#it feels a bit like sitting in a cinema and listening to someone complain about how much they hate the movie the entire time

[virune]

one of the strangest parts of the sonic fandom to me is the people who just seem to hate everything about it. it's fair to criticise things and have parts of the series you don't enjoy, but the constant complaining about every new thing that comes out seems so. exhausting. i dunno man, maybe it's just not for you anymore? maybe you could go and find something else you like better, something a little less flawed in your eyes? if you genuinely don't like how the show's being run, why are you still sitting in the audience?

[depressopax]

Hiii, have you seen Berlin? If so, can I ask you a request about Bruce (smut or headcanons)? I love your job, and I don't find any content about that series, I'm obsessed. Have a good day, honey! Thank you so much.

Thank you for the request! (and the kind words <33) The way I've been meaning to write for him and Cameron but didn't know if anyone would read those characters 😭 Buuuut now I finally did! Ok but Bruce is so *chefs kiss* 🥵🤤 I did both SFW and NSFW ones! Hope you enjoyyyy <3

Dating Bruce headcanons

Fandom - Berlin (La casa de papel spinoff)

Pairing: Bruce x gender neutral reader Genre: Headcanons, fluff, smut Warning(s): SFW: Cuss words, dirty jokes NSFW: Smut. Oral sex, dom/sub dynamic, pet names, insults/degradation, semi-public, cuss words, hair pulling, spit, reader is gender neutral Words: 1.3K Summary: Being in a relationship with Bruce would include…  English is not my main language, if I make any spelling mistakes please let me know so I can improve my writing! <3

SFW

Dating Bruce would be chaotic

But good chaotic, though.

Everyday with him is like an adventure

He’s not the partner that likes to sit at home

He easily gets bored and likes bringing you out on whatever activity he might be up to. 

He loves a good party and especially likes showing off, letting the world know how amazing his partner is!

He is very loving and since he finds you so beautiful, amazing and intelligent, how can be not brag about being with you?

Homeboy has his arm around you wherever you go. 

Not scared to show PDA - the opposite, actually

He gets whiny if you don’t give him attention lmao

If you ignore him, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes, he gives you puppy eyes, acting all hurt just to get love and attention from you

Sure he’s cute, but it gets annoying sometimes, especially when you’re trying to be serious and he keeps clinging on to you.

He is very caring and listens to your needs

Sure he might be a bit naive sometimes, but he prioritizes your happiness and wellbeing. 

He hates to see you upset or sad, and tries his best to cheer you up

He does his best to see you smile again.

Bruce is very impulsive, and you often have to stop him from doing reckless shit.

Making sure he stays out of trouble, which might be a challenge sometimes…

Especially if he deals with someone being disrespectful to you. Often, he can hold back. But if someone is a jerk? N O .

I feel like he’s the guy that hits the gym a lot, but even then he wants you around.

If not to work out, then he wants you there to cheer on him, or kinda coach him 

But let's be honest, he wants you to see him all sweaty and takes it as an opportunity to show off his muscles

He’ll stare into your eyes and wipe sweat from him face using his tank top, showing you his abs in the process lmao

When he successfully makes you flustered, he’s so damn smug about it.

But apart from gym “dates”, he likes taking you out dancing, going to the cinema or going sightseeing.

But he also likes cheesy dates, for example taking you to cozy restaurants, home-cooked dinner and movie nights and stargazing. 

He likes taking you on small adventures, so he also takes you ice-skating, going to concerts or taking you to the amusement park.

Ok but imagine a amusement park date with him: - He encourages you to ride the scary-looking roller coasters, holding your hand and telling you how brave you are - Buying cotton candy and sharing - Him taking like 100 pictures of you - Bruce spending hours playing those carnival games, attempting to win you chocolate or the biggest teddy bears there is - You often need to drag an angry Bruce away from there, before he spends all his money on some game 😭 - Making out in the ferris wheel ;)

He’s an extrovert and likes doing things

But of course, he gets tired too, eventually….

Bruce is lazy in the mornings, resulting in you being lazy too.

He doesn’t let you leave bed, complaining that he’s cold etc

He likes sleeping with you in his arms, feeling protective over you even at nights.

He appreciates spa days with you, taking a relaxing bath together, cuddling under a blanket on the couch whilst watching movies.

LOVES seeing you in his clothes. It’s his favorite thing.

Bruce has lot of nicknames for you, most of them being in spanish

If your main language isn’t spanish, he tries teaching it to you

But he usually ends up teaching you cuss words, or very inappropriate sentences, making you think you’re saying something innocent 💀

Although he is naive and a bit of a douche, he loves you dearly and is not scared to express his love and devotion for you. He’s your fav himbo after all lol <3

NSFW

LOT of stamina

He loves having sex with you, so of course he’s up for a round 2

…And 3, maybe even a round 4?

Jk, unless…

Bruce has a high libido, basically horny for you all the time.

Everything about you turns him on. 

Seriously, sometimes a smile is enough for him to want to push you up a wall. 

Like we saw in the show, man’s a creep sometimes 

You’ll catch him staring at your ass, your lips, whatever, with the biggest smirk

Not shy to comment how hot you look or how badly he wants to fuck you.

Oh, you’re around people? Too bad. 

He has NO SHAME

Only way to stop him is telling him to shut the fuck up

…But somehow he manages to always say the right things, to make himself irresistible.

He’s the type of boyfriend to buy lingerie for you, dying to see you wear the sexy underwears he’s picked out for you

Top, bottom, dom or sub?

A N Y T H I N G

He doesn’t mind, as long as he gets to sleep with you, to be honest.

He goes after your preferences.

Leans more towards being a switch

Likes giving and receiving pleasure equally.

If you prefer being dominated, he’s more than happy to oblige. 

He knows how to talk dirty and take you roughly

“Look me in the when I fuck you.” - As he grabs your chin, tilting your face and forces you to meet his dark eyes “Take it, babe.” “You’re taking me so well”

He likes hearing you moan and whimper as he thrusts into you hard

If you’re dominant, tho…

He’ll be the moaning, whimpering mess underneath you. 

Likes it when you’re on top, having your hand gently pressed against his throat.

Whines a lot, begging for attention as you ignore his desires. 

Likes being called a good boy 🤭

Tbh he probably enjoys it when you call him slut

This man loves going down on you.

Besides talking too much, he knows how else to use his mouth… ;)

Compliment him for how good he is with his lips/his tongue. He loves and takes pride in it.

Homeboy could spend hours between your legs

When giving oral, he uses his fingers to stimulate other places too.

Very handsy, especially when it comes to holding your thighs apart so he gets better access to that spot he adores

He likes being messy when going down, using “too much” tongue, spit etc… Sorry

Fast and aggressive movements

…Or slow and passionate, really savoring you. 

He dirty talks you while working his mouth over that area, teasing you with telling you how good you taste, how beautiful you are etc…

Bruce likes eye contact. He always has the most innocent yet devilish look in his eyes as he works his lips and tongue on you.

Gets a bit offended if you don’t look at him, tbh

His beard tickling against your skin as he’s between your legs- I’M SORRY BUT OMG

Not so demanding when receiving oral

But if you tease him too much, he definitely becomes more cruel - pushing your head down, thrusting his hips forward to make you gag etc. 

He likes letting you do your thing, as he leans back watching and relaxing.

He’s sensitive, and very down bad for you

When he cums, he does so quickly.

Lots of praise during, and after.

If you have longer hair,

…Hair pulling. He wants something to grab when you work on his cock.

After you’re done having sex, he likes relaxing in bed, with your head on his chest

Strokes your hair, kisses you etc…

You’ll have to remind him about aftercare.

He’s in pure bliss and forgets everything else.

He falls asleep pretty quickly afterwards. 

Bruce feels bad about it, but he’s just so relaxed and feels so good after sex and just can’t keep his eyes open lol 

He falls asleep cuddling you, either as the big or little spoon.

Ok I def gotta make one for Cameron too omg 😩

[aphrodite-would-be-proud]

Hi, I really, REALLY love your writing, you're a amazing writer and I just want you to know it (ب_ب)♡

I don't know if you're up to, or if you did it before, but, can I request a female reader poly relationship with Armin and Eren? 👉👈 If you've done this or are uncomfortable doing it, you can ignore this request

You're so sweet! Thank you so much ت💛

And I haven't actually written something like this before so no worries you're the first! It doesn't make me uncomfortable at all, although I appreciate you checking first, thank you🐛

Hmm since this is a poly, I guess it'll classify as a valid Eren x reader fic, welp gotta make him his own catorgy now.

Being in a Poly relationship with Armin and Eren HC

{ Armin x reader x Eren | tw:none | fluff | Modern }

{ "What's Behind the Door" by Hans Zatzka 1859-1945 }

You're the middle spoon most of the time. Armin prefers being the little spoon and burying himself against your chest before falling asleep, while Eren likes feeling you in his arms and just pulling you so close against him. On rare times they switch positions.

As a result, you wake up with the two of them wrapped around you. Good luck getting up with how grumpy Eren is in the morning.

Talking about Eren, he enjoys listening to you and Armin talk in general. It could be about anything from the weather to a book or even complaining about him and he'll just sit between you two and relax. It makes him feel at peace.

You're his safe place when the world gets too much, he could just hug you impossibly close to him before closing his eyes while you and Armin hang out.

In fact he enjoys watching you two do anything together, even mondaine thing like help Armin detangle his hair in the morning. Oh no, he won't help, but he will sit next to you and observe even if it means he too will be late to work.

Eren is one of those people who get out of bed, mess their hair a bit and then have perfect hair somehow. He could just tie it back and it'll look so good despite being effortless.

Armin likes how playful you and Eren can get, how much he teases you and how you answer back. Especially when the two of you are trying to make him pick sides and back one of you up, he acts innocent but in reality he's looking for a bribe.

Armin also enjoys how Eren is mostly down to his adventures and even looks forward to them, it also means convincing you to tag along will be easier and the three of you will have so much fun.

He also feels more confident and bold when both of you are by his side, his usual anxieties and worries getting drowned out by your voices and presence. Plus both of your assurance are a huge boost to his ego, he can actually tease back if pushed hard enough.

Be warned, a smug cocky Armin is a...dangerous one.

I'm not saying you and Eren will get roasted but...

The three of you live in Armin's place actually, since with his grandpa away in the farm, he has the whole apartment to himself.

Eren still visits his mom on the weekends tho, will drag you two along, she bakes you pie and sends you home with cookies.

Eren is just a completely opposite person in front of his mom, you and Armin can get away with almost anything in front of her.

It's actually Armin who plans dates for the three of you , picnics, arcades, beach trips, diners.

They actually enabler each other a lot, being best friends and all. A lot of times Armin would just get Eren to drag you into places or ideas he has and a lot of times Eren will get Armin to convince you that yes spending money on expensive shoes is a good investment.

They keep a tap on each other.

You have no idea the amount of things Eren broke by accident and Armin was quick to replace before you notice. Or the many times Armin almost backed away from showing you things he wrote or got for you wasn't it for Eren encouraging him.

Eren is really protective, for both of you actually. He makes sure no one is bothering you and always steps in whenever you're uncomfortable

Armin is really considerate, he knows both of your preference and a lot of small details. He takes your emotions into consideration and always has a plan B and knows just the right words to say.

The problem is that both of them are extremely jealous people who don't know how to deal with it.

For real, Armin would seem sad and distante while Eren will be passive aggressive. And all of that just because you told Connie you liked his shirt or laughed at something Sasha said.

They act like kicked puppies, and won't ever admit to being jealous they just look at you with puppy eyes till you pay them the same attention too.

Drama queens, both of them. Will whine and sulk if your attention leaves them for a second.

Armin has a special nickname for each one of you, while Eren goes for the typical "babe" and looks at both of you making you try to guess "which one?"

Armin likes holding your hand and kissing you cheek, Eren prefers wrapping an arm around you and kissing your neck.

Both of them are big on physical affaction, expect a lot of greeting and goodbye kisses also being pulled into a hug or to sit near someone at random times.

Armin likes taking pictures of you, together or each by their own. He keeps them in a scrapbook that you help him make, Eren tries to find the best spots for him to photograph.

While Eren plays Videgames, he likes having you and Armin by his side. Even if you're not playing with him he'll just enjoy looking at your direction whenever he preforms really well like a kid looking for praise.

They have really different taste in food, movies and dates. Despite that they rarely argue or fight about It, since they've known each other for so long they learned how to compromise.

Lowkey each of them still tries to pull you to like the things they do so you'll take sides.

Even if you're not around, they will talk about you between them. Just how gorgeous you looked today and how adorable that outfit looked on you.

Actually both of them have you alone as their lockscreen, even whilst having a lot of pictures of the three of them together, they just like it this way.

Both are also big on public affaction so don't expect the pampering to stop just because you're outside.

They're just so comfortable with each other and when you came along they had absolutely no problem in sharing you, actually they even prefered because the other is the only person they'd trust with you.

They also don't mind when one of them takes you on a private date just the two of you alone, just give the other a heads up and maybe bring them a snack or something.

You prefer romantic cozy dates? Armin would love to share his softest blanket with you under the fairylights while sharing a milkshake or your favourite drink and watching a romantic comedy sitcom.

And the next day, Eren would take you to his favourite restaurant before going to the arcades or cinema after. Drive around in the car while listening to music and occasionally stopping at really nice spots to enjoy the view.

Maybe the three of you could go to a waterpark and Eren would attempt the really high dives while Armin just happily floats around in the water.

Or maybe going to the beach and watching them put actual effort and planning into making a good sandcastle, Armin collecting the seashells while Eren gets the sand.

Being in a relationship with them means you'll get the best of both worlds yet never get bored or feel alone. They have really different tastes yet are so similar at the same time, you'll truely feel loved and cared for.

[sleepless-in-starbucks]

14 (bodyguard AU) and 46 (blind date) sounds fun,,, your choice of ship ( ˘ ³˘)♥ ( ˘ ³˘)♥ ( ˘ ³˘)♥

14. Bodyguard AU || 46. Blind date

Random choice generator got me creativisleep!

~

roman's a semi-popular actor- he's never really been to an awards show, and he's not been in That much, but he had a small but strong role in a real popular film and plenty of leading ones in lesser known movies. he's got enough of a following to be satisfied with himself, even if it isn't That huge of one

because of this, roman didn't take the possible dangers of his fame seriously... until he got jumped by one fan at a play in his hometown. he came out fine (he's always fine ;p) but it made him reconsider his choice to not have some sort of protection

he ends up hiring remy to be his bodyguard, a choice he Slightly starts regretting when he realizes remy, despite having excellent marks out of bodyguard school, is about as professional as a golden retriever

they take roman's food out of his fridge Whenever, borrow Way too many of his shirts (and roman hasn't seen his BMC 'boyf riends' hoodie since they got their hands on it), and is never in typical bodyguard wear (they wore a suit for the interview and never again)

but they also bring roman coffee (when did they get his regular figured out...?), talk to him like he's just a Person and not a celeb, and have yet to try and kill him themself so. roman's alright with them staying

(plus, is it so wrong if roman enjoys how they look? he deserves for a bit of an eye-candy sorta bodyguard, damnit, they're with him all the time after all)

remy's been with roman as his bodyguard for a few months when roman decides he cant just keep Lookin at a pretty person, he deserves to have a pretty person to kiss and cuddle with too!! so he pokes around for a bit, finds a non-homophobic service (he's pan, so he could Technically use a plain ol' straight service, but he refuses on gay principle), and uses it

idk how datin apps work but this one that im makin up is a blind match up app, which takes ur information and uses it to randomly pair u up with random accounts. the app keeps account info privated until After the first date has been gone on, to really maintain the 'blind match' aspect. the matched up people play a mini guessing game through the app about places they can go for a date until location and time is determined

roman likes the idea of the app mostly to keep his own identity secret as long as possible- he doesnt want people pickin his account Just bc he's a celeb, y'know?

the first couple of blind dates dont go well tho... most are nice people who roman just isn't compatible with, one was a straight woman who spent the entire date being Very homophobic despite roman's rainbow heart + pan flag pins, and someone who was clearly Too Much Of A Fan (remy had to physically pull them off of roman and help him escape the park before they could latch back on)

oh, did roman not mention? remy's been coming on all his dates with him

because of course they are! they need to protect roman! whether that's by eating dinner in the booth over or sitting two rows back at the cinema or awkwardly half-stalkin roman and his date while they walk about

so they're always there, to bring roman there and take him home, and listen when he complains about the bad matches and lament the almost-winners, and convince him he is a catch that needs to try again because eventually Someone will realize he really is too good to pass up

(remy always says that line in a weird way)

so he keeps trying... until roman has possibly the worst date ever

because he gets stood up. it's fifteen minutes past the scheduled date time, he's gotten no text explainin where they are, but he's sittin at the restaurant alone and starting to become rather upset by the pitying look the server gives him when he says he's still waitin on someone else before he orders

remy slides into the seat across from him at the 20 minute mark. shoots roman an apologetic smile that an outsider would mistake as a 'sorry im late' one when roman knows it's a 'sorry they didnt show' one

roman appreciates the gesture to save him, but he almost just wants to go home at this point. he's tired and bein stood up feels like Shit, actually, and he's about ready to call off the whole dating thing really, dramatic as that may be (like it's not his middle name)

but remy says smth about this place having really good sandwiches, and it's clear they're tryin so hard to help roman out here, even a little, and roman can't just dismiss that effort, so he picks up his menu again and orders smth and tries to ignore the way his face heats up just the slightest at the relieved smile remy flashes next

lunch with remy is great, actually, better than it would've been with whoever couldnt be bothered to show or apologize or Anything. remy even knows the way to an ice cream shop on the way home, sayin it's for roman's 'broken heart' as they pay for it

except, well... roman's heart isn't feelin so broken anymore

it's actually feeling pretty put together. really functional. functioning really fast. especially when roman's looking at remy. or when remy's lookin at roman. or when they smile. or when they laugh. or when they speak. or when they-

roman doesn't fall asleep until 2am that night, heart still racing a bit, screaming into his pillow a bit as he acknowledges he is wholly and totally head-over-heels for his bodyguard

he tells remy the next day he's done with dating for a bit, saying he's still upset over being stood up. he doesn't mention that it's also bc remy's ruined all other people for him

things try to fall back in routine from there, but it's a bit harder when roman's trying to not be so in love with someone who just works for him. and remy's definitely started pickin up on it too- they had asked him just last if he was okay, that he didn't seem as upset by remy takin his clothes anymore, and that didn't seem like him, was he getting sick?

the opposite, actually, absolutely nothing makes me feel better then seeing you walk around in my shirt or jacket or whatever else, please never stop and also kiss me?

roman just said he was tired

eventually... roman decides this can't keep going on. remy's giving him more weird looks these days, and roman is pretty sure being around remy so much without Any kisses is starting to cause brain decay (it's not, it's really not, remy always bein on his mind is just a side effect of.... pretti........). so, he takes matters into his own hands

admittedly, maybe firing remy wasn't the best way to go, given remy immediately demands to know why, what they did wrong, even asking if roman's being blackmailed into this

"blink once for yes, twice for no" remy asks, lowering the sunglasses they always have on to look directly at roman's eyes

roman doesn't blink for a full minute. he might not be breathing for that minute either. has he ever seen remy's eyes this close? has he ever seen them at all? they're such a brilliant shade of brown. roman could drown in them. he might be already

roman's pretty sure he started this conversation standing up, but maybe not, because when he finally blinks and remembers things outside of remy's eyes exist he's sitting down and remy looks extremely concerned

"okay... what's wrong, hun?" they ask, and oh no, they look so sad, and worried, and that's not good, roman should fix that right now, regardless of whatever he was doing before (he's forgotten)

"im gay" he responds intelligently. this will fix everything

remy, however, just looks confused. "yes?"

"for you" roman adds, helpfully, sure that Now remy will understand they're just really very pretty and nothing's wrong and if they feel bad still they should look in a mirror because then they'll be good again

now it's remy's turn to sit in silence, expression frozen in one of shock. they still havent put their sunglasses back on, so roman doesnt mind, bc this gives him more time to stare at remy's eyes

"you're having a breakdown because you're gay for me???" remy finally asks, expression unfreezing to look incredulous and a little hurt

roman returns a similar look. "im not having a breakdown!"

remy scoffs. "yeah, sure, right, that's why you suddenly froze and completely stopped breathing and minorly collapsed after i... look off my shades to look at you..." they suddenly break out in a smirk. "oh my gods, you're a gay disaster"

roman doesn't try to deny it, especially with the knowledge he apparently did stop breathing to admire remy's eyes. they have a point

"how long?"

"since that date you hijacked after i got stood up" roman admits. he finds it extraordinarily rude when remy starts laughing

...until they're pulling out their phone, hurriedly opening up the exact same dating app roman had been using, showing a log of all the dates they had planned- there's only one marked as having actually been attended

same date time and place of the one where roman had assumed he had been stood up

"you broke my heart!" roman says as remy puts away their phone, over-dramatically, not actually giving a damn, just feeling gay and a bit giddy at the thought remy hadnt gone to any of the other dates, just theirs

no longer worried quite as much about roman for the moment, remy's smirk just grows, smoothly moving from being crouched in front of roman to being set firmly in his lap, lazily brushing hair out of his eyes and wow was remy always this warm? and stunning? and perfect?

"i dunno babe... sounds more like i stole it" remy teases, movin from playing with roman's hair to cuppin his cheek, leaning in close and not even bothering to pretend to be looking at anything other than roman's lips. "which, yeah, bad bodyguard etiquette... i hope you can forgive me..."

roman doesn't need his words to answer that tease

[blu-joons]

DATING BTS A⇴Z HEADCANON ~ JEON JUNGKOOK

A ⇴ Asking you out...

He was incredibly nervous to ask you out, the boys had to rally around him to grow the confidence to ask you out. He was a wreck, everyone knew that relationships weren’t his strong point, but somehow, he found the courage to approach you. He simply asked you to dinner, classic and romantic, his treat of course. The boys couldn’t be happier seeing their maknae finally growing into a man.

B ⇴ Bringing you to the studio...

Most days he brings you to the studio, when you’re free, just to stop the boys from teasing him. They love to joke with him, but you’re the key to shutting them up. He adores showing you what he’s been up to as well, you’re the first one to see all his routines, plus he always works a little bit harder when he knows your eyes are watching his every move.

C ⇴ Crying over him...

You usually cry when he’s not around, the first few days when he leaves for tour are usually the hardest, it’s easy to miss him when he’s such a big and lovable character, and so it often takes you a few days to come to terms with the fact that he’s not around anymore. Tears are usually shed when he comes home too, out of relief to finally see him again and know he’s safe.

D ⇴ Date night with him...

He tries to organise dates as often as possible because he feels guilty with how much time he spends at work, he likes to treat you, and do things you enjoy, the cinema is one of the more frequent places he’ll take you to. Jungkook likes to pay for all your dates, but you usually manage to stop him, even if has got a load of money, you like to be able to pay your own way too.

E ⇴ Enjoying each other’s company...

The time you enjoy him the most is when he’s at home, nothing makes you happier than when you get to sit to dinner with him and then curl up on the sofa beside him. It’s not much, but for you the simple things are what makes you happiest. A comfortable quiet, lots of hugs, and the scent of him around you are all you need to smile and enjoy having him around.

F ⇴ Flirting with you...

He’s the first to admit he’s not a natural flirt, he tries his hardest but usually just ends up embarrassing himself and making you laugh. Luckily for him, you find it adorable, playing along with him until he stutters or can’t think of something else to say because he’s too nervous. Flirting is definitely not his strong point, but it happens to make you fall for him even more.

G ⇴ Gets on your nerves when...

There isn’t much he can do to annoy you, but when he comes to your house and strips the cupboards bare of food it winds you up. You can tell when he’s stayed over because when you go into your fridge the following morning there is nothing there. He’s terrible at filling your fridge back up, leaving you to do a run to the shops the following day to fill everything back up.

H ⇴ Holds your hand when...

When he feels anxious, he looks to you for reassurance, being able to feel that you’re next to him is very important to him. He squeezes your hand to let you know that he’s feeling nervous, it’s always his way of letting you know how he’s feeling without having to talk to anyone else, knowing that you’re by his side is everything to him, so he holds onto your hand to remind him you’re there.

I ⇴ If he could...

If he could give you the world, he would, you mean the world to him, and at times he feels terrible that he can’t prove that to you. You don’t deserve a boyfriend who can’t always be with you, he thinks you’re crazy for wanting to stay with him, yet you don’t complain, ever. He’d give you everything just to make you happy and apologise for not being the perfect boyfriend he’d like to be.

J ⇴ Just because...

Just because he loves you, Jungkook will always take photos and videos of your times together so that he has things to remember you by. He doesn’t share many of them, he’s quite private when it comes to your relationship, but that doesn’t stop him filming most little things so that he had something to look upon when he was on tour or missing you.

K ⇴ Kids for the two of you...

He was very set on having kids with you, he was still a kid at heart, and loved the idea of being able to use up some of that energy on raising a family. Everyone always knew that he was going to be one of the first to settle down, but he wanted to wait and see whereabouts his career took him before deciding to settle down and start a family with you.

L ⇴ Loves you because...

He loves you because you’re there for him, he never realised how much he would love coming home to someone and being loved. He loved the little things, even just the company when you’d do nothing. Your support and love was truly valuable to him, he never realised how much he needed all of that in his life until he met you and experienced love for the first time.

M ⇴ Meeting his parents...

You were terrified to meet his parents, he’d told you several stories about the two of them, especially how they got together. Luckily for you, his parents were great, and pleased to see their little boy so happy. His mother loved embarrassing him with old photographs and stories to tell, knowing how much you’d tease him about it all when the two of you got home last night.

N ⇴ Never...

Never did he raise his voice, not just to you, but to anyone. He hated being loud, or being involved in conflict, sure, the two of you had the odd bicker here and there, what couple didn’t? He had his moments when he’d get annoyed, but he’d never shout, he didn’t want to, why would he shout at the person he loved? Quite simply, he never raised his voice, it wasn’t who he was.

O ⇴ Opens up to you the most when...

He’s usually most open when he’s feeling low, when he’s searching for something to pick him up, he’ll come to you. When he needs support, he’ll come to you because its one of the biggest reasons why he loves you. Sometimes you’ll sit and listen to him rant for hours, but it never mattered to you, just as long as he could let all his frustration out and you could cheer him right back up again.

P ⇴ Pranking you...

He tries hard to prank you with little things, which mainly involves jumping out on you. Again, he loves to film things so he’d always record your reactions so he could watch back over them and laugh. He can’t prank you with anything big though, mainly because he ends up laughing or smirking beforehand, giving himself away, you know the look now to know when something is going on.

Q ⇴ Quietly...

If it hadn’t already been mentioned, this boy loves his food. He tries his hardest to be quiet around your house when he’s sneaking around trying to find something to eat without disturbing you. It’s a challenge for him to see if he can grab a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps without you hearing him, only to find the evidence the following morning with all the wrappers in the bin.

R ⇴ Relaxes with you...

He relaxes doing absolutely nothing, when he can come home, change into his comfiest clothes, and stretch out on the sofa with you. The two of you could do nothing at all and he wouldn’t mind, life was so full on, he appreciated being able to stop and take a breath with the person that meant the most to him and at least try and forget about all the stresses of his day for a few moments.

S ⇴ Sex is usually...

With him it’s usually very passionate, he likes to be dominant and show off his strength, lifting you up and carrying you around the house, holding you closely. There was something so endearing to him about being so close to a person, there was a time when he’d never imagine being so intimate with someone, but then he met you and everything changed.

T ⇴Takes care of you when...

When you’ve had a bad day, he is always the first one to cheer you up, he’s on hand with his cheeky smile and sense of humour to try and make you smile. He hates seeing you feeling down and will not stop until he makes you smile. Half the time he doesn’t even realise what he’s doing, only when he spots the smile on your face, he knows that his job is done.

U ⇴ Understands you because...

Jungkook understands you because the two of you are so compatible, everyone always comments on how the two of you are a perfect match, you know what makes him happy, and when to wind him up, and he knows exactly the same with you. The two of you get along so well, you understand each other’s mood and feelings perfectly which makes things a lot nicer.

V ⇴Visits you...

He can’t often visit you, but he tries to come around most evenings after work just to see your face. Being so busy is hard on your relationship at times, so he likes to put as much effort in as he can to seeing you. If he’s incredibly tired, he’ll drive past yours on the way home and toot his horn, waving at you through the window before heading home, anything just to see you in the day.

W ⇴ Wakes up beside you...

It’s his favourite thing waking up beside you, he loves the company that love brings, and having someone beside him in the mornings is one of them. He’s not a morning person at all, but there is something about waking up with you by his side that makes it so much bearable. A kiss and a cuddle are all he needs most days to find the energy to get up and ready for the day.

X ⇴XO usually when...

He tends to kiss you in private, again he’s quite a private person, so often reserves kisses for spaces where there aren’t many people around. His kisses are to be savoured, at times he doesn’t give them all that often as you spend so much time around other people, so it always surprises you when you’re out of the house and he presses a kiss against you, giggling in embarrassment immediately.

Y ⇴ Yells because...

He yells when you wind him up by hiding the food stash, he’d kept for himself or when he can’t get his own way. It frustrates him greatly when you catch him out and play him at his own game. He likes to think he’s the one in charge, but then you go and do something extra to beat him, it winds him up a treat, but it’s definite to always put a smile onto your face.

Z ⇴ Zesty for life when...

He’s got a zest for life when the two of you are in a foreign place, he loves to explore and learn, and having you with him made the times so much better. When he could, he’d have you on the road with him so he had his companion to make memories with, and as expected he’d always have his camera out to make plenty of keepsakes of all the adventures the two of you went on.

---

Masterlists

[lesbian-percy-weasley]

How To Make Your Crush Fall In Love With You In Three Easy Steps by Gay-Natasha-Saves-The-World on Ao3 (aka if you haven’t figured out it’s me yet I don’t know what to tell you)

Chapter 1: Acquire A Target

Ship: Perciver (as always)

Content warning: mild swearing but that’s expected

Summary: Percy was a nerd who couldn’t hold a conversation to save his life and Oliver he had to somehow make him his

AN: This is the prequel to the Christmas tree au fic because I always write prequels for some reason

Percy was dreading the new semester. Not only did the school mess up his whole schedule, taking him out of AP literature and put him into the normal class, they also refused to fix it despite his pleas. He had been complaining about this to anyone who would listen to his rants.

“What useful discussions could I possibly have in this class? They barely even care about what they’re reading.” Percy complained to his friends before school started. “It’s only 4 months, Percy, plus it's an easy A.” Penny replied lightheartedly. “I don't take classes for an ‘easy A’. And we’ve already read all these books in the first semester. This is going to be my living nightmare.” He sighed as the bell for the first period rang. Penny gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder as he headed to junior English.

He entered Mr. Lupin’s classroom trying to hide the awkwardness he felt. Now, He had nothing against the teacher. He enjoyed his class last year, but AP literature was leagues ahead of the other classes so he would be doing a lot of reviewing and not a lot of learning. He found no point in it.

The whiteboard clearly stated they had to choose new seats for themselves. Since Percy was one of the first in the class, the coveted window seat was open. He put his coat on the back of the chair and sat down.

Clearly either everyone else had a friend in this class or Percy gave off bad energy because the other seat at his table was still unoccupied and almost everyone else was in class. He told himself he didn’t really care, after all, it would mean less chance of people annoying him, but if he was being honest it did hurt a little bit.

It was about 30 seconds after the bell rang when the door swung open. A clearly out of breath student walked in. He looked around and saw the only open seat was the one right next to Percy.

“Is this seat taken?” He asked Percy, who was already focused on his laptop. He gave a quick head shake in response and sat down next to him. And with that class started.

“Good morning, class. I hope you like your seat partners because, after last semester's fiasco, I’m only letting people change seats in certain situations.” Mr. Lupin explained as he walked away from his desk and towards the front of the room. Percy didn’t even want to know what happened before. In AP Literature they didn’t even have assigned seating. Strange.

Percy was kind of half-listening as he was too occupied with his own thoughts. He was listening enough to know the next book they were reading was Jekyll and Hyde. He had already read it last semester and wasn’t particularly fond of it. Good thing he saved his notes so he wouldn’t have to read them again.

“And so your first project with your new seat partner is to make a slideshow about the life of Robert Louis Stevenson. Don’t worry I won’t make you present if everyone takes this seriously.” Mr. Lupin finished, leaving the class to their own devices.

“Well, it looks like we’re partners. I’m Oliver by the way.” He turned towards Percy who was fishing his laptop out of his bag. “I guess we are. My name is Percy.” He said, extending his hand, which Oliver promptly shook.

“So, were you listening to the teacher?” Oliver asked. Percy chuckled. “Not really but I already read Jekyll and Hyde last semester so I didn’t really need to.” He opened slides on his laptop to at least start on the project.

“Oh,” Oliver responded. He didn’t remember seeing Percy last semester so the class he was in was probably ahead. “What did you think of it?” Might as well try to gauge the amount of pain he’d feel for the next few weeks. “I thought it was Frankenstein for people who hate women,” Percy said without much emotion.

“Well, I haven’t read either of them.” Oliver laughed. “Maybe you should then.” Percy shrugged. It was clear Oliver was trying to stall doing the project. Percy honestly didn’t mind doing the bulk of the project, he was expecting it, but it would be decent to let him focus so he could get it done.

Oliver noticed this and shut up. He tried to help when he could. Googling a few facts, formatting slides, but Percy did a lot of the work. Before either of them knew it, the slides were three-quarters of the way done and the class was over. Percy quickly put his stuff away and walked out before Oliver could even process the bell rang. If Percy was gonna be like this the whole semester, he wasn’t gonna enjoy it. He wondered if his table partner being a know-it-all, unfriendly prick would constitute ‘certain situations’ to Mr. Lupin. Probably not. At least he will get good grades on group projects.

The next few weeks went by without much incident. Percy had stopped complaining so much about the class to his friends' delight. And he had also warmed up to Oliver a bit more. He helped him with a lot of the work that came with Jekyll and Hyde. At least his grade was improving in one class so his parents don’t have that to use against him.

Percy was actually starting to enjoy the class because of Oliver. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought of their chats. They weren’t stimulating like the ones with his other friends but maybe it was a good thing. Oliver was someone he could just talk to.

But Percy knew they were different and that after the school year was over it was unlikely they would interact much. They led different lives that would’ve never crossed each other’s path if Percy’s schedule was messed up. It was unlikely they would have another class together next year so he was trying to make the most of this.

One day Oliver found himself in the library during lunch. It was extremely unlike him but he needed a book for history class so it was as good of a time as any. While he was looking through the section on the industrial revolution he noticed Percy sitting at a table with his friends.

“Cinema peaked with But I’m A Cheerleader and you cannot convince me otherwise.” The girl sitting next to Percy exclaimed. He thinks her name is Penny but he wouldn’t bet money on it. But that didn’t matter, he was more focused on Percy. The way he was trying to hold back his laughter. Oliver couldn’t describe it in any way other than enchanting.

He didn’t really understand this. Percy was his friend, of course, but over the past few days, his feelings started to change. He wanted to be the person to make Percy laugh like that. He wanted to make him happy. ‘Holy shit, I’m in love with Percy.’ A shocking realization.

He didn’t even realize he was staring at him until Percy waved at him. He waved back and quickly walked away. “That was fucking creepy.” He mumbled to himself. It was likely that Percy didn’t even like him in that way. He had to find a way to make him somewhat desirable. And he knew exactly where to start.

He walked towards the fiction section. It was organized by the author's last name. Fuck what was the author’s name. He brought out his phone and did a quick search. The S’s were on another shelf so he went by scanning them. Sa, Se, Sh, bingo. He picked up the last copy that was in the library and went to the front counter. If Percy wasn’t going to fall for him at least he would get smarter after this.

[kiarcheo]

     Obliviousness, thy name is Katherine   

Kat is oblivious and Anna is a good friend.

Once again inspired by an incorrect quote that snowballed into this...maybe I should start a series.

Also posted on Ao3

‘What’s taking them so long?’ Kat wonders aloud as she and Anna are waiting for Anne and Catherine to return with their drinks.

‘Take a guess.’ Kat just looks at Anna confused. ‘They are flirting.’ She explains, rolling her eyes.

‘What?’

‘Look at how Anne is hanging on her every word?’ Kat turns around and sees her cousin leaning against the counter, listening attentively to Catherine…Four drinks sitting in front of them unattended, waiting to be picked up. ‘I bet that Catherine is just telling her about her day because Anne asked about it.’

‘So what?’ Kat frowns slightly. ‘Cathy always asks me about my day.’

‘Yeah, and how often does she ask about ours?’

                                                             ----

Anna will admit that Cathy is not the suavest flirter. Modesty aside, that’s herself. Cathy does it more in a cute, sometimes fumbly, way. But the problem is not how she flirts. It’s that the recipient of her flirting is totally oblivious. Anna loves her best friend, but she is completely clueless. More than once she or Anne, and a couple of times even Catherine, had to step in because a guy had mistaken Kat’s friendly attitude with a positive reaction to his flirting. And she has lost count of the times she had seen Kat leaving guys and girls dumbfounded when their flirting would go over her head, she’d reply something nice and then just turn around and leave. The most recent one had been a guy offering to buy her a drink. Kat had politely told him that she already had one, raising the glass in her hand, thanked him and then turned to Anna, carrying on the conversation they were having while starting to move towards their table. When Anna, out of earshot, had inquired whether she had found him cute or not, Kat had looked at her in confusion. ‘Who?’

It's not that she is dumb, far from it, she just always assumes friendship rather than romantic intentions and often it’s quite endearing if not downright funny.

Like that time that Kat had all but collapsed next to Cathy, put her head on her shoulder and sighed, ‘Can someone take me out, please? I’ll pay them.’ Cathy had immediately replied, ‘I’ll gladly do it for free.’ Without even raising her head Kat had gone, ‘I don’t know if I should be happy that you’re such a good friend who wants to help me out,’ Anna had seen Cathy ready to say something before Kat had continued, ‘Or worried that you jumped at the chance to kill me?’ Anna remembers Cathy’s impression of a fish, opening and closing her mouth trying to find…any word, really. So yeah, it could be funny…although probably not for poor Cathy, so Anna decides that maybe it’s time she gives Cathy a hand and Kat a little push.

So next time they are out together she makes sure to complain again about Anne and Catherine. To be fair they are constantly bickering – which is their preferred way of flirting – so it’s easy to find an excuse. And then she proceeds to point out and list all the ‘coupley’ things they do.

‘I still don’t get it.’ Kat’s brows are furrowed. ‘Me and Cathy do things like that all the time.’

Anna merely gives her a long, level look.

                                                            ----

‘What?’ Cathy asks, looking fondly at Kat, who is giggling while looking at her phone.

‘Nothing, was doing this quiz Anne sent me,’ Kat turns her phone to show Cathy. ‘What vegetable are you?’

‘What did you get? A cutecumber?’

‘No, actually I got– wait, did you just flirt with me?’

‘Have been for the past year, but thanks for noticing.’ She smiles, no trace of bitterness in her voice, only affectionate teasing.

Kat plops down. Face in her hands she groans out, ‘So stupid’.

‘You’re not.’ Cathy swallows. ‘I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable.’

‘It’s not that.’ Kat shakes her head. ‘I just…didn’t know?’ she sounds unsure of herself. She falls silent and Cathy waits for her because she knows she is collecting her thoughts.

‘Every time we ate alone?’

Cathy nods and she knows from Kat’s intake of breath that she has seen it.

‘When you asked me for a walk at the park…or around the lake…all those time…?’

‘Uh uh,’ Cathy smiles remembering them. They had been nice even if she knew that Kat hadn’t realised she had been trying to test the waters and ask her out. They had talked, and laughed, and sometimes they had gotten snacks to eat while strolling around. She cherishes those memories.

‘I am so sorry. I never realised-’

‘Yeah, I noticed.’ She interrupts her with a soft laugh. The last thing she wants is for Kat to feel guilty or to think she is upset. ‘But you kept saying yes to my invites, so I figured out you didn’t mind hanging out with me too much anyway.’  

‘I love spending time with you!’

‘And I never got a talk from Anne or Anna…’ Not just to tell her to leave Kat alone because she was making her uncomfortable…Cathy would hope that with her being their friend too, she’d get the courtesy of being spared further embarrassment and being told if she had absolutely zero chances and Kat would never be interested (if she ever emerged from her obliviousness).

‘Anna.’ Kat looks like she has a sudden realisation. ‘You know, it’s not you. I just don’t realise these things. In general. The other day Anna was complaining about Catherine and Anne. And she pointed stuff out. Like them doing “couple things” and…’ She groans out a laugh at herself. ‘I told her that I still couldn’t see it.  Because we would do them too. We as me and you,’ she gestures to herself and Cathy. ‘She just gave me a look. That I now realise was saying “you absolutely dumbass” probably.’

‘I have seen people flirting with you,’ Too many times for her liking, she wishes she hadn’t. ‘And you completely missing it.’ This part she did not mind too much. ‘I don’t know why I thought that if I were the one flirting, it would be any different.’ Cathy admits. That was another reason why she would get disappointed (of course, she is only human) but never too upset. She knows Kat and she knows that she genuinely wasn’t getting it. Cathy never thought for a minute that Kat was ignoring it on purpose.

‘I just…always think…friendship, you know. Eating out? Going to the cinema? I do it all the time with Anna. Or Catherine. Or Jane. And they are my friends. Never gave it a second thought. So if someone else asks? Why should I think that they don’t want to be friends but something more? Why if someone is nice then they must want something more? Aren’t people nice to their friends?’

‘Hey, you’re right, it’s totally fine.’ Cathy covers her hand, but she keeps her touch light so that if Kat doesn’t appreciate the contact she can easily slip away. She starts again once she thinks Kat’s rant is over. ‘I love being your friend. Would I love to try and be something more? Sure. But if you don’t want anything more than friendship with me? I’ll count myself lucky and be the best friend that I can be for the rest of my life.’ She sends her a reassuring smile.

‘I just never thought about it.’

Her smile slips a bit, but Cathy nods. She meant her words. She might need some time to get over it, but it’s fine. She will be damned before she loses Kat’s friendship over this.

‘I mean, why would you even be interested in me?’ Kat continues, sounding genuinely puzzled.

‘Why wouldn't I???’

They look at each other.

‘So you actually want to go on a date with me?’ Kat asks for clarification, still sounding quite surprised.

‘One that you know it’s actually a date? Absolutely. If that’s something you’d also like?’ Cathy hesitates. ‘I don’t want you to feel like you have to say yes just because I told you I was flirting with you.’

‘You know that I had other people flirting with me, right?’ Kat pauses. ‘That sounded different in my head. I mean telling me.’

Cathy just looks at her, confusion clear on her face.

‘Like,’ Kat tries to explain. ‘Anna telling me that someone was hitting on me. Or people saying it to my face…that they were trying to flirt.’ Kat trails off, frowning slightly. She knows that she isn’t the quickest on the uptake, but is she really that bad as she just made it sound?

‘Yeah.’

Cathy’s deadpan, completely unenthusiastic, response brings her back to the point. ‘And how many times did I go on a date because they told me that they were flirting with me?’

‘None?’ As far as Cathy knows, at least.

‘Exactly. So do you know what this mean?’ Kat doesn’t wait for an answer. ‘That if I say yes to a date with you it’s because I actually want to.’

Kat has never seen Cathy beaming as brightly as she is. ‘I think I owe Anna several drinks.’ She says, barely containing a giggle.

Kat gives a little moan, suddenly realising something. ‘You know she is never going to let us live it down, right?’

[nachohypno]

Nate and Dave Ch. 7

Once again, we walked together through the forest. This scenery was really beautiful, and I wonder why I never came here before.

…Oh yeah, I knew Dave and his jock friends liked to hang out around here, doing whatever they want.

And yet, they were nowhere to be seen, because their leader hasn’t summoned them to hang out here today, I supposed.

Dave looked down at me with a cute grin. He cared for me, I could tell. And I sort of cared for him too, on my own nervous way.

“What’s on your mind, bro?” He asked, as he looked around, probably trying to identify where we were.

“N-Nothing, wondering where are we going this time” I lied. Last time, he took me to the pond. It was empty at this time of the year because of the weather, but we went anyway.

 Today, it’s way too cold to go for a swim. Dave would probably not care, because he’s warm at all times for some reason and I really liked that. I mean, it was nice for cuddling!

But me, I would freeze up pretty quickly. I’m not even a good swimmer, I just know the basic stuff like how to keep yourself floating, but I can’t go too deep where my feet barely reached the ground or I’ll drown.

“Another surprise, but not the lake. It’s probably freezing by now, and I don’t want you to catch a cold. It’s closer, too. Just a few minutes more and we’ll be there” He replied with a caring look in his eyes.

I wondered if the soulmate bond worked like a double edged sword. That, or I was actually falling for Dave. Sometimes I would find myself having… new thoughts, about being around him. Not sexual stuff, more like romantic stuff.

Dave wrapping his arms around me at the cinema, me leaning against his torso. Or walking at school, holding hands together… I don’t think they’re bad stuff, more like ideas for the future. It was pretty clear at this point that I’m falling for this beefcake werewolf.

And even right now, as me and the big jock walked together through the empty forest, with the silence only being broke by our footsteps on the fallen dry leaves and the occasional bird flying above, I felt a little warm feeling in my cheeks each time I looked up at Dave beside me.

I assumed it was just me blushing, as usual, so tried to not give it much thought and just kept walking, trying to keep up with my soulmate’s pace. It’s not like he’s going too fast, but he was still bigger than me, so I needed to speed up a bit to actually catch up with him.

Dave let go of my hand, walked a few steps ahead of me and turned around to face me. “Aaaaand here we are” He extended his arms, showing off the area around us.

A few fallen and old tree trunks on the floor, all perfectly around a neat circle of rocks, with what seemed like ashes and burnt things on the middle.

“Another one of your secret spots?” I asked him, looking around. “Incredibly clean…” I mumbled, as I noticed that the place was pretty clean, to my surprise. Except for the fallen leaves, but that’s not something you worry about in the middle of the forest, I was talking about the trash you would usually find at these kinds of places.

“Uh… yeah” Dave started, scratching the back of his head with a little smile. “Lee often gets angry and wouldn’t hook up with me if she sees me and my bros ‘damaging the forest’, so we pulled a bro move and cleaned up after we’re done. She can be a pain the ass…”

I looked at him, a bit surprised by his statement. I sometimes forget Dave is actually a jerk, but acts nice with me.

“I think it’s early to start a fire, but we can chill in the ground, if you want”

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you more about your… you know, the werewolf thing” There’s still so much I wanted to know. I still had to ask him about his whole power list, for example!

“Uh… sure? I thought you were comfortable with it, bruh. I may know a way to spice things up, though” He said, walking up to one of the tree trunks on the ground and sitting down. Dave patted a spot next to him, like telling me to sit down next to him. “Wanna play truth or dare?”

“What?” I honestly didn’t expect that.

I stood there, as Dave resumed his explanation. “I’ll tell you whatever you want, babe. But I’d like to know more about you, too. Soooo, why don’t we play a bit of truth or dare together? Just me and you!” He seemed so excited for this, and I didn’t want to turn him down now…

“Won’t I have an advantage since… you know; you have to do everything I say?” I mean, I won’t complain if I have the advantage. I already cheated while we played COD, so it wasn’t weird already if I cheated.

He just shrugged, like he didn’t really care. “I trust you, bro. It’ll be more fun if both of us are really into this, though. C’mon, truth or dare?”

I really didn’t want to do a dare. I saw a lot of movies where the dares are pretty gross stuff like ‘Kiss the dirty floor’ or someone spitting on the floor and being like ‘Now lick it’. I hoped Dave wouldn’t do stuff like that, but…

“Truth” I finally picked, walking up to the log next to him and sitting on it. I preferred being in front of him, face to face, rather than sitting next to each other for this game. It added a bit more of rivalry between us, or at least I felt like that.

He looked up at the sky, with a thinking face. After probably picking a question, Dave asked “Is it truth that you never kissed a guy before me? How did ya know you were gay then?”

Those are actually two questions, but alright. It means I can do the same later.

“I don’t know, it’s not like I woke up some morning and said ‘Oh, I’m gay now!’” I joked, but there wasn’t much to say on the matter. I kind of always knew I liked guys, and never really tried to hide it. My classmates knew it, so I was the local fag, but that never bothered me because I didn’t really care. “I mean… I guess I always knew it; So I’ve never kissed another guy but I knew I liked guys”

It wasn’t a harsh question as I expected, and Dave just nodded, like he understood what I meant. I mean, the guy did actually wake up a random morning and said “I guess I love Nate now!” and then we met.

“Huh, that’s cool, bro. I pick truth, by the way” He said, as I opened my mouth to ask ‘Truth or dare’. I tried to think of something cool, but my mind revolted around the werewolf questions I had before.

“How do you get turned into a werewolf?” I asked him.

Dave’s eyes opened up in surprise, before shaking his head and answering “Uh… If you mean me, then it was a genetic thing. Otherwise, you would have to be bitten by an alpha willing to turn you. Why do you ask, bro? You’re not thinking about… that, right?”

He seemed mildly worried, like he wasn’t expecting that exact question, and something more mundane like the things I’ve asked before.

I shook my head in denial. If I were honest, I did consider it a few times, but… my humanity seems good for now, and I wanted to stick to it. “Good,” He mumbled, relieved. “A-Anyway, truth or dare?”

“Truth” I wondered if he was going to be mad at me for always choosing Truth. That’s my usual strategy, never pick dare to remain safe.

Again, he looked away as he concentrated to pick a good question. “Is it true that you were afraid of me before? And what do you think about me now that you know me? Be honest, bro. I won’t get mad”

Huh, he was throwing the heavy questions today, apparently.

I tried to carefully pick my words, to avoid pissing him off. It wouldn’t be nice if I just said the first thing that came to mind, right? I could actually hurt him if that were the case, because the… ‘Old Dave’ wasn’t exactly a butterfly.

“Y-yeah, I was. You’ve never attacked me in a physical way, but I heard awful stuff at school that made me wary of you…” Dave looked down at the floor as I spoke, shame being noticeable on his expression. “But I actually enjoy spending time with you now, you turned out to be a nice friend and… it’s pretty nice having a good puppy boy around”

I’ve added that last part because I knew he would feel better after hearing it.

He mumbled something like “I’m a good puppy boy” before looking back at me. “Thanks bro, I appreciate your honesty” I wondered if he had a way to know if I lied or not.

I’ve seen in TV shows that werewolves can listen to a person’s heartbeat and notice if they’re lying because of that, but I wasn’t sure if Dave could do that.

I gave him a little smile as I said “Well, truth or dare?”

A cocky smirk crossed his face. “Let’s spice things up, bro. I pick dare” and I felt disappointed. I wanted to ask him about his powers now, and I don’t think that pulling the ‘I dare you to answer this’ will work.

A good dare… A good dare…

I looked around, trying to think something funny for him to do, but nothing seemed good enough. He’s an infatuated werewolf willing to do anything I say, so I guess anything it’s going to be good enough for him when I’m the one giving the orders.

All the trees seemed to be tall here, so maybe…

“I dare you to climb to the top of…” I pointed to the tree behind him, the one that seemed to be the tallest as far as I could see “that tree, as fast as you can”

“That’s it? I can do that with my eyes closed”

‘Well, excuse me. I thought you were a werewolf, not a weresquirrel’ I thought to myself as Dave got up and walked towards the tree. I picked this dare because I wanted to see his skills, and since I wasn’t able to ask him what they were right now, I could at least see if he can somehow climb a tree quickly.

Dave let out a little sigh, as he clenched his knees and got his hands on the tree.  A few seconds later, he disappeared from the ground and started climbing really fast. Looks like I wasn’t joking before, he could perfectly be a weresquirrel.

I got up and walked towards the tree too, looking up just to see the jock already at the top, sitting on a high branch.

“How’s the view up there?!” I yelled, wondering if he could hear me.

And he probably could, because he looked down at me and yelled back “It’s amazing, bro! Wanna come and see?”

My stomach turned upside down at the thought. I was terrified of heights, so I just shook my head and told him “No need, but you can come back down now!”

Dave nodded and jumped off the branch. I quickly moved away from the tree, as he landed doing a dab. Huh, he has style too, apparently.

“I wondered if the tree might have fruit to bring you, but apparently it just has this little shits that ain’t edible” He said, holding out a few yellow thingies that seemed as hard as a rock. It would probably hurt a normal person’s teeth if they tried to bite them. “Anyway, truth or dare, bro?”

I was stunned. The guy just climbed near the top of a really tall tree, waited there for a bit, then jumped down while posing after what would probably be a fall that could break my legs.

 I assume he has a bit more resistance to fall damage, which seemed hard to believe, actually. I have to stop trying to find an explanation for what clearly isn’t a normal thing.

As we walked back to our seats, I wondered if I should pick a dare. Dave was obviously not going to ask me to climb that tree, because I’m not as half as athletic as he is.

I tried to let go of my worries and just said “Dare”

Dave beamed up, probably because he was the one giving out the commands now. Not like I have to obey them, actually, but he seemed to be the dominant kind of guy when he wasn’t under my control.

“Roll on the ground like a dog” He said, after thinking for a few seconds. His cocky smirk back on his face, waiting for me to comply.

This… actually seemed way easier than what I had in mind, so I decided not to complain. I prefer getting my clothes dirty rather than doing something gross. I got up from my log and walked to a bit of an open space, to avoid hitting myself with a tree or one of the logs.

I laid down on the ground, slowly, and started rolling. Dave looked at me and started laughing, but I couldn’t see what was funny about this.

Jocks like to do weird stuff, I guess.

I stopped after a few seconds and got up, trying to tidy myself as much as possible. He never told me to roll for a specific amount of time, so it was even better. “…Oh god, thanks so much, bro” Dave said, wiping a tear of his face after he finished laughing.

“Yeah, yeah. My turn now, truth or dare?” I said, sitting back down on my log and looking at him. He looked like he was having a lot of fun, and I was glad about that. This Dave, the nicer Dave, was really amazing.

“Duh, bro. I pick dare, this game is awesome!” Huh, looks like I’ll have to pick truth if I want him to pick it again. Otherwise, we’ll be in a chain of dares against each other.

Alright… Something… Picking a dare was a pain in the ass, I’m not that imaginative.

“Uh… I dare you to… turn into a werewolf” Stupid me, I need to think better stuff to do with him.

“Are you sure that’s the dare, bro?” He asked, and since I couldn’t come up with anything better, I nodded. “A’ight, you’re the boss”

The big jock tapped his knees a few times, before getting up and taking a deep breath. After that, the transformation began. And it was as amazing as always.

The fur growing was always impressive to see, but I think the most notorious part was the snout growing on his head. Or the body growth, both that and the snout are the most notorious changes.

If I had to choose between his full wolf form or his werewolf form, I’d pick the werewolf form. He can do most of the stuff a human can do, including speaking, and looks like a human-sized German shepherd teddy bear.

The dark brown fur on the back fading into light brown/yellow-ish fur in the front was also a nice detail. It really suited him, and he looked way less scary when he snapped out of his… ‘trance’ as the transformation ends.

The tail behind him was also really cute, and I liked that he wiggled it (I wonder if voluntarily) each time he looked at me.

I kind of understood why he took off his clothing during the first time I saw his transformation.

The white shirt underneath his open varsity jacket seemed pretty fitted, showing off the werewolf jock’s big pecs and defined abs without any issue. And I was sure he could rip it off with one rough move, if he wanted.

“Now,” His voice sounded a bit deeper than usually. It was a bit hotter than his usual ‘bro!’ voice, too. “Truth or dare?” He said, slowly sitting down on the log. His mouth was curved into a little mischievous smile, like he couldn’t wait for me to decide.

“Dare” I said, after finally choosing. He was enjoying this, and I should think about the werewolf’s feelings too. If I just choose dare, he wouldn’t have any fun because I would ask about his powers.

“Kiss me” he said, a few seconds after I finished. Like he had it in mind already.

“Uh… Gonna turn into human first or…?” I asked, a bit confused. Because how can I kiss him if he has a wolf snout?

“Nope, kiss me in werewolf form. C’mon, I have good breath” He replied, getting up with his hands on his hips. He was totally enjoying this, while I was reluctant to kiss his wolf snout.

I mean, not because of the wolf breath, I assumed that part wasn’t much different since I kissed him yesterday right after he was a full wolf. But… kiss a snout is… how do you position yourself for that?!

‘A dare is a dare, I guess’ I thought to myself, getting up too and giving a little sigh.

I walked towards Dave, trying to gather the nerve to not mess up my first kiss with a werewolf… turned into werewolf form, I mean.

“Don’t worry, I gochu” He mumbled, placing his hand on the back of my head. But before I could react he got closer and-

He started licking my face.

He licked my face like a real dog, covering it with slobber. It was gross, but at the same time I couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

“Wai- Dave- Could yo-“ Every attempt of mine to speak was interrupted by the shower of “kisses” the werewolf was giving me. Dave only stopped once my whole face was covered by his slobber.

“Damn, that was a first good kiss, right?” Dave said, before checking out my face and exploding in laughter. I was a bit pissed, because I didn’t really expect a prank like this one.

I didn’t answer, and Dave tried to grab something from his bag on his back. “Here,” He said, showing me a paper napkin before starting to clean me up. “got you there, didn’t I?”

I remained silent, but in my head, I was making up the perfect ‘revenge’ for his prank. “Truth or dare” I asked, hoping that he would be nice enough to pick…

“Dare!” He didn’t waste a second, like I suspected. I smiled, innocently.

“I order you to crouch in front of me” I said. I put a bit of emphasis on the ‘order’ part, to make obvious that I wasn’t playing anymore and I was telling him to do something, and expecting him to do it.

The soulmate bond would do the work, as Dave’s eyes unfocused and he did as I ordered him.

As soon as he stopped in front of me and crouched, staring at me with glassy and unfocused eyes, before I walked around him and jumped on his back, holding tight to him. “Now, take me for a ride, alright?”

“...Yeeesss… bruh…” He seemed to have zoned out just like a few days ago in my house, when he gave me my first blowjob. I wondered if it had anything to do with how I ordered things to him, because I remember feeling very dominant back then.

The werewolf jock started jogging at a normal pace, as I held on to him tightly. The bag on his bad made it a bit uncomfortable, sure. But nothing I couldn’t handle.

We quickly abandoned the logs and the fire pit, as Dave kept jogging around in the forest. It was relaxing, honestly. And after a while, I noticed he remained in his zoned out state as he jogged, like he didn’t care about anything else but obeying me.

“Can I ask you something?” I said, trying to check if Dave could keep on a conversation in this weird state he was in.

“Anything… bruh…” He mumbled, in a monotone voice. Good, he could hear me.

I moved a bit as I held on to him, looking at his face like a little child being carried by an adult “Can you tell me what are your werewolf powers? I know you have the werewolf form you’re in now, you can also turn into a full wolf… But what exactly are your abilities?”

I waited for a bit, as he seemed to open his mouth to speak.

And then, he started to list them all with a goofy smile on his wolf face, and a robotic voice. “Great agility and reflexes…” That seemed obvious, since he just climbed a tall tree like it was nothing, and he knew how to jump off from it without injuring himself “Good smell, sight… and hearing… I’m really strong, too… And I can turn people… because I’m an alpha…”

I’ve wondered what was that of ‘being an alpha’ he always mentioned. I assumed it was something from his ego, because he always yells that he’s an alpha when he’s mad at school. But turns out it’s also part of his werewolf nature.

I got back in my place, with my legs kind of holding onto his waist and my arms around his neck, not too tight to avoid choking him. That was what I wanted to ask from the beginning, and yet, the answer left me with a sour taste in my mouth, like it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.

“Alright, you can stop here” I said, and Dave obeyed without a second thought. I jumped off and moved to face my big werewolf jock.

He followed me with his zoned out eyes and a goofy smile on his snout. He obviously loved being a good puppy boy for me. “How do you feel, Dave?” I said, placing my hand where his cheek should be, at the start of his snout. I did like him this way, he seemed way… calmer, than his usual energetic self.

“I feel great… I love being with you…” He whispered, and I could see a rather long shape being quite noticeable in his jeans.

‘Geez, I can tell that you feel great’ I thought.

 “I’ve been meaning to ask you something but never found the chance… Are you gay, or at least bi?” I’ve wondered that since he started saying a lot of ‘I love you’s to me, but it didn’t really add up. He did seem to be, but I wanted to confirm that-

“Nuhh… Ain’t gay, bruh…” Wait, what the heck?

“But, didn’t you say you loved me?” He nodded, as I’ve got even more confused. “And then…?”

“I do love you… more than anything… in the world…” Longer sentences seemed to cost more work, but he could still make them. “But that… that doesn’t make me gay… right…?” Dave showed a bit of confusion, and then worry on his face.

“Uh… sure, big guy?” I didn’t want to upset him, but I wondered if I could use the soulmate bond to change his mind about how…

No, that would be wrong. Totally wrong. I’m not going to force him to define his sexuality, I’m not an asshole.

I looked at him. His confusion disappeared as soon as I confirmed his theory, and went back to smiling like an idiot and looking over at me with glazed eyes. I took a few steps closer to him and placed my hand on his chest.

His now-bigger pecs were nice to touch. A new idea crossed my mind, before I started “Dave, take off your jacket and your tee” He did as I told as soon as I finished speaking. Huh, I could get used to this, but I’ll have to wake him up in a while.

The shirtless werewolf jock stood there, waiting for me to say something. But instead of ordering him around, I went closer and hugged him.

“Soft as a teddy bear” I mumbled to myself. His muscles felt so nice to touch, and his fur was as warm as it always was. I loved it.

I noticed his arms twitching a bit, like he was… holding himself back. “What’s up, puppy boy?” I asked, looking up at his face without breaking the hug.

“I-I’d like to… hug you too, bruh… But you didn’t… ordered me to do so…” He really seems to be the submissive type. He never needed permission before, but I assumed this zoned out state was the cause for that need.

It was weird, though. Like, his mind seems to know he wants to hug me, but his body is trying to keep itself in place while waiting for me to say something. “Let’s lie down on the grass, alright?” I told him, before breaking the hug for him to obey my suggestion.

After that, I laid down close to him, placing my head on his chest and hugging him again. “Now, you can hug me too”

Dave didn’t hesitate. He seemed to want this really much, but he was careful to keep me in a nice position.

A few seconds later, we were cuddling together on the ground. It wasn’t as comfortable as our beds, but it was still nice. His fur felt like a soft and warm pillow, to be honest.

“You can, uh, wake up or something?” I wasn’t sure what to say, but I was pretty much done playing with him, at least for now. I wanted him to enjoy this to the fullest, too.

Dave blinked a few times, as his face recovered emotion, and he looked over to me. “You’re the best, babe” He said with a relaxed smile, as he pulled me closer in our perfect hug.

Nice to see that it actually worked. Now we could stay here for a while, enjoying the calm forest together…

“Truth or dare?” Dave asked out of nowhere, breaking our silence. Huh, I assumed we were still playing, then.

“Really?” I said, and the big werewolf looked at me and nodded. I sighed and responded. “Truth” I didn’t want to get up, honestly, and I wanted to think that Dave didn’t want to get up either to do any dare.

He looked at the cloudy sky above us as he seemed to think of a good question to ask me “What do you plan about doing after you’re over with school?”

I… Okay, that one honestly took me off guard and I still didn’t know what to answer. I mean, it’s not like I’m not conscious about my future, but I had so many options in mind that I can’t just choose one.

An architect, for example. Or a Scientist! Biology professor also sounded good… Alright, see what I mean there?

I shrugged “I honestly don’t know. I have a few options but haven’t decided anything yet. So far, got my eyes on being an accountant” Dave just nodded at the little lie I made up to not seem like an indecisive brat, before I asked him “What about you? What would you like to do after you graduate?”

The big jock didn’t hesitate to answer “A professional player, duh! I love football, and my skills make it way easier, bro! Got a few recruiters behind my ass and I just gotta pick which college I’d… like…” He got silent, suddenly. I looked up at him and noticed he had worry in his eyes. “Will we have to go separate ways once we graduate, bro?”

Huh… I hadn’t thought about that in the slightest, honestly. I was too focused on just… adapting to having a werewolf soulmate that I stopped worrying about the future altogether. It’s not like I’m a pretty exigent person since I’m an average guy. I’m not wealthy, but my mom has been saving for my college education since I was born to ensure my education.

If I get into a regular college, I would be happy for myself, no matter the career I choose to study for.

He pulled me closer to him, as if he wanted us to have me as close as him as possible. “It’s okay bruh. Let’s… Let’s just try and enjoy every moment we have together, a’ight?” His voice sounded sad, but there was nothing I could do about it. I don’t know if I’ll be able to follow him to his college and neither did he know if he could follow me.

But I guess it’s better to just enjoy our time together, right?

We would figure out something, we are soulmates after all!

…I think I’m getting carried away. Or I’m just enjoying this as much as the puppy boy is.

----

Chapter 8 is already available in my Patreon!  And by pledging you also get access to other stories before they go public!

[padfootagain]

Watching Movies With Richard Would Include…

Okay, an anon asked for some cute HC for Richard being your boyfriend. And I'm sorry, anon, but that is the most unprecise ask you could have sent. And I can't write a headcanon that is so unclear. So I've decided to narrow it down to one subject: watching movies. I hope you like it anyway! Here we go…

Also, it's my first piece for Richard, so please, tell me what you think because I'm super nervous to start writing for him!!

WARNING: So much cuteness, my own heart is bursting!

If you ask for them, I will be happy to make more HC for him about other particular subjects, but I find it very hard to write for general HC so please, be more precise.

Gif not mine

Word Count: 2157

*At the cinema

 -Going out for a good movie is always a nice way to spend a lovely evening.

-He lets you choose the movie most of the time, except when one he really had been waiting for is coming out, then he will insist on seeing it and reach a level of excitement that would make a five-year-old proud.

"Okay, what time is it?" **growling** "Why does time pass so slowly all of a sudden?"

"Richard, you're being ridiculous."

"I've been waiting for this movie for FIVE months!"

"Just a few more minutes to wait, relax."

"I can't wait to see it…"

-He lets you choose the seats, he doesn't really mind if he's closer or farther away from the screen.

-Pop-corns or Maltesers. No other snacks allowed.

-The moment the lights are out, his fingers move closer to yours until he reaches your hand and he generally doesn't let go until the lights are burning again.

-You often end up resting your head on his shoulder, especially if the movie is romantic or sad. Intertwined fingers the whole time. Sometimes he rests his hand on your thigh instead. If he hears you crying too hard, he'll drop a soothing kiss in your hair and give your fingers a reassuring squeeze or soothingly stroke your thigh.

-Richard is actually so damn good at crying in silence, most of the time, you don't even notice that he's crying while you're struggling to sob in the quietest way possible. You'll only know he had been crying when the movie ends and he finally sniffs a little and dries his cheeks. When you look up at him, he's not hiding his reddened eyes and merely smiles at you.

-If you're watching a funny movie though, it takes all his strength to not be too loud. He generally ends up loosing it, bursting out laughing anyway so much that he's crying.

-Spooky movies have both of you jumping in your seats and him cursing under his breath every. Single. Time. He jumps, he curses. Soft, barely audible 'fucks' breathed out that, under other circumstances, could sound quite… in one word: hot.

You can also feel all the tension of the movie spread through his body as he tightens his hold on your hand.

-When there is a plot-twist, if you discreetly glance over him, you will find his mouth quite agape in shock while he slightly frowns or occasionally raises an eyebrow. And this is probably the cutest shocked expression you will ever see, so I would advise you to pay more attention next time you see a thriller together and to enjoy the view.

-At the end of the movie, he stretches before standing again. Every. Single. Time. He stretches, rolling his shoulders, stretching his legs and arms (not above his head, that wouldn't be very discreet, but on each side of his body or before him) and he generally moves his neck around a little too, while making the most adorable wince with one side of his mouth curved up and wrinkling his nose and frowning a little.

-Then he turns to you with a smile that silently asks 'Did you like it? Are you okay?'

-You walk out hand in hand, recalling the best or worst parts of the movie and laughing at each other. And in general, it's always a lovely time.

 *At home

 -Late night, you're both exhausted, whatever pops up on the screen will be watched until neither of you can keep their eyes open anymore. At least, it's the idea, but Richard generally spends some time exploring possibilities despite the fact that he knows he will probably fall asleep in the coming 30 minutes.

"This movie is terrible."

"Y/N, it doesn't matter, love. I just need to relax a little before going to sleep."

**ten minutes later, he changes the channel** "okay, this was really bad, let's find something else then."

-Everytime, you tell yourselves you should be going to bed. Everytime you end up sleeping on the sofa watching crappy TV.

"It's late, and we're both exhausted. We should go to sleep, Richard."

**Richard groaning from under you as you are both lying on the sofa and you are mostly lying upon him, his eyes closed already** "I'm listening to what's going on."

"Are you, really?"

"I am. The cop just asked where the gun came from. See? Besides, it's very comfortable here. Let's stay here a little longer."

-If you try to move out of his embrace, he will pull you back down, and you will never be free until he decides to release you. Not that you're complaining, though.

-You end up both sleeping on the sofa and waking up a few hours later with your entire bodies painful (especially for Richard as you've been sleeping upon him, the poor man).

**Letting out a low growl** "Next time, love, remind me to not let you convince me to stay on the sofa instead of going to bed."

"Are you kidding me? I told you to go to bed! You're the one who forced me to stay here with you?"

"Forced you?"

"Well, you're stronger than you look, I could hardly break free."

**chuckling, eyes swollen with sleep, tenderness oozing from every fibre of his being** "That is a very poor excuse, you know you could have freed yourself whenever you wanted. You just liked cuddling on the sofa with me, 's all."

-Also, I have to point out that tiredness has the same effect on his accent as alcohol, which results in him dropping all consonant sounds and basically mumbling vowels, and that is very hot and very adorable.

-Chilling together for the evening watching a good movie while drinking some comforting tea or a beer and cuddling on the sofa under a warm blanket. This is paradise.

-And this time, you don't have to be as discreet as you were in the cinema, so that comes with loud laughter from him, unashamedly full on bursting-out-cause-no-control-over-my-amusement laughter. And you love that sound so much, you would do anything to hear it.

-Scary movies mean the two of you clenching on each other at first, but the scarier it gets, the more he grows distant. He still holds your hand, but it's his coping mechanism to just sit very still, leaning forward a little, and watching in silence. Until it gets so scary that he passes on commentary mode, which is hilarious, although as you are just as terrified as he is, you don't fully enjoy it most of the time.

**In his adorably heavy Scottish accent** "Don't. Don't. Don't do that. Don't go down there. What the hell are you doing? You're in a haunted house, don't go in the fucking basement! Don't go in the basement. Oh, shit… Oh no, that's bad. Y/N, did you hear that? Oh, he's gonna get killed. It's coming. Why on Earth would you go down there anyway? Here it is…" **jumping as something scary bursts on screen** "Told ye not to do that! Yeah, he's dead…"

-Romantic movies means extra-cuddling and chocolate snacks. Always. More hand-touching as well, and playing with his fingers, and resting your head in the crook of his neck. Sometimes, he lies down on the sofa and rests his head on your lap and you spend most of the movie running your fingers though his hair, paying extra-attention to his grey strand, and you are absolutely not complaining about how your evening is going.

-Crying together, he's not hiding his tears, but he's still quiet. Meanwhile, you've reached ugly sobbing, but he just stays there, motionless, crying silent tears, and you are so impressed by this talent of him to not look and sound like a complete mess like you so often do. You will both need some extra-cuddling after a sad movie though.

-Thrillers are a constant conversation between the two of you as you try to make up the best scenarios to solve the mysteries, and sometimes, when the movie is not that good, it turns into a game of who will get the stupidest scenario imagineable.

"It's the mother."

"The mother can't be the killer, Richard. She's dead."

"First thing first: she could have hired someone to kill everyone including herself so she would not be suspected and be considered a victim. Second thing: zombies."

-Richard has one habit that is absolutely adorable: for his favourite movies, the ones he has watched over and over again, like Jurassic Park, for example, he knows all the lines. And sometimes, during his favourite scenes, he can't help but mouth, or sometimes even whisper, the lines. And that is so damn adorkable…

**Richard mouthing the lines with an excited little smile on his lips without making a sound but you discreetly watch him ** "God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs, God creates man, man destroys God, man creates dinosaurs. Dinosaurs eat man… woman inherits the Earth."

**stops as he notices you're staring at him** "What?"

"Nothing, you're cute, that's all."

**Rolling his eyes but he also blushes** "Shut up…"

 *Bonus : watching one of his movies/TV series

 -He's torn apart by the desire and excitement to show you his work and discover what you will think about it, and the fact that he's always quite embarrassed to see himself on screen.

-Sometimes you watch things without him, especially if at the time he's away working on a project. But you do try to watch his work with him.

-He's quite uncomfortable during all the naked and sex scenes, and you feel a little bit weird too cause… that character has your boyfriend's face, you know? But you generally turn it into teasing or half-joking-half-serious compliment, and that drives him crazy for different reasons.

"Ha, here it comes. The steamy scene. I was waiting for it. I knew you couldn't keep it in your pants, and you had to show these abs of yours, right?"

"Obviously, why would I go to the gym but to look good in these scenes."

"It was your idea to get these two together then, huh?"

**laughing** "obviously."

**after a short silent** "You are rather hot in this though. But then you're always gorgeous."

**Richard blushes hard** "Now, now… here we go with the flattery."

"You are gorgeous, Richard. You will have to accept it one day."

**in full cinnamon roll mode** "Well… thank you then, I guess…"

-He does take you to premieres whenever your schedules match, and he loves it when you can discover his projects when he sees the final product too, rather than rewatching it all with you later. You're nervous as you're not in your element, but he's careful with you, and thoughtful, and makes sure you're okay all along, no matter if it's during the press events at the beginning, or after you've watched the film. He stays with you all along, and wants you to enjoy yourself.

You always do feel quite nervous though, and try to not do anything clumsy or stupid, efforts that sometimes fail miserably but then Richard takes it all with a laugh and a reassuring word, and at the end of the day, all is fine. Also, you always look so beautiful during these events, and he makes sure that you know how gorgeous you are.

He's quite proud of every projects he works on, and you can read it in his eyes even more during the premieres, and if he sees that same glint of pride in your eyes at the idea that your man worked on creating this, then he doesn't care how well the movie makes out there. He's already convinced the only person who truly matters.

-Richard can be quite nervous about his performance, uncertain and he doubts his talent probably more than he should. Because if he always tries to do his best, he is also always looking for ways to improve, and the question of 'was doing my best enough' arises every time. So it's good to compliment him and make sure he feels supported and loved and understood in these moments.

It doesn't mean that you can't tease him about his roles though, on the contrary, he secretly loves it. So go ahead. Make sure to tease.

**Richard, in the kitchen, wearing an apron and relaxed clothes, cutting onions and clenching his jaw in an attempt to not cry, his jaw muscle trembling**

**You, sneaking next to him** "Please, Sergeant Budd, control your temper. Don't shoot the onion."

He just can't hold back his laughter.

[hes-writer]

One Of My Own (2)

 Summary: Harry falls out of love

Warnings: angst

Word Count: 4.5k

She brushed it off but thoughts and conclusions bounce through her head the entire dinner. She couldn’t help but compare herself to Daniela again like she did when she was younger. The make-up she’d applied felt heavier as she looked at Daniela’s natural looking face, emphasizing that she didn’t need to do much to look beautiful. She wore a pale blue dress as well, almost white with the lighting whereas Y/N decided to wear an eggplant colored dress that she now realizes doesn’t match Harry’s dress shirt combo.

It was an accidental coincidence, it’s not like they planned it, she thought.

“I don’t know it’s just odd,” Y/N stated to her friend, Lucy.

“What’s weird again?”

Harry and Daniela had been spending a ton of time together ever since she got back. At first, Y/N was glad that they found each other pleasant. Even though worries constantly filled her mind because of her sister’s actions, her trust in Harry couldn’t be swayed and she eventually overcame the insecurity that bubbled up inside her from the previous years.

“They’ve been spending a lot of time together,”

“Isn’t that good?” Lucy responded, raising an eyebrow at her.

It would’ve been good if they told her directly or a couple days before they actually hung out. Just this morning, she awoke to Harry fresh out of the shower with a towel wrapped lowly across his waist. His tan skin was drizzled with droplets of water and his hair was shaggy from the shampoo and conditioner. Her groggy voice projected as much as she could in the early hours of the morning to ask where he was headed off to. It was a Saturday and both of them happened to have a day off on that week. She planned to have a lazy day with him with their limbs entangled and a blanket draped over their bodies while they snuggled.

—

“Gonna go out with Dani to see this band at Chance,” He said as he opened the top drawer to pull out a pair of boxer briefs.

Y/N was instantly alarmed at the mention of her sister’s name. Chance was a café that Y/N found out about while scrolling through Instagram tags near her vicinity. It had a vintage vibe to it and played live music every day. The acts were switched and she had wanted to go ever since her discovery, but Harry’s schedule never matched up to hers.

“You’re going out with my sister?”

He paused, pulling a t-shirt over his head, “Yes. Is that a problem?”

She shook her head no, burrowing her face into the thick sheets of her duvet. The pillow beneath her felt like a brick and her head felt heavy.

--

“I guess. They don't invite me most of the time,”

“They don’t?”

“No, it’s like they’re the best of friends? I dunno, they even have their own little inside jokes,”

Lucy looked at her in alarm, “You don’t think he’s ..”

Y/N only bit her lip in remorse for thinking such vile things about Harry.

—-

Days passed and Harry had forgotten to pick Y/N up after her class again. It wasn’t a problem the first time it happened, but then it occurred again and it was currently the fifth time in eight days that Y/N was left leaning against the side of the building. It was raining mundanely, but it was enough to make someone sick if they stayed out long enough, and she was squishing herself as much as possible to fit under the small roof above her.

“Come on, H. Pick up,” Y/N lifted the phone to her ear, the weight of her tote bag dragging her forearm downwards but she persisted.

The line rings four times before the call ends and she was sent to voicemail. Y/N furrowed her eyebrows because she couldn’t believe that Harry had purposely rejected her call.

“What the heck?” she muttered.

The rain poured harder and she could see last of the people from her class getting picked up by their rides or boarding the public bus by the street corner. Y/N contemplated whether to run to catch up to the bus. From her peripherals, she sees Harry’s car speeding towards her.

It stopped right beside the sidewalk and Y/N speed-walked through the short distance between the roof and the car—refusing to get anymore wetter than she was. She grabbed the handle to the back seat so that she could drop off her bag before situating herself in the front with him. To her surprise she sees Daniela’s head of hair rested against the headrest. She climbed onto the back turning on the seat warmer first before strapping the safety belt across her body.

“Daniela?” She questioned.

“Hey Y/N, sorry we’re late,” Her sister apologized. “Harry here was just so clumsy that he—“

“Wha- Dani! You said you’d keep that between us,” Harry interrupted, arms lifting to lightly punch Daniela’s shoulder.

Y/N couldn’t help but let her eyes drift between the two of them.

——

It started off with the most minute things, everyday errands that Harry and Y/N used to do together like run to the grocery store to pick up eggs or a quick trip to the hardware because one of them were in need of batteries or a new set of light bulbs. These trips were their thing—it made them feel unique and separated from other people because it wasn’t usually what you would do with another person. But Harry and Y/N did them, it made the bond between them stronger to share something so domestic.

Until it wasn’t them anymore; it was Harry, Y/N, and Daniela because she needed milk one morning and he had invited her to come with them and somehow–it turned into a trio thing. When Y/N was scheduled for an early morning shift, she had to miss out on the grocery trip and she felt bad that she was missing out on it, especially since it was one of the bigger loads–as in, they needed to restock their pantry. But Harry barely batted an eyelash towards her, stating that Daniela could come and join him. Soon enough, those trips turned into Harry and Daniela hang out sessions because “Oh, Y/N. I don’t think you’ll want to come because she wants to go visit another store after” according to Harry.

It wouldn’t be a surprise either for Y/N to come home and find Daniela sitting at Y/N’s usual seat on the dinner table (beside Harry) while they chatted and ate their dinner. They didn’t even notice her presence for the first minute and a half because they were too busy laughing at yet another inside joke that stayed between their knowledge.

“Oh hi Y/N, there are some leftovers in the fridge for you,” Harry had greeted and continued in with the conversation. Her sister merely gave a wave before focusing her attention on Harry.

On other days, Y/N would come home to an empty apartment. The lights would be turned off and not a single sign prevailed that Harry had been around recently. There were no notes, no texts, no calls, and Y/N was actually getting worried about the lack of response. She stayed situated on the couch nibbling on her fingernails as a nervous habit while she sipped on chamomile tea in hopes to calm worries. When the doorknob jiggled, Y/N never ran as fast to the door as she did only to see Harry slap his palm on the door, pushing it widely as the hinges would and almost hits Y/N’s face. He stumbled over his own feet while his other arm was wrapped around Daniela who was equally as drunk. They both giggled at seemingly nothing but Y/N felt left out.

——

It was rare for Harry and Y/N to have time alone—like tonight— so she wanted to make the best out of it. She’d planned a whole evening of activities between them, some more enjoyable to Y/N than it was for him and vice versa. She felt that they’d lost effective communication to each other and she wanted to rekindle the spark that had extinguished.

The first one was to make dinner. It was a domestic activity that enabled them to see each other as a possible life-long partner and so far, Y/N was satisfied with this. The second was to eat it and speak about the events that have happened in recent weeks. Y/N was ashamed to say that she wasn’t as updated on Harry’s life as usual because she’d become a lot busier at work, especially at this time of the year. She wanted him to rant if needed to, complain if he felt like it, and share if he was comfortable enough to tell every little thing that he was feeling or had experienced prior because she’d missed his raspy voice lulling her ears. Y/N prided herself on being a great listener and Harry was someone who could talk for hours on end. It was a match.

Then, they’d move over to the couch where Harry would probably swift through the Netflix recommendations to find a new movie to watch, but they always knew that he couldn’t resist clicking back on his favorite movies. Y/N would cuddle into his chest, his knobby knees knocking against her own, while one of their arms would slowly become numb from being pressed against each other tightly. Both of them hated the pain and Harry had shyly admitted that she was—as cheesy as it sounds—’worth the pain’. When the days events catch up to their bodies, sometimes Y/N was the only one left to stare at the TV with tears in her eyes as the credits scroll upwards the screen while Harry leaned his head against his neck, resting at the back of the couch and his mouth wide open with a little drool dribbling down the corner of his mouth. He’d snore sometimes too.

Did it happen? No.

Why? As Harry had answered, “Sorry Y/N, I can’t come. Dani wanted to watch this new rom-com at the cinema tonight,”

And that was the moment she realized that her sister was doing it again. She was taking away what is rightfully Y/N’s and like every guy she’d ever been with, Harry was being persuaded by some sort of magic charm away from Y/N and towards he sister. It was funny how Daniela always succeeded and Y/N always let her. It’s not like she wanted to—if she had the guts, Y/N would totally scramble to grasp what she had. However, she was a strong believer in having only one chance. That chance proved whether it was worth it or not; if it meant something or it didn’t. She believed that once a person started drifting away from her, then it was either they would eventually disappear from her life, or they’d somehow realize what was happening and crawl their way back to her. So far, every experience Y/N had gone through always concluded with the person leaving her—maybe it was the same for Harry.

———

Y/N was too nice sometimes. Harry gave her an earful plentiful times when she became too generous and offered to take a shift for her friend who—as he declared— ‘doesn’t even like you’.

And this is an example of Y/N’s soft heart.

What if Daniela and Harry were the ones meant to be together and she was just the test to exemplify their true feelings? What if Harry and Daniela were meant to find each other through her? She had gone through the same thought process with Leo and the others, and now she was doing it with Harry. It was repetitive, of course. But what if this time was really it? Y/N couldn’t let her selfish needs get in the way of her sister's ticket to happiness. Sure, she’d probably be left broken and dusting but Y/N couldn’t stand seeing her brother, Carlos, weeping or Daniela sobbing over a lost love even if it was her lost love first.

That’s exactly what it was—a lost love. It wasn’t Y/N that felt her feelings deteriorating, no. The love she felt for Harry was stronger than before, sturdier than yesterday and she undoubtedly believed that he was the perfect one for her. Except, Y/N could also sense that Harry’s feelings for her were swirling down the drain and into an alternate dimension which meant that it was only growing for Daniela. It was for her sister.

Y/N had a hard time wrapping her head around it at first because that was just fucked up. What kind of boyfriend leaves their current girlfriend for their girlfriend's goddamn sister? It was humiliating and embarrassing since Y/N couldn’t imagine seeing a day without him—and she certainly wouldn’t have to envision it because she was sure that Harry would certainly come to their family dinners not as Y/N’s plus one, but her sisters’.

------

Harry had never met Y/N’s parents but he’s heard a plentiful amount about them. It was the same situation with Y/N’s parents, although, they had no idea that Y/N was dating somebody for good months now. It was a topic that just hadn’t come up in conversations, especially since the subject of relationships were a bit rough on the family, granted of the upcoming divorce that will ultimately split the household.

Harry and Y/N took a couple of days off from school and work to travel back to Y/N’s hometown to spend time with her family. Daniela had left the city a few days earlier because she had to speak to their parents to finalize their decision. Y/N was relieved at that news because it meant that Harry’s undivided attention would be focused solely on her during the ride back home. They hadn’t had a lot of time together recently and Y/N really didn’t want to blame anyone but she’s currently pointing her finger at her sister for charming her way into her boyfriend’s pretty head, and somehow relaying that his own girlfriend should become second priority.

However, all hopes of delving back to what they used to be were flushed down the drain. Y/N was a cuddler, Harry was too-- so it wasn’t a surprise when the two of them settled on their seats ready for the train ride to begin its journey, and for Y/N to lay her head on Harry’s shoulder or chest. What shocked her was that he didn’t return any of her actions, he had shifted uncomfortably on his behind and pretended to stretch his limbs as if he had been in the same position for a long while--- he just really didn’t want Y/N laying on him. She stared at him for a few seconds, brows furrowed and lips settled in a downwards curve.

The second move Y/N approached was more subtle. She fiddled with her own hands, eyeing Harry’s tattooed ones that rested softly on his jean-covered thigh. His lids were closed, eyelashes idly resting on his supple cheeks. His nose twitched ever so often like a bunny rabbit. Y/N feebly let her hand move to trace his, feeling the bones and muscles twitch underneath her touch. When she was sure that he was deeply asleep and wasn’t going to pull away, she turned his hand over so that his palm was against her own. She let a sigh softly escape her lips when her fingers tangled with his own, feeling a spark shoot through her body.

They must’ve stayed like that for at least forty-five minutes and she was awoken by an abrupt thump and suddenly, her hand was left isolated away from Harry. She forced her eyes to peel open to see what had just occurred and is met face to face with Harry’s which sported a disappointed mask.  She tilted her head to the side in confusion; what could he be possibly angry about? He shook his head at her like a parent scolding their child and feels inferior to him. Y/N tried to lay her head on the meat of his shoulder again; he tensed, muscles contracting and she swore he stopped breathing for a nanosecond. He relaxed, however, and it made Y/N exhale gently. He adjusted his arm so that she was resting on his chest, his arm wrapping around her body in a grip that even she could tell was hesitant and took some reckoning for him to decide if that was what he wanted to do.

As much as she wanted to and should be comfortable right now, her mind was buzzing with thoughts even though her body rested pliantly on Harry. She couldn’t help but feel pain in her head as if someone was jostling her brain back and forth to shake out all of the ideas that could possibly explain why he was acting so odd. Detached was probably the most accurate word she could muster up. He was there physically but it was as if every emotional attachment that used to tie him to her was cut off from the source. He was a man that acted on a schema, a man that moved based on how he thinks he should be acting, not because he cared for whatever it was--- but because he had to. He had to at least try that he was still somewhat interested in Y/N when in fact, his passion for her has whisked away in pieces, declining with time and he could definitely feel guilt have its way at him.

Y/N could sense the end coming even though her heels were digging in the ground to try to stop it as much as she could, or maybe slow the process down a bit because she wanted a bit more time with Harry. Just a little bit more of being loved, being wanted, and having someone to call her own. In the back of her mind, a whisper mocked her every day, warning that she should leave before he does because then at least she’ll have a bit of control of the situation. But her subconscious won’t let her-- she loves Harry too much to let him go on a whim, but apparently not enough to fight for him. If he truly did love her like he-so-graciously spoke, he should eventually find his way back to her. Right?

But Y/N was in a state of denial, wanting to prolong every kiss they shared, every embrace that lifted her heavy heart, every moment he spoke while he was still hers; she wanted it to stretch so thinly until it breaks because then she will know that it wasn’t meant to be. Their love was one-sided and she was the one that sailed it through the hard and good times. At least for now, she could pretend that he was only confused and befuddled with a choice that he had to make.

And it definitely took a toll on Y/N when she let a bit of truth nip at her being, that her sister was taking pieces of Harry away and he was willingly breaking off parts of him to give to her. Needless to say, she was disgusted with the thought and she almost regurgitated when it first slipped her mind. It was repulsive and so so embarrassing for her. Did they even think of her when they decided to sneak around? Probably not.

The love was fading fast on Harry’s side and although a sensible part of him relates to Y/N’s pain, he couldn’t coerce himself to be one with her fully-- as in yes, he feels bad but he couldn’t blame himself. Is it right for him to say it’s hers? Maybe she just couldn’t satisfy him emotionally, maybe Daniella’s advanced two years of experience was what Harry was searching for. Maybe the sisters’ were just so alike from each other that he mistook feelings for Y/N as infatuation for Daniela. Maybe he’d be satisfied with either one of them because of their similarity in personas but he decided to go with Daniela because she had that extra oomph that Y/N had been lacking all of her life. The potential loss of Harry and Y/N’s relationship definitely affected her more than him. He was aware of that and he knew that she had realized it earlier.

----

Right now, as the pair exit the train station and Harry’s arm shoots up to holler for a taxi cab, Y/N couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on every part of him as if it was the last time she’ll ever get the chance to do so. The moment they step foot into the house was a daunting thought that maybe that was the precise moment where she truly losses him as her own. The time he will walk into their family, not as Y/N’s but entering the life that he and Daniella will share while Y/N watched from the dining table.

And maybe Harry, too, could sense the fear radiating off of Y/N’s body. They always had some way of being connected and whenever she was cold, he would shiver too. The hairs on his neck stand at full attention at the realization and he also couldn’t help but stare at his past love while she glanced out the cab window emotionlessly.  Her face was reflected off the transparent glass of the window, the droplets of rain skidding down the surface but he could see a lone tear fall down the side of her cheek. Harry swallowed heavily, blinking a bit to clear his thoughts and takes her hands between his. The action surprised Y/N, he could tell by the way her left hand flattened her fingertips to her temples to swipe the tears away, a sniffle added into the mix before she turned to face him with her head down. He knew that it was an effort for him not to see her red-rimmed eyes. He could feel a twitch from her hand as if she wanted to pull away from the shock, but she stayed, unmoving.

His thumb rubbed circles on hers, a habit that she had introduced to him and something that he found so endearing that he eventually adopted the mannerism as his own. It was a calming gesture that she did to steady his heartbeat, and now he was using it against her to protect her from upcoming events that he himself is aware of.

---

The cab breaks to a halt and the moment they shared was over. Harry reached over to take his wallet out of his coat pocket and Y/N couldn’t help but grip it a little tighter. He faced her to be met with eyes pleading against his own as if to say ‘please, just a little longer’, but it was a request that he couldn’t fulfill. He pulled his hand back to his body, letting hers lay limply like she had been drained the life out of.

Their bags were held in their hands, standing at the little pathway to the front door. The cab’s engine volume decreased until it eventually couldn’t be heard by their ears. It was silent between them and who could forget the fact that it was pouring rain. Y/N couldn’t find it in herself to care if she caught a cold from the freezing water, watching Harry jog over to the porch to shield himself. All the while he thought that she was following his footsteps only to turn around and find Y/N walking slowly, dragging her feet, wanting to stretch the time they had alone until she was forced to give it up.

She reached him with a slouched body. Harry felt his heart cracking just a little bit at the sight. He couldn’t tell the difference between her tears and the rain but he knew that she was in pain. His hand grabbed her chin softly to tilt her eyes to meet his, lips drawing closer to each other to encapture it in a lasting kiss. His pillowy soft lips touch her own freezing ones and she could feel every emotion he felt pour into the single action. The regret, remorse, and empathy flowing from him to her body; he was sorry. He was sorry that it had to be this way, this was the end of them. It was ironic since he was meeting her parents for the first time, and usually, it would be to announce the beginning of their relationship, but Harry and Y/N always set themselves apart from the crowd.

Her frigid hands situate themselves just under his chin and he was jolted out of the kiss. Their eyes flutter open and Harry was searching her own for a sign of forgiveness but all he could see was a barren window that reflected his face back to him. The eyes truly were the windows to the soul because no matter how many times Harry blinked in hopes for Y/N’s eyes to change in emotion, it was always him that he saw. And maybe it was because Y/N thought of him as her soulmate; someone that would be with her till the end of time. To love, to hold, and to cherish.

Y/N thought that falling out of love was like losing a part of her that she knew so well. It was a piece of her that was once illuminated, a part of her that she identified with--Harry was the one that melded his own to hers and they were one. Love was valuable and lord knows what she went through to find one that she thought she could settle with.

His finger pressed the doorbell and not seconds later did the door open in welcome. Both of them shuffled inside, dripping from the rain. It was in slow motion. Her mother’s concern face embedding itself temporarily before she scurried upstairs to grab her a towel. Her father shaking Harry’s hand before brushing Y/N’s wet hair out of the way to ‘see the face that I missed so much’. He could see Carlos waving at her with a wide grin but it slowly faded once he saw that her sister wasn’t returning the action. And then, he could see Daniella enter the doorway with a wide smile and a twinkle in her eyes, barely paying attention to Y/N.

Her heart was aching and the knife studded on her chest twisted and turned while her stomach clenched in repulsion. It was obvious in the way they acted around each other as if they’ve been a couple in love; it was disheartening but at the same time, interesting. Y/N was left to long for him, hoping that someday he’ll return back to her. Hoping that he’ll beg on his knees with his hands clasped together as his voice pleads for her to please don’t give up on him because he loves her and he could physically feel his heart being ripped into shreds when she shakes her head. But right now, Y/N was the one low on the ground, crumbling from the pressure and pain being weighed on her. She was the one begging Harry to not leave her.

But maybe she said it too quietly--too helplessly-- because he couldn’t hear her and he continued walking away from his love to go to one of her own.

----

that’s wack

@ynm1505 @kissme-hs @agoddamnmango @littledreamybeth @kettxo @champagnehaarry @illumestyles @harryspirate @miscll-fangirl @toolazymyguy @fangirl-moment-x @ashkuuuu @urlindah @elizasjuice @styleswritin @meet-me-in-the-harry

[bluehhj]

listen to me — chapter 44

 LISTEN TO ME — 0044

listen to me masterlist;

WORDS: 2.3K

a/n: ok so i'll leave the notes here in the beginning so i can wish happy bday to the most beautiful and precious angel and sunshine of this world, kim seungmin! have an amazing bday bby, i wish u all the best! happy seungmin day!!

see u guys there in the end!!

Yeji uncapped a pen right after crossing her legs and resting a small notepad on her thigh. "Let's start at the beginning," she said, taking advantage of the silence and too much attention the group was paying to her investigation. "Han Jisung. Which of you had the most contact with him yesterday?"

"We talked in the morning and in the late afternoon," answered Hyoyeon. By this point, they were all gathered in an almost perfect circle. Perhaps the reception wasn't the best place to discuss, but, given the time and the fact that Yeji had a certain intimacy with most, though not in a positive way, allowed the exception. "It's hard to spend a lot of time with Jisung, he's always busy with college and work."

"Were there any mood swings both times you talked to him?"

"Well... He's naturally annoyed, but let's say at night he's more flexible than when he just woke up."

"Didn't the friends notice anything different?"

Hyunjin was the first to deny it. "He was normal."

"What about Jinah?" Yeji looked up after making a short note and examined the faces of each present. "Aren't her parents here?"

"They live in the countryside," Chan replied. He had been summoned back to the reception, which prevented him from continuing to observe Choi's surgery. If it was frustrating on the one hand, he could almost feel grateful on the other, since the feeling that he couldn't do anything behind a glass wall was a thousand times worse. "We'd rather call when dawn breaks so as not to scare them at this hour."

"How did Jinah behave during the day?"

Jade bit her bottom lip. "She looked apprehensive, but I think she was only nervous about the dinner."

"What dinner?"

"Last night's dinner where she would talk to Jisung's mom for the first time," the american explained. "She was nervous, afraid maybe Hyoyeon didn't like her."

"But how could I not like her?" muttered Hyoyeon. Although her concern was mostly Jisung, she was also worried about Jinah. "I hope she'll be all right soon, poor girl."

"I don't know if that's all..." said Changbin, hesitantly. Yeji raised an eyebrow in a silent request for him to continue. "Woojin, Yoorim and I were probably the last people she talked to before meeting Jisung, and I noticed that she seemed too tense to be scared, because she had seen Hyoyeon once and being so nervous around someone was never part of her way of acting."

"The first impression you two had of each other wasn't friendly?" Yeji asked Hyoyeon, who immediately denied it.

"I've seen her and liked her, and she also seemed to sympathize with me."

The policewoman paused. Her eyes searched again for silent information on everyone's features, and the way she lingered longer on Yoorim, as if controlling herself not to say anything, made Hyunjin straighten in his chair. Yeji always looked at his girlfriend like she wanted to strangle her, unfortunately that was common, but Hwang was especially annoyed this time.

"Did Jinah have enemies or anyone who could do any harm to the people around her?" she asked suddenly, staring at Heo for the next three seconds, until her long eyelashes flickered and Yeji took notes again.

Chan, Jade and Changbin exchanged a look. "A while ago, she was threatened by an ex-boyfriend" evidently more tense, as if only then had the hypothesis come into his mind and hit him hard, the medical student replied. "Jisung himself took her to the police station to make a complaint, then the guy was summoned, probably paid a fine and then disappeared."

"Wait" Hyoyeon narrowed her eyes and intercepted the policewoman's next question. "What does all this have to do with the accident?"

"It wasn't a simple accident," Yeji explained calmly. Half a dozen lips parted in surprise, but she ignored it. "The front of the car was wrecked after the crash, but, still, we managed to notice very significant details, such as lack of brake fluid, oil leakage from one of the power steering hoses and most surprising of all..." she smirked, as if she were about to strike a fatal blow, though she didn't show in who. "A small ring locking the serpentine chain which was getting tighter and tighter as the engine warmed up, so the car lost control. I must say that sabotage had everything to be perfect, were it not forgetting, or rather, stupidity, by its author who forgot to wipe the fingerprints off the ring. The results that point to the culprit will be shown today."

Everyone was too shocked to ask questions in the next few seconds. Believing in fatality was acceptable, car accidents happened everyday, but knowing that someone had premeditated it, out of sheer cowardice, was scary.

"B-but..." stammered Hyoyeon, almost shakily. "But that's impossible! Jisung put the car in the garage when he arrived at my sister's house and everything was normal. The only thing he complained about was the lack of signal on his phone and Jinah's."

"Did the car belong to Jisung?" at first, Yeji focused only on that detail. Hyoyeon nodded, confused. "And why was Jinah behind the wheel when it happened?"

"Jisung seemed to have drunk a little when we arrived for help," Chaerin said for the first time. Seungmin was sitting right next to her. "Maybe he had given up the wheel thinking about it."

"So, the target wasn't Jinah..." Yeji muttered to herself. Her mind was racing, almost as if she could hear the gears working fast. She looked at Yoorim once more, finding nothing she was looking for.

"What do you mean?" Hyunjin was already more than bothered by that.

"The driver's seat airbag didn't work, so, whoever did it, didn't realize Jinah would drive. If there's one certainty to all this, it's that the culprit wanted Jisung to suffer more."

"But it still doesn't make sense!" insisted Hyoyeon. "There's no way someone sabotaged this car without our noticing!"

"There's no security cameras in your house?" Yeji turned to Sooyoung, who watched everything without saying anything. The woman shook her head no.

"The place I live in is so quiet that I never worried about it, nor the neighbors, who are already all old gentlemen and ladies. My only alarm, by saying, are my dogs, but they weren't loose when we were having dinner."

"How not?" Hyoyeon turned to her.

"They just weren't." Sooyoung shrugged, as if it were an obvious answer, and it really was. The three furry puppies would never leave visitors alone if they weren't entertained with their toys in the back of the house. "I left them in the yard, otherwise they would be barking too much."

"Oh my God," whined Hyoyeon, covering her face with her hands. "I heard noises on the porch more than once, but I didn't pay attention because I thought it was your dogs! What an idiot, what an idiot!"

"There was no way you could know" Sooyoung tried to comfort her, although she was also distressed, and looked back at Yeji. "One side of my house has a wooden fence. It's too low, so I think if anyone tried to get in to the garage, it could only have been there. We didn't see anything because we were distracted in the dining room."

"With we were you included who?"

"Hyoyeon, Jisung, Jinah and me."

Yeji asked the next question non-stop writing on the yellowed sheet of notepad. "Where were the rest of you?"

"Chan, Jade, Hyunjin and I went to the cinema together," replied Felix. "We learned what happened only when we were back."

"Changbin and I stayed at Jinah's apartment for a while," added Woojin, trying to put aside the bitterness in his mouth for talking civilly with Yeji.

"And we were coming back from my mother's house," added Seungmin, referring to him and Chaerin.

The silence followed, being cut only by the noise of the cop's pen tip rubbing against the paper until she stopped her movements and brought her acid gaze to the last person left.

"And you, Yoorim?"

"I wasn't feeling well and I went home early," she answered right away, tasting Woojin's uncomfortable feeling, only exponentially stronger.

"At what time?"

"At eight thirty at night."

"Didn't Jinah leave home shortly before that?"

Yoorim pressed her nails against her closed palm and felt the sting of the scratches on her skin. She had been cornered by Yeji's smug glances from the moment she set her foot in the hospital and, judging by the dozen traumatic conversations they had at other times, Yoorim was fighting the urge to go far away from her, because no matter what she did, she knew that Yeji had the right weapons to always have her in her hands.

"I don't choose when I have a headache," Yoorim replied, roughly camouflaging her almost palpable distress.

"And you left..." Yeji paused her speech as her gaze became more pointed. Anyone could easily identify the aggressive touch of provocation in her voice. "Alone?"

Yoorim jumped to her feet and shouted: "What do you mean by that?!"

Her scream startled everyone, including Hyejoo, who was almost dozing on the counter. For the second time in the night, the nurse's heart almost jumped out. She assumed, then, that by the third time she would surely have a heart attack.

"Calm down, girl" Yeji was serene, but in her eyes there was a blaze of satisfaction for finally making Yoorim explode. "I just asked you something."

"You didn't ask, you judged me!" Yoorim retorted, not giving a damn about the scolding expression of the older nurses. The sign with the request for silence wasn't for nothing, but she didn't worry about it at that moment. "And that was very stupid of you! How do you think I would do something like this to my own friends?!"

"I said nothing," she defended herself, placing such confidence in the intonation that it seemed almost impossible not to believe the veracity of her sentences, but Yoorim could see beyond. "The only person who is condemning you here, is yourself. After all, if you have nothing to hide and keep your conscience clear, there is no reason to be so exalted." Yeji tipped the pen and closed her notes. "The living proofs of this are your friends. No one was affected when I asked questions, Yoorim. Just you."

Heo clenched her jaw. Yeji had given her the material and hoped that she would weave her own trap herself. "Fuck you," Yoorim growled through her teeth and backed away in quick, furious steps.

"Look, I can arrest you for contempt of authority, huh?" she shouted so that Yoorim could still hear, but received no response. "Stupid girl."

Hyunjin stared at Yeji with such anger that, if looks burned, she would surely be on fire, and got up to go after his girlfriend. He managed to reach her not far from here, for Yoorim, though angry, didn't want to leave the hospital until she had news.

"I love you, Hyunjin, but I hate your sister!" the girl said as soon as she had one of her arms grabbed by Hwang and was forced to turn to face him. Hyunjin wasn't there to ask her about her overreaction, nor to continue Yeji's small talk. It was explicit in his dark irises that all Hwang wanted was to support Yoorim, as he always did whenever her nerves were tested by the same person. "I hate her attitudes even more! If I could, I-..." she broke off, since, above all else, she was talking about her boyfriend's family. "Sorry."

Hyunjin hugged her. Yoorim buried her face against his chest and let out a painful breath. The caress Hyunjin had started on her back was reassuring, but she still felt as fragile as an eggshell.

"It's okay, my angel, I'd feel the same way too if I were in your shoes," Hyunjin said softly, sketching a calm he definitely didn't have a few minutes ago. "I'm the one who needs to apologize for often subjecting you to such situations."

"It's not your fault, love, I told you so." Yoorim looked up just enough to meet his eyes. "That's because she hates me too, you have nothing to do with it."

He was more than convinced when he put a hand on Yoorim's soft hair and made the girl hug him properly again. Yeji was complicated and made a point of turning all the endings into big headaches, and, on that troubled night, Hyunjin couldn't fit another fight with her, so he kissed Yoorim's forehead and decided to stay very close to her, which was immensely easier.

The hours kept ticking by, new people arrived at the hospital, Yeji left with the promise of returning in the afternoon and the weather got even heavier. Hyoyeon, despite having experienced so many things in her lawyer's career, wasn't content with the existence of such bad people as to plan the bad of others and endanger them so coldly. She felt physical pain at the thought that it might be her son fighting death in that operating room, but the fact that it wasn't him minimized almost nothing. Hyoyeon wondered how Jisung would suffer if something happened to Jinah, as did her parents and friends. It was then that she promised herself that she wouldn't rest until she could put the responsible in jail for as long as possible, since it seemed the height of the unjust to destroy so many joys and not suffer equally proportionate consequences.

When it was exactly four-twenty-three in the morning, controlled steps announced the arrival of someone else. Finally, the doctor in charge of Jinah entered the reception, prompting the group to get up quickly. The woman was young and didn't seem to have graduated long ago, but the seriousness of her apparently Japanese features denoted her responsibility. Her black hair in a ponytail was damp and there were still a few drops of sweat on her forehead. She hadn't even bothered to take off her surgeon's clothes before expelling a discouraged salute and finally announcing the result of her long, last hours of continuous effort.

And from so many things she had to say, the doctor immediately chose what everyone else feared to hear: "I'm sorry, but Jinah fell into a coma."

a/n: oh, i can't believe i was able to deliver this chapter to you guys on time, but i'm kind of pissed at myself because i wrote it as fast as possible. but i wanted to write soon so as not to leave anyone waiting, so sorry if this is not very good

and yes, i don't know if you guys assumed jinah's coma, but here we are. but know that all is not lost and as i said before there is still a long way to go

finally, forgive the possible errors. i'll be back asap <3

and again, HAPPY BDAY TO MY BABY SEUNGMIN!!!! <3

[nooneelsecomesclose17]

If you knew how lonely my life has been - part 7

This did not turn out how I expected and it’s very Seb heavy, but I promise Aaron and Robert talk in the next chapter (which hopefully (spoilers etc permitting) will be next weekend). Enjoy!

Seb runs off to the play area as soon as he’s finished eating. Robert still has a smile on his face from Seb handing him one of his nuggets to try, telling him he was only allowed a bite.

“He’s amazing.”

“He has his moments.” He checked his watch, they had plenty of time, there’d be no end of trailers to sit through anyway. “How did it go with Vic and Diane? Didn’t get to ask with him bending your ear non stop.”

He shrugged, staring out of the window. “Diane just got that look, you know the one. Vic shouted, a lot. Got a slap for my trouble. S’pose I should’ve expected that.”

“You can’t really blame them, it’s a hell of a shock. Did you tell them everything?” He shook his head. “Robert…”

“I will. By the time Vic had stopped shouting it was…I didn’t want to miss coming here with you…and Seb. I said I’d go for lunch tomorrow.” He looked over to the play area again. “Could I…would it be alright if I picked him up from school one afternoon? Tomorrow maybe?”

“Oh. Uh yeah I guess so.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He picks up his drink to save having to say anything else.

“Aaron, come on.”

“What are your plans? About Seb.”

“I don’t…I’ve not come back to take him off you Aaron. I wouldn’t. I want to get to know him, but he’s yours too. I’d never change that.”

“Ok.” It’s eased something in his chest but he’s cursing himself at the same time because he still has no idea what Robert wants from him. Does he want to try again, has there been someone else? Does he even want that. “We should get going. He takes ages to find the seat he wants.”

Robert catches his arm as he gets up to fetch Seb. “Thank you. You could’ve told me to get lost, and meant it. I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

“Yeah well, he’s happy, that’s the most important thing. Come on.”

*****

They have fun at the cinema, Seb in his element explaining every little detail to Robert in that sweet too loud whisper of his. Thankfully there weren’t many others in the room to complain. He’d spent most of the film watching the two of them, Robert with his head bent down to Seb so much he must have a crick in his neck.

He just wished he didn’t feel so confused. He loves Robert, he never stopped but he supposes that somewhere in the five years he’d started to put it all away, an attempt to move on as best he could. Now Robert was back everything was tumbling out of the box and he didn’t know what to do or how to feel. Five years was a long time, could they even get back to what they were even if they wanted to?

Seb insists on Robert coming in when they get home and the next thing Aaron knows the two of them are out in the back garden kicking a football about. He doesn’t join them, letting them have some time together but he watches from the window. It all feels so normal, like Robert had never been away.

Aaron was folding the washing, when Seb burst in the door a while later, face flushed with excitement as he stood right in front of him looking up, eyes wide. Aaron knew that look, he wanted something.

“Can Daddy Robert read my story tonight?”

“I expect so. Did you ask him?” He sets down the school sweater he’s holding.

“Yeah. He said I had to ask you. So can he?”

“If you get ready for bed now then yes. Where is he?”

“Outside.” Seb shrugged and made for the stairs. Aaron frowned, reminded him not to start running the bath before heading outside. Robert’s stood at the bottom of the steps staring up at the sky.

“I hear I’ve been replaced.” Robert swung round to look at him. “Seb.”

“I didn’t…that’s not what I…”

“It’s fine. I know how persuasive he is. Like someone else I know.” He walks down the rest of the steps. “Anything interesting up there?”

“You know people always say you don’t appreciate what you’ve got until it’s gone? I didn’t realise just how much I missed this place until I came back.” Aaron didn’t know what to say. He’d been concentrating so much on how he was feeling about him being back he’d not stopped to consider what it must’ve been like for Robert, cut off from everyone like that. “He’s upstairs?”

“Mmm, waiting for a bath and that. I can do it if you want a bit more time.”

“No, I’d like to. I’ve got so much time to make up.” He starts up the steps but stops. “You’ll tell me if I’m…if it’s too much, won’t you?”

“He’s your son Robert, I’m not going to stop you seeing him, unless he asks me to. Go on, or he’ll likely flood the bathroom again.”

“What?”

“Yeah. A few months back, in our…I mean my bathroom too. Sarah was babysitting and I came home to a right mess. He knows not to leave the taps running in the sink now.”

“I bet. You know, everything he’s been through, Rebecca, me…he’s just…he’s perfect Aaron, and that’s down to you.” He stares at him, until Aaron has to look away and then he’s gone.

*****

He doesn’t mean to listen, really he doesn’t. He’s taking his clothes up to put away and he hears Seb’s giggles from his bedroom. He can’t help but smile. When he comes back out it’s quiet and he stops, leaning against the wall.

“Where did you go? When you weren’t here?”

“A way away. In you hop then.”

“Did you go to Africa? Did you see the lions?” Aaron chuckles quietly. Before Seb’s obsession with robots it had been lions.

“The lions? No mate, I didn’t go that far. Are you comfy?” He risks peeking round the door, sees Robert tucking the covers round Seb even as the little boy is sitting back up in bed, clearly having thought of another question.

“Yeah. So, why didn’t you come see me?” Aaron realises he’s holding his breath, waiting for Robert to answer. “Because Daddy told me that you was dead like Mummy but you aren’t so why didn’t you come and see me?”

“I…I wanted to, I really did but I just couldn’t mate. I knew you were safe though, because you had Daddy to look after you.”

“Daddy’s great. He lets me stay up late sometimes, but I missed you. Look, I have your picture.” Aaron peeks again to see Seb hand Robert the frame from beside his bed. He can also see that Robert doesn’t know what to say so he pushes the door open.

“Right mister, bed time or I’m going to have your teacher after me if you can’t stay awake in lessons.” Robert gets up without saying a word moving out of his way as he kisses Seb goodnight. “Night night bug.”

“Night Daddy. G’night Daddy Robert.”

“Night mate.” He quickly presses a kiss to his forehead and then he’s gone before Aaron can stop him. He switches off the light before heading down the stairs, finding the front door open and Robert nowhere to be seen.

[romancandlemagazine]

An Interview with Peter Saville

Peter Saville doesn’t need much of an introduction. Not only was he the man responsible for what might be called the ‘visual language’ of Factory Records, designing record covers for the likes of Joy Division, New Order and A Certain Ratio, but he’s also produced powerful imagery for David Byrne, Suede, Pulp, George Michael and countless other icons of audio.

And, if all that wasn’t enough, he came up with that dynamic logo that’s on the side of those yellow trams that roll through Piccadilly Gardens every few minutes.

I called him up to talk about his work today, Manchester in the 70s and his idea of 'the interzone'.

Are you busy at the moment, have you got a lot on?

Yes, even when I think I’m not busy, things just seem to come up. As you get older you tend to think things will change, but actually, they don’t change at all. Anyway, it’s better to have something to do than nothing, so I’m not going to complain.

What have you been up to lately?

The highest profile project over the last 12 months has been Calvin Klein  — the redesign of the Calvin Klein identity for Raf Simons.

What does that involve then? What would you call that? Is it ‘branding’?

I try to avoid the term ‘branding’. It’s a useful word to understand the context of the work, but it’s not a process that I wish to perform. It’s a strange hybrid between design, advertising and PR. It’s almost entirely commercial, and therefore, it’s not something I want to be involved with.

So you’re not getting bogged down with the commercial stuff?

The capturing of markets and controlling of markets is not something that I wish to be associated with. My work, and any reputation I have, is based on giving something to people, not leading them to a market.

The Factory Records covers were not about making people buy the records. They didn’t even try to make people buy the record. They existed independently to the music, and therefore people’s relationships with them were quite different. The people who liked the covers or became interested in the covers saw them as possessions - they learnt through them, things they maybe didn’t know before.

Was that the intention of those covers? To show people the things you were into?

That was my intention. I was learning and so, I was sharing. The nature of Factory Records was that I had complete autonomy to do that. There was no marketing and no one was trying trying to sell records. Factory was a situation that allowed a group of individuals to do what they wanted to do. If other people liked it and supported it, then fine.

That was what Factory was about. And it was the same with The Haçienda. It wasn’t run as a business, trying to take money off the kids of Manchester, it was a gift to the kids of Manchester.

Something separate from money and business?

Yes,  you did it because you could. But you’ll know very well that in the contemporary market place, there are very few companies who are doing things just because they can. They do things to make money. That’s business.

For a period of time in my career, I needed to engage with business. I was not an up-and-coming young designer, nor was I a ‘statesman’ of popular culture — it was an in-between period - in the ‘90s I needed to have a relationship with business.

Everyone’s got to eat.

Yes exactly, you’ve got to make a living. I had this uneasy relationship with different sectors, but I didn’t find a comfort zone for myself.

So at the end of the 90s, I stopped looking. I did a retrospective book and a show, and I closed the studio. I didn’t want to go into fashion marketing or branding or retail. I didn’t really want to do that. So I just had to be on my own. Since the early 2000s, I’ve operated independently.

I suppose you’re maybe in a comfortable position where you can pick and choose a bit, thanks to all the things you’ve done in the past.

I’m fortunate that just enough people engage me with work and commissions that I can address on my terms.

When Raf Simons phoned and asked me to look at the issue of the Calvin Klein identity – I was able to identify with his position. He is not Calvin Klein — Calvin Klein is Calvin Klein, and Raf is someone else. So I had to say to myself, “If I was in Raf’s position, what would I do?” So I changed the original Calvin Klein lettering from upper and lower case to upper case – it became capitals. It’s evolved from the subjective to the objective, but it still looks like Calvin Klein.

When you’re asked to intervene in aspects of cultural history, it’s quite an honour. You feel a sense of responsibility in responding to the challenge.

To respect what’s gone before?

Exactly. So in certain situations, I’m really happy to do that. But when someone is approaching me with something that has absolutely no virtue other than profit, because I don’t have a company to carry, I don’t have to do it.

When I first started to learn about art and design history, I was frustrated. Going right back to the ‘70s in Manchester, I would sit in the library at what was then Manchester Polytechnic, looking at the history of art and design, and simultaneously looking out of the window at Oxford Road, and feeling an enormous disconnect, and a sense of frustration. I was angry.

Because you were so far away from the things you were reading about?

Yes, because the everyday world wasn’t the way it could be.

What was it like back then?

It was terrible. When I was 20, in 1975, buses, cinemas, bus stops, railway stations, department stores, taxis, packaging, signs, logos… they were appalling. There wasn’t any awareness of contemporary design — of how design led thinking could make things better. That frustrated and upset me. And I felt very strongly then, as I do know, that our everyday world can be better.

Now what ‘better’ is, is a kind of variable. We saw a lot of ‘design’ begin to get rolled out in the 80s and 90s, but then it got rolled out to the point of ad infinitum, and lost its significance.  

Things merely only looking good is not necessarily better, and an awful lot of art and design has been co-opted to camouflage the intent of things. And that’s not better. Using our cultural heritage, our civilisation, to sell mobile phone minutes or cheap holidays or gratuitous fashion — using it as merely packaging for the unnecessary — isn’t good.

And a lot of that started to happen. Business, as ever, takes a lead from the avant-garde, and begins to copy it, but without values.  I try to do things well, and to improve the look of things that have values. But if it’s something with no values, it’s kind of wrong to wrap it up as something important.

There’s a lot of that these days… a lot of things look pretty slick, but beyond the fancy shell, there’s not much to them.

The one thing that has upset me over the last 20 years is the way that the canon of culture has been used in ways that we no longer trust. 30 years ago if you did something better, it meant it was better… someone was trying to make a better pair of jeans or a better car. But now, it’s just a look.

I suppose it’s hard to put effort and thought into something you’ve got no belief in.

Exactly. As you grow up and get to understand the world better, you question things. Some of the things I used to take for granted when I was 25 or 30 — I now look at in a completely different way. Once upon a time I might have thought it was nice to do the identity for something like a bank. But who wants to work for a bank now? They’ve shown themselves to be utterly disreputable.

So the understanding of the work and the world and the people who approach is constantly changing. You have to try to hold on to your own values. My reputation, the fact that some people have some admiration for me, is because my work meant something to them.

But if you suddenly starting doing some naff work for a bank, it’d discount all that.

Exactly. I became more concerned with my own identity than in just being prepared to work for people who’d pay me money. And I’m quite happy being me, trying as much as I can to be genuine about the things I do. It’s not easy. We have to earn a living, so it’s not all spiritual… we have to engage with reality.

Going back to what you were saying about looking after Oxford Road and feeling distanced and frustrated. Was that what spurred you on to do those first designs for Factory?

In 1978, the year I graduated from college, I wasn’t being asked to do anything for the infrastructure of the country. But someone did ask me to do a poster. There were things happening – the whole post-punk scene and the notion of independence in music. All of the venues that Manchester had for punk and new wave bands were being closed for one reason or another, and on behalf of the youth culture of the city, Tony Wilson took it upon himself to organise a venue.

Factory was nothing more than what is referred to these days as ‘a night’. It was Friday night every two weeks for two months, and that was it. I knew he was doing this, so I went to see him and said, “Can I do something.” And he said, “Do a poster.”

In doing that poster, I tried to put a better poster, a more intelligent and more beautiful poster, on the walls of Manchester than the ones that were already there. And that led to Factory records where I was given the freedom to express my will and my wish for how things should be,

It was an autonomous situation; it was not a proper company and everybody what they did in the way they wanted to do it. Nobody had any former experience, no one told anyone else how they should do what they were doing, we all performed autonomously. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did.

Were you ever questioned or disputed at all?

Not really no. Famously, ‘Blue Monday’ went straight from me to the printers. No one saw it.

Did you listen to the music when you were designing the covers?

If I could, but very often that wasn’t possible. But the covers weren’t about the music, they were about the moment. But then the bands were making music about the moment too.

There was always accidental parallels. I was into the aesthetics of computer systems that people were talking about a lot in the 70s and 80s. I didn’t have a computer – it wasn’t a part of everyday life, but people talked about them in the way that people talk about artificial intelligence now. You haven’t met a robot, but you know they’re coming.

So in the late 70s and 80s, computers were on my mind, and I was thinking about the visual side of it. And at the same time, New Order were looking at the significance of computers in making music. So what I did on the cover of Blue Monday had a parallel to what they did. In fact, the floppy disk was the common factor between the two. The first time I saw a floppy disk was the day Stephen Morris gave me one, and that became the basis for the cover.

It wasn’t about the music; it was about music as part of our culture. We were interested in the now. They expressed it musically, I expressed it visually.

The significant word to mention in any kind of understanding of me is the word ‘interzone’.

What do you mean by that? What is the ‘interzone’?

The interzone is the space between design, art, fashion, music, movies, photography, architecture, interior… it’s what people talk about now as convergence. And that was what interested me, even as a teenager. I was interested in the leading edge of mass culture, and how the new ideas would define themselves in different ways.

The feeling of the now is the feeling of the now. Musicians express it one way, film-makers express it another way and photographers express it in yet another way – but it’s all the same spirit. We know that now.

It’s all the same thing.

It’s all the same thing. That was my view 40 years ago in college, it’s just that I happened to want make art, which I saw as record covers, so I went to study graphic design. But what I found there was a closed mind-set — graphic people were into graphics, and weren’t very aware of what fashion or music was doing. This notion of the interzone wasn’t really appreciated.

I was never particularly interested in graphics or typography, I was interested in how two dimensional culture could capture the mood of the moment — the feeling of the now. So I studied graphics, but I spent more time in the fashion department than the graphics department.

If you just started pasting posters up yourself, but they weren’t linked with music or an event, they would just be a bit of paper on a wall. They might be interesting, but they wouldn’t be tied in with anything.

If you just make work that is not applied to any situation, then it’s art. These days art is quite a credible thing to do, but in the mid-70s in the North of England, you were more likely to  become an astronaut then be an artist.

The only art that I saw was on record covers, so I wanted to do record covers. The record cover was the only place where you could see freeform visual thinking.

So Malcolm Garrett and I both wanted to do that. In a way we both wanted to be artists, but we didn’t know anything about art. So what was important to me was this broader feeling of the now.

As someone who is so into ‘the now’, what are your thoughts on the nostalgia that surrounds Factory? Why do you think people look back at that stuff so fondly?

I think there’s nostalgia about things that seem to have values. People are seeking authenticity and meaning. So things that have authenticity and meaning never die, because they’re more than just surface.

People still talk about Coco Chanel because she changed the way women could be in the world. She didn’t found Chanel to make money, she found Chanel to express herself and what she cared about.

Companies exploit these values — they continuously harvest them like GM crops, to the point that the market and the audience become tired of it. But they’ll carry on wringing it out until there’s nothing left. It’s desperate and it’s tedious to see the way the world operates.

In regards to the nostalgia thing, do you think people often take the wrong things from history? Instead of being inspired by the free way you lot worked at Factory, people just rip off your graphics.

Yes, unfortunately the mass market can be rather superficial. They get the look more than the attitude. But it’s a long process of familiarisation. We are living in an era of the dissemination of privilege, it is really only in the last 50 to 100 years that ordinary people have actually been allowed to share in privilege.

Do you think the internet has had an effect on that?

It’s one step forward, one step back. The internet allows for the unfettered distribution of a message, and at the same time it allows for confusion and fake news. The problem with the internet is trying to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

Almost everything that we invent which is a benefit to society just becomes a problem sooner or later. The motorcar was brilliant – now it’s a problem. That’s just life.

Where do you see things going?

I don’t know. I don’t care anymore. Next month I’m 62. It is other people’s responsibility now. I don’t have any children, but if I did, I would be very concerned. I’m passing the baton of the ones coming up.

What would you say to them as you pass the proverbial baton?

Do things you believe in. There’s a constant battle between good and bad, but as least if you do things you believe in, you’re trying to keep it on the right side of good.

It’s very difficult for every new generation, as they face a new set of challenges that the generation before didn’t even dream of. I thought I had a lot of people to compete with in the 80s, but now there is a 1000 times more. It’s really difficult.

It’s not even easy to find somewhere to live, or to find a job of any kind. The safety net that I sensed as a young person in the UK in the 70s – how the state would stop you from falling – is not there anymore. I think it’s increasingly difficult for every next generation.

As far as you can, try to do what you believe in, because then you hold on to yourself. I don’t really have much money – I don’t own my home, but I’m happy with what I’ve done. I might regret some mistakes I made, but I don’t regret the work I made.  

Interview originally published in 2018. 

[lonelypond]

Can’t Get Started

Love Live, NicoMaki, 3.5K, 1/2

Nishikino Maki is trying to make in the piranha fishbowl of movies, music, and Hollywood. Yazawa Nico already has. And they keep crashing into each other.

Can’t Get Started

No matter how many luxury, fancy, five star, $$$$$ hotels Nishikino Maki would spend time in, she would never get used to the powder room lounges, with interior design as fancy and challenging as the living areas of the ‘finest’ homes. This one had a wood and platinum motif, with large low sofas scattered over a space the size of her moderately luxurious apartment. There were pitchers with cucumber water and a thick book full of very unclothed photography, which actually interested Maki, as a photographer herself, but here, where women came in and out every few minutes, she felt too exposed to pick it up, have a look, and see who had made that particular editor’s cut. So no lingering after the deed is done. In a room seemingly designed for lingering. And one fidgety blur of movement in a corner Maki made certain to only catch out of the corner of her eye. No staring. Time to move on, no matter how tempting the couches seemed compared to the roomful of noisy chatter and chummy elbows.

Maki was back to continue her decor appreciation jam session after only ten minutes because of a small accident with the soup. Award shows should be like the Oscars, someone else in your seat when you needed air, not occasions where you not only had to juggle nerves but also food. Maki shook her head at herself, looked at the curry down the front of her dress and wondered if water would make it better or worse.

She stopped. There was the blur, now in the center of the ‘lounge,’ a tiny dark haired woman, pacing and muttering, hands flying back and forth, making shapes in the air, leaning into a couch, patting an imaginary cheek, turning to one side, smiling and waving, unusually...red eyes wide and friendly. And then they spotted Maki, and narrowed.

“Sorry…” Maki coughed and ducked her head, pointing to her dress, “spilled soup. Just…” Maki smiled shyly, “thought I saw you in here ten minutes ago. Are you okay? I get nervous too.” A flip of her finger across the still damp soup stain to demonstrate empathy.

Now there was staring. The eyes were red, almost rubies, with that same illusion of faceted depth that the best jewelers carve into their efforts, bringing out magical warmth from mineral cold. Then an incandescent smile happened that knocked Maki back, “Nico is fine. Nico is just rehearsing her acceptance speech so fans like you,” a broad, broad wink, “aren’t disappointed.”

Nico. Yazawa Nico. Maki took a better look, this woman was so tiny, but yes, the eyes should have been a giveaway, set deep over a nose that was much sharper than Maki had even seen in any of the movies where Yazawa had bled out all of her emotions for an audience eager for stories of romance, tragedy, and triumph with an actress unafraid to be as unapologetically gay on screen as off. From superhero to Empress, Nico had swept the international cinema scene, scoring box office hits in both small indie films and action blockbusters. Maki had been impressed by the actress’s range, cried and laughed over her performances, and maybe had a slightly illicit dream or two. Like every other gay and bi woman on the planet.

“Hello?” Yazawa’s hand was waving in front of Maki’s nose, “Nico can help you with the spill. I have a stain stick in my purse, It’ll keep it from setting.”

Maki nodded. That sounded sensible. Like a plan. And Nico’s dress was silver slashed with black fringe, that went with the silver slashes across sharp cheekbones above lips that could really only be described as a sensuous dark plum.

The actress was waiting for some kind of verbal reply, but Maki had half turned and was just staring at a pattern on the couch and running a hand through her hair, as adjectives and screenshots kept flashing on her internal movie screen. Then Yazawa’s hands were on her shoulders and she was being shoved into a chair, “But first you listen to Nico’s speech…” Yazawa paused.

“Um…” Maki realized her elevation had changed and she glanced up, Nico watching her critically.

“Name?” Nico urged.

“Maki.” Easy question.

Nico nodded and the tension eased. “Okay, Maki, hi I’m Nico, I have a big presentation in…” Yazawa glanced at a delicate twist of a silver watch, “20 minutes, so it’s kinda urgent, can I run something by you? So I don’t sound like an idiot.”

“Yeah, I always sound like an idiot too.” Maki blurted.

“Well,” Nico stepped back, “thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Sorry, Ms. Yazawa...” Maki bit her lip, “you’re always so polished on screen….”

“It’s Nico. And I never write my own dialogue. On set improv is lame.” Nico stepped back, her eyes focusing somewhere else, hands seeming to measure out where the stage and microphone were, “Writers work as hard as Nico does so they deserve respect.”

Maki thought Umi would be pleased and surprised to hear that from a celebrity she had occasionally doubted the work ethic of. Maki, as a composer, was usually immune from actors altering her artistic choices but it was a near daily struggle for Umi. Maki wondered if Nico would be interested in reading their latest, an intimate musical…

Nico’s hand again, fingers snapping this time under Maki’s nose this time. She jumped as Nico began to sound testy again, “If Nico can keep your interest, she can keep anyone’s…”

“Not, that’s not...I just...my friend Umi is a writer and always complains about actors who want to improv.”

“Posers.”

Maki grinned, “Exactly what she says.”

Nico patted Maki encouragingly on the shoulder, amused, “Introduce Nico later. Now you listen. We only have 15 minutes before...” Nico flung her arms wide, nodding to each side, gathering in imaginary shouts and whistles.

“Okay.” Maki stood, stretched her arms out in front of her, sat, leaned forward, slammed her hands into her knees, the picture of alert attention, and winked at Nico, “Go.”

Nico laughed, stepped behind her imaginary podium, whispered, “clap” so Maki did while Nico’s hand gestures called for more. Then the flip of the hand for quiet.

“Thank you. Tonight is very important to Nico…”

###

Sundance...party...one pissed off caterer...Maki had no idea what she did to annoy the woman...oh wait, yeah that...but Umi was going to be SEVERELY disappointed when their party, intended to impress award winning designer Minami Kotori turned out to be Maki smiling awkwardly and handing around a bag of stale chips and a growler. It was a weeknight, the Thursday before the second weekend, and Maki had had hopes of catching the ska documentary she’d connected a musician friend with. But no, here she was frantically searching for...a pizza place, maybe? Fewer crowds than last year, when they’d come the first weekend, but still enough people bustling that Maki felt like she was elbowing people awkwardly in the halls of high school again. And then her heel hit a patch of black ice and she sssssssslllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiid down the sidewalk until some obstacle forced her back on her butt. That was going to be sore, Maki thought as she reached a hand behind her, levering herself up was going to be at least a three limb job, both legs and one arm.

“Here let me help you. Are you okay?”

Maki recognized the voice and winced. Yazawa Nico once again catching her in an imperfect moment. “Hi. No, I’m fine.”

Nico snorted. She was in a black snowsuit with cute pink flair, fake fur, and patches scattered all over her arms and legs. She took Maki’s hand and when the redhead nodded, pulled. Maki rose and stumbled forward, suddenly finding herself with A list celebrity arms supporting most of her weight while dreamably delicious, not even mildly chapped lips pinched back what was probably a belly roar of laughter.

“Sorry.” Maki stepped back, hands brushing the snow off her leggings. Why hadn’t she dressed for the weather? Leggings based on samurai armor, an oversized Northwestern hoodie and a Reign ballcap would not have been any stylist’s choice.

“No soup stains?” Nico teased, clapping together pink mittens that looked like Muppet fur. Maki thought there might be eyes on the palms. She wasn’t sure if that was cute or creepy.

“No food at all.” Maki sniffled, feeling the cold soak into what was going to be a sitting bruise, and having no real options as her mind raced through possibilities. Umi and Kotori would be headed back with a small crowd after the premiere of Umi’s latest film and Maki had nothing, “I have to go. Nico to see...I mean nice to see you, Nico.” Maki tried to smile but she knew her face was giving away how many non options she was discarding per second.

“What’s the matter?” Nico asked so casually, so quickly, Maki almost forgot where she was.

“I pissed off the caterer. And Umi…”

“Your writing friend….”

“You remembered…”

Nico tapped her temple, “Nico keeps future industry connections who know cute redheads in the most secure part of her memory.” Nico frowned, “Sorry, Nico meant intelligent and attentive test audiences. Nico’s not a creep.”

“Then why are there eyes on your mittens?” Maki couldn’t help asking.

“Huh...” Nico laughed, raising one of her hands, turning her mitten into a sock puppet, the pitch of her voice dropping, “Hey, friend, let’s make a snowman…”

Maki glanced around, a little frantic, not sure how to react, especially as this new conversation track was her stumble entirely, “Sorry no...there’s not really anywhere...I really...Umi’s going to be so upset…”

“They make my little brother laugh. He’s 13 and I’m trying to keep him silly.” Nico rolled her eyes, “They grow up too fast.”

“Oh.” Maki hated being this confused. And feeling this incapable. But Nico was grinning at her and cute and surely Umi and Honoka could charm Kotori without catering. There was ice cream in the freezer. Probably.

“So what did you do to the caterer…?”

Maki shoved her hands in her kangaroo pocket so she wouldn’t just throw her hat somewhere as she remembered the scene. “Ummmm...ran over the main dish because I was running late and backing out of the condo driveway when they were unloading…”

“Sounds like a movie meet cute.” Nico’s eyes were twinkling while Maki was getting shorter and probably tilting toward the left as her hip contracted from pain and cold. “So is it a private party...why did Nico miss getting her invite?”

“Oh, it’s for anyone who goes to Umi’s premiere.” Maki glanced at her watch. “Which is going to be over soon.”

Nico pulled out her phone. “What’s your address?”

“Why?” There wouldn’t be much of a party, and Honoka would surely just hit Nico with every project her clients might need an actress for.

“Nico knows someone. Is this Umi or who she’s trying to impress allergic to anything?”

“Minami? I’m not sure.”

Nico whistled, “Kotori, the Divine Kotori of Floating Feather Atelier….Nico really needs to come to one of your parties. Nico hears she’s big on cutesy food…” Nico frowned, considering. “I might know a place...”

“Where?” Maki got ready to run.

“You are not touching anything breakable, droppable, or poisonable. Nico will send her assistant.” Nico handed Maki her phone, “Just give me your contact info and Cocoro will take care of it.”

“Okay.” Maki took off a glove and tried typing but nothing registered. She kept punching until Nico took the phone back, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Just talk.”

“Okay.”

Nico typed in the digits as Maki recited them. “All right, Nico will send a rescue party to your wreck. Don’t back over them.”

“I’m walking everywhere from now on. Rogue Salmon spaghetti carbonaras are obviously stalking my car.” “Probably safest. Are you hanging out this weekend? Nico’s chairing a diversity panel. People are going to be talking about it for months.” Nico kept typing, biting her lip as she muttered things Maki couldn’t make out.

“Flying to Tokyo in the morning.” Nico looked disappointed so Maki explained. “Family business. My parents...”

“Oh. Nico will text you a snap of her agenda and her dress so you can see what you missed.”

“Okay.” Maki nodded at Nico, who had finally glanced up from her phone.“Thanks, Nico. I’d better get back.”

As Maki turned, Nico giggled. “Send Nico back a pajama selfie.”

Maki whirled, “What?”

Nico, with a too innocent expression on her face, was watching her mittens out dance each other, “We should go to a party TOGETHER sometime.”

“Stop by tonight. You have the address.”

Nico’s mittens dropped to her sides, her voice apologetic before it dipped back into a teasing edge. “Guest of honor three places. Already late for the first. And Nico has to hurry her assistant because there’s a cute redhead with no food to stain her clothes…”

Maki blushed and bolted. Nico had a very distinctive, short, snorting laugh and Maki feared that further conversation would draw a crowd. Plus, the liquor delivery was probably waiting.

###

Maki’s phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number, “We’re here.”

“Who?”

“Food.”

Maki had changed into jeans and a turtleneck, and was about to put her last layer on. Shoving her arm quickly into the formal jacket, she hopped down to the door.

One young woman, leading three young men with huge insulated bags, stood, impatiently tapping her fingers against the doorframe, “Maki?”

The grim tone made Maki wonder if she should pull out her ID. “Yes.”

The woman turned, “Take everything inside, find the kitchen, set it all up, my sister said not to let her touch anything.”

The staff nodded and shuffled past Maki once she stepped out of the door and onto the porch so they could get through.

The young woman glared at her. “Nico already tipped them.”

“Okay.” Maki was staring. This young woman was almost identical to Nico in coloring, but no amusement had ever lurked in her blood red eyes and her entire expression screamed “Not on my watch, you don’t.”

“You should probably go back inside.” The not Nico pointed.

“Okay.” Could this be over soon, Maki wondered.

“I have to text Nico a picture.” Nope.

“I’ll take you to the kitchen.” Maki had said something right, but it was too late to score any points. The “thank you” in response was perfunctory.

“I’m Maki Nishikino.”

“I know.”

Maki knew Nico had mentioned a name but its memory was as slippery as the Park City pavement.“You are?”

“Ms. Yazawa, Nico’s assistant.” Stated slowly.

“Right. Thank you.”

No reply. Ms. Yazawa racewalked into the living area, and Maki could hear her ordering the three young men around.

Maybe everything would be self serve. And Nico’s...sister? Evil clone? would make a quick exit. Maki wasn’t looking forward to the party and extra scrutiny would make it so much worse.

“Maki!” Honoka Kosaka cheerful trill echoed as the front door banged open, ‘Everyone loved Umi’s script. And they can’t wait to meet you.’ Maki waved at her old friend and agent as the ginger in a kilt and shawl bounced into the living area. The food had arrived just in time. But a smile was more than Maki could muster as the memory of the younger Yazawa’s frigid attitude kept scalding her.

###

The condo was finally quiet. Umi, Honoka, and Kotori had gone off somewhere to continue what Umi called ‘negotiations’ while Honoka had whispered date. Which Maki wasn’t thinking about. Because the condo was finally quiet. And then her ringtone went off. Maki groaned and grabbed her phone, wondering what the new crisis was.

A text from an unknown number: ( ˘▽˘)っ♨ how was the party? My sister said you didn’t spill anything while she was there.

Maki smiled. Nico.

M: （－－；exhausting

N: In bed already? Pajama selfie?

M: Collapsed in chair fully clothed so not terribly exciting.

N: Depends on the chair ପ(⑅ ॣ•͈૦•͈ ॣ)ଓ

Maki shot a quick pic of the fabric pattern.

N: 10/10 would slouch right there with you

M: I’d be terrible company. During party: |_-｡), after party (o_ _)o

N: And yet, here we are...(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Maki ran a hand through her hair and sighed. What she really wanted to do was soak in a bath for hours, candles lit, music low, but past experience had taught her that as soon as Honoka came back she’d barge into wherever Maki was with an update.

N: Is the rest of Team 'Slide In Through My Window' there?

M: You know the script title?

N: Nico talks to people. Your friend Umi made quite a splash at the writing panel. Bet actresses are swooning to get a look at the script ヽ/❀o ل͜ o\ﾉ

Maki frowned.

M: Are you?

A pause...Maki could see Nico typing, then the bubble disappeared. Then more typing,

N: (,Ծ_ლ) Honestly? There’s no good way for Nico to answer that.

Maki leaned forward, her fingers flying.

M: Why not?

N: *groans* Because of course, duh...hot new thing and turns out I love the score for the 'Déshabillé and Disaster' short and YOU composed that, but mostly, Nico is swooning over an excuse to keep talking to you.

Nico knew her work. The first thing people mentioned was usually the hit steamy summer bop she’d written with Carly Rae Jepsen last year, not the Le Cristal d'Annecy winning animated short so Nico had either done her homework or was a genuine enthusiast. Either way…Maki found herself typing too quickly to reconsider anything she said.

M: You don’t need an excuse.

N: Are you going to be in LA for awards season?

M: Yes.

N: Nico will see you then. Cocoro hasn’t overscheduled me yet…So let’s crash a party together.

M: Can it be a small, quiet party? *yawns pathetically*

N: Get some sleep. And don’t forget to send Nico a pajama selfie when you get to Tokyo. Or at least a chair pic. Nico needs to know your furniture preferences.

And Nico had attached a selfie where she had the most serious of faces, one eyebrow quirked to its sharpest, most questioning extreme.

Maki couldn’t help it. The guffaw just rolled out; there was no other word for it. This was flirting. This was nice. No one staring and making her feel uncomfortable. A minute to think. Maki relaxed into the chair, legs pulled up, remembering Nico’s grin. This was flirting. A nudge. A wink. A dare. Maki took a risk.

M: Not too well padded.

N: (╯‵□′)╯︵┴─┴ Rude. Nico’s furniture is padded perfectly. ಠ‿↼

Guffaw followed by giggle. Maki was feeling better. Maybe she could actually sleep before leaving for her flight. IF she taped a huge DO NOT DISTURB ME, HONOKA to her door.

M: Thanks for your help, Nico. You saved me. Although I don’t think your sister likes me.

N: She’s not the deciding vote in the Yazawa family. Chat up Cotaro, he likes donuts, you might be able to swing a majority. Nico will put in a good word for you.

M: You’re probably exhausting in person.

N: All the to die for parties are ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

M: *collapses further into chair, CRUSHED under weight of brush with celebrity*

N: Nico is not fatal, Ms.OVERdramatic, just friendly.

M: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

N: Sleep it off, recluse ❤⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )

M: (b~_^)b

N: Cute. See you in LA.

See Nico in LA. It was now a plan. And Nico would be in one of those dresses designed to show off every perfectly padded curve. Maki felt herself redden and then panic jumped to her memories of red carpets and last year. The crowds. The cameras. And how everyone sweeping by, svelte and confident, had brought out every clumsy twitch in her body. But Nice was certainly not the watch the red carpet on a laptop with takeout and TWIG commentary type. Maki sat up, maybe if she started with a dress. Could Umi and Honoka talk Minami Kotori into coming back to the condo for some fashion talk? Maki could use a little divine design intervention.

A/N: Enjoy this first half. I started this while finishing up Jingle Bell Jazz when I heard Nancy Wilson's version of "I Can't Get Started." Juggling a few storylines so I'm not sure what'll be next after this as summer and Shakespeare and crimes against humanity by the government of my country continue.Thanks for reading. Take care!

[melsdrawing]

Dating Teddy Lupin would include:

(guys, English is NOT my native language, so sorry if there are any gramma/spelling mistakes!! 😊)

The boy in the photo is a German Rapper/ Youtuber called Taddl or TJ Beastboy or Dat Adam.

• alright so first of all: teddy is such a chill person. Seriously. He is always spreading cool vibes. It’s so nice to be with him especially when school gets harder and everyone’s stressed about the finals. He would always make sure that you’re not stressed out and still got some time for yourself.

,,C‘mon, love. Let’s spend some time in the Black Sea. You need a break“ You would disagree at first but Teddy can’t accept a no, so you have to take a small break.

• He has always snacks in the pockets of his robe. Sometimes it’s a sandwich, then a Cupcake or an apple. But mostly times it’s chocolate. In class you would often sit together in the back and eat his snacks. The teachers know that you’re eating, but they don’t mind cause they know even when they say something against it, you both would not stop.

• would would totally have some dates in London. You would walk in the streets and watch all the cool street art. Teddy would get inspired of all the nice colours.

• Shopping: I dont want to say that he’s a fashion guru, but I’m sure Teddy knows what to wear. His style would always be cozy. But stylish. You both would go thrift shopping. Teddy would get himself so many sweaters and jackets (that you always borrow when you’re cold)

• While Talking with friends, Teddy would always make sure that everyone’s listening to you. ,,Okay guys, calm down, (y/n) wants to say something“. At first, it was a little bit embarrassing but know you’re getting used to it.

• Teddy is a really emotional person. When he’s happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, nervous... he shows. His hair colour would change and also his face expressions. You’re always here to talk to him about his feelings when he wants to. But sometimes the only thing he needs is a looooong hug to calm down until he’s ready to talk about the situation.

• he would always scare the shit out of you. For example when you watch a horror movie together: he would just transform into the villain (maybe a demon, a clown, a Scary looking person) and would run after you.

• you would scream and run away after you realise that it’s Teddy cause it’s pretty unrealistic causewhy should these creatures be in Hogwarts?

• he would prank you like this a lot

• Teddy is a handsome boy (naturally) but sometimes he changes his face a little bit to be more attractive to you.

• like one time when you said that you think that the hair of Timothee chalament is amazing, he would just transform his hair into hims

• or once he heard you say that you think freckles are cute

• BAM minutes after you said that, Teddy with freckles came up to you

• you would of course think it’s nice but you love Teddy the way he is.

• you’d tell him to change his face/hair back to the normal one cause natural Teddy is the best

• At your times in Hogwarts, Teddy would totally go smoking after every Subject for 3-4 minutes. You would go with him out. ( If you smoke, you would smoke with him)

• teddy would hate going to the cinemas. He prefers watching netflix/ Amazon Prime on tv/ laptop with you while cuddling

• he loves cuddling. When you’re Hogwarts house is not hufflepuff, he would totally bring you to their common room cause it’s much more warmer and cozier than the other common rooms.

• you would listen to music all the time. He would have a veery long Playlist with hunderds of cool songs that play in the background of the room on a Bluetooth box

• you would probably get a dog together or 2 cats :)

• Teddy loves to listen Charlie Puth (especially the song ,,how long”!) and Chase Atlantic

• he would get you a lot of gifts. Like flowers, chains, chocolate, food?? Books..

• he would also always say some romatic/shitty/cute stuff like ,,hey I saw this flower and thought of you”

• he would always sneak in your room in Hogwarts. When someone would complain about it he’d say ,,well I’m the headboy, I can do that”

• he would also always change his face when he’s doing sometimes against the rules of Hogwarts ( so he can’t get caught cause nobody could clearly describe his face)

Edward Remus Lupin is the best and deserve love and kindness from everyone :))

Thanks for reading!!

[isakwon]

Coffee Bean (Extinct) Part 6

Pairing: Park Chanyeol x Reader

Genre: Romance & Angst 

Word Count: 3k

Coffee Bean Masterlist

Summary: It’s believed the red string of fate can tangle and make annoying knots. But it can never break, but can it become untied from one person on either end?

A/N: Warm thank you’s to @amberevans736  @vlessful07  and @ireallywannatryandbehappy. 

   Winters from Eastern and Central Time zones always had the perfect timing for anything hot and steamy to stay warm. Movie theaters turned their heat temperature warmer than toasters around the building and their seat people either wear fluffy coat layers and some three layers of pants and leggings anyway. The sun would shine in two hours, but people outside would still shiver because the wind blowing would make the air colder. It’s worse during the night. 

You found Yixing and Sehun sitting on the bench inside the lobby.

”Damn it’s freezing,” Baekhyun says through his chattering teeth, gulping the last of his hot drink before tossing it in the trash can.

Shortly after Yixing leaves you to excuse yourself to the restroom while previews and trailers for upcoming movies play over the screen. Once Baekhyun pulled the snacks from his coat pockets and placed them on a saved empty seat, he realized how Chanyeol receiving a reaction quite the opposite from what was expected surprised him.

The natural interaction between them shocked him even more. She didn’t try to refresh his memory, tell him about their past nor showed him the matching string around her finger. They looked like strangers that were brought together for the first time due to an accident and got along instantly. 

 “Baek, are you okay?” Sehun asked, ripping the straw wrapper open.

 He wondered about telling Sehun what happened once she left them alone. Upon your arrival, they mostly talked about your stardom in South Korea until there was nothing else spoke about leading with now. Baekhyun walked into the kitchen where Junmyeon and Sehun stood, banging glasses into the sink and giving them his glare. Baekhyun was thankful Y/N didn’t hear them talk about whether they continued speaking to each other absentmindedly. The last thing he wanted was seeing her sentimental and overcome with gloominess just at the mention of Chanyeol’s name. He had no idea that things Junmyeon suggested were right. No idea that she would still have hope on her shoulders for long.

“It’s nothing.” 

Baekhyun looks down his hands rubbing together sucking his lips. He looks at Sehun looking at Baekhyun through his eyelids with brows narrowed down on the skin where his eyes and nose met. 

“Baek, tell me what's wrong?” 

Baekhyun glances down again before nodding. 

“Y/N and Chan bumped into each other.” 

  Sehun droops his mouth open while his brows rose, forming upside down arched crescents. Yixing overhears the sentence that pulls his head toward in urgency. Just the other night when he and Yixing exchanged texts with Chanyeol, that plan backfired and came resulting that Y/N and Yeol could overcome breaking their vow. 

“What? What happened?” 

“I don’t know; I only saw Y/N facing his back turned on her.” 

The smiles flashed brighter than the bulbs dangling from the ceiling, her eyes beady, listening to endless giggles and contagious laughter while seeing her face glow. Baekhyun stood beside the restroom door watching. 

”All I heard was them laughing at each other like nothing.”

“How did you manage to leave?” 

 “We snuck out.” 

Sehun was starting to get more irritated with Chanyeol. He wanted to grab him by the collar, hold grudges against him, call him a coward and even now he wants to communicate with him. Chanyeol knows who she is, and he needs to prove himself that he was lying straight to her face, but nothing seemed worthy now. Sehun leaves his lips agape. He was right, there was no hope, and Chanyeol was moving on. But how was forgetting their past lover’s name or how they looked possible. Y/N didn’t change much. 

Did his memories get erased entirely? 

The guys always believed that their friends deserved one another. Baekhyun also blamed himself for leading you to the cafe even though stopping there was just for getting the body warm with chocolate and lattes. He brought Y/N warming Chanyeol with hot chocolate, and both had their feelings warming with the exchanged smiling and soft speaking and patting his arm becoming closer than the last. He should’ve known better than thinking it would be okay after her sitting there for an entire morning several days ago, the morning after your arrival. 

Baekhyun began to wonder whether you were actually using the restroom or using the restroom as an escape to allow tears to run freely onto your palms.

  “Do you think they’ll meet again or-”

“Would that matter now?” Sehun asks, perking an eyebrow up. 

He purses his lips into a thin line until they nearly disappear, shaking his head. 

  Sehun’s questioned expression remains over him. Chanyeol always sent cards, letters and sometimes taped small flowers or her favorite snacks that aren’t available in Seoul. He always wanted for someone to look at him or someone to look at the same way he saw looking at each other. His grin would form hills from his cheekbones rising, and the bags underneath showed fully while knitting her brows upwards watching Chanyeol from afar. 

His friends shared examples of romance and health any of them could ask for in the future. But once they heard about the engagement, the hope of forever was mostly lost. Except for Y/N and Chanyeol carried something so intense, some grew helpless for them to have their forever. How does someone completely forget about someone they loved so much. Just how? Both of them turn their vision on the screen still playing cinema rules over the screen in silence without making a peep. 

  The water from the restroom faucet felt colder on your hand than the air outside, it also tasted refreshing. Enough for cooling down the knot stuck in the middle of your throat. Nobody would stop someone from using the restroom but would complain if that person took nearly three minutes, which you usually do not unless you had spent that time crying.

You should’ve been sitting down with Baek and Sehun in the auditorium eating snacks with them, instead of drinking water from the faucet but they cannot see tears that managed to come out. Everything still felt somewhat wrong, or you just felt heartbreak again seeing Chanyeol and not even remembering your name. 

The self-made promise is respecting Chanyeol falling in love while another part wanted denial that things could indeed end. 

 “Aah,” Your mind went blank while your chest felt like a hole as you leaned against the sink and lifted your chin up toward the mirror. Just staring toward your reflection in the mirror, you felt like breaking down like the constant memories that ran over your mind.

  Chanyeol smiling from the cafe hasn’t left the mind either. As Chanyeol calmly reacted getting burned to watch you with double lighting dots floating diagonally apart his large captivating dark brown irises eyes seemed like all-stars gotten closer. His smile could instantly turn whatever sour mood he saw you have become that mood into lightheartedness, and his eyes darker as if he knew that smile cured anything. His skin tone from the lighting reminded you of the bonfires glowing dark oranges onto him and made him look golden.   

  “Aish Chanyeol,” you muffle through clasped fingers, “I missed you so so much and not being able to say so while hugging you hurts even more. What’s worse is you’re still not leaving my thoughts, I don’t know how long until they stop though.”  

  You wiped away oncoming tears with your sweater covered wrist as you curve your back into a regular posture. Another person enters through the restroom door and makes glimpses toward you before proceeding, allowing you closer toward the door.  

“Hey, are you...are you Y/F/N?” 

  The sudden question stopped you in your tracks, moving your head toward the woman who just passed. She must’ve been another international fan for Korean Entertainment Industry or a Broadway fanatic, another of the few that recognized theatre stars. Fame as Broadway stars differed from television actors and musicians, although you considered them similar. The musical theatre was your roots to your stardom where the theatre is constructed with positivity and bubbly behavior. 

You smiled, “I am.”  

“Oh, my-oh you have no idea how much I loved your debut covers!” her sudden excitement widens your flattered smile. 

  A few other fans approached you on the morning while walking to the cafe early morning asking for selfies and signatures in their journal and phone case that they later show off. If it weren’t for Broadway fans, your recognition wouldn’t have been what it is now, and that was the same story for the stardom in South Korea. Except learning Korean made the journey a bit more crucial even being tutored and applying for a visa after the engagement news and convincing immigration to accept your papers. 

“Please, please, can I have a picture?” 

You smile, “Yes.”

  “Who was the person who turned these in?” Director Kim asked. 

The Representative woman responds, sinking his chin into her neck.  ”Your son Jongdae.”

Director Kim falls silent hanging his jaw open.

“Jongdae? My son Jongdae; whose on a work vacation?” 

”Yes, sir.”

 The look on her face more worried. Director Kim is dumbfounded and repressed. Impresa never had any scandals and shares equal respect for their employees and models. Anyone who has a problematic burden off their chest, confession, complaints, anything concerns Impresa mostly. Someone against the agency could be making these complaints anonymously. 

”Take your leave, ” 

The woman nods and quietly walks to the door. Director Kim felt angered by the early dates printed on each page, and each case had filed since April in the previous year. His son kept Illegal actions involving Impresa’s name hidden from him and now since he was away for three days, he cannot confront to Jongdae about.

Like any father, director Kim wanted to make sure his children are humble and honest and responsible and are taking care despite not carrying his DNA. The first time they met, a little Jongdae gave Director Kim no chances opposed to Somil. Though his older sister always clung around him and always bragged to her friends about him and how lucky they have the things the Director purchased for them, Jongdae avoided his adoptive father for weeks.

As a toddler, Jongdae opened up for his new parent and his sister once they were riding the train to an annual carnival where he held his new teddy bear and flashing light toy on the way back home while cuddling on Kim’s lap.If only Jongdae were back from his working trip Director, Kim would've called him to his office to speak privately upon this. Jongdae would already aware of the elephant in the room seeing manila folders with the police department titles. 

Now at the moment, he would wait until Jongdae returns before bringing his daughter into the problem. 

  Neither you nor Sehun would stop talking about the movie you had just seen that bored Baekhyun to sleep. All talk about the film on the way home was beginning to drive him crazy that skipping toward the living room made him let out a relieved sigh. The boys present in the house greet you as Sehun tosses the leftover popcorn in the trash can. As the wind was getting stronger cracking the tree branches harder, Kyungsoo raises the heating temperature despite getting his ear nagged off by the others about high bill prices.

“How was the movie guys?” Minseok asks, “Who was the killer?” 

  “It was great, I can’t say who committed the crime though.” You raise your brows, and Minseok rolls his eyes while smirking. “It will tell you if you read the book too.”

You hum a quiet giggle turning away from Minseok pleading for you to give away the ending and you just told him off suggesting that he watches the film instead. He always fell asleep during the movies and admittedly that annoyed you. Snapped pictures of him sleeping on the couch during the films saved deep in your text messages.

Holiday lights flash from the tree standing in the corner next to the window beside the television playing soul music and Jongin places another present with the others. The boys finished wrapping some of their gifts with just five days left until new year’s eve. 

”Y/N, ”

Junmyeon whispers your name looking over his shoulder where the boys then turn back to you. ”Here you go.” 

He holds a rectangular box wrapped with metallic dark blue wrapping paper topped with silver ribbons forming to look like a tiny bow and a sticker tag saying ’to Y/N.’ 

”Happy New Year.” He says. 

You look at him widening your eyes slightly and turning your lips into a small ’o,’ and he gives you a look of hope that you will like his gift. He tilts the box in front of you to take it. The paper felt smooth against your skin, and you shake your head while giving a gentle smile.

”Myeon, I can't open presents until New Year's Day.” 

“But we don’t know how long you will be here.” He says. ”This is my way to say how much I missed you and how excited I was hearing you'll be spending the holidays with us.” 

Junmyeon glances at the present in your hands still unwrapped and you turn the box while rubbing the paper with your index finger. Junmyeon was the heart in your friendship with the boys that never believed holding grudges, unlike Sehun. 

You smile toward Junmyeon and tell him to follow you. There the boys are all present in the dining room, perfect for the small announcement you’re about to give away. 

 “Guys,” you say, clapping your hands together, “Since my flight over to New York I have had some big news that I wanted to share on New Year's Eve.”  

Not one of them had asked for when you were going to board a plane after the year ended. Because it would sound like your friends would be urging you to leave and make you feel unwanted, but you didn't think that way. You carried so much love and trust and cared for the boys, and they stuck with you during the years as a trainee. Even tutoring you on learning fluent Korean. Sure, you did have trust issues before with friends from the past who made you feel like you were important or wanted more for just someone to spew their rant. But the relationship you have with them became more than friendships consists. 

 “I know you’re all thinking about I’ll be staying in New York and going back to Seoul.” 

They all turn towards you. 

”The thing is that I'm not going back to Seoul nor South Korea for a while.” 

”Does that mean you're staying?” Jongin asks.

You smile while shaking your head. ”Yep. I'm back in the city, and I'm here to stay.”

Minseok, Yixing, Kyungsoo, and Jongin rise from their seats to approach open arms and widened smiles, each wrapping you in tight bear hugs. Some of them were a little speechless hearing the second sudden surprise; honestly, these boys' hearts probably can't take many surprises anymore since you arrived. Their wrath around you felt tighter than hugging you after coming out behind the tree. 

”Y/N what about your career in Seoul?” Jongin rocked you side to side. 

”I put that on vacation.” You revealed how the main reason you were staying was that you accepted an acting role in an upcoming drama. The casting director had seen your performance on a Korean West Side Story as Anita that made her think you would fit the leading role. When she mentioned New York as the setting, you tried keeping your excitement internal to look composed. 

Junmyeon was the last person to hugged placing his hands on your forearms and smiling at you. 

”Oh my gosh Y/N, I can hardly believe this. Are you gonna stay with us, getting a place because the bedroom is yours.” 

     Your eyes beam, ”Myeon, during the flight staying here, was the plan.” 

”You haven't opened my gift yet.” He says, and you respond

   ”I’ll hold onto it to open first thing New Years Eve night.” His face slants scrunching his nose. 

”Rules are rules.” You shrug lifting the box and start heading to your room.

Once you walked into the bedroom, you remember the blanket that was tossed away was still in the dryer. You didn’t feel the need of folding the comforter since it was going to be used again anyway, so you stuck your hands under the fluffy cotton boulder and began carrying your feet down the hall. Suddenly Sehun’s frame stands in front of you like a wall suddenly appearing. He was dressed in a blue-striped sweater and greyhound gray basketball shorts, his black hair curtain over his sharp eyes. 

“Y/N do you not want to talk about something?” Baekhyun wouldn’t immediately spread the news of your reunion and you refused to assume what and who Sehun was talking about. 

“Nothing.” You respond. 

Sehun crosses his arms. ”I know you saw Chanyeol today Y/N. Though I wasn't there to see what happened, Baekhyun told me only part of what he saw. Also strangers wouldn't stare at each other for a long time after getting burned.”

Your fingers clasp around the blanket,

“So do you know that Chanyeol doesn’t know who I am?”

He nods.

        Thank you for reading!♡