#ignore the title i couldn't think of anything clever

[detective4blog]

I made them a playlist and listened to it while writing this, accidentally made it angsty. Time frame wise I'd say it's post season 4.

Tw for unhealthy coping mechanisms, mention of alcoholism and smoking, feel free to ask for more.

Sebastian laid his head on Mycroft's shoulder. He said nothing, looking tired. Mycroft knew why but talking about it seemed wrong. Talking bad about the dead and his own kin didn't appear to be an option that would help the retired assassin's mood.

"How do you cope?" Sebastian suddenly spoke. His voice was unnaturally quiet, just above a whisper. Mycroft furrowed his brow at the question, but thought of how to answer.

"I put more time into work. I suppose I don't give myself any time to think about what's bothering me." He answered quietly, staring at his clasped hands for a moment.

Sebastian laughed next to him; a bitter and angry laugh that was soaked with years of cynicism. "Somehow more healthy than me."

That wasn't reassuring.

"What about you?" Mycroft didn't mean to ask the question. It blurt out in a moment of concern. The silence that followed his question was painful. He swore he couldn't hear Sebastian's breathing during it.

"Drinking, I suppose. Whiskey's been my liver's nightmare for some years now. Sometimes just a cigarette while freezing my ass off outside. Or multiple, depending on how bad." Now the other man was whispering. Ashamed of what he was admitting or not used to saying these things aloud? Likely the latter. Mycroft doubted Jim cared much about these things as long as he got results.

He placed a hand on Sebastian's knee, leaving it there. The man's jeans were damp and uncomfortable to touch. "You're going to catch a cold in those clothes."

Another laugh, less bitter and angry. More of actual amusement. "I bloody tell you I drink like a sailor and you're worried about a cold?"

"Yes."

Another moment of silence. The disbelief from Sebastian came off in waves, but Mycroft tried to ignore it and not analyze it. It was hard not to think of not many people showing such care to him though.

Sebastian stood, running a hand over his face. "You got any clothes you're willing to pass along to me, then? I didn't quite bring a spare." He put his hands in his pockets, which dripped more violently now.

"Take whatever you need. I'll get a towel." Mycroft stood as well, giving a weak smile to the other man.

His friend? Lover? Whatever. This was confusing. His head still hurt from recent events and stomach still sick from the sight of- A violent shake of his head stopped that thought.

He grabbed a spare towel and returned to the same sitting room, waiting for Sebastian to return. Eventually he did, dressed in a mismatched pajama set with his old clothes bundled awkwardly in his arms. At least he put the less soaked clothes between himself and the rest.

Mycroft took the clothes and replaced them with the towel. He didn't say anything, though Sebastian seemed to want to protest. There wasn't a chance, the man leaving to toss the clothes in the washer.

He came back to see the towel wrapped around Sebastian's neck, his gaze fixated on his hands. Mycroft watched him for a moment. The man made no movement besides breathing, seeming to be thinking.

Whatever Sebastian was thinking of didn't need sharing or he didn't want to. He looked up, attempting to give a classic crooked smile but just ended up giving a wobbly one.

"I can leave if you want to be alone. I have a basic idea of the shit you saw and heard in there."

"I'd rather have you here, actually. If you don't mind."

Sebastian blinked, now able to give a more stable smile. A sympathetic one. "'Course. I'm a good listener too. Dunno how much work can repress all that."

Mycroft thought about the offer. There were things he wanted to tell someone about. The obvious solution would be to go to Sherlock or John since they saw and heard the same things. But they were too used to things like this. Sebastian was too; he likely never batted an eye at a corpse. But he didn't view him with distaste, so talking to him wouldn't be horrible.

"Maybe later. You look like you need sleep." He gave a small smile of his own, offering a hand to Sebastian. It was taken; those warm large hands were unnaturally cold. He didn't let it show how unnerving that was.

Sebastian was warm. He always was. His touch, his smile, his voice, his eyes. But now he was cold, the fire that fueled him dwindling out. Mycroft hoped he could help refuel it somehow.

He opened the door to his room, letting Sebastian claim whichever side of the bed he wanted while he changed. But the bed was untouched, the blonde seeming to be waiting.

Mycroft raised a brow, choosing the left side of the bed for himself. He expected Sebastian to take the right side of it, but was pleasantly surprised when the man just...laid on top of him.

He was still so cold. There was a hurry to wrap blankets around him, pulling forward the heavier ones just for him. Sebastian seemed half asleep already, his breath warming Mycroft's neck.

"I forget you enjoy physical contact when sleeping."

"It's called cuddling, Myc. And yeah, you're comfy and warm."

"Obviously I'd be warm, you're cold. As for being comfortable, it's likely sentiment held towards me that makes you think that. I doubt laying on top of someone can be comfortable."

He expected a sleepy interruption to his ramble but Sebastian was silent. Not asleep, seeming to be thinking.

Then he rolled over, making a mess of the blankets just to have Mycroft now laying on him. It was disorienting to be moved like that, his mind still processing the situation.

His head rested on half Sebastian's shoulder, half on the pillows. He could feel the rise and fall of his breathing underneath him. Gentle enough not to be a disruption but just notable enough to bring comfort. He could even feel the man's heartbeat if he pressed his hand down harder.

"...I stand corrected."

There was that crooked grin. It made Mycroft feel warmer underneath the layers of blankets and the arms around him.

[woonova]

꩜ ﾟ˖ CARE

◟﹙ 🏐 ﹚lee heeseung ﹕oneshot ﹙ @woonova ﹚

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  written to i never cared about you by mixed matches

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  genre angst, friends to lovers?, college au

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  synopsis  you realize that you were nothing but another game to heeseung, a clever ploy that your naivety allowed you to fall right into.

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  warning reader gets her heart broken pretty badly, playboy heeseung?

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  wc 0.55k

rin's notes ! this is my first time writing anything like this genre so....i hope you'll like it. opinions/advice are accepted.

also ! pulled that title straight outta my butt so dont dwell on the fact that it makes no sense ^_^!!

— tumblr's algorithm works best with reblogging so plz consider reblogging and liking my posts —

IT HAD BEEN THREE WEEKS SINCE YOU LAST SPOKE TO HEESEUNG. those three weeks containing some of the worst moments in your life, not only symbolizing a rip in the carefully woven friendship of you and heeseung but the painful drift of heeseung's heart from yours.

It had been three weeks since you've seen heeseung, well physically, seeing as his presence was seemingly unmissable on social media. it seemed as if every time you refreshed that forsaken 'for you' page you would be greeted by heeseung, with a big smile on his face - his look even more elevated by the newly dyed blonde hair and as much as you didnt want to admit it you were falling for it. however you were sure this was already known. because even through all your hours of crying and in need of condolence you still hadn't made the move to unfollow heeseung, or at the very least exit off the post that made your heart hurt so badly in the first place.

It had also been three weeks since you've spoken a word to Heeseung and by now it was maybe even more, seeing as your last words communicated to him were written anxiously on a thin strip of paper, presented in a pretty blue envelope decorated with numerous stickers and cute drawings, and funny enough it was those three unsaid words that caused this whole conflict in the first place. often times you would wonder, what would happen if you had never sent your letter? would these complications still arise? or would you be fine, spending your days with Heeseung by your side? but really, how naive could you be, that after everything that had happened you would still often lay awake into the late hours of the night thinking of the former query.

Because even now, as you made your return to school after your long break, the fourth week had already been marked off - now setting your month of solitude to stone. you couldn't even fathom just how much pain your heart could take when you saw him entering through the wide doors used as the university's entrance. A pretty girl strung on his arm hanging off every empty promise that left his lips, and even though you couldn't even begin to comprehended the amount of pain you had gone through, you knew there was going to be more to come. afterall his new 'companion' would serve as your constant reminder.

She reminded you that despite your current situation, you were once her. the one to walk with Heesueng through crowded hallways, while he pulled you close, under the guise of keeping you safe. albeit, while not as popular as his new attraction, or as social you still used to be the one who would be present at all the infamous parties thrown by his basketball team - oftentimes finding yourself in a secluded area, away from unknowing partygoers with Heeseung by your side.

But in the end it was obvious, what Heesueng and his friends alike thought of you.

You were just another lonely girl who had found herself apart of a carefully intertwined web of lies passed of as an innocent friendship.

And how foolish were you to let your ignorant mind believe it could be something else? right?

ʚɞ ﾟ˖  sponsors @hyfenet @k-labels

© https://...woonova | 2023

[bailey-orphic08]

The Voice of Reason ~ Part Two (And the Final Part)

Synopsis: Logan is getting more and more frustrated about being ignored. But fortunately, a certain rat affiliated Duke knows how to help. ;)

As you can tell from the title, this is the second part. Go read the first part so you can understand what's going on!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Wha- But that doesn't make any sense," Logan chuckled in disbelief, "that was what I was telling them to do, and they didn't listen to me. Why would they ignore my suggestions only to come to the same conclusion later on?"

"I don't know..." Remus said with too much innocence, "Have you ever considered that you're not relevant anymore?"

And as quick as Remus said that, Logan's attempt to keep his composure collapsed.

"Get out of my room!" Logan threw a book at Remus, hitting him in the face.

"Why do you even bother telling me these things?" Logan snapped, "Do you find that much pleasure in making my day worse? Everyday I get up and I work as hard as I possibly can to ensure that Thomas--and by association, all of us--can live a happy, healthy lifestyle! You think it's 'fun' to laugh at that effort? You have no idea how much work that is! I make plan after plan and schedule after schedule. I keep the other sides from making reckless mistakes. I keep Thomas from making reckless mistakes. Everyday I put in so much effort! And on top of all that, most of these efforts aren't wanted by them. They don't care about my efforts!.. They ignore my efforts... They- they-"

Logan stopped rambling, realizing how irrational he was acting. He also saw that he wasn't proving anything to Remus anyways, for all his actions did was send Remus into a maniacal fit laughter. Along with that, he began to notice a cold and strange tingling sensation run down his face. He lifted his hand to his cheek to feel what it was... Logan was crying.

How could this be possible? Logan didn't cry. Logan couldn't cry. Crying was a response to pain. Logan wasn't in pain, he was physically fine. That could only mean the pain is emotional. But that was impossible. Logan didn't have emotions. Logan was logic. And logic can't feel emotions. Logic is reasonable. But before he could ask himself anymore questions, he began speak out to Remus, his words spilling out before he could process what he was even saying.

"Oh no," he wept, "oh no, Remus you're right. I'm not relevant anymore! I was never the most exciting side, or the nicest, or the most pleasant, but they were able to deal with me. They dealt with me because I was important. I was able to make decisions they couldn't. I was the voice of reason. And so I was one of them. But things are changing, Remus. The questions Thomas has, the choices he has to make, they aren't rooted in logic anymore. I can't answer them. And now that I can't there's no purpose in the others dealing with me--I'm not the voice of reason anymore. I thought if I tried to be kinder they would still at least want me, but it seems that I'm not nice enough to hide that I'm essentially useless now..."

At this point Remus had stopped cackling and just stood there in silence, completely stunned and unsure of what to do. He knew when he arrived that he would upset Logan--that was his goal--but he had no idea that Logan would start crying over it.

"They're going to replace me Remus, I'm going to be replaced!" Logan continued, still sobbing, "They're already replacing me! Janus is taking my place! He's so clever, so well put together, but most of all, he's reasonable! He understands the questions Thomas has now. He can answer his questions. Thomas and Patton have already started to warm up to him, it's only matter of time before they all accept him. And then he will be the voice of reason! And all I will be able to offer is exposition... He'll do a better job anyways, he actually knows what he's doing! I make so many mistakes--I can't even think rationally enough to not cry!"

His sobs grew louder and louder as he lost the ability to speak. Remus was still standing there, now even more unsure of what to do. Should he tell someone? Surely at least one of them cared about him enough to comfort him, and he definitely wasn't qualified to do it himself... Wait--why did he care? He didn't like Logan. He didn't like him at all! Logan was an arrogant know-it-all, and he always got in the way of his plans. He came here because he wanted Logan to get upset! So should he go? He got what he wanted, so there was no point in staying... No... Remus had no reason to care, but for some reason--for some strange reason--he couldn't help but feel extreme pity seeing the man who showed nothing but indifference and agitation towards his antics act so depressingly pathetic.

"Hey don't cry," Remus whispered as comfortingly as he knew how, "there's nothing wrong with being a little useless. People love useless characters!"

That had the opposite effect. Logan began crying even more violently.

"Well there's no point in crying about it if you know it's inevitable!" Remus blurted out, "Either accept your new purpose in life or find a way to keep the one you had!" Then Remus got an sudden idea. An idea with no flaws in his eyes. The only thing that could go wrong was if Logan refused.

"Hey, hey, stop crying," he whispered again, though with more energy, "I know how you can become the voice of reason again."

That caught Logan's attention.

Remus would help him keep his place? How? And why? Logan thought to himself for a moment. There was a remarkably low chance Remus' plan would actually work, and an even lower chance he had good intentions... But at this point, any solution was worth hearing out. He tried to cease his sobs.

"Well, if you really have a possible solution," Logan sniveled, "then tell me how I can maintain my position as the voice of reason." Remus grinned eagerly.

"You know how you earlier you said they kept you around despite not being nice or exciting?"

"Yes?..."

"And you know how you tried to be nice when you stopped knowing all the answers?"

"Of course, how couldn't I?"

"And you know how that failed?"

"Where are you going with this?"

"Well you said you weren't nice or exciting. You tried to be nice, and that didn't work. So have you considered being more exciting?"

Logan was perplexed. He didn't really think of that. The others were always agitated when he spoke up, so he decided to speak less. But what if he spoke more?

"See, your problem is that you don't stand out enough," Remus explained, "The other sides have such extreme opinions that yours get kicked to the curb. If you want them to listen, you've gotta be as drastic as they are."

"And how exactly do I do that?"

"Well, the other sides do several extreme things. And you're a pansy, so I know you won't do that. So instead of doing several small things, you should one great thing..." Remus' grin grew larger and more mischievous.

"You have reasoned with me long enough, just tell me what to do!"

Knock. Knock.

Out of completely nowhere, the two of them suddenly heard knocking at Logan's door. After a ominously long moment of silence, his door began to slowly creak open. An orange mist started to fill the room. Logan's eyes stayed fixated on the door, contemplating what could possibly be happening right now. Remus' smile grew wider; he knew what was to come. When the door was completely opened, the haze started to fade, revealing who it was at the door.

"Hey, I heard that you're 'friends' have a problem with ignoring you," he said, "I can help with that..."

[ethersierra]

Another relic from the fall 2022 drafts? untouched since then. im never gonna finish this so i'm releasing it to the wild

Song lyrics that I think would be good titles for fics or playlists or something

1. There is a light that never goes out by the smiths

There is a light that never goes out

To die by your side (is such a heavenly way to die)

take me anywhere

2. Never meant to know by tally hall

Who do we think we are?

Everything plays a part

There are some things we are never meant to know

See the sky and all the land (together again)

The earth can stay below

The sun in the sand

You breathe and I turn to stone

3. Color in your cheeks by the mountain goats

It'll put the color in your cheeks

The silence that's our trademark

Money to burn, time to kill

4. Ghosting by mother mother

Ghost in your house,

Ghost in your arms

I'm ghosting your dreams

This is why I have decided to leave your house and home unhaunted

I'm just a ghost out of his grave

5. Never love an anchor by the crane wives

clumsy not clever

I couldn't bring myself to hold you

A secret I keep tucked inside my chest

Love that doesn't have a place to rest

A ship could never really love an anchor

Someone I have loved but never known (ANISTAROSE USED THIS LINE <3)

Never had the chance to lose you

6. Flowers grow out of my grave by dead man's bones

(When I think about you) flowers grow out of my grave (JUST READ A FIC NAMED THIS <3)

A dying cricket in a jar (this fic sounds so morbid)

7. Wildflower by Mel Bryant & the mercy makers

I'm stuck here still (like a wildflower on the side of the highway)

Burying your heart in the ash tray

8. Baby can I hold you tonight by Tracy Chapman

Years gone by (and still)

Words don't come easily

Baby can I hold you tonight?

if I told you the right words at the right time you'd be mine

You'd be mine

9. Come to your senses by Jonathan Larson

You're on the air (I'm underground)

Signals fading

Come to your senses

When you know (or at least you knew)

We sure put on a show

All I've got tonight is static on the screen

It was only you and me

It's cool to be cold😎

the shape of things we cannot ignore

You don't need a music box melody to know

Just an empty image eminating out of the screen

come back alive

10. Narcissus by Lizzie No

I keep on breaking my own heart

Nobody sees me (I see myself)

Up on tiptoe by the water's edge

You looked like someone I would have dreamed of

Treating love like it's vanity

Now I'm not so sure

Being with you was just like falling in

an echo in my own mind

You're a liar, but so am I love

Turning men into gods

10. Up the wolves by the mountain goats

When the wolf comes home

Ever since we founded rome

Float from branch to branch

Lighter than the air

11. Let's get this over with by they might be giants

Let's get this over with

12. Riches and wonders by the mountain goats

We are filled with riches and wonders

We invent secrets to confess to

The news the morning air brings

Our love keeps the things it finds

Lost at sea out of our minds

13. Graceland too by Phoebe Bridgers

No longer a danger to herself or others

She could do anything she wants to

And wonders if he believed songs could come true (I'm asking for it if they do)

Doesn't know what she wants or what she's gonna do

Rebel without a clue

She knows she lived through it to get to this moment

I will do anything

Whatever you want me to do I will do

14. Things that make it warm by cavetown

And all the Things that make it warm

We can make this hole a home

15. New Partner by Palace Music

New partner

A black tinted sunset

You are always on my mind

A deed so exquisitely grand

A payment which precludes the having of fun

I've got a new partner riding with me

The sun's fading faster

A hard swath to mow

(When you think like a hermit) you forget what you know

16. Pale green things by the mountain goats

Pale green things

Coming up through the cracks (pale green things)

Casting your gaze way out to no man's land

17. Daylight by Taylor swift

but now I see daylight / only see daylight

Luck of the draw

Clearing the air

I once believed love would be black and white,

But it's golden

I don't wanna look at anything else (now that I saw you)

18. International small arms traffic blues by the mountain goats

There is a shortage in the blood supply (but there is no shortage of blood)

You got the best of my love

Francis forever, the moon will sing, heat above, light my love, constellations, love of my life, like real people do, sunlight, me & my dog, birdhouse in your soul, no children, bleed out, the last place I saw you alive, broom people, you or your memory, amy spent gladiator, ribs, I'm like a bird, never do anything, witches, it's tough to be a god, teen idle, evermore, going invisible 2, line w o a hook, crop circles, fair, half dead, it'll all work out, I wish I were the moon

[otakween]

One Pound Gospel - Volume 4 (Final Volume)

Man, all the cover art in this series is so samey. Kind of a shame. Maybe they should have incorporated side characters into the covers?

Ch. 29

So apparently Angela's family is super rich and judgy, that sucks. Maybe that's part of why she wanted to join a convent to begin with lol. As an aroace person, I somewhat understand her struggle being pressured into a relationship by society.

What do you MEAN Angela isn't her real name?? I didn't know that nuns adopted new names! (So I guess I did learn something new after all). Is her real name pronounced "Mari-eh?"

The chef literally made "Tyler's Bullshit" from The Menu lol

Great another dumber than bricks character who is so dumb that no one could possibly be that dumb in reality. New guy's gimmick is that he just adds random sauces to his dishes without knowing what they are. Riiight

Ch. 30

Well, that was a tiny arc. It succeeded in making me hungry.

This was just the Kana arc but in reverse (Kosaku is jealous instead of Angela). I can feel Takahashi running out of ideas for the characters.

Ch. 31

What is this, the dying of over work chapter?? Both the bento guy and the cram school teacher are going through it.

Kosaku threatens to quit boxing for the 9 millionth time. I don't buy that he's serious about becoming a chef. These kinds of flaky people are the worst irl.

Ch. 32

I appreciate the different fighting styles we've seen through the course of this series. In this one we see one of the lazier options that boxers can use to earn points. I thought it was funny that the nuns referred to it as "hugging" because that's what I was thinking it looked like lol.

Ch. 33

Okay, I feel really silly that I didn't pick up on the fact that Ryusei was Kosaku's next opponent.

I respect Angela's immediate disgust for the dudes at the host bar. I have heard stories of how they can be pretty extortionate and phony. I'd be scared to go to one. Kosaku's reaction to finding out she went to one was funny. That is pretty wild out of context lol

Ch. 34

I liked the use of overlapping speech bubbles to show Kosaku ignoring his coach, that was clever.

They're implying that the guests at host clubs are often female employees from similar industries. IDK if that's true, but that's pretty interesting...

This chapter made me google whether or not male customers are allowed at host clubs and I got mixed results. I guess it depends on the club!

Woah, host club dude gets 3 chapters instead of 2? What makes him so special...?

Ugh, I just googled what a "bait dog" is and learned some very disturbing info about pitbull fighting 😭 couldn't find anything about the term being used in boxing

Ch. 35

All the guys at the gym cringing at Ryusei's phony TV interview was funny. Kosaku's so cute saying "yeah he's cringe, but he's not a bad guy!" (paraphrasing)

Oh snap, Kosaku got angry! Honestly, Angela deserved to be yelled at a little bit. I know it's because she cares, but she's a little too hard on him sometimes.

Ch. 36

Wow, these final chapters are so short! It kinda feels a little rushed actually, oh well.

Ryusei's host coworkers coming to cheer him on was cute.

Ch. 37

Aww, that was really wholesome :) <3 Marie (Angela) gave up being a Sister to be with Kosaku at last and Kosaku won the title.

I loved that Kosaku said he was fighting for Marie AND himself. It's important to be a whole person outside of your relationships!

This was a sweet little, fluffy romcom. Very easy to get through. Looking forward to the adaptations!

[harleiquina]

Hmm... I beg to differ... I have 2 observations.

#1:

As I've said many times I studied Advertising and I'm an aspiring author.

As a Publicist (or Associate in Advertising, as my title says) I understand the importance of showing yourself to the world so they know you and buy your art. However I believe (and maybe that's the reason why I couldn't keep up with my client's expectations) that you not only have to choose which part of yourself you want to show but you have to be honest about it.

I hate taking pictures of myself, yet I do have accounts in Facebook, Instagram (here on Tumblr, of course) and VK (mostly to browse, my Russian isn't good enough to post anything there)... and I never posted my photos in any of them. I was tagged in friend's photos, of course, but *I* choose not to show my face (unless I have a clever joke to make, so... basically never).

You can choose to show your cool rocks collection... or your pets... or funny memes that you saved in your phone for a special ocassion.

The choice for privacy is always there. Which leads me to...

#2

I used to listen a podcast called Darkest Night, a series of horror stories strung together with a main arc. I got into a Facebook group for it where we would discuss theories, which celebrities we would like to have as guests and so on.

Once I shared an article about one of the actors that got to play Edgar Allan Poe on a documentary and it got my attention that the article (from a Gay News Portal or something like that) kept writing "the gay actor" in pretty much every paragraph something that I found odd, I mean... it was a Gay-leaning website, the actor was already described as gay in the intro... why keep on beating that horse? I apologized for it, I thought it was just sloppy writing but someone started to fight me in the comments that is was for representation and visibility. Still I think that it was overdone... but someone brought up an interesting point: maybe I'm not used to that in my country, and that's right.

In Argentina we have queer celebrities... but nobody cares about it. The big splash comes once they make it public but after that the overall feel is like "ok, they're queer... what are they doing now?" so we focus more on whatever they are promoting (films, TV shows, theatre, other) who cares about their private life?

So it dawned on me that in USA, at least, the whole "unless we see it (on TV, on social media), it doesn't exist" which deeply contrasts with my upbringing of "if it is on TV/media is make-believe and fake".

So... yeah, show yourself to be known but the whole "post every 5 min or you'll die" is not a requirement. You do you... at your pace.

You are in control, is your career damnit!

Ignore Ad gurus, or publishers that try to transform you into something you are not.

This is a marathon, not a race. Nothing good comes out of burning yourself out to fullfill other's expectations.

WHY AUTHORS ARE FORCED TO BECOME BRANDS

A brilliant LitHub artivle (link below). Some pull quotes:

“Of course, Gen Xers always knew this would happen: the gradual folding of everything that could possibly be called “culture” into one image-spectacle-and-sensorium corporate machine that thrives on endless niche differentiation as a way of metastasizing its market share. It’s there in the song Kurt Cobain wrote around the dumbest chord progression he could think of. You could say we saw late capitalism coming in real time, planned for it, in many cases enabled and amplified it.”

“corporations were assimilating the language and attitudes associated with post-WWII youth culture, from the Beats to punk rock, for themselves: Disrupt everything! Question authority! Overthrow the hierarchies! “Our businessmen sound like rebels,” Frank wrote, “and our rebels sound more and more like ideologists of business.”

“I recently bought a hat at a record store in Lawrence, Kansas, that reads, “Analog is the Future.” If that seems like a feeble form of anti-corporate dissent, consider the potency of analog protest, where the simple act of putting up a cheap tent and handmade sign on a university lawn reverberates around the world as an act of war”

[unfriendlyamazon]

it’s @joukaiweek officially and i plunked away at my keyboard so i didn’t miss it. this is incredibly rough and i need to take a hammer to it, but i still wanted to post for day one so here it is!

The Final Countdown

rating T

characters joey wheeler/seto kaiba, appearances by yugi muto, mai valentine, and (unfortunately) maximillion pegasus

tags Secret Relationship (sort of), Commitment Issues, Love Confessions, Emotional Rollercoasters, Actual Rollercoasters (It’s Kaibaland Babyyyy), The Characters Actually Duel

1/19 - origin || conclusion

Joey and Seto’s relationship goes full circle when they attend “Return to Duelist Kingdom”. They’re forced to face their own emotional issues so they can move forward, or let it all fall apart.

Joey shielded his eyes as he stepped through the entrance of the large dome. The glass enclosure poured in the bright California light, and tall trees spread wide branches. The space was completely transformed with long brick paths tucked along flat ferns and bushes overflowing with flowers. A waterfall made a winding river underneath the pathways. It was easy, for a moment, to be transported to another realm entirely, except for the Slifer coaster peeking over the dome top, and the shouts of excited park goers as they tried to peer in at the duelists.

“Kaiba really knows how to go all out,” Yugi said from where he stood at Joey’s side.

Joey only nodded mutely and started down the path.

It’d been something of a surprise to receive the invitational to the Return to Duelist Kingdom a few months back, and even more of a shock to see it was being hosted at Kaibaland America. Considering the original tournament had been little more than a farce to steal souls and further corporate takeovers, it’d been regarded as a sort of dark time in the dueling world, before Battle City standardized the rule sets. Both Joey and Yugi had listened to Seto rant about how all Pegasus was capable of was making cards, while he made the game. In a long list of all the things they’d been through, Duelist Kingdom ranked fairly low on the trauma scale, depending on who you asked, but all in all their group decided it was best to leave it in the past.

Not that anything really got left in the past around here.

At least this time they weren’t on an abandoned island in international waters more likely to die from dehydration than from the psycho eliminators roaming the place. No, Kaibaland put them up in swanky five star resort rooms, complete with comped meals. If there was anything Seto Kaiba was good at, it was showing up the competition. Only those that had made it through the gauntlet were actually competing, with free Kaibaland tickets awarded to the past participants who’d been soundly kicked off. It was a rematch of sorts. There were a few people Joey wouldn’t mind getting his hands on again, now more experienced and with a top notch ranking. Bandit Keith, from whatever hole in the ground he decided to crawl out of, and Pegasus himself, still sitting on his throne, and then there was–

“Kaiba!” Yugi shouted and bounded towards the all too familiar shape of Seto Kaiba. Joey’s footsteps slowed as his best friend tossed his arms around his long time rival. The coordinator he’d been speaking too had a shocked look on her face and quickly tamped it down. Joey almost laughed. Normally touching Kaiba was a death warrant, but Yugi got a free pass.

“Oh, good,” Seto sighed. “You’re here.”

“Had to see what all the hype was about,” Joey said, tugging on the strap of his backpack. The tournament wasn’t until tomorrow, which gave them free reign over the amusement park the rest of the day. “This place is fan-cy.”

“It looks cool!” Yugi released his prey, eyes going up to the ceiling. “This wasn’t here last time.”

“Pegasus’ inane idea coincided with the opening of the new Enchanted Forest.” Seto adjusted his coat, despite the warmth from the sunlight. He looked the same as he always did, tall and lean and anemic, probably. Telltale bags sunk in his eyes. Joey wondered how much sleep he’d been getting. “Normally I wouldn’t entertain the old man’s fancies, but the marketing seemed worth the effort.”

“Is that all this is?” Joey asked, raising a single eyebrow. “Marketing?”

Seto’s eyes met his for the first time. Older, and more tired, he still had the steady steel gaze he’d always had since he was a child. Joey held it.

“That,” Seto admitted, “and I thought it might be fun.”

A grin stretched across Joey’s face. Seto looked away.

“You’ve already seen your accommodations,” he said. “If you’d like to see the tournament floor, it’s through there. The rest of the park is yours.”

“I guess you don’t have any time to ride rides with us,” Yugi said dejectedly.

“Not at the moment, no.” He took the clipboard his coordinator offered him, eyes narrowing as he went back to work. “Somehow you always manage to entertain yourself.”

“We’ll do that.” Joey scooped Yugi into a hold and noogied him. “We got more than enough yucks between the two of us to bother your skinny ass, eh, Yug?”

Yugi laughed, pushing away from him. “It’s true. Thanks for hosting us, Kaiba.”

Seto only hummed in response. Joey took his friend by the arm and pulled him along the path. It’d been a while since he’d been in a tournament with Kaiba, but he’d never forgotten the surly attitude he wore like spiked armor. Joey wasn’t going to spend all day in an amusement park not having fun. What was the point of that?

“Wheeler,” he heard Seto call behind them, and Joey turned. The same gaze hit him hard enough to make his breath catch. Seto eyed him for a moment, and then shook his head. “Don’t make a mess of my park.”

“No promises,” Joey called back and bounced away.

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈

It was a year ago when it started like this:

Hands and teeth and desperation. Joey didn’t know who made the first move, but it ended in messy sheets and heated air and quickened breath and hearts pounding. Seto told him he was worse than any rollercoaster, that Joey sent him reeling in ways that overwhelmed him. Joey’d worn the compliment with a sense of pride. Kaiba the legend, Kaiba the monument, but it was Seto that clutched his fingers into his skin and begged for more. It was explosive, it was heated, it was–

It was nice. Long nights became morning. Joey no longer felt a need to jump out of bed as soon as they were finished, which was all well in good because it turned out Seto was a cuddler. Mornings became breakfast. Breakfast became dinner dates. There were ups and downs. Joey was overwhelmed too, because Seto cared so much in ways he never could say. Affectionate and thoughtful, of all things. It wasn’t just sex anymore, but they both struggled to make it something else. What could it ever be, really? Seto was a public figure, who traveled for work, especially with the growth in Kaibaland America. The last thing Joey wanted was to be left behind again. They’d come to a forked road with no way back, not really, and neither were the type to let something stagnate. Go forward, brave an untrodden path, commit to something new, or let it all fall apart.

Joey, on his end, hadn’t made up his mind.

Dinner the night before the tournament took place in the Magician’s Mansion, at a long table nestled in a room overflowing with comically large books and holographic creatures flying overhead. Somewhere, an animatronic dragon screech sounded at regular intervals. The usual motley crew sat in a row down the length of the table. Joey sat between Mai and Yugi while Bandit Keith made the usual ass of himself. Pegasus stood and gave a speech that Joey made faces throughout. He glanced at the other end of the table, where Seto was hiding a smile. They were ushered to a viewing spot for the evenings firework display. Underneath the crooked top of the Magician’s Mansion, crowds of parkgoers peered past railings, or sat on their parents’ shoulders, or jumped up and down as the holograms raced across a manmade pond, reflecting bright points of color in all directions. A Dark Magician Girl stood in the center of the pond, waving her staff this way and that like the conductor of an orchestra. In the darkness of the alcove usually reserved for performers, it did feel like a whole different world. While the others laughed and cheered, Joey glanced up at Seto’s face. Reds and blues reflected off his pale skin. His face was the same sullen line it always was, but his fingers curled on the railing as his eyes lit up.

“Hey,” Joey said as the boom of another firework brought an array of bright pinks into the sky. Seto’s eyes turned down. His fingers curled tighter on the railing. “About–”

The crowd gasped together as a dragon joined the fireworks display, weaving between the lights and then flying down at the audience. The performer’s booming voice shouted across the park. The ever faithful Blue Eyes let out a screech and swooped down again. There was even a touch of wind as it flew past. Joey sucked in a breath as he watched the display. It was all so real. That was what Seto had always been good at. He made things into existence that others could only dream about, and he had all the means to do it. He was, in too many literal ways, the man who had everything. What did he need Joey for?

“About tomorrow,” his mouth finished, faster than his brain could function. He smiled up at Seto with uneasy, pained politeness. “Good luck.”

Seto opened his mouth, and then his eyes centered on their small group. The dragon climbed into the sky and roared.

“I won’t need it,” he said, and turned away.

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ 

It was a beautiful bright day in California. Joey and Yugi shared a lazy breakfast at the hotel, waving at familiar faces and chatting with people who recognized them. Yugi hadn’t dueled in years, but he still carried the undefeated record. Joey’d started picking up sponsorship deals. Mai’d given him a run down of the business, and, well, it made sense. Still felt weird seeing his own face on cereal boxes.

The morning was dedicated to matches billed as old-timers versus newcomers. The familiar faces of old champs like Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood went toe-to-toe against new champions pulled from the Kaiba dueling academy and Industrial Illusions own ranked picks. They used the upgraded battle stages, which felt like dinosaur technology compared to the duel disks Joey was used to battling with. Yugi was called off to do some interview as the original champion of Duelist Kingdom, and Joey sat on stadium seating high above and out of the way, chewing on popcorn as he watched the strategies of the kids below. That was the real trick of this game. It was always changing, and someone always had a strategy you’d never faced before. Joey’d had to learn to change with it.

“Why,” came a dry voice from behind him, and Joey jumped straight up to see Seto waltzing down the steps, “did I think I’d find you here?”

“‘Cause you’ve got cameras all over this park,” Joey said, mouth full of popcorn. He swallowed it down and wiped his hands on his shirt. “‘Cause you’re a stalker.”

He tilted his head to the side, the only admission he would offer. He stopped at the end of steps, and it was a narrow pathway down the seats to where Joey lounged. Neither made a move closer.

“I still can’t believe you’re doing this,” Joey said. “I thought you were gonna hit Pegasus with a brick last night.”

“There’s still time,” he mused. He leaned forward on the railing, watching the matches below. “You’ve been oddly quiet this whole time.”

Joey set his popcorn aside, forced to admit his own guilt with a sigh. “I guess… I guess I don’t know what to say to you.”

His brow furrowed. “The answer isn’t yes.”

“It isn’t no either.” Joey closed his eyes, remembering the conversation the night before Seto had left to set up the tournament. Seto held Joey’s face in his hands and asked him point blank: Is there something here worth kindling? Did they have a reason to follow through?

Seto scoffed, his head dipping down so that his dark bangs covered his face. As he stood straight, it was Kaiba that came into view.

“I don’t know why I’m wasting my time on this,” he said in a hard edged tone. “I should’ve known you couldn’t commit.”

“I can’t commit? Me?” Joey jumped to his feet. “You’ve been gone for nearly two months! You spend half your time living on the other side of the world and then get mad when I don’t want to wait around! You can’t keep a dinner date, or a reservation–”

“I have obligations,” he snapped.

“So do I!” Joey shouted. “So does everyone! I take the bus to your place, but you can’t have your driver take you around?”

“Maybe,” Seto snarled, “it would be easier, if you didn’t decide to walk out every time you don’t get your way.”

Joey laughed. “You’re calling me selfish? You’re the one with a theme park with your name on it!”

“You feel a need to break up over every little thing,” Seto said. “If I’m late picking you up, when we can’t decide on a movie, when I pick up the wrong thing for dinner–”

“It wasn’t about dinner!” Joey shouted as he marched forward.

“Then you have to tell me what it is about!” Seto snapped back. “I can’t read your mind, and I never know what’s going to set you off, and I need you to tell me!”

“I need to know you think about me!” Joey said. His hand slid along the railing, the metal growing heated as he charged at his foe. Seto stood straight and tall like a brick wall, ready to bring him to a brutal stop. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you! I want to, god knows I tried, but I missed you! Every second you were gone! And I can’t stay up by my phone hoping I entered your mind long enough for you to call! I can’t let you hurt me like that!”

“Of course I missed you!” Seto shouted. “I’ve been in agony waiting to see you again! But you said you needed space. You said you wanted to figure things out. You can’t tell me one thing and mean something different entirely. It’s utterly infuriating!”

“Well I’m sorry!” Joey sucked in a breath, shoulders squeezing together, and then he let it go all at once. This wasn’t how he planned things to go when he got Seto alone. He hadn’t planned anything. Maybe that was part of his problem. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I wanted. I thought distance would make things clear, but instead…”

He trailed off, scraping his bottom lip. Seto released his own breath he was holding. His features softened in a way Joey was getting used to seeing.

“I want you,” Joey said, with an earnestness that made him wince. “I know that. But I can’t–I can’t take it anymore. Wondering. Knowing I’m not good enough for you. Waiting for you to cut me off. I’d rather have nothing than have that.”

“Joey,” Seto said, and his hand cupped his cheek, guiding his face up. This was how the whole thing started, Joey remembered. An argument. A touch in the right place. It’d taken this long to grow this tender. “I’m not–”

Horns sounded from the arena, and the two pulled apart. Seto’s eyes drew up, and Joey saw the white security camera clearly placed. Right. Even alone, they were in public. He’d almost let himself forget. Seto’s back straightened as the PA announced the Duelist Kingdom champions tournament. They both had places to be.

“Don’t sweat it,” Joey said, brushing off the pain like he had so many times before. “I know how important this place is to you. I just never liked being second best.”

“You’re not,” Seto said. “Not to me.”

Joey let out a dry laugh. “You better check the tapes on that one.”

“I mean it,” he said. “I’m–”

His jacket pocket started buzzing, and he groaned low as he dug in to find his phone. Joey shook his head.

“I’ll see you on the battlefield,” he said and waved off any protests as he trotted up the stairs. No, Joey Wheeler didn’t stick around, not when he wasn’t wanted. Seto could say all the words he wanted, but Joey knew how he acted when trying to get something out of his reach. If he wanted Joey, he’d have him, and the whole world would know.

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ 

When Yugi lost, the crowd went wild.

Things had played out pretty much as Joey remembered it. No one had expected much out of Bandit Keith, and he was soundly dealt with. Joey’s battle with Mai had been close, and she’d nearly tipped his life points over the edge when she wiped his field of monsters, but a well placed ritual summon brought him back on top. Seto replaced Pegasus as the final match, and so he waited on the sidelines as Pegasus commented on the Battle of Brothers. Yugi versus Joey. Yugi’s usual duck and weave routine kept things interesting, but they hit the turning point when Joey used Enemy Controller to bring his Summoned Skull to his side of the field, and a fusion card turned him into Black Skull Dragon. It’d kept him on the ropes long enough for Joey to play Time Wizard. It’d destroyed his last monster and given Joey a clear field to destroy his life points.

As the crowd screamed, Joey glanced at where Seto sat with a wide-eyed stare. Everyone had expected the final bout to be between Yugi and Seto, a return to rivals old school fans dreamed about. As the platforms descended back down to the stage floor, Yugi and Joey had gone in for the traditional handshake. Joey had scooped him up instead in a big hug. That was best buddy after all.

Then it was Seto’s turn.

There was no catchy slogan for this match up, no big rematch to sell. As far as the world was concerned, Joey had been some newcomer nobody grabbing onto Kaiba’s coattails. There were more serious matches to care about. Even their so-called “Battle for the Bronze” in Battle City had technically been outside the tournament proper. There’d never been a reason for the two to face off. It was unclear, then, if the audience caught the tension as the two climbed up to their roosts. The life points clicked into place. The duel began.

It was clear from the jump Seto had set up his strategy to counter Yugi’s usual play style. It was a head on barrage expected from his beatdown deck. Even in the quiet of Joey’s apartment, when they lazily laid down cards sitting on the floor across from each other, Seto battled with his usual intensity. Joey’d struck blows but usually fell short of actually beating him. Winning hadn’t mattered in those moments. Now it felt like the only thing that did.

“You’re so predictable,” Joey said as he summoned two of his Blue Eyes in one move. The duelists wore mics, making his offhand comment rebound across the glass walls. Trash talk was a staple of duels. No reason to leave the crowd wanting.

“And you don’t know when to stop,” Seto fired back. “You’ve never backed down from a fight before. You should learn to lose with dignity.”

“Alright,” Joey said, activating his trap card as the Blue Eyes fired at his Flame Swordsman. Evenly Matched wiped the field. As the Blue Eyes shattered into digital dust, he grinned at Seto from across the playing field. “Show me how.”

Backed into a corner was when Kaiba was at his most dangerous, and this duel was no different. They went round for round, monster for monster. Battling him had always felt like hitting a wall, a feeling Joey’d never gotten past, but this time it was different. Fight for fight, they bashed head on, their tactics weaving around each other. Seto tried to keep his most powerful cards on the field, but Joey kept every trick up his sleeve. And the banter never stopped. Back and forth like a volleying shuttle, and little by little it unwound. The frustrated edge in Seto’s voice faded away. Joey answered his calls with laughter and an ace of his own. Their life points chipped away. Joey felt it as he drew the card he’d been hoping for. He could’ve placed it blind. He nearly kissed it.

When he played Roulette Spider, Seto groaned, dropping his head in his hands as the animated creature appeared on the playing field. Only Saggi the Dark Clown stood between Joey and victory.

“If I lose because of Roulette Spider,” Seto said, “I’m going to kill you.”

Joey grinned wide and shouted, “Roulette Spider, go!”

The spider spun, same as it always had. Its arrow whirled around the arena, flashing past faces, past life points, whirling faster and faster.

And then it landed on Seto’s life points. The whole arena sucked in a breath as the life point counter ticked down, hitting zero.

“Holy shit,” Joey said.

The roar was deafening. Cheers from the front row where Yugi and Mai sat. Pegasus’ idiot voice still rambling. The podium couldn’t drop quick enough. Joey nearly fell off trying to get down. He couldn’t wait to see Seto’s face up close, couldn’t wait to rub it in his idiot face. No way he was living this one down. No way he was getting rid of him either. He wanted Joey to commit, then fine. He was committed to reminding him of this defeat every day of the rest of his life.

Lightbulbs flashed as Seto approached. His defeats were rarely public, but there was no denying this one. Seto’s whole face was furrowed as he strode purposefully towards the center to meet him. Oh god, he was gonna deck him. Joey almost wanted him to. Nothing excited him more than breaking that ice cold exterior. He wanted to take an ice pick to it with all his might, and for the first time he might’ve really done. Joey laughed, extending out a hand, and then shouted when Seto grabbed his arm and dragged him forward. Well, he said he’d kill him. This was honestly how he’d expected to go.

“I told you,” Seto growled as he pulled Joey close. “You aren’t second best.”

And then, to thundering cheers and with every flash going off at once, Seto kissed him. Right on the mouth. With the whole world watching.

Everything was white noise, the entire park their audience. Joey was laughing, tears dotting the corner of his eyes. Seto was smiling. There’d be interviews to follow, and an exhaustive round of questions where they were suddenly forced to define their relationship when Joey couldn’t say the word boyfriend without stuttering a week ago. Now they were on the record. Still, somehow, with Seto’s arms still around him, their faces still close, and everything else faded from view, this felt like the most intimate moment they’d shared together.

“You’re so stupid,” Joey said, and he kissed him again.

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ 

Everything followed as expected. Hearty congratulations from their friends, siblings blowing up their phones, calls from agents and PR managers and marketing. Interviews, photos, partying.

Finally, it was just them.

The hotel room was dim, and the distant lights of the park cast blue shadows across the darkened floor. Exhaustion made them lazy. They kissed and touched and sighed, and then they held each other as the clock ticked closer towards midnight. Seto with his face buried in Joey’s hair, breathing slow, deep breaths. Joey closed his eyes as he listened to his heartbeat. Calm and steady. Everything felt alright.

Joey was drifting off to sleep when he felt Seto take in a sharp breath. The hamster in his head must’ve been whirring, he knew, but he let Seto take his time to say what he was thinking.

“Do you remember,” he murmured, “when you challenged me for the first time?”

Joey huffed out a laugh. “Don’t remind me. I didn’t have anything in my deck that could touch you.”

“You did,” he said. “Touch me.”

Joey lifted his head to look up at him. Light cut the edges of his cheekbones, the highlights of his eyes. It’d been years and years and years since Joey had tossed himself into the jaw of the lion. At the time, he hadn’t understood the full weight of what Seto was fighting for. Seto hadn’t understood how deeply those words managed to cut. It was an incident, a drop in their history, and the foundation of the mountain they’d had to climb.

“You’re stupid and brash and wreckless,” Seto said. “None of that’s changed. You never let your fear get to you.”

Joey laughed. “Is this your love confession?”

“Yes,” Seto said, too sincerely. He pressed his forehead to his. “I don’t know how long I’ve loved you. It feels like always.”

Joey looked at him. No quarter was given. Wrapped around each other, there was nowhere to go, no place to run, only the truth, as roughly hewn as it was. The words sat uneven and too sweet in Joey’s mouth. He’d always been a coward, that was true, but Seto was right. He’d never let it stop him before.

“I love you too,” he said, and kissed him.

And outside, the fireworks started.

[xenizaation]

the bike club

Warning! Sexual content ahead! Minors please do not interact!

pairing: fem! reader x ateez

genre: sitcom?, high school! au, crack, smut

word count: 3.6k

warnings: explicit language, smoking, mentions of violence, handjob, exhibitionism.

a/n: fuck, i'm so late with this 😬😬 i'm sorry y'all i was so tired that i couldn't write anything. on the bright side, it's finally posted!!! it ain't much but it's honest work🤠. hope you guys enjoy and stay tuned for the next one, i promise it's gonna be posted faster than this one🤞. hope you all enjoy! don't forget to leave some feedback. stay safe! xoxo

⬅️previous chapter┃series m.list┃next chapter➡️

you drew a healthy conclusion after the weekend.

you are not going to the movies with mingi and yeosang ever again.

you never thought it would be possible to be so shamelessly ignored in a circle of just three people. it seemed crazy how two boys that barely met managed to talk about all of their common interests in just a few hours, and how you almost had none in common so you could chime in to not get annoyingly bored anymore.

it was of no surprise to you how you found them sitting together during lunchtime, when you wandered off to try and keep the social aspect of your life alive and not be the third wheel a second time.

"i knew he was gay!" a boy from the book club says while pointing to mingi. you turn your torso from the table to make sure he was talking about him.

"what made you think that?" the girl next to him asked.

"i can sense it in his aura." he replies blankly.

you frown remembering of how you thought that there was a chance mingi liked you (and you liked him) back when you helped him clean his cuts. after the weekend it was so clear that he was definitely not interested in girls that it kind of made you want to bang your head against a cement wall. why didn't you sense it in his aura?

"it's well hidden, but it's there." he adds as he takes a bite of his smelly tuna sandwich. well, that brings a bit of peace of mind.

"do you think they're gonna be a thing?" the blue eyed girl addresses you as she sips from the paper straw.

you look back once again, scanning over the table that mingi and yeosang sit. they seem to be very familiar with each other at this point, their bodies completely free to move in any way they feel like as they gesture in between words that keep the conversation flowing. the boys were shamelessly flirting in the school cafeteria from what you could figure. they're definitely going to be a thing.

"not my place to say, is it?" you respond with a sarcastic pout.

the girl shrugs as she looks to the boy quickly, who avoids eye contact as best as he can.

"oh, come on, you're always so...secretive." she pleads as she tries to take some information out of you, be it as little as an opinion worthless to anybody sat at the table. you chuckle as you take the last sip of your water, gulping it down with a loud satisfied sound at the end.

"well, i guess it's part of my aura, right?" you say smiling as you get up from the table, leaving the two people behind you huffing in a sort of amused confusion as you throw the trash from the tray into the bin.

you somehow find yourself in the company of the ignorant lovebirds again when classes are over and you're heading out of the building, walking alongside the pair while they are talking about some book with a title strange to your ears. you read many books, but their clever remarks about this one make you look around at the light blue painted lockers that are splattered along each side of the long walls and avoid adding any thought to the topic. you just listen, trying to keep up with them as you walk out the door.

were they too smart or did you wake up today and decided to be an idiot?

"hey, y/n!" a voice calls from behind, snapping you from your trance. you quickly turn around to be met by jongho waving his hand at you.

"hey guys, i'm gonna go...oh." you adress the two boys who seemingly forgot about your existence completely and were now way too ahead of you. well...that's what happens when you're third wheeling, isn't it?

you turn on your heels jumping from one foot to the other all the way to the corner of the school, where the bike club is gathered. as you arrive in front of them you offer a general greeting to everyone before throwing yourself in the outstretched arms of jongho, embracing him with all your force while laughing into his chest.

if anyone asked you why or how you and jongho were so close, you couldn't give a short answer, for there was a whole story.

back in junior year, there was a rumour going around about a girl from the book club that was adressed with a certain racial slur by the janitor. now of course, most people were furious and went to the principal about it, but he couldn't do much, saying that there is no proof. but you weren't going to leave things that way, right? you and jongho weren't too close back then, but you knew where he stood on certain matters when you had the chance to have conversations in the cafeteria, so he seemed like the fittest person for the task.

long story short, you got detention together for three months after painting 'kill the nazis' on every school wall you got the your hands on before being caught. spending the three months by painting the walls in the entire school as a punishment together with jongho was definitely a bonding moment. one you wouldn't change for anything.

the mini protest that you organized with everyone after was only more rewarding all thanks to the fact that you achieved the purpose of getting the janitor fired. you learned that even if some things seem out of your power, it doesn't mean it's above the power of an entire community.

you always had a soft spot for him, ever since the moment you talked to him for the first time. he could ask you to punch a puppy in the face and you would not hesitate.

"how have you been?" jongho asks as he pulls out of your arms.

"good, good," you answer, mirroring the kind smile on his face. "how about you guys?" you add, pointing your attention towards the tall boy who patiently waited for the entire scene to unfold in front of his eyes.

yunho looks better than ever. even taller, if that would be possible, even wider in his smooth leather jacket, even more handsome. for a brief second you think about the past with him as well.

"we're doing good." jongho's honey voice glazes your ears as you embrace the taller man, nuzzling your head in his comfortable chest, breathing in his beautifully intoxicating floral perfume. he still wears the same one.

"what happened to you?" the question bounces out of your mouth before you get the chance to weigh your surprise out of it as you pull out of yunho's big arms and point to a boy near by.

you didn't know him too well but you were used to seeing him behind jongho's and yunho's tail all the time, the only thing that was different now was that we was wearing a fading black eye, the kind that makes you hiss when you think how bad it could've hurt.

"oh, don't worry about him. that's what he got for saying the wrong shit." jongho replies as he shrugs, leaning back on his red motorcycle.

the boy looked down in shame, shoulders dropping low upon hearing the words.

"c'mon jongho, you know we don't encourage violence." yunho says to the younger.

"we don't, but we encourage fairness and he only had a taste of the consequences of his own actions." jongho huffs out.

you look at the boy again, and it's not hard to put two and two together, especially taking in consideration how there haven't been many fights in the school lately.

he's the one that mingi got into a fight with.

"your friend took care of him pretty good." yunho whispers close to you after a short while, so that no one other than you and jongho, the one closest by, can hear. you lean beside the blonde, on the seat of his black motorcycle and you look up into his puppy-ish eyes.

you smirk as you let a low chuckle tumble out your mouth.

"talking about the new guy," jongho's curious voice breaks into the air. "what's he like?"

"well, i don't know him that well yet, but he's green." you tell jongho. an old expression you chose to refer to everyone that would see the world similarly to how you and the brown haired boy did.

"so we have some principles in common." yunho's voice rings in your ears from beside you.

you hum in approval, looking up to him once again as he looks at jongho.

"well, now you've got to introduce him to us." the shorter says intrigued. "he's got strength and he's got view, shouldn't we all benefit from it?"

you chuckle at the strange image jongho paints in your head. strentgh and view- like they were going to run around the streets like some vigilantes, beating homophobes and sexists and who knows what more.

"and what do i tell him? that you want him to be a mercenary for you?" you question as you laugh to yourself.

"i mean, if that's what he wants to hear, then sure." jongho answers. "but it's not about that. we could use a new face, and we want to take him under our protective wing." he adds as he dramatically stretches an arm and flaps it up and down.

"i doubt he needs it." yunho says with a chuckle as he signals with his head towards the boy with the bruised face.

you chuckle as well, slightly elbowing yunho in his ribs. he rubs the place immediately, exclaiming a way too dramatic 'ouch' before placing a cigarette in between his lips, quickly lighting it.

"we could give him a ride around at least," jongho adds "you know, as a sign of gratitude for punishing guys who let their mouth run a bit too much." he subtly refers to the boy again, too busy to talk with the other members to pay any attention to the sting behind his leader's words.

everyone was head over heels for mingi, you realized.

if the calligraphy club wanted him for his social status, the bike club wanted him for the power that he'd bring to the team. not many would dare cross their way if they had mingi, not that they relied on fear to do their business but at times it was more than welcomed, even for them.

jongho was strong but his small stature would make even you, someone who knew too well what he was capable of, doubt about his abilities in taking someone head on if need be. and for yunho it was the opposite. he had the body for it but the face of a baby at times.

they happily made a good team at least, in leading everyone when it came to doing what they actually love. you forgot how many times thay made the school involve in projects that were more about it's students and less about the school's reputation, but you were sure there were many.

you nod to jongho when he raises his brows expectantly. he gives you a gummy smile before turning his attention to the discussion his friends were having a few steps away.

"talking about rides," yunho starts and you turn your head to him, studying the lit cigarette in between his slender fingers before he inhales smoke and blows it out. "need one home?" he asks with a raspy tone, smiling at you in a way too kind way as he drops the half finished stick, putting it out with the sole of his boot.

yunho was the only person in the whole school who knew your address and that was thanks to the brief period that the two of you spent dating right before the year ended. back then, he would always take you home, making sure to wait until you entered your house before driving off- a sweet gesture which you always held close to your heart. even if the break-up happened on good terms- you simply realized that the both of you were too young to act mature in a relationship- you always thought about how it would've been if it didn't happen at all. if both of you would've let your feelings grow into something more than a superficial high school relationship.

"sure." you show a tight lipped smile to yunho while he hands you the helmet.

right after you say goodbye to the gang, you start securing the shiny black helmet on your head and joining the little straps under your chin, following yunho's movements as he straddles the bike with his muscular thighs, his tall figure fitting perfectly on the black body of the magnificent vehicle. if pure bred stallions could take an object's form, it would most certainly be yunho's bike.

you get on the seat behind him, settling in comfortably as you press your chest on his wide back. it takes you a while to join your hands around yunho's waist, and when you do you're sure you feel him stiffening under your touch as he suffles into his seat. maybe he missed you as much as you did.

"hold on tight, okay?" yunho's voice pleasantly brushes on your eardrums right before he starts the engine of the motorcycle, rising both his feet off the ground as the vehicle starts moving.

you wish you could feel the wind in your hair when yunho speeds up, but you're only left with the sight of the world quickly passing by to make up for it. the sight of the world and the presence of yunho, those are the only things marked in your helmet confined head and it comes like a sudden instinct, to want to feel yunho even more than you're doing right now- to feel his front stacked on yours and not his back, to feel his big arms wrapped around your waist the same that yours are around his, to feel his lips again, maybe for a few reasons more than in memory of the old times. why did you break up, anyway?

you let your mind come up with some scenarios that are far from appropriate in your situation and your hands unconsciously loosen their hold around his waist. you're pretty sure you can hear your heartbeat pulsing in your head when they shyly slide towards his thighs, gently caressing his clothed muscles. his body stiffens again, but this time he remains still, not shuffling in his seat anymore, and certainly not becoming more relaxed when you trace your palms towards his covered dick. you make sure to not rush things, rubbing the inside of his thighs lazily, while he mirrors your action in the way he drives, slowing the vehicle with each second passing by- like he wants the moment to last for as long as you'd be willing to give it to him.

it's only when you finally reach for his clothed erection that he makes a sudden right, detouring from the original way home and taking you on a small street that is covered of any pair of eyes. he stops when he reaches a dead-end in between the two high buildings that stop a big part of the sunlight from illuminating the narrow street.

"what are you doing?" you hear his muffled voice from under the helmet.

"you want me to stop?" you ask as your fingers make their way to his belt, slowly unbuckling as you wait for his answer.

"not really," his words more like a sigh when you reach inside his boxers, wrapping your fingers around his girth.

sex with yunho never happened, but you made up for it on numerous occasions by having a bit of fun with each other whenever you had the chance.

"i missed you," you say as you start pumping his cock slowly, pleasantly welcoming the familiar weight of it in your hand. his body jolts under your touch, all thanks to your words that only add in the warmth he feels inside his pants.

"you never said anything." he says as his head drops low and even though you cant see each other because of the helmets, you're sure that the frown on his face already made it's appearance as all the other times you helped him get rid of his random boners whenever you hung out.

"neither did you," you say a bit louder, to make sure yunho hears you. "but from what i can see, you missed me more." the words leave your mouth through a smug smile, making sure your hand increases its pace as you chuckle to yourself.

he can't bring himself to say anything anymore, he moans in silence as you do your wonders on his dick. you feel his back heaving for air against your chest, making sure to pull him closer when you drag your thumb over his sensitive head, spreading his pre-cum all around it.

yunho hisses slowly, tightening his hold around the handlebars. he always hated the teasing, one of the reasons you always loved doing it to him so much. it would make everything a hundred times more exciting. like when you would just kiss and suck the tip of his dick, being fully surprised of the moment his cum would shoot straight into your mouth. oh, what you wouldn't give to have a taste of his delicious cock right now.

your pussy clenches at the thought, becoming so wet that you think you're going to leave a mark on his leather seat. it becomes especially wet when yunho's big palm takes a hold of your outer thigh, stroking it as much as the position you're in allows it. your own breathing becomes heavy when his muffled groans become louder as his hips rise slowly to meet your hand, giving away how he desperately chases after his release.

taking in consideration how someone could see you at any given time, if they decide to take a look on the strange dark alley, you decide that you should reward yunho faster than usual and so, your hand strokes faster, tighter- just the way you remember he likes it, and in the blink of an eye, yunho's body starts to shudder under the weight of your glorious touch. his cock twitches in your hold a few times and before you know it, his cum spills out all over your hand with a loud groan, spreading all over his big cock as you don't stop the up and down motion.

you gently stroke it until it becomes soft and after that, you tuck it back inside his boxers, zipping his pants and fixing his belt. he places his big veiny hand on your forearm, holding it in place when you try and pull it back. your palm is spread out, glistening in his still warm seed as it faces upwards.

"you've outdone yourself this time." yunho chuckles as he releases your arm gently.

"me? i should be the one saying that, who cums this much?" you ask as you take a good look at the amount of actual cum that's still left on your skin.

"well, i don't have someone to take care of me anymore, do i?" yunho says as he turns his head towards you as much as he can, removing his face shield before he tries removing yours. you lean to the side, giving him better access to slide it upwards.

"that could be solved." you say, looking into his eyes for the first time since you got on his motorcycle.

you see him smirking under the helmet, and you mimick it under your own, wiping his seed on the inside material of the grey skirt of your uniform. well, there could be grosser things you could do.

"still wanna go home?"

what you want is to kiss him. and much more.

"yeah."

but you don't want to rush things.

he slides your face shield down before his own and swiftly turns the motorcycle around as he speeds the purring engine in the direction of your house. no detours this time.

"you've gotta stop making me compromise, jeong yunho." you sigh as you watch him take his helmet off, handing him the one on your head. his eyebrows go up in surprise.

"i know for a fact that wasn't your first handjo...."

"oh my god!" you exclaim loudly as you quickly cover his mouth with your hand. "yunho, anyone can hear you!" you nag, eyes wide as they can get.

"is..this the...hand where..." yunho's voice is muffled under your pressing hand.

"oh, shit," you quickly retract it as you jump backwards. "sorry." you quickly add as you take an awkward stance in front of him, legs pushed together at the tippy toes and hands behind your back, playing with the folds in your skirt as you swing from side to side, looking innocently into yunho's eyes and thinking about what it is about him in this moment that makes your heart beat so unreasonably fast.

"don't ghost me this time." he says after a while, sliding his helmet on his head.

you don't say anything back, only observe how he drives into the distance like he used to some time ago, the only thing different this time is that you wait for him to leave first. the excitement you feel in the pit of your stomach barely lets you walk normally towards the front door, your rationality being the only thing keeping you from jumping from one foot to the other.

you hear the ding right before turning the door knob, and your hand instictively shoots for the phone instead of the metal that opens the door.

it's a matter of seconds before your eyes open widely as you frown upon seeing the notification- your mouth shoots open and you feel like you're going to throw up your own heart.

"holy shit."

next chapter➡️┃taglist form (if you want to know when i'll post the next chapter)

taglist: @sweetteez @jin-neck-shaft @lovelyvitamin @1sieun @shegotboreddsoo @mirror-juliet @enhypp

thank you all for the support! <3

to user @noryyyyyyyyy: i can't tag you for some reason or another, i'll try messaging you about it.

also there's someone who left a gmail link in the form???? very much confused homie but try again with a tumblr link or just the URL, thank you!

[1016anon]

Title: Daemon AU Author: 55anon Fandom: Bridgerton Relationship: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sharma Summary: Daemons. Athena is a sulfur crested cockatoo, Maanvir is a barasingha, Lord Helios is a luikse vechter rooster.

A/N -- I've had this sitting in my folder for a while and have made no progress. Figured I might as well post it. Sometimes putting things up on tumblr seems to help. No guarantees, &tc., you know the deal.

Anthony sometimes wished Athena had settled after Father had died.  He liked to imagine that if he had a less needy, annoying, pretentious, loud daemon, he might have been better suited to take over his duties.

"Yes, and I wish I had an artistic, compassionate, calm, quiet human, but one must make do, mustn't one," she fluffed up her feathers in irritation, crest half unfurled.

"Wishing you were Boudica again, are you?"

"At least Benedict has fun.  I spend all my nights watching you scribble figures and signatures in eternal tedium."

"Unfortunately we were not born second, we were born first and I'll thank you not to remind me of it," Anthony snapped.

"Of course, my Lord.  One must fulfill one's duties– tell me, how is the search progressing?"

"If you would accompany me instead of flying off to god-knows-where to satisfy your curiosity, you would know."

"It is entertaining to watch you wince as though the young lady in question has broken your foot."

"You know you've gained the reputation of having abominable manners."

"And yet I am unmoved.  What is the use of having wings if one of us cannot fly away?  I refuse to be trapped in some ballroom, forced to make polite conversation with these chits and their mamas.  Besides, you already have a reputation as a rake and a boor."

"This.  This is why I must toil away in the midnight hours with quill and ink.  Money will cover all sorts of sins."

Athena picked up one of the gold coins Anthony kept for her entertainment and began hammering it against his inkstand.  He glared at her, then went back to responding to the pile of letters.

She kept knocking and began squawking, bobbing her head up and down to the rhythm.  Anthony knew she could do a very good imitation of a string quartet; her dissonant squawks were very much a deliberate choice.

"Fine!  What?!  What do you want to tell me!  Out with it."

"While you were having such a fine, restless night at Madam C's, I saw the most beautiful girl yesterday in the park."

"In the park– in the pre-dawn hours?"

"She was glorious, racing against herself.  You must meet her, Anthony.  Tomorrow, or the following morning– she is the one we shall marry."

"Pardon?  You want us to marry a… merchant's daughter or some sort of nonsense?"

"She returned to Mayfair– in the direction of Lady Danbury's house.  I couldn't go further, you were quite insistent on calling me back."

"You do realize your range–"

"Our range"

"– is most unnatural.  Most cannot imagine being so far removed from their daemon."

"I am well aware," she pulled out the abacus and dropped it on his desk, knocking a pile of papers to the floor, then began pushing the beads as noisily as possible.

"Are you going to let me get anything done tonight?"

"No."

"I cannot further put off responding to these letters."

"You can.  You just think it your duty to respond in a 'timely' manner."

"We are not going to have this argument yet again."

"You say it as though you have a choice."

"Why are you so restless?  You've been like this ever since I decided to marry."

She ignored him and kept playing with the abacus.  Most nights– ever since Father had passed away– she had helped him with the necessary calculations.  Athena was now faster and more accurate than him, having learned how to divide and multiply; she was even able to use two at once with her clever feet.  Currently, she was simply using the abacus to annoy him.

"I couldn't see her daemon.  They must have extensive range, or her daemon is small."

"Very well– we shall chase down this young lady in the park, alarm her, and ensure we shall never see her again.  Are you satisfied?"

Athena tilted her head at him in extreme condescension, went to the window and flew away.  She had long since learned how to open it on her own; recently she had been flying to parts unknown more and more often.  Not only that, she had been pushing the distance she could put between them, as though she wanted to be free of Anthony; Athena had once called their connection 'shackles of grief.'

Anthony sighed as he settled in for another lonely night of Athena tugging on his heart, fighting against their connection; Anthony was certain she would break it one day.  He'd hoped that she of all people would understand why he was determined to marry this season– and she did understand.  She simply hated him for it.  Her avian counterpart, Cacatua galerita, were monogamous birds who developed very strong pair bonds with their partner; in Anthony's opinion, this was ridiculous.  Many– if not most– daemons did not take after their natural species in this particular aspect, but it seemed Athena did.

Sometimes it felt like he didn't know her, nor did she know him.  They got into arguments more often these days; it always ended in a stalemate, both of them frustrated or furious with the other and refusing to concede.  He did not quite know what it said of him that his mother and siblings did not notice.  But– unless he was visiting Madame C's establishment– she always returned and woke him by preening his hair (or screeching in his ear, if she was feeling peevish).  If he woke before her, he always stroked her smooth white feathers and scratched her head where she wasn't able to preen herself.

He felt their tether stretch to agony before she relented.

This was going to be a painful night, the constant feeling of being scraped raw to their limits and rent in two pushing under his heart.  

Anthony picked up his quill.  It was nothing he could not work through.  The letters were not going to write themselves.

–

"Maanvir."

"Kathani."

"Why is a daemon following us?"

"Perhaps because you are flouting all the rules of English high society by riding in the park at dawn, yet are dressed like one of their fine ladies."

"Have they been following us every morning?"

"I wouldn't know.  I was sleeping, like most sensible daemons."

"Liar.  You're still recovering from being seasick."

"Shall we introduce ourselves?"

"What?!  No!"

"It only seems polite.  I don't think they mean to do us harm."

"Where is their human?"

"Probably sleeping."

"I wasn't aware that the English were able to have their daemons travel such distances."

"Another reason why we should introduce ourselves.  We have something in common."

"No."

"They feel like a kindred spirit.  You could use a friend."

"Or they could go back to their human and tell them about our rides.  Let's see how far the connection goes."

She urged her horse forward, occasionally looking back and happy to see the bird could not follow.

"My antlers are going to get tangled in these branches," Maanvir said crossly.

"You didn't have to follow."

"I was curious."

"You were tired of being cooped up in Lady Danbury's garden, you mean."

"Continue on with your ride.  I'm going to find a place to graze."

"Don't talk to the daemon," she called after Maanvir, who only flicked his tail at her.  "Maanvir, I'm serious!"

Kathani made a noise of frustration, then went the opposite direction.  Her daemon was too stubborn.

–

"Hello!" Athena chirped with barely contained excitement.  She'd had a feeling the daemon would turn around.  "How are you?  My name is Athena, my human is sleeping somewhere."

"Maanvir– I think you already saw my human.  Are you always this glad to meet new daemons?"

"No, but you and I are going to be very good friends."

Maanvir laughed.  "Regardless of what our humans say?"

"My human is stubborn and stupid– I pay him no heed these days."

"I know the feeling well.  Would you like to perch on my antlers?"

"Oh, that would be lovely!" She fluttered down delicately.  "You look so majestic in the morning sun."

"Thank you," Maanvir blushed.

"Where are you from?"

"We recently arrived from India."

"India!  That's such a long distance to travel.  I saw your human go towards Danbury House– are you the daemons that Lord Helios is hosting?"

"We are.  Myself, Cicero, and Lord Julius."

"Lord Julius?  He's English?"

"Yes.  Would you like an introduction?"

"I couldn't possibly.  Lord Helios is very strict about these things– he always insists that humans must be introduced first before daemons are allowed to speak to each other, which I think is ridiculous.  If I waited for an introduction to every daemon I wished to speak to, I wouldn't be able to speak to anyone."

"It is not so different in India, but I agree it's a stupid convention.  Your human sounds very unfriendly."

"He's very important among humans.  In truth, you're supposed to address me as Lady Athena, but I can't stand the thought of such formalities coming between us.  Do you not agree?"

"I feel the same.  I've never allowed anyone to perch on my antlers before, you know.  My human guards herself very carefully."

"My human doesn't like it if I get too close to other daemons.  He says it's unseemly.  Then he says I'm abominably rude for not staying with him to call on daemons I dislike.  I hate it."

"Is that why you fly away?"

"Yes.  What about you?  Why do you spend time away from your human?"

"She also doesn't like it when I get too close.  I understand her reasons– humans have taken advantage of her, but it makes life very lonely."

"It does," Athena said, forlorn.

"We have each other now," Maanvir said gently.

"We do," she made a happy noise.  "I want to apologize ahead of time– my human is probably going to be quite rude to yours."

"No need to apologize.  My human will be twice as rude in return."

"Sometimes I feel like I barely know him.  We argue all the time these days."

"My human and I used to be quite close, but lately she's made some decisions I adamantly disagree with."

Maanvir walked on in silence, comforted by Athena's presence.  She was surprisingly light– it was no burden at all to carry her.

"Do you mind if I preen you?" she asked suddenly.

"Preen me?" Maanvir said, surprised.

"Never mind," Athena blushed.  "Only, I feel as though I've known you all my life."

"I feel the same."

Athena hopped down and perched on Maanvir's head as she gently began to preen.

Unfortunately, it was not long before they both felt their humans tugging on their connection.

"I must go.  Will I see you again tomorrow?"

"Of course, Athena.  You're always welcome to perch."

Athena pressed her beak against Maanvir's forehead in a little kiss.  "I already miss you."

"I also."

She made a frustrated noise in the direction of her human, then took flight.

–

"Who were you with?"

"Good morning to you too, Anthony."

"Stop avoiding the question.  I could feel you."

"Could you?  I thought you closed off our connection.  You've become quite adept at it."

"Athena," Anthony sighed.  "I don't want to fight with you."

"You're only going to forbid me from seeing him again–"

"Him?"

"This is precisely the reason why I no longer tell you anything."

"The girl in the park.  Athena, you're supposed to help me search for a wife, not carry on an affair with another daemon!"

Athena screeched and went towards the window.  Anthony quickly slammed it shut.

"No, we are having this conversation and we are having it now."

"There's nothing to discuss!  You're going to marry some simpering debutante I despise and make me miserable for the rest of our life, so let me have this one happiness before you clip my wings and stuff me in your gilded cage!"

"I would never do that to you!  Is that really what you think of me?"

"You may have closed your side of the connection, but I haven't.  I know what's waiting for me in the years to come."

"What am I to do when you fly away at every opportunity?  We have duties."

"You have duties."

"You and I are head of this household–"

"Where in those duties does it say you cannot marry for love?"

"Love–," he took one look at her and collapsed into his chair.  "Fuck, you've gone and fallen in love."

"Yes.  I've fallen in love, and he's wonderful.  He makes me happy, which is more than I can say of you at the moment."

"We cannot afford to fall in love!"

"So you've said many times.  And since I'm tethered to you, I know one day you will keep me from seeing him ever again.  I want to be happy, Anthony!  Why won't you understand that?"

"You refused to go anywhere near Rossini despite my feelings for Siena and now you've gone and fallen in love."

"Cockatoos are monogamous birds who only form one pair bond in their life."

"You are not a cockatoo, you are a daemon– there's no reason for you to follow their mating patterns."

"There's no reason for you not to marry for love."

"You're beginning to sound like Mother."

"On this one point, Octavius is right."

"You and Octavius agree on something.  Surely the end of days has come."

Anthony put his hand out, exhausted.  Athena perched on his fingers.

"Could you please follow my lead on this?  Just this once?" he stroked her wing.  "I hate fighting with you."

"Anthony," she pressed her beak against the furrow between his brows.  "I always follow your lead, in everything."

On this, he had to concede.  She was the one person in his life he could rely on, always, to fight for his happiness.  He had overruled her so many times.

"I won't ask you to marry against your duty, I won't even introduce you to his human.  This is the last chance I have for something that's mine, and mine alone.  Please let me have this."

"All right," he said, defeated.

"Thank you."

"Don't introduce me to his human.  I don't want to know."

"I won't," she hopped on his head and began preening.

"Will you stay with me today?"

"I'll stay in the same building."

"I'll take what I can get."

"You're so melodramatic– you hate it when I perch on your shoulder.  Or hide underneath your hat."

"We're calling on Miss Goring."

"I think I'm being rather generous by staying in the house at all."

"Don't hover by the door."

"Spoilsport."

Anthony smiled and simply sat for a few moments.  Then looked at his watch, waited for Athena to hop down and opened the window.

"Breakfast with the family," he said.

"Don't dawdle," she replied, and took off.

[smoochkooks]

—christmas cream(pie) ; (m.)

⟶ pairing: jeon jungkook/reader

⟶ genre: established relationship, smut, fluff

⟶ word count: 3.6k

⟶ summary:  a day before christmas dinner with your boyfriend's parents, you discover another alternative way to use the chocolate cream you’re making. jungkook is more than willing to indulge in your little fantasy.

⟶ warnings: explicit sexual content, food play, finger-sucking, spit kink, dirty talk, oral (f) receiving, slight choking but nothing too extreme, unprotected sex, creampie, jungkook being the sweetest boyfriend on the earth and your emotional support, tooth-rooting domestic fluff:(

a/n: hi!! this is my little christmas present for you. hope you enjoy what my brain came up with yesterday<3 ps. i also dont know what kind of fic title this is.

Christmas secure a top spot on your own self-made list of holidays. You enjoy practically every aspect of it. The food, decorating your house, songs, movies, the whole magical aura of warmth and love – you name it.

But this year though, you're fiddled with anxiety because it's the first time you're going to celebrate with your boyfriend Jungkook and his parents.  

You've been dating for two lovely years, living in a shared apartment for almost six months but somehow you've never spent any major holiday together. Until now, it actually felt like a step bigger than moving in. Choosing to be with your families and celebrate separately was never an issue for both of you.

And foolishly, you thought this year would be no like the other, that you'll kiss your sweet boyfriend goodbye before Christmas Eve and reunite after the whole shenanigans would end. But to your surprise, Jungkook had different plans for you.  

“Y-your parents did what?”  

“They invited us for a Christmas dinner.” he repeated calmy, completely unfazed by the pure shock marring your features.

He was sprawled on the couch, hair messy and falling onto his forehead because he had been avoiding barbershops lately (it wasn’t like you minded it–if anything, it made him look even sexier). He was wearing your favorite pair of sweats that had a soy sauce stain on the left knee and a simple black t-shirt, yet for you he looked like an angel sent from the above and devil reincarnated at the same time. So deliciously domestic and soft it almost made you wanna jump him right here and there, if it wasn't for the more nagging matters that you had yet to discuss with him.  

“But,” you stuttered, brain too consumed by nerves to help you formulate coherent sentences. “I was visiting your parents in Busan over summer.”  

“Yeah, but it's been a while and they really want to see you again,” he said, raising from his spot. He came up to you, his tall, lean body towering over your form. The moment you saw his sparkly doe eyes boring holes into yours, you knew you were approximately twenty seconds from giving in. “Pretty please.” he tried again, palms cupping your flushed cheeks until you had no choice but to agree.  

“Okay.”  

Jungkook grinned in response and leaned to press a chaste kiss onto your lips. “Love you, baby.” He tasted like spicy noodles and soda but you ignored it, mustering a small smile.  

“Love you too.” you said, always meaning those three little words because truly, you could never resist Jeon Jungkook and his charms. He had you wrapped around his finger more than you'd ever admit and you'd simply do anything to make him happy, even if that meant stressing over a Christmas dinner with his parents.  

“They really like you, ___. You have nothing to worry about.” Jungkook murmured upon kissing your nose, and then forehead. “My mom is already so excited to see you. She said she would make an apple pie because you once mentioned you liked it.”

You leaned into his touch, slightly less angry you had been surprised with a revelation like that but at the same time still apprehensive and filled with nerves. “You aren't making this easier, you know?” you asked.  

Jungkook sent you an apologetic smile. “You're amazing, baby. You don't need to convince my parents again that you're the right person for me,” he said, hands finding purchase on your waist and pulling you closer to him. “All you have to do is smile and compliment my mom's cooking skills. And maybe ask dad about fishing. You know he's been crazy about it lately.”

Easier said than done, you thought to yourself. Jungkook was a natural when it came to bewitching people. Your parents adored him because he knew all the right words to make them fall for his charms. He didn’t have to try hard or pretend to be someone else in order to be accepted as their daughter’s partner.  

You, on the other hand, were on a different side of the spectrum. No matter how many times Jungkook reassured you of your worth, you still had a lot of insecurities to deal with. That was just who you were as a person. Maybe it was why you clicked so well together. You needed someone to be your second Sun.

“You got his.” With a final kiss onto the crown of your head, Jungkook left you standing in the middle of the living room, and all you could think about was a fricking apple pie and finding new ways to impress your boyfriend's parents. 

Hence way you're currently in the kitchen, blender in your right hand as you mix the ingredients for the most extra chocolate cake you've ever made, determination written all over your features like you’re competing in the final Bake Off episode.

And why is that? Because your brain couldn't let you sleep peacefully at night if you didn't decide to bake your own cake for Jungkook's mother. It started innocently, slowly getting information out of your boyfriend about his parents' favorite food. Of course, you had to be clever about it, so he wouldn't suspect anything too early into the game. That's why after asking a round of rather specific questions you lured him into a blowjob because you know he usually loses his goddman mind after a good dick sucking.  

Content with your plan, you're now a day before the Christmas dinner, Jungkook's mother's beloved cake almost ready to be put into the oven.

“Babe, I'm home!” you hear Jungkook calling from the corridor. You sent him to do some (un)necessary grocery shopping so you could have a time for yourself to prepare the cake without him looking over your shoulder and analyzing your every move. You really hate when people do that because you’re more likely to screw something when you’re being watched.

“Let me taste it then,” he says, grabby hands reaching for the bowl but you quickly swat them away.  

“I'm here!” you shout back, unplugging the blender once you're satisfied with your chocolate cream.  

“What is the smell?” Jungkook asks, entering the kitchen. “Oh,” he quips, placing grocery bags on the floor. “You made this?”  

“Mhmm,” you hum, dipping a finger into the bowl and then putting it into your mouth. It tastes good, not too sweet but at the same time it still has a strong chocolate flavor. Perfect.

“Wash your hands first.”  

“Wait,” You can almost hear the gears shifting in his brain. His grip on your waist tightens as you desperately try to stifle the laugh babbling in your throat. “This is my mom's favorite cake.” 

Jungkook dramatically salutes you, even though you see him smirking under his breath. Once his hands are all clean and dry, you feel his arms encircling your body from the back. “Is this for me?” he murmurs, obviously referring to the cake.

“Nope. It's for tomorrow's Christmas dinner.” 

That’s why you break into a smile, pulling him for a quick peck. “You can taste my cream now.” you say.  

“Great observation.”

“And you said you were making it for the Christmas dinner,” Jungkook continues, “Which means you did this purposely.” he finishes, twirling your body so you're now facing him.  

“You said she would make me an apple pie so I thought I could reciprocate the kindness and do the same,” An innocent smile tugs at your lips. “Besides, the more food the better.” 

Jungkook snorts. “So here's why you were asking me all those weird questions lately.”

Your eyes widen. “You paid attention to that?”

“Babe, I might be a simple man who enjoys seeing his girlfriend sucking his dick but it doesn't mean I don't listen to you,” he says, sounding slightly offended but you know that deep down he's amused by the whole situation. “You didn't have to do that, you know?”  

You let out a long sigh. “I know but... I just felt so weird. Your parents are so happy to see us, they are doing all those preparations and I couldn't stop thinking about doing something to impress them in return,” you murmur. “So they wouldn't think it preparing a whole celebratory dinner for their son and his girlfriend was actually pointless.” you add in a smaller voice, dropping your head down.   

“Baby,” Jungkook coos, fingers grasping your chin so you could look him in the eye again. “You're an amazing person. My parents know that too. You don't have to prove them your worth. Ever.”  

His words make you relax visibly. You don’t know what you would do if you didn’t have Jungkook by your side. He’s just being himself, showing you his extremely caring side as he usually does when you feel down but somehow you’re more thankful for this now.

You dip your index finger into the cream. Then, making sure his eyes are trained on your face, you bring your finger up and envelop with your lips, purposely sucking on it obscenely. “Mmm,” you nothing but moan. “It’s really good.”

“That sounded awfully sexual.”  

“No, it did not! You're just perverted.” 

“But you love me anyway, don't you?” 

You snort at his stupid remark. Suddenly, a not-so-innocent idea pops in your mind and you wonder who’s actually the one with more inappropriate thoughts running through their head. Jungkook might enjoy teasing you on daily basis, but a girl can have her fun too, right?  

Jungkook's eyes darken seeing your little stunt you’ve decided to pull today. He bites the inside of his cheek, before saying,”’I know what game you’re playing.”  

“I’m not doing anything.” you respond, feigning innocence. Before you can dive for more cream, Jungkook grabs your wrist and stops you.  

Bingo.  

When he takes his two fingers and plunges them into the cream, you know exactly what’s coming next, the adrenaline and excitement pumping through your veins. He brings his fingers up towards your face and you have to fight an urge to stay still, waiting for his instructions like the good girl you obviously are. “Open up, baby.”  

You oblige immediately, mouth falling open and tongue out. He pushes his fingers inside, sweet, chocolate cream filling your taste buds. “Suck.” he says simply, eyes fixated on your lips. You do it without a second thought, swirling your tongue around his digits and making sure to lick every last drop of the substance.  

When he decides he can't take it anymore, he pulls his fingers out of your mouth and before you can even blink, he crashes his lips onto yours; fast, messy and unforgiving, thrusting his tongue inside to play with yours. His motives are clear: you aren’t leaving the kitchen without getting properly fucked.  

“So sweet,” he murmurs against your lips, the hand around your waist pulling you flush against him. “My cute girlfriend thought she could tease me and get away with it.”  

He bites onto your lower lip as to prove his point and you whimper. “It’s not like that,” you manage to say, grinding yourself against the evident bulge in his pants. “I didn’t expect to get away with it.”  

Jungkook's hands travel to the backs of your thighs and he lifts you up effortlessly, placing you on the counter. You’re sure there are traces of flour still on it but you couldn’t care less right now, not when a pair of hands roughly nudges your legs apart so he could stand in between them.

“So you did it purposely,” Jungkook leaves your mouth in favor of tracing kisses down your neck. Careful not to marry your skin with hickeys because you would beat the shit out of him if he did bruise your neck a day before the dinner with his parents. “Naughty girl.” He punctuates his statement with a bite to your earlobe, his next words being whispered directly into your ear. “What should I do with you, then?”  

You whimper, your thighs pressing together just hearing the tone of his voice. You lace your fingers through the locks at the back of his hair and place a kiss against his lips. “Fuck me?” you ask in a saccharine-sweet tone.  

He chuckles in response, fingers grasping your t-shirt and pulling it off you, revealing your bare chest to his hungry eyes. He wastes no time and latches his mouth onto a nipple but as soon as his tongue meets your hardened bud, he retreats. Confused, you watch as he reaches for the bowl once again and dips his fingers into the cream. He then smears it all over your nipples, a proud smirk caught on his lips when he leans back to admire his art work.  

“Kook,” you mewl, too pathetically for your liking and you know how much it’ll stroke his ego. “Please, touch me.” you plea, one of your hands reaching to pull him closer to you.

“Yeah?” His chuckle is almost sinister. “Look at you, all dirty and begging me so nicely. Not that smart with your mouth now, are you?”  

All you manage is a nod and meek “Please,” that quickly morphs into a drawn out moan when he finally dips his head to suck your nipple into his hot mouth. You never could have guessed that the idea of food play would be so arousing to you but here you are, pussy clenching around nothing when your sweet boyfriend licks chocolate cream off your boobs.

When he’s done and satisfied with the result, he grabs your sweatpants and pulls them down along with your underwear in one go, your bare ass meeting with the cold marble of your kitchen counter. Jungkook wastes no time and spreads your legs apart, not giving you a second to shy away from his burning gaze before he dives in to lick a stripe up your slit.  

You cry out in pleasure when his tongue finds your clit and gives it a sharp suck, his hands grabbing your ankles and bending your knees so he could have a full access to your glistening core. You’re absolutely drenched, dripping down your thighs and making a mess on Jungkook's face but he doesn’t mind it a bit, eating you out like a champ you know he is.  

“So wet,” he rasps against your cunt. “Messy girl.”

To make matters worse (or better) he takes his sweet time and lets a glob of his spit mix with your arousal because Jungkook, much like you, enjoys giving a head more than anything in the world and makes it his priority to see you lose it on his tongue. You’re positive you will come like this if he keeps continuing abusing your clit just right. He knows your pussy like the back of his hand. Knows what makes you keen, how to make you eyes roll to the back of your head. It fuels his ego to see you like this; helpless and utterly devoted to the pleasure and you don’t even mind when he brags about it later. How could you if you benefit so much from it?  

Suddenly, he grunts into your cunt and your brows furrow because it’s not the sound you’re used to hearing during sex. You look down to check what’s wrong but he’s already up and in level with your eyes, a sheepish smile adoring his features.  

“Neck cramp,” he explains, his palm massaging the back of his neck. “Eating pussy is easier on the bed.” You can’t help but giggle, replacing his hand with yours and providing him a temporary relief. “I’m sorry. Were you close?” he asks. 

There he is. Your sweet, caring boyfriend who never forgets to ask for consent before railing you into the mattress and always putting your pleasure before his own.  

“Mhmm,” you hum, grasping his t-shirt and lifting it off his body. It should be considered a sin to look like this, you think to yourself. “But I want to come on your cock instead.”  

Jungkook grins, quickly pulling down his pants and underwear. His cock slaps against his stomach, pride swelling in your chest because you know you can make him this hard without your touch. “How do you want it?” he asks, guaranteeing himself a moment of relief when he gives his cock a few pumps, spreading precum all over his length.

“Like that,” you answer, gesturing at your current position on the counter. “Wanna see you.”  

“Anything for my pretty girl.”  

If you weren't already red, you would have blushed at his cute words. The sentiment doesn’t last long though, your face twisting in ecstasy when he lines himself up with your entrance and starts pushing inside, the stretch deliciously burning. “Oh my god, Kook,” you whimper, hand clutching onto his biceps for support. “So big. You feel so good.” He groans, slithering himself deeper. His forehead rests onto yours, few ragged breaths before you murmur, “You can move.”

He sets a punishing pace from the beginning, fucking you hard and fast; wet, slapping noises filling the kitchen. You’re a blubbering mess, moaning incoherently as he splits your pussy open, thrust after thrust. “Yeah, fucking take it,” Jungkook rasps, grabbing your hips even harder, no doubt leaving there marks. “Cream my cock like a good girl.”  

You mewl in response, your eyes focusing on his parted lips. “J-jungkook,” you stutter, head completely deprived of rational thoughts. “Spit in my mouth.” It’s almost a breathless plea on your tongue.  

He curses, his right hand squeezing your cheeks. “Open.” You do it right away, nearly moaning when he purses his lips and spits, eyes almost bulging out of his head when he sees you swallow it greedily. “Dirty fucking girl.” he growls.

“B-but you love it, right?” you whimper, eyes glossy because he's hitting that spot inside your pussy that makes your toes curl. “L-love when I’m like this just for you.”  

“Fuck, yeah I do,” Jungkook says, placing his hand around your throat. He doesn’t apply pressure and simply rests it there, urging you to look directly at him. “I love when my pretty baby becomes a dirty slut for me.” He punctuates his words with a harsh buck of his hips that makes you cry out.

You can't take it anymore. “K-kook,” you whine, grabbing his wrist and urging him to squeeze your throat. “I love you.”  

Despite his hand around your neck and cock abusing your cunt, he breaks into a smile. He leans down to kiss you on your putty lips. You try to keep up with him but there’s no use for that, so you just open your mouth and let him slither his tongue inside. When he pulls away, your lips are wet with saliva. Messy, but you wouldn’t exchange it for anything less. “Love you too, baby.” he groans in a strained voice, dragging his cock fast through your walls.

As if reading your mind, his thumb reaches to rub fast circles on your clit. “’m so close,” you mumble, thighs shaking.

“C'mon, pretty. Wanna see you come around me.” Jungkook murmurs, gone is his dominant aura, it’s now only his gentle voice coaxing you into an earth-shattering orgasm.  

When you come down from your high, you’re swatting his fingers away from your core. Normally you would probably indulge into it more, but oversensitivity seems to be too much to handle for you today. Jungkook thrusts his hips a few more times and follows right after you, groaning your name and spilling himself inside.  

“That was nice.” he comments breathlessly  and you can’t help but chuckle, widing your arms around his neck and pulling him for a well-deserved kiss.  

“I’m too tired to move my legs and somebody needs to finish the cake,” you pout, not an ounce of exaggeration in your statement because that’s utterly true–you’re always too spent after a round of fucking with Jungkook to even go to the bathroom on your own. He gladly carries you there in his arms bridal-style every, single time.

“It's okay, sweetheart. I’ll do it.” he says, making you giggle under your breath triumphantly.  

You might be willing to do everything for you boyfriend but if anything, you’re equal in that department.  

“I’m also pretty sure there’s flour on my ass.”  

Jungkook raises his brow at you. “That I’m not going to clean.”  

“Fine. But next time I'm putting whipped cream on your dick.” you decide.  

When he pulls out of you, his cum spills out of your hole but he's quick to catch the droplets and push them back inside you with his fingers. “You’re a little minx, you know that, right?” he says and then licks his digits clean.  

“You love me anyway.” He grins, leaning to kiss you but he stops mid-way. “What is it?” you ask, raising your brows.

“Since I came inside you, we can call it a creampie, right?”  

Still slightly dazed after sex, you’re not quick enough to realise what he implies before it’s too late. “I mean yes but–oh my god. No, no, no! Stop!”  

“Cream-pie!”  

“I hate you!”  

“And I love you too.”  

After all, you were worrying about the dinner too much, as always.  

Everybody complimented your cake. Jungkook's mother was delighted. His father talked about fishing for almost an hour.

But your sweet boyfriend's smirking face as he ate the cake was telling you were in for a long night of sinning in your bed as soon as you went back home.  

And he obviously didn’t disappoint.  

[evanescent-art]

☾ ║I Still Get Jealous: sonamy one-shot.

You're probably assuming, based on the title, that Sonic would be the one to lose his rings seeing me with another guy. And you're probably not expecting me to break the fourth wall, either.

Well, If I'm going to tell you how this happened then I'm doing it my way.

Where did it even start?

Oh, right. With her. . .

Pretty, perfect little Percy. . .

If I wasn't a known hero, I'd of completely lost it by now. But I'm a lady. I'm composed. And no other woman nor - or man for that matter - is worth breaking the sophistication I'd worked so hard to build for myself through the years. As far as anyone's concerned. . . I've been far too busy with the resistance to pay much attention to my feelings for Sonic. I'll be honest, I'm rather shameless. And I don't care. I tell him I love him as many times as a cloud passes over the face if the sun.

But now, my priorities have. . . changed.

I grew from a love sick little girl that loved my orange tu-tu all the way to the confident leader you see today. That takes work, you know. More than a lot of people can say for themselves. A bit of 'character development' as you guys call it. Now I know I called attention to it. But a woman is allowed to be self aware, isn't she?

Isn't she?

"You've been up here for hours," that familiar voice said from beside me. I didn't flinch. His voice alone was enough to bring me peace.

For once I didn't take the opportunity to look at him. "Observant as ever, my sonic!" I chirped, forcing my lips onto a smile. He made no move to react, but after a second he grinned. And as always, he chose to ignore my attempt at flirting.

He moved to sit next to me and dangle his legs off of the roof like I was. The evening sun reflected through his leather shoes.

Finally he spoke. "Observant enough to know that somethin's on your mind," he pointed out. "This about me not rejoining the resistance?"

I bristled at the reminder.

"You were our best leader."

The nerve of him. He began to laugh at me.

"I could've sworn you said that you were the best thing that's ever happened to that damn group," he replied cheekily, using my own talk against me. Sometimes he was dumb, sometimes he was clever. It was hard to keep up, really.

But he wasn't truly wrong. I could safely say I don't know where those people would be if I hadn't had the nerve to step in when I needed to. Yet I couldn't stop the cheeky comment from passing through me.

"Could've fooled me." I bit out. "I heard Percy was thinking of asking me to join."

He paused for several seconds before he replied.

"And?"

I shook my head and waved him off, refusing to say another word. I said too much already, I knew it. Not that it wasn't anything that he wasn't used to. . . but somehow, this felt different. Different than even when Sally was around. But I didn't want to think years behind me. I was just a stupid kid by then, after all. Even if I was a bit stupid still now. . .

We sat in a comfortable silence for what felt like forever, watching the sun go down and people head home from our view. We just enjoyed one another's company, as though the quiet between us was enough to somehow fill what our words couldn't.

Then he stood.

I didn't turn to see him go.

"You know, Amy. . ." Sonic's voice trailed off as if he were searching for the right words. "Nobody could ever replace you. Not really."

I chuckled.

"Believe me. I know."

[lokewolf-father]

So I Listened to the First Five Insane Clown Posse Albums...

And I really enjoyed myself! I tried this post already, but the Tumblr app is a piece of garbage and lost it somehow, so here goes again. To make a long story short, even though I didn't really enjoy the first two albums, Carnival of Carnage and The Ringmaster, I found a lot to enjoy about Insane Clown Posse, and can safely say I like them. Death metal guitar mixed with heavy bass, carnival sounds, and lyrics about necromantic clown sorcerers, killer toys, and cartoonish depictions of murder make their concept albums something that is both novel and undeniably cool when it isn't too crude or juvenile, which is more frequent than I would like.

I should probably state, especially considering I'm writing off the first two albums, that I am not the target audience for ICP. I do not consider myself a Juggalo in any definition of the word; I don't really listen to rap, and couldn't define hip-hop without looking it up. I do however enjoy horror movies and low-brow entertainment like comic books, and consider Marilyn Manson to be one of my personal heroes, so believe me when I say that I really do like aspects of the cavalcade of crazy that is the Insane Clown Posse.

Riddle Box is awesome, and I find myself wondering if this is the album where people feel like ICP came into their own. Part of their mythology is that if the Dark Carnival, where sinners are judged by a cavalcade of characters before being killed and sent to their souls ultimate destination. Several albums are designated as Joker's Cards, and depict characters and elements of the Carnival.

The intro is awesome, introducing the Riddle Box, which is a magic box that either gives the slain a vision of God, warming their souls and sending them to Heaven, or a demonic fog that drives them insane and sends them to Hell.

One of my favorite songs, "Chicken Huntin' (Slaughter House Mix)" is on this song, and demonstrates ICP's understanding of their audience. A song about killing dumb, ignorant hillbillies, I have to assume it's cathartic to people who left behind wacky rural families behind when they left home. "Toy Box" is about a guy with murderous toys that turn on him, and makes me laugh. It sounds hokey, and that's because it is, hokey and worth a listen. A lot of this is appealing to me because I don't listen to rap music, partly because I don't care for the subject matter.

I like rappers like Kanye West and Eminem because I can't identify with or enjoy a lot of the gangsta-macho stuff that mainstream rap can't seem to get away from. With ICP, their personas are over the top killer clowns, and that's awesome! Because they're so goofy and have been pretty much rejected from pop culture, their music appeals to social outcasts and others who are down on their luck, something that Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J recognize.

That being said, before I move into the next album, I should probably mention "Ol' Evil Eye", ICP's own adaptation of Poe's "The Tell-tale Heart". Good shit, even if it makes the master turn over in his grave.

The Great Milenko is fantastic, and is a Joker's Card about an evil necromancer clown that tempts you into damning yourself. I'm told this is more of a hip-hop album, but as someone who isn't that familiar with this kind of music, I can't tell the difference. What I will say is there are more songs here that I like than on the previous three albums. The intro, which is read by none other than Alice Cooper, is excellent, as is the title track and "Hokus Pokus", both of which are sufficiently creepy and dark.

"Piggy Pie" is a song about murdering dickhead cops that uses a very, um, clever three little pigs motif. As a funny aside, this album was initially put out by Hollywood Records, and had to be approved by Disney, who forced them to change this song. The album was pulled from shelves anyway, making the whole exercise of censorship pointless anyway. It's just funny to think that Disney read associated with ICP at one point.

"Southwest Voodoo" is another effective song, featuring a black magic chant for chorus, which is to say nothing of "Halls of Illusion", which has Slash on guitar!

One of my other favorites off this album is the existential "How Many Times", which puts you in the mindset of the type of person ICP is talking to. Broke, down on your luck, arrested, your stereo stolen, it's hard to imagine things can ever really get better; in a world that rejects you and shows your no respect, why not remake yourself as a psychotic clown? As Manson says, "They'll never be good to you/bad to you/they'll never be anything at all". Any aging goth kid can understand where ICP is coming from here.

The Amazing Jeckel Brothers is the first album I listened to, and probably my favorite one. "Terrible" and "Bring it On" have the heavy sound that I love, and "Assassins" is just an awesome, badass song in general. If hip-hop is just another word for tough guy music, these songs definitely fit the bill. The bass lines make the songs positively rock in a way I didn't think was possible for ICP. "Everybody Rize" is a cool Juggalo anthem, as is "Fuck the World", calling out a culture and industry that rejects and hates them like a boss. If you're on the fence about these fuckers, this is another great album to start with, especially considering the touching final song, "Nothing's Left", which reflects on the broken nature of the world, and wonders if there can be any real salvation for anyone. Considering ICP are Christian and ultimately incorporated they're religion into their music, I know what their opinion on this is, but just begging the question gives the song a universal appeal that even an angry atheist like myself can identify with.

At the end of the day, I have to figure that getting to know the Insane Clown Posse was rewarding for me. I'm not a Juggalo, but I understand their world a lot better and get how they can be kind to others and have something special with their subculture. I plan to listen to more ICP and write about them, but I'd like to write about Juggalo culture first. If you're a Juggalo or have any thoughts, I want to hear from you! Have you met the Insane Clown Posse or been to their shows? Have you been to the gathering of the Juggalos? An I wrong about anything I wrote above?

[scripturienss]

Deuces

Disclaimer: Digimon does not belong to me and neither do the X-Men. Might be completely ooc from the superheroes you may know and expect.

Title: Deuces on FF.net. Rating: G Genre: Drama/Romance Prompt: Superheroes AU Word Count: 2,202

I don't gamble but if I did, I would bet on us.

"Dead Sea", The Lumineers

The first time they meet, a bomb sets off to her right, nearly deafening her.

The first time they meet, a bomb sets off to her right, nearly deafening her.

"Out of the way!"

It's a full-blown battle and her teammates are running, flying around her and tearing the city to the ground. She grabs hold of the first non-friend near her; there is a flash of light, so many images, so much anger and passion, and so much cold. Then there is nothing. She stands, eyes glowing white and creates a snowstorm around them that steals the air from everyone's lungs, all warmth gone from their limbs. Sora joins in and together, they manage to subdue the chaos around them just long enough to draw back.

The professor says it's important to know when to pull back from a battle already won, but Mimi resents not being able to finish it once and for all. They don't deserve this momentary peace.

.

.

Sora doesn't like anything about him. From the way he walks, too quietly, always brooding, to the way he talks in that low, sweet voice and how his French slips in every now and then. Mimi watches him from a safe distance in the library while he sits under her favourite oak tree, seemingly harmless. From here, he looks just like any other guy in the academy, he could be anyone and do anything. Perhaps, from here, he isn't the assassin she knows him to be though that possibility doesn't stop her from being angry, too.

The object of her current irritation enters the room and Mimi doesn't turn around when he asks, "Are you going to keep ignoring me?"

She can hear the anger in the way he's breathing so heavily through his nostrils. The thought brings her immense pleasure.

"Mimi, he's a friend."

"He tried to kill us," she tells him, fixing him with a stare. "Nearly damn succeeded, too."

Ryo frowns and she can almost believe him to be flustered. The years and scars have hardened his face and he hasn't shaved in a while. Sometimes she wonders how she could ever find him attractive but then, there are so few men that don't run away when met with her...

"He's not a bad guy," is the only thing he says. Mimi stands quietly and slips by him, half-waiting for him to flinch away from her touch. He doesn't, but then again, she doesn't touch him either.

.

.

"I have the strangest feeling you don't like me much."

"I didn't know you were telepathic, too. Mimi, did you know?"

Mimi glances uneasily at Sora, frowning. She's usually much nicer, the sweetest person Mimi has ever met but old habits die hard and this guy had a very good shot at blowing Sora's boyfriend to bits and pieces. You don't forget a thing like that so easily, no matter whose side you say you're on.

"I'm sorry," he says, sneering. "You weren't giving me much of a choice, you know."

"I'm going to find Taichi. You're staying?"

Mimi looks alarmed. "I'll be there in a minute." Sora leaves without another word and Mimi sighs. "She'll come around," she offers, despite not entirely believing her own words. "You did shoot at him."

He considers her for a moment and Mimi struggles not to break eye contact. He's handsome, not like Taichi, who is rugged and a bit rough; his features are delicate, would be almost too pretty if it weren't for the scars and the eerie, unnatural blue of his eyes. Mimi thinks it must be hard, having people always avert your eyes.

"What about you?"

She pouts. It's not his fault, she thinks, that Ryo thought it was a good idea to bring him in. His instincts are almost always right, even if the way he handles things is completely wrong. "I'm angrier at someone else at the moment, so you're good."

.

.

"So what's your power?" he asks, settling on the grass near her. He eyes her carefully, from her closed toe shoes to the pants and long sleeves, the gloves she's begun to put on the moment he approached her. "Hypersensitivity to the sunlight?"

"I'm—," she pauses, taking a small breath. He's toying with a playing card between his fingers, doing all sorts of ridiculous little tricks; it's the queen of hearts. Mimi smiles ruefully. "I'm a thief."

Gambit—that's what he calls himself these days—stops twirling the card and looks at her, smiling and she's sure she has never seen him smile before. He throws the card with scary precision into the sky and it blows up in tiny pieces, the cardboard falling around them like dry snow. "That's funny," he says, though he isn't smiling anymore. "So am I."

.

.

During the next few months, they spend a lot more time together. They train and eat together and sometimes he helps her study. Most of the time he's off on his own while Mimi attends her lessons and then he shows her a few nifty little tricks he's been working on. Sora doesn't hate him anymore and though Taichi still grumbles every now and then, she's sure he likes him more than he lets on. It's hard not to. He's quiet and polite, charming when he wants to be, clever even without trying. The professor values his input and experience and much of their success can be owed to the things he has brought and taught them.

The word 'mercenary' lingers in the air, still too raw to forget. Mimi tries not to think too much about it but sometimes she wonders, too, what kind of story he drags behind.

"Why do they call you Rogue?"

The light in the greenhouse casts a strange look on him, like a wraith or some other dream-demon of old.

"I ran away from home, left this place a couple of times," she sticks her tongue out at him. "I guess, there aren't many other things you could call me."

"I could think of a few," he says, and it's so rare to see him joke, Mimi doesn't know how to respond. So she tosses her hair over her shoulder and gives him a nonchalant shrug.

"Why'd they call you Gambit?"

"It's a trick move," he answers, tilting the waterpot into the cacti she's been looking after. "And an unfortunate nickname."

.

.

A new group of students arrives late that autumn, and Mimi greets them as happily as she can. Some of them are orphans, others are runaways, like her. A few were sent in by understanding parents who figure out it's better for them to be with their kind. These are always the most miserable kids. She does her best to help them adjust to life at the institute, figure out the rules and generally keep out of harm's way. At the end of the day, despite their powers, they're still mostly children and are sometimes treated as such.

Because she's kind and rather beautiful, every now and then some boy who thinks he's too clever will try to make a pass at her. Mimi brushes them all off easily, light-heartedly; none must come to harm. But every once in a while someone will grow too bold and won't pay heed to the warnings. Accidents have happened before, it's how the rumors started.

"Hey, Rogue, check it out!"

It all happens so fast. The kid reaches out and holds fast to her wrist and suddenly Mimi's entire body is on fire. Someone screams and it takes a moment for her to realise it's her, she's screaming and Takuya is on the floor and she can see the whites in his eyes. She's so sorry but she can't stay, not here, not with him looking all but dead while flames melt down her limbs.

"Move!" she bellows and she runs, fast, away and out into the woods that surround the property. She can see flashes of his life, his family, the scent of baking bread mixes unpleasantly with the smell of charred hair, clothes and skin. Mimi stops, doubles over and throws up until her stomach is empty.

.

.

He finds her sitting on a rock, near the small pond on the eastern field of the property.

"They were all looking for you."

"How is he?"

He scratches his jaw, solemn. "A bit dazed, but he'll live. I think he's mostly embarrassed though."

"I didn't mean to do it," she murmurs, hiding her face in her arms. "He caught me off guard, I couldn't—,"

"He shouldn't have touched you," he says, so fiercely that Mimi looks up and nearly misses his expression, fogged as her eyes are. He seems to notice and runs a hand through his hair; when he turns to her all traces of it are gone and he's smiling good-naturedly. "You really are something, aren't you, chére?"

.

.

They hadn't been expecting it. One moment they were together, having dinner and the next their intercoms were buzzing and the Blackbird was loaded and ready to go. Mimi hesitates briefly but Taichi (sweet Taichi) holds on to her hand and tugs on it. "We're a team," he says, then smiles that half-smile that irritates her so much. "And you're coming with us."

They drop down on ground zero and the fight that ensues is exhausting, both terrifying and exhilarating. She's never had free range with her powers before but this time she doesn't have time to think, to plan; she takes what she needs and gives them what they deserve. She's fought Magneto before, she's not afraid to do it again and the multiple explosions that seem to follow (but never touch her) are all the reassurance she needs.

Smoke chokes her lungs and she dives away from the blast, covering her face with her arms. He's gliding towards her, so close that she can touch him so she does, she dives for him and clutches his face, there's a huge blast behind her and the rest is all dark.

.

.

His eyes are the first thing she sees when she awakes. His face, usually composed, is a mess of dirt and sweat. There's blood trickling from his left brow and his eye is completely shut. He's devastating nonetheless and she's never been happier to see him.

"Rogue?" His voice is hoarse, like he's been screaming. She's drifting back into unconsciousness and desperate, he kisses her. She gasps and falls into his outstretched arms.

Things are never the same between them again.

.

.

"You could've died," she says bitterly, sitting in the hospital ward. The harsh bright lights make him look sickly pale and this makes her heart shrink. Because she's absorbed Ryo's powers on more than one occassion, Mimi heals rather fast and is already looking a lot like her former self. He's not as lucky, still a bit mangled and wearing an eye-patch over his left eye. The other one shines as startlingly blue as the first time they met.

"But I didn't," he sighs. "I thought you'd be happier about it."

"You shouldn't have!"

"You were on the ground—!"

"I don't mean the bomb," her voice has gone uncharacteristically quiet and he hesitates only a moment before moving, carefully, to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. The usual rose gold of her hair is framed by locks of silver, brighter than ever before. She flinches a little and her eyes fill with tears.

"I don't regret it. I would only hope you don't, either."

.

.

It feels so good to be touched again. His fingers (gloved, almost always gloved), lightly brush her cheeks and Mimi leans in to his touch. He bends down to place his lips on her shoulder; the kiss lingers soft and sweet and she shudders underneath his touch. They lay together like this, with him resting on her breast and tracing circles on her skin. She sighs, curling into him and placing her hand on his hair, kissing the backs of her fingers.

The psyonic imprint of his mind lingers somewhere in the back of hers, a cruel reminder of a moment that was stolen from them. He's louder than others, trembling with the sort of intensity that threatens to be overwhelming.

"What else did you see?"

"Your house, friends you have lost. The family you grew up with." She's crying again. "I'm sorry."

He rolls over to lay beside her, taking a deep breath and looking up into the ceiling. When he turns, both eyes are focused on her. "Call me by my name."

So she smiles, breathless, and he kisses her open palm. "Okay, Yamato."

.

.

"I want to kiss you."

A breathless laugh escapes her, ending in a sob that shakes her to her core. "I thought I had lost you."

"You could never lose me, chére. I couldn't bear it."

This time she does laugh and it's almost infectious, like something from his childhood he thought he had lost. His lips curl against the cloth that covers her neck and he kisses her pulse. If this moment is all they'll have, then—

"You're a prince, Ishida Yamato."

"Prince of thieves. Let's steal one more from Fate, hm?"

Notes: Part two of #digiOTPweek2k17 and a couple of observations.

1. I was already halfway done when someone pointed out this could've worked with Yamato as Rogue and Mimi as Gambit. I was tempted but upon the rewrite, I realised there were a few traits I wanted to keep and decided not to do it. I may or may not regret this decision.

2. In chess, a 'gambit' is an opening where you move a pawn that requires a sacrifice.

3. I regret so much about this piece but didn't want to miss out on the superhero fun! I'm trash.

4. The last lines are are from an actual panel from the comics and were originally what inspired me to write about them.