#it's gonna be a series though so maybe i'll fix things

[hwaslayer]

vivrant thing (jwy) | two.

—SPOTIFY PLAYLIST / SERIES MASTERLIST

—SUMMARY: after getting into a little accident, wooyoung decides to do his sister a favor by pretending to be your date at the company summer party. as soon as the night ends, wooyoung would go back to his usual routine of hanging out with his boys, keeping his distance from committed relationships and being a typical brother to jiwoo. except, the favor comes with more than what wooyoung expects and he finds you occupying his mind more than usual. 

—PAIRING: jung wooyoung x f. reader

—GENRE: (18+ - minors dni) bestfriend’s brother au | fluff, angst, eventual smut

—WORD COUNT: 8.8k

—CHAPTER WARNINGS: cussing/mature language, ponytail wooyoung !!!, alcohol consumption / intoxication, party at the winery!, dancing, sweet affectionate moments, songs mentioned are in the playlist, wooyoung is very sweet and will take care of his date 10/10 recommend 🥰

"Wait, wait, wait." San shakes his head in disbelief. "You're going to your sister's company summer party? With Y/N?"

"Mhm." Wooyoung responds nonchalantly.

"I thought her car was already getting fixed at the shop though, what does that have to do with you?"

"You think my sister is gonna leave it at that?" Wooyoung cocks a brow before putting down the navy button-up shirt back on the rack. "I'm just doing her the favor so she can let me be. I know she'll continue to hang it over my head if I don't."

"Wow, you're strong."

"I only agreed cause it's one night. And cause of the whole thing with my sis. Believe it or not, I don't always want her finding reasons to nag at me."

"Wouldn't that be weird, though?"

"What?"

"Being Y/N's date."

"Sure, but it's whatever."

"What're you even gonna talk about all night?"

"I don't know? Am I supposed to have a list ready and check it off as I go?" He gives San a weird look. "I'll figure it out. Who knows, it might not even be that bad."

"I'm not gonna lie, she did look pretty cute at your parents' bbq."

"She's always been cute. She's just shy as hell."

"Mm, yeah." San starts to eye the sweaters on the rack, pulling out a few and hanging it against his chest to see how they'd look on him. "So, what are you guys wearing?"

"I'm not sure." San's forehead crinkles when he turns to look at Wooyoung.

"Aren't you supposed to be sure? You're going together. You have to match."

"Well, we don't really have to. We're not dating, we're just going to a party together as friends."

"Acquaintances."

"Yeah, okay Merriam-Webster." Wooyoung scoffs and pulls out a black button-up shirt that he probably already has in his closet— but it wouldn't hit the same as buying a new one for a summer party. "Stop trying to make it seem like it's super complicated when it's not."

"I'm not. I'm just having a hard time imagining it."

"Then, don't. She's really not that bad."

"Wish she wasn't so shy." Wooyoung turns to San.

"Or.. what?"

"Maybe I would've tried getting to know her more."

"Fuck outta here, Choi San. You're only saying that shit because I'm taking her out to a party." Wooyoung points towards the front of the shop. "Wait. You see that right there?"

"What?" San leans over to try and get a good look at what Wooyoung is pointing at.

"Look closely." He ushers him to get closer. "If you look straight ahead, you'll see the front door. You can take your exit there."

"Fuck you."

"Shut up then. Don't start saying that stuff about Y/N." Wooyoung rolls his eyes as he continues to flip through the racks, trying to spot more clothes to buy and fill his closet with. He's not really sure why he feels the sudden need to be protective of you, especially with San. Hearing him say things like that rubs Wooyoung the wrong way and he's not sure if it's because he's known you for years, or because of something else that he doesn't really wanna think about right now. In the end, Wooyoung doesn't deal with feelings. They're too complicated, and they tie him down. 

"Oh my god! Those dresses are so cute, you'll definitely find one here!" Wooyoung overhears from nearby.

"Whoever that is, sounds exactly like my sister." Woo does a slight head tilt and pretends to shiver. "Can't escape—"

"Because it is your little sister, dummy." San nods his head towards your direction, the both of them watching as you, Jiwoo and Hongjoong walk into the same store. It's almost like the sibling radar goes off for Jiwoo because it doesn't take long before her eyes meet his.

"Why are you here?" She asks, slowly approaching them.

"Waiting for security to take your ass out." Wooyoung looks at the security guard and pretends to call him over. "Excuse me. The nuisance is right here, sir. Please escort her out." Jiwoo rolls her eyes and walks closer to him, giving Hongjoong the opportunity to greet him and San. "Whattup!"

"Taking these girls shopping for the party." Hongjoong responds.

"Me too!" Wooyoung points at San, causing him to click his teeth in response. "Hey Y/N." He smiles down at you and pulls you into a hug before San does the same. 

"Are you wearing black to the party?" Jiwoo holds out the shirt Wooyoung has in his hand.

"And if I am?"

"It's a summer party."

"Black goes with everything?" Jiwoo gives him a look that he reciprocates. "You know, now that you're here Y/N, maybe we can shop for our outfits together."

"Sure, okay—" You respond softly, about to step closer to him when Jiwoo holds your hand and tugs you back.

"I'm shopping with her."

"I have better taste than you."

"I think not." She looks down at the shirt again before looking back up at her brother. "Anyway, we'll be off to find our dresses." She links her arm with yours as you quietly continue to shift your attention between Jiwoo and her brother. "Byeeeee!" She swings you around and drags you towards the dresses in the back corner of the store. Hongjoong lingers around the boys for a little longer, shopping for new shirts himself. The boys talk about their upcoming plans before the summer party, also throwing in some guesses about how the summer party is going to turn out.

Meanwhile, when you and Jiwoo head to the dresses, your eyes automatically land on a strapless corset midi dress— it has a simple black and gold abstract print on it, the fabric mainly mesh. It'll be a little tighter than you'd like, the side slit a little higher than you'd like, but you thought it'd go with the vibe best. There are a few other dresses that caught your eye, and Jiwoo encouraged you to try them on in order to decide which one worked best. 

You could like the way one looks, but it could be completely different when you put it on.

But, your decision remains the same; the abstract dress fits you well, and you can't lie, you feel the sexiest in it. The corset bodice, along with the bodycon fit, provides enough support and shape to hug you in all the right places. Jiwoo squeals when she sees you in the dress, completely agreeing with your decision [she would've any other way]. She jokes that her brother better keep his hands to himself with how good you look and all you can do is shyly shake your head with a tiny giggle before heading back into the room to slip it off.

"Did you find your dresses?" Hongjoong comes, eyeing the dress Jiwoo has in her hands.

"Mhm! Is my pain in the ass brother still here?" Hongjoong shakes his head.

"Him and San just left."

"Good. The dress Y/N has is to be kept a secret until the party. She's gonna look so good, I might have to tell Wooyoung to keep his hands to himself." You come out of the dressing room with the dress tucked closely to your chest, hanging the rest on the go-back rack.

"Hongjoong, please tell her she doesn't have to do all of that." You look at him and he chuckles. "Remember? You're the one who put your brother up to all of this just so I could go to the party. I'm quite positive it's just a favor and nothing else." You all walk towards the register to pay for your items. 

"Still, okay? You're gonna look amazing. I gotta give him a little warning and make sure he doesn't get super handsy with you." She shivers, making you playfully roll your eyes in response.

"Jiwoo, are you gonna help me with hair and makeup? Cause I literally won't know what to do that'll go well with this dress."

"Of course, bae! We'll make it pop, but keep it simple. Trust me on this." She squeezes your wrist just before handing her card over to the cashier. Once her and Hongjoong finish paying, you follow them down to the food court, ordering some friend chicken to munch on before sharing a huge bowl of bingsu with the two. You catch San and Wooyoung passing through the food court, now accompanied by two other girls. They don't look familiar, at least you don't think. In any case, it doesn't make you feel any better knowing Wooyoung simply agreed to go to the party with you as a favor to his sister.

The harsh reality settles that this meant nothing more, nothing less.

You were just a favor.

The day of the party comes quicker than expected. Work had been so busy that the days had flown by, bringing you to your present:

Which is, Jiwoo helping you pop in some hazel colored contacts before doing your makeup and hair.

"Keep your eye open!"

"Ugh, I hate contacts. Jiwoo, you know I hate the feeling!" 

"I know, but I promise it'll be over quick! Just keep it open and don't blink. The more you resist, the longer it'll bother you!" You groan again, gaining the last bit of courage to keep your eye open for Jiwoo as she aligns the contact and gently places it in. "Close and blink for me?" She watches and claps. "Perfect, now do the same for the other eye."

"Jiwoo." You whine.

"I know you can't do it yourself!"

"I can go without them!"

"But, the colored contacts give you a pop and it's cute!"

"I'm literally crying." You point at the tear strolling down your cheek.

"Beauty is pain, my dear! Just for one night! Now, keep still—" She pauses, the both of you holding your breaths while she pops in the last contact into your left eye. You flinch the moment it settles, dabbing at the tears that stream down your cheeks.

"Never again. Wooyoung is literally not gonna care."

"Who said this is about Wooyoung? It's your first summer party, forget my brother. You're gonna be the hottest thing to walk that winery." You shake your head, letting Jiwoo dab some powder onto your cheeks. "You look good, girly! Look at you!" She shoves the mirror in your face. Jiwoo did some loose curls on your hair, and a very natural look for your makeup. Fake lashes, a shade of blush that pops on your cheeks, clear gloss, natural eyeshadow— just enough razzle dazzle, but nothing too extra, as Jiwoo says.

You don't really recognize yourself, though. But, in a good way. You like the change. You normally don't wear makeup, you don't do your hair. You like to think you're simple, maybe too simple, but you don't mind it one bit. That was you, and you've come to embrace it. The change, though? It was nice to see on you once in awhile.

"Thank you." You smile at her and she squeals before checking her phone.

"Okay, my brother should be here in a bit. We're gonna take off and meet you there?"

"Why are you going so early?! You're not gonna leave at the same time as me and Wooyoung?!"

"Nope. We gotta get parking and get first dibs on the wine." She snorts before flashing her phone, screen signaling a call from Hongjoong. "You'll be fine, okay? Granted, as long as Wooyoung doesn't fucking text and drive again but I'm sure he won't with you in the car." 

"Jiwoo!"

"I'll see you in a bit! I love you, mwah!" She says, grabbing her things and rushing out of your studio; heels click-clacking away on the pavement before she squeals even louder seeing her boyfriend. You shake your head, dabbing a bit more highlighter across your collarbone just like Jiwoo taught you.

Within the next 25 minutes or so, you munch on some apple slices you already had in the fridge, somewhat satisfying both your hunger and sweet tooth. Just as you're re-applying lip gloss, Wooyoung's call comes through on your phone, startling you and causing you to drop the wand onto the floor.

"Oh shoot." You grab the wand and blow it off, submerging it back into the tube. "Hello?"

"Yo— everything okay?" He laughs a bit hearing the rustling in the back. "I'm downstairs."

"Sorry, just dropped my lip gloss." You whine a bit away from the phone. "I'll be down in a second."

"Ah, hate when that happens. See you in a bit!" You hang up the call and spray on another spritz of perfume before grabbing your purse, shutting off your lights and closing up your studio. You slowly climb down the steps, Wooyoung probably questioning why you're taking each step 2 miles per hour and sideways. 

You make it down in one piece. Slowly, carefully.

You shyly slip into the passenger's seat, and you almost pause mid-way when you glance at Wooyoung in the driver's seat. As promised, he's in a simple black-on-black fit— a crisp black button up with the sleeves rolled up ever so slightly, black dress pants and black boots. His hair is tucked back in a ponytail with a few strands framing his face. The car smells like his cologne, and he's chewing away at some gum while waiting. You've seen Wooyoung formally dressed before for special occasions, but there hasn't been one time you found yourself ogling at him the way you are right now.

You've never seen him like this, or maybe you just never paid attention? You didn't really have a reason to until tonight. Well, you didn't really have a reason because he was your bestfriend's brother.

"Hi." He says, setting his phone down in the middle console. Thank god he didn't catch you staring at him the way you were. But now, he's doing the same and you're not sure why he's staring. Do you look weird? Is something on your face?

"Hi." He softly smiles, eyes still exploring your body from head to toe and you feel the heat rising to your cheeks.  "What? Is it cause my eyes are kinda red?" You pout, immediately looking through the passenger mirror. "I swear I'm not like, high or anything. Jiwoo helped me put the contacts in earlier—"

"She, what?" He chuckles before shaking his head. "No, nothing. I just— you look beautiful, Y/N. Was taking it in, that's all." 

"O-oh." You tuck a strand behind your ear before settling back into your seat. "Thank you, Wooyoung."

"Of course. You ready?" He glances at your seatbelt and you give him a nod to drive off. "Alright, lehgo." He says, shifting the gear and turning up his music a bit. The familiar voices of Blaque comes through on the speakers, Wooyoung softly singing along to JC Chasez's part in Bring It All To Me. You knew Wooyoung could sing, but it still blows your mind every time you hear his voice. He has one hand gripping tightly onto the wheel, the other resting on the gear. "Do you know if my sister and Hongjoong left already?"

"Yeah, they did about 30 minutes ago."

"She's deadass gonna be the first person there." 

"She said she wanted dibs on parking and the wine."

"Gonna be the first person there and drunk. Free entertainment." You chuckle. "Your dress." He points at your dress before shifting his attention back to the road. "It's pretty. It looks good on you." You smile.

"I picked it."

"I figured. You've always had better taste than Jiwoo."

"Stop." You chuckle. "She did my hair and makeup."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." He nods in approval, bottom lip poking out. He really does think you look incredibly pretty— he's always thought you were cute, beautiful. But tonight, he can't take his eyes off of you and that'll be bad news for him as the evening continues. First and foremost though, his goal is to keep you comfortable and happy tonight. His goal is to make sure you have fun, and that's what he'll do with your pretty little self.

"Okay, I'll give her that. But, that stays between us." You snort. 

"Sure, Woo." He chuckles.

"Warm enough? Music too loud?"

"No, it's all fine. I'm good. Promise."

"Okay, cause we still have about another 30 minutes to go before we get to the winery."

"I'm fine." You reassure him with the prettiest smile before returning your attention outside the window.

"So, does Yeosang know you're going?"

"No."

"Mm, okay. Definitely not prepared for him to beat my ass tonight. I did wear my good socks though, so.. he can try it if he wants." He shrugs.

"He's not like that." You respond softly with a giggle. "Besides, it's my fault. I withheld it from him intentionally."

"Well, what's the deal? If you don't mind me asking." You sigh. "My sister said it'd be weird for you two to go to the party together so I'm suspecting it's a one-sided thing."

"I just.. don't see him that way."

"Why don't you just tell him?"

"I don't know. I'm not really good at these things. I don't know how to say it and I don't wanna hurt his feelings."

"You'll hurt him more by letting it slide like this, you know?" Wooyoung shrugs. "It's okay if you don't feel the same. No one can ever force you to feel a certain way and he'll understand that. But, it'll make it easier on everyone if you're just honest from the get."

"Mmyeah."

"I promise. It'll be tough to get it out, but he'll appreciate it."

"I know, I know."

"In the meantime, are we avoiding him tonight? Lemme know the plan." You shrug.

"If he comes up to me, I'll just explain. Then.. go from there. Wherever that is." You pout a bit.

"Hm." Wooyoung hums when he sees the worried look on your face. "Don't worry about it too much, okay? We'll have fun tonight."

"I feel bad that you're here."

"Ouch, why? Don't want me here?"

"It's not that. You were basically forced to be here so Jiwoo wouldn't get on you for her car."

"Eh, well. Her car is fixed. She can't always force me into things. Besides, it's free entrance to a winery with unlimited wine. Why would I say no to that?" You chuckle.

"You say that now."

"We'll enjoy it together, yeah?" He looks at you and you meet his eyes, nodding quietly in agreement. You hope you'll be able to enjoy with Wooyoung, but as of right now, you're a bit anxious and scared for what the night will bring.

When Wooyoung pulls up into the main lot of the winery, the parking attendant signals for him to follow the rest of the cars into the extended lot. He jokes under his breath that maybe, he should've followed his sister's lead with this one and left earlier. But, it doesn't last long when he's able to snag a spot right by the back entrance near the winery's lawn area— aka, where the party would mostly take place.

"Alright. If we ever need to dine and dash, just say the word. We'll leave." He says, hopping out of the car while you laugh to yourself. He swings your door open and holds out his hand for you to take, shutting it close after he's gotten you out of the car. He looks at you up and down once again, causing the heat to rise to your cheeks— this time, at a new intensity. "Yeeeesh, I gotta say, you look fine, 'lil mama." He smirks. Cause yes, that dress falls along your curves, your body, so beautifully. That dress pushes up your tits so nicely. 

And that dress hugs the curves of your ass so, so perfectly.

"Wooyoung." You whine a bit before playfully [and very softly] punching his bicep.

"Ah—" He laughs, holding out his arm for you to take. "I'm just being honest as your date." 

"You're making me shy."

"Am I?" He looks down at you with another shit-eating smirk. "What else can I do in the next few hours?" You squeeze his bicep as you enter through the back door, greeting familiar faces. To your surprise [or not], Wooyoung immediately introduces himself as your date and Jiwoo's brother, causing your colleagues and everyone around you to hype you both up as a good-looking couple. You don't even know how to respond besides a 'thank you,' letting Wooyoung take on most of the work with his 'yeah, i know we do's' or 'i know, she's just a little shy about it though's.'

"Shoulda left 30 minutes earlier." Jiwoo says, pulling you into a hug before Hongjoong follows suit. "The baddie herself has finally arrived!"

"Shoulda left on time 30 minutes later." Wooyoung retorts, still properly hugging his sister and greeting Hongjoong. 

"Time to catch up!" Jiwoo raises her glass and taps it. "The wine is pretty good, can't complain."

"Coming from the person who likes Svedka Vodka." 

"Hey! It's cheap and does the job quick!"

"That's why my bar closed a long time ago for you." Wooyoung winces before turning to you. "Wanna go find the right wine for you to sip on?"

"Charcuterie board was just replenished, too!" Jiwoo yells, just as she watches her brother hold your hand and lead you into the winery. "It's so weird to see him doing all that with her."

"Well, he is her date." Hongjoong says with a laugh, sipping on his wine while he holds her by the waist. "He's taking good care of her. Let 'em enjoy it tonight, hm? Just like we will." He hums as she giggles, placing a kiss on her temple before whisking her away to the other finger foods that were just set out. 

As you approach the table with endless different wine bottles set on the surface, you keep yourself close to Wooyoung especially with how packed the room has gotten. Wooyoung sets himself in between a red wine, a white wine and a bottle filled with some sort of pink-ish liquid, his hands grabbing two wine glasses and setting them down on the edge of the table.

"There's so much wine."

"Yup. It's nice that you don't have to pay for a dime. These things get costly."

"Which one is good?"

"Hm, let me check. I've heard of this winery but I've never tasted their wine before." He says as you continue to keep close behind him, looking over his shoulder. He picks up the bottle of red wine and takes it to his nose. "This smells hella bitter." Wooyoung says, smelling the red wine. "You probably won't like this one." He sets it back down and picks up the bottle of white wine. "Chardonnay might not be too bad." He pours a bit in his glass and hands it to you. "Taste it." You take the white wine into your mouth and make a face. "No?"

"Kinda bitter still."

"That's okay." He laughs and points to the pink bottle. "That might be good! Can never go wrong with Rosé. Wanna try it?"

"Can you taste it first?" Wooyoung nods, pouring himself some rosé— enough for a little sip. He nods in approval, shifting his attention back to you.

"It's good! You'll like it. I'll pour you a bit again and you can let me know if you want more or not." You nod. He hands you the glass, watching intently as you take a sip and nod in approval.

"Oh, this is good!"

"Yeah? Glad you like it." He pours some more in your glass, a little more heavy-handed than you like but you'll go along with it for tonight.

"What're you gonna drink?"

"I'm just gonna take some of this Cabernet and babysit it for the night." He reaches over to grab another bottle of red wine a couple of buckets away. He pours himself about half a glass before he's sipping it and humming in approval himself. "Yeah, that's pretty good." He sets his glass out, giving you the opportunity to taste his wine of choice. You take a little sip, shaking your head after giving him his glass back.

"Yeah, no." He laughs.

"It's okay. Red wine is tough to work with. At least we found you some good rosé, though. You gotta take those drinks for the both of us."

"Just one glass will do."

"Mm, a couple sounds better, though." He teases, lacing his hand back with yours as you both walk towards Jiwoo and Hongjoong, sharing a table with your other coworker and.. Yeosang.

"Y/N?" Yeosang looks up at you in confusion, and it almost breaks your heart the way he looks at you. You catch his eyes dart from you to your hand that's currently intertwined with Wooyoung's. "Wooyoung."

"What's up." Is all Wooyoung says as he looks at him over the edge of his glass, taking another sip.

"It's nice to see you—" Yeosang pauses and looks at you; you can't help but give him a pursed smile in return. "Together?"

"Mmyeah—"

"I see you went with the rosé! Nice choice!" Jiwoo cuts in, giving you a look to go along with it. "It's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is. We tried the others, wasn't a fan of them."

"They can get kinda strong." She says, downing the rest of the Chardonnay in her glass. "Welp, it's a good thing we have refills right at the table! Seems like we're gonna need it." She pours herself more Chardonnay before pouring you a bit more rosé.

"Jiwoo! I haven't even finished the first glass yet!"

"It was getting warm, you needed the refill." She smirks. You squint your eyes at her before briefly scanning the table, Yeosang now occupied with your coworker. He doesn't seem to want to make eye contact with you any time soon, and that particular unsettling feeling hits you in the gut. You're scared you've already ruined your friendship for pulling this stunt, for not being honest in the first place. You're scared you might've lost your other bestfriend because you were too busy hiding.

"Good?" Wooyoung leans forward to look at you, his soft eyes trailing over your features. He can already sense the shift in your mood and he doesn't want you to start overthinking and getting in your head, especially tonight.

"I think so." 

"You sure? Got my good socks on." He points down to his boots. You smile at his reminder and it instantly eases him. 

"I'm sure." He nods, slipping his arm behind you to rest on the back of your chair. Luckily, the CEO kicks off the dinner portion of the evening. He starts off his speech that lasts about a good minute, thanking everyone for their hardwork and dedication this point in the year. Once finished, he calls on a table to begin lining up for dinner. You, Wooyoung, Jiwoo, Hongjoong, Yeosang and your other coworker patiently fall in line for the buffet-style catering. Wooyoung makes sure to slip in behind you, creating a barrier between you and Yeosang even if there's no obvious hostility. It does help knowing he's creating some distance and you appreciate him for it. You fill your plate with a good scoop of food before settling back down in your seat.

The table enjoys dinner; thankfully, everyone is in good spirits and is cracking jokes despite the awkward moment that fell between you and Yeosang earlier. Even if he was upset, he'd never show you [or anyone] how he was truly feeling, and that could very well become an issue, too.

When it's time for the dance portion, Jiwoo fills your glass along with hers. Even though you had eaten a good amount of food, the alcohol was quick to seep back into your system and loosen you up. But, even with the liquid courage, you couldn't help but still feel shy around her brother.

He just looked so good tonight, you were afraid of looking like a damn fool in front of him. 

In your favor, all Wooyoung cares about is making sure you have a good time. He can see how much you're trying to hold back, even when Jiwoo drunkly throws her arm around you and starts vibing to the music. At some point, the crowd splits you and Wooyoung from Hongjoong and Jiwoo, leaving you to your date to enjoy you all to himself. The DJ starts spinning familiar songs from the 90s, bringing a huge smile on Wooyoung's face.

"Come here." He says, pulling you closer to him as you dance around with him. "It's just me. Don't worry about anything or anyone else." He gives you a reassuring look, his hands loosely laced with yours. You start to feel more comfortable with his reassurance, singing and dancing along with Wooyoung. You find yourself laughing and playfully teasing Wooyoung when he shows off his dance moves and pulls you along into his shenanigans. Your worries seem to be a distant thought at this point, no longer being concerned about every little thing, every little detail.

You're having tons of fun with Wooyoung. You're no longer trying to control what can't be controlled, letting the night take care of the rest on its own.

In between, Jiwoo ends up finding you in the crowd, shoving more rosé your way to get you at a good drunk. And sure as hell, the trick works. Wooyoung finds himself smiling in pure adoration over you, letting you lazily wrap your arms around his neck while singing along to the songs and keeping you close—

Until there's a shift in the air and you feel the liquid courage finally kicking in the way it should.

Wooyoung takes your hand and turns you around, a hand resting on your hip as you dance against him. You don't even care that you've backed yourself up against him and are dancing on him the way you are, thoroughly enjoying how he grips your hips and pulls you flush against him.

It's a little much for someone like you, but you find that it gets you going. Almost has your brain going on overdrive, fixating on the fact that Wooyoung has you like this— wants you like this.

You continue to dance against him, loving the way he holds you and keeps up with your rhythm perfectly. It goes on for a few more songs, Wooyoung shifting to the side to get a good look and hype you up. He's had his fair share of dancing with women at clubs, but he can say hands down, he has never had as much fun as he did tonight. You didn't dance like you were out to prove yourself or something to anyone, to forcefully catch his attention or be someone you're not for all the wrong reasons— you just danced to have fun with him, trusted him to take care of you and help you loosen up. It was all genuine fun and good vibes; he's at the point of wishing the night would never end just so he could stay right here with you.

There is literally no care in the world; just you and Wooyoung, enjoying each other's company at this summer party you didn't even wanna go to. In the end, you're glad you ended up here with Wooyoung because it truly was one of the best nights you've had in such a long time.

"Woo." You turn, tired from all the dancing you've been doing with your handsome date. 

"Yeah, babygirl?"

"I gotta pee." He snorts.

"You should definitely break the seal if you wanna start sobering up."

"I should, huh?" He laughs and nods. 

"I'll wait out here for you, okay?"

"Mmkay." You part from him and it almost aches you to leave him for a second to relieve yourself. The need to pee becomes urgent, your feet rushing you along to the bathroom for a release. Good thing there isn't a line, and that the bathrooms are practically empty— you can sigh away in peace before washing your hands and freshening up a bit. You're excited to get back to Wooyoung, and it shows with the way you giddily pace out of the bathroom and down the hall—

Only to be stopped in the process by none other than your other bestfriend, Kang Yeosang.

You turn and find him there, a small smile plastered on his lips. Your heart immediately drops seeing him, and the guilt comes rushing back. You can't help but frown a bit, pursing your lips together before responding properly.

"Yeo, hi." You look at him with doe-eyes and he isn't sure if he should be more upset over the situation or sad. Maybe sad, because it's clear where you stand with him. And it sucks, but what is he to do? If you're happier elsewhere, who is he to prevent you from having that happiness?

"Hey you." He says softly. "I've barely seen you all night."

"Yeah, just been on the dance floor. My feet kinda hurt now that I think about it." He chuckles a bit.

"Sounds like you're having a good time."

"Um, yeah. Yeah." You repeat. "It's been good. Hope you're having a good night?"

"Can't complain, I guess?" There's a pause before you break the silence.

"Yeo, I'm sorry. It all happened last minute, I really wasn't trying to go but Jiwoo asked her brother and—"

"It's okay, seriously. It's fine. You don't have to explain." He says waving it off, probably trying to make it seem like it's not a big deal when yeah, maybe it isn't. But, you know he's still hurt. You know he still feels a hint of betrayal by the way this all went down— for saying no, for turning down the party, for not telling him you were all of a sudden gonna be here with Jiwoo's brother. For brushing his feelings under the rug.

"Is it?" You ask, still pretty drunk. If this were any other circumstance, you'd probably run away and hide. 

"Uh, yeah, it will be." Yeosang shrugs, unsure of what to say because he is sad about it, now that he truly thinks about it and lets the situation settle in his head.

"I'm sorry." Is all you say as a small frown builds on your lips. Just as you're about to turn to get back to Wooyoung, Yeosang catches your wrist and gently tugs you back. You look up at him, eyes full of curiosity as to why he's holding you back. You're scared for what's to come next, but you give him the opportunity to tell you whatever it is anyway.

"Maybe we can talk about this over dinner? Just me and you?" And as much as you should stand your ground and say no, you can't help but feel like you owe it to him. Maybe this would be it— the doorway to being honest, to telling him the truth. Maybe you two could have a good, friendly dinner and get past this without ruining what's already there; as friends. 

As for Wooyoung, he sees the whole thing with Yeosang. He can't help but watch, either. His eyes were scanning the crowd tough, a little too eager to have you back in his arms on the dance floor. When he finally caught your figure, your dress, standing in the main hall talking to Yeosang, he felt his heart drop. He's not sure what's going on, can't really make sense of what's being exchanged between the two of you. Yeosang still hasn't let go of your wrist, but Wooyoung catches you nodding before he does. Whatever it was, he's hoping you aren't hurt or anything along those lines.

"Hi." You smile toothlessly at him and he has the sudden urge to cup your cheeks, to pull you into his arms and hold onto you. At least you're smiling at him, that's all he could ask for.

"Hey." He smiles back. "I almost thought the toilet swallowed you." You laugh and shake your head.

"What if it did?"

"Then I'd have to go in there and save you, right? Who would I be if I didn't?" He holds out his hand as the next song plays, a little bit of that Jon B. with his They Don't Know. "Mm, I really like this song. Can we head back to the dance floor? I mean, if you don't wanna it's fine but please don't make me slow dance by myself." You giggle, taking his hand and letting him lead you back to the dance floor. He gently wraps his arms around you while you wrap your arms around his neck, his hands firmly keeping you pressed close to him. 

"Wooyoung."

"Mhm?" He maintains eye contact with you as you sway to the song, following along to the beat. 

"Thank you. For tonight. I've had a lot of fun."

"I'm glad. That's all I wanted." He smirks. "Assuming I'll get a free ride to next year's party, too?" You laugh.

"We'll see."

"No seriously though, I'm glad you had fun."

"I did. I really did." You tilt your head ever so slightly and the lighting from the string lights, the moon, hits you perfectly in this angle that Wooyoung feels his heart skip. The highlighter on your collarbone provides an extra layer of glow to everything about you and he honestly doesn't know how to act right now. You feel his hand gently rub at your lower back, his eyes moving from your nose, down to your lips. You catch his Adam's apple bob in an attempt to swallow this sudden nervousness down.

And you could be wrong, you don't really know what's going on in his head and vice versa. But, the moment his face starts edging towards yours, you can't help but follow his motions. In a sudden turn of events, you find yourself wanting, even needing to kiss him; you really hope to—

"If I didn't know any better, it actually looks like you two like each other a lot annnnd iono about all that." Jiwoo says, carrying the rosé bottle in her hand while Hongjoong tries to tug her away. Wooyoung rolls his eyes and tries to move you two away in tiny steps, fighting the annoyance within him when his sister [of course] butted in at a very pivotal moment. Cause yeah, he would've kissed you, and he would've genuinely enjoyed it. He wanted this, too. "Babe, I got the bottle. Open up—"

"Baby." Hongjoong says. "Stop, put it down. Let's go! Leave them alone!"

"Jiwoo, the hell. Are you trying to poison her?! She's good." Wooyoung says lowly with his brows furrowed, subtly brushing his sister off.

"Ew, fun police!" She looks at both Wooyoung and Hongjoong.

"Can you like, get yourself together? What's fun about drowning my date in rosé?"

"All of a sudden he cares." She snorts.

"Baby—sorry, sorry." Hongjoong has a sympathetic expression on his face while looking at you two. "I got this." Hongjoong whisks her away and grabs the bottle, successfully placing it down on another table before bringing her to get water.

"Jiwoo." You laugh, resting your head against Wooyoung's cheek, his grip on you only tightening as you softly sway back and forth to the music.

"Literally couldn't have been the worst time." 

"It's okay. Hongjoong's got her now."

"Sorry." He says, placing a gentle, feathery kiss to your cheek. "Just know that was not how I wanted that to play out." He rubs at your sides as you giggle, continuing to slow dance with Wooyoung under the starlit sky.

When the event officially concludes, the CEO and leadership team come back to the stage to thank everyone for the successful event, wishing everyone safe travels back home. Jiwoo runs to you and hugs you, asking if you had fun tonight. You tell her that you did and that you owe it to her and her brother for all of it. She laughs, happy everything turned out well and that her brother took good care of you.

"Take care of her." Jiwoo glares at Wooyoung while Hongjoong chuckles to the side and shakes his head.

"Okay, go."

"I mean it."

"I do, too!"

"Babe, text me when this big head brings you home. I might not answer though cause I'll be at Joong's but still—" You nod, completely ignoring what she's insinuating.

"Ew, no one fucking asked Jiwoo. Just go." Wooyoung mumbles under his breath, giving her a look. Your eyes widen when you feel Wooyoung slip his hand into yours and grip it tightly, leading you through the crowd of people building around the back of the winery saying their goodbye's. You both head into the car with ease, giving Wooyoung the opportunity to catch a minute before driving off.

"Hm, how do you feel right now?" Wooyoung spreads in his seat, scrolling through his phone.

"I'm fine."

"Not too tired?"

"Not really."

"Still kinda tipsy?"

"Still kinda tipsy." You reaffirm and he chuckles.

"Wanna get some food and hang out somewhere? No pressure. Can take you home if that's what you prefer."

"Um, yeah sure! Let's go."

"Yeah?" He smiles and buckles up, shifting the gear to drive. "Sick. I know just the place to get you some good snacks."

Said place ends up being a convenience store nearby that has the best egg sandwiches, spicy tuna onigiri, and Wooyoung's favorite grab n' go corndogs.

You enjoy the experience nonetheless. Wooyoung parks his car right at the front of the store, helping you hop out of the car before slipping his hand in yours. It almost feels way too natural for two people who were merely attending a party together as acquaintances, [per Choi San] but Wooyoung likes the way your hand feels in his. The way it fits perfectly, and how you seem to put all your trust in him this way. He shuffles towards the back and tosses a few things into the basket you're holding with your other arm, giggling when he debates between a regular corndog or a flaming hot cheeto corndog.

"I don't want my ass to be on fire though, so." He says out loud in the very empty convenience store.

"Wooyoung!" You whisper, more embarrassed on his behalf than himself. 

"I'm just saying Y/N, sometimes that shit is outta my control. I don't want it to be one of those nights." You laugh as he looks into the basket. "Is that all you want? A corndog?"

"Mhm. I'm still pretty full."

"Okay then." He takes the items to the register and quickly pays for it, giving you zero chance to slide in some cash. He smirks when he grabs the bag and heads back to the car, letting you know that he'd never let you pay anyway.

The drive to Wooyoung's endpoint is about 20 minutes away from the store, and up a dark hill. If it had been any other situation, it would've looked incredibly scary and suspicious. But since it's Wooyoung, you trust him wholeheartedly to bring you somewhere you'd enjoy.

"It gets better, okay. I know what you're thinking."

"What am I thinking?" You squeak.

"You're probably wondering why my punkass is taking you up a dark hill. I promise the view up there is worth it. You trust me, yeah?"

"I do. Don't disappoint me, Jung Wooyoung."

"Nah, never that." He takes you further up the curvy road, finally pulling into a small lot off to the side. There aren't any other cars parked besides Wooyoung's, so it makes it easy for him to back into the spot. He leaves enough space to pop open the trunk freely, allowing you two to sit and enjoy the sideview of the city. "Careful." He says, bringing you to the trunk and making sure you're seated comfortably before grabbing the snacks. He plops into the space next to you and hands you your corndog, the both of you indulging in your snacks in pure silence.

"There's a path down there. You get a better view of the city." He covers his mouth while chewing on his corndog.

"Hm." You hum, looking up at the sky. "The stars are so bright tonight."

"I know, I don't remember the last time I've seen so many stars." Wooyoung points to the right. "Look! There's the big dipper." You chomp on your corndog as you look up to where he's pointing at.

"No, it's not?"

"Y/N. Please. That's the big dipper."

"I'm looking! I don't see it." He scoots closer and points again. At this point, Wooyoung is only inches away from your face. If you were to turn at the wrong time, you'd land a kiss on his lips unintentionally. 

"There!" He says. Lo and behold, Wooyoung's right. You finally see the shape of the big dipper up ahead, even if you're slightly distracted with Wooyoung's face being in such close proximity again. 

"Okay, you're right. I see it, I'll give that to you." You respond with a tiny smile.

"Haven't seen one in a long time." He smiles proudly before digging into his other snacks and powering through them. Wooyoung doesn't even move away from you after showing you the big dipper, but you aren't complaining. You've come to learn that you enjoy having him near, close. "You're done eating?" You nod, tossing your trash into the bag.

"Mhm." You hum contently. "Wooyoung." He looks at you with a brow cocked up, shoving the last bit of the onigiri in his mouth. He shouldn't like the way you say his name so softly, so delicately, but he does. Especially after tonight, he really, really does.

"Yeah?"

"I wanna walk down the path and look at the view." You stand and start walking towards the path, where it'll take you to a beautiful view of the city.

"Wait, hold up!" He says, grabbing his jacket and locking up his car. "Why does she walk so fast? Miss Quicksilver." He mumbles to himself. When he catches up to you, you feel him drape his jacket over your shoulders before coming to your side. "It's getting kinda chilly out." You look up at him with a small smile on your face, hugging the jacket closely around your frame.

"Thank you."

"Course." He holds out his hand. "It's dark, let me lead the way? You've got your pretty heels on and everything. You sure you wanna do this?"

"Yeah, please?" Wooyoung almost buckles at the knees when he hears you plead the way you do, instantly locking hands while he walks in front to lead the way. You stay close to him, especially when the path has lower visibility than you expected. He tightens the grip on your hand, carefully navigating around the bushes along the way. When he finally reaches the end and brings you to the view, you take a few steps forward toward the edge of the overlook. There's a small board off to the side that outlines the history of the city ahead and when the overlook was created. You let go of Wooyoung's hand completely to rest on the edge, taking in the city lights. The crisp night air. The sound of the stream nearby. You rest your elbows on the stone, chin resting on the palms of your hands. Wooyoung smiles to himself as he admires you from behind, coming right by your side to enjoy the view. "It's so pretty."

"Yeah, it is."

"The crickets are loud. Kinda soothing to listen to, though."

"Louder than Jiwoo, that's for sure." You laugh, continuing to look at the view. 

"How'd you know about this spot, Woo? Do you take girls here on dates?"

"God, no. I just come here to chill when I need to get my mind together. I don't really share this spot with anyone." He rests his chin on your head and you don't budge, appreciating the extra body heat from behind.

"You shared it with me."

"That's cause I genuinely wanted to take you here. I know you'd appreciate it."

"Can I start coming here, too?" You look up at him with a smile.

"Only if you let me tag along." Wooyoung teases. "I am heavily equipped with the exact location details and everything."

"Mmkay, fair enough." You let out a content sigh. "I wonder what everyone's doing in the city. What their stories are like and what's happening in their lives right now. Do you ever think about stuff like that?"

"I do."

"It's crazy to think about, isn't it? Being in one place at the same time with all these people, filled with millions of different stories."

"It is." You look at the view with a small pout and Wooyoung feels his knees getting weaker over that damn pout. "Anyway." You turn to look at Wooyoung, who is very much still staring down at you in adoration. "What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?" 

"What, can I not? You're just really cute, shit, sue me." You roll your eyes playfully before a yawn comes out, and Wooyoung frowns a bit.

"Yikes." You say just as you shake off the yawn.

"Tired?"

"Mm, it's hitting me now."

"The post-drunk crash." He sighs, cupping your cheeks and looking into your eyes. "Come on, let's get you home." 

"What if—" You cover another yawn again. "I don't wanna?" He drops his hands back down before grabbing your hand, slowly trailing back to the car.

"Then babygirl, I dunno. I definitely do not recommend sleeping out here, though." He jokes. He could technically take you back home and do all the things he would normally do if this were any other circumstance, any other person. He could have you right where he wants you and have you stay the night.

But, he won't. 

He won't do that to you because that's not what you are to him. You aren't just a body, and you aren't a temporary thing. On top of that, he probably should sort through his feelings, his emotions because he's not sure what the fuck he's been feeling all night; he just knows it's kinda different and kinda alarming for someone like him. 

Feels serious, too vulnerable.

"Yeah, I agree." You say sleepily, clinging onto Wooyoung's arm as you walk back to the car.

The ride home is quiet, and exhaustion almost completely consumes your body that you barely realize Wooyoung's thumb gently caressing the surface of your hand. You shouldn't get used to the feeling so much, knowing this is might all be for show especially over a summer party. It hurts to think about, but it's not like Wooyoung willingly wanted to be here. Maybe a small part of him did, but at the end of the day, this was purely a favor for his sister. You didn't think he'd catch feelings over one night, no. It wasn't in his nature to. You didn't expect that whatsoever, either. But, you also couldn't help but feel things after the way he treated you tonight. After the way he took care of you so, so well. 

Was it wrong to feel infatuated? Was it wrong to feel happy, giddy, after the time you shared? Being in close proximity all evening, sharing little subtle affectionate moments together?

The voice in your head tells you yes, and that you should know better than to think it'd last past this night. 

You are you, and Wooyoung is Wooyoung. 

"Y/N?" Wooyoung softly taps your thigh. You turn to face him, recognizing the awfully familiar neighborhood behind him. You had been deep in your thoughts, along with the mix of exhaustion, that you didn't know you've already made it home. "Thought you fell asleep. We're here."

"Already?" You give him a tiny, soft smile that he reciprocates before running to your side and helping you out of the car.

"You don't have to walk me."

"Y/N, please. Don't start spitting out nonsense." He says, unbuckling his seatbelt and running over to your door. He tucks a hand into his pocket while waiting for you to step out, shutting it gently behind you. He walks you up the steps to your studio, silently trailing behind even as you fiddle with your keys to open your door. Once you get it open, you turn to him with that angelic smile he's mesmerized by, causing him to smile in return.

"Hope you had a good time tonight."

"I did. I really, really did. Thank you for.. you know? Accompanying me and what not. Everything, really."

"It was fun." He pulls you into a hug, squeezing you gently. When he pulls away, he keeps an arm wrapped around your neck, planting a kiss on your temple. It lights a fire within you, the heat rising to your cheeks when he pulls back and looks down at you. "Get some sleep, okay?"

"You too. Drive safely." You feel the need to reciprocate the kiss somehow, and it doesn't help that Wooyoung lingers around for a second— mainly to make sure you make it inside your studio. With all your thoughts, you still find yourself reasoning with the giddiness you're feeling. You find the courage to tippy-toe and place a chaste kiss on his cheek, rushing into your studio with a soft: "Goodnight!" before shutting the door. Wooyoung silently laughs to himself as he digs his hands into his pocket, nibbling on his bottom lip to prevent himself from smiling too big at the action.

But, his heart is damn near beating out of his chest, another thing that feels pretty unfamiliar but familiar at the same time. The only thing he knows for certain is that it probably can't be good for him—

To feel this way. Forcing himself to walk away from your studio after spending a good evening together. To want to call you even though he's just in his car downstairs. To keep you company until the next morning.

After all, you were starting to feel more than just a favor to him.

Those feelings can't be good for him.

—TAGLIST: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @heyitsmetonid @ldysmfrst @intaksfav

[lucky-clover-gazette]

white out is probably one of the more notable episodes of she ra bc it's just catra at her absolute worst behavior, like objectively the portal had far greater consequences but i think the cold got to her in this one bc she's such a fucking menace. "looks like you're mine now adora" "always so perfect, look at you now. you're coming back to the horde under my command" "i wonder which of your friends i'll have you annihilate first" "I'VE GOT CONTROL OVER ADORA. I'M NOT GIVING THAT UP." like when corrupted she ra throws catra at the ground like a ragdoll she deserves it, 100%, no questions asked. there isn't even a time/space anomaly making catra act up, they just put her in outpost 31 from the thing with her ex and suddenly she's the homoerotic joker.

even scorpia's briefly like "ahahah maybe i don't want to have a crush on catra after all" bc she's acting like such a freak. but also scorpia spends the entire episode trying to ask catra out, and tells adora, "you two, even when you're trying to kill each other, you can tell there's a real bond" and she is JEALOUS of that?? actually you know what this is also a catradora at their worst behavior episode too, like the way they immediately start trash talking and then ditch everyone to scrap the second they see each other is beyond unprofessional. catra's favorite number is canonically 42069 (confirmed by nate stevenson) and adora knows this by heart. if those two idiots were in the same room for five minutes while adora's on loopy mode the show would actually just end, and this episode fucking KNOWS it and refuses to give us the satisfaction. bro. scorpia telling loopy adora that catra is misunderstood and shouldn't SHE know that better than anyone else is just like. wow. ouch. rude. scorpia is actually the mvp of this episode she straight up judges adora to her FACE for abandoning catra and swears not to do the same, even though honestly she probably should, because catra fucking SUCKS in this one. scorpia reveals that "catra once used my rock-hard exoskeleton as a nail file" why?? why would you let this happen?? stop simping she's not worth it!! but scorpia is still the mvp bc at the end of the episode she just straight-up realizes that catra is out of her goddamn mind and breaks the 'controlling she ra' disk for catra's own good bc clearly something about low temps and her ex makes catra go 25% more feral than usual and it's pretty cringe. it's like when i dispose of the dead fly my cat has been antagonizing for the past twenty minutes like babygirl i don't like the person you become when you're in these conditions!! and of course OF COURSE we get literally two seconds of sober wordless communication between catra and adora that's just like ohhhh adora's gonna remember this one, you're going to be doing the dishes for the first fifteen years of your relationship once this galactic war shit wraps up and you save the universe by kissing with tongue. oh my god, what the fuck is with this show. how does this show exist. how does this episode exist. how does catra exist. they put this gay catgirl in an environment under 32 degrees farenheit for one episode and it's enough to make her say some of the most toxic, deranged dialogue in the entire series. i think soup would fix her, and also a cocktail of psychiatric medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. she sneezes like a kitten and needs a weighted blanket in the evil uber away from cringefail summit as she's mentally drafting the 'i fucked up' email to her boss. she thanks scorpia and shares the blanket with her bc she's so exhausted by her own bullshit. she ra and the princesses of power season 2 episode 5 white out is for the cold gay heartbroken bitches and it might just be one of the series' best. looks like you're mine now adora, good fucking night.

[watchingblsnowandforever]

We Are Ep.14: Part 1/3

Hello!!! =D

Welcome back to my crack posts!

Part 2, Part 3

Ep 14 ruined me, just so y'all know. I'm honestly scared for what the next episode will do to me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Warning: long, long post 😊😅 (also divided into three parts this time because I wanted to screenshot the whole damn thing, but this is next best)

I did not expect Q to be the one to stand up for Phum, but I wasn't really surprised after the last ep. Previously, he'd be the first one to go up in arms, but he's starting to understand maybe everything isn't that straightforward, and despite his friends meddling in his own relationship, he wants to leave Peem alone.

Conclusion: he's a very good friend.

Of course. I should've known something like this would come up 😭

Of course they've taken baths together.

I love this friendship so much.

You again. 😶 I swear to the gods, this guy will give me high blood pressure or something. Please please just leave Peem, alone. Learn to take a 'no' and mantain social distancing.

Peem... you're too kind for your own good. (I get it though)

You have no right to say that, especially without knowing the full story. But I'm feeling kind, so you're still a (mostly) decent human to me. Try not to ruin that impression. And never, ever again say anything to my babie Phum. Ever.

Oh my gods my heart broke for Tan �� Here he was, probably never having dated after he fell for Fang, so knowing that Fang had dated even after whatever they went through must be so painful to him.

FANG KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT.

Just like we see Tan waving away Fang's insecurities every time, Fang does the very same for Tan.

I love them. <33

🥺🫶🏼

They're both so whipped-

Fai: I didn't see anything 👀😗 (we all know she's fangirling so hard inside)

Fai is me, I am Fai.

No but, Phum, are you sure Peem staring at you for a long time won't make your heart race?

Whipped. They're both so goddamn whipped. *sighs fondly*

The horns I'm dying 😭😂

Phum wasn't even surprised 😭👍🏼

Okay, not the best impromptu band performance/concert I've seen, but this is Thai BL, and they need some music and at least like 10 scenes with some band to pass whatever standard of approval, so I'll let it slide. Also, I'm terribly fond of these idiots. <3

HANDS.

They're besties for a reason hehe

You're asking the question, but are you ready for the answer?

I have already gone crazy over this too many times, I really don't have the energy anymore.

Peem is definitely winning Best Non-Confession Confession of the Year Award.

Are we still talking about the painting, or...?

Honestly though, when he was saying this I got actual flashbacks of Phum kicking the ball into his painting and how their relationship developed from there till where they are right now.

HE-

He named it "Happy" because it's all the things that make him happy. 😶

I had to pause here to take a deep breath so I didn't break out in tears two eps in a row.

WHAT IS THIS SERIES DOING TO ME.

Also, taken together, they are a story in 3 pics.

I'm just gonna go sob in the corner.

When faced with that smile and that "na, Peem, na" how could he ever deny Phum anything 😭

Textbook definition of a blushing boy who just became boyfriends with his crush the boy he loves. <3

No, he thinks he's a babygirl and rightfully so.

THIS HUG. That's it. That's all I have to say. I have no words for how this made me feel, and will make me feel for the rest of the forseeable future.

I end Part 1 here. Part 2 and 3 will be out tomorrow (because they are quite a bit long and I have Thoughts about them that I need to write in detail)!

If you've gotten this far, thank you so much for reading!! 😊

Here, have a taco 🌮

[fuck-john-calvin]

OKAY THEMES I'M CALLING NOW IN TMAGP

AHEM (definitely not reading these off a red string cork board):

-I mean the sea, drowning, water, etc. though that's kinda obvious

-even more obvious but tattoos. Ink5oul seems like the Jurgen leitner of the series too. They have a shtick they do but it dabbles in all of the horror themes instead of one specifically. Also it definitely seems tied to corpses? We have two separate instances of them messing around with dead bodies, and I'm gonna assume the second one was tattooed to. So maybe they're either very old and the people they gave tattoos to died and they want them back, or they're not the first of their kind and they're digging up early examples.

-haven't heard anyone else talk about this one (though I've been behind in the fandom) but DEFINITELY self-improvement. I don't know how exactly to explain why I feel so strongly about this but the paintbrush tattoo and the double Darrien statements are absolutely thematically connected, in a way that feels like it'll be recurring. The woman who used a knife to make herself 'better', to fix herself, and the man who's been working for ages to get rid of his issues and sees what the 'better' version of himself and his life looks like? both of them seeing the ideal themself but it's corrupted and scary? I'm not explaining it well but there's no way it's a coincidence.

-oh yeah and I am by no means the first person to jump on this but games of chance working for a bit and then fucking you over. it's cool and I really like it bc I have always had an obsession with fate, luck, and lady fortune as concepts, and just wanted to mention how it's just awesome and I love it :)

-and like. between redcanary and the voyeur movie there's no way there isn't some eye shit going on there. curiosity destroying you and being known and watched? I'm sure Jonny's gonna be like 'surprise!! it's actually this new other thing and we were just fucking with you!' but it still had to be mentioned

anyways please reblog with any other themes you've noticed that I haven't brought up, or even disagreements! I'll try to keep this chain active as the series go on with other things I notice

[hyunfilms]

blue side of the sky (lmh) | 12.5 [cloudy days] chan

♡ spotify playlist | series masterlist

—12.5 [CLOUDY DAYS] chan's thoughts

—WORD COUNT: 0.9k

—ON ROTATION: w.a.y.s - jhené aiko

Chan remembers the first time he met you. He was playing around with some beats on his mini turntable, while Seungmin was organizing his side of the room. There was a bathroom that connected their room to Minho and Jisung's room, and they always left those doors open when it wasn't in use— just to help both rooms get acquainted over time. He could hear your voice echoing through the bathroom, loud laughters erupting from you, Jisung and Minho. Chan doesn't like to be in people's business, so he continued to play around with his beats. It wasn't until you popped into the room a few minutes later, ripping Chan's attention away from his laptop.

And he remembers that twinkle in your eyes just like yesterday.

☁︎ FLASHBACK

"Y/N! Come back and stop bothering them!" Jisung harshly says from their room.

"Chill out, I'm just gonna say hi to your suitemates and come back." You bite back.

"Babe. They might be busy." Minho adds, making you sigh and roll your eyes as you continue your walk through the bathroom and into Chan and Seungmin's room. Chan's eyes immediately land on you, while Seungmin adjusts his shirt after reorganizing his shelves.

"Hi! I'm Y/N. Jisung's bestfriend, Minho's girlfriend." You smile brightly, eyes holding the galaxy as you look at them with warmth. "I thought I'd introduce myself. Hope I'm not a bother."

"No, not at all." You giggle and turn back to Jisung and Minho with a quick 'see.' "Chan." Chan reaches out to shake your hand.

"Seungmin!" Seungmin waves. "Heard lots about you already."

"Good things, I hope."

"Do you live on this floor, too?" Chan asks.

"No." You chuckle. "Two floors up." 

"Nice."

"Well, I'll probably be in their room a lot. Hope you don't mind me popping in from time to time." Chan laughs and shakes his head.

"No, not at all."

"I heard you working on some beats though, maybe you can show me some next time?"

"R-really?" Chan stutters a bit, surprised at your interest in what he does.

"Yeah, of course! I always thought it was pretty cool."

"I can show you a bit of what I'm working on now, if you aren't busy."

"Not at all! I'd love to hear it." You smile and lean onto Chan's bed, listening to him explain what his thought process has been.

☁︎ END

Ever since then, you've always graced him and Seungmin with your presence— bringing them food to eat, or simply greeting them with enthusiasm and positivity. It's one of the things he really liked about you. It was easy to click with you and get along with you. Whenever he was hanging out with you and Minho, he never felt like a third-wheel; which, surprisingly, is something that bothers Chan because he just wants to be able to hang out with his friends without feeling like he needs to excuse himself. You were always down to do anything and everything, always accompanying him on random fast food runs, grocery runs, always sending him good vibes before important milestones.

You always had that huge, beautiful twinkle in your eyes.

He does believe in people making mistakes. After all, everyone is human and deserves a chance to do learn and do better. But, he would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed in Minho. Of course he was. He was disappointed in Minho for letting Kat get in the way. He doesn't know every single detail about your relationship, but he was sure there were other ways to fix things instead of giving up and running to another person for.. what, exactly? Consoling? Validation? Especially while you were in the hospital— Chan will never understand it, but who was he to dictate how Minho lived his life? He could hate his friend for it, but he could also continue to hope and push for him to do better.

He is sad for the way things turned out. 

Everything is sad, unfair; sadly unfair.

Even then, you never really lost the twinkle in your eyes. Even when Minho hurt you, even when you've questioned your worth and where you've gone wrong. You never lost the twinkle in your eyes, and Chan is thankful for having you; a constant that has adapted in ever-changing conditions.

Chan is still sad for the way things are turning out.

He wishes he could do more to be there for you, to help you, to bring back that twinkle in your eyes. The twinkle in your eyes isn't necessarily gone, no— moreso just a little lost, a little misguided. And there isn't anything wrong with that. He just hopes it'll fully come back. He hopes you'll still have the same twinkle in your eyes when the boys finally tell you what has happened, he hopes you'll still have the same twinkle in your eyes when you find out the hurt you've been through, the mistakes that have led to everything now.

He doesn't really know where to place himself. Every day, he feels lost. Torn. Not sure which way to turn when it comes to you, to Jisung and to Minho. He keeps quiet and tries to distance himself enough because he feels lost. Though, he understands Jisung's need to keep this tucked away until you're ready. He understands the feelings that are resurfacing for Minho. He understands why he, himself, is going along with this. He is doing this because he hopes you find that twinkle in your eyes again. 

He hopes you will find it in yourself to pull through and find the strength to continue on when the truth comes out. He hopes you will find it in yourself to forgive everyone for trying to help you— help you find that same twinkle in your eyes before the accident, before all the pain, before all the hurt.

Everything is just.. unfair. Sadly unfair.

But, he hopes you find the twinkle in your eyes again.

♡ taglist: @ppiri-bahng @jihanlovic @meloncremesoda @sweetlikecherry @asjkdk @hoes4lino @skzddicted @skzho @edgaralienpoe @harui-zen @bestleeknowstan @havenwithleeknow @septicrebel @heesdazed @borahae-reads @yoontaethings @pearbunny @bintific @lukeys-giggle @ajxreads @everglowdaisies @allaboutsan @endzii23 @leeknowsramen @heres-your-ramen2000 @morningstardada @mal-lunar-28 @downbadreading @lilysophie @feelikecinderella @urmomma0324 @ddazed-lhs @djeniryuu @melanctton @i8rsie @maru-matt @sleepyleeji @taerifin @nattisbored @jisunglyricist @m111nho @drhsthl @nixtape-foryou @arminseas @guiltycoco @syuuji @sulkygyu @cadihyo @reianagarcia @leeknowyah @smndjdufuehr @dprkbyn @xxibreinaxx @mxnsxngie @reiheis

[missmarveledsblog]

I'll show you different ( joel miller x reader ) part 7

summary : she ready , she ready to finally stand up to the man that made her life hell only to find her grandfather is in a car wreck it doesn't take her long to figure out who it was and along with meeting two new friends the pen state protection while for once in her life she get her wish will she see her loved ones again ?

warning : mention of domestic violence in the past in the whole series , car crashes , intentional car crash , kidnapping

previous part

She wanted him  to  see her ,  to see his face show him she wasn’t scared   infact she  was ready to fight back especially as she watched the tow truck that was carrying the only thing she could actually say was hers . something she paid for the moment she was divorced yes her friends help her but it was her only hers.  He broke it , wrecked in a bid to scare her only it was the opposite she was pissed , sick of being frightened .   sitting in the car as joel drove and tommy was talking away about the new show he was watching some zombie thing on hbo  she barely heard him , eyes locked on the passing town til they got to the site she barely spoke when she got out o the truck heading straight to the office ignoring her grandfathers greeting.

 “ what’s wrong with her” he asked perplexed a rarity to ever see her actually pissed only time he ever seen her angry was when he didn’t take the medication doctor gave him . 

“ asshole trashed her car” tommy scoffed already wanting to get the prick himself , knowing he was so close and still slipped by . 

“ yeah she been like a bull since “ joel nodded  none of the three were exactly in the best moods . it was a theme of the day  as she stormed and stomped around the office getting annoyed at the little things that just weren’t going the way she wanted . then the mechanic called making her sick to  her stomach ask did she know there was a dead animal in her glove box and that sherif was by.  Of course the coward would kill something defenceless she  didn’t ask what animal it was she had to stop him explaining the  details . he was escalating almost a warning she was next but she was going to get him first . 

They all sat in the cell honestly surprise never in ten years did he  ask for anything , not even  a smoke . each owed him something big , each saved from more time or penalties , some even owed him their life as they stood wondering what it could be that would be a cause to meet . 

“ henry man you gonna tell us why were here” a man spoke soft chuckle trying to ease the tension . 

“ well i’ll cut to the chase man says he’s my little girls husband , prick something about him says she back here which isn’t good  , what ever or whoever he is scared her enough to come back to this place and i  wanna do right thing , i wanna be the man i should of all those years i want her protected , i want him gone” he looked at each man watching them nod. 

“ done , maybe we can get her to come visit too “ his cell mate  ray nodded. 

“ nah she ain’t gonna do that i hurt that girl too many time to count but  now while i got the chance might not be the right way but sure as hell the way its going” he scoffed pulling the pieces of paper handing it over .  she was standing in her grandparent garden only time his lawyer wasn’t a useless fuck . 

“ she’s beautiful , we will make sure she safe” ray stood as they others did the same all men who done wrong and wanting to make amend fix their errors and some did get that connection back  even if she never saw him again henry didn’t care he was ready to face his maker , face the gates of hell with smile on his face if he could just do the one right thing for her. 

Driving home never felt good , he wanted to be their for her , keep her safe and even though he knew joel and tommy would do that . john just wanted to do what was right for his granddaughter , he wanted the best life for her . that girl was given a life that would make the devil himself shudder at and it wasn’t letting up .  Seeing her becoming happy for first and it was wiped away like all those time she was taken home as child , how she begged him and his wife to keep her and yet he thought each time would be different till he got the call he feared the one that no parent should face.  The night his daughter life was taken , his granddaughter nowhere to be found til years later he received a letter she was happy and in new york . then she returned it was like looking at his daughter broken on his doorstep only this time the story was different. She was breaking the cycle , killing a past repeating and yet it was to no avail . he felt sick to his stomach he wanted to turn the car the road empty til a car in his rearview mirror approaching and approaching fast . he moved it would follow , to point he began speeding more and more locked in a chase .  his heart sending a shooting pain the ticker letting him know this was all too much but he knew peach needed  him more threw gritted teeth he kept push , speeding to get out of the chase he found himself in . yet it wasn’t happening , his heart and his fight fading  the other car clipping his own  over and over the wheel was trying to keep the car still. His fight strong but the stranger was stronger as the car began to spin smashing in it wake as david smirked watching the path of destruction in his wake. 

“ oh my little wife i will get you and everyone that gets in my way “ he sped off looking at the carnage in the rearview mirror. 

  Tommy felt like it was coming the part where she would get pissed almost snarling at the people in town as she got the stuff for dinner .  he seen them moment he walked into the store following her doing bad job on it til he got her to get something grabbing the two mens ares and hauling their asses to other side . 

“ why you following my friend and don’t lie or ill smash your faces of the hot sauce” he looked between the two. 

“ we’re protecting her , protection detail from the boys upstate” one spat out as the other groaned .

“ your here from her dad … for protection not her ex “ he looked between the two .

“ no but you know what he looks like because we wanna talk to him” the man continued. 

“ why is her dad doing this ?” tommy mused to himself . 

“ he and our boss want to right the wrong offer protection for women in shitty situation from monsters” the man explained. 

“ her father killed her mother” tommy deadpanned. 

“ he regrets it  so he wants to protect his kid” . 

“ he also used  to beat” 

“ look we aint going on the past he wants her safe and scumbag david  sorted so we are here” the other man finally spoke up . 

The sound of glass smashing sent all three men running almost pushing each other out of the way . 

“ miss you ok” a woman called as stood frozen phone to her ear , her face contort in a flurry of pissed and saddness , 

“ tommy we need to get to the hospital … who are they ? .. it doesn’t matter” she said pulling him out only to see the truck clamped and man driving off. 

“You  drive? “ she asked the men . 

“ yeah cars around corner come on peach “ the man said as she followed wondering how he knew that and who were this men . 

“ what’s going on ?” one of the men spoke up . 

“ my grandfather he was found car wreck was all the sherif said but something tells me it not an accident sorry but who are you too “ she asked getting in the car. 

“ mike and this is freddy “ he smiled almost like a big teddy bear . 

“ your dad sent them to protect you “ tommy admitted. 

“ tell my dad to fuck off  but i need the ride … please “ she looked between the men wondering what else life was going to throw at her .  this was something she would saw even on the cards of happening and now she was wondering what was in the letter  or was this a rouse in the fact to get her to talk at some parole hearing either way it needed to be pushed to the back of her mind . what was the forefront of her mind was her grandfather literally she had just gotten him back in her life   and it was now a possibility of being alone , that he would be taken from her. She barely was listening to the men that squabbled about being too close . 

She ran into the  desk ready to ask where he was as the sheriff was able to call her , he looked tired  and his face was something she was too familiar with . she remember the night he told her that her mother was gone something no one in town knew that night when he was a deputy how he let her run , let her make the life for herself she deserved . 

“ he’s in bad way but they have him stable .. who are they ?” he asked looking to see men he’s definitely seen before . 

“ friends .. i think what happened “ she asked panting having a feeling her ex husband had something to do with it that was for sure. 

“ he was rammed from the footage and the state of his vehicle it was like someones intent of to do damage” . 

“ david .. david was intent he’s trying to make me come to him “ she mused as she stood outside the room looking in to the real damage that was cause the one person that alway tried to make her safe , the one  who fought and no one believed  . the one who held  her when she cried to stay  before she was pulled away . one who risked his life to keep her safe even now and he was hurt by just being her family a man who done nothing but good a victim because of her , because of a man who just couldn’t get over being told no .    this needed to end and it need to end with her  no one else was going to get hurt  she promised that in that moment it was going to be the last time . 

She sat her head on tommy lap when joel showed up  the red puffy eyes and dried tears as tommy own face wasn’t too different . 

“Shit is he? “ joel asked . 

“ nah he’s  stable for now but it’s not looking good man “ he sniffled trying not to disturb her. 

“ i’ll kill the bastard” he growled . 

“ actually that our job .. he safe” a voice called as joel turned seeing two men standing with coffee . 

“ yeah my brother  joel this is  mike and freddy  penstate protection “ he mused taking the coffee. 

“ as in joel “ mike nodded to peach as tommy nodded. “ hey man nice to meet you “ he smiled widely. 

“ prison guards? “ joel asked . 

“ we know some” freddy sat on the chair .  

“ would you like some coffee” mike asked. 

“ joel ?” her voice croaked . 

“ yeah its me peach darling i’m here” he crouched the pure pain in her eyes made him want to search the bastard out himself put end to all this and yet her hand holding his told him that could wait . she needed him and hell if she needed him to burn the world he would  in that moment he would do anything . 

“ hey guys wanna go get food “ tommy stood fixing himself nodded to the door as freddy took the hint and pulled a clueless mike out . 

“Come here” he said pulling her into his arms listening to the sobs that  came it wasn’t first time she was like this position crying in joel’s arms .  she felt safe around him , felt safe enough to be so vulnerable  . it was something she didn’t do usually people never saw the tears locked behind the facade of being strong , nothing was happening , her own mask of sorts and not many saw the side one where she was able to cry so freely .  she stayed there like it was last time and it could be , see once she saw the chance she was going to get out and she was going to face the monster that haunted and hunted her down . she couldn’t let him hurt joel , tommy or the girls because he was petty enough to do so . her eyes looking up at the glass  she willed her body not to tense not to show signs of what she saw the very monster staring down at her , seething seeing her in the arms of another .  

“ hey joel  watch him for me i need to go toilet one that has a dispenser” she shyly said hating how good she was at lying as she slipped her phone into her pocket . walking out the door and heading off in the direction of the toilet completely before diverting  . she could feel his step coming , she almost felt his  breathe on the back of her neck . 

“ you know not to run baby i’ll always find you “ he smirked pulling her to the stairwell just as tommy and the men came around the corner completely caught in a conversation of the show he was watching . 

part 8

taglist : @harriedandharassed @missladym1981

[dameronology]

timing's a bitch (s.h) - 1/5

s u m m e r ' 8 6

you'll be the saddest part of me, a part of me that will never be mine - the loneliest, maneskin (x)

"if you have chemistry, you only need one other thing...timing. but timing is a bitch" - how i met your mother

a.k.a a.k.a the three times that steve harrington chose the wrong moment, the one time that you chose the wrong moment, and the one time you both got it right (series masterlist)

You made Steve Harrington cry the first time you met him.

He still remembered it clear as day, even though it had been in first grade. You'd thrown a Lego brick at his head and stuffed sand in his mouth, promising that if he ever touched your pet worm again (his name was Sherm, if you were wondering) that he would pay. After some negotiation and charm from his part - and the promise that he wouldn't make his parents call yours - you had become best friends. You brought balance to one another's lives, even from a young age. Steve was always a little more calculated and thoughtful in his actions, sticking to the sidelines at playtime and always worrying about his hair. You, meanwhile, had always run headfirst into danger, with scrapes on your knees and glue in your hair. Ying and yang.

You never left Steve's side and he never left yours. Things came close when the popularity really got to his ego in sophomore year, but it was nothing a whack across the head couldn't fix. The threat of telling every person at Hawkins High about his Farah Fawcett hairspray secret also very quickly humbled him. He owed you a lot of apologies after that phase.

Things were better than ever by the time graduation rolled around. It hadn't really hit either of you that this was it; that Hawkins High would no longer be your world. It was scarier for you than it was for Steve because he knew deep down that he had probably peaked in high school. He had no college lined up; while you'd gone and gotten yourself a full scholarship to NYU, all he'd done was argue with his parents about his grades and why they wouldn't foot the bill for him to follow you to the city. The world was about to become bigger and scarier. The prospect of you being thousands of miles away only made it worst.

"Just one year," Steve begged, "just take one year out. The new mall is gonna be hiring loads of people and you can save up a butt ton before you go to college-"

"- I am not taking a year out, Steve!" you exclaimed. Reaching across the center console, you gave his chest a whack. "I worked my ass off the last four years so that I have enough money to go now."

"Okay, don't think about money then. Think about..."

He paused, trailing off.

"Think about what?"

"Spending time with me before I go?" he meekly asked. "We can have loads of fun! Just me and you, y'know, having one final year together before you leave me forever."

You groaned. "Steve, we've had all summer together. Also, I'm not leaving you! I'll be home literally every few weeks."

He forced a smile, eyes focusing on the road ahead. This was his last two days with you before you moved and he didn't want to spend it being sad. It was just that his heart ached in a way he never thought it would. A thousand times more than when his parents didn't show for graduation; even more than when Nancy Wheeler left him.

Steve's glance flickered over to the photo tucked away into his rearview mirror. It was a Polaroid taken over the summer; you and Steve were stood between your parents, armed wrapped around each other as you were grinning in your caps. Maybe his parents hadn't shown for him on graduation, but yours sure had, with flowers and hugs and affection for you both. Hell, they probably wouldn't have minded if he moved into your room once you were at college. It was definitely something he thought about.

"Summer doesn't feel like enough," he muttered. "Doesn't it scare you that things are changing?"

"Of course it does," you replied. "Change isn't always bad though. Things can't always stay the same, Stevie. Me staying home an extra year isn't gonna delay the inevitable."

Steve glanced in his wing mirror, indicating off the highway and pulling into your driveway. You'd had to beg him to come and help you pack; even though he'd acted like he didn't want to, he was secretly delighted at the idea. In fact, he was secretly delighted at spending any time with you.

After yelling a quick hi! to your parents, you both bounded up the stairs and into your bedroom. It was pretty much stripped now, years worth of blue tack and marks and scuffs on the wall. Your entire childhood packed neatly away into boxes; some for college, some for the attic, some for the dump. Steve in particular was drawn to the pile of photos on your nightstand. It was you and him through the years - some were a little dog-eared and frayed, but the two little kids smiling back at him never faltered.

He put them down and glanced over at you. You were sat on the bed now, having discarded your clothes for a pair of sweats and one of his hoodies. He'd leant that to you last year after a day at the lake - naturally, you'd gone running in totally unplanned in your clothes. He'd stood at the side the entire time, too scared of getting his hair wet.

That had always been one of his regrets; holding back. Not just the day at the lake, but the time you'd gone tree climbing and waved to him whilst he waited at the bottom. The time you rode all the big coasters at Coney Island and smiled at him as you went by. You were always going a thousand miles an hour and Steve just fucking stood there, waving as time passed him by. And now you were about to loop-de-loop right away from him.

He watched as you frowned in concentration, hands scrawling away at a messy to-do list. Pack, buy new toothbrush, apply for job, find class schedule. It was the most organised he'd ever seen you.

"You're being awfully quiet," you commented without even looking up. "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing's on my mind."

"Steve, please," you scoffed. "You've been my best friend for fourteen years. Don't try and act like you're not deep in thought about something. What is it? A car? A girl-"

"- kind of," he said. "I was thinking about...us."

You peered up at him, eyebrows creasing. "Us?"

"Yeah. Don't you think we're pretty great?"

"Yeah," you smiled. "You're my best friend, Steve. Nothing will ever change that."

Steve sighed to himself. Wasn't that the whole problem? You were friends. Best, best fucking friends. And even though it was no secret that you yourself had little thoughts and feelings about him, they never seemed to overlap. You'd liked him when he dated Nancy. Then by the time they'd broken up, you were hooking up with the Dungeons and Dragons kid who had been held back two years. Then by the time that ended, Steve was onto his next fling.

And now you were going away. Maybe that's why he was yearning.

"Nothing at all?"

You frowned. "Nothing."

"Not even this?"

To be honest, Steve wasn't really thinking straight. Plagued by nothing but regret and hankering, he threw aside your to-do list and dove across the bed. His hands found your waist, pulling you towards him with might. It didn't take a genius to work out what was going on; even though his actions took you by surprise, you still tangled a hand in his hair when his lips came down on yours, the other finding it's way to the loop of of his best.

He pulled you closer, tongue slipping inside your mouth. You didn't mean to let out a gentle moan as he did, but fuck. Steve Harrington was a good kisser and it was annoying that all those rumours you'd tried to ignore in high school were true.

Steve sat up, pulling you into his lap. He moved his lips from yours, moving down to just below your ear. You didn't protest, instead dropping your head in the crook of his neck.

It wasn't until there was a knock at your door that you both jumped.

The sound was like a cold bucket of water over your head, snapping you back to reality. Fuck. You'd just made out with Steve. He had never been the King of Hawkins high to you; he was the kid that tried to kill Sherm over a decade ago. The same kid who got yellow braces because he thought they looked cool. The same kid that secretly cried every time Vienna by Billy Joel came on the radio.

"Honey, how's packing going?" your mum called. "I'm going to the landfill early tomorrow so make sure that you-"

"- yeah, I will!" you cut her off, trying to catch your breath. "Thanks, mum!"

There was the fall of footsteps as she walked away, leaving you and your best friend to sit there and deal with the consequences of your actions. You were still sat in Steve's lap, cheeks warm with something that wasn't quite embarrassment. His chest was heaving in time with yours, eyes refusing to break your gaze.

"What the fuck did we just do?" you asked.

"I...uh...I kissed you. And you kissed me back, and then I put my hand here and you put yours there and-"

"- it was a rhetorical question!" you exclaimed. "Oh my god, I'm still sat in your lap."

Rolling off of him, you landed on the bed next to Steve. You immediately pulled your hood up, tugging on the strings so that it tightened around your cheeks and hid your face. The worst part of all this was that you'd enjoyed it. Had the universe - in the form of your mother - not interfered, you had no doubt in your mind that you probably would have fucked your best friend. That certainly was a jarring revelation.

"Did you..." you began, but then paused. "Had you thought about doing that for a long time?"

"Yeah, I guess," Steve admitted. "Not like constantly but there's been moments over the last few years. And then I saw you sitting there in my clothes and we're about to say goodbye and-"

"- no we're not, Steve," you grumbled. "Because I'm going to see you at Christmas, and then like every weekend after that, and...Jesus Christ. Was that meant as an impulsive thing or an actual thing?"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't kiss my best friend of fifteen years just for one night. I could go out to a shitty bar downtown and find anyone for that."

"Why now?"

"Can you blame a guy for shooting his shot?" Steve tried to joke, but you didn't laugh "I mean...yeah. Maybe I was thinking about you and I being more than you and I. It seems dumb now."

"Your timing is fucking awful, Steve Harrington," you gave him a small smile, gently running a hand over his face. "You could have asked me at any point before now and I would have said yes."

"But?"

"But I'm moving half way across the fucking country in two days!" you exclaimed. "You're my best friend and I love you but our lives are about to change. The stakes are too high and you are far too important for me to risk losing, okay?"

Steve smiled, giving you a nod. It could have been worse - it could have been a straight up no. A why fuck would I ever love you? or a broken nose. It was still rejection, but it was just...timing. Bad timing. Maybe he just had to wait.

He was okay with that.

taglist: @marauderssworld @boybandbaby @karasong (lmk if u want to be added!)

[shebeafancyflapjack]

73 Yards is a good concept but I think I know the reason it's not gonna stick with me like similar episodes

Spoilers under cut

I called it from the trailer that the old woman would be an older Ruby. The framing alone reminded me of when Amy and Rory see their older selves waving from far away in S5. So knowing that was coming I was hoping the pay off would give me a little bit more to surprise me.

It just didn't. Older Ruby stopped Younger Ruby from doing the thing and the timeliness got fixed. And outside of an odd sense of de ja vue, she nor anyone else remembers what happened.

This a trope I really dislike in time travel stories like this because my feeling is, if the characters aren't going to remember it, why should the audience? It's kinda like the "and it was all a dream" twist. Except even that I don't get as bothered by if the person has grown or changed from having the dream, for example "there's no place like home".

Now compare this to similar episodes where Doctor Who has done stories involving timeliness crossing etc - Blink, the Girl Who Waited and Turn Left. Those all ended with a happy resolution but there were consequences that weren't fully undone. Blink has a ton of people's lives screwed up and 'killed' off screen. The Girl Who Waited manages to save Amy before she can become like old Amy but at the cost of old Amy sacrificing herself and the trauma she went through, and the effect that has on the Doctor and Rory who have to carry on knowing what happened. Turn Left has Donna stopping herself making the wrong choice and resetting things but it's implied that an actual parallel world was created from Donna's first choice that still existed and also she keeps some memories from that world, which also carry on into the series finale. I'll also mention Heaven Sent because there you have the Doctor going through this massive trauma for billions of years but it keeps getting reset and he only remembers a little bit each time. Except even then he is partly aware there are other versions of him before and after who are continuing this struggle and he has to carry that with him into Hell Bent.

73 Yards could end up linking into more stories later on but as it stands, that journey that Ruby went on all those years and what she had to go through is essentially erased. Maybe there will be a lingering sensation for her like a bad dream but I suspect Russel is going to want this to be his new Midnight and not answer any questions ever. Which is fine, I love that about Midnight. But while we didn't get answers about Midnight, we still had the Doctor having to remember what happened and being scarred from it. In 73 Yards we get neither answers nor consequences so it just leaves me shrugging my shoulders, like okay that was a thing.

Was beautifully shot though and the first part where Ruby is just in Wales was really chilling, it's when they took the story back to London it lost me.

[ladyloveandjustice]

Fall 2023 Anime Overview: 100 Girlfriends and Spy x Family S3

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

Premise: Rentaro is approached by the god of love, who confesses that he accidentally gave him 100 soulmates. And unfortunately, if someone meets their soulmate and fails to be with them, they DIE. Thus Rentaro decides he will date all the girls who end up being his soulmate, and be the best possible boyfriend ever to all of them.

So yeah. I watched this. I'm not someone who really watches male-centric harem anime, but I'd heard this one was really funny and yeah, the first episode was indeed really funny. The way it exaggerated the tropes of the genre to parody them genuinely made me laugh. The first two girlfriend's gimmicks were that one (Akane) was secretly super thirsty and the other (Karane) was tsundere and it played those to the hilt for maximum laughs. Tsundere says she decided to take a piss in the school flower garden to avoid saying she was looking for the perfect flower for Rentaro and Rentaro's astonished "you realize that makes you sound WAY worse than telling the truth does" was great. Thirsty girl trying to pull the ~ooh you need to drink some of my drink~ to score an indirect kiss only to find Rentaro ridiculously prepared was also a fantastic gag.

All the girls are REALLY down bad for Rentaro and the premise of this would not work at all if the series didn't sell Rentaro as legitimately a great boyfriend who could reasonably attract 100 girl and be just as down bad for all of them. But Rentaro is no classic harem potato boy, he's superhumanly thoughtful and the ultimate wife guy. It makes him very static as a character compared to the flexibility the others have, but it's generally amusing. On top of that, the series handled neurodivergence in a surprisingly thoughtful way in episode 3 with Rentaro going all out to help his ladylove's way of expressing herself without talking be more accessible, rather than trying to "fix" her.  I also really like how the girls in the polycule are genuinely friends and don't compete with each other over Rentaro--and some even seem like they're pretty into each other too (though this is entirely played for laughs rather than actually explored, of course).

Yet at the same time...yeah, the premise began wearing thin for me as tropes I'm less willing to roll with popped up.

Karane's complex over being flat-chested wore thin quickly (even if Rentaro thinks she's perfect) since it's mainly used in gags to embarrass her. One girlfriend's thing is that she drugs a lot of people without their consent (fantasy type drugs that can do ridic things, but. they are drugs. some that melt clothes or make you lustful included), and the anime genuinely tries to make you think it's so sad that people didn't want to be friends with her because of this, and Rentaro magnanimously tells her she's okay the way she is...forgiving her for his girlfriends that she drugged. Yeah, she's annoying. (also her body turns into a child's sometimes because of course it does).

And then there's the Mom girlfriend. I mean of course there's gonna be a Mom girlfriend eventually, Milf-lovers can't be denied, but it happened quicker than expected! it being paired with her being initially abusive (to the point she drove her daughter to attempt suicide) and then fixed by Rentaro's love and motivational speech...along with the justifications for her being ridiculously young (likely to parody that trope, but still)...yeah, it was all a lot.

I don't know if I'll return for the (already announced) season 2 tbh. I appreciate that the show's intentionally trashy and silly, and it is still funny a lot of the time, but it's not really my kind of trash. But I don't regret the wild, often fun ride it was--maybe if I'm really bored that season or hear enough wild things I'll retry, but right now it seems likely me and the 100 girlfriends are never, ever, ever getting back together.

Spy x Family Season 3

See previous reviews for the premise and so on.

Spy x Family is pretty much staying the course from when we last checked in, though this season gives a lot more attention to Yor, and I love the cruise ship arc and all the ridiculous fights she gets into a lot! That arc contains some of my favorite gags of the series too (like Loid's attempts to be a cool dad). Otherwise, Spyfam has settled into being a largely episodic series that seems like it wants to be around for the long haul, so don't expect too much forward plot momentum. And Yuri (the man, not the genre) unfortunately still exists, and unfortunately we have to put up with an episode of him being a fascist supercop. Overall it was good season, though and remains a fun adaptation. Yor, please step on me.

[kquil]

HELP?

i have a series that i've been planning on and off for the past year or so and i've finally got the first chapter written. being my perfectionist self, i feel as though i need to keep planning some more things but there's a part of me that really wants to just get started and, sort of, force myself to begin or else i'll never get the series written since there isn't that sense of urgency or encouragement to keep going when i have other things to do

the series is called: Divorcing Orion Black

it'll be my take on a Harry Potter fix-it-fic set in the marauder's era where reader is transferred into the Harry Potter universe and forced to replace Walburga Black, her main aim is to give sirius and regulus a better life by being a better mother than Walburga ever was. But, it's never easy considering the limited knowledge people have on the marauders era and because... the true Walburga never really...left?

the focus will be on platonic relationships as well as all the comfort and fluff in the world considering how dark and sad and angsty the marauders era characters' destiny ended up being

potential series summary : You just got transferred into the world of Harry Potter and you've been put into the shoes of Walburga Black. Splendid… You need to escape this toxic family so your first order of business is divorce AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY TAKING THE KIDS!

tags : son sirius black/mother reader ; son regulus black/mother reader ; isekai au/transfering worlds au ; walburga black is evil ; not reader though hehe~ ; hurt/comfort ; fluff ; platonic fluff ; second chances ; reader basically adopts remus, barty crouch jr and peter pettigrew ; peter pettigrew redemption arc? ; but he never betrays the marauders in the first place so... ; remus gets a better life ; reader becomes a semi-political figure to help werewolves + house elves ; reader assumes a male alias ; alternating chapters from different povs directly effected by reader's actions ; reader is a powerful independent business woman and single mother ; reader is a milf ; reader secretly hates dumbledore ; reader hates orion black ; reader hates JKR (we all do) ; divorce ; mentions of child abuse (physical and mental and emotional) ; mentions of neglect ; angry reader ; canon jily ; mentions of wolfstar ; regulus being a precious baby ; sirius has his moments too ; reader being a powerful trio with minerva and pomfrey ; reader potentially adopting the black sisters (bellatrix, andromeda and narcissa) ; reader adopts everyone! ; there'll be ocs ; reader leaves to live her dream cottagecore life ; happy ending! ; i'll add more tags in the future

fair warning ; this series is not gonna be canon compliant, naturally, reader will make sure of that haha!

i predict that the series will be around 25 to 30 chapters long? maybe more?

if i post the series now, i'll aim to post a new chapter per month, on the first day of every month

if i post the series next year/2026, i'll try to make sure i'm able to post twice per month (one chapter per two weeks)

taglist : @melinajenkins @aastonishment @until-i-found-you @corp0real @celestcies @lovelydoveval @inlovewithremusjohnlupin @calums-betch @futurecorps3 @hihihi1112 @simpingforthe80s @yrluvjane @chaosofmanyfandoms @storyofaromance @loving-and-dreaming @somewereinthegalaxi @ashreblogsficshere @cassandra-nerezza-black @stray-bi-kids @ttkttt @notasadgirlipromise @desikudisworld @volturissideslut @arilxup88 @ghostgardn @rosalyn-s @seungtelevision @raevyng @rosaleenablack @samanddeansannoyingsis @marina468 @mess-is-my-aesthetic @zesnuts

[diabolikpersonals]

sorry for such a broad question but in your opinion is laito a well written character relative to everyone in diabolik? i really Want to learn more about him but i also dont want to subject myself to All That and i just want to know if he's worth reading about or just a pile of interesting plot threads thrown together for shock factor and unfulfilled thematically.

like my current personal opinion (may be wrong) is that i dont feel satisfied with the idea of yui's love or proactiveness fixing laito in any way because it doesn't mesh well with the actual ideas surrounding his character and unpacking that love is not poison goes beyond romantic love or a singular place of understanding. additionally it doesn't feel earned it feels like a chore for the player to trudge though for the sake of reading. i dont want to read laito's story that bad if it's the case yet im intrigued by the things offered by his character like the processing of the deeply visceral way csa shatters who you are

I wanted to wait till I finished his CL to answer so I'd be fully caught up with laito's routes, but that'll take too long so.....!! I might change my answer later!! lmao

[tw laito stuff, csa and suicide, yeah]

I do think Laito's a well-written character but his stuff is really difficult to get through if you have certain triggers, so it's tough to recommend. Even beyond the csa stuff, Laito is in a real hurry to die and he makes several attempts throughout the series. There's a certain unique sort of awfulness, at least for me, involving scenes where a character fails a suicide attempt and then get even more upset and desperate about it. So I understand what you mean when you say you're not excited about putting yourself through it. They were the hardest routes for me to get through too :')

A lot of earlier games suffer from endings that are like "And the two lived happily ever after, and we're not gonna unpack all that stuff!" and Laito's routes are no exception, but if you can look past that and make it to LE, I wouldn't say that Laito gets fixed. He has an ending similar to Ayato's that's like, it feels like we fixed everything but in reality we couldn't overcome the core issue! They really seem to believe that Laito absolutely can't be happy or live a normal life the way he is now. He has to die and/or rewrite his memories to be comfortable loving someone. It's up to your tastes if that's satisfying or not, but I kind of love the bittersweetness of LE endings, and the way they feel like a happy ending until you think about them a little too hard.

What's interesting is that Yui's purehearted love often hurts Laito more than it helps him. He responds to love, from Yui or from his family members, with revulsion. There's jealousy when he interacts with straightforward characters like Yui or Ayato, like "If only I could be as simple and pure as you, but nope, I can't." He's very self-aware for a diaboy, which only makes it hurt more when he keeps arriving at the conclusion that he's rotten. He definitely makes progress, which is really satisfying to see, like how he gradually allows Ayato back in his life emotionally. But as of right now, the end of his arc is so, like, "I tried, really I did! But my perspective on love is fucked and I need a hard reset! Maybe I'll be normal in the next life but definitely not this one!! Bye!"

...So, it's hard to say if you'll be happy with it. I see a lot of mixed opinions concerning the LE endings. They often give the diaboy what he wants but not what he needs, so you're left going, "Wait, I don't know about this...!" A lot of people really hate these endings, but they actually get more interesting to me the more conflicted they make me feel...and oh boy, was I conflicted about this one! :'D

If it sounds interesting to you, too, and you don't mind some pretty brutal scenes along the way, give Laito's routes a try. His HDB will definitely make you mad though lol

[n3felibata]

What are your thoughts on the new short "Hell's Belles" and the new season 2 trailer of Helluva Boss?

I enjoyed Hell's Belles but I wouldn't say it fixed the Millie issue, sorry 💀

People can't get this through their heads, but I'll repeat it a million times. The Millie issue isn't about patience, screentime, or depth. It's about writing. Hell's Belles made it better, but it still doesn't excuse the whole Chaz thing, the childhood home double standard, the creators straight up forgetting she exists sometimes, the beartrap bs in the Harvest Moon Festival, her being used as a plot device in Moxxie's story... maybe she doesn't exist soley for Moxxie, but she still exists mostly for him. What makes it even weirder is that this is a pattern with women in HB. And no, the show being male led and Hazbin being female led doesn't excuse it. Men in Hazbin are not written the same way as women in Helluva. Hell, we still only have one sapphic ship in either shows and like a million achillean plotlines

There were a lot of people in the comments of that short saying things like "wow, finally something Millie centered!" But the fact that so many people are this relieved to get content on a main character says so much about this issue on its own

...That aside, Hell's Belles was cute. I loved seeing more of Sallie May and I enjoy sibling dynamics. I liked how there wasn't really a singular "bad guy" in the situation, it just feels so realistic and it reminded me of my own siblings.

I hope we get more moments between them like this in the actual show. I believe it's been comfirmed that Sallie May will appear in the series more, but I'm not sure if that's true?

As for the trailor... I'm gonna be honest, I'm a bit overstimulated from everything happening in that. There's a lot to cover lmao. I feel like the only one who's happy to see the cherubs make a comeback, though...

The stolitz duet was sillier than expected but I really enjoyed it. I'm getting the feeling it'll have a reprise? It seems my theory about Full Moon being the episode where the stolitz conflict will be resolved is wrong, but it seems it'll still prove that it's not one sided. I have a feeling people are still gonna find a way to deny it, though

[majesty-madness]

A Past Encounter - Bucky Barnes x reader (nsfw)

Summary: Being in a relationship with Bucky, Y/N prided herself on knowing him quite well but when she’s accidentally teleported back to 1940, Y/N discovers that there is a whole other Bucky that she has yet to meet. The sweet flirt that had everything going for him before his unfortunate capture by HYDRA.

Word Count: 5800+

Warnings: modern Steve & Bucky, 40’s in general, 40’s Bucky & Steve, 40’s Bucky, small 40’s Steve, cursing, angst, crying, comfort, a bit of lying, real info on 1941 (I'll put a note at the bottom), fluff, night date, dancing, 40's music

a/n: not proofread. I highly recommend listening to the song below as you read this chapter or if you wait for a special part (you'll probably know when it happens) so it'll be even better! Though I'm sorry it's a link to a YouTube video, I don't have anything else to link to.

Since the author's note below is a little long I'm gonna tag people up here. Tagged - @honeyrydernot @spn-obession @tinyminxie @fluffybunnyu @saintmagx @hopelessromantic423 @marygoddessofmischief @theeleggymeggy @lethallyprotected

Commissions are available so don't forget to check that out!

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Chapter Thirteen

The boom of door handles hitting the wall behind them made a resounding thunder throughout the large living room. 

“Buck, come on…” Steve pleaded softly, hot on his heels. 

“No! All that time, all that effort only for them to turn us down! They already had an answer, they were just jerking us around. What are we supposed to do?!” Bucky snapped back, nearly ripping off his black button up jacket then slamming it down onto the nearest couch. It was then that the rest of the team flitted in from outside. 

Steve raised his hands in mock surrender, “For now, we need to stay focused on the problem at hand. Y/N is gone, stuck in 1941 and we need to bring her back.”

Bucky scoffed, “Were you not listening back there? I know that we have to get her back, but what can I do? They’ve made their decision. And if I push the issue, the past that I’ve tried so hard to leave behind will come back and punish me the way I deserve.” 

“You don’t deserve to be punished, not then, not now. Whatever happens, you are not alone and we’ll fix this. And we’ll keep trying, until she’s home.” Steve reassured him, standing strong before his friend as a pillar of support. 

The others who were silently listening from the kitchen, finally spoke to each other. “I know that Steve says we need to keep trying but if the court turned us down once, it’s not very likely that they will agree if we try it again.” Natasha reasoned sadly, arms crossed over her chest. 

“I don’t think they’d agree to another hearing anyway.” Sam admitted as he sat down at the nearby kitchen counter, his face sporting a deep frown. 

Bucky, who resided to sitting on the couch, leaving Steve to face his back, sat quietly with eyes dark as the gray clouded sky outside with the beginnings of a heavy rain. He could hear the distant thunder making its way over the compound, and for a moment related to the chaotic weather separated by a layer of plaster and glass.

________

It’s been a few days since Y/N came to the realization that she wasn’t going anywhere. 

When Y/N had returned to the apartment later that evening, she saw the look of immediate worry on Bucky and Steve’s faces. And when she only gave one word answers to their concerned questions, it was obvious to them something was wrong and she didn’t want to talk about it. 

Neither one of them prodded her for the truth. Not at first. Instead the two left her be to sort out whatever was going on in her head. They figured, maybe in a day or two she’d be okay and things would go back to normal. But they didn’t. 

In fact, she seemed to be doing worse with each passing day. Her lackluster attitude demonstrated that this was more than a mere tiff, so as much as he didn’t want to tip over the apple cart, Bucky decided to confront her. 

He sat at the dining table, fidgeting with his thumbs as he looked up to Steve who simply leaned against the kitchen counter, hands dipped into his pockets. The two kept staring at each other until Steve silently motioned toward Y/N with a jerk of his head before looking back to Bucky. 

Bucky mouthed a fine, then stood up from the table to where Y/N stood beside the couch, folding laundry. 

“Hey Y/N?”

Without looking, Y/N simply hummed in response. 

“Uh..How’re you doing?”

She stopped in the middle of folding a towel, the fabric pressed against her torso as she was attempting to line up the edges. “I’m fine.” 

Bucky anxiously turned to Steve who shook his head at Y/N’s answer. The brunette took a deep breath in preparation. “Are you sure?” 

Finishing folding the towel in her arms, Y/N scoffed. “It doesn’t matter.” 

“Of course it matters.” Bucky rebuked, caught off guard by the sudden deprecating statement. 

Tossing the towel onto the coffee table with the others, Y/N half haphazardly ripped another one out of the laundry basket to fold. “No, it doesn’t. Besides, what's the point? I mean we all know I’m not supposed to be here in the first place and the last thing I need to do is throw my baggage onto people who don’t deserve it; least of all you two.”

She began to frantically ramble, hands now trembling with anxiety that started to soak into her nerves, breathes coming in heavier and thicker almost like she forgot how to breathe. 

Bucky, growing up with a mother, knew the tall-tell signs of when a woman was on the cusp of a breakdown so like he’d seen his father do, he grasped both of her arms and gently turned her to face him. “Hey, hey now…”

At first, Y/N tried to resist the way he guided her to him but under his warm hands, she found it difficult to shake off the familiar sensation especially when he was touching her so softly. The moment she turned all the way around, her eyes immediately dipped to stare at his collar rather than his eyes for fear he would see the tears caused by her despair and his tenderness. 

“Look at me, Y/N. Please.” He whispered between the two of them. 

Albeit hesitant, she looked up at him and her heart stuttered with grief at the affection swimming in his eyes. It was a familiar expression, one she’s seen on a multitude of occasions and seeing it here, now, made the beginnings of a sob rush up her already aching throat. 

“Oh doll…Come here.” Bucky brought her into a hug without any objection, letting her stuff her face into his shirt as she cried. 

Steve took a few steps forward out of sympathy, eventually coming to stand just a few feet from his friends. His eyes raked over Y/N’s buried face then to Bucky who offered a tight lipped smile with no joy behind it. 

Bucky, keeping one hand on Y/N’s lower back, used his other one to rub comfortingly up and down the expanse of her back. He continued this action as Y/N sobbed in his shirt, clutching the fabric into her palms to anchor herself to him. Not that he minded, whatever she needed, he’d do it for her. 

Minutes upon minutes stacked up until her wrenching sobs turned to soft whimpers and her tears were starting to dry onto the supple skin of her cheeks. Bucky took the chance to speak again. 

“What’s wrong, doll?”

He gave her all the time she needed to respond when she pulled away from his chest, eyes feeling heavy and swollen. Bucky peered down at her, finger coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Do you…remember when I said I was just visiting New York?” She finally spoke. Both the boys nodded. 

She sighed, “Well that wasn’t exactly the truth.” 

“What do you mean?” Bucky asked, urging her to continue. 

“The truth is that…I was forced to leave my home.” 

Steve shifted uncomfortably in his spot as her words sank in. ��Someone made you leave?”

Y/N’s eyes glanced over to Steve who mirrored Bucky’s confusion. She nodded to him. 

“Who?” Both Steve and Bucky questioned. 

Y/N genuinely thought about what she was going to say because the man who was responsible for her being here would require the explanation that she was from a different time where she already knew them two, and they were Avengers fighting superhumans and aliens on occasion. In her opinion it’d be best that they didn’t know the truth, not the whole truth anyway, since they most certainly would think she’d lost her mind. 

After giving it some thought, she said what came to mind. “There was this man, causing problems for my…family so I confronted him. Me confronting him led to a lot of grief and in not so many words, it became obvious if I didn’t leave then my family wouldn’t be safe.” 

She inwardly cringed as each word left her mouth, wishing she could pull them back and swallow them down silently. It was a lie, no matter the double meaning those words had for her, it wasn’t the truth.

Though they seemed to believe her rightly enough as the boys nodded. 

“So you can’t go back?” Steve asked somewhat rhetorically, but left the open air quiet in case she wanted to say anything else. 

All Y/N did was shake her head in a distinct no.

“Listen to me,” Bucky started, hands sliding across her upper arms in a gesture of reassurance. “Like we’ve said, you can stay with us as long as you need. No one's gonna rush you out or give you a time limit. Whatever you need, whoever you need to talk to; we’ll be here. The both of us.” 

Steve nodded in agreement, offering Y/N a comforting pat to her shoulder and a smile. She glanced between the two of them, flashing a teary smile of her own. “I know and thank you. Very much.” 

“Look, how about you go take a little nap, while Steve and I finish up the chores. It seems you could use some rest, maybe you’ll feel better.” Bucky kindly suggested, thumbs running over her clothed skin. 

 “Yeah…” She breathed softly, “That sounds nice.” 

Bucky led her through the threshold of his bedroom, walking the length of the floor to the bed then pulled back his comforter to hold it open as Y/N tucked herself under the fabric. Once she got into a comfortable position, Bucky bid her a good rest then stepped back into the living room while he closed the bedroom door. 

Now it was only him and Steve. 

“Do you think that maybe she was holding something back?” Steve abruptly asked in the now peaceful living room. 

Bucky wiped a hand over his face and sighed. “Yeah, but if she doesn’t want to get into it then who are we to prod any further?”

There was an obvious answer and the two of them already knew it. 

“I know.” Steve whispered to himself, wandering over to the couch and plopping down onto the cushions. 

“I just wish there was something that would maybe make her feel better. Get her mind off of it all.” Bucky admitted, sitting down next to Steve, leaning back completely. 

Steve sat up straight, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the rug below, thinking, contemplating. “Well, there’s this new movie that came out a few weeks ago, we could go see it tonight.”

Bucky raised his brows in curiosity. “A movie.” He repeated, tongue clicking in thought. “That could be fun. What’s the movie called?”

“It’s called ‘Blossoms in the Dust,’ I think. I don’t remember what it’s about, but apparently it’s good.” 

“Well there’s no harm in checking it out, then afterwards we could go out to dinner. Not sure I want to cook tonight anyway.”

“Y/N’s been the one doing the most cooking so you wouldn’t be anyway.” Steve scoffed as he stood up from the couch heading back to the kitchen.

Bucky smirked, “Shut it, you punk.”

________

Surprisingly, Y/N awoke feeling rejuvenated, blinking the sleep away from her eyes.

She stared off into the distance for a moment before her brain caught up with her. She sat up, partially pushing the blanket off her torso to look outside. It was obviously night now, the lights from the other buildings surrounding the apartment in full bloom at this time. 

How long had she been asleep?

A few seconds passed then she pulled the blanket off her completely, stepping onto the hardwood floor that creaked under her weight. 

Upon opening the bedroom door, the sound of smooth, lyric-less jazz resounded throughout the living room while Steve and Bucky sat at the coffee table playing cards. 

Steve laid down a card which caused Bucky to mutter out a slight curse then pick up another from the deck sitting patiently in the middle of the table. 

Y/N hummed a quiet laugh but it was just loud enough for them to hear as Bucky looked over. His annoyed expression softened into an endearing one. 

“Hey there, you feeling a little better?” He asked, cards forgotten in his hand. 

Steve looked up and over as well, a familiar friendly posture as he too wondered if she was okay.

Y/N nodded as she took several steps forward until she was standing next to Bucky, hand instinctively settling on his chair. “Yeah, I feel much better. Thank you.” 

“I’m glad.” Bucky smiled, keeping his eyes on Y/N before switching over to Steve briefly. “Hey, can I run an idea by you? I think you might like it.” 

Caught off guard by the abrupt inquisition, Y/N simply stared at him. “Sure.”

“Steve and I were talking earlier, and we thought it’d be fun if we went out to a movie tonight, get some dinner afterwards. What do you think?” Bucky asked as he looked up at her expectantly. 

Y/N gaped down at him, not anticipating the suggestion. Honestly, the idea of seeing a film in this day and age somehow hadn’t crossed her mind. She’s been so focused on trying to leave that the concept of just having fun… escaped her. 

“Uh..Which movie?” 

Bucky shared a smile with Steve as they looked at each other. “Well it’s called.. uh..” He trailed off then Steve filled in the blank. 

“Blossoms in the Dust.” 

“Yeah, yeah, right. Apparently, it came out a few weeks ago and Steve said it was good.” Bucky gestured to Steve before he quickly retorted,

“I said I heard it was good, I haven’t seen it yet.” 

“Well whatever…” Bucky brushed him off. “So what do you say?” 

There was a calming pause, her lips upturning into a delighted grin not only from their antics but the idea of going out. “That sounds great.” 

Quickly, Bucky stood up with an invigorated attitude. “Alright, well let’s head down and check out what times they’re playing.” 

“Okay, let me get freshened up a bit and then we can head out.” Y/N said, walking away to the bathroom to fix up her hair and straightening out her crumpled clothes from her nap. 

The boys did their own version of freshening up which meant combing their hair, throwing on a jacket with a hint of earthy cologne. 

Once Y/N stepped out from the bathroom, they headed on their way. 

Soon they were out on the street, walking down the sidewalk with lots of other people doing the same; arm in arm, perhaps to see a movie as well. 

“Wait, we’re not taking your car?” Y/N asked, coming to stand beside Bucky with Steve on the other side of them. 

Bucky beamed down at her, “Not tonight. I thought we should take our time…enjoy the night.”

When she looked up, there laid the gleams of affection swimming slowly, rising from the depths of friendliness to a realm of intimacy. Y/N wondered if it was real or maybe she was fooling herself, trying to grasp at anything that could make her feel at home in the middle of an ocean’s storm carrying her adrift. 

Nevertheless, she brought her arm to link with his, shyly tucking herself the slightest bit to his side. “That sounds lovely.” 

With no more words exchanged, Bucky simply held her hand with his free one against him as the trio soon came across the local theater. It was a bright exciting building with fluorescent like lights outlining a billboard with several movie titles running across the sign. Y/N couldn’t help but to marvel at the archaic looking structure, a strange wave of nostalgia hitting her with the sensation of fluttering butterflies in her stomach in the face of a new adventure happening simultaneously. 

They followed the mass of people filtering inside the theater, immediately smelling the salty popcorn lingering in the air. A couple of concessions stand off to the left side of the room and a large staircase leading upwards onto another level which had two sets of doors on both ends; one side of the stairs people walking up and the other people walking down. The carpet was a deep red with an albeit gaudy pattern, and plush as Y/N stepped across it with the boys standing with her. 

Once again she took a moment to memorize the intricacies of everything little detail the theater had to offer; from the carpeted floor to the towering ceiling, she admired it all. 

Without realizing it until he spoke, Bucky had already pulled her with him to the nearby concession stand. There was a young woman about their age, who smiled at them as they approached. “What can I do for you?” 

Steve, pulling out his wallet, briefly smiled at the woman, “Hello, can I get three tickets for the next showing of ‘Blossoms in the Dust’?” 

The woman began to look through what appeared to be a small ledger filled with the titles of movies and their runtimes. She dragged her finger down to find the name, then across for the time. “Looks like the next show is in fifteen minutes in theater 4, just up those stairs behind you. Will that be okay with you?” 

“Yes, that will be fine.” 

Soon after, the lady pulled out three paper tickets, pulling them apart from the pre-cut dotted line and setting them down onto the counter. “That’ll be 0.75¢.”

Steve pulled out three quarters and politely placed them in the lady’s palm who brought her hand up upon seeing him take out the coins. She pressed a rather large bulky button on the cash register, not bothered by the loud clunking sound it made as the bottom tray shot open only stopped by her close torso. “Would you like any refreshments?” 

“Uh yes, please.” Bucky instead answered, stepping forward causing Y/N to pull her arm away from his to let him take out his own wallet. “Can we get a popcorn bag for each of us, and three drinks too please?” 

“Of course. That’ll be…” The woman continued punching away at numbers on the register until it made a ding sound. “$3.00.” 

Bucky quirked a brow at the price, shaking his head a bit but said nothing as he handed the woman three one dollar bills. Again she opened the register before turning away to fetch their food and drinks. 

Soon the trio were making their way up the red stairs, and through a set of double doors. Notably, the auditorium was nearly packed, men, women, and children filling the rows of seats with very to pick from. Leaving the three standing by the doors for a few moments when Bucky pointed over toward the far right side of the room, conveniently three seats left open just for them. While walking past the lot of people somewhat loudly talking amongst each other, Y/N would glance up every now and then, catching glimpses of ads for new products and cartoons the like; all in black and white. 

Once reaching their seats, Bucky stepped to the side to let Steve in first then gestured for Y/N to follow him and then finally sat down on the end, leaving Y/N sandwiched between the two men. They situated themselves, shifting every which way to get perfectly comfortable in the chairs, eventually sitting their popcorn in their laps to open their drinks.

Y/N noticed Bucky being able to twist the bottle cap of his coke with no problem while watching Steve struggle a bit as he twisted the cap a couple of times before getting it off. Finally, she reached down on her own to do the same and felt the cap’s ridged edges pinch at her skin. She quickly let go to find another angle to twist it but it still bit at her flesh. 

“Ow…” She mumbled to herself, flicking her wrist back and forth a couple times. 

“Here, let me..” Bucky said, already taking the glass bottle from her hand and quickly removed the cap. “There you go, wasn’t so hard.”

Y/N laughed at his quip. “Of course it wasn’t hard, I loosened it for you first.” 

He appeared surprised by her playful retort but the surprise quickly vanished, replaced by fondness. “Well, thank you very much, ma’am. I don’t know how I could’ve managed it without you.” 

“Cheers.” Y/N grinned, lifting her bottle towards him. 

Bucky followed her motion, tapping his bottle against her’s with a noticeable clink. “Cheers.” 

“Steve, cheers.” Y/N now turned her bottle towards Steve’s who happily cheered with her as well. “Now we all three do it at the same time.” 

Steve laughed, sitting forward in his seat to get a better reach with Bucky who sat to Y/N’s left. “Cheers.” 

“Cheers.” Bucky and Y/N said at the same time then clanking all three of their bottles together. The moment they had, the lights lining the theater dimmed almost completely and the very beginnings of the movie credits started to play. 

Y/N spared one more glance to the two men, smiling to herself in silent gratitude before looking back to the projector screen while the grandiose music of the film filled the entire room with the promise of hopeful dreams and dramatic adventure. 

Nearly two hours later, after the movie reached its inevitable end, Bucky, Y/N, and Steve found a nice little outside seating area at a local diner and discussed the movie they just watched.

“I think she got a bad wrap.” Bucky clearly stated, taking a bite of his hot dog since he’d wanted something other than a burger unlike Y/N and Steve. 

“I think everything worked out the best it could have.” Steve admitted his own opinion on the matter, bringing his milkshake straw to his lips to drink from. 

Y/N wiped the expanse of her mouth with the napkin she’d grabbed after getting her food. “Honestly, I felt bad for her. She lost her sister, then her husband, and the one kid who she really felt like a mother too. It’s kind of sad.” 

“So you didn’t like it?” Bucky bluntly asked. 

She laughed at the straightforwardness. “No, I liked it, I’m just saying that it was a little sad is all. Though I think Steve is right, despite everything she still chose to stay with all those orphans and gave them the home they never had.” 

“Look, now…” Bucky took a quick sip of his soda. “I’m not saying that that isn’t nice, I simply think she should have gotten to stay with that one kid with the hurt leg.” 

“Well I’m sorry, next time I’ll look into a happier movie.” Steve lamented playfully with a shrug of his hands. 

Y/N, sitting next to Steve, squeezed his arm warmly. “Ah don’t worry about that, I liked what you chose tonight.” 

“There’s supposed to be a cartoon about a flying elephant later this year, maybe we should see that. That’s probably more of a happy movie.” Bucky smirked watching Steve half heartedly glare at him. 

Y/N’s brow furrowed in thought at the familiar description of the movie, but otherwise kept her conclusions to herself since she knew exactly what he mentioned and had in fact, already seen it. 

“Oh!” Bucky abruptly said a bit louder than he intended, drawing a couple of eyes to himself. “Let’s go dancing.” 

“Dancing?” Y/N repeated inquisitively. 

Bucky nodded. “Yeah, dancing. I’ve seen a bunch of people pass by here, all dressed up and what not and I remembered I haven’t been dancing in a while. So I figured why not?”

Steve suddenly started to clam up, shrinking into himself in a way. 

“How often do you go dancing exactly?” Y/N questioned, feeling a bit curious about the late night activity so many participated in from the old days. 

“Usually I go a couple of times during the week, but Steve here doesn’t ever go.” Bucky called him out with all the manner of teasing. 

Y/N pursed her lip outward as she thought about it before speaking. “Do you know how to dance?” 

Steve nodded. “I do but there’s hasn’t been much reason to go, that and no woman will dance with me; I’m too skinny.”

His words caused her heart to sink. How could people be so blind to his kindness nor give him the time of day to show them his sincerity. The thought honestly made her kind of angry. 

“I’ll dance with you.” She stated matter of factly, slightly amused when Steve jerked his head to meet her eyes. 

“Oh, you…you don’t have to do that, really I can be a little clumsy.” Steve stuttered, hands fidgeting as they rested on top of the table. 

“I want to, if you’re okay with it?” Y/N gently prodded, hand still resting comfortably on his arm. 

In his embarrassed state, Steve tried to appeal to Bucky on what he should do with a sort of desperate look and all Bucky did was smirk at him. Steve sighed in defeat but it wasn’t an unwelcome outcome, he just didn’t know if he had it in him to face the awkward situation if he were to make good on his statement about being clumsy in front of Y/N. 

“Alright, yeah, I’m okay with it. Sounds nice.” 

Y/N grinned at him, patting Steve’s arm a few times while standing from her spot on the bench. “Well I’m done eating, let’s go now.”

“I know a good dance hall, a few blocks from here. They're always open late.” Bucky said, standing up from his spot as well to throw away the paper tray that held his food into a public trash can. He watched Steve and Y/N do the same, seeing a spring in Y/N’s step as she was quick to grab Steve by the hand and then his, pulling them both to the sidewalk. 

“Come on, let’s hurry! I want to see what the dance hall looks like.” 

“We’re coming, Princess!” Bucky chuckled with her as he soon took the lead. 

As Bucky had said, down a couple of blocks there was a fantastic dance hall much like the theater, streaming with many lights with people bustling in and out. There was the sound of excited music recognizable even from outside, muffled only by the doors that kept being opened before they could fully close. Bucky continued to lead them, opening the door for Y/N to step through first then Steve and himself. 

Despite the throws of people walking past in a blur of motion, Y/N could only see the magnificent hall; the ceiling cascading upward with abnormally large streamers hanging from the walls for color, the luscious dance floor filled to the brim with many couples as the men twirled their girls and their skirts fluttered up like kites carried by the wind. In the space between the designated dance floor and walls, sat many tables made from a chestnut brown wood and shiny with polish, a modest bar sat on the right side where patrons who ordered drinks and laughed with the bartender before moving on to dance. And finally the stage housed an energetic band as they played a song she shockingly knew. 

“Take the “A” Train by Duke Ellington.” She mentally noted, seeing the sea of smiles and laughter throughout the building. 

“You guys want a drink?” Bucky shouted over the boisterous noise of the hall even as Y/N and Steve stood right next to him. 

Instead of answering with words, Steve and Y/N only nodded prompting Bucky to nod back as he then pivoted away toward the bar. 

“Let’s go find a table.” Steve tugged on her hand still holding onto his to the tables a few feet away. 

It took no time at all to find a spot, prompting Steve to pull out a chair for her which she gladly thanked him. They sat there for a time, chatting as well as they could in such a packed house until Bucky came sauntering over with three drinks. 

“Here you go, three beers. Bartender was feeling a bit generous, gave me these for 0.50¢ total.” He set the bottles on the table passing one to Steve then to Y/N. 

“Wow, that’s pretty good for a crowd like this.” Steve awed, taking the smallest sip of his drink. Y/N agreed silently that it was indeed a very generous offer. 

“Alright, come on, Steve stop dragging your feet. You said you’d let her dance with you. Don’t want to keep a lady waiting, do you?” Bucky joked, nudging his thin arm.

Steve huffed, “I’m not, I’m just sitting down.” 

Bucky gently grasped Y/N hand, helping her to stand then yanked Steve up with one heave. “We didn’t come here to sit, now go dance.” 

And with that, he pushed Steve toward Y/N who giggled at Steve’s apprehension and Bucky’s encouragement.

With the upbeat song keeping up a quick rhythm, Y/N led Steve onto the dance floor while carefully avoiding the spinning of the other patrons. 

The people surrounding them politely gave them enough space to prepare to dance as everyone else was. Y/N and Steve shared a hesitant glance before Steve gently took her right hand and guided her right arm to wrap around his shoulder. He stepped a bit closer, his left arm wrapped her waist to rest on the small of her back then took position. 

“You ready?”

Y/N nodded. “Yes, sir”

Steve smiled at her answer then a bit quicker than she was expecting, Steve dipped forward then back then forward again and back. Y/N swiftly matched his movements, dipping with him instead of leaving him to it himself. 

A few more times, Steve dipped forward and back moving with the fast movements of the people around him then Steve took her hand taking a step back, planted his feet to the ground then twirled Y/N out only to bring her back into him before spinning them both around. Y/N couldn’t resist the bellows of laughter that escaped her throat as Steve spun them around while twirling her a few times, causing her skirt to flutter out like a ballerina. 

All of the things she expected from Steve, small Steve, this was not one of them. Despite his small size, he truly did know how to dance; pulling her in and out as if she weighed nothing at all. 

How could anyone turn down this enthusiastic dancer? 

Their dancing went on for a couple of minutes, Y/N not sure the song was ever going to end until she heard the music stop and the crowd of people began to clap. She copied the people’s clapping, laughing some more as she and Steve shared a look of elation. 

There was a brief inter pause while the band prepared for their next song. A new woman came out from behind a curtain, dressed in a red sweater dress with a bow tied around her waist, and a pearl necklace complimenting the dress. Her blonde hair curls hung down to frame her face and were clipped back to keep her bangs from bothering her eyes 

Soon a much softer song began to play. 

The night is like a lovely tune. 

Beware my foolish heart. 

How white the ever constant moon. 

Take care, my foolish heart.

“May I?” A familiar voice charmingly asked. 

Y/N and Steve immediately saw Bucky standing there, a suave smile gracing his face, and a hand extended to Y/N.

“Of course.” Steve took Y/N’s hand and set it against Bucky’s who carefully pulled her to him much like Steve had earlier, but instead he brought her so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. 

“Thank you, Steve. That was truly wonderful.” Y/N thanked as Steve walked away. He gave her a curt nod, and a bashful smile. 

When she turned to face Bucky, they shared a chuckle, gently swaying with the slow song. 

“And thank you, for giving him a chance. God knows he deserves it.” Bucky unexpectedly admitted to her. 

Though slightly taken aback, she shook her head. “There’s nothing to thank, Steve is wonderful and I’d be more than happy to dance with him.” 

Bucky continued to sway them both. “Does that mean you prefer Steve over me?” 

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen any of your dance moves yet, mister.” Y/N teased, surrendering herself to let Bucky take the lead.

There’s a line between love and fascination.

It’s hard to see on an evening such as this.

For they both give the very same sensation

When you're lost in the magic of a kiss.

A beat of quiet filled the air except the sweetness of the music followed with beautiful lyrics. 

“In all seriousness, I’m glad you’re here Y/N.” 

The euphoric excitement that had occupied every part of her being was suddenly washed away with a nostalgic sorrow. 

“Where did that come from?” Y/N asked, trying to brush off the ache his confession brought to her heart. 

Bringing her hand inward, he brought it to rest on his chest as he pulled her closer; forehead almost touching as he confessed. “I know that you’ve been feeling out of place ever since you got here, and you’re worried about being a burden but I want you to know that you are not or ever will be a burden. Having you with Steve and I has been a joy.”

The ache in her chest continued to grow from her heart, to her throat, to her eyes. The beginnings of tears rushing to the surface like a broken dam.

Your lips are much too close to mine.

Beware my foolish heart. 

But should our eager lips combine

Then let the fire start.

Bucky noticed the tears, however he didn’t have a chance to mention them as Y/N buried her face into his shirt, her arm wrapping around his back tightly to feel more of his presence. 

He brushed his hand tenderly over the expanse of her back, lips lingering on her temple then placing a kiss there. “No matter what happens or whatever you’re going through, I want you to understand that you belong here. Even if this wasn’t your home, you belong here with us…”

Fresh tears rolled down the skin of her cheeks, leaving tracks in their wake as the evidence of her broken heart. At the same time, the feeling of grief sank deeper into her soul, replaced by hope, love for a man she believed she’d never have again.

“With me. If you want.” 

Could she really belong here?

For this time it isn’t fascination

Or a dream that will fade and fall apart.

It’s love, this time it’s love

My foolish heart.

“My foolish heart…."

________

a/n:

Decided to cut down the parts of the song “My Foolish Heart” included in this chapter since it felt a bit redundant to have the same lyrics in twice. If you listened to the song while reading this then you know what I’m talking about. 

Originally I was going to have them see “Dumbo” seeing as it was released in 1941, however it came out in theaters on October 23. It wouldn’t have been possible for the trio to have seen it since the month at which Y/N comes to the 40’s is early June and this chapter takes place some weeks later when it’s July. Though I did cheat with the song attached to this chapter (I couldn’t help it, it fit so perfectly!) This version of “My Foolish Heart” sung by Margaret Whiting came out in a movie by the same name in 1949. 

When it comes to the movie theater scene, $3.00 in 1940’s New York is actually expensive for the time even though today it would be amazing to only pay $3.00 for food at theaters. The calculations may be a bit off as I had to base the price of the food for how much they were sold independently in stores rather than a whole thing like we do today at the movies. Movie tickets back then were also sold for 0.25¢ per person. 

It’s crazy what you learn while doing research for a fanfiction. I enjoy it all the same!

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

AO3 Tag Game!

Tagged by @mvshortcut :) I'm gonna stick with just this fandom/this account for this one to make it less confusing

How many works do you have on AO3?

44. (Including snippet collections.) For this fandom/account. Far more if you count bi-demon-ium or my old account or my older account or

What’s your total AO3 word count?

Okay this one it won't let me separate by pseud or fandom so you're just gonna have to live with being lumped in with all my MBS and a few other misc fics at "653,461". Didn't get the other accounts though. Man, I'm a mess

How many fandoms have you written for, and what are they?

Okay, well, this one by nature is also not solely for this fandom,

(number in parentheses is number of ao3 works posted)

Ted Lasso (obviously) (44) (including snippet collections)

The Mysterious Benedict Society (116) (also including snippet collections)

Instinct (2) (one is a small snippet collection--)

House MD (1)

Death by Dying (1)

Gravity Falls, technically, but it was one crossover (1)

ditto with The Legend of Zelda (1)

King Falls AM (1)

The House in the Cerulean Sea (6)

Shadowhunters (??? at least 36) (some now hidden/lost)

Professor Layton (1)

The Librarians (2)

The Sandman (1)

The Mentalist (2)

Star Trek (AOS) (1)

Sanders Sides (at least 1)

Miraculous Ladybug (1)

Rosewell: New Mexico (2)

The Dresden Files (1)

That's stuff posted to ao3/finished. There's also, technically,

for stuff I published when I was twelve and I now refuse to acknowledge (not all bc of the fandom but bc the fic was Bad):

Doctor Who

Supernatural

Sherlock

Psych

Castle

Welcome to Night Vale

Avengers

A Series of Unfortunate Events

And then stuff I've written for but never finished:

Warehouse 13

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)

Dirk Gently (2010)

SurrealEstate

Zoo (podcast)

Once Upon a Time

Scooby Doo

Person of Interest

The Goes Wrong Show

Spy Kids (???)

Ace Attorney

The Adventure Zone

Criminal Minds

Star Trek (TOS, TNG, and DS9)

Haven

MacGyver

Trollhunters

exactly one (1) joke The Magnus Archives fic

Percy Jackson and the Olympians + The Kane Chronicles + Tales of Apollo

Leverage

Pushing Daisies

The Sarah Jane Adventures

Megamind

Bones

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Lucifer

Some of these are deeply questionable and/or only have like two (2) wips or even posted works at most, but I'm thorough. Also, I will write about almost anything bc my brain loves to process things like this. I may have even missed something

Top five fics by kudos:

Ted Lasso Kisses Trent Crimm On The Mouth (1125)

semaphore (977)

off the handle (719)

linger (699) (nice)

a preacher, a bikini, and a kiss or two (641)

Do you respond to comments?

I really try to, but then I get all in my head about it and/or am really really tired and put it off so long it then feels like it would be weird to respond because it's been forever. However, if there's a direct question or something I want to address/respond to, as in, I have something particularly unique to say or a question to answer, then I'll usually respond really fast

What’s the fic with the angstiest ending you’ve ever written?

Honestly, I'm not a huge unhappy ending person, a lot of the time I'll have a first chapter I was initially going to end really angsty (see ink sunset and make a mess of you) and then added more to fix it at least somewhat. As is... maybe the somewhat unresolved emotional tension (for Ted and Trent, at least, Roy's doing great) in something to get off my chest, the +1 for betrayal's sting / absolution's balm? I have some worse ones in an old fandom on an old account but. meh.

Do you write crossovers?

Not often, but I rotate them in my brain. Honestly, though, I'm more inclined to write a fusion than a crossover proper. And even so, I tend to just be thinking about it rather than actually writing it. I've only written one crossover in recent memory (recently, that is) and it was mostly a joke about a shared actress made into actual angst.

Have you ever gotten hate on a fic?

Yeah lmao

Do you write smut?

😏 sure do

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

👁️👁️ not in this fandom

Have you ever had a fic translated?

yes!! also not in this fandom

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

In this fandom? Trent/Ted. overall? no idea, because recency bias, my all-time favorite is whatever I'm into right now, which isn't really objective but hyperfixationitis.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish, but don’t think you ever will?

:( so many. AND there are a lot of posted fics I want to write a sequel/companion piece for and idk if I'll ever get the energy...

I guess off the top of my head, for this fandom, I'd go with lost sight of (who you are) (motivation died because it's old enough no one knows it exists anymore lkfgjh) and ink sunset (I WANNA FINISH IT I DO I DO I DO)

What are your writing strengths?

I think I can write a really funny string of dialogue, and I'm also fond of fun metaphors, both in the elegant poetic way and in the more Douglas Adams/Terry Pratchett way (which is to say, still potentially elegant but also comedic as hell)

What are your writing weaknesses?

Motivating myself to write anything; being overly self-indulgent

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fics?

I'm extremely bad at linguistics in general, so if I must include someone talking in another language in my fic, I think I'd tend to cheat and do italics or some other indication that this is 'in another language' (ie "Where are you going?" she asked in Russian), but that's admittedly a lazy approach. But I also think it's probably better than butchering it with an auto-translator? Also, when people just include the translation in the end notes, even with a link (although that makes it marginally better) it breaks the flow of the story and makes it hard to read. Making an effort to at least match grammar is good (which I would do if it was for longer than a single scene, probably) but I think the best solution is when people know what they're doing and like, have an actual translation with a little html code so you can click on it and it reveals what it means? Or if you're clever, revealing what it means using context around it, but that has its own limitations. So that both like, uses the actual language and doesn't break up the flow. It balances accessibility, flow, and respect for the other language in question well. But you've got to both know what you're doing with the language (either asking someone/hiring someone/knowing the language yourself) and the html (although there are guides for that you'd have to spend time figuring it out + know it exists in the first place to look). And this is fanfiction, something we ultimately do for free in our spare time, so the lazy approach, I think, can be understandable. Maybe not in every context, but it's not worth stressing a lot over in a few random lines or anything, you know? It is really cool when people do know a language well enough to include it properly in a fic, though, it can say a lot about a character or dynamic; and their background(s) and like. it's neat :)

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Ever? Doctor Who. In a shitty little notebook in middle school. Then there was some Star Trek (both TNG and TOS) and Avatar: the Last Airbender and Marvel and such, and then Supernatural (my first smut? extremely terrible Destiel smut. rip) and I think the first thing I ever posted was Welcome to Night Vale? Not sure.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written so far?

Oh, man. I have no idea. Here's a few favorites from this fandom:

matters of the heart

trick & treat

vita nova

melt like this

"second impressions"

"reveal"

probably those time travel snippets, just in general

tagging:

PLEASE, if you want to do this, I'm begging you, tag me in it and do it. i'm too tired to come up with names im so sorry

[polyhexian]

Y'know that genre of TOH fic where Hunter stumbles through the portal a few years pre-series and gets adopted by the Nocedas? Okay so like, eventually AU offshoot that follows that premise, except Jasper and Hawk Hunter are there too.

The Golden Guard and the Martlet get blasted through the portal door during a fight and it closes behind them and they're just like, well shit. They have a brief standoff until it becomes clear that they don't have an immediate way back and Hunter is like "OKAY, we are stuck in the Human Realm and as much as it pains me to say this, we need to call a temporary truce so we can work together to survive and find a way home." Potentially this isn't long after that time the Martlet saved Hunter from those people who were attempting to ransom him so he's a little more willing to work with the guy at the moment. Hunter is being VERY MATURE by making the call to cooperate with this criminal, since they obviously need to join forces in this strange and uncharted territory, though once they get home they'll go right back to being enemies. Meanwhile Jasper is like uhhhhhh this is not an eventuality I prepared for but I maybe I can turn it to our advantage.

They make camp in the old abandoned house, because it's just sensible. It's free shelter and it's where the portal spat them out, best to stick around the area. It rains the very first night and there is brief panic followed by the awe of "oh wow it really doesn't boil!" while they stand in it and marvel, which quickly changes to "oh shit now we're cold and wet". They continue to marvel from the cover of the porch and stare at the non-boiling rain and the green grass and trees.

Hunter and Jasper: Wow, it's just like he said.

Hunter, squinting at Jasper suspiciously: Wait, like who said?

Jasper: Uhhhh hey, look, is that a jackalope without antlers?

That night they discover that the issue with old dilapidated houses is that they leak. They're lying on the one patch of dry-but-not-dry-rotted floor and Jasper is like "Hunter. Hunter, please, just give me the staff. I can fix the roof in sixty seconds tops and I promise I'll give it right back" and Hunter is like "THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I AM GIVING YOU THE STAFF."

The next few days are filled with wilderness survival skills, which is a little ridiculous considering they're in a small pocket of woods in the middle of suburbia, but like, those are HUMANS out there, we can't just APPROACH them! Unfortunately, suburban woodland is not conducive to foraging. Hawk Hunter is adept at catching antlerless jackalopes so they've got that going for them.

Hunter is trying to figure out how to get home, but Jasper is well aware that that was Eda's portal they went through and is pretty sure that it isn't gonna reopen anytime soon. He's also realizing that this could actually be the opportunity he's been waiting for. If they don't go back to the Boiling Isles, he has time to explain things to Hunter. Even if the kid refuses to believe him, what's he gonna do? He can't run back and tell Belos. Jasper might actually have time to convince Hunter of the truth.

(Idk how to justify the portal not opening for 1-2 years, but for the sake of the plot the portal needs to not open. Maybe Eda's taking a break from the Human Realm because the trash slug pickings are so good. Maybe she comes through one time and Jasper pounces on her and tells her she can ONLY DO IT at a predetermined time when he can make sure Hunter doesn't see it. Heck, maybe JASPER somehow has the portal key and hasn't told Hunter and is well aware that the portal WON'T open because he's got their only ticket home… And much later this leads to "WE COULD'VE GONE HOME THIS WHOLE TIME???")

After a few days Jasper's feeling pretty confident that this might actually work so he's like, okay, look, if we're working together it's not really convenient for me to wear this mask all the time, so…I'm gonna take it off. Uh. Please don't freak out.

Hunter: WHY THE FUCK DO YOU LOOK LIKE ME?

Jasper: Hey look, Hawk's brought dinner, I'm gonna go skin this byyyyyyye.

Inevitably, Luz discovers them.

And this is the point where I need to change gears, because tbh I'm having the most fun imagining this AU from Camila's POV.

Luz is like "Mama, I've made some friends! They're magic! They're living in the abandoned house out back! I'm taking them snacks!"

Camila is like MIJA WHAT? and runs after her. She's expecting criminals or delinquents and instead finds a pair of Renaissance Faire hobos. The man is very polite but his son is glaring at her and Luz suspiciously and they both hedge around basic questions like "why are you living in this abandoned house?" and "where did you come from?" with very unconvincing answers. Camila's realistic side is telling her to call the police, but her sci-fi side is taking note of their pointy ears, and the fact that their clothes look way more functional and lived-in than any cosplay she's ever seen, and how Luz keeps insisting that they're magic, and she's just like…y'know what, I'm just gonna leave this be.

Except she can't stay uninvolved because Luz keeps hanging out with these people and she's…glad her daughter is finally making friends, but she is also keeping an eye on them. She has…some concerns.

Camila: So what kind of hawk is that?

Jasper: Uh…brown?

Camila: …Do you have a falconry license?

Jasper: A what?

Camila is like, oh my god. Do I need to call the Fish & Wildlife Service?

She goes over to check on them one day and finds them in the middle of an argument amplified by non-magical staff fighting and she's just like, oh my god. Do I need to call Child Protective Services? Then she realizes that actually Hunter is inflicting most of the injuries here and Jasper's just kinda taking it while Hunter yells at him and she's like. Do…do I need to call Adult Protective Services?

One day she finds them skinning a deer on their front porch and she's like YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT and they're like what, why? and she's like YOU NEED A HUNTING PERMIT and they're like…why?

At some point Jasper decides to go scope out the town and maybe find a way to acquire some supplies. Camila sees him walking out of the woods by her house and she runs outside to stop him.

Camila: Jasper! You can't just walk around with a mask on!

Jasper: What? Uh…okay, I guess it is a little flashy, I'll just wear the face covering.

Camila: Jasper, you cannot go into town with your face covered, we don't do that here.

Jasper: But my face is going to attract a lot of attention I'd rather avoid?

Camila: You are going to attract SO MUCH MORE attention if you COVER YOUR FACE like a CRIMINAL.

Jasper: Okay, I'll just pull my hood down really far.

Camila: NO ONE WEARS CAPES OR HOODS, JASPER, ESPECIALLY NOT IN SUMMER. Look, how about I just drive you around town, and if anyone asks we'll tell them you're an avid hiker who survived a grizzly bear attack.

Jasper: What's a grizzly bear?

Camila: I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that question. Let me get my car keys. And grab you a t-shirt.

Hunter says something about how Hawk Hunter is an unholy creation of "wild magic" that needs to be destroyed and Camila's like "oh my god Hunter, no, animal cruelty is WRONG, and also all birds of prey are federally protected species" and Hunter's like "it's made of wood, Mrs. Noceda, it's not even really alive" and Jasper bursts out "HUNTER, THINGS THAT ARE MADE OF PALISTROM WOOD ARE DEFINITELY REAL AND ALIVE!" and Camila doesn't understand the resulting argument but while they're yelling she looks at Hawk Hunter and says "if you need a place to hide just knock on my door" and he scrutinizes her for a moment before giving her a solemn nod. She doesn't want to consider the implications of how she apparently just communicated with a bird.

She's really hung up on whether or not she needs to report a kidnapping. On the one hand, they're obviously father and son. On the other hand, Hunter has mentioned needing to get back to his uncle, who apparently raised him, and he doesn't seem very familiar with Jasper at all, and most kidnappings are committed by family members… But also Hunter's uncle kinda sounds like a religious extremist so…maybe Jasper has reverse-kidnapped a kidnapped child?

Jasper obviously cares about Hunter, but Hunter's acting more like an antagonistic roommate than a son. Though maybe that's just a teenager thing? He really doesn't treat Jasper like he's his dad at all though, Camila's pretty sure Jasper didn't raise Hunter. Best she can figure, after piecing bits together over time, Hunter was raised by his religious extremist uncle, who Jasper was also involved with somehow but managed to get away from, and he seems to want to get Hunter away too, but Hunter doesn't agree.

She becomes reasonably certain that they mean no harm (not that they're harmless, she has SEEN them fight), and she has to admit that she likes them, and she supposes she should be grateful that Luz is making friends. But Camila is WELL AWARE that Jasper and Hunter are, like, not…okay. She's not sure what Jasper's deal is but he clearly has issues. Hunter is a nice kid but he walks this weird line between demanding things like he has the power to requisition whatever he wants on a whim and being super nervously polite. Camila refers to Jasper as Hunter's dad one time, and Hunter turns red and shouts "HE'S NOT MY DAD HE'S MY ARCH-NEMESIS" and Jasper just grimaces and Camila is like I have no idea what you two need therapy for but you DEFINITELY need it.

Luz keeps running off to the woods with her Azura books. She says Hunter nitpicks them for everything they get wrong about magic but she doesn't mind because it sparks interesting conversations about what real magic is like. Camila finds herself wondering if Hunter would be more interested in sci-fi.

She starts digging around in her basement to see if there's any old junk they can use. Jasper's like "oooh can I take this typewriter?" and she goes "oh, sure! do you like writing?" and he's like "haha no it's for Hawk, he's upset he can't properly yell at me right now" and she's just like. Uh. Okay then.

Her old sewing supplies are also discovered. Jasper and Hunter are pretty self-sufficient but Camila does help them out a lot and hasn't called the Human Authorities on them so they're always looking for ways to repay her. Jasper offers to mend the pile of clothes she hasn't had time to fix up and she just gives him all these supplies she hasn't touched in years. So he's sitting there with fabric and thread like, okay, it's been a while, what do I want to make? And then he just instinctually starts on the pattern he's made a hundred times before. Hunter walks in on him an hour later and does a double take and goes "Is that Sprig??" and Jasper stabs himself with the needle.

Luz keeps talking about how they're magic, but Camila hasn't seen any magic. Camila isn't going to comment on the alleged magic. Camila DOES notice that every time she goes over the house appears to be a bit more fixed up, and then it somehow has electricity, and Jasper has started bringing her various fruits and vegetables as thanks-for-not-calling-the-cops gifts, which he is apparently growing in the garden that suddenly grew up overnight. There's an avocado tree, of all things. It popped up the day after she invited them over for dinner and served something with avocado in it and commented on how much she loved avocados and how annoyingly expensive they can be. She doesn't know how Jasper managed to get an avocado tree to grow in Connecticut and she's not gonna ask. It's eventually joined by an orange tree and a lemon tree and a coconut tree and after that last one she casually leaves behind a field guide to trees and their growing regions the next time she visits. Jasper might take it as a challenge because next thing she knows there's a plantain tree, too.

Hunter has either decided to trust Jasper with the staff, or has hit the point where he can't stand living in a leaky old house in a woodland that has proven TERRIBLE for foraging and is willing to risk lending Jasper the staff if it improves their situation, or refuses to trust Jasper with the staff but is willing to let Jasper coach him through how to fix up the house and grow the garden. Hunter's like "do you even know how to fix a house?" and Jasper's like "of course I do, and it'll be nowhere near as hard as remodeling a cave without magic" and Hunter's like "okay yeah from the ten seconds I saw of it it was a nice cave" and Jasper's like "aw you remember the cave?" and Hunter's like "shut up."

Luz wants to know allllll about the Boiling Isles and Hunter tells her about how great it is and she sighs like "I wish I could go there" and Hunter's like "Well, once we find our way home, you can come with us! Maybe I could convince my uncle to let you work with me. The Emperor's Coven is great, we get to sleep in until 5AM and we get a whole day off every year and we help bring order and stability to the Empire!" And Luz is like "Never mind, your fantasy world sounds oppressive. Ooh, wait, are there rebels? You said Jasper's your nemesis, does that mean he's a rebel? Maybe I'll just join the rebels" and Hunter's like "If you do that I'm legally obligated to arrest you" and Luz is like "Hey, my mom hasn't gotten you arrested for squatting, you owe me."

Camila actually manages to wheedle answers out of Jasper one day while they're drinking spiked lemonade on the porch (his lemons, her vodka) and she asks "what is you guys' deal?" Jasper admits "I am desperately trying to deprogram my son from a cult" and she's like holy shit okay that actually tracks. Do you want me to get you some books? Do you want me to call Rick Alan Ross?

At some point Hunter storms into Camila's house and announces that he is staying for the night, and possibly the foreseeable future, and then tacks on an anxious "please." Luz starts squealing about a sleepover and Camila is just like "Is…everything okay with you and your father?" and Hunter looks really lost and doesn't answer and lets Luz drag him away. Camila goes to see Jasper that night and finds him sitting on the porch roof gazing up at the suburban light pollution and she calls up "Are you two okay?" and Jasper grimaces down at her and says "I might've…told him about how I created him?" and Camila's like yikes, I hope things don't go this bad with Luz when I give her The Talk. Meanwhile Hunter is laying in a sleeping bag next to Luz, staring at the ceiling and having a crisis.

Idk, I don't actually have any ideas regarding The Reveal or father/son bonding or how this all factors into the show plot or whatever, like, I'm exclusively hooked on Camila being extremely concerned and confused but ultimately deciding that she isn't gonna narc on her weird new neighbors, lol.

I guess regarding father/son things, since this is probably not long after Manny's death and Luz is grieving, we could say she probably talks to Hunter a LOT about her dad, and how much she misses him, and Hunter sits through all these monologues and considers how his arch-nemesis is actually, apparently, his father, and between Luz's grief and being stuck in the Human Realm with no way home and the fact that he has always wondered about his family, he figures he can maybe give Jasper a chance. So that could work.

But really it's like, in the background we have Hunter and Jasper dealing with their fantasy problems and navigating their newfound relationship, and in the FOREGROUND we've got Camila helping them settle in and pass as humans and telling them to stop poaching the local ecosystem, god, this isn't 1600s colonial Connecticut this is suburbia, if you want meat I'll get you some from the grocery store, you give me more than enough avocados to make up for it. Also she's quietly researching squatter's rights and digging into public property records and asking her elderly neighbors questions until she learns that the folks who owned the abandoned house retired to Florida and died 20 years ago and their son who inherited has apparently forgotten he owns the place.

I guess at some point Jasper and Hunter DO go look around town, which is when we get "Why is the Golden Guard symbol on this town's sign?" and then Hunter stares at a certain statue before calling over to Jasper "Hey, who's Caleb Wittebane and do you have any idea why we look exactly like him?" while Jasper is like "Caleb WHO?" and then five seconds later both of them looking at the other statue and going "Is that fucking BELOS?"

Luz: Why are you two suddenly obsessed with researching my boring town's boring history?

Hunter: IT'S IMPORTANT, HUMAN. Tell me everything you know about the Wittebanes!

Luz: Uhhhh idk, I think there was a reenactment at the Halloween festival last year? I didn't pay attention, reenactments are dumb.

Hunter: HOW do you know so little about the place where you live??

Luz: Dude, I've lived here for less than two years. Besides, historical witches are nothing like fantasy ones. They're BORING. That reenactment was a trial. Why would I want to think about the colonial legal process when I'm thinking about witches? Have you seen my report card? History is not one of my special interests.

Unfortunately for Luz, history has just become Hunter and Jasper's special interest, and she is their unwilling guide and provider of context for Human Things. They start exploring Old Gravesfield and she's like "whyyyyyyy are we wandering around an old cemetery full of dead people no one cares about anymore??" while Hunter and Jasper are taking note of old Puritan names on the headstones and Jasper is like "there are WAY too many of these that are similar to past Golden Guard names, that can't be a coincidence." They go to the historical society and low-key grill Jacob Hopkins for info (low-key because the guy is happy to talk and talk and TALK) while Luz is just dying in the background. They don't have ID to get library cards so they keep dragging her to the library to check out books for them. They're reading about colonial history and Puritan philosophy and Luz is just like WHY do you CARE, you guys are from a FANTASY WORLD that is SO MUCH COOLER than this boring old place! Hunter shows her his cloak like "Luz the Golden Guard symbol is on the historic seal of your town" and she's like OH WAIT MAGICAL MYSTERY?? and is suddenly a bit more interested.

Camila comes home one day to find Jasper facedown on her living room floor surrounded by books while Hunter paces around muttering to himself and she goes to Luz in the kitchen like "Uh…are they okay?" and Luz looks up from her phone like "Huh? Oh, yeah, I think they just found out they're Christian or something."

Camila is like. Um. What?

Luz goes on "But not, like, Narnia fantasy generic Christian, like. Weird Christian. I dunno, they've been taking a lot of notes about Puritan beliefs and Bible verses and I think something must've clicked because they both suddenly bluescreened. They haven't said much but I guess there's a lot of stuff that's really uncomfortably familiar to them?"

Camila tentatively says "I was under the impression that Hunter's uncle was some sort of fundamentalist" and Luz nods like "Oh, yeah, Jasper says Belos is like 400 years old and we have a working theory that he might be Philip Wittebane. I'm just waiting for them to finish reprocessing whatever trauma they just realized is probably religious so they can start infodumping what they just figured out."

(In the living room Jasper is like "He insisted on naming you Hunter. Oh my god. Oh my GOD. That witch-hunting ASSHOLE." Hunter is like "I never bothered to doubt the Day of Unity or 'the will of the Titan' but this 'predetermination' thing sounds very similar and also like complete bullshit. Saying it's the will of an invisible man in the sky makes it sound stupid, but with that perspective I guess it's also stupid to say it's the will of a visible corpse on the ground?")

Of course, Luz won't let them obsess over history forever, so they compromise and do other things too. Like watch nature documentaries, which are less boring for Luz but still helpful for Hunter and Jasper because suburban Connecticut is not a great example of the Human Realm's various ecosystems. Camila finds Hunter watching his fifth documentary about wolves and she's like "are wolves your favorite animal now?" and he's like "no, this is just…extremely important research" and she's like "of course mijo" and then gets him a pack of wolf patches that he sews on all his clothes. She doesn't understand why he and Jasper are so offended by giraffes, though.

Hunter also DOES turn out to love sci-fi. A lot. Camila lets him go through her Cosmic Frontier collection and he flies through it as fast as Luz flew through Azura. Camila isn't sure why he latches on to Chief Engineer O'Bailey so strongly but she knows a comfort blorbo when she sees one. Luz is like "ugh but why sci-fi?" and Hunter is like "the only reason your 'fantasy genre' isn't realistic fiction is because it's WRONG."

At some point Luz has to go back to school. Camila takes note that Hunter is not going to school. She asks about it one time and receives two blank stares in response and then Hunter's like "I finished my schooling years in advance?" and Jasper's like "yeah he's brilliant, he's got published papers in academic journals and everything" and Hunter's like "wait you know about that?" and Jasper's like "of course I know about that! they're really good" and Hunter looks a little touched by this and Camila decides she isn't gonna push the school thing cuz she's pretty sure neither of them legally exist anyway.

Luz complains about school and Hunter is like "You need to pay attention to your teachers and apply yourself to your education!" and Camila is like oh thank god, finally, someone being a positive influence on Luz's academic life. Except then Hunter continues like "Following the rules is the most important thing anyone can do for the betterment of society, deviating from the norm puts all of civilization at risk!" and Camila's like wait no not like that.

On the plus side though Luz does finally get good grades in history! At least for the Colonial America segment. Hunter is offended by her lackluster academic performance so he starts reading her textbooks and helping her with homework and Camila is just thankful that Luz finally has a supportive study buddy. Though she does have to put her foot down when she realizes Luz is trying to get Hunter to write her essays. You have to do your own work, mija; if he's really good enough to get published in academic journals that don't exist, that means your teachers aren't going to believe you wrote it anyway.

So yeah, this goes on for a year or two, and then TOH happens.

I don't really have any ideas regarding how this entire setup would end up affecting the series proper, but I guess it's like. TOH starts but Luz and Hunter and Jasper already know everything. They've figured out the Wittebane backstory and with Jasper's knowledge they've connected it to Belos. They don't know why a witch hunter has made himself emperor, but Belos is obviously evil so it can't be for good reason. Luz gets to the Boiling Isles and she's just like "AW YEAH the last couple of years were just my prologue, TIME TO BE THE MAIN CHARACTER!" while Jasper is like "Hunter please don't do anything stupid I am begging you" and Hunter is like "I JUST WANT TO ASK BELOS ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON DOUBLE PREDESTINATION!" (Hell, it's been a year or two, potentially Hunter storms straight into six-month-old Will and is like "oh my god" while Jasper is like "I TOLD YOU" and Will is like "this job gets more suspicious every day.")

Basically Luz, Hunter, and Jasper would end up speedrunning the entire anti-Empire part of the plot. Belos is like "wait what's happening" when the girl he thought he duped centuries ago ends up being super aware of everything he's doing, and Raine is like "wait WHAT'S happening?" when the Martlet suddenly reappears with plans to kill Belos, and Eda is like "ahaha what is HAPPENING?" when Marty and the two kids tagging along with him start causing chaos. (And Will can just be like "wait what IS happening? hmm.")

But meanwhile Camila is left staring at Vee like. Okay. I have a snake daughter now. My human daughter's run off to another realm but I can probably count on Jasper to make sure she doesn't get snatched up by Hunter's uncle's weird religious cult. I've already paid for summer camp so I'm gonna send my new snake daughter off to learn human skills and we'll figure this out.

And then she does her best to keep an eye on Jasper and Hunter's house and keep Jasper's improbable avocado tree alive while he's away. He'd better get back before the autumn frost sets in because she is NOT losing this avocado tree. This is her favorite tree in the entire world and it has done wonders for her grocery bill. Jasper has come over to her house in the dead of winter with a basket full of fresh-picked avocados on multiple occasions and she has never once pointed out that avocados do not grow in the cold, because she highly values her avocado access.

At some point the Day of Unity happens and the gang ends up in the Human Realm but at least Jasper has a house and a garden and knows how to operate here so that takes a lot of weight off Camila. And since the house is nice and lived in it's very easy to see the weird lump of sludgy goop trying to crawl out the door. Camila scoops it up into a glass jar and stares at the single blue eye that stares back at her and asks "Do I want to know what this is?"

"That's my FUCKING UNCLE!" Hunter snaps, snatching the jar from her and shaking it. "Alright asshole, I don't know HOW you survived but I'm glad you did because I have QUESTIONS. Dad, can you grab all my books on Calvinist philosophy? Luz, I need a notebook."

"Hunter I am NOT helping you go insane over Puritans again."

Camila figures they know what they're doing and leaves them to it. She doesn't really want to know how the sludge is Hunter's uncle, but she supposes it's fitting. And she has to admit that she can't really ignore the magic thing anymore. She has a snake daughter now. Magic is clearly real.

Though there's always going to be a small part of her that groans and wonders whyyyyyyyyy did it have to be fantasy? Why magic? Why couldn't it have been a spaceship that landed in the backyard?

Grabs u

Okay I am an angst goblin tho so IMAGINE they tumble through the portal for Reasons and like two weeks later while hunter is out foraging for mushrooms or something Eda pops up and jasper has to tackle her to keep Hunter from seeing, and he's like listen, here's the infodump on what is Up with me and hunter now. This is my best chance to deprogram him. I just need a little more time. So don't come back when he will be here to see you. And Eda is like oh okay sure. Only jasper just keeps pushing off the inevitable "it's time to tell Hunter we can leave" even once he actually managed to get hunter on his side regarding "Belos should not be beating you" and maybe even "the empire is bad-" and, you know. "He is lying to you." ONLY.... Eventually the cookie has to crumble, right? Eventually the bubble has to pop.

One day Eda pops in and pops out, but Luz followed her and left the door open. Just long enough for hunter to see it! And hunter is like omg a way back. But like. For whatever reason he can tell that jasper doesn't want to like maybe he sees jasper closing the door or something and they get into a huge argument and hunter realizes that jasper has known how to get home for YEARS and has kept it secret- so. You know. "He is lying to you." Then the door pops back open and vee comes through, only for hunter to be like fuck YOU and dart straight into the door and slam it behind him, leaving jasper and vee standing outside like HHHHHHHHH

Jasper desperately trying to keep things together like. He knows Eda will be back soon. Either she will toss the human back out or she will come for more crap in a few days. He can keep this under control. He tells vee to pretend to be luz, hey, I was also a slave to the emperor, yada yada ill protect you, just make sure Camila doesn't find out her fucking kid is missing. And he's like okay: I have three months to get back to the boiling isles and retrieve luz and send her home before Camila notices and also I need to find hunter and Also convince him not to hate me for this and ARRRRGHHHH this sucks.

Hunter doesn't know Eda but he DOES know Luz and like. Imagine the hilarity of after Luz and hunter being neighbors and friends for like three years where he has said he could use magic but she's never actually seen it he like, leaps in front of her as if to protect her from Eda with his staff poofing oh some magic armour like back! Away from my innocent human friend who cannot protect herself! And she's just like what the FUCK was that. Gimme that fucking stick right now

Of course once Eda realizes she's gonna be like shit I gotta go get your dad but Hunter is like DAD? and Eda is like wow he really hasn't told you shit huh yikes. But Hunter knows Eda is gonna turn him in now so he's gotta skedoodle. Time to be a weird homeless child occasionally bursting into the main plot because he IS friends with Luz but he's avoiding jasper and Eda and anyone who might turn him in. So he's also like in hiding to not be recognized. And then will exists as the current Golden guard and I'm sure he annoys the piss out of Lilith.

But also just imagining jasper and Camila as getting to be really good friends and he's been insanely cagey with his past but she has gathered a general idea. Finding out like. The Awful Details. Also Hunter is out here trying to protect Luz- maybe even by sending her home lol. Jasper at the owl house with Luz and Eda while he tries to find hunter... And at SOME point Darius is going to show up and oh my god you're ALIVE? you've been in another DIMENSION? YOU BEING IN ANOTHER DIMENSION WAS UNRELATED TO YOU BEING SECRETLY NOT DEAD???

And Raine like. Seeing jasper without a mask and knowing who he is. Finally knowing what's up with hunter and him. And now jasper is staying with Eda. And jasper knows TOO much of raines shit. He knows they're a rebel leader and that's dangerous knowledge! Ohhh it's so dire here....

[iamthelemonlord]

Wangxian au thoughts that keep popping up in my mind. Might work in this and post on ao3:

*cw for saliva*

A 'mysterious girlfriend x' au. I can see this working with Wei Wuxian, being the new student. Instead of people thinking he's weird like in the au series, he'd be like in mdzs: charismatic. I think wwx would be the girlfriend role because he would actually sleep in class, waking up in the middle of it, and start laughing about his dream. The original character has more of a Lan wangji personality, but lwj would be a freak enough to lick the leftover drool on wwx's desk like the boy in the comic, which is why I'd put them in these roles. The dream of them dancing in a world that looks like ruin but still beautiful is more a wwx thing, but I can still see lwj having that dream too. But yes, if anyone gonna be love sick and need their lovers still drool so they don't get a fever, it'll be lwj, though unlike the comic, they'd be kissing instantly. Now, would wwx keep scissors in the lining of his undies? 🤔 I'd like to think so, but that's so much more a stoic character trait lmao

I do wonder if lwj would be brave enough to ask for sexual things like the guy did in the series? Wwx would def just let him grab him anywhere without even asking lmao but it really shows the awkwardness of being a teen to be like "may I grab a boobie 🥺👉👈" this feels more wwx too though but teen lwj maybe would be shy and ask lol

Anyways, maybe I'll try writing this out someday. I like the lovesick aspect and the only thing to cure it is to drink the lovers saliva once a day 🤣

This is the image of them dancing in the comic btw. I keep thinking of this comic note and again cuz of all the details the creator made for the background. It was insane. I love this series

Tried it a threadfic. Will fix it one day for ao3