#in the flash series he was like didnt watch where he was running and got into fights with no foreplanning

[mojoworlddotcom]

Been reading impulse from his first appearance and the narration, mostly wallys says that bart has no concept of danger from his vr childhood but there hasn't been much if any insight in barts own thoughts on this. Like for all I know this could be wally being bitter about having an unwanted overly-reckless protege

[blueguydraws]

I just finished Arcane season 2. While Arcane is still revolutionary, sadly i think i have some unpopular opinions.

So yes, Arcane changed our idea of what an animeted series could be, i kept pausing it to admire its art, but i think the story itself fell kinda short in season 2. Most of all they tried to shove WAY too much into 9 short episodes. This story definitely needed to be at least 3 seasons long and i dont know why couldnt have that been possible? Yeah its very expensive and takes years to make, but it is as popular as it could be, i tought it made back its cost, so why did they wrap it up so fast?

Plus because the story of so many characters had to be told in such a short time, none of them could get enough time and all of their developments happened in flashes so it all felt sudden and unnatural.

The first season was way more streamlined. It had only 3 major general lines. Viktor and Jayce creating hextech, Vi and Cate looking for Jinx, and Silco's gang preparing for war. And somethimes these story lines met each other. It was straight forward. Now in season 2 so many things wanted to happen at the same time that it was hard to follow at some points.

To be fair i should propably watch it again in one sitting to form a proper opinion on it, since i am sure i missed or forgot some details, but here we go.

Viktor first of all, i was very curious to see how will he turn into the "glorious evolution" cyborg guy. When they introduced his illness and showed how he tried to cure himself with hextech, i tought i knew how this all gonna go. Plus he was already in conflict with Jayce since he wanted to take things more slowly and safely, their first argument happened over not revealing the perfected crystal to the public. I tought because Viktor knows he is running out of time he will hurry the development more and more even if it comes with dangers and eventually ditches piltover to get free of regulations. I felt reassured in this idea when he met up with Singed, it made sense for them to team up since the doctor was already making serums that enhance people so it felt natural for the evolution guy to join him.

Except none of his sickness and struggle matters too much because he gets blown up regardless and then revived with the hexcore. Like okay? And then we barely see him except for one episode where he is Jesus now and then at the end where he turned into a god. ???

Stories where friends grow apart and even become enemies are great, it makes for great drama and tragedy. Except it has to be properly fleshed out othervise it will not feel satisfying. Except here it felt like the writers took a quick shortcut and just made both of them instant enemies with magic. Viktor didnt even felt like the same person, yeah i know that is how character development works, but it happened so suddenly it was as if he just got replaced with a diferent character.

Even his cult leader arc still could have happend if we went with a closer adaptation. Lets say he grows desperate and impatient so he leaves piltover and joins up with Singed, eventually he starts healing and fixing up people with a mix of shimmer serums and hextech augmentations. Meanwhile his condition gets worse so he has to complete himself with hextech too. Before he knows it he has loyal followers. And when push comes to shove between Zaun and Piltover, he decides that his place is with his people, so him and Jayce become enemies for a while. Maybe Viktor even already kept steeling crystals from Piltover thus making the tension between the two sides worse. And as he becomes less and less human, yet way stronger, its only natural that he compares that process to evolution.

But in the actual show it felt like the writers tought "oh shit we are running out of time and Viktor is suppose to be an entirely diferent character, quick, make him say the line" it felt kinda random.

Its a hot take but i never liked Jinx, yeah i know all of Silco's gang is just a bunch of murderers, but at least they have a plan and reasons. In season 1 most of the time Jinx acted on impulses or based on what her own halucinations told her. She somehow kept screwing over both sides at the same time. I tought she is way too far gone and there is just no way she is getting out if this all alive. Plus i cant see Vi and Cate being together with Jinx still in the picture after what she have done, how would that work? Even tho they were clearly meant to be endgame.

In this season they were giving her somewhat of a redemption arc, she almost felt like a diferent character wich is fine, except how much could she possibly change in this few short weeks after years of being the local joker? I guess the child was there to anchor her, but then when the writers had no more purpose for her, they made a 9 years old pull off a fucking kamikaze attack??? How? Why? We are gravely overestimating toddlers here.

Plus Vi and Cate made up odly fast, they had a very nasty breakup, like after an argument Cate just hit Vi on the stomach unpromted (wich was kinda weird), then they didnt see each other for months, i assumed it would take a bit longer and a bit more talking to restart their relationship, but then they immediately just start fucking in Jinx's prison cell WHILE JINX WENT TO KILL HERSELF??? Like i hated Jinx but not that much XD

And if the writers insist that Jinx is a changed person why are they also want to punish her as if she was still that psycho? And even if she is getting herself together why does she acts like a whole diferent person? She told Cate that she didnt knew that her mother was in there implying that she is sorry for killing her. But what is that even suppose to mean? At the time she didnt even knew who Cate was or that she existed a day ago, or who was on the cuncil. And either way someones mother was still there, the same way all people had relationships who Jinx killed but for years she didnt give a shit and all of a sudden she grew a concience? (Plus why did she gave herself up?)

Allright i guess good for her, but then why did she got killed at the end? I guess it was to atone for her crimes, wich is fine. But i wish it was a bit more meaningfull. Of course saving her sister is pretty meaningfull, but at that point the whole battle was over, the drones were dead, except somehow the beast still came back to life. I wish Jinx's sacrifice was more important to the whole general plot not just a little side event. Maybe she should have sacrificed herself in a decicive moment for the undercity, and then maybe it all could have been connected to Silco as well as he dedicated his life for it, and now so does Jinx.

Btw does anyone know why the ginger girl was suddenly about to kill Cate? I either missed it or totally forgot.

Halfway i remembered that wait, wasnt this suppose to be about the struggle and conflict between the two parts of this city? That original premise got pretty derailed with all this Viktor turning into a god for some reason and a foreign army attacking nonsense. I guess its not the worst idea to have the two sides join against a common enemy, we saw this trope before, but isnt it a little convinient?

The peace between the two sides should have happened because and thru people who had connection to both sides, like Viktor or Vi and Cate.

We still could have had Ambessa meddling with the whole situation but that ultimately should have only ended in the conflict between the two cities escalating. In season two Zaun basically just took the bullying form Piltover and then they were suddenly friends at the end. I am actually not criticising that they also fought against Ambessa, she was their enemiy too, but now the story became something else than what it was initially supposed to be.

The alternative universe. Yes paralell worlds are a fun concept, and they work in certain stories like spiderverse where that was the whole premise. But i really dislike it when its just added to stories suddenly. The fact that there are infinite worlds that are just as important and valid as the one we have been following really cheapens everything that have been happening, because now the stakes arent even that big, who cares if this universe blows up, there are billion others that are exactly the same.

Plus why was that universe all good? What changed, what was the diference? At first i tought maybe here Zaun and Piltover just allways had a better relationship? But then Silco shows up with the scar wich means that the revolution and the attempt at his life all happened. So once again, why and how this world is just better? Why did Silco forgive? What is this even trying to say, that it all would be fine if everyone was just nice to each other? I bet they never thought of that in the main universe. It felt very fanfic-y and disrespectfull to the whole story so far.

Plus what was even the point? It just took from the very limited and precious time of the story. Yeah this is how Ekko got his time travel device, but couldnt have he just built that in the main world maybe while making weapons just in case the whole worsening situation will get even worse? Jayce also could have just got a long lucid nightmare-vision of the future from Viktor (wich could have been the exact same) instead of literally getting transported into a failed world.

And am i the only one who thinks that its kinda stupid that the parents of Vi and Jinx knew Vander and Silco closely and personally? If so why did silco wanted to kill the kids of Felicia. In season 1 it seemed like they were just totally random kids to him. Yeah he is evil but still. What are the ods that its her kids? Zaun is a big place.

Oh and i just remebered, i find it a little funny, how at first the setting seems like its about these dastardly capitalists opressing the undercity, wich is kinda true, except the council members kinda just idiots and naive. Ignorant at worst. While Zaun keeps spitting up pshychos and freaks. And at every point the council allways votes for caution. Even when they kept getting attacked, they decide against violence because people would be caught in the crossfire and its actually Vi who calls them out and wants an army to march down there and cleane out the place. I really would have expected it to go the opposite way. Even when they got hit with a whole missile, first they still just vote against any drastic measures and decide to simply put a bounty on Jinx's head. I am not saying this is bad, its actually an interesting subversion of expectations, but its still a little funny.

Oh and i cant belive what Jayce said at the end. Did he really told Viktor that his illness and other imperfections are not something to fix because they are part of him and imperfections make people unike? My brother in Christ, you are talking about his crippling condition that made him live with pain and was actively killing him. Are you serious? And i heard this "imperfections make us who we are" bullshit multiple times before, but its one of those nonsense tropes that sound nice with music in the background but make zero sense if you think about it. Idk why writers insist so much. People are made up of positive, neutral, and negative traits. Why do people keep saying that out of the three its the negative ones that you have to hold on to or ignore. Imperfections are being insecure, quick to anger, jealous, or in this case being sick. None of them are good and all make the life of people harder.

I propably forgot about a few things, and i may change my opinions as it all settles down. But these are my initial toughts.

Plus its just me or was it hard to follow how much time supposed to pass between each event?

[jemmo]

so i finally watched the utsukushii kare eternal movie properly. yes, i had technically already watched it bc i watched a random version that was uploaded somewhere with the most confusing subtitles, but i wanted to reserve my thoughts until i'd watched it properly with better subs so i was sure i had the gist of what they wanted to say for this final entry to the series. and fair warning, there is nothing unbiased about this; i adored it. i had big, fat tears running down my face by the end and had to curl up into a ball and cry for a while just to grieve the fact that we'll never be back in hira and kiyoi's world again, but i'm ok with that. i think of all the bls ive watched that have gone beyond a single season run, this is the one im the most ok parting from, bc its the show that has put in the best, most thoughtful work to leave these characters in a place where they have grown tremendously and gone through a lot, yet still have so much more ahead, and we are left with the overwhelming feeling of security by the end, that whatever comes, they are now equipped to face it. its a show that had me in the first season, and left me with that lingering feeling that this happy ending cant be it bc we still have so much unaddressed, and of all the bls that have picked up a second season after leaving me with that feeling, this one, above all else, actually had the bravery to confront those deeper, finer points of the dynamic they built, and show that there's still so much work that has to be put in after two people get together. you have to learn what you are as a partnership, how to communicate and how to be heard, and what that looks like, how you match and find balance and understand each other. the second season did that, and the movie managed to run with that vibe whilst giving us a much more thorough idea of what hira and kiyoi are outside of their relationship with each other, and how as a partnership they fit in to the people that surround them. they manage to create such a wonderful supporting cast, and i'd be saying the same if the only new person they introduced was noguchi, bc he is exactly what hira needed in this story and its such a pleasure to see him have this interesting dynamic with someone other that kiyoi, and whats more someone that sees him for all that he is. he gives both support and challenge in equal measure and its incredible. and while this show has always tended to center around hira, what i absolutely love is that at the end, when theyre in the school flashing between the past and the present, i just kept thinking of kiyoi, that cool kid that walked in day one, and we had no idea what was going through his head, we didnt know the profound loneliness and isolation he felt whilst be surrounded and adored constantly, and how finally, in that moment where hira said he liked him, after seeing and knowing every facet of him, that kid got everything he wanted. bc all that he has wanted all along is for the person he likes to like him back. its the most simple, school boy thing to want, and finally he has it.

and what i have always found the most beautiful about this show, and ive found it with other jbls but this one is the one to beat them all, is that its committed to showing love in an un-beautiful way. its kind of ironic, seen as the show is called my beautiful man and is all about beauty, but compared to other bls where the idea of love is smoothed over and made to look nice and pretty and simple, that normal idea of what love is, this show has two people who are madly in love and committed to each other, and never once has the show ever felt the need to make that love look pretty. one guy is insanely obsessive and the other is brash and rude and yet their love is beautiful bc the show takes all the time it can to make you understand that just bc the love is not expressed or communicated in the normal way you expect it to be, it doesnt mean it isnt love. bc love is about understanding and knowing that person more than anyone else and loving that person you find, and this whole film is hira going on a journey to realise that he does in fact love kiyoi bc he wants to know him more than anyone else. and i think its kind of incredible to show that kind of selfish behaviour as something beautiful when its what both people want, bc while hira has always believed his want is selfish, in owning his selfishness, he's showing kiyoi that he has not just that much love for him, but that much self-confidence to own it and commit to it and take it. is just like what hira says to shitara, that you cross the line when impose your wants and opinions and expectations onto someone else. but all that hira wants, he's not imposing that on kiyoi, bc its what he wants too, and thats why such seemingly unhealthy behaviour is actually so healthy and beautiful, bc is the pinacle of understanding mixed with the absolute joy and magic of finding that one person that matches you exactly. hira and kiyoi really are just that dream idea of a relationship that is being made for each other bc theyve worked to make it so, they commit to being fated, and its all wrapped up in the most chaotic dynamic. tldr; this show means more to me than i can say and i had to write a love letter to it one final time.

[blaintism]

what's your ranking of the klaine seasons? (like, how much you like the klaine storylines for each season)

oooo this is a toughie because i like some seasons a lot for different reasons

1. season six. NOW THIS SOUNDS INSANE PROBABLY. i know a lot of people despise the season six breakup but i LOVE IT. i think it was so necessary for them to split and come back with some character development and the angst is perfect. especially because it’s mainly on kurt’s side, and i love seeing kurt actively pursue blaine when he’s been sort of just coasting along for a bit at this point, caring but in season five being too emotionally exhausted to put in very much effort. i love seeing him confront his fear of vulnerability and opening up to other people by being so straightforward with blaine right away that he wants him back. it makes so much sense for what was established about kurt even way back in season two, that he believe he has to go through hardship alone, and he was closing out blaine in the wake of losing his brother, being in the hospital etc. it makes him purposely getting blaine to sing with him and running to his house to tell him that he loves him SOOO good. on the flip side with blaine, i know this is where people have issues but i love that he’s seeing someone else, that he’s happy with it, that he’s been able to pick himself up and move on (with therapy! both of them got therapy) because he had this opposite struggle of people pleasing and clinging too hard and resisting change. and in season six he’s such a BITCH. like he’s still a little muffin but he’ll also storm into the auditorium and yell at kurt for taking one of his students, he’ll refuse to go easy on them, he’ll even insult rachel a little (“huh that’s so unlike you”). and finally, that scene outside rachel’s house is one of my favorites in the entire show. everything they say, reminiscing, and blaine kissing him suddenly. it’s EVERYTHING. i just love the longing. kurt glancing over during Home or crying and them flashing a bunch of clips during Will you still love me tomorrow/head over feet. blaine seeing them as warblers during it’s too late. I WROTE ALL THIS AND DIDNT EVEN MENTION THE HURT LOCKER. best ep ever

2. season two. this is the cliched favorite but i can never not have love for those two sad little sweet kids. i love that first meeting so much and how meaningful it all is for kurt. that he’s finally found someone who understands him. who he can have feelings for without being seen as crossing some line. who will hold his hand and dance with him at prom. it’s way more kurt focused but also i DO love blaine, especially the bit we get about his dad and the sadie hawkins incident, an exercise in deepening his backstory they will never do when he’s a main character for some reason. especially prom queen is my favorite episode of the series and klaine are the best part.

3. season four. i guess i’m a break up stan? I love some yearning alright. and this has SO much. i think The Break Up (the episode) could be written a thousand times better but hey. we got all those songs from it. i love kurt trying to move on but still calling blaine, still loving blaine as well, spending christmas with him, and crying watching Their movie. especially come what may is just unlike anything else the show ever pulled for ANY couple. and that’s how you know klaine are the it couple!!!! and on blaine’s end it’s kind of the best blaine season??? the way he becomes Real and has interests and makes friends is so important to me personally. but i also love of course when kurt comes back and he’s like omg.. we need to get married. he’s crazy and i love it

4. season three. they’re adorable in this season. big brother is one of my fave episodes of all time, it’s an actual blaine plot filled with sweet sweet klaine moments. but the thing is there’s just moments? they don’t get much outside of the first time and dance with somebody, which are opposite ends of the season. hell, blaine is absent on valentine’s day 😭😭. i do like pretty much every scene they do have though. also the network censorship during this season is glaringly obvious to me.

5. season five. confession i’m a bit of a season five hater. i just get BORED. it’s not to say they don’t have their moments in this season. the proposal is the most beautiful scene. got to get you into my life is their best duet. they’re so cute living together in nyc. that scene in tested is probably what i use for gifsets more than anything else. but also they’re pretty separate the first half and i find some of the new york parts stressful (blaine’s crisis in tested) or unnecessary (the june plot).

anyways, i ended up saying a lot about each which i don’t know if you needed. 2, 4, 6 could probably shuffle around at different moments but this is how i feel rn

[chaeryybomb]

BRUTAL

pairings: female reader x best friend!jungwon

summary: they told you that these were the golden years, but to you "golden" was a rusting metal spray painted yellow. the story of a seventeen year old trying to survive high school when all you do is try your best. but your best friend jungwon makes it worth the while. 

genre: high school au, friends to lovers, fluff, tiny bits of angst if you squint, attempt at humour

featuring: jang wonyoung, kim sunoo & nishimura riki 

word count: 4.5k 

warnings: reader having a existential crisis most of the time, strong language, mentions of insecurity

the sour series masterlist

You slumped forward the moment the bell rang, letting your head hit the table. You could care less if a bruise would form on your forehead, you had much bigger things to worry about. Your teacher left the class wordlessly as the class was busy doing their own thing. And by that, everyone was buried nose deep in studying. You lifted your head to see the different books of the same topic scattered on your desk, a yellow highlighter balancing on the edge of your table.

Reaching over to grab the highlighter, you turned your head over to the side to look at your desk mate. Wonyoung sat there looking straight out from a k-drama, with her hair flowing down her back perfectly and her slender nimble fingers moving as she continuously wrote in her notebook. She was smart too, fluent in English and Korean, great at maths and science. And on top of that she was kind and friendly, everyone loved her. You did too, you had the honour of calling her your best friend. But sometimes you felt insecure around her, everything she did looked flawless and there you were just trying your best.

"Ack!" You yelped as you sat up straight, holding your forehead. Wonyoung rolled her eyes at you with a small smile on her lips, she had flicked your forehead to get you out of your thoughts.

Without taking her eyes off the textbook, she tapped your own workbook with her pen. Silently telling you to stop procrastinating. You pouted at her and looked at the clock, 10 minutes before lunch. Maybe a walk to the girl's bathroom would do you some good.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," you whispered to Wonyoung. She nodded and smiled at you before you walked out.

As you strolled towards the girl's bathroom, you passed by the bulletin board outside your class. A bright blue poster stood out with the words "ENJOY YOUR YOUTH" in white. Scoffing at the message, you continued on your way.

"I'm seventeen now, where's my fucking teenage dream?" You muttered to yourself. You were tired of waiting for your life to end up like a coming of age movie. Everyone told you that these were the golden years and you should enjoy your youth, but you swear to god if you hear another one of those cheesy sayings, you might just cry on the spot.

Reaching over to open the stall door, you halt in your actions when you heard familiar voices talking.

"I'm so worried for finals, my parents are gonna kill me if I fail English again," a girl complained. You hear the sound of tap water running. "How are you so calm during this time, Mirae?'

"What's the use of studying hard anyways," the second girl, Mirae, said. "We all know the top spots are gonna be taken by Jang Wonyoung and Yang Jungwon, I just study enough to pass."

The other girl snorted at her reply. "Imagine if those two got together, the power couple of the year," she suddenly said.

"Poor Y/N then, she's gonna be over shadowed by them."

"As if she already isn't. I almost forgot they were a trio until you mentioned Y/N," the girl laughed.

"What can I say? They're out of her league," Mirae joined in with her laughter.

The two voices faded away as you heard the door closed. Finally pushing the door open, you looked at your reflection. Your eyebrows knitted in annoyance and your face was morphed in a scowl. You washed your hands aggressively and poked the inside of your cheek. What bugged you was that they were right. You were the black sheep between Wonyoung and Jungwon. Both of them were smart and amazing, and you're just…you.

You love your best friends, you truly do. But you were constantly compared to them and you hated it. Everyone wanted them, you watched as guys tripped over to confess to Wonyoung and girls squealing when Jungwon smiled at them. The two of them always reassured you that you weren't beneath them but you were sick of their sympathy. You're so caught up in the news of who likes you and who hates them. You just wished people liked you more.

Storming out of the bathroom, someone accidentally ran into you and caused you to fell onto your butt. The student immediately stood up and scurried off, not bothering to even a mutter an apology. All I did was try my best and this is the thanks I get, you thought bitterly.

They said that these were the golden years, but you wished you could just disappear. God, it's brutal out here.

"Y/N, wait up!" Jungwon called after you.

You stopped in your tracks as you watched Jungwon waved goodbye to some students before jogging towards you.

"You heading to cram school today?" He asked you as the both of you fell into the same walking rhythm.

You shook your head, clasping your hands behind. "I moved it to Thursday instead, Wonyoung said I had to many things on Tuesday," you told him. Originally, you would be heading to the library to study before heading over to the cram school. But Wonyoung took one look at your schedule and decided that you did not had enough breaks, so she managed to convince you to take the Thursday slot instead. Thursdays are one of the days where you would not go to the library.

Jungwon seemed to be disappointed to find out that you had switched slots. Maybe he should changed slots too, but does he have any empty spots open for Thursday though? He'd have to check later. Instead, he coughed and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Do you wanna come over later? The new Demon Slayer movie is out," he offered, hoping that you'd accept.

Unfortunately, you once again shook your head. "Sorry Jungwon, I'd want to cram even more later. Finals are really creeping in and I can't afford to waste any time," you told him with a sad smile. As much as you would like to ditch the books and watch Demon Slayer, the glaring C on your last history paper was telling you otherwise.

You stopped walking when you had reached your doorstep. "Thanks for walking me home, Jungwon. See you tomorrow!" and with that you disappeared behind the door.

Jungwon waved goodbye as he watched the door closed. The smile on his face dropped and his shoulder sagged. Jungwon you idiot, of course she would want to study, he scolded himself. With disappointment on his face, he trudged home with a heavy heart.

"Change of plans, guys," he announced as he swung the front door open, unfazed by the fact that Riki and Sunoo were lounging on his coach. He accepted the fact that Sunoo had somehow gotten the keys to his house (suspecting that his mother probably gave it to him due to favouritism or maybe Riki had sneakily made a copy).

Riki's head poked out from the couch. "She rejected you, didn't she," the younger boy said with a smirk.

Jungwon's face ears turned red as he glared at the boy. "No she did not!" He immediately told him. "She rejected the offer to watch the movie, that's different!"

"That's basically rejection, hyung," Riki laughed.

The other boy just glared at him. "Shut up!" he sputtered out before hiking up the stairs.

Sunoo gave Riki a look, to which the Japanese boy just shrugged his shoulders innocently.

Jungwon walked out from the shower, a towel around his neck with one hand running through his damp hair. Sunoo and Riki had left earlier, finally giving him some peace and quiet. His phone screen was flashing from his study table, initiating that someone was spamming him (quite aggressively) with text message. With a raised eyebrow, he picked up his phone

[7:09 pm] wonyoung: JUNGWON

[7:09 pm] wonyoung: JUNGWON

[7:09 pm] wonyoung: JUNGWON

[7:10 pm] wonyoung: WHY DID Y/N JUST MESSAGED ME ABOUT HOMEWORK

[7:10 pm] wonyoung: ISNT SHE WITH YOU

[7:11 pm] wonyoung: I THOUGHT YOU SAID U WERE GONNA WATCH A MOVIE

[7:11 pm] wonyoung: DEMON HUNTER OR SMTG

[7:12 pm] wonyoung: WHY IS SHE ASKING ME FOR HW

[7:12 pm] wonyoung: DID U CHICKEN OUT???

[7:13 pm] wonyoung: omg u chickened out didnt u

[7:14 pm] jungwon: jfc wonyoung

[7:15 pm] jungwon: and no i did not chicken out okay

[7:15 pm] jungwon: she declined

[7:16 pm] jungwon: she said she had to study ;-;

[7:17 pm] wonyoung: omg u suck

[7:17 pm] wonyoung: i told u the movie idea was dumb

[7:18 pm] wonyoung: but do u ever listen to me

[7:18 pm] wonyoung: no

[7:19 pm] wonyoung: and now u suffer the consequences

[7:20 pm] jungwon: yea yea i get it im dumb

[7:20 pm] jungwon: now what's ur solution the great jang wonyoung

[7:21 pm] wonyoung: i am so glad u asked :)

[7:21 pm] jungwon: oh no

[7:21 pm] wonyoung: stfu im giving u a better idea

[7:22 pm] wonyoung: a n y w a y s

[7:22 pm] wonyoung: my ynradar is going off and she's s a d

[7:23 pm] jungwon: how would u know

[7:23 pm] jungwon: she seemed fine today

[7:23 pm] wonyoung: stfu jungwon its best friend things u wont understand

[7:24 pm] jungwon: i-

[7:25 pm] wonyoung: and as her future bf u SHOULD start to train ur ynradar

[7:25 pm] wonyoung: anw its exam season stoopid

[7:26 pm] wonyoung: and its when those kids start to talk abt how the both of us are gonna get top scores

[7:26 pm] wonyoung: and they talk down on y/n while doing so

[7:26 pm] wonyoung: assholes

[7:27 pm] wonyoung: so i propose to u

[7:27 pm] wonyoung: a ✨ study date ✨

[7:28 pm] jungwon: i

[7:29 pm] jungwon: that's

[7:29 pm] jungwon: actually not a bad idea

[7:30 pm] wonyoung: obv i came up with it

[7:31 pm] jungwon: can u not

[7:31 pm] wonyoung: anw a study date

[7:32 pm] wonyoung: she's struggling in maths

[7:33 pm] wonyoung: specifically taxes because she said and i quote

[7:34 pm] wonyoung: "why do we have to do taxes when we pay people to do it for us"

[7:34 pm] wonyoung: so pls help her and try to cheer her up

[7:35 pm] wonyoung: and confess coward

[7:36 pm] jungwon: i make no promises for the last one

[7:36 pm] wonyoung: aFTER EVERYTHING I JUST SAID

[7:37 pm] jungwon: what if she rejects me wonyoung

[7:38 pm] wonyoung: WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A LOT OF TIMES JUNGWON

[7:38 pm] wonyoung: SHE LIKES U BUT SHES TOO DUMB TO REALISE

[7:39 pm] jungwon: sigh

[7:40 pm] jungwon: fine i'll try thanks wonyoung

[7:41 pm] wonyoung: np i expect y'all to be a couple by next monday <3

[7:41 pm] jungwon: i-

Sighing for the nth time of the night, Jungwon sat on his bed. He allowed the towel to slipped off his shoulders as his thumb hovered over your chat icon. Truth be told, he always thought his crush on you was unrequited love. You never showed any signs of returning of feelings so he thought he would just ignore the feeling until it was gone.

But oh boy was he wrong, because he didn't knew that he would be spending his high school years by your side. And now you occupy his mind 24/7. Wonyoung could literally tell that he was in love with you, but somehow you never caught on. He allowed Sunoo and Riki to convince him to do the whole "movie date idea", but that failed. So Wonyoung's suggestion was his only option left.

He typed out the message, ready to send it out. If only he could just press the button. Come on Yang Jungwon, you can do this. Just press the damn button Jungwon. Suddenly his phone pinged loudly, scaring the lights out of the poor boy as he yelped and his phone landed with a thud on the ground. He peered over his bed, as if his phone was a ticking bomb.

Oh, it was a message from you.

[8:01 pm] y/n: hey do u know where wonyoung is

[8:01 pm] y/n: she isn't answering my texts

Oh no. He realised that your chat was open, the two ticks indicated that he had (unintentionally) read the message. He couldn't just leave you on read. That's just evil. Scrambling to get his phone, he immediately typed a reply to cover for the other girl.

[8:02 pm] jungwon: sorry i don't :/

[8:02 pm] jungwon: what do u need her for

[8:03 pm] y/n: mf was supposed to teach me a maths question but she left me on rEAD

This was his chance! It was the perfect opportunity for him to score a date with you. Okay, breathe in breath out Jungwon. Don't mess it up and just ask her, he mentally prepared himself.

[8:04 pm] jungwon: oh i could help you if you want

[8:04 pm] jungwon: yk with finals coming up and everything, i can help you study

[8:05 pm] jungwon: if you want of course

[8:05 pm] y/n: omg srsly??

[8:06 pm] jungwon: pls help me study my braincells are literally dying

[8:07 pm] jungwon: jdsjkda okay how about this saturday at your place?

[8:08 pm] y/n: yeah sure

[8:08 pm] jungwon: cool its a date then!

You blinked at Jungwon's message. A date? Wait, did Yang Jungwon just indirectly asked you out? Nah, nah. You were overthinking it. Yes, definitely overthinking. Don't kid yourself, why would Jungwon ask you out on a date? Jungwon is just a friend, you tried to convince yourself.

Keyword: tried.

If he really was just a friend, then why did it felt like butterflies were in your stomach when he said "it was a date"? Then why did you frowned when those girls said that Wonyoung and Jungwon would make a good couple?

Oh god, do you have feelings for your best friend?

Saturday came faster than you would have liked it to. Ever since that last chat with Jungwon, it gave you the sudden realisation that you did in fact had feelings for your best friend. You tried so hard to avoid him in school because you don't want the butterflies back in your stomach. It was basically confirming the fact that you like him. Well, avoiding him also confirmed the fact but you choose to be in denial about it.

You didn't tell Wonyoung about your study date but lately she's been sending you outfit ideas on Pinterest. Specifically, date outftis. And whenever you tried to ask her a question about school, she brushed you off with a random excuse. So it left you no choice but to save those questions for Jungwon.

Speaking of Jungwon, he had texted you 10 minutes ago that he was on the way. You were standing in the middle of your room with your hands on your hips. Both of your parents were out for the day, which left you alone at home. You had taken out the low table to be used later and it was currently in front of you. Colourful workbooks were neatly stacked on top of it.

You did a 360 turn around your room. Was it messy? You cleaned it this morning when you woke up. Did you had any clothes out? No, doesn't look like it. For some reason, you were a nervous wreck. You blamed Jungwon. He just had to call this a date, didn't he.

Should you change? Maybe you should finally look through all those pins Wonyoung sent. Wait, no, why would you have to change into something nice. Jungwon was here to help you study, just that.

Yeah, a study date, your mind emphasised on the word.

The sound of the doorbell pulled you out from your thoughts. You immediately went to open the door. Yang Jungwon stood there on the other side, with his signature smile. Had he always resembled a sheep? He just looked so fluffy.

"Hey!" You greeted him with a smile, internally wincing at your way-too-enthusiastic voice.

But Jungwon didn't seem to mind it. "Hey!" he greeted back.

You moved to the side to let him in. "Thank you for having me," he said as he bowed then proceeded to remove his shoes.

"Uh, do you want anything? Water?" You asked him.

He shook his head.

"Ah, cool. Let's head to my room," you started to walk back to your room.

"Where are your parents?" He asked.

"Out," you simply replied.

That was when it dawned upon you, that your parents were not home. Leaving you and Jungwon, alone. Together. In your room. Alone. With the boy you potentially have a crush on.

"Y/N?" Jungwon tapped on your shoulder. You had stopped walking when you were suddenly washed over by your thoughts. Snapping out of it, you sent him a small smile before opening the room to your door.

The both of you shuffled into your bedroom, you sat down in front of the low table while Jungwon settled down next to you. He moved to take out his books then turned to you. "How about we do some studying and if you have any questions, you can ask me okay?" He said.

You nodded and flipped your own workbook open, immediately starting to work on the first question. Jungwon copied your action and a comfortable silence engulfed the both of you. As the time passed, you found yourself stuck on a certain maths question.

You slightly turned your head to the side to look at Jungwon. He was concentrated at doing his work, you felt a sense of deja vu while looking at him. He resembled Wonyoung when she was studying. At the thought of Wonyoung, you suddenly thought of what those girls said at the bathroom.

They would make a good couple, wouldn't they, you thought. The power couple of the year.

The butterflies in your stomach faded away into an uncomfortable feeling. Just the idea of them getting together already made you sick. You bit the inside of your cheek, you really did had feelings for him. And now it scared you because what if he doesn't feel the same. You made a mental note to consult with Wonyoung later, at least you hope that you'll allow yourself to tell her.

Jungwon must've noticed you staring and gently tapped your head with his pencil. A contrast to when Wonyoung painfully flicked your forehead.

"What's wrong? Are you stuck on a question?" He asked.

You leaned back a bit at the sudden action. You were so deep in your insecurities that you had totally forgotten about the literal problem sitting in front of you. Yet you couldn't even bother to ask him so you just shook your head. "I'm gonna get something to drink," you said instead.

Jungwon watched as you stood up, then decided to follow you as well. "I'll come along."

The boy joined you in the kitchen, perched on one of the island stools as you grabbed a can of soda from the fridge. He studied your movement as you worked around the kitchen. Your features were neutral, you weren't smiling nor frowning. But he could tell that your shoulders were tensed. Wonyoung was right, you did seem down. And he cursed himself for not noticing earlier.

"You okay?" His question made you stopped in a mid-pour stance, the can of soda was tilted but not enough for the contents to be poured out.

You brushed his question off and poured the drink into the cup. "Yeah," you hummed.

Unconvinced by your answer, he pried more. "You know you shouldn't care about what they say, right?"

You furrowed your eyebrows at him, pretending like you didn't understand where he was coming from.

"You're not below us, you know that right?"

You couldn't help but scoffed at his words. Jungwon's lips tugged downwards "I'm being serious here, Y/N," his tone was stern. "You shouldn't listen to what they say. You're more than just-"

The sound of the can being slammed down shuts him up. Your fingers tightened around the can as you looked at him. You didn't had the energy to hear him preach the same old "Don't Listen To Them" speech. You don't need his pity.

"I don't want to hear it, Yang Jungwon," you said through gritted teeth. Not sparing him another glance, you threw the empty can into the trash as you grabbed your glass.

As you walked past Jungwon, he suddenly reached out and held onto your forearm. "Y/N," he said softly. "Please tell me what's wrong."

You sighed and slowly turn around to face him, placing the glass back on the counter. You took in a deep breath before you opened your mouth. "I feel like I'm not enough," you finally said. "Everything I do just doesn't seem enough. All I'm doing is my best but it's just crushing my ego because everyone is telling me that you're better than me."

"I feel like no one wants me and I hate the way I'm perceived. It's always poor Y/N this and poor Y/N that's because everyone just sees me as your shadow and I fucking hate it. I only have two real friends," you gestured wildly. "And lately I'm a nervous wreck cause I keep comparing myself to the two of you. I'm not cool and I'm not smart, and I can't even parallel park!" You threw your hands up in frustration, the feelings you kept inside were pouring out like a waterfall.

Jungwon just stood there as he listened tentatively to every word. He didn't knew that you felt this way, bottling up all your emotions like that.

"And I'm so tired of people telling me to enjoy my youth and that these are the golden years. I might just fucking cry if I hear those words again," you finished ranting. It felt good, it felt like a weight on your heart has been lifted. Then you remembered that you just dumped all of it on Jungwon.

You opened your mouth to apologise to him but he surprised you by pulling him into his arms. At first you were standing stiffly at the sudden contact, but it took a millisecond for you to melt in his embrace. His arms were gently around your back and you returned the hug by wrapping your arms around his torso. The two of you stay in that position for awhile, relishing in each other's embrace. You definitely needed this hug.

Tightening your hold on Jungwon, you realised how important he was to you. He was your best friend and he was always there for you. It was stupid of you to compare yourself to him, when all he did was tried his best for you. The taller boy chuckled when he felt you rubbed your face into his shoulder, he involuntarily released a contented sigh. You felt one of his hands stroked your hair, it felt comforting. That action itself was enough for the butterflies to slowly settled back in you.

After a while, both of you finally (unwillingly) released each other. He pushed a strand of hair behind your ears and said, "You're wrong by the way." Which made you tilt your head in genuine confusion.

"You are cool and you are smart. You're like the coolest person I know. And no one thinks of you as our shadow, you don't hear it but I've always hear the juniors praising you for helping them and how enthusiastic you are," the way he delivered his words was filled with pure awe for you.

"And who cares if you can't parallel park. You didn't hear it from but Jay hyung failed his drivers test three times just because he couldn't parallel park," and that got a laugh out from you. Jungwon smiled proudly that he managed to make you laugh. "And you're wrong when you said no one wants you. I want you."

You blinked once, twice and thrice. He wanted you? "You're just saying that cause you're my best friend," you replied.

"No," he firmly said. "I like you, Y/N."

(Jungwon doesn't know where he got this sudden surge of confidence, but the mood was the perfect time for him to confess. It was a one time chance and he had to take it.)

You chuckled. "I like you too, Jungwon. We are friends aren't we?"

"No, Y/N. I like you. More than friends."

"Oh." Oh.

"Yeah," he scratched the back of neck awkwardly. Oh no, did you not feel the same way?

While you on the other hand, were malfunctioning on the inside. Your best friend just confessed to you and you were frozen on the spot. Why couldn't he had done it over text instead. If he had done it over text, then you could've left the message unread and you could've spammed Wonyoung for help. But the thing is that it wasn't over text and you couldn't just tell him to wait here while you panicked to Wonyoung in your bathroom.

Yang Jungwon likes you. And you like him too, right? Because if you didn't, your cheeks won't be heating up right now and your heart would have not be beating rapidly like it was going to break your rib cage any second. If you didn't like him, there would have never been butterflies in your stomach. Yeah. You like Yang Jungwon, you like him a lot.

"Me too," you whispered, it was soft but it was enough for him to pick it up. Jungwon eyes snapped to you, doe eyed filled with hope. "I like you, too," you said, this time louder. And you made sure you looked him in the eye when you confessed.

You watched as Jungwon's mouth morphed into a big grin. He let out a sigh of relief and dropped to his knees, surprising you. "Jungwon!" you squeaked, bending down to help him.

"I'm fine! I'm fine," he assured you as he stood up with your help. The grin on his face was still there. "It's just that … you like me," he breathed out. "You like me back, wow. I-I can't believe it."

Your face was definitely burning with embarrassment. You punched him lightly on the shoulder, turning away to hide your face. "Believe it, you dork. I like you, okay!" Somehow his grin was able to grew wider at your words, Gently, he took your hand in his.

"How about we stop this study date, and I'll take you out on real date?"

© chaeryybomb 2021

a/n: thank you so much for reading this <3

[un2-verse]

BILLY — Kim Taehyung (1)

》 News of a Sadistic Serial Killer nicknamed “Jigsaw” is spreading around town like wildfire… the nickname stemming from the puzzle piece he cuts from every victim’s body. No one knows who he’ll trap next but in a town full of delinquents and criminals, it could never be you. Right? 《

pairings: john kramer!taehyung x female reader

warnings: dark themes, angst, yandere, murder, torture, self harm, suicide, stalking etc.... (will add more when i know lol) although it is rather innocent in the first couple chapters(?) so idk it could be slow burn but i guess we’ll find out as i write it >< ,, it’s my version of saw if saw was a fucked up love story lol. Please don’t read if any of the topics mentioned trigger you!! 18+

this fic is exactly that, fiction!!!! the au does not represent the characters mentioned irl......

synopsis: you end up lost on the other side of town, where you cross paths with a handsome stranger, kim taehyung, only.... are you a stranger to him?

[a/n: daffodils represent; love me, sympathy, desire and affection returned...]

word count: 3k

series masterlist

part two

——————————————————————————

Hiding behind a mask was something you were accustomed to. Your friend group and family were clueless to the torment you endured from simply existing. You were confident your masking had convinced the world you were happy with yourself. Unbeknown to you, one other person saw straight through your façade.

You wanted to end your life.

He needed you to cherish your life.

Nothing looked familiar. The café you frequented was nowhere to be found. Your usual hangout was most definitely not on the side of town you found yourself in. You felt anxiety slowly curl its way around your body, you were frigid. You tried and tried but couldn’t find it in yourself to run.

You lived in the more friendly part of town (so to speak) – where houses were colourful, gardens pristine, warm-hearted neighbours who would treat you like family and white picket fences are what surrounded you. That was your norm, sure, you weren’t exactly loaded but you weren’t exactly poor either. It was a healthy balance in the middle. That’s not to say you hadn’t lived or seen this side of town before.

Your Mother and Father had grown up on this side of the fence. Two young people brought up in the rougher, more unfortunate areas. Your Mother was tough; she looked like a naïve, weak girl, albeit that was not the case. She was strong willed, used to life on the streets and doing anything she could to get money to make sure there was at least some food on the table. While your Mum was the leader, your Dad was more of a sheep. He was easily influenced and was dragged into the wrong crowd (had his fair share with drugs and street racing). That was their life for a few years till they crossed paths and your Mum helped your Dad get back on the right track.

They didn’t tell you much about their childhood and adolescence but they told you enough to make you appreciate what you have and to always work hard for it. To stick with the right people, be wise and conscious of your decisions. Be kind to those around you.

Your family owned a garage; your Dad was the head mechanic. This was the sole reason you were here. You knew it wouldn’t be simple when you agreed to go to this side of town to get a few bits for your Father’s shop. However, you didn’t expect it to be this difficult. How could you be so stupid? Why didn’t you just ask Hoseok and Yoongi to come with you like your father told you to? Or at least tell them where you were… yet you decided today of all days to be stubborn and venture on yourself, knowing full well how unsafe the area was. There were rundown businesses on either side of the road, beggars at every doorstep; drug dealings happening in broad daylight, no one even trying to hide it.

You felt your phone buzz in your pocket, you took it out and sighed a breath of relief once you’d read the texts.

14:37— From Papa: U ok munchkin ??? Did u get the stuff ?

14:39— From Papa: its ok if u didnt. Yoongs rang said hes got majority this morning lol so be safe n get home soon . Love u

14:40— To Papa: ohhh ok pops, i couldn’t find the shop anyway lol i’ll head back soon, love u too x

*LOW BATTERY*

“Fuck, trust me to forget to charge the bastard.” You rolled your eyes as you stuffed the phone back in your pocket.

Muffled shouting was heard around you. People ran across the street, bumping into you as they ran past. You gathered yourself and moved further down the path. “Great!” you exasperated, “honestly I’m so fucking stupid! Yoongi’s gonna kill me for this, I knew, I knew I should’ve told him I was coming over here but no,” your head was hung low as you dragged your feet across the pavement, “maybe I could tell Hobi, he wouldn’t be as angry right? I’m sure he’ll come,“ A sudden scream ripped you out of your chuntering. You whipped your head to the right, you could make out some figures bustling about in front of you, a group of men were quite clearly fighting… your anxiety struck you and you held your breath as you saw a man pull a knife from the waistband of his sweatpants. All thoughts and common sense seemed to leave all at once. Statue like, feet stuck to the ground. You watched on as the group rushed towards the brown haired man, you scanned his figure: tall, broad, confident… he exuded an intimidating aura even when you were this far away from him.

How could someone be so sure of themselves? It was one against five, surely the loner had no chance?

The glistening of the knife brought you back to your senses. Fucking hell. How do you always end up in these situations when you’re alone? Why me? Why? Good Lord, I need to run. Just as you were about to leave, the group who were arguing charged past you; one gripped his side as another supported his weight. Holy fuck, did he stab him? you stood frozen, yet again, your mind raced a mile a minute. Panic bubbled in your chest.

“You okay there Doll?” His voice was deep, velvet-like. It flowed so smoothly you doubted it was real, it was so soothing like it had wrapped itself around you, embracing your body. You heard his footsteps before he planted himself beside you. His shoulder reached the top of your head, his hand brushed yours. Swallowing your nerves you dared a glance up. He was fucking breath-taking, like a fallen angel. The stranger shot you a small smile that you would’ve easily missed had you not been staring at his features… a blush crept up your neck as you nodded. His smile slowly twisted into a smirk.

Cute, Taehyung thought to himself. Couldn’t help but adore the way you slightly trembled under his gaze, the way your hands gripped and twisted your sweater paws. Almost like a puppy. He cleared his throat and reached his hand to yours, “Sorry, I should’ve introduced myself. I’m Taehyung.” you took his hand into yours, apprehensively you greeted him, “I’m Y/N.”

“Ah, Y/N. I haven’t seen you round here before, you new or something?” Taehyung cocked his head to the side, his eyes seemed to stare right through you.

“Uhm, I don’t live here. I live over the other part of Town… I was just grabbing some stuff for my Dad but, my phones about to die. I have no idea where I am or how to get home, I’m sorry, I promise I didn’t see anything!” a deep chuckle cut you off, Taehyung smiled and beckoned you to follow him.

“Come on Y/N, you’re not suited for this side of Town, I’ll walk you back. A pretty little thing like you, you’re easy prey to these guys.” your feet fell into a cautious pace behind him, he glanced over his shoulder, “hurry up Buttercup, I don’t bite.” Taehyung flashed a boxy grin in your direction, which caused you to speed up ever so slightly.

You were unsure how you felt about letting a complete stranger walk you home, Yoongi would definitely kill you for this. Especially with the recent news of some serial killer named ‘Jigsaw’, Yoongi and Hoseok had been very stern and their usual, overprotective selves when the news had broken out. “It’s on every headline Y/Nie! No more leaving the house on yourself, you need to go anywhere you ring either of us. Got it? Don’t talk to anyone you don’t know either. There’s some dodgy fucks about recently.” Although, you loved them dearly, sometimes their protectiveness was a...little overbearing. You already felt suffocated from your parents (you didn’t need it from your best friends as well). They were happy and believed you to be too; but that was exhausting, faking happiness. You had a constant façade, acted like a happy normal teenager with a happy family; when that was far from the truth.

Drowning. That’s how you’d explain the way you felt. Breathing was difficult and brought you more pain than it was worth. Growing up was tedious, you had grown differently to your peers which only brought ridicule and embarrassment for you. You had struggled with your speech (sometimes you still do), you often stuttered, mispronounced words, the list was endless. That was one of the first reasons you were a castaway. As you grew, the ridicule worsened. Verbal abuse turned physical from your classmates. They made you feel like you were a waste of space. The names they called you, you soon started to believe them. Ugly. Weird. Freak. Stupid. They took root in your brain, slowly they grew and grew till your head was overgrown with twisted, rotten weeds.

Eventually, you sought comfort in blood. You didn’t care that it hurt you; you were almost happy to feel pain. Like you deserved to.

By age 14, you had started to skip school. Only ever there for exams and a couple of art classes you had with Jeongguk. He was what you would’ve called a best friend, he supported you and was by your side till you left school. He went away to college and like always with school friends, you drifted apart. Nevertheless, he still texts you now and then to check in.

Although you were (once) close with Jeongguk. He never knew of your inner demons, the same with Yoongi and Hoseok. You didn’t want to feel like a burden and worry your friends when they had shit to worry about themselves.

Why devastate flowers that flourish beautifully with weeds that manage to twist their way around every crack?

You had walked for a few minutes now, having chatted absentmindedly about anything and everything. The roads still didn’t look familiar to you and you just wished they did, you didn’t want to be away from your home any longer, your feet were starting to ache, your phone was on 10% battery and it was fucking cold. You just wanted to be back in bed tucked up watching Lady and the Tramp or 101 Dalmatians for the millionth time. You felt safe and content when you indulged in your comfort films. Far away from the real world and wrapped up in the false reality. They easily distracted you and that's when you truly felt at peace. Your mind was always too busy thinking about how cute it was when Tramp calls Lady, Pidge or how in love Pongo and Perdy were.

Majority of the time you fantasised about having a love similar, but then again, why would you wanna make yourself vulnerable like that? Is the risk of being hurt (more than you are now) any good? Of course it’s not. Fuck that, life isn’t nothing like those shitty romance films or novels… It’s real and painful.

As you and Taehyung rounded the corner, a little cafe caught your eye, a dainty blue and pink building. Fairy Lights strung up around the windows, you could see a handful of people inside, busy sipping their drinks and chatting away to one another. ‘Aroma Mocha’ hung above the doors. It looked so cute and simple. Your previous thoughts left your mind as quick as they had come. You wanted to go inside, it had an enticing atmosphere.

Taehyung hadn’t realised you’d stopped walking until he couldn’t hear the soft thud of your footsteps behind him, he turned as he called out to you, your eyes still fixed on the cafe. He chuckled to himself, “Fucking adorable, like a kid at christmas,” he walked back over to you. “Hey Doll, you wanna go in?” He felt his heart quicken when you looked at him with those pretty eyes, “We’ve plenty of time to get you back before it’s dark angel.” You answered him with a nod as you turned your head from Taehyung to look back at the alluring little cafe.

Not a second had passed before Taehyung grabbed your hand and pulled you across the road to the entrance; you ignored the warmth of his hand as it intertwined with yours; you ignored the way your tummy erupted with butterflies. Taehyung had stopped to hold the door for you, you murmured a small, “thank you,” looking up at him, the heat that crept up your cheeks making your face resemble that of a doll’s he thought to himself. Once he ushered you fully inside, he placed his hand to rest on the curve of your waist as he guided you to the back corner of the room, where a quaint table for two was unoccupied, a little pot of Daffodils sat atop. How fitting...

Taehyung was quick to pull the chair out for you to take a seat, you pulled it in as you sat down and sent a shy smile his way, “I’m sorry, I know we just met Taehyung but this place is so fucking precious! I hope I’m not bothering you, if I am we can just carry on walking or, I could ring a Taxi? Is this weird? Oh god, I can’t believe--”, Taehyung threw his head back as he laughed, a sound that seemed to wrap its way around your soul, twisting around your heart in the nicest of ways, it was almost like a killer to the weeds taking over your body. A temporary release. You felt like you could really breathe in those short seconds of his laughter.

“Angel, if you were bothering me, I’d have kept on walking. That, or I would’ve called you a Taxi myself, it’s no problem honestly.” You ducked your head as he sent a wink your way, fuck sake Y/N get it together! Why are you acting like a fucking schoolgirl?

“Well I uh, appreciate it so, yeah thank you?” You don’t know what to do, you’re here with the most gorgeous person you’ve ever laid your eyes on… yet you have no clue if what you saw was real, did Taehyung stab someone? Could someone have had the knife who wasn’t Taehyung? Was he even the person you saw in that altercation? Did you imagine everything that had gone off?

Before you had chance to overthink it, a light bubbly voice greeted your ears, “Hi! Welcome to Aroma Mocha, I’m Jimin and I’ll be your server today. Is there anything I can get you?” Jimin held his gaze on you as he flashed you a friendly smile, Taehyung turned around at the sound of his best friend, “Oh, Tae! I wasn’t expecting to see you today, what are you doing here? And who’s this pretty little lady?”

“This is Y/Nie, she was in the neighbourhood so we thought we’d nip in for something to drink before I take her back to hers.” you sent a warm smile to Jimin which he gladly returned, “I’ll have my usual and can you get Y/Nie a Strawberry Iced Tea? Thanks man.”

Once Jimin had disappeared to make your drinks, you shot your eyes to Taehyung, “Uhm, how’d you know I like Strawberry Iced Tea?” Taehyung didn’t even look in your direction as he scrolled through his phone, eyes glued to the screen. A minute passed by and he’d still not acknowledged your question so you let it slide, it wasn’t that big of a deal right? Your mind drifted. Your fingers rested atop of your lap, hidden from the sight of onlookers, picking around your nails as anxiety flooded your body. You felt like you were about to suffocate. You shouldn’t be talking to anyone, you shouldn’t let anyone close. You were only going to fuck everything up in a heartbeat. It’s only natural. Self deprecating thoughts devoured and made their way through your veins, poisoning yourself further; your whole body felt as though it was alight.

Jimin brought you your drinks, placed them carefully in front of the pair of you as you both said your thanks.

The click of Taehyung’s phone being locked and the clearing of his throat brought you back to your senses. “The drink I ordered for you is popular here so, I assumed you’d like to try it. You wanna talk about what’s bothering you?” your eyes shot up to meet his, your head tilted a little to the left as your tongue wet your lip, so puppy like...

You stared incredulously, “I don’t know what you’re talking about Taehyung.” You leant forward slightly as you wrapped your lips around the straw and took a sip.

Taehyung saw the way you sucked your drink up through your straw, his eyes darkened. Thankful to have worn sweatpants that day, he shifted himself discreetly, “I’m not stupid Angel, I know what you’re doing under the table. I’m here, so talk to me. I’ll listen to whatever you gotta say.”

You stuttered as you wracked your brain for something to say, “I-I only met you like forty minutes ago, I don’t even tell my friends what’s wrong. Not that there is, everything’s fine.”

You met me just short of an hour ago, he thought to himself, “You don’t have to lie to me Y/Nie…” he grabbed your hands that were laid near the cup of your Iced Tea. His thumb rubbing circles onto the back of your hand. You looked small and fragile, like the Daffodils on the table; one little pluck and you’d be ruined. He wouldn’t admit it to you just yet but, Taehyung fucking loved how delicate you seemed as you sat across from him.

How easy it would be to take your life away. How easy it’d be to pull those weeds up that are poisoning you, torturing you every single day. He shook his head, as he cleared those thoughts. No, only Y/N can make that decision. I’m just going to help her choose.

Live or Die.

You visibly winced, “You don’t know me. Think whatever the fuck you want about me, it doesn’t matter.” your eyes flashed hurt as you went back to picking your skin. You knew it, this whole encounter was too good to be true. A complete stranger (well acquaintance technically) had just presumed shit about you, the fact he was right is what hurt more. You didn’t want anyone to know how you were feeling. Or how you were dealing with it.

You couldn’t exactly tell him to piss off, you still needed his help home and so you tried to distract yourself from the unsettling gaze that watched your every move. You let out a breath as Taehyung went back to his phone. Your eyes drifted as you picked up the local Newspaper, your eyes skimmed over the headline, ‘Jigsaw Traps Continue’. Taehyung noticed you staring at the front page, and chuckled, “you scared of Jigsaw Angel?”

You shook your head, why would you be scared of some nutjob who’s targeted criminals and drug dealers? You’re a nobody. “Of some psychopathic puppet?” if anyone did anything to you that would threaten your life, it would be you. Taehyung just laughed in return as you skipped the article and skim-read the other pointless stories.

You were fucking clueless as to who he was while he knew every little thing about you. He had watched you for months… His precious little Y/Nie… Oh how silly you were, taking your life for granted.

You hated yourself that much, you were willingly marking yourself up. Tainting your skin… oh your skin, how fucking beautiful and soft it looked, even with all the scars it still looked perfect… Taehyung wanted nothing more than to whisk you away and lock you inside with him. Forever. He didn’t want anyone touching what was his.

He knew you wore a mask when in public, too afraid to show your real self. Little did you know, he wore a mask himself...only he wore it to better other people.

He had a plan.

And you’d soon find out.

Let the games begin.

[im-unknownn]

So I got a request from one of my close friends to do a Callum Hunt x Reader. The magisterium series is so underrated so I had to do it!

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

Callum was always insecure about his leg, it was thinner than the other one and had scars covering it. He never liked anyone to see it because he was afraid he wouldn't be accepted. He put on his shorts only because it was currently 100° outside and he knew he would have a heat stroke in jeans. He took a deep breath before exiting his room. Aaron and Tamara sat in the living room, where they always did. Both of their eyes flashed to Callums leg

-----Callums P.O.V-------

I could feel their eyes on my leg. It felt like someone had just burned my heart. I didnt know what they were thinking, but my brain told me they were thinking about how ugly it was. I felt like going back in my room and putting on jeans, even if I WERE to have a heat stroke, at least my leg wouldnt be visible. They continued to stare and I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

"Alright, outside then" Tamara said as she gestured to the door.

All the Masters were bringing their students outside to practice together. I didnt think anything of it until I opened the door. There she was, y/n. She was throwing a sphere of water at one of her friends as they both laughed.

------Y/N POV-------

I was throwing water at my friend, both of us trying to cool eachother down. The sun blazed down on our backs, sweat covering our faces. The Masters had air elementals cooling them down (which I didnt think was quite fair...). Some students were laying on the grass, trying not to blind themselves. Celia and Jasper had started to touch eachother behind a tree. Me and my friend both cringed as we saw them.

"Nasty..." My friend said as she made a disgusting face at the couple.

"Yea...they are...not..good together" I said, trying not to be TOO mean.

Just then, Master Rufus walked behind the tree and splashed them with cold water so "they wouldn't be so hot- headed". I was laughing until I turned around and saw him there. He was staring at me. I felt self-conscious in the biker shorts a t shirt i had decided to wear. I tugged at the fabric of my shirt before looking up at him.

-----Callum POV-----

Shit! Shes looking at me. She pulled on the fabric of her shirt. She had biker shorts on that shaped her thighs so perfectly...she had a baggy shirt that was tied up so a little bit of her stomach was visible....I tried not to think about her, but i couldnt help myself. She was beautiful, her skin gleaming in sun. Some of the Masters began to hand out water (especially to the kid that was having a heat stroke). I was watching the Masters hand out the water when someone touched my shoulder.

"Hello" y/n said.

"Uhm hello" I said nervously

"You look amazing" she said.

I knew her, she was one of my friends. We didnt talk often because she was in Master Milagros's apprentice group. I realized that I was silent and tried to think of something to say.

"You look beautiful (shit that sounded corny) I mean like beautiful in a friendly way....not...in..." I said. She looked upset at my comment. I felt stupid.. why would I say that! I felt like an absolute ASSHOLE.

"Oh." She said, turning around.

------Y/N POV---------

"Not....in.." he said.

My heart broke. He didnt like me? I did everything I could to make him feel safe....and he...didnt like me? My heart hurt.

"Oh." I said. My eyes filled with tears but I turned around before he could see. I walked over to my friend.

"Y/n what's wrong?!" My friend asked. I couldn't help but cry on her shoulder.

"Callum...he...told me that I look beautiful but...he told me as a friend" I said, tears rolling down my face.

"I'm so sorry.." my friend said.

Out of the corner of my eye, i saw Callum run off to the bathrooms.

------Callums POV-------

I ran off as fast I could to the bathrooms. I sat there until I heard the Masters collecting their kids. Me, Tamara, Aaron and Master Rufus walked to our dorms.

"Can someone get Y/f/n to let me into y/ns dormitory?" I asked.

"Yea I'll do it" Tamara said.

About five minutes later, Tamara came back with Y/f/n.

"What?" Y/f/n said harshly. I could tell she was upset.

"Can you open y/ns dorm for me?" I asked nervously.

"Uh...yea sure" Y/f/n said in a concerned tone.

Me and Y/f/n walked to where Master Milagros's apprentices stayed. Y/f/n waved her wristband and the door clicked open. She pointed to Y/ns dorm.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

---- Narrator POV-------

Callum opened the door to Y/ns room. He saw her on the bed.

"Y/n....I'm sorry" he said.

"For what?" Y/n asked (slightly) confused on how he knew she was upset.

"IM SORRY FOR BEING TO SCARED TO TELL YOU THAT IVE LOVED YOU AND THAT EVERYTIME I SEE YOU I FEEL MY HEART BEAT FASTER." He said in one long word.

"Callum, is this true?" Y/n asked.

"Of course it is" Callum said a little quiet.

Y/n placed a kiss on his lips.

"I like you too".

---Callums POV----

I spat that I loved her. I finally did it.

"Callum, is this true?" She asked.

"Of course" I replied. It WAS true. It came straight from the softest part of my heart.

A whole new feeling washed over me when she put her lips on mine.

"I like you too" she said. My heart raced.

"You wanna stay here tonight?" She asked.

"Yes. Yes I do." I replied

[thekpopcloud]

Seungmin as your boyfriend

requested by @uwuitsjungwoo

this series is finally done! what shall i do next?

(GIF not mine! Credit to owner! I found it on pinterest)

~

confession:

out of all the boys, i feel like seungmin would be the most confident

the two of you grew up together, he knows you better than you know yourself.

so he was confident he wouldn’t mess up

but the boys just weren’t helping him.

‘are you sure they like you?’ ‘i thought they liked Felix’ ‘they told me they liked Hyunjin’

so seungmin, fed up with their idiocy, decided to tell you how he felt

partly so the boys would shut up

and because he really wanted to ask you out

so on one of their days off he texted you, asking to come over because he needed to ‘talk to you’

he left the dorm without telling the boys where he was going and headed to your house

you greeted him with a tight hug and the offer to watch a movie.

“maybe later...i really need to talk to you now- before i talk myself out of it”

“alright then...what’s up?”

seungmin hadn’t prepared what he wanted to say - he had no idea and decide to just let the words flow.

“i’d be surprised if you don’t already know but i have a crush on you- i have for years. I really like you and want to go out with you but i’ve never said anything cause i wasn’t sure you felt the same but-“

he was cut off by you leaning up (causes he’s a tall one) and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

out of shock seungmin spluttered, gaping like a fish out of water. “wha-what- what was that”

his confident demeanour dropped so quickly it made you chuckle.

“i like you too, loser.”

“loser? wow, i feel loved”

needless to say seungmin went back to the dorm that night grinning

first date:

cafe!!!

there’s a nice little cafe by han river that he’d been wanting to visit for ages but never got the chance

so he took you there on your first day instead

he brings a camera and turns the day into a mini photo shoot as well - taking candids every chance he gets

at the cafe he picks a nice window table with a lovely view of the river

brings you a bouquet of your favourite flowers (if you’re allergic to flowers they’re fake or chocolate ones)

pays for everything you order and refuses to let you pay

compliment compliments compliments

after the cafe you take a walk along the river, pointing out random little things

and petting every dog that passed

seungmin takes loads of pictures while you’re not looking and happily admires you

the two of you spend the entire day out and once it gets dark you do one of two things

either star gazing in a park near the river

or

going to the nearest street market and buying all the street food you can

he walked you home and left with a kiss and promise of another date soon

first ‘i love you’:

the first time he told you he loved you it was an accident

it was the middle of the night and the two of you were cuddling in bed

he was absolutely exhausted from a long day of recording and rehearsals

you were still awake, reading a book you needs to finish for class, one hand gently running through the tired boys hair

and in his half asleep daze seungmin pulled you closer and buried his face into your neck

then in the quietest voice, he whispered. “I love you, baby...”

it was so quite you barely heard it, but you did and froze.

a smile making its way onto your face when you look down at his sleeping face.

“i love you too, minnie” you whispered back, knowing he couldn’t hear you and kissed the top of his head

before casually going back to the book

you brought it up the next morning and he stopped for a good few minutes, like a frozen sim

“i...i didn’t- well i did but i didnt-“

his rambling was cut off by you gently kissing him and repeating with a grin.

“i love you too, seungmin”

first argument:

angry seungmin is intimidating

the two of you would rarely get into real arguments

usually it’s just petty little disagreements that are resolved super fast

but actual arguments could take a while to be resolved

because silent treatment

the first time the two of you had a real argument it was over something stupid

you were both stressed, him from his career you from work, to the point where anything little things could set you off

he did something small, like misplace a notebook or leave something in the sink and it set you off.

and because you went off on one so did he. the argument quickly turned into a screaming match

the argument dragged on and you decided to end it, being the bigger person isn’t that situation, and walked away from the argument.

he walked after you, but got a door slammed in his face.

that’s when the silent treatment started. awkward, tense silences in your home. neither of you wanted to break and apologise first.

it wasn’t until the rest of skz got fed up with him being huffy and forced him to go apologise.

he didn’t want to admit it but he missed you and wanted to apologise the second the door slammed in his face.

so that evening when you were out, he gathered up a bunch of blankets, pillow and your favourite food. he set up a projector on a blank wall in the living room with your favourite movie on the screen.

you got home to a darker house, fairy lights leading the way to the living, where a nervous seungmin stood shuffling on his feet.

the second he noticed you he flashed a small smile, walked over and gently grabbed your hands then proceeded to rant off an entire apology speech.

you cut him off with your own apology, that slamming the door in his face was a bit much.

he cut you off with a kiss, effectively ending the argument and the silent treatment.

and a night of cuddles, good movies and good food was in order. the two of you falling asleep cuddled up on the couch

kisses:

oh my does he love kissing you

his favourite subtle form of affection

pressing a kiss to your cheek as he passes by, or to the top of your head when your cuddling.

or kissing you to distract you from something.

when you’ve spent wayyyy to long working he’ll walk up behind you, set his hands on your shoulders and press a kiss to the back of head.

or trailing kisses down your neck/shoulders to distract you from your work.

sometimes he just wants your attention and kisses are the best way to do it.

isn’t too bothered by PDA, though it isn’t his favourite thing on the planet

he’s way more comfortable with PDA around friends even if they take the piss out of him for it.

will 100% kiss your in front of someone to show them that you’re taken.

hugs:

he’s especially cuddly when he’s tired

if he’s laying across the couch/bed and you pass by he’ll grab you and drag you down into his arms.

and once you’re there, there is no escape.

one of his favourite things to do is sneak up behind you and hug you from behind- sneak attack.

or bear hugging you and collapsing back onto something soft.

in public he’ll wrap his arm around your waist or over your shoulders and pull you into his chest.

if he wants to cuddles and your busy he won’t hesitate to pick you up and carry you away from you work.

cuddling in the studios when he has to stay behind and rehearse.

one time you we’re cuddling on the couch in the dance studio after the boys’ practice and it slowly turned into a whole stray kids cuddle pile.

jisung started it, jumping on the two of you jokingly, and slowly each of them joined too until it was one huge cuddle pile.

overall:

seungmin best boy

he’d be an amazing boyfriend

[chongoblog]

Zero Time Dilemma Review/Ramble

Okay, so if you’ve been following me, you know that I’ve gotten into the Zero Escape series, famous for 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward, streaming both games. I recently took the time to experience the last game, Zero Time Dilemma by watching cutscenes rather than playing it proper mostly because A) I heard it was REALLY dark and didnt want to risk it on Twitch and B) I wanted to experience it more freely like while I’m at work.

After experiencing it. I have......feelings about it. And because there’s MASSIVE spoilers involved, I’m making it its own post under the ReadMore below.

tl;dr LOADS of bullshit, flawed execution, and stupid decisions, but still REALLY enjoyed it

Okay so a LOT of this is going to be complaining, and like I said in the tl;dr I still legit enjoyed this game, so I’m gonna make this a compliment sandwich by saying something nice now, loading up on complaints, then ending with more compliments. Carlos is good. So is Sean. Sigma being voiced by Matthew Mercer actually makes him more interesting imo. I REALLY like Phi’s new design and the way they build on the initial concepts brought up in VLR more accurately portray the ideas that started all the way back in 999, that being the idea of taking thoughts across timelines, just like the player. From the beginning, the theme/gimmick was always “what if your character remembered information when you savescummed?” In 999 that began as flashes of information, and in VLR the characters’ consciousness actually time traveled at the very end. ZTD now uses the idea of the consciousness traveling across time and space and RUNS with it. I also think that Delta has a cool design.

I’ll be nice again later, but now for the things I Did Not Like.

Emo Moody Junpei makes sense from a writing standpoint, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him. Maybe I just got spoiled since Evan Wilson did a spectacular job with his deliveries in 999 and in ZTD it seems like his soul got sucked out. Not the fault of the delivery as much as it is the writing. Eric is bad, and I feel like that statement isn’t controversial. I don’t think anyone likes Eric, and if you do, then sorry for shitting on him so much, but god I just don’t like him. And the abusive childhood thing doesn’t give me a drop of sympathy, but then again I’ve always hated the writing trick that “this person is shitty and pathetic but it’s because abuse!” (see also Mikan). Diane is boring (sorry).

But I fuuuuuckin HATE Mira. I hate Mira so much. Like, at first I thought she’d be alright, yeah she’s definitely The Boob Character™, but I liked Lotus well enough and Alice grew on me significantly, so I don’t see why Mira won’t. Then she’s like “surprise I’m a serial killer”. Now if they just made her a serial killer, it would be kinda boring so I’m glad they TRIED something new. I just think the result was bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad. Like....”hmm I never felt any emotions so when my mom told me they were kept in hearts I just ripped em out of people :)” is some garbage I’d write in middle school when I felt especially edgy. Also yeah seems p ableist. I won’t go too deeper into Mira, since she’s a sociopath and I don’t know enough about the actual disorder to put a candle to the real thing, but....bleh.

I won’t touch on THIS aspect for too long because I’m aware that it had barely any budget and it wouldn’t have happened without a kickstarter (don’t know the details), but the animation is just....so stiff. It really takes away from the dramatic impact some scenes are meant to have. But even IF the animation wasn’t stiff, I still am not a big fan of the darker and moodier direction it went. Although that’s moreso down to personal preference. Final note about the presentation (which is by far the game’s weakest aspect) is that I noticed multiple points in the sound mixing got to nearly Sonic Adventure 2 levels of being unable to understand what people were saying.

Alright. Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Let’s talk about Delta. This is going to make up a MAJORITY of this post so strap in.

Delta is a meme. There’s no other way to say it briefly. He’s just such a huge fucking meme. Almost everything about him, from his plan to his “complex” motives to his backstory to his powers. I mentioned liking his design, but fuck it. That’s a meme now too. Delta is the stupidest part of the game, and as much as I kind of love it, I also need to complain about it.

First let’s talk about Delta’s plan (because it starts with the nicest part of this segment). His motives are “complex” which is actually greek for “he’s probably either a liar, an idiot, or both”. I said there was nice things, so I’ll start with those. The very ending’s “ah ah ah. I never killed any of you in this timeline. If you arrested someone for crimes of another history, there would be criminals everywhere” was something I actually legitimately enjoyed. Yeah, intent was still there and he’s still a bastard (plus there was kidnapping and non-consensual drugging involved so kind of a stupid take), but I still thought it was a fun attempt. And also the “I had to make sure I was born” thing is a mindfuck, and I love those. Basically the first retort is “well I’m alive, right? So I don’t need to make sure I was born with powers because I WAS born with powers, which means it happened in another universe. So I don’t have to.” Only to then realize that we’re just in the universe where he DID do that but then the only justification is “someone had to” right? Wrong. Let’s talk about the rest of his “complex” motives

So I give a pass to “I had to make sure I was born”, but now we see why he had to do this whole deal and what he declares at the end of the game. That there’s some religious fanatic who intends to blow up the world and completely end humanity. And he released Radical-6 in the VLR timeline hoping that it would kill the terroris only killing 4 billion people instead of 6 billion people. In the timeline at the end of ZTD, he says that they had used this experience to hone the skills of the Shifters that way they could use their newly honed take down the religious fanatic WITHOUT Radical-6 and save the world.

What?

Now......before I tear into this.....I have ONE nice thing to say. The “unleash radical 6 and kill 4 billion vs let a terrorist end humanity” gambit IS cleverly foreshadowed with the radical 6 decision game with Q Team. But also wouldn’t that have made, like 1800 times more narrative sense to give that decision game to team D who KNOWS the impact of radical 6, or team C who he explains this plan to later on? Damn, even my nice thing was backhanded. Alright let’s REALLY tear into it.

FIRST of all, this is the exact same plot of Virtue’s Last Reward. Only difference is that somehow Akane and Junpei are just as skilled at this technique as Sigma and Phi despite the latter going to do Moon Training (granted the moon training was also to give them enough of a jump to go back 45 years). Speaking of Virtue’s Last Reward, this game also reveals that Delta is Brother, the leader of Free the Soul. A group of religious fanatics. So I wouldn’t be especially shocked if the religious fanatic is working with Free the Soul. But for the sake of this argument, let’s just say they aren’t with FtS. How in the Flavor-Blasted FUCK does he know this? Did somebody Shift back from that timeline and then just get Mind hacked (and we’ll fUCKING talk about Mind Hacking dont you worry)? How would that be the only piece of information known about the end of the god damn world? And if there IS more, then why the fuck wouldn’t you tell them the information? How does he know that it’s inevitable when apparently a god damn snail can unleash Radical-6?

I call bullshit on the “religious fanatic” thing. Wanna know why? Because at this point, Delta had already founded Free The Soul. He started this shit in 1938. At this point in time, he and the rest of the Free the Soul had already kidnapped Alice’s dad to create clones of his dead brother. He was pushing for a new world order and then in the VLR timeline, tried to PREVENT this whole thing from happening by sending Dio to the Moon. So if he actually gave a shit about “honing their abilities” then why would he do everything in his power to stop it? There is ONE out that there can be, but it’s something not even HINTED at (and I’ll talk about this later), but I think that "religious fanatic” is a big ol’ lie that he made up to try and save face when he was faced with a consequence, but even that explanation makes no sense since he’s like “lol shoot me if u wanna I wont mind hack you”

And let’s talk about mind hacking. Let’s fucking talk about Mind Hacking. Adding Mind Hacking was stupid, completely pointless, out of left field, and actively makes Delta a worse character. For those that don’t know, Mind Hacking is an ability that only Delta has (and I guess the player character technically but that’s a whole meta thing from VLR that doesn’t get followed up on) where you can read people’s minds and also fuckin control them. Why? Why was this necessary, ZTD? You wanna know what I thought was really neat? When I saw that different timelines produced different X-Codes. I thought “oh shit, I know this is Game Stuff, but the sheer foresight of the villain to do that? That’s some Moriarty shit.” It would require some insane explanations, but we’ve had enough sci-fi that we could imagine with enough advanced tech, you could set up systems that could use conditionals to give certain responses based on certain outcomes. Like if someone dies after the decontamination room button is pressed, then the central computer outputs a different X-Code than if it’s after the initial vote. Just make up a new tech that accounts for Shifting (plus the QUANTUM COMPUTER you have RIGHT THERE) and you could make a villain with so much calculated foresight that he’s just a god damn genius. But no. Mind hacking. None of that interesting stuff, just “lol I read ur mind idiot”. No outwitting anyone, just “lol get mindhacked eric u scrub bang bang”.

Honest to god, honest to FUCKING god, do you want to know how cool the final cutscene would have made Delta look if he walked out and just KNEW what happened in another timeline because of his plans. Like everyone recognizes him as Delta and he just goes “ohoho I see you had a fun time in my other timeline” using that deduction alone. But nah, he’s just like “yo I just mindhacked y’all, nice experience y’all had” I hate mind hacking so much. There’s no part of his plan where he NEEDED to mind hack in order to succeed that could have been written without mind hacking.

Now there’s a bit of a missed opportunity here that could both make mind hacking relevant, made his motive not shit, and also maybe even developed him into a SUPER interesting character! I know this is a bit fanfic-y, but hear me out. Make Delta a VICTIM of the stable time loop/bootstrap paradox. For those who don’t know, the bootstrap paradox is when time travel makes certain events happen seemingly out of thin air since they are their own cause. Basically it’s this clip from Milo Murphy. This is something that seems like it’s KINDA there in the subtext, but if they actually dove into it, they could have a GOLD mine.

What if we keep the mindhacking, and before he even MAKES Free the Soul, he mindhacks someone who experienced the events of the “religious fanatic”. But not just anyone. An experienced SHIFTer who made it their goal to stop this religious fanatic. After hundreds of attempts, they still fail. Delta sees this and determines it to be inevitable. So he’s having fun, cursed by the knowledge of an inevitable apocalypse. Then he meets Akane, Phi, Sigma, or Junpei after they had undergone the events of VLR and ZTD. He learns that particular timeline. A bleak future, yes, but one single future where humanity is alive. He sees two futures, one in which all of humanity dies, and one where he is the leader of a religious cult that wipes out 4 Billion People with a deadly pandemic. And the idea of being that person disgusts him. He despises it. But he’s completely resigned to fate. He knows that things must go precisely as he’s seen at the price of humanity, too frightened by such a burden to even take a toe off of the predetermined pathway. His motive is that he’s so tightly bound to fate and so afraid to let it slip that he has no choice but to commit the atrocities, despising himself for it every step of the way, but considering it better than the inevitable alternative. It would give a purpose for the mindhacking powers, it would give him a solid motive, and it would make the ending SO much stronger, showing the contrast between a group of SHIFTers confident that they can change fate and the man who is completely resigned to his own. Fuck, I might steal this character concept because I REALLY think this idea would work to make an interesting villain!

Like I mentioned, this is KINDA there in subtext (with him quite frequently saying “life truly is unfair”) and this could be an interpretation of the character, but if ZTD had explored that theme, then holy hell what an interesting character Delta would be.

But even WITH this fix, holy hell, this plan is stupid. Because guess what, dingus. You just created like 30 new timelines that all end in annihilation.

He coulda said ONE line about “even if there is only one history that ends nicely, that is solace enough”, that might have been dark, but still powerful. You know, add some depth. But instead, he’s just like “hmm hmm shoot me”

And the Q Twist? I’m honestly not as mad at it as I should be. On one hand, it does that cute thing where there are little bits of foreshadowing so when you rewatch it, you notice little bits like shadows and stuff, but on the other hand, there are PLENTY of points where either the camera just straight up lies to you and doesn’t show him when he should be there or Delta’s just been fuckin SHMOOVIN on his wheelchair around the room constantly to stay out of the camera and everyone’s just been kinda chill with it. Maybe if they had been more careful with the camera it could have delivered a TOUCH better. Like, even if the shots are a bit off, that’s noticeable enough to be part of the hint, no? I don’t have as much to say about this, mostly because this post is getting long as fuck so I’m gonna wrap it up so I can move on with my life for a bit.

So even with ALL OF THAT, I still enjoyed playing the game. That’s right, compliment sandwich time. The three wards all being one ward was a really neat reveal. The fact that you can shoot Delta in one scene is creative with its replay value. I’m glad they touched on the philosophical idea of what happens to the people who made it out from the coin flip only to get SHIFTed into the exploding lab, and exploring that idea was fun. I absolutely lost my mind at the idea of the gun to sigmas head had a random chance of firing and then seeing it elaborated on in the dice scene directly after it. Gab is a good boy.

Cant wait to play AI

[tobebugjewce]

THE WALTEN FILES: my jumbled notes on my blind run-in with this web series

first off this is gonna be long and unorganized, also this is my second time writing this as i had lost literally half of my progress and im This (imagine two fingers almost touching with a 0.0000000001mm distance between them) close to ripping all of the fucking hair out of my goddamn head. but now this will be extra long and yes, i will lose some accuracy to my first writing but thats okay ill probably edit this a kajillion times over

which brings me to my next tangent; im literally braindumping here. so to have a smidge of organization all afterthoughts, edits and corrections will be boldened, i forgot what im gonna do with italicized text but ill probably bolden it here yeah im pretty sure its for side tangents, separate from Corrections, which are in bold. also theyre for emphasis too.

so in general, this post right here is all of my notes i wrote down on my grid-patterned sticky notes (which i used WAYYYY too much of) about the first 3 uploaded walten files youtube videos transferred onto my handy dandy digital notebook, this b(l)og. yeppers peppers. you know im serious about this shit when i typed probably over like a thousand fucking words including boldened shit, italicized shit and motherfucking links, lost it ALL, and im sitting here re-typing it again.

i feel bad about this but im not gonna trigger warn right here, but this is technically a warning. if you want a list of triggers as to what this post (and the walten files in general) i will link a little list to that here

without further a doo doo, (mama mia) here the fucking fuck we go again.

THE WALTEN FILES - VIDEO #1

clarifying this now, im gonna put some useless shit which i thought was code onto this because even though it was useless it was part of my notes and im physically going to combust if i dont put down every single thing i wrote on my papers. so what i thought was code was in the closed captions, i started writing it down when i got to the second video but came back to my first videos notes to include them. i wrote down the first letter to every word that was capitalized in the closed captions, which i had on as a default because number one i knew going into this id need them because most web horror things like args and cryptic shit like that has some of the most crucial shits in the closed captions. number two i am autistic and have auditory processing issues and have most closed captioning on as a default if theyre available.

firstly jotted, i wrote down the closed captions “code” so im gonna put the rest here too: HYWITB(BSI)Y A(BSI)BJWFKWITW ILHHFSBBSBTLBWI USOISTBNBSFIRBCAWHSHCBWHTAIGRNB*C*BTWLTSFA(20)MCFP ILITIIACPH(1978, 1979)SA(4)YTSCH*C*OGSSU SFTGRPATDBBUTFBNLLCHMIHLBRALLCLAYTUKB*LC*WHATWASTHATTHING 

the numbers in parenthesis are there because i wasnt sure they should be included in the “code” or not. i also thought of this with the BSI - bunny smiles incorporated and also the years 1978 and 1979. the shits in asterisks are coughs and light coughs, which were capitalized in the closed captions so i included them too just in case

i then jotted, in parenthesis of course, the names of the animatronics when they were listed in the animation section of the video; bon aka the blue bunny, sha aka the sheep one, boozoo aka the clown<3 honk<33, and banny aka the purpled eyelashed up one who is also a bunny btw. also i got boozoo the clown and boozoo the mustache guy confused because apparently the clowns name is billy???? but they named “boozoo” in bons sleepover and showed the clown? idk maybe im an idiot and theyre the same or just an idiot and theyre different or a super mega (matt and ryan?!?!??) idiot in general which is probably the case

i started drawing little stars to write down things i thought would be super important or to 100% look at again. the first subject of this pointy torture was the part of the video where at 3:00, i marked it down to make sure to reverse the audio as it was most definitely a weird audio that has that signature warp-y effect that makes sure you KNOW its in reverse. i then listened back to it Very carefully (still got it wrong) and got this: “you finally start to remember. that old doll. they will look out for you soon” im also pretty sure i heard “sophie” at the end of that audio but im not entirely sure and dont remember and i dont wanna go back to check lmfao but anyways it didnt matter because i was wrong anyway. after i had finished all 3 walten files i watched the film theory video on the walten files (which didnt cover all 3 but was dece.) out of curiosity and to hear matpats signature silly little voice explain some stuff i already knew, and click some shit in my brain that i couldve thought up of if i was a bit more... i dont know honestly. anyways yeah so the actual audio is “you finally start to remember. that old day. they will look out for you soon.” so yeah. day, not doll.

i then wrote down “sarah evelyn”, the name on the bons sleepover animation (i dont remember if she created it or animated it or whatnot) and scribbled will she matter? under her name. turns out no, as i didnt see her name in the rest of the series, let alone the first video. this is also a great time to mention how matpat theory helped me realize that the walten files are collections of videos, uploaded onto youtube by anthony. (i already knew about anthony as he signed his name in the descriptions of the youtube videos, making me categorize this overall web series more into an arg type genre.) but yes, the tapes, recorded “irl” footage, animated clips, vhs tape recordings and other audio-visual content is all collected and labeled the walten files, as i had mistaken each video to be a tape. stupid me. alrighty, onward!

i starred this one, good for me; MISSING: Jack Walten LAST SEEN: 06/11/1974

i jotted down with an arrow that; sophie was a nightguard? she was wearing the uniform explained in tape 2 i dont know why but i went back into my video 1 notes after i had watched video 2. organization purposes. i guess.?? 

i then paused the video when the screen flickered a date, the beginning of video footage dated 10/10/1982 (Brian Stells?) god my little genius ass assuming the videographer was brian stells, based on the id card i saw earlier.

i then wrote down what text i saw on the dead, mangled, bloody body in the purple security suit; “i cant feel anything” “he thought i was her” then drew a little arrow pointing to; thought brian was sophie? or ashley? i also starred the name Brian Stells this is totally out of order LMFAOOOOOOOO also i wrote down ashley because, again, my little pea brain went back on my video 1 notes after watching video 2. but yep thats all i wrote for The Walten Files 1 - Company Introductory Tape

THE WALTEN FILES - VIDEO #2 

Tape #1 - created 07/02/1978

awesome how thats first and foremost in the captions. god. so sexy of you martin walls. /j /nsx

this pack of notes is chunkier because again, like i have mentioned before i am an absolute goober and thought the capitalized letters of the words would actually mean something. I MEAN MAYBE THEY DO AND IM JUST DOING IT WRONG but i stopped doing it after this video because holy shit it was exhausting and my stupid little fingers couldnt take the writing anymore becasue i am WEAK. 

so write off the bat (squeak) i wrote down 197[] the blacked out rectangle over the last digit of that year and everything im also now assuming its probably 1978 or 1974 because lore reasons but whos to say but yeah i also wrote down this;

Tape #2 - created 08/13/1978

then, straight up in the beginning of the video i caught it, the flash of text, as i had by now realized i gotta be SUPER stupid focused on the screen in case i miss anything, i wanted to be crazy precise on my theorizing and mental notes, among other things. but yes i saw it, the first half of a youtube link;  “https://youtu” 

claps hands together and rubs them evilly. oh yeah baby. thats the hot lunch. this shit right here? the cats pajamas. lets fucking go.

i wrote down this goofy shit i pasued to inspect when i saw bon sorting through a file cabinet and naturally scribbled down the labels and other written things i could see on the files; 

relocate X/X/75 felix

storage K-9 07/23/1975 felix k(ranken)

Bons Burgers 06/28/1974 Jack Walten

Shipping Service 1975

New Location -> 1982

i also wrote down more goofy shit, like when banny was created for some reason; in 1974

starred, i noted to go back and reverse the audio at 5:09, when played back, i didnt write it down so i dont remember. lmao.

i also marked to screenshot and brighten the darkened image i saw at 5:20, i was going to do it on my phone then realized i can just do it on my computer so i quickly took a screenshot, brightened it and wrote down what i saw; a missing person poster that read MISSING: SUSAN WOODINGS(?) Last seen: 1974 i was very unsure of the spelling of her last name because the image was so goddamn low quality and grainy but its what i saw. this is where tape #3 gets thrown in, which im gonna type again because i like how the formatting looks;

Tape #3 - created 07/09/1978 (BEFORE tape 2?!//1/1??? its more likely than you think)

i wrote down more dates, any dates i saw, i jotted down. i wrote; 

Technical Support 1978 

then, 

Brian Stells (for some reason i dont remember right now)

alrighty this is where the stupid capitalized letters come in, but before it looks like i vomit a keysmash time infinity on this, ill put down the little inbetween things i wrote in the midst of the caps lockalypse like timestamps and stuff, so here you go;

- Reverse at 8:16 which i did but of course didnt write down what i heard. i think it was too warbled to hear anything clear out of it, or it was just the good ol auditory processing issues fucking me over yet again. WAIT yep yes i did here it is: “rosemary would go to the restaurant every night hoping that [her] beloved husband would reappear after being missing for weeks but no response until one day [s]he heard a voice [saying] ‘i know where he is rosie’ coming from the back stage” the bracketed stuff is the corrections, i misheard the audio and thought the audio said “his”, “he” and “singing” like a nimrod

- Brighten at 10:14 which was another missing person poster, but i dont think it had any information on it because i didnt write it down, just;

- Sophie again (pic at 9:08?) (dismemberd and put in Sha) i was stupid and wrong haha idiot it was rosemary who was put in sha but anywho

i starred and underlined a huge thing i discovered which was;

- Walten had 3 kids which i dont remember how i found out but it doesnt matter, its good important info i uncovered.

- Tape #4 - Unkown Date

- recorded 07/12-07/14 1978 

- Hilary B, Ashley P & Kevin W i made sure to get these names down as soon as i saw them on screen but then realized shortly after i wouldnt really need to have it as the closed captions made sure i knew which person was talking by using their first initial (capitalized of course) before each line of text. this is the perfect time to announce the arrival of the clusterfuck of capital letters, which is going to include colons which will indicate that the letter before it is the initial of the person talking. without further aedue, here comes another chinese earthquake;

TCWTSTATO(K-9)TBSSFWFCNEHAWBSUBIUC(BSIIDC)OWHISF INBIJTILNSPL(K-9)LCSCKCCCWTTLTLITTTYROTFAJAMHPYYSTCSPMBBWSBIB H:NTPPCCK:DA:HH:YCPRPMWTCBCRAWK:JH:SYYTCPBACPSTBAWCA:TK(?):FMTTCMK:TCPNOA:DTOFK:ITNPPRA:YBUTIRRFH:HKIBESRAIA:TCK:WA:WPCCFTRRIDPEH:GGK:GPA:LKK:WA:HNCGTKMK:YH:IGKA:ESK:MFH:RK:HILRLBNTRPPUWHITRRTPEIFEPH:YWBEBPK:MAHPBTRPTRPEL(LN)HTACPKLIKHPFITSKLTKLB(LB?)ISIBSUBIPRW AEBATHSPUAICTPURTWBBRPHTRTIIIILTCITCUCCP S(bpe, be)WA”IDCPBPSIB

holy shit its finally over okay now onto some MORE of what i wrote down in between and also after that keysmash attack;

12 doors? (backrooms) 27? 26? i was unsure because ashley was unsure too lmfao

found cassette (6/11/78) <- says “discard”? yeah it did

Tape in clown audio, speaking voice; jack, susan, charles(?), rosemary, sophie, last word sounds like “walrus” it was walten lmfao

Ashley died? yeah she did lmfao OR AT LEAST I THINK SO??

starred this one, Reverse @ 17:06, then got this;

“they left the next day, they thought ashley left early, but she was in the backdoors, screaming as much as she could, but no one heard the screams, the following days the caretakers would complain about an awful smell coming from the backdoors, company decided to shut down facility until new advice, the relocate project was unsuccessful. ashley is still there, but she is not screaming anymore, she saw something she wasnt supposed to see and now shes beautiful” the phrase “shes beautiful” was repeating like a bajillion times in that wall of text. then, god motherfuckng bless: 

at 17:23 i found the other half of the youtube link, “.be/k07QqEDOfQ” i pieced that bad boy together as instant as i think any form of ramen could never be, but remained ever patient. because i made sure to jot down this before moving onto my next segment;

@ end of vid 2, “shadow man sees* me when lights go off” im an idiot *it was actually “feeds” not “sees”, which AGAIN, i only found out after watching the stupid little film theory video *begins snarling and foaming at the mouth*

okay im not proud to admit im editing this to post it and realized ive lost my notes. well. 

might as well post what ive got! if i find my shit ill add onto this, i suppose.

[sarahrcubitt13]

The Secret Garden - Modern TV show pilot.

Okay let me explain - idea isnt finished but i gotta explain what im up too. I am a HUGGGGGE secret garden fan - top favourite novel ever since i was little, adore the bbc mini series, the animated film, the 1993 film was just beautiful... but the new film had a few things that just didnt work for me (real magic being the main one.... the magic being real just ruined what the theme of the book was.) so in talking about it with a pal we got chatting about how we'd adapt the book and i thought what about a moderniseation - like the Misselthwaite Archives but more!

So i sat down and tried just that; this is the opening main scenes but yeah thoughts?

Into The Garden

EPISODE 101 - Welcome to Misselthwaite

Written by; Sarah R Cubitt

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. LONDON - night

A downpour of rain. Rumble of thunder.

A High-End hotel. Lit up. Bustling with business.

Bell-boys with umbrella’s usher people hurriedly into the building from their car’s. Everyone is in high spirits.

UPBEAT music is softly playing from an upper Suite.

LAUGHTER and the CLINK of glasses. A celebratory party in full swing.

INT. high-end hotel - mary’s room - Night

Darkened hotel bedroom.

Unmade bed. An antique vase of SINGULAR RED ROSES - the only personal touch.

From the light of the cracked open door, the sounds of music and laughter increase.

INT. high-end hotel - upper suite floor - Night

A young girl, dressing gown and slippers on, sat in shadow at the top of the grand stairs.

MARY LENNOX (then 16), a stubborn, rebellious girl, is watching in interest as well-dressed adults glide into a large party. Her gaze on two figures in particular.

MRS ROSALIND LENNOX, who is meeting and greeting guests. In her element. Dressed to the nines, the bell of the ball. The most beautiful woman there - and she knows it.

Stiffly stood next to her is OFFICER ALBERT LENNOX, in military uniform. Clearly uncomfortable.

Albert glances up and spots Mary watching from the bannister. A genuine smile creeps onto his face. He winks to her - having caught her watching.

Mary smiles at this attention.

Rosalind follows his gaze up. She sees straight through Mary.

Mary’s smile drops.

Rosalind puts a hand on Albert’s arm.

Albert’s face falls as he turns his attention back to the guests.

Mary gets to her feet, scowling down at her mother, before moving off.

INT. high-end hotel - master bedroom SUITE - Night

A door CREAKS open. A sliver of light.

Mary tiptoes in, she looks around curiously.

An extravagant room.

Unlike Mary’s room, this one feels lived in. Clothes scattered about, a cluttered vanity, bed unmade. Personal touches everywhere.

Mary passes a table overflowing with photos in shiny frames. Mainly photos of Rosalind and Albert at events, or Rosalind on modelling shoots. The only photos of Mary are in older frames pushed to the back, hidden, and only her father is present in them with her.

Mary wanders over to the cluttered vanity.

Mary investigates her mother's things - greedily taking in the small glimpse into her mother's glamorous life.

Mary opens a music box. Waltz of the Flowers plays. An empty space where a dancer would be - forcefully snapped.

Among the bits and bobs inside is a FOLDED PICTURE.

Mary glances at the door. Just in case. No one is coming.

Tentatively Mary picks up the picture and unfolds it.

The picture shows FOUR PEOPLE stood in a garden, an ENGLISH MANOR house in the background. Young Rosalind and Albert are smiling happily with two others. A female, hair windswept, wide grin, arm looped with Albert’s, LILY LENNOX, and a male, smartly dressed, sickly pale, walking cane in hand, ARCHIBALD CRAVEN, looking adoringly at Lily.

Mary turns the photo, written on the back; “Lily and Archie’s engagement”.

MARY (whisper) So you’re my Aunt Lily

Mary drinks the photo hypnotized, her focus entirely on her Aunt - the family link between the two clear. Mary could be her double if she wasn’t so sour.

Mary is broken from her trance as someone approaches the room angrily.

ROSALIND (off-screen) Honestly, the things I do for that bloody vulture of a woman.

Mary dives under the bed to hide.

From under the bed; a pair of Louboutin heels and the bottom of a silk gown enter the room, expertly navigating their way to the vanity.

Mary peers out to watch her mother.

Rosalind throws back her head. Downing her drink. Clattered down the empty champagne flute on the vanity.

Studying the vanity, noting the music box is open.

A dark look crosses her face.

Rosalind bangs shut the music box. Music cuts off.

Rosalind lets out a sigh, forcing herself to relax before she glances at her reflection - taking in her perfect appearance.

KNOCK KNOCK.

UNKNOWN MALE Everything alright Mrs Lennox? Your husband sent me to find you.

Rosalind looks around flustered. A shadowy figure is seen by the room’s door.

Rosalind picks up an EXPENSIVE looking bracelet.

ROSALIND Oh, here it is! Sonja said she wanted to see what Berty bought me for our anniversary.

Rosalind lets out fake laugh before elegantly leaving the room.

The door CLICKS shut.

Mary lets out a breath.

Mary scrambles out from under the bed.

Mary CREAKS open the room door. She checks the hallway. Empty.

INT. high-end hotel - upper suite floor - Night

Swiftly Mary creeps back into her room.

INT. high-end hotel - mary’s room - Night

The room door is left ajar.

Mary’s eyes flutter shut to the sounds of the music and laughter, clutching the photo she found to her chest.

INT. high end hotel - mary’s room - Night

FLASH of lighting. THUNDEROUS rain.

SCREAMS are heard from downstairs.

Mary scrambles from her bed in a sleepy daze.

From the crack of the door she sees…

People frantically running from room to room. 
BANGING. SCREAMING. CHAOS.

Backing up in fear she runs to her bed. Hiding in the duvet, her hands to her ears willing the noise to stop.

Images blur and distort as if Mary has purposefully forgotten what happened exactly…

Screams are heard from all sides. Things clattering to the ground in people’s rush to escape.

Siren’s blaring. Camera’s flashing. Utter chaotic panic.

An echo of a voice is heard above the rest, frantic, but weakening.

ALBERT (echoing/worried) Mary! My Mary! Mary!!

The echoing of the voice gets louder and starts to change…

AGATHA CRAWFORD (annoyed) Mary. Mary Lennox.

INT. train carriage - late Afternoon

AGATHA CRAWFORD Mary Lennox! Wake up girl!

Mary (now 17) bolts awake with a start.

Mary glances around. She is in a train carriage. There are no screams of terror, just screams of young children.

Mary’s uneven breathing calms. She is safe.

Agatha’s attention is now on her squabbling children.

Mary’s shoulders slump as she falls back against her seat.

She glances at Agatha’s LOUD children with a look of disgust.

Mary rubs at her eyes before glancing at the window.

EXT. ENGLISH countryside - late Afternoon

A train is seen racing through the frost-covered countryside. Miles and miles of brown farmland on one side and a cliff with the sea crashing angrily on the other.

INT. train carriage - late Afternoon

AGATHA CRAWFORD For goodness sake girl, our station is next. Get your things together.

Mary whips her head around and scowls at the older woman.

Agatha misses the look due to another fight breaking out between her boys.

YOUNG GIRL Do you like it?

Mary looks around for the voice.

Sat opposite her is a small girl - adorably cute with pigtails.

Mary shoots her a confused look.

The little girl points out the window to the countryside.

YOUNG GIRL Out there. Mama says it's different from where you come from.

MARY (bluntly) No. I hate it.

Mary’s American accent is clearly heard.

The little girl looks shocked - not the expected answer. Thankfully she is saved a response as -

AGATHA CRAWFORD (calling) Jessica dear, come here.

Agatha ushers the girl over. Agatha and the boy’s next to her now in jackets.

Jessica glances to Mary before scarpering over to her mother - who proceeds to put on her jacket.

Mary lets out a sigh. Glancing out the window once again before getting to her feet.

EXT. COASTAL train station PLATFORM - late Afternoon

The train pulls into a station. Waves can be heard crashing in the distance.

Train doors open. A small crowd leave the train.

Wind whipping them all, causing people to pull jackets closer to them as they hurry off the platform.

Agatha and her children climb off. Agatha fussing them.

Mary climbs off behind the family.

Mary carries a single suitcase and hosting a backpack onto her shoulder. She glances around the bare-bones station. Unimpressed.

Agatha marches her children to the exit of the platform.

Agatha turns to see Mary isn’t following them.

AGATHA CRAWFORD For goodness sake girl, come on!

Agatha looks to her watch as she continues to off the platform.

Mary scowls but follows the woman and her children.

EXT. COASTAL train station - late Afternoon

Agatha and her children are stood at one end of the empty station entrance, and Mary is stood at the other - as far away as she could get from the family.

Agatha keeps looking at her watch then at the car park entrance - clearly expecting someone.

The two young boys next to her point to Mary before whispering to each other giggling.

The two start singing teasingly.

TWO YOUNG BOYS: (singing) Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.

Little Jessica can’t help but giggle at her brother’s teasing.

Mary glares at them all.

The two boys seem happy at getting a reaction. Laughing and continuing louder.

Little Jessica joins in. Quietly, heart not in it.

CHILDREN; (singing, louder) Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.

Mary scowls, rummaging through her bag. Pulling out headphones putting them in to drown out their singing.

Suddenly, a LAND ROVER rumbles into the car park.

The children’s singing trails off.

Mary pulls out one of the headphones. Eyes on the car.

The Land Rover SCREECHES to a stop. The engine switches off.

SARAH MEDLOCK, late early 40s, A formidable woman.

[bxthharmon]

Never Go Home Again, Pt. XIV || JJ Maybank x Reader

Words: 2500

Series Warnings: violence / talking about abuse / toxic relationships / talking about nudes sex and sex tapes / drugs / underage drinking

Pt. Warnings: fighting / injuries / mourning

Series Summary: A new girl, a shoebox of old memories, a past she’s trying to forget coincide with a hotheaded, but selfless, boy.  teenagers getting in way over their heads

Pt. Summary: John B and Sarah escape, leaving the Pogues in the hands of the police

A/N: promise i didnt cry while i wrote this oops. tysm for all of the support and love i got from this, i appreciated every single note. tysm to all the friends o made and ppl i met by joining this fandom. ily. new fluff series tho!! and i hv another idea for a series as well :)

Chapters linked in my masterlist.

“masterlist”

JJ pushed the door, you and Kie glancing at each other in anticipation, excited to see the famous boat. He glanced back at you, similar emotions playing on his face. The boat came into view.

You felt your face drop at the anticlimax, wondering how the (no offence to JJ) unimpressive boat had caused such a stir. “Hey, girl.” JJ stroked the boat, not noticing the amused eyebrow raise he received from you. “A 1983 Formula 402 SR1.” He introduced, pulling the covers away, “The Phantom.” He looked back at you excitedly, and you nodded, humming noncommittally. “The first boat to make the run to Bermuda in under 16 hours, Y/N.” you looked at Kie, shrugged. “40 years old!” he continued, “40! And still the fastest thing Kildare’s ever seen.”

“It’s kind of a junker.” said Kie.

“Gotta say, bro,” you frowned, “As someone who’s walked through Beverly Hills, this is… pretty trashy.”

“Really, guys?” he whispered, “She’s right here. She can hear you. Let’s just put it this way, you would not be smokin’ weed right now if she never existed, okay?”

You sighed, and Kie shrugged. “I just hope it runs.”

“Oh, no, she’ll run all right. She’s faster than any of the boys in blue have got.”

You turned, confused at the sound of an engine.

“Pope! Finally.” Kie clarified.

“Yeah, what’s goin’ on with him?” you asked, and JJ rolled his eyes, a clear you don’t want to know look flashing over his face.

“Hey there. What’s going on?” 

You turned, shoulders slumping. Rafe.

“JJ? How you guys doin’?”

A whistle sounded behind you, and another guy appeared, one you didn’t recognise.

“What the fuck?” you frowned.

“Well, well…” the new man said, the three of you bunching together. You heard a gun click, and saw the man holding it to JJ’s chest.

“JJ,” you whispered, “what the fuck is going on?”

“See,” the man pressed on, “don’t think I forgot about me and you on the side of the road. I’m here, because I want my motherfuckin’ money.” He grabbed JJ’s neck, headbutting him as you and Kie jumped forwards, trying to pull them apart as Rafe pulled you both back, an arm around each of your waists.

Kie broke free, and Rafe threw you to the floor, pulling her back. You heard a slap resonate as you got to your feet, tackling whoever this other man was. He threw you away again, pointing the gun to your face. JJ was down, cradling his rib, and you gulped.

“Who the fuck are you?” you spat.

“Hey,” he laughed, “I’m Barry, your boy stole from me.”

You looked over to JJ, who swiped at Barry’s legs. Next thing you knew, Barry was holding up JJ’s face, punching repeatedly. You tried to pull him off, but he slammed you into the equipment behind. You touched your temple, feeling something sticky. You looked at your fingers, seeing the bright red of your own blood. Next thing you knew, Pope was hitting Rafe in the back with a crowbar, and the two were fighting. JJ tripped up Barry, and you kicked the gun away, kicking Barry’s face in the process. You looked around, trying to ignore the throbbing in your head as Kie tried to get Pope of Kie, and you attempted to get to your feet. You looked up, seeing your two friends stopping Pope from killing Rafe, and a choke lef your body. You doubled over, touching your temple again, blood trickling down the side of your face and onto your collarbone. 

JJ grabbed your waist, guiding you to the car, where he sat down next to you, inspecting the cut on your head. He frowned, biting his lip slightly.

“You good?” he asked, “Not concussed or anything?”

“If I am, I haven't noticed.”

--

“Dude, where is he?” Kie fretted, looking to Pope, and then down at where you were sitting in the grass.

“Give him a second, he’ll be here.” Pope assured.

“He’s comin’.” JJ said from inside the Phantom. “He’ll be fine.”

Sirens approached, and you stood up, Pope offering you an arm for support as the car stopped in front of you. Panic was coursing through the group, a sudden rush to board the boat, until you let out a laugh. “John B?”

“No way.” 

“No effing way.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Shoupe let me take it for a spin.” he joked, frowning slightly at the sight of your bloody face.

“Okay, that’s believable.” you joked, letting him hug you.

“I’ll take that, for now.” Kie laughed, pulling him in next.

“It wasn’t easy bro,” JJ piped up, “but I got the Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday. You ready to go?”

“Where’s Sarah?” he frowned.

“She’s not with you?” you asked.

“No, no. We got separated in the swamp.” he explained. “She said she was gonna meet me here.”

“We haven’t seen her.” said Pope.

“Well I’m not leaving without her.”

“John B, look at me.” JJ said, and the group’s attention turned to him, “I know you feel bad for leaving, but there’s no time, man. You’ve got plenty of gas, plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it’s a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hang out for a couple of weeks, then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville. You - hey, you got that?”

“Yeah, yeah, Brownsville.”

JJ stood, stepping across the boat, hopping off, “Alright, saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let’s do this. Yeah.”

“Hey, hey.” John B faced all of you, standing in a row. “I’m sorry for… basically throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing.”

“Hey, John B, yo…” JJ sighed, “We were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right? At least we did it together though.” he threw an arm over your shoulder, and you threw yours over Pope’s.

“Pogue style.” you joked, “Am I a pogue?”

“Yeah.” John B muttered, “You’re one of us.”

“Now get out of here, please.” Kie interrupted.

“Now.” Pope instructed. “We’ll see you in two months, down in Mexico.”

“Love you.” JJ called, the four of you watching as your friend moved around the boat.

He paused, turning back to you, “Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?”

Under your arm, you felt JJ’s shoulders tense slightly, “Don’t forget!” he called, “Cross the border at Brownsville!”

“Got it!”

You all stepped apart and pushed the boat away, watching the motor splutter to life and speed off. JJ’s hand slipped into yours, and you leaned back into him, closing your eyes for a brief second and inhaling the smell of the salt, pines and mint that he radiated. You and JJ moved away, letting Kie and Pope have a moment, and you nudged him when they kissed, holding back a small giggle.

“Hey, we can go on double dates.” you grinned, hearing sirens for the thousandth time that day, and, as if by instinctive, tensing as if to run, “We gotta go!”

You stepped forwards, but were immediately met with the bonnets of two police cars. You swore, looking at your three friends. You all raised your hands, observing the panic, and tensing as Shoupe yelled in your faces.

They drove you back to the field tents, and you found yourself sitting in the same seat as before, this time between JJ and Kiara. You interlocked your hand with JJ’s, feeling him rub the pad of his thumb over your hand, reassuring you that it would all be okay.

You swept your eyes over the Officers passing through the tent, a perturbing silence falling over the group. After five minutes, a paramedic came over, asking to look at the cut on your temple. You obliged, standing up and removing your hand from JJ’s, barely looking back as the paramedic took you to sit in the back of an ambulance. 

A second paramedic cleaned the cut and stitched, while the first one asked you questions to gage whether you had concussion. When they were done, the second one, a young woman, sat down next to you, looking as if she wanted to speak.

“What’s up?” you asked, glancing at her as she looked down, embarrassed.

“How are you?” she asked, “Like, emotionally.”

You looked at her again, this time noticing the concern in her dark eyes and the blush in her cheeks. “Holding up.”

“I know this is weird, and you don’t know me, but this kind of stuff has long lasting effects on your mental health.” You nodded dumbly. “Your friend, the blond boy?”

“JJ.” you whispered.

“Check up on him, okay?”

You nodded again, looking across the dark, rainy green and seeing his fuzzy silhouette in the tent. “Yeah,” you murmured, “I will.”

After a watery hot cocoa, you stepped back into the tent, watching relief play over each of the three pogues’ faces. You sat down  next to JJ, linking your fingers again and leaning your head onto his shoulder. He kissed your hairline, the simple gesture providing a moment of peace.

“Are you okay?” you asked, the question surprising him.

“I’m fine.” he assures you, unconvincingly. “Or, I will be.”

“Am I your girlfriend?” you whispered, causing him to look you in the eye.

“Yeah.” he nods, “If you want to be.”

You smiled, an unnatural feeling amidst the growing chaos, pulling your lip in with your teeth slightly, “I love you, boyfriend.”

“I love you too, girlfriend.”

You looked up, rain slamming down onto the tent as people shouted, running around. You hadn’t noticed the sudden growth of activity until then. You looked back at your friends. “Shit, what’s happening?” Kie murmured, and you looked around again, unable to work out any coherent information.

JJ was shaking next to you, and on your other side, Kiara was trying not to cry. You stood up, unable to stay in the suffocating row of seats. JJ leaned forward slightly, the loss of contact shocking him. Then, the neon coats came in. Shoupe, Bratcher, the other officers. You waited expectantly, feeling the others stand beside you.

“Did you find them?” Pope asked.

“No.” Shoupe stated, and you let out a shaky breath.

“So they got away?” Kie asked.

“We, uh…” Shoupe looked down, “We lost them.”

You swallowed, closing your eyes for a second.

Sarah, your first friend. Sarah, who invited you out to parties when you had no other friends. Sarah, who would stay up late, texting you, when you couldn’t be alone with your thoughts. And John B, always dragging you into petty dramas and persuading you to come out with the Pogues. The one who had finalised your placement in the tight-knit group.

You looked around, seeing various emotions scattered over your friends. Pope - denying. Unable to think that they might really be gone. Kiara - standing in shock, processing the idea. JJ, angry.

He was holding Shoupe by the collar, yelling, and almost by instinct, you reached for his shoulders, trying to pull him back, but knowing you weren’t strong enough. He was being pulled away.

“JJ.” you managed, your voice seeming to ground him as he softened, breaking from the loosened grip to look at you, to take in the tears that you didn’t realise were falling.

You felt aware of other people entering the tent, but you paid them no mind, pulling JJ into a hug, soft but tight, cradling him as sobs racked both of your bodies. You stood like that for a few minutes, face buried in his shoulder, him breathing in your hair. You clung to each other, the loss taking hold of you in a cruel fist, tightening around your chests second by seconds as the reality hit. There were hands on your back, soothing ones, voices in the background, asking questions, answering them, promising to see each other tomorrow.

Eventually, you stepped away.

He had an arm over your shoulder, and you had an arm around his torso as you slowly made your way down the tent, neither of your parents present. For the first time all week, you wondered what your dad was up to. You felt raindrops splattering over your face as you ambled down the soggy path to the road.

“JJ?” you broke the shocked silence. “Would you like to stay at mine tonight?”

He looked down at you, processing your words for a second. “Yeah.” he rasped the words, practically choking them out. You walked home slowly, the rain hammering you both, but neither of you able to care. You walked past the Chateau, and a fresh wave of tears shook you both. You fumbled with your keys, the torrential rain making your grip slippy as you struggled to find the right one. You unlocked the door, both of you stumbling in, hooking your coats over the radiator and then walking up the stairs, not caring about your volume. 

You undressed slowly, hanging all your clothes out in the bathroom to dry, and then finding JJ, broken and still, standing in the middle of your room. You unbuttoned the black shirt, pulling it from his shoulders and letting it drop. You helped him out of the rest of his clothes, providing a pair of joggers to him. You hung his clothes up with yours. Only then did you realise you were still just in your underwear, and pulled an oversized top over your frame, unable to place who it had belonged to before you. You sat down in the middle of your bed, legs crossed, and tugged JJ’s hand ever so slightly, the movement forcing him to look down at you. He sat down beside you, and slowly as ever, you guided him to lie down. You lay on your back beside him, staring at the ceiling as, once again, you turned the day’s events over in your head.

You looked over to JJ, who was looking away from you, taking deep breaths. He rolled, turning his back to you. In response, you rolled too, curving your body around his back, and wrapping an arm around him, resting your hand over his heart, and pressing your cheek to his spine.

As you breathed, you breathed for him. For everything you had been through, and everything you were yet to experience. You breathed, and lived, and died for him. Your heart pumped for him, for his love. You loved him, with every bone, every fiber, every cell in your body, and in that moment of pure, mutual vulnerability, you swore to yourself, I will always love this man.

You closed your eyes, savouring the feeling of your weariness, your pain, your worries sifting away. Your breathing evened with his, and you felt his heartbeat under your fingertips, the rhythm guiding you to sleep, gently and kindly welcoming you into a dreamless slumber.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

Tags: @tangledinsparkles​ @jellyfishbeansontoast​ @lolitstiana​ @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch​ @teamnick​ @thoughtsofthestars​ @obxmxybxnk​ @pcterparxer​ @kaelyn-lobrutto24​ @sxcretinhuman​ @alexa-playafricabytoto​ @angvelics​ @badwolf00593​ @coloradogirl07​ @mendesmaybank​ @jiaraendgame​ @5am-cigarette​ @emerald-xcd​ @haharudy​

[imtryingthisout]

I’ll cut away me Bonny hair, let no man ever think me fair

Fandom: Descendants

Ship: Fem!Harry Hook x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 3,415

Content: It’s a self insert fic inspired by @descendantofthesparrow check out their series and art if you like this. I’m not sure about any warnings, but there is references to British Imperialism and just The Isle of The Lost in general. Ask me to tag anything if you come across it.

———————————————————————-

It was a calm night.

The push and pull of the tides was a mighty sight, but their temperament was overall sedated. Waves of drowsy titans swaying on their feet. There were ships that lined the shore, vessels of varying shapes and sizes and degrees of being intact. Some had their ribs ripped open by thieving hands, cannibalized by their captains and left to rot tethered to their anchor. All empty husks of rot wood and former glory, that rocked like cradles in the breeze. Dipping lower and lower till their cheeks brushed the ocean, before rising upwards to repeat the cycle once more.

Pirate’s Port was a town that was seldom silent, in fact it had quite the reputation to the contrary, yet as the fog rolled in from the sea, sinking low and to the ground, reaching its long and heavy hands around the bases of driftwood shacks and other buildings, not a whisper could be heard amidst the streets. The few people who lingered in the Night Market took one good look at the creeping white mist and quickly fled into their houses. Curious children who mustered the will to stick their heads outside the window frames or from the corner of doorways were hastily ushered inside by their guardians. One young girl nursed a busted earlobe, that her Mother had yanked so fast and hard to get her to move indoors, that it now sported a dark red bruising.

A single man walked along the streets. Stumbling along the cobblestone path till he came to the end of the seaport. He stood there for a breath, as fog swirled around the old wooden pole beside the street. The remnants of a great mast, now left to crumble by the sidewalk. Old barnacles, moss and other things stuck to the sides of it poked against his back as he rested his weight beside its frame.

The clothes he wore, if they could be called that, were tattered and ragged and hung off his frame in great sheets of cloth. They might have fit a different man, once. Grains of salt stuck to his beard and hair, catching the reflection of the water like stars in a blackened and oily sky. His fingers were wrapped in stained cloth and bound with a myriad of dirty copper and golden rings.

Those fingers were wrapped around an old harmonica, silver, clean, with the likeness of twisting vines and waves etched into the frame. Hours of craftsmanship decorating its borders. His grip around it was so tight, it drew the skin around his knuckles white, as he held the instrument to his cracked lips and let out a mournful tune. His song the only echo in the darkness.

“I dreamed a dream the other night, lowlands, lowlands away, my John. I dreamed a dream the other night, lowlands, lowlands away~”

There was no moonlight on the Isle of the Lost, even now, for on the rare occasion that the moon dared show her fair face, the omnipresent storm clouds that plagued the land marred her, obscuring her smiling figure. There was no moonlight on the Isle of the Lost, nor was there starlight, or streetlamps.

Night time was an abstract shadow here, where reality seemed twisted and fearful. The only thing illuminating the dark streets and alleyways, was the light emitting from the crevices and cracks of house windows, as well as the occasional fire pit, but tonight the windows were shut, the cracks stuffed with cloth, and every barrel of flame doused with water and ash. There was no moonlight on the Isle of the Lost.

But the sea, who so loved the moon and her light, would never deny her glory, so for the lonesome ship who drifted, not by the shore, rather in the heart of the tide, their deck was basked in a pale luster. As well as the two figures who sat beside each other.

You have one hand burrowed deep into the inky black curls of Harry Hook and the other on the handle of a knife. The shine of the blade catches the silver light burning from the moon above the two of you, the silent observer whose gaze watches as you move the blade closer and closer to the flesh of the neck. A flash of heat runs down your spine as you-

“Hurry it up would ye, I’m starting to get a crick in me neck”

-slice upwards through your handful of hair. Watching absentmindedly as some rogue strands flutter down and are carried to the sea by the breeze. “This would be a lot faster if I had proper scissors” you mutter low beneath your breath. Not low enough apparently, because the next thing you hear is Harry replying “It’s not me fault I got hair growin’ thicker than tha soup at Ursula's Slop”

You angle your knife and get to work cleaning up the final few edges. “It wouldn't be so hard if ya didn’t insist on cutting it every time it gets longer than a butter knife’s blade. I swear- would it kill ya to grow it a bit longer? Let ya curls show?”

“And let people compare me more to me Da? Walking around like some great fop, nah, me name is bad enough, don’t wanna be walking around lookin’ like a pale shadow of that bloody English fool”

“Oi watch it” you say, bringing your blade playfully closer to nicking him before correcting it at the very last moment, “Don’t forget my Mother is of English blood”

“Ha! And you’ll ne’er catch a englishman claimin’ her!” Harry exclaimed, kicking a foot out to mark the punctuation” I swe’r the day that Elizabeth Swann is called a sassenach is the day the barrier breaks”

Her movement causes you to accidentally slash a bit too close to her skin, making the hair fall awkwardly. You bite your tongue to keep from scowling, and get to work correcting the cut. “Quit squirming- I still have to clean up this last bit fore’ ya can be back to moving about”

“Ughhhh- whyyy, I’ve been sittin’ he’re for ages” Harry groans, you can practically hear her pouting expression. Even so she stops, reluctantly, sullenly, she keeps her body as still as the statue, not even twiddling her thumbs.

“You know, when someone has a knife to your neck, you could stand to talk to them a bit more politely” Harriet Hook, whose name invokes such wrath that even her own father calls her Harry, turns to look at you. The grin that sails across her face is nothing short of wicked. “Of course, how rude of me to forget me manners. After all, it isn't every day one gets to rub elbows with royalty” She says, drawling out the word royalty with a flourish. You would be lying if you said that something in your heart didnt flutter at her voice, but you would be damned if you let her score an easy victory over you. You roll your eyes to the moon and back. “Oh stop that nonsense Hook'' you say, giving a stray lock of hair a quick tug. “Ain't no royalty on the Isle, no matter how The Fair Folk of Bargains Castle want to pretend otherwise”

“Aye but that's where you’re wrong Miss Swann.” You snip away the final strand. “The way I see it this ship has got not one, but two! Two whole members of royalty gracing us with their presence” Harry slides away from you like water in a strain, spinning around your waist and forcing you to turn around to follow her movement. Her voice is loud. Loud and full of delight, the very definition of boisterous. “First off we have our very own Captain- The Queen of The Sea!” she laughs with her arms extended upwards and to the sky. And something, you cannot say what, in you relaxes. Harry’s love for Uma was a familiar sight. It was a eternal spring that you could feel laced around every word that fell from her lips. Harry stands radiant in her adoration. “Oh but let’s not neglect our Dear Miss Swann, whose Mam ruled over fleets of ships- an armada! And dared to claim the Pirate King’s Crown”

Your fingers furl themselves around the hair in your hands. A part of you wants to braid it, hide it in a locket and keep it close to your heart forever. “How long must I remind you Hook, my name is free to say?”

“At least once more Miss Swann”, she says and takes your hand into hers “For I do so love it when you plead”. She bows, slowly, deeply in a way that would make your Mother’s old governess cringe at the impropriety- and kisses the back of your hand.

(Her lips are warm and rough against your skin, the chapness tickles slightly as she lingers. Looking up at you with eyes paler than riverstones and twinkling with mirth. Second stars to the left and right, stolen from the sky and embedded in her sockets.)

Your knife hits the wood with a clang and a thud, a faint part of you redisters the noise, but the whole of your head is swarming with heat and air. The goosebumps on your arms stand still and tall and you can’t say it's from the cold. Your bones feel hollow, your spirit barely tethered, you are a mind outside of your body outside of yourself and you wonder if this is what pixie dust feels like.

(Harry Hook’s lips are still pressed against your hand. Her eyes fixed onto yours. At first her expression is playful- cocky. All wiggling eyebrows and the crinkles of laughter, but as the silence stretches on it shifts. Confusion blooms with the tilt of the head. A wordless question written in the furrowing of the brow. Then, suddenly, her eyes widen and grow wild with realisation- before hardening into something else. Something more akin to victory.)

“Why Miss Swann-” Harry says moving forward, lacing both of your fingers together and closing the space between you, till you can feel the sting of her grin burn across your cheek. Her laughter rings like toll bells in your ear, sealing your fate. “Do you fancy me?”

You should take your hand back, you know you should take your hand back.

You don’t want to take your hand back.

A retort bubbles in the back of your throat, with that thought, its rough and scratching and feels just like the lock of hair curled around your fingers. You don’t want to let go. There is saltwater roaring behind your back as the sea dips the ship in a lover’s embrace. Harry’s hand grips your hand is gripped to your chest. She’s waiting. You can see it in the corner of your vision, expecting eyes that seem so blue, they shine silver in the night air.

So you answer, in the only way you possibly can. “What’s my name?”

“What?”

You run your free hand through her hair, balling a fist near the center of the scalp and pulling hard- taking her face off of yours and forcing your eyes to meet. “What’s my name Hook, I want to hear you say it” you say, it’s not a question anymore, not a plea, but a command.

And Harry Hook will always heed a command.

“Cassandra Swann” she whispers, the words fall clumsily out of her mouth and into your heart. You smile beneath her chin, using the leverage to pull yourself higher. You growl against her flesh “Again”

“Cassandra Swan”

A shrieking laugh escapes your lips, “Again!” you scream “Again! Again! Again!”

Harry loops her arms around you, killing the space between the two of you. “Cassandra” she says, “Cassandra, Cassandra, Cassanra Swann” With every reprise her words get smoother, and soon “Cassandra! Cassandra!” flies effortlessly from her mouth, as if she had always longed to say it, as if it was always meant to be there. Harry lifts your body into the air and spins the two of you around the deck all the while murmuring into your hair “Daughter of Elizabeth, Prince of Pirates, Daughter of William, Heir of The Flyin’ Dutchman”

The tips of your boots graze the floorboards as Harry’s momentum lessens and lessens, slowing to a stop near the center of the deck. Your head is pressed firmly to her chest. Here, in this place of comfort, you can hear the frantic beating of her heart, the rise and fall of her breath, the rush of blood beneath her flesh. You feel the storm that rages inside of her. And still she holds you close.

You linger there for a breath, hands clinched around the fabric of her shirt, while the two of you sway with the breeze. You’ve danced before, danced atop this very deck even, but nothing can compare to the silent watz the two of you share here and now. Just you and your love and the Moon. Harry’s touch is firm and soft and oh so gentle with you. If this were anyone else you would say it was hesitant, but that thought was absurd- Harry Hook was never hesitant, you weren’t sure she even knew the word. If she saw something she wanted, she took it. If she saw something she hated, she destroyed it. Love, rage, sorrow, desire, she bore them all proudly before the world, without shame or modesty. Harry Hook lived a life without restraint.

There is shifting under your fingernails, you are gripping her so, so tightly, as if you’re afraid she is not but a visiting dream, a girl made of moonlight and shadow, a passing specter doomed to fade away come dawn.

A strikingly strong gust of wind sends your hair flying outward and towards the sky. Waves of sun-kissed and flaxen strands twist and knot in the air, creating an arch of golden color above your head. You, with your father’s skin and days spent working out at sea, and Harry, with hair darker than the space between stars and skin so fair it put the moon to shame, the two of you were quite the contradictory pair.

Then the wind abides and Harry laughs as your hair falls in front of your face.

“Oh ha-ha hook,” you say, blowing a gust of breath up to get the threads up and out of your eyes, which only makes her chuckle louder. You do not pout, you don’t, you scowl like the very fierce pirate you are and you won’t hear any word to the contrary. “I mean really what’s so funny about--”

You are interrupted by Harry shoving a finger on top of your mouth “Sssh” she says, looking out and over her shoulder, “Do ye hear that?”

Hear what? You try to ask, however it comes out sounding something like “Hrrwat?” with Harry’s finger still covering your mouth. You strain your ears to listen, and sure enough you hear something on the wind, but the noise was far too muddled to make out anything further than a melody.

Luckily, a melody was all you needed.

“It’s a song” Harry says, her voice barely a whisper.

“It’s a shanty” you correct, and a very familiar one at that. No matter how time changes, or what variant of the lyrics become popular, you would be dead in the grave before you didn’t recognize a seafarer's lullaby, sailing along waves of wind and water and air.

You slowly raise your hand to Harry’s pale cheek, careful to give her time to see the motion and accept it. Her skin is chilled against your touch, as you pull her face away from the Isle and all its troubles. You both can feel the weight of the full moon at your backs as you begin to sing. “I dreamed a dream the other night, lowlands, lowlands away, my John~”

What it is, you could not say, but something inside of Harry relaxes when she looks at you. The crease between her eyes vanishes and a part of the frantic energy tensed into her shoulders, lessens. The heavy gaze of the moon lessens slightly.

You rarely ever see her like this. This calmer, tender side of her, that she hides away from the world. How wonderful it is to witness, to share vulnerability, how beautiful she looks when she joins the chorus, your two voices becoming one. “I dreamed a dream the other night, lowlands, lowlands away~”

Taking a step to the side, you begin to lead Harry and your bodies in a proper waltz. Well, as proper as a Pirate waltz could be, at least. You are so focused on your dancing that you almost miss Harry’s voice singing. “I dreamed my true love came all dressed in white, lowlands, lowlands, away me John, I dreamed my true love came all dressed in white, lowlands, lowlands away”

“She sat by my bed when I was asleep, lowlands, lowlands away my John, she sat by my bed when I was asleep, lowlands, lowlands away”

“That’s wrong,” Harry tells you, very seriously, you can’t help but giggle “I’ve heard this sung a thousand times, with a thousand different tongues and a thousand different ways. If the rhythm is right then what does it matter?”

Harry nods her head, “Aye, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s wrong”

“Well if that’s the case Miss Hook, then why don’t you show me how it’s really done?”

“Gladly Miss Swann” Harry grins, puffing her chest up proudly as she sings, her voice so deep and genuine it brought tears to your eyes. “She sat by me bed and did nothing but weep, lowlands, lowlands away my John, she sat by me bed and did nothing but weep, lowlands, lowlands away”

“Cold water soaked her skin so fair, lowlands, lowlands, away my John, cold water soaked her skin so fair, lowlands, lowlands away”

A warm hand runs itself through your head, racking fingers wander as Harry counters, “An’ the salt-sea weed it was in ‘er hair, lowlands, lowlands away, me John, an’ the salt-sea weed it was in ‘er hair, lowlands, lowlands away”

The wandering comes to stop on top of your ear. Her tumb is nestled under your eye, cradling the side of your face. You feel the heat of the touch, burn past your skin and set your blood a boiling. “She made no sound- nor word she said, lowlands, lowlands, away my John, she made no sound- nor word she said, lowlands lowlands away”

For a second time stood still as two souls shared the same thought. Harry moves to rest her forehead on yours, and before you could even think to give a command, your body rose up to meet her halfway.

“That’s when I knew my love was dead, lowlands, lowlands, away my John, that’s when I knew my love was dead, lowlands, lowlands away” you harmonize with each other, voices barely a whisper drowned out in each other and the beating of your hearts.

“I dreamed a dream the other day, lowlands, lowlands away, my John. I dreamed a dream the other day, lowlands, lowlands away”

Up beside the horizon, where the water meets the sky, the first blaze of sunrise streaks along the border. There is a brief moment, when the light is just right, that the entire ocean ignites in a pale blue splendor. The exact shade of your love’s eyes.

“Then I awoke to morning’s keen, lowlands, lowlands away my John, then I awoke to morning’s keen, lowlands, lowlands away”

Miles away from the ship where you and Harry Hook stand, frozen in time, the fog retreats back into the sea. Windows are unplugged, fire restarted, the air begins to be polluted with the shouting and the everyday noises of life.

Inside a small wooden shack there is a Mother, carefully applying cream onto her daughter’s ear. She does not apologize, not openly, not when she doesn’t regret causing it, but she does gather her daughter close in her arms and opens her mouth to sing her favorite lullaby. A song about a distant and beautiful land, far away and low by the sea.

And of course, beyond the two lovers and the mother and daughter, there is an old man standing by the sea, and singing. “Now I’ll never see my love again, lowlands, lowlands away, my John, now I’ll never see my love again, my lowlands, lowlands away~”

[feeling-uncomfy]

SO.

I'm blaming @mindless-monochrome and @trademarked-but-not-really for this but also thank you for the angst :))

I tried to keep as close to cannon as I could for the most part, but I indulged in a little towards middle/end because Tokoyami needs some love dammit >://

Brb I'm gonna go sleep for 24hrs

Let's go!

Tokoyami looked at Mina as explosions rang out from above the surface. Mina seemed to be hiding any anxieties she had well, and Tokoyami was grateful. The last thing they needed was Dark Shadow going bonkers in the dark. Mina sent a grin his way before a woman came falling down.

Mina shot some acid her way. Tokoyami told her to stay back. This was his territory after all. Tokoyami couldn't help the fear that built up when the woman had called him cocky, though. Mainly because she was correct. He wasnt as skilled as she was.

Tokoyami quickly got to work, either way. He had to deal with the threat quickly, otherwise Mina and the others may be put in danger. He couldn't stand for that. The woman knew what she was doing, however. Tokoyami found himself covered in gashes and cuts in minutes, trying to get a solid hit in was a no go. He barely dodged well aimed swipes.

A flash of red, and Tokoyami was jumping back, his collar bone getting sliced. He fell backwards, swearing loudly. He just needed a little more time, just a little more...

Finally, the woman's hair was reduced to short spikes. They had gotten rid of her weapon. Now Dark Shadow could get in close and restrain her, and they could join the others and assist in stopping the main villain, even if Tokoyami found it hard to walk. He was fine.

He didnt take into account that the woman would still use what remained of her hair, and Dark Shadow was sent backwards, hissing in pain. The shards were sent around wildly.

Tokoyami's eyes widened as he heard Mina scream in pain. He turned quickly to see her falling, hitting each and every stop along the way. He was frozen in pure fear for a hot minute, until he forced himself to run over, images of the summer camp flashing through his mind. He'd let enough classmate suffer already for his sake, and now Mina was hurt.

Tokoyami checked her over. 'Please dont be dead, please be okay...' Mina was breathing, she was injured, but alive. It was his fault. He felt anger and shame rising up, Dark Shadow pulling on his control like a dog would a leash. Tokoyami let loose. 'I hope the others are having an easier time than us...' was his last coherent thought before it went black.

It hurt just as much as last time, being wrapped up in shadow to the point where Tokoyami couldn't breathe properly. Hawks had taught him breathing exercises for when things like this happened. He prayed they would be enough.

Sunlight crashed through suddenly, and Tokoyami saw the woman disappearing. He turned to Mina, feeling numb and tired. He dragged himself over, and tried to cover her as the rocks fell and crushed them both instinctively. A particularly large rock smacked down on his head, and Tokoyami groaned in pain as his conscious faded quickly.

Hawks stood in the hospital room, restless. Normally around now, he would be annoying his intern and trying to teach him something. Now, he was stuck investigating a case while his bird bro was off on an island.

That reminded him, Hawks needed to call his intern. Hawks had jokingly promised he would fly over and embarrass Tokoyami if he didnt answer his texts, but now that it had been a solid seventy two hours scince his intern had clocked in, Hawks found himself getting worried. His phone buzzed, and he excused himself.

"The island of Nabu is being attacked by villains!" Hawks's eyes widened. His intern was on that island. Without thinking, he took off down the hallway, kicked the door open and started flying. "Notify U.A! Class 1A has been assigned to that island for a government project."

Hawks flew faster, getting worried. His intern could be in danger. Hell, knowing Tsukuyomi, he had risked his life and was already dying. He let out a huff of exasperation, but sped up again. Hawks could only hope he'd get there in time to find him.

Tokoyami was shaken awake. His head was pounding, and every bit of him told him to go back asleep. Mina hissed in pain, and Tokoyami was awake. He stare upwards at the rocks around them. Mina did too. "No one will be able to find us down here... what'll we do?" Tokoyami went to shrug, looking down at Mina. She hadn't sat up, looking ready to slip off again.

"Rest, Mina. You're hurt. I'll take care of this." Tokoyami hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. Mina slurred out something along the lines of "Are you sure...?" And despite the fact that Tokoyami wanted anything but to be left alone, he nodded and the cave fell silent.

Tokoyami moved slightly, and bit down a whimper of pain. Everything felt like it was on fire. Tokoyami begged for it to stop as he pushed through some rocks. Dark Shadow helped a lot, and soon enough they could see daylight again. Tokoyami's body was in excruciating pain, though he forced himself to move forward.

There was a sudden mini avalanche to his left, and his leg was crushed under the rubble. Tokoyami couldn't stop the scream of pain that escaped him. Fuck, it hurt so much. He begged it to stop. His conscious was fading in and out again. He looked down at Mina, another wave of pain and exhaustion hitting him so hard he slipped and fell back. He couldn't move, the adrenaline from the fight had gone.

Trying his hardest to keep his fist above the rock, he closed his eyes. Someone had to find them, Tokoyami begged for someone to find them. Mina had to get to a doctor, and fast. Tokoyami tried moving again. Nothing.

Hawks flew in, scanning the area. He could see the destruction from a mile away. It's probably the problem-children Eraserhead warned him about. Hawks huffed and flew around the island. He saw two kids falling. "Oh shit..." Hawks processed what he just saw as he watched them get closer to the ground.

It clicked. "Wait, fuck!" He sent feathers out to break their fall. Yeah, definitely the problem-children. Hawks continued to search. Where would his kid be if there was a large-scale battle like this... Hawks stopped. He flew towards a cave-in on the ground.

He saw lots and lots of rubble. He heard helicopters fly overhead as he spotted it. A hand. Hawks panicked as it fell back under. Hawks flew down to where he had seen it. "Kid?! Kid, are you down there?" There wasnt a response. Hawks swore and started digging.

It took a while. Hawks got more and more worried. What if he didnt get down to his student in time? What if that hand falling was the last of his strength leaving him...? No, no, Hawks couldn't afford to think like that. His student was strong. His kid would get through this.

His kid...

Hawks said the words over again. He shook his head and continued digging, his arms tired slightly, his hands not used to the labour. He heard a cough from close by. "Tokoyami? Kid, that you?" He couldn't help the relief that washed over him as he saw his kid again. He was covered in light injuries, but he seemed okay.

Hawks spoke too soon. He winced as he noticed the teens eyes wouldnt stay open all the way, continuously closing and the student seemed to try stay conscious. Tokoyami looked up at him, coughing again. "...Hawks? What are you doing here...?" Hawks breathed a sigh of relief, smiling to himself. "I'm here to help. I brought assistance, too." He looked down at Mina, only noticing her now.

"Is she alright?" Though Hawks didnt find himself as concerned, he thought he should ask anyways. Tokoyami jumped a little, and manoeuvred to pick her up. Hawks noticed Tokoyami hissing in pain and clenching his teeth. "She hit her head, and might have a concussion? Anyway, she needs a doctor as soon as possible." Tokoyami was pale— well, paler than usual, and he tried to stand up.

Hawks had to catch the two kids as Tokoyami's leg gave out. Hawks heard a small gasp of pain leave his student, and he got worried. "Kid, you both need doctors. We'll get you both out of here, okay?" Tokoyami shook his head and tried to stand again. "Mina needs it more than I, sir. We cant afford to—" Hawks noticed something coming towards them. "Tokoyami—!"

He didnt finish his sentence as his kid was sent crashing down again with a cry of pain. There were red spikes piercing his shoulders and back. Hawks sent feathers down the cave without thinking. He moved Mina behind him and held onto Tokoyami securely as whoever attacked them yelled in agony. 'Good.' Hawks thought bitterly. Tokoyami was shaking, still trying to will himself to move.

Hawks placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Hey, hey, it's fine..." Comforting people had never been Hawks's strong suit, but he had to try for his kid. Tokoyami shook his head, rapidly losing consciousness and blood. "Gotta....keep...Mina....safe....c...cant..."

Hawks blinked down at his kid. He turned back to Mina, who was still out. "She's okay, you did good." Hawks rubbed circles into Tokoyami's shoulder. Tokoyami's eyes were glazed over. Hawks sighed again. This kid wasnt going to give in until his friend was safe, huh?

Hawks shifted and showed him Mina. "See? She's safe, and we're going to get you both medical help. Okay?" Hawks reassured his kid. Tokoyami seemed to want to argue, but had to bite back another noise of pain. Hawks simply ran a hand through his kids feathers.

Tokoyami let out a series of noises that weren't human sounding. Hawks paused. "Did you just..." Hawks looked down at his kid in amazement. Tokoyami let out more chirps of distress. Hawks sighed. He chirps back, and was amazed by the immediate affect it had. Damn, he should've tried this earlier. Tokoyami was put at ease by the sounds and stopped struggling to move.

Hawks watched the kid for a little while longer. Tokoyami tenses as another wave of pain floods him, more pained chirps leaving him. "Hey, it's okay. You can go to sleep now. You're both safe." Hawks is right there, and Tokoyami let's his eyes shut. 'Its only for a few moments.' He tells himself.

Hawks watches his kid fall under, going slack in his grip. He let's out a breath. Damn, this kid was exactly like him. And part of Hawks wanted to yell at him for it. Guess he knew why Edgeshot and Best Jenist yelled at him now. He turned towards where the spikes had come from. Speaking of the others...

"Hawks!" Endeavor and some other hero is calling down to him. He looks up and grins. "Heya, I got two here. And one of the villains." He called up. Endeavor nods. "Is Shouto down there?" Hawks shakes his head, and Endeavor frowns. Hawks sets Mina into a stretcher and waits until Mina is halfway up to start flying up, Tokoyami held tight in his arms. Hawks doesn't like how light he is, but that's a question for another day.

Mina is awake as Hawks gets to the top, and she smiles at Tokoyami in Hawks arms. Hawks gives her a thumbs up and starts walking towards a doctor. Tokoyami shifts again, eyes opening. Hawks groans. Tokoyami had barely closed his eyes. "Kid, go back to sleep." Tokoyami shakes his head and goes to move, wincing in pain. "I can walk."

Hawks raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm not even sure you can stand." Tokoyami huffs, and shifts out of Hawks's arms. There's definitely pain shooting up Tokoyami's legs, but the pain is the only thing keeping him conscious right now. Tokoyami shuts his eyes tight, feeling nauseous and sore. He wont give in, though. Hawks nods as Tokoyami shoots him a smug look.

Hawks doesn't budge. "Let go of my jacket, and if you can still stand, I'll let you try walk." Tokoyami stops. His grip on Hawks's jacket if the only thing keeping his upright. And they both knew that. Tokoyami reluctantly let's go, and his leg screams in agony. Tokoyami almost does too. But even though his whole being is shaking in pain, he's standing.

Hawks swears quietly, but backs off. "Fine, you can walk the rest of the way." He doesnt want him to, though. Tokoyami doesn't even get a step in. He puts his weight on his bad leg, and pain shoots through him, and Tokoyami's whole world turns upside down, bile rising in his throat. Hawks doesnt hesitate, catching him as his kid falls with a yell. Hawks is cursing himself for letting him try, obviously hes too hurt for something like this, Hawks isnt going to let him go again.

Hawks picks him up again. Tokoyami goes quietly, other than a few weak noises of pain. His eyes are already dropping, closing as he drifts off again. Hawks just holds him slightly closer. He approaches the doctor, who goes to take Tokoyami off of him to examine his wounds. Hawks surprises both himself and the doctor by pulling back, not letting him near. The doctor tries again. Hawks steps back on instinct.

"Sir, I need to see him to heal him." The doctor said, reading for him. Hawks takes another step back. "Sir, please!" Recovery Girl hobbles over, and pokes Hawks's shin. "Set him down on the bed, Hawks." She points over at the bed, and Hawks moves over, setting him down.

The doctor goes to touch Tokoyami, and Hawks slaps his hand away. Jesus, what's wrong with him? Recovery Girl shakes her head and shoves the doctor off. She moves closer to Tokoyami, and swats Hawks hand away when he reaches to stop her.

Eventually, Recovery Girl uses her quirk. Tokoyami was completely out now, breathing even and light. Hawks had practically scrambled to pick Tokoyami up when another doctor came in. They apologised, and quickly left.

Hawks carried his kid to the rest of the class, which expressed their panic over another unconscious classmate. Hawks stepped back and gripped tighter when they get closer. Jeeze, he really needed to stop. But alas, he stayed the whole day, keeping a constant grip on Tokoyami.

The class turned in for the night, all exhausted and sore from the days battle. Hawks stayed up, telling himself he was watching the whole class. Tokoyami moved halfway through the night, groaning as he woke up. Hawks jumped up. Tokoyami looked around for a second before jumping up, wincing in pain.

Hawks had a hand on his shoulder, pushing him down gently. Tokoyami didnt go easily, and Hawks tried to calm him down. "Kid, hey. Its alright, you're alright..." Hawks's heart may have shattered when Tokoyami let out a sound of pure fear.

Hawks watched his intern curl into a ball. Tokoyami's breathing was off, and he was shaking. Hawks reached out to help, to do something, anything. Tokoyami let out a sob and Hawks's could've cried himself. He shushed his kid and sat up on the bed, wrapping his wings around Tokoyami. Once his wings were effectively covering Tokoyami, Hawks brought his arms gently around his back.

Tokoyami was tense, his hands trembled as tears flowed down his cheeks. Hawks let out a series of chirps, rubbing up and down Tokoyami's back, who responded with shaky chirps of his own. They went back and forth like this for a while, until eventually Tokoyami's breathing returned to normal. He was leaning heavily on Hawks's side, eyes closing.

Hawks smiled, and ran his hand up and down Tokoyami's back in circles. "Its fine, you're allowed to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." Hawks voice was barely above a whisper. Tokoyami blinked sleepily up at him. "Promise?" Hawks was taken aback by how quite and... childlike his voice was. Tokoyami sounded like someone his own age, for once. Hawks smiled again, and squeezed his shoulder softly.

"I promise."

Hawks wasnt sure when he had drifted off, but when Bakugo got up because Kirishima and Denki were freaking out and caught them snoozing, Tokoyami completely hidden, he said nothing.

When Yayorozu calmly walked over to Jirou, who was clutching her ears in pain and saw, she didn't wake them. When Iida practically hurled himself over to Midoryia and Uraraka in fear, no one stopped them.

Aziawa came in around six thirty to check on them, and by that time they had all joined together on the couch. Aziawa let himself smile at the sight. He saw Hawks conked out, no sign of Tokoyami. He saw the wing move and it clicked. He sighed and fixed some blanked on the kids. He heard the door open and turned around.

Katsuma and Mahoro were standing at the door. Aziawa said nothing, and let them in. He was surprised to find that Katsuma was holding Edgeshot's hand, but then he saw the badge on his bag and understood. He left them alone, and resumed his spot outside the front door, acting as their bodyguard.

The next morning was slightly chaotic, as the class freaked out, thinking that Shouji had disappeared overnight, only to remember he wasnt able to move properly yet so he had stayed in bed. He was still grateful they checked on him, though.

Hawks woke up to Bakugo and Iida arguing, and moved to get up, but stopped. He still had a snoozing Tokoyami wrapped in his arms. He looked a lot better, Hawks noted. Hawks smiled. His kid had gotten some decent rest in the end. Mina came over, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Hawks grinned at her. "Um, I just wanted to say, well, Todoroki reminded me..." she pointed over her shoulder to Todoroki, who was listening to Denki explain something. Hawks nodded. "Thank you for saving us. I got really worried for a second there." She looked at Tokoyami, and smiled. Hawks noticed it seemed a lot more genuine than the ones she had given out earlier.

Tokoyami yawned and opened and eye, immediately closing it again. Mina laughed and turned to walk away. "I heard from Shouji he gets cranky in the mornings, so good luck!" Hawks waved her off. Tokoyami's simply pillowed his head in Hawks side, ready to back to sleep.

Hawks laughed softly and poked his interns head. "Hey now, you're gonna miss breakfast." Hawks heard Tokoyami mumble something, shaking his head. Hawks laughed again. "I'll pick you up and bring you over, I mean it!" Tokoyami pulled his head out and stared up at him, his expression was hard to read.

"Thanks for not leaving." The words were spoken quietly, but they were genuine. Hawks melted on the spot. "Aww, kiddo. I promised I wouldnt leave ya. I dont break promises if I can help it." Tokoyami shrugged, and hugged Hawks. Hawks froze, Tokoyami was never this affectionate. Hawks smiled and returned the hug.

"Now let me sleep." Tokoyami buried his head back in Hawks's side, and pulled the blankets over himself. Hawks let out a loud laugh, gaining the others attention. "You were right, Ashido." He grinned at the girl. "He really is moody in the mornings." Denki snorted, and Mina burst out laughing.

Soon, everyone was laughing and chatting like normal fucking kids. 'As they should' Hawks thought to himself. He hefted Tokoyami over his shoulder, holding him in one arm. Tokoyami gave a shout of alarm and complained the whole way over, but was silenced by Bakugo's pancakes.

Hawks grinned and laughed along with the kids, a wing subtly draped over Tokoyami, who seemed grateful. Hawks sighed, content for the first time since he received that phone call.

This was nice.

Well, it was until he had to leave. Hawks really didn't want to, afraid that of he turns away, Tokoyami and his class might get hurt again. Tokoyami assures him they'll be fine, even though Recovery Girl told Tokoyami to go back to bed as he was still concussed. In fact, many of the kids were left concussed. Hawks was worried about how wrong this could've gone....

Tokoyami was dragged back to bed by Mina, who promised Hawks she'd keep an eye on him. "After all, I owe him for taking care of me! Did you know he took the brute of the rocks collapsing?" Hawks stopped, and so did Tokoyami. "Ashido, wait—" Tokoyami tried to stop her, but she was on a roll now. She explained the fight in detail, and how they messed up.

"Yeah! The whole cave was coming down on top of us, but he still protected me! When I woke up..." Mina trailed off, looking unsure. She squeezed Tokoyami's hand tighter. "What? What happened?" Hawks was going to kill his intern either way, might as well hear the whole thing.

"...I honestly wasnt sure if he was alive or not. If Dark Shadow hadn't come out, I would've been convinced he was... yaknow...." Mina trailed off, staring at Tokoyami. Hawks raised his eyebrows in surprise. Mina continued.

"Man, I feel bad. After all that, he told me I was hurt and needed to rest. He ended up clearing us a mini path to safety." Tokoyami shifted uncomfortably, eyes on them. Hawks looked at his kid, who avoided eye contact. Hawks shook his head.

"So not only did you fight a villan head-on in you're own, get crushed by rocks, you then had the audacity to try tell me you were fine. Tokoyami I—" Hawks begun his lecture, only to be cut off.

"Tokoyami Fumikage get your ass to a bed right now before I make you!" Aziawa had come in at one point, Midoryia in tow. He already had one self-sacrificing child trying to help. Now there were two. Hawks watched in astonishment as Tokoyami stuttered.

"Wait— Mr. Aziawa, I'm fine— I swear—" Aziawa just grabbed Tokoyami's uninjured arm and dragged him upstairs. "First Midoryia, now you? Wait, where's Bakugo?" His voice trailed off as the three disappeared upstairs. Hawks laughed as he heard Bakugo curse from the balcony.

Mina laughed with him. "I'll make sure he stays in bed, promise!" She smiled up at the hero. Hawks grinned back. "Dont forget to take care of yourself too." Mina nodded. "Obviously, I'm not stupid like those guys—"

"Shouji, I swear to god! I said dont move! And what did you do? One job, kid, you had one job!" Aziawa shouted from upstairs.

Denki and Sero howled with laughter, though it dissolved into groans as their wounds were bothering them. Jirou simply buried her head sleepily into Yayorozu's sweater. Iida was dragged into a pillow fort made by Uraraka and Asui.

"Hawks!" Endeavor called from the front door. He, like Hawks, hadn't been able to let go of Shouto, who seemed uncomfortable, and a little frustrated. Hawks sighed and looked at Mina. "A hero's job is never done. Take care of Tsukuyomi for me, will ya?" Mina nodded as Hawks left the building.

Mina watched over Tokoyami like a hawk (according to Mina the pun was intended) and in no time at all they were returning to U.A, and classes begun again.

Tokoyami walked into his dormitory room and flopped onto his bed. He heard Bakugo yelling, and Midoryia laughing nervously. Tokoyami sighed and melted into his bed.

Yeah, it was good to be back home.

Jesus this took forever...

I ended up not sleeping for 24hrs and adding to this so it's got more words (22608) so hdhdjdhd I'm sorry

I'm gonna go eat my body weight in food and try sleep more but I regret nothing!!

[witchcraft-in-wonderland]

Poor Little Anxious Crybaby (Pt.4)

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

Patton had decided that it was in Virgil's best interest to spend a week or two with Janus and Logan, saying that it would be best to keep his mind off the 'divorce'.

Virgil, of course, didnt mind in the slightest, Janus' new house had a lot more stuff to mess with, and the neighborhood had a lot more kids his age, that didn't know him from the sleepaway school.

"I'm sure dad's alright Virgil, just busy, theres a fair going on tomorrow, maybe we could go to that, itll help you feel better," Janus said, setting down a plate with a sandwich on it for Virgil.

"You really think it'll help?" Virgil asked, tilting his head.

"Distractions usually are considered beneficial when dealing with traumatic experiences," Logan said, leaning his head up slightly as Janus placed a kiss on his cheek. Virgil let out a disgusted noise, he hadnt been sure why, but he supposed it was just sibling reflex.

"If you say so," Virgil said, stuffing the sandwich in his mouth.

He spent most of his time in the guest room, watching birds fly from the window. He helped Janus out with business plans, which mostly consisted of bringing him coffee and asking about trees. Virgil thought this was much better than the alternative of looking at graphs and prices.

The next day Virgil could hardly contain his excitement, he'd spent an hour or two getting ready for the fair, checking with Logan every ten seconds to see if anything about the days schedule had changed.

"Well someones excited," Janus said, wrapping his arms around Virgil's waist and hoisting him into the air. Virgil let out a laugh, shaking his head slightly so his hair hit Janus' face and he let go.

"Well yeah I'm excited! Its fun!" He said when he landed back on the ground.

It was another few hours before they were finally ready to leave, they purchased their tickets at the door, Logan subsequently taking off after Virgil when he decided to run off once they got inside the grounds.

"Woah there Vi, dont go speeding off like that," Logan said once he caught up with him.

"But the lines are gonna get long!" Virgil said, watching the rides with intrigue.

"And we can wait!" Janus said, laughing.

Virgil spent most of the day with Logan and Janus, so he hadnt been exactly sure when he'd lost them, yet there he was on the carousel, neither of them in sight.

"Finally ditched your parents huh?" Said a voice next to Virgil. He looked around, hands still clinging to the horse. The boy next to him was smirking, he had striking white hair with a blue streak, and light green eyes.

"Oh they're not my parents, ones my brother and ones probably my in-law," Virgil said, grinning.

"Oh, well either way they seemed a little stifling," said the boy, sneering.

"Oh they arent that bad, theres just been a few uh, issues, and they're worried about me," Virgil responded.

"But you can handle yourself cant you? You dont need them," the boy said.

The two of them were getting off of the carousel, Virgil didnt even realize he was moving.

"I mean they arent always like that," Virgil responded.

"I'm Brennan by the way," said the boy, flashing another smug grin in Virgil's direction.

"Virgil!" Virgil responded.

Brennan smiled, "Hey Virgil, how are you with challenges?" He said.

"Depends on the challenge," Virgil responded. Brennan, rather than say anything, took off through the fair ground, a piece of paper falling out of his pocket. Virgil picked it up, a series of numbers were etched across it, along with the words 'Call Me'. Virgil stuffed the paper in his pocket and took off after Brennan.

There were several other papers scattered across the fairground, some with pick up lines, some with information like addresses and emails.

Until finally, Virgil found Brennan standing outside of the water log ride, smirking.

"Finally found me huh? You're good at this game," Brennan said, taking Virgil hand and flashing his ticket at the ride operator before sitting the two of them in one of the logs.

Virgil spent the whole of the ride pressed up against him, he was terrified of heights, but especially heights that involved water, the water itself reminded him to much of crying.

"Hey are you alright? I didnt mean for it to frighten you," Brennan said when they finally got off, Virgil still attached to his arm.

"J-just not a big fan of heights- or- water-" Virgil replied, shaking, once again biting his lip to prevent any tears.

"Oh dear. . ." Brennan looked even more worried, running his thumbs across the sides of Virgil's eyes.

"I-Im sorry- it just- I cant control-" the ground seemed like it was getting farther away.

"Oh nononono it's ok, people have stuff they cant control, it's alright, let's get you some tissues ok?" Brennan said, Virgil could've sworn he sounded happy, but the worried expression on Brennan's face pushed the thought away immediately.

"Virgil! Virgil where are you!" Janus' voice sounded from further away. Virgil heard footsteps across the grass.

"Hes alright," Brennan said simply, letting Virgil go when Janus reached them.

"And who are you?." Logan said when he caught up with them, glaring in Brennan's direction. Janus was to busy trying to stop Virgil from crying, draping a towel over him to dry the water off as well.

"Brennan, hes been hanging out with me," Brennan replied, Virgil gave a small nod and showed them the paper strips.

Logan and Janus exchanged looks before turning back to Virgil.

"We've got to get home, you can call each other tomorrow," Janus said, looking between the two younger boys.

"See you later Brennan," Virgil said, grinning excitedly.

"I wouldnt have it any other way," Brennan responded as Virgil Janus and Logan walked away, a faint blush creeping up Virgil's cheeks.

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

Tag list:

@spooky-scary-virgil

@boobmaster69

@meowthefluffy

@faycanyons

@thecolorfulolive

@melodiread

@luna--28

@maryann-draws

@youtuberswithalex

@thefivecalls

@frog-candy-bee

@deathcanbegreat

[stanbillyhargrove]

Ghosts Chp 7

Billy x Katrina

A/N: this is a multi chapter series that will contain smut, angst, fluff, substance abuse

MENTIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

November

Katrina's POV

A blizzard. A fucking blizzard that has barricaded everyone inside their homes, that's what I woke up to. A complete white out, not expected to let up for a day or two.

Olivia twirled around the kitchen, humming her haunting tune while I got a pot of water boiling. Grabbed a bag of tea from the cupboard and tossed it in a mug while I waited. It didn't take long for the kettle to click off, steam pouring from the spout.

Elle's hands slid over my hips as I poured the water, "what kind?" She whispered.

"Strawberry hibiscus."

She hummed, "my favorite."

I stirred a spoonful of honey in before retreating to the couch and cozying up in blankets.

I flicked on the TV and started scrolling through my Netflix, "what should we watch?"

Ally appeared beside me, grinning, "horror marathon?"

"Is that the only thing you like?"

A smile stretched across her face, "pretty much."

I smirked at the younger girl, scrolling through the options until Ally told me to stop and settled in to sip my tea and watch Pet Semetary.

Part way through the movie, Ally looked at me and whispered, "someone's coming."

Moments later there was a knock on my door. I cocked an eyebrow at Ally, who shrugged her slim shoulders and turned back to the movie, and got up to answer the door.

Billy was at the door, rumpled like he had just rolled out of bed, and holding a sleepy Pudge in his arms, "snow day," he mumbled.

"I heard, do you think Pudge made it happen?"

He smirked, squeezing the kitten a little, "can you really blame him? He likes when I have the day off."

I giggled, "so you came to join my horror movie day?"

"Are you making french toast?" He asked, padding into my apartment.

I laughed and closed the door, "yeah, we can make french toast."

--

A few hours later we were leaning against each other on the couch, sharing a fuzzy blanket and absently making our way through the Scream series. Pudge was sleeping in my lap, curled into a tiny black ball.

"Wanna play something?" Billy asked, looking at me with a playful smile.

"Like what?"

His arm shifted, falling down around my shoulder, "I have a bottle of vodka in my fridge, we could get drunk and play twenty questions. Learn more about each other?"

I laughed, "like the kids game?"

"You got something better to do?"

--

Half the bottle of vodka later, we were lounging on Billy's couch giggling and being silly until Billy broke out a hard hitting question.

"So, tell me about your family."

I tensed, took a long swig from the bottle, "what about them?"

"Well I've known you for almost a year and you've never mentioned your family. Do you have any siblings? What are your parents like?"

I looked down to pick at my fingernails, "I don't have any family."

"None?"

"Nope."

He studied me for a moment, "why?"

I huffed, "only child...and my parents never cared much about me until they disowned me."

Billy's face fell a little, all the fun from before gone, "why?"

"Cause I like girls. When I brought my ex home after graduation they tossed me out, haven't seen or talked to them since."

He laid a hand gently on my knee, "assholes."

I let out a watery laugh, "yeah, they are."

"And what happened with your ex?"

"I'm pretty sure it's my turn to ask questions actually."

"Right, go ahead."

Well, if learning about each other means tough questions, I can ask them too.

"What about your family? Are they in Indiana or California?"

His mouth tightened, "Max and Steve are here."

"Parents?"

Billy's jaw tensed a couple times, "dead."

I felt the heart break and confusion, saw their graves. Both of them, gone, leaving a young boy and his sister alone against the world.

"I'm sorry...what were they like?"

"Mom...well, my mom was sick. I remember good days where we would dance and play in the garden...but she got hurt and started to..change? I guess is the right word. She just wasn't herself all the time, she had headaches all the time, started staying in bed a lot. Didn't remember things anymore."

A shot, a flash of light and a heavy thud. My heart was racing in my chest, trying to jackhammer it's way through my ribcage.

He continued after a breath, "she died when I was six. I was supposed to be at a friends but I came home sick and found her."

A pool of blood, confusion, a boy screaming for his mom. I pulled my knee away from his hand, pretending like I was just shifting for comfort. Billy pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

"Sorry, that was probably oversharing."

I gulped, "no, it's...that's horrible, I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago," he murmured, "I try to just remember her good days."

"What about your dad?"

Billy grabbed the bottle from me and took a swig, "he was a miserable fucking drunk. Liked to slap people around. Died in a car accident, driving drunk, only downside to that was he took Max's mom with him."

"Which left you to become her guardian."

"That was a couple years after, had to wait until I was legal. I lived with Steve and Max lived with the police chief, his daughter is Max's best friend."

I nodded, a small smile on my lips, "I still think that's really sweet of you, to take care of her like that."

A light blush rose on his cheeks, "thanks."

I smiled at him, "what was your mom like before she got hurt? Tell me more about her."

Billy hummed, a wistful smile on his face, "she loved to garden, she would have turned our entire yard into one giant garden if she could have. Her favorite were sunflowers, she had a whole patch of them that we'd hide in. She was always humming, dancing, singing, just always happy...when it was the two of us anyway. She was amazing...I have a picture, hold on," he said, hurrying to his room.

He came back a moment later, carrying a picture frame and sat back down beside me.

"That's her," he murmured, passing me the frame.

In the picture was a young Billy, short curly hair dripping water and a bright smile on his face. He was much smaller than the muscular man I knew now. The sun behind him was starting to set, casting a yellow glow over the beach. Beside him was a woman in a flowy white dress that was blowing with a gentle breeze. Her blonde hair was pulled over her shoulder in a thick braid, a few curls having blown loose. She was crouching down to hug Billy, a brilliant smile on her face. She looked bright, happy, like she was so full of love and pride for her little boy.

Wait. Is that...no. It can't be.

"Olivia?"

Billy looked at me, confused, "yeah...how did you know that?"

My heart started racing as I put the picture down and stood up.

"I...I need to..I have to go," I stammered.

"What? Why? Did you know her?"

I shook my head as I hurried out the door, stuttering nonsense as I went. I left Billy alone and confused to lock myself in my apartment where I hurried to throw clothes and a jacket on before running to the roof of our building.

I paced around the roof, trudging through the snow for a while before I called, "Olivia?"

I had to call her a few times before she appeared, "yes, my girl?"

Yeah, that was Olivia in the picture. The woman that I'd grown up with, who had been a better mother to me than my own mother.

"Olivia...you're...dead? How? I don't understand."

"My sweet girl," she cooed, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear, "don't be silly, I'm not dead."

"No...you are. He told me you died...showed me your picture. You died, a long time ago."

"I..I'm not, I don't.."

She looked lost, like she didn't know what I was talking about. I watched her shaky hand come up to feel the back of her head. Her breath hitched with a shocked sob as she felt around and tears started to fall down her cheeks.

She shook her head, "I...I remember.."

I chewed at my lip, feeling like my world had been turned upside down as I waited for her.

"I remember...shouting...and then falling..then I remember being in the hospital and he said I slipped..." Olivia swallowed thickly, her voice cracking, "he said I slipped but..I didn't, I didnt slip. He hit me."

My heart ached for her and tears started pooling in my eyes as she kept going. She started to get clearer as she spoke, less wispy. She grabbed my hand to share her memories with me as she spoke.

"Neil was so charming when we met, chiseled face and slicked back hair...a devilish smile, stormy blue eyes, a dimple on one cheek...he was gorgeous. I was working at a little diner at the time, he came in with some other new recruits. They were being deployed a couple weeks later so they were hitting up the town before leaving. Well, as soon as we locked eyes...I was under his spell. We were inseparable, fell hard and fast in love until he left...he looked so handsome in his uniform," she sighed, "we wrote each other all the time while he was gone. He could never tell me where he was but he'd say he was always thinking of me. That the thought of coming home and never letting me out of his sight again was the only thing keeping him going. Soon after, I realized I was pregnant and the both of us were overjoyed, he couldn't wait to have a family. But then Neil stopped writing just before I gave birth...I thought maybe he changed his mind..or had been killed. I thought I was going to be a single mother at nineteen, but I got another letter a couple weeks before he came home. It just said 'I'm on my way' and then he was home, my baby was a few months old by then. He looked so much like me, soft cheeks and blonde curls...had Neil's eyes though."

I saw him, a chubby cheeked baby boy with fuzzy blonde curls and sharp blue eyes, bubbling happily against my chest.

"When Neil came home he, he was different...he was so...distant, cold, angry. . He wouldn't tell me why he was dismissed from duty. Turned away when I tried to kiss him, yelled at me over little things, yelled at our baby when he cried. Started drinking a lot and he, he started hitting me...but after he got angry, he'd leave the house and come back hours later all sad and contrite. Shed a few tears, say he loved me, flash that smile and shower me with gifts...flowers and candy, jewelry..or he'd bring home dinner and say I deserve a relaxing night. I stayed for that Neil, I loved him...when he was kind. And for our baby, he needed a father and I tried to keep myself happy for him, to shower him in love but Neil started getting more violent as the years went on, leaving black eyes and split lips. I had to make up stories when I went to town. He tried to go for my boy once and I tried to stop him...he hit me and my head cracked on the counter and then...when I got home, I didn't want to go outside anymore. I was just a shell of myself most days, I couldn't do anything, everything hurt. I got splitting headaches," Olivia looked at me, her eyes glistening as she held her head, "it hurt so bad, it felt like my head was going to pop from the pressure."

Both of us were weeping now, rivers of tears pouring down our faces.

She gasped, "my baby...my little boy, I left him there...I just, I couldn't take it anymore...I couldn't find another way out."

"Olivia.."

"I found his gun...and I...the pressure stopped, there was no more pain and I found you, my girl. But my boy, my sweet boy..I left him behind...I didn't want to..I just, I didn't think."

Oh god...Billy's memories...

"Olivia, your son..."

"I waited until he was at a friend's. Made sure the house was empty..."

I shook my head and sniffled, "no, Olivia..he was there, he found you."

She looked horrified as she wept, "oh, my baby. How could I do that? My poor boy...he must hate me."

I wiped the tears from my cheeks, "he loves you, even still. He grew up beautiful, Olivia, and he thinks of you all the time."

"How do you-"

Billy burst onto the roof, clutching his leather jacket tight to his chest to see me shivering in the snow and talking to the air.

"Katrina? What the fuck? You're gunna freeze out here!"

Olivia stared at him, her eyes glistening.

"My boy..."

"I see her."

@charmed-asylum @champagnesugamama