#it's already 15th here…damn

[pridoo]

dinluke advent 13 <3

[star-sim]

show me how ☆ jake sim

☆ non-idol! jake x fem! reader ☆ summary: jake didn't think his casual crush on you, his hot coworker at the local ice cream parlor, would flourish into anything. but one day, after a power outage during a shift, the two of you are forced to huddle up together to keep warm, opening up many, many, many doors into your relationship. ice cream was sweet and soft. and despite your appearance, so were you. ☆ genre: coworkers to lovers, fluff, a lot of bickering, alternative! reader, jake is kind of a loser, rock references, nonchalant crushes, summer romance, baddie reader, JAKE IS JUST REALLY DOWN BAD ☆ warning(s)? slightly suggestive? just tbh its js jake being really attracted to you LOL ☆ word count: 12.3k ☆ joining @bywons 1k event for "show me how" by men i trust. i had a little bit of a different approach to crushes this time. this is extremely late im so sorry enjoy!

"Can I get uhhhhh…"

Jake deadpanned for the 15th time in the past hour.

He was trying to be kind, to be understanding, to be loving in all ways possible… He really was.

But was it that difficult to order a mint chocolate cone with rainbow sprinkles?!

Jake watched as the snotty child before him picked his nose, his eyes glazing over the menu. It’s been ten minutes and this kid was taking too long to order. For fuck’s sake, he was holding up the line!

For his summer job, Jake started working at the ice cream parlor near the pier. He thought it was a good idea, since the pay was above minimum wage and he liked ice cream.

Wrong!

It was horrible!

From rude customers to his asshole of a boss to his incompetent coworkers, Jake dreaded coming into work everyday.

It was another summer afternoon, where Jake slaved away for his corporate overlords. Summer was only kicking off, so the June gloom stuck like glue. This morning, there were already storm warnings, so imagine Jake's surprise when a whole bunch of people went to the beach today and the ice cream parlor next to it.

"Please take your time," Jake said with a tight-lipped smile. Translation: I’ve given you enough time, kid. Hurry up and order or I’ll actually snap.

The kid blinked at Jake, before picking his nose. "Can I get uhhhh…"

Jake winced, but forced a smile with a nod. "Would you like any recommendations?"

Translation: You better tip me, you little punk.

By now, he could see the angry mothers and kids at the back of the line, quietly complaining about the hold-up. All Jake could do was smile apologetically, hanging his head in embarrassment.

And to Jake's horror, as the snotty little kid was still deciding on what he wanted to order, Jake could hear the back door creaking open, followed by a "Bye, Jake!" before it slammed.

Did Jake ever say that he hated his coworkers?

Today wasn't even Jake's shift, but he had to cover three shifts, because his other coworkers couldn't give a damn. They loved to leave early because they knew that Jake would work his ass off either way. So here he was, now forced to run an entire ice cream parlor with already angry customers all by himself!

"Actually, I don't want anything," the snotty kid blinked at Jake. "Bye, mister."

With that, the kid left, oblivious to Jake's gawking face.

You've got to be kidding me.

If it weren't for the fact that his name tag had his name printed in big, thick letters and that there was already a line of impatient customers, Jake might have yelled.

As he put on his customer-service voice for the next customer in line, Jake could hear the back door creak open again if he listened past the generic pop music playing in the background.

And the moment that he heard a familiar voice, Jake nearly ascended into the sky.

"Jake, I'm here!"

There was only one part of working at this dinky little ice cream parlor that Jake liked.

And it was you.

His savior, you.

You were the only coworker that actually did your work. In fact, you went above and beyond. The only shifts that seemed to be productive on all ends were when it was you and Jake.

If he could recall correctly, today wasn't your scheduled shift either. You were probably covering someone's shift like him, too.

And plus, you were cute.

Really cute.

Jake never really thought he had a "type" when it came to girls. In fact, Jake couldn't even remember the last time he had a crush. But the moment he saw your smudged eyeliner, constant annoyed look, the multiple tassel and charm bracelets on your wrists, and your black nail polish, he knew that you were his type.

You looked like you could probably scare a baby with a single look. Honestly, you could make Jake piss himself with a single look, too. And for some reason, he liked it. A lot. Which was weird.

Within seconds of just arriving, you were already throwing on your apron, fixing up your work uniform before appearing at the counter, ready to do your fucking job.

Jake tried his best to focus on the group of middle schoolers who giggled over every word as they ordered their ice cream, but even from behind him, he could hear you cleaning one of the scoopers and getting the keys for the second cash register. Even though all you were doing was your job, Jake couldn't help but straighten up his posture and run a hand through his hair as you took the register beside him. Just in case you spared him a glance, he had to look his best.

"Hi, what can I get you?" you said chirpily, putting on your best customer-service voice, something that Jake could tell was not your forte. Although he didn't know you seriously, he's had conversations in passing with you, whether it be on slow days, during breaks, or as the two of you closed up the parlor together. You never sounded as enthusiastic as you did now, as you happily helped an old lady pick her order.

You were cool like that.

Actually, really cool.

Jake couldn't think of anyone cooler than you.

And you were pretty, and hardworking, and honest, and responsible, and cooperative, and a little bit scary, but that was hot. You were also very kind to customers, and even though Jake could see your lips— which were nice, by the way— twitch, he could tell that you were trying your best, which was good, and—

"Um, sir, can I order now?"

Jake snapped out of his daze, tearing his eyes away from you.

"R-Right!"

Completely missing the way you rolled your eyes at him, though without a little chuckle.

It wasn't always easy being the only competent worker at the parlor. While it meant you got paid more for covering so many shifts, you couldn't say it was fun working the late shifts.

The parlor closed at 11PM on weekdays, so here you were, working late into the night. 

You yawned as you rang up the last customer of the night, using all of your last bits of strength to muster a smile, before saying, "Have a good night!"

As the door slammed shut, the building winds outside providing more than enough force to ring through the entire parlor, you let out a sigh.

"They're gone, Jake," you called.

From inside the break room, you could hear Jake groan something muffled but definitely, "Finally."

Jake Sim was the only coworker you could rely on. He was the only person your age, both of you were freshly graduated highschoolers working to prepare for college experiences. Despite his party-boy look, he was surprisingly diligent. You definitely noticed how he ended up picking up another person's shift, just like you. Unlike everyone else, he actually gave a damn, which you could appreciate.

Tonight was no different from any other.

It was just Jake and you, working the closing shift together.

The moment you entered the break room, you let out an exasperated sigh, leaning on the door frame. Jake, too, was slumped over on the table, his face buried in his arms.

Your shitty coworkers always tried to convince you that you should be happy to work extra shifts: extra pay, more work experience, have a good rep with the boss.

But what they didn't mention was how absolutely draining it was to work 7 hours straight in a short-staffed busy ice cream parlor.

"Why were there so many people?" Jake groaned, shoving his face deeper into his arms. If you weren't exhausted out of your mind, you would've thought the scene before you was a funny sight. Jake, in his silly white uniform designed to look like that of a sailor's and crooked worker hat, practically melting on the break room table.

"And why were there only two of us?" you added, letting your eyelids fall shut as you leaned against the door frame.

Though, you would say, you did like working for one extra reason: Jake Sim himself.

He was as cute as a button, and pretty easy to talk to.

Jake lifted his head, quickly checking his phone.

"No seriously," he rested his face on his fist. "It was cold and dreary all day— and wasn't there a storm warning?— Why would anyone want to get ice cream on a day like this?"

You shrugged. "Beats me."

The two of you stayed in the break room in silence for a few more moments, catching your breaths after a long day. "Let's get outta here, Jake."

Here was your favorite part of the work day: closing up. Not just because it meant that you got to leave, but you could do whatever you wanted.

Jake locked up the front door and flipped the sign, while you locked up front displays and cash registers. The two of you tidied up the breakroom (which was empty because your slobs of coworkers weren't here), before pulling out the mops and cleaning up the floor.

This was the fun part.

"Hey!" Jake cried as you splashed water onto the floor, your wet mop sludging up the water as it moved against the checkered floor. Looks like some of the water got onto his pants. "What was that for?"

You shrugged, with a sly grin. "No reason in particular— Hey!"

Jake shook off the excess water on his mop, pointed directly at you, the water droplets spraying all over your shirt.

"See?" he pointed to the wet drops on your shirt. "We're even now."

You rolled your eyes, but you knew he was being playful.

It was fun now because this was the time that you could play whatever music you wanted. Your manager always insisted that you'd play generic pop music during store hours, but now that it was closed, you could play any music you wanted. And it was great, because you and Jake had the same music taste.

"Really?" you whipped your head over to Jake as he passed your phone, which controlled the sound system, back to you. "Bon Jovi?"

You winced as loud vocals, strong guitar riffs, and a drum louder than you could imagine blasted through the speakers.

"Bon Jovi is good!" Jake shouted all the way from the freezers.

Maybe your taste was just a little bit different.

Jake was a cool guy. He really was. Very personable and someone that you could have fun with, even if you weren't that close to him. But sometimes his music choices were too much.

"You have no reason to be blasting hard rock at 11PM," you murmured.

"I heard that!"

You stifled a chuckle.

As you cleaned the floors, you nodded your head to the music. You could hear humming along wherever he was. It was all quiet, only the sound of mops, the freezers' buzzing, and your queued music playing in the background. It was small moments like his that made you want to keep working (other than the pay).

And plus, the parlor was very close to the beach.

At times like this, you could hear seagulls squawking overhead, with waves crashing against the shoreline.

Which... now that you thought about it...

Why couldn't you hear any of that?

Usually, even if Jake was blasting the hardest rock, you could still hear the sounds of the sea.

But now, all you heard was wind.

You glanced out the window.

Palm trees blew against the night sky. Wind whirled, creating a howling sound.

And before you could think anything of it, you heard two things: the back door slamming, and the sound of electricity buzzing.

One moment you could see everything, and the next moment it was completely dark.

Your blood ran cold.

The music stopped. The buzzing of the freezers stopped, too. It was completely dark, so dark that you couldn't even see your own hands, save for the single stream of moonlight leaking through the front windows.

You would consider yourself a calm person, you really would.

But in that moment, you felt panic set in.

Because here you were, working a late shift in a tiny little ice cream parlor in the middle of the beach, with no one but your teenage coworker. And now all the power went out.

And because you were afraid of the dark.

The mop in your hand dropped, clunking! against the checkered flooring.

Your heart pounded, so loud that you could hear it in your ears. You could feel it jumping out of your chest.

"J-Jake?" you called out.

No response.

Your mind did wonders to scare you, and now it was working over time.

What happened to Jake? Did he disappear with the lights too? You dug your teeth into your bottom lip.

Were you all alone in the dark? Just you and this dark abyss, a dark abyss so suffocating yet so cold that you couldn't even tell if you were standing or curled up. By this time, your legs were feeling weak, so you wouldn't be surprised if you were on the floor, your knees to your chest.

You squeezed your eyes shut.

The howling of the wind sent chills down your spine. Realistically, nothing could get you. You were just at work, like always, but it was just dark. But you felt like something would jump out at you, something scary and from your worst nightmares. It would get you, maybe hurt you. Were you going to die? Why did you feel so alone? What happened to everyone? What happened to Jake—

"[Name]?"

At the sound of a familiar voice, your eyes shot open.

But instead of being met with a pure, unknown darkness, you were met with a tall figure before you, completely shrouded in darkness, save for the stream of yellow light coming to illuminate its face.

Terrifying.

You let out a shriek as you jumped back.

What the hell was that? Was that what got Jake?—

It took a step forward, and before you could scream again—

"[Name]!" it was Jake's voice. He reached out for you, his hand resting on your shoulder. "It's me, Jake!"

You heard a bit of clicking, and it was then that you realized that the scary figure that you saw was just Jake with a flashlight. You relaxed.

"You okay?" Jake crouched down to your curled up figure, the yellow light of the flashlight glimmering against the floor. Although your eyes had slightly adjusted to the darkness, you could see your hands now. "I think the power went out."

You nodded slowly, still with your knees against your chest. Your heart was still pounding in your chest. You felt Jake's hand reach out for yours, interlocking fingers before giving it a squeeze.

Boom!

You jumped away from Jake, a small "eep!" escaping your lips.

Jake flinched, pointing the flashlight at the front windows.

"Thunder," he muttered under his breath. Although all the streetlights and signs had shut down too, he could see the lightning as it struck in the night sky.

He glanced at your startled form.

"Damnit," he cursed under his breath. "There was a storm warning earlier."

You hid your face in your palms.

This was everything that you didn't want to happen.

It was completely dark, and here you were practically trapped inside. It was impossible to get home, because the roads were all dark, and there was probably an oncoming storm, too. It was cold, and it was just you and your coworker. You just wanted to go home!

Although he couldn't see your face, Jake could sense your uneasiness. 

"C'mon," he tugged at your hand. "Let's go to the back."

Although Jake bumped into a few tables and counters on the way to the break room, he didn't mind. After all, there was you, who was clearly startled. He'd rather get a bruise on his hip than you.

He could hear your breath hitching, small whimpers of fear tumbling out as he led you through the dark abyss. Jake had to admit, it was much scarier when it was completely dark than when it wasn't.

The breakroom wasn't much better than in the middle of the floor, but at least there were chairs. Not that it mattered.

You and Jake decided to sit under the break table, shoulder to shoulder with the flashlight between you.

It was silent. You couldn't see Jake, but the feeling of him next to you relieved only some of your anxiety.

The flashlight only illuminated enough for you to see a few feet around you. Otherwise, everything else was a dark, bottomless void.

You knew it was illogical and practically impossible for something else to be lurking. But as minutes passed in silence, the thought of something—or someone— prowling in the dark and ready to jump out at you gnawed at you more and more. Goosebumps rose along your arms, the hair on your neck standing.

"I'm scared, Jake," you whispered, your voice shaky. "I'm so scared."

Thunder boomed in the air, lightning crackled, while heavy rain began to shower down. You jumped at the sound, your hands immediately shooting to grab Jake's arm and leaning into his touch. You squeezed your eyes shut, a scared squeak escaping your lips.

"I'm scared!" you squealed.

Jake's brows furrowed, throwing his arm around your shoulder and pulling you closer to him.

"Hey," he said into your ear, watching as you curled up against him, clutching his arm tight. "Hey, I got you."

Your hold on him only tightened as another round of thunder boomed through the night. "Open your eyes, [Name]. It's okay."

You shook your head profusely, your face pressed into his shoulder.

"Nothing's gonna get ya," he whispered, slowly rubbing circles on your back. "You're okay."

You shook your head again.

"It's so dark," you peeped. "Too dark."

"It's okay," Jake's voice was soft, soft as a cloud as he comforted you. "I'm here. I got you."

You nodded into his shoulder, but you kept your face pressed against it, not letting up.

Jake watched you, both with a soft heart and with wide eyes.

He wouldn't say he knew you too well. Even so, he'd spent a lot of time with you this summer so far, he had a few good memories with you. You were always so... cool.

Always on-task, always ready to fight a rude customer, always ready to speak up if you thought something was wrong.

It was weird. Seeing someone that Jake had always seen as a pillar of support one way or another completely drop that image of strength was… something that he never expected.

Here you were, so vulnerable in his arms.

Jake would have never expected you to be afraid of the dark, let alone some thunder, but he didn't mind. Even with your eyes closed, and even with his arms wrapped around you, you still jolted at each crackle in the sky.

If only he could do something to help you...

Jake let out an 'ah' sound.

He leaned into your ear, whispering right against the shell of your ear, "I'll be right back."

You let out another squeak as you felt Jake slipping away from you, yet he didn't take the flashlight with him.

"J-Jake—!"

"I'm still here," he said, yet you heard as he took a few steps. He was rummaging through his bag. He tried his best to feel for what he was looking for: a small, square case. "I'm with you, don't worry."

And as quick as he left your side he was back. Jake slithered his arm around your shoulders, pulling you into him. Your eyes widened a fraction as Jake fished for his phone from his back pocket.

"What were you—" you furrowed your brows— "Why’d you get up?"

You could feel Jake turn his head to look at you, and you could hear him grin.

"To get this." In his palm, Jake revealed a small, square case. His earbuds.

You blinked. "W-Why?"

"Don't worry about it." You watched confused as Jake took his earbuds out, jabbing it into the headphone port of his phone. Then, he handed you both of the ears.

"For you," he said simply.

As you were about to object, lightning striked again in the sky, yet another squeal coming from you.

You took his earbuds, jamming them into your ear.

Jake pressed the first song in his playlist.

And if you weren't scared out of your mind right now, you would have yelled at him.

Because really?

Bon Jovi?

At a time like this?

The music was loud enough that you could be distracted, but quiet enough that you could still hear Jake's voice. And when Jake noticed that you were relaxed enough, he opened his mouth.

"I'm surprised you didn't want to rip out my earbuds the moment you heard Bon Jovi," he said.

You elbowed him, yet you were still clinging onto him for dear life.

"Read the room, man," you muttered. "I'm scared shitless."

Jake laughed, and you rolled your eyes again. "This is the only time that I'll willingly listen to Bon Jovi."

"Hey!" Jake cried. "Bon Jovi is a good band."

You shot him a look. "Play some Pink Floyd, something."

You cursed Jake. Of course he'd let you listen to his music, because he got to control it!

"Nah," Jake said. "Bon Jovi is perfect for rainy nights."

You scoffed. "In what world?"

You could hear him grin again. "In my world."

What a loser.

You could see his phone screen light up, probably texts from his parents, but he ignored it. Jake’s phone was on the floor on the other side of him, the side that you were not on.

“Are you sure you won’t play Pink Floyd?” you asked slowly.

“Nope.”

Extreme times call for extreme measures.

Your arm reached across Jake’s lap, jerking to take his phone.

“Hey!” Jake yelped, squirming away from you in a way that blocked your hand from reaching his phone. “What the hell are you—“

“I’m changing the song!”

The two of you struggled like that for a few more moments, and then the next thing you knew you were on Jake’s lap, your arms pinned above your head.

“Let go of me!” you writhed, the earbuds in your eyes still blasting the hardest rock you’ve ever heard. Although you managed to take Jake’s phone, there wasn’t much you could do if he was pinning your hands above you.

“Then give me my phone back,” Jake ignored your struggling.

“Then change the song!”

“No!”

You huffed, continuing your attempt to wriggle out of Jake’s hold, but alas, he was stronger than you. “How are you so strong—“

Boom! Crackle! Thunder and lightning struck.

“Eep!” Immediately, you collapsed onto Jake’s chest, pressing your face into his shirt. You clung onto him, squeezing your eyes shut. When you could feel his chest rumble with a few chuckles, you punched his shoulder lightly. “Shut up.”

Jake chuckled again, but he only pulled you in closer by the waist, allowing you to cling to him more comfortably.

As the storm raged on, any hope that the power would be back up was lost. Jake's phone still had service, but you could tell he was being polite and not going on his phone to not make you feel alienated. Your phone was somewhere in the front, probably on a counter or something.

"We really shouldn't have agreed to cover shifts today," you murmured, your cheek pressed against Jake's chest.

Jake hummed.

He wanted to get past the way that anytime you spoke to Jake, it was either about music or work. He didn't mind talking about these things with you, but he wished he could say more. He wanted to know what you were thinking, and hear about what you liked and disliked, what silly stories or memories you had to tell him.

He wanted to get to know you.

“What’s your favorite color?”

???

"What?"

Jake blinked. "What's your favorite color?"

You stared at him. "Why?"

He shrugged under you. "I dunno. I just wanted to get to know you better."

"Oh." What a simple reason. It made sense for such a simple question. "I like black."

Jake scoffed. "That's not a color."

"Huh? Then what is it?"

"A shade."

"Says who?"

"Says science!"

And then it was quiet again (at least on Jake's part, you were still listening to his music)

But not quite awkward.

Despite the compromising position that you were in, there wasn't any feeling of embarrassment or discomfort.

That's how Jake would describe how he felt toward you. It was an easy thing. You were cool and pretty, and he liked you. Nothing more, nothing less. No games to play, no extra calculations or hours of planning. He liked you, and he was just going to do what felt right. It was as straightforward as that.

"What are you doing after this summer?" you asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

That's right. You and Jake had never discussed much about your personal lives, like where you went to high school, what your plans were post-high school, etc.

And now that the two of you were alone, in the dark, with virtually nothing to do, it was the perfect time to talk about it.

"I'm going up to Santa Barbara," Jake said coolly. "I'm studying biomed engineering."

"Oooh," you mused. "How exciting."

Jake let out a chuckle. "You don't sound excited."

"I am," you deadpanned, and Jake couldn't hold back a laugh.

"What about you?" Jake asked. "What are you doing?"

Even though it was dark, Jake could hear you frown.

"I'm going to Davis for International Business." You paused. "I don't know."

"Whaddaya mean?"

You shrugged. "I dunno if it's really my passion. I just chose it because—"

You're interrupted by a loud bang! followed by buzzing. You jolted, tensing up in Jake's hold, whose hand shot to the small of your back protectively.

"Eek!" you cried, and the next thing you knew, all the lights were back on.

You and Jake stayed where you were for a few moments, long enough for the freezers in the back to start buzzing again. As if someone just snapped their fingers, everything turned back on. The bright lights hitting your darkness-adjusted eyes made your eyes water.

"Oh," Jake said plainly. "The lights are back on."

"No shit, Sherlock," you muttered, earning a pinch to your side. It was now that you and Jake really realized your current positions: you were on top of him, with your head resting on his shoulders, with his arms wrapped around your waist. And it seemed like the two of you realized this at the same time.

"We should—" Jake averted his gaze from you, finding the floor next to him very interesting.

"Yeah, you're right, we should—" you slowly pulled away from him, grimacing at the feeling of Jake's arms slipping away from you.

"Yup, and—" Jake trailed off, not fully completing his thought.

Awkward.

The two of you were back on your feet in no time, both with slightly-disheveled work uniforms, but hey, it was to be expected.

Together, the two of you inspected the parlor. Just in case something slipped in while it was dark (even though that was virtually impossible).

Everything was exactly as you left it.

The mop that you dropped on the floor, your phone on the counter, the keys to the freezer that Jake threw by accident, even the messy chairs.

"Are you scared right now?" Jake asked with a chuckle as you stayed close behind him, your fingers clutching his broad shoulders. From time to time you'd peek around him, but for the most part, you stared straight at his back, unwilling to look ahead. Just in case a monster jumped out!

"I'm not." Lie.

Jake laughed, but before he could poke fun at you more—

Boom!

Oh right, the storm.

Like a cat, you jumped almost immediately, gripping Jake's shoulders for dear life.

Jake peeked out the windows. The streetlamps and signs were illuminated again.

"Looks like all the lights are back up," he said. He glanced over his shoulder to you, who clung to him. "I think we can go home now. The storm's dying down already."

You nodded, and the two of you finished closing up in silence, before preparing to leave.

"Do you have a ride?" Jake asked you as the two of you packed up your things.

Shit.

"My mom was going to pick me up because she didn't want me driving late at night," you groaned. "I'll call her right no—"

"No," Jake shook his head, reaching inside his pocket. You watched as he really shoved his hands in there, like he was searching for something. At last, after digging through his pockets for what felt like hours, he pulled out a bunch of keys, with a tiny lego keychain dangling off of it. "I'll drive you home."

After that day, you weren't called into work again for a few days. In those few days, for some weird reason, you couldn't get Jake off your mind. Which you thought was weird.

You never really thought about Jake aside from work. And it wasn't even the fact that you were thinking about him! It was the fact that you felt weird for feeling weird about thinking about him. If that even made sense.

He's always been cute. Gentlemanly, too.

When he drove you home the other day, he insisted that you didn't need to pay him back for driving you home. In fact, he said that he'd rather use more gas than have you wait alone at the parlor to be picked up. He opened and closed the door for you, showed you how to control the heaters so that you could be warm, and even let you play your music!

He was reliable too, someone that you knew you could count on. And he was very kind, because no matter how many rude customers there were, he understood that everyone was human and served them with a smile. Unlike you, who always exercised that "we reserve to deny you service" right.

These were all things that you knew. It was no surprise. You knew these things.

But after that day, you couldn't help but feel like it was... amplified.

Jake was cute, but now he was cuter. Way cuter.

He felt even more gentlemanly and reliable and kind now. Him going out of his way to comfort you, even if it meant that you had to listen to his god-awful music, warmed your heart.

And that was the weird part.

It was just so odd. You couldn't stop thinking about him. And you felt all weird and mushy for thinking about him, which made you feel even weirder!

You didn't really get it.

Surely, it wasn't a crush.

It wasn't like you were all over the place, distracted and spacy and blushing now that Jake was on your mind. You weren't rolling around and kicking your feet, nor were you giggling.

But you would be lying if you said that the simple thought of his name didn't make you excited.

Meanwhile, Jake knew exactly what was happening to him.

And it was that his crush on you definitely deepened tenfold.

In the moment, when he was with you, whether it be the other day or any other day at all, he was always nonchalant. It was a casual crush, he'd say. Everything was straightforward with no games to play.

But that was a lie.

Because here he was, lying on his bed and staring at his ceiling. He hugged his pillow, embarrassingly pretending that it was you. He felt like a weirdo, but he couldn't get the feeling of you clinging to him and in his arms out of his head!

Just the mere thought of that night made him have to roll around and giggle for a few moments.

Jake sucked in the scent of his pillows. Unfortunately, they didn't smell like you, just like laundry with a faint scent of his own cologne.

You were so pretty, and cool, and kind, and smart, and practical, and just everything good in the world. And then when you got scared and clung to him, it made his heart flutter, because who knew you could be so cute?

Jake let out a squeal into his pillow, his cheeks hurting from how much he was smiling.

For the first time ever, Jake actually wanted to go to work. Just to see you.

He couldn't wait for it.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," you said for the millionth time today. "We don't have that here—"

Another day at work. Just when the idea of going to work didn't sound too bad, you're reminded why you hate it.

Apparently some kids on TikTok spread a rumor that your parlor had a special, limited-edition, summer unicorn flavor. And even worse, your damn social media manager was hinting at it on Instagram, too.

So here you were now, trying to explain to a hoard of angry customers that this limited-edition unicorn flavor was absolutely false. To think that your own social media manager would betray you and your coworkers like this just to attract more customers... You shouldn't be unsurprised but you were.

Diabolical.

It must've been the 90th time in the past hour that you had to explain that you had no fucking clue what a unicorn flavor would be, and if you weren't a tired and overworked teenager, you would've felt bad when a little girl bursted into tears in the middle of the store.

Cry about it, you thought, and you couldn't tell if that sentiment was towards your angry customers, or if it was towards upper management that were about to get multiple complaints about you.

Breathe, you had to tell yourself. It's not worth it. Where was everyone else anyway? You couldn't believe that you were left completely alone to operate the establishment on your own. And most of your coworkers were older than you anyway. Those bums!

You sucked in another breath, putting on your best smile.

"You're telling me that you don't actually have the limited-edition unicorn flavor?!" an angry father crossed his arms, upset with his children cowering beside him.

"No, sir," you said as politely as you could. "That was just a rumor. My apologies for the inconven—"

"Unacceptable!"

You winced, feeling your ears warm up. If everyone in the parlor wasn't already watching you like a hawk, all eyes were now on you.

"I had to drive two hours here," the father slammed his hand on the counter, leaning in so close that you could smell him. "I drove two hours here for unicorn ice cream and you're telling me that it was all a lie?!"

All of this.... for ice cream?"

"I apologize, sir," you hung your head low to appear genuine, clasping your hands together. "That must have been a long ride and—"

"Shut up and give me my ice cream, you bi—" Your eyes widened a fraction as you saw a big palm swinging your way... Was he about to slap you? In the milliseconds that you could even react, you squeezed your eyes shut, preparing for the stinging feeling of a hand against your cheek.

But instead, you felt nothing, only the sound of a few gasps and light chuckling.

"Hey, there, sir," you heard Jake's voice as you peeled your eyes open.

Jake was beside you, his hand wrapped around the man's wrist that was mere inches away from your face.

"J-Jake?!"

The man struggled in Jake's grip, attempting (and failing horribly) to pull his wrist out of Jake's hand.

"Let go of me, boy!" he yelled. Everyone's eyes were on the scene now. How embarrassing.

Jake narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip.

"Here at Layla's Ice Cream Parlor, we reserve the right to deny any patron service," he said plainly.

The man scoffed. "And are you about to deny me service? What are you, the manager?"

Jake only shook his head calmly.

"You were about to assault my coworker here," he motioned toward you, then to the man's still-raised hand. "I don't need to be any manager to realize that someone of that sort has no business here."

Jake shot him a smile, before roughly letting go of his wrist, letting it fall to the counter.

"Please leave, sir."

He glanced around the room, noticing the way everyone stared at him. Another tight-lipped smile spread on his face.

"There are no limited-edition summer flavors, so if that is what you are here for, I apologize for the disappointment. " Jake glanced at you. "Please help yourself to the flavors that we actually have."

With that, Jake took you by the wrist, pulling you into the breakroom.

"W-Wait Jake—!" you tried to pull out of his grasp. "There's still customers out there."

He gently pushed you down onto a chair.

Jake crouched down at your sitting figure, putting his hands on your knees. He squeezed them playfully. "You've done enough today. I'll handle the rest."

"But— But there's a lot of people today," you reasoned, placing your hands on his. "You can't run the entire place on your own...!"

But before the last syllables could even leave your lips, Jake was already retying his apron, fixing his dumb uniform hat. Before he slinked away through the door, he glanced over his shoulder, gripping the door frame.

"I'll prove you wrong," he said with a grin. "Just watch."

(You were right, he was wrong. Not even the most exemplary worker like Jake could handle an entire exuberant ice cream parlor by himself. The moment you saw his tired eyes you were already throwing on your apron. Though, you got a good laugh out of it afterwards.)

You deadpanned.

This was not what you signed up for.

It was Saturday, the day that you swore was your break day from work. And then all of a sudden you got an urgent call from your manager and you rushed to work immediately.

You thought that the parlor got robbed, or maybe something broke down.

Nope.

"You want me..." you blinked, "To wear that?!"

Lo and behold, before you was a comically large ice cream costume, with a brown waffled body for the cone and the most obnoxious white swirl reaching high in the ceiling, with only a circular cut-out to see your face.

Apparently, sales were dwindling, so your managers decided to try out some new advertising.

You were going to wear that godforsaken ice cream costume and hang outside the parlor to attract customers.

"Kid-friendly language only," your manager instructed you matter-of-factly. "No swearing, no saying mean words."

You tuned him out.

And if the walk of shame out of the bathroom in your ice cream costume wasn't bad enough, you were hit with the last thing you wanted to see: Jake Sim.

You were about to jump and shriek and let the ground open up and devour you whole... when you realized that he was wearing an ice cream costume too...!

"You too?!" you cried. Behold, in front of you stood your favorite coworker Jake Sim with an equally deadpan expression, clad in the ridiculous ice cream costume.

"Yup," Jake muttered, popping the p. "I guess we'll never be free."

And he was indeed correct.

There was truly nothing more mortifying than standing outside the damn ice cream parlor, holding an even more obnoxiously bright sign and trying to attract customers... all in your humiliating ice cream costume.

Kids laughed at you from across the street. Cars that passed by you probably did the same. Absolutely demoralizing.

"Come to Layla's Ice Cream Parlor," you said in a monotone voice, trying your very best to not burst into tears of sheer embarrassment. "We have ice cream... and... uh—"

You glanced at Jake, whispering to him, "What else do we have?"

"Ice cream." He said, absolutely no expression in his voice or face. Oh god, we must have lost him too! "Nothing but ice cream."

Poor guy, he looked like he wanted to disappear.

This must have been a punishment, or something. Maybe a humiliation ritual. But after a good ten minutes, you and Jake just decided to commit to the bit. After all, you were getting paid extra for this.

"Ice cream, ice cream!" you and Jake chanted as you paraded around the vicinity of the parlor. After all, there was nothing you could do but make the best of it. You went out of your way to speak to oncoming customers, advertising with the most energy you could. "Come to Layla's Ice Cream!"

But it wasn't always easy.

Like always, customers and children were rude.

"Hello, miss, are you interested in trying some of Layla's yummy yummy ice cre—" and then you got laughed at. Like actually. They just started pointing and laughing at you. Like you were some freak.

And then Jake tried to square up some little kids a few times, it was a mess.

And finally, after what felt like years out there trying to advertise to people, your manager finally called you guys back in. Apparently, you and Jake did such a wonderful job that you guys were needed back at the front. Your coworkers couldn't seem to keep up. Lazy asses.

You and Jake went back inside to change back into your work uniforms— those stupid blue and white sailor uniforms. Except, one of your coworkers was having an "emergency" in the staff bathroom (you were certain it was just Beomgyu sitting on the toilet with his phone and refusing to do his job), so both you and Jake had to change in the staff break room.

At the same time.

"Okay, you will change, and I will cover you—"

"Shut up!" you exclaimed. "Why can't we just change at the same time?"

Jake was being terribly awkward about it.

"B-Because!" he reasoned, unable to hide the way he couldn't look you in the eye. "Because.... you're a girl, and I'm a guy!"

"Aaaaand?" you drew out your syllables, crossing your arms over your chest.

"We can't possibly change in the same room?" Jake cried. "What if— What if I accidentally see your—"

Your cheeks warmed up. What was he on about? "You're not going to!"

Your boss was really annoying about punctuality, so you and Jake should probably change quickly anyway. You ignored Jake's fussing, raising your arms as you began to pull your shirt over your head.

"What are you—"

"Just change!"

In the end, you guys just did the easiest option: turning around so that you faced opposite directions while the other changed... which should have been intuitive for Jake (but he's a little slow).

When you two were both done changing, you turned back around to face Jake, about to let out your grievances about working.

Except, when you saw him, you couldn't help but let out a giggle.

Because your work uniform was supposed to resemble that of a sailor, there were a few complex pieces, such as the sailor scarf draped over your shoulders and neck. Usually, you need a mirror to tie it properly. There was also the damn paper sailor hat that you had to wear.

Since you weren't changing in the bathroom, there was no mirror, so poor Jake's hat and tie were sloppily done, crooked on his person.

"Jake," you smiled, motioning for him to come toward you. And when he was close enough, you yanked him even closer to you by his shoulders, causing him to let out a yelp.

"W-What are you doing?" he asked, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

You giggled again. Your hands began to work on his tie, undoing his sloppy tie and neatly folding it. "Relax, you big baby."

When you were done with his tie, you fixed Jake's hat, oblivious to the way Jake's ears and neck turned a noticeable shade of red.

"There you go," you said with a grin. "All good!"

Jake looked at you with shaky eyes. You were close to him now. Close enough that he could feel your breath fanning his cheeks. Close enough that if he just leaned in a bit more, he could kiss you— Jake jerked himself away from you abruptly. His heart was pounding in his chest at an abnormal rate.

Don't think about kissing her when she's right in front of you! he scolded himself. You gave him a questioning look, before you just grinned again and left the break room.

Ah, Jake was going crazy.

Man, fuck you Beomgyu! you mentally cursed your other coworker. You were absolutely correct; earlier he was indeed hogging the staff bathroom so that he could shirk his responsibilities. According to Jake, Beomgyu did this really often, to the point that the staff bathroom ran out of soap too fast because Beomgyu was busy playing with soap and making dumb ass bubbles in there.

Of all times, it had to be now that the staff bathroom just decided to run out of soap?

It was getting late, so your manager told you to start cleaning. And just as you began, some little unsupervised middle schooler skateboarded right into you, spilling his three scoops of chocolate ice cream with layers of caramel and peanut butter sauce all over your white uniform.

And all you were given were a few measly napkins to wipe but the sticky sweet mess, only after you cleaned up the mess on the floor. Now as you desperately tried to clean the mess off your uniform in the staff bathroom, you were certain that your manager was going to yell at you later.

As you reached for another hand towel from the dispenser, you let out a groan as you realized that there were no more. Seriously, what was Beomgyu doing in here that he just used up all the soap and paper towels?

"[Name]," you heard a knock on the door. It was Jake. "You good in there?"

You groaned again.

"No!" you cried from the other side of the door. You were frustrated, how bothersome! Even if there were more paper towels, there still was a giant brown stain on your shirt. And you'd probably have to get another uniform. "It looks like a shit stain!"

You heard Jake chuckle from the other side of the door, before his footsteps retreated. After a few minutes, Jake came back.

"Can I come in?" he asked, knocking again on the bathroom door.

"Door's unlocked."

Except, instead of seeing Jake in his usual work uniform, he had a big black hoodie thrown over him, probably one that he was wearing before he changed into his uniform earlier. In his hands was a white shirt.

"Wear this," he said as he shoved the white shirt into your hands.

It was his own uniform shirt.

"But—" you tried to reason with him, but he put his hand up, silencing you.

"Can't have you walking around with a shit stain on your shirt," he said with a cheeky grin, earning him a slap on the arm.

"But you'll get in trouble," you breathed. Your manager was really particular about workers wearing uniforms, and for some reason not about workers actually doing their job.

Jake shrugged. "It's about time I did." And flashed you another smile. "And plus, I was going to get in trouble anyway. Apparently, defending my coworker from a rude customer is punishable."

Ah, the unicorn ice cream incident from a few weeks ago.

Was he really that willing to get in trouble for you?

As you closed the door to the bathroom, you could already hear your manager and another coworker making their comments about Jake. Although you couldn't exactly hear what they were saying, it must have been the usual remarks about inefficiency. And probably about how he wasn't wearing work-appropriate clothes.

You sunk your teeth into your bottom lip as you listened to their muffled voices.

Jake was really getting in trouble all for your sake.

As you buttoned up his white shirt, you noted that it carried the scent of his cologne. It smelled good, and you instinctively brought the sleeve up to your nose to catch a better whiff. But then you felt weird and stopped immediately.

It wasn't fair. Everything about your job.

You and Jake had to do all the work, but even so, the managers were disproportionately harsher with Jake than they were with you. Probably because of some sexist bullshit.

And then there were rude and entitled customers.

Jake was taking the fall for you too much.

And you couldn't keep letting it happen.

As you made your way out of the staff bathroom, you could hear your manager berating Jake, with another coworker joining in.

"And why are you not in our employee dress code?" your manager chided. "This is unacceptable! A hoodie? What do you think will happen to our store's brand?"

Jake just hung his head low, but you could tell he was annoyed more than anything. "It was because [Name]'s shirt got ruined, and she was uncomfortable."

"And what business do you have with [Name]?" your coworker joined in lambasting the poor Jake.

"Look, man," Jake looked up at them. "I was just helpin' her out." Jake paused for a moment. "And plus it's closing hours anyway. It's not like anyone sees me out of uniform."

Your manager and coworker thought for a few moments, before your coworker said, "Well, you're still causing a hindrance for our parlor. I think we will cut you weekly pay—"

His weekly pay? Ridiculous. Your body moved on its own, and before you knew it, you had bursted through the door.

"I-It was my fault!" you blurted, your lips moving faster than you could think. "Jake was just helping me."

You ignored the way Jake looked at you with eyes big as saucers, surprised. You swiped your tongue over your lip. "I-It's really my fault. If there's anyone that should get their weekly pay cut, it should be me."

Jake's face visibly contorted, his brows crashing together. "[Name]—"

"That's enough," your manager finally spoke up. The older man sighed, before checking his wrist watch. "Jake, [Name], just forget about it. Don't make this mistake again. Just close up for the night."

And with that, you and Jake were left alone once more.

"What was that all about?" Jake asked you as the two of you closed up.

"What was what?"

Jake huffed, leaning on the mop. "You know, what happened earlier about uniforms?"

"Oh." You shrugged, not really paying him any mind. "What about it?"

Jake huffed again. "Y'know... Why did you step in?"

You finally looked at him, before blinking a few times. "Isn’t it obvious?"

Jake smiled. "No, that’s why I’m asking you."

You scoffed playfully. "Okay, smartass."

You paused for a few moments. "You’re my friend, Jake. You’ve protected me in the past, so I'm just returning the favor."

"Thank you," Jake replied, unable to hide the smile growing on his face. "That's very kind of you.

You just hummed in response, going back to cleaning up.

Jake teetered on his feet, back and forth, as he played with his fingers. His heart pounding in his chest, Jake chewed on his bottom lip.

He was nervous.

Just this morning, you texted him if he wanted to hang out with you, because as you said, you were bored.

Hanging out? With you? The hottest girl that he's ever seen? There was no way in hell that he'd say no to such a golden opportunity.

You'd told Jake to meet you at the pier, because there was a nice mall area around there. As you relayed in your texts, you were going on vacation in a few weeks, and needed to go shopping for it.

You'd be lying if you said you didn't have any ulterior motives. You weren't really sure how you felt about Jake. He was cute, and sweet, and you definitely wanted to get to know him better. And there was a part of you that desperately wanted to impress him.

Maybe today could be an opportunity for you.

You checked your reflection in the car window before you got out of your mom's car. Muttering a "bye," you made your way toward where you told Jake to meet you.

It was a sunny day. You chose to wear something breathable, a pretty pink sundress with a cardigan. You didn't dress like this on most days. You liked to opt for dark colors, but today you wanted to be... cute.

Pretty for Jake.

You spotted Jake pretty easily. Not because he had anything that made him physically easy to identify, not at all. It was more like... you simply could just spot him. It was like you had a newfound Jake-radar.

"Hi," you said with a smile. And for some reason, it seemed like Jake was startled, with his eyes widening as he caught sight of you. "Are you okay?"

Jake stared at you for a few moments, and you swore you saw the way his eyes looked you up and down. His lips parted, and he sucked in a sharp breath as he swiped his tongue over his lips.

You felt a twinge of embarrassment. You didn't wear light colors normally, was it obvious that this dress was not something that you usually wear? Did you look strange? Maybe you should've worn your typical black clothing, and—

"N-No," Jake stammered, his eyes still looking you up and down. Truth be told, he had to bite back a "damn." Because yes, damn, you looked hot. "You look— You look nice today."

Your cheeks prickled with warmth. "Oh. Thank you."

"You don't..." Jake continued, as if he was on autopilot. You were beginning to feel really shy when you realized that he was really staring at your chest area. "You don't wear pink often, do you?"

You averted your gaze. "You're right, I don't." How embarrassing! So he notices the things you wear... and he probably 100% knows that you don't wear pink at all. "Does it look weird, or—"

"No!" Jake blurted, before catching himself. He cleared his throat, his ears a warm shade of pink. "Not at all. I really, uh, meant it when I said— When I said you looked nice."

You nodded slowly. Was it normal to feel so warm? Maybe you should check the weather again?

"Really nice," Jake echoed himself. If you weren't busy feeling shy yourself, you would have noticed Jake checking you out for the 50th time already.

You murmured a brief "thanks," before you quickly changed the subject.

"Shall we go?"

It was unusual to feel awkward or shy around Jake, and vice versa. You knew for sure that Jake was a special person, but it never affected you. For Jake, he was determined to be calm and nonchalant when it came to you. And plus, your friendship was always casual anyway.

Which was why all of your shyness dissipated pretty quickly.

You took Jake along to all the spots at the pier's mall area.

"What are you looking for?" Jake asked as he trailed after you. Jake will never understand women. You've been to 4 stores already, and all you've done is touch things and say, 'Oh this is cute.' And then you'd leave.

You shrugged. "Cute things for vacation."

Jake looked around, through the store mirrors as you two traversed the mall area. "Any preferences?"

You shrugged again. "I like dark colors, but I don't mind brighter colors for vacation, yaknow?"

Jake hummed.

The two of you walked around for a little longer until you stopped in front of a store.

"What's this?" Jake asked.

You grinned. "A swimsuit store."

Listen, Jake wouldn't consider himself an easily-excitable guy. He wasn't pervy, either. Especially toward you! He was nonchalant!

But as he entered the girly swimsuit store, he couldn't help but redden at the thought of you in some of these swimsuits. Some of them were provocative and cheeky, making Jake's stomach do flips as his mind crept into places that made it hard for him to make eye contact with you. Other ones were cute and frilly, arguably making Jake's heart pound even faster as he imagined you in them.

"Hey, what do you think about this one?" you asked Jake as you took one of the suits off the rack.

On the inside, Jake was already drooling at the thought. But on the outside he simply nodded, giving a playful smile and a thumbs up. And really, he thought that if he could maintain that attitude for the rest of the time in this swimsuit store, he'd be fine.

But he was wrong.

"Okay, I'm gonna try these on, and I'll have you give me feedback."

What.

What?

And so Jake sat in the couches in front of the changing rooms, simply awaiting his death.

He's not weird, he swears. He doesn't want to be creepy or gross toward you.

But how could he not sweat and basically hyperventilate in these changing rooms when the hottest girl that he's ever seen (you) is about to ask him for his opinion on swimsuits?

Jake was certain that no matter what, you would look hot.

And he was proven correct when you slipped out of the changing rooms.

"Okay, first one," you said, in a voice that was a little too relaxed. You went on your tiptoes, doing a few turns here and there so that Jake could see the full extent of the suit on you. "What do you think?"

And oh.

Good lord.

Jake was really trying his best not to make you uncomfortable.

But there was absolutely no way that he could just sit there and not react. His jaw quite literally dropped the moment he saw you.

The way the suit hugged your body, the way the colors illuminated your skin, the way you were 100% feeling yourself in it— All of it was making Jake 2 seconds away from crashing out.

You must have been a goddess. Or maybe Jake saved a country in his past life.

"It looks— You look— I— You—" he stumbled over his words. There were no words to describe how you looked. You looked downright beautiful. Like, if Jake died now he wouldn't mind. And when you giggled at his reaction, he took a deep breath. Don't be a weirdo! he told himself.

"You look beautiful," he breathed, finally catching himself. His eyes flickered back up to your pretty, pretty face. "You look really beautiful in this one."

"Thank you," you smiled at him. You did another twirl, something that you definitely knew drove him crazy. And if you hadn't noticed him checking you out, Jake was certain that you definitely knew now.

And maybe Jake didn't know enough about women. Because he really believed that that one swimsuit was the only one that you were trying on.

And he was so wrong.

Because there were at least 3 more that you wanted to show him!

Oh, he wasn't going to survive this.

Well, Jake did survive.

After insisting on carrying your shopping bag full of your new swimsuits (Jake didn't dare peek inside because he thought he'd combust), you decided to do some more exploring.

You got some food to munch on, and went to all types of stores. And you took many pictures, too! Pictures together, of you trying on hats and sunglasses. Candid pictures of each other, many of which where you look pretty without even trying and Jake's mind is blown.

More exploring, walking, sitting down, walking, and then sitting for 30 minutes because both of your feet hurt. A lot of laughing, a lot of dumb conversations, and even more laughing.

And before you knew it, it was getting dark out. Suddenly, the sound of the waves crashing filled the air, the cool beach wind blowing against your cheeks. 

"Let's go walk along the shore!"

And so you did.

The orange sky was fading into a dark blue, and yet, the sun still shone so brightly as it submerged into the horizon. The water gently rocked against the shoreline, while the scent of sea salt and seaweed filled your senses.

It was a cool evening, and you tugged on the sleeves of your cardigan to warm your cold hands.

By now, the beach was quiet. Many people had already left, as it was slowly becoming nighttime.

In quiet moments like this, you couldn't help but fully conceptualize Jake as a person.

He was a handsome boy your age. He was kind, sweet, responsible, silly, everything great in a person. And he had a similar music taste to you, too. And here he was, walking alongside you as the sun set.

Your eyes fluttered over to him. His eyes were trained on the sand below his feet, appreciating the way the wet granules covered his skin.

He was a straightforward person. Things went from A to B with him easily. No games, nothing to hide. And yet, you felt like there was so much to discover about him. There was an entire world undiscovered in his head. And you wanted to be a part of it.

"What are you thinking about?" you asked suddenly, interrupting the calm silence.

"You."

.

.

.

You?

You could feel your heart picking up speed, but you kept your composure. Meanwhile, you swore your skin was prickling with an uncharacteristic warmth.

"I-I mean—" Jake seemed to snap out of his daze. "I— I was just thinking about you, and work, and summer, and—"

You blinked, but your lips spread into a tight smile. You didn't know why you felt disappointed.

You sucked in a breath. "The water's really nice tonight."

"Mhm," Jake agreed. He wasn't blind. He could see the way your face fell ever so slightly. He could see when you felt flustered or shy because of him.

But what if he was misinterpreting things? What if his eyes were playing tricks on him?

But then you'd look up at him with those shiny eyes, almost like you were begging him to give you his heart.

Just go for it.

His eyes dropped to your hands, which were still tugging on your sleeves to keep warm.

Jake clicked his tongue. Boldly, he grabbed your hands, clasping them in yours.

"Hey!" you cried.

"Geez, your hands are so cold," he murmured, before locking his fingers with one of your hands. As if nothing happened, Jake just continued walking along the shore, this time with your hand in his.

You stared at your interlocked fingers for a few moments, before you swallowed all of your shyness and continued trailing with him.

The two of you returned to walking in silence, nothing but the sound of the water and your breaths filling the air.

Jake wasn't lying when he said he was thinking of you, because he really. He always was. And just as he was about to fall back into thought, your hand pulled away from his.

With curious eyes, Jake watched as you silently pulled out a tiny plastic case from your purse.

Your earbuds.

You plugged them into your phone, before jamming one of the buds into your own ear. You looked at Jake expectantly, and he took the second earbud graciously.

You bit back a laugh as you turned on your music.

The second you pressed 'play,' a hardy bass and an unforgettable drumline played into your ears.

"Are you serious?" Jake immediately snapped his head at you. "Fleetwood Mac?!"

You laughed, throwing your head back. "I wasn't about to let you ruin the beach vibe and play Bon Jovi."

"I don't only listen to Bon Jovi—!"

And just as you and Jake were enjoying music, the beach, and most importantly, each other, Jake's phone rang. And of course, his ringtone was a Bon Jovi song.

You gave him a look as his lips spread into a goofy smile.

Not daring to tear out the earbud, he picked up his phone and listened with his other ear.

And even though it was nearly nighttime by now, you could still see how Jake's face morphed.

When he hung up, his face dropped.

"They need me to take someone's shift."

Oh.

This was really, very, genuinely, seriously annoying.

Because unfortunately, the truth was that if they needed Jake to work, then they probably needed you to work too.

Because they always needed you and Jake to work.

And so, here your (not-so official) date was ending.

Apparently, it was extremely urgent, and they insisted on paying Jake extra if he came. Not to worry, because he texted your manager to make sure that you'd get extra pay if you came along, too.

The moment that you stepped into the parlor, you could feel all the joy leaving your body. You swore that Layla’s Ice Cream Parlor had evil spirits in there, designed specifically to simply fill your body with dread.

You put on one of the spare work uniforms that the parlor had in the back. It was a little big, and a little itchy, but whatever.

When Jake got the phone call and explained to you the situation, you were fully expecting a packed parlor, with a line that went out the door and your incompetent coworkers couldn't handle it, or something. But now that you were in the parlor, you realized that that was just a load of bullshit.

"Empty," Jake muttered behind you. "There is absolutely no one here."

You hummed in agreement, equally deadpan.

Those lazy bums.

They just didn't want to work the closing shift. They just didn't want to do the cleaning or locking up. They just wanted you to take their shifts so that they could go home and relax.

And so here you two were, just lazing around in the breakroom, just trying to pass the time. You let your phone play some random playlist.

"I'm sorry," Jake said, with his cheek pressed against the breakroom table. "We were hanging out and I decided to take us to work."

"Nah, you're justified," you said lazily. "They're promising us extra pay, so it's fine."

The room went silent again, but you could tell Jake was thinking something. And indeed, he was.

Jake felt horrible! Although you did agree to come to work with him, he still felt back. Did he just fumble your first (unofficial) date? God, he's so stupid! Now you two were stuck in the worst place on earth.

He stared at your bored expression.

He couldn't let you stay bored.

Without a word, he got up from his seat in the breakroom and disappeared out to the front. You could hear some cluttering and buzzing.

"Close your eyes!" he yelled before he came back to where you were in the breakroom. And you complied.

"What are you doing, Jake?" you asked, but you couldn't help but smile. He was definitely up to some antics.

"Just close your eyes," he instructed you, before sitting down with you at the breakroom table again.

Jake clasped his hands together. "I have three cups of ice cream here. You will close your eyes and guess which one is which."

You let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you serious?"

"Yes!" Jake laughed. "We can't get bored in here."

You chuckled. "Okay, fine."

Jake watched you intently as he spoon-fed you the first spoonful of ice cream.

The first flavor was strawberry, your personal favorite.

Maybe it was getting late, or maybe Jake was just too obsessed with you, but he couldn't take his eyes off of the way your pretty lips opened up for the ice cream. He was simply so mesmerized by the way you licked your lips, relishing in the way the sweet strawberry ice cream melted on your tastebuds.

"This is so obvious," you nudged him, kicking him from under the table. "At least make it hard for me!"

Jake rolled his eyes playfully. "Just guess!"

You huffed, mumbling something about him being stupid under your breath. "Strawberry. Duh."

"Woo hoo!" Jake cheered for you. "It was strawberry!"

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock."

The second flavor was ube. Which you guessed almost immediately.

"Next flavor, please," you giggled. "This game is too easy,"

But Jake wasn't listening to you in the slightest.

Just why did you have to start licking the spoon clean? The way your glossy lips wrapped around the spoon, your tongue wrapping around the smooth plastic, and now he was feeling all types of things, and—

"Seriously, make it harder for me!"

Jake gulped.

The last flavor he had was salted caramel. His own personal favorite.

He'd already taken a few bites out of it.

He glanced at your lips, then down at the salted caramel ice cream.

Even under the corporate light of the break room, you still glowed so prettily. And you must have been doing it on purpose, the way you were keeping the spoon in your mouth, with your lips wrapped around it so prettily.

Jake's eyes flickered back to your lips once more, then to the salted caramel ice cream.

His heart was already pounding in his chest. All the blood was rushing to his head and Jake thought that he'd faint.

Your lips were just so damn pretty.

It seemed like something was possessing Jake's body. While his mind was frozen on your lips, his body was moving on its own.

He reached out for you first, his large hand taking solace on your shoulder.

And in one, fluid motion, Jake leaned in, and closed the gap between his lips and yours.

Your lips were soft and sweet, like clouds. Jake's eyes had unconsciously fallen shut, and the moment that he realized that he was kissing you, they shot open. However, just as he was about to pull away, because oh my god he was kissing you, and he didn't even ask!, Jake felt your hand slither up around his neck.

You pulled him in even closer, deepening the kiss.

Jake felt dizzy. It was the way your tongue dipped into his mouth when he let out a little gasp. Or maybe it was the way your fingers ran through his hair, almost as if you were desperate to keep his lips on yours. Your everything— your hands, your lips, your scent— they were all driving him insane.

Jake didn't want it to end, and if it weren't for his need for air, he wouldn't have pulled away. Ever.

The two of you sat there, breathless, staring into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. Jake's cheeks were red, his pupils blown out with desire. His eyes fell down to your lips.

"Salted caramel," you breathed, your hands sliding down to his shoulders. You squeezed his shoulders. "You taste like salted caramel— kiss me if that's the answer—"

And you didn't need to ask him twice, because Jake was already crashing his lips against yours.

There was something so addictive about your lips. The way you moaned against his lips, the way you clung onto him like you needed him, it was all driving him crazy.

Jake needed more, he needed you.

In his head, it was all just you, you, you.

"I want you so bad," Jake mumbled against your lips. "Please."

He could feel you giggle, but he simply just slides his hand around your waist to pull you closer.

Your lips moved against his in ways that were too perfect to be real. Jake felt like he was in heaven. You were heaven. You were angelic, you were godly, you were—

"Um, excuse me, are you guys still open?"

!!!

You and Jake jumped away from each other.

Shit.

It was still store hours.

"Are we going to get fired?"

Now it was actually closing hours.

You and Jake started cleaning after you were so rudely interrupted, and now it was time to close up.

And it was awkward.

Your heart was practically leaping out of your chest. It felt like forever since you shared your kisses with Jake. And now, you craved his lips once more.

But what if it was just on the whim? What if Jake just did it to do it?

You just wanted him so bad. You wanted to kiss him again, you wanted to feel him again.

"For what?"

You shifted uncomfortably, your eyes refusing to meet Jake's.

"Kissing coworkers."

"No!" Jake's cheeks flared up. "Of course not!"

"Then..." your brows furrowed. Your face felt hot to the touch. You felt like you were going to get a heart attack. Seriously, you felt like you were burning up, all the while you felt frozen in time and space. You slowly looked up at Jake. "Then can we... you know... keep doing it?"

.

.

.

"I— I mean, if you don't mind— and if it's not something that we could get fired for—" you stammered— "Then can we... you know— can we keep kissing?"

Jake was already on it.

“Eek, Jake, lock the doors first!”

After a few more weeks of hiding in the storage closet to makeout, and honestly straight up shirking your responsibilities to kiss in the breakroom, you and Jake did the unthinkable.

"We resign!"

Your manager looked at you incredulously. "W-What?"

You and Jake smiled. "We quit."

You've never felt more free. With your boyfriend at your side, it seemed like the summer was endless.

BONUS

"Did I ever tell you that I liked you?" you asked Jake, in his car just moments after you quit your job.

"I don't think you did, babe," Jake laughed.

"Oh."

You should probably put that on your to-do list.

You glanced at your boyfriend. How his lips looked so kissable.

Sigh. You'll tell him what you like later. It's time to kiss!

note: please reblog n comment if you enjoyed! xoxo vanya >_<

[deepestnightcolor]

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆Kinkmas - 15th of December⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

ᴀ/ɴ: If you are still here, I hope you are still enjoying your little advent calendar! Open the door, see if it is for you and I hope you like it!

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Sam (SDV) x Fem!Reader

ᴡᴄ: 2804 words

ᴍᴅɴɪ ✧ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: cursing, drool, comfort sex, possessiveness, praise, pierced dick, raw fucking, creampie, taking pictures of you, Sam just wants to make you feel good because you are hurt, but don't worry, he is giving his best!

He just did not get it. Could not understand, no matter how hard he tried. And he probably never would – he would simply never understand how anyone could hurt you. Precious you with a glimmer in your eyes that made his head spin, a smile that lit up his world and a touch that made him melt, ready to be shaped and formed into whatever you intended him to be for the day. Yes, perhaps Sam was a little biased here with how down bad he was, but he was sure everyone in the damn town would agree that your piece of shit ex did not deserve you. Leaving you just before the feast of the winterstar? Sam was not a violent man, but he was willing to make well-placed exceptions. He had found you in tears in front of your house, phone clutched in one hand, face hidden by the other, sobbing quietly. It had broken his damn heart, had made his fist clench in a bitter rage he had never felt before, body already tense, ready to go scorched earth on what- or whoever had caused the scenery in front of him. But seeing you look up at him, pretty eyes still filled with tears, cheeks red and wet, lip wobbling dangerously, he knew he had to do something else first; be there for you. He had knelt down in the snowy dirt in front of you and had silently pulled you against his chest. At first you had tensed up, but that had quickly faded as you had melted into Sam’s embrace, sobbing into his shirt, your nails digging into the fabric as if you were scared that he would leave just as quickly as he pulled you into a hug. Truth was – Sam would have never left. His heart was absolutely breaking; it was like the pain you felt went over to him, running through his body, pinching at his soul, slamming its ugly fists against his heart. “I am here,” he whispered against your hair, his big hand stroking down your back and back up to your shoulders. “I am here now, promise.”

He didn’t know how long you had sobbed in his arms, and frankly, he didn’t care. What he had cared about was the fact that your sobs slowly had become more infrequent and quieter, that your body hadn’t shaken as violently anymore. You had slowly become more relaxed in his arms, and yet he had still held you tightly to his chest, his long fingers not stopping their brushing through your hair. “Sam?” You had whispered, making him tilt his head. “Yeah?” “I…I need you to do something for me.” “Anything-“ “I need you to f-…fu—I need you to fuck me, Sam.”

Sam also wasn’t sure how often he had asked you if you were sure. Five, ten, or even fifteen times? He had asked you as he had picked you up and pressed you against his body. He had asked you as he was carrying you inside. He had popped the question just before your lips had been about to collide, making you do that cute sniffle-laugh that both tugged at his heartstrings and at the corner of his lips. You had gripped strands of his hair and pulled him into a kiss that could have been described as nothing but desperate, and Sam was shameless enough to say that he had matched that energy. Biting at your lower lip to let his pierced tongue lick over yours, sucking at it to taste you, gripping your ass with those big hands of his in an attempt to press you even closer to his body. He probably shouldn’t have given in, but he was here to help, right? This didn’t have to do with his own selfish desires. Wasn’t connected in any way to the nights he had fisted at his cock, your precious name at the tip of his tongue. Not at all related to the times he had daydreamed about being your boyfriend instead of that prick he had never liked.

“Are you sure?” He asked, peppering hot, open-mouthed kisses over your neck, enjoying the feeling of that preciously soft skin against his lips, the softness only inviting him to bite. Mark over where that fucking loser had been, reclaim what he had lost. “Yes, I a- fuck, Sam,” you whined, lulling your head to the side to bare more of it to him. Yoba, how could anyone be so stupid to let you go? But you didn’t need to worry – he would make sure you would know just how precious you were. How deserving you were of feeling good.

Turned out, you were showing him how good sex could feel. Sam’s eyes were rolled back in the far of his skull, his cock buried balls-deep inside of you, and holy fuck, he probably would never be able to fuck anyone that wasn’t you. He had to swallow several times to be able to even utter a word, Adam’s apple bobbing violently. “Fuck, baby, love, oh my fucking- you feel so good…” His dick was throbbing inside of you, pink, pierced tip shamelessly leaking pre-cum as he took a moment just to look down at you. Hair spread out beneath you like some sort of halo, pretty tits on display for him, thighs spread open for him to be accommodated. Slobber and freshly bitten bruises were forming on your skin, making his tongue feel heavy with split. Yoba, you were gorgeous, like a damn angel had crafted you. And yet you were in pain, pain you didn’t fucking deserve, but by hell, he was going to fuck that pain away.

He leaned down to press a quick, rather sloppy kiss to your lips, his cock throbbing dangerously in your cunt. He hadn’t moved much yet, and you still sucked him off so well already, squishy walls wrapping around him in a way that knocked the breath out of his lungs, and he had to fear he was going to fucking cum already. “S-sam,” you whispered, your hips bucking toward him in a loving grind, making him almost go cross-eyed. “Baby,” he whispered, breath quivering with his words. He slowly pulled his hips back, away from you, away form the grinds you gifted him; and holy fuck did it pain him to do so, especially when you whined his name again, lower lip wobbling just like it had done before. Sam gave you an almost soothing smile, one that was supposed to keep back the moans that were bubbling at the top of his throat. That first thrust would forever hold him in a chokehold – engraved in his brain, hammered in his heart. Oh, how your eyes rolled back and how your breasts bounced. He had even felt a quiver ripple through your thighs, so snuggly wrapped against his hips. He was fucking addicted in one stroke, forcing him to pull back, just to snap his hips forward again. His teeth were digging into his lower lip as he began to set a pace, blue eyes glued to your body, drowning in what his dick did to you. Your whole body seemed to react to him, your head thrown into the pillow as the pierced tip of his dick bullied forward, pushing deeper, deeper, deeper. You looked absolutely beautiful, and Sam forever fucking prayed that he would never forget that look on your face. That look that he caused. “You are so fucking- you are fucking- Yoba, fuck,” he started, eyes rolling as your walls squeezed him. Did you like that, huh? Liked being praised? Did that fucking douche dare not to praise you enough? Shit, he would praise you, promise. “You are fucking everything, baby- come on, touch me, baby. You can, let me feel those nails dig in my back.” His words seemed steady at the surface, but below there was a groan lingering, an animalistic sound of pleasure from the depths of his body. One he couldn’t keep in anymore when your eyes fluttered, those pretty orbs finding him, the look of sadness you had had being replaced by something more…primal and lustful. One that only grew louder when your nails did sink into his skin, scratching down along his spine. “That’s it, baby. Look so pretty, even prettier on my dick- hooo…fuck, you are squeezing me, baby. You like this? Yeah? You like my dick? Does it make you feel as good as you deserve, princess?” He panted, eyes slipping shut for just a moment, letting his instincts take over. Instincts to fuck you hard and deep, make you feel every. Damn. Inch. Of. His. Cock. He hadn’t even noticed that his thrust had gotten harder, fast, hard fucks of his cock deep inside of your pussy, making your body rut along the mattress, bed frame squeaking sounds of annoyed disagreement. But Sam didn’t care, the bed could break, he would buy you a new one, build it with his own two hands if you wanted him to, if you only kept looking at him like this – mouth open, eyes rolling and fluttering, but always with a dick-drunken look in them, a trail of spit on your chin as he pounded into you. He wanted to make you forget, wanted to make you feel as good as he did with his balls pulled tight and the thick vine on the underside of his cock throbbing, but he doubted he ever could, not when he felt like on cloud six and cloud nine, fuck that, whatever highest cloud there was, he was on that one.

“Sa-ham!” You squeaked, causing another groan to tear for him. He just had to. Just had to make sure you would have a reminder of this. His eyes wandered to the phone you had dropped only when he had started kissing you, tongue licking over your body as if he was set out to devour you, and now it was in his big hand. He looked at you, nodding at the phone, his hips stopping out of necessity – the blond tried to ignore the way his cock pulsed, the way your cunt squished and gushed, the sloppy wet having formed a creamed ring around his fat shaft. “Can I, baby? Gosh, you just look so pretty, look atcha…Want you to remember how good you can feel,” he rambled, licking over his lips, watching your face intently. You were panting, still in a daze, and yet there it was, a nod. Your thighs wrapped tighter around his hips, hands reaching up to grab his face and pull him into a kiss. Sam happily complied; he would have been stupid if he hadn’t. He grunted, shifting more of his weight on his forearms, adding some pressure on your body, just to make you feel a little closer. He needed it, and he hoped you enjoyed it, too, as your tongues clashed and bumped. Sam’s hips slowly began to resume their pace from before, heavy balls smacking against sloppy wet skin, cunt squelching whenever he drew back. “Gorgeous, wonderful girl. Ya deserve the world, baby. Gonna pick the stars from the sky for ya if ya want that,” he slurred, eyes watering with just how good your pussy felt. His fingers were fucking shaking as he pressed the camera button, pressing a small kiss against your lips before picking himself up just a little, allowing the camera to capture his cock pounding your pussy. Gosh, he was in love, with how you scratched him, how you moaned for him, how you snapped up your hips whenever he went especially hard – with you. “Good girl, good fucking girl, pussy taking me so well, holy fuuuuuck,” he panted. He felt the coils in his tummy twisting and turning, becoming tighter, threatening to snap, snap for you, ready to mark you up, cover the tracks of those who weren’t deserving. He was moaning your name quietly, the camera now lifted higher, trying to capture as much of your beauty as humanly possible, free hand groping your bouncing tit. “You are amazing, baby, hng- I am- oh fuck, you are going to make me cum if you keep squeezing me like that, princess.” His words were hissed through grit teeth, which was understandable with how close he was to the edge.

“You deserve the world, baby, deserve being pounded stupid by good dick every day, yeah? That’s it baby,” he cooed, hand leaving your tit to press his thumb against your throbby little clit, drinking in how your body twitched, back arching in, the moans that had fallen from your lips now mixing with mumbles of his name. That’s how he liked it, having you dumb on his cock, just how he was absolutely drunk on your pussy. “I can feel you squeezin’ me, babe. Gonna cum? Huh? Tell me. Look at me and tell me,” he ordered, whimpering at the way your nails dug deeper into his skin. Yet your eyes met, your head nodding. “Gonna-gonna cuuum! Oh FUCK, Sam!” You suddenly whined, your back snapping up again, an absolutely unholy whined sound escaping you. He knew he almost had you there, and he needed to bring you there – he was sure he would fucking die otherwise. “Yes, yes, yes, cum for me! Bless me like that, baby, please. Oh my Yoba, please cum for me, babygirl. Need you to drench me. Gonna do that for me? Are you? Pretty, pretty -fuhuuuck- pretty please,” he panted between harsh snaps of hips and quick flicks of his thumb, trying his best to hold back, trying not to pump you full just yet. Being begged like this did seem to do something to you, because it made you sob out his name as you were pushed over the edge, a wave of orgasmic bliss washing over you. Your toes curled as you pressed Sam against you, your legs locking him in as if you wanted to make sure he could not fucking escape you – as if he ever wanted that-, small begs and pleas leaving your kiss-bitten lips. Sam moaned in your ear, shamelessly so, kissing the shell as his hips sloppily fucked into you. If he had been precise before, he was nothing but humping you like a mere bitch in heat right now, kissing at your neck, your ear, whispering how good you were doing for him, desperately trying to keep the camera lifted steadily. “Made a mess on my cock, baby- ugh, so fuckin’ hot. I- shit, princess I am gonna fuckin’ fill you up, I am- mmpf-“ the last sound was drowned in the throaty moan that left poor Sam, the knot in his stomach finally snapping at a single word that left your lips: “please.” But who could blame him? It sounded so beggy, so whiny, so earnest. And shit, Sam would deliver.

He was left absolutely breathless as he came, nestled deep inside your squishy walls, ropes of cum filling your precious cunt. Poor Sam was shivering, phone shaking in his hand was he rutted, humping his cum deeper inside of you, hoping to fill you to the brim. Sam was just a man, after all, shamelessly milking himself with quick little thrusts, much softer than before. He could feel the world around him spinning, eyes watering again as he rutted, and rutted, and rutted, hoping to fuck a memory inside of you that you could hold onto. Only when he deemed himself drained did his hips slow, greedy Sam not able to bring himself to stop completely, even though he had nothing to give anymore. Until he saw your face. Lulled in the pillows, blissed smile on your spit-wet lips, eyes cross-eyed as you looked at where you connected. He had deemed it impossible, but his cock twitched, filling you with another rope of cum, bringing him close to sob. You were just perfect, weren’t you? Even in his fucked-out mind he was able to zoom in on your face, voice breathlessly whispering another praise. “You are absolutely perfect…Gosh, you are- you are the sun, baby. Fuckin’ hell.” It might not have made sense to you in that moment, but to him, it did. It always would. You were the sun and he was nothing like a mere moth, drawn to your light, ready to worship you, even if he would end up burnt in the end. A small smile tugged on his lips as he saved the video, panting still as he leaned down to kiss you. To his surprise, you kissed back again, your sweaty hands holding his cheeks affectionately. Hey, maybe he had fucked some of the pain away. And if not, he could always manage another round. Just for you, of course, sunshine.

[putschki1969]

KALAFINA REUNION 📢IT'S TRUE📢

Why did I even go to bed last night??! Damn it, I lost precious time. Anways, many of you must have seen my post last night about that ominous Nikkan Sports article speculating about a possible comeback of Kalafina. I honestly thought it was fake news since it contained a ton of unconfirmed/uncredited information. However, there was lots of interesting stuff that kept me from dismissing it entirely. I mean, who would go through all the trouble coming up with details such as specific quotes or exact concert details? Turns out they mostly got the dates mixed up but the rest was true. At noon Japanese Standard Time, we got all of our official announcements. Here's the gist of it〈(•ˇ‿ˇ•)-→

Kalafina Staff Posts 1 & 2 on Twitter

Announcement of "Kalafina Anniversary LIVE 2025" Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Open at 17:30 /Start 18:30 Venue: Tokyo Garden Theater Performers: Kalafina (Wakana, Keiko, Hikaru) Music Director: Takebe Satoshi

To everyone who loves and supports Kalafina We have decided to hold a "Kalafina Anniversary LlVE 2025". We want to sing together as a trio again, knowing that you all have always cherished Kalafina, even while we are doing solo activities. We look forward to seeing you there! Kalafina (Wakana, Keiko, Hikaru)

Ticket sales are scheduled for the following dates: ■Wakana/KEIKO Fan Club Advanced Lottery October 10, 2024, 11:00 - October 20, 23:59 ■Hikaru X (formerly Twitter) Advanced Lottery October 25, 11:00 - November 4, 23:59 ■General Ticket Lottery November 9, 11:00 - November 11, 23:59

Keiko Posts 1 & 2 on Twitter & Fan Club Site & Tristone & Instagram post

To all our supporters We have decided to hold a "Kalafina Anniversary LlVE 2025". Through my solo activities and activities with FictionJunction, I have had many new encounters and taken on new challenges, and I am where I am today thanks to the support of many people. This is a personal matter, but the reason I took a break from singing and then decided to sing again was because of Yuki Kajiura's music. And it was the feelings of everyone who has supported us up until now that led to this event. I am grateful for those feelings, and I am simply happy that the three of us can deliver Kalafina's music again. I am truly looking forward to seeing you all next year. KEIKO

Hikaru's Post on Twitter and Instagram

To everyone who always supports us We are happy to announce that we'll be holding a "Kalafina Anniversary LlVE 2025". Even during my solo activities, I always got a strong sense of everyone's love for Kalafina. I'm grateful we are getting this opportunity to sing together again as a trio and to perform all those treasured songs which Yuki Kajiura has written for us. I hope we can raise a new flag together with all of you. I look forward to seeing you there that day! 2024.10.03 Hikaru

Wakana Posts on Twitter & Botanical Land & Instagram post

(We finally have an official statement from Wakana on her Insta) It has been decided that an "Kalafina Anniversary LIVE 2025" will be held on January 15th next year. From 2018 to the present, we have each pursued our own music, but we have decided to sing together again. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who always think of and love Kalafina. I am very much looking forward to meeting you all.

Satoshi Takebe Tweet 1 & Tweet 2 & Tweet 3 (deleted)

Today I had a meeting with some artists I truly respect and had a beer in the middle of the day 🍺 We had a fun afternoon. I hope there will be lots of fun things to do next year too. I can't say anything yet, but I'm already working on some exciting projects!! (Tweet 1)

I believe that my mission is to support artists. It is never my intention to betray or hurt people. That is the one thing I have always stayed true to, and I will continue to do so. It may sound naive, but I believe that sincerity and passion are what motivate people. (Tweet 2)

Due to confidentiality obligations, I cannot explain the situation. However, Kajiura-san is an artist I respect, she's a wonderful musician, and I am a fan of the music she creates. I would like to support the three members with the utmost respect. (Tweet 3 - deleted)

Tweet by Yuki Kajiura & Tweet 2 & Tweet 3

Regarding Kalafina I've received some inquiries in relation to the most recent announcement of an upcoming Kalafina Live Concert so I'd like to use this opportunity to clarify that I, Yuki Kajiura, will not have no involvement whatsoever in this concert. Furthermore, I have not received any advance notice or explanation from the organisers or any of the group members. Given the situation, I am therefore unable to answer any questions. I apologise, but any future inquiries regarding Kalafina should be directed at the organisers and official agencies of the group members.

I believe the members of Kalafina have decided to step away from me as their producer to go on a new path that is not related to me. I had been searching for a way to work together again in the future to create new Kalafina music but that will no longer be happening. It is very unfortunate but this is the road that each member has chosen. We are all individuals searching for our personal musical path so things like this happen.

As you all know, the three of them are truly wonderful singers so I have no doubt that they will continue to deliver amazing vocals and music to their fans. I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again for the privilege and happiness of having been able to create music together with them for nearly ten years, and I wish Kalafina continued success in the future.

Yuki Kajiura (Tweet 1)

I hope for a great success regarding the upcoming concert, and that's all I can say about this. I hope to continue making music in a cheerful and fun way in the future (^^). (Tweet 2)

This may be an unnecessary remark, but… there's no way that Kalafina will no longer be able to sing their past songs just because one producer has left, and I personally don't wish that upon them.

I'm sure they'll create a wonderful harmony at their live show in January, so I hope you'll give thunderous cheers and applause to Kalafina's singing and to the musicians who support them on stage. Once again, I wish them all the success in the world. (Tweet 3)

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Wow. All of this is wild. I don't even know what to say. I can hardly believe it. On one hand, I am beyond happy and excited. There's no way I will not be there for this concert and everything beyond that. But on the other hand, all the announcements make this feel a little bittersweet. The personal statements by Wakana, Keiko and Hikaru don't necessarily feel disingenuous but they sound a bit flat and forced. Sadly, there's no personal statement from Wakana yet. Obviously, the elephant in the room is Yuki Kajiura's statement and her exclusion from the entire project. The way her statement is written comes off as quite bitter, passive aggressive and honestly a little petty which doesn't bode well for the future (maybe her manager Mori asked her to phrase it in such a way to make the organisers look bad. And I can understand why she would feel frustrated at being excluded like that). Mostly, I interpret her standoffish attitude as a knee-jerk reaction or as a way to strongly distance herself from the whole thing and not so much as an attempt to bash the members (the latter half of the statement would indicate that at least). Also, she already seems to regret posting such a harsh statement and posted a couple of follow-up tweets. I truly do not understand what is going on behind the scenes to cause so much hostility between Yuki Kajiura, her management and whoever is pulling the strings for this Kalafina reunion (presumably Space Craft's management). My best guess is that Space Craft is at least somehow involved in this project since both Wakana and Satoshi Takebe are able to participate (Takebe is not affiliated with Space Craft but he's been in charge of almost all of Wakana's solo work so maybe there are some ties to the agency).It looks like Space Craft are adamant about not working together with YK (same old childish attitude). Then again, Satoshi Takebe has enough influence in the industry to organise a project like this without the help of Space Craft. Maybe Sony is also involved? I have no idea. Hope we are getting more details once the ticket lotteries start. A new Kalafina website (still being developed) has popped up and it's run by Space Craft so that's probably proof enough that they are one of the main players in all of this.

I wonder if this was a spur of the moment thing once they realised how much hype there still exists for Kalafina after that "ring your bell" performance at the FSN event...Overall, the timing is so weird, Why now? I mean, this doesn't sound like it has been in the making for a very long time based on the fact that Yuki Kajiura didn't even know about it. Keiko and Hikaru literally collaborated with her a couple of weeks ago so how did this topic not come up even once???! Wonder how it will affect future collaborations between Yuki, Keiko and Hikaru? They still have the Asia tour dates coming up in November so I can imagine it would be kinda awkward to work together after this bomb has been dropped. Will they still be covering Kalafina songs? Either way, I refuse to believe tha there has been a real falling out between any of them. It comes across like a series of unfortunate events. Maybe some miscommunication and rushed action but nothing that couldn't be cleared up with a proper conversation.

One thing I'm also curious about is whether or not Satoshi Takebe will take on the role as producer for future music (if they are even planning to go down that route?? It does sound like they might have new projects/releases in store for us...I do feel a little conflicted about that since Yuki Kajiura is such an important component of Kalafina. This is basically what I thought would happen back in 2018/2019. With someone else coming in to take charge of the music production. Back then I wasn't completely against the idea since I was convinced the girls could make it work (especially with the help of someone as established and competent as Satoshi Takebe) but it certainly wasn't my preferred option. Ughhh, I will remain open-minded for the time being. My love for Wakana, Keiko and Hikaru goes beyond anything so as of right now, I feel happy and excited. The live in January will be a celebration of Kalafina so there's no way I'm not going. If they continue to hold "tribute" concerts like this, it will mostly be a nostalgic cash-grab but hey, I'm the target group for that. They can have all my money. And I can definitely see myself supporting them in future projects even with Yuki Kajiura out of the picture. Takebe has been engaging in some surprisingly frank one-on-one discussions on Twitter and so far, it looks like certain confidentiality agreements keep him from going into detail in the matter but his involvement as of right now is limited to being a director/producer for the concert on January 15.

It goes without saying that I will not tolerate any hate towards the girls on this blog! If you are bitter that Yuki Kajiura is not involved, that's your prerogative, I'm sure this will antagonise quite a few hardcore YK fans. But please, don't shit on the members for making this decision. I'm sure they put a lot of thought into it and felt like this course of action was in everyone's best interest. They are clearly thinking about the fans, their own passion/love for Kalafina's music and obviously their careers within the industry.

[scarlettriot]

Have a little Bakugo ficlet to get you through your Monday ♥︎ Just a little story to go along with my HC that he will sorta start fights just for the great make up sex afterwards.

No proof reading was done. Sorry everyone. And Kat is aged up for the sake of this blurb as always.

Mature Themes | DNI Minors or Ageless Blogs

Trying to make a dramatic, swift, exit after getting into it with your boyfriend in the lobby of your building was a whole lot harder when you had to wait for a damn elevator.

You lived on the 15th floor and we were not about to climb up all those steps in your stilettos after the day you just had. Nope. Not. Happening. You stood with your arms folded, plump lips set in a straight line, and eyes looking straight forward refusing to even turn around and see if Katsuki was still here.

The bell finally rang and the doors slid open for you. Once inside, you let out a slow breath, and allowed your shoulders to relax. It was just a dumb fight. You’d call him in the morning, he’d be grumpy, and show up to your work with flowers since he was absolutely awful at apologizing.

Except this time, he wasn’t waiting until tomorrow. This time, the moment the elevator doors closed, he took to the stairs. He took them two, sometimes three at a time, and wasn’t even out of breath by the time he stepped foot on your floor.

He walked by the elevator and saw the number 11 light up. Your apartment was just around the corner and he leaned against your door just as the bell chimed to signal your arrival.

He heard those heels coming and your sharp, “what the— how?!”

“Stairs.”

“15 flights of them, Katsuki!”

“Did double that for my warm up this morning. Don’t act like it’s so big deal.”

You huffed and shoved him to the side with your shoulder to unlock the door when two big strong arms wrapped around your waist, squeezing you a little. “‘M sorry,” he mumbled.

“What was that?”

He grumbled and pinched your side for pushing his buttons but he said it again, “I am sorry for being a stubborn ass.”

A smile started to push up the corner of your lips. “Mmhm, what are you gonna do to make up for it?”

His smile was warm against your neck, “Lemme in and I’ll show you.” And his fingers were already pulling down the zipper of your dress, searing kisses placed to the newly exposed skin.

The key twists as you chuckled quietly. “You know you don’t have to start a fight every time you wanna fuck me.”

You blinked and he scooped you up bridal style to carry you inside. “I’ll try remembering that.”

But even you had to admit… it was kinda fun.

[kathlare]

good graces

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: On a rare day off in Rio, Amelie and Rozzi unwind in a smoky hotel suite, playfully teasing each other about relationships while passing a joint.

Wordcount: 1.4 k

Warnings: use of drugs, explicit comments

full masterlist // request over here!

November 15th, 2023 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amelie sat cross-legged on the plush sofa in the cozy hotel suite, a cloud of smoke swirling around her and Rozzi as they passed a joint back and forth. The sunlight was fading over the Rio de Janeiro skyline, casting a golden glow over the room. The tour had a rare day off, and after weeks of nonstop shows and rehearsals, Amelie was thankful for the break, even if she wasn’t sure what to do with herself.

—So, Amelie,— Rozzi said, her voice slightly slurred as she took another hit from the joint. —What the hell is going on with you and that boy, Lando? You two are acting like a couple of horny teenagers again, huh?—

Amelie couldn’t help but laugh, rolling her eyes, though she knew Rozzi was right. —Ugh, don't even start, Rozzi,— she muttered, sinking deeper into the couch. Her head was already starting to spin a little from the weed, but she pushed through, still ready to vent. —I don’t even know what the hell is happening. It’s like we’re stuck in this loop of... of, god, I don't even know! It's like we keep circling each other, but neither of us knows how to break the damn cycle.—

Rozzi raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. —Cycle, huh? More like an endless fuckfest. Girl, last time I saw you two, it was in Argentina, and, damn, Alex and I could hear you two all the way from the next room. The moaning? The sounds? Please. You two were literally making animal noises.—

Amelie flushed, half-laughing, half-embarrassed, but she didn’t deny it. —Okay, fine, I won’t lie. That was... intense. But it’s not just that, Rozzi. It’s like we can’t stay away from each other, but we also can’t figure out how to make it work. It’s frustrating. We’ve been there before, and it went to shit. It feels like we’re just trying to patch it up with sex, you know? And honestly, I don’t know if that’s enough this time.—

Rozzi exhaled the smoke, watching Amelie closely. —Girl, you know I love you, but I’ve gotta say it... sounds like you two are, like, seriously addicted to each other. Maybe not the healthiest thing, but hell, it’s definitely some next-level chemistry. But... don’t you think you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak again?—

Amelie chuckled dryly, tipping her head back against the cushions. —Yeah, I keep thinking that too. Like, part of me wants to give in and just let it happen because it’s so easy with him. It’s like nothing’s changed, except that, uh... we’re both better in bed now.—

Rozzi let out a laugh, her voice mocking but affectionate. —Oh my god, better in bed? Babe, you’re gonna make me choke on this shit. Are you telling me this boy actually learned some new tricks? I thought you two were just fumbling around the first time, like, did he go to, like, fuckboy training camp or something?—

Amelie rolled her eyes dramatically. —No, seriously, though, he’s gotten better. Like, way better. I can’t even believe how much he’s improved. The boy’s definitely been practicing. I mean... that wasn't the case back in the day, but he's definitely learned a thing or two about hitting all the right spots.—

Rozzi laughed harder, slapping her knee. —Oh my god, Amelie, that’s wild. You two are fucking like you’re making up for lost time, huh?—

Amelie leaned forward, grabbing a cushion from the couch and chucking it at Rozzi, who was practically doubled over with laughter. —Shut up, Rozzi! It’s not like that... okay, maybe it is, but you don’t have to say it like that! And don’t you dare tell Alex any of this, I swear to god.—

Rozzi caught the cushion mid-air and tossed it back with ease. —Please, like Alex doesn’t already know. Babe, we heard everything. Like, everything. Walls aren’t that thick, Ames. You two sounded like you were auditioning for an R-rated nature documentary. Even Alex was like, ‘Are they okay?’—

Amelie groaned, burying her face in her hands, her cheeks burning despite the haze of the weed. —Oh my god, kill me now. I’m moving to another planet.— She peeked through her fingers, catching Rozzi’s gleeful expression. —You’re such a bitch, you know that?—

—And you love me for it,— Rozzi said with a wink, taking another hit and passing the joint back to Amelie. —But seriously, what’s the deal now? Like, are you two just... hooking up? Or is there some actual feelings shit happening here? Because, girl, from the way you’re talking, it sounds like you’re in deep again.—

Amelie took a long drag from the joint, exhaling slowly as she tried to put her thoughts into words. —I don’t know, Rozz. I mean, yeah, there are feelings. There’s always been feelings. But it’s so fucking complicated. Like, I’m terrified of letting him in again, you know? Last time, it all fell apart, and I was the one picking up the pieces while he was off living his life like nothing happened.—

Rozzi frowned, her teasing demeanor softening. —That’s valid, Ames. I get it. But... it kinda sounds like you’re still holding onto that hurt. And maybe you have every right to, but if you’re gonna let him back in, you need to figure out if you can actually forgive him. Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up for more pain.—

Amelie nodded slowly, her gaze distant. —Yeah, I know. That’s why I told him straight up... I’m not playing games this time. He knows I’m capable of loving him, like really loving him, but I won’t tolerate any disrespect. If he screws up, it’s over. No second chances. I’ve been through too much to put up with bullshit.—

Rozzi raised her joint in a mock toast. —Amen, sister. Teach that boy some respect. But... I gotta ask, does he even realize how much of a chance he’s getting right now? Because it sounds like you’re bending over backwards to make this work.—

Amelie shrugged, a small, bittersweet smile playing on her lips. —I don’t know if he fully gets it yet, but I think he’s trying. Like, really trying. He’s different now, or at least he’s trying to be. But it’s still scary, you know? Like, what if we’re just doomed to repeat the same mistakes?—

Rozzi leaned back, puffing out a cloud of smoke. —Then write about it. You’re always better at sorting through your shit when you put it into music. Come on, let’s write a song about this mess.—

Amelie laughed, her mood lightening. —Oh my god, that’s actually perfect. Alright, Rozzi, grab your guitar. Let’s do this.—

Rozzi jumped up, grabbing Alex’s acoustic guitar from the corner of the room. She handed it to Amelie, who strummed a few chords absentmindedly, her mind already buzzing with ideas. They started tossing lyrics back and forth, giggling and brainstorming as the song began to take shape.

—Okay, okay, how about this,— Amelie said, her voice slurring slightly from the weed as she sang: —"When I love you, I’m sweet like an angel, drawin’ hearts ‘round our names and dreamin’ of... writing vows, rockin’ cradles."—

Rozzi gasped dramatically, clapping her hands. —Yes! That’s it. And then hit him with some real talk, like... "Don’t mistake my nice for naive." Oh, that’s fire.—

Amelie grinned, nodding enthusiastically as she scribbled the lyrics down in her notebook. —Yes! And then something about how if he fucks up, he’s out. "Like, You do something suspect, as cute as ‘bye-bye.’"—

Rozzi cackled, slapping her thigh. —Oh my god, savage. I love it. You’re basically warning him in the cutest way possible. And then throw in a little ‘boy, it’s not that complicated.’ You know, keep it real.—

They kept going, bouncing ideas off each other and laughing hysterically whenever one of them came up with a particularly brutal line. By the time they had most of the song written, they were both red-faced and crying from laughter.

Suddenly, the door to the suite swung open, and Alex walked in, holding a bag of food. He froze in the doorway, taking in the sight of Amelie and Rozzi sprawled out on the couch, giggling uncontrollably and surrounded by a cloud of smoke.

—What the hell is going on in here?— he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Amelie and Rozzi both turned to him, their eyes wide and glassy. —Alex! You’re back!— Amelie said, jumping up and running toward him. —Did you bring food? Oh my god, you’re the best.—

Alex held the bag out of reach, smirking. —You two are high as hell, aren’t you? Jesus, Rozzi, you’re supposed to be the responsible one.—

Rozzi shrugged, grinning unapologetically. —What can I say? It was a creative session. And don’t act like you’re not used to this by now.—

Alex sighed, shaking his head as he handed over the bag. —You’re lucky I love you both. But next time, try not to write an entire album while you’re stoned, okay?—

Amelie laughed, grabbing the bag and pulling out a sandwich. —No promises. Now shut up and let us eat. We’re starving.—

As they all sat down to eat, the notebook with the half-finished lyrics sat on the coffee table, a testament to the chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly productive day they’d had.

[ellitheflower]

Lando Norris x fiancé

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel x daughter

Oscar Piastri x best friend

Full version here:

The McLaren garage was buzzing—cheers erupted, mechanics high-fived, and Zak was somewhere yelling "Let's go!"like he'd just hit jackpot in Vegas. The screens still showed the results in bold, beautiful orange letters:

P1 – Lando Norris

P2 – Oscar Piastri

Xenia stood with her arms wrapped around Maeve on one side and Lando's sister Flo on the other, the three of them grinning ear to ear as the garage practically exploded with celebration.

"That was unreal," Maeve breathed, eyes wide. "I knew he was quick, but—damn."

"Did you see the mini fist pump he did crossing the line?" Flo giggled.

Seb, who'd been standing just behind them with arms crossed and a quiet smile, gave a small nod of approval. "That was clean. Confident. He's driving better than ever."

"High praise, coming from you," Xenia nudged her dad, grinning.

Just then, Lando came bursting into the garage, helmet under his arm, cheeks flushed with adrenaline and happiness. He was swarmed almost immediately by engineers and Zak—but his eyes scanned the room until they landed on her.

And just like that, he made a beeline for Xenia.

She stepped forward, already smiling before he swept her into a hug, lifting her slightly off the floor.

"You did it!" she beamed.

He was still breathless. "P1, baby! And Oscar P2? We locked out the front row!"

She cupped his face and kissed his cheek before teasing, "I know, I was watching. You didn't even mess up a single sector—I'm proud."

"Proud enough to finally let me pick the first dance song?" he asked with a smug grin.

"Don't push your luck, Mr. Norris," she smirked.

Lando turned to Seb next, offering a hand that turned into a brief but meaningful hug. "Thanks for being here."

"Always," Seb nodded. "You earned it."

Then Xenia looped her arm through Lando's and started guiding him toward the back of the garage. "Come on, superstar, time to take your boots off. You smell like tire smoke and podium dreams."

"I smell like success," he argued.

"You smell like someone who forgot we're having dinner with Daniel tonight," she reminded him, raising a brow.

Lando froze. "Wait, tonight?"

"Yes," she said patiently. "With no sugar rush. And no alcohol. You promised. Just us three, peaceful dinner. Daniel even made a reservation."

"God help us all if he's the one making responsible plans now," Lando muttered, letting her drag him toward the changing room.

"Just think of it as a reward," she teased. "A little pre-podium celebration."

He grinned. "Well... if you're there, it's already perfect."

"You're lucky you're cute when you're sweaty," she called over her shoulder.

The sky over Albert Park was a bruised grey, spitting down rain in inconsistent sheets that turned the track into a glossy, unpredictable mess. It was chaos from lights out.

Xenia stood stiff with nerves at the back of the McLaren garage, one hand gripping Maeve's, the other holding tightly onto the sleeve of Lando's mum's coat. Her heart was hammering with every lap.

For most of the race, it looked like a dream—a picture-perfect 1-2 with Lando leading and Oscar mere seconds behind. But then, lap 44 happened.

Both McLarens went wide.

Gasps filled the garage. The McLaren crew froze for a fraction of a second. Xenia's hand flew to her mouth as the screens showed both cars skating across the wet tarmac, helpless against the rain-slicked corners.

"Come on, come on," Mark muttered under his breath beside her.

Lando recovered fast, regaining grip and speed like the car was an extension of his own instincts. But Oscar...

Oscar spun out harder.

By the time he got back on track, he'd dropped to 15th.

"No," Hattie whispered somewhere near Xenia. "Not again."

The commentators were already saying it—Albert Park had never given an Aussie a podium. It was like a curse.

But even through the chaos, Oscar clawed his way back. Aggressive but clean. Lap after lap he made it happen. And when the checkered flag finally fell, Lando crossed it P1—his fifth career win. Oscar dragged his car over the line in P9, soaked and gritty and fighting to the very end.

The garage exploded. Mechanics shouted, slapped backs, jumped on the pit wall. Zak had tears in his eyes. But Xenia didn't move until she saw him.

Lando pulled into parc fermé, climbing out of the car as the team ran to him. Helmet off, hair soaked, smile blinding. He was swarmed by mechanics, cameras, hands pulling him into hugs, but the second he broke free and caught sight of his parents—and her—he didn't hesitate.

Soaked to the bone, adrenaline still pouring off of him, Lando came straight over.

He wrapped his arms around his mum and dad first, hugging tight, whispering something into his mum's ear that made her tear up. Then he turned to Xenia, eyes shining, smile crooked with disbelief.

And without a word—without even thinking—he kissed her.

Quick. Fierce. Real.

The team around them didn't even blink. They cheered harder.

Xenia's eyes fluttered open just as he pulled back, dazed and laughing. "Sorry," he breathed. "I couldn't not."

"Don't be sorry," she whispered, stunned.

He brushed a hand down her cheek, his thumb catching on her lip before the moment was shattered by a crew member tugging him toward the media pen.

"Go," she said, voice shaking with pride. "Go take your moment."

He ran off backwards, still grinning. "I'll find you after the champagne!"

Mark stepped beside her, arms crossed as he stared at the emptying parc fermé. "Well," he said, quiet, "at least one of our boys is happy"

Xenia looked up toward the podium being prepped and smiled. "yeah, very happy."

The buzz of celebration echoed down the paddock halls, but Xenia slipped away from it. She knew where he'd be.

Oscar's driver room was quieter than she'd expected, a low hum of white noise from the air vent and the dull sound of distant interviews. She knocked gently before pushing the door open.

He was sitting on the bench, still in his fireproofs, hair damp and sticking to his forehead. His hands were clasped in front of him, elbows on his knees, gaze unfocused and glued to the floor.

"You gonna pretend you're not in here?" Xenia asked, her voice soft, teasing gently.

Oscar didn't move. "Maybe."

She shut the door behind her and walked over, sitting beside him. "P9's still points, you know."

"Not when I was second for half the race," he mumbled, voice tight.

Xenia glanced at him, then down at the floor too. "It was the conditions. It wasn't just you. You saw the track."

"Doesn't matter," he muttered. "It's my home race. I had it. I had a podium. Maybe more."

"Hey." She nudged his arm with her shoulder. "You still drove the hell out of that car."

Oscar didn't respond for a second, but he didn't pull away either. His shoulders slumped a bit more, like finally exhaling.

"And for what it's worth," Xenia added, her voice lighter now, "Lando just created a PR firestorm, so I think your blunder's already been overshadowed."

Oscar blinked at her. "What?"

"Oh, yeah." She grinned. "Your teammate kissed me. Full-on, no-warning, soaking-wet, movie-scene kiss. In front of like... every camera in Melbourne."

His eyes widened slightly. "Wait—he what?"

Xenia chuckled, resting her chin on her palm. "Right after hugging his parents. Turned around and planted one on me like he didn't just accidentally soft-launch our engagement to the world."

Oscar blinked again. "He's such an idiot."

"A lovable idiot," she said.

"Still an idiot."

He shook his head, a faint smile twitching at the corner of his mouth despite everything. "You guys were doing so well staying under the radar."

"Tell me about it," Xenia sighed dramatically. "I was supposed to be some mysterious poetic blonde at the Gala. Not Lando Norris' fiancée who kissed the race winner next to his mum."

Oscar actually laughed. Just a little. But enough.

Xenia leaned into his side. "Look, today sucked in a lot of ways, yeah. But you still came back like a champion. And everyone saw it."

He didn't say anything, but after a long pause, he bumped his shoulder lightly against hers.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

She grinned and stood, brushing her dress off. "Now, go shower. And meet us at the dinner, yeah?"

He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "You're still going? Even after the public make-out reveal?"

Xenia smirked. "Oh, absolutely. If I'm going to be headline gossip tomorrow, I'm at least showing up with great hair and good lighting."

Oscar snorted. "God, Lando's never gonna live this down."

"That's the plan," she winked. "See you there, Ozzie."

"Don't call me that" "Too late, Ozzie"

liked by oscarpiastri, maevetherave, danielriccardo, hattiepiastri, lando, aussiegrit, charles_leclerc, alltime and 578,190 others

niawebber send help, Ferdinand wanted to eat my earrings :(

ANYWAYS Aussie GP dump

tagged: lando, oscarpiastri

view comments

oscarpiastri Ferdinand is an icon

↪️ niawebber blocked and reported!

lando I love your jacket

↪️ niawebber because it used to be yours?

maevetherave nice ring ;)

↪️ niawebber I know, my fiancé got it for me ;)

aussiegrit did you forget to fed him??

↪️ niawebber I swear I did

danielriccardo so the engagement news are out? because I literally won't shut up about this EVER

↪️ niawebber you ain't getting a speech at the wedding!!

↪️ danielriccardo lando tell your fiancé that I am getting a speech

↪️ lando sorry I can't she is the boss

username why am I finding out they are engaged only yet?

↪️ username we didn't even know they were dating until Lando kissed her after the race

username ENGAGED?? YOU ONLY JUST STARTED DATING

username Xenia and Lando what did I miss??

username I CALLED IT

username her and Lando actually make so much sense

liked by niawebber

username I knew Lando had a thing for Australians

liked by danielriccardo and lando

username dating your teammates best friend is a real low blow

↪️ niawebber Lando and I were literally friends before he and Oscar were teammates 😭

↪️ niawebber also it mean I can call both of them out on their bullshit 😁

↪️ username ICON

username omg her and Lando are so cute

username grandpa webber in the post

↪️ username her grandparents are freaking lovely

↪️ username I thought you meant mark 😭

username so what happened to Magui?

↪️ username apparently lando blocked her

↪️ username chase two girls lose the one

↪️ username pretty sure magui wasn't the one, Xenia is

↪️ username didn't he indeed lose her?? Because the heartwenching poetry book is about him??

[planetmimi]

decode - cl16

context: charles leclerc x black!fem!oc, some smau (cause i love those doooown)

faceclaim: @balialdn on insta

cw: none

summary: after a five-month social media break, artist Ahvi finally comes back to social media. her comeback is in the midst of dating rumors swirling around her and two of her...friends.

Italic = flashback

feedback is appreciated, this is my first one so please be nice

ahvi

liked by charles_leclerc, zendaya and 8.473.875 others

ahvi: my french is getting better, might use it in this project…maybe? (be calm yall)

f1lover: CHARLES WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! welcome back queen (im trying to be calm, i think i might actually explode from happiness)!!!

username74: oh look the whore is back

username54: awww we all hoped you would never come back

username12: no fr! when her contract ran out i thought that we were finally done with her

username276: YOU DIDNT SAY FOR A WHOLE YEAR MAAM

lewishamilton: new music, maybe?

ahvi: maybe… if you get me paddock passes

lewishamilton: ask your boyfriend...maybe

ahvi: blocked, reported and banned from listening to my music cause OMG?! i just got back too?! like please ntm on me

charles_leclerc: teaching you french has been quite the challenge, i would like some type of credit please

ahvi: if you podium i'll think about it

charles_leclerc: and if i get P1 i want a song written for me and to be in the music video

ahvi: *gasps in étonnement* thats asking for a lot, P1 twice this season and you've got yourself a deal

username67: you should have never come back nobody wants to hear your shitty music

stanningahvi: the fact that it’s been damn near two years without any new music… and a year since we've last seen you👁️👄👁️

lew_max.444: no cause if this is a trick…imma do something heinous

ahvi: is this a threat ? cause it’s kinda feeling like a threat

ahvi4f1: i mean…we can make it one if you want us to 🤷🏾‍♀️

zendaya: as your bestfriend i have to let you know, if you don’t drop this, i will do so for you (i will leak it)❤️

ahvi: sounds like less work for me tbh 🤷🏽‍♀️

zendaya: alright yall secret project dropping next month at 4 pm PST

ahvi: ouuu d*sney dupe 🤭

tomholland2013: please, don’t check your messages mate

zendaya: don’t listen to him. go check your messages babe. go ahead.

ahvi: #CANCELZENDAYA

liked by: zendaya, tomholland2013 and 45.856 others

ahvi

liked by: lewishamilton, sza and 5.946.087 others

ahvi: why didn't y'all tell me Australia is so hot ?? oh wait.. thats just me sorry y'all

landonorris : FIRST !

ahvi: 15th actually

landonorris : ......... you think you're so funny huh

ahvisdrafts: i mean she is actually a full time stand up comedian, part time singer-songwriter.

ahvi: you get it

username2: so, you and whats his face broke up and now you're going between F1 drivers?

f1grids: wow, never expected an A lister to become a grid groupie

girly2pop: are you ready to write a song for that man?

ahvi: stooop. shhhhhh. if no one mentions it EVER AGAIN i won’t have to do it

normani: tea is she's actually written like six of em already

georgerussell63: why is it always me?!

username29: girl we've heard the rumors about you getting around miss paddock princess

username : never would i have expected ahvi to become as close as she is with the f1 grid…like i didn't even know she knew what f1 was

username9: shes sleeping her way through it lol

username: girl you need to back up off charles

username6: no for real...going to australia three weeks before race week? way to scream desperate

Over the last year Ahvi has become somewhat of a hermit, between rumors swirling of a potential relationship between her and Charles, and her break up with her ex-friend becoming known to the public. All of this buzz around her name has generated a lot of hate, whether it be from her ex-friend's fans, Charles fans or her own haters. For the last year Ahvi has just been the internet's punching bag, despite not being active on the internet.

In the year she took away from social media a lot happened, a lot changed. Before she started her break, she was just off a stadium world tour, about to drop her first proper album. She felt on top of the world, until one day, with only three months left in her tour. Just before her second day at Wembly Stadium, when she fainted during soundcheck and was sent to the hospital.

- a year ago -

Her heartbeats so loud she almost can't hear what the nurse in front of her is saying. The nurse smiles lightly "I know this is probably very shocking, so I will give you some time, but your options are a bit limited with how far along you are." Ahvi nods, trying to process the words that were said to her, "I just- I'm sorry, I know I've made you say it to me a hundred times over but just...one more time and can I see the results."

"Don't worry, this is a common response in this situation," the nurse says as she hands over the blood test results. Ahvi looks at the blood test results, there it is, in black and white, "your HCG levels are higher than normal," the nurse points to her HCG results. Aleyah's eyes follow the nurse's finger, "Your results put you at being 17 weeks pregnant." There's that word again, pregnant, the one part of this she can't wrap her head around. As the nurse was talking to her an ultrasound tech brought in an ultrasound machine.

Ahvi tries her best to truly listen and absorb what the nurses are telling her as she lifts her shirt up to start the ultrasound. When the ultrasound tech brings the wand to where the gel was put a fast heartbeat fills the room and tears swell in the young singers eyes.

The 22-year-old looks at the ultrasound screen, a small incredulous whisper tumbles from her lips, "what the fuck."

[beebee18]

Mutual friends..

Jeon Wonwoo x Reader

Characters; Y/n, Wonwoo, Ryujin, Mingyu, Chan

Genre: Fluff

Warnings; Slight insecurities (almost none)

Summary; Feeling confident wearing a dress for the first time to try to get Wonwoo, a mutual friend through Mingyu, to speak to you (romantically). Will it be successful or..?

(Note; First person pov was unintentional but I was too far gone to change it. And all my stories are clichè.)

Main Masterlist Svt Masterlist

.

.

Okay this felt good, a little over the top but good. The dress flowed well, hugged the right places, wasn't too revealing, too bright. And two people approved so yeah. (my sister and my cat)

I stay contemplating for a moment, whether I should change back to my safer options of baggy jeans and a top but I get pulled out of my thoughts with a text from Ryujin.

'Get your ass down here in two minutes or Mingyu's dying in the back of my car.'

'Like you could take him.'

'Like he'd fight back, I'm a girl.'

'Will he consider that with you?'

'Just be down before I go to jail.'

I chuckle gathering my things before leaving. No going back now, I sigh as I reach the car. My mood soon changing with the atmosphere.

"Hello hello." I sing song taking the passenger seat, casting a smile over to Mingyu in the back before turning to Ryujin.

"What are you wearing?"

".. A dress, why?" Okay this is not good.

"Because, it looks.. good. Damn good. Mingyu look!"

"Agreed, pretty is an understatement so I shall add the adjective, beautiful."

"Oh you scared me- I would've cried." I exaggerate, calming down the anxiety in my chest now.

Come 20 minutes later the entire friend group gathered at the scenic spot, blankets laid, food passing along but my eyes strayed towards Wonwoo time and time again.

Jeon Wonwoo was a good friend, although we weren't close. I knew him through Mingyu and vice versa but all our interactions yet have been nothing but pleasant.

He's soft spoken, well mannered, sweet, handsome, the way his eyes held stars paired with the charming spectacle frame. His perfect lips capturing my attention every time he was too far to hear but close enough to see. And that voice, maybe it wasn't something extraordinary but the way he spoke, the calm he radiated, the gentleness in his touch, comfort in his smile. I'd already melted after our first conversation. Jeon Wonwoo was a dream.

He was stood a little ways away with Mingyu and Chan, drinks in hand chatting about something I'm too incapable of caring for. My attention split between Ryujin beside me and Wonwoo a few meters away. And she noticed, of course she did.

"Never thought you'd dress up for a man."

I snap back to her at the statement, raising my brows in surprise before looking at her skeptically "Who said I dressed up for a man?"

"Your eyes, body language, the fact that I've seen you stalking his Insta-"

I cut her off before she reaches to the moments of me being a lowkey obsessed "Okay okay! I got it."

"I may have dressed for a reaction or something."

"Good luck, I've seen him crack a smile like seven times this month."

"It's the 15th, that's a lot by his standards."

The conversation fades from a laughter to other topics, mostly daily mundane things. The guys returning to the group shortly after the sun sets.

Yes, I feel like I've wasted hours when I could've done something. Like, all the interaction I've had with Wonwoo today was a wave, a smile and a simple 'Good morning.'

Right now, he's sat beside me, "coincidentally" Ryujin says, she for sure texted Mingyu. I literally saw him and Chan sprinting back to take the empty seats away from me so the only space left would be beside me.

And Wonwoo hasn't questioned his friends. He casually dilly-dallied back, no care in the world.

I'm gonna be the anxious one in our relationship, aren't I?... I'm gonna be worried all the time and he'd have to calm me down... That'd be sweet... He would hold onto me... whisper in that sweet voice of his... with that damn smile... Hmm fantasy so good.. time to collect myself, reality.

"Y/n?"

Oh damn that's Wonwoo, act cool. "Huh? Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

Cool Y/n, steady voice, eye contact "Yeah, why?"

"You were zoning out.. staring at me."

Damn those eyes. How is he so good at eye contact? Appalling.

"Oh yeah, um.. I do that sometimes when I'm bored, I make up stories and stare at people."

"Hmm, okay."

I do that sometimes?? Make up stories?? Mentally slapping myself as I take a sip of my drink.

"You're wearing a dress." Wonwoo states glancing at me leaning back on his hands.

Okay gulp, breath, show time. "I thought I'd try something different.. what do you think?"

He looks at me at the question sitting up straight, looking over me once before meeting my eyes, a small smile on his face.

"Pretty... but also I'm a gentleman, so forgive me but you look hot."

Good, that's what I wanted. Great...

"Oh, you're forgiven."

A laugh escapes his lips, he shakes his head at the aloofness in my voice, scooting closer to me, our shoulders touching now.

"Thank you, for being so forgiving. It suits you." He nods towards the dress, one of his hands gently feeling the fabric of the sleeve between his fingers.

"Thank you, I like it." I answer meeting his eyes, feeling a light blush creep up my neck.

How I love the universe for the dark of the night.

Wonwoo smiles softly, running his fingers down to my hand, gently intertwining his fingers in mine, nodding as he replies.

"You're welcome. This is okay?"

I feel goosebumps leave his wake at the touch, holding my breath feeling his fingers slip into mine. I look up meeting his eyes, sparkling under the moonlight, smiling now.

"It's more than okay."

//

[mosneakers]

Brick is so preoccupied with his work that he almost misses Janie, with a knit scarf covering half of her face, stopping by to check on the site.

Brick: Ayyy Janie! What you doin' here? You look cold...

Janie: [Muffled] Oh! Hey Brick! I'm just checking up on things.

Brick: Oh cool, cool. Real quick—what're you checking? You don't need to go in the basement for anything, do ya?

Janie: Uh, no... I wasn't planning on it. Got a lot of construction going on down there or something?

Brick: Nah. Let's just say... if anyone asks, I definitely don't have a small group of bitten sims locked up down there waiting any minute to transform into their wolf forms and go on a rampage...

Janie: …Right. Noted. No basement visits today. Just here to check out Unit 1.

Brick: Ay, no offense... but I gotta keep it real with you. Why you so into Unit 1? This is like, the 15th time you checked on it this week.

Janie: Well actually, Brick, between you and I... I was actually thinking about moving into that unit. I figured it might be a lot easier to manage the property if I lived on it, you know?

Brick: Oh damn, this is awkward... Janie: [Giggles softly, moves scarf] What's awkward, Brick? Brick: I don't want you to feel some type of way or nothing but... somebody already called dibs on Unit 1. It was my boy Wolfegang. [Empathetic frown] Sorry, fam...

Janie: [Laughter] Brick... Brick: What? What'd I miss? Is this one of those math problems? Janie: Think about it... I'm moving in... and Wolfie's moving in... Brick: [Gasp] Y'ALL ARE…?!? Janie: Yep! We're moving in together!

Brick: Let's GOOOOO! We gonna be neighbors!

[mediumsweettea]

When Sebastian receives the invite in the mail, his heart drops out of his chest. Why would Mick get engaged and not tell him? That doesn’t make any sense. He’d never go this far in the wedding timeline without Sebastian’s advice. 

Then, he opens it and is confused, relieved, and annoyed all at the same time. 

Why is Ralf Schumacher sending him a wedding invite? 

There’s no way Corrina told him to. Hell, she probably told him not to. 

The biggest question being: how is he going to get out of this? 

His first instinct is to call Hannah to brainstorm but she’s at work. 

His second instinct is to call Mick to complain but then Seb remembers he’s probably out testing the car today. 

But he still wants to complain, so he doesn’t check timezones, simply calls Lewis without warning. 

It goes to Lewis’ standard voicemail and as he’s explaining it’s not important, Lewis actually picks up. 

“Seb! What’s going on, man?”

“Lewis, sorry to bother you, but Hannah’s at work and Mick is testing.” “Mate, I’m also working.”

“Oh, really? Sorry, I don’t remember you mentioning going to Maranello this week.”

“No, well I’m in Italy, yeah, but it’s a fashion store thing in Milan.”

“Ah yes. With the hanging car, I remember. Then how are you talking to me?”

“I told them that it was you who called and everyone thought it was so cool they let me run off for a minute.” 

“Well, waste of a minute then. Only called to complain a bit.”

“No, please. Are the chickens not laying enough eggs? The vegetables not growing fast enough?” 

“Haha, so funny. No, actually. A wedding invite came in the mail today, from a Schumacher.” 

“Damn, Mick’s getting married already? That’s crazy.”

“No, not Mick. Although I thought the same. Ralf.”

Silence for a half a minute and then loud laughter. “Shit, man. How are you gonna get out of that?”

He groans. “That’s the problem! I don’t know! 

Lewis laughs at his pain yet again. “Check what races are going on that weekend and make a plan to do some project there.”  

Hmmm. “That’s not a bad idea.” 

“When is it?”

“Hold on.” He opens the invite again. “From the 14th to 15th of June.”

“Isn’t that Montreal? Hell yeah, come to Canada.”

“Yes, and Le Mans. So I have options, thank God.” He hears Lewis shuffle around. “Lewis?” 

“Are you gonna do Le Mans? Finally? If you do, you have to tell me before anyone else, you have to.”

“I’m not going to do Le Mans just to escape Ralf’s wedding.”

“What do you mean? That’s a brilliant excuse! Unless you want to actually suffer going.” 

He considers it, very briefly, but long enough for Lewis to go on. 

“I mean, do you really want to bring up that time Ralf hit on you? Right in front of Michael? When we were barely in F1!”

He shudders, “I thought we agreed to never talk about that again.” 

“Listen, I gotta go, there are a ton of fans out here but please call the Montreal people right now or get ready to do some endurance racing. Or I guess I’ll be enjoying pictures of you and Mick at a summer destination wedding.”  

“Should I send a gift?” Lewis snorts. “Only after you officially have an excuse.”

“God, what would I even give them?”

“No idea, mate. Good luck and thanks for the call.”

“Thanks for listening.”

“Anytime, Seb.” 

He sees the pictures of Lewis and Charles with fans on Instagram later, after he’s called both people at Montreal and Le Mans. 

Maybe some vintage merch? A race suit or something of a driver Ralf likes? 

Mick texts him back and says he can’t go half on a gift because he’s already doing that with his sister. Hannah’s still at work so: 

>Maybe let him drive around one of your old cars?

But I don’t want him to, Lew. You know he can’t drive.

>True. You maybe shit outta luck then. I’m still for Montreal tho. Miss you!

>Actually, I lied. You should win Le Mans and then do the 500. Imagine the look on Fernando’s face. 

Don’t tempt me.

>This is me tempting you 😵‍💫✨ 

It’s not working. Try harder

>triple crown triple crown triple crown 🙏✨🙌🤞

hmmm maybe…

>I don’t gamble but if I did I would bet so much money on you doing it 

You don’t want to do it with me?

>Careful Vettel…some may take that another way 😉

Take it whichever way you want then. As long as you’re there somehow

>Always, Seb. 

>You’ll figure it out. I know you will

>keep me updated tho I need to know everything

[idlingmoons]

the (not so) long-awaited fntd rant... i want it to be kept in mind that i do enjoy the game because of the dcas. and i have 1.11k wins in the game, so believe me when i say that it is grindy as hell. i do complain a lot, but i do come back to the game at the end of the day so keep that in mind. im also putting a keep reading cut here because i do not want to have this long ass ramble take up my entire tumblr lolol

@that-one-unknown-artist prepare yourself for the ranting ahead. i offer you sun and moon in these trying times, and dca ocs too since im neglecting them for this damn game rn haha

it's a genuinely very fun game at the beginning. the base game has 7 games to choose from, and 6 nights for each game, and each game is based off the fnaf series. they have fnaf 1-4, sister location, pizzeria sim, and (most importantly, and my favorite) security breach. security breach is genuinely the coolest one, but i love all the maps? in the game? security breach is just my favorite because theres an entire night dedicated to moondrop as the boss (night 5), and then night 6 has music man CRAWLING. ON THE CEILING>??????

doing all the nights aren't that long when you have good units, but i find that its hard to get a good starter. you do have to spend money for certain units and theres more of an incentive to because it's limited time (<- unfortunate money spender. worth it though). it's why i have my moondrop now haha. there's also the trading center which i am SCARED and socializing is NOT my peak skill so negotiating for stuff is very . HahHAHA. but thankfully you can just buy stuff without having to say anything. i bring up the trading center because the base prices for the dcas can get expensiveeee.

theres currently five dcas in game right now. you have base sundrop and moondrop (though sun is called sunshine), and you can get sunshine from the season pass! so hes not too expensive to get, you just have to grind enough xp to be able to get him (which, in a season pass, you need 4650 xp. you get 14 per game, 20 xp if you play nightmare mode) and currently it ends feb 15th. if you want to start, you might wanna start now lmao. but anyway you have sun, and moon, and then this game literally creates its own dca oc called stardrop. i am MADLY in love with the sun, moon, and star designs. stardrop looks genuinely so cool im keeping him in my pocket and yoinking that design for future ideas I REALLY LIKE THAT GUY . you also can get apollo's sun from the current event which is the greek event, but hes an apex and you get a 0.002% chance in rolling him, and 0.1% chance in getting him from a box. and then there's his evolution, apollo's moon

i'm already ranting here, but this is where i genuinely go insane from this post starts. APOLLO'S MOON. where do i start with you. so apollo's sun is the base unit and my god is he so fine. ok ? lets put it at that. he's basically greek au sun. alright? and game devs pulled it off. but HOOOOOO MY INTENSE. EMOTIONS . in regards to apollo's moon. i want to say it's hatred, but it's not. i'm just disappointed. he's the evolution from apollo's sun (and i was very lucky to get him!) and i considered referring to him as artemis throughout the rest of this rant because i want to give him a crumb, a MODICUM amount of respect. but he doesnt even deserve that after his design. I AM GOING TO GO INSANE.

to evolve him. let me get this screenshot

i don't have anything better and also ignore the 43k souls now because i am BROKE. this was before i got apollos moon, and now im grinding again to get apollos sun to get the original unit so yk yk. this might not make a lot of sense if you havent played the game, which is completely fair so let me explain all the statistics and insanity this game put me through to get me with apollos moon. and i WILL. talk about how i want to redesign him because he can go two routes oh my fucking god i feel so strongly about tthe dcas

the top left is souls. i used to have 43k of them until i started buying stuff but you know. theres four currencies in game—coins, souls, doubt coins or whatever they are, and the event currency (which, as of right now), is medallions. coins you get with everything and are from base game, souls you get everywhere but rarer. doubt coins you get from boss raid, and i dont rlly like boss raid so i will just ignore talking about them. and then you get event currency, which are the medallions. you only need 5k souls, which is reasonable if you play the game and youre willing to grind some, especially since you get 5 dailies that give you 500 total if you do them all, and 5 weeklies that give you 5000 total if you manage to complete them too. they take some effort in doing, but the game gives you the genuine chance to get them. theres also the 500 suns and the 100 moons, and 25 suns are 5k medallions and 10 moons are 25k medallions.

the top right corner says 350k medallions. i figured this out the hard way. im genuinely going to explode i had to grind for 700k total medallions. because suns are 100k total and moons are 250k total im NOW just realizing this holy fucking shit?? you do get 174k medallions from the event rewards if you have the greek pass with it, and theres infinite tasks you can do (one must imagine sisyphus happy...) which can give you 5k or 15k medallions so. yeah. im beginning to realize how insane i sound from a mathematical standpoint, and also a standpoint from someone who hasnt played the game before. in the middle row, theres the green presents which are the greek boxes. yes you need 250 of them. you get can 3 of them (at least for me) from said infinite tasks, or 9 of them depending on certain ones. you also get 130 from the event rewards at the very end so ayyy more incentive to play. theyre not that bad, you just have to hope that you get one certain task 14 times, and yoou can now go to endless mode and just sit there after upgrading all your units and stuff. though, i also recognize its easier for me just because ive spent an entire month playing it every single day and going insane from doing it so uh. keep that in mind

the middle of the middle is agony. yeah theres something about agony from taken from the games. idk about agony though, i literally only care about daycare attendants. anyway. AHEM. YOU NEED 50 OF THOSE???? it was genuinely awful i wanted to scream HELLO? this isnt the worst one to grind for btw. its just the one where a good bit of my souls went. i ended up having to trade for them and thankfully market price is like. 100 souls. some people charged 200, thats okay, its fine. its just hard to find people who want to sell agony because, TURNS OUT. its a 1% chance you get agony in the event games. and you can get it in the base game, which you have a 1% chance of getting (unless its a certain night, which is then 2.5x that much), or you can increase the chances but you have to play it on hell mode and even then, its a 5% chance of getting agony from hell mode. it stacks, but point still stands. but hey, i did it. so

ironically enough, agony didnt bring me agony. the gold presents, theyre corrupted presents, YES. THOSE BROUGHT ME IMMENSE PAIN AND AGONT Y I WILL SCREAm. you have a 1% chance of getting them IN THE EVENT GAMES. theyre lower in the base games, as games 1-6? all lower than 1%. only in security breach is it 1%. and you only get them in hell mode. ONLY. in hell mode. nowhere else. just hell mode. and they're so expensive in the trading plaza too ???? its genuinely where a lot of my souls went. people will charge it for like 5k? ive seen it go for 9k once. but thankfully a good bunch of em bought was only 2k, so i could buy a bunch at once and thank fukcing god. it was still so bad i had to grind for a good portion of them and i want it to be understood that i screamed in genuine joy at getting last one. I SCREAMED. IN RELIEF

the last unit is this bonnie called nymph toy bonnie or smth. i bought him early on so not much to write home about there

now. after evolving apollos sun to apollos moon. I WILL CRY. WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT. hes a recolor with a ray ripped off, two harps, and more arrows. and before you go like "isnt stardrop a recolor" (or you dont, thats fine too) AT LEAST STARDROP LOOKS GOOD. SOMEHOW??? APOLLOS MOON LOOKS REALLY BALD. AND HE HAS RAYS. the colors are atrocious, theyre the white and dark blue like og moondrop but they dont work with the scarf thing and the rays, so they look really weird, the harps are ok and the arrows are fine. i dont like the look of the white stars on it. at least with moondrop he had the yellow stars and thats fine because thats base game, and also he had his night cap which also had yellow stars. with apollos moon, the white stars just all mesh together and then its like. Huh. i do like the one broken ray though, but utilized very badly here and shouldve been brought in with a different dca design instead of apollos moon. but after evolving him, i got a unit that just looks like a mess, so i am. in fact. just disappointed. as an artist, he hurts my soul. however, as a tower-defense player, hes fucking great. he caps out at 165k damage AND THATS WITHOUT ENCHANTS. my enchant for him makes him do 403k damage like hell yeah damn right my boy get it.

now. i really want to redesign him because his design is awful and atrocious. at least i think so. there are two possible ways to redesign him, i think, though ive only thought more of one. i will call these two versions apollo's moon and artemis's moon respectively. for apollo's moon, i think he should be colored yellow instead. this seems really weird, but swap au of sun and moon have existed before, including the colors, and its been pulled off really well. so, i suggest it. not only that, but stardrop is a technically a sun who pulls off moon colors well, so why not the other way around? if we're going to call him apollo's sun, he better damn act like it. it also gives him a chance for his harps to be colored brown instead of the white and blue we see in game, and generally his color palette would be more cohesive. apollos sun pulls the red off in the pants as well, and it glows. i think the stars glowing would be a lot better, especially if theyre yellow instead of the white that blends in with everything in the original design. also, no rays. both designs arent getting rays. i do think to play up the moon part, he should get a nightcap...? but i also think that there should be a gold laurel wreath crown for his design. i think it'd work heavily, especially with the greek theme, so why not do that? i do think artemis's moon would be colored differently, maybe more grayish blue and without the red eyes? i can see a silver laurel here instead of maybe a gold one. this second route i havent thought of much because im just. not a fan of apollos moon design wise and im sort of sleep deprived and going insane from how much ive been playing this game.

h. i still do play it though. i genuinely really like the dcas, i think its super fun, and i cant wait for the next ones! sorry if this seems a bit abrupt ending but a lot of my passion within this rant has been used, and i got the points i wanted to get across i think. i would still suggest to play it. i just need to get apollos sun soon so i can go back to working on art for a video that, technically, has been worked on for over a few weeks now. </3

[purplesoulcollection]

Unnatural Love

Part 10 Synopsis : Name has being transmigrated into the world of I'm Not That Kind Of Talent without ever reading the novel. She's not being reincarnated as a human but as a devil as well. Hi There! I want to let you know that this fanfiction story isn't solely my creation. I borrowed the concept from @quqiwo2. I haven't actually read the novel either, just some spoiler to the end.

I hope you'll excuse my spelling and grammar mistake, because English not my first language.

Since that day, every day I asked Deon about my appearance.

But he never once answered whether I was beautiful, ugly, suitable, bad or something like that. He wasn't honest with me… it seems he has nothing to say to me at all.

Hiks...

But beside that, I definitely preferred the Human world over the Devil world. I really enjoyed our daily walks before Deon and I, as his partner, took part in the hunting competition organized by the emperor..

In the human world, we experience days filled with sunlight, while in the Devil world, it's always night, with only the moon shining. It quite dull there to me to having a nightmare always in the dark and only be illuminated by a blood red moon.

The human world here is expected to be more ancient than Earth. Their style is certainly reminiscent of the 15th century. However, they also offer a variety of unique dishes that I've never encountered before. I wasn't sure if these foods have existed on Earth as well.

Although to be honest, human food is no longer suitable for my taste as a Demon race.

Even though I'm disguised, the body I inhabit is still a devil. That's the reality.

Even if I am a human now, i don't think it will be my cup of the tea.

I was really excited to see all the unique food, but I didn't want to buy any for myself. I let Deon treat himself instead. He offered me some, but I had to politely decline.

Deon confessed to me that he has a strong preference for food that is not only tasty but also one-of-a-kind and hard to find. As always, noble tastes were quite distinct from the normal civilian like me...

By the way, Deon also took me to his troop in the human world too. Although he was hesitant to do it, I convince him the otherwise.

They were called Lofty troops, I think.

The soldiers who see themselves as the most honorable, despite lacking noble lineage, strive fiercely in battle to prove themselves as some of the finest, albeit ruthless, warriors in the kingdom.

Hey everyone! I want you to meet my fiancée, Adele. I'm introducing her to you guys only because she requested it.

"No Way!!!"

"The captain suddenly has a fiancée, despite never having been involved in any scandals before!"

"Damn you Captain, I lost the bet because the sudden fiancée!!!"

"What, a woman like you actually became the Marquis's fiancée!"

"How do you seduce Captain to love you, tell me!!!"

"Please be quiet, everyone! Mind your language! Captain's still here with us."

"All of you, run then rounds for being disrespectful to Master's fiancée."

It's the only woman here who's raising her voice. Is she the one responsible for keeping everyone in line? And all the soldiers here also doing what she said.

"I apologize, my lady. You must witness the disrespectful behavior of our soldier. I, Lianne Reiner, extend my sincerest apologies to you."

"No problem at all Ms. Lianne, Deon already warn me before. If i really cared about appropriate behavior, i wouldn't came here."

"You already seeing those crazy dogs, are you satisfied?" Ask Deon. He still seems upset because of the soldier's earlier comment, they’re so bold to make a bet about his relationship and view him with such innocence guy who can be seduced by everyone.

I understand now.

It’s clear that the Lofty troop being happy if Deon found a partner to share and became his support.

They even shared some amusing stories about his past mishaps, which made him seem quite endearing. Watching Deon react playfully to their teasing was fun, but he could only blush and wish they would stop in the end!

Despite their rudeness towards me and Deon, they still place a high value on their master's reputation. This is the kind of ally Deon has in the human realm.

"Deon?"

"What?"

"They are the good people you know?"

"They are crazy..."

But he couldn't hide his reddened ear that secretly invoice his expression.

The day of the competition arrived which was predictable to be the day where I had to intervene in fate. So I already made the plan for that.

"Are you sure you want to wear that clothes, Adele?" Deon ask me when he see my clothes.

Yes, I wore very controversial clothes for this era, a blue shirt and trousers. I asked the maid to make me a pair of trousers for me.

Even though these are trousers, the maid who made them still designed them well, there are beautiful lace and decorations that are not objectionable.

I chose the shirt itself in black. Because white has become Deon's signature color.

"I didn't come to sit back and drink tea like a human, Deon."

"But..."

"There are things I have to do there."

"Can't I know?"

"It's not that you can't know, but you will find out later."

"..."

"

Trust me, Deon. I didn't come to do evil. "

...

“Okay. I believe you.”

"Thank you, Deon. Your clothes suits you. The emperor have a good eyes! But i will too..." I smiled happily at Deon. And Leon could only smile resignedly at me. He knows that i will start my project to design him as the aesthetic model.

We hugged before Remember coughing.

"The carriage is ready, Young Master, madam."

And off we went...

"Emperor, this is my fiancee, Adelle."

Why suddenly I was introduced to the Emperor.

"It's an honor to watch Deon Hart finally have someone to love." He looks at me, his eyes appear quite unusual—wild yet weary, accentuated by dark circles beneath them.

I-I'm afraid of him....

"Nice to meet you, Emperor. I'm Adelle"

“He is not a noble, please forgive his ethical lapse.”

"By our esteemed Hero, what can I not tolerate for you."

Then they stepped away to have a private conversation. Left on my own, I quietly employed my skills to steer clear of the nobles who were eager to learn more about me.

I noticed the nobles searching around anxiously, clearly on the lookout for me.

But unfortunately my priority right now is not to talk to them.

'Where is Cruel Hart?'

Then I used my skills to look for it. He was walking in the forest.

Why is he in the forest?

Does he want to do something?

I have to follow him.

.

.

.

I ran in the middle of the forest but I still couldn't find him.

Where did Cruel Hart go?

Looks like I got lost while looking for Cruel Hart...

Damn I've wasted a lot of time for a person I've never even met before.

On the screen, Cruel Hart finally meets Deon, who for some reason is also in the same place.

Like a destinated fate…

Impossible. Is it possible that the Cruel Hart tragedy will happen before Deon's eyes? ..

In that case, I have to quickly find them...

"You think I can't recognize you just because you wear a robe like that." Deon said with blood in his mouth.

Saying that to Cruel who was trying to cover his face with a cloak.

"What are you planning, Cruel Hardt. What is your reason for being here."

But in the end Cruel Hart gave up trying to hide his face.

He pulled Deon's hand tightly

Hey, aren't you listening to what I'm saying, I have nothing more to say to you. "

Deon, who was pulled, was helplessly pulled after Cruel. After trying to let go of the hand that was pulling him but it wouldn't let go. Deon gave up trying to get off from him.

But before he could stop Cruel. Suddenly Cruel took out his sword.

Deon thought that Cruel would kill him right then and there. But it turns out that Cruel actually blocked the attack from the assassin.

He saw him blocked the attack that was mean to him. “Why?”

He gazes at him in disbelief, struggling to comprehend what Cruel has done for him. Wasn't he supposed to hate him and want him dead? So why did he step in to block that attack?

“I don’t have time to explain. There’s someone who wants to kill you.”

“You'll have a trouble to avoid it now because he even sent an army capable of killing a hero like us.”

Deon was shaking with fear when he saw the troops, the black uniform asassins who could even kill heroes like him.

But Cruel soothe him by placing his hand on his head, make Deon's attention focused at him

“The human world is no longer safe for you."

"Go to the other side and come back, Deon"

“Kill the two of them!”

Cruel swiftly dodged the assassins and arrows aimed at him. Rather than fleeing, Deon chose to assist Cruel in taking down the attacker.

So the two of them work together.

Until finally an arrow shot towards Deon who was unaware of this

And Cruel was the one who protected Deon and allowed himself to be hit by the arrow. The arrow struck Cruel, causing blood to flow from his wounds.

“You..!!! What are you doing right now, protect me when i don't even ask it?”

“What are you acting like you care now, you-“

He being paused…

And he stopped talking, the cold sweat began to appear, his body began to tremble even when it was a sunny and hot day. he's started having seizures.

but cruel closes Deon's eyes to reality. Like wants to shield him from this evil world.

"do not worry about it."

"Do as usual, only think about what you're thinking is right."

Then Cruel pushed Deon and didn't realize that he would be stabbed in the heart.

Deon caught sight of it; the knife glimmered briefly, catching the sunlight just before it aimed for Cruel's back. That moment made me step back from the strike, and I noticed him smiling with a knowing look.

'Brother..."

When I witnessed the knife that was about to penetrate his heart and my world will became bleak.

Plats

The white light repelled the sword. Cruel and the that person snapped from the intervention.

"You guys okay?" She appeared out of nowhere, basking in the sunlight, and for a brief moment, she resembled an angel in Deon's eyes.

"Adele..."

To Be Continued

[tutanchanup]

Ah, so finally, here it is.

My first short story featuring His Vampirized Majesty 👑🦇

Brought to life after I've encountered this amazing gem on the internets:

Whether true or fake, I just HAD to make this happen! 😄

So, I proudly present to you the epic story of:

The Inauguration of Vlad Draculea

- former warlord, now made president

(sorry Romanian people if I've completely botched how your inauguration looks like, as I have no idea how that works in your country. I've tried to look it up, but all the info was in Romanian 🤣. For this reason, I've tried to make the details as vague as possible 😆. I'll be glad if someone local lectures me in the future 😅)

Notes:

- Draculea's speeches and crowd interaction I've based on what rhetorics I think a mediaeval warlord would use - aka someone who had to be able to make incredible impression and inspire loyalty in just a few well chosen words and powerful gestures 😉

- I've found out (but feel free to correct me 😉) that in Romania, it actually might be possible to vote in someone without their active participation (even though they'd have the right to not accept. But Vlad would never be deaf to the call of his people, would he 😄)

Now enough blabbering, let's indulge in the story, as it is SOME story, I tell you!

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

Lord Draculea was sitting in his castle, enjoying the quiet night by the warm light of the fireplace.

He took a sip of a suspiciously red liquid from a beautiful gothic chalice.

But you'd be surprised it wasn't blood. It was something far more unexpected.

A porto wine.

Draculea took another sip and gratefully savoured the sweet and slightly spiced favour. "THIS is how wine is supposed to taste!" he exclaimed, to himself only, as the castle was now devoid of any other living soul. Or, better said, he addressed it to the word itself. "People nowadays don't know what a good wine is... I swear if someone brings me some of that ridiculously expensive sour abomination that only makes your tongue curl, one more time..."

He sighted. At least now he'll have some peace from that. Now that he revealed to the world who he really is, it was quite clear that his reputation has crumbled into pieces. Dracula the Vampire AND Vlad the Impaler in one person?! Truly an impressively unflattering combination.

So he discreetly removed himself from the public eye and enjoyed the quietness his castle has once again dived itself into. He didn't waste time trying to correct the public opinion that he isn't a mad tyrant nor the sadistic monster. He already learned that fighting against propaganda is a lost fight from the start.

His musings were interrupted by the sharp sound of the doorbell. Vlad cursed. What is it with today? His phone was ringing from the morn, not letting him enjoy the quiet piece he was so looking forward to. Begrudgingly he went to answer the door, promising that if this won't be truly damn important, he's gonna devour that poor fool who dared to disturb him.

"LORD DRACULEA, THANK GOD, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU FOR MONTHS!!!". Draculea listened to the exasperated voice of the messenger, slowly stopping to believe his own ears.

"They did WHAT???!!!!"

~°~°~•~°~°~

Vlad Draculea clasped the polished wood of the stand with microphones, trying to assure himself that this is real.

The public awaited with eager anticipation.

Draculea cleared his throat. "Dear people of this land..." he started,

"...have you all lost your mind?"

Then he turned his gaze directly onto the camera with a look that, in the 15th century, would have made an army lay down their weapons. With a theatrical sigh, he continued:

"I must admit, your decision has caught me somewhat off guard. Just yesterday, I was peacefully reading Machiavelli, relishing the thought that I won't have to rule ever again. And today? Today, my servant informs me that I have been made a president.

Without my consent.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is, if I may say so, rather impolite."

A dramatic pause followed before he added, now with a more warm-hearted smile:

"But on the other hand — I must admit it was a brilliant move. For centuries, I have taught you that the best way to defeat an enemy is to turn his own weapons against him. And now, you have forced me to rule by leaving me no way to refuse.

My respect. A masterful strategy, truly. Almost worthy of... Vlad the Impaler."

~°~°~•~°~°~

The night before the inauguration have approached.

And on that warm night, a group of very special few have gathered in the courtyard of Draculea's castle. Excited whispers rippled through the small gathering of those, who have answered to the call of a very peculiar message that got spread in their circles.

Suddenly, the door swung open and in stepped with the stride of a warlord His Majesty himself.

His face a mask of stone, he stopped his step in front of the group and then measured each one of them with a hard, scrutinizing gaze, as if he was contemplating their loyalty.

Then he addressed them, his tone deathly serious: "Gentlemen! I hope that you all...

...are as mad in the head as I am!" he finished before he let out a hearty laugh, destroying the heavy atmosphere.

The people, who until now were maybe a little bit afraid when he intimidated them first with his serious tone, started to slowly smile with excitement.

Draculea continued in a mischievous tone:

"What we are about to do may well be one of the most audacious acts in modern history... Perhaps it won't pass, and I shall be cast out from this office for breaking every rule known to man, hahaha. Perhaps I shall set a record, to be remembered in the book of records as the president who ruled for the briefest of times. But imagine how we shall stun them all on the morrow!"

"For I simply cannot help myself... I won't arrive to be inaugurated in a limousine, dressed in some drab suit! Pfui!!" he spat on the ground in disgust, "No, I am a man of the 15th century, and I won't betray my honour!"

"So, my lords, to us and to the greatest audacity in the history of modern inaugurations!"

And then, as he let them in on his plan, their eyes slowly started gleaming with excitement.

~°~°~•~°~°~

On the day of the inauguration, a crowd has gathered before the palace, where the ceremony was to happen. Everything went as it always did:

There was the expectant hush of the crowd, a calm stillness filled with murmurs and the restless shuffling of cameras. Reporters adjusted their microphones, anchors rehearsed their lines, security stood at attention.

All waited for the familiar scene - the polished limousine gliding to a halt, the door swinging open, and the newly elected president stepping out in a crisp, simple suit, nodding dutifully before making his way inside.

But that's not what came.

Instead—

A sound of horn.

Deep, ancient, commanding. The kind that once signaled war, that called warriors to battle. It shook the air, sent a shiver through the gathered masses. Conversations died. Heads snapped toward the distant streets.

Then came the other sound.

A distant, rhythmic rumble at first, but growing—thunderous, rolling, primal. A tremor that did not come from the earth but from something mightier.

The drumming of hooves.

And then they appeared.

Bursting into view like a vision from a forgotten age, a cavalcade of horse riders thundered through the boulevard. Claded in vivid colours, their heads covered in helmets, a tide of steel and silk, of crimson, blue and gold, of history reborn.

But it wasn't a slow, ceremonious parade. They've cut through the streets with the force of mediaeval charge.

And at the front of this impossible procession, like a monarch riding to claim his throne - Draculea.

Not as the world had expected. Not in the muted, stiff attire of modern politics. But in full ceremonial armor, steel forged into intricate details, now glinting in the sun. However his head was bare, letting his black locks dance in the wind.

His black warhorse surged forward, muscles rippling beneath a colourful caparison, its breath a cloud of mist in the crisp air.

And in Draculea's eyes gleamed a fire, the cold and unyielding certainty of a ruler who had seen centuries pass but had never bent to them.

Behind him rode his chosen company, his loyal knights, garbed in the finery of a past that had not yet faded from their hearts. Some wore pieces of armor, their helmets gleaming like silver phantoms beneath the sky. Others bore the rich, embroidered tunics of noble courtiers, velvet and brocade spilling over their saddles. And above them all, the banner.

The great crest of house Drăculești.

It rippled like living fire, its crimson, blue and gold threads, bearing the shape of sun and moon, vivid against the blue sky, a relic of Wallachian wars reborn in a world that had long forgotten what it meant. The Draculea commet once more symbolically crowning the sky above, as it was once in real life, five centuries ago.

But most amazing sight wasn't the banner, nor the rich silks, nor Draculea's immaculately carved armour. It was the faces of his riders. As these weren't mere actors, fulfilling their duty for a reward. From their expressions was clear their absolute devotion to this cause. So this wasn't a charge of a dreamer, followed by people trying to recreate history. This was a charge of a warlord and his loyal warriors.

For a breathless moment, the world forgot the age of cars and skyscrapers, of laws and diplomacy. This was something older, grander, untamed.

And as Draculea pulled his steed to a halt before the palace, its hooves scattering dust and light, the crowd has felt like they've just become a part in a legend.

They had expected a politician.

They had received a king.

~°~°~•~°~°~

Inside the palace, the chancellors waited in solemn anticipation. A small table stood in the center, bearing the official document that would seal Draculea’s rise to power. Behind it, flags of the nation hung as little more than decorative backdrops.

Then suddenly the doors flew open, and HE strode in, regal, unyielding.

His gaze burned with something ancient, something unshakable - the sheer will of a mediaeval warlord. He moved toward the table… and walked right past it.

A murmur of confusion rippled through the hall. But Draculea didn't stop until he stood in front of the flags, his gaze fixed at the national standart.

Then he drew his sword.

A nervous silence fell as the chancellors stopped breathing. What in the heavens is this madman gonna do? they thought in unison.

Draculea, in a single decisive motion, drove the blade into the floor and knelt before the Romanian flag. He bowed his proud head in reverence, and then he spoke a solemn oath in Romanian. Then again in Latin. Then a third time in Old Church Slavonic, honoring both faiths of his people—Catholic and Orthodox alike.

"I swear to wield this sword in defense of this land!"

Then he rose and without tearing his gaze from the flag, extended his hand. At once, his squire rushed forward, presenting him with his own banner — the great flag of House Drăculești. Taking it, Draculea drove it with terrible force into the stand beside the others, wordlessly declaring that his bloodline would stand in service to Romania.

Without another glance at the chancellors, he turned and strode toward the courtyard, where the people awaited his words.

"W-wait!" came a frantic voice behind him, stopping him in his tracks.

One of the chancellors hurried forward, desperately pointing at the document on the table. "You still have to sign this!"

Draculea cast an unimpressed glance at the document — the modern world’s petty formality. Even though this would be the thing that would officially grant him the authority, to him, it was a meaningless piece of paper. The true act of fealty had already been given, not in ink, but in steel.

But if this was what the age required…

With visible distaste, he scrawled his signature - internally lamenting that he can't seal it with wax - and tossed the pen aside. Then he turned and strode directly onto the balcony to face his people.

The chancellors sighted with relief and gestured him to come before the stand with microphones to give his speech. But Draculea raised his hand in firm refusal. "A leader who can't address his people with his own voice doesn't deserve to be heard!"

Then he spoke, his voice clear over the courtyard. A voice of a commander used to give orders to an army.

"Dear people of this land! I am honoured you've chosen me to be your lead in these times. I heard your call. You, the same as I, have realised that we have lost something. Begone are days of the knights and swordfights. But with them has also gone some very important values. I understand that's why you've chosen me, to once again be your leader. To bring these values back! And I am not talking about impaling..." From the crowd came some nervous chuckles. "I'm talking about our pride, and the values of honour, honesty, loyalty and responsibility." Draculea then in powerful gesture extended his arm and pointed his finger at the crowd, and commanded them: "And I want you to watch me carefully!"

The officials exchanged desperate glances. "Not only is this man a maniac, but now he's a narcissist too?"

But their faces became pale as Draculea suddenly unsheathed a dagger he had by his side.

What the hell...!

Draculea continued his speech, showing the dagger to the crowd:

"I want you to watch me not because I yearn for your attention. But because deep down I am still a human. And humans err. So I want you to watch me. And if ever I falter, and betray this what I have now promised here... Then take this dagger! And drive it straight into my back!!!!!!!"

Then he sheathed the dagger in one elegant motion, went to his horse, swung into the saddle and spurred the majestic creature onto its hind legs. Shouting a battle cry in old Romanian, he urged the steed forward and he and his whole company has left the courtyard in a gallop.

No one said a word. No one cheered.

The crowd was still too stunned by what they saw, not sure if this was real or not.

One reporter, holding in his hands the papers with lines of questions, meticulously prepared beforehand, had sighted in disbelief: "He's gone..." He glanced once again at the papers, now rendered totally useless. "But... but... he was supposed to answer our questions... we were to film for hours... This was supposed to last the whole day! H-how long did this even take?!" His colleague glanced at his watch. "About 15 minutes."

"Fuck."

But then suddenly, someone from the crowed started clapping. And slowly, others joined him. The crowd started cheering. But Draculea was long gone to hear any of that.

~°~°~•~°~°~

Through the evening rode this mysterious ride of mediaeval looking gentlemen. Until they've stopped at the outskirts of the city, in a mediaeval themed inn.

The door swung open and into the inn came a procession of knights, their faces solemn. The whole inn quieted down, taking in the strange sight.

Lord Draculea in an uncompromising tone ordered mead for the whole company.

Then they sat to a table in silence. None of them spoke a word, even when the mead was served. Then, as one man, they all lifted their cups and drank. And then they've put their cups down ceremoniously, their expressions invoking an atmosphere as before a crusade.

But then, the corners of their mouths started to twitch. And then suddenly, they've burst into laughter.

"Oh my god!!!!" exclaimed one of the riders. "God, that was awesome, ahaha!!!" joined another.

Draculea removed his armoured glove so that he could wipe off the tear from his eyes: "You should've seen their faces!! Ahaha, when I tossed the pen to that chancellor, he looked like that if I'd borrow him my sword, he would've beheaded me on the spot!!!!!"

His flag bearer agreed, "Oh, and when you drove your sword into their polished parquet floor? They looked like they were ready to impale you!!!!" "Ah, then maybe I should show them how to do that, what do you think?!! Ahahaha!!!" Draculea slammed his fist into the table, howling with laughter.

The people in the inn watched that bizzare scene in disbelief, some taking out their phones to film this extravagant moment.

After he caught his breath again, Draculea addressed his crowd of loyals:

"Gentlemen, I must thank you for this most exquisite feat! I daresay, I have not been so thoroughly entertained in centuries! At this moment I might even rejoice that I have lived to see my six hundredth year! Truly, by all the torments I have endured, this was worth it!"

Then he lifted his cup in a ceremonious gesture:

"And so, for this most magnificent endeavour, I hereby name you knights of my most loyal order!"

~°~°~•~°~°~

When the time was to depart, Draculea moved from his seat and went to the door. However before he could mount his horse, one determined group of reporters had finally caught up with him.

"Lord Draculea, Mister President, wait!"

Draculea quietly growled. "By the fires of hell, these people are everywhere!" he sighted internally. He restrained his arm which has twitched over the pommel of his sword as the cameraman showed his camera straight into Draculea's face.

"Mr. President, your inauguration earlier today knocked everyone off their feet! No matter how controversial it was, it is clear that no one will ever forget it. But aren't you afraid that the office of the president will condemn your informal behavior and refuse to recognize it as valid? After all, you broke almost every protocol in the book. Some might see this as an excuse to strip you of the office of president, before you’ve even issued a single decree."

Draculea smiled confidently at this question. Then, with his head held high, he answered:

"You're right, and I am fully aware of the risk I'm taking! However, I had my reasons for doing it. And I also know that the people elected me to this esteemed office precisely because they see that I stand by the values that make sense to me, and that I am not afraid to break conventions for that. But tell me yourself – would you truly prefer if I had simply walked in and signed some paper that someone invented no more than few years ago, rather than bowing before the flag, a symbol of our country that has been honored for centuries? Would you have felt the same strong emotions with such a gesture?"

He paused dramatically.

"Because I certainly would not!!"

Another pause, letting the words sink in. Then, with fervor and a spark in his eyes, he continued:

"And if my overly brief inauguration moved even a few people to feel pride in this country... If even a few people paused to think about what values truly matter... Or if a few people, for the first time in years, at least had a proper laugh... Then I don’t care if I become the president with the shortest term in history. Because, in that case, it was worth it!!!!" he exclaimed proudly, like a warlord preparing for battle.

"And if I must choose between avoiding the wrath of bureaucrats or reigniting pride in the hearts of my people, then I WILL ALWAYS STAND WITH MY NATION!!!" To give proper weight to his words, he slammed his fist into his chest.

And then he added in a lot more dangerously quiet, menacing voice: "And now if you won't stop bothering me, I'll make use of that sword I have here..."

At these words the reporters hastily thanked him for his time and promptly left.

One of Draculea's companions took him by the side, a concerned look on his face. "Măria Ta. The reason why they were here... I don't know if you noticed, but the people in the inn were filming us. I am afraid our little feast will have now spread all over the social media" he warned.

But Draculea only smiled mysteriously. The companion eyed him with disbelief.

"W-wait... You knew... You did this on purpose?!"

Draculea gave him a knowing look. Then he moved closer to him, as if he was sharing some deep secret:

"In past times, when you were a ruler, you always had to be aware of what effect you have on people. Otherwise you would end up dead.

I knew that our little feat would inspire loyalty in many. But it would also provoke some to think: Did we really vote in a maniac who doesn't know the year is not 1456 anymore? What if he starts a crusade?!!

It was vital that I let the world know that I am aware that this is the 21st century.

Besides..."

He chuckled as he took out of his ornate belt pouch a phone.

"Modern politicians often forget about the part of the nation that has a natural disdain for authority - the young generation."

He opened social media and showed his companion what hashtags were now trending:

#Legendary

#TheArtOfTrolling

#EpicMove

#DraculaTheKingOfTrolls

#HailToTheKing

#MostEpicInaugurationInHistory

Draculea then read out loud one of the many posts that has started to flood the internet:

"I never thought I’d be a fan of a vampire, but Dracula just convinced me that there’s no better combination: respect, charisma, and epic trolling. This is more entertaining than most political campaigns of the last decade!"

His companion starred in disbelief when the old warlord mounted his steed, phone still in his hand. And then, after gesturing him farewell, rode into the night.

The man was left there standing, his mind desperately trying to process the image of a mediaeval voivode, clad in armour, in one hand reigns of a mighty warhorse, in the other a modern phone, riding away while laughing at the memes people were now making about him on social media.

After quite a battle, his mind had settled with the thought:

"Maybe he shouldn't text while driving..."

[yuurivoice]

Alphonse Plushie Meme Giveaway | Info & Image Pack

To celebrate the launch of the Pastel Punk Alphonse plushie, we're hosting a special giveaway for the YuuriVoice community!

The goal is simple, using this pack of images HERE, whip up the best memes you possibly can and post them across the social media. In particular, I will be monitoring Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram, and Tumblr, so don't feel pressured to use a platform you're not on, it won't hurt your chances!

The guidelines are as follows:

Your post should include the hashtag #YuuriVoice, #AlphonsePlushie and @ YuuriVoice on all platforms.

Pls don't use any gen a/i in the creation of the meme. It can be a photoshop, artwork, video, use a template or any other popular option for making your shitpost of choice.

You're free to make as many as you want, if you've posted multiple over the time of the giveaway, I'll pick my favorite of yours as a contender. I'll pick my favorites at the end of the giveaway period and have a community poll on Patreon to determine the winner.

The entry window closes on October 15th, and the voting period will begin shortly after, with the winner being announced on the 16th on a Live Stream!

So what does the winner get? Well, if you want, it can be an Alphonse plushie! If you've already purchased a plushie, you can grab any piece of merch you'd like off of the YuuriVoice store! If that doesn't appeal to you, I suppose I'll just have to cough up a kidney or something (we'll make sure you get something cool).

By participating, you agree to let me snatch your memes and repost them across socials. Because even though it's a giveaway, I'd really just like to showcase how damn funny the community is and celebrate the plushie via shenanigans. <3 Where possible, I will just retweet/reblog, but for sharing on YouTube community posts, Patreon, etc, I'll need to repost them.

Sound like fun? Damn right it does! Good luck, have fun!

Again, you can find the images HERE!

[roamthecountryover]

Hey, guys! I'm not dead. I swear not I'm dead. There's just been a lot going on in my life.

So we are nearing upon a year of me not updating my fic. It was last updated January 15th, and I actually forgot to remind you guys on here that I posted a chapter. Ch. 23 is out. So, uh, go enjoy that if you haven't already.

So, life happened. I graduated, moved, realized a twelve-year-long friendship was a waste of fucking time- all that fun stuff. But more than that, I accidently got a new hyperfixation. Ace Attorney, which is great, but fucking long. And I didn't have the motivation to work on this fic. But I'm back now. I wasn't lying when I said I would finish this damn thing. I've come too far. So, I'll make an official art post for that like with all the previous chapters, and see if I can start writing my next chapter.

I am no longer expecting myself to get it done on time, because I have never succeeded in that endeavor. Just... know it's coming someday. Someday soon, I hope.

I'm not even sure if any of you guys are still there- it has been a while, and I have very few followers. But if you are, I want you to know that I'm back. As a sign of my remorse, and of good things to come, I give you a new piece of art.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sticking with me.