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ravenya003 · 2 months ago

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Prophecy Girl, S01E12

It has taken me SO LONG to get to this episode, so my bad. Maybe on some level I just didn’t want to finish season one, as there’s a unique vibe about it that disappears once we hit season two, and never really returns. Maybe it’s the grainy quality of the film, or the tinkling piano music, or the dodgy special effects, or the cute little baby-ness of the cast...

In any case, “Prophecy Girl” serves as a great finale for the seasonal arc, and would have made for a decent conclusion to the show in its entirety, had it not been renewed for a second season (which many thought might be the case at the time). It’s terrifying to think that these days, the show probably wouldn’t have advanced beyond this season before getting cancelled.

After the “previously on,” which namedrops the Master and the Codex and so on, we open with Xander trying to ask someone out. This is fitting considering his role in the episode (I’d argue it’s just as much his coming-of-age story as it is Buffy’s) and the reveal that he’s just practicing on Willow.

This also neatly sets up Willow’s arc across the episode. Although she’s given less to do than the other two members of this particular love triangle, her development from sappily pretending that Xander is talking to her, to turning down his invitation to go to the dance with him after Buffy rejects him, is an important stepping stone for her.

It’s also incredibly insensitive that Xander is using Willow in this way, as “The Pack” revealed that he’s not completely oblivious to her feelings for him, but hey – they have to start him in an immature place so he can man-up later. Heroism always shines brighter when it comes from someone you know is capable of being a lot worse.

Buffy is out slaying (at this point they’re still calling it “hunting” instead of “patrolling” which is amusing) and a little perturbed by the number of vampires that are out and about. Nearby, Cordelia and her latest toyboy Kevin are trying to make out in a parked car, but she can hear noises outside.

I’m not entirely sure what the point of this scene was, especially since nothing is done with the clichéd “hey, did you hear something?”/“it's nothing, baby” set-up (you’d expect this show to have the male character getting anxious and the female character getting out of the car to take a look around) but hey... Cordelia is here.

Back at Sunnydale High, Giles is studying the Pergamum Codex in the library. There I was, appreciating the moody piano music and the slow panning shot and the reading montage and thinking about how shows back then were confident enough to take their time setting the scene – and then I realized the emphasis on the skylight was to establish it as an important location that the Master will eventually be thrown through.

But that’s not until later; right now Giles is reading the relevant passages and not liking what they’re telling him. “The Master shall rise, and the Slayer shall...” We don’t hear what comes next, as this is the moment that an earthquake hits.

I recall earthquakes being used at least one more time (in season four?) as a harbinger of the end times, but this is really the only apocalypse in the show's whole duration that gets all the ominous signs and portents. I suppose after this, the end of the world became a little ho-hum given the gang were dealing with one in every season finale (and sometimes in the mid-season finale).

We get a montage of everyone reacting: Giles in the library, Buffy in the park, Cordelia and Kevin in their car, Willow and Xander amidst panicking patrons at the Bronze. Random note, but I love montages of character reactions to big events across a large area. Remember in the first episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, when people all over the world were reacting to the signs of Aang’s return? That was cool.

The best response comes from the Master, who is ranting and raving about his coming glory... and then asks the Anointed One: “what do you think, a 5.1?”

HAHAHA. I honestly think that’s one of my favourite gags in the entire show, and definitely a quintessential Master line. I know he’s considered one of the least interesting Big Bads, but I’ll always love that excitable droll humour.

That said, an earthquake that causes cracks and fissures to appear in the library walls would have been much bigger than a 5.1. Take it from a Christchurch girl.

Buffy arrives at the library the following morning and Giles reacts oddly to her appearance. Yup, whatever he read in that Codex was pretty bad. It’s kinda crazy to consider they were all worried about an invisible girl just last week.

Later that day the trio emerge from class and Xander makes his move, instructing Willow to leave. She really is a saint for putting up with all this nonsense.

His invitation to the dance ends about as well as you’d expect: Buffy lets him down as gently as possible, but it’s obvious (and has been from the inception of their relationship) that he’s just not her type. It hurts, but for my money, he handles the rejection reasonably well... until the subject of Angel comes up. DUDE. That is none of your business. The “I can wait” comment doesn’t go down too well with me either.

Now look, I’m not going to defend Xander for his behaviour here, but I do think what we see is a. the realistic reaction of a teenage boy, and b. an interaction that was not as bad as it could have been. He’s honest and straightforward with his intentions. Buffy makes herself clear, and he accepts it. Not very gracefully, but he does.

I’ve said before that I think Joss Whedon doomed Xander when he revealed that he considered this character to be the one most based on himself, which means that a lot of the later revelations about Whedon were retrospectively projected onto Xander. But Xander Harris is a much better human being than Joss Whedon, and it’s important on a narrative level that he feels the sting of rejection and responds with a level of petulance and entitlement. It serves as a contrast to his later behaviour when he seeks out Angel for assistance AFTER Buffy has refused him, without expecting anything in return.

In any case, I feel bad for him in this scene, and I think he avoids the worst of the Nice Guy tendencies that are often attributed to him. If it weren’t for him bringing up Angel, I wouldn’t have had a huge problem with anything he does in the scene.

Giles is on the phone, and as we later find out he’s talking to Angel, I think it’s amusing that he identifies him as “Giles” and then clarifies “Rupert Giles.” Are we meant to infer that Angel knows more than one Giles? It’s also of interest to me that Giles knows how to contact Angel. Did they swap phone numbers at some point?

Jenny Calendar (yay!) listens in on the conversation, and rattles off a list of weird occurrences that she’s noticed on the internet: a cat giving birth to a litter of snakes, a family that were swimming in a lake when it started to boil, and a child born with his eyes in back-to-front. And again – what’s with all these crazy portents? Does shit like this happen every apocalypse? Because we never really hear about stuff like this again, even though that’s a LOT for a relatively self-contained averted-apocalypse that ultimately doesn’t even disturb the dance going on a few blocks away. For most of Sunnydale, it would have just been an ordinary night.

Another iconic line: “I’d say the end is most seriously nigh.” Classic Jenny.

She goes on to say that she’s receiving emails from a monk called Brother Luca, who is sending out prophecies concerning someone called the Anointed One (this is presumably the prophecy from the “Never Kill a Boy On The First Date” episode, about how “the Slayer will not know him, will not stop him, and he will lead her into Hell.”) Giles asks her to contact Luca for more information.

If you’ve been reading these reviews of mine, you’ll know that sometimes I fixate on minutia, and in this case: who is this Brother Luca? What did he know about the Anointed One? Why did he disappear? It’s kind of a shame the writers didn’t keep him in their back pocket, as it would have made for a cool bit of continuity if they’d ever needed an Exposition Guy.

We get a seemingly pointless scene in which Cordelia and Kevin act all cutesy-poo about the upcoming dance, followed by Cordelia spotting Willow and asking her to hook up the sound system at the Bronze, but it does set up a lot of plot-points: that Cordelia and Willow are on speaking terms (which makes her saving of Willow and Jenny less random), that Cordelia has got a good thing going with Kevin (which makes his death all the more tragic), that the AV room is a place that exists (where the massacre happens), and that Cordy is expecting to see Kevin at the Bronze that night (she won’t though).

So much is packed into a brief transitory scene – I mean, that’s actually kind of impressive.

Willow spots Xander in an empty classroom, throwing a ball against the wall. He’s stroppy, she’s mildly sympathetic, but when he pivots and asks her to the dance instead, she refuses him. No way is she going to spend the evening watching him wish that he was with Buffy. Good for her! And Xander, stop taking her for granted!

For some reason, the next scene takes place after dark. I say “for some reason” because the school day is over and yet a handful of students seem to be just leaving, including Buffy, who ducks into the bathroom and turns on the facet to find the sink filling with blood instead of water.

She heads into the library to tell Giles, only to discover him and Angel in a heated conversation. She catches the tail-end of the argument, which is that Buffy is prophesied to meet the Master, and to die at his hands.

Before we get to Buffy’s reaction, there’s a nice line from Giles in which he says: “some prophecies are dodgy; mutable – Buffy herself has thwarted them time and time again.” It’s clever because he’s presumably referring to the prophecy of the Anointed One and the fact that they all THINK she avoided it when she killed Andrew Borba... even though we the audience know that the Anointed One was never Borba at all, but Collin, and he’s still very much alive.

So for us at least, thwarting a prophecy is off the table. It has never actually happened.

This leads to a great scene from Sarah Michelle Gellar, probably the one that made everyone sit up and think – “damn, She Really Can Act.” She goes through hysteria, numbness, anger, tears, defiance. She rejects the call, throws books at Giles, and yanks off the crucifix from around her neck. It’s really beautifully done, and I think my favourite part is her quiet little: “do you think it’ll hurt?” That one hits really hard.

(Quick note: she dramatically throws away the crucifix in this scene, and yet I totally missed her retrieving it again, even though I noticed she was wearing it when she goes to face the Master. I’m assuming she picks it up from the floor when she clocks Giles?)

Her solution to the problem is simple: she quits. Screw the world, she’s saving her own skin. I can’t say I blame her.

A quick scene depicts the Master sending the Anointed One out of the buried church to fulfil his destiny (not that this destiny amounts to much, and it’s a bit premature since another day passes before Collin makes his move. What was he doing for those twenty-four hours?)*

Elsewhere, Willow tries to check in with Xander, but he’s not answering his phone – too busy wallowing in self-pity and listening to country music. Buffy goes home and starts thumbing through a photo album, and hey – remember these things? How each page had sticky lines across them which were covered in a clear film, and it was an absolute nightmare to line up the photos and then smooth down the film without crinkling them?

These things were THE WORST.

Joyce comes in and Buffy pitches a weekend getaway with just the two of them, only for her mum to open the wardrobe and reveal a surprise white prom dress. It’s all very virgin sacrifice, but Joyce encourages her to go to the dance stag.

(Another quick note: Sarah Michelle Gellar can still fit into this thing!)

In another good line, in which Joyce manages to unconsciously tap into the theme of the episode, she responds to Buffy’s insistence she can’t go to the dance with: “says who? Is it written somewhere? You can do what you want.” Then she shares a story about how she went to a dance by herself during college and ended up meeting Buffy’s dad. It’s all very sweet, and a reminder that things at least started out good between Joyce and Hank.

The following morning Cordelia is complaining to Willow about how Kevin never turned up at the Bronze last night to help her with the decorations for the dance, but is uncharacteristically okay about it. They reach the AV room and look though the window in the door to see a group of boys watching cartoons – but on unlocking the door, the reality of the situation is gruesomely revealed: everyone inside, including Kevin, is dead.

Willow steps inside as Cordelia screams, her eyes on a bloody handprint smeared across the television screen, upon which animated piglets are dancing around. That shot strikes me as very Whedon.

So, we need to talk about Kevin. The episode had only a very short amount of time to establish him as a murder victim whose death we would be sadder about than usual, and... well, it doesn’t really work. It’s mostly attained through Cordelia being considerably warmer and softer toward him than she has been toward her other boytoys (her biggest concern about Mitch being hit in the face by a baseball bat last episode was that he’d look terrible in the prom photos) but after Kevin's body is discovered she never mentions him again!

It's a wonder they didn’t just use Mitch, though I suppose he’d already been characterized as a douche and no one would really care if he’d been the one who was killed.

Buffy is trying on her dress when Joyce bursts in, saying: “there’s something on the news – Willow.” I know she’s frantic, but this some weird phrasing: it makes it sound like Willow herself was on the news, even though think the idea is that Joyce has seen the massacre on the television and Willow has just called up on the phone in relation to it.

We get nothing of the news coverage, nothing on the parents of the deceased, nothing from Snyder... yeah, I know the episode has got to hurry along, but sometimes you need to sit with these horrors for a while, or at least get a better grasp of their ramifications.

In this case, we only get to see Willow’s shock and grief, though Alyson Hannigan also plays it really beautifully. If nothing else, you do get a sense that this atrocity is different somehow: "I'm not okay. I can't imagine what it's like to be okay. I knew those guys. I go to that room every day. And when I walked in there, it was... It wasn't our world anymore. They made it theirs. And they had fun."

With that, Buffy’s sense of duty and responsibility comes surging back, and I like that Willow was the impetus for it. Until Dawn came along, I think Willow was the person most emblematic of the people that Buffy was protecting, and as she doesn’t get much else to do this episode, I like that she provides this push for Buffy to step up – and she’s not so distracted that she doesn’t hear the sense of finality in Buffy’s final words: “take care.”

*(Another aside: okay, so I watched the episode last night, but have been writing out this post while referring to the shooting script as well as my own notes. And as it turns out, THIS is the point where the Master sends out the Anointed One on his semi-pointless mission to lead the Slayer into Hell, which does account for his whereabouts on the night of the Master’s escape, eliminating the question of where he disappears to for those extra twenty-four hours.

In the final cut of the episode, he doesn’t leave a day early, though in the shooting script, he spends that time visiting Angel at his apartment, warning him not to interfere with the Master’s plans, and suitably cowling Angel into submission. This explains why he’s just loafing around his apartment when Xander goes to rope him in on the rescue mission, and it’s a shame that scene was cut. It helps explain a lot).

Back at the library, Jenny neatly sums up the stakes, but Brother Luca has apparently disappeared, leaving only a Bible verse as his final missive: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.”

Giles makes the HUGE leap that this is referring to the Anointed One, and that he wasn’t Andrew Borba after all, but a little child. I mean, he’s right, but that’s quite a conclusion to draw on the basis of a vague Biblical verse from a monk he’s never met before. During all this, Giles has been gathering weapons, now determined to go and face the Master by himself.

But that’s Buffy’s cue to arrive, and we get yet another banger of a line. After she punches Giles in the face and knocks him unconscious, she tells Jenny: “When he wakes up, tell him... I don't know. Think of something cool, tell him I said it.” HAH! (Though it does make we wonder if Jenny did come up with something cool to tell Giles when he regained consciousness).

Jenny reminds her that if she faces the Master, she’ll die, and Buffy responds that perhaps at least she’ll get the chance to take him down with her.

Outside, the Anointed One is waiting with a pitiful little “help me,” but Buffy overheard enough of Jenny and Giles’s conversation to know that it’s a scam. She’s not fooled, and takes his hand to be led away.

And there are still so many unanswered questions about this kid. What if they’d never figured out who he really was and he actually had to trick Buffy into following him? How would that have worked? It could have been quite interesting if her compassion had led her into a trap.

Was this kid even a vampire in the end? If so, why doesn’t she stake him? There’s simply not enough time for a satisfying conclusion here.

Unsurprisingly, Willow noticed there was something odd about Buffy’s demeanour, and Xander is called in. They reach the library and not only find out about the prophecy, but that Buffy has gone off by herself to face the Master. As Giles testily states: “as the soon-to-be purple area on my jaw will indicate, I did not LET her go.”

As Xander rushes out with an idea to assist Buffy, Jenny reminds Giles and Willow that the Hellmouth is due to open with the Master’s release. (Why? Unclear. It’s just end of the world stuff, I guess).

On my initial watch of this episode, I was surprised to discover that Angel is just lounging around his apartment instead of keeping tabs on Buffy. Then (as mentioned above) I discovered that in a deleted scene, the Anointed One visits him and warns him off getting involved. With that explanation gone, I suppose it tracks that the last Angel saw of Buffy was her heading for the hills, so perhaps he just assumed she was safe and chose to wait for the end of the world in the comfort of his own place.

But Xander is here to relieve him of that luxury, demanding that he take him to the Master’s hideout. Angel is initially bemused by Xander’s determination to try and help... and perhaps a little humbled by it as well. This human kid is prepared to go after Buffy, so why isn’t he?

And we get the whole: “you’re in love with her”/”aren’t you?” exchange. As a teenage girl, that was a Big Deal, and we’re witness to the first of the show’s many, many unlikely alliances. They’re doing this for Buffy.

(Still, doesn’t Angel’s ability to reach the underground church negate the role of the Anointed One a little? “He will lead her into Hell,” or through the sewers to a subterranean cave, whatever).

Throughout all this, there’ve been scenes of Buffy following Collin through the expansive sewer system beneath Sunnydale. She’s wearing that white dress/black jacket combo which... look, I know it’s iconic, but it’s also so damn impractical. And she’s armed with nothing but a flimsy little crossbow? Takes some stakes, girl!

Topside, Jenny is asking the sensible questions: like where is the Hellmouth meant to open exactly? And it’s funny because I had totally forgotten that this was a reveal!! Part of me assumed that everyone always knew it was under the library, and that it ended up being a surprise twist was rather mind-boggling.

I like how it’s handled though: after Jenny points out that it has to open somewhere, they come up with the not-unreasonable conclusion that it’s under the Bronze. That’s where the vampires went to gather victims for the Harvest, after all. It’s a wrong but logical conclusion to draw, and as a result, Jenny and Willow head out to warn people attending the Spring Fling.

Meanwhile, Buffy and the Master come face-to-face. After some cat-and-mousing, “feeble banter,” and Buffy trying to get in a good shot, the Master reveals he’s got some hypnosis abilities (er, okay?) and gets her in his grasp.

I love a good old Prophecy Twist/Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, and this is a two-for-one! As the Master says himself: “Prophecies are tricky creatures, they don’t always tell you everything.” Before he drinks Buffy’s blood, he gleefully points out that if Buffy hadn’t come to stop him from leaving, he wouldn’t have been given access to her Slayer blood, which grants him enough power to break through the magical barrier that contains him. (How’d the Master know this though? Did he have a copy of the Codex lying around?)

But more importantly, the Master (and the prophecy) was not counting on the fact that Buffy doesn’t work alone. After the Master has taken his fill of her blood and drops her into a nearby pool of water, he leaves for the surface world... just before Angel and Xander arrive.

Buffy is certifiably dead. Somewhere out there, Kendra is called.

Ascertaining that she’s gone, but also that the cause of death is drowning, Angel announces he can’t give Buffy CPR – he has no breath in his lungs. So that’s Xander’s cue to step up.

Now, a couple of things. As people have consistently pointed out since this episode first aired, Angel does in fact breathe. It’s required in order to speak. Furthermore, there’s no reason why being undead can’t prevent a person from inhaling and exhaling, even if it’s not necessary for them to do so (as established in “Out of Sight, Out of Mind,” when Angel was able to enter the gas-filled boiler room without harm).

This has led some to presume that Angel simply didn’t know how to perform CPR. To which I say no – no, no, no. That explanation is to entirely miss the point of this scene, which is that only a living person can save Buffy’s life. More to the point, only her recently rejected friend can do so, over the superpowered vampire love interest.

This is like, the very crux of the show in its entirety. Friendship is what saves Buffy’s life, not romantic love. She is a special Slayer, who lives as long as she does, because she surrounds herself with worthy friends that care about her. In this case, Xander is a good enough person to rush to her aid after she’s rejected him (I mean, of course he is. He wouldn’t be a worthwhile character if he wasn’t).

And so, I am completely open to a bit of lore that prohibits Angel from performing CPR because he is undead, and therefore his breath has no mystical vitality or life-giving qualities to it. He could have hypothetically blown air into Buffy’s lungs, but it would not have brought her back. The only person who could have done this was Xander; her friend and not her love interest. That was the whole point.

(The whole thing also provides a very neat bookend with the very last episode of Angel, in which his vampirism is the only thing that allows him to get the upper hand over Marcus Hamilton after he drinks the man’s blood and imbibes himself with its power).

While all this is going down, Willow and Jenny have tried to reach the latter’s car, only for them to release that the Bronze is not the target this time around – it’s the school. They’re soon surrounded by vampires, though luckily it’s Cordelia to the rescue! She drives up in her car and they all pile in.

Another favourite trope of mine is when a bunch of characters scream at the same time – which is what Willow, Cordelia and Jenny do when a vampire lands on the roof of the car. Cordelia floors it and drives straight through the school entrance to the library, where they’re soon trying to bar the door against the onslaught of vampires.

Giles joins them (“what’s happening?” “GUESS!”) and they’re all so busy trying to fend the vampires off that they miss the tentacle sliding across the floor...

Above them, the Master steps out onto the school rooftop and looks out over lights of Sunnydale, his new kingdom.

Just when it seems hopeless, Buffy opens her eyes. What happened while she was “away”? Did she have an afterlife experience? I only ask because as she gets up, she states that: “I feel strong, I feel different.” It's interesting line, but not one that’s ever explained in any subsequent episode. Much like Obi Wan Kenobi’s “if you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine,” it’s never given any meaningful context.

(My pet theory is that like the snowfall in “Amends,” Buffy’s newfound strength and ability to sense the location of the Master is something of a gift from the Powers That Be, a little extra oomph that she needs to save the day. If nothing else, it explains why she’s not caught by the Master’s hypnotism a second time, whilst Kendra eventually falls to a similar trick at Drusilla’s hands. From this point on, Buffy is a special Slayer and not just because she’s surrounded by a support team).

There’s a great cut between Cordelia screaming “somebody help!” to Buffy marching towards the school, flanked by Angel and Xander, to the sound of her very own theme music – the first and only time this particular music plays during the course of an actual episode.

Things go from bad to worse when one of the tentacles of the Hellmouth demon wraps itself around Willow’s leg, the monster itself emerging seconds later. Three heads! Rows of teeth! Loads more tentacles!

Things wrap up pretty quickly after this, and I don’t want it to come across as anticlimactic, but... Buffy confronts the Master on the roof, defies his next attempt at hypnosis, notices that a table leg is sticking up from the library floor where the Hellmouth beast has shattered it, and hefts the Master over her head, through the skylight, and down to his death below, impaling him on the conveniently-situated table leg.

The Hell-beast is sucked back from whence it came, the vampires disperse, and our heroes slowly convene on the floor of the library, looking down at the (unseen to the audience) remains of the Master. There’s a nice Buffy/Giles moment, when the latter acknowledges his Slayer’s tenacity, and Jenny is again the only one talking sense, asking what they should do about the Master.

Buffy looks very shaken and tearful, which is only to be expected, and we’ll see a great deal more of the aftermath of this experience next season. But then Xander reminds them there’s a party going on nearby, and they all opt for some cathartic downtime amongst the living.

They file out, chattering among themselves, and the camera slowly pans back to the Master... now just a picked-clean skeleton on the floor of the library.

Finis.

That was that: the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s a solid run of episodes, one that alternated between the “high school is hell” metaphor and the overarching story of the Master and his attempts at breaking free of his metaphysical prison. We were introduced to our five leads, as well as a supporting cast that will stick around for years to come: Angel, Harmony, Snyder, Jenny Calendar, Joyce Summers...

In the grand tradition of final episodes, the story has our heroes break up into groups and then all converge on a single location to fight off the baddies. With that, the seasonal Big Bad is defeated, everyone gets some decent character development (Xander pushes through rejection to do the right thing, Willow is less of a doormat, Cordelia helps out the Scoobies, Angel finds his courage) and the set is trashed.

Out of all the characters, Willow maybe fared the worst in what her character actually did in this episode. Alyson Hannigan got that great “I’m not okay” scene, but after that she just calls up Xander and gets damselled when the Hellmouth creature grabs a hold of her. Angel wasn’t that useful either, his contribution simply being to lead Xander where he needs to go.

But everyone else does great: Giles letting his paternal instincts show, Cordelia’s big rescue with her car, Jenny making important suggestions, and of course Xander’s crowning moment: saving Buffy’s life. Even Joyce gets a really sweet scene, though she remains oblivious as to what’s really going on.

There is an old-school charm to season one; I know a lot of people think it’s one of the lesser seasons, and yet for me, those first three years of Buffy when the show was set at high school was the show at its quintessence. Am I using that word correctly? You should know what I mean. The later seasons had their ups and downs, but those high school years were something special.

Miscellaneous Observations:

The show never again delves into the concept of fate and prophecy after this episode (as stated, none of the other apocalypses come with anything like this amount of omens and portents, let alone any prophecies) but it’s always interesting to see how any given story will handle the subject of “as it is written” destiny.

It’s essentially a golden rule of storytelling that prophecies must be immutable. You can find twists or loopholes in the wording (as they did here) but the basics of the prediction have to be accurate, otherwise what’s the point of even including it in the first place? If a prophecy states: “you will meet your destiny in London” and then the subject of that prophecy never goes to London during the course of the story, it had no narrative purpose whatsoever.

You have a prophecy so you can engage with said prophecy.

Even the Anointed One, which the gang thought Buffy had successfully dealt with back in “Never Kill a Boy on the First Date” ended up playing out exactly as the prophecy stated; perhaps as foreshadowing that this one was also unavoidable. And it was. Buffy died.

(Interestingly, she also dies at the Master’s hands in “The Wish,” which means that the prophecy was going to be fulfilled no matter what timeline Buffy was in).

But what the prophecy didn’t count on was that the Slayer would have a friend that followed her into danger and resuscitated her. And to me, this is the beating heart of the show in its entirety. It is the central theme and core subject of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

In any other supernaturally-themed, fairy tale-tinged story such as this, it would have been the broody and tortured love interest that gets to administer True Love’s Kiss to awaken the sleeping princess in a white gown. But here, it’s subverted. It’s the friend who the princess rejected earlier in the episode who wakes her up, and it’s not a kiss that saves her, but CPR.

(There’s also a sort of poetry in the fact that Xander “kisses” Buffy in this episode - the proverbial kiss of life - but it’s entirely chaste and platonic. It reminds me of how Han Solo was the only one to never see Leia in the slave-girl bikini, because he was blind the whole time).

Somehow, this specific example of playing around with the familiar tropes and expectations of how a scenario like this usually plays out is the essence of what Buffy the Vampire Slayer is as a story.

Prophecy wins, because it always wins, and yet it doesn’t win, because Buffy does things differently and surrounds herself with friends that help her.

On that note, Buffy is also spurred to take action by Willow’s personal grief over the massacre and her mother (unknowingly) telling her: “where is that written? You should do what you want.” Again, it is Buffy’s human connections that push her into action.

But while we’re on the subject of prophecy, I’m left wondering (as I always am when it comes to prophecies) about who wrote them. Who was behind the Pergamum Codex? That Aurelius guy? Giles says it contains: “the most complete prophecies about the Slayer in the final years,” so... does it mention anything about Angelus or Acathla or the Mayor’s Ascension? Or did it just stop because it wrongly assumed the world ended with Buffy’s death?

Giles also states: “there is nothing in it that does not come to pass.” Like what? I would have appreciated a couple of examples! Does it talk about other Slayers in the past? And what happens to it afterwards? Look, I know that it’s just a plot-point, but I’m powerfully curious about this sort of thing!

As stated, this was a very self-contained apocalypse, to the point where nobody outside the Scooby Gang even realized it was happening. All those creepy portents, and for what?

Speaking of, I wonder how that boy who was born with his eyeballs in backwards is doing? I think about these things.

I know the Hellmouth monster makes a reappearance in season three, but I was always kind of disappointed that the activated Potentials didn’t fight it in “Chosen.” Tell me that would not have been cool, especially if it had grown exponentially bigger by that point. And yes, I realize it was probably a budgetary thing.

This is not the first or the last time that the subject of a Slayer’s blood and its innate power comes up, so I’m going to have to keep my eye on how it’s used regarding the creation of Dawn and the activating of the Hellmouth seal in later seasons. I’m pretty sure it’s mentioned again, but don’t think they ever delve into it all that deeply, which is a shame.

I liked that the hide-and-seek hunt that Buffy has with the Master in his lair was reminiscent of her dream in “Nightmares.”

So, what exactly was the plan when the vampires attacked the school? They were clearly heading for the Hellmouth... but for what purpose?

Xander confronting Angel in his apartment and brandishing the crucifix would have been a great place for a Jesse reference. Just saying.

I noticed that Cordelia namedrops Aura – she was the popular girl who discovered the dead guy stuffed into her locker in the pilot episode.

Xander tells Buffy: “I want to dance with you.” Be careful what you wish for, dude.

As mentioned, the shooting script had some interesting tidbits that were cut, most notably the Anointed One going to visit Angel’s apartment to warn him against interfering. There also would have been a rain of pebbles directly after Xander’s thwarted attempt to ask out Buffy, more details concerning Jenny Calendar’s litany of portents (notably, that the snake-birthing cat ate its owner, two people were killed in the boiling lake, and that they all happened within three miles of Sunnydale) and the Anointed One watching the Master die from a distance, and then head off into the darkness by himself. I wonder if any of this was shot, or if it was cut early on.

In a season where the tagline might as well have been “high school is hell,” the Master wasn’t really a metaphor for anything; just a Nosferatu-type vampire king who's big and scary and rather impersonal. Technically his greatest contribution to the show was triggering Buffy’s PTSD, which we don’t get into until next season.

Still, I thought Mark Metcalf nailed both the physical threat and the droll humour of the character, and for a Starter Villain, he was exactly what the story required. I’m always chuffed when he pops up in flashbacks later on in the show.

Probably the biggest letdown in the episode is the Anointed One, whose grand destiny (“he will lead her into Hell”) amounts to escorting Buffy down through the sewers. Heck, Angel could have done that. An entire episode was given over to the twist that the Anointed One was actually a child, indicating that he was going to be a big deal, and then... he wasn’t.

Also, the way in which Giles realizes they killed the wrong vampire was very weaksauce. A Bible passage emailed out by a random monk leads him to the conclusion that the Anointed One was a child? Really? They don’t even connect the dots with the bus accident and say: “yes, there was a child called Collin on that bus whose body is unaccounted for.”

If they’d played it differently, it could have been milked for maximum drama – like, say if Angel had figured it out during his little subplot in “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” and broken the news to Giles after he reads the Codex prophecy about Buffy’s death, confirming that prophecies are in fact, immutable.

(Except that the Anointed One prophecy said that: “the Slayer will not know him.” But she DID recognize him when he appeared to her as a lost little boy. Perhaps it was referring to the mix-up with Andrew Borba).

I loved the vibe between Angel and Giles. Even though Giles LOOKS older, Angel has a few hundred years on him, and they talk as equals and peers as a result. I really missed this dynamic when Angel headed off into his own spin-off.

In many ways, this episode belonged to Buffy and Xander. It opens with him trying to ask her out, and ends with him accepting that it’s not going to happen. His feelings for Buffy make him a jerk in the first half of the episode, and those very same feelings turn him into a hero for the second half.

Buffy and Willow are the most important people in his life, and this is an important stepping stone in regards to his relationship with each of them: the former has made her feelings clear, and the latter has decided to stop being a doormat around him.

That’s important for Willow too. At the start of this season she probably would have gone with him to the dance as his second choice – now Buffy (ironically, her love rival) has shown her that she’s worth more.

As for Buffy, I love the fact that even though she summoned her courage and did what was right, she’s not rewarded with moral certitude or a sense of “I did what was right” accomplishment. Instead, the next season takes the opportunity to demonstrate how badly shaken she was by the events of this episode, and the detrimental effect that has on her friends.

Best Line: SO MANY. I suppose I have to go with “tell him... I don’t know, think of something cool and tell him I said it.” A quintessential Buffy quote, though sometimes I wonder whether Jenny DID come up with something cool and passed it onto Giles when he woke up.

Best Scene: Again, so many. I think I covered most of them in the recap.

Best Subversion: Well, I’ve already been over it. When the “fairy tale” ambiance of Buffy’s death is flipped on its head, and it’s not the romantic dark prince but the dorky rejected friend that saves her life – not with true love’s kiss, but good old CPR.

Biggest Disappointment: That the Anointed One didn't really amount to much.

Death Toll: One on-screen vampire, Kevin and the other students (five in total) in the AV room, and finally the Master himself.

Grand Total: Twenty civilians, seventeen villains, one ally.

#buffy the vampire slayer #buffy rewatch #rav's watching log

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duhragonball · 2 years ago

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Dragon Ball Super 114

Some guy in my replies: “No u don’t understand that’s a Yakuza reference all the criminal gangs in Japan hold hands like this it’s how they tell each other they like crime.”

Last time Goku started fighting Caulifla and Kale to show them Super Saiyan 3, but we’ve scratched that itch and now they just want to defeat him in battle. So Kale powers up to her maximum, but she still has that little problem of being able to control herself at this level.

And Goku would know, since she clobbered him pretty good the last time she did this.

Caulifla, on the other hand, is all for it.

Elsewhere, Vegeta and Top have been fighting, but Vegeta keeps getting distracted by what Goku’s up to. The girls have been improving dramatically since the tournament began, and I guess that’d be hard to ignore.

Top admits that the Saiyans are a remarkable people, and Vegeta can’t help but take this opportunity to point at himself and talk about how he’s the best Saiyan of all.

So Kale finishes hulking up, and Caulifla is worried at first that Kale still can’t recognize her in this form, but she takes her hand anyway and assures her that they’ll push forward together no matter what. This somehow reaches Kale, and...

She changes back to her “happy medium” form, and regains her personality. And yet, everyone observes that she still retains the power she had in the her jacked up state. So somehow she’s finally gotten a handle on her Super Saiyan form.

Meanwhile, Goku notices that his hands are trembling. With excitement, I guess? He’s been excited about a good fight before, though, and this time he acts like he doesn’t understand.

It’s like I was saying before, this time is different for him. He’s got these two younger Saiyans fighting him, and they’re pushing him out of his slump from Jiren clobbering him. But they’re also sitting under the learnin’ tree, and he’s showing them things they’ve never understood before. He’s finally getting to spend quality time with his own people, and the culture he never got to experience because his homeworld was destroyed. And I think he understands that on some unconscious level.

The closest example I can think of to compare this to is like when he was sparring with teen Goten in one of the last episodes of Z, or that barn-burner he had with Gohan in Episode 90 of this show. He had the same sense of satisfaction, but he could tell himself that it was a father-son moment. Here’s he’s having the same kind of feeling, but with strangers, and he doesn’t get it.

Or maybe he’s parsing these romantic undertones without realizing it. Kale starts out saying she’ll follow Caulifla’s lead, but Caulifla insists that they fight as equals. Remember, they’re part of an outlaw gang back in Universe 6, and Caulifla’s the leader of that gang. But she’s not the leader of their relationship, which is why I get so irritated with randos who keep trying to interpret this whole thing in terms of Yakuza stuff, or taking the “sister” thing too literally. You know who’s actually a blood relative of Caulifla? This guy:

Renso speaks highly of Caulifla, but he’s not part of her gang and he seems to have closer ties to Cabba from their time in the Sadala Defense Force. I’m pretty sure Caulifla never even mentions her brother at all.

You know who’s part of the inner circle of Caulifla’s gang? This dude:

Not Cabba, I mean the anonymous guy with the pompadour mussing Cabba’s hair. He must be a pretty big wheel in this gang or he wouldn’t be acting so high and mighty in Caulifla’s presence. We never learn anything about this guy, except that he defers to her without question. And we know this is where all the big shots in Caulifla’s gang hang out, because Kale’s standing just off screen.

You know who calls Caulifla her “one and only”? Who Caulifla looks at with unrestrained adoration? Who Caulifla keeps holding tenderly?

Seriously, what gang sign is this? Harold, they’re lesbians. Honestly, I don’t even care that much, but every time some weenie trolls my #caulifla tag and tries to deny or downplay this, I just get more convinced. Because they’re always like “no no they’re not gay they’re not gay u just don’t understand gangs” and I’m like just give it up already. Seriously, who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?

Look, I’m old enough to remember when Simpsons fans used to argue about whether Smithers was gay. I can admit that I once thought there might be some heterosexual explanation for his whole bit. But that was thirty years ago, and these two goofballs are constantly gazing into each other’s eyes. Don’t piss on my head and tell me it’s raining.

Now, where was I? Oh, right, Caulifla and Kale start fighting Goku and whoopin’ his ass.

Bam!

PONCH!

Pursuit!

Goku starts to get boxed in, so he uses a Solar Flare. I like how he still says “Sorry, Tien, but I’m borrowing your move!” before he uses it. Meanwhile Krillin spams Solar Flare more than Goku and Tien put together, and he doesn’t even acknowledge the creator.

Caulifla misses Goku and eats a faceful of rocks, so Kale gets upset and attacks Goku on her own. She’s a house of fire!

Then they run across Frieza, who decides he wants in on this, but Goku tells him this is a private party.

I know Frieza has a bigger role to play near the end of the tournament, but I gotta say he’s a real pain in the ass here in the middle. He keeps standing around talking about how he’s going to do horrible things to his opponents, but he hardly ever jumps in and fights. It’s almost like he’s still that lazy fuck who spent most of the Namek Saga sitting in his scooter and drinking wine. Anyway, Goku tells him to fuck on outta here.

Also, Catopesra shows up to offer Frieza a different challenger, but Frieza ignores him completely, so clearly Frieza’s just phony tough. Catopesra even changes the “P” on his costume into an “S”, but Frieza doesn’t care.

Anyway, Goku gears up for the next round, and Caulifla says he sure is confident, and Goku admits that he’s not. Make no mistake, he’s not toying with these ladies.

So then... wait, seriously?

I spent so much time talking about the other handholding scene that I forgot about this one.

Which issue of “Way of the House-Husband” is this from? Like, the main guy’s talking about laundry detergent with someone, and then he goes “I like to hold hands with my wife”, and the lady he’s talking to is confused because everyone knows holding hands is a thing criminals do to express how loyal they are to their boss, and the more murders you commit, the longer you have to hold their hand.

So they do the bit where they make a dust cloud and Goku uses his senses to locate them, but that was the plan. Kale traps his arm, setting Goku up for...

Fuck yeah!

See, some of you may be confused, so let me break it down for you. The “sworn sister”, hand-holding, the “weeping at the though of being apart” stuff? That’s Caulifla and Kale being gay. This part? Where one holds him while the other beats the shit out of him? That’s the gangster stuff.

“WHERE’S MY FUCKING MONEY!”

“Gettin’ real tired of you ducking me, man!”

I can see it now. “tumblr user dipshit89 replied to your post: But but Kale’s holding Goku’s arm and that doesn’t prove she loves him!”

I forgot how he got out of this one, so I had to look up a YouTube clip of this, and basically Caulifla went for a spin kick to his head, which gave Goku enough time to duck and swing around Kale to reverse her hold. Goku’s the man. This fight rocks so hard.

Likewise, I couldn’t get a good shot of this action, but Goku tries to teleport after he breaks free, but Caulifla’s seen that too many times, so she throws a ki blast behind her, guessing that’s where he’s going to reappear, and she’s right on the money. I think that’s the first time we’ve seen any character scout the Instant Transmission. Cell was just so fast that it didn’t bother him much, and I think every other character Goku has fought since then has been the same way, just rolling with the fact that Goku can teleport, rather than learning to anticipate how Goku uses it in a fight.

Well, Frieza used the same strategy to beat Jimmiz, but I don’t think that counts, because with Jimmiz teleporting was pretty much all the guy does, so it wasn’t exactly difficult to predict. Goku’s whole deal is that he’ll go so long without Instant Transmission that you almost forget he can do it whenever he wants.

So Goku finally turns it up to Super Saiyan God. Well, I say finally like he’s been holding back up to now. This whole thing has been kind of similar to the way Goku started out against Jiren, except that in the Jiren fight, Goku was fresh, and he was deliberately working his way up to the higher transforms to feel Jiren out. Here, Goku isn’t waiting to use Super Saiyan God. Chances are he couldn’t use Super Saiyan God until now. And it’s likely he’d still rather wait a little longer, but if he keeps fighting at SSJ2 he’s gonna get his ass kicked, so it’s now or never.

But now, Caulifla and Kale aren’t so impressed. They went into this eager to see Super Saiyan 3, and now Goku’s showing them an even higher form and they’re like “Yeah, we can still take him.”

Goku opens with fingerguns. Wait, there’s ki blasts coming out of there, that fingergun is loaded! Watch out!

Kind of weird to see Goku using a beam attack. Someone should write a fanfic set before this fight where Goku fights a memorable opponent with a beam attack and that sort of serves as a call-forward to this fight, where he uses a similar beam attack here. It’s me, I should be doing that.

So things go as they did before, except this time Goku’s much harder to double-team.

Not sure Kale’s entirely on-model here, but I still like this shot.

The girls stay on him, though. Kale manages to catch Goku in a big green ki blast, and Caulifla’s like “Yeah, you got him!”

But Goku just swims up the blast and clobbers her. Shades of Cooler’s Revenge!

Then Goku fires two ki blasts at once. Kale struggles mightily against one of them...

... While Caulifla tries to dodge the other. Except Goku’s steering it to chase her. Now, as Goku recovers his strength, we begin to see the gap between their powers. They were doing well against him as a Super Saiyan 2, but in this form, Goku can sling around bigger, more powerful ki attacks and overwhelm them, despite their numerical advantage.

Kale manages to toss her ki blast up into the air, but Caulifla gets caught before Kale can help. And that one blast pretty much took Caulifla out of the fight. She doesn’t want to quit, but she knows she’s finished, and Kale can’t fight Goku alone.

Goku congratulates them for their great talent, but he says they need to learn how to “finish a fight”. I didn’t understand what he meant before, but now I get it. They probably had Goku cornered at least a few times before he turned Super Saiyan God. If they had capitalized on that advantage, they could have defeated him before he ever got the chance to make it to Super Saiyan God. Or, more accurately, if they had known how to capitalize on that advantage while they had it.

It goes back to that “street brawler” thing Whis said about Caulifla last episode. She’s good, but she lacks the martial arts background that Goku has, so there’s a lot of subtle aspects of a fight that she doesn’t know how to deal with. As we saw, she’s a quick study, and Goku could show her what to do through fighting a lot faster than explaining it. And the same holds true for Kale. But ultimately, no matter how much they improve from fighting Goku, their basic approach to fighting is the same: Pound the other guy down until he can’t continue.

And that usually works, but in this case Goku was getting stronger, not weaker, as the fight progressed. Their best bet was to put him away early instead of trying to wear him down. Their moment was probably about the beginning of this episode, where Kale reached her full power and Goku wasn’t ready to go God Mode on them yet.

But they didn’t know how to seize that opportunity, so they just kept attacking and waiting for a better opportunity that never came. It’s like when I play chess and I focus more on trying to take out all the opponent’s pieces instead of looking for checkmates. That approach can work, but it also gives your opponent loads of time to find a way to checkmate you.

Anyway, Goku’s got the clear advantage here, and he starts preparing a Kamehameha to blow them both out of the ring. But Caulifla reminds Kale of that thing they got before the tournament began, and says it’s time they fought together “all the way”.

But Goku is unaware of this plan, so as he blasts them (and a chunk of the stage) away, he doesn’t notice something cool is happening.

Awwww yeah.

It’s Kefla Time, Bay-Bay!

This was Champa’s secret plan all along. Before the tournament began, he gave Potara earrings to the girls and told them to put them on near the end of the tournament. They didn’t understand, but he insisted that they trust him on this. And so they have, and here we are.

This tournament fucking rules. We’ve seen everything else so far. Spirit Bombs, Evil Containment Waves, like four or five Hellzone Grenades. It’s been five years and I still can’t believe they brought back Android 17. So yeah, let’s throw in some good ol’ fusion.

EVEN VEGETA IS AFRAID

Kefla is so strong and fast and cool that she overshoots Goku when she jumps over to him.

Goku tries to punch her, but he misses.

Here’s KISS with “Unholy”.

youtube

#dragon ball #dragon ball super #2023dbapocryphaliveblog #tournament of power #caulifla #kale #kefla #goku #113-116 are the best episodes

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my2phetaliaheadcanons · 2 years ago

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It’s Weird It Happened Twice Part 1

A short, chubby, 5-year-old girl followed behind her mother like a yellow, fluffy duckling through the various aisles of the local grocery store. Together they filled a silver cart with shiny bags of snacks and boxes of green produce until the buggy contained a great tower of foods and goods.

As they crossed the checkered tiles to the self-checkout bullpen, our tiny heroine stopped. Gasping with wide eyes at the display case full of colorful candies. Everything from her favorite chocolates to the sourest of gummi worms was all softly chatting to her. Calling for her by name, begging to be consumed in the animalistic way only a child could.

“Maisy. Maisy!”

When her silence continued, a hand joined the new, louder voice to shake Maisy from the sweets’ siren song. She finally jumped and turned to see her mother standing there with a quirked brow and an amused smile.

“Whatcha lookin at Daisy-Maisy?”

Pointing to the large display, Maisy spoke with a smile and big puppy dog eyes. “Momma, can we get some? Pretty please?”

“I’m sorry sweetheart, but candy isn’t in the budget this week. Maybe we could make some cookies instead?”

Maisy pouted and questioned why. Every other time they came to the store she got candy, what made today any different?

Sighing, her mother gave her a gentle push forward. “I promise you that cookies will taste infinity times better than those.”

Huffing, Maisy turned her head to make one more attempt. “But, momma I feel icky and candy could make it go away!” Her arms crossed over her belly as she curled inward to emphasize the severity of her sudden ‘disease’.

Chuckling, her mother shook her head. “If it's that bad maybe a doctor with a shot would do you better. They could make sure that the pain will never come back.”

“No!! I’m fine momma. See!” Maisy jumped up and down before showing her ‘muscles’ to show her health.

Heartily her mother laughed before ushering her forward again to the checkout. “Alright, I believe you.”

As cows herded toward a new pen, Maisy and her mother fell into the long line. Maisy rocked on her toes between steps as she heard the high-pitched, monotone beeps of the registers. As they slowly made their way to the line’s front, and with a quick nod from the apathetic employee they pulled up to the open blue and silver register.

Her mother was quick to follow her predecessors by continuing the patterns of shrill beeps, but Maisy paid it no mind.

For her old tempter was back once more. The cheap checkout candy display cast its spell, this one feeling stronger than the one minutes prior.

As the low-quality candy sang, she smelt something that made her young mind think of burnt eggs and smoke. A deep voice from her right spoke saying, “Take it.”

Squeaking, Maisy stumbled backward closer to the cart. Her mouth dropped in shock at the figure before her.

He was tall with blond hair that would have made him appear normal, and handsome even if it wasn’t for the sharp, black, ram horns protruding from his head, the dark, bat wings on his back, and the long spade tail.

“Hey, darlin.” He smiled lazily with a mouth full of fangs as he lowered himself to Maisy’s level. “Heard you weren’t feelin too hot. Do you still need that candy cure?”

Maisy stuttered, and questioned who he was, as she felt paralyzed by his wild, blue eyes.

Chuckling, with snake-like motions the demon used his tail to push the unsteady child closer to the shelves. “It doesn’t matter, but come on sweetheart. Just take one.”

“But,” Maisy glanced back to her mother. Noting that she seemed unaware of her daughter’s dilemma “Momma said that I can’t.”

“Well, Momma doesn’t need to know. After all, you would only gonna take one,” His smile somehow grew even bigger. “right?”

Blinking Maisy asked how she would do that. Moms know everything.

Moving to squat beside her, he gestured her closer. “I’ll let you in on a little secret.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Moms don’t know everything. Besides she can’t even see me and that should be proof enough that I’m right.”

As he pulled back, Maisy looked at her mother once more, watching her having scanned and bagged most of the cart.

“Also, wouldn’t your pockets hold a candy bar better than those cookies she promised?”

“I guess your right,” Maisy said as her stare returned to the cheap display.

Her tiny hand reached out to grasp the silver and red chocolate bar. Small fingers grazed the smooth, papery wrapper when a large, tanned hand grasped her own.

Maisy gasped and snapped her head to the left. Startled to see another man, this one had appeared somewhat similar with the same face and build as the demon, but at the same time, he was different. Blue eyes were now red, his hair a copperish crimson, and instead of bat wings, the stranger had shining, white, and silver eagle wings. Finally, a sparkly halo sat on his head instead of the evil-looking horns.

The new creature ignored her stare as his fiery glare was fixed on the other. “What do you think you’re doing Alfred?”

The now-dubbed Alfred stood to his full height. Smile tight as he leaned forward. Hand gesturing to Maisy. “Curing this child of her sudden illness, Al~.”

“By convincing her to steal?!”

“Her mother failed, so I’m stepping up.”

Forcing a rush of air out of his nose, Al kneeled before Maisy. His body softened as he pulled her closer before releasing her hand. “Did that piss head hurt ya, pigeon?”

Maisy quickly shook her head no while blinking her eyes owlishly. Before a quick tug moved her away from Al and back to Alfred.

“Allen, you can’t use that language around a child!”

He scoffed as he reached for the child again. “I will use it as I please. Especially” Allen dragged Maisy back to him. Wrapping his tattooed arms around her. “If it helps get the damn message through their thick ass skulls faster.”

“ALLEN!”

Ignoring the flustered demon as his black wings flapped, Allen forced Maisy to look him in the eye.

“You love your mother?”

Maisy nodded with a little hum.

“Then do you know what happens to mothers when you steal?”

Wide-eyed Maisy shook her head no again.

“They get sad. Like so sad that you can hear their hearts shatter like that prick’s ego.”

“Is that loud?”

“Very.”

For the second time that day, Maisy softly ohed as she looked at the candy behind the angel. Her lips pouted and then trembled as she realized how she could have broken her mother’s heart. Her eyes filled with tears at the fear of her mother dying because a broken heart sounded deadly to her young mind.

The blue-eyed demon gritted his teeth as he pushed the angel over and onto the dirty tile. “Now, look what you’ve done! She’s crying, how is she gonna steal if she’s in tears!”

Grinning Al stood and pushed Alfred back before spreading his arms in an ‘I win’ gesture.

Maisy's sobs went ignored as the two continued to shove each other. Getting more aggressive and throwing in insults before Al had enough and tackled the demon. Causing them both to fade like the text on a PowerPoint.

Now feeling alone Maisy’s cries became hysterical as she ran back to her mother. Crashing into her legs as she begged her mother not to die.

Shocked her mother pulled her into her arms. Shushing her and muttering calming phrases as she urged Maisy to explain the reason behind her tears.

Maisy hiccupped as her emotions finally calmed. She sought out additional comfort by burying herself deeper into her mother’s embrace. Repeating her pleas for her not to die.

With a confused giggle, her mother promised that she wouldn’t. Asking if she was ready to go home and make some cookies.

With a sleepy yes, Maisy was carried out of the store as the cart squeaked. The warmth of her mother chasing away the memory of the demon and angel for now.

Before anyone asks, I have dubbed this AU already. It is Ornery Angels because that can be the only true opposite of the Sweet Devils. And part 2 is already in the work, hopefully I can get it out soon.

#2p hetalia #Ornery Angels #2p america #Fic #Its Weird It Happened Twice #2p headcanons

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starkskypines · 2 years ago

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Next of Kin

noooo the beginning of this episode 😭

seeing the aftereffects of a suicide attempt is so heartbreaking

MEAN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS ARE THE WORST I HATE THEM

May is the best and she deserves the best and I want to hug her

Athena cares about her family sm and that’s the most admirable quality

Awh Chimeny is proposing what a cutie

Rip to Chimney he put his heart out there and he’s getting shot down basically

Buck and Hen playing firefighter video games ahdlfjdks I love that

“Did you offer her the option of an open marriage?” Yeah Buck you aren’t straight

Oh Bobby honey now isn’t the time

Yeah Chimney you ask him

Ohhhh oh oh this argument is bringing up so much stuff so many different issues that were clearly never discussed

Oh shit that wife comment because Bobby doesn’t have anyone 😭😭

NOOOOO CHIMNEY NOT A CAR WRECK NOOOO THIS IS WHY WE NEVER GO DRIVING WHEN WE ARE EMOTIONAL PEOPLE

the lesson I’ve learned from all the media I’ve consumed is to never operate a vehicle while emotional

insanity insanity poor Chimney my dude this is so intense holy shit

“Our job ends here at these doors like always.” something something something about the nature of this line

everytime the Chimney with rebar stuck through his head thing comes up all I can think is that rebar should not have killed Dean Winchester

“I’m not a saint. I’m a daughter.” -Abby. Oh that line hits hard.

“You always answer” okay that’s so sweet actually

“And the only two things I can think of to help him are to pray and to hope that if you’re with him he’ll feel that love for you and give him a reason to fight his way back to us.” -Bobby. That hits like crazy when you think of the latest season lolololol

All of them being there and talking to Chim in the coma and crying and Bobby holding Chum’s hand and the “that’s alright his family is right here.” TWO EPISODES AGO HE WAS SAYING THEY ARENT FAMILY AND NOW!!!!!!THE DENIAL OF IT ALL BUT THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS THERE

GOD THE FOUND FAMILY TROPE ALWAYS MAKES ME FERAL I LOVE THIS

#pls I’m crying over this episode it’s so good #911 #911 1x03 #tw: suicide #kywatches911 #i had to stop in the middle because a tree limb fell on my car 🙃#it’s not badly damaged but Jay most certainly has a shiny new dent in the roof

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nutraexperts · 21 days ago

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What Are Nexus Pheromones?

Nexus pheromones are specially designed fragrances that aim to enhance your natural allure.

They contain synthetic pheromones—substances that can influence the behavior of others around you.

Think of it like having an invisible charm that draws people in.

Nexus Pheromones Cologne: A Game Changer

When I first tried nexus pheromones cologne, I was skeptical.

Could a scent really change how people perceive me?

But after wearing it out one night, I noticed a shift in how folks interacted with me.

It wasn’t just the compliments on my smell; there was something deeper happening.

The confidence boost was palpable.

I felt more at ease, and guess what? People responded positively to that energy.

Here’s what some users have said:

“I wore Nexus to a party last weekend, and I couldn’t believe how many people approached me! It felt like magic.” — Sarah, 28

The Appeal of Nexus Pheromones Perfume

Now let’s switch gears a bit.

Nexus pheromones perfume isn’t just for men; women can benefit too!

This product is crafted to amplify attraction for anyone who wears it.

I’ve seen friends use it and absolutely thrive in social settings.

One friend told me she wore it on a date and felt an instant connection with her partner.

It’s not just about smelling good; it's about creating an aura of attraction.

Nexus Pheromones for Men: Attracting Attention

If you’re a guy looking to step up your game, nexus pheromones for men is where it's at.

This cologne doesn’t just mask body odor; it enhances your presence.

Imagine walking into a room and turning heads without saying a word.

That’s what this product does!

A buddy of mine swears by it:

“I started using Nexus before going out with friends, and suddenly I’m getting attention from women I never would have approached before.” — Mark, 32

Nexus Pheromones for Women: Unleash Your Charm

Ladies, if you think this is only for men, think again!

Nexus pheromones for women works wonders too.

It's all about feeling empowered and attractive in your own skin.

I’ve seen my girlfriend transform when she wears it—she walks taller and smiles brighter!

It’s fascinating how much confidence can come from something as simple as a scent.

She shared her experience:

“Wearing Nexus made me feel irresistible on my last girls' night out! It was like everyone noticed me.” — Jess, 27

Why Choose Nexus Pheromones?

What sets nexus pheromones apart from other fragrances?

It’s not just another pretty bottle sitting on your shelf.

This product combines science with art to create something unique.

Quality Ingredients: Made with high-quality synthetic pheromones.

Versatile Use: Suitable for both casual outings and special occasions.

Proven Results: Many users report increased attraction after using the product.

And let’s be real—confidence is magnetic. When you feel good about yourself because of what you're wearing, others pick up on that vibe instantly!

Final Thoughts on Nexus Pheromones

So here we are—an opportunity to elevate your social interactions without breaking the bank or changing who you are fundamentally.

Give nexus pheromones a shot if you’re ready to attract positive attention effortlessly.

Whether it's through the cologne or perfume tailored specifically for men or women—you can't go wrong here!

Don’t wait too long to make this investment in yourself; who knows what connections might be waiting around the corner?

👉 BUY NEXUS PHEROMONES DIRECTLY HERE

Nexus Pheromones Review

Let’s talk about something real: attraction.

It’s a tricky game, isn’t it?

I mean, we’ve all been there. You walk into a room, and there's that one person who just draws you in.

What if I told you there’s a way to boost your natural allure?

Enter Nexus Pheromones.

This isn’t just a cologne or perfume; it’s about unlocking that magnetic charm within you.

Does Nexus Pheromones Work?

You might be asking yourself, “Does Nexus Pheromones really work?”

Here’s the scoop: this product claims to harness the power of pheromones—those invisible signals that can influence attraction and social interactions.

Many users have reported positive experiences after using it.

Take Mark, 32:

“I was skeptical at first but decided to give it a shot. After wearing Nexus for a week, I noticed more people were smiling at me and striking up conversations. It felt like my confidence shot up!”

That’s what I call an impressive result!

The science behind pheromones is intriguing too.

While research is ongoing, some studies suggest these chemical signals can impact human behavior and attraction.

So when someone asks, do Nexus Pheromones work, the answer seems to lean towards yes—at least for many folks out there.

Nexus Pheromones Customer Review

What about actual customer feedback?

Let me share some insights from those who’ve tried it firsthand.

Sarah, 28:

“I bought Nexus on a whim because I wanted to spice things up in my dating life. Honestly, I was blown away by how much attention I got on my night out! People were drawn to me like moths to a flame.”

Her experience mirrors what many have expressed in various reviews.

Real-life stories like Sarah's make this product stand out among others in the market.

People aren’t just buying fragrance; they’re looking for connection—and Nexus Pheromones seems to deliver on that front.

Nexus Pheromones Results

Now let’s break down the results people are seeing with Nexus Pheromones.

From increased eye contact to spontaneous compliments, users report noticeable changes in their interactions after incorporating this product into their routine.

Jake, 25:

“After using Nexus for two weeks, I felt more confident approaching women at bars. The reactions were incredible! It felt like magic.”

Those kinds of results speak volumes about its potential effectiveness.

It’s not just about smelling good; it's about creating an aura that draws people closer.

Want results? Many say consistency is key here—wearing it regularly can amplify its effects over time.

Final Thoughts on Your Attraction Game

So here we are: does it work? Yes!

Are customers satisfied with their experiences? Absolutely!

When trying something new like Nexus Pheromones, remember it's all about your mindset too.

Confidence plays a huge role in attraction—this product can help enhance that natural charm you already possess!

If you're ready to turn heads and spark connections effortlessly, consider giving Nexus Pheromones a go.

👉 GET YOUR NEXUS PHEROMONES PURCHASE TODAY

Buy Nexus Pheromones

Let’s get real for a second.

Ever walked into a room and felt like everyone turned to look at you?

That’s the kind of magnetic charm we all want, right?

Nexus Pheromones could be your secret weapon.

But before you hit that “buy” button, let’s chat about what it really means to invest in this product.

What Is The Nexus Pheromones Price?

When considering any purchase, price is usually the first thing that pops into our heads.

So, how much are we talking about with Nexus Pheromones?

The price point is pretty reasonable compared to other pheromone products out there.

Most users find it affordable for what they’re getting.

Imagine walking into a social setting, and suddenly people are drawn to you. That’s worth its weight in gold!

Here's a quick breakdown of what you might expect:

Standard Bottle (30ml): Usually around £40-£50.

Larger Bottles or Bundles: Can offer better value per ml.

You’re not just buying a fragrance; you're investing in an experience—one that can elevate your interactions and boost your confidence.

Nexus Pheromones Unleash Your Magnetic Charm

What does it mean to unleash your magnetic charm?

It’s not just about smelling good.

It’s about creating an aura that attracts others without even trying.

Think of it as adding a superpower to your personality.

Here’s where Nexus Pheromones shines:

It contains scientifically formulated pheromones designed to enhance attraction.

Users report feeling more confident and socially active after using it.

I remember when I first tried it out.

I was at a party, feeling slightly out of place.

After spritzing on some Nexus, I started chatting with people effortlessly.

Suddenly, I was the one drawing attention instead of shying away from it.

Real User Experiences

Don’t just take my word for it; check out these testimonials from real users:

“At 28 years old, I’ve never felt more confident! After using Nexus Pheromones, I noticed people approaching me more often.” — Sarah M., 28

“I bought this as a joke but ended up being the life of the party! It really works!” — Tom R., 32

These aren’t just random claims; they reflect genuine experiences from everyday folks who decided to give Nexus a shot.

Why Choose Nexus Over Other Options?

In a crowded market filled with options claiming similar benefits, why should you go for Nexus Pheromones?

Here’s the deal:

Quality Ingredients:

They use high-quality pheromone blends that have been tested for effectiveness.

User-Friendly Application:

The spray design makes it easy to apply without fussing over complicated rituals.

Positive Feedback Loop:

The community around this product is buzzing with positive reviews and success stories.

With so many choices available today, choosing something proven makes sense if you're serious about enhancing your social presence.

Making The Decision To Buy

Deciding whether or not to buy can feel overwhelming sometimes.

But think about what you're missing out on by hesitating.

Every moment spent waiting could be another opportunity lost—whether it's meeting new friends or igniting romantic sparks.

If you've ever felt left out or wished for more engaging conversations, now's your chance to change that narrative with Nexus Pheromones.

And let's face it—life's too short not to try something new that could potentially transform how others perceive you!

So why wait? Grab yours now and start unleashing your magnetic charm today!

👉 SHOP FOR NEXUS PHEROMONES AT THE OFFICIAL STORE

FAQ

What are Nexus Pheromones?

Nexus Pheromones are specially formulated scents designed to enhance attraction and social interactions. They contain pheromones, which are natural chemicals that can influence how others perceive you.

How does Nexus Pheromones work?

These pheromones work by sending signals to the brain of those around you. When someone smells the scent, it may trigger a subconscious response that makes them more attracted to you. It’s all about creating an aura that draws people in.

Can I use Nexus Pheromones as a cologne or perfume?

Absolutely! Nexus Pheromones come in both cologne and perfume forms. You can wear it just like any other fragrance while benefiting from its unique properties.

Are there different versions of Nexus Pheromones for men and women?

Yes, there are formulations specifically designed for men and others for women. Each version is crafted to resonate with the unique chemistry of each gender.

Do Nexus Pheromones really work?

Many users have reported positive experiences with these products. While individual results may vary, there's a community of satisfied customers who swear by them.

Where can I buy Nexus Pheromones?

You can purchase Nexus Pheromones on their official website as well as various online retailers. Always check for authenticity before buying.

What’s the price range for Nexus Pheromones?

Prices typically range depending on the size and type of product. It's best to check their site for current offers and promotions.

Are there any side effects from using Nexus Pheromones?

Generally, users don’t report any significant side effects when using these pheromone products. Still, if you have sensitive skin or allergies, it’s wise to do a patch test first.

How long does the scent last?

The longevity of the scent varies by individual body chemistry and application method. On average, you might expect it to last several hours before needing a reapply.

Can I layer Nexus Pheromones with my regular fragrance?

Sure! Layering is totally fine if you want to mix scents. Just be mindful not to overpower your combination; start light and adjust based on your preference.

👉 DISCOVER WHERE TO BUY NEXUS PHEROMONES NOW

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vitaminwaterreviews · 1 year ago

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S.E.S. - Remember

I’m actually really impressed by this album, too. The opening track was crazy, one of the only songs I’ve heard in this entire project that truly wowed me. The average quality of the music was very high, even the slow jams were enjoyable. Funnily enough I think the last song was the worst-produced of the bunch, and that’s probably the track that required the most production. But regardless, good default sound. The jazz parts were really really good. It is amazing how even with different mixing and production, they still sound SO S.E.S., Bada’s voice really is that distinct, and their songwriters really did have a style. Average score of 7.6, very solid.

Candy Lane

Oooh nice jazz vibes

Okay, here’s the horns

I hear those bells too

This is nice, this is So nice

Dude these vocals are like candy to my ears

The scatting!!! Oh my god

I’m literally laughing rn this is SO good

“And jingle all the way” what is this, Christmas music?

It is snowing outside rn

Actually it kind of does feel Christmassy, I was thinking more like “Penny Lane” at first but I could totally get Christmas out of this too

10/10 right out the gate. I’m sorry but I’ve never heard ANYTHING like this in kpop before. What a song, my god. Also I do love Christmas music so maybe I’m biased

Remember

Black and white moving towards color, that’s nice filmmaking

Mkay, we got some anthemic epic vibes going on

Actually this song feels kind of OST to me so far

7/10, solid song, not my style

Paradise

Mkay, now we’re a bit funkier

Haha peep the vintage cars

Oh okay we get a proper rap section here

That was honestly pretty good, nicely done

Damn they really did just break that bowl

Oh my god that shot where she’s painting is so cool wow

8/10, maybe a bit high but it impressed me

Birthday

Kind of a mellow piano line underneath some Big bass

Now we’ve got vocals, guitar

Really really thicc soundscape, I like it

The second verse feels a lot less full for some reason, which can’t be true. So maybe I’ve just gotten used to it

The “just right now” section was nice

Give me a good bridge

Meh, decent bridge ig

7/10

My Rainbow

Such pretty vocals

This is super slow jammy but it sounds nice regardless

The synth during the bridge is kinda odd

Actually, this whole album does sound kinda OST somehow

7/10

Hush

Super duper synthy, wow, I don’t think we’ve heard anything remotely acoustic yet

Okay the bass is acoustic-ish

I love this timbre of their vocals, quiet and breathy

Woahhh these harmonies post-chorus, gorgeous

This is a good song to add to the list of kpop songs called “Hush”. And actually it sounds the most like “hush”

8/10

Apparently these next three are remakes of former singles, but I don’t think I’ve heard any of their original versions yet?

Life

Actually, kinda getting Christmas vibes from this one

Nice orchestral instrumentation

And then it all goes away

Wow what a tiny voice she has

Oh okay, now we’re all hype

Haha what

This is so show-tuney

I feel like I’d enjoy this way more if I knew the lyrics

8/10, very good, not quite a 9

The Light

Opening with some vocal flexing, pop off girl

Admittedly I am kind of distracted, I’ve got an eye on the score of Fulham-Wolves and it’s the 90+11th minute and I’m desperately begging for Wolves to salvage a point here

The song isn’t really my type either way though, standard slow jam stuff

Those vocal runs are actually crazy though, they’re using her voice well

Damn, ended 3-2, Wolves robbed. Poor guys.

6/10, yeah I know I was distracted but that song is not for me

Love [story]

Now we get more vocal flexing, but the beat is a bit happier

The pre-chorus is cool

Not totally convinced by the chorus, second time through. I feel like the vocals aren’t used very well here

The bridge is nice

Here we go, here’s the rap verse we wanted

Damn they really just shouted out all their old songs like that

Oh ok, suddenly it’s Actually ‘Cause I’m Your Girl haha

I think I remember this, yeah

7/10, felt way too scatterbrained and the good parts weren’t totally good enough. But I appreciate what they were going for

#album #kpop #S.E.S.

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ronearoundblindly · 2 years ago

Note

Whattt I just read the Mr and Mrs Smith thing and I loved it it was so frkn good!! love the movie too . It made me think of Tony and Peppers dynamic so if you'll like an au could we get the girl Friday thing where Stevie is more of an idiot than usual, they are pretty smart as individuals but they both share one brain cell when they're together still she puts out all his fires I think it'll be nice to have someone do that for Steve as opposed to Steve always doing that for ppl.

CEO!Steve x assistant!reader (see series)

This got way longer than I intended, but it took everything in me to minimize this to a one-shot (well that f***ing escalated! It's a three-parter now). 😂 Warnings for zero editing and drinking. Non-powered, modern AU btw. This part is ~2.5k

Eighty-Third Time's the Charm (1 of 3 yeah, yeah, it's 4 + a 5pt follow up now, haha, joke's on me): WORK

Steve’s been the logistic coordinator for Stark Industries since Tony took over for Howard. Howard hired Steve to acquire and transport materials for his early projects, and Steve’s own business grew from there. He now handles most of the further distributors for Stark Tech across the globe, and you’re his secretary.

Assistant.

Right hand.

Ok, well, maybe both of Steve’s hands and his mouth because his brain is already doing ninety things at any given moment. He needs a lot of help, and that takes time. Unreasonably lengthy amounts of time that can (and do frequently) span more than the average working and waking day.

You’re happy to do it. You love the work. It’s a challenge in quantity, not quality, and most of the men (because it is almost entirely men) who you deal with are happy to do as they are told when you smile and make them feel heard.

Really, the only challenge is to smile that much in person and on video calls. You never thought you’d be so excited to handle something by email every now and again.

Trip #83 with Steve Rogers takes you both three days overnight to a big city not far from where you grew up. You even have a few school friends who live in town, and you’ve made very tentative plans to see an old high school flame if the schedule permits, which it just barely seems to as the clock inches past 6:37.

Those 7 o’clock drinks can’t pour themselves fast enough.

In your hotel room, you’ve just shed the professional pant suit for light, breezy dress (something both easy to wear and easy to pack) and are in the process of typing out a confirmation of the restaurant when the call waiting comes up.

Steve.

“Hey, where is the contract for Sauters’?”

“We confirmed it all with them before the flight here, boss. Why—“

“I want the language changed to reflect payment before they take possession. They’re delinquent again. I’m not gonna allow them to keep profiting off of our efficiency while they sit with a thumb up their butts.”

“Sir, it really would be more impactful if you just said asses. I don’t think your mum is going to hunt you down for that.”

“Absolutely not. Ok, room 1512, bring the copy and patch in legal.”

“Wait, boss, I—“

The boop boop boop lets you know you’ve been hung up on, and you’re about to pass the feeling on to cute Jimmy from fourth period senior english. Damn. You rewrite the text and send your apologies.

Steve’s all in a flourish, head run amuck with little things to change here and there in the 26-page agreement. It all takes another three and a half hours. He had room service delivered, has poured you both a splash of something from the mini bar, and finally, finally sits down and looks at you.

“What is that,” he blurts.

It takes a moment to figure out what he means.

“A dress, sir. I…I was…I’d made plans for drinks with a friend.”

“Here?”

“I grew up about an hour away, yeah.”

He swirls his drink around, not admitting—though it’s painfully clear—that he had no idea you weren’t from New York. He looks at his watch for the first time all day.

“Ah, I suppose apologies are in order for…” He waits for his bait to catch.

“Jim,” you slowly add. “Don’t worry. I let him know the instant you called. I’ve met you. I knew how this would go.”

How much of this scotch did you sip all at once? You don’t normally talk to Steve—Mr. Rogers— like that, but he seems good and chastised for a moment, draining his tumblr in one go and returning to the bar.

“Well, I can’t replace Jim—“ he spikes the name with sharp tone you’ve never heard before “—but I can offer you a drink here.” His gaze, once it finds yours after dragging up your legs, is expectant and intent. It’s the first time he’s ever waited for an answer from you that he didn’t already know before asking.

It’s also the first time you aren’t quite sure you understand what Steve is asking. Eighty-three trips in and countless hours with the man, and this is the least prepared you’ve ever felt.

“Already had mine, sir.” You set your empty glass down on the small table between you. “We have a long day tomorrow, or rather, I do, but I’ll be sure to inform you when the Sauters are settled.”

It’s just instinct to smooth the front of your dress when you stand, but the rake of Steve’s eyes forced down you by the move completely throws you.

“I’m sorry you wasted an outfit,” he adds, quietly, too low and deep to not sharply flame a heat that sparks out of nowhere in your gut.

“Right.” You gather up your things. “No great loss. It’ll keep. If that’ll be all, boss?”

When your eyes return across the room, Steve’s standing there with an empty little bottle still tilted over his glass. He’s just staring, lost in thought about god-knows-what.

“Get some sleep,” he mutters absently.

“Of course.”

You pour your own drink from your room’s mini bar and take a long bath. You’ve been up since 5am in order to get you and Mr. Rogers to the airport in time. That’s what you blame your runaway thoughts on. You do everything for that man. You know practically everything about that man. You know that he hasn’t gone on any sort of social date in at least seven months (a fact even his mother calls to remind you of), and you know that Tony takes him out to gentleman’s clubs and has women serve them at all their joint business dealings.

You have literally sat beside Pepper Potts and joked about this while watching Tony get a lap dance and Steve chat up a waitress. Why your mind still entertains those thoughts after all you know is beyond human understanding, and after a day like today, you can hardly categorize yourself as human.

You need the rest for sure.

You’re already back on the phone by breakfast time, consuming strong tea and a croissant bite-by-bite while the American Capsules’ legal discusses the changes with SauterCorp’s legal.

Line-by-fucking-line.

You knew this would happen. It’s why you told them to start early. Of course, the team members you are on the phone with are different ones from last night because those folks worked late and are off work to make up for the overtime. You’re breathing in the smell of your drink with closed eyes like it’ll mainline the caffeine up your sinuses to your brain.

When you open your eyes, Steve’s pulling out the chair in front of you, ordering his own breakfast and motioning for a fresh pot of tea. He says nothing while you work.

Plates of food arrive and Steve reads the paper, glancing up every so often when you write a note to yourself about a follow-up after the call. After a while, he pushes a plate of scrambled eggs towards you and flips over a fork for you to take. He doesn’t take no for an answer, but since the call is finally wrapping up, you oblige and wolf down a few bites before typing out an email of your notes.

Steve asks a few questions of his own while refreshing both cups of tea and not bothering to offer sugar for yours. You…weren’t aware he knew that about you.

Until the car comes in an hour to get you to your next meeting, there’s nothing on the agenda, but you fully expect Steve to cram in a breakdown of the afternoon. Instead, he sips tea and folds the paper round and round until he’s done with all his interesting bits. You get to people watch, pedestrians outside the floor to ceiling windows of the hotel’s café bustling past in both directions.

Your attention is brought back when the table is cleared off, but Steve is no longer focused on the paper or the people. He sits and watches you again.

You smile as politely as you can even though you feel pinned down in the stare. “We better get going,” you advise, packing your things away.

Steve does put down his cup but doesn’t move otherwise.

“It’s your color.” He squints just slightly at his own revelation, relaxing back into his chair. “The dress.”

You have to swallow and clear your throat at that. “Yes, I suppose it’s one of my favorite colors.”

“It suits you.”

There’s no irony. Steve simply looks at you, blinks, looks some more, and it’s like you accidentally sat down naked in the lobby. His blue eyes are just that piercing.

“Thank you,” you say out of habit more than understanding and hurry on with the day.

It pours down rain for most of the afternoon, drenching your shoes as you traipse back and forth to the car with Steve. You have an umbrella, but nothing stops the puddles invading.

“I can’t do this,” you finally snap on the way back to the hotel. You’re on the verge of tears. The sides of your leather heels have rubbed the back of one ankle and the top outside of the other foot raw, almost/possibly bloody. It takes effort to peel them off your skin, and you hiss in pain.

Steve sits across the backseat completely horrified.

“I know, I’m so sorry. I’ll put them back on—“

Steve puts a hand out to stop you.

“Driver,” he calls, “is there a first aid kit back here? No, no, we just need a few bandaids.” The reassurance cuts off panic from the front, and after the click of the glove compartment sounds, a small box is offered through the window. Steve thanks him.

“I can do it, sir. Please don—“

That stare pins you again, and there’s dead silence in the back while your boss rips open a few wipes, cleans the blistered skin, dabs antibiotic ointment on the broken parts, and smooths the coverings overtop. You can’t help but notice how tender his touch is, but he’s just being thoughtful. It doesn’t mean anything.

As Steve returns to his seat (after it feels like a struggle to break eye contact), he gets a call.

His friend Bucky Barnes is in town, too, on a quick layover before a transatlantic flight and long business trip. The two don’t get to talk as much as they’d like, and you know they don’t see each other very often either.

“Of course, we’ll do dinner, Buck. Name the place.”

We will do what now?

You start waving your hands and miming towards your feet.

Steve eyes you a second. “No, right, I will meet you there in—driver, how long is it to Chinatown from the hotel? Yeah, so about an hour from now? Excellent.”

You might have interpreted that wrong. He meant ‘we’ as in him and Bucky, no doubt. In case he didn’t though…

“Shall I call and make reservations for you two?”

“He’s handling it. Traveling with a few associates who know the area and the restaurant.”

“It’s a good one. You can dress down there.”

Steve offers a ghost of a smile as he looks down at his layers of clothing, pondering. He glances at your bandaged feet and looks like he’ll say something before shucking off his coat, and then his suit jacket, and then his vest.

Without a word, you hold out your arm to take the unnecessaries back upstairs.

“You don’t have to,” Steve all but whispers.

He’s never questioned using your service. Ever. He tosses the clothes onto the back-facing seats across the car and undoes the first two buttons beneath his tie. The car stops at the entrance just as he pulls the tie loose.

Shoes in one hand, briefcase slung over your shoulder, you sigh loudly and hold out your hand again very close to his face.

Steve drapes the tie across your palm.

“Have a good dinner, sir.”

You collect the rest and walk in barefoot. You don’t look back.

Next Part Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi

Again, full disclosure: I have never seen the movie His Girl Friday. Just going off a synopsis and running away with it, but now that I've PLOTIFIED the whole damn thing, you're getting three cute-ass chapters *and you'll like it* bwahahahahaha

divider by @firefly-graphics

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tsintotwo · 2 years ago

Text

(Part 2/4)

Second post talking about Tom Sturridge in his projects (Part 1 here).

Remainder (2015)- Plot: Dude has an accident and is in a coma for months. Afterwards, he's forgotten a lot but weirdly, is remembering things that seem to have never happened. This dude is Tom. Now, I have to give it to the director- Tom has been shot GORGEOUSLY in this. The movie is slow at the start and honestly I was ready to happily treat and view this as a 2-hr modeling exercise feat. him. But things did get interesting, and I ended up kinda enjoying the movie. Tom's character gets slowly unhinged, and he portrays that so well. The voice, the attitude, the inevitable sexual tension- all of it had me mesmerized. He kisses a woman and a man. This 2nd kiss might just be, without any exaggeration, the hottest thing I've ever seen in my whole damn life. What's great about this is when he's kissing this man, it's not just like 'oh yeah sexy times!!1!' Basically his character had been trying to recreate a scenario (that happened with the 1st kiss) for months and with this man in this moment it's all come together- so he's ecstatic and almost delirious: that's the scene here. Idk how much the actors really got into this irl 'cause most of the kiss looks quite close-mouthed, but that matters zero per cent because HOLY FUCK they, esp. Tom, sell it like there's no tomorrow. He's just so. fuckin. INTENSE. I can swear to you right now: I will NEVER be over this. (Sorry for a longass kiss analysis; not tryna be pervy, it just really made an impact.)

Mary Shelley (2017)- Kissing husband in front of wife, flirting with said wife, making out with mistress, and then introducing everyone to his twink, all under a minute. Meet Lord Byron, ladies and gentlemen, a veritable chaotic devil. In the movie for, like, 15 mins, but Tom just rolls up and SETS THE HOUSE ON FIRE. Playing such an outrageous character, it might have been easy to make it a caricature. But Tom makes it believable, and you can kinda tell he's having fun with this. The effect is electrifying. Just, perfect casting.

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)- I'd watched the movie when it came out 'cause I'm into horror/thrillers, but the only thing I remembered is not particularly liking it. I did go and look at Tom's scenes again (who, until recently, I'd totally forgotten was in this movie). He plays a hipster art critic, complete with pretentious scarves. It's a small role, and unremarkable. He does what the job asks of him. There's no lasting impact. (Did he come into the movie 'cause he's friends with Jake Gyllenhaal?)

Sweetbitter (2019)- Series on Starz. New adult girl, Tess, comes to NY, starts working at a high-end restaurant. Falls for bartender Jake immediately. But he's childhood friends+ with two-faced queen B Simone who's very territorial about him. Tess gets close with both of them, and you just know there's a clusterfuck coming. Which we didn't actually see arrive because the show got cancelled after 2 seasons. I did mostly watch this- interesting enough, but riddled with problems. That aside, Tom plays Jake and I have to say this is the only time ever I've thought him less than perfect. The character is a walking NA instalovey-romance trope with near zero redeeming qualities, that's one thing. But a. Tom's American accent was off (which is weird 'cause he's pulled it off decently enough in other things), and b. (I feel like this is the showmakers' fault)- this character is supposed to be a thirst trap: broody asshole, a player with tattoos, a classic bad boy- and I KNOW Tom can do that, be that. And yet, he kind of... wasn't, 100%? The show just failed to present him that way, and it's SUCH a missed opportunity. I mean, dude's got the looks, the charisma, has done awfully well in bad news/lusty devil roles before. So what gives? Just, frustrating. The intimate scenes in the show are VERY nicely done tho. Worth watching just for seeing Tom fuckboy-shoving and kissing a girl against a wall tbh (A taste here)

Irma Vep (2022)- HBO show. Actress separates from actor husband after cheating on him with a woman, goes to France to film a remake of a classic movie called 'Irma Vep' and reflect on life and shit. Yeah, I wasn't gonna watch this. So, I watched the parts with Tom. He's the ex-husband, now on friendly terms with the MC. I loved him in this: something so natural about both when he's having a quiet, regretful convo with his ex wife and being playful and upbeat with his young new gf. There's this scene when he's hurting, goes to the MC for comfort, and they end up sleeping together. It was SO well done- hesitation, hurt, desire, wanting each other, but still really looking for comfort... masterful, from both actors (Tom with Alicia Vikander) and the director.

Bonus: See Wall/A Life (2019)- Two monologues from Tom (Sea Wall) and Jake Gyllenhaal (A Life) at Public Theatre and on Broadway. They both got Tony noms for Best Actor for this. It kills me that there's no way to see it now (check out the trailer on yt, you'll regret too), but there's an audiobook for this done by them on Audible which I got. I just love Tom's voice, okay? Love the way he speaks, even when he's not being Morpheus. And him telling me a 36 min story where he gets hyper and then quiet, excited and then devasted, is in love, is heartbroken- and I can replay it as many times as I want? Just, gimme. Any day, anytime. I'm so happy this exists.

That's it for this post. I've watched more stuff, so there will be a next installment.

#tom sturridge #dream of the endless #sandman #the sandman #mary shelley #velvet buzzsaw #sweetbitter #irma vep #remainder #sea wall/a life #morpheus

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theroomofreq · 3 years ago

Note

can you give me muggle jily recs pleaaseeee <3 :D

HOW MANY HIGH-QUALITY MUGGLE JILY FICS ARE THERE?? TOO MANY TO COUNT. *cracks knuckles* BUT I am here for the challenge. Jily AUs are my JAM.

Again, shoutout to our amazing @jilyarchive friends who tag every wonderful muggle jily au they come across. here is the link that will take you to their tags page. You'll find links to specific tropes and AUs :')

I've searched through my own AO3 bookmarks and history tabs, and I present to you 28 jily muggle fics that I LOVE. I am THRILLED thinking about all the good things in store for those that read these wonderful stories. This list took me ages to make because I went through and reread most of these brilliant fics. Happy reading !! xx

properly improper by @lizardcookie

“Marry me,” Mr. Potter repeats, closing the distance between them by striding back up towards the sofa, only to stop and crouch to one knee right there at her feet, looking up at her. Burning. “Pick me,” he elaborates. “Pick me, choose me, love me instead.”

- this fic is the reason why I comment the way that I do (spoiler it's because it's amazing)

The Wedding Ring by @mppmaraudergirl

What is undeniably worse than attending your sister's wedding looking as desolate and forgotten as a wilted houseplant? Drunkenly ringing your ex-boyfriend and asking him to be your date.

- SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY AT THE PERFECTION

Oh my god, they were ROOMMATES by @magic-girl-in-a-muggle-world

Silly one-shot, Muggle AU with Fem!Jily as pining roommates and Marlene as their matchmaker.

- the fic that brought me back to jily and inspired my deep obsession of fem!jily

Swipe Right, Swing Left by @downn-in-flames

The unspoken rule of using dating apps in D.C. is that you always start with where you work.

James Potter, it seems, never picked up on that one.

- giddy just thinking about this gem

'Tis the Damn Season by @petalstofish

It doesn't feel like Christmas for Lily Evans, not after losing her parents to COVID before the Holiday season. She anticipates spending Christmas all alone until a boy from her past shows up and offers her a mutually benefiting deal that has her calling him 'babe' just for the weekend. 'Tis the damn season, after all.

- cries in respect for lyrical writing

Watch Me Unwind by @maraudersftw

Lily Evans hates her job, hates the bigoted customers she has to serve as a bartender at the richest club in the city. But the one person who makes bearing all of it worth it has someone else in his arms tonight. (Rated: M)

- obsessed with the way the plot jumps around the time line in this

oil be there for you by @abby10fanfic

Texting/Social Media AU: Lily and James haven't spoken for 2 years. But that's all about to change thanks to Peter and his involvement in an essential oil pyramid scheme. Featuring boss babes, toxin-free lifestyles, binding contracts, and a very oily journey.

- YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FAB THIS IS

a matchmaking mission by @downn-in-flames

James Potter has a mission: get Sirius Black and Remus Lupin to finally admit that they both fancy the pants off each other by Valentine's Day.

His partner in crime? Lily Evans, Remus' flatmate, who he also happens to be slightly in love with

- DOUBLE the amount of pining idiots in love :")

about time by @jilyss

'sure, yeah, I can accompany you to that black tie event for your work tonight. wait. why are we on a red carpet?'

- this is my emotional comfort fic, your honor

whiskey business by @elanev91

Sirius Black has a (bad?) habit of picking up hobbies that take over his and James' flat -- this most recent one? Homemade vodka that James now has to try and peddle to everyone in the building.

- hysterical! must read!

Fashion Disaster by @maraudersftw

James Potter is roped into an awful dare by his best-mate, which involves him wearing atrocious pieces of clothing for all days until Christmas as dictated by Sirius. If this wasn't terrible enough, he now has to contend with his maddening crush on the beautiful saleswoman at the clothing store.

- classic hijinks that I live for

it wasn't a pity invite by @elanev91

Part of the December "Winter Tropes" Jily challenge. Prompt: my family invites you to join our holiday meal as an obvious setup and omG i’m so sorry

- awkward Christmas date that owns my heart

spice and honey by @clare-with-no-i

tagging along with her food reporter sister to profile James Potter, London's hottest young chef, is not how Lily Evans pictured her Monday going - especially if he's anything like Petunia’s described.

needless to say, she's in for a whirlwind at Chez Maraudeur.

- I'm one re-read away from printing this out and putting it on my bookshelf.

Waffle Wars by @elanev91

There's only one waffle maker in the dining hall and it literally always breaks. So, naturally, the only reasonable course of action is to meticulously map out when it's working and, ultimately, do a heist.

- the witty narration in this fic can not be matched

You Can Hear It In The Silence by @alrightginger

Lily is non-verbal and deaf in a world where the things your soulmate says about you end up written on your skin. She has known about her soulmate since she was seven, but knows they don't have a clue she exists and possibly never will.

- exquisite, cue me sobbing forever

out the window by @displayheartcode

A new family moves to Ottery St Catchpole.

- everything I could ever want in a fic, forever in my mind rent free

The Christmas Guest by @thegodmachine

An Evans Family Christmas: Petunia is bringing her fiancé and Lily is bringing her…Friend…

- petunia pov that gives me WINGS

Football, Calculus, and Cappuccinos by @moonawrites

At eighteen years old, James Potter has a lot going on. He's a rising star navigating the politics of professional football, the pitfalls of sudden fame, the fallout from choosing his dream over his father's company... and a serious crush on the red headed new barista at his favourite coffee shop.

- I'm still working my way through this fic, but trust me when I say its a GEM

if u like pina coladas by @zephyrcove

Lily is desperate for a date to Petunia's wedding, James has been pining, and their friends meddle ;)

- explain to me how characters can be so perfect via texting fics?

Shelf Awareness by @ghostofbambifanfiction

It's too far out of her way and she's wasting so much money, but Lily can't help but return to the bookstore every weekend, where her passion for good literature has, perhaps, been unexpectedly reignited by the messy-haired, pun-making, rather handsome bloke who works there.

- you absolutely must know that I binge read this and then immediately REREAD it

How to win a witch in 10 days by @adenei

“She’s going to find some unsuspecting wizard, get him to fall for her, and then do all the things that turn men away to get him to break things off! Won’t it be the best way to see what witches do that drives men crazy?” But what happens when the man in question is a blast from Lily Evans's past? A Jily Magical AU based on the romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

- fic based off of a rom com? YES PLZ :’)

The Fight Before Christmas by @ghostofbambifanfiction

The heartwarming Christmas tale of Lily Evans and James Potter - two plucky kids who hated one other, until the day they really, really didn't.

- complete sucker for this one

All This Time by @thejilyship

James and Lily grew up next door to one another. Their bedroom windows giving them glimpses into the others life, and also offering prime opportunities to argue with each other over every little thing. They never figured out how to be friends when they were kids, but now that they've graduated from college and are home for the summer, they have a second chance to get things right.

- one of my favvvv tropes

Let Me Love You by @thejilyship

With only a month until she's set to take the throne of Gryffindor, Lily is informed that she'll have to get married or choose to give up her throne. She never thought she'd have to even entertain the idea of an arranged marriage. Enter, James Potter.

- cries in princess diares AU

The Fabulous Baker Brothers by @frustratedpoetwrites

Lily walks a different route home from work and stumbles upon a cute little Bakery with an even cuter baker in the window.

- yes yes yes to embarrassed pining.

Marigold Mornings by @mppmaraudergirl

This is a fun game she thinks, as she removes her hand from his side and reaches up to run it down his chest. He catches her hand in his own, takes a step forward so that her nose nearly brushes against his shirt. She can feel the heat radiating off of him—or maybe it’s from her. He licks his lips and her eyes are drawn to the motion. She knows it is a bad idea, absolutely knows it.

- incredible storytelling featuring dynamic characters :') a favvv

Welcome to Pettyville by@women-inthe-sequel @alrightginger

When Lily Evans accidentally sends a text to the wrong number, she isn’t expecting to find the right person behind it. She can’t stop talking to Prongs. The only thing is, Prongs can’t stop talking about the girl in his class. What could go wrong, other than the number?

- LOVE SQUARE ANYONE

The Kiss a Stranger Project by @alrightginger

“What’s your name, then?” she asks, realizing they haven’t even properly introduced themselves yet. She nervously crosses her arms.

You shouldn’t kiss a guy without knowing his name first.

Right?

- THIS ONE WILL LIVE IN MY MIND FOREVER

#ror reqs #jily fic #mugge fic recs #jily fic rec list

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moonctzeny · 4 years ago

Text

Baby

au+trope+prompt game: college!au Jaehyun + fake dating + it’s just so hard not to fall in love with you

pairing: jung jaehyun x fem!reader x asshole!yuta

other members as background characters: yuta, mark, johnny, jungwoo

genre: angst, smut

word count: 9,124

warnings: abusive relationship, toxic behaviour

summary: “When Yuta breaks your heart for the millionth time, you meet Jaehyun, freshly broken up and looking for revenge. You decide to start fake dating to get back on your exes, but your plan takes an unexpected turn. You fall in love.”

a/n: I really don’t like putting yuta in a negative light like that it’s just for the fic’s sake! also I literally used the name Naeun as Jaehyun’s ex because I think it’s SUCH a pretty name, NO correlation whatsoever to any korean celebrity named naeun!

_____________________________________

You knew it was wrong.

Looking through your boyfriend’s, Yuta’s, phone while he took a shower, was the arguably the tackiest thing you have ever done.

He was always distant lately, only seeming to make time for a booty call, and at first, you blamed your hectic schedule. Your major was demanding, to say the least, so when Yuta suggested that you replace your dates with some “quality time” at his dorm, you had no objections. You didn’t know that he also meant ignoring your calls, canceling on you at the last minute to meet up with his frat brothers, and keeping your relationship strictly between four walls and two naked bodies.

The thought of him meaning more to you than you meant for him ate you away. It creeped in your mind while you heard the water running from your shower, and lead your fingertips to tap in the password of his phone.

Opening his messaging app, you recognize his best friends’ icons in a group chat consisting of his frat members. You scrolled up, ignoring the latest massages regarding a party that the frat would be throwing in two weeks. You started to feel guilty, not exactly sure what you were looking for, when you saw your name at the screen.

m0rklee[00:10]: @yutassanhyung, i saw your girl today at the supermarket! why didn’t you tell her about the party next Sunday?

you[00:12]: what girl lol

m0rklee[00:13]: y/n?? i thought you guys were together?

you[00:12]: nahh

fairyteil[00:15]: eyy @yutassan if you’re done with her i know a couple guys who wanna hit it too

you[00:16]: be my guest haha

you[00:16]: don’t get me wrong she was bad when we met but shit is getting kinda stale

tenoutoften[00:17]: aren’t you on your way to her place lol

you[00:17]: hey hey pussy is pussy

Was that all you were to him? Pussy?

Yuta called you special, he called you yours. He didn’t like it when you were talking to other guys. He ripped your lingerie set because he didn’t want anyone else to ever see you in it but him. And then he dared to go around and call you a fling?

You heard the water stop running and knew you didn’t have much time until you had to face him, the thought alone making you sick.

You didn’t bother to lock his phone again, leaving the chat that made you so upset open. Grabbing your keys and a jacket, you left your place and hoped that Yuta would get the message and get the fuck out of there before you came back.

Your legs walked on their own accord, your memory leading you to the only place where you knew you’d find any sort of comfort. When Johnny opened his door, tears were already streaming down your face. He took the open tequila bottle you were holding and pulled you in for a hug. He smelled like weed and beer, and after hearing the “Is that the pizzas?”, you realized that your best friend wasn’t alone.

You quickly wiped your cheeks and fixed your sex hair that Yuta messed up, trying your best to look presentable. Johnny put a hand on your back and lead you to his living room. Jungwoo, your and Johnny’s friend from high school, was sprawled out on the couch, a little disappointed after seeing that you were, in fact, not the pizzas. Next to him, drowning in a bean bag, was Jaehyun. You didn’t really know him very well other than the fact that he took the same major as Johnny, so you felt a little insecure looking as messy as you did right now. His eyes were red, just like the other men’s, but you could swear his eyelashes looked a little damp.

Jungwoo’s words were muffled by the barbecue chips he was munching away.

“Yoo y/n, I didn’t know you were coming!”

You placed the tequila bottle on the table,

“Yeah, Woo, figured you wanted something to drink”

“Move” Johnny murmured to him, but he only stretched and sighed dramatically, shoving a handful of chips in his mouth.

“I don’t need a drink I need food. I’m hungry and I got the munchies”

Johnny grabbed his ankle and with impressive ease, dragged Jungwoo to the floor. The taller man sat on the couch, on the side next to Jaehyun and you followed his lead, letting a grumpy Jungwoo lean his head on your knees. Taking the lit joint from Jaehyun’s fingers, Johnny turned his attention back on you.

“So tell me chica” he said and took a hit, “who do I have to beat up?”

“Yuta”, you grumbled, “I’m ghosting this motherfucker”

You felt the vibrations on your lap when Jungwoo started talking.

“What did he do this time? Didn’t I tell you not to get involved with stupid frat boys?”

You started petting his hair, the softness comforting under your fingers.

“Apparently I’m not ‘bad’ enough for him anymore” you replied, throwing air quotes and rolling your eyes.

“Whaaaaat” Johnny drew out with a cough after taking a particularly deep inhale from the blunt, “you’re like the baddest bitch I know. Even now, that you’re all puffy from crying and smell like his dick”

You hit his shoulder, almost dropping the joint he was passing to Jungwoo, embarrassed that he would say something like that in front of Jaehyun, an almost stranger to you.

“I don’t know, man” Jungwoo started, and you could hear the smile on his face, “when girls cry it’s kinda hot”

You were contemplating how many hairs of his you should rip out of his scalp when the telecom rang, assumably by the pizza delivery man.

“Saved by the bell”, Jungwoo muttered to himself and got up quickly to open the door. While the youngest paid for the pizzas, Johnny held your hand, a bit guilty for his words earlier. He had a mischievous smirk and kept shifting his gaze between you and Jaehyun, who had been sitting in silence ever since you got here, occasionally smiling at your friends’ teasing.

“Fuck Yuta, man. You should find a nice guy to treat you well and fuck you even better y’know?” he started, and patted his buddy roughly on the back, “Like Jae over here”

Your eyes widened and you instinctively glanced at Jaehyun, ears a deep red and a matching shocked look on his face.

You cleared your throat, “No offense, but, like, aren’t you practically married to this girl-uhhh what’s her name again? Naeun?”

To someone who wasn’t listening to your conversation, it must have seemed like you tased him, or brought up a painful childhood memory, or asked him if he’d be willing to lick a lemon after washing his teeth. He looked away from you, and turned his attention to his nails, ripping a cuticle off in deep concentration. His voice was so quiet when he finally spoke, that you barely heard him. “I broke up with her, actually.. Like, three hours ago”

Guilt washed over you in an instant, not knowing that you scratched a wound so fresh. You wanted to apologize and even ask if you should leave the three alone, when Jungwoo grabbed the Tequila bottle and crashed on the couch clumsily between you and Johnny.

“Fuck love!”, he yelled, “let’s get wasted”

_______________________________________

You stared at the empty José Cuervo bottle rising up and down Johnny’s chest with every one of his snores. He was laid out on his couch, his tall height taking up all of its entirety, leaving Jungwoo passed out on the floor. Jaehyun followed your eyes and smiled at Johnny’s sleeping face, mouth open and tongue spilling out.

After the 4th shot, you found out that Jae was a pretty decent guy. He let you rant about Yuta while your friends were busy trying to see who could eat a large pizza by himself the fastest. You told him all about how you never went on dates anymore, how you looked through his phone after having sex, and the text conversation you found earlier tonight. He listened carefully, without judgment, and after smoking some more of Johnny’s staff, he opened up to you about his relationship with Naeun.

Or rather, how he found her fucking his roommate on his own bed.

You always thought of these two as what they call a ‘power couple’. Valedictorian meets basketball all-star, they graduate and have beautiful babies, while all the rest of us mortals can do is admire from afar. You would have never guessed the toxicity, constant cheating and manipulation that Jaehyun was recounting. You bonded over stories about cancelled dates, emotional distancing and feeling like you’re always the one giving but never receiving. If you were being honest, you would have never expected such emotional depth from a college point guard. He drew you in with his gentleness, and you noticed how different he was from Yuta, who engulfed you with his intensity. You also hated how even now, you were still thinking of him.

Just then, you got his third message for the night:

asshole [03:35]:come on baby don’t ignore mee, me and the guys were just messing around

you [03:36]:stop texting me

you [03:38]:we’re done

You locked your phone, upset and angry, and felt Jaehyun sigh.

“I know I’m falling for her stupid games, but I just want to get back at her y’know? Show her what she’s missing, that type of thing”

You knew exactly what he was talking about. During the past hours, you weighted all the possible ways you could make Yuta regret ever taking you for granted.

He was so charming that he could get laid with anyone he wanted (and probably did, even when you were ‘dating’), but even after what he said to Taeil, you knew that he hated the thought of anyone else fucking you. He wanted your body to be his, without having to deal with the commitment that came with that privilege.

You thought about fucking one of his frat buddies, but that would get you from being called ‘Yuta’s girl’ to ‘ΘΨΩ’s cumslut’, and your self esteem couldn’t take that blow.

Jaehyun’s deep voice interrupted your train of thoughts.

“Maybe Johnny’s right”

“Huh? ”

“You should date me”

You blinked at him twice, not knowing what to reply when you saw him wave his hands frantically in front of his face.

“Fake date me! I mean, you should fake date me. Sorry, the weed’s got me a little fucked up”

At first, the idea seemed crazy. Yes, it would make Yuta furious that you were supposedly fucking one of the hottest guys on campus. Yes, Naeun would get mad that she didn’t have Jaehyun’s constant attention that she so craved anymore. Yes, you two might have revealed your deepest insecurities, opened up your hearts to each other all while sharing a bottle of alcohol, but you had never hanged out together without Johnny being present. You had barely hanged out together, period. But wouldn’t that make it even more believable? Two of Johnny’s best friends break up at the same time, meet up at his house and inevitably end up together. You didn’t share the same major, so you wouldn’t have to put up the act too much at college. And with social media, making a fake relationship believable was easier than ever.

asshole [03:42]: fuck you. you think you can find someone better than me?

Drunk and lacking logic, you agreed on the plan, and gave him your number. You had just finished creating the contact on his phone when he suddenly got up and rushed to the bathroom, facing the consequences of the tequila and weed combo.

You passed out on Johnny’s bean bag and when you woke up on Sunday afternoon, Jaehyun was gone.

———————————————————

You didn’t expect him to text you on Monday, thinking that it was intoxication that gave him the idea of fake dating and made it look brilliant. So when he gave you the address to his dorm, to further discuss your ‘operation’ you were surprised, but determined to succeed.

The plan was simple. You would start tagging each other on your instagram stories, to show people that you were spending time alone. He agreed to pick you up from your lecture on Wednesday, your classes coinciding on neighboring buildings. And for you final act, he’d come with you as your plus one for the frat’s party next Sunday. Mark was nice enough to invite you, after Yuta ‘forgot’ to do it instead, and Naeun, being Taeil’s sister, wouldn’t miss it for the world. It was the perfect opportunity to flaunt your new relationship, all while being on the opponent’s part of the field.

You started off innocently enough. After you and Jaehyun finished brainstorming ideas about the ‘operation’ as he insisted on calling it, he suggested you stay for a movie and some Chinese food. His dorm was cozy, a little messy, maybe, but it fitted his boyish charm. He had a nice collection of vinyls, stating that his favorite one was I. by Cigarettes After Sex. You were a bit taken aback by his love for dreampop and rnb, but the more you got to know him, the more it seemed to fit him nicely. On the wall next to his bed hung a display full of all of his sport trophies. He was known for his basketball skills, but you also saw medals for soccer, track, volleyball. Amongst them all was an English certificate and a spelling bee award. You wondered if he ever felt pressure trying to be so perfect all the time.

The movie was terrible, but Jaehyun managed to entertain you by making silly jokes throughout and mocking the actors’ bad acting. It was the first time you ever saw him crack a joke like that and be willing to contort his handsome features. So much better than the dream boy image he was feigning for everyone, but you didn’t know him well enough to tell him. The movie was halfway done when he picked up his phone and opened a camera app through his Instagram.

“Shouldn’t we take a story? Since we’re together anyways?”

You nodded and scooted closer to him. He was a bit hesitant as he positioned the camera to capture your legs that were touching, a scene from the movie playing in the background. It was a cute picture but nothing indicated that the two of you were more than friends. You pressed the X at the top of the screen to discard the picture, and placed his hand on top of your thigh. You turned around just in time to witness his ears turning into a fuschia pink.

“Is that okay?”

He nodded and regained his cool, taking the picture and tagging you with a red heart next to your username.

A couple hours after leaving his place you texted him, asking if Naeun had replied to his story. He said that unfortunately, the only person who batted an eye was Johnny, replying with a “ 👀 👀 👀 “ .

———————————————————

You met up again the next day, at your apartment this time.

He looked nervous being in a place so foreign to him yet so personal to you, so you decided to turn the lights down to help him relax, insisting that you weren’t trying to seduce him or anything. He laughed at your joke but still looked tense, and you thought that maybe he needed some liquid courage to open up.

“Hey Jae. Want a drink?”

It took him 3 beers to finally loosen up and show you his dimpled grin again. You were sitting on the floor, facing each other and feeling comfortable in the ambience of the room. A Spotify playlist was playing in the background so it would fill up the awkward silence but wouldn’t distract you from your conversation.

“Wait wait wait. So you sleep without a pillowcase?”

“Yeah, didn’t you notice it when you came to my place yesterday?”

“I thought you forgot to do your laundry!”

His laugh was resonating and deep and manly. It made his eyes disappear and his face light up, not that it didn’t anyway - the guy could easily be a skin care ambassador, and you made a mental note to ask him about his moisturizer later.

You followed his gaze to one of your walls. Pictures were filling it up, memories of yourself and your siblings, of your friends from home that you missed, of Johnny and Jungwoo. You felt a little insecure then, comparing them to Jaehyun’s countless medals and awards.

“I’m not good at sports like you, so I have nothing else to hang on my wall”, you laughed awkwardly but he shook his head.

“No, I’m actually jealous of you. Everyone always seems to want to be around you”

“Except Yuta”

“Yuta’s an idiot, then. You are way out of his league anyways.”

You felt yourself turning into a blushing mess and looked for a way to break the awkward silence that followed his comment.

“Wanna share another one?” you asked him, shaking the empty beer bottle on your hand and he nodded. You started getting up when you felt him put a hand on your shoulder and pick up the bottles you had finished up from the table himself. He rinsed them off and put them away to the recycling bag next to your sink, the domesticity of the action making you melt. You watched as he stood on his tiptoes to reach a lager from the top drawer of your fridge, revealing a defined set of abs and two cute dimples on his lower back. You ripped your eyes away immediately, like you were caught doing something illegal, and he walked back to his spot next to you. As soon as he sat down, he groaned and threw his head back.

“The bottle opener was on the kitchen counter. I forgot to bring it”

Without saying a word, you took the beer from his hand and placed the cap in your mouth. It was a party trick that your older brother had taught you when you were 15. After finding a stable indentation on your teeth, you manipulate the rough edges of the cap and pop the beer open. You return the glass bottle to Jaehyun, who’s looking at you incredulously.

“Fuck me, that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen”, he breaths out and you feel your whole face burning up. You opened and closed your mouth a couple times, trying to register that someone like him thought you were hot, when you felt your phone vibrating, saving you from further embarrassing yourself.

Johnny’s picture lit up on the screen and you mentally prepared yourself for the following conversation. You and Jaehyun decided against telling anyone about your relationship being fake. It’s not that your best friend wasn’t reliable, but if you told Johnny you had to tell Jungwoo, and Jungwoo doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut to save his life.

“John, what’s up”

“Eyy chica what took you so long?”

You looked at Jaehyun who had leaned back against the pillow of your couch and sipped on the beer you would share.

“Yeah sorry I was a little busy”

“Busy.. with Jaehyun?”

You tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but you were still trying to recover from the previous incident.

“Yeah, he’s here”

“Ohh I see, little y/n can’t get enough of Jae’s slam dunks.. I bet he’s teaching you the bank shot, the opening tip, the double dribble, the fast break, the palming.. he sure is great for a rebound-”

You interrupted him, growing tired of his nonstop basketball innuendos.

“Why did you call me Johnny?”

“Damn, sorry, I just wanted to ask you what you wanted for your birthday”

Shit, you forgot about that.

“Just get me whatever, I don’t care, you know how much I hate celebrating anyways. I’ll get the cake myself, so no surprises”

Jaehyun lifted his brows and waited patiently for your call to end before asking:

“What are we celebrating?”

“It’s my birthday on Friday. I’m going to invite a couple people over and Johnny’s already stressing over it. Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to come”

“How can your boyfriend not come to your birthday party?”

You laugh bitterly.

“Well, it’s not like Yuta came last year. To any of my parties for that matter”

“Well, he must have made up to you somehow? Got you a very special gift or something?”

“If you count eating me out as a gift then yes. It was very rare indeed.”

You took the beer from him and took a sip yourself. You noticed he had his eyes glued on his phone, his expression gloomy.

“Is everything okay?”

He snapped out of it at the sound of your voice and turned his phone screen towards you.

It was Naeun, or rather a post on her instagram account. She had her tongue out in the picture, hugging two guys that were unfamiliar to you. You read the caption.

“One day the loser will realize that the diamond he thinks he’s playing with is actually a rock”

Jaehyun mumbled an apology. I guess he thought that you’d be a bit offended being called a ‘rock’ but you were actually feeling satisfied. Your fake relationship had managed to get her attention, and for Jaehyun’s sake, you wanted to rub it in her face even more.

You opened your camera app and placed your phone on the table next to you. He figured what you wanted to do so he sat up straighter and motioned to his lap. You’d normally be a bit hesitant to sit on him if it wasn’t for the two beers and your determination, that had fired up again due to Naeun’s words. Leaning back a bit, you set up the self-timer and he put his hands on your hips to stabilize you.

You had agreed on turning up the boldness of your pics, so you placed your hands on his neck, right under his jawline. He snaked his hands upwards and wrapped them around your waist, bringing you even closer. His eyes were glossy from the alcohol and he looked at you with an impressive calmness, considering the intimacy of your position. It seemed like he was waiting for something, the ticking of the timer urging you to take things a bit further and he nodded, as if giving you permission. You leaned in, and pressed your lips on the corner of his mouth, like you couldn’t decide on kissing his dimple or his lips.

After hearing the click you climbed down from his lap, and prayed that the photo came out in focus. Your heart couldn’t handle another retake. From the angle of the camera, it seemed like you were a couple in love, sharing a sweet kiss on the lips. You added a cute caption and tagged him, so he could repost it later on his own account.

It hadn’t been 5 minutes before your phone lit up.

yutassan replied to your story: what the fuck?

You smiled triumphantly and showed the message to Jaehyun, who laughed at Yuta’s reaction. He gave you an excuse about some forgotten homework and how it was late and he has to go.

“Remember, I’ll pick you up tomorrow from class, so wait for me”

After he left, you thought about your almost kiss and the dimples of his back for way too long.

——————————————————

You exited the classroom with a growing headache. The lesson today seemed extra boring, and all you could think about was that you had to convince Johnny that it really took just three days for Jaehyun and you to officially start dating.

As promised, the pair waited for you at the end of the hallway, your best friend looking at the two of you expectantly. Jaehyun was a good actor, you thought, as he approached you before you got to reach them, meeting you halfway.

“Hey baby”, he smiled at you, the nickname turning your legs into jelly. He wrapped one arm around your shoulder, and kissed your cheek sweetly, making Johnny coo at the two of you.

“I can’t believe that I hadn’t thought about pairing the two of you together earlier”

He must have thought that the awkward body language and the silence that fell was a sign from you and Jae to leave you alone. He excused himself, saying something about “letting the young lovers swim in the pool of their love”, or something along those lines.

The two of you walked together, following the road to your next class that was just a few buildings away.

“So how has class, baby

You rolled your eyes at the insistent nickname, “you know that Johnny left us, like, 5 minutes ago, right?”

“Let me enjoy itttt”, he whined, “Naeun never let me call her anything like that”

“Why is that?”

He looked at his feet moving and frowned in thought.

“She said I was embarrassing her in front of her friends. I think she just didn’t want other guys to know that we were together”

You felt a pang of sadness and you realized that it always followed any conversation you two had about his and Naeun’s relationship.

“Well then if you call me baby, I can will you honey. Or sugarplum. Or pumpkin pie. Or-“

It was startling how fast Jaehyun pressed you up against the wall. In just a moment, he had put his hands on your waist, burying his face in your hair. You shivered when you felt his breath as he spoke against your neck.

“Yuta’s watching us”

All you could do was stay frozen in place, and listen with wide eyes.

“Huh?”

He chuckled at your response, but he replied patiently.

“Yuta? Your ex? He’s right over there. Figured we should give him a show”

And with that, he kissed you. Everything was happening so fast, that you could barely comprehend that Jaehyun, that was a stranger in the past weekend, was now making out with you at the hall, for everyone to see.

And that included Yuta.

You opened your eyes in the kiss and searched for him, spotting him with his frat buddies. His eyes were piercing through the two of you, and you saw Mark holding him back by the shoulder. The look on his face was priceless.

Jaehyun pulled back and you wrapped your arms around his neck.

“Thank you”, you whispered, “but I need one more favor”

“Anything baby”

“Slap my ass as we walk away”

Sure enough, Jaehyun took your hand and you continue your walk, momentarily stopping to make eye contact with Yuta and give you a little spank. It was something your ex loved doing on the rare occasion you two met up outside of your dorms, no matter how public the setting. You heard Mark yelling something at his ‘Yuta hyung’ and that’s when you thought, your plan just might work.

———————————————————

You didn’t see Jaehyun until your birthday. It was just a small get together, but your place was starting to get a bit crowded as time went by. Johnny had been suffocating you with hugs ever since he got there, reminiscing the time you met as teenagers and calling you an old lady. Jungwoo on the other hand couldn’t stop asking about Jaehyun. You kept making excuses about how he didn’t feel so good today and might not make it. You didn’t expect him to come, of course. Just because you had agreed on fake dating, it didn’t mean that he had any obligation to be present in all your social events. The loving message he left on your Facebook wall was enough to fulfill the purpose of your current relationship.

That is why, when you heard a knock on your door, the last thing you thought you’d see was Jaehyun holding a dozen of red roses.

“Happy birthday baby!”, he exclaimed and gave you a kiss on your cheek,

“I asked Johnny about your favorite flowers, hope we got it right”

Feeling speechless, you took the roses from his hands and inhaled their sweet scent. You were dumbfounded that he actually came, and even brought you a present. You thanked him for coming, and he repeated the same thing he said back at your place, “how could your boyfriend miss your birthday?”

And even you were fooled, momentarily, when he held you by the waist later that night and sang you happy birthday. You blew your candles and all you could wish for was a love like the one Jaehyun was faking for you. He helped you clean up, and was more than willing to socialize with all of your friends. You admired how well he fitted in your social circle, already friends with Johnny and Jungwoo, yet so nice that even people he met for the first time came to love him.

You were sitting on one of your dining chairs, your two best friends already passed out on your couch. They had brought two bottles of vodka and your favorite tequila, but you weren’t in the mood to drink. You couldn’t help but remember the time when you practically begged Yuta to be there on your special day and he still missed it. You were scared that if you got a little drunk you would text him, or worse, call him, his sweet talk bringing you back to him all over again.

The only sounds resonating through your apartment were Jungwoo’s light snoring and a chill Spotify playlist playing from your laptop. A familiar tune came on, and you recognized it being ‘Nothing’s gonna hurt you baby’ by Cigarettes After Sex. You immediately looked at Jaehyun, the only conscious person still at the party other than you. He threw his head back and sighed contently at the sound of his favorite song. You saw him get up and walk over to you, reaching his hand out.

“Will the birthday girl spare me a dance?”

You slow danced in the middle of your living room, ending the night in the sweetest note. Jaehyun always felt so stable, so safe. You wondered how he got himself tangled up in that mess of a relationship with Naeun. Maybe it was the way he treated people with such kindness, void of any prejudice. Maybe he was a little bit like you, and didn’t think he deserved much.

“She’s crazy” you mumble against his chest, his confused hum making you feel the vibration on your face.

“Naeun. She’s crazy for ever cheating on someone like you. You’re perfect”

“I have my flaws”

You thought about how competitive he got when you played beer pong earlier, how his ears get red when he gets embarrassed, how he shows his dimpled smile in apology when he’s late. His love for drinking and how it makes him more honest, his trust in people that must have gotten him hurt many, many times. You liked them all, you loved them all.

“It’s just so hard for someone not to fall in love with you”

———————————————————

And that’s how the days went by with Jaehyun. You met up almost every day, in restaurants for a nice dinner, or hanging out in each other’s dorm. It was so much fun getting to spend time with him, that you sometimes forgot to make your meetup public on social media. You helped him with his math homework, and he helped you dye your hair. You even went to his basketball game, and he dedicated one of his goals to you, following every teen movie cliche.

You felt a little sad how it was all falling to an end. The plan was successful, for the most part. Naeun had asked Jaehyun to meet up later tonight, talk things through. You wished he wouldn’t go back to her, but you knew you had no real say in his love life. Yuta saw that he didn’t own you, that there were people like Jaehyun that were willing to give you what your ex had promised you, but wasn’t able to give. Well, not really, you reminded yourself. Jaehyun was faking it. You shouldn’t let yourself get lost in the fairytale, even if the past two weeks were some of the best of your life. He had proposed that you claim that the reason for your upcoming ‘breakup’ was differences in character, but you decided to stay friends. You were happy that at least, in the midst of all this mess, you met someone like him.

It was Saturday, a day before the frat party. You had invited him over, celebrate the end of your relationship with some pizza and a movie.

The movie was boring, but Jaehyun made you laugh. It reminded you of the first time the two of you met up alone. You had gotten comfy on your couch, sharing popcorn when you noticed. A huge bruise was peeking out from Jaehyun’s tank top, the dark color contrasting against his porcelain skin.

“What the hell?!” you exclaimed and scooted closer to him. You rushed your hands on his chest, your fingers pushing the fabric aside to examine the bruise. You found even more bruises scattered around it, accompanied with scratches that stretched longer than his top could.

“It was from the game the other day”, he tried to excuse, but you weren’t buying it.

“Jae, I was there. You played basketball, not WWE. Now who did this to you?”

He sighed and fidgeted with a loose string on his jeans, clearly uncomfortable.

“When I caught Naeun with my roommate, and broke up with her, she didn’t take it very well”

You kept staring at him, urging him to continue.

“She started calling me names, saying that she’s the best I’ll ever have. That I’m worthless without her, just a social climber trying to mooch off of her popularity”

He motioned on his torso, “When I kicked her out of my place, this happened”

“Is that the first time she acted violent?”

He shook his head. “Pretty much every time she didn’t get her way”

“Jae”, you started, placing your hands on top of his “this is abuse. Have you ever talked to anyone about it?”

“It’s- it’s nothing. It’s embarrassing”

“No it’s not! Abuse is not exclusive to any gender! Guys get affected by it too!”

“It’s embarrassing because I know I can physically stop her but I don’t”

His eyes were starting to water, the sight was heartbreaking. “I sit there frozen and just take it”

“Why?”

“Because part of me believes her. That I’m hopeless without someone like her, dictating what I can and cannot do. I don’t need a shrink to tell me that it’s sick. I have these bruises to remind me”

You were starting to get angry. Angry at that bitch for hurting him, angry at Jaehyun who puts up with it, angry at you, for not seeing past the obvious like everyone else.

“I’m not letting you go see her tonight”

He laughs at you, putting up an invisible barrier between you.

“Not letting me? Wake up y/n! We’re not a real couple, remember? We’re just faking it to satisfy our selfish needs. This whole thing is pointless”

He stormed to the door and you tried to stop him, but he was too riled up for that.

“You’re going to forget about me as soon as this whole circus is over, just like everyone else”

“How can you accuse me like that when you haven’t even let me be a part of your life for real?”

“Because now you’ve met me. Me. With all my ugly, all my fucking bruises. Is it still so hard not to fall in love with me?”

With that, he closed your door with a bang, not even letting you answer that yes, it was impossible not to fall in love with Jung Jaehyun.

———————————————————

History seemed to repeat itself, as you got a text from him the next morning, that you didn’t expect.

jaehyunnie: let’s meet outside of the frat at 10:30, i’ll bring the booze.

And that’s what you did, showing up with your shortest skirt, spotting Jaehyun sitting a few meters from the frat’s entrance. He was laying against the wall, his eyes red, and he gave you the same smile he always did when he saw you, as if your fight yesterday never happened.

“Hey baby” he said and pulled you in for a hug. You couldn’t resist the invitation, and felt yourself melting in his embrace. He smelled like weed and shower gel.

It was nice, how he proclaimed your truce, but you still had to get something off your chest.

“Listen, Jae, about last night, you were right. This whole thing is pointless. We can go home, if you want”

“No baby”, he started and pulled away just enough to look at you. His eyes were droopy but glancing back at you with such care as he moved a strand of hair out of your face, “we’re here to have fun”

You wondered why he was still willing to come to the party with you as your boyfriend. Maybe he wanted to do you one last favor with Yuta, or maybe he wasn’t done indulging in Naeun’s petty games. You looked at his forearms, noticing a few scratches that weren’t there yesterday.

“I’m guessing you and Naeun didn’t make up last night”

He shook his head, and rubbed his hands on your back, keeping your temper down.

“Did you get in a fight?”

“Something like that”

You didn’t know what came over you. It was anger and protectiveness, possessiveness even. You laced your fingers in his locks, letting his head rest against the wall. If Naeun wanted you to speak in her language, then so be it.

You started kissing his neck, on that part on the side that is tender and sensitive. You heard passerbys whistling at the two of you, seemingly getting it on in public. Your licks and sucks weren’t meant for pleasure though, you had a goal and that was to leave a bruise. A statement for Naeun.

You walked in the building hand in hand and followed Jae to the kitchen, where he poured you a drink out of the bottle he brought along. Looking around, you sensed a couple familiar faces staring back at you from the crowd. Taeyong from class, Mark and Ten, and last but not least, Naeun. You downed the drink in one shot and lead Jaehyun to the dance floor.

He put his hands on your hips, and swayed you at the sound of some club song you weren’t familiar with. You ground your ass against him and he hissed, keeping you close against him. A little voice in your head was screaming how this isn’t real, to him this is all pretend, but you ignored it. You wanted her to think that he was yours, that she couldn’t hurt him anymore.

“Why are you doing this to me y/n? Yuta’s not even around”

Jae turned you around, and you put your hands on his shoulders. He looked absolutely breathtaking tonight. You searched his face for a flaw, yet couldn’t find any. You wouldn’t change a single thing on him.

“She’s here” you said venomously.

He buried his face in your neck, inhaling the smell of your hair and trying to ground himself from his high. “I don’t give a fuck about Naeun”

He kissed your ear and your mind fogged up even more.

“She didn’t ask me to meet up yesterday, I did. I wanted to tell her that she and I were done, for good. I thought she wouldn’t be here tonight, but I guess she changed her mind”

What?

“Then why are you here? And why did you let me give you that big ass hickey?”

He stopped nibbling on your ear, and whispered to it instead.

“I’d never miss up on a chance to feel yours”

The bodies dancing next to you, the liquer you had downed a few minutes ago and Jaehyun’s words were getting too much to handle. You felt suffocated, unable to distinguish where reality ended and pretending began with you two.

“Jae, I need a moment, excuse me”

Releasing yourself from his grasp, you made your way to the kitchen. There wasn’t any fresh air, but there was plenty of booze. You poured yourself a shot and as you downed it, you felt another liquid trickling down your top.

You looked up to find out who managed to make this night even worse for you, only to come across the last person you needed to see tonight. Yuta.

“Shit I’m sorry”, he muttered and you avoided eye contact, thinking you’d manage to get away without him realizing it was you. Luck wasn’t on your side tonight.

“Well well well. Long time no see.”

Confidence was dripping from his smile, to his stance, to the way he looked at you. He had dyed his hair your favorite color, his white locks begging to be tugged and played with. To top it all off, he smelled good, so, so good. He smelled dangerous. Comfortable.

You immediately realized that you didn’t have the self control needed to resist him. Turning on your heel, you started to get the hell out of there when he held your wrist, keeping you in place.

“Wait, I’m sorry, you can’t stay like this, you’ll catch a cold”

“Since when are you worried about me?”

“C’mon y/n, please. Come upstairs, I’ll give you a clean shirt. No funny business, I promise”

You hated yourself for this, but you followed him upstairs to his room, like a pray falling right into the hunter’s trap. He closed the door behind him, muting the loud music and you sat on his bed that you were so familiar with. Looking through his closet, he passed you one of his t-shirts, and turned around to let you change with some privacy. It was comical how chivalrous he was acting, considering the unspeakable things you’ve done in here.

“Not like you’ll see something you haven’t seen already”, you murmured and he chuckled, raising his hands.

“Hey, I’m a gentleman. It’s my fault, after all. I have a habit of getting you wet.”

Blushing at his comment, you quickly changed into the clean shirt and felt the bed dip next to you. You thanked him under your breath and started getting up, when you felt him hold you back once again.

“Stay, just a moment. I’ve missed you”

“What do you want?”

“You, baby”

Yuta was the one who said it, but you swore you felt Jaehyun’s voice reverberating through the nickname. Suddenly, it felt like there was no air for you to breathe.

“That’s not happening, Yuta. I’m with Jaehyun now”

He scoffed, “Jaehyun? Naeun’s puppy? Come on now, we both know you can do better than that”

“Don’t talk about him like that”, you bite back, but he doesn’t budge.

“What kind of boyfriend leaves his girl alone in a party like this?” He grips your chin, making you stare at him face to face, impossibly close. “Look at you. Every single guy in this party wants to fuck you. You expect me to be ok with this?”

Yuta lets his other hand glide on your knee, moving up to your thigh slowly. He smiled at how easy it was to focus on him.

“Do you remember how I made you feel? How I reminded you that you’re mine? You were moaning so loud, Mark thought you’d pass out. You loved it.”

You wanted to scream, tell him that this was the past you, that you couldn’t take going back to him once again and get your heart broken one more time, but you felt helpless around him. The warm feeling was only temporary, it would soon evaporate when you face the fact that to him, you are nothing but a play toy, a possession.

And that’s when Jaehyun barged in through the door. His eyes moved frantically from Yuta’s hands on your thighs, to his band tee you wore, to your discarded top on the floor. He quickly turned red, the color spreading from his neck to his face, then landing on his ears.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my girlfriend?”

You instantly got up, following his thought sequence.

“It’s not what it looks like! He spilled his drink on me and gave me a clean shirt and..and..”

“And you decided to sit on his lap to thank him?”, he mocked you and Yuta laughed.

“Calm down, dude. I didn’t make her do anything. Besides, it’s not the first time y/n found her way over here after some disappointing dick”

Jaehyun grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up from the bed, forcing him to stand and face him. You moved between the two, trying to stop the catastrophe that was about to happen. Jae might have more muscle power than Yuta, but if the whole frat ganged up on him he would have to leave this place in a stretcher.

“Jaehyun please, let’s just go. Baby, please”

The nickname was the only thing that brought him out of his rage and made him listen to you. He let go of Yuta and took your hand, dragging you out of the room.

You were two hallways down when you pulled away, forcing him to stop.

“Why did you have to get so mad?”

“Why the fuck did you go back to him?”

“I didn’t! It was just.. so hard for me to tell him no”

You felt your eyes water with how pathetic you sounded. Jaehyun rubbed his hands over his face, groaning in frustration.

“Don’t you understand how much it fucking hurts? To see you with that guy that treats you like shit when I’m right here, willing to give you everything? When I’m in love with you?”

You couldn’t process what he said because in a moment, his mouth was on yours. The kiss was so different than the one you shared at the hallway of your campus. It was passionate, it was rough, and this time, he monopolized your attention. His lips were determined to bruise into yours, leaving you breathless and causing your back to fall against a wall. It was crowded around you, eyes prying into your intimate moment but to you, the only person around was Jaehyun.

“You smell like him”, he growled, sucking on the tender spot under your ear, “makes me wanna fuck his scent off of you”

That was all you needed to hear. You led him to the frat’s guest room, knowing that Taeil always kept a spare key in the lamp next to the door. Unlocking the door seemed like a tour de force with Jaehyun leaving open mouthed kisses on your neck, but you finally managed to stumble inside. You locked the door behind you, continuing your heated kiss, hands roaming around each other’s body.

He was taller than you, so when you felt him grab your ass with such eagerness, you almost lifted off the ground. You palmed him through his jeans, the roughness of his hard on making your panties stick from wetness just a bit more.

“I want to taste you” you managed through kisses, but he just unzipped your skirt as a response, pulling it to the floor in one hasty move. Petting your clit through your underwear, a shiver ran down your spine, spreading goosebumps all over your arms and legs.

“I don’t think I have the patience for that”

He walked you backwards towards the guest bed, taking his pants and shirt off along the way. You sat on the edge of it and admired his godly proportions, when you took notice of the bruises and scratches that led to your fight on Saturday. Suddenly feeling the need to slow down, you started leaving kisses over each and every one of them. You wanted him to trust you, give in to you completely. He had his flaws just like he said, but you wanted all of him. And you wanted him now.

“I need you, now”, you voiced your thoughts and helped him take off his boxers, revealing his hard cock. He was thick and decently long, making your mouth water and your pussy clench.

Towering on top of you, he removed your panties that were embarrassingly damp at this point, and by his smirk, you knew he noticed.

Jaehyun bent your legs next to your torso, making you expose all of you. He licked his lips as he dove into your lower ones, muttering praises about your “pretty pussy”, turning you impossibly wet.

Jung Jaehyun never disappoints, you thought, because the moment you felt the first lap over your sensitive bud, you got a taste of heaven. He alternated between licking and sucking over the spot that turned you into putty against him. You were already unbearably turned on at this point, and the changing pace of his tongue made you lose your mind.

Your pants and moans only seemed to urge him on, and after a few minutes of his careful treatment you felt yourself getting close. He must have sensed it, because when you grabbed the bedpost in an effort to stop shaking, he stood on his knees, and reached for a condom in his wallet.

You didn’t have time to complain about the denial of your orgasm, and started taking Yuta’s shirt off, when he grabbed your hands and placed them back on their previous position on the headboard.

“Don’t”, he said sternly as he lined himself up your entrance, “I want to fuck you in his shirt”

There was no time to think about whether his request was healthy or not, because when you felt him stretch you out, the only thing on your mind was him and his dick.

You let out a deep moan and he took it as a sign to screw himself deeper inside you. Your pussy gushed uncontrollably, filling the room with the lewd sounds of skin slapping against skin. You unlaced your fingers and ran them down his back, ghosting them over the dimples that had affected you so much.

Jaehyun lowered himself, letting his chest touch yours, and you could feel his abs contracting over the fabric of Yuta’s shirt.

“I bet he’s never eaten you out like that, yeah?”

“N-no, never, ahh”

He sat up again, putting your legs over his shoulders and lifted your butt off the mattress, gripping your hips to steady himself before continuing his incredible pace.

“You’re mine, aren’t you baby? Mine to give you everything.”

The position felt divine. He was hitting it incredibly deep, reaching the spot that had you moaning so loud you were thankful for the unbearably loud music of the party. You were sure his fingers would leave a mark over your hipbones but you didn’t care, the pain only accentuating the warm feeling in your belly.

“J-Jae don’t stop - fuck don’t stop I’m gonna cum”

He leaned over, grabbing your face that was contorting in pleasure.

“Look at me when you cum for me”, he demanded, and when you rolled your eyes behind your head, letting go, he let out his first moan for the night.

He kissed your lips sweetly, helping you ride out your high.

“You’re so beautiful, my baby. So, so beautiful”, he praised and you submitted fully to him. He turned your body around, positioning you in all fours, and you wondered where the gentle boy you met at Johnny’s house went. His dick buried in you once again, spreading your juices around and the sensitivity of your previous orgasm made you aware of every single inch.

“So fucking tight”

Jaehyun didn’t go easy on you. He saw how much you liked it, how you were pushing your ass against his cock. He pounded in and out of you with the intention of fucking your thoughts out, and that’s just what he did. When the feeling got too much, and making any sort of noise seemed like a feat, you felt him push your hair back, and start biting on your neck, most definitely leaving a mark.

“I’m gonna cum. Fuck, I’m gonna cum”, he muttered, his voice wavering and you felt him release in the condom inside you.

It took a while for the both of you to regain your breaths. Jaehyun’s chest was heaving up and down as you rest your head on top of it, not brave enough to break the silence.

“I’m sorry”, he finally said and started petting your hair lovingly.

“About what?”

The bed was foreign and small but you both stayed still, wanting to bask a little more in the peacefulness of the moment.

“About getting so possessive, and saying all these things out of jealousy. I acted just like him..”

You kissed his left peck, listening to his heart that was starting to beat in a faster pace.

“Jaehyun, you’re nothing like Yuta. I get how you felt, I feel the same way when I think about you with Naeun”

He took your hand that was resting on his abs and planted a kiss on your palm. Your heart did a flip and you were pressed so close together, he sure must have felt it.

“I should have told you about her sooner. About the fights and how I let her go because of you. I was in denial about my feelings for you because-“

He stopped mid sentence, wary of the way his words would come off to you. Jaehyun was a proud man, but he opened up his heart tonight, admitting he was in love with you. He had already exposed so much of himself that you gave him the time he needed to organize his thoughts.

“Because I was insecure. That you would never like someone like me. That Naeun was right. That you were only interested in playing pretend with me and didn’t mean any of the things you said, and I let myself get carried away in a lie”

You and Jaehyun were two lost souls, trying to break free from the constraints your insecurities built up for you. You didn’t have to succumb to your masochistic tendencies anymore, wasting your time in heartless lovers because now you found him and he found you. Both unable to see any value in themselves, but more that willing to treasure the other. And that was enough for you.

“I’d be honored to be loved by someone like you. Baby.”

#jaehyun smut #nct jaehyun #nct smut #jung jaehyun #yuta smut #jaehyun angst #yuta scenarios #jaehyun scenarios #nct scenarios #nct au #nct 127

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kingandfireheart · 4 years ago

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Lucien Vanserra Sass Appreciation Post

For more serious Lucien content see my other posts:

What the fuck is happening in the Autumn Court series Part 1 (Eris) and Part 2 (Lady of the Autumn Court)

What stories are left: Lucien

When Lucien introduces himself:

"Lucien," my captor said quietly, the name echoing with a hint of a snarl. "Behave."

Lucien went rigid, but he hopped off the edge of the table and bowed deeply to me. "My apologies, lady." Another joke at my expense. "I'm Lucien. Courtier and emissary." He gestured to me with a flourish. "Your eyes are like stars, and your hair like burnished gold."

When Lucien is intrigued by Feyre:

"Well," Lucien said, his remaining russet eye fixed on me, "you don't look half as bad now. A relief, I suppose, since you're to live with us. Though the tunic isn't as pretty as a dress."

When Lucien wants to know if Feyre thinks he's hot:

"Thank you for the meal," I said. It was all I could think of. "Won't you stay for wine?" Lucien said with sweet venom from where he lounged in his seat. I braced my hands on my chair to rise. "I'm tired. I'd like to sleep." "It's been a few decades since I last saw one of you," Lucien drawled, "but you humans never change, so I don't think I'm wrong in asking why you find our company to be so unpleasant, when surely the men back home aren't much to look at." At the other end of the table, Tamlin gave his emissary a long, warning look. Lucien ignored it. "You're High Fae," I said tightly. "I'd ask why you'd even bother inviting me here at all-or dining with me." Fool-I really should have been killed ten times over already. Lucien said, "True. But indulge me: you're a human woman, and yet you'd rather eat hot coals than sit here longer than necessary. Ignoring this"-he waved a hand at the metal eye and brutal scar on his face-"surely we're not so miserable to look at."

When Feyre leaves their first dinner together:

He gave a distant nod and motioned for me to leave. Dismissed. Like the lowly human I was. Lucien propped his chin on a fist and gave me a lazy half smile. Enough. I got to my feet and backed toward the door. Putting my back to them would have been like walking away from a wolf, sparing my life or no. They said nothing when I slipped out the door. A moment later, Lucien's barking laugh echoed into the halls, followed by a sharp, vicious growl that shut him up.

When Lucien notices Feyre checking him out:

Lucien paused, and I found him smirking at me, making the scar even more brutal. "Were you admiring my sword, or just contemplating killing me, Feyre?"

When Lucien is a sarcastic motherfucker:

“So is this what you do with your lives? Spare humans from the Treaty and have fine meals?” I gave a pointed glance toward Tamlin’s baldric, the warrior’s clothes, Lucien’s sword. Lucien smirked. “We also dance with the spirits under the full moon and snatch human babes from their cradles to replace them with changelings–”

When Lucien describes Amaratha perfectly:

"What happened to the magic to make it act that way?" Lucien let out a harsh laugh. "Something was sent from the shit-holes of Hell," he said, then glanced around and swore. "I shouldn't have said that. If word got back to her-"

When they run into the Boggee:

"I heard its voice in my head. It told me to look." Lucien rolled his shoulders. "Well, thank the Cauldron that you didn't. Cleaning up that mess would have ruined the rest of my day." He gave me a wan smile. I didn't return it.

When he gives Feyre a title:

"Are you a warrior, though?" Would you be able to kill me if it ever came to that? Lucien huffed a laugh. "Not as good as Tam, but I know how to handle my weapons." He patted the hilt of his sword. "Would you like me to teach you how to wield a blade, or do you already know how, oh mighty mortal huntress?

When Lucien just needs someone to spar with:

“Do you ever stop being so serious and dull?" "Do you ever stop being such a prick?" I snapped back. Dead—really, truly, I should have been dead for that. But Lucien grinned at me. "Much better.

When Lucien and Feyre spend quality time together:

Over the next three days, I found myself joining Lucien on Andras's old patrol while Tamlin hunted the grounds for the Bogge, unseen by us. Despite being an occasional bastard, Lucien didn't seem to mind my company, and he did most of the talking, which was fine; it left me to brood over the consequences of firing a single arrow. An arrow. I never fired a single one during those three days we rode along the border. That very morning I'd spied a red doe in a glen and aimed out of instinct, my arrow poised to fly right into her eye as Lucien sneered that she was not a faerie, at least. But I'd stared at her-fat and healthy and content-and then slackened the bow, replaced the arrow in my quiver, and let the doe wander on.

When Lucien diagnoses Faerie problems perfectly:

A brush of ice slithered across my nape. "He would be that brutal?" Lucien studied the wine in his goblet. "You don't hold on to power by being everyone's friend. And among the faeries, lesser and High Fae alike, a firm hand is needed. We're too powerful, and too bored with immortality, to be checked by anything else."

When Lucien is told to Back Off, so he exacts his revenge:

Lucien's russet eye was bright, though the smile he gave me didn't meet it. The face of Tamlin's emissary-more court-trained and calculating than I'd seen him yet. "I'm unavailable today," he said. He jerked his chin to Tamlin. "He'll go with you." Tamlin shot his friend a look of disdain that he took few pains to hide. His usual baldric was armed with more knives than I'd seen before, and their ornate metal handles glinted as he turned to me, his shoulders tight. "Whenever you want to go, just say so." The claws of his free hand slipped back under his skin. No. I almost said it aloud as I turned pleading eyes to Lucien. Lucien merely patted my shoulder as he passed by. "Perhaps tomorrow, human."

When Lucien hides:

"I had to go sort out some hotheads on the northern border-official emissary business," he said, setting down the hunting knife he'd been cleaning, a long, vicious blade. "I got back in time to hear your little spat with Tam, and decided I was safer up here. I'm glad to hear your human heart has warmed to me, though. At least I'm not on the top of your killing list."

When Lucien and Feyre become friends after he tells her how to trap a Suriel:

Another riddle-and another bit of information. I said, "It's a good thing that while you have superior hearing, I possess superior abilities to keep my mouth shut." He snorted as I took the knife from the table and turned to procure the bow from my room. "I think I'm starting to like you-for a murdering human."

When Lucien is day drinking and living his best life:

“Would you like me to grovel with gratitude for bringing me here, High Lord?" "Ah. The Suriel told you nothing important, did it?" That smile of his sparked something bold in my chest. "He also said that you liked being brushed, and if I'm a clever girl, I might train you with treats." Tamlin tipped his head to the sky and roared with laughter. Despite myself, I let out a quiet laugh. "I might die of surprise," Lucien said behind me. "You made a joke, Feyre." I turned to look at him with a cool smile. "You don't want to know what the Suriel said about you." I flicked my brows up, and Lucien lifted his hands in defeat. "I'd pay good money to hear what the Suriel thinks of Lucien," Tamlin said. A cork popped, followed by the sounds of Lucien chugging the bottle's contents and chuckling with a muttered, "Brushed.”

When Lucien is incredibly casual for a guy going to an orgy:

What?”

Lucien laughed. “Yes—all those female faeries around you were females for Tamlin to pick. It’s an honor to be chosen, but it’s his instincts that select her.”

“But you were there—and other male faeries.” My face burned so hot that I began sweating. That was why those three horrible faeries had been there—and they’d thought that just by my presence, I was happy to comply with their plans.

“Ah.” Lucien chuckled. “Well, Tam’s not the only one who gets to perform the rite tonight. Once he makes his choice, we’re free to mingle. Though it’s not the Great Rite, our own dalliances tonight will help the land, too.

When Lucien is the mom friend:

"You look . . . refreshed," Lucien observed with a glance at Tamlin. I shrugged. "Sleep well?" "Like a babe." I smiled as him and took another bite of food, and felt Lucien's eyes travel inexorably to my neck. "What is that bruise?" Lucien demanded. I pointed my fork to Tamlin. "Ask him, he did it." Lucien looked from Tamlin to me and then back again. "Why does Feyre have a bruise on her neck from you?" he asked with no small amount of amusement.

When Lucien loves drama:

"Accountable?" I sputtered, placing my hands flat on the table. "You cornered me in the hall like a wolf with a rabbit!" Lucien propped an arm on the table and covered his mouth with his hand, his russet eye bright. "While I might not have been myself, Lucien and I both told you to stay in your room," Tamlin said, so calmly that I wanted to rip out my hair. I couldn't help it. Didn't even try to fight the red-hot temper that razed my senses. "Faerie pig!" I yelled, and Lucien howled, almost tipping back in his chair. At the sight of Tamlin's growing smile, I left.

When Lucien bolts:

“I had to keep my hands clenched at my sides to avoid wiping my sweaty palms on the skirts of my gown as I reached the dining room, and immediately contemplated bolting upstairs and changing into a tunic and pants. But I knew they’d already heard me, or smelled me, or used whatever heightened senses they had to detect my presence, and since fleeing would only make it worse, I found it in myself to push open the double doors.

Whatever discussion Tamlin and Lucien had been having stopped, and I tried not to look at their wide eyes as I strode to my usual place at the end of the table.

“Well, I’m late for something incredibly important,” Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay, the fox-masked faerie vanished.

When Feyre goes to a party:

"Cauldron boil me," Lucien whistled as I came down the stairs. "She looks positively Fae." ...

I squared my shoulders, disinclined to let him see how much his words or voice or sheer well-being impacted me. Not yet. "I'm surprised I'm even allowed to participate tonight." "Unfortunately for you and your neck," Lucien countered, "tonight's just a party." "Do you lie awake at night to come up with all your witty replies for the following day?" Lucien winked at me, and Tamlin laughed and offered me his arm. "He's right,"....

"So there's singing and dancing and excessive drinking," Lucien chimed in, falling into step beside me. "And dallying," he added with a wicked grin.

When Lucien plays a prank:

"I also remember you telling me how witchberries were harmless, and the next thing I knew, I was half-delirious and falling all over myself," I said, recalling the afternoon from a few weeks ago. I'd had hallucinations for hours afterward, and Lucien had laughed himself sick-enough so that Tamlin had chucked him into the reflection pool...."

When Feyre gets drunk of Faerie Wine:

“Tam would gut me if he caught you drinking that.”

“Always looking after your best interests,” I said, and pointedly chugged the contents of the glass. It was like a million fireworks exploding inside me, filling my veins with starlight. I laughed aloud, and Lucien groaned.

“Human fool,” he hissed.

But his glamour had been ripped away. His auburn hair burned like hot metal, and his russet eye smoldered like a bottomless forge. That was what I would capture next.

“I’m going to paint you,” I said, and giggled—actually giggled—as the words popped out.

"Cauldron boil and fry me,” he muttered, and I laughed again.”

When Lucien is hungover and third-wheeling:

Lucien kept rubbing at his temples as he ate, unusually silent, and I hid my smile as I asked him, “And where were you last night?” Lucien’s metal eye narrowed on me. “I’ll have you know that while you two were dancing with the spirits, I was stuck on border patrol.” Tamlin gave a pointed cough, and Lucien added, “With some company.” He gave me a sly grin. “Rumor has it you two didn’t come back until after dawn.” I glanced at Tamlin, biting my lip. I’d practically floated into my bedroom that morning. But Tamlin’s gaze now roved my face as if searching for any tinge of regret, of fear. Ridiculous. “You bit my neck on Fire Night,” I said under my breath. “If I can face you after that, a few kisses are nothing.” He braced his forearms on the table as he leaned closer to me. “Nothing?” His eyes flicked to my lips. Lucien shifted in his seat, muttering to the Cauldron to spare him, but I ignored him. “Nothing,” I repeated a bit distantly, watching Tamlin’s mouth move, so keenly aware of every movement he made, resenting the table between us. I could almost feel the warmth of his breath. “Are you sure?” he murmured, intent and hungry enough that I was glad I was sitting. He could have had me right there, on top of that table. I wanted his broad hands running over my bare skin, wanted his teeth scraping against my neck, wanted his mouth all over me. “I’m trying to eat,” Lucien said.”

When Lucien drops one of the best lines in the book:

"I see," I lied, not quite seeing at all. Lucien chuckled, sensing it, and I glared sidelong at him. "You've been noticeably absent again." He used the dagger to clean his nails. "I've been busy. So have you, I take it." "What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded. "If I offer you the moon on a string, will you give me a kiss, too?"

When Lucien doesn't know what is coming in the future:

Downstairs, Lucien snorted at the sight of me. "Those clothes are enough to convince me I never want to enter the human realm." "I'm not sure the human realm would know what to do with you," I said. Lucien's smile was edged, his shoulders tight as he gave a sharp look behind me to where Tam was waiting in front of a gilded carriage. When he turned back, that metal eye narrowed. "I thought you were smarter than this."

When Lucien admires Feyre's attitude:

“Don’t you understand what Rhys is?” “I do!” I barked, then sighed. “I do,” I repeated, and glared at the eye in my palm. “It’s done with. So you needn’t hold to whatever oath you swore to Tamlin to protect me—or feel like you owe me anything for saving you from Amarantha. I would have done it just to wipe the smirk off your brothers’ faces.” Lucien clicked his tongue, but his remaining russet eye shone. “I’m glad to see you didn’t sell your lively human spirit or stubbornness to Rhys.”

When Lucien is a fashionista:

Lucien had gifted both to me—the dagger during the months before Amarantha, the belt in the weeks after her downfall, when I’d carried the dagger, along with many others, everywhere I went. You might as well look good if you’re going to arm yourself to the teeth, he’d said.

When game recognize game

“Cursebreaker,” some murmured. “Blessed,” others whispered.

I made a show of looking surprised—surprised and yet accepting of the Cauldron’s choice. Tamlin’s face was taut with shock, the Hybern royals’ nothing short of baffled.

But I turned to Lucien, my light radiating so brightly that it bounced off his metal eye. A friend beseeching another for help. I reached a hand toward him.

Beyond us, I could feel Ianthe scrambling to regain control, to find some way to spin it.

Perhaps Lucien could, too. For he took my hand, and then knelt upon one knee in the grass, pressing my fingers to his brow.

When Lucien is scared of Amren:

“I think Amren would probably deny that she feels any affection for us—”

“Amren is a bedtime story they told us as younglings to make us behave. Amren was who would drink my blood and carry me to hell if I acted out of line. And yet there she was, acting more like a cranky old aunt than anything.”

“We don’t—we don’t enforce protocol and rank here.”

“Obviously. Rhys lives in a town house, by the Cauldron.” He waved an arm to encompass the city.

When Lucien is a little murderous:

“You’re working with that prick,” Cassian cut in, whatever catching-up now over, apparently. He moved to Mor’s side, a hand on her back. He shook his head at Azriel and Rhys, disgust curling his lip. “You should have spiked Eris’s fucking head to the front gates.”

Azriel only watched them with that icy indifference. But Lucien crossed his arms, leaning against the back of the couch. “I have to agree with Cassian. Eris is a snake.”

When Lucien volunteers to go on a quest:

“You will be going into the human territory,” Rhys warned. “I can’t spare a force to guard you—”

“I don’t need one. I travel faster on my own.” His chin lifted. “I will find her. And if there’s an army to bring back, or at least some way for her own story to sway the human forces … I’ll find a way to do that, too.”

My friends glanced to each other. Mor said, “It will be—very dangerous.”

A half smile curved Lucien’s mouth. “Good. It’d be boring otherwise.

When Lucien makes a friend

“Not for long—not if Vassa has anything to do with it.”

“You sound like an acolyte.”

Lucien blushed, glancing at Elain. “She’s got a foul temper and a fouler mouth.” He cut me a wry look. “You’ll get along just fine.”

#lucien vanserra #sass appreciation #this is 90% acotar #I didn't include ACOFAS or ACOSF because his sass is not as strong #other than calling Rhys and Feyre assholes #kp analysis #acotar series #mtp

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sooibian · 4 years ago

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“Clay”-doh

Pairing: Baekhyun x fem!Reader

Genre: Parents AU, tooth rotting fluff

Description: "When was the last time we did something together as a family?" you ask Baekhyun and...it backfires.

Word Count: 1.4k unedited!!!

A/N: Thank you for daydreaming about this cute little scenario @littleflowercrown13 💗 i hope you enjoy!!!!

Scraping your hair up in a bun, you padded into the living room with an idea floating in your consciousness which fortified upon finding your husband sprawled out on the couch, snoring away a beautiful Saturday afternoon while your two year old’s pony plushie had been merrily galloping along his torso.

This is what your weekends had come to - Baekhyun would snatch every minute he could find to take a nap and your little one would unwind in the company of her inanimate playthings. Family time was simply...non-existent! The three of you were together all the time but not really.

Plopping down on the box arm of the couch with a pointedly loud sigh, you tried to shake him awake, your ringleted doll enthusiastically following suit. Baekhyun fought the two of you off by curling up like a shrimp, shoving his face into the pillow and letting out a muffled groan thus inviting a flurry of giggles from the bright eyed little lady whose marigold sized fists danced on her appa’s arm as she excitedly bounced on the balls of her feeties.

“Ow!” Feigning injury, Baekhyun’s hand flew up to his shoulder to block another blow from the marigold fisted warrior princess. But she was caught unawares when he suddenly scooped her up in his arm and put her down on his chest, playful fingers wiggling along her protruding tummy.

More giggles from both father and daughter.

“Why did you wake me up?” grumbled Baekhyun. The entirety of his attention seized by his own miniature version, he masked the annoyance in his tone by wearing a wide grin on his face.

Poking your husband in the side with a bamboo needle (a failed attempt at knitting), you whined, “You’re sleeping all! the! time! I’m bored!” You lifted her off of Baekhyun’s chest, allowing him to sit up straight and stretch his back, only for her to go flying back into his arms again.

“Jagiya, sometimes I wonder who the real two-year-old is!” Baekhyun exclaimed, peppering the high tension baby's face with soft kisses. Their levels of energy had always been directly proportional - you never failed to notice how Baekhyun's effervescence fuelled her tempo. She suddenly seemed like a whole ‘nother person - in complete contrast to the tiny angelic girl who'd been quietly playing with her pony just a couple of minutes ago.

You protested, "When was the last time we did something together as a family?"

He shot you a look in response that said 'That’s rich coming from you!' but his boxy grin made a revival as soon as he set his eyes on the fluff ball in his hands.

You’d admittedly been a spoilsport when it came to participating in Baekhyun planned “activities” but they were simply “not your jam”. A couple of weeks ago, the father daughter duo had decided to dress up as murderous clowns after seeing posters of IT Chapter Two around the city! Murderous! Clowns!! So instead of blatantly refusing their invitation to dress up as one yourself, you volunteered to be their photographer and clean up the mess after.

It was a lesson learnt.

So the next time they were ready to play Masterchef with the Sous Chef’s tush parked on the Head Chef’s hip and altered-to-fit toques perched atop their peanut shaped heads, you slyly feigned a work emergency and asked your husband’s best friend to drop in for sometime to keep an eye on them….and well, avert any potential disasters. You were grateful not to have come home to ruin and debris but to your angels well fed and soundly asleep on the couch with the Head Chef’s bright yellow chick apron soaking up Little Miss Sous Chef’s drool. Thank God!

No, thank Kim Minseok!

“We could do something that’s not...umm..well..” you started hesitantly.

Mischief dancing in his eyes, Baekhyun cracked a sly smile and asked, “Stressful?”

Pursing your lips, you gave him a non-committal nod.

***

“SPA DAY!”

Mirroring her father’s enthusiasm, your little one threw her hands in the air and thundered in baby coo.

Baekhyun had laid down an old rug on the living room floor and together you arranged clay masks, lotions, cotton pads, baby oils, moisturizers...the entire shebang. You excused yourself to the bathroom to cleanse your face while the older troublemaker tossed the younger one into the air, the sound of saccharine giggles and gurgles pervading the entire room.

Your lips unconsciously synced to the words of a familiar song stuck in your head...just this one line playing over and over again as you trotted out of the living room.

‘...I can’t even close my eyes and I don’t know why...guess I don’t like surprises..’

A vague foreboding swiftly crept into your consciousness. Dabbing your face dry, you darted towards the living room with a different tune stuck in your head.

‘Everytime I turn around, something don’t feel right! Just might be paranoid!’

From a distance, everything seemed eerily normal.

Gongju-nim was seated cross legged on the rug, with a fluffy cushion placed against her smol lap on which Baekhyun had his head rested. Rubbing your eyes, you blinked furiously to adjust to the baffling scene before you.

Jaw slacked, you stood watching her pudgy fingers work expertly along Baekhyun’s soft facial skin, evenly spreading the blackish grey gooey clay mask all over his face and neck. A sunflower hair band wearing Baekhyun guided her by occasionally tilting his head from side to side so as to avoid the mouth and eye area.

The two thoughts occupying your mind in the moment were the damage that the clay mask would do to her two year old silken tofu skin and ways to throttle Baekhyun without the teensie warrior princess coming to his defence riding her wee little pony plushie.

But before you could do or say anything, her clay mask wielding fist suddenly went whop on his pursed lips.

Baekhyun’s eyes flew open in horror and the little one burst into another fit of giggles upon seeing her appa’s startled face. You bit on your tongue to hold back your laughter as your husband frantically shook his head to dissuade her but with the competence of a professional, she continued to even out the mask all over his lips.

You quietly went and sat next to her as she reached out for another scoop of the mask from the tub. Aiming a gremlin grin at you, she proudly flaunted her clay covered hands and you realized that she had gloves on. Washed over with relief, you ignored Baekhyun’s clay swaddled cry for help and extended your arms out to her.

But Little Miss Esthetician was all fired up!

She enthusiastically struck her father’s forehead with her tinie palms (yet again you ignored Baekhyun’s pained whimper. After all, he had brought this upon himself) and cooed, “Mama~” gesturing that it was your turn now to avail her valued services.

“Oh, my baby!” you chuckled, “Come here, let’s get you cleaned up.” Gently scooping her up in your arms, you laid her down next to her father.

Now that Baekhyun had been shut up for a good twenty minutes or so, you started to clean the mess off of her hands while berating him in a sing-song voice. “Why did you think it was a good idea to allow her to come in contact with these harsh ~ chemical ~ substances ~ ?”

Brows raised, Baekhyun sat up with a start, shook his head in denial and defended himself with a loud, “Mmmm!!!”

You knew that the mask, made entirely out of quality, kid-friendly natural ingredients, was relatively safe but you were simply not the parent who took risks. You were pulled out of your reverie by gongju-nim dissolving into another fit of giggles at the sound that came out of her appa’s sealed mouth. Amused, you smiled down at her and continued, “It could’ve gone into her eyes, Baekhyunnie ~ or her mouth ~” In hindsight, it was an ill-timed joke but Baekhyun’s lips curled up in an endearing clay laced smile and his eyes crinkled into half moons.

Your out-of-tune complaining was drowned out by the overwhelming feeling of love that blossomed in Baekhyun’s heart for his chaotic little family. He quickly sneaked a picture of the three of you - him with his clay mask on and his beautiful ladies in the background, faces lit up by the other’s bright smile - and gleefully shared it with his 20.9 million followers. He then grabbed a box of tissues to help you clean the mess that he'd inadvertently yet expectedly made.

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young-dumb-and-vaccinated · 3 years ago

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The Sommelier (Hannigram x Female!Reader) pt. 22

Hannibal and y/n arrive at Camp Big Brother and receive an unusual greeting.

@dovahdokren @deadman-inc-bikeshop @lov3vivian @wisesandwichshark @scpdragon

Trigger warnings: guns, threats of violence, cult stuff, brief mention of North Korea

The car ride up to the mountain introduced you to a new feeling. You thought it similar to that of prisoners on their way to be executed. The comfortable numbness of accepting your rapidly-approaching demise.

The road only brought you so far. It turned into a dirt path, which then turned into just the imprint of tire tracks. Your car wasn’t equipped for mountainous terrain, so you had to get out and walk. You weren’t ill-prepared for a hike; you made a point to change clothes before leaving the house, and your work shoes were worn-in enough to withstand a trek through the forest. You only feared losing one of your gloves.

It was Hannibal you were worried about. You’d never seen him in anything but a full three-piece suit and today was no exception. He’d taken off his jacket and vest, but having to hike in suit pants and dress shoes was far from ideal.

You were in the middle of a game of ‘how many 12 gauge bullets can I fit on my person’ when you heard the rumbling of an ATV coming down the track. You loaded a shell into the gun and watched it turn the corner and stop in front of you. Hannibal stood behind you, looking dignified as ever.

The driver dismounted the vehicle and took off their helmet. The woman beneath the helmet looked like she’d either lived a hard 20 years or an easy 50 years. You didn’t pay much attention to her face. She looked nourished and had a head full of hair, so she wasn’t one of Chase’s slaves.

“Are you ‘prefect’?” You asked, squinting at her from behind the gun. “Or ‘Aunt Lydia’?”

“You must be [F/N] [L/N].” The woman said. “Vanguard sent me to pick you up, but didn’t say anything about a guest.”

“What’s to stop me from blasting your head off, taking that ATV and going up there myself?” You spat.

The woman disregarded your question. She pulled a walkie-talkie from her belt and clicked it on. “Vanguard, [L/N] is here and she brought a friend.”

The device crackled, then Chase spoke. “Is it a cop?”

The woman scanned Hannibal up and down. “No.”

“Let her off with a warning, then.” Chase instructed. “She knew the rules.”

“You heard the man.” She pulled a pistol from her holster and pointed it at Hannibal with full intentions to shoot him dead. He put his hands behind his head, but didn’t seem at all fazed.

You aimed the gun at the woman’s head. “I don’t think you want to do that.”

“Don’t waste your ammo, love.” Hannibal said to you. “She’s obviously bluffing.”

“You want to find out?” She pulled the hammer back.

“Hannibal, she’s not bluffing!” Your voice started to shake.

“Yes she is, darling.” He insisted. “Nobody would be stupid enough to fire off a shot this close to an active naval base.”

She lowered her pistol. “What are you talking about, there’s no military base up here.”

“Of course there is.” He refuted. “Camp David is within a few miles of here.”

For a moment, she looked genuinely fearful. You thought you saw her cult mask begin to slip as she remembered that there was a world outside of the one Chase cultivated.

“Oh.” Hannibal feigned surprise. “That is, unless, Chase Mulvaney didn’t tell you.”

The woman narrowed her eyes. “I’m his right-hand woman, he tells me everything.”

Hannibal clicked his tongue. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it seems he sees you as just as disposable as Catherine Miller. He sent you down here to kill anyone [F/N] brought along with her, catching the attention of the military personnel on base and ultimately throwing you under the bus.”

“He wouldn’t.” She snapped. “Chase loves me like a sister.”

“I’ll bet that’s what he tells the other girls.” You commented.

Judging by the look on her face, you were right. And you struck a nerve.

“But, if you are so inclined to do Chase’s dirty work for him,” Hannibal said, loosening his collar. “At least try not to get blood on my suit pants.”

She held the gun out for a few moments, then dropped it. “He would want to kill you himself.”

“That’s more like it.” You said, mounting the vehicle with your gun slung over your back.

“Vanguard doesn’t mind two armed strangers on his property?” Hannibal asked, having to yell over the revving of the engine.

The woman scoffed. “It doesn’t make any difference. Bullets don’t work on Vanguard.”

You furrowed your brow. “What?”

“Vanguard is blessed with the armor of Christ.” She said, with 100% conviction. There wasn’t a trace of irony or sarcasm in her voice. “No bullets can pierce his earthly flesh.”

“Do you actually believe what you’re saying, or is this all some kind of fucked-up extended metaphor?” You asked.

“Vanguard proved it in chapel.” She insisted. “He fired a gun at his chest and it didn’t puncture him! The bullet just crumpled against his chest.”

“Wow.” You said, flatly. This person’s rationality was so scrubbed away, she could be fooled by even the lamest of magic tricks.

“The people of North Korea believe that Kim-Jong Il is responsible for inventing the hamburger.” Hannibal whispered to you. “Because they don’t have access to any information that proves otherwise.”

“Yeah, we’re about to ‘prove otherwise’ alright.” You muttered back with a smile.

After a few minutes, the outline of a building appeared. As you grew closer, you saw a cheaply-constructed cabin made for quantity, not quality. Next to it was a chapel, but it was only identifiable as such because of the massive cross. With industrial metal siding and no visible windows, it resembled a bomb shelter.

The woman unceremoniously dumped you both off the ATV at an opening in the razor wire fence.

"Morning devotional is at eight." She explained. "You'll hear the bell ring. You'll be expected to attend, of course."

"I don't give a shit what you expect." You shook your head. "I don't owe you fucks anything."

"But you owe Jesus everything." She said, matter-of-factually.

“What in the Midsommar fuck is this?” You said, squinting in the early daylight.

“Come on.” Hannibal took your gloved hand in his. “Let’s find our Will.”

The sun was just beginning to rise over the mountains off in the distance, coloring the sky as red as the blood on Chase's hands.

"It's going to be light soon." Hannibal whispered. "We only have so long before people start to wake up."

"So where do we check first?" You asked.

"At eight, the chapel will be full and the cabin will be empty." Hannibal pointed out. "That gives us fifteen minutes to search the chapel until people start filing in."

You nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

You snuck towards the entrance to the chapel and crept inside without a sound. One look and you knew you had a lot of ground to cover in only fifteen minutes.

The chapel looked like the inside of a shipping container. You knew that growing up Catholic gave you a certain image of how church should look, but this was hardly a structure, let alone a place of worship. Much like the outside, the only feature that identified this building as a church was the massive cross, which was not even mounted on the wall or suspended from the ceiling. It just laid lazily against the back wall. A couple of folding tables with some linens draped over them made up a bare-bones altar, decorated with nothing but a couple of candles. The high windows gave the chilling feeling that the room was underground.

"You'd think with ninety million dollars, they could afford some real chairs." You commented, looking disgustedly at the rows of folding chairs.

"This isn't a summer camp." Hannibal observed. "This is a military base."

Your foot hit a loose tile on the ground. You took a knee and grabbed it. A whole patch of tiles lifted with it, revealing a small secret door.

“I think you might be on to something.” You said, looking up at Hannibal.

You slung your gun over your back and carefully descended the ladder while Hannibal kept watch.

“It’s dark down here.” You called up. You heard the striking of a match and Hannibal handed you a lit candle. You were about to thank him when the sharp tones of a bell cut through the silence.

“Shit.” You cursed. “Hannibal, close the hatch.”

“I’m not going to leave you.” Hannibal’s voice hardened.

“This bunker is narrow as Christ’s asshole.” You said. “I can handle it. You need to investigate the cabin.”

“Darling-”

“Go to the cabin. Now.” You demanded. “I’m not asking.”

Hannibal smiled down at you, feeling a sense of pride. He knelt down beside the trap door, and reached for your hand. He removed your glove and pressed his lips against your skin. “Godspeed, my indulgence.”

You saluted. “And also with you.”

#hannibal lecter #hannibal x you #hannibal x reader #hannibal nbc #the sommelier #will graham #hannibal x you x will #hannigram x reader #will graham x reader #will graham x you #catholic humor #can y'all tell i'm an excat #the lord be with you #and also with you

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timextoxhajima · 4 years ago

Text

The Boyz as things and feelings (just cause)

this is a small thing @haechanhues needed help with so i decided to make it an actual post uwu [this is gonna be pretty long cause i might write little scenarios]

[THE BOYZ AS THINGS AND FEELINGS]

SANGYEON - MIRRORS AND PILLOWS

mirrors make a place look bigger than it really is - i feel like sangyeon has that ability to make you feel like you’re more important on your worst days

the things he’ll do just to make sure you’re alright, even when he knows you’re not

he also has the ability to reflect what you need: sad? he’ll come and hug you and let you cry or talk about your shitty day. happy? he’ll joke about the way you snort while laughing then he’d probably do something dumb to keep the energy up there

mirrors also feel very private and at-home, and that exactly how i feel he curates an environment

pillows are self-explanatory ig, smth to cry into, smth to fall asleep with while hugging, has the best homely scents ever, very comfortable

i imagine going home after a long day and finding your partner also tired, but he’s cooking or like in the couch watching tv and he just invites you into his arms uwu

“tell me about everything! whatever that makes you happy or sad and i’ll try my best to be who you need at that point of time!”

JACOB - FLOWERS AND MUSIC

ok like jacob with a guitar is just a stellar sight to behold, he looks like he was born to hold one, and his vocals are super underrated imo, most of tbz’s discography doesnt really suit his voice - i really wish he had a chance to have more lines in more ballads or maybe even a solo thing

he would drag you out to go on walks after he knows you’ve buried yourself in your work the whole day, and he’d be the kind to stop at a pretty flower and contemplate plucking it but he wouldn’t cause he’s a fairy and wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less a pretty flower

would probably play a piece in the background while you’re stressed w work and hum a tune so the singing wouldn’t distract you

would stop when he notices you stopped working and your sad ass is probably crying lmao

he’s a very soft and gentle man imo

he’s the innocent daisy amidst other bright colored, flamboyant flowers but he still stands out

“i’ll grow you a rose bush in the yard so i don’t have to be sad about plucking flowers next time.”

YOUNGHOON - WINTER COATS AND COFFEE AND PASTRIES

he definitely radiates tsundere vibes on first sight, but when you get to know him, he’s obviously the opposite: a crybaby

but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t keep up his model-like appearances when he’s outside - in fact, he’d be the one to influence you into caring more about how you look (of course not materialistically, but more into actually caring about making yourself feel good with your fashion and appearance)

i chose winter coats as a symbol of coverage - he doesn’t show much of himself unless he’s close to you (like when you wear winter coats to keep warm, he’s a burrito because he doesn’t bother too much about sharing his feelings), but when he does, it feels like he has the ability to keep you warm and comfortable, even on the coldest days, even if his inner savage comes out

it’ll be like he scooped you into his coat and has you warm in one of this inner breast pockets

i see him as the kind to get regular coffee and like, a tart or something, at a cafe. it adds on to the warmth, when he remembers what you like. the details. maybe you like your coffee with cinnamon or less sugar or something, but then he tops it up with a muffin and he knows you like it heated up so he specifically asks for them to do so

ok but he’s defo the kind of guy that catches people’s attention at public spaces so every now and then when he’s laughing or smiling, some girl would gawk at him and he would be embarrassed about it, but lucky for you, you’re already wearing matching coats so they know the man’s taken uwu

“if only they knew how long it took to convince you to wear that coat.”

HYUNJAE - CONCERTS AND CONVENIENCE STORE DATES

classy but calm. dream-like but realistic.

i say concerts as in the instrumental, ballad kinds. he loves it and he knows you probably need the sleep where you have that kind of background white noise/music that provides you the best quality of sleep there is. but when you’re not dosing off, he’s admiring how much time you’re willing to invest into being at something he loves

of course, in turn, he doesn’t complain much when you’re hungry and you meet him down the street at the nearest convenience store for some instant noodles and potato chips with a coke and he lets you ramble about your day

he would probably buy you an ice cream just so you’d feel better, then regret it when you get a stomachache later cause it was like 2am in the morning

you probably have like 5 of his hoodies at home that you refuse to wash cause his scent is tainted all over it and the only time he gets to take them home is when he stays over or visits and he sneaks one into his bag when you’re in the kitchen making tea or a bowl of noodles

then you’ll get it back without even knowing it was gone

the kind that would probably surprise you after a day of work with a casual date idea to the movies, and i mean showing up at your place, impromptu, after he knows you’re home with two tickets

“act like my girlfriend for once and go on a date with me, would you? your work isn’t going to be there with you when you die at 90.”

JUYEON - STARGAZING AND VR GAMES

as dumb and sometimes bimbotic as he seems he is, he’s gotten most of the visible constellations memorised and he would not hesitate from telling you all about his childhood with his family when they would travel and try to spot every single constellation they can remember

which brings me to the point where he remembers what you like, but... backhandedly. he doesn’t remember what you like but he remembers what you hate instead, so you don’t ever have to worry about getting that licorice flavoured jelly bean

he would offer a midnight walk to help you relieve your stress, cause he knows you just like seeing the nightsky amidst the peace and quiet while he rambles on for his own satisfaction. not everything has to be so emotionally attached and shared. you can share blissful moments without being the reason for each other’s and that’s totally fine.

juyeon is kind of a scaredy cat in the sense that he isn’t really into horror movies or games but he’s always had that dream to become a pilot and so for his birthday, you brought him to a vr game arcade where he played some plane simulator and ever since, you’ve been taking turns to surprise each other with a new vr arcade spot or adding on to the vr game console set you have at home

“maybe i should digitalise you so i can see you in the vr game”

KEVIN - KARAOKE SESSIONS AND NEON LIGHTS

the best-friend kind of partner you would come across once in a lifetime

a billion film shots of you after he drags you to the karaoke and he beats you at super intense songs like the bohemian rhapsody just cause he can hit those high notes and solely because he was screaming on the floor when he did it

almost left his film camera behind

absolutely LOVES those walks along streets where there are a million neon lights

would come across that one sus neon light signs that indicate a sex toy store and he would give you that sly smile and probably joke for you to go in

kevin has a moon neon light in his room and you have a star or something (whatever you want)

corrects your grammar and pronunciation, only for you two to bicker about it even more when you use google translation and there are different pronunciations depending on where/what accent you’re using

he really is your light in the dark, even if he’s known to be introverted. once he’s comfortable enough with you, he makes you feel like the most important person in the world

has one of those portable speaker microphones at home and he drones on and on and on with some billie eilish song until you hurl a pillow at him

“so you’re the tough girl, like it really rough girl, justcan’tgetenoughofkevingirl, chest always so puffed girl”

CHANHEE - DUETS AND STRAWBERRY PICKING

(i could not find a more candid, softer aesthetic pic for chanhee rip)

his entire wardrobe fits you - the only problem is that he’ll never let you wear it in fear that you’d stain or tear something

shared playlists because that’s how similar your taste in music is, and so sometimes when you have your earpiece in and you’re humming the melody of that song, chanhee picks it up immediately despite not hearing that song, and ends up harmonising with you

got kicked out of the library once or twice because it was exam period and the two of you won’t shut up

ironically doesn’t sing that much if you’re not around

chanhee is a true blue introvert - which is a miracle that you’ve managed to tear through that barrier of his and find out that he giggles at every stupid thing you do: he’s having a bad day? trip over the pavement. he’ll laugh. it works

dragging him out to go strawberry picking was so difficult - but of course chanhee isn’t safe from how beautiful and enticing the fresh fruits were.

didn’t touch anything strawberry flavoured OR any strawberries for the next month or so

his straightforwardness comes with the breakdown of his barrier - but that’s what brings you comfort. he will never lie, he will only be sarcastic and even then, you’d know it’s true

i used duets as a symbol of harmony and being in-sync, though never really exactly the same, and that’s how it is with chanhee. your thoughts are very similar even though he’s much more introverted than you, but that’s what binds you

“i’m gonna tell the librarian i don’t know you if we get kicked out again.”

CHANGMIN - CITY TOURS AND MATCHING OUTFITS

city tours - the kind that you already know inside out and yet you STILL travel the area as if you were a tourist

that’s exactly how it is with changmin: you know him inside out, after being friends for so long, but it never gets old

you’re used to him biting your hand out of nowhere and yet it startles you all the time. that stupid chucky doll in his living room? old, but it never fails to scare you

he doesn’t ever talk about it that much, but he loves it when you co-ordinate outfits

no, it doesn’t mean you wear couple tees, but it’s aesthetically pleasing to changmin that if he wears cool tones, you would too

he’d be reserved about his thoughts and feelings sometimes but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t think or feel them

there’s a strange sense of familiarity with changmin, because you kind of know what to expect but then you’re never disappointed, you know?

“i got you this white pigeon cause it looks like the one i already got... you can give it back to me if you don’t like it though-” /he takes it before you can accept it/

HAKNYEON - STAND UP COMEDY SHOWS AND RUNNING ALONG THE BEACH

there’s something about ju that makes it very casual and easy-going

he hates horror genred themes so fuck that, he would queue online just for the latest ali wong comedy show, even if it’s an online show, and he would laugh until he cried

sometimes he’s a drama queen but that makes it alot easier for you to know what he’s thinking or feeling - it makes communication alot easier

that means a lack of arguments

he’s also very empathetic but straightforward, exactly like how comedy shows are - because they are relatable, they are funny because they bring out the irony and sarcasm and all the dumb things in life that people are sometimes afraid of talking about and hak just says whatever he wants to say, even if he knows it might be hurtful or upsetting

he prioritises truth and honesty over anything else

it makes you a better person, honestly

beach walks - very calming, very liberating. he lets you yell and scream and kick sand back into the water because you can, and he does it with you

tries to teach you how to skip rocks but you suck and you can’t so he just pulls you away from the pile of rocks you amassed

“flick your wrist like that, not like you’re meowing!”

SUNWOO - SOCCER FRIENDLIES AND STUDIO SESSIONS

he will NOT go easy on you in a friendly match: you might be one of the fastest players of the female team but he’s ruthless in his ball-stealing, so even if you were fast enough to keep the ball out of his reach, he’d still be able to snatch it right out between your feet

very, very competitive and does not like to lose

you would always play the ‘ladies first’ card but then he’d throw the ‘feminism’ card back at you

sometimes you act more like siblings than anything else

the only time when he isn’t fuming with competition is if you’re injured because he accidentally tackled you - he’ll gracefully give himself a yellow card before absolutely trashing you in the next match

has one foot into the production game recently - likes to play with the beat board and mixing tunes, and since you’ve had your hand in doing music remixes for a deejay job before, you’re there to identify which songs have the same bass line or beat counts for easier mixing

would make you a playlist of remixes but wouldn’t admit that he spent a whole day in the studio without you just so it would be a surprise

a soft boy stuck in the wraps of an egoistic man

“a day? please. i illegally downloaded half these remixes off the internet cause i’d think you’re too internet-dumb to find them.”

ERIC - BAKING AND SKATEBOARDING

full of impromptu, casual ideas to hang out

baking is a fucking mess - why did he suggest it when he doesn’t even have the right ingredients?

wanted to replace eggs with water - like ok thats supposedly healthier, but why????????????

he likes cleaning so that was the only fucking bonus in baking - had to call his mom for help halfway through because the cookies looked more like goop than playdough

gave up in the end and he repaid his debt by helping clean your kitchen

tried to teach you how to skateboard, but he ended up falling off his own in the process and now he’s got a grazed knee

the kind of person you’d have so much chaotic fun with, he’s that friend your mom told you to NOT hang out with that much if not you’d get run down by a car

has the most fucking random pieces of clothing in his wardrobe, like where did he even get that pink coat from?

“no you have to do this and like lift up your leg and then kinda rest your weight on it before flicking your ankle and like- whOA- OH OW OHNO OHOHOH OW”

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