#or was i supposed to find out myself on a tuesday morning when i was supposed to be doing work... | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

literaila · 2 years ago

Text

i know you

tasm!peter x fem!reader

summary:

"i'm peter."

"and?"

"i wanted to introduce myself."

"i know who you are, peter."

warnings: college party, mentions of biology, peter is a bit of.. a... so-so, um, embarrassment

there's a boy leaning against the wall.

there's music bouncing--blasting--between walls. flashes of light, and ridiculous bursts of laughter happening every couple of seconds. there must be a game going on somewhere.

this house is old, and trashed, and completely uncomfortable to stand in because it is filled with body heat and the smell of alcohol, and people that will laugh at you but not listen.

but this boy is the only one leaning against the wall opposite of you.

his face is blank, except for the smirk that appears to be the resting position of his lips. his feet are crossed, his fingers are tapping against the drywall. he moves only to shake the hair out of his eyes, to raise an eyebrow at whatever someone has shouted from across the room.

and he's not looking at you.

he's not even looking toward you, really. instead, he's chatting to anyone that walks by with a glass in their hands, patting people on the back, and smiling a polite smile every time someone tries to go even further with him, trying to get him to move from that wall.

it's yellow, by the way. there are stains across it that you don't want to think about.

but this boy seems completely comfortable there. or, at least, his back has been superglued to the wall and he doesn't want to draw any attention to himself.

and maybe you're paying a bit too much attention to him.

but, to be fair, you know this boy from more than just that wall across the room.

you know him from your biology class when you walked in the first day--late because there's no real way to arrive on time when it's eight in the morning--and there were no empty seats in sight.

you might've blamed the person who scheduled more students in this auditorium than fit, or you could've blamed yourself for deciding to go to college in the first place. to be in that classroom at exactly the wrong moment.

because lots of people turned to stare, and you had nowhere to run.

but the boy--the same boy who is not looking at you now--cleared his throat, he motioned, three rows down, to the seat next to him and smiled at you when you sat down. nodded his head when you asked him if he would share his notes--just for the ten minutes you'd missed.

and you don't know his name, because as soon as that class had ended you'd sprinted out the doors, wanting to go hide in bed and never think about evolution or cells ever again.

you still sit next to him every tuesday, right at eight.

you still don't know his name.

even now, at this party that you had carefully decided to come to. to stand at, because you've always been a bit of a type of person, and you've always had a hard time in crowded rooms, and you hate parties.

and really, you're just staring at him.

but what else is there for you to do?

are you supposed to find someone to run away with? run into the other room and ask to play beer pong with everyone else? hide in the bathroom and ignore the vague smell of vomit that comes from the shower? go home, and find yourself completely alone?

no, you know. you don't really like any of these options.

but you do like staring at this boy.

because, as you're not an idiot, and as this boy is completely oblivious to your burning gaze, he's quite cute.

attractive in that kind of i-don't-care-but-yes-i-do way. and you already know that he's smart.

and you also know that he's got brown eyes and a smile reserved only for the warmest of summer nights.

you just don't know his name.

it's as you have this thought that his eyes dart towards you.

brown and far too far away.

you almost look away--like any sane person might do when they've been caught staring at someone for at least the past three minutes--but there's something about his eyes. even slightly blurry. there's something about the funny look that comes to his face, the slow blink and once-over he does to you.

you continue staring.

just, probably, a bit more awkward.

still, it only takes ten seconds for the boy to smile, leaning off the wall slightly, and give you a wave.

cause he knows you, and you know him.

and yet, it takes you one blink and one second to turn your eyes away, getting one more flash of teeth and yellow before you head out of the room, searching for the nearest door.

peter isn't in the habit of following people.

correction; peter isn't in the habit of following random people he spots at parties. he's also not in the habit of going to parties, but this is college and it was loud enough in his dorm room anyway and it's friday night so...

here he is.

here he's been for the past hour, trying to make conversation with people he "knows" and also avoid any and all interaction.

he's doing this not for himself, mostly, but for his aunt, who gets worried that he is some loner who never leaves his room except for food and class. and for the people that notice when he's gone all of the time.

he's hoping to be caught by at least one person that might mention him. just a slight comment to their friends. or a clap on the back that will earn him at least another month of anonymity.

either way, he doesn't plan to stay for too long.

but when he locks onto you across the room, holding a cup in your hands and ducking behind anyone who moves past, peter decides that maybe he wants to do a bit more than stand there. that maybe he wants to take a shot. it's bright enough in here to aim correctly.

and maybe may will stop bothering him about the nice girl he mentioned one time...

he smiles and waves, laughing a bit at the eyes that widen in response.

and then he frowns when you disappear, ducking away from his eyes and into another room.

peter was right, it would seem. he's not going to be staying for much longer.

"lost?" a voice asks you after you've gone in a circle around this house about four different times.

you smell like stale breath and the warnings of strangers to watch out.

and you almost flinch when this voice--both particular and familiar--comes out of nowhere.

you turn, hand raised in defense, to meet brown eyes, and a boy with his hand across the doorway, leaning, once again, on a wall.

you make an effort not to frown, scream, or run away.

"wha--" you clear your throat, swallow, and look around for anyone who might save you. "what?"

"you've walked past me three times."

"no, i haven't."

"are you sure?" the boy ducks, staring right at you. he's smiling. "cause the first time, you tripped. and then the next two times you watched your step and scowled."

"are you following me?"

"you're walking in circles."

you cross your arms, deciding to furrow your brows at this boy and point your nose up. "maybe i'm dizzy."

"and you want to be dizzier?"

"maybe if i'm in motion i won't be dizzy anymore."

the boy leans over, eyes peeled. "yeah. that's water, so unless you have a medical condition you need to alert someone about..."

"what do you want?"

he laughs, and resumes his comfortable position on the wall. "i'm peter."

"and?"

"i wanted to introduce myself."

you look around again, maybe for the door. "i know who you are, peter."

you don't mention that this is the first time you've ever said his name.

"is that why you were staring at me?"

you cough. scratch at your neck and look behind yourself. "i don't--" you shake your head, looking back to peter, with his amused brown eyes and a crinkle in his brows. "i don't know what you mean, but i've really got to be going--"

"need some help finding the door?"

"nope. i've got it, but thanks."

you have no idea where the door is. in fact, at the present moment, you're almost sure you must have climbed in here through a window. or this house is a strange labyrinth you'll never escape.

it doesn't matter, you walk away, present and presently avoiding this boy named peter who you certainly do not know.

"oh good, i'm heading that way too," peter says, matching your stride and opening a door for both of you to walk through.

you recognize the test for what it is, just as you recognize his eyes.

"great," you respond.

and then pretend that you're not following his movements out of the house.

"so," peter says, holding the front door open for you. "are you going to tell me your name?"

"i don't think that's necessary."

peter hides a smile and walks with you down the front steps, hands in his pockets. it's a bit dark, a bit cold.

he tries not to watch you shiver.

"why not?"

"i don't plan on seeing you ever again, peter."

he scoffs, and moves in front of you, raising a brow. "is that because you're embarrassed?"

you look away, pretending to admire a tree.

"oh, and," peter adds, "you should plan to see me in class on tuesday. at eight."

you blow out a quick breath, smiling politely at him. "i'll add it to my calendar."

and then you move past him, continuing to walk down the sidewalk at a much fast pace.

luckily, peter is used to running.

"c'mon," he says, catching up to you again. "it's only fair."

"are you following me again, or do you live this way?"

"could be both."

peter can almost feel you roll your eyes from beside him.

and, at this point, he's very happy to be away from that party. if only for the smell of fresh air, rather than sweat.

and maybe the company. but peter is trying not to dwell too much on it.

"can i guess?" peter asks.

"sure. you've got one try."

peter sighs, looking at you. "i'm guessing it isn't dorothy..."

you snort and turn right, walking across the crosswalk.

peter knows this place well enough to not feel too concerned about where you're going.

"do you live on campus?"

you glance over at him, suspiciously. "i think that's too personal of a question, peter."

"oh, sorry," he holds his hands up in defense. "we can just get started with your family history, if you prefer."

"i usually tend to go for academic record."

peter nods, thinking solemnly. "you're right. what was i thinking?"

"i'm not sure," you say, and when peter looks over, he notices a quirk of your lip.

he rewards himself with another glance. with one, two, three, four seconds of staring.

"janice?"

you give him a blank stare.

"grace?"

you hum.

"hope?" he tries, slowing his pace and noticing that you do the same. "faith?"

"are you just listing out personal traits, now?"

"well, i'm trying to gain your trust. strength?"

"close," you answer, not laughing at all. "very close."

"give me a hint."

"that's definitely cheating."

peter blows a raspberry, turning to walk backward so he can watch you some more. "i gave you my name without any questions."

"you seem like a reckless person."

"that was going to be my next guess."

you shake your head, looking at anything except for peter. he can't quite discern why.

"i think you owe me," he says, after a moment of silence. "at least this."

you laugh. "for what?"

"well, i saved you in biology that one time--"

"--saved me?"

"and for being free eye candy, of course."

"oh, of course."

your nose twitches and you sniff. peter stares as you take a deep breath, look around, slowing to a stop, and then finally meet his eyes.

you almost smile.

he stares back, waiting and willing to wait.

"y/n," you say, finally, holding your hand out. "i'm y/n."

peter takes it, throat closing at the feeling. he blinks and internalizes everything so he can replay it later tonight.

he is slightly victorious.

he drops your hand. "okay, y/n. are you hungry right now?"

my masterlist here.

tags:@moonlarking-blog @v1ci0us @preciousbabypeter @alexxavicry @directioner5life @inthegetawaycarwithtaylah @localrockstargf @thestudiouswanderer @take-my-hand-time-boy @thoughtsofagodlovingsunflower @nyomjoon @moo-b1tch @raindropstearsandtea @rqmanoff @hollandweather @wetcoldnoodle @urlocalavenderhazestan @valvlry @imthatcoolmom @spideysimpossiblegirl invisibletrolleyson-jeremy @sharkswaters

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modern-day-bard · 5 months ago

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Other Duties As Assigned: A Joel Miller AU Fanficiton

Content warning: 18+ This story includes mature themes such as drinking, stalking, violence, and explicit smut. Minors, do not interact.

Chapter 13: Lights Out

Word count: 4.4k

Gwen

Naturally, the more I open up, the further I back away. But what was I supposed to do? Besides whatever I was feeling when Joel latched onto my hip at Landon’s gallery, I also wasn’t lying to Nyah and Harper. I felt guilty. And I almost…appreciated the level of concern he had over the gallery incident. Sure, it was just a champagne flute, but to Harper’s point, maybe he’s taking this so seriously because it is. Bare minimum, it will keep my friends from worrying about me so much.

And fine, I might have felt worse after I overheard Joel’s nightmares.

I wonder how long he’ll deny it. Multiple nights in a row, shouting at himself to ‘wake up.’ It certainly woke me up. Except unlike how I might feel about this situation if it were a few weeks ago, I wanted to wake him. Not to make him stop, but to make it stop for him.

I also need these feelings to stop. It could be lingering sexual frustration from the club guy and his ignorance of the female anatomy. But when Joel said my name so forcefully, throwing in a ‘ma’am’ no less…I became acutely aware of just how frustrated I’ve been. At him, this company, my situation. I’ve been frustrated for months, and sometimes you just want a release.

To keep things in check, I’ve backed off Joel since our little heart-to-heart in my mom’s music room. His sincerity and boldness only made these foreign, frustrating feelings worse. So, I kept to myself beyond morning pleasantries and the occasional goodnight. Besides a little shopping to find some dresses for this weekend, Evelyn’s suggestions still being lackluster, we hadn’t seen much of each other. I can thank work for that one. It’s kept me so busy I often need to bring my laptop home with me. And now, I’m bringing it on the plane.

Joel is in tow behind me, but I’m trying my best not to think about how his arms look with a duffle bag in one hand, or how his sunglasses perch perfectly on his nose.

I’m just frustrated, I’m just frustrated, I’m just—

“Gwenny, babe, I saved you a seat.”

Okay. Well. Now I’m fucking frustrated.

“In that case I hope a parachute comes with it.” I say it under my breath, not wanting to get into it with Daniel so early in the weekend. Still, when Joel reaches to take my jacket, I give him a knowing look that he reciprocates.

“Guinevere, glad you could make it,” My father says from the far end of the plane, not evening glancing up from his laptop.

As if I had a choice.

I plop down on one of the two couches, the other being occupied by Arthur, Amari, Cyrus, and Paul. Joel takes a seat at the table next to the couch in one of the four adjoining chairs, facing away from me. Of course, it doesn’t take long for Daniel to join. He sits so damn close our knees are practically touching.

“Did you happen to look over the deck I sent to Julian?”

Oh. An actual question.

“Yes, he showed me on Tuesday.”

“And? What do you think?”

“I disagree with—”

“Of course you do.

“You asked,” I hiss, “And I’m giving you an honest answer. You work in one of the most profitable sectors and you still manage to stretch the profit margins thinner and thinner every year. I don’t see the point in expanding right now.”

“Well, because if we don’t break into streaming platforms, we’ll be outdated.”

“Right, but we will certainly be outdated if we go bankrupt. Why not acquire a platform that’s already fully formed first? Get the lay of the land, don’t venture out and create one all our own. It’s too soon.”

Daniel’s beady eyes assess me for a minute. “Asking Julian was just a formality. Radio doesn’t have to weigh in.”

“And yet you did ask Julian, and now you’ve asked me.”

He shrugs, straightening out to take up as much room as possible. “I thought we could start out on a friendly note. It’s going to be a long weekend after all.”

“That it is,” I mumble.

He scooches even closer to me, shoulder to shoulder now.

“Don’t you want to get along?” He whispers, “Just a little?”

I want to gag on his cologne. I’m sure he paid a small fortune for it, and seems to want everyone around him to suffocate on just how expensive he smells. It would be more pleasant to shove the money directly down their throats.

Joel coughs lightly behind me. “Miss Russell? If you have a moment…”

I spring up, taking any excuse to leave behind Daniel’s tornado of spice and overdone vetiver.

“Yes?” I lean a hand against the table.

“We’re wheels up in three!” The pilot calls from the cockpit.

“I was hoping you could look over the security measures for the weekend. There’s just a few things I want you to sign off on.” Joel pulls out his phone, typing briefly.

“That means seatbelts, please,” The pilot calls back again.

“Okay,” I sigh, taking the seat next to him. I hear the engine fire up around us, and we slowly move down the runway. Joel slides his phone over to me, but it’s just an unsent text message made out to me.

There isn’t anything to go over. I thought you might want an excuse to leave Daniel. Feel free to return if you wish.

Despite myself, I almost smile. I was eager to have a reason to leave him behind, and I’m…surprised? Relieved, I guess, that Joel had noticed.

“It might take me a while to read through everything…” I say loudly enough for the couch behind us to hear.

Joel nods, “I would suspect so.”

Quietly, I type back on his phone.

Daniel? Not “Mr. Wilson?” You forgo your professionalism so soon, Mr. Miller.

If there is any flirtatious undertone, I blame boredom. Or maybe Daniel’s fumes were clouding my judgment.

Joel raises a brow, not entirely unamused. He types for a moment before sliding it back.

I called him a jackass the other night. This seemed like a promotion for him.

I stifle a laugh, quickly disguising it as a cough as I type back.

Perhaps a happy medium then? VIP. Very Impertinent Prick. All the promotion he deserves.

Joel reads it, his eyes lighting up. When he looks at me, he’s smiling. Not a full one. I’m not sure he’s capable of that. But still, both the corners of his mouth turn up enough that I can’t help but return it, if only for a moment.

I take my laptop out of my bag as soon as we’re in the air. It’s a short flight to Vermont, but at least it will give me something to do. Something other than noticing how big Joel’s thigh looks next to mine, even with the table blocking part of my view. I also notice how much of an effort he’s making not to touch me. Not even a graze. He’s leaning on his arm against the window, pushing all of his weight to the other side. I know it’s probably out of respect, or actual professionalism, but a very tiny, daring part of me wished he wouldn’t.

I end up moving my mouse from corner to corner of the same document until we land.

- - -

There wasn’t much time between getting our room keys and changing to attend the rehearsal dinner. Thankfully, I was seated in the back. Annabelle was probably hoping this would keep me out of sight and out of mind. Both her’s, and Murphy’s. There are several speeches that declare undying devotion which inherently make me snicker, but I time it properly with bites of my food or sips of my water. When the meal is over, there are a few people I need to say hello to, but it doesn’t take long. I think the majority of the guests are feeling weary, and it shows on their faces.

Plus, I feel like this hotel would make anyone relaxed enough to feel sleepy even if they hadn’t just worked a full day and boarded a flight. Twin Pastures was secluded and absolutely breathtaking. A complete 180 from the hustle of the city. Though I fed off that energy most days, I couldn’t deny that the quiet was somewhat serene. Even the dining room we were in with its exposed dark-wood beams, fireplace, and checkered floor had an aura of calmness to it. The sun had set earlier, so it was too dark to see outside, but from what we passed as we arrived, I knew it had to be sprawling greenery. Something I’ll be sure to check out in the morning. A morning that I hope will not come too soon as I make my way up the stairs to my section of the hotel. Well, really our section, since Joel is right behind me as per usual.

Even though they called this place a hotel, it felt more like an inn. It was cozy and warm, and this side of the building felt weirdly intimate being there were only five or so rooms accessible from this set of stairs. The quietness and close proximity make me pause before entering my room. Joel must notice, because he pauses in front of his door, too.

“I’m just next door,” he says.

I incline my head to the left. “Likewise.”

I stare at him for a moment, admiring his choice of a white button down for once. Not that I didn’t like the flannels and t-shirts, but, this seemed to suit him. I hadn’t really seen him yet tonight with him being seated at the same table as Amari and the other security guards. I’d been stuck with my father, Daniel, and Daniel’s cologne. Now, this wasn’t an unwelcomed sight.

“Goodnight, Miss Russell.” He leans against his door slightly, waiting for me to go inside first like a dog herding sheep.

“Goodnight,” I mimic his tone, unlocking my door and slipping inside before the weight of his eyes on me becomes heavy enough for me to say something stupid.

I am tired, I’ll admit. But when I checked in earlier, I saw a sign in the lobby for a grotto. I think the last time I was able to put on a bathing suit was Dubai, and I packed one just in the hopes that there would be a pool of some sort. The entire building is taken up with Murphy and Annabelle’s family and friends as it’s all been rented for the event. For my friends’ sake, and maybe a touch of Joel’s, I’ll start taking security just a bit more seriously. However, this feels like the perfect time to finally feel alone. To finally not share a wall with someone who is watching, and potentially listening, my every move.

I turn on my TV, increasing the volume enough to drown out any scuffling as I find my swimsuit and grab a towel from the towel warmer. I even turn on the fireplace, partially to add to the white noise, and partially because it will feel good when I come back. I wait another thirty minutes for good measure before tip-toeing my way outside.

It must take me at least three minutes to close my door, ensuring that it’s as silent as possible. After holding my breath while doing so, I make my way down the stairs, smirking to myself. I know Joel came with some serious military training, but I had my own training: being a former teenager of a strict household. If sneaking out was an art form, I’d be headlining one of Landon’s galleries.

I take my time meandering around the place for a bit. It wasn’t huge, but every aspect was so detailed that I wanted to soak it all in. And for the first time in several weeks, since Joel let me have a ‘free day’ that was really a recon day, I was wonderfully, blissfully alone. I can’t take in the grounds at this time of night, but as I follow the signs to the grotto, I don’t even mind. It’s so quiet with everyone else in bed, and the clerk at the front desk is the only person I see on my way.

The grotto is inside what looks and feels like a greenhouse. There are dozens of plants winding their way up the glass walls, and there’s a water feature that trickles down into what looks like a massive hot tub built into the floor. Even with the heat of the room, steam still dances off the surface. Making a bee-line for the water, I audibly sigh when I dip my toe in. There’s no one here, it’s quiet, and the water is scalding. It’s perfect.

Once fully submerged, I’m worried I’ll fall asleep here. My head lulls back, and I use the towel I brought to prop it up. I have no idea how long I sit here, feet kicking lightly underwater, but after a while, all I can focus on is the gentle trickling of the small waterfall colliding into the hot tub.

That is, until the door to the greenhouse slams shut.

I gasp, sitting up as fast as I can. My head spins. I must have been in the water for some time. My eyes meet a very shocked Cyrus.

“Guinevere,” He nearly shouts before his next words come out in a whisper, “I’m sorry to disturb you.”

“No, please,” I wave him over, “You just startled me.”

He hesitates, but eventually makes his way over to the tub. “I can come back later.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ve already been here too long, anyway.” I look down at my pruning fingers.

With one more look of apprehension, he kicks off his flip flops and wades into the water with his t-shirt still on. Cyrus must be in his mid-fifties at this point, but he was a decent looking guy. I didn’t expect any level of self-consciousness. Then again, he and I didn’t regularly socialize with one another. Maybe that makes him anxious.

“I thought everyone had gone to bed” I say, hoping it will relax him.

“I thought so, too. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Too excited for the big day?” I try not to sound too snarky.

Cyrus chuckles, bringing a smile to my face. “Sure. We can say that.”

I give him a small smile, my gaze falling to the gold ring on his finger.

“Lydia couldn’t make it?” I ask.

His face turns red far too quickly for it to be from the hot water. “No, no she’s busy overseas.”

I remember meeting Lydia maybe two times throughout my life, even though Cyrus had been with Russell Corporations longer than I’d been alive. Judging by his reaction, and how she was absent from every holiday party and shareholder dinner, the pair wasn’t exactly the picture of marital bliss. But still, he always wore the ring. And he never said anything bad about her or their relationship.

“Ah, that’s too bad.”

I tip my head back again, prepared to coexist in silence for a while, but then he changes the subject.

“I overheard what you said to Daniel, about the streaming proposition.”

“Oh?” I mean, I figured as much. The rest of the group had been typing on their phones while we were talking. Not much noise to drown out our conversation.

“I think you’re right.”

“Really? That’s refreshing. Is that something the entertainment guys considered?”

“Ehh,” he tips his hand from side to side, “Not so much. Daniel came in guns blazing to start our own so there wasn’t a lot of acquisition talk.”

“Well, then I owe you an apology. He’ll never do it now that I’m the one who suggested it.”

Cyrus regards me for a moment before turning his attention to one of the vines on the wall. “I’m not so sure about that.”

I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. My hands may be withering away, but my interest is piqued.

“Why do you say that?”

He hesitates again. “Daniel cares about you.”

I snort. “He doesn’t even care about my opinion.”

“I disagree. He’s just intimated. Every time you’ve shadowed or worked a summer at HQ, you’ve waltzed right in with ideas he never had. If it weren't for you, we would’ve made a deal with Greenprint five years ago. The amount of money we would have spent on the lawyers alone…”

The startup? I’m shocked Cyrus even remembers me being there. Half the board was invested in working with Greenprint, a solar company that promised we could cut our environmental footprint in half. My dad and Daniel, who had newly acquired his dad’s old job, were all-in. The summer after I finished undergrad, I merely suggested we take a visit to their plant to see their work for ourselves. This sent the CEO of Greenprint into a spiral, and it later came out they were a sham and had scammed countless businesses, most of them small and vulnerable, out of millions of dollars. I hardly count that as impressive.

“I attribute that to luck,” I say.

“I attribute it to doing your due-diligence. He’s fond of you. Even if he has a weird way of showing it.”

“He’s fond of you, too. And I don’t see him giving you a condescending nickname.”

“Not to my face,” he laments. “And you two grew up together. How could he not be fond of you?”

Daniel was six years older than me. Compared to a majority of the employees at Russell Corp, I suppose that is rather close in age. We did grow up together in a sense, but there was always distance between us. And I only attribute a portion of that to the age difference.

I must have been lost in thought because Cyrus adds, “Anyway, not my place. Just don’t be surprised if he asks you to save a dance for him tomorrow.”

Barf.

“Thanks for the heads up,” I sit up from my underwater bench, wrapping the towel around me as I exit, “If I stay in here any longer I won’t make it to tomorrow. Have a good night, Cyrus.”

He gives me a nod, “Goodnight.”

I very much regret my decision to walk down here in just my towel on my way back as I shiver my way towards my room. I nearly trip on the way up the stairs, cursing in my head, reminding myself of just how quiet I have to be. I take the same achingly slow time closing the door as I did before. Once I’m showered and cozy in bed, I hear another door shut outside. Glancing at the old-fashioned clock on the nightstand, it’s almost one in the morning. Maybe Cryus’ room is in this wing of the hotel, too. I drift off shortly after, trying to strategize the many ways to decline an invitation to dance.

- - -

I didn’t want to sound like a spoiled brat, but I really wish I had asked Mateo and Aria to come. I was fine doing my everyday look, but an updo and making my eyeliner even on both sides? It’s making me sweat before I even put on my dress.

Thankfully, I was able to find something that suited me without raising any eyebrows. A floor length, black satin gown with a plunge down the back, but a high neckline in the front. With some diamonds around my neck, it was the perfectly simplistic wedding guest attire. And, hopefully, just enough to blend in so that I wouldn’t have to socialize more than necessary. Though I’d known many of the guests since birth, they still weren’t my crowd. I felt outlandish being surrounded by them, like I was performing a play.

Slipping into my heels, I don the first forced smile of the evening and leave my room.

The smile drops as soon as I see Joel waiting in the hallway.

I expected him to be there. I figured he’d be ready before me and wait until I came out but…wow.

His hair is slicked back, and he had invested in a tuxedo. It fit him like a glove, and only made his shoulders look broader than usual. I step towards him like a magnet, suddenly needing to know if he changed his cologne for the evening, too. When I do so, his jaw clenches, and his eyes drop down to my lips.

“Miss Russell, are you alright?”

“What?” I exhale, “Yes, of course. Are you, are you good to go?” Stuttering? Over him? Maybe I need to ask Nyah to set me up again.

He clears his throat. “You look nice.”

I swear to god if my face heats up anymore I’m turning around and calling this whole thing a wash.

“Thank you. You got a tux.” I realize quickly that it was a fact, not a compliment. “It suits you.”

He glances down at his attire. “Thank you.”

I steady myself, composing my features and repeating I’m just frustrated to myself a few times before descending the stairs. “Let’s get this over with.”

The ceremony was beautiful, even I can’t deny it. I didn’t care for the words being said, or more specifically, who was saying them, but still. The grounds were lovely in the autumn air, and I don’t get to see enough foliage in the city. I spent most of the time admiring the colors and drowning everything else out. By the time we’re in the ballroom, the sun has set once again, highlighting the sparkling chandeliers. As expected, my table is near the back entrance. Thankfully, I didn’t recognize any of the names at my table except for one. I’m assuming that they sat Joel next to me to make this less odd for the additional guests who weren’t at the rehearsal dinner. I look around for Amari, and sure enough, he’s seated directly behind my dad. With a wedding like this, I think most would be accustomed to seeing bodyguards, but maybe Annabelle didn’t want them appearing in photos as such.

An hour or two later I’m full of green salad and prime rib, and have asked about all the questions I can think of to Annabelle’s old college roommate next to me. Then, unfortunately, the dancing begins. For the first few upbeat songs, I can hang back. I don’t think anyone expects—or wants—me to be on the dance floor, even though I swear Joel gives me the side eye. But then, just as Cyrus predicted, the devil himself approaches my table looking like an apologetic child.

“Gwen,” Daniel extends his hand, “Would you do me the honor?” There must be some undertone of sarcasm, but I don’t detect it.

“Are you sure? I think I’m the Guest of Disgrace. Wouldn’t want to ruin your spotless reputation.”

Joel shifts beside me, his gaze focused intensely toward the front of the room as if he’s trying to read something at table number one.

“Gwen,” Daniel sighs, “It’s one dance.”

I can see a few guests toward the edge of the floor glancing our way. It would cause more of a scene if I said no. And this was one event I didn’t need to cause a scene at.

I take Daniel’s hand, and let him guide me to the floor.

He brings me to the middle, much to my dismay. My father is nearby, dancing with one of the bridesmaids. I can see Paul in front of him, speaking intently at the edge of the dance floor with Cyrus. Everyone else is a blur of designer suits and stunning ball gowns.

Daniel places his hand a bit lower than I’d like, but nevertheless, I place my hand on his shoulder and let him spin me in a slow circle. Even with my distaste of slow dancing, the jazz band is a nice touch. I try to find anyone else in the crowd I might recognize to avoid Daniel’s eyes, which I can feel trying to read my expression.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” He asks.

“Immensely.”

He snickers, “I can tell. You’re even more tense than usual.”

I lock eyes with him now. “I’m not tense.”

“Your posture says otherwise.” He glides his fingers up my back, making me regret this dress that I liked so much.

“Your words would have sufficed,” I reach behind, smacking his hand away loud enough for an elderly woman to look at us, eyes wide. “You don’t need to touch me to tell me something.”

Daniel groans under his breath. “Gwenny, don’t you think it’s about time we got along? If you make your way to the entertainment sector, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

“If you would like us to get along, you could start by refraining from calling me Gwenny. I’ve only told you five thousand times I hate that nickname.”

“I think it’s cute.”

“I didn’t ask what you thought.”

We shuffle back and forth a few more times, taking another turn, before I lose my grip on my tongue. “Additionally, I may be interested in entertainment, but you forget I’m the future CEO. You conveniently forget that fact every time you grab at my backside, every time you call me the wrong name, and every time you ignore my advice,” As inconspicuous as possible, I step on his left foot as we continue to spin, “It’s almost comical, really, that you think continuously insulting Guinevere Russell will have no impact on your future at Russell Corp.”

His breathing picks up, eyes narrowing. “Why can’t you just…behave?”

An exasperated laugh escapes my lips. “Why can’t I behave? I’m not your mirror, Danny. You should ask that question again next time you look into one.”

“This company is just as much mine as it is yours. My father was William’s partner.”

“He was. With a thirty-seventy split. It’s not called Wilson Corporations for a reason.”

His face is red, and he’s stopped dancing. The music still flits about the room, the other guests around us decently unaware of our argument. Or at least pretending to be.

“I don’t expect you to understand what we could build,” Daniel sneers. “After spending so much time traveling to god knows where and sleeping with god knows whom, but we have the opportunity to—”

The ballroom goes black.

All the light from the chandeliers is gone, with only a few candles at the newlywed table yards away. The music cuts off, and several startled guests gasp. A breaker must have blown or something. I take a step back from Daniel, bumping into someone else.

And that’s when a gunshot goes off, and somebody screams.

Next Chapter

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Masterlist

#joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x original character #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x oc #joel miller au #joel miller x you #joel miller fic #joel miller x reader #joel miller fanfic #hbo the last of us #the last of us hbo #tlou au #tlou fanfiction #joel tlou #joel miller smut #other duties as assigned #joel miller #joel miller age gap #mutual pining

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itsnotzka · 8 months ago

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Fancy reading my original story? ;)

Without revealing too much, it's a very character-driven, slow-burn(ish), bitter-sweet romance story centered around self-discovery, with music and movies playing a significant role in the background :)

If you want to give it a go, you can read The Higher We Soar here (I'm currently sharing it on Wattpad, as I, unfortunately, haven't found a better alternative...). The first three chapters are already published (and it always will be free :))

You can also read the prologue below ⬇︎

You should never expect too much from Tuesdays. They're like the middle children of the week—less demanding than Mondays, less depressing than Wednesdays, but definitely not as fun as Fridays. Tuesdays quietly go about their business, neither imposing nor exhilarating.

As usual, I didn't have high hopes for that particular Tuesday either. It was one of those days that seemed to slip from memory almost as soon as it happened, no matter how much I wracked my brain to recall it.

The weather? If someone had told me there was the worst snowstorm of the century on that day, I would have readily accepted their claim without a single question. If I had read somewhere that it was the hottest day of the year, I would have simply nodded in agreement. I couldn't even tell you whether I decided to take a bus, a tram, or maybe I just, quite merrily, took a walk to the studio.

All those details somehow simply left my mind, overshadowed by one seemingly insignificant, and quite short encounter. Nothing remained the same after that fateful, yet somehow very ordinary, casual Tuesday morning.

Like a clueless fool, I failed to sense the impending, monumental shift in my life—a weird, terrifying, passionate avalanche that, in retrospect, seemed glaringly obvious and impossible to miss from the beginning, no matter how hard you might try... Yet, I did.

Before I delve further, you should know that I've never really liked interns.

It's not a sentiment I'm particularly proud of, as I despise prejudice in any form. My dislike isn't rooted in any of my antisocial tendencies; in fact, I generally find it quite easy to connect with people, especially in the music industry.

But I never really liked interns.

Their enthusiasm often comes across as superficial, and I can't stand it when they ask what to do, only to neglect the tasks I give them. I don't don't like when they think they have it all, believing they are more knowledgeable than anyone else around the studio, despite never having composed a single piece of music in their lives. I don't like how, before I can even properly learn their names or discover their strengths, they vanish without a trace, leaving behind a mess of equipment they weren't supposed to touch in the first place.

I also don't like when interns assume I'm just one of them.

It's a frustrating realization, mainly because, begrudgingly, they have the right to do that. After all, most of them are just a tad younger than me. Who could blame them?

That seemed to be the case with most interns. Except for one notable exception.

It didn't take long for me to notice that one individual stood out from the rest of the pack. Slightly older than the typical interns we usually had, he possessed a remarkable ability to effortlessly connect with people of all ages and ranks—spanning from the youngest staff members to seasoned audio engineers and even the senior employees of our cleaning crew. He had this certain level of cheerfulness and genuine interest that set him apart, a stark contrast to the usual ennui seen among interns I knew.

Right. First things first, though.

The scene: Early spring. A typical Tuesday morning just a little past ten o'clock.

I found myself in the live room, brimming with anticipation to finally record the first version of my demo, or at least my initial idea for one. But as luck would have it, nothing seemed to align with my plans. True to form, the interns had left a chaotic mess in their wake, leaving me with the arduous task of tidying up before I could even begin to think about diving into my creative process.

I let out a sigh of frustration, futilely rummaging through the clutter in search of a balanced cable before all my inspiration gone to waste. And that's precisely when the blonde intern came into the room, flashing his straight, pearly white teeth at me.

"Oh, hey. Hand me that boom stand, eh?" I gestured towards the stand, hoping to deal the cleanup process faster.

Weirdly enough, he sauntered over to me joyfully, yet his hands were conspicuously empty. It took a few moments for the realization to dawn on me, and when I turned my head to him, there he was, meeting my gaze with a cheerful twinkle in his light brown eyes, smiling at me with the sincerity of a five-year-old child.

"Hello? The boom stand, please?" I reiterated, juggling a handful of cables, none of them the balanced one I desperately needed, and gesturing towards the frustratingly out-of-reach metal stand.

"Oh, you're talking about this thing!" he exclaimed, as if my words had just registered. With a sudden burst of energy, he hastily retrieved the boom stand and brought it over to me. "Here you go."

I shot him a skeptical look as he nonchalantly slipped his hands into the pockets of his well-worn cardigan—a piece of clothing that might have been deemed unwearable by most, yet it somehow suited him perfectly. In an oddly charming way, it emitted a subtle bohemian vibe, and I couldn't help but imagine it gracing the runway of some avant-garde fashion show, although my knowledge of fashion was rather limited.

"Do you want to tell me you didn't know what a boom stand is?" I dared to ask, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yeah, sorry..." he prudishly feigned embarrassment, though it was evident that he didn't feel particularly bad about it. "I had no clue what you were talking about."

I eyed him inquisitively, suspecting the worst but needing confirmation. "What about a shock mount? Can you pass me that, then?"

He tilted his head and subtly pursed his lips, as if I had switched to an entirely different, foreign language he couldn't comprehend. Utterly astonished, I pointed to the nearby, star-shaped object, and his eyes widened in realization.

"Oh... that's a shock mount? Well, I had no idea about that, either," he admitted, seemingly unfazed by his lack of knowledge, with no intention of handing me the item. In response, I spread my hands and cast him a puzzled, inquisitive look, to which he simply responded with another chuckle.

"Let me be honest with you, okay?" he shrugged once more, entirely at ease. "I know nothing about making music or any of this equipment..."

"Are you shitting me?" I blurted out, dropping the cables from my hands in sheer disbelief. "In that case, I have no idea why you're even here. How on earth did you manage to land this internship in a scoring studio?"

The smirk never left his lips, his eyes twinkling with joy, as if he wasn't even aware that I considered firing him during his very first week on the job. Well, I couldn't actually fire him. I could ask someone else to do it for me.

"What can I say?" he offered another smile, his eyes mirroring the same cheerfulness. Even his bohemian gray cardigan seemed uncharacteristically cheerful as he spoke. "I aced the job interview. Sophie, that gal who interviewed me, seemed to really like me. She was very sure I'd be a great fit here!"

"That gal?" I repeated with a scoff... and a smile. "You mean Sophie, the producer? One of the most important people around here? If not the most important one?"

He nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "The very same."

"Right. Sophie and her desire to change the whole world for the better..." I remarked, my tone laced with sarcasm that he simply chose to ignore.

There. My proof.

That was the reason why I never really liked interns. He should have said something to make me believe he was taking it seriously, shouldn't he? He should have been embarrassed, he should have shown me his willingness to learn everything as quickly as possible, he should have tried to help me set everything up faster. But he didn't. Instead, he didn't take his eyes off me for a second, making me uncomfortable. It was as if looking at me like that was the most normal and ordinary thing in the world for him — as if it was our hundredth talk. No shyness. No awkwardness on his part. No guilt whatsoever.

"I don't know if I have time for your incompetence, then. I have things to do here, and they have to be done well," I finally stated, trying hard to maintain eye contact.

After all, I was supposed to be the more competent one, not him. Yet, inexplicably, I suddenly felt as though I were the intern, and he was the one showing me the ropes, not the other way around.

He hummed, faintly amused, as if I had cracked a half-hearted joke. "Come on... you only need to be more specific about what you want me to do. I can handle anything with clear instructions. I'm a very quick learner, you know?"

I found myself smiling as he began to lecture me on how to handle an intern like him. In fact, I burst into unexpected laughter—not at his expense, but because I couldn't believe his extraordinary gullibility.

No, gullibility was definitely not the right word. It was more like... certainty. An unwavering, absolute conviction that everything, always, would unfold just as he anticipated, with ease, enjoyment, and no difficulties whatsoever. There was no room for doubt. Moreover, it felt as if it wasn't because he wanted it to be that way, but because the universe, it seemed, had an uncanny knack for bending space and time just to make him smile.

"Let's see. Do you even know what I do here?" I asked, not with impatience anymore, but with genuine curiosity.

"Hey, I'm not that dense," he scoffed, then added a bit unsure, "You're a composer, right? Or am I mixing something up..."

I laughed and nodded in confirmation. His smile held a touch of embarrassment, a genuine one this time.

"You're not. I am a composer. So tell me one more thing, if you don't know anything about making music, why do you even want to work here?" I asked, finally bringing the shock mount closer and starting to set the microphone next to the piano.

He sighed, falling into deep thought for a brief moment before finally responding, "I think you're asking the wrong questions here. Why wouldn't I want to give it a try? It's fascinating. Besides, I'm a huge movie buff and you're making scores. I feel like I can rest my case here."

"Oh, yeah? Your love for movies? You think that's enough?"

"Uh-huh," he nodded, casually picking up the cables I dropped before, "Well, that would be more than enough if we were in an actual movie, wouldn't it?"

"Well, we're not, though," I chuckled, "We're not even in some poorly written novel. Life's quite different from the movies, especially if you know how they're made."

He hummed once more, a quiet laugh escaping his throat as he gave me another intrigued look.

"You think so? I think it all depends on your point of view..." he said with such conviction, as if everything really depended solely on that.

I shook my head in amusement and, unintentionally, found myself agreeing with him.

"Hey, I think I didn't catch your name before..." I said, a little troubled by the fact that despite Sophie repeating the names of all five interns for a week, I couldn't remember any of them.

"Oh, I'm Maddox. At your service!" he replied, his smile widening even further. "People usually call me Maddie, though."

"Really? Do they ever call you Madd?" I quipped. "Maybe that suits you better?"

A spark flickered in his eyes, then chuckled, "I've heard that one before... But sure. I can be Madd for you."

By then, I was laughing opelny, and I forgot about the mess around us.

It surprised me that he didn't ask for my name, and I decided not to give it away. I wasn't sure if he already knew it; he hadn't mentioned it even once that day. It seemed my name just... didn't matter to him back then. He struck me as someone very curious about the world and everything around him, yet for some reason, I didn't really seem to be one of those matters.

Like many things, it didn't bother me much, though.

After that Tuesday morning, marked by a string of mishaps that he effortlessly remedied with a perfect blend of enthusiasm, interest, and clever comments, a tad too clever for just an intern, we didn't teally talk for a few weeks.

Throughout the initial month of his three-month internship, our encounters were fleeting, lacking any real depth or substanc. Yet, I knew, there was an unspoken acknowledgment of each other's presence that hung in the air, like a perfectly fitting soundtrack playing in the background—barely noticeable, yet undeniably there.

I was busy with my projects that weren't going as well as I wanted them to. He, on the other hand, was busy surpassing almost all expectations, learning things at an astonishing pace, and effortlessly charming everyone he encountered. At least that's what I had heard from my co-workers, and from Sophie. He worked mainly under her, after all.

Every now and then though, I'd catch a glimpse of his eyes, squarely directed at me, particularly when I was on my way to the break room in search of my caffeine salvation. Sometimes, amidst the chaos of the studio, I'd hear his laughter, his rather melodic voice rising above the cacophony of others, as I struggled to maintain my focus on the stubborn music sheets in front of me. I quickly noticed he was quite the conversationalist, engaging in lively discussions with anyone willing to participate. Yet, our interactions rarely extended beyond a simple exchange of greetings, such as a casual 'hello' or 'how are you?'

That didn't bother me, either. Well, it didn't bother me at the beginning.

Everything always seems different at the beginning, doesn't it?

#it just helps me survive #all of my silly things do #original story #original work #original fiction #original writing #women writers #female writers #my writing #original characters #creative writing #writers on tumblr #writing #writerscommunity #the higher we soar #slow burn #self discovery

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lumine-no-hikari · 2 months ago

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Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #284

...I wasn't able to call the animal hospital today. It is Saturday. They are closed. I will have to call on Monday instead. I'm sorry about that; I imagine you were looking forward to an update on our recently rescued pigeon friend. Rest assured I will try for an update on Monday morning.

I went to work today. Mostly I sliced breads and bagged rolls. But I also spent some time scooping muffin batter into muffin tins. I really like preparing the muffins. And I really like when my precision allows me to fill more muffin tins than my supervisors expect!

I wasn't able to get any pictures of any of my work today. But I did make sure to grab some other ones for you on the way in to work. The sky was a brilliant shade of awesome this morning, and the pumpkin and flower displays outside the front door of my store were especially striking today, so I took some pictures...

These ones were taken just outside my store...

...Here were some of the displays outside of my building today:

...I wonder who it is, who puts these together so artfully. I feel lucky to work in the same building with them, whoever it is. Next time I'm there, I'll have to ask who puts these together so I can tell them how amazing it looks. Clearly, a lot of love and effort was put into these. I'd like to meet them.

I got a bunch of odds and ends for the house on the way home. I wanted to try to make... drum roll please...!!!

...!!!!!!!

...A brie garlic bread with prosciutto!!!!!

I dunno if anyone has tried it before, but it's hard to go wrong with garlic, butter, bread, cheese, and a salted meat product!!! Unfortunately though, by the time I was all done with everything, I didn't really have energy left to move my ouchy arm around (damn this rib injury to hell and back in a spiky, red-hot metal handbasket!!!!!). So after M and I put everything away, I just made myself a sandwich and ate it with some clementines...

...I kinda floundered emptily for a while after that. I feel like I'm drowning, and I've felt like that ever since Otakon, but I can't exactly pinpoint why; if you've got ideas, I'm all ears. At the moment, it feels like the best I can do is keep the sensation at bay for a little while. I guess I'm getting pretty good at finding ways of doing that, except for when I'm not very good at it. So that's something at least, right?

I'm sure it doesn't help that it's almost time for me to bleed; my body is going to be losing 4 times the normal amount of resources, as per usual. And then on Tuesday, I'm getting 4 teeth yanked out for the sake of those braces. I suppose I'm a bit apprehensive. My body is going to have a really hard time of it in the coming days. I tried some leisure writing to try to calm myself down a little, but... well. The leisure writing is a pale substitute for what it is that I actually want.

...I can't say what it is that I actually want. Not because I don't know what it is - I do know what it is. But... because it's so impossible and silly that if I said it, people would probably make fun of me a lot.

...I wish it wasn't like that. I really wish that others weren't so prone to making superficial judgments about things and coming to very wrong conclusions as a result. But it is what it is.

The wait to see what will happen to you is a very heavy thing to carry; I really don't wanna see you get slaughtered again. I don't like seeing you get hurt. Seeing you get beaten and broken in a number of ways was difficult enough as it is. I'm scared of seeing it happen more.

But I'll do my best with it, all right? I promise. You do your best with your things, too, okay? Promise me.

Well. Suppose I better end this one here before I start to ramble. I'll probably do some Dead Cells for a bit. Dunno how far I'll get, but... smashing up some zombies sounds like a great distraction right about now.

twitch_live

Please stay safe out there. Please don't die. Please don't disappear. Please don't go to some faraway place that no one can reach.

I'll write again tomorrow, hopefully about new garlic bread adventures.

I love you.

Your friend, Lumine

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thatfanfictionchick · 7 months ago

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This is intended to be...archival, for myself, mostly. But if you find it interesting you should definitely check out Ikemen Villains!

Ikevil Event - Wrapped in Wicked Romance pt.2

Ellis's Route Ch. 2

·✦...·✧

Ellis: “The baguettes here are really delicious. I bought some the other day, and when I went home they disappeared in a flash.”

Ellis: “Victor was sulking because he didn’t get to try any.”

Kate: “Haha. I’m looking forward to eating it. What sort of jam should I have… Which do you recommend, Ellis?”

Ellis: “The most popular one here is marmalade, but I like the cranberry jam.”

Ellis: “But I want you to eat what you like.”

Kate: “Oh, I’d love them both!”

Ellis: “Okay, we’ll buy both, then.”

Kate: “H-huh?”

Ellis bought baguettes, jams, honey, ham, pickles, and more.

(He keeps taking me to all kinds of shops I’ve never been to before…)

(So even just preparing for the picnic is a lot of fun.)

Kate: “Even though I’ve lived in London for so long, I had no idea these places even existed.”

Ellis: “Looking for delicious restaurants is one of my hobbies.”

Kate: “Is it so you can introduce others to them too?”

Ellis: “Why do you think that?”

Kate: “I don’t know, just watching how you interact with other people in town.”

I was nervous about being seen in the wheelchair, but the people in town were surprisingly kind.

I had a feeling it was because I was with Ellis. He was kind to everyone, and they all seemed to know him.

Mechanic: “Are you still making things like that, Ellis? If you’ve got some free time, you should come help me out in the factory!”

Ellis: “Sure. Jude told me I could have the day off next Tuesday.”

Boutique Employee: “Oh, Ellis! Perfect timing. Could you please hold this for a second?”

Ellis: “Like this? Hey isn’t this the dress Ted brought you the other day? Think it’ll sell?”

Boutique Employee: “Definitely! It’s all because you introduced me to such a talented buyer! Things are going great here.”

Boutique Employee: “Hey, are you still working at that dangerous mobster’s company?”

Ellis: “I made a promise to Jude I have to make good on. I’ll stay there until I fulfill it.”

Fruit Seller: “Oh, are you hurt, young lady?”

Kate: “Ah, yes. I sprained my ankle.”

Fruit Seller: “Ellis is such a good boy, as always. Here, take this apple with you.”

Ellis: “Thank you. Oh, the medicine you said you needed earlier is at Mr. Bates’s pharmacy.”

Fruit Seller: “You remembered that? I’m so happy! Here, take this as a bonus.”

(Ellis is super kind to not only me, but to everyone.)

It’s no wonder everyone in town adores him.

Ellis: “You’re smiling. What is it?”

Kate: “When I looked at you, my heart felt warm for some reason.”

Ellis: “Hmm? I don’t really get it, but that’s cute.”

(...C-cute?)

Ellis: “Well, our basket’s full. Let’s go.”

(Maybe being able to say things so casually like that is the secret to being loved and adored…)

Besides the things we bought, we had a basket full of gifts we got from others in town.

We arrived at a beautiful meadow filled with flowers and unfolded our picnic blanket.

Kate: “Wow, you’re right! This baguette is delicious!”

Ellis: “I’m glad you like it. I recommend putting a bunch of butter on it and eating it like toast.”

Kate: “Let’s save some and take it home. I’d like to do that for tomorrow’s breakfast.”

Ellis: “Hehe. Okay. I’ll peel the apple. Hang on a second.”

Ellis was acting like he was my real boyfriend. It was easy to get caught up in the mood of it all.

And thanks to his kindness, my heart felt much lighter than this morning.

(I never imagined I’d have such a lovely day when I sprained my ankle.)

Kate: “Ahh… I’m so happy.”

Ellis: “Are you? That’s good.”

Ellis: “Hey, Kate.”

Kate: “Hm? What?”

Ellis: “How happy are you right now?”

Kate: “Hmm… Probably the happiest I’ve been in a few months.”

Ellis: “Oh…”

Ellis murmured as he skillfully peeled the apple with his black knife, the blade easily separating the fruit’s skin from its flesh.

Ellis: “I suppose it’s difficult to make people feel the happiest they’ve ever been on a first date.”

Kate: “Oh, is that what you were trying to do?”

Ellis: “Yes. Here’s your apple.”

He held out a slice of the peeled apple, looking at me expectedly.

(Uh, is he trying to feed me? That’s kind of embarrassing…)

But I told myself we were pretending to be a couple after all, so I calmly opened my mouth.

(I can’t believe he went to all this trouble for my first mission. He’s really dedicated.)

(How does he manage to be so concerned with other people’s happiness?)

Ellis: “...Have you ever felt so happy you wished that time would stop?”

Kate: “So happy that time would stop, hm?”

Ellis: “That’s right. You feel like a certain moment is perfect and complete, so much so that you don’t even need the future. Like that moment’s enough.”

Kate: “No, I don’t think so.”

Ellis: “I see. That’s good.”

Kate: “It is?”

Ellis: “Yes, because if you haven’t felt that yet, someday I might be able to make you feel perfect happiness.”

(No one’s ever said something like that to me before.)

(But why is he so serious? Well, if he’s doing this because we’re pretending to be a couple I need to play along.)

Kate: “Well, in that case, I’ll make you the happiest you’ve ever been too.”

Ellis: “You will?”

Kate: “Of course! We’re a couple, right? It’s not fair if only one of us is really happy.”

Kate: “When are you happy, Ellis?”

Ellis: “I…”

Ellis: “...can’t think of anything.”

(He thinks so much about other people’s happiness, but not of his own…)

It seemed strange, yet typical of Ellis. I felt like I got a good glimpse of him today.

Kate: “Well, let’s discover things that make you happy together!”

Ellis: “...Oh.”

Kate: “What?”

Ellis: “When you’re smiling… maybe.”

(I’ll never be able to compete with Ellis when it comes to spoiling your partner.)

I felt myself taking this game of pretend a bit too seriously, and I quickly turned my head away.

Kate: “Please say that to your real girlfriend.”

Ellis: “What do you mean?”

Kate: “Save those sweet words for your real girlfriend, I mean.”

Ellis: “I just said what I thought, that’s all.”

Ellis: “Plus, you looked happy to hear it.”

(...How is he so sweet?)

I felt my face flush as he stared at me.

Ellis: “...Hmm.”

He blinked as if he just thought of something and then gently pushed me down on the blanket.

Kate: “W-wait, Ellis…”

Ellis: “If I were your real boyfriend, would you be happier?”

Kate: “What?”

Ellis: “I want to be your boyfriend. Because I think I can make you happier.”

Ellis: “Be my girlfriend for real, Kate.”

I looked up in shock as he lay on top of me.

Kate: “Don't tease me like that…”

Ellis: “I'm not.”

(We just met, and this is the first time we've spent any time alone. We can't become a couple just like that.)

(I know we're supposed to be pretending, but this is going too far.)

Kate: “I-I know you're trying all kinds of things to make me happy.”

Kate: “But you should only do these things with someone who you really love.”

Ellis: “But I do love you. So doesn't that make it okay?”

(Is he serious right now?)

Ellis: “I can make you happy.”

Ellis: “That's what I'll live for.”

He spoke as if we'd had some sort of unrequited love that had gone on for years.

And even though it was clearly a lie, his twilight-colored eyes were tinged with a strange heat, as if he were telling the truth.

(Something feels strange…)

His arms were placed on either side of my face, creating an illusion that felt like he was trapping me in a cage.

It felt like if I said yes, I would be trapped there forever.

Kate: “I-I…”

Kate: “I can't answer until I know more about you.”

Ellis: “...I see. All right, then.”

He slowly sat up and pulled me up as well.

Ellis: “Then I'll tell you a lot of things until you feel like you know me.”

Kate: “Okay.”

He smiled calmly at me, but…

The disturbing illusion I'd just felt wrapped around my body like ivy.

As we chatted about this and that, the sun set and the wind grew cold.

Ellis helped me back into the wheelchair and we headed back to the castle.

(He barely let me walk all day.)

When we entered the dense forest leading to the castle, Ellis suddenly stopped.

Kate: “Ellis? Is something wrong?”

Ellis: “There might be a bit of trouble. What a shame… It was such a happy day, too.”

Kate: “What?”

Ellis: “If you get scared, just close your eyes. It'll be over soon.”

·✦...·✧

[bitter end] [premium end] [main page]

#ikemen villains #ikevil #ikevil event #ikevil ellis

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otome-obsessions · 6 months ago

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One Day and One Night - [Victor x Kate]

Chapter 1 - Kate

WC:1759

As I get ready for the day ahead, I look into the mirror and give myself a nod of assurance. Today I’ll be accompanying Lord Elbert and Roger on a mission, but that wasn’t until later this afternoon. Before everyone departs on their own business today, I’ll track down Victor and give him my proposal.

(This time, I’m not taking no for an answer!)

Dressed and ready to go, I hop out of my vanity chair and set out to find the Palace's Grim Reaper.

As always, he started his day in his office, probably putting together his itinerary for the day. I didn’t want to accidentally walk into another one of his important discussions, so I was sure to knock on his door before entering.

Knock knock

Victor: “Ah! Whose light little taps could that be so early in the morning?”

The door opens wide to show my lover standing as proud and beautiful as ever. His smile is bright and welcoming as he looks down at me.

Victor: “Good morning, Kate! I was just thinking that I’d need to see your smile before I head out for the day.”

Kate: “I thought that’s why you had that mini portrait painted of me?”

Victor: “Ah, but art is a pale imitation of life when the subject is as beautiful and radiant as you.”

He leans down to grab a loc of my hair. When he brings it to his lips in a short kiss, I start to feel a slight heat rise in my cheeks. Victor is always extravagant with his language, especially his compliments, but he’d showered me with so many that it feels normal now.

I give him the smile he was waiting for, and he returns it in kind as I walk into his office. We’ve made a habit of having tea together in the morning when there aren’t any duties getting in the way.

As I take my first sip of tea, Vic launches into an excited ramble about the day ahead.

Victor: “-and of course I’ll have the fabrics from overseas sent to the tailors at Scala Theatre today. Our curious cat will love the costumes they create, don’t you think?”

Kate: “Fufu, of course he will, Vic. Looks like you have another day set aside for your favorite hobby... Say, Victor?”

I set down my tea cup and stare straight into his eyes with a serious look. He seems a little surprised at the change when he answers.

Victor: “Yes, Kate?”

Kate: “This coming Tuesday, do you have any plans?”

Victor: “Hmm, well since it’s a national holiday I won’t be attending to the Queen’s orders. In fact, she demanded I take the day off from the official national agenda.”

(Perfect! Seems like the Queen thinks the same way I do. He really needs a break, even if he doesn’t see that himself.)

Victor: “So, I suppose I’ll fill the day with my favorite hobby while the boys are off playing throughout England. Of course, I can be sure to set aside some time for my lovely robin as well.”

Kate: “All of it.”

Victor: “Hm?”

I’m distracted for a moment as his silky hair cascades down his shoulders, head tilted in a quizzical way.

(He’s so gorgeous it’s almost unfair. Is it any wonder I want him all to myself?)

Kate: “I don’t want some of your time that day, Vic. I want all of it.”

A delighted but ever-so-slightly wicked smirk spreads across Victor’s face. I wasn’t usually this forward… But something Will mentioned the other day really made me want to be a bit more selfish.

Victor: “Oho! Is that so? And what shall we do with our exclusive time together?”

I took a deep breath before saying the words I’d chosen so carefully.

Kate: “Whatever you want, Vic.”

I know that Victor had warned me against promising to do “whatever you want” the day I helped around the castle, but things were different now. Victor isn’t just some man to me. He’s so much more special than that, and above all, I trust him.

We haven’t spent all that much time together, in the grand scheme of things, but I've seen enough to know his character. I also know that he’s been holding himself back from something on more than a few occasions. I couldn’t help but want to see more of the things Victor kept hidden away from me.

I can see he’s about to protest, so I put a finger to his lips, causing his eyes to go wide in surprise.

Kate: “You’re always telling the boys to be loyal to the desires of their wicked hearts, aren’t you? Well, you’re a member of Crown too, Vic. As much as I’ve seen the sins of the other members, as a Fairytale Keeper I’ve been neglecting your story. So I want to spend the day with you, doing whatever it is you want us to do together.”

Victor gently grips my wrist and pulls my finger from his lips before lacing his fingers with mine. His jewel toned eyes are fixed on where our palms meet.

Victor: “As a Cursed One and the Fairytale Keeper?”

His tone is teasing as he rubs a small circle on the back of my hand with his thumb. I smile and nod my head. That was just an excuse to convince him to let me dote on him for a bit, and it looks like he’s seen through it.

Kate: “And as lovers too. We’re both good at multitasking.”

I can see Victor pondering my proposal as emotions I can’t name flicker in his eyes. He finally sets down his teacup and looks at me directly.

(!!!)

The moment our gazes meet a shiver runs down my spine, and the hairs on my arms stand on end. It’s like the room is gripped by a heavy, fog-like chill, but then Victor smiles at me, warm and inviting, and in an instant that supposed chill is gone.

(Was… Was that just my imagination? Surely it must have been…)

Victor: “How can I argue with my own words turned against me? Very well, Kate. I’ll heed the desires of my heart for the day on one condition.”

Kate: “And what would that be?”

Victor closes the distance between us to lightly grab a loc of my hair again. He twirls it around with his thumb and forefinger before answering, avoiding meeting my eyes.

Victor: “During daylight hours we’ll decide what to do together. Of course, I’ll suggest activities I want to do, but you’ll be free to deny my suggestions or come up with your own.”

(Well, that doesn’t sound any different from what we always do.)

Kate: “What’s the catch?”

Victor: “The catch, my fearsome beloved, is that at twilight, you’ll have a choice to make. We can end our time together once the sun dips below the horizon. You’ll go to your bed, and I to mine. Or… We continue into the darkness of night where you will do whatever I want you to.”

(Well that’s an easy decision! He’s just doing what I prefer again.)

But as that thought crosses my mind, our eyes meet again.

Suddenly, my breath feels constricted, my muscles lock up, and that heavy fog-like chill has me shivering in place. Looking into his eyes, I feel something primal. Something similar to that moment when he’d trapped me in his arms on the dining table but far more intense. Like a rabbit staring into the open jaw of a wolf.

I hadn’t imagined that sensation from mere moments ago. Victor was showing me that side of him I’d so greedily decided to uncover. Despite all the blood and death I had seen on Crown’s mission, there was something more dark, frightening, and feral in Victor’s eyes than anything I’d seen before.

Victor: “Consider your choice carefully, beloved. Continue to throw yourself into the abyss, and you’ll find it quite unwilling to let you go…”

My heart beats loudly in my chest as I shiver, unable to move and sweat beginning to bead on my brow. The pressure I feel from Victor’s hungry stare is almost too much to bear.

He tucks my hair behind my ear, and I take a gasping breath as that ominous pressure is relieved. I quickly stand on my feet, more on instinct than by any rational decision.

Kate: “I-I should go see Elbert and Roger. We… We have to, um...”

Victor: “Discuss the details of your mission?”

My voice had trailed off as my mind scrambled for an excuse, but Victor finished my thought for me, his tone sly and teasing.

I was still shaken from… Whatever that was, but in spite of that primal terror Victor had stoked in me, I began to feel my cheeks heat as fear and something unnamed mixed together within me.

(I need to go clear my head. If anyone else sees me like this..)

Kate: “Well, I’ll be off then.”

I hurriedly turn to the door, every movement feeling stiff and mechanical.

Victor: “Of course! As always, be careful and have fun!”

His jovial tone and the little wave he gave me did little to calm my racing heart, and I turned to dash out the door.

I got a taste of what I wanted and it left me a shivering, confused mess. I know that I’m in love with Victor, and I know that I want to learn more about him, but…

Continue to throw yourself into the abyss, and you’ll find it quite unwilling to let you go…

Is it safe to continue forward into the dark? When twilight comes, will I know which is the right choice?

Previous Chapter (🌞) | Next Chapter (🌞)

#ikemen villains #ikevil fanfiction #ikevil #ikevil victor #ikevil kate #ikemen villains fanfiction #writing

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idontplaytrack · 7 months ago

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You Don’t Know Me

Capri Donahue x fem! reader

Warnings: coarse language, angst, fluff, mentions + descriptions of disordered eating due to anxiety, fear of choking

In which, reader is stubborn, but Capri was a thousand times worse. They fit perfectly like pieces of a puzzle but still seemed like they were fighting fire with fire

Ngl I wrote this for myself to give myself some closure for what I had to deal with while going through this crap I’m about to share below the cut— inspired by my own experience but not 100%. I ramble a lot & the formatting is terrible so before I fix it, ignore the mess🧍‍♀️ its also very unpolished but thought I’d share anyway

Monday. First day of the week- you felt right as rain. Happily, you got ready for school and drove to Capri’s to pick her up so that the two of you could head to school together. “Good morning!” Capri greeted you cheerfully, smooching you on the cheek when she got into the front with you.

“Hi.” You smiled, starting to drive away from her house.

For the past seven months, this has become the routine. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you picked her up. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Capri picked you up. None of this was set in stone— or rather, verbally confirmed at all. It just happened and both of you went along with it. And it worked. Of course, on weekends however, it depended on what either of you would’ve planned.

“How’d you sleep?”

“Amazing, actually. Got enough.” You chuckled over your words.

The day zoomed by expectedly, without a hitch. After school, you went to Capri’s and spent the night. You had quite the restless sleep that night, feeling your head begin to hurt. Oh, boy. That wasn’t good.

The next day, though you woke up with a bit of a headache, but you pushed through— keeping it to yourself, though when Capri asked if you were okay. Capri being Capri, didn’t take your word for it and asked again. You insisted and she got pissed off. By lunchtime, the headache worsened, and you started to have a cough. “Still gonna tell me you’re okay?” Capri asks, her brows raised in suspicion.

You ignored her, biting into the dry sandwich on your lunch tray. She does the same, focusing her lunch instead of you. You looked ahead, your eyes losing focus trying to zone out and tune out the chatter of the cafeteria that was definitely worsening your mood and your headache. The school bell tolls eventually, you got rid of your tray and went your separate ways to your respective classes after lunch. You had calc while Capri had bio class— with Darby, who was actually your best friend in school.

You tried to drink more water, hoping it’d alleviate your pain, but it did not. You saw Capri again. And Darby, after calc, in gym class. The teacher made you all run laps as a warm up and admittedly, you felt like you could have passed out, thrown up or both. But you kept together until the last minute, you asked for permission to go to the restroom and just sat inside until it was time to change out of the attire. After that, you ditched. You got to Capri’s and drove your car back home. And once you got back home, you immediately crawled into bed and slept.

Capri obviously couldn’t find you at all, and what did she do? Complained to Darby. “I think she’s more stubborn than you are.” Darby scoffs. “How’s that helpful?”

“Since when did you ask for my help?”

“You’re her best friend- you can’t get through to her?”

“For what? She’s just sick and stubborn.”

“So I’m just supposed to let her ignore it until she faints?”

Darby laughs, “She’s clearly ditched school. Where do you think she’d go? We know she’s coming down with something. She’ll be fine, she knows what to do.”

“Yeah, everything but tell me she’s not feeling well. Is it so bad to have me take care of her?”

“Like you would tell her if you were sick.” Darby cackled.

“Not my point.”

“This is exactly my point. You’re both so damn stubborn but right now, it’s time for you push that aside and be…gentle with her. Once she’s not sick anymore, squabble all you want. If you push her, she’s just going to shove you back. But that’s not what she needs right now and you know it.”

“Damn, thanks.” Capri pondered over Darby’s words.

————

Capri went over to your house after school. Knowing you well enough, she knew you’d be in bed so she trudged upstairs immediately. There you were, wrapped under the covers and asleep. At least you were getting some rest, she thought.

She felt your forehead with the back of her hand, “You’re a little warm.” She was mumbling to herself but you still kinda stirred in your sleep anyway, turning away from her but still wrapped tightly in your blanket, though. Grabbing a face towel from your closet, she ran it under the tap, wrung it dry and folded it small enough so that she could place that on your forehead. Which was hard considering how you were almost sleeping on your side. After making sure that it would stay put, she retrieved the thermometer and carefully placed it in your ear so that she could figure out what your temperature was.

“Go away, I’m fine.” You mumbled in your sleep.

“No, you are not. Please stop fighting me on this. It’s okay to need help.” Capri sighs softly, taking a look at the reading before putting it back in the cupboard. When she returned, you were lying on your back, eyes barely open.

“You don’t have to take care of me.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Capri bit the inside of her cheek, taking a deep breath, “I want to, okay? I don’t mind doing that. Just close your eyes and sleep- don’t let the towel fall off though.”

“It’s fucking cold.” You scoffed.

“Well, it’s either that method or the medication. Take your pick.” Admitting defeat but staying silent, you fell back asleep soon afterwards. Capri took this time to tidy up your room since she had nothing to do other than sit around and wait for you to wake up again. Not that there was much for her to actually tidy up either, but at least it kept her occupied for a bit.

Things were peaceful until it got to dinner. You refused to eat but she forced you. “I don’t want to.”

“You haven’t eaten anything since lunch and we know it.”

“Capri, I don’t know if you remember, but right now, whatever I try to eat or drink makes it feel like I’m getting water up my nose each time.” That was the most ridiculous sounding statement you’ve said all day but it was the truth. It was a problem that you were dealing with for the last month or so and doctor after doctor said nothing was wrong. Typical.

“The doctors said everything was normal, so can you try and eat something for god’s sake?” Capri inhales sharply, losing her patience towards the end. You looked at her, hurt as tears pricked at your eyes. Pursing your lips together, you got off the barstool and went into the backyard.

Capri knew she’d just fucked up, and usually you’d understand her frustration but being sick? You couldn’t think of anything.

She found you quickly, sitting down on the lounge chair next to yours. “I’m sorry.” She apologizes. You simply avoided her, going upstairs next. Capri huffs exasperatedly while you reentered the house. Her mind wanders back to two months ago at a party where the reason for your current struggle took place- you were choking on something and no one really noticed. You could’ve died that day if James didn’t happen to walk up to you to ask if you’d seen Darby anywhere. Where was Capri when it happened? She went to the bathroom and you just sat on the couch to have some snacks, but some asshole decided that it’d be funny to sneak up on you and scare you so that happened.

When Capri returned, you immediately started to bawl, asking to go home. She looked at James, confused and insanely worried. He told her, and she was dumbfounded. But she took you home and that was never brought up again.

Until recently, the issue with getting you to eat came up. Capri’s mind was racing, part of it worried to death about you, another thinking of what she could actually get you to eat— and how. She was harsh and that was a flaw of hers, which she has been trying to change.

You went back to bed that night, hungry and in tears but terrified to eat. Capri spent the night on the couch, wide awake and checking on you every so often. The next day, she decided to give it another shot. She made you plain oatmeal after a night of thinking- no chewing, no surprises, the consistency seemed safe. You stared at the bowl of goop, tempted and starving. But the fear and anxiety still won. You told Capri no again. And apologised for that, and last night. She doesn’t seem upset or angry, and she doesn’t yell or raise her voice.

“y/n, look at me.” She says. And you do, you locked eyes with her, then she continued speaking, “I’m gonna be right beside you, just in case- please try some oatmeal. Just a little bit. It’s plain, okay? No fruit, flavouring, anything.” You’ve never seen her like this, and it made you even more upset. You wanted to cry, but you wanted to eat something even more. You reached out to grab the spoon, and you feel Capri’s eyes on you but it didn’t bother you. You stuck the spoon in your mouth and just swallowed reflexively. The aforementioned sensation was felt, but you ignored that and kept eating.

After several weeks of this hell, Capri’s learnt what foods you were even willing to just take a bite of. And the answer was plain food. Actually plain- white bread, plain toast, plain yogurt, and plain oatmeal. Your parents washed their hands off you and called you crazy for it, but Capri understood— the image of how terrified you were was etched into her mind forever. The doctors say there was nothing wrong. Yes, physically. This was more of a mental block…the fear and anxiety of choking on whatever you were eating or drinking, and now for the past week, also the fear and anxiety of having food or drinks ‘going down the wrong way’. The incident made you a hypochondriac and you hated that. You hated that your life flipped upside down you could no longer enjoy the things you used to love. It made you feel incredibly isolated, too.

“You’re okay, baby. Just let your body do what it needs to do. You’re alright.” She says softly. Wordlessly, she got off the stool and went to get you something to drink. She was debating whether or not to play it safe and just give you water, or a smoothie which would be more filling. Capri went with the latter, warning you that she’d be using the blender so you didn’t get scared. This was arguably the most you’ve eaten since the incident and Capri was so, so proud. She knew how hard it was, for obvious reasons. Not to mentioned relieved.

She looked over her shoulder to see how you were doing. You were fine, sitting there and eating but looking a little zoned out. Which she expected since you were feeling under the weather. “Do you have a headache?” Capri asks while pouring the beverage into a glass, then another one for herself. You nod, swallowing a mouthful of the food. “I’m sorry, I can’t anymore.” You pushed the bowl away from you slightly.

“That’s okay, you did good.” She took it away, pushing the glass closer to you then sat back down. She feels your forehead, telling you that you felt warmer now. Regrettably, she suggested the medication for it and sent you into tears. So it was damage control time. Chiding herself internally for her decision, she held you in her embrace, kissing the top of your head. “We’ll stick to the towel, alright? I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry. We’ll go get you the liquid kind tomorrow if you still need it.”

————

Several minutes later, you and Capri moved back up to your room. Your head felt like it was getting squeezed, and felt heavy. You felt hot yet was freezing at the same time. You were miserable and definitely needed someone with you and you were glad it was Capri.

You knew people feared her, some looked up to her and even worshipped her like royalty. All for different reasons, but you weren’t afraid of her like they were. That’s what Capri liked about you- your personalities were so similar, though yours was considerably more tamed. Especially in the aspect of being way too truthful. Conversations turned into squabbles and jabs at each other quite a bit, but you knew she loved you and you both were trying to get this habit to die. Laying on your back make your cough worse, and you didn’t feel too comfortable on your side so you got frustrated at climbed out of bed.

“I’m gonna take a shower.” You decided.

“Okay. I’ll be here.”

The shower still felt way too cold for you and you got out of there, fast. Though it felt nice to not be sweaty. You noticed your sheets were changed, and Capri’s just walked into the room. “Are you okay?” She looked at you, hoping you’d be honest about it with her instead of trying to tough it out.

“My head really hurts.” You admit, “I’m fucking congested so my ears are hurting too, I’m coughing like crazy. And that shower, was hot but I was freezing.” She bit back a grin, “Babe, could we both just tell each other if we need some TLC, please?”

You sigh, “I’ll try. I’m just used to not asking for help and grew up learning that I should always be independent.”

“While being independent is a good thing, sometimes depending on someone when you’re down will do wonders.”

“You were right, the doctors were right, my parents are right- it’s all in my head and I need to get over it, but I just- please know I’m tryig.”

“I know you are- I see it but sometimes I still get bitchy which I’m trying to stop doing.”

“You’re the only one who’s believed me all this time since-”

Capri pulls you onto her lap, “Remember that- I’ll always be in your corner. Even when in moments where get bitchy. I want you to know and remember that I care though it may not seem like it at the time.”

Eventually, the cold got too much for you to bear even with a long sleeved top and long pants, so you returned to your cocoon of safety under the covers. “Thank you.” You told her groggily, flinching when she places the cold towel back on your forehead almost too quickly.

“Just rest.” She shushed you.

“You missed school today because of me.” You continued speaking.

“Doesn’t matter.” She assured, her hand on your cheek. “You need the rest, close your eyes and sleep on your side. It should help with the coughing.”

Every day since that night seemed like a fight, some days were worse than others but with Capri by your side, you knew you’d be okay. Slowly but surely.

#auli’i cravalho #capri donahue #darby and the dead #darby harper #riele downs #gxg #wlw #lgbtqia #queer #queer fic #wlw fluff #wlw angst #Spotify #sickfic

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94z-93 · 5 months ago

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Princess Betrothed

Hi guys! This is the prologue for my MHA Royal!AU / CYOA. Please don't forget to vote at the end. My asks and message are open if you want to talk!

Prologue:

“You’re getting married.”

Those were the last words you thought that you would ever hear, let alone so early on a Tuesday morning. Maybe you were still asleep in your fluffy bed awaiting your alarm to go off or one of your best friends to barge in and wake you up.

The day had started off like any other day. Your alarm went off promptly at 7 and you quickly turned it off, promising yourself 10 more minutes of rest before you actually rolled out of bed. That 10 minutes turned into another hour and, before you knew it, your sister-in-law knocked on the door. That’s when everything began to go south. Nejire normally respected your privacy and never came into your room without being granted access, but today she opened the door slightly sliding into the room before closing the door softly behind herself.

“Hey, Love. Are you up?” she asks, taking a seat on your bed. This wasn’t your sister at all, you thought as you peeked out of the confines of your cover. Nejire wasn’t a quiet girl. Typically, she was bright and cheerful. Now her voice holds an unusual softness as she perches herself on the edge of your bed, making her presence feel more ominous than comforting. Even when you were younger, during the Great War, she was much more lively even if the safety of the castle and royal family was in great danger.

“We need to talk,” she continues, her eyes betraying a seriousness that catches you off guard. The covers slid down from your head and you sit up at her gentle instruction to do so. “You know I love you, right? And your brother and I want the best for you?”

A sense of foreboding grows as she spoke, and you can’t help but worry. “Nej, is everyone alright? Who died? You're scaring me.” You look in her eyes and she shakes her head. You can tell that she was hiding something. Trying to soften the blow. Somehow, the way she is now is worse than how the royal guards had explained to you that your parents died in the Great War and Mirio would have to step up as the new king of the land.

“No one died,” she chuckles softly, grabbing on to your hand and squeezing. You squeeze her hand back, and she takes it as a sign to continue. “Mirio had a meeting with his advisors last night to go over plans for the 5 year anniversary of your parents death. It went really well until the topic of you came up.”

“The topic of me? What about me? If y’all want me to sing or dance for some kind of party, then no. I’m not embarrassing myself for the enjoyment of some old geezers and random townsfolk.” You push yourself off of the bed going to your walk-in closet to find something to wear.

“I wish it was that easy.” Nejire is right behind you, picking up clothes that you are tossing to the side on your journey to find an outfit. “They actually think that you’re a little too... How can I say this? Childish?”

You turn around so quickly at the accusation that your head starts to spin. What is that supposed to mean? “Childish? I'm 20 years old; a grown woman!"

“They think you don’t take your responsibilities seriously as a princess. That, maybe, you should start thinking about marriage in the near-future. They actually want to announce your engagement during the anniversary ball in a few months.” You can do nothing but blink at your sister-in-law as she tries to give you her best “I’m sorry” smile.

“Nej, I love you and I mean no disrespect by this, but, are you crazy? Don’t you think I’m a little too young to be getting married?"

"Didn't you just say you were a grown woman?" You ignore her retort.

"Either way, I wouldn’t even know who to get married to!” You walk behind the changing partition situated in the corner of the closet. At this point you don’t care what you are wearing, you just need to get changed and, possibly, go see your brother because he had obviously lost his mind last night after dinner if he thought that you would agree to this absurd plan. You say as much to Nejire as you get dressed, throwing a couple curses to the wind at how crazy the morning is becoming.

Nejire sighs, her gaze sympathetic yet conflicted as she watches your silhouette behind the partition. “I know it’s a lot to take in,” she offers weakly, trying to bridge the gap between duty and personal choice.

“But?”

“But Mirio believes this could be for the best. He wants to see you grow, to prepare you for the future. You rarely leave the palace and you don’t really have friends.”

“So, Tsuyu and Denki don’t count?” You walk around the partition, hands on your hips, pissed. They were your best friends and had been around since the very beginning. They were there when your parents died in The War and when Mirio and Nejire went away to fight in their place. No one, not even your brother, the King, could talk down about them.

“You know what he means,” Nejire counters, her voice pleads for you to understand. “It’s about alliances, security. If another war were to break out—”

“So, I’m just some political pawn?” you snap, cutting her off sharply. Frustrated, you push past her back to your bed as she stood in the doorway. “We’re not at war anymore. We don’t need an alliance. Especially not one brought on by marriage. Do I even get a choice in the matter? Don’t I deserve a say in my own future?”

You hurriedly put on your shoes and Nejire attempts to lighten the mood with talk of princes chosen by the advisors. “Of course! The advisors have already picked out a handful of eligible bachelors for you to choose from,” she says tentatively, her tone hoping to reassure you this marriage idea is not as bad as you think.

A surge of disbelief and frustration shoots through you. Without thinking, you grab a pillow from your bed and hurl it towards Nejire. “That’s not what I meant and you know it!” Your emotions are raw, and you tune out her attempts to explain who the princes chosen are. You were the second-born with only a few princess duties. You can't see why marriage is suddenly being thrust upon you out of the blue.

Needing air, you approach the door, grasping the handle before Nejire’s voice halts your escape. “Where are you going?” she asks, concern etched on her face.

You hesitate, pondering your next move...

#mha #bnha #reader insert #fanfiction #royal!au #tumblr polls #bakugou katsuki #shouto todoroki #kirishima eijirou #izuku midoriya #momo yayorozu #mina ashido #tamaki amajiki #denki kaminari #tagging every possible love interest #tenya iida

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bromcommie · 8 months ago

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Hello & Happy Monday!

So...for the WIP tag game...I know I'm supposed to pick the one (1! ONE!) that I find most intriguing, but this is like a whole buffet of intrigue, so maybe I can have two? 👀 1) НОЧНОЙ РАЗГОВОР (FIGURE OUT) <- ngl, the 'figure out' cracked me up. Also, late night conversations? Yes, please!

2) what's a nice nutcase like you doing in a place like astoria 1203 <- this just sounds fun...and possibly like the title could be deliberately misleading

Thank you! <3

Hello helloo, happy Monday to you too! (but also Tuesday now I guess. It's a 2-for-1!)

Thank you for the ask, and thank you for indulging me with two (2! it's gonna be so long!) <3

НОЧНОЙ РАЗГОВОР (FIGURE OUT!!!) - Ooof, this fucking guy. I'm glad my stern instructions to myself in the title there were funny, because I do indeed need to FIGURE this one OUT and it's bugging me. It's essentially another chapter that's a part of a larger work (not naming names not pointing fingers but it's. The Work I'm Having Trouble Updating) and it was written a looong while back, which is why it's now a standalone file. I love the premise but I kinda want to tear it down and rebuild it entirely, mostly because I'm still deciding on whether I like the way I wrote the backstory for it. So. It's fun! It's challenging! It's giving me a migraine! The title's from this song about a tired traveler trying to find his way in the night. It's three conversations (Steve+Nat, Nat+Bucky and Bucky+Steve - although they barely talk at all) that happen in the night after a very not lucid, injured Don't-Call-Me-Bucky who's recently remembered the Red Room and also had a pretty rattling encounter with the code words seeks Natasha out in Europe for [redacted] something as a last resort, but instead accidentally walks straight into Steve who he's been staying away from like the Devil Himself since CATWS. And then basically bleeds all over him. (I am not immune to the wound care trope! However, this is unfortunately not that.) A lot of ugly feelings and defense mechanisms are brought up, some painful memories re: the war and the Red Room are brought up, and nobody's having a good time or really knows how to process jack shit. They all communicate/perceive love&protection in wildly different ways, and while all three dynamics end on some kind of natural conclusion it's still a lot of unfinished, unspoken business and just kind of sad. Hurt no comfort that's necessary for there to be the promise of comfort in the future, if you will. Tbh, I really want to finish/reincorporate this one. But it's just so *screams into paper bag*. Anyway. Snippet:

When Steve wakes up the next morning Bucky’s gone, like he knew he would be. Like a hurricane passing through, the foreknowledge doesn’t make the aftermath any easier. And then what? his own voice from so long ago echoes in his head as he waits for the water for Natasha’s tea to boil in the sunny little kitchenette of the motel’s lobby. 16 hours later, he’s watching the blinding stripe of the sun setting over the East River before the plane maneuvers onto the landing strip at JFK. The hell else? Then we march on, ace. We go home.

2. what's a nice nutcase like you doing in a place like astoria 1203 - oh good, thank god! So this one is a bit more fun, but it's only got a few disjointed half-scenes so far. The title is actually one of the most literal ones on the list - the fic does take place in Astoria, Queens, and it does involves a certain "nutcase". Several, even. They really don't get along, and then they almost do.

(Blame my recent rewatch of the Netflix shows for this one. Man. What a golden age that was.)

Excerpt under the cut:

It was easy to clock the combat training before, sure, but up close this guy’s… Keyed up. Wild-eyed, a little, and not in the twitchy way of the three idiots piled up outside by the ruined water hydrant, not just sheer adrenaline stoked by fear and booze and coke. More dialed-in, purposefully ruthless. Hungry. Getting up with an expression like an enraged bull in spite of the beating he just took. Nutcase, Barnes thinks bleakly. Not that he’s in any position to judge — glass houses, all that, but — “What’re you,” he croaks, “some kind of psycho?” “Says the guy who just mowed down six guys without blinking." The man spits, grimacing at the blood that lands on the stark white of the rooftop like it personally offends him. If he notices the similar spray across his busted face, his clothes, his military-short hair, he doesn't seem to give a damn. "Nice going, by the way— my man got away." "And my man's bleeding out on a fucking pool table downstairs," he grits out. He doesn't have time for this. This whole night has been one giant exercise in unpredictability, and the police sirens echoing off in the distance are problem enough without him having to duke it out over and over with some local homicidal moron who might or might not be HYDRA. "You wanna tell me what that's about?" The man levels an irritated look back at him and then shrugs, dismissive. "I don't play with my food." "Your food had intel I've been hunting for two weeks." "Tough shit. Maybe if you hadn't screwed up your goddamn trig—" His lip curls of its own volition, affronted despite himself. What an appropriate time for his ego to announce it's back from the dead and in the mix. How fun. “The hell I did. I don’t miss.” "Is that right? There's some real screwed up drywall down there that says otherwise." His voice picks up an edge of something dangerous, aiming for threatening and landing on feral as he takes a step closer, and Jesus, can he stay down already? "Unless you did it on purpose to let him know I'm coming because you work for the bastard, in which case lemme tell you, you and me have a whole different problem." "I don't work for anybody," he says, probably with more intensity than strictly necessary. "He was a civillian. I don't kill civillians." The words curl acerbic on his tongue. He doesn't. He doesn't. That, of all things, makes the man laugh, a bitter little thing that sounds like it clawed its way out of his throat, and only barely. Who the fuck is this guy. "Oh Jesus Christ, not this bullshit again— how many of you assholes are running around this place, huh?" he says, gesturing a little wildly at him. "You got a fancy catsuit under that hobo getup, too?" It's Barnes' turn to look at him like he's a few marbles short, which judging by all evidence he very well might be. The guy snorts at his confusion, shaking his head. "If you consider that criminal piece of dog shit a civilian, you’re way more out of your depth than I thought, kid.”

but also:

“Self-righteous, God's sacrificial lamb type-of-shit," he mumbles around the mouthful with distaste, staring off across the bridge. "Got himself a stupid fucking title and everything, if you can believe that. Major pain in my ass.” Barnes hums, considering, before taking a cautious bite of his own sandwich. The thick pile of fatty meat and melted cheese breaks apart in his mouth easy with a sudden, almost overwhelming explosion of flavours, his empty stomach singing praises despite the ache in his bruised jaw as he chews. He never thought he’d say this, but god bless Queens. “Catholic?” Castle grunts an affirmative. “Yeah, I have some experience with that.”

#thanks for the ask<3 #one of these days I will learn how to make these normal length. not today though lol enjoy!#booksandabeer #tag game #my fic #asks #wip tag game

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hashirun · 1 year ago

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Today’s run gave me the creeps

Today is week one day four of my half-marathon training plan. When I was just planning my training, I resolved to run in the morning so I can build a daily routine anchored on my morning run — you know, the early bird catches the worm yada yada.

The first two days went smoothly: I woke up early, went for my morning run, got home and was productive the rest of the day. I thought, this could work. Except come Tuesday night I can’t put down The Secret History and just had to finish it no matter what. It was a little past 1 AM when I closed the book. I closed my eyes but couldn’t go to sleep, I can’t stop thinking about The Secret History. Eventually I was pulled in a restless sleep, dreaming about Greek gods, rows of liquor bottles, poison mushrooms, a dark ravine, and a funeral.

When I woke up yesterday morning it felt like I didn’t get any sleep at all. I decided to skip my morning run and make up for it in the afternoon. And because I did yesterday’s run in the afternoon I was too tired to do today’s run in the morning so again, I moved it in the afternoon.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but my current running spot is a private cemetery along Emilio Aguinaldo Highway. I used to run in Acienda’s parking lot, but one time the guard told me off so I decided to check out Emerald Garden, where the guard positioned at the gate is much nicer. It’s a nice running spot: one lap around the perimeter is 750m, it’s peaceful and quiet, and you seldom encounter another (living) soul while you run.

I usually run just before sunset. The growing darkness never really bothered me. I used to be amused at the thought that the spirits of the dead people buried there were watching me while I run. Last night’s run was pretty much the same. I went just before sunset and finished when it was already dark.

The sky was overcast when I went to Emerald this afternoon, and with the sun already beginning to set, it was darker earlier than usual. I thought nothing of it and began my run. Suddenly the hairs at the back of my neck began to prickle. It felt like someone, or something, was watching me. I shook off my growing feeling of apprehension and carried on with my run.

When I rounded a corner, I heard muffled voices — I couldn’t tell if they were arguing or if it was just playful banter. I looked around but there wasn’t a single soul in sight. By this time I was beginning to get spooked. I kept checking Strava — how much longer til I finish my run? I wasn’t even halfway my 8km run yet. It was getting dark, fast. It was supposed to be an easy run but I found myself increasing my pace.

Just then, I was momentarily blinded by a flash of white light. I waited for the thunder to rumble but it didn’t. I craned my neck and realized that all sound seemed to have disappeared: the rustle of the wind against the grass and leaves, the chirping of the crickets, the whoosh of the passing cars in the distance. It was deathly quiet.

It was all I could do to keep myself from screaming. I sprinted to my bike and pedaled to the gate as fast as I can. My heart sank when I noticed that the gate was already closed. I was actually prepared to leave my bike and climb up the gate just to get the hell out of that place. Luckily there was no need to do such thing as it wasn’t locked, so I was able to open it and escape to freedom. I laughed out loud as soon as the sounds and lights from the living world greeted me.

I wasn’t able to complete my run but I didn’t care. I’ll make up for it on my next run.

I guess you won’t find me running in Emerald after dark ever again.

#running #what i talk about when i talk about running

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cryptidsurveys · 5 months ago

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Tuesday, July 16th, 2024.

How have you been doing? I'm a little worn out from volunteering, but otherwise, I've been doing well. Cassie was telling me that I need to stay for a full day sometime, that way I can understand what they mean about the nonsense that goes on in the evenings. Basically, over the past few months, the time they actually get off work has been pushed farther and farther back. They're supposed to get off at 5pm, but Alex said the other day that she didn't get off until 6pm (and she already comes in ~30 minutes early). There also seems to be some growing animosity/resentment between the dog & cat people. Dog people are allegedly the hold-up. I'm not sure what changed, but it wasn't like this last summer. Cattery is usually finished early, often expected to help with the dog stuff; but when they ask for the final check to be done so they can go home, they're typically left for last.

I feel like that's eventually what will drive Cassie to quit. She had somewhere she had to be last night and they dragged things out until she was like, Yeah, I need to leave. She said it was "fine" in that situation; but in the future, when she has cheer practice, she's not going to be able to wait around for them because cheer won't take work as an excuse for being late. Also, I was told that Lucy might be looking for another job. Lucy told Cassie she wasn't going to quit until she found one, but after her absence last weekend, she might have just decided to go for it.

I know I'm essentially backseat managing here, lmao, but they really need to get ahead of this turnover issue. Since I started volunteering again last summer, they've lost something like 15 employees.

Anything you're looking forward to? Hopefully going for a picnic at the Mountain Park tomorrow. I haven't been there since last autumn, which is way too long. There's a certain rock in a certain stream that I just need to lie down on for a while.

Do you or anyone you know play the violin? No.

Do you have a nice view out of the closest window? It's just a view of some houses. And today, some construction. They're doing idk what on the corner diagonal from us.

What is one of your favorite breakup songs? I don't think I'm really a fan of any breakup songs.

Do you know anyone named Georgia or George? No.

What age did you learn how to ride a bike? Without training wheels? I think I was around 6 years old.

Are you currently listening to music or watching TV? I'm not. Sometimes I will listen to music while taking surveys, but it just feels like a bit much atm.

What is your morning routine? On volunteer days: depending on the day, get up somewhere between 5:15-5:45am. I'm usually awake a bit before that, though, so I just lie in bed and listen to something on YouTube. Shower, get dressed, brush my teeth, eat breakfast, gather the remainder of my things, talk with my dad for a bit. Then, depending on the day, leave somewhere between 6:20-6:45am.

On Wednesday: wake up, brush my teeth, make myself presentable, go grocery shopping, then come home and eat breakfast.

On Saturday: wake up whenever I feel like it, make breakfast, clean my bedroom, and make some art.

Are you someone who gets easily agitated by hearing someone chewing? No. It doesn't tend to bother me.

What was the last text you sent? It was a text to my mom. We might be going to see Despicable Me 4 on Saturday, and I was like, "I'll finally find out what all those little yellow minions are about."

What did you last have to eat? Some mixed veggies with sriracha sauce and a cheese and jalapeno sandwich.

What's your favorite kind of oatmeal/porridge? If we're talking about the flavored pouches, then probably brown sugar, birthday cake, strawberry, or peach. However, I typically use plain oatmeal as my base and use fruit, peanut butter, etc, to flavor it from there.

Have you ever ate a whole pizza in one sitting? I don't think so…maybe a half, though…? In elemntary school, we used to have pizza days on Friday (was it weekly? monthly? I can't recall); if you didn't "flip a card" (their disciplinary system), then you could pay some small $ amount that I no longer recall and get a half/full pizza, a cookie, and drinks.

What are some things you are grateful for? Volunteering. Even with all the drama, I can't imagine giving it up. I feel like it's a good exercise in detachment (not that I'm so detached, lmao; I'm obviously here dishing the constant tea). Like, if you ever just want to be an observer without any real expectations or responsibility for the system as a whole, go volunteer somewhere. It's an interesting experience… It's helping me learn to step back, stop trying to control everything, and just sort of let everything play out the way it will. It's not that I've given up all autonomy to the flow, but seriously, sometimes it helps to really see just how little of this teeming, chaotic world has anything to do with me. Thought I was going to make a difference; instead, found out what a cosmic speck I am. Maybe not what I wanted, but definitely what I needed. Still a speck, but now a free speck.

What's the last thing you done while outside? Drive, I guess.

How often do you do laundry? Every few days. It just depends on how quickly it piles up.

Have you already had your birthday this year? Yes, back in March. Which feels like forever ago. June 1st feels like it was last week, but March feels like it was last year.

Last thing you done before this survey? Vacuum the living room and dining room.

Do you like sleeping with multiple pillows? I have multiple pillows on my bed, but I only sleep with one.

How many candles do you have in your bedroom? A couple.

What emojis have you used the most here recently? D; and :')

What color is your favorite shirt? I don't have a favorite shirt, but my favorite hoodie is black.

Do you currently smell food cooking? No. Oh, but at the shelter earlier, I walked out of cattery to go to the bathroom and it smelled like someone was cooking hot dogs with ketchup or something. Come to find out it was ant killer. What a wild smell for such a thing…like luring them to a picnic or something…

If you were given $1,000 to spend at one store. What's your store of choice? Walmart (groceries).

How much sugar do you consume on a daily basis? Idk.

Do you have any ice cream in your freezer? Yeah. Well, it's custard, but same basic deal. It's from Culver's. Strawberry cheesecake and mint choco-chip.

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "chaos"? Chaos theory, chaos magicians…etc.

Do you own anything that has an animated character on it? Somewhere.

Have you used a microwave today? Yeah.

What's the last book you read? Still in the midst of the third Dune book. I haven't picked it up in a while, though. I just haven't felt much like reading lately.

What's something that always makes you cringe? Idk.

What's a word or phrase you say a lot? My toxic trait is that I'm blind to my own annoying catchphrases.

What's something that always makes you emotional? Music. Not always in a good/cathartic way. Sometimes in an overwhelming/spiraling way.

How many times have you changed clothes today? Twice. From pajamas to volunteer clothes and back to pajamas.

What's on your mind currently? Just how busy this next week-ish feels. I hope I don't get a migraine…

In what ways have you changed over the past year? So many ways.

Do you really care about others opinions of you? Ehhhhh. Much less than I used to, but still to some extent.

What's your favorite pasta? Spirals, bowties, macaroni elbows.

Do you currently see anything yellow? Some watercolor flowers I painted.

What did you last try to do and failed? Not sure.

Does your bathroom have a certain theme or color scheme? Not really.

If you have Netflix or any streaming service.. what's your favorite shows to stream? N/a.

Are you currently wearing anything red? No.

What was the last thing that caught your eye while shopping? I'm not sure.

What's a social media site you have no interest in? Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok…I don't even know what's out there these days because I don't keep up.

Have you ever tripped and fallen in a public place? Yeah.

When did you last buy a dairy product? Last Wednesday.

What's the last song you sang out loud? I'm not sure.

#survey #personal survey #surveys #random survey #survey blog

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scruffyplayssonic · 4 months ago

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Professor Scruffymatt will return

Hey friends, just an update regarding my Twitch channel and how barren and tumbleweed-y it's been since April.

So as you may already know, I've gone through a lot of lifestyle changes in the last few months. In late April I flew to Canada and married my partner after we decided that a 12 and a half year long distance relationship was more than enough. When I returned to Melbourne in May I immediately came down with some kind of virus. It wasn’t COVID thankfully, but it still took me out of commission for almost two weeks. Not ideal when I was supposed to be finishing up work and training a replacement during that time. Oh well, I had sick leave and I bloody well used it. Once I was at least partially back on my feet I had to go through the process of packing up my house and deciding which of my belongings I was going to ship to Canada and what I was going to get rid of. And after looking at shipping rates, I ended up keeping a lot less than I'd been planning to. RIP, most of my classic gaming and DVD collections. </3

I left Melbourne in early June and spent a month or so with my family in Western Australia before finally making the return trip to Canada in early July, where I am now happily living with my new family. One thing that my partner's wanted me to have since I got here was a space for myself, but unfortunately the spare bedroom was a cluttered mess when I arrived. So we've been going through a long process of getting it into a decent state, and it's now almost ready to become my office. I just need to buy a desk and a chair, and then I'll be ready to get back to streaming again. I'm also still waiting for my belongings to be shipped to me (which should be some time in the next fortnight), especially because they include my Xbox.

So yeah, hopefully I'll be up and running again soon. I do plan on finishing up my Classic Era Sonic marathon, which I had to put on hiatus back in April. But there's a number of other games I want to stream as well, such as Arkham Origins: Blackgate (gotta finish my run of the Arkham games eventually, right?), a new game I recently discovered called Thank Goodness You're Here, and I might possibly continue some other series I've streamed in the past such as Dead Rising and Ace Attorney. Once I’ve gotten my Sonic comics back, maybe I could try to figure out what I’d like to do with a review show. And maybe eventually I'll even live up to my avatar and do a Professor Oak challenge on stream rather than just tweeting my daily progress. Anything's possible. Oh, and on the topic of my latest Professor Oak challenge: that’s on hiatus for now. I’ve really gotten into the recent release of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon on the Switch’s GBA app, and most of my gaming attention is going to that right now. In all honesty, I probably needed a break between Professor Oak challenges anyway.

One other change I am going to have to make is to my streaming times. Saturday nights were fine for me when I was living alone, but things are different now that I live with people I actually enjoy spending time with. xD Also, if I were to try and get back into the exact same time slot I used to stream in, that would be the middle of the night here in Canada! Tuesday mornings or afternoons will probably be a good streaming time for me, as it’s the only day of the week my partner doesn’t work from home. But on the other hand we do have a mischievous 1 year old doggo to consider, whom I wouldn’t want to leave alone unsupervised if I’m in the house. And while I am excited at the prospect of finding a new audience now that I live in a time zone that’s compatible with North America, I also don’t want to leave my Australian viewers out in the lurch. So I’ll probably be doing some evening streams as well, which my fellow Australians should at least be awake for. It’s far too early for me to lock in anything just yet, and I’ll probably be experimenting with different days and times for a while to find out what fits best for my family and I. Maybe I’ll follow my partner’s usual Sunday streams, to give her an opportunity to send raiders to me? We’ll see.

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble. I didn’t intend to go on quite as long as I did, but as it’s been so long since I disappeared from Twitch I felt you guys deserved an explanation. If all goes according to plan I should be streaming again some time in the next few weeks, so keep an eye on my usual social medias for announcements. You’ll also get notifications when I go live if you follow me on Twitch, of course, and I’ll be continuing to upload the VODs to my YouTube channel after each stream. I’m planning to kick off my return by continuing the classic Sonic marathon (Sonic Labyrinth is up next, god help me!), so if you’d like to catch up on what I’ve played so far, I’ve got a playlist that can help you with that. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you on Twitch again soon!

Cheers,

Professor Scruffymatt

#twitch

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