#onwards my wonderful audience of like one guy (you know who you are kiss kiss)

[lucabyte]

PURRGATORIO SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT (x)

Doodles for The Mall again because I really enjoy the just. Horrid vibes of this one. Ali what is your fucking problem, man?

Ali's stage-makeup disguise is something I've wanted to get to since Purrgatorio started so I'm jazzed to draw it. They're covered in so much F/X wax where a professional would use latex... This weird little fursona of theirs should be appearing every now and again from hereon...

[sokkastyles]

You might have talked about this before but after reading a lot of your (really insightful) thoughts on A:TLA and Zutara, I was wondering what your opinion is on the "Would a Zutara kiss have worked in the finale" question? I can understand the feeling behind maybe thinking it'd feel rushed or "forced" but I also know that canon ships have happily sailed on a lot less development than ZK (*cough*), especially considering ZK spend 90% of the finale together, beat Azula together, and mutually saved each other lives', y'know? I don't know, part of me feels like the general/casual audience would've been good with it, it'd just be the ship fandoms up in flames about it if they'd had the spine to do it.

Hi! Thank you! I haven’t talked about it, mostly because I’m not that interested in seeing them kiss onscreen. I’m not the kind of person who cares one way or the other whether what I ship becomes canon. I ship based on whether I see chemistry between characters and whether there is a story there to explore, not whether or not they are likely to get together onscreen. I’m also an adult so I am more interested in relationship dynamics than physical intimacy between adolescent characters. I teach middle school and I have taught high school, I look at these kids and I don’t think any of them are old enough to be dating (although kids do it anyway) much less finding their forever partner.

I actually would have preferred no kiss and an ending that focused on the gaang as friends to the ka kiss we got. And if you can imagine that for a second, you can see where ka goes wrong as a ship, because without the endgame kiss, we leave Katara and Aang on a particularly weird note narrative-wise, because their relationship and Aang’s crush on her becomes a loose plot thread, and the last time they interacted they were fighting. The last time Zuko and Katara interacted, on the other hand, left them closer than ever, and was a resolution to their arc. I feel like that’s part of why the ka kiss feels so rushed and awkward, because it’s like the writers realized that they needed to close that plot thread somehow. A kiss was necessary for ka because of the way the writers wrote themselves into a hole, and the kiss wasn’t enough to get them out of it, either. A kiss was also narratively necessary to make Zuko’s relationship with Mai endgame because I, everyone else in the audience, the show, and Zuko literally forgot about Mai up until that point, and it feels even more forced. But a kiss would not be necessary for zutara because the emotional energy between them speaks for itself.

That said, if I could imagine an ending with a zutara kiss, Zuko and Katara have tons of chemistry and I don’t have a problem believing that they could be attracted to each other given the emotional energy between them in the series, BUT in order to make a kiss work within the timeline of the series they would have to make their feelings for each other more explicit than it is in the series. The show definitely teased the ship, and I’ve spoken a lot on that, but it never moves beyond subtext. Even in “Ember Island Players” when Aang is jealous and worries that Katara doesn’t like him back, he never explicitly worries that there is something going on between Katara and Zuko, even after watching the play tease it, for which I am grateful because I really love the Zuko & Aang relationship and I definitely would not want to see any kind of love triangle angst.

However, there isn’t that much you would have to change to make Zuko and Katara’s feelings explicitly romantic. I mean it when I say there’s obvious romantic coding in many of their scenes. Katara and Zuko’s arc from the crystal catacombs onward is almost identical to a breakup and makeup arc. I joked about Katara being angry that she’s attracted to Zuko post “The Western Air Temple” but that’s because her feelings towards him aren’t that far off, she is mad because she did like him before and doesn’t want to admit it to herself. When he asks her what her problem is with him she makes it clear that her feelings for him are different than the others (”I was the FIRST person to trust you.”) A few tweaks here and there and the subtext could easily be brought to the forefront and developed to the point where a kiss at the end could work. What I would do if I were writing it is introduce it after the play. Maybe Zuko and Katara talk about what really DID happen in the crystal catacombs. (”Wasn’t it ridiculous? The idea of us as a couple!” “Yeah, haha...” *significant look of romantic panic*) Especially since the last five episodes of the show seems to do all it can to nuke Katara’s relationship with Aang. It would feel rushed, but not more rushed than the canon relationships (except Sukka because it wasn’t developed at the last minute) do.

The main thing that they would have to change in order to make zutara really happen though is to give Katara much more romantic agency, and her feelings take more precedence in the narrative. A lot of people can’t imagine Katara with anyone but Aang because Katara’s romantic feelings are never allowed to exist independently of Aang. Even Katara’s crush on Jet is meant to show how much of a nice guy Aang is, the purpose of showing her with Jet and Zuko in the play is for the audience to want Aang to get the girl. Even when Mai showed up in the finale my first reaction was “Oh they have to pair Zuko up with someone because Aang ends up with Katara.” It’s all focused on Aang. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because Aang is the main character, but if you’re not invested in Aang getting the girl then that narrative feels particularly insulting.

[365days365movies]

February 22, 2021: Pillow Talk (1959)(Part 1)

Y’know, I actually do like Doris Day.

She’s funny, she’s talented, and she’s a timeless beauty that I remember very well. TOO well. You guys ever have that one thing that your parents crammed down your throat SO MUCH that you got sick of it? Well, that’s what my Mom did with The Thrill of it All.

Which is, for the record, a cute movie, and one worth watching again at some point. But I’m gonna ease my way into that with Doris Day and Rock Hudson’s first movie, 1959′s Pillow Talk. 

However, while I’m not stranger to Doris Day, I’m afraid that I don’t know too much about Rock Hudson from experience. Well, there is one interesting tidbit about him: Hudson was one of the biggest stars of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and his career continued up until his death in 1985...from AIDS-related complications.

Yeah, Rock Hudson was one of the biggest gay celebrities in Hollywood, although he never publicly came out. However, it was somewhat of an open secret in the community at large, and basically all of his female co-stars know about it. 

And said secret was revealed posthumously, after his tragic death during the height of the AIDS crisis. He was by far one of the most high-profile deaths during this time period, and you’d think that would’ve caused more waves about the AIDS-crisis, considering that he was good friends with...well...another actor.

Yeaaaaaaaaah, not gonna get into Reagan and ALL OF THAT SHIT here. This here is a movie blog, not a political blog! But, uh, yeah, a LOT of fucked-up shit about Reagan and the AIDS crisis, obviously, and part of it was Rock Hudson. So, yeah, it’s something that I wanted to address before we got into this whole shindig.

Because, again, I’ve never seen a Rock Hudson movie, but dude was a pretty huge deal, and this was a part of his life that I felt it unfair not to at least acknowledge. SO, with that out of the way, let’s have a little Pillow Talk. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap

We start with that might be one of my favorite opening sequences so far this month, which you can see above. From there, Jan Morrow (Doris Day) wakes up, humming the theme song from the credits, which is clever, considering that she sang it! Talented lady, seriously.

Jan wakes up and goes to the phone, intending to make a call. However, this is where we get a pretty stark cultural difference, and a needed history lesson for some of us, me included. See, Jan’s phone line is actually a party line, seen through this neat little visual edit.

See, this is what’s called a “party line”. From the 1870s onwards, there was a shortage of available phone lines. By the time you get to the ‘60s, more and more people had personal phones in their households, but without enough lines to go around. And so, some people were forced to share their phone lines with others, hence the party line system!

Here’s the thing, though: if somebody was on the line already, anyone else on that line could hear the conversation of other people. Which is exactly what’s pissing of Jan right now, as she needs to make a call, but the line is being used by her party line partner, songwriter Brad Allen, who’s serenading his girlfriend (?) Eileen (Valerie Allen). Not sure that they’re actually dating, but Eileen definitely wants to.

After Jan’s insistence, they get off the phone, and Jan’s able to begin her busy morning at last. Well...almost. Brad’s now talking to Yvette (Jacqueline Beer), and she wants him to sing HER song to her, which is LITERALLY just the Eileen song with a different name and in French! Which is...hilarious. It’s very funny, not gonna lie.

Once again, Jan tells him to get off the party line, and hangs up angrily. She leaves just as her cleaner woman, Alma (Thelma Ritter) arrives, fresh off of a hangover. Jan goes to try and get a line of her own, and the manager, Mr. Conrad (Hayden Rorke) makes a WEIRDLY sexist comment about jumping to the top of the list if she were pregnant. Which, yeah...weird.

Anyway, Jan, in her frustration, tells Mr. Conrad that she’s hired of sharing the line by a “sex maniac.” Mr. Conrad asks for specifics, and is AGAIN WEIRDLY SEXIST ABOUT IT. He asks if his dalliances with other women disturb her in particular. But yeah, he also says that if he is indeed a “sex maniac,” they may need to disconnect him altogether. Which has...uncomfortable undertones all on its own, but whatever, moving on.

On her way to work, Jan’s friend Jonathan Forbes (Tony Randall) shows up to bring her a STRAIGHT-UP CAR, holy shit! He’s doing so to thank her for decorating his offices (she’s an interior decorator, he’s a car dealership owner, so...fair exchange?). She insists that it’s too personal, which confuses him, as it isn’t perfume or lingerie.

But, uh, dude? IT’S A WHOLE-ASS CAR!!! Look, I’m with her on this one, don’t just give me a fuckin’ car out of the blue! I don’t care what the reason is, tell me that shit first! And Jonathan is CLEARLY trying to make it just a little more personal, if you get my meaning.

Jan finally arrives at her office, owned by Mr. Pierot (Marcel Dalio), and she tells him that an inspector has been sent to look after Mr. Allen. This inspector is Miss Dickenson (Karen Norris), and being of the wimmins, is immediately entranced by the apparently irresistible Mr. Allen, sabotaging any attempt at inspection.

The next morning, the inspector’s report comes through, and Miss Dickinson has of course cleared him of all charges. He calls her, and the two clash in a way that definitely means they’ll never, ever, ever fall in love, no sir, not these two, not a CHANCE IN HELL

They agree to make a schedule for using the phone, and Brad accuses Jan of being jealous of his free-wheeling, bed-hopping lifestyle, which she takes great offese to. But after they hang up, she thinks on the idea of having bedroom problems. Looks like Jonathan wants to fix that, on account of being the THIRSTIEST MAN ALIVE.

Dude has three three ex-wives, all of which were revolts against his mother, for which he’s seeing a psychiatrist.

...CHRIST, the man’s a walking-talking red flag. Jan also says that she doesn’t love him, like...AT THE FUCK ALL, and the man just straight-up says, “How do you know, we’ve never even kissed.” Ai which point, any normal person would see the phantom neckbeard and whip out the fuckin’ bear mace, but Jan just lets him lean in for the goddamn kiss!!!

Jan...standards, Jan. My God. Anyway, she still turns him down, he asks her to get married again, and she leaves. For God’s sakes, man. Anyway, she goes home, where Alma’s listening to Brad serenade a girl over the party line. Jan notes the time, and tells him to get off the line. He calls back, and tells her off.

Brad gets a visitor: his old college friend FUCKIN’ JONATHAN AGAIN. He bemoans being a millionaire (po’ babyyyyy), then reveals that he’s pining over Jan, whom he doesn’t know is the person on the party line with Brad. He hears a good amount of information about Jan from Jonathan.

After the conversation, Brad tries to somewhat reconcile with Jan, but she doesn’t have any interest in doing so. That night, the two have separate affairs. Brad meets up with a woman named Marie, and  serenades her with the same goddamn song from earlier, that suave motherfucker. Dude flips a switch, and the door fuckin’ LOCKS! Jesus, state-of-the-art hook-up tech of 1959.

Meanwhile Jan is attending a dinner held by an extremely client, Mrs. Walters (Lee Patrick). Needing to get home, she has her son Tony (Nick Adams) give her a ride. But on the way home, they stop and WHAT THE FUCK TONY??? I actually can’t find a clip or GIF of this, so I’ll tell you...he is ALL THE FUCK OVER HER, and it’s GROSS. CAN WE PLEASE STOP SEMI-RAPING DORIS DAY? WHAT THE FUCK, IN NO WAY IS WHAT I JUST WATCHED OK, HOLY SHIT!!!!!

Like...wow, that was the most uncomfortable I’ve felt watching a movie in a WHILE. And it’s not even because of the act itself, it’s because of how...OK it feels in the context of the film. Jan is BARELY upset by this slimy little weasely-faced rapey CREEP LITERALLY ASSAULTING HER IN THE FUCKING CAR. And in case you were wondering, yes! This film was written by FOUR MEN.

This is gross. Sorry, but this whole sequence is gross, and it gets even LONGER, because she AGREES TO GO GET A DRINK WITH HIM. WHY, JAN? STOP ENCOURAGING THIS BEHAVIOR. He tries to get her drunk (but ends up drunk himself), but she tries to leave. However, who should be sitting one table but Brad, who realizes who this is. Jan tries to leave, but Tony tries to get her to dance with him, AND SHE ONCE AGAIN AGREES, JAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!

And its during this time of distress for Brad that, OF COURSE, he finds himself extremely attracted to her. And since he knows who she is, but she doesn’t know him, he decides to fake his identity. And there we go, we’ve got a creepy-ass one-sided relationship set-up.

Meanwhile, lightweight Tony passes out on the floor, drunk as shit. Brad goes into help, putting on a take Texas accent and calling himself Rex Stetson. And OF FUCKING COURSE, she’s lost in his fuckin’ eyes. Damn those eyes, and his suave bullshit.

They shove Tony into a cab, then take his car, which appears to be too small for Brad, which makes sense, given the fact that Hudson was 6′4″, goddamn! The two take a cab, and the two reveal their mutual attraction to the audience, through their inner thoughts. Looks like all Jan needed for a relationship was handsome-ass Rock Hudson.

In her thoughts, she thinks on how honest and down-to-earth Rex Stetson seems, unlike “monsters” like Tony and Brad Allen. And OF COURSE this is how we get this started. OF GODDAMN COURSE this is how we start this relationship. Liar revealed, LIAR REVEALED, I FUCKIN’ HATE THAT GODDAMN TROPE SO MUCH

Soon after “Rex” takes her home, he goes home herself, and gives her a call, inviting her to dinner the following night. She accepts. Then, in the middle of the call, Brad pretends to pick up the line as himself, in order to set up the two identities as being separate...this is reverse You’ve Got Mail, isn’t it?

Think about it. Two people that hate each other, and they’ve never seen one another, but also love each other after meeting in person. IT’S THE OPPOSITE OF YOU’VE GOT MAIL. Ugh. Fine. Even down to the fact that he has a sizeable advantage over her, due to his full knowledge of the situation. He even tries to use his identity as Brad Allen to set-up their date the next night for success.

And it works, goddamn. A clever yet manipulative asshole, this dude is. They get on a horse and carriage, and we hear the inner thoughts of Jan, Brad, and the dude who owns the horse. And, yeah...it’s funny. The two go to dinner, where Jonathan shortly arrives. Brad gets him out of there with...mildly fatphobic means, but it is the 1950s, so things were just kinda...entirely that.

But in any case, Brad gets away with it, and he and Jan spend a hell of a lot of time together going all around the city. And the whole time, he’s playing the role of “Rex.” Ugh. This is a good halfway point, so let’s go to Part 2 here! See you there!

[vampiregirl1797]

Scott McCall: Mates

18+ For Mature Audiences ONLY

GIF Not Mine.

This is the first fic I've posted on Tumbler, so please be kind.

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Scott and Stiles were walking down the street towards Heather’s house. Stiles had been invited to the girl’s seventeenth birthday party and he had invited Scott as he hadn’t wanted to go alone. It hadn’t been an easy task, getting the wolf to come due to him still being hung up on Allison, but after Stiles’ relentless badgering he eventually agreed.

 ‘What?’ Stiles asked, noticing his friend’s stare.

 ‘What do you mean what?’ Scott replied, shrugging his shoulders.

 ‘I mean what, and you know what.’ Stiles said, getting agitated; he was already nervous for the party and now Scott was making him even more agitated.

 ‘What, what?’ Scott frowned.

‘That look you were giving.�� The over-active boy huffed.

 ‘I didn’t give a look-,’ Scott denied but he was cut off.

 ‘No there was a distinct look, Scott.’ Stiles pressed.

 ‘What look?’ Scott asked, looking over to his friend in confusion.

 ‘The look that says the last thing you feel like doing right now is going to a party.’ Stiles accused, pointing his index finger at his best friend before letting it drop.

 He was trying not to get too panicked, they were only a few feet from the party—Scott couldn’t bail now could he? Stiles hoped not. He needed his wingman tonight.

 ‘It’s not that, it just seems a little weird going to a different High School’s party.’ Scott admitted with a shrug.

 ‘Well if you could just—,’ Stiles cut himself off with a sigh, frantically waving around his arms to convey his point, ‘oh my god, one drink alright? You’ll be fine. I went to nursery school with this girl, okay? She promised to introduce us to all of her friends. So, tonight, no Allison, no Lydia, tonight we’re moving on.’

 Scott zoned out near the end of his friend’s pep talk, distracted from the feeling of his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out and his heart skipped a beat and felt like it was being crushed all at the same time. It was Allison. He hesitated, watching it ring and then with a sigh he decided to take his best friend’s advice. He declined the call and put it back in his pocket, squaring his shoulders he turned to Stiles.

 ‘You’re right.’ Scott said, finally coming to the same realisation—he and Allison were over and he needed to stop hanging onto the slim possibility that they would ever be together again.

 ‘That’s right, I’m right.’ Stiles nodded, trying not to act too surprised or excited that Scott had actually agreed with him.

 ‘Moving on.’ Scott said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself as they both came to a stop at the end of the walkway that led to Heather’s house.

 ‘Onward,’ Stiles gestured with his arm, pointing to the sky, ‘and upward.’

 ‘Let’s do this.’ Scott nodded, a small but genuine smile on his face.

 ‘That’s what I’m talking about,’ Stiles nodded, holding up his hand for a high five, ‘now look at me.’

 ‘Okay,’ the wolf said softly, bringing his hand to slap Stiles’ and moving it to reach back to slap it again from behind.

 Both of them walked to the party, this time both of them excited for what the night had the potential to bring. Scott was finally going to start looking at other women without feeling guilty, without feeling like he was cheating on the huntress that had broken up with him all those months ago. And Stiles was ready to get his flirt on and hopefully find someone who was interested in him, with Scott as his wingman he was pretty confident.

 ‘How does my breath smell?’ Scott asked randomly.

 Stiles gave him an incredulous look before answering, ‘I’m not smelling your breath.’

 ‘Do you have any gum?’ the wolf said, suddenly concerned his breath would smell of the lasagne he had for dinner.

 ‘No! No gum,’ Stiles said exasperated, ‘you’re fine.’

 ‘Can you at least tell me what kind of party this is?’ Scott said, trying to forget about his concern over his breath.

 ‘It’s just a birthday party, dude. Not an orgy,’ the honey eyed boy rolled his eyes and pushed open the front door, looking up when he heard his name being shouted.

 ‘Stiles! Hi!’ Heather shouted, clearly happy to see him, though Stiles wondered if that had anything to do with the alcohol he could smell on her breath when she walked over to him and Scott.

 ‘Hey! There’s the birthday gi—,’ he never got to finish because Heather bought her lips to his straight away, catching him by surprise before he responded to the kiss eagerly.

 ‘So glad that you made it.’ Heather said when she pulled back.

 ‘Me too.’ Stiles responded immediately.

 ‘Come down stairs with me and help me pick out a bottle of wine.’ Heather told him, but Stiles didn’t mind in the slightest.

 ‘Yes.’ He agreed, allowing himself to be pulled away as he shot a look of disbelief over his shoulder at his best friend.

 Scott watched the encounter in shock and didn’t realise his mouth was hanging open until his best friend and the birthday girl were completely out of sight. When he did notice he quickly snapped it shut and couldn’t help the smile that formed on his face—it was part disbelief and happiness for his best friend. Shaking his head, he noticed the girl who had walked up with Heather taking him in as if she were deciding if he was worth talking to.

 ‘Hey,’ Scott said, tucking his hands into his pockets and slouching his shoulders almost bashfully.

 He may be much more confident than he had been before he became a werewolf, but he wasn’t used to talking to random girls at parties. Allison had just kind of happened without him planning it or even having to really try. He didn’t know how to talk to girls in this setting and he was hit with a new wave of nerves as he realised this.

 Scott was trying not to be consumed by his nerves, so he almost didn’t notice when the girl walked away after shooting him a ‘no way in hell’ look. He frowned and pursed his lips, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong in those thirty seconds. The wolf didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he was wearing; jeans and a brown Henley shirt—he was dressed similarly to most of the guys here. He let out a sigh, deciding that he wasn’t going to let one girls opinion get to him and headed to find the drinks, figuring he could assess the crowd better from there.

 ‘Wooo! Party!’ A random person screamed, running past Scott so fast that he almost didn’t have chance to move out of the way, even with his supernatural reflexes.

 After a few moments of aimless walking, Scott managed to find the drinks—the keg had been set up in the kitchen and there were various other bottles of cheap liquor. Scott eyed the Jack Daniels Honey with a nostalgic eye before grabbing a red solo cup and filling it halfway with beer from the keg. He had planned on trying to mingle after getting a beverage, but now that he was in the empty, quiet kitchen he was finding it difficult to gather enough motivation to move.

 Scott couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed—this year was supposed to be different. He wanted to be better, a better friend, son a better everything and that had seemed to be a good idea… except that didn’t leave any time to focus on his needs. To focus on what he wanted. He knew deep down he was focusing so hard on being a better person to those he cared about because all of his energy was going into not thinking about Allison. But now he couldn’t escape it. He lost her. She and him were never going to happen again, despite how much he had been hoping it would, hoping it could. And if he was honest a part of him was… relieved. As much as he loved her, being with Allison always ended badly on a whole new scale of awful. It was better for both of them if they just stayed friends.

 The wolf’s attention was broken when he felt a presence join him in the kitchen and he looked over to the new addition with a surprised face that the girl who joined him immediately found adorable. He couldn’t help but notice her beauty; she was wearing a green dress that made her emerald eyes stand out against her olive skin. Her hair was a long caramel blonde that fell down to her waist, which was small enough for Scott to wonder if both of his hands could wind around it and manage to touch. Her hips flared out, drawing his attention to the smooth looking skin of her legs; they were long and the wolf had a hard time looking away from them. She was gorgeous.

 Janelle Southerland was new to Beacon Hills and was struggling to fit in, hence trying to find a place to hide out, but apparently someone else had already had the same idea. She knew coming to this party was a bad idea, and she hadn’t been planning on it, but she had made the mistake of mentioning the invitation to her mom at dinner that night. Which led to her mom practically shoving her out of the door and encouraging her to make friends.

 ‘Sorry I didn’t mean to—,’ Janelle started but cut herself off, realising how stupid apologising for walking into the kitchen was.

 She tried not to blush but it was pointless; her body loved to betray her at the most inopportune moments. Scott couldn’t help but find her bashfulness adorable and for the first time that night his nerves seemed to disappear in the presence of someone who seemed as nervous as he did.

 ‘It’s totally okay,’ the wolf said with a smile that made his dimples stand out, biting his lip to stop it from growing when he heard the girls heartbeat pick up at the sight.

 ‘I’m Janelle Southerland.’ She said, holding out her hand in greeting.

 ‘Scott McCall.’ He returned, shaking her hand and blushing a little when he realised he held onto her for a little too long, ‘so… do you go to the same school as Heather?’

 ‘Uhh… yeah I will be. I just moved here yesterday. I ran into her at the grocery store and she mentioned she had a party tonight. To say I was surprised to get an invitation is an understatement.’ Janelle smiled, helping herself to a cup of beer before leaning next to Scott on the worktop.

 ‘I know what you mean, I’m not even technically invited I just tagged along with my friend Stiles. He grew up with Heather.’ He said, subtly leaning closer to her so their arms brushed.

 ‘Well I’m glad I’m not the only outcast at this party.’ She joked, biting her lip before she took another sip of beer.

 ‘Me too,’ Scott grinned.

 ‘Well as the only two people here who don’t know anyone else, we should do something.’ Janelle declared, turning to place her drink on the counter behind her.

 Scott cocked an eyebrow in surprise, ‘like what?’ he smiled in a way that made Janelle want to kiss him, an urge that took her by surprise.

 ‘I don’t know…’ She trailed off with a laugh, trying to think of something fun to do. In all honesty she was surprised by her own sense of adventure. She was never like this—a week ago she never would have dreamed of walking up to an attractive guy at a party and introducing herself. Janelle had no idea where this confidence was coming from, maybe it was the alcohol, or the comfort of knowing if she embarrassed herself she wouldn’t have to see Scott again seeing as he went to a different school. Either way, she decided to go for it and pretend for one night she was a confident and spontaneous person.

 ‘Lets go swimming.’ She suggested, laughing a little at his dumbfounded expression.

 ‘Swimming? Where? Does Heather have a pool?’ Scott asked, trying to calm his escalating heartbeat.

 ‘There’s actually a lake I used to swim at when I was younger not far from here.’ She suggested, resting her hand on his forearm and using it as leverage to lean up, her face coming to a stop about an inch from his face.

 Scott couldn’t help but stare at her lips before mumbling, ‘I don’t have a swimsuit.’

 ‘You won’t need one.’ She said, her voice dropping to a husky tone when she noticed the hunger in the wolf’s eyes.

 ‘Let’s go.’ Scott said abruptly, his suddenness made her laugh in delight but she allowed him to pull her along towards the front door.

 It didn’t take long for them to reach the lake that Janelle had been talking about; her aunt and uncle used to live here when she was little and Janelle and her mom used to visit them over the summer. They had all spent their fair share of days packing lunch and just chilling out at the lake. That all came to a stop when they moved out of Beacon Hills and to New York; she and her mom still visited them, but it hadn’t been the same.

 Scott and Janelle spent the walk talking about what they had been doing over the summer and both were surprised to find that their activities had been similar. Janelle hadn’t known she and her mom were moving until a few weeks ago and so she had spent the summer reading for the upcoming semester and working at her mom’s dentist office to earn some extra money, much like the beta had. Both were surprised that as they chatted it felt like two old friends catching up, rather than two people who had been strangers only an hour ago. When they finally arrived at their destination Scott hesitated on the bank while Janelle kicked off her shoes and walked to the edge, letting the water touch her feet. Scott watched, awed as for a moment she seemed to forget that he was there with her; she looked completely content and Scott was confused as to why that stirred something deep inside of him.

 Before he could consider it further, Janelle reached down and pulled her dress off over her head, throwing it carelessly behind her. It landed a few feet to the left of Scott—which he could tell from the corner of his eye—but his gaze remained on Janelle and plain cotton black bra and panties she was wearing. She threw an embarrassed look over her shoulder, allowing the wolf to see the blush over her cheeks, before she sank into the water and Scott struggled to close his hanging jaw, completely certain he was staring at her with an expression that was a mixture of amazement, shock and lust.

 ‘You’re not gonna make me do this alone are you?’ Janelle asked with an amused smirk—her head was the only part of her visible above the water, as well as brief flashes of her fingers where she was moving her hands back and forth.

 Her gentle voice snapped the wolf out of his trance and with a shake of his head he started losing clothing. When he noticed her gaze firmly fixed on him as he drew his shirt over his head, he felt himself blush a little until he heard her elevated heartbeat and the smell of her arousal in the air. After that, he was able to gather the courage to unbutton and unzip his jeans; once he’d kicked his shoes off he deposited his pants on the pile of clothing, leaving him only in his boxers. He smiled bashfully when the smell of Janelle’s arousal seemed to grow heavier in the air as he made his way out to her, coming to a stop a mere few inches away. Both of them could feel the attraction zapping between them, but they were waiting for the other one to make a move.

 Scott stared into her eyes, noticing that her green eyes were dilated just as his were. Janelle stared back, her gaze unwavering and she couldn’t help but bite her lip as she wondered how it was possible for her to be this attracted to someone she barely knew, though she had no idea the wolf was wondering the same thing as her as he listened to her heartbeat, feeling both comforted and aroused by the elevated thump thump thump of her heart. Scott’s gaze was drawn to her trapped lip and without thinking about it, he bought his hand to gently caress the side of her face, allowing his thumb to gently pull her lower lip free. What neither of them was prepared for was the warmth and affection generated by the touch; it both contented them and scared them.

 ‘What is that?’ Janelle gasped, scared that she was the only one feeling this connection between them, if she was then there was a slight chance she was going crazy.

 ‘I don’t know.’ Scott admitted with a murmur, stepping closer to the alluring blonde so that his body was flush against hers, a movement that made both of them feel the unexplainable warmth on every inch of their bodies.

 Whatever it was, Scott was powerless to fight it and his submission caused the voice at the back of Janelle’s head to go silent. Instead of trying to resist, she surrendered herself to the connection she felt with Scott, the fact that she hadn’t known him for twenty-four hours didn’t seem to matter anymore, not when she felt like she’d known him for years. Why that was, she didn’t know but she decided she wasn’t going to question it because it felt right.

 As she broke free from her mind she realised that Scott had hesitated from making any further movements, obviously waiting for her to come to her own decision. It made Janelle’s heart squeeze with warmth as she stared into his equally warm brown eyes. He was still caressing the side of her face while their bodies were aligned together, and now she was free from her minor inner turmoil, she could finally grasp that the hard planes of his body were pressed against hers, his bare skin was touching her. Janelle hesitantly bought her hands out of the now very warm water and trailed them up the wolf’s chest, biting her lip to hold back a moan of appreciation. She could feel Scott’s stare on her as her eyes followed the path of her hands, stopping for a moment over his heart and smiling when she noticed it was beating just as fast as hers. When she reached the tops of his shoulders, she surprised them both by using the grip as leverage and reaching up to bring her lips to his.

 For a moment, a brief moment that somehow felt like it lasted much longer, they stayed, paralysed with their lips pressed against each other. Both were overwhelmed by the mere brush of each others lips, their hearts were beating wildly, as one, and the warmth that had grown from a mere brush of skin exploded inside of them like a volcano. Alas, the moment passed and both of them were quick to move. Scott’s hands went to Janelle’s waist, pulling her firmly against him, while one of her hands rested on his shoulder to give her the leverage to remain at his height, while the other tangled furiously in his hair, refusing to let his lips leave hers even for a second.

 Scott was overwhelmed from the passion in the kiss; never had he experienced this kind of hunger when kissing Allison. Never had he felt so many emotions all at once. He felt lust, affection, attraction, desire to protect her and he didn’t know what it meant, but in that moment it wasn’t hard to push down his confusion and enjoy the moment of having a beautiful girl in his arms. When her hands tugged on his hair, he was surprised to hear an approving growl rise from his throat and to his horror, he felt himself begin to change. But before he could panic, Janelle’s hands moved and that was suddenly all he could focus on. They trailed down his arms, pausing at his elbows and jumping to his waist. When they met at the centre of his lower abdomen, above the waistband of his boxers he could feel his eyes glow beneath his eyelids and his claws grew from his fingertips, gently resting on the soft skin of her waist. She hesitated and before Scott could offer any reassurance from the scent of her nerves, one of her hands boldly slid underneath the fabric. The wolf pulled back from the kiss with a groan of pleasure and rested his head in the crook of her neck as her wondering hand found his length and grasped it gently but firmly.

 He gasped when her other hand went to one of his nipples, stroking back and forth over the puckered flesh and mimicking the movements of her other hand. Scott’s claws were still out and when her pace picked up ever so slightly, encouraged by the moans of ecstasy escaping the wolf’s mouth, he felt his fangs grow as well. But for whatever reason, he didn’t feel the need to push her away and get himself under control; all he could focus on was her. Her scent, her heartbeat, her touch, and the kisses she was placing to the side of his neck. In that moment, she was all that existed to him. It was just him and her and he had never felt more at peace before. His hips thrust forward involuntarily when she tugged at his puckered nipple, drawing out a surprising escalation in Scott’s pleasure.

 With boldness he didn’t know he possessed he trailed his fangs over the crook of her neck, releasing a growl when she shivered and gripped him tighter. For a brief moment he had the urge to bite into her flesh, to mark her as his, but he managed to fight it and with self-control he didn’t know he had, he pulled back his fangs and bought his lips to her neck, smiling when she whimpered at the appearance of his blunt teeth lightly biting her neck. Scott could feel himself nearing his end, and he didn’t want to reach it without her. He could smell her arousal in the air and the fact that she was so turned on because of the pleasure she was bringing him made his hips jerk in her hold again. When his hand slipped into her own underwear, she released a gasp of surprise that turned into a moan. Encouraged by her response, Scott’s hands delved further into her folds, marvelling that he could feel her desire despite the presence of the lake water. He knew he was doing something right when she gripped him tighter, increasing her pace and releasing a small growl of her own that went straight to Scott’s groin.

 He could feel the tell tale signs that indicated his orgasm was approaching; the base of his spine was tingling, his eyes were trying to roll back into his head and he was biting his lip so hard he was surprised he didn’t draw blood. But he could feel she was close, too. He let his fingers delve deeper and he easily slid his middle finger into her entrance, his other hand landing in the dip of her spine when her back arched into him, allowing him to move deeper. The sound that escaped his lips at the look of pure uncontained desire on her face couldn’t be described as human, but he felt her get wetter and her walls squeezed his digit, clearly aroused by the animalistic side of him. Scott pumped her softly, matching the pace that she hadn’t relented on him. The whimpers she released were almost too much for him, he could feel himself about to lose it and even though she was close, he knew if he didn’t do something he was going to reach the end before she did, and he didn’t want that. So he removed his other hand from the dip of her spine and bought down to her bra and freed one of her breasts. Before Janelle could even comprehend it, his mouth was sucking on the puckered flesh, his tongue toying with her nipple softly. When he added another finger inside her and tugged on her nipple with his teeth, it was enough to push her over the edge with a scream of incomprehensible pleasure that echoed in the empty space around them.

 Scott’s eyes changed, glowing a golden colour that the beauty in his arms didn’t see with her eyes clenched shut. He released a sound that was both a groan and a growl as he finally allowed himself to join Janelle; he gave in to the pull and fell apart in her hand. Janelle’s pace eased into a gentle caress and Scott’s mouth moved from her breast and kissed it’s way up her body, pausing at her collarbone to suck and nip at the flesh while they both rode out the aftershocks of their orgasms.

 Janelle couldn’t remember for the life of her how they’d got back to the bank and out of the water; after Scott removed his hand from her panties she was too focused on how her bones felt like liquid to pay attention to Scott scooping her up in his arms and carrying her out of the lake bridal style, the next thing she registered was the night sky above her, the stars twinkling against the blanket of darkness. He gently laid her on the grassy bank and laid down next to her, surprised that he was also still out of breath from their escapade. When Janelle rolled over and snuggled into his side he couldn’t fight the smile from lighting up his face if he tried. He wound his arm around her waist, allowing her to fit more snugly into his side, when she started drawing lazy circles on his collarbone he returned the favour on her waist, hoping it had the same relaxing effect her touch was having on him.

 The blonde couldn’t comprehend how comfortable she felt around Scott. They just seemed to fit together as if they had been a couple for years, which both settled her and terrified her. It didn’t make any sense. She didn’t know his middle name, if he even had one, but he made her feel safe. Protected. And more than anything, she was terrified that she was the only one who felt this way. She could feel the nerves threatening to bubble over and she bit her lip trying to regain control of her emotions.

 ‘What’s wrong?’ Scott asked, making her blink in surprise. She hadn’t moved, her hand was still drawing lazy circles on his collarbone and she hadn’t said anything so how did he know there was something wrong with her?

 ‘What do you mean?’ She asked, nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck, allowing his scent to overwhelm her. She couldn’t fight a smile when she felt him shiver.

 ‘You’re upset? Is it because of what we did?’ he said, refusing to drop it, while Scott made her feel safe, she made a protective animal instinct inside him flare up; it wasn’t anything he had ever experienced before.

 ‘No,’ she said and he was assured by the firm tone of her voice. She felt her own skin shiver when Scott started to trail his hand softly up and down her back.

 Scott wondered how he had missed her moving so she was on top of him, her legs either side of his waist, but when she leaned up, using his shoulders as leverage to look him in the eye he couldn’t help but notice their proximity. He prayed a certain part of his anatomy behaved.

 ‘Am I crazy?’ She huffed, elaborating when she saw the confusion in Scott’s eyes, ‘I feel like I’ve known you for years.’

 Scott thought about her words for a minute and realised she was right. He didn’t feel the same nerves or awkwardness he had felt on his first date with Allison. Everything about being with Janelle felt right, natural and he couldn’t believe how close to her he felt in such a short space of time.

 He bought his hand up to caress the side of her face and when she involuntarily leaned into his touch he smiled softly.

 ‘You’re not crazy,’ he promised her, bringing his other hand to her waist, allowing his thumb to gently stroke the exposed skin, ‘I feel it too.’

 ‘You do?’ She said, cursing herself for sounding so vulnerable but at the same time she knew he wouldn’t take advantage of her.

 ‘I do,’ he said, his voice firm and Janelle couldn’t believe how much it affected her.

 When he heard her heartbeat quicken he also noticed her eyes lingering on his lips, which made him smile his dimpled smile. At an inhuman speed he sat up, bringing his upper body flush with hers. They both moaned at the friction created from the movement and the smell of her arousal invaded Scott’s senses and had him thinking one thing that both excited him and terrified him: mine. Before he could ponder what it meant he was distracted by her hands tangling in his hair and tilting his head so that she could bring her lips to his. Both of them released sounds of pleasure when their tongues joined together in a fight for dominance. Both of them were on fire from the heat generated by the kiss and when Scott bought his hands to her chest to massage her breasts, Janelle was certain for a second she was going to spontaneously combust. She decided to return the favour and grinded her hips against Scott’s, when she felt the growl vibrate his chest she couldn’t help but shiver from the anticipation.

 The wolf made a sudden movement that had Janelle blinking in surprise when she felt the cool blades of grass meeting her back. Scott pulled back from the kiss and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her underneath him, her hair fanned out around her, her lips bruised from their kiss and her green eyes dark with uncontained desire. He blinked and resumed his task, bringing his lips to the crook of her neck and was both surprised and irritated that the urge to mark her there overwhelmed him for the tiniest moment again. He fought the urge, instead nipping and sucking on the sensitive skin enough to mark her in a different way. Her hands curled into his hair while her hips squirmed underneath him, making it incredibly difficult to take this slow as the friction she was creating was driving him wild.

 His hands trailed down her body, moving to her back to gently unhook her bra. Scott’s hands didn’t leave her skin as he bought the straps down her arms before throwing it over to the pile of clothing that wasn’t that far above them. His hands went to her breasts first, massaging them and then softly pinching the puckered flesh in between his thumbs and middle fingers. His lips kissed down to her chest, nipping her collarbone on the way and when he removed one hand from her breast to take her nipple into his mouth, Janelle let out a sound that was a mixture of a scream and a moan as her back arched. Scott’s now free hand used that moment to slide into the dip of her spine using the hold to grind his erection against her warm folds.

 ‘Scott.’ She gasped in pleasure, her hands going to the dip in his spine to hold him in that position. When he growled in approval against her breast it only heightened her desire even more.

 Janelle had never felt so turned on in her life, every inch of her was burning in the best possible way, building her up to an orgasm that she could already tell was going to consume her. She could have screamed in relief when Scott removed his hand from her breast and slowly started to trail down towards her panties. Before he got there she stopped him by gently laying her hand on his arm. He pulled back from her breast and froze his movements immediately as he met her eyes.

 ‘Do you want to stop?’ He asked, and the lack of annoyance or frustration in his tone made her smile gently. She knew without a doubt if he said yes he would move away immediately without making her feel guilty.

 ‘No I don’t want to stop, I just wanted to make sure you had… protection.’ She murmured, feeling her cheeks colour at her words and when Scott smiled at her cheekily she slapped his shoulder with a light laugh.

 ‘I do.’ His gaze went to his abandoned jeans a few feet above them before he looked down at her with the gentlest look Janelle had ever been on the receiving end of, ‘are you sure? We don’t have to go that far.’

 ‘I’m sure.’ She bit her lip and summoning all of her courage she told him something that she had never told anyone, ‘I’ve never done this before.’

 That made the wolf pause and his eyes widened when he fully processed her words, ‘y-you’re a virgin?’

 ‘Yes.’ She admitted softly, looking over his shoulder, not being able to bring herself to look into his eyes.

 ‘Then are you definitely sure?’ Scott asked softly, bringing his index finger to her chin to get her to look at him.

 She was overwhelmed by the consideration she saw in his eyes and couldn’t stop the soft smile that formed on her lips if she tried, ‘I’m sure.’

 What Janelle wasn’t aware of was that the wolf was listening to her heartbeat, looking for any traces of a lie; he didn’t want her to feel forced into this. When her heartbeat remained steady and her gaze remained sincere, he bought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She bit his lip gently, silently asking him to deepen the kiss, which he did with a groan of pleasure when he felt her nails softly digging into the flesh of his back. One of his hands trailed down her body, resuming the path that had been interrupted before, only this time he reached the waistband of her panties without incident. His hand delved into her underwear and Scott felt himself get even harder when he heard her moan and felt how ready she was for him. He pulled back from their kiss and with his free hand he reached up to grab his jeans, grateful they were within reaching distance, to take the single condom from his back pocket. Janelle saw what he was doing and when he had the protection in his hand she rolled them both over with a strength she didn’t know she possessed. She giggled at the surprise on Scott’s face before using her new position to pull the boxers off the wolf, smiling at him gratefully when he lifted his hips to help her. When they were gone, Janelle felt a flutter of nerves in her belly; she didn’t understand how he was going to fit that inside her.

 ‘Hey.’ Scott’s gentle voice broke through her panic and she looked up to his warm brown eyes and felt her heart skip a beat at the affection she saw in them, ‘we’ll take it slow okay? And if you want to stop at any point, just tell me.’

 She bit her lip, surprised how much she trusted his words and how much comfort they bought her. Janelle nodded and watched as he carefully put on the condom. Once he was done and before she could blink she was suddenly underneath him. She felt his hands gripping her panties on each side of her hips and gave him a nod when he seemed to be waiting for permission. He pulled the cotton down and lifted her legs to rest on either side of his waist to allow him to settle in between her legs. She felt him pressing against her entrance and clenched her eyes shut to brace herself for the pain, but when nothing happened she looked up to the wolf above her with a frown of confusion. He was giving her a soft look that stole her breath and before she could say anything he leaned down, his hands gripping her waist and his lips meeting hers in a gentle kiss that made her heart flutter in her chest. She gasped against his lips when she felt Scott push himself inside her, and even though she felt her hymen break she didn’t feel any pain, only the alien but pleasurable feeling of Scott settling inside of her. What she didn’t notice was the black veins climbing up the wolf’s arms and disappearing as he took her pain before she had a chance to feel it.

 Scott’s lips moved from her lips to her neck, the urge to bite her stronger than ever when he started to move inside of her. The feel of her walls, tightly clenching him as he set a rhythm that wasn’t too fast or slow was almost too much for him. Mine. The voice screamed in his head, louder than last time, and he was having a hard time ignoring it. He felt his fangs grow without his consent and when Janelle’s fingernails dug into the tops of his shoulders and trailed down to his waist, he was sinking his teeth into her before he knew what he was doing. He realised what he had done when he heard Janelle gasp, and he was just about to pull away from her and apologise profusely when he realised something. Her gasp wasn’t one of pain, but pleasure, he could smell her arousal growing stronger and he could feel her getting wetter around him. This pleased the wolf in him and he growled in approval, pulling away from her neck and licking over the mark affectionately. Janelle moaned again and dug her nails so hard into Scott’s shoulders that he smelled his own blood joining hers in the night air. He couldn’t help but think that it smelled right for a brief moment before he bought his hands to her lower back to hold her in place as his hips met hers at a faster pace. Both of them were close, Scott’s wolf could sense it and refused to allow himself to find pleasure before she did. He bought his lips to her earlobe and allowed his human teeth to bite gently on her earlobe and tug it downward. The small jolt of pain was enough to bring her orgasm crashing down and when he felt her clench even tighter around him, he let himself fall apart, spilling himself inside of her with a loud groan.

 They were both breathing heavily as they came down from their orgasms and Scott rolled over onto his back, bringing Janelle to snuggle into his side much like they had been earlier. Both Scott and Janelle felt the loss of each other when the movement caused the wolf to move out of her, but neither commented on it. Janelle started to softly caress the skin of his chest when she noticed her fingertips were stained with blood.

 ‘Oh my god.’ She gasped in horror, looking up to Scott apologetically, ‘I made you bleed.’

 ‘Don’t worry about it,’ he chuckled sheepishly and bought a hand to the side of her neck he had bitten, ‘I got my revenge.’

 ‘I think you’ll find you bit me first.’ Janelle teased, and was surprised to find she wasn’t as bothered by him biting her as she probably should have been.

 ‘I’m sorry about that.’ Scott said, his sincere gaze burning into her, ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

 ‘Don’t apologise.’ She told him with a soft smile, ‘that was… amazing.’

 He could hear the truth behind her words and breathed out a sigh of relief, before adding in a teasing tone, ‘well I expect an apology, you’ve marked my beautiful skin.’

 She laughed, lightly slapping his shoulder, but she did bite her lip when she felt a pang of guilt in her gut. She opened her mouth to apologise but Scott bought his index finger to her lips to silence her.

 ‘I was kidding.’ He assured her, knowing the marks had more than likely healed by now, ‘like you said, it was amazing. You don’t need to apologise for that.’

 ‘Good.’ She smiled when Scott’s hand moved to caress the side of her face and couldn’t help but lean into the warmth of his touch.

 They lay there for a while in comfortable silence, enjoying the peace and quiet and the company. But eventually reality came calling, literally; Janelle’s mom called her asking her when she would be home and it was then that they realised just how late it was. Scott had a few missed texts from Allison, Stiles and his mom but they weren’t life or death so he just pocketed his phone again after they were both dressed. Janelle asked her mom to come and get her from Heather’s as they were only a short walk from the house. It was then that they started to walk back and Janelle felt her heart skip a happy beat when Scott took her hand in his, entwining their fingers.

 That night had been perfect for the both of them, and she didn’t want it to end, but she knew it had to. It was the first day of school tomorrow, which meant she needed to get back to reality. Even with how small the town was, it was unlikely that she was going to run into Scott again after tonight. She was surprised that that knowledge squeezed her heart painfully, but she refused to be one of those clingy girls who thought she was in a relationship with someone after they hooked up one time. Tonight was incredible, but she refused to make it more than what it was, even if her heart was telling her it was something more, she refused to believe it because it didn’t make sense.

 ‘I had a great time tonight.’ Janelle told the wolf with a small but genuine smile, their hands were still clasped together and she gave him a final squeeze before reluctantly letting go.

 ‘Me too.’ Scott told her, stepping closer and caressing the side of her face, as much as she begged herself not to, she leaned into his touch, ‘this doesn’t have to be goodbye.’

 ‘Tonight was… amazing, lets not ruin it by trying to make it something it’s not.’ she said gently, not able to meet his eyes, afraid he would be pissed.

 ‘If that’s what you want.’ Scott agreed reluctantly, he used his index finger to bring her gaze to his, giving her a reassuring smile, ‘I’ll never forget this.’

 ‘Neither will I,’ she agreed sincerely, already knowing that no guy was going to measure up to him.

 Scott bought his lips to hers; the kiss was different than any of the others they had shared that night. It was soft, gentle, sincere and full of the affection they shared for each other. They broke apart and Janelle gasped at the emotion she could see in Scott’s eyes and wondered if hers looked the same to him. Before they could do anything else, Janelle’s phone interrupted the moment; it was a text from her mother telling her she was out front.

 ‘I should go.’ She sighed, pocketing her phone once she had replied to her mother, ‘ bye Scott.’

 She hugged him tighter than what she thought she was capable of, inhaling his scent; he smelled of the woods, fabric softener and fresh rain. Scott hugged her back just as tight, documenting her smell into his memory; she smelled like citrus, the woods and vanilla and it was a scent he would never forget. Only a moment later she pulled away and after placing a kiss onto his cheek, she left. Scott watched her go, wondering why he could still feel her lips on his skin, why her scent lingered in his mind and why his heart felt like it had been ripped from his chest. This was insane, he hadn’t known her for more than twenty-four hours and suddenly the heartbreak he had felt over Allison felt like a distant memory as the pain of being separated from Janelle overwhelmed him. He shook his head and pulled out his phone, dialling Stiles’ number. This was insane and he needed to let it go.

 The next day

 ‘Mom it’s fine. I get it.’ Janelle assured her, watching the passing scenery with minimal interest.

 Today was her first day at her new school—Davonford Prep—which she wasn’t looking forward to. And it wasn’t just because she didn’t have the school uniform yet so she was going in her normal clothes; she was wearing a deep blue lacy skater dress, her leather jacket and black combat boots. She wasn’t even as bothered by the news that her mom was going to be taking a work trip to San Francisco, despite the fact they had been here for two days. In our old town she had owned her own dentist’s office, but over the years she had opened up several all over, and the branch in San Francisco was in need of a refurbishment after a flood had completely destroyed it. Mom needed to go over assess and oversee the construction. It was fine; Janelle was more than used to being left alone. The only lingering thoughts in her mind were of last night. Amazingly, her mom hadn’t bombarded her with questions when she had gotten into the car, and so she had been left to her own thoughts. The only problem was that those thoughts consisted of Scott. His touch, his smile, his taste, his smell.

 Janelle looked away from the window, shaking her head in an attempt to rid it of thoughts of Scott. It was only then that she noticed they were pulling up to her new school. Only there was one problem. This was not Davonford Prep.

 ‘Mom? What are we doing here?’ I asked, trying to steady my escalating heartbeat.

 ‘Well I know you were dreading the idea of going to a private school, so I transferred your application. You’re now the newest student of Beacon Hills High School.’ She grinned, not noticing her daughter’s growing panic. She practically ushered her out of the car, and Janelle went, too stunned to react in that moment.

 ‘Wait out front! The principal will be out soon!’ She yelled after her and not a minute later she was gone; she had packing to do and a flight to catch.

 Janelle sat down on the stone bench in front of the school in a daze, her heartbeat steadily growing as her panic did. Scott went to this school. He was going to think she was lying. Or that she had transferred to be near him, after she told him that she didn’t want to make last night anything more than what it was. He was going to think she was crazy. Janelle’s head fell into her hands as she tried to pull herself together. There were no other students milling around outside and for that she was grateful, she assumed classes had already started. She sighed as her problem invaded her mind again. It would be fine. It had to be. There was no sense in panicking yet—they might not even have any classes together. That was true, and Janelle felt herself relax slightly with that knowledge.

 ‘Hello, sorry to keep you waiting.’ A male voice startled her and she immediately sat up and saw a tall man with light blonde hair, glasses and blue eyes.

 ‘It’s fine.’ She offered him a shaky smile and stood from the bench.

 ‘Janelle Southerland, right?’ He asked as he started walking to the school. Janelle took a deep breath and followed a few steps behind him.

 ‘Yes sir.’ She answered, shifting her bag up higher on her shoulder.

 ‘Where are you from?’ He said, attempting to make chit chat, but Janelle was saved from answering as he stopped in front of a classroom door and knocked twice before opening and stepping in.

 Janelle watched as he walked up to the female English teacher and had a quick but quiet word before gesturing for her to join him in the classroom. After taking a deep breath she did, she could feel her skin prickling as all of the students stared at her but she avoided eye contact. The principal left the room with a kind smile and the teacher who Janelle identified as Miss Blake from the tag on her desk smiled at her warmly.

 ‘This is our new student, Janelle Southerland, please do your best to make her feel welcome.’ Miss Blake turned to Janelle and told her to take a seat, which she did immediately, grateful that she started teaching before she had even made her way to the free desk at the back of the room; it made her feel like there was less attention on her.

 ‘Now, when William Shakespeare wrote this play it was intended to inflict fear upon the audience. Can anyone tell me how?’ Miss Blake asked as Janelle silently pulled a notebook and pen from her bag, writing the date in the top right corner.

 No one answered and Miss Blake tried to encourage, ‘come on guys, someone knows the answer. Don’t be shy.’

 Janelle looked to the black board behind her and saw that the play they were studying was Macbeth, she knew the answer to her question but she refrained from answering, not wanting to be labelled as ‘nerdy’ on her first day. Instead she wrote the answer down in her notebook before writing down everything she knew about Macbeth.

 ‘What about you, Scott?’ That name had Janelle’s head snapping up in shock, her heartbeat picking up again. It couldn’t be the same Scott, she was sure there were plenty of students in that school who were called Scott—.

 ‘Macbeth incorporated themes into the play that he knew would terrify the audience, such as elements of the supernatural. Witchcraft was highly feared in the time the play was written, so the presence of that alone would have been enough to scare them.’ Scott McCall’s voice said confidently from a few seats over from Janelle; he was sat by the window while she was in the middle row.

 ‘Oh my god.’ Janelle whispered, too quietly for the teacher to hear, but a few students around her gave her curious stares, including Scott.

 When they made eye contact, Janelle gave him a shaky smile, crossed her legs under the desk and turned her attention back to the class. Or so it appeared, every inch of her body was now aware of Scott’s presence a mere few rows away from her.

 ‘Very good, Scott.’ Miss Blake praised him before moving onto the major themes in the play, all of which Janelle had already written down so she didn’t feel too bad for her lack of attention during the rest of the class.

 As soon as the bell went, Janelle was torn between darting for the door and lingering until everyone else was gone. The decision was taken away from her when she felt Scott standing beside her desk before she looked up and saw him. She was relieved to see only surprise and happiness in his eyes; it didn’t seem like he thought she was crazy.

‘Hey.’ Scott said, his hands fidgeting on the straps of his backpack as he resisted the urge to reach out and touch her.

 ‘Hey,’ She breathed, overwhelmed by the scent of him, she didn’t realise how much she had missed it until then.

 Scott gave up on the fight to touch her and held out his hand, offering her help to stand even though they both knew she didn’t need it. Janelle didn’t hesitate and placed her hand in his, welcoming the rush of warmth and comfort that shot up her arm as she stood. When she was on her feet, Scott didn’t release her hand and she didn’t mind in the slightest. Both were oblivious to the confused stares of the students, and even Miss Blake, around them—they were completely lost in each other. Scott’s friends; Stiles, Lydia and Allison were the most confused of all, though the huntress was also partially jealous.

 ‘How are you here?’ Scott asked gently, his other hand brushing Janelle’s hair behind her ear before caressing the side of her face.

 ‘My mom changed the school without telling me.’ Janelle rolled her eyes in amusement, ‘surprised me with it this morning.’

 Scott was surprised how happy he was with the news, not even considering that Janelle was crazy like the blonde had been afraid of, and when she only saw affection and joy in his eyes she felt herself relax completely.

 ‘That’s great.’ Scott smiled his dimpled smile and kissed her forehead, the girl’s eyes closed at the touch and she gave him a bright smile when he pulled back and lowered the hand that had been on her cheek.

 ‘I’m glad you think so.’ Janelle said honestly, lifting her bag higher on her shoulder.

 ‘What’s your next class?’ Scott asked, leading her out of the classroom and past his gobsmacked friends. It was unlike Scott to ignore them, but he was completely lost in Janelle, and she was exactly the same.

 ‘Math.’ She groaned over dramatically and Scott chuckled in amusement as he led her towards the right classroom.

 ‘Well have fun. I’m in history next so I think I deserve more sympathy.’ He said, smiling his dimpled smile that he had discovered was one of Janelle’s weaknesses.

 ‘You do, do you?’ Janelle teased, gasping when she was suddenly pinned against the row of lockers next to the math classroom, ‘I think I am the clear winner of sympathy here. Math gives headaches. No contest.’

 ‘Yes, but history slips you into a coma.’ Scott countered, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes were sparkling in amusement and mischief.

 Her hands gripped his forearms, ‘headaches beat sleep, Mr McCall. Hands down.’ She laughed when he rolled his eyes at her.

 Scott leaned forward and Janelle felt her heartbeat pick up drastically, thinking that he was going to kiss her. And he did, just not in the way she was expecting; he leaned his forehead against hers and kissed the corner of her mouth.

 ‘See you soon?’ He murmured, so quietly she almost didn’t hear him.

 She smiled softly and nodded in answer to his question, her eyes closed for a moment when he placed another kiss to her forehead before leaving her with a small smile. She could feel his lips lingering on her skin and Janelle found herself smiling as she walked into the classroom to take an empty seat. Walking into math class happy—there was a first time for everything.

 ‘What the hell was that?’ Stiles asked his best friend, still a little shocked over what he had seen mere minutes ago.

 ‘What was what?’ Scott said distractedly as he pulled his history book and notepad out of his backpack before leaving it to rest at his feet.

 ‘What do you have sort term memory loss or something?’ Stiles’ tone was incredulous, not believing his friends sudden amnesia, ‘I’m talking about how comfortable you were looking with the new girl.’

 ‘Oh, I met her at the party last night.’ Scott said, writing the date on his paper, ‘we kind of hit it off.’

 ‘Hit it off?’ Stiles parroted, a slow smirk spreading over his face, ‘that’s my boy!’

 ‘Stiles? Shut up.’ Scott rolled his eyes, trying to squelch the flow of protectiveness that had flared up in his body.

 ‘Sorry dude, it’s nice to see you moving on from you-know-who.’ Stiles said sincerely, finally getting his own books out of his bag, ‘even if it’s weird seeing you two act so… close.’

 ‘What do you mean?’ The wolf frowned and looked over to his human friend.

 ‘I mean I’ve never seen you so consumed with a girl to the point that the world around you could cease to exist without you noticing.’ The overactive boy said bluntly, not noticing the thoughtful look on Scott’s face.

 ‘It’s weird. I know that and if I were on the outside looking in I’d think it was crazy, but it feels right with her. I can’t explain it, man, I feel like I’ve known her forever.’ Scott admitted, needing someone other than himself to talk to about this.

 ‘That’s not crazy.’ Stiles assured him, ‘sometimes you just click with people.’

 ‘No, that’s not the same thing. I feel like I’ve known her and when I was with her last night, the wolf part of me was screaming at me to protect her, to keep her safe.’ Scott’s voice dropped to a whisper when the teacher walked into the classroom.

 ‘Okay, maybe it’s a little crazy.’ Stiles nodded, his eyes wide in surprise, ‘as much as I hate to say this, you should ask Derek about it.’

 ‘Derek?’ Scott sounded surprised.

 ‘Yeah, as much as it kills me he’s more likely to have an answer than Google.’ Stiles huffed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration, though it wasn’t as aggravated as it would have been a year ago; he had come to trust Derek little by little over time.

 ‘He’s coming next period to see what Allison and Lydia have found. I’ll ask him then.’ Scott told him, feeling a little nervous about what information he might be faced with.

 Stiles noticed and patted his shoulder comfortingly, ‘don’t worry. If this is something beyond teenage hormones, we’ll deal with it.’

 ‘Thanks Stiles.’ Scott breathed a sigh of relief.

 ‘No problem.’ He replied, pulling out his phone without the wolf knowing to send a text.

 Stiles: Random question. If a wolf ran into a random girl and then suddenly felt like they’d known each other forever and felt protective of her, what would that mean exactly?

 Derek: Are you talking about Scott?

 Stiles: Maybe. What does it mean? He said he was gonna ask you in our free period next but I can’t wait that long.

 Derek: You’re going to have to, if it is what I think it is, we’re gonna need to do a little test.

 Stiles: Test? Ugh, already regretting texting you, Sourwolf.

 Derek: Don’t call me that. You know what this girl looks like?

 Stiles: Yes.

 Derek: See if you can get Scott to meet up with her after class. I’ll be there by then. It shouldn’t take long to see it.

 Stiles: See what?

 Derek: Later.

 Stiles huffed in frustration and shoved his phone into his pocket, biting his lip and discretely leaning over to talk to his best friend.

 ‘Hey, I just talked to Derek. He’s not gonna make it until half way through the free period.’ Stiles lied, grateful Scott was distracted enough to not pay attention to his heartbeat.

 ‘That’s cool.’ Scott tried to act casual, but his wolf was already howling in victory. He could see her, if she had a free period that is.

 Stiles rolled his eyes, easily seeing through the wolf’s façade, but he didn’t call him out on it. Whatever Derek needed to see to determine if his theory was correct was dependant on them being together. Scott forced himself to focus on the rest of the class, knowing that it would make the time go by faster, and sure enough it did. By the time the bell rang he threw out a quick ‘bye’ to Stiles before racing to the door. He didn’t notice Derek lingering at the end of the corridor, his gaze trained on him as he headed in the direction he could smell Janelle’s scent coming from. He saw her walking towards him and with a small smile he stepped into the empty chemistry lab and grabbed her when she walked past. Janelle released a small squeal of surprise and felt her panic fade when she registered who had pulled her into a classroom.

 ‘You scared me.’ She laughed, slapping his shoulder lightly.

 Neither of them noticed Derek standing with Stiles outside the closed door, watching them interact. Stiles was actually watching Derek watch them, looking for any indications to what he was thinking.

 ‘How was math?’ Scott asked, his hands settling comfortably on her waist while hers wound around his neck, ‘did it come with the promised headache?’

 ‘Of course it did.’ She said honestly; her head was throbbing a little, ‘but it’s nothing a little Advil won’t take care of.’

 Scott frowned in concern when he noticed that she was squinting a little, clearly she was in more pain than she was letting on. Without thinking about it, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a tender kiss. Stiles and Derek watched as the veins on his face turned black for a moment before disappearing as he took her pain. When there was no trace of her headache left, Scott nipped at her lip, silently asking for permission to deepen the kiss that she happily gave to him by allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. Stiles returned to watching Derek’s reaction, not feeling comfortable seeing his best friend being so intimate with a girl.

 Scott’s hands lowered from her waist and reached down to lift her from the ground and wind her legs around his waist. He growled a little from the friction generated between their bodies as he walked over to a table and gently deposited her onto it. As soon as she hit the countertop, his mouth broke free from hers and he gently brushed away the hair covering her neck, baring the mark for him—and Derek—to see. Scott growled again, a possessive urge flaring up inside him at the sight of his mark on her neck. He felt his eyes glow golden as he leaned forward and permitted his human teeth to bite over it before he allowing his tongue to soothe the sting. Janelle gasped in pleasure, her own hands finding where she had pierced Scott the night before without her knowledge. When she found it, her nails lightly dug into the flesh through the wolf’s t-shirt, making Scott groan from the jolt of electricity that travelled through him.

 Derek had seen enough, and he knew without a doubt what was going on between Scott and the girl. Satisfied with his findings, he pushed away from the door, Stiles following behind him once his mind had registered that he had moved.

 ‘I take it you found what you were looking for?’ Stiles said, a little out of breath when he finally managed to catch up to him.

 ‘Yes, I did. Call Scott. Tell him to meet us in the English classroom.’ Derek ordered, not even glancing back to see if he was listening; the sound of his fingers tapping on his phone assured him he was.

 It was ten minutes later when Scott finally managed to find the will to pull himself away from the intoxicating blonde to join Derek, Lydia, Allison and Stiles in the English classroom.

 ‘Hey, sorry I’m…’ he trailed off when he noticed the perplexed expressions on everyone’s face, ‘what’s wrong? Is it Erica and Boyd?’

 ‘No. We haven’t found them yet.’ Derek released a weary sigh at the reminder of his missing pack mates, ‘Stiles mentioned you met someone that you’ve suddenly become very close to.’

 Allison looked down to the ground at the reminder while Scott rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing how to explain it.

 ‘I know it sounds insane, but…’ he trailed off when he noticed Allison’s sad expression.

 Derek noticed his gaze and rolled his eyes a little, but didn’t say anything. The huntress noticed that the room had gone silent and looked up, offering Scott a shaky smile.

 ‘It’s fine. We already showed Derek the bruise so we’ll leave.’ Allison stood from the desk and headed towards the door with Lydia following behind her, shooting Scott a supportive smile.

 ‘That wasn’t awkward at all,’ Stiles muttered sarcastically from his place on one of the desks.

 ‘You were saying?’ Derek ignored the human and cocked his brow at Scott.

 ‘I met her yesterday at a party and it feels like I’ve known her forever and when I’m with her, the wolf inside of me is screaming at me to protect her and keep her safe.’ Scott said all at once, barely pausing for breath, ‘I know it sounds insane, when I say it out loud I know how it sounds, but I just can’t explain how I feel whenever I’m with her.’

 ‘You don’t have to. What you’re feeling is completely normal, and so it how fast you’re moving with her.’ Derek assured him, smiling softly when he saw the younger wolf’s relief, ‘the need to be around her, to protect her, the way you feel like you’ve always known her can all be explained with two words. You’re mates.’

 ‘W-what?’ Scott frowned, not following.

 ‘You’re mates. Basically you’re meant for each other. That’s why you feel so comfortable around her, it’s because she’s meant to be with you, Scott. That’s also why you felt the uncontrollable urge to mark her yesterday.’ Derek gave him a pointed look that made Scott blush a little.

 ‘How did you know about that?’ He asked.

 ‘I saw it on her neck when you two where making out in the chemistry lab.’ Derek told him honestly, ‘and I’m willing to bet that she marked you somewhere too.’

 ‘She couldn’t have. I will have healed.’ Scott shook his head but Derek didn’t pay him any attention and spun him around to lift his shirt up and reveal the skin he had seen Janelle sinking her nails into.

 ‘Woah.’ Stiles said, surprised.

 ‘What?’ Scott asked, sounding a little panicked.

 ‘She dug her nails in real deep, huh?’ Stiles muttered, pulling on Derek’s arm to get him to release his friend’s shirt.

 ‘Yeah—wait it hasn’t healed?!’ Scott’s shoulder slipped back down his frame and he turned to face the other two in the room.

 ‘It won’t have. Mates mark each other. It’s how they let everyone else know they are taken.’ Derek said evenly.

 ‘What else is there? Anything I should know?’ Scott sounded stressed and overwhelmed by the information.

 ‘You’re going to be incredibly protective of her; it’s your animal instinct that will always demand that you keep her safe and protected. Until you learn to control it you’ll be in danger of shifting at miniscule things, like if someone accidentally bumps into her in the corridor. Which is why it’s better if you tell her what you are sooner rather than later.’ Derek told him solemnly; he had heard plenty of stories about finding your mate and the close calls his mom had around his dad when she had put off telling him what she was.

 ‘You mean tell her I’m a werewolf?’ Scott asked numbly.

 ‘Yes.’ Derek didn’t bother to hide the impatience from his voice.

 ‘But—she’ll think I’m crazy, or she’ll be terrified of me.’ The younger wolf said in a panicked voice.

 ‘Scott, try to remember this girl was literally made for you, just like you were made for her. Even if she has trouble accepting it at first, she will come around because she’ll have just as much trouble being apart from you as you do being away from her.’ Derek told him gently; he could sense his genuine panic and so figured he could use the reassurance.

 ‘So I just… tell her.’ Scott nodded, almost trying to convince himself.

 ‘We can be there with you if you want?’ Stiles offered, clapping Scott on the back, ‘it will probably be better if we were, actually. To make sure you stay focused.’

 ‘He’s right.’ Derek agreed, ‘in the beginning a lot of your relationship will be physical, and that won’t really go away.’

 ‘Something tells me he’s not gonna complain about that.’ Stiles said dryly, holding his hands up in surrender when his best friend glared at him.

 ‘I’ll talk to her. After school.’ Scott said, his voice sounding stronger than he felt. But his mind was made up. He had to tell her, not just because they were mates, but because it looked like things in Beacon Hills were about to get freaky again and she needed to know what dangers were around. It was that protective urge in him that made his resolve settle.

 If only the fear of how she would react would just disappear.

 ‘Bring her back to your house and we’ll meet you there?’ Stiles asked, slapping his best friend’s shoulder.

 ‘No. I’ll tell her by myself. This is going to be hard enough for her to believe without strangers being crowded around her.’ The younger wolf sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

 ‘You heard Derek, it’ll be fine.’ Stiles assured him.

 ‘I hope so.’ The golden-eyed wolf murmured, surprised at the ball of dread that was forming in his stomach in that moment.

 Janelle was surprised at how quickly the school day passed by. She had a few more classes with Scott, and while he was close and intimate with her, she could tell there was something on his mind. Something was bothering him; she could almost feel the ball of dread in his gut as if it were her own. She was planning on asking him about it after school, provided he wanted to hang out after. The blonde was having a hard time reminding herself that she and Scott weren’t technically “official” and she needed to stop acting like they were, she didn’t want to be presumptuous.

 Biology was the final class of the day, and Janelle had been lucky enough to get a seat next to Scott, making them lab partners for the rest of the year. She didn’t have a problem with that in the slightest. The lesson passed quickly for it was Janelle’s favourite subject and in between writing notes, she and Scott held hands underneath the table, her thumb rubbing back and forth comfortingly across his knuckles, trying to ease some of the tension she could practically see coming off him in waves. When the class was eventually dismissed, Janelle and Scott were the only two not to rush out of the room, they took their time packing away their things and the blonde patiently waited for him to speak; she could sense he wanted to say something.

 ‘Do you wanna come to my house? To study I mean, and I think we should talk too. About us.’ He murmured, taking her hand again as they both strolled from the class.

 ‘I’d like that. Could you give me a ride?’ she asked, butterflies forming in her stomach over the way he said “us”. Realistically she knew it could go two ways. Either he was going to tell her he liked her and he wanted to give them a real shot… or he was going to say that us hooking up at the party was just that—a hook up and nothing more. Janelle was hoping for the former.

 ‘Sure.’ He gave a cheeky grin that made her smile in return until she saw what he had led her to. A motorbike. She had never ridden on one of them before and he must have noticed the hesitancy in her expression because his hand came up to caress the side of her face.

 ‘You’ll be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you.’ He said gently, but the promise behind his words made her fear evaporate and she nodded, climbing on behind him after clipping her helmet in place. When she wrapped her arms and legs around him she found herself thinking that it was a form of transportation she could easily get used to.

 The ride was quick and not at all scary, Janelle realised that as long as it was Scott she was with, she wouldn’t feel anything but safe and protected. It was a realisation that both comforted her and confused her. But she pushed those feelings to the backburner when she noticed how tense Scott had become while leading her into his house.

 She didn’t know it, but he was terrified, and that in itself was baffling. Derek had told him that they were mates, which explained the instant attraction and attachment to the intoxicating blonde, but it was still incredible how scared he was of losing her after knowing her for less than a week.  

 ‘Scott?’ Janelle’s voice bought him out of his inner turmoil and when she bought her hand up to caress the side of his face, he didn’t fight the urge to lean into her touch and sighed, feeling the stress leave him.

 ‘I’m sorry, I’m acting weird, there’s something I need to tell you about me. Something that might scare you and freak you out but I just want you to know that I would never hurt you and I care about you, Janelle.’ She was blown away by the emotion and sincerity in his chocolate brown orbs.

 ‘Nothing is going to scare me away, Scott.’ Janelle assured him, she couldn’t explain it but something inside of her told her that Scott was constant. He was always going to be there.

 ‘We should sit.’ He murmured, leading her to the living room and sitting her on the sofa, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of her.

 He was quiet for a while, and the green-eyed girl was about to urge him to speak when he looked up and told her his secret. He told her everything. How he became a wolf, how they had stopped the Kanima, how his relationship with Allison had failed because she was a hunter and they were too different, how Lydia had acted strange after being bitten by Peter, how Derek was now the alpha, how he had created betas, how two of them were missing, how there was an alpha pack that they were pretty sure had Boyd and Erica, how Derek had told Scott this morning that he and her were mates. When he had gotten it all out he took a deep breath and held it, preparing himself for the inevitable reaction of her leaving and never wanting to speak to him again. But when she didn’t move, he glanced up and saw that she didn’t look scared and didn’t seem to think he was crazy. She looked overwhelmed and shocked, but the lack of fear encouraged Scott. He kept quiet, wanting her to speak when she was ready.

 ‘You’re a wolf and we’re mates?’ was the first thing she asked.

 ‘Yeah, I didn’t even know mates existed until Derek told me earlier. Stiles texted him about how odd I was acting around you and apparently he saw us together earlier at the school. He noticed that I’d marked you, and that you’d marked me. It’s something mates do to show others that they’re taken.’ Scott said, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

 She went quiet again, not knowing what to say, mainly because she was surprised at her lack of upset. For some reason, when Scott had told her about them being mates, something inside of her settled as if she could relax now that she had found the one she was meant to be with. She bit her lip and glanced up when she heard Scott sigh, the sound was almost defeated and she felt guilty then when she realised how her silence must have looked to him. Janelle reached out, taking his hand in hers and offering him a comforting smile when his head snapped up to meet her gaze. Before he could say anything she leaned forward and bought her lips to his in a tender kiss. She needed him to know that this information hadn’t changed how she felt about him, if anything it had enhanced it. Now she didn’t feel stupid for having such strong feelings for him despite only knowing him for less than a week. She felt reassured over her own feelings and that he felt the same way as well. They were meant to be.

 He pulled back from the kiss first, his eyes searching hers for something.

 ‘This doesn’t change how I feel about you, Scott. I was a little overwhelmed with everything but…’ she bit her lip, wondering if he would agree with how she felt, ‘knowing that we’re literally meant to be makes me feel less crazy for how deep my feelings for you are already.’

 ‘I know what you mean.’ He said gently, his thumb rubbing across her cheek comfortingly.

 ‘It’s a lot to process, but I feel settled at the same time.’ Her hands ran through his hair and when he leaned into her touch, her lips tilted into a smile.

 ‘Me too. I feel… complete.’ He admitted, winding his arms around her waist and lifting her so that she was now straddling his lap on the sofa. Neither could remember him moving to join her on the furniture, but they didn’t question it.

 ‘I couldn’t have said it any better myself.’ She bit her lip, her forehead resting against his for a moment before she captured his lips in a smouldering kiss that allowed them both to feel the infatuation, tenderness and love they both felt for each other.

 In that moment, both felt completely settled and content with where their relationship stood. They were going to spend the rest of their lives together, and despite the dangers that were once again arising in Beacon Hills, the terror was minimalized by the fact that they knew they wouldn’t have to face anything alone.

 I hope you enjoyed this one shot! I really needed a Scott McCall mate fan fiction in my life.

 Hope you all had a nice Christmas, and that you have a great New Year!

 -VampireGirl1797

[manikas-whims]

Hi, i follow your todomomo oneshots book on ao3. You said you're taking requests. So uh can you please write Momo comforting Shouto after a mistake on his mission. Ohh and can you please make them older in this. ty

Thank you so much for this request dear anon :3

Consoling His Heart

Words: 2059

Rating: T+ (slight kissing)

Read on: AO3 | FFnet

He found her standing on the porch of their shared house, her radiant smile brightening everything around her. On sighting his approaching form, she raised an arm and began waving it, as if she was ecstatic to see him again. She was always there, bidding him farewells when he left for missions and greeting him with open arms upon his returns. Always.. And he was glad (fortunate actually) to have her as an important part of his rather dull lifestyle as the number 3 Pro Hero of Japan. She made him happy, filled the emptiness he always used to experience. She made him believe that he was more than just a man born of his father’s stubborn resolve for supremacy. He was always grateful of her. But that day, he couldn’t face her. After the offence he had committed on his latest mission, his hands were sullied by a wrong he could never wash off. And he didn’t want to tarnish her pristine skin with his touch.

“I just saw you on TV and figured you’d be coming back soon so I came outside to wait.” She told him cheerfully, stretching her arms as an invitation for a hug. But he couldn’t even meet her gaze.

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, he walked right past her inside their house, ignoring the confused expression marring her beautiful face.

Shouto Todoroki didn’t deem himself worthy of her.

Her brows knitted together in confusion due to his sudden aloofness towards her yet she shrugged it off as mere side-effects of the grueling mission he was sent on. Turning around, she followed after him into their house. She shook her head, her petal lips curving up into a fond smile. Like always, he had left his boots carelessly on the floor so she arranged them in their proper place in the shoe rack.

They’ve been in a relationship for two years now. She was the one who couldn’t bottle her feelings anymore and ended up confessing to him during their final year at UA. He was shocked at the revelation because apparently ‘he didn’t consider himself on par with her’. Whatever that means. As soon as they graduated, they joined separate agencies to work under, making it hard for them to see each-other much. And so, this year onwards, she suggested that they start living together, to which he agreed without any hesitation. The only reason they haven’t tied the knot yet is because (again) ‘he wanted her to be sure of whether she wished to spend the rest of her life with him or not’.

Frankly speaking, she doesn’t understand the point of such questions or why he wants her to reflect on her decisions again and again. He made her realize what she was capable of and for that she will always be thankful. He made her happy, made her feel strong and important, not just as a pro hero but as an individual.

Momo Yaoyorozu couldn’t imagine her life without his calm presence in it.

With one last look around the porch, she closed the door and walked towards their bedroom. She blushed at a faint memory of all the unspeakable things they’d done in that very room but quickly pushed it away.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, face as devoid of emotions as ever. But she was so used to seeing it that she easily caught the hints of self-loathing swimming in his mismatched irises. He was back at it— questioning his existence and doubting his worth.

“Shouto”, She called softly as she entered the room and approached him.

He jerked his face to glance at her before receding back into his glum state of mind and mumbled in a grave tone, “I failed.”

She was stupefied by his choice of words. Failure and Shouto Todoroki did not belong in the same sentence. The word failure had no relation to him whatsoever. For the four years that she had known him, she had always seen him learn from his mistakes and improve until he became a great hero. She was there to witness it all. She saw him become the man she came to love not simply because of his striking features but because of whom he was.

She’d been watching the news just minutes ago and media was singing praises about the success of his mission. So then, why exactly was he sitting so dejectedly?

Kneeling down before him, she cradled his face in her palms and tilted it, making his pair of gray and blue eyes meet her onyx ones. “What happened? The news said it went well and-”

“I failed, Momo.” He repeated, his jaw tightening. “I was supposed to apprehend the man running those fighting pits. Instead I nearly killed a little kid’s mother.”

She moved her fingers further up his grimy face into his equally dirty hair and began massaging his scalp. “Hey, calm down.” She said in a soothing tone, “I know you, Shouto. You can never hurt anyone.”

His lips quivered at the degree of faith she had in him. He shook his head like a child feeling the guilt of stealing cookies from a jar he wasn’t allowed to touch. “No you don’t..” His hands shot out and his long fingers wrapped around her dainty wrists, in hopes of channeling his anger at himself. “There were a lot of spectators so I called the back up team. But before they could even reach the scene, panic broke out amongst the audience because well..all of them have some sort of history in crimes. They got scared as soon as I broke in and began running about.”

Momo listened to his explanation patiently, nodding every once in a while. “The owner, he ordered his strongest fighters to deal with me. And..” He gritted his teeth in frustration, “..and I was so consumed by the thoughts of detaining the pit owner that I..I used my left side and..there was a kid. He was crying so much for his mother. But I didn’t understand. I was so consumed with rage..”

He took a long breath, averting his eyes at his dark haired girlfriend of two years, wondering if he should really tell her the remaining bit. He wanted to. Whenever his mind made him restless, he vented to her because he knew she’d have a solution to his problems. She always had. So he just needed her to listen to him once more. He knew he was being pathetic, behaving like that at the age of 20 but he needed her to listen and understand. He wanted her to be certain of their relationship. He wanted to know if she’d choose to stay even after hearing what an abhorrent deed he had committed.

“I released a large wave of fire at the three pit fighters and this lady out of nowhere jumped in front of one guy. The kid..his cries grew louder and he began running towards the scene..” Shouto gulped, his hold on Momo’s wrists tightened before going completely lax and he let go of them. “Everything clicked in that moment and I realised the lady and the man she was trying to protect were parents of that crying child. I was the bad guy there. I was fighting against his father and attacked his parents with my flames. Thanks to the backup team and police officers for showing up. The parents of that kid haven’t sustained any life-threatening injuries and will be out of the local hospital soon.” His fingers crawled up his cheeks and he removed her palms, replacing them with his own to bury his face in shame. “I almost killed them. If police wouldn’t have arrived when they did-”

The dual haired Todoroki's eyes widened at being silenced instantly by a finger on his dry lips. Momo shushed him. Casualties are unavoidable on missions like these and they hurt a lot. But to detest himself over an obvious mistake is so..stupid and yet so like him.

“You didn’t mean it, Shouto.” She said assertively , “There are so many things we can infer from this whole happening. First of all, if those two had decided to be criminals, then they should’ve considered the consequences of bringing a child in their life. But since they did have a kid, those parents should have atleast been rational enough to not bring the kid to a dangerous place like a fighting pit..”

She knew she was rambling but guys like Shouto are so hard upon themselves that they need proper clarifications. They need people like Midoriya or herself to tell them that its not their fault, that there’s no harm in letting things go instead of shouldering unnecessary blames. “Yes, you used your fire on them but it was a mere defensive measure you took amidst a battle. And they’re both still alive and recovering so be glad. If anything, this mission will be an experience not just for you but them as well. Maybe this will be the moment of their awakening. Maybe they’ll finally understand the repercussions a child suffers due to their parents' actions. Maybe they’ll actually take this as a sign and move forward to become good civilians and give their child the life he deserves..”

Shouto peeked through his fingers up at her, his eyes widened in bewilderment. “How do you do this? How do you redefine my worst aspects as if they weren’t bad to begin with? How do you make me look like this saint that I’m not?”

“You’re not a saint.” She answered, pulling his hands away from his face and entwining their fingers. “But you’re no sinner either. You’re just human.”

She smiled lovingly at him, “Humans make rash decisions. You were concentrating on the objective of your mission and wanted to eradicate the hindrances quickly. That’s all. But now you’ve learnt that being reckless can be harmful at times. So stop being so resentful towards yourself and move on.”

Shouto narrowed his eyes in confusion and gazed intensely at her, searching for that thing in her eyes that makes her so kind and benevolent. He felt the heaviness being lifted off his soul, the ache alleviated from his heart. He felt lighter— better! And it only took her a few sensible words to ease his mind of the chaos. Somehow he always lost himself to the smallest of his errs but she was right there, offering her hands to help him up. And he knew she’ll be there for him in the future too but he needed assurance. He just wanted to hear her say it again.

“Momo,” he called in a feeble tone, staring at her innocently, “Are you sure you want to-”

“Yes Shouto” she cut him off immediately, knowing very well what he was asking her for the umpteenth time since they started dating, “I want to be with you forever. I will never leave you. I will always be here with you.”

His heart brimmed with joy at her honest confession and he spoke instinctively, “I love you.”

She grinned at him, pulling him up into a standing position by tugging at their interlinked fingers, “I love you too, you adorable dummy. Now go get washed up. In the meantime, I’ll cook some soba.”

She let go of his hands but was barely able to leave the room as he snaked his arms around her hips, turning her around and capturing her bottom lip between his. He began kissing and nipping, his demeanor suddenly changing entirely with wanton need for her. Afterall, one of the major reasons for his hastiness during the mission was so he could get back to her as soon as possible and ravish her.

She slapped his arms playfully, willing him to get going already but he only released her lips to worship her alluring neck instead, whispering breathlessly, “I need help cleaning up.”

She giggled at his statement and let him carry her to the shower. He really needed to keep his personal desires in check during work so he won’t do something as precarious as he did on this mission. But for now, he wanted to pay her back just as much love as she gave him everyday. And he was way better at expressing himself with his actions.

*Send requests for SasuSaku, TodoMomo, HitsuHina, Zenyuki via asks ☺

[its-a-branwen-thing]

And we’re done another breathtaking season! What a ton to unpack. Some quick thoughts below the cut:

Penny is a maiden! She’s so pure and she deserves it so much. I feel like having a maiden on their side will do a lot to help the team out. I love that it ties into her Pinocchio allusion of becoming a “real girl.” Also aura being gender less until chosen upon but the body that it occupies said YES.

Winter with her hair down was *chefs kiss*. Also, she held her own against a maiden. Sister’s got some wicked moves. I loved the entire fight with her and Cinder and Penny. It really solidified Penny’s resolve to save people and definitely mad her acquiring the maiden powers feel much more lovely and earned. The aerial battle was stunning. And her small exchange with Weiss? I see these two next season, and I cannot wait for what will develop. Winter is loyal to Ironwood still. Weiss is not. And Whitley and their mother are still at the manor, presumably. How will this family saga play out? AHHHH!!

Also, we all agree Freya is the blue fairy? And I love that they gave her some agency at the end. She willingly transferred her powers to Penny even though Winter is the one she’s seen the most. Shows how you can’t buy trust you have to earn it.

RWBY did not do much this episode, really. Outside of Ruby herself who silver-eyed Cinder. I liked that detail of having her being unable to unlock it during the megoliath fight but to really use it here, where it mattered (not that the megoliath didn’t matter but...you know what I mean).

OSCAR AND OZPIN. Wow are these two something. I loved Ozpin’s return and I thought his fall from Atlas was visually breathtaking. Amazing job, CRWBY. His speech on fear left me with feelings. I’m so excited to see where his next arc takes him, being separated from the group and all. I also loved that he didn’t fight Ironwood. He totally tried to reason with him. And Ironwood shot first. And everyone’s been pointing out that you can see the moment Ironwood lost his “heart” by the light fading from his eyes. (Aside from, you know, shooting a child?!) I wonder how he and Winter and the remaining Ace Ops will fair next season? What a climax for them. Also Ozpin’s unlocking of his magic again? (I thought it was Oscar’s semblance at first but it does bear striking similarities to Ozpin’s defense bubble in V3). That was stellar! Now he’s down on the ground and he’ll have to regroup, Ozpin in tow, with the rest of the team.

Neo’s fight with JNR was underwhelming only in that...it didn’t seem to have as much at stake? I loved the fight but the character dynamics of it were just not as harrowing as Cinder v Penny & Winter. But I loved the details of her fighting! She’s a great fighter and she ultimately succeeded in her goal in the end. She got the relic and gave it to Cinder so now Salem has a relic and a maiden, and so do our heroes. The issue is Salem’s faction is united and Oz’s is not. There’s a maiden on one side (RWBY+) and a relic on the other (Ironwood+). Also, Ren crying at fighting Nora didn’t feel necessarily like he was crying because it was her and he couldn’t bear to hurt her but because he’s conflicted about what that means for himself. If he can’t fight because of love, won’t they lose? I like Ren’s arc with Nora extending into the next volume. His last line was what we were all thinking but still, our heroes secured a win with their safety and their (somewhat) unity.

Cinder’s commitment this season is 100%. I have to say, this episode felt absolutely more cinematic than the others. It felt like we won, like we lost, and so much more. It felt heroic and triumphant while at the same time seemingly hopeless. I loved it to death. And Cinder’s line delivery was amazing. i love how desperate she was. I love the constant reference to hunger (which she also made of the maiden powers when they were split with her in V3. She said she liked the feeling). Hate Cinder but also now love her. Merc, Hazel, and Em have to be here with Salem too, right? How is her reunion with Emerald going to go? I’m totally invested in their dynamic and now, with the lamp in their possession, how that might work with Emerald’s character being an obvious allusion to Aladdin (I think)? Lamp, genie, Aladdin, one question left? Let’s do this!

WATTS IS ALIVE! Wow, I did not call that. I mean, maybe I should have? Super glad for it though! he’s a great villain. Anyway, what a comfy prison cell?

Qrow was far more apathetic this episode than I thought he would be after the delivery of the last line of the E12. But I loved it because it really made it seem like he’s healing. And I loved Robyn’s support at the end as a subtle reminder that he’s not alone. I predicted them taking Qrow down a dark path in V8 but I feel like I couldn’t be farther from the truth. He had Clover’s pin (which hurt) but he didn’t seem angry. He seemed sad. And sadness is better than anger, it means he’s likely going to get past blaming himself and have a new arc within prison Atlas. Definitely want him to fight with Robyn and the Happy Huntresses and eventually face Tyrian again. I also predict he’ll have a confrontation with Ironwood. He keeps calling him James and Ironwood said this episode only friends refer to him as James, you can call me Daddy General which also feels like a confirmation of his full antagonist status for the audience as well. He isn’t a friend anymore. Also maybe Winter and Qrow interactions again? I’ve discarded my shipping goggles for all these cases so i just hope for conversations of whatever nature the writers want.

And now--Salem. What an appearance. She really did come to Atlas! And on a wailord whale nonetheless! I feel like it’s big enough that she could literally just knock Atlas out of the sky? How are they going to reconcile that? It’s not like she can just lay siege, she’s got a Grimm big enough to like body slam the city of Mantle. I wonder how this is going to go? I always through they’d face Salem on the dark continent towards the end of the series but this is a stunning conclusion to her V6 stinger, visually and story-wise. How are Ironwood’s forces going to fend her off? What is her plan? I wonder if she is going to capture Atlas and Mantle’s going to have to be the one to free their “city in the sky” from the tyranny of the Grimm Queen Salem? I would speculate on our heroes heading away to Vacuo or such, to get word out, which might be something they’re going to send someone to do so we can have a Gandolf arriving at Helm’s Deep type situation when Vacuo’s forces arrive, but that seems wrong as Oscar asks how they can save Atlas, and I’m sure our heroes are thinking the same thing.

Okay, I’ve loved RWBY since I first watched it back in 2014, but I have to say this is the first time the show has felt like a blockbuster. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to the Divergent soundtrack rn, but I feel like this whole series has evolved and grown so much and the amount of love and energy and time and passion has been given is felt. It’s wonderful to see. It’s great that Monty’s amazing legacy is carrying onward. I’m so excited to be on this journey with the creators and other fans--what a ride, guys! Onward to the hiatus and the eventual release of the V7 soundtrack V8!

[sprinkledonion-blog]

Another real long “I don’t like Bumbleby” post (Part 1)

So this one was a long time coming. I kept postponing it, polishing it, making it look the nicest I could, but it’s finally here. And it’s quite long. Let’s just, uh, start.

The first thing I wanna say is, I watched RWBY without interacting with the FNDM, just at the start of this year. I didn’t know what Bumbleby was, nor its impact in the overall FNDM. I was blissfully unaware of what was going on, so I dived in with a clean, open mind.

First impressions and development (or the lack thereof)

I didn’t think about Bumbleby. For those who know me, I ship characters VERY easily and I don’t really care if it’s a gay, het, lesbian ship, I can and I WILL ship them. I shipped Ruby and Penny like crazy. Ruby and Emerald made my heart jump. Jaune and Ren looked insanely cute together, and Sun and Weiss had very nice potential. And in V2, in the Burning the Candle episode, when Yang had a heartfelt conversation with Blake, and hugged her, I was like “oh?”. It was the first time I had seen Yang this vulnerable, and while I really ignored her through the first volume, this scene made me realize she was more than it meets the eye. And she chose to be vulnerable… with Blake. Oh?

Then Blacksun happened. Oh.

I didn’t like Blacksun. I still don’t like it. It’s predictable and boring for my tastes. But it has a privilege Bumbleby doesn’t: development. 

I will never understand this choice. Barb said it was planned from the beginning. The question is, then: why didn’t y’all spend time developing Bumbleby? Bees will tell me it was developed, but I’ll suggest y’all to take off your rose-colored glasses and revise those interactions. I totally understand the warm, fuzzy feeling when your ship talk, even look at each other (my ships are 99% rareships so I take what I can get), but deep down you know reality isn’t like that. I’ve seen the 40-minute essay about Bumbleby; yes, you can attribute to every interaction a romantic feeling, but I can do the exact same with Jaune and Ren, and fans will roll their eyes at me and tell me it isn’t like that. The only remotely romantic interaction was the whole Burning the Candle episode. It was a nice episode. 

“But Onion”, y’all will say, “are you going to ignore V3 onwards? The plot completely ties Blake and Yang together”. Same as Blake and Sun. Yes, Yang lost an arm for Blake, and yes, she feels betrayed and everything, but… why should I think it’s romantic? Blacksun is being developed at the same time, following common romance tropes that apply to the rest of canon ships, so why should I think it’s any different? Yang could have lost an arm for Weiss and I have no doubt she’d have felt the same. (I also think Weiss would have called her and checked on her every day, until Yang even heard her in dreams.) 

That brings me to my second point. Let’s trust Barb, it was planned from the beginning. Then what was Blacksun supposed to be? “It makes the point that romantic relationships don’t always work and sometimes it’s better to stay as friends.” Valid point, but… Blake? Sun? Why did you keep at it? Blake, why did you kiss him on the cheek? That’s misleading, for the audience I mean (Sun already knows the script). When I friendzoned guys, and when the girls I know friendzoned guys, absolutely none of them kissed the dude on the cheek. The most they did was give a pat on the back or shoulder. Let me know if it’s an American thing to kiss guys you friendzone, because maybe it’s the cultural barrier that keeps me from understanding “yes, they’re friends and nothing more!”. 

And yes, I know Sun told Neptune it was never about that. What was it about then, Sun? Were you trying to get Weiss’ attention by making her jealous? Were you trying to get Blake to paid for the food? I don’t buy that Sun explicitly flirted with her just to be friends. Else I’m an alien and it’s my second day on Earth, or Sun tried to convince himself to feel less pain. Or who knows? Maybe he really was flirting with her to be friends. Maybe he flirted with Neptune too. Writers, give us proper answers. And no, FNDM, filling in the story holes with “show don’t tell, there’s a logical explanation for it” is still fanon and doesn’t count as canon. Show don’t tell is a rule, not an excuse.

Anyways, after the whole coming and going, Sun finally leaves the scene for Bumbleby to thrive on sudden romantic interactions, which are a little late at most. It’s confusing. Yang never felt jealous when Blake showed attraction to Sun. They didn’t choose to clearly spend time together, at least with the “we’re partners” excuse. I’ll delve into this point later, but for now: we had Blacksun, suddenly we have Bumbleby, and we’re supposed to have been cheering for them the whole time. Uhm, was this supposed to be a plot twist? 

Okay, I may be biased on this one, but listen to me. I don’t like this kind of plot twist. Oh, we have a heterosexual couple… OR SO YOU THOUGHT! THE TRUTH IS THAT THE LESBIANS ARE CANON! WE’VE TRICKED YOU, WHAT MADMEN WE ARE!

Get it? My problem isn’t that Blacksun isn’t canon. My problem is that the writers are using a wlw relationship as a tool, a surprise, manipulating and tricking the audience. It doesn’t feel genuine--it feels like they just wanted to cause controversy--or sell. At the end of the day, Bumbleby is way more popular than Blacksun, and a big part of the FNDM came for the bees. Don’t y’all ever wonder why voice actors don’t talk as much about other characters, or Ruby herself? The main main character? 

Let’s bee honest: at this point in time, the biggest thing keeping RWBY afloat is Bumbleby.

“And what’s the problem with all that?”, bees may ask. “What’s wrong with feeding us some good bees?” Ship whatever you want, y’all. But I don’t like getting ships shoved down my throat and treated as peak LGBT+ representation when it didn’t get the time and treatment it deserved. Not all that glitters is gold, guys. (Especially Yang.)

Racism

Oh boy.

Racism is quite the great deal in Remnant… at least that’s what the show tells us. It doesn’t show it. No, Velvet doesn’t need to get stones thrown at her to show us discrimination. But, you know… if there was discrimination, I don’t think she would be in Beacon in the first place. Or that Leonardo would be the headmaster of Haven… Adam Taurus, pack your things and go home; there’s no faunus discrimination worth the fight. (Wait! Don’t go yet, you still have work to do.)

What does racism has to do with Bumbleby?, you may ask. Well, it’s Blake’s main plot. I think it has a lot to do with Bumbleby… but uh, it seems I was wrong. Yang isn’t interested in it, so I guess it’s just Blake’s problem. Until uh, Adam makes a scene, but that doesn’t have much to do with the fact he’s a faunus. It’s still pretty distasteful of a human to kill a faunus, but I’ll tackle that point a bit later.

Blake’s faunity? is very important to her. If she’s an important person to Yang, why doesn’t Yang show interest in it? She didn’t even defend Velvet, even though she could have punched Cardin in the face. She sits around sighing “It must be hard to be a faunus” and annoys Blake with a lighter. This only shows me Yang doesn’t care about Blake’s identity, and not in a good way. 

I know, I know, I take the faunus issue to heart. It must be because I’m a person of color. I could talk hours and hours about the horrendous execution of faunus racism (reinforcing stereotypes, horrible analogies and really unfortunate implications), but I’ll limit myself to Blake for now.

Yang doesn’t care. She’s not one bit interested in reading faunus’ history, in asking Blake about her experiences, in thinking how she could help as a human. She’s like those people who say “I’m blind to race” as if it were a good thing. Yeah, you don’t discriminate, but you dismiss other people’s culture and background. It’s part of who we are. Some of us will take it better, some of us worse, but acknowledging Blake’s identity in this case could do wonders. That way Yang could show interest in her as a person, her motives to fight, her struggle. 

But she didn’t. In fact, she did quite the contrary.

Bonus: I’ve recently seen a… hysterical headcanon. As it turns out, some bees were excited at the idea of Blake getting branded and Yang going berserk, later saving all the faunus in the mine. It was supposedly justified by “faunus needed a reason to respect her” and of course, Bumbleby angst. Do I need to point out the White Savior trope and how blatantly racist and harmful it is? Do I really need to? Considering faunus are supposed to represent the civil rights movement? Especially knowing Adam’s previous treatment? If faunus were explicitly Black, this would be… well, this is a disaster, but it gets swept under the rug. As a woman of color, this headcanon just makes me want to cry.

I think I’ll have to divide it into two parts so it doesn’t get too heavy. Part 2 is here. 

[fuwafuwamedb]

Birthday Celebrations (Hakuno, Gilgamesh, Extella/CCC Gang, Gudako)

“Hakuno!”

She didn’t have time to get up, to move or anything. Nero and Tamamo were leaping upon her, wrapping their arms around her and pressing their faces to hers. She could feel their hands pulling her in both directions, their attentions smothering her.

“Come on, guys!” Gudako laughed, walking in and grinning.

“What’s going on-“

“We’re celebrating your birthday.”

Her birthday?

“I had Da Vinci and a few others go through the ol’ records on the computer system. Everything’s been digitalized, you know.” Gudako set down a box in front of her, motioning for Emiya to bring over the cake and set it down as well. “Since I found you in the records, I had a couple things done: a little fudging to make you a master here in Chaldea and also I wanted to find your birthday. You get paid starting next month.”

She stared over at the woman, disbelief running rampant.

“Really?”

“Welcome to Chaldea, Kishinami Hakuno.”

Nero and Tamamo were babbling on, but Hakuno found others coming into the room. Iskander, Jeanne, Gawain, Arjuna, Robin Hood…

She found herself encompassed with the festivities.

Each of them had something for her. Whether she wanted it or not, she really could question, but there it was. Each gift had her smiling a little more. Each joke and game had her laughing a bit.

It was strange, feeling like this.

Each one of them had come to this room to help her celebrate a day that she didn’t even remember. She had each of them giving thanks to the universe for her just coming into existence. Each of them, with their stories and their grandeur, simply being happy she was alive and well with them.

Others joined.

Melloi and Alexander dared to challenge Iskander to a contest of wits.

Merlin slipped in to bother Artoria, bringing Arthur with him.

Tristan played ill suited mood music, earning a raving criticism from the audience around them.

Nero bickered over her head to Tamamo, arguing over who was better suited for her.

She was just happy that their presents had come when the others were distracted. The lingerie was not something she wanted others to see. Gilgamesh probably would have gotten mad about the vibrator as well since…

Wait.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Gilgamesh today.

The cake had been carved into, the servants were spread out throughout the room to eat and chatter away.

“Hakuno?”

“I think I need to lay down,” Hakuno told the Roman Emperor. “Can you let the others know?”

The woman pulled her hand to her lips, pressing a kiss to it softly.

“Was it too much, Praetor?”

“It was perfect. You all made today the best day of my life.”

The blonde smiled, continuing to hold and hug her hand to her cheek.

“You deserve happiness, Praetor. You worked hard. You were given no fairness. If you had been in my home, I would have seen that your romantic soul was given the love and adoration it deserves.”

“You do that anyway.”

She pouted a little.

“Nero,” Hakuno laughed a little, closing the space between them and kissing her hands. “You were such a strong and wonderful servant to me. Sometimes, I do feel quite jealous of Gudako for having you.”

Her smile illuminated the room with its radiance. Her laugh was nervous and giddy.

“O-of course! Praetor! Please know that my door is always open. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

But she wasn’t who she was interested in seeing right now.

Heading down the halls, Hakuno moved carefully to the clay being’s room first. It didn’t seem that they were there.

The gym was empty as well.

Nothing in Archer’s room.

Hakuno headed further down the halls when she heard a splashing from the baths.

She knocked carefully.

“Mongrel, it’s a public bath. Do you intend to hoard the space?”

“I was trying to see who was in here,” Hakuno replied, opening the door and watching the three blonds sitting in the waters. “Everyone is over in the lounge celebrating right now.”

“There’s nothing to celebrate,” the three told her.

She hesitated at that.

“Right.”

What more was there to say but that?

It wasn’t like she had been hoping for anything from the man. She hadn’t even expected to celebrate a birthday for herself. Everyone else had thrown the whole event for her. They’d made it up to be something huge and spectacular. They had been the ones to throw the fanfare and she had started to get caught up in it all.

“Hakuno,” Archer gave her a look. “What’s that look about?”

“Hakuno, why do you look sad? What’s wrong?” Kid Gil moved closer to the water’s edge.

“I’m just heading back to our room-“

“Hakuno.”

Caster raised his voice, motioning her into the baths.

“I shouldn’t bother you-“

“We told you to come here,” Archer complained. “Come here, Hakuno.”

Her body felt heavier than usual as she closed the door and walked over to the water’s edge. She wasn’t going to be able to avoid them for long. She disrobed and climbed into the warm waters, feeling Caster pull her into his arms and rest his chin on her head.

“Hakuno,” Kid swam a bit closer. “Do you want me to get something for us to mess around with in the tub? I have some water guns for shooting Archer-“

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.”

All three replied to her at that. She could feel Caster pinch at her.

“Don’t lie to us.”

She turned away a little, closing her eyes only to listen to Caster breathing softly. A bickering began as Archer rounded on his child self, getting after him about water guns.

Hakuno looked up after a time, feeling Caster’s weight increasing.

“…Are you falling asleep?”

The man nodded.

“Go lay down,” Hakuno told him.

“I am fine.”

“You’re falling asleep, Caster.” She looked over the other two. “Kid, can you take Caster back to his room?”

“Me? Why can’t Archer?!”

“Because Archer will leave him at the side of the hallway.”

The boy blinked, nodding a little.

It was true. He’d done it before.

The two climbed out of the baths, Kid directing the other onwards from the room.

“You’re upset.”

“I’m fine-“

Archer moved in closer, arms wrapping around her body before she could climb out of the baths. His body pressed her to the wall, his hands delving into her hair.

“Today is not your birthday.”

“Gudako and the others found it-“

“You were created, not born, remember?”

She gave him a droll look.

“That means that there is no official day listed,” Archer told her. “Therefore, your birthday must be a day of significance, a day that brought value into the world in your regards.”

Or they could just use the date that was in her paperwork. That made a lot more sense.

“We still have a couple more months,” Archer told her. “Your birthday is the day that you contracted yourself to me. You gave your own life meaning and tore away from that which created you. I have plans in place… reluctantly with that useless Caster of me and that child.”

He wrinkled his nose at the mention of the other two, but…

“You don’t need to do anything-“

“You don’t take pleasure in things.” Gilgamesh rolled his eyes. “I must do something. At the rate that you are going, you’ll simply settle for the happy moments in this place and do nothing. You are lucky to have me at your side.”

“Archer-“

“So just stay here with me,” he told her. Those red eyes glanced her way. His expression stayed determined. “Remain at my side and let me break down whatever walls you have so neatly placed up. When it is your birthday, you will know. It will not be thrust upon you like some unwanted gift. It will be an experience, a moment that makes you feel such pleasure that you drown in it.”

“What do you have planned, Archer?”

A knowing smile came to his lips. He pressed his lips to hers before pulling her deeper into the waters.

“Trust me, Hakuno. I have prepared a great deal for your birthday.” 

[daniactuallysnuffledthatpopcorn]

All They Wanted

Summary: Two pop punk fans meet at a concert and spend a little too much time in a public toilet together.

Rating: Mature

Genre: AU + smut

Word Count: 2.9K

[A/N] Written for @phanfichallenge, the Phandom Writing Challenge 7: the Songfic challenge. Song: All I Want by A Day to Remember. Beta’d by Sam (thank you!!).

“Thanks.” Phil held his new shirt to his chest as he moved through the masses, away from the merch table. In a quiet spot by the cloakroom he pulled his jumper over his head and stuffed it in his backpack. When he looked up to pick up his new shirt, he found a boy watching him. He averted his gaze when their eyes met, but Phil had already seen him.

“Enjoying the view?” He joked, face flushing.

Fortunately, the boy picked up on his attitude, “Yeah, I have a big thing for skinny white boys.”

Phil couldn’t help but laugh at that and he shook his head as he pulled the shirt on. “Well, I have a thing for voyeurs, so you’re in luck.”

“I don’t seem to be in luck, you’ve put your shirt on.”

Okay, so this guy was cute and joking around with him, but was this flirting or just friendly banter? Phil was exceptionally bad at distinguishing the two.

When he moved over to the counter to hand his bag off, the boy followed at a comfortable distance.

“Can I buy you a drink?” He asked when Phil turned back around to face him.

Okay, so flirting it is.

“Definitely.”

As they made their way to the bar, Phil kept stealing glances at the boy next to him; at the way his curls kept falling into his eyes and how a few lines of a tattoo peeked out of his shirt when he moved.

They both ordered a beer and sat down on the bar stools. “What’s your name?” Phil asked, leaning back and bringing the glass to his lips.

“Dan.”

“I’m Phil. Nice to meet you.”

“You too. Is this your first A Day To Remember show?”

“Nah, I followed them around for a few weeks last summer.”

“In the States?”

“Yeah, it was cool.”

“Wow, mate. This is my first time seeing them, but I appear to be in the presence of a connoisseur.”

Phil laughed, “I like the tunes. I don’t really get involved with anything else surrounding them, to be honest.”

As if on cue, a mass of loudly chattering fans walked past them, making him unable to hear the other until they’d passed. Phil liked loud music, but he wasn’t much into the loud devotees surrounding it. He watched the group leave before turning his attention back to Dan.

“So, you’re one of those guys who stands in the back and nods along?”

“Usually, though sometimes I switch things up and stand by the bar instead.”

“A show not moshed is a show not enjoyed.”

Phil laughed and clinked their glasses together, “Cheers to that.”

“Seriously, come in the pit with me tonight. I’ll show you a good time.”

“Show me a good time, huh?”

“Yep, however you want to take that.” Dan raised his eyebrows suggestively, but only managed to keep his composure for a second before breaking into a goofy grin.

“I think I’ll take you up on that.”

--

As the doors opened and the masses started to flood into the hall, the two men left their glasses deserted and followed the mob. When they were almost pushed away from each other, Phil reached out, grabbed Dan’s hand, and pulled him back to him. “Stay with me. You haven’t showed me a good time yet.” Phil shouted over the music, leaning in close to Dan.

Dan led them to the side of the crowd, fairly close to the stage. “Perfect entry into the pit later,” he explained. They bopped their heads along to the warmup tracks and watched stage techs set up the instruments for the opening act.

It wasn’t until they’d been standing around for nearly ten minutes that Phil realised neither had actually let go of the other’s hand. He glanced to his side for a moment, but Dan was distracted by a scuffle happening a few yards away from them. Their hands were squeezed in between their bodies where they were pushed together by the crowds, and Phil wondered if he should let go.

He didn’t.

--

Dan kept quite still during the opening act, jumping a few times but otherwise staying in place. He half-heartedly mouthed along to a few of the choruses but he clearly wasn’t too familiar with the band. Phil had looked them up on Spotify the day before, but they weren’t his cup of tea. Bands were always better live though, and he had to admit he was enjoying their performance. The fact that the front man was cute helped too.

A small mosh pit had opened up near the front of the audience. Phil eyed it nervously as the fans slammed in to each other and pushed each other around. When Dan caught him looking he squeezed his hand and grinned at him.

So, he had realised they were still holding hands too.

--

Phil was grateful for his earplugs when the main band finally came on stage. Someone next to him jumped on his foot in excitement and the first crowdsurfer was already being hoisted up. They launched into the first song and Phil gave Dan a questioning look. Not yet, Dan mouthed in response.

And so, Phil lost himself in the music. He jumped along and shouted the words and reached his free hand towards the stage, eyes trained on his favourite band. He was being pushed and shoved from all sides but he barely noticed. The room around him had faded away and there was just him, the people on stage, and the music that had saved his life countless times.

When he felt a tug on his hand he was almost annoyed for being dragged out of his daze. Then he realised what was happening, and followed Dan to the pit. He couldn’t hear him, but he was pretty sure Dan shouted, “Let’s go!” at him before throwing himself right into the middle of the action. Phil hesitantly stood by the side for a few seconds, taking deep breaths and squaring his shoulders, until he was ready to jump in.

He was immediately absorbed into the movement, pushed forwards and backwards and into bystanders. It was an unpredictable rhythm that he quickly got used to and moved along with. This would definitely leave him with some painful bruises the next day, but God, he felt so alive.

He found himself cheering along when Jeremey McKinnon, the band’s lead singer, shouted something at the moshers. For those few seconds of relative calm, he made eye contact with Dan and found the other looking back at him. They were both sporting wide grins and lively eyes, and they shared something unspoken in that short moment before they were pushed onwards.

--

Halfway through the set, Phil was dragged out of the pit, to the front of the audience. There, safe from the pushing and grabbing but still high on adrenaline, he pulled Dan to him and kissed him.

Dan responded immediately, moving his hand through the hair on the back of Phil’s head and opening his mouth.

It was a moment unmatched by anything Phil had ever felt before. Surrounded by fans shouting the words to one of his favourite songs back at the band on stage, sweaty bodies too close together, all senses heightened. The flashing lights pierced through his eyelids and kept his heart beating at top speed.

Dan didn’t give him the chance to recover and bring his heart rate down to a healthy speed; the moment they broke apart, he was already pulling him back to the pit. Phil felt high on life, jumping in without hesitation this time and falling right back into the rhythm of the mosh pit.

--

The show went by too fast.

Phil hurt all over from moshing, but it was all worth it by the time the band went into the encore and the pit thinned out and eventually disappeared. He grabbed Dan’s hand. The two of them smiled at each other for a moment before joining the rows near the front of the stage to enjoy the final songs.

Gigs were entirely different this way. He was used to staying in approximately the same place and having some drinks. He’d never expected moshing and making out to feel so right and so perfect, especially after he’d rolled his eyes at kissing couples before plenty of times.

They stayed and watched the techs clear the stage after the show. Dan picked up some confetti and stuffed it in his pocket, and Phil sat down amidst the red paper. Behind them the masses of fans cleared the room and left them with the crew, who was breaking up the decor. The night was coming to a close, and Phil wasn’t sure what was going to be left of him and Dan after they left this hall.

“Ready to go?” Dan offered him his hand and pulled Phil to his feet. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

Was this an invitation?

“Yeah, me too.”

He wasn’t, really. But he’d take any excuse he could get to spend more time with Dan at this point.

“I know this great burger place just a few streets over, should be open at this hour. I’ve never seen them closed.”

“Alright, yeah let’s go.”

Their feet left trails in the confetti littered around and Phil couldn’t help but follow Dan’s example from before: he picked some up and put it in his pocket.

“I have a book at home,” Dan said, “of just little summaries of gigs and confetti and pictures. I love remembering the good times I’ve had.”

Phil’s mind wandered, wondering if Dan had done this before. Had taken on a random stranger and strung them along, just for the night.

They picked up their belongings from the cloak room, and Phil was grateful to have a jacket in his backpack when they stepped outside. It was chilly and dark, a starless sky stretching out over their heads with only the luminous signs on the storefronts around them to light the streets.

As they walked further into residential neighbourhoods and left the city centre behind, it got darker around them. A heavy silence had settled over them, and it didn’t lift until the bright lights from a burger joint lit up in front of them. The shop looked out of place, as if it had been picked up from its original spot and dumped in a random place, which just happened to be smackdab in the middle of a quiet suburban street.

Going inside was like stepping into a different dimension. There were some people casually sat at the bar drinking coffee, and two women were sharing some chips in one of the booths. Nothing gave away the fact that it was close to midnight on a Thursday evening.

They each ordered a burger at the register and chose a table as far from the other people as they could. Phil finally took a moment to properly look at Dan for the first time since they’d shared those beers before the gig. His hair was curlier now from sweating in the mosh pit, and he looked tired but content. Phil didn’t even want to know what he looked like himself.

“How was your night?” Dan asked, leaning back in the booth with one arm casually swung over the back off the sofa.

“Fucking wild.” Phil said before he could filter his speech.

Dan broke into a toothy grin, “Yeah, same. I didn’t get to crowdsurf, but I got to kiss the hottest guy at the whole event, so I think I won.”

Without missing a beat Phil said, “Yeah, but I participated in my first mosh pit and kissed the cutest guy at the event.”

Their feet brushed together under the table, sending a shiver up Phil’s spine. Their eyes met and in that moment, they seemed to somehow think the same thing. Making sure no one was watching them, they snuck out of their booth and into the bathroom.

The men’s bathroom was grim, to say the least. It was just about the last place Phil in his right mind would want to have an intense make-out session, but it was the only available place right now and he was desperate. The moment the door was locked behind them, he had Dan with his back pressed against the door. Their lips met in the middle and for a few minutes there was nothing but that kiss and Dan’s hands grabbing at Phil’s shirt.

Then the last part of his brain that was concerned about hygiene went out the door and he was pulling at Dan’s belt. Dan was immediately impatient, pushing Phil’s hands away and undoing his jeans himself, pushing them halfway down his thighs. His eagerness was briefly eased as Phil started kissing his neck, going down from just under his jaw to the hem of his shirt, pulling it aside to expose more skin. He let his hands run down Dan’s torso as he sank to his knees.

Dan, realising what was happening, sighed and leaned his head back against the door. His hands tangled in Phil’s hair, as the other wrapped his fingers around his cock and pumped up and down a few times before taking the tip into his mouth.

He had one hand at the base of Dan’s erection, the other on his slim hip. His nails were digging into the skin on his abdomen, but neither of them really noticed.

Dan was clearly trying to keep quiet, muffling his moans and biting his lip. Every so often he suddenly took a deep breath, as though he just realised he hadn’t been breathing for a while. Phil was going mildly insane on the floor, his own cock painfully pressing against the zipper of his jeans. He paused what he was doing momentarily to readjust it into a less unpleasant position. This gave Dan just enough time to collect himself a little and whisper a “fuck,” under his breath.

Then Phil’s mouth was on him again and he let out a whimper, caught off guard.

Phil could feel that he was getting close, his legs were trembling a little and his abdomen was all tensed up. “Phil,” the boy said softly.

Phil didn’t respond, instead tightening his grip on Dan’s hip and taking him deeper into his mouth. Dan shivered as he involuntarily bucked his hips. He came hard, fingernails grazing Phil’s head and jaw going slack. Phil worked him through it. He moved his hand along the base where his mouth couldn’t reach.

When Dan took a shaky breath, his first normal breath in a few minutes, Phil swallowed and got to his feet.

“God, you’re hot.”

Dan grinned as he pulled his trousers back up and buckled his belt, “Let me catch my breath. I’ll return the favour.”

“Nah, this one was on the house. Before the gig you told me you’d show me a good time and you did. Thanks for that.” Phil stretched out his stiff limbs and rolled his neck. He was still uncomfortably hard, but the high was over, making him realise where he was and what he was doing. The restaurant staff may not have cared or noticed before, but if they kept the only toilet occupied for even longer people might start getting suspicious.

“Pretty sure you repaid that three times over just now.”

They did their bests to clean themselves up in the dirty bathroom stall before going back out. No one in the restaurant seemed to care much about what had just transpired right under their noses. They didn’t even bat an eye as Dan and Phil suspiciously walked out of the single men’s bathroom together and back to their booth. Their food had arrived while they’d been away, but the burgers were still warm.

Phil flushed his mouth out with some coke and inconspicuously sloshed it around his mouth for a few seconds.  

“Remember when I said I’d never made out with anyone at a concert before?” Dan asked. He was speaking quietly enough that Phil knew he was about to say something about what they’d just done.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’ve never gotten a blowjob in a bathroom at a burger place before.”

“Especially not at midnight on a Thursday, I’m sure.”

“Whereas you have, of course, given plenty of blowjobs on Thursday nights in public toilets.”

“Yeah, this was my third.”

--

They sat on the curb as they waited for their Ubers. Neither of them had brought up their impending separation, and Phil wasn’t about to. A car turned the corner and slowed to a stop in front of them. “Uber for Daniel?”

The two of them got to their feet, and Dan pulled Phil into a hug, “Thanks for tonight.”

“This was the best night I’ve had in a long time.”

They shared a short kiss under the streetlight in front of the strangest burger place Phil had ever been to and when they pulled apart Dan immediately got into the car. “Call me.” He said.

Phil raised his eyebrows, “But I-”

“Check your pocket.” Dan gave him one last smile, then closed the door. As the car drove off, Phil patted down his pockets and found a napkin in the left one of his coat. A string of numbers was scribbled in a corner in blue ink. He grinned to himself, clutching the paper in his hand as he realised that Dan intended on returning the favour sooner rather than later.

[wanna1things]

Kindergarten Teacher!Hwang Minhyun

because minhyun with kids is all i have ever needed in my whole entire life

Genre;; if kindergarten teacher is an au, this is it... also super fluffy

Warnings;; NONE unless you hate kids and minhyun

Pairing;; Hwang Minhyun x reader

Requested;; no... i wrote this last year lmao

Summary;; Hwang Minhyun is the perfect kindergarten teacher; he can sing, play piano and he’s amazing with kids. He’s also amazing at stealing your heart...

Style;; bullet point

Word Count; 1691

I wrote this last year around the time when Canvas was released and i realised its super cute and i’ve never seen an AU like this so while im in this busy period i might as well post it!! also yeah its time for me to actually post something about my ult lmao

minhyun works at the kindergarten that your niece goes to

of course he’s her teacher lol

but no really all of the kids love him because he’s always so funny and he’s the best singer??

every day they have half an hour where he plays piano for the kids and sings children’s songs with them and it’s so cute all the kids aspire to be in minhyun’s class lmao your niece got lucky

the headteacher doesn’t even get mad when he forgets to teach them proper songs and instead teaches them the theme tunes to tv shows sdhfgsd

‘go go power rangers’ yes minhyun sing it

they hold recitals/showcases every 2 months that showcase the kids singing i mean they’re not the best singers but it’s cute for the parents

and of course every time minhyun plays the piano for them

and every time minhyun’s class is the best in sync and they always get a standing ovation

and they always sing a tv show theme song hsdgfjs bless

when your brother has a job come up in japan for 2 months he leaves your niece in your care

lmao good luck with this hyperactive child

but no she’s wonderful

so... now you have to drop her to that kindergarten class

it’s not like you didn’t know who minhyun was i mean everyone knew

and you’d been to the recitals so many times because well… a) you love your niece and b) christ that mr hwang guy has a VOICE and he’s BEAUTIFUL

the first time you drop your niece off minhyun is so confused

‘excuse me,, you don’t look like y/n/n’s parents… who are u’

takes you a second to process what he says because lmao close up he’s like 20x better looking

‘ahh;; im y/n;; she’s my niece;; im looking after her for 2 months while her dad’s in japan for work’

‘oh okay!! thanks for dropping her off, y/n!! in case you didn’t know i’m mr hwang but you can call me minhyun!! i’ll see you here at three~’

LISTEN after that you had to go catch your breath outside OH MY GOd you spoke to the guy you’ve secretly been crushing on since your niece entered kindergarten lmao

when its pick up time you decide to get there a bit early

and you manage to turn up exactLY WHEN HE’S DOING THE SINGING CLASS

and as you’re waiting in the hall for the class to finish you hear minhyun singing the theme song for this really popular kids show and you really can’t help but laugh

like a voice that nice singing a kids tv show theme is kinda funny because it’s so unexpected sjfhdh

the bell goes and it pulls you out of your daydreaming about mr hwang

and as you wait for your niece to come out someone taps you on the shoulder

uh minhyun’s back

‘hey , y/n!! I saw you got back here early today!! I was wondering if you’re always here this early you can come and sit in the music lessons!!’

OH

‘yeah, sure!! i’ll come and watch every day then thank you!!!’

he just smiles that cute smile (that STILL REMINDS ME OF MY TORTOISE)

‘i could hear you laughing from inside’

UM OOPS

you can honestly feel the blush on your cheeks as minhyun waves and disappears back into the room like wow okay your cheeks are bURNING

and your niece runs out with her bag in her hands and basically drags you out of the kindergarten tbh you’re still completely in shock

from that day onwards you’re a regular at the music class

at first some of the kids are like ?? why are you here?? but once your niece explains they accept you like a second teacher

after about a week minhyun recruits you to play an instrument

at first he tries getting you to play piano with him but that’s a bit too crowded there’s only one piano stool

so uh welcome resident triangle player

it’s an easy job but you’re not going to complain i mean

playing tv theme songs with minhyun is surprisingly fun and really it’s the highlight of your day

one day after you had a particularly rough day;; you got stuck in the barriers at the train station and your scarf went missing

minhyun noticed and let you sit in the special chair in the corner of the room that looked a bit like a throne to play triangle

instead of having to stand up or sit in one of the kiddy chairs

by this time you’re about three weeks into the 2 months

and it was time to start preparing for the showcase which your brother was returning from japan to see

one day he asks you to stay a bit later to help him pick out a song

and of course you agree

you let your niece go to the corner to play with the toys while you and minhyun chat and discuss the ideas

while you two are brainstorming what song to do, he suddenly puts his hand on your shoulder lmao you got a bit shook

‘hey,, y/n… can you perform on stage with me at this recital?? i’d really like it if you could!!!’

who are you to deny this beautiful angel this request

‘of course i’ll play with you!! it’s only the triangle though i’m not sure how supportive that will be lol’

he hugs you suddenly and it’s like hEARTBEAT SPEED X100000000000

but you can feel his heart is racing too like aw okay bless

you know

about a week later the kids start teasing you and minhyun shfdhs sneaky assholes

‘mr hwang!! are you and y/n married??’

literally that question or a variation of it every 0.5 seconds

and you two lovebirds are blushing because you both obviously like each other but you’re kinda blind and don’t want to say anything uhh

he just flashes his eye smile and winks at the kids not even denying it

that is until one friday minhyun asks you to stay behind again

and right as you’re waiting for the kids to go out one of the parents approaches you and is like

‘hey!! my son told me you and minhyun are married!! congratulations on scoring the guy all the parents here are secretly swooning over lol’

and you blush a lot bc omg no we’re not married not even dating

you just mumble a thank you and go back to waiting for them all to leave

when they’re all done leaving minhyun asks your niece to step out of the room for a second

and so she does wow obedient child

minhyun suddenly takes ahold of your hand and he breathes in and out like really deeply bless nervous boy

‘uh;; y/n;; i really like you?? and i want us to date?? but if you don’t that’s okay??’

WHAT

you don’t even need to think you already know your answer

‘of course i want to date you omg???????????’

he hugs you really really tight and you can hear him breathe a sigh of relief bless

‘let’s not tell the kids though,, i think we should reveal it to them at the showcase’

CUE ONE MONTH OF TRYING TO HIDE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

kids are super perceptive but obviously because you two keep denying it they drop it well kinda

they just say it a bit less often lol

when it gets to the day of the recital/showcase thing

you two are planning your big reveal at his apartment while your niece is at her parents seeing as they’re back from japan now lol

and you’re helping minhyun change into his suit ready to leave

and sjfgshgfj omg he looks so good in a suIT YOU’RE ALMOST DYING

you were just going to wear jeans and a tshirt to play triangle but minhyun passes you a box and inside is like a really smart outfit that he picked himself and it looks really expensive lmao how did this kindergarten teacher afford this

but you go and get changed

and uhh cliche minhyun is just;; shooketh

you look so good he can’t resist kissing you UH

but no time to waste you gotta goooo to the recital

minhyun starts on stage but as always his class is last

and when it’s their turn you’re backstage with them cheering them on when your niece turns to you and says

‘hey are you sure you and minhyun aren’t in love’

you just wink at her and boom time to go onstage

THE SONG GOES DOWN SO WELL though it’s amazing

you spot your brother in the audience and send him a wave in the gap in your triangle playing

the song ends and minhyun does the thing where you tap the microphone

‘hello everyone i have an announcement to make’

the hall is just completely silent like boy better not be resigning

of course he’s not he loves the kids too much

‘the school has a new permanent triangle player!! they’re y/n and we are in love!!’

ALL the kids suddenly cheer and you can hear about 20 of them just saying ‘i knew it i bet on it you owe me $3 pay up’ I’M KIDDING

then minhyun does the cheesiest thing

yea he kisses you in front of everyone

when you look back over at you brother he is just clapping wildly and giving you a thumbs up wow brothers approval

BUT ANYWAY

from that day on you two are the cutest couple

you’re officially the triangle player for the whole kindergarten

i mean the kindergarten doesn't pay you but they should by now because you’re there literally 24/7

you move in with minhyun and you spend 90% of the day together but it's cute

when your niece comes to stay it's always so cute because

you 3 crowd around his electric piano and sing songs together (there's no triangle for you to play here sorry)

and those moments really make you look forward to your future together...

uh yeah this is cute and i love minhyun sm im going to die anyway its really late so !! good night && i hope you enjoyed;;

[derevosky]

Blue Little Soul: Chapter 1/5

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Categories: M/M

Fandom: Hetalia: Axis Powers

Relationships: America/Russia. Minor: England/France and Germany/Nyo!North Italy

Characters: Russia, Belarus, Prussia, Ukraine, Poland, China, England, Ancient Rome, America, Canada

AU: Human

Language: English

Word Count: 9,247

Summary: Ivan was back in Oregon, or as he would claim, his hometown after five years in St. Petersburg. He had a premonition, and eventually he discovered he had a power to manipulate something he didn’t even imagine that he can.

Chapter 1: Chrysalis

Was it night time? But there was a faint light. Maybe the sun was covered by thick dark clouds. It was raining heavy enough to be a storm, accompanied by thunders that seemed to be near. By a high cliff, there was a lighthouse, fortunately for now, not being approached by the tornado, but still affected the pine trees along the path to it; some were falling down. Ivan was there, for some reason unknown.

‘Where exactly am I? Why am I trapped in a storm? How did I get here… and where is ‘here’?’ He contemplated.

Without knowing what to do, unaware where the strong wind came from. Noticing the lighthouse, he attempted to go there.

‘A lighthouse… maybe I’ll be safe there.’ Ivan thought.

He walked slowly, carefully as his vision was blurry because of the rain and its darkness it casted, distracted by the electrifying feeling creeping in his body. He raised his arms to guard his eyes from the strong gust. A tree fall almost near him, surprising the ashen blond teen. He kept track on the steep trail, trying not to trip on some branches, and broken barks. As he got closer by the lighthouse, there was an abnormally large tornado by the sea, slowly approaching the town. Flabbergasted by the view, he didn’t notice ahead the thrown boat to the lighthouse effectively broken, and its debris was about to crush him. As it was going to fall unto him, he was too shocked to run, instinctively holding out his hand to protect himself.

 He jumped out of his seat, almost fell out of it. His muffled hearing slowly cleared. He examined his surrounding as if he just got here; he was in a classroom. He swore he wasn’t sleeping. Why would he?

“Alfred Hitchcock famously called film ‘little pieces of time’ but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was.” Ms. Arlovskaya discussed.

‘Okay, I’m in class.’ Ivan clarified to himself.

(Feliciano’s pen fell to the floor. He picked it up.)

‘Everything is fine. I’m okay.’ Ivan comforted himself.

He was in Ms. Arlovskaya’s class, his favorite photographer that somehow got here in a dead end of a town to teach photography.

(Liz threw a paper ball at Kat.)

“Now can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white?” Ms. Arlovskaya inquired the class.

(Gilbert's phone vibrated.)

‘That wasn’t a dream. It felt too real. Was that supposed to be a nightmare?’ Ivan still felt perplexed.

“Diane Arbus.” Gilbert answered with a grin.

“Very well, Gilbert. Why Arbus?” Ms. Arlovskaya was pleased.

“Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children.” Gilbert explained.

“She saw humanity as tortured, right? And frankly, it's bullshit. Seriously though, I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation. And any one of you could do that to me. Isn't that too easy? Too obvious? What if Arbus chose to capture people at the height of their beauty or innocence? She had a brilliant eye, so she could have taken another approach.” Ms. Arlovskaya deliberated.

“I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of her work. I prefer... Robert Frank.” Gilbert answered as if they were conversing.

“Me too, Gilbert. He captured the essence of post-war America. Then, there was honesty about the economic conditions of the era, but a beauty in the struggle. You don't have beauty without a beat. Which explains why Frank was Kerouac's photographic muse and both were great chroniclers of the 1950s. We've all seen that iconic shot of Kerouac on the balcony - and if you haven't, shame, shame - capturing the romantic urban solitude of the 20th century poet. You understand? Now, contrast Frank's stark Americana with Salvador Dali's surrealist photographs. Like Cocteau, he was a true renaissance man, and his famous self-portraits are famous early examples of that truly awful word you pesky kids love so much, the ‘selfie’. And it's a great tradition, and I wholeheartedly fight for your right to self-expression. So if anybody wants to question the portrait as modern narcissism, they could go back hundreds of years to blame society.” She rambled and noticed this as most of the class didn’t pay attention.

“Speaking of questions, I bet you thought I'd talk all the way until the bell rang. It's your turn to lecture us. Now, based on the chapters I have no doubt you all memorized, who can tell me the name of the actual process that led to the birth of the self-portrait? Anybody?” She tried to peak up the class which just made most of the people quiet.

“This does not bode well. Just jump right in with an answer. This was in the chapters you read. You did read the chapters, right? Your silence is deafening. If this were a photo, I'd call it a still life.” She sighed, waiting for an answer.

(Ivan took a picture of himself using his polaroid.)

“Shh, I believe Ivan has taken what you kids call a ‘selfie’. A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Ivan” she said, like a proud teacher.

“…has a gift. Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation was not the first to use images for selfie-expression.” Now, she was feeling proud for the pun.

“Sorry. I couldn't resist. The point remains that the portraiture has always been a vital aspect of art, and photography, for as long as it's been around. Now Ivan, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?” she returned to her question.

“You’re asking me? Uhm, let me think…” Ivan, answered profoundly.

“Either you know this, or not, Ivan. Is there anybody knows how to answer?” She said in frustration.

“Louis Daguerre was a French painter who created "daguerreotypes", a process that gave portraits a sharp reflective style, like a mirror.” Gilbert answered then looked at Ivan.

“Now you're totally stuck in the Retro Zone. Too bad, it’s not that awesome. Suck your scarf while you’re at it.” Gilbert added, and Liz laughed.

“Very good, Gilber. The Daguerreian Process brought out fine detail in people's faces, making them extremely popular from the 1800's onward. The first American daguerreotype self-portrait was done by Robert Cornelius. You can find out all about him... In your textbook. Or even... online.” The teacher was relieved until the school bell rang.

“And guys, don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the ‘Everyday Heroes’ contest. I'll be with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be guaranteed influential by the art world. It's great exposure, and it can blossom your career in photography. So Feliciano and Ludwig, get it together. Liz, don't hide, I'm still waiting for your entry too. And yes Ivan, I see you pretending not to see me.”

‘Gilbert didn’t waste any second on kissing ass, no?’ Ivan mused.

He noticed Yekaterina wasn’t as cheerful as today. He approached his classmate and tried to engage her in a conversation.

“You seemed quiet today, Kat.” Ivan started.

“Just thinking too much, I guess.” She smiled weakly.

“I hear that. Want to have tea with me and complain about life?” He offered.

“Thanks, but not today. I have homework to do.” She said, still smiling that friendly and mother-like smile, although not as bright.

“No worries. Let’s hang out later then.”

“Sure.”

 By the teacher’s table, Gilbert and Ms. Arlovskaya were talking about the contest.

“Yes Gilbert, you still have to do your homework this week, even if you're submitting your photo for the competition. Everybody in class is turning a photo, so you see the dilemma.” She deadpanned.

“I know, Ms. Arlovskaya. I just worked so hard on this shot, and I'm sure you know what it's like to be consumed by your work. I just really think ‘Everyday Heroes’ is an important cultural event, and I want to represent Blackwell Academy.” Gilbert raised his concern rather obnoxiously.

“You have just by participating, by putting yourself out there in the world. Well, no matter who wins, this is just a bump on a bigger road. I don't want anybody to feel excluded from this process. But I also want everybody to know that this photographic world is not for everybody. I had my moment in the camera eye and everybody should have that chance, right?” She answered objectively.

“Oh totally. I only want to share whatever gifts I have with the world...” He said.

Ivan approached the two.

“Excuse me, Ms. Arlovskaya, can I talk to you for moment?”

“Yes, excuse you.” Gilbert demanded.

“No, Gilbert, excuse us. I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in his picture.” The teacher dismissed Gilbert earning a pout from him.

“Do I have to? I don’t really think I have what it takes.” Ivan reacted.

“Ivan, you're a better photographer than a liar. Now I know it's a drag to hear some old woman lecture you... but life won't wait for you to play catch-up. You're young, the world is yours, blah blah blah, right? But you do have a gift, you have the fever to take images, to frame the world only the way you envision it. Now, all you need is the courage to share your gift with others. That's what separates the artist, from the amateur.” She encouraged.

“Okay, Ma’am. I will try. Thank you.” Ivan shyly bowed his head and headed towards outside the class.

The corridor, as usual, was filled with students. Some were walking, laughing at something; some were talking, standing by the lockers. The janitor was mopping the floor, muttering something. Ivan noticed, every now and then, the recurring posters of a missing person at almost every corner of his sight as he was looking for the restroom. ‘Matthew Williams’, he recalled. When he got inside his destination, it was empty. ‘Good.’

Ivan turned on the faucet then washed his face; he looked at the mirror, and remembered to turn off the faucet. He wiped his wet hands on the side of his pants, and took out his polaroid photo.

‘Relax, Ivan. Stop torturing yourself. You have… a gift.’ Ivan doubted. He sighed heavily.

‘Fuck it.’ He tore the photo while a bright blue butterfly flew into the restroom. It landed on a bucket beside the stall. Ivan followed it with careful footsteps. He approached the butterfly with his camera on his hands. He took a photo, and the butterfly flew away; it landed on the sink. Almost getting out of the corner, Feliks entered the room, closing the door. Ivan remained in his spot, hiding.

“It’s okay, Feliks. You're okay. Just count to three... Don't be scared... You, like, own this school... If I wanted, I could blow it up... You're the boss...” Feliks was breathing heavily.

A bespectacled blond entered the room as well.

“So, what do you want?” Feliks asked without looking at who is he’s asking.

“I hope you checked the perimeter, as my step-ass would say. Now, let's talk bidness.” The blond said rather without any sign of closeness.

“I got nothing for you.” Felix deadpanned.

“Wrong, you got hella cash.”

“That’s my family, not me.”

“Oh boo hoo, poor little rich kid. I know you been pumpin' drugs n' shit to kids around here. I bet your respectable family would help me out if I went to them. Man, I can see the headlines now.”

“Leave them out, you bastard.”

“I can tell everybody Feliks Łukasiewicz is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself!”

Feliks took out a gun and pointed it at the blond.

“You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!” Feliks shouted.

“Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!” the blond panicked.

“Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!”

“You are going to get in hella more problems for this than drugs.”

“Nobody would, like, ever miss your ‘punk ass’, would they?”

“Get that gun away from me, psycho!”

Feliks pulled the trigger, and shot the blond in the stomach. Without thinking straight, Ivan reached out by stretching his right hand.

“NO!” Ivan shouted, and his world began to slow down. The gun was falling slowly, and floating upwards to the owner’s hands. The world began to move reversely, and suddenly swirled. Everything was too fast to comprehend.

Ivan found himself in a classroom, again, almost falling out in his chair. He was in class. The class with Ms. Arlovskaya.

“Alfred Hitchcock famously called film ‘little pieces of time’ but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was.” Ms. Arlovskaya discussed.

Feliciano dropped his pen, and picked it up. Again.

‘I already heard this before.’ Ivan pondered.

Liz threw a paper ball at Kat.

‘Kat is being bullied again. And if Gilbert’s phone vibrates…’

Gilbert’s phone vibrated. Again.

Surprised, he knocked his camera off the desk, causing it to break.

‘So… I can actually reverse time?’ Ivan gaped at his thought. He noticed his broken camera, and with enough time manipulation, it was fixed.

‘I did it! Wow. I’m, I’m a time-traveller! Okay, so, what happened before? Ah, yes. I took a picture of myself, then Ms. Arlovskaya asked a question.’

“Shh, I believe Ivan has taken what you kids call a ‘selfie’. A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Ivan” she said, yet again, like a proud teacher.

“…has a gift. Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation was not the first to use images for selfie-expression.” Now, she was feeling proud for the pun, again.

‘I’m not dreaming. This is real. What if, I could save that boy?’

“The point remains that the portraiture has always been a vital aspect of art, and photography, for as long as it's been around.” The teacher was still discussing.

‘I need to go to the bathroom!’

“Now Ivan, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?” She looked at Ivan, waiting for an answer.

“I need to go the bathroom.”

“Nice try, Ivan. But you're not going to get away that easy. We can talk more after class.” She was not amused.

‘Oh shit, Ms. Arlovskaya wants to keep me after class. And I need time to save that boy.’

“Is there anybody here who knows their stuff?”

“Louis Daguerre was a French painter who created "daguerreotypes", a process that gave portraits a sharp reflective style, like a mirror.” Gilbert answered then looked at Ivan, as he was supposed to be.

“Now you're totally stuck in the Retro Zone. Too bad, it’s not that awesome. Suck your scarf while you’re at it.” Gilbert added, and Liz laughed.

An idea formed in Ivan’s head. He decided to rewind time. The world began to swirl again for a few seconds then...

“Now Ivan, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?” Ms. Arlovskaya asked.

“The Daguerreian Process. Invented by French painter named. Louis Daguerre. Around 1830.” Ivan answered hesitantly.

“Somebody has been reading. Nice work, Ivan.” She beamed, proud of her student.

“The Daguerreian Process made portraiture hugely popular, mainly because it gave the subjects clear defined features. You can learn more when you actually finish reading the assigned chapters. Ivan is so far, way ahead of everybody.”

With a queue in his head, the bell rang.

“And guys, don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the ‘Everyday Heroes’ contest. I'll be with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be guaranteed influential by the art world. It's great exposure, and it can blossom your career in photography. So Feliciano and Ludwig, get it together. Liz, don't hide, I'm still waiting for your entry too. And yes Ivan, I see you pretending not to see me.”

‘Ivan, you are not crazy. You are not dreaming. It's time to be ‘Everyday Hero’.’

He was about to exit the classroom until Ms. Arlovskaya stopped him.

“I see you, Ivan Braginsky. Don't even think about leaving here until we talk about your entry.”

Ivan winced, then turn around to see his teacher. He walked towards her.

“I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in his picture.” She noted.

“I'm not avoiding, just...”

“Biding time, waiting for the elusive ‘right moment’?”

“Da. Exactly.”

“Ivan, don't wait too long.”

“…da. I will do my best, Ms. Arlovskaya.”

She nodded. Ivan took this time to leave, and hurried to the restroom. He retraced what happened by doing what he did. He washed his face, ripped his photo, and took a photo of a butterfly. He remained in his hiding spot. He noticed the fire alarm, readied himself with a hammer he picked on the floor, and waited for the moment to come.

“…leave them out, you bastard.”

“I can tell everybody Feliks Łukasiewicz is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself!”

Feliks took out a gun and pointed it at the blond.

“You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!” Feliks shouted.

“Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!” the blond panicked.

“Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!”

“You are going to get in hella more problems for this than drugs.”

“Nobody would, like, ever miss your ‘punk ass’, would they?”

Ivan braced himself, exhaled, and started the fire alarm.

“No way…” Felix muttered.

“Don’t EVER come near me, you fucker!” the blond then punched Felix causing him to fall.

The blond rushed out of the restroom while Felix picked up his gun, noticed the stripped photo on the floor.

“Another shitty day…” Felix muttered while exited the room.

‘Did. I… just save… that boy?’ Ivan felt excited while his body was still in shock. His adrenaline slowly draining, reminding him that he violated a school rule, and decided to head outside. When he did, he was greeted by a security guard.

“Didn’t you hear the bloody alarm? That means you should be outside.” Arthur scolded.

“I had to use the bathroom.” Ivan answered quickly.

“Yeah, sure. I can see your face covered with guilt.”

“The alarm tripped me out.”

“Then trip on out here, lad. Or are you hiding something?”

“Thank you Mr. Kirkland, the situation is under control. There's no emergency here. Leave Mr. Braginsky alone and please turn off that alarm, since that's your job.” Principal Vargas joined their conversation.

Arthur decided to walk away, irritated. As Ivan was to walk away as well, the principal stopped him.

“Hold on, Ivan. Come back here” he commanded. Ivan complied.

“You look a little stressed out. Are you okay?” he inquired.

“I'm... I'm just a little worried about my... future.”

“You are sweating pinballs. Is that all you're thinking about? You can always be upfront with me, Ivan. Or have you done something wrong... Is that it? Well, Ivan? Talk to me.”

Ivan was cautious to give an answer. He can either tell the truth or hide it.

 He decided to tell the truth.

“I just saw Feliks Łukasiewicz waving a gun around... in the restroom.”

“Feliks Łukasiewicz. You sure?”

“Yes. He was in the bathroom talking to himself with a gun. I saw everything. He was babbling like crazy.” Ivan said as his accent slipping.

“Okay, slow down, slow down. So now you saw this... without him seeing you?”

“I was hiding. Behind stall.”

“I know, I know. I just wanted to be completely clear what happened. Mr. Łukasiewicz happens to be from the town's most distinguished family. And one of Blackwell's most honored students. So it's hard for me to see him brandishing a weapon in the school’s restroom. So what happened next?”

“Then he left. I ran out here wondering what to do. Are you going to bust him?”

“We'll continue this discussion, later, in my office. Please go outside with the rest of your class now, Mr. Braginsky.”

‘Of course this academic drone won't do anything since the Łukasiewicz family owns Blackwell now. Should I rewind and change my story?’

He dropped his thought, and exited the building.

“Attention. Feliks Łukasiewicz, please go to the principal’s office at once.” The school speakers echoed throughout the open field.

Ivan noticed his Spanish history teacher by the door.

“Excuse me, Ivan? I know everybody loves being asked to sign a petition, but would you do Mr. Carriedo a favor and hear me out?” Mr. Carriedo inquired.

“Sure, I always have time for you. What's the petition?

“Arthur Kirkland, our chief of security, wants to put surveillance cameras all around the campus. Halls, classrooms, gym, dorm rooms etc. Blackwell Academy should be a high school, not a high security penitentiary.”

“I guess cameras could have helped Matthew Williams. I can see both sides.”

“You're fair minded, Ivan. And we all pray Matthew is found safe and sound, bless his soul. But this petition isn't about him. Blackwell Academy has a noble heritage, from the Native Americans who founded this land, to the pioneers who shared it in peace, not fear and violence.”

“The Native Americans?” Ivan curiously asked.

“The tribes who were here first, who welcomed the settlers. Both cultures found a mutual symbiosis and thrived. Now before I assign you homework with this lecture, will you please sign the petition to keep our campus from going back to 1984?”

“Absolutely. I don't mind security, but not... pure surveillance.” he signed the paper his teacher hold out.

“I knew you were my favorite new student at Blackwell for a good reason.” he smiled at his student and dismissed him.

He began exploring the campus. It was quite an open field with pine trees scattered along with lightposts and stoned paths; a fountain was at the center with the campus’ historical figure’s bust on top. There were students who were sitting nearby; some tossed coins. Among the grassy field were occupied tables, minding their own clique.

“Hey, you’re that new quiet kid, right? In Ms. Arlovskaya’s class?” Toris suddenly greeted him.

“Ah, hello Toris.” He greeted him back.

“Isn’t she incredible? You know, Ms. Arlovskaya?” Toris gleamed.

“I think so, too. We're lucky to have such famous teacher. And I actually love her works.”

“Me too. Her New York urban stuff is great, but I'm glad he came back to her Belarusian roots. Screw the East Coast elite. It must piss off those pretentious galleries that Natalya Arlovskaya is teaching photography to us Blackwell hicks... plus she is really hot.” He noted as matter-of-factly. “If Gilbert wasn't all over her, I would definitely make a move.” He added.

“No way. You can get her busted. And she's not going to mess around with a student.” Ivan retorted.

“That's what you think.”

“Now how do you know this?”

“You have a lot to learn here at Blackwell. Matthew Williams absolutely had sex with her. Well... I heard that from a good source.”

“So you knew Matthew?”

“Not really. I saw him hanging with the other cool kids like Gilbert. Not my kind of clique. But I heard insane stories about Matthew...”

“Well, you shouldn’t assume, I guess.”

“Beats me, anyway, nice talking to you.”

Ivan nodded then dismissed himself. As he walked around aimlessly, he spotted Wang Yao sketching on his pad.

“Privet Yao!” he waved his hand, approaching the Chinese student.

“Nihao, Ivan. You don’t mind sketching you, do you?” Yao asked his permission.

“I’d be honored, Yao. Makes me feel like a muse.” He giggled.

“Funny you should say that. I was just thinking about my real muse in class, Matthew Williams.” He started sketching quickly some guidelines.

“Hard to avoid his posters all over campus.” His body stilled while Yao added thicker lines to his sketch.

“Kills me to see his sweet face used as a crime photo. He had a good heart.” He shaded some parts smoothly.

Ivan nodded a little so he wouldn’t ruin Yao’s work. As Yao began finishing the details, he squinted, stretched his arm to see the whole work in a different angle. He sketch a little more, and decided that his work was complete.

“Ja-jan! It’s done.”

“Wow! I like how you drew my nose. It’s smaller, da?” he joked.

“Believe it or not, your nose is your asset.” Yao noted.

“Thanks, little one. Anyway, I should get going. Talk to you later.” He giggled, and waved goodbye.

“Bye bye!”

 He glanced at his footsteps and he noticed the sidewalk was plagued by a patch of ants, circling like a spiral. A bizzare sight, he noted. He felt his phone vibrated. He read the text he just received.

From: Alice Vargas

Hey, meet me at the parking lot. But, don’t forget my flash drive!

He kept his phone in his pocket, and walked to the dormitories. As he was about to enter his building, unfortunately, Gilbert was there by the stairs blocking the doorway.

“Oh look, it's Ivan Braginsky, the selfie ho of Blackwell. What a lame gimmick. Even Nat —Ms. Arlovskaya— falls for your waif hipster bullshit.” he greeted while Elizabeth and Roderich was there.

“‘The Daguerreian Process, ma’am!’” he mocked his Russian accent. Ivan rolled his eyes.

“You could barely even say that. I guess you got your meds filled. Since you know all the answers, I guess you have to find another way into the dorm. We ain't moving. Oh wait, hold that pose!” Gilbert held out his phone and a shutter sound rang.

“So original. Don't worry, Ivan, I'll put a vintage filter on it right before I post it all over social medias. Now, why don't you go fuck your selfie?” Gilbert insulted him as Ivan walked out away, glaring and grumbling.

‘Oh yes, Gilbert. I will definitely get you albino ass out of the way.’ He smiled in quite a creepy way. He would smack him with a water pipe if he had to, but he had enough trip to the principal’s office. As he looked up, he witness the janitor was painting the walls, and knocked out the paint bucket, unfortunately, far enough from Gilbert. Forming an idea, he saw that the sprinklers by the side of the doorway were turned off. He went to the janitor’s shed which was also the control room, and turned on the sprinklers.

As the sprinklers were on, Gilbert and his friend abruptly stood up from the stairs they were sitting on.

“What the hell? Are you kidding? Look at this...” Gilbert ranted.

“It’s just water, Gil.” Rod remarked.

“Water on my awesome cashmere! Do you know how much this fucking outfit cost?” Gilbert added.

The paint bucket dropped, causing it to splash some of its content to Gilbert.

“No fucking way!” Gilbert whined.

“Oh my god, I’m really sorry.” The janitor apologized frantically.

“Don’t even talk to me or I’ll have you fired!”

“Shit, let me get some towels.” Liz said.

“Hello, Gilbert.” Ivan said with a smile.

“Don’t even say a word, Ivan.”

“Oh wait, hold that pose! And no filter needed before I post this. Now please move. I've had messed up day and I'm going to my room. Poka!” Ivan mocked, earning a glare from Gilbert.

“You do that... I know where you live... So does Felix...” Gilbert warned.

‘Maybe I shouldn't have done that... Now I have to get to my room, then see Alice.’

He walked through the halls, then entered his room. He looked for Alice’s flash drive but instead found a note from Ludwig. “I borrowed Alice’s flash drive. You could get it from me. –Ludwig B.”

‘Great. Now I have to talk to his brother.’ Ivan complained. He went to Ludwig’s room and saw him there typing something on his computer. He looked focused at what he was doing.

“Ludwig, may I know where is the flash drive?”

“Oh, Ivan. You’re here. Uh…” Ludwig was surprised but didn’t show it as much. He looked for something, and found the flash drive near him. “Here it is.”

“Ah, spasiba, Ludwig.” He headed out of his room and then the building.

He witnessed Raivis got hit by a football. He rewinded the time, and warned Raivis.

“Raivis, look out!”

“Huh?” Raivis moved his head, and blinked in shock when he felt the football almost touching his face.

“Wow, thank you, Ivan!” the boy said earning him a smile from Ivan.

‘Yay! I helped someone!’ he chirped. He walked along the path, and saw small dead birds along the way. ‘That’s quite ominous.’ When he was heading outside the dormitory premises, he heard a familiar British voice scolding someone.

“...so don't think I'm blind! I see everything here at Blackwell! Do you understand what I'm saying?” Arthur alleged.

“No! And leave me alone.” Kat answered back.

“Hey, why don't you leave her alone?” Ivan stepped in.

“Excuse us, this is official campus business—“ Arthur snapped.

“Excuse me, you shouldn't be yelling at students. Or bullying them.”

“Hey, hey, nobody is bullying anybody. I'm doing my job.”

“No, you're not.”

“You're part of the problem, lad. I will remember this conversation.” Arthur left them.

“Oh Ivan, that was great. I think you scared him for once... I have to go, but thank you. It means a lot.” Kat said with an appreciative tone while smiling still weakly.

“Anytime, Kat.” He smiled back but wider.

Going through the school campus again, he walked briskly. He spotted the parking lot, and then Alice by her car. Alice saw him approaching, smiled as she usually do while waving her hand energetically like the cheerful girl she was.

“Ciao, Ivan! How are you?” She greeted and hugged him. He hugged back.

“Here's your flash. Spasiba, as usual.”

“No problem. Check out my new wheels.”

“Cool. Very old-school.”

“1978, to be exact. Now we can go to the drive-in. There's one in Newberg, just sixty miles away.”

“You're in wrong time, Alice. But then, so am I.”

“You okay?”

“It's been one strange fucking day.” He sighed.

“Man, I saw that Gilbert didn't take down that pic of you on Facebook. Major dick move.”

“No worries, Alice. I took sweet shot of Gilbert I can't wait to share.”

“Oh, score one for Team Ivan! It will be so karmic to see his ass-clown face all over the nets.”

“I guess he does deserve it for all shitty things he's done to people here.”

“By the way, I saw Yao’s sketch of you online? Not bad, but I could do a much a better job.”

“Yao posted it online already? That was nice.”

“Congrats! You're part of his online portrait posse.”

“Don't be jealous. I'm sure he'll ask you soon.”

“Oh you're a wit, Ivan.”

“It's the company I keep, Alice.”

“So, did you get a chance to check out the movie booty on my flash drive?”

“Da. You had taste, from ‘Akira’ to ‘Twilight Zone’ which seems appropriate today.”

“I consider myself a pop...cultural pirate connoisseur.”

“That does sound better than ‘thief.’”

“Ha-ha. Make sure you watch ‘Cannibal Holocaust’.”

“Seen it. I was more disturbed by all those emo vampire movies in there.”

“Can't a sensitive high school girl love sensitive vampires too?”

“So you're sensitive...”

“Ouch, that sounds awful the way you say it.”

“Not at all. Sensitive is good, unless you're a pushover. You have hip taste and quick mind.”

“Thanks for noticing, Ivan.”

“The right boy will, too...”

 “If I was lucky. Speaking of hip and fast, we should cruise out in my car to an actual movie this week. But you seem distracted.”

“I need to talk to somebody ...just to get it out of my system.”

“Dr. Alice Vargas is in the house. I won't even prescribe you any meds. Tell me everything.”

“For reals, Alice, this is between you and me, not social media.”

“Don't insult me, Ivan, go on.”

“I had this incredibly bizarre experience in Ms. Arlovskaya’s class today. I mean, life-changing. Have you ever had dream so real it was like movie?”

Alice was about to say something, but Feliks was approaching them while glaring.

“Ivan Braginsky, right? In Arlovskaya’s class?”

“Da. I’m one of her students.”

“What-the-fuck-ever. I know you like to take pictures, especially when you're hiding out in the bathrooms.” He said as he shoved Alice when she tried to stop him from bringing his face closer on Ivan’s.

“You best tell me what you told the Principal. Now!” Feliks demanded.

“I told him truth: student had gun.” Ivan deadpanned.

“No, you told him I had a gun! That's why he dragged me into his office.”

“And did what, give you stern lecture?”

“Nobody ...nobody lectures me! Everyone tries though ...they try...” Feliks almost broke down.

“You should talk to somebody, Feliks...” Ivan said out of concern.

“Do not analyze me! I pay people for that. Worry about yourself, Ivan Braginsky.” Feliks back at his previous trance.

“Take a step back, Feliks.”

“Oh, man, you're, like, telling me what to do?”

“Hey! You should stop shouting at him!” Alice confronted but was given a head-butt by Feliks.

“You shouldn’t have done that!” Ivan growled, tried to grab Feliks, but was grabbed in the neck by Feliks instead.

“Nobody tells me what to do! Not my parents, not the Principal, or like, that whore in the bathroom!” Feliks dictated.

Ivan scrapes Feliks's cheek with his attempted punch, and Feliks pushed him to the ground. An old pick-up truck drove up to the scene. Ivan got up, panting for air, and looked in the windshield, where the bespectacled blond from the restroom was in the driver's seat. He suddenly recognized who he was.

“Alfred?”

“Ivan?”

“No way, you again?” Feliks interrupted their mini-reunion, and eventually got punched by Ludwig.

“Ludwig?!” Ivan shouted out of worry.

“Don’t worry, we got this.” Alice smiled, and continued to face Felix along with Ludwig.

“Get in, Ivan!” Alfred shouted as Ivan complied.

“Get your punk asses out of there now! Don't even try to run! Nobody messes with me! Nobody!” Feliks shouted as they drove away. Arthur interrupted their fight.

 .

 “Feliks is messed up… and dangerous. This day never ends.” Ivan said what was on his mind.

“’Oh, and spasiba, Alfred.’” Alfred spoke in an attempted Russian accent. “After five years, you're still Ivan Braginsky.” Alfred continued in his usual voice.

Ivan looks down and shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

“Don't give me the guilty face; at least pretend you're glad to see me.” Alfred pointed out.

“I am seriously glad to see you. Oh, and spasiba, Alfred. It makes perfect sense I'd see you today.” Ivan said sincerely.

“Yes, it's been that kinda day. So, what did that freak want with you?”

“Hopefully nothing after today. So, how do you know Feliks?”

“He's just another Arcadian asshole. Your friend really took a beatdown for you...”

“Ludwig? Yeah, I owe him big-time.”

“You're not the only one in debt. And you're already causing trouble.”

“Thought it would be quiet here. Feels so weird to be back.”

“So, I guess St. Petersburg sucked hard?”

“No, it felt like real city for artists. Big and bright. Great for taking pictures.”

“Yeah. Must be hard coming back to a hick town like Arcadia again.”

“Not after seeing you.”

“Please. You came back for Blackwell Academy.” He said bitterly.

“Of course, it's one of the best photography programs in the country. And my favorite teacher, Natalya Arlovskaya.” Unfortunately, Ivan didn’t notice Alfred’s tone.

“So you came back to Arcadia for a teacher, not your best friend.” Alfred threw some shade, and Ivan winced.

“Don't you think I'm happy to see you?”

“No. You were happy to wait five years without a call or even a text.” Alfred just glared at the road.

“Give me a break! I was going through changes...like you...” Ivan weakly defended himself.

“I guess those changes included dumping me from your life.”

“That's not true, Alfred...” He frowned, not liking the conversation.

“Bullshit. You thought you'd hook up with all these art pricks in St. Petersburg. Didn't happen, though.”

“You're merciless.” Ivan muttered.

“You've been at Blackwell for almost a month without letting me know. 'Nuff said.” He reminded.

“I just wanted to settle in first and not be such a shy, cliche geek. I totally would've contacted you.”

“I bet you don't use these sad excuses on Ms. Arlov-whatever. Don't use them on me, Ivan.”

Ivan fell back on the seat behind him. He watched Alfred driving for a while, ‘Since when did he start wearing glasses? It looks good on him.’ he thought, then bended down to retrieve his camera, which was smashed during the confrontation in the parking lot.

“Ahh, blyat.” He muttered.

“Wow, haven’t heard that in a while.” Alfred mused.

“Nothing changes, except for my camera decided to be trash.”

“Good thing my step-douche has a boatload of tools. Maybe you can fix it at my place.”

“I need very specific, tiny tools.”

“Nerd alert! My stepdad has a fully-stocked garage. And he actually is a tiny tool.” Alfred smiled, losing up a bit of his scrunched face.

“Welcome home, Ivan.” he said warmly and Ivan thanked him in his head.

 .

 Ivan and Alfred drove up to Alfred's house, and parked in the driveway. They get out of the car, and Alfred began unlocking the door with his house keys.

“Come on in, don't be shy.” Alfred tried to be hospitable.

“The house still looks...nice.” A faint nostalgia surged through Ivan.

“Home, shit home.” Alfred remarked as he entered the house.

Ivan followed him upstairs, and entered his room.

“My room’s a bit different than the last time you saw it.”

“It’s cool. At least we can chill out.”

“This isn’t exactly where I chill out. My step-Fuhrer makes sure of that. Close the door, and put on some music while I ‘meditate’.” Alfred began smoking weed.

“So tell me, what does Ivan Braginsky do for fun now that he's a grown-up?”

“Not much. You know me. I like to observe the world more than participate.”

“I can't say I know you anymore; maybe you love to go clubbin' every night.”

“Can you see me at a rave?”

“I'd dose those candy-flippin' morons and watch them twitch into a DJ-dance-death-rattle... Take a photo of that.”

“Pfft, da. Sure.”

Ivan looked for the power switch and turned it on. He searched the metal box under the bed and took the CD. Noticing a picture of Matthew Williams, he pulls it out and unfolds it to reveal that the other side of the picture shows Alfred. He noticed this.

“Hey, give me that!” Alfred snatched the photo out of Ivan's hand.

“Ah, prosti. I wasn't trying to be nosy. Obviously, he was good friend, yes?”

“That's putting it mildly.”

Ivan sat down next to Alfred. Not really wanting to look a know-it-all, he inquired about Matthew.

“So, who is he? Do you mind talking about him?”

“Matthew Williams. He was my...angel.” He answered with longing.

“After my mom died and you moved, I felt abandoned. Matthew saved my life.” He continued.

“I had no idea...” Ivan whispered.

“Well, you never made much effort to find out. I was fourteen, we were best friends.” Alfred countered.

“So, Matthew took my place... I'm glad he was there for you.” He replied weakly.

“Matthew had my back. We were gonna kick the world's ass. You would laugh at how different we were... He wanted to be a star.”

“He looks like a model. Well, he looks like you.”

“We get that a lot. That was his plan. Our plan. Get the hell out of Bigfootville, and into Los Angeles.”

“So, what happened? Did your folks, your papa, try to stop you?”

“My papa was too busy hooked up with Sergeant Shithead.”

“I feel the love... Now, when did Matthew actually disappear?” Ivan said sarcastically.

“Six months ago. He just left Arcadia. Without a word. Without...me.” Alfred weakly responded.

“How do you know he disappeared? Maybe he wanted to start a totally new life...”

“Unlike you, he would've told me, okay? Something happened to him.” his tone took a break from the nostalgia.

“I believe you. I'm just trying to get all deductive...” Ivan sighed.

“Before he left, he said he met somebody who changed his life... Then, poof.”

“And you haven't heard anything from him since?”

“Like everybody in my life. My mom, you...and Matthew... Gone... Can you put on some music now?”

Ivan got up slowly. He inserted the CD into the stereo. "Santa Monica Dream" by Angus and Julia Stone began playing. Alfred lied down on the bed, a sad expression across his face, and he began to smoke.

“Anyway, you can find tools to fix your camera in the garage.” Alfred noted.

“Alfred, are you okay?” Ivan noticed Alfred’s dazed face.

“Sure, I'm awesome. I just want to blaze and be alone for a moment.”

“Horosho.” Ivan left Alfred's room and went downstairs.

He glanced around the living room, and invited himself to a nostalgia trip. ‘It’s been five years.’ The living room was still the same as he remembered, except for the old wallpaper stripping out of its age. The bulky television was gone, and was replaced with a flat-screen. He looked through the sliding door, noticed that the backyard’s swing was still there.

He spotted an open door to the garage and welcomed himself. He searched for the tools, cabinet by cabinet. When he opened another cabinet, he was surprised to see what’s inside. A small television with surveillance of the house. ‘Damn, Alfred’s step-dad is really paranoid and creepy.’ He closed the cabinet, and searched through the drawers instead. He found a manila folder containing Blackwell’s student profiles, and apparently, his opinions as well; he also had a file about Ivan. He skimmed through the detail. ‘Really nosy, doesn’t know how to mind his own business. Quite sketchy.’ He laughed quietly when he read his opinion about him. He read Kat’s file and it bothered him. ‘Related to a scandal in the Vortex Club’ he read. ‘Why would he thought of that? This man has a problem.’ He put the files back to its place, and opened another drawer, wherein he found the tools. He grabbed the tools and headed back to Alfred’s room.

“Sweet, you found the tools? Go work on my table. Just tidy it up a bit.” Alfred said as he noticed Ivan had returned.

He complied and began fixing his camera. He removed the pictures inside of it and put it aside. He screwed some parts as it began to take its form. When it seemed presentable, he pressed the shutter button. The cover did not immediately eject, so he removed the film backing, then reinserted it. It still didn’t work.

“Why are you pain in the butt?” He felt defeated.

Alfred stood up from his bed and moved closer to Ivan. He noticed the photos on the table, and looked at it one by one. He commented each of the photo with compliments, making Ivan smile. He then took the photo of a blue butterfly that seemed familiar.

“Hey! Is this… is this the butterfly in the restroom?!” Alfred exclaimed as if it’s a Eureka moment.

“Ahh, da. Yes. It is. Why?”

“You… you son of a gun. You saved me! You knew Feliks had a gun so you tripped the alarm. Wow, you’re like the KGB or something.” Alfred was still amazed.

“What are you talking about?” Ivan grinned and Alfred threw a pillow at him, causing the camera to fall.

“Now, it’s officially broken.” Ivan deadpanned.

“Hey, since, it was your birthday like more than a year ago. Right?” Alfred smiled, giddy, and searched for something in his cabinet. Well, under it. He pulled out a box, and found what he was looking for. He hid it behind his back and-

“Belated happy birthday, Ivan!” Alfred held out a Polaroid camera, better than his previous one.

“I- Uh, spasiba, Alfred. But isn’t this your mother’s camera?”

“Pfft, no worries. Besides, I don’t know how to take good shots, unlike you.”

“Bol'shoye spasiba, Alfred. I am much honored.”

“Y’know what, we should celebrate! You’re back, and we need to have a homecoming party for you.” He paced through his room and changed the music to a livelier one. He maxed the volume, and started dancing on top of his bed.

“C’mon. Shake that big, white ass!” He howled, earning a giggle from Ivan as he awkwardly began dancing as well.

“Are you even trying, Ivan?” He danced vigorously, bobbing his head.

“Turn off that bloody music, Alfred Bonnefoy-Kirkland!” A voice shouted from downstairs.

“Fucker, I hate it when he does that.” Alfred cursed as he turned off the stereo.

“What now?” Ivan asked.

“I’m going to your room, young man.” His step-dad shouted.

“Oh, shit. Ivan, go hide or something.” Alfred whispered.

Ivan was frantically finding a hiding spot, and remembered that he used to hide in Alfred’s closet. He went inside and remained silent while he heard the door opened.

“Alfred, did you, or did you not take any of my guns in my stash?” His step-dad asked impatiently.

“Wow, what are you even talking about?”

“Is this marijuana? Why am I finding marijuana in this house?”

“Okay, first, guns. Now, weed. Wanna blame me more on something else?”

“I will not tolerate that kind of tone if I were you. Your father and I were worried about you.”

“Yeah, sure. I feel the love.”

“Answer my question, why is there marijuana in your room?”

“I… Uhh, it’s mine.” Ivan lied as he stepped out of the closet. He was surprised to see Arthur Kirkland in Alfred’s room.

“Okay, first of all, I don’t like it when bloody strangers pop out from my son’s closet. And you do know the consequences for having such illegal drug, Ivan Braginsky.”

“You should shut it, Arthur. You shouldn’t care who I’m friends with. And please call me Alfred F. Jones if you really want to call me by my full name.” Alfred butted in.

Ticked off, Arthur slapped Alfred in the face. Alfred glared at him.

“You’ll regret this.” He warned, eyes glinting.

Arthur, without another word, walked away with grief.

“Alfred, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. So that’s my step-douche.”

“I can’t believe Arthur Kirkland is your step-dad.”

“Yeah, beats me on how Francis looked him in the eye and say ‘Wow I love this man’ because seriously, who could even like that guy? Anyway, I have another surprise.” He went to his table and uncovered something.

He held it in his back then held it out. It was a gun.

“Look at my cool toy.”

“Alfred, chto za blyat?!”

“I know, pretty cool, right?” He ignored his friend’s colorful expression.

“Anyway, let’s go outside. I don’t really feel chill here anymore.” He opened his window and noticed Ivan hesitated.

“What? Are you coming or you’re just gonna mope there and maybe have a heart to heart talk with Arthur?” He continued stepping out through the window.

Ivan followed him, and he was excited.

 .

 They went to a familiar cliff. Too familiar.

“Isn't this awesome sauce? Totally reminds me of when we were kids...” Alfred recalled. He noticed Ivan was slowing down and waved at him. “Come on, slowpoke!”

“Wait up!”

‘I haven't been here in forever... So why do I feel like I was just here? Whoa, this is the exact same path I was on during my nightmare today.’

He noticed Alfred was already sitting on a bench by the lighthouse. Alfred noticed him standing like a doof.

“Have a seat, Vanya.”

“You’re in a good mood.” He said as he noticed the sudden use of his nickname.

“Seeing my step-dork get played makes me happy.”

“I'm not as brave as you. And Arthur is indeed ‘step-douche’.”

“I'm sorry you had to experience it firsthand.”

“You have to live with him. Has he always been this way?”

“Ever since my desperate papa dragged his ass to our home! I never trusted Arthur.”

“He freaked out on poor Yekaterina Chernenko today.”

“I know her. She's cool. Only that prick would bully her.”

“He has some kind of weird agenda.”

“He has a lot of secret files. Sherlock still thinks he's gathering enemy intelligence. Did you take a peek?”

“Well, yeah. I couldn't help it.”

“Never change. What did you find?”

“Creepy photos of Yekaterina... other Blackwell students...”

“This dude takes his job too seriously. He still thinks he's at war or something. He has a total surveillance fetish. I worry there are spy cams in the house.”

“I knew you didn't know! Alfred, your house is under surveillance.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There are cameras all over the house. I saw it on a monitor in the garage.”

“I knew it! He is so hella fucking paranoid. I'll keep this a secret for now...”

“Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”

“No wonder I'm so miserable. Everybody in this town knows everybody's secrets...”

“Even yours?

“Not anymore.”

“So what do you have on Feliks?”

“He's an elite asshole who sells bad shit cut with laxative ...and he dosed me with some drug in his room.”

“What?”

“I met him in some shithole bar that didn't card me. He was too rich for the place and too wasted. And he kept flashing bills...”

“Just tell me what happened, Alfred. Now.”

“I was an idiot. I thought he was so blazed it would be an easy score.”

“You needed money that bad?”

“Actually, yes. I owe big time. And I thought I'd have enough for me and Matthew if he showed up.”

“How much do you owe?

“Three grand plus interest. And before I could get a chunk of that from Feliks...he dosed my drink with some shit.”

“God, Alfred, I can't believe this... I mean, I do. Then what?” Ivan was frustrated.

“I know I passed out on the floor. I woke up and that perv was smiling, crawling towards me with a camera...”

“Go on...”

“Everything was a blur... I tried to kick him in the balls and broke a lamp. Feliks freaked, so I managed to bum rush the door and get the hell out. Ivan, it was insane.”

“What did you do then?” Ivan gritted through his teeth. Furious at what he was hearing.

“I figured I would make him pay me to keep quiet. So we met in the bathroom.”

“And he brought a gun.”

“That was Feliks's last mistake.”

“He's still dangerous, Alfred. Not just to you.”

“I won't always be there to save you...”

“You were here today, Ivan. You saved me! I'm still tripping on that... Seeing you after all these years feels like—“

“Destiny?”

Alfred got up from the bench and approached the cliff. Ivan follows him.

“If this is destiny, I hope we can find Matthew. I miss him, Ivan. This shit-pit has taken away everyone I've ever loved... I'd like to drop a bomb on Arcadia Bay and turn it to fucking glass...”

Ivan glanced at Alfred who’s still look at the horizon. The sun was setting and sky was clear until-

Ivan felt his head ache. The world was spinning on its own, darkening.

He was, again, trapped in the same storm. He was on the same path as before.

‘Not again... Why is this happening to me? Why am I here again? Is Alfred still up there?’

Ivan followed a doe, translucent it seemed, to the top of the hill as a boulder fell down the left fork in the road. Thunder crashed and lightning stroke a tree, causing it to fall down in front of Ivan. He rewinded time and walked up the path as the tree fell behind him. Ivan continued to follow the ghostly doe up the steps to the lighthouse. A pile of logs crashed down the path in front of Ivan. He rewinded and stood in the area next to the path as they fell past him. He continued toward the lighthouse. A boat flew out of the tornado and crashed into the lighthouse. Debris rained down and knocked the fallen tree blocking the road into the ocean below. The top of the lighthouse fell down and balanced precariously on the edge of the cliff. It slowly tipped over and fell into the ocean, taking chunks of the cliff with it so Ivan cannot cross it. Ivan rewinded and crossed to the bench area after the debris rained down. The lighthouse roof fell over again behind him. Ivan then read the newspaper stuck on railing. ‘October 11th? Is this Friday? That's only four days away!’ The wind tore the newspaper out of Ivan's hands. He watched the tornado.

‘Oh, no... That tornado is headed straight for the town...’

Suddenly, Alfred's hand touched Ivan's shoulder. Ivan found himself back with Alfred at sunset. Ivan falls to the ground and Alfred kneeled beside him. He looked at Alfred one more time, about to break down.

“Alfred! You're here! I'm back. Oh, Bozhe, this is real--it's real! This sucks.” Ivan rambled, mixed with emotions.

“Ivan, what's going on? You totally blacked out.”

“I didn't black out...I had another vision. The town is going to get wiped out by a tornado...”

“Oregon gets about five tornadoes every twenty years; you just zoned.”

Ivan grabbed Alfred's wrist.

“Nyet, nyet, I saw it! I could actually feel the electricity in the air...”

“Come on, take a breath, okay?”

“Alfred, I'm not crazy. But there's something else I have to tell you... Something...hardcore.”

“Talk to me, Ivan.”

“I had this same vision earlier in class... When I came out of it, I discovered I could reverse time. Like I said: not crazy.”

“But high, right?”

“Listen to me, how do you think I saved you in the bathroom?”

“By reversing time? Yeah, sure.”

“I saw you get shot, Alfred. Saw you actually...die. I was able to go back and hit the fire alarm...”

“Okay, I see you're a geek now with a great imagination, but this isn't anime or a video game; people don't have those powers, Ivan.”

“I don't know what I have, but I have it. And I'm scared.”

“You need to get high. It's been a hella insane fucking day...”

Ivan began shaking his head. A snowflake falls on his face and he wipes it away. Ivan and Alfred watched as snow begins falling all around them.

“What...the hell is this?” Alfred said dumbfounded.

“Snowflakes...?”

Alfred stood up.

“It's, like...eighty degrees. How?” Alfred stated, unable to comprehend what’s happening.

Ivan got up.

“Climate change...or storm is coming.” he commented gravely.

“Ivan...” Alfred looked him in the eye. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

Disclaimer: I do not own ‘Hetalia: Axis Powers’ nor ‘Life is Strange’.

So, there you have it. A ‘Life Is Strange’ AU RusAme.

Fun fact: Babochka is a Russian word for butterfly which also means “little soul” because the old peeps believed that souls take form of a butterfly. Thus, the title.

Another fun fact: I don’t really write fanfic; this is just a giant incorrect hetalia quote if you ask me. I just got into deep of RusAme hell. I’d appreciate it if someone would like to beta for me, though. I would love to learn how write properly.

If my request in AO3 got approved, I’d definitely post it there.

[agentnico]

SUNDAY OLD SCHOOL: Paris, Texas (1984) Review

Sunday Old School - Every Sunday I pick a classic film to review and talk about, because that’s why they are classics, they should be remembered!

No, there ain’t no French kissing here, for Texas is not about that!

Plot: Travis Henderson, an aimless drifter who has been missing for four years, wanders out of the desert and must reconnect with society, himself, his life, and his family.

So earlier this week my friend asked me if we could watch this film called ‘Paris, Texas’ that his lecturer recommended him. All he told me about it was that it had Harry Dean Stanton in it and that it had a rare 100% positive review score on Rotten Tomatoes. But besides that I went into this film completely blind, not knowing what wonders to expect. And after having seen it and for the past few days digesting it I have to admit that this movie floored me. Which is strange, since in principal this film is quite simple, however at the same time everything it encompasses results in pure brilliance.

Calling this film a classic would be incorrect due to its under-recognised status. I for one have never heard of this film until my friend’s lecturer brought it up, and I don’t think anyone I know has heard of it, let alone seen it. However that doesn’t mean that this film doesn’t deserve to be a classic. It sure as hell does. ‘Paris, Texas’ is a tale of loss, redemption, family, the road and the dark reality of the American Southwest told through the eyes (or camera lens) of a true artist. From the very opening shot you realise that you are in for a special kind of film. You see this scruffy man, wearing a dusty red baseball cap, walking through the dry and desolate western terrain all by himself. He finally reaches what looks like an abandoned cabin, and nearby there is a tap. A source of water perhaps? He turns it hoping for water to come out, but there is no water. He continues walking onward until he reaches the first proper sight of civilisation with this bar in the middle of nowhere. He stumbles in, passes by this old man sitting at a table, looks around and then passes out on the floor. And there is your opening, and to add to that, it is filmed gorgeously by cinematographer Robby Muller who gives a big focus on wide-shots of the surrounding landscapes, capturing the rock formations and the majestic vistas of the open desert. And yet there is still more. All of this is accompanied by the twangy sound of the singular lonely guitar note on the soundtrack that is cleverly done by Ry Cooder that emphasises the loneliness of this guy. This person is walking by himself. Where is he off to? Where did he come from? We do not know, but the film straight away suggests to us that this lonely man is someone that is lost and needs to be found. A beautifully staged opening sequence. A perfect way to start such a perfect film. However from how I described that opening I think you might have gathered that this is quite a slow paced film, which it most certainly is. So if you are an audience member who wants to watch action after action after action then I can straight away say that you will hate this movie. As it progresses very slowly, but that is not at all a bad thing, as the pacing of this film helps so much in developing all the characters and building this lore. So I absolutely love the pacing of this film.

As I already mentioned with the opening, both the cinematography and the use of music in this film as a whole are done to utter perfection. They set the tone to the right standard and only add to the greatness of this film. The performances are all of the chain. Harry Dean Stanton probably gives one of the best performances of his entire career, playing a gentle, kind man (who’s name is Trevor), that, besides having personal demons, tries to be a good father, and Stanton brings this character to life in such a subtle and sombre way that the result is simply amazing. Dean Stockwell plays Trevor’s brother Walt who is simply this nice guy who tries to help his brother out, even if it causes his family to begin to fall apart, and you feel quite sorry for him and his wife by the end of the film. Hunter Carson is worth a shout-out as Trevor’s biological son, for as child performers go he did a great job. And then we have Nastassja Kinski, who plays Trevor’s ex-wife Jane. She doesn't show up until the third act, and 95% percent of her performance takes place in one room. But Kinski's portrayal of emotion...and her quiet, yet powerful demeanor...and the way she talks...god, it's unbelievable. Stanton and Kinski have some of the best chemistry ever, which is even more impressive considering they're never in the same room (see the movie...you'll understand). In the end, these two carry the movie on their backs, and do an amazing job doing it. Because of them the final 30 minutes of the film is some of the best emotion captured on screen.

‘Paris, Texas’ is many things and more. It will make you laugh, it will make you sad, you will fall in love with the characters and if the story doesn’t affect you emotionally then you have a heart of stone.

Overall score: 9/10

TOP MOVIE QUOTE: “You’re telling me there is a place in Texas called Paris?” Disclaimer: This isn’t actually my favourite quote of the film, that in fact is the whole monologue by Jane at the end of the film. But that is kind of a spoiler, so instead I chose the quote from a more lighthearted and funnier scene from the film.

[aberorca]

Cursed Child: Saturday 20th May

A few weeks ago I did something really reckless, as I have a habit of doing every once in a while (it’s my Gryffindor blood, what can I say?): I bought two premium tickets for Saturday 20th May and Sunday 21st May even though I REALLY couldn’t afford it. The 21st I could excuse, but the Saturday too? Naughty. I even, last week, considered canceling the ticket and refunding it because I knew that I basically wouldn’t be eating until payday (and be late paying some bills) to pay for it but I stuck to my guns and I’m so glad I did. All the reckless things I’ve ever done, I’ve been nervous about but gone and done anyway, and I’ve never regretted it. This was a prime example.

Saturday 20th May was the first, only and last show I’ve seen with all the original cast in all their original roles. And it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. My seat was incredible - the best I’ve sat in. John Tiffany sat in this seat on Sunday, so I wonder if it was in fact “his” seat, (for example, I hear that JKR has Stalls E12). 

Everyone was on their A-game (even Anthony gave it his all, despite being pooly and as a regular you could tell. Poor bb had sounded bad at stage door on Friday night). The cast were going all-out. I didn’t make many mental notes because I wanted to just enjoy the performance, as if it were the first time but I will recall here the things that stood out. 

Platform 9 ¾: Just general loveliness. The Potter-Weasley-Granger family having fun together. Jamie has his arm around Poppy in this scene with his hand on her back and I’ve noticed before but never mentioned that he often strokes his thumb up and down her spine. *pours self a glass of cold water*

Cherelle totally went for “it’s exciting” line and I love it when she does that.

Polyjuice scene: Contrary to popular belief, Anthony doesn’t always do the sea lion barks but he did them this show and I hadn’t heard them in ages so that was everything I was hoping for to conclude Act 1.

The first task: Tom Mackley, Josh Wyatt and Rosemary Annabella went for it. I mean, went for it. No restraint. I feel sorry for anyone who wasn’t watching them because I was in stitches. This was Josh and Tom:

Mackley ended up on Josh’s shoulders (I can’t even remember how it happened, I was laughing so much, but it was when the dragons appeared and I do remember Mackley just leaping up there like

 and Rosemary, oh my God. She through all caution to the wind, screaming “I LOVE YOU, CEDRIC!!!” She got told off by a professor and then appeared to try to calm herself down, breathing as if she would into a paper bag but then fainted and took out half of Hufflepuff. Just one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever seen in my life. I was crying with laughter.

Anthony was struggling in the library scene and he forgot the line “I’m still the son of Voldemort without a mother” So, instead, the line went from “Turns out she (Astoria) is (dead) so I’m giving sympathy to the boy who doesn’t give anything back.” General audience seeing the show for the first time wouldn’t have noticed anything and it still made sense but Anthony, poor guy, as a regular you could see he wasn’t on top form. He was still brilliant though, because of course! Love you, Boyo!

The only gaff in this show was that Cedric didn’t inflate in the second task but it wasn’t obvious to a general audience because of the way Cedric’s vest looks anyway. Speaking of the audience - this Saturday audience was one of the worst I’ve been in, in terms of how responsive they were and the way in which they responded. But they did loosen up in Part Two.

Draco in the Voldemort timeline: Three weeks ago, Alex came out from behind his desk in this scene and I loved it. He didn’t do it last week which was disappointing but he did do it this time. To explain - when Draco says to Scorpius “Do you know what I love most about your Mother?…” it’s a very rare, truthful, genuine moment between the two of them. Alex has always said it from behind his desk but recently he has come out from behind the desk, thereby removing all physical barriers between himself and his son in a moment where he is trying to emotionally reach him, and remove relationship barriers. Today, he came out from behind the desk and before he began his line, he looked back at his desk, as if nervous about the lack of a physical barrier between himself and Scorpius, because he’s not used to being open with his son. But then he looks back to Scorpius and starts the line. It’s such a powerful way to play the scene. Major kudos to Alex there.

Snape - hats off to Paul Bentall - he has never been an ideal Snape for me - he could shout a bit which I find out of character but Paul has been toning that down recently and I mentioned a while back that he gave a performance that won me over. Today he was absolutely convincing. He made me cry. He was quiet, intimidating, but genuine, especially where Lily’s name was mentioned. In his final moments as Snape, when the dementors are about to be upon him, he always stretches out his arms toward them in acceptance of his fate, but in this performance he did so as he called out Lily’s name. He continued to call to her, as if he were offering her his final moments as the dementors came down upon him and it floored me.

Harry and Ginny fighting: oh my gosh, were Jamie and Poppy at their very hottest tonight. The chemistry between them was off the charts. Act Three Scene Fifteen, where Ginny blames Harry for Albus going missing again, was just explosive. It’s astonishing how good Jamie and Poppy are, that despite how angry they were, you could feel the love between them, and the fact that they loved each other so much made their frustration all the more greater. I got goosebumps as they fought - everyone was transfixed.

Paul got down on one knee for the marriage renewal lines. He has done this before but he doesn’t always do it. Like Anthony’s sea lion barks, I was hoping for it and I got it. He even made an “oof” noise as he got to the floor and another one as Hermione helped him up. Fantastic.

Alex has been doing this thing recently when Ron says “Scrupious” where he turns to look at Harry and Hermione and points a outstretched arm and fingerr at Ron as if to say, “Mum! Dad! Do something about him!” Hilarious.

The Dumbledore scene - flawless. Just flawless. It really felt like Jamie and Barry were going all out. They didn’t raise their voices higher than usual, they didn’t do anything drastically different but you could feel the emotion pouring out of them. And this was the tipping stone for Jamie - he did not have a dry eye from this scene onwards. He was sobbing and shaking as Alex entered the room. Alex has been doing the “Mwahaha” for a while but recently he has added on this cringe of embarrassment afterward that cracks up the audience. It’s as if, when Draco very genuinely (and unusually) tries to lighten the mood, he then thinks “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I just did that to POTTER.” It’s brilliant from Alex. Comedy is most certainly his strength. That being said, I’ve never seen him break down as he talked about Astoria like he did tonight and it set Jamie off again. I’ll say it again - this scene was flawless. 

Albus and Scorpius did one high five after another over the blanket idea. All the bestie feels.

The Harry/Ginny kiss - I blogged this straight away. It is still the best kiss I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen them do it ten times). Sometimes Harry has already got away in this scene before Ginny says her line and he strides back across to kiss her but this time she grabbed hold of him before he went anywhere and said her piece and Harry stepped into her, pressed his body flush against hers as he pulled her to him, their legs entangled, his hands cradling her face as he kissed her as if life depended on it. Ginny gripped hard to him with one hand and had another in his hair and it felt like the longest kiss I’ve ever seen from them. I almost felt as though I shouldn’t have been watching but couldn’t look away at the same time. The Notebook, eat your heart out. This was fucking phenomenal.

Godric’s Hollow: when Ron said “You get her in here and then, we’ll zap her” Alex spun around with his arms in the air as he normally does but he held his frustration and loss for words for the longest time as he flailed in a manner that Scorpius would have been proud of. Jamie very nearly laughed. I could see him struggling to keep a straight face and I’ve never seen Jamie break character. He held it -  just.

The final scene: bear in mind that I had already been crying for almost the whole of Act Four. Even when I was watching the performance knowing that we had one more to go the next day, somehow, this day had a finality to it that I can’t quite place. Perhaps because it had been such an incredible show. Perhaps because I knew I was going to be with all with my Cursed Child friends tomorrow and that was what Sunday would be about for me, more than anything else. Perhaps it was just because I knew it was the last time I would be there watching the original cast on my own. But something about this show felt final. And, in the final scene, it must have done for Sam too, because he started to break. He started to break as he said “What if that’s my Slytherin side?” Jamie, recently, has taken Sam’s hand in his and then placed them on Sam’s heart as he says “this heart is a good one.” He normally places his other hand on Sam’s shoulder. But as Sam started to cry, Jamie gently cupped his other hand to the back of Sam’s head, in the way that one holds a baby that is too young to hold its own head up. He was cradling Sam in his hand, and as he said “I know, I know this heart is a good one, yeah?” they both were crying. As a regular, you knew in that moment that it wasn’t just Harry talking to Albus, in fact it was barely that at all. It was Jamie talking to Sam. It was Jamie telling Sam that he loved him, that he loved his heart, and that Sam was going to go on and do great things. Sam cried. Jamie cried. I cried. This for me, was one of the greatest moments in the play that I’ve ever seen. It was moving beyond words and I feel privileged to have witnessed it. This moment alone was worth the weekend premium ticket price.

I got out of the theatre and I was shaking, literally shaking with emotion. I went to the stage door and got a hug from some friends. I was still shaking as the cast started to come out. I had the poster of my dog and got it signed by the cast who did appear. Not many of the cast came out (they had a long Sunday ahead of them and I expect they were saving their energy), only the regulars such as Paul, Poppy, Anthony, Sam, Nuno, Chris, Jeremy and Esther. I apologised to Anthony about the previous evening (I had brought my dog, not realising that he is terrified of dogs). I then told him that when I brought my Mum to see the show in March, she had said that he was the stand-out performer for her. Anthony is so lovely, he smiles and really looks you in the eyes as you talk to him. He thanked me and told me to give my Mum his love. He then turned to the two little girls that were next to me with their Mum in the queue, and was so sweet with them, asking them what their favourite magic trick was and things like that.

Esther looked at my poster and then said she would sign next to the nest because she thought that Delphi was the Cursed Child. I agreed with her and said that I had looked at the child close-up in some photos I’d taken and thought the child looked very feminine. Esther is so lovely.

I told Poppy that this was my first stage door straight after seeing the show and joked that I hadn’t thought it through as I was still a mess. She smiled understandinly, and said “Yeah, Act Four is intense, isn’t it?”

I told Chris that the Hagrid scene in Godric’s Hollow makes me bawl more than any other moment in the play. He said “That’s Jack Thorne for you. He’s incredible.” Or something along those lines.

I confessed to Jeremy that it took me a year to work up the courage to do stage door. He said that he also didn’t do it to start with because the idea made him so nervous.

I was absolutely shattered as I went back to where I was staying. I was running a long day and just a few hours sleep and I still couldn’t get to sleep due to the adrenaline from the show and the thought of Sunday. I had to blog a couple of things straight away but then I had to force myself to stop thinking about them because it was setting me off again.

So that was Saturday 20th May, 2017. One of, if not the very best show I’ll ever witness. This is why the play is so important. “There is no perfect answer in this messy, emotional world” but there are perfect moments and those are what we live for. This was one of them.

[timelessish]

Thoughts about the S4 finale...

**spoilers below**

So, advance warning, I wrote this during commercial breaks and I don’t have the best short term memory so I’m sure a lot is out of order and I forgot stuff I meant to include while I was watching. Oh well. Onward!

I like seeing Red playing defense. Really interesting to see his empire fall apart and how he’s reacting.

I’m glad they brought back Mako Tanida! Awesome. Fascinating dynamic between Gale and Ressler now.

Brimley and the snake, Betty. Omg. I think I snorted.

Lol, Aram. His exercise outfit is adorkable. “I can feel the endorphins!” “…you worked out for 15 minutes. Walking on a treadmill.” Then his “see, that’s why you’re good for me” - yeah, that’s him trying to rationalize dating her. But I honestly do think she is kinda good for him ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at least she’s not like, a flat out murderer. *cough*

Also, he has no chill lmao. I’m amazed the Task Force didn’t immediately realize he was called in for a Grand Jury.

And THERE’S my beautiful Liz. She’s so poised in this scene! Love her so much. Very logical with what she’s saying, too, at least to me.

I’m really interested by this Stone place. Love the idea of a facility full of hidden top-secret government documents, and the chaos that a breach would create. Honestly, I’d love for it to pop back up at some point next season.

Cool motorcycle chase scene.

Dom! Thank you for reacting like a normal person at the news of Liz’s fake death.

The escape route via private island is pretty badass. I wonder if he’s been saving it for Liz all these years - I got a little bit of a “chosen one” vibe with the key - or if it’s just his ultimate contingency plan.

The theater is so dramatic. Gale and Kaplan teaming up… hm, I don’t like it.

I really love Red acknowledging the person that Liz is and has chosen to be, regardless of his presence in her life. That’s some good stuff right there.

Gale looks so different clean shaven, I didn’t recognize him at first.

So I’m guessing Coop’s running a DNA test on Red?

Red’s contempt when he says “Tom”, lol. That’s my constant mood.

Aw, Aram protecting the Task Force :’)

Oh snap, Janet turned him in?! I actually didn’t see that coming, but I did call that Samar would end up not telling Aram because she’s secretly a total softie and doesn’t want to hurt him. But more importantly, Aram has a pet turtle? That’s freaking adorable. And Samar remembered and fed it? So adorable.

See, it’s at times like these where I do like Saram. But the love triangle bugs me, as do Aram’s sort of double standards for Janet and Samar. Honestly, I just feel like Saram has been dragged out for far too long and the writers have never really known what they’re doing there.

Red and Ress working together!! Yes, finally!! These barrels are giving me a Debt Collector feel. HOLY SHIT, REVEN WRIGHT!

I’m loving the way everything is wrapping together. It’s definitely working for me. I also love how this finale is basically all or nothing. To paraphrase Liz from earlier, they all rise together, or fall together, and I’m digging that vibe.

Giving up Laurel… darn it. No me gusta. #JusticeForReven! And Ressler telling everyone about Tommy Markin… and Liz’s sad expression at that… I’m so emotional right now 😭

Laurel is hilarious, but I hate her. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Okay, I’m kind of in love with the idea of Laurel being a nefarious ally for the Task Force. I want that in season five.

What is Kaplan’s plan? I’m scared too, Liz!

WHAT. SHE SHOT BAZ. WHAT.

This bridge scene is intense. Strange impasse. “You need to kill me.” “I won’t.”

Aaaaand there Kaplan goes. Sadly fitting, going to the water the way Katarina supposedly did.

Oh God, Hitchen… something bad is going to happen here, I can feel it. And yep, there it is. There go my hopes and dreams for Laurel The Nefarious Ally in season 5. What do you wanna bet Ressler’s gonna bring in that cleaner guy? (I already forgot his name.)

But on another note, this struck me as a Keenler parallel because I find Keenler parallels in everything. Liz killing Connelly when he threatened her and the Task Force, Ress killing Hitchen (albeit unintentionally) when she’s manipulating him and the Task Force. I hope we get to see Ress talk to Liz about it next season!

A Saram kiss. Thank God they had a resolution for that this season. I would’ve been mad if there wasn’t. Now I just hope there’s not too much drama for them in s5. Also, Aram, buddy, my man, you better have broken up with Janet before you got smoochy with Samar. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here.

I’m really happy Liz did a paternity test back at the beginning. Smart cookie. But I’m also not surprised she destroyed it 😂 My first thought when Cooper brought her the report was “oh no, she’s going to rip it up and say she doesn’t want to know”, and then the audience would have to scream silently for a year.

And yeah, there’s cleaner guy. Called it.

I actually thought that was a nice Red/Liz scene. And the hug was really sweet. I’m sure some out there are heartbroken/pissed off at the father reveal, but personally, I’m not going to judge those who ship Lizzington.

Honestly, Red, what did you do to Katarina? Did you kill her?

Who’s getting the suitcase? Is it Gale?

HOLY SHIT IT’S TOM!!!!! I’M FREAKING OUT!!!!! AMAZING ENDING!!!!!

#TOMKEENFORVILLAIN2K17

So, I was all ready to be super happy about no Tom in the finale, but I’m even more happy with that ending. I’m definitely feeling like it’s a good set up to answer some unfinished questions about him and maybe get back that s1 vibe that I loved from him - is he bad? is he not? Here’s to hoping that things don’t just get glossed over next season and that his storyline is satisfactorily resolved!

I absolutely 100% loved 4C. It honestly blew me away and I am so hooked back into the show. 3B-4B had me continually losing interest, but 4C was just fantastic. More Ressler, better written Liz, understandable conflicts, and finally some answers (but of course, more questions)!

I also definitely have Keenler hope, and it makes my heart feel so full. But like, all things considered, I don’t need romance out of this show. Just keep the story interesting and consistent with understandable character development and I’ll watch.

Anyways, I’m basically in love with that finale and I definitely have more praise than criticism. I can’t believe we have to wait for next year to see what happens next! I might make a ‘loose ends’ post later because I’ve been thinking about strings left hanging from this season, but again, I was happy with what they fit into the finale. I might also do season five predictions at some point.

I really can’t wait for next season. I have a feeling it’s going to be good!

[rnufharose]

Love Yourself (Bangtan and EXO fanfiction/SehunxOC)

Chapter 9

"Whoa," I remarked under my breath after EXO had finished their performance. They had such amazing visuals, and I found myself staring at Sehun. He was such a passionate dancer and when he sang his lines, I found myself wanting to hear his voice again. The audience broke into applause, screaming as our sunbaenim left the stage. Next up to perform was Red Velvet, a girl group from the same entertainment company as EXO. Their members were named Irene, Yeri, Joy, Seulgi, and Wendy, and they were positively radiant. The intro of their song played as they took their position onto the stage and Namjoon tapped my shoulder.

"Ha-Neul, we should make room. EXO is going to sit with us," he said and I gave a nod.

"Right," I moved to my right as the other boy group came to sit with us.

"Namjoon," Suho grinned widely and shook our leader's hand. "How long has it been?"

"Hyung, good to see you again. What a great performance," he complimented and gestured to me. "This is our newest member, Cho Ha-Neul."

I stood up and bowed before them, "Annyeonghaseyo."

"Annyeong!" Xiumin chirped, eyes gleaming as he looked at me. "Yaaaaa... you're not just cute, you're beautiful! Sehun is right!"

"Huh?" I raised my brows in astonishment, cheeks flaring as I shifted my gaze toward their maknae, who turned away and rubbed the back of his neck, clearing his throat and sticking his tongue out, licking his lips. "G-Gamsahamnida..." I bowed again.

"Please, sit," Jin gestured and they all sat with us. I tensed as I noticed Sehun take a seat beside me, and I caught the slightest of blushes on his cheeks. It seemed he was rather shy when he wasn't on stage. The free strands of hair that fell along his face covered his eyes and he rested his elbows on his thighs, folding his hands.

"Annyeong," I said to him, giving him a smile and he met my gaze, returning the smile and nodding in response. "How is Vivi?" I asked.

"Good," he answered.

"I really liked your performance," I continued. "You're a great dancer and singer."

"Same with you," he replied. "it was like you've been with them from the start. The choreography was natural and... you also focus on the emotions of the dance."

I tilted my head to the side in wonder, "How did you know?"

"Because I do the same thing," his face was blank no longer, and his gaze became soft. "Technique is good but if you want to understand the song, you put the emotions in the lyrics into the choreography."

"Ha-Neul," Baekhyun grabbed a champagne glass and handed it to me. "Would you like some?"

"Gomaweo, sunbae," I accepted the glass, looking at the fizzing liquid.

"Please, call me Oppa," he urged. "We're friends now. You call all of that."

"Ne... Oppa," I wasn't so sure if it was okay to call them that, but one look at the other members and they seemed content with it.

"Lay hyung couldn't make it to the performance?" Taehyung asked and Kyungsoo shook his head with a sad smile on his lips.

"He left for the military," he sipped his champagne glass. "We'll be heading for military duty in a few years..."

"Where are you from, Ha-Neul?" My attention turned to Chen.

"I lived outside of Seoul with my Halmeoni, in the countryside," I answered.

"Jinjjah?" Kai raised his brows. "Because you don't seem like a country girl at all!"

"My Halmeoni is from Seoul, that's why," I continued. "She used to be a singer before she moved to the country for a quieter life. She taught me everything I know but there are still a few things I have to learn."

"You have great vocals," Chanyeol remarked with a smirk. "You should put out some solo songs when you have free time."

"I intend to do just that," I giggled. "once I learn how to compose a song, you guys will be the first to hear it."

"Here that, Sehun-ah?" Kyungsoo slapped his shoulder gently. "She's going to let you hear her song first."

I caught the smallest of smiles on his thin lips before he turned his attention back to the performance.

Hours later, after each group held their performance, it was time for the hosts to announce the group that had the best performance that night. Each group was on stage, the rookies standing at the far end while the rest were on the other side. EXO stood beside us, waiting patiently for the results, and the hosts opened the card.

"Bangtan!" they exclaimed and I gasped, looking to the boys and squealing.

"We did it!" Jin threw his arms around me and gave me the tightest hug.

"Don't celebrate just yet," Yoongi droned. "We haven't won the other award shows yet..."

"Live a little, hyung!" Jungkook joined in on the hug and Namjoon stepped up, accepting the award on behalf of the group before shouting into the mic.

"ARMY!" he listened to the audience scream in response before speaking. "Thank you so much for this award. We wouldn't have earned it without your support! We love you, ARMY, and thank you for graciously welcoming our newest member into our group."

I waved at the audience before giving them some finger hearts, and I spoke into the mic, "It's a pleasure to meet you, ARMY! Thank you for having me! I promise to work hard and make you and Bangtan proud!" Halmeoni, do you see me right now? I'm on stage and I'm here because of you. Gamsahamnida, Halmeoni. I'm going to make you proud to have a granddaughter like me.

"Congratulations," Suho said to us and we bowed before him and the rest of the members of EXO. "Ha-Neul definitely stole the show."

"Once again, welcome to the industry," Kyungsoo smiled in my direction.

"Are you Ha-Neul?"

A voice came from behind me and I found the members of Red Velvet standing before me. They had affectionate looks in their eyes and Wendy walked up to me, holding my hands in hers, "Oh, you're such a cutie! Congratulations on your debut!"

"I hope we can become great friends!" Irene spoke now, nodding her head vigorously.

"We're your Unnies now," Seulgi stepped up. "We're good friends with Ji-woo. She told us to take care of you if you ever want to get away from these hyungs." She grinned teasingly toward Bangtan and EXO.

"We'll protect you from haters as well," Yeri added. "It's a good thing you're in a boy group. You won't have to face a lot of girl group drama."

"If you need anything, just ask," Joy said before looking to the boys behind me. "Are you guys doing anything after the show? Do you think we can join you?"

"We're not doing anything," Kai shook his head, tucking his hands into his pockets. "But if you want to make plans, we're down."

"I'd love for all of us to hang out, if that's okay with you," I looked between them and Jin hummed in contemplation before giving a single nod.

"Then let's all hang out! EXO, Bangtan, and Red Velvet."

"Noona and Yeon-hee noona should be waiting for us," Hoseok said. "Kai hyung, will Jennie be joining us too?"

"I will be," Jennie had left the rest of the girls in BLACKPINK, making her way toward us before meeting my eyes. "Congratulations on your debut, Ha-Neul. I look forward to seeing future performances with you."

"Gomaweo, Unnie," I bowed before her, holding my hands in front of me. "Shall we head out?"

"Let's!" Xiumin exclaimed with joy and we made our way off of the stage.

I descended the steps, the girls of Red Velvet staying close beside me and breaking into giggles and amiable conversation. They were the sweetest girls I had ever met and it seemed in addition to Ji-woo, I had gained five older sisters.

******

"Chan oppa!" the girl standing beside Ji-woo waved toward Chanyeol. She had a round face with pink cheeks, and her brown hair was tied into a bun. She wore a white coat over her pink dress. I found her to be rather cute. She must be very close with the rapper of EXO. "You did great tonight!"

"Gomaweo," he smirked, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. I came to the conclusion that they were dating.

"You all did great," Ji-woo said before she looked to the girls of Red Velvet, "and I take it you've met Ha-Neul?"

"We did," Seulgi answered. "you were right. She is the cutest little thing I've ever seen."

"Looks like we're going to be spoiling her rotten," Joy said mischievously. "We've always wanted a little sister to dress in cute clothes and scold when she's crushing on a really bad boy!"

Chanyeol turned away from his girlfriend and faced me, "Ha-Neul, this is Yeon-hee, my childhood friend and girlfriend."

"Y-You're the newest member of Bangtan!" She choked, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. "I-It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Likewise, Unnie," I replied. "You're very cute. I can tell you take very good care of Chanyeol oppa."

"Your face is turning red again," he teased, pushed a finger against her cheek and she pouted, pressing her hand against her face.

"Oh no! M-My face--!" She whined. "The last time this happened was when you moved back into your Hal-abeoji's house!"

"So, what should we do?" Taehyung asked. "Eat and drink?"

"Korean barbeque and hot pot!" Chen raised a hand. "Let's go all out tonight!"

"I agree with Chen hyung," Namjoon said. "let's do some damage tonight. We won't be able to hang out like this until the next award show."

"Drinks are on Suho hyung," Sehun called said, which prompted Suho to cock an eyebrow.

"You never pay!"

"Because I'm the maknae," Sehun counter with a mischievous smirk.

"Onward!" Jimin pouted outward and everyone began to walk down the street before I heard my phone go off in my bag.

I opened my clutch and saw Halmeoni's number on the screen. I looked to my seniors and told them, "I have to take this. You go on without me."

"Is everything alright?" Jungkook asked and I gave him an assuring nod.

"My Halmeoni is calling. She must have seen the award show."

"One of us should stay with you," Wendy said. "We wouldn't want you getting lost."

"Sehun is staying with her," Hoseok said quickly.

"Huh?" he asked and Suho smirked, patting his arm. Sehun exhaled and puffed out his cheeks for several moments before nodding. "Alright. I'll stay with her."

"We'll text you the restaurant's location," Yoongi said. "Keep her safe alright?"

"Of course," he said before he watched the others leave, and Sehun and I were left standing alone on the sidewalk.

I placed the phone to my ear and answered, "Yeoboseyo, Halmeoni?"

"Ha-Neul?" I heard her kind voice. "I just saw the award show! I'm so proud of you! I'm happy those hyungs have been taking such good care of you. They seem to love you a lot."

"Gomaweo," I replied, holding onto the strap of my clutch. "it's because of you that we earned that award. You inspired me to become an idol after all."

"I know you're going to go very far," she laughed. "now, are you eating properly? Are you getting enough sleep?"

"Ne, Halmeoni," I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "Jin oppa is making sure I eat well and Ji-woo unnie made very comfortable sheets for me to sleep with."

"Good, good," she sighed with relief. "you keep smiling, hmm? Bless your sweet heart."

"I'll visit you soon," I assured her. "I miss you so much."

"I miss you too," she replied and I heard that underlying loneliness in her tone despite the joy in her words. "And bring those handsome hyungs with you when you come home! I want to make them a meal as thanks for keeping you happy and healthy."

"Ne, annyeong!" I sang and the call ended. I tucked my phone into my bag, traces of homesickness stinging at my heart. I have lived in Seoul for less than a month and I already felt like it had been far too long since I had seen her. I could feel the tears in my eyes but I blinked them away, turning to face Sehun, who waited patiently for me to end the call, his hands tucked into his black coat. "Shall we?"

He turned to me and nodded, and we walked down the street in silence. I listened as cars passed through the streets, music playing in the small convenience stores. The silence was becoming awkward and I wasn't sure what to do. Even so, I tried speaking up, looking toward the older group's maknae, "Oppa...?"

"Hmm?" He asked, dark eyes resting me. "What is it?"

I furrowed my brows and gave a little bow, "Mianhe... you had to stay with me in the freezing cold..."

"It's alright," I saw the corners of his lips tug into a soft smile. "I wouldn't have left you to stand in the cold alone, and we'll be indoors soon anyway," he stared straight as we walked. "How is your Halmeoni?"

"She's doing well," I replied. "She was ecstatic about the award show."

"You did very well," he chuckled. "you deserved it."

"You did a great job too," I urged. "You put a lot of effort into your choreography. I couldn't look away. It makes me want to work harder."

"Don't work too hard," he warned me. "or your Halmeoni will worry."

"That's true," I agreed before I noticed he had come to a stop. I turned around and tilted my head in inquiry, wondering why he had stopped walking. "Gwenchanayo?"

He answered with a nod before asking, "If it's alright with you... would you like to visit Vivi sometimes? He really likes you... and... it would make me happy as well... if you came to see me..." there was a soft blush on his milky white skin and I could feel my own heat on my cheeks as well.

"U-Um," I stammered, looking at my feet. "S-Sure... I would love to..."

"Ah, that makes me happy," he breathed and I raised my head again, wondering if I had heard him correctly, but before I could do anything, his tall figure glided across the pavement and closed the distance between us.

My eyes widened as his large, calloused hands cupped my face and I felt his soft lips press against mine. I made a surprised sound, my heart pushing against my chest. I felt like I was melting, and all sound seemed to disappear, the world becoming empty with just the two of us left standing. He tasted so sweet, and I could smell the musky scent of his cologne--A&F Ferrari, I believe. His eyelashes were long and dark, and I caught the softness of eyeliner along them.

I closed my eyes, giving into his touch and kissing him back. Just what had gotten into me? I didn't even know him for too long and we're already kissing each other? Despite these thoughts reeling in my head, I didn't dare pull away... because deep down, I felt the same way.

MASTERLIST

[aion-rsa]

The 100 Season 7 Episode 7 Review: The Queen’s Gambit

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This THE 100 review contains spoilers

The 100 Season 7 Episode 7

Lindsey Morgan (who plays Raven Rayes) directed a crackling episode of The 100 that treats us to a heaping pile of wonderful character moments and more mysteries than you can shake a stick at. Sheidheda continues to prove why he had a reputation as a master strategist and Emori comes into her own as a leader on Sanctum while Murphy struggles with the opposite impulse. Meanwhile, some of the most formidable women on the show found themselves imprisoned on Bardo, and Jackson helped Madi lay down her burden as Commander and simply be a kid.

Gabriel took a deal from Anders to join the Cypher Team rather quickly – so quickly that I’ve got to think his plan is to gather intel and play double agent. If he had stopped to consider it and searched his soul a bit, turning against his friends would be more believable. Anders’s offer of knowledge alone wouldn’t be too bad, though this isn’t Gabriel’s first war and he’s no dummy, so he would never believe it was just that. But the Clarke intel clearly gave him pause.

Time dilation allows the writers of The 100 to get even funkier with time than ever – remember The 100’s first major time jump at the end of season 4 into season 5? It was such a shock! We were so sweet and innocent back then. Now we time jump all the time! This episode’s use of dilation is judicious, allowing Gabriel three months to learn about the Anomaly Stones and hopefully all things Disciple, while some of The 100’s best warriors (minus Indra) train to become even deadlier.

Sadly we have to wait to see the new and improved fighting force of Hope, Diyoza, Octavia and Echo (even writing that makes my skin prick up), but this episode gave those four actresses plenty to work with, and they did not disappoint. Hope and Diyoza threw down emotionally and physically, with Diyoza getting Hope to realize that 15 years of training and a heart full of vengeance is nothing compared to her mother – but it’s also no way to live. Diyoza was far more frank than I expected both about her crimes and Hope’s biological father, considering how much she sheltered Hope when she was a kid. But it was also interesting to hear Hope discuss the positive part of her mother’s military record, saving thousands of people at the Battle of San Francisco.

These scenes were both a great action set piece and such a human exchange between mother and daughter, seamlessly bridging the gap between multiple actors portraying Hope over time. The exchange kicked into high gear when Hope referred to deceased Sky Ring prisoner Dev as her father. That’s a move that feels right for the beautiful relationship we watched, but it’s got to be a gut punch for Diyoza to hear that the man her now-25-year-old daughter considers her father is a person she has never met and never will.

Echo and Octavia finally buried the hatchet, or machete, as the case may be. This was clearly driven by Octavia and all the evolving she’s done in the last couple of seasons, both in the regular timeline and across time dilations. O made it clear that while Hope may have misgivings about Echo, she’s bringing her own loyalty to the equation. The warrior formerly known as SkaiRippa and Blodraina  has forgiven any and all transgressions, and sees Echo as family.

While that was a lovely surprise, and Marie Avgeropoulos and Tasya Teles did an excellent job, The 100 writers owed their actors more than cribbing the “it’s not your fault” forced hug from Good Will Hunting, even using those exact words. It was an earned moment and likely one that will make the next time we see them working alongside one another much more fluid, but that felt goofy, cheap, and possibly unintentional, rather than like an homage.

We finally see Bellamy again and it’s in a flashback – and one that feels like it’s a few years too late. Seeing Bellamy forgive Echo, her regret over her worst sins, Bellamy extending a place within the group, Echo’s hope for loyalty, and their first kiss, it’s everything that we sort of assumed happened on the ring during those five years – but never saw. While much of the hate Echo gets is based purely on shipping, this particular issue lies with the writing. When Echo came back a member of SpaceKru and in a relationship with Bellamy, it was the ultimate in telling rather than showing.

While I’m glad to finally see this pivotal scene, it feels like too little, too late. Always clear that there are no good guys, The 100 chooses its real heroes and villains not by any sense of morality but by whose perspective it assumes. Interiority is pivotal, but it’s something Echo almost never gets. We heard Echo was family, but the audience never saw it firsthand, so those five years of supposed relationship development and character evolution were hearsay at best.

Emori and Murphy’s dynamic become more pronounced this episode, in one of my favorite non-mysterious plots that’s moving right along at exactly the right pace. Emori is actually fantastic at being a fake Prime, using her now-extensive experience in bridging cultures and the studiousness we saw her apply to becoming a pilot to the task of bringing peace to Sanctum. Jackson’s new role as psychologist allowed him to make the subtext on Emori’s background into text, asking her about her motives. From a plot perspective, I understand why things had to go to hell, but seeing Emori try to bond with Nelson (and briefly find tentative success) was promising, so I look forward to watching that relationship develop.

Sheidheda’s evil plan for Nelson to ally with Nikki worked, thanks to old hatred dying hard, the delicate nature of Sanctum’s peace, and Sheidy ably detaining Murphy, who portrays the (apparently?) more credibly Daniel Prime. The chess match between Murphy and Sheidheda was a good little misdirect for what turned out to be his true plan, keeping Daniel from the Reunification Ceremony. It also laid groundwork for whatever confrontations they’ll have later when the Dark Commander inevitably tries to kill Emori and take over Sanctum.

While it might seem obvious that Murphy wouldn’t fold, he did exactly that last season, though it was so out of character for who he had become that fans kept waiting for a secret plan that never came, at least not until after Murphy had betrayed everyone several times over. All that is to say, let’s hope this season continues to be a more character-driven send-off for one of the show’s absolute best characters, rather than an unearned plot-driven regression.  

Finally, Clarke and friends landed on Bardo, only to learn the same devastating news that sent echo into a murderous rage: Gabriel tells them Bellamy is dead. The bond between the core group is so strong, but Clarke and Bellamy have been the leadership duo that lean on each other more than any other pair. With Abby and Kane gone and new kids coming onto the show, they’re now Space Mom and Space Dad. Eliza Taylor (playing Clarke) said it all with one look. While supposedly nothing breaks Clarke, this might be the closest she comes, especially so soon after burying her mother.

The episode leaves us with far more questions than answers. Where is our beloved and definitely-probably-we-hope-not-dead-Bellamy? How the heck did Second Dawn leader Bill Cadogen get here from Earth and survive this long? What do they want with Clarke and how do they know she’s the key? Who is this supposed war against? Where is Gaia? It says a lot about this season that we’re still deep in the exposition on our seventh episode, while simultaneously revisiting a character and group from way back in season 4. Onward!

Other notes…

Soccer exists in space! The game truly is…universal (OK I’ll show myself out!)

Shoutout to Lincoln!

Anders confirmed that Orlando hanged himself in the cabin, saying, “it appears we need to rethink our penal system.” How is this the first time someone took their own life on Penance?

Nikki with the very real talk: “Don’t kid yourself honey. There’s no innocent people at the end of the world.”

I believe this is the most Diyoza has ever spoken about her major act of terrorism. She apparently was actually trying to do a good thing. Wasn’t she from the same time as Second Dawn? Might that come up during the back-door pilot when we see Earth before it was destroyed (the first time)?

Murphy’s explanation of the flame keepers all banding together to kill Sheidheda and Lexa coming after to unite the clans makes it sound like they were one right after the other. But I feel like timeline-wise there should be another commander between them just due to Indra’s age…Am I forgetting my Grounder history here? Help me out folks!

What did Nelson’s parents originally name him Sachin as in…Sachin Sahel, the name of the actor who plays Jackson?

Apparently Azgeda warrior’s scar themselves before war to signify that the pain is over? I’m fuzzy on what that means and how Echo did this – what did she use? After Hope had a tube in her arm I thought Echo was going to dig a weapon out of her face.

Nikki somehow seems to know Russel is dead, plus there’s the notes in the food. It seems like ole Sheidy is working the crowd far more than what we/our friends are seeing.

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