#pulling out my ipad again to try something different

[bipolareffigy]

Kiss me twice cuz it’s gonna be alright~

[awrkive]

Idk I must have some problems I need to talk about with my therapist, but I NEED the #3 lmao

summary: jungkook is usually a nice guy from the way he interacts with other people – but the only exception comes to you. and you can't figure out why.

w/c: 3.5k

note: aurkayyyy general consensus says write # 3 and that post got 40 likes idk so here it is ig.. unedited cos its 3am but also i tried my very best awrkive nation 😞💔 under the cut cos its long asf for a drabble crying

People always gravitate to you. You have this sort of unbreakable and contagious energy around you that just pulls people right into your orb – your classmates in middle school through college, your cousins, even the cashiers at the cafes you like visiting downtown every here and there. 

And it is why Jeon Jungkook from your Environmental Science class baffles you. Because while everybody in the lecture hall – even prof Nam – likes to give you a smile or even just a nod of acknowledgement when you walk in, he does the total opposite and will just do about anything to avoid you. 

It had been during the first week of the term when you realized this fact. When Jungkook seemed to have abhorred the idea of sitting next to you because somebody had “stolen” his seat. 

Of course he knew the fact that you technically could not “steal” a seat in college – there are no such things as assigned seats in college, after all – so you had kindly offered the empty chair beside you, then, but he just looked at you with his knitted brows, like he couldn’t believe you had asked him that in the first place. 

In the end, he chose the free seat at the back of the hall – even though as far as you know him, he’s the type to like sitting in the front rows to engage with the class better. 

However, that did not deter you from trying to befriend him. In fact, it just made you want to get closer to him more. 

You like Jeon Jungkook. Not romantically, of course! You just like the fact that he is extremely smart and listen, he seems nice. The girls always have something good to say about him, and he’s friends with one of your closest friends, Namjoon – whose judgment you trust most of all. He’s acquainted with most of the people you know and you’ve seen him interact with others – he’s charming and doesn’t exactly look broody and uninterested when he’s with them. 

So when Prof Nam partnered you both in a presentation for your final requirement for the term, you were over the moon to have been given the opportunity. 

“__,” Jungkook calls, but you’re way too busy admiring the strands of his hair that had now been dyed to gold – a contrast to his previously dark brown locks. It’s mostly hidden from the beanie he’s wearing. Something you’ve noticed he’s been wearing a lot these days even though it’s not that cold. 

You think it’s because he’s not too keen on getting attention for his newly dyed hair.

Jungkook calls your name one more time, and this time it snaps you out of your trance. 

“Hm?” You look up, blinking at him – only to be met with his knitted brows again. At that all too familiar look by now, you frown slightly, knowing the tell-tale signs of his annoyance. 

“I’ve been asking you about biofuels for the past two minutes.” 

“Oh!” Your eyes widen for a bit, quickly looking at your iPad. “Uhm… it’s here…” you slide your device over to his direction and he’s quick to read over your work. With him seated beside you, it’s easy to get a waft of his cologne – and you don’t even think it’s cologne in the first place. It just seems like his natural smell – like fresh laundry. Downy or something. 

Ever since you started working on the project, you’ve been going to cafes and the library to work on it – for at least an hour – and you’re starting to get accustomed to everything Jeon Jungkook. He’s smart – and that’s a given – but he also smells really good; that’s what you noted specifically.

But most importantly, he’s dyed his mid-length hair blonde. And he looks different but somehow… really handsome. With his prescription glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, you just can’t help but to look. 

“Where is your citation for this?” He says, pointing to a certain part of your work. 

At that, you grow anxious. Jungkook’s really serious about his academics. And even though he looks distracting with his blonde hair right now, you can’t help but feel a bit nervous. 

You’re not dumb or something! You’ve survived three years of college just fine – you’re just not the likes of him, or Namjoon, for that matter. But you do well for yourself. 

But Jungkook, reading over your work with furrowed brows, you can’t help but second-guess yourself.

Especially when the next thing you can say is just, “Oh, uhm… I thought citations would only be after every four sentences?” 

“Did you not read the instructions?” Jungkook says. It’s not harsh but there’s a certain lilt to it. A bit pointed that you visibly recoil. As if noticing you do that, Jungkook clears his throat and looks right back to your iPad. With a tone that considerably sounds gentler to you this time, he says, “You should put a citation every three sentences.” 

“Okay…” You say. You look at Jungkook and you give him a tight-lipped smile when he meets your gaze. “I’m sorry.” 

His gaze lasts longer than necessary – he almost always doesn’t really look at you but this time he does, and just when you’re about to ask him what’s wrong, he peels his eyes away from you and turns to his computer, not saying anything. 

You sulk in your seat, revising your paper while Jungkook acts like a stranger beside you again. 

“Kook…” you say after awhile. You watch as Jungkook visibly stills at the nickname. Nonetheless, he hums, but he doesn’t stray his eyes from his laptop. “I really like your hair.” 

Nothing. 

“Kookie…” This time, you poke at the material of his purple hoodie. “I said I like your hair.” 

He doesn’t budge. 

When you make a move to poke him again, he finally says, “I heard that.” 

You turn back to your google doc with a pout. 

You don’t know what you’re expecting from him. A thank you, maybe? But that would be unlikely for him to say to you. He’s just always so quiet around you. Annoyed, irritated—

“Thank you.” 

At first you don’t quite catch it, but you kind of got the gist. Unbelieving, you turn to him with a confused look. “What?” 

“Isaidthankyou.” 

But it was spoken so fast that you just grew more puzzled. 

“What…?” 

“Nevermind.” He says, hacking away on his laptop again. 

You pout the whole time writing your paper. 

———

You’re just about to approach Jungkook to talk about your recent development for your project when somebody beats you to it first. 

It’s Han Hyorin from the same class. You made friends with her from another minor you’ve had in the previous semester and she was a really nice woman – sort of similar to you. A big ball of sunshine, all smiles and cheerful and full of energy. It’s why you clicked instantly a few months ago. 

But that’s also why it surprises you when you see her talking animatedly with Jungkook and him listening to her attentively – smiling and laughing. 

Certainly not his vibe when you’re the one in conversation with him. 

Listen, you’ve been so accustomed to his behavior to you all this time that you just don’t mind it now. But for the record, you just thought that maybe – he just can’t quite level up to your energy. You’re too bubbly and he’s too… calm. And you get that! You certainly don’t hold it against him. 

But as he catches a glimpse of you his mood turns completely different, no longer smiling ear to ear. It makes Hyorin stop speaking, turning her body to look at your direction as well. 

“Oh, hi __!” She greets, grinning. “I was just talking to Jungkook here.” 

“Hi, Hyorin.” You wave at her, mirroring her smile. You walk towards them, hugging your iPad tight to your chest. “Hi, Jungkook.” 

He just sends you a timid smile. 

Weirdly enough, it makes your heart twinge. 

“Anyway, are you two gonna work on your project? Sorry for keeping him up, if that’s the case. I’ll be off then.” Hyorin says as she picks up her bag. She looks at Jungkook once again, saying, “I’ll send the link to you later, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook only nods before Hyorin walks out of the lecture hall.

You watch her disappearing back before you turn to Jungkook. “I didn’t know you guys were friends.” 

He shrugs. “We talk sometimes.” 

“Ah.” You nod. 

“Anyway, you got my text, right? Hoseok said it’s too crowded at 556 right now. And my laptop’s dead so I can’t use it either. Left my charger at my place,” he says, starting to put his stuff in his backpack. 

“Yeah, I got it,” you say, stepping out a bit to let him out of his row. You follow beside him when he begins to walk. “Well, where should we do the project?” 

You see Jungkook wince. “I have no choice but do you mind if I just suggest my place? I have a roommate but he’s not around this time. Or we can just call it off for today and resched.” 

You blink at him. “Your place?” 

He arches a brow. “Yeah. Is it okay? Do you have something else in mind?” 

Shaking your head, you look straight ahead. “It’s fine.” 

“It’s just a three minute walk from the campus. Do you mind?” 

“Nope.” 

“Alright, then.” 

——— 

Jungkook thinks you’re strange today. 

You’re usually so full of stories. Never ran out of things to say. His silence never deterred you from sharing something and even though Jungkook would deny it to you and to all his friends – he actually secretly enjoys your blabbering. Finds most of them funny.

But right now, you’re all quiet on your iPad and notes, focused on doing your work. The last thing he’s heard you say something was when you commented earlier, “This is a nice place,” when you stepped inside the threshold of his and Taehyung’s apartment.

No comment about his hair. Or his hoodie. Or the stupid occasional, “You look handsome today.” that makes his heart perform backflips against his ribcage and makes him all nervous that he can’t really look straight into your eyes for the rest of your interaction.

He finds it strange that he finds you strange today. He should be… happy about this right? He always tells his friends that you’re too… loud when they ask why he doesn’t seem to like you. For the record, he does not not like you. Jungkook just thinks you’re too much. 

Or that you make him feel too much it drives him insane.

“Are you alright?” He breaks the ice after a few minutes. He couldn’t help it. This isn’t like you at all. At this point, you should have already told him twenty different stories that includes your breakfast and the bird that keeps knocking on your window every 5am. By this time, you should have already asked him if he likes your outfit or some stupid shit like if he likes your nails. 

For the record, he likes all of them. Your blush pink nails and your pink skirt that stops above your thigh, exposing your smooth thighs that Jungkook always berates himself not to look at. You always wear skirts. He hates them. 

He hates that he doesn't really hate them. At all. 

“Huh?” You turn to look at him, blinking. Meek and pouty and puzzled. You look so cute it confuses the hell out of him. 

“I asked if you’re okay.” Jungkook says, leveling his voice. Lest he gives himself away. What would he give away, though? That he’s weirdly worried about your silence? That he’s starting to think maybe you’re getting fed up with his constant avoidance of you and you’re starting to realize he’s a shit person and he doesn’t deserve any of your time? 

That he’s putting way too much meaning into this? 

And what for? 

“Oh,” you utter. A bit taken aback. You nibble on your bottom lip and Jungkook tries hard not to focus too much on the way your gloss makes them look so plump. You had pretty lips. Jungkook’s not that prideful to admit that. Just to himself, though. “Yeah. I am fine. Why do you ask?” 

He clears his throat. “Nothing.” 

You look at him with furrowed brows but don’t really say anything further. “Okay.” 

When you go back to working in silence simultaneously again, Jungkook finds himself not being able to focus on the words of the journal article he’s reading. There’s a sentence to it he’s been going right over and over again. Everytime he reads it, it’s like the point just crosses right over his head and his efficacy in the language degrades every single time he repeats it internally.

All the while, you’re still quiet. 

And Jungkook’s had enough. 

Why weren't you saying anything? 

“__.” 

“Hm?” When you tilt your head to look at him, Jungkook nearly falls over his bed. You’re across the room on his computer desk while he’s on the mattress. 

God, you are so unbelievably beautiful without trying it makes his head ache. 

“Are you –uh. What’s with you today?” He finally asks. He watches as your face contorts into an expression of confusion once again, which he can’t really blame you for feeling the way. 

“What’s with me today?” 

“You’re just…” he tries to find the right words. “Quiet.” 

You don’t say anything for a while that Jungkook was about to take his words back. 

“Oh… I’m just not feeling well today, I think.” 

His brows furrowed. You looked perfectly fine today. You were your usual sunshine shelf when you stepped in class – all big grins and pretty laugh Seo Jihyun as usual was trying too hard to get your attention beside you all day. 

“Really?” He asks. “Do you need something?” 

It takes you by surprise. But you recover fast. “No, it’s fine.” 

“We don’t have to do this today if you’re feeling under the weather.” 

You laugh. And Jungkook thinks that’s a win. He thought he wasn’t getting any of that for today. 

“It’s fine, thank you, Jeon.”

Jeon?! Jeon, like his surname? 

He chooses to ignore that. But then a few minutes passed and he spoke again. God, he couldn’t stand any of this.

“How’s the bird?” 

“The bird?” You parrot back. 

“The bird at your window.” 

“Oh!” A flash of recognition goes through your face. “That. Well – as usual it knocked on my window again.” you giggle and it’s the first time Jungkook feels a little light ever since you entered his place. 

Good. This is good. 

“I didn’t know you’d remember that.” You say, giving him a small smile. 

Jungkook feels his cheeks burning so he had to look away. “You tell me about it everyday.” 

There’s a pout he can feel you’re sporting when you say, “But I thought you don’t care.” 

Jungkook frowns at that. 

But he realizes… he gets it. He doesn’t exactly show the opposite.

When he looks at you, your eyes are solemn and your downturned lips look so sad that it makes him feel like shit. 

See. This is why he’s always confused when he’s with you. You make him feel so much all at once and he can’t quite put it. 

“You tell me a lot of stuff everyday.” Is what he settles with. 

“Fair.” You say after awhile. “But uhm…” 

“Yes?” Jungkook immediately says, intrigued. You’re about to speak when his phone rings. You both look at the small device lying on his bed. When Jungkook picks it up, the caller ID says Han Hyorin. “Sorry, I’ll just pick this up.” 

Pressing on the green icon, he hears Hyorin’s voice at the end of the line. 

“Hey, Kook,” 

“Hi, Hyorin. What is it?” 

“What was your student email again? I can’t really find it on the roster.”

Jungkook recites it and then that’s the end of the conversation. He finds it strange because she could’ve just texted him but anyway, he turns to you again after the call ends. 

“Who was that?” You ask curiously. 

“Hyorin.” 

You still in your seat. Then nod. 

You don’t say anything again. 

And that stretches into another few minutes that Jungkook is once again confused. When he looks right over to you, you’re all up in your device. 

He stands up from the bed, leaves his laptop on the mattress, and then walks right over to your direction to stand behind the chair you’re seated on. Ducking down a bit, he peers over your shoulder to see what you’re doing. 

“You’re almost done?” 

When you turn back, your faces are so close to each other that his swivel chair creaks a little when you get taken aback. Jungkook steps back. 

“Yeah. I think so. You?” You say, looking up at him. 

Jungkook runs his fingers through his hair, inserting his hand on his pockets as he looks straight ahead on your screen. 

“I’ll finish up later.” 

You nod then turn back to your iPad. 

Jungkook’s eyebrows meet once again and he sighs. 

“__,” 

“Yeah?” 

“Are you mad at me?” 

You turn to him so quickly. “What?” 

“Are you mad at me?” Jungkook asks because he can’t take any of this anymore. You’re so… distant. And it makes him feel like he’s on edge. “You’ve been so quiet since we got here. I want to apologize if I did something wrong. But even if I didn’t, then I’m still sorry.”

Jungkook watches as your lips part, surprised to hear the words coming out of his mouth. Jungkook’s not the one to shy away from apologies – if he’s done something wrong, then he makes sure to take accountability. 

It’s different when it’s with you, though. He knows he isn’t exactly his nicest and his best to you… but it’s his complicated feelings that get in the way. He doesn’t know how to handle them. He doesn’t know how to handle you. 

“N-no!” You say. “You didn’t do anything.” 

He sends an arched brow your way. 

You shake your head vigorously. “It’s just… uhm… I thought…” 

“You thought…?” 

You look away, and it’s the first time Jungkook sees you seemingly shy. 

“I thought you’d like my company more if I didn’t talk much.” 

Now Jungkook’s just perplexed. 

You. ibble on your bottom lip before you say your next words. “I know you don’t exactly like me that much – that you’re just putting up with me because of this project and all that, but I really like you. Uhm. As a friend. I’d like to be your friend but I’m realizing now that I’m probably just annoying you with all of my blabbering and it’s unfair to you that I just keep on imposing myself on you even though you make it very clear that you’re not keen on befriend—” 

“__?” 

“— hm?” 

“Stop that.” Jungkook says because he can’t bear to hear you say things that aren’t the least bit true at all. “It’s not true.” 

“Which part?” you pout.

Jungkook would like to wipe that off your face with something. Like his lips. And that thought sends him into overdrive. He needs to get a grip of himself, seriously. 

“Everything.” 

What he doesn’t expect is for you to just frown. 

“You’re a liar.” 

“What?” 

You burst. “Well, for one– you always avoid me! You don’t even greet me in the hallways. And even in the same class you don’t smile at me or anything and the only time you ever acknowledge me is when we do this stupid project and okay I get it, you only like bubbly girls when they’re Han Hyorin, but why not me?”

Jungkook, puzzled, asks, “How’d Hyorin get into this?” 

Your shoulders deflate. “I don’t know.” 

“Can you—” Jungkook inhales a sharp breath. He closes his eyes before opening them back again. “Can you listen to me?” 

You plop back down on the chair with an indignant huff. Jungkook lets out a low chuckles but you only glare at him. 

So goddarn cute, he thinks to himself. 

“You’re just… you’re just too much okay?” He sees the way your face falls and he nearly punches himself for how he worded it. “Wait no– that’s not right. I meant, you’re just – you make me feel a lot of things, __.” 

“Things?” 

“Yeah. You confuse me.” 

“Why?” You look so confused it melts Jungkook. 

“I don’t know how to explain it either. Just that… you need to know I don’t not like you. I like your little blabbering. I look forward to your breakfast stories. I like your nails. I like your skirt. And I like your new apple pencil case.” 

Jungkook watches as your face turns soft. And suddenly, you have that million dollar grin again on your face. 

“Really?” 

“Hm.” 

You squeal and the next thing he knows you’re onto him, arms wrapped around his neck, locking him into a hug. 

“We’re friends now?” 

Jungkook takes the opportunity to encircle your waist around his arms, noting the size difference. And how easy it was for him to snuggle his nose subtly into your hair to smell your sweet shampoo and perfume in that position. 

You always smell so good. 

“Friends.” 

Jungkook doesn’t really think he can take both of you as just being friends, though.

[piastappies]

🌊 ASSUMPTIONS

SYNOPSIS. jj maybank gets a little too involved with a kook for his friends’ liking, but he wouldn’t be jj maybank if he gave a shit. on contrary, you do and it bothers him.

NOTES. jj maybank x kook!reader. a little short + not proofread

you definitely underestimated how much things people assume on a daily basis. it had never bothered you before you got with a certain blond pogue — maybe, because beside your small friendship with sarah cameron (and an occasional hook up with her older brother), no one really cared. then you started hanging out with jj maybank and nothing was truly the same.

some people shamelessly assumed that your sweet relationship was strictly of convenience. maybank was with you for the money, giving you weed and fulfill your sexual needs whenever you wanted. some would say that you knew how rafe… wasn’t exactly a fan of pogues, so you hung out with jj to get back at the oldest cameron sibling.

on the other hand, hardly anyone reckoned that due to all that time you were caught spending together made you genuinely like him. no, you always had to have some kind of cruel reasoning for skipping school to smoke weed in the back of twinkie (and make out).

did it bother you? unfortunately, a little bit too much. your boyfriend just got into your room by the halfway open balcony door while you were scribbling down math homework on your ipad. your coursework was one of the small amount of activities that let you rest your brain and get busy with something so insignificant to your relationship.

jj knew you were subconsciously upset. he didn’t really have to ask — the uneasiness painted all over your gorgeous face. his long, distressed sigh got you out of trance. your eyebrows scrunched at the sight in front of you. how did he get there?

“tell me what’s in that pretty head of yours.” he muttered, face inches away from yours after having kissed you — too shortly for your liking.

“my brain.” you let out, hands going to the collar of his t-shirt, unsuccessfully trying to pull him into another of those sweet, mindblowing kisses. “jay.” a groan slipped from your lips as he refused once again and you felt like going insane, one night he says he can’t stop himself from kissing you and now he does? liar.

“let me rephrase the question, you brat.” his eyes rolled. “what’s bothering you so much that you can’t tell me?” his fingers brushed through your hair as you sat yourself in his lap.

“kiss me and i’ll tell you.”

“tell me and i’ll kiss you.” another groan left your mouth, earning a quiet chuckle from him. he was worried, but sending you over the edge was funny, hilarious even.

ten minutes. that’s how long the two of you sat in silence until you were ready to reveal the reason of your upset, thoughts organised and your forehead against his shoulder, while his fingers were tracing different patterns on your back, sending a shiver down your spine once in a while.

“i just— shit, it’s so stupid.” you mumbled, your voice muffled against his shoulder. “i hate that people think you want something particular from me or the other way around.” it’s there and jj couldn’t help but chuckle at your explanation.

not because he thought little of your worried, but because it was almost unlike you to be so bothered by people so insignificant in your life. “doll.” the blond cracked a smile, gently nibbling at your earlobe. “me and you, ride or die, eh?” jj’s smile only got wider, when you nodded. “let them assume whatever they want, why stop ‘em? you know your feelings and i know mine. this is the thing that matters. not gonna lie, though, if you were with me just for my weed or my dick, that would probably give me a god–complex. imagine that the hottest girl in the entire outer banks is with you, because you fuck her so well? jesus, i might get a hard–on right now.”

“you really can’t simply tell me that you love me, can you?” you asked with a smile lingering on your lips long before he finally pressed his mouth against yours.

“you know i do, doll. where’s the fun in that?”

[bellysoupset]

I'm going to ask again since we haven't seen sick Leo in a while. How about, he and Jonah are at some sort of wedding vendor convention/show for engaged couples (these really do exist in the US), and all the caterers have samples for people to taste and they're having a great time until Leo realizes one of the cakes they tasted came from the bakery that supplied his work birthday cake that made him and Jon so sick. So then he's freaking out/whiny/being adorably Leo that he's absolutely going to get sick and Jonah's a fucking doctor and can't he do something (I'm thinking Leo going way overdramatic and asking for his stomach to be pumped or something) and Jonah keeps rolling his eyes and telling him that he's fine.

And then later Leo does start feeling sick but at first Jonah doesn't believe him but then he pukes and he's like "I told you so" but Jonah doesn't so it turns out either than he got food poisoning from one of the appetizers he sampled that Jon didn't (like, it had an ingredient he didn't like or Leo just at a fuckton of them and Jonah only had a bite), or else he got the Vince/Lucas plague somehow.

Is that detailed enough lol? I just want Leo and Jon cute bitching at each other please. And then Jon caretaking when he realize that yes, Leo is actually unwell.

But hey, no pressure.

No pressure lmao. I tried to type this one as fast as I could, so maybe it can get a part 2? Not sure!

-------

"I won't preteeend, that I won't miss thiiiis," Leo squealed, hand in hand with Jon and all but skipping, "But Portland, Maine, I don't know where that iiiis."

Jonah let out a snort as his fiancé sang the chorus again, "do you only know this part of the song?" he grinned and Leo waved him off.

"And you can go ahead and hate me, that's just fine," he sang smugly, "It doesn't matter either way, I'm right. Portland, Maiiiine-"

Jonah rolled his eyes as the off-key singing continued, pulling Leo closer by their clasped hands and shutting him up with a kiss, "you're silly."

"Yeah, but you love me," the blonde chuckled, kissing him back and then moving so he could press a kiss to Jonah's shoulder, keeping them closer as they continued to walk through the conference center in Portland.

They had gotten to the town at 8 AM, but regardless of the early hour, the event was packed. Each vendor had its own stand and they were organized in several rows, by different categories.

Jonah wasn't particularly thrilled, he felt that this was the type of place couples went to get discounted prices and he had no desire to bargain on his wedding, he wanted the best, no matter the cost. Nevertheless, Leo was beaming. He loved any type of sales, but most importantly, he clearly loved being involved in the planning.

It was 10:30 AM by now and Jon's stomach was starting to rumble with hunger. Leo clearly probably didn't share this feeling, since he had been trying every single food sample that the many stands kept offering him.

"Okay, so we're set on the black invitations?" Jonah reached for the iPad in his bag, looking at the itemized list Wendy had helped him put together. She was an amazing party organizer and he the harder part of asking for her help on anything was to get her to stop.

"Only if you agree on the different lining," Leo rested his chin on Jon's shoulder, "I really liked the one that was a photoshoot."

"I thought those were pretty as well," Jonah turned his head just in time to plant a kiss on the tip of Leo's nose, causing his boyfriend to scrunch it adorably, "this means we need to find two different photographers, one for the wedding, one for the photoshoot-"

"Could be the same one," Leo shrugged, tugging him towards a table, "oh try this-" he said, eyeing the fancy chocolate truffles. Jonah eye rolled at him.

"No, it's going to spoil my appetite," he scoffed, going through their list, "I wanna get a look at the venue representatives here-"

"Okay, okay, okay..."

Two hours later and Jonah was feeling extremely proud of himself. He had connected with several vendors and booked two different venue tours, besides they had matched well with several photographers and stylists-

His stomach let out a grumble, loud enough that Leo heard and raised his eyebrows, even in the crowded space, "that was your tummy?"

Jonah's cheeks burned and he looked away, crossing his arms, "I'm starving-"

"The cafeteria closed thirty minutes ago," Leo sighed, already pulling out his phone to search for a restaurant. Jonah shifted, he was really hungry, he had been so focused on the task at hand that he hadn't really thought about eating.

"Here," Jon stepped forward and grabbed some shrimp canapes from one of the stands, taking their card as well, although that was just for show, "have some-" his cheeks were burning from the embarrassment of it all, but there was no other immediate option and his insides were hurting.

Jonah ate his two canapes and Leo took one, munching on it without looking up from his phone, "alright, there's a restaurant about thirty minutes away from here on foot," he said, licking his thumb, "doesn't seem fancy, but if you're really hungry-"

"I'm starving," Jonah nodded, tagging along with him, "I was dumb."

Leo snorted at that, rolling his eyes as he ate his second shrimp canape, "nothing new ther- What's that?"

"What?" Jonah glanced down at his body, since Leo was glaring at him, "what is it?"

"In your hand?"

"Oh, just the card of the shrimp canapes. They're really good, by the way, though I might just be starv-" Jonah's voice faded as Leo snatched the card from his hand and then let out a loud groan.

"JON!" He whined, loud enough that some people looked their way, "Jon, that's Culinary Chic's card!"

He simply blinked at his boyfriend, confused, "should I know them...?"

"YES! These are the pricks who poisoned us on my birthday! The ones who did the cupcakes!" Leo's face paled and he let out a queasy groan, "oh my god, I'm gonna be sick."

Jonah rolled his eyes at his histrionics, "you had two little canapes, baby. Besides, it's not a very original name, it's probably a different cate-"

"Nope," Leo whined, continuing to walk, hunched over as if his stomach was hurting even though Jon was fairly sure it was down right impossible for him to be feeling sick 30 seconds after swallowing his food, "I'd know their logo anywhere, the office sued them- See! It says on the back that they're from Welton!"

Jonah cringed, "well, that's not ideal," he agreed, "but I feel fine. I'm sure you're just being dramatic-"

"Can you get it out of me?" Leo asked, just as they stepped outside the conference center. It was windy outside and Jonah shivered, while his fiancé collapsed dramatically on one of the benches on the sidewalk, "please? If we go to a hospital, can you do your mojo, get my stomach pumped-"

"Leo," Jonah cackled, standing in front of him and messing Leo's hair, "don't be ridiculous, I couldn't do that even if I believed you're actually feeling sick, which I don't."

"Do you hate me?" Leo's voice came out muffled as he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Jon's tummy and wrapping both arms around his stomach, "I can feel it churning inside of me."

Jon let out a scoff, patting his back, "there, there. Can you get up? I'm really hungry, Leo. Starting to feel woozy from hunger, really."

Leo got up, pouting the entire time and moved away as Jonah tried to take his hand, "no, don't talk with me, you don't believe me," he squeezed his eyes as if he felt a cramp, "that fucking place poisoned me, again, and you won't even do anything about it."

Jonah glared at the side of his head, continuing to walk. He wasn't kidding about feeling woozy, while Leo had snacked all day on samples, Jon hadn't eaten since the day before.

"Okay, Leo, whatever," he snapped, feeling a little sting of annoyance. Couldn't his boyfriend save the scene for later, when Jonah wasn't about to collapse from hunger?

The rest of the walk was quiet. Jonah was feeling genuinely dizzy and Leo seemingly had gotten offended, so he was walking next to him with his arms wrapped around his belly and glaring at the ground.

"Is this the place?" Jon asked, as they stopped at a little rundown tiny restaurant. It was definitely not fancy, but it'd do. The smell of the food was amazing.

Leo nodded, not looking at him, "uh-hum."

With a tired huff, Jonah walked ahead and inside the place. Leo followed him without a word.

He ordered the first thing his eyes latched on, as well as a coke, then turned expectantly to Leo, "what do you want?"

"Nothing," Leo shook his head, with a grimace, "a water."

"You're not going to be sick," Jonah sighed as soon as the waiter was gone, rubbing his temples, before reaching over the table to squeeze Leo's wrist, "I ate the same as you, baby, I'm not sick."

"Well, I'm sick of your voice, so clam up," Leo bit back, squinting at him, "if you won't believe me, then don't talk with me. My stomach hurts."

Jonah rolled his eyes, grimacing as his own belly cramped, although in his case it was because of hunger, "alright, shutting up," he pulled out his phone in order to avoid looking at Leo.

They sat there in deadly silence for fifteen minutes, until finally the waiter came over with his order. Leo reached for his water bottle immediately, while Jonah barely had enough time to thank the waiter before he was munching on the food as fast as he could.

It was rare that he allowed himself to be this impolite, but truly he was starting to see some colorful dots in front of his eyes.

Jonah was so focused and famished, that it was only when he was halfway through his meal that he slowed down and let out a relieved sigh, lowering his fork and knife, "are you sure you don't wanna order something? It's actually really good-"

"No," Leo had lowered his forehead to the table, "I think I'm gonna throw up."

"Because of one measly shrimp canapé?" Jonah teased him, still not buying it, "doubt it."

It was the wrong thing to say, because Leo straightened up in his seat, pressing his hand to his lips and swallowing convulsively, "please, stop talking about food..." his voice was weaker now and Jon frowned.

"Are you actually sick?"

Instead of answering him, as soon as Leo lowered his hand, a sick belch rolled past his lips. His whole face turned red and he let out a whine, lowering his head in shame, "I'm sorry, excuse me-"

Jonah frowned, "Leo?"

His fiancé fidgeted, then shot up from his seat, cradling his stomach, "I- I'll be right back..." he grumbled in a thick, distorted voice, before shooting away in the direction of the bathrooms.

Jonah grimaced in sympathy, but still didn't get up. If Leo was sick, then he had a very long day ahead of him. And, in truth, Jon still wasn't fully convinced Leo hadn't talked himself into feeling queasy or upset his stomach with all the samples he had eaten.

He finished his meal, then drummed his fingers against the table, unnerved by Leo not returning. Jonah counted five more minutes, before fishing out his phone once again.

"Wow, so fucking worried over my wellbeing, you dickhead," Leo scoffed, as soon as he came back to the table, collapsing on his seat. Jonah rolled his eyes, lifting up his head and turning the phone around.

"I was getting us a hotel room, you prick," he glared at Leo, "clearly you're in no shape for us to drive back to Welton."

Leo's eyes widened, adorably, as he glanced from the screen with the booked room, then back to Jonah, then they welled up in tears, "Ah... I'm sorry-"

"What- No! Nononono-" Jonah leaped from his seat, so he could crouch down in front of Leo's, "no, baby, don't cry. That's alright, I didn't believe you, I was a dick-"

"You booked us a hotel room..." Leo sniffled, rubbing angrily the microtears glued to his lashes, "and I was a jerk and I feel so-so horrible-"

"I know, I know," Jonah cooed, biting down an amused smile at the over the top reaction. He reached in, cupping Leo's cheeks and wasn't even a little bit surprised as heat met his hands, "you're running a fever, love. Did you end up throwing up?"

"No," Leo shook his head, curling up and lowering his forehead to Jonah's shoulder, "other end," his voice came out muffled and from the corner of his eye Jon could see his cheeks turning red.

He let out a sympathetic noise, "that sucks. Do you think you can handle the walk back to our car in the conference center or you'd rather we just took a taxi straight to the hotel?"

Leo let out a whimper and his answer was entirely swallowed as he ducked his head and muffled a burp in his hand.

"Leo?"

"Taxi," his face had turned the color of spoiled milk, "I really don't feel well, Jon..."

"I know, darling, I think you caught some bug," Jonah stroked his cheek, ignoring the confused looks from the other patrons in the restaurant and clicking around on his phone to call them a ride.

"Go wait outside, I'll get you a bag," Jon instructed, pulling Leo up a minute later, "go, baby-"

The tip of Leo's nose was still red and he looked every little bit like puss in boots, making it very hard for Jon to keep a straight face. Still, the blonde walked out, while Jonah went to the cashier to get the bill and ask for a plastic bag, as well as a new water bottle.

As soon as he made it outside, though, he realized he too late. Leo had had the decency of not throwing up right in front of the restaurant, he was by the end of the street, but braced against a street lamp and projectile vomiting in the gutter.

Jon's stomach clenched and he tried, really hard, not to gag. It took all the love in him to walk closer and plant a hand on Leo's back, squeezing his shoulder in a reassuring manner.

There was absolutely no chance in hell he could even afford to glance at the mess, after having just eaten, so Jonah opted for only standing there and checking their ride in the app, making sure Leo wasn't about to collapse down.

After what felt like an eternity, but his phone told him was exactly six minutes, Leo coughed and spat, letting out a groan, "what the fuck was this..." his words were sticking together and he stumbled back, before leaning against Jon's side, "god..."

"Very impressive," Jonah mumbled, gulping down his own gag and breathing slowly through his mouth, "take a sip, baby-" he pushed the water bottle in Leo's shaky hands, "a small one."

Leo took the smallest sip he could, before wrapping a hand around his belly and grimacing, "it's churning like hell... How long for the taxi?"

"Two minutes," Jonah combed his fingers through Leo's sweaty hair, guiding him slowly away from the disgusting mess, "I'll rub your tummy for as long as you want, as soon as we're in the room."

"Uhm," Leo pressed a fist to his mouth, muffling a wet burp and moved back to the street in order to spit out a mouthful of frothy saliva, "remember you said that."

[wooahaeruby]

To You Extras

Author's Notes

Hi! You know what day it's gonna be? Jihoon's birthday! So here is a little something that I wrote while on the treadmill at the gym!

To You Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Next

November 2024: After The Wedding, Tour

You had a plan, a good one to say the least, with the help of Soonyoung and Seungcheol. 

Operation: Jihoon's Birthday. 

You had been trying to plan something small for his birthday. Then you all had to pack up and head to Japan for promotions so that was in the gutter. 

But nevertheless, you were going to get him to the restaurant that Mingyu helped book. The guys were already making their way there quietly. You planned to give Jihoon his gift when you returned, a joke one and an actual one planned.

You had to get him out of the hotel room first.

First step: Getting him dressed.

You pushed the hotel door open, kicking your shoes off and calling out. "What are you doing?" 

No response. 

Your soulbond buzzed that he was close so why wasn't he- 

You looked to where he was, curled up on the bed, headphones on, with his iPad.

He couldn't hear you. 

Scurrying over, you jumped onto the bed to grab his attention, the action causing him to bounce. Surprise shot through the bond, his head whipping around, only calmed when he noticed it was you. 

"Ru, what the fuck?" 

"Get up and get dressed." 

Hopping off the bed, you went to grab your (his) jacket from your suitcase. 

"Hello? It's-" Glancing over at his iPad, he frowned. "It's eleven forty-five, Ruby-ah. Why do I need to get dressed?" 

"Because we are going out?" 

The confusion flowed in from his side of the bond. He sat and stared at you like you grew a second head. 

"Why?" 

"Because we are?" 

"What are you hiding?" 

You scoffed, crossing your arms. "Do I need a reason to go out with my soulmate between his busy schedules and this is the only time he has free time?" 

Apprehension, you could feel it bright as day. You shot back with annoyance.

"No, but..." Jihoon stood, making his way over to you and placing his hands gently on your hips. 

"But...?" 

He stared at you, eyes flicking over your face. His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you into his chest. 

"I've been neglecting you again, haven't I?"

There was a smidge of guilt in the bond and you shook your head, taking his face into your hands gently. He pouted, looking sorry, and you kissed that look away. 

"Love, I'm fine. Let's just...let's go out. Please?" 

He kissed you once more, chaste and sweet, only to nod. "Fine, okay. But can we get food first?" 

Your eyes lit up and you nodded. "Yeah! Get dressed, I know a place I looked into earlier when you were at the gym-" 

All he did was chuckle happily as you pushed him away to grab something other than his shorts and muscle t-shirt to wear. He accepted the sweatshirt and joggers, letting you push him towards the bathroom to brush his hair as it stuck in three different directions. You got yourself ready, tossing on a sweater too, knowing you didn't need anything outrageous with the small, late night group dinner you planned. 

"Do I need my wallet-" 

"Nope! I got it covered." 

"Hm.." He stood at the door, shoes on, letting you lean on him as you got yours on as well. "And the place you know is open?"

With a nod, you took his hand, leading him out of the room and straight to the elevator. "Yep." You said, popping the end of the word. 

It was freezing outside, the cold late fall temperatures of fall seeping through your thick sweater and jacket. Jihoon gripped your hand tightly, staying close to hopefully beat the chill. The bond hummed quietly between you, inviting and cozy, helping fight the weather.

"Do we need a taxi?" He shivered, his teeth chattering. 

"It's only a block away." You put his arm over your shoulder, holding his waist. "We can make it!" 

“Tough it out?” 

You snickered, resting your head against his chest. “Tough it out, hot stuff.” 

“Ew.” He cringed at the impromptu nickname, shaking his head. “Never call me that again.” 

“Sweet thing? Pretty boy?” You grinned mischievously, looking to see the continued grimace on his face. “Oh! I can call you Cupcake like Vi from Arcane!” 

“Do not-” 

“Why not, Cupcake?” 

You bolted out from under his arm before he could catch you, laughing joyfully as he was hot on your tail. Jihoon chased you down the street, almost getting you, only for you to dodge and escape once more. He called out your name breathlessly, but the bond told you all you needed to know; he was ecstatic. 

“Get back here-” He grabbed the back of your jacket and pulled you to his chest, strong arms wrapping around you with no chance to break free. “You are such a punk, why did I marry you?” 

“But you love me!” You cheered, leaning forward in his arms as you laughed carefree. You stood and took his left hand in your own, the two rings staring back at you in the street lights. “And you wouldn't have it any other way.” 

Gently he spun you in his hold, another shiver wracking through his body and he pressed his forehead to yours, nose to nose. “Yeah, I wouldn't.” 

Your hands found his and you laced your fingers together, basking in the closeness of your soulmate. “Let’s get going.” 

When you moved to pull back, Jihoon only kept you close, shaking his head some. “One more minute. You are always around, but I miss you.” 

“Yeah well, we went from getting married to another tour so blame your management.” You joked, pecking his lips. “But, maybe after the new year we can finally book our honeymoon before you go into the military.” 

“Don’t remind me.” He groaned, huffing out a cloudy breath from the cold air. “But at least I can still have you close to me.” 

“Come on, loser, I know you are hungry.” You let one of his hands go, spotting the lit sign of the restaurant not far down.

Jihoon was the first to swing your hands between the both of you, following your strides towards the restaurant. He stopped outside, seeing the lights inside were off and the shades were drawn, almost like it was closed. 

“Are you sure it is open?” 

“Mhmm~” You tugged him towards the door, humming gleefully to yourself. 

Pulling the door open, you were still met with the dark interior. Jihoon went to question your abrupt entrance into the restaurant, only for the lights to flicker on and a loud, out of tune cheer from his group members wishing him a happy birthday. 

Jihoon jumped at your side, bewilderment rushing through the bond, but you only laughed, jumping happily at his side. 

“Happy birthday!” You joined the cheer, grabbing his face and kissing his cheek a few times. 

There was a pink flush to his cheeks, clearing his throat as he muttered out a thank you loud enough for the rest to hear. 

“Let’s eat!” Seokmin exclaimed, raising his hands, a chopstick in each. “For the birthday boy!” 

The night was…rowdy, fun, but most importantly, a great celebration. 

Between the wedding, tour, and so much more, things were busy, tiring, and they didn't have enough time to rest. You were glad that everyone had a good time and you could feel how happy Jihoon was the entire time you were at the restaurant. When everyone was finished and ready to turn in for the night, you were glad to walk in your group towards the hotel, still cracking jokes and enjoying the time spent together. 

Good nights were shared through the hall, probably accidentally waking any staff that had long gone to bed. It was late, later than you all should have been awake, but nothing you could do about it now. 

“Did you have a good night?” 

Jihoon looked up from his phone, having received a text from his parents at some point around midnight. He hummed quietly, nodding, opening his arms for you to join him in bed. When you didn’t jump over right away, he raised a brow but you brought over two boxes, one small, and another a medium sized. 

“I need to give you your birthday presents first before we go to sleep. Start with this one.” Handing the smaller one over first, you let him sit up and take it, watching him undo the bow you tied. 

Jihoon scoffed upon opening it, but it quickly turned into a quiet chuckle, pulling the sleek black wallet out. “Really?” 

Your shoulders shook in a silent laugh, nodding. “So you aren’t raw dogging your cards in your pocket anymore. I swear you are going to lose it one day.” 

“I will not.” He protested, placing it aside and you handed over the second box. 

Placing it in his awaiting hands, you grinned wide as he opened it, letting him find one of the beat maker pads he had been eyeing online for about a month. He was going to wait until you both got home to get it but…you might have had other plans when you saw it on his phone when totally not going through his online search history. 

“You gotta stop doing this, these are expensive.” He scolded, but his eyes were bright, looking over the box. “But thank you for both of these, I will use both, promise.” 

“Hm…I like to spoil my soulmate, what can I say?”

“Mhmm, sure, love.” He let you place both boxes aside and pulled you down into bed, getting comfortable to sleep through whatever was left of the night. 

He lazily places small kisses to your face, drawing small giggles and squeaks out of you, murmuring sweet nothings of appreciation as your efforts. 

“I’ll make sure we get time for our honeymoon.” 

You pulled him in for a sweet kiss, letting your foreheads rest together. “As long as I’m with you, I am happy wherever we are. Happy birthday, Jihoon.”

[cameronspecial]

hey I saw you wanted request, if you want I would love a Zach x reader (because there isn't enough of him) where she is a popular soccer player instead of him and he is a nerd xxx

Soccer Queen

Pairing: Zach MacLaren x Reader

Warnings: N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.6K

Masterlist

Whenever Y/N looks into the stands during one of her matches, there is always one person she can count on being in the stands. Zach MacLaren. Her amazingly sweet and nerdy boyfriend is always there to cheer her on during a game. He may not know anything about the game, but she knows his eyes are glued to the field whenever she is on it. When she is not on it, she can’t help but giggle at the sight of him burying his head into his textbook. She is so lucky to have a boyfriend who will be here to support her even if he has a big engineering exam tomorrow. Not to mention the fact that he can be playing Battle Toads with his sister instead. She laughs to herself at the thought of Avery because it always makes her remember the threat the youngest MacLaren gave her when they first met. She is glad she could never hurt Zach because not being able to kick a soccer ball again sounds like agony. He adorably pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose with the tip of his finger and she can’t wait for this game to be over with so that she can playfully nudge them down his nose again to annoy him. 

It’s funny. Before she met Zach, the only thing Y/N could ever think about was running across the manicured grass in her cleats. Her feet under her desk during class would mimic countless drills. Her mind would run through different plays during dinner. And her free time at home would be spent watching old games to figure out how to improve. Now, it’s like her brain only understands one word. Zach. Her eyes always look for the creases that form on his forehead whenever he studies something in depth. Her ears always pick up on his banter with Avery. Her lips always yearn to feel his. 

The blow of a horn pulls her attention back to the pitch in time to see her teammate kick the game-winning goal. She stands up from the cold metal bench with a scream and runs toward the player with the rest of the team. As she jumps in a group hug with everyone else, her eyes fall on Zach to see he is already beaming at her. 

———

She makes the climb up the bleachers to find him still sitting in his seat. He looks at the notes on his iPad and references his textbook. He usually waits for her in the stands after games so he doesn’t have to be pushed around by everyone else trying to leave. Plus, he likes the contrast of such a quiet arena after a boisterous game. She tries to soften her steps so he can’t hear her sneaking up on him but fails miserably. However, he doesn’t let her know that. He allows her to take his glasses off from behind him and groans in fake annoyance. He spins around with a frown, “Really, Baby? I’m trying to study.” She kisses his cheek and uses her running stamina to run further up the stands, giggling the whole way up. His laughter mixes with his footsteps as he chases after her. She doesn’t worry about his blindness because his spectacles are only for reading. Despite most of his time being spent in the library or in a lab, he is surprisingly fast and he catches up to her. His arms trap her waist and he spins her around with him. 

He finally sets her on the ground and they both pant from being a little out of breath. Their eyes lock and he brushes a strand of hair that fell out of her ponytail behind her ear. The distance between their faces is so small that they can feel the air coming out of each other’s lungs. The warmth of his petals captures hers and it feels like the world has been caught by the net. They separate with a smile. “I love you, my Soccer Queen,” he mumbles, peppering her neck with kisses. She chuckles, returning his glasses to his handsome face, “I love you, my Nerdy King.”

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @thepatriarchykeychain @drewsmusee @starkowswife @maybankslover @forstarkey @loving-and-dreaming @magicalyoura @rubixgsworld

[turn3tifosi]

Okay request for arvid

So no one at prema knows he has a gf and at prema but he's forgotten something so his gf has to come drop it and at first everyone thinks it's his sister or smth and one of then asks for her no. And she starts laughing and is like "Wow you really asked for my no. In front of my bf"

can’t blame a guy for trying

arvid lindblad x secret gf!reader

Author's note: I hope you like it. I did change the request up a bit (just a bit) but the essence is there i swear. Thanks for the request!!

masterlist

“So I might have forgotten my iPad at home. And my parents have already left. I know you were planning on coming to the circuit later, but could you please come as soon as possible, I think I’ll actually get murdered by Rene, the way he’s glaring into my head,” Arvid’s voice crackled through the early morning haze, breaking into your peaceful sleep.

You loved your boyfriend, you really did, but you hated the idea of having to leave your warm bed so early. Groaning dramatically, you rolled over and squinted at the clock – 7:30 AM. Way too early for a Saturday, especially when you had planned to sleep in. But Arvid’s urgent tone pricked at your conscience.

“Fine, fine,” you grumbled, rubbing your eyes. “I’ll come. But I’m taking my sweet time getting ready.”

Arvid chuckled softly. “Thank you, darling. You’re the best. And I owe you big time.”

“You owe me breakfast,” you bargained, already swinging your legs out of bed. “Something nice. And coffee.”

“Deal.”

Fifteen minutes later, you were dressed and groggily making your way to the track. Despite your sleepy protests, you couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement to see Arvid in his element again. F3 racing had become a big part of your life since you started dating him, and you admired his dedication and passion for the sport.

Arriving at the Prema team garage, you were greeted by curious glances from the mechanics and engineers. You were used to being around the racing scene, but today felt different – you were here on official business, not just as Arvid’s supportive (and secret) girlfriend. You spotted Arvid surrounded by his team, looking slightly frazzled but still managing to maintain his cool demeanor.

“Hey,” you greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, handing over the iPad he had forgotten. “You owe me big time for this.”

Arvid grinned sheepishly, taking the iPad. “I know, I know. Breakfast, right?”

“Absolutely,” you affirmed, glancing around at the team members who were stealing curious glances at you. “And maybe something extra for rescuing you from a tech disaster.”

As you spoke, a voice piped up from nearby, “Hey Arvid, who’s the new team member?”

You turned to see Alex Powell, another young driver on the team, looking at you with a friendly smile. You chuckled inwardly, knowing exactly where this was going.

Arvid glanced at Alex, his expression slightly wary but amused.

Alex continued, “Seriously, man, is she your sister or something? She looks too relaxed to be a girlfriend.”

You raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in your eyes. “Nope, not his sister.”

Alex grinned wider, looking genuinely intrigued now. “Ah, then who might you be?”

Before Arvid could reply, you decided to play along, enjoying the teasing moment. “I’m his secret agent. Can’t reveal more than that.”

This earned a few laughs from the team, and you could see Arvid trying not to burst out laughing himself. His teammates were starting to catch on, realizing the situation was a bit more humorous than they had initially thought.

Alex persisted, undeterred. “Come on, Arvid, give me her number. Maybe she’ll let me in on the secret.”

You chuckled again, shaking your head. “Wow, you really asked for my number from my boyfriend?”

Arvid couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into laughter, earning curious glances from everyone around. He wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close. “Sorry, Alex, she’s taken.”

Alex grinned, accepting the playful rejection gracefully. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

The mechanics and engineers, who had been discreetly observing the exchange, now seemed to relax, amused by the banter. Arvid squeezed your shoulder affectionately, his earlier stress from forgetting the iPad now replaced with gratitude and amusement.

“Alright, alright,” he said to the team, still grinning widely. “Let’s get back to work. Thanks for the save, love.”

You nodded, smiling back at him. “Anytime. Now, about that breakfast…”

“Right, right,” Arvid chuckled, leading you out of the garage towards the team’s makeshift dining area. 

[daydreamgoddess14]

Support System pt. 10 - The Finale!

CH1 | CH 2 | CH 3 | CH 4 | CH 5 | CH 6 | CH 7 | CH 8 | CH 9

MASTERLIST

It's the end doo doo doo doo! The final match of the season, the ending. I really hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. I've had the best time and I'm really proud of this one! 💜

Chapter 10

You hadn’t considered that footballers or their coaches would get nervous. But the tension in the run up to the Man City game was palpable. The whole town seemed on edge, Roy included. He’d spent each one of your Lexie nights at your house, it felt a little odd that he was there observing your boring mum routine of washing, cooking and carrying the mental load of knowing where Lexie needed to be, when and everything else in between. He didn’t ask to stay, even though you’d wanted him to, he’d said goodnight each evening and gone back to his place. By the time Lexie was back to her dads, you’d worked out that he’d been there every evening not just because he’d wanted to be, but because he’d needed to be. The build up to the game had him restless and distractible and the time with you and Lexie managed to relax him far more than sitting in an empty house, or going over and over the match with Jamie, or Nate or whoever else was free for a pint. When you’d gone to him just a day before the match, the only solace he’d found from the plays, the tactics and the team, was in you. He took his time, undressing you slowly and kissing every inch of skin as it became exposed to him.

"Let me take care of you," you whispered. You felt his head shake as he kissed down your neck. 

"I've never needed anyone like I need you." He muttered, swiping a calloused thumb over your hardening nipple, "you look so fucking beautiful like this." You rolled your hips against him, 

"Please, Roy. I need you-" you all but begged. All night he'd taken the lead and given you everything, losing himself in the feel of your body against his. When they won the next day, you were euphoric. Lexie and Phoebe had been in bits when the camera had focused in on Roy and Nate discussing something over an iPad and they could see that Roy was wearing his Richmond colours friendship bracelet. The late journey back from Manchester and the subsequent celebrations meant that it was Tuesday morning before you saw him again. You’d joined the slip road to the school, queuing for the carpark with the windows down and blasting 90s dance music when his car had pulled alongside yours. You and Lexie had been so engrossed in singing/shouting Robin S ‘Show Me Love’ - complete with 'big box, little box' hand dancing - that you hadn’t even seen him until Phoebe had called through the open windows. 

“Morning. Congratulations on the win!” You’d called out.

“Morning. Nice dancing.”

“Especially for you.” You winked. You’d ended up parked at different ends of the carpark so he and Phoebe had waited for you by the gate as you walked down to them. You’d pulled out your phone to take a call from a recruitment agency so he’d walked alongside you while you talked and the girls ran ahead. “And that’s in Richmond? Wow, ok that sounds really interesting. Absolutely yes, send my CV over if you think I’m in with a shot. Actually, just send it over anyway - I’d be mad not to at least try,” at the front of the queue at the gates, you handed Lexie her bag and gave her a kiss whilst still on the phone, “Ok, could you just hang on one second please?” You moved the phone away from your mouth and stepped up on tiptoes to give Roy a lingering kiss. The other playground parents looked on, wide eyed. “I have to go, I love you. See you later.” You whispered, taking up the phone again and going back to the car, your hand holding onto his until you couldn’t reach any further. Lexie was with her dad during the beginning of that week so that she could go with you to the final Richmond match at the weekend, so after work you’d gone straight to Roy’s. You hopped up to sit on the counter while he cooked.

“Ted’s staying.” He told you, hands on your thighs.

“Really? That’s great!”

“He got to work this morning and Rebecca was in his office. She only fucking told him she was in love with him, that she’d help his ex get a job here if she wanted to move, she’d help them find a school for Henry… pretty much told him she’d do fucking anything if he’d say.” You leaned forward, eager to hear more,

“And did he tell her?”

“Yeah, told her he was in love with her. We walked in to find them nearly going at it in the office.” You shrieked,

“Oh god that’s so cute! At least you all know before the weekend as well.”

“Settles the lads down a bit, bunch of fucking kids sometimes.” You slid forward to wrap your legs around his hips. “Any news on that job from this morning?” His hands move up your thighs and around your waist so he can kiss your neck,

“Not yet, the agency is putting me forward. It’s in Richmond though, which would be amazing. I should hear more tomorrow.”

“And how you feeling going into your last week?”

“Happy. Scared. Nervous.”

“We’ll figure it out, you know. I won’t let you fucking drown. Season finishes at the weekend, so this time next week I’ll have loads more free time for a few weeks. I can help with Lex while you do what you need to do.” He’s turned the pan off and pulled you off the counter, taking you over to the sofa, dinner forgotten for now.

~~~~~~~

You took a further call from the recruitment agency the following day. Their client was interested in meeting you but needed an informal off-site meeting. You arranged with the recruiter to meet with them towards the end of the week just outside of town. To say you were surprised to see Keeley Jones and Rebecca Welton being led to your table was an understatement. You shook hands and sat back down before your legs could give out. The mums might have been all good, the kids, but maybe you were about to be ousted by two of the most influential women in Roy’s life? You clearly looked terrified because Keeley, to her credit, took your hand and held it,

“Oh fuck, you look so scared! I’m so sorry we ambushed you, are you ok?” You think of the night before when Roy had cooked your favourite meal while you’d taken Lexie to swimming lessons and then onto her dads. When you’d sat in his lap and pushed your fingers into the knot in his shoulder to try and relieve some of the stress of the final week of the season. When he’d lost all patience and decided on a different way to unwind, which had mostly revolved around keeping his head between your thighs for as long as you let him. You think about your 4am wake up call that morning, and the 6am follow up, where he’d interlocked your fingers above your head and pressed you into the mattress as he whispered “I could do this forever”. Whatever had changed their mind in the time since the gala, you couldn’t let it derail your future.

“Look, if you’ve suddenly come to the realisation that I’m not good enough for Roy then that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. But I’m not going to be scared off. He loves me and I’ll take that for as long as I possibly can because I am so, so in love with him and I will spend forever making him happy in any way I can. I’m really sorry, I’m sure you’re both lovely women and I know he values your opinions, but if he’s ever going to change how he feels about me then he’ll do it himself and he’ll tell me himself. And congratulations by the way,” you turn to Rebecca, “I heard that Ted is staying and that he finally told you he loves you. I’m so happy for you.” Keeley smiled at you while Rebecca looked curiously. 

“Are you sure about this?” She asked Keeley,

“I’ve been doing some digging. Trust me, Rebecca.”

“We’re not here to try and break you and Roy up.” Rebecca said finally,

“Oh. Well then I don’t understand?”

“I’d like to interview you for a job.”

“Sorry, what? Shit, have I just fucked it up completely?”

“Nahh!” Keeley said quickly.

“Well-” Rebecca interrupted.

“No, she hasn’t. We probably scared her half to death, Rebecca! Give the poor woman a minute to recover.” You finish your water and take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry, really I am. I got completely carried away and I shouldn't have gone off like that.”

“Thank you,” Rebecca said, smiling at last. “And thank you for letting me know just how much you care about Roy.” You nod, making peace. Keeley whipped out some paperwork from her bag.

“So! Like Rebecca said, this is I guess, a final stage interview without all the previous stages? We already know about you, we'd love to know more. Our previous Director of Comms was Leslie Higgins, he moved into the Football Ops role quite a while ago now and there’s never really been the need to replace him. He and Rebecca have sort of taken on the various tasks and it’s worked fine.” She pauses for Rebecca to step in and continue,

“Now though, we’re one game away from maybe winning the Premier League just one season after coming back from relegation. That’s practically unheard of. The huge, growing success of the club, the opportunities with the Champions League next season and our plans for the future mean that we need to strengthen the internal team. KBPR can only do so much - they have other clients and I can’t ask Keeley to devote all of her time to the club.”

“We think,” Keeley started, “that with us, and Leslie and you… we could be a real Fab Four. The core AFC Richmond decision makers - with the coaches input of course.” You are stunned, to say the least.

“When you say you’ve done some digging, what exactly do you mean by that?”

“Well, when you told me who you worked for and what you’d worked on, I realised that we’d met before. I’ve been asking around people who have worked with you or who have come across you in a professional capacity to learn more. When I liked what I saw, I took it to Rebecca.”

“With Ted confirmed as staying now, I have some big plans ahead for Roy. We have some very big plans ahead as a club.”

“And you don’t think it would be weird? Me working with you, for one,” you gesture to Keeley, “or with Roy?”

“I’ve been at the club probably at least two or three times a week since the day you blocked him in on the school car park. He came in ranting and raving about some idiot driver and every day, I’ve heard him fall more in love with you. If he found out there was a way to have you in the same building every day, I think he’d be beating Rebecca’s door down himself. And working in the same building doesn’t necessarily mean you spend every waking hour together. You still have crucial jobs to do. And as for me, I'd love to work with you.” Rebecca nodded in agreement.

“The job is nothing you don’t already know, the only difference is the industry.”

“Exactly, my football knowledge is… limited at best!”

“We’re a family, we wouldn’t let you drown.” Hearing Rebecca use the same phrase as Roy struck a chord with you.

“I take it you have a job spec, contract, everything I need to read through and make a decision?”

“An interview is as much about you deciding if we’re the right fit for you, as it is for us to decide. I think you’ll find that the club's current standing means we can afford to give you a generous package, and the locality means we can support a better work-life balance.”

“Take this, read it and see what you think.” You take the folder.

“As his friends, do you think I should tell Roy now, or decide based on him not knowing? I assume we’ve met here because he doesn’t know, and inviting me to Nelson Road would be a dead giveaway?”

“Perhaps tell him about the role first and then bring in where it came from. Let him help offer an opinion based on the job alone.” Rebecca suggested. “And I do so hope you’ll agree to join us, I think you could be a truly great asset to the club.”

~~~~~~~~

You’d kept the folder at your house, not daring to leave it in a bag or your car in danger of accidentally taking it to Roy’s. Being at yours also meant you could be ‘busy’ and have Lexie as a buffer and it also being your last week at your current workplace, this also gave you an excuse for being more distracted than usual. The last game of the season was doing the same for him so his being distracted also helped you. The intimacy of spending time alone at Roy’s exposed all of your vulnerabilities. You’d spent so many nights laying in the dark in his arms listening to him talk about his family and career, and have him ask about yours, it was impossible to hide anything from him. You’d mentioned the role to him, you’d had to since he knew about the original recruiter call, and he’d reacted to it exactly as you hoped he would - excited for you to have such a great opportunity, close to home, with a package befitting your knowledge and experience. You wanted to wait until after the West Ham game to tell him exactly who the role was for. Lexie was spending the night before the match at Phoebe’s for a sleepover. The night before the Man City game meant you knew exactly how he'd want to forget the West Ham match and this time, you'd planned accordingly. You'd finished your final day at work early and had blown the cash from your leaving card on the most beautiful lingerie set you'd ever seen. You'd come back via Nelson Road to borrow his keys, and gone back to his to cook. When he got back late that afternoon, you'd set up outside under the secluded canopy in his garden with soft lights, blankets and cushions. You handed him a beer and led him outside, brought food out - including dessert, and then when you'd eaten and cleared up, you stepped in front of him and slipped your summer dress down your body. He reached out and took your hand, you'd sat in his lap with your legs either side of his. He ran his finger over the cup of the bra, 

"Holy fucking shit, you're perfect," 

"Distracting enough?"

"Yeah I'd say so." He said gruffly. “It’s a good fucking job I just need to stand on the side of the pitch now.” He laughed. 

The match was intense, unexpected drama on the sidelines and Isaac’s incredible goal had everyone holding their breath for another goal or for news from the Liverpool game. When the win came, no one seemed to care what the final table result was. The fans flooded the pitch to be with their team. You, Sara and the girls had stayed back a little, you could see better as Coach Lasso danced with his team surrounding him. When you let the girls onto the pitch, they run straight to Roy and he ends up with Phoebe on his front and giving a piggyback to Lexie at the same time.

“Don’t come crying to me later when you can’t walk.” You tease, finding a route past Phoebe to give him a kiss.”

“You’re not gonna fucking take care of me?” He asks, faux outraged.

“Every. Single. Day.”

“Dad!” Lexie calls, she taps Roy’s shoulder and he lets her down. Andy is coming across the pitch from the away fans side.

“Alright love.” He scoops her up and hugs her. “Congratulations,” he says to Roy who nods without greeting. “Dunno what old Mannion was doing. Made us look like fools. Do you ehh, do you know if our gaffer is ok?”

“Yeah, that old twat is fine. Just a bruised ego and a picture of his balls on the front of every paper tomorrow.” Andy shrugs.

“I uhh, I wanted to apologise to you both. I was a real dickhead-” Roy snorts a laugh, “worse than that, then. I’m sorry. I’ve been watching since the game finished. You look happy.” He turns to you,

“I am.” You say shortly, unsure whether to trust the apology.

“Good. I mean it, you look happy together. And Lexie tells me so all the time. I’m… happy for you.” You thank him and he heads off with his mates to the pub. You’re left with the feeling that you might never be friendly, but you can at least be cordial. Relieved of carrying the kids, Roy pulls you into his arms.

“He’s jealous.”

“Of me?” he laughs,

“Of me, you muppet.” He leans down to kiss your cheek and whisper in your ear, “because you're the one. You're it. You're the only one I want for the rest of my life. And he knows he fucked it up.”

“Hmm, you're pretty irresistible yourself.” The kiss you leave him with leaves you both breathless,

“Think we can find somewhere-”

“No way, there are hundreds of people here. I need to tell you something later.” He looks curiously at you, but you both get caught up in another ‘Richmond til we Die’ chant when Jamie, Keeley and a raft of players come over to find Roy. A little further through the crowd, you see Ted sweep Rebecca into his arms and kiss her. Even an hour after the game had ended, the club was still heaving with people. The fans had gone on to celebrate elsewhere but the families and friends of the players and staff remained. Rebecca had instructed the bar to stay open, insisting that she’d cover the bill. Phoebe and Lexie were still running around on the now empty pitch with Leslie’s younger children and other player’s and staff kids. You’ve told Sara about the job and you can’t wait to tell Roy. He’s sitting with Nate, both of them animatedly discussing Jamie’s Oscar winning performance with Coach Beard. 

“Have you got an answer for me yet?” Rebecca asks, sitting next to you in the dugout.

“Yes, I think I do. I’d like to run it by someone in particular first though.” You catch Roy’s eye, he looks surprised but happy to see you talking to Rebecca. She waves her hand to call him over.

“Coach Kent, congratulations.”

“You too.”

“I meant your excellent girlfriend, not the match.” He cocks an eyebrow at her,

“Thanks then. She’s fucking brilliant.”

“I know. Thought I might poach her from you?” The furrow in his brow deepens with his confusion. You stand up and kiss the frown away.

“The amazing job I’ve been offered? It would be here. Working for Rebecca.” You tell him, trying to keep your voice light but nervous for his response.

“Here? Every day?” 

“Yeah,” you start to mistake his hesitation for annoyance, “but if you think that’s really fucking weird, then I can tell Rebecca to stuff it - no offense, Rebecca - and I can carry on looking and something else will turn up-”

“I don’t think it’s really fucking weird. I think you should say yes. You should definitely fucking do it.”

“Yeah?”

“Fuck yeah.” 

“You’d better come over tomorrow then, sign your contract.” Rebecca says with a smile. “Welcome.” You and Sara party on the pitch with the team until the girls start to flag and it’s time to go. You insist Roy stay,

“I’ll see you tomorrow, go - have an amazing night, you’ve earned it. I’m so fucking proud of you.” You kiss him and he waves you off. 

~~~~~~~

You’re reading in bed when the door knocks so quietly you think you might have imagined it. Lexie is practically comatose in her bed, the combination of exhilaration and fresh air has completely wiped her out. You creep down the stairs in one of Roy’s t-shirts and open the door. Jamie Tartt is on your doorstep with an arm slung around Roy.

“Tried to get him to come to a club with us, but he made us bring ‘im ‘ere instead.” You stifle a giggle, you can see that Roy’s nowhere near as drunk as Jamie but he’s still looking at you with total adoration.

“Thanks Jamie, I’ll take it from here. You have a good night,” you look around him to the taxi down the path. Isaac and Colin are both waving madly at you. “Be safe, boys.” You wave to them and blow a kiss before slipping your arm around Roy’s waist and guiding him inside.

“Night Coach,” Jamie grins.

“Night Tartt, fuckin’ love you man. Fuckin’ love all of you.”

“We know. And we wouldn’t have been on that fuckin’ pitch without you.” Jamie gave you both a little salute and ran off back to the taxi.

“Come on, coach. Time for bed.” You lead him upstairs and sit him on the bed so you can take off his t-shirt, then you drop to your knees and unlace his trainers. You pull his hands to get him to stand up, running your hands around the waistband of his dark jeans and pulling them down. Once they’re free of his hips, he sits back down. “Come here,” you whisper, climbing into bed and pulling him with you, his body between your legs and his head on your heart. 

“Feels like I won the whole fucking thing.” He whispers against your skin as he falls asleep.

[listieshadows]

Having Fun With Elvis On Stage: A Review, Or A Babble, I'unno—I Didn't Write 1.2k Words To Just Not Share 'Em

Y'know, any review or discussion of Having Fun With Elvis On Stage is basically just trying to answer one simple question: well, did you? And the answer should be a simple "yes" or "no," but, me being me, I have thoughts.

To begin with, knowing why this record even exists does make it a little hard to have fun with Elvis. 'Coz, like, literally the only reason why this thing exists is because Colonel Tom Parker wanted all of the money. I mean, you look at every other Elvis album ever released — they have songs on 'em, right? Written by songwriters? And those songs are owned by publishers, who, naturally, get part of the profit whenever a record's sold. Not to mention, all Elvis song recordings belong to RCA anyway. Obviously, these are all obstacles. Big ones, at one. But, hey, clearly there was a simple way around these roadblocks: just make sure Elvis doesn't sing any songs.

Thus came into existence Having Fun With Elvis On Stage, 37 and a half minutes of between-song banter cut entirely out of context — musical and otherwise.

It's... A bit of an odd experience, honestly. Like, lemme start with this take: some part of me listens to this and hears an unintentional precursor to modern "[x] out of context" videos. I mean, at its core, that is what's going on here. Taking some of the funniest and best moments from something and presenting them rapid-fire, one after another. I've had enough of these recommended to me to know what I'm talking about. In fact, it nearly uses the title format of some of 'em. Switch a few around, add the runtime: "Elvis having fun on stage for 37 minutes..." It works.

Of course, there's a difference between a fan lovingly pulling together some of their favorite moments and clips, and Elvis's manager hacking up concert tapes and assembling them in a random order. Y'know, a fan would have some kind of structure, even just chronological order — Parker here all but slaps the tape fragments in your hand and grunts for money.

Which is a shame that that's the presentation, because, legitimately, Elvis is a funny guy. I've heard at least one of his early Vegas performances, where he's still buzzing from the '68 Comeback Special, and, yeah: he's got the chops. Not to mention the classic "What kind of girl do you like?" exchange. I mean, sure, maybe later Vegas Elvis doesn't have it as much, where he's told the same jokes a billion times across the same show he's done a billion times, but early Vegas Elvis? Yeah, no, I dig it.

But it has to be in the larger context of a show, 'coz, y'know, most of this banter is lead-ins to songs. You don't hafta hear too many Elvis shows to recognize them, and every time you do it's such a tease. Like you're just about to get a bit of "Hound Dog" or a medley or — nope! Dollar bill gets pulled away again. Even worse when there is a bit of music left in (I thought I recognized some of the riffs, but I couldn't put my finger on 'em) and then it just hard cuts to something else. Or, y'know, there's the billion or so times Elvis sings "WEEEEEELL." The only real bit of music you get on this whole album: "WEEEEEELL." If you didn't know better, you'd swear that was the only song he knew: "WEEEEEEELL." Well what? Goodness.

And if it's not that, then it's clips of him kissing women and having them scarves, or it's just... Purely bizarre without anything surrounding it. For instance: "I'm the NBC peacock!" It's, like... I'm sure he's referring to his jumpsuit, but devoid of any visuals, or the rest of the show that clip came from... Even knowing what he was talking about, I still hadda look up at the iPad I had playing this album like, "Wha—? Huh?"

So, that's the verdict, then, eh? I didn't have fun with Elvis on stage? That's the simple answer I shoulda said to begin with?

To borrow a phrase: "Well..."

'Coz, yeah, this thing is a nakedly cynical train wreck of a cash grab. Just another Elvis product to wring a few more bucks out of his fans' pockets, though this time they'd go directly into the Colonel's — no middle men! What a joy! And even Elvis himself absolutely hated this thing, from what I remember hearing. There shouldn't be anything redeeming about his incomprehensible mess.

And yet... I still found some amusement from this thing.

Oh, sure, it's not a lot, and I doubt I'll ever listen to this thing again, but... Look, my qualification for "having fun" isn't a complex one. If I get anything out of this, and if the needle generally doesn't fall too below the negative, then I can't say "No."

There are a few scattered moments here and there I can get some chuckles out of. Elvis saying that you hafta pronounce "Memphis" as "memffif?" That's great! It's something I randomly say to myself all the time. Then there's, like, "BEE-FIFTEH-TOO BAWMA, BWAAAOOOOW." Just random enough that it tickles me. Plus, on the first side you do get, like, a couple uncut minutes where Elvis talks about his early days, and while I generally enjoyed this spiel more when I heard his entire first Vegas show, it still has him describing his acting in movies as: "HUH? WHA?" Also great! Heck, I referenced it unintentionally a few paragaphs up. So, like, it requires some digging, but if you wanna spend the time to find the highlights, you'll probably come out with some.

Although, that said, regardless of my answer, I still can't in good conscience recommend anyone actually listen to this thing. It's still 37 and a half minutes of Elvis babbling to himself like a crazy person and endlessly teasing songs he'll never play. Do you wanna sit through all that unconnected stand-up? Like, I don't think I could even say I'd think the die-hards would get a kick out of this. I mean, if you're this down for The King, you've likely heard every live recording his estate has dumped out, so you've probably heard all of this a million times over. I suppose you could use this as one of those "out of context" videos like I mentioned above, but that's still a crazy amount of work to hafta put in to truly "get" this, y'know? And how are there actually people who've made further volumes of this? Goodness me.

If nothing else, hey, at least this scheme didn't work for the Colonel anyway. After all, he found out that any sound recording made while Elvis was under contract to RCA belonged to them, so it wasn't long before they'd reissued it under their own label. So that's a little something to have fun with.

And I'll say as well: is this the worst rock album ever made? Well, there's not even any rock on it, so categorically, no. But I can't get too mad at it, anyway. After all, I did have some kind of fun with Elvis on stage. And I can't truly condemn anything that accomplishes that much at least.

[deathofpeaceofmiiind]

high infidelity | seven

My baby's fly like a jet stream, high above the whole scene, loves me like I'm brand new *Ellie’s POV* I woke up in a panic, forgetting where I was. I felt clammy and delirious. My hair was knotted and my face felt greasy since I forgot to take off my make up last night. My eyes wondered over to the tattooed arm that was beside me and relief washed over me, it was Noah. “Good morning.” He says putting his phone down and kissing my forehead. Suddenly my hangover hit me and my head felt like it split in two. “Morning.” I mumbled. “I feel awful.” “Tequila?” He asks as he scrunches his face up. I just nod, even the word tequila made me want to gag. “Well I hate to make you feel worse but I got us flights back to up to Vancouver, we leave in three hours.” “Oh god.” I moaned and I buried my head back into my pillow. He laughs and walks over to the bathroom. I hear the shower running and he comes back over to me with Advil and a bottle of water.

“I’ll order us some breakfast.” He smirks, I could tell he was trying not to laugh more at the state I was in. “Go shower, it’ll wake you up.” I wanted to protest, but a shower felt like a great idea. I grabbed my stuff and headed into the bathroom. After my shower I threw on my hoodie from last night with leggings and put my hair up in a claw clip with minimal make up to make myself at least look human. I came out of the bathroom and our breakfast was already waiting for us. We had coffees with pancakes and bacon, my favourite which also seemed to be Noah’s. After we were done eating we ordered an Uber and made our way to the airport. *Noah’s POV* I had to admit Ellie was handling her hangover better than I could’ve. I held her hand the entire ride to the airport and kept stealing glances at her. I couldn’t help myself. I’m still trying to figure out how I landed myself in such a lucky situation. Nick texted me to say they were just leaving Seattle and it felt weird I wasn’t there with them. He was right, this was definitely a different routine but if it meant having Ellie with me I was more than happy to switch it up. Once we got to the airport we checked in, made our way through security and found the first Starbucks we could find. “I’ll have a grande nitro brew and …” “A venti iced matcha with oat milk.” Ellie chimed in.   “God, you’re so basic.” I laughed as I gave the cashier my credit card. I looked over at Ellie and she told me to go fuck myself, which made me laugh more. We couldn’t stop making each other laugh and we were acting like this wasn’t our first time flying together. Ellie was just so incredible and she was easily one of the funniest people I’ve met without even trying. I felt like my heart was going to explode.

 “This is a very strange first date.” she chuckled as we got on the plane. “I know.” I replied as I reached over and helped her with her belt, not breaking my stare from her. “except you can’t go anywhere.” “Noah Sebastian, is that a threat?” She smirks. “Could be.” I replied with a deep tone.  She put her hand on my lap and I could feel myself getting hard, which wasn’t ideal. I always used to rush into things and with Ellie I wanted to slow down and establish something cause this was so delicate. I was ready whenever she was. “I was thinking about starting Demon Slayer again, do you wanna watch it?” I said, distracting myself from feeling like a horny teenager. Ellie just nodded and I pulled my iPad and AirPods out of my bag. I passed her an AirPod and she rested her head on my shoulder and I pressed play, mind you I was too focused on her thumb rubbing circles on my thigh. “You’re not gonna know the plot looking down there.” She chuckles as she looks up at me. My face got hot and drew my eyes back to my iPad. She was driving me absolutely crazy. The flight was only an hour so we got to Vancouver before we knew it. We were waiting at baggage claim for my suitcase, which I realized was a stupid idea for only being gone for two days. Ellie was making a joke about me being high maintenance but her phone interrupted her. She stopped dead in her tracks and her face went white. Tyler was calling her and I instantly saw red. “Hello…why do you think I’m divorcing you…I’ve known for a month…no I’m done Tyler…where was this effort when I raised our son on my own while you were out with her…call my lawyer to figure out a date…I’m not sorry…I’m done…yes I’m in town still…no I’m staying at a hotel right now…whatever.” She hung up the phone and was a lot more calm than I would’ve been. I pulled her into my chest and felt her take a huge breath. At least I knew she was safe with me and nothing would hurt her.

[siesstories]

Marry Me (Eddie Diaz 9-1-1)

Chapter 6

The house was quiet again. Too quiet.

Christopher didn’t mind silence the way some kids did. He didn’t need noise to feel okay. But there were different kinds of quiet. The peaceful kind—like the sound of pages turning in a book, or the hush that came with late-night cartoons and a blanket pulled to your chin. Then there was the kind of quiet that came with holding your breath, waiting for someone to say something they never would.

That was the kind of quiet that had settled over the house in the last year.

He was old enough now to notice things most people missed. His dad never said much about feelings, but Christopher had learned to read the small things: the way Eddie paused at certain pictures, how he smiled at jokes that didn’t reach his eyes, how he always stopped short of saying her name.

Y/N.

He remembered her. Her voice, her freckles, the way she used to crouch beside him to talk like they were the same height. She never talked to him like a baby. That mattered. She brought cupcakes once—bright pink frosting and sprinkles. She let him lick the spoon after she fixed the icing with a butter knife because it slid during the car ride. He remembered how she laughed and said, “It’s not about perfect, it’s about sweet.”

He liked her.

She was fun. Kind. Gentle in a way that didn’t feel fragile.

And then, one day, she was gone.

At first, he asked where she went. Eddie said she was busy. Said she got married. That sometimes, people moved on. But that didn’t explain the way his dad got quiet when her name came up. It didn’t explain why he never looked at his phone after certain text messages, or why the drawer next to his bed made a strange sound when it opened—like it had something inside he didn’t want to touch.

So Christopher stopped asking.

But he didn’t stop wondering.

He noticed that drawer a lot. Watched his dad open it at night, reach in, take something else, close it again. Never linger. Always careful.

It made him curious.

One Thursday afternoon in early summer, Christopher came home from school early—half-day for teacher planning—and Eddie was still on shift. Carla let him inside and handed him a juice box and a banana muffin before heading back out to the porch to call her sister.

He wasn’t trying to snoop.

He was looking for the charger Eddie kept in the bedroom drawer. His iPad was almost dead, and he wanted to finish the show he’d been watching before Carla switched to “quiet time.” The drawer was stiff at first, but it gave way with a little tug.

And there it was.

An envelope.

It wasn’t new, but it wasn’t dusty either. Cream-colored, thick, with no name on the outside. But it looked important. Not like junk. Like something meant to last.

He hesitated.

He shouldn’t read it. He knew that.

But his fingers itched.

He slid the paper out gently, like it might shatter, and unfolded the letter inside.

He didn’t understand everything. The words were grown-up in the way movies were sometimes—beautiful and sad and too big all at once. But he understood the parts that mattered.

Y/N. Love. I always will. I wasn’t brave.

It hit like a gut punch, and he didn’t even know why.

He read the letter twice. The second time slower.

Then he folded it back, the same way it had been. Perfect corners. No tears. No marks. He slid it into the envelope and tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket. He didn’t know what to do. Only that it couldn’t stay in that drawer anymore.

He zipped up his hoodie, put his iPad on the charger, and walked to the kitchen.

Carla peeked in through the window. “You good, baby?”

He nodded. “Can I go to the park?”

She checked the time. “Back in an hour.”

He called Buck from the sidewalk.

Buck answered on the second ring, voice warm and cheerful. “Chris! What’s up, buddy?”

“Can we meet?”

There was a pause.

“Yeah. Of course. You okay?”

Christopher hesitated. “I found something. It’s about my dad.”

Buck didn’t ask more. He just said, “I’ll be there in ten.”

The park wasn’t crowded. It was late enough in the day that most kids were home for dinner. Christopher sat on the swing set, pushing gently with his toes. The letter felt heavy in his pocket. Like it was burning.

Buck pulled up fast, still in uniform, hair a mess, boots unlaced. He jogged over with the look he always wore when something was serious.

“Chris?”

Christopher slid off the swing and reached into his pocket.

“I didn’t mean to find it,” he said quickly. “I was just looking for a charger.”

Buck took the envelope from him carefully. His eyes scanned the seal. He recognized Eddie’s handwriting instantly.

“What is it?” Buck asked.

“A letter,” Christopher said. “For Y/N.”

Buck’s face changed. Not with surprise—more like confirmation.

He opened the letter and read it in full. The whole thing. His breath caught in the middle.

When he looked up, his eyes were glassy.

“Did your dad ever send this?”

Christopher shook his head.

“Does he know you found it?”

“No.”

Buck sat down on the swing beside him. “Why did you bring it to me?”

“Because he won’t do anything,” Christopher said. “And it matters.”

Buck let out a breath. “Yeah. It does.”

“I think he still loves her.”

“I know he does.”

“Then why didn’t he tell her?”

Buck didn’t answer right away. “Because sometimes, the people we love the most… scare us. Because the truth feels heavier when it matters that much.”

Christopher frowned. “That’s dumb.”

Buck laughed, even though it sounded sad. “Yeah. It kind of is.”

They sat in silence for a while, the wind rustling through the trees. A dog barked in the distance. A jogger passed.

Finally, Buck said, “Do you think she should see it?”

Christopher didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

Buck folded the letter carefully. “Okay. Then she will.”

They stood together, not as firefighter and child, but as two people holding something fragile between them.

When Christopher got home, he didn’t say anything about the letter.

He sat at the dinner table, chewed his food slowly, and listened to Eddie talk about a call that involved a raccoon in a vending machine. He laughed in the right places. He smiled when his dad smiled.

And he waited.

Some part of him knew that what he’d done would change things.

But he also knew that sometimes, people needed a little help.

Even if they were your hero.

Especially if they were your hero.

[spacecadet-ticklesinspace]

Hey! It's me again, the one who asked about reader inserts and Tony / Iron Dad. I have an idea for a fic (totally okay if you don't like it).

Y/N has gotten a bad or failing grade or maybe stirred up some trouble. Naturally, you know your dad (Tony) will be mad, expecting the usual dad-style sanctions: grounding, an annoying lecture confiscating your phone, cutting your allowance, or whatever you come up with. But you have an ace up your sleeve: you won a get-out-of-jail-free card from Tony not too long ago—maybe it was the prize for a bet you two had or something. So, before the confession even begins, you're already plotting to play your card. As anticipated, Tony's none too pleased when he hears about the grade slip-up or whatever mischief you've gotten into. Tony's a man who stands by his word, and he did promise that get-out-of-jail-free card. However, he's not one to let the lesson slide by entirely. He decides to tickle you to pieces instead, insisting it's all in the spirit of fatherly love, definitely not a punishment. It's his clever workaround—a loophole, if you will.

Again, it's just an idea. If you're not into it that's totally okay, and you can also change stuff, make it your own. I love your writing, so I doubt whatever you come up with will be amazing. And sorry it was a bit long😅

Okay, bye!

The Grade, The Card, and The Reminder

Summary: See prompt above :)

(This was actually a lot of fun to get to write ❤️😁 Thank you for the idea Anon, and enjoy! 😁)

Your stomach fluttered with nerves as you headed up the Avengers' tower elevator. Clutched in your hands was your most recent Grammar quiz, and you had failed miserably.

In your defense, Grammar concepts weren't your strongest. There were just too many rules you had to follow in order to get to the final answer and too many things sounded the sane with slightly different meanings. You were trying your best in the class, but it wasn't easy.

However, the grade wasn't what made your stomach flutter.

The ding of the elevator brought you back to reality as you prepped the final piece you needed before you met with Tony.

Said man was currently in the living area with a show playing on the TV. "Hey kiddo."

"Hey." You held up the piece of paper. "I had my Grammar quiz today."

The older man held his hand over the back of the couch.

After taking a deep breath, you placed the quiz in Tony's outstretched hand.

The scientist scanned the quiz before he squinted and leaned forward.

You held your breath as you watched Tony's movements. You knew he wouldn't be the happiest with the grade you'd gotten.

Sure enough, the older scientist turned to you. "Alright, what happened?"

You cleared your throat then delivered your memorized presentation. "I won't lie to you . . . I didn't study."

"And why not?"

You shrugged. "I didn't want to."

". . . How long did you know about this?"

"Three days."

Tony pinched his nose. "So for three days, you didn't feel like studying for a quiz in a subject you know you struggle in?"

You shrugged.

"And you are willing to accept the consequences that follow?"

You held up a finger.

Tony sighed. "You can't argue your way out of---."

In one fluid motion, you pulled a card out of your pocket and handed it to Tony. "Boom!"

The older scientist took the card. "What's this?"

"A 'Get out of jail free card' you let me win after getting all A's on my midterms." You leaned over the back of the couch. "Good for getting out of any situation."

Tony deadpanned as he turned to you. "Really?"

"Yep." You grinned at him. "Which means you can't ground me from my IPad."

". . . Really."

"Yehep!" You giggled as you stood to head upstairs. "If you need mehe, Ihill be playing with my friends!"

However, before you could take one step, a hand yanked the back of your shirt. The next thing you knew, you were laying on the couch with your head in Tony's lap.

"Ack! Hehey!"

"Well, I am a man of my word," Tony replied as he slipped the card into his pocket.

"Of course." You tried to sit up. "Which means I'm free."

"Ah!" Tony pinned you back down. "You're free from loosing your IPad. However, that doesn't mean your free from a reminder to study."

"What!"

Tony held up his finger before poking your side with the same finger. "Remember to study."

You squeaked. "Noho!"

"No? You won't study?"

Your eyes widened. "Thahats nohot what Ihi meheant!"

Tony clicked his tongue. "Guess Ihi neheed to be more pehersuasive."

As you tried to stammer out some sort of reply, the older scientist slowly lowered his wiggling fingers toward you.

A moment later, the fingers dug into your stomach.

"Squee! Tonyhy!"

"Yehes Y/N?"

"Ack! Noho! Noho tihicklihihing!"

"Ihim juhust giving you aha remindeher."

"Noho yohoure nohoOOT!"

Tony continued wiggling his fingers into your lower tummy. "Ahall ihin the nahame of fatherly love."

As you cackled and squealed, you tried to tug your wrists down. However, not to be deterred, Tony kept both of your wrists in one hand while the other kept tickling.

Finally, the fingers moved away from your tummy and over to your side. "What do you need to remembeher nohow?"

"Toho stuhudy!"

"Again, what doho yohou need to remembeher?"

"Whahat! Noho!"

Tony lifted one eyebrow. "No?"

"Ihi ahalready sahaid ihiIIIIT! NAAAH!"

The older scientist squeezed your other hip this time. "You have to rehemehember toho study Y/N."

"I WIHILL!"

Tony's fingers now spidered up your sides. "You will whahat?"

"Ihi---Ihi wihill stuhuUUUUUD! YOHOU JEHERK!"

The older scientist kept wiggling his fingers into your ribs. "Whahat's aha stud?"

"IHI WAHAS SAHAYIHIIIING! GET OHOUT!"

However, despite your protests, Tony kept wiggling his fingers into your armpit. "You were shayihing whahat?"

"TOHONYNY---!" A snort broke you off.

"Aww." Tony switched to spidering around your neck and chin. "Snortyhy bahabyhy."

You scrunched up your face as you turtled into your shoulders. "Nohoho!"

"Noho? Yohoure not my snortyhy babyhy?"

You tried to school your giggles so you could talk. "Ihi---Ihi---."

"Yes?"

"Ihi wohont fohorgehet tohoOOO! NAAAAAA!"

Tony lifted his head to prepare for another raspberry.

"Yohoure cheheatihihing!"

"Ihim juhust giving yohou a remindeher." The older scientist smirked at you. "Soho, what do you need to remember toho doho?"

"Ihi wohont---Ihi wohoOOOONT! TONY!"

To add to the ticklishness, the older scientist made sure to rub his facial hair into the crook of your neck.

"MEANIHIE!"

The older scientist also shook his hand into your lower tummy. "Ihi stihill haven't heard yohou sahay what you'll remembeher."

Your cackles and snorts grew louder as Tony kept up the tickles on your lower tummy and blowing raspberries into your neck. "STUDYYYY! TO STUDYHYHY!"

"Study for whahat?"

Before you could respond, Tony released your wrists so he could dig into your armpit while shaking his hand into your lower belly and blowing raspberries into your neck. To say you were in stitches was an understatement! Your face was bright red and your laughter was bordering on silent from all of the ticklish feelings coursing through your body.

After almost a full minute of the torturous tickling, Tony finally pulled away. "Nohow, whahat will you nohot fohorgehet to doho?"

Your giggles subsided as you caught your breath. "Ihi---Ihi wihill n-nohot---f-forget toho st-studyhy."

"Good." The older scientist ruffled you hair. "Now run along and plahay yohour block people game."

You held up a finger. "Rohoblohox."

"That one." The older scientist kept his gaze on the TV, but you could see the corners of his mouth pulling up.

"Yohou." You turned your hand to point at Tony. "Ahare soho mehean."

In response, Tony playfully shook your hand. "Love you kiddoho."

"Lohove yohou too," you replied as you turned on to your side and snuggled into Tony's leg.

"What happened to gaming with yohour frihiends?"

You yawned as your eyes fluttered close. "Later."

"Okay thehen."

As your mind began to drift off into the land of sleep, you felt your head being gently lifted and placed onto something soft and comforting. Finger gently scratched along your scalp, making your shoulders relax and sending you into a deep sleep next to your favorite person.

And from that day forward, you never forgot to study for a quiz.

[felicitysmoaksx]

Rheese + Sarah pregnant and they're trying to keep it a secret but it accidently gets revealed in the middle of the ED

So this was supposed to be the first prompt in my 25 Advent Writing challenge. But I'm writing the first four or five days early because I think I'll be house-sitting for someone and won't have my computer with me. Just my iPad and phone so I won't be able to format things like I want. And so I wrote this and now I'm chomping at the bit, so excited in my seat to share it. So it's coming out early. Hope you don't mind @girlinlotsoffandoms! If you want you can send in another prompt. This is also slightly different than what you probably had in mind, but when this popped into my ask box, this is all I thought about. Well, this and a slight scene in my amnesia au. But ultimately, I went with my Voight Family Values au because my brain went to pain and angst. And this what if this takes place in Chapter 4 of Hold On, I Still Want You (Rating E, Minors DNI) and where this little drabble is set is below the read more if you're interested where this fits. Also TW: for inaccurate depictions of medical situations and a miscarriage that does not happen, but still thought I should put a warning here.

"Connor, there's something else... It doesn't have to do with her wounds exactly, but..." Then Ava bit her lip as she trailed off. Hesitating before she handed him the iPad with Sarah's blood panels that were taken when she arrived in the ED pulled up.

"Her HBC levels are slightly elevated. And we both know what that means..."

"Sarah's pregnant?" Connor questioned, softly. His hand reached up as if to trace the proof that told him his lover was pregnant. Ava nodded, continuing to explain. "By my estimation with how elevated her levels are..."

"She's at least seven weeks along." He said slowly, doing his own math in his head before he handed the tablet back to Ava and ran his hands through his hair. The silence that filled the space was deafening because this was not how he was supposed to find out he was going to be a father.

With her in a hospital bed, a gunshot wound to the neck. She didn't even tell him. Instead, he had to learn this from Ava and a blood panel. Would she have even told him? Is this why she was acting weird yesterday and the day before? Did she know then? Was she trying to work up the courage to tell him then?

Ava nodded at his words. Then the female surgeon said quietly, "I know this isn't my business, but I'm assuming with how I found you and her two months ago, that the baby is yours-"

The baby had to be his. Sarah spent five nights out of the week with him, at his place. So he nodded and the blonde continued. "And that's the only reason I'm telling you anything about this and working this loophole with patient confidentiality. Because as soon as I knew about the pregnancy, I did an ultrasound. With the amount of blood lost and trauma, her body has gone through..."

Connor felt everything in his body seize and stiffen in the chair he was sitting in. Because he had heard the speech before. He had made it himself before. He had only just found out about this baby and now Ava was telling him he could potentially lose his lover and his baby both? His partner at work must've read his body language or seen the alarmed look on his face because she was quick to hold up her hands.

"They're both fine. Like I said before, it's almost like she had a shield in front of her because Sarah and your baby both are going to be okay." Ava reassured him. Instantly he could breathe again.

“Thank you,” Connor exhaled audibly and said in a sincere tone, “I know you really don��t care for trauma. But you helped her when I couldn’t.”

The blonde smirked at him, “We both know that you would’ve. If I hadn’t been there. Or at least tried.” 

It was after Ava left that Connor perched himself on Sarah's hospital bed. He ran a hand down her face in a gentle caress. Then his hand drifted down to her stomach to cradle their baby. Their baby. He pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Did you know baby? Were you nervous to tell me? Is that why you were acting weird these last few days?" He whispered in a soft, tender voice, "Or was it something else and you didn't even know yet?"

OB wasn't his specialty and he only handled a pregnancy if it came along with a trauma or it was another emergency situation. So he couldn't remember if the symptoms started this early in the pregnancy. "Are you waking up to a surprise too, baby?"

Another soft kiss was pressed to her forehead. "Either way, you don't have to worry Sarah. I'm here, baby. I'm not going anywhere."

He was texting Lindsay about her transfer when Ava walked into the room. “I’ve been in contact with Detective Lindsay.” At Connor’s look of confusion, the blonde woman continued, “She’s Sarah's emergency contact. She also has medical power of attorney. She has told me, I can share information with you about Sarah’s case.” “So how bad was it?” He asked, seeing her face and bracing for the worst. But to his relief, his partner in the field of sorts, held up her hands with the beginnings of a smile on her face. “She did really well, all things considered. We had to give her three more units of blood and one plasma. She got lucky, with the way the bullets went in, she might’ve been paralyzed or it could’ve hit her esophagus. We pulled out two bullets, but they never perforated her spine or went through her esophagus. It’s almost as if she had a shield in front of her.” Connor sighed heavily in relief and turned back to look at his lover. Though she was still pale, a little color had returned to her so her skin no longer looked translucent. She wore a neck brace, but that was just so she didn’t move her neck in her sleep if she became restless. Then his trauma surgeon's brain caught something. Last time he saw Sarah she was bagged and being attached to a ventilator. But now… He turned back to Ava, “You extubated her. She’s breathing on her own.” “I took a chance in recovery. She passed the breathing tests with flying colors, was protecting her airway, and her oxygen levels and CO2 stats were good so I took her breathing tube out.” The blonde explained with a shrug.

[shanny-banany]

Writer Interview Game

Thank you so much for the tag @weird-felt-hat!!!!!

When did you start writing?

I’ve always loved writing! I was in 6th grade when my childhood best friend introduced me to the magic of fanfiction though. We started out co-writing, and then as we took our writing more seriously we started sharing separately. She was the only person that’s ever known that i write fics in real life (aside from one of my sisters as of the last few months lol) and the only person I’ve actually shared my work with, and when we drifted apart in high school my sharing online tapered off as well. I kept my writing to myself for around 10 years after that, but the aoex community pulled me in a few years ago and it was like falling in love all over again.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading other than what you write?

Yes and no? What I read falls across a broader spectrum than what I’ve shared so far, but it’s more about the ending that generally needs to be in the same vein for me. Unhappy or largely unresolved endings leave me with an almost cold sort of hollowness, like im left with a characters heartache long after I’ve finished reading it, and I just really don’t like it. A happy ending scratches a really specific itch for me, and it’s what I’m personally seeking from fics in both my writing and my reading.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

I don’t think anyone’s ever directly compared me to anyone, and while I definitely have writers I look up to I wouldn’t say there are any I’d want to imitate, especially not with the intentions of surpassing.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I’ll write anywhere and everywhere and almost always when I shouldn’t be writing lol. My ideas usually come to me when I’m doing my best critical thinking, like when I’m tackling something complicated at work. Then I’ll start to daydream, and then I just have to jot the bits and pieces down while they’re there. My sister says it’s because I’m in “productive mode” and that’s when my brain works best. I write on my phone, my work computer, my iPad, sticky notes, whatever is close to me is good enough for me.

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

I don’t have a ton of free time so I don’t usually actively try to muster up my muse, but just about any time i interact with the source material at all I end up teeming with new ideas. I have so many fics and drawings in progress, it feels like there’s always a muse hovering over me whispering about aoex.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

Most of my writing is silly little get togethers, so there are a lot of recurring themes that are pretty expected lol, but I guess I’ve been surprised to see how much worries of inadequacy seem to flow throughout them.

What is your reason for writing?

I love it! I love writing in general, and I love the entire world of Blue Exorcist. I love Rin and Ryuuji individually as characters, and I LOVE their chemistry together. I love the relationship they’ve built in canon and how much I can build off of that in my writing. I love the resolution I can give myself through writing and I love how healing it feels for me. And I love this community and connection it’s given me as well <3

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I don’t know if it counts as a strength, but I’ve always been very passionate about my interests and I’d like to think that shows through into my writing.

How do you feel about your own writing?

Honestly, I have a weird relationship with my writing. I’m really proud of and happy with the end result of every fic I’ve shared. But imposter syndrome is something I’ve always struggled with in a lot of different ways, and I guess because I was never singularly active in fandom before I didn’t expect how much that self-doubt would have an impact. I’m working on being gentler with myself, and with my writing, and I’m hoping that in turn I can get out of my own head and not hold myself back as much.

[m1ckeyb3rry]

i think it’s the fact that he can go so many directions that makes it hard for me to write him argh i want to write him soooo bad. AND STOP free his haircut let him live only he can pull it off 😣

if you write for kaiser pls do something twisted i would be SO invested you don’t understand. and omg let me hear about that nagi plot pls pls

i def feel that HAHA i think in every fandom people will interpret characters in their own ways but some characters (ex rin, shidou, barou) tend to have pretty standard fandom characterizations from fic to fic (now whether i AGREE with these standard characterizations is a separate thing but at least they are consistent) and others can be completely diff depending on who the author is. i think kaiser (and to a lesser extent nagi and sae) is subject to the latter where everyone sees him in a slightly diff way so it’s hard to nail down which version of him YOU want to write yk.

AHHH i feel like kaiser is a really good character to write darker stuff for so i do think that if i wrote for him it would be a heavier story than what i’ve been putting out recently. and we shall ignore the haircut…tbh rooting for a kainess breakup because long hair kaiser/man bun kaiser is so MAJESTIC i think ness gives him the shitty haircut on purpose so he can gatekeep

nagi plot under the cut!! heheh it’s pretty convoluted and also atm just a bunch of rough notes on my ipad…i would have to try writing the first chapter a couple of times to see if it even flowed the way i wanted it to and to make the according adjustments if it was something w potential so even if i do ever end up writing this particular story the finished product might be very different than this!! that said i am in fact sharing the entire outline so i fear you will not be very surprised by any plot twists if i ever work on this or post it

basically it’s a mix of a couple of fics for other fandoms that i never got around to writing + some newer ideas that i have had!! the main cast of characters is ofc y/n and nagi but also rin is there!! and sae and reo but they’re secondary to the main trio

it starts off in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monsters and which has a loose oligarchy-type government. y/n is the bastard child of duke l/n, who is the head of one of the influential government families. when she’s youngish (twelve or so??) her mother dies and officials attempt to arrest her for identity fraud when she claims that she must be sent to the l/n estate as they are her only surviving family. she manages to escape and learns how to use some weapon (either a sword or a spear idk atm) to kill monsters as she has a strong desire to protect those less fortunate than her, as well as to prove herself and one day find her father so she can have a family again.

on the other hand nagi is the eternal warrior (there would be a more researched title for him but atm this is my placeholder) whose original self was there 1000 years ago when the apocalypse began and was the only one able to fight back against the monsters when they appeared. he has been reincarnating (though WITHOUT his memories LMAOAO he’s not ancient i prommy he just looks the same/has the same name in every lifetime) and once people viewed him as a defender of the people, but a while ago the mikages (another one if the influential families) took custody of him and he’s basically been their enforcer for the past 100 years so people kinda hate him. he is kind of jaded and lonely after witnessing/causing so many deaths and he doesn’t see much of a point to life besides following whatever orders reo/the mikages give him and killing who he’s told to.

at some point nagi is told to kill y/n (it’s revealed eventually that it’s because duke l/n realized she’s out there and called in a favor w the mikages but we don’t know that at first) but instead of killing her he ends up saving her life. even he can’t explain why he took the initiative to disobey orders for the first time so he decides he’ll stick with her for the time being until he can figure it out (plus going back to the mikages isn’t really an option considering he’s gone against them)

while y/n + nagi are on the run, they meet rin, who is VERY confused about a lot of things. the itoshis are basically the family above all of the other families, and he’s supposed to be their heir, plus he has memories of having a great childhood with his parents and older brother, but for some reason he finds himself on the street with nothing but a note in his fist that says “don’t trust father and sae”. nagi and y/n decide that rin’s goals of trying to reclaim his position as heir and figure out the meaning of the note (which is in his own handwriting though he doesn’t remember it) align with theirs of finding duke l/n and. just chilling ig?? idk nagi is kinda there at that point HAHA. anyways so they all decide they’ll work together.

a bunch of stuff happens blah blah this entire part will come to me when i’m actually writing LMAOOO. anyways then it’s revealed that before getting thrown out, rin realized that if he ever got to close to asking questions/getting curious about the apocalypse, he’d suddenly forget what he was doing (in an unnatural way not just him being dumb), so he began writing down notes to himself to keep track of his suspicions. however he is found out and his notes are burned before he’s cast out and his memories selectively erased, though he managed to save the note telling him not to trust his family so that he didn’t end up falling into the same pattern again.

rin reveals that sae has the power to alter memories, and that he suspects the itoshis (plus the other influential families) also have some knowledge of how the apocalypse began and how it can be ended/the monsters gotten rid of for good. y/n reaches duke l/n but he rejects her and says he wishes he sent nagi after her sooner, and that he also regrets sending them any money at all because things would’ve been better if she would’ve died as a kid. nagi manages to round up the members of the influential families (#boyboss 😜) and sae has a change of heart from seeing rin again after so long; he says that there is a way that they can stop the apocalypse from ever happening, but that means that the influential families lose the power they obtained after the fall of the world, so they’ve been hiding it from everyone since they discovered it.

every generation, an itoshi is born with the power to wipe memories and send one person back in time. with that power, they could conceivably return to the beginning of the apocalypse and prevent it from ever happening. sae is the one with that power in the present and he decides that having wealth/whatever isn’t worth the destruction of the world, so he agrees to send back y/n, as he believes she has the best chance at managing to set things right.

y/n travels back in time and meets the first version of nagi, who ends up falling in love with her. unfortunately even before the apocalypse things were kinda unsettled as everyone realized Something was going to happened, and eventually a world war breaks out, which og nagi and y/n get involved in. y/n is fatally wounded at one point, but before she dies she manages to tell og nagi everything about the future and how he has to stop the box containing the beginning of the apocalypse from being opened. sadly og nagi invented being down bad and he is so distraught by her death that he opens the box and curses himself to the cycle of reincarnation so that he can meet her in the future.

y/n wakes up back in the future unsuccessful and also shocked that the one who started the apocalypse was nagi (even though current nagi has no clue about any of this). sae is furious that she wasted his power and didn’t actually accomplish anything, but at some point rin realizes he also has that power?? not the memory part he just can also send her back to the past…not sure why this is the case but it’ll come to me as i’m writing and hopefully not feel like an asspull DHSKSJSJ. anyways even though she’s lowkey traumatized y/n agrees to try one more time.

og nagi falls in love with her again ofc (we’re three for three here if you all are keeping track) but before the world war can break out, y/n kills nagi. he is understandably shocked but instead of being angry at her he tells her she must’ve had a reason and dies decently happy considering he was murdered for something he hadn’t even done yet 😭 because nobody else has the knowledge of where the box is besides y/n, the apocalypse is averted, and the world war is concluded in a relatively typical way instead of supernaturally, so life goes on as best as it can.

however, y/n is then stranded in that timeline of 1000 years ago, without anyone she knows (as og nagi is obviously dead and the others aren’t born yet). she can’t return to a future which doesn’t exist so she’s just stuck there for the rest of her life.

the epilogue is a series of letters she writes to nagi and rin, detailing her life and how she misses them. the last letter is addressed to nagi, wherein she explains that death is coming for her soon and she hopes that wherever she ends up next is the same place that he is. it’s kinda unclear whether she’s talking to og nagi or her nagi from the no-longer-future but you know me and my open endings 🤩 leaving it up to reader interpretation is my fav thing and i will do so at the slightest provocation

[sarida-candy]

My journey

I knew the loa with the subliminals, three years ago. at first it was yandere subliminal. I had been trying to manifest one with subliminals for 7 months. I had a problem at the time. then I got to know about subliminal boosters. so learn that there were subliminals for everything. for a while I had to stop the subliminals. I come back to listen to subliminals and there were several people who were exposed (rose subliminal, celestial subliminal and another one I believe). so I started wondering who to trust, knowing that I wasn't listening to any of his submakers. then someone says to create your own subliminals yourself, so that we will know the affirmations. At that time, I had a lot of limiting thoughts. I had heard that if we knew the statements, our brain would have a hard time accepting them (that's wrong, you make your rules).

I had started doing my subliminals, but it didn't work, because I still had a lot of limiting thoughts.

Honestly, I think I forgot the existence of the loa. one day i go to wattpad and i see a story about loa knowing that i learned about subliminal from someone from wattpad. I decide to read and the person tells their story and tells us to do some research. I do research and I come across amino, reddit and tumblr. I went to tumblr more often to find out more. there are several people who said several completely different things.

the shifting becomes known and I begin to be interested in it. sometimes I succeeded sometimes not.

with shifting, I experienced manifestation. (I still had limiting thoughts.) I often read "you gotta do this, you gotta do that". I'm starting to read more and more about it.

one day on youtube I come across a subliminal "reality god", I am not a believer but, I found it disrespectful, so I went to read the statements and I did not understand. (now I know it's the same as void state).

a few months ago and I am reading more and more conflicting things. so, I'm leaving this community and focusing on shifting. I hear about permanent shifting. I had a lot of doubts about this. I had read that you had to die to go there. I even found subliminals about death and people saying it was to reappear. afterwards, some people said that people could just manifest. I do some further research on the manifestation, but again I come across conflicting things.

void state is becoming popular and many people say that it takes a lot of things to get there. afterwards, people were doing methods and saying that self-concept was important. but, my life was horrible, my former best friends bullied me and my brother tried to kill himself. now i'm better

now my concept of me is perfect, i can say that i am perfection.

I have already entered the void but I only realize it when I wake up.

what I've been able to manifest through affirmations or just thinking about it

stop hurting

an exact situation two seconds after saying it

predict what someone will say

have a certain character

an ipad

teleport lost item

know what a person is thinking

shift

a premonitory dream

time travel

swap two courses

and maybe something else but I don't remember

I advise the beginner to make simple manifestation, to prove to you that you are capable of it. but you are able to manifest that your whole life changes if you wish. don't give up, i know sometimes life is horrible, but always pull yourself together. prove to everyone who underestimated you that you are better

I believe in you I love you you make your rule don't worry about tomorrow

love, sarida-candy