#say what you will but they were never just a band to me

[leyavo]

Wife/girlfriend series, Ghost, Price and Gaz already done. Soap’s around 26 years old and more interested in progressing in his career. So I don’t think he’d be married, but would have a girlfriend….

Soap’s girlfriend is wild.

You’re few years younger than Johnny and making the most of your youth whilst you can. He likes that things are fun and not too serious. You’re always scratching that itch, trying new things out and pushing him to play more.

Play electric guitar in a band, every Friday night, rock night at a pub which promotes independent artists. Johnny met you when he went there on the off chance, you jumping down the platform after your set and kissing him. Johnny thinks the lead singers a little prick.

Started as a fuck it and see relationship (where he called whenever he was home and you had sex). Turned into you staying longer each morning to cuddle him instead of rushing out straight after.

There was just something that pulled the two of you back together. The back and forth messaging whilst he was away, filled with nonsense but fun nonetheless.

Sending him videos of you dancing in the nightclub and taking shots on the weekend whilst he’s away working. A pic of your breasts in a push bra and a little black dress.

“Fuckin’ hells bells,” he mumbles to himself as your video blares through his phone speaker (he’s always forgetting to turn the volume down). Gaz and ghost glaring at him as they pick their own personal items up after a long mission.

He replies instantly, but doesn’t get anything in return for hours. Just you sending a pic of yourself hungover in bed with your best friend.

You always meet him at the train station or airport. Waiting for him, running and jumping into his arms.

Dragging Johnny to rock festivals in the summer when he’s home. Making him mixtapes of your favourite bands so he can listen to it back at the base.

You work part-time at a tattoo studio doing piercings. Pierced Johnny’s eyebrow once and pouted when he had to remove it to go back to work. Also have random temp jobs here and there.

Johnny can’t believe the stuff that comes out of your mouth, even he wouldn’t say half of it.

“I would’na say tha’ lass.”

“Well I bet you’ll be using that line on your little radio with the boys.”

Constantly teasing him about being a serious military man. Even more so when a guy gets a bit too comfortable with you. Whenever you go out you’re never on time and he’s telling you down to the minute how long it’s been since you were supposed to leave.

“what’s that drop and give me twenty?” You shout back. Johnny stomping into your room and diving over the bed to get you. Mock saluting him as he’s got you cornered, as if that’s going to make up for it.

“Drop and give me somethin’ else.”

Love to play fight, but you’re still mad at Johnny for breaking your lava lamp that you bring it up all the time. You also bite him to get out of his hold, a scar on his bicep where your teeth sunk a little too deep.

When you finally move in together it’s chaotic, Johnny’s got a set routine and you just follow whatever mood you feel.

Loves hearing you play the acoustic guitar in the apartment, laying on the carpet in the living room whilst you sit and play. The scratch of your pen on paper as you create something new. Sunlight warm on his face, eyes closed as he listens to you humming along. Finds your guitar picks everywhere, even in his wash bag when he opens it at work.

Lazy Sundays are his favourite, your hand tracing the side of his shaved head as you hum.

Understanding about Johnny’s need to check the security regularly in the apartment and reminding you to keep your location on. Likes how you reassure him that he’s safe, those seconds when he wakes from a night terror and the weight of your hand on his, grounding him. Your scent comforting him as he rests his head on your stomach. Words whispered of all the things you used to be afraid of as a kid, silly little things to make him laugh.

“You know I think I was actually scared of my shadow.”

FaceTiming him to ask his opinion on your outfit for a night out. Johnny saying it’s not quite you, only so he can watch you change out of your clothes again.

“I have nothing to wear.” Your camera panning to the mess in the bedroom. The piles of clothes strewn over the floor and bed.

“Just stay, talk to me.” Johnny’s plan to keep you on the call working quicker than he thought. Leads to phone sex.

Johnny gets you a guitar that your dad used to have, your dad passed away years ago. Even down to the red embroidered guitar strap attached to it, so alike the one in the photograph of your dad teaching you to place as a kid. You try to teach Johnny how to play too, but he’s too distracted by how soft your voice is and the way you move his fingers each time. Distracted with how soft you are with him.

You’re not as scared of certain things, Johnny showing you that you can be strong on your own. Scared to drive after what happened to your dad. Johnny even taught you how to drive and now you can go anywhere, including visiting him at the army base.

When you meet the rest of TF141 guys you and Johnny are having a hot make out session on the sofa of the residential house at the base which they all live in. Thankfully it hadn’t escalated from just his tongue in your mouth, but you didn’t let it bother you as climbed off Johnny’s lap and greeted them.

You end up staying in and playing poker with the guys. Trading cigars, coins and anything you could find in your pockets. Price loses all his cigars to you, but you give the guys one each so you can smoke on the patio at 3am. Simon talking to you about an obscure rock band that isn’t really mainstream and you trade stories about some concerts he went to when he was teen. Gaz asks you if he can still use earrings even when he hasn’t for over a decade, which you repierce for him. Price telling you that you have a good one in there, his head nudging over his shoulder to Johnny in the house as you finish off your cigars.

[cherryblossom-heart]

I hate you (9.5/?)

modern!Sukuna x Reader

Things get clearer for Sukuna

Content Warning: Fluff, Enemies to lovers, Sukuna being nice? (if you can call it that) Sukuna is his own warning, mention of sexual content, slut shaming (both sides). Sukuna battling his feelings. This is a +18 series so MINORS DO NOT INTERACT. If I catch any minor or ageless blog interacting with this series I will block you.

W.C. 2.6.K

A/N: Hi besties! I am so sorry for the delay on this chapter, memi messed up my convos for other series and this one too so I was just busy re doing everything again. Hope you guys like it! Oh btw I listened Mitskis' My Love Mine All Mine on repeat while writing this in case you want to give it a try haha

<Previous Chapter. Next Chapter>

7:17 P.M.

“Finally.” Sukuna rolled his eyes as you walked to him. “Taking forever, for what?”

“Oh, shut up. Like you don’t like what you see.” You winked at him.

A faint wave of heat rushed to his face and he wanted to ride away. Even if he had gotten used to this unexpected reaction, they didn’t make them any less annoying. He wasn’t about to admit he knew that even if you were wearing a garbage bag as a dress, his heart would still race any time you came through that door.

He remembered his cousin laughing once he told him he would take you to that stupid bands concert and asked him if he would cover your shift.

“So you’re telling me you’re taking her to a concert, of a band you don’t even like, just because?” Choso’s words were strained as he fought to get air back to his lungs.

Sukunas patience was running thin, not that it was hard to get it to that level to begin with, but the more Choso’s words bounced around his head, the more he questioned what the point of this was.

Why was he even taking you? He couldn’t even stand their music.

“You’re covering her shift or not?” Sukuna barked, which typically was enough to make people around him quiet. Unluckily for him, Choso didn’t hold the same fear for him as others, it didn’t help him, and Sukuna knew each other since they were in diapers.

“Oh, I’ll definitely take it. But you just have to answer one question.” His voice was full of amusement as he hung an arm around Sukuna. “How long has she had you this whipped?”

“Fuck you.” He shook off his arm of his shoulders.

Whatever, taking you wasn’t worth this hassle.

Or any hassle at all.

Maybe he could talk to Toji. Cash in a favor.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. If anyone was going to be able to tame you, it definitely would be her.” Choso laughed.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, you’ve seen her right? Girls got a little crazy in her. Remember that time she beat up that Yorozu chick for saying all that fucked up shit about Uraume?”

Sukuna raised an eyebrow “What?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot you were too busy to go to school. I’m surprised you even graduated.” Choso rolled his eyes, pulling out a cigarette from the carton he kept in his pocket, a habit he displayed whenever he talked for too long with his cousin. “After their mom died, Yorozu began the rumor Uraume fucked people to get money to pay the rent, that’s why they were never in school.”

That cunt.

Sukunas memories traveled back to his teenage years, he remembered a day where he had found you in the living room, your messy hair and a busted lip catching his attention. He had made the mistake of leaving you alone, thinking he didn’t care enough to ask.

And you didn’t like him enough to answer.

“Then one day your girl comes in, walks to Yorozu and sucker punches her right in the jaw. No warning, nothing. By the time the teachers were able to pull her off Yorozu, she already had a broken nose and her whole face was turning purple. I’ve never seen anything like that, I really thought she was going to kill her.” Choso shook his head. “Maybe you finally found your match”

His cousins’ words tormented his thoughts ever since.

God, he was right, wasn’t he? He was completely and utterly whipped. He didn’t remember the last time he had fucked someone else without you popping in his head every five seconds. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last day he had gone through without thinking of you at least once.

“What’s that?” You asked as you reached him, looking back to the hand he has behind his back.

Fuck.

“Here.” Sukuna pulled out a bouquet of deep red roses, almost slamming them against you. “Jin said I should bring this.” He scoffed, as if he wasn’t the one that decided to buy them.

“Aww.” You coo at them as you smell them. Sukuna’s eyes diverted from you, not wanting that brewing warm sensation you brought him to pop up, this was already hard enough as it was. “I love them. Maybe I should’ve gone out with Jin instead.” You teased him with that cocky little smirk that made his blood boil.

“I’m taking you out on a stupid date and you can’t stop being a slut for five minutes?” Sukuna rolled his eyes.

He expected to get a snarky remark, perhaps a slap in the arm or head but you had the annoying tendency to surprise him. You leaned over to him, placing a tender kiss on his cheek before walking backwards to your house.

His heart began racing. The drumming of his pulse echoed on his ears so loudly he thought you might’ve heard it.

“Don’t be an ass, you know I have more fun with you.” You winked at him before turning around.

“Where you going?” Were the only words he managed to say.

“To put them in a vase. Don’t want them dying on me, this might be the only proof of you ever being nice.”

Darkened eyes followed your every step, each one giving Sukuna a clear answer.

He was losing his mind, and it was all your fault.

8:21 P.M.

“Are you going to kill me?” You asked as you hopped of his bike, pulling down on the now inconvenient black skirt you had decided to wear.

“Piss me off enough and I might.”

“Whatever.” You glared at him, kicking a rock in the ground. “If you’re not going to kill me then what are we doing in the middle of the woods?”

“What? You scared, brat?”

You laughed. “As if. I’m more scared of an animal eating us. If a bear attacks us, I’m leaving your ass.”

Sukuna made his way through the path he had grown accustomed to, the sound of your heels scraping against the unstable ground the woods offered following close behind. He could hear you cursing under your breath, your annoyance growing the more you kept tripping.

“You could’ve told me we were going to the fucking woods.”

“Not my fault you dress like a cheap prostitute whenever you’re going out.”

“First of all, fuck you.” You caught up to him, slapping him in the back of the head. “Second, if I was a prostitute, you could never afford me.”

Sukuna held you by the arm, spinning you in front of him. His chest pressed against your back; his grip tight on your hips. He leaned over you, lips almost brushing against your ear.

“Why would I pay you when I already have you for free.”

“For now.” You turned around. “Piss me off enough and I might just change boytoys.”

You placed a kiss on his cheek before moving along and Sukuna never wished more to fuck you and strangle you at the same time.

8:29 P.M.

“Over here.”

“I swear if you brought me all the way over here for nothing I will cut your balls– “

“Hey.”

Jin’s voice cut through the emptiness of the forest making you jump. You turned to the direction of his voice, racing to Sukunas twin brother. It never ceased to amaze you how similar they were physically, but as soon as your eyes connected with Jin’s the softness in them almost made you chuckle.

“Jin!” You raced to him, engulfing him in a suffocating hug. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been busy with Yuji.”

Jin’s eyes met his brothers as he debated where to settle his hands. Sukunas burning gaze gave him the answer he needed.

“What are you doing here? Please tell me you’re my date instead of your idiot of a brother.” You teased him, causing a slight blush on his face. “You’re already much better than him. The flowers were a nice touch.”

“Flowers? I didn’t… oh. Oh! Yeah, no problem.”

Sukuna was about to turn Yuji into an orphan.

“I was just helping him set this up.” Jin pointed behind himself,

Your eyes grew wide as you took in what your date would be. In the middle of the field laid a lightweight red blanket, a couple of lanterns on each side made it visible. Laid out in the middle there were a few containers with what you assumed were food, steam covering the inside.

You smiled at Sukuna, and he could’ve sworn his world stopped for a second.

“It was his idea.” He grunted, hoping his brother would take the hint.

“Yeah, I thought you would like it.”

You stared back at Sukuna for a second longer, a playful glint on your eyes, before you turned around and hugged Jin again.

“You’re so sweet, thank you.” You placed a small kiss on his cheek, your lipstick tainting his skin. “Maybe you should stay, and we’ll ditch your brother.”

“I– “

“He’s leaving. Now.”

“Bye, Jin!”

Sukuna dragged his brother, pulling him to the main road that led back to the parking lot. He took out his keys, throwing them to Jin before snatching away his brother’s car keys.

“If there’s a scratch on her I’ll fucking kill you, you understand?” Sukuna warned his brother.

“Yeah.” His brother cleared his throat, making sure they were at a safe distance from you. “You know, it’s not the worst thing in the world if you do like her. She’s always been nice.”

Nice wouldn’t be the word that Sukuna would use to describe you.

“Whatever, just don’t crash my fucking bike.”

“I won’t.” Before turning away Jin called for your attention, his arm waving in the air. “You’re coming to Yuji’s birthday?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

After one last menacing look from his older brother, Jin finally left. Sukuna had made a mental note of reminding Jin who the older brother was, even if it was just for a few minutes of difference.

“So, a picnic huh?” You teased and Sukuna wanted the earth to collapse right there and then.

“Jin’s idea.” He shrugged, grabbing a can of beer from the ground.

You sat down, crossing your legs in front of you as you settled down. “Oh yeah, it was his idea? Just like the flowers you got me?”

“Shut up.”

Why did he agree to this in the first place?

9:23 P.M

“... then all of the sudden Uraume bolts in the room and grabs me from the back of the neck, tossing me to the floor and I’m thinking ‘this is it, my life is about to end at thirteen all because I wanted to use a stupid pair of boots that stink and aren’t even that great’. Before they could even put a hand on me, I hooked my feet in the back of their leg and Uraume just straight up just collapses.”

“No fucking way you got them like that.” Sukuna half scoffed, half laughed, shaking his head at the thought of you overpowering Uraume.

As if.

You shoved him playfully. “I swear on my life, I don’t know why but that’s their Achilles point. Well, more like knee but you know what I mean.”

“So, you’re telling me you did the same thing to get them to back off my dick?”

“Pretty much.” You shrug. “I got on top of them, coughed up some phlegm and threatened them to get it on their face if they didn’t stop.”

“You’re fucking disgusting.” Sukuna laughed, his stomach hurting from the laughter the mental image of Uraume being defenseless brought to him. “No wonder they didn’t fucking told me what you did.”

“Let’s keep it a secret between us, pretty boy.”

“Fuck off, I told you not to call me that.”

You turned to him, eyelids half open as the alcohol relaxed your body. “But you are my pretty boy.”

That damn smirk made him want to choke you.

And kiss you.

“Tell me something.” You took another sip of your beer, a small drop falling from the corner of your lips. “Why are you doing all this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

The question of the year. Why do all this? Why put any effort behind this? Why did the thought of another man touching brought an anger in him he couldn’t explain? Why did he care about you? Why did the thought of spending time with you made his heart race? Why did your touch bring a tenderness in him he wasn’t aware of its existence before?

He had no idea, yet he craved you with everything in him.

“I don’t know. Just trying to see what happens.” He grunted, his nonchalance being his refuge when he couldn’t even explain it to himself.

“Uh huh.” Unconvinced by his words, you moved closer to him, your arm almost touching his. “Wanna know what I think.”

“Not really.”

“I think you like me. A lot.”

Sukuna scoffed

“You wish.”

“And I think you want to date me.”

“Shut the fuck off.”

“And you want to know the worst part about it?”

You laid down on the floor, your eyes focused on the starts above you.

“What?”

You sighed. “I think I might want to date you too.”

Sukunas head snapped to you.

“I know, crazy.” You let out a small laugh, as if you were just now coming to that realization. “You’re violent, obnoxious, immature, selfish, a sociopath at times, a bigger slut than I am, you have a terrible way of dealing with things, at times I really wish I could strangle you so I would never have to see you again. And yet… I still like you. Enough to try at least.”

I still like you.

The words bounced around his brain as he tried to make sense of them. He knew what he was supposed to do, he should push back. Deny every crazy allegation, go deeper into the reasons why he would never like you, tell you about every logical point on why he could never date you. Your fear of relationship, your extensive list of sexual partners, the fact that you drove him insane and the fact that only you could enact so much rage off him with just a couple of looks.

He hated you.

He hated the way you made him feel.

He hated the space you had taken over in his thoughts.

He hated the space you had carved in his heart.

He hated everything about you but lately he couldn’t remember why he had started to hate you in the first place.

“God, I fucking hate you.” He said as he laid down with you, the toughness of the ground aligning his back.

You chuckled. “Ditto.”

Your hand found his, fingers entwining with his.

Sukunas eyes stayed on you, watching you admire the night sky. He could see every movement you made, the way your eyes focused on following the chain of stars, trying to find sense in the constellations up in the sky.

And right there and then, with the moonlight hitting your skin, Sukuna thought he never saw anything more beautiful.

His hands moved faster than he could control them, pulling your face to look at him. Your eyes widened in surprise, and he wondered if you could feel the same warmth he felt whenever he touched you. Judging the way your eyes softened, he thought you did.

His hand traveled to your neck, his fingertips barely connecting with your skin. Your eyes darkened, traveling back and forth from his lips back to his irises and Sukuna knew he was screwed.

He truly did like you.

Fuck, he might even…

No, he could only deal with one catastrophic realization a day. That could wait.

At least until tomorrow, when his mind and soul were stronger to fight of the truth.

<Previous Chapter. Next Chapter>

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[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

 book 7 chapter 12 part 3 thoughts!

***THIS POST CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 7 PART 12 OF THE MAIN STORY!!*** This spans part 269 to part 294, focusing on Riddle.

Please note: this is NOT meant to be a summary or a translation; these are only my initial thoughts on the events that roughly unfold. There may be details overlooked or misunderstood in this post, so PLEASE do not use this as a translation.

They land in a new location! New assets and everything. Trey identifies it as Crimson City in the Queendom of Roses.

This update opens with Silver showing the first signs of fatigue. (He audibly sighs; Ortho shows concern.) Silver insists he is fine but advises they avoid battles.

Cater laughs at Trey’s expense. He has never heard him scream so loud!! They should go to an amusement park in the waking world together. This is ironic xhsnsvekakw because these two technically did go to Playful Land together 😂

Trey begins to worry about where his glasses have gone. Apparently they fell off while they were hopping to Riddle’s dream. Idia says searching for lost items in a dream can be difficult but Trey would have perfect vision if he thinks hard enough about it. (Me, sitting here: this is a dream. Can you not literally just conjure up a new pair by imagining it.) Trey’s vision is so bad (he’s squinting just to see people’s faces) and he’s had glasses since preschool, so it’s hard for him to do that.

Ortho suggests using S.T.Y.X. tech and data to make Trey new glasses. But then Ace interrupts and announces he snagged Trey’s glasses. He saw them while falling and brought them to himself using magic; they aren’t damaged. The others, even Leona, praise him. (… but I don’t, because what is this time wasting nonsense 😭 MOVE ON ALREADY…) For a first year, his magic control is very good. Is it because he’s dexterous from basketball?

In exchange for saving the glasses, Ace asks for a cherry pie at the next unbirthday party.

LMAO apparently Ace got to practice using magic precisely because of being in Heartslabyul. Changing the color of the roses + other unbirthday party prep is done with magic. Ace also quickly learned how to clean up using magic to avoid Riddle’s wrath when the dorm leader patrols.

UHHHHH a police car starts chasing them?? It stops and a policeman exits, pulling… R rIDDLE?????!!??!?!?!

THE HE c K Is tHIS… CAtER MiSTAKES HIM FOR a CUTE giRL OR A MAGICAM INFLUENCER (IN thE FULL bODY MODEL YOU CAN SEE FisHNETS ON HIS leGS)

He calls the police officer an “old man” and speaks in a different cadence than usual. Higher pitched and more childlike. UHHHHH RIDDLE USES RUDE SLANG TOO… It’s not slang I understand; Adeuce identify it as exclusive to the Queendom of Roses

Errrrrrr, so Riddle was arrested for singing in the streets. He says he doesn’t see why people have to follow the rules 😱

Ah, Chenya’s in this dream!! He was in the cop car as well.

vdkabsjsvsusbkxks OH MY GOD Trey’s sounding like a concerned father 👨 Riddle spots Trey and gets all excited; the animation of the live 2D models also implies Riddle is grabbing and clinging to Trey’s arm.

Riddle and Chenya got arrested for starting a “surprise live” in front of the police station. (A “surprise live” is a spontaneous musical performance done in the streets or in public; they’re common in Japan.) They’re in a 2-man band! Riddle is the vocals and Chenya plays bass. It’s hard to keep members because Riddle keeps changing what kind of music they play. He says it’s boring to play the same thing every day.

Riddle doesn’t recognize everyone else so they reintroduce themselves. xhdvsjwbwkw Leona is smart enough to just call himself by first name; the last name might have given away that he’s royalty. (Typically, giving only your first name is a sign of familiarity or casualness in Japanese culture, but I don’t think that was the intention here.)

Riddle asks them to play with him in his band. H needs a guitarist, drummer, and keyboard player! Backup dancers and composers are also welcome, but even if not experienced.

Cater coming in clutch again… He volunteers to play guitar and changes into his Pop/Light Music Club uniform.

THIS iS SO WEIRD… Riddle calls Cater “Cay-kun” and “nii-san” 💀 Cater is freaked out by this too, even though he told Riddle earlier it was okay to call him “Cay-kun”.

Cater lies and says everyone else with him is skilled at playing too. For example, Leona is as good as a professional at drumming!! Leona starts to protest but Cater shuts him up. They need to do this to investigate 🎵 I continue to be baffled at how active Cater is in this dream and the last two. Holy hell, leave some crumbs for the rest of us…

DROPS TO KNEES AnD WEE PS OTL LEONA CHSnges tO HIS DIRM unIFORM AnD DAYS SoME CORNh shIT AbOUT HoW hEmMa SkILLED At DRUMS (lying bitch) THERe’A SpArKLE EFFDcts AnD EVERYTHING

Adeuce and Grim bring up their VDC experience (+ how Rook gave them 100 points in beauty)! Ortho volunteers his synthesizing abilities. He also can do lighting and video production. Sebek has been playing violin since he was little because he admires Malleus (erm, though Harveston Sledathon showed us Sebek sucks at playing it sooooo—). Silver says his farther showed him how to play the ocarina.

Riddle is so excited to have so many different people joining him. No matter how many times he invites Trey, he doesn’t join the band. Cater teases Trey and says his singing for their dorm’s events isn’t bad.

Riddle suddenly invites everyone to his house for tea?! This alarms Trey, but Riddle insists his mom will be happy to see him.

Trey worries the strawberry tart he brought with him from his own dream will get them in trouble. Cater and Grim offer to eat it in case of emergency!

L ch avajGqian SRBRk 😭 He says Riddle’s mom can’f be anywhere near as fierce as Malleus’s mom…

Leona starts to say something but doesn’t finish the thought.

Aaaand here we are at the Rosehearts residence!! Look at all the family photos. (This is not what the home looks like irl; there aren’t this many photographs, probably because Riddle implies that his parents don’t have a happy marriage 😢)

WhAT YhD fuKKKJKKk

Riddle’s mom speaks in a much higher pitched voice and sounds so caring. (We don’t get to see her; it’s just a voice since she’s speaking from the kitchen.) She calls him “Riddle-chan” and is happy he brought so many friends.

Chenya notices the strawberry tart Trey brought in. Grim tries to eat it but Riddle explodes on him, saying that it is HIS. Riddle’s mom is okay with this 💀 and Riddle confesses he has tarts twice a week, even when it is not his birthday.

Riddle goes to have his mom slice the tart up. As soon as he leaves, Trey releases a HUGE breath. He was so nervous about Mrs. Rosehearts losing her temper. Ortho senses his vitals shooting through the roof and recommends he sits down.

They start looking at the photos on the wall. Oh, Riddle’s dad is there too. Ace comments that the focus of the pictures if Riddle while the parents’ faces are blurry. (Is it because Riddle cannot imagine what his parents’ happy faces look like 😭) One of the pics is 6th grade sports day (an egg balancing on a spoon race), another is them swimming, Halloween, etc. Riddle was able to have a happy childhood with Chenya and Trey; their families hang out too.

Lore about family photos time?? Cater’s sisters and mom of course love to take them. Ace’s mom shows baby photos in the house. Sebek’s dad wants to take pictures more than his mom does. Deuce’s mom uses her phone. He has the framed photos in the closet in his rebellious phrase but wants to take them out when he wakes up. Lilia has an instant camera and uses it to take pictures once a year on Silver’s birthday. The Shroud parents have family photos at their work desks. Ortho regularly sends them photos and videos of school events.

Leona’s special cuz he’s a ✨ prince ✨ A newspaper has a photographer assigned to the royal family. He’d take pics without permission and the public relations officer had to confiscate them. Leona naturally hates family reunions that are arranged just to enhance their image. They’re not fun and people just pretend to be friendly.

dbjsbsjwjens Leona doesn’t really have photos of himself when he was young but his mom and Kifaji would take casual pics. He hates when he gets pestered for photos… like his Ceremonial Robes vignettes! Apparently they want the pictures to decorate the private dining room, Mr. Kingscholar’s hospital room, etc.

Ummmmmmmmmmm… Trey ain’t lookin’ so hot…

He says he has no memories of what is in these photographs. He + Chenya only played with Riddle for a month or two before the tart incident, and Riddle went to a private school whereas he + Chenya were public.

Riddle drops 5 sugar cubes into black tea, plus plenty of milk and honey. Leona makes a snide remark about how it’s rude for the host to not take the guest’s preferences into consideration to serve them OTL (you’re so right, king—)

Riddle offers everyone a chiffon cake and butter cookies his mom made. But… hm? That’s weird. They taste strangely hard and aren’t very sweet. Trey automatically identifies the ingredients; they must be the healthy ingredients Mrs. Rosehearts actually uses irl, because Riddle’s imagination is pulling from memories of his mom’s cooking.

Chenya can use magic but… Riddle can’t?! His dad is a novelist who writes stories with his son as the protagonist and his mom is a housewife full time. Neither can use magic.

Riddle becomes upset that they’re whispering to each other. They should speak up at his tea party!!

HUHHHHHHHH Riddle says be didn’t go to school?????? And he hates studying?! Deuce shouts that he uses to hate school and studying, but at NRC his dorm leader and the teachers taught him well. dhsvsjjww Riddle hates books without illustrations, but Sebek counters that there are books that will suit his taste.

Riddle doesn’t want to read??? His dad will tell him stories orally while Riddle plays with toys. And he works from home, so Riddle can ask him whatever he wants whenever he wants.

Cater brings up play croquet at their dorm.

Uuuh Riddle becomes fed up with the topic and demands it be changed. No problemo, cuz Ace was gonna talk off the cuff anyway. People start to consider leaving the band due to Riddle’s inability to read the room and his lack of ambition.

Riddle gets mad and starts raging. In seeps the darkness. We try to leave but Riddle prevents them. The entire room they’re in becomes like… locked? So they cannot leave.

A simple color palette swap makes this look like a scene straight out of a horror game.

A bunch of tea rushes in from another room and everyone works together to close it. They dream form change out of their tea-Soaked clothing.

They deduce that the room itself is the NPC and it must have been pretending to speak in Riddle’s parents’ voices since no one ever saw them. The room where Riddle’s dad works produces a flood of manuscripts, whereas the kitchen is a torrent of black tea. Suddenly, a hand emerges from the tea…! IT’S RIDDLE’S MOM TRYING To DrAg ThEM IN

They hear humming and Chenya appears! Leona threatens to turn the house to sand BUT HE GETS COLLARED 💀 Trey tries to overwrite the collar with his own UM but gets collared too. “Anyone that tries to escape the house will be beheaded”, according to the dreamer’s will.

It’s hard for them to locate Riddle; the space keeps twisting and turning and the magic formula governing it keeps rewriting itself.

ERRRRRR the black tea in the room is increasing even if nothing is gushing in from the kitchen anymore… This truly is one big horror movie now OTL

They try to climb onto/into stuff to keep afloat. Then we hear someone crying… Riddle? His tears are what’s filling up the room. He says, “I want to get out…” UM???? Of your living situation????? (Not me laughing around Leona saying in his most insincere voice “We’ll help you, so show yourself”…)

Leona compares Riddle to a rose with thorns, hurting people indiscriminately. (Okay, oddly poetic when you’re on the brink of death but sure, pop off)

Trey begs dream!Chenya to please show them the way to Riddle. The other card soldiers speak up and talk about how strong and admirable of a leader Riddle is. Finally, Chenya agrees to show them a shortcut.

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

We cut away to Idia’s dream?? He is preparing hacks and such for the final battle against Malleus. But um?? Is struggling to reconnect to Ortho and the others to provide support.

Suddenly, knocking at his door! Idia wonders if it is S.T.Y.X. staff???? UH-OH IT’S MALLEUS AND HE DEMANDS TO BE LET IN (he realizes Idia is awake)

We don’t get to see what happens to Idia; we cut back to the second layer of Riddle’s dream. It’s a ruined rose garden…

Ortho realizes the connection to Idia was dropped…

Riddle is berating some mobs (rule 372: if a red mushroom grows, the roses must be white). He has dream!Adeuce send them off to a punishment room where they have to write down rules 300 to 500.

Dream!Cater overhears some mobs whining. He and dream!Trey remind everyone Riddle is always correct and they should salute and follow him. Riddle has an evil laugh… and then has a smile as he says his mother was right all along.

Seeing this, Trey wonders if this is the future that would have happened if he didn’t get “lucky” and overwrite Riddle’s magic that one time.

Oh???? Silver says his father told him magic originally was a miracle birthed from a strong desire in the heart. He says that it was, then, no mistake that Trey’s Paint the Roses trumped Riddle’s magic. It was Trey’s own strong desire to stop Riddle that allowed him to turn the rose bushes into playing cards.

Chenya reappears and offers to show us more. He sneaks over, pulls on Riddle’s cloak, and makes him fall over?! Which pisses him off, obviously.

Riddle blows away the bushes we’re using to hide and is shocked to see doubles of his students. Leona gets fed up and confronts Riddle about how this is all a dream.

LMAOvvvvvsnbabzgajavaowkw Dream!Trey tells Riddle to not listen to Leona… LEONA IS A CORRUPTING FORCE AND A BAD INFLUENCE 💀 I want to argue, but… he sort of has a point…

Riddle commands we be captured and taken to the punishment room too. The mobs start to praise Riddle for everything he has done for them, including (for some reason) lowering their tension and giving them a reason to live????

Leona tells Riddle’s it’s empty and meaningless to be cheered on by an illusion. But Riddle insists he is happy this way. THIS IS SAD, he’s equating fear, respect, and love… What the fuck does this say about his own feelings towards his mother??

A bunch of Heartslabyul students descend on them. Without help from Idia, we can’t defend!! We tear off into smaller groups and run into the rose maze.

This is fr so sick and twisted 💀 Riddle is starting to wake, but dream!Cater and Trey tell him not to think of painful things. If he wakes up, everyone will hate him and he will be alone again—and Riddle doesn’t want that, right? So Riddle agrees, no one should be able to leave the world of dreams.

Okay so group 1 is Yuu, Grim, Sebek, and Ace. Group 2 is Leona and Deuce. Group 3 is Silver and Cater. Group 4 is Trey and Ortho.

Their phones don’t work so they cannot text or call each other.

Rule 63 is this: those who upset the queen in her court will be chased in the rose maze by card soldiers. If you try to climb or jump over the trees, they will attack you. In Diasomnia, there are thorns under the drawbridge that have a similar protective function. Though now, Malleus has a protective barrier around the dorm.

They hear Deuce calling out to them and Ace is suspicious. He tells Sebek, Yuu, and Grim to be quiet and let him handle this.

Ace goes up to Deuce and “reveals” himself to be darkness. Deuce is relieved and reveals himself to be darkness too. Ace, pretending to be darkness, tries to convince dream!Deuce that the real Deuce and Leona went “this way”. Unfortunately, Sebek concludes Ace was actually darkness and intended to betray us. So Grim breathes fire, melting away the wax (?) Ace was using to disguise himself as darkness and he realizes their mistake.

dbsjbsjw THERE’S a SiLLY TRUMPET SfX TO suMMON THE oTHER CARD sOLDIERS

They beat back dream!Deuce, but now too many soldiers are swarming them. Sebek accepts the onus for not trusting Ace and jumping to conclusions; he uses Living Bolt to clear a way for Yuu, Ace, and Grim to run away while he stays behind.

Now let’s bounce to Leona and Deuce! dgshevkw Deuce thought he was with Ace, Yuu, and Grim… but nah, it’s Leona! Leona tried to run off by himself, like in the opposite direction of the loudmouth Sebek www Instead he’s stuck with Deuce…

LEONA syING hE’S GONNA SMSvk RIDDLE

Omg Vargas Camp canon to main story??? Deuce talks about a sports club camping trip to the mountains led by Vargas.

Ace shows up acting relieved he found Deuce and Leona. REALLY starts glazing Leona up too, talking about how strong he is and how he could easily overpower Riddle if they act as bait. Deuce becomes suspicious because Ace wouldn’t say stuff like that, even if he thought it. He demands to know what Ace’s dream was—but Ace cannot answer, so Deuce knows this must be darkness?

Leona tells Deuce he will turn some bushes to sand; he should sprint through them quickly.

nuuuUquUUYYR hE CALLS bdeuCE A GOOD BOyYYYTG OTL (like, loyal dog/follower of his dorm) AnD HE DIESNmF DiSLIKE THAT OTL

Leona claims to be a kind prince LOL uhhh he does The Plan and Deuce escapes! Leona is left behind to fight off dream!Ace and his heart suit goons.

Silver and Cater run into what I assume is dream!Trey. Cater wants he and Trey (who are familiar with the ever-changing maze) to split up and search for the first years, but dream!Trey wants to stick together.

Cater asks Silver if he ever gets tired of fighting the darkness. How does he do it?? Silver confesses he almost gave into it many times but his friends were always there to pull him out of it.

Oh, Cater’s dad has been transferred for his job less as of late, so now he is able to have more long term relationships. Cater also reveals he used to room with Trey prior to third year (where they have separate rooms).

Lore drop, Heartslabyul is the second oldest dorm.

Cater tells a story about how he pitched the idea of transferring to Scarabia with Trey, which dream!Trey agrees with. Turns out, it was a bait laid out by Cater to test of this Trey was real—and dream!Trey fell for it! He admits that he started to suspect Trey was fake when Trey wanted to stay together rather than split up. Trey, who is an older brother, would always prioritize the safety of the first years!

AHHHHHH they’re being overwhelmed and they’re running short on magic :<

Last group to check in with is Trey and Ortho…! Trey shares more about the plants in the garden. They’re magical and must be grown by hand. Some of the plants move if you command them to, bur some others are stubborn. In spring, they have a concert with the flowers. Ortho says the trees in Pomefiore are raised similarly to the Heartslabyul plants.

OKAY SO. Pomefiore is the oldest dorm, then Heartslabyul, THEN Diasomnia. This all but confirms a fan theory that the age of the dorms corresponds with each dorm's irl film inspiration release date. From oldest to youngest, that would be

Pomefiore- 1937

Heartslabyul- 1951

Diasomnia- 1959

Octavinelle- 1989

Scarabia- 1992

Savanaclaw- 1994

Ignihyde- 1997

Aaaaah here comes the dream!Cater. He claims he escaped alone.

Trey discusses Cater’s magic and how it’s like casting 2-3 spells at once since Cater has to use magic to manipulate each clone. Thus, the power level of Cater and his clones goes down. Meanwhile Riddle’s UM can impact multiple people at once and he can spellcast quickly.

HUUUUH Cater applied to duel Riddle not too long before his third year? Wait no, that’s a lie Trey came up with to entrap dream!Cater! Trey knew it must be a fake because he doesn’t see Cater as the kind of guy to leave others behind and escape to safety on his own.

Trey tells Ortho to escape without him…!

That leaves us with only Adeuce, Ortho, Grim, and Yuu able to escape. They regroup and find their captured allies tied to rose trees. Trey begs Riddle to wake up.

Deuce suggests to use his UM to defeat Riddle, and Ortho volunteers to be Deuce’s shield (~10 seconds) while he aims, since Riddle’s UM does not work on Ortho.

Rare moment of development for Yuu??? They have dialogue options and can express that they feel useless, constantly being protected and not able to help.

Ortho asks us to protect Idia’s tablet. And Ace is entrusted to protect Yuu and Grim!

dbjsnsksks Deuce’s plan doesn’t really work out. Riddle starts spamming spells that throw Ortho off; Deuce can’t get his aim quite right.

Grim tries to scamper out to fight but Ace holds him back. Ace becomes increasingly frustrated that he keeps being protected by others (Sebek, Deuce, Ortho) and can’t do anything to help.

AhHHHHHH Ace has his own little depression flashback moment 🥺 calling himself pathetic, lame, useless… unable to save anyone at all. But then words start coming to his head…!! He disrupts Riddle just as he’s able to collar Deuce!

“I’ll take your best/most precious treasure. Joker Snatch…!”

HE COLLARS RIDDLE :000 Deuce uses his UM and shovk Riddle awake… I can’t believe the class 2E boys both got physically beaten into submission 💀

WOW Cater NYOOMS to Riddle and hugs him?!.?:’snwkgelek

Sebek offers to carry Ortho, but Ortho is super heavy.

UHHHH here comes the darkness… Adeuce rush over to help Riddle, even though he commands them to go to someplace safe. (SEBEK CALLS ADEUCE BY THEIR NAMES AND NOT "HUMANS"!!!) Riddle commands Trey and Cater to remove Adeuce and they do as he says; we of course follow after Riddle as he sinks.

Riddle has his moment squaring off against his Phantom. It's quite interesting; his darkness exclaims that he must hang onto the seat because he has nothing else. Everyone loathes him, so he has to do everything he can to cling to power. Riddle calls himself out for the tyrant that he is and expels that darkness.

Rule 1 of the Queen of Hearts: to stay where you are, you must run with all of your might. From now on, Riddle says he will do just that.

He resurfaces in his home and is approached by his mother, who claims he fell asleep while reading about crocodiles in the Nile River? (Wh-Why is the Nile River canon in Twst when that’s a real world location that should not exist in this one...)

Riddle summons his magic and collars his mother, making her melt away into nothing. He gets a really cool line...! "I refuse to stand in front of a door that won't open anymore. Even if the opening is as narrow as a keyhole, I will pry this door open with my own hand and move forward. I will walk forward, on my own path!"

THIS IS REALLY FASCINATING BECAUSE ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE EPISODE OF HEARTSLABYUL MANGA... THEY USED A DOOR AND KEYHOLE IMAGERY TO DEPICT RIDDLE COMING OUT OF HIS OB

Right as Riddle regains his senses, he crashes through the floor of his dream and... somehow lands where Idia is?! He's busy programming.

There seems to he… maybe a reference to Idia’s Bloom Broom vignettes??? Idia’s best subject is Summoning and he seems to have summoned Riddle to him? And Riddle says that he has read Idia’s research papers before; this was also mentioned in said vignettes (Riddle expresses an interest in his papers).

Idia tells Riddle that the Final Boss, Malleus Draconia, is waiting on the other side of his bedroom door...!

THAT'S IT, THAT'S WHERE WE LEAVE OFF???????? WE'RE DEFINITELY NEARING THE END, BOYS...

Okay, so first major thought I had!! Riddle’s dream confirms many of the thoughts I have ha about Trey and his feelings toward Mrs. Rosehearts and his own role in Riddle’s trauma. I have legitimately NEVER heard Trey sounding this panicked or scared, not even when Riddle was about to OB. Trey hurriedly rushes to put away the strawberry tart out of fear, just waiting for Mrs. Rosehearts to start shouting hysterically at him. Ortho even comments about Trey’s vitals rocketing. This definitely reads to me as Trey being traumatized by that whole incident 💦

BIG BRo CATER CONTINUES… Him making up the lie about Leona being a great drummer was so dumb but it worked!! And then he cares so much about Riddle when he finally wakes… would never run off on his own and abandon his friends… 😭 HNNNNGH CATERRRRrrRRRRR WhEN i CmgEFt MY gaNDS ON YOUUUUUuUUU

And holy cow, there was SO much symbolism in Riddle’s dream 😳 dream!Mrs.Rosehearts’s sweets looking good but is insincere and tasting terrible, as opposed to Trey’s tart which looks terrible from the rough travel but is made with care and tastes good… Riddle wishing for a happy family life so his house is crammed with photos… parents that are always emotionally available for him… not having the pressure of being a mage or having a legacy to live up to… the house being a place that locks them inside (because it might feel like a prison to Riddle)... Not just symbolism for Riddle's desires too, but also tons of Alice in Wonderland references!! ASFIHBAYOSFPADFIA I'D WASTE SPACE IN THIS POST LISTING THEM ALL OFF, BUT JUST KNOW THEY'RE THERE AND THEY WERE AMAZING FOR ME TO EAT UP AS AN ALICE IN WONDERLAND STAN

It’s interesting how Chenya here serves as sort of a helpful NPC to us, similar to Kifaji. His actions are a lot more dubious here; he’s not strictly good and spends most of the dream siding with Riddle. Chenya only swaps sides when we convince him. I wonder if he, too, represents some self-aware part of Riddle??? Since Riddle was later shown trying to maintain the dream world even when he learned it was fake.

They tried to recapture the glory of book 6 by having the characters split up. I'm not sure if it worked as well (since each was kind of short and repeated a lot of the same lore about the Heartslabyul rose bushes), but it served its purpose. The best part was definitely how the Heartlabyul students used what they knew of each other to figure out the fakes. It's a very effective but subtle way to show how they've become more familiar with one another. I feel like this update overall was very lore-heavy. We learned new stuff about the dorms' ages, their protective measures, their plants, etc.

It was interesting to have a rare moment of character development for Yuu? They barely get anything in way of characterization, so that surprised me. I wasn't expecting ACE to get his whole Depression Arc in the middle of Riddle's dream either--but I guess whining hard enough works, because he finally FINALLY got his UM!! Still not sure how it works yet. It seems to let him steal/borrow or copy other's UM??? But Sebek describes it as "it seemed like you and Riddle swapped magic". We have to wait for more details to drop in a later update. Can't say I like the name for his UM though; it makes me think of him stealing a clown's wig. ASDULBIADBSPSAB So proud of Ace; with this, we now have the UMs and chants for every one of the NRC students!

Overall, Riddle really surprised me. His dream ended up being roughly THREE TIMES LONGER than the average dream 💀 Not sure if I like that pacing, but at least this was fun to dissect. I like that they seem to have put extra effort into this portion, especially since the game is called Twisted Wonderland. It feels like a homage to the original story, especially since that novel ended with Alice waking up. I loved that Riddle has an inner child that he represses, but that even his desires are "held back" by knowledge he doesn't have... like his parents' happy faces or what his mom's homemade baked goods might taste like. It made me feel for him. ASDIUBASDASBDBPASIqryrqp I kind of feel like a proud parent reading his cool line about finding his own path at the end. It's very different than himself earlier in the dream, ignoring difficult topics and actively denying reality, where he fears he will be left sad and alone OTL Ndhdiwjekw Not sure if I care for his actual childish behavior though… Slightly grating to me.

THE HORROR STYLE PRESENTATION WITH MALLEUS REALLY UNNERVED ME. I would shit bricks if I was Idia too, dang... I'm on the edge of my seat for the next installment. S-Surely book 7 will have to wrap up soon, right? RIGHT?????

[rafesbuzzcutseason]

chasing city lights

chapter 9 - cute note

synopsis: you move to new york to start fresh, hoping to find comfort in the city’s atmosphere. that’s when you meet sarah cameron, where she takes you to a concert and you catch sight of the lead band member, rafe cameron. it only takes a moment for you to realize you’re captivated by him. as sarah helps you navigate your new life in the city, you start to get pulled deeper into rafe's world—the music, the fame, the chaos. the more you get to know him, the more you realise that rafe is not just the rock star he seems to be. he’s wrestling with his own demons, and the last thing he needs is someone like you getting close.

masterlist

cw: language

✧˖ °. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁‧₊˚ ☾. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧

you and the girls were huddled on sarah's bed as you debriefed the night before, it still not processing with you.

"i mean we left you for 5 SECONDS and i turned around and you two were eating each other" kie laughed

"no like seriously i thought we were gonna have to push harder for project city but it seems you didn't need our help after all." cleo joined in the laughter.

"guys i don't even know like i'm still in shock." you said.

"well was it a good kiss...?" sarah questioined.

"maybe the best i've ever had," you blushed. "but i'm nervous to see him next like what happens now."

"well you have his number," kie started "and you also don't have long because we're actually about to meet them all for lunch!"

"you're fucking joking." you muttered.

"nope!" sarah chimed in. "so let's get you ready."

after a quick outfit change, you left your room to meet the boys downstairs to have a walk around LA and grab some lunch.

you nervously waited for them to appear, but they finally did, rafe leading the group.

he smirked at you as he came to say hi, pulling you into a hug to whisper in your ear "cute note."

your cheeks went red while you pushed him away, turning to jj to say hi to him too.

"good night?" he winked at you.

"shut up jj." you laughed, as john b and pope also bought you into a hug.

"seems like someone had fun." john b laughed with you, and rafe just stood back with his stupid grin on his face, but no sense of shame.

topper however gave you a little disheartened wave, and your stomach dropped slightly, knowing he was probably upset that it wasn't him.

"ready to go?" sarah interrupted much to your happiness.

"yeah let's" cleo replied, now holding hands with pope.

the group made their way down the steps of the hotel, the chatter flowing easily now that everyone was outside and on their way to the street.

you caught jj glancing between you and rafe, his eyebrow raised playfully, before he bumped your shoulder with his. “so, how was last night?” he asked with a grin.

you rolled your eyes. “you’re ridiculous.”

"no i'm serious. i want to know. it's been a long time coming." he was speaking in a hushed voice to avoid rafe's ears.

"what do you mean?" you asked.

"he's been talking about you non stop since he met you. like the dressing room chat before shows has been exhausting." he sighed.

"really? then why did it take so long for him to make a move?"

"because you're mysterious at showing how you feel. plus your sarah's friend and he's always been told to stay away."

"but he didn't stay away from me?" you said.

"i don't think he could even if he tried." and with that, jj joined the rest of the group.

rafe then fell in step next to you, his pace slower than the others as he leaned in, his voice low. “are you avoiding me?” he asked with a playful tone.

you shook your head, “now why would i do that?" you replied.

"thought you'd been freaked out by last night." he replied softly, with a hint of fear in his words.

"i would never," you reassured him. "just trying to figure it out."

"figure what out?" he smirked.

you looked at him with sarcastic eyes, shaking your head.

rafe's eyes softened, his eyes meeting yours with intensity “don’t worry,” he said, “i’m figuring it out too.”

his hand brushed against yours, just barely, but it was enough for the electric connection to spark again, making your heart race. you could feel his gaze on you, but when you looked up at him, he was already looking ahead, as if he hadn't done anything at all.

you both fell into step with the others again, the easy banter resuming, but you couldn't shake the feeling that everything had just shifted—and you weren’t sure whether to lean into it or hold back.

✧˖ °. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁‧₊˚ ☾. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧

a/n: happy friday guys!! was struggling on how to approach the morning after so i hope this is ok

taglist: @hoefordrewstarkey @marleymarleymarleymarley @bee-43 @cherryhoneybabe @skye-44 @drewrry @drewrry  @yesterdaysproblemm @pogueprincesa @dylsdaily @rafeysworldim19 @valyrianflower @kaiparkerwifes @judesgfirl @4urvalidation @chillgal135 @drewstarkeyslover @yesshewrites1

i will be taking people off taglist if that don't interact! just as more people want to be added and need to make it fair<3

[saebyeokbliss]

BABY, I’M A ROCKSTAR

pairing: rockstar guitarist!kang sae-byeok x fem!manager!reader synopsis: you spend your days managing an up-and-coming band, HOT DIVISION (핫 디비전), making sure everything runs smoothly while keeping your growing feelings for the lead guitarist buried deep. between late-night gigs, teasing bandmates, and stolen glances, you try to stay professional—but it’s hard when she’s always just within reach, unknowingly pulling you closer. as the band’s success takes off, so does the tension between you and her, leaving you wondering if you’re imagining things or if maybe, just maybe, she feels it too. warnings: strong language, smoking, drug use (weed), teasing, mutual pining, intense eye contact, heart palpitations (caused by sae-byeok), secondhand embarrassment (caused by ji-yeong), found family dynamics, relentless shipping from friends, excessive smirking, emotional damage

a/n: i hope this ate its a little rushed but enjoy guys!!

The van smelled like weed, cheap leather, and the lingering scent of No-eul’s mint gum. You were squished between Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong, half-listening to whatever nonsense Se-mi was rambling about while Ji-yeong took another slow drag from the joint between her fingers.

“I’m just saying,” Ji-yeong exhaled, smoke curling toward the ceiling, “if aliens exist, they’re probably already here. Like, disguised as CEOs or some shit.”

Se-mi hummed in agreement, head lolling back against the seat. “That makes sense. No way some of these billionaires are human. Look at Elon Musk.”

Sae-byeok scoffed beside you, arms crossed. “You two are high as hell.”

“And?” Ji-yeong smirked, offering the joint toward Sae-byeok, who just shot her a glare.

You tried to focus on the road ahead, watching as No-eul kept one hand on the wheel, the other adjusting the radio. Unlike her younger sister, No-eul wasn’t much of a talker. She just rolled her eyes at Se-mi and Ji-yeong’s antics and kept driving.

Your phone buzzed in your lap. You glanced down, reading the message from your contact at the label.

[HOT DIVISION CONFIRMED FOR L.A. SHOW. FLIGHTS BOOKED. DETAILS ATTACHED.]

Your stomach flipped.

“Holy shit,” you whispered.

Sae-byeok turned her head toward you. “What?”

You swallowed, rereading the message just to make sure you weren’t imagining it. “We’re playing a show in Los Angeles.”

The van erupted into chaos.

Ji-yeong practically threw herself over you to grab your phone, squinting at the message. “No fucking way.”

Se-mi gasped dramatically, gripping Ji-yeong’s arm. “We’re going international, baby!”

Even No-eul cracked a small smile, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. “Looks like we made it.”

Sae-byeok’s eyes flickered to yours, something softer there beneath the usual stoicism. “That’s big,” she murmured.

You nodded, heart still racing. “Yeah.”

Then reality hit.

“But I can’t go.”

The excitement in the van screeched to a halt. Ji-yeong frowned. “What do you mean, you can’t go?”

You sighed, rubbing your temples. “I don’t have a passport. I never got one.”

“Just apply for one,” Se-mi said, waving a hand.

You shot her a dry look. “It takes weeks—sometimes months—to process. There’s no way I’ll get it in time.”

A heavy silence settled over the group. Ji-yeong looked genuinely heartbroken. “But you’re our manager.”

No-eul glanced at you through the rearview mirror. “Are you sure there’s no way?”

You shook your head. “Even if I pay for an expedited one, it’s not guaranteed. I won’t make it.”

Sae-byeok was quiet beside you. When you turned to look at her, she was already watching you, brows furrowed.

“You’ll be fine without me,” you tried to joke, nudging her with your elbow. “Just don’t let Ji-yeong and Se-mi get arrested in another country.”

Ji-yeong clutched her chest. “How dare you assume we’d get arrested?”

Se-mi blew out a breath. “No, that’s fair.”

Sae-byeok didn’t smile. If anything, she looked… uneasy.

The rest of the drive was filled with Ji-yeong and Se-mi making plans for what they’d do in LA, but you kept stealing glances at Sae-byeok.

She wasn’t talking.

She was thinking.

And in the pit of your stomach, you knew she wasn’t happy about leaving you behind.

The People Magazine building was sleek, modern, and way too quiet for a group like HOT DIVISION.

You walked a few steps ahead of the girls, phone in hand, skimming through emails while also keeping an ear out for any potential disasters. No-eul was the most responsible of the bunch, but Ji-yeong and Se-mi? They were walking chaos. Sae-byeok, as usual, hovered somewhere in between—cool, collected, and effortlessly intimidating.

The receptionist greeted you with a polite smile, eyes widening slightly when she noticed the four rockstars trailing behind you. You weren’t surprised. HOT DIVISION carried an energy—the kind that turned heads without even trying.

"You're here for the interview and photoshoot?" the receptionist asked.

"Yeah," you replied, tucking your phone into your pocket. "HOT DIVISION."

Ji-yeong leaned onto the counter, flashing a grin. "That’s us."

The receptionist nodded quickly, cheeks slightly pink. "Right! Uh, follow me."

You sighed, already exhausted. This is going to be a long day.

The girls were seated on a long couch in the studio, mics clipped to their outfits. You stood off-camera with the PR team, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.

The interviewer, a well-dressed woman with a bright smile, started off with the usual questions.

“So, HOT DIVISION has been making waves in the industry. How does it feel to be one of the biggest rock bands right now?”

No-eul, sitting at the far left, shrugged. “Feels normal.”

Sae-byeok, next to her, nodded. “We just play.”

Ji-yeong snorted. “Okay, well, they just play. I personally feel cool as hell about it.”

Se-mi leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “It’s kinda insane, huh? I mean, one minute we’re playing in tiny bars, and the next we’re flying to LA for a show.”

The interviewer smiled. “Speaking of, how are you all feeling about the upcoming performance in the U.S.?”

Ji-yeong threw an arm around Se-mi. “Excited. Terrified. Ready to make questionable decisions.”

You shot her a warning look from your spot off-camera. She winked at you.

Sae-byeok, ever the professional, answered smoothly. “We’re looking forward to it. It’ll be our first time playing overseas, so we want to make it count.”

The interviewer nodded. “And your manager—” she turned toward you briefly, smiling, “—won’t be joining you due to passport issues, right?”

You stiffened. Oh no.

The girls immediately reacted.

Ji-yeong groaned dramatically. “Don’t remind us.”

Se-mi pouted. “It’s tragic, really.”

No-eul, the most composed of the group, simply nodded. “She keeps us in check. It’ll be weird without her.”

Sae-byeok didn’t say anything at first. She just toyed with the ring on her finger, eyes lowered slightly. Then, after a beat, she murmured, “Yeah. It sucks.”

Your breath caught.

The interviewer, sensing the shift, quickly moved on to lighter topics—music influences, songwriting process, tour stories. You exhaled, trying to ignore the way your heart had flipped at Sae-byeok’s words.

Get it together.

If the interview was chaotic, the photoshoot was absolute anarchy.

“Ji-yeong, stop messing with the props,” you scolded, watching as she twirled a mic stand like a weapon.

“I am the prop,” she shot back, striking a ridiculous pose.

Se-mi adjusted the leather jacket draped over her shoulders. “She’s not wrong.”

The photographer sighed. “Alright, let’s try something serious now.”

That was easier said than done.

Se-mi kept making faces at Ji-yeong. Ji-yeong kept making Se-mi laugh. No-eul kept acting like she was above it all, but you knew she was holding back a smirk. Sae-byeok, ever the professional, somehow managed to look effortlessly cool despite the madness around her.

You pinched the bridge of your nose. “Can you all please act normal for five minutes?”

“Normal is boring,” Ji-yeong quipped.

Sae-byeok glanced at you then, a rare hint of amusement in her eyes. “You look stressed.”

You huffed. “I am stressed.”

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering something. Then, with zero warning, she reached out—her fingers brushing against your wrist, just barely. It was nothing. A fleeting touch. But it sent a shockwave through you.

You went rigid.

She must’ve noticed because her lips twitched—just the slightest hint of a smirk before she pulled away.

You swallowed hard, praying no one else noticed.

Unfortunately, Ji-yeong definitely did.

She waggled her eyebrows at you once the photographer turned away, mouthing, What was that?

You shot her a glare. Drop it.

She didn’t.

Instead, she leaned over to Se-mi and whispered something, and before you knew it, both of them were giving you the look.

Oh god.

No-eul, ever the observant one, simply sighed. “You guys are exhausting.”

You groaned, already dreading the inevitable teasing that would come later.

Sae-byeok, on the other hand, just adjusted the strap of her guitar and pretended she didn’t notice the way you were completely falling apart over her.

She definitely noticed.

And she was enjoying it.

The airport was a mess of people, luggage, and last-minute panic.

You walked beside the girls, keeping a mental checklist of everything they needed. Passports? Check. Boarding passes? Check. Ji-yeong and Se-mi not getting distracted by duty-free stores? Barely a check.

Beside you, Cheol clutched the straps of his backpack, eyes flickering between Sae-byeok and No-eul. He had insisted on coming, saying he wanted to see his noonas and their best friends off. You hadn’t argued. If anything, you figured having him around might keep your chest from aching too much when they left.

“You’re gonna bring me something back, right?” Cheol asked, looking between his two sisters.

No-eul ruffled his hair. “I’ll bring you an overpriced keychain.”

Sae-byeok smirked. “I’ll bring you something cooler.”

Cheol looked smug. “Knew you were my favorite noona.”

No-eul scoffed, but there was no real bite to it. You just smiled, watching the exchange.

“Alright, alright,” you said, checking the time. “You guys have about twenty minutes before you need to get through security.”

Ji-yeong groaned. “Ugh. I hate flights.”

“Then don’t come back,” Cheol deadpanned.

Se-mi gasped dramatically. “Betrayal.”

Sae-byeok chuckled under her breath, and you found yourself staring before you could stop. She was so effortlessly cool—hair tucked behind her ears, hands in her jacket pockets, the weight of her guitar case slung over one shoulder.

God. You were never going to survive this tour without her.

One by one, the girls said their goodbyes.

No-eul gave Cheol a rare, tight hug before nodding at you. “Take care of him.”

You nodded back. “Always.”

Ji-yeong hugged you dramatically, rocking you back and forth. “Don’t miss me too much.”

Se-mi squeezed your shoulders. “We’ll send pictures. And maybe—maybe—we won’t get arrested.”

You groaned. “That’s not reassuring.”

Then, finally, Sae-byeok stepped forward.

For a second, she just looked at you, dark eyes flickering with something unreadable. You swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of every inch between you.

Then, instead of a hug, she reached out—slow, deliberate—and tugged at the sleeve of your jacket. Just a tiny pull. Barely anything at all.

But it made your heart stop.

“You should’ve come,” she murmured.

Your throat went dry.

“I—I know,” you managed.

She didn’t say anything else. Just held your gaze for a breath too long before finally stepping back.

Ji-yeong, watching from the side, definitely noticed.

“Alright, lovebirds,” she sing-songed, grabbing Sae-byeok’s wrist before you could combust. “Time to go.”

Sae-byeok rolled her eyes, but you caught the way the corners of her lips twitched.

And then, just like that, they were walking toward security, disappearing into the sea of travelers.

You exhaled, trying to calm the pounding in your chest.

Cheol, beside you, tilted his head. “...Did something just happen?”

“No,” you said way too quickly.

Cheol looked skeptical.

But thankfully, he didn’t push it.

Still, as you both walked back toward the exit, you couldn’t shake the feeling of Sae-byeok’s fingers—gentle, fleeting—ghosting over your sleeve.

And you definitely couldn’t shake the way she had looked at you, like maybe—just maybe—this goodbye wasn’t as simple for her as it should’ve been.

You were lying in bed, scrolling through emails and trying to keep yourself busy when your phone buzzed.

Incoming FaceTime: Ji-yeong 🍃🔥

You sighed, already bracing yourself for whatever chaos was about to unfold. With a swipe of your finger, you answered, and immediately, the screen was filled with Ji-yeong’s grinning face.

“Manager-nim~” she sang. “Look at what we got.”

The camera flipped around, revealing a bed covered in shopping bags—designer logos, streetwear brands, and more shoes than any of them realistically needed.

Se-mi was sprawled across the bed, holding up a leather jacket. “This cost more than my rent used to.”

“I mean, technically, we don’t pay rent anymore,” Ji-yeong pointed out.

“That’s not the point.”

No-eul, ever the level-headed one, was neatly folding a pair of black jeans. “I only bought what I needed.”

Ji-yeong snorted. “Boring.”

Then, the camera moved slightly, and you finally caught sight of her.

Sae-byeok, sitting at the edge of the bed, arms crossed, watching the whole ordeal with an amused expression.

She met your gaze through the screen. “They’re ridiculous.”

You exhaled a small laugh, heart doing that stupid thing it always did when she looked at you like that.

Ji-yeong turned the camera back to herself. “Okay, okay, let’s do a haul. Sae-byeok, narrate.”

Sae-byeok rolled her eyes but played along.

The camera flipped again, showing Se-mi dramatically throwing on her new leather jacket.

“Se-mi,” Sae-byeok drawled, “delusional enough to think it’s cold in LA.”

Se-mi gasped. “Excuse me, fashion knows no temperature.”

Ji-yeong cackled before turning the camera to No-eul, who was now lacing up a pair of combat boots.

“No-eul,” Sae-byeok continued, “dressed like she’s about to start a revolution.”

No-eul glanced up. “That’s not wrong.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “And what about Ji-yeong?”

The camera flipped again, showing Ji-yeong putting on a ridiculous pair of oversized sunglasses.

“Ji-yeong,” Sae-byeok said flatly, “pretending she’s famous.”

Ji-yeong grinned. “I am famous.”

You rolled your eyes. “You’re all insane.”

Ji-yeong smirked. “And you love us.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but then Sae-byeok’s voice cut through—calm, steady, too knowing.

“You miss us.”

Your breath hitched.

The screen had shifted slightly, just enough to show Sae-byeok looking directly at you. Unlike Ji-yeong and Se-mi, who were still messing around, she was watching you.

Waiting.

You swallowed. “Of course, I miss you guys.”

Sae-byeok hummed. “Mhm.”

Ji-yeong, still oblivious, waved at the camera. “Alright, we’ll call again later. Don’t cry too much over us.”

You scoffed. “Goodbye, Ji-yeong.”

“Bye, manager-nim~”

The call ended, and the screen went dark.

You let out a slow breath, staring at your reflection.

Even through a screen, even from miles away, Sae-byeok still had you completely unraveling.

The Kang family’s small living room was buzzing with anticipation.

Cheol sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes glued to the TV, while Ms. Kang—sweet as ever—kept offering you snacks every five minutes. You had already accepted a cup of warm tea, more out of politeness than anything, but she still hovered, fussing over you like you were her own child.

“Are you comfortable, dear?” she asked, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder.

You smiled. “I’m good, Ms. Kang. Thank you.”

She patted your arm before settling onto the couch beside you, hands folded neatly in her lap. “I still can’t believe my girls are performing in America. It feels like just yesterday Sae-byeok was teaching Cheol how to tie his shoes.”

Cheol groaned. “Eomma, don’t bring that up.”

You chuckled, but your heart ached a little at Ms. Kang’s words. You knew what this meant to her—to see both Sae-byeok and No-eul making something of themselves after everything they had been through.

The TV screen flickered as the live broadcast finally started. The stage lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and then—

There they were.

HOT DIVISION.

Ji-yeong, ever the showman, was the first to speak into the mic. “Los Angeles, you ready?”

The audience screamed.

You leaned forward, barely breathing as the camera panned to the rest of the band. No-eul, steady behind the drums, twirling a drumstick between her fingers. Se-mi, hyping up the crowd, bass guitar slung low on her hip. And then—

Your chest tightened.

Sae-byeok.

Dressed in all black, guitar in hand, standing at the center of the stage like she belonged there. The stage lights cast a soft glow over her sharp features, and for a moment, she looked almost unreal—like something out of a dream.

She adjusted the strap of her guitar, eyes scanning the crowd. Then, as if she knew you were watching, she tilted her head slightly, lips curling into the smallest, most knowing smirk.

Your pulse skyrocketed.

Cheol smirked beside you. “You’re staring.”

“I am not,” you hissed.

Ms. Kang, ever oblivious, beamed. “Oh, Sae-byeok looks so beautiful.”

You cleared your throat. “Yeah. She does.”

Then, the first chords rang out, and the performance began.

The band was electric. The energy was raw, unfiltered, and completely intoxicating. Ji-yeong’s voice was raspy and powerful, Se-mi’s bassline shook the floor, No-eul’s drumming was sharp and precise, and Sae-byeok—

God, Sae-byeok.

The way she played her guitar—fingers gliding effortlessly over the strings, body moving naturally with the music, eyes half-lidded in concentration—was enough to make your brain short-circuit.

You were so screwed.

Cheol nudged you again. “Still staring.”

“Shut up,” you muttered.

Ms. Kang smiled warmly, unaware of your internal suffering. “She looks happy.”

You swallowed. “Yeah.”

And she did. Sae-byeok wasn’t just playing. She was feeling it—losing herself in the music, in the moment. And for some reason, knowing she was happy made your chest ache in a way you couldn’t quite explain.

Then, just as the song reached its climax, the camera zoomed in on Sae-byeok.

And that’s when it happened.

She looked straight into the lens.

Straight at you.

And then—she winked.

Your heart stopped.

Cheol howled with laughter. “OH MY GOD.”

Ms. Kang clapped her hands together. “Did you see that? She winked! How cute!”

You sat there, stunned, gripping your cup of tea like it was the only thing tethering you to the earth.

She knew.

She absolutely knew.

And she was teasing you.

The song ended, the crowd exploded into cheers, and the screen cut to commercials. But you barely registered any of it.

Because all you could think about was the way Sae-byeok had looked at you—like she knew exactly what she was doing to you.

And worse?

She enjoyed it.

Your phone buzzed violently on the table, the screen lighting up with an incoming FaceTime call.

Incoming FaceTime: Ji-yeong 🍃🔥

You exhaled, already bracing yourself. No doubt they were still on a post-show high, ready to scream in your ear about every little thing. With a swipe, you answered—and immediately, the screen was filled with Ji-yeong, Se-mi, and No-eul squished together, all talking at once.

“DID YOU SEE THAT?!” Ji-yeong shrieked.

“We fucking killed it,” Se-mi added, grinning.

No-eul, ever the calm one, simply gave you a knowing nod. “It went well.”

The camera jostled as they moved, and then—just as expected—Sae-byeok appeared in the background, sitting on the hotel bed, casually scrolling through her phone while the others lost their minds.

Your heart did that stupid thing again.

“I saw,” you said, trying to sound normal. “You guys were insane.”

Ji-yeong cackled. “Duh.”

Se-mi held up her phone. “We’re reading the comments right now. People are losing their shit.”

“Read them to me,” you said, leaning back against the couch.

Ji-yeong cleared her throat dramatically. “Okay, first one—‘HOT DIVISION just changed my brain chemistry. I will never recover.’”

You laughed. “Accurate.”

Se-mi scrolled. “Here’s another—‘Who gave Ji-yeong the right to be that sexy on stage? I need her arrested immediately.’”

Ji-yeong gasped in delight. “Finally, someone who understands me.”

No-eul rolled her eyes. “Here’s a good one—‘No-eul’s drumming is so precise it could probably fix my trust issues.’”

Se-mi fake sniffled. “Beautiful.”

Then, Ji-yeong started wheezing, clutching her stomach. “OH MY GOD. LISTEN TO THIS—‘Did Sae-byeok just wink at the camera? Is she trying to kill us? I’m physically unwell.’”

Your stomach dropped.

Sae-byeok, still looking at her phone, smirked. “That one’s my favorite.”

Ji-yeong, sensing an opportunity for chaos, turned the camera directly to your face. “What about you, manager-nim? How did you feel about the wink?”

You froze.

No-eul sighed. “Ji-yeong.”

Se-mi grinned. “Nah, let her answer.”

Your mouth opened—then closed—then opened again. But nothing came out.

Sae-byeok finally looked up from her phone, eyes locking onto yours through the screen. And the way she was looking at you—calm, amused, waiting—made your brain short-circuit.

What were you supposed to say? Yeah, that wink almost gave me a heart attack? Yeah, I haven’t stopped thinking about it?

Absolutely not.

So, instead, you cleared your throat and muttered, “It was… fine.”

Ji-yeong and Se-mi screamed.

“‘Fine’?! YOU’RE SO FULL OF SHIT,” Ji-yeong howled.

Se-mi clutched her chest. “Oh my god, she’s dying inside.”

No-eul just shook her head. “You two are the worst.”

Meanwhile, Sae-byeok just smirked—subtle, barely there, but you saw it.

And that was worse than anything.

taglist: @everly-summers-solace @knfthxv @madebysae @knfthxv @katieschry1 @imlackingsleep @lyzem @stellssxo @wiltingconquest

[scary-grace]

Guitarist!Tomura actually has me in a chokehold so a gc would be nice I just need to work up the courage LMAO

Guitarist!Tomura also has me in a chokehold, which is why it took me so long to write a follow-up! I really love him in this AU so there may be more to come.

“Okay, now that we’re done laughing at Shigaraki, first things first —”

“Laughing at Tomura-kun is the first thing,” Toga says. Dabi glares at her. “Don’t make that face! If I was singing love duets through the wall with my neighbor, you guys would never let me live it down.”

“Nobody gets to live that down. That is not cool band guy behavior,” Twice announces from behind the drum set. Then, like always, he changes his tune. “Don’t worry, Shigaraki! I think it’s sweet!”

“I think we should never talk about it again,” Tomura mutters. He turns to Dabi. “You were saying something, right?”

“Yeah,” Dabi says. “First things first. Does anybody have any new songs?”

The band always needs new songs, and everyone’s supposed to bring one to practice. In theory they should always have something cooking. In reality, they get a new song maybe every six practices, and only some of those are good. They’d be better if anybody liked taking feedback on their lyrics. But they don’t.

“I have one,” Spinner says, “but —”

“Is it about being a true artist and not whoring yourself out to the Spotify algorithm?” Dabi doesn’t wait for an answer. “No.”

“We could use it if we metaphor it a bit,” Spinner protests. He passes a piece of paper to Tomura. “Look.”

Tomura scans the lyrics. He likes some of Spinner’s phrasing, and the song structure works, but he can see a few too many lines about standing apart from the machine. And Spinner’s not the only one who writes like that. “Why don’t we just do a whole LP around that? Give it some characters and a plotline and then it’s not just an album. It’s a story arc.”

“You think we can pull that off?” Toga looks up, interested. “What about a love story?”

“No.”

“Hey, that could work!” Twice taps the kick drum for emphasis. “Like, think about it! The protagonists are falling in love amidst the machines and then they have to defeat them if they want to be together!”

“There’s no way we can pull that off,” Tomura says. Twice ignores him, and he looks to Dabi for help. “If we’re going to do a concept album, let’s do an album about a concept we actually understand.”

“Nobody’s going to listen to us if we’re just complaining about the system,” Dabi says. “We need a hook. The love story’s a hook.”

“Then one of us had better figure out how to write love songs,” Spinner says. “Because we all kind of suck at it.”

Dabi looks like he’s thinking about it, and Tomura wonders, like he does every so often, why he decided to let Dabi project-manage the band he started. “Okay,” Dabi says finally. “We’re calling practice for today. No more practice until everybody has at least one song to share.”

“Oh, come on —”

“How much of a song do we need to have?” Toga interrupts Tomura.

“At least two verses and a chorus. Instrumentation optional,” Dabi decides. There goes Tomura’s plan to weasel out of this by coming up with a melody and chord progression and calling it good. “Text the group chat when you’ve got something.”

Everybody else starts packing up their instruments, like this is settled or something. Tomura came up with the stupid concept album idea. He’s the one who has to put the brakes on. “We can’t just not practice,” he says. “We have shows booked next month.”

“So you’d better get writing, then.”

“Yeah. More writing, less singing to your neighbor through the wall,” Spinner says. Tomura glares at him. “Maybe you can write a song about that.”

Tomura will write a song about that when hell freezes over. But he needs to write something, or the band’s not going to practice at all before their first gigs of the school year. A concept album about humans falling in love while standing up to the machine or the man or whatever. This is going to be a nightmare.

When Tomura gets home, his neighbors are just as noisy as ever, except for you. You’re quiet. Are you even home? Tomura tries to write, but it’s hard to focus when he’s so busy listening. He’s still not sure if you heard him singing along with you, but what if you did, and you got so embarrassed that you’re never going to sing again? If someone had told Tomura this morning that he’d be upset that one of his neighbors wasn’t making noise, he’d have told them they were out of their mind.

And then he hears it, just past midnight — quiet humming from the other side of the wall, a tune that’s vaguely familiar. This time, when the words pick up, Tomura doesn’t sing along. He just listens as you mumble your way through the first verse of The Last Shadow Puppets’ Miracle Aligner. “Often the humble kind, but he can’t deny he was born to blow your mind — or something along those lines —”

It’s not Tomura’s favorite song from that band, but given that you like the band enough to get their songs stuck in your head, your taste in music is at least decent. Tomura won’t be able to decide if it’s actually good until he hears you sing a few more songs. And speaking of a few more songs — Tomura picks up his pen again and scrawls out a single lyric across the top of the page. Screw a concept album, for now at least. He just has to start somewhere.

One lyric turns into another, turns into a verse and the start of a chorus. Tomura writes until two am, your voice brushing softly against his ear.

[l1ndseyper3z]

Gallavich headcanons cause I'm tweaking out about them

- mickey loves bands (basically confirmed in 1-07 cause of the radiohead shirt) and the first time he heard I Love You by Fontaines all he could think about was ian so that's basically their song to him

- mickey runs cold, ian runs hot

- I kinda get the vibe that after a while Terry's death actually started fucking with Mickey kinda in the way Monica's death fucked with Ian. it made mickey get kinda clingy but Ian didn't mind

- in s5 when Ian broke up with Mickey. it was 100% self destruction, he'd seen Monica and didn't want to drag Mickey into what he thought he was destined to be

- ian calls mickey baby and anyone who teases mickey about it gets threatened cause mickeys a softie who will never admit it

- although Mama Milkovich canon is unclear, I think she died somewhere in season 1 after being ill for a while. it definitely fucked with mickey and I believe that's why he ended up hooking up with ian. he thought because she was gone he had no reason to live and was just winging life. he was definitely close with her

- some songs that make them think of each other are Arms Length - Sam Fender, Open Wide - Inhaler, The Craving - Twenty One Pilots.

- they're such girl dads this is not up for discussion

- I think they end up having one kid, a girl. mandys the surrogate and she basically ends up being mickey with red hair

- mickeys a big Eminem fan cause I said so and once he has his daughter mockingbird RUINS him

- I imagine the first time Mickey held his daughter he literally just sat there for hours in awe and all the Gallaghers were just like woah ian you've managed to break mickey what the hell

- they're such good dads

- if their kid ended up with bipolar they'd deal with it so well

- honestly they're the ones most likely to break the cycle

- ian is generally clingier but mickey doesn't mind. he actually quite likes it (although he'll never admit that out loud)

- ian fell first, mickey fell infinitely harder

- mickey gets quite emotional sometimes, I mean you saw how much he cried over ian. I think finally coming to terms with all the shit he went through hit him like a truck around the time terry died

- ian is big spoon

- cause they're little domestic bitches one of their favourite things is ian reading a book while mickey naps on him or next to him and ian messes with his hair with his free hand

- people act like they don't engage in pda but they TRADEMARKED pda

- mickeys too possessive to not like pda

- mickey and debbie plus ian and mandy. lethal

- ian loves seeing mickey fit into the family. family's a massive thing for the Gallaghers so seeing mickey blend right in makes ians heart melt

- ALSO seeing mickey do anything domestic like laundry or shit makes ian horny just saying

- mickeys scent 100% grounds ian. it's what he was around at the peak of his bipolar and it brings so much comfort to him

- hence why they share clothes so much

- mickey just likes robbing all ians shit cause why not and ian loves smelling mickey

- going back to if they had a bipolar teenage daughter mickeys literally the best dad ever

- needs a day off school cause shes struggling? absolutely let me call them.

- she feels like shit? come here we'll get comfy on the couch and watch a movie

- doesn't wanna take her medication? talk to me about it, tell me why and I'll explain why you should, we can try new stuff if you need it

- mickey hated ians black hair

- after they banged in prison for the first time they were lay there and mickey just went "why u not a redhead anymore? you look like a fucking idiot"

- part of him being such a good dad is because of terry but also because he's genuinely a gentle person deep down and it just took security and comfort to bring that out. plus he wants to make his mum proud

- everytime ian sees mickey with their daughter he just like falls into a puddle on the floor

- they visit Monica's grave every year. mickey doesn't really like her but he wants to make sure ian stays connected to her

- same with mickeys mum, they visit her a lot

- everytime they go into the Kash n Grab when they're in the southside they just giggle. it's so goofy to them now

- they see Jimmy Steve's dad out somewhere one time and they're both like 😦😦😦

- they're such bad influences

- always up to some dumb shit

- basically they're all of our parents and I love my sillies

[misaerabl]

I see a lot of Chloe x readers first time smoking and it usually turns to smut (which is fine! I live all Chloe fanfic writers!) but can I please get Chloe comfort where readers first time getting high was a bad trip?

Like maybe it's a bit self insert but I can't smoke at all and I feel like every stoner character has fics where reader smokes too but what about for the readers who can't, you know?

If not no worries take care of yourself <3

CONTENT: smoking weed (duh), bad first experience smoking, comfort chloe, max mentioned, SFW (also warning : I don't know shit about smoking or weed cuz ion do that, so correct me if there's anything wrong)

A/N: ify anon, as someone who can't smoke as well. also this is new!! first chloe price fic here ig. I'm replaying lis so this is such a good timinggg lovee!

Chloe had warned you to take it slow.

She had said it with a lazy smirk, passing you the joint with fingers stained faintly with ink and paint. But there had been a flicker of seriousness beneath her usual bravado—a hesitation you ignored in your eagerness to prove you could handle it.

Now, you weren’t handling it.

Your heartbeat was a frantic drum in your chest, pounding against your ribs like it was trying to escape. The world had narrowed, blurred at the edges, and you couldn’t tell if the weight in your limbs was from gravity or some invisible force pinning you down.

Chloe’s room, usually a chaotic but familiar mess of posters, CDs, and scattered clothes, felt too small. The walls were pressing in, the ceiling too low, the air too thick.

“Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.”

Chloe’s voice cut through the static in your mind, sharp but careful. She was in front of you now, crouched down, her face clearer than anything else in the room. Her blue hair was a little frizzy, her beanie slipping back. She had that look on her face—half amused, half concerned.

“Talk to me. What’s going on?”

You shook your head. Couldn’t talk. Your throat felt tight, your mouth dry as hell.

Chloe frowned but didn’t push. Instead, she reached out, pressing the cold rim of a soda can into your palm. “Drink. It’ll help.”

You took a sip—too fast, choking slightly. Chloe just waited, patient. Her fingers tapped against the floor.

“I—” Your voice cracked, barely above a whisper. “I think I’m dying.”

Chloe snorted but immediately softened when she saw the panic in your eyes. “You’re not dying, dude. Just greening out. It happens.”

Greening out. Right. That was a thing. But knowing that didn’t stop the feeling, didn’t stop the weight pressing down on you like you were sinking into the floor.

Chloe shifted closer, her hands resting lightly on your knees. “Okay, okay, let’s get you grounded. You remember that one thing Max used to do? The five senses thing?”

You managed a weak nod.

“Cool. Let’s do it. Tell me five things you can see.”

You swallowed hard, forcing your eyes to focus. “Uh… your beanie.”

Chloe grinned. “Iconic. What else?”

You searched the room. “The… the glow-in-the-dark stars on your ceiling.”

Chloe’s gaze flicked up. “Hell yeah. Got those when I was ten.”

You listed the rest slowly—the chipped paint on her nightstand, the band stickers on her guitar case, the way the neon blue of her hair caught the dim light.

She guided you through the rest, coaxing out four things you could touch (the carpet, the cool metal of the soda can, the soft fabric of her hoodie when she draped it over your shoulders), three things you could hear (her voice, the faint hum of a song playing from her speakers, the rain tapping against the window).

By the time you got to taste, you were breathing easier. The fear wasn’t completely gone, but the walls weren’t closing in anymore.

Chloe nudged your shoulder. “See? Told you. Not dying.”

You let out a shaky breath, clutching the can tighter. “Never doing that again.”

Chloe smirked. “Yeah, yeah. That’s what they all say.”

But then her expression softened, and she bumped her forehead lightly against yours. “For real, though. I got you, okay?”

You nodded, feeling the warmth of her hoodie, the steadiness of her presence.

Maybe you weren’t as weightless as you thought. Maybe, with Chloe here, you were still on solid ground.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

OOOOOOOOO NEW EMOJI❣️❣️❣️❣️

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔

🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮

HEY! <3

As you know, TWATK is complete, but here are the rest <3

45 for 🗻:

---

The thought is pretty exciting, actually. He finds himself excited to see little pieces of Buck in another human. Hell, he’s seen them start to develop in Chris, over the years. So a kid with fifty percent Buck DNA? That’s gotta come with some considerable personality quirks. Meant adoringly, of course. 

“Mm,” Maddie shakes her head as she finishes chewing a bite of food. ‘Buck’s thing at that age was jokes. He’d memorize joke books from the library and try them on everyone he encountered.”

Eddie snorts. “Why am I not surprised?”

“So what you’re saying is,” Buck points a fork at her playfully. “I am now, and have always been, a naturally gifted comedian?”

Maddie frowns. “I don’t think I said that.”

“I don’t think anyone would say that,” Chim adds.

Christopher laughs brightly. He’s at the age where he doesn’t always engage in conversations; preferring his phone and his friends. Eddie is happy to see him involved, even a little bit. They’ve been sort of isolated from their family since Eddie brought Chris back to Los Angeles. It’s been confusing Chris, for sure. He loves his grandparents. He doesn’t understand why they were so angry about Eddie and Chris reconnecting, or Chris going home. They’ve been sort of cold to him since - a lesson Eddie never wanted Chris to learn. 

Thankfully, Maddie and Chim heard the situation, and immediately started treating Christopher like he’d been their nephew all along. Birthday gifts, open invitations to whatever family things they do, genuine interest when they ask him questions. Eddie is really fucking grateful for them. 

It is in the middle of Eddie appreciating Christopher’s burst of laughter, that Buck reaches for his phone in his pocket. He reads it, and his face goes pale.

“Oh, come on,” Chim teases him. “Don’t look so sad. If you try standup, we’ll only heckle you a little.”

“Uh, no…” Buck mumbles. “I-I have to go.”

Eddie straightens in his chair. “Baby?”

Buck nods. “Yeah. Text just says I should probably come to the hospital now.” 

“Oh my god, go!” Maddie insists. “Go, go, go. Don’t worry, we’ll drive Eddie and Chris home.”

---

111 for 🦮:

---

“Alright,” Eddie laughs. “Alright, enough. You’ll rip it. Out. Drop it.”

Out is when you’re going to give it back to her, drop it is when she’s never going to get it back again, Buck’s voice runs through his head. 

“Drop it,” Eddie repeats.

Cranberry stills and opens her jaw reluctantly, spitting out the band. She looks rather put out to stop her mischief.

“Menace,” he says to her, examining the band. 

Eddie examines the band. There is a tooth puncture. 

“You owe me,” he tells her. “Gonna have to take it out of your kibble allowance.”

She wags her tail again, a little slower. 

Eddie crumples up the band and sits on the floor beside her. She crawls onto his lap and lays down flat. Eddie pets her in long, gentle strokes, from the top of her skull, down her spine, to her tail.

He’s spent the past few therapy sessions around one central discussion. That it has taken him a month to feel any sort of relief. Any sort of appreciation or gratitude for his life. It’s not that he was disappointed that he didn’t die. Obviously not that. But he spent weeks waiting to feel glad he didn’t, and he couldn’t summon that. His therapist said that that’s normal. That lots of people who go through trauma experience this sort of thing. That it doesn’t make him ungrateful or a bad partner or father. That as long as he keeps working on it, slowly, it’ll come back to him. Even if some of this experience will always be with him. 

And here he is now. On the floor with Cranberry, exhausted and sore and feeling like he’s been put on a stretching rack, but happy. Glad. Amused, even. 

Cranberry takes a big breath. He can feel her heartbeat on his legs. 

“It’s a good thing I didn’t die,” he whispers to the dog. 

🦮🦮🦮

Later that afternoon, Eddie picks Chris up from school. Buck gets home not long after the two of them. Eddie has already started getting stuff ready for dinner. He’s experiencing a weird and unexpected burst of energy. 

“Hey,” Buck says cautiously, walking into the kitchen. “How was your day?”

“Good,” Eddie smiles, crossing the space to kiss him hello. “You?”

Buck just sort of stares at him. “Uh…”

“Not good?” Eddie frowns. “Something happen?”

“No, no,” Buck shakes his head. “Uh, work was fine. Your day was good?”

“Yeah!” Eddie confirms. “But your dog put a hole in my resistance band, and I don’t go back to physio for four more days, so if I have permanent shoulder issues, we’re blaming the golden retriever.”

“Wow, uh. Sorry about that, but-”

“It’ll be fine,” Eddie dismisses it. “Do you know my shoulder is doing well enough to play a quick game of tug with physiotherapy equipment?”

Buck laughs a little breathlessly. “I’m so glad you had a good day.”

And Eddie just… He sees it. He sees it all in Buck’s eyes. The weeks and weeks of worrying. Of wondering. Of feeling powerless but being a stalwart caregiver nonetheless. A new little spark of hope, that things are getting better. 

Eddie steps forward and hugs him. Both arms. As tight as his injured shoulder can handle. 

“I love you,” he says. “And I don’t say thank you enough.”

“I love you, too,” Buck says, squeezing him back. “You don’t have to thank me, though. We have each other’s backs. Always, right?”

“Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hear how much I appreciate it,” Eddie says. 

Buck takes a deep breath. “Thank you.”

vi.

If you charted Eddie’s good day to bad day ratio after that, it wouldn’t look very impressive. At least not at first. He doesn’t just hit a corner and cheer up. But it does go from every day being bad, to sometimes, he has a good day to punctuate the streak. A few more weeks and it begins to feel more even. And then, slow and agonizingly, Eddie is baseline okay to good more often than not. 

He goes back to work. Light duty. Boring stuff, but not nothing. He feels useful again. He feels like he can spend his brain’s still incomplete tank of mental energy on something other than himself and his shit. Which is good. He feels clearer. Less bogged down. 

By the time he’s getting ready to recertify, and get back to his work, he’s decided. No more waiting for a nebulous better. No more waiting for what feels like an appropriate amount of time post-Shannon to pass. Eddie is ready now.  He wants to ask Buck to marry him. He’s going to do it. Because life is fucking short and unpredictable and Eddie is happy to be here to get the chance to do something he almost missed out on.

[spookieolson]

First Date- Chris Motionless x Reader

Tw: None! Just fluff!

A/n: woah I’m actually uploading fics again?? I actually had the motivation and desire to write today who cheered? I felt like writing fluff for our fav spooky singer. Enjoy!!

Taglist: @skulliecadaver-blog @witchyweeb34 @cookiesupplier @raydenrrobertson @sakuracyberhex @beaker1636 @lyschko666 @black-damask1999 @synthetic-wasp-570 @jilliemiw86 @tearfallpixie @thatchickwiththecamera @th0ughts-pr4yers @zuberweirrd @bxrnthyfears @miamore0570 @yournecessaryevil @arkiliastuff

………………………………………

You sit down on the tan chair by a table at a family owned coffee shop as you wait patiently for your date, Chris.

You had met at this very same coffee shop two days ago, accidentally bumping into him and spilling your drink all over his shirt.

Strangely enough, he wasn’t fazed or upset by it. In fact, he was rather calm and sweet about the incident, letting you help clean his shirt off. It was a pleasant surprise, you thought for sure he would be pissed off and make a fuss of it.

He even helped you calm down a bit after what happened, seeing as your anxiety was getting the better of you. He talked you through it all, making sure that you controlled your breathing.

Eventually, you did calm down, and offered to buy him a coffee to make up for it. Even though he stated that you didn’t need to, you were insistent. Besides, it would give you an excuse to see the handsome stranger again. Seeing as you wouldn’t take no for an answer, he accepts and you give him your number.

You fidget with the hem of your blue dress, foot lightly tapping anxiously as you awaited Chris. Your thoughts were starting to get the better of you. What if he didn’t show up? What if you accidentally spilled your coffee on him again? What if he doesn’t like you and never speaks to you again?

Before your paranoia could get the better of you, your train of thought is interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching you followed by a chair being pulled out.

“Hey, y/n. Sorry if I’m a few minutes late, couldn’t find my keys for a minute back at home,” Chris says with a sheepish chuckle as he sits down. He takes in your looks. “You look pretty.”

His compliment makes your cheeks flush. “O-oh, thank you. You look good yourself. And you’re not late, don’t worry!” You stutter a bit before clearing your throat. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Any excuse to get out of the house for coffee is a deal for me. My band mates call me a coffee fiend.” He says with an eye roll and slight laugh.

You chuckle at his comment. You had been texting back and forth over the past two days and you remember him mentioning he was in a band. You had checked out the music, and it was love at first listen. Chris’ voice was incredible, and it gave you even more reason to like him.

“Hey, can’t blame you there. I love a good latte every morning and I have to say, this place definitely satisfies that craving.”

“Oh, definitely. I discovered this cafe a couple of years ago and it has never failed to impress me every time I come. Always a treat coming here, especially since it brought us together.” Chris says with a soft smile, his expression genuine.

You can’t help but smile yourself, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “I can say the same. Would you wanna order now?”

“Yeah, sure.”

You both get up and walk up to the counter. You place your order and you pay the cashier. Once that’s done, you step to the side and wait.

As you’re waiting, you can feel an unfamiliar man’s eyes on you. He’s staring at your body, and it’s making you uncomfortable. You hug your arms over your body and try not to look at the man.

Chris seems to take notice of your body language fairly quickly, and raises a brow. He looks over and sees the man staring. A pit of disgust forms in his gut, glaring at the man and wrapping an arm over your shoulders.

The gesture makes you blush, your heart skipping a beat. The man sees how Chris is holding you, frowning before he stops looking at you and sulks away. You let out a sigh of relief once he’s no longer near you.

“Thank you…he was making me really uncomfortable..” You mutter softly, looking up at Chris with a grateful expression.

He nods with a small smile, releasing you and giving you a bit of space. “Of course. I could tell how uneasy you were, that guy was a dick.” He says, a bit of annoyance in his tone. He hated people like that, staring and making others uncomfortable.

“I appreciate it.” You say as your order number is called. You go up to the counter and pick up your order.

“Careful, don’t spill your drink on me this time,” Chris teases with a wink, carrying his coffee and pastry. You roll your eyes with a smile.

“Oh hush. I’ll be careful.” You state as you go sit back down. You sit and pick up your breakfast sandwich, taking a bite and humming at the taste.

“This place makes the best breakfast sandwiches. If I could, I’d live off these things.” You say in between bites, devouring the sandwich within a matter of minutes.

“Oh yeah, they’re pretty great. Way better than Starbucks or Dunkin.” Chris says, munching away on his donut. You nod in agreement.

You finish up your food, now sipping on your latte. “I still have some coffee left to finish, wanna take a walk in the park across the street? Weather’s nice.” Chris suggests.

“That would be nice.” You say with a smile, standing. Chris smiles and stands as well, now taking your hand in his. This makes you blush yet again.

His hand was larger than yours, tender and warm. You take notice of the tattoos on his fingers, knuckles and hand. The intricate work was impressive, and his tattoos looked good on him.

You now leave the cafe, walking hand in hand with Chris across the street to the local park. You had a soft spot for it, you grew up near it. Your parents took you all the time so it held quite a bit of nostalgia for you.

“I’ve always loved this park,” You say as you walk through the entrance, taking in the cherry blossom trees and random strangers that have been in the area. “My parents took me all the time, and my friends and I went here after school. It’s always been a peaceful place.”

Chris hums. “That’s a nice thing. It’s nice that it’s quiet. You’d think that I wouldn’t mind noisy, occupied places but I actually prefer a more slow paced, peaceful environment. It’s easier to think that way.” Chris speaks thoughtfully as he too takes in the sights.

You nod. “I can understand that. It must be nice to get away from the noise.”

“For sure. Whenever I get the chance to on tour, I always try to find somewhere quiet to be alone and relax for a bit.”

“I don’t blame you.” You say in response. You end up walking around the park, chatting for over an hour. Chris was so easy to talk to, like you had known him for ages. He listened to everything you had to say, genuinely interested.

It was nice getting to hear about his tour life, and what it was like being in a popular band. Despite his fame, he was so humble and down to earth. You were developing quite the crush on him.

As you start to head towards the exit of the park, a cool breeze blows by, causing you to rub your arms as you shiver a bit.

“Damn, if I had known it was going to be a bit chilly I would've brought my jacket-“ As you speak, you’re cut off by Chris’ leather jacket being placed over your shoulders. You smile shyly at the gesture. “Y-you didn’t have to do that.”

Chris shrugs. “You need it more than I do. I’ve got a sweater on anyway, so it’s not a big deal. I’d hate to see you cold.”

His words leave your face warm. He was so kind. “If you’re sure..”

Chris ends up walking you home since you didn’t live far from the cafe. You both stop at your doorstep.

“I had a great time with you today. And thanks for the coffee.” Chris says with a genuine smile, a look of admiration in his eyes.

You smile back. “So did I. And it was no problem. It’s the least I could do.” You say with a sheepish smile. You take off the jacket and hand it back to Chris, only for him to shake his head. You raise a brow.

“Keep it.”

“What? A-are you sure? It is your jacket.” You ask, a bit baffled.

“I’ve got another one just like it back at home. Besides, you look better in it than I do.” Chris laughs softly as you blush. “Would you maybe wanna grab some lunch on Saturday? I’d love to see you again.”

Your face lights up and you can’t help but smile. “I’d like that.” Chris smiles.

“Great, does two work for you?”

“That works. It’s a date.” You say with a warm smile.

Chris’ smile widens. As you turn to unlock your door, Chris leans down and kisses your cheek before stepping back. “I’ll see you Saturday.” He says before he starts to walk away.

You’re left standing there, a blushing mess, but…a happy blushing mess.

[procyonloser]

Regardless of being fraternal twins and not identical twins, Adam and Lilith had grown up attached at the hip - but cracks did start to form, the more Adam thought back on it. When Adam came out as bi, Lilith seemed a bit miffed he'd came out first. When Adam was done waiting to start transitioning, Lilith said he hadn't waited like they'd agreed to announce it together. They'd frequently crush on the same person, though Adam was more likely to come away with a date.

Except for one, the one guy Adam had liked the longest and most. Lucifer only had eyes for Lilith, but that'd made sense to Adam, as much as it fucking sucked. They were both in band together, they were in choir, they stuck to each other in their nerdy little clubs. As annoyed as Adam was that his crush liked his sister, he knew why and didn't kick up a fuss.

The problem was, Lilith knew, and when she and Lucifer started dating, suddenly Adam's sister wasn't around anymore. She said she thought it was best if they started to go their own ways, as different as they were. That'd never been a problem when they were little, Adam had thought. It'd led to a massive argument, Adam may have said things to her he regretted, especially when she started crying, but he wasn't cutting her out of his life.

He wasn't even invited to her fucking wedding.

It'd been ages since they'd sat down and spoken, and this wasn't exactly how Adam had pictured it going. With Lucifer there, looking positive and friendly as always, a little nervous, but the man was probably at least half terrier.

"So, we were hoping to at least float the idea by you, let you think about it. You don't have to decide anything, and if you want to say no, we totally understand. But, if you said yes, we'd of course help you out, since it's such a huge ask of you, Adam." Lucifer said, but Adam's ears were glazed over, and he just held eye contact with Lilith, who did not look particularly happy to be there.

"...You want my eggs?" Adam said slowly, reiterating the question. Lucifer faltered slightly, before nodding.

"Lilith and I felt something was missing, and we were talking about having children. Since Lilith can't carry..." Lucifer said, trailing off - Adam could, still had eggs and periods which sucked ass, even on HRT, but he usually controlled that with birth control. "Of course we wouldn't ask you to carry the child, we were just hoping you'd consider donating a few eggs."

Adam leaned back in his seat, looking between them. He didn't have a great history with parenting, not after what happened with Eve and his step kids. It'd left a hurt in his chest that wouldn't go away, and he'd sworn off from ever having his own.

But annoying Lilith was a chance that was hard to pass up. He was pretty sure she'd blink before he did. "So, you'd take my eggs, mix it with your dick sneeze, put it in someone else who would give birth to it?"

Lilith made a face, and mumbled something to herself. Lucifer froze but laughed awkwardly after a moment. "Uh, yeah, essentially!"

"And you can afford all that?" Adam asked, eyebrow raised, arms crossed over his chest. Maybe he should have tried to steal Lucifer from Lilith in the past.

"He made wise investments." Lilith said, one of the only things she'd said to him, flaunting Lucifer's money. Granted, she knew Adam had once thought investing in Digimon cards would be a better pay off than Pokemon, so maybe it was a fair insult.

"Nope," Adam said simply, watching as Lucifer deflated and Lilith let out a short exhale. They'd expected this. "I refuse to donate eggs, but I'll be the surrogate. If you're going to grow a kid with your twinkie filling and my egg, you're going to have to deal with me for the next nine fucking months."

Lilith's face feel in something close to horror, but Lucifer looked like it was Christmas morning. He cheered, wrapping his arms around Lilith and kissing her cheek, clearly still over the moon for her, which Adam did think was kind of sweet - but Lilith was certainly not happy with the news, which Adam figured she wouldn't be.

"This'll be great! It'll be so much better to keep this between family, and we'll be with you every step of it!" Lucifer smiled brightly, practically glowing. "And we'll make sure you're properly rewarded for all of this stress and time, this is a major sacrifice to make for your family that can't have children - thank you so much, Adam."

Adam smiled back. "Course, we're brothers in law, afterall...so, bro, when are you planning on knocking me up? You want to do it old fashion, over the hood of a car or when I'm stuck in a washing machine, or you want to yank your sea cucumber and then shove in the yogurt with a turkey baster and squirt in me. Or, do you want to be a voyeur as a doctor impregnates me?"

Lucifer's face began to fall, and his cheeks began to turn bright red.

Being a surrogate wasn't all bad, Adam thought to himself. Sure, everytime he had to speak to his sister, he wanted to bite Lilith's ear off her head, but there were moments like these ones that brought a smile to his face.

"Do you have a name picked out yet?" The woman behind the counter asked pleasantly enough, but Adam wasn't exactly a pleasant person.

"I'd have to ask my sister what she wants to name it, since it's her child." Adam answered with a grin, hand over his rounded belly. He felt the kid kick under his fingers, it always seemed to be the most active when Adam was actively being a bastard to someone. He liked to think it was laughing in there.

The face the woman made as Adam took his groceries and walked off made everything worth it.

Well, maybe he'd miss it, but Adam didn't want to entertain those thoughts. He was getting paid enough by Lilith and Lucifer to last him a lifetime, just to have the little devilspawn. Plus, after him and Eve fell apart, it's not like he wanted to act like a parent ever again.

It was just a lot of heart ache.

The baby moved again, and Adam couldn't help but clench his fingers over his stomach. He wondered what it would be named, if it would know who he was as it grew up, or if it would see pictures of him and look at it with no recognition.

Adam sat in his car for awhile longer, staring up at the darkening sky.

He'd already signed the agreement, he couldn't back out now, not when half this kid was Lucifer's baby batter. He couldn't just say no, I'm keeping it. Not without getting sued into the streets.

"I hope she doesn't name you something stupid, but I guess that isn't any of my problem." Adam said to himself, blinking his eyes hard to will away any stinging feeling in them, before he pulled out of the parking lot.

[swagging-back-to]

worst trope is found family separating as soon as the antagonist is dealt with.

[sophaeros]

ALBERT HAMMOND JR.: After I moved in with Catherine and he moved in with Juliet, we just didn't hang out the same way anymore. I missed his energy. I got sad; I felt a distance between us. That was a big part for me in this band—just hanging out with him, just being friends with him. We lived together for seven years. I've never lived with a girl that long. JULIAN CASABLANCAS: Does that mean anything to me? I mean, of course. The way I remember it, we were roommates and we moved places and I wanted to stay roommates and I feel like maybe he was not so into it anymore. Albert, you don't know what you've got til it's gone, baby!

— Albert and Julian on Julian's marriage to Juliet, from Meet Me In The Bathroom by Lizzy Goodman, interviewed around 2011 (x)

[daddy-long-legssss]

The Story Behind The Song: Arctic Monkeys’ early ambitions on ‘A Certain Romance’

Lucy Harbron – Far Out Magazine | January 17, 2024

It was 2006. Mortgages were crashing, and businesses were going bust. Tony Blair was on his last legs in office as the longest-serving prime minister since Margaret Thatcher, and the hangover of ‘Cool Brittania’ was beginning to set in with an unexpected ferocity. Things were bleak when a young Alex Turner sang, “There ain’t no romance around there” through the public’s speakers. Arctic Monkeys were about to write themselves into musical history as the voice of a new generation.

The final song on their debut album, there has always been something special about ‘A Certain Romance’. In 2022, after the release of their seventh album, The Car, Turner seemed to find himself reflecting back on that 2006 track. To the musician, that early cut holds a clue to everything that was to come as he said the piece “showed that we did actually have these ambitions beyond what we once thought we were capable of”.

Coming in at over the five-minute mark, ‘A Certain Romance’ almost feels like the Arctic Monkeys’ version of a rock opera, summarising all the themes, feelings and energy that came before it on their seminal album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. It has the cheekiness of ‘Fake Tales Of San Francisco’ and the catchy instrumentals of hits like ‘Dancing Shoes’ or ‘I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor’. Utilising the northern charm of ‘Mardy Bum’, it stands as a final, neatly summarising point on the social commentary found in their early tracks like ‘From The Ritz To The Rubble’ or ‘Riot Van’. Really, it could be argued that ‘A Certain Romance’ is the ultimate example of Arctic Monkeys’ original sound, perfectly encapsulating all the things that made the world listen up and pay attention.

It’s like they seemed to know that, too, always allowing the song a special place. In fact, it was really the band’s opening remark. Years before the offer of a debut album came around, the group were a well-oiled machine with their own local hits. They had the northern live music scene in their hands as their homemade demo CD was passed around like everyone’s worst-kept secret. Beneath the Boardwalk features eight out of the 13 songs that would be on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, albeit in a slightly different, lower-quality version. But the opening number, ‘A Certain Romance’, sounds just the same.

It’s all there, from the rolling opening drums to that final guitar solo. Recorded and produced in a rented studio at only age 17, the existence of ‘A Certain Romance’, one of the band’s most explorative and energetic numbers, in this form this early in their career feels like a diamond sitting in a mine. It proves that they were always onto something special.

They never needed any help. In fact, their producer, Jim Abbiss, noted that they even seemed nervous about the help. “I think they were probably a bit weary, like ‘who’s this guy? And is he gonna make our sound this or that.’”

They didn’t want anything to change too much, as the group already had the songs figured out. Turner certainly did, as the track’s meandering narrative about hometown lads, fights, and local boredom is already there. Talking on a podcast, original member Andy Nicholson revealed the story behind the song. “We had a practice room with a pool table in, and we had a party in there, and we invited another band who were friends of ours, and we all had some drinks,” he said. “Then something happened, someone throws a pool cue, someone throws a pool ball, and everyone ends up fighting,” he added, explaining the lyrics, “there’s boys in bands / And kids who like to scrap with pool cues in their hands.”

But the magic of Arctic Monkeys lies in their nuance. What begins as a snooty analysis of his local landscape is a genuinely affectionate take. “Well, over there, there’s friends of mine / What can I say? I’ve known ’em for a long long time / And, yeah, they might overstep the line / But you just cannot get angry in the same way,” Turner sings, looking around at his bandmates and lifelong friends. ‘A Certain Romance’ is not only a time capsule for the group’s beginnings but is an ode to all the people who were there with them. It’s an ode to the hometown that made them and all its various characters.

But as the last guitar solo roars to life, there is an unspoken statement that they’re going to be bigger than what they came from. “I remember when we were recording ‘A Certain Romance’ and having a conversation with the producer about the final guitar solo,” Turner told NME, recalling the moment these songs were reworked for their debut. But they wouldn’t let anyone mess with ‘A Certain Romance’, knowing exactly what they were doing and trying to say with that one. In the 2003 demo version, all the feeling is already there, and Turner wouldn’t risk it.

“There’s something that happens at the end of that track where we break some rules in a single moment,” he continued. What happens at the end of the piece feels even more special, considering how the album was recorded. “These are the songs we wanna do, and I think this is the order we wanna do them in,” Alex Turner told their producer, recounting the conversation in 2007 to RadioX, “And he goes, ‘alright, we’ll try to record them in that order as well.’” As the final song, that last guitar solo is the last thing recorded for the album, standing as a cathartic outlet and a chance for the band to prove themselves.

“We focused on the [emotional] effect of the instrumentals over the words,” Turner reflected on the track, concluding, “and I feel like we’ve been trying to do that again and again since then.”

+

[beef-brisket]

((Ohmygod- he left his yard!

And eat double shit Alastor!))

Lucifer snuggled up in his blankets. He couldn't believe he did that. He's never even thought of going over there before.

And if he ignored how quickly his heart was beating and how much his hands were shaking, it wasn't too bad. He didn't see Alastor, and the walk... was okay. Nothing happened.

He hoped Adam didn't mind him dailing before he got to the door, but Lucifer had a feeling he'd understand.

-

Lucifer stood at his door, the morning light streamed into his house. It looked gorgeous outside. There was a light mist, and the grass had dew on it. Lucifer loved mornings like this.

Tightening the band of his dressing gown, he opened the door and made his way to the letter box.

He almost jumped when he saw Adam standing eith his back facing him.

What was he doing?

Lucifer cleared his throat, and worked up the courage to say something: N-Nice morning, huh?

Jumping, Adam turned and smiled brightly at Lucifer. He swore the guy was made out of literal sunlight or something.

Adam: Hey, Lu! Yeah, it's great, huh?

Lucifer nods: You uh... you okay?

Adam: Oh, yeah. Just... stressed out, you know? Between the move, my job and... this mess.

Lucifer: Y-yeah, the previous owner- d-didn't really care...

Adam: That's an understatement... did you know that along our fence line are sunflowers?

Lucifer scanned the fence line and eyed the uncomfortable, dead looking stalks.

Lucifer: Oh- no, I didn't.

Adam: Yeah, neither did I. Look at these poor things! They look ready to turn to dust as soon as a strong breeze blows past... but I shouldn't judge. Some people don't have the time, or their sick...

Adam sighed and ran his hand through his hair: I'll get there... I like your garden, it's low maintenance, but also neat, you know? It's nice.

Lucifer smiled, and his daughter put a lot of work in maintaining his yard. And even though it's mostly just bushes and some small ground coverings, it does look good.

Lucifer: I'm sure Charlie would love to hear that.

Adam: Oh yeah? She offered to help with mine... if she's not too busy in the future, I might have to take her up on it. It's driving me crazy looking at it- and don't get me started on the backyard.

Lucifer laughed at how annoyed Adam looked. He had a pout of his face that made him look like a child about to have a tantrum.

Adam: Hey, uh... I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable last night. Coming to your door, I mean. Your daughter and... Al, have told me a little bit about what's going with you- and I'd hate it if I did anything to make you... worry or panic- I swear, that's not what I wa t to do- fuck, now I'm panicking.

Lucifer chuckled: I-I'm okay, Adam. It was a little... jarring. But, when I saw it was you- I calmed down a little.

Adam: Oh. Oh! That's great! Holy shit, I was so worried... okay- uh, I won't do that too often, I swear! Speaking of, I should stop holding you up- I've got to go to work anyway... God.

Adam ran his hands down his face. He needed a job like Lucifer, where he never had to go anywhere. But then, Lucifer's is for medical reasons, Adam's just lazy and hates dressing up like a catholic boy going to church.

Lucifer: I... don't mind talking to you. It's... relaxing, almost. You're funny.

Adam: Oh, I know. I did a talent show when I was in primary.

Lucifer: You did?

Adam: Yeah, man. I made everyone piss themselves! I was great. Or I would have been if my talent wasn't playing one of the hardest metal guitar rifts in fucking history. Word of advice: Don't play the music of the Devil in front of nearly two hundred Christians.

Lucifer laughed: O-Okay, I'll heed that advice.

Adam: Good! And I won't charge you. Shit- I better go. Have a good day, Lu!

Lucifer: You to, Adam!

Lucifer followed Adam out- but only to the letter box.

They gave wachother a quick wave, and Lucifer watched as Adam drove off.

He chuckled when he could still hear Adam's music at the end of the street. That man's going to go deaf surely.

Charlie: Hey dad!

Lucifer smiled widely and opened the gate for his daughter. He instantly eyes the plastic container in her hands.

Lucifer: Ooh! You've been baking!

Charlie chuckled: Of course! I couldn't come empty handed.

They gave each other a hug and a quick kiss before walking inside.

Charlie: You doing okay?

Lucifer: Yes! Good- would you like a tea ot coffee?

Charlie smiled: Coffee, please dad.

Trapped Heart

@beef-brisket

⚠️This deals with Agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and mentions of domestic abuse ⚠️

-

Adam: Well that's the last of them.

He looked around his new home and smiled, this place was so much better than his last home and a third of the price too.

They were practically giving it away.

There was his lawn mower that was on the truck still.

Adam went out to put it in the garage when he noticed his neighbor, a short blonde man getting his mail from his box. He was better looking than his last neighbor.

Adam waved: Hey!

Lucifer jumped as he grasped his mail, he looked over and saw a handsome brunette standing in the driveway across the road smiling and waving.

Lucifer: O-Oh, hi!

Adam: Names Adam, I just moved in.

Lucifer: N-nice to meet you! I'm Lucifer, I hope you like it here.

He wanted to be polite and welcome his new neighbor right, but he could already feel the cold tendrils of anxiety start to slowly crawl through his skin trying to wrap around him like a vice grip.

How long has he been outside? His heart started to beat a little hard with each moment he's not back in his home. He could die! He's not safe he needs to get back!

Adam: Yeah me too.

By the looks of it he already likes what he sees.

Lucifer nodded, he could feel the tremors starting in his hands the palms getting sweaty.

He needs to go.

Lucifer: I-It was nice to meet you Adam! B-But I need to get going.

Adam: Oh okay, maybe we can hang out sometime?

Lucifer gave a tight smile: Y-yeah.

He waved again to be polite and tried not to run back to his house, his therapist said it was good for him to be out as long as he could stand it.

Pushing himself a little each day. Today him reached his limit.

Once his front door was closed and locked behind relief washed over him, he's safe now nothing can hurt him. He hugged his mail to his chest, he needed to sit down.

Lucifer went over and placed everything on the coffee table. He tried to remember his breathing exercises.

Adam seemed very nice, maybe he'll send Charlie over when she comes to give him a proper greeting.

-

Adam tilted his head as he watched his new neighbor go into his home, if he didn't know any better he would say the man was panicked. Did he do something? He knows his personality can be a little brash at times but he thought he was being polite.

A man that lived beside him came out for his mail as well.

Adam: Hi! Umm, I'm new here.

Alastor: Oh hello! I'm Alastor, I guess that makes us neighbors.

Adam chuckled: Guess so. Umm, if I may ask, is the man that lives there okay? I didn't intend to upset him.

Alastor looked over at Lucifer's home and rolled his eyes.

Alastor: Getting the mail was he? Don't worry about it that man's afraid of his own shadow. I wouldn't waste my time, he never leaves his house.

Well that sounded a little dramatic.

Adam: What?

Alastor leaned on the fence: Oh yeah, Mr. Morgenstern over there never leaves his house. Rumor has it that his wife used to beat the fuck out of him in the home but it was worse when they were in public. Apparently she'd just humiliate him and others would join in making things worse. He was never free of her but at least in the home he could be alone.

Adam was horrified to hear that: Dude, the fuck, is that true?

Alastor shrugged: Not sure. All I know that is true is she left him nearly 8 years ago and he's become some kind of hermit that never leaves the damn house. His daughter Charlie, sweet girl you'll likely meet her, comes over from time to time.

Adam looked over at Lucifer's house, that couldn't all be true right? Maybe some was and the rest is telephone gossip extras?

Him and Alastor parted ways, he had to put everything away in his house. All the while his mind kept going back to the handsome neighbor across the way.

[deus-ex-mona]

such is the tale of a ✨chronically online hypocrite✨