#my criteria for the car is small and automatic

[nokikissa]

My car has now been fixed and passed the inspection yay. But like me and my parents had been talking about like me getting a new car before all that happened to it cos starting to lose my mind with all the small problems like car doors freezing shut instantly when it gets cold etc., I guess my car just decided to be all "oh you're gonna replace me? Fuck you I'm gonna start dying"

Anyway I've today been going through like car stores with my dad and like I don't know much about cars so looking at them is weird, I'm just all "well that sure is a car" about them asdfffgkh

[rreskk]

Before the storm

CHAPTER 2: The coffee date gone wrong

Summary: Deciding to befriend Trevor personally, he mistakes your kindness with affection.

Part 1 --> Here ‘Hate to love, love to hate’ --> Here

A few days passed and you grew unaware of your plans with Trevor. Due to the ongoing hard labour of your waitressing mess, Trevor has completely vanished from your mind. He was instead replaced with the thought of your minimum wage, and considering looking for other placements. While your dream was to study business overbroad, it flunked after receiving little to no money, even when you’d work full hours, every day. Your parents could not afford your tuition either, leaving you with no choice.

Collecting yourself a hot mug of coffee after returning from a nightshift, your house telephone began ringing, making you jump and spill half onto your comfy clothes. Cursing at the burning sensation, you extended one hand and pulled the phone to your ear, leaning it against your shoulder so you could multitask and prevent wasting time.

“Hello?” You called out.

A profound huff responded to your greetings.

“Who is this?”

The masculine voice rumbled through the line, “It’s me, Trevor. You remember? Or am I just a simpleton now?”

Suddenly remembering your supposed plans with the man, you gasped shamelessly.

“I am so sorry, Trevor. My schedule has been jammed full!”

“Oh, yeah clearly,” He forwardly proclaimed, “I’ve been ringing you all night, sugar. I was getting the idea that you want me gone.”

His sense of values exaggerated his cause of emotions. After forgetting about him for a few days, he automatically assumed you were a liar and a loser. None of which fits your criteria. You were more of a workaholic, something he’ll never be.

“I had a night shift, I couldn’t answer the phone.”

Trevor scoffed, “Don’t you have a mobile?”

“It broke and I can’t afford another one yet,” You explained, twirling the lead with your fingers, “But hey, I have the day off today… Is it too late to make plans?”

You could hear him ponder as he thoughtfully hummed to himself.

“Sugar, today is your lucky day. I have nothing planned. You may clog up my schedule, I’ll happily devote my days to you.”

His flirtatious voice raised your temperature levels and you felt yourself heat up in the face. You knew he was playing around but Jesus, he has no right being this charismatic.

“Wow,” You chuckled timidly, “Are you like this to every lady?”

“Only the ones who redeem themselves worthy enough.” Trevor toyed hysterically.

“That’s enough now, Trevor. I don’t… Play around like that, okay?”

He huffed, “Being a killjoy once again.”

You rolled your eyes, “Come one, let’s go get coffee together, yeah?”

“A coffee date?”

“No, Trevor!”

He yelped out a groan of frustration.

“Fine!”

An hour after the call declined, you drove skittishly downtown to where you could see Trevor waiting outside the coffee shop you worked at. He was staring down at his feet, kicking pebbles into the road where cars would pass by and beep when being threatened by the small rock. You parked down the road and began walking up, avoiding the slipperiness of snow as you edged closer and closer to the man.

“Look who it is!” Trevor smiled, raising his hands and inviting you in a peculiar embrace.

Being entrapped in his arms, you awkwardly patted his lower back and gave him a small smile. The man looked no different than before, instead, he just had a hat to cover his manic hair. As he breathed, the cold air evaporated from his mouth, portraying a cosy look to his atypical appearance.

“I’m glad we could meet up.” You admitted while guiding him into the small café.

The smell of coffee completely overtaken Trevor’s poorly scent, instantly relieving your sensitive nose. Directing him to a small table in the corner, he sluggishly sat with his knees spread, lazily scheming the menu before coming to the conclusion that he recognises the name of the café.

“Don’t you work here?”

You nodded your head, taking a seat in front of him.

Trevor’s eyebrows furrowed, “You work nightshifts in a fuckin’ café?”

You began chuckling at his confusion. He didn’t seem too impressed that you are finding him amusing, putting a stop to your laughter.

“It’s a bar as well…” You gestured to the double doors that opens up to the bar and games room.

Trevor simply disregarded your words before he found something better to talk about.

“I’m finding it hard to believe you get along with Michael and Amanda.” He confessed.

You could roll your eyes to the sky… The amount of times he has mentioned them. If you bet one dollar for every time, you’d be able to study overbroad and live your highlife!

“What is your big deal about them?” You professed with astonishment, “I’m not being ridiculous, but he must of done something to make you dislike him so much.”

Trevor scowled at your words, pretending as though you weren’t right.

“I don’t hate him! I just don’t understand why he’s spending all his money and time with her!”

“Because he loves her, is that hard to understand?”

“You are delusional,” He finally broke character, “Obviously you wouldn’t know ‘cos you only knew him for a couple of months.”

You sighed and tried to keep calm, “Okay, listen, I don’t want any problems with you… Okay?”

Trevor crossed his arms and avoided your direction.

“Look, I knew him for over a year now. I met Amanda first, and I must admit, she is overbearingly materialistic… But it shouldn’t bother you. Michael’s relationship should not affect your friendship with him, yes?”

“I know that,” He mumbled, “But his relationship is affecting our one. I can’t do shit with him. The old Michael is gone.”

You found it hard to reach to his sensitivity. Although you were empathic, Trevor was another level. He takes things personally and you could identify that from the first moment you looked at him. While you may take nothing personally, you are rational with your thinking.

“Not everything can last forever. I’d suggest you try and meet newer people who you feel a connection with, just like the old Michael.”

Trevor inattentively refused to listen as he grew emotional. Dabbing the menu with his hand, the man childishly glanced to you with exhaustion.

“Are we gonna get coffee or what?”

You curled your lip and found disbelief in his insecurities.

“You had started the conversation… But fine, what would you like?” You asked.

He licked his teeth, “Mocha.”

You nodded and began approaching the front before Trevor, as he did before, pulled on your coat.

“What do you think you are doing, missy?”

You gave him a side glare, “Paying for our drinks?”

“No, no,” Trevor muttered, “What do you want? I’ll pay. I can’t let a lovely lady like you cash out on me.”

And like that, he’s blinded to see how he’s acting like Michael right now. The neediness to pay for you contrasted his words awfully. You could tell he is fragile and scared to admit he’s beginning to loosen up from the criminal lifestyle.

“I have a discount, I work here, remember?” You interposed.

He shook his head and gave you grabby hands, “Gimme it, I’ll pay… Using your discount.”

Knowing you can’t win this battlement of independence, you told him your order and he immediately struct from his chair and bounced towards the front, loudly demanding drinks for you and him.

Observing his maturity, you squinted at how relevantly interactive he is with his surroundings. He takes no depth to the damage he’s causing, paying no respect as he’ll loudly plea as he wants. The amount of disfigured derangement made you wonder how he can act so charmingly attractive. When he is close to his emotions, you’ll notice how easy it is to break him. Trevor’s sides alternate with each other and you can see it flicker in his eyes. He determines his values and shapes the situation forcefully into benefiting his feelings and desires.

Chuckling at how sinister you were analysing his demeanour, you averted your eyes from the interesting man and began nipping at your nails, fighting time with productivity…

Trevor stormed over with his hands occupying the two hot drinks. He gently handed you the mug and he roughly settled into his leather seat, grinding himself to fit perfectly. You didn’t mean to watch him circulate his waist like that, blushing significantly obviously. As you found the tension rotate from the paranoia of his romantic intensions, you found yourself begging for him to talk about anything but flirtatious remarks. Or you’ll end up representing the shades of a tomato.

“You planning anything for Christmas?” He finally proposed with lack of interest, gulping down his steamy drink.

You nodded, “I’m staying at my parents.”

Trevor’s eyebrows perched at the mention of your parents.

“Ah, Mr and Mrs [L/n]. They still stick around?”

Backhandedly thinking he was insulting their presence, you firmly degraded his commentary.

“Of course they still stick around. Why do you care?”

He began choking on his drink, suffocating the fluids as he laughed hollowly.

“Oh, sweetcheeks,” Trevor smirked, “I wasn’t sure there was much supportive parental figures around. My mother is absent, my father is dead inside, and I can’t say shit about the rest! I barely knew anyone! Same goes to Mikey and Brad.”

You fell silent at the miscommunication. Now you were reflecting your own personal flaws as you are facing someone who doubles as your nightmare. Sometimes being around someone so blankly deranged that you ponder your own self-consciousness. Nevertheless, hearing about his absent parents, you understood how he become like this. Unstable.

“Sorry, I got a bit annoye-“

“Annoyed? Oh, sugar, you were fantastically furious. It made my stomach get butterflies.” He teased from behind his mug.

Sinking into your seat, you reckoned you’ll be leaving sweat marks at the amount of anxious waves you’ve received with Trevor being the only person talking to you. Apprehending the fact he’s not as bad as you thought he was, you realised you haven’t seen shit of him. The thought that lingers in the back of your mind is how he’s been classified as a ‘murdering drug addict’. Wondering if it’s true, you cleared your throat.

“So…”

Trevor watched you process the rest of your thoughts.

“How long have you been doing this… Criminal thing?”

“For as long as I remember,” Trevor simpered, “It was petty shit at first; pickpocketing old people, arson, assault. Then Michael turned up and I’ve basically committed all of the seven deadly sins! I won’t get into much detail as you don’t seem to be the… Criminal obsessed type.”

Raising your hand, “No, please, I’d like to know more.”

He seemed surprised at first. He felt your engagement and attentivity that he’d proudly beam.

“My first kill was a headshot with a flare gun. That’s how I first met Mikey. He chased this guy, saying how he’s unreliable and dangerous. I defensively shot him and I had to fly both the burning body and Michael to Canada.”

You grimaced as he snickered at your reaction.

“It was goddamn horrible. My cargo has never smelt the same since.”

Unable to produce a reply, Trevor dismissed you with the flap of his hand.

“See, I told you!” He winked, “I appreciate you wanting to know more about me. I feel all warm inside… Lovely, dovely, warm, moist-“

“Trevor!” You grossed out at his behaviour and he dramatically laughed.

“Oh, come on, girl! I ain’t seen the best of you! Chill out, chill out, I wanna know about you.”

Testifying his seriousness, you snapped yourself back into reactivation and blew some steam.

“Okay, what would you like to know?”

Trevor clicked his fingers, “Your bra size.”

Shocked at the sudden answer, he began mockingly cackle at you again.

“I’m kiddin’, kiddin’. I wanna know about your hobbies, or whatever.”

“I swear to God,” You warned him, “Don’t say anymore of that crap or I’m leaving.”

Trevor seemed serious now as he peered at you like you were restricting his freedom of speech.

“I was joking, don’t take it personally.” He’d bicker.

“Call me killjoy, but I am not going to let you walk away after saying freakish things to me.”

The man huffed as if he was getting lectured by his mother, “Yeah, sure, fine! I’ll stop. I promise. I never break a promise.”

Taking a much needed breath, you thoroughly explained your hobbies and interests. Trevor would comment on one or two, but left you to commit to the talking as he spent that time curiously dreaming into your occupied eyes.

“It is very relaxing actual-“

“You know,” He interrupted your train of words, “I’ve never had a coffee date before. I always went to strip clubs or houses.”

You confusingly held your speech as he gazed up to you.

“Thank you.”

Blinking twice the amount as before, you stuttered.

“Thank you about what?”

Trevor rolled his eyes, “I wanted to thank you for just staying with me. We’ve been here for hours now and I’ve been enjoying my sweet time. I never do that. I know we’ve just met but Jesus, you are showing me signs of affection I barely get from people I’ve known for my whole life.”

Your mood saddened at his confess.

“I don’t wanna be a pervert or anything, but I do like you. A lot.”

Reading his face, he was not joking this time.

“Trevor, I think this takes some thoughts. Privately.”

He looked at his hands, “I’m a hopeless romantic or something like that. You show me appreciation and I’ll fall in love with it-“

“Trevor,” You staggered, “Please, I’m not looking for love. I’m focusing on my work. I can’t do this… This… This thing! This thing you believe we have. I’m sorry for breaking the glass here, but I’m not interested in you. At all.”

Complete lie.

As well as that, his eyes grew dark and shallow.

Trevor moved out from his chair and roughly zipped up his coat. You went to apologise for your outburst but he was already out of the door. Expecting a long phonecall with Michael later on, you grew guilty and ashamed of what you had just done.

[pyjamac]

i noticed some people in the notes of this post are having trouble understanding this proposal which is understandable as it can be challenging to read technical documents like this, so i'm going to give a rundown of what this document is proposing and which vehicles it affects.

purpose of the proposal

the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) is suggesting a new safety rule for cars and light trucks (up to 10,000 pounds) to reduce the risk of head injuries to pedestrians if they’re hit by these vehicles. this rule would require certain design features to make vehicle hoods safer for both children and adults who might be struck.

who It affects: this proposed rule applies to passenger cars, light trucks (like pickups), SUVs (the vehicle that killed my sister was an SUV, and passenger cars such as SUVs account for the most pedestrian deaths alongside other light trucks), vans, and small buses. vehicles over 10,000 pounds, like large trucks, are excluded. i'm seeing people saying this is too high since a lot of pickup trucks exceed 10,000 lbs, and i agree, hopefully this is just the beginning in a series of regulations. however, this doesn't give a great sense of what kind of trucks are included. most personal pickup trucks are class 1 or 2, this means they are under 10,000 pounds. some examples of trucks of these classes are the chevorlet colorado (class 1), ford f1-150 (class 2a), and thrillingly, the cybertruck (class 2b) would be subject to these regulations.

what the rule requires: vehicles would need to pass tests that show they can reduce the force of head impacts when a pedestrian’s head hits the hood. this means the vehicle design needs to absorb some of the impact to prevent severe head injuries.

test procedures: the proposal sets up testing methods that simulate pedestrian head impacts with the vehicle’s hood. these tests are performed with two types of “headforms” that replicate the weight and structure of a child’s and an adult's head, aiming to simulate real-world crash scenarios at a vehicle speed of 25 mph, which covers about 70% of pedestrian collisions.

performance requirements: vehicles would need to meet specific “head injury criteria” (HIC) to ensure the head impacts do not exceed certain force levels, helping prevent severe head trauma. this is measured by testing areas of the hood where a pedestrian’s head is most likely to strike.

compliance timeline: if the rule is finalized, manufacturers would have to comply starting two years after the final rule’s publication, with an extra year for specific vehicle builders (like those modifying pre-existing vehicles).

current vehicle exemptions: the rule would not cover large trucks and some vans with very short front hoods due to practical challenges in testing. a new test would need to be devised for these types of vehicles. however, NHTSA is considering including short-hood vehicles in the future.

related technologies: NHTSA also considers this rule part of a larger safety effort, which includes automatic emergency braking systems that can detect pedestrians and apply brakes to avoid collisions.

in essence, this proposal seeks to set a mandatory standard for pedestrian safety features on cars and light trucks, making them safer for pedestrians without requiring drivers or consumers to make any changes on their end.

your comment does not need to be long or professionally-worded, anything will do. however, if you need a jumping off point/don't have the time to write one i'm providing a template below. comments are due november 18th.:

"I am writing in strong support of this proposed rule, [I am deeply concerned about pedestrian safety in my community/I have seen firsthand the impact of pedestrian injuries/I lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash/I have had close calls myself when walking in my neighborhood.] The current design of many vehicles, particularly large trucks and SUVs, places pedestrians at serious risk. This is a common-sense ruling that could make a life-saving difference. I appreciate the effort to prioritize the safety of all road users, and I hope this rule will be implemented to help create safer, more walkable communities."

IF YOU LIVE IN THE US AND WOULD RATHER NOT DIE FROM BEING HIT BY A CAR

please submit a comment on the NHTSA proposal to implement pedestrian safety test requirements for cars and trucks!!

It would finally make manufacturers design vehicles that are safer for pedestrians and cyclists, instead of the massive wall-of-steel front ends that are excessively deadly for no reason. Europe already has rules like this, but unless we comment in approval, they're not going to do anything to halt the increasing pedestrian deaths in our country.

And please share, even if you don't live in the US!

[langdxn]

amnesia: prologue | outpost!michael x fem!oc

SUMMARY: The apocalypse arrives at Frankie Dolan’s door.

A/N: What better way to procrastinate finishing my other series than starting a new one? I couldn’t get this idea out of my head, so here goes… this may well be a long term project for me so if you’re not ready for commitment, feel free to click away now. Also I usually write OCs as readers with names but this time we’re going full first person, so I hope that’s okay!

WORDS: 1k

WARNINGS: Mentions of car accidents and memory loss.

“Get in the car, ma’am,” the mysterious woman barked, raising a directive palm to the front door of my apartment block. Her gesture aimed at an ominous black SUV parked at the kerb outside, its rear door open and a dim light glowing from inside.

“I…,” I stuttered, eyes frantically darting around in the dark for any semblance of sense, meeting only an empty sidewalk and a flickering streetlight across the road. “I don’t understand?”

“You’ve been selected,” she insisted without any hint of expression on her blank countenance, her other hand hovering over my shoulder to guide me toward the vehicle.

“Selected? Selected for… for what?” I questioned, taking hesitant steps as if my legs strained to carry me forward. The walk down the path to the sidewalk suddenly felt like the green mile, each tentative tap of my steps bringing me closer to an uncertain fate. The end of my journey to the kerbside creeping ever closer, I gazed down at my quivering feet and examined my slippers thrown on in haste when my door rang at 3am.

I’m going to die in there, I thought to myself, swallowing harshly as the back of the car came into view. I’m going to die wearing fluffy pink slippers.

I glanced aside to the forceful woman ushering me along, skilfully avoiding answering my queries. She seemed official, the cut and form of her black suit and tie suggesting a severe brand of authority to which I wouldn’t dare say no.

But who sent her? What have I done? Have I pissed off the FBI? Is it because I deleted that scam email ostensibly from a Zimbabwean billionaire asking for my bank details? Whatever it is, my time's up.

Ducking into the back seat and settling into the stiff chair, the click as the seatbelt connected felt so final, an automatic action that sealed my fate in this persuasive stranger’s car. I frantically scrambled around in my mind for any recent events that could have triggered this rude awakening. The blunt woman slammed my door and practically hovered around to the driver’s side, a sheer metal grid dividing the rear from her front seat as she yanked the ignition and set the vehicle in motion.

“Look, is this about my accident? I’ve been going for tests and experiments for months now, nobody knows why I can’t remember a whole decade of my life—!”

“It’s not about your car accident,” she cut me off abruptly, waving a dismissive hand in the air above the steering wheel.

How does she know that? I shook my head, dispelling that inkling of concern. It could be a lucky guess. At least I hope it is. The car veered around a tight corner and flung me forward, the seatbelt constricting across my chest with a sudden jolt that brought a clarity to my thoughts.

“I had a call for a job at Kineros Robotics a couple weeks ago.”

“Congratulations,” she spoke in an indifferent monotone, as if instinctively feigning interest in my conversation knowing I’d be quizzing her for the entire drive.

“That’s the thing though,” I scrunched my forehead into a frown. “I didn’t apply for a job there. I hadn’t even heard of the place before some stern-ass lady called me acting like she’d rather stick pins in her eyes than handle recruitment.”

The driver stifled a chuckle, covering her mouth and clearing her throat to regain composure.

“Did you take the job?”

“Hell no, I… I thought it was one of those identity scammers. It’s 2020, you can’t trust anything.”

I’m making small talk with the anonymous woman that’s as good as kidnapped me? This really is 2020.

“I’m not from Kineros Robotics,” she asserted through a tinge of reassurance, turning another sharp corner before I could cling to the door handle.

“Then you must have the wrong person,” I insisted, desperate hands flailing in the air and slapping the rear window. “Please… my name is Frankie Dolan, I was born in Fort Lauderdale on October 2nd—.”

“October 2nd, 1992, to parents Sophie and Hal Dolan. Graduated University of Florida, English major. Aimed to be a non-fiction writer but instead you’re working in a coffee shop you can’t stand but it almost pays the bills. Never traveled out of state, never been on a plane… yes, we know.”

My jaw dropped. How does this woman know so much about me? Even if she Googled me, do the online realms even know me that well?

“So you know me and I don’t know you?” My confusion turned to blind fury, palms slamming into the seat beside my shaking thighs. “Who the hell are you? And where the hell are you taking me?”

“I represent the Cooperative,” she sighed, only her second signal of expression but the most revealing so far. “I’ve been assigned to take you to safety.”

“Safety?!” I frowned harder. “Who the hell’s the Cooperative? This makes no goddamn sense, what are you saving me from?”

“An imminent attack,” she detailed through pursed lips. “The Cooperative own safehouses in case of an emergency.”

“What, what emergency? There wasn’t anything on the news or anything, was there?” Aware I had suddenly started screaming in hysteria, I dropped my tone to a hushed mumble and resolved to calm my temper. “So why are you just taking me?”

“The Cooperative selected specific candidates for the safehouses according to their own criteria.” The woman dismissed any insinuation of responsibility on her part, making sure I was fully aware she was only a chauffeur in the grand scheme of some secretive organisation. “The safehouses are almost fully populated, you’re the last one.”

The SUV veered onto the freeway, bathing the front seat in the intermittent glow of constant tower lights. My gaze flitted around the dimly lit back seat — I’d better get comfortable, this doesn’t look like a quick trip around the corner.

“So you said safehouses as in plural, right?” I queried and the woman hummed in confirmation. “Then which one are we going to?”

“Sit tight, miss,” she commanded with a cool tinge of somewhat disconnected reassurance. “We’re headed for California.”

[m0e-ru]

eight months in somebody actually asked me abt visualive instead of me immediately annoying ppl about it without former notice. I might actually write properly for once 😳😳😳

OK OK!!!!! In this essay I will.... I will.... Visualive Adachi.... Visu/BURSTS INTO TEARS/

OKAY OKAY for real I just care Visualive so much (as someone who can’t fully understand Japanese AHAHA)

First I’ll add some foundation about what Visualive really is, then I talk abt Adachi in the latter parts of it because this is technically the first time I’m properly talking about this hehe 🐿

T....table of contents???

Visualive

Visualive the Evolution

Masami Itou

Visualive Adachi

Visualive the Evolution Adachi

Terms and Legend

VL - Visualive

VLE - Visualive the Evolution

stage - shortened for “stageplay”

面白い - omoshiroi (it’s just that specific)

Yuuya - VL Hero name

Hayato - VLE Hero name

Baba - Hero

Masami - Adachi

Taniguchi - Dojima

Saotome - Daisuke

Mamiya - Izanami

I add honorifics but sometimes I forget the hyphen intentionally or unintentionally I’m sorry if it makes it hard to read lol

all links have automatic timestamps for easy viewing. i mean. i hope the timestamps work

VISUALIVE “Persona 4.” A stage adaptation of SMT: Persona 4 by Atlus. It adapts the first part of the story, from the hero’s arrival to after recovering Mitsuo Kubo from the TV world. It also ends on a cliff hanger, showing a teaser of Shadow Naoto being projected on the screen.

It takes up a speedy recapitulation of the hero’s spring life, before slowing down and showing in depth his school life in summer. A day before Morooka-sensei’s death, there is a little skit with Kou, Daisuke and Adachi. The hero walks into the conversation before the two other boys leaving, and Morooka-sensei walking in on the student and detective. The next day follow’s the teacher’s death and the Investigation Team (IT) begin investigating their new lead.

From the words “visual” and “alive,” the niche of this stage was meant to be the fusion of live acting and visual digital projections. All seen from the stageplay with the colorful cast of actors and CG animations being projected on the screen. This offers an opportunity for characters to summon their personas, perform cool visual effects, change the backdrop, or even confront their own Shadows.

Performed in Sunshine Theater from the 15th to the 20th of March 2012. The screenplay was written and directed by Shintaro Asanuma from the theatrical group “bpm.” The video production produced by Shutaro Oku, a film director and visual planner. He later takes over as director for VISUALIVE THE EVOLUTION, the sequel stage. The stage music was produced by Shunsuke Wada, with a special show exclusive vocal track sung by Shihoko Hirata.

On this note, I haven’t seen any sort of original soundtrack released for any of the stages and I’m SO SAD. The last song in Mitsuo’s boss fight was such a BANGER and literally EVERYTHING ELSE Marvelous, Wadasan please take my MONEY

Regarding the cast, there were some special accommodations for Teddie, Rise, and Nanako, all of which did not have live actors at the time. During the casting, actors for the three characters could not be found or simply left the directors unsatisfied they couldn’t cast anybody. An exception for Rise, who was able to have a live actor in the sequel stage. It has been stated that there weren’t any “pretty boy” actors that fit the “Teddie Criteria.” While there weren’t any child actors that were believed to portray Nanako well.

Teddie was only ever seen in his bear costume while Rise was busy talking through a call, all voiced by their video game cast. Nanako has never appeared on stage, only being scarcely mentioned in the script. Again, this is different in the sequel stage where her role was extremely important and was shown as a screen projection.

VISUALIVE “Persona 4” THE EVOLUTION. A sequel stage. Beginning abruptly in the middle of Shadow Naoto’s boss fight, the story continues from there until the “true end” of the game’s original story. *Certain characters are introduced while others have been reintroduced. And on a personal note, when it’s all comedic in the beginning, it’s all for what’s coming right after.

I don’t know if I’m salty or just find it really funny AHAHA I might go talk abt it some other day with more context ehehe

Performed in The Galaxy Theater from the 3rd to the 9th of October 2012, only a few months after the PSVITA Persona 4 Golden release, which is July 2012. The screenplay was now written by Jun Kumagi while directed by Shutaro Oku. And music production finally taken over by Shoji Meguro himself.

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HAHAHA this is starting to look like a wiki page. moving on. I might start rambling rn

(warning LONG !!!! aaa,,)

My thoughts on the stage adaptations. For the first Visualive (VL) I believe it’s pretty close to canon! I enjoy the characterization and how much love and care was present when handling the entire production.

Actors were busy playing the game itself, wherein a PS2 was present in the practice room. Along with magazines and game guides explaining the game’s story and the characters itself. Actors performing together and even improv acting together to get a grasp of their characters. All of them knowing well of Persona 4 as a well loved game, delicately handling their characters and hopefully performing them right while making the audience happy.

The staff taking care of each other while the director and video producer, Asanuma-san and Oku-san, working together well to make their vision into a reality.

The same thing happened with VL the Evolution (VLE) and literally every other good stage. Except... I feel the script kinda got out of hand with too much liberty where it feels a bit more disconnected from canon. But! It makes up for it in its content, whether comedic or (INCREDIBLY) dramatic! It’s great as its own story at that point. So in this case, I like to take the first VL and get to connect it canon, while I don’t know what the hell happened in VLE to the point I’ll just enjoy it as its own content.

These opinions deserve its own essay, post whatever bc I have SO much to say abt this. ANYWAY. VL ADACHI

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Tohru Adachi is portrayed by Masami Itou (伊藤マサミ), a screenplay writer, director and an stage actor himself. He does have a single character voice role along with a fellow troupe member in the same franchise, but mostly works as the former three. He is part of Asanuma-san’s entertainment group “bpm.” On a similar note, Masashi Taniguchi, Dojima’s actor, was also part of their group from 2011 to 2016, which may explain their good synergy as the boss and the bumbling fool dynamic. I mean, somebody’s gotta get hit in the head every few skits.

With Masami-san being an important part of the cast, he doesn’t appear as often as Taniguchi-san in backstage content like the VL bonus disk or the official blog. Mentioned in his own personal blog, he had been busy with his roles as assistant director (I am assuming also for VL).

Also fun to note, because his role is mainly comic relief, he has been using his liberty to change up the material almost everyday making each performance exciting. This also leaves some other actors jealous of his freedom in his role, such as Saotome-san, Daisuke’s actor.

---

VL Adachi really has a... how do I say this? an adorable speech pattern (THE SAME SPEECH PATTERN THAT DROVE ME MAD TRYING TO DECIPHER I THOUGHT YOU WERE A CITY BOY OSSU OSSU MY ASS /shakes you violently/). Overall, he really fits the loose lipped bumbling fool, and his accent really makes him seem more casual and invested. What I’m saying is... VL Adachi either actually has genuine empathy or he actually has more energy to fake it (compared to some other edgelord. i mean you saw my p4ga analysis. I’m sick of him lol ahaha).

One of my favorite ways to explain this (OTHER THAN CHAIR CAR ADVENTURE MY BELOVED WE’LL GET TO THAT LATER) is the rice field scene with him and Dojima. It’s overanalyzation time 🎉

(43:04)

While investigating, Adachi whines about being tired while Dojima smacks him in the head. In this case, it’s established that Adachi doesn’t want to be there, yes? It’s the country, it’s hot and it smells like green.

"Ah... Dojima-san..! Why don't we take a break? (...) There really is nothing out here... Is the criminal still even here at all? (...) I wonder if I've passed being a rookie yet. Haha, but this city doesn't even have convenient transportation. I can't go to leisure lands (recreation, amusement parks, arcades, ect.) and head home at all."

Adachi then tries to tell Dojima a story. “when I got to this city after being newly assigned, I met an interesting guy (...) Yeah, I remember that the cherry blossoms haven't bloomed yet. So, I was driving my car and got near the station and--” Dojima gets a phone call.

Adachi politely puts his hands down waiting for his boss to finish so he can finish the story. Again and again, Adachi attempts to talk to Dojima about a story he’s so persistent trying to tell someone about. It was so 面白い that he would find someone to talk to about it. Even being polite and patient enough to wait for a chance to speak. He even gets fed up with it and blows up in front of his boss, clearly irritated he’s not given a chance to talk.

Sure, it could be Adachi feeling fed up like a normal person where someone agreed he to listen to him, before being constantly ignored. Or Adachi trying to be a more annoying whiny brat, depending on where you look at it.

If the story wasn’t too “interesting” to Adachi, he would’ve just brushed it off and stopped talking to Dojima entirely, or start up new small talk, or even complain some more. But no, he had a story he wanted to voice out so bad that he got irritated that the one person in the vicinity couldn’t listen to him.

Only after Dojima told him to continue their investigation elsewhere did Adachi finally stop and focus on something else. Maybe that story was for another day, or maybe it was never meant to be told.

What if it was just original (game) Adachi? He’d find a way to squirrel out of the investigation as usual, or push Dojima to “investigate” elsewhere. “Hey boss, don’t you think it’s hot? Why don’t we go elsewhere? We’ve seen this place too many times to count and I doubt anything new’ll turn up. How about we take a break at Junes, y’know? Where it’s cool? C’mon boss,” something like that.

og Adachi is just really annoying and silly to me. Some grown man thinking he can freeload because he never gets anything out of putting in more energy and effort? I don’t care how tall he is, I will smack him in the head.

Yeah VL Adachi whines, too, but at least it doesn’t look like he’s going to escape and waste his time somewhere else. He just sucks it up stops trying to leave the situation.

Or maybe I’m getting this all wrong and VL is exactly the same and my rage just gets dampened because of Masamisan’s execution of character hmm...

SO. What was his story about anyway? The one he really wanted to share to Dojima?

I mean... it’s obvious enough

First day in town? Spring? Actually mentioned driving a car when literally out of every single persona 4 media at the time was there not a SINGLE mention of Adachi having a car OTHER THAN the same stageplay it’s being mentioned in?

A story, from somewhere around uhh four? five months ago? was something that he remembered so dearly and was willing to share despite it obviously embarrassing him even if he puts the blame on a certain somebody in the same story?

Or maybe it’s because he really had nothing to talk about ever since he realized all his stories from the city weren’t actually that funny or interesting in the first place.

BUT then that would mean out of all the things he could talk about—more whining, complaining, complimenting, small talk—he insisted about talking about this story in particular.

Okay, look. I’m just. Just. As someone who talks too much, of course I have things I actually want people to hear out of all the bullshit that comes out of my mouth. And if the thing I actually want people to listen to doesn’t even get heard, I’d go mad.

Sure, Adachi’d be fine when his complaints or intentionally unfunny jokes get brushed off. But a story of a guy that he thought was so funny, interesting, 面白い gets ignored, he really blew up, even just for a split second, maybe.

And ALL the things that happened in that story—on his first day in Inaba! His car got dented, he had to deal with a weirdo dumbass employee that knew zero personal space, yelled in his ear, who didn’t know how to do their job, got his station reputation messed up on the first day, got his ass grabbed, got (unintentionally?) mocked for his lame stories, and got his car dented for the SECOND time. Probably MORE

And he STILL wanted to talk about it /punches through concrete wall/

yes I’m overthinking about this of course i am

This little tidbit of VL Adachi kinda makes me go insane sometimes—his entire characterization in VL in particular. It was really refreshing to see and how they included both of his characters in it, his facade and how irritated he is of a lot of things underneath. And how flexible his character is immediately working with other characters when there’s sudden improv to balance the situation. Like him and Dojima, Morooka, the attendant, or even Yuuya (hero) himself.

I’ll take Taniguchi-san’s messing around in the VL bonus backstage disc in place of Masami-san being so busy he couldn’t appear in it as often as other characters.

For stagetime that lasted for fifteen minutes or less, my appreciation for VL Adachi, even if he was just comic relief, really rocketed. I say VL, bc Adachi the edgelord he’s supposed to be in literally every other media is something I analyze separately.

I haven’t even gotten to VLE oh my GODDDDD

Like I said, I don’t really regard VLE close to canon but as something to be appreciated for what it is by itself. But the way Adachi was characterized there, in or out of character, still struck me.

---

Yes, there was his strange fan-agreed-canon which is,,, now canon obsession with cabbages (not that that’s a bad thing lmao). There was also him being a lot more jumpy and intimate in a clowny way, patting people on the shoulder or even downright hugging them just to mess around. Even FORGETTING who the same goddam loser who grabbed his ass almost a year ago is. But like, can’t blame him they literally changed their actor (and screenplay writer) AHAHAHA

ha... no more comedy, only dorky sword fights now

(speaking of sword fights I think it’s a fun thought how Mamiya-san [Izanami, also one of the youngest in the cast] admitted it was his first time doing sword fight choreography and even thanked Masami-san and other staff members for guiding him)

One thing unintentionally in character was Adachi accidentally nabbing the sushi overdosed in wasabi. Masami-san didn’t actually account for a joke sushi and didn’t immediately eat it—until Taniguchi-san (who also made Dojima go off his shits compared to VL) jokingly yelled at him and even riled up the audience for him to eat it. He even went off stage to get water just for him to eat the goddam sushi.

And Masami-san did! (kinda choked, but he’s fine).

Continuing from the same scene, while being overly giddy about sushi dinner (and I mean overly--he was singing about it while hopping to the Dojima residence), he tried to remind the two, Dojima and Hayato (hero), that Nanako was sleeping. Probably where she was sick if the scene was translated from the game.

(30:07)

And... the dramatic parts of VLE

Adachi was the one who reported to the IT that Dojima was chasing Namatame in the rain. While Naoto was discussing Namatame’s journal entries, Adachi, as giddy as he is, took it from Naoto’s hands and reveled in the discovery of evidence so childishly(?). He even ran to Dojima when he began regaining consciousness and immediately called the nurses to help him wheel Dojima to the ER.

Then, The Hospital Scene™️, right after Nanako flatlines.

(1:02:02)

Adachi, who recently walked into the scene, immediately worries about Dojima and IT who were ALL crying. He looks down, devastated—before yelling how Dojima’s heading to Namatame’s room.

He yells in terror and the same grief at his injured boss, all while running past and even jumping over children, who fell to the ground sobbing, to get to him. He continues yelling in a pained fashion while immediately reprimanding Dojima to stop. He gets carried by the collar before being tossed to the ground at Hayato’s feet, all while being pat by the same boy.

Dojima makes his speech about how unfair it is for the ‘killer’ to be alive when his daughter isn’t. When he finally falls to his knees, Adachi rises from the ground, humbly saying he’ll do his best to take care of Dojima (or something like that I’m in tears I literally can’t do VLE’s hospital scene i h8 this). He finally starts crying along with everyone else, being pushed away again but still tries again, trying to usher his boss away from the door.

With the help of the guard in front of the door, they all disappear off stage

please... I know this scene doesn’t need that much translation because of how important this scene is in the entire story. and I know my narratives aren’t enough so just,,,, just watch it please it’s so much more than this. everyone’s acting was just spectacular

(1:08:47)

So, after the IT (YOSUKE. JUST YOSUKE. good job Mae-chan) stop themselves from k wording Namatame, it was ADACHI who reported Nanako’s miracle recovery. He ran to the same corridor where they all cried in, even panting and falling to the ground in relief trying to report the good news. Then he pats Hayato on the shoulder and says he’s going to Dojima.

With this... /slaps roof of half of VLE/ ALL of this....adachi.... adachisan.... he Cares™️..... holy shit.....

now. comparing to the game. do you even remember what og Adachi did? did he.. even do anything?????

(56:39)

NO!!! he just stood there!!!! being a bumbling fool but.... inappropriately!!! man. he didn’t act concerned enough.

adachi: /walks into a bunch of kids crying outside a hospital room/ “lmao why tf are y’all crying? did uhhh what’s her face uhhh nanako. did she d word or something? rip, I guess lol” LIKE????? CAN YOU IMPLY FASTER

and then he’s like “wgat hmm Where’s Dojima-san Heading Because That’s Not The Way To His Room 🤔” and only when he’s asked he actually mentions he’s heading to Namatame’s room and still needs to get choked by a first year for the room number like..... zero consideration

and his boss??? where his daughter he loves so much just??? di*s???? and he’s so devastated he’s doing what he can that very moment while he’s so numbed of thinking of the consequences???? And adachi goes “uhh boss that’s illegal” LIKE. BITCH. /punches through a concrete wall but harder/

---

And??? His confrontation scene??? Like, I know they mashed it up w his tv confession scene to save stagetime for other scenes BUT IT WAS SO MMBMBMBMMGN /gestures in a good way/

(1:15:56)

UM?? guy behind everything??? in a vulnerable area where he could easily get physically assaulted bc hes not in the tv world w his persona?? Trash talks women like he absolute misogynist he is??? getting yelled at by a bunch of kids and YELLING BACK IN THE SAME AGITATED MANNER even TAUNTING THEM then and there to GET HIS ASS?????

og Adachi was such a pussy he got caught and just scurried off into the TV world where he ended up having powers like...ok....scared of getting beat down by a bunch of highschoolers unless you have powers...ok....

he only taunted them to get him when he was in the tv world too.....he rlly couldn’t say shit in the real world huh... lol

(yeah yeah this shows how VLE Adachi knew abt his TV world powers which would make you think if he ever went into the tv world and came back out alive. Or he’s really just a badass who doesnt give a shit abt anyone’s opinions and CAN beat anyone’s ass. i have a separate thing abt this but bc i like to laught at vle rather than overthink its own lore i might. not. idk lol)

and ??? VLE Adachi can??? He can swordfight??? he doesn’t even NEED a gun—he even reflects bullets w his blade (but apparently he can still get slapped by a flying fan more often than any other attack). His fight choreo was just...so poggers. He’s like short villains done good—like??? he’s short compared to everyone else!!! but he makes up for it for stuffing all the energy inside him while is bursts out making him him the over energetic gremlin he is!!! go VL adachi!!!!

(am I low key making fun of Madono-san in the TUUSH stageplay I’ve seen four minutes of? maybe)

OK!!! Yes I was gushing abt Masami-san again back to Adachi.

It’s portrayed that while not being afraid to admit his crimes, he also goes out of his way to be a bastard and have the gall to get a bunch of kids to fight him, one on eight. He can use a katana, probably a narrative dark reflection of the hero, Hayato which I thought was nice—and he can fight!!! It also shows his persona, yes, but...it doesn’t make it clear if he’s overwhelmed by his Shadow like in the game, where his eyes were yellow and he was emitting a dark aura.

But it gets interesting how he sees he’s getting overwhelmed and starting to lose his edge towards a bunch of kids. He falls to the ground even banging the floor like a whiny brat while literally the IT tries to tell him to turn himself in. Again, like a brat he tells everyone to shut up—before getting incapacitated. While some of the IT rejoice, he bolts up unaccepting of his defeat—before getting hit in the stomach.

(1:23:54)

And his words from when he drops his katana, “Why..?” He grabs the foldable chair against his stomach, and with a remorseful look in his eyes, he says “I’m sorry..!”

THEN HE BACKFLIPS—then Hayato slashes him.

In a tone of disbelief, he goes “no way...” and collapses to the ground, being possessed by Ame-no-Sagiri.

Blah blah blah then Teddie rockets himself into the eyeball spy cam and then they both explode aaaaa

Teddie survives but I really don’t know where Adachi went. Not even a mention by Dojima if he turned himself in or was ever found—or I need to review VLE for the 48274827482nd time hehe

WHOO then the whole cast appears for the dance number at the end of show YAHOO

[wilwywaylan]

Tangled Up in Blue - part 1

Fandom : les Misérables

Modern!AU, Enjolras & Bahorel & Grantaire & Feuilly oh my !! - 3300 words

Written for the @lesmissamepromptficchallenge, "Person A gently tilts Person B's head up". Of course I Couldn't finish it in one go so have the first part right now.

Béta-ed by the amazing @paon-de-jour

For @mu-mumie and @citron-au-miel, my eager readers !

Also on AO3 !

-

Left, right, left again. The fists struck the leather with dry, satisfying thuds. Bahorel was humming under his breath, following the rhythm of his hands as they hit the punching bag. That was the part of his training he liked the most, when his gestures became automatic, on autopilot, a metronome lulling his thoughts in an almost hypnotic way. During those few precious minutes, he was as close to peace of mind as one like him could be.

A noise came to disrupt the rhythm, pulling him out of his trance, steps coming from the open door. Of course, it couldn't last. Most of the time, he could only get a few minutes a day of this glorious state of being, before being cruelly called back to the mortal world. A glance at the clock told him that it was already a few minutes past six. All lessons were done with since four, and he hadn't any appointement he could remember. Then again, he tended to forget those, as they were only for the added paycheck and usually consisted of too-eager people who had watched one action flick too many. But as hard as he tried, he couldn't remember having any lessons today. So either someone had gotten lost in the hallways, or that someone was looking for him. Which one was better, he didn't know. Maybe if he stayed completly still and silent, the person would just go their merry way and not bother him.

A knock at the door. Ah. So much for not being seen. He vaguely thought about scaring them away, playing the role of the big bad asshole. But no. That would probably hurt at least his job, if not his reputation. And as much as he wanted to be on his own, he wasn't an asshole on purpose. So he composed himself a friendly smile and turned to the door.

For now four years that he'd been teaching boxing and kickboxing here, Bahorel had seen many different people cross that door, from children, impatient to start learning, to women looking for self-defense classes (they were often wary of him, but quickly warmed up to him), to people trying to stay in shape. Tall, small, large, thin, burly, willowy, he'd seen all.

But that one... Bahorel had never seen anyone like them. Not because they were tiny, even if they totally were. Almost pocket-sized, Bahorel inwardly snickered, but he'd never say it because he was not a totall ass. That one was tiny enough to get into heated conversations with Bahorel's collarbone, but there was something about them. What exactly, Bahorel couldn't put his finger on, but you couldn't just brush them off. Not just because they were cute. No, scratch that. Cute was for the tiny girls in the ballet room at the other end of the hallway. Or for the puppies he liked to pet in the park. Or... but not that one. As a lover of fine persons and pretty faces, Bahorel had seen his share. But that one could blow every one out of the water without even trying. Because they were not even trying. They were wearing a very baggy, faded red sweater that fell around their thighs, black leggings, and red converse that had certainly seen way too many things. Their long, blond hair fell in soft curls to the small of their back, but it was hastily gathered together without care, and from there, looked quite tangled. The few strands that had escaped framed a very delicate face, a soft oval with high cheekbones and a slightly upturned nose. But the skin was pale and a little red around the eyes. Nice eyes, even from there. Blue and large, with long eyelashes. And a black bruise around one eye. Another one marked their cheek, a dark purple almost shocking on the pale skin. Looking closer, the pretty mouth was split in two spots, and there was a cut across their forehead. Bahorel could recognize a severe beating from across the room, and that one was quite an impressive one.

He suddenly noticed that neither the intruder nor himself had moved from their respective spots. He stepped forwards, offering his hand. The tiny blond one shook it, firmly. Their knuckles were scrapped raw. At least they gave back as much as they got. Good. From up close, they were even prettier. Or they would have been, had they not been scowling that much. Granted, they still looked angelic, but in a ferocious kind of way. Really, Bahorel was starting to like this one. Several badges were pinned on the red hoodie : a purple, grey and black one, a red one with a white slogan, and a large, very obvious rainbow one. No need to be a genius to understand that one.

- Hello, kid, he said with a welcoming smile. I'm Bahorel, pleased to meet you. Pronouns are he / him. What can I do for you ?

The newcomer's expression briefly crumpled a little at "kid", but it smoothed as quickly when they heard the rest.

- I'm Enjolras. He / him too.

So the tiny one was a boy. Good. Not that Bahorel had anything against girls who wanted to learn boxing. Or non-binary people.

- And what can I do for you, Enjolras ?

- I need boxing lessons.

- That, I can guess.

Enjolras frowned for a second, then seemed to remember either where he was, or the wounds on his face.

- Can you take me as your student ?

When someone came at him for lessons, Bahorel usually gave himself a moment of reflexion, assessing his future student's stamina, determination, and especially their willingness to stop and listen. But there was something about Enjolras... He couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe the attitude, the way he was carring himself, ready to take on the whole world. The wounds on his hands were proof of it. Or something else entirely. Some kind of... radiance. A magnetism. Since he'd come in, Bahorel hadn't been able to take his eyes off him. And there was an edge in his voice...

Suddenly, his hand flew to Enjolras' chin and lifted it a little. To Enjolras' credit, he didn't flinch, just looked at him, a little wary. From up close, the bruise around the eye was really impressive, all black, purple and blue, the swelling still noticeable. What did they hit him with, a brick ? That must have hurt like hell...

Bahorel suddenly noticed where his hand was, and quickly let go.

- Seems like you can give as good as you get.

- I don't turn the other cheek, Enjolras retorted. So ? Can you ?

Talk about determination. Bahorel clasped his hands, to break the weird spell Enjolras seemed to cast around him, and announced :

- Well, ki... Enjy, how about you show me what you can do, and then we'll get the paperwork going.

Enjolras scrunched his nose a little at the nickname, and Bahorel was sure he was going to bolt without looking back. But no, he put his bag down, pulled the sweater over his head, and joined Bahorel near the punching bag.

- Okay, Bahorel started. First, you need to stretch, like this...

~*~

The chime of his phone pulled Bahorel out of his concentration. He glanced at the clock. 7 PM. It was time for his next lesson. Usually, he would have been quite cross to be kept so late, when there were so many best things he could have been doing instead. But he couldn't bring himself to be more than a very little bit annoyed.

He barely had time to stop the punching bag from moving, when Enjolras came in. He looked way better than three weeks earlier ; no more traces of what had happened. Maybe there was still a very faint white mark across his forehead, but you'd need to be very close to him to notice.

Enjolras took off his jacket, and walked to Bahorel.

- How are you today ? Bahorel asked with a smile. Ready to box ?

- I'm fine. What about you ?

- Strong as an ox ! Bahorel boasted, hitting his chest with a fist.

The gesture made Enjolras smile, and Bahorel's heart did a little jump. Of course it did, Enjolras' smile was beautiful, radiant, without a hint of cynism. Bahorel knew of many people who would have given their right leg and the foot attached to it for a smile as gorgeous at that one. Bahorel did his best to keep a straight face, and went through the warm-up moves with him, as usual. And it was a good thing for him that he was so used to the course of his lessons, because Enjolras' presence was very distracting.

When it came to aesthetic preferences, Bahorel was quite flexible. None of that "prefers blondes" or "only dates pretty ladies with long legs and nice boobs". It didn't take much to reach his heart : a nice smile, a fun-loving view of life, gorgeous eyes, lots of stamina, .... Nothing too complicated. Just someone who could keep up with him in every activity. A pretty face and a nice body were just a bonus.

At first sight, Enjolras may not fit with his criteria, as loose as they were (the criteria, of course. Bahorel wouldn't judge anyone for their promiscuity or lack thereof). His words were laced with fire and determination, but not the fun kind that Bahorel loved. The way he focused on the bag, as everything he did, told him that Enjolras was quite the serious person. Not that he never had fun, he probably did, everyone did. But not the kind of fun Bahorel liked to have.

But there was still this presence, this vibe that attracted the attention as soon as he came in and seemed to suck in all the oxygen in the room. Staying around him hadn't help with making Bahorel immune to that effect, either. Even now, as he was several feet apart, he could feel the draw, guiding his eyes back to the slight form of his student. Which didn't help in the slightest with his predicament. He was supposed to work (out), not oggle him. And still, every time he tried to focus on his gestures, on the way he hit the sack, and note what would need to be corrected. Instead, his eyes kept crawling back to the back in front of him. Enjolras was wearing only a long, thin shirt and leggings - leggings ! Each time he moved, the hem lifted, unveiling a thin band of skin. And those legs... Bahorel had to refrain himself from going higher than mid-thigh. He was a gentleman, at least in that regard. But his self-control was wearing thin.

Finally, after what seemed both like three seconds and an eternity, the clock struck 8 PM. Bahorel signaled the end of their session. Enjolras stretched his back, arms thrown over his head. Bahorel did a titanesque effort to keep his eyes glued on the floor. Only when the red hoodie disappeared from the bench it's been thrown on did he deem the situation safe enough.

- You're getting good, he said as offhandly as he could.

- Really ?

Oh please, no, don't sound that giddy. But Enjolras did, with a smile so bright it put the fluorescent lights to shame. Bahorel's heart did a sommersault, but he did a great job at bringing it back to its righteous place.

- Yeah. Soon your punches will be as devastating as mine.

- Don't mock me.

There was no hint of hurt in Enjolras' voice, and Bahorel was glad he didn't take offense.

- I'm serious, he insisted. You're making progress.

Enjolras nodded. As he gathered his stuff, he suddenly dug through his bag, and pulled out of it a slightly crumped sheet of paper that he held out. Bahorel's first reaction was to wonder if it was some kind of invoice, but no. Why would Enjolras give him an invoice ? Besides, it was brightly colored, too brightly, even, with large letters announcing something. Nothing incriminating there, he could take it.

It was a flyer, advertising some kind of social justice club. Very ugly flyer. They probably didn't have any graphic designer or art student in their little group. But the name in large, blocky letters was the same than on Enjolras' badge, and he seemed so proud that Bahorel would bet his montly wages on him being the leader, or at least had a hand in creating the group.

- What's that ?

- We meet each Friday night, Enjolras explained, beaming. Well this, and rallies. On Sundays, usually. We'd like to do it more often, but it's difficult getting everyone... (He coughed a little.) We're holding meetings to discuss all kind of social questions, discuss them, and try to set up ways to either implement changes, or raise consciousness about them.

Bahorel nodded along. He was right, it was a social justice club. Not that he minded them, of course. But he ? In a club like this ? because Enjolras giving him the flyer meant that he wanted him there, to talk about issues and march to protest them. All good, but Bahorel's approachs tended to be a bit more... hands-on. What could he bring to a group of well-meaning students ? But Enjolras was looking at him with such an expectant look that he couldn't bring himself to crush his hopes.

- Maybe I can drop by, he finally answered. I need to check first.

Enjolras gave him the kind of brillant smile that made him want to do something very stupid, and left with a wave. Bahorel glanced again at the paper in his hand. Then again, maybe it could be fun ? He wouldn't lose more than a few hours of his time, going there, and it's not as if his time was accounted for and precious. Going there wouldn't ask too much of him, and maybe it wouldn't be too much boring. And even if it was, there was still Enjolras to stare at, discreetly, of course. Whatever happened, the evening wouldn't be lost on him. Yeah, he would definitly check this out. All in good fun.

~*~

- So, how is the new kid doing ?

Bahorel refrained from telling Grantaire his new pupil wasn't a kid anymore, but that was Grantaire for you. Anyone younger than him was a "kid", except Bahorel, and that was only due to the fact that he could throw (and already had thrown) him through a (first floor) window.

They had gone for coffee after their training session, as usual. For three years now that they've been practising together, it's become their own ritual : a no hold barred match, followed by coffee and a snack, and eventually some first aid applied to their bruises and bumps.

Finding a sparing partner, getting friendly with him and setting the routine had been way easier than choosing a good coffee shop. They had tried almost half of Paris', but always, there was something wrong with them : the place was not clean enough, the coffee was subpar, the baristas were stingy, it was too cold, too warm... always, there was something wrong, and they were left coffee-shop-less once again.

Until they stumbled into the Café Victor, by accident. It's been raining all day, but the weather patiently waited until they were outside to unleash all its fury with a hail hard enough to cut them into pieces. They rushed through the nearest door for shelter. And that shelter was a little coffee shop. Like every trendy place, it had the dark metal / light wood combo, with fancy light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and those weird high chairs that had a very low back. Grantaire hated those things. But it managed to have a distinct atmosphere, with many plants scattered around the room, and the walls being covered in frames : pictures, drawings, collages, in black and white or vivid colors. The main room was connected to a second one by two steps, with chairs of normal-height. A low stage had been set against the far wall, under a large, abstract, very bright piece. All this managed to give the place a cozy, welcoming feel, and Grantaire and Bahorel happily adopted it as their favourite coffee place in the world.

To the displeasure of one of the baristas. "Fiery redhead" surely sounded like a cliché, but Bahorel had never meet someone that fit it so well. He was a bit on the short side, built like a twig, covered in an array of freckles, and always gave the impression that Bahorel had been put on Earth for his personnal aggravation. Which wasn't entirely wrong. Bahorel was a flirt and a bit of a smart mouth, nothing too mean, of course, but the guy didn't seem like he could take a joke, and he had a tongue sharp enough to retort everytime. Which, of course, was like an invitation for Bahorel to keep his act.

They ordered their drinks, gigantic and full of an unhealthy amount of sugar, but that's what you needed after a good sparing session, the bruise on Bahorel's face bearing witness of the energy they put into it. The redhead was already busy behind the counter, but it didn't stop Bahorel from winking at him as he grabbed his drinks.

Once seated, Grantaire asked, around a gulp of coffee :

- So ? The kid ?

- Good, good. Lots of fire.

- Of fire ? Is that a metaphor, or real fire ? Because if it's like that girl, the one with...

- It's not like that ! Bahorel quickly amended. He's not an arsonist. Just.... very enthusiastic.

- I like that in a man, Grantaire said with a raised eyebrow.

- You like everything in a man, you scoundrel.

- And women, don't forget, but what can I say ? My love is a pyre that only needs the smallest spark to catch on fire.

- And you'll burn your wings.

- Such is the life of Icarus, what can I do ?

Bahorel fondly rolled his eyes, but they knocked their mugs together.

- So, Grantaire said again after drinking almost half of his coffee in one gulp, tell me a bit about the recruit.

- You're weirdly curious, but I'll humor you. So... just picture this : this high (he gestured above the ground), with long blond hair, very curly. Blue eyes, too, and...

He didn't go farther than that before Grantaire dissolved in a fit of giggles. Bahorel knew that it was no use trying to calm him down or ask him anything. So he just enjoyed the rest of his drink, waiting for him to stop.

It took almost five minutes before the giggles finally died down enough for Grantaire to breath again. He hiccuped a little, but managed to wheeze :

- Are you telling me that Goldilocks came into the bear's house and asked him for boxing lessons ?

Bahorel pondered on the merits of pushing him backwards, then decided to let go.

- Keep your snark for yourself. He seems like a nice guy.

Also, he's really cute, he mentally added, but did he want to say this ? Of course not. He'd never hear the end of if, not in this life, and maybe not even in the next.

- Oh, I bet, Grantaire retorted. A paying customer...

- You're despicable, Bahorel said in his best Daffy Duck impression.

Grantaire snorted in his cup. The redhead barista, who was refiling the napkin dispenser, glanced at him, but quickly went back to his work. Probably rolling his eyes. Bahorel stuck his tongue at him, causing a new eruption of giggles.

They ordered a new round of drinks, and went on to chat about their last training session. The wind was blowing the rain across the window, but it was warm, inside, and the coffee was delicious. Neither was in a hurry to go home, and they stayed there, enjoying their drinks and each other's company.

[bloody-bee-tea]

Pay me in love

For @ruensroad because she always listens to my babbling and complaining and yet still always expands my ideas so beautifully <3

Jiang Cheng is excited. It‘s the first time he’s bringing Lan Xichen to meet his parents, and it gets to him more than he expected it to.

Lan Xichen stops him right before they enter the restaurant.

“Breathe, my heart,” he whispers as he takes Jiang Cheng’s hand and leans in for a sweet kiss. “It’ll be alright.”

“I hope so,” Jiang Cheng mutters back, because he knows his parents, and especially his mother, can be a lot to handle sometimes, but Lan Xichen simply smiles reassuringly at him and Jiang Cheng squeezes his hand.

“Let’s go,” Lan Xichen says and tugs Jiang Cheng along, who follows a lot more willingly now, because trust Lan Xichen to know when he’s nervous and how to settle him down.

He enters the restaurant behind Lan Xichen, a small smile still on his lips, that immediately turns into a frown when he only sees his mother at a table.

“Mother? Where’s father?” he asks once they are standing next to the table and Madame Yu looks Lan Xichen up and down before she turns towards Jiang Cheng.

“He had more important things to do,” Madame Yu courtly tells him and Jiang Cheng automatically straightens up.

How stupid of him to think both his parents would take time out of their busy schedule for this.

“It is nice to meet you, Madame Yu,” Lan Xichen says, polite as ever, and Jiang Cheng breathes a bit deeper when he briefly squeezes Jiang Cheng’s hand before he lets go of it to sit down.

“Lan Xichen, I presume,” Madame Yu gives back and eyes him over again. “A pleasure,” she then tacks on with a smile on her face, and Jiang Cheng knows that smile.

It’s the one for business partners.

“Mom,” he tries, but she silences him with one look, and Jiang Cheng is helpless to that, still.

He falls silent.

“I heard you were recently appointed position as the CEO at your company,” Madame Yu starts, and Jiang Cheng bites his lips so he doesn’t groan.

He didn’t bring Lan Xichen here so she could turn it into a business talk.

“I did,” Lan Xichen answers, and then it goes downhill from there.

Madame Yu keeps the conversation firmly on the topic of their respective corporations and while Lan Xichen answers any and all of her questions readily, Jiang Cheng can see the small frown forming between his brows.

He was expecting something else, just like Jiang Cheng himself.

They somehow make it through dinner like this, and when Madame Yu offers some dessert Jiang Cheng is quick to inform her that they will have to leave soon. One course is enough with her.

Lan Xichen’s smile has gone suspiciously frayed around the edges, and he almost seems relieved when his phone rings.

He takes it out of his pocket and after one look at the caller id he looks up at Jiang Cheng.

“I’m sorry, but I have to take this. We’ll probably have to leave afterwards,” he lowly says, as if that isn’t exactly what Jiang Cheng wants, and kisses Jiang Cheng’s temple as he gets up, phone already unlocked.

Jiang Cheng would be bothered by this if he wasn’t so used to it already.

Madame Yu watches Lan Xichen walk away, until he is out of earshot, before she turns towards Jiang Cheng.

“What are you paying him?” she wants to know and Jiang Cheng can do nothing but stare dumbly at her.

“What?” he asks when she doesn’t say anything else.

“Did you really think I would believe you’re dating Lan Xichen, CEO of Lan Enterprises? Nice try, Jiang Cheng. Now tell me what you’re paying him.”

“I’m not paying him at all,” Jiang Cheng says, because why the hell would he pay his boyfriend to date him, but Madame Yu shakes her head.

“People like him don’t date out of love,” she says and she makes it sound like she’s imparting some great wisdom. “They date for convenience, and even that criteria fits you just barely. I doubt Yungmeng Jiang Corporation is big enough to be on his radar.”

“He’s not dating me because of that,” Jiang Cheng argues and his mother smiles at him like she would at a small, stupid child.

“Of course you are not,” she says. “But he is. He would never date someone like you. People like him don’t have time for that.”

“People like him,” Jiang Cheng mutters. “What do you want to say? That dad paid for you, too?”

“Of course he did,” Madame Yu says as if it was nothing. “He had to pay a hefty sum for our first date. My father lowered the price when it became clear he would bring his shares of the family company into our own, but of course he paid for the privilege of dating me.”

Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know what to say to that.

“Did you make an offer to Lan Qiren?” Madame Yu asks and Jiang Cheng slowly shakes his head.

“I’m supposed to meet him tomorrow,” he mumbles and Madame Yu narrows her eyes at him.

“You didn’t make an offer yet? Dear gods, what did I even teach you? You have to double the price, to make up for your oversight.”

“He’s not—we’re not together because of that,” Jiang Cheng tries, again, but Madame Yu only scoffs.

“The Lans would never look twice at someone like you,” he tells him and Jiang Cheng goes cold.

“Wei Wuxian—,” he starts but his mother interrupts him.

“Knows that he and Lan Wangji are nothing more than fuckbuddies. He’s aware of where he stands.”

Funny, Jiang Cheng thinks. He thought they were madly in love.

“When you meet Lan Qiren tomorrow, he’s expecting you to make an offer. You better have it ready, too. I would hate to lose the connections this could get us.”

“We’re not—he’s my boyfriend,” Jiang Cheng presses out, because he cannot believe this, but Madame Yu only gives him a pitying smile.

“And why would he date you for anything else than your name and the company?” she wants to know and Jiang Cheng doesn’t have an answer to that.

Why would Lan Xichen?

“It’s nice you think this is out of love, but with his reputation? He must be expecting quite the price to allow you to endanger it like this.”

Oh, Jiang Cheng thinks and then everything kind of goes fuzzy in his head.

“Don’t fuck this up for us,” Madame Yu hisses over the table, right before a familiar hand settles on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.

“We have to leave, my heart,” Lan Xichen says and he frowns down at Jiang Cheng. “Are you okay?” he asks and Jiang Cheng somehow drags a smile on his face.

“Of course,” he gives back, voice horribly hollow, and he gets up. “Good night, mother,” he says, and can’t even bare to look at her.

“Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen,” she gives back and Lan Xichen smiles at her in parting.

“Are you okay?” he asks Jiang Cheng on their way to the car, and Jiang Cheng manages a nod, despite the uproar in his head.

How could he have been so stupid to believe that the heir to the Lan Enterprise would be willing to date him? Would fall in love with someone like him?

His memory helpfully replays all the sweet and tender moments between them, how Lan Xichen laughs at Jiang Cheng’s remarks, how he always so willingly leans in for kisses, how he enjoys hand-holding.

And he’s doing it all because he’s expecting Jiang Cheng to pay for it. Jiang Cheng feels dirty just thinking about it, feels like a whore Lan Xichen picked up from the street and it might as well be like that, with how bad Jiang Cheng must be for his reputation.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how they got home, but he numbly follows along when Lan Xichen leads him up to his apartment.

“Jiang Cheng, what is wrong?” Lan Xichen asks again, as he closes the door behind them and Jiang Cheng walks away from him, needs to put some distance between them.

“Did you expect me to pay you, too?” he hollowly asks and he can’t even look at Lan Xichen.

“Pay me for what?” Lan Xichen asks, confusion clear in his voice and Jiang Cheng spins around to him.

“For dating me? Did you expect some kind of payment for that as well?”

“Jiang Cheng, I’m not a hooker. And neither are you,” Lan Xichen gives back, clearly so confused but Jiang Cheng only laughs bitterly at that.

“But I’m not your boyfriend, either, right? Gods, how can I be so stupid?” he mutters and slaps a hand over his face. “You let me stay here, for days. How much does that cost, huh?”

“Jiang Cheng, I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Lan Xichen says, and he’s using his CEO voice.

Normally, that gets Jiang Cheng back from whatever frenzy he’s been talking himself into, but it barely works now.

“Is Lan Wangji expecting to be paid, too? He must know that Wei Wuxian doesn’t have that kind of money.”

“No one is expecting to be paid for anything,” Lan Xichen tells him and he sounds frantic now. “Jiang Cheng please, what are you talking about.”

“You’re the heir to the Lan Enterprise.”

“Yes.”

“And I am just a lowly nobody, with convenient connections and a company you have your eyes on. Of course you wouldn’t fall in love with me.”

“That’s bullshit,” Lan Xichen vehemently says, and the swearword jolts Jiang Cheng out of his still bitter laugh. “I am dating you because I love you. You’re my boyfriend, my partner, my heart. I don’t want any kind of payment from you.”

“Sure,” Jiang Cheng mutters, refusing to admit just how much it hurts to hear that endearment from Lan Xichen’s lips now. “And you’re bringing me to brunch tomorrow to meet your family. And not because Lan Qiren asked you to because I still haven’t made an offer.”

“We’re going to brunch because Wangji and Wei Wuxian are going to announce their engagement,” Lan Xichen tells him, and Jiang Cheng hates to see the desperation on his face. “Jiang Cheng, please, just tell me what happened.”

“My mother,” Jiang Cheng starts and then he can’t finish, because Lan Xichen has put his hand over his mouth.

“Do not finish that sentence, because I’m going to forget myself,” Lan Xichen presses out between clenched teeth and then he takes a few deliberately deep breaths. “Did your mother really insinuate that you should be paying me because otherwise I could never be with you?” he demands to know and when he doesn’t move his hand from Jiang Cheng’s mouth, Jiang Cheng simply nods.

Lan Xichen’s face falls right in front of Jiang Cheng’s eyes, and it seems so real that Jiang Cheng has to bite back some tears.

“Please tell me you don’t believe her,” Lan Xichen mutters, but he doesn’t wait for an answer that Jiang Cheng can’t give him. “I love you, Jiang Cheng. I want you to meet my family, the people I hold dear to my heart, because I love you and I want them to know you, too.”

“Lan Qiren,” Jiang Cheng muffles out behind Lan Xichen’s hand who moves it in reflex. “He won’t like it. I mean really, what can you even gain from being with me?” Jiang Cheng asks and he keeps his eyes away from Lan Xichen’s face.

“My happiness,” Lan Xichen firmly gives back and then stalks back to his jacket, pulling out his phone and before Jiang Cheng can even protest he has already dialled.

“Uncle,” he says when the line connects, “I’m going to put you on speaker.”

“What is wrong, Xichen?” Lan Qiren wants to know and Lan Xichen fixes Jiang Cheng with his eyes.

“Jiang Cheng is under the impression that he has to offer to pay you for the privilege of dating me,” Lan Xichen tells him and Jiang Cheng cannot meet his eyes, not when Lan Qiren will confirm everything his mother has told him.

“Did you have dinner with Madame Yu?” Lan Qiren asks instead of answering and Lan Xichen agrees. “That dreadful woman,” Lan Qiren mutters under his breath, but Jiang Cheng still hears it.

“Uncle,” Lan Xichen urges him on when he stays silent for too long.

“Is it a love match?” Lan Qiren asks in return and Lan Xichen doesn’t hesitate.

“It is.”

“It’s not a match out of convenience?”

“It is not.”

“Then there is no need for payment,” Lan Qiren finally says and Jiang Cheng blinks.

“What?” he weakly says and Lan Xichen comes closer so Lan Qiren can hear him better.

“If the match happens out of convenience, the family must be repaid,” Lan Qiren explains, “that much is true. But if the match happens out of love, no one could care less.”

“Mother didn’t mention that,” Jiang Cheng whispers.

“Because that woman doesn’t have a romantic bone in her body,” Lan Qiren bitterly says and then sighs. “Jiang Cheng, I presume?”

“Yes, sir,” Jiang Cheng is quick to answer.

“Listen here, boy. Your mother is a business woman, through and through. She wouldn’t recognize love if it bit her in the nose. The Lans—we are the exact opposite. Our family doesn’t marry for convenience. We are romantics. If Lan Xichen is with you, then he is so because he loves you. The only repayment anyone wants is for you to love him, too.” He pauses here before he asks: “Do you?”

“Yes,” Jiang Cheng whispers, because he does, with all his heart and then some.

And he already saw all of that broken and crumbled with just a few words from his mother.

“Then love him. I expect to see you tomorrow,” Lan Qiren says, and it’s clearly a dismissal.

“Thank you, uncle,” Lan Xichen says before he hangs up, and he turns his full attention on Jiang Cheng again.

“Do you believe him?” he asks and Jiang Cheng nods once. “Do you believe me when I tell you I love you?” he goes on, and here, Jiang Cheng hesitates.

“Do you really?” he asks, voice small and unsure and Lan Xichen doesn’t hesitate to pull him into a hug.

“More than anything,” Lan Xichen whispers into his hair. “I love you, and I’m going to tell you as often as you need to hear it.”

Jiang Cheng clings to Lan Xichen and he curses his mother, hates her for making him feel this insecure with someone he loves, and who loves him, and he buries his face in Lan Xichen’s neck.

“I might need to hear it for a while,” Jiang Cheng admits, hating how weak it makes him, but Lan Xichen only nods.

“For as long as you want. Until you get sick of it.”

Jiang Cheng doubts that could ever happen, but he agrees anyway.

“Do you want me to take the couch today?” Lan Xichen asks, because he knows Jiang Cheng far too well, knows how easily he gets overwhelmed, but Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

If Lan Xichen sleeps on the couch tonight, the doubt will take root again.

“Please don’t,” he mutters and he can feel Lan Xichen smile into his hair.

“I won’t,” he promises as he pulls back.

Lan Xichen frames Jiang Cheng’s face with his hands, and he smiles at him, not allowing Jiang Cheng to turn his head away.

“I love you,” Lan Xichen tells him, serious as anything and he drops a little kiss on Jiang Cheng’s lips. “I love you so much and then some.”

Jiang Cheng can’t help the small smile that brings to his face and when Lan Xichen’s face lights up at seeing it, he allows it to go bigger.

“I love you, too,” Jiang Cheng gives back and sighs when Lan Xichen rewards him with a soft kiss.

“And that’s all that I need,” Lan Xichen mutters against his lips.

Jiang Cheng can still hear his mother’s words, but Lan Xichen holding his face and kissing him almost reverently, pressing whispered ‘I love you’s into his skin, is slowly drowning her out.

Jiang Cheng knows that he will hear her for a while yet, doubt always takes root so easily in his mind, but if Lan Xichen keeps this up, it won’t take long before he forgets about it.

Before the only thing he remembers will be Lan Xichen and his love for him.

[eddlestonian]

Passwords

001 Many sites on the internet require passwords.  Although they seem a nuisance, they protect you.  Consider them like a key to a door.  

002 Why bother with passwords?

(i) Financial Management

For most people this means online banking.  If you use a weak password it is likely it will eventually get hacked.  Needless to say this could result in you losing money.

(ii) Auction Sites

If someone hacked your account they could make binding bids or buy things in your name.

(iii) Stock Trading

This is like (i) plus (ii).  Someone could buy or sell stock or have stock transferred.

(iv) Social Media

Hacked social media accounts can be used to post compromising messages that could embarrass or defame somebody, be used for harassment, or to build up a picture of who you are and everyone you know.  This could result in a visit from the police.  Social media is also very useful for hackers for enabling identity theft.

(v) Shops

Hacking one of your shopping accounts (e.g. Amazon) would only be an issue if you have a “stored” payment method such as credit card details.

If you discover that your payment information was used to ship unexpected goods to an unknown location, it’s clear that someone has hacked your account.

(vi) Gambling

A hacker could generate debts on your behalf.

003 How To Design a Good Password

The important things when designing a password (in order) are make it -  

(i) Memorable,

(ii) Long – the longer the better (at least 12 characters),

(iii) Complex,

(iv) Different for different sites.

004 The Core of the Password

First of all create a “core” password with a string of letters.  Three ways ways of doing this include -  

(i) Initial Letters

Open your favourite book.  Go to a memorable page e.g. your birthday. Read the first sentence.  For me this would be “The Age of Reason” by Sartre.  My birthday is on the 23rd.  The first sentence of the first paragraph on page 23 is “Boris bitterly regretted never having been there, he would certainly go if it reopened.”

This makes bbrnhbthwcgiir – 14 characters.  If I forget it I just have to go to my favourite book.

(ii) Relevant but Not Guessable Words

This could be a street name, hill names, school name, stream name(s), car. Don’t use words relevant to you or close family.  However, you could use a relative’s street name etc.  Hill or mountain names, especially if non-English, are good.  Similarly, the name of your school is bad because a hacker could probably get it from Facebook. So use a relative’s school instead.  The advice regarding streams/rivers is the same as for hills/mountains.  If the resulting password is too short add something relevant.

So, examples from these could be -

springwoodbank (where my parents-in-law lived)

anteallach (a Scottish mmountain)

bluemountainsgrammar (a school in Australia)

severnriver (a river far away)

deloreanbelfast (not my car!)

or -

Look out of the window -  flowerwheelbarrowbinhusband

Look at your wall - picturetelevisionblue

Look at your spouse - greynoseartist

(iii) A Silly Phrase

Examples could be -

weneedanewcomputer

mustremembermilk

quickbrowndogs

lillylikeschocolate

myneighbourisnoisy

dollypartonhasbigboobies

These are long and memorable.

005 Make The Password More Secure

The core password generated as above satisfies the first two criteria – long and memorable.  You could use it as it is.  However, to make it even better we can add complexity.  There are three easy ways of doing it – add special characters and/or numbers and use mixed case.  But where to put the number and special characters?  The easiest is between each word (ignoring example (iii) above) but the better way would be to place it in random places.  The downside here is that random places make   it less memorable.

(i) Special characters such as !, £, $, _

flower_wheelbarrowbinhusband

bbrnh£bthwcgiir

springwood!bank

we_need£a$new_computer

Bear in mind that some sites only allow certain special characters.

(ii) Numbers

The question here is how to decide what numbers to use.  Anything relevant to you or your close family is bad because it is available online from various sources (e.g. Facebook, Linkedin, Ancestry).  Of course 123456 is bad.  You could use something random but then it won’t be so easily memorable.  Ignoring close family, you could use the birth date of, say, your mother (or even better, your grandmother).  For me that would be 07071936.  You could use one or more of these numbers -

flower07wheelbarrow07bin19husband35

bb07rnhb07thw19cgiir35

07spring07woodbank1935

w07eneedane07wco19mput35er

(iii) Mix upper and lowercase letters

FlowerwheelbarrowbinhusbanD

bbrnhbthwcGiir

SpringWoodBank

wEnEEdanEwcomputEer

(iv) To make an extremely secure password, use all three complexity methods -

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35

bb07rnh£b07thw19cGiir35

07Spring07Wood!Bank1935

w_07EnEEd£a$nE07w__co19mput35Er

006 Create Different Passwords For Different Websites

You could use the same password for each website but if that gets hacked it would mean the hacker would have access to all of your accounts online.  So, how to make it unique for each website?  Here are some suggestions.

(i) Add the name of the site to your password

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35amazon

bb07rnh£b07thw19cGiir35ebay

07Spring07Wood!Bank1935twitter

w_07EnEEd£a$nE07w__co19mput35Erfineartamerica

(ii) Add an acronym relevant to the site

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35azn

bb07rnh£b07thw19cGiir35eb

07Spring07Wood!Bank1935twt

w_07EnEEd£a$nE07w__co19mput35Erfaa

(iii) Add numbers

How to choose a number relevant to the site?  An easy way is the length of the name of the site -

Amazon = 6

Ebay = 4

Twitter = 7

Fineartamerica = 14

To make it harder for the hacker “pad” it to three digits; -

Amazon =  006

Ebay = 004

Twitter = 007

Finartamerica = 012

So we get -

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35006

bb07rnh£b07thw19cGiir35004

07Spring07Wood!Bank1935007

w_07EnEEd£a$nE07w__co19mput35Er012

007 Storing Passwords

Generally speaking, storing passwords anywhere is a bad idea but if you really can’t remember your passwords, here is some advice.

(i) Write Them Down

Writing your passwords on a piece of paper and sticking it to your screen or under your keyboard is a bad idea.  

So find that favourite book again and your favourite page and slip your password note in there.  What happens if a burgler finds it? Burglars rarely, if ever, are interested in passwords – they are looking for cash or small high value items to sell on quickly.

If you have accepted the advice above you have a core password used for all sites.  For each site you have added a three-digit number at the end.  This means all you have to do is store your core password because you can work out which password to use for each site but others would have a hard time figuring it out.  

For example, instead of storing

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35006

use

Flower_07wheelbarrow07bin19husbanD35

Even if a burglar/hacker tries to use the password it will not work anywhere.

(ii) Password Manager

A password manager is a computer program that allows users to store, generate and manage their passwords for local applications and online services.

Types of password managers include:

locally installed software applications

online services accessed through website portals

locally accessed hardware devices that serve as keys

Password managers typically require a user to generate and remember a master password to unlock the password manager.  Many password managers offer additional services such as storage of credit card and frequent flier information.

Password managers come and go but the popular ones in 2021 are LastPass, myki, LogmeOnce, Norton and bitwarden

The two downsides of using a password manager are that you usually have to pay for it and, of course, if the password manager gets hacked your passwords are exposed.

(iii) Security Key

A security key looks a bit like a USB pen.  It allows you to securely log into your accounts without having to key in passwords.  They usually just plug into a USB port.

There are various security keys available so its worth shopping around and comparing them.  For example scan.co.uk sells the Hypersecu FIDO Titanium Pro (works in Windows, Apple devices and Android) which currently does well in reviews.

In addition to managing passwords a security key can combat real-time attacks such as man-in-the-middle (MITM), prevent phishing, make keylogging impossible and protect PINs from brute force attacks.

The problem is that they can be difficult to set up.

008 How To get Hacked (Bad Security Online)

(i) Use Number Substitutions in Passwords

Common substitutions are -

a = @

s = $

o = 0

e = 3

i /l = 1

So, ”myamazonassword” becomes “my@m@z0nA$$w0rd”

Hackers are aware of this so number substitution is a bad idea.

Note – this is substitution not addition (discussed above).

(ii) Use Personal Information in Passwords

Examples are -

Your birthday,

Close family names (sons, daughters),

Pet name,

Your address.

(iii) Repeating Characters in Passwords

1234567

aaaaaaaaa

abcdefg

abcabcabc

(iv) Same Password for All Sites

Someone who culls your Facebook or Twitter password in a phishing exploit could, for example, access your bank account.   Reusing passwords for email, banking, and social media accounts can lead to identity theft. Two recent breaches revealed a password reuse rate of 31% among victims.

(v) Auto Sign In

Do not allow your computer to automatically sign into sites on boot-up

(vi) “remember me”, Automatic sign-in option

Do not use “remember me” or Automatic sign-in option which is available on some web sites.

(vii) Alien Computers

Do not enter passwords on a computer you don’t control, such as a friend’s computer, because you don’t know what spyware or keyloggers might be on that machine.

(viii) Open WiFi

Do not access password-protected accounts over open WiFi networks or any other network you don’t trust unless the site is secured via HTTPS. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you travel a lot.

(ix) Keyboard Combinations in Passwords

Avoid consecutive keyboard combinations such as qwerty or asdfg.

(x) Security Questions

The names of spouses, kids, other relatives, or pets, can be deduced with a little research.  When you click the “forgot password” link within a webmail service or other site you are often asked to answer a question or series of questions.  The answers can often be found on your social media profile.  This is how Sarah Palin’s Yahoo account was hacked.

(xi) Social engineering

This is an elaborate type of lying.  An alternative to traditional hacking, it is the act of manipulating others into performing certain actions or divulging confidential information.

[thenovelartist]

Falling for the Dork, set 7

<<Previous set  Next set>>

22.      Aged-up

Marinette was the happiest woman in the world. Attending her dream college on a partial scholarship was amazing. She was loved by her teachers for her dedication to learn and grow. She had a top fashion designer telling her which elective classes she should take to give herself the best chance once she graduated.

And she had the best boyfriend in the history of ever.

She got out of class only to see him waiting around for her, and she couldn’t help but squeal in excitement.

The moment she ran into his arms, he picked her up and swung her around once before… not putting her back on the ground.

“Hey,” she said, rubbing her nose against his. “What are you doing here?”

“The professor let everyone out early today so I ran over here as quickly as I could to pick you up.”

She giggled as he slowly lowered her to the ground. “I know the perfect café we could grab some lunch at.”

“Wherever you want to go,” he said.

With her hand in his, they walked to Adrien’s car, then drove over to the café.

“I like how you’ve been wearing your hair, recently,” Marinette commented.

“Yeah?” Adrien asked, running a hand through it.

“Yeah,” Marinette said. “Not that I don’t like the bedhead, but the side-swept look has a little more class to it. Now, to get rid of the cat pun tees.”

Adrien gasped in mock offence. “How dare you say such a thing!”

Marinette giggled. “You know I’m teasing. Though, I do appreciate that you’re starting to wear some other clothes, too.”

“My girlfriend is a fashion designer,” he said. “I had to clean up my act a little.”

“Your father is a fashion designer, and you didn’t clean up for him.”

“You’re different,” Adrien said, squeezing her hand and bringing it up to his lips to kiss. “I actually want to look like I’m worthy to stand next to you.”

Marinette scoffed. “Please. I’m the one that needs to stand up to you.”

“Yeah, right,” Adrien huffed. “As if.”

They made it to the shop, and ever the gentleman, Adrien opened the door for her.

“After you, my princess.”

She shook her head, cheeks warm. Just shy of two years of dating and he still got her flustered.

Not that she didn’t love it.

Marinette ordered for the both of them with a “trust me, you’ll love it.” And then pouted when Adrien got his card out before her.

His grin was too smug, gosh darn it.

After eating and causing a minor scene with her shoving food in Adrien’s smug mouth, the two debated if they were going to go to her house or his. Adrien said that he forgot something at his house, henceforth, to the Agreste Mansion it was.

Besides, playing UMS IV on his high definition big screen was always fun.

“Do you want to set up the game while I grab what I need?” Adrien asked

“Sure.” She knew by heart where he kept the game, so setting it up was a cinch. She then pulled both controllers over to the couch just as Adrien was approaching. “Ready to get your butt handed to—”

She froze, completely unable to finish her sentence. Because Adrien had knelt down beside her with a ring in his hand.

“I remember when we started dating that you said you didn’t want to rush into a marriage with university and all that,” he began. “But I have just been so, so happy that the thought of not marrying you isn’t even comprehendible. And we basically see each other every day even if we just sit in silence and do homework together, and… I just have to take the risk and ask you, because you’re worth it and you’ll always be worth it. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, will you marry me?”

Her eyes bounced between him and the ring, her poor, fried mind slowly catching up to her. Eventually, her hand found its way over her gaping mouth. “Yes,” she said, mind finally working again. “Yes. Of course, yes!”

With a grin, Adrien reached out for her hand which she quickly threw in front of him. He chuckled, grabbing hold of her hand and sliding the ruby ring on her finger.

He didn’t let go, instead using it to pull her closer to him.

She didn’t resist, leaning closer and closer until he was able to wrap his hand around the back of her head and pull her in for a long kiss.

 23.      Fashion Show

Adrien knew it had to be done, so he enlisted his fiancée—his fiancée! Even after four months, he still couldn’t quite get over that—to assist him.

“I managed to pair everything else down so that we could fit it in the apartment,” Adrien began. “I went through everything and took only what I wanted. However, the closet is another monster entirely.”

Marinette stared at the closet. “Yeah,” she said. “Because you saw the apartment we want to rent: the closet is…”

“Too small,” Adrien said.

Marinette nodded. “For a fashion designer and her cat-pun-shirt-loving soon-to-be husband, yes.”

Adrien couldn’t resist wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against his side. “I have no clue where to start.”

Marinette paused in thought. “Okay. So, rule: if I haven’t seen you in it in the past, like, two months, you don’t get to keep it. Even if I don’t remember seeing you in it, you don’t get to keep it. You get to keep half the cat pun shirts—”

“What?” Adrien cried.

Marinette gave him a sympathetic smile. “Adrien, honey, I love you. I love you a lot. But if I remember correctly, you have sixty-seven cat pun shirts. You don’t get to keep all them.”

Adrien pouted, but he supposed she was right. “Seventy-two.”

“Case and point,” she said. “So how about we start there. Rules: if it has holes, it’s gone. If it’s overly faded and worn, it’s gone. If I rarely see you in it, it’s gone. And then we’ll see how many are left.”

Adrien pouted. “There’s a ripped seam in my anime kitty shirt.”

Marinette sighed. “I’m not gonna fight you on that one. I’ll fix it. Everything else, though!”

“Understood.”

One by one, Marinette pulled out each shirt and examined it. If it fit the ‘dump’ criteria, then she automatically tossed it before Adrien could say a word. In the end, there was a pile of thirty-one shirts he got to keep.

“I am immensely proud of you,” Marinette said.

With a pout, Adrien dropped his forehead onto her shoulder. “My heart.”

She patted his back. “You’ll live. Now, pull out any other clothes that you wear on a regular basis.”

A couple rounds later, Adrien had pulled out all the clothes that Marinette had told him to.

“And the rest can go,” Adrien commented, looking at the still surprisingly full closet.

“Yup,” Marinette agreed. “There are more clothes in here than there are at a fashion show.”

“To be fair,” Adrien said. “I really don’t remember the last time I cleaned out my closet.”

Marinette hummed. “That’s actually not surprising. And as much as I’d love to stay and help you clean out the rest—”

“You have to go,” Adrien finished. He grabbed her cheeks, pulling her in to press a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you so much for coming to help.”

“My pleasure,” she said, grabbing his own cheeks and getting a good angle to kiss him. “I’ll see you later.”

“I’ve got to help you take all the clothes you stole down to the car,” Adrien countered. “I am not completely saying good-bye yet. And that was not a proper good-bye kiss.”

She smirked. “Fair enough.”

…

For Christmas, Marinette’s gift to Adrien consisted of a rather large gift box. “For you, my love.”

Adrien eagerly opened it, only to nearly scream in excitement at the quilt Marinette made with all his old cat-pun tee shirts.

“Did I mention you are the most wonderful woman in the whole world and that I am the absolute luckiest man alive to be marrying you?”

“Hmm… once or twice. Now put me down; you’re squishing me.”

 24.      Bridal Style

Marinette had never planned on having a winter wedding—she was not a cold weather person—but having her wedding after the holidays allowed nearly all her and Adrien’s old classmates to come since they were already back in Paris for winter break. Everyone was overjoyed for them, of course because, in the words of Alya, “you’re the best ship ever.”

When the reception came to a close, Marinette and Adrien bolted for the limo, with people throwing rice and sending wolf whistles their way.

The night was young, but Marinette and Adrien had spent the day busy freaking out in the morning, then standing at the alter and crying as they exchanged vows, then throwing a wildly fun reception. They were ready to retreat to their new apartment that they had slowly moved into yet hadn’t lived in a day yet. They decided that they would christen it tonight as a very special occasion.

After all, it was their wedding night.

“I swear, I am the luckiest man in the world,” Adrien said, cupping the back of her neck so he could pull her head close and lean their foreheads together.

“And I’m the luckiest woman in the world,” Marinette countered, placing her free hand over his heart. “I still can’t believe… wow, we just got married.”

Adrien nodded.

“We’re husband and wife.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m Mrs. Agreste.”

Smirking, Adrien growled. “Yes, you are.”

Marinette giggled, her brain barely functioning.

The limo stopped in front of their apartment building, meaning the two thanked the driver and Adrien assisted Marinette, in her full-skirted wedding dress, out of the limo.

Together, they scurried to their apartment, hand in hand, grinning like giddy school kids. They slid to a stop in front of their apartment door, Adrien pulling out the key. He stuck it into the lock, and Marinette put her hand over his. Together, they turned the key to their home. Their home. The thought warmed Marinette’s heart. She was here, baring the love of her life’s last name, opening up the door to the home they now shared together.

It was perfect.

Suddenly, Marinette felt herself being lifted into the air. She squealed, reflexively wrapping her arms around Adrien’s neck. He chuckled, shifting her closer to press his forehead against hers. “I love you, my bride.”

Marinette relaxed in his arms. “I love you, too, my groom.”

He turned sideways as he entered the door so as to avoid walking her into the door frame, then kicked the door shut behind him. He turned to lock the door, but Marinette got it before he could.

“Thank you,” he said, starting toward the bedroom.

“Well, you kinda have your hands full,” Marinette said with a wink.

“Out of all the things to have my hands full with, your certainly my favorite.”

Marinette snorted amusedly, but her cheeks felt hot at the insinuation.

They got to their bedroom, and Adrien set her on the ground. They stared at the bed, one they had bought together but never used.

“So,” Adrien began, clearing his throat and calling her attention. His cheeks were bright red, probably as red as hers. “So how’s this ‘night of passion’ supposed to work?”

The words held just enough lightness in them to be funny, and Marinette couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out of her. “Isn’t the husband supposed to, like… I don’t know, strip is wife out of her dress and make passionate love to her?”

Adrien flashed a new shade of bright red before smirking. “You mean, like get down on his knees and say ‘Oh, my darling!’” He was now on his knees, his head tossed back in an exaggerated attempt to be suave. “’How ravishing you look. Let me undress you in some sensual way—‘”

By now, Marinette was bent over laughing at his antics.

“’—and sweep you up in my arms, only to dump you on the plushest of beds imaginable and ravish you on the silk sheets.”

“They’re cotton.”

Adrien broke character, toppling over on the floor and holding his gut in laugher

After a while, the duo was able to settle down. “Okay, okay,” Marinette began, her voice still high from her laughter. “First, I do need you to unzip my dress. And then we’ll figure it out from there.”

Smile still on his face, Adrien stood from the ground, walking behind her to unzip the dress. “Now, don’t you let it just drop to the floor to reveal some super sexy lingerie or something?”

Marinette snorted a laugh, quickly covering her mouth again. Adrien was laughing, too, clearly teasing yet again. “You are such a dork,” Marinette said, still holding her dress up to her chest. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Undress me and use me as you please.”

Marinette barked another laugh as Adrien slipped out of his tuxedo jacket. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Honestly,” Adrien said, his tone growing a little more sober. “I’m just nervous.”

Marinette’s amusement died down, too. “Same,” she said. “I mean… we spent so long just taking things slow and not wanting things to get overcomplicated. I didn’t mind not, you know, falling into bed with you every other night as some couples seemingly do. I really just… enjoyed being with you.”

Adrien’s smile was soft and sweet. “I did, too. That is… not to say I didn’t think about it, but…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

“No, I get it,” Marinette said, approaching him and taking his hands in hers. “And now we have tonight.”

He nodded. “And now we have tonight.”

They stared at each other a while longer before Adrien pulled her in close and kissed her, gently and sweetly.

She responded in kind, enjoying the sweet touches that caused her heart to skip like a schoolgirl.

“We take the night slow,” Adrien said between kisses. “And we just… figure everything out as we go.”

“I think that sounds like a good idea,” she said, leaning in to kiss her husband once again.

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

An Unspoken Rule Part Nine

Previous Part | Next Part | Masterlist

Notes: !! William’s texts are in bold; reader’s texts are in italics

Warnings: None?

Summary: "When did you stop having feelings for him?"

My mind blanked for a few moments. I was 90% sure that if I opened my mouth to answer, the only thing that would come out would be the AOL dial-up screech.

“Thanks for driving us.” It must’ve been the fifth time Layla had said it in the last half hour.

“No worries,” I said, glancing in the rear view at where William and Jake were in the back seat. Jake was all strapped into the car seat that he hated. He was usually whining to get out of it by now, but William was distracting him with Clifford the Big Red Dog.

“I mean we’ve just got these appointments all over the place— and with the car breaking down—“

“Layla, seriously, it’s all good. I’m glad I could help. Especially in the name of cake.”

I hadn’t been paying much attention to the radio, and had been letting Layla decide what we’d listen to. But when I heard the opening notes to Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’, my hand shot out, changing the channel to another one without hesitation.

“Awww, hey! I like that song,” Layla pouted.

“Sorry,” I laughed out nervously, shaking my head. “Not a fan.”

“Really? We were thinking of using that for our first dance,” Layla said.

“Oh yeah?” I asked as enthusiastically as I could. I hadn’t listened to or thought of that song since Jake got over his terrible twos, and I didn’t intend on starting again.

“Wee-um? Wee-um?” Jake whined behind us.

“What’s wrong, bud?” I asked; Layla turned around to look at them.

“Will? What is it?” She asked. I heard him clear his throat, then mumble, “Lost my place.”

“Lost your place?” I repeated, raising my brows, “There are like five words on that page.”

“Eight,” he corrected before he went back to reading. I shook my head, smiling. I glanced at Layla once I stopped at the red light, only to find her still frowning back at William.

I pulled up in front of the bakery, parking the car and leaning back in my seat as I waited for William and Layla to climb out. Layla was out first, already heading for the door. They were already quite late.

"We'll see you later, bud," William said, kissing Jake's head. I turned around to look at them smiling.

"Say bye-bye to William, Jakey."

"Bye-bye, Wee-um," Jake mumbled, though he didn't look away from the book William had handed him. William glanced up at me as he took his seatbelt off.

"I thought you liked Shania Twain," He commented. I hesitated before answering:

"In high school, sure. Enjoy your cake."

"Thanks for the ride," William said as he got out of the car. He closed the door behind himself before joining Layla on the sidewalk. I gave them one more wave before I pulled the car away from the curb.

I spent the rest of the day with 'You're Still the One' stuck in my head, no matter what else I listened to.

----

"Can I ask you something?"

I looked up at Layla, away from the quotes for the venues.

"Ah, if it's about the bachelorette, I can neither confirm nor deny whether or not Becca has booked a stripper." She smiled a little.

"Not about that. About Will."

“What about Will?"

"When did you stop having feelings for him?"

My mind blanked for a few moments. I was 90% sure that if I opened my mouth to answer, the only thing that would come out would be the AOL dial-up screech.

Layla started to say my name, jolting me from my stupor.

"When I started dating David," I answered automatically before adding, "Well, before that. I mean. I didn't use David to get over Will, I was already way over Will." Layla nodded, looking back down at her guest list.

We returned to our tasks in silence before she spoke up again: "Why did you stop liking him?" I was never going to forgive Becca. Ever.

"What does that even matter?" I asked tiredly, looking up again.

"It-- It doesn't, I mean I'm just curious," Layla said defensively. I shook my head.

"I just... I grew out of it. It was a silly crush."

"Lasted a pretty long time."

"Yeah, well, I crush long and I crush hard."

"On who?" Layla and I looked up as William came into the kitchen. I lowered my head back to my work, mentally cursing the summer heat and the fact that William had taken to running shirtless.

"In general," I answered, drawing small stars next to two of the venues that met Layla's criteria.

"You oughta get back out there, you know. It's been a while since you broke it off with David. Babe, did you hear that story?" Layla asked, looking over at William. He didn't answer, and Layla launched into it. I frowned, brow furrowing. I could've sworn I'd told him what had happened.

"You seriously said 'I think he's talking to you'?" William asked, looking equal parts pained and amused. I hummed the affirmative.

"Thought you said it was because you two were too different," he continued.

"We are," I agreed, "He's the kind of guy to propose after two years, I'm the kind of girl that isn't ready to get married at 20."

"You could've had a long engagement," Layla pointed out.

"Yeah, and he could've asked me whether or not I even wanted to get married before he popped the question." I could hear myself getting defensive, and I cleared my throat.

"Okay. The ones I underlined are gonna be the best for your price point--" I said, turning the paper around for her.

"Will, don't you know anyone we can set her up with?" I felt heat flood my face.

"I just got stateside, sweetheart, and the one guy I think I'd set her up with is kind of a dick."

"Okay," I spoke up, "First of all, thank you for ruling out the dick. Second of all, can you two stop talking about this like I am not currently sitting at your kitchen table?"

Layla reached out, resting her hand on mine, diamond ring glinting in the light.

"We just want you to be happy,” She said gently. I pulled my hand back, reaching for my bag.

"I appreciate that, but this conversation is not the way to do it," I said. I got up, nudging the venue list a little closer to Layla.

"It's getting late, I'm gonna head out. Night, guys," I said, grabbing my bag before either of them had a chance to say anything else.

My phone was buzzing all the way back to my place. I pulled into my parking space before I pulled it out, checking it. Six missed calls and four texts from Layla, and another four texts from a number I didn't recognize.

From: Layla (3:21 pm) im just worried about you :(

From: Layla (3:34 pm) i get it, you're angry at me. i just wanna talk

From: Layla (3:49 pm) will pointed out that you're probably driving

From: Layla (4:03) call me when you get home pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase your venue picks were on point

From Unknown: (3:39) We didn't mean to talk over you. And for the record, Santiago is not that much of a dick. I've told you about him, you said he sounded cool.

Unknown: (4:11) Layla mentioned that you don't have my new number, but I think you can figure out who this is. If you can't I am going to be very disappointed.

Unknown: (4:14) Since when is 3 o’clock late for you?

Unknown: (4:15) You do realize that you said 'goodnight' to us in the middle of the afternoon, right?

I didn't answer either or their texts or call Layla. She didn't call or text me back for the rest of the night, though I did wake up the next morning to a single frowny face text.

To: Layla (9:32 AM) They're on point because I'm awesome.

To: Unknown (9:39 AM) No idea who this is

From: Unknown (9:40 AM) Ouch. /Ouch/.

From: Unknown (10:19 AM) Sorry about you and David.

To: Unknown (1:27 PM) It was over a year ago. I'm fine.

From: Unknown (1:32 PM) I thought you crushed long and crushed hard.

To: Unknown (1:41 PM) This was not that.

From: Unknown (1:48 PM) Then what was it?

To: Unknown (1:52 PM) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From: Unknown (1:58 PM) You do /actually/ know who this is, right?

To: Unknown (2:52 PM) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From: Unknown (2:53 PM) Is that the only way you're gonna answer me now?

From: Unknown (2:53 PM) Don't. Do not send it.

From: Unknown (2:54 PM) Do not.

To: Unknown (3:53 PM) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From: Unknown (3:55 PM) I don't like you.

To: Unknown (4:03 PM) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From: Unknown (4:30 PM) Have you called Layla yet?

To: Unknown (4:38 PM) At lunch. I bet you'll hear about it when she gets home.

From: Unknown (4:39 PM) Good.

From: Unknown (4:40 PM) Sorry again about yesterday.

From: Unknown (4:41 PM) We do just want you to be happy.

To: Unknown (4:45 PM) What'll make me happier is not talking about this anymore.

From: Unknown (4:56 PM) Okay

To: Unknown (4:57 PM) Thanks

From: Unknown (5:51 PM) Layla mentioned something about you having a crush on someone in high school.

I didn’t answer that one. Neither of us ever brought it up again.

[omyeol]

ten seconds - iii

word count: 5,807

genre: fluff, humor 

<< masterlist >> 

Back in college, you were a pretty active student union member who helped around when it came to making plans for MT. You remembered Junmyeon trusting you to be the person who planned out the main event for the whole thing and you ended up not having peaceful sleep until the whole thing was done and over with. The preparation was a pain in the ass and you used up all your free time to come with Junmyeon and the others—including Chanyeol too—to check the places and overall to discuss everything.

There were a lot of limits back then; whether it was the accommodation or the funds—mostly the funds because you were only a college student. That kind of stuff caused a lot of headaches because everyone had to be quick to solve the problems, whether it was to cut some fundings on one side or to come up with creative solutions to earn more money. It was hard and so draining, but you realized now that it helped you in the long run.

It certainly helped you now as you and Chanyeol scouted the potential places for the company workshop. While Chanyeol did the most talking with the marketing person from the hotel you visited, your brain automatically did the calculation if everyone would fit in the ballroom or if there is an outdoor space that’s enough to do the outdoor games. You weren’t the person in charge to do that, but you just couldn’t help it.

“Jongdae should’ve come with us,” you spoke up for the first time once Chanyeol had finished talking with the marketing manager of the hotel. He had left you and Chanyeol alone in the lobby after showing you both around.

“Huh? Why?” He asked casually, eyebrows shooting up in confusion.

“Because he’s the person in charge for the main event?” Hearing your words, the man in front of you blinked his eyes and the realization finally hit him.

“Oh, right…” he trailed off. “Should we ask him to come the next time?” Next time? There’s a next time?

“Well, yeah, I think that would be wise.” You couldn’t help but say. It felt like it was a proper thing to say since you couldn’t just back out on a thing you just said not even a minute ago. Jongdae really should’ve come with you and Chanyeol since he would be the one who organized the whole team-building games.

When the two of you finally left the hotel, it was already dark outside. Checking the time in your phone, it was almost eight p.m. You had spent almost six hours, but had only visited two places—and only one place that really tickled both of your interests.

“How many places should we visit actually? Do we still need to go to another?” The walk to the parking lot was quiet, the sound of your heels against the road was the one you decided to focus on. Chanyeol was quietly walking beside you, leaving quite a space between the two of you that gave you enough room to keep your head clear.

“Well, we have two more places to check, but we can do that another time… Preferably this weekend, if you’re not busy?” You hummed, trying to remember if you had some plans for the weekend.

“I have lunch plans with my parents this Saturday. We can do it after lunchtime if you’re okay with that,” you decided, turning to flash him a small, unsure smile which caused the man beside you to nod rapidly.

“Ah, okay, then.” Chanyeol unlocked his car and you both got in, eager to be finally sitting again after standing and walking around the hotel for so long. He calmly started the car and put on his seatbelt—you did too—and you couldn’t help but watch him from your peripheral vision, still not getting used to being in the same car with him. Just the two of you.

“So, uh, how are your parents?” Chanyeol asked, catching you off guard, once he finally started to drive.

“They’re both fine. Healthy, most importantly.” A surge of warmth flooded over you at the memory of your latest phone call with your parents—which was last week. Knowing that your parents were healthy and happy was the only thing you had ever wanted.

“Good, good,” he mumbled over his breath. “They’re still pestering you to give him grandchildren?” You frowned over his question, trying to remember if you had mentioned your parents or anything related to your family before, and once you did, you remembered it was really a while ago. A while ago as in about three months ago when you sat on the same table with him during a company dinner.

You remembered you were a bit tipsy that day—Junmyeon bought a good, expensive wine that you couldn’t pass up—and while you couldn’t remember much other than complaining to Junmyeon about the blind dates he made you go through, you clearly had talked about your family too.

(And their question about life partner—their words, not yours—and grandchildren might have slipped out of your mouth too.)

“Unfortunately, yes,” you breathed out with a chuckle. “Just the other day they asked me about a date I went to a while ago. I don’t know how they found about, or who told them about it, but gosh. It’s hard when you’re the only child in the house.”

“How were those dates, though? Anyone got you interested?” You couldn’t help but glance at him for a second, not believing that he just asked you that question.

“To be honest, none of them really left an impression to me, you know?” You leaned your head back on the headrest and let out a sigh.

“It must be frustrating,” he commented and you nodded, agreeing whole-heartedly.

“I mean, those guys were really nice… and really nice-looking, but none of them got to me. I couldn’t find a connection with them. And there are times where I got so annoyed because I wasted my time and energy and still couldn’t get what I want, but on the other hand, I kind of felt glad that I went because at least I managed to get a few friends out of it.”

Your mind drifted back to all those dinners you had gone to. Junmyeon and your roommate might have made you go to dinner with men of their pick, but none of them really stood out in your eyes. It might be cliche, but you didn’t find a connection with them. Some dates left you feeling annoyed for wasting your time and money on things that irritated you, but some dates left their marks in your phone, labeled as friends.

“What kind of guy you’d think you could find a connection with?” The question was unexpected and really, you had never really thought of an answer fitting to that question.

All this time, all you felt during those dates were either how you felt uncomfortable or how you decided things wouldn’t work out between you and whoever sat across the table. You also realized that although you had a tiny crush on Chanyeol, you had never thought of him whenever you had gone to those dates—probably because deep down you knew he would never be the one who sat across the table. You also never thought of what kind of man you’d find a connection with too.

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it, actually,” you ended up saying. “I guess I just want to be with someone who gets me, someone who makes me comfortable enough so I can be myself around him.”

It was quiet after you spoke. The words you just let out of your mouth spun around in your brain, mustering up endless scenarios of things you could do once you found this man—whoever he was.

“What about you? Have you ever gone to those kinda dates?” You asked, eager to shift the topic away from you.

“I tried, but stopped after a few times.” Glancing at him, you saw him flexing his grip on the steering wheel. “It’s just… Somehow it didn’t feel right. There’s this one girl who was really brave and bold and she kind of invited me for, uh, you know,” you didn’t need to be a genius to guess what he meant by that, “and I just knew there would be no dates whatsoever after that. I decided to wait and let the fate works on its own.”

You shouldn’t be surprised, really, that of course, someone would invite him to stay the night and do something. Chanyeol was a clean-cut, good-looking man who never failed to show up looking nice to the office. It seemed like a habit, so of course, he would clean up real nice for dates and of course those women couldn’t resist asking him that.

“I mean, well… I know I have, uh, needs too, but it’s just— It didn’t feel right, you know?” You knew exactly what he meant, but too bad your moral compass was a bit more fucked up than him. You didn’t exactly decline it when you got the offer to do it after the date. Sure, you had your own criteria too—it wasn’t like you said yes to everyone, you were smarter than that—but you clearly were lacking the self-control that Chanyeol had.

And you admired him for it. You wished you had better self-control than that.

“Yeah, I know exactly how you feel,” you spoke in a small voice. “Sometimes it’s hard, but yeah…” you trailed off.

The rest of the drive back to your apartment was quiet. Well, no, not really. The radio filled in the comfortable silence and sometimes you or Chanyeol would hum when a song you recognized came on the radio. Every now and then you would glance at the man next to you only to catch him flexing his hands over the steering wheel or smiling to himself as if he just thought of something. Your heart—the damn thing—was slightly out of control when you heard Chanyeol humming or catching him smiling to himself. It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal, but your heart was really trying to make it into a big deal.

It felt nice, though. His humming was calming enough that you almost drifted off to sleep if your phone didn’t vibrate and ring loudly, interrupting the calm atmosphere in the car.

Chaeun’s picture was flashing across your phone screen and you let out a sigh, catching Chanyeol’s attention. You were contemplating whether you should answer the call or not—you weren’t in the mood to talk on the phone, especially with her—but Chanyeol gave you the push.

“Go on, answer your phone. It’s alright.” Flashing him a small, grateful smile, you swiped on the phone screen.

“Hello?”

“My dearest cousin-in-law, where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?” You held the urge to let out a sigh at her question, instead focused on what she just called you. Chaeun sounded way too perky to you that you hoped she could tone it down a little bit.

“Are you marrying Jongin? Oh my God.” When the words were out of your mouth, you could actually feel the goosebumps rising on your skin. The thought of having Chaeun as your family member officially kind of threw you out of the loop a little bit.

“Huh? No, I’m not. Or not yet. Whatever,” she sounded confused as if she just didn’t make you confused with her words before.

“You just called me cousin-in-law. What the fuck, Eun?” From your peripheral vision, you could see Chanyeol turning his head a little bit to glance at you with furrowed eyebrows before putting his focus back on the road.

“Forget it, I was trying to be sweet.” You could hear her scoffing from the other line. “Where are you, though? Why aren’t you home yet?”

“I am on my way home, actually.”

“Oh, good, good,” she murmured. “Hey, could you buy me some pads? I’m running out of it and I think my period is coming tonight.”

You let out an audible sigh. “Just grab some from my drawer. I’ll buy it tomorrow, I’m planning to go grocery shopping anyway. Or just tell your boyfriend to buy it for you.”

“Jongin might freak out for a second, but I’m definitely gonna try that. Thank you, boo.” You hummed out a ‘no problem’ before hanging up the call. Letting out a sigh, you locked your phone and kept it in your grip as you turned your head to watch the road passing by. Gratitude washed over you because the traffic wasn’t really bad.

“Do you need to buy something from the convenience store? We can—”

“No, no, it’s alright. It’s all handled,” you cut him before he could finish his words. As much as you wanted to do your grocery shopping at this very moment, your desire to be back home as soon as you could rival out the opportunity of spending more time with Chanyeol.

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s just some pads, anyway,” you breathed out.

“Huh?”

“I said, it’s just some pads, anyway.” You turned your head to watch him, trying to gauge his expression. For a few seconds, he kept furrowing his eyebrows and jutted his lower lip out a little bit as if he was trying to solve a complicated problem.

It took him a moment before he realized what you meant. “Oh, right. Nevermind, then.” The way he blinked his eyes rapidly and fumbled in his seat was adorable you couldn’t fight off the smile to stretch across your face. If only it was still bright outside and the sunshine pierced through the window, you were pretty sure you could see the pink tint on his cheeks. But being in the darkness like this worked on your favor too, because maybe he couldn’t see the smile across your face that bloomed because of him.

The rest of the ride back to the apartment was mostly spent in silence between the two of you with the faint voice from the radio filling in the car. At some point, you heard his phone ring but he let it ring until it stopped. You offered to answer it for him if he wanted, but he calmly said that he could just call back whoever called him. His phone rang again, though, when the car was already parked in the basement parking lot. Glancing at his phone screen, you realized that it was Junmyeon calling him. You let out a chuckle.

“What?” Chanyeol asked as he turned to face you, unbuckling his seatbelt and grabbing his phone to decline the call.

“Dose Junmyeon bother you a lot? Calling you after office hours like this.” You both got out of the car and walked towards the entrance of the building.

“Sometimes, only when he has no one to bother,” he answered casually and you hummed. “Why? Did he call you too?”

“He did it a few times before, but I snapped at him this one time when he caught me at a bad time.” You chuckled at the memory of Junmyeon calling you when you were spending a night in with a man and he couldn’t stop asking about a meeting that was still a week away.

“Yeah, he tended to do that.” It was silent again when you both were in the elevator. Watching the number go up until it reached your floor, your heart did its usual flip—like how it usually did every time you’re in an elevator—and to calm it down, you took a deep breath.

“You okay?” Feeling Chanyeol’s eyes on you from your right, you just nodded your head at his question. Once the elevator finally reached your floor, you let out a loud sigh of relief. “C’mon, I’ll walk you to your door.” You were surprised but didn’t show it. Instead, let this fuzzy feeling inside took over you and enjoyed his company a little bit more.

The hallway was a bit dimly lit and the light cast over him once you both stopped walking in front of your door. “So, this is me.” You gestured to the door behind you and slightly looked up to see his face. For a split second, he kept his eyes on the door number, his eyes furrowing a bit as if he tried to memorize it in his mind.

“I’ll text you later, okay? About this weekend’s plan…” He trailed off.

“Yeah, we’ll just text about that.” He nodded. “So, uh, thank you for today, Chanyeol. For today’s lunch. Next time I’ll buy yours.” He waved it off casually, a small smile blossoming on his beautiful face.

“No need, it’s fine.” He was quick to decline, but you brushed it off. The next time you met him again, you’d buy him lunch… or dessert. “Okay, so, I think I’ll just leave now so you can rest.”

“Yeah, rest well, Chanyeol.” Nodding at you once, he turned and walked towards the elevator, leaving you standing alone in front of your door. You watched until he pressed the button up before pressing the code on your door lock system. The green light signaled that the door was unlocked, but before you could walk into your apartment, you heard Chanyeol calling your name.

Letting your hand go from the doorknob, you leaned back a little bit to take a good look at him. He turned around, ignoring the elevator that was coming up to your floor. His focus was on you, although you couldn’t ignore the way he kept clenching and unclenching his fist and scratching the side of his suit pants.

“What is it?” You asked, your normal tone sounding a bit louder than you expected in the quiet hallway.

“What if it was me?” You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. “What if it was me who went on that kind of date with you? Would you find a connection with me?”

You stared at him as if he just grew two heads. You wanted to think that he was just kidding, that this was one of those moments where his brain and his mouth didn’t cooperate that well. You wanted to think a lot of things, since never in a million years you guessed Park Chanyeol would ask you that kind of question. He didn’t stand that far from you, and from what you could see, the look across his face basically told you that he wasn’t joking with you.

The hallway lamps that lit above him, casting a warm hue over him and emphasizing the serious—and nervous and hopeful—look across his face. On a time like this, you knew you could find your answer in his eyes. The very same eyes that stared at you intently as if he had a lot to tell you but he let his expressive eyes do the job. The way he acted was so different than the one you usually saw in the office—and earlier this afternoon too—and it felt like you were just seeing another layer of Chanyeol that you just found.

Would you? Would you find it with him?

It must have been nerve-wracking for him, waiting for you to answer his question. But in the end, you let out the first thing that crossed your mind.

“I don’t know,” you ended up saying, but before he could misunderstand, you continued your words. “But from what I know so far, I think I would.”

And that was enough for him. That was enough to keep the smile and the lovely dimple on his face as he flashed you the most flattering smile you had ever seen before he walked into the elevator and let the door close between the two of you, leaving you in the hallway with his unexpected words that still lingered in your brain.

What did that mean? Why did he ask that question?

Those two words seemed to have found its place permanently inside your brain because that was mainly all you could think of all night. His questions bothered you to the point where even when you slept, you dreamed of a man with expressive eyes and dimpled smile sitting across the table from you in a sandwich shop somewhere in the city.

“My baby.” It wasn’t a surprise that your mother was the dramatic one in the family. Thankfully, you didn’t inherit that quirk because your own mother was already enough to fill the spaces. Your small family clearly didn’t need another one.

“Hi, Ma,” you greeted, accepting her hug and glancing at your father who stood a few steps behind your mother. He looked just a tiny bit uncomfortable as he watched you and your mother hugging, his grip on the overnight bag in his hand tightening a bit. You could see his gaze couldn’t stop darting around as if to check if there was anyone who stared at you both.

“Is it just me or are you getting skinnier?” Your mother asked as you pulled back from her hug. She still kept you in an arm’s length, though, running her gaze from the top of your head to the tip of your shoes. “Are you eating good? Ah, I should’ve bring something else other than kimchi.”

Typical mother, you thought as you let out an airy chuckle.

“I’m eating well, I promise, all those three meals and occasional late-night snack on the weekend,” you answered her question nonetheless with an easy smile on your face.

“Is it Junmyeon, then? Is he working you too hard?” There was a crease on her forehead that you wanted to soothe out.

“No, no, Ma. Work is the usual. Everything is fine, I promise. You don’t have to worry.” Leaning in, you planted a chaste kiss on her cheek before letting yourself out of her bubble to approach your father who’s waiting so patiently.

“We always worry about you. It’s basically our job.” That was the first words you heard out of your father’s mouth of the day. Knowing him, words were limited but you’d pay attention to it as much as you could.

“Hi, Pa.” Your father wasn’t as affectionate as your mother, so you settled with a one-armed, brief hug.

“Hey.” Pulling away from you, he flashed you a smile, the corner of his lips pushing to the side. You memorized that smile and tucked the memories in a box in a part of your brain.  “Should we get going?”

Every time the three of you went out, you always had udon for lunch. Your parents had become quite obsessed with it, and every time you went out together, your mother always made sure that the three of you had it for lunch or dinner. It had started about a year ago and it continued like almost like a tradition—almost like how your father always kimchi fried rice for breakfast every time you went home for a weekend. It was nice to have a tradition like this, a thing that you could pass to your family in the future—when you had kids later with the man of your choice.

“So, have Junmyeon set up a date for you again?” Looking up from your bowl of udon, you flashed your mother a confused look. You knew she caught wind of whatever dates you had gone through in the past, but that was from Chaeun and she only told your parents when they came over and she lost her own filter. “It had been… how long is it? It’s been pretty long, isn’t it?”

It seemed like your mother kept track like she had someone who had been feeling her info. You knew it wasn’t Junmyeon though, he only met your parents once and that was a while ago when you were still in college.

“I’ve been busy,” you ended up saying. Tearing your gaze away from your mother, you glanced at your father who kept his eyes on the food in front of him and looked like he didn’t want any part in whatever it was your mother was planning.

Your mother hummed and dropped her chopsticks gently, leaning forward a bit as if she had some secrets to tell. “So, I’ve been thinking. Why don’t you just date Junmyeon? He’s a handsome young man and you’ve known each other for a while, right?”

If you had food in your mouth, you were sure you would’ve choked on it. Her words sounded like she was just joking, a hint of tease underlining her words. But it was the look across her face that told you she was serious as if it’s a life-or-death situation. Knowing her, though, she could’ve actually thought it was a life-or-death situation.

“Ma, Junmyeon is my boss. And yes, we may have known each other for so long, but I can’t see him as something more than a brother,” you tried to reason. “It’d be really weird to date him.”

“Then what about the guy you went a date before? Kyungsoo, I guess? Is that what his name? I forgot…” she trailed off, casually picking her chopsticks and continued eating while you stared at her in disbelief. Where did she know all this stuff? Who told her all of this?

“Kyungsoo? But-”

“I heard he’s working at a publishing company. You’ve always wanted to work at a publishing company, right? Why don’t you get in touch with him again?” You might have mentioned the dates you went on in the past, but never in great details. Only Chaeun and Jongin—and Junmyeon too but you knew he didn’t talk to your parents—knew about it.

Of course. Those two.

“He’s just a friend and we don’t like each other like that.” Glancing at your father every, you prayed that he got the hint and would help you out before you looked down at your food once again. The appetite seemed to have gone, though.

“Just let her be, hon. If you keep asking her about a man, she’ll be pressured and ended up not bringing one home at all.” Thankfully, your father got the hint and that was enough to stop your mother from questioning you about your lack of love life.

However, your mother was quick to ask about Jongin and Chaeun’s relationship—whether they’d be marrying anytime soon. Although you were itchy to tell her about Chaeun calling herself your cousin-in-law the other day, you didn’t tell your mother about it. If you told her about it, you knew she would tell Jongin’s mother and it could quickly turn into a huge deal because how gossipy your family was.

After lunch was finished, the three of you walked around the mall. You told your parents that you had a work thing that you couldn’t miss out and as usual, your mother complained that you shouldn’t be working on the weekend and that she’d like to talk to Junmyeon—you didn’t tell her it was actually not him—about it and want you to work lesser hours—my gosh.  For a split second, you were actually thinking of telling your mother that it was not Junmyeon, but you didn’t want to drag Chanyeol to this and be questioned about the man you’d been crushing on since a long time ago.

Just as Chanyeol crossed your mind for a second, your phone was ringing and it was a phone call from him.

“Hello?” You answered after excusing yourself from your parents for a little bit, leaving your father to help your mother choosing a knitted sweater.

“Hey.” His deep voice sounded so good like it was a breath of fresh air you didn’t know you needed. “Uh, look, I don’t mean to rush you or anything, but are you-”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m done, actually. I just had to drop my parents off at my apartment and then we can go.”

“Uh, where are you right now?” You told him that you were at the mall and there was silence for a second before he ended up saying. “I’m actually near. Why don’t I pick you up? We can drop your parents off on our way.” Oh no.

While it would really nice, you couldn’t. You couldn’t because then your parents would know of Chanyeol and who knew what your mother would say. Chanyeol then would be dragged into whatever mess you and your mother had created and you would really spare yourself from endless questions about Chanyeol.

So, no, you’d rather take a taxi and drop your parents off by yourself.

“Yes, sure, okay.” Too bad, your brain and your mouth weren’t in sync. If there was a wall nearby, you would lean and probably bang your head against it once or twice to knock some sense into your brain.

“Great! I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. I’ll call you again when I’m close.”

You didn’t tell your parents, though, that Chanyeol would be picking the three of you. You just told them that you had to go and that you wanted to drop them off first at your apartment before you went on your way. That’s why your parents were shocked to see a huge ass, fancy car pulling up in front of you and even more shocked when they saw a very handsome man stepping out of the car to greet you and them.

Your mother looked over the moon when Chanyeol introduced himself as your colleague and friend. It wasn’t hard to know that your mother had already been planning your wedding with Chanyeol in her head. And your father… your father was usually calm and collected and didn’t show many emotions on his face, but this time, he actually turned to face you and gave you a look.

Chanyeol was oblivious to it all. He was all smiles when he helped your parents get into his car—he even opened the door for them and helped your father with their bags. While you knew that he was more attentive and caring towards the elderly, you had never seen it with your own pair of eyes.

“Ready to go?” He asked once you’re all sitting in his care comfortably with the air conditioner blasted high to beat the heat outside. You murmured a small ‘yes’ and Chanyeol began to drive… and so began the questioning from your mother.

As usual, your mother started from the basic. The questions ranged from how long he’d known you—your mother was surprised when he said he’d known you since high school—and how it felt to be working together with you—at this question, you knew your mother was holding back a gasp when Chanyeol casually answered that he didn’t have many chances to work together with you until recently. You desperately wanted to tune out their conversations, but you couldn’t, especially when your mother finally asked the final question.

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Ma, I think it’s quite enough,” you warned quietly.

“It’s okay,” Chanyeol reassured you quickly. “Unfortunately, no. It’s just, it’s been hard trying to a person who gets me and my demanding work hours. I think your daughter can relate to that too.”

“Ah, you both are quite alike, aren’t you?” Your mother mused out loud. “When I asked her about it, she just said the same thing. I think it’d be nice if you two—”

“Oh, we’re here!” You quickly interrupted your mother’s words. Chanyeol let out an amused chuckle as he stopped the car in front of your apartment building. Eager to see your parents off, you opened the door and slid out, waiting outside until your parents got out of the car too.

Chanyeol, being the sweet man, also got out of the car to say goodbye to your parents. “It’s really nice to see you today. I hope I’ll have the chance to see you again in the future.” Your mother swooned at his words and you and your father shared a look. This was bad.

“Of course, Chanyeol. You’re welcome to see us again in the future. Maybe next time you can visit us at Gangneung.” The huge smile across your mother’s face when she said those words were scaring you. Chanyeol, the charmer, just laughed it off and proceed to tell you that he’d be waiting in the car to give you time with your parents.

“I can’t believe you actually asked him those questions. He’s my boss, Ma,” you finally spoke what you had been wanting to say.

“It’s fine.” Again, she waved it off like it was no big deal. You just scoffed and turned to your father for help. “Don’t turn to him for help. He agrees with me on this one.” You widened your eyes in disbelief at your father which only earned a shrug from your father.

Realizing that there was no way you could win this one, you just shook your head at them. “I’ll see you tonight, okay? I promise I won’t be home too late.”

“Okay, darling.” You leaned in to give your mother a brief hug, but she held you before you could pull away and whisper in your ear. Your eyes widened to the size of saucers and you felt like you could faint from her words alone. That was how much you were terrified and shocked because of it.

“Your babies would be so cute and adorable if you married him.”

Your mother patted your shoulder casually and flashed you one last smile before turning around and walking away from you as if she didn’t just say those words. Her words resonated deep in your brain even after your parents were out of your sight. And if it wasn’t Chanyeol’s voice calling you, you probably would’ve still rooted on that spot for a while.

“Hey, you okay?” Chanyeol asked when you were finally in his car again. At his question, you couldn’t help but turn to face him, looking at the way his hair fall onto his forehead, covering it completely. His wide eyes looked so clear and sparkly and if you stared it too long, you felt like you could drown in it.

“I’m okay,” you answered in a small voice once you finally found your voice again.

As if to make the situation even worse for you, Chanyeol flashed you his trademark smile—the one where his dimples made an appearance—and you knew you were doomed. Because even after he turned his face again to the front and started driving again, all you could think of was how your mother’s words were right.

[standfortheangels]

Instructions: Always repost with the rules, answer the 11 random questions left for you, and leave 11 more for the people you tag!

Tagged by: @illicreatxm

This got long so I’m going to stick it under a read more ^^

1. If you could write any canon character, which would it be and why?

Hm. I’m not sure. I have roleplayed a couple of canons before, but I find it harder to keep the muse for them. I could probably do Elsa okay, I could jump between her locked in the castle personality and her open, welcoming character post-film, which might help, but the inconsistencies in her Over-powered Powers annoy me, so I think I’d add a few limitations in there.

2. Favourite Disney movie?

Maybe Aladdin because Robin Williams is of course amazing and so perfect in that role~ Ohh but there’s also Atlantis.. And Dumbo! Aw no... Let’s just call this my top three before I get carried away >w>

3. Least favourite MCU character?

I haven't seen the more recent ones, so, I can't take into account characters like Thanos or Dr. Strange or, whoever else they've been bringing in. So out of what I've seen, I'd have to go with Bruce Banner/The Hulk.

It seemed in the earlier films that they didn't give much attention to Banner. They were all over using the Hulk to make bits interesting, but Bruce was boiled down to "quiet smart guy who CaN TuRN inTo THE HULK" so, yeah.

And the hulk himself later did like a 180° change for me. In his stand-alone film I think Hulk says like 3 words, maximum. Then rarely talks in his appearances in the other avengers brand films. Cool. We had "Puny God" and that was a-okay. One short, memorable, funny quote seems perfect.

But then what was all that when Whedon got his hands on it? (I mean don't get me started on that, I am really reigning myself back here but) They start off needing ways to calm Hulk down enough to get him back inside and give control back to Bruce, fair enough. But then like... He winds up not letting go of Bruce's body even though he isn't enraged anyway? And suddenly he's emotional enough and smart enough to take- what was it a plane? And seperate himself off from everyone and look all solemnly at Natasha before he does it or something?

Obviously my memory of it isn't great, honestly I stopped paying attention after Natasha's "I'm a monster- not because I was raised in a heartless environment full of violence and raised to literally kill people, that bit's whatever- but because they took away my fertility and now I can't have babies." speech. And that's the last MCU film I watched. I didn't want anything to do with them after seeing what Joss Whedon did with the characters and the overarching plotline and... Everything. x') So I might have gotten some of the hulk stuff wrong.

(I did watch Deadpool though, that I enjoyed~)

4. If you had to create any new character, what occupation would they have?

Ooo good question.

I think something proactive, where they could seek other characters out, but.. I'd kinda like a bad guy~ Someone who lies so much for their job, they have a dual personality to work with. They can be your smiling friendly neighbour, wishing you well on your holiday, then turn around and grit his teeth because this poses a major problem for his mission, and he can't lose his target, so now he has to follow, but he can't do that as your happy neighbour, no, you know he isn't going on holiday, certainly not today, not on your flight, not to the same ski lodge you're going to. No, he has to make a new cover- maybe say his neice phoned him with a family emergency and he'll be leaving to go be with her a while. Then shed this identity, find out where his target is going, quickly pose as some other tourist who blends into the background and get to the lodge first, all the while planning out some plausible skiing accident he can set up.

Wow that got more detailed than I expected x'D I think I just reinvented hitman, whoops.

5. Favourite sport?

[Image ID: Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service, laughing hysterically.]

My biggest concern when I'm on my feet is not falling over so, obviously sports aren't really my deal. x')

I used to swim a lot when I was a kid, I loved that, but, don't do it now.

And I'm not really into watching sports either tbh. Most of it seems over-hyped. Most football teams (real football, it is not soccer. The hint is in actual football, the ball, is hit, with your feet. Picking it up and running with it and then sometimes kicking it does not qualify as football, come on USA. Your thing is closer to Rugby than Football.)

Anyway most teams aren't much better or worse than any other if you actually watch objectively, which makes it look like they both suck because they're too well matched to score goals more than once in a blue moon.

Rugby I don't really understand the appeal of either. Scrums are weird and it wouldn't be entirely bizarre to see a guy walking away from the game with blood down his face and an ear in his hand. You'd almost expect him to stick the ear on ice and be back in a few minutes with his bandages on.

Really the only sports than interest me are the gymnastic types. Ice skating is good for a while but it can start getting dull if you don't have people willing to break the mould a bit. (Which is why I absolutely love the free skate bit. Where they aren't being scored and they just do whatever the hell they want, omg I live for that)

Floor routines are awesome, the pommel horse and rings are usually a little samey for me but the one with those two bars at different heights, that's fun to watch~ there's a little more variety there.

(And I don't wanna hear anyone in the replies saying these aren't sports, every example there including figure skating is a separate event in the Olympics, so. There.)

6. What’s your dream car?

I don’t really have one. At this point in my life I don’t actually have the option to learn to drive so I haven’t really thought about it. My only criteria is, it has to have a nice face. x)

Since I was tiny I have always seen cars as faces. The headlights would be eyes, and usually the number plate would be the mouth, but some cars have other stuff like a grill that might be the mouth instead. So like...

This would be a grumpy car with a pig-like nose and frown.. Actually those look like jowels either side of the mouth part. It looks kind of like a bulldog. X’)

And this would be a happy car. That black part around the number plate it wide and smile-shaped, and the headlights- rounded on top and straighter on the bottom, like the little creases we get when we scrunch up our eyes laughing~

This car looks like someone just said something really stupid to it, and it is not impressed, and lets the silence hang not knowing what to say.

Happy car

Terminator car

Happy car but in a mean way.. Like it’s on its way to cause mayhem or poking fun at someone. You get the general idea -w-

7. A movie that you think should have a sequel?

Hmm... this is a toughie.

8. A movie sequel that you think should be deleted from existence?

I don’t remember which number it was or even the title, but the Shrek sequel where Shrek like, hates having kids so much he makes a deal to change time? And Fiona winds up as like a vicious warrior leader because no-one ever saved her from the tower, and rumplestiltskin is in it? What even was that...

9. Design your dream outfit using this game ?

I wouldn’t say this really is my dream outfit, but from the options on offer~

(also discounting the enormous hair bun >w>;)

10. Favourite fairytale?

I’m not sure if this actually counts as a fairytale, but I love the story of the jolly roger. That classic skull and crossbones flag has a story behind it that a lot of people don’t know.

In a nutshell, a man (i guess a pirate) develops an intense crush on a young woman, who is about to get married. But just before her wedding, she dies. She is buried, but the man doesn’t take death for an answer. He digs her up and has sex with her body. When he’s done, a disembodied voice speaks to him, telling him that he has basically impregnated this corpse, and to come back in nine months.

For some reason, he does. He digs up the woman again. And sat below her pelvis is a small skull and two bones. The disembodied voice tells him to take these bones with him on his ventures, and they will bring him luck.

It’s bizarre, and kinda gross, and.. I dunno if being rewarded for sexually desicrating a corpse is the best moral? x’) But I was amazed when I heard this story, because I’d had no idea there was this whole tale behind the flag~ and I still love that it exists~

11. Create an avatar of your favourite muse using this creator? ?

First, it’s so cruel to ask me to pick my favourite child how dare you >w> haha

I went with Chester though because he’s the one I’m usually most connected to.

I can’t think of anyone I want to tag right now (at least not anyone who hasn’t probably done this already), but I’ll put the new 11 questions for anyone who does feel like doing this~ :) __

1. What’s one thread/plot you really want to do that you haven’t had chance to yet?

2. What is the reason for, or meaning behind, your blog icon?

3. Do you have any pets? Tell us a bit about them!

4. What is one thing you would never want to change about your appearance?

5. There is an ultra secret spy group, and you’ve just uncovered their existence. Now they say that you must either work for them, or they’ll find a permanent way to keep you quiet. What kind of work would you offer to do for them?

6. If you met your muse in real life, how do you think the two of you would get along? (multi-muse blogs, pick one of your muses at random.)

7. You have been given a huge budget to remake one film in your own vision. You can change anything, add anything, choose the cast, you have no limits. What would you do?

8. What is one skill you wish you could automatically master?

9. A genie offers you a deal. An unlimited lifelong supply of one food of your choice... But, you have to sacrifice your ability to chew. Does any food still tempt you?

10. What do you think is the funniest animal?

11. Share one memory you have that makes you happy to think about~

[amirapeace-blog1]

High-quality Purchasing A First Rate Monetary Evaluation Reports

Millennials (people aged 18-34)  don’t fully understand what impacts a credit score than older generations but according to a recent study it does not stop them from trying to improve their credit. They check their credit scores most and are trying actively to build and improve their scores according to Discover’s 2018 Credit Survey of US consumers.

If your credit score is lower than what you would like it to be then you are not alone as credit scores are influenced by many factors like   a long credit history (35%,), level of debt utilization(30%) the age of credit(15%)  mix credit(10%) and credit inquiries(10%). It is hard for many millennials to meet these criteria. But the good news is that you can boost your credit score this year by taking some concrete steps. Here are five steps that you can try.

1.Check Your Credit Report for Mistakes

You need to check your credit reports from time to time to see that they do not have any damaging errors by getting a copy each from the three major credit bureaus. In a study by the Federal Trade Commission in 2013 it was found that one in four consumers had a mistake on their credit reports that could have an impact on their scores. One in a five had an error that a credit reporting agency corrected after a dispute.

In order to ensure that you do not have any damaging errors on your credit reports you should get a free copy from the three major credit bureaus; Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union at  AnnualCreditReport.com. If you come across any errors you should submit a dispute online with the bureau that is reporting the error. You should explain why you believe the information is an error and provide details about what you are specifically disputing. (Including account numbers)

If there are big mistakes clearing them up could lead to a great improvement in your credit score.

2.Lower your Credit Utilization Ratio

The amount you owe measured by your credit utilization ratio will account for 30% of your credit score.  It can be calculated by dividing the total amount of debt owed by a total amount of available credit. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $1,000 and your credit card balance is $200, then your credit utilization ratio is 20% for that credit card. According to Experian a lower credit utilization (using a small amount of credit loaned to you) is preferred.  So if you pay off your debts in time you could boost your credit score.  You should decrease your credit card debt as the amount you owe will make up 30% of your score and using too much of your credit can be a sign of repayment risk.

3.Do not Skip or Miss a Payment on a Credit Card.

Missing a payment or skipping even one payment on your credit card can lower your credit score and cause it to drop by 100 to 300 points according to Bruce McClary, spokesman for National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. This misstep can take you about two years to restore your credit score. So the first thumb rule is to pay your bills on time as this factor makes up 35% of your credit score. You can avoid late payments going forward by setting up automatic payments from your credit cards and other bills.

4.Have a Long Credit History

Having a relatively long credit history affects 15% of your credit score.  Millennials should not close credit card accounts they have opened several years ago as it shrinks a person’s available credit.

Your credit history can be longer if a relative who has a long and awesome credit history is willing to help you and can add you as an authorized user of one of their credit cards. This is one of the simplest and fastest way to boost your  score. The old card will show up in your credit report and you can also get credit for the history of on-time payments This also means that you have access to your relatives line of credit and if you make purchases it will affect your relative’s credit utilization and  it would be the ultimate responsibility of your relative for paying back what you borrow. So that means the relative needs to trust you to be responsible for your purchases. You can avoid purchases altogether –would be vital.

5.The Necessity of Credit Cards

One of the great ironies of earning a good credit score is that you must have credit to build credit. So having a credit payment history is very important as it accounts for 35% of your credit score. If you do not have a credit card do get one. You can open a credit card for small day-to-day purchases and it should be paid in full each month to build your credit history.

You need to have a mix of types of credit as it affects 10% of your FICO score. Having different types of credit accounts will also improve your  score. In addition to a credit card if you have an auto loan or mortgage that you make on-time payments each month or another credit card pay off each month it will help you to improve your scores.  Obtaining more credit cards at one time can lower your score more.

According to McBride’s you have to “keep your borrowing modest particularly if you have an existing car loan or student loan debt, ”and that  “ paying bills on time , keeping  debts  modest and paying your debts in time  accounts for almost two-thirds of your  score”.

About the Author:

My name is Elizabeth Anderson a Financial Adviser at Zinu Credit Repair. It is a legitimate credit repair agency in US. That offers a free credit repair consultation, which includes a complete review of your FREE credit report summary and score. If you are looking for the best credit repair company in your area. Please contact me.

[missyarmes-blog]

Great Earning A Good Credit Score Reports

Millennials (people aged 18-34)  don’t fully understand what impacts a credit score than older generations but according to a recent study it does not stop them from trying to improve their credit. They check their credit scores most and are trying actively to build and improve their scores according to Discover’s 2018 Credit Survey of US consumers.

If your credit score is lower than what you would like it to be then you are not alone as credit scores are influenced by many factors like   a long credit history (35%,), level of debt utilization(30%) the age of credit(15%)  mix credit(10%) and credit inquiries(10%). It is hard for many millennials to meet these criteria. But the good news is that you can boost your credit score this year by taking some concrete steps. Here are five steps that you can try.

1.Check Your Credit Report for Mistakes

You need to check your credit reports from time to time to see that they do not have any damaging errors by getting a copy each from the three major credit bureaus. In a study by the Federal Trade Commission in 2013 it was found that one in four consumers had a mistake on their credit reports that could have an impact on their scores. One in a five had an error that a credit reporting agency corrected after a dispute.

In order to ensure that you do not have any damaging errors on your credit reports you should get a free copy from the three major credit bureaus; Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union at  AnnualCreditReport.com. If you come across any errors you should submit a dispute online with the bureau that is reporting the error. You should explain why you believe the information is an error and provide details about what you are specifically disputing. (Including account numbers)

If there are big mistakes clearing them up could lead to a great improvement in your credit score.

2.Lower your Credit Utilization Ratio

The amount you owe measured by your credit utilization ratio will account for 30% of your credit score.  It can be calculated by dividing the total amount of debt owed by a total amount of available credit. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $1,000 and your credit card balance is $200, then your credit utilization ratio is 20% for that credit card. According to Experian a lower credit utilization (using a small amount of credit loaned to you) is preferred.  So if you pay off your debts in time you could boost your credit score.  You should decrease your credit card debt as the amount you owe will make up 30% of your score and using too much of your credit can be a sign of repayment risk.

3.Do not Skip or Miss a Payment on a Credit Card.

Missing a payment or skipping even one payment on your credit card can lower your credit score and cause it to drop by 100 to 300 points according to Bruce McClary, spokesman for National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. This misstep can take you about two years to restore your credit score. So the first thumb rule is to pay your bills on time as this factor makes up 35% of your credit score. You can avoid late payments going forward by setting up automatic payments from your credit cards and other bills.

4.Have a Long Credit History

Having a relatively long credit history affects 15% of your credit score.  Millennials should not close credit card accounts they have opened several years ago as it shrinks a person’s available credit.

Your credit history can be longer if a relative who has a long and awesome credit history is willing to help you and can add you as an authorized user of one of their credit cards. This is one of the simplest and fastest way to boost your  score. The old card will show up in your credit report and you can also get credit for the history of on-time payments This also means that you have access to your relatives line of credit and if you make purchases it will affect your relative’s credit utilization and  it would be the ultimate responsibility of your relative for paying back what you borrow. So that means the relative needs to trust you to be responsible for your purchases. You can avoid purchases altogether –would be vital.

5.The Necessity of Credit Cards

One of the great ironies of earning a good credit score is that you must have credit to build credit. So having a credit payment history is very important as it accounts for 35% of your credit score. If you do not have a credit card do get one. You can open a credit card for small day-to-day purchases and it should be paid in full each month to build your credit history.

You need to have a mix of types of credit as it affects 10% of your FICO score. Having different types of credit accounts will also improve your  score. In addition to a credit card if you have an auto loan or mortgage that you make on-time payments each month or another credit card pay off each month it will help you to improve your scores.  Obtaining more credit cards at one time can lower your score more.

According to McBride’s you have to “keep your borrowing modest particularly if you have an existing car loan or student loan debt, ”and that  “ paying bills on time , keeping  debts  modest and paying your debts in time  accounts for almost two-thirds of your  score”.

About the Author:

My name is Catherine Marie Pinkston a Financial Adviser at Zinu Credit Repair. It is a legitimate credit repair agency in US. That offers a free credit repair consultation, which includes a complete review of your FREE credit report summary and score. If you are looking for the best credit repair company in your area. Please contact me.

[thorne93]

Helping Hand (Part 4)

Prompt: You’ve got a crush on Bucky, and Loki can’t help but notice you’re striking out - so he offers a helping hand.

Word Count: 1502

Warnings: language, adult content? (not smut)

Notes: I loved writing it, it was a blast. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks to my two amazing beta’s @carryonmyswansong @fanaticfanfiction

Forever Tags: @cocosierra94 @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please  @superwholocked527  @missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @munlis  @thefridgeismybestie@bubblyanarocks3 @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @igiveupicantthinkofausername  @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr @kaeling  @friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo @damalseer @heyitscam99

Bucky Barnes: @nedthegay @lostinspace33 @alwayshave-faith@elleatrixlestrange @ultrarebelheart @lenawiinchester @its-not-a-tulpa @esoltis280

Loki Tags:  @lostinspace33 @ultrarebelheart @lenawiinchester @esoltis280

HH tag list: @sorryimacrapwriter  @yehummno @mackievanstan-384 @imarockstar45 @hellkat2 @naniky @thebadassbitchqueen@learisa @anamcg317 @lost-moon-child96 @christy-winchester

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arriving at a very expensive and upscale shop, Loki eyed you for a moment.

“What’s wrong with what I have on?” you asked.

“Nothing but you still seem...inaccessible. Too comfortable,” he explained.

“You're the one who dressed me in this,” you reminded, crossing your arms.

“I had very little to work with. You have the closet of a grandmother.”

You balked, turning red yet again from anger and embarrassment. “I do not--”

“What can we help you find today?” a sales clerk asked as she walked up.

“Ah, yes, hello. We need something to...sex her up. She's trying to get a man’s attention, you see,” Loki explained and the clerk nodded with a wistful smirk.

“I see. We should be able to find a few things. What did you have in mind?”

“We’re going to need some nice tight cocktail dresses, tight jeans, and a few nice bras.”

“Follow me,” she instructed before turning on her shiny heels.

Grumbling quietly to yourself, the two of you followed her to a few racks with dresses. Loki picked a few and you picked a couple yourself. Loki held different ones up to you, shaking his head or nodding all the while.

“So tell me, oh great one, how are you deciding the relevance of these ensembles?” you inquired as you stood there while he continued to assess dresses against you.

“Length, mainly, but pattern also matters,” he mused, his eyes not touching yours. “It needs to be short enough to flirt at showing the thigh, but not so short to show your genitals.”

“Wow,” you said, your eyes going wide. “Subtle, Lok,” you mocked.

“It’s the truth. Many women forget that. There is a fine line between mystery and prudishness. A turtleneck and pants don’t exactly scream ‘Take me on the kitchen counter’ but when a woman showcases everything she has to offer, the appeal drops tremendously.”

You scoffed, rolling your eyes.

Loki straightened as he tossed one of the dresses to the side. “You don’t believe me?”

“I think all men like when women put it all out there, otherwise strip clubs wouldn’t be in business,” you remarked, a touch of bite in your voice.

“Love,” he cooed, “people love mystery, always. As I said, don’t bundle the entire package so much that they don’t want a taste, but what is the allure of presents? Gifts? Nearly anything. People always love to wonder what’s just beneath the surface. It’s tantalizing to not know what’s there. That’s why dark tinted cars instill curiosity.”

After he spoke, you realized he was right, and part of you hated that. It wasn’t that you were a know-it-all and didn’t like admitting defeat, it’s the fact that he was indeed right. Maybe his plan wasn’t so far-fetched.

“Go try these on for me, please,” he requested kindly, and you did as he asked. Out of the eight dresses the two of you picked, you ended up with only half of them.

“Onto the jeans, for your functional and casual dates,” Loki announced.

The clerk showed you the top jeans that were fitting Loki’s strict criteria of sexy. You picked up a pair and said, “I like these.” However, the God of Mischief had another idea and practically knocked those out of your hands.

“For goodness sakes, no. Jeans are all about the curvature of the ass,” he reminded as if he were teaching monks, his voice soothing and calm. “You got the ass--”

“Did you just say I have a nice ass?” you asked with a smirk.

“Focus,” he lightly chided, but you continued to hold the smile on your face.

After that, the shopping spree continued for another hour and you bought a good amount of seductive clothing, or at least according to Loki it was seductive. The two of you set out on the streets of Manhattan, bound and determined to turn you into a perfect woman.

“All of this stuff is so expensive,” you half-muttered to which Loki smirked.

“Ah,” he sighed with content. “Rule number four, men don’t want to hear about your problems.”

“Yes, they do,” you remarked, slightly appalled at his shallow remark.

“No, they don’t. It’s simply a means to an end,” he informed with a confident, coy smile.

Realizing what he was talking about you playfully slapped him on the arm.

“Oh, you are such a pig. You know what? No, that’s an insult to pigs. You’re...you’re…”

With cool confidence, he finished the sentence for you, “Right.”

Glaring at him you shook your head. “So you’re telling me no man wants to listen or talk to me, ever? I’m just there to be a hole for him to use?”

“Not quite that callous, dear. Once you get more serious, sure, he’ll care about your problems but when the romance is budding, no man wants to see signs of a rambling, nagging woman.”

All you could do was shake your head. “All of this is so disheartening,” you said.

“Welcome to the real world, darling. Now, speaking of seeing signs of a woman…” he mused as he eyed your hair. “Your hair needs to be longer.”

“What? Why?” you asked, your hand automatically going to your locks.

“Too short, and it needs some highlights,” he noted as his slender, long fingers made their way up to strands of your hair before slipping them deeper, touching your scalp. “Men like something to grab onto,” he said as his fingers grasped around your hair and he slightly pulled, just to the edge of hurting, but in all actuality...it felt good, surprisingly. “Not to mention that fashion you typically wear your hair isn’t the best option.”

Frowning, you tried to think. “What, you mean a ponytail? It’s practical--Oh, ugh, fine, I get it.” Rolling your eyes you gestured him forward. “After you, your highness,” you said, bowing dramatically.

Another smirk graced the Prince’s face as he swept out in front of you before you stood and caught up to him, the two of you talking casually about things other than the inner workings of men’s brains. Mainly discussing books you were in the middle of reading. Every now and again he brought up movies he’d just seen, giving you a thorough review, mostly critical, but amusing nonetheless.

Finally, you two arrived at a salon where Loki insisted on a highlights, extensions, and a blow out. You had to admit, you were halfway on your way to looking like a Hollywood starlet. Loki’s taste was impeccable, but then again, he did grow up as royalty. It was probably heavily ingrained in him on how to pick out the best outfits and most stunning accessories.

The fun didn’t end there though. Once he was through praising his own work, he steered you to an upscale makeup store where he let you pick out a small handful of items. He reminded you that quality spoke volumes, and you couldn’t very well paint your face with cheap knock offs or you would display yourself as a cheap knock off.

That you couldn't argue with. The better the makeup, the prettier the makeup job, typically. No cracking foundation or bleeding lipstick or smudging eyeshadow. Once he approved your choices, you checked out and went on your way to grab a late lunch together.

“Thank you,” you suddenly said after the two of you had seated and ordered.

“For what?” he inquired with a curious look.

“For helping me, with all of this,” you said. “You don’t have to do this and as you said, listening to a woman’s problems bothers men, so I’m sure running around all day with me to do girly things is rather boring.”

“On the contrary,” he started, correcting you. “It’s quite enjoyable. I’m not exactly a fan favorite back at that tower, and you seem to be the only one who can stomach me, so the company is nice.”

“I’m glad you see it that way,” you remarked teasingly. “How did you get so good at this, by the way?” you wondered.

“I’m a man. I know what men what,” he responded simply with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Okay, so you believe everything you’re telling me. That as a man, you want a woman with long hair, who fakes everything to please you, and doesn’t share any of her personal problems with you?” you wondered, daring him to look at his statements.

“I believe in it to an extent. I believe in a woman presenting herself well, I believe in keeping whining to a very low minimum, and I believe in granting white lies to make someone feel better.”

You sat there, mulling over his words. Now that he put it that way, they weren’t quite as...heinous as they had sounded before.

“What?” he asked, bemused, an eyebrow arched up. “Surprised that I’m not comprised of evil, sin, and shallowness?”

“I--I--I just never….I didn’t think of it that way, is all,” you confessed, and he slowly nodded.

[scoobydoominuscoobydoo]

 Part Six

“You know like...two people, together. That nobody ever thought would be together...”

“I’ll let you students know right now that this job I’ve appointed you is your top priority, grades and attendance will be ignored until you find Miss McCall.” 

Velma visibly flinched, as if their attendance record could get any worse this year.

The gang all sent each other worried looks, the fact that the principal thought calling them in here to let them know that their grades and attendance didn’t matter would make them find Natalie McCall faster was concerning.

Never had so many people put so much faith in them and so far they were letting them all down.

To the point that the freaking principal, the god of their dimension, had to intervene and tell them that either they get their shit together and find his granddaughter or be forced to repeat the year due to the amount of classes they missed. Or worse.

People had sudden expectations of them now. And it was nerve wracking.

Before people would just label them the Nancy Drew wannabes that always sat outside during lunch and had a weird van that seemed like the prime piece of real estate to hand out pot.

Which explained why so many people approached Shag with the hope of buying “A couple ounces.” 

Which only led to Shaggy being confused and that person never associating with the gang ever again.

Daph would usually just say, “I’ll explain it to you when you’re older dear.”

But now the student body president, and local queen of Coolsville, had been kidnapped a week ago and still no ransom was announced.

Suddenly people expected the Nancy Drews and their pot van to jump right in and search for the top rung of the social ladder. But for a while the gang hadn’t planned on getting involved, seeing as there was no man in a mask involved. So it didn’t really fall under their criteria of mysteries.

But when Natalie’s boyfriend approached them offering money to find her, it became clear the people thought they were going to find the lost girl.

After a couple more days of pestering and one altercation where one of the girls from the cheer squad shoved Shaggy against the lockers and demanded they find Nat unless they wanted to be thrown into the school swimming pool that would be “conveniently” filled with a mixture of Vaseline and Nair. 

Of course Daphne nearly strangled her to the ground, she had zero tolerance for anyone who threatened her gang (Shaggy especially) but Shag pulled her away and promised they’d try what they could to find her.

Unfortunately, the gang had no idea where to start and Daph’s constant suggestion that they just rip the cheer squad a new one and let the police handle it wasn’t helping.They had started by talking with the parents who didn’t even try to hide their disappointment at the sight of a bunch of seniors being their only hope to find their baby girl.

They then, skeptically, relayed anything they could remember regarding the kidnapping and their daughter.

The only useful things they got out of that conversation was the fact the Natalie was “the perfect little angel.” And that she was snatched the day of her 16th birthday party.

A party Daph and Fred had been invited to but both turned down since Scooby had a vet appointment that day and they didn’t want a stressed out Shag left alone with Velms who would definitely try to be sympathetic and comforting. But she would absolutely 100% beyond the shadow of a doubt fail horribly and certainly make it worse. Bless her heart.

A few leads would pop up here and there but for the most part they all led to zilch.

The students were getting anxious about Nat’s safety and annoyed with the gang who had yet to find anything on her. The cheerleaders had filled Shag’s locker with unopened tubes of Nair that all came tumbling down on him when he opened it. 

This only further convinced Daph that they needed to attack the squad and forget about finding Nat.

“Daph, like they just miss their friend. Wouldn’t you do the same thing if I was snatched by some freak?”  

“Shaggy, the last time you got kidnapped you were missing for 24 hours and even during that small amount of time I wasn’t able to function or think. I-If you were missing for the same amount of time as Nat than I........”

She never finished that sentence. 

They had left the principal’s office with grim looks on their faces.

The gang could see the gears in Velma’s head set at maximum speed as she tried to figure out their next damn move.

Fred grabbed the back of her shoulders and steered her through the crowd of people as she continued to think. Daph sent glares to any of the cheerleaders that walked by them and took a protective stance next to Shaggy. 

“Oh man my sweet knight in shining armor! Like, what would I do without you?”

She was pulled out of bodyguard mode by his clear teasing and sighed, she knew Shag wanted her to give them a break. But that would mean having to apologize to them, and Daphne was not a fan of saying sorry to people she disliked.

They all stopped at Velma’s locker, the wheels still turning it seemed, and Fred leaned against the door of the locker next to hers.

Shaggy and Daphne looked at each other and then back at Velms.

Whenever her brain was turned onto 100% she would usually be spaced out for a few minutes to a few hours. They were all hoping it would be the latter.

And they were lucky this time because after another five or so minutes with eyes glazed over, she popped back into reality with a start. Making Shaggy jump back and bump into one of the students. Both of them crashed to the ground.

Velma looked down and rolled her eyes, “Maybe we should call you Danger Prone Shaggy so that you and Daph can be all matchy matchy.” 

Daphne giggled nervously as she grabbed onto his arm and helped Shaggy stand up again, sending anxious glaces to a confused Fred, who didn’t get the point of Velma’s joke. 

Shaggy didn’t seem to hear what Velms said since he was too busy apologizing to whoever he crashed into and knocked down.

As he turned his attention back to the group, Daph let go of his arm and pretended to be busy brushing imaginary dirt off of her dress.

Fred just shrugged and turned back to Velma.

“You got anything Velms?”

She stared at all of them for a second before smirking, “Of course I do, why else would you guys keep me?” She turned around and started to enter the combination for her locker as she began to explain her idea.

“This is obviously so much bigger than just Natalie. I mean while it may be tempting to kidnap a 15 - no - 16 year old girl now.” She pulled open her locker, “I believe that this has something to do with her parents, her father more specifically.”

“Wait so you think Nat’s dad, like went out and pissed somebody off and like a decent human being the somebody that got pissed went and kidnapped the apple of his eye and now has him so nervous that he’s practically pulling his hair out without touching it?” Velma sent Shaggy a glare and turned back to searching her locker.

“I checked out a book on the McCall family seeing as they’re one of the oldest families in Coolsville and this town is bored as fuck.” She shoved a pile of, “light reading” books aside and got on her tip toes to try and reach up and grab whatever was behind them.

“And for the generation before ours, or Nat’s parents. The family had split off into two, one with Nat’s dad and - thank you Freddie - one with Nat’s uncle or her dad’s brother.” She held out the book that Fred had grabbed from the locker and handed to her.

She flipped through the pages quickly, most likely trying to spot one page in particular.

“Basically a lot of bickering and, ‘Why did daddy give you the nice house and I just got his $300,000 car??!!’ went down and the brothers stopped talking to each other.” Daph snorted.

“Been there done that, family feuds are so not as fun as you’d think.” Everyone rolled their eyes and sent Daphne a look that said, “Not now.”

“Aaaanywaaay, because Nat’s dad had made smarter business choices and isn’t a fucking moron his brother got pissed at him and decided the reason he was rich was because he inherited ‘more’ than him from their dad.”

Fred cleared his throat and nodded.

Daph sighed, “So....you think that this brother hated Nat’s dad so much that he kidnapped his niece....o-out of revenge for being poorer than his brother??”

Velma shrugged, “That would explain why there’s been no ransom demand, and the brothers have both been known to threaten each other in public. Plus he’s able to play the concerned uncle card so the police haven’t focused on him.”

Freddie groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Velms you do realize that is grasping at not even straws here, we’re grasping at coffee stirrers?” 

Velma shook head.

“Look this uncle recently rented out the newer yacht brought to the marina and he’s done nothing with it. He hasn’t even taken it out on the the water! I’ll bet you anything that he’s keeping Natalie there!”

Shaggy chuckled nervously, “Like, I hope you’re not willing to bet us all probably getting expelled if this doesn’t work out.”

He could see Daphne glance down at his hands out of the corner of his eye. They weren’t shaking, but he wasn’t really sure why she thought they would be shaking at all.

After Velma’s revelation they discussed the plan with the police.

While the idea got a lot of eyebrow raises, these meddling kids had never been wrong before.

So they dropped Shaggy and Daphne back at the high school so that if Nat was safe and intact they could call them and they would let the school know she was fine.

Fred and Velma were gonna be forced to stay in the squad car and that was the best they could get.

As Shag and Daph waited for the call from Velma it became clear how riled up the students were getting. The cheerleaders sneered and others sent them warning glares. They had no idea why them not being able to find Nat would automatically be their fault. Solving mysteries grounded in reality was never their thing and Nat was no exception.

Shaggy sighed, that was just the logic of high school, he was so glad he only had less than one year left of this hell.

And then he gulped, if this didn’t work out then who knows what the principal would do to them. He could force them to repeat a year or worse, expel them.

If that happened it wouldn’t be any good for Fred and Velma who both applied to Yale and Stanford. He glanced over at Daphne who was twiddling her thumbs and just looking pretty in general. She wanted to go to NYU in a desperate attempt to escape her family’s stupid traditions and live as far away from them as she could within reason. 

He felt his heartbeat start to pick up.

The future always seemed to make him nervous. 

But the chance that this would ruin his friend’s futures, Daphne’s future, it just made his skin run cold.

He wondered how their parents would react.

He gulped, he had a pretty good idea of how his parents would respond.

He took a deep breath and bit into his lower lip, he needed to calm down. If he panicked now then he would just go absolutely insane if Nat wasn’t okay.

It had been around an hour since they had been dropped off and there was still no call from Velms and no news of the condition of of the victim.

Daphne looked over at Shag and saw that he seemed to be in his beginning stages of panic, she wasn’t totally sure where the panic was coming from but the current stakes people had put on them were even making her nervous. 

She walked over to him slowly an began to make a grab for his hand, “Shags...you alri-”

Her moment was cut off by the sound of the Dairy Queen theme. 

Shaggy’s ringtone.

They jumped and seemed frozen for a second, both just looking at each other.

Exhaling, he grabbed his phone out of his back pocket and answered.

“Velma?......... It what?......With his girlfriend......She’s just....gone???” Daphne was holding her breath as she heard the bits and pieces and felt her heart sink as Shaggy’s face fell and his breathing picked up.

She wasn’t there.

They had no idea where she was.

Or if she was still alive.

His hand fell back down to his side, Velma still talking to him on the other end, probably not aware that he wasn’t listening.

Daph watched as his eyes began to dart around, “Shaggy a-are you alright?? You need to breathe!” She grabbed onto his hand which he quickly tightened around hers.

“Hey! Nancy’s! How’s Nat is she doing okay??” Daph groaned as she looked around trying to spot a place to escape.She could hear him begin to wheeze, totally at a loss for breath, as more people began to approach them and demand Nat’s condition. Making it even harder for Daph to plot an escape route.

After a second she groaned and made sure her grip on Shag’s hand was tight.

With her other arm she began to elbow people out of the way, trying to find somewhere where everything would be quiet.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the van parked next to the front courtyard. She looked back at Shaggy, who was definitely not okay, and tightened her grip on his hand and choosing to ignore all the people that were calling out to them.

She tuned them out as she opened the front doors and made sure her and Shaggy didn’t come tumbling down the front steps.

Looking back again her heart ached to see him like his.

Sure she had seen it happen before but usually Scooby helped him out a lot. 

And this was definitely nothing like her mother’s panic attacks that just required a shot of tequila and the Cheetah Girls 2 sound track.

Luckily the van had been left unlocked and she opened the back doors, climbing in and pulling Shag in with her.

Letting go of his hand, she crawled over and shut the back doors.

Now that she had nothing to tune out, Shag’s shallow, panicked breath was the only thing she could hear. She turned back and looked at his pale face, “Shag wha-what do you need me to do?” She crawled back over to him and grabbed both of his hands but he pulled them away. He cradled his head in his hands, still failing to breathe properly.

Daphne felt like crying and screaming and having her own panic attack but she would be leaving Shaggy alone. And that wasn’t an option.

“Sh-Shags look at me wh-what’s wrong?!”

She placed both of her hands on either side of his face and forced him to look at her face. His brown eyes were tearing up and were darting all over the place, almost refusing to stay focused on one thing.

As he tried to speak to her he seemed to be speaking fast in his head but it came out in a jumbled mess that he could barely squeeze out through panicked wheezes.

“W-We...sh-she’s- we’re never- gonna find her......Sh-She could - She could be dead!! A-and we’re gonna be......m-......my parents are-......they’re gonna kill me.” Daphne shook her head, her eyes were probably tearing up just like his.

He kept going on and on to the point that it looked painful for him to try and talk to her, to barely string these sentences together.

She couldn’t stand to see this, to see Shaggy, her Shaggy, losing himself and she couldn’t think of anything to do. She watched his eyes that seemed to examine every detail of her face.

Those eyes always made her happy.

She loved those eyes dearly, and couldn’t stand to see them so terrified.

What would she do to protect those eyes?

Maybe a better question is what wouldn’t she do for those eyes to stay safe.

Nothing.

There is nothing she wouldn’t do to protect those eyes, and the perfection they belong to.

Everything suddenly felt warm, not just the space around them but they themselves felt warm. A nice, comforting warmth, like the kind you get from a hug. But the kind of hug you want.

It had taken Daph a few seconds to process where this warmth was coming from.

And then she remembered that a few seconds ago she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Shaggy’s, which I guess is typically classified as a kiss. 

They stayed in that position for a while, Daph’s hands resting on his cheeks as they both relaxed. At that moment, neither of them wanted to move at all because then that would mean they’d either pretend this never happened or talk about it.

Eventually that warmth had to fade, so Daph pulled away gently.

Not nearly brave enough to open her eyes and look into that face.

She noted that his breathing seemed to be evening out which was good. She slid her hands down his cheeks and let them rest on her knees.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she opened her eyes and was quickly welcomed by the shocked face of her good old friend Shaggy. His eyes were wide as he looked at her, clearly trying to process the events that had just conspired.

“Wh-....What?” Daph flinched and bit her lip.

Shag was quiet again for a few seconds before saying, “W-Why the hell....Why did you kiss me??” Daph’s heartbeat picked up and she felt her cheeks go red. ‘Because I’m so freaking in love with you to the point that it physically affects me and I hate it but I think I’d go crazy without it.’

That was the first answer that popped up in her head and it was a little too over eager and on top of that it included the stunning revelation that she was in love with him.

Something even she herself was not aware of.

“I-...I just...I don’t know!! Isn’t that just what you do in the movies?? I-I just....you know figured since kissing is more powerful than modern medicine.” She blurted that all out a lot louder than she needed to but it’s the thought that counts.

Shag shook his head, “You tried to end my panic attack by like using something only Disney would think of?” Daphne rolled her eyes, her cheeks still feeling hot as ever.

“Well it worked didn’t it? Look at you! You’re all cool and okay. I mean....are you doing better?” She rested her hand on his shoulder, her voice quickly becoming concerned. He let out a sigh and leaned his head back so that is was rest on the back of the front seats.

“S-Sorry, it was just a little too much all at once.” She shook her head.

“Don’t apologize unless you did something wrong.” He chuckled and looked back forward toward her, good lord those eyes are back, “Shags, we’re gonna be fine, you know that right? It’s always gonna be okay no matter what happens. And even though we may have been wrong about Nat this one time that-....that doesn’t mean we won’t find her at all.” 

She held onto his hand gingerly and stroked it with her thumb.

“She’s gonna be okay Shag’s, we’re always gonna be okay.”

He stared down at their intertwined fingers and nodded slowly.  

Daphne smiled, “Now we could either stay in here and wait for Velma and Freddie, or we wait for them back in the school.”

“Like, staying here’s good.” 

Nodding, she relaxed her position, not letting go of his hands.

For the next few minuted they just sat in that familiar, comfortable silence waiting for their friends to return with the next plan.

The main thing on Daphne’s mind during that time was, out of all the kisses she’d experienced in her life, which was a lot; this one was definitely her favorite.