#in other family drama MY MOM PUT MY NAME ON MY GIFTS? someone must have given her some kind of serious lecture bc idk how all this has

[aldieb]

well the devil himself sent me his old ipad and apple pencil for christmas so we’re about to experience a great new era in kind of bad art

[6rookie-writer0110]

The stars are our safe haven

Lena Luthor x Reader

Summary - Lena and Reader for the first time in real life.

Lena is in her office and it's been a long day. She has been dealing with a lot and she is feeling stressed out. She looks at the time and it's late, Lena grabbed the Obsidian North's contact lenses and puts them on. She looks around and she is in the same location... She is at a cabin by the lake and she starts to set the chessboard.

“You are on time,” Lena said.

“It's rude to be late for our game. Should we start?” You said.

You and Lena never met in real life, you met her through Obsidian North online. You never played chess in real life because it didn't interest you. But when you met Lena that changed. She always beat you in chess and she would explain how she won.

Lena never saw your face because you have a mask on, she doesn't. Every night and on the weekends, you meet up with Lena to play chess and just talk. You never once took off the mask and she doesn't pressure you but she is curious how you look.

“You weren't online for long yesterday. Is everything okay?” You said.

Lena sighed “Too much is going on. I needed a break and I came here”

“We don't have to play chess if you don't want to. I know you would be scared to play against me” You said.

You made Lena laugh and she rolled her eyes at you.

“Y/n, you do know I beat you 59 times and you haven't won one game,” Lena said.

“That's not how I remember,” You said.

She laughed again.

“Let's start the game, y/n,” Lena said.

You only told Lena your first name. She does know that you know about her family drama, but you never once asked for a favor or blackmailed her. You and Lena feel comfortable around each other and have deep conversations with each other. Lena hasn't opened up to anyone in a long time.

You and Lena start to play chess, and she won the first game. Lena does know about your family and your life. Lena has developed feelings for you, she does wonder now and then if you would feel the same way as her. Sometimes she would doubt that you won't like her because of family and other things.

“How’s your work,” Lena said.

“They cut my hours... So I'm learning less and my rent went up” You said.

“Oh... That must be rough” Lena said.

“It’s life. It was my mom’s birthday so we bought her gifts and a cake” You said.

“Last time, I celebrated my birthday was when I six years ago when my mother passed away. The Luthors are not really into celebrating together as a family unless it's an evil plan” Lena said.

Lena won the game the second time. You and Lena play again, but this time you set the board.

“Wow, now that's rough,” You said.

“We can play one more game. So... Um dating anyone?” Lena said.

“Nope. I was interested in someone but it wouldn't have worked out. You?” You said.

You look at the board and you think about what to do.

“I am interested in someone... But I don't know” Lena said.

Lena beat you in three moves.

“How the hell did you win?” You asked.

She laughed and she starts to explain.

---

A couple of days later...

You had a rough day and you put on the contact lenses. Lena is there, she can sense something is wrong by the look of your eyes. Lena hugged you and waited for you to say something. You like Lena’s arms around you, you felt safe.

“I won't pressure you to talk about it. When you want to talk about it, I will listen” Lena said.

“Thanks. I'm not ready to talk about it but yeah, I had a rough day” You said.

She kissed your head, she isn't sure why she did it. But she thought you would get angry about it but you didn't. After the hug, you and Lena talked about something else.

“Y/n, I was thinking maybe we can meet in real life?” Lena asked.

“Are you serious?” You asked.

“Yes. But only if you want to, I don't want to force you into something that you're uncomfortable with” Lena said.

“Can I think about it?” You asked.

“Of course,” Lena said.

You nod and she gave you a small smile.

✬ ✫ ✯ ✫

You have been thinking about what Lena said about meeting in person. You start to get ready for work, put on your headphones, and left your apartment. You start to listen to a podcast on how to get better at chess. You have strong feelings for Lena, but you doubt yourself and think you're not good enough for her. You always feel comfortable around her. You are having a hard time, thinking about meeting Lena in person.

You put on the contact lenses, she smiled. You asked Lena about her day and she asked about yours.

“Lena, I think we should meet in person,” You said.

“Are you sure, y/n?” Lena asked.

“Yeah, I'm sure. We have been friends online for almost five years. Maybe... We can meet somewhere in public at a cafe shop?” You said.

Lena smiled “yes, we can meet at a cafe shop. How I will know it's you?”

“I will wear a plain blue shirt,” You said.

“Okay, we will meet at The Jolly Goat Coffee Bar, tomorrow at four?” Lena said.

“Sounds good to me, Lena,” You said.

You and Lena smiled at each other.

---

The next day...

You are at the cafe shop. You're freaking out and Lena hasn't arrived yet. You keep looking at the time on your phone over and over. A few minutes later, you felt a hand on your shoulder and you looked up.

“Y/n?” Lena asked.

“Hey L-Lena,” You said.

She sits across from you. She is feeling nervous and she bites her bottom lip.

“Sorry, I'm late the meeting went longer than expected,” Lena said.

“It's okay. I'm feeling really nervous right now” You said.

“Me too. But I'm happy that you wanted to meet and I got to see how you look” Lena said.

“I knew eventually the mystery wasn't going to last long,” You said nervously.

She nods.

“Should we order? My treat” Lena said.

“Yeah, let's order,” You said.

You and Lena are starting to feel less nervous. You love her green eyes and she can't stop smiling at you. You and Lena stayed at the cafe shop for a while, then left and walked around the park for a little bit.

✬ ✫ ✯ ✫

Since that day, you and Lena did meet up in person now and then. But other days, you meet her online. You and Lena still play chess together. Tonight changed everything

“Wow, y/n I can't believe you finally won a game,” Lena said.

You have a big smile on your face.

“To be honest, I have been reading books about chess, listening to podcasts about chess and I wanted to impress you,” You said.

“You wanted to impress me by getting better at chess? That is cute. Well, I'm glad I lost to you” Lena said.

“We will keep playing chess?” You asked.

“We would still keep playing, y/n,” Lena said.

You smiled but the next game you lost again. But you are still feeling hyped about the game you won.

----

Today is Lena’s birthday and you wanted to do something special for her. For her, it's just another normal day and she only told you when is her birthday. You bought a small cake, a cute gift and you surprise Lena at her loft.

You have been to her loft before, she gave you the code to the keypad. She didn't know that you were coming over but she is happy to see you. You follow Lena to the kitchen, she is drinking wine and working on her laptop.

“Close your eyes, Lena,” You said.

“Okay,” Lena said.

Lena closed her eyes. You take out the cake, place the candles then light the candles with a lighter.

“Okay, Lena open your eyes,” You said.

Lena is surprised by what you just did for her.

“Oh y/n, you shouldn't have,” Lena said.

“Lena happy birthday. I wanted to surprise you, hope you like it” You said.

“I love it. Nobody has ever done this for me” Lena said.

Lena hugged you tight and she can't stop smiling. She stares into your eyes and you feel her lips on yours. You kiss her back, she pulls away and she apologized.

“Y/n, I am so sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Y/n, I like you as more than a friend... I have liked you for a while and if you don't feel the same, I hope we can be friends I don't want you out of my life” Lena said.

You are speechless about what she said. You try to say something but you just stutter.

“Lena... Lena, I do feel the same way I like you so much. But I feel I'm not good enough for you. I have a dead-end job, I can't take you to a expensive restaurant and I still live with my family... I can't afford to live on my own and I have two jobs” You said.

She gently grabs your hand.

“Y/n, I like you for who you are. What you did right now, I love it that you surprised me with a cake for my birthday. It doesn't bother me that you live with your family” Lena said.

You gave her a small smile.

“You should blow out the candles before the wax gets on the cake,” You said.

Lena kissed your cheek and she blows out the candles. You and Lena sit on the couch and eat cake together.

“Do you want to make it official?” Lena asked.

“Yes, I want to make it official. Like the cake?” You said.

She nods “its really good cake. Thank you, y/n”

You stay the night, later you and Lena cuddle in bed and watch Disney movies. During the movie, you and Lena start to make out but it doesn't go further. You feel her hand under your shirt on your lower back, she smiled and she keeps kissing you.

[jiminrings]

Can I request a drabble, hobi is kinda like a band singer and Y/N is like his old time friend and they like had a falling out bc he got super successful but years after they're like together again? IS IT TOO SPECIFIC UHM :")

parallel

pairing: hoseok x y/n

wordcount: 4k

glimpse: hobi’s kind of an asshole and is vERY much emotionally repressed, y/n’s serotonin is dependent on wearing bridesmaid gowns, the dwindling one-sided pining anD the everlasting question of where the fuck was hoseok when you needed him :D // gif is from pinterest!

notes: this drabble really hits close to home and tysm for the request babe!! even if i’m a month late yeesh :O

you can’t believe yourself either when you say it

but holy shit — weddings are definitely your thing!

there’s something about the union of marriage that gets your head into overdrive but in a gOOD way

there’s just something so pulling about last-minute changes and family drama and awkward trips to the restroom that make your mind mHMMMM THIS IS IT CHIEF

yea granted that not every wedding you go and participate in isn’t exactly straight out of a rom-com

lmao sometimes it’s so obvious that the bride doesn’T love the groom but hey!!! who’s keeping tabs :D

you love wedding environments so much that here you are, two years out of uni and a couple of gigs later — couples are LITERALLY fighting over you

heh not to brag but uh

you weren’t recognized as best wedding planner for two years in a row and have your face in multiple covers of bridal magazines and such

time magazine recognized you as one of the most influential people in the scene last year but hey !!!!! no big deal lads

“i am asking you for just one minute, y/n!! stop being a wedding planner and start being my maid of honor!!”

nayeon exasperates and tugs you by your sleeve, having already noticed your second nature of taking charge the moment you entered the hall

after all, this is just cake tasting! that’s why she’s brought her maid of honor to help her out, nOT immediately go fishing for a clipboard

“well if the planner you hired wasn’t so sloppy-...” it’s a fact! he relies too much on his tablet and doesn’t even have any paper with him, and even if he’s already using a tablet, he doesn’t even use different colors to mark out!

apparently nayeon can’t handle the truth because she’s stamping her hand to your mouth that’s already a frown, about to suffocate you if only you didn’t bite it

>:|

y/n - 1 | jisoo’s hand - 0

you’re just a lil bit cranky alright

the last wedding you’ve catered to was just three days ago, and well you’re thankful for your job!!! really!!! bc not everyone is as booked as you nor sought-for

but there’s something about her wedding that puts you off :((

she’s very kindly yet firmly told you that no, you would absolutely not be her wedding planner and coordinator

“b-but i-“

“i want you to relax! and it’s-...”

“we said-“

“we said when we were kids that we’d plan each other’s wedding, but we didn’t swear on it! and i want you to-...”

“y-you told-“

“i told you that we didn’t have a wedding planner yet so you’d intentionally clear your schedule for me! and here we are-...”

“i’ll cry-“

“aww you big baby, save it for the wedding! i told you, just relax, m’kay? let yoongi handle the planning, and you do the unwinding.”

goddamn yoongi

yoongi who’s a wedding planner in his sPARE time could fuck right off

you don’t care if he’s very persuasive and firm and happened to book nayeon’s wedding even it was peak season :((

you don’t wanna admit it, but being a wedding planner has basically been your personality trait for the past years and it’s hard to cope when your job is to not.... plan and worry

anyways besides that

you’re a little iffy because nayeon’s wedding is your wake-up call

you’ve been planning weddings.... but uh when the FUCK is yours

u are so tempted to put a sock over your head and just yell gIVE ME A RING!!! PUT IT IN THE BAG

unfortunately, you don’t even have someone in your life to readily propose to you

you would have had someone, actually —

if only hoseok didn’t wake up one day and decide to remove you from his life

if only your childhood friend didn’t suddenly decide that you’re not worthy of his attention and time!!!

god he thinks he’s a bigshot

and well yea ok he IS a bigshot

who doesn’t know jung hoseok at this point :((

you’ve always figured that he’d be successful at whatever path he chooses and for a moment, you feel sorry for him that he’s stuck in such a state of mundaneness

he’s stuck between home and school and since he has no choice — you

your each other’s day one!!! the moment your mom went home from the hospital, her first instinct was to knock on hoseok’s mom’s door and then iMMEDIATELY present you to her

the two of them are absolute best friends and why not make our babies the same way ya know????

the two of you were apparently so close as babies that when one was crying, the other would comfort

and you weren’t even a year old then????

you’ve shared cribs and milk bottles and clothes and everything in between with hobi

so why is it that when you’re just almost at the peak of your life with graduation, he just suddenly decides to drop you?

he’s suddenly too cool for you as if he hasn’t spent countless nights crying on your shoulder for any inconveniece that gets brought up

he can’t even meet your eyes :(((

that’s why graduation is the blandest and emptiest day you could recall

hoseok is over there with his bandmates looking the absolute hAPPIEST and you’re there by the corner.,.,. alone by yourself feeling like your cap has the words dropped by jung hoseok :D all over it

he’s at his peak and at the top of his life performing and touring, whenever and wherever

he’s happy

but without you in it :(

the irrational (and probably rational) part in your head is beyond infuriated at him because atleast offer an explanation!!! if you did wrong at one point, then he should tell you!!!

not suddenly pretend that you were nEVER in his life

even his mom feels guilty and ashamed over his son’s actions so she orders flowers from the shop signed underneath your company, then send it back to you

for awhile she tried to pretend that it was hoseok but no :((( that man will physically convulse if he doesn’t add (atleast) three hearts after his name

you hate him so much that you still religiously visit his instagram and wonder if he could see your likes despite a couple other million liking the same posts

you hate him so much that he’s number one on every single thing in your spotify wrapped 

you hate him sO much that you wonder who’s behind the songs his band plays and how you’d wish that you’d be the one he’s writing about

“is the cake that... perfect?”

nayeon gently places a hand on your shoulder to which you flinch and she backs off because christ i’m nOT taking the cake away from you!!!

oh my god why are you tearing up

“yeah, yeah! it’s so good. you should try it nayeon!” you’re scrambling to scrape up your plate, almost shoving the fork into her mouth as she squeals with the sudden attack

yoongi has ???? hovering around his head but this is nOT about you my man

he sneaks a look to the bride’s plate and uh-huh... yup..... she has the same moist chocolate fudge cake with coffee ganache on her alright

the topic of hoseok that you bring up to yourself, one that no one knows (not even nayeon!!!), is just something that never seems to vacate your mind fully

it’s been two years and you’re still so touchy and you dON’T KNOW WHY

he probably doesn’t even think about you when he’s drunk and bored

“this champagne must be so... nice?”

nayeon thinks out loud as you’re once again crying into doing your maid of honor duties

she’s a lil worried if she’s being honest but you always whisk her away when she’s about to ask

like right now :D

“are you-...”

“i just can’t believe you’re getting married!! wow, you’re so cool. with the love of your life. then the two of you could be cool together after the wedding. you aren’t gonna forget me once you’re married, are you? nayeon do you think that i would ever be married-...”

you should just accept it now :((

you’re a little bit of a mess and a half underneath your pantsuits and walkie-talkies and the special pride you’d carry whenever the couple mentions you in their wedding speeches

absolutely WHY in the hell do you think about hoseok when it comes to weddings???

it’s almost a pavlovian response when you instruct the people to open the doors and the bride to start walking and your mind would iNSTANTLY think about him

it’s sometimes awkward when the couple would ask ah !!!! ms. y/n u are such a world-renowned wedding planner !!!! your own wedding must’ve been magnificent :D

aha actually about dat.,.,

you get tons of gifts of gratitude from just a single client alone and you don’t have hoseok and his stupidly powerful arms to help carry boxes back to your car

you don’t have him to give untouched and left-over flowers to

you don’t have him to remind you when you’re getting a little ahead of yourself over just talking to sponsors and trying to squeeze in as much as you could for an initial budge

you don’t have hoseok, in all his glory, to put his hand on the small of your back when you’re talking to how you need the fireworks to start the moment the band starts playing ice ice baby and the vendor does nOT need to know why it’s the song chosen by the couple

it’s what he’d do when you’re trying to fit two semesters’ worth of notes into a pricey A3 notebook that you’ve bought 

and just how many weddings do you plan and coordinate, even within just a span of two week?

:)

a lot.

often.

you think about hoseok a lot. often. oftenly a lot.

but aha nOT TODAY!!!

today’s nayeon’s wedding and you’re not gonna ruin it for her by projecting your yearning into your best friend’s wedding that clearly isn’t yours

10/10 she’d probably stop reciting her vows to ask you why you’re sniffling

your only source of distraction is your gown!!!

your maid of honor is the absolute pRETTIEST and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t feel gorgeous in it

it’s floor-length silk!!! fLOOR-LENGTH !! SILK !! GOWN

it’s in a deep mauve with an off-shoulder situation and a little risqué bit of cleavage!!! cinches right at the top of your waist and poofs a little and oh my god mayhaps you aRE pretty

god hoseok may have not written you a song, but sean kingston dEFINITELY did

nayeon knew you’d be catching everyone’s attention as much as her wedding dress would and she’s absolutely happy and fine with it!! 

in fact she’s strategically practiced her throws for her bouquet so you’d catch it and your gown would nOt go to waste

having a wedding happen right where you are, but being in it as a guest instead of a planner, is just so much... calmer

you’re not fixing the chaos but you’re just watching it!!! if you feel a little more bubbly then you’re gonna partake in it hee-hee

yoongi’s actually not so bad

he could just be a little too lax which ends up with him being lost and distraught 

you could see so much of you in him when you were just starting out and it’s endearing actually

(( nayeon’s told you in passing that she once told yoongi that you were her best friend and he looked both intimidated and awed at the same time ))

the only thing you help yoongi with is sending him a thumbs-up every now and then and he perks uP because that’s the signal that he’s doing a good job and not fucking up

nayeon looks so beautiful and you’re already tearing up fixing her veil :((

you know how wedding photographers and videographers LOVE people crying???? they r probably eating your shit up so quick that you won’t be surprised if you take up atleast half of the same-day edit of their wedding film

there’s something so serene about the hecticness everyone’s indulged themselves in

you’re grinning when you walk down the aisle because you realize that omg you haven’t doNE this in a long time!!! 

the last time you did was testing out the aisle for a client that wanted it ala crazy rich asians and you had to walk back and forth cOLD-ASS water with damp rolled-up pant cuffs before they got the temperature and the levels right

nah you should definitely know how it’d be because after all :D you aRE the consultant for that scene in crazy rich asians :D no biggie :D

it’s such a serene blast to see everyone happy and in their element

you’re sitting the reception out bc yoongi very kindly pleaded to please give him notes and promising that he’d never tell it to anyone else

the whole planning process for nayeon and not oNCE did he bring a notebook..,., but he just hAPPENS to have one when you’re telling him how to say no to your client

“listen, you have to tell them in the sincerest way possible, that you tried everything. it gets them going when you tell them that you even pleaded with the vendors, but don’t go too low on your knees, alright? and then after that, you say a strict no. no, because their choice of flowers is absolutely sHIT for their tie-dye theme they’re so adamant about!”

yoongi has never listened so intently

not even when his roommate lists out their grocery checklist

“mhmm. and if they still push, should i give them an ultimatum? or tell them about a wedding that totally happened that did exactly what they were planning, and how much the guests hated it?”

okay nOW he’s talking

“what you do is...”

the buzz of the reception never really dies down because it’s barely even starting!! the couple’s still finishing up on their pictorial which gives everyone time to get to the venue and freshen up or get last-minute gifts lmao

you know that it’s starting when the band or the dj starts doing polished mic checks

mic check! one, two, three! sKRRRRRRRRRRRRRRA

no, no 

there’s something definitely wrong

the rolling and the lull of routine words just seem so familiar

mic check! J-A-Y! H-O-P-E! J-HOPE! jung-...

oh

my

fucking

gOD

that’s hoseok.

that is most dEFINITELY hoseok

you turn your back to see the stage set-up and god...... fuck

it’s someone you haven’t seen in the flesh for two years yet spent the years of your life with before that 

he looks sickening in his black mandarin-collared suit with thick white lining on it wITH his hair styled up and parted to the site

it’s even more sickening for you because you don’t actually know if you can mANAGE to be here

you’re standing up abruptly and yoongi squawks at that because he is the furthesT thing from being finished about asking how to make the guests arrive on time without holding a field trip assembly-like type of line with the megaphone

the fastest way out was dashing through the front part and you must have forgotten that hoseok has a knack for catching things with his perfectly good eyesight

“y/n?” 

ok what now

he mumbles your name to the mic, his eyebrows furrowing as his eyes trail the speed-walking speck of mauve from in front of him 

his little question to himself must have gotten people more than curious

they’re already mORE than curious because it’s his goddamn band that’s playing!!!! and the fees are not cheap and it’s practically impossible to book them!!!

but jungkook, their drummer, was a close friend of the groom’s and alright.,.,. okay maybe we CAN play at weddings now

ok hoseok’s mind is probably just playing tricks on him and he should finish setting up before the lights dim again for what they insist is the 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻

but then he can’t help but look oNE last time

then he sees the watch he’s gifted you on his wrist — one that he was supposed to give you at graduation but later made his mom give it to you instead and not say that it was from him

...

....

whew he might need his inhaler for this one and he doesn’t even hAVE asthma

oh my god what the hELL is hoseok doing here????

you haven’t seen him for two years, and the moment you do, it’s in your best friend’s wedding with no date present??

you’re clearly panicking and the only form of caffeine you’ve gotten is the pre-game of getting a few bites from the coffee ganache in nayeon’s wedding cake that she was munching on while getting her makeup done

you know what!! it’s fine

it’s totally fine :D

hoseok is just hoseok and you’re not gonna be intimated by the man you’ve been loving in the sidelines from practically your whole life :D

it’s not a big deal!

besides, people are looking for you bc you’re supposed to give the opening toast to welcome nayeon and her groom in

you’re walking, you’re talking, aaaaaaaand-

yeah this is not nOT a big deal

you’re crumbling from the inside out because seeing hoseok is just too painful after two years of wondering where you could’ve went wrong and what could’ve happened if the two of you didn’t fall out

you feel especially bitter when hoseok starts singing their famous song about love and everything in between

everyone’s sWOONING and on their feet and you’re literally just there vibrating with how furious you are

you keep downing the good champagne as iF it’s gonna get you drunk

yoongi has a clue that the server must be a little dizzy having to go and back forth to your table so he just offers his portion to you

you’re so goddamn busy and absorbed with loathing him that you don’t even turn your back to notice that his eyes keep flickering to you

even at the cheesiest lyric, hobi expects that you’d atleast LOOK at him for that one but nOOOO your champagne flute and the blondie beside you is just much more interesting

you’re buzzing with anger that you aren’t enjoying this reception At All

you fail to even recognize that nayeon’s intentionally had your favorite food to be served!!! and you have an extra portion delivered to your table!!!

you just want your suffering to eND wow absolutely how much longer could this go

you’re so busy with cussing the whole ordeal in your head that you didn’t even notice how the band isn’t playing anymore and instead everyone’s swooning over the cake

it’s lost in you that hoseok’s shooed yoongi from his chair, sitting right beside you and even scooting closer until his knees bump to your own

and that’s when it sinks in

hobi doesn’t even have time to tell you how beautiful you look because you’ve gone straight to seething him

“for the record, i want you to know that i hate you.”

...

:O

okay hoseok didn’t expect that

for all he knows, the two of you even vOWED to never say the h word even if it’s meant jokingly!!

it’s a lethal word and the two of you collectively agreed to never play with it in regards to saying to one another

but well here you are

you’re saying it as if you’ve never been more sure of anything in your whole life

you feel actually relieved to say it to him right to his face, a miniscule weight lifted from your shoulders while your arms are crossed just by looking at him

hoseok does you one better with a timid chuckle, looking down on his rings that he’s fiddling with nervously

“yeah. i hate me too.”

.... oh

you’re perplexed at his reply so much so that you’re speechless

you’ve been keeping to yourself what you should say to him the moment you see him for two years and now that he agrees to what you’ve just said.,.,.,

oh fuck that

“i hate you so much, hoseok! i don’t even know what i did wrong and i asked even your own mother what’s wrong with me! did you know that you are, without a doubt, so fucking selfish???”

you exclaim as quietly as you could but that doesn’t stop people from glancing because the two most-known people in the room, besides the bride and groom, are having what seems to be an... intimate conversation with how close the two of you are??

“did you even try once to consider how painful it was for me to wonder why i just am the way that i am? or is that even too big of an inconveniece for you to think about because you’re so busy?”

“did you suddenly get too big for me, huh?” you ask straightly without malice, not even thinking about the double meaning because clearly, you’re too PRESSED lightly jabbing your finger to his chest

right he deserves that

hoseok’s fucked up big-time, that much he knows

his eyes are actually stinging right now and he would ask you for your handkerchief that you used to always carry for him but uH he thinks he doesn’t deserve any of that

“why couldn’t you just tell me what was in your mind? you know that nothing would change whatever it was that-”

“i love you, okay?”

hoseok interrupts you with his mumble before he sets his eyes down once again on your watch

you’re speechless for long this time

“..... w-what?”

okay maybe he fucked up even more

“listen i-...”

“if you love me, a single text wouldn’t have hurt, hobi!!”

your chest doesn’t hurt anymore but it iS constricting with the amount of emotions and scenarios you’re trying to process

he’s kinda lost because oh my god you aren’t mAD anymore!!

and you don’t look fazed that he just declared his love for you

“i dropped you because i-i — i don’t want the people i love seeing me fuck up, y’know? i finished uni for the sake of it, and i didn’t even know if the band thing would work out!!”

“but baby it dID work out!!!!”

jesus christ hoseok may be a fucking iDIOT

you’re shaking him by the shoulders and he actually has to stand up so he wouldn’t fall by your ministrations

you feel so happy because your processing was just about to be finished, equal parts relieved and happy and maybe a tiny bit confused still

“it did work out because look at you now!! hobi, you could’ve just called me and i would’ve accepted the call before it even rings!!” you’re happily frustrated with him that you push him until the two of you are in the dance floor, his mouth curving up both in disbelief and giddiness

“i didn’t because i thought-...”

he’s interrupted by a swift and tight hug to his middle, his arms moving on their own to envelope you in his warmth

the top of your head still smells the same :D

his purpose is lost before he gathers his bearings once again, freezing in his stance before weakly attempting to push you off

“... you were married.”

the harsh sQUINT of your eyes you’re giving him prompt him to explain

why is he so nervous

“i-i go to your instagram? and well you uh, you posted this pic of you in the middle of the aisle???? you had your back turned and your silhouette’s seen then you were holding a bouquet!!! then after that, i-i never opened your account. jesus christ, is your husband here with you, y/n? what am i supposed to-...”

the realization’s starting to sink into hoseok because it’s something he’s shoved to the back of his head and now he’s seeing it straight-on

you’re throwing your head back laughing at him :D

great

now he’s both heartbroken AND a fool

there’s a gentle kiss on his cheek, one he didn’t expect and one he doesn’t hate

“i’m a wedding planner.”

god now this is just so fucking funny

the two of you fell out and remained distanced because of just a series of unprecedented miscommunications!!! 

the whole thing is so ridiculous that it actually feels light and relieving to talk about

“you’re.... a wedding planner,” he mumbles once again for confirmation, his loose arms around your waist now tightening

oh my god

hoseok starts chuckling to himself out of delight, turning to full-on cackles with you at how much the two of you have just been beside each other like parallel lines

“i need to make up the past two years to you.”

he declares seriously as a promise, pressing a tender wet kiss to your cheek that gets you giggling

“only if you write me a song,” you do him one better, kissing him on the corner of his mouth 

“don’t you know that most of them are about you? anyways, you should plan our wedding once it happens,” he’s forward with his words, having waited long enough that he nuzzles his nose to yours

:D

you’re gonna do him one even better

you’re gonna go right for the kill, the truth spilling out of you before you kiss him longingly, for the first time that it feels that it’s been something you’ve always yearned for

“don’t you know that you’re in my mind for every single one?”

[songtoyou]

Tempting Fate - Part Thirteen

Paring: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warnings: Swearing.

Word Count: 3,019

Story Summary: Tommy is not a believer in fate or destiny. However, a new resident in Small Heath will question his beliefs and push his boundaries outside his comfort zone. Miss Young arrives in Small Heath looking for her soulmate and meets the Shelby clan along. At first, Tommy distrusts the newly hired barmaid but soon finds himself drawn to her and can't understand why.

Chapter Summary: Ada draped a blanket over you and put another log in the fire. She wanted to kill Tommy for standing you up. However, she knew her brother wouldn’t do it on purpose. Ada only hoped that Tommy was caught up in something that involved the business, and it wasn’t because he was in trouble or hurt. 

A/N: Some sweet moments in this chapter, but of course, we always have to have drama. Thank you all for the amazing support this story has gotten. I only hope you all continue to enjoy reading it. Please continue to let me know what you think and if you would like to be added to the tag list.

Please do not post any of my fics to other sites without my permission.

Tag List: @owenniasstars  @lovemissyhoneybee​

The following day, you woke up before everyone else to sneak down into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. You looked around the kitchen to see what Ada had on hand, which was not much. Thankfully, there were ingredients to make pancakes. You sorted out the correct measurements and put them in a mixing bowl. It was not long until you could hear another pair of footsteps. You turned to see Ada walking in the kitchen. She still looked half asleep as she sat down at the table. You chuckled when she groaned and put her head on the table.

“Coffee or tea?” you asked her.

“I need another hour or two to sleep,” she replied and got up to get the kettle ready. She opened one of the cupboards and got out a frying pan for you to cook the pancakes in. “I’m surprised my brother is not up yet. Normally, Tommy is up at the crack of dawn.”

You stifled a laugh. Yes, you and Tommy had stayed up later than intended after Ada showed you both to one of the guest rooms. Hopefully, your late-night antics with Tommy went unheard by Ada, or heaven forbid, little Karl. You told Tommy that they needed to keep quiet and not disturb his sister and nephew, but the man was adamant that he needed you and didn’t care who heard. 

Ada made you both a cup of coffee and went to retrieve the morning paper. As you continued to cook, she got Karl out of bed to eat breakfast. The three of you sat at the kitchen table eating and conversing with one another. You asked Karl about his school, and he told you about his favorite subjects. “I would have loved to have gone to a real school,” you shared with mother and son.

“You didn’t go to school?” Karl asked, confused, with a mouthful of pancakes.

“Karl, don’t talk with your mouthful,” Ada scolded her son.

“Sorry, mum.”

“No,” you answered him sadly. “My family moved around too much to go to school. My mom taught us how to read and write since she was the one in the family who went to school. But, it still would have been fun to go.”

“I would hate not being able to go to school,” spoke Karl, and you merely smiled at him.

You turned to Ada when she said your name. “How about we leave around eleven to go clothes shopping?” she suggested. “And Karl, speaking of school, you need to go upstairs and get ready. You don’t want to be late.”

“Yes, Mum.” Karl took one last bite of his pancake and got up to go back upstairs.

He passed his Uncle Tommy on the way, who ruffled his hair. “Hey, kiddo,” Tommy greeted his nephew.

“They’re in the kitchen,” Karl stated and headed to his room to get cleaned up and dressed.

Tommy slowly walked into the kitchen, where he caught sight of you and Ada laughing hysterically. “What are you two laughing about?” Tommy questioned, startling you and Ada.

“Jesus, Tommy!” you yelled, jumping in your seat. “I swear, he makes no noise when he walks.

I need to get him a bell,” you told Ada.

“He’s always been able to do that ever since we were kids. It was always how Tommy won hide and seek or tag. Never could find him or catch him.”

“You want some coffee, Tommy? I made pancakes for breakfast. I’ll make you a plate,” you told Tommy, getting up from the table. First, you kissed Tommy on the lips, which he reciprocated, and sat down next to Ada.

“Morning, big brother. I take you slept well,” teased Ada as she sipped the last of her coffee.

“Yes, I did, sister dear,” Tommy countered with a smirk and grabbed the newspaper from Ada. “The bed was comfy. Slept like a baby.”

“Yeah, I bet. Lots of commotion going on in there last night,” Ada mumbled into the teacup.

You turned to Tommy with a horrified look while he had a shit-eating grin on his face. “I better go check on Karl, make sure he is getting ready and not playing around. He gets distracted so easily, just like his father.” Ada got up and walked out of the kitchen, leaving you and Tommy alone.

“I told you we needed to be quiet,” you cautioned him.

Tommy only scoffed and continued to look through the newspaper. “Technically, this is my house. I can do what I want in it.”

“Eat your breakfast, dear,” you ordered and placed a plate of pancakes in front of him. He ate while you made him a cup of coffee and cleaned up. Again, the domesticity between the two of you came naturally. “Ada said she would take me shopping at eleven. Did you want to come along?”

“While I would love to watch you get undressed, I have other appointments today. Plus, I need to get the items you requested.”

Tommy figured he could get the molasses from Alfie Solomons. He had a meeting with the Jewish gangster where they needed to finalize their business transactions. Tommy figured a couple of liters of molasses was an easy task. Tommy was, after all, providing Alfie with soldiers to help him win the war with Sabini. Either way, he was getting you the molasses. He would always make you got what you needed.

You turned to leave the kitchen but stopped when Tommy grabbed your hand. He dragged you back to him so you could sit on his lap. Wrapping his arms around your waist, Tommy nuzzled your neck. You leaned into him when he began kissing along your neck and ear. His hands began to trail up your legs and thighs.

However, you stopped him when he got to your underwear. “Tommy, we can’t. Your sister and nephew are upstairs. We need to behave. Plus, we should get ready ourselves.”

You got up from Tommy’s lap, and you swear you caught the man pouting. He gulped the last of his coffee, which was now lukewarm, and got up from the table.

He once again wrapped his arms around you and kissed you on the lips this time. “Get yourself something spectacular for tonight. I’m taking my girl for a night out on the town.”

“Should I even bother with wearing anything underneath?”

“Surprise me,” Tommy responded and went in for another kiss. Before either of you could deepen the kiss, you could hear Ada and Karl coming down the stairs. You broke apart first and tried to compose yourself.

Tommy left for the living area to retrieve his cigarettes.

“All set for school?” you asked Karl. He looked cute in his school uniform.

“Ready. Here you go.” Karl surprised you with a piece of candy.

“What is this?” you wondered, confused.

“It’s ginger candy. I take when my tummy is upset,” Karl explained. “I figured you could use it since Mum said that the moaning coming from your room was you having an upset stomach.”

You felt your face heat up and must have turned five different shades of ready. “Well, thank you, sweetheart. That is very kind of you.”

Ada did her best to hold back her laughter and ushered her son out the door. You waved goodbye Karl and closed the front door.

“That’s it!” you shouted throughout the house, “We are going to a hotel!”

You never knew shopping for clothes could be so tiring. You were ready for a nap, and it wasn’t even two o’clock yet. Ada made you try everything, and half of the clothes you didn’t even end up buying. You honestly thought shopping for clothes would be a breeze since you didn’t feel you needed much.

Ada finally allowed for a break around three o’clock and took you for afternoon tea. “Ada, do I really need all of these clothes?”

“Of course you do. Tommy told me to go all out for you. And if Tommy wants to spoil you, then by golly, let the man spoil you,” Ada waved off your concerns. “You have to wear the dark green dress tonight. It looks stunning on you.”

You blushed and looked down at your plate of tea sandwiches. “I’m not used to this, having someone buy things for me, especially when money seems to be no object. I’ve told Tommy that I’m not with him for his money. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression.”

“I would never think,” Ada began, “Aunt Polly told me about you. She told me that you were special and important to Tommy. I don’t know if you know this, but Aunt Polly has the gift of second sight. She sees things in her dreams. She must have seen you and Tommy in one of them. Saw that you were good for him. After last night and this morning, I can see it too. When Tommy is with you, it is almost like I have my brother back. Tommy wasn’t the same after he came home from the war. None of my brothers were, but the change was more noticeable in Tommy.”

You contemplated what Ada was sharing with you. Often, you wondered what Tommy was like before the war. However, you opted not to ask Polly, and you weren’t going to ask Ada. None of it would make any difference or change the way you felt about Tommy. Yes, he changed, but everyone who came back from the war was different. You experienced it with your family members. Tommy was Tommy, and he was the man you adored, possibly could end up loving one day.

You took a sip of your tea, raspberry flavor. It was pleasant on your throat. “I think with someone like Tommy,” you began to speak, and Ada perked up to listen, “I get the sense that he was a sensitive child. He is the type of person to do right by people. That Tommy didn’t like seeing people get mistreated. It is, sadly, what he experienced growing up. You know, like us gypsies, our community continues to be looked down on. I can tell Tommy has mixed feelings about the way he grew up. He wanted more. After the war and seeing so much death; that made him reevaluate his priorities. Tommy wants more for the Shelby name. He wants the name to mean something, have some sense of importance. And it isn’t just for him, but all of you.”

Ada sighed. She agreed with what you were saying; however, she still had reservations about how Tommy went about getting the things he wanted. “He’s going to get himself killed one day, I fear.”

Truthfully, that scared you too, but you had to tell yourself that Tommy would always make his way home; back to you safe and sound. “Tommy,” you spoke, “always thinks ahead. He is very good at strategizing. That is what will keep him alive.” 

“I hope you are right,” said Ada sadly.

You hoped so as well.

After tea, Ada tried to get you to stop by one more clothing store, but you told her that you had more than enough clothes. At the last stop, you made sure to get a dress for Esme and a pair of fine leather gloves for Polly. You were done with clothes shopping. However, there was something you wanted to get, not for you, but for Arthur. While Ada continued to pursue the clothes on the racks, you told her you were heading out to another store, one that sold art supplies.

“Ada, I’ll be right back. I’m going to get something from across the street,” you told her and left.

When you made it to the art store, you began to look at all of the supplies. You were unsure where to start. Arthur shared with you that he liked to draw, particularly horses before he went off to war. It was one of his favorite hobbies, but he hadn’t picked up a pencil in a long while. You wanted to get him a set of drawing pencils and paper in hopes of getting him back in the habit. If Arthur got back to drawing, it would help him have a positive outlet, rather than drinking or fighting the pain away.

You asked the store clerk which drawing set was best. He tried to get you to pick the most expensive one that included way too many items. Instead, you opted for the twenty-piece pencil drawing set with a wooden case and sketchbook. The pencil kit included graphite and charcoal pencils, ink pens, and shading tools that Arthur could put to good use.

You spent the remainder of the money Tommy gave you on the drawing set and asked the store clerk to wrap it up. When you finished, you walked back to the clothing store where Ada was still perusing the racks. You looked in the bag of the wrapped drawing set and hoped Arthur would like his gift.

“Ada, I think we should be getting back to the house. It is almost five o’clock,” you reminded her.

“Oh shit! Yes, let’s get going. I didn’t realize the time.” Ada, albeit reluctantly, stepped away from the racks of clothes and picked up her bags, and followed you out onto the streets.

A taxi took you both back to the house, but first, Ada had the driver pick up Karl from the home of one of his friends. Greeting you both, Karl sat in between his mum and you. He pulled out a drawing from his knapsack and showed it to you.

“That’s me, Mum, Uncle Tommy, and you,” Karl pointed out. It was the four of you in front of a house with a bright yellow sun in the sky. It was adorable.

“This is lovely, Karl,” you beamed at the young boy.

“I drew it for you to take back to Birmingham. Mum already has many pictures I made for her.”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” you said and kissed him on the top of his head. “I will cherish this. I’ll tell you what, you sign your name at the bottom, and I’ll frame it. That way, when you become a famous artist, I’ll have the first-ever masterpiece by Karl Thorne.”

That made the young boy beam with pride. Ada smiled at the interaction with you and her son.  It proved that she needed to head back to Small Heath more, especially for Karl. He deserved to have his extended family in his life.

When the driver pulled up in front of the house, Ada paid him and helped Karl out of the car. You both retrieved your shopping bags and walked up the steps.

Once inside, you plopped on the couch and took off your shoes. You wiggled your toes to get the blood circulating. Tommy mentioned earlier that he would be back by seven and for you to be ready.

It was already coming up on a quarter to six. You were exhausted, though, so you let yourself take a small fifteen-minute cat nap on the couch. The next you felt was someone shaking you away. You opened your eyes to see Ada standing above you.

“It is almost seven, and you aren’t dressed yet.”

“Shit,” you bolted up and rubbed the sleep from your eyes. “I can’t believe I overslept.”

You grabbed your bags and ran upstairs to the guest room. You proceeded to undress and clean yourself up. Luckily, one of the windows in the bedroom looked out onto the streets. You kept looking outside to see if Tommy pulled up. You probably spent more time checking to see if Tommy arrived than getting ready. The last time you checked, it already twenty minutes past seven o’clock. By a quarter to eight, your stopped getting prepared to go out. You weren’t disappointed, just now worried about where Tommy was and if he was okay. You washed your face free of makeup, put your hair up in a tight bun, and grabbed your robe before heading downstairs.

You saw Karl and Ada at the small dining table, eating dinner. “Why aren’t you dressed?” Ada questioned.

“He isn’t coming,” you told her and poured yourself a whiskey. You gulped it down and poured another one. You took a seat across from Karl and sipped your drink. “I’m too tired anyway. I’ll tell Tommy that we can go out another night.”

Ada gave you a small smile and got up to get you a plate of food. The three of them sat in comfortable silence while eating. You mostly pushed your food around the plate, listening for the sound of someone entering the front door. When dinner was finished, you tried to help Ada with the dishes. “Nonsense, you made breakfast and did the dishes then. It is my turn.”

Karl got your attention by calling your name. “Yes, sweetheart?” you asked him.

“Can I read to you? My teacher says it is important to practice reading out loud.”

“You should be heading to bed, Karl. It is late,” Ada piped in.

“Come on, Mum. Just one story, please,” Karl begged and put on the cutest puppy dog face. Ada could not resist.

“Fine, but only one book, and then it is up to bed. Got it.”

Karl grabbed your hand and dragged you to the living area. You looked at the clock on the wall, and it read nine o’clock. You tried to ease the anxiety boiling in the pit of your stomach and concentrated on Karl reading a story to you.

You felt yourself being lulled to sleep by the young child’s voice. Just as Karl finished reading, you drifted off to sleep.

Ada draped a blanket over you and put another log in the fire. She wanted to kill Tommy for standing you up. However, she knew her brother wouldn’t do it on purpose. Ada only hoped that Tommy was caught up in something that involved the business, and it wasn’t because he was in trouble or hurt.

[purplesurveys]

1114

survey by dishwallafied

WHO was the last person...

you spoke to, in person? I think it was my sister, like earlier at 1 AM. She was the last person apart from me to head upstairs for bed.

you called? I tried calling our internet service provider’s hotline to inquire about our lost connection last weekend, but all I got was a useless automated message saying they’re on top of all concerns and will be addressing ours soon, which did not make any fucking sense because I didn’t get to report my issue anyway. Their social media was virtually useless too, and my dad had to physically go to one of their offices last Monday to settle the issue.

that called you? My phone’s not near me at the moment (omg a rarity) but it was the delivery person for Reggy’s croissants. GPS has always hated our street and has never been able to identify it, so whenever anyone in the family makes a purchase for delivery we’re bound to get a call or two from the rider assigned to our order to ask for directions.

you texted? It was the same delivery guy. He had tried to call me but I was in a meeting that I couldn’t get out of, so I explained to him I could only text. I also gave him a Waze link containing the exact positioning of our house so that he could set it up on his phone.

that sent you a text? I think it was just my mobile services provider sending out some random promotional text. Idk, I never open those.

you kissed? Gabie.

that kissed you? Also her. I don’t plan on kissing anyone new any time soon.

you yelled at? I haven’t recently been in a situation where I’ve had to yell at anyone...I do slightly raise my voice a lot on video call meetings just so I’m sure everybody on the call can hear me. That’s the closest I’ve got.

that yelled at you? My mom, when she was being a real drama queen about MY money a couple of weeks ago.

you watched a movie with? I watched it by myself, but I remember calling my ex for comfort because the movie was a little scary and creepy. I also remember how bothered she sounded that I was calling her, as if I was a huge burden, so...there’s that. Y’all do me a favor and be with someone who gets delighted when you call instead of making you feel like you’re a waste of space okie?? Good

you ate dinner with? My family. My dad laksa for dinner, which was perfect because I had been watching 2 Days 1 Night yesterday and the cast members kept eating ramyeon, which made me develop a serious craving for noodles all day.

you were in a photo with? I think it had been a family selfie. My family and I were about to leave the accommodation we stayed at in Tagaytay, and my mom wanted a final photo in the living room before we stepped out.

you took a photo of? My employer sent out heart-shaped red velvet cakes for all of us for Valentine’s Day, so I took a photo of it with Cooper in the background to share to the work group chat. I definitely did not expect any goodie sendout considering I never viewed Valentine’s as a special day even when I was still in a relationship, so it was a nice surprise to receive. 

you went to a concert with? Oh my Paramore show was a solo date. Gabie did come to the arena with me and I also drove Denise, Erycka, and Leigh, but the three of them settled for a different section somewhere farther out given how they already did VIP seats for Paramore’s previous concert in 2013. It was my turn to have a front-row seat and since I didn’t know anyone who was as big of a fan as I was or was willing to shell out ₱7,000 for a VIP seat, I went by myself.

you lied to? I think it was Bea, my manager? She scheduled a quick call last Tuesday just to do a check-in with me, and she was asking how I was. Of course I had to tell her I was doing fine, which is never completely true for a lot of people, I think. I didn’t want her to ask me to open up anyway, so saying I was fine was the easy way to go.

you invited somewhere? I recently saw a music clip of a certain song that’s played a lot in bars, so I tagged my entire college barkada telling them we should go back to TK soon, at least when the lockdown and the pandemic subside considerably.

you dated? Gabie.

you dumped? It worked the other way around.

you rejected? I mean, I guess I technically rejected the girl Mik told me was interested in me. We never met since Mik refused to tell me her name or show a photo, but I informed him I wasn’t planning on talking with anyone soon so she can stop thinking I’m available.

you held hands with? Angela.

you hugged? Andi, before they got out of my car since we were parting ways for the evening.

you let cry on your shoulder? This hasn’t happened in a very long time. Most likely Gabie, but this would’ve been around at the start of 2020 when we could still see each other regularly.

that let you cry on their shoulder? Figuratively, Angela and Andi.

you bought a gift for? I got a weekend accommodation for my family, but it was really meant for my dad for his 50th birthday.

you wished a happy birthday? Hans.

that disappointed you? I was more annoyed than disappointed, but it was some random Fil-Am who was being ignorant at the Subtle Filipino Traits Facebook group. That community gives me a huge migraine most days because of Fil-Ams who continue to romanticize the ~beauty~ of the country whilst completely ignoring the socio-political trainwreck here, but the group is kind of the place to be for Filipinos so I can’t see myself leaving it either.

that stayed over at your place? They didn’t stay over for the night but Angela and Hans did a surprise visit to my house a few days after Christmas.

that let you crash at their place? Gab. I used to always crash at her place when I’ve had a few drinks.

that made you angry? Idk man, can I give Mark Zuckerberg as an answer? HAHAHA I went on Facebook first thing today and the first thing I saw was a Facebook Memory, and it was a photo of me and Gabie at Athenna’s birthday party four years ago. I got irritated at first until I remembered that we were both tagged in the post, which means it would most likely show up on her feed as a Memory as well. Just to humor my petty ass, I kinda hope the memory would make her sad, wherever she is; but otherwise seeing the Memory pop up didn’t make me sad or bothered anymore so that’s a win for meee.

that complimented you? Leah, my employer’s CEO. She did a check-in call with me recently to get to know me better, so one of the first things she asked was a list of the clients I handle. I happen to be in the team that works with the company’s more big-league clients, so once she heard the brands she told me I must be a good enough worker to be assigned those clients. It meant a lot and it still does.

whom you complimented? Bea. I just let her know how helpful she’s been with me considering I’m a fresh graduate on her first job in a work-from-home setup in the middle of a global pandemic.

you thanked? A supplier I’m currently in contact with, for work.

that thanked you? The said supplier thanked me back.

you saw, in person? My sister.

that bought you something? Dad bought siopaos for us yesterday.

that made you laugh? The cast of 2 Days 1 Night, from when I was watching the show last night.

that you said you loved? I don’t remember. I think it was Kate since she helped me out with a favor.

that said they loved you? Hannah.

you flipped off? I haven’t whipped out the finger in a while, come to think of it.

you made a silly face at? Not a person, but Cooper.

that drove you somewhere? Dad was the driver for our Tagaytay trip.

WHAT was the last thing you...

touched? Aside from my keyboard, my vape pen.

threw? Cooper’s bowling pin squeak toy. He’s gotten a lot better at catching things with his mouth, so I’ve been throwing it a lot at him to continue training him.

ate? A caramel croissant.

drank? Coffee.

found stuck in your teeth? Haven’t had this happen to me in a while.

cooked? I’ve never tried cooking anything.

baked? Idk, maybe cookies 873984732842 years ago.

threw away/tossed out? The packet for the sauce that came with the siopao my dad bought.

bought? I made a purchase for 20 bags for a work thing, but only because I was assigned to do the whole correspondence with the supplier. My manager was the one who sent over the payment when the purchase was confirmed.

sold? I don’t think I’ve ever tried selling anything before.

took a photo of? Cooper hahaha. I had been dancing to a song and he was staring at me.

were frustrated with? Our internet provider when they cut off the connection last weekend.

broke? I’m not sure if I can say I broke it, but the adaptor for my phone charger finally gave up on me the other day. I’ve taken to borrowing my sister’s for now, since she says she “doesn’t use it a lot” anyway.

spilled? Some drops of coffee spilled out of my mug when I dumped several ice cubes in it.

tripped on? Kimi. He follows me evvvvvvverywhere, so I bump into him at least once a day.

kicked? I’m not really sure.

put batteries in? Haven’t had to use batteries in a while, either.

turned on? The Bluetooth on my laptop.

turned off? The electric fan last night since I found it loud.

wrote? Other than my answers to this survey, I’ve also been talking with Angela this morning over Messenger.

wrote on? Other than my phone/laptop, my journal.

cleaned? My glasses.

stuck up your nose??? My finger when a nostril itched recently.

WHERE was the last place you...

dined at? Ramen Nagi.

ordered something to go? I don’t do takeout deliveries, but the last thing I got for delivery was banh mi and iced Vietnamese coffee last week.

bought something? Facebook Marketplace.

cried? In the living room. I came across that viral video of a guy proposing to her girlfriend at a Taylor Swift concert, when he knelt at the exact moment Taylor sang “He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring” from Love Story. It was such a sweet, classy, non-cringey public proposal and I allowed myself to be swept away by the cheesiness of it all, haha.

felt uncomfortable? Dining room table. I was sharing a story to my parents about work involving a guy and my mom asked me if I had a crush on him. My dad kind of snorted and said, “Her? Crush on a guy?” which told me he knew something was up re: my preferences lmao. They’ve never heard anything from me yet, so that made me feel awkward and I most especially didn’t want my mom to catch on to the question and suddenly put me in the hot seat.

drove to? Other than back home, I last drove to UPTC.

had an appointment at? Google Meet, hahaha.

went on vacation? Tagaytay. 

hung out with a friend? Andi and I went to a Korean barbecue place at UPTC (again), but we also drove to UP after just to revisit the good old days of being in campus.

bought clothes? H&M in Feliz.

spent more than you had planned? Ramen Nagi. I had a couple of add-ons in my meal and I didn’t know their service fee was going to be quite high, so my final bill ended up being slightly more than the budget I planned out for that day.

saw a band/singer/musician perform? Late 2019. My ex and I stopped by a jazz bar and there was a live band playing.

WHEN was the last time you...

told someone 'I love you'? Last Friday.

cried? Last night.

laughed? This morning. Cooper was being silly around me and my dad, as always. This time he was unusually behaved when we let him out, and the bizarreness of it all made us so unsettled we ended up laughing.

left your home? Last Sunday. I might go out later, too.

drank a soda/pop? Early last year. There was Coke being served at an org event, and since I felt thirsty and there was no drinking fountain around I just said fuck it and drank the soda.

made your bed? Last night when I left my room to settle in the living room.

visited a doctor? May last year.

went to the emergency room? Other than when 23 years ago when I was born, I’ve never been brought to the emergency room.

kissed someone? September.

hugged someone? Mid-January.

prayed? Six years ago. Or maybe five; I can’t really tell when exactly I made it a point to stop for good.

worked out? Around a week ago. I’m thinking if I should keep at it or if I should just stop, seeing as I’m not willing to give up my favorite foods anyway lmao.

made a phone call? I tried to make a phone call to our internet provider last weekend.

answered a phone? The other evening when the landline rang.

had an argument? Two weeks ago, instigated by my mom as usual.

played a video game? I think 2-3 weeks ago when I got in the mood to play the Switch.

played a card game? Safe to say at least a couple of years ago.

played a board game? November when we suffered a power outage for two days and had nothing to do at home.

rode a bike? LOOOOOOOOL March. The lockdown had just started and I made plans to learn how to ride a bike, but those plans fell through as soon as they began.

fell on your butt? This doesn’t happen often.

took a shower? Last night.

took a bubble bath? I can’t even remember anymore; this is a rare occasion for me.

watched TV? I last watched a TV show in general last night, but I last watched something on an actual television last Sunday when my family watched a Sunday mass livestream.

saw a movie at a theater? December 2019.

ate fast food? I got Bonchon for my family last December, if I remember correctly. My dad had done a huge favor for me and I asked what I can do to repay it, and he said to just buy dinner for the 5 of us for that evening.

ordered a pizza? Last month.

made someone laugh? I’m not sure if I had made her laugh in real life, but Angela and I had a humorous conversation over chat earlier this morning.

sang? Few minutes ago.

played a musical instrument? Absolutely no clue.

read a book? Couple of weeks ago when my employer sent me this book on PR that I was asked to read in preparation for my meeting with Leah.

drove a car? Last Sunday.

went swimming? Think it may have been my Nasugbu trip with Angela, Sofie, and Gabie back in August 2019.

got a sunburn? Idk man, when I was 8? I stopped getting sunburns as I got older.

went to church or temple? The last Sunday in March before the lockdown started.

went shopping? I did my final around of Christmas shopping last month for friends I still had to give presents to.

drank alcohol? Sometime last month after my work shift, following back-to-back meetings with my least favorite client.

smoked a cigarette? Feb last year, I think. I don’t buy cigarettes of my own and I’m also a lot more watchful of my cigarette usage, so I haven’t been able to smoke since I haven’t been around a crowd who does. I mostly vape.

threw up? I last felt like throwing up back in May, but I haven’t actualy thrown up in at least a couple of years now.

had a headache? Just this Thursday.

had a cold? No idea.

had the flu? It wasn’t strictly the flu, but I was last sick in May.

had your hair cut? March last year.

dyed your hair? Never done it.

laughed so hard that you cried? It’s happened in at least the past couple of weeks, I’m sure.

[captaincvans]

Chapter Three: Tear Me to Pieces

11/01/19

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Word Count: 2502+

Warnings: Language; Panic Attack; Angst; Angry!Chris; Sad!Chris

Series Masterpost

A/N: I think I’ll stick with posting biweekly (once every two weeks) as it seems to fit my schedule most. It’s been tough trying to fit writing in with my grad school, but I am trying to balance everything! You get an extra long chapter though! I hope you enjoy and pleaseee lemme know what you think! I appreciate every comment, ask about this fic 💕

“I don’t know what to do, mom,” Chris cried on the phone. He was desperate for some answers as the feeling of dread took over his heart. His career and his personal life has what he felt like being destroyed in a matter of weeks, and he was overwhelmed with so many emotions. 

“Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry that you’re going through all of this,” Lisa immediately cooed sympathetically. “Have you been able to see Jenna at all?” With them being so close, it was no surprise that Lisa knew the name of Chris’s therapist back in Boston. Chris had actually gone to a couple of sessions with his father, wanting to mend a few troubles the two had in a safe place. 

There was a beat of silence, and he answered with a small, “No.” 

“Oh, it’s okay, baby. Do you want me to book you an appointment with her?” Lisa was worried that Chris hadn’t been seeing anyone throughout this whole ordeal. She could tell how overwhelmed he was, and she knew he needed someone more than her at this moment. 

“S’okay. I’ll call her tonight.” 

Her heart was breaking at the sound of his defeated voice, the 38 year-old sounding more like a child, and it pulled at her heartstring. “Okay. Text me when you’re going. I’ll come by and drop you off. We can make a whole adventure out of it.”

“Okay,” he said quietly, saying goodbye to his mother before ending the call. He made an appointment with Jenna, who scheduled him in for the next day, hearing the gravity of the situation. A text pinged on his phone not long after, his personal assistant, John Diangelo, asking if he can come by. He texted back with a ‘yes’, needing a friend through this all and wanting to inform John of his manager’s crime. 

Chris sat on his couch, Dodger in the crate sensing the tension in the house. He sat there, numb and broken. It could’ve been hours and he wouldn’t have realized. The only thing that got him out of his reverie was the knock on the door. With drawn out, sluggish movements, he got to the door, opening to reveal his sympathetic PA. 

“How are you holding up, brother?” the Kansas-born man asked with a soft smile. 

“I don’t know, John. I really don’t know,” Chris whispered, sitting down on his couch with his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do.” 

“Take it one day at a time. It’s all you can do,” he said, running his hand through his ginger hair. “Has the police found anything?”

“It was Daniel. He’s the one stealing money from me.”

“Holy shit,” John cursed, leaning on the wall behind Chris. 

“And while we were talking to him, he said someone else was involved.”

“Who?” John asked urgently, eyes wide in concern and anticipation. 

“Y/N.”

“No fucking way,” John muttered, his voice coming out breathier than usual. 

Chris shook his head. “I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe this. I was going to propose,” he confessed. 

John was at a loss of words, not knowing how to comfort the man. Anything he said would sound ingenuine. “It’ll get better, brother. At least you found out sooner than later.” 

“I guess so,” Chris mumbled. He blinked a few times, his red-rimmed eyes hurting with every blink. “I’m gonna go pack up her stuff.”

“Do you need any help?”

“No, it’s alright. I can pack’em myself.” 

“Okay. I can take her stuff down once you’re finished with them, and let her know they’re ready for her to pick up if you want?”

“That would be great. Thank you, John.” With robotic movements, Chris went to the bedroom he once shared with the love of his life, and started packing. 

Six Months Later

The investigation slowed down a bit as they kept hitting roadblocks with the press. It became a more high profile case, and the attention it received hindered people from doing their job as they were harassed by the press. They were relentless once they caught a whiff of the drama unfolding in Chris’s life. He tried to keep the issue as private as possible, but it was hard to when there were so many moving parts involved- from the fraud investigators, the police officers in charge of his case, and Kevin and his accounting firm that is doing a complete audit of Chris’s finances. There were a lot of people involved, one of the was bound to sell the story to the press. 

Captain America Breaks Up with Girlfriend Over Money?

Chris Evan’s Girlfriend a Gold Digger?

Chris Evan Found to Have Fired Manager Over Fraud

Headline after headline, they wrote it all. Rumours and assumptions being thrown around, and articles that were only half truth. With the leaks of the news, there was another investigation launched to find the person who was leaking Chris’s personal information to the public. Chris couldn’t go anywhere without being followed by the press. He hired bodyguards for himself and his family, hating the fact that they were victims to his problems. 

It marked the 25th week of the investigation, the end was almost in sight. One of the newly hired fraud investigators was caught selling information to the press, and was quickly fired from the company. Everyone else had to sign a tighter non-disclosure form that was created by Chris’s legal team. 

It was a gloomy Friday, the rainy day finally easing up as peak summer hit the town of Massachusetts. Chris just finished his daily morning walk with Dodger, hating the humid rain as much as his little dog did. Scott was staying at his place for a few days, trying to distract him from it all, and trying to pull him back out of his isolation. His usual goofy self was nowhere to be seen as he became paranoid of the next person to take advantage of him. Aside from his family, he’s been ignoring a lot of his friends, and only recently gotten back in touch with them. 

Just as he finally cooled down from the AC in his house, his phone rang. 

“Hey Jason, what’s up?”

“We got some new information. Do you mind coming by the station?”

Chris sighed, rubbing his forehead. It seems like he couldn’t catch a break with all the information that was hitting him. 

“Chris? You okay?”

“Yea, yea. Sorry. Just got distracted for a bit- I can be there in half an hour or so.” 

“Alright. See you soon.” 

“You good?” Scott asked, entering the kitchen as Chris was finishing up his call. Dodger happily jumped towards him, begging to be given attention which he happily gave. 

“Yea. Jason just said they have more information and needed me to come down.”

“Want me to come with you?”

He gave a non-committal shrug. 

“Alright. Lemme just get changed, and we can go.” 

The two brothers met up with Jason and Diana Bass, she was in charge of the whole investigation and was working closely with Jason to finish everything in a timely matter. They walked to a small meeting room, both brothers refusing any refreshments as the tension built in the room. 

“While we were investigation Y/N, we found something else,” Jason said, his eyebrows pulled together anxiously. 

“What is it?” 

“We investigated all of Y/N’s accounts, and we did not find any extra deposits. Instead, we found monthly withdrawals. We followed the money, and it was going to an account created by John Diangelo, your personal assistant.”

“Fuck! Him too?” Scott growled, putting a hand on his brother’s shoulder for solidarity. 

Dianna nodded sympathetically. “Unfortunately, he seemed to be the mastermind of the whole operation. We went through his files and exchanges with Ms. L/N to see what the relationship was as we thought she was sending him the money she took from you to put in an offshore account like with Daniel, but there were only brief communication from prior years, most of them regarding your schedules. There were no indications that they talked beyond your schedule. We did, however, find a letter addressed to Ms. L/N in his computer about the terms your relationship with her.”

Chris tilted his head in confusion. “What terms?”

“In this letter, it said that in the case that you broke up with her for reasons that are unequivocally her fault, she will be forced to pay back the material cost of your relationship. Any time you paid for her, whether it was dinner or anniversary gifts, she must pay it back 100%. And as far as she knows, your separation was caused because you were “unhappy with her” as she quoted in our interrogation so she paid the cost.” 

“What the fuck? We never had such agreements! That’s ridiculous- I would never make her do such things.” Chris was pissed, even more so than his staff stealing money, they were blackmailing people too. He thought they were pretty messed up to think of such things. Even in previous relationships where his girlfriend had cheated on him, lied to him, and manipulated him, he would never think to have them pay back. 

“Ms. L/N confirmed that she had signed that agreement somewhere in the two-year make of your relationship. It was given to her by Mr. Diangelo privately in which he requested her utmost discretion, and it also had your signature.” 

“What?! No- No- I never signed anything like that!”

“We sent the letter to your legal team, but we can almost confirm that Mr. Diangelo had forged your signature in that letter as your letter was on the file and there was no evidence of an original physical copy. Regardless, it is not a binding contract as it never went through any of your lawyers.”

“Unfortunately, Y/N doesn’t know that,” Jason continued. “She thought she did have to pay everything back, and we are trying to gather more information as we speak, but I’m guessing there are no merit to the numbers he pulled.” 

“That’s fucking messed up!” Chris growled, one his hand resting on his hip and the other rubbing his chin anxiously. 

“We cannot disclose the amount Ms. L/N paid Mr. Diangelo, but are working to finish up the investigation so the money can be returned to her.” 

“So she wasn’t working with Daniel and John?” Chris confirmed, not knowing whether he preferred knowing the truth or not. 

“We cannot draw any conclusions at this time,” Diana stated. 

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, the guilt starting to bubble in his stomach. “ Okay…” Chris  shook hands with Diana before she parted ways. He then turned to Jason, “Was she involved at all?” 

“Chris,” Jason said in a warning tone. 

“Please- I- I just gotta know.” 

“I just know from the financial side of things, and there was nothing to indicate that she was involved, Chris. She could’ve had the money transferred to another account or something, but so far nothing’s come up except for her payments to John.”

“Ho-How much did she pay?” 

Jason sighed, shaking his head. “Chris, I can’t tell you that.”

“Please- Please just give me an approximate- I just need to know-”

“She paid 3⁄4 of it, including the damage fee. She said she wanted to get rid of the debt as soon as possible so you didn’t have to worry about it.” 

“How much?”

“Chris-”

“How much?!” Chris all but yelled, standing up from his chair and knocking it over in the process. His chest was heaving, and his fist shaking as his eyes glossed with tears. 

“The number he gave her was close to $40 000 that she had to pay in the span of five years, and in the event that she couldn’t pay the monthly installments, she would have to pay an interest of 10%- not to mention the damage fee that he included of $10 000.” 

It was at that moment, Chris knew she was never involved. He felt like a huge fog has lifted from his brain, as if he finally cleared his brain after a bad hangover. The past few months felt like a nightmare, but it was then that he realized, this was his reality. His manager and personal assistant tricked him, manipulated him, stole from him, and he believed them when they said that his girlfriend was a part of it all. Even if she was, the way he treated her that night. Chris felt like a monster, a stranger living in his own skin. Looking back, he can’t even recognize himself, the words he said, the things he called her. They were unforgivable.  “Jesus Christ, Jason. I-I-I  fucked up. She wasn’t even at fault, and I blamed her.”

“We don’t know that, Chris. For all we know she could still have some part in this.”

Chris ignored him, shaking his head. He knew, and deep down he’s always known that she was never a part of this all. “Is she still here? Can I see her?” He looked around, desperate to see a glimpse of the woman he thought he would be his fiancee by now. 

“She left already, said she needed to get to work.” 

Scott peered at his brother from the corner of his eyes, looking more worried as Chris’s breathing got uneven. “Hey, hey, hey. C’mon-” He sat him down again, gently easing him into another chair. “C’mon, Chris. You gotta breathe.” 

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” Chris cried repeatedly, face turning red at his inability to breathe. “She didn’t do anything wrong.” 

“I’ll get him some water,” Jason said, giving his friend some space. 

“She wasn’t- She wasn’t- She didn’t do anything wrong, Scotty.”

“Shh, shh. It’s okay. We don’t know that.”

“I said so many awful things to her.” Chris cried, his hand covering his mouth as bile crawled up his throat. “Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick.” 

Scott saw how pale Chris had gotten, turning around to grab the small garbage can and put it below the leaning man just as Chris coughed up bile. 

“The- The baby!” Chris exclaimed, inadvertently knocking the paper cup from Jason’s hand as his hand grabbed his friend’s sleeve. “Was she- How’s the baby? Did you see her bump? Does she look healthy?” 

Jason didn’t know how to answer that question. Before this whole ordeal, he has only seen Y/N through pictures from the press, and never met her in person. Either way, there was no way she was pregnant when he met her. “She- She didn’t look that pregnant?” Jason said uneasily, not knowing how to break the news. 

“Wh-What?” Chris said to himself, shaking his head. “No… Please, God no… No, no, no... ” He shrunk back on the couch, whimpering how stupid he was, and rubbing his chest as if it could appease the weight on his heart as he realized his mistake.

<-- (Chapter 2)           (Chapter 4) -->

- Tag List -

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[12miraenie]

Quandary

🎃Paring: Baekhyun x Reader 

🎃Genre: Fluff, Ghost AU 

🎃Word Count: 3k 

🎃Summary: What happens when you can suddenly see the ghost who’s been living in your house longer than you have? 

A/N: Part of the Month of the Supernatural prompts, where you can request here. This is for anon, enjoy! 🎃

🎃 Link to Masterlist 

🎃Request here 

“Bye, mom!”

The forced smile on your face disappeared the moment her taxi sped past the gate of your house. You tucked both hands into the back pockets of your jeans and sighed. Seriously, what kind of mom abandons her kid when they are about to turn 20 for a business conference? For over a month you’ve been thinking about this birthday when all of your families can finally be together to celebrate you passing the legal drinking age and joining the rest of your family for a drink.

That was the plan until your brother was called in for an internship and your dad miraculously lost his passport abroad. And now, your mom too. It’s not like they don’t love you or don’t care about you, judging from the pile of gifts on the table and the brand new car in the driveway that your brother got for you. You don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat complaining about not getting enough attention, but honestly, you just wished that you can have a conversation together on the same table instead of texts and things that you probably won’t ever use.

“Right, this means…takeout.” You mumbled to yourself and shut the door behind you.

You remember the look on your dad’s face distinctively whenever you craved pizza or chicken. After he forbid you and your brother from eating junk food, you were disheartened for a while until one night you found your brother munching on a chicken leg while watching a movie at 2 am. Where did your brother hide the takeout posters? 

“Aish, this jerk!” Your fisted your hair in frustration after opening probably the tenth drawer in the kitchen.

Suddenly one of the top cupboards above the stove cranked open slowly and then shut close with a loud slam. You jumped at the sound, a small yelp came out of your mouth. Putting a hand on your heart, you could feel its rapid beating.

“What the heck?” You turned to the side only to see the tightly shut windows. You froze and listened carefully, but the house was quiet like nothing happened just now. Shaking your head, you tried to get rid of the sudden shock and opened another drawer.

Bang.

You snapped your head up only to see the same drawer being opened and closed again. You hesitated for a second but still reached up to open the cupboard. There on the side laid a bunch of takeout flyers. You let out a shaky breath and sat on one of the chairs.

Are you surprised? Not really. Since you could remember, there has always been something weird going on in the house. The cereal you put on the table would be on top of the fridge, the jacket you tossed on the couch would be in your closet the next day, or the curtain would be drawn at as early as 7am on Saturdays.

One night your brother came home and shouted from the foyer, “Yah! You finally learned to put your shoes right!”

Did you? Why did you remember kicking them off and heading to sleep the moment you came home? When your parents and brother were asked if they have similar experiences, all you got was blank looks, a sigh, and “Y/N, we are not 5-year-old children.”

Reading through articles online and scrolling through forums only got you one conclusion. You are haunted.

You laughed, as long as the moon orbits around the earth, ghosts don’t exist. You probably put the cereal back, hang your jacket, and put your shoes back in their places without noticing. And your brother must have opened the curtains to annoy you on the weekends. The more you think, the more you were convinced.

Nothing is going on. You are overthinking, Y/N.

It was an hour later the food arrived. Putting the bags down in front of the TV, you smiled as the heavenly aroma attacked your nostrils. You ran like a giddy child to get utensils from the kitchen. However, when you returned the previously tied bags were open, revealing the takeout boxes.

Right, you opened them before getting up.

You bit into a piece of the heavenly fried chicken and almost sucked in a breath. It is undoubtedly the best thing you’ve ever eaten since you were born. What your dad’s deal with it? You shook your head and turned your attention back to the Mission Impossible marathon. You thought back on your brother and parents. Their loss for missing this.

You woke up face planted in the pillow and fished for your phone on the bedstand. Turning your head to the side, you squinted at the bright screen full of Happy Birthday messages from your friends and relatives. It sucks to be born in summer when everyone’s out on vacation. You couldn’t even go out with your friends.

A yawn left your mouth as you stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around your body. You had the best sleep ever, without waking up to the bright sunlight from outside the window. You couldn’t even remember the last time you woke up after 10am.

You brushed your hair and plugged in the hair dryer. Humming a familiar tune, you start drying your hair and looked into the mirror. From the reflection, you could see a man was leaning on the wall behind and staring at you.

You blinked your eyes and rubbed them, fully believing that he will be gone and the only thing you would see is the bathroom wall. When you opened your eyes again, you wished you hadn’t. Because the man was still standing behind and looking at you, only this time, he had his arms crossed.

The realization came too quick for your liking, your hands started trembling as your heartbeat picked up its rate, going off the chart in no more than two seconds. Despite the stoic face, on the inside you were more scared than you ever thought you could be. Breathing through your nose deeply, you unplugged the hair dryer and hit the guy the second you turned around.

Baekhyun’s POV

He hasn’t felt anything in a long time, but the burning sensation on his left arm felt more real than anything else. Before he can even take a look, something heavy hit his head. Baekhyun yelped and shielded his head with both hands, “Aish! What-Yah, stop!” But you were calling him all kinds of colorful names in a loud voice that easily covered his. He knew things being thrown to him, but they went past him that air and he couldn’t feel them like before.

“What the fuck?” You cursed, and then it was silence.

Baekhyun dared himself to open his eyes and came face to face to you staring at his mouth and eyes wide open in shock. You had one hand clutched around the towel and the other grabbing on the dryer tightly. Baekhyun came-no, floated-one step closer and you dropped the dryer to the floor.

“You…can see me?” Baekhyun asked in a timid but hopeful voice, his eyes shined brighter than before. Finally, after thousands of years, someone is able to see him! Excitement took over him as he went even closer.

Baekhyun watched you take small steps backward until your body touched the opposite wall. A triumphant smile took over his face, “You really can see me, right?”  

“Get away from me.”  

Baekhyun’s smile faltered. “No! Please, I promise I’m not a pervert or a stranger or even a person! I can’t harm you anyway.”

Gesturing wildly, he tried to convince you that he’s perfectly harmless, which did the opposite thing that he hoped for. Baekhyun punched the wall on his side, watching your eyes bulge into the size of glass balls.

“See? I can’t touch anything, they just go through me.” Baekhyun shrugged and put on the best smile he could muster, “Now can-“

Before he could even finish his sentence, your eyes rolled to the back, and you passed out.

Your POV

“Now that we are past introductions, we can be friends! Ah, it feels good to have someone actually hear you speak.”

You had a blanket wrapped tightly around you as you slipped on the cup of hot tea, watching the man-no, ghost dancing and twirling in the kitchen happily like he just got a hundred million dollars. There is no way that you could imagine any of this is true, that ghosts actually exist, that he’s been living here longer than you have, and the fact that you can actually see them.

“I don’t even know your name, ok? Can you please just sit down so we can talk?” Being this calm in front of a supernatural creature was not what you had imagined. The fainting probably took away all the shocks and scared you got from him. Your voice isn’t even trembling.

“My name is Baekhyun.”

You bit your lip watching the man who looks like he comes from the ancient Joseon era. Discarding everything else, you can’t help but notice how good looking he is. There’s no point denying that the blue silk robe weaved with golden threads accentuated his flawless features, and the sheen of slightly shining transparency makes him look ethereal. He just seems so different from all the Joseon people you learned from history class, who all had long beards, wrinkled faces, and bad money habits. Baekhyun, on the other hand, looks more like an actor in a historical drama.

Oh god, what are you thinking?

You cleared your throat, preventing “So, umm…who are you? I mean, are you a Joseon emperor or something?”

Baekhyun shook his head, “I am more like the general type.”

You arched an eyebrow, from the way he acts like a 5-year-old kid you would never have guessed that. Maybe the doubt is your eyes was obvious enough for him to explain, “I know, my brother thinks the same too.”  

“So um…do you just roam around here? Don’t you have some kind of mission or things to do?” You thought back on the ghosts or spirits portrayed in popular media, wondering if they are true or not.

Baekhyun laughed humorlessly. “Mission? You want me to live my life? My life has been over. For centuries. I’m dead. Yes, I am stuck between life and death because I couldn’t revenge for my brother, but you kind of stop thinking about it after 7 hundred years.”

Even though his face didn’t show it, the look in his eyes betrayed him. They were filled with sadness and the kind of nostalgia and missing someone that breaks your heart even from justing looking at him.

The atmosphere was becoming too tense for your liking, it felt like all the air molecules were pushing down on you. Baekhyun looked like he had just woken up from a bad dream, but he covered up quick enough for the pain in his eyes pass in a fleeting moment.

“So…last night the cupboards….it was you, right?”

Baekhyun nodded, the silk headband moved up and down with his head.

“So I am not ill after all. You said you’ve been here for the last 21 years, so you’ve been doing this all the time?“

He crossed his arms and jumped down-no, floated closer. That’s the only thing you still can’t get used to, the fact that he has legs and doesn’t use them to walk or at least, appear walking. Baekhyun looks surprisingly real, his skin has a normal color, and the texture of his silk robe looks intricate enough to touch, and every detail of his face is clear.

“The cereal boxes?“

“Yep.”

“My shoes?“

“Yep.”

“My clothes?”

“Yep. It’s gonna be the same answer to all the other questions you have. Yes, I also breathed down your neck whenever you got a wrong answer at your history homework.”

You sighed and pinched your nose, _it all makes so much sense now._ You thought back to the times you convinced yourself that you just have a good intuition in for history, ”That’s why I always get an A in history?“

“Then why didn’t you do that to all my homework?”

Baekhyun cleared his throat, “You wouldn’t have guessed that even after hundreds of years there are people still bad at counting numbers, right?“

You burst into laughter at Baekhyun who started to blush. Different from humans, the pink on his cheeks looked more transparent, almost a jelly-like color.

“Yah! At least you had a free housekeeper for twenty years. Don’t be a brat.” Baekhyun pouted, the annoyed frown on his face made him look more adorable ever.

Baekhyun feels like the long-lost best friend you never had. The fact that he’s been with you since birth felt creepy before, but you can tell that Baehyun is genuinely nice to be around with. Well, except times he’s annoying as hell.  

“Y/N…I want that.”

You shivered when Baekhyun breathed down your neck. Turning around, you gave him a hard stare.  

“No, Baekhyun. I need to finish this paper today. Plus you already have clothes. Go away.”  

Baekhyun huffed loudly when you closed the tab on a shopping site. Just when you thought he had gone to somewhere else, the screen of your computer glitched and went black.

“Yah! Byun Baehyun!” You fisted your hair in irritation, “I didn’t even save that paragraph!“

“Is something wrong?“

Your brother’s head appeared from behind the door and the pen you threw in Baekhyun’s direction magically hit his head instead.

“You were loud enough for me to hear through noise reduction headphones.”

Your eyes darted to Baekhyun, who was standing a few inches away from your brother and watching with a satisfied smirk on his face.

“Sorry. I was just annoyed with my _nuclear proliferation timelines. _”

He shrugged, “That’s why I told you to study business in college.”

You picked up the pen on the ground after your brother left and threw it to Baekhyun again. The plan to ignore him didn’t go well the moment he looked at you with those puppy eyes. The natural downturned shape didn’t help with your resolution as well. How come that it’s so hard to refuse him?

You rolled your eyes and sighed, “Fine.”

Somehow you ended up in Gucci. Somehow Baekhyun pointed to that 600 dollar sweater you think is absolutely disgusting and said he wanted it.

You let out an exasperated sigh and turned to the shopping assistant with a forced smile.

”I’ll take this, thanks.”

Baekhyun floated next to you happily while you stared at the receipt with a painful expression.

“Do you know how much I spent on you already? You are gonna get me bankrupt in no time.”

“But you love me. And…“ Baekhyun whispered in a sing-song voice, “I help you with your tests in school.“

You sighed. There’s no way you can argue with that. Ever since Baekhyun figured out he’s no longer bound to stay in the house when he’s with you, he’s been tagging along wherever you go. And soon comes the perk of being the only one who can see and hear a ghost when Baekhyun shouts answers to multiple choice questions to you during tests in exchange for food or clothes. You still jump sometimes because of how loud he can be as if other people can see him as well.

You set up the fire in a remote spot of the riverside park, where you burn everything for Baekhyun. Tearing apart the carefully wrapped box, you dropped the sweater into the fire watching it lit on flames. You sighed, people would think you are crazy if they see you like this.

“Happy?”

You turned around to Baekhyun when everything was reduced to black dust on the ground. Your breath hitched as you took him in. 

How comes he still looks good in an ugly sweater like that? He looks more like a runway model than anyone else. Your heart started going crazy watching him under the afternoon sunlight. It made him glow even more. Your eyes caught on the details of his face, the amber of his eye, the small scar on the side of his cheek, and the strands of hair covering half of his forehead. They looked more real than usual, almost like solid colors.

You stepped closer and looked him over once again. Where did that transparency go? He should look more invisible under strong light, but  Baekhyun looked completely the opposite. 

“Is it alright? Yellow looks nice, huh?”

You pointed to one side of his body, “There’s a ruffled edge on the left side.“

“Where?” Baekhyun turned his head back and forth but couldn’t get it right. You knew that he couldn’t touch anything, but at that moment something propelled you to reach out your hands to him.

Baekhyun jumped back like he was burned by a candlestick the moment your fingers touched the now straighten sweater. When you realized it, you froze too.

He looked down in confusion, why didn’t your hands go through him like everybody else?

“You were able to touch me just now, how?”

You stared at your hand in shock, the texture of cashmere still felt real on the tip of your fingers. Did you just touch Baekhyun?

You sucked in a breath when you reached out again, but this time to his hand. The slightly cold but unmistakably real sensation of his fingers against your palm scorched you like a fire. Your hand was shaking when Baekhyun reached out, but this time he felt your hand for real.

Your head snapped up to meet Baekhyun’s when his fingers were wrapped around your wrist gently. The coldness from where the tip of his fingers met your wrists reminded you that everything is real, that you and Baekhyun are actually able to touch each other.

“Am I…becoming human?”

[criminalhotch]

Frenemies and Fairy Tales~ A Grayson Dolan Imagine

A/N: This is Part 5 to An Old Flame. This a little bit before Ethan’s wedding and then his wedding but there’s a bit of drama just to make it spicy. Honestly, this is more Ethan than Grayson but it’s part of the series because I feel bad that those in Ethan’s lane are left to dry so it’s got a lot of Ethan and part of it is in his POV. I have some of Part 6 so hopefully, that is up later this week!

An Old Flame

Little Black Dress

My Home is You

Feelings and Emotions

Warnings: swearing, fluff (like major Ethan feels), drama

Word Count:4630

(Early July~July 4th)

Tomorrow is July 4th and tonight is Brooke’s bachelorette party. Tomorrow we have Grayson’s family 4th Celebration. Which my parents are coming to, so they decided not to have one. We decided because Brooke was marrying Ethan of all people she deserved to have penis-themed bachelorette party. I was not in her bridal party, but we had grown very close in the time I had been with Gray. I mean we are going to be in-laws one day, right? Her maid of honor was her sister, Aspen. Then she had two friends she had known for years, Rebecca and Sarah. Lastly is Cameron, the twins’ older sister. It was those four and me helping decorate for the party while Gray watched the kids. I got text updates every now and again. Cameron and Aspen were making the food while her friends and I oversaw decorating. I had gone to the bathroom and on my way back I heard them talking, specifically about Brooke. “I don’t know how Brooke managed to get Ethan” Sarah said. “I know that he is so out of her league. He could do so much better and I bet his dick is huge” Rebecca snickered. I sat for a second and continued to listen. I knew eavesdropping wasn’t right, but neither was shit talking about your “friend” who is getting married soon. “I know, he could have either of us and we’d be so much better and make him so much happier” Sarah admitted. I grabbed my phone and began recording. “Honestly he is probably only with her because her dad is so rich, that’s why I have been friends with her so long” Rebecca sneered. “I know, me too. They always get us stuff especially after she put us in her wedding. I will do anything to keep getting bomb ass gifts from her parents” Sarah added. I knew I didn’t have long until they would think I was taking too long. “I wonder how loyal Ethan really is? I mean for as hot as he is he can get whoever he wants, and he settled for Brooke. I bet he would take a nice upgrade on the side” Rebecca questioned. “I don’t know, maybe we should try at the wedding, that way we’re drunk, and we can play it off” Sarah coerced. “I don’t know but I mean we could and if he says no maybe we can get his twin brother too, what was his name? Garret? Gideon?” Rebecca suggested. “It’s Grayson, and he is dating Y/N” Sarah told her. My blood began to boil, no one I mean no one came between Gray and me. “He is too hot for her as well but that is beside the point” Rebecca started laughing and Sarah joined her. I quickly shut off the recording and walked in. “Sorry I took so long, Bentley wanted to talk to me for a minute” I told them, lying through my teeth. “Oh no, problem. Being a mom must be so hard sometimes” Sarah consoled. Oh, this bitch. “Yeah, it can be sometimes but it’s worth it” I explained. The rest of the night went on without a hitch. I knew that even though it was going to mess a lot of shit up that I had to tell Brooke. I wasn’t sure how or when I would tell her, but it needed to be sooner rather than later.

I drove home the next morning and contemplated if I should tell Brooke that night at the party at Gray and E’s parents, but I didn’t want to ruin her night with everyone, so I decided to wait. The girls had cute 4th of July dresses and Bentley had a nice red, white, and blue outfit. Gray and Ethan helped their dad grill. Brooke, Cameron, and I helped Lisa with the inside food while my parents watched the kids play on the swing set outside. I loved family and I couldn’t wait for the day that Gray’s family was officially mine too. Gray looked so hot standing over the grill in a “suns out guns out” tank top that exposed his bulging biceps so well. Ethan who was slightly paler and not as muscular looked good too, but I was more focused on Grayson, obviously. Lisa disrupted my thoughts “Quit gawking over my son and cut up these onions”. I felt my face turn beet red. “Sorry” I giggled. “It’s ok, I get it. I still catch myself staring at Sean like I haven’t known him for over 20 years. It’s called love” she admitted. “I know I catch myself staring at Ethan all of the time. We have been together for three years now and get married next month but I still catch myself mesmerized by him. You guys did an incredible job raising your boys” Brooke said. “Dude what about me?” Cameron defended. “You were implied, duh” Brooke added then we all started laughing.

After we ate there were a lot of backyard games to play. We spent the next hour or so doing that waiting for the sun to go down so we could set off the fireworks. Bentley fell asleep at like 8:30 so way before the fireworks but I decided I would try to wake him closer to time. Gray came up to me, “Hey, have you seen mom or dad?” he asked. “No, why?” I replied. “The girls are getting eaten up by these bugs. I wanted to see if my parents had any spray” he explained. “My mom used some earlier. It’s on the table over there” I pointed towards the patio table. “Awesome, you’re the best,” he said pressing a kiss to my cheek. I have known him for years and he still manages to make my heart flutter and give me butterflies in my tummy. It started getting dark, so I found Bentley asleep on Grayson’s old bed. “B, it’s almost time for fireworks then we will go home. Do you want to watch them?” I asked. He groaned then his eyes fluttered open. “Do I get a sparkwer?” he asked. “Yes, you can have a sparkler if you have an adult help you” I chuckled at his innocence and he hopped out of the bed. He walked about a foot ahead of me the whole way outside. That kid loved his sparklers. He quickly found Grayson with both girls, both had unlit sparklers in their hands. “Wait!” Bentley yelled, and Grayson looked in our direction. “Do you want one?” Gray asked him, and he nodded. “Is mommy ok with that?” he asked then looking at me. “Yes, just make sure he is careful,” I said. The kids had a blast playing with their sparklers. “I am about to set off these fireworks!” Sean yelled. It had gotten dark quickly and it was time. The kids were all sat at our feet as Grayson wrapped his arms around my waist and rest his chin on the top of my head. We all watched in awe as the multicolored bombs of sulfur erupted in the air. “I love you,” Grayson said in my ear in between fireworks. I couldn’t help but smile. “I love you too Gray,” I said tilting my head back and kissing his jaw. Soon enough the fireworks came to an end and it was time to go home. We were gathering up the kids as my mom and dad came up to me. “Alright sweetie, it is time for your dad and me to head out,” she said as they both hugged me. “Grayson and I aren’t that far behind you; the kids are all tired and grumpy,” I said. “Ok, then we will see you guys later,” they said as they headed to their car. “Night mom, night dad,” I said. “Night Y/N,” they said as they shut the door. Gray and I headed home shortly after with three sleepy kids.

All the kids were changed into heir jammies and fast asleep in their beds. Gray walked into the room his hair disheveled and his eyes droopy. “You look tired babe” I commented. “I am,” he said crawling into bed. “Gray?” I asked. “Yes beautiful?” he asked looking up at me. “So, the other night at Brooke’s bachelorette party I heard her friends talking shit about her,” I told him. “Really?” he asked. “Yes, and I don’t know how to tell Brooke” I admitted. “Should you tell her?” he asked. “Of course, Grayson! Why wouldn’t I? I wouldn’t want two backstabbers standing next to me at my wedding” I said defensively. “What did they say?” he asked. “Just listen,” I told him as I grabbed my phone and played the recording. “Ok first off those girls are-excuse my language-but they are bitches,” he said right as he finished listening to the recording. “Yes, honey I know,” I told him. “I’ll call E in the morning,” he told me. “Ok, she is going to be so upset, and her wedding is in like a month,” I said. “Yes, but she is going to appreciate you telling her instead of hiding it,” he said. “That’s true” I admitted. “You know I would never in a million years want to be with anyone else, especially them, right?” he asked me. “I know, Gray. Me either but just hearing them say that they had a chance to get with my man made my blood boil” I told him. “You’re so hot when you’re mad” he teased. “She just doesn’t deserve that shit, Grayson,” I said. “I know, baby. I know. She is so good for E and I am so glad he found someone to even out his crazy but also match it. They are so good for each other. I am sure she has other people to fill their spots in the wedding” he said. “I hope so,” I told him as he pulled me into him. Tomorrow was going to freaking suck.

 I woke up the next morning to Grayson on the phone with Ethan. “Hey what are you doing today?” I heard the younger twin ask the older one. “Alright cool, you want to come over later?” he asked, and I am assuming Ethan agreed. “Are they both coming?” I asked.  “Eventually but Brooke has to go to her parents for some wedding stuff,” Gray told me. “Alright sounds good,” I told him. “You want me to make you breakfast, Gray?” “I rather have you, but we don’t have time for all that” he smirked. “Grayson” I scolded. “What I can’t help that you’re so sexy” he shrugged. “Eggs, bacon, and toast then?” I asked, and he nodded while laughing. “Is E eating too?” I wondered. “I don’t know but I’d make him some” Grayson answered. Right as I finished plating the kids’ food Ethan walked in. “Y/N,” he said. “Ethan” I returned. “Where’s Gray?” he asked. “Getting the kids for breakfast” I explained. “Cool, did you make some for me by chance? I mean if there’s not enough it’s all good” he said putting his hands in the air. “I made sure there was enough for you, E,” I told him. “Ah damn, Y/N you’re the best!” he said hugging me. “Help yourself the kid’s plates are made,” I told him gesturing to the fresh food. “Alright thanks,” he said digging in. The kids strutted in soon after followed by Grayson. “Hey, bro” Gray said to Ethan. “Sup Gray,” he said in return. “I see you came hungry” Gray chuckled. “Duh, Y/N has always been a great cook!” he said. “Thanks,” I said giving the kids their plates. We all finished breakfast and Grayson did the dishes following. I gave him the last few dishes. “Do you want me to talk to Ethan?” he asked. “Can we do it together?” I asked. “Of course,” he said kissing my head. “Uncle Ethan!” Addy said excitedly. “Yes?” he smiled. He was so good with the kids, all of them. “I am so excited to wear my dress for your wedding!” she said. “I’m excited to see you and your sister in your pretty dresses. You guys are going to look gorgeous” he complimented, and the girls giggled. “I bet your dad cries,” he told the girls. “Daddy, are you going to cry at Uncle Ethan’s wedding?” Lia asked. “I don’t know, girls. I hope not” Gray chuckled. The kids started watching cartoons so Gray and I pulled Ethan aside. “What’s going on?” he asked. “So, when we were setting up for Brooke’s bachelorette party I heard Sarah and Rebecca talking about you and Brooke” I started. “Was it bad?” he asked. “Yeah, it was. They were like how did Brooke get someone as hot as Ethan and that you could get anyone but you settled for her. They said you were out of her league and they started talking about your dick size. They also said that either of them would make you so much happier then I started recording it, just listen” I told him handing the phone to him. He finished the recording and looked at me. “Wow, just wow,” he said to me. “Thanks for telling me. Brooke is going to be so hurt” E said. “I know that’s why I wanted you to know first,” I said. “I hope she knows that I’d never want either of them especially now. I hope she knows how much I love her and that I can’t wait to make her my wife” he sulked. “She knows, E. We’ve talked about it and she can’t wait to be your wife, but it may be a good idea to, I don’t know maybe do something nice for her in the near future. She’ going to be rather upset” I said. “Good idea” he smiled. “You should go get stuff to make her night better” Gray suggested. “Like what?” Ethan asked. “I don’t know like some ice cream, cookies, movies, whatever comforting things she likes and we can have a fun night in with the kids,” Gray told him. “Alright, I’ll be right back,” he said heading out the door. He was going to be such a good husband to her.

 He returned half an hour later with a bouquet of flowers, chocolates, popcorn, ice cream, three comedy movies, a box of discount 4th of July cookies, and a dozen cupcakes. “Ethan, did you rob the store?” I asked him while chuckling. “I wanted to make sure I got what she wanted but that it was enough for everyone” he explained. “That was a nice thought,” I said. “She just got here,” he said. She walked in soon enough. We had hidden everything, so she wasn’t questioning it. “Hey, can we talk?” I asked her, and she followed me to Grayson’s room. “So, the other day before your party, Rebecca and Sarah started talking about your relationship with Ethan” I started, and she interrupted me. “What did they say?” she asked. I explained it to her then had her listen to the recording. She started crying and I hugged her. “I can’t believe I asked them to be in my wedding?” she sobbed. “You picked the wrong people to stand beside you not the wrong person to marry, remember that” I reminded her. “They’re right, Ethan is out of my league” she sniffled. “Brooke, sweetie. He loves you and I know you love him. I told him what happened before you got here, and he left so he could get stuff to make you feel better. They are jealous bitches. You deserve Ethan just as much as he deserves you” I told her, and she hugged me. There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” I said, and Ethan walked in. “Hey, angel” Ethan cooed. “I love you, Brooke,” he said. “Nothing they said or do will change that. There’s a reason you have that ring on your finger and why I spent 50 dollars at the store before you got here” he said to her. “He got some movies too if you want to stay here and hang out with us” Gray added. She smiled and then nodded. “I love you guys but first I’ve got to kick some bitches out of MY wedding because it’s MY day with MY man and no one is going to ruin that,” she said grabbing her phone. “Gray and I will go downstairs,” I said. “No stay here” she requested, and I nodded.

 She called Sarah who just happened to be with Rebecca. “Hey, Brooke. What’s up?” Sarah asked. “Oh, not much, you?” she asked. “Just hanging out at Rebecca’s,” Sarah told her. “Oh, good then, I will only have to do this once. You both are the fakest bitches I have ever met. Do NOT come to my wedding or the reception. Do NOT call me, Ethan, Y/N, Grayson, our parent's NO ONE. I wish to never see or speak to either of you ever again. Delete my number from your phone, forget my address, and erase me from your thoughts. Both of you are dead to me. I am so glad I realized your true colors before I had you stand next to me at my wedding” she ranted, and they were both speechless. “Brooke-we” Rebecca started. “Don’t I don’t want or need an explanation. If you want to talk shit about someone don’t do it when their sister in law is in the other room” Brooke said. “She’s not your sister in law” Sarah argued. “I didn’t ask for your opinion but seems how you give one without anyone asking, I did want to tell you that Ethan’s dick is fucking huge and I can’t wait for him to wreck me later and every night for the rest of our lives right, babe?” she asked Ethan as Grayson and I had to hold back our laughter. “Yes, baby. I’m all yours until the day I die” Ethan said kissing her loudly. Click. “They hung up” she laughed and then we all started laughing along with her. “That was so funny,” I said. “Damn, Brooke. I didn’t know you were that feisty” Gray said. “Gray, there’s lots about Brooke you don’t know” Ethan smirked. “Ethan!” Brooke shouted. “Babe, you just told your ex-friends about my dick,” he said back. They laughed and kissed once more. “So, now there are two openings in my bridal party” Brooke started saying. “Yes, there is. Do you know who you want to fill them?” I asked. “Yes, actually” she admitted. “Who?” Grayson asked. “Y/N, will you take Sarah’s spot? You guys are super close to the same size and I would love for you to be next to me” she admitted. “I’d love to” I smiled, and she hugged me. “I mean, you won’t walk down with Gray, but it’ll still be fun,” she said. “Sure, but who will I walk with?” I asked. “James,” Ethan said. “Alright sounds good to me!” I said.

(A/N: Everyone is exactly how I imagine it except Bentley. Replace the red tie with the pink one and the red converse with navy blue ones then it’s exactly how I describe it!)

Ethan and Brooke’s wedding day had finally arrived. The boys’ suits are navy blue with pink ties. The bridesmaid dresses were long and navy blue. Addison and Amelia’s flower girl dresses had gold sequins at the top then a blush pink skirt. Bentley’s ring bearer outfit was navy blue pant with a white button up and suspenders with a blush pink bow tie. The girls had gold sequin flats and Bentley wore navy blue converse.  We had spent all morning doing hair and makeup. We got up around 8 while we took turns showering. It was Brooke, Aspen (her sister), Cameron, Brooke’s cousin, Grace, and then me. We also had Addy and Lia with us. The girls had bathed the night before so that was out of the way. We had breakfast at 9:30. We started hair around 10 and the wedding was to start at 3:30. We all had picked different hairstyles and slightly different makeup ideas. All the bridesmaids went first then Brooke followed by the girls. Grayson had been texting me all day.

G: One day it’ll be our wedding.

I can’t wait to see how my beautiful girls look, all three of you

I bet you’d look even more beautiful in a wedding dress

Y/N: Grayson, focus on Ethan, not me.

G: No, you’re prettier and smell nicer

Y: Thank you but we have lots do. I’ll see you later

G: Fine but I love you

Y: I love you too, G

 The 3 o’clock hour rolled around quicker than we thought. “We’re ready for you guys” Brooke’s mom, Cathy told us. We were lined up on one side of the door as the boys came up to us. We already had our bouquets. Ethan was already in the sanctuary waiting. “You look so gorgeous,” someone said behind me, someone being Grayson. “You look so handsome, Gray,” I said kissing him on the cheek. “Daddy!” the girls yelled. “Wow, you guys look beautiful,” Grayson said kissing their heads, tears welling in his eyes. “Daddy, you’ll mess up our hair,” Lia said. “Sorry, sorry,” he said sticking his hands up. “How’s Uncle Ethan?” Addy asked. “Excited,” he said to the girls as Lisa took them to the back of the line to wait with Bentley. “How’s he really?” I asked. “He’s excited, nervous but he’s ready,” Gray said. “You know I always thought it would be us first or even Cameron,” I said. “You’re not the only one babe” Grayson chuckled. We all got with our partners. First was Grayson and Aspen, James and I, Bryant and Grace, and then Brooke’s older brother, Tyler, and Cameron. Then the twins followed by Bentley with a sign that said, “Uncle Ethan Here Comes Your Girl” in fancy letters.

Ethan’s POV

The entrance music started, and my nerves started to rise. I hoped everything with Sarah and Rebecca didn’t psych out Brooke. I loved her, and nothing was going to change that. Seeing Grayson first really calmed my nerves down. No matter what, through heartbreak, kids, and marriages he was my best friend. He made his way up to me standing at the altar. “You got this E,” he said, and it calmed me even more. “She loves you, bro”. Next was Y/N and James. “Damn” Gray muttered. “We sure know how to pick ‘em” Gray whispered. “Mhmm” I hummed. Next was Bryant and Grace. This seemed to be taking forever I just wanted to see Brooke. Lastly came Tyler and Cameron. Cameron gave me a smile which also made me feel better. Next came the girls and I hope like hell our kids are as beautiful as my nieces. They are honestly one of the biggest blessings in my life. Even though they aren’t mine they have taught me so much. Next was Bentley, holding his sign which was my idea. Once Bentley made his way up to the front the typical wedding song began to play.

I look up to see my beautiful bride. Her wedding gown accenting every one of her best features. The dress was so beautiful yet simple much like her. Her hair flowing down to her chest, the flow of her gown all the way to her feet, she was mesmerizing. She smiled at me and I lost it. I had always thought Grayson was the better twin. Better looking, better with his feelings, better with kids, better with almost everything but here I am getting married first to the most beautiful bride. All of a sudden, I feel something drops on my suit. “You’re crying, E” Gray whispers. I stepped down and took Brooke’s hand from her parents. I was so thankful for the fact that her parents and I got along so well. Her dad gave me a wink and a small smile then the ceremony then began.

“Who gives this lovely bride away?” asked the officiant. “Her mother and I do,” said Brooke’s dad. “Friends, family, and loved ones we are gathered here today to witness the love of these two wonderful souls. Before you, we have Ethan and Brooke” the officiant started. I tuned out for a moment in disbelief. The ceremony went on and soon enough it was time for vows. We decided to write our own. “Ethan you will be going first in sharing your vows”. I pulled out my paper so I wouldn’t forget. “Brooke, I fell in love with you the day we met. I fell in love with your eyes and your smile first. Then your laugh and your personality. Soon enough I fell in love with us. I’ve known for a while that I wanted to marry you. We have had our ups and downs and I know those won’t go away but we will push through them. Brooke, I can’t promise you that I’ll be perfect or that I’ll always know what I am doing but I promise to love you in every way possible, to care for you, to support you, to cherish our time together, to appreciate the relationship we have built, and to help you in any way imaginable. I love you so much and you are the most beautiful bride. Therefore, you are going to make the most amazing mother to our future children and I can’t wait to see what our future as husband and wife entails.” I said looking up at her with a tear rolling down her cheek. Now it was her turn. “Ethan, to say I fell in love with you is ironic because of the way we met. You had managed to drop a gallon of milk at the store and I being oblivious as I am didn’t see it, so I fell straight on my butt. I am sure you watched in horror from down the aisle as I fell but you were so kind and apologetic it melted my heart. You continue to melt my heart, in the same way, every day. You are so caring and selfless. You are also the biggest idiot I have ever met-Amen!” Cameron interrupted me, and the entire room started laughing. “Anyway, you may be an idiot, but you are my idiot. I promise to love you unconditionally, support you wholeheartedly, care for you tenderly, and encourage you regularly. I promise to hold your hand often, to hold your heart with care, and to keep your soul alive until the day I die. I love you E” she finished and I couldn’t help but smile. I think I just fell in love with her all over again. “Do you Brooke Anne Richards take Ethan Grant Dolan to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you both shall live?” “I do,” she said. “Do you Ethan Grant Dolan take Brooke Anne Richards to be your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?” “Of course, I do” I smiled at my beautiful soon-to-be wife. “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride!” “My pleasure” I smirked as pulled Brooke into a deep kiss. Our first kiss as husband and wife. I have never been so high on life as I listen to the cheers of our closest friends and family. We stopped and started walking down the aisle. I stopped a couple feet before the threshold and picked her up bridal style. “Always a drama queen!” she yelled and everyone laughed as we headed out of the church. “Well hello there, Mrs. Dolan,” I said. “And hello to you Mr. Dolan,” she said and I kissed her again. I am so glad that I can finally call her my wife. It has such a better ring than girlfriend or fiancé.

[minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong]

The Parting Chapter Eleven

Description: The only certainty in life is death, and it seems to follow Park Jimin. All his life, the icy shadow of death has hung closely by his side, along with the shadow of…something else. Reapers exist to guide the souls of the living to the world beyond. But what happens when a particular Reaper tampers with the natural order and saves a mortal boy’s life? What will they do once their fates become inextricably linked?

Genre: Supernatural, Drama, Fluff, Angst

Pairing: Jimin x (f) OC

Word Count: 8.6k

Tags: Flower Shop Owner!Jimin, Reaper!OC, Non-Idol!AU, Cop!Yoongi, Supernatural!AU

Warnings: Death, swearing and mentions of alcohol, although infrequently

A/N: Hello! This story is pretty quickly wrapping up! Only a few things left to be seen/answered. I hope you guys have enjoyed the ride as much as I have! And I’m already planning for my next fic, which will be VERY reliant upon your interaction! Your choices will directly affect the story. Anyway, I’ll post more information about that once we get to the last chapter of this story. As always, I will respond to all asks received within a day of receiving them, so feel free and feel comfortable sending me anything! And please send feedback, criticism, comments or concerns my way so I can address them.

DISCLAIMER!!! Although I have researched quite a lot about Korean culture, I am taking a fictitious approach to its history. While I am trying to be historically accurate, there are sure to be details that I mess up! Please know that I have no poor intentions! DISCLAIMER!!!

AHH! And I started a Ko-Fi account! PLEASE do NOT feel pressured to donate if you don’t have the money or just don’t want to! There’s no expectation or obligation, but anything is appreciated. Love you guys! https://ko-fi.com/mercurywriter

- Mercury

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Chapter One

Masterlist

Weekly updates: Sunday, 1PM (PST)

Hoseok sat on an old rope swing, swaying gently along with the branches overhead. I stood beside him, leaning against the rough side of a tree with my eyes on the underbrush below our feet. Neither of us said anything for a while. After we’d seen each other, Hoseok had quickly righted himself and jerked his head towards the exit. I’d followed, throwing apologies over my shoulder at Seonhwa as I rushed after her son. She called after us, but after a few moments she simply shrugged and hopped back over the desk to rest with the pharmaceuticals.

It had been five minutes of silence between me and the nurse.

“Hoseok-,”

“Hold on,” he said, shaking his head as he gripped the rope swing with both hands. “I need to think about how to word this.”

I sighed and laced my fingers in front of me. “Please take your time,” I said. I was still avoiding going back to Jimin for the time being.

He glanced up at me from below and shook his head, staring at me properly as he blinked and said nothing for a while. “It’s just crazy,” he said.

I raised my brows. “What is?”

“All of this,” he said.

“Be specific.”

He sighed. “At first…I guess I was kinda suspicious of you because you can see…those things.”

I thought a moment. Could he possibly mean…? “Reapers?” I asked.

His eyes went wide. “They have a name?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, then sighed. “I’m rather stunned that you can see them too.”

He shrugged and watched his feet as they traced circles into the dirt below. “Every few generations, someone in the family gets the…gene or whatever. It’s always been the women until I was born.”

I stared at the ground. “I…I believe I used to be the same. In the past.”

He cocked a brow. “Which past?” he asked.

I stiffened. “Hoseok, what do you know about me?” I asked.

He sighed and stood up, standing in front of me properly. “My mom and my grandma used to tell stories about the family heritage. Apparently, we come from a line of shamans.”

My eyes widened. So my theories were correct. These people…were my descendants. “Y-You do?”

“The earliest Kwon was named Seonhwa. She lived a really successful life actually. She practiced herbal medicine in the common class, but she wasn’t a shaman. Her grandmother was, and so was her sister…,” he paused to glance at me. “Her sister Nari.”

I shook my head and raked my fingers through my hair. “So she grew up well…,” I breathed, relief flooding through me. “She lived well. Children too…”

Hoseok chuckled. “So you really are her then? You’re…that Nari?” he asked.

I met his dark eyes, scanning them for a long moment, and reluctantly nodded my head. “I believe I am.”

He smiled and chuckled, reaching a hand out to me. “It’s nice to officially meet you,” he said, shaking my hand gently.

“You seem very unfazed by all of this,” I said.

He shrugged. “Once Dad told us that you took a temporary name, I kinda put it all together. The fact that you can see those shadows, the fact that you look like Mom and Jisoo…I don’t know, it made sense,” he said.

I chuckled. “What an odd life you must live if something like that makes any sense to you.”

He laughed and shrugged, his expression softer and kinder somehow, less hostile and distrusting than before. “Weird shit has always happened to me. Hell, this town,” he said with a laugh. “Anyway, I just got a weird vibe from you since the start. And the fact that you could talk to the shadows-,”

“Wait, how did you know that?” I asked.

He raised his brows. “That day at the hospital when Jimin found you in the hallway. I was following that shadow after it left a room and heard your voice,” he said.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I groaned.

He scoffed. “And risk you thinking I was a crazy person? No thanks,” he said. “What if my hypothesis was wrong? I’m a nurse. I value the scientific method.”

I rolled my eyes. “Anyway…I guess I’m your aunt now?” I asked, furrowing my brow. “That seems wrong.”

He laughed and nodded. “Yeah, well…” His expression shifted as if he remembered something suddenly and he turned to me, arms crossed and eyes wide. “There’s something I’m curious about though. Aunt Nari…she died really young.”

My stomach dropped. Another early death. Just what had happened to Jimin and me all those lifetimes ago? “How young…?”

“It’s hard to say since it’s just a family story, but…twenty-one or so,” he said. “It just seems strange that you’d come to this town as the same age she died at.”

I shook my head. “I…I didn’t come here, Hoseok,” I said softly.

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t explain it but…just know that I was sincere when I said I didn’t remember a life before waking up on the street,” I said.

His eyes went dark as he scanned me. “Nari, you’re confusing me,” he said, tone serious.

I shook my head. “That’s all I can say. Hoseok, my life began two weeks ago,” I said.

Hoseok watched me with confusion in his eyes and his jaw clenched before a sigh escaped him and he nodded. “As long as it’s not, like, time travel or something I’ll accept it.”

I laughed, feeling the mood shift towards something more comfortable and playful and nodded my head. “I am certain that’s not it.” I sighed and ran my hands over my thighs. “But…do you know how that Nari died?” I asked.

He pursed his lips. “Mom said that Grandma Seonhwa didn’t like talking about it. Seems it was a pretty big wound for the family,” he said, then peered around as if looking for spies. He leaned close. “But I have a theory.”

I raised my brows. “You do?” I asked, grabbing his arm. “What is it?”

He glanced at my fingers before prying them off of his skin. He sighed. “Whenever the family keeps something secret, it has to do with all that shaman business,” he said quietly. “It’s not something the family likes to be associated with. Ever since Grandma Seonhwa started doing herbal medicine, nobody in the family worked as shamans.”

My eyes widened. “Even though they were born with that…gift?” I asked.

He nodded. “I’ve always been suspicious. Like, why do we talk to death about all of the other relatives, but we never learn about Aunt Nari and what she did? Why she died? It’s suspicious.”

“So you think…something paranormal happened to her-er, to me?” I asked, shaking my head.

He gave me a heavy, grim look and nodded once. “I think so.”

If Jimin died at twenty-three, and I died at twenty-one then we died around the same time. Coincidences like that didn’t just…happen. I’d lost all faith in coincidence. It had to be connected. Slowly, the dots of my past life began to emerge, their hazy connections taking shape as I uncovered more information.

But there was still something nagging at me.

How did Jimin die?

At the end of the week, I made a trip to the library. Jimin and I had grown distant, with neither of us speaking much and no more shy glances. It seemed I’d really hurt him. My heart ached, but it was for his own good. I was never meant to be a permanent fixture in his life. He’d gotten too close too rapidly. The fact alone that he didn’t care about what I was said enough. He was deluded by feelings he shouldn’t have for me. And despite my own curiosities about my background and the life I lived before, I didn’t need to entangle Jimin any further. It seemed I couldn’t keep my promise to him that we’d figure things out together…

I sat at the same table we’d shared that day and watched the empty space where he would have sat with a tightening chest. I shook my head and grabbed the book of records, quickly locating Jimin’s name and trailing a finger down the page, searching for an obituary or even a cause of death. After a few seconds scanning the words, I found it.

Drowning…

I furrowed my brow and touched the word with the tip of my finger, shaking my head. How could he have drowned? I remembered that river and a shiver ran up my spine. I shut the book and slid it away, crossing my arms as I stared at the wobbly table before me, unable to understand exactly what it was that had happened between us.

“You’re researching the boy…,” said a voice from behind me.

I jumped and turned to find Zero standing with his back to me, eyes flitting over the shelves of books before him. I stood and rushed to his side, watching him as he gently lifted a hand to touch a book before sighing and glancing to the side, peering down at me.

“Zero…what are you doing here?” I asked, frantically looking around for any onlookers. “In public?”

He smiled slightly and returned to scanning the books. “We are the only souls in this library who don’t work here,” he said with a listless chuckle. “Quite a lot safer than that apartment.”

I stiffened and sighed. “Yes,” I said. “I was researching him.”

“Not the him from this lifetime, however,” he said, not even bothering to look at me.

I nodded. There was no use lying to him when he knew it all already. “Yes.”

“So you’ve remembered something?” he asked, looking at me with a smirk. “Just how much?”

“Zero…what do you know?” I asked.

He smiled, but it didn’t seem malicious. “I’m bound by contract not to tell you,” he said. “But it seems I may not have to.”

I stared up at him. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “Your memories are returning on their own. That, my friend, was not part of the contract,” he said, laughing slightly. “I almost can’t believe it.”

“So…my memories…they’re really mine?” I asked, voice timid, giving life to the silent fears and worries that had plagued me for weeks.

“That I cannot answer,” he said. “The only solution is to continue remembering.”

I shook my head. “But Zero, I have just over a week left before the deadline. How am I supposed to remember a lifetime?”

He sighed. “You must,” he said, finally turning to me and sending me a severe look. “If you don’t and time runs out, I must take matters into my own hands regarding the boy.”

“Can you do that?” I asked.

He nodded. “I can do many things,” he said, resting his Book on his hip. His expression soured. “If I am beckoned.”

“Beckoned…?”

He stared down at me and a soft smile touched his sharp features. “What I saw in you before is stronger now,” he said with a nod. “Remember your place.”

I exhaled in a long huff and shook my head. “I don’t understand what you mean! Stop speaking in riddles and tell me properly.”

He shook his head and reached out to give my shoulder an almost reassuring squeeze. “You have the answers, Nari.”

My eyes went wide. He called me by my name… Before I could respond, he was gone and I was left alone, staring at a shelf of books with my pulse thrumming. There was something barring Zero from speaking, some contract binding him to silence. But he said I had the answers…

All I had to do was remember.

“And that’s how Grandma Jisoo got away with insurance fraud,” said Hoseok with a sigh, leaning back on his palms as the two of us watched the advancing tide.

We’d spent the entire afternoon going over old family stories, hoping to stumble upon something useful. If Zero was convinced I had the answers, then that meant there might be a way to save both Jimin and Injung. If I could only find the right key, I could unlock the door to my third option.

But it seemed that key was rather elusive, since hours had passed and nothing had seemed relevant enough to remember. Although hearing about my descendants made me smile, I didn’t have the luxury of time to enjoy their stories. Hoseok and I sat on a checkered blanket on the sand, the sun seeping into my skin as I sighed and rested my chin on my knees. What in the world was I supposed to do when my only insight came from dreams I could neither control nor summon?

“Hoseok!” called a female voice from behind us.

The two of us turned to the source and saw Jisoo — not Grandma Jisoo who successfully committed fraud, but the living one — rushing down the beach towards us. As she approached, she rested her hands on her knees and caught her breath. She sent Hoseok a sharp look before turning to me with a smile.

“Hi, Nari!” she said, voice singsongy.

I chuckled and flitted my fingers. “Nice to see you, Jisoo.”

She wore her casual clothes which, much like mine, seemed slightly too big for her. And in her hair was a striking little pin. The pin she’d toted the other day, the lily pin. A vision flashed before my eyes to the pin I’d worn in my own hair in my dreams. I furrowed my brow. Hadn’t that been mine from the start? How could they be the same when she’d received it as a gift from Yeoreum?

I shifted away from Hoseok to make room for Jisoo on the blanket and she sat with a grin. “What’re you doing down here? Aren’t you helping Mom today?” asked Hoseok.

Jisoo tossed him a glare before returning her attention to me. “She wanted me to tell you we’re ordering takeout and you have to go get it.”

I glanced to Hoseok. There was still so much we needed to go over. Hoseok shrugged his shoulders and stood up, dusting off the backs of his legs with a sigh. “We can talk more later, Nari,” he said with a wave.

I moved to follow him, but quickly remembered Jisoo and settled back down. “You look kinda pale,” she remarked, scanning my features. “Paler than usual.”

I nodded. “I’m not doing very well.”

She pouted. “Is it something I can help with?” she asked.

I smiled and gave the top of her hand a pat. “I don’t think so,” I said. Hoseok had agreed it was best not to tell Jisoo or Seonhwa about my past life, given how the family reacted to anything occult. So I simple smiled. “That pin really suits you,” I said.

She touched it with a grin and nodded. “I think so too.”

“And it was a gift? From Yeoreum?” I asked, my tone edgy. “You mentioned he bought it.”

She shrugged. “I dunno where he got it. I kinda just assumed he bought it, but the more I look at it the more it seems like…really old.”

I stiffened. It did seem rather antiquated. “I see…”

“Mom told me a cool story when I first got it about one of our ancestors,” she said. “The one Mom is named after.”

I nodded. “Hoseok has been telling me some of your family’s stories. It’s very interesting,” I said, to which her dark eyes lit up.

She grinned. “Right? This story is my favorite I think. She’s told parts of it before, but she never told me this part,” she said with a nod. “When Grandma Seonhwa moved to this town, she met with a super rich family. Like, one of the richest ones in the area.”

I raised my brows. Such an industrious girl was meeting with nobles? “How did she know them?”

Jisoo shook her head and glanced out to the water. “We don’t know. She never talked about it.”

“Huh…” Another thing they didn’t talk about…I could only theorize that it had to do with me somehow.

“Anyway, the youngest son was her age and he really liked her,” she said with a laugh. “Every day he would send her gifts and try to get her attention, but she never responded to him.”

I chuckled. That, I could picture. The young, plucky girl with her messy hair and dirt-stained hands. Of course she would reject the advances of someone like that. “Charming.”

She shook her head. “Anyway, I guess he kept trying to give her this one lily hairpin and she kept saying no. I dunno why, but I guess that gift really ticked her off and she finally told him outright to stop,” she said, then laughed. “Which only made him like her more. I guess he only gave up when she got married to someone else.”

“How persistent,” I said, but my mind had begun churning. If that lily pin really was mine, and it did look horribly similar, then what did that say about the youngest son? A cold chill ran through me as an inkling of an idea took form in my mind. “Tell me, Jisoo. Do you know if this man had siblings?”

She nodded. “Two older brothers.”

I stiffened and stared at her profile with wide eyes. “And what was their family name?”

She pursed her lips, then snapped her fingers. “It’s Park!” she said with a grin. “Just like Jimin. I actually thought it was pretty funny when Jimin told me his family name the first day we met, since it was the same as that rich family.”

I felt my stomach flip and my hands grip the blanket tightly. Yeoreum was related to Jimin’s past. He had to be. After Seonhwa rejected that pin, that youngest son must have held onto it. And if Seonhwa was at marrying age, then I was already dead. She likely cast it away so vehemently because it had once belonged to me. I shook my head. Just how connected was everything in this town?

“Just how long will you continue watching me?” I asked, washing the linens with downcast eyes as the river rushed over my fingers.

Jimin cleared his throat and came to sit beside me, footfalls soft on the leaves and underbrush. He adjusted his hanbok and crouched on the balls of his feet, watching me as I tended to the laundry.

“Hello…,” he said softly.

I nodded my head, but didn’t look at him. For months, the boy had been relentless in his approaches toward me, leaving me no choice but to ignore him.  While I was mixing herbs for his older brother’s rash, he was watching in the doorway like a specter. The day I’d spent teaching his younger brother calligraphy, the boy had lingered just outside in the garden, listening in. Time passed this way, almost too quickly for me to notice, and without even realizing I’d become comfortable with this place and with that strange second son. But the more persistent he was, the weaker my will became. I simply was no match for his stubbornness.

“Is there something you wish to discuss?” I asked. I’d grown bolder during my time with the Parks, and I seldom held my tongue around the sons.

Jimin cleared his throat and wrung his hands. “Well…it’s a bit strange, but…uh…hm…”

I finally glanced at him and saw in his cherubic cheeks was a pinkish blush, blooming all across his fair skin. I raised my brows. “Yes?”

He sighed and ruffled his hair, frustrated, before he turned to me and took my hands. I jumped, desperate to avoid his touch and the unpleasant consequences of it, but his grip was tight and his eyes were pleading. Slowly, I stilled and watched him with cautiously narrowed gaze.

“Nari, will you accompany me to the festival tonight?” he asked.

I tilted my head to the side. “Festival?” I asked.

He nodded, brows knitted. “I would really love it if you could,” he said, then his eyes went wide. “If you can spare the time of course!”

Why then did my heart race? I glanced down at my chest, ordering my fickle heart to settle down, before I met his eyes once more. “Is that appropriate? For someone like me to accompany you?”

He furrowed his brow. “Appropriate?” he asked, seemingly baffled. “What does that matter? I want to go with you.”

“And because you want it, is it so?” I asked, sighing as I gathered the washing and placed it carefully in my basket. “This is the critical difference between you and me. You, Park Jimin, request and receive. Have you known rejection?”

He stood up and stared down at me with cheeks flaming. “Yes!” he exclaimed, pointing at me wildly. “I experience it every day with you!”

I scoffed and rested my basket on my hip. “And just what do you mean?”

“I come to you all day and all day you make yourself scarce to me,” he said, pouting slightly and crossing his arms over his chest. “Would you like to know what I think our critical difference is?”

I nodded and offered a grin. “I would love to know.”

He squinted at me before glancing away, still pouting. “I see things that I desire and I reach for them,” he said, then smirked slyly. “I am not a coward.”

My chest puffed and I gaped at him, unable to manage my expression. “A coward?!” I shouted, wagging a finger at his chest. “My apologies, Young Master, but those of us who serve others have not the liberty to be brave!”

He stuck his tongue out at me and shrugged. “I am hearing many excuses from you today, Nari.” He took a step toward me. “It seems to me that you are simply finding ways to avoid me because you are afraid you may fall for me.”

I gaped. “Park Jimin, in what reality would that be the case?” I asked.

He chuckled, confidence now inhabiting his form as he leaned away. “If you’re unafraid, then come with me tonight.”

I laughed and nodded. “Fine,” I said, holding out my free hand for him to shake. “But expect no falling from me.”

He grinned and grabbed my hand, shaking it firmly. “We shall see.”

Why then did I tend to my appearance so carefully that night? I sighed at my reflection, touching my lily pin gently with my fingertip. If Seonhwa could have seen me then, gracefully made and pristinely dressed, she would have laughed. But something about that boy made me frustrated, agitated. He made me competitive and ornery. A spoiled young aristocrat, born into wealth and power, taking a shine to someone like me? It was comical. The plot to a lackluster theater performance.

Nonetheless, I made sure not a hair was set out of place.

When I entered the garden to meet him, Jimin was wringing his hands and staring at the ground. He seemed to be regulating his breathing and I wondered briefly if perhaps he was nervous. I quickly banished the thought with a dismissive shake of my head and approached him, mindful to maintain a stoicism that his charm couldn’t penetrate.

But as he turned to me with a smile, my heart leapt and I had to glance away from his flushed face and his shy grin to keep from feeling something troubling. The two of us walked together along the path from the estate which led into the town center. Jimin and I made quiet conversation, although to call it conversation was slightly overstating. Jimin indeed did most of the talking. But I didn’t find it unpleasant. In fact, his anecdotes and jesting tales made me laugh.

“Ah, Nari!” he called, pointing to a stall serving nuts to crack in the teeth. The harvest ceremony had already ended and evening was descending, lanterns lightening the paths which all the townspeople traversed with smiles. “Would you like to try?”

I stiffened and rushed toward him. “I cannot afford it-,”

He gave me a look which silenced me and shook his head. “I asked if you would like to try, not if you had money.”

I blinked and glanced back toward the stall. “I…suppose,” I said quietly.

He smiled gently, the yellow light from the lanterns reflecting in his eyes, and I wondered if perhaps he had been right. Perhaps I really had been afraid… “Let’s go then,” he said, taking my hand and leading me toward the stall.

We each pressed the nuts between our back teeth and bit down hard. It ached my jaw, but watching Jimin laugh and giggle as the crumbs fell from his lips kept my complaints from being aired. I simply watched him with a fond smile as he cracked a few more, joking that his teeth would surely be the strongest in the town if he kept going.

After a while, Jimin led the way to the beach. Many of the townsfolk dared not descend that far from the festivities, choosing instead to deviate in groups and climb cliffs to catch a glimpse of the first full moon. Jimin and I stood together, watching the sky as it turned vibrant orange and red, neither of us saying much of anything. Twilight was encroaching on the horizon, and I watched the sky carefully.

“You must like the night sky,” I remarked, thinking privately.

He glanced at me, bathed in sunset light, and smiled. “Hm?”

I felt my face go red and cleared my throat. “Well…considering your father’s occupation.”

He nodded with a sigh. “Father thinks the sky has the answers, but…I think he troubles himself too much with fate. If it is indeed inescapable, then why assume the burden of monitoring it?” he asked.

I thought a moment. His father had said that he was very worried for his second son. For Jimin. I turned to him slightly. “What do you think?” I asked.

He glanced at me with only his eyes before a small smile touched his lips. “I think…life is a very fleeting blessing. I wish to live each day with that in mind.”

I opened my mouth to remind him that not everyone could live that way, but stopped myself. The air between us was somber, vulnerable. For reasons I didn’t fully understand, I wanted to protect that. “Is that why you were so persistent towards me?” I asked.

He swallowed harshly and coughed a little, clasping his hands behind his back and turning to walk down the beach. I quickly followed, taking up a spot by his side, and examined his expression. “That is…part of the reason, yes.”

“And the other part?” I asked.

His eyes slid towards me. “The other part is…because…,” he started, then cringed slightly and shook his head. “Forget me. I’m rambling.”

“I was the one who asked,” I said, scanning him.

He flushed and looked away, his strides long and slow and easy. “Well…the other part is because you are…very different from anyone else I’ve met.”

“Is that a compliment?” I asked, emboldened by the sunset and the warm atmosphere between us.

He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “You are awfully direct,” he said, then sighed and faced me. “It is a very, very good thing.” I looked away, chagrined, and listened to his endearing laugh. “When you spend all your life with people who wish to exploit you and your family…it is refreshing to meet someone sincere. Someone with a moral compass and too much pride.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, eyes wide.

He laughed and shook his head. “I really enjoy you.”

My breath hitched and I avoided his eyes once more. What sort of feeling was this? Had he always been so kind? The Park Jimin I’d known since coming to his home had been a petty troublemaker, a mischievous boy with a penchant for disturbing me. He’d frustrated me and charmed me in equal measures.

But this evening…he seemed different.

And my heart behaved differently in turn.

“I…suppose your company is not entirely bothersome,” I said, my tone begrudging as I avoided his imploring gaze.

He laughed. “Please repeat that.”

I shook my head. “I do not repeat myself for nobles.”

Jimin’s laugh echoed through the beach, now drenched in the purple hues of twilight. “I am glad to know you regard me more kindly now,” he said, voice as gentle as a cresting wave. “I’ve always regarded you that way.”

My stomach fluttered slightly and I nearly groaned in frustration. How could I have these budding emotions for someone like him? After all these years caring only for my family, I’d never once considered my romantic life. Marriage, children…they all seemed lofty goals compared to daily survival. But this aristocrat was stirring my heart about carelessly.

“Say,” he began, taking wide, sweeping steps forward. “How did you learn medicine?”

I pursed my lips. “It was out of necessity. My family…we are not the kind of people who can receive aid in any way. This includes medical treatment,” I said with a sigh.

He raised his brows and stared down at me. “Truly?”

I nodded. “Many people live this way,” I said.

He furrowed his brow. “They shouldn’t.”

With a smile, I chanced a glance his way and noticed his jaw set staunchly and his eyes narrowed. I chuckled. “Righteous outrage?” I asked.

“I never knew people really lived that way,” he said, shaking his head. “If I take after my father, I’ll see to it that the king affords basic human dignity to even the lowest class.”

I smiled. “I hope you can do it,” I said.

He peeked down at me and as our eyes met, his cheeks grew pink and he cleared his throat. “H-How do you know my father then? If you cannot approach him.”

“My father is…a very trusted physician,” I said with a nod, although the words felt like acid. “He works with your father often.”

His eyes went wide. “If your father is a physician, then your class equals mine,” he said.

I smiled at my feet as they flattened the sand beneath them. “If I were conceived legitimately, certainly.” He paused and his steps slowed to a stop. I turned to face him and met his eyes, something burning in my chest. “Does your favor end here? Has your opinion of me changed?”

He furrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you think I’m such a spineless man?”

I blinked at him. “No, your reaction is simply-,”

“I’m upset,” he said. “It upsets me that you’ve had to live so poorly for nothing more than a birthright. What kind of society allows this?” he asked.

My heart pounded. I’d never imagined holding counsel with an aristocrat over such issues, and even stranger still was that our opinions aligned. I took a step toward him and crossed my own arms. “Does it truly upset you?”

He nodded. “Of course! What great wrong have you committed to live this way? And your poor mother!”

A small smile stretched across my face. “Poor indeed,” I said, tilting my head to the side as he watched the beach over my shoulder, stewing in frustration. “Father stayed with us even after my sister was born, saying he would cast away his title and raise us from poverty with the strength of his hands alone.”

Jimin’s eyes went wide. “A sister too!” he scoffed. “What a horrible man.”

“A liar too,” I said with a full-fledged grin. “He left even after promising so much. A man is only worth the value of his word, don’t you think?”

“A man’s word is his bond!” exclaimed Jimin, brows set low and face red all over from anger.

I took another small step closer, watching the spectrum of emotions on his face. “My grandmother too now must work,” I said. “Isn’t that too cruel? My elderly grandmother working as a shaman?”

“Deplorable!”

“And my sister catches fish!”

“A little girl!”

“And I work for a rich family, separated from my own!” I shouted, smiling.

At this, his outraged waned and he looked down at me with eyes reflecting the ocean, lips parted. “Why…why does your expression seem so joyful while recounting such awful things?”

I laughed and, gently, pressed my index finger between his eyebrows where the skin was creased with worry. His eyes grew round. “It is the first time I’ve commiserated with someone.” I retracted my hand and smiled at the ground. “How strange. Watching you assume my woes has made me smile.”

“Then I’ll do it forever!”

I looked up at him, at the earnestness in his wide eyes, and couldn't help but laugh. “Truly?”

“Of course! If it brings you joy…anything,” he said softly, voice petering out at the end as he turned his eyes to the ocean and the sky. “Ah! It’s the moon!” he called, pointing toward the sky with a grin.

I followed his finger and noticed that indeed, a ghost of the moon was appearing amongst the lilac clouds. I laughed. “Incredible!” I looked toward the boy and found him smiling brightly at the sky, neck craned and eyes locked on the heavens. I smiled despite myself. “Do you know the old superstition? That the first person to glimpse the first full moon of the lunar new year is granted one wish?”

He turned to me and smiled. “Is that so?”

I nodded. “You must wish quickly. Someone else may be looking at that moon as well,” I said, nudging his shoulder toward the shoreline.

He stiffened and nodded, squeezing his eyes shut and clasping his hands in front of his chest. “I wish…I wish to live a long and happy life with the people I care for, and to make the world better for those people with that life.”

I watched him profess his sincerest wish and felt a twinge of sadness in his voice. I scanned him, desperate to discern even a fraction of his thoughts from his expression. But all I saw was a yearning hope. Had I ever seen someone with such wholehearted, profound longing?

Why was he reaching for his wish with such wild, grasping hands?

He opened his eyes and offered me a smile which I couldn’t return. Instead, I simply watched him for a moment before sighing. “Why did you sound like a man about to die?” I asked.

He blinked and glanced away, rubbing the back of his head. “Do not trouble yourself on my account.”

“It is too late to advise me not to trouble myself. I am at present very troubled,” I said, walking to his side and scanning his profile, a bashful smile on his face. “If you refuse to tell me, perhaps I can write to your father.”

“No!” he shouted, turning to me with a fearful look. “He cannot know I am spending time off the estate.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

He sighed and settled on the sand, sitting on his backside and watching the waves. I joined him, still scanning his features. He ran his hands through his shaggy hair with a grimace. “I’ll tell you,” he said, then shook his head. “But once the night is over. I still wish to have fun.”

I sighed and nodded. “Fine,” I said, touching my own hair and grazing the pin with my fingertips. I watched Jimin’s face as his eyes drank in the scene of the ocean before him. Why did he look so lonesome? I removed the lily pin and held it in my palm, sighing softly. “This pin…was the only gift my father ever gave me.”

Jimin turned to me slightly, watching me. “A lily pin? For your name?”

I smiled at it, turning it over in my hands. “Yes. He said that for a name as lovely as mine, I should have a pin to match,” I said, smoothing my fingers over it. “Perhaps it seems silly to hold something that man gave me so dear, but…it is my most precious possession.”

“How many possessions do you have?” he asked, a teasing smile on his face.

I cast him a sharp glare. “Well now,” I said, huffing with a laugh. “Regardless, it is very important to me.”

“It’s beautiful.”

I was quiet a moment before taking his hand and placing it palm-up atop my knee. “I’d like you to have it,” I said as I placed the pin in his palm.

His eyes widened and he shook his head. “I couldn’t possibly-,”

I met his gaze with a soft smile. “As a thank you for this evening,” I began, “and as a reminder.” I watched his eyes flit over the pin. “You mentioned that you’d like to change the way things are, to fix them for people like me and my family. I want you to keep this pin and remember that promise.”

He stared at it, sitting daintily in his rough palm, and blinked. “Nari, I simply couldn’t-,”

“I am asking you to,” I said, then smiled. “And I am asking you to live a long, healthy life so you can do what you said you would.”

His eyes grew hazy and his fingers closed around the pin. He took it onto his lap and stared at it, nodding his head. “I will,” he said, then turned to me once more.

Slowly, he moved closer. I’d forgotten myself that night, neglecting my position and allowing myself to slip into the easy fantasy that the two of us were simply people. Perhaps friends even. But as his advanced, eyes shut, a brief panic ran through me. I had to run away. I had to save myself from the punishment of cavorting with someone so far above me. I had to save Jimin from the harsh reprimands of his father should anything happen between us.

But in the end, once his plush lips touched mine, I could do nothing but shut my eyes and lean into his touch. Frustration coursed through me, but so did something else. Something much deeper and warmer, skipping through my veins and setting my skin alight. The kiss was short, chaste, but intimate. He pulled back first and stared at me, face still inches from mine, breaths coming slightly shallow as he scanned me. His brows knitted and his eyes fell to the ground.

He took a steadying breath before looking at me again. “Nari…the reason I made that wish is because…,” he began, then stopped and shook his head, swallowing hard. “I am very, very sick.”

My eyes went wide and I backed away, watching him carefully as he ran his fingers through his hair. We’d shared but one kiss, one evening of joy and laughter, and yet this confession sent my heart aching. Why, after just one night, did I wish so deeply to protect this boy?

Morning light sifted through the curtains beside my bed and I watched it for a moment as my senses returned to me. I had awoken from my dreams not with a start, but with a stiffness in my chest. The dream had only confirmed my fears. The Jimin from my memory was nearing his demise. The more of my past memories returned, the closer I felt to this horrible itch in the back of my mind, ever-present and scraping, growing stronger and stronger. I was close to something, something important.

All I had to do was remember.

But I had less than a week left.

I padded out of my bedroom, scratching my head as I wandered towards the kitchen. But as I did, I noticed the refrigerator was open and standing before it was Jimin. He turned to me and opened his mouth as if to speak before, upon thinking a moment, shutting it with a sigh and shutting the refrigerator, maneuvering around me into the living room where he fell against the sofa.

While I tried to make myself accept the distance I’d forced between myself and Jimin, it still hurt to see him in the mornings, readying himself alone, eating alone, heading down to the shop alone. It was a far bigger wedge than a simple rejection. If I’d rejected him, perhaps he might have laughed it off and continued as normal. I’d placed a block between us that was forged of steel. My own unwillingness to allow him close to me, an impregnable wall keeping him from coming to me.

Things were fine before I’d known the depth of his feelings for me. I could convince myself he would surely hate me once I told him the truth about me, but still he stood beside me, steadfast as ever. I could force myself to believe he was only attached to me because I was available, because I was around so often. But he wanted to be with me. For real.

It was for his own good that I wouldn’t allow it.

“Will you pick up some purple ribbon from the store? I’m arranging a wedding bouquet and I don’t have enough,” he said.

Our words were scarce lately. I nodded. “Sure.”

He was quiet, the silence palpable as I stood with nothing to do in the kitchen. “Nari?” he asked, voice breaking slightly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. “Mhm?”

“Please don’t disappear,” he said softly.

I felt the tears welling in my eyes. How could he be so astute yet so oblivious? I turned toward the front door and dabbed my eyes. “I’ll get going now,” I said.

Jungkook helped me check out after I’d found the right ribbon, and the way he eyed me from above let me know he was worried. His brow was slightly lowered, his eyes scanning my features. I wanted to tell him it was fine, that I was fine, but I couldn’t bring myself to lie to him. Things were so messy and complicated, and my only saving grace was a faulty memory which only arrived in bursts while I slept.

I left the supermarket with one small bag in my hands and wandered through the streets of the town, the tall white-washed buildings I’d glided through before this whole mess began. The uneven pavement, the bright sky and the sun which bleached the bricks. Before I knew it, I was outside that bar. The one Jimin had gone to the night he’d almost died. It was odd to return to such an unsettling place. Just down the street was where I’d emerged as a human being, where I’d defied the laws of the universe for a single boy. I remembered the street slicked with rain and black as sin. I remembered the tingles in my new naked body as I struggled to understand what had happened. After three-hundred years of invisibility…

I sighed and continued walking, routing myself back towards the flower shop.

But as I rounded a corner, I heard a distinct voice. A deep, chesty voice that I recognized at once. Kim Taehyung. Quickly, I crept along the side of a building and inched into the backstreet, untouched by foot-traffic and the source of Taehyung’s voice. I followed it slowly, keeping to the shadows, and peeked around the corner of a decrepit building, catching sight of a red bandana and dark hair. It was him indeed.

“I’m not doing this,” he said, and from his voice alone I knew he was agitated.

I stiffened and peeked at my own discretion, keeping close to the exterior wall of the building so as not to be noticed. “I know. I don’t wanna do it either…,” said a second voice. I tried to place it.

“Then don’t,” he implored.

The second voice sighed. “It’s not that simple.”

Taehyung huffed and I heard a crash, likely the sound of him kicking something into the silent, empty street. “It is! Just leave him alone! Haven’t you done enough now?” he asked.

I shook my head. Surely, he couldn’t mean Jimin… “If I could stop I would, okay?” asked the second voice in a shout. It was so familiar, but impossible to assign to someone without seeing their face. It was too frantic to match the voices I knew. Perhaps if he calmed down…

“Whatever. You’re alone on this one. I had a bad feeling that first night that I shouldn’t have accepted your stupid deal,” spat Taehyung.

The second man sighed. “I should’ve told you the truth from the start. But listen, we’re in too deep now. If I get caught, so do you,” he said.

“What?! I’m not the one who tried to kill somebody! Your instructions were clear: invite Jimin out, get him drunk, text you when he leaves the bar,” said Taehyung. My heart raced. He was the one after all. But who was this man who had commissioned him?

“Do you really think they’ll let you off with a slap on the wrist?! You’re an accomplice to an attempted murder!” shouted the second man. The longer I listened, the more familiar his voice became. But it was still too hard to discern through the yelling.

“Like hell!” shouted Taehyung. “I’m out! Just…skip town or something. I don’t wanna see your face anymore.”

“Wait!”

“Getting involved with you was a fucking mistake!” he yelled.

The first man shouted into the air. “It’s one more night Taehyung! All I need you to do is make sure he goes to that stupid fair!” he called.

“Not a chance!”

“Jesus, do I really have to threaten you?” the man yelled.

The conversation was going nowhere and Taehyung’s voice was growing more and more distant. This was my chance. An opportunity to get a glimpse of the murderer with my own eyes. If I didn’t seize it, he would slip through my fingers once more. I didn’t have much time to unravel this mystery before it was too late. And if this man was planning to attack during the fair, I needed to know who to look out for.

Stealthily, I edged around the corner. I could only see his back, calling after Taehyung, but I could see some distinguishable features. Dark hair, long legs, black shirt. He was too far away. If I could just get a closer look…

“What was that?” asked Taehyung, whipping around to look in my direction. His eyes went round and horrified as he stared at me and I was rendered immobile in fear.

The culprit’s posture went rigid as he looked at Taehyung before, like a lightning bolt, he was sprinting down the street. “Stop!” I screamed, running after him.

Taehyung watched me as I whizzed past him before he too began running, but in the opposite direction. I wasn’t sure where he was going or what he would do, but as we passed one another, I noticed him reach into his pocket and grab his cell phone. Just like that night. I shook my head and kept running, pushing my body to its limit as I raced after the man’s rapidly retreating form as he became but a dot on the horizon, weaving through alleyways and between buildings.

I searched for the man for hours, the ribbon long forgotten, my breaths coming and going in wheezing gasps. But in the end, he was far faster than me. I’d been so foolish, chasing a man like that. I was desperate. There was nothing more I could do besides run and run. And as I ran, things became clearer and clearer. Taehyung had been contracted by this man to lure Jimin out. Taehyung seemed not to know the scope of what he was involved in, likely unaware that the end result would be murder. This man, this mastermind, seemed bound to his actions as well. As if there was something far larger than him pulling the strings.

Just like Jin had said. Perhaps this was much larger than a petty murder case…

I approached the flower shop with blisters on my heels and my hair a mess atop my head. My eyes never lifted as I walked past the front of the shop, but I noticed in the reflection of the glass that two police patrol cars were parked on the curb. I tilted my head and thought a moment. Why were they here?

Unless…

My heart raced and I shook my head in fear, hands trembling as I quickly ripped the door open. No, no, no. The murderer was surely not reckless enough to attack Jimin right after being spotted. Surely he had more sense than that. Surely, surely. I shook my head, rushing into the shop.

Breathlessly, I looked around and tears began collecting in my eyes. “Jimin!” I shouted, voice cracking from the strain. “Jimin! Jimin, are you okay?!” I cried.

Movement came from the back of the shop and my eyes darted madly towards it, jumping at the promise of Jimin’s safety. But who emerged left my chest deflated. Yoongi approached me slowly, sighing as he came close, and scanned my face, avoiding my eyes altogether.

“Where’s Jimin? Is he safe?” I asked, tears spilling.

Yoongi nodded. “He’s in the back talking to Namjoon.”

I sighed, relief rushing through my body, and nodded. “Thank God. I just saw the murderer. I chased him, but I lost him in town. He was talking to-,”

“You’re under arrest for suspicion of attempted murder.”

My blood ran cold and my words halted. “What?”

“You have the right to an attorney,” he said, staring into the middle ground beside me with an almost disinterested affect. “Anything you say can and will be held against you in the court of law-,”

“Yoongi-,”

“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be assigned to you.”

“Yoongi, wait-,”

“Please come with me back to the station.”

“Yoongi!” I shouted, finally forcing him to look me in the eyes. When he did, I saw something there that startled me. Both regret and apprehension. He didn’t trust me… “Yoongi, you know I didn’t do it.”

He sighed and gripped the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know, Nari. That’s the problem.”

I shook my head. “I’d never hurt Jimin.”

“We received an incriminating testimony from someone who was at the bar that night,” he reported with a shake of his head. “He said you spoke to a man while Jimin was lying on the ground before removing your clothes and feigning unconsciousness.”

“I…I what?” I asked, shaking my head. “Yoongi, that is absolutely impossible.”

He shrugged. “It’s a reliable statement.”

I swallowed hard, peering over his shoulder towards the back of the store as Namjoon and Jimin emerged. Jimin’s face was red. It was clear he’d been crying, eyes swollen and cheeks puffy. He lifted his eyes to look at me and I tried with all my heart to understand what those eyes held for me. Contempt? Anger? Hatred?

All I could see was a broken boy, all alone.

“Was it Taehyung?” I asked quietly, piecing it all together.

Yoongi sighed. “I can’t disclose that.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

Wordlessly, he placed a hand between my shoulder blades and led me towards the front door, guiding me to his car. Before I exited the shop, I looked over my shoulder and met Jimin’s eyes. Hopelessly, I sniffled as tears trailed down my face. Suddenly, the ground was ripped out from under me. Everything I relied upon was taken in an instant, and I was left stumbling in the blackness of the infinite unknown alone.

I didn’t know if I would ever see him again.

So, loudly enough for him to hear, I nodded my head and said the only thing I knew was true. The only thing I could think to say. “I love you.”

[nicholaspopkey]

A letter to Caro

Dear Caro,

Hoping to respond in some adequacy to your beautiful letter (see below), I’d first like to point out the irony of two millennials writing to each other in this ancient yet digitized form of correspondence. While you and I have exchanged postcards in the past, does this fact exempt us from having to put pen to paper to create letters? Does this posting count as a letter, or is "letter" just a label?

Thoughts coming to me now, hardly relevant. As for teaching me the word tenido, I couldn't thank you enough. It made me think of 'he tenido,' which of course means 'I have had.' It was funny to me, because a tenido is something I have never had. My references for the softness and satisfaction of such a settee come from fond memories of blanket forts I made as a kid. The euphoria of collapsing onto your plush daybed in its enveloping coziness! 

Your letter felt like a childhood memory focusing soft to sharp. I could listen for ages to your descriptions of rainy days, their 'heavy sheets' and the 'cold seeping in,' as well as more stories from your past detailing your appreciation for precipitation.

I understand your frustration with a lack of female representation in both required and popular reading. I agree that female authors should be prioritized and celebrated just as much as male authors. Unfortunately, opportunities to become an author continue to abound much greater for men than for women. It was powerful to read you come to the realization that even your own list of favorites would be majority male if stretched out long enough, since the numbers are so far in their favor. The goal you made to try and discover more female authors is commendable and should be pursued. 

As it turns out, Agatha Christie, like Sylvia Plath, had a husband who put her through very difficult circumstances. Her disappearance, motivated by her adulterous husband asking for a divorce, was seen by the public not as a reaction to an unhappy relationship but, rather unfairly, as a publicity stunt. Murder On The Orient Express is now at the top of my list. On the same list of best-selling fiction authors, I stumbled upon Barbara Cartland, another woman I didn't hear about growing up. She was a famous romance novelist who holds the Guinness World Record for most novels published in one year.

My dad stocked the fridge with a Costco-pack of kombucha. It was a really sweet gesture, because he knows I love this bohemian tonic. Normally I'd wonder as to how I could finish them all by the time I go back to L.A., but I'll be here until the 29th, so I know it's enough time. He's enlisted my help moving furniture around the house as he redesigns his study. My dad has a pet rat named Monty, who originally belonged to my sister. She couldn't take him with her from Boise to Santa Barbara, because her roommate didn't want to live with a rat. This roommate is quite another story altogether. As she gears up to move out, their relationship sputters with drama and turmoil. Monty climbs around in a cage in my dad's living room next to the lawyer's bookcase, filled with his rarest anthologies. 

So far I've seen my mom twice. Today at the bookstore we shared a cappuccino, then ended up sitting in her rental car discussing gift ideas, the lighter side of some extended-family dynamics, and plans for ten years from now. We're driving to Tetonia, ID on Saturday to visit her mother, my grandmother. My sister will also be there, although my aunt, who recently had her first successful art show in fifteen years, will be staying in Boise to paint. She said the sales from the show disappeared pretty quickly, so financial burdens must be weighing heavily on her at the moment, although she happens to be working a lot, as well as making art. I’m happy to be home. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

With love, 

Nick

@carolovesapples

______________________________________________________________________

RE:

Dear Nick,

I have set my timer for one hour, and I am beginning by writing you this letter. I’ve brought out all the fluffy blankets in my apartment (I have three, total) and folded them neatly in a tendido on the floor. A tendido, in case you weren’t aware, is a pile of blankets, usually folded in half, which act as a makeshift mattress so you can sleep on the floor comfortably. Quilts, comforters, and sleeping bags can also be used. Air mattresses do not count, as they too closely resemble an actual bed. So here I am, sitting on my tendido in front of my bookcase. It is raining, and I’ve been watching tv all day. I’ve opened my blinds and the windows so I can hear the rainfall outside. It’s lessened now to more of a trickle, but just a second ago it was really “coming down out there”! 

I recently watched the movie Paddington, in which a rare bear from Darkest Peru travels to London and finds a home (much like I intend to do, one day). In preparation for his journey to England, he learned 107 different ways to say, “its raining!”, one of which is “perfect weather for ducks”, which is my personal favorite as ducks are my favorite animal. So, here in Los Angeles, it is perfect weather for ducks, and for that reason I am sitting down on my tendido in front of my bookshelves perusing three books: 

1. On Filmmaking, by Alexander MacKendrick

2. Notes on the Cinematograph, by Robert Bresson, a French director, and

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by the one and only Dale Carnegie.

It’s not really about the books, of course. It’s about the rain. When I was little, on rainy days we used to open the garage door and the back of my mom’s minivan, and we would sit in the trunk and watch it come down. My dad would make hot chocolate, and we’d watch the rain, pouring down in gray sheets on our little street. Rainy days have always been my favorite days. They’re the best days for reading, when the cold seeps into the house and you curl up with a book and fluffy socks and a bag of hot Cheetos. They’re also great for writing, because as anyone who has ever listened to Florence + the Machine knows, water is one of the most poetic concepts there is. And then there’s photography, of course. The lighting on rainy, gloomy days has always been my favorites. In fact, every time I’ve traveled to a new place I’ve loved, it���s been raining. New York, Boston, Park City, Minnesota, London. I feel at home in the rain. It’s a familiar comfort. Maybe it was the novelty of a rainy day in Southern California, but they have never ceased to feel special to me. Additionally, rain means I can wear my rain boots and step in puddles, and my yellow raincoat, and I can feel as close to Paddington Bear as I ever will. If you take away anything from this letter, it should definitely be that Paddington Bear is my new hero. 

I’ve an announcement. It is this: in between ending the previous paragraph and starting this one, that I took a quick break because it occurred to me that I still hadn’t read your post on “The Mind’s Free Market” and now having done so I am feeling: very proud, and impressed, and quite frankly, rather envious. But mostly proud and impressed, those are the important emotions. The envy is a thing I feel often when I encounter good writing. It is a good sort of envy, one that pushes me to be better. The thought process goes like this: I’ll read something that resonates (or hear it), and my mind will be blown that the author could so perfectly capture the thought or feeling that their writing evoked in me. Perhaps I am putting the cart in front of the horse here: I am reacting to what is written and marveling at how the author created that reaction in me, when in reality, I will react however I will react and then attribute it to them. They couldn’t have known I would think one way or another about it, but the important part is that any good writing will pull from you some sort of emotional reaction. 

Side note: Yesterday I was hanging out with a friend who didn’t know who Sylvia Plath was, and that made me simultaneously sad for both him and the American education system. To expand: why is it that the majority of writers we study in middle school and high school are mainly men, if not all? I am trying to think about it and I cannot remember a single female writer we read before I went to college. I know why it is, of course, as the accomplishments of men have always been much lauded over the accomplishments of women in any field, but it is still incredibly frustrating. 

As I finished typing, Maya Angelou’s name came to mind, but so far no others. I remember reading Hemingway and Fitzgerald and of course Shakespeare, and Albert Camus’s L’Étranger. We did read Agatha Christie in seventh grade and she remains one of my favorite authors to date (I am looking at five different novels of hers on my shelves as I type this). But we focused so much more on the male authors that no one remembers the few women we did study. I’ve mentioned Agatha Christie’s name on several occasions to various different people and nine times out of ten, no one knew who she was, which is absolutely ridiculous, especially because she is the world’s best selling author, tied only by William Shakespeare. AND as if we needed any more evidence of the women’s accomplishments being downplayed over mens, in any online list regarding the world’s best selling author you will find Shakespeare’s name listed above Christie’s even though they are both estimated to have sold from 2-4 billion books, Christie having written 85 before her death to Shakespeare’s 42. Additionally, “Agatha Christie” comes before “William Shakespeare” alphabetically, and unless someone can show me evidence that Shakespeare has sold more that Christie I see this as a great affront and a deliberate attempt to downplay women’s accomplishments in favor of a man’s. 

Update: I have looked and found that on Christie’s website it IS stated that she is outsold by only the Bible and Shakespeare, so the point is valid, but I spent a full ten minutes on my rant about their rankings so I’m leaving it in with this correction. I still would like to see empirical proof however, that Shakespeare has definitively sold more than Christie. If you subtract the number of people who bought Shakespeare solely as a class requirement, I’m sure her number would overshadow his, but I am biased. Anyways, the few people who did remember who Agatha Christie was only did so because of the remake of the film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express that came out last year, but lets face it, it never stood a chance because the original starred Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman and Albert Finney, and the remake stars Johnny Depp, who hits women. 

In closing, we should incorporate more female authors and writers into our curriculum. I’d heard of Virginia Woolf in when I was in school, but we never read her in class. We spent a week or two on Emily Dickinson. We were never read the Brontë sisters, nor Jane Austen. And they’re the more well known authors. 

Anyways, when I read Plath or García Lorca or any of my other favorite poets and authors I always feel a yearning to be able to articulate my thoughts and emotions the way they do. I will conclude this letter with a list of some of my favorite authors writers, and lyricists, in no particular order. 

Agatha Christie

Florence Welch

Sylvia Plath

Maggie Stiefvater

Mary Oliver

Albert Camus

Robert Frost

Kurt Vonnegut

Alex Turner

I have many more but I’ve arrived at an almost even number of men and women and sadly I know that if I continue there will be more men than women on my list and that makes me sad. One of my goals will be to discover more female authors in my reading. Many of my favorite female authors are young adult novelists and honestly I think they’re amazing. 

In conclusion, please read a novel by Agatha Christie. I recommend Murder on the Orient Express, Mysterious Affair at Styles, or They Do It With Mirrors, although really, you can’t go wrong with any of her titles. Additionally, please watch Paddington, it is an amazing heart warming movie. 

With love,

Caro 

@nicholaspopkey​

[essilt]

Fic: Mnemosyne’s gift (WIP)

Autors: @katerina150 , @essilt Theseus Scamander / Leta Lestrange, Canon Het Relationship, Het, Alternate Universe, Epistolary, Drama, Romance, Family Feels Notes: BC THEY ARE OUR BBS AND JFC WE JUST CAN’T! Notes2: We’re sorry for mistakes, english isn’t our native language. Sum: Fantastic Letters and what are they hiding.

ao3 link

Chapter 4: The Corvus IV Lestrange's cunning plan

It was oddly, but they met again at the ball. Mr. Scamander and Miss Lestrange were invited to the annual Christmas Ball at the Ministry of Magic and, of course, separately.

Theseus led the Auror Department in 1925: the war hero, who was one of the first to go against the emergency legislation of Minister Archer Evermond. He returned from the mainland at the end of 1918, started from scratch under the guidance of Torquill Trevers and literally took off on the career ladder. The position and aura of heroism made his Irish appearance much more attractive in the eyes of the majority of free girls for betrothal, but Theseus was equally formally amiable with all of them. It was rumored that his heart was broken.

Leta Lestrange was a Hogwarts graduate, as well as Theseus. She once was friend to his younger brother Newt - and even for a couple of years she imagined she was in love, or maybe Newt imagined that for himself and for herself. Once she spent the whole summer at the Scamanders: communicated with the whole family and enthusiastically watched the hippogriffs. Theseus had often heard about her before: Leta Lestrange was at the tip of the tongue of a non-talkative Newt. Although the circumstances of the very first meeting could hardly have passed for auspicious, when Newt was expelled from Hogwarts, and his older brother had to push thresholds in the pose of the petitioner. Theseus never thought that he would communicate with this girl seriously. He was almost ten years older, she was from a different social circle. He went to war early, she continued her studies, learning how to do magical sciences as Muggle ones, and this was what later allowed her to work in the ministry, and not her father’s money, as many thought. Of course, they happened to cross at Trevers' department, but hardly all of these meetings could have passed for the renewal of acquaintance.

Theseus went to the reception without much inspiration: on the Christmas eve, Mrs. Scamander (Ma, as her sons called her among themselves) depressed by the blatant celibacy of both, in turn brought down her bad mood for a hopeless future, a lonely old age and other mischief from the day they were born. Newt crawled into himself, as if in a sink, and silently suffered, Theseus languidly dissuaded as just as languidly threatened not to come next Christmas, if these conversations did not stop. But Ma, having read the gossip in the Daily Prophet, where were only notes about beautiful lonely young women, went to storm with the determination of a soldier who had no other maneuvers left and who ignored the threat - especially since they never were performed.

"Do not roll your eyes, Theseus Scamander!" She always called children only by their full name being in anger. “You're worse than brother. You're almost forty. Almost forty, Theseus! Soon you will have no chance! You can expect only a twice-divorced woman or a widow with children from previous marriages!"

"Mom, are you sure that this is a suitable conversation before the ball?"

"This is always a suitable conversation!" She pursed her lips. "Theseus, I can not live forever, who will take care of you twenty years later? You think it'd be your brother who can't even take care of himself?"

Theseus thoughtfully considered a tuxedo.

“Mom, in the name of Merlin, I and Newt live our own lives a long time ago, and if I need a nurse one day — although I hope I won't get to such misery — I will just hire her. Marriage, as far as I know, is not for this."

“Of course not,” she snapped back, catching a subtle subtext. She paused and called on the other side: "Soon I will be too old to raise my grandchildren..."

"Grandchildren are for joy, mom. For everything else, you can hire a nanny."

"What can you know about this!" She let a little tragedy into her voice, and then got angry: "You measure everything with money, Theseus. Gathered all this of Muggles."

“Mom, money is convenient, after all, why not use it,” Theseus shrugged his shoulders, took the fresh issue of the Prophet from the table. "Well, and who do you offer me as a bride? Let's go through the list. The first in it turned eighteen last spring, and I, as you kindly and fairly reminded me, am almost forty..."

Mother snatched the newspaper out of his hands and threw into a corner.

"Don't clown around! You might think that there are no brides outside of this list!" Now the drowning man’s prayer sounded in her tone distinctly: “You had that girl in France... Why not marry her!"

"I am sure there is, but my work does not allow to communicate with them. With that girl, as you call her, there was a relationship that did not include the concept of marriage." He didn’t lift an eyebrow when his mother portrayed something between indignation and embarrassment, and ruthlessly added: “In the name of Merlin, mother, that time there wasn’t any relationship to marriage."

"So, you must work less!"

“And a woman who has worked all her life tells me this,” Theseus could not refrain from an ironic smile.

"It did not stop me from having two children!"

Theseus took a deep breath and folded his arms across his chest. Poor Newt is probably listening to all this.

"I do not argue." He tried to go on another truce, letting a little sincerity into the conversation: "I just didn’t meet a woman I don’t want to let go. And who'd endure me. No one likes redheads."

“Well, that is, we are to blame with your father, it was us who gave birth to you the redheads,” said Mrs. Scamander’s voice with a harsh note hinting at humility, and Theseus embraced her.

"Do not worry. If Newt and I are lucky, you will have daughters-in-law and grandchildren. You will grumble when they will overrun the house and climb where they don’t ask..."

"I will not live till that moment with such sons!"

Mrs. Scamander said this loudly enough for Newt to hear every word too.

***

Leta Lestrange was preparing to the ball alone. She received strict instructions from her father. Everything about her rebelled at the thought of what these instructions were about, but her tongue did not turn around to say "no". Corvus IV Lestrange had enough of a glance so that all the Leta's rebellious nature, who did not let anyone in Hogwarts descend, would wilt and freeze. The secret, shameful fault, about which it was impossible to make and sound, immobilized her and the overwilling glance smeared Leta at the feet of the father with a thin layer. You want to earn my trust, said this glance, you need my forgiveness, you should try and be a good girl, then I will approve of you - and Leta mentally replied: "Yes, Dad." Her father's authority was still indisputable for her.

She gathered her hair in a neat strict knot and stabbed her with sharp raven feathers. A black silk dress with a train and straps crossed at the back, studded with glass beads and sequins, was put on right on a naked body. Black velvet shoes on a tall thin heels, walking on will be almost an art. Her favorite silver snake with emerald eyes wrapped around her arm, from shoulder to wrist. The jewelry belonged to her mother - in fact, it was the only thing which Leta inherited by her mother.

***

She was late for the official start of the celebration and appeared in the ballroom when the performance had began and the frail ballerina, making the pas in her flying white robe, let go of the shawl into the air - but the performance did not interest Leta, she only looked ahead.

And it was Theseus Scamander ahead. Her Aim. Of course, they were familiar and although they didn’t really communicate for many years, moreover, Theseus was the first after precious animals that Newt could talk about incessantly: he found a thousand and one more reason to be angry with his older brother and to condemn him - and desperately admired him. So Leta, unwittingly, knew about Theseus Scamander much more than it was decently to know a young girl about a man almost ten years older; and since Newt Scamander was her the very best, the most intimate — and the only — friend, she involuntarily took from him an explosive mixture of condemnation and admiration for Theseus. They were even lucky enough to spend the whole pre-war summer together, when Mrs. Scamander invited her younger son's girlfriend to stay with them on holidays. Theseus was tall, scrawny, red-haired, freckled, just like Newt, wore a canvas shirt with rolled up sleeves and pants with suspenders, preferred to tinker with the rod and fishing line without the aid of spells, and he had an unusually ordinary girl. Nothing foreshadowed the hero of Arras, Messina, and Amiens.

Theseus was at the other end of the ballroom and noticed immediately the excitement among the guests and his reason. Silk dress to the floor, flowing gait, dark skin with an olive tinge. Densely dilated eyes with languishing and barely touched lipstick lips. At first it seemed to him that she was looking for someone, then - that it was him with Leta Lestrange met her eyes. Not for long: just a moment or two. He was amazed how lonely she seemed. Theseus did not follow her life intentionally, but he read the issues of the Daily Prophet, where were often published articles about her and all the enviable brides of the wizarding world, including Leta Lestrange, who, even crossing her twenty-five year line, did not lose ground in the top ten. He was even interested, because Leta occupied a considerable place in Newt's life - until the number of her supposed suitors reached ten. Then Theseus just stopped looking through the column about the secular life of the magical community.

She seemed relieved to see an old acquaintance.

They met with their eyes every now and then, until the performance was over, then the crowd separated them. Theseus was distracted by the conversation Minister of Magic Fowley, Leta was pulled aside by familiar witches from pureblood families. It took a good quarter of an hour and a lot of tricks and tiny steps in the direction of the Aim, before Theseus and Leta finally found themselves face to face.

“Oh, Miss Lestrange!” greeted Fowley. "How are you tonight? Do you enjoy the show?"

“This is a wonderful evening, Minister,” Leta gave Fowley a hand for the duty of the kiss and turned her gaze to his companion, nodding in recognition. Theseus tilted his head in response.

“Miss Lestrange, I regret that your father could not attend our Christmas party, but I am glad that you decorated it with your presence. Of course, you are familiar with our heroic Head Auror, Theseus Scamander, but it will not be superfluous to introduce you to each other again. Theseus, this is Leta Lestrange, the daughter of a respected friend of the Ministry."

Leta smiled radiantly.

"My father was very sorry that he could not attend, and asked me to convey to you wishes of well-being and remind you of the return visit, which was previously promised. Mr. Scamander, glad to meet you again," she gave a hand to Theseus.

How tall is he! She forgot. Or maybe in childhood it is natural that everything around is much higher. Leta had to throw her head back to look at Theseus' eyes, but he easily relieved her of the inconvenience, leaned in the old-fashioned way to kiss his hand, and did not raise it to his lips, as almost all men now did, trying to get rid of conventions.

"Mutually, Miss Lestrange."

She was so busy thinking about his height that she didn’t have time to think about his voice. Theseus detained her hand in his not longer than decency required, but Fowley did not allow the conversation to develop.

"Yes, yes, Miss Lestrange, I will definitely return the visit, would you like to accompany me and see our program?"

Leta had no choice but to agree. She wouldn't to refuse the Minister with whom her father was friends, although at that moment she wanted to stay and speak with a completely different person. Theseus was forced to accompany the wife of the Minister, a strict fair-haired lady who set off her bright charismatic husband.

The program of the evening included several more dances and a magician's nice performance, combined with drinks and light snacks. Leta was next to the Minister, realizing that Theseus Scamander was standing behind her. Directly behind. Touch me, she mentally repeated, touch me - until she realized that it was not an order, but a request. She really wanted to know how Theseus Scamander touches a woman, appreciate what is waiting for her, check with her skin whether all this chatter about a broken heart is true - although she already senses: not true... She even shifted her shoulder blades, almost feeling his fingers glide on her back. When white snow, so similar to the real one, began to fall from above and began to turn into flowers right in the air, she turned around and saw an asphodel flower in Theseus’s hands. Strong hint! Guessing how far the Head Auror could be suspected of indecency, Leta turned away as soon as she caught his return glance, and spoke to the Minister about something unimportant.

During the reception, her friends surrounded her again, without giving a minute of peace. Conversations, on-duty smiles, fake wishes of well-being, gossip, invitations to spend the weekend at someone’s estate or in the mountains, or at the springs. “And let's flight to Bulgaria!”, “Yes, yes, it’s very good there now, snow, they say, piled up, you can ski. I like to descend from the springboard "and so on and so forth. Her head ached so much that, after apologizing, Leta moved away, pretending to have a snack. She would not be reproached: the appetizers were excellent, to match the champagne. In the absence of a good cook, the current minister could not be blamed.

“Persephone plucked the asphodel flower, and the firmament of the earth opened up before her, from which the four dark as the night of horses escaped, and the underworld king Hades ruled it..."

She shuddered, turned around - and came under the spell of Theseus Scamander's smile. And, oh Merlin and the Holy God, this growth...

"Sorry, seems to me I've scared you."

"Don't worry, Mr. Scamander, I'm just surprised. Do you like ancient myths and legends? Or do you want to put my vigilance down?" hinting at the most innocuous name, Leta pointed at the flower.

Theseus laughed, and the asphodel disappeared.

“My job is, these myths not to become a reality, Miss Lestrange.”

“I hope that today you are not here to work, Mr. Scamander,” Leta smiled and took a sip of champagne. Her head was spinning slightly.

"No, today I intend to rest. Do you like ancient myths and legends?"

“Some ...” She paused, trying to get at least one suitable memory out of her: “I remembered, in my youth, I was amused by the legend that one hero went down to Hades and unsuccessfully sat down on the wrong chair. We often laughed at this with Newt."

Theseus grinned, apparently realizing what kind of legend it was. Newt once said that his brother in school was also teased by the misadventures of the great Greek hero, not always successfully, which, of course, was reflected in the number of points of his faculty.

Taking a sip of whiskey, Theseus leaned toward Leta a little closer.

“I argue that it was Newt who told you this Athenian gossip, it will be from him. And I'm not at all surprised, considering how my brother likes to laugh."

"How is he?" Leta did not retreat, only elegantly intercepted canapés from a passing by tray.

"He returns from his long journey soon. I think it will linger for a while in our area."

Damn well with his height sits a tuxedo, that's what, Leta thought - or champagne helped her think so. Newt wouldn't ever be dressed like this - noone would ever have a chance to rake him out of his beloved coat.

“Does Newt still love his outlandish animals?” Leta smiled, recalling the scary care of Scamander Jr. about his strange, but in her own way beautiful pets. “Does your mother still breed hippogriffs?”

“Yes, to both questions,” Theseus finally smiled sincerely, making his face completely transformed. Leta did not expect that his smile would make such a strong impression on her. "Newt is collecting material for his book, which he has been writing for many years, and mother is waiting for him to show another brood. And to persuade to find a more rewarding occupation..."

Talking about Newt awakened a cat named Feeling of Guilt from a lethargic sleep, and before she began to sharpen her claws about her soul, Leta changed the subject.

"Mr. Scamander, I spent a wonderful summer in your house, I still remember with tenderness."

In the eyes of Theseus it was clear that these memories are shared.

“You had lovely curls, Miss Lestrange.”

“I hated them,” Leta portrayed disgust, “and with pleasure got rid of them!”

"It does not matter. They were all the same cute."

"You are really pushing me to return them!"

“I never thought that my opinion is so important,” he smiled again, and Leta had to take a sip of champagne, because he had his throat tight.

The snake on her hand raised her head sometimes or took a more comfortable position, so as not to interfere with the freedom of the hostess's gestures. A catchy, massive jewelry, which, perhaps, would have gone as clothes. Not the most decent thought, but war wiped out the tinsel of propriety in the first place.

"Will I survive the bite of your beast, Miss Lestrange?”

She was surprised - hard to say, feigned or sincere - and opened her dark eyes.

"What beast, Mr. Scamander?"

“This one,” Theseus stroked one of the metal rings with which the serpent wrapped Leta’s shoulder with his index finger.

The snake did not move. Leta traced the movement with her gaze.

"Oh!" She slightly raised her hand. “She doesn't bite... unless I ask.”

“Warned is armed,” said Theseus in a philosophical tone. "I will try not to give you a reason."

Between her beautiful full lips flashed dazzling teeth.

“I don’t think I’d let her harm you.”

“You still haven't say whether her bite is deadly, Miss Lestrange.”

"Let the answer remain secret."

“Well,” Theseus spread his hands, “I hope that in the extreme case I won't have time to understand anything!”

"We'll see, Mr. Scamander." - Leta brought the glass of champagne to her lips again, and Theseus felt a sudden — and as clear as day — temptation to kiss her. Snake lifted her head from the hostess's wrist and winked.

Damn French women, Theseus swore to himself, no one else can so cleverly put all these women's tricks into which it is so nice to get caught.

"Is your beast trying to tell me something?"

Leta frowned severely, noticing snake's maneuvers, and she peacefully settled down, becoming just an jewelry again.

“She likes you, Mr. Scamander.”

He thought that this could be a family joke of the year: the snake-bride. Why not, in the end, the Muggle fairy tale about the Frog Prince wanders around.

"Does she have a name?"

Leta drank some more champagne, and Theseus remembered of his whiskey.

"I suggest you come up with it."

“I’m not as good at handling animals as my brother, Miss Lestrange.” He grinned. "I can not guess."

"It's just a name, Mr. Scamander." For a moment, she opened her eyes wide. Then the dark eyelashes sank again, Leta moved to him at a small step and stood up on her toes to quietly add: “You will not do anything terrible if you give it.”

Her smell was so close: an unobtrusive smell, reminiscent of languor, which comes during the summer heat, with a slightly bitter cocoa mixture. There was an eternity between the girl with pretty curls, who was visiting Scamanders' house, and an exquisite young woman at the ministerial Christmas celebration.

Some excitement passed behind their backs; the official part must have come to an end. Leta retreated to a small step. The thought that he wanted her was as clear as the thought of a kiss, but not at all sudden.

Theseus reached out to stroke the snake again.

"I'm lost. Ago? Aminta?"

"Ago," Leta thoughtfully held out “o”. - "I like it."

"And your beast?"

The snake lifted her head, shook her, and winked again, twisting around Leta's wrist.

"She flirts with me, Miss Lestrange?"

“I don’t see anything wrong, Mr. Scamander,” Letha laughed. The official tone has finally turned into a playful one. "I think many women in this ballroom would like to flirt with you."

Theseus spread his hands.

"Today they have no chance against your beast."

"It flatters her..."

Damn French women, Theseus thought again, damn French women, eternal punishment to the British for the Hundred Years War.

"And you?"

They met looks. Leta bit her lower lip - rather instinctively.

“I am a simple woman, Mr. Scamander, of flesh and blood.”

Theseus paused, looking for an answer.

"Is your beast jealous?"

“I didn't notice.”

The conversation became extremely ambiguous, the available reserve of the ability to flirt was exhausted, and in the large ballroom the invisible musicians played the fashionable Muggle Quictime Foxtrot and Charleston, and Theseus leaned old-fashioned to kiss Leta's hand again.

“Then she won't mind if I invite you to dance.”

That was a statement.

"Of course, Mr. Scamander."

"But I warn you that I am not very strong in this."

"Do not worry, I will teach you."

He tried to focus on something less provocative than, damned all the French women, she has no underwear, not even the thinnest bottom shirt, it was enough to put an arm around her waist to realize it. On how small she was: even on heels, Leta barely reached out to the top of his shoulder. On how gentle her fingers, decorated with elegant rings, are golden-brown, soft. On an unusually chiselled jaw line, especially noticeable when Leta slightly tilts her head to the side. On how softly she slips in the dance and imperceptibly guides not the most skilled partner.

On the fact that he did not want to let her go.

His smile made her heart beat faster, and Leta tried not to think about it. As for “not very strong”, Theseus Scamander, perhaps, lied: he did not stepped on her legs, he caught all her unobtrusive clues, and they had never encountered neighboring pairs.

“I've heard you were at the war, Mr. Scamander,” Leta spoke in a surprisingly calm voice, although she had almost been shaking with emotion. "What was it like?"

"I would not like to talk about it now, Miss Lestrange, I do not want to spoil the evening. Let's just say war is not an easy walk."

Someday he will tell her everything. For some reason, Leta had no doubt that this time would come. Or the champagne did not doubt - it does not matter.

“And you have scars?” Typical female curiosity pushed her to such an intimate question.

“Yes, Miss Lestrange, I have scars.”

"Will you show me them?"

Theseus did not answer, squeezed her fingers harder and put it on his shoulder, pressed with his palm. Then pulled her closer. The flashes of the wizarding photographers flickered around, and Leta thought that their pictures would be in all the columns of secular news in the morning, but she didn’t care.

By the end of the first dance, Leta understood that her father’s plan went to dust, as her own. They spoke with Theseus less and less often and over the last quarter of an hour they exchanged well if a dozen phrases. It is strange that after all the talk this evening it was so pleasant to just be silent. The third and fifth dances followed the second dance, the score lost its meaning. One of them will certainly end with the fact that they just cling to each other and will be just stay so close. Is that so easy?

"Can I take you home?" Theseus asked when the evening was almost over.

“Of course, Mr. Scamander,” she smiled, letting him put a mantle on her shoulders. Theseus himself ignored the rules and wore a coat of Muggle cut. They left together and, after passing a sufficient distance to the required point, transgressing near the pompous London house of the Lestrange family, where they always moved into the season.

Her father went away on business to the estate, leaving Leta alone to carry out his plan, which had already become her own.

“Do you want to come in, Mr. Scamander, drink some more whiskey? Father has a Muggle collection." Leta turned to Theseus, who was ready to say goodbye.

“With pleasure, Miss Lestrange.”

In the hall, Theseus helped her to take off her mantle, and left his coat and hat on a hanger. The house was quiet, dark and almost empty. The maids, probably, had already gone to bed, the house elves hid — not surprisingly, it was already past midnight, she noted. There was no dream in one eye. She lit a fire in the fireplace, a gleam played on Theseus' brown hair. He waited. Remembering the excuse that lured him here, Leta gestured to his father's study, opened a cupboard lined with pot-bellied bottles, and glanced absently at them.

"What kind of whiskey do you prefer, Mr. Scamander?"

“Miss Lestrange, I prefer not a whiskey.”

The next question literally hung in the air. Leta froze for a second and walked slowly toward Theseus. He waited, but Leta could not escape from his gaze. She raised her hands, buried her fingers in Theseus' hair, crumpled, ruffled, smeared with briolin's hands.

“I wanted to do this all evening,” she whispered, smiling at his bewilderment, “I dreamed of seeing them free.”

"And I wanted this all the evening," Theseus pulled her to him and kissed her.

Then everything happened instantly. In a split second. They kissed, as long as the air was enough, fumbled with their palms on their clothes impatiently, kissed again. Not here, she whispered, and he nodded automatically, of course, not here, though whom to peep; the thin straps of her dress, studded with glass beads, were the most important threat, because hell-take-it-easier-tear. Leta laughed silently, bared long and even teeth, whispered that the dress was worth a fortune; Theseus, close to despair, was looking for a secret "lightning", loops, buttons, and finally, gritting his teeth, he said - no more than the salary of the Head Auror. Leta laughed again and finally relented, sent his fingers to some intricate clasps, disguised by the same glass and sequins; one movement - and the dress was gone. And under it, indeed, there was only naked Leta, as smooth and soft as silk, which rolled from her as a black wave onto the carpet, and she remained standing - the continuation of this wave, dark, olive, golden, with a neat chest, a clear-cut waist and tough hips. She took her feet out of her shoes, and gracefully descended onto the carpet, as she came down from the platform, and turned out to be unexpectedly even smaller than Theseus thought. The snake flowed down from her hand, curled over the dress peacefully and covered her emerald eyes, Leta stood up on her socks for a new kiss. Her palms stained with bryoline had already spoiled the tuxedo, bow tie, vest and ruthlessly took hold of the shirt; not here, for the sake of Merlin, she repeated, there is bedroom, and Theseus hoarsely demanded: show. The dress and the tuxedo were left lying on the carpet, woven like lovers, Leta found herself in Theseus' hands, prompted the way into his ear: up, to the right, straight, the door, the next door... not the door in that sense... The handle clicked, they burst into the bedroom, dropped something on the way, Leta gasped, and they began to undress again. The shirt went to the floor, Leta took up the satin belt, then the buttons on the pants, brisk experienced fingers fluttered from one to the other...

“By all the rules, Mr. Scamander,” she purred fiercely, and Theseus sealed her mouth with a kiss, interrupting conversations and spurring on actions.

They stumbled in the dark, collapsed on the bed awkwardly, Leta gasped again; pulled Theseus to herself, let out a low, hungry moan when he thrusted into her, she wrapped her legs around his waist, eagerly moved her hips to meet, felt his back from the loins to the shoulder blades, every vertebra and every rib... Her tongue touched his cheek. The rhythm of the movements - towards, away and towards again - became more harmonious and stronger. The groans became a bit less hungry - it seemed so.

***

The snow outside the window poured more, caught the light of the lanterns outside the window, threw a small scattering of reflected light into the windows. Leta threw off the blanket when Theseus tried to cover her. She was not cold at all: burning maternal blood, even diluted by the British aristocratic, glacial, remained hot enough to warm the naked body inside. Darkness hid her, transformed her dark skin into ebony-black; Theseus did not trust his eyes - tactile memory covered many times more. And was more receptive. More precisely. All this time, there were a thin stockings on Leta; by touch they did not differ at all from her skin, it is not surprising that they went unnoticed. One garter dissolved, stocking moved to the middle of the leg. Theseus pulled him down, lay down at the foot of the bed, untied the satin ribbon, and pulled off the second, held his bare foot in his palm, stroked his ankle.

Leta giggled, wiggled her fingers.

“Ticklish,” she explained in a whisper when Theseus looked at her. "Accio wand..."

“No, that doesn't work like that,” he grinned.

"It works!" She made an angry growl. "You hinder me to concentrate!"

"On what?"

Leta did not answer. Her hairstyle was hopelessly ruined, and Theseus idly pulled the rest of the feathers out of the hair. He spread the strands on the pillows, buried his face in it. At the roots, her hair was slightly damp from sweat and smelled of not expensive perfumes or rubbing, they smelled... just as Leta, as she smells, probably after a bath. Or now, in bed.

Her wand swam into the room: a little uncertain, as if it was also blind in the dark. Then it became clear that they did not even bother to close the door when they burst into the bedroom.

“Lumos,” Leta said.

The light was faint, a little golden, warm; everything that Leta touched became warm.

“You agreed to show me your scars, Mr. Scamander.”

He grunted and fell on his back, spread his arms. Leta’s wand absentmindedly levitated in the air, while Leta herself, sitting on her heels and biting her lip with zeal, examined his body.

"Where does this one come from?" She poked at the round scar under the collarbone.

"From Amiens." Theseus stroked her knee, raised his palm higher. This was the best of all in appearance and in touch: an exciting, carved transition from hip to waist, steep, like that of an amphora, a drop from wide to narrow. "This latest bullet went diagonally, pierced a lung ... I was lucky to be right through. I stayed in the hospital for about two months or so, and then I was commissioned."

"Right through? Is the same on the back?"

Theseus nodded. Letha opened her eyes wide. Her initial playfulness diminished.

"And this one?" Her fingers held across a wide long scar, which crossed the right side and stretched under the shoulder blade.

"I do not remember. One of the first operations. She was so-so prepared. We ran out of bullets, and the bayonets and sabers went into action."

“Why didn't you ask the healers to remove?”

"It's not face." Theseus stretched and yawned.

He simplified intentionally the behavior and tone of the terrible thing he was talking about.

Leta bit her lip again. The next scar was under the ribs on the left side: uneven, ugly, as if a hook were being pulled under the skin, which fish were caught. She vaguely guessed that she left such traces.

"And this one?" Her fingers flinch when touched.

“And this one I got during the Hundred-Day Offensive. I ran into a wizard... I had to fight in a more familiar way."

“Did you carry a wand with you in battle?”

"Yeah. Behind the boot, instead of a knife. I even used it once... instead of a knife."

They met looks.

"You killed him?" Leta's voice has changed.

"Yes. Straight in the eye."

Her lips parted, but Leta changed her mind to speak. Looked away.

“Now I understand why you are the Head Auror,” she said slowly.

“Because I can kill with a wand without magic?”

Leta shook her head.

"Because you do not fluctuate."

Instead of answering, he intercepted her neck, pulled her to him. The sharp face of the pagan goddess approached the face of Theseus.

“Nox,” Leta whispered. The light turned off.

Lips, on which there was no trace of lipstick, pressed to his lips, and Theseus realized that it was equally and absolutely not enough for both of them.

***

They fell asleep in the morning and woke up, barely beginning to get light, to make love again in tacit consent. Silent, like a backwater, Leta listened to his ragged breathe, his moans and tried to keep in mind how they sounded, how the muscles tensed, when he rested on his arms, lifting himself, pushing deeper into her; she tried to memorize the relief of his lean, sinewy, bony and heavy body, the location of the scars on his back, dug her nails in it, wanting to leave her marks on him, even if short-lived, and she vowed to herself that she would never have anyone, never, and then the orgasm cleaned all the efforts, all the oaths and all the hooks to which the memories clung.

It became quite light. He had to get dressed, thank her and leave. So do all random lovers, whose names and faces aren't remembered.

Why does she think about random lovers? She should not think about them. For their sake, she never wanted to throw a bathrobe, to go downstairs, to make coffee and to fry toast without any wands...

Is it also random for Theseus? Maybe that's why everything turned out so easily?

Something must have changed in her face, because Theseus smiled, touched her lips with his fingers. The movements were relaxed, as if he didn’t care about the morning and he wasn’t going anywhere.

"I thought you like my brother."

"No, I always liked you."

He laughed, and Leta laughed hastily with him: it can always be said that tears came out of laughter.

"You are a shameless little liar!"

“Okay, okay...” She dried her eyes. “Newt and I kissed once, when we were fifteen, and after that I decided that he was too good to allow him to plunge.”

Theseus raised his eyebrows.

“So I’m not good enough?”

“No, but I thought you were smart enough not to plunge.”

"Double shameless little liar!"

Letha felt that her lips were trembling, and turned away, pulled the blanket to herself. Yes, a liar, the liar, covering all life the most terrible deception. Even her birth was just a result of deception.

Theseus' fingers slid along her back, circling the vertebrae...

"Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head, but did not dare to turn to face him.

“I have to repent of something, Mr. Scamander.”

In his silence, bewilderment was most clearly felt.

“I’m not a Muggle the confessor, Miss Lestrange, and I don’t give absolution.” He also changed the tone.

"Anyway, I have to repent." She exhaled. "Everything that happened... there, at the celebration... and here, in this bed... it happened, because my father wanted it so."

She did not turn around, and Theseus was silent. It was silent for a long time. Life passed, then another, the universe ended, and the silence all lasted and lasted.

Finally it stopped with the simplest:

"I do not understand."

She needed to hurry to explain everything, because too much time had already been lost. Otherwise, others will explain.

"He wanted to have influence on the new Head Auror. And this way, this way... this is proven. And now I repent."

At last, she had the courage to look back.

Theseus looked at her without condemnation or contempt - and, as far as she could judge, he was still not going anywhere. Her heart failed.

"I was so bad?"

It was such an unexpected question that Leta’s tears dried out.

"No!"

They exchanged a tense smiles.

"Well, you seduced me. What was the future plan?"

Leta opened her eyes, unable to believe that he took her revelations so calmly, that he simply dropped its as irrelevant. Maybe Theseus did not understand what she just confessed? No, he understood. Almighty Merlin, he interests in her and nothing else? Nothing at all?

"To get into your trust."

“Congratulations,” Theseus said seriously. He sat down, gently took Letu by the shoulders, and peace enveloped her. "You got."

[justtwilightshitposts-blog]

So I got high as fuck and watched Twilight for the first time in 6 years and made a list of the thoughts running through my head. Anyways it’s under the cut, enjoy lol

Dramatic entry....

I don’t understand what she’s saying

Oh my god look at her stupid fucking cactus it’s so small and dumb

Why does she sound so miserable

Charlie her hair?? Really??

How is their house so big with one fucking bathroom

Charlie really had someone else decorate her room omg

Why is he such a good fucking dad. I want to cry

“Still dancin”..... aight, billy 

Jacob looks so fucking angsty

She’s so excited about this huge ugly piece of shit truck how is she straight

Did it ever get explained in the series where the fuck Jacob goes to school

“Nice ride” ahah SOOOO FUNNY

I don’t remember his name but why is he such a try hard

*Ball comes at Bella* bella: fUCK

Jessica: stay the FUCK away from my man

Jessica you weird

Mike stop

Who tf is that dude omg he just took his fucking chair

“FEATURES DEAD, ANGELA”

Oh my god Jess when she says eating disorders aakkskakdn

This background music does not fit the characters

Yeah they live together omg

How convenient. A family full of people who fuck each other except ONE

HIS FUCKING STARE

Why they got a fan in the classroom

No introduction to the new kid? Unrealistic. Blocked.

Stop staring at each other what the shit bruh

Just jump tf out the classroom damn

Edward trying to slam the door omggg

How she gonna know you Santa when you dressed normal, tf

Just grab the ketchup

Jesus Christ just talk to each other

Goodbye cell phone then

Day one and you’re doing homework ok

Why is Edward so fucking cringey

He couldn’t handle it so he just stayed home fucking pussy

They just straight up threw a fucking rock at her

Things were getting strange AFTER he stops going to school hmmmmm?

Seriously their house is good sized

This bitch just fucking ate shit what a clumsy gay

“You’re not in Phoenix anymore”

“I need your playlist”

Why is EVERYONE hitting on Bella. She doesn’t even look straight

“Hello” bruuhhhh

His voice, TF

What is the golden onion

Why does he talk like... that

Bonding over science. Haha. Get it. Bonding

“How’s the weather”

Cold n wet. Cool

He laughin. Lmao

Aw his smile

I feel so awkward watching this conversation

Why doesn’t this bitch just sit tf still Jesus Christ

“Wait hOLD UP why didn’t you go with your mom and Phil just curious haha I’m just trying to analyze you no biggie”

The fluorescents. Walks away. ????

How tf did this mf even manage to almost crash like what. How did it even happen

He out this mf

Everyone just like. Sat there for so long not doing anything??? Then BAM OMG BELLA ALSKAJNCKDO”

Carlisle is so fucking white Jesus

Did she never notice his eyes are the same color as Edwards

Fuckin snitch omg Carlisle is not happy

“Hey ex wife our daughter almost died lol call me back”

They are really just arguing in the middle of the hospital tf?

I was standing right next to you....

why does he look like that

Rude ass tf?

Edgy moon

Tf she dreaming about

Wait so like he didn’t even start out with anything low key he just straight up fucking watched her sleep after knowing her a week

God why does he look like that. All the time

Poor mike oh my god

She’s lived here a week how does she already have plans conveniently the night of prom. Get a better excuse Bella

Recycled tea

Why is he so fucking creepy “what’s in Jacksonville” mf HOW you know

Rude ass again what the shit

Why would Bella care if you go to prom with mike, Jessica

“We shouldn’t be friends” no one said you were???

“Our bus is full” 💀

Call your fucking mother you asshole

Charlie don’t talk about Phil

She just walks tf out lmaoooo

How did anyone NEVER say anything about them NEVER eating lunch

La PUSH

He just bounced a fuckin apple

Stop being so cryptic what the fuck

“Let’s say for arguments sake that I’m not smart” bitch me too the fuck

“What if I’m... the villain” shut up you fucking emo oh my god

Come to the beach lol

This is all so awkward

Why did they like hardly ever show Angela

“You’re a strong independent woman” how do people think she’s straight

“The Cullen’s don’t come here” so fucking dramatic

“Yeah yeah whatever enough of you, what about the CULLENS”

Wait. How long have the Cullen’s been around? How long ago was the treaty made???

This music is so fucking dramatic

Oh no it’s Santa....

These bitches gay as fuck too James looks so fucking gay

How is it the entire time she’s trying to figure out the Cullen’s not ONCE does she question the quilietes being descended from FUCKING WOLVES

All these prom dresses boring as fuck

Like what the fuck even is that material

Jess is fucking... phat

“Sorry I don’t do prom dresses I just like really wanna go to this bookstore”

I don’t even want to know what would have happened if Edward didn’t come get her from these creeps...

She legit is about to get gang raped and like. No one ever said anything about this guys what the fuck

Why does Edward look like a fucking crack addict

“Sorry I just REALLY wanna murder these guys”

You should put YOUR seat belt on

“Yeah were gonna do everything that consists of a date but it’s not a date ok?”

No way that tiny bitch is gonna eat that whole ass plate

I’m gonna make sure YOU eat but I won’t alright?

Fucking math nerd

How DID he know she was there???

“I feel very protective of you even though I’ve known you for like less than a month”

He can read minds it’s no biggie

“Cat” bitch me too!!!

I can’t read YOUR mind tho sorry

Wait so why are certain vampires given gifts?

I don’t wanna stay away from you anymore lol

Ooooo our dads are here

“Animal attack” *GLARE*

“Idk what to say I’m so sorry”

Charlie STOP MY HEART IS FUCKING BREAKING

Animals are attacking and you give her pepper spray?

Why tf did they roll his whole ass body out in plain view why the hell was he not in a body bag!!!!

“Oh OKAY everything is starting to come together”

What is this dramatic dream where he’s all emo drinking her blood what the fuck is happening

“Follow me into the woods just trust me”

I don’t find it believable that he speaks like he’s from a different time. His dialect would change with time. Imagine him in 2018 fuckin yeet this and dab that lmaoooo

Why when he runs his legs move and nothing else

How fast are they even going

Diamonds are a girls best friend. And vampires.

“I’m a killer” on cool aha I’m just chillin alone in the woods with u haha no biggie

Why are you being so dramatic Edward

He just yeeted that fucking rock lol

“I’ve never wanted to kill anyone until you”

You’re my drug....

his voice is cracking me tf up

“I’m not afraid of you I’m afraid of losing you” you fucking emo

I want to die

I zoned out an all I heard was “sick masochistic lion” .... alright

Let’s just lay in the grass in the middle of the fucking woods it’ll be cute!!!

Do they just. Stare at each other and not talk...

Why do they use sound effects for his skin lmao

“My crush is a vampire lol ❤️”

What’s Monte Carlo

Everyone is staring lmaoooo

The siblings are not happy lmao

Why would you turn someone into a vampire like there is no logical reason to be like “you’re dying so I’m gonna make you live FOREVER”

They’re just chillin in the rain lmao

Literally tho like being a vampire would be pointless and fucking torture Jesus Christ why would you force that on a dying person

“Wanna meet the fam lol jk u have no choice”

The fucking stare down between Edward and Jacobs dad I’m fucking deceased

“Just keepin it real, son” broooo

Does anyone remember at one point in this series Edward and Jacob just fucking switched Bella off like what the shit was that was I just hallucinating

They cooked for her :(

How long has it been since they cooked

Esme is my soul mate

We NEVER use the kitchen

Jesus CHRIST Rosalie chill the FUCK out

Calm down you FUCKING drama queen

Please don’t kill me lol

Alice you Sapphic ass coming in on a fuckin tree branch

“Bella and I are gonna become great friends” does... does she KNOW. You know bc she can see the future

Alice is so cheery oh god

I too would be dramatic enough to frame all of my several graduation caps

I don’t... sleep

Like he doesn’t even need a chair like their legs never get tired. If they wanted to they could just stand every second of every day

Edward it is the 21st century catch up on the tunes, man

The face she made when he twirled her lmaooo

“I’ll MAKE you dance” .... alright

Why did they like. Move midair

This tree jumping shit just does not look scientifically accurate

“This kind of stuff just doesn’t exist” ... the woods?

Let’s sit in a fucking tree and just talk forever

I wonder who wrote the song Edward wrote. It’s actually... good???

Why is the footprint on top of this fucking mound of dirt lol

Hey hey you You I don’t like your boyfriend

I would kill for Charlie

No one like ACTUALLY questions why a HUMAN foot print is found in the murder scene

“Go SOCIALIZE”

He just fucking comes out of nowhere fuck

How much time does this movie take the course over “only the last couple months” ????

“There’s always something I wanted to try” *kisses bella* you gonna tell me you’re 100+ years old and a virgin???????

This kissing scene must have been so awkward

He just fucking. Zooms back into the wall

Does Charlie not hear any of this???

Edward. She needs to sleep bro

I’m sorry but if my partner never slept I would never sleep with them like don’t fucking watch me sleep the shit???

He just fucking loves his gun

What is he doing over his head ??

We’re just gonna play a family game of baseball lol

Charlie cares so much :(

Charlie doesn’t even question that they’re going to play baseball in a thunderstorm

The baseball scene is in my top iconic scenes in cinematic history

Why do they keep the field so small if they hit the ball so far ???

Emmet my fuckboy baby

When emmet and Edward collide. Iconic.

These gay ass Mfers and their dramatic entrances

Why is putting her hair up going to help. It’s not her hair they smell it’s her blood? Right??

Vampires just go around claiming territory??

All around America??

James knows

Why do they hiss....

The fucking Cullen clan all just bend their knees and hiss like what the shit

“I can buckle MYSELF Edward”

This all went 0-100 real quick

Edward step up your acting game. Monotone ass mf

Charlie is so fucking confused

What even is she grabbing

Ok but Charlie’s so supportive of her and like all he cares about is her being safe oh my god

And he never knows that she didn’t mean any of what she said :((((((

That would fucking kill me oh my god poor Charlie

When they land on her truck... where are they coming FROM...

“Her kind” ... gingers?

Rosalie has a point...

Laurent was just a third wheel

Why do they drive so fast

How the hell was Bella even going to explain this to her mom??? What was her plan.

James.... Jesus your fucking face...

How did he get into the high school

You fucking dumbass you just gonna. Fight a fucking vampire? What is her plan? Fight him? Show up and take her mom and get out???

Also how did she even sneak past Alice and jasper

Wait how did he get this video

You dumb as shit bitch!!!

You can’t fight a vampire the fuck!!!

Why is the part where James shoved Edward against the mirror so sexually tense

This whole fucking ballet studio scene is just too dramatic

Why is she convulsing tho. Is that how it is when you turn into a vampire??? You fucking have a seizure???

Alice fucking SNAPPED

This whole series could have ended right here if they just let her fucking change into a vampire right then and there

Shut the fuck up and suck, Edward

Why her face look like.... that

Carlisle just PUSH HIM

Why are the tubes like ON her eyeballs

Edward sleeping... ha

The whole falling down the stairs bullshit story is so fucking ridiculous lmaoooo

“You’re texting” this movie is so old

Which leg is broken???

I almost killed you lol sorry. Also get the fuck out of Forks

Bella: *insert lady from lipstick in valentino bag vine*

Ok so her right leg is in the cast but in the hospital she was chillin in the bed with her right leg bent?

Jacob where did you come from lmao

“My dad paid me to come talk to you”

“Also you need to break up with your boyfriend”

The instant tension between Edward and Jacob and Bella is so fucking oblivious

“The wolves descend” REALLY EDWARD

Was their senior prom ever mentioned in the series???

She’s so fucking short omg

This music: A++

No seriously what is with everyone’s dresses being so ugly

“I want you always” bitch you just met like 2 months ago???

Bella is so desperate for the dick that she wants to become a fucking vampire

She actually thought he was gonna bite her at prom lmao????

They kiss so awkwardly

Victoria looks so jealous

And hot

Where is she going

Oh it’s over ok cool gn

[ezilyamuzed]

There’s no place like home- part 11

Summary: The reader has had a unique gift all her life. While considering it a curse, she discovers the identity of her real father after her mothers passing. Journeying towards her new life, she finds herself thrown within the Winchester’s world. Is it her destiny?

Setting: End of season 13. This takes place after episode 13.18. Flashbacks are italicized.

Warnings: Language. Some angst, fluff, drama- a typically SPN episode.  POV may switch after certain sections. 

A/N: Some more big reveals coming your way as we continue along the journey on the yellow brick road. Something newer to the series at the end- someone’s first person point of view that gives a little more light to the story that is still unfolding!

Any grammatical mistakes are all my own, because I am human. Remember all comments and feedback are welcomed! If you want a tag in future posts regarding this series or other writings please send an ask! As always thank you for reading! Enjoy!  

 *Y/M/N= your mom’s name

Series Masterlist

Dean stood patiently alongside his brother while waiting for Y/N to gather up a couple of items that she would need for the trip after he himself changed out of the monkey suit. They had quickly explained that it wasn’t always easy digging through the archives at the Bunker, since it was complied of a vast collection from past generations. She had no clue what she was about to walk into. Who knew if they would even find anything about their moms there? They had dug through it before and never saw mention of Mary anywhere. Dean couldn’t shake the sneaking suspicion that there was something else Y/N was looking for. He kept it quietly to himself as Sam looked over towards him with inquisitive eyes.

“Well?”

“Not now Sammy,” Dean mumbled, knowing very well that his brother was interested in the events of the evening. He didn’t want to bring any of it up, not when she was like this. When Y/N was clearly on edge with herself, almost like she didn’t want to be in her own skin. What had happened in those few minutes that she had left him? More importantly, was there anything he could do to help her?

Y/N came out of her bedroom with a fully stuffed duffle bag. For a hunter, she did not pack lightly. Sam grabbed it from her as she turned off all the lights in the house before walking out with them, securely locking the door behind her. She had changed herself now into stretchy yoga pants, sneakers and an oversized hoodie with her hair tossed up in a messy bun on top of her head. She looked like she was ready for bed, but the glare in her eyes stated that she was ready to get down to business. She crawled herself into the backseat of Baby while Sam and Dean moved to the trunk to place her things in carefully amongst their own.

“What are we doing Dean?” Sam whispered.

“Whatever she needs us to do,” Dean sharply replied while moving himself to the driver’s side. He shifted himself in while adjusting for the long ride. He looked into the rearview mirror at Y/N, putting earbuds in her ears, resting her head along the door with her legs stretched out. She was not in the mood for talking. Dean sighed, hoping that she could find some rest back there while his brother seated himself next to him. The rumble of Baby’s engine ignited as they took off, heading once more to the place they called home.

An hour had passed before Sam turned his head towards the backseat, motioning to Dean that Y/N had fallen asleep. Dean nodded and turned the music on just low enough to muffle out their voices if she were to happen to wake up.

“So what happened tonight? Everything seemed fine considering when you left,” Sam coaxed while still watching to see if Y/N was affected by their sounds.

“It was Monster’s Ball there Sammy, and not the one with Halle Berry,” he firmly stated, glancing back into the rearview mirror. “We walked in and she started mumbling off a grocery list of all the uglies around us. They fucking work there dude.”

“Like a cult of the supernatural?” Sam asked while the flicker of an off road light shined on his now widened eyes.

“I don’t know exactly what it was,” Dean stated while gripping Baby’s wheel with his hands tightly. “Whatever they were doing there, they didn’t act normal. I mean they all acted…friendly.”

“How did you know what you were talking to?”

“Y/N,” he simply replied. “You should have seen her Sammy, the way she mingled among them while subtly letting me know what was around. Bobby would have been proud the way she was able to place herself amongst them like she had no clue what they were or what they could do.”

“Then what happened?”

“Well,” Dean chuckled. “Then we danced. There was a moment there where it almost felt like everything else kind of drifted away. I think something spooked her though, because she left just as soon the song ended. When she came back she asked about Jack.”

“She knows? How?”

“No clue,” Dean replied. “Something there must have told her. My biggest thing is what and why.”

“And now all of this with mom and hers…”Sam mumbled while glancing off to the road ahead.

“Yeah,” Dean sighed. “Whatever is going on we need to help her. We need to get Mom back.”

Sam nodded his head in agreement, while Dean repositioned himself in the seat again. It wouldn’t be that much longer before either Y/N woke up, or they arrived at the bunker. Dean couldn’t help but to feel the dread in his stomach lingering as they continued on their long journey. 

_______________________________________________________

You had dozed off a little in the backseat while Dean drove you to their home, the once home of men who fought what hid amongst the people. You woke up a little out of your sleep and heard them speaking to each other. Dean telling Sam about the dance that still gave you butterflies. You stayed silent as they continued talking. You were confused when he said that they were going to find a way to get their mom back from another world. How exactly were they going to do that with the Nephilim on the other side as well? You slowly again drifted into deeper sleep while pondering over how it could be possible. You were awoken by the gruff voice of Dean, informing you that you had arrived.

You sat yourself up to look out the window. It was approaching dawn, but the scene from the old picture was alive right in front of your eyes. This was it. This was home. Sam and Dean led you inside where the brilliance of the rooms left you breathless. It was a spectacular sight of history all neatly placed along sturdy shelves. The scent of the ancient pages of the books filled your senses reminding you of when you would lay in your mom’s office as a child. Everything was just so…familiar.

As your gaze shifted throughout your surroundings, in the corner of your eye a blinding blue light surrounded a dark haired man in a tan trench coat approached into the room from another. He had piercing blue eyes as he looked into you, almost like he was baring into your soul.

“Y/N,” Sam announced. “This is Castiel.”

You moved closer to him, as he watched you intently. Anger quickly rose within you while you remembered everything that the boys had told you about him along with what Claire had told you only a few days earlier. How he was the cause of some of the major fuck-ups that had occurred in the world, including now Lucifer’s release, and how he had torn the young girl’s family apart. Nothing could had stopped it as you quickly drew back your fist and punched him hard, right into his chest knocking him down to the ground. There was shock in his eyes as you heard Dean laughing to your side.

“Yeah, sorry buddy,” Dean laughed while moving to help him up. “She is not a fan. Be glad that is all you got.”

“What are you?!?!” Cas grimaced while not breaking his stare.

“Pissed off,” you snapped back annoyed. “Is there a reason why he is here?”

“We thought he might be able to help. Maybe he knew something about your past.” Sam confessed.

“Well no Angel has been able to tell me anything before. They are all dicks and I do not want to be anywhere near him,” you ordered while moving yourself to climb the winding stairs towards the outside.

The three of them watched quietly as you slammed yourself out the heavy door into the cool morning air. The sun was rising even higher now and you could hear the wildlife amongst the leaves awakening from their slumber. This place really was a sight to behold as you washed your hand along the greenery feeling the morning dew on your palm. You heard the shifting of gravel coming up besides you, but you decided to ignore it. Whomever or whatever it was, you didn’t care anymore.

“Y/N,” Sam’s voice rang into your ears. “Look, none of us really know what to do here. We have been trying for months to find a way to get back there, to save our mom and Jack. We had one, but…it’s gone now.”

“What was that?” you found yourself asking, keeping your focus on the intricate details of the leaves.

“An archangel’s grace,” he sighed. “Gabriel. We were able to use some of his, but it wasn’t enough to keep the rift open, before he left us.”

You let a low chuckle when you heard the name. “Yeah, he doesn’t stick around long.”

You turned your head towards to a bewildered Sam. He shifted nervously where he stood while looking for the right wording to his question.

“How do you know Gabriel?”

“That ancient asshole?” you laughed. “Let’s just say we have some history.”

________________________________________________________

It had happened again. While walking along the busy amusement park, holding your mother’s loving hand you saw a different light surrounding the person who stood just a few feet away from you. This one was yellow, almost like a golden honey surrounding his skinny frame, different than the soft white of the others surrounding him. You pulled your mother’s attention to it, but she just brushed off your 6 year old cries telling you to just ignore it. That’s what she always did. Even as far back as you could remember, when you she tucked you in tightly and told her that you loved when her light shined a little brighter, because then you knew she was happy. Her light though had quickly shifted, as she told you to ignore it, that it was nothing to be bothered with. Anytime since, when you had seen a different color amongst the busy people, she would pull you tightly to her, while leading you away. Your frustration was growing with her actions. Your mind was curious, why couldn’t you know more?

Sitting alone on the swing in your backyard that your dad had hung on a tall branch, you dragged your feet into the dirt while wondering what exactly was wrong with you that made her light slowly dim down and why did so many people not believe that you could see it surrounding everyone’s faces except your own. Were you a freak?

An almost blinding light appeared before your young eyes, making you squint away at the sight. It was almost like staring into the sun. The light dimmed down some, just enough for your eyes to focus on the smiling man that stood in front of you.

“Be not afraid for I bring you good news!” he exclaimed before breaking out into hysterical laughter. “Wow, I haven’t said that in almost 2,000 years.”

“W-who are you,” your little voice squeaked.

“My name is Gabriel,” he stated before giving you a bow. “and you, my dear, are something special.”

______________________________________________________

“Everything alright out here?” Dean’s voice erupted while breaking you out of your thoughts.

“Just peachy,” you smiled firmly. “Is wings gone yet?”

“You know, Doc,” he stated while moving closer to you. “He might have done some wrongs, but he is a good guy to have by your side.”

“Give him a chance,” Sam added while agreeing with his brother.

You took in a deep breath before letting out a sigh. Everything else seemed to want you on their team, why not add an angel to the mix?

“Whatever,” you rolled your eyes while moving past them back to the bunker’s doors. “Let’s get started.”

Leading Y/N into the smaller room where most of the archives, Dean watched as she moved gracefully in front him. Noting all the small details and craftsmanship that had become their home. He saw a smirk of appreciation rise to her lips, that even though they had turned it into a home, it was still well preserved in what it had once been.

“There is my room right there. Sammy’s is a couple doors down,” Dean stated while moving past his door. She stopped and smiled before reaching for the doorknob.

“Oh I have to see this,”she grinned while pushing it open.

Inside were just the few things he had been able to collect throughout the years. A couple of records, some clothes neatly hung up or folded neatly within the wooden dresser, and a simple kept bed. His simplistic room, that was his escape from it all. She moved forward, only smiling more at the guns display along the walls. She stopped herself by the nightstand where a few scattered pictures laid, only to pick them up, observing them carefully.

“Yeah, so I have to say that I probably have the best bed in the joint,” he said nervously while seating himself on the edge. “It’s memory foam. It remembers you.”

She let out a little chuckle while glancing over at him biting his lip. “I don’t think anything could ever forget you, Dean.”

He bit the inside of his cheek to stop the smile that wanted to form as she went back to the photos in her hands.

“Your mom is pretty,” she spoke softly while noting the photo of 4 year old Dean posing with his mom. “You look so innocent there and happy.”

“Yeah well, that was before everything.”

“This is Sam and you with Bobby right?” she asked while holding up the photo of the two smiling boys embraced with the proud old drunk. Dean let a slight smile appear in the corner of his lips while nodding. “He looks like he loved you two very much.”

“Yeah, he did in his own way. He went out of his way so many times to help us for as long as I can remember,” Dean replied while moving up to stand directly to Y/N’s side. “He would have loved you too you know? If he would have known.”

She turned her face to his, only inches apart while she looked up through her lashes. “Do you think he could have known and just didn’t want me?”

His let his finger slowly move up her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. “There’s no way anyone could ever not want you.”

Dean hesitated, looking into her eyes that were tired and tearful. He wanted to move his lips to hers and tell her that everything was being okay. In this world? This life? It was never just going to be okay. The sound of his heart was steadily beating in his ears, as he dropped his hand down from her face.

“Why don’t you go ahead and get a couple of hours more of sleep in here,” he suggested while moving back to the door. “I’ll get Sam and Cas to help me start looking. If you need anything, just shout for us okay?”

He could see the hesitation in her face, but she nodded her head, watching him move out the door and gently closing it tight. Breathing in a large breath of air to calm his nerves on the other side, considering the exhaustion that ran through him mixed with the urgency of everything bubbling around him.

“Dammit, Mom,” he whispered to himself. “What is going on?”

________________________________________________________

I sat patiently adjacent to Arthur as he noted which building we were supposed to enter. Seeing how deep the Men of Letters ran within America was the vital task that he had be given, that I had agreed to accompany along. Even after all these years, I knew this country far better than he ever would. A fancy GPS might give you the general directions, but the familiar roads were the ones you listened to. That was what my dad always told me.

“Mary, when we arrive in there to see the professor, let me do the talking,” he informed me with a serious nature instilled in his voice.

“Arthur, I really don’t know what you are going to find,” I replied with a smile. “The Men of Letters died off ages ago.”

“So you would think,” he commented. “There are still legacies alive that may remember things or have information that will be useful to us.”

“You want to recruit them don’t you?” I asked in surprise. “Just like what you did with me, and what you are trying to do with Sam and Dean.”

“We can only get stronger in numbers, Mary.”

I nodded my head as he led the way inside a tall stone covered building to the ajared door of the office of a young professor. Her youthfulness reminded me of my own many years ago, a little spunk rising within her as she spoke. I was filled with bewilderment that Arthur had chosen to talk to her, after unsuccessful attempts to reach her mother. He hadn’t told me much about her, just that their historians had found a lineage that needed thorough investigation.  

Calmly believing that this whole ordeal was pointless, that was when I saw her. Her face in a silver frame, protected by a simple piece of glass. The girl I had once called sister, Y/M/N.

Her story had been tragic when my father brought her home to us that warm August night. She clung tightly to the worn doll as my father explained that she would be staying with us, at least until they could figure something out. We had quickly became the best of friends, finding comfort in each other as the adults would whisper things that would give anyone else nightmares. She was brave, and I had admired her for it. Only two months had gone by when she was adopted by another family that was a few states away. My father explained that it was for the best and that getting as far away from Kansas as she could was the only way he could ensure she would survive.

We had kept in touch though, writing letters back and forth in secret once we were old enough and I had found her address tucked away within my father’s journal. She ended up growing up pretty normal, considering her start. Losing your father, the only family she had ever known was one thing, but even before she could walk she had lost both her mother and sister tragically. Often within her letters she would state how no matter what, she would find out what had happened to all of them and make them proud. I would cry for her, knowing that the life of a hunter fueled by revenge never ended without heartache for the ones they loved.

I was only a few months pregnant with John’s baby, my angel Dean, when I heard the knock on the door. Standing there shaken to down to her core, was her familiar face, still youthful after so many years. I wrapped my arms around her as she cried into me.

“I didn’t know where to turn to,” she sobbed. “I have no one else in this world. Mary,…. I’m pregnant.”

“You are family,” I had smiled. “You will always have a home with us.”

She had pulled herself away, surprised by my own swollen belly that hid underneath my blouse. I gently rubbed by hand across it. “Our family can grow up together.”

Those months spent with her had went by too quickly, she had been my rock and I was hers. John was as supportive as he could be, but trying now to support two women with growing bellies was straining on him. She tried to help out, finding part time work at the local university within the library. Books filled with history had always been her passion. Her passion is how she had met the mysterious love of her life that had led her now back home to me. Finishing another semester at college, she had fallen quickly for him. The rest of the story? I will probably never know.

In no time I was welcoming Dean into the world on that cold January night. I don’t know how I could have gotten by those first few months without her, as John was always called to the garage, often leaving me with another tireless night with my playful angel. She would pick him up and rock him to sleep, often humming to him her favorite tunes. There were times when she thought she was alone that I heard her praying that her sister’s curse would not pass down to her unborn child. I kept what I heard a secret, even from John. He wouldn’t of understood.

A few months later she welcomed her own joy. A beautiful little girl, Y/N. She was just as adventurous and playful as Dean, often making her voice well heard over his. I would often watch as they laid together on the little blanket on the living room floor, sometimes their little fingers would touch while they looked at each other in silence.

It was summer when I came home from the store carrying Dean in my arms. John was bringing in the groceries for me when I had noticed she was gone. Taking baby Y/N with her, she had only left a note that said, “There is no place like home.” I wanted to find her and bring her back, but I had to be there for John and Dean. They needed me, and I had never saw her again. Until now, as I looked at that photo had sitting alongside others of smiling faces.

As Arthur continued talking to the young girl sitting across the wooden desk from me, everything from my past had flooded back. I found my words spilling out, confirming what I already knew. This was a now grown up Y/N sitting in front of me, the little girl whom I considered my family that I had swore to protect all those years ago. Arthur had quickly interjected when she questioned who the men of letters were. The fact that she looked puzzled by the name, only gave me a sense of relief that she was kept in the dark of everything her family had endured. Wanting to hold her tightly again, like I had done when she was only a few weeks old, I knew it was only for the best to just walk out the door along with Arthur. She had grown up to be beautiful and intelligent, with her whole life still ahead of her. There was no way I was going to allow my world to find its way into hers. I had to say goodbye forever right then, as I turned to her with tears held back.

“Take care, Y/N.”

Keep reading to part 12

 Tags: @jaylarkson @waywardbaby @snffbeebee @iamabeautifulperson18 @19agbrown @midnightsilver @wildefire @hobby27 @sonotalice

[nadjaofstatenisland]

Wrote this to make up for the severe lack of Hiram/Hermione fics out there. The two of them young and loving and unsure and you’re never going to convince me Hermione doesn’t love Hiram or that she’s afraid of him. Sorry. Takes place in autumn of ‘94, a little over a year after graduation. 

Enjoy @hermionelodges!

Whole thing under the cut, or read on AO3 or fanfiction.net.

“I have wine and beer. Whiskey too, if you want something a little stronger.”

A smile played against Hermione’s lips. “You have beer in your fridge? Hiram Lodge is some plebeian beer drinker now? I thought beer was only for when there’s nothing else to drink at a kegger?”

Hiram looked at her over the door of his fridge and smiled. “I never said that. I like the occasional beer. Wine then?”

“What kind?”

He pulled two bottles out of his fridge. “A merlot and a chardonnay. Both gifts, so they probably cost more than you want to know.”

“And what do you have to mix with the whiskey?”

“Good whiskey isn’t meant to be watered down with anything.”

“You can just say you don’t drink soda, you snob.” Her words were playful, filled with affection, but Hiram felt a twang of pain in his chest anyway. He shook it away.

“So red or white?”

Hermione tilted her head. “A shot of whiskey to warm me up, then a glass of the red.”

“Anything for my lady.” He reached into an upper cabinet to grab glasses, catching his slip. “The lady. Anything for the lady.”

“You’re doing a shot with me, Lodge, and I won’t take no for an answer. We’re celebrating tonight.”

Hiram bit his lip as he pulled down a wine glass and two shot glasses. He tucked the bottle of wine under one arm and the whiskey in the other as he joined Hermione on the couch. Her eyes were directed at the view outside.

“Where are we again? The upper west side?”

Hiram poured the shots, eyes darting to her. “You know where we are. Don’t act like you don’t know Manhattan.”

“I don’t know Manhattan like you know Manhattan.” She smiled at the view. “Hiram Lodge on the upper west side,” she whispered. “The uptown Lodges. It just sounds so right, you know? Rolls off the tongue. Like you were always meant to be here.”

“Well you know what they say.” He held out the shot to her as she finally broke her stare from the window. “All road lead to Manhattan.”

She pressed her lips together, holding in her grin. “I don’t think that’s quite right, but I’ll give you that one.”

Hiram winked and held up his shot to her. “So what are we celebrating, Hermione?”

She clinked her glass against his and downed her shot, pulling a face as it went down. Hiram held on to his.

“You know what doesn’t roll off the tongue, Hiram?” She held out her glass and raised her eyebrows. He poured again. “Hermione Reyes of Riverdale. Of the Elm Street Reyes’.” She downed her second shot, grimace less obvious this time. “Go ahead. Toss Riverdale after any family name and it sounds like shit. Even the Riverdale Lodge’s doesn’t sound all that respectful.”

“I don’t know.” Hiram took the shot glass out of her hand as she held it back out to him. “The Riverdale Reyes’ doesn’t sound terrible. The alliteration is nice.”

“Trust me, it sounds bad. Oh!” She gestured wildly with her hands and he was glad he’d taken her glass. “Speaking of pristine Riverdale families - do you know Clifford Blossom?” She cleared her throat. “Of the Riverdale Blossoms? Maple syrup empire and all that jazz?” Hiram opened his mouth. “Of course you do. Well, he just got married and you’ll never believe to who.”

Hiram bit the inside of his cheek to stop his smile. There was the gossipy Hermione he knew so well. “I’m sure I don’t know.”

“You do know her though! Quite well.” She put her hands on his knee and shook it. “Come on guess.” He opened his mouth and she cut him off again. “A clue! They look like a matching set. Like creepily so.”

He raised his eyebrow. “So another redhead? God, I know it’s not Mary.”

“Penelope!” Hermione shrieked. “Penelope married Clifford Blossom!”

“Penelope?” Hiram asked with a chuckle. He was glad he wasn’t drinking anything; he might have spit it out. “Penelope Bennett? That prude? Jesus. Clifford will probably have to pry her knees apart with a -”

“Prudish Penelope was not as innocent as you think, trust me.” Hermione reached past him and picked up her shot glass. “The stories I’ve heard about Penelope would turn your hair white. Or maybe turn you on.” She winked at him. “Some stories were pretty wild.”

“Now, don’t go around spreading misinformation,” Hiram teased. “You might sully Penelope’s squeaky clean reputation. And she must have one if she married into the Blossoms.”

“Closet slut. That’s all I’ll say. Penelope is a big old closet slut and all I ever had to do to find that out was make eyes at some brainless Baxter High quarterback one night.” Hermione pressed her lips shut and folded her hands in her lap. “But I’m sure you don’t care.  Small town gossip is probably such a bore to you now anyway. You have college drama to worry about now.”

“College drama is nothing compared to small town gossip.” He put his hand on her knee and squeezed, just slightly leaning in to her. He felt 15 again; grinning ear to ear and hanging on to every word that came out of the mouth of the prettiest girl in school. “Tell me. Is a closet slut someone who gets slutty in a closet or someone who’s in the closet about being a slut?”

Hermione pressed her lips together, holding in a smile. “I’ll never tell.”

“You tease, you.”

Her cheeks rounded as she smirked. “Big old tease, that’s me. Now pour me another shot.”

He handed her his untouched drink. “Last one, okay? You never did say what we were celebrating.”

She downed her third shot. “Explain to me why you have beer in your fridge first.”

He shrugged. “I’m a college student?”

“You’re Mr. Ivy League in an uptown apartment that probably cost more in rent than my parent’s mortgage.”

He took the empty glass from her put it on the coffee table. He took both of her hands in his. “I’m a college student. Most of my friends are college students. College students tend to have cheap taste. You don’t think I’m offering 15 year old bottle of booze to just anyone, do you?” He rubbed his thumb against her palm. “Look, Hermione. It’s not that I’m not thrilled to see you -”

“Bet you offer that wine to any girl that comes in here though.” Hermione laughed and tossed her head back. “God, you’re so predictable.”

“Hermione.” He squeezed her hands until she looked back up at him. “What are you doing here?”

“What? I can’t stop by to visit an old boyfriend? An old friend? You said I had an open invitation to come to New York and see you.”

“And you do. I just think I have the right to question it when you show up in the rain at 11 PM on a Tuesday.”

She pressed her lips together. “I was getting out of work and I noticed there was a 5:45 bus to New York. Seemed like fate, so I bought a ticket and hopped on. Spur of the moment.”

“You have two suitcases with you.”

“I’m always prepared. You know that.”

“And it’s only a two hour drive. What were you doing the rest of the time?”

“Trying to navigate public transportation.”

“You should have called me. I would have taken a cab to Port Authority to get you.”

“No, no.” Her eyes fell to her lap. “It was good. Me figuring out something new all on my own. It was exciting. Until it started raining.”

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

“Sure I did. It was a spur of the moment thing.”

Hiram pulled one of his hands away from hers and placed it on her cheek, turning her face back towards him. Her eyes were wide, just a hint of fear behind them. “What are you really doing here, Hermione?”

She pressed her lips together. “I missed you.”

“Something else.”

She stared at him, almost daring him to step down, but he refused to break her gaze. She finally let out a long sigh as she blinked. She rubbed one of her eyes.

“I should have come to New York with you when you asked. I made a mistake.”

“Don’t say that.”

“But I did, Hiram. I’ve spent the last year questioning myself and you know that’s not something I do often.” She turned her hands over in his so she could lace her fingers through his. “You asked me to move to New York with you after graduation and I said no. What’s worse, I never even gave you a good reason why.”

“Hey, I was never mad at you over it. I know you couldn’t just give up your whole life to follow me. You had a job, school, your family.”

“Oh please. Working at my dad’s store and going to community college? Not exactly living it up.”

“That’s what you wanted.”

She shook her head. “That’s not what I wanted. I was - I was afraid, Hiram. Not a lot of things scare me, but running away to New York with you terrified me.”

“So why are you here now?”

She exhaled. “God, I don’t even know how to tell you without sounding ridiculous. It’s all so silly.”

“Try me.”

“Well, you know what happened with Alice and Hal, right?”

Hiram hadn’t talked to Hal since the last summer, when they’d both left Riverdale for their respective schools. “Sure.”

Hermione narrowed his eyes. “Do you?”

“Well, what specifically about them? They went to Boston. They’re in Boston.”

She nodded and pulled her hands out of his grip. “Yes, and?”

“And, well, maybe I haven’t spoke to Hal in a while.”

“What’s a while?”

Hiram thought back. “I got a Christmas card from them last year. But I guess the last time we spoke was before we all left Riverdale.”

Hermione smacked the back of his arm. “Hiram! How could you? You two were best friends!”

“I know, I know.” Hiram sighed. “I’ve been busy. College is tough. And I’m sure he’s busy too. It’s not big deal. Why? What happened with them?”

“Well, Hal’s parents cut them off. Found out they were renting an apartment together instead of living in the dorms. They were livid. The two of them didn’t even come home for the summer. It’s been months and my mom says Mrs. Cooper is still wailing over how that girl ruined her little boy.”

“Oh god. Sounds like her.” Hiram leaned back into the couch and, to his surprise, Hermione followed suit and leaned into him. “So what’s going on with them?”

“Well, now they’re both working full time and taking classes, trying to make ends meet. Refusing to drop out and all that. Last I talked to Mary - still a doll, she calls me at least every other week to check in - she said Alice had a pregnancy scare last month. But like through it all, Hal never went to his parents. He’s refusing to apologize to them for living his life and choosing Alice and going away to college over staying in shithole Riverdale and running some mediocre newspaper for the rest of his life and marrying some townie and being miserable.”

She let out a huge sigh and let her head fall against Hiram’s shoulder. On reflex, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Instead of pulling away, she let out a noise something like a purr.

“I missed this,” she whispered. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed. “I missed you. I forgot what this was like.”

“Hey,” he said softly. He pulled a few strands of hair out of her face and her eyes popped open. “So that sucks about Alice and Hal, but you really didn’t explain -”

“Small towns breed small people, Hiram.” Her voice was firm and much louder than it had been a few moments earlier. “I used to think if I came here with you, I’d give up the whole life I worked for in Riverdale. I was a big fish in a small pond. In Manhattan, I’d be a small fish in the fucking ocean. How could I? But I realized I was all wrong. It doesn’t matter how big of a fish you are in a place like Riverdale. You never stop being small there. Fuck Riverdale and fuck small towns. I want more. I want anything else. Everything else.”

She pulled herself away from Hiram and pulled her knees onto the couch, sitting up on them.

“Do you know almost our entire class left Riverdale? The class of ‘93 is all but extinct there.”

Hiram put a hand on her shoulder to get her to sit back down, but she merely leaned in closer to him. He could smell the whiskey on her breath.

‘They’ll be back. A lot of people just go away for college.”

“Are you ever coming back?”

Hiram pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

“You didn’t even come home for Christmas last year. Or at all this summer.”

“My parents and I went away for Christmas. They wanted to be somewhere warm for once. And I was so settled -”

She held up her hand to stop him. “Don’t. You don’t owe me an explanation. I broke up with you -”

“It was a mutual break up.”

“- and you were allowed to do whatever you wanted to. It doesn’t matter. I’m just now realizing how dumb I was to let you get away. God, who am I?” She let out a shrill giggle, much louder than her normal one. The boozes were hitting her quick. “Hermione Reyes, chasing after a boy for once.”

“Never thought I’d see the day.”  He placed his hands back on her shoulders and slowly pressed back until she sat back down. She didn’t resist this time.

Hermione looked him in the eye and bit her lip. “Fred’s still in Riverdale, you know. It feels like we were the only two that didn’t leave. Some days -”

“You said it yourself, Hermione. We don’t owe each other any explanation.”

“Some days,” she repeated, “we would just hang out for hours talking about the old days. High school. Everyone who left. Mary in Chicago, Alice and Hal in Boston, FP off god-knows-where in the army, you in New York. And we’d sit at Pops and go through more platters off disco fries than I care to admit.” She looked back out the window. “And we’d just get so fucking sad. That’s depressing isn’t it?”

“I think that’s normal.”

She shook her head. “It’s not. And a few times, I thought about it, about me and Fred. Could I do it? Live this small life in this small town with him?”

Hiram gulped, glad Hermione was too distracted by the view to notice. “You and Fred start dating again?”

Her head snapped back at him. “Oh god no. He’s still with Mary.”

Hiram scoffed. “Mary’s a ten hour drive away.”

“And Fred makes the trip every damn month to go see her.” Hermione waved her finger in his face. “We will not put down Fred tonight. He’s the only thing that kept me sane this past year.”

“Right.” Hiram shook his head and gulped again. “Right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make any accusations.”

Hermione pursed her lips, but smiled. “You were though. So rest assured, Fred and I might get dinner at Pops or see the occasionally movie together, but our relationship is entirely platonic. He’s head over heels for Mary.” Her eyes wandered out the window again. “That being said…”

Hiram exhaled. “You’ve thought about - about rekindling?”

“Maybe,” she said softly. She shook her head slightly and looked back to him. “But I could never do that to Mary. And Fred would never. But if they ever broke up and opportunity arose… I don’t know what I’d do.” She tilted her head and regarded Hiram. “I don’t think I could ever feel with Fred what I feel here with you right now.”

“What do you feel?”

“I feel,” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I feel I could wake up next to you everyday for the rest of my life and never know what was coming.” She opened her eyes again. “In a good way of course. A life with Fred - or a life with anyone in Riverdale really - would be safe, complacent. But it’d never be satisfying. I feel more free, happier right now than I have since graduation. It’s not about being in this huge apartment on the Upper West Side, okay? It’s about being here with you. Boys like Fred? Salt of the earth. He’s going to be so happy doing the same thing for the rest of his life. I mean, the boy’s biggest dream is to become mayor of that dinky little town someday. Which, that’s fine, that’s great, but that’s never going to be for me, you know? I want to grow. I want to be a big fish in the ocean and I need to be with someone who wants the same thing. I know those three years you spent in Riverdale were the longest three years of your life.”

“Of course they weren’t.” He took her hand and squeezed. “I met some great people. You helped the years fly by.”

“Hiram, what I’m asking is,” she squeezed his hand back, “will you take me back? Can I stay?”

He laughed. “God Hermione. Of course you can stay.”

She bit her lip. “Yeah?”

“Yes, of course.” He nodded. “Yes, yes, yes. I want you here. It’s like,” he reached out and took her chin, “you’re what I’ve been waiting for. I mean, New York is great. I love going to Columbia, but -”

“But it’s not enough, right?”

He nodded. “It’s never enough. New York girls are nice, but my heart still belongs to some small town girl in Riverdale.”

She reached out and put a finger on his nose. Despite the slur in her voice, her hand eye coordination still seemed alright. “Don’t you dare call me a small town girl, Hiram Lodge. Big fish, big town. City. Ocean. Whatever.”

He removed her hand gently from his face and held it. “My apologies, Ms. Reyes. My heart belongs to a big fish from Riverdale. Is that more romantic?”

“It is actually.” She leaned back towards him, sitting up on her knees again. “You have no idea how I’ve missed you.” She slung one leg over his body so she was straddling him. His hand was still holding hers and she grabbed his other wrist. “Lets pick up right from where we left off.”

Her lips - plump, luscious, coated in a dark lipstick - met his in an instant. He felt her tongue coax his mouth open and the whiskey hit him all all once. He pulled back.

“What?” Hermione asked, eyes wide. “What did I -?”

“You’re drunk.”

She scoffed. “As if. I hardly drank any more than you.”

“You drank my shot,” he laughed. “Look, you’re tipsy at least. Really tipsy. We don’t need to do this tonight. You’re here. That’s what matter.”

Hermione pouted, sticking her lips out as far as they’d go. “I came all this way. It’s not like you don’t want to.” She giggled and began grinding her hips against his. “It’s starting to feel an awful lot like you want to.”

He took her hips and moved her back a few inches, earning him an eye roll. “I will offer you one better. You hungry?”

“I could eat,” she admit. “I got a soft pretzel when I got off the bus, but that’s all I’ve eaten since lunch.”

“Lets go get something in your stomach. I’ll show you some real New York spots. We have a million options.”

“It’s nearly midnight. What, is there a diner around?”

He laughed. “Hermione, this is the city that never sleeps. Whatever you want, we can get.”

“Honestly? You’ll laugh if I tell you what I want.”

“Don’t say sex.”

She squatted his arm and he caught her hand. “Jerk. Just don’t laugh at me.” She wrinkled her nose. “You know nothing tastes better than a cheeseburger and chocolate shake after you’ve just done a bunch of shots on an empty stomach.”

“You came all the way to New York and you want a cheeseburger?”

“I do.” She nodded. “God, my taste is garbage, but my mouth is watering right now.”

He took her face in his hands. “This is what we’re going to do. You’re going to go to my room and change into some dry clothes. And then I am going to get you the best damn cheeseburger you have ever had.”

“Milkshake too?”

“The milkshake will be second best to Pop Tate’s, but still pretty damn good. Deal?”

She nodded, dark hair bobbing up and down. “Deal.”

He gave her a quick kiss right before she jumped off his lap. She picked up the larger of the two suitcases before turning back to him. “Don’t you have class in the morning though?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve gotten by on less sleep.”

She took a few steps before taking off at a run towards the bedroom. “All I need is five minutes!” She slammed the door to his bedroom behind her.

Hiram resisted pinching his leg. Could it be real? Did Hermione Reyes really take a bus over a hundred miles just to get him back? How did he get so lucky?

Maybe Hal had it right all along in school. He always told him he tried too hard. If he just left Hermione alone, stopped bugging her all the time, if she really, really wanted him - she’d find her way back to him.

He never dreamed after all this time, she’d chase him to New York though.

He waited five minutes. Then another ten. The clock struck midnight before he softly knocked on the door of his bedroom.

“Hermione?” he asked as he let the door creak open. “You okay?”

The lights were still on. Hermione’s suitcase was open on his bed and she was curled up right next to it, her shoes discarded on the floor. He could almost laugh.

Hiram closed the suitcase and laid it on the floor. He gently turned Hermione so her head was on the pillow, and pulled a blanket over her body.

He considered climbing into bed right next to her - she had literally just thrown herself at him back there on the couch after all - but it didn’t feel right. Some drunk confession of love didn’t necessarily mean they were back together. He’d sleep on the couch tonight. After all, they had tomorrow morning to figure out where their relationship was. And the rest of their lives to figure out everything else.

[dailyaudiobible]

07/30/2018 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27, Romans 13:1-14 , Psalms 23:1-6, Proverbs 20:11

Today is the 30th day of July. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is always a pleasure, always an honor to be here with you every single day, taking the steps necessary to lead us through the Bible in a year. And so we've come for the next step. And we're reading from the New English Translation this week. 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27.

Commentary:

Okay. So in Romans today Paul continues to show us how to be in the world, how to live this life after a manner like Christ. And his conclusions come down to what the whole Bible concludes. It's all gonna come down to love. Paul says, Owe no one anything except to love one another. For the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Paul says that every rule, every law, comes down to one thing: love your neighbor as yourself. If you're doing that, if you're obeying that, you're obeying the rest. But obviously loving your neighbor as you love yourself is more challenging than just saying it. Now we're not going to actually be able to do it until we wake up to the realization that we don't have to live any other way. All of the things that we do that prohibit us from living in love need to be disregarded as if they were dirty clothes. That's what Paul said. So in other words, we need to take off what is filthy and put on some clean clothes. Put on love. And then Paul gives us a little description of what filthy clothing might look like. What it is that's filthy on us that we might need to take off. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality. And we can be like, Yeah, yep. We hear that all the time. I've been told that my whole life. But Paul's list isn't just about being wild. Paul's list includes quarreling and jealousy. So think about that for a minute. It's easy to pass judgement against those who are in the party scene because it's blatant and clearly not a lifestyle that's going anywhere. But what about jealousy and quarreling? That brings it right back home. But for Paul and his list, quarreling and jealousy are in the same league as sexual immorality and wild drunkenness because none of those things can really be done in love, right? We can't commit adultery in love. We might think we've fallen in love with somebody else and so we're living in that direction, but we are breaking a vow that is deeply wounding someone else. That can't be done in love. You can't murder someone in love. You can't covet in love. You can't steal from someone in love. Which invites us to consider what else we may be involved in that we can't do in love. These are things that we can't do in love, these are the filthy clothing that we need to take off and throw away if we want to reflect the glory of the Lord upon the earth as God's children. That's what Paul says. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to arouse it's desires. So the rule of love must guide us if we desire to live godly lives. Everything else will become natural. Everything else will snap into place if we'll live our lives in love. And as we reorient and become more Christlike, as we continue to be sanctified by the work Jesus has done on our behalf, we will grow in love.

Prayer:

Father, we invite Your Holy Spirit into this. We ask that You begin to reveal to us the ways in which we are certainly not behaving in love, that we are not living in love. You've given us a way to consider this by simply asking ourselves before we act or speak, Can I do this in love? Come Holy Spirit, we pray, into this question. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

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Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi everybody. This is Tony from Germany and I just want to share something. Yesterday was my birthday, July 25th. And I wasn’t doing anything special but I got a lot of, you know, happy birthday wishes on Facebook and friends and so forth. So anyways, I was thinking, oh, I wish I could get a birthday wish from the people or have some kind of connection with my Daily Audio Bible family. And today is the 26th and I’m just a little bit behind in my…in the podcast recordings and today, just now, I turned on the Daily Audio Bible and Brian announced that today was Ezekiel’s birthday. Happy birthday, a day belated Ezekiel. What is also really interesting is I started listening to Daily Audio Bible when Brian was reading Ezekiel. And that is what got me hooked. So, there I got my little beautiful, actually, big birthday gift from Daily Audio Bible. And I just wanted to share that. The other thing is, I am reading Sneezing Jesus to my mom and she is in a nursing home and sometimes her minds not all there because of the medication she’s taking but she always asks: now, so, are you going to do the reading tonight? So, I wanted to share that. Have a great day everyone. Bye-bye.

Hi Daily Audio Bible family it’s Laura in Houston. I’m calling because some months ago somebody called in and said, hey let’s call in our answers to prayer and I was really convicted. And here I am, months later. So, a while back I asked you all to pray for the man I was dating at the time in our relationship. And I want to give a praise. Thank you for praying. We got married this May. We were engaged in December and got married in May and it has been just an amazing journey and God has been in it and we are very thankful for each other and am I’m very thankful to you for praying. And I also wanted to reach out to Keisha, when you called in with your request it really resonated with my heart and I’ve been praying for you and I wanted to say that God has delivered me from a family, I guess you’d call it, sin, a family sin. And it was a spiritual battle, like a real spiritual battle. I’m so thankful to the Lord. He is faithful. He is good. And He is…we are victorious through Him. And family. I also wanted to call in and ask you to pray because my husband Toby and I are trying to discern, what is the Lord’s will for my career. We are having a couple of great career options that are very different. I’m graduating with my Masters in counseling but I am not sure which job to take. They’re all great. And, yeah, I want to make sure I’m really following Jesus and not just trying to do good things. Like, that interaction with Jesus, having that relationship is really important, most important. Love you all.

Hi. This is Victoria Soldier. I’m just calling tonight to pray for some of the DABbers. I wanted to pray for Rich. It’s so good to hear from you Rich. And looks like you’re doing good with the help that you got and I’m just thanking and praising God and looking to hear and see greater things from you. I’ll continue to pray for your strength and your faith and your future. I want to say hi to Walking by Faith and to pray for her and Asia and I want to pray for Stephen Alabama and I want to pray for those who having problems in their marriage and those who are going through depression. I want to pray for those who have lost a loved one and that are fighting to pull themselves back up, for their strength. I want to pray for Blind Tony and Pastor Gene and all the people of God. I want to pray for Brian and his family. Gracious Father, we come before Your throne of grace. Father, in the name of Jesus, just thanking You for being God, thanking You for being mighty and holy and to let them remember that You’ll never leave them nor forsake them, that You’re always there. All they have to do is call on You and You’re a present help in the time of trouble. Lord, You have Your way Father. Continue to strengthen Rich. Continue to guide him and keep him in Your perfect peace. Oh Lord, we ask You to touch Steve in Alabama and Walking by Faith. Continue to be their strength and their guide and continue to use them as You’ve been using them in the mighty name of Jesus. Blind Tony and Pastor Gene, continue to strengthen her and Viola and all of those who are having challenges on their job. People seem to love drama on their jobs and we’ve got to continue to pray and remember that even a fool is considered wise when he holds his peace. Oh, continue to have Your way. Continue to touch Brian and all the people of God. And Lord, we will give You the glory and honor and praise. And also…

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family. This is Becky in Orlando. I apologize, I stepped away from our Daily Audio Bible family campfire and I got lost in the wilderness for like a year. And I have found my way back to you guys and I’ve been listening to our campfire stories for the last couple days. And I’ve been missing you guys and I thank you Brian for still hanging in there and reading the word of God every day. And I thank God for still being with me. And I thank you guys for staying in the word. It’s so great to be able to hear Blind Tony and his problems still. Thank you. And I did get to hear that James the teacher in LA is going through some difficulties right now. So, I’ve got you and Kayla in my prayers. Shantay from Michigan, I miss you. I don’t know if you’ve been calling in. Becky, from Philadelphia, I miss you also. Sophia and Claire out in the Pacific Northwest, I hope you guys are doing well. And Jan, the Prayer Warrior Princess in California. I am praying for you. And, anyway, I love you guys like crazy and I thank the Lord because I avoided an accident this morning. There was my road that I take every day for work was shut down and I guess I thank Him for being late this morning just a couple minutes late because if I had been running on time I would have been stuck in the traffic also. So, I am still alive and kicking. A bit late for work today but I praise the Lord because I’m still alive and I can to continue to do His work. So, I pray for Him to just show me the way, show me where He wants me to be. So, I am working for a new company, I’m not sure if it’s where he wants me to be. So, I’m just asking for, yeah know, sight for that…

[countryole]

Moar Gifted Discussion

@behappyitsemmalie and I created a monster discussion post O’ER HEREEE.

Im starting a new thread here to save people's feeds because we like to talk. #noragrets

In the previous thread above, Em and I (are you really an Emmalie omg I'm a horrible friend BABE WHAT IS YOUR NAME) and I were waxing incessantly over the fact that Dr. Campbell might actually be the drive/reason why Lorna's family history comes into play with the revelation that her father is Magneto. Campbell knew every detail down to the nitty gritty on the Von Strucker twins, of course he must know about Magneto, arguably the most powerful mutant ever, and arguably therefore he should know about his daughter. Everyone put on your helmets mkay, because I have a feeling shita gunna hit the fan. Keep reading below the cut. 💯

I really didn't want to believe the writers would put anyone on the team back in the hands of the SS, but the obvious implication of Lorna's pregnancy, the complication of her father, and also the previous interviews with Emma and the rest of the cast, and the BTS pics of the team in suits, at the very least points to them going straight into the lions den. Also I want to remind everyone of the time frame between episodes: there are mere days/twenty four hours or less between eps. I think this can affect how they'll tell the story moving forward and whether or not we will get a huge time jump (which I personally don't wanna happen). I'm highkey stressed for all my children.

In the previous reblog we also talks about my favorite thing: mental health. Marcos is such a great ally/flagship character for this, because of all the reasons you listed. He doesn't dismiss Lorna, he's never retaliatory or evasive or accusatory when she loses her shit. He realizes there are other emotional factors beyond either of their abilities to control. There are so many shoddy, contrived tv/movie/book relationships out there that try to romantacize mental disorders and it's gross. I give major kudos for The Gifted writers, and Sean and Emma, for making the good, the bad and the ugly all very real between Lorna and Marcos. It's believable, and it's important that people see it.

YES YES YES on Uncle John, I seriously can't wait to watch the entire MU village raise this kid though to be honest. Obviously John would treat their kid like his own, and I am also entertained by the thought of him trying like so hard to babysit and be Good With Kids ™ because he's Thunderbird and he's good at everything, and just failing miserably and randomly walking into a room where Clarice is siting there and just holding a squalling, snotty nosed kid out to her with the I surrender look on his face. I imagine Lorna purposely pawning Aurora off on him purely for entertainment purposes because let's be real she would totally be that mom lolol.

Also more on Cait: I love the idea of Marcos trying to gently push Lorna in the direction of seeking Cait out, nicely at first, until Lorna does fight it just like you said. She'd come to her senses though, and finally go ask for help I think, after apooogizing to her boo thing of course. I think this pregnancy will be a turning point for her as far as having to learn to be brave in a way she never has been before; and that's believing and trusting in other people. Lorna is so active and mobile and vicious in all ways physically and emotionally and I just think once she's very visibly pregnant and the hormones start kicking in, it's going to be really hard for her to compartmentalize and check herself. Tbh I'm ready for the drama and for someone to make the worse decision of their life by pissing her off. I want to watch her destroy all the things.