#like can we stop speculating about celebrities sexualities?

[the-bulletproof-heart]

The "Taylor Swift is secretly gay/bi" truthers are the most annoying kinds of people

[allur1ngs]

✮ bloody knuckles ✮

TW: angst to fluff!! i know the summary seems like pure angst but i swear its not! semi-graphic violence? , guns, kidnapping, bada and reader get into an argument, reader acts naively and a bit selfishly (but it’s okay, she’s young and makes up for it in the end), bada still having beef w your bodyguard, protective!bada, cold!bada (this time to you too…), violent & frusterated!bada, brief mentions of sexual activity (inc…toys, ass, boobs… sorry), use of the word unnie (about six or so times) brief mentions of drugs, a creepy woman, and a surprise character from the previous installment! 

SUMMARY: breaking bada’s three rules for a night of partying backfires in ways you could’ve never imagined. now, you have to deal with the consequences of your lies

part iv. succumb (to me)

WC: 12.5k… get some popcorn y’all this is a long one

A/N: read this and this for more background on this au. i’m sure there are a ton of mistakes sprinkled throughout this fic so please ignore them, this took me so long to write and i just want to put it out on time… i promise i’ll edit it once i get the chance😭

DISCLAIMER: all characteristics portrayed are purely speculation and fiction, they are not meant to reflect bada or team bebe’s actual character, values, or attitudes. please keep this in mind!!

On an inconspicuous Thursday night, when a heat wave had just hit Seoul, you lounged in your lavish bed—free from sheets—scrolling through social media.

Pictures of cute animals and food fill your feed, making you smile down at your screen. You are about to like a particularly cute picture of a cat when a notification banner stops you midway. Your eyes flicker to the top of the screen, finding a message from your best friend, Jae Hwang.

Clicking on the notification, you're transferred into your messages app, and Jae’s text fills your screen. “Unnie, I haven’t seen you in so long!! Please come to the party I’m throwing tomorrow so we can catch up and have some fun~!"

Your lips fall open in mild surprise as you instinctively sit up. A party? You text Jae back quickly, asking the reason for the party and where it will be held.

“At my house, of course! We’re all gathering to celebrate your engagement!”

Your engagement… so your parents really hadn’t wasted any time spreading the good news. You’d barely been living with Bada for a month, and they’d already informed your friends. You shake your head and sigh rather loudly. Bada would greatly disapprove of your parents' loose lips. She preferred her privacy, not only for protection but also because she liked people staying out of her business. That much you could tell from the little time you’d had to get to know her.

Shifting your focus back to Jae’s unanswered text, you contemplate attending the party or skipping out. Though they were technically throwing it in your honor, they should have let you know beforehand instead of asking you the night before the party. You felt well within your rights to refuse, but a nagging thought holds you back.

What would you do instead? Technically, you had no plans on Friday night—or Friday at all for that matter. Saturday neither… nor Sunday. Really, you never had plans anymore. Since staying with Bada, you mostly remained inside the Lee mansion, either lounging by the large infinity pool, taking a dip in your personal Jacuzzi, or perhaps enjoying a film in the theater room on the second floor.

Or, if you wanted to leave home, you would be escorted by your bodyguard to certain malls, grocery stores, or establishments. All of which were either managed by Bada or by one of her partners. She made it clear to you from the start that going places not protected by one of her subordinates would be dangerous.

"I have connections to half the establishments in Seoul," she had muttered to you. It's incredible that despite the implications of the words falling from her mouth, Bada had a way of saying things so humbly. She didn't sound like she was boasting—though you wouldn't fault her if she was. "I bet some of the markets you entered when you were a child were run by my family, and you'd never have known."

You’d try your best to conceal your amazement at her confession, but the glow in your eyes was as clear as day to Bada. “And what about the rest?”

She let out a quiet breath, saying, "The rest are mostly run by rival gangs. Almost no stores or establishments are free of mafia influence. Not anymore, at least." Seeing the way your eyes shifted from bright to slightly apprehensive, she pushed her chair back and rose, walking around her desk before leaning on it and clutching onto its edges. "There's no need to worry about them. As long as you stay in areas where my people are, you are safe." Her hand came down to rest politely on your thigh, patting it in a comforting manner.

Her words made your stomach flutter with butterflies, and a giddy smile instinctively formed on your lips. For someone who claimed to want to avoid fostering romantic affection between you both, Bada seemed to be doing the exact opposite.

Before you could lose yourself in the tenderness of the memory, you climb out of bed, having made your decision. Because you barely left home as it is, what harm is there in going to a party? A party organized in your honor, no less. It’s a rare occasion, and truthfully, you miss Jae and the rest of your girlfriends. You haven’t seen them in over a month and texted them sparingly during that time. To be fair, it was mostly your fault—you were much too focused on getting to know Bada and adjusting to your new way of life to strike up conversations with them.

You nod your head firmly as if the action will help build your confidence before you grab onto the handle of your bedroom door and slowly open it. Standing to your right, the figure of your bodyguard, Hyo Kim, immediately greets you on the other side. She turns to face you, her black-tinted sunglasses obstructing your view of her eagle eyes.

“What are you doing up so late?” She says lightheartedly.

“Do you know if Bada is still awake?” You ask. “I wanted to ask her something.”

Hyo lifts her arm up, pushing aside the fabric of her suit to reveal a golden watch. She gazes down at it, pretending to think long and hard. “The Boss should be awake for about…” she trails off playfully, “another four hours.”

You chuckle under your breath, “I didn’t even need to ask, did I?”

“Not at all.” Hyo shakes her head while smirking.

“Alright then,” you clasp your hands together tightly, “I’m going to go see Bada.”

Hyo gestures ahead of you with her hand. “I’ll follow your lead.”

You nod quickly before advancing forward, her trailing close behind. You can’t lie; it was strange to have someone following after you almost every second of the day in the beginning. You remember that at the beginning of your stay at Lee mansion, you kept forgetting that Hyo was following you—she has the tendency to be extremely quiet when focused—and were jump-scared by her multiple times. You’d round corners and suddenly hear one of her heavier footsteps behind you, making you jump and your heart practically leap out of your chest.

At some point, you swear she started doing it on purpose, enjoying the look of fear you gave her when you jumped. Eventually, though, you started to grow used to her constantly lingering presence and even grew comfortable around her. Somewhere along the way, you’d both gotten to know each other more, and a slow but harmonious friendship grew.

“So, what are you going to ask the Boss about?” Hyo’s low and blithe voice cuts through the silence.

“Oh,” you begin, “my friend asked me to meet her and some of my other friends tomorrow night.”

“Really?” Hyo comments, her voice dripping with an emotion you can’t quite decipher.

“Yes,” you affirm. “I wanted to ask Bada if it’s okay for me to visit her.”

Hyo hums under her breath in acknowledgment. “She’ll appreciate that.”

“I hope so.” You smile lightly to yourself. “I just thought that since you follow me wherever I go, she’d find out either way, and I might as well get her thoughts on it.”

“Not to crush your hopes and dreams, kid, but I doubt she’ll say yes.” Hyo remarks.

“Really?” You pause and turn around to face her, a frown forming on your lips.

“The Boss values your safety more than anything else,” Hyo shrugs. “Meeting people she isn’t familiar with puts you at risk.”

“But they’re my friends.” You push back lightly.

“I get that, but like I said, the Boss only cares about keeping you safe.” Hyo raises her hands up in defeat.

You deflate at her words, acknowledging that she’s most likely right. After all the events that’d taken place in the span of a single month, you honestly wouldn’t hold it against Bada to be cautious of where you go. But at the same time, you can’t help but feel mild resentment at the fact that you aren’t even allowed to see your friends.

“Hey,” Hyo frowns at you like a scolding sister. “Don’t be discouraged. You haven’t even asked her yet. You never know; she just might say yes.”

You pick your head up at her words, slowly but surely nodding back. “Yeah, you’re right.” And with that, you continue walking down the corridor to Bada’s office until you reach the dark mahogany wood of her door. Lightly rapping on it, there’s a period of silence before you hear the low tenor of her voice speak up.

“Lusher, if you’re coming to ask me if I’ve finished the paperwork for POSCO’s deal, for the millionth time the answer is no, I haven’t.” Bada’s disgruntled voice makes you laugh to yourself, and you immediately bring your hand up to cover your mouth as you grin widely.

“Is now a bad time to see you, then?” You answer back cheekily.

You receive no response for a solid minute before the sound of papers rustling loudly and approaching footsteps reaches your ears. The door to Bada’s office opens, and there she stands in all her glory, looking rather flustered. “Sorry. I thought you were Lusher.”

You smile at Bada while shaking your head. “It’s alright. Can I come in?”

“Of course.” She steps aside, making room for you to walk into her office while she holds the door open for you. You say a quick thank you as pass through the threshold, missing how Bada lets the door swing closed behind her and shuts out Hyo. “So, is there a reason why you’re visiting me? It’s very late into the night; I expected you to be asleep already.”

“Well, I was about to go to sleep, but I got a text from Jae—” you pause upon seeing her frown. “my best friend.”

Bada nods in acknowledgment, moving toward a chair and pushing it back, gesturing for you to sit down. You do so, trying to ignore the nervous tension building in the pit of your stomach.

“Yeah, she invited—” you pause, choosing your next words carefully. Phrasing Jae’s invitation as a party would most likely mean Bada wouldn't let you go. So, if you just tweaked your wording a bit to make the party seem less extreme… it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, right? “she invited me to a get-together between friends.”

“A get-together?” Bada questions, folding her hands across her lap as she leans on the edge of her office table. “For what purpose?”

“Just to catch up and… celebrate our engagement.” You gesture between you both, immediately noticing how Bada’s expression shifts, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“They know of our engagement?” She asks.

“Yes,” you sigh. “I guess my parents couldn’t keep their excitement in check.”

“Your parents.” Bada shakes her head, pinching her nose-bridge tiredly. “I’ll have to have a word with them about that.”

“Please do.” You nod rapidly. “But aside from that, what I wanted to ask you was if I could be escorted to the get-together tomorrow night?”

Bada moves her gaze from the floor to your eyes, removes her hand from her face, and gives you a hesitant expression. “I don’t know… after all the incidents recently…” she trails off, a faraway look finding her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want you to feel like you’re a prisoner in your own home, or that you can’t see your friends, I just want you to be safe.”

“I get that, I really do, Bada, but this is just a small get-together.” You lie between your teeth.

Bada stays quiet, looking to be considering your words. “And you trust your friends, right?”

“I do.”

Bada lets out a light breath, while a small smile finds her lips. “All right then, you can go.”

“Really?” You give her a shocked look before you snap out of it and practically squeal, jumping up from your chair and instinctively wrapping your arms around Bada’s shoulders in a hug. “Thank you so much!”

Bada freezes in her spot, surprised by your affection. Slowly, a warm, sappy feeling builds at the bottom of her stomach, and her hands, which had been propped up in the air stiffly, gently come down to rest against your back, patting it tenderly. “You’re welcome.” She tries not to think about how lovely you feel against her or the allure of your natural scent.

You spend all Friday preparing for the party, choosing your makeup beforehand, your jewelry, shoes, and of course, your dress—a beautiful wine-red ensemble that you’d picked up on your shopping trip with Bada. She’d chosen it for you—claiming, “This dress would look beautiful on you.” The meaning behind her words, that it wasn’t the dress that was beautiful, but instead your figure that would make it look divine, had struck you in that moment.

If Bada wanted you to wear the dress, you’d buy it in a heartbeat.

For the little hours left you have in the day, you try not to get too giddy thinking of the party or how magnificent you’ll look in the dress, instead trying to busy yourself by catching up on one of your favorite TV shows. But when the milky raven sky begins to take over the horizon, you jump off of the couch, rushing to your room, leaving Hyo to scramble after you.

In your bedroom, you sit down at your antique-styled vanity, your makeup laid out in front of you. You begin prepping your skin before beginning your usual routine. It takes you a slightly longer time for you to finish because you’re being incredibly meticulous, but by the end of it, you look amazing. Before you can get distracted, you quickly dress yourself.

As your fingers curl around the clasp of your teardrop diamond earrings and secure them in place, you take a step back to gaze at yourself in your floor-length mirror.

The win-red dress hugs your body, accentuating every favorable feature of it. A similar dark rouge to your dress is blended across your eyelids in a smoky eye, making the color of your eyes pop in contrast. Your lips, fixed into a slight pout, are glossy and soft, tinted with a color of your choice. Taking your look all together, all you can say is that Bada was right—the dress does look beautiful on you.

A knock on your bedroom door startles you, your hand instinctively flying to your chest. "Hello?" You respond, a bit on edge.

"It's me. Can I come in?" Bada's voice, muffled behind the door, reaches you.

"Yes," you reply, hastily adjusting your dress and double-checking your appearance.

Bada enters just as your hands fall to your sides, her gaze immediately scanning your figure. She appraises you, from collarbones to legs, before fixing her eyes on your chest for a lingering moment.

Suppressing a nervous giggle, you greet her, "Hi, Bada."

Her eyes quickly snap up to meet yours, a sheepish cough escaping her mouth. "Hello."

Standing awkwardly by the door, Bada stares at you for a solid minute before you give a lighthearted smile. "Is there something you needed?"

"Uhh, no. Well, actually..." Bada stumbles over her words, closing her eyes in embarrassment. "Sorry, yes. I wanted to see you before you left."

You release a small breath of understanding before a cheeky thought crosses your mind. Walking closer to Bada, you do a little twirl when you reach her. "So, what do you think?"

Bada exhales while chuckling, her nervousness leaving her. "I think you are the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes upon."

Out of shock, you remain still, surprised by how unabashedly Bada expressed her thoughts. You expected a simple compliment, but she exceeded your expectations. "Really?" You ask quietly, sensing a shift in the room's atmosphere. An air of intimacy and something more sensual makes your skin prickle and breath hitch.

"Of course. There's no one I could think of that could make that dress look so stunning." Bada looks back at you with a serious and genuine expression.

"Bada..." you trail off, immediately thinking of countless other women who could wear the dress better. Supermodels, actresses—

"I think there's just one simple thing that would finish off the look." Bada's voice brings you back, and you give her a questioning stare. She smiles, her hand digging into her pocket before presenting you a sleek black box. Your confusion deepens as she opens it, revealing the most elegant necklace you've ever seen. Matching teardrop diamonds, akin to those on your earrings circle the chain, glittering against the low bedroom light. At the center, a silver locket shaped like a dainty heart ties it all together.

You stare at the necklace in awe, alternating between Bada's eyes and the exquisite piece of jewelry. "Bada, it's beautiful."

She watches you marvel at it, sparkles dancing in your eyes. Giving you a fond look, she nudges the box closer. "Take it."

Hesitating for a brief second, you gently retrieve the necklace. "Wow," you breathe out, fully admiring its beauty now that it’s free from the box.

"You should put it on," Bada encourages you softly.

“Oh, I shouldn’t—” you protest.

“I insist,” she cuts you off, tucking the box back into her pocket. She steps forward, taking the necklace from your hands and moving behind you. “Here, let me.” She places it across your collarbones and brings the clasp together, her long fingers brushing across your skin. 

Her touch ignites a spark, but as quickly as it appeared, her fingers are gone. She steps back, placing her hands on your waist to move you back so that you’re facing your mirror again. But this time, Bada's at your side, admiring how exquisite you look.

 “Absolutely perfect,” she whispers into your ear.

The warmth from her touch lingers as you stare at Bada through the mirror. “Thank you.” You bask in the comfortable silence in the room for a moment before speaking up again. “Can I ask, did you buy this?”

Bada places her hands atop your shoulders, a soft, wistful look finding her irises. “It was my mother’s.”

Immediately, you whip around to face her, your mouth wide open in mortification, and your eyes the size of saucers. “Bada, why didn’t you tell me?” Your hands frantically try to find the clasp of the necklace, wanting to take it off. “Here—”

“No.” Bada’s hands find yours, holding them and stopping you from removing the jewelry. “Don’t take it off.”

“But Bada, this was your mom’s—”

“And I want you to have it,” Bada states firmly.

“I can’t—”

“Are you rejecting my gift?” Although her words sound accusatory, when you look into her eyes, there’s a glint of amusement in them.

You let out a huff of defeat. “Fine.”

Bada smirks proudly, removing her hands from yours. “Good.”

After bidding farewell to Bada, Hyo swiftly whisks you away to a black Jeep, one that, according to her, is "much more secure than a sports car." Seated in the front, she drives and engages in casual conversation while you relax in the back. You take the opportunity to share stories about each of your best friends—Jae, the liveliest, Da-Eun, the second oldest, Min-Ji, the oldest, and Ryung, the youngest and most timid. Hyo listens attentively, interjecting with comments or laughter at your anecdotes.

“You all seem to be very close,” she remarks, steering the wheel to the left.

“Yeah, we are. We’ve known each other since childhood, and our parents are all friends,” you reply.

“Those types of friends… you should hold onto them,” Hyo advises. “In this line of business, it’s hard to find someone you can trust as much as you four trust each other.”

You gaze at your bodygaurd through the rear-view mirror, sensing the weight behind her words. "Hyo?" You inquire.

"Yeah?"

"Does Bada find it hard to trust other people?"

Her lips tighten, an audible exhale leaving her nose. "She hasn't fully placed her trust in anyone since the day Mrs. Lee died."

A somber atmosphere envelops the car, akin to a bucket of ice-cold water. You shift in your seat uncomfortably, your heart aching at the thought of the pain Bada must have endured when her mother was killed. "Bada was still young when she passed, wasn’t she?"

"Fifteen," Hyo nods. "Barely beginning her climb towards adulthood."

A stark silence follows after, and the rest of the car ride is silent, filled only with the quiet hum of the Jeep’s engine and the sounds of passersby. It's not uncomfortable, but rather solemn, as if you and Hyo are silently mourning Mrs. Lee's memory.

Fifteen minutes later, Hyo's driving slows as she turns into a large house—though noticeably smaller than your shared one with Bada, of course. The GPS on the tablet beeps, signaling your arrival at the destination. "We’re here," her voice rings through the background noise.

You turn away from the window you’d been gazing out of, a smile forming on your lips at the sight of Jae’s house. Out of your group, Jae always had the most luxurious home, because though all of you came from affluent families, Jae's parents were the wealthiest. Well, it seemed like now the dynamic had changed. Once you and Bada are officially wed, your combined wealth will likely rival all of theirs combined.

"How long do you think you’ll be staying?" Hyo asks.

"I'd like to say it won't take that long, but knowing my friends, I might be here all night," you admit.

"Alright." Hyo parks the Jeep in the driveway, exits, then moves to open your door. You offer a quiet thank you as she helps you step out, mindful of the relatively short length of your dress.

Leading the way to Jae's house, you pause before knocking. Judging by the time, it seems you arrived slightly early, which in party terms means very early. Fortunately, that likely means no other partygoers are here yet, as evidenced by the absence of parked cars in the driveway.

"Actually, Hyo?" you turn back to face her, a sheepish look on your face. "Could you maybe… wait outside?"

Your bodyguard raises her eyebrows, crossing her arms across her chest. "I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you."

"I know that, but I think the girls will be thrown off by the fact that you’ll just be standing there… watching us the entire night." Though your reasoning is somewhat woven with lies, it's also partly true.

Hyo remains silent, giving you an unimpressed look. "I have a job to do."

"Technically, you can do it from out here," you weakly argue. "Please, I want to feel like a normal person again. Like my life isn’t constantly at risk, and I always need to be monitored."

Although you can’t see the look Hyo’s giving you behind her sunglasses, you notice her posture deflating, and her shoulders falling. She releases a defeatist breath, "Fine, I’ll keep an eye out from here."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" You express with a grateful smile.

"Yeah, yeah, never say I haven’t done anything for you," Hyo grumbles. "Oh, and don’t forget I have your location on my phone, so don’t even think about sneaking out because I’ll know."

"I wouldn’t dare," you joke.

"Right…" your bodyguard trails off. "I’ll be waiting in the car. If you need anything, just call or text me, and I’ll be out in an instant."

"Yup, thanks!" You give Hyo a thumbs up, and with that, she retreats back to the Jeep. You watch her go, a sudden wave of guilt crashing over you.

She'd probably be much more comfortable in Jae’s house, sitting down or enjoying the air conditioning, rather than waiting for countless hours in the Jeep while you gossip and talk to your friends. But you're in too deep now. You can’t tell her the truth or let her in, or she’ll whisk you away back to the mansion, and all your white lies will have been for naught.

Biting your lip, you cast one last look at Hyo before knocking on the front door. Silence greets you for a few minutes before you hear shuffling approach the door, and it opens. Jae’s face greets you on the other side, her eyes immediately sparkling at the sight of you.

"Oh my god!" She squeals, bringing you into a hug and squeezing you tight. "I’m so glad you’re here!" She rocks back and forth in the hug, making you laugh giddily. "I missed you so much!" When she pulls back, she’s wearing a pout across her red-tinted lips. "Don’t ghost me for a month again, okay? Or I’ll steal you away from your wife!"

"I missed you too," you say fondly. "But we’re not married yet—"

"Oh, come on, you’re engaged to Bada Lee! You’re married in every sense except legally." Jae rolls her eyes playfully, though they stray a bit before landing on something—or rather, someone—behind you. "Who’s that?" She points at the Jeep, where Hyo is sitting in the front seat, trying not to look like she's watching you.

"That’s Hyo Kim, my bodyguard."

"Your bodyguard?" Jae awes before pouting. "Why am I even surprised? Of course, Bada Lee would have her fiancée under lock and key." Jae grabs your hand, giving it a light squeeze before her expression shifts, a sly smile curving her lips. "So tell me, have you two done it yet? Is she dominant? Is she more of a boobs girl or an ass girl—"

"Jae!" You shout, eyes wide and voice full of mortification. "Are you serious right now?"

"Come on, tell me! I want to know all the stuff you haven’t told me over the past month. You owe it to me!" She whines.

You let out a long sigh. You suppose this is your karma for unintentionally ignoring your best friend for so long. "At least invite me in first, Jae. Don’t you have any manners?" You lightly scold her.

"Oh, right." She looks behind her, realizing that while she’s inside her home, you’re still outside the threshold, waiting for her to invite you in. She looks like she’s about to take a step back so you can enter before she pauses, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "Wait, does she use toys—"

"Alright, that’s enough!" You push Jae further into her house and step inside, swinging the door shut rather loudly behind you.

Once inside, you scold her for a solid five minutes straight about manners before the two of you properly greet each other and begin a normal, casual conversation—thankfully with no mention of your and Bada’s sexual activity, or lack thereof. Instead, you're practically interrogated by Jae about every aspect of your life with Bada while you help her finish setting up for the party.

You stack up red solo cups, place beers into multiple coolers, and set out chasers. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much for the two of you to finish, and once you do, you simply lounge around a bit. Jae takes the break as an opportunity to compliment how amazing you look in your dress.

"Is that Chanel?" She asks, motioning for you to do a spin.

"Yes." You nod, doing as she wishes. "Bada picked it out for me."

"I bet she’s regretting her decision right now." Your friend giggles. "No one’s going to be able to resist you tonight!"

"Jae, stop exaggerating." You laugh.

Your lighthearted conversation continues until slowly but surely, party guests begin to arrive. They come in small waves, all dressed much more elegantly than the average partygoer. You assume they must be some of Jae’s rich friends that you’ve heard about only in passing because you don’t recognize some of them. The thought sends a small prickle of worry to the back of your mind, but you choose to ignore it for now. Instead, you greet each guest kindly, albeit rather awkwardly.

As the dark sky deepens in color, the living room starts to get more and more crowded, the rest of your friends arriving along with other guests. Min-Ji gets there first, wearing a classy black cocktail dress. She greets you with the same enthusiasm as Jae, but her demeanor is slightly more controlled, her older age shining through.

Next, Da-Eun arrives, dressed in green, and lastly, Ryung. By the time she settles in, the party is in full swing, music leaking out of speakers, and beers being passed around. You’re fully immersed in the atmosphere, happy to be surrounded by your girls and other somewhat familiar faces. You can’t lie, partying with your friends really puts into perspective the loneliness you hid behind your home’s mansion walls.

But in contrast to your free spirit, Hyo is struggling. Multiple cars have begun to pull into the driveway, groups of people entering the house and giving her a peek inside. The home has many more people than it should for a "small gathering." 

Her first instinct was to exit the Jeep and head toward the door to end your night prematurely, as well as tell you off for not only lying to her but also to Bada. However, through one of the windows, your silhouette peaks through, the light in the living room shining against your features and displaying your expression of pure joy as you dance with your friends and sip beer.

She stops mid-stride, conflict brewing in the confines of her mind. Deep down, she knows you deserve to enjoy yourself. Being stuck in a mansion—while large and full of entertainment—is nothing compared to the comfort of being with friends, partying, and drinking. “Fuck.” Hyo mutters under her breath, passing a hand through her hair in frustration. She takes another look at your smiling figure through the window, then turns back. “The Boss is going to kill me if she finds out about this.”

She stays back in the Jeep for another hour or so, listening to the music coming from inside the house and the loud chatter, keeping an eye out while checking her phone every other minute. Your location never moves, thankfully. It seems that you have the foresight not to take it as far as sneaking away from her for some fun.

But, of course, there’s no need for you to do so because the party is practically buzzing with energy. Couples and friends dance together, grinding and touching each other playfully, while some are playing cup pong or various other party games in corners of the room. You, on the other hand, have moved away from dancing, instead cooling off with another beer as your friends chatter amongst each other.

“You’ll never guess what happens next!” Jae grabs onto Min-Ji, tugging on her hands with poorly concealed excitement.

“What?” Min-Ji indulges her younger friend.

“Bada stops him right before he leaves the store just by saying, ‘And where do you think you're going?’” Jae lowers her voice and puts on a serious expression when imitating your fiancée.

“Really?” Min-Ji's eyes find your figure, a small smile curving her lips upward.

You smile back at her shyly, nodding.

“And then, she makes the asshole pick up her clothes from the ground!” Jae divulges.

“Does he do it?” Da-Eun cuts in, smirking widely.

“Of course he does! Like a little worm, he picks up all the clothes and gives them to her.” Jae points at you, letting go of Min-Ji’s hands.

“Bada must have a very strong presence,” Ryung comments quietly.

“More like everyone in the store was on Bada’s payroll,” Jae snorts. “Right Unnie, didn’t you say Bada has ties to half the population of Seoul?”

“Yes,” you confirm. “I think everyone in that store had guns on them.”

“How do you know?” Min-Ji asks.

“Well, they were all putting their hands in their pockets like they were going to pull out a firearm,” you reminisce. “And they were all staring between the man and Bada like they were waiting for her word to dispose of him.”

“It’s so crazy hearing about it.” Jae whines. “I wish I was there!”

“Don’t say that.” Min-Ji scolds her. “It must have been scary at the time, wasn’t it?” She looks back at you, posing the question.

“I wasn’t really scared for myself.” You shake your head. “I was more scared for the man. You should have seen the way Bada was looking at him.”

“I can imagine it now.” Jae tries to imitate a hardened and scary glare but ends up failing.

“You just look like you’re constipated.” Da-Eun laughs loudly, pointing at a now offended Jae. The younger girl hits Da-Eun, whining about how she was really trying to look serious.

You join in laughing with Da-Eun and Min-Ji at Jae, when you suddenly feel a tug on your right hand. Your laughter dies down as you turn to face Ryung, who’s looking between you and another corner of the room. You give her a confused look, trying to find what she’s gazing at. “Ryung? Is something wrong?”

“A woman's been staring at you since she got here.” Ryung whispers, casting her eyes to the other corner of the room.

You follow her line of sight to an unfamiliar, relatively attractive woman dressed in a loose white dress shirt and slacks. She has fiery red hair and a boyish look. She’s already watching you, her eyes unabashedly trailing up and down your figure, completely unbothered by the fact that you caught her staring. In fact, she smirks back at you.

You turn away from her quickly, a prickle of anxiety running up your spine. Though most would be excited at being ogled by an attractive woman, there’s something about her gaze that unnerves you. It's like she knows something you don’t.

“Do you know her?” Ryung asks, a worried look crossing her features.

“No.” You shake your head, a trembling breath leaving your lips. “I’ve never seen her before in my life.”

Da-Eun, Min-Ji, and Jae stop laughing at the sound of your nervous voice, turning to face you with questioning looks.

“What’s going on?” Min-Ji asks, noticing your rigid posture and Ryung’s grim expression.

Jae mutters your name, her voice becoming uncharacteristically quiet.

“There’s this woman that’s been staring at Unnie the entire night.” Ryung secretly motions towards you, then looks back at the woman with red hair. All of your friends' eyes follow, seeing how the woman gazes at you darkly; even with all their eyes on her, she doesn’t cower. Instead, she continues to watch you.

“Alright.” Da-Eun rubs her hands together, her expression dripping with anger. “Let me go have a word with her—”

“Not so fast.” Min-Ji grabs onto Da-Eun’s arm, pulling her back and keeping her from advancing toward the woman. “Jae, do you know her?”

Jae bites her lip, shaking her head. “I don’t remember inviting anyone that looks like that.”

“Then let me—” Da-Eun tries to wiggle out of Min-Ji’s hold but is unsuccessful.

“Don’t be so rash.” Min-Ji asserts. “Let’s just ignore her. If she decides to bother you directly, we’ll be here, okay?” She looks back at you with a caring expression, placing her hand on your shoulder.

“Okay.” You agree shakily, turning your back toward the woman’s direction.

For the rest of the night, you constantly feel her eyes on you. Though you try to act normal, a spike of fear runs up your body when you see someone approach you or accidentally brush up against you while you dance with your friends. You consider asking Hyo to come get you, but you don’t want to sour the mood of your friends. So you deal with her predatory gaze, and do your best to ignore her overwhelming presence.

Hyo’s eyes scan the neighborhood leisurely when a notification banner pops up at the top of her screen. Her eyes snap toward it, finding a text message from none other than her boss light up the screen. She takes in a deep breath as she presses it, her screen being moved to the message app.

Bada’s text reads, “How’s it going?”

Hyo lets out a sigh of relief, quickly texting back, “Good, she’s having fun.” She watches Bada’s text bubble show up soon after indicating she was writing, but it disappears a few seconds later. Hyo takes the opportunity to add, “Her friends are very lively.”

Bada’s text bubble appears again, but this time she sends a message saying, “Focus on doing your job.” Hyo huffs under her breath, exiting out of the messaging app and switching back to managing your location.

Her brief distraction keeps her from noticing a new group of men heading toward the house. Most slip in, it’s only until the last is about to cross inside that Hyo looks up, her eyes catching a baggy of white powder one of the men is carrying.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” She hisses. Immediately she exits the car, dialing Bada’s personal phone as she races up the driveway and slips into the house behind the man.

Inside, you’re slowly becoming more and more unnerved by the red-haired woman. Your friends try to take you around the living room, using the other partygoer’s bodies as a shield between you two, but she doesn’t allow them to. She moves through the crowd until she has a clear view of you again, then just stands there, her gaze unwavering.

“She really doesn’t give up, huh?” Min-Ji curses under her breath.

“What a creep,” Da-Eun adds.

“Are you okay?” Ryung asks you.

“I don’t know.” You admit, rubbing your arm uncomfortably.

“Hold on,” Jae cuts in. “I think she’s coming this way.”

Four pairs of eyes snap in the direction Jae is looking, finding the woman weaving through the crowd of partygoers in an attempt to reach you.

This time your entire body goes rigid, intense fear running through your veins as your friends rally around you, muttering comforting words. Their voices and the loud bass of the music in the background fade away, all you’re able to focus on is the woman with red hair only a few feet away from you now.

She’s just about to reach you when a firm grip grabs onto your arm, pulling you away from your friends. You jump at the person’s touch, instinctively trying to recoil away before you turn to see a familiar face.

“Hyo.” You breathe out in relief. 

“We’re leaving right now.” She says firmly, pulling you through the crowd of people. 

“Hey!” Da-Eun surges forward at the sight of Hyo taking you away. “Who are you–?”

“No, it’s okay, that’s her bodyguard,” Jae informs your friends.

Your friends share resounding noises of astoundment before Hyo starts to firmly push you toward the exit. You say a hurried goodbye to them, catching out of the corner of your eye the red-haired woman. She’s now wearing a frown as she quickly retreats into the crowd of dancing bodies, hiding away from your gaze, as well as Hyo’s.

The entirety of the drive back home is dead silent, but this time it’s not comfortable. Hyo’s lips are set into thin and firm lines, her expression unchanging as she switches lanes and drives through the jet-black night. You try to will your voice to work and make idle conversation, but the words get stuck in your throat, a deep feeling of regret pooling at the depths of your stomach.

The car ride back unfortunately felt much shorter than the ride to Jae’s house had. One minute you're just barely pulling out of her driveway, and the next you're passing the gates into your mansion's driveway.

Hyo parks the car, exiting quickly and opening the door for you like she always does. You still say thank you, but this time she doesn’t acknowledge it, she simply lets you take the lead as you begin the walk of shame into your home.

Walking through the front door, the first floor is eerily quiet, missing the sounds of Bebe walking around or talking amongst themselves. You hesitate before walking up the right spiral staircase to the second floor, then move to your right toward the direction of your bedroom.

“We’re going this way.” Hyo breaks her silence, motioning with her thumb behind her, toward the corridor that leads to Bada’s office. You gulp but say nothing in response, instead choosing to listen to her and head toward your fiancée. 

The sound of both your and Hyo’s footsteps echoing against the cold marble floor causes even more unease in your mind, the feeling all but tripling when you see a dark mahogany door come into view. You stop right in front of it, your legs starting to feel weak and your hands sweating. You try to build up your courage to knock on the door, but Hyo’s already a step ahead of you.

She doesn’t bother to knock, she simply grabs ahold of the door handle and pushes it open. She gestures for you to head inside which you do timidly, the door closing right behind you.

Inside the office, your eyes immediately find Bada’s figure. She’s sitting in her chair like she always is, looking incredibly tired. And instead of wearing a soft expression at the sight of you, her face is blank, not a single wisp of emotion to be seen. 

“Sit down.” Her voice cuts through the tension in the air.

You do as she says, noting that she doesn’t get up to pull your chair back for you like she normally does. “Bada,” you begin, voice quiet and full of remorse.

“I heard you had fun tonight.” She cuts you off, her tone harsh. “A party, was it?”

You close your eyes in embarrassment. “I’m sorry–”

“Are you?” She interrupts you again. “Truthfully, are you?”

“Yes.” You say frantically, trying to convince her. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”

“You had multiple opportunities to tell me the truth.” Bada asserts, her hands coming in front of her to clasp together tightly. “The night before when I asked you about your so-called ‘get-together.’" She lists, "You could have told me anytime today, or Hyo when she was driving you. Instead, you unabashedly lied to my face and deceived me.”

You swear the wind is knocked out of your chest at her words. Her dark brown, almost grey eyes are cutting into yours, wounding your heart as you will something, anything out of your mute vocal cords. “Please believe me.”

“I can’t.” Bada shakes her head. “All I asked of you was three things.” Much like she had when you first arrived at the Lee mansion, she holds up three corresponding fingers. “Tell me the truth, remain loyal, and never put yourself in unnecessary danger.” She places all three fingers down. “Somehow you managed to disobey all of them in the span of a single night.”

Tears prick at the corner of your eyes, and heaving breaths start to build in your windpipe. You can deal with Bada being upset with you, but there’s something about her calm disappointment that hurts you more than you could have ever imagined.

“What would have happened if someone at that party brought a gun, hm? What if they knew who you are to me? What if they wanted to hurt me by hurting you?” Her voice slowly rises in volume but never reaches a full yell. “More than anything, you put yourself in danger. All for the sake of a good time.”

You hang your head in shame, acknowledging that she’s right.

“I can’t trust you anymore.” She states plainly.

Your head snaps up from its hunched position, your eyes widening at the implication of her words. “What? Bada, what does that mean?”

Your fiancée remains quiet for a moment, her blank look doing nothing to soothe your heightening fear. Then, she speaks up. “It’s late, you should go to sleep.”

“Go to sleep?” You cry. “Bada–”

“I’m sorry, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” She tears her eyes away from yours, staring to her right. “I can’t look at you right now.”

Her words are the final blow to your breaking heart. You stand up from your chair loudly, attempting to hide your devastated expression as tears fall from your eyes in steady streams. You race over to the door, pull it open, and run out of the office, accidentally bumping into Hyo on your way out. You don’t say anything to her, simply wanting to get as far away as possible.

Lusher, who’d been rounding the corner about to head into Bada’s office catches sight of your teary eyes and sighs. She makes eye contact with Hyo, sharing a knowing look with her before entering the office.

“I’m not in the mood, Lusher,” Bada mutters, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

“Don’t you think you were a little too hard on her?” Lusher contends.

“She put her life at risk,” Bada states firmly.

“She went to a party, so what? She’s at the age where she’s supposed to be having fun with her friends, clubbing and drinking.”

“She lied to me,” Bada argues.

“Listen, I know that–” before Lusher can finish her sentence, the door to Bada’s office opens again, this time much more violently. Hyo stands in the doorway, a worried look encompassing her features.

“What now?” Bada snaps at her.

“Boss,” Hyo huffs. “the keys to the Jeep are gone.”

“What?” Bada stands up with urgency, her blank expression morphing into nothing but unrivaled anger. “Where did you put them?”

“I had them in my pocket–” Hyo freezes, a look of realization glinting in her eyes before she stops and runs a hand down her face in frustration. “Your fiancée pickpocketed me.”

“She pickpocketed you?” Lusher says incredulously. “So she just left? But it’s dangerous to be out this late, and in that dress–”

“Lusher, gather all of Bebe.” Bada interrupts her, voice loud and commanding. “You,” she points at Hyo. “find her. Now.”

“Yes, boss.” Lusher and Hyo say in unison, scrambling to do what their superior asked of them. 

Meanwhile, Bada remains standing behind her desk, a mix of fear and unadulterated anger building in her. She feels immediate regret for the way she’d treated and spoken to you. She never should have let you leave in such a vulnerable, and most likely intoxicated state.

She could never forgive herself if something happened to you because of your argument. She slams her hands down on her desk, almost breaking it with the amount of force she uses.

Bada storms out of her office, heading down the corridor toward her bedroom, pushing the door open before heading toward her bedside table. She opens the first drawer, revealing a black pistol. She grabs it, about to exit her bedroom when her eyes catch the portrait of her mother hanging just above her bedside table. She takes a moment to face it, her face morphing into a grim expression. 

“I won’t fail you, mother.”

Lusher, Tatter, Kyma, Minah, Chehe, and Soweon, otherwise known as Bebe are all gathered in the armory room, guns in their hands. Lusher dons a sniper, Tatter a pump shotgun, Kyma a handgun, Minah a rifle, Cheche a break action, and Soweon a pistol.

“She managed to pickpocket Hyo?” Soweon exclaims, loading her pistol with bullets. “How is that possible?”

“She must not be as innocent as we thought.” Cheche comments. “Out of all of us, Hyo is the most alert and aware of her surroundings. She has some skill.”

“Enough talking.” Lusher cuts in, clicking a magazine into her sniper. “We’re wasting time. Boss wants us to find her as soon as possible.”

Bebe falls into line, following their second-in-command to the first level of the Lee mansion where Hyo is, tapping her foot against the marbled floor impatiently.

“Do you know where she is?” Bada’s booming voice causes all her subordinates to freeze. It’s brimming with urgency, and full of poison.

Hyo looks up at where her boss is standing at the top of the spiral staircase, her aura demonstrating absolute authority. “I think she’s lost her phone.”

“What do you mean?” Tatter speaks up.

“The location stopped moving right in front of her friend, Jae’s house. But it’s not inside, it’s farther down the road.”

The room becomes astoundingly quiet, so silent you could most certainly hear a pin drop. Although no one has the heart to say it, they all know the truth. You’ve been taken.

But then, Bada’s heavy footsteps begin descending the stairs, her eyes alit with a fiery passion and her eyes fixed into a firm glare.

“We’re finding my fiancée.” She demands. “And if she’s not home by the end of the night, it’ll be your head on a pike.” She points at Hyo, her pistol held firmly in her other hand.

“Yes, Boss,” Hyo says fearlessly. Truthfully, she felt partially at fault for what had happened. If she had only brought you home the second she realized you were throwing a party, or if she paid more attention when you bumped into her, you would be here, safe. 

Before they can all head out, Bada’s phone buzzes in her pocket. She stops, pulling it out and observing the caller ID. Her eyes widen when she sees it, immediately pressing the answer button and holding the phone up to her ear. She mutters your name into the speaker, causing all of Bebe to freeze and look at her in shock.

“Where are you?” Bada says, voice soft and full of worry.

“Hello?” A voice that is most certainly not yours greets her ears.

Bada’s expression shifts immediately, her eyes narrowing to slits and her voice dropping. “Who the fuck is this?”

“Are you Bada Lee?” The voice says hurriedly.

“Yes. How did you get this phone? Where is my fiancée?” Bada demands.

“This is Jae, Unnie’s best friend.”

“Jae?” Bada says, her tone calming the slightest bit. “Where is she?”

“Bada, you need to come here quick.” She cries. “Unnie called me a few minutes ago saying she wanted to stay the night with me, but right when I saw her pulling into the driveway, another car parked beside her, and I think they took her!”

Bada’s hands form fists as she motions with her head for Bebe to go into the garage full of cars. They do so immediately, piling into a modified and armored SUV with a sunroof. Lusher sits behind the wheel while Hyo takes the passenger’s seat. The rest of the girls sit in the back, guns positioned in their laps, Minah poking out of the sunroof with her rifle propped up in front of her.

Bada follows after them, getting into her personal, fortified sports car as the door to the garage slowly begins to open. She puts Jae on speaker, “Did you see who took her?”

“It was dark, but I recognized one person,” Jae confirms. “It was this woman who was at the party I threw for Unnie. She was staring at her the entire night like a creep.”

“What does she look like?” Bada asks through her teeth.

“She’s wearing a white dress shirt, a pair of black pants… oh, and she has very vibrant, red hair!”

Bada pulls up next to Bebe’s car, her eyes meeting Lusher’s, a new type of rage building in her irises. “Seong.”

When you awake from your slumber there’s a pounding ache at the back of your head, and your eyes are blurry. You blink as you try to gather your bearings and sit up, but your arms are held behind your back by something. You start to panic, your head whipping around as you begin to remember what had happened just before you lost consciousness.

You’d been driving the Jeep toward Jae’s house whilst sobbing uncontrollably, realizing that your selfishness would most likely cost you your engagement to Bada.

When you were a few minutes away from Jae, you called her with trembling hands, breathing heavily into your phone.

Your friend muttered your name into the phone, sounding like she’d just woken up.

“I’m sorry.” Your voice shook with emotions. “Is it okay if I stay with you for the night?”

“Of course,” Jae answered immediately. “But what’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

“Bada and I got into a fight.” You admitted. “I think she’s going to call off the engagement.”

“What?” Jae’s incredulous voice rang out of the phone.

“I’ll tell you everything in a second, I’m right next to your house.” You made a left into Jae’s neighborhood, finding the lights in her house on. You parked a little further down the street, seeing stray liquor bottles and red solo cups littering her lawn, most likely thrown away by her drunk party guests. “Okay, I’m here.”

“Where?” Jae’s figure approached the window that oversaw her driveway, her eyes squinting as she tried to discern your body from the pitch-darkness of the night. “I don’t see you.”

You sniffled into the microphone, switching hands as you climbed out of the Jeep and waved your hands to get Jae’s attention. “To your right.”

Jae’s eyes shifted in your direction, and after searching for a few minutes her eyes shone with recognition. “Oh, I see you!” She waved back at you, the interaction distracting you to the point where you didn’t hear a car pull up next to you until people were clambering out of it, their heavy footfalls approaching you.

You jumped when you felt an arm grab you, gasping and struggling against their grip. “Let me go!”

Jae’s voice came out of your phone, saying your name, but before you could answer her or call out for help, something hard hit you in the back of your head and caused you to fall limp into your kidnapper's arms. But before you fully lost consciousness, you caught a brief glint of red hair from the corner of your eye. 

“No.” You whisper, reality finally settling in. “No, no, no.” You try to move your hands, but your eyes find them secured behind your back with handcuffs. You struggle against them, trying to wiggle your hands out but they’re closed tight against your flesh, making the steel rub your skin raw. You hiss in pain but continue trying until your wrists are red. You try to move toward the wall behind you, leaning on it to help you stand up.

Once on your feet, you stomp on the floor, trying to break the heel of your platform heels. You repeat your action a few times on each foot until part of the heel breaks off, leaving you with shoes that are easier to run in. You huff out in exhaustion, but you’re not done yet. Using the wall once again, you attempt to get your arms in front of you by jumping and pulling your arms under you. Thankfully, you’re successful, and let out a breathy laugh of victory. 

 You slide down the wall, taking a small break when you suddenly hear footsteps coming close to the room you’re trapped in. Your eyes widen in fear as you try to back away further from the door.

“Look who’s awake.” The woman with red hair enters the room, her voice coming out in a sing-song.

“Who are you?” You rasp, sitting up tall. Although you’re terrified out of your mind, you know better than to show it. 

“The name’s Seong, sweetheart.” She smirks, one of her lackeys trailing after her. “And you have something I want.” You stare back at her as she gets closer to you, bending down so you’re at eye level. “Not going to ask me what it is?”

You say nothing, instead just keep eye contact with her, never once wavering under her unnerving gaze.

“Ah, we have a strong one here.” Seong laughs heartily. “I can see why Bada keeps you around.”

Mentally, you curse at yourself. Of course you’d been kidnapped as some sort of leverage piece between this woman and Bada. She’s most likely one of the rival gangs that’d been waiting for the chance to pounce at an opening to get through to Bada. And you’d stupidly given her the perfect opportunity.

“Well…” Seong’s voice drops, chills running down your spine as her eyes lower to your figure. “I’m guessing she doesn’t just appreciate your banter, huh?” She reaches out to touch you, her cold hands dragging across your collarbones. “So pretty…”

“Don’t touch me.” You spit, tone dripping with disgust as you recoil away from her.

“So lively too.” Seong chuckles.

“Bada’s going to come get me.” You cut in, glaring at the woman with fiery hair.

“Oh yes, I’m counting on that.” Seong smiles. “You know, she owes me a lot of money.” She stands up and begins to pace around the room. “My father and her father used to work together back in the day. But once Lee died and your little wife took over his business, she cut ties with him. Apparently, selling drugs is too ‘corrupt’ for her.” She scoffs loudly, the sound full of resentment and anger. “My father lost all his connections. He had to start selling to junkies on the streets, and now he’s running out of money.”

She stops in front of you again, a twisted smile stretching across her face.

“Bring him in,” Seong says to the lackey behind her. He follows her orders, trailing out of the room before he returns minutes later, a man shuffling behind him. When the man steps into the low light of the room, you audibly gasp and your eyes widen. “Remember him?” Seong stands next to the man–the same man from the mall. The man that’d harassed you, and had been humiliated by Bada.

Here he stands, the right side of his face swollen and colored in grotesque combinations of yellow and purple bruises.

“You.” The man rasps, his eyes shining with a crazy glint.

“This man right here was beaten half to death by Bada when I found him lying on the street.” Seong pats his shoulder. “Imagine my surprise when he told me how he’d accidentally hit on the Bada Lee’s fiancée, and almost gotten himself killed because of it.” She circles around the man. “Finding you after that didn’t take much. And look at you now…”

“Lying on the floor like some pathetic bitch.” The man spits. “How does it feel?”

“Go to hell.” You snap at him, eyes set in a glare.

“You should be careful how you speak to me.” The man warns you, walking closer before he bends down in front of you. “You’re the one who’s restrained, and at our mercy.”

“And yet despite that, it’ll be your blood that stains this floor when Bada finds me.” You retaliate.

The man’s face screws up in anger, and in a flash, he grabs onto your necklace, using it to tug you forward painfully. “You bitch–”

Your eyes go wide as you watch your necklace–Bada’s mother’s necklace–stretch in his hold. “No–” you choke out, using what little control you have of your hands to slug them against his face, taking his hands off the necklace. But unfortunately, his strength ends up ripping it off your neck, the broken jewelry falling onto the ground. “No!” You cry, scrambling over to the necklace, trying to grab it with your hands.

The man turns to face you, wearing a look of anger you’d never seen before in your life. He raises his fist, about to punch you when a hand stops him from doing so.

“Now, now, let’s not get too caught up in our anger.” Seong pulls the man away from you and pushes him toward the door. “We’ll have our fun once Bada arrives, believe me. You can do the honors of killing her if you really want to.”

Seong follows the man out of the room, her lackey trailing behind her before she stops to give you one final look, and closes the door to your room, leaving you trembling and in almost complete darkness.

In the raven black of the night, Bada, Tatter, Chehe, Hyo, Kyma, Minah, and Soweon stand at the door to Seong’s hideout, guns held tightly in their hands. Bada turns to look at a building across the street, holding a thumbs up in the air. Atop the building is Lusher, her sniper propped up against the ledge of the roof, her scope focused on Bada’s signal. She traces the red dot coming from her sniper around Bada’s thumb, indicating she’s ready.

“Lusher’s in position.” Bada turns back to face Bebe, nodding at them. “Let’s not waste any more time.”

“Yes, Boss.” They all parrot in response.

Bada turns to face the doorknob, pointing her gun at it before shooting. Tatter steps up first, shouldering the door open with intense force, making it swing open and reveal Seong’s hideout. Some lackeys that had been standing around jump at the sudden intrusion, their hands instinctively reaching for their guns. But all of Bebe’s members are twice as fast and skilled. Tatter shoots down one man with her shotgun while the rest of Bebe pile in, backing her up and mulling down the waves of oncoming men like they’re bugs.

Bada steps in last, shooting a man who was running in as backup, then shooting another who almost managed to get a shot in on Minah. She charges forward without fear, cutting through the mess of flying bullets and punching one of Seong’s men in the gut, then shooting him between the eyes. His blood splatters against the side of her suit as she kicks his body away, continuing her advance until she makes it out of the entrance of the hideout, and into a split hallway.

Bada keeps her pistol trained up and ears keen as she hears Lusher’s sniper bullets break through glass windows and hit some of the men still flocking to the entrance. An emergency alarm begins to blare in the hideout, red lights bathing Bada’s figure as she studies both paths ahead of her.

Suddenly to her right, she hears loud footsteps approaching and whips around to face a man running down the hallway. Thinking quickly, she shoots him in the foot before he has the chance to reach for his gun. He falls to the floor, screaming in pain whilst clutching his wounded foot. Bada walks over to him, kicking his gun away then aiming her pistol at his head.

“Where is she?” She yells over the loud, blaring alarm.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” The lackey wails.

“Yes you do. Tell me or I’ll kill you!” Bada places her pistol on the man’s forehead, making his pathetic wailing increase.

“Okay, okay, just please don’t shoot me!” He begs.

Bada grabs the man by his clothes, hoisting him up and pushing him forward, causing him to stumble and almost fall onto the floor again. “Show me the way, now!”

The man cries as he hobbles forward, leading her in your direction.

“Fifty-five, fifty-six, fifty-seven…” your voice mutters amidst the silence, keeping track of the minutes passing by since Seong left. You stare at the steel door separating you from your freedom, hoping with every minute you count, Bada gets closer to finding and rescuing you.

It’s at minute forty-two when bright, red lights flood your room, blinding you and throwing you off your count as loud alarms sound outside. You sit up, your heart beating wildly in your chest.

“Bada…” you sigh in relief. She came for you.

Another five minutes pass before you hear movement coming towards your room, making you scramble towards the door. But when it opens, you’re not greeted by the sight of your fiancée. No, instead, Seong rushes inside, her red hair ruffled and her breaths uneven as she closes the door behind her.

“Fucking–” She mutters, her eyes finding you instantly.

“I told you.” You smirk. “You’re all dead.”

Seong stares back at you silently before charging up to you and slapping you across the face. You shriek and recoil back as she breaks into manic laughter, pulling out a gun from her pocket. “Maybe, but if I die, you’re coming with me, sweetheart.” She clicks the safety off, her finger in position to press against the trigger when three loud bangs come from outside your prison, making you scramble back in shock, and Seong turn to face the door.

A long moment of tense silence follows before the door to your prison slowly creeks open, Seong gulping as the hand holding her gun starts to tremble. Right before the door fully swings open, a shot is fired from the person outside, grazing Seong’s cheek and making her cower away.

She runs over to you, picks you up from the floor and holds onto you by your throat, her gun pressed up against your temple. "Don't get any closer, Bada Lee,” Seong yells, digging her fingers into your throat. “or I’ll kill her!”

Bada side-steps away from the door, revealing one of Seong’s men dead behind her, blood leaking from his foot and his forehead. “Let her go, Seong,” Bada demands. “Your problem is with me, not with her.”

“But that’s just the thing, isn’t it? When you hurt one person, the people you care about suffer!” Seong laughs maniacally. “You had no mercy for my family, so why should I have any for yours?”

“You did all of this because I refused to sell your drugs?” Bada spits, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re pathetic, just like your father.”

Seong’s face reflects sheer anger in response to Bada’s words. She’s about to pull the trigger of her gun when Bada shoots first. She hits Seong in the knee, causing her to collapse and shoot the ceiling instead of you. You scramble away as Bada lunges forward, tackling Seong and knocking the gun out of her hand before she can try to shoot at you again.

Unfortunately, Seong is strong as well and fights back against Bada for her gun, both trading blows with each other until Seong manages to get Bada’s gun from her grasp. She pistol whips Bada in the face, giving her a cut across the nose as Bada falls to the floor, blood falling from her wound.

“Not so tough now, huh, Lee?” Seong screams as she points Bada’s very own gun at her.

“You should know that even if you kill me,” Bada says through heaving breaths, “you’ll still never make it out of this building alive.”

Seong bares her teeth at Bada, pushing her gun closer to her temple. “You’ll still be dead.”

“Don’t!” You scream, emerging from behind Seong, holding her gun. “Put the gun down or I’ll shoot.”

Seong clicks her tongue, laughing condescendingly as she turns to face you. “You don’t have the guts to kill me.”

“But I do.” Bada jabs her fist into Seong’s stomach, knocking the woman off of her and the air out of her lungs. Bada takes her gun back and places it in her pocket as the woman with red hair heaves against the floor, her eyes the size of saucers.

Bada walks over to your trembling figure, her gaze soft as her hands come up to grab yours that are still holding onto Seong’s gun.

“It’s okay, you’re okay.” She whispers tenderly into your ear, bringing you against her chest as she quietly soothes your shaky breaths.

“I thought you were–” You begin, the words falling from your mouth through gasps.

“I know, I know.” She shushes you. “Everything’s all right now. Give me the gun, honey.” You let go of Seong’s gun, allowing Bada to take it into her hands as she faces the red-haired woman who’s writhing on the floor. “You should have known better than to touch the people I care about, Seong.” Bada’s voice is cold, and more charged with rage than you’ve ever heard her carry before. “You’ll always be your father’s waste of a daughter.”

Through Seong’s choking breaths, you hear a sob wrack her voice, tears falling from her eyes and running down the sides of her face.

Before Bada pulls the trigger, her unoccupied hand comes down to shield your eyes. “Don’t look,” She whispers softly, “and cover your ears.��� With tears streaming down your face, you plug your ears and shut your eyes, a deafening shot following soon after. A few minutes pass before you feel Bada move you around, hugging you close to her chest as she breathes a sigh of relief. “It’s over.”

It’s like the floodgates open at the sound of Bada’s soothing voice because you start to sob violently into her chest, wishing you could cling onto her, but you can’t your hands still restrained by handcuffs. “Bada.” You cry, burying your face into her warm body heat.

“I know, I’m so sorry.” She whispers. “I came as fast as I could.”

“I thought she was going to shoot you.” You sob. “I was so scared–”

“Shh, it’s all right honey, I promise. I’m okay.” She pats the back of your head before pulling away to gaze into your eyes. They’re wide and filled with tears, but so infinitely beautiful to her. Bada wipes your tears away with her thumb, smiling softly at you. She takes a step back, taking off her suit jacket before placing it onto your shoulders and rubbing up and down your arms. “Let’s go home, okay?”

Bada’s room is warm, the atmosphere a far cry from the prison you’d been held in. You sit on Bada’s fluffy bed, staring into the distance with a faraway expression while waiting for her to return.

Thankfully she does as soon as the thought crosses your mind. She makes her presence known by knocking gently on the wood of her bedroom door. “Can I come in?”

“Yes.” You croak.

Bada enters the room with a mug of piping tea in one hand, and uses her unoccupied one to close the door behind her. She sits next to you on the bed, handing you the mug while muttering a soft warning about how hot it is.

“Thank you.” You say quietly, taking the drink and blowing on it.

Bada places her big hand on your thigh, rubbing it gently as she looks into your downcast eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Better now that you’re here.” You admit, staring at the ripples in the tea caused by your breath.

“I’m glad.” Bada’s eyes move from yours to your hands, noticing how red and raw your wrists are. She removes her hand from your thigh, gently touching your wrist so she can turn it over to get a better look at it. “Should I get you some pain medicine?”

“No.” You answer quickly, your eyes shooting up from your tea and meeting hers. “Stay with me, please.”

Bada nods silently, rubbing the skin just above your wrist. “I’m sorry.” She whispers grimly. “You got hurt because of me.”

You stare at Bada with an incredulous look, shaking your head rapidly. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t lied to you and went to that party, Seong would have never been able to get to me–”

“You went to that party because you missed your friends,” Bada argues back lightly. “I deprived you of a social life in my obsession with keeping you safe, and look at where it got us.”

“Bada Lee, this is not your fault.” You say firmly. “You saved my life.”

Bada looks like she wants to argue more, but holds herself back. The silence between you two allows your still-racing mind to catch up, and you suddenly sit up, eyes wide and full of sorrow.

"What is it?" Bada questions, noticing your expression.

"Bada..." you trail off, turning to the side to grab something you'd hidden. Facing her again, her mother's broken necklace is in the palm of you hand. "I'm so sorry. I tried to keep it safe..."

Bada takes the necklace out of your hand and holds it up in front of you both. "I don't care."

"What?" You breathe incredulously. "But Bada, it was your mother's–"

"And it can be fixed." She says softly. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Your look of shock melts into a sappy smile. “Me too.” You agree, placing your mug-free hand on top of Bada’s. She moves her hand around, weaving your fingers together tenderly as her thumb swipes across the skin of your hand.

“Did Seong hurt you anywhere else?” Bada asks, scanning your face for injuries.

You turn your face to your right, showing her your left cheek, which is now slightly bruised. “She slapped me.”

Bada’s eyes take in your injured cheek, a storm of emotions flashing in her irises for nothing more than a split second before she masks it with a caring expression. She brings up your arm so that it’s in front of her, places her lips on your hurt wrist, then she brings it back down and brushes her other hand across your left cheek. She leans in, pressing a soft kiss to each of the growing bruises.

When she’s done she leans back, nothing but pure care in her eyes as she gazes at you.

“Can I ask you something?” You mumble, butterflies dancing in the pit of your stomach.

“You can ask me anything, honey,” Bada whispers, tracing shapes onto your hands. 

“You always kiss my injuries.” You point out, careful to keep your voice sweet so she knows you like her display of affection. “Is there a reason why?”

Bada’s eyes leave yours for a brief moment, finding something above your head and gazing there before her eyes move back to you. “My mother, she used to…” she trails off, “she used to do that when I was younger. It always made me feel better.”

You smile softly at Bada, warmth flooding your veins. “That’s beautiful.”

She smiles back at you, muttering a soft thank you. You both allow a comfortable silence to fill the room until an idea pops into your head.

You quickly place your mug of tea on Bada’s beside table, then turn to face her. She gives you a confused expression when you take both of her hands and lift them up. Bada’s long fingers curl against yours, displaying her bloody and bruised knuckles. You lean down, placing a soft kiss next to each of them, unable to see how Bada’s eyes widen at your actions until you pull away.

When you look back at her, she’s looking at you like you hung the stars in the sky. You smile at her, then lean up, placing one final kiss on her nose, right below the cut Seong made.

Pulling away for the final time, Bada brings you closer to her, missing your warmth as she touches her forehead to yours and closes her eyes.

“Please never leave me again.”

❝ should my hands be stained with blood, let them be so, solely for you. ❞

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

María Félix (Doña Barbara, La Mujer sin Alma, Rio Escondido, La Cucaracha)—Maria Felix is still possibly the most well-known Mexican film actress. She turned down multiple-roles in Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer in order to take roles in Mexico, France, and Argentine throughout the 1940s, 50s, 60s. She was so famous and so respected as a dramatic actress that she inspired painters, novelists and poets in their own art--she was painted by Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, Bridget Tichenor. The novelist Carlos Fuentes used her as inspiration for his protagonist in Zona Sagrada. She inspired an entire collection by Hermes. In the late 1960s Cartier made her a custom collection of reptile themed jewels. She considered herself to be powerful challenger of morality and femininity in Mexico & worldwide--she routinely played powerful women in roles with challenging moral choices and free sexuality. But even still, years after he death, she is celebrated with Google Doodles, and appearances in the movie Coco, and holidays for the anniversary of her death.

Marie Doro (Lost and Won)—I had never heard of this woman before the prelims a couple of weeks ago, but oh my GOD I have not been able to stop thinking about her since. Look at her!! She was often typecast as delicate, fragile types on stage and screen, but in real life she was "intelligent, an expert on Shakespeare and Elizabethan poetry, and possessed a penetrating humor and a sometimes acid wit"(!!!!) and known for bringing vibrancy and intelligence to all of her roles. Unfortunately most of her films have been lost, but she was considered a highly sought-after lead actress through the '20s, at which point she retired from acting. In her later years, she went back to school, taking university courses in theology, physics, metaphysics, and philosophy. She was also reportedly close friends with Maude Adams and Mercedes de Acosta, both known for their lesbian relationships, which has led some (me) (but also others) to speculate that she may have been lesbian or bi herself. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! She was Charlie Chaplin's first love! She was so beautiful??? I want her to recite poetry for me while we picnic in the park.

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

María Félix:

She's Thee Hot Vintage Movie Woman of México. She's absolutely gorgeous and always looks like she's about to step on you. you WILL be thankful if she does.

"María Félix is a woman -- such a woman -- with the audacity to defy the ideas machos have constructed of what a woman should be. She's free like the wind, she disperses the clouds, or illuminates them with the lightning flash of her gaze." - Octavio Paz

María Félix is one of the most iconic actresses of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. La Doña, as she was lovingly nicknamed, only had one son, and when her first marriage ended in divorce her ex-husband stole her only child, so she vowed that one day she’d be more influential than her ex and she’d get her son back. AND SHE DID! María Félix rejected a Hollywood acting role to start her acting career in Mexico on her own terms with El Peñón de las Ánimas (The Rock of Souls) starring alongside actor, and future third husband, Jorge Negrete. She quickly rose to incredible heights both in Mexico and abroad, later on rejecting a Hollywood starring role (Duel in the Sun) as she was already committed to the movie Enamorada at the planned filming time. Of this snubbing she said, quote: “I will never regret saying no to Hollywood, because my career in Europe was focused in [high] quality cinema. [My] india* roles are made in my country, and [my] queen roles are abroad.” (Translator notes: here the “india” role means interpreting a lower-class Mexican woman, usually thought of indigenous/native/mixed descent —which she had interpreted and reinvented throughout her acting career in Mexico— and what abroad was typically considered the Mexican woman stereotype, with the braids, long simple skirts, and sandals. This also references the expectation of her possibly helping Hollywood in perpetuating this stereotype for American audiences that lack the cultural and historical contexts of this type of role which would undermine her own efforts against this type of Mexican stereotypes while working in Europe) She was considered one of the most beautiful women in the world of her time by international magazines like Life, París Match, and Esquire, and was a muse to a vast number of songwriters (including her second husband Agustin Lara,), artists, designers, and writers. Muralist Diego Rivera described her as “a monstrously perfect being. She’s an exemplary being that drives all other human beings to put as much effort as possible to be like her”. Playwriter Jean Cocteau, who worked with her in the Spanish film La Corona Negra (The Black Crown) said the following about her, “María, that woman is so beautiful it hurts”. Haute Couture houses like Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Hérmes, among others, designed and dressed her throughout her life. She died on her birthday, April 8, 2002, at 88 years old, in Mexico City. She was celebrated by a parade from her home to the Fine Arts Palace in the the city’s Historic Downtown, where a multitude of people paid tribute to her. Her filmography includes 47 movies from 1942 until 1970, and only two television acting roles in 1970. She has 2 music albums, one recorded with her second husband, Agustín Lara, in 1964 titled La Voz de María y la inspiración de Agustín «The voice of María and the inspiration of Augustín», and her solo album Enamorada «In Love» in 1998. Her bespoke Cartier jewelry is exhibited alongside Elizabeth Taylor’s, Grace Kelly’s and Gloria Swanson’s. In 2018, Film Director Martin Scorsese presented a restored and remastered version of her film Enamorada in the Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Festival and Google dedicated a doodle for her 104th birthday. On august 2023 Barbie added her doll to the Tribute Collection.

Marie Doro:

Unfortunately nearly all of Marie Doro’s movies are lost, and I don’t know a lot about her, but as soon as I came across Marie for the first time, I fell in love with her. The early Edwardian era is my favourite decade for fashion, and Marie wears it all so well! In every photo she looks like an angel made out of porcelain, too perfect to be real. She was Charlie Chaplin’s first love, and he remained in love with her for years after their first encounter, and let’s be honest, who can blame him? He said about her in his biography:

‘She was so devastatingly beautiful that I resented her. I resented her delicate, pouting lips, her regular white teeth, her adorable chin, her raven hair and dark brown eyes. But, oh God, she was beautiful! It was love at first sight. At the theatre I would time the moment that she left her dressing room so as to meet her on the stairs and gulp 'good-evening.' When I met Marie Doro again, it was like the second act of a romantic play. After we were introduced I said: 'But we've met before. You broke my heart. I was silently in love with you.' Marie, looking as beautiful as ever, said: “How thrilling”.

Doro retired from filmmaking in the 1920s and became very reclusive after that, so unfortunately there’s hardly any footage of her to watch. I feel sad that more people don’t know who Marie Doro is, because she’s very important to me.

Linked gifset to see Marie in action

[antitheticaldreamgirl-13]

I’ve just been thinking of how much of a victim narrative Taylor Swift has and how that fact totally clashes with the idea that Taylor Swift, regardless of her sexuality, is uncomfortable with the speculation but…for some mysterious reason…hasn’t said anything.

I love her, but she does tend to think she’s being persecuted when she’s not. I’m not saying that celebrities can’t face many many challenges, and there was definitely a lot of sexism and unfairness going on around the rep era, but I think she blows them up too much. She has every right to do that, she’s human and is allowed to react and, yes, overreact, but I guess my point is that if she really were bugged by the speculation about her sexuality, wouldn’t she have made an *explicit* comment like she has done with many things before??

My brain is not cooperating with me and is not letting me think of examples, but I’m sure you can think of some. Almost everything that bugs her—she’s said something about it. 

Okay here’s an oddly specific example. Way back in the old days of 2021, she had a big reaction to this one line from a show called Ginny & Georgia: “What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift.” Taylor’s reaction was this: ““Hey Ginny & Georgia, 2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back. How about we stop degrading hard working women by defining this horse s–t as FuNnY. Also, @netflix after Miss Americana this outfit doesn’t look cute on you Happy Women’s History Month I guess.”

Like….this was over one line from a show, but Hetlors are saying she wouldn’t respond to speculation that has been going on for *years* now? Are they joking?

[alarrytale]

Hi Marte. So I'm probably completely wrong here but I'm just theorizing. Harry and Louis have talked about wanting kids since they were young and Harry mentioned it again in HH promo. If they had plans to eventually CO and start a family then would they get involved with beards who stipulate in a contract that they can't CO? Would they agree to that? Harry would be digging himself into a hole by adding more and more beards and making it increasingly harder for himself. There is probably something in the contract to say that either party can't CO until 5 or 10 years after the relationship ends, or that they have to keep up with the pretense that the relationship was real. But I can't imagine Harry would agree to a contract knowing he could never CO. So there are 2 options here. That they plan on never CO or they agree to a contract knowing that they will be able to CO at some point. The only thing is that I wonder if they were to CO if there were some grounds that the other party could sue them for damage to their image but maybe they can come up with a way that does minimum damage. In Leo and Bradley's case with Gigi, I don't get the impression that Leo and Bradley want to CO so it might not matter so much to them. But I can't imagine Harry and Louis wanting to be closeted forever. If that was the case then wouldn't they shut down any speculation about their sexuality? It would be so easily to do a written interview or in depth IG post talking about how harmful the speculation has been, or they even could get fake married. On the other hand, speculation about their sexuality is good publicity for them. But I'm not sure they would welcome the speculation if they planned on never CO. Wouldn't that be like queerbaiting? What do you think?

Hi, anon!

I don't think kids are a priority for them right now. They're a celebrity gay couple, kids will basically mean the end of both their careers. I don't see either of them wanting to be the primary care taker while the other one's on tour. That wouldn't be fair either. So they will both have to be there and be present for their kids. I think they'd both want that too, in 7-10 years or so.

I don't think H or L would go into a contract willingly with a beard, stipulating that they can't come out. But all this started in 1D when they were young and impressionable, and i'm not sure if they knew the consequences of what they were forced/pressured/convinced into by Sony. Bar TS or Kendall maybe, i think H's team has been the one in power and written the contract stipulations. I don't think H would have put himself in a situation where it would be neccessary to agree to such a term. So i don't think that's what's stopping him from coming out. Bg is a bigger hindrance for them.

I agree if they never plan to come out all the queercoding, fights with management and bargaining they've done have been pretty pointless. It doesn’t make sense as a theory based on all we've observed over the years. I'm pretty sure they both would come out this second if they could. H and L have always given attention to and praised people who have come out. Like L with the rainbow apple t-shirt for tim cook and H with the michael sam football shirt. They so badly wish it was them having that opportunity.

If they never plan to come out, because they can't or because they don't want to, we would have seen a totally different behaviour from them. What on earth is the point of singing i love him i hate it if you don’t want the world to know you're gay and in a relationship, because you'll never be out? It's not queerbaiting, it's queercoding and wanting people to see beyond the stunts and lies, and see the truth. Speculation about their sexuality isn't good publicity if you have to go on twitter and shut it down, making yourself look like a right douche and a homophobe by doing it. It's harmed Louis' image and popluarity immensely, both among fans, the gp and journalists.

Since they want out, there must be a way out. Louis wouldn't be all faith in the future if there never was a way out for them. Harry wouldn't be jumping from stunt to stunt if he's in this for life. He'd find a more permanent solution. If there weren't a way out they would have given up the fight long ago. They're still fighting.

[gracefullou]

you know what has always annoyed me?? ppl that call louis gay as a fact and that keep speculating and assuming things about his sexuality. first of all, there is thing called bisexuality. and second of all, have we learned nothing??? we keep pressuring these celebrities into coming out before they're ready or having to make statements or whatever and it's truly sickening to watch. just let the poor guy be and enjoy his music, his private life is none of our concern.

Yep, exactly! It's ok to have your own opinion but i don't understand where someone gets the nerve and the audacity to discuss someone's sexuality in detail and try to prove to anyone who can listen they're gay or bi or whatever. Like imagine doing this to a real life person 😵‍💫. Just bc he's a celeberity doesn't give you the right to force a sexuality on him and look for (or let's be honest create in your head) proofs/ clues of said sexuality (imagine how uncomfortable you're making that person, them knowing that everything they do is watched and being spinned around to fit a narrative they didn't approve), and denying the relationships in his life for that. They didn't even stop at his child. And it goes both ways btw, larries who want him to be Hrrysexual (not even gay) so bad and some louies who want to prove larries wrong and are obsessed with his heterosexuality and ship him with every woman he meets or likes a freaking insta post of hers. Like let the man be. Enjoy his music, it's really good is it not? Why do you care who is it or is it not about?

[dennisboobs]

i know peace bc ive never used twitter it seems like ur torturing urself a bit

yeah. but honestly if i can make like. one person stop fucking harassing glenn i'll take it. idgaf about these idiots qrting me trying to make fun of me, i don't want them anywhere near my twt (free blocklist) and they'll forget about it in an hour anyway. but some people have seemingly genuinely thought about it and agreed after a little pushback. it's mostly a bunch of teens who want to be edgy or think glenn has no feelings because he's a C list celebrity with a nice house. i don't think many people bother trying to push back against the accepted culture over there and most of them seemingly don't even think about it. i don't know why but twitter culture just. expects you to be incredibly fucking rude to celebrities on principle even if you like them. and this is. encouraged. and applauded. i think its disgusting, and ive been on the receiving end of parasocial relationships that had people getting overly invested in me and my friend, completely fucking obliterated any boundaries and speculated about our genders/sexuality/relationship so its. kind of personal. i hate to see it and i can empathize with glenn to a degree. especially when like. you compare other clips of him at cons or even on the podcast where he's WAY more reserved talking too deeply abt queer shit vs those encounters with fans, the guy was having the time of his fucking life with a bunch of superfans who let him know how much they care about his work. i really, really wish that we were on our best behaviour and a bunch of fucking 15 yr olds who have never been called a slur a day in their life and don't know the weight of their words weren't creating a hostile space for both sunnytwt and for glenn. why do you, as a fan, not want to be able to interact respectfully with someone you admire? why do you not want to treat him as a human being? like there's a difference between deifying a celeb vs being fucking respectful. it's not like this is elon musk it's fuckin. glenn. like he is so. just a guy. treat him like one. i can't help but feel bad when 90% of what he sees from fans are people in the comments of his posts bullying him. like why would you not want this man to know how insane he makes you on a daily basis. why are you so afraid of expressing genuine emotion that you have to harass him. bc its cringe to say you like sunny? that's the extent of his fucking interactions with fans. of course he's stoked to talk to fans who have actual love for the show. he probably never fucking sees it. and you know. its frustrating to see people who were THERE. interacting with him in person. now doing this shit. my own mutuals were doing that shit. i follow like 6 people on sunnytwt. its just. accepted. idk. i don't know how to phrase this in a way that makes sense but if you enjoy glenn's interactions with the fandom so much maybe dont fucking push him away. if there are a bunch of ppl qrting his old tweets with what seems like actual literal hate. idk. id start deleting if i were him. like there are just zero fucking boundaries and it makes me mad. why would you do this shit when you could take advantage of him being accessible and tell him how much sunny + dennis means to you instead.

[mychemicalraymance]

Has Frank stated he is straight? Genuine question bc i cant remember. Either way this is hilarious that ppl are willing to come at u for suggesting an mcr member may be straight when the same ppl are probably going wild speculating shit about gerard. Like maybe just stick to what we know / what the members themselves have said and stop assuming personal info abt strangers? lol

Hm no usually (at least to me) the people who say this are the ones who seem to think its "creepy" to talk about gerard as anything but a Man who is a cis Guy. I actually love to say gerard way is a nonbinary person and part of the trans community. You have the wrong number here i think. Also im not assuming. I must SAY we live in a society joker face where being gay or trans or gnc etc is considered an aberration and unless you explicitly say with words you are one of those things and make a point to become involved in the community as a participant, you function as a straight person. Thats not the RIGHT thing but it is an understood aspect of identity politics, ESPECIALLY in celebrity culture. Even if we can't find video footage of frnk saying he is straight (i can't remember if there is, I just dont need to bc my point still stands) you CAN find footage of him talking about his life in ways that are inherent to being a straight person and a (respectful) implied separation of himself from the gay community. I know he's not gay the same way most people understand that people in a gay bar are gay. They have to say they're not to be understood as straight.

Like frank and gerard are different and the sticky point of this is that gerard IS involved and aligned with the gay and trans community. The STICKIEST point is that part of why gerard is so beloved and interesting as a celeb is that he defies a straight label but managed to do that without binariatic "coming out" and otherization that is categorical. Gerard being fluid rather than inert in his celebrity social capital via sexuality is like the whole point of WHY it works. Like he is being gay in a way that isn't just saying the words bc thats too easy for celebrity as a concept to subsume.

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Hi Daisie, sorry if this is hard to understand as English isn't my first language. This is just theorizing and I'm not saying it will happen. If Harry ever decided he wanted to stop having beards and doing the stunts and to just live his life as a gay man but without making an announcement about it, like a glass closet basically... and I know some say he is in one but I disagree because he still has beards. If he wanted that for himself... to be 'out' but without announcing it, whether that is being seen in public with Louis or with another man if they're not together anymore, possibly referring to a boyfriend in interviews or music, or even just being publicly single and keeping his private life private but wanting people to know he is part of the lgbtq+ community.... how would any of that be possible when fans, tabloids, gossip pages like deuxmoi are constantly making up lies about him? Sorry if that's confusing. A glass closet basically. But that seems impossible for him because if he is publicly single then the tabloids and deuxmoi constantly make up lies about him hooking up with every single woman, even if he's never seen with them. Is it possible for any change now?

Hi dear,

Regarding your question about whether it would be possible for Harry to live as a gay man without making a public announcement, it is technically possible. He is already sort of doing that. We've seen him express his queerness more and more over the years. And he's said he wants to keep his private life private and that he has shared his sexual orientation and relationship status with his close friends and family. He's also said he doesn't feel the need to share that publicly at this time. And that's what he's comfortable and happy with right now.

As for the gossip and rumors, that just comes with being a celebrity. It will never stop because it is a caveat of being in the public eye. But also, the rumors ultimately don't matter. They may be annoying, but Harry himself has said he's chosen to ignore those types of things so that they don't impact him or his mental health negatively.

All he can control is himself, not the stuff that happens around him, and from what he's said over the years I think he's made peace with that aspect of fame. So if he gets papped laughing with someone and the gossip circle spreads the rumor that the person is his newest girlfriend, then so be it. He knows who the person is, and the tabloids ultimately don't matter to his every day life and his true self.

But in regards to him mentioning a boyfriend or being seen with a boyfriend in a manner that makes it clear they're dating - that in and of itself would be him coming out, even without a statement, and the media would go absolutely nuts regardless of him speaking on it or not. Again, that's the nature of being a celebrity, and specifically Harry Styles. The biggest aspects of his image are his dating life and sexuality speculations, so there is no way to keep something as monumental as that quiet. It would turn into a huge media news cycle, everywhere. With the general public and in all levels of fandom.

So really, there's a fine line between his queer expression right now and a more outwardly expression of it like you described. Right now his actions can still be straight-washed. Hets can still ignore the gay pride, gay sex innuendo and queerness. But even then, it's becoming harder to. Now there's 2 sides to it: one in which his gay pride gets erased, and one in which he's condemned for the gay agenda he's spreading with his rainbows. It's an amazing exercise in willful ignorance.

Of course, him being a queer man has been slowly more accepted tho. Even 2-3 years ago we would get laughed at for thinking he's queer. Or before that, called homophobic names for suggesting THE Harry Styles would *ever* touch a pride flag. So things have changed. The conversation regarding Harry has become more open to his queer expression, even in the gp. So that is progress. Even if the tabloids continue to run with made up hookup stories.

In terms of beards, I don't think he'll be able to entirely stop that unless he's getting ready to make a public statement about his personal life. But, in my opinion, it doesn't sound like it's something he wants right now. It's obvious he enjoys his privacy, and wants parts of his life to remain private. And that includes his sexuality and his partner. This is what's safest and best for him at the moment. For *many* reasons.

We can't forget the current world we are living in. While it may seem accepting of the queer community compared to 5, 10, 20 years ago, we are seeing our rights stripped away every day. No joke, every day. Rights that we fought years to have. Just taken. In 2023. Homophobia and transphobia are being normalized again. Homophobic and transphobic legislations being accepted in all levels of government. In the US, gay marriage is at risk, just 8 years after it was legalized in all states. And while the entertainment industry may look like they celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, it is still a cruelly homophobic institution that will crush a queer person, even if they are at the top right now.

This post is highly relevant.

Ok, this turned out to be super rambly. Hopefully I addressed what you were thinking about.

[peachjagiya]

can we stop pretending that a gay couple can not enlist together? the only reason a couple would never be allowed to enlist together is if they’re out that is the only time they’d ever be threatened but even then nothing can be done because they CANT and won’t just kick you out for enlisting with a boyfriend. the restriction is on the sexual act, the literal act of anal sex while serving. you can not be in danger if you’re not out and you’re not just suck and fucking anywhere there. you can’t say two people cannot enlist together because a bunch of people who don’t know them in real life think they’re more than friends. there’s only two people who can actually ever tell you if a couple is in a relationship and that’s the individuals themselves. and the only reason w company can ever confirm dating rumours if the couple themselves tell them it’s okay and that’ll never happen as long as South Korea continues to be homophobic. gay men have enlisted in the military and will continue to. gay men ARE in the military and gay men HAVE enlisted with their partners. Stop acting so purposefully obtuse. tae and jk could’ve enlisted together and should’ve. It wouldn’t have been dangerous and are you forgetting who they are? They are THE biggest celebrities in Korea you think they wouldn’t be protected and smart? Jungkooks tattoos were NOT a restriction. I was happy and sad seeing them yesterday after being apart and that weird hug 🫤

As ever, someone coming into my asks with an attitude for no good reason. What's this about?

I have no idea what angle you're coming at this from and I don't know what you want from me here.

So a gay couple can enlist in the military. Ok? I feel like it's unlikely that happened in the case of Jimin and JK, due to their high profile. But frankly I wouldn't believe they were a couple if they were stationed seperately at the North and South Pole making friends with polar bears so it makes no difference to me.

tae and jk could’ve enlisted together and should’ve

Should have? I don't know what that means but it annoyed me.

there’s only two people who can actually ever tell you if a couple is in a relationship and that’s the individuals themselves. and the only reason w company can ever confirm dating rumours if the couple themselves tell them it’s okay and that’ll never happen as long as South Korea continues to be homophobic.

Yeah good points. Maybe. I don't know. I have no idea what you're trying to tell me off for. Gay couples can enlist but we don't even know there are gay couples? because none of them have told us but Tae and JK SHOULD have enlisted together? but we shouldn't speculate but it's sad that there was a weird hug? What are you saying.

The hug was weird for the first watch but gets more affectionate and sweet the more you look at it. Or just believe whatever you like. Can you just believe it quietly and leave me out of your thought process? Thaaaaanks.

[braveclementine]

Chapter 8

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

💙💙💙💙

𝕴𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 harder than ever as I lugged my trunk and Sadie out of the train. I covered Sadie's cage the best that I could.

"Hi, Hagrid!" Harry called over the crashing thunder and somehow, Hagrid managed to hear him.

"All righ', Harry? See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!" Hagrid yelled back and gave us all a gigantic wave.

I climbed into the first horseless carriage that I saw and found myself in a carriage with Susan Bones, Ernie Macmillian, and Hannah Abbott.

"Hi Elizabeth." Susan said with a smile.

"Hey Susan." I said, setting my trunk down and putting Sadie on top of it. "How was your summer?"

"Pretty good. Did you go to the World Cup?" she asked and then asked, "Since when do you wear glasses?"

"Yeah, it was amazing. Did you go? I've worn glasses since I was born."

She shook her head, "Quidditch isn't really my thing."

"Did you see the Death Eaters?" Hannah asked with large eyes.

I nodded. "I'm just lucky our tent wasn't burned. What about you Ernie?"

"We were okay." Ernie said, pushing his classes up on his nose. "We didn't really hear about the commotion till most of it was over. We'd gone to bed after the cup. We'd been cheering on Bulgaria so we didn't really have a reason to celebrate."

I nodded, "Yeah, you were farther into the campsite. We were near the beginning so we saw the start of it. Mr. Weasley sent us all in the forest. We were right by the person who cast the Dark Mark too."

The other three gasped. "Did you see who it was?" Susan asked in excitement.

I shook my head in disappointment. "No. We only heard his voice. It was a deep male voice, but that doesn't help any." I didn't mention Harry's wand or Winky or Barty Crouch's secret.

The rest of the carriage ride was spent in speculation about the wild possibilities of the identity of the man. I wondered what Barty Crouch knew about him and who he was to Crouch. His son? A brother? A father? A friend? But it was probably a relative or he wouldn't be protecting him so hard.

When the carriage rolled to the stop, I was out first, and I ran up the stairs as fast as was possible. I wrung my hair out when I got inside. Using my wand, I pointed it at my robes like a heater, waiting for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to come up. I put my trunk with the others and let Sadie out of her cage. She shook her wings, throwing water off of her, and flew off to the Owlery.

"Blimey." Ron said, coming into the Great Hall and shaking his head like a dog. "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak- ARRGH!"

Peeves had just dropped a large red water balloon on Ron's head. A second one narrowly missed Hermione, and I dropped as it exploded on the floor, sending water into Ron and Harry's shoes. I dodged a large green one that Peeves had thrown right at my face. I wasn't sure why it mattered- I was already soaking wet.

"PEEVES! Peeves, come down here at ONCE!" Professor McGonagall shouted, running out of the Great Hall. She skidded on the wet floor and grabbed Hermione's throat to stop from falling. I winced theatrically.

"Ouch- sorry Miss Granger-" she apologized.

"That's all right, Professor." Hermione gasped out, massaging her throat.

"Peeves, get down here NOW!" Professor McGonagall shouted as Peeves lobbed a water balloon at a group of fifth years and cackled saying, "Not doing nothing! Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeee!" Another water balloon was aimed at a group of second-years who had just come in.

"I shall call the headmaster!" Professor McGonagall shouted, "I'm warning you, Peeves-"

Peeves stuck out his tongue, threw the rest of his balloons high up into the air, watched them all fall down on the students and zoomed up the staircase, laughing.

"Well, move along, then!" Professor McGonagall said sharply to the crowd, "Into the Great Hall, come on! Miss Kane-"

I turned back and walked over to her and she held out her hand and dropped something into mine and I pocketed it. Then she asked, "You wear glasses?"

I sighed and wondered how many more times I was going to get this question asked, "Just for reading." I said and ran to catch up with the others. I ran my wand over my clothes, drying them out as I said good-bye to the others and headed over to the Hufflepuff table.

First day of school, Hufflepuff Quidditch matches, and last day of school were the only times I sat at the Hufflepuff table. Otherwise, I sat down at the Gryffindor table with the others.

Cedric raised a hand and I waved back. He shouted, "Since when do you wear glasses?"

My patience was starting to wear thin and I wondered if maybe I should just let my left eye go blind. "Since I was born." I shouted back, "I just don't wear them anymore."

I sat down next to Susan, pretty much my only favorite Hufflepuff besides Cedric and Heidi. Her and Hannah were talking about the weather. My robes were pretty much dry, though uncomfortable as somewhat wet clothes are. I let my hair down from its ponytail and started running my wand over it.

"I love your hair Elizabeth." Hannah said wistfully. "How do you keep it so long?"

I combed it out with my fingers, still running the wand over it, and said, "Not without a lot of work. But I've never cut my hair once so that's an explanation."

I realized after four years I've never really given a description of myself beyond the basics of colors and height. I have the brown eyes from dad and the red hair from mum. But it's not bright red like the Weasleys. It's a mort subtle red like. . red-brown? So more brown than red and the red shows up in the sun. I'm about 4"8' and getting taller. I'm pale in the winter and tan in the summer. My hair reaches all the way down to my knees.

I was a bit excited for the new sorting. I hadn't been to a sorting since my own. I'd been caught up with the platform wall in my second year and Professor McGonagall had given me my time-turner on the third year. That was what she'd dropped into my hand in the hallway before asking about the damn glasses.

The door to the Great Hall opened at that moment and Professor McGonagall led the students in. The first-years appeared to have swam across the lake, not rowed across. They were all shivering either from cold or nerves or both.

Professor McGonagall placed the three-legged stool on the ground before the first years and the Sorting Hat atop that. The first years stared at it, the same thoughts that ran through every first-years mind ran through theirs. The students sitting at the four tables and the professors stared at the Sorting hat as well.

And then, the Sorting hat opened up its mouth near the brim of the hat and started to sing:

A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hard workers were Most worthy of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favorites from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead! Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you belong!

I smarted a little about the never yet been wrong. He'd put me in Hufflepuff when he'd explicitly whispered in my ear that if it weren't for my visions I'd have ended up in Gryffindor.

I clapped anyways. I knew I belonged in Hufflepuff.

Professor McGonagall unrolled her parchment with the names of the newest students coming this year. Then she said, "When I call our your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool. When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table. Ackerley, Stewart!"

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat roared.

The Ravenclaw table, which was one of the middle tables, clapped.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!" The table on the farthest side of the room clapped.

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped with the other Hufflepuffs. Our table was on the complete opposite side of the room as Slytherin with Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in-between. The small blond girl stepped down the stairs and took her seat on the edge of the table.

"Cauldwell, Owen!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped again as the young sandy haired boy came and sat down next to Eleanor. They shook hands and spoke quietly to each other.

"Creevy, Dennis!"

I gave a start, recognizing the last name. So Collin's brother had come to Hogwarts as well? He had Hagrid's huge moleskin coat wrapped about him. I assumed he must've fallen into the lake. I looked for Hagrid and watched him come in through the back door.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Dobbs, Emma."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped again. I wondered if maybe we could win the House cup this year. That would be nice.

There were multiple other students with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws and Slytherins.

"McDonald, Natalie"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Pritchard, Graham!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Quirke, Orla!"

"RAVENCLAW"

"Whitby, Kevin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF."

Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and picked up the stool and hat and made her way off the stage. Professor Dumbledore stood up expectantly and, looking around the entire Great Hall said, "I have only two words to say to you. Tuck in."

Food appeared on the dishes. I sighed. I looked up at the table and frowned. Uncle Moody still wasn't here. The Defense Against the Dark Arts table was empty. I frowned. Had Mr. Weasley had trouble getting Uncle Moody out of trouble? Maybe I should've gone with him.

I speared some hot Italian sausages and cut them up, popping piece after piece into my mouth. Crap, I was stress eating. I put my fork down and picked up my pumpkin juice, sipping it slowly.

Dessert appeared and I put a block of vanilla ice cream on a hot brownie and called it a hot fudge cake. I added a cherry and fudge sauce.

After dinner, Dumbledore stood and said, "So! Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it." His eyes twinkled and he continued saying, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students-" His eyes flashed towards me "-as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

"What?" Harry gasped from across the room with multiple other Quidditch players.

Suddenly Fred shouted, "A little warning would've been nice Elizabeth!"

Every student in the Great Hall (minus the first-years and Slytherins)- along with multiple teachers- laughed as I put my head down on the table and tried to die of embarrassment. Of course Fred was going to embarrass me in front of everyone.

"Yes well," Dumbledore continued with a smile, "regardless of the future, this is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy- but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"

The Great Hall doors banged open and I turned to see what the commotion was. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff and shrouded in a black traveling cloak. For one heart thudding moment, I thought perhaps Voldemort had invaded the school and then I breathed a sigh of relief as lightning flashed, and I saw that it was only Uncle Moody.

He was walking down the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw aisle. The students stared at him with gaping mouths and expressions of shock. I found that I was grinning like an idiot. Uncle Moody reached Dumbledore and reached out a hand. Dumbledore shook it, muttering. Then Uncle Moody took his seat behind in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's chair and pulled a plate of sausages towards him, not unlike the ones I'd just finished eating.

I turned my attention back to Dumbledore as he said, "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody."

Before, I had envisioned Hagrid and Dumbledore being the only ones who clapped for him. But since I'd warned the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione before now- Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and I all clapped along with Hagrid and Dumbledore. This seemed to encourage some of the others students and soon there was scattered applause throughout the hall. But still, none of the teachers but Dumbledore and Hagrid had clapped.

Uncle Moody, of course, was completely indifferent to this welcome and was drinking out of his hip flask.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and I brought my attention back to him once again. "As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"YOU'RE JOKING!" Fred shouted loudly and everyone laughed. I was just glad he hadn't called me out this time.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley, though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar. . ."

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and I wondered why'd they never married. She always kept him in line. Of course, I'd heard rumors that people liked Professor McGonagall with Snape. I wasn't sure how much I liked that one considering I fancied myself with Snape. Oh wait. . . I didn't say that.

"Er- but maybe that is not the time. . . no. . . where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament. . . well, some of you will know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities- until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

There were murmurs of excitement from the tables, but I didn't join in. It would be exciting to watch for most of us, because we wouldn't be allowed to compete.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which has been very successful." Dumbledore continued over the soft murmurs. "However, our own department of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

I watched Fred hiss something down the table of Gryffindor. He wasn't the only one of course. And in complete honesty, only the first years looked nervous as though they might be required to possibly compete without knowing anything.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age- that is to say, seventeen or older- will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." Dumbledore's eyes started to twinkle in the direction of George and Fred, both of them looking mutinous and I grinned. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, paused, and then continued, "The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend ever courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give you whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!" He then sat down and started to talk to Uncle Moody.

I looked up at the table, frowning thoughtfully. There seemed something different about Uncle Moody but I couldn't put my finger on it. I would've thought after the attack- if there had been an attack (and I felt that there had)- he would've been more. . . nervous wasn't the right word but it fit best. But he seemed extremely confident.

"Elizabeth!"

I jumped. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Fred, and George were waiting by the door and, looking around, I saw I was the only other student left besides them. I jumped up and hurried over. "Sorry, just thinking." I said.

"Who's this impartial judge who's going to decide who the champions are?" Harry asked, I think to the general group, not just me.

"The Goblet of Fire." I said and Hermione oohed. They didn't get to ask anymore questions as I headed off down a corridor to my dorm.

In the dorm, quite a few Hufflepuffs had stayed up to talk about it. I pushed my glasses up on my nose and went to go up the dorm, but Ced called my name and I slowly turned.

The whole Hufflepuff dorm paused their conversations to hear what was going to be said and Cedric waved his hand at them, "It's not about the cup, carry on."

I rolled my eyes as the conversations started back up again, though a few others listened in anyways to make sure Ced wasn't lying.

"What's up?" I asked warily.

"Since there won't be Quidditch this year and next year Heidi will be gone, I was thinking about having Gladys Prescott for her spot-"

"And you want me to. . . what?" I interrupted, my heart breaking. "I mean, I'll give the Chaser position to-"

"No, no! Blimey Elizabeth, I won't even be here next year!" Cedric interrupted me, looking alarmed, "I was hoping you'd be the Hufflepuff Seeker. Besides, this is my last year so you wouldn't have to leave the team anyways."

I blinked for a moment, considering that. "Really?"

Cedric nodded, "Of course. I'll train you this year, I want you to be Seeker."

I grinned, "You really think I can be a good seeker?"

"I've watched you fly for two years Elizabeth. You're a natural, you'll be amazing."

"Right, thanks. I'm going to bed before I'm bombarded by the tournament." I said, grinning, and headed up the stairs. I was quite pleased with this turn of events. I wondered who be captain next year.

I fell asleep quickly and when I woke up, I headed down to breakfast. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already down there. Hermione saw me and raised my schedule up in her hand. I noticed Uncle Moody was sitting in his seat this morning, looking at me. I raised a hand and he nodded.

I sat down and took my schedule from Hermione. Herbology with Gryffindors, Transfiguration after that. Lunch, Ancient Runes and Divination were at the same time afterwards dammit. I was going to have to use the Time-Turner today. Luckily, though I would only have to use it two days a week instead of nearly every day.

"You're eating again, I notice." Ron said and I looked up to see Hermione putting jam on her toast.

"I've decided there are better ways of making a stand about elf rights." Hermione said in a haughty voice.

"Yeah. . . and you were hungry." Ron said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my own piece of toast. "Harry stop worrying, your anxiety is giving me anxiety." I snapped angrily. "You have no idea how hard it is to stop visions when they have emotions embedded in them."

Harry gave me a shocked look, "Sorry."

"Sirius will write back." I muttered to him, "Just give him some time, okay?"

"When will I get the letter?" Harry asked in a hurried voice. "He's not in trouble, is he?"

"I don't know the exact day." I said. "But I know you'll be in the Gryffindor common room. And apparently you're frustrated by the news so you take your anger out on Hedwig which I suggest you don't do, do you understand? Make sure you have some sort of treat and no matter how upset you are, be nice." I glared at him and then started to put grape jelly on my toast.

"Message understood." Harry muttered. "I'll have a treat for her."

"Good."

I grabbed a second of piece of toasted, lathered it with grape jelly, and then said, "I'm going back to get my dragon hide gloves. See you soon."

I got up and headed out of the Great Hall. Soon a familiar clunk sounded through the hallway and I turned to see Uncle Moody. "Hi Uncle Moody."

"Hello Elizabeth." He said, using the walking stick to get around.

"Getting ready for your first class?"

He nodded, "Sixth year Gryffindors."

"Oh Fred and George Weasley are in that class." I said thoughtfully. "They cause a bit of trouble but they're good kids. Of course, Dad gave you a bit of information about the classes this summer." I grinned. "Anyways, I'm gonna be late for Herbology, see you later."

He nodded and I ran up the corridor.

I met Harry, Ron, and Hermione back outside and we walked to Herbology. I took my customary spot at a solo table. We were working with Bubotubers today. They were a plant that looked like a giant black slug. They grew vertically out of the soil and they squirmed. Each one had large, shiny swellings across the plant which were full of pus. The pus could be collected and used for acne. However, in it's undiluted form- what we were working with today- it could create horrible rashes or cause your skin to swell. I quickly put on my dragon-hide gloves.

I usually worked by myself in Herbology with a table to myself. I seemed to have an affinity to plants. They worked with me and I worked with them. I usually got more done than the other students, though Neville worked at a fast pace.

"Bubotubers." Professor Sprout told us quickly as we were settled around our tables. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus-"

"The what?" Seamus asked, sounding revolted. I giggled quietly.

"Pus, Finnigan, pus." Professor Sprout said impatiently. "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

Most of the students started squeezing the bulbs and letting them burst. I, on the other hand, took out a sewing pin. I gently eased the needle into the bulb and then pulled it out slowly. Then holding the bulging pod over the glass pint jar, I squeezed gently. It squirted into the Pint jar the way pus burst from a popped pimple. A disgusting description, perhaps, but effective. The liquid was a thick yellowish green like mucus and smelled of petrol.

The smell didn't bother me though. I didn't mind the smell of gasoline, though it usually made me lightheaded after a while.

I worked on popping the pustules in this way and collected about four pints by the time I was done. "This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy." Professor Sprout said, popping corks into the pint jars necks. "An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

"Like poor Eloise Migden, she tried to curse hers off." Hannah Abbott said in a hushed voice from across the greenhouse.

"Silly girl, but Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back on in the end." Professor Sprout said with a shake of her head.

There was the booming bell which ended the lesson. I trooped back to the castle for my Transfiguration lesson where we attempted to turn a Guinea Fowl into a Guinea Pig. My Guinea Fowl did not seem to like me and kept pecking at my hands and pulling my hair. I was covered in bite marks by the time the lesson ended, but with a successfully transformed Guinea Pig- which also didn't like me.

I had a free period after that and I spent the time in the library finishing my Transfiguration homework that had been given after class. There had been no homework for Herbology. The bell rang for lunch and I put my completed essay away and headed down to the Great Hall.

After a quick lunch, I went to Divination and then redid my hour for Ancient Runes. Then I went down to the Great Hall for dinner.

I met up with Hermione and the two of us met up with Harry and Ron.

"That'll take all weekend, that will." Ron was saying to Harry.

"Lots of homework? Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!" Hermione said brightly.

"Well, bully for Professor Vector." Ron said moodily.

We reached the entrance hall which was packed with people who were ready for dinner. A loud voice rang out behind them.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!"

The four of us turned around. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle were standing there and they looked pleased about something which was always a terrible thing.

"What?" Ron asked hotly, already in a bad mood from Professor Trelawney's' homework.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley! Listen to this!" Draco said and the whole Great Hall seemed to quiet down to listen. And Draco read:

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

At that moment, Draco looked up. My hand was in my pocket, ready to pull out my wand at any moment. I pushed my glasses up on my face as he said, "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" The entire Great Hall was listening and I wondered why there wasn't any teachers around.

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder.

I smarted at that. Uncle Moody retired because he was tired. He was still smart, just wary. And there was nothing wrong with that considering the amount of enemies he had. I narrowed my eyes at Draco, just about ready to curse him to hell.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily

Prophet questions about why he had involved

the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

"And there's a picture, Weasley! A picture of your parents outside their house- if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?" Draco crowed with joy, turning the paper around so that we could see two figures standing outside the Burrow, arms around each others waist, smiling.

"Get stuffed, Malfoy. C'mon Ron. . ." Harry said, pushing Ron's shoulder to go into the Great Hall.

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you Potter? So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?" Draco.

"You know your mother, Malfoy?" Harry asked rhetorically as both he and Hermione grabbed the back of Ron's robes to stop him from jumping Draco. "- that expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"

I laughed aloud along with some of the others in the Great Hall.

Draco went pink and said, "Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter."

"Then shut up." I said as Harry said, "Keep your fat mouth shut, then." The four of us turned away to go into the Great Hall.

There was a BANG! and people screamed. Something rushed past my cheek- and Harry's-, as we'd been standing right next to each other.

I spun around as there was a second BANG! and got ready to defend myself but Draco was gone, a white polecat in his place. I burst into laughter, though I was confused as I had originally seen Draco turning into a ferret. Uncle Moody stomped down the stairs as fast as possible and shouted, "OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

There was a terrified silence in the Great Hall considering a majority of people had seen the transformation. Once again though, I wondered why no teachers were here.

Uncle Moody turned and looked at Harry and I with his good eye, the other eye was pure white, meaning he was looking at Draco and the others behind him. "Did he get you?"

"No, missed." Harry and I said together.

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.

"Leave- what?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Not you-him!" Uncle Moody said, jerking his thumb behind him. I was grinning. Crabbe had been about to pick up the polecat. Uncle Moody limped toward the polecat which gave a terrified squeak and started to run towards the dungeons

"I don't think so!" Uncle Moody roared, pointing the wand at the polecat and it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor and bounced once more like a basketball. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned. Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do. . ."

Yes, this was Uncle Moody alright. Any doubts last night that he was different were gone. I started to laugh as the polecat flew into the air, flailing its legs and tail around helplessly. "Never- do- that- again-" Moody said each time the polecat bounced.

"Professor Moody!" A shocked voice came from the marble staircase. Professor McGonagall came down the staircase, her arms full of books. I sighed in disappointment. The fun was going to end.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall." Uncle Moody said, bouncing the polecat even higher into the air. I laughed at how calm he sounded as though he was having a very normal day. Who knows, maybe he was.

"What- what are you doing?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously, her eyes following the progress of the polecat as it bounced up and down.

"Teaching." Moody said and I laughed even louder. Some other students laughed too, though we were in the minority. Most of the others didn't realize that this was just how Moody was.

"Teach- Moody, is that a student?" Professor McGonagall shrieked in horror, the books falling out of her arms and spilling across the floor.

With a wave of my wand, the books were picked up from the floor and settled into my arms.

"Yep." Uncle Moody said with pleasure and I giggled, almost dropping the books.

"No!" Professor McGonagall ran towards the ferret and with a wave of her wand, the polecat turned back into Draco. His face was pink, his blond hair a mess, and he got to his feet wincing. "Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment! Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?" She finished weakly.

"He might've mentioned it, yeah, but I thought a good sharp shock-" Uncle Moody said, scratching his chin in an unconcerned way and I grinned. So Uncle Moody- screw rules, do as I want, teach how I want, and they'll learn. I thought Draco would certainly learn this lesson better than doing lines.

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!" Professor McGonagall said in exasperation.

"I'll do that, then." Moody said with great dislike. Draco's eyes were watering with pain and humiliation and muttered something about his father.

"Oh yeah? Well I know your father of old, boy. . . You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son. . . you tell him that from me. . . Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes." Draco said in a resentful voice.

"Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape. . . Come on, you. . ." Uncle Moody said, grabbing Draco's upper arm and dragging him out of the room toward the dungeons.

Professor McGonagall stared anxiously after them and then looked around for her books. I stepped forward and handed them back to her.

"Tha- thank you Miss Kane." She said, blinking and taking them from me.

I went back with Ron, Harry, and Hermione to the Gryffindor. Many people were getting their laughs out now that Moody, Draco, and McGonagall were gone.

"Don't talk to me." Ron said quietly to the three of us.

"Why not?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever." Ron said, closing his eyes. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing polecat."

"To be honest." I said with a frown after the three of us stopped laughing. "I had foreseen Moody turning him into a white ferret."

"Hmm." Ron said, his eyes still closed. "That might have been better."

I nodded but didn't say anything as I slowly ate my beef casserole. Why had the vision changed? I'd definitely seen a ferret, not a polecat. Was there something wrong with my visions? Something wrong with me? I'd never had a vision change before. I'd tried to change the future before- and had succeeded before (sometimes) like with Ron's robes- but I'd never not interfered with the future and have something different happen.

Harry's voice broke my revere. "Don't tell me you're going back to the library this evening?" He asked in amazement and I looked over to see Hermione eating at top speed. I stared at her in surprise, trying to register what I was seeing.

"Got to, loads to do." Hermione said thickly with a full mouth.

"But you told us Professor Vector-"

"It's not schoolwork." And in five minutes she was up, and speeding out of the Great Hall. I didn't mind to much as her seat was replaced by Fred.

"Moody! How cool is he?" He asked.

"Beyond cool." George said, sitting down across from me.

"Supercool." Lee said sliding down next to George, "We had him this afternoon." he said to us.

"What was it like?" Harry asked eagerly.

The twins and Lee looked at each other. "Never had a lesson like it." Fred finally said.

"He knows, man." Lee said, looking awed.

"Knows what?" Ron asked, leaning forward.

"Knows what it's like to be out there doing it." George said, sounding extremely impressed and I was getting a bit annoyed that he wasn't saying much more. I didn't have him until Wednesday.

"Doing what?" Harry asked.

"Fighting the Dark Arts."

"He's seen it all."

"'Mazing."

Ron dived into his bag for his schedule. "We haven't got him till Thursday!"

"I got him Wednesday." I said smugly. "I'll keep all the secrets."

Ron glared at me and I got up from the table to go and do my Ancient Runes and Divination homework.

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘, always a lovely time for me.

Snape was in a horrible mood, probably because his prized student, Draco, had been bounced around the Great Hall and he'd had to talk to Moody.

I grinned at him as I took my customary seat on the right side of the classroom near the back so people couldn't watch me. Snape's cheeks flushed for some reason and he looked away, addressing the class that we'd be brewing a strengthening solution from memory today.

I stayed behind after class and asked when he wanted to start up private lessons again. He stared at me for a moment, looking slightly preoccupied, and then said we could start again on Friday nights.

My schedule was a bit more free now since there was no Quidditch, though Ced had said he'd train me to be seeker. I thought this was bloody brilliant and I couldn't wait to start.

On Wednesday, the Hufflepuffs showed up early to Uncle Moody's class. We waited anxiously and he let us in. I hurried to get a front seat. Uncle Moody quickly read down a list of names and we assented if we were here- everyone was.

Then, Moody tossed the roll of parchment on his desk and said, "Right then, I've had a letter from Professor Lupin about this class."

I frowned, tilting my head just slightly. Had dad sent a follow up letter to Uncle Moody after the meeting? Or perhaps before, and that was when Uncle Moody decided to pay a visit for more details?

"Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures- you've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?"

I nodded as others stated yes out loud or also shook their heads. "But you're behind- very- behind on dealing with curses. So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark Arts and I reckon you pay attention so you keep up."

He clapped his hands together once and said, "Right. So, curses. They come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry of Magic, I'm suppose to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in the sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough to deal with it till then. But Professor Dumbledore's got a higher opinion of your nerves."

Not to mention, I thought, You would show us anyways no matter what the Ministry or Dumbledore thought.

"He reckons you can cope, and I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better. How are you supposed to defend yourself against something you've never seen? A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. So. . . do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"

My hand shot up in the air but much to my disappointment, a large majority of hands were in the air as well.

"Mr. MacMillan?" Uncle Moody asked and though I was disappointed, I supposed I was glad of not being favored.

"Er- Cruciatus curse." Ernie said a bit hesitantly as though he wasn't supposed to say the words.

"Yes, that would be one." Uncle Moody said and went to his desk and pulled out a spider from a glass jar. I felt my mouth go dry. He put the spider down on the desk and said, "Crucio!"

The spider began to wither on the desk and if it could have made noise, it would've been screaming. I felt an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and did a quick glance around. Some people's eyes were fixated on the spider and others were looking away.

Uncle Moody lifted the curse after a few seconds. "Any others?"

I raised my hand again but he called on Leanne. "Imperius curse." She said.

"Yes." Moody said, nodding. He put the second spider in the jar and went to the first jar and pulled out another spider. He put it on the desk up front and growled, "Imperio!"

The spider leapt from Moody's hand onto a piece of silk that had been attached between two jars on the desk. It started to swing from two legs, as though on a trapeze at a circus. It did a back flip and landed on the desk and then did two front flips and started to tap dance.

Everyone in the class was laughing now except for me. I watched the spider, doing whatever Uncle Moody wanted it to do and I shuddered. Imagine, just imagine for one second if that spell was used on you. . . a puppet on a string.

"Think it's funny, do you?" Moody growled, "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?"

The class stopped laughing, looking slightly nervous now.

"At least Miss Kane has some common sense." He growled and everyone's eyes flickered to me, seeing that I had not laughed nor smiled at all. My cheeks grew red and my stomach churned as I thought of the last spell. "Total control." Uncle Moody continued softly. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats. . .Years back, there were a lot of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperius curse. Some job of the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will. The Imperius curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He barked at the end and everyone but me jumped.

"What's the last spell?" Moody asked and I reluctantly put my hand in the air for a third time. Everyone else kept their hands down, knowing what was coming and not wanting to say it.

"Miss Kane?"

"The killing curse." I said.

Uncle Moody looked at me for a moment. I stared back, unfazed, and he turned to take a third spider out of the jar. I kept my face neutral.

Pointing his wand at the third spider he said, "Avada Kedavra!" There was a blinding green light and a rushing sound and the spider was dead. Some of the students stifled cries as the spider rolled onto its side.

My face betrayed nothing. Moody of course, never knew my real parents. He'd always thought dad did a good job with me. But a part of me inside wanted to cry and my head said, That's how my parents died. Voldemort had killed my father first, mum screaming for him as he hid me in the basement, kissing my forehead one last time. He'd gone to fight Voldemort, telling her to take Harry and run. But Voldemort had gotten to her after that.

"Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it- you could all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed. But that doesn't matter. I'm not here to teach you how to do it. Now, if there's no countercurse, why am I showing you. Because you've got to know. You've got to appreciate what the worst is. You don't want to find yourself in a situation when you're facing it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He roared and the class jumped again.

"Now. . . those three curses- Avada Kedavra, Imperius, and Cruciatus- are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I've got to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills. . . copy this down. . ."

And the rest of the class was spent taking notes on the Unforgivable curses. I watched my quill make mindless loops across the parchment. They were words, but they didn't look like words at all.

As the bell rang- the class filed out and started talking excitedly, but Uncle Moody called me back, and I hurried over to his desk.

"Yes Un- I mean Professor?" I asked breathlessly, ignoring the dead spider on the desk.

Professor Moody waved his hand aside, "Call me what you want Elizabeth. I was talking to the other Professors and I heard you did private lessons with a couple of them?"

"Oh yes." I said. "Snape, McGonagall, and Flitwick. Sometimes Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, and Hagrid but those are more for when I have nothing else to do and want to help out. Why?"

"I was wondering if perhaps you'd want to learn more with me." He said solidly. "Not favoritism- of course."

"Right." I said, getting excited, "Yeah, I'd love too!"

Uncle Moody nodded and gave me a twisted smile. Or rather, a normal smile that his scarred features twisted. "Let's give it some time, three weeks perhaps as you fall back into pace with the other teachers and such. I'll let them all set up their lessons and we'll work something out."

I nodded, excited about what Uncle Moody might want to teach me. "Sounds perfect. See you next class."

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞 went smoothly and I got to the Great Hall for dinner before the Gryffindors. I ate at the Hufflepuff table because of that, and then headed to the library to knock out as much homework as possible.

I was working for about forty-five minutes before Hermione came and sat down at the table with me, working on something herself. It was a box of badges and a piece of parchment. I ignored her and continued on my Curses homework.

"Look at this Elizabeth." Hermione said, sliding over the long piece of parchment. I looked at it warily. Across the top was the title: Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status.

I sighed. "What are you doing Hermione?"

"I'm making a club to promote the abuse of house-elves." Hermione said, in a proud manner.

I sighed and rubbed my head. I had a headache. "Lovely."

She showed me the badges. Across the the badges were the letters: S.O.E.A.

I stared at the badges. I had foreseen the letters S.P.E.W. Why had she changed it.

"Er- Soea?" I asked hesitantly. I felt almost frightened of the badges, that they were different from what I had seen.

"S.O.E.A." She said. "Stop Outrageous Elf Abuse."

"Right. . ." I said, still hesitantly. "What about S.P.E.W. which stands for Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare?"

"Well I did think of that." Hermione admitted, "But I was talking with Professor Moody about it, and he said that if I was so adamant about this, I should change it to be more persuasive."

Moody again? First the polecat, now this? But surely, it wasn't as though he was doing it on purpose. Of course not, I scolded myself. It wasn't as though he knew what my visions were anyways.

"I'm going to go show Ron and Harry, want to come with?" she asked, putting a lid on the box and standing up.

"Yeah." I said reluctantly, rolling my parchment up and putting in my bag.

Hermione pointed to my neck, "You're still using the time-turner?"

I nodded. "One of my classes overlaps with each other. But it's not as crazy as last year."

Hermione debated this for a second and then shrugged, "Let's go talk to the boys."

⬅️➡️

[darkshrimpemotions]

@valleyg0th Like I said, answering this in a separate post because it's too long-winded for a reply and sort of off the topic of the original post. My comments and yours from that post above for reference.

Also, I'd like to preface this by saying that the ethical and moral considerations around RPS/RPF are massively nuanced and complicated, and something that I'm still working through myself. That being said, I do have some pretty hard and fast ideas about what ISN'T okay, which inform a lot of what I'm getting into below.

But first, I'd like to clarify my statement as it seems from your reply that it did not come across the way I intended. When I say "something Taylor has made it clear she doesn't want to be super public about" I'm not talking about her sexuality. I'm talking about her relationships in general.

She has made it very clear, repeatedly, over the years that she does not appreciate uninvited intrusions into her personal life. That's not really debatable at this point. She wants to be the one to choose what and when and how her personal life is shared with the world. If she has ever asked for anything, anything at all, it's that.

That's part one of why I find the constant spreading and debate and speculation over these still-unconfirmed break-up rumors so distasteful, particularly from people who claim to love Taylor.

Part two of why I find it so distasteful is the way so many people are celebrating this breakup rumor because it validates their theories about Taylor's sexuality, rejoicing that she's "gotten rid of her beard" and such. That's gross regardless of what you think her sexuality is. If people were on here going "oh yay she broke up with Joe this is how Haylor can still win" I would find that despicable, too.

I'm not particularly invested in any of Taylor's relationships beyond being happy that she's happy, but I do participate and get invested heavily in RPS/RPF in other fandoms, and the keys to respectful RPS/RPF are pretty clear, whether the ship in question is het or queer.

1. You do not demonize, villainize, or harass the real life significant others of the people your ship concerns. (It's also generally considered distasteful to float or perpetuate rumors or conspiracy theories about the relationship being fake or forced, but the bare minimum is you don't make whatever you think about the relationship that SO's problem.)

2. You do not involve or bother the children of the people your ship concerns in any way, ever.

3. You do not ever, ever, EVER put your shipping or associated material (i.e. fics, fanart, theorizing, tinhatting) where the real people it concerns are likely to see it.

And that third one is where Swifties, Gaylors in particular, are really fucking failing right now. Now, if a famous person goes onto AO3 and searches for their name, that's one thing. Or they come into any fandom space where they aren't a known presence and start poking around...they went looking for it. But bringing it up at live events or putting it on social media platforms that said celebrity openly frequents in a way they're likely to see it (i.e. by @ing them or putting it under their name's hashtag) is crossing a line.

And yet what is the Taylor Swift tag FULL OF, on tumblr where we all know Taylor has had an account for years and lurks occasionally? People calling Joe an ex-beard, celebrating the end of their relationship, and analyzing her every move and facial expression and song choice in the context of these unconfirmed break-up rumors.

This shit is gross, full stop. And on top of everything else, far too many of the fans in the Gaylor camp are quick to call anyone who has a problem with their behavior in this regard a homophobe, trivializing the very real dangers and struggles faced by queer people to win their stupid little fandom arguments. That's disgusting. It disgusts me as a queer person.

Part three of why I find all the breakup rumor speculation so distasteful is that once again, Taylor is doing the absolute most and completely killing it at her career, but many of her so-called fans only want to focus on her relationship status with some guy. It's all "she's doing so great on tour in spite of the Joe breakup!" or "she's doing so great on tour because of the Joe breakup!" How about we stop attributing anything in this woman's career to the men she's involved with? Are we capable of that? Have we fucking evolved past 2015 yet?

As for Taylor's habit of leaving clues in her albums, I find it wild that people assume because she has left fairly obvious little puzzles and easter eggs for us throughout her career ABOUT her career, i.e. background info about the music on an album or foreshadowing around what's coming next, that means that she's constantly sending us secret coded messages about her private life.

Like...capitalized letters in liner notes that spell out a detail about that song or album that you wouldn't otherwise know, or a numerical code on her instagram that reveals the vault tracks on her next TV re-recording, or even easter eggs in a music video related to very public knowledge that inspired the song and album...are all a pretty far cry from "Taylor has been sending secret, unconfirmed signals that only we can see for over a decade to tell us that she's actually queer and being forced to stay in the closet and have PR relationships with men she doesn't care about."

And finally, I actually don't have a problem with interpreting Ivy or any of Taylor's music as queer. Interpreting art is not the same thing as speculating on the artist's sexuality, and it sure as hell isn't the same thing as celebrating a breakup rumor because it validates that speculation. I myself interpret a LOT of Taylor's music as queer. But I also understand that how I interpret art is just as much about me as it is about the art.

Me finding something in Taylor's music that I resonate with as a queer person doesn't necessarily mean Taylor herself is queer. And even if she is, she hasn't chosen to share that with us, so it's simply none of my goddamn business. "A lot of Taylor Swift's music resonates with me and my queer experiences" and "Taylor Swift's sexuality is none of my business" are ideas that can and should coexist.

As are "I think she might be" and "but that's none of my business" for that matter! Hell, I can even admit that based on my own experiences of being closeted and coming out, I wouldn't be surprised at all if one day Taylor comes out as bi. But that doesn't mean she OWES me or anyone else that disclosure, or that it's okay to be on the internet endlessly speculating on unsubstantiated rumors concerning something we know she specifically likes to be private about in a place we KNOW she's likely to see it! Especially when that speculation gives way to actively celebrating the end of her relationship without knowing a) if it has actually ended, and b) how she feels about it if it has.

[sevensoulmates]

he's not gonna fall for tommy, it's gonna be a casual fling where buck is exploring his sexuality. tim minear pretty much gave away today that tommy is not gonna be here longterm. he's gonna do his job like the plot device he is for buck and likely for buddie and then he's gonna leave.

Okay....I don't think your anon is being rude per se but I just got bombarded with a lot more anons than usual, and this plus three other anons I just got that were more rude made me want to address this in one response.

When I said "fall for" I did not mean "fall in love with". "Fall for" can mean a lot of different things. I don't think Buck's gonna fall IN LOVE with Tommy, no. But develop a crush? Develop a fling? Develop physical and sexual attraction? That could all reasonably happen.

Just like we got with Taylor Kelly and all of Buck's (and Eddie's) love interests, I firmly believe every last one of them are TEMPORARY.

Nowhere did I say Buck was gonna fall in love with this man. Please don't get it twisted.

But the way Tommy looked at Buck though??? 👀 IDK that man just might fall in love with Buck and get his heart broken.

Keep in mind all of this is still SPECULATION. FOR FUN. It's not that serious. (this is not directed at you in particular but this other anons I just got saying something similar about this "fall for" comment I made).

Also, this isn't jumping ship, for the other anon. I'm not going to answer your anons directly cuz you're being rude and that won't be tolerated here.

I am happy as hell to celebrate Tommy as a plot device for Bi buck. I am still firmly in the camp that Buck being with Tommy (TEMPORARILY) will lead to eventual canon buddie. Buck could have 80 more boyfriends (or girlfriends) right after Tommy and I would still firmly believe that he will eventually end up with Eddie. Bi Buck means that the show is acknowledging that Buck COULD end up with a man, and if Buck CAN end up with a man, then he WILL eventually end up with Eddie. Why? Because the show already made Eddie Buck's perfect partner. They're just now finally removing the last barrier of sexuality.

Also I'm seeing a lot of anons similar to the ones I'm getting in other people's inboxes for people who even *minutely* enjoyed the buck/tommy scene and to you guys, I implore that you simply stop raining on other people's parades, and utilize the block or blacklist features Tumblr has offered you for free.

Any other rude anons will be deleted without a response. If you'd like to genuinely discuss these topics, please make sure to approach me with kindness and not condescension. You will not be tolerated. Period.

As for the rest of the perfectly lovely anons I just received, I'm so excited to respond to you and will do so as soon as I am able (though it might be tomorrow because it's getting late in the Pacific Northwest and I'm getting tired.)

Have a good night!

[anchorandrope]

the fact that in 2024 there are people like you who still believe that celebrities can be "in the closet due to homophobia" or "queer coding" or whatever you wanna call it just to justify speculating on peoples sexuality should be considered on or the most worrying thing about the world right now. governments need to make laws and stop all this harassment. famous people don't deserve this at all. i understand that most of the people outside America don't have the amount of problems we have so they need to entertain themselves with something but STOP this is not the way. they are straight until they came out, is as simple as that. fuck you

i have absolutely no words. i could talk for ages about how yall cishets use the word "speculate" when queer uses fucking public information to say "i believe this person might be queer" but that not my point here. i genuinely cannot believe you just said that is one of the most worrying things about the world right now????? what in the chronically online is this. there are genocides happening right now, multiple crises, why would you say something like that???? and the government should make laws about what?? not assuming a person is straight by default? and famous people don't deserve what? being called queer like it's an insult to you???? and wtf why would you say the USA is the only country with real problems i simply cannot get that one? and no, people are not straight until they come out.

learn about Palestine and donate if you can.

congo & sudan resources.

please feel free to add.

[alarrytale]

Marte!!!!!! I need to vent. I see this all the time on twitter. I see NG and TZP fans attacking those who comment on Taylor being married. They argue that Taylor hasn't talked about his sexuality or relationship status yet so we shouldn't speculate. Well he's closeted. Unless he plans on CO he isn't going to be honest about that. These same TZP fans shipped him with Joey and Sabrina. These same NG fans post about Nick's ex girlfriends despite Nick never confirming them. They even knew who he was dating long before he told us he had a girlfriend. How is that different to Taylor's situation? Taylor hasn't confirmed Garrett and Nick hasn't confirmed CV. Yet only fans speculating about Taylor and Garrett get harassed and bullied. The ones speculating about Nick and CV don't. This feels really homophobic yet they call us homophobic for trying to out Taylor. Taylor literally posts pics with Garrett on his social media. He isn't bothered by the speculation. Nick hasn't posted any pics with CV, other than a hand which could be anyone's, and yet they go on and on about them as a couple. Why are fans like that? Many are teenagers and in their early-mid 20s. Many claim to be bisexual. I was dreading Nick's fanbase changing and gaining a lot of het fans after TIOY but the movie isn't even out yet and his fanbase is getting annoying. For a fandom who claims to be mostly lgbtq+ they sure seem homophobic, very heteronormative thinking and very ignorant about lgbtq+ culture and closeting. Perhaps it's because they're all so young.

Hi, anon!

I know, i've seen it too. Vent all you want! It's young people thinking they're protecting and respecting their idols. It's heteronormativity, projection of their own closet and feelings onto a celebrity. Much of it is very hypocritical and naive. There is so much blind idolatry too. They think they need to guard TZP's closet door for him. Protect him from himself. Tzp is in a glass closet. He posts his husband, he's not ashamed of him, their marriage record is public information. You can go look it up if you want to. He doesn’t talk about his sexuality or his husband, but he's never been asked either. There is no need for fandom to put him further back in the closet. Tzp decides for himself what information he wants to share with the public. There is nothing wrong with talking about tzp and garrett, like there is nothing wrong with talking about nick and his "gf". The fandom policing that's happening is misguided, ignorant and hypocritical. I think people just needs to be made aware of what they're doing and learn. They're young, they're gaslighted and confused and they so badly want to do right by their idols.

The fandom is getting bigger very fast and is fractioning. If everyone stopped policing each other and respected difference of opinion it would become a much better place to be.

[marveltaughtmetoread]

Not trying to directly shade anyone but saw a post recently which was anti Taylor Swift because 1) she's overplayed and mediocre, 2) she doesn't deserve her awards because the awards ignore marginalised groups, 3) 1989 sucked and 4) releasing is giving her another chance to 4a) shame a closeted man for being 4b) a womaniser 5) there was also an underlying message towards her not being political in the right way throughout the post

And I just wanna weigh in because Taylor gets a lot of unbridled hatred for what amounts to not being everyone's cup of tea and being popular, like you don't have to like her but so you have to hate her to this extent???

So let's break it down

1) Yeah Taylor Swift is probably overplayed, but that doesn't mean she's not talented, as a fan of hers, her inescapable presence currently is a bit much for me, like no artist deserves this much attention

but she's still a good artist, you don't get to be this big by not being talented, look at all the celebrities who tried to break into music and just weren't good enough, she has to have been talented to get where she is, doesn't mean you have to like her, I hate Nicki Minaj but I also have to admit that she is massively influential and clearly talented to have that influence

2) yeah, the academies are bigoted, and they do ignore marginalised talents, especially those who are vocal about their politics, but this doesn't actually have anything to do with Taylor, like you can argue that she should be bringing attention to the issue and uplifting smaller artists but you can't blame her for the awards being rigged against the marginalised, also she still has to be talented to win the awards because there are a lot of white cishet able-bodied musicians out there, and she still beat them

I get your point and I too hate the awards being bigoted but why are you blaming and holding one artist responsible for this systematic issue, why is Taylor your punching bag for this

3) 1989 isn't my favourite album of hers but once again it not being to your taste doesn't make it a bad album, like Demi Lovato's early work isn't to my taste so I just don't listen to it

4a) who the hell are you to assume Harry Styles' sexuality, Harry is openly gender nonconforming, he openly dates women, whether or not he identifies as queer is none of our business and feeling entitled to him being queer is messed up, do you know how many celebrities have come out and talked about how harmful it was for them to have the public assume their sexuality and have the public decide that they were secretly closeted or in Kit Connor's case act like he was queer baiting the audience for his assumed straightness

You do not have the right to act like you know anyone's sexuality, get off your high horse

4b) Taylor Swift writes songs about her life, she uses her songs as a journal, all of her public relationships have been attached to songs she wrote, she herself actively tries to avoid attaching any particular ex with her songs, she used to encode their names into her songs when she was a smaller artist and a teenager but she stopped doing that as she got bigger and the public scrutiny around her heightened, 1989 specifically alludes to trying to keep her relationships out of public eyes, and being hunted by the media

the media attention on her relationships is not something she enjoys and the speculation around who she dates is something she actively tries to shut down, she's not trying to ruin any of her exes

This I think we can contrast rather clearly with other artists who have written songs attacking their exes and inspired mass public backlash against them, such as Olivia Rodrigo whose hatred was so palpable in her songs that people wrote her ex and his new partner death threats and harassed them even as Joshua Bassett was in hospital with a failing heart, and when you listen to the actions Olivia describes it's not worth it, when you contrast Olivia and Joshua's songs it reads as a teenage relationship that broke up making the death threats fucking ridiculous and disproportionate

Taylor Swift songs have never inspired that same level of backlash, despite describing what sounds like abuse or at least being taken advantage of in some of them, because she doesn't write from a place of anger, her songs tell stories, and give a more balanced view of relationships, people hate her exes for what her songs reveal about their actions but she's not inspiring mass hatred, you have to be actively listening to the lyrics and a massive fan to care about her exes, and, when she performed Dear John on the Eras tour, she prefaced it by essentially saying 'I don't need you protecting me, don't go after him', trying to prevent exactly the reaction Olivia Rodrigo's songs inspired

Back to the shame over being a womaniser, Harry has said he felt flattered by her songs and it was Taylor whose reputation was bashed for dating too much, because, in our sexist society, it is mostly the women who get vitriol aimed at them for who they date not the men, so I don't know how you could think to level this argument against her, like she was very clearly the one being shamed over her body count not Harry??

Also, Style is the only song which alludes to (the man everyone's assumes is) Harry even slightly being a womaniser because he's seeing other women but can't stop thinking about Taylor, which is followed up by Taylor saying "I've been there too a few times" which feels to me like they're both guilty of not moving on even as they are seeing other people, so how is Taylor shaming him for it????

5) Taylor not being political in the right ways is a fair criticism, a lot of people are disappointed in her lack of involvement in politics, what little involvement she does have is shown to be left wing, but it's rare, breadcrumbs scattered across albums and events

I think she's actively trying not to use her influence to be involved in politics because she wants us to be involved, to vote, but she doesn't want to have the power to influence us on her politics and I can see why this is not enough for a lot of people

I personally don't mind, I agree with her trying to not get involved in shaping her fans politics because a person of Taylor's influence getting involved in politics scares me

I don't want every celebrity under the sun giving us a political opinion because they're just not qualified for it and I think Taylor recognises that, so uses her influence sparingly but if you do want your music to be political, it's okay to dislike her for this