavy kissing, alcohol consumption, brief mentions of sex and nudes but neither actually happens, incorrect navy stuff because this is my fic and I can do what I want. Probably other things I've forgotten.

Word count: 3.3k (it was supposed to be a blurb. idk what happened either.)

A/N: First, I know the gif isn't from TGM, but it's perfect for this fic, so leave me alone. Second, I teased this fic endlessly over the weekend, but my perfectionist ass wasn't happy with it, so it took a while to post. Third, thank you so much to Lyra (@natrace) for requesting this. Special shout out to Anna for helping me name Bob's old pilot. Title is from Untouchable by Taylor Swift. Enjoy, friends.

likes are nice, but comments and reblogs are golden.

Technically, Abby wasn’t invited.

The celebratory gala was reserved for the people who actively ensured the success of the Uranium Plant mission, and Abby didn’t meet that requirement according to the higher ups.

So, when she walked into the hall, her arm linked with that of Admiral Bates, Bob nearly choked on his ginger ale.

“You okay there, Bob?”

Bob coughed a few times, his eyes never leaving Abby as the Admiral led her around the room making introductions.

“Yeah,” he confirmed, offering a quick glance at Hangman before looking back towards Abby, whose smile was bright and genuine as they shook hands with a two-star Admiral with graying hair.

The pilot’s eyes followed Bob’s line of sight, and a broad grin spread across his face, realization replacing the confusion. “Ah, your lady’s here.”

Bob’s head whipped back, eyes wide and alarmed. They had done everything they could to keep their relationship private. Of course, the other aviators knew they’d gone on a couple of dates, but besides Phoenix, none of them knew just how deep it was.

Bob opened his mouth to object, to correct him, but Hangman’s raised eyebrow made him close his mouth again.

Phoenix and Rooster joined the pair, champagne glasses in hand. “How the hell the Abby snag an invitation?”

Bob barely paid attention to them. His eyes continued to follow his girlfriend around the room.

The moniker still felt foreign in his mouth. The first time he saw Abby was burned in his mind, and he remembered his heart beating a little faster as he watched her.

She had rounded the corner of the opening to the hangar and walked with purposeful strides toward Admiral Bates. She’d stopped next to him, a small smile on her lips and friendly conversation had flowed between them. Bob remembered that his front seater, Oz, had admonished him for staring.

He couldn’t help it then, and he definitely couldn’t help it now. 

“You’re just mad your girlfriend wasn’t invited,” Phoenix commented to Rooster, making Jake let out a loud laugh. 

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Bob took his eyes off Abby, his attention back to his friends and their bickering. Almost dying together had brought them closer, and Bob had never felt like he belonged more than with these people. It was a little odd to present them with a ribbon for a classified mission, but they were all here and alive, and that counted for something.

“I didn’t say a name,” Phoenix told Rooster, whose ears turned red.

Jake clapped a hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “Don’t play dumb, Bradshaw. We all know you and Kennedy are a thing, just like Baby on Board and Abby are banging like rabbits.”

Bob’s mouth fell open. “Wha… we’re not… no.”

Natasha had buried her face in her hand. Rooster was looking anywhere but at Hangman, and Hangman himself had a smug and self-satisfied smile on his face.

“Don’t take after Rooster and play dumb with me, Bob,” he drawled, his Texas twang permeating every word. “When was the last time you spent a night on base?”

Heat spread through Bob’s cheeks, all the way to the tips of his ears, and though he wasn’t ashamed that he stayed with Abby most of the time, he was uncomfortable with knowing that someone had noticed. That Hangman had noticed.

Bob adjusted his glasses. “I don’t know how she got an invitation,” he said, assuming Hangman’s question was rhetorical, and even if it wasn’t, Bob couldn’t remember. He enjoyed staying with Abby.

Bob had left her apartment in the early afternoon with a promise to see her tonight after the event. He’d asked about her plans, and she said she was going to the Hard Deck with Kennedy for a couple of drinks since they weren’t invited.

He turned his attention back to Abby, who was still making the rounds with Warlock, smiling widely and shaking hands. Her silky dark hair fell in effortless waves over her shoulders and down her back. Her dress was midnight blue, simple and elegant, with thin straps that crossed delicately in the back. From her ears dangled small golden pendant earrings, and all Bob wanted to do was go to her and be next to her.

“You’re a lucky man, Bob,” Phoenix said, bumping his shoulder with hers, and Bob smiled down at his pilot.

“Yeah,” he agreed.

He sipped his ginger ale and made conversation with the other aviators. He shook hands with admirals and captains, and said thank you when they congratulated him on the squad’s success, all while his eyes were drawn to Abby.

After the mission, they’d all been granted extended leave. Bob had thought about going home to see his family, go back to his small town and see his friends from school, catch up with them. He could have gone home and spent more time with his brother and his niece, who was almost two now. He could have done all of that with his leave, but didn’t.

At first, it was just a couple of days. He wanted more time with Abby, and although they hadn’t had the conversation about what exactly they were then, he knew he couldn’t leave her right away. A couple of days turned into a week, then two weeks, and then he stayed. He FaceTimed with his family instead, and even though it broke his heart hearing his niece ask for Uncle Bob, he didn’t want to leave Abby.

Now his leave was almost up, and the idea of going back to Lemoore alone seemed like the hardest task in the world. It made his chest feel tight, and like his lungs couldn’t get enough air.

Before the Admiral and Abby could reach the squad, they were called to dinner, and Bob was left disappointed not to have a moment to talk to her. To ask how she got an invitation. To feel the warmth of her hand in his, although her hands were usually cold despite the California heat.

After they had cleared the main course from the table and they waited for dessert, Cyclone took the stage to address the gathering. He droned on about how he always had faith in the mission, in the squad. He knew Maverick could teach them and that Ice would be proud of what they’d accomplished.

Bob exchanged skeptical glances with his squad, knowing full-well that Cyclone had tried his hardest to get Maverick pulled off the mission, so he could take over himself. He hadn’t trusted any of them as far as he could throw them.

Then they were called to the stage to receive their ribbon. For a mission that was supposed to be top secret, they made a big spectacle out of it. After plenty of handshaking, a couple of photographs that would never see the light of day, and an awkward Oscar-worthy acceptance speech from Maverick, they were sent back to their seats for dessert.

On his way back, he finally caught Abby’s eye, and she beamed at him, pride in her dark eyes. Heat filled his cheeks again even as he offered her a wink he hoped was subtle enough for no one else to notice.

After dessert, the party spread. People danced to the sound of a string quartet, and Coyote complained it was boring while Fanboy argued it was classy. Payback had taken Nat for a turn about the makeshift dance floor, and Bob stood next to Rooster, who had his nose buried in his phone. Hangman headed back their way with a disappointed look on his face, having struck out with the aircrew member he’d flirted with relentlessly.

The poor girl was snickering with another aircrew member while his back was turned, and Bob smiled, knowing Jake’s charm didn’t win every time.

“Zero better be sending you nudes if you’re smiling like that at your phone,” Hangman said to Rooster once he reached them. “You look almost as love struck as Bob.”

“At least we have someone, Hangman,” Rooster fired back, slipping his phone into the pocket of his dress pants.

Jake opened his mouth to argue, but never got the chance to, interrupted by Phoenix and Payback coming back from the dance floor. “Leave them alone, Bagman,” she said, accepting her drink from Bob, who she’d asked to hold it while she danced. “You’re just mad that poor woman rejected you.”

Bob stifled a laugh.

“Whatever,” Hangman mumbled, stalking off towards the bar. Coyote and Payback followed him to get refills of their drinks, leaving Bob alone with the remaining aviators.

Fanboy joined him and Phoenix. “Isn’t that Abby dancing with Warlock?”

Bob followed his line of sight, and sure enough, towards the back wall among other dancing couples were Abby and Warlock.

Bob admired the relationship between Abby and her boss. They trusted each other, relied on each other, and though they were colleagues, Bob knew she considered Warlock a friend. He had been essential to her leaving Lemoore.

“Just go,” Phoenix encouraged, nudging her backseater in the ribs.

“But–”

“Bob,” she said, voice soft but firm. “Go dance with your girlfriend.”

He nodded with a small smile. Pushing his glasses back up his nose, he made his way through the crowd, weaving in and out of dancing pairs to get to who he was searching for.

Abby and Admiral Bates came into his line of sight, and he stopped a few paces away, watching them for a moment. They swayed together and Abby laughed at something Warlock said; the sound carrying through the room. It was one of Bob’s favorite sounds, and he’d recognize it anywhere.

Squaring his shoulders, he walked the last few steps forward, tapping Admiral Bates on his shoulder, and though every part of him wanted to look at Abby, he couldn’t. He’d lose his resolve to interrupt if he did.

“Mind if I cut in, Sir?” He asked when Warlock looked at him over his shoulder. The older man smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes that had Bob wondering if Abby had let him in on the nature of their relationship.

“Not at all, Lieutenant,” he said, turning his attention back to Abby to thank her for dancing with him. Warlock stepped back from her and then placed a hand on Bob’s shoulder, looked him straight in the eye as if peering into his soul. Bob had to fight the shudder threatening to course through him. “You take care of her, okay?”

Bob’s eyes widened just a fraction. “Yes, Sir.” It wasn’t a threat, but it intimidated him.

“Good man,” Warlock said, tapping Bob’s arm before leaving the dance floor and heading towards the bar.

Bob turned to Abby. Her arms folded neatly in front of her, there was a soft upturn at the corners of her mouth. Bob stepped closer, offering his hand to her, which she accepted. He pulled her in and put his free hand on her lower back, feeling the heat of her skin through the fabric of her dress.

Abby placed her free hand on his shoulder, and they started dancing slowly to the live string quartet providing the music. “Hi,” she whispered.

His smile spread. “Hi.”

Bob pulled her slightly closer. He could smell her intoxicating perfume mixed with the scent of her citrus body wash. This close, he could see all the different shades of brown in her eyes, and the light bounced off her loose, wavy hair. Bob could look at her for the rest of his life and never grow tired of it. 

“You didn’t tell me they invited you.”

Abby chuckled softly, looking down at their feet briefly before meeting his eyes again. “I wasn’t,” she said. “Warlock made some calls, probably yelled at some higher-ranking admirals, and secured himself a plus one. He asked me. I didn’t know until after you left my apartment.”

“That was nice of him,” Bob said, spinning them around lightly.

She nodded. “It was.”

Comfortable silence spread between them as they continued to sway to the music. Over Abby’s shoulder, Bob could see the rest of the dagger squad chatting animatedly. An air of ease flowed around them, making Bob wish they could all stay here a little longer instead of going back to their respective squadrons. He didn’t want him and Phoenix to be split up as a team. He’d never felt more comfortable and safe in the air than with her as his pilot.

“What’s going on inside that big brain of yours?” Abby asked, squeezing his shoulder lightly, bringing him back to the present and the breath-taking woman in front of him.

“Just thinking,” he told her, pulling her closer again. It wasn’t proper for them to be this close, especially surrounded by a slew of superiors and high-ranking admirals who probably weren’t as forgiving as Warlock. “I hate that I can’t kiss you right now.”

Color flooded into her cheeks, and she shifted her eyes away from him, trying to hide her smile. She squeezed his shoulder lightly, and Bob offered her a toothy grin in return.

“Hey,” he said, bringing her attention back to him. Her beautiful dark eyes met his blue gaze expectantly, waiting for him to continue. “I’m going back to Lemoore next week.”

“Yeah,” Abby said, defeated.

They both knew this was coming, and it was the exact reason Bob hadn’t asked Abby out when he was at Top Gun and they’d first met. He would have to leave, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to. This time was no different.

“I think we should…” Bob tried to start, but trailed off. “I mean,” he said, hesitating, “I don’t know what you’ll think, but…”

Abby raised a brow, looking at him expectantly. “But?”

Bob paused their dance. He grabbed her hand, leading her off the dance floor and to a secluded corner at the end of a hallway he’d noticed earlier when he arrived. Here they’d be out of sight from prying eyes and nosy superiors.

“Bob, what’s going on?” She asked, her eyes filled with confusion and alarm. He hated that he was the one who caused it.

He took a deep, steadying breath and cupped Abby’s cheeks lightly. He leaned down and pressed his lips gently against hers in one of those sweet kisses he’d grown so accustomed to over the weeks they’d spent together.

When he pulled away, he pressed his forehead against hers. “I think we should disclose our relationship,” he whispered.

Abby’s breath hitched, and she pulled back from Bob, looking at him seriously. He couldn’t read her in that moment, couldn’t tell if he’d come on too strong and this was the last thing she wanted. “Bob–”

“No,” he said firmly. “I love you.”

Abby’s jaw went slack, her mouth hung open, and Bob could feel the blood rushing in his veins, hear his heart racing, the sensation of his quickened pulse in his neck.

He opened his mouth to explain, to apologize, to take it back, but the words stuck in his throat as Abby’s lips crashed against his. The kiss was breathless and messy, heated and so good. He gently pushed her against the wall, swiping his tongue across her bottom lip, beckoning her to open up for him. Instead, she pulled away, breathing heavy.

Bob took a small step back, determined to give her some space, but she drew him back to her, wrapping her arms around his neck. 

She peered up at him through her dark lashes that were so long it looked like they touched her cheeks.

“I love you too,” she whispered.

All the blooming anxiety, the discomfort of making such a strong declaration so early in the relationship, melted away when those words passed her lips. Bob grinned. How could he not? The woman of his dreams had just told him she loved him and everything in the world felt right. “Yeah?”

Abby let out a short, breathy laugh before she dragged him down by the back of his neck and kissed him, making him feel lightheaded and like the floor rotated under his feet.

He pushed her against the wall again, pressing his body flush with hers, wanting nothing more than to take her right there. To mark her up as his and his alone. He’d never been a possessive man, but Abby brought it out in full force.

He pulled his mouth off hers and started a trail of wet kisses on her jaw, her throat, that spot right below her ear where her pulse raced against his lips. She threw her head back with a delicious moan, giving him better access. Her hands were on his neck, keeping his mouth against her warm skin.

But Bob’s cap was in the way, bumping against Abby’s jaw, so he reluctantly pulled away.

Their heavy breathing filled the surrounding quietness, and somewhere in the distance, Bob heard the string quartet play a different tune.

He cupped Abby’s cheeks and ran his thumbs gently over her flushed skin. Her wide pupils made her eyes look almost black. “We should go back,” Bob said. It was the last thing he wanted to do.

She nodded, running a hand through her hair to smooth it out from where it had leaned against the wall. “How do I look?”

Bob gave her a quick peck. “Perfect,” he said and offered her his arm, which she accepted. They walked back to the gala where they found the Dagger Squad by the bar, shot glasses in hand, looking a little dazed.

“There they are,” Payback shouted across the expanse of the dance floor when he saw them heading their way.

Phoenix swept Abby into a hug, forcing Bob to let her go. She met Bob’s gaze over her shoulder with a smirk, but he shook his head, knowing exactly what his front seater was thinking.

Bob tried to adjust himself in his trousers subtly, but of course, Hangman noticed. He raised a brow at Bob with an obnoxiously smug smile on his face, and Bob almost flipped him off just to make a point. But Hangman said nothing, so Bob refrained from using the crude gesture. It probably wouldn’t land him on any admiral’s good side, anyway.

Rooster offered Abby a tequila shot, which she happily accepted, and started interrogating her about how she’d gotten invited to the gala while Kennedy hadn’t. The rest of the squad joined in the conversation, arguing that it made more sense for an administrator like Abby to be there than a mechanic like Kennedy.

Phoenix removed herself from the argument and joined Bob where he stood at the end of the bar, watching his friends and girlfriend laugh together.

She offered him a glass of water. “Where’d you disappear to?”

“Nowhere,” he said.

She raised a skeptical brow. “So, you didn’t sneak off to have sex in the bathroom?”

For the second time that night, Bob almost choked on his drink. “What? No.”

“No one would judge you if you did,” she told him, mischievous smile on her face. “But I would owe Hangman 20 bucks.”

“We didn’t,” Bob said, feeling his cheeks and ears grow hot, and sweat beaded on his forehead under his cap. “I didn’t want to risk getting caught.”

Phoenix barked out a loud laugh, and Bob couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped him, too. She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow, a gesture he’d grown entirely used to in the time he’d known her. “What are you going to do now that you’re leaving?”

“We’ll make it work,” Bob said, voice solemn and serious. They would make it work because he didn’t know what he’d do if they didn’t.

Bob and Phoenix rejoined their friends, and he found his way to Abby’s side, pressing a small kiss to her temple, hoping the other aviators shielded them from view. He wanted to keep her to himself just a little longer.

❋❋❋

taglist (let me know if you want to be added): @arrthurpendragon, @ocappreciationtag, @chrissymunson, @cas-verse, @chickensarentcheap, @asirensrage, @misskatiewrites, @stanshollaand, @raith-way, @eddiemunscns, @wordspin-shares, @veetlegeuse

top gun taglist (let me know if you want to be added): @joaquinwhorres, @fantasias-creativebubble, @lostinwonderland314, @luckyladycreator2, @blue-aconite, @dempy, @alana4610, @littlebadariell, @cherrycola27, @whisperofsong, @another-tblr-fangirl, @flashyourgreeneyesatme, @seymour-cant-read, @wordspin-shares

[somekndofnature]

Summary:

Inuyasha is the leader of a currently defunct punk rock band, The Strays. His other bandmates, Sango and Miroku, agree to help him win back their former manager to reinvent their sound for the current era of music. He trusts her more than anyone, believing that only she can bring them back from obscurity, but time doesn't always heal wounds. Inuyasha has to accept his past mistakes and show that this is the only way forward for him. The consequence of failure is a life spent alone, without his fated mate.

It has been six years since Kagome first managed The Strays, and at first, she thought the band would be her ticket to success. It was, but not in the way she imagined. It had taken a toll on her, ruined her for other relationships. She had broken a cardinal rule, never fall in love with a client. Inuyasha Taisho damaged her in so many ways, but now she has a second chance to right the mistakes of the past and take on of her greatest challenges, making The Strays relevant once again.

The music is solid, as is the determination of the band members, but Kagome is unsure whether she can forgive the wounds of the past and move forward with the band in a mutually beneficial future

AN:

Hi! I know it's been a hot minute since I posted anything for this fandom. A lot of readers have been waiting for my MMA AU and, I'm working on it. This idea just sort of shoved all others out of the way and... I'm doing a lot more research on the MMA AU to make it authentic. Hopefully, you enjoy this a bit in it's place, for a while. This fic has... encompassed my whole brain.

I'm obsessed with music... I can't put it any other way. Music talks to me; music is life. I would rather be blind than deaf because living without music feels like a life I could not envision. Then again, I've had terrible vision all my life, so maybe I'm biased. Music allows me to see things that I cannot with vision. It allows me to feel more than words could ever express... and I'm a writer, lol. That being said, I hope my profound love for music... and this ship are expressed in the story that follows.

I'm hoping to get a publicly accessible playlist for this fic, but I have very strong reservations against Spotify, due to how they compensate creators. I'm looking for an alternative but I haven't found anything comparable... then again I'm not a very good judge on the interwebs, lol. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

That being said, there are a few music artists who have GREATLY contributed to this fic: Sick Puppies, Eve 6, Panic! at the Disco, and Imagine Dragons, along with many other artists. I will do my best to mention each of them in the authors comments because... it's important to me. Anyway... for this prologue, its Viva Las Vengeance by Panic! at the Disco.

AO3

CHAPTER 1 : You Give Me Highs That Lose My Breath Present day…

Inuyasha shifted in his chair and tried to assure himself that the walls of the tiny Vegas café weren’t closing in on him. It was a stifling summer day, temperatures reaching well over one hundred degrees by noon, and the piddling AC of this place was doing a piss poor job of battling the heat. He plucked at the collar of his t-shirt, desperate for a bit of air movement against his sticky skin.

He had run all the way here from his home, jumping between the tops of the brightly colored buildings in hope that he could work off some excess nervous energy. That hadn’t exactly gone to plan. Inuyasha was still keyed up, unable to settle his pounding heart as another bead of sweat slid from beneath his silver hair and down the back of his neck.

Fucking great, now I’m gonna stink on top of everything else. That’ll be a killer first impression.

Although, it couldn’t really be called a first impression. Even after six years apart, the woman that he waited for with bated breath still knew him better than anyone else on the planet. She had seen him at his best… and very worst.

Could I really make her think any less of me at this point?

His shoulders bunched as he realized the answer to that question was probably a resounding ‘no’.

His leg began to bounce, jingling the long silver chain that hung from his belt loop to the wallet in his back pocket. A hand settled on his knee. Inuyasha glanced up into a pair of sympathetic brown eyes.

“Relax, she’ll be here,” Sango said with a gentle pat. “Besides you’re gonna drive me crazy with all that noise.”

He planted his foot on the floor and straightened. “Why the hell would she come?”

“Because I asked her to,” she replied with a shrug, sitting back in the small wooden chair. “Trust me, she’ll be here.”

Despite her confident words, Sango seemed just as nervous as him. Her dark gaze was glued to the front windows of the café, darting amongst the people on the sidewalk beyond. She drew her leg up and hugged her arms around it, resting her chin on her knee. Then she went completely still and unblinking, perched on her chair like a silent gargoyle. 

Inuyasha’s frown deepened. “I’m just sayin, she has no reason to show after…”

“After you lost your ever living mind?” Sango completed.

“Now, now,” Miroku said from beside her, squeezing her shoulder. “Inuyasha has apologized several times and taken great strides to change his ways. Let’s not rehash the past.”

His golden gaze found the floor, heat working its way up his neck. Geez, a hanyou has one little near-death experience and everyone wanted to make a federal case out of it.

“I don’t know if an apology is going to be enough,” Sango said, almost to herself.

He growled in annoyance, even as the soft white ears on top of his head lowered in shame.

She cut him a sharp look. “Don’t growl at me. What do you expect? You weren’t there for the aftermath of your dumb decisions, you know. You didn’t have to hear her cry over you or convince her to eat when she started losing weight or—”

“I get it!” he snapped. “I’m a dick. I know.”

Sango pursed her lips. “Well, as long as you know.”

Inuyasha snarled.

“Sweetheart,” Miroku soothed while rubbing his hand across her upper back. “Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”

“Why? It should be hard for him. It should hurt. We all hurt enough—”

“Argh! What the fuck do you want me to do?” Inuyasha erupted, throwing his hands into the air. “Should I break out the sack cloth and ashes? Would a public stoning do it for you?”

“I just want to know I’m not setting my friend up for another round of your bullshit,” she sneered. “Tell me you’ve got it together.”

“I do! I do! How many times you want me to fuckin say it?” 

Sango opened her mouth to deliver another verbal blow when the bell above the café door tinkled. Three sets of eyes flew to the front windows and Inuyasha snapped his mouth shut, trying not to swallow his suddenly thick tongue.

She was here…Kagome.

She lifted her sunglasses up to rest in her dark hair and scanned the few tables before her eyes lit on Sango in the back.  When her gaze finally landed on him, those baby-blues grew wide like a deer caught in the headlights.

Inuyasha cursed under his breath and dragged a clawed hand down his face. “You didn’t tell her I was going to be here, did you?”

[rosehippiefield]

For the ask game I am curious about 20, 23 and 24 (yttd and undertale)

20. your very first fandom!

My first fandom was Fairytail and gosh I have so many memories about it. While I have my reservations about fanservice and story plot holes, the power of friendship actually (mostly) made sense and the found family that is the guild is very sweet. I was mesmerized by all the magic types and many likable characters. I even used to tell fanfics to my friend who got me into it (yes, "tell" because I had no idea what fanfic was, so I just imagined random stories. I never thought them out or finished them but it was incredibly fun).

However, I didn't really see the fandom until later, when third season came out. It was light-hearted, memey and fixated on power scales and ships. I didn't exactly join it because I never interacted with anyone (given some hot takes of mine maybe it's a good thing) but there was plenty of material to read and analyse. And I was obsessed so I count it as my fandom

Also my second most powerful hyperfixation, Freed Justine. It was awkward waiting for this guy to appear at least somewhere while majority of fandom was into ships and main characters. But then I saw that someone wrote fanfics about him, there were plenty of fanarts. My thirst for information was more or less satisfied. He became so inspiring that I ended up creating oc based on him (partly because I didn't like his canon character development but hey I shouldn't be negative here)

23. the fandom you're curious about because of a mutual

There are many like Dungeon Meshi, Omori, Parties are for losers and School bus graveyard

Dungeon Meshi seems comforting for some reason, maybe due to Senshi (that's his name, right?) and how he promotes healthy eating habits. And memes about characters being different kind of autistic. If I join this fandom know it was power of autism all along

I know some events from Omori but not the whole story. I heard it's depressing so I don't want to be sad, I have real life and yttd already. But at the same time I'm intrigued by its fighting system and well, sometimes I'm attracted to tragedy

Parties are for losers is something I have googled and read about but ultimately I didn't watch anything. So maybe once I'll finally give it a try

And I have read a bit of school bus graveyard but I decided that one hyperfixation is enough. Even though it is an interesting webtoon.

Just wait, my dear mutuals, I'll join these fandoms someday. Probably

24. how has fandom positively impacted your life? (Yttd)

Right now I adore our fandom! It is so cozy and funny and I'm glad to be part of it! Honestly, before I began posting I was afraid of hate or that my takes were wrong etc, but people were far more accepting. I argued only once about my opinions and even then it was a civilised discussion. Some tumblrinas followed me, I followed back and I got to know those people better. So even if my life is hard I know that there are people here that care. It's heartwarming to know

If I'm talking about yttd as a game it's going to be too long but in a nutshell it really makes me think. What is good, what is bad, what is justified? What makes us human, what is weakness and what is strength? It is not black and white, yttd shows how different perspectives define our understanding of these concepts. And one of many conclusions I've come to is that we should believe in ourselves and try to stay true to our beliefs as much as possible

Also, English language practice. English is nowhere near my mother tongue so I make ungodly amount of mistakes. But with practice I am improving little by little. And I'm grateful that there's absolutely no semblance of hate due to grammatically incorrect sentences and the like

24. how has fandom positively impacted your life? (Undertale)

I didn't actively participate in it but it was so creative! So many AUs, so many ideas. I loved listening to musicals (which also helped me understand English orally). I am still inspired to do something like this. I dream of creating musicals for my favorite games (I've tried to write lyrics for battle of wits from Exit/corners but I have no idea if the result is fine). And some of my ocs come from Undertale's souls because I loved the concept of souls and their abilities

This comforting game also made me think about forgiveness and the whole complexity of monsterkind's situation. I really sympathise with overwhelming majority of them. Is violence an option? Is it the last resort? Such lessons are impactful even if you're the one choosing the answer

[greyarea-fic]

1- Prologue & 2- The Secret

Grey Area | the mandalorian

Prologue

- approximately three decades earlier -

Obi-Wan Kenobi was dragged into the throne room by two very sizeable Mandalorians. Many other fully armored Mandalorians were gathered in the long and tall room, which was fully made of glass and accented with the iron heart motif. Directly across from the double doors sat a throne, reserved for the Mand’alor. But to Kenobi’s horror, someone else was there. A red zabrak sith that he’d killed 12 years ago. Darth Maul lounged carelessly as if he owned the throne he sat upon, grinning smugly. A second Zabrak, Maul's brother, was posted at his right shoulder.

At the Sith’s left shoulder, however, was a tall and lean woman with blonde hair, soft blue eyes, and an angular face that currently bore an expression of grief and fear. She was unarmored, instead in a blue dress intended to be accompanied by regal accessories. Dutchess Satine was someone who stood proudly and surely; a bold ruler that the galaxy had come to know well. She had always lived up to the reputation of House Kryze, but now she kneeled with her head bowed. A brave spirit that was forcibly broken.

The revolting sight made Obi-Wan’s stomach flip. 

"Your noble flaw is a weakness shared by you, and your duchess." Maul addressed his nemesis as he suddenly lifted Satine by her throat through the Force. She struggled and choked mid-air.

The scene was like a nightmare come true. Impulsively, Obi-Wan made a sudden attempt to break free and rescue Satine from the fierce hold upon her trachea, but he was held firmly in place by the rugged warriors flanking him.

"You should have chosen the dark side, Master Jedi." Maul taunted, stalking closer as the duchess choked and clawed at her throat, her floating body trailing beside him. "Your emotions betray you."

Behind a scowl, Obi-Wan’s blue eyes nervously darted between Maul and Satine. His cheeks and ears were growing hot as he became more frustrated. This was a feeling he never let himself indulge in. Adrenaline raced through his veins, and if not for the other Mandalorians that stood in the room, Obi-Wan was sure that he could behead the half-cyborg before him. Maybe drive his saber through the skull for good measure.

"Your fear, and yes, your anger."

Obi-Wan bared his teeth. He absolutely could not let himself give in. All of his training had led up to this moment- he had to remain in control. Emotional regulation had become a subconscious act, but now he was feeling everything all at once. It was overwhelming. So this was why attachment was forbidden.

"Let your anger deepen your hatred!" Maul bellowed.

He would not let this shallow-minded Sith turn him from the light, his entire existence was devoted to serving it. Following the light side was his only choice. But for the briefest of fleeting moments, Obi-Wan found himself tempted to give in to dark emotions. How could one not be angry at the sight of their lover suffering at the hands of their archenemy?

"Don't listen to him, Obi-" the Duchess struggled to say between gasps.

"Quiet," Maul growled at her; a deep, feral sound.

Hearing those words from her lips helped to anchor Obi-Wan. His mind calmed, and his quivering body stilled. A deep inhale, and the light once again freely flowed through him. This was what he had trained for. If one could see the Force, Obi-Wan would have been brighter than twin suns. Defiant prose easily rolled off his tongue: "You can kill me, but you will never destroy me. It takes strength to resist the dark side. Only the weak embrace it."

"It is more powerful than you know." Maul proclaimed.

"And those who oppose it are more powerful than you'll ever be."

This enraged Maul, evoking a deep snarl. He had become convinced that darkness was the only way, and nothing in the galaxy was ever going to change his mindset. But for the sake of Satine's life, Obi-Wan continued to try and reason with him. "I know where you're from. I've been to your village. I know the decision to join the dark side wasn't yours. The Nightsisters made it for you."

"SILENCE!" The Sith’s yell reverberated through the large room, bouncing off the glass panes and metal framing. "You think you know me? It was I who languished for years thinking of nothing but you. Nothing but this moment." He pointed at the Duchess, who was still suspended and hopelessly choking for air. "And now, the perfect tool for my vengeance is in front of us."

It suddenly clicked. Obi-Wan realized with horror why they both were in the room with Maul. His stomach suddenly dropped through the core of Mandalore faster than lightspeed.

"I never planned on killing you. But I will make you share my pain, Kenobi."

Satine's eyes widened in fear. She continued to cough as the chokehold on her neck was tightened, and her Jedi was suddenly kicked to the ground.

In one swift move, Maul ignited the Darksaber and brought Satine flying forward into the blade, brutally piercing it straight through her abdomen, stopping only when the cold Beskar hilt reached her skin. She cried out in unspeakable pain, reaching for her beloved.

Obi-Wan could not believe his eyes, and he would not sit and watch her suffer any longer. With a sudden surge of power, he broke free of the Mandalorians holding him down and dashed across the room. “Satine!" he cried.

As he ran, the Darksaber was deactivated, and the blade pulled out of Satine's gut. She limply fell to the foot of her former throne with a sickening thud. Obi-Wan pulled her into his lap, cradling her dying body close as she struggled to breathe. He watched with despair as her life began fading away. It is one tragedy to be stabbed, but another to be impaled and burned so severely to get cauterized from the inside.

Maul sauntered back to the throne and retook his seat, smirking at the sight. One of the galaxy’s most powerful Jedi in an emotional heap on the floor; the Mandalorian Duchess dying by an icon of the civilization she once ruled. This day was one to remember.

"Remember, my dear Obi-Wan..." Satine said, shakily lifting her hand to hold his cheek. He gently tilted his head into her grasp, eyes bleary. "I've loved you always. I always will." There were so many things left unsaid between them, but at least that was not one of them.

The image of a young daughter that Obi-Wan did not know about crossed Satine’s blackening mind. If she was going to die, Bo-Katan was going to be the only family left to keep her safe. Her last thoughts were spent wishing she had told him of their child, although she knew very well why she hadn’t. He would have left the Order for them, and most likely without a second thought to his career or his importance to the galaxy at large. She wanted to tell him all of this, but her mutilated body simply didn't have any more strength left.

Obi-Wan, the strong and careful leader, was reduced to tears as he watched Satine’s soft blue eyes close. She was the only woman he’d ever let himself love. Her body relaxed, then went fully limp in his arms. He hugged her close as his mind raced through everything they’d been through together. Tears freely flowed down his cheeks as savored the last kiss he’d ever place on her hand.

-/-/-/-

[A/N: the main character's name is Adinla, pronounced uh-DEAN-luh]

-/-/-/-

The Secret

Thirty years later...

"Only one Mandalorian above ground at a time, our safety is our secrecy."

Bullshit.

If there was one thing Adinla hated, it was being stuck with nothing to do. Since the last mission a few days ago was a success and she got a hefty 50k for a high-stakes target, she was stuck in the underground lair of the Mandalorian covert.

The bounty had taken one last desperate shot from the ground and hit the shin armor, so now there was a large streak of silvery beskar and burn marks parting a sea of steel blue. Most would've left it, a battle wound to advertise prowess. But Adinla had plenty of free resources at her disposal, and of course, she was going to take advantage of them before she left the covert for good.

She decided not to do just a simple patch, but a whole paint job update. To anyone who didn’t know her, it would've looked like routine maintenance. What she was doing was reinstating her “signature” paint that she’d designed around 18 years ago. Adinla went into a private room with her paint and took all her beskar’gam off.

Temporarily bland leg plates were given a navy-blue trim. Unembellished chest plates became accented by three parallel lines that individually made 90-degree angles in the upper left and lower right corners, made from the same darker blue. These angles were reflected on the cheeks of the helmet, which were a medium shade of steel blue. The ‘face’ of the helmet around the visor, became a light, snowy shade of blue. A symbol reminiscent of a flying bird, in the accent blue, went above the seam where the dome connected to the rest of the helmet. The shoulder bells, knee covers, and gauntlets were all solidly painted the darker accent blue.

The only thing left to do was to paint an important symbol of allegiance in the white circle she put on the left shoulder bell. For most Mandalorians, this would be the Mythosaur skull. But in thin black paint, Adinla applied two parallel lines that concurrently formed a diamond in the middle, with two solid diamonds flanking both top sides. Adinla had worn this symbol proudly throughout the war against the Empire, but here in the covert, she had to be careful. When she reapplied her armor, she tugged the rather rugged black cape over the left shoulder.

Sitting on the curb of the once busy sewer that the covert resided in, Adinla was doing some minor maintenance on her jetpack when a male Mandalorian descended the nearest stairwell. He was looking quite proud of himself, half sauntering, half strutting down the tunnel. His armor was worn and old, except for a very shiny unpainted helmet of pure beskar. Everyone watched him as he went, for he'd been gone on a job for several weeks.

This was the only member of the tribe whom Adinla did not know the name of. As he walked past, she noticed that he held a considerably sized camtono that he was almost struggling to carry.

"Beskar?" She whispered and looked at someone who was sitting near her, a friendly young man named Soln Eyi’st. He nodded his battered orange helmet and watched the other man disappear around the corner. Soln got up and followed, as did many others.

Adinla hesitated. Nobody was watching: it was a perfect time to silently slip away, never to be seen again. But curiosity got the best of her. She replaced her jetpack on her backplate, and peeked around the corner of the doorway. A large sculpture of the Mythosaur skull hung overhead the curved entrance.

The camtono was open, and there were enough beskar slabs inside to fully outfit almost two people. Not even during her youth in Sundari, where the infamous Mines of Mandalore resided, had Adinla ever seen that many pure slabs in one place.

"I must warn you: it will draw many eyes." The Armorer said to the owner of the new beskar, who was seated in front of her.

An older man, Paz Viszla, stepped forward and grabbed a piece, inspecting it. The metal shone with an impeccable luster that was broken only by faint embedded lines and curves, the only evidence that it was once liquified. In the bottom right corner lay a most hated symbol. He let out a short, harsh laugh.

"These were cast in Imperial smelter. These are the spoils of the great purge, the reason that we live hidden like sand rats." He spat, almost carelessly tossing the illustrious metal back on the table.

"Our secrecy is our survival. It is our strength." The Armorer said, carefully stacking the slabs into a tower.

"Our strength was once in our numbers. Now we live in the shadows and only come above ground one at a time." Viszla challenged. "Our world was shattered by the Empire, with which this coward shares tables."

Viszla grabbed the seated one by the helmet and they started wrestling, and then resorted to vibroblades as the rest watched. Adinla sighed, this was the sort of inexplicable infighting that had brought their society down in the first place.

The Armorer seemed to ignore their squabble as she continued stacking, but finally, she'd had enough. "The Empire is no longer, and the beskar has returned." she proclaimed, standing up.

The two had their blades at each other’s throats, locked in a stare-down.

"When one chooses to walk the Way of the Mandalore, you are both hunter and prey." The Armorer continued. "How can one be a coward if one chooses this way of life? Have you ever removed your helmet?"

"No," The man with the beaten armor answered.

"Has it ever been removed by others?"

"Never."

"This is the Way." The Armorer said.

"This is the Way." Replied the gathered crowd. Adinla stayed silent.

After a moment, Paz reluctantly returned the saying.  

"What caused this damage?" The Armorer asked, addressing the heavily torn-up armor.

"A mudhorn."

"Then you have earned the mudhorn as your signet. I shall craft it."

Some people started to turn away. Armor making was a custom that they'd all witnessed and partook in. It normally took a long time to complete, but this man was having a whole new kit crafted for him. Surely, they'd be there for a few hours at the least.

"I can't accept it. It... wasn't a noble kill. I was... helped by an enemy."

Everyone was suddenly very still. One does not simply turn down their signet. It is an honor to be given one.

"Why would an enemy help you in battle?" The Armorer asked.

"It... did not know it was my enemy." the man with the shiny helmet said quietly.

The Armorer was intrigued. She cocked her head in contemplation, then after a moment replied slowly, "Since you forgo a signet... I shall use the excess to forge whistling birds."

"Whistling birds will do well," he confirmed. "Reserve some for the foundlings."

"As it should always be. The foundlings are the future. This is the Way."

"This is the Way." Everyone replied in unison.

Adinla finally turned and walked away from the group. The man she did not know was suspicious, and her intuition told her that she needed to look deeper into his situation. Which was odd, because what he did to come into possession of so much Imperial claim beskar was none of her business. And whatever encounter he’d had involving a mudhorn and an enemy was also nothing she needed to worry about. She had her own personal quest to think about, did she really need to let something else get in the way again? But the more she thought against investigating, the more urgent the insistence to do so became.

She sighed and gave in. Intuitions such as these were not to be questioned: she had learned this the hard way.

So, up the hidden stairwell of the old sewer and out onto the streets of Nevarro she went. The crowd of civilians who milled about the bazaar parted for Adinla, sensing that she was on a mission to get somewhere. Seeing a fully armored Mandalorian stalking down the street with a blaster strapped on each hip, a sniper rifle loosely around the shoulder, and a jet pack had to be scary, or at least intimidating. Mothers held their children closer, and criminals pulled their hoods down to hurry past as she went.

At last, she reached the edge of town near the airfield where everyone parked their ships. She looked around to make sure the area was clear of others before using her jetpack to get to the top of one of the buildings. This building was special because it was tall and quiet. There was a secluded enclave that wasn’t visible from the street or any other rooftops, and it overlooked the shipyard. Adinla set her rifle down and sat cross-legged next to it, closing her eyes. She was about to attempt something that she hadn’t let herself do in years.

But it all came right back to her.

Breathe in through the nose, and out the mouth.

Calm the mind.

See the light-

Feel it flowing through.

Inhale, exhale.

Eventually, a ripple became visible. Rather, a beacon. Someone like her was nearby, just a few alleyways over.

Focus…

Suddenly, a bright and urgent cry. Whoever it was, they were in pain. They were scared and alone.

Someone was asking for her help.

Adinla’s eyes flashed open just in time to see the other Mandalorian walking into a ship, presumably his. Heart pounding with adrenaline, she watched his ship fully power up, preparing for flight, when it was suddenly shutting back off, and the ramp opened again. The man came back out and moved swiftly back towards the city.

From upon the rooftops, Adinla followed the suspicious man, who sported shiny new armor that now matched his helmet. She wondered if he was going to the place where she knew the cry of help to have come from. He looked over his shoulder and went down a shady lane between buildings, lined with the homeless. He came upon a dumpster, looked inside, and touched a discarded pram. At last, he turned and came to a door, the door of the building. He had something to do with whoever was calling.

The shiny man knocked on the door, then ripped the security droid out of the wall before taking cover behind an adjacent corner. Two stormtroopers came out of the building, and Adinla ducked beneath the edge of the roof to avoid being spotted.

Dank farrik!

Apparently, Adinla could not escape the Empire.

The other Mandalorian crept to the side of the building, where he set a charge on the wall, and blew it out. Immediately, the familiar Imperial klaxon alarms sounded, and before any more stormtroopers could come out he dashed in. Within a second, there was shooting and yelling coming from the inside.

Cautiously, Adinla peeked her head over the edge of the roof she was hiding behind, and it was clear. She jumped off the building, jetpack softening the landing, drew her blaster, and went inside. The floor was littered with bodies of stormtroopers, some mutilated, others in the process of a slow and painful end. Following the trail of death, she came to a door and heard the other Mandalorian inside yelling at someone.

"What did you do to it?"

Whimpering.

"What did you do to it?" A much deeper and angrier tone this time.

A very panicked voice hurriedly responded. "I protected him, I protected him! If it wasn't for me, he would already be dead! Please!"

Peeking around the corner, Adinla’s stomach did a flip as she spotted a small green baby with large ears lying unconscious on a table, and the other Mandalorian was standing in front of it with his blaster pointed at an Imperial doctor huddled in the corner.

"Please, please!" the small man begged with his eyes squeezed shut, futilely trying to hide behind a canister.

The Mandalorian ignored him and moved swiftly and quietly, lifting the sleeping child, and storming out the door. She quickly flattened herself against the wall as he brushed past, curtly nodding to her out of reflex. He abruptly stopped and did a double-take as he turned around and fully registered that there was in fact another Mandalorian there with him.

"What are you doing with that child?" She calmly asked, not daring to step forward.

"If you came for its bounty, I already took it." He said, slowly backing away.

"I know," she gestured to his new armor.

Exasperated, he cut her off. "Look, they're going to kill the kid if I don't save him. I can't let that happen."

A stormtrooper came around the corner and shot at the pair. The bolt ricocheted off the man's backplate, but Adinla quickly shot down the assailant. “I’ll help you.”

"Yeah," he said dubiously, turning on his heel and hastily marching off.

Adinla jogged to catch up, ignoring his obvious attempt to leave her behind. She pulled out her second blaster, completing her pair of Westar 35s, and proceeded to flank him.

The next room was full of stormtroopers. Easily, the pair shot them all down within seconds, and they walked into another room that stored crates. A few stormtroopers came through another door.

"Split up, let's flush them out." one of the troopers said.

Adinla smirked under her helmet. These bucket heads stood no chance at all. The Mandalorians navigated in tandem through the dimly lit room, using the shadows to hide, swiftly and quietly eliminating the troopers one by one. It was only a moment before all the plastoid clad men in the room were dead.

The pair moved to the next room, which was empty. The exit laid just ahead, and the path was clear. Until, of course, their luck ran out.

"Freeze!"

"Hands up!"

"Drop your weapons!"

“Easy!” The man with new shiny new beskar replied quickly. "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to put this down, slowly. What I'm carrying is very valuable."

He kneeled, and he looked at her to follow his lead. They put down their blasters, but when he went to put the kid down, she saw his whistling birds ready. They indeed did whistle as the small rockets ejected from his wrist, and they were once again the only ones alive.

"Smart move."

"Yeah." He mindlessly replied, carefully cradling the little one to his chest.

The two hustled from the building, and out to the alleyway. The man turned to blatantly walk down the main street, but Adinla rushed ahead and stopped in front of him. Countless tracking fobs had suddenly begun chiming in the distance. "Are you crazy? They'll shoot you down before you can make it anywhere!"

"I have no choice!" He motioned to his back, which unlike hers had no jetpack.

"Okay, then give me the kid. I'll secure him somewhere away from here where we can rendezvous while you sneak through the sewers to your ship.”

"What? No!"

She stopped to think for a moment. This man had no reason beside the creed to trust her with such a task. Of course, he wasn’t going to agree. "Well, whatever your plan is, I'll cover you from above."

“Why are you trying to help me?” He asked.

Adinla answered without hesitation. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

This arrangement he was okay with, and once she got back up to the roofs, they were filled with bounty hunters watching him go down the street. The tracking fobs they all held blinked and beeped so steadily when pointed at the shiny Mandalorian that they made a single loud tone. She holstered her blasters and unshouldered her rifle, pretending she was also after him as to not draw any eyes. In reality, she was about to shoot down all these mercenaries where they stood.

More and more people crawled out of the shadows, each and every one of them hoping for a chance to claim the small bundle that the man was nonchalantly carrying down the street.

Greef Karga, the Bounty Hunter Guild’s local administrator stepped out and blocked the gate to the airfield. "Welcome back, Mando!” he called out with false niceties, before demanding: “Now put the package down."

The Mandalorian's hand flitted over the leather holster on his hip. "Step aside. I'm going to my ship."

"You put the bounty down and perhaps I'll let you pass."

"The kid's coming with me." he said confidently.

"If you truly care about the kid, then you'll put it on the speeder and we'll discuss terms." Karga said firmly. The man was pigeonholed, for he was absolutely surrounded by hundreds of muzzles all trained on him.

Adinla hated these kinds of terms, where they tried to coerce you into doing something because of your feelings. If she had been the one down there holding the kid, she would've made some snarky remark about how she didn't need Karga’s validation of her emotions. Actually, if she had been the one holding the kid, she wouldn’t have walked onto suicide street in the first place. She hoped that whatever he was planning was good.

The Mandalorian suddenly started shooting and dove into a nearby speeder. Adinla took this as her cue to quickly take out everyone on the rooftop.

"Drive!" He yelled at the droid in charge of the speeder. It refused. He pointed his blaster at it, and the R2 unit obliged, suddenly sending the little flatbed speeder down the street at a good pace. But, it wasn't long before someone got smart and shot the droid, bringing his getaway to a quick halt.

Adinla had taken out many of the people on the roof but she'd had to take cover, as some of the unfriendly fire had diverged towards her. From a nook in a lipped rooftop, she slid her rifle over the edge and targeted people on the street instead. But just by sheer number someone spotted her. A strong shot landed above her left eye, violently jarring her head to the side. Momentarily stunned by the ringing in her ears and the reverberation of the beskar, she slumped to the right.

The man was too preoccupied with his own problems to notice. He grabbed his amban pulse rifle and began vaporizing anyone that was in range. There was a reason that this weapon had been banned by both the Empire and the New Republic; literally nothing was left of its victims.

The pursuing hunters all scrambled to get out of his line or sight, as more and more people were reduced to atoms. All the loud ruckus of many blasters firing suddenly silenced. In an instant, the shootout was in a stalemate. Nobody dared to fully show themselves in fear of the rifle. Smoke filled the air.

The sudden change in volume snapped Adinla back into focus, and she cautiously peered out at the street.

"That’s one impressive weapon you've got there, Mando." Karga called out from wherever he was hiding.

A hunter was creeping up on the man from behind, who was still laying on the flatbed speeder unknowingly clutching the kid to his chest. Adinla shot the hunter down, and the shootout began again. It was even more frantic and chaotic than before. At this point, most didn't even know what they were shooting at, they just hoped they would hit the right thing.

Out of nowhere, the Mandalorian Covert suddenly flew up into the sky, easily overwhelming the pursuers. Adinla looked up in awe, she had no idea where they’d come from or why. One landed beside her, it was Soln. He nodded a greeting, and together they flew up and took out the fleeing mercenaries. It’d been so long since she’d been in battle with this many Mandalorians at her side, and it felt like they were invincible.

But off in the distance, Adinla saw Karga running towards Mando's ship, which had its cargo bay ramp down. She jettisoned over to stop him. He saw her beelined approach and rushed inside.

Once she reached the ramp, the whole cargo bay was filled with vapor from the carbonite freezer and Karga was nowhere to be found. She went to turn on the heat detecting setting in her visor when she suddenly sensed movement, but it was too late. The older man came from behind and slugged the back of her helmet with the barrel of his blaster. The force of his swing combined with the earlier injury and her forward crouch almost knocked her onto the ground. Despite the renewed ringing in her head, she used the flame thrower in her gauntlet to push him back, as she retreated further into the ship.

Footsteps sounded behind Adinla and as she turned to see who it was, Karga shot her helmet from a close range. She stumbled backwards into the shiny Mandalorian, who caught her shoulder as he shot Karga with his rifle. Greef Karga flew a long way backwards out of the ship, and he landed with a hard thump on the ground outside.

Adinla was reeling. Three shots to the head in just a few minutes was too much. If it wasn’t for the beskar, she’d be dead. But alas, her head was pounding and she was nauseous.

"Are you okay?"

She tried to look at the man, who had dropped his rifle to hold her steady, but the cargo bay began spinning and blurring around her. "You need to get out of here," she croaked before passing out. Her limp body clattered to the floor.

[kitkatt0430]

So I mentioned Closer and Closer Still the other day. Gotta give a Six Sentence Sunday update on that now. :D

"I went to visit my father today," Barry replied, voice equally quiet.  "I haven't seen him since he was arrested.  There wasn't a trial, so... but it was like everything happened yesterday when I saw him."

"Do you want to talk about your visit?  I admit... I am curious as to why you choose to speak with him now, after all this time.  But I also recognize this is a very private thing for you, Barry.  So if you would rather simply to have company or to be alone..." hesitantly, Wells reached out to take Barry's hand and squeezed it.  "I'd like to be there for you, if you'll let me."

Eobard - I'm gonna be supportive, this is totally the correct social thing to do and will make Barry want to be friends with me. Barry - He's holding my hand!!!! *blushes*

Disasters the lot of them. Eobard's not really taking Barry's crush on the Reverse Flash too seriously here. After all, he knows what it's like to have a childhood crush on the Flash and that there's a difference between crushing on the idea of someone and actually having feelings for that person. And since the Reverse Flash killed Nora - saving Barry from an abusive home in the process - that's just an idle childhood crush that's resurfaced, right?

When he realizes that Barry likes him as Harrison because of how well they're getting to know each other - with the Harrison persona being rather paper thin these days... that's really gonna throw him for a loop. Because he does rather like Barry too, after all. This Barry. Who he thought he'd hate as much as the previous timeline's Flash... but he doesn't. Can't.

I'm working on the second chapter of Welcome to 2015, but that's getting close enough to being ready to post that I'm just gonna wait on it. I do have a Buffy fic that I'm working on, though. I'll post a snippet from that. Another Buffy/Anya fic, though not part of the series I've been writing on and off.

Buffy's honestly a little bored with the stripper part of the party, but at least Halfrek was right about Anya enjoying herself.  Buffy sends Dawn out of the room - the room the stripper was in, anyway, they had two reserved - and then spent the rest of that time the stripper was present with Tara playing 'guess what's in the box' regarding the gifts they'd brought Anya.  They both guessed Halfrek's was a dildo - they're right - and that Dawn got her a bodice ripper type romance novel - they're both correct there too.  (Buffy had gotten Anya a new dress to wear on the beach during the honeymoon and Tara got her a box of condoms.  Which had Buffy doing a spit-take with her champagne when the box was pulled from the tissue paper filled bag.  How was it that Buffy's gift was the only one that didn't involve sex in some way?)

The rest of the party is fun, though, with them nomming on green cupcakes that match the bridesmaid dresses and watching a marathon of Anya's favorite rom coms on pay per view.  They take over the hotel's hot tub at one point, everyone a little tipsy except Dawn. 

It's a S6 AU where Buffy and Spike don't hook up, but instead become good friends. Things fall out a bit differently when Tara and Willow break up. And Anya winds up living at the Summers' residence after her wedding to Xander doesn't actually happen.

It might tip over into Buffy/Anya/Tara, but right now the only ship I'm really planning on is Buffy/Anya.

[tesria]

Thank you so much for this addition. Both posts are absolutely right. Regularly waiting until 10pm before spending 3 hours crying to someone who has to be up at 5am is not the same thing as reaching out once late at night because an unexpected emergency just happened. Relationships we have with people (not just friendships, all kinds) are there to support, to help, not for them to give over huge chunks of their lives and mental wellbeing to managing our lives for us.

(Exceptions exist! Firstly I'm talking about adults not children. Second, an agreed arrangement to care for someone with a disability is going to look different. I'm not talking about these kinds of things).

I would help a friend move, listen to them cry over a breakup, go to A&E with them (the ER if you're American). I've done all those things. I've also had people regularly rob me of sleep, lash out at me repeatedly, or expect me to frequently spend hours comforting them over small setbacks. That impacts my own wellbeing, and drains my reserves for managing my own life, even to the point of negatively impacting my mental health.

I've had a lot of people with mental health issues in my life. I also have MH issues, we tend to find each other. So I empathize! I'll try to help you through a crisis, but after a few days or weeks (depending on the circumstances) I expect you to have started to implement something to manage things yourself. Writing feelings in a journal if that works, or talking out loud to your teddy bear if that's easier. Making yourself eat regular meals and have a regular bed (and wake up) time, even if the result of that routine isn't perfect. I expect you to have a soothing comfort show/music/game/meditation app to turn to when you wake up in the night, to relax and then try to sleep more. I expect you to have a plan for things that make you feel better when you're in emotional crisis (a box of colouring pencils, puzzle books, your favourite hot chocolate powder on standby, an old iPod, or a written record of the songs/Spotify playlists/whatever that help to go and listen to, stim toys or a stuffed toy to cuddle. Numbers/contact details for crisis lines. A soft blanket you keep just for comfort. Whatever works for you). I expect you to seek some kind of therapy or support group, a place where everyone's prepared to hear about trauma and have the boundary of the end of the session, and where you can learn ways to manage what you can for yourself (there are low/no cost options available for short term help in most places that can be good for teaching coping mechanisms; they won't fix everything most likely, but are still useful).

I don't expect someone to manage all of this perfectly, this isn't "never bother a friend," or "never ask for help," this is about balance and not turning your friend into your 24/7 support system at the expense of themselves.

But you should still help each other move or be there for a friend when something bad happens. These ideas aren't mutually exclusive.

the commodification of friendship is the most annoying thing to come out of the internet in ages. like actually i love to break this to you but you're supposed to help your friends move even if it's hard work. or stay up with them when they're sad even if you're gonna lose sleep. you're supposed to listen to their fears and sorrows even if it means your own mind takes on a little bit of that weight. that's how you know that you care. they will drive you to the airport and then you will make them soup when they're sick. you're supposed to make small sacrifices for them and they are supposed to do that for you. and there's actually gonna be rough patches for both of you where the balance will be uneven and you will still be friends and it will not be unhealthy and they will not be abusive. life is not meant to be an endless prioritization of our own comfort if it was we would literally never get anywhere ever. jesus.

[rasp-my-berry]

a summer glowup // klitz x chubby reader

ALL CHARACTERS ARE 18+

ok i've decided to make this a chubby reader AND set in modern tech era bc really not much would change and i prefer to write about that which i understand better yk 🙄i think this is part one??? might make a second part maybe not idk 😵 also i did not proofread this leave me alone 😭😭😭

"i want him in me so bad you guys you don't get it i want him IN MEEEESSNSNS" your story read. you giggled as you typed it and finally posted it. you loved to just post whatever came to mind, whenever. you loved getting reactions out of those that follow you, sometimes forgetting that people you respect follow you and see the shit you post.

your favorite part about posting these things though, was the reactions you would get from your friends. they always had something to say.

eli would usually say something equally as horny. matt would usually say something about how you should really keep those thoughts to yourself and how disgusting you are. he's just joking though... you hope. but klitz? he would always take any opportunity he could to flirt and tease you. it only took a few minutes before the tripod's responses came rolling in.

“just let me be inside you y/n just one chance plsssss 😫😫😫" eli responded.

“STOP THIS. ENOUGH. SEEK THERAPY" was matt's response.

klitz's was the only one to actually make you giggle out loud though. "yk you could just tell me instead of posting about me 🙄🙄"

you began responding to all of them. first to eli. "yk i'm in a committed relationship w my pink dildo eli don't be silly 🙄"

next was matt. "unless ur willing to pay, it won't be happening"

and finally klitz. "ur right klitzy bitzy boo babe, i'll start keeping our sex life a secret dw 💕💕"

you turned your phone off with a dreamy sigh, holding your whale plushie close to your chest as you squeezed your eyes shut. you hoped and wished with all your heart that one day all the flirting with klitz wouldn't have to be just that. that one day you may be able to just kiss him and buy him flowers and get freaky or whatever. but unfortunately, this summer, it wouldn't be happening.

this summer vacation was going to be spent out of state with you favorite aunt. she invited you over and insisted on having you stay, saying the much needed girl time was well overdue for the both of you. the tripod was disappointed to hear you wouldn't be able to spend everyday going on dumb adventures with them but made you promise to do group calls when you could.

you agreed, of course. you didn't know what you would do without being able to contact them. you'd already scheduled your first 3 calls, all of you promising to reserve those times for the calls.

a soft noise from your phone brought you back to reality. it was klitz. he always responds the fastest, unless he's asleep of course. if you wanted to get a hold of him while he's sleeping you knew to call.

“good. i don't want the whole school to know how much raw, hot, crazy sex we have 😖" he responded.

“we both know you don't care about that part. you just don't want them to know i peg you every thursday and turn you into a whining bitch in heat for me huh"

he read the message instantly and it took a while for him to start typing.

“you're absolutely right ☹️ once they find out ur into that shit they'd all start lining up and i wouldn't have you all to myself 😞" he said.

giggling, you began typing up your next response. "i hardly think that'll be the outcome. nobody wants me 💔🕸🕷⛓🥀" and you followed up with another text. "fr tho most of the guys at school couldn't handle me 🙄 i'm too big 💕"

he didn't read it for a few seconds and in that downtime you began texting your best friend. "EEEEE KLITZY RESPONDED TO MY STORY AGAIN 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭"

she responded almost instantly, a string of texts coming from her.

“BITCH

HES TOTALLY INTO YOU

THINK ABOUT IT

HE TEXTS YOU ALL THE TIME

ALWAYS RESPONDS TO YOUR SHIT

BLUSHES WHEN YOU TOUCH HIM

PRACTICALLY MOANS, EVEN

THE GUY IS PRACTICALLY YOURS ALREADY 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥"

you rolled your eyes with a smile. this is gonna be a long night.

~

while you were arguing with your bestie about whether or not klitz was into you, the tripod was at eli's home, having an equally as ridiculous conversation.

“she totally wants me. she wants me balls deep so badly." eli said in relation to your posts, scrolling on his phone.

“ELI-" matt started.

klitz cut him off. "she's not into bozo virgins like you, dickwad!"

“oh, right, i forgot shes madly in love with you. and how do you know i'm a virgin?!" eli defended, rolling his eyes.

klitz pointed to a pile of socks laying by the side of eli's bed, the pile looking as though he hadn't even tried hiding it properly. "there are literal CUM SOCKS, ELI, ON THE FLOOR-"

“shits radioactive at this point. generations on those socks, man.." matt muttered.

eli groaned. "those are NOT cum socks!! lemme prove it to you fools!!"

he waltzed over to the side of his bed from the gaming chair he was previously sat in and grabbed one of the socks, instantly dropping it and gagging out of disgust. the sock was literally rock hard and as it fell on the hardwood floor, it CLATTERED. ACTUALLY CLATTERED.

the three boys continued the gag for a moment following.

“that's actually disgusting-" klitz finally managed.

matt couldn't even breathe properly yet, still reeling from the sound the sock made. eli was beyond embarrassed, pushing the socks further under the bed with his foot, the socks making an awful scraping noise as he did so. he cringed.

“PLEASE DONT TELL Y/N" he shouted, dropping to his knees.

klitz laughed. "oh come on, it's not like she would be surprised to hear you've got a pile of rock solid cum socks."

“can we PLEASE move on from this subject—" matt gagged again. "and do your fuckin' laundry eli!"

~

the next day at school, you walked in with your best friend, chatting and giggling as you walked the halls u til you parted ways to get to your first classes. spotting the tripod from a distance, you walked over.

“hey boys!" you smiled, waving shyly at them as you walked over. the boys looked over and began walking to meet you halfway. seeing you again after the long weekend, they felt nervous again. they never imagined a girl would be a part of their group. especially one as pretty as you.

they always imagined they'd be known as the group of the most pathetic virgin boys, never even feeling the touch of a woman. but then they met you, and you changed everything. they never thought you'd have gravitated to a group like theirs, when your looks could easily get you in with the big dogs.

“hey, y/n" matt waved with a small smile.

“y/n!!!" eli cheered, smiling wide. "how is my fav virgin slut!!"

you quickly shushed him with wide eyes and a smile. "eli!! not so loud!" you turned to klitz, deciding to tease "hey klitzy bitzy! how's my baefy?"

he blushed and stuttered. "i.. i told you not to use that name in front of them-"

“KLITZY BITZY????!" eli wheezed. "NO WAY YOU LET HER CALL YOU THAT-"

matt did his best to hide his laughter, holding a hand out in front of his mouth. the blush on klitz's face only depends and he scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“it's not that serious, dude. it's just a stupid nickname.." he tried to defend himself.

you giggled. "don't tease him all day, boys. that's my job. i'll see you guys at lunch!"

~

it was a month later from that interaction and there was a lot of tears. the last day of the school year, and your last day with the three boys and your best friends before your trip out of state to be with your aunt for the summer. it was mostly eli crying, actually. and your best friend just shed one tear and encouraged you to have a good time and scope out cute boys for her.

klitz looked stiff and awkward. his face was sad but he didn’t know how to communicate that. matt just seemed too embarrassed by eli’s overdramatic sobbing.

“lemme hit just one time before you go y/n!!! just once!!” he begged, falling to his knees.

klitz rolled his eyes and shoved eli. “i’ve already reserved the night for myself, you rabid animal. go fuck your pillow or something.”

your face burned in embarrassment. “oh, klitzy.. i thought you wanted our sex life to be a secret.” you bat your eyelashes.

he had to clear his throat and look away from you. “oh, right. i forgot for a second there.” he pushed his glasses up nervously.

“hey, klitz?” you asked under your breath, stepping closer.

eli and matt were talking with your best friend and arguing about something dumb so you took the chance to say something to klitz in a somewhat private fashion.

“hm?” he hummed.

you grabbed his clammy hand, ignoring the way you could feel heat creeping up your neck and to your face. “can you promise me you won’t go out with any other girls this summer, alright?”

he paused for a moment. he didn’t even know what to say. what did you mean by that? was it because you wanted him to still be available when you got back? did that mean you liked him? you? the prettiest girl he’s ever interacted with in his life? no way. this had to be a dream.

“anything for you.” he stuttered, instantly cringing at his corny ass response.

you smiled at that and nodded your head. “good. i’ll see you in august.”

“…see you in august.” he sighed. you had already turned away and started walking home. he started biting the inside of his cheek, feeling embarrassed by how upset he was that he wouldn’t be seeing you over the summer. embarrassed by how much he was gonna miss you.

~

august came quicker than expected. over the summer, you group called the boys at least twice a week. each time it seemed you had so much to tell them, some new, exciting thing you did. the boys felt so left out, wishing they could have half as much fun as you were.

the first time they saw you, their jaws literally dropped. you had changed entirely, and only in a matter of a few weeks. you walked through the doors of the school and started finding your way to them. your hair was bouncing with each step, and the bracelets on your write jingled as you moved. you were wearing low rise pants that flared at your calves, a hot pink top that was cropped maybe a little too much for dress code, chunky sandals that tied the whole ensemble together, and a juicy couture bag slung over your shoulder. you were the definition of a dream in klitz’s eyes.

he watched the way the skin of your stomach rippled with each step, the way your breasts bounced deliciously, the way you were just oozing confidence he had never seen from you before. he felt his heartbeat pick up and he had to force himself to look away.

but then he looked back and he noticed more. the way your skin of your hips bubbled over the edge of your pants, the way you were smiling at the sight of the boys and rolling your eyes at any of the boys who used to tease you suddenly taking an interest in you.

“KLITZYYY!! ELI!! MATTY!!!” you shouted, picking up the pace and running to the boys.

klitz gulped loudly, swallowing a lump in his throat as he watched the way your body moved with your actions. he’d never seen you this way before. you always wore baggy clothes, hiding yourself. he knew you were a little insecure about showing your body in a world that only appreciated pornstar skinny bodies, but he’d never imagined you looked THIS good.

he just knew he’d be spending the night imagining you again, only this time he’d actually have something to go off of. he instantly felt guilty about that thought and shook his head. fuck. you’re his friend. his friend he flirted with on a regular basis. his friend he was extremely attracted to. god.

eli started running to meet you halfway and caught you in a hug. “Y/NNN!!” he picked you up and twirled you, making you squeal out of excitement.

“eli!! i missed you!!” you smiled, hugging back tightly. “how was your summer???”

he instantly started filling you in on all the things they did over the summer while klitz and matt continued walking over. klitz seemed nervous. he was visibly shaking and looking around. matt seemed happy, but did a good job keeping his cool unlike his two friends.

“klitzy!!” you smiled once he was close enough, instantly pulling him in to a tight hug. he wrapped his arms around your waist, bending down slightly so you didn’t have to stand on your toes to hug him comfortably. he could smell your perfume and took a deep breath, holding you closer, feeling your body against his-

you kissed his cheek. “i missed you!” you smiled. “oh, whoops, i left some lipstick on your cheek—“

“LEAVE IT!” eli shrieked. “leave it!! i’m getting the sense him having lipstick on his cheek will attract good attention.”

“yea, well i’m getting the sense he’s gonna look like a bozo idiot ratio all day if he leaves it.” matt said.

“i’ve got a makeup wipe right here, don’t even worry babe.” you smiled, pulling one out of the little packet and wiping his cheek clean.

his breath was shaky. “babe?”

“whoopsie, just let that one slip there, huh? yknow, sometimes i really just don’t think before i speak. i’ve been meaning to work on that!!”

“don’t worry about it..” he trailed off, his head feeling fuzzy. you just called him babe. even if you didn’t mean it..

you smiled up at him. “can we talk?” you turned to eli and matt, giving them a look that clearly meant you wanted some privacy.

matt easily took the hint and had to drag an oblivious eli away while he was shouting about not getting the chance to fully catch up with you.

once they were finally gone, you took a shaky breath, adjusting your bracelets. “so… any girls over the summer?” you started.

he chuckled. “i promised i wouldn’t, didn’t i?”

you smiled, chewing your gum at a quicker pace now, as if the speed matched your emotions. his eyes flicked down to your lips, noticing the glittery tinted gloss on your lips and god did your lips always look so kissable? had it just been the distance and the time away that made him feel this way?

he couldn’t care less. he just wanted to kiss you.

“well, the only reason i asked that if you wa-“

he couldn’t take it anymore. “can i, please, kiss you?” he stuttered, cutting you off.

your eyes widened, and you nodded your head frantically. he reached a hand out, cupping your cheek and pulling you in, tilting his head down to meet you halfway.

when your lips met, you swore you felt thousands of butterflies flap their wings in an instant. you giggled, pulling away.

“wanna hang out after school?” you asked.

he didn’t even say anything, he just nodded his head quickly. you giggled.

“good. because i’ve got a few ideas on what we could do.” you winked.