#marraige of convenience

[graphicpolicy]

Anime NYC 2023: Ize Press announces New Manhwa Title

Anime NYC 2023: Ize Press announces New Manhwa Title #manga #manhwa #animenyc #animenyc2023 #animenyc23 #comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel

At the first ever Ize Press Industry Panel held at Anime NYC, Ize Press announced the upcoming publication of six manhwa titles (Beware the Villainess!; The Villainess Is a Marionette; Marriage of Convenience; My Secretly Hot Husband; SSS-Class Revival Hunter; Tied to You). With the increase of English print releases of popular Korean webcomics, Ize Press is expanding its catalog at an…

[likesomekindofcheese]

Promised- Finale (Grigor Dymov x fem! Reader, Arranged Marriage AU series)

Series Summary: When Emperor Peter's behavior towards your family threatens the alliance between them and Russia, the only way to solve it from breaking is through an arranged marriage with his friend, the handsome but heartbroken Count Grigor Dymov. A man you barely know.

Previous Chapters: One//Two//Three//Four//Five//Six//Seven//Eight//Nine//Ten//Eleven

Chapter Summary: You and Grigor enjoy a long-denied honeymoon

Content Warnings: Some discussions of sex and cursing and mentions of pregnancy and babies- don't worry, Y/N isn't pregnant. But VERY fluffy!

Word Count: 1584

A/N: Thank you guys so much for supporting this series throughout! Now I thought was the best time to conclude it! When season 3 of The Great comes out and should I get inspired, there might be a season 2 of this fic like what @ladystrallan did with I Really Wish I Hated You (which, btw, highly recommend if you love The Great Fanfics). Who knows?! But I hope all of you loved reading it as much as I loved writing this series!

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Taglist:

General Taglist: @stardust-killer-queen​ @queenlover05​ @seraphicmercury

Promised Taglist: Taglist: @itsametaphorgwil​ @bluesfortheredj​ @grigorlee​ @retropetalss @queenlover05 @joeslee   @grigorlee @itsametaphorgwil @always-a-fairycat @foxinaforestofstars @simonedk @i-wished-upon-a-star-one-night @queenlover05 @xviiarez @kiainspace @gwilymleeisbae @writeroutoftime @staradorned @iwritefanficnotprophecies @panagiasikelia @marshmxllowfluf @jamesbuckybarns​ @yourlocalmusicalprostitute​ @rhapsodyrecs​ @ladystrallan​​ ​

You and Grigor were planning on returning to court. You both just wanted something denied to you when you were rushed to be married and when there was a coup- a honeymoon. Three whole months of a honeymoon.

The days were never more lovely- lovemaking at night, awakening when one felt like it, the most sumptuous meals, playing cards by the fireside, reading to each other, and you showing off the various songs you knew how to play. You were starting to teach Grigor chords and his clumsy practicing of scales with mutters of “fuck!” at a mistake could be heard. You still kept shooting practice, but you were relaxed, not caring if you missed the odd target.

It was quite warm for Russia the past two weeks. Flowers were deep in their bloom in the gardens, and it was green everywhere. The vineyards seemed to be a far brighter green than you expected. Perhaps springtime was arriving sooner than you expected or maybe it was a warm spot for a few days. You had to wear your lighter silks as opposed to the warm furs to keep one safe from your new home country’s notorious chill.

As you and your husband toured the grounds together that afternoon, there were fruits of light green and dark purple. You would both look at each other, pluck the small fruits, and try bites of them yourself, feeling the juicy sweetness burst on your tongues, as if only briefly. Grigor would wipe the juice off of his sleeve and give you a kiss and you would taste the grape in his breath as if combined with yours you made your own special wine. Grigor was in his favorite deep green. You had insisted he keep a few buttons down so you could see some of his chest hair. You insisted it was absolutely sexy of him when he wore shirts (especially white ones) with a few buttons undone and he took note. Yes, it was the wrong color today, but you didn’t care. Perhaps that could wait for later tonight when you would hop on him like a rabbit until you screamed each other’s names, not caring about disturbing the servants sleeping below. You were in a bright red dress with golden floral patterns all over it and you perfumed yourself with rose water.

You matched and complimented in your dress as had your souls on the inside- each perfect and making only the other look better when beside it.

You emerged from the kiss and wiped your hand on your skirt.

“Could you hold my hand, my dear?” you asked, presenting your hand out.

He raised his eyebrows.

“Oh abso-fucking-lutely,” he replied, eagerly taking yours.

It was warm and encompassing, the fingers intertwined within each other to feel the pulse of each other. As you both walked back home, the day was fading. The sky turned into a mix of orange and pink and the crispness of evening etched around you. Once you approached back to the manor, the housekeeper greeted you both and assured you that dinner would be ready in one or two hours. Olga, the little servant girl, handed you back your beloved dog and both of you cooed over her.

“Oh and Madame Dymova! Here! Messenger said it’s from Paris! And it’s for you and the master!” she added on, handing over a letter with a familiar wax seal.

Before you could comment on it, Sonya let out a bright bark for want of attention.

“Here Sonya- found this! Here- Good girl!” Grigor offered.

From his pocket, he pulled out a truffle and fed it to the eager and always hungry pup.

“Would you like some wine? There’s a new one they just made here and it’s fucking astounding,” he offered.

“Oh, yes! And ask the kitchen for a plate of bread and cheese and fruit, perhaps?” you asked.

“I don’t see why not!” he replied, giving you a peck on your forehead before going down to the kitchen.

You made your way to the back porch area outside on your white seats and white chairs. You found it had not grown so chilly that you would require heaps of blankets as you have in the past. Sonya lay happily on your lap panting away. Though grown, she still saw herself as a puppy who had to have every last of her needs attended to, or else her mistress would hear her barking and mischief. But you loved her more for it.

You pulled from your reticule an unopened letter from the dress of your pocket. It couldn’t be your family- you heard just yesterday that you were an aunt to a beautiful little niece. Both you and Grigor were already making plans to travel and visit your family and for you to be introduced and be acquainted with his own. So, who could it be? Was it Catherine about her baby or the new education laws? Orlo recommending a new philosophy book to you? Who? You saw the name on it and gasped.

“It’s George! George wrote to us!” you told Sonya, who only tilted her head.

You then ripped it open and smiled, your heart touched by the contents. From the corner, you saw Grigor come out to approach the table. He smiled, holding two glasses of wine, and giving one to you.

“Why thank you, darling!” you chirruped at him.

“No problem at all,” he answered.

A servant immediately arrived behind and held a platter of cheeses, slices of bread, and apples. His blue eyes went to the letter.

“What is that? Who is it?” he asked.

You smiled, handing him the papers.

“Why, it’s George!? Can’t you believe it? She’s in Paris of all places! Oh, that must be wonderful! And here…she said she met someone who she truly loves and who loves her! Oh, I’m so happy for her! We must write back and ask her more about this!” you squealed.

“Why- how good for her! I’m glad!” Grigor wished genuinely with a shrug and a relaxed smile.

Both of you held up your glasses of wine.

“Should we toast to her?” you asked.

Grigor shook his head.

“I have a better one. To what brought us together in the first place. Here, Y/N-to the alliance!”

“To the alliance!” you agreed, daintily clinking your glasses.

Both of you took a first sip.

“It won’t be too long before we return- so much will be different…” Grigor began.

“I’m just glad Marial is in prison…I’ve slept better at night since then…” you sighed.

He did frown briefly. He took a deep drink and set down his glass.

“Well…part of me is eager. Been worried sick over Peter.”

“But you always are, you silly shit!” you teased, setting your own glass down.

He smiled at the words. You thought there was never a more beautiful smile than that of Grigor Dymov when he was well and truly happy. Your heart would always burst with love for him at the sight.

His letters seem fine and happy though…he’s thrilled about the baby. Got a name picked out and everything!”

“What if we have a baby- will we be even ready for that?” you suggested.

So far, your courses were like clockwork and Grigor would spoil you with bedrest and vodka and embraces when the cramps tormented you. But that doesn’t mean the time would never come. In fact, with all the fucking you had been doing it was a pure miracle it hadn’t happened yet!

“I don’t know if we’ll ever be, Y/N…but what about life after the coup? Things will be so…so different. Peter’s not in charge as much. There’s a royal baby on the way. George is in France. Catherine’s changing all the laws to what she wants. Everything is upside down…” he muttered.

“But we can take it…” you assured him.

He clutched his hand onto yours in response and you used your other hand to rest it on his cheek. He relaxed into it, using a hand to touch yours.

“We can take anything as long as we’re together, darling,” he replied.

“Of course, we can, my dear husband…” you cooed.

"Oh, say that again!” he insisted.

You crawled on his lap, kissing his face- his freckles, his forehead, his cheekbones, his chin.

“Dear husband, dear husband, my Grigor, my darling…” you mumbled between the kisses.

“Fuck, you make me hard. Keep it up and I might have to have you on this table before dinner!” he confessed.

“Wait until after dinner!” you insisted with a joking slap on his arm.

“If Countess Dymova requests it, who am I to deny her that!” he gave in.

You giggled and paused. Both of you breathe deeply the warmth of each other and the closeness.

He kissed you with soft lips again, but there was a chasteness- a tenderness to how he cupped your cheek when it happened. You cuddled into his chest as the sun set and he placed an arm around you to draw circles on your back as the dog lay contentedly smiling on the floor with her pink tongue out.

You were happy. After such chaos you had been through- you were completely happy. Dinner was about to be served. You had a home in court and out. You had a precious pup. You had friends. And most of all, you had found a happy, faithful marriage. And a husband who you loved and who loved you.

And this time the wine did in fact not taste like shit.

[blackerthings]

To my writer mutuals: What's your favorite trope? Could be a character trope or romance trope

[fake-elizabeth-bennet]

Marriage of convenience forced by families is one of the celebrated tropes in novels (to be honest, I've read smutty ones more) where the woman had no choice to choose her rich husband but decides to give the marraige a chance because she has to spend her life with the man now.

Do you guys think the story will be enjoyed the same way; were it woman's choice to choose the wealthy husband? Like she doesn't love the man and the marraige is not forced by parents instead she chooses a wealthy man to get married. Now the woman doesn't need your empathy and she is materialistic and shallow??????????????

[sparklejumpropewitch]

Spideypool fic recs!

I've been reading a lot ofspideypoo lately. Here are some of my favorites. All ao3 btw.

•The sneeze

A sick fic oneshot. Strangers to lovers. Really short but sweet Deadpool really just wants Peter to be happy.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58716778

•Matchmaking 101

This is from Daredevil's POV. Peter and Deadpool both constantly come to Matt for relationship advice. He's sick of their shit.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40895010

•One for the team

A slightly longer fake marraige/convenience marriage fic. Wade is kind of an idiot in this but he's also a really good husband.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57102262/chapters/145230880

•The one where Wade "dies"

Wade goes on an avenegers mission and forgets to tell them he can't die. Peter and Wade are married. Really short but so, so, funny.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30201609

•Incarnate sun in his solar system

Five + one things. Deadpool unsuccessfully tries to ask out Spider-man. Wade is so dramatic and Peter is done with it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/54420454/chapters/137854210

•Propositions

They enter a cosplay contest as themselves. Friends to lovers getting together fic.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10785036/chapters/23921979

•Gunpoint

Deadpool starts showing up at the bugle everyday to annoy Jameson into leaving Spider-man alone. He doesn't realise his best friend is witnessing the whole thing as Peter Parker.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/44132979/chapters/110974665

[tommyxgrace-always]

Tommy & Ada parallels

Political inclination

Tommy was known to be communist/socialist before the war, dreaming about changing the world. After Grace, he eventually decides to pursue politics.

Ada also shared communist ideologies and is active to an extent with Freddie. When Tommy became MP, she naturally became his political advisor. In the finale, Tommy reiterates the fact that she was born for politics in her family.

Fine things in life

Tommy liked to possess lavish and fine things. His suits for example, In s1, we see how he gets his suits done from the same place as Kimber. In s4, we hear how he gets his suits done by a tailor in London. Similarly he admired Tatiana’s luxurious car in s3 just like the look of awe he gave May’s mansion. Arrow house was decorated with the finest things - paintings, interiors, furniture and his bedroom with Grace too.

Ada’s house in s2 said it all. The interior, the furniture everything was expensive and grand. This aspect of her personality is reiterated in s5, by showing the luxurious redecoration and also her art pieces, vases etc (when finn was too scared to ruin it with his blood)

Love & Marraige

Both married the love of their life inspite of opposition from family. Ada married Freddie even though Tommy and her brothers were against a communist. Tommy married Grace even when Polly was against her.

Both their children were born out of wedlock. When Ada got pregnant there was ambiguity about Freddie’s intentions for her. Just when Ada lost hope and decides to be practical and abort, they have a dramatic reunion at the train station. Their love for each other is validated and they look forward to have their child. Similarly Grace got pregnant with Tommy’s child, there is ambiguity about her intentions and it seems they will go their separate ways again. Just when Tommy seems to have accepted that she will sail away and decides to be practical and be with May, they have a dramatic reunion at the Derby. Their love and longing for each other is re-validated and they look forward to have a life together.

Both lose the love of their life. Tommy takes it way worse because of his already existing war trauma. Ada is normal and emotionally stable so she carries on without getting sucked into addictions, depression and hallucinations whereas we all know how Tommy suffered after Grace.

Both end up being widowers and single parents

Companionship

They never looked for love again. Companions yes but not another love.

We see Ada interested in the Russian spy in s3 and later we see her with Ben Younger. There may be other men whom she saw which we don’t see onscreen. Tommy, we all know went from women to women. Prostitutes, aristocrats, communist, secretary, dead wife’s ghost, ex girlfriend’s ghost, you name it!!!

Ben Younger was Ada’s constant and the longest one we see with her. They seem to share a stable relationship like two “mutually consenting normal people” who respect each other, can share. Lizzie is a constant go-to for Tommy but they share an unequal dynamic where she has been hopelessly in love with him from beginning while he saw her as no strings attached buddy and had other priorities and is done with love after Grace. Thats why that relationship is chaotic and toxic but also convenient and practical for both.

Interestingly they also have a child out of wedlock with their companions. The difference is Tommy had to marry Lizzie as a man who took responsibility of his child. Whereas Ada mentions she wasn’t planning to marry Ben, it’s seen as a bold move.

Ada and Ben’s relationship confirms what Grace fan always knew unlike a certain section of the fandom . Just because a partner is decent and good and you like them does not automatically mean you fell in love. Ada explains in a s5 scene after she hears of Ben’s demise “I didn’t love him. But I liked him. He was decent and good….I wasn’t going to marry him. God he didn’t deserve us”. This is exactly how Tommy and Lizzie were designed too. Due to Tommy’s trauma and unequal feelings for Lizzie, their relationship is more toxic in nature than Ada and Ben’s. But at the core it was companionship. Two people having a convenient partnership that serves both. Tommy also found Lizzie to be decent and good compared to him. She took care of his children and was loyal to him and his family. She didn’t deserve him. He didn’t love her either but liked her. He felt sorry for her as she had to bear the ultimate pain of losing a child.

There is so much more I wanted to cover about their bond. But this post will be too long. So will do a separate post.

[jkslipppiercing]

Bumblebee 03 | jjk

• summary: Jeon Jungkook was your high school bully. What are you gonna do when your parents are forcing you to marry him as the country's most well-known CEO?

• genre: enemies to lovers, slowburn, high school bully to lover, arranged marriage, CEO/billionare romance, marraige of convenience.

• pairing: ceo!jk x reader, high school bully!jk, asshole!jk.

• warnings: cursing, kinda infidelity (?), close proximity, "my wife" moment lol

• WC: 4k

• taglist

• index

• previous/next

Cold. You feel cold.

You wake up to an empty bed, staring groggily at the ajar space beside you. Oh. So he left.

You check your phone, eager to know what time it is; 8:03 AM.

So he must've left for work. You should talk to him as soon as possible, concerning what happened yesterday. Not only are you curious to know what caused Jungkook such a nightmare, but you're also worried about his well-being. You want him to be okay, of course.

Knowing he should be at his agency by now, considering it's an early Monday morning with an agency he has to manage, you get off the bed and head to the bathroom. You freshen up, then put on a simple work attire of a white button-up shirt and navy blue skirt. The shirt hugs your breasts comfortably, while the skirt adds a touch to your curves, making you look professional, but elegant. You throw on a pair of white heels, and head for the door.

Jungkook already explained that he’s had a private chauffeur that chaperones him wherever he goes. With you now being a part of his life, his chauffeur will now be under your command as he will go about driving his own car. With that being said, you send a quick text to Mr. cha, the chauffeur, and ask him to meet you by the gates. He arrives at the mansion’s entrance before you, accompanying you to the car by the gates.

Shortly after, you both start heading to Jeon Modeling Agencies.

●●●

Holy shit. It’s massive.

It’s your first ever time visiting Jungkook’s company. You’ve never come here, never having a reason to, and so you stare up at the building feeling intimidated. He manages to keep ahold of this all by himself? That’s incredibly impressive. Props to Jeon Jungkook.

You thank Mr. cha as you smile at him; “Thank you, Mr. Cha. I will make sure to shoot you a quick text when I need a ride back home.” He nods his head in acknowledgement then bows, motioning for you to go about your day. You do just that, entering the building then heading straight to the reception desk.

She smiles kindly at you, “Good morning! How may I assist you today?” You return the smile right back at her. “I need to speak to Mr. Jeon.” Her eyes go wide.

“Mr. Jeon? The CEO?” She stares at you in confusion. So what?

“Yes, the CEO. May I ask the reason why you’re so surprised?” You look at her expectantly waiting for a reasonable answer.

“O-oh, well, don’t worry about it.” She plays with her fingers nervously. “If you continue straight in that direction, there’d be an elevator which you can use to go up to the 15th floor. From there, head to the right towards Mr. Jeon's secretary's desk, and you can take it on from there.” She continues to fiddle with her hands, her earlier bubbly personality long gone.

“Well…thank you.” You awkwardly throw a lop-sided smile her way as you carry on with the directions she instructed you with. You use the elevator, arriving at the 15th floor as you take a right and beeline toward the secretary’s desk.

She types away at the computer in front of her, not sparing you a glance. “Um, excuse me?” You clear your throat, expecting her to throw as much as a glance your way. She doesn’t, her eyes staying fixated on the screen as she speaks, “How may I help you?” She mumbles, a cold tone seeping through her smooth voice.

“I came here to speak to Mr. Jeon.” You place a hand on your hip, dissatisfaction evident on your features. She should show a bit of respect, at least.

“Pffft.” Her snort takes you off-guard as she finally looks up from the screen and at you, laughing right in your face. “And what makes you think someone like you is allowed into his office?” She mocks. “Only high-class people from CEOs to business associates are allowed to speak to Mr. Jeon. Visits you should be making are to the hair salon.” She smirks. What the fuck? Who the fuck does this bitch think she is?

Just when you open your mouth to retaliate, the giant wooden door beside you opens. You hear a deep, ice cold voice that cuts through the air like a knife. “Yoona, you’re fired.” Jungkook speaks, his eyes never once leaving you as he directs his words to his secretary.

Yoona’s eyes widen. “W-what?” She fumbles.

“Did I stutter?” His eyes now look at her, void of emotion. “Pack your bags and leave. I expect to never see you step foot into this building ever again. Understood?” He raises an eyebrow when Yoona takes longer to respond. He speaks again, more strictly this time.

“The last thing I need is a crude secretary who thinks she’s important enough to disrespect my future wife.”

His eyes stray to yours as he feels you staring at him, expression beyond stunned.

Yoona stays quiet as she begins packing her stuff. In the meantime, Jungkook places his hands on your waist and pulls you to him. Losing your balance almost causes you to bump your head on his chin, as he raises a hand to your face, only to pinch your chin between his thumb and index finger. He inches closer to your ear, huskily whispering: “Why are you here, bumblebee?” Your ears go red when you see Yoona freeze from the corner of your eye. At this angle, Jungkook looks like he’s kissing your neck rather than whispering something to you. You push yourself away from him as you look him in the eye, your words laced with an implication aimed at Yoona to understand. “I think we should take this to the office, Mr. Jeon.” He smirks as he pulls your wrist, entering the office and closing the door behind him.

Outside, Yoona stays rooted to her spot as she fumbles to reach into her purse and pull out her phone, hastily sending a text to her colleagues’ groupchat, asking them to meet up. She claims to have an important matter to discuss about the young and single hot-shot CEO, not being so single anymore.

“May I know what the fuck you are doing here, Y/N?” Jungkook’s harsh tone catches you off guard. You came to check on him…after last night. Is that so bad?

“I just thought I’d drop by, see how work is going…” You hesitate. Maybe Jungkook doesn’t remember what happened, and you both will just carry on living like nothing did happen.

You start walking around his office, admiring the abstract art of naked women he has hung on his walls. One of them is an envision of a women that shows off an incredible burst of confidence- which shows from the way she’s spreading on the canvas, and the way she’s painted- yet, she has no face. Over her features are scribbles of black ink. Almost like confidence is an empowerment of freedom. She’s not trapped in a body or an identity. She’s free.

You begin tracing the painting with your fingertips, Jungkook’s voice startling you yet again.

“Why are you here, Y/N?” This time, the tone of his voice slices through the air, piercing through your ears and aiming straight for your conscience. He doesn’t want you here.

Your eyes narrow, brows scrunching in irritation. You still have your back to him, eyes on the painting as you speak. “Why do you care?” Your tone is just as irritated as his, mirroring the annoyance.

“Go home. I don't want you here.” You turn around in time to see him lean on his desk, hands gripping the wood on either side of him as his knuckles turn white. He grips the edges tighter when he sees you scoff. You take slow steps toward him, your heels clicking against the cold marble floor.

“And who are you, Mr. Jeon, to tell me what to do,” You’ve now stopped in front of him, planting yourself so close to his body that your nose almost nudges his. He breathes heavily, his eyes boring into yours, speaking louder than they’d ever have when looking at you.

“You must be so delusional…to tell me what I can and can’t do.” You whisper with such demise- you don’t recognize your voice.

Jungkook’s jaw clenches as a muscle ticks. His eyes trail to the painting you were earlier staring at, his focus straying from you to it. You notice, so you lean closer to him, just as you grab the area between his jaw and neck, your thumb resting on his cheek. You turn his face enough that he’s looking at you again. “I do whatever I fucking want to, Mr. Jeon.” Your voice sounds from in between your lips in a mere whisper.

You raise the other hand to plant on the other side of his neck, the other still resting on part of his jaw. You look like you’re cradling his head is a way that makes him look so fragile, as you lean your head forward. “I know you’re not mad at me.” You speak , your voice sounding just above a whisper. He mirrors the action, your foreheads now resting against one another. Both your eyes are sealed shut, your breaths mingling there in the silence.

Your hands snake around his head and into his hair, massaging his scalp and combing through the tousled strands. A low hum sounds from him, voicing his thanks. You know why he’s acting this way. He’s stressed. He fears you’re going to run away now that you've seen what happened the night before. Underneath the angry exterior is just a lonely Jungkook in need of some love. And you’re going to give it to him. But for now, you need to understand his perspective.

You struggle to find your voice. “Talk to me, Jungkook.” His head unbinds from yours as he lifts it to looks at you. Gone is the cold hearted Jungkook, and in his stead is a vulnerable one. His eyes plead with a silent question, and you smile in a soft understanding.

“Tonight?” He asks.

“Tonight.” You confirm

Tonight is the night where no secrets are left to keep.

●●●

10:00 PM, on the dot…still no Jungkook.

Tictoc, tictoc, tictoc.

The ticking of the clock taunts you. This is torture, considering you’ve been waiting for four hours. You’ve never had to wait this long for anything.

After you left the Agency, you thought you and Jungkook had already agreed to meet back at home at about 6:00 PM. He promised you, claiming he’s going to explain everything. Everything, as in, his family background. You agreed, arriving home to prepare for the night. You had decorated the dining table with all sorts of appetizers and main-dishes; you loved to cook. You put on a comfortable, yet classy red dress, feeling like you should be ready for whatever was going to happen.

You had planned everything out, only for Jungkook to come back home at midnight, smelling like another woman.

You’d been fast asleep by then, the food left untouched.

●●●

Jungkook’s POV

He unlocks the front door with ease, the warm and fresh scent of roses welcoming him. You must’ve lit a candle, it smells hella good in here.

He never lit candles around his house. He never had miniature statues resting on his shoe rack. He never had cute little notes and reminders scattered around his house in the most random places. Yet it’s all because of you.

As he enters further into the abode, another sight welcomes him. It’s you, hunched over the dining table while you sleep peacefully, in front of you situated are multiple plates filled with all types of food. You must’ve cooked for him. Jungkook feels a tinge of guilt pinch at his insides. He shouldn’t have been fucking around at a gentlemen's club all the while you were cooking for him. And waiting for him. You waited. He knows that because he saw the multiple messages you had texted him with your phone, at the moment bunched up in your hand. It seems like you fell asleep while scrolling on social media, refusing to succumb to your exhaustion. You were always stubborn, so you fell asleep trying your best not to.

Jungkook’s guilt deepens, and an angry frown adorns his features. He’s angry at himself. Angry at himself for acting like such an asshole. He was always one, but this is just next-level-shit.

He heads into his room, changes out of the clothes that he feels oh-so-disgusting in. He feels like shit, probably because he’s acting like one. He really done went to a strip club while you put all of this effort into doing something for him. To listen to him. And he kept you waiting. He will never think of himself the same way again.

But Jungkook isn’t used to this. He isn’t used to thinking about a girl this much. Usually, he would just fuck a woman to satisfy his needs and get rid of her the next day. Although he feels like he truly needs to fuck the shit out of you seven days a week, he also cares for you. He thinks about you all day, what you’re doing, if you’ve eaten, if you slept well. That's why he needs you beside him all the time, so he has a plan. He needs to get you to bed first, though.

A girl was all over him tonight at the club, despite him showing no visible interest in her. He was thinking about you the whole time, but he’s a coward. He isn’t ready to tell you all about his life yet; what he’s feeling. He’s scared, wants to live like nothing’s wrong for a bit more. So to avoid the so-called “talk” you were planning to have with him, he went to a random club to get drunk and forget.

He did, essentially, get drunk, but it wasn’t enough to drown the voices in his head.

After putting a pair of sweats on- no shirt because he’s all hot and bothered- he heads back to where you were to find you awake. You have an adorable pout on your lips, your face is all puffy, and Jungkook struggles to keep his expression neutral. You’re so cute.

“You’re here?” You ask with a slight tilt of your head. He nods and walks to you carefully. Only then does he notice the empty bottle of wine on the table. You were hunched over it, hiding it from you. He wants to burry himself in the deepest, darkest pits of the earth if he’s the reason you got drunk.

“Let’s get you to bed, sweetheart.” His voice is merely above a whisper as he goes to pick you up from the chair.

“No.” Your response comes out strict. He stays rooted to his spot, waiting for what you’re about to say. “We need to talk.” You mumble. You’re not drunk enough to blackout, but the exhaustion mixed with the groggy state caused by alcohol is enough to get you drowsy.

“We will. Tomorrow.” He poorly attempts a reassuring smile, failing miserably, but of course: you don’t notice.

“Where were you, Jungkook? Why didn’t you reply back to me? I was worried sick.” He freezes at your irritated tone. You’re mad…well, obviously, you have the right to be. He acted like such a dick. He knows that.

“I- I got caught up at work.” He actually checked out of the agency earlier than usual today, only to visit a strip club with a person he knew would understand him. He always called that person when he was in too deep in his thoughts and needed a quick break. He needed a break from everything- from you haunting the entirety of his thinking- and hitting taehyung up was the best solution.

He doesn’t mention that, though.

You’re unconvinced, and you make sure he gets the memo when you settle on an agitated frown on your lips. He finds the sight too cute for him to handle- it makes him feel even more guilt for lying to you- so he looks away.

He proceeds to you when he doesn’t hear your protests anymore, picking you up from the chair bridal style as you stifle a yawn. “I hate you…” You mumble again, balling your hand into a fist and putting all your might into the weak punch you muster to his chest. “I deserve that and much more, sweetheart.” He whispers under his breath, quiet enough for you not to hear.

Your head rests on his shoulder, your hands encircling around his neck a second later to find some sort of stability. He finds the position comfortable, and all he wants from the world is to sit down on the sofa in this exact position and fall asleep; but he’s too guilty for that, right now.

So he settles on plopping you on your side of the bed before he whispers to you, “Y/N…” Your eyes are half open, state drifting in and out of consciousness. You don’t succumb to sleep, though, you hum back a tired response.

“I’m going to change your clothes for you, okay?” He asks softly. He still expects you to say no, you’re still mad at him; but you’re not awake enough to acknowledge that. Not really focusing on his question, you mumble an incoherent response then nod your head and swat his shoulder. You giggle in the most drunk way possible, falling asleep the minute right after.

He stays careful, bundling your dress from your ankles all the way to your chest, taking it off through your head, cautious enough to not disturb you. Just after your dress is neatly hung in his closet- in the section he made for your clothes, as the walk-in closet is still under construction- he realizes something.

You’re not wearing a bra.

It was a silk dress, so he understands your preference. He’s not oblivious, knowing the outline of the bra would’ve taken away the essence of the dress. The purpose of the silk was to hang loosely around your breasts, giving them a flattering shape, overall making them look good. Had you actually worn the bra, it would’ve ruined the appearance of the effortless beauty of the dress.

Instead of being shocked or entranced by your boobs, he’s respectful about it.

He simply takes one of his favorite shirts and puts it on you, letting you sleep.

Soon after, he turns the lights off and lays on the bed with his back to you, giving way for his thoughts to consume him entirely.

●●●

Y/N’s POV

Your feet paddle against the floor as you make your way to the kitchen, wanting to grab a cup of coffee to gather your thoughts.

You woke up to an empty bed- as usual- with Tylenol and a cup of water on the nightstand, waiting for you to wake up. A painful headache attacked you as soon as you woke up, so you happily agreed to take the medication.

As you make your way to the kitchen area, aromas of deliciously cooked bacon and eggs welcome you. You follow the scent like a starving puppy, eyes wide and curious, and find yourself face with a breathtaking scene. Jungkook is shirtless, has an apron on, and is cooking the bacon while facing you. His muscles flex with each and every movement, from flipping the pan to fetching the seasonings on the counter, and you have never salivated harder over something. Or someone.

“You’re awake.” Jungkook’s dimple makes a grand appearance as he smiles at you. Your heart just melted.

You try your best to reciprocate the smile, but your mind is prickling at you. You waited for Jungkook yesterday, but he didn’t show. Why? You don’t remember anything after that. You do remember drinking an entire wine bottle because of how upset you were, though. You were never a drinker, you get drunk very easily; a lightweight.

“Jungkook…” He looks at you as he turns the stove off- deeming the food done and ready serve- and then takes the apron off. He stays in his grey sweatpants, serving the food on a single plate. He hums to you in question.

“Are you overworking yourself?”

Out of all the things you were about to say, Jungkook had expected you to question him about being late. Instead, you had asked if he was overworking himself, as if you weren’t suspicious if he wasn’t at work. You trusted him enough that you didn’t suspect anything else.

He was going to tell you everything today, even going to the strip club. But with you acting this way and being understanding about it, he’s afraid again. He doesn’t know what your reaction is going to be, but he knows that everything needs to be cleared out. He shouldn’t be immature.

“Y/N, I went to a gentlemen's club yesterday.” He just says it. Why hesitate? It’s only going to make things worse.

“What?” A single word escapes your lips, and he panics.

“A strip club.”

“Oh.”

There’s a silent beat occupying the space before you speak again.

“Were you trying to avoid us talking?” You're blank. Neutral. Expressionless. It scares him.

His eyes are wide, racing through all of the possibilities in his head of not telling you, but he goes on. “Yes.”

You still betray no emotion, blankly staring at Jungkook, who now sits opposite you on the table. He had set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of you before sitting down.

“Let me make one thing clear,” You speak with a smile on your face, but it’s fake. He can see right through you; you’re disguising your true feelings with fake ones.

He waits for you, “This is nothing but business, Mr. Jeon.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. Jungkook’s anxiety spikes. Fuck.

“And what do you mean by that?” He knows exactly what you mean. He doesn't want to believe it.

“I mean,” You take a deep breath, “Our whole relationship is purely for convenience. It is only purposeful for business, and it will stay that way.” You speak cautiously, but making your point clear.

He almost flinches. You’re basically saying that you and Jungkook shouldn’t mix your personal feelings and lives with each other’s. You’re basically telling him, there’s no need for him to talk about his life because you don’t want to know anymore. Everything is just business. Ouch.

Jungkook feels a stab straight to his heart. He wanted to open up to you, he really did he just wasn’t ready for it yet. He didn’t want to feel betrayed, and that’s exactly what you are doing right now. He kept running away from facing reality solely because he didn’t want to ache anymore. He was tired of the pain he had to relive and re-experience every passing second of the day. Is it so hard to understand?

Gone is the vulnerable Jungkook, instead is the cold one. The distant CEO who doesn’t befriend anyone. The lonely twenty-seven year old who deals with everything on his own. It has always been this way, and it will always be. He should’ve known. He clung on to an invisible string of hope, only for it to snap in half before he had the chance to believe in it.

Jungkook’s face turns into one void of emotion. He wears a blank mask that covers the true identity of his feelings. Right now, he’s hurt. When he speaks again, he uses the same cold tone he uses when he’s being professional with someone, just like now. “Deal.” He offers his hand for a handshake, which you happily take.

He gets up and heads for the bathroom, turning around just in time to catch you staring; “Oh, and Y/N…” He pauses, making it look like he’s thinking about what he’s about to say, when in actuality, he's mocking you. Keeping you on your toes.

“Starting today, I’m your boss, and you’re my personal assistant.”

Challenge accepted, Jeon Jungkook.

next

@hoseokteardrop @nochuel @nays2112 @jksoftii @yu-justme @meadow-in-spring @bunnykoos @looneybleus @fushigurosdarling @alpha-mommy69 @junecat18 @xjiminsthighsx @tanniesdoll @winterbeartaehyungbestboy

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Since Miriel and Finwe’s reunion is with everybody alive, are the conditions for marriage and being reembodied different in your au?

I guess you could say so? As you can probably tell, my au isn’t very canon accurate (which is fair, it’s not my intention to be).

In this au the whole miriel-finwe-indis remarraige drama basicaly stems from the idea that the valar need indis to have her kids in order to follow Eru’s plan.

Elven marraige in general in this au is a lot more chill(?) than in canon. Bc the elves are immortal and, while there are elves that get married and stay married for the rest of time, it would make more sense for divorce and such to be more common bc noone stays the same for millenia at a time, and just bc a marraige ends, doesn’t mean it’s failed.

Furthermore, i really enjoy the idea that, bc of what i just mentioned, there are different types of marraige. A more casual type, a marriage of convenience type, a very serious type, etc.

The one finwe and miriel had was pretty much the most serious one an elf could have, basically they swore to be together for the rest of time and in doing so essentially melded their souls. They’re still different people, but their souls are so intertwined that you literally can’t separate them. On one hand, it means that if one gets hurt, the other does too (hence finwe loosing a good chunk of himself when miriel passed and becoming somewhat of an apathetic father) but on the other hand it also helps keep each other alive bc through this bond they split the pain and injuries, essentially.

Finwe and indis’s marraige is more politcal (at least on finwe’s side) he needed a mother for feanor and needed to quell the unrest and indis was oh so willing (yeah, so maybe finwe is a lot more manipulative than most people realize). But bc miriel was for all intents and purposes dead, he lacked a lot of the empathy that would have made him a better father so….

The vow finwe and indis made is less serious (relativly) than the one between finwe and miriel, and valar approved.

Interestedly enough, finwe and miriel actually married before they got to valinor, so their vows weren’t blessed by the valar, so to say. They vowed to each other and to the beings they worshiped. They vowed on the earth, sea, and sky (which are the entities that the cuivienen elves respected, silvan and avari elves still swear on these enteries instead of the valar).

This actually caused a bit of a loop hole bc the valar, due to not being the ones to bless/recognize their union, don’t actually have any jurisdiction in regards to finwe and miriel’s marraige, and technically finwe and miriel’s marraige doesn’t actually intersect with finwe and indis’s. This is also a factor as to why finwe could be married to both elleths at the same time. (For context, polyamorous marraiges still work in this au bc the marraige vowa include all (possible) partners, where as finwe and miriel’s marraige is entirely seperate from finwe and indis’s marraige)

Basically, it’s a lot of technicalities and red tape that’s keeping everything running.

[world-of-wales]

Okay I’m obsessed with the enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience/arranged marriage/ fake dating trope

Recommendations please 🙏

Here you go anon, sorry it took me some time to answer this. I had to open my laptop to get my book lists. A lot of the books have overlapping tropes. If you want any other recs just send me a msg ♡

And most of these are okay and Clean books but a lot of them come with heavy stuff so please check your triggers before you dive into them.

ENEMIES TO LOVERS -

RWRB (Coz that started the whole boom Conversation) - Casey McQuiston

Serpent & Dove - Shelby Mahurim

Dance of Thieves - Mary E Pearson

Spanish Love Deception - Elena Armas

5 Rounds - Nikki Castle

Brutal Prince - Sophie Lark

To Hate Adam Connor - Ella Maise

Taste - Melanie Harlow

Eleanor & Grey (not exactly enemies to lovers but he's very grumpy and closed off) - Brittany C Cherry

From Lukov with Love - Mariana Zapaata

By a Thread - Lucy Score

Twisted Hate - Anna Huang

Until I get you - Claire Conttreras

Weak Side - SJ Sylvis

Grumpy Romance - Nia Arthurs

Rogue - Greer Rivers

The Summer We Fell - Elizabeth O Rourke

Beauty and the Baller - Isla Madden Mills

Things We never got over - Lucy Score

Mafia Royals (A LOT OF THEM) - Rachel Van Dyken

Heart Song Duet - Jennifer Hartmann

Crow - A Zaverelli

ARRANGED MARRAIGE / MARRAIGE OF CONVENIENCE -

Marraige for one - Ellas Maise

The Windsor Series (ongoing, 3 books out) - Catharina Maura

Terms and Conditions - Lauren Asher

The Penalty Box - Odette Stone

The Buff - Devney Perry

To Love Jason Thorn - Ella Maise

The Wall of Winnipeg - Mariana Zapaata

King of Wrath - Anna Huang

Forever after all - Catharina Maura

Twisted - Emily McIntyre

Fake Empire - CW Farnsworth (or Swansworth)

Sinners Anonymous - Somme Sketcher

First 3 books of Filthy Rich Americans Series - Nikki Sloane

Dark Succession - Katee Robert

Marraige Effect - Karla Sorenson

Beautifully Broken Redemption - Catherien Cowles

Duchess Deal - Tessa Dare

FAKE DATING -

The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood

The Cheat Sheet - Sarah Adams

Fix Her Up - Tessa Bailey

Addicted to You - Krista & Becca Richie

Hani and Ishu's guide to Fake Dating - Adiba Jagirdar

Redeemed - Lauren Asher

The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang

Overruled - Emma Chase

Play Fake - Maggie Rawdon

That Kind of Guy - Stephanie Archer

The Bodyguard - Katherine Center

The Boyfriend Candidate - Ashley Winstead

First Down - Grace Reilly

The Real Deal - Lauren Blakeley

Happy Place - Emily Henry

Foxe and the Hound - RS Grey

My Life in Shambles - Karina Halle

Twisted Lies - Ana Huang

Blind Side - Kandi Stiener

The Deal + The Risk - Elle Kennedy

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Mall

Faking with Benefits - Lily Gold

The Upside of Falling - Alex Light

Unfortunately Yours - Tessa Bailey

[bohemian-nights]

It's always interesting how as soon as black women become a love interest in a straight ship 1 of 2 things will happen.

A third thing, the double standards, an example:

Laena x Rhaenyra ship- in the books we know they were close and some fans use the phrase"more than fond of"to reinforce they were a couple(nothing against this couple it's still fiction eh)

Everything normal here.

But when we learnt more about Rhaegar and Elia and their relationship, the sentence "fond" is still used to describe their relationship and now you have people saying "oh they were just friends" "oh he didn't love her" "oh Elia will be okay with Rhaegar and Lyanna being a couple"

First at all, the racism, Dorne is not okay with adultery in marraige, they don't care if if man or woman, UNMARRIED, take a paramour,UNMARRIED; it's different for them, a different mindset

•Convenient how now when their white fave needs to be paired up with a white character(nothing against Lyanna, the girl was 14 year old)when there are POC characters that show interest in them(Elia loved Rhaegar and I can dream he loved her, why? BECAUSE I LOVE ANGST)

CONVENIENCE MY DEAR FRIEND

Read about the Sophie's actress' scandal(if you called that) -just wtf.

Also Bethany's harassment.WTF.

If they are not happy with Sophie being black, then they are free to read the books or ignore it! It's not that difficult.

Bethany is gonna slay this season, so stay mad colonizers😏

Sorry for the rant, tired of this nonsense🤣

Ps: Some people are starting shipping Dettles out of spite, for the racism's nonesense so yeah, IT'S GONNA BE A LONG YEAR HERE!!All of you are doing great sweeties🥰

Don’t apologize for ranting cause everything you said is the truth👏🏽

I hate Laenyra. People mainly hype it up to move attention away from Daemon and Laena’s marriage and center their self insert into their relationship .

Yeah it’s ironic that the same people hyping up Laryngitis and saying all those who oppose it are racistare the same people who love dunk on Elia non-stop and say that she was fine with her husband sleeping with Snow Becky because she’s dornish. The same people hyping up Jon’s parents are the same people who dunk on Dettles.

I’ll be the first one to say that I don’t give a damn about Ravioli and Snow Becky, but I’ll admit that it was GRRM’s intention to make them romantic(it’s definitely not supposed to be grooming even if I find the whole situation weird). I’ll even admit that there are plenty of similarities between Dettles and that ship, but you’d have an easier time finding a leprechauns gold than getting those people to admit the same.

Don’t get me started on the Bridgerton fandom. A bunch of ungrateful bigots who keep making demands of Shonda while at the same time degrading her and saying there are “too many Black people” on the show (and then crying when people call them out for being the anti-Black morons they are).

And I get that Masali hasn’t been officially announced as Sophie, and of course she’s not the only possibility, but she’s the only one whose name that has been circulating around that fits the casting call. Her schedule was cleared last year and she’s got no upcoming projects. She’s following multiple members of the cast and multiple members are following her back.

(Nicola, Hannah Dodd, Hannah New, Victor Ali who is suspected to be playing John, as well as one of the hairdressers who does the main casts hair to name a few. Hell, there was even one of the directors following her, but he mysteriously unfollowed her for some reason).

More importantly, no one else has produced another casting call to contradict said casting call or to show that the role she was cast for is a member of the Stirling family.

(I’m not going to get into it, but if you’re “evidence” hinges on Masali and Victor Ali looking alike please go down to Lens Crafters cause they don’t look nothing alike outside of being dark and Black. It’s fucking offensive as fuck to say they do).

And as I said in a previous ask, the Bridgerton team has cast a role with a specific race in mind cause they were looking for an Indian woman to play Kate(which is how some people figured Simone Ashley was playing Kate when most of Kates fancasts were white women👏🏽).

So the fact that you have so many people running around like a chicken with its head cut off claiming it’s impossible for Sophie to be Black, that Sophie should be x race, or just being racist jackasses is disturbing asf. You shouldn’t have to see this bullshit:

You bet your ass I took screenshots cause everybody likes to lie and hide their hands after typing out the most vile shit.

And yeah I get everyone wants representation, but people keep trying to silence and speak over Black people specifically Black women and that's where we have a problem.

Because for any other group, this behavior would be absolutely unacceptable. Especially if you are making demands that an EP not cast any more people of her race on her show, but with Black women that doesn't matter. They don’t care.

We haven’t even had a fucking fully Black female love interest get her happily ever after with a man(the people saying Masali should be a gender-bent Michael need to have several seats cause you’re creating a OC just because you don’t want to see her as Sophie) like everybody else and yet they want us to step aside and cheer them on. Fuck that.

This is why I don’t believe any of you hateful bitches when you say you care about misogynoir because the moment a Black woman is cast in a role you want, even in a role that’s meant for a Black woman like with Nettles, y’all either start demanding she be cut or made into something else.

This literally happens every single time Black female characters are involved and yet you can’t even talk about it because people want to ignore and perpetuate our oppression.

I’ll leave it there cause I’m too exhausted by all of this drama(it’s making my blood boil), but these fandoms piss me off so much. They make it hell for non-white and especially Black fans to exist within them. Even in shows created by Black people.

[destinygoldenstar]

☀️HOW DID WE GET HERE?!?!☀️ - Total Drama Viewer Reacts to Disventure Camp Season 1 Episode 9 “Don’t Open, Campers Inside”

TRIGGER WARNING: BLOOD & GORE

Okay, this italicized part is an EDIT after the reaction. I need to put up a trigger warning for this episode as a reason why I might not show as many images as usual.

I don't think it's as bad as it could've been, otherwise I think OddNation would get demonetized. But to be on the safe side, THIS EPISODE/THIS POST IS NOT FOR THE HEMOPHOBIC.

I WILL put a TW in the tags as well so they don't see the post. But in case your account doesn't have the filter for this sort of thing, HERE'S YOUR WARNING.

I have a gut feeling that we're gonna start losing besties in these next few episodes. If anything last episode was to go off by.

I said this last episode, but in terms of who I think are gonna win at this point... Finalists, Ellie, Fiore, and... I guess Jake. With Ellie winning.

Ellie just has the most understanding motive to win out of all of them and it would be satisfying to see her achieve her dreams.

No I guess Alec does too, but I can't see the scenario in my head. I BARELY react to the Alec scenes, I realize. But I looked back last episode and realized Alec said he "Wished his son was like Fiore" which... OOF, I wish I had a reaction to that. Because holy shit, you're a bad dad if you think that.

He just doesn't have as much emotional range as some of the others. So I don't gravitate towards him as much. I do think he's okay though.

I think that's my takes: Alec's... okay. Fiore's the villain so naturally I don't route for her. Grett's a bad bitch and we stan but also she's not winning. Miriam's great. Tom's great. I love Jake. MAKE UP GOSH DARN IT. And Ellie... I do like her, I admit. She's growing on me.

Yeah...idk what to expect this time. Other than I THINK another idol should come into play. Cause the heroes are outnumbering the villains and the show can't eliminate all the villains before the finale. That's plot armor for you. (I made a post about this topic. Plot Armor is not a criticism.) So with Fiore exposed, ain't no way anyone's flipping. So the only other way is to find an idol. One of the villains gets it, they nullify the votes, and one of the heroes gets the boot.

If I had to predict, probably Tom. Tom's a threat. Plain and simple.

Plus with his kind of character, I know Tom is NEVER winning anyway.

I know I said vote off Jake last episode, but that was because you could gain Ellie's loyalty from that. Well you lost the chance. Even if you do boot Jake it ain't gonna put Ellie on your side. Ya should've booted him when it was convenient and you had the chance.

"Tom & Miriam would ditch Ellie after the villains were out"

By then it'd be the FINAL THREE. So what does that matter?

God I said I didn't have a lot to say and here we are. Let's just get into it.

"What the hell was that bullshit in the elimination?!"

OMG THANK YOU

THANK YOU

GRETT CALLS IT OUT. OMG THANK YOU.

I FEEL VALIDATED.

"You mean the way we were exposed?"

...oh.

No I was talking about your choice on voting.

Nope. I'm not validated.

"Golden, that's the thing with us villains. We don't need your permission to slay. We do it anyway."

"You don't understand kid! I can't lose!"

Trauma dump?

👏Trauma dump👏 Trauma dump 👏Trauma dump👏

"I can't go home without the money!"

"Are you in debt?"

"No, it's not the money itself. It's what it stands for... If I win, my parents will finally be proud of me."

AWWWW, GRETT, HONEY

"Why does everyone think money can solve their personal problems?"

Then... why are you here Fiore?

Also Ellie would like a word.

"Alec thinks winning will fix problems with his wife and you think winning this will make your parents love you. I'm gonna be honest Alec, that marriage is a divorce waiting to happen."

NOT THE CHILD MARRAIGE COUNSELING

"What experience can a six year old have?!"

"Well let's see, my parents abandoned me in the woods. Clearly they hate me."

"My mother never loved me and I know her life would be much better if I never existed. She's told me she thinks I'm a monster..."

OUCH

God, am I starting to feel bad for her now?!

"...I know she's right, but it still hurts to hear."

Oh.

So she's just kinda accepted that she's awful.

"The adults in my life think I'm a demon with no redeeming qualities, so that must be true. Might as well live off that."

Does that imply that Fiore was an accidental pregnancy...?

I mean I'm not a mother, but I know that's something that can happen if you don't, you know, control yourself.

"But you know what? After awhile, the hurt starts to hurt less, and you start taking ownership of who you are."

👏

WHY AM I LIKING THE CHILD NOW?!?!

I mean she's a pretty static character. BUT I think that works in this favor.

"If you want to win, do it for yourself. Prove to those that didn't have faith in you. Prove it to yourself that you're worth it."

👏

See Grett? You found your place as a monster too.

"I couldn't care less about Grett's pathetic insecurities-"

Yeah, she cares about literally nobody.

She WILL ditch these guys on the bus the moment she has the chance.

And she's gonna show no remorse doing it.

And when that happens I'm gonna be HOWLING.

Oh not these two again.

YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING THE PAST THREE EPISODES. GET OVER IT.

"Hey Tom, I know I said this a dozen times, but I really am sowwy. Can you forgive me?"

"Jake I just learned I have cancer. And for some reason I'm gonna say that's your fault. Get out of my life."

"I've been thinking about what you've told me..."

Oh wait.

Are they actually gonna make up now?

"Maybe you weren't the only selfish one. I attacked you without thinking about how you were feeling..."

Oh yeah they are!

So he just needed to cool off after the news. I get it.

"You don't have to apologize."

"It's all me. It's always my fault. I'm the one who always has to take the blame for things like this."

"I want us to be friends again."

HALLELUJAH!! THANK YOU!!!

"But lets both try to be better. For our sakes."

YUSS!!! FRIENDSHIP RESTORED!!!

THEIR DRAMA CAN BE PUT TO REST NOW!!!!

I'm okay with them just being friends. I think that is healthier that way given they're... messy.

So I'm actually really happy about this.

"Where are Jake and Tom?"

They're 'hanging out' if you know what I mean...

I'm sorry.

"Maybe they're making up."

Up or out?

GOD I JUST SAID I WAS GLAD THEY WERE JUST FRIENDS, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!

"For some reason, Golden is whispering in my hear and urging me to kiss the boy."

"Sorry for attacking you so much in the previous challenge."

Is she trying to be allies with these guys now? I called it.

"It's okay. It was also my fault. I judged you too soon without knowing if you were with them or not."

Well she was, but she's not anymore.

She's a redeemed girlie

"I do that a lot."

"Do what?"

"Judging people without knowing their true intentions."

Yeah I can see that.

"It's fine. We can't change the past. We have to look towards a better future."

YES. ALLYSHIP.

CALLED IT!

"Maybe I was wrong to think badly of these young-ins."

"Except Fiore. She's just as bad as I thought."

"Any update about your job?"

He got FIRED. I don't think you get an update after that.

"Anyway, I haven't been sure for awhile if this is what I really want..."

Oh?

You didn't want to be a spy?

"...or if I'm even good at it..."

Uh...

Yeah, you weren't, I'm gonna be brutally honest.

You can find a new job. One that you love. One where you can work AND maintain relationships.

"You think you weren't meant to be a spy?"

"I don't know. But it's not like I have a choice anymore."

Yeah... that's a hard situation. I can relate to that.

AH-!

OH MY GOD.

I DIDN'T-OH MY GOD...

"I don't work there anymore... I don't need this..."

So he WAS wearing that for his job! So he's ditching his career?!

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH...

Oh THAT'S why...

I was thinking awhile it would be that he had a scarred face, but I wasn't sure. AND I was joking about it this whole time. God I feel awful now...

I'm trying to look at this properly. What happened? Was he in a fire or something? I can't tell cause it's a cartoon, but that MIGHT be burn scars?????

I don't know, maybe he's gonna explain it.

"My first job was a couple months ago. I was sloppy and I got found out. Things went wrong, and my captors... gave me this..."

😨

OH MY GOD, HE WAS TORTURED?!?!?!

HOLY-I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GONNA GO THAT DARK WITH IT.

Holy god, I can't even imagine. I don't want to imagine Tom getting tortured like that.

"The boss wasn't happy. I was tasked to come onto this show as a contestant to investigate it. This job was my last chance, and I blew it."

Ouch...

"Were you using that mask to hide your identity or... were you...?"

"That's just an excuse. The truth is I... I felt ashamed..."

Aw...😢

"But you look good, Tom."

Awwwwww...💗

...wwwwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH MYY GOD!!!!

*I got out of my chair and paced around for a minute*

AAAAAAAHHHH💗

*I'm giddy and out of breath*

I didn't expect them to kiss today... oh my god...

YEEESSS!!! I FEEL VALIDATED!!!!!

Oh my god, Tom Face Reveal. AND... ship name kiss, IN THE SAME SCENE. That's too much for the feels.

Jam. It's Jam isn't it? I don't have jam on me right now.

I actually don't like eating jam. I'm not a jelly person.

Okay okay okay, I'm sorry. I'll keep going.

"...I'm not."

Aw 💗

"Attention campers! Challenge time!"

Oh screw you!

They're good for each other. They're actually good for each other.

I HAD MY DOUBTS. But they do work.

*I had to get water* (Y'all keep your dirty jokes about that)

OH ARE THEY GETTING KIDNAPPED?!

Gosh darn it, I KNEW Chris McLean was here!

How are you all sleeping sitting up?

Is this a "Escape the chamber" challenge?

"The hosts are clearly screwing with us."

OKAY NO I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING IN MY HEAD

DANGANRONPA 2 FUNHOUSE

OH PLEASE TELL ME THIS BOTH IS, AND ISN'T THAT

Cause that situation was HELL

Where'd you get the hats from?

"What happened to the sky?"

"It's covered in grapes and strawberries, and idk why that is-also why is part of the forest blocked off? Why can't we get out?"

"Fiore I don't think you're supposed to be playing those games."

I still headcanon Fiore is a Mortal Combat fangirl.

"Where'd you get that hat?"

WHERE'D YOU GET THAT HAT?!

OH MY GOD. THE HATS ARE SENTIENT.

"Alright gang, grab every weapon in this place you can find and start SMASHING!!!"

Why does the cabin have so much weaponry?!

"Fiore, I think I know what's happening."

"Don't freak out... but a bear is gonna pop out in a minute and force us to kill each other."

"It's the only explanation. Don't tell anyone."

"Uh, we are right here and in hearing range."

"What happened with your mask?"

Oh yeah they don't know...

God it's SO WEIRD seeing Tom without the mask now.

OH SHIT-

UM, HELLO?!?!?!

IM SORRY, WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!?!

“What the hell is that?!”

My thoughts exactly Ellie!

DID THEY WAKE UP IN THE FUTURE?! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?!

I'M WATCHING A TOTAL DRAMA FANFICTION, RIGHT?!?!

"It looks like a-a-a person..."

"Like a dead person?!"

Tom, you killed a guy!

OH GOOD LORD-

YEAH WE'RE NOT WATCHING DISVENTURE CAMP ANYMORE

If you asked me what my predictions were for this show: "Let's make a PLOT TWIST in the middle of the show and turn it into a zombie apocalypse 'The Walking Dead' show" Would NEVER be on my list.

WHAT THE HELL

I mean if you know me, you know I like death game stories...

But surprisingly, I don't actually like zombie apocalypse stories. It's not just my cup of tea.

Because zombie apocalypse stories are just so bloody hopeless and there's absolutely no way out of inevitable fate. It's just "This is hell, wait till it's your turn to die."

And I just naturally find that less compelling than stuff like Hunger Games, Squid Game, and Danganronpa, where there IS a possibility to escape your fate, even if it's really small.

With these kinds of stories, I'm just waiting for everyone to die. So I get less attached.

That's just my opinion.

"Did you hear that?!"

"Sounded like gunshots!"

"Don't worry guys! It's just Tom killing a man! It's fine!"

"I KISSSED A SERIAL KILLER?!?!"

I mean, I WOULD say this is all a stage show. Like these are just people wearing makeup.

BUT YOU CAN'T FAKE TOM KILLING A GUY.

UNLESS YOU'RE A PSYCHOPATH WORSE THAN CHRIS MCLEAN

XD

"I don't care if he's a serial killer! HE'S MY LOVE! WE'RE LETTING HIM IN. WHAT'S THE WORSE THAT COULD HAPPEN?!"

"What's going on?!"

"Ellie why do you have ketchup splashed all over your face?"

"They looked like people, but they're not!"

"I would never kill a man! I swear!!"

"What if it was a woman?"

"...shit!!"

"Is that... a bite?"

OH SHIT

They're not gonna KILL Ellie, right?!

Cut off her arm, and she might be saved!

"...well, one step closer to winning."

GRETT. WTF?! YOU"RE A PSYCHOPATH!!!

I mean I'm not surprised. BUT WTF?!

"I think we... have to... cut off your arm."

NO I WAS JUST JOKING, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA DO IT?!?!?!?!?

"GOLDEN IS OUR OVERLORD AND SHE TOLD ME TO SAVE YOU BY CUTTING OFF YOUR ARM!!!"

"Isn't this just a silly challenge?!"

GOD I HOPE SO

CAUSE THIS IS FUCKED UP

OH MY GOD THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING IT...

I'M SORRY ELLIE!!!

"So... this ISN'T a challenge?"

YOU THINK?!?!!!

NOW YOU REGRET IT?!?!

"I think I'm gonna faint."

I WOULD TOO.

ELLIE NOOOOOOOO

OKAY. WHO GAVE THE CHILD A GUN?!

I mean it's good reason, but who gave the child a gun?!

ONE WEEK LATER?! WTF?!?!?

HOW DID WE GET HERE???!?!

WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY DONE WITH THE EPISODE. THEY WOKE UP IN THE FUTURE. THERE'S A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. ELLIE IS DEAD.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?!??!

"The show is over... we're just lucky to be alive..."

You know what's crazy? I made a DUMBASS THEORY about the Total Drama Reboot that never happened cause it was too insane.

I said that Chris McLean was planning to take over the world and was using the show to turn people into robot slaves and start an apocalypse. And the Season 2 ending of the reboot would be just like this.

DID SOMEONE WHO WORKED ON DISVENTURE CAMP FIND MY POST AND SAY "We should make THAT the plot of our show!"?!?!

AND Y'ALL BELIEVED I WAS INSANE.

WHERE'S MY CREDIT?! I CAME UP WITH THIS.

"Wow Miriam, how'd you learn to do that?"

"Back in my day, I was secretly a serial killer!"

"Are there really knife throwing contests?"

I would be CONCERNED if there were.

"Grett and Alec got bit... we got attacked... I was the only one who made it out..."

This is a trap.

Tom is probably the most equipped for surviving this.

OH GOD-

YOU CAN'T JUST HOLD A CHILD AT GUNPOINT, TOM

YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT.

"I'll put one right between your eyes."

Tom, you're done.

OKAY, RIP ALEC

Tom is NOT fucking around!

"Tom! Are you okay?"

"No worries. I got a body count in the double digits now. Cool, huh?"

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

MIRIAM NOOOOOOOO

WHAT?!! THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE!!

"Miriam, stay with me!!"

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO...

NOT THE GRANDMA

"Don't leave me!!"

AWWWW JAKE NOOO😢

He's losing another grandma! 😭

"Coming to this camp was worth it... I didn't think my last days would end like this... but I'm happy they were with you... you are the grandchildren I never had."

😭💗

HE'S YOUR GRANDSON. DON'T LEAVE HIM.

NOOOOOOO

"Not again!!" *cries*

AWWW JAKE, HONEY NOOOOOO 😭

Don't Make Jake Suffer Challenge. Level: Impossible.

Yeah lets just cut to a six year old driving a bus. Why not?

I'M STILL MOURNING

*Patreon*

THIS WHIPLASH AIN'T HELPING

HOW DID WE GET HERE?!?!

Yeah. Sure. One Month Later.

I don't even care anymore.

HOW. DID. WE. GET. HERE?!?!?

"Remember last month? Before all this? What you said about my parents?"

"You want to ask if I think they're alive? Well I got bad news."

"They're in Mexico right now."

"Being alone out here this last month has taught me that I don't need them. I never did. They were never there for me."

Well good for you for getting development queen.

"I know where to get a map to the nearest city."

*I get a body spray ad*

...I don't even know how that translates to what they just said.

Oh yeah I forgot Alec died too!

Fiore did not give a SHIT, did she?

*rewinds to look back*

Yeah she doesn't give a rats ass about you Alec.

Awww, these two...

Hey wait.

*look at Jake's neck*

Why does Jake have a hickey?

Guys, I'm not supposed to be reading too much into that, am I????

What have you boys been doing this past month?!?

"Every day it's the same. Go out and find supplies, run away from these creatures and DO IT all over again..."

...

I'm sorry, my mind is in a dirty place now. He said "DO IT all over again".

GUYS I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE READING TOO MUCH INTO THIS, AM I?!?!?!?

"I don't know... I don't think this will ever end..."

Can we give Jake a hug? PLEASE?

"Hey... at least we have each other."

THANK YOU💗

THEY LOVE EACH OTHER💗

NO GODDAMMIT

FIORE WHYYYYYYYY

“Hey guys! I got another trick I wanna show you. It’s called: ‘BURY YOUR GAYS’”

*Jake gets killed too*

Goddammit...

NOT A SIX YEAR OLD MURDERING MY BOYS

HOW DID WE GET HERE?!?!??!

"I'm sorry Grett, but I need this immunity."

Wait what-

*Murders Grett*

WELP.

This is how we got here.

A six year old is celebrating among her victims.

"WHOO HOOO!!! I KILLED EVERYBODY!!!!"

WHY IS TOM IN THE FAMILY GUY POSE?!?!?!?!?

"See that's my secret Golden. My mask protects me from getting killed, so I'm just faking my death."

"...oh wait I'm not wearing my mask anymore. SHIT-"

...

WAIT WHAT THE FUCK?!

IT WAS ALL VR?!

I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?!??!?!?!?!

"Oh my gosh, my arm! I have my arm!"

"Oh my gosh, I've been in a coma for a MONTH! Cause I died on the first day!"

"Victory is mine! MIIIIINNNNEEE!!!"

All Fiore cares about is winning.

When a six year old is an even worse psychopath than Grett.

"Am-am-am I dead?!"

Jake. Honey.

EVERYONE is going to need SERIOUS THERAPY after this.

HOLY SHIT THAT IS TRAUMATIZING.

I can't even blame Jake one bit. He watched his friend get turned into a zombie and die. He watched his surrogate grandma die. He watched his boyfriend die. He watched HIMSELF die. AND IT WAS IN THE SPAN OF A MONTH

...nah, therapy ain't fixing him.

"A few hours ago, you fell asleep, and we put you through our hyper realistic VR simulator."

You guys are fucked up.

Even Chris McLean is saying that's fucked up.

"I'm just glad I have both my arms again."

Ellie's just done.

"Yeah TOM! Don't cut a woman's arm off! I'M VOTING YOU TONIGHT."

Watch it actually be Tom that's going and that's Ellie's reason.

I feel like Tom's story is done anyway.

"The challenge was to survive the zombie apocalypse."

You can't survive a zombie apocalypse. Either you DIE, or you DIE.

"Wait, so you KILLED ME to get immunity?!"

YEAH.

If THAT doesn't prove to you that Fiore is FUCKED UP BEYOND REPAIR, idk what does.

"Weren't we in an alliance?"

"We were. But we got exposed last round."

ARE YOU DITCHING GRETT?!

YOU NEED HER FOR NUMBERS.

Idk why I'm asking at this point. These villains plans have been stupid these past two episodes.

I mean, it's not THAT bad here because there was no other option after they killed Tom & Jake. So...

I won't rant this time.

"You'll be distorted for a few more hours, adjusting back to our time, getting back to your body, all that kind of stuff."

"And you'll probably need YEARS of therapy."

"What do we do? We have to decide between Alec or Grett."

Yeah, obviously.

At least Ellie doesn't hold beef about the arm thing.

*Grett Voted Alec*

Aaaaannnndd the villains are turning on each other.

Idiots.

*Fiore Voted Grett*

Wait what are you doing?

"That game is the closest I'll ever get to legally shooting someone in the face."

Fiore you are a psycho.

*Alec Voted Grett*

"Now that we're exposed, we don't need you anymore."

Welp. Grett's gone.

Unless the heroes voted Alec...

'ALEC'

We know.

'GRETT'

'ALEC'

OH THEY DID VOTE ALEC. WAIT A MINUTE.

'GRETT'

THE HEROES VOTED ALEC. WHERE ELSE WOULD THAT COME FROM?

'GRETT'

...wait what?

Wow. Didn't even need to read all the votes.

Who threw their vote on Alec then?

*thinks about it*

Jake, why'd you do that? There's no reason.

"I might be thinking about turning on the heroes, you know?"

*sigh* Queen's time to go.

"Fiore, Alec, even though you betrayed me, I won't lie. I had a good time with you."

At least she's taking this well.

"It will be difficult, but I'll try and take what you said to heart. I'll stop trying to prove anything to anyone. In fact... that includes you."

"FUCK ALL OF YOU. PEACE OUT!!"

😂👏

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS

Queen Queen Queen Queen QUEEEEENNNNN

👑

SHE SLAYED TILL THE END

...LITERALLY

Oh my god... what an episode...

Um... so how did we get here? That was... crazy.

Idk how I feel about it. Honestly. Maybe it's just cause of my taste for zombie apocalypse stories. But also, this is DEFINATELY gonna be something these people are gonna have nightmares about.

I mean, okay, two things,

One: JAM IS CANON. 🍉

...there's no jam emoji

At least they worked things out and they're happy together.

I feel like one of them is going next episode. From an idol, like I said. But hey, at least they worked things out and they're happy now and they can work through each other's baggage together.

"Screw you VR Simulator! We're not going to Mexico! We're going to CHINA! And we're eating dumplings!"

I'm happy for them.

And Grett.

Queen. What can I say?

I STANNED HER WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID AND NO ONE ELSE SHOULD AND I STAND BY THAT.

Okay it's not a secret I like her. But I also think she's interesting as an antagonist with her more human story about her family life and wanting to prove herself, but not knowing *how* exactly.

And she found her place with the other villains. Before, you know, they betrayed her. But what do you expect? And at least she took it well.

I admit, I feel like these last three episodes of her were a BIT rushed, but I can't say I would swap her elimination to later until I finish the season and see what the other eliminations are.

I knew she was never winning anyway. Like I said last time, I don't hate it when these shows eliminate my favs, cause I know that's something they HAVE to do. So I fully expected her to get eliminated, and I'm fine with it.

Prediction next episode: Fiore or Alec find an idol and they pull one on the heroes, and with it they get Tom out. That's what I think is gonna happen.

If you guys want me to continue these reactions, be sure to let me know.

[depressedstressedlemonzest]

Tag Game Tuesday

TThank you @celestialmickey for the fun today!

Tagged by the sweetest people @auds-and-evens @milkmaidovich @ryantryinx @mikhailoisbaby @surviving-maybe @lupeloto @lingy910y @michellemisfit @deedala @energievie and @whatwouldmickeydo

Name: Lem

Age: 31

Favourite Colour: blue and purple

Beverage of Choice: Water, pepsi zero lately, sprite

Do you have push notifications turned on for tumblr? nooooo. If there's an event or something i want INSTANT notifications of I'll turn them on

Opinion on Fireworks? pretty.

But loud and that bothers my enjoyment. And my dog isn't a fan. I like smoke bombs.

Actually my mom and brother and I will take a pack of smoke balls to the cemetery and set them off on my grandparents and uncles headstones.

Favourite Childhood Toy? When my brother was born the Lion King had just came out, and on the way home from the hospital with my newborn baby brother my parents stopped at the disney store and my brand new baby brother "grabbed" a simba stuffed animal. I would play with it, sleep with it, cut his hair, dress him up. Sadly it got lost when my dad lived in the sticks. Said a hawk carried it off. I found a similar one a few years ago, but it isn't the same one.

That's the bitch, I'd cut his tail fluff and his hair fluff, his whiskers etc

The store you shop at the most: walmart

Do you swear a lot? yessss

Favourite Trope: enemies to lovers, one bed, fake dating, marraige of convenience, grumpy sunshine.

An album with no skips: shrek and shrek 2 soundtracks

If you could play any instrument, what would you choose? Piano. I can play baby shark but that's only with guidance.

Your biggest pet peeve: People who arent my boss acting like they are when they cant do their own shit right. Lookin at you wendy.

Capitalism, I want to be the little cottage core goblin I was meant to be.

Favourite time of day: afternoon/evening.

And finally, did you drink water today? Yup. I usually do about 5 bottles a day if not more. Today was below average at 2.

I'll taaaaaaag

@ian-galagher @callivich @witchboywitchboywitchboy @beebabycastiel @xninetiestrendx and @juliakayyy

And if you guys already have been tagged then no worries!

[artsyannierose]

Cherri fmk - Angel, Husk, Sir pentious

OH YES LETS GO

Wait shoot who would she kill NO

F: Pentiousss M: Angel K: Husk

I WAS DEBATING BETWEEN ANGEL AND HUSK BUT I SAY ANGEL BC SHE PROLLY CANT BRING HERSELF TO KILL HER BUT THE PROBLME HERE IS THAT SHE’D KILL HIS HAPPINESS SO IDK

ITD BE A MARRAIGE OF CONVENIENCE IF ANYTHING

Honestly I can’t tell would she prioritize angel or angel’s happiness

She’d prolly kill herself first

[dustjacketmusings]

Top 5 fave romance tropes? Also top 5 dynamics romance wise (totally diff question /hj)

Fake dating, put those fuckers in situations

Second chance romance

The Grovel. Make him beg

Marraige of convenience turned real feels

The meet ugly

Dynamics

The two pettiest bitches you've ever seen

Black cat/golden retriever

100% in sync

The couple that slays together

Fighting/scientist duos

Ask me my top 5

[kl7hotel]

Banquet Hall In Patna

Kl7 Hotel & Banquets- Banquet Hall in Patna, Stands Out for Its Elegant Luxury Accommodation and Breath Taking Views in the Heart of the Patna City. Whether You Are Travelling for Business or Leisure, You Can Relax and Enjoy the Highest Standard of International Hospitality in Exquisite Surroundings. We Have Banquet Halls, Wedding Hall, Wedding Venue, Marraige Hall, Rooms & Hotel, Reception Hall, Party Halls and Corporate Events. the Hotel Is Conveniently Located in Raja Ghat, near Gaighat, Gandhi Setu Bridge. 07km from Patna Junction and 15 Km from Internation Airport Patna. Its Refreshing Decor, Gracious Hospitality and Warm Ambience Combine to from a Memorable Experience for the Guests. It Is Just Ideal for Hosting Social and Corporate Gatherings While Food Lovers, in Search for the Real Flavours, Can Satiate Their Taste Buds Here.the Open Sky Lounge Has a Fantastic View Over the City and Ganga Setu Pool.

[yourheartonfire]

Oh my god, I just read that fic you wrote in white hero marries villian for protection. IT'S SO GOOD😳 if that's okay, could you please continue that in a part 3? Like if you don't mind..

Sure! For those just joining, here’s where you can find Marriage of Convenience Part 1 and Part 2

The hero slammed through the double doors of the safehouse's training gym, the smell of ozone snapping around them.

"Remember to stay calm, darling!" the villain called from where they were dangling from their wrists from the ceiling, and then wheezed as the vigilante punched them in the ribs again.

"Mentor!" the hero screamed. A moment later, the older super came pacing out of the shadows where they had been waiting, watching blank faced as the vigilante did their work.

"Hello, [Hero]," Mentor said, tucking their magazine under an arm. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

"I won't be for long if you don't explain what you think you are doing to my spouse," the hero snarled, and pointed to the vigilante. "And why you're working with that sadistic prick!" 

The vigilante gave the hero a cheerful, black-gloved wave. "Nice to see you too. I heard you got kidnapped?"

"I'm getting to the truth," the mentor said patiently, the voice of reason. "Of how you fell into the hands of this piece of garbage."

"I object, I am not garbage," the villain called out, rotating gently, "I am at the very least trash, if not refuse -" They cut off with a hiss as the vigilante casually scraped their knife down the villain's side, leaving another red line welling behind.

The hero's eyes went wide and black. Above them the bars of fluorescent lights blew out in a series of pops and sparks.

The villain flinched. So did the mentor. The vigilante, startled, grabbed for the villain -

"No! Hold!" the mentor said.

"Please don't provoke them," the villain said just as quickly. Some of the very real fear must have come through, because for the first time that day, the vigilante held their hit. They looked from the lights to the mentor sharply, but the mentor ignored them, focused on the hero.

"Let. Them. Down." the hero hissed, face shadowy in the red glow of the emergency lights.

"All right," Mentor said, holding out their hands. "Let's take a breath. I just want the truth."

The hero pressed their hand hard into their chest. "I explained," they said slowly. "In great detail. In my letter. What happens. If I use my powers again."

Vigilante blinked. "What happens if they use their powers again?" they muttered to villain.

"In a nutshell? [Hero] explodes. We all die," the villain stage-whispered back. "City goes boom too."

The vigilante drew back sharply towards the exit, eyes wide. "[Mentor]...?" they growled.

Mentor shook his head. "No. Bullshit. You're one of the best I ever trained. You just gave up? Without even coming to me for help?"

The hero drew back sharply. "Is... that what this about? I went to [Villain] and not to you?"

"[Hero], I could've helped you. I still can!" Mentor grabbed for the hero's hands. "We can find a solution, another fix."

The hero closed their eyes and hissed out a breath. "You don't believe me. After all... Fine. You want inside my head, let's get you-know-who to tell you I've not been coerced. That this is my choice." 

The villain cocked their head, but both the mentor and the vigilante clearly understood who the hero meant. "Now wait-" Mentor started.

"Get them," the vigilante snapped, halfway to the exit. Mentor glared and they glared right back. "This is already not what you said."

Mentor sighed but pulled out a phone.

"And let them down," the hero added to the vigilante. 

"Aw, you care?" the vigilante cooed, drawing their knife again. "I thought even you claimed this was just some marriage of conv-"

Around them there was a horrible squeal of metal and concrete. A few dozen screws snapped and clattered to the ground.

"[Vigilante]!" the mentor snapped in warning.

"Ooh scary," the vigilante muttered but backed hastily to the door.

"I'm fine, darling," the villain sang out through bloodied teeth. "You worry about you. Maybe your meditation?"

"I taught them that!" the mentor snapped, but hero was already folding their legs into position, closing their eyes. Mentor glared. The villain smiled and flipped them the bird.

They waited in awkward, interminable silence, until finally a small, nondescript person sauntered in to the heroes' safehouse. The newcomer took one glance at the hero, and in an instant their entire demeanor changed.

"Oh shit!" they said, backing away with alacrity. "Let [Villain] loose! Right now!"

Mentor grimaced in pain and resignation, but the vigilante didn't wait to be told twice. The chains slackened and the villain collapsed.

It wasn't the villain's first rodeo. They knew how to manage pain, how to hold onto your defiance. But this was, they realized as the hero rushed to them and they fell into their spouse's outstretched arms, their first time being rescued.

The hero staggered under their weight, but managed to get one of the villain's aching arms over their shoulders, managed to get them moving towards the door. Meanwhile the villain rocked under the absolute riptide of emotions that went through them, to feel those gentle hands smoothing down their back and the overwhelming rush of being safe.

"Oh," said the newcomer, head tilted, eyes dark as they watched the hero and villain stagger out. 

"I'll be here when you come to your senses," the mentor called. 

The hero paused in the doorway, turned to face down the senior hero. "This is why I went to them," they said, gesturing to villain. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. That you would never not see me as a problem to solve, as untapped power to be unlocked and put back in the field. No matter who you put in danger trying to unlock me."

Mentor folded their arms. "And you'd rather sell yourself off to evil?"

The hero shrugged. "You're the one who taught me how to read a situation and compromise."

They let the door bang shut on the good guys, and the hero and the villain limped together off into the night.

"You never told them I wasn't garbage," the villain said finally. "I hate to put my foot down, but I really feel we should socialize less with your friends."

"Oh shut up," the hero sighed, but a faint smile flickered past.

The villain let themselves relax into their spouse's shoulder. They'd worry about the heroes later. Right now they were here and this felt good.