#share the same name as my ocs. complete coincidence nothing to see here <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[melverie]

I love Marchosias 🫶🫶

Oh wow, what a crazy coincidence, look who came to say hi!!

I still need to make a dedicated post for her but until then some random Maze lore because!!!!!!! Taking any & every chance I get to yap about her

She has discovered a spell that makes Solomon's cooking edible to some degree. Exclusively uses it to enable Solomon, and to lull unsuspecting people into a false sense of safety. Because while the effects of Solomon's magic is suppressed and not noticeableat first, it is still very much present. So if you eat too much, you still have to deal with the consequences <3

Back in the Celestial Realm her only friend was Raphael. She doesn't remember him anymore, but he remembers her and is glad she got to grow up happy

I have. Accidentally made her demon design very dragon coded. Considering how much I love dragons I guess that was unavoidbale, but my god do I feel silly about it in a way

Has a secret blackmail folder on the student body, and MC is her main source of intel on the brothers

She has two huge scars on her back where her angel wings used to be

Her childhood friends are Baal and Aym, two demons who also have a pact with Solomon (remember me mentioning I have two more vague concepts for OCs? Them <3). They're brothers with Baal being the older one. Depending on his mood, Aym is either aloof or impulsive and violent, though he is genuinely well-meaning (usually). Baal on the other hand seems incredibly charming and good-natured, to the point you don't even realize just how manipulating he actually is. Also Aym is part of the newspaper club while Baal has already graduated RAD, maybe..??

Like I said, I haven't settled on how I want them to be like exactly 😭 They love shape-shifting tho!! You'll see them tailing people as cats every once in a while

[phantom-curve]

find the strength, find the melody pt. 7

lmfao I love how I posted an update 2 days ago like “this fic will have sporadic posts! idk when they’re coming!” and then I spent the last two days writing this. when that insomnia inspiration hits ya gotta just go with it!

this chapter went in a completely different direction than I had planned on soooo yeah...honestly not sure where this is gonna end up! the characters from my OC novel that I’m loosely basing this story around didn’t have a connection before they ran into each other so when Julie gave me this I almost cut it because I genuinely wasn’t sure where it was going. I think I’ve almost figured it out and I’m pretty sure I know how this will end. and now we all get to laugh at me together because it’s definitely gonna be more than 3-4 chapters. it might even be more than 6. Luke’s POV will have roughly the same amount of chapters I think, possibly longer because boy oh boy does he have A LOT to say (most of it about Julie). fair warning: this one has an awkward cut off because of the way I need to set up the next chapter. sorry about that.

and now something I probably should be embarrassed to admit: I don’t remember writing the part where I managed to sneak an “I’ve Got The Music” reference in so now we know for sure this show has infiltrated my brain. it’s fine, I’m fine, at least I WILL BE WHEN WE GET A S2!!!! KENNY!!!! SAVE ME HERE!!! MAKE MY UNHINGED OBSESSIONS WORTH IT!!!!!

taglist: @blue-hat-girl, @lwhoscribbles, @bluefyoto94, @5sosmukefan, @moonlightxnder, @leahthewonder​, @kat-maybe-not​, @lukewearingbeanies, @imastrugglingartist​​

It was no small miracle that Julie made it through the afternoon without Ray asking for details about her supposed ‘plan’ to play with the Sunset Curve boys. She didn’t think she would have been able to pull off spinning a story quite as well as Luke had earlier. She had expected at least a small amount of interrogating about when she had started playing again, but apparently the news that she was playing at all, let alone with other people in front of an audience, was enough for Ray to ignore all of the other plot holes involved in this scheme. He seemed to have almost forgotten the meeting with Principal Lessa entirely, humming on the drive home, kissing her forehead and turning her loose to freak out alone in her room while he sat down to work on his computer in the dining room. Julie took full advantage of the time alone to restlessly pace her room and send Flynn a 911 text. Her bestie’s contact photo lit up the phone screen 30 seconds later.

“Okay, I’m hiding in the basement girl’s bathroom, so you’ve got exactly 5 minutes before I get too grossed out to stay here.”

Julie’s chest loosened at the sound of Flynn’s comforting voice. There wasn’t anyone else in the world that loved her the way Flynn did. It was reassuring and made it easy for Julie to let loose.

“Lessa told Dad about the music program and then You-Know-Who ambushed us outside of her office and basically forced me to agree to perform with them.”

“Voldemort was at Los Feliz?!”

Flynn’s gasp was overflowing with sarcasm.

“Flynn!” Julie whined. “Be serious! Luke showed up out of nowhere again! And he did the thing again! The charming his way into getting what he wants thing! And now I have to play with his freaking band! What the hell am I supposed to do?”

There was silence for a moment. When Flynn spoke again her voice was softer, more serious.

“You don’t have to play with them, Jules. You can tell them no, and they’ll have no choice but to respect that. The only person who can make you do anything is you. But...I kinda think you might want to play with them.”

“What?! No!”

Julie’s exclamation was a second late. Flynn didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. Julie sighed.

“Okay fine. There’s something about Luke that makes me want to play again. Are you happy? He gave mom’s song back to me when I thought it was lost forever. He’s the only person who’s heard me perform it, and he...no one else has ever made me feel that good about my music before.”

Julie thanked her lucky stars Flynn wasn’t in the room to see her blush. There was a long moment of contemplative silence on the other end of the line. When she spoke again, there was that extra note of take-no-shit in Flynn’s voice that made Julie sit up and really listen.

“I think you should give it a chance. Who knows, maybe this is some sort of sign from your mom. You said it was a miracle he would have even found that song in the first place. You said it felt like she was there with you when you were playing. Maybe she made sure it would find its way back to you when you were ready for it.”

Julie didn’t say anything, just worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Her heart beat a little faster in her chest. It had felt a little too perfect to be just a coincidence. The way Luke kept appearing in her life at the exact moments she needed him someone or something to help her keep moving forward. Flynn sighed.

“Look, I’m not saying it is your mom. But I’m not saying there’s not some kind of greater power out there that keeps pushing the two of you together. I think you should give it a chance. If nothing else, you can get back in the music program and we can bring Double Trouble to life in time for our Junior Showcase!”

Julie couldn’t help laughing. Her eyes felt misty, love for her best friend welling up in her heart.

“I never agreed to that name you know. But thanks, Flynn. I’ll think about it.”

“Good. Now. I gotta get the fuck out of this grimy ass bathroom. Love you, bye!”

Flynn waited for her to return the sentiment before hanging up.  Julie flopped back on her bed, letting her breath out in a loud whoosh as she hit the comforter. A glance at her phone told her she only had a couple hours until Luke and the other boys would be out of school and on their way to her house. She tried her best to ignore the way that thought made her stomach roll with a type of nervousness she would rather not name. It was easier to blame it on nerves over playing with new people rather than nerves over playing with Luke. Except...now that she actually thought about it, she had played with Luke before. Her head spun, eyes fluttering shut as she remembered the one music class she had shared with Luke last year.

She had only been a freshman, stuck in a lowly Introduction to Composition class. It was supposed to be for new songwriters. Julie had a little more experience than the rest of the class, after all she’d been kind of composing with her mom for a few years now, so when it had been time to write a duet for their final big project she had gotten paired up with the classmate whose skill level most matched hers. It was supposed to be a way for them to challenge each other and grow as writers instead of one person doing most of the work. Julie had been paired with Luke.

He’d been a grumbly sophomore, held back for failing his last semester of Intro to Comp the year before. He had been stuck there only for the second semester, forced to double up between their class and his second year Composition class. Julie hadn’t been all that excited about partnering with him. He hadn’t really seemed to care about the class at all, and even though Julie also sometimes felt like it was holding her back a little bit, she never once voiced that thought. It was a privileged mindset, and Julie was well aware that she had an advantage over her classmates since her mother was a professional songwriter. Luke, on the other hand, had made it well known that he felt like he was wasting his time just waiting to get through the semester so he could move up to the Advanced Composition class that he felt he truly belonged in. Julie could usually do no more than roll her eyes in those moments.

It was true that Luke was talented. His guitar playing was impressive, his lyrics were heartfelt and sometimes even downright poetic. Julie just didn’t think anyone deserved specific things in life because they happened to be naturally talented at something. Their songwriting experience had been...interesting to say the least. And short. It had ended abruptly when Julie’s mother had died 5 days later. In the end, they’d only worked together for two 40-minute class periods before she had been lost in the fog of grief that consumed her in the weeks following the loss of her mom.

Julie shot up in bed, eyes wide. She didn’t even fully remember what had happened with the half-finished song they had been working on. Errant notes echoed in her head, like a song that had only existed in dreams until now. She absently wondered if Luke had held onto that as well. It was no wonder she had kept that particular memory suppressed all this time. That time in her life had been particularly painful. Luke had been gentle with her though. Almost all traces of his typical arrogance gone in the two short class periods they’d had to work together. He had kept things light, steering their songwriting in the direction of a rock ballad more than a true duet. Julie hadn’t minded. She had been floating through classes by then anyway, on edge every second she was away from her mom’s bedside. It had been easier to work on something that didn’t have as many sappy emotions attached to it.

She groaned, burying her face in her hands. No wonder Luke had been so sweet with her. He must have had a front row seat to her breakdown throughout the last year. She hadn’t even realized it. Had never before seen the way he watched her from a distance, checked in on her during class. She should have. Now that she was thinking about it, trying to identify every instance, she could name a million. How had she missed it for so long? How had he gone so long without saying anything? The Luke she remembered was terrible at keeping his mouth shut. He had always been ready to speak his mind, never afraid to start a discourse. It didn’t track that he had been holding himself back. Unless...it was more about her musical ability than anything else. She remembered now; Luke had been thrilled to partner with her for the duet. He had made some remark about how her sound was the perfect complement to his. Maybe he only cared about the ways they would mesh as songwriters. She could only hope that’s what his words had meant.

She felt more secure in her footing as a musician when it came to dealing with Luke than she ever had as a simple teenaged girl. If it was just about the music she could compartmentalize better, keep herself from getting too emotionally invested. Music had always been a safe zone, neutral. She breathed in and out deeply, remembering the technique Dr. Turner had taught her to slow her breathing and recenter her mind. She could do this. It was just about the music. They would play a song together, Julie would get back into the music program, and life would move forward much in the way it had before. Except Julie would actually participate in class this time. She had the music back in her soul, she wasn’t ever going to let it go again. On her next exhale, she heard the doorbell ring. Showtime. Julie zipped down the stairs, ripping open the door before her dad had a chance to get more than three feet away from his computer. Luke, Alex and Reggie all stumbled back a step as she tumbled outside, pulling the front door shut behind her. The three teenaged boys shared a look.

“Studio. Now.”

Julie raced down the path to her mom’s studio before they could react, not even waiting to see if they followed her. If they were smart, if they truly wanted to do this, they would. She hauled the garage doors open, only turning around when she had the piano at her back. The wood felt warm and solid, almost like she had her mom as a support behind her instead of an instrument. The boys appeared seconds later, Luke leading the way. He stopped a couple feet inside of the studio, studying her with wide open earnest eyes. She let out a deep breath. Reggie spoke up before she could get a word out.

“Woah, Julie, this studio is so cool! It’s like a tiny home! A musical tiny home in a botanical garden!!”

His green eyes were wide, expression awed as he spun to take in the space that Julie and her mom had spent countless hours turning into theirs.

“How did you get chairs on the ceiling?! Are you, like, a witch and a siren?!! Man, you and your mom must have made some serious magic in here.”

Luke’s arm shot out faster than lightening to backhand Reggie’s bicep. Reggie cringed away, a soft owww! just barely audible over the loud sigh Alex let out as he buried his face in his hands. Reggie shrugged, looking back and forth between his bandmates before giving Julie a confused yet apologetic glance. What had he said wrong this time? The giggle that bubbled out of her was as unexpected as it was welcomed. Warmth blazed in her heart, memories of the time she had spent in here with her mom washing over her with a kind of hazy bliss she hadn’t ever experienced before. She gazed at Reggie, letting that same feeling of motherly love from the night before fill her up. It was all she could do not to react to Luke’s jaw dropping when she gave Reggie a soft smile.

“We did. We made so much magic in here.”

The words were gentle and filled with a kind of genuine love that overshadowed all other feelings of awkward nervousness. Alex and Luke relaxed instantly, Reggie’s face losing all traces of uncertainty as he beamed at her with a smile so large it almost looked painful. Julie couldn’t help but let herself return it, just a little bit. The silence that settled between them was more comfortable, the tense moment from earlier broken. Julie studied the boys in front of her. She hadn’t ever thought of them as friends per se. They knew each other, would say hi if they encountered one another outside the walls of the high school, but at the same time, they didn’t actually know each other. Julie’s little run in with Luke the night before had made that painfully obvious. She wasn’t really sure what to make of them.

“Are you guys actually serious about this whole Showcase scheme? Did Luke even tell you about his dumb plan?”

“Hey! That plan is genius. Even your dad agreed. He seems pretty cool.”

Julie couldn’t help the fond way she rolled her eyes. Alex was quick to reassure her that they did, in fact, know about the plan.

“Not that I actually think it’s a particularly well thought out plan.” He stated with a lingering glare at Luke’s back.

The planner in question did his best to ignore the skeptical look on Julie’s face.

“Julie, you really don’t deserve to be out of the music program.” Reggie’s voice was soft and sincere. “You have the voice of an angel. If we can help convinced Ms. Harrison and Principal Lessa to give you your spot back it will be so worth it. And even if we don’t, it’ll be worth the looks on their faces when we rock the pants off that crowd!”

Julie laughed in spite of herself, slightly reassured even as she chewed nervously on her lip. Luke took a few bouncy steps forward, pulling her attention to him completely. His eyes locked on hers and she was sure she was drowning, throat tightening at the look he was giving her.

“You got this. I wouldn’t have come up with this idea if I didn’t believe it 100%.”

Honestly, that was what scared her the most about it.

“We don’t even have anything prepared.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, unsteady and wavering. Luke took a few more steps towards her, Reggie and Alex ghosting along silently a few feet behind him. Julie didn’t even notice, so laser focused on the brunette boy in the cut-up tank top in front of her. She watched his muscles flex as he reached into his back pocket, flicking out a piece of folded up paper in a move scarily reminiscent of when he had given her mom’s song back to her. He bit his lip, head ducking a little to be closer to hers as he unfolded the worn sheets of scrappy notebook paper. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, focusing on the messy handwriting in front of her.

“I thought you would say that.”

The smile on his face was so soft and sweet it should have been illegal.

“It’s called ‘Bright’. It’s a Sunset Curve song that we never performed because it’s missing something. Look,” his bare shoulder brushed hers as he shifted to point at the notes, warmth seeping through the thin material of her t-shirt, “it’s perfect for your range. I was thinking, if we add a little bit of piano here and here,” fire blazed a path up her arm as his fingers traced along the opening notes and chorus, forearm flexing against her own, bare skin brushing in teasing licks, “it’ll be perfect.”

Julie forced herself to focus on what he was saying, eyes roving across the paper. She hummed a little under her breath, hearing what he described in her head. His eyes lit up when he saw her get it, feet springing up and down as he dipped even closer towards her and started to sing.

We will rise, through the night

You and I

We will fight to shine together

Bright forever

His voice vibrated in her chest, the sound filling her with an emotion she couldn’t fully identify. Alex and Reggie bobbed along behind him, Reggie’s fingers plucking out the baseline on an invisible guitar while Alex nodded along to an unseen beat. Julie could envision the way the song would sound with a complete band, could practically see herself fitting seamlessly into the mix with her piano and vocals. She couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips as she joined in, reading the lyrics off of the page.

And rise through the night,

You and I

We will fight to shine together

“Go up high.”

Luke cut in, fingers twirling towards the ceiling. Julie automatically made the adjustment in notes to harmonize her voice with his for the last line, holding the final syllable for a beat longer than him.

Bright forever

“Yes!”

Luke’s arm pumped up and down, bicep flexing and distracting Julie momentarily. She dropped her head shyly, trying to hide her blush. When her cheeks cooled a moment later she looked back up at the boy in front of her. His eyes were glowing, smile stretched a mile wide as he stared at her. Unconditional belief in her was practically oozing from his pores. She felt her face soften as their eyes locked, giving him her own sweet smile that was meant just for the two of them. She thanked him with a gentle murmur, heart melting as he simply bit his lower lip and nodded.

A throat cleared in the background, and Julie was snapped out of their private bubble by the sound. Her entire face felt engulfed in flames as she looked over Luke’s shoulder to see Alex and Reggie still standing a few paces behind him. Reggie’s face was bright, his sunshine temperament back in full force. Alex was a little more guarded, but he was giving her an encouraging smile and there was cautious optimism swimming in his sage green eyes as he fiddled with one of his drumsticks. She inhaled deeply and let her breath out in one smooth exhale. The same sort of peacefulness from the night before settled over her.

“Okay. Okay, so we’re doing this.”

Luke’s whoop was so loud both her and Alex jumped. Reggie raced forward with a cheer to sling one arm around Luke’s shoulders and the other around Julie’s, pulling them so close to his chest that their noses nearly touched. Julie saw the blush staining Luke’s cheeks and felt her own warm to match. Alex coughed again.

“Reg, c’mon. Let it settle for just a sec before you go all human octopus on the poor girl.”

“Oh, right! Sorry, Jules!!”

Reggie released both of them quickly. Julie flicked her gaze between the three boys, enjoying the glimpses at their band dynamic. Alex’s words had sounded a bit exasperated, but there was a fondness running through them as well. He gave a half-hearted roll of his eyes at Reggie’s abrupt movements and reached his own long arm out to pull the dark-haired boy close.

“Help me unload the van? I still don’t trust our little Lukey boy with my kit.”

“Hey! That was one time!”

Luke sounded downright offended. The dark look Alex leveled at him in response had Julie choking back a laugh with a badly disguised cough. Clearly once of whatever he did was enough. Luke pouted, arms flexing as they crossed over his chest.

“You put your foot through my bass drum, and you think that isn’t reason enough not to trust you with it ever again?”

Luke sputtered, eyes flicking to Julie and back to Alex as his ears reddened.

“I told you I didn’t see it!”

“It’s the biggest part of the kit, dumbass. Literally the hardest thing to miss.”

Alex’s voice was as unimpressed as it was dismissive. Luke threw his hands in the air as the other boys headed out of the studio, laughing amongst themselves. It was clear this was a regular argument between the two, no heat or anger left in it, only a loving sort of tease. Like the way Carlos still brought up that time she accidentally gave him a concussion double-bouncing him off of their neighbor’s trampoline when he wanted something from her. Or the way her Tía would still laugh as she remembered the time her mom had almost gotten them both arrested for a bar fight on her 21st birthday, Ray affectionately filling in the parts that she tried to leave out. Warmth bloomed in her chest. This wasn’t just a band, wasn’t just a ragtag trio of friends. These guys were brothers. This was a family. And they were letting her into that intimate circle.

The thought was both humbling and nerve-wracking. This Showcase was a big deal. It wasn’t just some school assignment. This could impact their future as a band career-wise. They were all trusting her with this, fully believing in her, or at least, fully believing in Luke’s faith in her abilities. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever believed in her like that. Not anyone that hadn’t known her since she was in diapers. Her head swam, knees feeling a bit weak. She stumbled her way over to the couch, collapsing onto it with a barely audible huff. Luke was in front of her instantly, crouched down so they were face to face. His hands twitched in his lap, but he didn’t reach for her.

“Hey. Julie. Breathe.”

She sucked in a breath, zeroing in on nothing more than his face. After a few seconds she realized he was breathing in and out slowly, just loud enough for her to hear over the jumble of thoughts running amok in her brain. She matched her own inhales and exhales to his, the room slowly coming back into focus as her head cleared. He gave her one of those soft smiles she was starting to think of as hers.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. But I wouldn’t have stopped you in school if I didn’t think you were gonna rock it. I heard you last night. I listened to you for years before last night.”

His chin dropped in embarrassment for just a second before he pulled his gaze back up to hers. Julie felt like she was on the edge of a cliff. Not for the first time she wished she knew how long this version of Luke had been lurking under the surface. It took everything in her not to let herself step off that ledge and fall.

“Music is in your soul. It’s a part of you. Not everyone is like that, but you are. Your life without music...”

He tapered off like the thought was physically painful to him, eyebrows furrowing in a slight wince.

“Living without music would be like living in a world without stars: dark and empty and uninspired. You deserve galaxies, Julie. You deserve the chance to shine exactly like the star you are, and the world deserves the chance to hear you. Please, just...have a little faith?”

She saw it then. As he gazed at her with those bottomless ocean eyes, with that special smile on his lips and sincerity bleeding through every word, she knew. Luke was like her. Luke got it. In a way that no one else except her mom ever had. That’s what this was. They were kindred spirits, two sides of the same coin. And that feeling? The wind rushing through her hair and stealing her breath away while her limbs all turned to jelly feeling? That was definitely her falling head over heels off of the cliff and into Luke Patterson completely.

“Okay.”

She breathed out, and his answering smile set off the butterflies she thought had finally left her stomach. He stood up and held a hand out to her, easily pulling her to her feet in one smooth movement.

“You know,” his smile turned rueful, “eventually you’re gonna have to answer one of my questions with something other than ‘okay’. That’s a pretty passive word, and I’m not really a passive type of person. I wanna start hearing some ‘hell yeah’s and ‘awesome’s pretty soon.”

Julie rolled her eyes, moving away from Luke to set up her keyboard. He gave her a bouncy little shrug of his shoulders, and she let the levity of his joke wash over her, releasing the last bit of nerves. She could do this. Luke believed in her. Her mom believed in her. Hell, Alex and Reggie believed in her and she barely even knew them. She could do this, just like her mom had said.

Noise from the other boys making their way up the driveway had her rushing to pull both doors to the studio open so they could haul in Alex’s drum kit. The three of them left together to grab amps and guitars, Julie finishing the rest of the set up in the garage. Before she had time to overthink things or freak out again, they were all settled into their spots and Alex was counting down for their first run through. Fingers against the keys, Julie breathed out, opened her mouth, and began to play.

[alj4890]

RCD Appreciation Week Day 3 Prompt

(Thomas Hunt x oc*Amanda) with the prompt being about family.

(Thomas x Amanda) A Choices Red Carpet Diaries Fan Fiction one shot

A/N This isn't a part of my AU's though I started out planning for it to be. Thomas's sister, Rachel, is going to meet Amanda for the first time. I borrowed her getting married from the Hollywood U app. And somehow it got angsty in the middle. No clue why that happened 😂 Also my picture with this kinda doesn't match the storyline anymore but I love those kids' expressions. *shrug* This prompt went in a whole new direction than I intended.🤣

@lxaah11​ @alleksa16​ @penguininapinktuxedo​ @blackcoffee85​ @stopforamoment​ @darley1101​ @hopefulmoonobject​   @krsnlove​   @annekebbphotography​ @gibbles82​  @cora-nova​ @bella-ca​  @hopelessromantic1352​. @moodyvalentinestories​ . @sunflowergirl05​ @desiree-0816​ @greywitchyshots​ @lilyofchoices​ @emceesynonymroll​ @dr-nancy-house​ @aworldoffandoms​ @ab1901​ @pixieferry​ @lolablackwrites​ @flyawayboo​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ . @trappedinfandoms​ @rcd-appreciation​​

Masterlist

It's Time

Thomas's eyebrow lifted in surprise with the name that showed up on his screen. "Rachel, is something wrong? Why are you calling?" He merged onto the exit he needed, grimacing at the traffic piling up on the opposite side. He would have to find a new route to drive home.

He could practically hear his sister roll her eyes. "I am happy to hear your voice too."

He glanced at his watch while tapping his steering wheel impatiently. "Forgive me. You know I am always happy to receive your calls. How are you?"

She took a deep breath. "Something wonderful has happened. Steve proposed last night! I had to call and tell you." She tried to control her excitement. "We have to start planning the wedding immediately. I want you to walk me down the aisle."

He smiled softly. "I would be honored to give you away." Thomas wished their parents were still alive to see this moment.

"Don't!" She exclaimed. "You'll make me cry." She warned. "And I know how you handle tears." Rachel sniffed and snatched a tissue up to dab at the corners of her eyes. "Anyway, I was wondering if you would fly into San Fransico. Steve will be off tomorrow and the three of us can at the very least create a wedding outline."

His lips firmed in a frown. "I'm afraid I can't this weekend." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I...I have company coming into town. In fact their plane landed a few minutes ago."

"Again?" Rachel asked. "You've had company a lot lately haven't you?"

"Yes." He admitted.

"You've also been traveling more so than usual." She muttered. "Care to explain why my I would rather remain alone in the comfort of my own home than traipse around the world brother is doing the things he loathes the most?"

He leaned his head back against the seat and released a resigned sigh. "Because I am in a relationship with a woman from Cordonia."

Rachael's jaw dropped. She thought it would take more prodding to get the information out of him. "It must be serious for you to admit it."

He didn't hesistate. "It is."

"Is it the one I have seen you pictured with in magazines?" Rachel asked.

He turned into the private airfield and nodded. "Yes. That's the one."

Silence fell between them. Rachel broke it. "Are you ashamed of her?"

Thomas stared at his phone. "Of course not!"

"So it's me you're ashamed of?" She asked.

"Don't be ridiculous!" He shouted. "You know I've always been proud of you."

"Well if you mean that about me and your duchess, then bring her with you for a visit." Rachel smiled softly at the challenge she issued.

Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose when he stopped at a red light. He had walked into that with eyes wide open. "Rachel, I can't just up and leave at the drop of the hat."

He was worried by the sudden silence. His little sister created her most diabolical plans in a few seconds of quiet. "Rachel?"

"Steve and I will be at your home later tonight." She told him. "You've got plenty of room, but I will be sweet and stay in your guest house."

"No. We will try and come later--" his eyes widened when he heard her explaining the plan to Steve.

"Steve got the rest of the week off. We are coming, brother dear." Rachel said with an unbending edge to her tone.

"Rachel I understand wanting to plan the wedding, but why are you pushing so hard to meet Amanda?" His eyes narrowed at the thought.

"Because you're my brother and after your track record, I want to make certain this one is worthy of you." She promptly replied.

He rolled his eyes. "Honestly, you are being ridiculous. As the oldest, I believe I have more experience and I am intelligent enough to not involve myself with..." He trailed off when he heard her derisive snort.

"One would hope so after Yvonne." Rachel muttered. "But then there was Marianne. Priya. And let's not forget--"

"You've made your point." He snapped. "Amanda is not like any of those from my past." He parked his car on the tarmac near Amanda's plane.

"That is what I intend to see." Rachel's stubborn nature came through clearly. "I think this is a first for us. We will both have our significant others with us for a nice long visit."

Thomas rested his head against the steering wheel after the call ended. The last few visits he and Amanda had tried to make special with time alone had failed miserably. This time, he had set aside this week from shooting his latest project to spend with her. Now it was all for nothing.

He sat up quickly when there was a knock on his window. He quickly got out and smiled at Amanda.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief while her teasing smile threatened to appear. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, but care to give a lady a lift?"

He groaned softly at her humor. She dropped her bag slung over her shoulder before he could take it and slipped her arms around him. He cupped her face right as his lips automatically met hers.

"I usually dislike our parting from one another but these greetings of ours makes up for it." She closed her eyes once more as he sought her lips again.

He let her go after a few pleasurable seconds, retrieving her luggage in the process. She received one more kiss when he opened her car door.

"How was your flight?" He took her hand, fingers lacing with hers, resting them on the console between them.

"Good. It was a needed reprieve after the court events." Amanda relaxed against the leather seat. "The Christmas season inspires the nobles to give more than the usual dinners and balls." She squeezed his hand. "Your invitation to come for a week away couldn't have been better timed."

He chuckled before raising her hand to his lips. "Am I to expect when I fly back with you to be dragged to these events?"

Her laughter made him smile. "Perhaps not dragging. I prefer to look at it as more of reluctant yet firm nudge." Her mirth turned tender as she looked at his profile. "I am excited though to spend the holidays with you."

He turned toward her at a red light and tugged her close. A brief sweet kiss was shared. Her thumb rubbed soothingly across his knuckles.

"I will try and find ways we can be alone during those festivities." She promised. "I have managed to get us out of a few of them completely before I left."

He cleared his throat before telling her the unexpected kink in her visit with him. "I'm afraid this week will have an interruption."

She gently squeezed his hand. "That's okay. As long as I get to see you some, I will make do." Her eyes twinkled with humor. "Don't be surprised by my spending time baking Christmas goodies with you away."

An image of her doing so in his kitchen made a warmth of emotion he was noticing more and more around her settle in his chest. "We will be together but will also be with company. My sister and her new fiancé are coming to begin wedding plans."

Amanda stilled. "I'm going to meet your sister?"

Thomas pulled her hand to rest on his leg while he put both hands on the wheel to better maneuver through the hectic traffic. "I had actually planned on introducing you to her before we returned to Cordonia. I think it's time you meet my only family."

Her nervousness was not lost on him. "Amanda, she will adore you."

A surprised laugh burst through her lips at his reassurance. "I hope so." Her thoughts were rushing about wondering if this was more significant than her past times meeting a man's family. Granted most of those were because they were attending the same ball or charity event. Was this just another coincidence of both visiting Thomas and he decided to get the necessary introductions out of the way?

His warm hand engulfed her icy one again. "Rachel and Steve will be here later this evening."

Her stomach began to churn. "I look forward to meeting them."

________________

"Remember, we have to watch everything." Rachel whispered to Steve as they drove up Thomas's drive.

"Why are we whispering?" Steve whispered back.

She narrowed her dark eyes on the man she loved. "Are you making fun of the woman you will soon be tying your life to?"

Steve's handsome face contorted into one of pretend contemplation. "Yes. Yes I am."

Rachel rolled her eyes while her fierce frown eased against her will into a smile. "You're horrible."

He chuckled and kissed her cheek once parked. "Ah, the loving phrases from your sweet lips make my heart race."

"Get out." She playfully pushed him as she opened the car door.

Thomas stepped outside to help with their bags. Amanda followed and stood back to let him and his sister have a moment. Rachel ran up and hugged him.

She eyed the foreign lady over Thomas's shoulder. Amanda met her gaze and smiled a touch nervously.

Thomas reached for her hand and pulled her forward. "Rachel this is Amanda Bridgerton. Amanda, this is my sister and her fiancé, Steve Petelliere."

"It is nice to meet you both." Amanda shook their hands. "I have heard a lot about you from Thomas."

Rachel's brow quirked. "Oh? I'm afraid he hasn't reciprocated with me." Her dark eyes held a hint of admonishment to her brother. She knew he must feel a great deal for the lady if he had not mentioned her in a casual off hand manner. "I look forward to knowing you."

Amanda's smile dimmed. He hadn't told his sister anything about her. This really was a nothing but two people being in the same spot at the same time introduction. She diverted her gaze from the Hunt siblings before they noticed how hurt she was by that fact. Then thoughts of how mistaken she had been these past six months about how he cared for her cut even more.

She reached out and took a few of the bags from a loaded down Steve. Anything to get away from their stares was going to be grasped.

"And you're my new favorite of Thomas's girlfirends." He teased. "Thomas, good to see you again. And you Ms. Hunt," he looked down at the luggage, "will have to learn how to not pack up the entire house by our honeymoon."

Thomas took the bags Amanda had in her arms before taking a few more from Steve. He led them through the gate to his guest house near the pool. Amanda quietly listened to the siblings and Steve discuss the proposal.

"Our rooftop has a spot that is perfect for star gazing. Steve went against every fire code known to man and had it covered in candlelit lanterns. Rose petals wrote out the proposal." Rachel explained.

"Well, it was intended to. I didn't take in the wind factor." Steve laughed at himself. "I think by the time I got her up there, all that was left was chel ry e."

"It was perfect." Rachel replied.

Thomas's expression softened at his sister's obvious happiness. "I am happy for both of you." He glanced over at Amanda. "There is nothing like meeting the right person."

Rachel folowed his gaze. She noticed the slight blush followed by a hint of sadness on Amanda's face.

The duchess called upon her court training to school her features into a pleasant expression. "It sounds like it was a beautiful proposal. Your children will love hearing it." Her smile became more sincere. "My father's proposal to my mother was a disaster. One of my favorite memories of their retelling was seeing what I see with you. That immense joy at finding the right person," she looked down at her clasped hands. "Knowing that there is nothing that could keep you apart."

Steve reached out and took Rachel's hand. "Very true."

Rachel nodded, unable to speak from Amanda's words.

Thomas cleared his throat. "You two unpack and join us when you want." He placed his arm around Amanda and led her outside.

Once the door was closed, Steve hugged Rachel. "She seems nice."

She nodded. "Yes, she does. We still have to see them together, but I already like her."

_______________

Amanda walked out of Thomas's arms and continued upstairs.

His brow furrowed at her doing so. "Amanda?" He called out.

She paused on the stairs. She didn't turn toward him. "Yes?"

"I know something's wrong." He reached for her hand resting on the banister. Her body stiffened at his touch. "You won't even look at me."

She slowly turned and looked at him. He immediately saw that she had her court mask firmly in place, completely shuttering her true emotions. He tried to touch her cheek, but she turned away.

"Talk to me, please." He gripped her hand, refusing to allow her to retreat another step.

"It’s nothing." Amanda managed to say in voice that barely shook. "I’m just tired."

"Don't give me that excuse." He snapped. "I know you and know you do this when you are truly upset. You were happy until we went outside. What happened?"

She tried to pull her hand from his. "Let me go." She demanded in her hard duchess tone.

Hearing that directed at himself, caused Thomas to step back in surprise. His grip loosened and she yanked her hand away. She continued upstairs without a backward glance. He followed on her heels.

"Am I not allowed some privacy?" She asked when he stopped her from shutting the door.

"Tell me what has upset you." He said in a softer tone. "Please."

She narrowed her eyes. "How close are you to your sister?"

His brow furrowed at that question. "I think we are quite close since our parents died."

Amanda's grip on the doorknob tightened. "That's what I thought." She turned away from him and yanked open the drawers that held her clothes.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I won't humilate you in front of your family by demanding you take me to a hotel. But I am not staying in your room." She went to the guest room furthest from his bedroom and dropped her things on the bed. She brushed past him to collect the rest of her clothes and such.

He grabbed her and slammed the door shut. "If you don't tell me what is going on right now," he attempted to not raise his voice. "I will not be held accountable for how I act regardless of if my sister and Steve witness it."

She pulled away from him and covered her face while trying to calm her temper. She took a deep breath and finally lifted her eyes to him. He gently reached for her when he saw the naked pain.

"She doesn't know anything about me." Amanda's voice cracked while tears threatened to spill over.

"What? Who?" He asked, trying to pull her close to comfort her.

"Your sister." Amanda looked at him as if he had slapped her. "You never told her about me. I thought I was important to you."

"You are!" He held her tight as if to absorb the hurt she felt. "You know how I feel about you."

She continued to look at him as if seeing him for the first time. "I really don't know how you feel about me. I thought I did." She lowered her eyes. "If I wasn't even mentioned as an afterthought..." She swallowed at the lump building in her throat. "It's my own fault. I thought the things you did and what we had shared meant that we had something special. I--"

"It is!" He interrupted in a rush. "I--"

She shook her head. "It isn't. Like I said, it is my fault for believing differently. You never actually said what you felt for me. I assumed with your willingness to make a long distance relationship work meant that you might lo--care for me as I did you."

She gripped his arms as if to lean on him for comfort before pushing him away. "Let me have some time alone to think. Please." She bit her lip. "I can't believe I have made such a fool of myself."

"Amanda, I..." This was not how he wanted to tell her he loved her for the first time. She most likely wouldn’t believe him. "You are more important to me than you realize. I haven't talked to Rachel as much as usual due to my travel these past few months and hers with Steve. I..." He stopped trying to explain when she turned away from him. "Please believe me." He pleaded before leaving her alone.

______________

"Steve has fallen asleep so I thought I would come here for a quick late night visit and to raid your fridge." Rachel announced as she walked in.

She froze at the sight of Thomas alone on the couch. He was bent over with his hands loosely clasped and head bent. "Thomas! What's wrong? Where's Amanda?"

"Upstairs." He replied. "Thanks to my not telling you about her, she believes I do not care for her like I have let on."

Rachel sat beside him. "Oh." Her frown formed. "Have you not told her before now how much you love her?"

He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. "No. I intended to at a special moment. I--" he shook his head. "She thinks...how..." He cursed softly before slumping back against the couch.

Rachel had never seen him at such a complete loss in expressing what he felt. She couldn't just sit back and wait to see what he would do to fix this. "Is she in your room?"

He shook his head. "She moved to the guest room down the hall."

Rachel hopped up and quickly went upstairs, ignoring his demands she leave Amanda alone.

She didn't bother knocking and opened up the door. Amanda sat up with a start when the lights were turned on. Rachel's dark eyes softened when she saw that she had interrupted her crying herself to sleep.

She shut the door and locked it in case Thomas decided to drag her away from meddling in his affairs. "We need to talk."

____________

Steve yawned while walking inside. "Where's Rachel?"

Thomas downed his glass of scotch. "Upstairs."

Steve's eyebrow lifted in surprise. "Er, are you two arguing? Because I can leave and find a room in New York."

Thomas gripped his glass. "I'm not in the mood for your sense of humor."

"Obviously." Steve muttered. He found a tumbler and set it in front of Thomas. "You shouldn't drink alone."

Thomas snorted and poured him a glass. Steve took a sip and waited. He knew from two years of interacting with the Hunt's that prodding would only make them more defensive and less likely to share what was wrong. Though they never shied away from pestering those around them. 

After a second glass was poured for Steve, Thomas finally spoke. "Rachel is upstairs trying to convince Amanda I care about her."

Steve merely lifted an eyebrow. He watched as the director struggled for a moment. "Does she not know?"

"She does. Or did. Once she heard Rachel say I had not talked about her...Amanda believes she deceived herself with how I felt." He ran a hand down his face. "Whatever I say now is going to be doubted."

"That is a problem." Steve muttered.

"Rachel once told me you were a comfort in times of trouble." Thomas remarked. "I see now that she tends to overexaggerate."

Steve grinned at the insult. "True love and all that follows tend to make one blind to the other's faults." He refilled his glass and became serious. "We know how important Amanda is to you by your inability to talk about her."

Thomas rolled his glass between his hands. "She is." He took a gulp and shuddered at the burn. "I love her."

Steve nodded. "I know." He looked up toward the stairs. "Since I hear no doors slamming nor any screaming, I would say your Amanda is at least pretending to listen to Rachel." He reached over and gripped Thomas's shoulder. "Don't lose hope. We will find a way to fix this."

Thomas nodded, slightly stunned at himself for confiding in the man that would be his brother-in-law in a couple of months. "Thank you." He mumbled.

Steve grinned. "Anytime."

_______________

"She really did that?" Amanda exclaimed, covering her mouth at how loud her voice was.

Rachel laughed while nodding. "I never understood how she convinced Thomas to take her as his date for that awards ceremony." Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "She was such a skank."

Amanda's burst of giggles caused Rachel's to start and soon the two were lying beside each other trying to catch their breaths.

"You have no idea how relieved I am to see him fall for someone like you." Rachel said once she could speak again. "I was worried when he continued to pick women that were so selfish and consumed with their own hubris. They were cold, almost cruel in their criticism toward Thomas and others. I thought he needed someone that would help soften him. Make him see that life is not always some heart wrenching drama."

Amanda nodded while staring at the ceiling. "I love seeing his smile appear before he chuckles."

"You're the first person to say that." Rachel replied. "He needs you." She grasped Amanda's hand. "Please don't give up on him. I promise, if he had talked about you I wouldn't have made Steve fly me here so fast. His unwillingness to talk about you goes with how he truly is. When he feels something so deeply, he can't express it easily."

Amanda looked at her and nearly cried once more. Rachel's dark eyes were the exact shade and shape of her brothers. "I've already made myself a fool once today. Might as well continue as I started."

Rachel laughed and hugged her. "Good. Because I need you to be my maid of honor."

"What?" Amanda asked with a laugh.

"We'll talk more tomorrow about it." Rachel got up and opened the door. "Good night!"

Amanda collapsed against her pillows. "What a night."

____________

Thomas shut the back door and watched Steve hold Rachel close as they walked down the path to the guest house. He smiled softly. His sister had chosen well.

He turned the lights off and started up the stairs. He glanced toward the closed door that Amanda was behind and debated.

He walked over to it and softly knocked. "Amanda?" He sighed when she didn't answer. He stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets. Rachel hadn't revealed what they had talked or even if Amanda was receptive to her words.

He went into his room and stumbled around in the dark, getting undressed before falling on the bed.

"Ow!"

He jumped off the bed and turned the bedside lamp on. He stared down speechless at Amanda rubbing her eyes. She blinked against the light. "Must we have a lamp on?"

He reached over and turned it off. He got into bed and waited.

"I'm sorry." She said softly.

He rolled over and pulled her into his arms. His lips found hers. Thomas sank into her arms with her sweet response. He knew they should discuss everything that had happened. He couldn't find the words.

"I'm sorry too that I made you think that." He groaned when she shushed him with a kiss. His heart ached with all he was feeling in this moment. The thought that he had lost her to having her here in his arms was making it harder to remain silent.

He rolled onto his back while keeping her locked in his embrace. He slid his hands up to caress her face and opened his eyes. In the faint light he could see the evidence of all the tears she had shed over him. He leaned forward to kiss her, pausing before her mouth. "I love you, Amanda."

Her soft gasp touched his lips. He pressed a tender kiss to the corner of her mouth before slanting against her lips. She turned her head to catch her breath. His lips found her ear and kissed along the shell before whispering how much he loved her. How he had never loved anyone like he did her.

Amanda whispered her own love to him. She watched him still as he listened to her heartfelt words. When she began to explain all she loved about him, his lips slammed into hers.

_________________

"I can't believe you picked Valentine's Day to get married." Thomas muttered to his sister.

Amanda swatted his arm after handing Rachel her bouquet. "Don't knock cheesy romance."

"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed. "I will have you both know that the reason I picked this is because Steve and I met on Valentine's Day."

"Why am I only hearing this now?" Amanda asked while reaching over to straighten Thomas's bowtie. His arms settled around her waist as a smile played about his lips. Their eyes met and she smiled back.

"Why do I even bothering talking when you two are near each other?" Rachel asked, secretly thrilled over her success at keeping them together.

"That's my cue." Amanda stepped out of Thomas arms after he kissed her cheek. "See you soon." She whispered to Rachel before walking down the aisle.

"You are going to make her my sister-in-law." Rachel muttered once Amanda was gone. "Right?"

"I suspect you will know by this evening." He whispered.

Rachel's jaw dropped. "It better happen before I leave on my honeymoon."

"It will." He promised.

[watanabeyours]

Park Jihoon || Produce 101

Genre: fluff

Pairing: Park Jihoon x Reader/OC (Gaein)

Summary: If Produce 101 Season 2 was a coed season with both boy and girl trainnees.

Disclaimer / Warning: I don’t own Produce 101. I don’t know how the lives of trainees actually work, this is just my own thought and idea of a trainee’s life that best matches the story mind that I had in mind.

Masterlist

F/C = Favorite Company

A/C = Any Company

“Don’t be too nervous.”

The words that my CEO reminded before sending me off onto this survival show— a survival show where there are 101 boys and 101 girls who strive to capture the hearts of the nation producers to debut as a part of one of the 11 member group at the end of the show— called Produce 101.

I nervously walk side by side with my company trainees as we slowly entered the hall. We greeted by bright lights and a enormous stage. Everything around us was decorated in hues of blue and pink. In front of us stood 202 chairs that slowly led up to the number 1 seats at the top of the triangle. A velvet blue chair and a sparkly pink chair rested at the peek of triangle.

I followed closely behind my company trainees as I whispered to one of my closest friends in the group. “This is unbelievable. How are we even here, right now?” I quietly whispered.

“I’m surprised we even made it this far,” one of my company trainee / best friend, Minji, crouched down to answer me.

As a group of 7, we slowly made our way towards the middle of the stage. Suddenly on the other side appeared a small group of boys— 3 to be exact. The same expression washed over their face as they realize how extravagant this place was.

Greetings were immediately exchanged between us and the boys and the trainees who were already seated in front of us. A certain boy caught my eye as we slowly made our ways to look for our desired seats. I took a quick glance at his name tag. “Park Jihoon,” I repeated in my mind as I sat down next to Minji.

Before we knew it, everyone had arrived and CEO BoA was emceeing infront of us— exposing every rule and procedure there was to Produce 101 Season 2. Of course, the boys and girls dorms we completely split off but other than that, interactions between girls and boys are highly encouraged.

We sat up top, along the seats labeled 25-32, and watched the performance that every company prepared. The trainers closely watched every performer and placed him/her in the appropriate classes. When it was my company’s turn to perform, I spotted the group of boys from earlier preparing for their performance backstage.

I walked to the waiting area with my groupmates behind me. The boys, who I just found out are from Maroo Entertainment, stood infront of me with Park Jihoon being the nearest to me. “This is so nerve wracking,” I whispered to myself as I peered onto the stage.

“You can say that again,” someone replied to me with a loud sigh.

I noticed that Park Jihoon, the boy from earlier, was talking to me. I slightly bowed down to him before he did the same to me. We both did this thing where we weren’t sure when we should stop bowing and start introducing ourselves and shaking each other’s hands. We both let out a light chuckle before he formally introduced himself, “I’m Park Jihoon from Maroo Entertainment.”

“Kim Gaein from F/C Entertainment,” I formally introduced myself as I reached out my hand, initiating the handshake.

We continued a light conversation with each in hopes of easing our own nervousness. “How grade are you in?” I asked him.

“I just started my last year of high school,” he answered.

“Really?” I gasped, “What a coincident! I am too.”

“Wow, we’re the same age,” he chuckled.

He was about the day something after but one of the PD’s ushered his group to make their way to the stage. I continued to watch from backstage as I mentally practiced my parts.

I watch as Jihoon exited the stage with his groupmates to retrieve his C class sticker backstage. Without another second wasted, the PD ushered my group to go up on stage. “Good luck, Gaein!” Jihoon called out to me, dropping the formalities between us instantly.

I raised my hand up and wave at him and his words of encouragement as I walked up the stairs to the stage. My group and I sang and danced our heart out on stage in front of the judges.

“Gaein, what position are you?” one of the trainers asked.

“Dance and rap,” I politely replied with the microphone close to my lips.

“Please show us your freestyle,” the trainer ordered as she leaned back into her hair and waited for me to dance.

I glance over to my groupmates and handed them my microphone. “Freestyle?” I mouthed the words to them.

All of them nodded as they gave me eyes of encouragement. I walk to the center of the stage, in front of the trainers, and wait for music to blare out of the speakers. The music flowed through my ears and into my bones. My movements naturally rode on the beats of the music as tried my best to make a lasting impression.

The judges took a while deciding the classes we would be divided into. I ended up being the only one going to Class B due to my slightly lacking rapping skill. I was happy that I didn’t end up in the lowest grade in my group. We all, then, headed backstage to retrieve our appropriate class stickers.

After our class re-evaluation, Jihoon was promoted to my class. That’s where we became closer friends through practicing day and night. Jihoon immediately climbed to the top after the first ranking. For our first elimination round, Jihoon’s and my group we’re doing the same songs (except, of course, one would be the boys version and the other would be the girls version). My position for that evaluation was main rapper. For our second evaluation round, it was a position evaluation— vocal, rap, and dance. Due to my ambition and desperation to climb to the top, I did not hesitate to show the National Producers a new side of me— my vocals. During this round, it was both girls and boys on the same team, since most of the trainees have already been eliminated. I was lucky enough to snatch the center and main vocalist position for myself. For the concept evaluation, it became center again but this time I changed my position to main rapper. Ever since I was recognized for my skills in all three positions, my ranking has been slowly climbing up; from 27 to 11 to 3 to 2.

Finally, this upcoming week was our finale, Produce 101 Season 2’s last performance which will reveal the final line up for the 11 memeber group for both the boys and the girls. I was practicing until late at night. I laid sprawled out on the dance practice room floor, staring up the ceiling. The door to the room quietly opened as my attention was diverted from the ceiling above. I turned over I watched as Jihoon stepped into the room. Throughout these past few weeks, I have watched Jihoon get to the top and stay at the top. “What are you doing in here so late? Still practicing?” Jihoon chuckled as he enter the room.

“It’s our finale after all... I really want to debut ,” I sighed.

“You did amazing last week. I’m definitely that you will make it,” Jihoon reassured, “You have it all: the dance, the rap, and the vocals!”

I chuckled at his compliment. “I know that we’re still trainees,” Jihoon began talking in a more serious tone, “But I really want you to know something.”

My heart fluttered for a split second as I looked into his eyes. “I just wanted you to know... that I really... like you. I admire you for your skill. I like you for your kindness... You don’t have to say anything right now. I just wanted to let you know,” he suddenly confessed before getting up, “See ya.”

“Wait,” I grabbed onto his arm, “I... can give you an answer right now. I know what position we are both in and nothing would really work... But I want you to know too. You don’t have to do anything about it but... I really... want you to know... that I... really like you, ever since the class evaluations that we had on the first day of Produce 101 Season 2.”

A warm smile spread across my face as I finally told him my true feelings. His expression was one of mixed feelings when he heard my words. I got up from the ground and waved goodbye to him as I sped walked to my dorm.

Today was finally the day of the finale, I had already finished my last performance on Produce 101 Season 2. I and the rest of the Produce 101 Season 2 girls and boys were all lined up shoulder to shoulder by last week’s rankings. I stood next to Jihoon, in the rank 2 spot, waiting for my name to be called by CEO BoA. Quick glances of nervousness were constantly exchanged between all the trainees. Tears, hugs, and words of congratulations filled our ears as names were being called to the final lineup of both the girls and the boys 11 member debut team. 

My heart was pounding out of my chest as there were only 3 seats left to be called for the girls. There were 6 seats left in total and way too many trainees waiting to be called. As the 3rd rank of the boys and the girls were called up together, my heart felt like it was about to rip through my ribcage. I watch Minji walk up to her seat along with boy trainee who also ranked 3rd. They both had bright smiles spread out across their faces as tears of happiness streamed down their eyes. Hugs were shared between all the ranked members as new members walked up to their correct ranks. I closed my eyes as I looked to the ground, afraid of who CEO BoA would call up next to the platform. “Finally... The top two trainees from the boys and girls will be called up here for your final ranking,” CEO BoA paused, “I would like to call up these trainees to the platform for your final evaluation... A/N’s trainee, Jung Sumin; MMO’s trainee, Kang Daniel; F/C’s trainee, Kim Gaein; Maroo’s trainee, Park Jihoon.”

My heart literally skipped a beat as my name was called out my CEO BoA. I opened my eyes again as I followed Jihoon to the platform. I waved back and forth to the National Producers as my name was being called by them. I was overly ecstatic that I had been called up for either rank 2 or rank 1 of Produce 101 Season 2 but deep inside of me, I really wished to sit in the rank 1 seat and become center of one of the Produce 101 Season 2 groups. We all stepped onto a slightly raised platform that individually separated us from each other. The faces of the 4 were brightly broadcasted on the LED screens infront of us. Although I could clearly see my smiling face on the screen, I was extremely nervous on the inside. “Who will become the centre position of the boys’ group? Who will become centre of the girls’ group? Who will take the final rank 1? Jung Sumin?” CEO BoA paused as a wave of enormous screams sounded through the air, “Kang Daniel?” another wave of fangirling screams rang out, “Kim Gaein?” a wave of scream and shouts sounded as my name was called, “or Park Jihoon?” more screaming and shouting rang through the air, “The final trainees who have made it to the centre position, the 1st rank, ” CEO BoA took a long and dramatic pause, “will be revealed on the LED screens... The centre and rank 1 trainees for girls’ group and the boys’ group are...”

I couldn’t tolerate staring at the screen so I closed my eyes and tried to calm my crazily beating heart. “The centre is... F/C’a Kim Gaein and MMO’s Kang Daniel!” CEO BoA proudly announced into the mircorphone.

I couldn’t believed what I heard and immediately opened my eyes only to see a feed of myself playing out right infront of me. Tears were forming in my eyes and were already falling, Jung Sumin had already made her way towards me. I threw my arms around her as we pulled each other into a tight hug. “Congratulations, Gaein,” she whispered into my ear.

I nodded at her as tears still oozed out of my eyes. We pulled away from out hug as she quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks. I tried to put on a smile to show her my gratitude but the corner of my lips kept turning down, threatening more tears to poor out of my eyes. I was never such a crybaby put I was extremely happy at my accomplishments. I turn over to my right to see Daniel and Jihoon congratulating each other with a hug and a smile on their faces, Sumin and I quickly approached Daniel and Jihoon with genuine happiness. Daniel opened up his arms to me as I threw my arms around him. “We made it,” I sniffled against his shoulders.

“Yes we did. We both finally ended as the centre of the debut groups,” he smiled as we pulled away from the hug. 

I immediately met eyes with Jihoon as he pulled away from a hug with Sumin. I walked over to him, a small smile finally appearing on my face. “You did it! Rank 1!” Jihoon exclaimed as he threw his arms around me.

I immediately broke out into more tears as I couldn’t contain the happiness I was feeling. He rocked me from side to side as I buried my face into his shoulder. My tears were stained his uniform blazer as I pulled away from our hug. “You did well too!” I managed to smile at him through my tears.

“Aigoo,” I’m not that kind of koreaboo, I swear Jihoon chuckled, “You need to stop crying now, you got first!”

Jihoon pulled on the sleeves of his shirt and brought his arm to my face, dabbing the tears away from my cheeks. Suddenly the entire audience broke out into an indiscreet awe, I noticed that they were all smiling at the small action Jihoon did to wipe the tears off cheeks. A light chuckle escaped my lips as I immediately began wiping my tears myself. “Would you guys give a word to the National Producers who have been supporting you on the show and the parents who have supporting you all throughout your journey?” CEO BoA announced as she handed Sumin to microphone. 

Sumin gave a small yet loving speech to the people who have supported her from day 1 and the National Producers who got her into the debuting group. She then passed it onto Jihoon who also gave a heartfelt speech to his love ones and thanked the National Producers who have supported him. The microphone was then passed onto Daniel who gave a loving speech to his friends and family and thanked the National Producers for all they have done to get him here before passing the microphone to me. I took a deep breath as I put the microphone close to my mouth. “I would like to start off with a big thank you to my friends and family who have supported me and another humongous thank you to the National Producers who allowed me to climb up the ranks. I plan on showing much more to the National Producers through debuting with these amazing people here!" I smiled and waved at the audience before making my way up the ranks behind the other.

Every few steps I would stop to hug a fellow debut member, whether it was a boy or girl, we all shared the same feeling as of this moment. After the final member was announced, this was Daniel and I were going to greet the National Producers as trainees in Produce 101 Season 2. We stood at the top of the triangle with a microphone is our hand. 

Produce 101 trainees, attention... National Producers, please take care of us.

[lostlegendaerie]

Six Fics of 2016

someone. someone tagged me in this. multiple someones tagged me in this while my PC was broken as shit so fuck. i dont know but i Wanted This, so. originally by @secretlystephaniebrown​ !

So I thought I’d pick 6 fics of mine written during this year, grab a favorite quote from each of them, give a short explanation of why it’s one of my favorites, and then tag 6 people to do the same! Let’s get some self love rolling as we head towards the end of this year!

and yeah i did write other fandoms this year but its like mostly RvB and Entirely in space, so.

6. Save and Restore - York & Delta, canon compliant

“That’s a-- dirty word, D.” A light, airy chuckle follows; one he remembers following an exchange with Carolina years ago. It sounds so much younger than the rest of York’s words, and he realizes he may not have anything more recent. “Better-- clean it off.”

“I… beg your pardon?”

“Nah, it’s free.”

i mean im Mostly so fond of this one because it was how I met @agentyorkdakota​ my moon and stars, but i also really enjoyed just getting to play with language a lot with this? like i’m pretty sure i’ve discussed this before but for a senior year project i worked a lot on a play called The Skriker where the title character kind of... used mixed metaphors and all sorts of jumbled language to communicate and it just. stuck with me. this language that was kind of cobbled together and makes sense but doesn't and yet does? so that was def a highlight of mine working on this fic. (also it placed me in the Angst War, a feather in my cap if there ever was one)

5. blow you like a popsicle stand - Tucker/Wash, canon compliant

He swallows his fear and creeping horror and lifts the lid. Buried under the crystalline ice of the remarkably still-functioning freezer is a collection of brightly colored little packages, all about the size of his hand.

“What.”

“I know!” Tucker replies, with exactly the kind of enthusiasm than ensures Wash he does not know, “I can’t believe it either. Ice cream! Here! On Chorus! Man, Caboose is gonna flip out when he sees this.”

Wash is tired, and adrenaline-tingly, and by this time he should just always expect to be betrayed and disappointed but here he is. He pulled a door out of a crumbling concrete wall for decades old ice cream sandwiches. Couldn’t save the lives of kids under his command, but sure. He can demolish a building in a fit of panic.

“What,” he repeats again, trying to shove all of his feelings into one ambiguous syllable. But Tucker just hip-checks him out of the way, flourishes his sword with a buzz of light, and carves a path through the ice to a red and blue package.

this one was done in a swap for @playerprophet​ (whom i also love and tag in this, there you go) and was just. okay. listen. l i s t e n. if i’m gonna write porn im gonna write specific porn. i’m gonna write mildly kinky porn with new shit y’all aint even knew you liked so someone can find me at a con and tell me to my face “oh yeah you wrote the iceplay fic” and i can be like “y e s” but also i can barely scrub the Feelings out of anything i write, so. SO. this was a pretty lighthearted excuse for Porn and it went over really, really well. so im Happy.

4. Golden Boy - York-centric, semi-canon compliant

Not that York can go back, now; not that there's anything left to go back to, with the entire project turning on itself in a disjointed, cumulative sort of cannibalism as every man, woman, or construct fights for themselves. And he’s not entirely blind to the fact that being wired to Delta on a neurological level makes the Director’s treatment of the AI feel infinitely more personal; makes it easier than it should have been to turn his guns on people he’d worked with for years. No. He’s not blind, not in that sense anyway.

But if he’s going forward, he wants to understand in full what he did in the name of science and progress.

this fic once shared a name with @littlefists​ ‘s epic because it was literally the first thing I wrote in the fandom and I Wasn’t Into Tuckington So I Didn’t Know, and i swear to GOD this is the last time i bring this up but i worked so fucking hard on it, it has Combat and Betrayal and Introspection and World Building and while i’ve gotta better grip on canon now I still really, really enjoyed this fic as an explanation for how York, of all people, could have gone so low in OOM

3. Overflow - Tucker/Wash, canon compliant

His thoughts about Tucker have often felt like a glass of water that’s just a little too full. He moves carefully so they don’t slosh around and make a mess of the place, barely keeping it all inside . And he’d thought that, once the newness of the whole ‘ sure we’ll risk lying to the faces of UNSC police to keep you out of prison even though you’ve done next to nothing nice for us your entire life ’ gratitude thing wore off (it didn’t, not entirely, it still pops up sometimes in the worst of moments and chokes him like the noose he should have gotten) the level would go down.

[...]

Tucker does something to him. Tucker finds ways to make him forget, at least for a little while, all the ways he’s fucked up. Even if it’s just finding more tolerable faults, like how the stick Washington has got shoved up his ass does wonders for keeping his back straight. Tucker talks loud enough to drown out the ghosts of everyone he underranked but outlived, listens enough to make his hard-won experience and advice mean something, and he is terrified for the day that everything overflows.

this was birthday fic for @strangestquiet that i actually took a day off from work to ensure i completed it in time but just. anyway. i’m pretty proud of it because it’s Big and it’s Coherent Mission Fic that managed somehow to tie into a little bit of preexisting lore. i’m also unfortunately very fond of all the little OC children bc i’ve constantly had tons of trouble with original characters and even tho no one else seemed to notice them i had fun and i love them all. but just in general i feel like i had a good balance of humor and feelings and also imagery? but as far as the latter goes it falls short of...

2. gethsemane - implied Shepard/Vakarian, Archangel-centric, game-compliant

On his last trip out of the Citadel, tying off loose ends, he bought a pack of playing cards from a human vendor. He had memories - they’d been fond once, but were souring like milk left in the sun - of losing miserably to Shepard and Williams at some gambling game. Leaving gifts on the graves of the departed wasn’t exactly the norm for turian culture, but neither was it strictly a human one either.

The flowers around the small crystal pillar were already wilting with neglect when he arrived. There might have been other tributes left there, but security had loosened until it fell away, slack like discarded clothes. Garrus left the cards there, under the shimmering list of names of casualties from the attack on the Citadel, and took the next transport ship as far away from Widow as possible.

okay so like. whenever possible i love to put good imagery in fic and like. understate emotions when i can and just in general do the literary version of the color saturated wide shot, you feel me? like the pullback with the characters in silhouette but you can still understand everything they’re feeling? anyway i feel like this fic really nailed a lot of my own personal goals for just Vivid fics. can’t wait to write more mass effect fic but it’s gonna be Hard to meet the standards i set for myself with this one.

1. Throw Away the Key - York/Carolina, Alternate Universe

Carolina fights to find the best angle for her umbrella as gusts of wind swat rain at them in little bursts, but by the time her car gives a satisfying click they’re both uncomfortably wet and she’s run out of things to say. Thankfully, he hasn’t.

“We have got to stop meeting like this,” York reflects as he withdraws the metal blade, inch by careful inch. “This is getting a little absurd. Like, bad soulmate romcom Hallmark movie levels of coincidence.”

“Not my fault if you keep breaking the law.” She’s a little surprised by the movie analogy, but decides against teasing him for his choice in films.

“I am bending it, at best.”

listen i’m fucking neck deep in all the complexities of longfic hell and this sure isn’t the artsy stylistic stuff that i can be proud of (or regret) later on down the road but i’m trying. i’m trying to write something massive and happy and so far it’s working. i can’t say for sure if it’s actually Good because i get to see all my messy drafts and stops and starts that the rest of you are spared, but I wanted so badly to write A Good Longfic for the Y/C fandom and with that, at least, I feel like I’m doing well. if nothing else, literally nothing else at all, i am proud of myself for trying this and i hope that it can continue to give people joy long after it’s done and i’m gone.

i’m gonna go ahead and tag @therewithasmile @sinelanguage @lady-of-rohan @flecksofpoppy @owaire and of course @playerprophet but if you’re reading this and wanna do it go right ahead!