#like i agree with her that its stupid cuz EVERYONE says it

[lemonadeandlanguages]

Working with editors is fun

I just told my supervisor "combler un poste" is not considered proper french anymore and she went on a 10 minute rant about how that's stupid during our meeting

[alexendria-rose]

I loved Stephen's last one, I kept thinking, what would happen if Y/N was tougher and more powerful. She would be an experienced witch like Agatha, but she would be more bitter and sarcastic. She would be like the badass witch who helps Kamar-Taj and everyone is afraid of her, she and Stephen never really got along, but they are "friends". I agree with the previous request, we all love Wong. America was afraid of Y/N because she was a witch, she looks at Stephen and says "your wife scares me" , cuz they are married in every universe , so no Cristine, the love of his life would be the one he "hated" the most. Their song would be Endgame by Taylor, because Y/N is a woman of reputation lol.

I'm brazilian, so if that If it's not understandable, it's Google translate fault.

💖

A/n- OMFG LOVE THIS. No I completely understood! I hope you like what I have my love! 💜

I’m Your Endgame~

Stephen Strange X Reader

Warnings: cussing if you don't like that- honestly thats a warning for all of them lol. and also some witch stuff but- I mean if you watch marvel you fine lol

༺═────────────═༻

Y/n sat at the Sanctum library a book in her hand as she glared up at the other students/sorcerers keeping their distance from the witch. The girl who never uttered a word, the girl who was much more powerful than anyone else around- and that scared all of them. The fact they could easily be in her eye-line and could easily use her powers on them without an hesitation. One of the students walks up to her slightly shaking from her presence.

“U-Um miss-“

“Y/n.” She states looking up at the male student watching his hands shake, the sweat forming on his forehead.

“D-Doctor strange wants to see you in the office.” He stutters before scurrying away from the girl. She rolled her eyes using her red magic powers to put the book back into its place. The students watching it all at the way she didn’t even need to pay attention. She stands up pulling the black hood over her head before using her own magic to open up a portal to the sanctum; walking through the red portal spotting a certain sorcerer at his desk looking over some spells.

“What took you so long.” He grunted while looking up at the woman in front of him. She slowly pulled down her hood staring at him.

“Stupid students- maybe blame them Strange.” She mumbled making her way closer to the desk before sitting herself down on the edge of the desk looking at him with a monotone expression.

“You really do just make yourself at home, don’t you?” He grumbled organizing the papers and books in front of him so she didn’t dare crumble them.

“Have to- with this mess you call home.” She muttered a sharp glare towards his way. “Why did you need me anyhow.” Stephen sighed rubbing his face with his hands.

“After Wanda’s death. I did some research about Westview.” He walked his way around the front of the desk to face her his arms crossed. “Came across a woman named Agatha Harkness, found out she was in a witches coven. Was wondering if you knew of her.” Y/n scrunched her eyebrows looking at the man.

“So you assume I know any witches because I am one?” She scoffed jumping off the desk. Stephen groaned rubbing his face with his hands. “But yes I do know Agatha.” Stephen huffs at her attitude rolling his eyes as well.

“You could’ve just started with that.” He groaned at the witch in front of him. She just smirked leaning against the desk as she looked at him. “Apparently though- Wanda put a curse over here. She can’t use her powers and she is appearing as someone other than Agatha. We’re keeping an eye on her.”

“Oh what shit show did she get into with Wanda to have her powers strip from her.” Y/n laughed softy using her hands to play with her magic. “She probably deserved it knowing her; she was always jealous of my powers.” Stephen quirks an eyebrow at the woman.

“How did you know her anyhow?” He mutters watching the way she played with magic so flawlessly.

“She taught me how to control my powers; found out she mostly just wanted me to strengthen it so she could take it for herself.” She groaned lightly her eyes focusing on the magic. “Guess you could say at one point we were friends.” Stephen watches the woman in front of him, taking in her dark expression, she was always so closed off. It irritated him more than anything; he couldn’t read the witch in front of him. She knew that everyone was scared of her in Kamar-Taj knowing if they ever made her bad side she would absolutely destroy them with one click of her fingers. Maybe that’s why he didn’t exactly like her.

“Didn’t know you had friends.” He replies moving his way back towards the desk his cloak trying to move him back for some irritating reason- he mutters a quick stop it to the cloak.

“I don’t do friends that’s why.” She pulls her hood up covering her face once again. “Just like I don’t have anyone close to me. I have one mission only to protect kamar-taj for Wong, I owe him.” She muttered before disappearing into her portal back to the library. Stephen watched as she disappeared suddenly missing her presence but quickly pushing that thought back down. She was mysterious and powerful, she never bothered to do small talk- she would simply just walk away, she was right she was only here to protect Kamar-Taj not to make friends- so why did it hurt when she said she didn’t have friends.

༺═────────────═༻

Y/n walked through Kamar-Taj keeping her hood slightly up as she watched the young students learning to be a sorcerer. She noticed a girl barely being able to make a spark and Stephen next to her instructing her. Ah- that was the girl who could travel through multiverses. Y/n walks up to the pair pulling her hood down.

“You have to be calm and stop overthinking.” She stated to the teenager, the girl snapping her head quickly. Stephen rolls his eyes.

“America this is-“

“Y/n.” America mutters moving her hands down slowly as she stared at the powerful woman. Y/n chuckles lightly smacking her lips together.

“So America isn’t it? How do you know me?” Y/n said in low tone crossing her arms as she stared at her-Americas face filled with surprise, before looking at Stephen.

“Your wife scares me…” America hummed lowly, Stephen’s eyes widen at her comment.

“Wife what are you talking about!” Stephen grunted crossing his arms as well as he glared daggers towards America but also showing a hint of disgust but also sort of flutter hit his chest at the idea. Y/n face scrunched up at her words shaking her head before laughing.

“Oh god, wife?” Y/n snorted. “Have fun with her Stephen. I’ll keep an eye on you America.” She muttered turning away from the pair. Stephen continues to look at America his arms crossed like he was a pissed off dad. America bites her lip looking up at Stephen.

“You’re telling me- you aren’t married yet?” America giggled lightly looking at the blush that raised to Stephen’s cheeks.

“What do you mean “married yet?”” Stephen uttered trying to contain the fluttering in his stupid chest but it didn’t help that his cloak was basically rubbing his cheeks to make fun of it-Stephen smacks his cloak away muttering another stop it.

“You and her are together in every universe I’ve met a Stephen strange. I mean it makes sense- she has always scared me though.” America laughs trying not to snort at his expression that turned to be full on flushed. “Christine was never the one for you- every universe you guys don’t end up working but that witch was always the one to fascinate you.” Stephen brushed his go-tee with his hand as he thought about what she said- but also he thought about when he went into the multiverse with America and how the conversation with his other self made much more sense.

༺═────────────═༻

“Are you happy Stephen?" Sinister Strange snarled. "That's what Christine told us." Stephen hitched a breath looking at Sinister Strange looking out the window catching a glimpse of other Christine. Sinister Strange laughed wickedly. " I said of course I'm happy- I lost the love of my life what I thought anyhow." Stephen tilts his head towards him.

"I just need the Darkhold please." Stephen hesitated bringing his hand out indicating him to give him the book.

"You don't realize what you have do you?" Sinister Strange taunted walking towards Stephen slowly as he crossed his arms. "Still obsessed with Christine not realizing what you have right in front of you? The one thing we thought irritated us the most- might say a witch?" He smirks, Stephen scrunched his eyebrows in a confused manner. "Oh god you still don't realize huh? Well how about this- you and I swap universe so I can have the one person I lost."

"Yeah how about no." Stephen grunted-

༺═────────────═༻

Y/n sat on the bench late at night looking up at the stars as she idly played with the magic in her hands- she often wondered if what she had was a curse on her; or it if was the help the common good. She didn't like that people were afraid of her but it easier then keeping people close- after killing her parents at such a young age, she promised herself to not let people see the real her. To keep herself guarded from that fact, so she rather then be feared then let herself open up so easily. The only person she even considered to open up was with Stephen- even though he irritated her and got under her skin she often wondered why; she never let anyone get under her skin- mostly she was still deep in thought about what America had said; it rattled her core for some unknown reason.

"What are you doing out here this late?" She heard a deep voice say in calm tone. She put her hood down letting her hair flow down and her deep e/c eyes look towards the voice- none other then the devil himself, Stephen Strange. Y/n sighs softly moving her eyes back to the stars that littered the sky wondering if anyone would ever find out how many stars are actually up in the sky. "Deep in thought I presume?" He sits himself down on the bench next to her his blue robe swishing around as he does. She looks at him a small smirk on her face.

"I guess you could say that." She muttered softly her eyes landing back on his- her stomach fluttering just a bit; realizing this she looks away from those stupid cheekbones.

"This is a perfect spot for that." He smirk his eyes wandering towards her.

"It's just so beautiful- the only thing that will ever make sense to me." She whispered under her breath. Stephen continue to look at her through his lashes- his breath hitching at the sight of her; it was like ever since America said what she did his eyes opened up and he cursed himself for not noticing it until now. She was so strong, so independent, the wind blew her hair like it was meant for her, the way her eyes gleamed at the sight of stars and the small smile that placed on her face- like shes never felt so much peace until now.

"I agree." He muttered as he continue to stare at her his heart racing thinking of her being the only thing to make sense to him- her beauty couldn't even be compared to the stars because right now all he could look at was her. She glanced at him seeing him stare at her made her body shiver at his intense stare.

"What?" She asked in a soft tone, her facial features contorted in confusion as he continue to stare at her, but a small smile still placed on her face.

"You know I don't think I've even seen you smile." He whispered softly his hand slightly grazing against hers subconsciously, her breath hitching at the contact but trying not show it.

"That's because people are scared of me and never talk to me." She mumbled keeping her eyes locked onto his. "Why do you anyhow?" She added tilting her head to the side as she continued to stare at those piercing blue eyes.

"That's because you have something beautiful inside of you. It's hard for some people to tell, but it is there- because I see it." He muttered his face moving closer to hers, her heart thumped against her chest her eyes flicking towards his lips back to his eyes, before finally his soft lips were against hers and she swore she felt something she never had before. He moved his lips against hers in sync, her hand instantly moving to his cheek, this was her fist kiss, this was the first time this has ever happened to her. He pulls back from the kiss a small smirk on his face, she blushed a deep red her eyes piercing into his.

"What was that?" She mumbled, he chuckled deeply watching the way her face was flustered but blank making sure not to show how affected she was.

"A kiss." He joked around, she groaned punching his arm lightly.

"I know! Do it again." She grumbled, he chuckled before cupping her cheeks smashing his lips against hers- making sure he was never going to let this beautiful powerful witch slip through his fingers.

༺═────────────═༻

A/n- Here is my Masterlist! Come check it out and please please if there anything you want me to do, private message me or press that request button!

(Masterlist)

[thewritetofreespeech]

Hey, read your work on kento having a partner at a dessert shop, can you do a follow up where, gojo finds out cuz yuji is a loose mouth and blurts it when talking about kento and gojo rallys up everyone he can get to kento and demands a meet up at the shop. And kento has to agree to the masses.

If you are taking in request its ok. Or else ignore it. But the work was soo good.

[part i]

Leaving the sequestered chambers of the higher ups after his meetings always left Nanami breathing a sigh of relief.

Even after all these years, and well into his adulthood, it felt like going to the principal’s office. Being called in to be scolded or told his deficiencies, then told how he can help the situation, before being metaphorically patted on the head and sent on his way. It was infuriating, and demeaning.

“Nanami Kento!”

The special grade stopped in his tracks and turned towards the courtyard. Seeing Gojo Satoru standing there was an accusatory finger and a more serious look than his normal, stupid, gleeful expression. Perhaps he was actually being serious for once. Which would be a surprise to Nanami, and a change he hoped for. “When were you going to tell me you were dating someone who owned an ice cream shop!?” Hope springs eternal…..

“How is my dating life any of your concern?” He asked. Heading down the long set of steps now that he knew it was safe. “How do you know about that anyway?”

From behind Satoru, the sad, pitiful frame of Yuji poked out from his shadow. “I’m sorry Nanami-san, he got it out of me….”

“Meaning that Yuji gushed like a middle school girl about his day with you and spilled it out.” Nobara corrected. Crossing her arms as she stood beside the other men. “But seriously, why didn’t you tell us?”

“Again, how is my dating life any of your concern?” Nanami repeated. “Am I not entitled to my privacy?”

“That’s what I told them.” Megumi said. But seemed a little disappointed in himself that he did press further on that point.

“Privacy, shmivacy!” Satoru replied. “When you’re dating someone who has an ice cream shop, it is your moral duty to tell everyone?”

“I also didn’t tell you because I knew you would take advantage.” Nanami told him. “Despite all your money.”

Satoru looked wounded. “I would never!”

“You literally threw a temper tantrum because you found out Yuji got free ice cream and you didn’t.”

“No I didn’t Nobara. You’re being dramatic!”

“I’m being dramatic??”

This exchange went on for a moment before Nanami eventually broke down. “If I tell you where the shop is, will you leave me alone?”

Satoru thought about it for a moment with a long ‘hmmmmm’. “Nope! Not good enough. You have to take me there.”

“Why?”

“So that they know I’m your friend and can get discounts.” Satoru flinched a little at Nanami’s glare.

“Yay! Group outing!” Yuji cheered, before Nanami could say no. And he didn’t have the heart to break his spirit.

“Fine.” He agreed and took them to the shop.

[Y/N] took it in stride. Actually, excited to meet his colleagues. “Who knew you were so popular Nanami-kun?”

“Yeah, Nanami-kun.” Satoru teased. Grinning behind his strawberry parfait. “Who knew indeed?”

Nanami didn’t respond. Instead, he paid for everyone’s ice cream and told [Y/N], “please see to it that this one does not get any more free sweets or samples.”

“Oh come on Nanami! Not even samples!”

Satoru followed after Nanami as he walked out. Their students in toe.

[Y/N] just waved to them happily as they left. “Nanami was right. They are a bunch of weirdos.”

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

I want to contribute to SB being a great acceptable dad to his little girl and cute moments between them:

One time when MC was in school a classmates’ mom brought in their lunch late because they had forgotten, and when her classmate got the paper bag with their sandwich they kissed their mom on the cheek sweetly; flash forward to the next rare time when SB leaves out a pre packaged sandwich from the store for her and HL to take to school, she thanks him and kisses his cheek when she leaves the room leaving him stunned (he even smiles to himself until he realizes he’s doing so and gets back to his stoic face)

When MC goes with SB to his training with the rest of the team, and Gunpowder annoys MC because she’s little and a girl and well, because she’s there and he doesn’t like her (stupid rivalry without any sense) she actually hits him so hard that she sends him flying to the other side of the room - cue to everyone including SB looking at her, a small girl with braids dressed in a pink and purple dress with her favorite doll in her hand, looking at Gunpowder angrily; SB smirks (she got that face from him) and cheers for her (he couldn’t care less for Gunpowder ouch, he probably deserved it) and lifts her up to show her around showing off his little girl

On those rare days HL isn’t home because he has Vought training or smth (let’s make that a thing here) and MC doesn’t have training, she’s just chilling in her room playing like, you know, a normal kid would, and SB probably is sleeping in like, well, most days, and when he stumbles out of his room he hears her playing and he’d lean against the hallway wall and listen to her play with her dolls (official Payback dolls) and her making voices for all of them and describing a storyline where Soldier Boy defeats the bad guys (and Gunpowder hides somewhere scared because he’s a pussy - ladies shouldn’t talk like that but SB almost snorted when he heard his babygirl say that)

That’s all for now but yeah, strong defender here of Ben caring for his little girl 💖

y'all are killin' me 😭😭

FIRST OFF HOW DARE YOU

bc it makes me feel the way i did growing up without a warm mother figure around- i imagine mc getting hella sad and jealous toward the kids who have moms that pack them home-made lunches.

but even Soldier Boy just making the effort to buy you pre-made sandwiches means the world to you cuz its a sign that he cares. at the end of the day, sb really does just wants to make his baby girl happy 🥲

and as much as sb wants mc to be a prim and proper lady, he loves seeing you be a feral little gremlin that can beat up men three times your age without breaking much of a sweat. it's a bit morbit how he likes to watch you make older people cry 😂😂 all while wearing the pretty vought designed dresses stan edgar had commissioned for you.

mc's official licensed payback dolls 🤣 you bet she has a mint condition set of them but she still takes them out of the box and got them muddy. i imagine her soldier boy one is reluctantly her favorite one.

sb definitely gets into the stories you come up with with your dolls. they're so good, it could be on an actual soap opera. he's upset when he misses an episode 😂

sb: what the fuck? *whispering to himself* when did arianna get together with felix?? she was supposed to be in rehab! *he likes that you give the payback dolls different names sometimes*

i love how its now agreed that ben genuinely loves his baby girl but makes me feel bad for homelander xDD

[edensgaia]

Bacon is asking Kab why she thought this was a good idea and also said that he cares about how spawn looks

Bacon said that no one liked this idea and Kab was shocked that bacon helped destroy it even though he is her teammate

Bacon also asked why she is teamming with Mane and Kab said its better to be safe then to be popular

Bacon and Kab are having an argument about how how there's other ways to deal with mawn. Kab said there's no other option to deal with it because she cant kill mapicc, bacon said she doesn't need to kill mapicc she just needs to make everyone side with her and hate mawn because mapicc cant kill everyone

Mapicc showed up and he, kab and spoke are talking. Bacon messaged kab saying mapicc plans to kill her at some point. Kab then called Clown on discord and he logged on to support her. Bacon told Kab to explain her thought process because this convo is boring and Spoke is a bot

Also why is Spoke invis lmao

Bacon brought up the point that people who dont side with either Mawn or Respawn still decided to destroy respawn

Spoke suggested to Mapicc that if he said he owned the whole world kab would have to water everything and thats to much work and kab got mad (Spoke is so annoying I love him this is so stupid😭)

Spoke gave a whole whormhole type of speech about how the things both mapicc and kab are doing doesn't matter because there's something worse coming and they should work together

Bacon compares what kab is doing to what Vitalasy did with the bedrock prison in s4

Spoke is yapping about how even him doesn’t have control abouth what is coming (though he does know who is behind it) and kab said Spoke gives an world ending speech every season lmao

Spoke splashed invis at him, mapicc and kab (??)

Spoke said Kab has 24 hours to prove herself and they made a game to see who decides how many time kab have. Mapicc won and decided on 47 hours but clown kept saying she could do it in less time lmao

Spoke and Mapicc then flew away with a million rickets lmao

Bacon asked if Kab was gonna blow up spawn and she said she was gonna do worse. Bacon then said that if she blows up spawn then they are not teammates anymore and Clown was just like "oh okay" and kept trolling

Bacon said that getting everyone on kabs side is still a better solution and kab said last time she tried that she got betrayed over and over

Clown started saying they should name a bunch of wardens withe mapiccs teammates name to troll him and kab said Clowns brains is fried lmao

Both bacon and clown don't think kab should blow up spawn. Kab said she doesn't have a repeat of the war for spawn were a lot of people work together and nothing works

Kab said she doesn't wanna trust anyone and clown said hes being telling her this since the start but she keeps doing it. Bacon said she cant just not team or work with people just cause she scared and kab said she still cares about peoples opinion

Bacon also said that mapicc and spoke didn't take her seriously because people who didn't even are with mawn destroyed her island. Clown said that if she blowns up Spawn people will make fun of her the same way they did with Flame because blowing up spawn is easy and overdone

Clown left and kab said shes sorry to bacon about the person she will become and bacon said she will lose. Kab said shes not gonna blow up Spawn but she will do something. Kab said bacons been only criticizing her and not actually helping. She asked if he was serious about not wanting to be teammates and he said he was forcing it cuz he doesn't want her to blow up spawn

Kab then said she was betrayed 5 times and Bacon and Clown agreed that Ash's case was not a betrayal. Clown asked what she wants out of this convo and she said she doesn't know so clown was like well we gotta figure it all. Kab said she isn't destroying Mapicc shes just destroying spawn. Bacon then said she doesn't wanna create a new world, she wants to create a new kab. Kab and Clown disagree

Clown said that if she keeps doing what shes doing shes gonna hurt everyone and bacon would leave her because he disagrees with her and she would be alone

Kab: I CAN'T KILL MAPICC!

Clown: THEN DONT!!

Clown asked if kab would rather let clown decide what to do and she said yes and he said that's stupid because she is the one who cares about this. Clown said she needs to make a decision instead of getting mad at Clown and Bacon for trying to give other solutions, and that she needs to decide if its worth to not have her teammates by her side just to destroy spawn

Clown suggested kab should make traps without telling anyone about it so it doesn't get leaked. Kab said she doesn't like traps because she gets nervours and traps are not a guarantee but Clown said she needs to keep trying

Kab said no one deserves to have spawn at this point and said no one deserves to have something nice on the server. Bacon said that what people did to her island is retaliation for kab trying to destroy the things they care about

Clown asked if kab thinks this convo is just Clown tryibg to hurt them and kab said she wishes clown was better (aka more gentle) at "helping" her

Clown said he doesn't want spawn to be blow up and that he doesn't care about anarchy he cares about doung whatever he wants

Clown asked her if it was worth destroying so many relationships over destroying spawn

Kab said she needs to calm down and they are brainstorming ideas now

Kab said she wants to come up with a plan that doesn fail. Bacon said she was gonna fail a couple times. Clowns mic died mid convo lol. Clown said she needs to come up with a damn good plan then because they're asking for the impossible.

Clown said she needs to figure out what the people that hurt kab actually care about so she can harm them. Bacon said she shouldn't take revenge

Bacon said he got rid of the water because he still cares about spawn but it doesn't mean he doesn't care about her

Kab said she flooded spawn to preserve the history of spawn and bacon said people don't care only about the hystory but about spawn in general

Bacon brought up that mapicc didn't really enforce the rules of mawn that much and kab asked if mawn was even a real thing and bacon said most people didn't even care about mawn and that anyone can say what they want but it doesn't make it true

Clown said the plans will fail a lot of times till they eventually work

Kab said she liked their island because it was cute and it was a place people didn't have to worry about mapicc. Bacon compared respawn to Zaun and Clown laughed about the arcane reference

Clown said pvp doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things and bacon said she doesn't need to be a general with a strong army to win a war, mapicc use this because pvp is his thing but kab doesn't need to go that route

Kab said she wants to make spawn a flat area with no builds to hurt everyone who hurt her but Clown said that this is not gonna matter in the grand scheme of things and that theres non easy route to make people suffer

Kab said she gets angry when looking at spawn because the people they weren't even trying to hurt destroyed her island

Clown said that when kab stops feeling sorry for herself she can call him and kab got (reasonably) upset. Kab explains theyre rejecting clown and bacons ideas because shes scared to fail at them

Kab said she doesn't even know if thats what she wants. Bacon said he doesn't cares about mawn because no one is making mawn be an actual thing

Bacon says they can take the political route (since it looks like thats what kab was aiming for anyway). Kab said they want to do something interesting. They said it's upsetting to be the only one who cares about someone trying to own spawn because it looks like no one really cares about it

Bacon said that if she wants to convince people to fight she have to give then an incentive (like hearts)

[cloudcake-macoroni]

Okay there were no fish references in day 17

but it gave me some pretty good reasons to believe that Kamimura is gonna die this chapter.

warning. spoilers and um… a lot of yapping

Forensic testing

Now, we don't actually know if he has the right things he needs available to him, but if he does, that sounds way to good to be true. I mean- I'm pretty sure forensic testing takes a while anyway right? so maybe I'm over thinking it and they just won't get to use it if Kamimura dies or not.

I also saw some people saying the chemicals in the chemistry lab could be used as poison.

I was honestly predicting that the chapter three victim would be poisoned purely based on the fact that Tamba has been stupidly bringing up poison every trial. There's no way she's not going to do it again and be wrong, right? Twice is already stupid but three times? Not even Tamba is that stupid, right?

…Right?

plus, the title “Finish Line” is um… What the hell does that even mean?

sounds like Kamimura’s finished, boys/hj

Okay, this might have nothing to do with Kamimura but I saw this comment and got really happy

I was honestly thinking this because, despite what she constantly says, Monomoko has actually shown to care about the students, at least more than most of the other staff has. Monomoko has always shown concern for Kamimura because of all his medical issues.

She also provided Hasegawa with Paxil and Wada with oxygen when he wasn't breathing correctly.

I never said anything about this theory because I never wanted to get my hopes up or look stupid, but since someone else said something might as well give my two cents.

I saw a lot of people saying that the victims body is gonna be dismembered. I honestly don't see how else this room is gonna be used, but hey, they might surprise me.

Only thing I gotta say here is that I agree with Hayashi on “More rooms means more places we need to check next time somebody dies.”

With less people and more rooms investigations are going to be a lot harder. Then again, with less people comes a more narrow suspect pool, so in that sense, it might be easier.

While Okazaki practically bullying Hasegawa because he has no friends is hilarious, she is right. Without Kamimura, he’d be alone because he doesn’t start interactions with anyone else.

She says that the same goes for Kamimura but I think she's wrong about that. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, he cares about Tamba, and I’d say he's pretty comfortable with Tsuno too. He’s also had a little bonding moment with Yanagi during the investigation. While he obviously isn't super close with them, he definitely interacts with people more than Hasegawa does.

The only person I could really see Hasegawa being comfortable with is Tsuno… Maybe Tamba, but if he thinks Kamimura hates her then he might keep his distance from her when he can.

I'm probably looking into things way too much but I think that Okazaki questioning Hasegawa about Kamimura being the only person he’s ever with helps foreshadow Kamimira’s death.

They're making the woodshop off-limits like they did with the pool. This practically mean nothing though. Since its not against the rules of the killing game people are a lot less likely to care, like how Hasegawa and Kamimura went to hang out in the pool room that one time even when Hayashi banned everyone from going there.

also “If any of you touch any of the shit in there without knowing what you're doing with it, I’ll kill you”

highly, highly doubt this is a real threat cuz he knows he’s not capable of killing anyone… but I still want to note it.

(Uhh I don't think there is anything else to report from day 17 but if I change my mind I’ll post about it. 👍)

[thesimulacrasimp]

I just watched the first 2 eps of hazbin hotel so im gonna shout out my thoghts abt it. There will be mostly my opinion abt voices and songs n few others things. There also will be screenshots so..

HAZBIN HOTEL EP 1-2 SPOILERS WARNING‼️

Ok so idk how to start it. Ig ill start with voices

I really like new Charlies voice and her character changes in general. She acts and sounds like a disney princess, but with swears. Shes not just some naive little girl now, SHES A DISNEY PRINCESS WHO CAN SWEAR :DDD

Ok is it just me or Angels voice sound like- exact same like in the pilot? Maybe its just me. But i actually like it! Idk what else to say srry

Ok, Alastor- u may not be agree with me but i dont like his new laugh. Everything else in the voice is okay but i just always really liked og Alastors laugh and now its kinda meh, im sorry

Adam is a freaking bastard n i dont like him as a character, but his voice is AMAZING, especially when he sings (his voice was literally made for metal songs), n its really befitting his character (also his little song was amazing too, my 2nd fav of all songs so far)

Sir Pentious' voice situation is kinda the same as Alastors. Im okay with it but i like the original one more.

I really like Velvettes voice its really befitting her! Well gotta say everyone from VVV have awesome voices that really befitting their characters.

Valentino (idk if i spelled his name correctly)--- as with Adam, I dont like his character (fuck abusive partners), but his voice is cool, its exactly how i expected him to sound like. The only thing i didnt expect is his accent which goes like: "UngRRRateful whoRRRe!! D:<" idk why its funny to me sorry--- Also as i said early his voice is really befitting that type of people whos actin like: "cmon babe come back, i miss youuuu 🥺🥺🥺💔💔" *5 secs later* "COME BACK U STUPID WHORE, U GREESY BITCH—,

and omg... Vox....... Yk why i saved him for last? Cuz im gonna talk bout him ALOT. I already really loved his voice when i first heard it in the trailer, but when he appeared on screen I JUST FEEL IN LOVE. Not only his voice by itself is amazing, BUT ITS ALSO BECOMES STATIC N GLITHES WHEN HES ANGRY❗❗

I WAS SO WORRIED WHEN IN TRAILER WE DIDNT HEAR HIS VOICE HAVING TV STATIC EFFECTS, BUT HE ACTUALLY DO!!! IM SO HAPPY ABT THAT!! AND OMG HIS CHARACTER IN GENERAL-- HES LITERALLY MY FAV CHARACTER SO FAR. I LOVE HIM WITH EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART!! IF HE WONT BECOME A TUMBLR SEXYMAN I WILL BE FUCKING MAD.

ALSO DIDJA LISTEN TO HIS AND ALASTORS SONG IN EP 2??????? ITS FUCKING AMAZINGDD, THE BEST SONG SO FAR, ITS MADE LIKE A TV PROGRAMM IN THE BEGINNING N DOESNT EVEN HAVE RHYMES IN SOME PLACES AND THAT IS SOO COOL, IT MAKES IT ALL LOOK SO COOL N SPECIAL!!! LOOK AT SOME SCREENSHOTS OF IT!!!!!!!

(ok im gonna shut up now-)

Another thing i wanna talk about is how fucking TERRIFYING Alastors demon form looks. JUST LOOK AT IT. ITS SO FCKIN HORRIFYING

also i really didnt expect to see sir Pentious cry-- its actually made my heart melt.

And the last song is really cute ❤️

soooo yeah! thats my thoughts so far, I didnt wanna put my thoghts on lore cuz it would be too much spoilers. (also if i didnt talk about voices of some characters, that means i like them and/or okay with them)

My review/thoughts on eps 3-4

My review/thoughts on eps 5-6

My review/thoughts on eps 7-8

[ca-suffit]

Hi, you talk a lot about the white fandom but what do you mean by that? Most of the accounts I've seen you attack are not white, other than Virginia vampires as far as I know. For example Sima who you talked about in your last posts is brown, muslim, and probably a lot less privileged than you because of where she lives. It's gross and xenophobic to make fun of her and call her stupid for her English and not understanding western American culture. Also let's not forget this is the internet. Any person can pretend to be anything they want. You could be white yourself for all we know. There's no way to verify unless you post your photo or something. I agree with what you say about Anne Rice and the racism of hardcore book fans but maybe you should be more clear about what and who you're fighting against. Right now it just looks like you attack accounts you don't like for petty reasons and not for any social justice cause.

This is all bullshit but I'm gonna answer it so I can eventually probably pin this fucking post for all u annoying assholes who want to speak over the point and distract from getting shit done here.

White fandom does not mean white people. I have said this so many times. White fandom means the ppl who support the ideas of white supremacy, that white ppl's ideals and comfort should be prioritized over everyone else and "we don't have to talk about race because that's "the real racism."" This has been happening nonstop with the way that Lestat, a fictional white man, is defended to death while real black and brown fans are openly bullied within the fandom (usually to defend *him*!) and nobody fucking cares. They care even less because of how white fandom is now made up of fans who aren't white, who convince white ppl even more that "this is the way, don't listen to those ppl, they're all (euphemism for racial slurs goes here)." If you come into a fandom that centers black American history in its plot and is also well known as a fandom to be antiblack af, that's literally on u to figure out. loustat-0 has been here, it's been two fucking years, I don't give a shit what her background is, this is no excuse. She came into this space knowing what it is, the show spells it out p fucking well too. Stop making excuses for assholes who want to remain ignorant and make themselves victims when they're told they fucked up. U don't have to be a white person to do that shit and antiblackness is so rampant across every race on top of it, it's not brand new information that brown ppl can be antiblack too. Shit, black ppl can be antiblack, look at fangs and keybearer. That is the whole point of being loud about this, to challenge their bs and wake ppl up to saying something back about it. cuz it's the same white fandom shit, just dressed different and in a way most white ppl don't know how to understand. That's what they count on too, why do u think fangs got so loud screaming I'M BLACK AND U NEED TO LISTEN TO ME when she thought that would work to prove her antiblack af point against a white person? u can be any race and be in white fandom and racist af. internalized racism is real. a lot of things are real. Look how many ppl across various groups constantly speak up for political parties who cause harm to their own communities. This manipulation happens every day across many spaces.

You're the only one not understanding what's going on here tbh. I also have never given any information on who I am at all and that is on purpose. The fandom is making up a definition of the person I am typing this, I have said nothing. I say nothing because that's what white fandom relies on, personal information to attack u as a person instead of replying to the topic of fandom racism itself. U can see in this example here how they move goalposts depending on which race, gender, and age they're speaking to. Why do u think it's mostly black ppl on those PSAs too? Why do you think the fandom also ignores them so much and sees them as "angry" and "dangerous." Ur interpretation of who I am is up to u and I don't owe anyone access to that. If u need only specific types of ppl to speak up on shit like fandom racism then u are revealing the main issue behind why nothing ever gets accomplished. Who is the best messenger then? Who would u listen to after all? Sit with that thought and choke on it, cuz the real answer is "nobody." U all will never allow anyone to speak on this, that's why u pull shit like what ur trying to pull here rn. have u also noticed the only ppl getting defended are those who come from white fandom? Why do u think that is too. Why would ppl sympathize so much with only these ppl and not all the black and brown ppl who have been fucked with a lot harder this whole time otherwise. where are those names ever. why are u all always crying about these useless idiots only. ur part of the fucking problem and this victim act doesn't work on me or anyone else. we are all tired of this shit and that's why I'm fucking here.

These are not "petty reasons," you're just fucking stupid and defending the wrong ppl. Wake up already. Ignorance on racism isn't even the only thing loustat-0 is accused of and u want to say it's xenophobic to judge someone's behavior like that, when she's *been* told by ppl how to act right. Fuck outta here. Learn what words mean, u fucking cretin. Btw it was her own post in the tags about leaving that even called attention to this in the first place, it's not like I dug it out of nothing the way fangs is always digging thru black fans' personal shit for her call out posts. She whined a lot to play victim but she did not try to defend herself this way at all so it makes me rly wonder why tf u feel the need to do all this on her behalf. what is UR fucking point, princess?

[fischlslays]

Update on the Raelya Raasini situation..!

Lmao, as yall know from the last post, she was stalking me and some creepy shit. My friend @hunterxhunterisbest contacted her and guess what? She denied that she talked about me💀 bro its so obvious, and you acting stupid is actually driving me nuts💀

Like bro even took the "I always knew Mona mains can get along with Fischl mains." From my blog and said, "I wasn't talking about her, but the first one."

💀💀

AND, she stalked my account long enough to know that I put her in my DNI list, here is the conversation between her and my friend. I'm rlly srry for y'all's eyes💀

HELP I CANT WITH BITCH ANYMORE.

And btw, again, calling me a "bish" did nothing at all.

How you felt after calling me a "bish":🥰😍💋💅🔥

Bro pls use something else, you called me a bitch 4 times in row now, be creative. And we both know that you still have access to your goddamn account💀

Esther (my friend) had to go through hell and meet Satan to get this ugly ass mf to text back💀💀

"TELL ME" 💀💀 I don't have to say anything, do I? "I blocked her too! How-" that's even worse bro💀 and yall better be grateful for yalls ass😭 I'm rlly sorry Esther.

💀💀

"But she doesn't know one small detail" "I'm still there" bro watched a lil too much of Batman💀 its insulting to compare him to some random ugly ass mf on tumblr💀 even Esther herself said: "why is she acting so cringy? Is she going to tell me a government secret?😭"

Bro stalked for too long to see my DNI list💀💀 and yea, Esther hates you and thinks you the cringiest person to ever step a foot on this Earth. And no she ain't neutral💀

Yes, you are the creepiest person I've ever talked to💀 and you still deny it. See? That mf admitted that she was stalking me, lmao, tbh, you though you actually changed smth💀 I already knew that you are a creepy stalker, I didn't need you to inform me, but thank anyway.

"She put me in her DNI list."

"And you still interacted?"

"Yes, because I'm not Raeyla"

"Have you lost it?"

Lmao this part got me laughing😭😭

I know you are not Raeyla, but didn't want to expose you to your sweet friends and virtual family, nor your dear followers💀, "Raasini". Tbh, I'm glad that is not your name, because it would be such a waste of a pretty name on a shitty person💀

"I called her friend a loser bc she is"

💀 mf don't get Leisel into this. You actually thought you did smth?💀💀 bro go cry yourself to sleep or smth, it would've been better for all of us💀 and for the third time, Leisel ain't a loser, and again, you clearly didn't see your self💀do us a favour and never show your fac again, and leave your blog, no one is going to miss you anyway💀 if you lied about your name, why would your followers trust you again?💀 Next time Raasini tries to act cool, remember that she likes Hisoka (a pedophile from hunter x hunter), Oliver Tree(search what he did to Melanie), and The Manni Show (master of slurs).💀

"Idk hes hot" 💀💀 go get your eyes checked. Is this what you call hot?

Raasini is this your man?💀💀 I don't blame you, you get attracted to shit cuz u are, rlly. U guys deserve eachother.💀

Again, I'm rlly sorry Esther, and I sorry for everyone who's reading this except that mf, I bet she cringed too💀

"Peace✌" Bitch shut up💀 bro tried so hard to be Drake💀💀 NOT THE "..."💀

hoW dAre yOU! 💀 I swear no one cares, and I feel so bad for Esther. And btw Esther, you ate. And I agree with every single word you said.

And since that mf said that she just said what I did to her, I'm done, that's it, if you are playing that game, I'll do so too💀

Oh, by the way, remember the time you faked living in Ohio? And the time you were hard-core simping over Kaeya and Scaramouche and called them daddies but then you call me and Leisel losers for liking Fischl and Mona?💀 Or the time you acted all cringy by stuttering through text even though you weren't not Role-playing? Or the time you used the "..." so damn much that I gave my phone the nastiest side eye ever? And the time you acted all emo?💀 bro I have too much things, but I too lazy to list them all, and i don't want my followers to cringe💀

Here is my gift for you <3 tbh, I glad not the only who thinks that💀 and Raasini, your grammar and spelling books are crying in the corner💀 victim rizz fr. and when I saw the screenshots that Esther sent me, you wrote "bulliying"💀 I didn't know ppl could fuck up the word Bullying. Bro, are you even 17?💀💀

And thx @sulli1361 for your advice, I blocked her, let's hope that mf doesn't make another account to stalk me again💀 because I'm so done with her.

Thx @notafan77 for your prayerz

And thx for @urbestgirlever and @hunterxhunterisbest for keeping up with her

And did you actually put an Oliver Tree quote on your post that was supposed to "expose" me?💀 I hope you are truly embarrassed, because if I was you I'd never show my face ever again. Not for the next 15 years at least.

And if yall want me to posy the screenshots, just tell me, I don't mind, that bitch asked for it.

"Peace out✌" this is going to haunt Mr down forever. Thx Raasini, I'm Traumatised, and so are my followers.

Tags (sry for yalls eyes): @foreveryoung @toxiccluvvv @breaking-panic @disa-ster @whatskillingthekids @vernadettachiara @sillyreadergal-blog @bleakqblake @shinobusupremecy @shinobuscanonwife @shinobu @shinobu-blogging-blog @slutsssphobia @sluttsxphobia @ask-the-insect-hashira @anime-fan- @astrox @simpinxdisrespectfully @pr3tty @notafan77 @piercingmylove @honeydazai @hunterxhunterisbest @hopperowo @toastdee66 @ask-chachamaru-kny @sulli1361 @ask-thekny @orangepegacorn-blog @booplsnoot @ilynaru @ilynes @sarahwinchester97 @mistymuichiro @mistymuichirou @reawakened-goddess @seaacutie42 @limeiscool @limebreaker @urbestgirlever @popcorn-and-other-fun-stuff @hottestcelebrities @horrorchicxoxo @delmissesryan @tomioka-pudding

[sayyourprayers]

Such a coincidence because I was going to send an ask about the play right before you made that post.

Even if it is not a production mistake... what makes people think that the writers won't change stuff for convenience? They already changed some things on the show small or whatever, Joyce and Bob weren't supposed to be close in the highschool, but now it seems like they will spend a large chunk of their screentime together looking at those 'trio' photos of Joyce, Hopper, and Bob shot together. Patty is a new character inserted into the story to give Henry a love interest (and apparently Bob mentions about his sister being alive in S2, so it is more of a 'error' to make her die in this play which seems very likely to happen). Hendersons were not Hawkins residents, now they are, apparently. Actually there's just some fuckery with the characters ages overall anyways. These are the things that come to my mind rn, there's just more stuff that can be found. Ppl acting like ST is some Bible-ridden filled with master details and shit have lost the plot. This is not some ASoIaF storyline written by GRRM or LOTR by Tolkien.

Production mistakes have happened and will happen, just like changing stuff for convenience. Building up whole contrived scenarios to say that everything has ''a meaning on the show'' and all those inconsistencies or changes exist due to some (insert timetravel/fuckery and variant contrived theories) is reaching way too hard. Why accepting the reality is so hard for some ppl in this fandom.

I called it production error cuz it happened in the same season where CLEARLY Alice is younger than Henry. Like there's just no two ways about it. The paper had to have messed it up. And the simplest explanation is production error. In terms of changing plot/characters for convenience and retconning shit? Ya I agree. It's hardly something that'd be unique to ST if it happens. It wouldn't even be unique to ST5. Regards Hendersons I think it can be justified that Claudia came back with Dustin? N was prolly never married? Idk. Least implausible of the confusing things tbvh. Cuz they hardly focus on her in the 4 seasons so that can be taken care of. I love how there were so many black people in Hawkins though. Truly drives home the fact that this show is fictional. The writers have changed UD mechanism and have gone with the flow with El's powers and abilities throughout the show, so like there's no real integrity to any ST Bible. Please. This is not that show. It's a superhero show. It's gonna do whatever needs to be done for the superhero shit.

The thing is I'm not opposed to ST being a great show, it just isn't. And much like with myself I'm okay with its average to subpar-ness. It just annoys me when personal opinions are foisted upon others with no tact or elegance to top it off. I feel like I'm honour bound to peel this veneer of excellence and MAYBE ruin the fun for everyone (as a result but not as a motive).

To make theories or guesses is not wrong or stupid and is actually fun if done by fun people. But also if we're presenting it as evidence and for serious contention then I am not in error to expect the person making those contentions to first get the vibe of the show right. Vibe in terms of how complex it has been so far, how meticulous in its facts and world building, how thorough in its characterisation and lore and how innovative in its execution. THEORETICALLY you can have A show that scores 10/10 on all those metrics and then you wouldn't be remiss in expecting a similar performance in a future instalment of that show. But when the prior seasons are averaging at average and the prediction is going 11/10 you gotta chill with the attitude cuz you're foundationally WRONG. Not probably but definitely. So everything you posit could be but not would be. There has been a lot in the way of mistaking the nature of this beast itself. So it follows that the rest of it would also be in all likelihood a mistake.

Now back to why people can't accept the reality of this fiction? Idk. Idc. I have my theories tho. 😛

[cutecherrygirl]

Hi so um, this is my first time writing 5sos imagine so dont expect anything good lol but ill try

Cats over dogs

Plot: you and Luke have been dating for 3 years but then broke up due to Him cheating on you with Sierra 🙄😒. But in those 3 years yiu guys have raised a dog named Petunia. And you raised her during covid so...lets just say she is very attached to you and is used to you being around, and Sierra just came put of nowhere and now Petunia misses you and is sick, doesn't want to eat, sleep, or drink. She just sits by the door and wait for but but u are not allowed to come anymore. But seeing Petunia like this breaks Luke's heart so he decided to do some changes.

Warnings: smut lol and cursing.

You woke up by the most annoying sound in the world, alarm. You whined and turned it off "for fucks sake" you cursed and sat up, you took your phone in your hands and check the time, it was 8:00 a.m. you rolled your eyes and tossed the phone on the bed. Today is a special day, for Michael, hes having a baby shower abd you happened to be invited, you and Michael are good friends but the reason the invitation shocked you is because you broke up with Luke.

You stand up and walk to the bathroom to do your morning routine then went to the kitchen to make yourself coffee. You made a plat to complete ignore the individual that chested on you and his unidentified new chick and just focus on your friends and Calum. After drinking your coffee you went back to your room and jump on bed, you decided to relax as if you didn't just wake up.

Suddenly your phone started ringing so you pick up "Michael Clifford, its 8:25 a.m, what is it?" You said annoyed "look y/n, Luke is going to attend the baby shower and I dont want you guys to fight" I sighed "Michael, tell him that...not me..Im planning on ignoring him" I said honestly but Michael Did liked that so he hang up. Michael hates when something doesn't go in harmony or according to his stupid plans.

It was almost time to go so you started getting ready, you dressed up in this

You let your hair fall over your shoulders Because why not, and you put on some parfeum to smell good for....well.... everyone except for Luke. You then grabbed your Dior purse and walked out of the house before locking the door for safety reasons. Then you drove to Michael's and Chrystal's house.

When you arrive you walked over to the front porch with bag in your arms. Chrystal opened the door "Hiii!" She saud exited and hugged you "omg hii!!" You hugged her back and handed her the gift which was mostly baby toys, some gummy worms for Michael and cookies for Chrystal. You two had a minni gossip part on your own before finally entering the house. You greeted everyone and Calum was last to be greeted "Hey" he said and you rolled your eyes "hey" "I like your hat"Calum said after looking at you up and down "but im not wearing any hat" you said confused "exactly" then he left.

After few minutes, you already ate half of the cake, few minu pizza's and glass of water, no alcohol tonight 🤭. You were just chatting with Michael 's mom and tried avoiding all the personal questions she was asking when all of a sudden you felt something wet on your leg "Ugh exuse me!" You said and turned around seeing Petunia, you literally started crying and kneeling down and hugging her "omg my baby" you patted her and Petunia wiggled her tail, you couldn't help but noticed somone watching you from the corner of your eye, you looked and it was Luke, your mood instantly changed from happy to not very happy. Petunia ran to Luke cuz her called her and you stand up as he walked towards you "Hey".

You decide to walk away from him but he grabbed your arm "lets talk" he said "we dont have anything to talk about Luke" you said but he didn't agree with that statement "of course we do" he pulled you towards him so you were facing him "Let go of me" you said angry but he shook his head "I brought Petunia here so u can see her and this is how you repay me?" He asked "Luke, you cheated on me with that woman" you reminded him before seeing a ring on his finger "wow...you even married her" you said as tears started to form in your eyes "remember when you promised me we will get married Luke? Where did that go? Oh wait I know, in the trash can!!!" You screamed before pulling your arm away from him and walking away.

You were on the tarace era with Cherry cola in your hand and cigarette in other. You were sad but very mad as well. "Hey" A voice behind you suddenly said "Hey Ash" you replied and he patted your shoulder " are you ok?" He asked you before taking the cigarette out of your mouth and into his own, you chunkled "not really" he shook his head and you talked for awhile. Since he brought Whiskey you two got a bit drunk and started talking nonsense. You giggled as he caressed your back while telling you about his fishing adventures, he then placed his hands on your waist and caressed it with his thumbs, while you took another sip of the drink. Then you both started feeling very deep tension and in that moment you just needed to feel his lips on yours or you would go crazy, so you leaned in, first watching his reaction and when you saw he started leaning in as well the door suddenly opened.

You both looked at each other annoyed and then at the door, it was Luke with Petunia following him "What is going on?" He asked "dude cmon" Ashton said annoyed before grabbing your hand "lets go somewhere else" you nodded but Luke stopped you "wait...Y/n...can you like be with Petunia for a bit before we go home "he asked you and you looked down at Petunia"fine" you said and Ashton walked out. You took of your heels and laid on bed, Petunia laid next to you and cuddles up to you and Luke laid behind Petunia.

It was quite, awkwardly quite. Petunia fell asleep and you were patting her "She's so cute" you said and Luke nodded. You couldn't Help but noticed Luke was watching you carefully "Luke, stop starting at me for fucks sake" you whispered so u dont wake Petunia up "sorry you're just so pretty and-" You interupted him "either take your cringe ass out the door or be quite" you warmed him before looking up at him for the first time since he entered the room. After few more minutes you decide to talk "Luke..why did you cheat on me with her? Just why? Is she really that better than me? Or is it just because you like older women" you waited for the answer"it was just an affair....but I never stopped loving you" "oh fuck off you moron, you literally married her" you rolled your eyes trying to keep your eyes from getting watery "Im sorry...."you heard his voice crack, no matter how mad you were at him you hated seeing him cry "Don't cry" you said "I just, I literally made the biggest mistake ever, she doesn't even cook good" you gently moved Petunia to lay on your place and you layed om hers next to Luke, You wrapped your arms around his torso and carresed his golden locks "don't cry" you whispered in his ear and he wrapped his arms around you tightly, taking in your scent.

You stayed like that for awhile before you felt him place his hands on your leg and caressing it with his thumb, you enjoyed it because his hands were soft and warm. You nuzzled your face in the crook of his neck amd gave him little kiss there he then pulled you closer and moved his hand from your leg to your bum pushing it slightly so your hips would brush against his,you let out a breathy moan as your heat brushed against his hard well yk, you then placed your leg over his hip and he thrusted his hips into yours and you but your lip. Every move he made was gentle, slow and sensual, your brain was telling you to stop him but your mind and heart were telling you to kiss him and continue, since everyone always say to listen to your heart you did just that. You looked up at him and he looked back at you moved hair from his face behind his ears, placed your hands on his cheeks and kissed him, he of course kissed you back full of lust and passion. He then placed you on your back and got on top of you with his hips still grinding against yours "you have no idea how long ive dreamed of doing this again, touching you again, kissing you again" he whispered in your ear before biting it gently and kissing your neck, you threw your head back "fuck Luke" You moaned out quietly, after making sure he left few visible marks he wrapped his fingers around your neck and kissed you roughly, he ran his hand down to your cleavage, he tuck his finger inside it before ripping your dress in two pieces, you couldn't care less to be honest , as long as you had Luke 😜. He tossed it to the floor and you helped him take off his blouse and pull down his pants, he then slide down his boxers and your underwear and got ready. He leaned down at you and pecked your lips and you opened your legs wider, he layed his forehead on top of yours "I dont have condom"he said and you blinked "you can pull out" you told him but he wasn't having it, "oh look, there's one on the floor" He randomly found condom on the floor, you didn't really care that much, he opened ot and put it on the went back to the position he was in, he slid himself inside of you and you moaned "oh my god" quietly of course "shhh" he told you and bit down on your shoulder then started moving his hips, you started getting desperate and moving your hips as well "fuck Luke go faster, please just go fucking fast" you whined which made him twitch inside of you and going faster and harder, he gripped the bed board behind you and leaned down to kiss you, while you made out he grabbed your bum and lift it up in the air then continued to pound into you like that, you completely lost yourself and started crying out in pleasure and Luke was enjoying every second of it, when you two finally came at the same time he layed down on top of you and you both were breathing heavily and were sweat as fuck, he kept giving your shoulder mini kisses which you liked alot.

You then dressed up, you found a new dress under the rug and walked out just in time to reveal gender and it was a girl yay.

[picory]

hey @angelofmoosics i hope you don't mind me posting your comments like this, but my reply to you has gotten... extremely lengthy by accident... lol

i don't mind you rambling at all! and i couldn't agree more. the highlight in BOTW for me personally were the champions and their tragic story. they were doomed from the start. they were never getting out of this alive. their death, along with the deaths of many people in all of hyrule, that grief was the key to the awakening of zelda's holy power. so the more you remember them, the stronger the desire to free their souls from entrapment, to avenge them, to have some closure, and to mouth your last goodbyes. it's very bittersweet and tugs at your heartstrings.

and zelda, who's been in the heart of the calamity for 100 years, her powers weakening, her strength waning, her body and mind exhausted, you can't NOT free her of that burden. the time is ticking and the more you dawdle, the closer the end of the world as we know it is. the impending doom feels near and real. you have to do something quickly, lest everyone's efforts go for naught.

as for TOTK, i'll be frank and say that i haven't been properly following the plot just yet. having a bit of difficulty comprehending these time travel shenanigans and bodily transformations and everything. need to cook that all better in my head, plus i haven't finished the game yet, so maybe it will all fall into place at the end.

but for now, you're right, you don't have the same urgency as you did in the previous game. sure there's danger all around. the chasms that reach the bottom of the earth filled to the brim with miasma (calling it that instead of "gloom" cuz it sounds more dangerous); a resurgence of monsters who have gotten stronger and more intelligent, working together to terrorize innocent people; the sky islands and their pieces that keep falling down, barely missing crushing people; and as you mentioned the regional phenomena that've been causing trouble for the people living in those areas.

regarding the regional phenomena... what is more dangerous: a giant beast potentially stomping you with its heavy hoof, or a never-ending sandstorm and some zombie looking creatures roaming the streets of your beloved town? both scenarios suck, but one is more tolerable than the other. the gerudo had a bunker that the gibdos had no way of reaching, and even if they could, the gerudo were already close to figuring out the best strategy against them. the sandstorm is still a problem, but it's not a "they're gonna die any minute" kind of problem. unless you count them running out of supplies if link doesn't hurry up and help them out, but even then i'm sure they could've figured something out.

that is to say, obviously the sooner link saves these people the better, but even if he takes his time, i believe they would very well manage on their own.

(i've only helped out the rito and the gerudo, so idk about the extent of trouble the other two races are having)

i was also going to say that like, "oh these people don't even need link at all. tulin and riju could've gone to those temples by themselves". but then i remembered that both of the temples required authorization from link's stupid little zonai hand. something i wish was done differently, is to have the new sages do that instead of link, the "pressing palm against the translucent green screen" thing. since they're such important people, being descendants and all. it would make so much more sense, and would give them an even bigger role. like hey, you need THEM to complete the temple, and not just their powers that surely you could replicate. only they could open access to the temples or whatever.

phew. well that's all i have to say for now

[badedramay]

I know you stopped watching TB, and tbh I didn’t watch after the first 5-6 episodes. Like I didn’t even make it up to the first slap, however, I was curious about the latest episode so I watched some reviewers’ take on it. The amount of people saying possible MR was justified because she spit on him and slapped him? And what’s sadder — so, so many commenters are saying “my mother watches this drama and said murtasim r**ing her was normal because she hit him and spit on him”. Are the women in pakistan really this brainwashed? Is the public really this stupid to think such an act can be justifiable because of a slap and some spit? Because DAMN our country has a long way to go if that’s the general public’s belief in 2023. Plus you know murtasim will be redeemed in the end. Mind boggling, yo.

And yes I know people are getting hashtags trending to call out the writers; that’s a progressive step. But hashtags and being online in general is still a relatively small portion of the viewing audience and it truly disheartened me to see people believe this garbage.

I don’t generally agree with actor hate for bad writing. However, wahaj and yumna *do* have enough of a platform to say they’re not doing a scene. A clip of Mawra telling Momina to basically rewrite an entire drama to exclude a marital rape scene is spreading online right now. An actor *can* say no. Everyone involved in this fiasco should be getting some heat, yumna and wahaj included.

(just a minor correction: Mawra didn't ask for the marital rape to be excluded; she called the makers' attention to the immense horror of the scene and made efforts to make sure the drama didn't include the scene WITHOUT explicitly mentioning it as a truly horrific and traumatizing situation and left no room in the narrative for it to be dismissed as anything 'normal' or 'inevitable'. something that TB is on its way of doing in the episode and its makers are already doing with their interviews and interactions with the fandom. more power to Mawra! she's a solid example of how age, education, and experience contribute to a person's glow up. the girl is a freakin' lawyer! and she's using her power to fight for the betterment of the dramas she's part of in however ways she can. love that for her! i am so so SO happy she's getting this recognition now. she deserves it both for the work she does and also for the unnecessary trolling she got cuz of that one fd!)

after typing and deleting a response to this ask for the 10th time since I got it, I think it's safe to say I have nothing to say about this whole thing.

[griefxgifted]

also i hope yall been doing ok <3 feel free to hmu if you want discord ect, my brain is all over the place but im still up and around a lot has happened, under the cut if you wanna know

(triggering topics ahead tho be careful)

so back in november something drastic happened, i was screamed at by someone nearly 1ft or so taller than me for 20 minutes over something stupid. but they were kinda physically showing aggression as well

no one did anything. my team lead, everyone in charge sat there and let this woman just. do this. theres no real reason to be doing this either since we all agreed on the points she was making but not the method to how it being fixed basically we're understaffed and i wasnt getting my tasks assigned on time, and so ppl complained i was being "lazy" when the tasks im assigned matter a lot i do them as soon as i get it cuz they're time sensitive so i refused to do any work until my task was offically given to me. since by all points i should be getting my task the second i clock in, but they were waiting nearly up to an hour to tell me what i had to do (what rooms to clean ect in the hospital which i cant just do myself since nurses or doctors could be operating/planning to use them to operate ect)

but because of this and no one saying anything it triggered a lot in my PTSD which made me have a mental break

to not go too long i basically dissacociated from reality and my doctor thinks i was full on psychosis. i could not remember my name, my personality, i couldnt recognize faces or locations, time, and i was hallucinating like all fucking hell. i thought every person i saw was a hallucination cuz everyone's faces looked blank.

ive been put on short term disability and been going through a lot of intensive therapy. Im going to be doing a partial hospitalization program soon to get it worked out

the biggest thing my psychiatrist is worried about is the report of me having possibly, become a different person? during one of my dissacociations before i went on leave, i apparently developed an entire 2nd person. i do not remember this period of time nor the texts or messages i sent during it. thankfully this has only happened 1ce and hasnt come back, but its still extremely worrying

so yeah ive been dealing with insurance shit that got fucked up

i went to toronto for a pokemon tournament

and ive been mostly chilling making art and getting high to self analyze while my brain is forced to be calm and made a lot of breakthroughs ive been able to further talk through in therapy

ive also made a plan to see my GF sooner/move over sooner by going into nursing possibly starting this fall, so yeah. a lot has happened

also hers some art i been doing not related at all but still wanna share to end on a positive note

[luv-beam]

SURPRISEEE!!! i finished some things early and realized i had a lot of time tonight, so here i am!!! really, just a treat for me heh:

• dropping us immediately into everything-has-gone-to-shit oh ur praying on our downfall TT like the distance is palpable... and hao 😭 oh sweet, protective big brother hao 😭

• THE TULIPS??!?@!( STRETCHING TOWARD THE SKY??? my chest hurts .. the way yn looks at the garden now. like ik how it feels when something/someplace u once considered ur safe haven or safety net becomes corrupt,, twists the heart

• YOU WOULD NOT COME HERE AGAIN 😭😭😭😭😭😭 UGLY CRYING its the way "at least not alone" comes right after and i wonder if seokmin feels the same bc he also walked by, but only w minghao (granted, this isnt his house but...) and bc u write that they were BOTH affected (im not delulu am i...)

• vapid fop... what if i chuckled hahah

• also HELLO YOON JEONGHAN (u couldn't resist, could u, tara ;))) "a balm to the bruised parts" oh. im honestly living for jeonghans character and that in some other life, he and yn might actually make the perfect match (also mama xu doing mama matchmaker things w said thinly veiled glee is everything)

• its interesting that seok and hannie have kind of switched tropes? idk if that makes sense, but jeonghan as the warm, comforting presence and seokmin as the teasing, haunting ex-relation. its interesting seeing them both in these contexts and i like the subtle way u point to seokmin still having feelings for her or, yk, CARING ABT HER

• oh so nooow u try to play nice ..... jkjk im sorry i have assumed yns soul at this moment LMFAOOO (we're at the return of hao)

• i have sm pettiness in my bones that i emoathize w yn too well in this section LOL like yn was holding back, she could have snubbed him even more thoroughly imo !!! the dettached politeness and careful dismissal of his attempts at conversing w her makes me cackle lol (sorry dk) loved the dialogue/interactions!!!

• "weaving an intoxicating tapestry of distraction" oooooo welcome back tapestry metaphor 😌 i love imagining all of this like one massive tapestry being weaved in of those big ass looms that u think of from ancient greece

• speaking of intoxicating, the way u described jeonghan previously reminded me of champagne teehee

• the fact that every time seokyn make eye contact w one another the world seems to pause makes me ILL. like u cannot make me think of that slow motion, light fading-esque scene every time like my heart cannot take it

• i feel sick 😭😭😭😭 like damn that hurts... like u hate to see them doing so much better than u and u capture that bittersweet heartache/break so well :')))

• like sure seok's reputation might have been scuffed a little when she ran away, but all of that negative social consequence is given to yn, not seokmin. and the domino effect of all her "mistakes" and all this isolation is so... accurate? truly, her isolation and helplessness/defeat can be felt thru the screen

• i can kind of imagine the scene where yns escaped back home and is just sitting in the dark,, like the muffled sounds of partygoers and then the door closes and it's so quiet... man im so sad for her

• "ah i see my sister's charming everyone tonight" PLS I LOVE U HAO 😭😭😭 he's such a sweet older brother bye skfndjfj the way he's so protective im so

• i am kind of curious if yn has realized/forgiven seokmin in some way? like ik she's bitter and also heartbroken cuz she felt stupid for believing he could love her back, but at this point, she seems to have forgiven hao in some capacity for trying to help her "save her prospects" last chapter. so would it be safe to say that she's forgiven seok for going along w it too? or ig,, its a little more complicated than that huh

• damn someone who can make even jeonghan nervous/uncertain? crazy lol

• all this time passing MAKES. ME. SO. SAD. FOR. HER. 😭😭😭

• i agree w yn, the tulips bring an unwelcoke reminder of seokmin 😌 sorry seokmin

• the gaping hole and taut tension during the brief scene of spring age 22 is so JSNFKDJFJ RAAAAAAAAH ik im on yns side but like i need to strap this girl to an armchair so they can talk shit out 😭 i love longing so much but i also wanna tear my hair out

• i looove that u describe each and every ball/society event in its own way, like they have their own unique personalities!! :'))) like this one as a kaleidoscope... so beautiful, its a pleasure to my mind. on a similar note, the way u described sohee's dress and appearance was MWAH!! like i can picture exactly what she looks like, she's such a vibrant and living character in my mind. though the irony is not lost on me how her appearance/dress is described in such similar detail as when yn was a debutante 💔 like she's now been cast aside and it no longer matters how well she dresses; no one expects her to steal the spotlight

• oh but this one hurts 😭 ^ like it was established in chapter one that she must exhibit restraint and hope often slips through ones fingers like water, and it's heartbreaking and utterly depressing that she kind of lives thru these younger girls' experiences bc she never got her happily ever after. ur not only sidelined, but ur forced to watch someone live the life u were supposed to have (its so cruel 😭)

• "i suspect that there's still magic left in ur own waltz" OH I HAAAATE UUUUUUU YOON JEONGHAN WHY DID U HAVE TO END UP SO GOOD 😭 why r u making me like him tara 😭😭😭😭 not the second male lead 😭 now i want him and yn to end up together

• a reminder of what ive lost... the ache... ugh its so good...

• ONCE AGAIN. the imagery is perfection. like ur painting of the gardens at night in my mind is SUBLIME

• SHE WAS MINE FIRST OH JEONGHAN (´Д⊂ヽ OHHHHH I SO WANT U RN ive always sensed this kindred heartache btwn us, bestie. also just both of them coveting a hand that isnt theirs... goddamn, it's always the pining and forbidden that gets me

• but also totally digging the offer for a loveless marriage. like they can totally just make the best of it :')) its clear that they get along, and who knows.. it could turn into some semblance of love :')) i like to think that he's a little desperate himself while trying to convince yn to take up his offer. although a man won't get as much blow back for being unmarried, he's still a viscount. mutual desperation, mutual heartache... just drawing connections heh

• A GARDEN PARTY IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN AND YET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PANEL TO ADD TO OUR GROWING TAPESTRY WEEEE

• "punctuated by the delicate notes" oo i just had to say that i love that word choice, it scratches an itch in my brain

• oh. thats quite the uh scandalous position their seokie... also just the way that time seemed to slow down again, but this time, yns trying so desperately to put on a strong face that seems so ready to slip off at a moment's notice. like i can feel her trying to pull herself up by her bootstraps and not fall apart

• never mind my question was just answered 😭😭😭 yn baby pls i know ur terribly depressed but U NEED TO HEAR HIM OUT . PLEASE.

• I LOOOOVE THE ENDING, LIKE I LOVE THAT WE'VE ENDED UP HERE OF ALL PLACES LIKE OOOOOOO PETTINESS HAHAHAHAH

if u couldn't discern it, i loved this chapter so much!!!! :'))) like the superstar was definitely the tension and the push and pull of emotions as yn experiences her young life flash before eyes skcnkdnf i love that you've ghrown a wrench into the plot of seokyn via one very handsome and persuasive and lovelorn yoon jeonghan 🫂🫂 i cant WAIT to read seok's reaction, and EVERYONE'S reactions for that matter LMFAO i am so enjoying this series so far tara, tysm for ur hard work !!! 💖

The Somerset Affair Chapter 3: Promises Bathed in Moonlight

pairing: lsk x fem!reader genre: Bridgerton AU, friends to (?????) to eventual lovers, brother’s best friend, SLOWWWW BURNNN chapter wc: 8.8k warnings: alcohol consumption, societal expectations, crying, mentions of a panic attack (not being able to breathe), eventual smut, more to be added a/n: sorry sorry i know ch 3 took forever too lol // as always, ENORMOUS thanks to indi @wongyuseokie for this GORGEOUSSSS banner // and to my lovely betas shu @welcometomyoasis lou @tusswrites haneul @chanranghaeys

summary: maybe you really are well and truly alone.

comment to be tagged when chapters are posted, or join the fic taglist here! series masterlist

The First Year: Summer Age 19

The first season after that fateful night was like a hazy dream. When you returned to the social scene, the whispers followed: why had Lord Lee disappeared from your side, so abruptly and publicly, leaving you to stand alone in the wake of his departure?

You endured it with a forced smile, accepting dances from any man who offered. Seokmin, when you saw him, was always nearby yet achingly out of reach, just beyond the edge of the crowd, his gaze never straying to you. Minghao, perhaps sensing the fraught silence between you, would draw you into conversation whenever he could, his manner protective, his eyes wary.

The estate gardens were nothing short of stunning in the late spring. Bursts of red and yellow tulips stretched toward the sky, their vibrant hues softened only by the ivy draping from the nearby trellis. The whole scene was picturesque, brimming with life and warmth. Yet, to you, it held only shadows, echoes of laughter from a time that now felt far away.

You’d meant to pass by quickly, perhaps even avoid the gardens altogether, but the pull was magnetic, the memories nestled there too insistent to ignore. This had been your sanctuary, your haven of whispered secrets and boundless dreams. You had spent countless summer afternoons here with Seokmin, lying on the grass, watching clouds drift lazily by as he teased you with nonsense riddles and ridiculous tales. He’d always made you laugh—those moments had seemed to stretch endlessly, filled with the certainty that nothing would ever change.

But change it had.

Now, as you stood among the tulips, their bright faces tilted toward the sun, you felt as if you were the only one left in shadow. Each flower seemed to mock you, as if asking why you had come back when he was no longer here to share it with you. You could almost hear his laughter in the rustling leaves, a phantom sound that made your heart ache.

You allowed yourself one indulgent moment of memory, one small surrender to the warmth of the past. In that instant, you could almost feel his presence beside you, could almost hear him sigh as he lay back against the grass and urged you to do the same. Tulip, he’d called you once, likening you to the flowers here��delicate, bright, full of life. His voice drifted through your mind like a warm breeze, and you closed your eyes, feeling the bittersweet pang of loss settle deeper into your chest.

Then, a sudden sound cut through the quiet, and you froze. It was the low murmur of a familiar voice—Seokmin’s voice—wafting toward you from the entrance of the garden. You barely made out the words, some easy greeting exchanged with Minghao as the two approached. The cadence of his voice was softer now, more mature perhaps, but unmistakably his. In an instant, the fragile calm you’d managed to summon evaporated, replaced by a panicked urgency to flee.

You turned on your heel, lifting your skirts as you hurried toward a narrow, shaded path, heart pounding as if you were a trespasser in your own sanctuary. You slipped behind the thick ivy-covered trellis, your fingers clutching the delicate lace of your gloves as you pressed your back against the rough wood. There, hidden from sight, you held your breath, willing your heart to quiet, afraid he might hear it even from a distance.

He paused at the garden’s entrance, his voice carrying lightly on the breeze, mingling with the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves. It was a voice you had known too well, one that had once woven a thousand dreams in these very gardens. But now, standing there alone and concealed, all you could feel was the sharp edge of those dreams turned to dust.

You dared not look, dared not even breathe until his voice faded and the crunch of gravel beneath his feet grew distant. Only then did you step out from your hiding place, the scene around you as unchanged and pristine as ever. But it felt different, achingly empty. He was gone, and so, you realized, was something inside you.

Your shoulders slumped as you turned away from the gardens, swallowing against the emotion lodged in your throat. You would not come here again—at least, not alone.

That first year passed slowly, the memory of him shadowing you at every event, every garden, every dance, leaving you both haunted and empty.

The Second Year: Autumn Age 20

As autumn arrived, the weight of that lost season faded slightly, turning to something colder, something sharper. You found yourself no longer seeking him out at every ball. Instead, you steeled yourself, donning an unapproachable mask that suited you better with each passing day. Your brother had chosen to spend the season traveling, claiming that the sea salt of Grecian air was calling him. The absence of his protection meant that you had to sail the rough shores of that season alone – Minghao’s letters were frequent and welcomed, always ready to provide words of assurance from thousands of miles away. 

Your second season was to be markedly different—by your design and no one else’s. The naive enthusiasm of your first season had faded, replaced by a wariness that had hardened around you like a shell. Suitors still called upon you, though they were fewer and far between, and the gentlemen of impeccable standing, those your mother deemed suitable, grew distant with each passing event. They would approach with polite intentions, murmuring some pleasantry or another, only to bow and make haste to another part of the room where more receptive young ladies waited. 

Yet, for all the polite avoidance and empty conversation, there was Lord Yoon Jeonghan, the Viscount of Hastings. He was different—not at all the cold and detached nobleman that society often produced, nor the vapid fop more concerned with his cufflinks than his conversation. He was witty, charming even, and his remarks would often spark a laugh that you could scarcely suppress. A flicker of intrigue would alight in his eyes every time you spoke, as if you were unraveling a particularly delightful mystery, and for those brief moments, he made you almost forget.

Almost.

You felt his gaze often, lingering in the spaces between words, and sometimes, if you were honest with yourself, it was almost enough to ease the ache that had taken root in your chest. There was a certain warmth to his presence, a lightheartedness that let you slip free from the burdensome weight of the past. Your mother, ever vigilant, noticed his interest immediately. She seized upon his attentions with thinly veiled glee, her gaze often flickering between the two of you at gatherings, assessing, calculating. She would arrange you beside him at dinners, leave you in his company at the slightest opportunity, her encouragement subtle yet unmistakable.

Jeonghan would lean in close, his words laced with humor, often turning some mundane observation into something absurdly funny. And for a fleeting second, the laughter would come easily, a balm to the bruised and hidden parts of yourself. You allowed yourself to think, Maybe this could work.

But the quiet, hollow ache lingered, a constant reminder of the ghost you could not quite shake. And that ghost was Seokmin.

Seokmin, who watched from across the room, his gaze burning, perceptive as ever. He was polite, distant even, but his presence was always there, like the flicker of candlelight that neither dimmed nor died. You could feel it most keenly when you danced with other men, swirling across the floor to the strains of violins and cellos. Once, as you stepped onto the ballroom floor with Jeonghan, you felt Seokmin’s gaze settle on you from across the room. The intensity of it was enough to make your skin prickle, and suddenly you were painfully aware of every step, every turn.

The first misstep was subtle—a slight stumble over the Viscount’s foot. But as you met Seokmin’s eyes, his brow lifted ever so slightly, a smirk hovering just on the edge of his mouth. That subtle, amused expression set your pulse racing in a way you would never confess. And in your distracted state, you stumbled again, this time nearly losing your balance. Jeonghan chuckled, mistaking your lapse for some charming display of nervousness, too oblivious to realize the true reason for your faltering steps.

Seokmin’s gaze, however, saw straight through you. His smirk was knowing, almost taunting, as though he could see past every mask, every effort you’d put into your newfound resolve. It was maddening—the way he could still get under your skin, the way he seemed to enjoy watching you unravel, even if only for a second. The lingering effects of that look stayed with you long after the music ended, clinging to you like perfume.

And so, you spent the season caught between two worlds. Lord Yoon, with his charm and his lightheartedness, who could ease the bitterness that lay thick upon your heart if only for a while. And Seokmin, a relentless presence, haunting you from across every ballroom and garden, his gaze a tether you could never quite sever. It was a delicate dance, one you performed night after night, hoping, in vain, that one day you would not feel his eyes on you at all.

The afternoon sun angled low over the estate, bathing the drawing room in a cool October light that poured through the high windows, softening the sharp edges of the day. Minghao had just returned from his travels and had brought back a novel he thought you would enjoy—Jane Eyre, by a Miss Brontë. The air was thick with the quiet thrill of this gift, the promise of evenings spent lost in its pages, and you had just begun to express your excitement when Minghao, with his usual calm, announced that Seokmin had accompanied him.

You schooled your face to remain pleasant, though your pulse quickened at the mention of his name. And indeed, there he stood by the door, his posture polite yet tense, hands clasped behind his back, and eyes dark with some unreadable emotion. He offered a slight bow, his gaze fixed on you even as you looked firmly at your brother.

"Did you know," Minghao began, oblivious to the tension in the room as he handed you the book, "that the author published it under a man’s name? Some say it’s because she thought her work would be dismissed otherwise."

You managed a small smile, allowing yourself the momentary reprieve of this topic. “Thank you, Minghao,” you replied, fingers grazing the embossed cover. “I’ll cherish it. It sounds wonderful.”

Across the room, Seokmin shifted, clearing his throat. "Do you find time to read often these days?" His voice was tentative, a hint of hope or maybe familiarity clinging to the question, as if reaching for a bridge long burned.

Your reply was smooth and immediate, though you kept your gaze firmly on Minghao, as if Seokmin had merely been a ghost in the room. "I make time, yes. It’s quite necessary, given the, ah… limited options for conversation."

A faint hint of color rose to Seokmin’s cheeks, but he quickly smothered whatever response he had been about to make. Minghao glanced between you, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pieced together the simmering tension, the edges of a puzzle he hadn’t been around to see formed.

There was a brief pause, heavy as stones, before Seokmin tried again. "Do you still ride out to the southern fields? I remember…" He hesitated, his words trailing off before he finished. “The views from the hilltops there were always lovely in the fall.”

It was a simple question, a nod to a pastime you had once enjoyed, but the memories it evoked—the two of you racing across the meadows, laughing breathlessly under the open sky, sharing quiet moments on that hilltop he spoke of—all felt too sharp, too close. You tightened your grip on the book, the rough binding grounding you in the present.

"Occasionally," you murmured, as if speaking to no one in particular. Your tone was clipped, devoid of warmth, and you let the silence stretch, long enough for the weight of his words to fade. After a beat, you forced yourself to stand, smoothing the fabric of your dress as you prepared to excuse yourself. “Please, if you’ll excuse me.”

Seokmin’s face barely shifted, yet the flicker of disappointment that crossed his features was unmistakable. "Wait, please—" he began, his hand reaching out as if to stop you. “I… wanted to know if you might—”

You looked over at Minghao, not giving Seokmin the satisfaction of meeting his gaze. “Thank you for the book, brother,” you said softly. “I’ll look forward to discussing it with you when I’ve read it.” And with that, you turned, leaving the drawing room before Seokmin could finish his thought.

You could feel his eyes on your back, a silent, unyielding weight as you retreated, but you pushed down the churning emotions in your chest.

Later, your mother found you in the library, a faintly exasperated look in her eye. "What has possessed you to act so sharply towards Lord Lee? He is a friend of your brother’s, and a gentleman. I hardly think it was necessary to snub him quite so… thoroughly."

"I simply wasn’t inclined to entertain him," you replied, not lifting your gaze from the book you had barely managed to focus on since leaving the drawing room. “It was not my intention to be rude, Mother.”

She pursed her lips, eyes narrowing. “He asked after you very kindly. And if you cannot manage the simple courtesy of conversation, well…” Her sigh was laden with disappointment, tinged with the faintest trace of resignation. “It does make things rather difficult for you, don’t you think?”

You didn’t respond, clamping your lips shut and focusing on the words of Jane Eyre as if they might hold an escape. What could you say? That politeness was a currency you could not afford to spend on him? That every pleasantry only made the knife in your back twist a little deeper?

There was nothing to be done, and so you said nothing at all. The book lay heavy in your lap, unread, as your mother’s gaze lingered a moment longer, her silence more cutting than words.

The Third Year: Winter Age 21

The winter air nipped at every inch of bare skin as you stepped out of the carriage and into the towering, grand hall where that night’s ball was being held. Snow blanketed the world outside, a thick layer that muffled everything it touched, leaving only the crunch of footsteps and the soft murmur of the wind. The frost bit through your gloves, but it was nothing compared to the cold lodged deep within your chest. You drew yourself up and stepped into the hall, a practiced smile on your face as you greeted the hosts and exchanged pleasantries.

Inside, the ball was already in full swing. Laughter and music filled the air, weaving an intoxicating tapestry of distraction. You navigated through clusters of guests with practiced ease, inclining your head and making idle conversation that barely skimmed the surface. You had come to know the routines well, slipping into this role as though it were armor: a mask of charm, a shield of grace. It kept you safe, even as it kept others at arm’s length.

But then, just as you were making your way toward a friend by the window, you spotted him—Seokmin, across the room. He was surrounded by a small group of gentlemen, his laughter carrying over the din as he shared some amusing story. His cheeks were flushed from the warmth, eyes crinkling at the corners in that way you’d once adored. For a moment, a whisper of memory drifted to you unbidden—those nights by the garden, his laughter mingling with the soft hum of summer crickets, a harmony you’d taken for granted. The sight of him now, seemingly unaffected by the hollow ache that had lodged itself so firmly within you, twisted something in your chest.

As though he could feel your gaze, his eyes turned toward you, catching you unprepared. His laughter faded, and for a moment, the room seemed to still. There was something in his gaze—a flicker of recognition, regret, perhaps. Or something more resigned, an acceptance of the chasm that had grown between you. He made no move toward you; there was only a slight nod, a silent acknowledgement of… something. You couldn’t name it, and you didn’t want to try.

It was his easy return to conversation that undid you. The way he turned back to his companions, laughing once more, as if nothing had changed, as if the years you’d spent trying to bury the echoes of that ball could be erased so simply. The laughter that once filled you with warmth now rang hollow in your ears, a reminder of all that was lost and all that could never be reclaimed.

The walls of the ballroom began to feel oppressive, the cloying warmth of bodies and perfume suffocating. You pressed a gloved hand to your temple, feigning discomfort as you turned to your nearest acquaintance. “I’m afraid I’m not feeling well,” you murmured, a faint tremor in your voice that you hoped was undetectable.

“Oh, my dear, are you all right? You do look rather pale,” she said with concern, her eyes scanning your face. “Perhaps some fresh air?”

“Yes,” you managed, barely holding together the thin fabric of your composure. “Yes, that may be best.”

With a polite smile and promises to catch up at the next event, you drifted toward the doorway, slipping through the crowd as unobtrusively as you could. The cold air in the entry hall was a shock, but you welcomed it, letting it bite into your cheeks and ground you.

Soon enough, you found yourself in your room, finally alone. The silent darkness enveloped you, and for the first time that night, you let yourself drop the mask. You sank into the nearest armchair, clutching the armrests as if they could anchor you. Outside, snowflakes drifted lazily past the window, catching the moonlight like shards of glass. There was no warmth, no comfort in the scene, only the lingering shadows of a memory that refused to fade.

You had no energy to reach for a book, nor did you bother lighting the fireplace. Instead, you sat, letting the silence swell around you, filling the empty spaces that had been left in Seokmin’s wake. Your gaze lingered on the frost etching delicate patterns across the glass, and for a moment, you wondered if he was still at the ball, still laughing, still untouched by the winter that had settled so deep within you.

It felt almost foolish to mourn something you had lost so long ago, but as the hours slipped by, you couldn’t bring yourself to shake the feeling.

The bitterness reached new heights that year. Your relationship with Minghao, however, began to shift. He sensed your resolve, noticed the way you shrank from any mention of Seokmin, and quietly took up the role of your champion. He became your shield at social gatherings, a polite, steadfast presence whenever your mother hinted at your dwindling prospects or a suitor left you standing alone. Your mother’s eyes, ever watchful, lingered upon you with a barely hidden concern, her gaze darting to the eligible gentlemen nearby and then to you with that familiar, expectant look.

“You know,” she began in a low voice, “if you were only a touch more… approachable, it might encourage the young men here to consider you more seriously.”

You forced a small smile, the words heavy and stale from years of repetition. “I’ll do my best, Mama.”

But before she could respond, a familiar voice joined the conversation.

“Ah, I see my sister is charming everyone tonight,” Minghao remarked smoothly as he appeared beside you, offering a short bow to your mother. “May I borrow her for a moment?”

Your mother’s gaze softened—she had never worried over Minghao as she did with you, and his title afforded him some measure of leniency that you could never claim. She nodded, though her expression remained faintly expectant as she watched you both step away.

Minghao led you toward the edge of the ballroom, his arm steady around yours as you wove through the crowd. Once there, he turned to you with a look that spoke of both amusement and concern.

“You looked ready to flee,” he observed, a trace of a smile in his eyes. “Would you like a few minutes’ reprieve?”

You sighed, grateful for his intervention. “I was beginning to feel like a prized cow at market,” you replied, tone dry. “Thank you for sparing me.”

He chuckled softly, but his expression grew more serious as he studied you. “I noticed Mother watching you rather closely. And I know her remarks can be… persistent.”

“Persistent is a kind way of putting it,” you replied, your voice just above a whisper. “She insists that my chances dwindle each season, that—” You cut yourself off, pressing your lips together to hold back the frustration that threatened to spill over.

Minghao’s gaze softened, and he sighed, reaching out to adjust the lace of your cuff in a gentle, brotherly gesture. “You’ve nothing to prove to her or to anyone else here,” he said quietly. “If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll be here to see you through the night.”

Despite the stifling heat of the ballroom, his presence felt like a breath of fresh air—a lifeline against the unrelenting pressure of society and its expectations.

“And if any gentleman dares to turn his back on you tonight,” he added, his voice adopting a playful lilt, “I shall personally see to it that he regrets it.”

The corners of your mouth lifted into a small, appreciative smile. Minghao’s protectiveness was a comfort you rarely admitted to needing, but tonight, you couldn’t help feeling grateful that he saw past your composed exterior to the worry lingering beneath.

The music shifted to a slower waltz, and he extended his hand with a knowing smile. “Shall we dance, sister? A waltz is far more agreeable than enduring Mother’s lectures, I assure you.”

You accepted his hand, letting him lead you to the center of the room. As you twirled together, the swirling silks and laughter around you faded into the background, leaving only the familiar warmth of his presence.

After a moment, he leaned in, his voice low enough for only you to hear. “And for what it’s worth,” he murmured, “you have no need of any of these foppish gentlemen. They should consider themselves lucky if they could win even a passing glance from you.”

The sincerity in his words soothed you, and for a brief moment, the ballroom was no longer a daunting place, nor its occupants a source of anxiety. Minghao’s quiet strength steadied you, his steadfast support as dependable as the rhythm of the waltz beneath your feet.

Yet, even with Minghao’s silent support, Seokmin’s laughter ringing through the ballroom haunted you, echoing a reminder of what you once had and what you had lost.

Across the room, your gaze flickered to a familiar figure, the Lord Viscount Yoon, the lightness of his presence breaking through your somber thoughts. He had been different—his clever banter had a way of making even the most mundane topics feel lively and engaging. When he spoke, it was as if he was inviting you into an exclusive circle of shared secrets and laughter, making you momentarily forget the weight of expectations pressing down on you. 

Even now, he stood amidst a group of gentlemen, engaging in light banter that sent ripples of laughter through the crowd. A flicker of intrigue would alight in his eyes every time he caught your gaze, but he looked away just as quickly, as if your newfound prickly attitude was enough to scare him away. 

Over time, your disinterest had made him less willing to approach you. Though he had shown interest the previous year, the glow in his eyes now held a tinge of uncertainty, as if he had begun to doubt whether your heart remained open to him. Your mother, ever vigilant, noticed his hesitance, her gaze flickering between the two of you at gatherings, assessing, calculating.

“Perhaps if I were a bit more approachable,” you murmured to Minghao, who nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting toward Jeonghan.

“Sometimes, it takes more than just approachability,” he replied quietly. “He is a good man, but the more you withdraw, the more he may think he should step back.”

You let the thought linger in your mind, but it was soon drowned out by the sight of Seokmin across the room, leaning in to laugh politely with another woman, a vision of laughter and ease that made your heart twist painfully. The vibrant atmosphere of the ball blurred around you, filled with the laughter of others while your own heart sank, caught between the past and the possibility of a future—one you feared might never be yours again.

The Fourth Year: Spring Age 22

Spring came late that year, but the blossoms in the garden were the most vibrant you had ever seen. Tulips, bright and full of life, lined the path outside your drawing room window. Their sight brought an unwelcome reminder of Seokmin, as if they were mocking the pain that had dulled over the years but never truly healed.

One fateful morning, Seokmin arrived at the estate again, waiting for Minghao in the drawing room. You entered the room unaware of his presence, intending to retrieve a letter you had left on the table. The shock of finding him there, standing alone, was enough to root you to the spot.

He looked at you, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and longing. “How have you been?” he asked, breaking the silence, his tone formal but softened by something more vulnerable.

“I try to stay busy,” you replied, refusing to meet his gaze, your own fixed on the tulips outside the window, as if they alone could fortify your resolve. The way they leaned toward the glass, reaching out, seemed a cruel reminder of what you could never reach. You clung to your indifference, fearing that one look at him would undo you.

“Ah,” he replied, his voice barely a murmur. “I see.”

The silence was unbearable, stretching long and wide between you, filled with all the words you had left unsaid. For the first time, you could sense his unease, as though he, too, felt the weight of everything that had come between you. You imagined he might say more, but instead, he fell silent, unwilling or unable to breach the chasm.

When Minghao finally entered the room, his gaze shifted from Seokmin to you, sensing the tension immediately. He offered a warm, lighthearted greeting that brought some relief, yet you felt exposed, as though Seokmin could still see every last flicker of pain beneath your carefully controlled exterior. Minghao’s easy conversation filled the room, and you seized on it as a lifeline, grateful that the moment had passed.

But as you left the drawing room, something inside you felt irrevocably changed. The wound you thought had healed now ached anew, as raw and fresh as ever.

Age 22

The season has turned again, and as you step into the grand ballroom, you are met with a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds that fill the air with an electric energy. The chandelier overhead sparkles like a constellation of stars, its crystal droplets refracting the warm glow of candlelight that dances across the room. The polished wooden floors gleam underfoot, reflecting the vivid hues of the gowns that swirl around you like petals caught in a gentle breeze.

After five seasons on the market, the whispers of society have cast you in the role of a spinster. No longer the young debutante brimming with promise, you now find yourself almost a chaperone to the eager, wide-eyed debutantes navigating their first seasons. Your newest charge, Sohee, is a whirlwind of youthful exuberance, her bright pink dress adorned with intricate floral appliqués that seem to bloom against her pale skin. The bodice sparkles with tiny beads, catching the light as she twirls, her laughter ringing like bells. You can see the nervous energy in her movements, the way her hands flutter as she points out various gentlemen across the ballroom.

“Oh, look at Lord Lee—what a fine dancer!” she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement as she gazes at Seokmin. His deep navy jacket contrasts sharply with the pristine white of his shirt, and the cravat around his neck is tied with an effortless elegance that only enhances his charm. The way he carries himself, relaxed and confident, seems to draw the attention of everyone around him.

You try to mask the bitterness rising within you as you observe him. Seokmin entertains Sohee’s infatuated chatter with polite smiles, his eyes sparkling with amusement. For a fleeting moment, you are grateful that she has captured his attention, but then the weight of your own feelings crashes over you like a cold wave. The ache in your chest deepens as memories flood your mind—long summers spent chasing fireflies, laughter echoing through the fields as he playfully pursued you with a worm on a stick, or the way he would reward your sharp tongue with that unguarded, carefree laughter.

As if drawn by some invisible thread, Seokmin’s gaze suddenly shifts, catching yours from across the room. Your heart leaps into your throat, a jolt of surprise and embarrassment coursing through you. Mortified that he has noticed your lingering stare, you quickly avert your eyes, but the warmth of your cheeks betrays you. You want to disappear into the vibrant crowd, to escape the intensity of your emotions that seem to swell with every passing second. Yet, even as you force yourself to engage with Sohee’s exuberant chatter, you can feel the weight of Seokmin’s gaze resting on you, a silent reminder of everything you’ve lost and the connection you once shared.

It is a cruel twist of fate, standing on the sidelines while young girls like Sohee chase the dreams you once held so dear. You find yourself in this role, a guide for the naive and hopeful, all the while wishing that you could feel that same thrill of possibility. The grand ballroom, alive with laughter and music, feels both enchanting and suffocating, each dance a reminder of the joys that have slipped through your fingers.

As the music swells and couples begin to sway across the polished floor, you catch glimpses of Sohee and Seokmin amidst the swirling gowns and dapper jackets. They move with an innocent delight that contrasts starkly with the weight of your unspoken feelings. Sohee beams up at him, her laughter bright and infectious, and for a moment, the sight softens the edges of your heartache.

Just then, you feel a presence beside you, and when you turn, you find Viscount Yoon Jeonghan standing there, a knowing smile dancing on his lips. His appearance is as striking as ever; his tailored coat hugs his frame perfectly, and the delicate embroidery along the cuffs catches the light, giving him an almost ethereal glow. His hair falls elegantly around his face, framing those sharp features that always seem to hold a hint of mischief.

“They make quite a pair, do they not?” he murmurs, his voice smooth and warm as he gestures subtly toward the young couple. His eyes sparkle with a mix of humor and curiosity, and for a moment, you’re reminded of the lighthearted conversations you once shared, the way he could lift your spirits without even trying.

You glance back at Sohee and Seokmin, your heart twisting at the sight of them. “It seems so,” you reply, your tone nonchalant, though the bitterness seeps through. “She is quite taken with him.”

Jeonghan’s gaze lingers on the two, but then shifts back to you, an amused glimmer in his eyes. “And yet, I believe it’s Seokmin’s charm that keeps her so enchanted. He has a way of making everyone feel special, does he not?” His words are light, but there’s an underlying sincerity that pulls you in.

“Especially the younger ones,” you add, your voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm. You cross your arms, an instinctive barrier against the swell of emotions threatening to break free. Jeonghan tilts his head, studying you with an intensity that makes you self-conscious.

“Ah, but don’t let that dampen your spirits,” he says, a teasing lilt to his voice. “I suspect that there’s still magic left in your own waltz.”

You scoff softly, trying to hide the warmth spreading across your cheeks. “I’ve had my dance, my Lord. It’s only right that I help guide the next generation.”

He nods, as if he understands more than you’ve revealed. “But it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little bit of the spotlight yourself, does it?” His gaze holds yours for a moment longer, an invitation hanging in the air between you.

Taking a deep breath, you accept his invitation with a gentle nod. Jeonghan extends his hand, and with a sense of determination, you place yours in his. The moment you step onto the dance floor, a familiar spark ignites between you. As you move, you find the rhythm of the waltz is an intoxicating escape from the weight of the evening.

His touch is confident yet gentle, guiding you with an ease that sends warmth through your veins. You laugh softly at his playful quips, the way he effortlessly spins you and twirls you beneath the glimmering chandelier. The surrounding laughter and chatter fade into a soft background hum as the two of you lose yourselves in the moment.

But just as you begin to forget the lingering ache in your heart, a commotion draws your attention away. You glance over to find Sohee in an animated conversation with Seokmin, her eyes wide with excitement. She appears to be swooning—her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink as she clutches her fan, fluttering it in the air as if to cool herself.

And then it happens. As the waltz concludes and the music reaches its crescendo, Seokmin leans down to retrieve Sohee's fan, which had slipped from her grasp in her flurry of emotion. The way he effortlessly picks it up and hands it back to her is undeniably charming. She gazes up at him with unrestrained adoration, and in that moment, it’s as if the entire ballroom falls silent, the air thick with their connection.

Your heart sinks, the joyous moment turning into a bitter reminder of your own unfulfilled longing. You feel the weight of your own feelings crashing down, suffocating the lightness of the dance you just shared with Jeonghan. The innocence of Sohee’s crush, her delight at Seokmin’s attention, stabs at something deep within you, twisting the knife of your heartache just a little deeper.

“Lord Lee is such a gentleman,” Sohee breathes, her eyes sparkling with admiration. You try to smile, but the corners of your mouth feel heavy, the happiness you should feel for her overshadowed by the ache in your chest.

“Quite the pair, indeed,” Jeonghan murmurs beside you, his tone shifting slightly. You glance up at him, but the amusement in his eyes has dimmed, replaced with a knowing sympathy that only intensifies your discomfort.

“I should—” you start, desperate to escape the scene unfolding before you, but Jeonghan catches your gaze, his expression serious yet gentle.

“Are you alright?” he asks quietly, concern lacing his voice.

You swallow hard, nodding even though you can feel the tears threatening to brim. “Yes, of course. It’s just… a reminder of what I’ve lost.”

Jeonghan’s eyes soften, understanding radiating from him. “Then let’s step outside for a moment, shall we? A breath of fresh air might do you good.”

You nod again, grateful for his presence, and together you slip away from the dancing couples, leaving behind the laughter and music, hoping the cool night air will ease the weight on your heart. As you step outside, the crisp night air envelops you like a silken shawl, drawing you away from the swirling gaiety of the ballroom. The coolness is a welcome reprieve from the warmth of bodies and laughter, and you relish the soft caress of the breeze against your skin, bringing with it a gentle rustling of leaves that whispers secrets from the garden. The scent of blooming jasmine and sweet honeysuckle mingles in the air, heady and intoxicating, wrapping around you like a lover’s embrace.

You move to the stone balcony, where the moon hangs low in the sky, its silvery glow spilling over the manicured gardens below, illuminating the delicate petals of the flowers that sway gently in the evening light. The grass is cool beneath your feet, a delightful contrast to the warmth of your silk gown, and you can feel the slight dampness of dew beginning to settle on the earth, a reminder of the approaching night.

Fidgeting with the lace hem of your gown, you feel the fabric whisper against your ankles, the soft silk cool to the touch. Your heart races as you catch sight of Jeonghan stepping out to join you, his tall frame silhouetted against the glow of the moonlight. He regards you with an intensity that sends a shiver down your spine.

“You love him,” he states matter-of-factly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

“I beg your pardon?” You turn to him, surprise etched across your features. Your fingers tighten around the delicate lace, twisting it nervously as if it could shield you from his piercing gaze.

“It is nothing to shy away from,” he continues, his tone surprisingly earnest. “I have observed the two of you for years, engaging in this delightful dance around each other. You love him. That is a fact. Do not shy away from it—love is a beautiful thing, even if it is tinged with loss.”

You force a laugh, the sound almost bitter. “You sound as though you speak from experience.”

“And if I am?” Jeonghan counters, his brow arching slightly, inviting you to delve deeper into the conversation.

“Why, then,” you reply, your heart racing with a mixture of intrigue and dread, “it cannot be that only my secrets are shared tonight.”

“Lady Choi,” he says, the shift in his tone unmistakable, as though he is unearthing a long-buried truth.

“The general’s wife?” you ask, the name escaping your lips with an air of disbelief.

His eyes darken, and for a moment, the lightness of the evening is overshadowed by the weight of his admission. “She was mine first,” he admits, his voice heavy with unspoken emotion. “But her father—he was a cruel man—wished to marry her off before I ever had the chance to court her properly, as adults.”

You draw a sharp breath, the air suddenly feeling thick and heavy around you. “Lord Yoon, it is a sin to desire another man’s wife,” you say softly, your fingers trembling slightly as they continue to play with the delicate fabric of your gown.

“And it is a sin to pine after what cannot be yours,” he replies, a note of melancholy creeping into his voice. “It seems we are both trapped in a most unfortunate dilemma, Miss Xu.”

You hesitate, the truth of his words resonating within you like the toll of a distant bell. You find yourself gazing at the garden below, the moonlight casting long shadows across the path. “I… suppose.”

His expression softens, the tension between you easing slightly as he steps closer, the distance shrinking as if the night conspires to bring you together. “I have an idea, if you are amenable to it,” he proposes, his voice low and conspiratorial.

You raise an eyebrow, curiosity piquing despite the tumult of your thoughts. “I suppose I have no choice but to hear it.”

“Let us… have an arrangement of sorts.”

Your mind races, the absurdity of the suggestion both ludicrous and strangely enticing. “An… arrangement?” you repeat, incredulous, a small smile tugging at your lips.

“A loveless marriage is better than none at all,” he declares, his eyes glinting with a mixture of seriousness and mischief.

You laugh, unable to contain yourself. “You jest. Have you indulged in more champagne than you can manage?”

“I assure you, I am as clear-headed as the sky on a summer’s day,” he insists, maintaining eye contact with a steady gaze that makes your heart flutter. “We are friends, are we not?”

“Friends? My lord, we have danced a few times, to my mother’s delight,” you reply, a teasing lilt in your voice, though your heart feels heavier with the weight of his words.

He feigns a look of mock hurt, placing a hand theatrically over his heart. “You wound me! We have enjoyed such spirited conversations! I do consider you a friend. And a marriage with a friend—a viscount at that—is nothing to scoff at. Have you given no thought to your future? What happens when your dear brother finds a wife and you are no longer his primary concern?”

The reality of his words settles over you, sending a shiver down your spine. You search the moonlit path, pondering the path that lies ahead. “Just… think about it,” he presses, his voice earnest, the night seemingly holding its breath.

The silence stretches between you, the world around you fading as you consider the proposal. You raise your gaze to his, a flurry of emotions swirling in your heart.

But as the moment hangs in the air, he steps back, creating a chasm of space between you once more. The hope in his eyes flickers like the stars above, illuminating the path of unspoken possibilities.

With a lingering glance, Jeonghan turns to leave, the quiet night reclaiming its stillness. Alone now, you stand beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, a companion that seems to mock your predicament, its light dancing across your skin like a playful breeze. The weight of the evening settles around you, the possibilities of what could have been lingering like a sweet perfume in the air. The garden around you, fragrant and alive, seems to echo your turmoil, the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of crickets a reminder that you are not as alone as you feel—but still, the loneliness wraps around you like a heavy cloak, suffocating and inescapable.

The Queen’s Garden is even more stunning at twilight, an exquisite tapestry of flora bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun. Lanterns hang from the branches of ancient trees, casting a warm glow that mingles with the fading daylight, creating a magical ambiance that enchants every guest present. Lush greenery and blooming flowers adorn the paths, their fragrant scents—jasmine, roses, and honeysuckle—drifting through the air like a sweet serenade.

As you weave your way through the throngs of elegantly dressed nobles, the cool evening breeze brushes against your skin, a refreshing contrast to the warmth radiating from the lively crowd. The sounds of laughter and spirited conversation wrap around you, punctuated by the delicate notes of a string quartet nestled among the trees, their melodies intertwining with the soft rustle of leaves overhead.

Amidst the gaiety, you scan the faces around you, searching for Sohee. Her absence hangs like a whisper, pulling at your awareness.

Just then, your gaze lands on Lord Yoon Jeonghan, standing across the garden. His tall frame commands attention, and as you meet his eyes, he offers you a teasing wink, a smirk dancing on his lips. He raises his glass in a casual salute, a playful reminder of the “arrangement” he proposed only weeks prior.

But as you turn to continue your search, you hear a soft rustle behind the curtains of the powder room. A frown creases your brow, and with a sense of trepidation, you pull the curtains aside.

What you find steals the breath from your lungs: Sohee, her dress slightly askew, caught in an intimate embrace with Seokmin, hidden from view. Time seems to freeze as you process the scene before you, the vibrant colors of the garden fading into a blur.

They don’t notice your entrance, the warmth of their laughter drifting toward you, blissfully unaware of the precariousness of their moment. A wave of urgency washes over you; you step back, the laughter and music of the ball dimming behind you, overwhelmed by the tension in the air.

The cool mask of indifference you wear feels like a fragile façade, barely holding up against the storm of emotions roiling within you. Every heartbeat thunders in your ears, a rhythmic reminder of the tension crackling in the air. You force yourself to breathe slowly, deliberately, the sweet scent of blooming flowers mingling with the sharp tang of night air filling your lungs.

You clear your throat, breaking the stillness that envelops the hidden corner where Sohee and Seokmin stand. Your posture is straight, your chin lifted, but your palms feel clammy against the lace of your gown.

“Sohee,” you say, your voice steady and cool, as though dipped in ice, “you should return to your Mama. If anyone else had seen you like this, it would ruin you.” The words hang in the air, each syllable heavy with consequence. You hold her gaze, your eyes fierce, willing her to understand the gravity of the situation.

Sohee’s eyes widen, vulnerability flickering across her face like candlelight. The flush staining her cheeks deepens as she processes your words, a mixture of mortification and gratitude washing over her. She nods, biting her lip, and you watch as she slips past you, shoulders squared despite the embarrassment, grateful for your discretion.

Once she disappears back into the sea of guests, the atmosphere shifts. It’s just you and Seokmin now, the weight of the moment pressing down like a thick fog, the sounds of the ballroom fading into a dull roar. For the first time in years, you stand alone with him, the years of silence and distance palpable between you.

You turn to leave, the flutter of your gown trailing behind you, but his voice stops you, soft and tentative, cutting through the tension like a knife. “Please, don’t go.”

You whirl around, disbelief etched across your features. “Why on earth? What are you doing here?” Your heart pounds, and your fists clench at your sides, the intensity of the moment clawing at your composure.

He takes a step closer, the distance between you shrinking, but the space feels charged with electricity. The use of that name—“tulip”—falls from his lips like a spark igniting a fire inside you. Anger bubbles to the surface, your fingers curling into fists. “You have no right to call me that anymore.”

His expression shifts, desperation creeping into his tone as he opens his palms, a gesture of vulnerability. “It’s been four years, and you still won’t give me the chance to explain myself.”

Your chest tightens at the memories, sharp and unyielding, a storm of emotions swirling within you. “So was it because Minghao told you to?”

His gaze darkens, the flicker of regret visible in his eyes. “Yes, but you need to—”

“Good evening, Seokmin.” The words slip from your mouth like ice, cold and final. You turn to leave, your back straight but your heart racing, and he reaches for you, fingers brushing against your arm like a whisper.

You jerk away, anger and hurt surging through you, the fabric of your dress catching in the air as you turn. “Please, stay,” he begs, his voice thick with emotion, almost desperate. “Stay and let me explain—”

You shake your head slowly, each word heavy with the weight of unspoken history. “You lost the right to that four years ago.” Your voice softens, but the resolve behind it remains, a quiet storm ready to break. In a flurry of lace and silk, you turn on your heel, the sound of your footsteps muffled by the thick grass as you leave him standing there, a distant silhouette against the vibrant backdrop of the garden.

The night air feels cooler as you weave through the crowd, your heart pounding in your chest like a war drum. You seek solace in the bustling ballroom, where laughter and music swirl around you, a cacophony that drowns out the echo of your heartache. The warmth of the candles flickers against your skin, the soft glow momentarily comforting amidst the chaos.

The crowd shifts around you, a blur of color and laughter, but everything feels muted—distant—as you navigate back toward the main hall. Your heart still pounds, each beat a reminder of the encounter that lingers, bitter as smoke. And then, across the room, a familiar pair of eyes finds yours: Jeonghan. His gaze is intent, assessing, and as he raises his glass to you with an amused smirk, his words from weeks before echo in your mind: “It is a sin to pine after what cannot be yours.”

The decision is instant, unbidden, like the snap of a thread pulled too tight. Steeling yourself, you weave through the crowd toward him, your mind clearing with each step. Jeonghan turns slightly as you approach, his attention shifting from the men he’d been conversing with. You stop just a breath away, feeling the weight of the moment settle around you, even as laughter and chatter fill the air.

“My lord,” you say, voice steady as a blade.

He raises an eyebrow, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, Miss Xu?” His eyes gleam in the low light, the gold of the candle flames reflecting in them. “I must say, you look rather lovely in this garden.”

“Yes.” The word is simple, yet it feels like a vow, a quiet certainty.

His smile falters for just a second, replaced by a glimmer of surprise in his eyes before he quickly recovers. He leans in slightly, his voice softened but no less intent.

“Yes?”

“Yes,” you reply, your voice calm but resolute. “I shall marry you.”

Jeonghan’s expression settles into something unreadable, a flicker of surprise replaced by the slightest tilt of a smile. He inclines his head, the elegant motion drawing him closer, as though sealing the moment between you.

“A wise decision, Miss Xu,” he murmurs, his gaze never leaving yours. The sounds of the garden around you blur into silence, the perfume of roses and night-blooming jasmine heavy on the air, and though the world presses on with its merriment, this quiet promise, made in the hush of the queen’s garden, feels irrevocable.

Tagging: @kibs-and-bits@moondustmemories@shinwonderful@ivehypnosis@gwend0lyne@thestoryofana13@mellowamour@blissedjoon@begentlewithme-please @xabsolutelynothingx @reiofsuns2001 @mngyulvrs @mooniewrld @archivistworld @lexyraeworld @ateez-atiny380 @walkinganxiety01 @lovecleastrange @uriguyeok @nenojaems @carefully325 @meowmeowminnie @ts19009 @flickhurstyles

[gayspock]

ok ep 2. i looked into it more and im confused cuz again like... i swear ive seen no advertising for any of this? it looks like it dropped in aus in NOVEMBER. now its dropped in the uk all in one go.... this past week?? and it apparently drops in the us all in one next month. so im like confused as fuck as to why they would release something like that

one thing i will say is theyre insanely good with the casting still arent they

another thing what was i to say

oh im sorry im watching this and every time i think to myself hmmm i wonder where cosima or sarah or hel- i cut myself off and i think about tatiana maslany in godawful cgi

this kid (jules as the episode title would lead me to believe) is soooo fun i love the hair

WHY THE FUCK IS FELIX HERE

FELIX ARENT YOU MEANT TO BE DEADBY NOW

HOW OLD ARE YOU SIR

HOW OLD IS KIRA

GOOGLE SAYS SHES 47 NOW AND SO FELIX IS LIKE WHAT. GRANDPAAAA GO TO BEDDDDDD

HELP

HWELP

CRAIG CAN YOU JUST BE CHILL FOR FUCKING ONCE AND HELP US TORTURE THIS 16 YEAR OLD

FELIX WHAT IS THIS FUCKING VIBE YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN RIGHT NOW WHATS HAPPENED WHERES YOU GRITTINESS HELP I FEEL LIKE IM GOING INSANE

WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN SHES WORKING AT A SHELTER

I SORT OF DONT AGREE WITH THAT OUTCOME FOR SARAH NOT TO BE A DICKHEAD I feel like its like.... squints.how do i fucking describe this. it does not feel like her to me and it feels likeughghh the word escapes me you know what i mean

can this dialogue be any

felix drag her

YOU TOOK HER TO HOME DEPOT. CLASSIC.

i love how lucy is a cunt. i do like that about her i will admit.

We were made in a printer.

NOW who the fuck is He.

sorry also to backtrack a bit im bewilderedand unsure how i feel about them bringing in the old guard at all because hello like look i said what i said i dont want them to have a show called orphan black echoes with like no reason for it to actually be related to orphan black but also what the fuck

if harry potter is still culturally relevant in 2052 i swear to god

come on charlie girl. its gonna be ok. everyone shoots someone in the head once.

beck from victorious i need you to be all in on this ok

so who the fuck is thissssssssss

SO FUCKING WHAT? SO WHAT? LUCY IS NOT ALLOWED TO KIDNAP KIDS? WHY NOT? LOSERS.

JULESSSSS YOU SLAYEDDD THEREEEE YOU SLAYEDDD I WONT EVEN LIEEEEEEEE HELP TOILET SHANKKK

he is kind of so funny . i love you beck from victorious.

im also ok going back to like this relating to people from before like... this charcterisation os kira feels so odd

"lord this place is like neolution without the tails" wow did you get that guys ! a callback

AND YET SOMEHOW LIKE I THINK THE CLUBS FROM LAST TIME WERE SO MUCH MORE REAL THAN WHATEVER THAT IS

james youre tickling me

CHRIST WHATS GOING ON HERE

SORRY I THINK ITS SO FUCKING CORNY WHEN THEY TRY TO LIKE DO FUTURE THINGS DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN THE FUCKING FULL SIZED MIRROR TIKTOK LIVE IS INSANE.

this fucking acting and general fucking reaction is also crazy to me wes im sorry youre adorable but please

JULES YOUREEEEE SO FUNNYYYYYY

FUCK LUCY CAN WE STAY WITH JULES

okay theres just something so off putting about felxi im like help me what is going on

also i feel like kira is like sending me so much i feel like this happens all the time when kids who initially .... no offence.... lacked a lot of character ... now have to be an adult version cuz what are you going off. i dont know who this woman is but she isnt kira to me because who the fuck was kira in the first place but a kid that said ominous stuff and was a plot device for most of the show

also i think theres again something so insanely off i cant tell what it is. i think its still in that space of being so stupid high budget fo rwhat it is and yet itr feels so weird looking. the whole futuristic thing is strange to look at. like this being orphan black which ootherwise like. sci fi but still very grounded. it feels weird to now go to this

and i feel like i'd have preferred a smaller timejump. if they prove me wrong with that then fine but thus far i dont see the benefit of it being in 2052. i'd have preferred them to go less crazy with the like aesthetics cuz theyre just kinda weird and take away from everything for me.

and again i dont like the general approach to all of this. i think they needed to start slower and build stuff up more over time . everything here with jack for example like... i would have preferred if we sat with lucy and lucy alone and we didnt keep cutting to kira . like let us build this up and have it be one long continuous thing and maybe hold out this reveal a little longer. this feels like its rushing. and again the strongest part of orphan black, to me, before was like the slow build of increasingly complex fucking dire situations and being able to layer that shit

hi lucas

kira being a shit mam is so funny to me

FELIX'S ENTIRE PERFORMANCE STILL FEELS SO FUCKINH INSANE TO ME. cuz i get what youre going for but the delivery is jsut so fucking choked by the actor trying to keep it up. i swear he was not that stilted before even when he WAS putting something on. like is it trying to mask his voice age as well or something?

jules is so much more compelling to me again i think it is cuz her storyline IS the slowburn one here . and also shes got all the things i mentioned kind of lack with Lucy

like sorry i hate it when theyre like "haha. she's so spunky." (the actual chatracters are telling us this to the camera) like ok i get it i literally could have GOTTEN that watching

AND AGAIN WHY IS EVERYONE ... i dont know it feels like the exposition in the dialogue is crazy. like theyre shoehorning stuff in. you dont have to have them say everything so literallly and explicitly . help

KIRA PUT THE CYOKEEE DOWNNNNNNNN

ok im pausing for tonight hang on