#literally how was kim's behavior ''crazy'' in any way. quickly

[jeanstapleton]

bcs fans are like "omg kim wexler is so crazy shes so unhinged crazy insanecore" & they dont even know about her

[iamyoursinblog]

Perfect mistake

Pairing: Kim Yugyeom x Reader

Genre: smut

Word Count:  2.1 k

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LIST

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Pov you

The noise caught your attention while you work in the office. “What the hell?” You walked to the front door while someone continued to enter the wrong code. You opened the door and Yugyeom fell at your feet, giggling. This is something new, you thought.

“Yugyeom” you tried to get his attention. But he seemed to completely ignore your presence. He spun on the floor, taking off his jacket. You covered your mouth so as not to laugh when he successfully coped with the jacket, and climbed towards the bedroom.

“It's hard... How hard ...” he grumbled, continuing to get rid of his clothes, crawling on his elbows into the bedroom.

You should definitely have been angry for being in this state, but he was too cute to be angry with him now. Kim Yugyeom in boxers is sleeping on my floor! Great, you grumbled as he fell asleep on the living room floor next to the couch... for a second your head ached as you imagined what would have happened if he had confused the door not with your apartment. You shook your head, driving away the thought.

"Yugyeom, wake up" you tried to bring him to his senses but it was all to no avail. "Damn, why are you so heavy" you tried to drag him from the living room to the bedroom. "I think I broke my back" you fell exhausted on the floor by the bed, after being able to drag the sleeping Yugyeom onto it. Your whole nightie was practically wet with sweat. You didn't sweat that much even after strength training in the gym. You stood on trembling legs and froze when Yugyeom stretched out on your bed, showing off his gorgeous body. Your eyes could not get away from his tight naked body, but even more you were attracted by the part that was hidden by boxers. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath, and how did you manage to move into the apartment that was right below the Yugyeom apartment. You've never been particularly interested in guys, although there have been a lot of people suggesting you go out on a date. You didn't even believe in love. For you, "love at first sight" was something like a unicorn, a fiction that exists only in fairy tales. But then you saw Yugyeom in the hall of your agency, which simply captured your heart in a second. Your jaw practically fell to the floor when they told you that you will be his manager and how should you work with him when your stupid heart went crazy with every look ...

To say that you were shocked is to say nothing when you ran into him in the elevator on the day you moved. He hugged you so tightly, congratulating you, even now remembering that moment, your skin is covered with goose bumps. And now he lies only in underwear in your bed... Maybe you must just quit... And what are you doing?, you asked yourself mentally when your hand froze a less then inch from his skin. The temptation to touch him was too great, you bit your lip. You shuddered when Yugyeom, sharply opening his eyes, grabbed your hand. He pulled you towards him, which caused you to practically be on top of him, resting your free hand on the pillow next to his head.

He raised his hand and ran his fingers over your face, smiling at you "You are in my dreams again," he whispered softly, continuing to stroke your face. "Always so close to me and at the same time so far away ... we work together, we live together ... but why is dreams the only place where I can touch you?" his smile turned sad. Before you knew what was happening, he lifted his head and kissed you. Your eyes grew even wider, and your heart seemed to faint, slowly sliding to the floor. You should have pulled away, but your body did not obey you. He hugged you, pressing you against his body, deepening the kiss. You moaned softly as his tongue slid into your mouth. Is it possible only today, will you pretend that this is all a dream? Everything inside you trembled as his hands caressed your body. He turned on his side with you, being on top of you.

"Oh my god" you moaned softly as Yugyeom squeezed your breast, leaving kisses on your neck. Your head was spinning, there were too many emotions to cope with. "Yugyeom" you choked with pleasure when, pushing the edge of your nightie, he licked your nipple. You need to stop! Right now! You scolded yourself mentally, but there was nothing you could do. How could you stop yourself if now you wanted him more than take the next breath...

You moaned as he rubbed a hard dick against your clit as his tongue drove you crazy, caressing your nipples. He put his hand between your bodies, lifting the hem of your nightie up. One movement and your panties were on the floor ... You dug your nails into his skin when he pushed hard at you. "Fuck" you whimpered with a mixture of pain and pleasure. He kissed you, intertwining your tongues as he continued to fuck your pussy hard. Your body shook at how close you were to cum. A tear rolled down your cheek in discouraging pleasure. He moaned your name loudly, thrusting faster as his lips dug into your skin. His arms wrapped around your body. You cum hard by moaning his name on his lips when he kissed you again.

"Yeah baby ..." his movements were chaotic as he started to cum, filling you with his sperm "Mine! You are only mine,” he growled, making hard thrusts at you. "You should only belong to me!" he moaned with a few strong thrusts, prolonging your pleasure, before his body completely relaxed, falling on you.

 POV Yugyeom

He groaned and smiled as he lay in bed with his eyes still closed. Today you were also in his dreams. Everything was so real that it seemed he could still feel your scent. If this were a real… he groaned, turning on his side and hugging the blanket instead of you. What is it? He asked himself mentally as your scent grew stronger after taking a deep breath. He opened his eyes and it took him a few seconds to realize that he was not in his bedroom. He sat up abruptly on the bed, looking around, what the hell happened? Where is he? He stopped when he saw a painting that was in front of the bed. He knew this painting. Moreover, he personally bought it. And  gave it to you when you moved into his house. Wait a minure, stop! He looked around again. Is he in your bedroom? His eyes widened when he saw some of your photos with friends, on the table next to the window. How did this happen? He lifted the covers and his eyes widened as he realized he was only wearing boxers. Indeed!.. no, it cannot be ... but it was all so real...  no, no... most likely the dream was so real because of your scent. How did he end up in your bed? How he ended up in your apartment at all. Oh, why did he drink so much yesterday. Was he so drunk that he came to you at night ... he didn’t do anything stupid, did he? Damn, why, right now, he couldn't remember anything.

He slowly got out of bed. He saw his clothes folded neatly on the chair. Dressing quickly, he left the bedroom. "_______" he called you, but he was greeted only by silence. His stomach gurgled when he went to the kitchen, he smelled food. He went to the table and saw a note from you, next to the food.

“Kim Yugyeom !!! Do not even think that you can avoid punishment for being so drunk that you confuse someone else's door with yours!!!"

He laughed after reading your note. So that's what happened, he just messed up the floor. He sat down at the table, smiling broadly. I wish I would confuse my door with yours every day, he said, looking at the food you prepared for him.

In the evening he entered your office, immediately falling to his knees and raising his hands up. "I agree to any punishment," he muttered.

You laughed at his behavior. "Should I spank you?" He looked up at you and immediately regretted it. Flashbacks of his dream floated in his head. He immediately averted his eyes, looking at the floor. He tried to drive away these fantasies from himself, but they were too real. Your body in his hands, your taste, your scent, your moans ... it was all too real for a simple dream. He looked at you again "What happened yesterday?" he asked getting up from the floor.

"You mean how you literally burst into my apartment drunk or about how you crawling on the floor into the bedroom, scattering your things?" you smiled broadly at him

He fell into the chair next to your desk. “Sorry, I'm such an idiot,” he shook his head.

"You know, yesterday I barely supported myself so as not to get your drunk ass!"

"Oh really?" he laughed

“You generally understand what could have happened if you had broken not into my apartment,” he shuddered when you banged the table. "I need a drink, this job too stressful!"

"Do you want to keep you company?" he asked, but you gave him a murderous look. “I didn't say I will going to drink, I'll just keep you company.” He shrugged as you threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.

"Yugyeom" you practically moaned his name, leaning back in your chair. "You beg to be spanked for your behavior!"

The way you pronounced his name made it aroused to remember his dream again. "Hey _________" he ran his hand over his face.

"What?" you looked at him

"I yesterday ... we yesterday ...  is it" he muttered to himself

"What are you muttering there, I don't understand a word"

"Between us yesterday ..."

“No,” you interrupted him without letting him finish. “Whateveryou thought for yourself, there was nothing,” you said, looking away. He didn't even think that he would be so disappointed that it was just another dream.

“I just ... It's a good thing I didn't do anything stupid,” he replied.

"Wow, it's so late" you quickly changed the subject. "Time to go home."

"I thought you wanted a drink" he smiled at you

"Another time," you said, reaching for your bag. Your shirt slipped slightly, exposing your collarbone. He clenched his jaw, trying to calm down and regain his ability to walk. He was already looking away when he saw a red mark on your skin. It was definitely hickey. He grabbed you by the hand, pulling you closer. He exactly remembered this moment in his dream. He remembered how he left this hickey, and all the rest, while he was deep in you. And if it was not just a dream, then there must be another hickey just below . "What are you doing?" You asked in a trembling voice when he raised his hand and took your collar with his fingers He pulled your shirt collar down and saw another mark on your skin.

"So there was nothing?" he asked, pushing you against the wall.

"It just a bruise from the blow" you did not look at him, averting your eyes

“Blow” he laughed softly. “Whatever I thought for myself, there was nothing.” He repeated your words.

"Yugyeom, nothing happened." You wanted to shove him away, but he pressed your hands against the wall, holding them above your head. "What are you doing, Yugyeom?"

He was slowly unbuttoning your shirt. “This is also from the blow,” Yugyeom asked, running his fingers over the hickey on your chest that he left last night.

"What do you want to hear from me?"

“Unlike me, you weren't drunk. And what I remember...” he paused, allowing him to return that night. "You wanted it no less than me."

You escaped from his embrace, buttoning up your shirt. "Yugyeom ..." you turned towards him. He came up to you diging into your lips. He didn't want to hear excuses or anything like that.

"I'm so happy" he took your face with his hands, leaving light kisses on your lips. You rolled your eyes as he lifted you into his arms. "I have dreamed of kissing you for so long" he laughed. "Don't even think that I will let you run away from me now. You are mine!" He kissed you, hiding in his arms.

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More Kim Yugyeom x Reader:

I am your present (smut)

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LIST  (BTS & GOT7)

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[melchron]

Nightmare Time Episode 3 Thoughts

I usually save this for the end of my thoughts but I have to say this now. OMG MATT DAHAN!!! I WILL NEVER NOT BE IMPRESSED BY HIM! Usually with the episodes I catch 1 or 2 motifs but I swear I caught everyone this time. And they all fit so well. My attention was evenly split between the music and the story this time. It was so freaking good. Matt deserves all the awards like omg.

I think this is the least laggy the theme has been. Good job going all out for the last one!

I said to my mom "Did Shashona record this video?" and she did!! Great cinematography Shashona!!

I also pointed out the Tim's daddy mask. I said "Aww he's wearing a mask for his son!". I guess my mom got confused and forgot Tim's name because she thought I was talking about Dylan's (nonexistent) son.

THE DRILL PRESSES!!

LEX AND ETHAN

I kind of already knew this but I love that Ethan knows cars. I just likes that he has a hobby.

Lex cares about Tom so much I love it.

WHY DID JANE TRY TO KILL ETHAN?!?!?!? TOM DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO HIM!!!! DID SHE HAVE SOME PERSONAL REASONS LIKE WHY!?!??!

That Lexthan interaction was so cute. I love how he saw she was super sorry and scared and he just stopped being mad and comforted her. They are so cute I can't handle it!!

KENDALL!!! Ok so through out this whole thing I know everyone was excited for their favorite character to come back but I really just wanted to see Kendall again. I guess after BF I assumed we would never see her again because I couldn't see them working with children becoming a normal thing. But when the original cast announcement came out I got so happy to see her name. So I was super excited to see her.

Her covering her hair with a beanie looks better than the wig

UNCLE PAUL I'M SOFT I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!!!!!

Cineplex Teen is like Larry from tawog. I guess we should start calling him Obnoxious Teen then. Until we get a name.

I love that Tim immediately likes Becky. Wish I could say the same for my stepparents.

Santa Claus Is Going To High School bb. Also I want to hear the rest of that song. Also also how many wigs does Lauren own?

TONY GREEN

Why must they make love to this movie everytime? Can't we simply just watch it and make fun of like normal people? That way Tim can enjoy it too.

Good for Jane for making sure her son doesn't have to eat disgusting school lunch. She gets good mom points.

Aww Becky reassuring him he's not a Dummy

Becky is like really horny this episode. Honestly Tom's into so go ahead girl

JAIME IS JANE

OK OK OK SO Jane said they were driving home from her parents house. Which means they were still alive when Jane died. That was only a year and a half ago so the Perkins parents might have died more recently than we thought. It's like Spring of 2019 right? So Jane died around Fall 2017. I don't remember if this was said in the show (it probably was and I'm saying nothing new) but I think Black Friday takes place about a year after her death. Tgwdlm took place October 2018. They have to have died only a few months before then. How long had Emma been in Hatchetfield before tgwdlm? Maybe there is a possibility we can see a flashback of an interaction with her parents depending on how long it's been. Also that means Emma lost her whole family in the span of a few months omg. And Tim lost his mom and his grandparents in that time. I want to see how they grieved with all of that. Also I know I'm crossing universes here but Emma also almost died the same day Jane did. Some strange force must really have it out for the Perkins family. Good on Emma for surviving like a champ.

Ok so I thought they went scouting for girls because Jane didn't want the man she loved to have to devote the rest of his life to a car. I thought she was trying to help him move on. She was getting good lover points but those have since been redacted.

Jane is definitely bi and I love that for her. I don't care if she tried to kill her new crush. It was new enough for it to mean nothing.

GREENPEACE GIRL

Tom does look like a creep ngl

Jane reminds us she's a car a lot. Like girl we get it.

No. No. No. NO NO NO NO NO NO NOPE! We're not talking about it. I don't want to. I stared at James the whole and honestly same dude. I saw Nick in my peripheral vision and loved/hated that he was laughing. RIP to me watching this with my mom. RIP to Kendall. Actually rip to everyone who had to sit through that. RIP to Jaime and Dylan for having to perform that. RIP to the cursed rehearsals. Matt and Nick seriously took the time to sit down and write that. What the heck you two?!? This made me more uncomfy than the entirety of mamd and Ted's character combined. I wish I was exaggerating. Maybe this was just me but it felt longer than it needed to. The relief and worry I felt when Tim walked in is a feeling I can not explain. Glad he was clueless.

Tim sweetie I love you but SHUT UP

Jane is crazy and Jaime is doing such an amazing job at portraying that.

Yes Tom. Because grave digging is way crazier than possessed cars.

I asked my mom why the didn't just go grave digging for Jane's body but my mom said the body is probably all rotted and gross so that explains that.

Why didn't Becky just go inside? If she went far enough I doubt Jane would have been able to hit her even if she managed to break into the house. Also let's assume Becky's house had an upstairs. There, perfect safety.

Did Becky seriously die in the same woods as Stanley?

Ok so I thought the tree thing was a reference to little Irish girl Becky from the Black Friday sk10 stream. But now it seems like something more serious and bad happened so I'm curious.

DID JANE GET TOM ARRESTED?!?!? It seemed like she could drive herself at that point. Why not let him get out and get Becky yourself? Is this that self confidence thing Tom talked about?

Is she really about to have her son be obsessed with Ms. Becky for the rest of their lives or is she gonna tell him?

This next episode made me physically jump twice. I say literally a lot but I promise you I'm using it correctly when I say I literally jumped.

KENDALL'S SINGING

I saw the thing about the ukelele being a bday gift from the cast so this was super sweet

Ok personal time. My grandmother's name is Pamela and my mom decided to permanently cut ties with her a few months ago due to her abusive behavior. Me and my sibling are still allowed to talk to her whenever we please but we haven't seen her as much as we used to. I got kind of scared watching this with my mom because I was scared this would trigger something. She didn't say anything and I didn't want to bother her about if she was fine so I didn't say anything. Anyway this just kind of hit different for me.

JAIME'S RANGE OMG

"I want to be alone with my man." Ms what are you about to do to your Tv?

DON'T GIVE HER BEER

Duke seems chill. I like him.

LEX AND ETHAN GOT ARRESTED!?!?!? FOR SELLING HER PILLS!?!??! THAT SHE TOLD THEM TO SELL!?!?!? I HATE HER!!!

Does Ms. Foster have a type or is being male good enough?

Hannah's 14? I thought she was the same age as Tim. I could have sworn in the BF commentary track they said she was 9 or 10. Did my brain make that up?

How does Kim change her hair so quickly? She did this in episode 2 too? I could never. I am very impressed.

Curt and Kim talking over the phone while standing shoulder to shoulder was funnier than it should have been

Ms. Holloway is cool. YAY MOSTLY GOOD WITCHES

How does Ms. Holloway know? I need a backstory please!!

Ok so I saw Jon in his cape and thought he might be the with. But then I saw James in his cape I y'know stopped thinking that. Anyway I'm obsessed with Jon and James in capes. Kind of wish Corey had one too.

OH I JUST THOUGHT THIS AS I'M TYPING NOW ok so that tree she was talking to at the beginning was one of the tree people. I'm embarrassed it took me this long to realise it.

Hannah is way too calm about these talking trees and sometimes spider ladies. I respect that.

There was a lot of black and white theming in this episode. More than normal. It makes me more curious about what exactly Hannah's connection to it is.

Hannah almost died in her own mind. I was kinda hating Ms. Holloway in this moment because she forced Hannah to go into her mind. But I know she had to so I'm cool with her again.

THE STARLIGHT THEATER

Did she really say just don't be scared next time? Like miss some actual advice would help.

CAN MS. HOLLOWAY'S MIND LEAVE HANNAH ALONE?? Like I know you didn't get the reaction you wanted out of her but you're seriously gonna give up and go for a little girl instead. Pathetic.

"What's shakin', Banana?" That was the first time I jumped.

WIGGLY

What exactly is that 6-legged girl? I wish we had a visual. Also how couldn't Ms. Holloway help her? What was her issue? Npmd you got anything for me?

Wiley. Just seeing him come up. That was the second time I jumped.

Also everyone already said this but props to Joey for his commitment. Shaving in between episodes like omg sir you didn't have to go all out for this. But you did and I appreciate you for it. Also HE KEPT THE JACKET?? WHAT!??! Just fully committed to this character go off Joey!!

Usually I would laugh at stuff phasing through the green screen but this just made it creepier.

HOLLOWAY AND WILEY/WILBUR BACKSTORY PLEASE

But also I love how the script had him listed at Wilbur above his lines. I remember Nick called him Wilbur once in the commentary track (possibly by accident) but it's nice to have it in cannon. I don't remember I any of the characters called him Wilbur because I'm so used to seeing Wilbur and Wiley used interchangeably but this was just nice to have canonized.

DUKE PAY ATTENTION!! FREAKING USELESS RIGHT NOW!!!

Dang Wiley she was already being choked in the physical world you didn't have to choke her in her mind too calm down

YAY MORE DOLLS

NICK I WAS KIDDING ABOUT AN APOTHEOSIS DOLL

Is the mouth one (I see we've named him Nibbly. Good because his full name is too long to type out) gonna be the npmd villain? The pick color theme seems cool.

ANGELA'S TRANSITION THOUGH!!! Omg she switched roles seamlessly. And her voice too!! Go off Angela.

MARIAH IS WEBBY

This is random and unrelated but I never noticed how big Mariah's eyes were before.

So Webby and the Doll Gang are all siblings? I find it interesting that the were described to all where black. And Webby's color theme is white. Like how the good and bad ukeleles were white and black. This might sound really dumb see as we don't have a 100% accurate visual of the black and white but I wonder if Webby ever left would it be 100% black? Like if Wiggly went through the portal would it become a little less black? Does this make sense? Also I'm starting to see the black and white as less of a bad place. Its starting to see more ominously neutral.

Hannah's favorite show is He-Man no I do accept criticism.

Ms. Holloway is a nerd. She saw Hannah make the reference and was like "Huh. I f she likes He-Man maybe making this hat a reference will make her like me." She would only know if she watched the show. But then again she seems to be stuck in the 80s so maybe she just thinks that's what's popular with the kids.

MS. HOLLOWAY PLEASE GET LEX AND ETHAN BACK

AND ANOTHER GREAT SONG TO END IT OFF

This episode was......a lot. So much happened. Loved all of it. I am scared of Nick and Matt's minds but also incredibly grateful for them. As usual everyone's acting was top notch.

I love this episode.

Also I'm just gonna say it. Jon ruined Nick's season one reveal.

[masjestickingdom]

The Waiting Game

Pairing: NCT Jaehyun x reader

Genre: one shot, fluff, slightly suggestive (implied smut)

Summary: It��s been a month since you last saw your boyfriend. When it’s finally the day to meet him, his late appearance has you coping with feelings that make you go out of character.

Note: Along with the previous post, this is a lighthearted scenario to “lighten” up the mood for what’s to come... (*hint, hint*) Until then, enjoy this scenario!

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   When you hear the music of the keypad, you jump up from your couch and rush your way over to the door. When the music comes to a stop and the door handle is angled, your eyes widen in anticipation. The door swings open, and your face immediately drops.

   Today is the long-awaited day you’ve been waiting for: at long last, you get to spend the evening with your lovely boyfriend, Jaehyun, since his departure for his world tour a month ago. Waiting for a month without any physical contact or voice calls was unbelievably painful, but you managed to pull through. Right now, though, you’ve been waiting for him all afternoon and all that waiting is starting to mess with your brain.

   “What’s with the face?” the man standing in front of you asks, taking off his sneakers.

   “I thought you were Jaehyun,” you answer with a visible pout. “But you’re just Johnny.”

   The tall man rolls his eyes. “Gee, I’m glad to see you too.”

   He steps out of the entryway and swings his arm around your shoulders, guiding you away from the precious entrance.

   “Your boyfriend’s still working on the dance he missed out on yesterday,” Johnny informs you, but his words mean nothing to you.

   You turn your head around, hoping to hear the same notes from the keypad.

   “He’s not going to come back sooner just because you’re staring at the door like a weirdo-”

   There they are, those notes, the notes you’ve been another minute waiting for. You and Johnny simultaneously exchange looks at each other, yours being smug and Johnny’s reflecting the image of a surprised kangaroo.

   “How did you do that?” he asks in wonderment as you slip out of his touch.

   You’re back to square one, staring at the door, waiting for the handle to be angled. This time, Johnny joins you with an amazed expression. During the three long seconds you wait, you hear indistinct conversations, to which you hope that among the numerous voices behind that door, one of them belongs to your boyfriend.

   “Who takes so long to press the keypad?” you say, impatience evident in your tone.

   “Kim Doyoung,” Johnny replies easily.

   After an eternity of three seconds, you see the door swing open in the same manner it was done before. You and Johnny stand there, watching the door open as if everything is in slow motion.

   The first person to walk in is, as Johnny predicted, Doyoung. The moment you realize it’s him, you get on your toes to see the faces following behind him.

   “Jaehyun?” you call, hoping that you get a response.

   “Nope,” Johnny responds instead as another member comes into view. “It’s Yuta.”

   “Jaehyun?” you try again.

   “Nope,” Johnny says, popping the “p”. “It’s Taeil.”

   “Jaehyun?”

   “Nope. Haechan.”

   “Jaehyun?”

   “Nope, Mark.”

   “Jaehyun?”

   “Hey, there’s no one left,” Johnny points out.

   There it is, that empty feeling in your heart once again. You feel dejected, wondering if Jaehyun can hear your telepathic message, pleading him to come early.

   Your misery catches the eyes of the incoming members, causing them to crowd around you.

   “What’s wrong?” they ask, genuinely concerned about your state.

   You were never like this before. In fact, you’re considered to be the chiller one of the friend group.

   “She misses our hardworking Jaehyun,” Johnny replies for you, gently patting your head.

   Upon hearing the problem, the boys try to cheer you up.

   “We can play Mario Kart,” Haechan suggests.

   “And eat ice cream,” Mark adds.

   “If it makes you feel any better,” Yuta speaks, “he says that he can’t wait to come back.”

   You look up at him with glittering eyes. “Really?”

   “Yeah,” he assures you, proud that he’s the one to lift your spirits. “Don’t worry. As long as Mia isn’t late today, he’ll be back in no time.”

   “Mia?”

   The light in your eyes fades, overshadowed by the growing sense of jealousy. You can feel your blood starting to boil.

   “Mia?” you repeat for the second time in disbelief. “Isn’t Mia a girl?”

   The boys exchange glances at each other, all ending up at Yuta, who raises his arms up in the air.

   “It just slipped,” he says, defending himself.

   “So Jaehyun’s working with a girl?” you pronounce slowly. “A girl. Alone.”

   The boys are quick to correct you, “No, no, definitely not alone.”

   “Taeyong and Jungwoo are there too,” Mark reveals, practically rapping.

   Yuta furiously nods. “And Mia’s not the only teacher there, so the more, the merrier, right? In fact, the name’s Ale-”

   Your dangerous gaze cuts him short.

   The wide-eyed boys silently look at Yuta, swearing through their eyes.

   “Oi,” Johnny sighs, rubbing his temples.

   “So that means there’s more room for Mia to spend with Jaehyun while the other teacher focuses on the others?” you say, your voice rising with volume each passing second.

   Your heart is racing and your hands are shaking. Your breath is becoming unstable and, for some reason, so are your fingers. Jaehyun is spending time with some female instructor before he’s spending time with you? That’s completely fine--except it’s not. It isn’t something you can do anything about--it’s his job--but knowing that he’s a fine-looking man, you can only imagine what the instructor will do to him. Heck, if you were her, you would probably feel him up too, no doubt.

   And here comes that aching void in your heart.

   “Hey, why don’t we all relax and go do Mario Kart like Haechan said?” Taeil urges after taking into account the time you spent sulking at the door.

    As the boys drag you away, Johnny and Doyoung are left behind, watching you refuse to play Mario Kart.

   “Well this is a first,” Doyoung remarks, stunned at your behavior. “I’ve never seen her so... mopey. It’s a shame that Jaehyun couldn’t be with us when she paid a visit to the company last week.”

   Johnny shakes his head, pitying your downcasted state. “Not seeing him for a month and not being able to call him because of his schedule, that’s gotta be tough.”

   No kidding. You’re dying without his touch, without seeing his face or hearing his voice. You’re literally going crazy.  

   “Hey, hey, hey, she’s biting me!”

   Who’s yelling? It doesn’t matter. You’re going crazy. 

   ...

   The boys somehow managed to calm you down with a few rounds of Mario Kart. Technically, you calmed yourself down, considering you were so furious that you were a beast in the game and came out on the top.

   “That’s right!” you shout, winning another round.

   So you aren’t calm, but you’re definitely not thinking about Jaehyun and that female instructor the boys call “Mia”.

   All is going well until you hear the all-too-familiar melody of the keypad. You speedily pause the game with your controller, earning you a few complaints, which quickly die down when you silence them with a simple glare.

   “All I’m saying is that she obviously faked her stomach pain so that she could leave early with Alex,” you hear a voice you know all too well.

   “At least our practice ended early,” another distinct voice responds. “I don’t think I could have handled being in that room for another moment.”

   The boys’ eyes rapidly scan your face as they mentally prepare themselves for another biting session.

   “I’m surprised that Jaehyun’s still practicing,” the second voice says, nearing the living room.

   “He’s probably immune to the couple-y things Mia and Alex do because he has a girlfri-”

   The former voice halts.

   “Taeyong, Jungwoo, where’s Jaehyun?”

   The two boys, who were innocently waltzing into the living room, stop in their tracks when they see the fiery look in your eyes. Before they have the chance to comprehend the situation, they are saved by the keypad. You hear the door open for the last time, and you vanish from the boys’ sight.

   “Jung Jaehyun!”

   You see the growing smile on your boyfriend’s face and tackle him with the biggest hug you can offer.

   “I’ve missed you!” you cry, taking in his sweet, natural scent. “Why didn’t you come sooner?”

   He snuggles his face into your neck. “I was going to practice a few more times, but I couldn’t let myself be away from you any longer.”

   He pulls his face away from your neck to get a good look at you.

   “I’ve missed you too,” he coos lovingly, leaning in for your lips, to which you move away.

   You aren’t going to let go of your jealousy that easily.

   You hear a couple of feet shuffling behind you, and your boyfriend peers over your shoulder, sending a questioning gaze to his fellow bandmates.

   “Mark?” he calls, remembering how the boy once accidentally ruined your surprise birthday party.

   The boys shake their head and point at Yuta.

   “Hey, I was just trying to help,” the accused boy utters.

   “Twice,” Johnny adds.

   “Mia,” Doyoung words to Jaehyun silently, directing him to the source of the complication.

   Grasping the situation with remarkable speed, Jaehyun nods, signalling to his friends to give them some space.

   “I tried,” Yuta mumbles while the others leave you two to be.

   Although you’ve missed Jaehyun, there’s this voice in the back of your mind that constantly reminds you of your jealousy towards the time he seems to be spending with other people more than you. You love him and understand him, but you simply want to see how he’ll deal with this jealous side of you, so you act childishly.

   When you don’t look at him in the eye, he smiles and says, “You know Mia’s taken, right?”

   “But it’s you,” you murmur, staring at your feet.

   “You’re right,” he says, resting his hands on your shoulders. “It’s me. I’m in love with you and my eyes are only set on you.”

   He senses that you’re starting to become looser, so he takes your hands in his and tilts his head forward to see you eye-to-eye.

   “I’ll make up for the lost time,” he promises. “Pinkie swear.”

   You still don’t respond, which takes up a lot of your energy not to do because you really want to lose yourself in those striking brown eyes of his, but you’ve been with him long enough for him to know how to work his way around this type of situation.

   He lowers himself to your ears and whispers, “Hey.”

   One word and he already has you melting with your legs turning into jelly.

   And one final impactful statement from him has you hooked: “Let’s go to my room.”

   ...

   Fifteen minutes have passed and there is still no word from either you or Jaehyun. The boys, gathered around the couch, start to feel anxious.

   “Maybe they’re giving each other the silent treatment,” Mark speaks, breaking the silence.

   “Shouldn’t we go check up on them?” Yuta asks, glancing at the door you and Jaehyun disappeared behind.

   Johnny gets up on his knees and says, “I’ll signal something if anything’s wrong.”

   He carefully makes his way to the door. When he presses his ear against the door, an instant smirk forms on his face.

   “Why? What’s going on in there?” the boys ask.

   Instead of respecting your guys’ privacy, Johnny decides to gesture the guys over to join him, and when they do, a lot of their faces flush.

   “Th-this isn’t something that we should listen to,” Mark stutters, his ears red and eyes wide.

   But all of them remain there. Another five minutes pass and that’s when it hits Doyoung.

   "Wait isn’t Haechan still a minor?” 

[rena-rain]

Evidence for ADHD Marinette

Marinette has some tendencies in the show - that she does over and over again - that scream ADHD to me. Obviously I can’t cite every single instance in the show that points toward that, but here are some examples of ADHD traits/symptoms Marinette repeatedly exhibits on screen.

Forgetfulness, Time Management

Forgetting things. A hallmark of ADHD.

Let’s look at Timebreaker. Mari was all set to do her homework and wait for her parents’ client, completely forgetting that she was supposed to bring a banner for a race between her friends Kim and Alix - across town. Alya calling her at all didn’t even remind her, she had to be told explicitly what was happening before she remembered. Then proceeded to freak out because she’d accidentally made two commitments at the same time.

Marinette completely spaced on the race, even though it was important to her, because there was something else right in front of her: homework, her parents’ anniversary, and the Eiffel Tower cake. She was then certain that she could make it to the race and still be back at the bakery to meet Mrs. Chamack - which was a resounding NOT for anyone who watched the episode. The only way she got away with it was by literally being in two places at once. ADHD often comes with a bad sense of time, so while 20 minutes probably felt like enough time to Marinette it passed way more quickly than anticipated. 

Forgetfulness, Distractability

Ah, another instance of Alya reminding Mari of her plans. In this case she’d lost track of time because of the Adrien ad playing on a loop on her computer - to the point that she was still not dressed even though all her friends were out and about (including the ones waiting for her at the pool).

As soon as she realized she was very late, Mari grabbed her stuff and sprinted out of her house without changing out of her pajamas. Even when Tikki told her she was forgetting something she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion - although she may very well have forgotten both her swim suit and to change. 

Impulsivity, Creativity

Marinette improvises all the time. And she has a habit of diving headfirst into dangerous, crazy plans. The girl was facing down a T. Rex headfirst in Animan, and when she got her lucky charm her weird, creative problem-solving skills told her to jump into its mouth and jam it open.

In general, I think her use of the lucky charms indicates a wild creativity that’s characteristic of ADHD. Current research shows a very high correlation between ADHD and creative personalities, and Dr. William Dodson (who has been studying ADHD for 25 years) has found that “by the time most people with the condition reach high school, they are able to tackle problems that stump everyone else, and can jump to solutions that no one else saw.”

Marinette exhibits this surprising and unorthodox problem solving when she spots a series of seemingly unrelated objects that will somehow end the fight. Take Copycat for example. She got a freaking SPOON and she decided to make it into a homemade fishing rod to hoist the fake Chat Noir into the air by his belt. WHAT EVEN

more Impulsivity

Even before she got comfortable in her skin-tight supersuit, Marinette did demonstrate an inclination to take impulsive risks in the origins episode. Master Fu tested her by deliberately walking in front of a moving car to see if she’d save him.

There was no hesitation here. She saw Fu, saw the car, and immediately ran out to pull him to safety. The whole thing happened in a few seconds. Obviously this action was motivated by her inherent kindness; she didn’t do a dangerous thing because it was dangerous. Plenty of good people (none of whom seemed to be at the crosswalk that day, they all noticed nothing) would have wanted to do something but hesitated, or not reacted in time.

Not Marinette. While she was clearly scared for him, the high stakes of the situation didn’t faze her; she just acted instinctively. According to Dr. Dale Archer, ADHD brains do well under pressure, because high-stress situations get the dopamine flowing and those levels make them snap to attention.

Time Management, Impulsivity (again)

In Lady Wifi, Marinette ran into class late for no indicated reason, something she does frequently (and only sometimes it’s because of Ladybug duties) to the point where her chronic tardiness becomes a running gag. This is an extension of her inability to judge time accurately as discussed above. 

Also demonstrated in this episode, ADHD’ers will often have outbursts and accidentally say things without thinking. Upon learning what happened to Alya from Nino, she lost control and shouted “What?!?!?!” not once, but TWICE. It could also allude to emotional dysregulation (a less-known ADHD symptom) because she was unable to keep her emotional reactions to her friend getting in trouble under control. 

Hyperfixation, Emotional Dysregulation

Hey, remember when Marinette was so absorbed in that Adrien ad that she forgot about her friends and her clothes? I think the Adrien video hit her with a double whammy, because she’s deeply infatuated with him and this new thing about the guy she likes ensnared her attention.

So Marinette is obsessed with Adrien, right? I’m sure most of us would fawn over a new ad starring our crush-who’s-also-a-model. But she has a one-track mind when it comes to him. Hyperfixation is an extremely intense obsession and focus on a subject, and I think her crush can qualify because it tends to dominate her life and attention. While many things may be difficult for Marinette to maintain focus on, ADHD is great for focusing on things that are interesting, challenging, and new. So when that beautiful ad showed up, this new thing related to her fixation pushed all the happy dopamine buttons in her brain. She obviously finds Adrien interesting because she’s interested in him, and she keeps trying to get him to notice her romantically and that’s definitely a challenge.

If you’d like/need another example of Marinette hyperfixating on something, I give you: fashion. Okay, maybe that’s more of a passion than a fixation, but the episode Mr. Pigeon DID give us a hyperfocusing Marinette when she spent hours and hours on end designing and making the derby hat for Gabriel Agreste’s competition.

Moving on to emotional dysregulation. We’ve seen Marinette overreact to Alya being mistreated in Lady Wifi. Even casual watchers of Miraculous will know that Marinette has similarly powerful reactions to feelings and events concerning Adrien. I can’t even begin to count the number of times she's screamed around him.

Remember that time she publicly yelled at Lila in Volpina? Her jealousy and annoyance at her lies completely dictated her decisions here and she went way overboard - as Adrien was quick to tell her. She laid into her. NOT normal behavior for Marinette when she has her head on straight. Tikki sure wasn’t supportive of Marinette using Ladybug like this.

Tikki also wasn’t too pleased when she used her lucky charm to break up Adrien and Chloe slow dancing at his birthday party. This is another time her jealousy overtook her.

And one more little overreaction here. In Copycat, Marinette was totally spiraling in true melodramatic fashion about the consequences of stealing a phone. She imagined a life sentence. This is characteristic of how ADHD’ers often have trouble regulating emotions, leading to overblown responses to various stressors. Is it just me, or does she get particularly worked up when she’s fantasizing (both good and bad)?

I can’t find a picture for it, but another time Marinette was reacting very strongly to a predicament was in Mr. Pigeon when she paced back and forth, flipping through her sketchbook, and ranted at Alya about how difficult a derby hat design would be. She was pretty disheartened by her lack of immediate inspiration; she was even curled up on the bench dejectedly while Alya tried to help her.

It’s also worth mentioning that she totally ran into a wall after Adrien complimented her drawings.

I could add more, but this post is already basically an essay and I think you get the point. If you share the ADHD Marinette headcanon do please add any examples you think of!

[babaohhhriley]

Things I've just learned from and about the Sons of Anarchy cast

(Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates and Mark Boone Jr. were guests at the Comic Con Scotland. I tried to collect the Sons of Anarchy related stories they told us during the Q&A panels and the M&G there)

* When they shot the Pilot, the budget used to be pretty low, the showrunners could only afford cheaper Harleys with crap features for the Sons. Later, when the show got the green light and the big financial support, they didn't buy new ones, the characters got stuck with the bikes they didn't like. Boone, for example, was constantly complaining about the non-working kickstand of his bike.

* Tig was a last minute addition to the series, he wasn't in the original pilot, Kim only came to the show the day before they re-shot the episode. Because there was no time left for riding lessons, they needed an actor who was a pro on motorcycles - and Kim Coates perfectly met the expectations. At that time the budget has significantly increased, so they could give the new character a proper bike with all the features he wanted - while the rest of the cast had to use their original, basic Harleys. Kim never stopped teasing them about his luck.

* Later, in season 5, when the Irish tried to show their power and crashed the Sons' bikes, it was a tragedy for the characters (and a shock for the viewers) - but for the actors it was the pure "Hallelujah!" moment, Tommy said. They were pretty relieved that they finally lost those original bikes. And only then could the actors get the new Harleys they've been crying for for years.

* Kim used to watch his co-stars riding and check their bikes while on set. He stopped the shooting numerous times when he noticed something wrong with anyone's bikes, boots, behavior or something on the track - saving them from accidents but also annoying them with his remarks. He joked that "Safety First!" was his middle name. Still, all of them dropped their bikes from time to time, which seemed to be the perfect material for teasing each other for years.

* Boone pointed out that nothing that wasn't in the original screenplay has ever made it to the screen. There was no place for improvisations, they had to stick to the paper. "If it isn't in the script, it won't be on the show, period"

* Kim said how grateful he was for Tig's character arch, he enjoyed playing his part and the way Tig was coming along - although initially he didn't want to take the role because of Tig's violence and behavior. There were scenes he didn't feel right, but Kurt always talked him through them and explained the reasons behind. For example: in season 2, when Tig & Gemma almost hook up - Kim immediately said no to that scene, he refused to play it. His point was that Tig's extreme loyalty to Clay would never let him touch Gemma. Then Kurt described him the emotional rollercoaster Tig was in at that time, how vulnerable and confused he was, and that actually Gemma made the first move. Kurt pointed out that in the very next scene Tig makes his big confession and breaks down at TM, touches bottom in front of everyone, then he slowly builds himself up from that low in the next episodes - and in the end that made the Gemma mistake understandable.

* Kim also said that he appreciated the Venus storyline Tig got at the end of the show. He felt it was a great character arch, the big bad biker falling in love with such a unique lady. And he loved working with Walton Goggins who played her with such a passion, stayed in character the entire time and they had a lot of fun on the set with him.

* Tommy, Kim & Boone all said how much they loved being a part of this show, playing their characters and spending time together. Boone specially emphasized the riding scenes, how much fun it was to do them, the rehearsals and shooting, how they all used to come to work riding bikes for years. Tommy mentioned that there was a bit too much weed involved while shooting season 1, there're parts he doesn't remember any more (that's where I said jokingly that the car bomb affair in season 2 helped a lot in Chibs' character arch)

* All 3 of them emphasized multiple times how much they appreciated the screenwriters' way to create complex characters, vivid conversations and unique storylines for them. All the connections and relationships that slowly develop during the seasons made the whole story real. They didn't get much information about their characters' storylines in advance, they only knew the very next episode, except if there was a super complex scene or if something needed to be talked over. Kim mentioned how hard it was for him to prepare for Tig's emotionally difficult scenes in the beginning of season 5. He couldn't go to his family, he needed an escape, some "me time" and a shoulder to lean on when his character was so deep in suffering. He was riding a lot alone those days and met with a friend who helped him go through that phase.

* The main actors usually got a phone call in the beginning of the season if their character was going to die that year, but Boone didn't know about Bobby's fate until the day before that certain episode's shooting. He was shocked - and so were his fellow stars, it wasn't how it was supposed to be. In the scene where the club members open the box with the iPad and saw Bobby's torture, their reaction was all natural: they hadn't been told what to expect and the actors literally broke down there, that's what we got to see on screen. Tommy mentioned that he got really sick watching that video and that memory still haunts him.

* The actors said that in the last 2 seasons they felt things were changing for the worse. The screenwriters knew the dark path the whole story was going, everything slowly turned out to be violent and instead of the meaningful conversations the characters used to have before, almost every scene ended bloody. They often didn't understand the storyline (for example when they're burying-then-digging-out-the-man's-body in season 7 - why?), there were too many confusing and physically/emotionally draining scenes and they started to miss the first 5 seasons' rhythm. Especially the part where they worked together as a brotherhood - now they started to miss each other: in season 7 many main characters go on separate ways and didn't have scenes together and they didn't like it. As much as they used to love the show's atmosphere, they got very very tired in the end.

* Boone was talking a lot about DL, told us he was a maniac and drove everyone crazy. But he could do the most perfect parallel parking and was a pro while driving in formation. Boone said it was his mission to tame him and they became good friends.

* Kim is like a big PapaBear, his whole behavior is so calming, he's incredible patient and nice with fans. Tommy keeps teasing him about his "grandpa" reading glasses he's wearing around his neck, in response Kim points out that at least he still got his dark curls and no grandpa grays like them. By the way Kim keeps touching his own face, eyebrows, lips, hair all the time while talking with people (and it can be pretty distracting).

* Tommy is basically an adolescent, couldn't sit still for five minutes, he was constantly fidgeting around, playing with his shoes or coat zipper, putting his feet up the table, playfully kicking objects on stage. He is loud, cracking inappropriate jokes, chiming in during an interview, yelling to his friends over from across the room, but he can also turn pretty serious quickly when the topic requires it and that makes him a completely different person. When he is focused and interested in the conversation, he can be pretty overwhelming and genuine.

📸 Kim Coates on Twitter

@come-join-themurder - enjoy it and feel free to share!

[bohemian-rhapsody-slash]

Gift Fic

Thank you so much for the wonderful gift @macandlacy! I love love love the idea of Rog and John having a protective Dom chaperone during their Japan/Korea press tour ❤️ it’s so in keeping with the IBTYF universe and I love this so much!

******

“Ajumma”

A gift fic for bohemian-rhapsody-slash as a humble thank you for all their amazing stories.  Set in their IBTYF universe.  This was inspired by a thread where Roger and John make a press tour of Japan and Korea on their own and charm everyone. 

*****

“A chaperone?”  Roger was reading over the final packet of info on the plane as they prepared to land in Japan.

Miami shrugged a little.  “Well, yes.  This is your first tour without your doms, and it is tradition in much of Asia that unaccompanied subs have an appointed chaperone.”

John shook his head but also had to smile.  “Isn’t that what you are?”

“I doubt I’m up to it,” Miami said dryly.

Roger and John just giggled as the fasten seat belt light came on.  “Want to bet that I can slip away from any chaperone within five hours?”

“No,” John said.  “I know I would lose that bet.”

They were met at the airport by the now usual fans, record company producers, and a lovely dom woman introduced as Mrs. Sato.  “Welcome back to Japan,” she said kindly, handing both subs a lovely bouquet of flowers.  They liked her immediately.

The Japan tour was perfect.  Between press conferences and photo shoots, there was still plenty of time to relax and chat with fans.  It was hard being away from their families, but there were lots of long-distance calls that helped to make up for the temporary separation.  Mrs. Sato was funny and very sweet, and both subs quickly bonded with her.  She was firm, but fair, and treated them as adults and professionals first, and then as subs that she was in charge of.  Judging by the conversations she had with Freddie and Brian, they liked her as well.  The Japanese press and fans loved Roger and John, and it was an amazing nine days.  High on success, they sadly said goodbye to Mrs. Sato, and headed for Korea.

Where they were presented to the indomitable Mrs. Kim.

She was what some might call a dom of doms.  Maybe five feet tall at the most, maybe 100 pounds.  But power radiated off her in all directions.  It was good that they met her in a private room at the airport because even Miami nearly dropped to his knees upon meeting her.  Roger and John did immediately kneel, as did more than half the entourage, including a few young doms who were completely intimidated.  She said nothing, just regarded everyone with an unreadable expression, and then held out her hands for Roger and John to take.  She helped them up, linked both arms with the subs, and led them out.  Roger and John didn’t dare to disobey her.  Even Miami, who was the temporary legal dom for the boys, trailed behind her helplessly, not willing to risk angering her.

They went straight to the hotel, and were taken to their suite.  All the Korean executives clearly answered to Mrs. Kim and did her bidding.  She snarled something at the assistant waiting for them in the suite and Roger and John were immediately handed phones so they could call home and check in.

“She scares me,” Roger whispered to Brian.

“Oh, come now.  She can’t be that bad,” Brian laughed.

“No, really, she is,” John told Freddie.  “Help us.”

Freddie chuckled.  “Put Miami on the phone, dear.”

Miami took the phone.  “She’s terrifying,” he said.  “Save us.”

At dinner that night, Mrs. Kim sat between Roger and John, ruling over the entire restaurant.  The assorted music artists and executives were allowed to speak to the subs only with Mrs. Kim’s permission and only in low respectful tones from a distance.  Even glances were nearly off limits when one dom looked at John too long for Mrs. Kim’s liking.  She picked up her knife and snarled snarled something at the man that had him running from the room.  After that, everyone, doms and subs alike, gave the Queen bandmates a wide berth.

Roger loved Asian food, so he was happily eating and trying a bit of everything.  John had a much less adventurous palate and between that and his general small appetite just picked at the food.  Mrs. Kim noticed, and glared at John, her message clear, until the bassist meekly ate enough to make her satisfied.

Back upstairs, Mrs. Kim took out their pajamas and firmly shoved them in the direction of the luxurious bathroom.  Both subs fled. 

“How long do you think we can stay in here?” John whispered.

“Depends.  How long is the tour?”

“Seven days.”

“Then seven days it is.”

John threw a handful of bubbles at the drummer.  “Don’t be ridiculous,” he hissed.  “There isn’t a lock on the door, and even if there was, she could likely break it down.”

An hour later, there was a sharp knock on the door.  Roger took a nervous deep breath.  ‘Y-yes?” he called, trying to not let his voice tremble.  He was the older sub, and needed to be strong for John.

The door swung open and Mrs. Kim glared at them.  “Bed.  Now.” She said crisply.  Both subs leaped from the tub.

In the bedroom, Mrs. Kim grabbed John’s hands and inspected them, also checking behind his ears, just like Roger and John did with their children.  Roger was next, and after passing inspection, she snapped her fingers, pointing at the bed.  They jumped in, and said not a word or made a move as she tucked them in, practically swaddling them and pinning them to the bed.  Apparently satisfied, she suddenly dropped a light kiss on each forehead and patted their hair before exiting the room, leaving the door open. 

“Is she going to stay outside all night?” Roger whispered as they watched Mrs. Kim pull up a chair outside their door.

“I think so,” John fretted.

“Oh God.”

The next morning Roger and John had to line up for inspection before Mrs. Kim decided they were clean and well dressed enough to leave for the day’s events.  She must have also screamed at someone, because the hotel provided a full English style breakfast for John, and she refused to let the bassist leave the table until he had eaten until he was near bursting. 

Their days were full of appearances and interviews, Mrs. Kim ruling over all of them with the air of a silverback gorilla.  Doms bowed to her left and right, knees visibly quaking in some instances.  Roger and John managed to enjoy the events despite their awe and terror of Mrs. Kim, a feeling which was shared by everyone.  After a TV interview where a reporter had been perhaps a tad too friendly, Mrs. Kim snapped three drumsticks with her bare hands.  Word must have gotten around, because all the other interviews were conducted with the reporters in open fear.

During the daily phone call home, Miami backed up the sub’s stories.

“She made a dom cry when he tried to take Roger’s hand to help him out a car,” Miami said, his tone still dazed.  “All she said was a few words and he literally started to cry and apologize.”

“A dom police office knelt to her,” Roger said frantically.  “I think she was going to kill him because he looked at John for more than three seconds.”

Brian laughed.  “Oh, come on now,” he said over the party line that all five were chatting on.  “Such stories.”

“I’m serious,” Miami said, his tone flat.  “I’m scared.  We can’t prove it, but I think she is a wanted murderer.”

Freddie clucked his disapproval.  “Miami, stop spreading crazy stories.”

“You won’t think I’m crazy when she explodes,” the poor lawyer said, and he hung up in total despair.

They somehow survived three days in Seoul, and then headed for the other major cities of Daegu and Buson where they would spend two days each before heading home.  Roger was counting the minutes, and John was totally quaking in his shoes 24/7.  The only thing keeping him from a breakdown was that Mrs. Kim’s general hostility was clearly aimed toward everyone *except* her charges.  She clucked over them constantly, and Roger and John automatically found themselves falling into whatever she demanded.  As long as they did what she ordered, they felt they might live.  No one dared to question her.

They were on train to Buson when it happened.

Of all people, a conductor turned out to be a crazed fan.  Screaming something about how he could make the subs love him, he made a beeline for Roger, who braced himself for crazy fan impact.  In a flash, though, Mrs. Kim knocked the man out with impressive martial arts moves, and rained down Hell on the reporters who tried to get pictures.  Roger saw her break a camera with her bare hands, and John was literally picked up by her and carried off the train when he twisted his ankle trying to climb over a seat to get out of the way.

The Korean people were mortified at the appalling behavior and disrespect to honored guests.  An armed escort took them first to a private hospital where they were checked (despite Roger and John’s honest words that they were not harmed) and then whisked to their hotel where they were sequestered.  Mrs. Kim was screaming, and everyone who spoke Korean was bursting into tears and frantically doing her bidding.  The foreign press who didn’t speak Korean needed no translation to understand she was out for blood.  Roger and John were just grateful that she seemed to like them.

“My sweet, precious, baby boys!” she wailed, clutching both of them in hugs that nearly smothered them.  “Oh, my darling perfect babies.  Don’t worry, Ajumma is here!”

For the remaining two days, Mrs. Kim made her earlier behavior seem downright negligent.  She practically cut their food for them, determined to protect her babies.  Roger and John couldn’t get out of her sight.

They kind of liked it.

The record company insisted that Mrs. Kim accompany Roger and John back to England to make sure they returned home safe.  At the airport, she gave Freddie and Brian icy appraising looks that had both doms nearly groveling at her feet.  For a minute, they wondered if Mrs. Kim would allow them to take back their subs, worrying that maybe they weren’t good enough for her babies.

She eventually allowed them to reunite, but only after Roger and John assured her that they were fine and liked their doms.

Roger and John insisted that Mrs. Kim stay and visit for a while.  All the kids fell in love with her and cried when she had to return home to her family.  Freddie and Brian were relieved when she left, as they had been nervous as Hell, still worried that Mrs. Kim would change her mind and kick them out of their own homes.

“Don’t worry,” Mrs. Kim assured the subs and their children as they all cried at the airport.  “Ajumma will be back.”  She sniffed at Freddie and Brian.  “Very soon,” she added. 

“Oh my God,” Freddie wailed to Brian as they left the airport.  ��What are we going to do?”

Brian ran his hands over his face.  “I don’t know,” he admitted.  “She is so scary.”

Roger and John looked at the doms with puzzled expressions.  “Ajumma?  Scary?” Roger said skeptically.

“She’s a sweet and kind lady,” John added.

“I want Ajumma!” sobbed a young child.  The cry was taken up by all the kids.

From then on, Ajumma visited her Western family once a year, keeping Freddie and Brian on their toes to make sure they were still worthy of *her* children.

***

“Ajumma” roughly translates to “auntie”.  It is a respectful title for an older woman.

[slideseok]

trouvaille (k.nj)

(n.) something lovely, discovered completely by accident.

↳ Pairing: kim namjoon x reader

↳ Warnings: small amount of fluff in the beginning, maybe a smidge of angst,,,, maybe a whole lot of angst

↳ Word Count: 2.42k+

↳ NOTE: I though of this little best friends to eventual lovers au while sitting outside while it rains. I thought it was going to be sweet and all but the ending kinda flunked. It took me a lil minute to think it up but tada!

You’re not quite sure when, exactly, you started falling in love with your best friend.

It surely wasn’t when you first met each other. Both only seven years old, pulling on the pretty bows in your hair that your mother had said looked so cute as she tied them in that morning. You retaliating by breaking the blue crayon he was using to color a dinosaur in with (because dinosaurs are supposed to be green, everybody knows that). You both ended up in time-out after he started crying.

Or when you were just turning eight and he pushed from the top of the slide. He’d always claimed it was an accident, but you knew you’d felt a pair of hands on your shoulders as you fell from the top and broke your pinky.

By the time grade school came around, he was the most popular eight year old and he loved to rub that in your face. He’d push you to your knees during recess at the playground, causing your favorite pair of tights to become ripped as he dirtied up you uniform skirt in the gravel.

One day, during lunch, he sat away from his friends. You’d noticed during this last week or two, your daily trips through the dirt had lessened and he’d seemed to leave you be.

Though his face always looked sad. He barely spoke out in class and he didn’t good off with his groups of friends.

So during lunch, instead of sitting with your two friends at the table you’d all claimed as yours, you grabbed your purple lunch bag and moved to sit in front of him.

He’d glanced up at you, light brown eyes catching yours before they glanced away.

“What are you doing here,” he grumbled. “Go back to your friends.”

You, being the best type of eight year old, and not one to leave someone, anyone, alone and sad, said nothing. You simply opened up your lunch bag and pulled out the extra chocolate bar that your mom always packed you for the bus ride home and slid it across the table at him.

“You don’t have lunch so here.” Your words were rushed before you quickly got up and went back to your friends, who both grilled over you as you sat back down.

Namjoon looked down at the crisp bar, his cheeks dusted with a light blush as he glanced back to where you huddled with your friends. He noticed his usual group of friends were also whispering together, sending furtive glances between him and you.

So he forced his blush away and picked the bar up before sliding the bar in his pocket.

He didn’t seem to notice the sad look you shot him as you looked at him over your friends head.

His weird behavior was gone the next day and his cocky attitude returned again at recess as you were, once again, pushed from your place of waiting for your turn on the swing as Namjoon rushed to claim your spot.

Though every couple days, he would come to school looking especially tired. His uniform shirt was always wrinkled (well more wrinkled than usual). And he’d never have a lunch on those days.

So you always made it a point to slide the extra snack across the table to him before going back to your table. And he always made it a point to not eat it and put it in his pocket.

It wasn’t until a month later that he didn’t show up for a whole week.

You knew something must have happened as all of the teachers hid their whispers behind their hands during lunch and gave a sad sigh and a long stare towards his desk when calling role in the mornings.

On that Friday, you’d been walking the last little bit to your house from the bus stop when you passed the park that was just down the street. And there, sitting alone on the swings, was Namjoon.

He was wearing a thin jacket and some shorts and his face was huddled down into his arms as his shoulders shook. He was crying.

That day, when you sat down next to him as he quickly wiped the tears from his cheeks and silently handed him his chocolate bar, you’d found out that his mom had been really sick and wouldn’t be getting any better.

The doctors had surmised that she had approximately a year and a half to live as the disease was slowly taking over her body, causing her to shut down. She had been in the hospital that week and that’s why he hadn’t been to school.

Namjoon started crying again when you stood up and pulled him into a hug. You’ll always remember that day as the one where you gave Namjoon a dandelion and told him to ‘make a wish’. That’s when your friendship kicked off.

From then on, you stay just a little longer at his table, talking about his mom and what you’d both done on the weekend before you moved back.

When he stopped being the one to push you down at recess, the other boys in the class had decided to pick up on his slack and do it for him. One day Namjoon had seen it happen and didn’t say a word. Only scowled and nodded silently to himself, his face one of determination. The next day, the same boy who had pulled on your ribbons came to school with a bruised eye and a skinned elbow and you were never bothered again.

Starting off in high school, you were both still close, though not as much as in your younger years.

Namjoon had made himself a new set of friends.

By sophomore year, he’d befriended the flirty drama club president, Kim Seokjin. Whenever he showed up to pull Namjoon away from your locker, he’d always send you a sly wink and a dazzling smile that had your cheeks heating up in a blush.

Then there was Jung Hoseok, or Hobi, as you had fondly taken to calling him. A junior who was part of the dance team, and it was no secret that that was what he wanted to go into after high school. He was really close with another junior, Min Yoongi, who wasn’t apart of any clubs. He was quiet and kept to himself and always had a pair of earbuds in blasting music. It was a wonder how the two ever really became friends with such different personalities.

Towards the end of first semester, the group had gotten really close with three freshman. Jeon Jungkook, who had hopes to join some type of sport team was the youngest. Then the two brothers, Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung. They weren’t really brothers, they’d just known each other since preschool so they were as close as a pair.

Taehyung was in the photography club, which you’d always thought was crazy because he was absolutely beautiful. You and most of the school thought he should’ve been the one getting his picture taken instead of taking them himself. And then Jimin, who was literally always smiling. He wasn’t really in one club, but he seemed to be friends with everyone in the school. Nobody could say no when he pulled out his closed-eyed smile.

You were close with the group, much the chagrin of most of the other girls in the school. But you knew you’d always be the closest to Namjoon.

He’d been there through thick and thin, from schoolyard bullies to teachers who had it out for you in middle school.

So it was only right for you to return the favor when his mom died when you were both in senior year.

A couple months away from graduation, she passed peacefully in her sleep and it had been Namjoon who’d found her the next morning when he was taking her medicine to her.

You held his hand the entire time during the funeral and was his shoulder to cry on for the next month. You went with him every other week after to clean her grave and place a new bunch of flowers on her gravestone.

When you both graduated, he was sad to know that she never got see him walk to get his diploma.

It was when you saw a girl from your english class walk up to him and congratulate him did you really ever feel the beginnings of a stir of feelings.

She was pretty and Namjoon smiled back at her, dimples in view, as she blushed and giggled and placed her hand on his arm.

Jin, Yoongi, and Hobi had all taken a day from their university to come watch the two of you graduate. And it was Jin who stood next to you and watched the myriad of emotions flicker across your face as you both watched the encounter.

He’d only laughed and playfully punched your shoulder. “You two are still dancing around one another? I would’ve thought you’d hooked up at least once by now,” he’d joked as your mouth twisted into a frown.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” you’d told him stiffly. But your eyes never left Namjoon’s form as he glanced past the girl at you.

Noticing your frown, he raised his eyebrows in a silent question, sending a small grin that had your heart racing when you only shrugged in return.

Jin laughed even louder when he saw the light blush that formed that had you pushing him away from you.

“Don’t you have places to be? Where are the others,” you asked him in hopes to distract him while you tried to force the redness away. Jin gave you a knowing look before shaking his head.

“They’re somewhere around. Let’s go find them.” And then he’s pulling you away from watching as Namjoon gives the girl a particularly loud laugh.

It’s after your first heartbreak that you think you may feel a little more for your best friend than you should.

Your ex had cheated on you with a girl from your psych class and you’d run to Namjoon crying. He, of course, opened his arms and allowed you a place to stay and cry for a week before you got over it.

But it wasn’t anything special. You’d cried with him before. But this time, it was the way he held you close after first finding your sobbing form at his door, his scent invading your senses as you buried your face into the neck of the green hoodie he was wearing. And the cuddles on the couch while watching a funny movie with empty bowls of ice cream on his coffee table with your head on his chest and a soft blanket over both your feet. Instead of watching the movie, you were listening to his heart beating softly beneath you. And the way he would joke with you and goofily dance around in the kitchen with no music playing while your pizzas cooked in the conventional oven.

After that week, you’d distanced yourself from him for a few days. When he called you put your phone on silent and muted the notifications to his messages so you couldn’t see the texts he’d sent you as not to feel so guilty for leaving him in the dust.

Unsure of your feelings, you’d ran to Jin.

Sitting in his apartment on his couch, the conversation you had was a real eye opener.

It took another week for you to finally talk to Namjoon, though not by your own volition.

Hard knocking on your door woke you from your nap, which you’d taken by accident as you fell asleep studying. Still rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you opened the door to an angry looking Namjoon.

“Why have you been ignoring me for two weeks y/n,” he asked you, chest heaving in the same green hoodie you’d cried on said two weeks ago.

You’d spluttered, not quite knowing what to say as he pushed past you into your apartment.

“Did that prick have something to do with this? He cheated on you. Is he threatening you or something? Do I need to kick his ass,” he said angrily, standing in the middle of your living room.

“N-no. What are you doing here Namjoon?” You pulled your sleeves down over your hands, a nervous habit, as you tried to look at everything but him in an attempt to not meet his eyes. You knew that if you did, you’d spill everything and that was the last thing you wanted.

“I’m here because my best friend is ignoring me and I want to know why.” It’s the hurt in his voice as it softens that finally makes you look at him.

“It doesn’t matter.” The lie bounces off of him easily. Namjoon’s known you long enough to know when you’re lying.

“Yes, it does matter. I know you’ve been doing rough because of Jisung, but I don’t understand why you're putting me out. You know you can come to me for anything right?”

And you know that. For sure. You’d been able to come to him for anything for years. And you also know that you should just come out and say it. But the words stay stuck in your throat as you look to the ground, eyes burning as tears form.

“I don’t- I can’t Namjoon. It’s something I have to deal with myself.” Those words come easily enough. Even though there is no way you think you’d be able to get rid of your feelings for him. And there was no way you’d be putting your heart and friendship in the line for a one-sided emotion.

These feelings that you have for him, you know that they can’t go past anything but friendship. You were always supposed to be the best friend. Just the best friend. You can’t be anything else other than friends otherwise that would be crossing the line. Best friends aren’t supposed to catch feelings for each other. It was an unspoken rule.

“Okay,” he sighs. “Just promise me you’ll tell me eventually. Okay? I don’t like just standing by while you’re hurting.”

And as he holds out his pinkey to you, face exhausted from either school or just the back-and-forth feelings he gets from being friends with you, you can’t help but let just one more lie slip past your lips as you lock your pinkey with his.

“Promise.”

Thoughts on a Part 2? This is my first full fic on here so,,,?

[3laxx]

Confession training

Older Oneshot I wrote about 2 years ago and never uploaded because... Don't ask me. Have fun reading!

After a long and cold analysis, Alya comes to terms with having a crush on her best friend Marinette. And as the right moment comes, Alya acts as we know her - not hesitating to take actions into her hand.

Ao3 / FF.net

Alya didn’t know what hit her when she stared after her best friend.

It had been a normal school day, Marinette had talked normally to her, Alya had been doing the exercises – everything had been normal.

But then her best friend, her bluenette, had waved her goodbye and walked down the stairs in front of the school. She knew the bakery was right over the street, as was, of course, Marinette’s home.

Alya’s way back home was always in the opposite direction and normally they would have said goodbye at the end of the stairs, but today Marinette was in a hurry.

Mumbling something about a big order in the bakery and she had to help her parents, softly hugging Alya and waving, then storming off.

Something had caught Alya’s interest.

Was it her deep-night-blue hair? Her adorable pigtails?

Alya honestly didn’t know. She shook her head and headed home without a second look after her best friend.

The next day she was even more confused.

Something about Marinette had kept her restless the night before and she couldn’t, she couldn’t figure out what it was. It drove her insane.

She was a reporter, kept the Ladyblog updated with news only minutes after an akuma attack shook the city once again. Holy, she even made a live blog of literally every. Single. Akuma. Attack.

It was her job to figure things out.

It was her freaking job to know what’s going on.

But her own behavior was a mystery to her. Her own feelings made her question her talent of reporting. She was confused.

Coming to school, being near to Marinette, talking like everything was normal, this day it was a mess. Just sitting next to the bluenette made her hands act weird, sweating and trembling. She was constantly adjusting her glasses, tensed up when the girl turned to her, stuttered when her best friend talked, breathed heavier when the bluenette laughed and felt her stomach flutter when Marinette touched her.

At lunchbreak, Alya was a mess. Not visibly, she was quite capable of holding her poker face, but on the inside, everything screamed at her in high alert. Something kept her being tense at any minute and she didn’t know, what it was, she didn’t. Freaking. KNOW!

As Marinette and she walked to the bakery of her parents to eat there, Alya thought of everything she could to explain her sudden jumpiness around Marinette.

Maybe she had forgotten a bet? Maybe she still had debts to pay off? Maybe she was pissed at her best friend but had forgotten why? Or maybe she was going through a weird phase in puberty?

No, there had to be something else… Maybe she was jealous of Adrien for spending more time with Marinette?

In an instant, Alya shook her head, denying her thoughts.

Her? Jealous?

The brunette almost laughed.

Jealous at Adrien? Yeah, right. Nobody spent as much time with Marinette as she did, because obviously they were best friends! Adrien had Nino, after all, and a pretty packed schedule because of his father. He kept him busy with fencing, Chinese and piano lessons and on top of that modelling. After all, his father was a famous designer and so his son had to model for him.

Poor Adrien, Alya thought.

Marinette and she walked through the side door, climbing up the stairs to the flat of the Dupain-Cheng Household right after greeting the parents of the bluenette.

Upstairs they prepared a few sandwiches which they would eat in Marinette’s room while discussing the homework for their lessons after lunch.

After being alone in Marinette’s room for almost an hour now, Alya felt like a nervous wreck.

Finally, finally she had been able to understand what has been going on with her.

She had a crush.

A totally awkward crush on her best friend.

And being alone with her that long did nothing to make Alya feel better because her stomach gave her a hard time. Even eating was stressful, because oh holy shit Marinette looked so damn cute as she nibbled at her sandwich looking at her notes taken in class.

Alya looked away, almost throwing up because of the many, _many_ butterflies in her stomach.

A distraction, a distraction… Quickly!

She pulled out her phone, laughed at a cute kitten Nino had sent her and checked their classes for the afternoon. She raised her eyebrows at the surprise the internet held for her.

“Hey, did you know our afternoon classes were canceled?”

Marinette looked up, pretty surprised herself, and went to sit directly next to Alya and holy mother of god her scent-

“No, I didn’t!”

“Hold on, I’ll text someone and ask if they knew.”

She quickly got an answer of Nino who was with Adrien and Kim at a café at that time. They apparently knew.

“Huh, weird. How could we miss this?”

“Hm, dunno…”, Alya shrugged, “But they’re cancelled and we got free time, that’s for sure.”

They smiled at each other and Alya thought she might go crazy because oh my freaking god Marinette looked at her and holy she had butterflies in her throat by now-

“Alya, you alright?”, Marinette, naive and young Marinette asked her.

“Uh-… Huh-… Yeah. No worries.”, she grinned.

The bluenette repeated her grin and then looked down to her sketchbook. There was a short silence between them but Alya made sure she soon broke it.

“Hey, Marinette?”

Her best friend looked up and Alya grimaced on the inside, praying not to fall unconscious.

“Yeah, Alya?”

“I-… Uh-… You like Adrien.”, she could’ve slapped herself. Way to go, Alya…

Marinette thought about that for a while. Alya almost died as the bluenette spoke again.

“Uh, yeah. I mean, he’s a great friend and all… But I’m over the crush I had on him. Why would you ask?”

“Haha, uh… Nothing. I mean-… I noticed…”, the brunette suddenly found a great interest in her fingernails.

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just-… I think you still like Adrien.”

“As a friend, Alya.”, Marinette slightly touched her hand, making her jump, “You seem weird lately. Haven’t seen you that strained before…”

Alya laughed too loudly at that, too hysterical, too long. But as she shook her head, Marinette was beside her once again.

“You sure? ‘Cuz I’m worried…”

“Ah, no need to be worried. I just-… I noticed I like somebody.”

Marinette’s shoulders slumped a bit at that but Alya hadn’t seen it.

“Oh, okay then… Who is it?”

Suddenly, Alya had an idea. Quickly she straightened her back and found the gaze of her best friend, even though she totally died while doing so!

“I wanna tell her that I love her, Marinette.”

“Well, then… Just tell her.”

“Just like that? No, I’m too unsure of how to tell her. I need practice first.”

Marinette laughed at that, being a bit uncertain at what Alya wanted to do.

“Well then…”

“Can I practice with you?”

“Uh-… Yeah? Of course…”

“I love you!”

“Good god, you’re just gonna blurt it out like this? Heck no. Do it a little softer.”

Alya tried again.

And again.

And again.

Until Marinette looked satisfied.

“Now you got it. I think that’s perfect.”, she laughed, “So now, go on and tell her!”

Alya leaned in.

Now was the time and even though she was nervous as hell, she had to do it now.

Carefully she took Marinette’s hand from her knee, interlocking their fingers, just as her best friend had instructed her to do while practicing.

“Marinette…”, she began, her eyes as wide of excitement as the eyes of the girl in front of her of surprise.

“Marinette, I love you.”

She slowly leaned forwards and brought her other hand to Marinette’s chin to guide her to where she wanted her to be. The bluenette’s eyes fluttered lightly before they closed, giving Alya the permission to continue to lean in.

Their lips lightly touched, as if it were only a little blow of summer wind, but soon Alya claimed her best friend’s half open mouth as hers, with newfound confidence in Marinette’ silent agreement.

The bluenette’s lips were soft as a pillow and tasted like her strawberry lipstick that Alya had bought her just the week before. Breathless, they parted, but held their gaze as they gasped for air.

“I just did.”

“What?”

“I just told her.”

Marinette seemed to need a little moment before she realized what Alya was aiming at.

“Oh you-…”, she threw a light punch at Alyas arm, before grinning like crazy.

“You planned that!”

Alya laughed but shook her head.

“I’m sorry to pop your bubble but no, that was 100% spontaneous.”

Her best friend, no, girlfriend, laughed and kissed her once more.

“You are unbelievable!”

“And you are unbelievably cute.”

Marinette blushed but laid her hand over Alyas.

“Glad you think so.”

Alya smiled as they shared another kiss.

Without her noticing, between sweet kisses, Marinette winked at a little Kwami hiding at her desk, with one thumb held high up.

And the Kwami cheered in silence as she watched the girls enjoying their free time.

Let me know if you liked it?

[hey-hey-chan]

Click Pause - Seungmin

Inspired by this gfx set by @realstraykids !! Em is so talented and I immediately got this idea when I looked at her art, so please check it out and give it lots of love (not like you haven’t seen it already pssh)

Ok now with no further ado, here it is idk why im so dramatic wtf

*click* *click* 

*click* *click*

The pink cherry blossoms that were fading were always the most beautiful to me. Yeah, the bright pink they get in the beginning is pretty, almost a hopeful feeling, but the fading of the color reminds me how sometimes even the most gorgeous things can try to cling onto life for a bit longer. 

*click* I looked down to my camera and checked the pictures I had taken. I sighed and shook my head, my bangs sticking to my forehead in this warm spring air. 

“No feeling my ass, these pictures are beautiful.” I muttered to myself. I had just come out of my principal’s office. After winning an award, doing photoshoots, and bringing so much recognition to my school, you think the man would be thankful. Wrong. He’s always trying to bring down my reputation and make me fail high school, I don’t know what’s his deal honestly. 

I leaned against a tree and winced in frustration after remembering the conversation I had with him earlier. 

“What?! That’t not fair! You can’t do that!” I yelled at the older man in front of me, he leaned back in his chair, a smirk emblazed on his lips despite trying to hide it with a glare. 

“Young man, you do not speak to me like that. You have to do this to graduate and to get this big scholarship, and if you don’t, then oh well, your whole career is down the drain.” He mocked me by mimicking a toilet flushing which made my whole face turn red in disgust at his behavior. 

“Mr. Kim, it’s just, I-I don’t get it. I’ve been apart of numerous photoshoots, won awards for my work, I’ve gotten interviews with really good colleges, why would you try to hold me back from this?” I questioned. 

Despite being an award winning photographer, I was still a senior in high school trying to make my way on by. The senioritis was really kicking me in the shins right now, but nothing could ever stop me from taking pictures. It was the only thing keeping me sane from this hell hole, yet my principal always had to try and hold me back from achieving my dreams. 

The old guy always gave me weird looks in the hallways and glared at me every time I gave a speech. I don’t know what I did to upset him so much. 

“Oh Seungmin, if you think you’re the best photographer out there, you’re so wrong. I’m sorry to say that but it’s true-”

“That’s a lie, I am good! I just won the 2018 SK Rising Photograph Award, I don’t want to brag or anything, but it’s an award some people only dream of, and I got it at 17. How is that not being good?” I felt my heart beating a million times per second as I felt rage and fear stir inside of me. I felt like I was walking on a flower road to my dreams, and now a huge roadblock was in my way. 

“Yeah, the rising photographer award, which means you’re not there yet. And I’ve been talking with numerous colleges, lots have been asking for you, but also I’ve heard some critique about your photos.” I sat up in my chair, my ears sticking up in curiosity. 

“Critique about what? I mean, I know I have flaws, but they’re fixable. I’m only 17.” I mentioned again. The man laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

“They mentioned how that yes, your photos are good, but they don’t really have any feeling behind them. You don’t take pictures of things that mean something to you, just what you have to take pictures of, you see the difference? They want something raw and emotional or loving, anything like that! And you, being the star of the school, I won’t allow you to fail. So, that’s your next assignment.” He shoved the document in front of me that literally just explained what he told me. “Good luck my boy.” 

I shook my head, trying to erase the memory, although I needed to do this project to finish high school. I guess I could drop out and just go get a real job, but I want to graduate. I mean, I’ve dedicated 4 years to this hell hole, I’m leaving with a certificate and my legacy. 

I raised my camera to get some good shots of the sun hitting the flowers perfectly. 

“You like cherry blossoms too?” My concentration fell to the ground as the girl practically screamed in my ear. I closed my eyes, trying to not lash out at her as I almost had the most perfect shot. “I love them too! They’re so pretty! I love the color pink, it makes me so happy! And pink and white? That’s golden! Also I love cherries because red is my favorite color, but cherry blossoms are pinky, isn’t that weird? I’ve always-” 

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked abruptly, hoping she would get the point and scurry away. Unfortunately, the girl smiled and held out a hand. 

“Oh my bad, I always forget to introduce myself. I’m y/n, and you’re the photographer boy.” I scoffed at her words. Photographer boy, is that what I’m known by? 

I shrugged and tried not to roll my eyes, “Kim Seungmin.” I replied quickly, not dragging this conversation out longer. 

“Ah yes, you’re very popular. I know you. You go to my school you know? We’re in the same grade.” I tried to raise my camera to snap some more pics, but I knew my concentration was already lost. 

“Oh really?” I blandly noted. I saw her nod in the corner of my eye and then did something that made me want to punch her face through the roof. The girl deadass jumped right in front of my camera and kept spitting out nonsense.

“Yeah yeah! Everybody knows you! Although, you don’t seem like the type to just like go to a park and take some pictures. Everyone knows you’re the type of like, high motion picture kinda guy? Wait that didn’t make sense, but do you know what I mean? You’re like always on the move, not the type of nature picture-taker, ya know-”

“Ok I really don’t mean to be rude, but I am trying to complete a project, so can you please leave me alone?” I expected the girl to stop talking, but instead she just laughed and patted me on the arm, messing up my denim jacket. 

“Ahhh, sure of course! Why didn’t you say that earlier!? Oh wells, I guess I’ll be on my way now, see you later!” With those words, she ran into the far distance. 

I shook my head and took off my jacket to get more freedom in my arms. 

That girl was kinda weird, hopefully I never see her again. But then again, what the hell was she going on about? What do people think of me?

I brushed away the thought and returned to snapping pics of the flowers who I knew couldn’t talk.

*click*

---

"So what am I going to do about this?” I was on the phone with my best friend, complaining about the project my principal assigned.

“I don’t know dude, just get the picture done? The man has no idea what he’s talking about, your pictures are pretty cool dude. All high quality and shit.” I groaned and rolled over on my bed which made all my clothes tumble over in the process. 

Everyone thinks photographers have these aesthetically pleasing rooms; my room had a trash bag filled to the top and a spiderman mat on the ground.

“I guess I have to, but I don’t know how to make my pictures different?” Felix laughed harshly in my ear which made me pull my phone away from my face. 

“Just take a normal picture and submit it, 10/10 guranteed the man doesn’t know the different between a picture with ‘passion’ and a picture that’s just good.” 

-----

“This picture has no passion.” The old man threw my picture aside and shrugged his shoulders. 

“C’mon Mr. Kim, I love those flowers, they’re my favorite. I felt so happy taking them.” I lied. I mean, they are my favorite I guess, and I guess I felt happy, but I feel happy taking all my pictures. Because I’m a photographer.

The man winced and pursed his lips together, “hm I don’t doubt that boy. But you’re missing one thing.” I paused, waiting for him to continue. 

“Missing wha-”

“Love.” He interrupted me abruptly to say one daunting word. Love. 

“And I love taking pictures.” The guy had the audacity to sit up on his desk and hum like he didn’t know what I was talking about. “I’m serious.” Mr. Kim got off his desk and sighed. 

“Seungmin, I think at one point you loved to. You had an interest in it as a kid, you pursued it as a real life goal not just a hobby, but now? You see it as just work.” I stood in silence at his words and took a step back, the words hitting me like a blow to my face.

“Just work? There’s no way. I love what I do.” I argued, though even I felt like my words had no bite to them. Mr. Kim stared at me for a few moments, letting my anger seep quickly into my veins. Finally, the man just shrugged and turned to the door. 

“Seungmin, we both know that you’re lying, but maybe you just don’t know that yet. So here’s what I’m telling you, go out, not just to take pictures, but go out and have fun. And then take pictures when you’re actually having fun, not just taking pictures to make it look like you’re having fun. Then maybe, like, meet a girl or someone or something, or whoever you like, whatever. Just meet someone spunky and full of life, that’s my advice to you.” He rambled on and started to shove me out of his office.

“Wait, I-”

“I have work to do! Now go, meet someone who might drive you a lil crazy but does some good to you.” 

I was shoved into the hallways and the door clicked in front of my face. 

“Meet a girl? Why-” 

“SEUNGMIN!” I heard a familiar high pitched shriek come from the end of the hallway. Then, a girl with light pinks came running at me from far away. Oh hell no- “Seungmin, that’s so funny. I feel like I’ve never seen you around here, but now, after we talked yesterday, I see you everywhere!” 

“I mean, not everywhere. Just this once.” I hope. She barked out laughed while hitting my arm like we were friends.

“Yeah true, so, how’s that project coming along?” The words brought anger to my lips and I spat it at the innocent girl.

“You know what? It’s going great, so excuse me, I have to leave again.” I stomped away like a child, holding my head high and left the girl in the dust. I didn’t know what her expression was, but I assumed it was confused. 

I just hoped I never saw this girl again.

“Ugh I can’t sleep,” I spoke to myself. It was a 11:49 on a Friday night, yet I felt jittery and upset. I shook off the sweat on my head and pulled on some real clothes. “Nothing like a good slice of cake can’t heal.” I muttered to myself. 

I guess I might as well get some good pics of the night sky while I’m at it. 

I pulled on a black hoodie paired with dark jeans and left the house. Thank god my parents were on a business trip.

It took me about 10 minutes to walk to my favorite cafe, which was nice since it made me feel calm and sweet in the nice crispy air. I slowly took out my camera to snap a pic, then I remembered Mr. Kim’s words. 

“You just see it as work.” 

I shook my head, no I didn’t. I let my camera hang by my side and walked into the brightly lit cafe. 

“Hi what can I get for you- oh my gosh, hey Seungmin!” 

No no no, how is this girl everywhere Jesus Christ? 

I looked up and saw the familiar cheerful girl with light pink hair. She was even as excited looking at night. 

“Hey y/n,” I greeted respectfully, trying not to be a jackass this late at night. The cafe was dead, I mean I’m not surprised since it’s so late.

“So, really, what can I get for you tonight?” I sighed, peering down at the glass. 

“I guess I’ll get a coffee and a slice of tiramisu.” 

“Ooh! Tiramisu! My favorite! And coffee? At this hour?” I scoffed at his accusatory tone. 

“Yeah I guess I’m already awake, might as well take some pictures of this beautiful night sky Korea is blessed with.” For the first time ever, she paused to think about her words. Then, she shrugged her shoulders and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. 

“I guess, but you should really be getting some rest. Or like not thinking about work all the time.” 

She really didn’t just- I sighed internally and looked away from her face so she wouldn’t see the glare I had. 

“It’s not just work. I like to take pictures,” I said with attitude in my voice. The girl gave a small laugh, not like the ones she had earlier.

“So it is true.” I chuckled at her words.

“What’s true?”

“That you’re so obsessed with doing well that you’re started to take your work too seriously? I mean c’mon Seungmin, you’re 17. Go out a live a little.” 

“Live a little? I live A LOT. I live more than any high schooler actually; I travel abroad, I work with people I’ve only seen in magazines, isn’t that living?” I mocked her words, giving her a piece of my own brain. But, all the girl did was chuckle

“Fine, if you live a lot, then once I get off on my shift, we’re going somewhere fun. No work involved.” I stared at her face for a bit, wondering if she was crazy or something. 

“Go out? With you? No way.” She just laughed at my words. 

“Not as a date silly, all you’re doing is just proving a point. Plus, this tiramisu and coffee was on me so you owe me one.” I scoffed at her words and took the drink out from my mouth.

“That’s crazy, I never asked you to do that-” She shook her head and smiled.

“Nope, you didn’t ask me nor did I tell you I would be doing so. That was fun. You should try it.” I felt heat rise to my cheeks as she just sauntered away and set down her apron. “You coming or not? Either way I’m going alone.” 

“You like your ramen?” I slurped up the noodles and glared at the girl beside me. I said nothing and continued to take another bite. “Oh c’mon Seungmin, I didn’t force you to come out here, you did so yourself.” 

“You made me feel guilty.” I mentioned. She shrugged at my accusation. 

“Oops?” She took a bite of her ramen and groaned happily. “I love ramen, more than cherry blossoms probably. But I think I prefer morning to night, what about you?” I shrugged. 

“I guess I’ve never thought about that...” I trailed off, but not setting down my chopsticks to think.

“Wow you really are how everyone said you were.” At those words, I set down my chopsticks and stared at her, trying to ignore the way her lips were now bright red and her hair was ruffled in her hoodie. 

“Whatever. I’m having fun.” I said, picking my chop sticks up again and taking a big slurp. I heard her giggle next to me. 

“Fine. I’m having fun too.” I heard her take an even bigger gulp next to me, making me cringe. 

“I’m having more fun.” I picked up my bowl to slurp it up, hoping none would spill on me. 

“I’m having the most fun!” She picked up her bowl and chugged the thing, setting it down so only a little was left. She licked her lips and smiled at me. “And that’s how it’s done.” She chuckled. Impulsively, my eyes flickered to her lips. She cocked a brow cheekily. “What are you looking at, pretty boy?” My cheeks turn a bright red, but I grew confused when she stood up. 

“Where’re you going?” I asked out of impulse. Once her expression turned cheeky, I felt my cheeks blush. 

“Just to the river silly, follow me when you’re done.” I watched as me carefully tried to keep her sweater on and body on land while dipping her toes in the water. The street lights lit our surroundings just barely and the rest of the world just seemed so big in comparison to us. 

I set down my chopsticks and picked up my camera. I slowly stood from the table, careful not to make any noise and aimed my camera at her. The camera made a loud clicking noise, so I took a few just in case I would never get this moment again. 

“Hey! What are you doing?” She had a demanding tone in her voice and was slowly stopping over to me. 

I held my hands up in surrender, yet she pouted since I was laughing. “Hey now, I can’t help but take pictures of pretty things.” I heard her lightly gasp which made me laugh, until I felt cold water hit my leg.

“Maybe instead of taking pictures of everything, you just need to enjoy these memories instead.” 

She ran back into the river, her light laugh filling the loud silence of the night sky. I saw her twirl underneath the stars, right where the lighting was perfect. I raised to take a picture of the romantic and brightly lit picture.

I shook my head and set the camera down on my chest. 

No, sometimes we all just have to 

Click Pause.

[gyu-nim]

Touch

Warning: 15+ Topics 

OKAY, I know I’m writing another Sungkyu one but I’d straight up be lying if I told you I didn’t have an incredible time writing this. I know I haven’t been updating as frequently. I’m still on vacation right now and tbh I’ve been busy keeping up with the promotional activities of a certain movie series that I’m a fan of :) I was sitting in front of my laptop today, still on a high from enjoying a few days of full-on fangirling when I thought about this. What I’m writing about in this one, is something I plan to do to my future husband (lol). Hence, I channeled my future wants onto Gyu because I would like to imagine the man I’m going to marry has somewhat similar qualities to him. Also, let me know which member you want me to write about next. I’m thinking of writing my first Jong scenario but currently still at a loss for topics. Let me know if you have any ideas~

Listen:

Birthday - JP Cooper 

Witchcraft - Frank Sinatra 

- Nas

“What did you just say?”

You couldn’t help but giggle at the expression plastered on his face, “You heard me.”

“Yeah,” he scoffed, “I just wanted to make sure you were in your right mind and not possessed.”

Smiling, you crossed your arms, “Oh I meant it, alright.”

“You want us to not have sex for the next three months?”

As you nodded, his eyes widened. All the things he did over the past 24 hours flew back to his mind, was it possible he did something to piss you off? What did he do so wrong that you actually requested ninety days of no intimacy with him?

“Okay, I don’t know if I did something to you but if I did, I’m sorry.”

You burst out in laughter, “Relax, you did nothing wrong. It’s just that, I want us to be able to resist ourselves at least until our wedding night.”

“Just why exactly are you doing this?” he raised an eyebrow.

“I feel like, you know, we didn’t take the traditional route,” you shrugged, “and so I wanted there to be some sort of tension leading up to our wedding night. I want to feel excited about us sleeping with each other on our first night as husband and wife.”

He stood up, “I can tell you right now I’d be just as excited to sleep with you then if you let me sleep with you now!”

“Gyu,” you smiled and placed your palm on his cheek, “do this for me, please?”

“We can do other stuff though, right?”

You shook your head, “No. Physical contact is limited to hugs and kisses for the next three months.”

“You’re kidding!” he groaned.

“Nope,” you held his hands, “come on, you can do this.”

Sungkyu pouted, “How do you expect me not to touch you? That’s going past all my basic instincts.”

“You can touch me just…not like that.” You said and slapped his hand away, which had been creeping its way up under your shirt.

“I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.” He let out a sigh.

“Oh come on, three months will go by in a flash.”

…

One Week Later

“Oh come on!”

Sungkyu was now in a cranky mood. A whole week without touching you nearly drove him crazy. Of course, he had to opt to pleasuring himself – which he realized only gave him a temporary distraction before going right back to wanting you. Because the two of you still resided in the same house, he made sure you knew just how bad he was suffering. He would come out of the bathroom with a smug look on his face, only to earn a grin from you telling him well done, another few weeks and he’d get his prize.

You were seated next to him on the couch, wearing one of his t-shirts and shorts, with your legs stretched on top of his thigh. For the past hour, you had been concentrating at the movie which was playing on the television while he relentlessly attempted to get you naked. You had to swat his hand away ten times before he finally had enough of it.

“How are you putting up with this?” he threw his hands up in the air in defeat.

You laughed, “In general, I’m more patient than you are.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” he glared, “it’s been a week! Come on, let’s go on the sex strike next week and have fun tonight.”

You scrunched your nose up and poked his stomach, “No.”

He rolled his eyes and tossed your legs off this thigh. You stifled back a laugh as he made his way towards your bedroom while mumbling angry nonsense.

“Going to the bathroom again, I suppose?” you called out.

He poked his head out by the door, “Glad you noticed, this is all your fault you know?”

“Have fun!” you wiggled your fingers and waved.

He scoffed and slammed the door shut.

…

One Month Later

He paced around the bedroom nervously as he hissed, “Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up.”

“Hello?”

He sighed in relief as he heard your voice, “Hey, you.”

“Hey, yourself. What do you want?”

“Well I just wanted to see how you were doing, since, you know, you’re staying at your parents’ house from now on until the wedding.”

You giggled, “I just moved out this morning, Gyu.”

He groaned, the truth was, he was desperately uncomfortable and hearing your voice only made him way more aroused than he was before. That was the reason he couldn’t resist himself from calling you.

“I was thinking,” he cleared his throat, “you said that I couldn’t touch you? Touch, that’s physical right?”

“Where are you going with this?” he could almost see your expression.

“Well, that means phone sex isn’t off limits, isn’t it?”

There was a silence on the other side of the phone for a couple of seconds before you burst out laughing, “Goodbye, Kim Sungkyu.”

“No, wait! Don’t hang-” and the phone line went dead.

He yelled in frustration and plopped himself onto the bed. Turning towards your pillow, he inhaled your scent deeply and prayed to God for some sort of comfort that night, because it was going to be a long one. Hell, every single night he spent without you will really push him to limits he’s never been in before.

…

One Week Before the Wedding

“I can’t believe you made him do that.”

“What?” you shrugged as you sipped from your cup of coffee, “There’s only a week left.”

Your best friend sat in front of you with eyes as huge as tennis balls, “You basically forced him into abstaining from sexual activity for three months! And you, come on! Don’t lie to me and say you haven’t been aching to touch him.”

“Of course, I’ve been turned on a couple of times over the past few weeks. But that’s what I like about it – I know my wedding night will be…mind-blowing.” You sighed and giggled.

She rolled her eyes, “You’re marrying Kim Sungkyu, don’t you think you’ll be getting a scolding instead of mind-blowing sex because you’ve done this?”

“I think he’s way too aroused to have his mind straight.”

Clucking her tongue, she picked up her coffee, “How’s he dealing with it?”

“Well,” you pursed your lips, “for the first month he basically begged me for it every single night. Christ, it was as if he was going to die without touching me. But all of a sudden, two weeks ago, he went silent and stopped asking for it. To be fair, we haven’t met up in person for a while since we’re both busy which each other’s side of the wedding. But even the texts he’s sent me are different.”

“Different, how?”

“I think he’s playing ball with it – he’ll make sure I learn my lesson on our wedding night.”

Your best friend’s coffee was now suspended mid-air, “Hot.”

You winked at her, “Exactly.”

…

Rehearsal Dinner – the night before the Wedding

Dinner went pretty smoothly – the two of you were seated next to each other at the head table surrounded by family and close friends. Laughter filled the air and a playlist of all your favorite love songs was looped. You loved every second of it, but you were quite concerned at your fiancée’s behavior.

Throughout the entire night, Sungkyu had only touched you a handful of times. First, when the two of you saw each other he placed a gentle kiss on your cheek. Second, he held your hand as he gave a mini-speech. And then there was the little tap on your thigh as he asked if you wanted more champagne.

“Everything okay?” he snapped you out of your daze.

You shook your head and smiled, “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.”

“You’ve been floating around for a while.”

“I’m just distracted.” You said as you quickly took a sip of champagne.

Sungkyu, on the other hand knew exactly what he was doing. He enjoyed watching you squirm at his gaze, because it let him know that you wanted him just as much as he wanted you. He had resorted to working out (for the first time in his life) as a method of distraction for the past few weeks. He was prepping himself to – literally – drown you in pleasure tomorrow night.

He leaned into your ear, “Turned on?”

Your eyes widened, “No.”

“You can tell me, baby.” He smirked.

You turned towards him and let out a scoff, “So you’re doing this on purpose?”

“You said no touching.” He shrugged.

Rolling your eyes, you bit your lip, “Game on, Gyu.”

“Oh it is so, on.”

…

The wedding had gone by exactly the way you wanted it to. You were incredibly grateful to have had the best day of your life and everyone you loved with you. Of course, you and Sungkyu had proceeded to take the game to a whole other level today. He had been constantly touching you – even at unnecessary times.

Of course, you hadn’t been such a saint yourself. You couldn’t help but smile to yourself every time you imagined the look on his face as you swayed your hips to him on the dance floor. He had grinded back into you as a response – which made you turn red in front of everyone watching.

The two of you were now making your way towards your designated cabana, which was secluded from every other part of the resort. He held out his hand to help you down from the golf buggy. Opening the door, you sighed at the sight in front of you. The entire room was lit with candles with roses spread everywhere.

“Who did this?”

He smiled, “Let’s just say I made sure you were going to like the view tonight.”

You turned towards him, “Why Mr. Kim, such a charmer.”

“Mrs. Kim,” he smiled proudly, “more champagne?”

Nodding enthusiastically, he laughed and shut the door behind him. The two of you popped open a bottle of champagne and made a toast to the prosperous life to come. Placing the champagne flute back on the table, you let out a squeal of delight as he swept you up in his arms.

“I have to carry you over the threshold.”

You raised an eyebrow, “Shouldn’t you have done that at the front door?”

“Front door, bedroom door, same thing.” he said as he kicked the bedroom door open, entering it and placing you back on the ground, facing him.

His gaze was all you needed to know what exactly was about to happen. You encircled your arms around his neck and brought your lips to his. Sungkyu released a sigh of relief as he placed one hand around your hips and the other buried into your hair. Happily letting his tongue in, you felt him mess around with the clips in your hair until it fell, covering your back.

He pulled away, “You have no idea what I have in store for you tonight.”

Amidst your heavy breathing you smiled, “Whatever it is, I think I’m going to like it.”

“Turn around.”

You obeyed his command and felt his fingers unbutton your dress one by one. As soon as all buttons were off, he carefully slipped the dress from your shoulders and it soon fell in a puddle onto the ground. You heard him gasp at the sight in front of him. You smirked, you knew exactly what made him react that way.

Earlier this morning you had purchased the most beautiful set of lingerie – hell even the sight of is was arousing. You had been giddy the entire day waiting for him to undress you just so you could see his reaction.

“Face me.” He told you as he released a sigh, “Goddamn, you are one beautiful woman.”

Smiling, you stepped closer towards him, “Three months worth it?”

“Fuck baby,” he released a breathy laugh, “if I had known, I would’ve waited an entire year.”

You giggled as he pushed you onto the bed and climbed on top of you. He worked a trail of kisses from the top of your head all the way down to your legs. Moans emanated from your lungs as he did his magic on you.

“I’ve missed your touch.”

He pulled you up to straddle him and looked into your eyes, “I’ve missed you.”

You caressed the top of his head, “You have me forever, now.”

He took your palm and kissed the finger which had both your wedding and engagement rings, “And I’ll make sure that you enjoy every single second of it.”

[jaccomedy]

C'mon Summer...

Winter is in full effect, and this guy has been trying really hard not to let it get him down. Seasonal depression is something I’ve struggled with for years. I can usually manage it by staying busy with comedy and working out at the gym. This year I have been occupied by my gigs and my family, but have not been able to get to the gym too much. Something about moving around and getting a sweat going helps my overall disposition. Yesterday I made it in for a workout, so I’m hoping I can continue that trend, and manage my (seasonally) bad attitude a little better than I have been. I’m sure my wife would appreciate that!

A lot has happened since my last post. Emma had a birthday in October, and is now 5 years old! How is that even possible? Seems like yesterday I was learning how to change a diaper and finding out exactly what a booger sucker is. Now I’m an expert at both. Emma goes to preschool 4 days a week, and attends a dance class once a week. Her teachers rave about her attitude and her behavior. At home, her “sassiness” and listening skills (or lack thereof) has grown exponentially and we often butt heads. During parent/teacher conferences her teacher described her as easy going, flexible, and “go with the flow”. We don’t see ANY of that at home. At home there is no such thing as being flexible or “go with the flow”. Things go Emma’s way, or a major meltdown will ensue. She has clearly inherited my temper. Part of the problem for her and I is that we are too much alike. Like me, Emma thinks she’s funny all of the time, even if it’s not the right time for it. Over the years I have learned when to shut my mouth and keep it to myself. (Most of the time!) I can only hope Emma Lou will learn that in time as well.

Avery Jane also had a birthday last fall, and is now a year old! About a month after her birthday she started walking. Then after a week or so of stumbling around, she just took off and started running everywhere. These days she’s grown much bolder and is all about climbing stuff. Mostly things she’s not supposed to climb. Sometimes I catch her in the act and come to her rescue. Other times I’m out of the room, and she falls and hurts herself. She just recovered from a big goose egg on the middle of her forehead, she has a fading bruise on her cheek from a fall last week, and now she has a fresh bruise under her chin from a recent fall. (And while editing this she fell, hit her nose, and may have broken it!) Nothing really deters her. Avery has also earned the nickname “Destructor” for her destructive ways about things. The kid doesn’t hardly ever play with toys, she just likes dumping them out and throwing them around, literally destroying whatever room she is in. When she’s finished with a drink from her sippy cup she tends to fling it across the room like a viking finishing a beer and smashing the glass against the wall. She’s getting bigger, smarter and faster, and I’m paying for every bit of it. At least she can’t talk back yet!

Kim and I also hit a milestone in the fall: Our 10 year wedding anniversary! I feel blessed that this wonderful woman has stood by me throughout my comedy career, and even dared to have kids with me. Although I’m sure she’s having second thoughts about all of that now that we have the kids and know how much they act like me. We celebrated our special day by getting away from those crazy kids for a weekend. The plan was originally to go to San Diego for the weekend. Then we had to purchase a new washer and dryer, so instead we made a more affordable road trip to Decorah, IA. It ended up being a blast! We stayed in a secluded cabin, enjoyed the peace and quiet, and discovered Mabe’s Pizza. (Seriously, go there if you ever find yourself in Decorah!) There’s no “quiet” to be had at home, so it ended up being the perfect trip for us.

Lately I have been doing stand-up at a lot of corporate holiday parties. I’ve had some good ones this year, but I have to admit that my favorite recent show was not actually at a corporate holiday party. Performing at a house party, during a blizzard, in the state of Missouri, for 3 different people’s birthdays was my favorite recent show! Prior to this, I had never actually performed at a house party before. And to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Were these people just going to gather around me in the living room and listen to me tell my jokes? I had no idea. But they paid good money, and I’m always up for a new adventure!

Just getting to the house party proved to be an adventure. As mentioned before, there was a blizzard going on and it was bad enough that I had thoughts of canceling the show. Then I consulted with another comedian, who quickly reminded me that I had driven longer distances, through worse weather, for lower pay, and I should just man up and make the trip. I had plenty of time so I could afford to take it slow, and if roads looked too bad to make the trip, I could always turn around and call it off. So, I made the trip, and the first 2 hours on I-35 South weren’t too awful. Then I had to exit to get to the town. That hour was a little scary. I made peace with God at least two times as my car fishtailed on the non-plowed, country back roads that I was attempting to traverse. Many times I was making fresh tracks on seldom used roads, and I couldn’t even tell where I was at on the road. I took it slow and made it the hotel. Now it was time to be funny!

I arrived at the party early, and only about half of the guests were even there. I introduced myself to people, tried to be charming, and started consuming alcohol. We were in the basement of the house, and set up already was a stage, rows of seats, and even a bar. Things were looking up! I hung out with the group for a couple of hours, then the host jumped on his fancy Bose microphone, and introduced me to the crowd. Most of the party actually sat down and focused on the show. They were a wild and vocal group, so my set required a lot of improv and audience banter. I told the the host that 50% of me thought we’d have a stand-up show and everything would be great, and the other 50% was sure I’d walk into the house to just him, laying there in his “tightie-whities” saying, “Come here Mr. Funnyman!” They were a hot audience and the party was a blast! I made it through the blizzard and was able to make the event a success. It was one of those nights that really made me appreciate what I do for a living, and how much fun it can be!

Honorable mention goes to doing the Des Moines Funny Bone Christmas week. Pictured here with Bill Blank (L) and JerDog (Middle) after the Friday shows. We all out started together in Des Moines, roughly 18 years ago!

The funny story of this post happened before the freezing temperatures set in. The kids and I had driven to meet Kim on her lunch break. On the way home, I was sure that Avery would fall asleep and ruin the nap I was planning to give her once we got home. Instead, Avery was wide awake when we arrived home, and it was Emma that was out like a light. When we were just a few miles from home, I had a big rumble in my gut, and I knew that when we got home, I needed to hit the bathroom ASAP, or suffer the consequences! So, when we arrived and I saw Emma asleep, I had to make a quick decision. There was no time to wake up Emma and get her inside. If I did that I would surely have shit my pants. So I grabbed Avery, locked the car doors, and used my automatic starter to keep the car running. The plan was to run in, take care of the initial “explosion” and get back outside within a couple of minutes to grab Emma. I did exactly that. But when I got out of the bathroom, Emma was there sitting in the living room, crying about how I just left her in the car by herself! How did this happen? Apparently, right after I came inside, Emma woke up and panicked. She immediately unbuckled herself from her car seat and tried to get out of her door. Her door no longer opens from the inside, so she quickly went to the front, passenger side door. She didn’t realize that door was locked and she couldn’t get out that way either. Her solution to these obstacles: lower the window and climb out of the car that way! So within 2 minutes, this girl woke up, realized the situation, and found a way out. Pretty hilarious! And yet another example of how much work I have cut out for me as I raise these imaginative and resourceful girls.

Bottom line is that as much as I have struggled to deal with “Sassypants” and “Destructor”, I love them with all my heart, and they both make me proud. Emma has turned out to be a great big sister and I know that most of the time (when she is naughty) she is just trying to win back some of the attention that she lost when Avery was born. My biggest challenge is to make sure they both get special attention throughout the day. Avery is reckless, but someday that may subside, and I won’t have to have a heart attack every 10 minutes. It’s a tough job being a stay-at-home parent, but I wake up everyday thankful for the opportunity to spend significant time with my daughters.