#pudding making the chefs think they are married girl...... GET UP!!!!

[blacklegsanjiii]

I just loved your 0&3ji!Twins au, and I couldn't stop myself from thinking about a new version of it. Where our Pudding gets her deserved love, tough.

So, in this, after Pudding eats her Devil Fruit when she's 4 and ends up not being able to use it, Big Mom chooses to "get rid of this failure". She goes to the East Blue and drops her there, on a sinking boat. But, luckily, she manages to hold on to part of the boat, floating on the open sea. For hours, almost two days.

Until a 9 yo Reiju and a 4 yo Ichiji find her and yells so their siblings hear, they help put her inside their boat and take care of this girl. The older girls sharing worried looks.

Pudding wake up scared and start to cry, of course she would. Sanji (who is there to make sure the little girl is okay), comforts her. She asks what happened and the (ex) Charlotte tells. Sanji's heart breaks, she knows exactly how is going throught this, she was locked on a dunsheon until 1 year ago!

They take care of her, give her food, a place to sleep, and for once, Pudding feels... safe, especially after noticing that they don't get scared by her third eye (she cry from happines, the poor girl). Sanji shares what Pudding told her to Reiju, and both choose to let this girl live with them, if she wants, of course. Pudding couldn't be happier.

They live and Pudding start to see them as her siblings, the caring siblings she always wished she had. They see her as their sister, too. Pudding being the same age as the triplets help a lot.

Until the storm and then Mihawk saving them. And then, months after, they finds Sanji on a rock. And god, she is so so so happy but also worried as hell.

Then they meet the Warlords who the other four start to be like parents to them and... feels good. Having father figures and a mother who is not toxic. Them, all of them, tell her they love her the exact way she is and her heart gets so warm she cries.

Sanji and Reiju call her ma petite fille (my little girl in French), Reiju teaches her on how to make and use poisons, Sanji bakes any dessert she wants with her, the triplets play and study with her, the Warlords spoil her with love just like with her siblings. She always says she will be one of the chefs on Sanji's restaurant when her big sister find the All Blue. It's great, she loves her family.

Sanji joins the StrawHats, East Blue Polycule happens, yadda yadda yadda.

Then, during same time as Dressrosa, the Big Mom Pirates kidnap Pudding. When she was out buying supplies to bake her desserts. To fucking marry her with some princess. Then she goes to meet with said princess and it's Sanji, her big sister. Who is also kidnapped but by Germa and has cuffs just like her.

After, Sanji panics. It's her goddamnit little sister! Both start to think about how they will run away, the two of them, safe. When Sanji talks with Luffy and Nami, she tells about her little sister who she already had talk about for her crew and that she is kidnapped by Big Mom, they say they will get both out, then. Pudding subtly helps the Sanji (and now her's too) Rescue Team.

When they're running away, Pudding goes to the Sunny with them. It's just after everything is over that she discovers her big sister is dating four people. Two of them who helped rescue herself. Then she goes with them to Wano but stays on a safe place, since the Big Mom Pirates hurt her during the time she was with them. She meets the whole crew after the fight, when she just thanks them for taking good care of her old sister and threatens them to don't hurt her.

Sanji tells the bullshit Big Mom and Judge where thinking, and everyone is horrified that they wantes to marry Sanji, who is 21 yo, and Pudding, who is fucking 16 yo.

Jinbei is on the crew too now and is relieved both his daughters are safe. Pudding stays with the crew until Karai Barai, when the StrawHats (who already adore Pudding) meet their other siblings.

That's horrific, wow.

Pudding holding onto a big chunk of floating debris until she can pull herself up on to it. She's sobbing and scared and waiting for either death or salvation. Until Reiju and Ichiji spot her and call to their siblings to sail towards this kid, they get close enough to see she's alive and haul her into the boat. The girls of the boat getting her dressed in spare clothes and sharing worried looks as they give her some food and fresh water and asking what happened. Pudding tells them she doesn't know how to use her devil fruit so her mom put her on a boat and sank it. The boys tell her it's okay, they'll protect her now. When Pudding wakes up scared and crying Sanji holds her and comforts her. Sanji knows the feeling of being a failure and explains that's why their sailing, because she was the failure to her father and he was going to hurt her brothers over it. Pudding burrows into the older girl basically, Sanji's heart breaks because she's comforting a girl without getting much comfort herself. She and Reiju have to take care of four four-year-olds and parent them. She has no time for her own comfort. Sanji is more focused on them, as is Reiju, taking care of four children is no easy task, let alone on the open seas.

Over time Pudding grows to see them as her siblings and the twins somewhat as parental figures. The triplets are only a bit older than her where as the twins are five years older, even if Sanji doesn't look like it. It's okay, she always has food and clothes and is warm and cared for. She's not competing for attention like she was with her mother, the twins make time for all them and always help when asked.

Then the storm ruins it because Sanji goes overboard as she's fixing the sails and they can't get her. Pudding can hear the cannons over the storm, she's terrified of what's going on and losing Sanji to the raging sea around them. Her screams and the screams of the triplets draw the attention of a coffin boat nearby as their boat starts flooding. One of the most powerful men in the sea is looking at them, a boat of children screaming for their sister in a storm with a battle raging nearby. She doesn't know why he helps them but he does and their all hauled onto the boat as their belongings sink and so does the hope of finding Sanji. Mihawk sails away, not bothering to try to calm the children down until the sea calms down and they're all exhausted. Mihawk is looking at these five kids as he sails to a port, and steals a bigger boat and loads the kids into it and sails to Kuriagana. Only stopping to get more food and clothes for them as he learns about what happened. He doesn't bat an eye at her third eye and checks her over, asks what fruit she ate which she stumbles the name of. Mihawk nods and says if she wishes he will train her in her fruit. They still mourn Sanji, Pudding especially because their experiences were so similar and she doesn't have someone to relate about that anymore. Mihawk is weary around the kids because he doesn't interact with others often, usually killing them, but he's trying for these children. They've lost a lot and he knows that. He notices Pudding is always holding onto one of the other kids so Mihawk starts carrying her a lot. Holding her hand and helping with her and Reiju's hair.

One day, a few months later they're sailing when they hear a voice screaming for help from a rock and Reiju looks at it with recognition and asks Mihawk to sail to it and he does. Mihawk helps the two skeletal figures, one of which is engulfed by the five year olds he has aboard as Reiju sets the sails. Mihawk apparently knows the man. The siblings are wailing with relief as the man asks Mihawk questions, but he answers diligently without giving too much information about the kids away. Pudding is so thankful she is back, she is alive and she has the most relatable sister back. Not too long after that they start going to the warlord meetings. She is especially cooed over by Hancock which is weird to Pudding to have a mother figure who shows kindness and care without judging how useful she is. She can see Sanji going through the same things with their new paternal figures. Sanji and Reiju definitely call her 'ma petit fille' and everyone encourages her passions of baking and such, she and Sanji spend a lot of time in the kitchen together and Reiju teaches her about poisons, she promises to be Sanji's dessert chef on the All Blue and everyone smiles softly at that. Everything happens, you guys know the drill. I feel like Pudding goes to Baratie at fifteen like Sanji did, during the time skip which where she's kidnapped from.

I have to imagine the siblings and parents are looking for Pudding, except for Sanji who doesn't know and Mihawk who is taking care of Perona. There's a lot of talk about finding Pudding and investigating the Charlottes, then the Strawhat crew gets back together and take Doflamingo down a bit later they get more concerned. Because they still don't know where Pudding is and suddenly Germa and the Big Mom pirates are collaborating on something. Pudding meanwhile has been captive basically for a while and she's not having a good time and then at the introductory meal they're having with the King of Germa she sees her older sister. Sanji is looking back at her and they're not exactly in the best place for a reunion right now. It's upsetting for both of them as this is all going on and then the rescue team shows up and doesn't understand why Sanji isn't just leaving her supposed fiancee behind with the Big Mom pirates until they're on the Sunny and hearing Judge shit talk Sanji and their siblings and Pudding tells him to shut up because those are her siblings and he's lucky Sanji even thought he should live! Also their parents are going to come get them! They're so pissed she was kidnapped and she knows it! Luffy whines and says he wants to kill them too and Nami doesn't disagree, Brook laughs heartily at the scorned lovers of the cook and the sisters. Sanji then has to explain Pudding, their siblings, and their parents and then has to explain to Pudding she's dating four people including Luffy and Nami but also Zoro and Usopp. Pudding tells her their parents are going to be pissed but their mama even moreso because Sanji is dating Luffy and Hancock is obsessed with him. Luffy says they need to get to Wano and asks if there's someone that can pick Pudding up and she shakes her head so she's going to Wano with them. Sanji sighs but agrees and asks how Pudding's training is going with her fruit and Pudding shrugs and says she's not allowed to use it on Zeff anymore which makes Sanji laugh and ask why she was using it on him in the first place and Pudding pouts instead of answering.

During Wano Jinbei is thankful his girls are alright but he's nervous about showing up to see the coparents with his two missing/kidnapped daughters to drop off the sixteen-year-old and have them explain the wedding to them like they did to him. Jinbei sighs heavily after they depart Wano and head to where the parents have agreed to collect Pudding from and let her decide who to go with. When they arrive the colorful hair run at them with yells of relief and happiness. The girls hug their siblings and the parents and Pudding starts excitedly rattling off about Sanji and her four partners and the escape from Tottoland and the Raid of Onigashima and Crocodile is laughing his ass off at Hancock's face when she finds out her daughter is dating Luffy and then three other people and Mihawk is pinching the bridge of his nose as Reiju sizes up her twin's partners. Zoro is probably keeping an arm around Sanji with his good eye watching Reiju as Luffy, Usopp, and Nami watch the parents cycle emotions as Pudding rattles on.

[sweetdevil-sims]

Get to Know Me - Sims Edition

I was tagged by several people (thank you!), so I decided to get off my ass for once and answer this 😆

What’s your favorite Sims death? I think the mummy's curse one! There's just something about that ominous vignette during the countdown days, only for the sim to dissolve into dust at the end 😩👌

Alpha CC or Maxis Match? Both! Maxis Match for clothing, Alpha for hair.

Do you cheat your sims weight? Nope! I leave them at whatever weight they happen to be, unless they want to learn/practice the Athletic skill. I do cheat to give them more muscle tone if they're super muscular already, though; EA really should've made that slider move along the muscle mass one :/

Do you move objects? Oh yes. I can't imagine decorating without it.

Favorite Mod? Nraas Master Controller my beloved 💖 Can't forget BrntWaffles's lighting mods, they make the game look so beautiful that sometimes I like to just leave it on 2x while watching the sunset over the sea.

First Expansion/Game Pack/Stuff Pack? The first EP I got was World Adventures and it's still my favorite. The first and only SP I have is HELS, along with bits and pieces from the others.

Do you pronounce live mode like aLIVE or LIVing? The latter, though this question tripped me up the first time I saw it 😅

Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made? Ohh that's a tough one. Fergus Vane is definitely among my favorites, he was a Johnny Bravo knockoff who eventually got married and I swear that he and his wife could NOT keep their hands off each other 😆 First is him making friends at uni, second is him with his wife.

Have you made a simself? Oh yeah, when I got the game and was trying to figure out how to play. Didn't last long until I started making serial black widows, lol.

Which is your favorite EA hair color? That platinum blonde looks so tacky that I can't help but love it.

Favorite EA hair? I think EA struck gold with: Loose Curl, Dramatic Ponytail, La Dolce Vita Updo, Chorus Girl Curl, Pin-up Pretty, Skinny Dreads, Wavy Bob, Elegance Style, and Wild Fire.

Favorite life stage? Young Adult, because it has the most things available.

Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay? Ohh it depends. I go through phases when I'm not interested in gameplay at all, mostly when I set up a savefile for the first time. But now I've been more into gameplay for a few months.

Are you a CC creator? Yeah, mostly with CAS items and minor annoyance fixes.

Do you have any Simblr friends or a Sim Squad? I have a lot of simblr mutuals where I feel like a nosy person sometimes poking their head above the neighbor's fence to see what's going on 😆

Do you have any sims merch? / A Youtube for sims? Nope.

How has your “Sims style” changed throughout your years of playing? I give my concrete boxes a few more decorative elements now 😅 For once, I stopped playing serial killers (mostly to avoid the NPC pudding spam that ensues), and am making an effort to not micromanage sims as much and to fulfill their wishes instead of ending up with mostly level 10 chefs and gardeners all the time.

Who’s your favorite CC creator? Oh man do I have to name someone?? SimplexSims, @aroundthesims, Mutske, @simtanico, @simaddix, @twinsimming, @bioniczombie, @martassimsbookcc, @simbouquet, @plumdrops, @ifcasims, @sim-songs, @deniisu-sims, @bellakenobi, @brntwaffles, @omedapixel, @wanderingsimsfinds, @simlicious, TheSweetSimmer and on and on.

How long have you had Simblr? 2016! Sometimes I can't believe it's been so long.

How do you edit your pictures? I have a few customized Gshade presets, and only convert gameplay screenshots to JPG. For CC previews, I may change the background color and will combine several previews into one image (and I occasionally correct small issues like unsightly clipping due to the poses).

What expansion/ gamepack is your favorite? World Adventures is #1, followed by Seasons and prooobably Supernatural.

Oof we're at the end! Thank you for tagging me and for reading, and I tag ✨anyone who wants to do this✨!

[cheri-translates]

Headcanon - woes of your children

This work, 小朋友的碎碎念, was originally written by 君兮耶君兮 on Weibo, and she has given me permission to translate it 🌸

[ VICTOR’S SON ]

Sometimes, I suspect that I’m not my dad’s child.

It’s common knowledge (well, maybe not), that my dad is the manager and chef of Souvenir. Anyone who has eaten the pudding my dad makes will agree that his skills are superb, and I think so too. My friends at kindergarten are envious that I have such a gentle mum and a dad who’s incredible at making desserts. 

But I think they have misunderstood the meaning of "gentle” and what my dad is really like.

I shan’t start with how my mum is always bursting with energy. Let’s start with my dad. He makes desserts frequently, and the house is often filled with the fragrance of pudding, souffles, cookies and little cakes. 

But... they’re all for my mum. 

Indeed, I’m unworthy of dad’s desserts. 

“It’s not good for your teeth if you eat too many desserts,” says my mum while she eats one of dad’s desserts.

“As a man, you have to work hard to get what you want,” says my dad when I ask him for pudding. I admit that what he says isn’t wrong, but I just had my fourth birthday... 🙃

Normally, dad is very stern with me. He doesn’t let me sleep beside mum, doesn’t let me cry, doesn’t let me lose my temper at mum... It’s as though mum is dad’s child instead.

Actually, I think my mum is the true king of the house. She can get dad’s pudding, can openly challenge him, can act coquettishly with him, and has much more pocket money than I do...

Forget it, the more I think about it, the more I feel like crying. Looks like I should squat next to the dustbin and see if anyone would pick me up. I might be am definitely the most miserable kid in the world. 

[ GAVIN’S SON ]

Dad says that boys will naturally want to protect the girl they like.

My dad is the Commander of Loveland City’s Special Task Force. He’s normally the type who’s cold-hearted and merciless, not even letting plants off. Sounds cool, right? But what his subordinates don't know is that at home, my dad is a henpecked husband.

Even the slightest frown from my mum causes him to worry for the entire day. Sometimes, when mum discovers that dad is injured, she’d cry until her eyes are red. Dad would repeatedly promise that he wouldn’t conceal any injuries from her the next time, and would kiss and hug her, oblivious that there’s a child at the scene.

Oh, I forgot to mention something. In my dad’s eyes, I have no standing at all.

The most precious treasure is always my mum. I don’t disagree though. After all, mum loves me very much, and I love her very much too. It’s only right that I protect her.

“When you have someone you want to protect, you’ll think of ways to make yourself strong,” dad once said to me. “First, you need to learn to sleep on your own, and not stick to mum.”

Although it does make logical sense, I suspect my dad has his own selfish reasons. But I have no guts to say it aloud.

Dad and I have agreed that next time, we’ll protect mum together. I said that when I’m all grown up, I’ll ensure mum can walk on the streets without worrying about getting disturbed by anyone or anything, just like what dad used to do.

After hearing this, dad asked where I heard it from - of course it was Uncle Minor. I watched dad make a call, arranging to meet up with Uncle Minor. After telling mum that he’d be gone for a while but will be back for dinner, he left. 

So what exactly are dad and Uncle Minor planning to do?

[ LUCIEN’S SON ]

In my dad’s eyes, I might have always been an accident.

According to what I heard from the professor uncles in Loveland University, when my mum did a check when having me, the doctor said that I might be a girl. Back then, my dad had grinned so widely. 

When he saw that I was a boy, his face was just as dark as how happy he was back then. I heard that before I was born, everything prepared was pink. Sigh, I didn’t realise that that was just the beginning of my route to more accidents.

Normally, dad looks refined and cultivated, and sometimes dotes on mum a lot. Why do I say “sometimes”? Because I’ve seen dad bullying mum, pressing her down on the bed. Mum even cried. 

Then again, dad is a 180m man, and is so heavy. If he presses down on me too, I’d definitely cry too. Furthermore, mum is a girl.

Dad seems to turn a blind eye to my existence. For example, when we eat dumplings, he’d hold onto mum’s hand, and occasionally hug her and kiss her and things like that. I also want mum’s hugs and kisses...

He can’t even fold a dumpling properly. Even till now, he hasn’t learnt how to make a nice-looking one.

Normally, other people’s parents would address each other by name, or words like “wife” or “husband”. But my dad always calls mum “Little Butterfly”, “Silly Girl”, “Little Sweetheart,” “Greedy Cat”... It’s even more unbearable than how Torvald calls Nora “my little skylark” in “A Doll’s House”.

Despite my complaints, my dad is very incredible. He’s a university professor at such a young age, and even has a research centre named after him. Dad says that in the future, I have to do equally well or even better. I think so too. After all, I need to take care of mum in the future.

It’s pretty late, and I haven’t finished the test paper Dad prepared for me. I’ll stop here.

[ KIRO’S SON ]

My dad treats me pretty well. That is, if you ignore how he often makes me a scapegoat.

My dad is a widely known celebrity, so it’s necessary for him to manage his weight strictly. But my dad fails in this aspect. Quoting what Uncle Savin says, “Kiro, the only thing you know how to do is eat, eat, and eat!”

He doesn't eat alone though. He brings my mum along. That’s right, only my mum.

If Uncle Savin does a sudden check and finds snacks in the house, my dad would lack a conscience and assert that they belong to me. Although I’d feel maligned, I won’t rat him out.

Dad likes calling mum “Miss Chips”, and he says chips are a symbol to their love. But I’ve never seen other married couples eat the symbols of their love.

Apart from snatching snacks from me, he likes snatching toys as well. He’s always the one to open the presents mum gives me. He says it’s because he’s afraid I can’t open it given my young age. If that’s the case, why doesn’t he give it to me once he has opened it?! What a liar. 🙃

Everyone says that I look cute, and I think so too hehe~ My mum enjoys kneading my face and ruffling my hair. I think the only time I’ve won against my dad in my four years of existence is when my mum commented that I’m cuter than he is.

Every time my dad bullies me and doesn’t let me get close to mum, I’ll think of what my mum said. A man has a magnanimous heart, so I won’t hold it against him. When he’s 70 or 80 and balding, while I’m in my wise 40s or 50s, mum will definitely like me more. 

Forget it, I shan’t hold it against him. Apple Box is barking at me to take him out for a walk. His golden hair really reminds me of a certain someone!!

[ SHAW’S SON ]

I think my dad and I get along pretty well.

He likes taking me out skateboarding, and I like it too. But if I were to accidentally fall and injure myself, my dad would be scolded by my mum, and I won’t be able to escape her wrath either.

My mum looks really fierce when she scolds us. Every sentence from her is stabbing. According to her, it was a skill she developed from bickering with my dad when they were younger. Thinking about my dad’s sharp tongue, I do agree that it’s a possibility.

Although my dad looks like a bad citizen, he’s really good academically. According to my mum, he was the only graduate student in Loveland University archaeology department at the age of twenty. He’s the teacher’s pet, a model for his male juniors, and the target of females... I digress. But back then, it was true that many people tried to woo him, but he was only interested in mum.

He loves giving mum nicknames, like “Liu Chun Mei or “Guo Xiaoyu", and "Qing Tingyan". I’m so glad my mum threatened my dad for the privilege to name me. I can’t begin to imagine if my name was coined by my dad, I’d probably be too embarrassed to meet anyone.

[Note] These are the fake pseudonyms Shaw calls her in the Chinese version. In EN, the pseudonym he gives her is “Mary Sue”.

My dad has a unique way of drinking beverages. According to the uncles in his band, my mum used to love drinking bubble tea. But eventually, her tastes got strung along with his strange ones. They’re both pretty compatible hahaha.

His taste buds aren’t the only strange things. His aesthetics are strange as well. Wearing Buddha beads with leathers gloves, a jacket with rivets... My mum says she kept his leather jacket when she was pregnant with me. But once I was born, he took it out again.

It’s 11pm, and dad and I have planned to sneak out to do spray painting on the streets behind my mum’s back. We’ll continue next time.

--

More translated and original works: here

--

[ Permission to translate ]

君兮耶君兮: You can - just note the source of the author

[redqueen-hypothesis]

tied together pt. 1 ➳ mlqc

➳ WORD COUNT: 1874

➳ GENRE: fluff

➳ SYNOPSIS: how would the mlqc boys (gavin and kiro) propose?

➳ REMARKS: this literally came out of nowhere, it’s 3am and i need to sleep. check out the inspiration for kiro’s song here!

GAVIN

he realises it on a completely average day

you’re over in his house for a surprise date-but-not-quite date, chiding him for not stocking up on his kitchen enough for you to make a proper dinner - he’s lucky you haven’t discovered his cup noodle stash in the bottom cupboard

the two of you end up ordering take in together

you’re blowing on some hot dumplings before you place them on his plate, rambling to him about your homemade food may not taste as good but is more healthy, when it hits him out of nowhere

yeah, gavin wants to have this everyday for the rest of his life

normal days don’t feel mundane in the least when you’re by his side like this, in fact, each day becomes more and more precious to him, no matter how ordinary they are

he wants to spend the rest of his life with you

this realisation almost scares him, because while he knows that he’s been in love with you for a long time, marriage is different - do you want to marry him? should he really go ahead with taking this step - making you his?

gavin is kind of out of it for the rest of the evening, just... thinking about it

imagining how you would be like if the two of you were married, his ring on your finger

his arms wrapped around you when he goes to sleep and when he wakes up in the morning

you helping him put on his tie before he leaves for work

all the cliches, he’s a sweet boy that way

gavin finds that he wants that more desperately than anything he’s ever wanted in the world, he wants to be the one that makes you happy. for the rest of your lives

the second you leave the house, gavin’s mind is scrambling to think about whether you’ll accept or not if he did propose

this goes on for a while, until one day eli calls you and asks you why gavin has been spacing out at work here and there

not enough for him to be a danger or for him to be shirking work, of course (you know how seriously gavin takes his job), but enough for eli to steal gavin’s pork chops right under his nose - and the man didn’t even realise!

that immediately has you worried

when you confront gavin about it, however, the man looks as cool as a cucumber as always

“eli thinks i’m spacing out? i noticed, i just let it slide.”

for some reason, that’s even more worrying to you (gavin giving up his meat? no way)

he’s actually panicking on the inside, oh my god eli shut up shut up shut up-

he eventually gets exposed to minor, who’s almost as ecstatic about this proposal as gavin is, this is his best bro trying to get married here!!

minor acts as gavin’s secret agent in the company, trying to figure out your ring size with the stupidest excuses

“it’s dark, i’m scared and just need to hold your hand.”

asks the most obvious questions ever like “on a scale of one to ten, how much would you like to marry gavin?”

anna, kiki and willow catch on fast enough and drag him away the second he tries to approach you in case you find out

minor has the subtlety of an elephant stomping through a china shop

plan minor is bust

gavin just gives up on elaborate planning and buys a simple ring

he doesn’t really know when the moment is the moment, so he just keeps the ring in a box in his pocket, waiting for whenever the moment shows itself

and the moment comes a few days later, when the two of you are washing up the dishes together after dinner, and he finds that he can’t stop looking at your soapy hands

part of his brain is terrified, insistent on putting it off, because what if you say no?

the other part of his brain is tired from all this wishy washy and just goes fuck it

reaches into his pocket to pull out the box and pops it open, knows he’s supposed to be kneeling but his brain isn’t working right. gavin stands there dumbly like an idiot, watching you hum to yourself as you continue soaping the dishes

even at this point, he’s still conflicted (to ask or not to ask) but luckily for him, just before he loses his nerves and shoves the ring back into his pocket, you turn around and spot the silver band in his hand

you start to tear up, shocked, while gavin internally panics because his head and tongue seem to have disconnected

forgot the script he’d spent nights working on writing and ends up fumbling out a hoarse “will you marry me?”

it’s then he realises why he’s been so terrified the entire time, he can’t chance you rejecting him, because he can’t imagine a future without you in it

you look at him as if he’s grown a second and third head, and he nearly flees out of your window before you’re wrapping your arms around his middle to tug him back into your apartment

“yes! yes, of course, yes! a million times, yes!”

there are tears in the corners of your eyes, and he brushes them away with a shaky hand before he kisses you on the lips

after the dizziness of the proposal settles down, gavin slides the ring onto your finger with gentle hands

keeps your hands together for the rest of the night

KIRO

realises it when you’ve been pouting a bit over female celebrities trying to get close to him right in front of you

he finds it cute, of course, but he feels like it’s time to settle down, to show you that he’s as much yours as you are his

the public does not know that he’s dating in secret, and the company would surely throw a fit if they know what he’s up to

decides not consult savin about this (uh oh)

has watched plenty of romance dramas, and has acted in countless of them. he knows the drill, diamond ring, tearjerker script and crying girl equals to profit!

but kiro doesn’t want that

he wants it to be special, a unique memory that only the two of you will share together

he’s releasing an album soon, it’s in the production stages, so he decides to add an unplanned song to it, one that he’ll compose and write completely from scratch on his own

manages to act pretty natural around you, although you tend to catch him staring at you with an uncommonly serious look when you’re not looking

it’s not that kiro can’t be serious, but it just isn’t like him to be silent for so long - he’s usually chattering on about something or bursting into random songs that are stuck in his head

surprisingly (to you), he consults you about the new addition to his album, asking you about your taste in music, how you feel about the lyrics

from what you can see, it’s a sweet love song with simple melodies, but deceptively emotional lyrics

he hides the full track from you though, even if you pout and whine

“you’ll just have to find out about it when it drops,” he laughs mischievously

you resign yourself to waiting for another month

the night before, kiro tells you to wait for him at the cross junction for him the next day so that the two of you can celebrate his album release together at souvenir - but he also makes you promise not to listen to the mystery track, he wants to be the first one to sing it to you, with his own lips, and his own voice

and the day it does, social media explodes into a frenzy over the mystery track, simply titled ‘sun’

while the song seems light and cheerful at first, the lyrics have a deeper meaning to them that fans can’t quite decipher, referencing memories and dates together, before bringing up hopes of a future - a future together

you don’t see all of this, however, firmly avoiding all social media to prevent yourself from breaking your promise to kiro

you’re waiting at the crosswalk for him at night after work, a little tired from your day at the office. it’s quiet from how late it is, and the streets are a rather empty, and yet, there’s still no sign of your boyfriend

kiro’s a little late

suddenly, the sounds of a guitar strumming ring out through the quiet night air, and you turn around in surprise to see kiro walking towards you slowly, playing a melody that’s both familiar, but also one that you don’t quite recognise

wait, he’s not wearing his mask or any disguises. people are already starting to turn and stare: is it really kiro? his gaze is fixed solely on you

normally, you would run to him, but the sincere, raw expression on his face glues you to the spot - others must feel it too, because not a single person dares to approach him, not with that fierce determination you see burning in his eyes

when he reaches a short distance from you, he stops and gives you a gentle smile, right before he starts to sing

“i was just one star out of infinity, but you made me your sun. this world of mine was barren, but your warmth filled me with life.”

it’s your song - the song that belongs to the two of you - of your story together, the way you’ve changed his life

“you said i belonged among the planets and the galaxy, but you held the universe inside.”

you don’t even realise you’re crying until kiro starts tearing up as well, and his voice breaks as he reaches the end of the song

“could i be selfish, reach up to pluck the stars and pull the universe into my hands?”

you know what he’s asking

“would you... be mine?”

as the song ends, kiro plucks off the ring hanging off one of the tuning pegs of the guitar, walking up to you with a shy, gentle ‘hey, miss chips’

you throw yourself into his arms when he’s halfway into kneeling, and that’s all the permission he needs to claim your mouth in front of the crowd that’s gathered at the cross junction

they scream and cheer, because it’s kiro finally getting together with the love of his life and he looks so damned happy they can’t help but feel happy for him as well

puts the ring on your finger and kisses it, stroking his thumb over it like he can’t quite believe that it’s there

the news blows up while the two of you beat an escape, kiro donning his disguise as you wrap your hand around his

the two of you have a quiet dinner in souvenir. the chef even makes a special pudding for the two of you, shaped like a small sun

savin throttles kiro the next day at work before congratulating him, and threatens to toss all his snacks in his sleep if he ever pulls such a stunt again

kiro still thinks it’s worth it

[heyjude19-writing]

Im the list anon again and boy do I have more for you but this time I also have some questions as well if your time allows and you are willing to answer of course. First with the other things I loved:

1) the fact that Ron warmed up to Draco so quickly! I genuinely think thats so much in character. Ron is not a distrustful person and as a middle child as they come is very easygoing and would for sure make stupid jokes at Draco

2) The patronus. My god the Patronus. I seriously put the phone down and made a small slow clap during that chapter. At first I was like hmmmm *insert unsure kombucha girl face* because almost all fanfics have him with a dragon patronus and leave it at that (and lets be honest at this point my expectations of you were quite high dont blame me blame your bloody brilliant writing) but then, and I dont know if you did this on purpose or not (I have a feeling you did) but the fact that the dragon was the same (pale white) wounded but still feral dragon that Hermione FREEED (!) from a bank (£££) dungeon, malnourished and used for its nature, surrounded by darkness, wealth and misery!! And it was Hermione who broke its chains!!!!! Is just *chefs fucking kiss* slow clap*

3) the way you describe sex scenes are so natural! Ive never read a fanfic or book that doesnt make me gag a little bit (I am not a fan of smut at all but ill go with it because of a good story) until I read yours. Its so simple but yet intricate and you make the entire act so intriguing and normal and intimate. Bravo.

4) I LOVE SASHA. I love that Theo fell for her head over heels and the way you portrayd her reminded me of a friend of mine who works as a sous-chef in London so I always pictured her when reading it!

5) Dracos inner voice is ON POINT. Like I genuinely think you shoud own the rights to that character now.

6) Ill say it again. I love Ginny. You should also own the rights to her character too.

7) my interest for Quiddich (even when reading the books/wathcing the movies) was on par, if not lower than Hermiones. You managed to get me interested in that too so yes another slow clap to you

7.1) Also such a clever career for Draco!! Made si much sense!

Now to some questions

A) What was the deal with Malfoy referring to Ginny as Weasly and refusing to aknowledge her Potter surname. And why did everyone kept correcting him? It was hilarious granted but I wanted to know whether the reason you included this time and time again had to do wih something deeper? Or was this included as just a funny recurring joke?

B) Why did you choose for Draco to have a “fantasy” to produce a patronus and not for example for him to have had to do that after theyd exchanged “i love yous”. Very interesting angle and i liked that it was sort of a loophole to all the ‘death eaters cant have patronuses’ but quite curious on the thought process

C) Why did you opt for Draco to remove his mark? Do you think that stands as reward for him more or for Hermione? Very smart solution by the way

D) if you have the time- Could you please elaborate a tad more on what the soul-bonding means? Why was it so taboo? At furst hand it seems like a very romantic/amazing thing to do with your partner right?

Lastly- Do you ever itch to make a second part to this? And in the most acceptable case that you dont, I always wondered what you had in mind for them in the future- because of the soul bonding thing, you mentioned that the generational curses will be erased, which means I guess that the Malfoys can have more than one child now, and girls as well. (I cannot believe im asking for this as I am the one to avoid any pregnancy fanfics but) do you imagine them with children and if yes, how many? How do they integrate muggle devices(I know youd agree wit me that Hermione would definitively bring some muggle stuff over!) and which devices would Draco really secretly like?

Pleasewriteasecondpartwhereyouelaborateyourthoughtsonthisthankyou.

Ok rant done. :D

List anon! You’re back with another amazing ask. I’ll do my best!

1.) I like to think Ron matured a lot post-war (not enough to stop making terrible jokes, though.)

2.) Regarding your beautiful analysis of my specific dragon breed for Draco’s patronus: How many points would you like for your Hogwarts house of choice? I will add that according to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Ironbelly’s scales are normally a metallic grey. I will also add that I subscribe more to book canon than movie canon. In the book version of events of the Gringotts escape, Harry breaks the chains and Hermione (with eventual help once the boys catch on) destroys the ceiling so it can have a way out. The partially blind dragon does the rest of the work on its own.

3.) Thank you, that’s very flattering.

4.) Does your friend also get you into fancy restaurants and can they make salted caramel bread pudding???

5.) Thank you, it was one of my favorite aspects of writing this story.

6.) Thank you, she’s so fun to write and flesh out from her book portrayal.

7.) Haha, I felt so validated by that line of dialogue in Cursed Child when Draco tells Harry he wanted to play quidditch professionally, but wasn’t good enough.

Now to some answers:

A.) It’s definitely a recurring joke. It’s up to the reader to interpret Draco’s actions here: is he doing it to be a massive troll? Or is he genuinely not retaining the information of her married name because he considers this fact so unimportant that he does not bother to keep it in his brain? Troll, snob, or both, you can decide!

B.) I’ll address the second part of this first, because it was not intended as a loophole. I 1000% do not understand the “death eaters can’t have patronuses” thing. It makes absolutely no sense. Snape has a Patronus. But beyond that… Umbridge has a Patronus (a cat). If we’re letting that woman have a Patronus, then yeah, I think Draco can cast one. As for the vision that Draco used to conjure it… up to you whether that’s a fantasy or a glimpse of a certain ritual actually working. Draco’s thoughts on the matter: “An image of such striking tangibility that he might have already lived it, or perhaps experienced time in such a way that he lived it now.”

C.) I wanted Draco to have a choice, obviously a recurring theme for him in RN. For my characterization of him, that symbol on his arm causes him nothing but shame and self-loathing (see the end of chapter 36 during his heart-to-heart with Hermione). He’d already exercised almost every known avenue to rid himself of it before Hermione entered his life (he lists these in chapter 44). Hermione already loved him (and has told him so) by the time she’s figured out how to remove it: “I love the man you are today and I will love that man tomorrow, bare forearm or not. I simply wanted you, for once, to have the choice. It’s your body.”

D.) Ooh anon, you are tempting me here. I really hate to be coy, but you might see some future writing on this very topic.

I can at least answer the taboo part: I think soul magic in general (horcruxes, the use of unicorn blood) is quite taboo in the HP universe. As no one knows what happens after death (not even ghosts, Nearly Headless Nick says as much when Harry asks him point-blank in OoTP) I think most magical folk would think the intense ritual (blending magical cores) an unnecessary thing anyway. As Draco explains in chapter 48, since no one actually knows the effects or if it works, it’s considered a bit over-the-top since it’s probably futile anyway. It is also not a Vow with a death component; Narcissa is obviously alive in this story even though Lucius is already dead. I wrote the generational curse protection theory in as a dig at Cursed Child for the way they handled Astoria’s character.

The idea of it I think is romantic, but I will stress it is very dependent upon the intent of the two participants. To quote Draco in chapter 48 again: “To twine one’s soul to another showed a willingness to not only physically tether one’s self during your time here on earth, but to commit to a blending of your magical cores, putting faith in your magic to recognize its bonded counterpart in another life. Should other lives even exist.”

If you re-read Draco’s experience during the bonding ceremony in chapter 51 (starting from this bit: “The cognizance of his own powers never felt sharper, more familiar, but suddenly another power pulsed within to join with his.”) you might find it bears a resemblance to the trajectory of their relationship.

Lastly- I’ve left Draco and Hermione to their wedded bliss. I’ve got nothing planned for them beyond where they are in the final lines of chapter 51. I don’t have that itch to write more into their future because it would feel forced. Draco laid out his two envisioned futures with Hermione in chapter 48 when they discuss having or not having children. They are happy and content in the life they chose together. That’s all I ever wanted for them.

You will see more from this story though. I have an entire series of one-shots and outtakes from the published Remain Nameless timeline that I’ll start posting soon.

Thank you so much list anon! These were fun to answer!

[popculturebuffet]

Loud House: 11 Louds A Leapin Review or It’s My Bobby in a Box

Happy Holidays errybody! Christmas returns to this blog after a bit of a break to tie up some loose ends, and celebrate my birthday with a return to the loud house.  It’s honestly good to be back. While it can be a struggle to cover a pure comedy, I genuinely like the show a lot, even with it’s flaws i’ve gone into, and my regular reviews gave  me a running gag in my hatred of rusty and a new respect for the show. It’s just with a buiser schedule and me not actually trying to have something resembling order to things, I kept shoving Banned Together back despite really wanting to see it since.. you know.. Luna episode.. until it ended up sliding into ANOTHER set of episodes. It’s things like this why I have a queue now: while it’s not set day by day, in case I want to do more than one i na day, it is there to keeep some semblance of order and keep me on track so this dosen’t happen again.  So with all that being said.. why did I choose to do A DIFFRENT loud house episode for the second time in a row before getting back to the current season? Simple.. i’ve been putting this episode off personally for even LONGER. I meant to watch 12 louds a leapin back when it first came out at the start of season 2... and just never got around to it. And just kept never getting around to it, wanting to watch it at christmas but then forgetting to do so for the last 4 years. Spare a thought there.. 4 years. In that time 80 years have passed, an era of marvel movies have come to an end, a tick series has come and gone, She Ra has come and gone, ducktales premiered then annoucned it was ending.. my point is way too many shows are ending too soon, and i’ve let this slide for far too long. So I bumped this one up to finally take a look at it, as i’ve waited this long and didn’t want to risk missing it a fifth fucking time. So yeah i’m taking look at what’s probably a classic episode in the fandom with fresh eyes. Let’s see what I thought shall we? It’s Christmas Eve at the Loud House and Lincoln is once again Zach Morrising it up .

Not what I meant.. whatever that is. It’s been 30 years since that episode aired, probably a good 12 since I first saw it and I still have no idea why they did this or if it was giong to end in a three way before the girls showed up. We just don’t know and the greatest minds in the country are baffled.. and you know working on the vaccine and making sure it’s safe. 

No Linc is talking to the camera about it being christmas while gearing up to go sledding with his sled big red. Meanwhile the rest of the louds are doing their usual christmas activities which we get introduced to as Lincoln gets ready. The girls sub-plots here are, outside of Lori’s., less plots and more running gags, various shenanigans by the girls tying into their personalities and christmasy stuff. It works perfectly.. while it’s a bunch of gags.. the gags are funny and it’s neat to learn more about just how the girls celebrate christmas and what they get up to every year. It’s part of what’s to love about holiday specials as you get a once or twice in a series chance to see how our heroes celbrate the holiday and thus a look into stories, gags and character stuff very unique to the holiday. It also uses the fact LIncoln was the protaganist at the time very well, using him as our viewpoint to set up all the christmas goings on as he makes his way out of the house, so we can cut back to them later as his plot goes on. It’s really good stuff. So what are the girls up to? Let’s go down the list by age shall we?

Lori: Lori has the most involved plot anyway so it’s best to start here. Lori and Bobby are having their first christmas together... though it does bring up the fact that they’ve only been dating 2 years at most, yet plan to get married.. I mean that is a lot but your also 18. Then again time is nigh incomprehinsiable to unpack in the loud house, and at least 3 years passed in the one year it took to get them all aged up, so I wouldn’t think about it too hard.  Lori, still being in huge bitch mode as she was early on, pressures bobby to get a good gift. She later gets said gift but despite being told to open it immideitly, her siblings chide her on her habit of tearing presents open and thus get her not to open it. So that’s a runner through the special, with Lana even putting her on a leash at one point, which I found hilarious. Less hilaroius is the conclusion as it turns out in the box on christmas day.. is BOBBY, who understandably is not looking so good...

Thankfully bobby’s not dead or they all would be, but still the poor boy missed christmas eve with his mom  and sister for this stunt. I mean I get it’s his fault, he’s apparently LITERALLY too dumb to live it turns out and should’ve you know made a noise sooner and probably didn’t want to ruin the suprise.. but we still nearly got an episode where a 4 year old had surivviors guilt for letting her older sisters boyfriend suffocate in a box. That’s dead santa from gremlins levels of fucked up. Thankfully Lori loves it and I assume bobby’s worried family joined them for christmas eve. That image fills my heart with hope. But seriously bobby never again we can’t loose you. At least not before Sergio. 

Leni: Leni’s is very simple it’s just a running gag of her taking various christmas things, making them into outfits then saying shhhh to whoever’s around when she hears, or in later cases is right there, with the person asking. Just a funny bit.  Luna: Is working on a christmas song. It’s one of the weake runners as the failed songs just aren’t that funny, but the payoff for the main plot makes up for it. WE’ll get to that.  Luann: Has one of my faviorite bits, her 12 puns of christmas which is both really adorable and leads to an adorable moment with her dad. Always loved their relationship. 

Lynn and Lucy: Are teamed up this episode which makes me genuinely miss how the two would be used as a pair ocasionally earlier on but just .. arne’t anymore> The rest of the girls status as roomates is used liberally but not so much these two. IT’s just weird and disheartning to me. That being said their plot is simply the two digging around to find where the presents are hidden, which I never got as why would you want to know weeks ahead of time. You can’t use any money to buy the stuff you dind’t get or they’ll know and they usually figure out you knew ahead of time and it just brings thigns down. But from a kid’s perspective I guess I get it and while it’s weird to have Lucy be one of the ones following I like it, as it shows that benath her gothy demanor she’s still just an 8 year old girl excited for christmas, and that’s adorable. A decent enough runner. 

Lana: Gets  a good one: She keeps accidently catching people, and a passing car in one case though she has a jack to help, in her reindeer traps. Its not only funny but really adorable especially since she dosen’t care about trapping SANTA persay, she just wants her own pet reindeer and frankly who wouldn’t want a rideable woodland critter who can fly. Dammit now i want one too. 

Lola and Lisa: Lola gets a fairly standard one tha’ts still pretty damn funny; She wants to get offf the naughy list by playing good for a day. What makes it funny is that last part.. that instead of doing it over a few days like most of this plot she’s trying to cram it all into one day while also trying not to strangle Lisa, who keeps showing up to say santa’s route is impossiuble. As ducktales covered he slows down time.. also you know.. not every kid celebrates christmas so ther’es probably a good number of houses he dosen’t have to cover in one night.  Lily: Just randomly pops out of stockings a bit. it’s precioous as it sounds.  The Parents: It had honestly been so long both since i’d seen a season 1 episode, and since the two had been both given actual names and fleshed out considerably, that i’d forgotten Rita and Senior had their faces obscured for all of season 1. It’s REALLY weird and jarring to go back to after getting to know them as fully formed people of their own over the past 3 seasons, and especally gorowing to love Senior, as he’s a loveably goofy dad but without the incompetence of most comedy dads. He can bumble but he’s also genuinely supportive, talented and pulls his weight in his marriage and family.  We do however start to really see their fully formed , full member of the cast perosnalities here: Rita is clearly tired from the sheer amount of shit she has to juggle, but is also nice and warm and while Lynn Sr.’s goofiness was established already, here it’s tempered into his current shape and his love of cooking and through role as the family chef is established. While he was established as cook earlier he goes from someone who’d use frozen food just to get by to a master chef who probably does use a lot of frozen stuff but can make anything taste good and will eventually have his own restraunt. It’s really fascenating to see them slowly emerge. They don’t really have plots themslves, and Lynn’s only real gag is wanting everyone to try his figgy pudding. 

So with the rest of the family covered let’s get to our main plot. Lincoln is sledding.. on the slide out back.. for some reason. 

The reason is simple.. his sled ends up in the yard of Mr. Grouse, their neighbor and old man who yells at louds. Lincoln explains grouse keeps everything that ends up in his yard and has taken a lot from the Loud Kids over the years. So lincoln.. uses the slide to sled.. DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIS YARD. 

I’ve been wanting to use pigtail kim since I made that one recently. But her points stands. What?!. I mean Lincoln can be stupid, he’s  only 12 it’s allowed, but usually more out of not realizing what he’s getting into or using kid logic. He’s not this brain dead. That’s Leni’s job. It just feels like plot contrivance. Just have him build some sort of contraption as a makeshift hill and tell the audience he’s doing this because his family dosen’t want him going to an actual hill on christmas or is too busy to take him. There are easier ways than this half assed rube goldberg machine of a setup. So naturally his sled ends up in the yard.. and he calls on Clyde to help....

Now if you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, you know that reactoin is normally reserved exclusivley for this guy. 

But since Rusty was in his larval state with only a few apperances and hadn’t emeerged from his coocoon as the douche I know and love to take pot shots at, there was actually something WORSE. Something more obnoxious. And with far far worse implications. And that my friends was seasons 1 and 2 Clyde.  Clyde in the early seasons CAN be fine, and the self we know now. In fact I wish he interacted with the sisters more as the slumber party episode early on gave him a nice dynamic with all of them and the episode with him and leni was terrific. The problem one there was running gag with him, one character trait that utterly sucked the joy out of the room at best and made him into an unlikeable little shit at worst; HIs crush on Lori.  When she’s around at BEST he has a Master Roshi nosebleed, stammers her name and passes out, something that wasn’t funny the first time and quickly became grating the 80 other times they did it. But at worst, as he is here? He’s creepy, obessevie and worst of all. .a real dick to bobby. Who as we’ve established is...

So that was NEVER going to go over well and even ignoring that is still very bad. The little creep just constantly treats Bobby with hostility, which given this is Bobby, he dosen’t realize is going on. Any time their relationship is threantned Clyde’s main goal is to swoop in during the aftermath and win lori over. He constantly wants Bobby out of the way, The ONE TIME he dosen’t come off as a massive dick is when Lincoln thinks Bobby might be cheating, and that’s because Clyde isn’t planning on swooping into the wrecakge of someone’s relationship to get a girlfriend, but to punch the guy out for cheating on her. Bobby wasn’t and Clyde obviously isn’t capable of that, but it’s a bit more understandable and even CLYDE wants to make sure there’s evidence first. But more often than not he’s just under the assumptino Lori will be his despite the massive age gap, her having made it obvious she’s not intrested, and her being in  longterm relationship she’s really happy in with someone else. And this was season 1 lori who reacted to this, so the fact she’s not being the queen of all bitches about it only makes him look that much worse. And to add to that, Bobby not only KNOWS he has as crush on Lori but is suppportive of clyde, cheering him on when she kisses him once for doing something noble, and generally treating “Clydsdale” like he would any of Lori’s blood siblings. It was excurating then to sit through this every few episodes.. and it’s even worse now because the gag’s complete dissaperance from Season 3 onwards really paints the picture that this gag was entirely because series creator Chris Savino thought this was FUNNY and no one else did. And given he got fired for, you know, HARASSING WOMEN  AND NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER  you kinda see how an already bad bit was made worse. So yeah while the sled thing is bad this.. is objectively worse and drags the special down more. It’s thakfully not omniprescent but man is it hard to watch.  Clyde being in full dickhead mode is trying to get a kiss from lori and is using a missletoe hat for it.. And can we just agree that while Missletoe can be used well in stories, to help two shy people finally kiss or to ramp up romantic tension or what have you, that it’s often used by creepy douchebags to get kisses they don’t deserve both here and presumibly in irl before the plauge hit? We can? Good. But yeah that’s his plot, no suprise he gets one, bah hum bug. He also throws in some Bobby bashing by fantasising about him ending up in the yard and clyde ending up with lori since Grouse keeps bobby.. even though instead Lori would just ignore clyde, storm over there and rip an old man’s spine out mortal kombat style. 

So yeah Lincoln wants his sled back, but he can’t do it alone as the old man scares him, hence Clyde coming in. They make an elaborate plan using some careful blueprints. 

Their real plan is to have Clyde disract grouse while Lincoln grabs the sled but it fails and mean mr mustard finds it and takes it inside. Desperate, Lincoln prepares to do some crimes and head into his house. Clyde is afraid he’l end up in jail and never get to visit because only family can. Clyde you are family. Plus Prison visits aren’t limited to relatives only, any show with a character in jail storyline will tell you that. But Lincoln makes a valid point that Grouse stole his property.. I still dont’ think this is the right way to handle it and his parents should just go over and ask the loud, irate asshole to give the kids stuff back he stole to be a dick, but this is a kids show and again we wouldn’t have a plot but unlike last time my head dosen’t hurt from this. He’s desperate, he knows that probably wouldn’t work and again he’s 12. 12 year old logic is fine.  Naturally he ends up getting caught as Grouse didn’t leave for long, though having found a photo of Grouse with a sled as a kid, understandably fires back on him that he wasn’t always like this. Why he like this. He also has the much farier point that again, it’s his property and “My yard my rules” is about as much a legal rule as a note saying “I can do what I want, ron”. But Grouse understandably, hey he’s a dick but the boyd id be and e, makes him clean up and after Grouse fails to get the loud parents Lincoln, via a comination of a charming family photo and Grouse talking to his sister on the phone, finds out the real reason he acts like this: He misses his family and being on a fixed income can’t visit them often as he tells his sister he won’t be home for christmas to see his sprawling family. 

And while it doesen’t excuse his actions.. it does explain why Grouse is so bitter: you would be too if you had a massive family who clealry loved you and your on good terms with.. but through no fault of your own and presumibly despite working hard toa fford retirment you just.. can’t see them. Their there and you have the phone, but you don’t know how to work the internet and it’s just.. not the same as seeing them. Your just seperated from them and can’t be near them or hear their voices or get hugs. Which.. given the current pandemic i’m sure MANY of you can relate to that.. to being seperated from your loved ones and trapped, and especailly many people mr grouses age are facing that. While this special is good even without the context of seeing it this year it especailly resonates and i’m glad I waited this long simply beaause it came at just the right time. Grouse tells him to leave not planning on calling his parents.

So in christmas special fashion, Lincoln is touched byt his story, and feels bad for the old curmudgeon. Sure they don’t get along and the bastard broke his sled.. but again you’d be bitter too in his shoes. The guy has nothing and is alone.. and Grouse has done nothing to deserve that, even with his actions resulting from it. No one should be alone on christmas.  So Lincoln tells his sisters, all of whom rally around him, including Luna whose writer’s block is broken as she finally realizes... 

And not singing about that was holding her back. Luna has her song and Lincoln, as expected has a plan.  And we soon see that plan as Grouse gets a knock on the door.. and finds the Louds, parents included, and The McBrides all there singing him a christmas song. It’s pretty decent and the first time we really get to see Nikka Futterman sing and i’ts beautiful> Ther’ed be better, and worse luna songs to come but this is still pretty neat and sweet. THey came to offer him deocrations, dinner, company.. and a one way bus ticket to his family... presumibly the family will pay the other way or he can easier the day after christmas. Point is he’s touched, and genuinely and sincerly thanks them and invites them in, with Grouse’s actor John DiMaggio REALLY selling it hard. 

So our heroes gather for Christmas Eve all together, and under Grouse’s roof with Grouse giving the kids their stuff back having had a change of heart. Sure he misses his family.. but the Louds and Mc Brides have shown him he dosen’t have to shut everyone out as a result. And while Grouse apologizes tht his sled is gone.. Lincoln’s fine with it he got something better.  So the next morning we end on the kids opening presents, and Lori saving her boyfriend from axphisxiation, seriously between this and strife of the party i’m really starting to sour on lana. Regarldess Lucy finally belivies in santa both due to gifts nd seeing him last night, while Lincoln finds a sled from santa.. and then goes outside to see Mr Grouse off, recognizing he’s the one who played santa in  a really sweet and senitmental bit. The two part on good terms even if Lincoln breaks another window. Things have changed if not that much.  Final THoughts:  If it wasn’t obvious, I REALLY loved this one. While it has it’s flaws, and Chris Savino sucks dirty ass in thunderstorms obviously.. it’s still a really sweet, well constructed special and I really recommend checking it out. It’s on the nick app if you have cable and on CBS All Acess if you have that. Until next time merry christmas to all and to all a good day. 

And if ther’es an episode of the loud house you’d like me to review leave it in the comments or you can comission a review of it for five dollars. Just direct message me to work out the details or send an ask for my discord. 

[therainroguebts]

♡︎ This or That Fanfic Edition ♡︎

Tagged by the incredible @janellion​, thank you so much for thinking of me ^~^)/ As always, I will post the original tag for easy copy and paste and then I will edit it to my own liking beneath the cut! You can find Kayla’s answers here.

slow burn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt-comfort or amnesia // fantasy AU or modern AU // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage// high school romance or middle aged romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbors or roommates // sci-fi AU or magic AU // body swap or gender bend // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane

❇ slow burn or love at first sight.

I... am not a patient person at all ._.) Slow burn fics can be awesome if done right, but most of the time I just get bored. Not to say the fic itself is boring or bad, that’s just how I am with things that are too long. It’s the same with anime! If given the choice, I would choose love at first sight simply because of that.

❇ fake dating or secret dating.

I don’t mind either, to be honest, but I feel like I’ve read and written more secret dating than I have fake dating. I guess there’s just something about trying to keep it a secret!

❇ enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers.

Again, I don’t mind either one, but I feel like best friends to lovers is more likely and much easier to write and read. Enemies to lovers can be very tricky because the whole point of being enemies is to hate each other, so it can be super hard to successfully transition into a loving relationship and, as mentioned above, I don’t have the patience that it would take for this.

❇ oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence.

This one is hard for me to choose. While both are amazing, I’ve found myself thinking about a long-distance fic for a while now, especially in the SMAU since, so I feel drawn to choosing that option.

❇ hurt-comfort or amnesia.

Most of my fics end up being hurt/comfort lol it’s basic and simple and I love that. I’m also not really a fan of amnesia fics. To be honest, I can’t really call any of the few that I have read.

❇ fantasy AU or modern AU.

While I certainly do enjoy fantasy, I feel more at ease with modern, both in writing and reading. My brain isn’t the... sharpest crayon in the pack and fantasy can come with loads of technicalities that my brain struggles to properly grasp. Plus you can relate more to modern!

❇ mutual pining or domestic bliss.

Both, to be honest haha But if I had to choose, I’ve definitely read/written more for mutual pining over domestic bliss. There’s just something so... final about marriage.

❇ smut or fluff.

Now, I enjoy smut. Most people do! But for me, reading/writing smut is more of a fleeting thing. I’ll sometimes get into the mood for some smut, but then I partake and I move on. Meanwhile, I’m always in the mood for fluff!

❇ canon-compliant or fix-it.

I honestly don’t think I can properly choose one of these because, well, in my opinion, all fanfics are technically fix-its while still remaining canon compliant. At least the fics that I write/read are, because they add an extra element that changes the story in ways while keeping it the same at the same time! Does that make sense??

❇ reincarnation or character death.

I avoid character deaths in both writing and reading. Period. But if I had to choose, it would be reincarnation because I have written this before. I’d rather keep avoiding fics about such things, though.

❇ one-shot or multi chapter.

As stated earlier, I have the patience of a flea. Most times, I just want to get in and get out, even with my fics. Reading, I lose interest fast. Writing, I can’t think of a good plot most times to make them keep going. Still, this doesn’t stop me from partaking in either lmfao But you can probably tell this by looking at all of the series that I haven’t finished.

❇ kid fic or road trip fic.

I’m not entirely sure what kid fics are? Is that just fics where the characters are kids?? Since I’m not sure, I’ll just choose road trip fics, which can be a fun read! I’ve personally only written it once or twice, though.

❇ arranged marriage or accidental marriage.

I... I’m sorry... accidental marriage?? How do you accidentally get married?? I am so confused. I don’t like arranged marriages because I think they are unfair but they are good plot armor for fics hehe

❇ high school romance or middle aged romance.

100% no contest. As someone that missed out on the high school experience and mostly watches school anime, I LOVE high school romance. While I have read/written middle aged romance because most people age them up, not feeling comfortable writing for teenagers ._.) Which, for smut I get, but eh.

❇ time travel or isolated together.

Time travel has never been my thing because that requires knowledge of different time periods or the brain power to create future/alternate times. However, I have been wanting to write a quarantine fic recently, partly inspired by #Alive which was a surprisingly good movie (and the English dub was funny).

❇ neighbors or roommates.

As roommates, you have so many more opportunities to make a bond and grow a relationship. This can be a lot harder as neighbors, or maybe I’m just biased because I personally never talk to my neighbors or interact with them or even SEE them most days.

❇ sci-fi AU or magic AU.

As stated above, sci-fi is above my brain’s pay grade lol I don’t understand most of it and it just doesn’t interest me. Now, magic? Love it! Especially if there are magical transforms involved! Though I’m not sure they’d be quite as epic in a fic.

❇ body swap or gender bend.

There’s just something about turning my favorite male characters into females for a short time that I just love. Though I’ve only written for it once or twice and I don’t believe I’ve read anything for it, either haha I just remember seeing these pictures of the Prince of Tennis boys turned into girls in bathing suits and it was just *chefs kiss*

❇ angst or crack.

CRACK. No contest lmfao While angst can be nice and needed to further a plot, I have more than enough angst in my real life and would rather NOT have too much in my fics. Crack can be hard to reach without being labeled simple comedy, in my opinion, but when you get there, it’s just amazing.

❇ apocalyptic or mundane.

I think apocalyptic can be fun in doses, but mundane just seems more... reachable, I guess? Slice of life has always been one of my go-tos because of its simplicity. It’s everyday life and feels more real and obtainable, you know?

Tagging: @kiralushia​ @kyokosasagawa​ @pudding-head-kenma​ @jen-and-jax​ @nekoma-hoe​ @sugaanoya​ @k-eijiakaashi​ & anyone that sees this and thinks it looks fun!

If you do NOT want to be tagged for such things (or if you do), please let me know!

[guksthighs]

Cinderella || jhs ( m)

Summary: You hate princes and yet you can’t seem to help yourself around Jung Hoseok, who just isn’t like other princes.

Genre: fairytale!au, smut, fluff, angst

Length: 10k

A/N: this drained my very soul. please send help and show support because i really need it,, also did you know the prince in cinderella ( disney ver. ) doesn’t even have a NaMe??? this is why this series is a mixture of disney and the original or else this fic would be a bunch of mice squeaking the entire 10k

Warning(s): sex, creampie, fingering ( female receiving ), dirty talk, spit kink, unsafe sex, promiscuity 

Most girls grew up dreaming about becoming a princess, to be surrounded by riches, marry a prince and live happily ever after. But being only a human, your dreams had always been more realistic with plans to make money to support your single mother by becoming a famous baker.

There was no such thing as Prince Charming is what your mother had told you, repeating it nightly as she stroked your hair having tucked you in. And instead of fairy tales, you were brought up on stories of your father who had run away with another woman when you had been born. It shattered her heart.

In return, on your eighth birthday, your mother disappeared and stole your dreams with her.

You knew ‘happily ever after’ didn’t exist, that there were no shortcuts like wishing stars or fairy godmothers and yet it could be argued it was magic that you were scouted for an apprenticeship in the Royal kitchens.

And you finally found a home in the kitchens, surrounded by loud boys, princesses and the prince voted the most likely to break your heart, Jung Hoseok. Almost everyday girls would rush in gushing about how amazing he was, how prince-like and regal and you would always roll your eyes and remind yourself that he wasn’t as amazing as he seemed.

Hoseok and you had grown up together and although you fostered an innate dislike for Princes; he was different from anything you could ever imagine and that was why you had vowed him to be your enemy.

+

+

The sun was just peaking over the horizon when you woke up, the beginnings of a warm glow shone through the thin curtains and for a few seconds, you lay in your bed looking for a reason to leave the warmth for the cold morning. Then you remembered Seokjin had been discussing a feast for tonight and you sat up, thinking about the delicate tarts you intended to make for the visiting royalty.

A loud creak echoed through the room as you sat up; the old bed wasn’t pleased with your sudden movement but you were used to its complaints, stretching your arms above your head as a groan slipped from your lips.

Your blurry vision fixed on the sleeping tabby at the end of your bed, stifling a yawn before moving forward to stroke at its soft ginger fur, your lips curling into a smile as the supposed mouse catcher purred and nuzzled into your hand. It had been a few years since you’d found the kitten and promised Jin that it would keep the small cottage mouse-free, but really you couldn’t bear to see it abandoned.

A cold feeling ran up your spine at the thought that this mindset came from your own childhood and you quickly shook your head at the thoughts, drearily looking at the cat’s pretty face to calm your heart.

“Morning princess,” the low rumble of a voice made you yelp in surprise, almost falling out of bed at the idea you hadn’t noticed someone else was next to you. You jumped back in shock and for a second you were sure going to fall before a hand grabbed your arm and pulled you into a warm, golden chest that belonged to the crown prince of the human kingdom of Iliako. He looked down at you with a bright smile, “did I scare you, princess?”

The same prince you had proclaimed to be your enemy as a young child, also kept your bed warm every now and then, but you still frowned at the nickname, “don’t call me princess.”

A frown nestled into your brow as you glared up at Hoseok who watched as your hands gripped his shoulders in an attempt to push him away from you, but he only laughed and stayed sat on your bed, “you always were so friendly in the mornings.”

You pulled your feet up and tried to kick him off the bed, but instead, his hands wrapped around your ankles and he grinned at your frugal attempt to try and make him leave. Some mornings, Hoseok wouldn’t go until everyone else was awake and you’d have to deal with the knowing looks of all of your chefs.

Everyone knew that no matter what you said and grumbled, Hoseok appears dishevelled in the morning every now and then. They also caught the way he would look at you whilst you were baking and the darkening of your eyes whenever a new member of the court snuck into the kitchen to flirt with Hoseok.

Giving up with trying to get him off your bed, you leapt to your feet and began scooping up his articles of clothing, “get dressed and get out!” Hoseok caught the items as you threw them at him with a small smirk that made your knees weak at the memory of last night, “you fake prince!”

Instead of rising to your childish taunts Hoseok hummed in agreement, pulling his trousers back on and glancing at you to find that you were standing staring out of the window, hand pressed against the fogged glass as you traced the peaks of the castle that loomed ahead.

Slowly, you created a silhouette of the majestic castle and watched the windows brighten up as the maids lit the candles and fires in each room. The pastel colour of the spires contrasted the slowly brightening sky and even though you saw the same view every morning, it never failed to bring a smile to your face.

“You want to live in the castle?” Hoseok had appeared next to you, staring out at the view as his fingers worked on fastening his buttons. You turned to him and scoffed but he shook his head and pressed his hands to his heart, “it’s a shame it’ll never happen little apprentice!”

He giggled and ran off before you could pull his silky black hair, winking at you before he ran down the worn down stairs. The sound of his heeled shoes against the bare wood was too loud and instead of chasing him you sat on the top stair and listened to him slam the door loud enough to wake up the rest of the inhabitants.

Prince Charming definitely didn’t exist.

+

+

The kitchen was busier than usual that day, the fireplace causing the room to heat to an unbearable temperature as you began to prep for the dessert that evening. The group of breakfast duty was significantly smaller than usual, although it was a simple task to bake the fresh bread and place the cold meat cuts from the previous meal on a plate.

However, Jin, the Head Chef, managed to complain at every stage, “I’m the head chef of a royal kitchen, you’d think I would be above such menial tasks.” You looked up from your bowl and laughed as the broad-shouldered man continued to grumble whilst pulling out a golden brown loaf of bread from the oven.

He was undeniably the most talented chef you had ever met and having been practically raised by Jin, you were used to his antics that now only amused you. The family were said to be going on a hunt so the kitchen could have time to prepare for the dinner service which was meant to be celebrating Hoseok’s engagement to a neighbouring princess.

“Is this the eighth engagement celebration we’ve had to prepare for?” Jimin groaned, before looking to find you smiling happily at the bowl of batter in your arms. It was one of the few times that all thoughts faded from your mind as you added the ingredients into the bowl and began the lengthy process of making Hoseok’s favourite pudding.

The kitchen stayed relatively quiet that day until around lunch when knights and their apprentices filed in to grab their bread, meat and fruit. Although Jeongguk paused, arms full of food as he nodded in your direction and smirked, “shouldn’t a girl take more care in her appearance?”

You rolled your eyes at his usual teasing, returning to serving the knights when someone grabbed your wrist and you looked up to find those bright eyes staring at you, “I think pretty girls don’t need to worry about such thing.” Hoseok grinned at you watching as you struggled out of his grip before releasing your hand causing you to stumble backwards with an undignified grunt.

“Watch boys this is how Hoseok became known as the heart-breaker Prince,” Jeongguk laughed and you rolled your eyes, deciding today it might be better to hold your tongue than getting involved with the boys and their childish squabbles.

Jin placed a hand on your shoulder and lightly pushed you behind him, taking over at the table, before narrowing his eyes at Jeongguk, “you’re acting like you don’t have a mini orgasm whenever you eat her bakes.” The younger boy spluttered, his face sporting a vivid blush before he ran out of the kitchen, clutching his lunch to his chest.

Hoseok caught you laughing and raised an eyebrow to which you rolled your eyes and returned to baking, grumbling, “you’re unbelievable.” The prince sensing that you were occupied, gave you one last hopeful smile before walking away and he was just leaving the door when you called, “good luck with your tenth engagement party!”

He whipped around and grinned, “it’s only my ninth!” With a sigh to try and hide your amusement at how right your mother had been, there were no perfect prince charmings who rescued damsels and married a princess. Hoseok had been set up to marry eight other princesses by his parents, organised with fae and human kingdoms but the young prince always refused after he had attended the luxurious dinner.

Suddenly Jin turned to point at Hoseok, “you’re meant to be at the hunt!” Hoseok’s shoulders raised at the idea he had been caught and as he began to slunk away, the elder boy laughed, “go run back to your horse and get back before they notice!”

With a quick nod, Hoseok winked at you and sprinted off leaving you to smile at the idea that he was still like he was as a child, having disliked hunts and come riding back to the kitchen then as well. Today he had most likely come to the kitchen to check on what food was being made and you wondered if he encouraged the engagements just so he would get to eat Jin’s best cooking and an abundance of sweet cakes, pies and a structure created completely out of small fruit tarts.

Following lunch, the kitchen came to life with movement and noise as all the chefs began to cook the meals they had begun yesterday. It was to be a five-course meal, with your fruit tarts being the main piece for dessert which lead to Jin continually checking that you were going to have the one hundred puddings done in time.

“Next engagement party I would have made a thousand fruit tarts and more because it took me a while to perfect the taste,” you mused as you helped Jimin peel the vegetables. The potatoes and carrots began to pile up and the movements soon became unconscious as you wondered what this princess looked like.

The Princesses you had the opportunity of seeing had been beautiful, huge gowns leaving you to wonder how they managed to fit in their seats with their hair styled in elegant curls, loops and braids. The servers would often laugh about how little these princesses would eat and you knew that when you came out to serve the tarts, they rarely would eat more than a few pieces of glazed fruit.

For a moment you let your mind wander to what it might be like if you were the one picking at your food, sitting stiffly in your seat and doing it all for a prince known for breaking hearts. This was the exact reason you thought Prince’s were elaborate hoaxes to capture the hearts and kingdoms of young maidens, and it worked.

“Y/N?” Jimin’s voice jolted you back to the present and with a start you jumped up, carrot half peeled falling on the floor as the younger boy laughed at your reaction. “Now what were you daydreaming about?”

Picking up the carrot and slamming it on the table, “if you share a dream then it won’t come true!” It was your usual reply and Jimin smiled, shaking his head at your childish reply before shooing you away to return to finish off your tarts.

“I hope the dreams that you’re wishing will come true.”

+

+

“Now remember to address Prince Hoseok with the utmost respect,” Jin lectured as you held two plates of tarts, golden leaf glimmering in the candlelight outside the dining room and he watched as you peeked around the door, standing at the front of a long line of servers, causing him to whisper-shout, “Y/N!”

Your eyes flicked back to see Jin’s frown and you quickly nodded, “I’m serving Hoseok and his fiancee and must treat both of them respectfully.” Your elder nodded quickly and opened his mouth as if to say something, but there was the sound of metal tapping against a glass and with a smile, you entered through the doors.

The dining room was beautiful, tapestries hung from the walls in rich colours of greens and reds. Slowly you made your way towards the head of the table where Hoseok was sitting, leaning forward on an elbow and smirking at you, “this is our Head Baker who has prepared one hundred tarts by hand to celebrate the engagement between our prince and your daughter.” The King happily announced.

They were proud of having a female baker in the kitchen, bringing you out to present any time they could to embarrass other humans and impress the fae royalty that came to the palace.

Hoseok watched your every move before a gloved hand landed on his elbow, “why, do you even pay that girl?” The princess held a hand to her mouth as she giggled, watching you place the plate in front of her, “her clothes are so- so plain.”

You placed the plate in front of Hoseok, refusing to meet his eye before you curtised and walked away. Your hands fisted in your dress, it was your best one, a pale shade of pink that reminded you of the blossom that had grown in the garden of the house you had once lived in.

Now you felt the cheap fabric under your fingers, repeating to yourself that you must remember your place and not say anything out of place. But it was the only dress you owned although having heard what the princess had to say now you were left to wonder if all eight of them before this one had thought the same thing.

Your heart stuttered in embarrassment before the King tapped on the table to get your attention, “such a talented young baker.” The visiting royalty agreed as they continued to eat at a rapid pace but as you made eye contact with the Princess, you watched her dainty hands take hold of the plate and push it away.

Hoseok watched this interaction, catching the way your face fell before you bowed to the King. The rest of the servers had already left, and as you followed, placing a hand against the dark oak door to cast one last glance at the gathered royalty, you watched Hoseok slam his hands into the table.

“I don’t say I feel like marrying you,” Hoseok declared, staring right at you and the Princess who had been sipping on a glass of wine dropped it in surprise. The glass shattered across the floor and you felt a hand on your back shove you forward to tidy the mess that had been created.

The Princess was just beginning to stumble together words as you rushed back in, “y-you can’t mean, are you cancelling this engagement?” Quickly you leant down to rest on your knees, taking your time as you picked up the fine pieces of glass away from the Princess’ dainty feet.

Above you a clamout had begun akin to what you were used to in the kitchen as Hoseok’s father hit the table, shouting, “you’re not doing this again!” It was a conversation you had witnessed a few times so you continued to focus on your task.

Just as you picked up the last shard of a glass, a shoe kicked your hand causing you to drop the glittering pieces on the floor and swallow a glare at the princess who had just purposefully kicked you.

A drop of blood welled up from your fingertip and with a frown you scooped up the rest of the glass, biting your lip to not cry out in pain and rising to your feet. This time you accidentally met Hoseok’s gaze, before ducking your head in embarrassment at the notion of him seeing you with watering eyes.

Quickly you gave another curtsy and then ran from the room straight into Jin’s chest, his arms wrapped around your back and gave you a tight hug. Before he pulled away and grabbed your wrists, pouring the glass into a small bowl a waiter held for him before tugging you away from the shouting still coming from the dining room.

“Come on dearest, don’t let her words hurt you,” Jin soothed you, his hands rubbed your shoulders before you sniffed and held your head high, palms red with blood and stinging slightly. And yet, a small smile still made its way across your face at the thought of dodging a stuffy bride within the palace.

So you walked back to the kitchen with Jin, a single tear rolled down your cheek before you heaved a sigh and looked up, “just another day in a royal palace.”

+

+

The announcement came as a surprise to everyone; you had been shopping in the local market when the town crier had shouted a message that made your eyes widen in shock and all the young girls whisper in excitement.

“The Prince has declared that there will be three balls to celebrate his birthday and by the third ball he will have chosen a wife! Every maiden is invited to this ball - both maids and fine ladies!”

It was a surreal feeling that washed over you, remembering that Hoseok was a prince and you were merely a cook in his kitchen. Before you shook your head and wondered why the difference between your places in society mattered when Hoseok was merely a bratty Prince.

Around you, the air was filled with laughter and discussions as young girls discussed what dress they would wear and swooned at the idea of being chosen for his wife. Next, to you, Jeongguk was laughing at the evident uncontained jealousy in your face, a small pout rested on your lips until he elbowed you, “what stained trousers and apron shall you wear to the ball?”

You weren’t allowed out of the palace without supervision but with Jeongguk supposedly looking after you, it lead you to question who was really doing the babysitting. He raised an eyebrow as if waiting for you to reply but just as you tried to think of a witty reply, you spotted a new stall full of vegetables, their bright colours making you run over and inspect them.

There were the usual seasonal red cranberries, large cabbages but what had drawn you over to this particular stall, was the bright orange pumpkin. It was an incredibly rare thing to see and you looked up at the vendor who noticed your interest and gave you a dimpled smile, “that is my last pumpkin young miss.”

“How much?” You ventured, waiting for his answer to include diamonds, but all you got was another endearing dimpled smile as he gestured towards the vegetable.

“For you, nothing.” He winked and Jeongguk coughed as you grinned and went to pick up the huge vegetable. The vendor noticed this and laughed, “surely a young Knight should be able to carry such a minor thing for his mistress?”

You turned to look at Jeongguk, smiling up at him and batting your eyelashes expectantly waiting for him to be a gentleman and pick it up. He let out a heavy sigh before crouching and poking at the bulbous vegetable, “as a cook don’t you carry stuff like this all the time?”

But instead of answering, you merely blinked in surprise at what you had just noticed. The sound of young girls giggling had drawn your attention to the small group they had formed in the middle of the courtyard that housed the small market, “why if the Prince personally invites me, how am could I object?” They hid their laughter behind their perfectly looked after hands and you bit your lip as you noticed Hoseok standing amidst them.

He was too busy flirting to notice you, but Jeongguk saw your furrowed brow and small pout and noticed that you were getting more and angrier the longer you stared at the Prince. Jeongguk tugged on your coat sleeve, trying to draw you back to the present but your gaze was fixed on Hoseok.

“Such pretty maidens, I’d love to share a dance with you next week,” he took a girl by the hand and spun her around, “maybe you’ll even become my Queen.” It was watching him flirt that confirmed everything your mother had ever told you about princes.

Without realising, you muttered, “Prince Charming is a fraud.”

The girls gasped and turned to look at you, whispering between them as Hoseok looked up and noticed you standing there. Instantly his face fell but you had been talking to Jeongguk, “wouldn’t you agree, Gukkie? Prince’s are so romanticised and really they’re just like all the other men and focus on one thing, sex.”

Hoseok choked and the girls turned to look at him, their mouths open in shock at the implications of what you had said, as well as your audacity to say it in front of the very Prince you were aiming your judgements at.

After finally taking a moment to breathe and look at the shocked expression on Jeongguk’s face, you shook your head with a fake smile, “he’s right behind me, isn’t he?” The Knight-in-training nodded quickly and bowed to the Prince who placed his hand on your shoulder and squeezed.

“Now why would my lovely young baker say such horrible things?” Hoseok’s voice was barely louder than a whisper, and yet, it sent shivers running up your spine and your hairs to stand up because he was angry. And for all your fighting and teasing, you hated to see Hoseok upset.

Therefore, the idea that it had been you who had been insensitive and said such horrible things brought you close to tears. As the embarrassment rushed through your body, you looked at Hoseok, wide eyes filling with tears before pulling yourself out of his grip and sprinting away.

The cobbles were painful against your thin shoes but you kept running, sweat quickly collecting on your brow as you left the streets and headed towards the meadows you remembered from your childhood. For just a bit of time you wanted to be alone, no Jeongguk and no risk of being caught by any guards or Hoseok.

From a young age your response to being in trouble or being upset was to run away and as you wiped tears from your eyes, you felt like so childish and even more embarrassed. Why was it that in front of Hoseok you always froze up?

Your heart continued to race even after you stopped running and although you continued to tell yourself it was just because you had run. But some part of you knew that the tone of Hoseok’s voice and the dark look in his eyes had awoken a part of you that had previously not been there.

Instead of letting yourself believe something had changed you shook your head, before shouting, “what kind of idiot would fall in love with a Prince?”

+

+

Hoseok was not angry. It had all dissipated when he had seen that look in your eyes, wide and watery and it had caused him to freeze. He’d seen that look many times before, like when you accidentally burnt his birthday cake or spilt sauce on his favourite book and like always, Hoseok couldn’t help but forgive you instantly.

“Jeongguk, go back to the palace.” The Knight perked up and Hoseok raised an eyebrow to question the pumpkin before shaking his head to try and maintain focus as he turned to the ladies, “I’ll see you beautiful maidens at my party.”

With that he walked towards where he had tied his horse, the golden coat glimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the clouds and he smiled, pressing his forehead to her silky mane, “let’s go save my Princess.”

In a smooth movement, Hoseok pulled himself onto the saddle of his horse, kicking her sides with his heels and heading in the direction you had run off to. After you had left, he had tried to continue talking like he wasn’t worried about you but soon it became unbearable and now as he raced down the small roads, it dawned on him where you had gone.

The final rays of sunlight faded just as he made it to the entrance of the meadow, finding a figure leaning against the oak tree that stood in the centre of the field. With a pat to his mustang’s mane, Hoseok slipped off and let her roam around as he waded through the waist-high grass.

Long sheaths of brown grass brushed against his legs and waist, it was crisp in the late autumn weather and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia washed over Hoseok. Before he had been aware of what being a Prince meant, he used to run away from the court and would hide in the dense grass as officials tried to find him. It was there had met you, a young girl with a flower crown and an infectious smile that kept him coming back every day until he was caught.

Hoseok had never put these memories together until he saw you sitting under the tree. Its huge branches dwarfed you and reminded him of those days spent with you during the Summer, with the green leaves providing you shade as you exchanged fairytales.

“If you came here for an apology, go away,” your voice made him jump, Hoseok found you staring at him, biting into a bright red apple as you waited for an answer. He wondered what must have happened to change that young innocent girl to the one who called Princes cons, it made him even more passionate to change your mind.

Slowly Hoseok approached you, sitting down so his shoulder brushed against yours and waited for you to pull away, but you didn’t. “I’m not here for an apology,” you huffed and bit into your apple waiting for Hoseok to continue, “I am here to ask one question.”

You nodded having expected a catch because everything came with a price, you knew that well. However, Hoseok’s question caught you off guard, as he placed his hand on your thigh and tapped it, “why do you pretend to hate me?”

“Pretend?” You shook your head in disbelief, “why do you think I’m pretending?” You pushed yourself up from where you were sitting to try and walk away from Hoseok. You felt a droplet of water land against your cheek and as you turned to look at him, wondering why he believed you were pretending when you’d just said such horrible things to him.

It made you feel like maybe you had misjudged Hoseok because even though he was a hopeless womanizer and enjoyed teasing you, he was also continually forgiving and kind. Two traits that you struggled to find when they hadn’t been present in your home before the kitchen.

The rain quickly changed from a light splattering to a downpour but neither of you moved, in a mental and physical deadlock as both waited for the other to yield. Of course, it was Hoseok who spoke next, “you’re forcing yourself to hate me,” he paused and stood up, reaching out his hand to grasp his and pull you towards him, “it’s not me you hate but my title.”

He laughed and you watched with wide eyes as the droplets of rain dripped down his face, his soft eyes looked at you with such care that your heart fluttered. Hoseok’s gaze dropped to your lips before he pressed a kiss to your lips, pulling away and whispering, “you hate the fact that I’m a Prince. You don’t hate me.”

It was as if a flick had switched inside you, staring at Hoseok as you refused to give him an answer. Instead, you pressed your hands to his chest and pushed him away, “don’t be so full of yourself.”

Your clothes stuck to your body, cold rain soaking you to the bone and instead of focusing on Hoseok, you began to shiver. Desperately you tried to hide this fact, looking down at the ground and seeing again the difference between you and him, his sturdy leather boots looking barely scathed compared to your thin linen shoes.

But even though you’d pulled away, Hoseok still tried to look after you as he shrugged the coat from his shoulders and placed it over your shoulders. Even though you were cold, his mere actions made your heart race and if anything you were only more confused than before.

+

+

The sky was beginning to darken and in the candlelight of your room, the pink fabric of your mother’s dress glimmered and sparkled, creating the illusion it was more than just an old dress. Your hands skimmed the fabric, looking in the mirror and smiling before sliding your feet into a pair of simple shoes and pulling your hair out of its usual ponytail, you left the safety of your room.

It was as if you were in a trance, walking down the wooden stairs and being greeted by the shouts of young girls as they tried to get help tying corsets and curling hair from the maids who lived in the cottage. A hush fell when Jin ran up to you and wrapped you in a hug, “you look so beautiful, I’m so proud!”

All eyes were on you as Jin continued to make a huge fuss, holding your hand and pulling you through the crowd of girls to seat you on a small stool, and place a coil of white pearls against your neck, before nodding and smiling, pressing a kiss to your forehead and whispering, “perfect.”

But the rest of the girls going to the party seemed less than pleased that you had dressed up with the obvious intention to go to the ball. They sent glares towards you and eventually you the prickling feeling against your skin became so intense that you stood up and walked out of the cottage, hoping the fresh night air would soothe your heart.

Sitting in the garden was your pumpkin and the sight of it made your heart soar, its orange colour was so vibrant and as you crouched down to stroke a hand over the skin. You had pulled up the skirt of your dress to prevent it from getting dirty, remembering times when you had been a young teenager and the staff had teased you relentlessly for always having dirty hems. That was why you only wore trousers now, and just as you went to stand, a hand landed on your shoulder and with a slight shove, you lost your balance.

With a thud you fell into the dirt, your eyes squeezed shut before the sound of laughter made you slowly open them, looking up to see elegant and intricately detailed patterns of full silken skirts. It was the usual group of girls from the courts and slowly, you stood up, brushing off your skirt and grimacing at the dirt that was smeared across the pale pink fabric.

“Why did you push me?” you asked, trying to hide the wobble in your voice as you stared at your dirt covered hands before looking up and straightening your back, hoping you could pretend to be someone not to mess with.

However, the main girl only laughed, before poking a finger into your shoulder, “why are you acting like you’re going to be attending the ball tonight? Do you really think the Prince would want someone like you there?” She laughed and nudged her friends as if to encourage them, causing one to approach you and touch a scuff on your dress.

“You can’t go to a royal ball in such a state, you’re covered and dirt,” her fingers dug into the fabric and she yanked at it, causing you to jump back even though it was too late. “Your dress is coming apart! How embarrassing,” the girls giggled and then they walked past you, purposefully walking into you and you felt them further rip your dress.

A hand landed on your chin, turning you to look into the cerulean blue of the girl’s eyes, before she laughed and pushed you away, “looks like you won’t be going to the ball.”

And it was too late, with your dress destroyed and your emotions a wreck, you took in a deep breath and turned on your heel, deciding that today, just this once, instead of running away, you would at least try and fix the problem.

That was why you were currently sitting on your bed, still wearing the dress, needle in hand as you tried to fix the rips, “why am I doing this?” you whispered, fingers stopping suddenly as tears began to roll down your face and blur your vision, making it hard to properly sew.

With a heavy sigh, you placed the needle into your lap and rubbed at your eyes before a familiar voice behind you made you jump so hard you fell off the bed, “you shall go to the ball Y/N.”

You picked up the sewing scissors laying on the floor, turning to brandish them at the figure, who you instantly recognised to be the man who had sold you the pumpkin. But even then, his being in your room was not explained, “why are you here? Get out or I’ll scream and my Knight will kill you.”

The vendor laughed and rubbed the back of his head, as if he’d expected his appearance to be received in a different way. “I’m the fae carer that comes with the pumpkin I gave you.” His dimples appeared as he smiled again and you continued to point your scissors, waiting for a further explanation, “my name is Kim Namjoon, I’m a fae. The pumpkin you purchased has magical qualities that mean if the owner becomes distressed I am summoned to come and provide help.”

You raised an eyebrow at the weird explanation but slowly lowered your scissors as Namjoon gestured to you to follow him, both of you made your way outside where he signalled to the pumpkin that was no longer the beautiful bright orange. Now, it looked almost sickly, having turned to a white colour.

“It only looks like that because you are upset,” Namjoon sat down and leant against the pumpkin, “why would a beautiful young maiden be crying on her bed wearing an old dirty dress?” You frowned and raised an eyebrow because you’d read in one of your favourite cookbooks about the ‘pumpkin protectors’ and yet the idea seemed far-fetched to you.

And yet, as Namjoon leapt to his feet and his clothes melted from a simple navy jacket and trousers to a sparkling white suit with elegant threaded applique across his chest. He gestured to his new outfit, “Now do you believe me?”

You nodded quickly and watched as he rubbed his hands together, “you have a ball to get to young Pumpkin princess and for that you need a fixed dress,” Namjoon smirked, and you balled your fists in anticipation as with a wave of his fingers, the pale pink of your dress faded to a pale blue, the waist became cinched as the skirt flared out to be even bigger than the girls who had ruined your previous one.

“That looks much better,” he smiled and you twirled around in the new huge dress, fingers grazing the soft fabric of the skirt. Your hair rested against your shoulders and the more you gazed at your dress, it became even more beautiful.  He smiled and winked, “You might want to look at your new shoes.”

With that you stuck out your foot, eyes widening in surprise when you saw a glass slipper on your foot, reflecting the blue of your dress and it felt like you were living a dream. They were beautiful, and you clinked them together to find they were both sturdy and also intensely comfortable.

The clocktower rang nine times, echoing through the courtyard you were standing in reminding you that the ball had just started and you needed to hurry to get to the ball before the doors were shut and all the food was eaten. So quickly turning to Namjoon, you bowed, “thank you so much Mr Namjoon for giving me this chance. I’m not very rich but if you come to the kitchen I can make you something?”

The boy laughed and shooed you away before suddenly yelling to get your attention, “The dress and glass shoes are magic and will disappear if you begin to doubt yourself! So believe in yourself young pumpkin princess!”

+

+

It was like living a dream as your heels sounded against the marble floor, walking through the maid doors and into a room full of people. All the women were wearing huge gowns, brushing against the knees of their partners who were equally well dressed as they danced in the centre of the ballroom.

“Might I have this dance?” you turned in surprise to find a man offering you his hand, and without thinking you took it, letting him lead you to the centre, until a hand landed on your wrist and pulled you away, it was the Prince.

Quickly you curtsied, before risking a glance up to find Hoseok’s cheeks covered in a deep blush, his eyes wide as he offered you a hand, “I’m sorry Sir but she promised me her first dance.” He smiled easily and pulled you into the centre, placing a hand on your waist and clasping your other, you both began to sway to the gentle waltz of the orchestra.

“How could I promise you a dance when I didn’t intend to come?” you smiled and tilted your head at Hoseok, laughing as he pulled you closer and rolled his eyes at your comment. He knew you well enough to recognise your smile was one trying to tempt him into another squabble, so Hoseok smiled and span you around.

When you were brought back into his chest, you felt your heart finally react to being near him and as it raced, Hoseok smiled down at you, “is it crime to want to dance with the prettiest girl here?” Instantly you broke the intense eye contact with Hoseok, blushing and focusing instead on his chest, watching its quick rise and fall as you both continued to dance.

It was custom to change partners at the end of every dance, but as the pieces changes from a waltz to a more upbeat piece and then another and another, you and Hoseok seemed unable to leave each other alone.

Others watched in amazement, whispering about the young beauty who was Prince Hoseok had been dancing with for almost six dances now. The older women sighed at the memory of love and how it was to have a man gaze at you in the way Hoseok was to you and very quickly you became the fan favourite for the new Queen.

Although it seemed like a dreamy dance, when you broke out of your state and noticed the glares you were receiving from the same girls who had ripped your mother’s dress, you pulled away from Hoseok, curtsying quickly, stammering, “I-I need to- to get some water.”

Quickly you ran off, wading through the crowd to get to the balcony, walking through the glass door and breathing a heavy sigh as the cold air hit your skin. As you walked towards the balcony, you rubbed your face, trying to bring yourself back to reality.

Had you really been thinking about love whilst dancing with Hoseok, the boy you’d known for over fifteen years and always fought with. It felt daunting and surreal and yet, the warmth in your heart reminded you that the feeling was real.

The teachings of your mother came back, as they always did when you felt yourself falling for a trap. And as you straightened your back and stared at the full moon, you knew that you weren’t going to fall for his lies because your mother had and it had broken her heart. You refused to let the same happen to you.

Your thoughts were cut short when a hand landed on your wrist and pulled you backwards, “if it isn’t our favourite lying peasant.” It was the girls from before, faces of thunder as they all looked at your dress as if trying to figure out where you’d been hiding it in that small cottage.

“Just because you’re dressed better doesn’t make our Hoseok’s any less out of your reach,” one of the girls sniggered but her words didn’t hurt as much as before because they didn’t seemed as convinced of themselves anymore.

That was only furthered when you watched their faces turn white in fear, someone clearing their throat behind you, “that’s Prince Hoseok to you girls.” Your eyes widened, turning to see Hoseok standing behind you, his stern face melting away as he winked at you before returning to glare at the other girls.

A wave of embarrassment washed over you and without thinking, you scrunched at the fabric of your dress beginning to wonder if your mother had been right about all princes. Frowning as you tuned out Hoseok lecturing the girls about court etiquette, you began to question if this prince was a fraud because he’d come to save you from those horrible girls.

And when his fingertips brushed against your palm, your eyes widened as all the advice your mother taught you disappeared. He was nice and in no way a fraud, and with that the glove Hoseok had been tracing disappeared.

The spell had been broken.

Your eyes widened as you curtsied quickly, “I must be getting home,” and with that you sprinted away, making your way through the ballroom as you felt the other glove turn to rags and then you were through to the main entrance. It was the stairs you were worried about and the fact that you could hear footsteps behind you so you continued to run, getting to the white marble steps and running down them.

“Wait! Y/N!” Hoseok called and when you hesitated again,  your left shoe slipped off. Quickly you bent over and picked it up, worried he would use it for the engagement ceremony of shoe fitting and without thinking you threw it at Hoseok’s head.

Luckily he wasn’t hit by the sharp heel of a glass stiletto but by a muddy radish, Hoseok looked up only to see you were already at the bottom of the stairs. The sight of you dressed in that pale blue dress set off something in Hoseok and without thinking he ran after you, not bothering to stop the party with the hopes no one would notice.

Hoseok refused to let the girl he was in love with disappear.

+

+

“Don’t get confused, I’m still angry with you,” Hoseok’s words were faint as he pressed kisses to your neck which you tilted to give him more space to leave marks as you knew he loved to do.

You had only been sitting in your room for a bit when Hoseok had slammed open the door, his chest heaving as he moved forward and flung himself onto the bed, gasping, “you can’t look that stunning and then run away.”

The dress had already turned to your rags and he placed a hand on your thin cotton nightdress, slowly moving his hand up and bringing the fabric with it until you placed a hand atop his, and moved to kiss Hoseok.

His kiss was passionate, Hoseok’s tongue slipping into your mouth and moving against yours until dribbles of salvia where moving down your chin. You pulled away gasping only to find his eyes had darkened and that was why you’d tilted your neck away and allowed Hoseok to suck and bite marks into the tender skin.

Your prince was talented with his tongue, lathing it across your skin before pausing and sucking at your temple, chuckling when you tilted your head back and moaned. Soon enough, Hoseok trailed his fingers down your torso, they paused at the curve of your breasts and thumb at your nipples but their goal was somewhere better.

Sex with Hoseok was always quick and passionate with both of you worried about getting caught or being too loud, but tonight it seemed like Hoseok had other plans as he placed his hand against your thigh and walked his fingers towards your heat.

“Just this once can I-” he started and instantly you nodded desperately, feeling his fingers already working on your clit and causing heat to pool at the base of your stomach. Hoseok slowly traced a line down your folds and brought the finger to his mouth, licking it before placing it into yours. “Get it nice and wet Princess.”

As you tasted the mixture of your juices and Hoseok, you bucked your hips into the air, already desperate for him to plunge his length deep into your depths. “So desperate Princess, but good things come to those who wait.”

He laughed before pulling his finger from your mouth and placing it against your entrance, sliding in the digit and watching your back arch in momentary pleasure. “Can you feel how wet you are princess,” Hoseok whispered next to your ear as he began to thrust his finger inside you, waiting a few seconds before adding another, “did you feel how easily my fingers just slid in. You really are my Princess, so good for me,” he pulled away to watch you bite your lip and you watched his eyebrows shoot up showing he had just thought of something.

As he continued to pump his two fingers into you, his thumb moving circles against your clit, Hoseok raised an eyebrow at you, watching your head tilt back in pleasure as his fingers brushed against your G-spot. “Open your mouth for me.”

“Why?” you managed to gasp, recognising the look on his face as meaning he was up to no good. Hoseok began to place more pressure into his thumb bringing you closer and closer to your orgasm and without thinking you let your jaw drop as you looked up at him.

Hoseok stuck out his tongue and you watched as a droplet of salvia rolled down the pink flesh and then landed into the back of your throat. “Get ready for more,” he smirked and watched as you began to writhe under his fingers.

That was when he moved closer to your face and spat directly into your mouth, watching with a huge grin as your eyes began to roll back as your orgasm began to wash over you. Hoseok placed his mouth against yours, kissing you as your legs began to tremble and hips buck whilst his touch became so good it was painful.

“Please-” you managed to gasp and when he finally pulled his hand away, you slumped into the Prince’s chest, feeling his hand stroke comfortingly up and down your back sent a new wave of tingles down your spine.

You wanted Hoseok, more than ever and now cuddled up against his chest so you could hear his heart beating and his hard length against your thigh, you knew you were going to get him.

“We’re doing it tonight,” you mumbled, smiling when he ran a hand through your hair and nodded. The fact that tonight Hoseok was so kind to give you a breather made your heart race with a new emotion, one that made you blush at the idea of moaning in front of him but also sent waves of tingles to your heat.

Hoseok, unaware of your inner turmoil, cupped your cheek and pressed a delicate kiss to your nose, “my dick is so hard I think it might explode.” he bucked his hips into your thigh and you nodded, laying down and pulling him on top of you.

“Please fuck me Prince Hoseok,” you smiled up at him and as he buried his length inside your heat, you kicked back your head and even though you had slept with Hoseok many times, this one was different.

Maybe it was the way he buried his head into your shoulder, kept asking if you were okay or came much earlier than usual that had you gasping words you never thought would leave your mouth, “fuck- I love you!”

+

+

“They say the young Prince has found himself a wife,” Jeongguk nudged Taehyung as they sat in the kitchen, helping themselves to raw cookies as you continued to make them, hair pulled back and wearing your dirty trousers.

Jin glanced over at you and smiled to himself at the duality of your looks, from looking like a princess in that gorgeous pink dress and now, looking like you didn’t have a roof to live under. Maybe that was why no one had recognised you to be the mystery girl from last night.

In your mind that was a welcome nickname, as you had no intention of being the centre of everyone’s conversations. Also you’re back really hurt and you didn’t want to get into lots of chats, especially ones that included the topic of Hoseok, the very Prince you had been avoidinging since you’d accidentally confessed to him, mid-orgasm.

“I heard the Prince has the shoe of his mystery girl already, it’s a glass slipper and it sits atop a pillow in the middle of the ballroom ahead of the celebration and engagement ceremony. It was a weird tradition and although no one was sure where it came from, if a Prince were to wed someone from his Kingdom, he would have to sleep with her to check their compatibility and then steal her shoe when the sun rose.

Then during a large ball, he would allow every maiden to try on the shoe claiming that if it fit anyone else but his love, she was not special enough to be a princess. It was weird and now you thought about it, although your plain cloth shoes had both been present in the morning, you had not bothered to check on your single glass slipper resting on your table.

It was already late in the day, the ball was meant to start soon and yet you felt frozen in fear. How where you to attend the ball when you no longer had a dress to wear, Jin noticed you cracking egg after egg into an empty bowl and placed a hand on your shoulder.

“Y/N, why don’t you get ready for the ball? I heard there was a young man, by the name of Namjoon looking for you?” Jin smiled in relief when you finally broke out of your trance, dropping the egg into the bowl as you turned and searched his face for any clue the elder was lying to you. Jin merely laughed and pushed you away, calling, “Hurry up before he leaves!”

You sprinted outside, coming to a halt when you saw people already beginning to enter the palace and ducking behind a crate, you peaked out to see if you could find Namjoon. Next to you, someone cleared their throat and you fell in surprise, turning to find Namjoon shaking his head at you, “I saw you lost your last dress.”

Before he could finish you wrapped your arms around Namjoon and squeezed, “thank you Namjoon. That dress was magical and I had the best night, I really did!” The boy smirked and raised an eyebrow causing you to groan and lightly push him away.

“Stand up tall tonight,” he smiled, and when you looked down you were once again clothed in a beautiful blue dress. Your eyes welled with tears as you balled your hands into fists, trying to stop yourself from hugging Namjoon again and instead you looked at him and gave a watery smile.

Before you could say anything the boy pointed at your feet, “not enough magic to help with your shoe problem.” He laughed as you shrugged and ran your hands over the skirt of the dress in amazement.

“Thank you Namjoon, again.” You wiped at the tears and turned to gaze at the castle, wondering if it was too much to wish tonight would go well for you and Hoseok. Instead of your dress turning to rags because you got confused. Having reminded yourself of the previous conditions you turned to Namjoon who was already walking away, “If I doubt myself will the dress disappear?”

The fae shook his head, “no conditions for a girl who is finally honest to herself.”

+

+

It was a night to remember.

Young maidens of all ages lined up to try on the glass slipped, some would groan as they wedged it onto their feet and others would sigh when it fell off their small foot. Everyone was determined to stop the Prince from marrying someone that wasn’t them and yet, the whole ceremony, you stood in the corner watching.

Onlookers whispered in interest at the mystery girl’s refusal to join in with tradition and many wagered that it wasn’t your shoe and you were too angry to try to fit into the shoe. However, having allowed every single maiden in the Kingdom to try on your own glass slipped, Hoseok looked up and finally spotted you.

His eyes were kind as he gazed at you, and instead of gesturing for you to try, he stood and walked towards you. When he got there his smile seemed unable to leave, and you watched in a mixture of embarrassment, fear and excitement as Hoseok held out the shoe for you to try on.

“You are the last maiden of this Kingdom to try,” he whispered as you slipped your foot easily into your shoe, and the ballroom erupted into cheer as Hoseok leapt to his feet, his arms encircling your waist so he could dip you and press a kiss to your lips.

Then pulling you back up and intertwining his fingers with yours, he shouted, “this is the woman I love and shall marry!” And the only thing in your mind as you looked over at Hoseok, his bright eyes staring at you with such hope and his lips spread in a huge smile gave you an experience you had never felt before.

And without thinking, you looked down at your dress, the single glass slipper peeking out from under the full skirt and then back at Hoseok as you whispered to yourself,

“So this is love?”

A/N: I have never written anything quite like this before or in such a short amount of time. Please give me some praise and compliments to provide me with the power to write Mulan ( myg )

[in-flagrante]

The wait is over

THE TIARAS HAVE BEEN DUSTED OFF AND THE PEARLS POLISHED. FOUR LONG YEARS AFTER THE FINAL INSTALMENT OF DOWNTON ABBEY, IT’S BACK, THIS TIME ON THE BIG SCREEN. BEN LAWRENCE WENT ON SET TO UNCOVER SOME FAMILY SECRETS

The Daily Telegraph

31 Aug 2019

As Downton Abbey sweeps majestically on to the big screen, Ben Lawrence joins the cast reunion on set

It is a crisp, clear morning at Wentworth Woodhouse, the stately home in South Yorkshire. Built by the 1st Marquess of Rockingham, it has the widest façade in Europe, boasts at least 365 rooms (no one is certain of the exact number), and represents two and a half acres of building. This perfect specimen of English baroque is the setting for the new Downton Abbey film – in which George V and Queen Mary tour the north of England (which also includes a visit to Downton itself, filmed as usual at Highclere Castle in Berkshire) – and today they are shooting a grand ball at the home of the Countess of Harewood in the film, attended by the royal couple and Downton’s Crawley family.

Inside the house, a production unit zigzags in and out of huge vaulted rooms with cables and film cameras, while extras in 1920s ball attire chat nonchalantly on makeshift chairs. Meanwhile in the ballroom – a giant marble space, adorned with deep-red damask wallpaper and enormous flower arrangements – Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton (two of the stars of the original series) slip through the lines of dancing couples in diaphanous silks, as a small orchestra plays a waltz. In the background, an assistant producer is being told off by one of the volunteers of Wentworth Woodhouse for wandering into a disused room. This isn’t jobsworthiness. The carpet in some rooms is nearly 300 years old and will disintegrate

if anyone breathes on it. The wallpaper, meanwhile, is laced with arsenic (as was the fashion at the time) in order to make it a certain shade of green.

Away from the action, Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary (the eldest Crawley daughter), is sitting in her trailer, her sharp features accentuated by period make-up, feeling slightly in awe of the whole process. ‘It was during my costume fitting when it hit me. I got really emotional.’

Downton Abbey made Dockery and many of her fellow cast members international names, and no wonder. The ITV series, which ran from 2010 to 2015 and followed the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, was sold to 220 territories worldwide, achieved a global audience of 120 million and was nominated for 53 International Emmys. In America, it became the most successful British drama import of all time. It also set the bar for costume dramas, at least in terms of visual sheen. The Crown, Netflix’s lavish regal series (which returns this autumn), has clearly been influenced by Julian Fellowes’ series, which cost, on average, £1 million per episode to make.

Everyone expected that a film would be made, but it was quite a feat getting the cast together. ‘It was like herding cats,’ says Dockery. ‘But I just love it. It’s so familiar and doesn’t feel like work.’

Despite rumours to the contrary, Maggie Smith is back as the Dowager Countess, famous for her

‘When we finished the series, we didn’t envisage a film. We had a party at The Ivy and everyone cried’

withering put-downs, as are Hugh Bonneville’s paterfamilias the Earl of Grantham, his American wife Cora (played by Elizabeth Mcgovern) and his two surviving daughters, Lady Mary, of course, and Laura Carmichael’s Lady Edith. Others involved include Penelope Wilton’s sensible cousin Isobel and many of the downstairs staff: Jim Carter’s stentorian Mr Carson and his wife, the no-nonsense housekeeper Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan); Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol), the plainspeaking cook with Escoffier abilities, and her protégée, the occasionally mutinous Daisy (Sophie Mcshera).

When I talk to Fellowes though, he is adamant that a film was never inevitable. Rumours circulated about a prequel, following Robert’s courting of Cora for her money and subsequently falling in love with her, but nothing came of it. ‘When we finished the series, we didn’t envisage a film. We had a lovely party at The Ivy and everyone cried, but that was it as far as I was concerned. Then, as the years rolled by, there was a sense that people hadn’t quite finished with it, and eventually I formed an idea for a feature film.’

The Downton Abbey film, directed by Michael Engler, is set in 1927, just over a year after the series ended, and focuses on the Crawleys and their servants as they prepare for a royal visit. It causes much excitement below stairs, but the staff soon find the monarch’s entourage taking over – including a temperamental French chef (played by Philippe Spall) and a pompous head butler, played by David Haig, who refers to himself as the ‘King’s page of the back stairs’. Other new cast members include Simon Jones and Geraldine James as the King and Queen, Imelda Staunton (real-life wife of Carter) as Lady Bagshaw, lady-in-waiting to the Queen and a relative of the Crawleys, and Tuppence Middleton as her mysterious lady’s maid, Lucy.

Fellowes was inspired, in part, by a book he had read called Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey, which details a 1912 visit by King George V and Queen Mary to South Yorkshire. As well as tucking into lavish 13-course dinners, which included puddings served in sugar baskets that took four days to weave, they also met local miners and toured pit villages. Although the film is set 15 years later, the King and Queen did make similar, unlikely tours around the country, as Fellowes explains. ‘After the First World War, there was a period of unsettled feelings about things – not least the monarchy. It had to re-establish itself as many members of European royalty had disappeared – the German Emperor, the Austrian Emperor, the Tsar of Russia. The structure had to be restated as having an integral role in society and they [George and Mary] were very successful in doing so. By 1930, the Crown was back at the heart of English life.’

For Dockery, making the film was not only a chance to catch up with old friends, but also to further develop a character that the nation took to their hearts.

‘Mary is so complex. We met her at 18 and she was this rebellious teenager – she was bored, and

‘It is pompous, but if you are recreating the ’20s you may as well get it right’

because she was a girl, she wasn’t what her father wanted [an heir to Downton]. Ultimately he became very proud of her, though, and I think everyone really responded to that. Seeing her journey was what hooked people.’

Now we see Lady Mary very much in control, happily married (to Matthew Goode’s Henry Talbot) and more than capable of taking over the ancestral pile when the time comes.

‘Julian writes really well for women and I think that has something to do with his wife, Emma [a descendant of Lord Kitchener]. I see a lot of her in Mary, just her expressions and things,’ she says.

Dockery has had a particularly successful career post-downton. She brought rigour and a dash of fun to her part as an ambitious TV exec in Network (the National Theatre production based on the acclaimed ’70s film), and a sort of watchfulness to the role of a hard-edged widow in Netflix’s warped western Godless. Next year, she will be showing her versatility further in Guy Ritchie’s film The Gentlemen, in which she plays the wife of a drug lord (played by Matthew Mcconaughey).

One character who has a particularly meaty storyline in the film is gay footman Thomas, played by Robert James-collier. We meet at Shepperton Studios, where the kitchen scenes are being filmed. It’s a cavernous setting which production designer Donal Woods describes as ‘like a noirish, Scandi film, as opposed to the glorious technicolor of upstairs’. For the TV series, the servants’ quarters were created at Ealing Studios, but the set has been flat-packed and sent over, as have the copper jelly moulds, kettles and pans.

This time, we see Thomas befriend a footman from the Royal household (played by Max Brown), and he ends up in an illicit gay drinking den in York. This was an era when homosexuality could result in a prison sentence, but, says James-collier, for one brief moment his somewhat malevolent character is liberated.

‘He is introduced to this other world that he doesn’t know exists, and there is this sense of relief, this sudden realisation that there are kindred spirits and that he is not this “foul individual” as Mr Carson once described him.’

The irony that Downton Abbey has been sold to countries where homosexuality can be punished by death is not lost on James-collier, and he feels a grave sense of responsibility about his role. ‘I have received letters from young men who say that watching Thomas’s journey has helped them. All I can say is that it’s an utter privilege. It’s the reason why I do it.’

The film’s 1927 setting marks a period in Britain when country houses such as Downton were beginning to feel the austerity of the interwar years. Death duties had to be paid and households streamlined, which meant that many servants lost their jobs. Meanwhile, the General Strike of 1926 – in which the TUC fought against worsening conditions for the country’s miners – underlined a growing sense of solidarity among the working class. In the film, however, there are no such concerns, and that reflects the point that Downton is in many ways a fantasy. One criticism of the original scripts was that the Crawleys were too benign as employers, that the relationship between master and servant was much more remote, without any of the Earl of Grantham’s well-meaning paternalism. Fellowes disagrees.

‘This notion that people were horrible to their servants is wrong. Most of us, if you think about it logically, and putting aside the moral view that that life should exist at all, would want to get on with the valet or lady’s maid. When you see a character snarling at his butler, you think this isn’t a way of life. None of us would want to be in a position of speaking to people you disliked.’

If Fellowes is the arbiter of psychological accuracy, then Alastair Bruce is the gatekeeper of protocol. He was Downton’s historical adviser at the beginning and describes himself, among other things, as the posture monitor.

He explains. ‘The cast tend to put their bums here on the seat,’ he says indicating the back of his chair. ‘But in those days, you didn’t – you would sit at the front. Also, [people’s] shoulders have fallen forward because everyone is on their mobile phone all the time.’

Bruce also helps the actors with their diction and mentions the word ‘room’. Many tended to accentuate the ‘o’s when it fact it should be shortened, so they sound very nearly like a ‘u’.

‘It is pompous bollocks, but if you are recreating the ’20s you may as well get it right,’ Bruce adds. ‘Michelle would quite happily let me describe her evolution in life as a long way from Downton Abbey, but I have some pretty grandiose friends who can’t believe this is the case. I am very proud of the fact that she now has this incredible poise – you never see a curve in her back – and her accent is on point.’

Several months later, I ask Fellowes whether he has plans for a sequel (although in truth, certain scenes in the film suggest a full stop rather than a pause). ‘There is never any point in answering that,’ he says. ‘In this business as soon as someone says that’s the last time I’ll put on my ballet shoes, there they are, a year later, dancing Giselle.’ Downton Abbey is released on 13 September

[hedwigsaardvark]

From the Telegraph.

The wait is over: Downton Abbey hits the big screen - and a visit to the set uncovers family secrets 

By Ben Lawrence

30 AUGUST 2019

Harry Hadden-Paton, director Michael Engler and Matthew Goode CREDIT: CHARLIE GRAY

CREDIT: CHARLIE GRAY

It is a crisp, clear morning at Wentworth Woodhouse, the stately home in South Yorkshire. Built by the 1st Marquess of Rockingham, it has the widest façade in Europe, boasts at least 365 rooms (no one is certain of the exact number), and represents two and a half acres of building.

The tiaras have been dusted off and the pearls polished. Four long years after the final instalment of Downton Abbey, it’s back, this time on the big screen. 

This perfect specimen of English baroque is the setting for the new Downton Abbey film – in which George V and Queen Mary tour the north of England (which also includes a visit to Downton itself, filmed as usual at Highclere Castle in Berkshire) – and today they are shooting a grand ball at the home of the Countess of Harewood in the film, attended by the royal couple and Downton’s Crawley family. 

Inside the house, a production unit zigzags in and out of huge vaulted rooms with cables and film cameras, while extras in 1920s ball attire chat nonchalantly on makeshift chairs. Meanwhile in the ballroom – a giant marble space, adorned with deep-red damask wallpaper and enormous flower arrangements – Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton(two of the stars of the original series) slip through the lines of dancing couples in diaphanous silks, as a small orchestra plays a waltz.

In the background, an assistant producer is being told off by one of the volunteers of Wentworth Woodhouse for wandering into a disused room. This isn’t jobsworthiness. The carpet in some rooms is nearly 300 years old and will disintegrate if anyone breathes on it. The wallpaper, meanwhile, is laced with arsenic (as was the fashion at the time) in order to make it a certain shade of green.

Away from the action, Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary (the eldest Crawley daughter), is sitting in her trailer, her sharp features accentuated by period make-up, feeling slightly in awe of the whole process. ‘It was during my costume fitting when it hit me. I got really emotional.’

Downton Abbey made Dockery and many of her fellow cast members international names, and no wonder. The ITV series, which ran from 2010 to 2015 and followed the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, was sold to 220 territories worldwide, achieved a global audience of 120 million and was nominated for 53 International Emmys.

In America, it became the most successful British drama import of all time. It also set the bar for costume dramas, at least in terms of visual sheen. The Crown, Netflix’s lavish regal series (which returns this autumn), has clearly been influenced by Julian Fellowes’ series, which cost, on average, £1 million per episode to make.

Everyone expected that a film would be made, but it was quite a feat getting the cast together. ‘It was like herding cats,’ says Dockery. ‘But I just love it. It’s so familiar and doesn’t feel like work.’

Despite rumours to the contrary, Maggie Smith is back as the Dowager Countess, famous for her withering put-downs, as are Hugh Bonneville’s paterfamilias the Earl of Grantham, his American wife Cora (played by Elizabeth McGovern) and his two surviving daughters, Lady Mary, of course, and Laura Carmichael’s Lady Edith. 

Others involved include Penelope Wilton’s sensible cousin Isobel and many of the downstairs staff: Jim Carter’s stentorian Mr Carson and his wife, the no-nonsense housekeeper Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan); Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol), the plain-speaking cook with Escoffierabilities, and her protégée, the occasionally mutinous Daisy (Sophie McShera).

When I talk to Fellowes though, he is adamant that a film was never inevitable. Rumours circulated about a prequel, following Robert’s courting of Cora for her money and subsequently  falling in love with her, but nothing came of it. ‘When we finished the series, we didn’t envisage a film. We had a lovely party at The Ivy and everyone cried, but that was it as far as I was concerned. Then, as the years rolled by, there was a sense that people hadn’t quite finished with it, and eventually I formed an idea for a feature film.’

The Downton Abbey film, directed by Michael Engler, is set in 1927, just over a year after the series ended, and focuses on the Crawleys and their servants as they prepare for a royal visit. It causes much excitement below stairs, but the staff soon find the monarch’s entourage taking over – including a temperamental French chef (played by Philippe Spall) and a pompous head butler, played by David Haig, who refers to himself as the ‘King’s page of the back stairs’.

Other new cast members include Simon Jones and Geraldine James as the King and Queen, Imelda Staunton (real-life wife of Carter) as Lady Bagshaw, lady-in-waiting to the Queen and a relative of the Crawleys, and Tuppence Middleton as her mysterious lady’s maid, Lucy.

Fellowes was inspired, in part, by a book he had read called Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey, which details a 1912 visit by King George V and Queen Mary to South Yorkshire. As well as tucking into lavish 13-course dinners, which included puddings served in sugar baskets that took four days to weave, they also met local miners and toured  pit villages.

Although the film is set 15 years later, the King and Queen did make similar, unlikely tours around the country, as Fellowes explains. ‘After the First World War, there was a period of unsettled feelings about things – not least the monarchy. It had to re-establish itself as many members of European royalty had disappeared – the German Emperor, the Austrian Emperor, the Tsar of Russia. The structure had to be restated as having an integral role in society and they [George and Mary] were very successful in doing so. By 1930, the Crown was back at the heart of English life.’

For Dockery, making the film was not only a chance to catch up with old friends, but also to further develop a character that the nation took to their hearts. 

‘Mary is so complex. We met her at 18 and she was this rebellious teenager – she was bored, and because she was a girl, she wasn’t what her father wanted [an heir to Downton]. Ultimately he became very proud of her, though, and I think  everyone really responded to that. Seeing her journey was what hooked people.’

Now we see Lady Mary very much in control, happily married (to Matthew Goode’s Henry  Talbot) and more than capable of taking over the ancestral pile when the time comes.

‘Julian writes really well for women and I think that has something to do with his wife, Emma [a descendant of Lord Kitchener]. I see a lot of her in Mary, just her expressions and things,’ she says.

Dockery has had a particularly successful career post-Downton. She brought rigour and a dash of fun to her part as an ambitious TV exec in Network (the National Theatre production based on the acclaimed ’70s film), and a sort of watchfulness to the role of a hard-edged widow in Netflix’s warped western Godless. Next year, she will be showing her versatility further in Guy Ritchie’s film The Gentlemen, in which she plays the wife of a drug lord (played by Matthew McConaughey).

One character who has a particularly meaty  storyline in the film is gay footman Thomas, played by Robert James-Collier. We meet at Shepperton Studios, where the kitchen scenes are being filmed. It’s a cavernous setting which production designer Donal Woods describes as ‘like a noirish, Scandi film, as opposed to the glorious technicolor of upstairs’. For the TV series, the servants’ quarters were created at Ealing Studios, but the set has been flat-packed and sent over, as have the copper jelly moulds, kettles and pans. 

This time, we see Thomas befriend a footman from the Royal household (played by Max Brown), and he ends up in an illicit gay drinking den in York. This was  an era when homosexuality could result in a prison sentence, but, says James-Collier, for one brief moment his somewhat malevolent character is liberated.

‘He is introduced to this other world that he doesn’t know exists, and there is this sense of relief, this sudden realisation that there are  kindred spirits and that he is not this “foul individual” as Mr Carson once described him.’

The irony that Downton Abbey has been sold to countries where homosexuality can be punished by death is not lost on James-Collier, and he feels a grave sense of responsibility about his role.  ‘I have received letters from young men who say that watching Thomas’s journey has helped them. All I can say is that it’s an utter privilege. It’s the reason why I do it.’

The film’s 1927 setting marks a period in Britain when country houses such as Downton were beginning to feel the austerity of the interwar years. Death duties had to be paid and households streamlined, which meant that many servants lost their jobs. Meanwhile, the General Strike of 1926 – in which the TUC fought against worsening conditions for the country’s miners – underlined a growing sense of solidarity among the working class.

In the film, however, there are no such concerns, and that reflects the point that Downton is in many ways a fantasy. One criticism of the original scripts was that the Crawleys were too benign as employers, that the relationship between master and servant was much more remote, without any of the Earl of Grantham’s well-meaning paternalism. Fellowes disagrees.

‘This notion that people were horrible to their servants is wrong. Most of us, if you think about it logically, and putting aside the moral view that that life should exist at all, would want to get on with the valet or lady’s maid. When you see a character snarling at his butler, you think this isn’t a way of life. None of us would want to be in  a position of speaking to people you disliked.’

If Fellowes is the arbiter of psychological accuracy, then Alastair Bruce is the gatekeeper of  protocol. He was Downton’s historical adviser at the beginning and describes himself, among other things, as the posture monitor.

He explains. ‘The cast tend to put their bums here on the seat,’ he says indicating the back of his chair. ‘But in those days, you didn’t – you would sit at the front. Also, [people’s] shoulders have fallen forward because everyone is on their mobile phone all the time.’

Bruce also helps the actors with their diction and mentions the word ‘room’. Many tended to accentuate the ‘o’s when it fact it should be shortened, so they sound very nearly like a ‘u’.

‘It is pompous bollocks, but if you are recreating the ’20s you may as well get it right,’ Bruce adds. ‘Michelle would quite happily let me describe her evolution in life as a long way from Downton Abbey, but I have some pretty grandiose friends who can’t believe this is the case. I am very proud of the fact that she now has this incredible poise – you never see a curve in her back – and her accent is on point.’

Several months later, I ask Fellowes whether he has plans for a sequel (although in truth, certain scenes in the film suggest a full stop rather than a pause). ‘There is never any point in answering that,’ he says. ‘In this business as soon as someone says that’s the last time I’ll put on my ballet shoes, there they are, a year later, dancing Giselle.’

Downton Abbey is released on 13 September 

Source and copyright The Telegraph

[stardust-simming]

Each of Cumulus and Fig’s children are creative’s; Cordial a pianist, Azalea a violinist, Orchid a writer and painter, Lavender and Fig painters. Though for most of them, it’s just a hobby. But, for Orchid, it was what she wanted… What she felt was for her to do. In the future.

Orchid grew up having strange dreams.Dreams of a woman named Calico. Calico was a pirate with multiple female lovers and a ship that had no crew but that didn’t have cause any issues. The ship could sail and navigate all on its own and, aside from a few barnacles, the ship was in pristine condition. She would use the dreams to write compilation books for publish while she was in high school.

Orchid was not close to her siblings. She preferred solitude to paint or write. In her early teens she convinced Lavender to wear a purple contact because she was not a fan of how similar they looked. Despite all that she does love her siblings.

After high school, Orchid signed up for, and got into, a writing program in a college abroad. Cumulus was opposed to her doing it because it took her baby out of the county. But Orchid had always been independent and there was no talking her out of something she wanted to do.

Her father, however, was all for her going. He hoped the distance would help her appreciate her siblings more. He’d known as soon as she announced that she got in that she would be going because, thanks to Cumulus, she typically got her way.

In the end, as predicted, Orchid, fresh out of high school, was leaving the county and taking part in a program she had signed up for without getting adult permission. Her siblings were pleased with that. Finally some attention for them.

Orchid left as soon as she could, eager to get settled in and begin to work on her writing. She had writing tunnel vision, so to speak. Writing was her world… with painting as a close, close second. She didn’t have any trouble traveling. Actually she’d slept the whole flight.

Post flight, Orchid got lost quite a bit on her way to the campus. It wasn’t until it was quite late that she decided to ask for directions. The first person she saw was a man that looked really, oddly, familiar to her. So familiar that she thought she was going crazy and, without thinking, she called out… to Calico, her pirate dream.

The man turned and looked at her, surprised. Him facing her didn’t really help her confusion.

She soon discovered his name was Calico Cider and he was in a program like the one she was starting, only for cooking. So he helped her get to the campus. On the way they got to know one another. He was twenty, She was eighteen, he was an only child, she was not, he wanted to become a chef, she was a self published author who wanted to further her career and she really wanted to do more that her Captain Calico stories.

Upon hearing Captain Calico, Calico froze and his jaw dropped. Apparently he’d read them. All of them, not that there were many of them, and he was a fan, much to her dismay. However, she didn’t want to be too rude, so she smiled and listened to his excitement, his questions and answered what she could.

Oh, um, I’ve always had these dreams about her so I wrote them. You and her actually look so much alike it’s so weird for me. She’s not ready to settle down yet. Just because she self identifies as a pirate doesn’t mean she actually is one. I honestly don’t know yet if she’ll hook up with Lady Jackfruit again. I’m glad you think of her as a lesbian icon… but she’s not a lesbian.

That last answer always throws people. She understood why. No one’s seen the Captain with anyone but women. But Orchid gets this feeling there’s more there then a fondness for the female form.

Calico seemed surprised for a moment after he took in her responses. Then he thought about it. Next thing Orchid knew he was agreeing with her.  That there was more to the character than readers knew, hmm? And what’s the deal with her ship? Oh, the Duchess is sentient and can control anything on the ship. What?! How did that happen? A woman rejected a Sea God for a merchant so he changed her out of spite.

By the time they made it to the campus, Orchid found herself more comfortable with him then she’d ever been with anyone. Not that she actually socialized much outside of business calls to her editor or beta readers.

Orchid was, usually, weird about talking to people. Probably because she sometimes wanted to blurt out that she had a weird, atypical, unusual family history, in that her mom had a pseudo-incestuous relationship with three out of her five adoptive siblings, because that sounds like a good conversation starter to her.

However, with Calico there was no desire to blurt that or any other odd SugarVeil family detail. Actually, she was a little afraid that once she got settled in she wouldn’t see him very much and they wouldn’t get to talk again.

Luckily, seriously luckily, it turned out that they were two of six people that would be sharing a floor of one of the campus dorm buildings. Which made Orchid so happy. Then she met the other people that would be on there floor. There were two other writers; Wisp Vellum and Honey Bee, another chef; Apricot Citrus, and a painter; Rose Blossom.

Wisp was a Raw nineteen year old that published a novel called Madame Moth’s Carnival under the pen name Pixie Rose. She even created a whole persona and disguise for Pixie. But her pride in her work made Wisp to came out as Pixie.

Honey Bee was just starting as a writer and has yet to actually write any stories. She’s been trying to find a perfect story to start her career with. Orchid’s not entirely sure if Honey really wants to write, but she would never call someone out like that.

Apricot Citrus… son of a chef whose the son of a chef whose the son of a chef and so on  and so on and so on. Cooking’s in his blood. But Apricot? He wants a family, a loving family that he can shower with love… and cookies… and cakes… and brownies  and so on and so on and so on. Point is, he’s there to bake.

Rose Blossom is something else… in a good way of course. Their twenty-two and such a sweetheart from what Orchid can tell and she couldn’t help but gravitate toward them. Rose could be described as sensitive but so could most artists. They put everything they have into what their doing and get genuinely upset if it turns out even the slightest bit wrong. They’re married and their spouse is currently nearing the end of the couple’s first pregnancy. While they would love to be home preparing for the baby, their spouse insisted they take part in the program and learn new techniques so they can make more from paintings sold.

Upon first meeting them, Orchid was intimidated but the other two writers. She adored Madame Moth’s Carnival and thought it was sooo much better than what she’d written. Then as a still unpublished author Honey still had sooo much potential. Meanwhile Apricot and Rose sort of reminded her of her family; Apricot’s flirtatious nature mirroring how her older siblings behaved together and Rose being a mixture of her parents, little sister and her uncles. That thought made her uncomfortable while around Apricot.

For the program, they had classes regarding the subject they were there for most of the day a couple days a week and the program lasted one year. Which was fine with Orchid, a person could learn a lot in that amount of time. Then when they weren’t in class they could network and build friendly relationships with other people in the programs. In case they may want to work together in the future. It was a great way to build a career and improve their trade.

During her time in the program, Orchid worked on what she called the last Captain Calico book, improving it and tying loose story threads as she learned new things. It sort of took up most of her time but she still managed to get closer to Calico and befriend Wisp and Rose. Honey learned that Orchid doubted her actually writing and, well, their friendship was over before it began. Then Apricot didn’t even notice her there.

With how close they were Orchid found herself accidentally falling for Calico.  Being awkward she never mentioned it or acted on it. But Wisp told her it was obvious how she felt so she hoped he’d do something.

Oh he did something alright… He dated other girls. Girls Orchid didn’t think was his type but maybe he only really like intelligent conversation when it was with her. Either way, Orchid was hurting. This was the first time she’d felt strongly for a real person and she didn’t have the nerve to tell him. So, like a good friend, she choked on her feelings and continued to be there for him. How Orchid handled that actually pissed Wisp and Rose off. They were routing for her but they did understand what happened. How was Calico supposed to know to do something when, as far as they knew, he had no idea how she felt.

Calico, as much as he liked to play dumb, could tell how she felt. Orchid had quite expressive eyes that lit up around two things, that he’d noticed, Him and raspberry pudding. He had wanted her to tell him herself as, while he felt the same, he didn’t know how to tell her. So until he figured it out or it burst out of Orchid he decided to spend some time with girls from one of the classes he was in. Which from the outside looked like he was dating other girls.  

When she wasn’t in class, writing or stressing over Calico, Orchid emailed and IM’d her family. She’d never admit it to them, but she did miss them. Well she didn’t miss Cordial and Azalea’s weird need to be with each other constantly. But she gave her family weekly updates on most of what was happening with her.

Next thing she knew her birthday arrived, almost halfway through the program, and Wisp decided to take her out. A fun evening out. Their floor and some people they’d gotten friendly with came a club off campus to celebrate. Well to drink and dance. That was the first time Orchid had ever drank. And the birthday girl went overboard.

She liked how warm it made her feel and she couldn’t stop giggling.

That night she made her feelings known to Calico. Well he already knew… So she acted on her feelings for Calico. To keep her from getting alcohol poisoning, he had pulled her out onto the dance floor. They began to dance together, eyes glued to one another and the air around them felt… electric. Orchid, filled to the brim with liquid courage, decided to make her move then.

She wrapped her arms around him, draping them over his shoulders really, grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his face to her level as Calico was a foot taller than her. Then she kissed him… hard. Her grip on him was firm and she seemed… determined. All Calico could do was react. Which he did by pulling her body to his and grabbing the backs of her thighs, lifting her and wrapping her legs around him.

Things sort of went downhill from there. Orchid released his neck and pulled back from the kiss. Her face was flushed and her eyes darted around the room. Then… she vomited all over them.

Calico handled it like a champ… unlike the people around them. Without putting her down, he rubbed her back and carried her back to the dorm. He made sure to tell Wisp before leaving but taking care of Orchid was his first priority. By the time the got back to their floor she’d sobered up a little and was embarrassed about throwing up. He assured her it was fine and he gave her some water and helped her get cleaned up before tucking her into bed.

It took a couple days for her to look him in the eyes again. In her embarrassment she decided to… avoid Calico and really focus on finishing her book. Occasionally she notice him pouting as she evaded conversations with him.

After a week passed Calico confronted her. He tried to remain calm as he spoke to her about what happened and asked her about avoiding him. But really he ended up angrily telling her that he loved her and their kiss was great, aside from the fact that she was drunk and puked all over them. When he finished they stared at each other in a stunned silence. Which he broke to apologize to her for how him spending so much time with other girls must have looked and that nothing happened with them, they were just friends talking about recipes. To shut him up, Orchid kissed him.

It was sudden and similar to how she had on her birthday. This time Calico was too surprised to respond. Apricot, who was passing by when she’d done it, told them to get a room. A sentiment that made the two separate and laugh.

Apparently, that whole time, Apricot paid her no mind because well he had eyes, he could see he made her uncomfortable. Also, he thought she and Calico were a thing.

Shortly after the two did begin a relationship. They would spend almost every spare moment together. He gave her space when she wrote so he wouldn’t spoil himself. But, Orchid, without a second thought, was quick to spoil him. Oh, and Captain Calico ends up with Prince Thistle. What?! No way! Not once have you ever- Indicated she has feelings for him? Yes I have. He’s the one person she’s sweet on that she’s never even tried to sleep with. She’s like that because she actually thinks sex ruins a relationship and she doesn’t want to ruin anything with him.

She knew she shouldn’t have told him about that. But she really wanted to after be made her hurt on an emotional level for months. Though… To be fair, at the time, he’d really only said he was going to hang out with someone. So really she had jumped to conclusions on that one.

When Orchid finished her latest book she asked one of her teachers to edit it for her. The teacher; Ms Tea Melon, read all of the other books in preparation for the edit as Orchid requested. She wanted to be positive that there were no gaping plot holes.

To her delight there wasn’t. So she fixed what she had to, which was mostly grammatical errors, redundant words, misspellings. Then she published the book titling it The Final Adventures of Captain Calico. It was a big hit.

[yotsutama]

2nd Anniversary Special Story 5

Idolish7 2nd Anniversary Special Story

Chapter 5 - Innocent Feelings

Phantom: This is your last chance. Kujou Tenn.

Tenn: Okay.

Gaku: You look confident.

Tenn: Well, yeah. Can I answer now?

Phantom: Say it.

Tenn: Love is, when we find out your true self, and call out your name.

Riku: …… Call his name?

Tenn: I’ve been suspicious of you. You’re asking us what ‘love’ is, even if you are a criminal, it’s hard to think that you are a man.

Tenn: Phantom, you are a woman. Plus, you couldn’t understand philosophical or adult-like answers.

Tenn: What you understood was an answer anyone, even a kid could understand, ‘an exciting feeling when surpassing the rainbow.’

Tenn: What angered you was the word ‘sea.’ Because someone couldn’t take you there.

Riku: Take her there…? ……! Ah…!

Tenn: Yeah. Phantom is the Master Director’s daughter. Am I right? Hitomi-chan.

Master Director’s Daughter: …………………

Iori: Master Director’s… Now that you said it, if she wasn’t related to Master Control, she couldn’t release breaking news that quickly.

Nagi: However, Master Control’s room has high-level security.

Nagi: Even if she is the staff’s family. A little lady like her couldn’t possibly access the computer that easily.

Master Director’s Daughter: …… I took the magic bag.

Mitsuki: The magic bag…?

Riku: Hitomi-chan, why are you doing this?

Master Director’s Daughter: I heard Papa and Mama talking, they said it was the president of TRIGGER’s agency’s fault they couldn’t celebrate my birthday.

Yaotome Sousuke: …… What?

Master Director’s Daughter: I liked TRIGGER very much. But since I found out about that, I hate them so much now.

Master Director’s Daughter: They are idols, they can be stars whenever they want, but I can be the star only on my birthday.

Riku: …… Hitomi-chan……

Master Director’s Daughter: That’s why, I used the magic bag. Then, I found out you were going to have a party at this restaurant.

Master Director’s Daughter: It’s not fair only TRIGGER gets to be celebrated. So I wanted to mess it up, just like my birthday.

Sougo: …… What do you mean by magic bag?

Master Director’s Daughter: It’s a big bag Papa’s new coworker put in our garage, he asked us to keep it for him.

Master Director’s Daughter: There’s a lot of difficult instructions in it. But I’m used to computers, so I learned how to access it.

Master Director’s Daughter: Then, when I tried pulling a prank, the instructions told me how to do it and then I could write whatever I wanted and make it appear on TV.

Tamaki: A prank, you mean that news about King Pudding being discontinued!?

Master Director’s Daughter: Yes. The bomb was a lie, but there are detailed instructions on how to create breaking news about a meteor.

Iori: Is that… A special machine and instructions on how to hack master control’s work!?

Iori: It’s dangerous for you to have those things. Let us go, and give that bag to us……

Master Director’s Daughter: No!!

Tenn: ………………..

Tenn: You haven’t satisfied messing up our party?

Master Director’s Daughter: I haven’t……

Tenn: I see. But I don’t think you can be satisfied even if you continued.

Master Director’s Daughter: Why?

Tenn: Because you like us, after all.

Master Director’s Daughter: ………………….

Tenn: You won’t ask what love is to guys you hate, right?

Tenn: If you almost started to hate us, try to like us. We will definitely make you love us again.

Tenn: We promise you won’t regret it. Please, don’t give up on us.

Tenn: Please, keep loving us.

Riku: …… Tenn-nii……

Master Director’s Daughter: I……

Master Director’s Daughter: I wanted to marry Yaotome Gaku.

Gaku: Me?

Tenn: So your favorite is Gaku……

Ryuunosuke: Is that so……

Momo: Do the two of you feel slightly disappointed you’re not her favorite?

Master Director’s Daughter: But, if I marry Yaotome Gaku, I have to call that stupid president my dad……

Yaotome Sousuke: Who are you calling stupid president!? Don’t you know I can demote your father with my power!?

Okazaki Rinto: President Yaotome, don’t talk about adult matters in front of a little girl! Little lady, you shouldn’t call uncle Yaotome stupid!

Master Director’s Daughter: Okay……

Okazaki Rinto: Hitomi-chan, how about not marrying Yaotome Gaku-kun, and marrying Rinto Onii-chan here? There won’t be any problems that way, right?

Yuki: Okarin just lined himself with the most Desired Embrace no.1 man.

Momo: Awesome. I might fall for him.

Master Director’s Daughter: No way.

Okazaki Rinto: Hm… Youngsters these days reject confessions so fast.

Ogami Banri: Hitomi-chan, how about Banri Onii-chan? I would make sweet sugar bread snacks for you.

Tamaki: Our guy stepped forward too!

Sougo: And he used snacks to lure her……

Iori: Plus, the snacks were simply cheap……

Master Director’s Daughter: No way. Yaotome Gaku is popular in my class.

Gaku: You like me because I’m popular? You shouldn’t like someone just because of that reason.

Master Director’s Daughter: …………………

Gaku: I want you to find my good traits and like me because of that. I have weaknesses too, but I have quite a lot of good traits.

Gaku: Find your own reason to like me. When you genuinely like me, my old man won’t matter to you anymore.

Master Director’s Daughter: …… I thought of that too before……

Master Directobr’s Daughter: But my birthday, the day I became an adult, ended up as a boring day. I can no longer believe in love or adults anymore……

Mitsuki: Don’t say you don’t believe in it! Hitomi-chan, you’re still 10 years old, aren’t you?

Mitsuki: Lots of exciting things are waiting for you! True, there might be sad things too.

Mitsuki: But believe, you are the star in your life every single day, forever!

Master Director’s Daughter: …… Not only on my birthday?

Ryuunosuke: He’s right. Even on sunny days or rainy days, you are here, with your family and friends. You are the star in your own story that will always continue.

Momo: Even if you don’t stand on a stage or air pranks on TV, if you laugh, it’s a good story ending!

Yamato: A story about locking idols up is hard to brag about to your classmates, right? You should go out, and make a new story.

Yamato: Onii-san understands it well. If you think you can’t believe it, you will no longer believe it. But…

Yamato: If you think things will be OK, and believe in yourself, surprisingly, it will be OK in the end.  (1)

Gaku: Please let us go, Hitomi.

Master Director’s Daughter: …… Gaku-kun……

Gaku: You like me, don’t you? Then come to me. I will make you feel like you’re surpassing the rainbow.

Gaku: I promise.

Yaotome Sousuke: ……………….

Yaotome Sousuke: …… I understand. I will talk to that TV station’s Master Director.

Yaotome Sousuke: I can’t promise, but I will see if your father can have another day off for your birthday.

Master Director’s Daughter: Really…!?

Yaotome Sousuke: Yeah. So you must let us go already. Anyway, where is this!?

Master Director’s Daughter: The restaurant’s 1st floor.

Yaotome Sousuke: What? Then, where are the owner and chefs!?

Master Director’s Daughter: They’re here. They’re waiting until the surprise ends. They helped me lock the room too.

Yaotome Sousuke: Surprise!? The owner thought this was a surprise!?

Master Director’s Daughter: They said Re:vale called them and asked them to help with their surprise.

Master Director’s Daughter: That’s why they listened to my requests too.

Yaotome Sousuke: You brats…!!

Momo: Ouch--! Sorry sorry!!

Yuki: Well well, President, well well well.

Anesagi Kaoru: Then what are the hand-shaped bloodstains on the refrigerator!?

Master Director’s Daughter: The owner accidentally put the documents and CD into the shredder and when he tried to take it out he injured himself.

Master Director’s Daughter: If it’s put in a refrigerator, the scratches would disappear so he placed it in there.  (2)

Anesagi Kaoru: Don’t you know that’s our legendary CD!?

Master Director’s Daughter: Ah…!!

Riku: Are you okay!?

Master Director’s Daughter: Some weird people are coming! The restaurant owner is unconscious…!

Iori: Is the owner of the bag coming back to get it?

Iori: He had instructions on how to hack master control’s work, he can’t be a normal person. He must have planned a criminal act!

Nagi: Hurry up, Hitomi! Hide yourself this instant! Look for a narrow space so the adults can’t find you!

Master Director’s Daughter: Eh……

Nagi: Go go go! Hurry up!

Master Director’s Daughter: ……gh, Kyaaa…!

Nagi: …… Jesus!

Yamato: Tama! How’s the door!?

Tamaki: It won’t open!!

Riku: Hitomi-chan! Hitomi-chan…!

Sougo: …… She’s not responding……

Anesagi Kaoru: You must be lying… No way…!

All: ………………..

Takanashi Otoharu: …… Everyone, are you okay!?

Tsumugi: Dad!

Ogami Banri: President!

Yaotome Sousuke: Takanashi! Is that you!?

Takanashi Otoharu: Sorry I am late. When I arrived, a little girl was cornered by an odd guy.

Ogami Banri: President, are you safe!?

Takanashi Otoharu: I am okay! I threw him with a one arm shoulder throw!  (3)

Ogami Banri: President, so ikemen…!!

Momo: Ban-san just fanboyed like me……

Takanashi Otoharu: I will open the door now. … Ah! Right. Yaotome-kun, TRIGGER.

Yaotome Sousuke: What.

Takanashi Otoharu: Congratulations on your award! As expected of Yaotome Production’s top idols. Do your best from now on too.

Yaotome Sousuke: …… Haha. Shut up. Hurry and open the door already.

Tsumugi: Thus, the case was solved.

Tsumugi: The man who owned Hitomi-chan’s magic bag was arrested by the police.

Tsumugi: His motive was he was upset because a woman he worked with at the TV station dumped him.

 [Re:vale’s Agency]

Momo: I’m glad the case was solved in the end! If the culprit’s plan went as planned, Japan would be in a panic.

Yuki: Idols who saved Japan, that doesn’t sound bad.

Momo: You’re super ikemen!!

Okazaki Rinto: Thanks for your work! I should do my best too so President Yaotome will forgive me soon……

[IDOLiSH7 dorms]

Riku: But it was inspiring! We don’t talk about love except at our jobs after all!

Nagi: We were able to get home on time to watch Cocona as well.

Tamaki: Nagicchi, which do you like more, girls or Cocona?

Nagi: Tamaki… My love is deeper than the sea and higher than the sky.

Tamaki: So?

Nagi: I love both with all my heart.

Mitsuki: That’s called two-timing!

Yamato: How about you, Mitsu? Have you improved your vocabulary, not just ‘having your heart throbbing?’

Mitsuki: Uumm… It’s kinda hard to express our feelings, see?

Iori: What if there are feelings that can’t be expressed using words?

Mitsuki: In that case… I’d bake a delicious cake to express my feelings! I’m a baker’s son, after all!

Tamaki: We’re goi--…… Sou-chan, leave that thing!!

Sougo: But Tamaki-kun, you said I should bring this with me regularly……

Tamaki: I wasn’t serious! The police would arrest you if you brought that screwdriver everywhere!

Yamato: …… You could get out easily whenever you’re locked somewhere, then.

[TRIGGER’s dressing room]

Anesagi Kaoru: Sigh… I was afraid that something would happen to you. Thank god you are ok.

Anesagi Kaoru: That girl was able to have her birthday party with her dad too!

Ryuunosuke: Is that true!? I’m glad!

Ryuunosuke: But Tenn, I was impressed by how you could guess that Phantom was a girl.

Tenn: Because I’m an idol.

Ryuunosuke: Because you’re an idol?

Tenn: I’m always thinking about how to make the girls who like us happy.

Tenn: I’m having fun doing that, it’s like celebrating someone’s birthday every day. I have a wonderful job.

Ryuunosuke: You’re right. Even though we don’t have any magic item, we can always make someone happy with our own power.

Ryuunosuke: It’s such an honor to have this wonderful job.

[TV station hallway]

Gaku: Oi.

Yaotome Sousuke: What.

Gaku: I heard from Mom. When I was a kid, we celebrated my birthday at that restaurant before.

Yaotome Sousuke: ………………..

Gaku: …… If that’s the truth, you should’ve told me.

Yaotome Sousuke: …… Your mother was raised in a small town with an impetuous personality. She always complained about the French cooking there.

Yaotome Sousuke: ‘The cooking time is so slow. Even a Soba just takes 10 minutes to be served,’ she said. Thinking about it now, we never got along from the start.

Gaku: …………….....

Yaotome Sousuke: …… However, it was a good memory.

Gaku: Hmph……

Yaotome Sousuke: I won’t take us to dinner again. You made friends with those brats without my permission and messed up the dinner.

Gaku: Thanks to that, you were saved by them, right? Anyway, I don’t care, we can have a party ourselves.

Yaotome Sousuke: Head to the studio already. Stay focused.

Gaku: You don’t have to tell me that. Bye.

[Backstage]

Tenn: Gaku, you’re so slow.

Gaku: My bad.

Audiences: Kyaaaaaaaaa……..

Ryuunosuke: The audience is so excited.

Tenn: Are you ready to show them the rainbow and the sea?

Gaku: Yeah.

Ryuunosuke: Let’s do our best!

Tenn: No matter where our stage is, we are TRIGGER. No matter what happens, we won’t budge. Our passion is here, and it will never change.

Tenn: Being loved as if it’s our birthday and loving them as if we were celebrating their birthdays.

Tenn: Up until now, from now on, towards every person we see with these eyes.

 End.

T/N?

Proofread by Sophia @ousama-pudding!! <3

(1) *part 3 spoiler* do you know how much I cried at this line knowing yamato spent his young days not believing in anyone SOBS

(2) Freezing a CD can actually remove scratches on a CD. By placing a damaged CD into the freezer for several hours and then letting it thaw to room temperature on its own and removing any excess moisture afterwards will fix the CD. When small ice layers forms in the scratch, this will allow the laser to read the song normally and it basically won’t read the scratches anymore and play the CD like normal. (TBH I didn’t know this until Sophia told me hahaha thanks!)

(3) One arm shoulder throw is a judo/sumo move.

I WANT YAOTOME FAMS TO HAVE DINNER AGAIN (and eat soba together)

We plan to translate Twelve Fantasia in Fukuoka next (personally just because Re:vale and MEZZO” take the spotlight in Fukuoka story lol) not going to do the whole twelve fantasia story bc I believe someone would do it... someone would......

tHANKS FOR READING

[yoshi4sushi]

(purupurupuru) (purupurupuru) (gocha!) (coo!) (coo!)

 Happy Fall Monday, minna-san! Summer is over so it’s back to school and work, but fret not. Fall season will be filled with fun stuff so w/o further ado, let’s get down to business. First off, last week’s chapter is increasing the situation into worse. Urashima was in shocked and angry to have his top knot cut off by Okiku that it got him into rage mode of wanting to kill her. However, Luffy steps in and challenges him. Luffy was avoiding all his attack so easily. Meanwhile, poor Tama is getting her cheeks pulled so hard with a pliers by the jerk Holden to see if her cheeks do produce dango. Poor Tama could only cry for Luffy’s help. On the other side, Hawkins is heading to Bakura town to resolve the situation of Luffy and the others. Just when things are bad, Law was about to head out to stop the guys, but poor Bepo collapsed b/c he ate the fish from the poisoned water which is bounding Law to either stop the guys or tend poor Bepo. Finally back in town, Luffy unleased his ultimate sumo move and sent Urashima flying across town. BAM! All the onlookers were so shocked to see that he was defeated. With that, Holdem’s goons start attacking Luffy and the others, but they were easily defeated. At the end, Luffy screamed for Holdem to show up, and that he did. He has poor Tama captured in the jaws of the lion in his stomach threatening that it will crush her should he make any attempt to fight back. The situation is getting more intense. Hawkins is closely approaching, and Law is against the wall. What is the outcome of it? Guess we’ll find next week. Yes, this week, no chapter so it’s another break, but be patient. Next, this past weekend’s episode, things are looking up and down at the same time. Sanji and the girls finally reached Chocolat Town, but before they arrive, Pudding chained up Chiffon to deceive the town thinking that she is forcing her to help knowing that she is married to Bege while Sanji is hiding in Labian, the talking carpet. The 31 chefs of WCI has gathered ready to bake the cake and Sanji got a head start of providing the exact recipe to make the cake. Everyone is ready, and they have two hours to prepare it. Meanwhile, Luffy is giving his all to beat Katakuri, but this man keeps knocking him down. He then tells Brulee to go burn Sunnny and the others. At the end, she and her siblings found the mirror that leads to Sunny ready to send burning arrows. Next time, the gang is still being chased by Big Mom, and a huge tidal wave is making their problems worse. Will they survive? Don’t miss it this weekend. Now on with the goods! FIGURINES! FIGURINES! NEW ONES! First, Premium Bandai will soon be taking reservations for this pricey and awesome figurine of Eneru. Reservation date will be announced later. The figurine will be released in February next year. Next, this Friday, Megahobby will accept reservations for the new POP Maximum figurine of Hancock and Salome. She will also be released next year in February. Next, all arcades will be stocking this new Lady Edge Wedding figurine of Perona in her white and black and red dress version. Get those coins ready if you wanna win this beauty. Next, new Gashapon figurines is revealed. This time, it’s the ASL brothers in their swim trunks. They will be released in December. When you buy it, you have to put it together. It’s the same with the girls gashapon. Next, new birthday goods of Hancock are in stock such as this tote bag and set of bromide cards. It is also available in Tokyo Tower. The tower is also selling this ceramic glass and straw hat good for drinking beer or just having it as a decoration. Next, more new anniversary goods will be in stock soon. First, we mentioned before they’ll sell this adorable mugi mugi tote bag, this awesome red color mug, stickers that come in two sets, neat double side folders, metal tag key chain of Luffy and Katakuri, large cloth flags of wanted posters and the jolly roger, and these adorable sticker set of mugi mugi which will be released on Oct.6th which a certain special birthday of a good looking pirate. Next, Fuji TV are selling new goods of Hollywood theme. They’ll have buttons, folders, stickers, and memo pads. Moving on, I hope everyone is ready for the New Year. The new osechi meal has been revealed. This only applies for those who live w/in Japan. The new osechi meal will have loads of goodies. It will have a double bento box filled with delish veggies, pork, fish, and ham. The cover will be decorated in a colorful print of the Straw Hats in their New Year kimono. If you order this bento meal, you will be given free stuff such as this colorful plate, two chopstick sets, and a wooden square cup that has Luffy carved in it. Payment can only be made in credit card or bank transfer. You will receive a receipt by email once you paid. The meal will be delivered by New Year’s Eve so be sure to be home so you can receive it. Next, all convenient stores, Straw Hat stores, and bookstores have stocked the new Jump issue that has Luffy eating a tasty burger. Inside will have a free ticket to get a free burger from McDonald’s. The campaign will last until Sunday so be sure to get a copy that has the ticket. Next, the Vivre Card fan book has been released at all stores. The booklet will contain many facts of characters that are listed. The next two will be released sometime in early October. Last, but not least, the OP game, Thousand Storm, will have a short event where you can now use Arlong as a playable character. Just level up and earn enough points to get it. Many, many more stuff is coming up this fall, but this is all for now. Tune in next week for more news and goods. Excellent job, muchachos!

New Year meal: https://onepiece-osechi.com/

Figurine: http://megatreshop.shop40.makeshop.jp/shopdetail/000000000623/

[ohshanksno]

The Elves of Santa's Workshop~

Luffy: Designated Gift Wrapper. He leaves EVERY single hour on the dot just so he can go to Mrs. Claus and her Secondary Chef, Sanji, and demand cookies. He gets some shit done but it ain't a lot. Steals nutcrackers for unknown reasons. He steals toy cars just so he can break them. Once upon a time he got three reindeer lost, INCLUDING Chopper? Santa was devastated, but Luffy is so innocent? How can you stay mad at that face? He does things that makes you question your sanity.

Sabo: Was once Painter, but now Fixer Upper. That one elf that ALWAYS gets into something but no one ever suspects him. He’s too good for his own good. He broke Santa's Sleigh one December because he spilled hot cocoa on the dashboard. In the middle of July, he broke the cooling unit because he pulled a wire wrong, and half the North Pole went out. Some ice caps melted because of him, and Chopper was out for a week because of the heat. Koala is his partner in crime, and no one can prove it. Gets work done in a timely manner but he's not an artist at painting things like Ace. He's an artist at PAINING hahahha get it

Ace: Works really hard! Best elf there is! HATES Santa with all his heart. Tried to stab him with a sharpened candy cane and got tossed out the window instead. Designated Head Reindeer Caretaker with Zoro and Law. The reindeer like him best for odd reasons and they keep following him around, even into the shop when he needs to get some tools. It creeps him out how they follow him, silent and quick like thieves. Asked Chopper one day why do they keep following him, and Chopper told him: ‘you smell nice, and you’re the warmest body we got.’ He’s afraid to step outside by himself now to do his work. 

Koala: Santa’s List Helper. Gets caught up in Sabo's shit sometimes and honestly, she got caught up in his tornado so many times she just goes along with it. Literally watched Sabo accidentally burn the Naughty List one year and all she did was shrug. Not very surprised, anymore. Helps Santa with his lists because she has a good memory and very nice handwriting skills. Santa likes her happy-go-lucky personality. She doesn’t wear dresses to work, but instead wears work jumpers unless it’s a holiday party. THEN she’ll bring out her dresses.

Zoro: Can't find his way to the shop, much less the Reindeer Stacks. He ends up in the middle of the North Pole at least once a week, and Santa has to keep sending Chopper out there. Now, he has Chopper with him at all times. Good worker. Reindeer Caretaker and Toy Detailer. Falls asleep when he finishes 10 toys, so not a lot gets done in there. But he does get a lot done in the Stacks with Chopper’s help. Always fights with Sanji, but at the end of the day, all three of them go home together. Very lovely sight that has Santa crying sometimes.

Usopp: Good boy. GREAT boy. The perfect boy that Santa could ask for. The designated Head Painter AND Detailer because he’s just THAT good. People really think he's Pinnochio because of how he dresses, and he just goes along with it. He's got three little boys that follow him around, and they're mini Usopp 1, 2, and 3. No one knows who they are or where they came from, but they get a lot done by helping him paint. He's seen some things on that conveyor belt that should not be spoken of.

Nami: CONSTANTLY steals rich girl toys. She’s the Head Detailer. Stole a drone at one point. She does everything for a price, Santa, and labor is not very easy. Santa gotta keep paying her those Belis if he wants her to work. Good worker, but the prices she demands?? Santa's in the negatives by the end of the day. Dressed in a short dress one day because it was the only outfit left for her, and no work was done because of her. She beat up some kids here and there. Left the shop with loads of money. Half of it was stolen. Good Detailer and Wrapper, best one there is, but is it worth the money? Yes. Has a sister, but no one knows who she is. She works in there, but where? Who knows?

Sanji: The designated Second Cook of the shops. His lady, Pudding, is the First Cook. Helps Mrs. Claus with cooking for the elves, and she enjoys his company. He’s a bit of a talker, so he enjoys telling made up stories to her to pass the time. Compliments her quite often and any other lady in the shop. Once complimented Sabo for his hair, but he didn’t realize that was a guy, Luffy’s BROTHER on top of that. He wasn’t right for two weeks after that mistake. Zoro makes fun of him for it every time. Argues with Zoro like an old married couple, but means no harm. HATES Luffy coming in every 10 minutes for his sugar cookies.

Chopper: The Rudolph in this situation. Has a bright blue nose. Has 7 reindeer that follows his lead. He’s seen some unbelievable things, mostly from Sabo wrecking stuff by accident or Zoro getting lost or Luffy getting stuck in wrapping paper. He enjoys sweets, so Robin and Mrs. Claus give him leftover cookies when they have some, or just give him some berries in return. His favorite is the soft, fluffy candies that Sanji makes. He’s a good kid, and he enjoy head pats. Luffy does too, so normally they’re seen together being pat softly by Santa.

Robin: Good elf that gets her work done, but suspiciously. Got 203 toys done in an hour and the average is 120. She smiles like a serial killer, and Sanji complimented her once on it. He ended up with a dislocated arm when she was done. The next day, she apologized for it. In a relationship with Franky, the Head Supervisor of the shops, and she’s also the Secretary. Also a Fixer Upper and Detailer. She does a LOT for Santa, and Santa is grateful for her hard work. Pets Chopper and Luffy also, and gives them candy when Sanji doesn’t have any. Once, Usopp claims that he saw five arms on her. That hasn’t been proven yet.

Franky: Head Suuuuuuperviiiisor! Best at his job, and checks over everyone’s work before it goes into shipping. He’s also seen some things on the conveyor belt that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Where did that porn magazine come from? Whose is it? No one knows. He encourages everyone to do their SUPER BEST, and that attitude is the best there is! Has parties at the end of the month to celebrate their hard work! SUPERB! Loves Robin to bits, and in a great relationship with her. She’s his Secretary AND Supervisor when he’s not there. Sometimes dresses up like Santa, and Santa is a little pleased at his outfit and personality.

Brook: The Musician of the place. Santa LOVES his music all year round, and he can get the mood going if you ask. Loves complimenting the ladies, but he’s an old guy so they’re not very interested in him all the time. Santa always cheers on his music, and dances with Mrs. Claus to it. It’s an embarrasing dance, but she enjoys it nonetheless. He enjoys telling stories to the elves about how Christmas was so many years ago, and is kinda sad as to how it changed drastically. Makes horrible puns 24/7, but everyone laughs because at least it’s PUNNY yohohohohoho

Law: Best AND worst elf there ever was. Reindeer caretaker. Has a polar bear and two penguins that follow him everywhere. Santa questions him where did he get the animals from, and Law just smiles at him. He’s great at his work, but he does it half-assed when it’s not that important. Like cleaning. He leaves that to Zoro. But health issues? The best there is. He’s also the designated Doctor in the building. Seen some injuries that had him scratching at his head. Sabo, how did you get that nail stuck in your foot? Nami, why is your finger snapped in half? Don’t get him started on Luffy. HATES Luffy to the bottom of his heart, but he cares in his own way.

Marco: Santa’s Right Hand Man. No one fucks with him. Gotta deal with all the shit from the shops, including Sabo’s accidents, Ace’s murdering spree, Robin suspicions, and Luffy slacking off. Looks like he’s seen Hell and ready to accept it. Looks really nice in an elf costume, and usually does work as a Fixer Upper and Gift Wrapper. Wait, where did Sabo go? Where the hell did LUFFY go? He usually ends up doing all the wrapping, and by the end of the hour they both come back and he’s NOT in a good mood. THE WORST person to go to when you’re in trouble. Scolds you so bad that once, he scolded Santa for falling asleep at the sleigh and he made him cry. He enjoys teasing everyone in a playful way.

Thank you for joining my hellhole come back anytime folks

[shazyloren]

The Dragon Club: Epilogue - Christmas 22′

Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/12018519/chapters/28961928

-----------

The winter sun rose in the sky as the bedroom was lit up. The little girl in her bed was awakened by this sudden light, her eyes scrunching up as it was brightly gleaning in her room. She was confused for a moment, before her breath caught in her throat and she leapt of the bed in excitement. she saw herself in her little mirror on her small child's desk and saw her own excited reflection looking back at her.

"Santa" She whispered as the brown curly hair which had grown down to her back, messily hung in front of her violet eyes. It was Christmas day; and she'd been so excited for weeks now, wondering what she was going to get, hoping she'd been a good enough girl. It was then, that the large white husky appeared at her bedroom door, sensing she was awake. "Ghost!"

The dog barked quietly, she giggled. She hugged the dog, he hands around the next of it, almost choking him. He whimpered and she let go.

"Ghost it's christmas!" She jumped up and down a little, causing the dog to get excited once more, even if the toddler had just choked him slightly. Even in his older age he still had handfuls of energy."Let's go see what Santa left us!"

The walked through her bedroom door and ran across the landing, her feet pitt-patting on the wooden floor as she excitedly bound over to the stairs. But before she could start her decent now them, she was stopped abruptly by a voice. "Doreah..."

"Y-yes, Daddy?" She mumbled, annoyed that she'd been caught.

"Come here" Feeling embarrassed the little girl slowly made way to her Mummy and Daddy's room. She opened the door the rest of the way and peered inside. Sat up in bed was both of them, Daddy with a raised eyebrow and Mummy with a small smirk on her face. Doreah was confused; why were they still in bed? It was Christmas, they needed to be opening presents.

"Wassamatter?" The little girl asked.

"Were you going to open your presents without us?" Mummy asked. Doreah felt her face flush red. She hid her face from them. She was instantly caught off guard, as her Daddy swept her off of her feet into his arms. She giggled furiously.

"I sorry" She said between the tickling she was receiving.

"It's okay, come on, let's go downstairs" So they all travelled downstairs, Ghost jumping the last few steps in the most excitement, and went into the living room which had been decorated with a red and gold theme. Doreah's face lit up as she saw a pile of presents taller than she was; she began to jump up and down furiously. She then saw a small pile of three presents off to the side. She looked at the picture, dog bones.

"Ghost, these are for you!" She nearly screamed causing Ghost to jump on the sofa in excitement. Daddy sighed all while Mummy had got the video camera out, laughing loudly too at the excitement of it all.

The next few hours were filled with various screams and cries of happiness in the presents she'd received. Books and pens and toys and clothes and shoes. Ghost had got a new collar and some Dog treats and Mummy and Daddy had given each other some jewellery and some new shirts and socks. "Jon can you just go grab that other thing for me"

Doreah turned to see Daddy disappear, Jon? Oh, Daddy's name she wasn't allowed to call him by. She shrugged and went back to looking at all her other new toys, she also put Ghost's new collar on, a deep red to match his eyes. He was a strange dog to have red eyes. Greywind, Uncle Robb's dog had grey eyes. Looking at her new clothes, she heard her father come back. "Doreah, look"

She turned and flt the biggest smile appear on her face. "A kitty?"

"Yes, she's called Luna" Daddy passed the tiny black kitten over to her, the eyes a bright blue in amongst her raven black fur.

"BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!"

---------

Jon was exhausted, why had he volunteered to cook for all the Stark's and Targaryens? He, Daenerys, Doreah, Father, Catelyn, Robb, Talisa, Lyanna, Sansa, Margaery, Gendry, Arya, Lyra, Bran, Meera, Rickon, Rhaegar, Elia, Rani, Aggy, Rhaella and Aerys. Oh and possibly Viserys if his flight made it on time. He was thankful he's got a range oven, although he wasn't sure that'd be enough room. He'd worked out his timings and calculations and as the Turkey was now done, he whacked the oven up and prepared it for the Yorkshire puddings.

"It's crazy out there" Daenerys sighed as she came into the kitchen, the noise of the entire family behind them. "Bran's telling Rani about his conspiracy of us never actually landing on the moon"

Jon rolled his eyes. "My brother never knows when to shut it does he?"

"Well he's using the fact he correctly guess the gender of the first three Stark babies as an excuse, 'I was right about this, I'm definitely right about us not landing on the moon'. It's quite fascinating" She giggled as she smooched her husband, her hands in his hair. They broke apart, smiles galore on their faces. "Mmm, is everyone gone yet? I'd like to have my husband all to myself"

"Unfortunately no" He moaned. "Stop distracting me I'm trying to make sure this dinner goes off without a hitch"

"Yes, chef" She laughed as she got up on the counter and tried to tease him. He just rolled his eyes. "Would you like me to wear the apron later on? Nothing else?"

Jon dropped his mixing bowl onto the floor. "Daenerys..." He warned her. "You're lucky i just poured the mixture into the tin, that would've gone everywhere"

"What a shame" She cackled. Jon, feeling the heat, put the mixing bowl on the side and crossed over her to take her into his mouth. His hands found her waistband and began undoing her jeans. "Jon, we can't, not here!"

"No one will hear us, y'know?" He said wiggling his eyebrows. "Are you afraid we'll get caught?"

"Shut up and fuck me" She growled as her mouth took his again. It was risky, but they were both so overwhelmed with lust they just had too.

Daenerys reach for Jon's belt buckle and undone them with a speed she'd never worked at before. Her knees came upto her chest as she was on the edge of the kitchen counter, her jeans flung off on the opposite side of the room. She feels exposed, knowing that someone could walk in any second. "Mmm, Daenerys"

"Oh, Jon" She whispered quietly. He moved her panties to one side and swiftly entered her while she was on the edge of the counter. She let out a small cry, trying to be so careful as not to say anything too loudly. He waitd a few seconds, so they could get their position properly, before starting his motions, slamming in and out of her. "Mmm, yes"

"You like that" He grunts as he can feel he's losing himself already. After having a child a lot of the romance had left but there were moments like now, where they just had to have each other. And now, being in the kitchen while their entire family are here was one of them. "Oh fuck"

"Jon, yes, yes, yes, oh god yes" She cried, quite loudly as she tightened around him, her slick sex desperately trying to keep Jon inside her. Jon felt his whole body shake and soon enough they both came together.

Feeling slightly exposed, they quickly cleaned up and redressed themselves, thankful no one came in. Jon would be an idiot to not think that someone may have heard something, and as he tried to hear the people in the next room, he could tell it was a little quiet. As they checked each other over, they thought they looked good.

Opening the door to the living room from the Kitchen, everyone turned to look at them. Jon side-eyed Daenerys who had gone very red. No one said anything.

Well, Arya did.

"Dirty buggers"

Jon felt sheepish

---------

Daenerys watched her husband throughout the rest of the day, they were currently sat eating desert, an english trifle that Jon's mother as particularly fond of, according to Ned, anyways. Her father, wiped his mouth and turned to Jon. "Excellent food as usual, Jon"

"Thank you, sir" Jon said with a nod of the head, finishing his own mouthful before wiping his hands. He stood up and began to gather the plates up.

"Jon, boy. You've been married to my daughter for four years you can call me Aerys" He cackled. Jon just meekly smiled before taking everyone's plates away. "Boy, we'll wash up. You've cooked it all, there's no need for you to clean too"

"Thanks Aerys, but it's not necessary" Jon tried to protest. It was at this that the doorbell rang. Viserys. Daenerys leapt up off of the seat and was racing down the hallway, Luna hid underneath the side table, scared of how many people were present. she grabbed the handle and yanked it open.

There he was, stood with his hair fashioned like Rhaegar's usually is, in a bun. It must've got long. His violet iris' held a twinkle in them and he was smiling. She was glad he could make it. He'd been working so hard now he'd taken over the company his father passed onto him that she hadn't expected him to turn up. But not only did he turn up, he brought someone with him.

Turning to see a small, brown haired girl (a difference from his usual blonde bimbos), she took in her appearance. Yes this was not Viserys usual type, something was off about it. Maybe he was in love. Daenerys had to cackled to herself, Viserys was never in love, was he? "Dear brother"

"Sweet sister" He smiled and hugged her. They broke apart. "This is Lucy, she's a new intern at Targaryen Corp. She didn't have anywhere to go to this christmas so I offered for her to come over here, if we finished in time"

"It's wonderful to meet you Lucy" Daenerys smiled and gave her a hug. That was so.. unexpected of her brother. She was so glad he'd given up all the drugs and alcohol that was slowly killing him. He was 37 months sober now, just over three years. They had a better relationship now than they ever had growing up and she'd began to care for him almost as much as Rae. Not quite as much, but not far off. "Come on in"

She escorted them in and took their coats. "I hope we're not intruding Sis"

"Don't be silly" She smacked his arm playfully. "I'm afraid we've had dinner, but their will be nibbles later in the evening, and I think Jon saved you some for when you did show up"

"Thank you very much-"

"UNCLE VIZ" There was a loud squawk as Doreah's feet slapped on the wooden floors of the hallway. Even though she saw Rhaegar more often, for some unknown reason she liked viserys more and it baffled Daenerys. It might be to do with the fact he brings her presents and sweets.

"Hello big girl!" He lifted her up into a hug, she giggled like crazy.

"Doreah, Uncle Viz has brought a friend over, this is Lucy" Daenerys introduced her.

"Hello!" She said in a hyper manner.

"Hello sweet thing" Lucy said shyly.

Daenerys understood, she could be very intimidating when you first met her. Even for a three year old she was loud and outspoken. She gave Viserys a glance as he was laughing at Doreah's enthusiasm. "Welcome to the madhouse"

---------

"Hat! Cow! Plant!" Margaery shouted as she tried to guess Gendry's charade.

"How is any of what I did either of those things?" Gendry asked confused.

"I'm not good at this game, Gendry! We play it every christmas and it sucks even worse than the last christmas!" She grumped as Sansa put her head in her hands. It was a good job she loved her, Jon thought.

"Peter Rabbit?" Arya guessed.

"Yes!" There was a clapping, they were scholars at this game. "Don't feel bad Margaery, it's better than playing monopoly with him, he gets very angry at that"

"That's because last time you tried to make a deal with Bran against me!" He grumbled, folding his arms. There was chuckling as everyone remembered this moment. Arya had promised to give Bran all her properties if he didn't make any deals with Gendry. "Stupid property game"

"Well I would suggest Twister but I think everyone is a little too drunk for that" Sansa mused, sipping her wine as she spoke. The living room was packed. Everyone was in little groups. The kids were sat watching a Christmas film in the corner while the grandparents all chatted on the other side, leaving the grownups in the middle to entertain themselves with party games.

"I could go for some twister" Lucy laughed. Daenerys thought it would actually be funny to do so. She looked at Jon whose head fell in his hand.

For the next hour they played several rounds of twister, it getting more and more hilarious as it went on. Bran it turned out, had no balance at all, he nearly squashed Meera's foot as he fell after just two moves. The best as it were, ended up being Rhaegar who for a man in his mid forties was still fit from his army days. He did not fall once, not matter who went against him. Daenerys and Jon had just giving up, preferring to have a little smooch on the mat instead.

"For goodness sake guys" Elia had laughed. She had decided to be the spin master, as she had drank an incredible amount of wine. It was Viserys and Lucy's turn next and while Daenerys knew Viz to be strong, she was secretly hoping this Lucy kicked his butt. She wasn't disappointed. Her brother had talked the talk but when he fell after four moves and Lucy was still standing there was a murmur throughout the group.

"So much for being the twister master" lucy said in a very competitive manner. She then froze. "I'm not going to get fired for emasculating you am I? I'm sorry I'm better than you at twister"

Viz just slouched back into his chair. Jon snuggled up to Daenerys who in turn laid her head on his shoulder, the blanket started coming out then, it was getting colder. Arya poked the fire and put some more coal on it, bringing the almost extinct fire back to life, heat immediately filling the room. "Stupid twister"

"Don't worry, you're still the champion at Scrabble" Daenerys had laughed.

"Pfft, scrabble is easy" He scoffed.

Daenerys just rolled her eyes. Oh how these Stark/Targaryen christmases go. Someone always gets upset at losing a game.

This year, it was Margaery and Viserys.

"Guys, look!" Meera spoke as she was stood by the window. They all looked to see white. "It's snowing!"

---------

The doors to the patio open, immediately filling Daenerys bones with a chill that reminded her of aspen. Very cold, in other words. But all the family had put their shoes on and were gathered on the decking to watch as the snow fell. Small and large flakes gracefully fell from the night sky, settling on the bone dry grass and mud of the garden. "It's beautiful"

They stayed silent as they all watched the snow falling in different patterns and shapes. It was almost peaceful, serene. And it was a perfect ending to another successful Christmas between the two houses. Daenerys noted that Lucy had huddled next to Viz for warmth, the children were all sharing a blanket too. This could not be a more perfect day. Well, tomorrow may top it. Given it was Jon's birthday. A boxing day baby. Not that he liked it.

"I guess nows a better time than any" Bran spoke, leaving everyone confused. But as he took Meera's hand and walked with her into the snowy garden it was clear what was happening. Catelyn looked like she was about to spontaneously combust with excitement. Everyone took in a deep breath.

"Meera, we've been friends since we were in first grade" He started, Meera was already tearing up. "You've put up with a lot from me over the years, my conspiracy theories" Everyone laughed. "My tantrums, my inability to contain myself around dogs" What? "But you've done it nonetheless. I have been in love with you for over ten years, and today, I thought it was time to ask you a pretty big question"

He bent down on one knee, everyone had tears in their eyes. He pulled out a velvet box and opened it. Daenerys couldn't see the ring from here but she doubted it wasn't anything too flashy, Meera didn't like all that.

"Meera Reed, will you do me the honour, of becoming my wife?" Bran asked. Meera didn't even give him time she said yes and began bawling. There was a loud celebration as he put the ring on her finger and they kissed. She immediately came running to the deck saying she was freezing her tits off and needed to be warm.

It wasn't long after this beautiful moment that everyone started leaving. Jon sent everyone off with leftover turkey to have whenever not before they all wished him happy birthday as it had gone past midnight.

Daenerys took Doreah upstairs to bed, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. Luna the cat, sensing everyone had left, followed them and sat on the end of the bed. "See, she likes you already"

"Of course she does" Doreah giggled. Daenerys giggled at her daughter's confidence.

Just as she closed the bathroom door, she heard Jon giving Ghost some turkey before turning the light off downstairs. Now would be the best time to do it, you've only had two glasses of wine, you'll be fine. Daenerys thought.

She went into their bedroom and grabbed the box from her bedside table before scurrying off to the ensuite bathroom. She turned the light on and locked the door. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her jeans and panties down before opening the box and testing the pregnancy test out of it. Sitting on the loo, she weed on the stick. It was awkward, she hated doing these. Finishing and cleaning up she placed the stick on the side. She needed to wait a minute.

Brushing her teeth, she heard her husband enter their bedroom. "Dany?"

"Just a second" She called after spitting the toothpaste out once she'd finished.

Rip it off, it's just like a bandaid. Rip it off.

She glanced at the stick... Two lines.

Happy birthday, Jon, she thought.

She was going to have another baby. Calming herself she unlocked the door and walked out to the bed with the stick in her hand. Jon was getting changed on his side of the bed, his clothes being exchanged for Christmas jammies. "Err, Jon"

"Yes, my love" He said as his shirt came over his head and covered his beautiful torso.

"Surprise" She said holding the stick up. He turned around. His face, frozen for a second, was one of complete and utter ecstasy.

"For real?" He walked round the bed and looked at the test.

"For real" She felt elated. "Happy birthday, hubby"

He kissed her with a deep intensity. Christmas 22' had been the best one yet.

[namirotraeu]

Online Relationships

“Personalities and relationships tend to differ offline. “

(Part 1) I (Part 2)

Title: Online Relationships- Part 3

Pairing:Trafalgar Law X Nami

Genre: Romance/ AU

Rating: T

Word Count: 2828

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, they rightfully belong to Oda Eiichiro

"He stole a gun from where?!" Nami shouted in disbelief. 

"The Marine Head Quarters." Sabo, Luffy's brother, repeat for the nth time. 

"I know this is just our brother's stupidity, but we need your help, Nami." Ace, another brother of Luffy, pleaded. 

"Let's take him to the hospital. Chopper's already having a hard time taking the bullet in his chest with the tools he has." Nami said as she looks over her best friend, Luffy, that was groaning in pain as Chopper tries to touch his skin. 

"We've already told you, we should not. Our brother would get arrested for what he did." Sabo reasoned out. 

"Your grandfather is an Admiral. I'm sure he could pull some strings for Luffy. We need to do this or else he would die." Nami said in despair. 

"Luffy would die from Gramps' wrath. Sending him to jail would better than what would Gramps do to him if he knew what he did." Ace shivered at the thought. 

"Nami, Luffy's condition is worsening. I'm a failure as a doctor." Chopper's eyes teared. 

"Chopper, you can do it. Luffy would not die of something like that he has a very strong will that would keep him alive." Nami comforted his friend. 

"I know my limits as a doctor. I specialize in making medicines, not on surgeries. We really need a surgeon." 

"A surgeon." Nami thought for a second. "Law is a surgeon and he is the best one in his class." She gleamed as she finally has the answer to their problems. 

She quickly dialed his number and to her relief he quickly answered her call. 

"Law! It's Nami, I need your help."

"Nami-ya? What's the problem?" 

"It's Luffy." She briefly discussed how her best friend ended up being operated in her condominium unit. Around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Sabo and Ace came banging her unit's door. They brought the already injured Luffy. She hastily made the guest room's bed so his friend could comfortably rest. Sabo had already given his brother first aid treatment before they went to Nami's, however, they needed Chopper's assistance to get the bullet out of Luffy's body. 

Law sighed from the other line. "I'll ask more details later. Can you bring him over my apartment? I'll text you the address."

Sabo drive so fast that Nami swear she saw sparks of fire in the wheels. Thankfully, they all reach Law's apartment in one piece. They were greeted by Law in the garage to open a parking space for Sabo's car. 

"Law! Thank you for helping us." Chopper said while crying. 

"Tony-ya, it's my duty as an upcoming doctor. You need to compose yourself. I'll be needing your assistance." Law said to the reindeer. 

Law had a small clinic in his basement. He made it with the old apparatus and machines from his uncle's hospital. It is where he practices, experiments and other stuff like patching up Eustass Kid when he gets in trouble with the police. What he is doing could revoke his future medical license, but he is a man who does what he wants most of the time so it doesn't matter. 

Taking out the bullet from Luffy's body was an easy work for Law. Being a genius surgeon and someone who has been practicing medicine since the age of 7, he knew what to do in such case. Chopper was assistance was a great help that fasten up the operation, however, it still took hours to finish. Luffy lost a lot of blood so Law transferred some of Ace and Sabo's blood for him to recover. 

Nami was so worried about Luffy. Law did not allow her to enter the clinic so she settled in his living room. From time to time, Ace or Sabo would come out of the clinic and tell her what is happening. Relief washed over her when she heard that Luffy was stable. His brothers went out to get them dinner as a gratitude to their brother's successful operation. Nami wanted to see her friend, but Law still hasn't allowed her to enter the clinic. She decided to relax in the living room couch while waiting. All the fatigue, stress mixed with the relief she was feeling made her tired causing her to doze off and sleep on the couch. 

"Law, I'll finish wrapping up his wounds." Chopper said while carefully bandaging his friend. 

"I'll call Nami-ya. I'm sure she'll want to see her.... boyfriend?" Law was quite unsure what the relationship of the two is. There were rumors around the campus saying that Luffy was dating Nami. They are frequently seen together being too close to one another. Although it was Luffy who introduced to Nami, he can't help being jealous of how they interact with one another. 

"Luffy is not Nami's boyfriend. From what I know, she likes someone from the university. I overhead Sanji and Zoro talk about it, but I never knew who it was." Chopper clarified. 

Law simply nod, then, he went to where Nami was. She was sleeping soundly on the couch. He eyed her fair skin and cute sleeping face that draws him near her. To resist the temptation, he gently covered Nami's body with a blanket. Then, he sat on the carpet leaning on the legs of the couch. Being close to her, he could still smell the Tangerine mixed with the ocean smell from her. He sighed and tried to doze off. 

"Done with Luffy?" Nami said while her eyes peeking over the blanket covering her. 

Law turned his head to her direction. "Yeah. Strawhat-ya is safe now."

"Thank you, Law." She said fondly. She sat upright with the blanket still on her shoulder, then she taps the available space next to her. "Come sit here."

"Nah. Too tired to move." Law wanted to sit beside her, but he smells like blood because of the operation. He didn't want her to smell him like that. 

"Okay." Nami ruffled his hair. "Thank you again, Law. What you did mean so much to me. I don't know how could I take it if Luffy died."

“You two are really close.”

“We’ve known each other since first year college. I know I could always count on him like how he could rely on me. He’s a brother to me.” Nami said in nostalgia.

“Just a brother? I thought you two are dating.”

“Why would you think that? I mean we are always together, but our relationship was platonic. I’ll never see him more than a friend or brother.” Nami explained which soothe Law’s worries away.

Both liked how they can freely talk right now. They both wish this moment would repeat again whenever they see one another at the university.

It was almost closing time of Baratie Diner. Most customers are off their last plate or waiting for their bill. One table appeared to be cheerful like they still have all night. Luffy, Zoro, Nami and Robin were on that table. Luffy kept on asking for refills of his meal which was catered by their friend, Sanji, who was working in that restaurant. The diner' s owner, Chef Zeff, allows them to stay in and hang out in all Baratie's branches even way past closing time as long as Sanji was with them. Today, they were all gathered due to Sanji's requested. Ussop, Chopper. Franky and Chopper have some things to do so they weren't able to comply with his request.

When the other customers all left, Sanji quickly joined his friends. He has a very important news to share with them. 

"I'm getting married." Sanji said.

The shock was painted in the faces of his friends. They could not believe that the woman loving friend they have is settling down. Despite that, they greeted him congratulations except for Zoro. Luffy commented on how weddings have a lot of food and they should have the biggest cake in the world.

"So, who's the unlucky girl?" Zoro questioned.

"Unlucky? What do you mean by that?" Sanji glared. 

Zoro was about to answer, but Nami intercept. "Who's the girl, Sanji? We wanted to know the details." 

"My lovely Nami, I shall tell you how it happened." Sanji said in a deary tone. "My beautiful fianćee is the one and only Charlotte Pudding. The moment I saw her Facegram profile, I fell in love. "

"What you just met her online? Well, what do I expect from a love cook." Zoro mocked. 

"Shut up, Marimo. Let me finish my story." Sanji rebutted. "Both our families are prominent in the technology business which is why my father wanted an alliance. We were forced into this arranged marriage, however, I just can't help but fall in love with her. "

The girls awed at how bold he is expressing his feelings. Zoro wanted to puke hearing his love-sick friend. Luffy continued to eat with delight. 

 "Have you met her personally?" Robin inquired. 

"No, but based on her facegram account she's a really sweet and kind girl. She even asked me out to meet her in advance before our predestined meeting with our families. Pudding is really lovely." Sanji glee. 

"So, you chat one another, huh? That's really nice." Nami said while remembering her relationship with Law. 

"This cook might mess up like before." Zoro pointed at Sanji. "You know the Viola incident." 

All of them remembered that time. It was three years ago, during Zoro, Sanji, Luffy and Nami's first year in college. Robin has been already in her fourth year in the university that time. 

Viola was the university's superstar. She was a slender, charismatic dancer, sophisticated and came from a well-off family. Her beauty magnifies whenever she dances in her Flamenco dress in university events. Sanji was entranced by her beauty. He quickly added her up in facegram and messaged her. 

Hi, my one and only idol Viola ~

At first, she replies modestly in his messages. Everyone could be your idol when it comes to dancing. However, thank you. 

Sanji continued to chat her whenever he had a chance. There were even times he mentioned that he saw her inside her classes. She finds it very odd, but nevertheless she still answered. He even used his friend, Gin, as an excuse to get her number but he failed. He continued to pursue on chatting her till she stops replying. He wept for days to the he even wanted to confront her. Zoro knocked some sense into him by telling that they barely interact personally and he should just give up. 

That time Sanji went back to amorous flirty attitude to any attractive women he sees. He vowed never to settle down to loving just one girl again. He belonged to all the ladies in the world. 

"I believe Sanji has learned well from that incident. But, I suggest that you tone down for a little bit. You still haven't seen her aside from what is on the internet." Robin warned.

"Whatever makes you happy, we'll support you. Just be yourself with her. I'm sure it will work out fine." Nami said.

"Thank you, my lovely angels." Sanji was touched by his friends' words.

"Oi Sanji!" Luffy said seriously. "Don't forget to have a big cake in the wedding!"

They laughed at their friend's comment.

Navigation focuses on monitoring and controlling moments of a craft from one place to another. Ironic, that Nami specialized in this field, but failed to navigate her feelings and situations on the right track.

Her professor in Navigation was also her professor in Cartography 1, back when she was in her first year. Professor Arlong is sophisticated and hard to impress when it comes to Oceanographic subjects. His subjects became a bottleneck for his students. Though he was a good lecturer, it was his bossy and dominant attitude that makes his students dislike him. 

Even professors are not exempted with social media problems. Nami remembers that when she was taking up Cartography 1, a drop out student rant about Arlong in social media. It was a big issue for a lot of students are scared to say a thing about him. Arlong was enraged by the post in Facegram, he also talked about it in his classes, however, he decided not to take any other actions.

Back then, his actions scared Nami most. She was afraid that she would fail Cartography because her professor was mad. Her fear was lifted when she passed the said subject. It made her think that maybe Arlong was just misunderstood. 

"Okay class, you are dismissed." Arlong said to his students. "Bepo, Nami, stay for a while. There's something I'd like to discuss." His sharp eyes were serious as ever. 

The two students stayed behind. Bepo was curious why they were called by their professor. 

"I don't know if you heard, but there is another occurrence of social media rant about me. This time the faculty is quite shaken." Arlong started the conversation.

"You mean the #FireTheShark Campaign? I've heard it from some of my colleagues." Nami inquired.

The #FireTheShark Campaign is an on-going social media campaign that raises awareness of the hardships of the students taking up a course under Professor Arlong. The admin of the said website that holds the campaign remain anonymous and continue to gather petition from students. They wanted Arlong to be fired.

"Yes! That crazy campaign. I'm furious at how my students could do that. As college students, I expected you to be more open minded. " Arlong ranted.

"Um, I'm sorry, Professor, but this is the first time I've heard about it. We, Mink Tribe, are not too familiar to social media." Bepo said apologetically. 

Nami was quite skeptical of what she should say. She knew who are the masterminds in the campaign. It is Vander Decken and his crew. In front of Arlong, they act like they really like him, but outside the four corners of the room they despise Arlong. Not wanting to be involved in such issues, she decided not tell Arlong about it. 

Arlong looked at Nami to find an answer. "I'm sorry, Professor. I don't know who did it. But, I believe that you should be bothered by it. The world is still full of fun things to be upset over angry students." Nami advised. 

"Very well. Thank you to the two of you. You are dismissed." 

Chopper caught a flu at the peak of their midterms. Nami being a good friend took care of him. Sanji occasionally went to visit to bring food and check on Chopper. 

"Nami, I'm already late for my classes. Dr. Kureha would give me a bad grade if I don't show up in her classes." Chopper said weakly. 

"But Chopper you are still sick. Don't worry, I'll get some notes for you and talk to some of your classmates to inform your professors." 

"Thank you Nami." 

'Bing'. A notification rang on Nami's smart phone. 

Sanji-kun sent a photo to Strawhats

Nami laughed at the photo Sanji sent. It was a screencap of Law's latest status. Don't you think I'm a heart stealer? ;)

She quickly opened her facegram to check Law's account, however, she could not find the certain status anymore. Law probably deleted it because obviously, it’s his friends who posted it. He would never do such things. 

Remembering what Chopper needed, she quickly messaged Law. Hey, can you give Chopper some notes? He's been sick for 2 days now. 

Sure. I'll just take pictures then send it to you. He quickly replied. Then after a few minutes he sent the pictures. 

Thank you Mr. Heart stealer. Nami teased. 

Even you saw it? Damn. I couldn't delete it because a lot of people saw it. 

Aw, you didn't delete it? I was going to comment; however, it was gone after I clicked it. 

It’s still here. Anyway, I'm going to study. Bye. 

It was just a subtle conversation, but Nami was content. It puts her in a very good mood. Law was really dedicated in his studies. He doesn't talk too much when he is focused and Nami finds it inspiring. She also finds herself studying harder when he is studying. Which is good because tomorrow she has an examination. 

Tomorrow came and Nami was sitting in front of her room, waiting for the previous class to finish. Being bored she decided to open her facegram account. To her delight, Law's status last night popped up on her news feed. She read the comment section and saw most of his friends mentioned her name but didn't tag her. 

"Oh. A heart stealer, huh?" She quickly commented to tease him. Then she turned her phone into silent mode since she will enter the examination hall.

It was merely just to tease him a little bit. Little did Nami know, a simple comment could launch a series of events that could change their lives.