#it makes me like taylor swift all of the sudden idk

[queenunderthatmountain]

nothing makes me feel more like I'm just a teenage girl than the selection series

[alphabetboyluvr]

landslides - 001 | goldrush - jjk

part title credit: goldrush - taylor swift

everybody wonders what it would be like to love you... i can't dare to dream about you anymore... it never will be...

pairing: officeworker!jungkook x female reader (coworkers)

premise: jungkook asks you to dog sit over chuseok. he doesn't ask you to steal the empty spaces in his head, the dreams he's yet to have, nor the idea of you always just being 'you' to him - and yet, like a thief in the night (with his own damn dog as your accomplice), you do.

warnings: fluff more than angst, but it's not clean cut - there's also a touch of smut. office worker jk, fuck boy (but kind!) jk, mentions of his workplace escapades, oc is dating mingyu (yay), oc sorta fancies jk (boo), solo masturbation (m), vivid thoughts of shagging (jk is a perv! wow! unlike me to write him as randy bastard!), lots of facetime calls, oc and jk are fundamentally flawed as a pairing, genuine friendship, daddy kink? ig? but like kinda sweet?, jungkook has a complex brain house and you've been banished to his annexe!! he also has a thing for claw clipped hair lol

wordcount: 6.8K

note from holly: so... i dogsat (? idk if thats a word) for my friend last chuseok and this was the result hahahaha. my friends dog (boba <3) is so tiny and small!! but i've always been a big dog girlie so bam was fun to write. i really love this one and have recently found all of my old notes from around that time detailing the rest of the couples lives, so pt. 2 is in progress.

minors dni // cross posted to wattpad

Bam notices the storm roll in before you do. His ears twitch, head lifting from its rested perch on his paws.

“What’s up, baby? Hey?” You coo, his sudden shift obviously prompted by something. His snout begins to twitch, too, and his bottom lip shakes as a small growl vibrates from his throat. His eyes are on the window, stalking the clouds as they roll past. “Hey.”

You sit up a little straighter to lean forward and scratch behind his ear. He leans into it, but doesn’t take his eyes away from the sky.

“You see the rain, huh?” You hum, looking between the pup and the window ahead. You can’t place it yet - it’s too far in the distance - but you find yourself coming to sit beside him. He doesn’t lean up against you like he usually does. Just continues to lightly growl.

There’s no threat behind his noises, no malice - he’s just shouting back at the thunder you can’t hear. When you see a bolt of lightning flash in the distance just beyond the city skyline, you know that it won’t be long until Jungkook’s apartment block is drenched in the weather.

It’s just gone midnight when he calls. His face is a little puffy, smile a little lopsided.

“Hey Bammie,” he coos into the camera. You’ve got it angled down to where the pup is resting his head on your knee, peacefully unwinding after his long walk. Bam doesn’t stir at Jungkook’s voice, so he tries again. “Bammie?”

The way he elongates his puppy’s name is sweet - a tone of voice reserved only for his most trusted companion. He sure as hell has never spoken to you like that.

“Sorry, bud,” you say as you lift the camera up to your face. He’s pouting. “I don’t think the vibrations sound the same through the phone.”

“I miss him,” he says not even caring to acknowledge your thought process. “Is he okay? Was he good on his walk?”

“He’s all good,” you smile. “Best boy in the world. None of the other dogs you mentioned were down at the park, so it was just us two.”

He nods into the camera and purses his lips. “They might all be away. Visiting family.” He rolls over in his bed and lets out a yawn. “How’s the apartment? Got everything you need?”

You nod back. “All good. Might have eaten my way through your cheese stash already. I’m gonna shower then head to bed in a minute.”

“Make sure you leave the bathroom door open a little,” he says. “He’ll whine if not.”

“Will do.”

“Thank you,” he says. “I really appreciate you doing this. He hasn’t been too much work, has he?”

“He’s good as gold,” you say as you switch to the back camera. The view is serene, and Jungkook’s lips instantly settle into a smile. Bam is up on the sofa with you, snuggled against your lap. The skyline twinkles through his window, the reflection of his mood lamp obscuring some of it - but he’s quietly pleased that you’re using it. It’s how he normally winds down, too. Main lights off, galaxy on his ceiling. Must make Bam feel a little more at ease. You go to scratch behind his ear, and he huffs a little, all content and cosy. “Thanks for asking. He’s never too much work. You trained him well.”

“Hmm,” Jungkook hums. “Could have trained you a little better, though.”

He laughs when you switch the camera back to your face, mouth open, brows knitted together. “Me?!”

“Yes, you,” he grins now but tries to hide it; to restore the stoicism to his face. It doesn’t work. “What did I tell you about the sofas?”

You purse your lips together as if you’re not smiling. He’s got you there, admittedly.

“Look, he’s just so cute!” Despite the fact you’ve turned the camera back onto Bam, Jungkook can tell you’re pouting. “How could I say no?!”

“Easily!” Jungkook laughs. “That’s how he became so well trained! I leave for one night and-”

“Shuuuush,” you laugh, and when the camera switches back to you, Jungkook can’t help but let his smile persist. You look tired, and so does he, but there’s something about the call that has made you forget all about the fact you were planning on going to bed soon. “My swamp now. My rules.”

“My swamp,” he protests, but the look on his face is so saccharine that you can’t take him seriously. He thinks the same could be said for you. “Anyways, it’s late. Go get your shower. If you need more towels, there are some in the cupboard by the boiler. Don’t forget to turn the vent on - it’s the switch next to the light.”

“Alright, will do,” you nod and then yawn. Bam pricks his head up. “Hey baby,” you speak to him. “Did I wake you?”

“Show me him.”

You switch the camera around to where you’re scratching at Bam’s ear. He leans his head into the scratch, thoroughly enjoying it, your long nails far scratchier than Jungkook’s. It’s not the same - Jungkook is far stronger, so is a little rougher which suits Bam just fine. Still, he likes your scratches better than no scratches at all.

Jungkook whines. “I miss him.”

“He misses you, too. Want me to call in the morning?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “We’re up early tomorrow, heading over to Haedong Yonggungsa in the morning. Probably be up before you. Send me pictures though.”

“Will do. Night, buddy.”

“Night gremlin,” he smiles, and then begins to coo. “Night Bammie. Daddy misses you.”

He wishes you wouldn’t look at him in the way that you do when he says that; lips turned upwards at the very corners, dimples pressing into your cheeks, eyes bright.

“Shut up,” he says, but you’re already laughing.

“Daddy.”

“I am his dad!”

“Daddy.”

“Oh my god, fuck off,” he laughs. “Have nightmares, gremlin.”

“Sweet dreams, Daddy.”

“Fuck off!”

You hang up before he can protest your taunts any more, though he does text you one final ‘fuck off,’ and a reminder that you can bolt his front door if it will make you feel safer.

His apartment is in a high-rise, and his neighbourhood is far nicer than yours. You do the bolt up regardless, and think that it’s sweet that he considered your comfort enough to remind you about it.

Bam sits by the sliding door of the bathroom, the tips of his paws just teetering over the line of the door frame. He rests his head on his legs, snout angled towards the hallway. It still makes you feel a little weird. You don’t really want a dog watching you shower, even if he is a dog and has no real understanding of what’s happening - so you turn your back to him and just reassure yourself that Jungkook showers with the door open wide.

It’s a funny thing, to think about your co-worker’s showering habits. Not one that you’ve ever thought to indulge in before - but Jungkook would go ballistic if he heard you refer to him as your ‘co-worker.’ You’re friends. Pretty good ones, at that.

You’re level players at your company; earn the same wage, hold the same rank. There’s not really any competition between the pair of you - you work in different departments - but are often paired together when the two sections merge for joint projects. You make for a good team.

Over the years, you and Jungkook have also learned that you’re a highly capable team when it comes to playing beer pong against your colleagues on Friday nights, and at the mixed-doubles tennis tournament that your company insists on you participating in every year. It’s either that or be on the Christmas Party Planning committee, and you know which you’d rather do.

Thinking about tinsel in August? No, thank you.

There is however one crucial flaw to your partnerships: how you live your lives. How you manage your money.

See, Jungkook is frugal. He makes big investments - his apartment, his cars, games consoles, Bam. Doesn’t spunk his cash away on the small shit. His apartment is in the heart of the city, only a few floors from the very top. He gets a birds-eye view of the world around him. You don’t even want to imagine how much his deposit cost.

Probably more than you have in your savings. You do spunk your cash away - on the small shit, no less. Clothes, cafes, that sort of stuff. Nothing that holds permanence. It frustrates Jungkook to no end. He thinks you could have a better life if you just used your money wisely - but you’re happy in your slightly cramped apartment, happy when the serotonin of a shopping spree boosts your mood, happy when you’re laughing with your friends over coffee and cake.

You wouldn’t be happy if you felt restricted. You think that Jungkook is.

He disagrees. He has enough in the bank to buy whatever he wants. He has financial freedom.

But there’s a difference. You’re both free in your own ways.

It’s for that reason you’d never work as a couple. Would infuriate one another far too much. Everyone who is close to you both knows this; how badly suited you would be. They’ll joke about all of the women in the office trying to get their mitts on Jungkook - even the married ones - but not you.

It’s funny because they’re right. Everybody wants him.

He collects stars from their eyes and accumulates them in his own. The girls blush and giggle about how he looks at them with galaxies, but they don’t realise what a thief he is. Don’t realise he’s stolen their shine, and incorporated it into his own. A spotlight follows him, and you enjoy watching the show unfold with an amused grin whenever a new secretary catches his gaze for the first time.

It’s not intentional. You don’t think Jungkook realises he does it. In fact, he hadn’t realised that it was such a pattern of behaviour until the midnight squalor of a dive bar had you talking about office conquests, and how the photocopier room had seen his bare ass more than it had seen toner changes.

“Shouldn’t shit where you eat, Jeon,” you’d grinned.

“Firstly, that’s a horrible phrase - and secondly, it takes two to tango. They’re just as much to blame as I am.”

But they’re not. He’s the only repeat offender.

“And anyways,” he had deflected, sinking down the final dregs of his beer. “Don’t act like you’re some kind of saint. Everyone’s fucked a colleague at least once.”

You’d just raised an eyebrow.

“You’re telling me you haven’t?”

“Like I said - shouldn’t shit where you eat, Jeon.”

Now, if he’d have said housemate, you would have folded. Downed your drink. Ordered a repeat round.

Something about a shared space - domestication - really gets you. It’s joint laundry loads, shared dinners, movie nights; grocery shopping, D.I.Y. furniture, arguments about who gets the bigger room. More often than not, it never matters, ‘cause you just end up staying in theirs.

You live alone now. After the third time, you knew better than to let yourself fall into the trap once more.

He learns about your affliction a few months later, and goes on tease you relentlessly.

In fact, he mentions it when he propositions you a few weeks before Chuseok. You had both spent the last couple of holiday periods overworked, slogging through the festivities. For the first time since either of you can remember, your workload has eased up.

You’ve already told him you’re planning on doing sweet, sweet fuck all. You’ve told your family you will be working, because you just want to finally breathe for a while; stay in with a tub of ice cream and your favourite films. Speak to no one. Do nothing.

“I’ve got a favour to ask you,” he had said as he approached your desk before the end of the day. It was a Friday, but you weren’t heading for after-work drinks with the usual suspects like you typically did. You had a date, instead. A third one with the same guy - Mingyu - which felt like a miracle. Even Jungkook was a little shocked that the poor guy wasn’t sick of you.

“Go on,” you had mused as you checked over your to-do list for the following week.

“You gotta promise me something first.”

“Promise you what?”

“That you won’t fall in love with me.”

You’d swatted him away the ruler on your desk, and told him to get his head out of his ass. “Been able to resist your charms this long, Jeon. Give me some credit.”

“It’s only ‘cause you know I’d reject you, you little gremlin.”

“I thought you wanted a favour? Funny way of going about it.”

“Sorry, sorry. You’re right,” he had conceded with an apologetic smile. “Forgive me.”

“What do you want?”

“How would you feel about potentially staying at mine over Chuseok to look after Bam? My parents want us to head down to Busan for the weekend and see relatives seeing as I’m finally free and know it’s a big ask but I-”

“Oh my God, yes?!” You had smiled so wide Jungkook thought you might fracture your jaw.

You love Bam.

In fact, he might just be your favourite thing about Jungkook.

Occasionally you walk him with Jungkook on the weekends, when you’re both hungover and need to get out of a slump. You’ve grown up with pets, but moving to the city in your early twenties to pursue your career meant apartment living.

You’re a rural girl deep down, and would never want to keep a pet in a high rise.

Jungkook manages it, but he goes home at lunchtime to walk Bam during the winter. In the summer, when it’s too hot, he goes home at lunch regardless, to lounge around with Bam under the air con.

Sometimes, you go with him. Bam is always pleased to see you.

Jungkook lied and said he asked around because he didn’t want to inconvenience you.

Truth is, he wouldn’t have trusted anyone else with his baby. He’d never spent a night away from Bam. Hated the idea. Despised it, in fact. He would have just taken Bam with him to Busan, but didn’t think it would be fair to force him on the journey from Seoul.

Over in Busan, when Jungkook hangs up, the conversation isn’t over. It continues in his head.

“Hey, wait…”

“Mhhm?”

“You just… look nice tonight, that’s all.”

He thinks you’d blush. Would tell him to lay off the soju. Accuse him of getting too drunk for a family get-together. He’d let you. Would take the beating of your false accusations, because it would be far easier than admitting he’s not had a single drop.

He thinks of the hug he’ll give Bam when he gets home; how wild his tail will waggle, how he’ll jump all over the place, and how you’ll be giggling. In his mind, you’ll be smiling just as wide as he is.

You’d stay for dinner. Jungkook would order from your favourite place to say thank you. Bam would snuggle up to Jungkook - on the sofa - and you’d be on the other side, stroking his back. He’d be happy. Bam, not Jungkook. But also Jungkook. Hopefully you, too.

When the time would approach for you to go home, you’d offer to help. Rinse out the containers. Hair up in a claw clip, t-shirt off your shoulder like it so often is.

Jungkook doesn’t notice, but his hands begin to trail down his body as he thinks of you. His phone is still on his chest, rising and falling with every beat of his heart. The tips of his fingers stroke against his skin.

He thinks of you laughing with him about something inconsequential. You’d flick water in his direction when he’d make some joke at your expense. It’d all be in good humour.

But then he’d flick some back at you, and water war would break out. Bam would run excitedly between the pair of you, Jungkook chasing you around the kitchen island with wet hands - and you’d do the exact same back. You’d flick water over the counter, tap still running and he’d call you a gremlin.

There’s a smile on his lips as he thinks of his. His hands roam further south. He’s ticking at his abdomen. It’s nice. Feels calm. He likes to engage his senses when he thinks of scenarios like these. Makes it feel more real.

But then he’s thinking of your shirt and the fact it’s white.

And then he’s imagining catching up with you, holding you captive as he angles the tap towards your face. You’ll be shrieking and scrambling to get away, Bam by your feet, Jungkook laughing.

He’d relent, but only enough for you to twist to face him.

Jungkook’s fingers are by his thighs. Stroking. Caressing. He’s avoiding his cock. Knows it’s firm. His index finger spreads to his balls. Teases.

And then he thinks of your body pressed against his torso, your ass to the counter.

You’d both be soaked.

He’d look at your lips. Look in your eyes. Feel your chest against his. He’d swallow hard.

It’s at this point he forgets about Bam in the scenario. It’s just you and him.

His palm rests over the length of his cock. Presses down. His hips roll.

He’d tell you that you’ve made a mess. You’d tell him to clean it up. His heart would be racing. So would yours.

And it’s funny, because his heart actually is. It’s beating so fucking hard in his childhood bedroom, that he thinks his parents must be able to hear it through the walls.

He’s in a far-too-firm single bed, but in his head, he’s with you in his kitchen.

He begins to grip his cock, long fingers wrapping around his shaft. He pulls up. Pushes back down. Says your name. Whines.

He doesn’t even really realise he’s doing it.

Just thinks about you.

Thinks about the way it would feel to sink his lips into yours; the first bite of a forbidden fruit. Thinks about that quick tongue of yours, and if it would be just as quick to find its way into his mouth. Thinks about your manicured nails that Bam loves so much, and how they’d scratch against his scalp instead. Thinks about the way his hips would rock against you, kind of like they are now; pulsing beneath his duvet.

His mind jumps. Skips the foreplay. Doesn’t mean to - but the thoughts are intrusive. Insidious. Insatiable. He can’t help it.

He pushes up into his hand. Pauses. Waits out the feeling. Retracts. Repeats.

In his head, it’s you that he’s pushing into.

The sensation is entirely different, granted, but - fuck - he hasn’t gotten himself off all week and hasn’t had sex in far longer, so it all feels the same to him.

He hasn’t worked out the mental logistics.

His imagination is jumping from the kitchen to his bedroom and then back to the kitchen again. Can’t decide where all of this is happening - and then suddenly, he finds himself railing you in the utility room.

You’re perched above the washer, held in place by him. He can smell the laundry detergent. He’s got spotlights in the room, but they’re turned off. Only lights from the hallway and the city skyline illuminate you.

It’s obscure. The shadows in his head conceal you a little. He’s gripping your waist beneath your shirt. The baby gate which keeps Bam out of the laundry room is closed.

You’re not talking, just fucking, fucking, fucking and -

“Fuck,” he whines, hand is jerking at his cock, heart rate stuttering.

He shouldn’t be thinking about you like this.

Shouldn’t let his mind jump again to a point where you’re fucking naked, and your sodden shirt is on a pile of yet-to-be-done laundry.

But then it jumps again, and one of his towels is on the floor. He’s laying down, back against it. The same position that he’s in now in his childhood bedroom - but he’s thinking about you. The silhouette of your body. The warm curves of your body. The way you bounce on his cock and then-

Oh god, it’s torture the way his cock throbs. Pre-cum leaks from his tip as his speed builds. It’s just a fantasy. Nothing more nothing less. But it’s you. And then he’s thinking about pulling you down for a kiss, and the scent of your perfume and the way you’d moan into his mouth and then his legs are shaking, torso tensing.

He’s taking it too far. Too fucking far. You. Fuck. He can’t. But he doesn’t stop. Just keeps going. Fucks his hand like it’s your pussy.

He’s pulling himself closer, closer, closer, and then he thinks about your voice, and the way you called him Daddy, and he can’t help himself. The pressure that releases in his stomach is catastrophic. Jungkook mewls your name. Calls you baby. Unloads all over himself. White hot cum paints his belly. Seeps into his belly button. Makes a mess of his hand as he coaxes the last few ropes out. It’s been a while since his last nut, but the amount he produces is not fucking normal.

It rolls down the side of his toned torso, Jungkook swallowing harshly as he tries to regulate his breathing. He doesn’t think he can. Doesn’t know what to do with himself. Just kind of lays there. Curses. Knots his brows together. Is frustrated with himself.

You’ve been friends for years. He’s never done anything like this before. He chalks it up to nothing more than him just being a little too horny for his own good. Cleans himself off. Puts his phone on charge. Berates himself for being a piece of shit. Spends a good ten or so minutes staring at the ceiling with an empty head before he falls asleep.

And it’s funny, because when you wake up in the morning, panties damp, the dream you had about Jungkook railing you in his own damn bed, you find yourself looking across the space where he usually sleeps. You reach ouch. Stroke the emptiness. Curse. Spend the rest of the day unbearably horny. It frustrates you. Makes you snappy with Jungkook when he calls.

He asks if you’ve seen Mingyu. You tell him no. He says maybe you should - but makes sure to add, “He’s still not allowed in my apartment.”

“I’m not gonna bring anyone into your space, Jungkook.”

It’s something he knows, and something he trusts you not to do, but he’s still reinforcing boundaries. Making sure that there are still some left. He thinks that if he pushes you closer to someone else, it will sort his brain out. Alleviate him of the guilt that he’s feeling.

But you don’t see Mingyu.

When Jungkook calls again that evening to find you walking Bam alone, he’s pleased. Doesn’t want some guy you’re fucking anywhere near his most prized possession. Bam, that is. Not you. But now that he thinks of it, he finds he doesn’t want Mingyu anywhere near you, either.

“Good day?” You ask, voice a lot lighter than it had been earlier.

Jungkook nods, but he doesn’t really smile. “I miss Bammie.”

You pout. “He misses you too. He’s gonna be so excited when you get home.”

The camera switches to the back camera so he can watch Bam bound along the path. He’s on his lead, snout sniffing in all the flowerbeds. It’s dark out, but there are enough lights on the trail for him to be able to see clearly.

“How is he? Eating okay? Going to the bathroom okay?”

“Eating like a champ, and producing shits to confirm that,” you say flatly. It’s definitely your least favourite part of animal ownership - but the reward is so much greater than having to pick up shit off a sidewalk.

“That’s my boy,” Jungkook grins, before turning his focus to you. “You all good? Seemed a little stressed earlier.”

Jungkook’s expression doesn’t change when the front camera flips back to you, but he finds his heart racing again. When you turn your head to check the car that’s driving past, he notices your hair is up with a claw clip. Just like it was in his… thoughts about you the night before. He likes how attentive you are - how you checked the source of the noise. You’re protective. Follow your instincts. Thinks you’re the best person he could have asked to look after Bam.

“I’m all good,” you say, and you really are.

“I know it’s not exactly the relaxing Chuseok you were planning-”

“Jungkook, it’s fine,” you smile. “It’s been nice. I like Bammie far more than I like you.”

“Understandable.”

You both smile, and Jungkook begins to babble about his day, telling you stories about his parents, and his weird cousin who never knows when to not say inappropriate things, and the aunt who keeps trying to set him up with all of her friends’ daughters.

“Don’t shit where you eat,” you remind him. “Sounds too close to home. Your auntie would never be out of your business.”

“I know, I know,” he rolls his eyes. “And hey - it’s been, like, a year since I last did that! Cut me some slack, gremlin. Anyways, Mingyu works in our building. You’re basically shitting where you eat.”

“I’m actually… I think I’m gonna cool things off with him.”

“Oh?”

“It’s like not a big deal. I’m just not really feeling it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, you’re right. I’m not,” Jungkook admits, but is sombre as he does so. He remembers how happy you’d seemed after the first few dates. “But I am sorry that you haven’t found the right guy yet, gremlin.”

“Who knows, maybe I’ll find the love of my life at the dog park tonight.”

“You are not allowed to use my baby as a flirting tactic.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Too late - I’m already here and there is an absolute DILF. Byeeeee.”

“Wait, no-”

You hang up before he can finish, with a grin on your face to rival a Cheshire cat.

The park is empty. Not a single DILF in sight. You ignore his call when he rings back. Will let him sweat it for a bit.

Jungkook lies awake that night.

Doesn’t do much.

His family are still chatting in the sitting room, but he can’t draw himself away from the sanctuary of his own private space, where your voice is still echoing around the room. He’s starting to understand why you’d been craving your space so much for the holiday period.

He doesn’t wanna have to return to the room with a false smile, and a feeling in the pit of his stomach that could rival the ache of getting the ferry across Busan harbour during monsoon season.

Doesn’t want to form cognitive thoughts that distract him from his mindless reflections of you.

Jungkook’s mind works like a house, and right now he’s in the annexe.

He rarely ever goes in there.

Finds he gets too comfortable and neglects the rest of the house. He’s got a garden to tend to, a kitchen to clean, and beds to make - but why would he leave the annexe when it has everything he needs? He’s comfortable there.

It’s normally reserved for the hyper-fixations he’s trying not to fixate on. He locks them away. Hasn’t really visited since he got hooked on GTA5 when he should have been studying for the University Entrance Exam. It’s still there, and he knows better than to pop it in his games console - but there’s someone else on the couch, now. It’s not just him in his mind-annexe. Someone’s in his space. He daren’t let himself go further into the room.

In fact, he’s desperately trying to jump across to the main house. Get himself out of the thoughts that are gonna consume him. He needs to close that God damn door.

But he watches the figure like a car crash. He’s scared. Unable to look away.

Not for fear of it being a monster hidden in the depths of his mind.

Quite the opposite, actually.

Monsters don’t wear their hair up with butterfly-shaped claw clips, or let the clasp of their necklace trail down their spine like that. Monsters don’t twist their back out of habit just to make it click. Monsters don’t spend their days doodling in a journal like the figure on his couch is doing.

But you do.

An iteration of Bam rests up against Jungkook’s leg in his mind, nose wet, tail lightly wagging, so he puts his hand on his pup’s shoulder for comfort. To support him. To guide him away from the annexe and back into the damn main house.

“C’mon,” he says to Bam, expecting him to leave. Expecting him to follow his commands.

It’s his head, after all - but Bam doesn’t heed his commands. Instead, his claws click against the hardwood floor and towards the figure on Jungkook’s couch. A palm outstretches, and Bam leans into it. Hums in content as a set of dark nails scratch at his ear.

“Hey, baby Bammie,” the figure sings and Jungkook knows that voice. Knows it so well that it’s hardly a surprise it’s embedded into his brain so perfectly.

And he knows.

He knows if he lets the person turn around exactly who it’s gonna be. He knows that he can’t let it happen. He won’t.

Because he and you are friends; nothing more, nothing less. Incompatible at best. A match made in hell; so wrong it could never be right.

Jungkook sits up. Shakes his head. The world in his mind tears away into darkness. He stands and tells himself to get a grip before joining his family. He needs the distraction. Needs to have cognitive thoughts. Can’t let himself get trapped. Can’t let him kid himself into thinking that you’re anything more than his friend.

It’s just cause he’s missing Bam, he reasons. Emotions are getting all mixed up. It’s the affection he feels for his beloved best friend that is getting misplaced onto you - although, if he thinks about it (which he won’t (knows better by this point (knows his mind can’t be trusted to behave))), he’d realise that you are his best friend.

It’s unfair to compare you to Bam because you’re an entirely different species, but there’s no other human he likes better than you.

One more day, and he’ll be home. One more day, and he won’t have to call you when he’s all sleepy and confused over his feelings. One more day, and things will be back to normal. One more measly day.

And then he’ll be reunited with Bam, and he won’t have the stress of family or thinking about the week of work ahead to contend with.

One more day. He can do this.

He will do it. Will barrel home at the speed of lightning; will stop only for red lights and maybe the occasional gas station snack, potato spirals on a pointed wooden skewer and deep-fried chicken slathered in a sauce he can never quite figure out the recipe for.

He’ll think about picking you up some bungeoppang - the ones filled with choux, not red bean paste - because he knows that you adore it so. There have been occasions when you’ve begged him to drive you out of the city to the large gas station out West just so you could have bungeoppang from one specific stall.

The signage is faded, and the prices haven’t changed since 2009, but that’s how you know it’s the good shit. A family recipe batter passed down for generations. The woman who makes it is always the same, and though she never remembers you, you always remember her. Beam so brightly Jungkook thinks he’s going blind whenever you spot her.

It’s only because of that one time you’d showed up with the sole mission to retrieve some of the delicious delicacies, only to be confronted with a handwritten ‘closed today, back tomorrow’ note taped to the menu. You never know when the next family emergency or trip out of town might be for your beloved bungeoppang-making Ajumma.

It’s a little after midday when Jungkook’s car rolls into the gas station. He’ll be home soon.

He tells himself that he’s just doing as he always does. Will get his tornado potato. Wolf it down. Go back for some chicken, maybe some tteok.

He’s stayed out of the annexe today. Doesn’t even think about the doorway because he knows the magnetic pull is far too strong for his cobalt heart.

Had ignored your call this morning - sorry, just saying goodbye to everyone. will see you later. - and had pushed all thoughts of you to the side. He’s even tried to stop thinking about Bam because thoughts of him will inevitably lead to thoughts of you and Jungkook is getting dizzy, quite frankly. It’s like he’s chasing his tail, never knowing when to admit defeat.

At least Bam gets enjoyment out of it when he does it. All Jungkook gets is lingering feelings of remorse.

But as he hits the home straight, a small paper bag full of choux bungeoppang cooling down on his passenger seat, his head starts to clear. He’s fixed the lock on the gate that leads to the annexe. Won’t go down that path.

Jungkook arrives ahead of schedule. Parks his car, and doesn’t tell you he’s arrived. Leaves his bag in the boot of the car, but picks up the pastries from his passenger seat.

Opens the door of his apartment quietly. You don’t hear it. Are too busy dancing around the living room with Bam to some mid-noughties classic.

“Hey,” you laugh a little breathlessly as finally notice him. He’s leaning against the wall. Is wearing his glasses, to make up for the long drive. You think it’s a crying shame he doesn’t wear them at work, too.

“Was I interrupting something?”

“No, not all,” you say. There are deep creases below your eyes, testament to the size of your smile. “Me and baby Bammie-” you reach over and stroke at his sides, a little rough and tumble, but perfectly joyous “- were just burning off a little energy before you got home.”

Jungkook crouches, arms outstretched for Bam. The puppy knocks into Jungkook’s chest, legs all moving slightly out of coordination, excitable whines sounding in his throat. His tail wags so fast you think he’d be able to produce electricity if he really tried.

They match each other’s energy; delirious happiness, content only when in one another’s presence.

“Hey buddy,” he coos. “Daddy’s home. I missed you. Missed me too, hey? C’mere.”

His strong hands stroke Bam’s sides, and you watch how playful they both are with unadulterated awe. It seems absurd how similar the two of them are; man and his best friend.

“He was lost without you,” you confirm.

“It’s that right?” Jungkook pouts as he scratches behind Bam’s ears, cradling his face in his hands. “Did Bammie miss Daddy?”

Bam barks. Yes.

“Hey, I’m sorry, boy. I’m home now, though. Daddy’s home.”

Yes, you think. Yes, he is.

The night dissolves much like Jungkook thought it would. You stay for dinner. Watch crappy entertainment shows, and laugh at how absurd people can be. There’s warmth in his apartment, even though he hasn’t turned the heating on.

“You’ll never know how much I appreciate this,” Jungkook says softly as midnight approaches. Bam sighs. There’s rain on the windows, but the storm doesn’t bother him tonight. Not in the slightest. “Thank you.”

Your head shakes. Smile perseveres. “Happy to do it. You know how much I love Bam.”

Silence wraps around your words like a velvet bow, pulled taut. There’s no double knot, but there needn’t be. It isn’t unravelling any time soon.

“So,” you change topic. “How long do you reckon it will take the new secretary to fall in love with you? I’m thinking maybe four days.”

Jungkook wants to make a joke; tease you about how your mind jumped from how much you love his dog, to the idea of loving him. Not you loving him, granted, but it only took a few electrical signals between neurons for you to get there. Must associate him with love pretty closely.

“Four days? Far too quick.” Jungkook pauses. “You’ve been staying here for four days. Reckon that’s an appropriate amount of time to fall in love with someone?”

He’s being facetious. It’s all in jest and yet you feel your heart beat a little faster. Only for a moment. There’s a mild concern in your features, fearful that he can somehow sense the thoughts you’ve been having; the fantasies, the daydreams, the moments of weakness.

You look at him with eyes he doesn’t recognise. Your lashes are low. Sultry, even. Suggestive. Teasing.

And then, they roll.

“Jeon, you have those poor girls on their knees within a single ‘hello’. Don’t act like you don’t know it, you big old flirt.”

“If Bam wasn’t so peaceful, I’d kick you,” he mumbles, stroking at the dark fur behind his pup’s ear. Bam sighs, content to have him back. There’s a smile on Jungkook’s lips. Both are perfectly content. Both are happy to be with the people they like the most in the world.

“He’d just defend me,” you taunt. There’s a serenity to your jokes, and light-hearted banter that means nothing more, nothing less than just enjoyment of one another’s company. “I’m his favourite now.”

Jungkook laughs. Scratches a little firmer behind Bam’s ear. “You hear that, boy? Gremlin really thinks you’d choose her over me.”

You pull your torso back. Turn your body to face his. Let disbelief wash over your features, as if Jungkook saying shit like that’s a surprise. The movement alerts Bam, his head lifting, the chain links of his collar rattling. He looks over to you, then back to Jungkook.

“He LOVES me.”

“I thought dogs are supposed to take after their owners, though?” Jungkook teases. “And I can’t fuckin’ stand you.”

Your playful shock dissolves into narrowed eyes and a suppressed grin. Bam’s looking at you again, so you cup his dainty face and scratch the underside of his jaw. “You hear that, baby Bammie? How are you so lovely when your Daddy is such an asshole?”

Jungkook’s steady gaze lifts to you from Bam. You’re still cooing at the puppy, scratching beneath his snout, but Jungkook’s back in that damn annexe again. He isn’t smiling - but his eyes are unbelievably soft.

So, so velvety. Like satin, maybe; ribbons tied around ponytails. Brushed cotton, perhaps; his still-warm bedsheets fresh out of the tumble dryer.

Soft, like he imagines your hair would be; released from its claw clip, falling around his face. Soft, like he imagines your lips would be; pressed against his, in the privacy of his bedroom. Soft, like he imagines your laugh would be; soundtracking the living alarm clock that is Jeon Bam, as he bundles onto Jungkook’s bed at just gone six-thirty the following morning.

But then you look up at him, and his stare is hard. Still sparkling, yes - but diamonds, not stars. Concrete speckled. Pennies tossed in an empty well; the steel bolt of his door which keeps the outside world at bay.

Hard, like he imagines your teeth would be; tugging on his bottom lip in the shadows of his bedroom. Hard, like he imagines your nails would be; leaving a trail of ruby red sin down his back. Hard, like he imagines your laboured breaths would be; lips resting ajar against his, your very essence pouring into him as he pushes into you.

Hard. Soft. Confusing and conflicting, and just so unbelievably him.

“What?” you question, bemused by the way his demeanour changed. “‘Daddy’ really gets you, huh?”

“Does fuck all for me,” he says with a little temperance, but there’s a smirk on his lips. His tongue runs along the inside of his cheek.

A few have tried the moniker on him, but it never fit well. Would fall from their lips and crash to his bedroom floor. He’d just kiss them to shut them up.

But you… You have him reconsidering. Have him a little hot beneath his sweats.

It’s not really the idea of being your Daddy, but the concept of being one full-stop that has him adjusting his legs slightly. He’s a man of big investments, after all. No greater investment than starting a life with another person. He likes the idea of it.

Makes him think of you talking with a toddler - I’m not sure, baby, go ask Daddy -and the pitter-patter of feet across the hardwood floors of his apartment. Makes him think how gentle you are with Bam, and how wonderful he knows you’d be with a kid. Makes him think all kinds of shit he’s never let himself indulge in before.

When he goes to bed that evening, and his sheets are seeped in the scent of your perfume, he thinks of it all over again.

Thinks of you.

And realises he can’t think about you without his heart racing, any more.

The door of the annexe in his mind is broken, now. Off its hinges.

And apparently, so is he.

Shit.

part two (x)

[sycamoregirlsworld]

I Can See You- L. Castellan

“what would you do if i went to touch you now?” -Taylor Swift

Luke x Fem! reader

slightly mature? idk

Early morning training wasn’t something many campers enjoyed doing.

Most of the kids at camp would much prefer staying in their cabins until the very last minute. Wrapped in their covers until they just had to go to training.

Luke and (Y/n) we’re not those people. Well— it was more like they couldn’t be those people.

Their sparring sometimes got a bit… competitive. Too many campers had complained about it, so the pair decided that they would start to spar early in the morning.

It’s not like they were complaining. Being alone provided a better environment for them.

“Gods, Luke.” (Y/n) breathed out as she was forced onto defense, blocking his jabs with her twin swords.

Sweat glistened on their foreheads as they clashed blades, the metallic echoes filling the air. Luke's brown eyes never left (Y/n)’s form, enamored with the way she fought.

While his fighting style was quick and agressive, she fought gracefully and her moves were calculated.

“C’mon sweetheart, is this all you’ve got?” Luke teased as he attempted to strike her arm.

“Fuck off, Luke.” She grunted and parried his strike.

She had always been a bit too competitive, and it got even worse when it came to Luke.

He winked before swinging his sword towards her, the steel side of backbiter unknowingly facing her.

Catching the silver gleam of the steel, (Y/n) quickly dropped and rolled under his legs.

“Steel side is out, stupid.” She huffed and kicked the back of his knees.

Luke grunted as he stumbled forward. He caught his balance and whipped around to glare at her.

“That was a cheap move, babe.” He breathed out.

Before she could blink, Luke had thrusted his sword out (this time making sure the steel was not facing her) effectively catching her off guard.

(Y/N) stumbled backward, her swords falling out of her hands. Her heart pounding, and not just from the shock of the move but also from the Luke way look was looking at her.

She found herself on the ground, the force the the disarm sending her sprawling. Luke crouched next to her, his eyes now a mix of pride and something deeper.

Unable to break eye contact, Luke lifted (Y/N)'s chin with the tip of his sword, their faces inches apart. (Y/N) bit her lip as she looked up at him, her eyes wide and her breathing unsteady.

The cold metal of his sword should’ve made her scared, if he moved it a bit it could’ve pierced her skin, but instead all (Y/N) could think about was the fact that if she moved her face just a bit her lips would’ve been on his…

The tension hung thick in the air, their faces were both flushed from their sweat and close proximity.

"I could have defeated you," (Y/N) teased, her voice a mix of challenge and vulnerability.

Luke's lips curved into a half-smile, "Maybe, but where's the fun in that?"

His hand reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair, tugging her head back slightly.

“You look hot like this.” He mumbled, his sword still under her chin.

(Y/n) averted her gaze from him, her face burning brighter.

“You’re such a perv.” She chewed at her bottom lip.

Luke nudged her chin with his sword softly. “Look at me, pretty girl.” He pouted playfully.

Luke discarded his sword with a clatter, his urgency evident as he pulled (Y/n) onto his lap, their lips colliding in a fervent, heated kiss.

With one hand tangled in her hair and the other gripping her waist possessively, he drew her closer, igniting an ache within her. (Y/n) gasped softly, before surrendering to the kiss.

She threaded her fingers through his tousled brown locks and tugged softly, eliciting a soft moan from him.

Luke's kiss was rough, and the lingering scent of his sweat heightened her desire.

With a yearning for more, she instinctively began to move against him, seeking the friction she so desperately craved— until a sudden realization pulled her back to reality.

"Luke—" Her voice faltered as their eyes met, his pretty, brown eyes were half-lidded and intoxicated with desire. His tousled hair and flushed cheeks, saliva-slicked lips only fueled her longing. "We can't... we're still on the training grounds..." She hesitated, torn between restraint and the burning need coursing through her veins.

"So what?" Luke's husky voice sent shivers down her spine as his hands began to explore beneath her shirt, his touch setting her ablaze with desire. “It’s still early.”

Glancing around, she considered their surroundings. It was early, and the ache between her legs had gone unattended for weeks…

"Fuck it," she muttered, her resolve crumbling as she pushed Luke down, surrendering to the intoxicating allure of their forbidden passion.

This was why they trained early.

[auras-moonstone]

heyyy idk if you like take requests at this time but can i req an ethan fic with the concept of better than revenge by tay like y/n is dating ethan and someone stole him and like shes planning revenge and like raging and that kinda stuff? tysmmm and your writing is so *chefs kiss* take ur time also mwa

hiii omg thank you for this!! i LOVE better than revenge and i think your idea is so cool, hope you like what i came up with <3 !

better than revenge — ethan landry

word count: 1,468

pairing: ethan landry x fem!reader

summary: y/n founds out why rebekah took an interest in ethan and plans her revenge.

based on: better than revenge by taylor swift

author’s note: today i started classes again so i don’t know how often will i be able to post. they have already assigned me a novel to read and analyse. i want to die😫

SUMMER HAD BEEN THE SEASON THAT BROUGHT ETHAN AND Y/N TOGETHER. Quinn, Ethan’s sister, had introduced them and they instantly clicked. Because of his shyness and lack of experience with girls, she had been the one who made the first step. And they had dated for two amazing months. Until Rebekah came along, got him alone and it was the downfall of their relationship.

“What do you mean he broke up with you? That asshole!” Quinn said in anger.

Y/N sighed. “It’s her, Quinn. She’s taking advantage of him, I know it”.

“Rebekah being interested in my brother was not something I saw coming”

“Me neither, I wouldn’t have suspected it” Y/N frowned, hitting the pillow with anger. “It’s weird, and sudden”.

“Are they together?” Quinn asked.

Y/N shook her head. “No. He told me he likes me but he is confused, and he needs time to clear his feelings up. He said it wasn’t fair for me to be in a relationship when there are doubts in his mind” the girl was gripping a teddy bear with force.

“There are these rumours…” Quinn started, and Y/N looked at her expectedly “Rebekah secretly dates guys to pass the subjects. Makes them do her homework, summaries she can use to cheat on exams”

“Wait, she’s about to fail Econ. And Ethan never got anything lower than an A” Y/N realized. “Do you think she’s…”

“I think so” Quinn frowned “That bitch is using my brother to pass Econ”.

Y/N clenched her jaw “She’s so gonna pay for this. She underestimated who she was stealing from”

“HEY, Y/N/N” Ethan said shyly, sitting next to her on the bench while she ate her lunch.

“Hey, Eth” she smiled sweetly. Even though the pain was beating on her like a drum, Y/N still wanted to be around him, even if it was as his friend. Besides, she could never get mad at Ethan.

“Do you mind if I eat with you?” he asked.

“You are always invited to eat with me” Y/N answered, making him blush. “What are all these books?” Ethan shifted uncomfortable in his seat, and Y/N understood immediately. “They are Rebekah’s”.

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Y/N/N”

“You don’t need to apologize” she reassured him, although the thought of them together made her heart break “Just… don’t let her treat you like your lap dog, okay?”

“She’s not. She just needed to do something and asked me if I could carry them” Ethan said.

“Okay, if you say so” Y/N nodded, not convinced at all.

“Y/N…” he looked at her, regret filling those puppy brown eyes Y/N loved so much.

“No, Eth. You don’t have to explain anything. Not anymore” Y/N sent him a weak smile.

This statement created a knot in Ethan’s throat. He missed Y/N very much, but he also knew he was attracted to Rebekah. He needed to figure his feelings out.

“What are you talking about?” said the annoying voice of the girl who got between them.

“Nothing” Y/N brushed it off.

“Okay” she said in a over-friendly tone. She was trying so hard to act nice. “Eth, can you help me with my Econ assignment?” she asked, putting a hand on his bicep and batting her eyelashes at him. God, Y/N hated her and her stupid vintage dresses so much.

Ethan gulped, she made him nervous. And Rebekah subtly smirked at Y/N. “You haven’t done it yet? It’s for today”

“I tried, I just don’t understand it” she said in a fake saddened voice.

“Have you tried asking the teacher? You know, he’s there for something” Y/N said, acting as if she really wanted to help her. But it takes an actress to know one, so Rebekah just glared at her.

“I can’t right now. I’m having lunch with Y/N/N” Ethan said, and Y/N did her best to hide her smile of victory. “Maybe you should talk to the teacher”.

As much as she hated how Rebekah was taking advantage of Ethan, she needed him to do her homework once more. But this time, Y/N was going to make sure Rebekah doesn’t get away with it.

“It’s fine, Eth. We can hang out later”

“Are you sure?” he asked, he really didn’t want her to leave.

“Yes, don’t worry. See you later” she kissed his cheek, making him smile widely, cheeks turning even more red. “Bye, Rebekah, it was so nice meeting you”.

WHEN REBEKAH SLAMMED Y/N LOCKER WITH ANGER, SHE KNEW HER PLAN HAD WORKED. Y/N showed the fuming girl her best smile, which made the other girl even angrier.

“Hi, Rebekah. Can I help you with something?” she asked innocently.

“Drop the act. You did this, didn’t you?” Rebekah showed her the failing grade.

“Um, no. I believe the professors are the ones who grade our stuff” she replied, explaining as if Rebekah was five years old.

“Don’t act like a saint, and don’t smart talk to me. You told the teacher Ethan did this assignment, and now I’ll have to re-take the entire subject” she spitted in anger. “Why did you do this? Is it because you’re jealous? Because Ethan likes me more than you?”

Y/N finally smirked “Nah, jealousy certainly added fuel to the fire, but the main reason is because I don’t like seeing the people I love being walked over. Ethan is an amazing guy, he deserves so much better than your bullshit and manipulation”.

“Please, that guy is a loser” Rebekah scoffed. “He’s so insecure and attention deprived. I swear I didn’t even have to kiss him, I would just put my hand on his arm and he would do anything I asked. How pathetic”

“If he’s pathetic, then how should you be described? I mean, asking guys to do your work for you on every subject because your little brain is not capable of even comprehending one subject? Now, that is pathetic”

“Did you just call me pathetic?” Rebekah pushed her harshly against the lockers.

“Yup. Add ex-swim team captain to the list” Y/N said.

“What do you mean?” Rebekah asked appalled.

“Oh, you don’t know? My god, this keeps getting better. My dear Rebekah, it’s with great sadness I inform you that if you re-take a subject you can’t be captain of any team. I’m so sorry!”

“What?!” she screamed.

Y/N smiled, enjoying the scene in front of her “Do you still feel like you know what you’re doing? I don’t think you do”

“You’re a bitch” the mad woman said between gritted teeth.

“Mm, no. I’m actually pretty nice, but you played with Ethan as if he was a toy. You have no dignity, and this is me teaching you not to push people down to get you where you want to go.”

“I’m going to tell Ethan what you did” Rebekah warned me.

“No body, no crime, Rebekah. You can’t prove it” Y/N smirked.

The unhinged girl turned around and smiled when he saw the nerdy boy leaning against the locker “I think I don’t have to prove anything. He heard it on his own”.

Y/N looked in that direction and her face fell. She tried to tell herself that, even if Ethan got mad at her for sticking her nose in his life, at least he won’t be Rebekah’s puppet anymore.

“You did that? You snitched on Rebekah?” Ethan asked, he didn’t seem mad.

“Yes” Y/N admitted. “How much did you hear?”

“Everything” the boy laughed. “Thank you”

Both girls stared at him in surprise. “Ethan, she handed me in!”

“You deserve it. You know, I should’ve known it was all an act” Ethan looked at Rebekah, there wasn’t any hint of sadness in his voice. Then, he looked at his ex-girlfriend and his eyes got glossy. He had never regretted something so bad “I’m sorry it took me that long to realize, Y/N/N. I love you”

Y/N smiled “I love you too”

“Do you forgive me?” Ethan asked hopeful, Y/N nodded.

“You two are ridiculous” Rebekah scoffed.

“Whatever, Rebekah. Enjoy seeing the swimming team compete without you” Y/N threw a fake smile at her, and then the girl left them alone, throwing curses as she walked away.

“When you left us alone the other day at the bench… I thought you had already moved on from me” Ethan confessed, as he hid his face on Y/N’s neck. “Not that I don’t deserve it”

“No! I so wanted to punch her in the face for using you, but I needed you to do her homework so I could turn her in” she explained.

Ethan laughed “You’re good”

“There’s nothing I do better than revenge” Y/N joked.

“I can think of a few things…”

Y/N blushed at the suggestion “Janitor’s closet. Now”

“God, I missed you” Ethan kissed her roughly as he led her to the closet.

[sourholland]

based off of taylor swift’s song style

a/n → we are so back. here’s the official playlist for style 🩵 also there’s a dual pov moment in this ??? there’s been a few in this fic but it’s very deliberate this time and idk how to feel about it.

summary → he’s the quarterback of the cincinnati bengals, a worldwide heartthrob with an ego the size of lake erie—but does he have the heart to match it? you’re the bengals newest cheerleader, desperate to prove how much you deserve your spot on the team. it doesn’t take much to catch the eye of joe burrow, however that isn’t necessarily a good thing when you’re told that any romantic relations between cheerleaders and players is strictly prohibited.

warnings → strong language

word count → 3.3k

reblog and leave some comments if you enjoy!!

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 5

After you and Joe had come close to being caught in his locker room, both of you decided it was best to make a swift exit plan that let you both make it to the parking lot unscathed and unsuspecting. You departed first, quickly turning the corner and leaving the hallway with your bag slung over your shoulder. Joe had in fact kept your panties, taunting you for a minute and motioning for you to attempt to grab them from him. Spooked by the disturbance, you only told him that he now owes you two pairs.

Joe left a few minutes after you, taking a completely different hallway out of the facility and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. He asked to see you before you’d split, so the fact that he knew he was going to follow you back to your apartment had seemingly put a bit of pep in his step. You watched him cross the large parking lot, waving at you and smiling in a way that left you shaking your head and laughing. He must have changed clothes before he walked out, adorning a pair of shorts and a black jacket overtop his white hoodie.

The drive was quiet, save for the few times Joe would purposefully begin to ride the ass of your car or honk like you had done something wrong. Funny, you bit back some amusement as you let the horn blare right back at him. He was unlike any guy you had been with in that aspect, his humor was genuine and never had anything to do with making you feel bad about yourself or to poke fun. His jokes never cut deep, which was rare in your few relationships thus far.

Joe parked beside you in your unit’s garage. His Porsche most definitely stood out amongst the line of cars, sleek and spotless as if he had just taken it through the car wash. Everything about him was so clean and prim and proper, it intimidated you now more than ever. A sudden feeling of insecurity washed over you, wondering if he was silently judging you and your life. You couldn’t help gazing down at the steering wheel, thinking endlessly about how much Joe really possessed in athleticism, riches, and looks compared to your ex-boyfriends.

Suddenly his knuckle wrapped against your window, “You got mac ‘n’ cheese up there? Tell me that doesn’t sound so good right now.”

You couldn’t help laughing at him, his so-casual words through the window that you rolled down. He leaned into your car, arms folded so his chin rested on them as he perched and tilted his head to the side. He looked inside of your car now, having never seen it. His legs were so long, you noted once again as you breathed another chuckle at his stature. He merely shook his head, waiting for a response about the food.

“I think I have the little Kraft cups. I might have some of the normal boxes, it might be Velvetta, though,” you watched as he gave you an eyeroll.

“You think one of those cups is gonna sustain me? I’m insulted,” he placed a hand on his heart and finally pulled his head out of the car. He opened the car door for you, motioning for you to step out with an outstretched hand for your bag. “I was practically inhaling those things at eight. You can’t seriously be full off one.”

“Excuse me, Joe. Not all of us are..” you spoke with booming amusement and sarcasm, prepared to give a dramatic reenactment as you approached the elevator. “The one, the only Joe Burrow! Heartthrob NFL quarterback, generous philanthropist, sexiest–”

“Ah okay, I see. Someone’s got jokes,” he interrupted, smiling ear to ear. “Please, don’t stop on my accord. What about me is so sexy?”

As you crossed the threshold and began upward in the elevator, you gave him a teasing smirk and noticed just how pink his cheeks had gotten at your comments. He was still holding your bag, bouncing up and down on his heels and occasionally glancing sidelong at you while you went up. The ride was a comfortable silence, simply peering at each other when the other was not looking in a sort of high school fashion.

Joe discarded his coat as he entered your freshly unlocked apartment, murmuring something about how he was sweating. You watched him curiously, tidying up and discarding some of the random things you and the girls had strewn around the apartment. He hadn’t ever been inside, he’d only picked you up when you went out for drinks. He definitely had no intention of masking his curiosity, he walked along the walls of your living room and noted each photo and piece of decor. He picked up a frame on the TV stand, it was a moment captured on film from your study abroad trip in Australia. His eyes scanned the photograph where you and Sydney were perched on pink beach towels, smiling drunkenly and wearing floppy hats for shade.

“What’s your life like?” He asked you, not a hint of hesitation in his question. “I know you’re a cheerleader, I know you’re going to school to become a teacher. What about all the other stuff, though?”

You paused and hummed, “I feel like my life might bore in comparison to yours.”  

“I highly doubt that, but tell me anyway.”

“I grew up in a pretty rural area in Massachusetts. I have an older brother, his name is Jack. My parents have been divorced for a few years, but they stuck it out until I moved out. For better or for worse,” you told him without maintaining much eye contact. “I’m really not trying to dump all of my childhood trauma on you, I promise.”

“Y/N, what are you talking about? I asked,” Joe said, reassuring you and noting how you fiddled with the strings of the knit throw blanket. “I want to know, I really do.”

His expression was genuine, his eyes serious and fixated solely on you. He had discarded his car keys and phone on a nearby countertop, giving you his full attention as you inhaled deeper and thought seriously about what you wished to tell him. He felt unreal, like something you had dreamed up and manifested into your living room. A part of you thought you should pinch yourself and look again, sure that he would have disappeared into thin air. No, you forced yourself out of the thought and made yourself see that he was just as real and tangible as you are. 

“We grew up pretty poor and just getting by. It was rough, those first few years especially, but we managed and eventually my mom and dad were able to save. They got into real estate later on and then investing, I’m grateful for all of it. I worked hard in school to help with scholarships and stuff so they wouldn’t be totally responsible for putting me through college,” the words flowed without much thought and he nodded, listening intently. “They weren’t happy. I knew it long before anyone mentioned divorce, but I was still pretty wrecked. I’m grateful, though. They gave me a great work ethic, you know just watching them build a better life for our family. I wouldn’t even live here without their help.”

“I can tell you’re a hard worker,” he was assessing you in your entirety. “Are you close with them? Your family, I mean.”

You stilled for a moment, thinking intently about the question. Joe was sitting across from you, elbows braced on his knees as he leaned into the conversation. His gaze was soft, gentle even. He wasn’t looking at you with pity, however. His expression was more of a mixture of understanding and concentration, like he was afraid to say the wrong thing.

“Not so much, no,” you answered. “But the love is still there. I just have a hard time expressing it to my family, I guess. If that makes any sense at all. With my friends, it always just comes so much easier. I’ve just always felt outside myself around my family, like they know nothing about me.”

“How does that make you feel?” 

“It’s just kind of how it's always been, I guess.”

Joe listened to you for ten more minutes, not protesting when you rose from the loveseat and seemed to want to change the subject to something more positive. Following you into the kitchen, he began to look through the cupboards for something to make. It didn’t take him long before finding the Kraft cups, turning around and showing you with an eye roll. He began rattling off the nutrition label, making you raise your phone to him with a hand over your mouth as you captured a short clip of his fully serious assessment.

He continued to sift through the materials of your kitchen, finding an actual box of mac ‘n’ cheese and beginning to look for your pots and pans. You silently extended a hand, letting him take the pot from you and start cooking. You walked over to the fridge, glancing around your options for drinks.

“So I have Celsius, milk, Titos, Capri Suns, and water,” you told him, cringing internally at the selection. 

“What flavor Capri Sun?” He asked, stirring the food in front of him.

“Looks like… strawberry kiwi.”

“Yeah, I’ll take one of those,” he looked over his shoulder at you. 

You both ate in front of the living room television, watching The Hunger Games underneath the throw blanket you had extended to him as soon as you sat down. He took it graciously, eating much faster and going back for a second helping before you’d finished even half of your bowl. You snickered softly, wondering the daily caloric intake of an NFL player and how much Joe had to eat to maintain his figure. 

Once you both finished eating, he followed you into your bathroom with his bag. He took his toothpaste and toothbrush out, the set you assumed was only for practice and games. You both stood in front of the mirror, brushing silently until Joe would make a face in the mirror. He took the lid of the mouthwash you had filled up, knocking it back just as you had. He stifled a laugh while you swished, pulling his phone out and taking a picture of you with your hands on your hips, eyes narrowed at him and mouth full of mouthwash.

Joe’s cold hand slid onto your upper thigh as you settled back into the couch. He pinched softly and you whacked his arm slightly harder, causing both of you to laugh as he threw his hands up in playful defense. You let him lean in as he mouthed the word ‘truce’, only to attack your middle and put you with your back on the couch. He hovered above you, pressing a chaste kiss to your neck and lips.

“Should I go?” Joe asked, looking down at his phone and realizing how late it is. 

“Do you want to go?” You asked him in one breath. 

The only light illuminating his face was from the movie playing in the background. Joe’s pupils were blown, his hair falling forward as he was still above you. His body pressed a fraction of his weight on you, both of your pulses pounding. He let himself think about the question, humming lowly and taking in the visual before him once again.

“I never want to go,” he said, half-joking with a smirk. “You tell me. I have to be at the facility to watch film at eight, I’ll be gone before you wake up. It’ll be like I was never here. ”

Is that what he wants? The question wracked your brain as you sat contemplating how casual this was for him. His flattery sometimes felt so real, like more than foreplay or meaningless flirting. There was always the undertone of what was wrong with you two being tangled up in the same blanket, though. Joe couldn’t bring you on a real date, you would never be able to show anyone the video from the kitchen–why shouldn’t this be casual to him? He likes you, perhaps. But how can you expect him to want to tiptoe around each other’s jobs?

“Okay, yeah,” the words came out more breathy than you intended. “Sounds good to me.”

Joe studied your dimly lit face, “Everything alright?” 

You told yourself not to be that same girl you were at the bar, the one you could only assume he viewed as a psychotic bitch. A part of you was willing yourself to shove down some of those strong feelings for him, giving him a soft smile and nodding. He relaxed a bit, letting you turn in his arms and watch the movie with your back to his chest.

It was only about ten minutes before you heard the sounds of his soft snores, one arm tucked underneath his head and the other firm around your chest. His breathing was deep and steady, occasionally pulling you into him further. After a few minutes, you grabbed your phone off of the coffee table and turned your camera front-facing, making sure the flash was off and snapping a picture to send to your group chat with the girls.

Sydney: Oh. My. GOD.

Sydney: I’m actually throwing up rn what the fuck 

Sydney: LOOK HOW BIG HIS HAND IS

Lena: I’m freaking the fuck out omg

Lena: I’m so jealous

Lena: He’s so 

Sydney: He’s fine as fuck

Y/N: IKR

Y/N: I think I’m obsessed 

Sydney: Girl wbk that

Sydney: Be fucking for real

Y/N: I simply do not think I will be making it to class on Monday

Lena: That’s three days away

Y/N: Ugh Ik

Y/N: Last first day of classes! 

Y/N: I’ll call you guys tomorrow and debrief

Both of them hearted the message, sending their goodnight texts and equally dirty messages about you and Joe sleeping together. You flipped the TV off and let yourself lean into his arms a bit further, inhaling his scent of high end cologne and mint. He held onto you protectively, caging you into his embrace and brushing his nose against your hair. You slowly let yourself drift to the sound of his breaths.

⋆------------⋆

Joe woke up around six, he felt you pressing into him and against him first. His neck was stiff, wishing he’d have made it to your bed last night. He couldn’t recall falling asleep, assuming he had knocked out while you both watched the movie. He inhaled the scent of your shampoo, closing his eyes for a few moments and allowing himself to linger between that sweet spot of sleep and consciousness.

He savored the few moments of domesticity, wondering what it would be like to wake up in bed next to the other. Everything about you was so intoxicating, he had never been much of a risk taker before. He would have never risked bringing you into the locker room if he was in a completely sane state of mind. He thought of you with such desperation and yearning that he simply couldn’t have cared less about what anyone had to say about it.

Joe knew this made him selfish, made him irresponsible, and that was the worst part. He knew and he didn’t give a shit, he couldn’t stay away from you. Not that he had really tried, but he also lacked the desire to. Being around you was bad for him, Joe thought as he watched you sleep soundlessly beside him. You cause him to completely lose control of who he is and yet he cannot seem to stay away. 

Slipping out from behind you without waking you was difficult, but he managed to get out over the back of the couch and readjust the blanket to cover you. Joe walked around, grabbing his jacket and pulling it on whilst also cleaning up a bit and helping with the dishes he helped dirty. He came up with the idea to leave a note, leaving him looking around your kitchen for materials, shaking off his damp hands and pulling his sleeves back down. He found a notepad and pen easily, but stared blankly at the sheet. Is leaving a note too much? He had a hard time reading your attitude towards certain things, he had tried to get you to stay for breakfast and you flat out refused him. Perhaps it was better to adhere to what was agreed on, it would be like he was never there.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Joe sighed and set the pen down. He left quietly after brushing a hand over your head once more, shutting the door softly behind him so as not to wake you up. 

⋆------------⋆

When you rolled over to grab your phone, Joe was already long gone and his spot beside you had now gone cold. Yawning, you sat up and padded to the bathroom to pee and contemplate everything that had gone on during the previous night. At first glance, you assumed Joe had tidied up the strewn pillows on the living room floor and moved your phone to the coffee table. 

Once you made it into the kitchen, you realized he had washed the dishes that had been used and pulled out a sheet of paper. There was nothing written on it, pen sitting idly by as if he planned to write something for you to wake up to. Casual, you reminded yourself. Both of you had agreed on casual. 

The run you went on this morning was particularly long, headphones blaring as you pushed yourself further and further away from your complex. Thoughts of cheerleading and Joe weighed on your mind heavily, his head between your thighs the night before most certainly did not make it any easier for you to focus on controlling your breathing. Casual felt like a punishment, especially in this case. He couldn’t have felt a fraction of how you did, your thoughts occupied constantly with the sight of his unruly hair and large hands on your body. He was making you crazy, the way he touched you was genuinely driving you into insanity. Much less the fact that you risked your spot on the team each time you answered at his beck and call. 

Your phone began to ring, Lena’s caller ID popping up. You answered, sweat coating you like a layer of oil.

“Don’t freak out.”

“Freak out?” I heaved, taking a long sip of water. “Why would I freak out?”

“There’s a picture of you and Joe on Twitter. You can’t see your face at all and you’re at a red light, all you can see is him and some of your hair,” she informed you, cautiously attempting to keep your anxiety at bay. “It’s days old, but it popped up on my timeline just now and it has a few thousand likes.”

She sent you a screenshot, fingers shaking as you opened up your texts and tapped on the picture. It was a photo from the first night you’d gone to get food, a sneaky snapshot at a redlight when your window was half down. Thankfully, only your shoulders and the back of your head was visible under the light that made the color of your hair hard to detect. Joe was looking over at you, smiling with one hand occupied by the half-gone milkshake. 

Feeling like the wind was knocked out of you, you silently copied the image and sent it to Joe. 

“I feel like I should end things with him officially,” was all you said to Lena. “He wants casual and I’m not sure this is worth casual.”

lmk to be added to the taglist!

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[strongheartneteyam]

Realize where you belong.

Pairing: neteyam sully x female!dreamwalker!reader/female!human!reader

Chapter 6

CW: lots of angst, jealousy is not even the right word to describe neteyam's state anymore, emotionally hurt neteyam, yandere neteyam, reader has a hard time trying to fight her feelings for neteyam, mentions of using someone with the intention of forgetting someone else, mild violence, mentions of sexual fluids, possessive and territorial neteyam, mentions of depressive symptoms, use of alcohol, feelings of fear, tension, confessions of love, fluff. I think that's all (??)

✨ IM BACK ✨ I can't even believe I managed to finally update this fanfic! 😂 All of a sudden I spent days on end being a 24/7 nurse for my spayed kitten and didn't have time for anything + having to give her 2 different pills at 2 different times, all during the am hours, plus another one in the morning, left me SOOO sleep deprived. It was horrible. Thank God she doesn't have to take the pills anymore. ANYWAY lol Guys, in the beginning of the chapter until the middle of it, I think, I know you guys are gonna want to murder me or reader or both (you know that y/n meme with the pic of the blonde girl "choking" her own shadow in the wall, saying like "babe this is not us" or smth? so… pretty much that! lol) BUT I PROMISE it's gonna be really good in the end 🥲 trust me, please 🥺 it's the moment most of us (yes, me included!) have been waiting for! 💕 Also, this is a longer chapter, compared to the usual. Maybe a compensation for my absence? Idk! lol I just hope you guys like it! haha OKAY if I say anything else, it'll be a spoiler lol love y'all to death!!! my readers are my babies, my lil angels… I truly freaking love you guys so much!!! 🫀⚘

Not proofread.

Chapter 5

ˏˋ°���*⁀➷

I can see you standing, honey, with his arms around your body

Laughin', but the joke's not funny at all

(...)

I can see you staring, honey, like he's just your understudy

Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me

Second, third, and hundredth chances

Balancin' on breaking branches

Those eyes add insult to injury 

exile (Taylor Swift, Bon Iver)

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The air was thick and chaotic at the Olo'eyktan's hut that morning. Everyone seemed to be a bit too restless, either getting ready to go show up to their duties to the clan, like Neytiri, or thinking about some personal struggle, like Kiri, who was lost in thought, looking a bit sad. But she was also mixing some herbs and flowers, preparing a thick, violet colored substance that was used to treat wounds, that she would later give to Neytiri. Kiri would always help Neytiri a lot, assisting her in her Tsahìk position in the Omatikaya clan.

But Neteyam still stood out among the whole family. He was unmistakably grumpy that morning, Lo’ak noticed, as he was - once again - watching the weird way his older brother was behaving. Neteyam was not being his usual calm and caring self. He was not trying to take care of everyone, not giving out smiles and trying to cheer his siblings up. He was even distracted when Jake was giving him instructions about how today's training would go and giving him other orders, like telling him to keep an eye on Tuk whenever he's able to, as she was growing and becoming even smarter, more energetic and mischievous and was starting to get into more trouble, sometimes even picking fights with other girls in the clan, becoming a bit too much like Lo'ak, which had been making Jake rub the sides of his forehead in worry lately, way more often than he liked to admit.

"The Mighty Warrior, distracted when dad is telling him what to do?! What the fuck is happening?!" Lo'ak thought. Something was very wrong. And Lo’ak was determined to find out what it was.

Neteyam sat with his legs slightly open, his hands were crossed, his elbows resting on his knees. He had a lost stare in his eyes, gazing at the nothingness, looking like he was mad at someone who had just maybe punched him in the face.

He did not know how to deal with it all, that turmoil of emotions you were causing inside him felt overwhelming to the Sullys first born. He had taken on just so many challenges throughout his life and conquered most of them, but he feared you were gonna be a war that he might lose. He had to admit it bruised his ego. Suddenly, he did not feel like such a Mighty Warrior after all. An adversary that most people would judge as a weak one compared to him, a mere human girl, so small in comparison to his size, was defeating him. Suddenly all his skills with bows, arrows, big knives and even big, intimidating shotguns were not enough.

And Neteyam felt lost. He did not know what to do. For the first time in his life, his rational and smart brain could not seem to produce a war strategy that could help him win. Win you. He felt just like a wounded warrior, bleeding on the floor.

༊⁀➷

You decided to finally answer Derek’s messages today, after ghosting him for a while. You were feeling weird and lonely. And shaken. God, still so shaken... What the hell happened last night? Did that really happen? Was it all just a dream? You could swear those words Neteyam Suli had given you, about how he was in love with you, that his hauntingly tall and broad figure, vulnerable, kneeling on the ground in front of you, telling you he could tell you desired him too, had all been just part of a weird, eerie, anxious, borderline wet dream.

You knew very well what you were doing to Derek. You were using him to forget about the mess Neteyam was making of you. You knew that was wrong and you did feel guilty and ashamed. But you also knew you had to step back into your old reality, into that familiar world, into your comfort zone, a place where there were only regular human guys interested in you, not that current unsettling reality you were living in - you could still swear it had all just been a dream. Or a nightmare, perhaps. You were not sure -, where there was an almost 10 feet tall alien boy pursuing you, declaring his love and his nearly inappropriate desire for you, talking about the intimate parts of your body in a way that made you uncomfortable, anxious but... that lured you in too, at the same time. You needed an escape from it all. Your already disturbed mind did not seem able to deal with those facts at that moment and Derek seemed like the perfect distraction. 

Damn, what had you become? That was not ethical or moral at all - using a human being like a tool to distract you from your conflicting emotions - but you did not seem to be capable of caring too much about being ethical or moral at that time. Your whole perception of the world seemed to be changing. You felt bedazzled and unsteady. You did not want to admit to yourself that you were starting to feel too much for Neteyam, that you were running away from your feelings like a thief runs away with an expensive item he just robbed. No, you were not in love with him. How could that even be? Everybody knew the na’vi don’t get romantically involved with humans. Your races were more like enemies than buddies. There were only a few humans who were loyal to the na'vi and maintained a somewhat close relationship with them, but never a romantic one. What was making you and Neteyam feel like that for each other? That could only bring problems and you sure as hell did not want more trouble in your already complicated life.

You would be better off sticking to a human male instead. It was safe and familiar. It did not make your anxiety skyrocket. But it also did not excite you a single bit. Derek caused you nothing. You could barely even feel actually turned on when he touched your body and kissed your lips. It was just like he was a habit you had gotten used to, making out with him here and there, to numb the pain you felt inside your heart almost all the time. His biggest efforts to make you wet never seemed to work. Meanwhile, Neteyam got you wet without having ever touched you. That sure spoke loud enough. 

So why were you rejecting Neteyam and going after Derek?

Maybe you felt too afraid to take a risk, to follow your heart. God knows following that damn reddish muscular organ had put you in the worst situations possible in the past. You felt numb but you felt safe. And safe felt good. Bearable, at least. You were afraid if you gave into what you felt for Neteyam you just might explode. The feelings were that strong. You did not know what to do to try and ignore that tiny but extremely annoying creature inside your brain that would always be whispering “What if something actually good came out of it? Take a risk. For once in your life, don’t play it safe.”

But you were choosing to play it safe, anyway. At least this afternoon. You were gonna meet Derek, after two weeks without doing so, and just hang out, eat junk food, drink some alcohol and talk about non important things, just laugh and be silly, like you two always used to do. He was a good friend. Too bad he never made any type of fire light up inside of you, not even in the very beginning of your rendezvous, that’s why you never got to have sex with him. You were simply not interested. At all, to be honest. You wondered why you still insisted on being physically intimate with him. There were many things in your life that you did and did not really think too much about. They were just pure routine, they just kinda happened and you let them, almost like you weren't really living your life, but only a mere spectator to the events that were happening to you. And it seemed like you felt too emotionally numb to put an end to them. Your involvement with Derek was one of those things. He started to flirt with you one day, you were bored and you thought "why not?" and now, months later, you were still caught in this situation. If anyone asked you if there was any other reason why you were gonna see Derek today other than to try and get Neteyam out of your mind, you honestly couldn't say there was. It was crystal clear to you that, even though you were fighting like crazy to deny your feelings for Neteyam, you were indeed falling for him.

But how could that be? Some days ago, he was only an Omatikaya famous warrior - and, oh, let's not forget, the next Olo'eyktan of their clan - that you had only heard people talk about.

༊⁀➷

Neteyam was up in one of the highest tree branches he could find that day. He did not want anybody to see him, as usual, but he also did not want you to know he was watching you, either. He knew you were now aware of his constant presence around you. He knew you were not oblivious to his love anymore.

The sun was harassing his eyes, so he put his hand over them and squinted hard to try and see if the guy next to you, in the laboratory’s cafeteria, was really who he thought it was. When his eyes could get a better view, once the sun was not bothering them so much anymore, he felt something sinking in his stomach and his heartbeat accelerated considerably.

He had just confirmed who the guy was. It was that disgusting little human male that liked to act like you were his mate. Neteyam hissed ferociously, his protruding na’vi fangs looking scarier than ever, as his wide feline eyes watched Derek leaning close to your face and kissing your lips. Neteyam wanted to die - or maybe kill Derek - when he noticed you kissed him back.

༊⁀➷

You forced a smile while looking at Derek, after you had the initiative to break that damn kiss who seemed to never end. He seemed satisfied with the fact that you two had just kissed, contrary to what you were feeling. You honestly felt like you wanted to throw up. All you could think about was how it would feel to kiss Neteyam, to smell his scent again, that was so abundantly different from what you were used to, but that fact only seemed to make you want him even more.

You looked away to try and forget the ridiculous mistake you were making by being with Derek at that moment. You were looking at the ground and your gaze moved upwards. Now your eyes were directed towards the outside of the lab. What you saw startled you beyond reason. Neteyam was squatting, up in the branches of a huge tree, not too close but not too far from the part of the laboratory you and Derek were currently in. His fangs were out, seeming bigger than ever, as he hissed ferociously. Neteyam's animalistic side had completely taken over him and you could tell.

A chill ran down your spine. You could feel in your guts something bad was about to happen.

Your heart throbbed in pain as you saw how hurt he was now that he had seen you kissing Derek, even after he - Neteyam - had confessed his feelings for you in such a vulnerable way last eclipse. You saw in his eyes how betrayed he felt, like you were just silently telling him that his love did not matter at all to you and you'd rather be with any other guy but him.

༊⁀➷

"Hey, I'm going outside for a while, 'kay?" Derek spoke as he got up from the place he had been sitting, beside you, kissing your cheek "The boys are gonna meet me behind the lab in a while. "

Oh, no. Derek would not be safe if he went outside. Not with Neteyam spilling hate for him out of his soul like that. You had to try and find a way to keep Derek inside.

"Oh." You said, not being able to conceal your nervousness "Why don't you wait for them to actually get there before you go?!" You almost begged, visibly tense

"God, you seem nervous." He chuckled slightly, seeming uncomfortable " Is everything alright?"

"Yeah! I just want you to spend some more time with me." You pouted at him, coming up with an excuse to try and keep Derek from going out of the lab

"Sorry, sugar. It was nice hanging out and stuff but I really need to go now." He was already walking fast towards the door before you could try and talk him out of that stupid idea

You couldn't let any of the people in that cafeteria know something was up, so, you pretended everything was alright and finished eating your chips and took the last sip of your canned whisky and coke and stood up, walking slowly (when you actually wanted to freaking run) in the direction of the lab's metal door that led to outside.

You put your oxygen mask on, took a deep breath and walked out the door. 

You heard a noise, it was like a really heavy object falling to the floor. You also heard some strong thuds.

When you started to walk around to try and see what was happening, you realized your fear had become reality. Neteyam was sitting on top of Derek’s squirming body, his toned, striped thighs straddling Derek’s torax. You gasped when you realized Derek was no longer wearing his oxygen mask and Neteyam's huge hand was over Derek's mouth, preventing him from screaming for help. Neteyam looked at him like a hunter looks at their prey, while his big fangs and loud hisses put fear in the human boy's eyes. Derek was completely terrified.

Your heart beat sped up insanely and your hands were now cold as ice. You were afraid for Derek’s life.

You knew that the way Neteyam was taking out his frustration and jealousy on Derek was indescribably far from okay but still, as cruel to Derek as it seemed, you still felt incredibly sorry for the Omatikaya in front of you.

At the end of the day, you had a big percentage of blame for what he was doing right now. You were confused and afraid and torn but you knew to whom your heart belonged and it was not Derek. So why the hell were you being so selfish to the point of hurting two boys at the same time just because you didn't know how to deal with your own feelings? You realized it was time for you to stop being a coward and put an end to that madness.

You could tell Neteyam was not okay mentally and you knew that you were being toxic too, that you were contributing for his mental state to get worse with your indecisiveness and fear, despite his efforts to show you he would never hurt you. You wanted to stop hurting him and help him instead, to finally let go and admit to yourself and to him that yes, despite the way you had been acting, you were in love with him too.

"Neteyam, don't!! Let him go, please!!" You shouted, running towards the human and the na'vi boy.

You finally got close to Neteyam. He stopped and looked at you, his eyes so fiery, the calm golden pools they always used to be were now boiling with feelings of anger, jealousy, hurt and betrayal.

"For me! Please?" You pleaded him, looking deep into his eyes while stroking his strong blue arm

You watched that beast inside of Neteyam slowly calm down, as his feline ears pointed downwards and his eyes became softer. He moved his hand away from Derek’s mouth and the human boy let out a series of labored breaths. Neteyam slowly got off of him, revealing his beyond intimidating height as he stood up, and stepped away from him.

You walked as fast as you could to where Derek's oxygen mask was laying on the floor and picked it up, checking if was broken (it wasn't! Thank you, Universe.) and went back to where he was lying down and gave it back to him.

Neteyam watched your movements and felt jealous when you got close to Derek, so, once you got back to the place where you were standing before, Neteyam stood right next to your arm. His instincts told him to mark his territory.

Derek swiftly put it back on. He was almost completely out of breath. Derek breathed in deep once the mask was covering his face, taking in all the oxygen he possibly could.

"Are you okay?" You looked down at Derek’s body, searching for any visible wounds. There were none, at best. "God, I'm so sorry about this…"

"Yeah, I'm fine, somehow." Derek seemed afraid, shocked, frustrated and angry, all simultaneously, as he got off the floor and got back on his feet

"Please, don't tell anyone that you saw Neteyam or that he tried to hurt you, okay?"

"What the fuck?!! This psycho almost tried to kill me!! Why are you defending him?!"

Neteyam hissed at him when he heard what he had just called him but you squeezed his arm and he looked at you, remembering your pleas were the thing that were keeping him from killing that small, pink male. Even though it hurt him deeply that you were protecting that human, he couldn't bring himself to ignore you when you were begging him not to hurt Derek. You had Neteyam in the palm of your hand.

"You don't understand! If you let anyone in that lab know what Neteyam did to you, the RDA will eventually know about it too! Do you understand how serious this is? Do you wanna see Neteyam dead?!" You urged him, looking deep into his eyes "You could even help start another war between the humans and the na'vi. Do you understand that it is a much bigger issue than it seems to be? Just forget about what happened and I'll make sure Neteyam won't ever try to hurt you again."

Derek smirked in contempt 

"How can you be so sure he will listen to you?"

"I know he will! He loves me. And… I love him too."

Derek’s face had a big question mark all over it now and his mouth fell open.

Neteyam seemed to be shocked for a while. He did not expect you to say that, at all. He thought you would never love him back. Neteyam couldn't seem to believe those words had actually just come out of your mouth.

You breathed in deep, trying to stay calm amidst all that chaos "This thing between us…" You looked at Derek "It's over. I don't know why I was still insisting on it, I never even felt attracted to you, in the first place. I'm sorry."

"I'm outta here! All of this shit that's going on… feels like a fucking nightmare"

"Can you do as I said and not tell anyone about Neteyam? Nobody, ever? Please?!" You were nervous, brows furrowed, talking fast

"Okay!! Just let me go now! I think it's better if you and I keep some distance from each other from now on. I don't want your crazy na'vi boyfriend trying to kill me again." 

Neteyam hissed at Derek again when he heard the word "crazy" and Derek rapidly looked at him, startled, but couldn't be brave enough to spend more than some seconds staring at him, so, he swiftly looked away 

"Neteyam, please!! He's going already." You looked at Neteyam, a bit angry and impatient, asking him to calm down "Just go, Derek." You spit out and sighed, feeling physically and mentally drained after having to stop that stupid fight

Derek finally turned his back to you and Neteyam and left.

You looked at Neteyam. His eyes were glued on you. Those pretty amber eyes. His face wasn't full of hatred and anger anymore. His demeanor was much calmer now. His body language radiated love towards you. His tail was wagging softly. You felt pain and regret consuming your chest. How could you have treated Neteyam so badly last night? You realized now you couldn't hold him to the same standards you hold human males. The na'vi are animalistic beings, in spite of their high intelligence. And worse, how could you be irresponsible enough to kiss Derek even not actually wanting to, making Neteyam see it and get as hurt as he did? You sure were being trashy.

"My tawtute…" he cooed as he turned to look in your eyes "I won't let you run away from me anymore." Neteyam had a big smile on his lips "I don't care if you try to. That's all I needed to hear, that you love me. Now that you've said it, even if you didn't say it directly to me, I'm gonna fight for you even harder, even if you keep trying to push me away, I will keep bothering you." He kept smiling, blissful "You're like an Ikran. I just need to be patient with you. Eventually, I'll tame you and you'll be mine. All mine, hi'ì 'emyu." (small cook) "Bonded to me through tsaheylu. I can be patient and I will be."

You could only look at him, stare at his face and ask yourself why. Why was he willing to put so much work into making you his mate? 

"I'm not gonna run away from you anymore." You finally said "I'm done running. I'm done keeping myself miserable and alone because I'm too afraid to trust you and let you in. While trying to keep myself "safe", I was hurting myself and hurting you. I'm not doing that anymore, Neteyam. I was so stupid… I can't really say what it is, but there's just something about you… I think about you all the time, since the first time I saw you when you appeared for me outside that window. I don't believe someone can fall in love so fast but…" You were about to burst into tears "I'm in love with you."

Neteyam looked at you with the biggest smile on his plump lips, while his heart beat uncommonly fast inside his chest. He was overwhelmed with joy but as he was seeing the tears welling up in your eyes, he felt like he was about to cry too. But he didn't. Having learned throughout his whole life to always act with self control and rationality in front of everyone, - not really by choice, but because he knew that was how the Olo'eyktan to be should act, to keep a good reputation, to let his people know he was strong enough to control his emotions and not let them get in the way of him making good decisions for the Omatikaya - his ability to show some aspects of his feelings was a bit impaired now and that included crying. Even though he almost cried in front of you when you rejected him, he couldn't bring himself to cry of joy, now that you were saying that you wanna be with him too.

"I'm sorry for… what you saw. Me and Derek. I never liked him, Neteyam. He was just-"

"Yawne, no." Neteyam interrupted " It's okay. I don't wanna hear about that human." He looked disgusted only by the thought of Derek "And I don’t want you thinking about him either. You're mine now. Just forget about him. It's me that you like, right?" He gave you a gentle smile now and you nodded your head positively "Then focus on me, yawntutsyìp."

You looked at him, shyly, and smiled

"So… Can I ask for a hug, now?" your heart beat fast inside your chest cavity as you nervously said that

"Oeyä tawtute…" (my human) "You don't even need to ask." He opened his big, strong arms as he spoke "Come here."

༊⁀➷

Taglist: @kitsunefirewail @tumblingdevils @a-blog-name-2003 @xylobee @nerdybouquetofkittens-blog @henhouse-horrors @lala-1516 @xylianasblog @samistars @crazy4books1 @explosiongamora @lik0 @your-girl-mj @darktyrantwinner @sereisstuff @yeosxxx @die4niyahhh @iman-lu @manumanulau @im-in-a-pansexual-panik @hana-yuri @thehoneymushroomhealer @melllinaa @annaibansworld @siriuslysmoking @avatar4eva @ellabellabus07 @badbishsblog @neteyamsmate4life @c-h-i-l @criticallybella

[by-seven]

Pretty please I was thinking Xavier Thorpe x Reader sort of based off ‘You Belong With Me’ By Taylor Swift and it’s basically just Xavier’s best friend pinning to him their entire lives and has to suffer in the side lines of him and Bianca’s relationship while their friendship slowly dies only to be reignited after Xay and Bianca break up and maybe ‘prom’ could be the Rave’N dance?

think i know it's with me (oneshot)

resp : this trope be hitting like a brick. idk if i can write it as good as it's supposed to feel but here's my take on it!!

word count: 3, 169 (what the actual fuck)

angst, fluff, Bianca is only mentioned

(i forgot about the prom thing oh my god)

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset She's going off about something that you said 'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

"Oh please, it wasn't even that bad. Your humor's not that great, Principal Weems could probably make me laugh faster than you ever could." you say in between bites of the pizza you were sharing with Xavier in the quad.

"I don't know, man. Principal Weems can't do the griddy as good as I can." he supplied, trying to sound present but you know from the slight scrunch of his eyebrows that he's thinking of something else.

Xavier Thorpe has been your friend ever since you were both still in your diapers. You could say best friend and it wouldn't be wrong but he'd probably disagree and call you his glorified armrest (given the fact that he could very easily rest his arm on the top of your head) to annoy you.

Right as you were about to do another dig at his (not-really-dry) sense of humor, his phone started ringing.

You rolled your eyes and looked away after Xavier gave you a look that spelled out i'm sorry i have to take this call and also help me i think i'm fucked.

He was right, he was incredibly fucked. That one annoying ringtone has served as an omen of an impending argument with his oh so perfect siren goddess girlfriend, Bianca Barclay.

Looking back at him and finding him still looking at you, you raise your brows in question, "Go ahead, Xavier. Answer the call of the hell-bringer."

Breathing in and doing a heavy sigh, Xavier answered the call. The phone wasn't even on speaker but Bianca's voice sounded like it came out of a megaphone.

"That was way out of line, Xavier! You may be my boyfriend but it doesn't give you the right to make fun of my appearance."

"Bianca, I literally only said that your eyes looked like that one Miley Cyrus meme. It's not that deep." You had to hold in a laugh as you heard the incredibly shallow reason that sparked the argument.

"But if it made you feel bad, then I'm sorry. I..." you turn to him with a look of confusion, after all why is he apologizing when he did nothing wrong? But Xavier just met your gaze and then looked away. "I apologize."

"This is the second time this week that you've made me feel bad, Xavier."

Getting frustrated you stand up and fix your uniform, getting ready to leave your best friend to talk with Bianca. Xavier notices, looks up at you and grabs you by the wrist. He mouths, 'please stay.'

Taken back by the sudden touch of his hand on yours, you froze where you stood.

"I know, I'm really sorry. Let's meet at the Weathervane tomorrow? Grab some coffee and talk about it."

You harshly forced your hand out of his and walk away, heading to your room. Upon reaching the doors to the dormitories, you hear footsteps behind you. Turning around, you were faced with Xavier.

Panting and standing right in front of you closely (too fucking close), he opens his mouth to speak. Before he could, though, you turned back around and made your way up the stairs.

"Hey, hey." He calls after you but you just continued to go up the stairs.

He calls your name and grabs your hand, and that made you stop. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong is you forgetting about our plans for tomorrow, Xavier. We were gonna celebrate my debate win, remember?" You wince, realizing how bad your words sound. They sound so desperate, so trivial.

"I promise I'll make it up to you. I just.. I really need to fix this stuff with Bianca."

You hummed in response, but nodded anyway. After all, you didn't have the right to be mad.

Xavier lets you go, sensing that you need some time alone to process your emotions. You make your way to your room, thankful that Yoko wasn't there to witness the emotions you let out.

The friend can't compete with the lover after all.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like And she'll never know your story like I do

The day after, Xavier got back from the Weathervane exhausted. The remnants of his date making their presence known with the way he speaks during your phone call.

Not wanting to tire him further, you settled for a Spotify session instead. You two take turns showing each other songs that the other might like and adding them to a collab playlist. It's become a habit of yours to sketch while on Spotify sessions with Xavier, so along with the music came the faint scratching of your pencil on paper.

You had to listen with your headphones though, as Yoko was also doing something on her side of the room and you don't want to disturb her.

"Okay, okay but listen to this one by Matt Maltese." You say as you changed the song from Fallen Star by The NBHD to Everyone Adores You.

Everybody thinks of you when they sleep at night

When I say 'everybody', I'm actually referring to me

As you hum along, a faint echo of the song plays from the room in front of yours. Across your window, Xavier was listening along.

"That was another good one. I have one that I think you'll like up next but don't look at the queue."

"Hmm? Okay, if you say so."

The song you played comes to an end and a song by Cigarettes After Sex starts to play. Your sketching stopped, seemingly in sync with the increase of your heartbeat.

Opera House was playing as you placed you pencil down and closed you eyes.

"So, do you like it or...?" Xavier asks after the obnoxious loss of your rambling.

He calls your name out again, and you notice how it sounds so different coming from him. How it sounded so divine, like it was a sound made just for him to speak.

"Ah, um. Yeah, I love it, actually. I didn't know you listened to Cigarettes After Sex?" you ask, trying to fill in the silence on your part.

"I've just started listening to them. Noticed you liked them a lot so I decided to give them a try."

You hum in response, unable to focus as you process the lyrics of the song.

I was meant to love you and always keep you in my life I was meant to love you, I knew I loved you at first sight

Did he listen to the lyrics before? Or did he just send you this because he liked the way it sounds? So many questions popping up, one after another. You snapped out of it when you heard him calling your name again.

"Bianca's calling me.." He says reluctantly, waiting for your reply.

"Oh, okay. Um, it's fine. It's getting late anyway. Have a good talk. Good night, Xavier."

"Thanks for tonight. Bye." The end-tone plays momentarily. You take off your headphones and tidy up your table.

"Are you sure you two are not dating?" "HOLY FUCK!" "Cause like, that's definitely not just-friends behavior." Yoko blurted out of nowhere, startling you.

"NO! No, definitely not. He's dating Bianca." You say as you make your way to your bed.

"Oh, shame. You two would've made a better couple."

We would've. We could've. But I just didn't have the guts to tell him how I feel.

"Hmm." You hummed in reply. "Good night, Yoko."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Walk in the streets with you in your worn-out jeans I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be Laughing on a park bench thinking to myself Hey, isn't this easy?

"Anyways, I just feel like Miss Thornhill's too stressed about the RaveN. She's been dropping things a lot during class right?" You say as you kick the poor lonesome pebble you found on the pavement along with you as you walk on the campus paths.

"Dude, I got startled when she dropped that pot with the black dahlia. Heard she was taking good care of it too." Xavier replies, to which you chuckled because to say he was startled is an understatement.

"Startled? You literally kissed the table when it happened, that's what you get for dozing off."

"The table was lucky that day then."

"Oh please, you think too highly of yourself."

"The truth is the truth."

"And all you've been saying are lies. Anyway, we're here. Let's sit down before we miss it!" You say as you approach the bench facing away from the main building. The sky was clear and there were no obstructions blocking your view of it. You both sat on the bench and looked up, waiting for the meteor shower.

You take your earphones and plug it in your phone. You look to your side and see Xavier holding out his hand, asking for the other earbud.

"Oh my fucking god. The Xavier Thorpe asking to share earphones with a girl that's not his girlfriend? I can imagine Sinclair's face if she finds out. And Bianca's too." You exclaim jokingly as you hand him an earbud.

"Everyone knows we're close friends, so it doesn't really matter."

friends. doesn't really matter.

"Oh, yeah." You hope you didn't sound disappointed. " Of course."

You put your playlist on shuffle and look up at the sky as Affection by Cigarettes After Sex plays.

It's affection always, You're gonna see it someday My attention's on you Even if it's not what you need

I think of you, I want you too, I'd fall for you

The universe is cruel, you concluded. Why would this song play, out of all the songs in your playlist, right now? At this very moment, when you're alone with your best friend whom you've liked for years now. it's like a forceful confession brewed by the universe.

"Look! It's so pretty." You exclaim, pointing to the first glimmer of light from the sky.

"I know, it really is pretty."

You look at Xavier, finding him not looking up at the sky but at you. He quickly looks up though, but you still caught the way his eyes lingered just a bit too long on yours.

Maybe the universe isn't that cruel after all.

"By the way..." "Hmm?" "I know I promised you that we'd go to the RaveN together this year, but.."

And there it is, but. You didn't have to guess to know why.

"Bianca wanted to be my date for this year. I hope you understand."

You look away, trying to make the sting from your eyes go away. It was expected, how could you be so dumb to even think that he'd go with you?

"Yeah, it's fine. I figured you'd go with her. Have fun at the party then." You looked back at him after wiping your eyes, hoping that the tears weren't obvious.

"Tha- wait. What do you mean 'have fun at the party'? Your'e not going?" He asks, his face and voice laced with confusion (and disappointment, but maybe you'd imagined it).

"No, I'd look so miserable going alone. Plus, I have to finish my book." You give him a smile, hoping that it looks genuine.

"Are you sure? I can ask Ajax to take you-"

"God no, Enid would claw my eyes out." You laugh, but it sounded dry. "I promise, it's fine."

"Nothing I can do to change your mind? I can ask Bianca if I can go with you."

"No, Xavier. You have to go with her, she's your girlfriend after all. I'm just your friend, you should go together."

You tried not to take notice of the way your own words stung. (And how it seems to have hurt Xavier too, the way his brow scrunched when you said just friends was not exactly subtle)

"Oh, okay. Yeah, you're probably right." He sighs and looks up at the sky. You look up too.

"Fuck, clouds covered our view."

"We should probably get inside, it's 3am. And it's starting to drizzle." You say, standing up. The drizzle was staring to get heavier and your clothes were getting wet. you were pretty sure you were gonna get a cold.

You noticed Xavier taking off his coat and before you could protest, he's already put it over your head to shield you form the rain.

"But what about you?" You ask him, worried.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He assured you. You then made your way back to the dormitories.

Xavier insisted on dropping you off right at your door, so that's what he ended up doing.

"Thanks for the botched meteor shower observation, idiot. And thanks for letting me borrow your coat."

"Wow, some actual kind words from you? The world must be in trouble." He says sarcastically.

"Oh, shut up Thorpe. You should get going now, we have a 7am period tomorrow."

"Oh fuck you're right! Bye."

"Night." You say as he turns to leave. You close the door gently, so as not to wake Yoko.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

And you've got a smile That can light up this whole town I haven't seen it in a while Since she brought you down You say you're fine, I know you better than that Hey, what you doing with a girl like that?

"Hey, you okay?" You ask Xavier. You're getting worried, he' s been in a sour mood all day. Not even bothering to talk to you, or to anyone at all. You knew it had something to do with Bianca, as you heard them screaming at each other in his room.

"Yeah, 'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Like, really sure?"

"Damn it, I said I'm fine okay?! Why can't you understand that? You're getting so annoying, it's so infuriating. Why can't you understand that not everyone wants your sunshine personality all the time? You are so irritating."

Frozen in your seat, you look at him with wide eyes. Xavier has never lashed out on anyone, especially at you. So this caught you by surprise.

You didn't even notice you were crying until he looked at you. His face was a mixture of shock and disbelief (you hope it was aimed at himself).

He says your name, but it didn't sound nice anymore. It sounded like a bad omen, like a dark cloud that promises a storm and you were a girl with a body made of paper.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I didn't mean to annoy you. I'm sorry, I'll leave." You say, frantically walking to your own room. You were walking too fast, your eyes blurred by your tears that you tripped on the stairs. You had a cut on your forehead, but the physical pain couldn't combat the pain you felt inside you.

As you curled up in your bed, missing your classes for the rest of the day, you hoped that Xavier would show up at your door. Knowing him, he'd probably apologize a thousand times.

You waited hours, the mid-afternoon light fading into the bluish glow that 6pm brings but Xavier still hasn't knocked.

Maybe you never really knew him after all.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

You were looking at the sky from the rooftop of the academy, watching the sunset paint the sky with different shades of love.

Purple. Blue. Red. Orange. Pink

You feel the presence of another coming up from behind you, making you turn around and whip your arm out as a defense mechanism.

Xavier catches your hand, lowers it but never letting you go. His hold loosening but his touch never leaving.

You look at him properly, his eyes heavy with tiredness. It's been a week after he lashed out on you. A week of no contact. A week of pure torture. Within a week, the cut on your forehead has now turned from red to a dark brown. The cut on your heart hasn't healed as fast the the one on your forehead.

"Let go." You ask him but he doesn't budge.

"Xavier, let go. Please." And then he did. Your arms now hung uselessly beside your body, and you hate the way they crave the warmth of his hands.

He says your name, it feels like a trigger as been pulled and the gun was pointed at your chest.

"Please-"

"I heard about what happened. If you're here to blame me for your breakup with Bianca, then leave. She's already done that, I don't need you to repeat the shit she said."

"Listen, I'm sorry. Yes, we broke up but this is not about that."

"Then what is this about?"

"Us. About me and you. I'm sorry I said all those hurtful things to you. I didn't mean to hurt you, I wouldn't dare to hurt you. I was just so stressed, with Bianca and the truth."

"What do you mean, Xavier? Stop speaking in riddles."

"Bianca. I think she used her abilities on me. I saw her siren song one of her friends to do what she wants and I realized that what if she did it to me? It all makes sense, when I'm with her it's like my body is on autopilot. Like, I can't control the things I do. But when I'm with you it's like I'm myself, you know? I was so fucking confused, but now I see the truth."

You couldn't speak. Couldn't even utter a single word. To say you were speechless is an understatement.

Xavier steps closer to you, the tips of your shoes touching. He holds your arm with one hand gently and tips your head up to meet his gaze with the other.

"It's you. It's always been you. Whenever I wanted to draw or paint, I'd find myself making portraits of you. I started listening to the songs you liked. I turn around when I hear your name. God, it was so fucking obvious. It's you."

His hand slides down from your arm to your hand, intertwining your fingers with his.

"I think I know where I belong, now." He says, smiling. The most genuine smile you've even seen him give. And as you stare into his eyes, they seemed to pull you in.

You never learned how to swim but you wouldn't mind drowning in his eyes. You never liked to drink but you wouldn't mind getting intoxicated by his presence.

Xavier Thorpe, the man you've pined for. The man you've watched from the sidelines. The man you love, now finally yours.

You stared at his eyes, then at his lips. Before you could move, his lips meet yours and it's like an explosion of colors and all things nice. You bring your hands up to his hair, burying your fingers in the softness of them.

Breathless and lovesick, you break away from him and smile. Blissfully, you say:

"Think I know it's with me."

[fbfh]

light up the dark - Leo Valdez x reader [XVI]

wc: 2.7k

genre: TOOTH ROTTING FLUFF. that's it. gutwrenching nausiating fluff and emotional growth. I warned you.

pairing: Leo Valdez x goth!child of eros!fem reader

warnings: Apollo dropping a classic "I'm proud of you, kid" moment, reader has to adjust to nice safe good feelings, Harley being a feral 11 year old, Leo goes full texas mode for a minute, descriptions of camp that will make you homesick for it :')

summary: you finally make your way back to camp with your new boyfriend and new friends, and for the first time in your life, you think you know what inner peace feels like. Also, camp is just as amazing as Leo described it.

song recs: writer in the sun - donovan, proof - paramore, bad idea (reprise) - waitress obc, the cheap bouquet - pierce the veil, heaven is a place on earth - belinda carlisle, the campfire song - the lightning thief musical, happy - marina, crazier - taylor swift, how far we've come - matchbox twenty

a/n: THERE'S ONLY ONE PART AFTER THIS AND ITS MAKING ME EMOTIONAL!!!!!!!!!! honestly how far we've come is giving end credits music. Idk what to do with myself after this tbh

tags @yesv01 @magcon7280 @avashaye @perseajohnson @afidiofobia @thatmultifandomloser @yelenabel0vaswife @almostjollypizza @fictionalcomforts  @lizziebitch33  @jacksondeeznuts @girlfriendwhoseawitch @urmum-xoxo @Asunnyhunny @dustyinkpages @cowboylikekelsey @legramilis @youkissedareaderinthedark @mrscarolscaramoucheplease @cosmiq-cloud @anything-forourmoony  @i-dont-remember-a-lot  @chasingpj @1dpjohoohp @mystic-writings   @babiesimagines @dreamerball @demirunner @if-only-i-was-fictional @inthehoneymoonwithconnorrk800 @kiara7777

You’re about half way through your iris message with Chiron, explaining your side of the story and how everything went down, that you found the sundial and are ready to come back to camp. Suddenly, he freezes, staring blankly behind you. He coughs awkwardly, nodding and gesturing behind you. You feel something warm on the back of your neck and turn around to see Apollo standing behind you. You jump up suddenly, startled at his presence. Your heart thuds in your chest and you try to come down from the spike of adrenaline coursing through you. He looks at you kindly. It throws you off, you’re still not used to people looking at you like that. 

“I knew you could do it.” He says softly. You glance over at Leo through the doorway and he follows your gaze, watching the way you look at him. The way Apollo is looking at you, you can tell he doesn’t just mean finding the sundial. He shrugs, sighing. 

“I suppose it makes sense that she would hide it in the most horrific, off putting vessel imaginable…” A sense of peace overcomes you as he speaks. It’s strangely comforting, a feeling you hope you can get used to. 

“Yeah, that does describe Eldritch Deity furby pretty well, ” you agree, picking him up from his spot on the couch. 

You smooth his crunchy fur, trancing your finger over the newly installed battery pack Leo just finished fixing up. Apollo shudders at the sight of him. You think back to a little while ago, when you finally spilled your guts and told Leo how you feel, when you finally got everything off your chest. You gaze down at Eldritch Deity furby’s horrifying face, and remember how Leo held you, how sweetly he kissed you and touched you. Part of you can’t believe you really did that, you really told him how you feel, and he feels the same way right back. Your gaze softens, head still spinning with his touch. It doesn’t feel real, but he’s been looking at you differently ever since, and that’s all the proof you need. 

Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of gratitude, you look back up to thank him, but he’s gone. You look around, but he vanished without a trace. Before you can wonder where he went, Jason enters, holding a printed out piece of paper. 

“So apparently,” he starts, irritation evident in his voice as he fidgets with his glasses, “after we pack up, we have to do all these chores before we leave. Including…” 

He skims the list. 

“Mowing the lawn.” 

You both sigh in frustration. 

“That sounds like so much fun.” You deadpan, voice dripping with sarcasm. Your eyes widen in surprise when you actually get a laugh out of Jason, before you part ways to pack your stuff and tackle this massive list of chores. 

You spend most of the rest of the day getting the house back to rights, and by that evening, you’re all piled up in the camp van. You cruise down byways and highways and freeways, getting steadily closer to Camp. The hum of the van is a relaxing white noise, and the rumbling of the car is comforting as you cruise down the highway, occasionally passing under green signs overhead, directing traffic on how to get to various places other than your destination. You’re riding shotgun, and the car seat is comfy and worn in. You trace your black nails along the ripped edges of the leather on the arm rest, and find that your gaze keeps landing on Leo in the driver’s seat next to you. 

It’s warming up, and you drive with the windows down. Fresh air swirls through the camp van, blowing everyone’s hair around, and it leaves you feeling refreshed. The snow has melted, and  the only place you see it is piled up in parking lots, shoved out of the way by snow plows. Everyone else is piled into the back of the van, squished in the rows of seats, paired off and sleeping or talking quietly. Your phone is plugged into the car speakers, and in spite of the angsty music Leo insisted you play, everyone else seems to be sleeping pretty soundly. 

“What’s this one?” Leo asks, nodding along to the beat. 

“The Cheap Bouquet by Pierce the Veil.” You answer automatically. He smiles, and you watch him tap the steering wheel. You feel your face flush, and you look away from him and out the window. You never thought someone as amazing and warm as him even existed, much less would like your taste in music. You continue to drive through the darkening sunset as your playlist titled song recs shuffles. You had time to put one together before you left, composed of all your favorite emo music to show Leo. In spite of the edgy guitars and perfectly rough vocals, it feels quiet. It’s another strange feeling, and another one you hope to get accustomed to. 

The air flows into the van, smelling like summer, and Leo reaches over for your hand, holding it in his. The feeling of his fingers grazing across your knuckles makes your chest squeeze and your stomach flip. You lean into it, slowly settling into the feeling of your hand in his, and soon you’re in another quiet paracosm with just the two of you. And Vic Fuentes. Leo smiles and squeezes your hand. 

“I think you’re really gonna like camp.” He states. You never would have believed someone telling you that you’d love a summer camp, but the way he says it, it’s hard not to believe him. 

“Yeah?” You muse, looking over at him, watching the way his eyes light up and sparkle when he talks about it. “What’s it like?” 

He smiles at you, and his chest fills with that warmth he only gets around you. He starts rambling about camp and how great it is, and he’s reminded of the first car trip you took together, just you and him and Jason. You listened to Palaye Royale and he told you about camp. It feels like years ago, but he remembers it like it was yesterday. 

“Eros cabin is number 39, I think,” he continues after you listen to him ramble about how great camp is for a few minutes. “I don’t think there are any other children of Eros at camp right now, but if you get lonely I’m sure Aphrodite cabin won’t mind having you sleep over.” 

The note of humor in his voice makes you laugh. You’re both well aware that the only sleepovers you like are the ones where Leo makes your head spin and your legs shake, but you catch a glimpse of Piper in the rear view mirror, playing a game on her switch. She has headphones in and doesn’t notice you looking at her, but she scoffs in annoyance as she loses the level she’s on again. Piper is okay in your book, all of Leo’s friends are. She’s kind of cool. 

“That doesn’t sound… terrible…” you murmur, and Leo smiles, nudging you playfully. 

“See?” He beams, “We’re gonna have you making lanyards and french braiding hair before you know it.” 

You suppress a loud laugh, one he shares. 

“Well, I guess if I have to…” You mutter. Leo looks at you again, and once again, he sees it. He sees that thinly veiled wall of disinterest masking your excitement. Except this time, it’s more playful than it used to be. Your chilly demeanor has become an inside joke, a bit for you to go back and forth with. He smiles, squeezing your hand in his before lifting it up. He presses a soft kiss to the back of your knuckles, and your skin feels electric where his lips meet it. You turn away again, staring out the window to try and hide how flustered you are. Leo just smiles. As you both breathe in the refreshing air that smells like the beginnings of summer, he thinks there will be plenty of time to get you all the way warmed up to him and his friends. The seasons are back to normal, and you have all the time in the world to get used to being loved. He’s looking forward to being the one who helps to get you there. 

By the time you finally get back to camp, it’s late at night. Really late. You expect to crash in your cabin, and catch up with Chiron in the morning. Even though you’re exhausted as you trudge up the hill, with the scent of strawberries wafting around you on the breeze, you have no idea how you’re going to sleep. Everything Leo and his friends have told you about camp makes it sound like heaven, and you really don’t want to have to wait until morning to get to experience it. As you walk over the hill and camp finally comes into view, it’s nothing like you expected. 

To your right is a large amphitheater, with a roaring bonfire in full blast. Tons of people are seated, and even more are walking around, chatting and roasting marshmallows. Lights are strung throughout the trees, and a few people are playing guitars and other instruments, leading a singalong. It looks so warm and inviting. You’re filled with a visceral sense of longing, wishing for the first time that you could be right in the middle of the crowd. Your friends laugh in delight at the surprise that everyone’s still up, and presumably waiting for you all. It wakes them from their drowsy stupor, and they push through fatigue down the hill and toward the amphitheater. Leo smiles at you before reaching for your hand.

“Come on,” he smiles, dragging you into the fray. 

Someone spots you all approaching, and everyone else notices quickly after that. A cheer sweeps through the crowd and the fire blazes, doubling in height and glowing gold. A few people run forward and tackle Annabeth and Piper with hugs. You laugh in shock, not expecting such a warm welcome so late at night. You turn to Leo, but before you can say anything, he gets tackled in a hug too. Leo laughs, hugging the 11 year old back. He greets Leo with a yell, then begins talking at the speed of light.

“...it’s been so boring without you!” Leo laughs, setting him down and ruffling his hair. 

“I missed you too, H-meister! Have any trouble holding down the fort?” The kid considers, then shrugs. “I only blew up a couple things while you were gone.” 

Leo considers, then high fives him. 

“Not bad.” Leo glances over to you, then drags the kid over, introducing you. 

“This is Harley, my half brother.” 

Harley looks between you and Leo, a little unsure, before Leo nudges him. 

“Uh- nice to meet you.” Harley says. You weren’t expecting to socialize so much this late at night, but you can tell Harley is really important to Leo. You consider how to make a good impression. You greet him back, scrambling for something to break the ice a little. 

“So, you… explode things?” 

His face lights up. 

“Yeah! We were working on this animatronic thing in Bunker 9, and we wound it up so fast it caught fire!” “Wow,” you agree, impressed that he knows so much about engineering at such a young age. Then again, if he’s Leo’s half brother, you’re not surprised the kid’s a genius. He tells you more about recent explosions, before he turns back to Leo. “Oh, Nyssa’s looking for you. She had something to tell you, I’ll go find her. Be right back!” 

He runs off before you or Leo can say anything else. You both chuckle, and Leo guides you further into the crowd, looking for Chiron and introducing you to some people along the way. Eventually you find him, and he’s taller than he looked through iris messages. He’s also half horse, which is a little surprising. Annabeth sees the shocked look on your face from a few feet away and nudges Percy, who’s reminded of the first time he saw Chiron like this too. Leo introduces you for the first time in person, and Chiron smiles. 

“We’re all delighted to have you here.” Someone sets off fireworks somewhere behind you, and everyone starts cheering. Chiron laughs. “Clearly.” 

“This is one hell of a welcoming committee,” Leo chuckles, and Chiron agrees. 

“Yes, well, I tried to keep everything regarding your arrival back at camp under wraps, but… the word got out somehow, I suppose.”

He tries to sound like he really needed to be convinced to let everyone stay up late to greet you and welcome you back, but you and Leo can both tell he’s glad you all have reason to celebrate.  He shoos you off to greet the rest of your friends and get something to eat. After a few more introductions, and some of the best barbeque you’ve ever had in your life - you threw in an extra piece for Apollo, thanking him for helping you to get her, believing that you could tell Leo how you feel - Leo drags you away to a more secluded area. Wherever there aren’t any instruments and singalongs, there are CD players scattered around, playing lively music and keeping the good vibes going. 

He pulls you away to a little grassy spot, illuminated by soft twinkle lights and soaked in moonlight. A country song is playing nearby, and even though you know you would hate it anywhere else, it sounds nice here. You get why people like it. Leo looks at you warmly, soaking in this moment between the two of you. 

“So, how are you liking it so far?” 

You take in the scenery, all the beautiful nature and architecture and worn wooden signs that make this place already feel like you belong here. You struggle to find a single flaw. 

“The heat sucks…” You reply lightly, and it’s obvious to both of you that you don’t actually care about the heat that much, but it’s the only complaint you can think of. “Yeah,” Leo sighs, looking around, “This is nothing compared to Texas summers.” 

You look back at him, raising your eyebrows in shock. 

“Oh?” Surprise is evident on your face, and he realizes he never mentioned he’s from Houston before now. “I had no idea you’re a country boy…” 

Leo seizes the opportunity, tilting an imaginary cowboy hat and bringing out his southern drawl. 

“Born and raised, ma’am.” 

You let out a beautiful, unreserved laugh, and he’s sure it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever gotten out of you yet. You have no idea if it’s the atmosphere of camp that lives up to every good thing Leo said about it, or the let down from all the ass kicking and chaos of the last several days, but when Leo pulls you close to him and starts dancing to the country song playing around you, you finally realize that you can’t fight the butterflies you get around him. More importantly, you don’t want to anymore. He twirls you in his arms, spinning you around until you laugh again. 

You don’t care that he can tell this is making you flustered, you don’t care about how people see you anymore. You throw yourself in his arms, letting yourself feel happy and excited to the fullest extent. No one’s even staring at you, not in this little cozy spot you find yourselves in, but you really wouldn’t care if they were. You think that if this feeling stays, camp won’t be so bad. You might even like it. You might even love it. And you think that maybe anything could be fun if you do it with Leo. You know for sure that you plan to find out. He pulls you close, bringing his face right up to yours until your noses are brushing. He gazes at you with that sweet, sparkly look in his eyes, and he wants to kiss you. Before he does, he brushes his thumb across your lips, and breathes so softly no one else would hear it. 

“Welcome home.” 

[taylortruther]

i have so so so many thoughts (I think we all do, lol) but one that I was particularly struck by, last night at like, 3AM, was a sudden wave of "wow, i'm really glad i don't look at love/relationships the way she does" along with some "wow i'm really glad i'm not taylor swift"

and it immediately felt a bit like an unfair thought/reaction to something so deeply personal and visceral but even today i can't really shake it. parts of the album feel deeply (painfully) relatable and then other parts feel so far removed from just how I tend to view things and make certain decisions idk idk

(and like, i'm certainly not the most famous person on the planet having a very public breakup, which is probably part of it sdjfhzskjhf but idk! just sitting with it, wondering why that was such a quick reaction on my part)

yeah, i know this will come across really mean to people, but i know you're not trying to be mean, but it's also because i agree. i like her music a lot but i have basically never related to taylor's view of love and sometimes that gulf is very stark! like, i approach relationships way more carefully, whereas taylor has frequently described feeling like love is this unstoppable force that she must obey. of course, all of our experiences shape us differently, so maybe 5-10-15 years from now, i'll look at ttpd and feel seen! and maybe taylor and any of y'all who follow me would think my view of love or my relationships have been stupid and bad.

also, you are right that taylor has a unique life, with crazy pressures. we can't really relate to that. BUT we can relate to dating the wrong person, or the mistakes we make when trying to leave a relationship or find out what will make us happy. the thing about art is that you don't need to have shared the same exact feelings or experience to relate to it. or have sympathy for it (even if it's limited!!)

[taeiris]

What fandoms do you think each of the main 4 boys + el and max would be in if they were in a modern au? (You dont have to come up with a completely different one for each, they can overlap a bit). U r awesome ;)

this is a dangerous question bc im just gonna project now

so mike and lucas are def in the marvel fandom but theyre like two very different fans

lucas would be like me and enjoy the movies but then mike is the type to criticize them a lot esp after endgame bc hes one of THOSE ppl but not in a supee insufferable way dont worry i wont do him that dirty

el and will def like kpop and stan txt and itzy bc i stan txt and itzy and they are me

mike secretly listens to taylor swift

dustin showed will a sleep token song once and he was so in denial abt it but then he went home and now he’s obsessed (bc im literally in my sleep token phase rn AND HE IS ME AGAIN GET USED TO THE PROJECTION)

theyre all in the star wars fandom obviously

el and dustin love disney movies and princesses

i feel like el loves them for the funsies and pretties but also bc she loves women #womenkisser AND dustin likes them bc of the lore like idk he makes it even more dramatic yk? like he knows all the original dark tales and he also is into the conspiracy theories like for example the boat that killed ariels mom was the boat elsa and anna’s parents were in??😭💀

im not in a lot of fandoms so i just. this is all i can do okay

im right

oh they all go to the cinema to watch all marvel movies as they come out bc its like tradition (i do that with my irls when we can)

they eat ice cream and fight over their opinions on them afterwards

el loves wandavision bc i said so

max loves moonknight

OMG MAX would def stan olivia rodrigo and conan gray like if you get it you get it and if you dont i dont wanna hear it honestly

mike has a massive crush on captain america despite being team iron man in civil war

LISTEN. im team stop fighting but i lean into iron mans team idc

dustin and mike fight about it, el joins in and says okay nincompoop (mike wheeler) stfu bc bucky wasnt himself and hes trying to get the other super soldiers!! shes an empath

(if thats not how civil war went i apologize i havent watched it in a while and to be honest it took me like 5 watches to understand what they were fighting abt)

wills fav txt song is cysm and nap of a star

el LOVES the guardians of the galaxy trilogy (she’s just like me)

will has a sudden obsession with antman 2

maxs fav avengers are natasha and vision

this turned into the party and mcu headcanons so im gonna stop now before i keep assigning them everything i like okay goodbye

MAX LOVES ROSALIA

Okay done now

[theopsimp]

𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 / 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻

SUBJECTIVE DEFINITION : relating to opinions, feelings, or emotions. is based on an individual's perspective or preferences.

first off, a joke about cancel culture so that way all of y'all who're snowflakes or swifties will laugh and take this SUBJECTIVE OPINION as it truthfully is... SUBJECTIVE!!!!!

setting : 2045

my grand kid : grandma, why did your generation back in 2021 cancel jake gyllenhaal during covid?

me : well, i didn't take part in that movement, but it's a relatively short story. taylor swift put out a song about him, saying jake had dated her even tho he was a lot older than her, and "allegedly" took some red scarf that she owned at the time.

my grand kid : ...why was y'all generation so stupid, grandma? why should y'all care about a red scarf? taylor swift was like making $13.6 million per concert she did? SHE CAN BUY AS MANY NEW ONES AS SHE WANTED?!

me : swifties were a different breed...

MY ACTUAL UNPOPULAR OPINION / HOT TAKE & EXPLANATION :

okay, so now that that is out of the way... i want to say this, i am not a fan of taylor swift or her music (as some of y'all probably already guessed) and i genuinely think that jake gyllenhaal didn't deserve all the hate and shouldn't have received the cancel culture / black listed treatment. all jake did was date her and "allegedly" took her scarf.

i'm going to have y'all (looking at you swifties?!) pretend that y'all actually have empathy and are capable of such an emotion for a minute...

imagine if you were dating taylor, y'all break up, the relationship is over. all of the sudden, she writes a song about you and how terrible you are as a person and only writes about how you ruined the relationship and takes no accountability that she also makes mistakes and contributed to the failing of the relationship.

not only that, she writes that you took her scarf, and then, all her fans start to do a freaking salem witch trial on you (torches, pitch forks, and all that) and demand that you be removed from your career that was barely starting to go up and you were starting to become more successful.

idk about y'all, but if i were jake, i'd be pissed off and genuinely hurt that she wrote about me like that (without my permission or consent) making me seem like some creepy person who only dated her cause she was young (or whatever) and then says that i took something from her.

like i know for a fact that if it was a dude who wrote that about a his ex-gf, for example, let's say jake harlow wrote a diss track (or whatever you wanna call it) about an ex he had, points out all her mistakes and failings that contributed to the end of the relationship, and then makes himself seem like he did nothing wrong and that he's in the right to completely slander and ruin his ex's career. Y'ALL WOULD BE ON HIM?! y'all would be calling him out and claiming that he's misogynistic, sexist, playing the victim, etc! so... WHY IS IT OKAY FOR TAYLOR SWIFT TO DO IT?!

[ileftherbackhome]

I need to know what you think about the whole Joe thing because at this point I'm genuinely so confused as to what's going on

i hesitate to even answer this at all, anon, because I'm honestly in the same boat as you.

all i can honestly say is something about this situation doesn't feel right to me. i don't really wanna say too much because i dont want to fan the joe is a beard bullshit but the whole "differences in personality" thing... almost that exact same wording was used during the coverage of the harris x swift break-up. im not gunna look it up but if you research the people article for it, you can see what im talking about.

we also know that as soon as midnights, her most accurate album to date, she wrote sweet nothing about her relationship with Joe. Its a really hard pill for me to swallow that after seven years of music about how supportive and how understanding he is of her career, the thing that broke them apart was "differences in personality."

but then there is haim, gigi, blake and ryan, austin unfollowing him off instagram. why? why would they do that right now, in the middle of her tour being made about this fucking break up, when they absolutely KNOW that people will be reading into those actions. however, there is also the possibility that none of those people were actually following on insta to begin with because he doesnt actually post on there. i have no way of verifying that they actually recently unfollowed him but the words of the same fans who believed he deleted the cat photo of his insta when it was just a story in the first place.

all i can say for certain is the pap pictures are planned easter eggs about a work related project. she knows we expect speak now so it would be the perfect time to throw another curveball at us. i can also see taylor deciding to have some fun with the media coverage of her tour, especially if she is announcing a film soon in which she tackles fame and the media specifically in it, when she told us in lavender haze the way she protects her relationship is by ignoring the media. like, she could be showing us how much of a mastermind she actually is. like, im getting so much deja vu from 1989 era and the fact that she used the same wording as calvin harris break up, that makes me so suspicious. i still think she's planning on coming out this summer so im not sure if this could somehow be related to that?

i keep going back to the coverage of this relationship, the media narrative she crafted of this man who supports her superstardom and just wants to be in her presence and nothing else, and how it's a complete 180 from everything she has let us know up to this point. like, the fact that in the span of 2 weeks, we have had swifties take the narrative from "they broke up" to "he cheated on her" also just makes me feel like super gross about the situation.

like i am just not a fan of all the drama about taylor's personal life all of a fucking sudden now that we think she's single as a fandom. like, wow, and like she spent so much of their relationship shading the people who called it fake or disgenuine, that i just... i dont know. nothing about how this is playing out makes any sense to me.

taylor hid the relationship for almost a year, you don't think she would have waited until the tour was over to release this news??? and then we got the pic of joe, which like, thats the first pap pic ive ever seen of him alone i think and that also makes me question why we're seeing him right after taylor. like, she was so happy right up until tour, it kind of makes me think something dramatic did happen because why did they all unfollow him?

i just don't really know what the fuck is going on. I dont really believe any of what they say is the reason they broke up, i guess. if they did break up, it sure as shit isnt even close to what the media is running with imho.

and then im like idk this whole thing just doesnt make sense and that's really all i have to say about it.

[golbrocklovely]

A dream you say? Care to elaborate? I love hearing what people's subconscious say in dreams!

it was a mix of other dreams too, so it all kinda blended into each other, one right after the other.

i don't fully remember all of the dreams before, so it's a little hard to see how they all fit together. but i know what lead into the one with colby was that it was all taking place in a hotel. taylor swift was there for a very brief second so…. do with that as you will lol

what i remember of the one i had with colby in it was i remember waiting in line at the hotel for something, idk if it was food or the front desk or what not. but i remember seeing him walking past me, and i walked up to him and got extremely close to him. i was saying something to him, and he was holding me and basically dragging me by my feet bc he was still walking.

i'm not entirely sure what i said to him (since the dream was a couple hours ago and i don't remember), but it was slightly sexual in tone, but also not??? like i don't think the words i said were sexual but the way i was saying it was?? not sure. but all i know is that i was pressing my face into the side of his and aggressively whispering something to him.

then he ended up pulling me into his hotel room, we sat down at a bench and table. and then… started making out. but then it all of sudden turned into him just straight up licking my face, or like just a lot of tongue and i woke up lmaooo

i think the whole thing was really jarring bc the previous dreams weren't sexual, but then this one all of sudden turned that way. but when i woke up, i wasn't like…. into the dream, you know what i mean? i was just very put off by it. or confused as all hell.

also colby didn't really act like himself. it was like a super suave, almost fuckboy version of him. maybe even hypnotizing to some extent. just very strange overall haha

[allisonmysidee]

He's not going to be huge in America because it takes consistent touring and promotion. He just doesn't have the stamina and work ethic required. He's probably doing Choachella, which is a dying festival along with those scant dates he announced. Toronto has a huge anglophile culture and expats and he's not even stopping there. Tiktok famous isn't real life.

Idk I feel like the argument that TikTok famous isn’t real life is inaccurate. The majority of artists nowadays blow up cause of TikTok, Sam included, he wouldn’t be half as big as he is if 17 didn’t go viral on TikTok. I’d even make a big shout at artists like Taylor Swift, I don’t think she was half as big 3/4 years ago over here as she is now but the eras tour went viral on TikTok and all of a sudden she was the biggest artist on the planet and everyone wanted to see her live, me included despite only knowing like 5 songs. I think it just takes one song or concert to massively blow up on TikTok in the states and he’ll hit it off over there🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ I just think they would eat up the new, young Springsteen vibe but maybe that’s just me xx

[jams-sims]

Saw the fnaf movie, and there was nothing wrong with it. (the fnaf movie was played right next to Taylor swift movie- low key the funniest fucking part of my movie going expierences.)

I do take issues with the way they did the story. (I feel like Scott made this movie with this storyline on purpose). Now I don't think the movie needed to be omg horror! Fnaf has always been kinda corny and on the lighter side of kid murder. So idk how people were going into this movie thinking it was gonna be rated R??

It gave very early 2000s horror movie.

What I disliked was the fact they made a story that was pretty straight forward. At least for the first 4 games. More convoluted for no reason. The way they delivered exposition through Vanessa was entirely unnecessary and I hated every minute she was on screen.

She dragged the movie down for me, we did not need her.

The story could have easily been-

Micheal the son of Afton who has memory problems from his traumatic childhood. Is now taking care of his younger sister Abby. He loses his job and needs to get another one quickly so his sister isn't taken away from him.

We have two ways we could use Matthew (Actor) we can keep him as Afton. I had no problem with that plot point in the movie. OR we make Matthew (Actor) Henry. (Henry is the founder of fnaf). Henry realizes it Micheal (aftons son) because of his case files. Matthew (Actor) as Henry is trying to find Afton so he uses Micheal. You can easily say Micheal and Abby are under witness protect program. They were given new identity blah blah. But okay let's say Matthew (actor) has to stay Afton. Okay the same thing applies Afton realizes he is looking at his eldest son. An gives him the job to work at the Pizzeria. We keep break in but instead of it being a (oh my god Micheal gonna lose his job). They are the reason why Micheal is the security in the first place. People are breaking in.

Why would Afton send his son the pizzera? Because Afton is a serial killer and crazy that's why. We go through the whole song and dance with the animatronics.

We cut out Vanessa and replace her with Henry. Henry can be the therapist for Abby, he can be a guidance counselor. Why? Because if Afton can get a second job so can Henry and it would make since that Henry because now Henry is hunting down William.

The kids in the dreams perfect stay, Micheal gets these dreams all the time. But suddenly the dreams are changing and the kids are talking to him. William goes to talk to the guidance counselor or the teacher or whatever position you want to put Henry in to, to replace Vanessa.

Henry of course when talking to Micheal can say some cryptic shit like. "That places has a lot of lost souls in it." this causes Micheal to look the place up on his own.

Stop sideplot comes back in, someone catches Abby alone at home. Micheal suddenly has to take Abby to work with him or risk her being taken away for neglect.

We keep all the little subplots and singing and dancing with Abby and all the animatronics the same. Micheal (again not remembering who his dad is but now armed with the info about the dead kids.) is now trying figure out how to set them free.

Fast forward the animatronics are acting weird they attacked Michael. They try and grab Abby and in their confusion try to stuff her into a suit to keep her safe. From Micheal who looks like their killer. Why the sudden change? Because Afton seeing his eldest son has come back to the Pizzera. Cause everything to go haywire. It all comes to a head where Afton tries to gaslight his son into joining him in being a killer.

Instead of Abby drawing a picture of a bunny killing the kids. It's a picture of the bunny killing them but with Micheal as a protector. The animatronics turn on Afton instead of Micheal and Micheal and Abby run away.

Bam I took out Vanessa and kept everything the same except for adding Henry to replace Vanessa and making Afton play a more active roll.

But other than my nerdy ass "omg the story" everything about the movie was fine. It wasn't like a home run but it was passable.

[kellykswift]

Re Tree backtracking post, are you talking about Matty as the beard dropping Easter eggs? I find this PR stuff so confusing. I know everyone does it, and I guess on some level they feel they have to maintain their career or at least the level of their career. It just all seems so ridiculous. Thank you! I would love to hear anything else you have to share about the situation 🦄

hey;) no, I was talking about Jerk. He dropped a purple heart prior the announcement of speak now tv.

I always try to not only focus on one thing, when it comes to PR.

For example: First, they were pushing toe articles about him supporting taylor because fans were upset he was not there at the tour. Then something weird happened: The split articles came up. And for all i can say, it was not Taylors team who leaked it.

So this was something, they had to find a quick solution for, since in case you have watched the tour, its pretty queer coded. But a backup plan was needed.

It would absolutely not make any sense for Taylor Swift the brand to date at this point again. It will upset Swifties, since they thought toe was endgame, and it will also upset gaylors, since they thought she will come out soon.

So they threw Matty into the pot. I dont know a thing about him but he seems like the guy who doesn’t care much. He also has a story with taylor (although i dont think they ever hooked up) and he is friends with Jack.

They are testing the water because they could spin every story like they want. Swiftgron: they could have easily come around and release an article where they shut down all the rumors (like she did in the past with the engagement), but instead she chooses to kinda give us those friends with benefit vibes.

Now take a look at the other team (KK).

if ur not a kaylor, please ignore. But if you are: tbh I ve never been a big fan of jerk ir that whole shenanigans (which is another long story). What happened tho is that he all of a sudden posted a picture with a purple heart and wore a green carnation pin at the met. It was the first time i didn’t have the need to 🤮 when I saw his face.

So idk, i ll stay for the ride ;)

feel free to ask me PR question,l ;)