#one of those 'nothing is happening but a lot is happening because a lot is getting set up'

[shadesofmauve]

I want to step away from the art-vs-artist side of the Gaiman issue for a bit, and talk about, well, the rest of it. Because those emotions you're feeling would be the same without the art; the art just adds another layer.

Source: I worked with a guy who turned out to be heavily involved in an international, multi-state sex-slavery/trafficking ring.

He was really nice.

Yeah.

It hits like a dumptruck of shit. You don't feel stable in your world anymore. How could someone you interacted with, liked, also be a truly horrible person? How could your judgement be that bad? How can real people, not stylized cartoon bogeymen, be actually doing this shit?

You have to sit with the fact that you couldn't, or probably couldn't, have known. You should have no guilt as part of this horror — but guilt is almost certainly part of that mess you're feeling, because our brains do this associative thing, and somehow "I liked [the version of] the guy [that I knew]", or his creations, becomes "I made a horrible mistake and should feel guilty."

You didn't, loves, you didn't.

We're human, and we can only go by the information we have. And the information we have is only the smallest glimpse into someone else's life.

I didn't work closely with the guy I knew at work, but we chatted. He wasn't just nice; he was one of the only people outside my tiny department who seemed genuinely nice in a workplace that was rapidly becoming incredibly toxic. He loaned me a bike trainer. Occasionally he'd see me at the bus stop and give me a lift home.

Yup. I was a young woman in my twenties and rode in this guy's car. More than once.

When I tell this story that part usually makes people gasp. "You must feel so scared about what could have happened to you!" "You're so lucky nothing happened!"

No, that's not how it worked. I was never in danger. This guy targeted Korean women with little-to-no English who were coerced and powerless. A white, fluent, US citizen coworker wasn't a potential victim. I got to be a person, not prey.

Y'know that little warning bell that goes off, when you're around someone who might be a danger to you? That animal sense that says "Something is off here, watch out"?

Yeah, that doesn't ping if the preferred prey isn't around.

That's what rattled me the most about this. I liked to think of myself as willing to stand up for people with less power than me. I worked with Japanese exchange students in college and put myself bodily between them and creeps, and I sure as hell got that little alarm when some asian-schoolgirl fetishist schmoozed on them. But we were all there.

I had to learn that the alarm won't go off when the hunter isn't hunting. That it's not the solid indicator I might've thought it was. That sometimes this is what the privilege of not being prey does; it completely masks your ability to detect the horrors that are going on.

A lot of people point out that 'people like that' have amazing charisma and ability to lie and manipulate, and that's true. Anyone who's gotten away with this shit for decades is going to be way smoother than the pathetic little hangers-on I dealt with in university. But it's not just that. I seriously, deeply believe that he saw me as a person, and he did not extend personhood to his victims. We didn't have a fake coworker relationship. We had a real one. And just like I don't know the ins-and-outs of most of my coworkers lives, I had no idea that what he did on his down time was perpetrate horrors.

I know this is getting off the topic, but it's so very important. Especially as a message to cis guys: please understand that you won't recognize a creep the way you might think you will. If you're not the preferred prey, the hind-brain alarm won't go off. You have to listen to victims, not your gut feeling that the person seems perfectly nice and normal. It doesn't mean there's never a false accusation, but face the fact that it's usually real, and you don't have enough information to say otherwise.

So, yeah. It fucking sucks. Writing about this twists my insides into tense knots, and it was almost a decade ago. I was never in danger. No one I knew was hurt!

Just countless, powerless women, horrifically abused by someone who was nice to me.

You don't trust your own judgement quite the same way, after. And as utterly shitty as it is, as twisted up and unstead-in-the-world as I felt the day I found out — I don't actually think that's a bad thing.

I think we all need to question our own judgement. It makes us better people.

I don't see villains around every corner just because I knew one, once. But I do own the fact that I can't know, really know, about anyone except those closest to me. They have their own full lives. They'll go from the pinnacles of kindness to the depths of depravity — and I won't know.

It's not a failing. It's just being human. Something to remember before you slap labels on people, before you condemn them or idolize them. Think about how much you can't know, and how flawed our judgement always is.

Grieve for victims, and the feeling of betrayal. But maybe let yourself off the hook, and be a bit slower to skewer others on it.

[shirozora-draws]

This entire chapter was so hard to write AND draw... until you grasp that one thought and pull hard on it. Envisioning Nevarro like you're a gunslinger, an outlaw, wandering into a town clinging to the frontier really helped me crawl past artist's block.

My second thought after "guess I know what scene to conceptualize" was "Kendrick Lamar in the 'Humble' mv" and when when I dove into Shotdeck's archives for "beam of light", the very first image was from Kendrick Lamar's Humble mv. Are you shitting me.

I think I could've done more to emphasize how alone Din is in this chapter, but I may have played it too safe with the setting and that put limits on my ideas of what feelings I wanted to capture. Still think I nailed it, though.

I'm so excited for the next chapter, though. I sat on how I want to write and draw it for almost as long as I sat on how I wanted to write and draw chapter 7, so hopefully I'll have a much better time with that one.

[i-am-baechu]

❀˖° Title: Never Knew I Needed

❀˖°Paring: Idol! Yoongi x Introvert! Reader 

❀˖° Rating: PG - 16

❀˖° Summary: Yoongi had his life planned out for himself. Studio. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. He always knew what he needed to do or what needed to be done but it all changed on a Tuesday morning with a girl who clumsily knocked into him. 

❀˖°Genre: Fluff, romance, strangers to lovers, slow-burn, reader keeps to herself, florist reader, some steamy scenes but nothing too crazy in this one

❀˖° Playlist: Never Knew I Needed - Ne-Yo

❀˖° Author's note: Second longest one shot I have ever written! When I say slow-burn, I mean it.

There’s something about the early mornings that brings this inner peace. It was quiet but not too quiet. It was cold enough to have a blanket around while you looked at the window with a cup of hot coffee waking up your soul, it was perfect. It also allowed you to plan out the day, that’s what Y/N did. She took advantage of the early mornings and got everything planned for herself. She knew of course stuff happened and something may not get done, as long as there was an attempt; That’s all that matters for her. 

She styled her hair and put her glasses on to finally get on with the day. She had a busy day today. A lot of idols ordered from her flower shop; Stardust and apparently today was one of those days that everyone needed flowers. She didn’t know why but she wasn’t going to question the business. She walked down her apartment stairwell with her music playing through her headphones. It was like any other day. 

She walked to the bus stop and smiled to herself. She took off her headphones and waved, “Good morning, Meria.” 

Meria was one of her closest friends, though she didn’t have many; Meria was top three. Meria was the star football player in their college days and was 7-2. Meria left the sport because she wanted to focus on something less focused on her limbs. Meria agreed to open Stardust with Y/N and never regretted it. 

Meria took the bun out of her mouth and waved, “Good morning~. Hazel and Nora are already at the store. They wanted help with some of the orders.” 

Y/N’s eyes widened at this and tilted her head, “They’re already there?” She glanced down at her watch and looked back at Meria, “It’s seven...that means they woke up super early.”

Meria nodded her head and took another bite of her bun, “Hazel was determined to get there before you and Nora wanted to get breakfast.” 

Y/N pouted at this, “They didn’t have to do this...I have to-”

“Y/N, shush. They wanted to help you, they love you. Don’t feel bad. Now get on this bus before I throw you onto it.” 

Meria, Hazel, and Nora were Y/N’s top three friends (and her only friends if she was going to be honest). Hazel was always keeping Meria and Nora in check with their teasing, something Y/N greatly appreciated. Hazel was also the first one to approach Y/N during their freshman year. Nora was the youngest in the group but she was also the brightest. Having an IQ of 120, she was bright but she was lazy. She barely showed up at her classes but would sleep at Y/N’s dorm as they ate breakfast together. The girls were always together, the perfect group of friends. 

Y/N nodded her head and glanced at the bus, “Can I have the window seat?”

“Of course you can, my little daydreamer.” 

On the other side of the city, Yoongi let out a loud groan. Apparently, his music file was corrupted which means his hard work was nowhere to be seen. He ran his finger through his hair and glared at the screen, “What the fuck am I supposed to do?”

Namjoon glanced at Hoseok who just shrugged his shoulders. Namjoon walked behind Yoongi in his chair and rubbed his shoulders gently, “You should walk away for now. It’s not going to be solved if you stay mad at it. If anything, you might make things worse.” 

Yoongi sighed and took a sip of his coffee, “You want buns for breakfast?” 

Hoseok nodded his head at this, “Nora Bun’s open in a few minutes. They have really good red bean buns.” 

Yoongi stood up from his chair (with a little stretch) and put his beanie on, “Whatever will get me out of here, I don’t care where we go.” 

Hoseok scoffed at this, “Let’s go sunshine.”

Namjoon sighed and rubbed his forehead, “It’s too early for this, let’s get food.” 

Yoongi put his jacket on and glanced down at his phone, “Did you order the flowers for TXT?”

Namjoon nodded his head, “Yeah, Stardust was super busy. I just hope they’ll get here.” 

“Y/N is really good at being on time. You don’t have to worry.” 

Yoongi closed his studio door and glanced at Hoseok with a raised eyebrow, “Y/N? Who is that?”

“She’s one of the owners of Stardust. Super nice and awkward. Fun to tease.” 

Namjoon shook his head as they walked down the hall, “I tell you all the time to leave her alone.”

“Why haven’t I met her?” 

Namjoon glanced at Yoongi and shrugged his shoulders, “You never come out of your studio.” 

“Whatever, just make sure the flowers get here.” 

Y/N opened her door and smiled at her friends who were hard at work, “Good morning...thank you for coming.”

Nora was the first one to look up from her work. She gave Y/N a thumbs up, “Don’t worry. We’ll always got your back. I brought some buns from my shop here.” 

Meria put her coat up and pointed her finger at Nora, “You told me you weren’t bringing any buns so I just ate one on the way here. How could you do this to me!?”

Nora let out a small chuckle, “I brought it for Y/N, you idiot.” 

“Idiot!?”

Hazel snapped her fingers and glared at the two, “Yah! This isn’t why we came early, Nora.” Hazel turned towards Y/N and gave her a soft smile. She walked towards the shorter girl and gave her a small hug, “Good morning, Y/N. Would you like some red bean buns?”

Y/N nodded her head, “That sounds wonderful...” 

After breakfast, Y/N put on her apron and got to work. She let the soft jazz play through her store and she ignored the bickering between Nora and Meria. Y/N smiled to herself and looked down at the paperwork, “These bouquets go to Hybe for TXT. It says Kim Namjoon ordered it, Meria, can you take this order?” 

Meria nodded her head, “You don’t want to see Hoseok?”

Y/N took a sip of her water and shook her head, “I have too much work.” 

Nora smirked at this and leaned forward on her table, “You don’t want him to tease you.” 

Y/N looked away and picked up the next order, “I’ll do the order for Itzy, Nora can you do this order for Aespa’s Music Core performance.” 

Nora nodded her head and took the paperwork, “Whatever you say, boss.” 

“Thank you.” 

Meria took the bouquets and smiled to herself, “Congratulations on the new release. Aww, that’s so nice.”

“Meria don’t read the note. It's private” 

Meria rolled her eyes and nodded her head, “Fine boss.” 

Hazel handed Y/N another order and grabbed her keys, “You're driving with me, Meria. Let’s go.”  

“What!? No, I promise I’ll get there-”

“Let’s go Meria.” 

Y/N gave them a small wave and continued to do the countless orders. Driving with Hazel was like driving with your mom, she would ask you how’s your day and all that. It made Meria laugh because they lived together, and Hazel knew everything. They parked in the employee parking lot and Meria groaned, “I really hate coming into this building.” 

Hazel put the parking paper on her dashboard and glanced at Meria, “Why?”

“It’s so tempting to talk to everyone. That’s why Y/N usually does it because she doesn’t talk to anyone.”

“Just don’t talk to anyone.”

“That’s so hard to dooooo~.” 

Yoongi took a sip of his coffee as Namjoon took a bite of his bun. They were walking back to Yoongi’s office when they saw the bouquets of flowers making their way towards them. Yoongi tilted his head and wondered if this was Y/N (not that he cared...). Hoseok was the first one to greet her, “Hey Meria, where’s Y/N?” 

Meria pouted at him, “She had too many orders to come down...so here I am. Hazel told me to hurry up and not talk as much.”

Namjoon let out a laugh and handed Hoseok his bun to sign for the flowers, “Tell her we said hello.” 

“I’ll do that.” Meria glanced over Namjoon’s shoulder and saw Yoongi, “Hey you're the cat in BTS.” 

Yoongi felt his eye twitch and he raised his eyebrow, “Cat? The hell?” 

“Yeah, people say you're a cat. I don’t know what the internet says. Little meow meow or something like that. ”

“Don’t call me that. Why would you-”

Meria took the clipboard and smiled at Namjoon, “Thank you Mr. Kim. Hazel is texting me and she scares me. Have a good day!~” 

Yoongi watched the girl leave and shook his head, “Little meow meow...what the hell.”

“Just get back into your studio before you fight someone else.”

“Don’t tempt me.” 

Y/N was walking to her bus stop after the long day she had. She had around 120 orders to fulfill and she couldn’t believe that she got all of them done in a timely manner. She put on her headphones and waited for her bus. She looked up to the moon and gave it a soft smile. The moon was warm even though to others it was cold, the moon was Y/N’s favorite after a long night. She swiped her keychain and headed towards the back in the small corner that she loved oh so much. She told Meria that she didn’t want to go out for dinner, instead, she wanted to go home to her cat, Tuna, and have some tea. Meria understood that Y/N needed to unwind and didn’t push her. 

She stared outside as the streetlights shined against her skin. She watched groups of people walking on the sidewalk and she smiled to herself. She watched one group of guys laughing and pushing each other while one rolled his eyes. She couldn’t help but feel envious of their energy but she shook her head and glanced down at her phone. 

Yoongi glared at Taehyung and sighed, “Yah, can you walk properly? We’re in public.”

Taehyung pouted and stopped himself from pushing Jungkook, “Jungkook pushed me first. Why do you always let him do what he wants?” 

“Just keep walking.” 

Yoongi glanced at the bus next to them and he couldn't help but squint his eyes towards the silver vehicle. He wasn’t sure why but there was something about it, “Hyung! Are you coming?”

He glanced at Taehyung and nodded his head, “I-I’m coming.” 

Y/N tossed her bag on the hook and made her way to her couch. She plopped herself into the dark purple fabric and closed her eyes. It wasn’t until she felt the soft hairs against her fingers that she opened them. She petted Tuna and smiled, “I’m home.” She glanced at the window and her smile faltered a bit, “I’m home...” 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Hazel loved her job. She really did but sometimes it becomes too much. That’s why she asked the one person who would listen to her rant, Y/N. The Hybe building was like a castle that was beautiful on the outside but boy did it feel like a prison on the inside. Hazel ran her finger through her hair and took a deep breath. She went to the cafe downstairs ignoring her coworker's glances. She sat in the far corner and swiped through her phone. 

Y/N entered the building and looked around. It was clear that Y/N didn’t belong here. She made her way through the busy entrance and entered Hazel’s code into the building (it also made it easier that the front desk knew her). She quickly made her way to the cafe and ignored the pit in her stomach. It felt like all eyes were on her because it was clear she didn’t belong there. She saw Hazel in the corner and made her way to her. Y/N poked her shoulder and gave her a small wave, “I’m here.”

Hazel gave her a smile and stood up to give her a hug, “Thank you for making time for me. I appreciate it.” 

Y/N nodded her head and sat in the chair, “I was worried. You usually don’t sound that distraught.” 

Hazel sat back and sighed, “It’s so busy this time of year. Everyone is making their comebacks and they want me to try to schedule everything by next Thursday.”

Y/N frowned at this, “Isn’t that asking too much?”

“That’s what I’m saying...ugh. I don’t know what to do.”

Y/N bit her lip and glanced down at her fingers, “I could always help...”

“What was that Y/N?”

Y/N slowly looked up and gave her a soft smile, “I could always come and help...the store isn’t busy this week and Meria has the store under control. If you want?” 

Hazel gave her a soft smile and placed her hand on top of Y/N’s, “You would help me?” 

Y/N nodded her head, “I don’t like seeing you in such distress.” 

Hazel smiled and clapped her hands, “Thank you Y/N. Let me buy you a muffin.” 

Y/N watched Hazel jump out of her seat and she sat there blinking her eyes. She let out a small sigh, “What did I get myself into?” 

“What the hell did I get myself into?” Yoongi glared at the screen while Jin gave him a proud smile next to him. Jin pointed at the screen and Yoongi had to stop himself from smacking it, “I fixed some of the melody for you.” 

Yoongi glanced at Jin and then back at the screen, “This is completely different. When I asked for help this isn’t what I wanted.”

Jin crossed his arms over his chest, “I helped you. You could say thank you.”

Yoongi sighed and took a sip of his coffee, “Thanks...”

“That doesn’t sound convincing-”

“Hyung, leave him alone.”

Yoongi turned in his chair and looked at Namjoon who was giving him a worried look, “At least someone has some sense.” 

“Yah! I helped you!” 

Namjoon rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, “We have a meeting, let’s go.”

“Do I have-”

“Yes, now let’s go.” 

Yoongi sighed and slowly stood up from his chair, “Fine. Who is it with?”

“It’s with Hazel. She wants to talk about scheduling.” 

Jin stretched his body and nodded his head, “We just had our comeback, what more do they want?” 

“Just go to the meeting before she yells at me. She’s scary.” 

Y/N took a small bite of her cookie and listened to Hazel rant. It wasn’t until Hazel’s phone buzzed. She flipped her phone over and cursed under her breath, “I have a meeting in ten minutes. I gotta go, thank you again Y/N. It means the world to me.”  

Y/N nodded her head, “I’m glad I can help...” 

“I’ll see you tonight at dinner?”

Y/N bit her lip and looked away, “Maybe.”

“Just let us know, okay? We miss you but we get it, bye, bye.” 

Y/N watched Hazel leave and when she was truly gone, Y/N looked through the window. I wonder what Tuna is doing...

Yoongi sat in the meeting room waiting for Hazel. He was just going through his phone but stopped when the door opened. Hazel gave them an apologetic smile, “I’m so sorry I was having breakfast with my friend.” 

Hoseok's ears perked up at this, “Was it with Y/N?”

Hazel sat down and nodded her head, “Yes it was, and no, you can’t talk to her.”

Jimin pouted at this, “Why can’t we talk to her?”

Yoongi raised his eyebrow at this, “You know her too?”

Jimin leaned forward and nodded his head at Yoongi, “Yeah, Y/N always sends us flowers during promotion. She’s super nice.”

Yoongi nodded his head at this, Am I the only one that doesn’t know her? That’s annoying...

Hazel rolled her eyes and opened her folder, “Let’s begin.”

Y/N walked down the street and entered Nora’s restaurant. She knew it wasn’t going to be busy because it was after the breakfast rush and lunchtime doesn’t start until one o'clock, so she had time to talk to Nora. She knocked on her office and there was no answer. Y/N opened the door to see Nora leaning back in her chair with her eyes closed. Y/N shook her head at this but couldn’t help but laugh, “Neh, Nora.”

Nora opened her eyes and gave Y/N a lopsided smile, “Ello, what brings you to my shop?”

Y/N sat in the chair and looked at the dark wood in front of her, “Hazel said you guys missed me at dinner…”

Nora sat up for this and let out a nervous laugh, “We do but you know…we don’t want to force you. If you go tonight, Hazel is paying.”

Y/N bit her together and played with her fingers, “I’m sorry…I didn’t realize that I was-”

“Y/N, we get it. Don’t put pressure on yourself just to make us happy. It won’t make you happy.”

Y/N nodded her head, does it make me happy to stay inside all day and night? I don’t even know if that’s healthy. Y/N glanced down at the picture framed and smiled, it was a picture of them in college. It was right after one of Meria’s games and Nora had a camera. She said she needed prove to her family that she had friends and was normal. She missed her friends but she couldn’t help the pit in her stomach from the outside world. It wasn’t fair to her nor to them.

She smiled at Nora, “Where are we having dinner?” 

The rain was peaceful, it created a melody that either put you to sleep or put panic into your mind. Yoongi continued to flip his pen between his fingers as he stared at the blank pages. Nothing. He thought the rain would help him come up with something but this time around, he got nothing. He finally fixed the melody that was corrupted and he thought it was time to create a new song. Obviously, he thought wrong. 

He stood up and left his studio. He walked down the empty hallways until he saw Jungkook walking towards him, “Hyung, do you want to come with me?”

“Where?”

“To Stardust. I have to pick a bouquet for my mom.”   

Stardust. That’s where… “Sure, I’ll go with you.” Curiosity was going to kill this cat, that was for sure. 

Stardust was everything Yoongi expected it to be. It was a light pink store with flowers through the window and door. The smell of fresh roses took over all his senses. They walked through the door and Jungkook waved his hand at the girl at the register, “That’s Meria, she’s great. She’s one of the owners of this place.”

Yoongi nodded his head at the new information and walked further into the store. He glanced around to see countless bouquets and balloons. It was so colorful that it would make Hoseok look black and white. 

“Ah, took your ass long enough.”

Jungkook pouted at her and rolled her eyes, “I just got your text.”

“So, I told you last night too.” Meria looked over his shoulders and smiled, “Hey, meow meow.”

Yoongi felt his eye twitch at this but gave her a polite smile, “My name is Yoongi.”

“No, I like meow meow. Kook, your bouquet was made by the one and only me.” 

Jungkook gave her a shy smile and Yoongi noticed the little redness in his cheek but didn’t say anything. Jungkook signed some paperwork and when he finished he looked around, “Where’s Y/N?”

This caused Yoongi to look around and Meria shrugged her shoulders, “She told me she needed to help Hazel with something and I don’t know what.”

Yoongi glanced at Meria, “Hazel? She’s with Hazel?”

Meria raised her eyebrow and slowly nodded her head, “Yes? Why?”

Yoongi let out a small cough and shrugged his shoulders, “Just asking.” 

Meria gave him a suspicious look but nodded her head, “Right, Jungkook follow me please~.” 

Yoongi watched the two leave and he made his way to the purple lilacs. They were shining so bright under the light and he couldn’t help but wonder about Y/N. She clouded his mind even though he had never met her. For once he didn’t want to stay in his studio. He was going to meet Y/N, no matter what. 

Y/N looked through the paperwork and glanced at Hazel who was stressed. It was Monday afternoon and even though they got most of it done there was still so much to get done. After four days of staying up, Hazel could finally see a dent in her work. Y/N frowned at her friend and gently took the folder out of her hands, “Hazel…maybe you should get something to eat.”

Hazel let out a sigh and nodded her head, “I do crave chocolate.” 

Y/N smiled at this and stood up, “I’ll get you some chocolate chip cookies from the cafe. It’ll make you feel better.” 

“Thank you Y/N, I appreciate it.”

Y/N smiled at this and grabbed her wallet and was off. She walked through the empty walls with awkwardness because she still didn’t know where to go. She walked down the stairs and took a sharp turn. She hit someone’s chest and she couldn’t help but gasp. She slowly looked up and she felt like a mouse.

“Y/N?” Hoseok gave her his signature smile and patted her head, “What are you doing here so late?”

Y/N glanced down at her shoes and then back at him, “I’m helping Hazel..”

“Oh, with scheduling? I knew she was having a hard time because she asked us directly what we wanted.”

Y/N nodded her head at this, “She overworking…I was going to get her some chocolate chip cookies from the cafe. I-I was wondering if you could-”

“I’ll help you, I’ll be your guiding light.” 

Y/N glanced down and saw Hoseok's arm was still around her waist. Y/N shimmed out of his gasp and bowed her head, “Thank you. I could buy you something if you want.”

“Nope, I won’t let you buy me anything. Now follow me.” 

They walked through the empty building and Y/N felt like she was in kindergarten following the teacher with rope. Hoseok opened the door and Y/N tilted her head, “Where are we?” 

“In the back room of the cafe. I’ll get you those cookies for free.”

Y/N shook her head, “I-I can’t do that. It’s not right.”

“Y/N it’s fine.” 

Y/N shook her head, “Let me buy…please.” 

Hoseok sighed and nodded his head, “Fine.” Hoseok grabbed three cookies and glanced down at her, “These would taste so good if they were free.”

“They’re going to taste better paid.”

Y/N walked through the halls with Hoseok and he was talking about the upcoming comeback. She listened and she couldn’t help but smile at his excitement. Hoseok tilted his head at her, “You know you remind me of someone.” 

“Who?”

“Yoongi. You guys are very similar.”

“Yoongi? Is he the cat one?”

Hoseok let out a loud laugh and patted her back, “That made my night.”

She looked at him with a confused look but slowly nodded her head, “You're welcome?” 

Yoongi let out a sneeze and Jin raised his eyebrow, “Someone is talking about you.”

“Shut up with that myth. It’s not real.”

Jin shrugged his shoulders, “Fine be a Debbie downer.” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes and continued to look through his files. He couldn’t help but wonder who was talking about him (not that he cared…).

“Meria, can you please help my cousin with football? He won’t leave me alone.” 

Another dinner and Y/N nervously accepted it. It was the second dinner in a row that she went and it was Hazel’s choice this time. Hazel picked the ramen place near her work in case she had an emergency meeting. 

Meria slurped up her noodles and looked at Hazel, “Doesn’t he have a team to do that?”

Hazel played with her noodles and shook her head, “Half of his team has their own private coaches to help them out. Every time he asks they ask him why don’t you have a private coach.” 

Meria sighed, “I can make time.” 

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” 

Y/N took a sip of her water and glanced at Hazel, “Have you met Yoongi?”

Hazel raised her eyebrow and nodded her head, “Yeah, why?”

Meria glanced at Nora and had a mischievous smile, “I know Yoongi was looking for you the other day.”

Nora smirked at this and looked at Y/N, “Oh? Interesting.”

Y/N felt her face get hot and looked away, “I never met him…I was just asking.”

Hazel gave her a gentle smile, “He’s kind of like you but more blunt.”

Meria leaned back in her chair with a smirk, “Maybe you’ll guys meet and fall in love.”

Hazel kicked her shin under the table and looked back at Y/N, “Maybe you'll meet when you're over helping me out.” 

“Maybe..”

Tuesday mornings were always difficult for Y/N. It was the day when she went to therapy and talked about her problems. She loved her friends but she just didn’t know how to tell them how she was feeling. She knew they were all ears but she didn’t want to burden them with her problems. So she was paying someone to listen to her and it made her feel less guilty. Problem solve. 

She took a sip of her tea and headed into the Hybe building. She had her headphones playing comforting music as she made her way to Hazel’s office. As she made her way through the crowd of people, on the other side Yoongi was walking with Hoseok to the cafe. 

“I’m just glad you're finally taking a break.” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes, “I was craving something.”

“Like what? Pure caffeine?” 

“Actually no, I wanted the chocolate chip cookies.” 

Hoseok raised his eyebrow and let out a chuckle, “Yesterday, Y/N wanted the same ones.” 

Yoongi stopped in his tracks and looked at Hoseok with wide eyes, “Y/N?”

Hoseok stopped and turned towards him, “Yeah, she was here helping Hazel.” 

“You took her to get cookies?” 

Hoseok nodded his head, “Yeah, she wanted to get some cookies for Hazel because she was working really hard.” 

Yoongi nodded his head and started walking, “That’s nice of her.”

“Why?”

“No reason.” 

Y/N entered the office and gave Hazel a small wave, “Good morning.” 

Hazel looked up from her papers and smiled, “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

Y/N put her bag down on the floor and looked at Hazel, “Sure?”

“I ordered some muffins in the cafe downstairs. Can you pick them up for me?”

Y/N put her arm back into her jacket sleeve and nodded her head, “Under your name?”

“Yes, thank you. I wanted to get you that chocolate muffin you like so much.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back.” 

Y/N went back out and made her way through the busy hallways. She liked it better when there were fewer people, it was easier to navigate. Y/N walked down the stairs as her music played through her white headphones. She made a sharp turn and she hit someone’s chest. She blinked her eyes and slowly looked up to see dark brown eyes already looking at her, “Oh, Y/N, Hey.”

She looked to the side and saw Hoseok giving her a small smile. She slowly turned her head and quickly backed away with a bow, “I’m sorry.”

Yoongi looked Y/N up and down, honestly, he didn’t know what he expected. She was dressed in all black (besides her headphones) but her glasses were light pink. She kept averting her eyes away and he couldn’t help but tilt his head at her. She had this comforting aura and he wanted to learn more about her. She seemed mysterious but at the same time an open book. He could tell right away that she had social anxiety just with the way she was standing but he couldn’t read her eyes. He wanted to read her, he wanted to understand her. She gave him an awkward bow and said sorry again before making her way to the cafe. Yoongi turned his body to watch her and Hoseok couldn’t help but smirk at his friend, “You met Y/N.” 

“Ye-Yeah, I met Y/N.” Yoongi let out a small cough and turned around to quickly walk off before Hoseok said anything else. He knew this session was going to be long. 

Yoongi continued to stare at his screen and he couldn’t come up with anything. He wouldn’t say it was writer's block, it was more like he was distracted. His mind went back to Y/N. Meeting her last week has really put him in a weird place. He only knew her name and he barely said two words to her. He closed his document and glanced down at his phone, 13:14. He has time to make a visit. 

He grabbed his keys and headed out with his mask and all. He parked his car on the side and he went inside Stardust. He walked in but it wasn’t the peaceful sight that he walked into before. Y/N was getting berated by someone and he couldn’t help but glare, “Oi, leave her alone.” 

The girl turned around and scoffed, “She shouldn’t be working in an industry if she can’t talk.”

“Well maybe if you clean your ears you can hear her.” Y/N smiled at this and she looked at shoes. Yoongi glanced at her when she did this and he felt his chest get lighter. Yoongi looked back at the girl and crossed his arms over his chest, “Are we done here?”

The girl scoffed at this and walked out but she made sure her shoulder bumped into Yoongis. He rolled his eyes and let out a small chuckle when the door closed. Y/N looked up and gave him a small smile, “Sorry about that.”

Yoongi shook his head and walked closer to her, “You shouldn’t be sorry for someone else's actions.” 

“Still...”

Yoongi pulled down his mask and gave her a small smile, “I didn’t introduce myself last time...I’m Yoongi.”

Y/N looked into his brown eyes and then at her flowers, “I know...meow meow, right?”

Yoongi let out a small chuckle and nodded his head, “Yeah, meow meow. You already know me?” It’s cute when she calls me that. 

Y/N looked back at him and nodded her head, “It’s hard not to notice you. You’re the one that sets the team in motion with your lyrics...especially with your skills at conveying emotions...”

“You...you noticed all of that?” 

She nodded her head and looked down at her flowers. Despite the cold air from the AC, Y/N felt her cheeks begin to burn and she had to look away from his dark curious eyes. Throughout her final days at helping Hazel, she kept asking about Yoongi. Ever since Hoseok said she was like Yoongi she couldn’t help but be curious. All the stories that were told to her made her feel like an expert at knowing him but at the same time an amateur, “Well, you and the rest of the guys are kind of...kind of everywhere.” Y/N stammered out and she couldn’t help but play with her fingers, “I hear your music every day and it’s comforting-”

“You think my music is comforting?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

It was Yoongi’s turn to feel the heat from his face and he was thankful he wasn’t standing under the light. He rubbed his neck, “Th-Thanks.”

Y/N let out a cough and turned towards her flowers as she went through some paperwork, “Sorry...I talk too much.”

“I don’t think so.” 

Y/N glanced at Yoongi over her shoulder and then back at her paper, “Did you have an order to pick up?”

Yoongi cursed under his breath, he didn’t think he would get this far with talking to her. Yoongi looked up at the ceiling and then back at her, “No, I just wanted to introduce myself to you. I felt bad I didn’t do it on that day and I’ve been thinking about-sorry I’m talking too much.”

Y/N let out a small laugh, “I don’t think so..”

Yoongi stared at her face when he saw her laugh and in this moment he was undeniably happier (he wasn’t going to tell anyone that...) 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

“I heard you met Yoongi.”

Y/N eyes widened and she dropped the flowers onto the table. She let out a small cough as she picked them up trying to act like nothing happened, “I told you I went to get pizza after closing the shop early and then I went to Tuna's vet appointment.” 

Meria pursed her lips and glanced at Hazel who was avoiding eye contact (she didn’t want to get ratted out), “That’s strange because an office lady that works god-forsaken hours saw Yoongi coming back with a small vase of flowers without any of his members around to annoy the peace.” 

Y/N picked up the bouquet and hid her face, “I may have left out some details.” 

Nora dropped her scissors, “What happened? The one time we didn’t come and help.”

“It’s not what you think...”

“Well it sounds like it was a good conversation” Meria joked as she walked towards Y/N’s table, “What happened? Pleaseeeeee telllll usss!~” 

“This was an angry customer...” Y/N placed the bouquet back on the table and stared at the dark wood, “She was mad that my voice wasn’t loud and started to go off on me. Yoongi came and told the girl off, making her leave. We talked for a little bit before I had to get food and take Tuna to her appointment.” 

“Wait...your appointment was at 15:00. You talked for two hours?” 

Y/N shook her head at Meria, “I told you to stop going through the logs.”

“I’m nosy. That shouldn’t be a crime.” 

Hazel scrunched her face at this, “It’s a crime.”

Nora rolled her eyes at this, “We’re getting off track.”

“There’s nothing more to talk about. Yoongi came in and told that girl off...he bought some flowers. End of story.” 

Hazel shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. When he came into my office afterward, that was the most I’ve seen him smiling without his members.” 

Meria snorted and looked at Y/N, “You heard that.” 

Y/N rolled her eyes (with her face feeling hot) and went through the paperwork, “No, I didn’t.” 

Nora looked at Meria and then back at Hazel, “Should we go through the video to find the girl.”

“Nora, you’re not going through my security tape to find the girl. The three of you give me a headache.”

Hazel smiled at this, “You’re welcome.” 

Y/N couldn’t stop herself from smiling and shook her head, “Thanks.” 

Three times a week, Y/N was at Hybe’s office helping Hazel with extra paperwork. Her office may be small but it was cozy with all her plants around. The new paperwork was on the business side and Hazel asked Y/N if she could help (since Y/N had a business degree). Y/N agreed because it got out of the flower shop and Meria asked her to take a break from the shop. She’s taking a break from her job just to be working another job. Sounds about right. She should be taking a break with her cat but she finds going through paperwork relaxing. 

Y/N handed Hazel a stack of paper and smiled, “I finished another pile.” 

Hazel smiled at this, “At this point, you should just work here.”

Y/N shook her head, “I just like helping you. I’m going to get some tea, do you want anything?”

“I’m good.” 

Y/N made her way to the cafe and sat in the back with her tea as she went through her music. She closed her eyes as she waited for her tea to cool down a bit. She let her music take her to her daydreams. Just as Y/N was doing this, Yoongi walked into the cafe with Jin talking his ear off. Y/N passed the tables but he noticed Y/N in the back and he turned away from Jin to glance at her. He turned away quickly because he didn’t want to hear Jin’s teasing. They stood in line and nodded their head at Jin but Yoongi couldn’t help himself to glance at Y/N. 

Jin stopped talking when he saw that Yoongi wasn’t paying attention and followed his eyes. It all clicked when he saw Y/N. He heard the story from Jungkook and Hazel about his interaction with Y/N at her flower shop the other week. It was rare to hear Yoongi getting flushed with a compliment. Usually, he would play cool with them but to get flushed, never. 

Y/N looked up and saw Yoongi looking at her. She gave him a soft smile and a small wave. Yoongi straightened up his back and gave her a small nod. Jin smiled and at that moment he found himself almost glad that Yoongi liked Y/N. (Not that he would admit but Jin knew all...obviously). 

Y/N picked up her tea and made her way to Yoongi. She smiled at him, “Hazel told me you have a performance coming up.”

“Yeah, I’m excited. It’s been a while since we performed.”

Y/N glanced down and then back at Yoongi. She gestured for Yoongi to lean in closer and he blinked his eyes in confusion before he obliged. Y/N tilted her head to whisper in his ear, “I know this is biased but...I think you’ll be the best performer there.” Her hair whipped around her as she turned away from Yoongi and before she could walk away from Yoongi, she glanced at him, “Good luck.”

Yoongi watched her leave the cafe and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Jin rolled his eyes and let out a small cough, “Do you want coffee or not loverboy?”

“Shut up.”

The next day, Yoongi made his way to the cafe to see Y/N with her tea. Yoongi rubbed his hands against his jeans and took a deep breath. Y/N took a bite of her cake and looked up when she heard footsteps. She took off her headphones and smiled at Yoongi, “Hey.”

Yoongi waved and pulled the chair out to sit in front of her, “Weird question...are you good with computers?”

Y/N tilted her head and nodded her head, “It depends. What's up?”  

“Just having issues with saving.”

“I can take a look but I can’t promise anything.”

“That’s all I can ask for.”

They walked back to his studio and the two made small talk. She was telling him about her cat and he was telling her how he wanted to adopt a cat. A black cat to be specific. She looked down at his doormat and laughed, “That’s very you.”

Yoongi smiled to himself as he entered the code, “It was mostly towards Jimin and Taehyung.” 

“I’m sure they got the message.” 

He closed the door and Y/N looked around. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting but seeing real machines that make music left her in awe. She didn’t even know what they were called. She stood awkwardly and Yoongi spun the chair for her to sit. She gave him a small smile and sat in the black chair. She pushed herself near the computer and glanced up at him, “What did you want me to look at?”

“My music file...It was corrupted and I was wondering if you could help me. Hazel said you were good with computers.” 

Y/N shook her head at this and placed her hand on his mouse, “I wouldn’t say good...tolerable would be better.”  

Yoongi took another chair and sat next to her, “I would say good.”

“You haven’t even seen me work on computers.” 

“So, I just know it's going to be good because of you.”

Y/N felt her face turn hot but she shook her head and faced the computer, “I’ll try my best.” 

Y/N went through his computer and it wasn’t until she felt his hand on top of her other hand. She wanted to glance down but she knew if she did, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the room with him. After twenty minutes, she figured it out. Yoongi moved his hand and she turned towards him with a smile, “I figured it out.” 

Yoongi smiled at her and looked at the screen, “Thanks, I’ve been having trouble with this stupid thing.”

“I’m happy I was able to help you. I have to go, Hazel’s texting me.”

Yoongi stood up and put his hands in his pocket, “Yeah, go ahead. Thanks for helping. I really appreciate it.”

Y/N looked away from his brown eyes because she felt like if she looked at him, she would steam up. She nodded her head and gave him a small wave as she closed the door, she didn’t hear the footsteps. 

“What did Yoongi need?”

Y/N jumped slightly and placed her hand over her heart. She turned to see Namjoon with a curious look, “He had trouble saving this corrupt file...I helped him.”

Namjoon raised his eyebrow at this, “Corrupt file? Yoongi fixed that a while ago.”

Y/N felt her body get hotter and she slowly nodded her head, “Oh? I-I’m glad I could help.” 

Hazel had snuck the girls into the after-party of BTS performance in the Hybe building, but the energy in the room was so excitable that no one even noticed them. The soju and beer was flowing and Y/N noticed some younger trainers enjoying the loudness. Y/N took a sip of her water and let out a small laugh when Jimin told her the story about Jungkook the other day at the gym. She leaned her tired head on Nora’s shoulder as she listened to all the stories being thrown at her in the small circle. 

Across the room, Yoongi stood with Hazel as he leaned against the wall with a beer. He glanced at Y/N and then at Hazel. Yoongi saw an opportunity and now that he was alone with Hazel he could ask, “So...Y/N.” Yoongi began, taking a sip of his beer to calm his nerves, “Is she dating anyone?”

Hazel let out a small laugh and took a sip of her soju, “Took you long enough.” 

Yoongi whipped his head and stared at her with wide eyes, “How did you know? I thought I was being subtle.” 

“That was you being subtle? It would be successful if I was blind.” Hazel emphasized, “Namjoon told me about the file thing.” 

He felt embarrassment flow through his body, “Shut up...do...do you think I have a shot?” 

Hazel raised her eyebrow and took a sip of her soju, “Y/N is the most genuine and kind person you’ll ever meet. She tends to keep things to herself and she tries to talk to us but she stops herself. I don’t even think she realizes she does it.” 

“How do you know how she's feeling?” 

“You take the time to get to know her. Between you and me...I think you might have a shot.” With that Hazel left Yoongi to join her friends from the other side of the room. Yoongi’s eyes searched through the crowd and he stopped when he saw Y/N laughing at something Meria said. “I think you might have a shot...” 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Spring flew by and before she knew it she was heading to the airport to visit family like she always did for spring. Everyone came to say their goodbyes and she was surprised the whole group had time to see her off. She was talking to Meria but her eyes kept drifting to Yoongi who was talking to Hazel. 

Her grip around Meria’s arm tightened and she looked down at her, “Nervous?”

Y/N nodded her head, “I hate going...”

“You love seeing your parents. Think of that and not the flight itself.” 

“I-I’ll try my best. I just don’t like flying.” 

Meria patted her head, “Just focus on your music or you can talk to one of us. Always here for you.”

Y/N nodded her head and she let go of Meria’s arm. She looked down at her phone and made a sharp turn but she collided with someone and nearly fell to the floor, “I’m so sorry-”

“Why is it that we’re always colliding with each other?” 

Y/N looked up and saw Yoongi giving her that smile that she only saw on Run BTS! She let out a small cough, “I can be a little oblivious but I’m usually not this clumsy.”

Yoongi chuckled at her nervous smile and helped her back to her feet, “Why did you make a turn?”

She felt embarrassment go through her body and she looked down at her shoes, “There's this cafe that has a cake that I like.”

“Oh is it that strawberry cake with champagne?” 

Y/N looked back up at him and her eyes were wide, “You remember that? I only mentioned it once.” 

“I remember what you like, don’t worry.” 

Jin looked over his shoulders and rolled his eyes, “Okay, lovebirds, Y/N you have a flight to catch.” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes and nodded his head towards the cafe, “Let’s get you that cake before you board.” He grabbed her hand and his other hand took her luggage. She glanced down at his hand and felt a surge of happiness through her body. She bit her lip and she softly said his name causing him to glance at her over his shoulder, “I was wondering...do you want to share your number with me so we can talk? If that’s okay.” 

They entered the cafe and he ignored the teasing smiles from the group. He looked down at Y/N and gave her his gummy smile, “Yeah, let’s get your cake first.” 

She sat on the plane and she glanced at her phone with a smile. She brought up Yoongi’s name and she took a deep breath, I just got on :) 

Not even a minute passed and she felt her phone buzzing, Text me when you get there. Get some sleep. I know you worked late last night at the flower shop. 

I will. Thanks for caring.

Always for you. 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

The trip to her parents was relaxing but it did feel strange not doing anything. During her time with her mom, she was taught how to knit. For someone who has never touched a needle, she was really good at it. She made everyone simple socks but for Yoongi she made him a beanie with a small Y on it. Summer was the time when Meria always had stuff planned for the group and usually Y/N would think twice about going. This year it’s different and Y/N was excited for whatever Meria planned. The summer felt slow but anything could happen with the summer sun blazing. 

“A football match?” 

Meria nodded her head and handed out jerseys from her bag, “Surprise” 

Y/N glanced at Nora who shrugged her shoulders, “I didn’t even know she could afford these tickets.”

“Yah, I have ears.”

“Unfortunately” 

Hazel put the jersey on and looked at Meria, “You do realize we have no idea what’s going on, right?”

Meria nodded her head, “My dad surprised me with these tickets and I wanted to go with my best friends.” 

“There’s a catch.”

Hazel smacked Nora’s shoulder and looked at Meria, “What’s the catch?”

Meria shook her head, “No catch, I didn’t want to go with my brothers.” 

When the group finally reached the stadium, they ended up having to climb more stairs than any of the girls anticipated. But the further they went up, Y/N ignored the ache in her thighs and focused on the excitement that was building up. 

Meria was the first to enter the box and when she looked inside she let a small snort out, “This is going to be fun.” 

Y/N looked at her with a confused look and walked in. Her eyes landed on the small group and she couldn’t fully recognize them until one of them fully turned, “Y/N?”

Y/N felt her heart skip a beat when she heard Yoongi’s voice and she didn’t understand how he managed to get more attractive while she was gone. There was a small nudge on Y/N’s shoulder and she realized it was Nora who was pushing her forward because she was frozen in place. 

Y/N waved shyly at Yoongi as she made her way over to him, “I thought I was going to see you tomorrow but this is a nice surprise.”

Yoongi glanced at Hoseok to make sure he wasn’t listening, “It is. I really liked the beanie by the way.”

She looked at him with excitement, “Really? You liked it? I’m glad it got to you. It was my first time knitting and sending something out like that.”

Yoongi opened his bag and pulled out the black-knitted beanie, “I’ve been carrying it around ever since I got it.” 

Y/N felt her heartbeat get faster and she swallowed her spit, “Really? It’s not that special...”

“It's the most important part of my outfit. For every outfit.” 

Y/N let out a small laugh, “I’m glad you like it.”

“Oi, Y/N, our seats are over here.” 

Y/N turned around and saw Nora giving her that knowing smirk that she hated. She turned back to Yoongi and gave him a small wave, “I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah, you will.” 

The next day, Y/N saw Yoongi. He texted her to come and visit his studio and she couldn’t help contain her excitement. She looked down at the familiar rug and entered the studio. She saw Yoongi on his couch on his phone and she raised her eyebrow, “You're not on your computer?” 

Yoongi looked up and locked his phone, putting it on the coffee table, “I was waiting for you.” 

She hated the butterflies in her stomach and she tried her best to swallow some confidence. She twirled her fingers together and gave him a smile, “You said you wanted to show me something?” 

“I do.” Yoongi made his way to his desk and picked up a bag behind his monitor. He slowly turned around and gave her a sheepish smile, “Don’t make fun of me.”

She glanced down at the bag and then at him as she blinked her eyes. He nodded his head and she gently took the bag. She slowly opened the black fabric and Yoongi could hear his heart through the silent room. She took out the knit with her initials and she glanced at him with a confused look, “Did...Did you make this?”

Yoongi rubbed his neck and nodded his head, “I went to visit my mom last week and I asked her to teach me...It was a quick lesson and I know-”

“I love it.” She put the beanie on and she gave him a wide smile with her eyes closed, “I really love it.”

Yoongi has never seen her do this type of smile and he could make a beat with how loud his heart was going. Y/N opened her eyes and knew the feelings she had for Yoongi couldn’t be pushed down any longer. And that was scary. 

Later that evening, Y/N invited Nora over to finish watching Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. During the scene where Malfoy gets punched, Nora slowly turns towards Y/N on the couch, “You like Yoongi, don’t you?” 

Keeping her gaze on the screen, Y/N was quiet for a few moments before, barely above a whisper, she asked, “How did you know? 

“You're extra nervous around him and jumpy whenever you see Yoongi.” 

“Am I that obvious?” Y/N questioned in a horrified whisper as she looked away from the screen to look at Nora. 

Nora shook her head, “If you were more obvious, you would be with Yoongi at this moment.” Y/N glanced at the screen and then at her fingers as Nora continued to study her. Nora placed her hand on her thigh and gave her a comforting smile, “Why are you scared to admit you like him?”

“If I admit I have...feelings for him,” Y/N glanced at Nora, “Then he could be another person that could reject me...I can’t handle that.” 

“Trust me, if you saw the way Yoongi looks at you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” 

In Hazel’s office, she was typing away when the door was open wide. She glanced up from her paperwork and raised her eyebrow at the scene. Yoongi was with Jimin and Taehyung, it was clear Yoongi was embarrassed but she didn’t know why. 

She stopped typing and leaned back in her chair, “What the hell is going on?” 

“Tell him to ask out Y/N already.” 

“She talks about her every day and even re-read their texts. It's annoying.” 

Yoongi pushed Jimin’s arm around his shoulder and scoffed, “I don’t do that.” 

Taehyung turned towards Hazel and gave her a disbelieving look, “Hazel, he knitted her a hat.”

Hazel raised her eyebrow and let out a small laugh, “And she’s convinced that you don’t like her.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrow, “What was that?” 

“Nothing, just know, you're stupid.” 

This dinner was different, Hazel invited the rest of BTS to it and Y/N was nervous and she hated the feeling of being nervous (well this was a different kind of nervous). Y/N sat at the table with Yoongi sitting next to her as she listened to the chatter around them. Yoongi glanced down at her and pushed some hair away from her face, “Deep in thought?”

Y/N looked at Yoongi and saw his dark brown eyes. Her chest started hurting and she knew she couldn’t hide her feelings for much longer. But right now, she's going to become the greatest actress in the world, “Just thinking about what I want. That’s it.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrow and nodded his head, “What don’t you get that steak you like with the salad.”

He remembers... “Yeah, I was going to get that...”

Nora glanced at them and smiled. She leaned towards Hazel with a small smile, “I think it's going to happen soon.”

Hazel smacked Nora’s shoulder, “Don’t be so loud.” Hazel watched the two and how close they were getting, “But yes...I think it’s going to happen soon.”

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

“A ball?”

Nora nodded her head in annoyance, “My father wants this grand ball for my birthday. So annoying.”

Meria glanced at Y/N and then back at Nora, “How dare he want to celebrate your birthday.” 

Y/N took a bite of her steak and shrugged her shoulders, “It could be fun...you never know.” 

Nora played with her meatball and rolled her eyes, “It’s in three days.” 

Hazel choked on her pasta, “Three days? Your birthday is literally in two months. Why three days?” 

“Complicated...” 

Y/N looked at Nora with a shy smile, “Did you invite BTS?”

Nora smirked at her and nodded her head, “Of course I did.” She glanced at Meria and gave her a small smirk, “I bet Jungkook is going to ask you.”

Meria picked up the knife and pointed at her, “I could cut you.”

Hazel flicked Meria’s forehead and looked around the restaurant in embarrassment, “You can act like that in our houses but in public, come on.” 

“She started it.” 

Nora’s family was known throughout college as the rich ones. Nora thought it was annoying to attend parties or even socializing with people with the same status. They were boring in her mind. The girls have been to her ball before but nothing like this. 

Hazel gave her a soft smile, “Was it because they forgot last year?”

Nora took a bite of her meatball, “That’s part of it.”

Meria raised her eyebrow at this, “What’s the other part?”

Y/N gently placed her hand on top of Nora’s, “You can tell us.” 

Nora sighed and nodded her head, “They're going on a cruise and I won’t see them until next year. They just told me this yesterday.”

Meria scoffed at this and shook her head, “Assholes.” 

Hazel gave her a comforting smile, “We’ll be together.” 

Nora shrugged her shoulders, “I honestly don’t care about the party. I asked for all of my favorite foods and that’s all I need. Y/N and Meria will probably have dates, so Hazel is all mine.” 

Meria rolled her eyes, “You're annoying, you know that.”

“I do.” 

Y/N bit her lip and the thought of having a date and there was one person that she wanted to be her date. Hazel caught this and smirked to herself. 

After dinner Hazel saw Yoongi going back to his studio and smiled to herself. She followed him to his office but put her bag in the middle of the door to stop it from closing. Yoongi raised his eyebrow and opened the door with his foot. His hands were already full with his notebooks because he was getting to write a song, “Hazel, what’s up?”

“I’m only doing this because I know Y/N is too terrified to do it herself. Plus, I know you're inevitably going to take her to Nora’s birthday ball.”  

“Terrified to do what?” 

“Admit she likes you.” 

Yoongi dropped his notebooks and looked at her with disbelief, “Y/N likes me?” 

“I’m not saying anything else.” 

“You barely said anything.” 

“I’ve said enough.” Hazel turned around to walk away and she knew Yoongi was following her. She turned around and looked at Yoongi with a know-it-all look, “Y/N likes you. Now do something about it, producer boy.” 

Y/N was going to her flower shop after having her late lunch. She unlocked the door and was immediately met with Meria with a suspicious look, “What did you do?”

“First of all, ouch. Second of all, follow the candles to your office.”

Y/N raised her eyebrow and looked down to see the candles that Meria was talking about. She glanced at her with furrowed eyebrows, “Is this a prank?”  

“No, I wouldn’t prank...Hazel yelled at me last time. Just follow the damn candles.” 

Y/N placed her coat on the coat hanger and did what Meria told her to do. She opened the door and saw Yoongi leaning against her desk with a nervous look. She tilted her head at him, “I’m glad it's not a prank.” 

Yoongi let out a small laugh, “I have something to ask you.”

Y/N’s brain went into overdrive but she kept a calm face to him. She couldn't give her hopes up. Yoongi reached behind him and picked up a bouquet of purple lilacs. The calm face that she tried to keep on but it disappeared when the smell of lilacs hit her nose. She slowly walked towards him and her fingertips touched the petals. Yoongi watched her fingers trace the petals, “I-uh..These are for you.” 

Y/N grinned brightly and accepted the flowers, “What’d I do to deserve these?” 

“If I name all the reasons why you deserve these flowers then we would be here for eternity.” He took a deep breath and grabbed her free hand with his gummy smile, “Would you be my date for Nora’s ball?”

Y/N stared at Yoongi with shock. She couldn’t believe that Yoongi was sitting in front of her in the first place. She placed the bouquet of flowers on her desk behind him and interlaced their fingers together tighter with a soft smile as Yoongi returned the same smile, “I would love to be your date.” 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

She didn’t want to admit it but Y/N was weak at the knees every time she pictured Yoongi taking her to the ball. She felt like a girl in school when their crush asked them out (well she never had that but she watched netflix shows). She didn’t show anything to the girls but they could easily tell from the way she laughed much more and how she's more talkative, that something happened. 

Nora let her borrow her old dresses and it was the most beautiful dress that she has ever seen. It was a light blue ball gown with asymmetrical neckline with floral embroidery all around the dress. Nora has never worn it but it felt like it was made for Y/N. Hazel was brushing Y/N’s with a soft smile, “You look beautiful.” 

Y/N glanced down at the vanity and she felt the heat rise, “Thank you...you do too.” 

The girls walked out of Nora’s room and walked down her grand staircase. Sometimes seeing how rich Nora was, shocked Y/N. She watched Meria make her way to Jungkook while Nora and Hazel went towards the drinks and she was alone until she wasn’t. At the bottom of the staircase, Yoongi stared at Y/N with pure shock. He knew she was pretty and she was a cute girl but this...this was different. Her glasses matched her dress and her hair was done perfectly. Even though the staircase had a dim glow, she was the brightest light he had ever seen. He made his way to her and grabbed her hand as she glanced down at their fingers. Yoongi stared at her and let out an awkward laugh, “Hi.”

“Hey.” Y/N felt her cheeks burning so much it felt like they were on fire. She gave him a shy smile and then she looked down at her tulle skirt. 

“You look..you look beautiful.”

“You look amazing, Yoongi. I always liked you in a suit.” 

Yoongi glanced at the others in the main room and then back at Y/N, “Shall we?” 

Y/N nodded her head, “Yeah...” 

She intertwined their fingers and made their way into the main room with all their friends. The music began to play and Y/N glanced at Yoongi, “You dance all the time...are you going to show me your moves?”

Yoongi gave her a small smirk and fixed his tie in a playful manner, “I can try, Ms. L/N.”

They swayed around the room with Meria and Jungkook behind them for most of the time. At the moment, Y/N didn’t see them. She saw Yoongi and only him. They continued to dance and he twirled her around once more causing her to laugh at the gesture. This continued for four more songs and Y/N took his hand to head out of the main room. Yoongi didn’t question it because it was time with her. She made her way towards the door and gave Yoongi a small mischievous look, “There’s a good hiding place. I know.” 

They went through Nora’s parents' garden and Y/N sat next to the small pond with an abundance of flowers around them. Yoongi sat next to her and she leaned into him, “It’s peaceful here...I used to come out here all the time when I was sleeping over.”

Yoongi intertwined their fingers together and leaned his head against her, “Oh, Why?”

“I was overthinking...I couldn’t sleep because of it.”

“You tend to do that a lot...why were you overthinking?”

Y/N let out a humorless laugh and sighed, “I had a crush on this guy and...he rejected me. He was my first ever crush and he rejected me in a rude way. Not even nice and it made me feel like no one would...no one would accept me.” 

“He’s an idiot. He can’t see the bright light that you are.” 

She leaned away from Yoongi and sat up straighter giving him her full attention, “Bright light? Is that how you see me?”

“Bright light, the ending to my beginning...so much more.” Yoongi took a deep breath and he decided he was going to get over his fears, “I like you..I like you a lot, Y/N. I-I’ve felt this for a while now. I’ve liked you for so long that I don’t remember exactly when I started liking you. I just knew I liked you so much that music became my second thought. I don’t want to ruin anything-” 

Y/N cupped his cheek and gave him a soft smile, “You're not ruining anything.” She whispered before pressing her lips against his. The two broke apart and Yoongi couldn’t help but let his gummy smile show up. Y/N intertwined their fingers together and she stared at his fingers, “I’m not the best at talking about my feelings...I’m trying my best to show how I feel. I like you so much Yoongi and I want to be with you.” 

“You do?”

Y/N laughed at his bashful smile and nodded, “I really do...I really do, Yoongi.” 

Yoongi leaned down and she placed his lips on hers again with the moon shining against the pond.  

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

The start of Y/N’s and Yoongi’s relationship was soft and sweet (ignoring the embarrassing moments from Jimin and Hoseok the night after Nora's ball). Every time Y/N saw Yoongi, she felt a good nervous. It wasn’t like before but she was still nervous. Yoongi would show up at her flower shop and surprise her with her favorite lunch or he would come to her apartment to play with Tuna. It was the perfect pace for her and she couldn’t imagine her affection to Yoongi to deepen but it did. 

“What is this place?”

Yoongi gave her a chuckle and opened the door, “This is Hybe’s music room. This is where all the instruments are.” 

She walked up the piano and played a messy melody as Yoongi watched in awe. She turned around and looked at Yoongi, “I’m so jealous of you. The fact that you know how to play piano. I wish I had learned.”

Yoongi pulled the seat out and patted the dark wood, “Sit next to me.” Y/N did what Yoongi said and watched his skillful fingers play a melody. She watched like how a painter painted his work and Yoongi couldn't help but feel his pride spiked up. He turned towards her and grabbed her fingers, “I’ll show you how to play.” 

They played simple notes and Y/N leaned against him, “Has music always been your thing?” 

Yoongi nodded and kissed the top of her head, “I’ve always loved music...It started as rap verses I would write at school or even making random songs in my room. I guess music has always been there for me. What about you, has flowers always been your thing?” 

Y/N chuckled at this and nodded her head, “I love flowers. Each of them have different meanings and the combination of flowers can mean something...it’s so fun watching people’s minds come up with new combinations. It just shows how much they pay attention to the other person.” 

“That’s cute of you.”

Y/N shyly looked down at the ivory keys and a question came to mind, “When you asked me out with the purple lilacs...did-”

“I knew what they meant.” 

She stopped playing and turned to her side to face Yoongi, “You knew what they meant?”

“That’s why I picked them out...well I also picked them out because when I first came to your store, I saw purple lilacs under the light.” 

“When was this?” 

Yoongi pushed some hair off of her forehead, “When Jungkook needed to pick up an order. I came along...I came along because I wanted to meet you.” 

“Me-Me?

Yoongi chuckled at her reaction and wrapped his arms around her waist, “Everyone kept talking about you and I never met you. I wanted to know you but it felt like every time I tried I just missed you. Then that day when you ran into me...I met you.” 

“You never told me this.”

“It’s kind of embarrassing.”

She shook her head and cupped his face. She placed a quick kiss on his lips and smiled, “I think it’s sweet.”

“Don’t call me that. I have an image to uphold.”

She chuckled and shook her head, “Well it's a good thing that things can change for the better.” 

Yoongi nodded his head and placed a kiss on her cheek, “Changing my plans and being my perfect distraction. What more can I want in this world?” 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

It’s amazing how fast seasons pass when you don’t have anxiety building up. One minute it was fall and now it's winter again. Meria was finally going out with Jungkook after a wild proposal from him. Y/N helped Jungkook with the flowers but after that, it was all him. Stardust started to become busier because of the holidays and it felt like she hadn't seen Yoongi in forever. They’ve been together for seven months already and she couldn’t believe it. This was the first time she celebrated New Years with a partner, it was a good feeling. 

Y/N was finishing cleaning the shop when the door opened. She smiled because she already knew who it was. She turned around and placed the broom against the wall. She quickly made her way and wrapped her arms around Yoongi as he gave her a tight squeeze. He kissed the side of her head and smiled, “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too, Yoon.” He put her back down and she glanced down at her feet with shyness, “I saw your concept pictures...a suit?” 

Yoongi smirked and ran his fingers through his hair. He did it just for her because he knew how much she liked him in a suit, “You like it?” 

She slowly looked up and nodded her head, “I do...”

Yoongi wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head, “Just for you baby.” 

“Do you want to go to my apartment or do you want me to go to yours?” 

Yoongi released and thought about it, “I want to see Tuna.” 

“Sometimes I feel like you're only with me for Tuna.” 

“Maybe I am, Ms. L/N.”

Y/N smirked at this and kissed the tip of his nose, “Then I’ll tell Hazel.” 

“I was joking, don’t do that. She’s scary.” 

She finished closing up the shop and the two walked to Yoongi’s car. The drive to her apartment was filled with laughs and soft touches. When they entered her apartment, Yoongi closed the door and pushed her against the door as she laughed, “What you doing, Mr. Min?”

“Showing my beautiful girlfriend how much I love her. Is that okay?” 

Y/N leaned in to place a passionate kiss against his lips. When she leaned away, she nodded her head, “Of course it’s okay.” 

He picked her up and she let out a loud laugh as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Yoongi closed the door (making sure Tuna was outside) and gently tossed Y/N onto her soft blankets. He took off his shirt and slowly made his way to her. He towered over her and kissed her lips as if he was going to die if he didn’t. When moved away he kissed her cheek, “I need you here...always. I love you.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, this was the first time they said it. Yoongi looked at her shocked face and kissed her lips again, “You don’t have to say it back-”

“I love you so much Min Yoongi.” 

Yoongi froze in his spot and glanced into her eyes, “Yeah?”

She nodded her head and cupped his face, “You made me realize I was missing something...I love you Yoongi.” She took his hand and placed it on her chest and he felt her heartbeat, “My heart beats like this for you...and only you.” 

He leaned down and kissed her again, “Do you want to?”

She knew what he was asking and kissed his neck (the sensitive spot), “Yeah...” 

He pushed her hair away from her face and smiled, “Whatever you want, baby.” 

The next morning, Y/N woke up early to feed Tuna and to make breakfast. Yoongi walked out shirtless and he saw her cooking in his shirt. He couldn’t stop his heart from beating fast. He quietly made his way towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist, “Can you shut off the stove?

“Why?”

He ran his fingers down and she felt his cold fingertips against her stomach. She bit her lip from moaning and he kissed the side of her neck, “I wanted to take a shower with you.”

“I can have a shower...and then eat.” 

The breakfast that she was making was never finished and it stayed there until the afternoon. She blamed Yoongi for her wasting food. 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Spring is when things are borned and Y/N experienced just that. Her Shop became plural. Stardust and Ethereal, the two light pink shops caught the eyes of anyone walking on the street. Spring time was a special time, especially the mornings. Mornings brought inner peace and it was the quiet that used to comfort her but now if she didn’t hear Yoongi’s deep voice saying good morning then the morning was ruined.  

She styled her hair and put her glasses on to get on with her day. She walked outside and said her good mornings to Tuna and the newest addition Toothless (a black cat that Yoongi begged for). She walked into the living room and plopped herself right next to Yoongi who leaned down to give her a kiss on the check, “Are you ready to go to work?” 

Y/N shook her head, “Ten more minutes. Meria can survive.” 

“Can she? She’s already texting me.” 

Y/N chuckled at this and stood up from the couch, “Fine, I guess I’ll go to work.” 

Yoongi took his keys out of his pocket and smiled at her, “I told you no more bus. You got me.”

She let out a puff of air and nodded her head, “Fine, let’s go stubborn.” 

Yoongi held her hand as they walked down her apartment stairwell while her headphones were softly in her bag. He listened to every word of her story and how busy it was today because it was the first day of spring. The countless orders from idols was nothing new but the sheer amount at both stores was new. Yoongi opened her car door and she gave him a kiss on his cheek. It was like any other day. 

He placed his hand on top of her thigh as he drove through the semi busy city, “Namjoon texted me to get my ass in the studio before he locks me up in there.” 

Y/N let out a laugh and stared through the window, “It was our date night. He knows the drill.” 

“He said, " Who would’ve thought I’m telling you to work on music.”

She turned her head and gave him an apologetic smile, “I’m sorry...am I taking you away too much?” 

“No, you should just keep me in your room forever.” 

“Is that where you want to be?”

“Honestly, anywhere with you, I’ll be perfectly fine with.” 

Y/N opened her door to Ethereal and smiled, “Good morning, Meria.” 

Meria turned around and glared at her, “You're late.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and placed her coat on the hook, “I wasn’t late and you know that.”

Nora pointed her finger at Meria, “She just came a minute ago. She was too busy with Jungkook in her-”

“Shut the fuck up Nora.”

Hazel sighed and walked up to the shorter girl and gave her small hug, “How was the ride with Yoongi?”

“Perfect.” Y/N clapped her hands together, “Okay, we have a busy day. We have multiple orders from SM and JYP. Let’s start with the biggest orders because that’s going to take us the longest.” 

Nora nodded her head, “Yes boss. I bought buns, it’s in your office.” 

“Thank you Nora.” 

Y/N put her apron on and let the soft jazz play as she ignored the bickering between Nora and Meria, “These bouquets go to Seventeen at Hybe, Hazel can you take Nora for that?” 

“Yeah-”

“I want to go to Hybe.”

Y/N looked at Meria and shook her head, “You just want to see Jungkook. No.”

Meria pouted and sat back down at her station, “Fine.”

She rolled her eyes and felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She took her phone out and she smiled when she saw Yoongi in the studio working. She never thought that his smile would bring her comfort nor would she ever experience his rare friendship. For the ending of her first beginning, Yoongi was everything she needed and more. She never knew she needed him and vice versa. 

“Y/N, did you hear me?”

She shook her head, “What was that, Meria?”

“Yoongi is here with your tea.” Y/N smiled at this and walked towards him placing a kiss on his lips, her accidental happily ever after and she was his perfect distraction.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Tag list:

@forever-atiny @wobblewobble822 @jajabro @busanbby-jjk @lynnnnnnn23 @dna-black-and-blue @amaroho @shinaely @ukndtwme

[star2fishmeg]

Quinn Angst 97

Thank you for requesting <3

ANGST #97 "Maybe the fact that we have such a hard time staying away from each other is saying something."

📞 dialling…

He’d recognise her silhouette anywhere, but he couldn’t help but blink the tears away watching her gaze into the lake, the moonlight rippling over the water. He took a deep breath, quietly approaching to stand next to her on the riverbank, hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets. He wished his stomach would stop fluttering every time he thought of her, he wished he could forget how he made her cry until she couldn’t breathe.

He rolled on his heels and pursed his lips, heart thundering but he spoke with light humour in his tone, “We gotta stop running into each other like this, the store, the rink and here…how are things?”

“We live in the same city, Q and fine, I guess.” Y/n chuckled softly, only tilting her head slightly to look at him. “You?”

“Could be better. I’m benched on injury, my team haven’t won a game in a while, I’m bored and should be playing, media are all in our ass as usual.” He shrugged, kicking some of the dirt below him, relieved that the air between them wasn’t beginning to thicken and suffocate them both just as he���d feared. If it ever did, he deserved it. 

She raised her eyebrows, lips tugging into a small smile before gazing back out into the river. Countless nights they’d spent watching the city lights, nights where no one could find them and it was just them alone. “Jesus, no wonder you came out here. I’d be gnawing at my enclosure if I were in your position.”

“Yeah, like the time just before lockdown when you made two-hundred cookies out of pure stress and then had me help you eat them.” He quipped, laughter slipping past him, genuine laughter from his chest with that pleasant lightness to it. He missed it.

“Hey, I made them to fit your diet and your brothers liked them, cut me some slack.” She laughed with him, half-unexpectedly but this was Quinn. Quinn always made her laugh, always had and always would, even if he could make her cry too. 

His gaze shifted to her, even in the dark he thought she was beautiful, admiring all the features he could never forget; her nose-bridge that bumped his; the shape of her eyelashes that tickled his cheeks; her lips he once found solace in; and her eyes that he got lost in every time. He couldn’t say a part of him hated himself for what he said, the entirety of him did, not realising what he’d lost until she was gone. He used to come home to home cooked meals, aromas of floral candles, a warm body in his orbit all the time and when he cut that out, his apartment was nothing but an empty shell that he happened to sleep in. It wasn’t much of a home without y/n anymore. 

“They were good.” He said, smiling wider when her eyes caught his. “What brings you here anyway?”

She paused, somewhere between thinking and watching the memories of them in his eyes. “Not sure, just thinking and came back. We used to sit here a lot; it was quiet, and nobody disturbed us. Why are you here?”

He chuckled, eyes flickering between her eyes and her lips with, for the first time in days, peace washed over him. His muscles relaxed, shoulders dropping and he felt those smitten butterflies in his stomach all over again. He’d accepted that no matter how old he got, she’d always make him feel giddy, whether she loved him or not, the years they spent together were his happiest and, in that moment, there was a light feeling in his bones. Stepping closer to her side, he thought about how to construct a sentence without sounding creepy because somewhere in his heart, the most delusional pit, they were still in his bed, tangled and sleeping soundly in company and she’d never walked out his door for the last time.

“Was out walking and I saw you, just wanted to see how you were.” He spoke, words sweet like honey before he paused and gazed down at her. That spark between them, two magnets pulled towards each other, and he craved to kiss her again, be consumed by her arms and with every occurrence their paths crossed he doubted that they were destined to walk separate paths. “Y’know, maybe the fact we have such a hard time staying away from each other is saying something. I can’t stop seeing you around, everywhere I go and I’m not saying you haunt me, it’s the opposite. You were everything to me, and I regret ever thinking I could be fine without you.” 

He was right. She knew he was right, the only time he had ever been wrong was when he confessed, they were better apart. Y/n felt it too, the familiar fuzzy feeling. She saw the glimmer in his eyes, the pink across his cheeks and how he’d relaxed like he used to. Quinn was aching in his aloneness, existing in his apartment that still had every decoration she’d ever brought home, that still had the same bed that always had her side vacant in the hope that one day she’d return. She knew because she was no better, the jewellery he gifted still on her vanity, his hoodies still hung on the back of chairs, photos stuck around the walls like nothing had ever changed.

She smiled fondly, winding her hand through his arm and holding his bicep, “...I still care about you too, Quintin…but I’m gonna need you to promise me that you’re ready to try again.”

[thatstormygeek]

Years back, after I quit my job to stay home with our kid, I had terrible anxiety about the stability of my partner's employment. He was the lead developer at a small software company, so the position should have felt secure. But it didn't, so I worried. A LOT. Because without that job, we had no income (and because this is the US, no health insurance).

When he did end up getting let go (with no warning, on his birthday, in the fall of 2020, literally in the middle of one of my twitch streams - but no, I'm not bitter), it sucked. A lot. But with some help and some luck and a lot of work, we're now in a much better place than we ever were before (well, other than financially. but whatever. we're getting by.)

Now, when I start feeling myself getting sucked into an anxiety spiral about circumstances beyond my control, I remind myself that the "worst" did happen and life continued; all of my worrying about it beforehand did nothing to a) prevent it from happening, or b) prepare me to deal (as it was catastrophizing).

Honestly, it doesn't always help. But that's life with an anxiety disorder. And the times it does help are days when I've headed off an anxiety attack, so those are all wins in my book.

the worst possible outcome can always happen but life will always go on regardless. you can flunk out of school and still come home to a good dinner. you can lose your favorite book and still find a new one thats just as fun to read. you can break your favorite toy, unfixably, and still entertain yourself. even in the scenario you die, whos to say thats the end? whos to say thats not only the beginning? our species, our world, our universe is founded on love. the universe loves. animals love, and people love, plants love, bugs love, and whatever made us, it loves. love is not something that ends. not wholly, not fully. you can fall out of love and still love others. love is eternal and everlasting. a universe that loves would not allow us to die. not wholly, not fully. even in the worst, there is good.

[fawnduu]

Were you aware of your tastes in high school or just kind of obliviously enjoying the sweaty company of your classmates?

I had this kinda huge epiphany in 6th grade where I was like "I think this is when I'm supposed to start finding boys attractive and It has not happened to me.... Am I a lesbian?" And then I proceeded to couch that thought and ignore it for a long time. The levels of cope in hindsight were insane. I would also pretend to be a boy on club penguin and get online girlfriends, take them to the pizza parlor, and then back to my igloo where... Nothing happened I didn't know what to do beyond that point besides show them my puffles.

My first time ever making comics were these awful Naruto oc comics. I always shipped my self insert with deidara....extremely uh..hm...gender of me at that age??? and I was really into Tsunade.... I can't imagine why (.)(.).....

In 9th grade there was one girl who was out bisexual and I was DEEPLY in love with her but also still incredibly confused about those feelings. I thought it was so cool she could be into girls and I was jealous she would admit it freely to people. One of my core memories is laying on the floor skin to skin with her watching 8 mile and barely processing the movie because I was only thinking about her. She had a crush on my friend and I ended up facilitating getting them together resulting in the most confusing self inflicted heartbreak of my life.

There were lots more confusing scenarios, rping romance with online friends where "I was the boy, so it's very straight and normal and not gay or trans of me" before I finally had the epiphany freshman of college that I am stupid and in fact gay.

[thesongoficeandfir3]

The wine, the nameday and the drunk wife

A gift for @venusbyline / @venusthedreamer

Who’s birthday was yesterday!!! Sweet birthday babyyyy ❤️❤️❤️ I’m not an Aemond girlie but I had to for you!

P.s Anyone can read, no description for y/n is used just reader is fem

Warnings: sex alluded, drunk reader

Prompt: Reader indulges a bit too much alcohol on her nameday and needs her always level headed husband to take care of her

You let out a high pitched laugh as you were being spun around to the rhythm of the music, constantly switching partners getting a chance to dance with every lord and lady who decided to partake. As the music sped up so did the dancing you thought you’d throw up at this point, but you didn’t care because you felt like you were having the time of your life.

Aemond sat by himself at the high table, his mother and sister retiring to bed ages ago. He peered down at the dance floor, a very faint ghost like smile on his face as he looked at how happy you were. Aemond hated celebrations, the mixture of hate coming from how his brother always forced him to go , they were too loud and he hated alcohol since it rid him of his senses. All in all if it were anyone else’s nameday even his own family he’d be in his chamber head in a book trying to expand his already impressive intellect. Since it was your nameday however, his precious, beautiful wife he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Once the song ended your face felt flushed and hot, your head pounding and your feet throbbing yet the strong effects of arbor red made it feel like nothing. You made your way over or rather walked like a fawn learning how to walk for the first time to Aemond. Tripping over your own feet and the dress Helaena designed and gifted, a long beautiful gown of your favorite color with your favorite animals (her own stitch work ) embroidered to the skirt of the dress, didn’t make walking any easier.

You finally made it over to your husband but then the dress finally caught up to you and you were about to head face first to the floor, but Aemond was swift and alert. He quickly got to his feet his strong arms reaching out firmly yet gently gripping your biceps stopping you from falling. He then guided you to sit his hands still holding onto you only letting go when he was sure you were stable.

Despite coming seconds to rearranging your face your reaction to it all was to laugh loudly.

“My those Tyrells know how to party don’t they?” You giggled out, hand on your cheek feeling how hot you were getting.

Aemond took the pitcher of water from the table and a cloth, pouring the contents onto it and ringing out the excess water. He then placed it on your head which caused you to flinch from the sudden frigidness but relaxed once it felt cooling.

“Mayhaps we shall retire to our chambers mhm?” His deep voice smooth and gentle, not trying to sound like he was forcing you but rather recommending it.

“Nooo” you whined out “look around tis barely the hour of the wolf!” You say as you dramatically throw your hands in the air.

When Aemond looked around he was met with nobles either starting to spill out, asleep or laughing their heads off completely out of it. Hells even Aegon was slouched over a table dead asleep, his cup of wine spilled all over the table which said a lot.

Aemond was not a controlling partner to you, he was more so afraid you’d get more drunk and he would turn his back for just a second and something would happen to you. The lengths he would go and the lines he would cross if anything happened to you. So he had to be a little more insistent that he normally was, placing his hands under your armpits he began to hoist you up, not too surprised he was met with a little resistance but was still able to get you on your feet. He wrapped an arm around your waist to act as a pillar and walked you two out the throne room.

“My feet hurt” you whine.

“No one told you to dance with no breaks in between” he lightly scolded.

You just whine in response and make it as though your bones were made of liquid, so he was practically dragging you at this point.

Aemond sighed your bed chambers was still a good walk from here, he had half the mind to keep dragging you since you wanted to act childish but the other half didn’t. He decided to pick you up, carrying you bridal style and you immediately snuggled into his warmth not knowing how badly you wanted to sleep till now.

When you enter your chamber it was a difficult path to the bed due to the stacks and stacks of coffers containing the many gifts he got you. He made a mental note to have the maids move them somewhere else the morrow. Once at the bed he gently lays you onto it and gets to work to reduce you to your small clothes so you may sleep comfortably. Once the dress slid off and pooled to the ground he heard a giggle.

“You little wench, you already gave me that gift soon as I woke up,” Aemond frowns and lightly pinched your hip his way of telling you behave but you just giggled and began to straddle him in a heartbeat. “ but I’m not

complaining.”

His eye widen and face pink as you got to work to unbutton his doublet rolling your hips against him simultaneously which immediately caused a certain reaction. Even though you two were married he still did not want to take advantage of you in this state, but when he was about to take you off. You got up and dashed to the balcony immediately throwing up all what you had throughout the night over the rails.

You felt the gentle touch of Aemond on the small of your back and him pulling back your hair so you wouldn’t throw up on it.

“I’m so disgusting.” You groaned out.

“A little.” He quipped wiping your mouth then giving you some water to rinse and drink.

“To bed?” You groggily said out alas ready to end the night.

“To bed.” he smiles as he helps you back, already knowing how he’d have a field day tomorrow reminding you of what you did.

[evesedenramblings]

Despite what Damon Maitsu wants to think, he has been incredibly trusting and kind throughout the Killing Game thus far. His actions contradict a lot of his own inner thoughts. Even though he is often rude he’s also rather kind, and that’s important to recognize since he wants to believe he’s so de-attached from everyone.

I think the first thing that comes to mind is the first trial’s Pathos route, where Damon decides to defend Diana based on his gut feeling despite all the clear evidence- or, trusting Diana’s character to be true over his own deductions. The second thing is when he realizes his trust of Eva is built on nothing. What both of these things have in common is how mad Damon is about it. Damon doesn’t want to defend Diana, he gets incredibly mad at himself when he realizes he’s sympathetic to her crying and wants to trust in her. The same goes for Eva, but his trust is lost instead. Damon gets angry when he realizes the only reason he trusted Eva was because he fell into the “Us vs Them” mentality, and he automatically grouped Eva in with himself, but Eva didn’t do the same thing. At the core of the issue, Damon is mad because without even realizing it, he is a hypocrite. He claims the students shouldn’t be able to so easily trust each other, then went and easily trusted just the same- and chose the worst person to acknowledge he trusted.

I say Damon acknowledges he trusted Eva because I think Damon trusts the other students more than he realizes. He is easily able to engage in Free Time Events with every student, except Grace. The fact there’s no Grace FTE’s, or to be Meta an exception to “hang out with your favourites!” rule, makes it feel in-character that Damon trusts the other students enough with his safety, but not Grace. Also, a lot of what happens in those FTE’s like Jean picking up Damon by his ankles has to mean they’re at least some sort of comfort with each other. The other students do seem comfortable with Damon, even the youngest student Toshiko knows she can call Damon a cutesy name like Mochi- he’s unhappy about it but ultimately does nothing. Ingrid asks him to help with the laundry and he agrees- grumbles about it later to himself but doesn’t actually protest to Ingrid’s face, and does his share. There’s also the fact that Damon doesn’t protest the roommate rule, and then how immediately comfortable he gets with said roommate. He even prefers to sleep in Kai’s room at a certain point, as sleeping alone in his own room makes him too anxious as opposed to sleeping along with someone else. For someone who claims to be untrusting, Damon spends a lot of time with other people one-on-one and in group settings, and being kind to them as well.

The only time I can think Damon doesn’t cooperate with the group is when Eva shows him the Tozu Equation and he says they should keep it secret. However, even then, Damon means *he and Eva* should keep it secret. He still means to work with Eva, as their own private team. He doesn’t go work on it on his own at any point, and asks her about it later if she had made any progress. When she says no, Damon assures her that he hadn’t expected her to with all the ongoing issues. He believes her at face value and doesn’t go to check on it, and was kind to her about the issue.

Still, there is an obvious elephant in the room: Damon is still an outsider. He’s not part of the group, there’s no equal exchange of first. The obvious solution, and one Damon comments on himself multiple times, is that he’s cooperating with them only to gain their trust, *not* because he trusts them. However, I think Damon is lying to himself, or is just unaware of how much trust he puts into his actions. For a comparison, I want us to look at Eva. Eva only spends time individually with Damon, who she “trusts���. Other than that, the only time we see her with others is to gather information or purposefully be seen while plotting her murder. We don’t have much insight on her rooming situation but Diana’s comments imply Eva was often absent from their room. Eva tends to lurk in the boiler room alone, specifically because nobody wants to go down there. She has no interest in her classmates and doesn’t trust any of them, and only takes interest in them when she needs them. Now this could just be a difference of strategy (Eva wanting to gain trust when the time was right, and Damon wanting to gain trust in advance) but frankly, it didn’t work. Damon spent more time cooperating with the class, and yet in the trial they hesitate to believe him over Eva based on his character. The only reason they choose to believe him is because they take a moment to reassess everything Damon has been saying, and draw a logical conclusion. Damon has still gained no real trust from their group, so what was the point of everything he’s done if it amounted to nothing?

Damon, whose situation is extremely close to Eva’s, is willing to share his living space with another person, to the point he shares the bed with them (his idea btw), not even swapping the bed every night. Eva feels more safe alone with her own mind and intelligence, but Damon has always reached out to other people for security. After Tozu threatened him, Damon went to Kai despite his belief Kai might kill him. When Wolfgang turned the group against him, Damon automatically latched onto the one other outcast, Eva without even realizing it. He’d already latched onto her from the moment they awoke in the boiler room together.

I definitely missed some stuff, like how Damon was the only one willing to grab Kai’s ring in the FTE- just say no if you don’t want to do it Damon. It’s going to be important to remember how kind he is in these earlier chapters since that kindness and trust he employed has now been thrown back in his own face and spit on (thanks Eva), so I’m not sure we’re ever going to see Damon be this unintentionally kind again.

[playfullypastelpupper]

CW/TW- Kink Mentioned ---------------------------------- --------------------------

I agree on not villainizing and trying their events if you feel safe. There is a lot of sfw members in those communities. I for one was in those communities as sfw before I knew regression. But like others said- PTSD and minors are in our community. They can't go to these events. We also got to keep in mind regression can be involuntary and can be outside of an adult headspace. Are they excluded for not being able to give consent in the moment? Are most of these events accommodating? We also got to keep in mind littles apart of DID systems. What if they go to a panel that seems safe but includes kink terminology and roleplaying and then the systems have to explain. In regard there are many people there who are in an adult mindset and may talk about adult topics even if you don't consent to it nearby. It can knock the agere out of their safe mindset or trigger PTSD in that moment. For PTSD it can be scary to approach or even consider attending. They deserve a space as much as anyone. A place their own. I understand going out and trying things. The conventions are really nice for nostalgia and having fun. But I can't say it's completely sfw for a regressor as someone who also watched the cons and interacted with the community. It can have subtle small flags that may send an age regressor into turmoil who feels unsafe. For example a food panel could end up with suggestive roleplaying. Or someone may bring up kink exploration during a meetup. Even a playroom could have NSFW conversations hinted at. Its fair they'd want their own space as much as its fine if you want to explore these events yourself. Everyone cares for their safety and wants differently. Saying they should go and try this while treating others feelings as something to be mad about is unfair. I get agere can be hard to duals and kink. I've seen some strong words said. I know people hurt by it. People who felt excluded and guilty for who they are. I agree. Yes we can tone down our own emotions to be kinder. We can, especially through understanding. There is nothing wrong with feeling that way or different expressions of age regression that don't fit in neatly. I'm glad people can relate. I'm glad they have the opportunity to do this if they are comfortable. It's a great way to regain some childhood back or self grow. But separation as a community exists for a reason. Some of these policings happened because of the past harm peoples been through and the fear of it happening to others or even to themselves. If you're hurt at someone not wanting minors seeing kink content or ending up in kink spaces due to crosstagging. (Which mind you duals tend not to crosstag because they understand.) Age regressors not wanting to be kicked out of their own spaces, which has happened, and turned into a dating/NSFW space. Or kicked into a bad space because of seeing something that may remind them of trauma. All because you don't care for separation. And Without separation looking for a Caregiver can turn dangerous. Then maybe you need just as much understanding for other age regressors experiences as much as sfw kink. Because even if they are SFW they are still in a Kink Space. History is important here. We have a whole history on why we stay apart as communities online. What I'm trying to get at.. Don't undermine experiences or concerns. You can't rise a group up and then beat another down. You can dislike something but you should be careful with the impact you speak of. You don't have to understand for them to have an opinion on their boundaries. And I'm sorry to any age regressors that read this post and saw them calling those above an embarrassment for simply being uncomfortable with kink in their space. I understand being hurt by mean words like calling someone 'icky' for existing. That hurts people too. Just bare in mind there is also no excuse for calling someone names. You are just as wrong. Either one can be mean and guilt causing toward that person. Just stay safe and love who you are. Take care kiddos

Stealing these photos from a K!nk convention because these looks like so much fun and I wish I could have this environment for non-sexual agere littles.

[dalliancekay]

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”

Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I don't yet know how to explain this... And will probably mess it up. But I think that in fiction, sometimes in life too* and in my case, obviously particularly I'm talking about Good Omens here - people often forget that if something terrible does not happen, that it was going to be fine all along** and the character who was worried about it, was overreacting (being stupid, cowardly, uncool, wimp, sissy etc etc).

It was @seaweednpeanuts who put this idea in my head and now I'm trying to express my thoughts on it.

You know how people tend to joke that Aziraphale and Crowley do nothing in S1 and are completely useless and isn't that hilarious, but aww, we love them anyway, the two idiots etc? Sure, it's funny but it's also not true.

When Aziraphale says:

He doesn't mean - 'we are completely useless'.

He means they messed up as far as it goes for things they were supposed to be doing. And even thought they were doing. They didn't double check they were raising the right baby for example; they perhaps could have (but Adam grew up the best human he could have been - by well.... sheer accident? Fate? God's actual Plan?).

If they weren't both so good and kind and dither so much trying to find other ways to stop the Armageddon (I’m looking at you Aziraphale), they could have found Adam in Tadfield and kill him. And if they were truly with their respective sides... well, it all would have gone very differently too.

That's one thing.

They messed up, sure, as far as big grand Ineffable Plans go and nothing went the way they imagined (or were told) but they still played an important role in bringing the whole Armageddon and War plan down. The point is, that everyone there did. In some way. From Anathema to Adam's dad.

Just because it was fine in the end doesn't mean a real possibility of Armageddon wasn't there. Not unless you want to take away all the agency away from Az and Crowley (which is the eternal debate over an omniscient God anyway).

And it's the same across millennia. Just because Aziraphale is extremely cautious about his words, Crowley's words, their actions and the possibility of them being watched or overheard and punished for working together, doesn't mean that the possibility wasn't always there.

It doesn't even mean that the possibility couldn't still be there.

GIF by @i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky

They aren't safe. They've never been safe and there was never anywhere to hide or run to.

And Crowley knows that too.

"You'll be amazed at the kind of things they can do to you, down there," he said. "I imagine they're very similar to the sort of things they can do to one up there," said Aziraphale. "Come off it. Your lot get ineffable mercy," said Crowley sourly. "Yes? Did you ever visit Gomorrah?" "Sure," said the demon. "There was this great little tavern where you could get these terrific fermented date-palm cocktails with nutmeg and crushed lemongrass-" "I meant afterwards." "Oh."

They have suffered already so much; even if they did manage to keep their Earth jobs and their friendship for over 6000 years. Their existence was always fragile.

Aziraphale gets blamed so very often for how cautious he is.

I hate it when this line gets weaponised against Aziraphale. (Yes, I admit, even in fics.) Because, he has nothing to apologise for. He couldn't have done anything differently. There is no way Crowley could would e v e r blame him for saying no to a date. For never saying out loud how he really felt. What he really wanted.

Those things were impossible. And even though Crowley offered, if you actually watch his face after Aziraphale refuses, he is not angry or bitter or offended (as many metas and posts would have him feel). He's sad and thoughtful. Because Crowley knows exactly how much he is loved and cared for by that refusal.

F15 is so tragic because once again, Aziraphale is reminded they are not free. That they are not safe and they have not been left alone.

And this time

he's truly furious about it.

*Controversial perhaps, but you know all those feel-good posts and quotes about asking people in retirement homes or something what'd they have done differently and what are their biggest regrets and they all say (or at least the published picks say) some sort of - I wish I worked less, tried less hard to make money, spent more time with kids and family etc...

Well those can fuck right off. Because I believe that most people would absolutely want to spend more time with their friends and kids and family and less time at work and constantly worrying about money. But that's not how life works, is it. Just because I was lucky so far and managed to pay all bills somehow, doesn't mean that I can just stop worrying about them, does it. Next time, I'd love to know the places these quotes are coming from. Just because Donald didn't spend time with family and is now dying alone doesn't mean his regrets and have anything to do with Tom on the other side of town who worked 3-4 jobs at a time his whole life and his biggest regret anyway is not trying harder (he couldn't have tried any harder) so his kid wouldn't have to work part-time job while at uni. Donald was always a jerk and his regret should be that he was a jerk and didn't pay his taxes so people could stress less about what happens when they lose a job.

Anyway. Rant over.

I know Aziraphale will win his love and his freedom and his happiness. But that doesn't mean that his worries and his caution and his anxiety were ever unfounded.

** When Gabriel claims that most things are fine in the end, he's not exactly contributing to it, is he. It's Aziraphale's stubbornness and caution that keeps him safe.

[pasta-in-the-pudding]

ERM LIKE IMAGINE JEFF TOBY AND SLENDERMAN WITH A ZOMBIE S/O THAT'S LIKE CLINGY N STUFF AND IS A LITTLE DIMWITTED BC THEY'RE BRAIN IS LIKE GONE N STUFF BUT THEIR RLLY SWEET (platonic or romantic u can pick)

- 🧟

Summary: Jeff, Toby and Slenderman with an S/o who is a zombie. Zombie shenanigans ensue

Genre: Silly fluff

Warnings: Mentions of body parts popping off, body decaying while still being alive(ish), zombies

Credits: Jeff the killer- Creepypasta, Ticci Toby- Creepypasta, Slenderman- Creepypasta, Lacy heart divider- kodaswrld on tumblr, Lighter divider- sister-lucifer on tumblr

A/n: ok, let me first say how much i LOVE this concept!! It's so freaking epicsauce ourghhh.....also as for the relationship i did blurred lines?? Like zombie reader just is silly, creeps dont know what they're up to

Thank you so much for requesting!

Jeff The Killer

You're his favorite person in the manor (besides Ben)

Because everyone else is either stupid or weird, and that pisses him off

But you're only stupid and weird bc most of your brain is rotted out

And that's badass

You also don't talk much, so that's a big plus

You just kinda....cling

Instead of just saying "Hi Jeff!" or maybe a "omg my most favorite person in the world who is so beautiful and could rival that of jesus himself" you just kinda squeal in excitement and cling to his arm

You drool a lot, and have a bit of a biting issue

So when you cling to him he almost always also gets a mixture of slobber and blood from your previous meal on his hoodie

He's gotten used to this, so he just continues whatever he was doing while you follow him around, still clung to his arm and bent at a 90 degree angle, giggling and biting him every now and again

I think the only quirk of yours he doesn't like is when you lick him

Because it's always a big ass stripe right up his face

Have you ever smelt rotting flesh mixed with bad breath? No? He has.

You have a good reason for doing it though!

With how often his smile re-opens, you only notice the faint smell of blood

And with your seemingly never ending hunger, and way of thriving solely on instinct, you just kinda....slurp

He does NOT like that

The only creature allowed to lick him is Smile Dog, and that's because that's his son

He takes your arms away as punishment

No arms for 30 minutes >:(

Much to your dismay, because now you cant cling to him

So you make do with gnawing at him instead

Slenderman

You like to follow him around, even when he has to work

Which if you were anyone else he might be a bit annoyed

But you are harmless, and honestly what's the worst you could do?

So he allows you to stay, because it keeps you from doing something silly like losing one of your limbs in the maze like hallways of the manor

Which has happened before

it took 4 hours to find

You like to gnaw on him as well, and it is actually your main form of communication with him since he's so tall and you can't really cling to him good

You don't get bored either, i think your brain is a little bit too rotted to become bored

So a lot of times you will just wrap around his leg and gnaw at him, humming and grunting happily while he works

Every now and then he will give you a paper he doesn't need for you to chew on instead of his expensive suit

It keeps you busy for a few minutes, but nothing is better than really expensive suits

It is very quickly into your office hang outs that he begins taking your limbs from you also

Because sometimes you like to go wander

Which is fine, but those are the only limbs they have for you

So i hope you can roll around

He'd also probably be the best non-doctor creep to put your limbs back on

He has no understanding of human anatomy, but he knows that if he gets a pop its a good sign

So even though you cant understand what im saying rn bc your brain is rotted DONT LET JEFF DO IT HE WILL SNAP YOUR ARM IN HALF

Ticci Toby

Ok so we all know this guy is a nervous wreck

Well imagine that x10 around you

His main chore when he's not working is chopping firewood for the manor

Often times, doing that takes up all day so as long as you just sit there and be good, he won't have as much nerves

But we all know that the second you see a butterfly or smth, you're off chasing after it into the woods

Cut to him tying you to the nearest tree so you cant get up and run again

Which works until your arm pops off

He doesn't even notice it at first, as he was too busy chopping the wood

But the second he does notice, he screams like a little girl

"When did that happen??!?!?" he'll say worriedly as he picks it up

He knows you are a zombie, but what he doesn't know is that your limbs are able to be put back on

Cue him freaking out bc he thought he broke you or something

So he takes you to E.J, tripping over his words as he tries to explain that he has no clue what happened and how sorry he is

And E.J just....pops it right back on

"Oh." Toby mutters

The next day he decides that chopping wood is too dangerous for you, even if you aren't the one doing the chopping

So he puts all of his hoodies on you as a make-shift bubble wrap

As well as a bunch of layers of pants

And then he ties you to the tree

Which works fine!

Until you start eating dirt

"No- Hey! Don't eat that!!"

You are just happy he is showing you some attention instead of just letting you sit there all day

[uranusruby]

────────── · · · · ✦

││ SEONG GI-HUN

││ your ex is at the

││ game too

││

││ 2382 words

││ SFW

││ gender neutral

│✧ ✧

There was no denial, Gi-Hun has been a good boyfriend when you were in a relationship. Well, or at least not the worst. Maybe he did forget an anniversary, and maybe he also forgot your birthday two years in a row. But apart from that, and the debts he seemed to accumulate despite your help, he was very loving in his very own way.

After a moment, the two of you started to have more and more fights. Whether it's Gi-Hun or you, words were said that you might regret though you also might never admit it. But even when you wanted to excuse yourself, it was like Gi-Hun disappeared. He wasn't answering your texts, nor your calls.

After a moment of not getting any news from him, you just thought he didn't want to see you anymore. Maybe you went a bit too far during the last argument? Probably. But did he really have to act like he was dead? Not really.

Years passing by, you eventually have your own problems arriving. Debts accumulating higher and higher, it was almost inhuman. It was high enough for you to wonder how long will it take for you to repay everything, or will you even be able to repay everything one day? At this point, it was like you would die with those debts. Who knows? Maybe the people you own money to will dig up your coffin to find something expensive to be repaid. Or maybe they'll spit on your grave.

But everything wasn't so doomed when a man approached you in the subway. All you had to do to win money was playing ddakji? Easy. But you also had to play more games to get more money? Easy again. Of course, you'd join whatever this game thing was. It couldn't be that bad, right?

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

Well, you definitely didn't expect to be picked up late at night, then slept in the car to then be awake in a huge room looking like a dormitory, with so many other people, and wearing a green tracksuit with a number on it. The music playing wasn't really reassuring, though for now you were safe. Maybe it was just a silly thing the organizers were doing, trying to put some suspense or competition?

But as people came in, looking like some staff of this game with their pink outfit and masks hiding their face, the other players were all pretty much lost, not understanding what was happening. And the fact that they seem to know a lot about everybody was almost scary. For now, you were making yourself discreet, staying on your bed and just listening and observing what was happening.

After signing a contract containing just four rules that you quickly read, the first game was soon arriving. Everybody following the guards, you were asked to take a picture of yourself before continuing. But, a part of you being a bit stressed (maybe because of the unknown or because of how it felt like being a prisoner), you only managed to get an awkward smile in the picture. Seeing this rapper being so enthusiastic when doing the picture was almost scary as well.

Climbing many stairs to finally reach the doors, the players discovered that the game was just a simple Red Light, Green Light game. It made you silently chuckle to see that, as you thought of how silly it was for you to stress about the games you had to win. Just like with the man in the subway, it was a silly childish game, nothing impossible to win.

As some people were chattering together while waiting, with you being in a corner just like before in the dormitory, everybody got silent as the voice of a man was heard. Your eyebrows knitted together as you were pretty sure to recognise this voice. Just to be sure you weren't crazy, you walked at the front of the line of people to check who was screaming about how this game was actually lethal. Your eyes widen as you saw that it was really him. Gi-Hun. Your whole body had an itchy feeling, as if you just wanted to run to him to get some explanation.

But as much as people weren't taking him seriously, you knew Gi-Hun very well, though he definitely seemed changed since your unofficial break up. If he was saying such a thing, then it probably was true. Gi-Hun wasn't the type to make some conspiracy theories. Of course, it was hard to believe that some people would kill players if they were moving. But yet, you believed him. Maybe you still had blind trust in him after all, even after all this time.

As the game started, Gi-Hun standing in front of everybody to give instructions, your legs naturally moved. Your eyes were locked on Gi-Hun, not hesitating in listening to his advice about not moving and keeping your calm.

Things were going well, as scary as it was (even more with Gi-Hun screaming to stop, as it was always surprising), everything changed when one player got shot. One panicking leading to another and more panicking, the loud gunshots were getting people even more scared and clearly ignoring every word Gi-Hun was saying.

Your heart was racing in your chest, and your instinct was clearly telling you to run away for your survival. But your brain was also telling you to just follow Gi-Hun's instructions. Your legs felt frozen, anyway. It was hard to go back to running now that you witnessed what happened if you were doing a movement.

Crossing the whole way felt like an impossible task, as if it was actually never ending. People kept running, and some others died. Your eyes were always switching from the finish line to Gi-Hun, the feeling of seeing him somehow reassuring. At this point, Gi-Hun was your anchor, more than he's ever been.

When your feet finally reached the finish line, it was a big relief. You didn't move at first, still afraid of the idea of getting shot even though you were in the safe zone now. It took you a moment to realise you would be safe (or at least for now), and when you did, your legs felt wobbly and you could just fall to the ground, sitting on your butt.

Seeing Gi-Hun going back to it to save a hurt man made your heart stop beating for a second, your eyes widening. Someone went to help him, but it wasn't more reassuring. It felt like the world around you stopped spinning, each second feeling like an eternity. But when he eventually managed to come back to the finish line with the man, the man was shot dead anyway. Everybody was surprised, including Gi-Hun and the player who helped him.

But even despite this, nobody really had time to realise and understand what just happened. The roof closing was grabbing every players' attention. Though it was unbelievable, you didn't look up. All you could see was Gi-Hun. And of course, you staring at him eventually got him to notice you as well. Your eyes locked for a few seconds, the shock visible in his gaze just for a short moment. And you could have sworn he said your name, or maybe just mouthed it.

As everybody was walking back to the dormitory, there was silence. Maybe it would be ironic to call people dead silent. You were looking down while you were walking the stairs, until you felt a hand on your shoulder. Turning around, you saw Gi-Hun, accompanied by his long life friend Jung-Bae. Usually, you would have greeted him happily, but at this point you were still a bit disoriented.

"What are you doing here?" was the first thing Gi-Hun told you.

"The same as everybody, I guess," you answered while glancing at him.

"Please, stay close to me," he eventually said with a serious expression on his face, though looking worried.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

Things were pretty much going downhill as time was passing by in this game. No matter how hard Gi-Hun was trying to convince people to quit this game, most of the other players didn't care about it. Only money mattered to them, they didn't care about the survival of the others, let alone because of how deaths were how money was increasing.

And with every new game played, Gi-Hun was being careful with you. Of course, he was doing his best to help everybody, but he had just a little extra protection on you. Gi-Hun didn't care about how awkward you two could be together, maybe because the two of you knew you missed each other very badly. But once again, none of you would admit it despite the danger hanging around.

With people deciding in majority to stay in the game, you soon reached the third game. Staying in group, you slowly entered a room where there was a carousel. With Gi-Hun, Jung-Bae, Jun-Hee, Young-Il and Dae-Ho deciding a plan, you were looking around, observing people and their behaviour, maybe expecting to catch their plans and be sure you wouldn't be thrown to the wolves.

The decided plan was quite easy: trying to stay together as much as possible. Then, if needed, it would be improvising and trying to get other people to be the right number to enter the room and so be safe. Not so much reassuring, but maybe adrenaline would help.

After gathering a little courage while motivating each other in your group, Gi-Hun discreetly grabbed your wrist with his fingertips touching the palm of your hand, guiding you towards the carousel where everybody was standing. He gave you a little glance, nodding slightly before letting go of your hand. You had to trust him, just like you always did.

The music started playing, the carousel slowly turning in round. Your heart started to race in your chest, just like in every game when you were realising that once again, your life would be in danger.

Each round was going, with a new number being announced when the carousel was suddenly stopping as well as the music. And at every round, it was always pure panic and chaos going around, people pushing each other in hope to find enough people.

If at first things were going in some kind of way smoothly, things escalated step by step, and soon the number two was announced. It was just like Young-Il previously guess when Jung-Bae asked. When the music and the carousel stopped, your eyes went on Gi-Hun as if asking if you should go together. But the mess of the game and the lack of rooms didn't give much time to think and decide. Before you could say or even do something, you felt yourself being pulled away. A little glance was enough for you to see Young-Il being the one pulling you away. Your eyes went back on Gi-Hun as you watched him leaving with Dae-Ho.

It was even messier than before, everybody desperate to have a room to survive this round. Your eyes were now on the room Young-Il and you were running too, your breath feeling like fire in your lungs and your heart furiously racing in your chest.

But the competition this game was creating made things hard, even harder than before during this round, made things difficult. People pulled you back to arrive first, your feet slipped because of the blood; nothing seemed to go on your side. You saw Young-Il looking at you for a second as you were getting back on your feet. The moment he saw you were okay, he just went back to running to a free room to be sure you would both get one.

When he pulled a man out, you two went into the room only to see another man already being here. For a short amount of time, there was tension. Someone had to leave, and that man didn't seem to want to leave.

"Get out," Young-Il firmly said, obviously not open for a discussion.

Feeling the door being opened by the previous man, you leaned your whole body against to stop the man from entering the room. It was hard to hear that poor man, maybe harder to helplessly watch Young-Il killing one barehanded. Staring at each other in silence, you weren't moving anymore. It was horrifying to see Young-Il do such a thing, yet a tiny part of you was grateful for ensuring your survival.

No matter the conflict in you, your eyes immediately went to the little opening of the door when hearing the end of the game announced. With every gunshot of the guards, your eyes were quickly trying to spot if any of the victims were Gi-Hun. But the small size of the slot wasn't helping, let alone with the fear of Gi-Hun not making it.

When the door was unlocked, you immediately opened the door, practically throwing yourself out of the room. You looked everywhere, until you finally saw Gi-Hun who also seemed to look for you. It felt like your shoulders lost a heavy weight when you realised he was okay. You walked towards him, while he practically ran. You were almost certain that it never felt that good to have Gi-Hun's arms around you.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he pulled away, one hand on your shoulder and the other on your face.

"Yes… Young-Il… helped me," you answered, nodding your head. There was unspoken words as you looked at Young-Il.

"Thank you," Gi-Hun said with a look at Young-Il, who just shrugged it off as if it was no big deal.

Gi-Hun then gave his attention back to you, now both his hands on your face. He didn't say anything, just letting his thumbs caressing your cheeks. Your lips then connected together in a natural way, just like you used to do years before. The kiss was soft, yet showing how worried he was for you, and maybe how much he missed you.

When he pulled away, you just once again looked at each other again. There weren't any words, just looks of love that used to be given. His hands left your cheeks, for one to grab your hand and leave the room with the other players.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ ✩ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

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[uboat53]

You know, there's been a lot of liberal critique of The New York Times and other mainstream outlets lately accusing them of "normalizing" Trump. These outlets have generally responded that, in the interest of covering all sides, they need to publish pieces from a conservative viewpoint that liberal readers disagree with. They're both right and wrong when they say this and, to understand why, I need to explain how they're repeating exactly the same mistakes they made in 2016.

In 2016, you have to remember, Trump took the GOP by storm. The party itself tried to stop him with both the official party apparatus and peripheral apparatus like FOX News doing their best to diminish his support, but none of it worked. Instead, Trump won the primaries despite never winning more than a plurality in any contested state even while he was still opposed by a huge number of Republicans.

Of course, if you read or watched political news outlets in October of 2016 you wouldn't know any of that, because the immediate action of just about every political news outlet to Trump's nomination was to fire all of their conservative commentators who opposed him and hire a bunch of conservative commentators who supported him. By the time the general election debates were happening, you could be forgiven for thinking that all Democrats supported Clinton and all Republicans supported Trump.

(Note: Nothing similar happened on the Democratic side because nearly all liberal commentators already supported Clinton. Sanders' support in the primaries was surprising, but not overwhelming. He tended to win primaries or caucuses that limited turnout in some way to more enthusiastic supporters while Clinton tended to win primaries that were more broad-based and that was reflected in most of the coverage.)

In other words, by removing the many anti-Trump conservative voices from their air/pages, news organizations gave the impression that all Republicans supported Trump, effectively activating partisan loyalties and subtly encouraging Republicans with doubts about Trump to fall in line. This is what we mean by "normalizing."

They're doing the same thing today. They're not publishing articles where they examine the claims of their MAGA columnists (or their liberal ones for that matter!) and they're not publishing articles about the divides that still remain in the Republican Party and the conservative movement generally (Trump was consistently losing 30%-40% of the vote in 2024 even after it became clear he was going to win), they're just publishing articles arguing for/against Harris and Trump with no deeper analysis whatsoever.

This is why liberals are correct that mainstream political news organizations, even those like The New York Times which are often seen a liberal, are complicit in "normalizing" Trump. These outlets are correct that they need to cover conservative points of view which their liberal readers may find uncomfortable, but they don't have to present them as "the one true conservative" point of view.

By presenting Trump as if he represents all of conservatism rather than just the MAGA faction of conservatism which is staunchly opposed by more traditional conservative factions, these media organizations have fed fuel into a narrative us "us vs. them" which has done as much or more than partisan media to build the partisan polarization of this country.

[nelle-y]

A love story told through voicelines (III)

C/W: slow-burn, Diluc x gn!reader, reader works at the flower shop in Mondstadt, more Wicked and Epic: the musical references, fluff, angst, Crepus mentioned, rumors, no-no word: twat

Note: Pls pretend Donna doesn’t work at the flower shop yet- (here’s part 1 and part 2)

(You) About Diluc: Smiling

He never smiles—I know that for a fact. But when he came to the flower shop today, I swear the corners of his mouth were pointing slightly upward. Hah, I guess you could say the flowers worked! That’s good. Flora took the cost of those flowers out of my paycheck.

(Diluc) About you: Smiling

The way they smiled at me when I came in today… It was different. It wasn’t just a polite smile, but something deeper, something unspoken. I’ve never been good at reading people, but I think… I think they know more than I realize. I just wonder if I’m ready for whatever this is.

(You) About Diluc: Reputation

There are times I feel whispers on the street that have to do with me and Diluc. It’s not like we’ve been particularly discreet in our lunch meetings, so it’s only natural. I just hope nothing bad will happen because of it. No, I’m not so worried it eats me alive—I’m tougher than that, you know! I’m prepared to take what’s thrown at me.

(Diluc) About you: Reputation

When it comes to ‘reputations’, eyes automatically lock on me, being the Master of Dawn Winery, and—to the Knights of Favonius and the Abyss—the Darknight Hero. But I’m already used to dealing with rumors and disapproving gazes—it’s them I’m worried about. Do they feel the pressure of being seen with me? Or do they understand that it’s not just the weight of my family name that comes with me, but all the expectations and rumors, too? I want to protect them from all of it. I don’t want them to feel like they’re being judged for something that has nothing to do with them.

(Kaeya) About Diluc: Recent behavior

Master Diluc. I see him gracing the flower shop more often. Haha, tell me, is he buying blooms for the winery… or for someone special?

(Flora) About you and Diluc

They’ve been getting distracted since Master Diluc started to pass by more; always rushing out the door the moment lunch time comes. Ooh, is something going on between them?

(Fischl) About you and Diluc

Ah, the tale of thy heart entwined with the ever-guarded Crimson Knight of Flames has reached my ears! Truly, a most beguiling confluence of fates!

Oz: Mein Fräulein, it seems that their bond appears to be progressing at a steady pace. Perhaps the Crimson Knight has begun to lower his defenses.

Indeed, Oz! I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, have observed the signs! The subtle glances, the fleeting moments shared between them—these are no mere happenstance. Yet, let it be known, they must tread carefully, for to enter the heart of a man such as he is to walk through a storm. But fear not! For they art no ordinary soul, and the stars favor their cause.

Verily, shouldst they require guidance, I, Fischl, shall lend my wisdom! Together with the ever-watchful Oz, I shall ensure that their journey to the heart of the Crimson Knight is as glorious as it is fateful!

Oz: Or perhaps simply buying him another bouquet might suffice, mein Fräulein.

Hush, Oz! A saga of this magnitude deserves nothing less than grandeur!

(Venti) About you and Diluc

Ah, the stoic knight and his admiring florist—it’s practically begging to be sung, no?

(Amber) About you and Diluc

I’ve been keeping an eye on those two lately, and honestly? I think there’s something special there. I hope it all works out between them.

(Klee) About you and Diluc

That florist is the best! You know… Master Diluc used to be sooo grumpy all the time, that’s why I thought he weird. But now, whenever they’re around, he’s a lot less grumpy, and that’s pretty cool! No one’s ever made him smile before. It’s like they have a superpower… with flowers!

(Lisa) About you and Diluc

So someone has finally brought down his walls, huh? Hm, well done.

(Jean) About you and Diluc

I don’t know all the details, but… whatever bond the two of them share, it seems to have brought him a sense of ease that I haven’t seen in a long time.

(You) About Diluc: Constellations

I found him sitting alone near Windrise one night, looking more tense than ever. Without thinking, I sat next to him in silence, just watching the stars with my head near his shoulder. He didn’t say a word neither, but I felt his eyes on me for a brief moment before returning to the costellations above us. I’m not one for silent moments, but there was something comforting with how quiet it was. Like the night spoke for us. It felt… nice.

(Diluc) About you: Constellations

The quiet of Windrise was unlike anything else. I had hoped for solitude that night, but when they sat beside me, I didn’t feel the need to chase them away. They were calm, simply being there, with their presence more than enough. The stars above seemed so distant, but in that moment, with them there, everything felt strangely within reach. I didn’t have to speak. We just… existed together. It was a feeling I wasn’t used to, yet something about it felt right.

(Adelinde) About Diluc: Recent behavior

I’ve seen Master Diluc return to the manor with a lighter step recently. I dare say, it’s been a while since he seemed this… at ease. Reminds me of when he was still a child; always causing trouble, that one.

(You) About Diluc: Could it be?

It’s hard to put into words, but lately, every time he stops by the flower shop or shares a quiet moment with me, I feel this… pull. Like the world is shifting, and he’s at the center of it.

Could it be some kind of sign? That my life, my world, is all about to change?

But then there’s that doubt—that nagging little voice in the back of my head. Maybe I’m just imagining things. What if I’m wrong about him? About us?

Still… I can’t help but wonder.

(Diluc) About you: Could it be?

I can’t stop thinking about them. Every conversation, every glance—it stays with me long after they’re gone.

But then, one question keeps haunting me: do they feel the same?

I’ve always thought myself strong, unshaken by the opinions or approval of others, yet this… this is different. What if I’ve misread everything? What if the way I look at them, the way my heart quickens when they’re near—it’s all just me?

Was I really seeking something good with them, or was I just seeking attention? Am I holding onto this feeling because I don’t know how to let it go?

(Donna) About “you and Diluc”

Oh, you won’t believe what I’ve heard! You know that florist that’s been hanging around Master Diluc all the time? Yeah, turns out—they have a little arrangement, if you catch my drift. And it’s not just the flowers. Hahaha! Seems like a desperate move, but who knows? Maybe they’ve been waiting for more than a paycheck.

(You) About Diluc: Rumors

I thought it wouldn’t matter to him, you know. He seemed like the type not to care about gossip. Maybe I was wrong there. Archons—maybe I was even wrong about us! I’m so confused… how could he throw our friendship away like it was nothing?! All because of that Donna—psh, who even is Donna?! Who is she to mind Diluc and my’s business? If she has something to say, then come on! I’m all ears! In a moment, I’ll be all fists too. She’s just jealous! Twat.

It’s no use being angry, Diluc’s gone. He’s gone… and I don’t know what I can do to get him back. … I need to see him. No—I don’t care if he doesn’t want to talk! He can’t just throw away what we have! Whatever that is. I’m going to the manor!

(Diluc) About you: Rumors

I heard about it… from one of my staff. Some girl, Donna, spreading terrible lies about them. I had the situation dealt with, of course. …They don’t deserve this—these watchful eyes and loathsome minds that seem to misinterpret every step they take. I thought by letting them go, I would be freeing them from all of this. That was the right thing to do, isn’t it? Protect the people I care about, even if it hurts me? That’s what my father would’ve done.

(Diluc) About Crepus: Protecting loved ones

Truth is… I don’t think I’m anything like him. He would have handled this better. He wouldn’t have been so cowardly—so afraid of ruining something good that he let it slip through his fingers entirely. I wanted to keep them safe, to protect them the way I couldn’t protect him. But instead, I’ve only driven them away.

If my father were here, what would he think of me? Would he see me as strong, or as a coward hiding behind excuses? I don’t know anymore. All I know is that I’ve hurt them… and I can’t stop thinking about how much I’ve failed them. I promised to protect them, but I’ve only hurt them. And now… I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to make it right.

—

[universalzones]

Twist was put on hold, which was a bit of an annoyance, though supposed his contacts must be helping sort out the situation that is currently going on. "I got a specific prescription, though didn't get a refill coming here. I expected to have been heading home by now, though clearly the plan has changed." The lemur then finished in his pocket. "Still got the bottle if it helps, though it's find. I can work through the pain for a bit." As a solider he was trained to work through pain, and it was nothing compared to when he first got the injury.

Twist attention went back to the phone. "One moment," the lemur said, stepping away from the nurse for a bit more privacy. "Yeah, it's been a long time. Sorry to be reaching out with a favor, though got a lot of civilians injured and they're short handed." He would be silent for a moment, though nodded his head a few times. "Alright, thanks for the help." He then hung up the phone and walked back over to Dawn.

"They'll clear a path at the south side, only because they it'd be less of a commotion. Guess a bunch of those nosy reporters are lined up and the last thing we need is them getting in the way of getting these folks to the hospital. However they had one condition, and that's to send in a new medic of their own to double check your work. I know it's not ideal, though they spoke highly of his talents. I guess he's already making good impressions with the right people."

===========================================================

"Hey, you shouldn't be flying like that so suddenly." Tumble would simply hold his hands underneath Jewel and follow her movements incase she suddenly fell. The skunk figured it be better to have her fall into his hands rather than trying to catch her in case she suddenly fell due to her head injury. Still, he really didn't like the look on the head injury.

The moth was about to speak, though would once more throw Rough in the direction of Tumble, though not hard or far enough to hit the tall skunk. "Forgive me, I suppose I forget my family as been an anonymous benefactor, something I intended to change today before all this happened." He would take a moment to adjust his cufflinks. "I am the newest rule of Midesta, King Yara. A pleasure to meet you Director Jewel."

"With that said, now that I look closely at your help they are actually wanted criminals for crimes against the crown in my kingdom. Do you truly wish to defend them?" Yara asked, unsure of what Director Jewels response would be.

"Hold up, my bro had nothing to do with it. It was all me, no one else so he's good!" Rough would suddenly shout while holding his hand out to Tumble for him to remain silent. The taller skunk brother relucently kept quiet.

She was mostly ignoring Twist's comments on how to prep for GUN's assistance. Mostly because she knew her job well enough to know what to give them. It wasn't the first time restoration had aid from outside there walls. Or needed aid in times of emergencies. She'd compile what files they needed and only if they needed them, and she had no intention of allowing them to take over the infirmary. If She had to she'd even use violence--- she fought in the war and she knew how to shoot her wispeon if she had to.

Though she did pause when he asked for some kind of pain med for his knee. There was no way she was giving him a narcotic, she didn't have authorization for that nor would she even if she did. But he also didn't seem like an addict either, most she could give was something over the counter.

" I can get you some ibuprofen... or Aleve, if just an aspirin if you have blood pressure issues. Its most I can offer... especially with things as hectic as they are. "

==============================================

Jewel had taken a few bumps during the collapse. While her carapace probably saved her from being killed. It wasn't an injury she could ignore forever. The crack was seeping fluid, which she knew wasn't a good sign. She needed some tape and a bandage none of which she had. But she was more worried about infection then the pain or her double vision. She also could have internal damage, she wasn't sure but she hurt all over that was for certain.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Rough was slammed into the wall. She placed a hand on Tumble's shoulder and buzzed her wings so she wasn't a burden to him and he could help his brother. She didn't know who this was or who he worked for, yet flying made her want to throw up. Yet idea of landing in that muck was worse! She just needed to sort out what was happening!

" Stop--- all of you just stop... please, STOP! "

She finally yelled at all of them as she held her head in her hands as nearly fell as her buzzing was sporadic at best.

" Let's all just calm down take a breath--- and talk this out ok? we don't need to fight... the boys are with me... question is who are you? "

[kwimii999]

Nightowl UI - Part 2 - Update #1

(All updates related to part 2 will be deleted once part 2 is released)

I've been busy with work all week and now I'm dealing with health issues so for now there won't be a lot of update about the UI as much

If you refer to this post, you should know that I'm currently working on CAS (Including CAB+CAP), Game Entry and Loading Screens.

Main Updates

Game Entry

Even the game entry is taking a long time because I have to make it coherent with everything else I've done so far.

One would say, " what's wrong ? it looks fine" but no, not everything is coherent yet haha.

Options Menu + Mod Info Menu

I've been fighting the options menu and the mod menu for a while, I need to figure out why the background becomes white and make it black because it actually BURNS my eyes when it happens lol

Game Loading Screens

nothing much to say, it's all done haha

Create-A-Sim Loading Screens (NOT finished)

as you can see, I messed up the create a plumbob loading screen really badly, those hexagons are supposed to be deleted which I will do once I get back to updating the CAS-CAP-CAB loading screens.

Create-A-Sim

CAS has a lot of progress compared to both CAB and CAP

Thing is the main reason why It's taking me so long is, coherence. I need every single thing to be coherent, the same colors for the same icons. Sometimes it's kinda hard to do that because the icons aren't 1 singular image files. they're all in different images depending on what image you're looking at, and you have to recognize it. That's what's been taking me so long

Create-A-Pet

CAP has a little more files but nothing too crazy, I haven't touched anything yet but it's not going to be very difficult either

Create-A-Plumbot

I got progress on CAB, I only have a few files left, thing is, there's so little, I was surprised when I first opened CAB for the first time lol

Bonus Updates

Live Mode

Live mode recieved some changes which I think makes everything more coherent with CAS, Game Entry and everything else so far :) I think I like it even 'more now ! I used to feel like it looked odd and out of place but now I'm pretty happy with the color combinations.

Additional Information :

Did you know ?

I changed the apparence of the small window that appears when you download things from the launcher haha - If you downloaded the App Loading Screens, you should have this :)

I wish I could change the launcher too !