#she's doesn't like her new job but i do; it's brought her over twice this year already and i'll get to see her again in august

[hirazuki]

@cruelfeline look at what I found in my city today XD We miss you!!

[smutallyouwant]

Twice One-Shot World chp. 3

Premium Sex Doll

Word Count: aprroximately 3k words

Momo x M Reader

You're a struggling young adult, you got a job that doesn't even suffice for your needs. One day a business man came to your house and offered you a deal that you can't say no to.

Includes: Rape role play

" Fuck my life, my work at the convenient store only pays me enough for my food and rent. I don't even have some extra money to have some fun, bro " you said on the phone.

" Man, maybe if you followed your mom to the States maybe your life would be better "

" Fuck her too, since my dad died she got a new partner and left me. Yes I decided not to go to the States with her because I don't like her having another man " you answered.

" Some luck will surely come for you, don't give up " your friend answered.

*knock knock knock

" Thanks bro, someone is at the door. So bye now "

You walked out of your bed and opened the door of your apartment. A man in a suit suddenly asked if he may come in. You're skeptical at first but what can he get from you if he robbed your house? Nothing, so you let him in and closed the door.

" Please sit down sir, I can only offer you water sorry " you said.

" Don't bother this talk will be short and you can't say no to this "

-The next day came-

*beep beep

A truck pulled over in front of your apartment and brought a big wooden box inside your apartment.

" here's your package sir, we just need you to sign up here "

You signed the paperwork and they left. You opened the box and you lifted a doll wearing white top and white shorts. The man yesterday offered you half a million dollars to try out their sex dolls. They are made with artificial materials similar to silicone but the texture is much more improved and it simulates human skin and flesh. Only 10 of these are contributed around the world. They examined their test runners carefully so that they will not be caught by the law, as their production is illegal. They prefer not so prominent people. But in exchange you have to give up your current job. You accepted and they gave you half the money straight to your bank before leaving.

" Hell, this doll is crazy beautiful. Do I really get to have sex with this? "

You opened the instructions, it said that it needed to be charged but it was delivered full of battery. It said that it has voice control you just need to say " Momo " before the command. The instructions said " Say, Momo, open to activate"

" Momo, Open " you said.

" Good morning master "

" Wwwwoooo " you shouted.

You were shocked that it said a word and also moved like a person towards you. The doll puts its arms on your shoulders.

" You can command me anything , master"

" Call me, Momo " she added.

" Momo, stand still "

Momo stood there and her arms returned to neutral. You're still shocked at this point, you pressed her shoulder and grabbed one of her boobs and it feels just like a real human. On this point you're aroused, you begin sniffing its shoulders and her scent is as sweet as a flower. It's been so long since you did this to a woman and it made you more excited.

You started kissing her neck while groping her ass and boobs. But something is missing.

" Momo, you can move now and moan for me " you commanded.

Momo hugged your neck and her other arm is caressing your face. She also closed the gap between her waist and yours to grind your bulge into her shorts.

" Ugh, master that feels so good "

" Call me Y/N " you said

"yess Y/N, does Momo taste good? "

" Yes Momo, you're so fucking good " you answered.

Her lips are so plump and cute that you decided to take a taste. You slammed your mouth into hers and sloppily kissed Momo. Momo does have some automated actions when taking part in sex activity. It is stated in the manual. She started caressing your bulge and she also kissed your neck. As she does so you removed your pants and underwear.

" Momo, suck my cock. Suck it good "

You lead her to the bedroom and you sit on the bed. She spits on your throbbing cock and licks it wildly before taking it all in her mouth.

" UGHH " you moaned as she does a fellatio on your hard long cock.

" Yes take it like a good girl "

" mmhgh, mmh, mmh " moans are escaping through her mouth.

She is looking at you all this time, and you started pounding her throat but she takes it like nothing.

*golk golk golk golk

You started to forget that she's a doll and thinks of her as a woman that you can fuck all you want.

" Fuck! What a slut taking it all like nothing "

Momo smiled as you dumped all your cum inside her throat. Momo stood up and sat on you as she kissed you deep.

" Ughh, can you go again Y/N? Momo need a rough fucking "

" Of course, but now call me baby "

" Yes baby " she answered.

You pushed her into the bed as you planted your tongue into her mouth. You made out and you began removing her top off, revealing a good set of tits with pink nipples. You sucked the hell out of the good pair and Momo hugged your neck.

" Yes baby suck my tits good, ugh "

You moved down and removed her shorts and underwear revealing a pinkish red slit.

" Fuck what a good food "

You fucking ate her pussy good, she wrapped her legs to your neck and held your head with her palm.

" Ughhh, babyyy you eat pussy so good "

" Suck my clitoris right there "

You sucked and played with it with your mouth and she began shaking violently. She squirted on your face as she shakes.

" UGHHHHH " she shouted.

" Sorry baby I ended up squirting on your face because you're so good at eating pussy"

You did not answer and you just inserted your dick inside her pussy. Momo can adjust her insides depending on the dick of the user, ensuring the best pleasure. You fucked her like a wild animal as you're too horny from her squirting on your face.

" Ughh baby, you'll make me cum again " she whined.

" Here's your reward for squirting at my face slut "

" Yes baby I'm your only slut, fuck this pussy harder ughh "

Her face is so seductive and it shows how good she feels. You felt more pleasure as her pussy adjusted on your dick. She started licking your nipples adding pleasure while you ram her.

" Baby fill me up with your cum, make a baby with me "

You forgot that she can also detect if the user is cumming so her pussy started to grip your dick harder.

" Fuckk here's my cum you slut " you pulled out your dick and you came into her face.

" Here's my revenge " you added.

She took the cum with her finger and licked it while looking at you.

" Ugh baby, I said you should fill me up but it's alright your cum tastes good "

" Oh I'm not done " you said.

You positioned her near the edge of the bed while in a supine position exposing her chest and toned abs.

" Momo, open your mouth and show me your tongue"

As she does so, you aligned your dick to her mouth and fucked her throat like there's no tomorrow. You grabbed both her tits as your leverage, you spit on her nipples and played with it with your finger. Momo reached down her pussy and started fingering.

"You're a naughty little slut, are you Momo? "

She responded with wild moans as you grope and played with her boobs while destroying her throat. She uses her 2 fingers to fuck her pussy with the other arm played with her clitoris. The scene made you wanna cum so bad.

" Here's my cum, take it Momo "

You grabbed her waist and planted your dick deep into her throat. Momo came again and this time she squirted into your bed. You grabbed her by the neck and pushed her head towards the wet part of the bed. Her ass is now exposed as her waist is bent down.

" Lick your piss you slut, taste it "

Momo started licking the bed sheets. As she makes out with the bed sheet passionately you inserted your dick again and started pumping inside her pussy.

" mmmmhhh ,mmhhh, " she moaned pleasurably as you pushed her more to the bed that muffled her cries.

You suddenly grabbed her hair and pulled it causing her to squeal. Your other hand grabbed her by the neck and choked her as hard as you could. Her moans are replaced by cries for aid to breath. Momo can't feel pain but she'll stimulate the effects of such inflicted pain on her. She tears and her tongue is exposed now. As you're finishing you let go of her neck causing her to lay her head flat on the we sheets and breath for air as you shoot your cum inside her. You looked at her as she is like a poor girl licking the bed sheets.

You finished by unloading the cum inside her tank and cleaning her. You cleaned your room and an idea came to your mind.

Her wardrobe included in her box has many types of dress and styles to pick. And it also has many hair styles included. You charged her for the rest of the day and woke her up at night.

" What, where am I and who are you? " Momo asked.

Before this happened you told her to dress up like a nerdy school girl that knows nothing about how he ended up inside your house. You always thought that your rape kink is weird but now you get to try it. You told her to fight back in the start and slowly be submissive as the time went by.

" Oh you suddenly went inside here and you're not going to get out " you said.

" Oh sorry, I'm heading out now " she answered.

You pulled her arm. Her scaredness is very evident as she is shaking and her voice.

" Sorry sorry, please let me out "

You threw her bag to the side and grabbed both her wrist, pushed her to the wall and started kissing her neck aggressively.

She started crying and struggled from your body weight as you push your body towards her.

" Please stopp, I need to go home now " her voice trembles.

You ignored her pleas and started groping her chest. Her arm attempted to push you back but you're just too overwhelming.

" Your chest is so big for a high schooler like you, don't you think? "

You palmed her mouth forcing her into a kiss. She hits you with her hands while your tongue slides inside her mouth and you start sucking her tongue out. Her hands stopped hitting your chest and it rests on your shoulders now. She unconsciously fought back with your mouth and tongue movements. Your fingers wiped off some of her tears as you're making out. The student's crying eyes shut down as her body gave in to your seduction. Her hands caress your body as you grope her breasts more . You gently move towards the bed pulling her and pushing her down to kneel at the floor. You dropped your shorts down and you placed her hand on your dick. Her cries became gazes of lust as she stroked your shaft. You held her face and moved it closer to your dick causing her to suck on it like a lollipop. Her blowjob is sloppy as she simulates a student who doesn't do such things. She is a modest student who just sucked a dick right now.

" Yes just suck it like that "

" mmhhh mhhh mh " her moans escapes out of her mouth.

You removed her glasses.

" Look at me " you asserted.

She looked at you with lustful eyes.

" Do you want me to fuck you? "

She shook her head signalling a " no " .

You slapped her hard into the face that caused her to shout and cry on the floor. You pulled her hair hard and she is begging you to stop.

" please stop, I gave you a blowjob already "

You pushed her into the bed face down and you removed her underwear. You don't want to remove her uniform as the visual contributes to your pleasure. You started fucking her from behind. Her back is arced and her arms pinched the bed so hard as you ram her back.

" Ughh please , I'm hurting " she pleaded .

" You don't have to pretend to be a little girl, you like this don't you? "

" Argghh, no ! " She answered.

" Then why did your ass follow my rhythm and start pumping as well? Look at your exposed tongue as you enjoys being raped "

" No I don't like it " she said while smiling seductively.

You switched position and you removed half of her buttons, revealing her bra and her shoulders. You fucked her missionary as moans came out both of your mouths. Momo plays her tits as you pound her and she accepted your follow wet kisses as you fuck each other.

" Is my cock that delicious ? "

" Yesss ugh, I mean no "

" You don't have to hide it anymore baby girl "

" No it's just that your cock is so huge that it makes me crazy " she said while holding your face with both her arms.

She pulled you into a deep kiss.

" Yesss I'm cumming, keep fucking my pussy like that please "

" I'm cumming inside you "

" YESS please fill my young pussy with your cum "

You came hard into her pussy and both of you moaned in unison. After a short break, you ordered her to suck your dick as you play video games. Before going to bed you charged her and ordered her to wake you up with kisses on your cheeks and a good ol' handjob.

This sex doll is now yours provided that you submit transparent and honest reports to the company each week. She's only programmed for sex activities if not so, you could have asked her to cook for you haha. She's indeed programmed well.

If you're the one that the company picked to be one of the product testers, what burglar things will you do to Momo?

[teddybeartoji]

彡 GUARDIANS OF THE TINY SEA URCHIN BOY

☆. contains: satoru gojo x gn!reader; fluff!!!, non-curse au, idk what this timeline is but both reader and satoru are adults and gumi is tiny + reader is his kindergarten teacher wc: 3k

you love you job.

you love taking care of the kids, teaching them, caring for them. and that of course applies for megumi, too. he's a pretty quiet kid, very straightforward and doesn't seem too affected by his guardian being away on a work trip when you ask him about it. you've never met the guy but it always makes you snicker whenever megumi's nose scrunches when he's brought up. or the little pout that tugs on his lips – the grumpiest and the fakest one to ever be conjured in the history of the world. you know it's fake; you've seen the care and devotion the little boy puts into the cards and the art he makes, always promising to show them to his keeper in a hushed voice.

but then one day... he's a quieter than usual, stares at you a little more than usual (he's so sure you don't see him)(or the way he's fiddling with the hem of his shirt). it's playtime and you're comfortably sitting in a bean bag, laughing with some other kids, eyeing the little sea urchin from the corner of your eye. after giving the other kids an impossible mission to complete outside, you usher the boy closer.

"gumi, come here."

and he does the cutest little eye roll known to mankind but nevertheless makes his way over to you. not pressuring him, you let him stand while you ask about the new comic book that came out (you heard him mention it once or twice) and oh, how his eyes widen. you surpress a giggle at the boy, and when you see his eyes flick between you and the bean bag you're sitting on, you finally motion for him to take a seat next to you. and he does.

he still feels a little unsure; like he wants to keep the information threathing to spill inside, despite the want to tell you all about it. seeing this, you decide to start talking about your own little hobby, doing big gestures as to try and crack a smile (it works)(he tries to hide it but you know better). and in the end he does relax and subconciously leans toward you when he starts introducing the comic.

digging out your phone, you let him show you the characters, the powers they have and how cool they all are. the smile on your face is making your cheeks hurt; glad that the boy feels secure and safe around you to tell you all this. some other kids bump in a few times, showing you the worms they dug up or beg for a napkin to wipe their face after they sneezed so hard that snot flew out. megumi's little scrunched up face only made you laugh more.

after a while you can feel him melt into you, his talk almost slurring, his eyes growing heavy. deciding to put away the phone, you move in your spot but a pair of hands clutch onto your arm. "'m not going anywhere." you assure him with a gentle smile as your hand finds its way into his hair, pushing through the unruly strands. he doesn't look at you, hiding his face into your shoulder.

"if i tell you something, do you promise you won't tell anyone?"

it's a ghost of a whisper, buried into the sleeve of your shirt. vulnerable.

"never. i would never."

it takes him another second to gather up the last pieces of confidence. the last pieces of strenght to open up his little tiny heart.

"i-i miss him." his little hands stay clutching onto your sleeve, not enough to stretch the material but just enough to let you know how hard this is for him. how he's taking the big step, how he's inviting you in with a shaky voice.

the hand in his dark hair never stops its movements, staying combing through it, feeling him nuzzle deeper into you. "oh, sweetheart. i'm sure you do." you hum quietly. "he's gonna be back really soon though. i promise."

you feel him nod against you. when another kid emerges from the outside, you quietly ask for her to whisper and swallow another giggle when she starts dramatically tiptoeing closer to you, ready to tie a newly made bracelet over your wrist. it's beautiful.

you stay like that for almost two hours – sitting in the bean bag with your arm locked securely in megumi's hold as he's letting out small little snores. you don't mind. you don't mind at all.

most of the kids have already left, their parents having come after them. they always greet you with a smile and thank you for keeping their kids happy and safe and it always warms your heart. there's nothing else you'd love more than this. and how the kids say bye... some of them hug you, some of them land a fat smooch on your cheek, one of them always shakes your hand (very firmly)(a lot of people could learn a thing from him). and all of them always wave with the brightest smiles on their faces.

you're eyeing the warm late afternoon sun from your spot on the bean bag when you hear the door open and close, a pair of loud footsteps approaching. megumi's guardian, surely.

tearing your eyes from the sun, you turn to meet the man and oh... his mouth is ajar as if he was about to yell out for megumi in the most dramatic way possible (he was). his crystal blue eyes shine in the very same light you were just basking in, taking in the sight before him. his lips close and reform into the warmest smile before he's whispers a small hi.

"hi." you answer with a smile of your own. nobody told you that he was gonna like that. sure, you've seen megumi's drawings but no offense to the boy – they do not do him justice. this has to be to most handsome guy you've ever seen. and he's your age, too. "you're here for megumi, right?"

he nods, leaning on the doorframe. "satoru."

after you introduce yourself, he repeats your name, tasting it on his tongue - and you're now stuck with the memory of one of the older faculty members saying something about how it's always very unprofessional to have crushes on the parents and whatnot. and whatnot.

he makes his way over – keeping his eyes on his beloved boy, sleeping oh, so comfortably in your arms. the way his chest is rising and falling steadyly, his fingers digging into your shirt. his heart swells.

kneeling in front of you, he smiles at the boy before turning his focus to his keeper. the golden sunlight is making your eyes shine and when you give him a shy little smile, he knows megumi is in safe hands.

"you're new?" he whispers.

"mhmm. and you don't actually have to whisper." satoru's eyes flick to megumi and you understand his question without him asking it. "oh, he's out. like a light. we've been sitting here for what?" you look at the clock before continuing. "two hours?"

satoru's smile widens at that. "he's kept you locked up for two hours?"

raising your hand from megumi's hair, you cover your mouth, hiding a grin. "he's cute, no harm done."

satoru hums. "he is. pretty sure you're the first teacher to see him like this."

"yeah." lowering your hand back down, you brush a few strands from his eyes, making his nose scrunch up and making the two of you swoon over the pouty kid. "i'm very honored."

satoru's eyes flick back to you. there's a certain softness in them, despite the deep dark purple peeking out from underneath the skin under them. you don't know what kind of a job he has but you know it sometimes requires him to be away for a while. it must be hard for him too; hard to leave his boy in some stranger's hands. but satoru is already convinced that you're no stranger.

"i'm glad he has you."

you feel a tint of blush making its way over your cheeks because of the sincerity in his tone. he really means it.

"but seriously, though? you've been sitting in the same spot for two hours? you're telling me your feet aren't dead?" he deadpans with a smirk.

lowering your head, you confess: "i have to go to the bathroom so badly."

he almost doubles over, holding a palm over his mouth, hiding the laughter ready to burst out. you try to glare at him but it's useless – you're holding your laughter with him a second after.

your body shakes with the giddyness, making megumi stir and you still. caressing his cheek, you try to make sure he ignores the two giggling adults next to him and stays asleep.

"and yes, my arm is dead but c'mon, how was i supposed to say no to this?" as if on cue, megumi lets out a content breath, his lips molding into his usual little pout, which in return makes the two of you look at him fondly. again.

"no, don't worry. i understand – he's a real charmer." he whispered. "what got him in this mood, anyway? nothing happened, right?" his eyes widen as the words leave his mouth, concern painting his face in a second.

trying to soothe his worry, you immediately shake your head. "no, no. he's okay. nothing happened." satoru exhales deeply, hand covering his heart. you don't think he even knows how worried he looked just now.

"but?" his voice breaks the small silence. "i feel like there's a 'but' here."

giving him a smile, you look the sleeping boy locked onto your arm. "i promised i wouldn't tell, though..."

"wha-?" the grown man's lip pull into a pout and you realize that the boy really does take after him. "but i need to know..."

deciding to make sure that megumi is still in fact, sleeping, you check his breathing – steady as ever, so you beckon the man a little closer.

"he missed you that's all."

it's so quiet. not even a whisper but satoru hears the words loud and clear. his eyes fall to his boy once more, something so tender in them – making your own heart beat a little louder. "but don't tell him i told you. i promised i wouldn't."

"never. i'd never take this from you." he rests his one hand beside your thigh on the bean bag, while the other goes to smooth over his cheek. the poor boy would die of embarrassment if he were to witness all this affection bestowed upon him. "thank you for telling me."

your gazes meet again, the love in them mixing together into a warm goo, filling the room and connecting the three of you forever.

"of course."

there's a comfortable silence between you and the man. a man you met mere minutes ago but when he bends over to pick up the bracelet made out of red string and continues to tie it back on your wrist without a word, you're certain you know him. or maybe knew him in another life; whatever the case, you were meant to meet again.

you thank him but he casually brushes it off as if it wasn't a big deal, as if he did it on instict, his fingers already itching to do things for you.

"is your bladder about to explode, by the way?" teasing. his tone is teasing and you can't help but reward him with another smile. his favourite pay.

"yes– yes, it fucking is." it takes you a second to realize what just slipped from between your lips. eyes growing twice their size as you stare back at satoru, who's, of course, already silently laughing, the corners of his lips reaching his ears. "you heard nothing."

"this is who's been taking care of the kids? wow, does the faculty know of the foul mouth you're sporting?"

"hey!" you whisper shout at him and before you can even register your own movements, your free hand lands a soft punch against his strong chest. it's always very unprofessional to have crushes on the parents. this time real heat paints your cheeks and the tips of your ears.

"sorry– i'm sorry." the only thing you can do is to mutter a quick apology - you're embarrassing yourself and you can't even run from it, the sleeping boy keeping you in your place and you're honestly ready to spiral because you just kind of hit (punched, even) him - this is definitely you crossing a line. and what if he really gets mad now and actually tells the faculty—

another wave of laughter breaks you from your thoughts. and then his own hand makes contact – landing firmly on your thigh; not to far up to make it like that but it's there to reassure that he's not a snitch of any kind and that's he's truly happy to have you as megumi's teacher. nothing better than having a real person looking after your boy.

but it is satoru gojo – it wouldn't be him if he didn't tease you properly at least once. "you're so cute like this. curses and hits being thrown here and there, whew! a great rolemodel for the kids, for sure."

you're burning up, almost afraid that you'll wake gumi with the heat emitting from your body. satisfied with the result, satoru gives your thigh a squeeze. "i'm kidding, i'm kidding. no harm done, right?"

he's gazing at you, borderline burning his eyes into yours with a sly smirk and now you also understand why megumi keeps calling his guardian very annoying every chance he gets.

"yeah." you quirp. "anyway, my ass is getting really sore now, so i think it's best to-" in attempt to escape the stealth attack on your heart, you try to change the topic, even when the weight of satoru's eyes stays on you for a second longer.

you shift your gaze to megumi, raising your hand to his face, gently tracing down his nose and booping it. you brush more of his hair from his face, trying to pull him from his dreamland as softly as you can. "megumi, look, who's here...."

his lips press into another pout as you land a second boop on his nose, finally making him stir. his eyes open ever so slowly, gazing up at you as he raises his fist to rub out the sleep.

"hey, gumi."

satoru's voice stills the boy. his body doesn't move, his eyes alone turning from you to the source of the voice. and the second his green eyes meet the blue ones – he's burying his face into the crook of satoru's neck. you observe their little reunion; megumi's hands are so tight around his neck, most certainly choking the man but he doesn't mind. he doesn't mind at all. satoru's arms wrap around the boy, holding him safe and sound right to his chest, to his heartbeat.

"missed me?"

megumi grumbles something into him, something unintelligible but most definitely something that resembles a kid's insult. satoru's mischievous eyes meet yours and you bite your lip, trying to look as stern as possible when the both of you know that you're just holding back another beautiful smile.

"let's go home, yeah?"

megumi nods as satoru stands with the boy in his arms. when you start pushing yourself up, he lends you a hand - his warm fingers easily engulfing yours in a quick motion. the touch lingers, skin on skin longer than needed. neither of you say comment on it – the butterflies in your stomach would gladly do all of the talking for you. you walk them to the door, staring at the sleepy little megumi, who's glancing at you over satoru's shoulder every two seconds.

you hand satoru megumi's pack and then gently place his jacket over his shoulders before giving one final rub on his back. "be good, yeah?"

he hums back, green eyes finding safe haven in yours. another smile is threathing to show when you wink at him, so he buries himself back into satoru's neck, making the man laugh loudly. this is the first time you hear it for real. it ripples through his whole body, his chest –shaking megumi as it does, it bounces off the walls of the room and finds its way to you and your ears. it's irresistible – you can't not respond with the same when he does it, the current just pulling you along. and it'll keep you for a long time.

"it was nice to meet you. finally."

"oh, you've been waiting for this?"

...

yeah, you walked right into that one, you admit your unfortune, but luckily megumi is there to save you by giving him a hard nudge on the back.

"okay, okay, little guy.... can't even hit on his teachers in peace..." he sighs, earning a way stronger hit and a way darker blush on your cheeks. "it was really nice meeting you too. finally."

you give him a small nod, fingers playing with the bracelet. you watch him carry the boy toward the door, ready to go home and calm your heart.

"wait-" satoru turns just as he steps outside into the sunlight. his eyes shine now even more than they did inside, almost blinding you. "how come you're not running to the bathroom? i thought you were dying."

"well, i was trying to be polite and wait until you leave, so you know..." lowering your voice, you tell him: "fuck off already." flashing him one final smile, the one he's gonna think about for the rest of the night (for the rest of many many nights), you motion for him to move along.

a quick little bye is all he gets before you close the door after him, leaving him standing in from of the house with a stupid smitten grin on his face. if it weren't for megumi, he'd probably stay standing there. "they said fuck." the boy whispers.

"fuck yeah." he laughs before he ruffles megumi's hair, finally making their way over to his car. "by the way, you're an awful wingman, buddy..."

[nopeferatu]

okayyyy i guess ill just write abt some things that i wanna get out before i forget to??

- LOVE, love love how they made ennis the one who initiated all of the romantic affection between the two. literally insane over it. it feels so in-character, considering ennis has probably been affection starved since his mother died when he was a kid. of course he has alma, but do we really get the sense that ennis was ever very affectionate with her? could he have been, in rural, christian, wyoming, where conervative notions of courtship prevail? did he even want to be, knowing that the only person he shows real attraction towards is a man? who knows. we just know that he was craving love, and lucas did an amazing job at capturing that need.

- the "'lets ranch up together', 'no bc earl and rich'" conversation happens after ennis tells jack that he'd divorced alma...a year and a half earlier. what an interesting change! it seems like both adaptations, movie and play, mess around with that specific sequence of events. i really enjoyed what it brought to this specific show, though, because in the script it's described as a "gut-punch" to jack when ennis tells him he already left alma in response to jack telling ennis that he'd decided to leave lureen. it really hammers home the idea that jack thought it was just their wives getting in the way of their life together all that time. it was framed wayyy different than jack driving up 14 hrs after getting his hopes up thanks to a phonecall or a postcard from ennis abt the divorce, but it still hits the beat it's supposed to, where we as the audience can see that its the first time their relationship shifts—and not for the better.

- "little darlin'."I got to hear "LITTLE DARLIN'" not just once, but TWICE. still not over it.

- the show also brought more...i guess, explicit attention to the fact that ennis really only wants to do ranch work, and how much that affects his family. i know its present in all the texts, but the new conversations he and alma have regarding the various 'city jobs' she tries to rope him into and the dead-end ranch jobs that keep going belly up from underneath him are just really sad. he's someone who craves wide open spaces, and the beauty of film allowed heath to capture this hunched, clenched, uncomfortable look and feel of a man who seems too big for any room he's in. ennis is not happy in domesticity. he's a saddle bum through and through, and out with nature is where he belongs. but since theatre (esp theatre in-the-round) doesn't have the luxury of different set dressing, those conversations and arguments bw ennis and alma capture that same bit of characterization.

- i...dunno how i feel about mike's jack, if i'm honest? lucas was incredible. i think he brought just the right amount of taciturn and tender, rage and remorse to a role that needs all of that in an actor. i think mike's jack was a little...idk. too big, if you get me? like there were certain line deliveries that i felt could've been said differently, or had different emotions behind them than the ones i was picking up on. i know stage is different, so in both cases, the actors went VERY big (heath's quiet, simmering rage is a completely different beast against lucas' loud, screaming outburtsts, for example), but...idk. there was just something about mike's jack that threw me off? I told my friend that I was iffy about his performance, and without prompt she said, "I didn't like how much he laughed at everything" and I think I feel the same. For example, the "I didn't want none of either kind but fuck all has worked the way i wanted, nothing has ever come to my hand the right way" line was said really jolly, without much of a edge to it, and i think thats what's thrown me off-kilter so much. in mike's performance, i didn't feel the bitter edge to a lot of his lines that occur later on in the script that are apparent to me not only in jake gyllenhaal's performance, but in the SS text, itself.

He was technically very good and I love the silly things he'd do to get ennis to open up, but he was a little too jovial, not enough bitchy, not enough moody and sassy like jake's jack. i see a lot of jake's jack in mike's performance bc aside from a few lines about how much jack likes the rodeo, all we can really glean from either characters in the SS text is that ennis is quiet, and that jack talks a lot. im not trying to compare the two performances too much bc they are fundamentally different actors working in different mediums, but heath and jake brought a lot of dimsension into charas who could have turned out waaaay different had different actors played them and gotten in touch w different emotions within the script, so i can see how other actors could look to the film for a lot of inspo on how to go about portraying ennis and jack while trying to do their own things as well. my issue is that jack becomes very heartsick and bitter and just plain fed up with everything about his life by the time their last trip rolls around, but play!jack never let that bitterness start to show, so by the time that jack does his whole "i wish i knew how to quit you" monologue, it felt very abrupt to see him screaming and yelling and hollering at ennis like that.

i dunno, after seeing tons of ppl in the brokeback tag over the past few months saying that mike faist was their favorite jack, i was actually really expecting a lot more? but as it stands, jake gyllenhaal still reigns supreme. he captured every facet of jack twist that makes him so compelling to read and write and think about and analyze, and mike, while he was still very good, didn't do that nearly as well imho.

- the play firmly cemented to me that jack twist is just bottom coded, i guess

- some of the music hit at different scenes than i had initially thought they would?? i thought the play would end on "hale strew river" playing in the bg as *SPOILER* old!ennis holds the ghost/dream/memory version of young!jack in a mirror of the way he'd held jack by the campfire on brokeback in '63. but that was not the case. this is an instance of where my heightened expectations made the reality seem kind of disappointing in comparison. i'm also kind of sad that my other favorite song, "beneath the moon," was only featured as a diegetic recording heard on a clock radio (NOT live), and it was played during a scene between alma and ennis. Like, looking back at the lyrics it makes sense:

Why don't you take me for a stroll into the sunset

Another lonely summer's day is ending soon

Oh, let us walk another mile into the twilight

And let me be alone with you beneath the moon

But i thought that it was going to be played during a scene where another one of jack's frequent proposals of a life together gets rejected. when the soundtrack for the play was released it gave me the same vibes as "i dont want to say goodbye", one of the few original songs on the movie soundtrack, and i was POSITIVE that this was a jack-longing-for-ennis song. like, it's all about sunsets and twilight and the moon and all this outdoor imagery, and as we all know, jack and ennis are literally only together underneath the sunsets and twillight and moon! so im actually really sad it wasn't an ennis/jack moment :c

- the actor who played jack's dad played the role a lot more emotionally than i expected. movie!john is very, again, muted and quietly bitter, just like all these characters are. play!john seemed really...what i can only describe as choked up? like, he was shouting and got really riled up in his "jack used to say" monologue at ennis, and there was some disgust in there and a lot of anger, but what i actually read was more like him telling ennis "you're part of the reason why my son is gone." and then he gets up and walks away from the table, and exits the stage. it was really really heartbreaking. maybe i have a different read on the performance than what was intended, but it opens up a whole new side to john twist that i think would be interesting to explore.

- theres a few little added lines of dialogue on jack's part that are great. when they leave brokeback and are heading away in opposite directions, jack turns back around and goes "ennus-" as though he's going to make his proposal to start a life together then and there, but ennis knowingly cuts him off and says smth like "see you around, jack twist", and shakes his hand goodbye. there was another moment (the divorce admission, the rich and earl confession scene) where jack is talking about their sweet life together, and hes talking about them being in rocking chairs on their porch in front of a nice fire and ughhghf....it called to mind this line in one of my all-time fave fics, Recompense:

Couldn't set out on the porch, just set, quiet and together; there wasn't any porch, wasn't even any house, where they could be seen setting. Start hauling their canes, their bifocals, damn electric blankets, up in back of the pickup? They couldn't have that life. They couldn't have any life at all. The weight of Jack's misery, pressing all around, seemed enough to cave him in.

one i didnt like, though, was when jack and ennis are wrestling, jack gets pinned under ennis and says "sheep be damned!" before ennis kisses him in the first romantic display of affection we see bw the two. also when the sheep get mixed up, ennis has a meltdown and tells jack that aguirre will realize the counts off and put 2 & 2 together that they're fooling around, and he yells smth along the lines of their trist being "sick", and Jack says smth like, "you sure didn't seem to think it was sick this past month."

this is just a me thing honestly bc i'm kind of a SS purist in some instances, and one thing that always stuck with me is that jack and ennis never talk about the sex they're having when they're on brokeback. aside from the "im not no queer" convo, the sex wasn't even alluded to; they just "let it happen," and i think thats veryyy in-line for a character like ennis. i think jack would love to talk about it, but he doesn't wanna spook ennis away, so he keeps his mouth shut. i dont think either of them would speak, even in a roundabout way, abt their sex life when they're 19 on brokeback, and thats why the whole "redlined it all the way couldnt get here fast enough" line is so revelatory imo, bc its the first time either of them acknowledge the conscious choice theyre making to fuck. so idk. i didnt really care for the fact that they were (somewhat) openly referring to their tryst while still on brokeback

- less a note of the show and more a note of the audience, but i saw the show twice and the first night i saw it, the audience laughed at REALLY sad and serious moments that i in no way thought were laugb worthy, and i felt like maybe i was taking the work too srsly until i saw the final performance and THAT audience didnt laugh at any of those really sad moments. so i got rly irritated abt that the first night cause it wasnt even like the lines were delivered in a jokey way or anythibg....

anyways. i need to sleep. look out for some other posts cause im sure ill have more to say the longer i stew on it

[myriadof-fandoms]

harringrove week - day 5 - one look at you and i can't disguise

prompt: outsider pov

"wait, talk me through it again?" chrissy is really trying to keep up but occasionally her best friend has a habit of talking in riddles.

billy sighs, lighting another cigarette but holding it away from her so the smoke doesn't hit her, "harrington's making fun of me."

"right, because-"

"because he smiles at me!" billy is only mumbling now, looking away from her.

they're parked on a dirt road with a view of one of the countless fields surrounding hawkins. it's become a habit of sorts, when basketball and cheer practice end at the same time they say they have to study for their spanish class together. instead of doing any such thing they drive past the town sign, park somewhere quiet to sit on the hood of billy's car and talk.

"billy, i promise i'm trying to understand but how does that mean he's making fun of you?"

he huffs and repeats himself, "because he fucking hates me. i beat him up, i was generally not the nicest person around him and then he ignored me for a year. now everytime i have to drive max to that stupid video store he smiles at me like- like that's normal."

"it kinda is what people in service jobs have to do?" chrissy throws in while picking at her nail beds.

"chris, i've seen him with other customers though. the other week max dragged me there to get breakfast club again and tina and her new boyfriend were at the counter when we came in. harrington did not smile once."

"so do you watch him the entire time you're there?"

the thing is that billy's told her he likes boys. only once and very quietly and with bated breath like he expected the worst from her. she just hugged him instead.

"of course not."

chrissy wonders if he knows that he's blushing.

their friendship had developed over shared classes and projects and her being around the basketball team due to jason. though what really made her and billy talk was jason himself - specifically his inability to leave her alone when she told him to. billy only had to witness her having to tell jason no more than once before he even considered listening to her one time before he stepped between them.

billy stuck around her whenever they were in the vicinity of jason and so they talked. a shitty home life, albeit differently so, brought them closer and billy's trust sealed it all.

that was the last time jason ever tried to convince her to do anything and when she ended their relationship, with billy only some feet away, he went away without much arguing. how he called her a bitch and only left because he was scared of billy not because he respected chrissy herself still tastes bitter in her mouth but having gained a best friend out of the whole mess makes that easier to bear.

and though he never said it explicitly again, he's mentioned a few guys from california. he trusts her enough to do that.

and he mentions steve harrington. in fact billy talks about almost nothing but steve harrington without ever realising that himself.

"i ran into harrington."

"harrington wore different jeans to work."

"steve helped me find a movie."

"max says the rumours aren't true. harrington and wheeler are not back together.

and as of recently "harrington hates me because he smiles at me."

"king steve has a new haircut."

"maybe steve wants to be friends? maybe he's ready to move on from what happened," chrissy says hesitantly though she can guess how billy's reaction will look. not once has any hint to steve wanting to be nice actually helped.

so just like chrissy knows that it's not his sister max who likes watching breakfast club, she has come to realise that max's not the one who wants to go to family video at least twice a week. chrissy doesn't quite know how to get billy out of his denial though.

"yeah, right." he scoffs at her and smokes the last of his cigarette before flicking it on the gravel.

it's always the same, sheer and immediate denial of the chance that steve might like billy. if chrissy has to hear another story that involves steve staring at billy with "weird bambi eyes" while he's trying to act nonchalant she might simply have to tell billy that he's being idiotic though. she's reaching her limit.

for the time being she lets billy believe what he wants since her curfew is coming around quicker than she wants.

billy seems to notice their time running thin just like she did, "c'mon, we should head back."

while they drive the rest of the way billy teaches her one spanish curse word as usual, a little loophole that makes their afternoons less of a lie.

billy helps her off the hood and then turns on her favourite tape of his in the car. they both sing along with stevie nicks until they enter hawkins again.

the familiar anxiety starts to grow in her stomach when he parks in front of her house. so as usual she stalls at least for another moment.

"oh, i picked up your weed from eddie." chrissy leans down and picks through her backpack for the small bag she collected for billy during break.

when she hands it over billy is grinning at her and chrissy knows what to expect.

"you know if you just ask munson out on a date you don't have to to pick up my drugs as an excuse to see him anymore, right?"

now it's chrissy's turn to blush while she gets out of the passenger seat. billy's cackling lightly behind her, sounding way too self-satisfied and so before she closes the door chrissy leans back inside to look at him.

"maybe if you get your head out of your ass and ask out steve i'll ask out eddie."

billy's flushed, shocked face makes her giggle all the way to the door.

perhaps they're both useless when it comes to boys but at least they're hopeless together.

[caramel1mochi]

Weekend Together [Gekko x F! Reader]

Heya! Sorry for the long wait!

This is a part 2 to Trouble in Paradise because the symbiote in my brain won. I'll be writing one-shots and stories daily, and I'll be posting what's done whenever I can, maybe every other day. That means that I'll be separating this into many parts.

But that doesn't mean I won't try to perfect all of this! Quality over quantity, right?

Oh, also, I made a mistake in my last one. I should've used [A/N] because it stands for Agent name. It's fixed now, and Y/N stands for the actual name! Anyway, I'll shut up and get to it!

❤ฺ·。

Gekko x F! Reader. Part 1

Genre: Fluff

Synopsis: Gekko gets over his anxiety and finally asks you out, watching delightfully as you finally let your guard down. Or so he thinks.

。+❤ฺ·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ· +❤·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ·

Like usual, today was another long day at work. Of course it was. All your subordinates usually spend their time mucking about until they’re called on a mission to do something, whilst the superiors (like you) break their backs trying to figure out the next step. Not that you minded. 

Well, okay, you did. But you just did a swell job at keeping it to yourself, among many other things. At the very least, you all had breaks on the weekends.

Today was Friday. Half past midnight, and you’d just peacefully finished your work. Perfect start to a weekend you’d spend alone, right?

Yeah, duh. Did you think I was gonna say ‘wrong’?

You walked down one corridor and tuned out the endless chatter of the agents near the lounge. The shortest route to your quarters had to always pass by this busy area. Usually you’d be ignored, maybe some of them would wave hello. Today was a bit different.

The loudest friend group sat around one table, noisily yapping to each other whilst their laughter filled the halls. But when they saw you, they all quieted down. But Jett choked on her laughter, coughing.

“Yo, A/N, what’s up?”

Phoenix called out, but the sight of Yoru slamming his hand against Jett’s back twice caught your eye. Weirdly enough, it turned out to be helpful.

Classy.

“Good day.”

��Anything new today?”

“Not much, you?”

“All’s well, mate!”

“Grand.”

The conversation was curt when you got out of their sight, not bothering to stop to actually speak to them. Your legs were sore and you had a headache, why would you stand there any longer for people who weren’t even your friends?

Harsh, but you weren’t the type to sugar coat things. Besides, they continued their own chatter after you left, Yoru’s voice standing out against theirs by the time you were a metre away from the entrance.

“Forty bucks to whoever guesses where she’s from.”

Yoru called out, earning a few looks from the rest. Jett, of course, used one hand to bring Dizzy closer to her and held out the other; palm outstretched.

“England. Hand it over, please.”

“Try again.”

“What? She is! She has an English accent. Phoenix, back me up!”

“Sorry, mate. Can’t help you there. It’s probably the queen’s english, but it’s mad artificial.”

“So the accent’s fake?”

“Yeah. If I were you, I’d go off the hair.”

They brought up your curly orange hair, each lock forming delicate ringlets. Unfortunately, their tidiness gets massacred on account of you always putting it up in a tight ponytail.

This made Raze perk up, loudly clapping once to gain all of their attention.

“Australian! That's right, she’s from Australia!”

“You’re saying that because Skye’s the only other redhead.”

“No! Well, okay, it sounds like it, but I meant that–”

“Sit down.”

Raze leaned back with a huff, Killjoy patting her on the shoulder with reassurance. As much as she wanted to reassure her, even she knew that you weren’t an Aussie like Skye was. Your accents didn’t match up, nor did the texture of your hair.

“Who’s next?”

Yoru looked around in amusement, watching the various expressions of confusion take over all of them. But just as quickly as one thought, the other came up with an answer. And this time, it was Killjoy.

“Norway!”

“Gekko wouldn’t be here if that was true.”

Gekko and Killjoy both shrinked at that sarcastic retort, now Raze comforting her with a pat on the shoulder. But, to be fair, it was kinda true.

Jett, with an immense amount of hesitation, raised her hand.

“Um, Wales?”

“That’s in the UK.”

“Oh! I got it, she’s from Sweden, yeah?”

“Mostly blondes.”

“Japan?!”

“What?”

“I don’t know!”

Killjoy cried out in defeat. Clearly, there was nobody in this room who didn’t want forty bucks for guessing a country correctly. But how the hell could all of them be so wrong? Statistically, at least one should be able to get a correct guess.

Gekko sat back on the couch and crossed his arms, mildly irked by the situation.

“So lame, man. You’re just shutting down all our answers. Do you know where she’s from?”

“No. I just know you’re all wrong.”

“How’re we supposed to make a correct guess without pulling up Wikipedia, then?”

“Hell if I know.”

Yoru stood up and swung his comb shut. Though his face carried a vacant expression, everyone could see the glimmer of pure unadulterated smugness in his eyes.

“Anyway, I’m done here. Call me when you figure it out. And make sure it’s not on my deathbed.”

He joked to himself as he walked away, leaving the entire group staring at him like a pack of starving puppies; which was on brand for such a cruel person like him. 

[siminascope]

Some of the strange happenings I've managed to catch while playing Sims 4

Being a parent is no easy task...

There was the time double-fisting coffee was the only way to get through the day.

And then there wasn't anywhere to sit and watch TV.

It's not like child endangerment is all that serious, right? Parents Mai and Dom certainly didn't seem to think so. Poor Pike was left on the front porch at all hours.

Death loomed over all of Simsdom. No one was safe but Grim was happy to be included.

First, there was the time the welcome wagon brought death instead of fruitcake.

Then there was the time 5 sims decided to die at a birthday party. They were so dramatic and selfish - die from heat exhaustion when the party's over you losers.

And how could one forget the date night from hell that ended with 25+ deaths. Grim caught fire at least 3 times, so he probably wasn't stoked to be included in this one. My sims and I have not gone back to Enamorada since. (an unfortunate and unforeseen collaboration between Life Tragedies and Extreme Violence. I assure you, settings have since been changed.)

Don't ever let your sim think their day can't get worse. Sometimes you can lose both of your moms on the same day and also find out that your wife is going to die soon too.

Even the obstetricians fell victim. Twice. During different pregnancies!

And, of course, the pets exhibited some interesting behaviors as well...

Huey often stood guard over an abandoned Pike, which was more sweet than concerning.

and Pesto Linguini (the cat) had a... unique way of demanding attention.

Granny had some interesting moments herself.

There was that time she announced that she had a favorite and then doubled down

and the time she came to meet her new grandson, Pike, and found him abandoned on the front porch (which was not the first time nor the last. Are you starting to get how often the poor kid was left outside?)

And then she had a mental breakdown(?) and took a bath in her towel.

And there have been other strange happenings too:

We learned that the pool was considered an ocean and that high school lunches could last over 18 hours.

Apparently giving an autograph to Grim is more important than trying to plead for a fiancé's life.

And, of course, just because you call the police to catch the suspicious Zanny outside your house, it doesn't mean they'll actually do their job. Sometimes they'll bypass the threat and go test out the new swing set.

I will never tire of the wonky chaos this game can create.

[acefaun]

Hello. The zodiac gods ( individually) cheated on the mc with a goddess. They broke up. He thought she will come back, two months later mc had an accident and he went to check on her in the hospital, only to find she has started dating her childhood friend. Mc doesn't want to see him so he wrote a apology letter and handed it to him ( mc's lover), promising he will never bother them again.

Please please please make it angst for zodiac gods( individually) 🙏 and a happy ending for mc and her boyfriend. Thank you.

Moving On

Synopsis: After a break-up with her god, MC relies on her childhood friend for love and support. However, after getting into a tragic accident that could have been avoided, her ex zodiac returns with a letter… But what does it say?

✨Masterlist✨ Gender-neutral goldfish!

A/n: I did this one a little differently where I opened up with the god and then just wrote their individual letters to you. 💕 I've always wanted to try writing a letter from a character's POV. And this one just so happens to be an angsty letter.  🤭 (I decided to finish writing this one while I’m busy being a designated ambulance driver.)

–Word Count: 3,684–

His heart ached since the day you broke up with him. It was safe to say you had changed him for the better… Until he abused your love. He hadn't meant to… Hadn't he? You accused him of cheating on you; but that wasn't what it was, was it? 

He was doing his job as a Zodiac god. It wasn't like he meant for you to see an unpleasant side of his work where he had to satisfy the greedy, power-hungry gods and goddesses of the Heavens. It wasn't his fault, and therefore he was sure you'd return to him in time. After all, he was familiar with the saying “time heals all wounds.” 

Once you'd return, then he'd be able to tell you how it was just a big misunderstanding. But until then… he'd wait. He knew better than to push your boundaries. That would only make you twice as upset with him, and he didn't want to prolong this suffering and heartache. 

Though… two months had already passed, and dread was starting to kick in. He wasn't so sure you were coming back… no one had been receiving your wishes and you hadn't reached out to a single god, as if you were purposefully cutting yourself off from his life. 

The only news he received in two months… was that you were in a horrible accident, leaving you unconscious at the hospital.

His heart stopped at the news… He wanted you to come back… not for you to leave him like this! But, he soon came to realize that while you never came to him, he couldn't go back to you—not as things were, anyway. 

So… He came to realize… you started dating your childhood friend in his absence. He couldn't blame you; a human was sure to be better for you than a careless god. Still, he wasn't so concerned with this human, as long as they were there for you and made you happy. 

With the way things progressed, he was sure you wouldn't want to see him again now that you were content with your own life away from him. Still, this accident was a wake-up call for him and he realized how he needed you to understand how he felt before something unforgivable happened to you. At the very least… he wanted to amend the way things ended between you. 

He couldn't speak to you, but at the very least, he brought a letter to your new partner… grateful that they accepted to take it for you. Though they were probably only so generous with him because he promised never to bother the two of you again. Only, you wouldn't know he promised himself to watch over you from the Heavens. He was just glad to have been able to see you once more in person and give a last farewell. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what you'd think of his letter… and if you'd graciously forgive him. 

♌️♌️♌️

Leon’s Note: 

I despise unnecessary work… and I especially despise the human that took you away from me. What can he provide that I couldn’t? No one can possibly make you feel better than I could—especially a human.

But… I suppose this human can treat you better… Can’t he? 

I’ve been finding myself wondering if you would have been happier if I had been a human—senseless thoughts. It would have always ended this way, with you in another’s arms. Your love was never meant for a god like me… You’re such a fragile goldfish with such an open heart, and I’m an undeserving god. 

I’m not writing this to demean you, or look down on your race, despite the bluntness of my words. Truthfully, though I’ll never be able to say these words to you in person, I want to apologize to you. You may remember… my adoration for your tears. I only never wanted to see you cry of heartbreak because of something foolish I did to hurt you.

In response to your pain, the goddess was punished for causing needless anguish in your life. Still, I wish I could have done more to salvage what was broken. 

I won’t mess up next time, I promise. I’ll make sure you’re happy above all else, even with a human. But, should you wish for me again… Well, I’m always listening.

♋️♋️♋️

Karno’s Note: 

(Name)... There’s a lot I should probably be apologizing for. I knew it would be difficult as a vice minister with a human. I knew there were many cultural differences—though I’m sure I understood more about your human culture than you probably understood of us gods. I should have been more attentive to your lack of knowledge… I took a lot for granted…

I wish I had the time to change that when we were still together; though, I’m sure you wouldn’t have accepted the way gods handled such situations. You’d have never accepted the way I was obligated to serve certain noble classes, especially the goddesses who sought to court the ministers and vice ministers. Regardless of race, despite the fact that I was taken by anyone, it didn’t change my position above these gods and goddesses.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you needed… and I’m sorry I can’t be there for you and be the one you need now. I’m sorry you had to go through unnecessary heartache because of me. 

It seems I’m always putting you through pain… 

Maybe this human you're with will be better for you. Better than me. At least you’re both of the same human culture. At least he never hurt you, as I have time and time again…

I could never fully express how sorry I am… but I hope for you to always be happy. I won’t interfere this time.

♒️♒️♒️

Huedhaut’s Note:

This isn't the first time this has happened, is it? I'm so familiar with being made to follow orders from the King that I’ve let you down again. I should know how you feel after I saw you dancing with Zyglavis the first time the King’s orders interfered in our relationship. Jealousy isn’t something pleasant and you must feel it often… 

None of it should have happened, and I shouldn’t have allowed it to continue happening time and time again. I would have stayed loyal to you rather than the King had I known my loyalty to him would cost me your love.

I’m always making foolish decisions—too firmly believing that you were destined to be mine after we found each other not once, but twice. 

I should know better than anyone that fate is cruel. 

But, please, more than anything, I want you to live freely without worrying about me. Above all else, I wish for nothing but your happiness, even in the arms of another. You deserve someone who won’t break your heart as I have.

I may be considered the smartest man in the Heavens, but sometimes I can accomplish the most ridiculously foolish things. 

Alas, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Be happy and carefree, as I originally wished for you when I first set your soul on the wheel of rebirth. Be happy without me. Be happy for me, for you are my happiness—and you always will be.

♉️♉️♉️

Teorus’ Note:

I’m really sorry… You were right with your first impression of me. I’m a horrible god who’ll never learn from my mistakes, no matter how hard you ever tried to teach me. 

I regret not having frozen time for the two of us… missing out on the opportunity to be with you for an eternity.

I meant what I said when I told you the stars aligned billions of years ago for the two of us to meet. I’ll never take that back. 

Despite how it might have seemed from my actions, I genuinely loved you—I always will. You’re always going to be a part of me now and my heart will always solely belong with you, it always was. 

I’ll never love the same again, but if I do, I’ll try better. I’ll try to be more like you, (Name). You love purely and do everything with care—you always made sure you never pushed his or any of the other gods’ boundaries, no matter what the situation was. You were always so admirable…

I should have taken care of you the same way you carefully took care of me… I’ll never forget any of the lessons you’ve taught me, and I’ll to become a better god—a better man.

♑️♑️♑️

Aigonorus’ Note: 

I told you my story… about how I fell in love with a goddess… and, yet, she only loved me and wanted to be with me for a reason as selfish as my position in the Department of Wishes. Heartbreak is a horrible thing, and I wish you never had to go through it, especially because of me. 

I only ever wanted to give you the world, (Name). If only I hadn’t had to situate myself with that goddess for a stupid situationship enforced by the other gods for that goddess to be allowed to work in the palace. Just for making me ruin my relationship with you, I don’t think she deserves to work in the palace.

I’m not trying to make an excuse for my actions. I should have told you before any of it even started. I… would have told you… If only I didn’t hesitate… You wouldn’t have found out the wrong way at the wrong time. 

I understand that it’s too late, but I can’t help but wish for your forgiveness anyway. If only to fix when I didn’t mean to break… Still, as long as you’re happy, I’m okay with whatever you choose. I hope you never have to experience that kind of pain again.

♐️♐️♐️

Tauxolouve’s Note: 

(Name), I have to first say that I don’t blame you for anything that’s happened; rather, I blame myself for not making better of the situation I was in. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, nor do I want it. I hurt you and you found someone better, simple as that. 

Still, I never felt like I was stuck between two worlds more than when I had to choose my position as a Zodiac god over my relationship with you. It only turned out to be a costly exchange…

I needed to maintain my position to keep seeing you, but it turned out to be my desperation that led to you hating me. The irony is cruel.

Still, as long as you’re prioritizing what you need to be happy, I’ll support you. Even if you wish to never see me again or even think of me, I’ll support your decision. If you want me in your life as a friend, I’ll accept that role too. I just want you to be happy and live the life you deserve; that’s all I ever wanted for you. Just remember, I’ll always be here to grant your wishes. 

♎️♎️♎️

Zyglavis’ Note: 

I know I should have seen this coming… However, ruefully, I should accept this punishment. I always put work above everything, I always prioritized my punishments. Above all, I was never heavy-handed enough to do what needed to be done the first time, always foolishly hoping that things would be mended on their own. 

This time, I ruined everything. Yet again my world crumbles around me and I’m left isolated from both man and god; and again… I was the cruel minister of punishments that you’ve always seen me as. 

I only hope you didn’t mistake my actions as a punishment to you. You were never deserving of such pain; you were perfect as you were. I ruined something entirely pure…

But I suspect this may be better for you in the long run. You found a human who can take care of you and make you happy; one who isn’t a minister that has to constantly take work over precious time I could have spent with you. This human can be there where I was not, so please, I encourage this new relationship you’ve made. 

As you’ve joked in the past, I may be a worrywart and a stick in the mud… But I will watch over you and punish any who bring you harm.

I recognize that I brought you harm, and I don’t wish for forgiveness. I deserve the pain that was inflicted upon me and remains to haunt me from all those centuries ago. 

Almost losing the Earth to darkness because of a mistake I made… and then doing the same thing again but to you… I deserve this punishment. I need to learn and grow, above all else. I can only thank you for teaching me valuable lessons in our time together. I hope to learn more as I carry you in my heart. 

♏️♏️♏️

Scorpio’s Note:  

First of all… I can’t believe you left me for a human. It makes my blood boil… Should that bastard ever do you wrong in any way, I’m going to take care of them swiftly. 

But… I understand why you left me, I won’t blame you for it and I’m not mad at you. I was too loyal to the King. Listening to this order and that order, doing things you’d never approve of… And they were all things I second guessed… because I knew you wouldn’t approve of what I was doing for that filthy trickster. Guess I was right… since everything ended in an instant the minute you caught me and found out everything.

I never felt such intense emotions before. My chest ached and I felt like my heart was shattering in my chest as I watched your heart break and crumble in front of my eyes… I didn’t know loss could hurt so hard; I never had anyone to lose before you. I hate it. Still, I had to convince myself that you weren’t lost—not in the way humans use the word… not yet. So I needed to take this opportunity to tell you how I felt before anything worse happened—like really losing you… I needed to tell you how much I still love you…

But I know I never deserved your love. I never understood why you would give it to someone like me, someone who didn’t know what love was until you showed up. Despite your efforts to teach me, I still failed to provide what a lover should… My loyalty should have been to you, not that lousy King.

I’m sorry, (Name). So, I won’t bother you anymore. Don’t worry about me. Focus on that human who knows love and will be able to give you what you deserve and who deserves your love in return. 

♊️♊️♊️

Dui’s Note: 

Ever since you left, I keep thinking… I always thought it would have been Shadow to be the one to scare you away. I thought you’d leave because of my split personality, not because of something I was forced to do.

I’m sorry for hurting you like that… You probably had no idea how much pain I was in to see you cry and run from him—of course, I wouldn’t have deserved that much consideration when you were in more than enough pain because of me. Shadow emerged not long after, nearly getting us in trouble by attacking the goddess who caused all this. But I didn’t have the heart to go after you once we’d calmed down.

If anything, I’m just happy you were able to find someone else. In fact, I’m glad this person used to be your childhood friend; that makes me all the happier for you. If it makes it easier for you… I’ll stay away and you can forget about me. I just what you to have the best.

—sCRibbLeD WriTiNG— (Shadow Dui’s Note:)

I’M SORRY~

I didn’t mean for any of this to happen! I didn’t want you to leave me. You’re the only one who truly accepted and loved me. Even Dui resents me for existing because you’re gone. 

I can’t make it without you, my only love—mOrE SCribBLeS— I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just… want you to smile again. I want to banish the image of you crying from my memory. Please, please, be happy. Be the happiest… Just… smile again… please…

♓️♓️♓️

Ichthys’ Note:

I want you to live a life you won’t regret, first and foremost. I love your smile and always want you to wear one. I want you to laugh, it’s one of my favorite sounds… 

Though… I regret that I’ll never be able to experience any of these things again. I envy the one who’ll be privileged enough to be by your side all the time.

But I know you loved my smile too… I find it hard to do that without you by my side. I never smiled for that goddess, never did anything to please her. She wasn’t the one I loved and I’m sorry I had to do that to you. It wasn’t a bad joke, I swear! It was just that I owed the King and my parents a lot; that included acting like a ‘proper Zodiac god’ and treating noble goddesses with respect. 

But now, all I can do is bask in the regret of losing you. I’ll try not to mope. I promise I’ll still pull pranks on the other gods. I’ll still laugh and smile for you… only you. I’ll keep living because you always wanted me to. Hopefully… you can live happily too… and maybe come to forgive me some day. 

♍️♍️♍️

Partheno’s Note:  

I knew dating you would come with trials—I’m not saying you were difficult to be with, rather, the opposite way around. I was a demon and I’d done horrible things to you; it was only a matter of if and when he made another wrong move that you’d forsake me. It was only sooner than I had time to prepare for…

I was still a Zodiac god, after all, and I was still sought after by goddesses… Of course, fate would be so cruel as to allow you to catch me with a goddess pinning me to my own bed. I know you probably don’t want to recall the sight, but you have to understand that I couldn’t fight back then; I couldn’t do anything that seemingly a demon would do. You understand, don’t you? That these goddesses would be willing to cry wolf if I didn’t give them what they wanted.

It was cruel… but it was all for you, didn’t you realize? In pleasing the gods, I was able to stay in the Heavens and keep you… But either way, my efforts brought me down. Those goddesses used me… You left me…

I’m not asking for pity or forgiveness. I’d support you no matter what you chose, even it was to be without me. 

But I knew you wanted a better life for me than what I was living as a demon, I’ll continue to try and make a better life as a god for you. I’ll do everything… anything for you. Though… if that human ever does anything to you, I’ll gladly revert to a demon and end the pathetic thing’s life. But don’t worry, it’s only a contingency plan. 

As long as you take care of yourself and do what makes you happy, I’ll gladly leave you be if it’s your wish. So, as long as you know… my heart is always for you, whether you choose to forgive me or not.

♈️♈️♈️

Krioff’s Note:  

I kind of understand what happened… You left because I was forced to please some worthless goddess… But didn’t you understand that I’d have put you in that goddess's palace in a heartbeat? Or… did you think I’d truly be seeing someone behind your back?

Well, that’s beside the point. You’re with someone else now—a human. You have other things to focus on and I don’t want your forgiveness anyway. If I’m to be alone, I want to suffer for what I’ve done to you. I deserve the same heartbreak I unintentionally bestowed upon you. You… who is entirely undeserving of pain. 

I’m used to getting hurt. I’ll take all the pain and suffering the world could give me if only for you to be pain-free and happy. You deserve nothing less. In fact, anyone who hurts you only deserves the worst, that includes me. 

If you’re trying to look for a positive outcome of this like I am… At least now, you’ll never have to deal with my dad again. No god or goddess deserves such an encounter…

But as long as you smile and are able to live your best life, this is okay.

[lmelodie]

Back Together BlackIce things Pt. 2

Late night posting addition. Part one is Right Here. Will there be a part three? Four even? Depends on how long their gonna rot my brain for. We'll see.

I just wanna inform everyone that the only way the scenario would go concerning a BlackIce, Who Did This to You? moment would be one asking this and the other responding like: YOU DID ASSHOLE! DO YOU SERIOUSLY NOT REMEMBER THIS??

And the other who asked has to go like: ….Oh! Oh yeah! Huh. Die mad about it then >:|

My Worst Nightmare (affectionate)

Since they first knew each other, Jack has been ADAMANT, whole heartedly believes, that there's an audible difference between Killian laughing WITH him vs. AT him. He says he can hear the subtle difference but everyone else thinks he's crazy.

Conversations involving catching up about all the things that have happened in the past 910 yrs.

K: So yeah, I did get my leg caught in a bear trap once and that was pretty wild.

J: YOU DID WHAT??

-----------------------

J: Did I ever tell you that I was kidnapped by pirates once?

K: Did I ever tell you that I was a pirate once

J: Doesn't surprise me. You do look like you contracted scurvy a while ago and still hasn't been able to get rid of it.

You bet your sweet ASS that Jack takes full advantage of that stupid fucking scarf he always wears. That shits ALWAYS getting yanked.

There will be the very occasional snow on Halloween. Jack uses this as a very blatant lie of an excuse to visit Kills on the job during the holiday.

They both STILL hold a grudge on Cupid. Stupidly in love once again and they still hate his guts. They tried complaining about it to him once and Cupid goes:

"Oh, so what I'm hearing is that you wanna break up YET AGAIN!? You wanna fall out of love twice, fuckers? Because I can make that happen! I can take all that away again right now. Stop running ya mouths."

The both of them never brought it up again after that.

👏Making👏up👏with👏the👏Mother's👏in👏Law👏

Mostly Jack is the one with the uphill climb on that front. Duna hates his GUTS and there is such a minute microscopic chance of her coming around to him again. And the image of Jack absolutely floundering about trying to win over this woman is amazing.

At some point Killian goes: "Dude, it's not gonna work. I expected this and it's fine that she doesn't like you."

And Jack goes: "It is NOT fine. I WILL win her over somehow and she WILL like me!"

Spoiler alert: She doesn't.

WINTER STREETS/FORESTS AT NIGHT!!!

It's their whole vibe and they love hanging out in those areas in the dead of night in the middle of winter. Because ugh it's freezing cold, it's scary dark, there is no one around and it's completely uninhabitable and miserable. But not to them!! They are probably the only ones who will find such a scenario thoroughly enjoyable and romantic even.

Killian, along with not being able to slow dance, also can't ice skate! He's never learned, so Jack abuses this 100% and has frozen many lakes to force him out on. It's the same thing as the dancing where it's one of the rare instances that he's more dependent on him. Ego boost of the century.

PLUS, MORE BED SHARING DIATRIBES! Because it's my new favorite thing

They don't sleep in the same bed often. Jack only needs to sleep every couple days and Kills every week, so it's only occasionally that this happens at all.

There is no one designated big/little spoon. They switch on almost a daily basis. They're both switches. It's just a matter of who initiates first that day.

BUT! Killian does sleep with his eyes open. So as long as Jack is not directly facing him as he's trying to sleep, it's all good.

It's a nonnegotiable requirement that Kills sleeps with the heated blanket. If he doesn't, he will get hypothermia in the night and will complain about it for the entire rest of the following day.

The night always starts of very normal, but as they sleep, they just get more and more tangled up. And it's WORSE because Killian's joints can bend in impossible ways, so they wake up the next morning absolutely MANGELED and in a mess of limbs.

[hello-im-not-a-possum]

A Secret Leak: Bringing the Dark to the Light

Audrey poured the contents of her bag across the dining room table and looked over them with a sigh: Artist found dead at his desk, Bendy's going bankrupt, Angel gone AWOL, Workers caught in devastating ink flood, twelve injured, six dead, Maestro gone missing, GENT Lawsuit against retired animation veteran ends in strange stalemate... She went to her bedroom and took the collected death certificates off of her shelf and brought them to the dining room, planning in figuring out how they fit in with the newspaper stories, like trying to fit puzzle pieces together.

'Shortly after acclaimed, award winning voice actress Susie Campbell had done an interview with press over her upcoming meet up with animation producer Joey Drew, she completely disappeared off the face of the earth without a trace. According to Ms. Campbell herself, the two were going to discuss the possibility of her going back to reprise the role that had the public catch her eye in the biggest and most ambitious project Joey Drew Studios had ever dared to achieve. But before fans of the original Alice Angel could even anticipate the return of her voice, it was stolen away once more.'

'"Joey and I didn't really leave on good terms... One minute I was doing my daily routine as usual and the next I was scrambling for a new role while looking for new jobs. And I'm not going to lie and say that I *didn't* resent him for that." Ms. Campbell commented in the interview. "While there was still a lot of good folks at the studio, I can't say I missed the place itself or the grinning devil at the top. I think he's only come crawling back after he saw that I've made a name for myself while he's shot himself in the foot." When asked if she was considering turning down Mr. Drew's offer of a reprise, she responded "I guess it will all come down to him. Does he really feel guilty about the whole thing? Is he treating his remaining workers better? Is he actively trying to be a better boss and person? If I so much as sense a single 'no' as an answer for any of my questions, I'm not setting foot back in that studio! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...".'

'As there's currently no other leads, the public suspects one of two outcomes: that the voice actress was kidnapped by a scorned and or lovesick fanatic who saw their chance when she was waiting for Joey to arrive, or that the man behind the grinning devil struck down the original Alice Angel in a blind rage-

"...You know, just because Ink creatures don't *need* sleep doesn't mean they don't get tired." Bendy bit his lip as he watched Audrey read through the article.

"Yeah, but it's not like I have the luxury of hiring a private eye to help on this... I mean, imagine if the truth got out, either there would be mass hysteria, or you'd be sent to some lab and I'd be sent to some asylum-"

"Hey! Let's not bring labs or asylums into this!" he shuddered while taking a seat at the table. "...Anyway, while we're going to be pulling an all nighter, there's something that's been on my mind since I've moved in... ...Two somethings in fact."

"What is it, Bendy?"

"One; why do you have these death certificates? Joey I could kinda understand. I don't know how the death business works, but I guess it makes sense for people to give the still-living family members copies of it along with the inheritance, but Henry? Susie? Everybody else who was close in contact with Joey while working at the studio? Where did you get these and how?"

"They were all in file cabinets at Archgate Studios. I also found a lot of the newspapers in a file cabinet in Nathan's office." Audrey put Susie Campbell's death certificate on top of the 'Angel gone AWOL' article. "Sometimes I get mistaken for a secretary and I play along with it to get into areas I'm normally not allowed in."

"Huh..." Bendy nodded in thought as he looked over the ink flood case. "...I thought that the guy who turned part of his studio into a museum celebrating "Joey's legacy" would want to hide away the parts that the public found disgusting. Sweep it under the rug by destroying them..."

"Well, the thing about Nathan is that he loves everything about Joey." Audrey shrugged. "All the good, all the bad, all the truths and lies... Everything. He'd keep things hidden away so that only he could see them, but I don't think he could ever bring himself to destroy anything related to him or his legacy."

"...I guess that makes sense..." The imp sighed as he skimmed over the closest article to him 'Artist found dead at desk'. "As for the second thing: How come you're nothing like Joey?"

"Care to elaborate..?" she smiled nervously, not knowing if the imp meant that in a good or bad way.

"You two have different hair colors, different physical forms, different ink forms, and wildly different personalities. I mean, he's stupid, impulsive, has questionable morals, loud, and most importantly: He's always trying to make himself the main star of the show, being loud and in control."

"I see..."

"While you? You might be kinda clueless, but you're also curious and you're doing your research, you seem to only be taking risks because you're backed into a corner here, and you're pretty quiet, meek even. Sure, you can banish souls into the inky puddles and break skulls open when push comes to shove but you sure as hell don't act like it... In fact, you remind me more of Henry than Joey."

"And how do you feel about Henry?"

"Good question... When I first met him, I hated him. I thought he was the reason I was in this mess in the first place. I believed that if he stayed back and... I don't know, done *something,* anything to change my fate. Maybe if he was there he could've convinced Joey not to hurt me, maybe if he was there he could've fixed me in a way where I didn't need to be tortured into a perfect form, maybe... maybe if he was there he could've taken me with him so I wouldn't have to be along with him..." He rubbed the tears out of his watering eyes to keep himself from bawling like a baby. "...But now? Now I know that I was blaming the wrong person. Henry is just a retired animator, he never would've suspected that he was capable of anything like this. For all he knew, Joey was just a good friend but a shitty boss and that's that. When he found out the truth, he was already trapped in a cage just like everyone else..."

Audrey moved to hug the imp but held back, not knowing if she'd make it worse but not willing to risk it...

"Can I come to work with you tomorrow?"

"Well Bendy, we both know some of the problems with that..."

"Please! I could wear a disguise and I'll be quiet! I also know how to get through vent systems without making noise and my hearing's good enough to sense where people are coming and going! They'll *never* know I was there!"

"Okay, fine... but you also have to be very careful, Wilson's ghost has been hanging around the studio."

"Weird... I thought it would stay in the machine since he died in there- Wait, he doesn't enter or leave properly, so it probably spat him out to prevent more irritation."

"...What?"

"Okay, when you first got in the cartoon studio, did you see ink coming out of its nozzle when you entered the ink? Or see a doorway open to what distinctly looked like a sepia-toned and cartoonish world?"

"No..? It was more of a pool of ink leaking out of the bottom of the machine itself and Wilson pulling me into it."

"Well that explains it... Think of the ink machine like a person and normal people as food. It eats the food and makes ink people. But Wilson doesn't get 'eaten' because he doesn't properly enter it, he more so... makes it bleed, enters the blood stream, and gets to the ink world that way. Like some kind of parasite that the ink world notices and tries to fight off."

"...Huh..." Audrey blinked slowly, processing the metaphor and internally wondering if they alluded to something else or if she was just overthinking it. "...Well I guess that explains why he's here..."

"Anyway, if he's here no matter what form he takes he wont scare me." The demon smirked confidently. "He's powerless without his keepers!"

"If you say so... See you in the morning, Ben."

Audrey went back to looking over the articles, just wanting to match up one more to a certificate before calling it a night...

-----

It was easier sneaking Bendy out of Archgate than it was to sneak him in, some reasons more obvious than others.

The crowds of other coworkers were difficult enough to navigate through, but she also had to deal with the lingering fear that 'playing dead' wasn't enough for the little devil in her bag to avoid suspicion. Sure, any random passerby would easily mistake the limp demon for a very well-made toy, but Audrey was so used to his liveliness that just going limp wasn't enough to convince her, and therefore she didn't think she and the imp were convincing anyone else.

She was thankful that her office had a lockable door and an airvent cover that could easily be unscrewed with a pencil.

"Okay, to keep you from getting lost; No unscrewing other vent covers while you're in there and just in case, I'll mark this one with a sticky note."

"Don't worry, I know exactly what I'm doing." He brushed her off and climbed in the open vent.

"But do you know the layout of Archgate?"

"I don't need to, the thing I'm looking for has a *very* distinct smell."

She nodded hesitantly, reminding herself that while Bendy did need help from time to time. the imp climbing through the vent wasn't always a small and helpless creature that jumped at loud noises and cried when he burned his tongue on soup. Just because he hasn't turned into the Ink Demon yet didn't mean that he was permanently like this, ...did it?

"I'll be back in say... two hours, maybe three if I get held up by vent-traffic or something." He reassured her. "Don't worry until at least past the three hour mark, okay?"

"Okay, and if you see Wilson in there..." She handed him what looked like a bottle of bleach spray. "It doesn't *kill* ink creatures or ghosts mind you, but it's basically pepper spray for him."

"Got it, thanks Audrey!"

With that, he disappeared into the vents while Audrey tried to refocus her mind on her work.

...

"It's so much dirtier than I anticipated..." Bendy murmured while crawling through the webby, dusty vents. "Spiders in the not-ink world must be really flexible..."

He shuttered at the thought of entities *like* the regal widows, but with the traits Audrey described them with: more legs, eight beady eyes, and large, sharp pincers...

"Okay, focus Bendy, Nathan's office has to be around here somewhere..."

To his left, the sound of a set of keys being dropped echoed throughout the vents (or at least, it did to him) and as the opportunistic demon saw his chance, he made it to the set, peeking at the vent cover to make sure that there was no one looking and carefully removing the cover from his side to pick up the forgotten set...

...Only to be grabbed by the wrist by a four-fingered hand and hoisted up like a freshly caught fish. And the 'fisherman' in question was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Looking for these?" Wilson let out a raspy chuckle as he jingled the keys in front of the annoyed imp's face. "I knew you were going to come back here eventually, but I didn't expect you would be so easy to cat- AAAURRGHHH!"

Spraying the ghost in the face with the bleach, Bendy braced himself for impact as Wilson dropped him to wipe the stuff out of his eyes, grabbing the keys and slipping back into the vents.

"Not so fast!" the false janitor called after him while trying to climb into the small vent himself. "This is far from over, devil!"

Just as he saw the demon's tail disappear into the darkness in the vents, Wilson started to chuckle before breaking down into full on laughter, laughter that made the demon stop in his tracks...

"Of course you ran! It's all you can do you... you pathetic, insignificant, little ink stain! And to think that you're the product of the legacy my father gave so much up to protect! The legacy of a thief that left a wife husbandless and a child fatherless by infecting a good man with obsessions over a dying empire that deserved to die! The legacy of a weak, cowardly, little man..."

Bendy turned back, glaring at the man half-stuck in the vent.

"...Do you think I'm running from you because I'm afraid of you?"

"Well, it's not like you stayed and fought me, is it?" He smirked. "Go ahead, run along little mouse, the cat will catch you once and for all before you know it..."

"It takes one to know one, what is even one thing worth fearing about you? You have no powers given to you, taken from others or otherwise, The ink machine created your Keepers, not you, and your creation "Duddy Shitchips" or whatever his name is has nothing behind it, no heart, no soul, it never would've worked to be my successor because it was just made in a spiteful attempt to steal an audience you don't even want, just taking it for the sake of making them talk about a creation you made instead of a creation made by someone who you hold the stupidest grudge against."

Wilson's smirk quickly fell to a frown.

"You know, it's kinda funny." He sat down with a chuckle. "Even if it's for wildly different reasons, we have the exact same enemies and same tragedies... Both of us were cast aside by our fathers because they wanted to chase illusions of greater things, both of us were hated by people for our appearances when we have no control over how we look, and both of us really, really want Joey to get beaten to a pulp. Who knows, maybe if things went differently, we could've been the best of friends."

Wilson's eye narrowed at the grinning imp. "I am nothing like you..." he spat through gritted teeth.

"Exactly. I'm a being of darkness that wanted to embrace the light but was rejected from it all my life until now, and you? You're a spoiled rotten being of light that threw away so many things that even now you still take for granted... All to try to control darkness out of the false belief that the light rejected you."

Bendy turned away from him and made his way back through the vents while Wilson tsked.

"I lost nothing, do you hear me demon?! Nothing!"

"Then you can make it back to being passably human on your own, right?"

The only 'answer' given was the soft echos of the various sounds of the demon disappearing back into the vents.

[fuckyeahrevresbo]

I'm lonely.

I've been in this city for about 20 months now and... I guess it would be disingenuous to say I haven't made any friends. There's some coworkers (mostly former coworkers now) I get on with, and I've even had them over a couple times to chat and play a video game. But it's very rare, and I'm once again in the position where it's an I always need to be the one setting everything up situation. Not once have they ever suggested hanging out first.

I recognize how you meet new people. Just go to the same place consistently, do the same activity consistently. After a day at work, though, I don't feel much like going anywhere. Don't feel much like spending money at a place consistently (and most places you can go cost money). And I'm still about the only person I know who masks in public regularly, and I don't really like going places if I don't at least know people are vaxxed. Getting more and more difficult to ask about that, especially given the... political climate where I live.

I can still do things online with my friends back home. It's fun, I enjoy it. Have all these board games up here though that don't get played. I had hoped at least since I lived in the same place I'd see my cousins more often. It is more often, I guess, more often than the once or twice a year before, but it's not exactly... common. And it's unfair of me, but now I'm annoyed at one of them. Messaged her and her sister separately about getting together for board games. Got told by her (still haven't heard from her sister) that it's difficult because their schedules don't line up. I said to her they could come over different times, doesn't have to be together. I know her sister usually drives them, but I can drive, as I told her. And now I hear that she's meeting my roommate to do some activities on Saturday while I've got an online game. I don't begrudge them that per se, they're allowed to do stuff without me, but there's something about meeting my roommate in person for stuff and brushing aside my offer. I'm sure it's not like that, but... I'm lonely.

My roommate will occasionally play a board game with me, but in the evenings he's more inclined to watch a movie. I like watching movies on occasion, but...

Brought three board games back from my last trip home. Bought another one a couple weeks back. Feels like I've been overly optimistic. Feel that way every time I open grindr too.

Do I just go back home after this? Been telling people who asked I wasn't sure. There's something nice about being out here. And much as I complain about my current job, I don't want to have to try and find another one. But I'm nearly 20 months in. And I'm fucking lonely.

I need more people who message me first. Who hit me up to chat before I message them. Who ask if I want to hang out before I have to ask them. Mentally, I'm better than I was ten years ago, even five years ago, but there's still a little voice ready to enumerate all my faults and mistakes and to tell me I'm not wanted. If I'm always the one who has to make the plans, to remind people I exist and want to see them...

I take all my breaks at work alone now. The other coworkers I used to go on break with have left. The one that's still here... well, at first I might have said it was because they were on us to follow the break schedule. But she takes all her breaks with her other friend now, despite his break being scheduled later than mine. Even when we were down to just the three of us, she took break with him and asked our supervisor to get someone to cover while they went, whereas before she got annoyed with people taking breaks in a way that didn't provide coverage.

Yeah, I can give people a smile or a laugh or some fries, but do they actually want to hang out with me? Rationally, I know they do, but tonight's a bad night, and I'm lonely.

And how do I tell people that part of me feels unwanted because people don't message first without it sounding like a guilt trip? I've been guilted before, and it feels awful. I don't want people to feel guilty, and I definitely don't want them to feel like they have to reach out to me as an obligation. Just want... I dunno, assurance that I'm not just there, not just a warm body to fill a place.

I'm lonely.

[outrunningthedark]

My real big problem with BuckTaylor is him wanting to date Taylor in the first place despite knowing what she almost did during the brownies accident, which also happened briefly in Season 2 until he decided to be with Ali because seriously, it just makes him look very stupid in comparison when he can be more than that. The only real acknowledgement to Taykay's behavior from the firefam that I remember of is that during Jonah's investigation via Chim and Hen's silent gesture, the same episode we're seeing her "true nature anyway" so it's redundant and Athena talking about her to Lou which does not go anywhere and she does nothing with it afterwards.

Babying Buck or not, Taykay's writing is riddled with stupid, stupid decisions one after another.

Look, it's really easy for us as viewers to question the choice to bring TayKay back as a real LI and then never truly address her previous behavior, but (IMO) we would have a better understanding if we thought like a show runner.

*LI is going to be temporary, mostly to fill the void left by Maddie (one woman leaves, another is available) and Madney as a couple. What would be faster/easier? Creating a whole new character, or reinserting someone the audience doesn't have to get to know? *LI's career should have some sort of connection to the first responder life so she can fill those gaps in screen time, but not be important enough where her presence or absence affects the overall story. TayKay is a reporter whose segments meant crossing paths with the firefam, but once the narrative shifted she was easily swapped out for another voice (they don't even need to be seen!) who could do the exact same job. *Not atoning for prior actions served two purposes: keep any newer members of the audience (s4 was when the fandom *really* took off, I think) from dwelling on a past version of a character they never knew, and hope that by not having Buck or any of his friends question why he'd get involved with her again, the audience wouldn't think twice about his change of heart. And for the most part, it seemed to work, especially around here. We've seen the gifsets about #charactergrowth after 4x11 when she made her "celebration" at Buck's about solving two cases rather than a promotion. Hook, line, and sinker. (Good thing those edits don't circulate anymore!) *Her work didn't negatively impact the people in Buck's life (this part is important - those of us who always saw TayKay for what she was had no problem criticizing her obsession with solving the husband and wife murder plot or how she tells other people's stories to hide from her own, but none of that hurt anyone directly connected to her bf) until it was time to end the relationship. When her quest for the truth crossed the line for the second time, Buck realized she was never truly going to prioritize their relationship or his trust in her over a chance to make headlines. Does it make sense? Not to people who over-analyze and assume the show runners like to have some grand plan at all times. But remember what Kristen said after 5A - TayKay wasn't even supposed to be in as many scenes as she got that first half despite being a reporter. She was always meant to be a "for now" option, not "forever", and the writing had to reflect that. (Unfortunately, not everyone could see the story for what it was, hence the panic over trying to legitimize her as Buck's future from Buddie fandom and then the BeeTees claiming the show switched things up last minute because they couldn't handle the idea that their fave was made "better" until the show brought all the mains back where they belong.)

[rosethorndragon]

I feel like I'm going mad. Like guinuinly being driven there.

At the end of May, I hit my stress over flow, ready to drive myself naked to a crisis center to insure I get assistance. I was talked down from it, was told things would be done to help me lower my stress, and was able to to talk to a school provided therapist while taking summer classes.

Fall semester is about to start and none of the things that were discussed to be done as a stress reduction came to pass. All for good reasons. One reason not directly discussed was money. A reason I objected to 7 new cats because kittens are cute. A reason I wanted to not do a thing for them upstairs because my parents brought that literal pile of shit on themselves despite my well reasoned protest. I am left to clean up after 17 fucking cats because I am the one capable of doing so.

I am also, by virtue of not being elderly or disabled, the only one appearently capable of fucking cleaning this house. I despise cleaning. I am perfectly fine cleaning up after myself, but my dad makes cleaning exhausting. Proof in the house is fine when my dad isn't in the house. One of the things that never came to fruition was twice a month having a cleaner come in and do some deep cleaning to relieve the stress that puts on me. I thought I was finally heard. But no. Or if I was, it isn't important she's just lazy, she'll be fine.

Insult to injury us my grandmother. There is no dna shared with her, but my dad's wife considers her like a mother to her. And her kids are shit. One recently had to own up to her fuck ups and I am willing to admit she has changed from the woman who rented a house that was reliant on her mother's social security to pay for it, leaving her handicapped mother to get a part time job while my dad still paid for part of her medication. Her son didn't do this, but was in the same fuck up as the first daughter and still hasn't fully resolved the situation making him unable to provide for his mother. The youngest daughter has a legit brain injury, her husband just had to get an amputation because of a bone infection, and her husband's parents are the reason why the bone got infected because they are all the anti-work evil bosses type directly to their son.

The eldest daughter is the worst. Because there is considerable distance between us, that cunt has been able to lie about what contributions to her religious community's were hers, and what was ours as an offering of help as a starter. She had to have all the glory, you see. She had spent all this money for a church production, and the congregation was so grateful. They paid her back the money she "spent" on it and never knew someone outside of their precious religion paid for it. This is when I decided I hated her because that means that suspicion of grandma being overly drugged so they could use her money was likely true. And it was, as events later panned out. But my dad's wife doesnt want to make this related conflict public.

But because this cunt still has good religious standing and is known to be a lier, ibfeel trapped. My dad doesn't want to force grandma to pay for anything rent wise despite inflation affecting our food because he primised. His wife doesn't want file for control of her "essentially adopted mother" finances power of attorney wise because grandma is still competent and capable of making her own decisions and she doesn't want to be controlling like that eldest cunt of a daughter; despite the fact we now have to confront the fact grandma has a shopping addiction and keeps buying shoes and things she isn't going to use especially after the pandemic and went from no credit cards to 3 maxed out cards. And she is right because cunt face up north would pitch a fit and lie like she did during the 2021 Freeze where everyday she talked to her mother and then tell people who know grandma but don't zoom call her regularly that cunt face was "so worried" and "didn't know if her mother was safe" so we all know that cunt is just waiting for an opportunity to spin a story, claim we are committing elder abuse and have worried, well meaning people call the police on and try and claim power of attorney to do what she did before and start using her mother as a piggy bank, again.

But that means that we are all theoretically aware of our current financial situation, and grandma wants me to take her to spend $200 of not her money to get her nails done and if i say no and why it will "get blown out of proportion" and "you are terrible at communicating that, just leave it to me".

Well, y'all have done such a great job communicating that she appearently thinks the other card being used to pay a vet bill was something other than "start tightening those belts". I've tightened my spending as bunch as I can. I am being denied mental health support over it. I am being denied things that will probably improve my physical health over it.

I cannot any more. If the only functional way of communicating i have is silence and being less than ellegant/blunt/mean, then yall need to be ready for my meanness being heard by cunt face because I'm hitting the boil over point again and mean is all I got when I'm at rage.

[malka-lisitsa]

katerina had been rather endearing as of late (no yelling, no breaking things out of anger or to get his attention). elijah certainly doesn't expect her (nor wants her) to turn domestic or evolve into something others call 'housewife'– that would also be against everything katerina stands for. he does, however, highly appreciate that she wanted to give him a little joy even if she wasn't good at successfully fulfilling her projects.

elijah is very much a giver if one had reached a certain spot in his heart hence why he decided to surprise her this morning with self-made breakfast in bed: a fresh glass of orange juice, coffee, freshly made parfait, sliced-up fruits, clafoutis with cherries, homemade crepes with nutella and strawberries, and waffles. it was admittedly a bit expansive and he doesn't know if she could even eat all of it but it was his turn to give her joy. he brought everything he had prepared on a large tray to her bed and then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

» katherine earned fluffy things

Attempting to be good is very very exhausting. Especially when your boyfriend is an original who is always busy with something, and when you don't have to worry about running anymore... theres really not much else to do. Being Klaus' victim is a full time job... now that Elijah saved her shes.... well bored.

So she fills her time with trying to do the behaviors Elijah seems to like better. Like not breaking things, or shouting randomly for attenion. Boring, but shes been trying. She tried to cook for him, that didnt go well.. twice.... and the rug fiasco... well.. she will be letting the staff handle that from now on.

It was just... kind of lonely. In a new way. She'd always been lonely but now she was alone when she didn't have to be. Failing at simple tasks she's never really had the opportunity to learn how to do. Nothing like suddenly stopping a five hundred year game of hide and seek to really show you how little youve lived anything close to NORMAL in that time. Why do you think she acts out so drastically for his attention? Shes lonely. She just wants him to look at her, she doesn't care how. When it didn't work the way she wanted she got frustrated... but shockingly she DID listen to him. Which was why she'd attempted her domestic things... it just seemed like she wasnt getting anywhere.

So, when she felt that gentle kiss to her forehead, she stirred and grumbled. Expecting it to be some god awfully early hour and he was going to leave for something somewhere and 'would return home post haste' or whatever suit speak saying he used most days...

Instead, she opened her eyes to a very soft looking expression on her lover's face. Brows furrowed in an instant and she rubbed her eyes as she sat up. The array of food she was presented with was - EXTENSIVE and her brows shot up so high they might have hit her hair line.

"Oh my god." She needed a second to take it in, and you could see it happen in real time as her features softened and her bright little smile overtook the groggy remains of sleep.

One thing most people dont know about Katherine? She LOVES fruit. I mean LOVES IT. And here was a tray with an array of her favourites, and a convinient little wrap to shovel them in her mouth with.

Her eyes watered and she looked over at Elijah with all the love she could muster in her eyes. When she spoke, it barely made noise, and she reached out to touch his forearm.

"Обичам те. It's beautiful.... come share with me?" She tilted her head, voice hopeful. She wanted to spend the morning in bed with him. Like they were the only two in the whole world.

[lastoneout]

After watching the show twice and thinking about it way too hard I'm starting to think Bee was created, at least in part, to protect the island/spaceship.

Like I do love the theory that human Bee died and the current Bee is a replacement, I def agree that her talking about getting really sick one time isn't just a throwaway line, plus her hatred of the ocean/water seems too important to be nothing but a personality quirk brought on by her being a robot(like how she says she's waterproof but also that she doesn't even like looking at the oceans bcs it makes her "think about things" seems suspicious), and as sad as it is the first time we see baby Bee she is trying to stick a fork in an electric socket...so yeah lots of hints/references to Bad Stuff happening in her past, BUT I also could see her having a greater purpose in the whole system thing that's going on with the spaceship/island.

It seems like one of her main skills is being Really Freaking Strong, and several times we see her consciously activate some parts of herself that specifically make her stronger, and I can't stop thinking about how two times in the show her main consciousness seems to go "offline" and is replaced by some kind of combat focused sleeper-agent mode and how when she's in that mode she can keep fighting even when parts of her are severely damaged. Sure, her dad could have added all that just to protect her, but on top of all that the show also goes out of it's way to show that helping and supporting people is clearly one of the main things she does, and I think that's important too.

Like we see pictures and flashbacks of her with other characters when they were babies, she mentions being familiar with taking care of babies in the new first ep, Deckard and Cas talk about how she's been around their family "forever", and she starts to prioritize taking care of Cardamon once she realizes he needs help. We see her remeber what people enjoy and go out of her way to get things they like/want, take them places she knows they'll have fun, and to support them even when it's hard(the peach bread, evergy drinks, and laptop for Cas, taking Crispin to the clown planet, ordering food from the cat Cafe despite clearly not wanting to be there just to help Howell, pushing Deckard to pursue his dream, going crazy trying to fix Puppycat when he's all squishy, ect.), Hell the show even starts with her wishing she had someone/thing to take care of. It's clearly something that she's drawn to doing, even if she isn't always the best at it.

And yeah that could all just be her(or human Bee's) natural personality, but even the little stuff is Important in this show and so I think it's more than that. Like maybe Bee's dad programed in the "helpful" stuff just to make sure someone was looking after Violet and Cardamon(even if they weren't awake) and that just spilled over into the rest of Bee's life, or maybe he genuinely wanted her to care for the island residents, but it really does seem like Bee's real job is being a protector.

Anyway I know some people were saying Lazy in Space was labeled as "part one" so I'm hoping we get more and if we do they go into why Bee exists, but until then this is my theory.

[chenle-dressed-in-black]

Hiii ! Here to request again lol ! These are just some ideas, but part 2 to the mafia dream meeting you or like, the two other units meeting you (doesn't matter if you're in the mafia too or not) pleaaase ?

✰ 𝕞𝕒𝕗𝕚𝕒!𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ✰ | seeing you again after you met in the middle of a mission

     This is a part two to another reaction I did a while back! Under different circumstances, you and the boys are once again brought together. My mafia works often contain violence, blood, alcohol, & other similar themes, although none in excess. Please always feel free to reach out with specific questions & about what content warnings you’d like in the future! I’m trying to catch up on requested content & drafts! Thank you for your patience & support.  Enjoy~

     Check out part one or my m.list!

Mark

     When you met him, he essentially saved your ass and you were grateful for the head start he gave you. After your former best friend amassed gambling debt with an organized crime group, she disappeared and left you to be collateral. Mark should’ve taken you, but he offered you a warning instead.

     He didn’t need to tell you twice. It’s been a few months since he showed up in your apartment to kidnap you and you’re living in a new city, under a new name, with the upmost caution at all times. 

     You’re cooking dinner in your temporary apartment when you hear someone kick at your front door. Knowing you only have a moment, you snap into action and run to your bedroom. They’re in the apartment in seconds, just behind you. 

     “Y/N!” a man screams. “You did a good little job evading us, but your fun’s over now! Are you we gonna do this the easy way or the hard way? I won’t hurt you unless you make me.”

     Your fingers tremble, but you force yourself to focus. There’s too much at stake. And you can hear another pair of feet behind him. I can do this, you think. No big deal.

      The man takes a step down the hallway toward your room, then a voice behind him makes you gasp. “Leave her alone, dude. We talked about this.” 

     There’s absolutely no way, but you know it’s him. 

     “I want my money and I’m gonna get it, you prick. Don’t get in my way.”

     Mark sighs. “That would be a mistake.”

     “I’ll ask for your forgiveness with a load of cash in my hands, then.” The man takes another step toward your doorway. He’s close now. Mark doesn’t say anything else. He’s just going to let him come for you. “Little birdie, where are you?”

     When he steps into your view, you’re ready. The gun fires and hits home, causing him to stagger back against the wall in shock. And drop his own gun. You dash forward, kicking it far away from him. “Get out of my fucking home before I put one in your skull. And leave me the hell alone. I didn’t do anything! Go find her instead of me, ass hat. She’s in fucking Madrid, if you need any direction.”

     His face clenches in fury as he turns and walks away, cussing you out under his breath. You cock the gun again, because there’s still another man you don’t fully trust in your apartment. “That goes for you, too, Mark.” 

     “I was here to look out for you!” he says, stepping into your view.

     If you pulled the trigger right now, it would hit his sternum. “Jack shit that did. Try harder next time.” 

     “Okay,” he says, conceding. “I’ll get them off your tail for good this time, but you should move again just to be safe, all right? I hear that Costa Rica is gorgeous.”

     “I’ll be going somewhere else that you’ve never heard of. Now, go. And thanks, I guess.”

     He turns. “Yup, of course. Always a pleasure catching up with you, Y/N.”

Renjun

     The morning after raiding one of his enemies’ mansions, he’s shaving his face over the custom made onyx countertop in their master bathroom when one of his colleagues knocks on the door. 

     “Renjun!” she says. “You’re going to want to see this. Meet us in the kitchen when you’re ready.”

     Hastily, he rinses the leftover shaving cream off his face, drying it with one of their hundred dollar towels—damn, he seriously needs to invest in some of these—and throwing open the door to catch her before she leaves. “I’m ready. Explain while we walk.”

     “So everything went perfectly last night and the Yangs are no longer an obstacle for our operations,” she explains, the inevitable “but” at the back of her throat. Renjun can feel a catch coming as they take the stairs. “Well, almost everything. Apparently, a housekeeper was unaccounted for and she’s rather intent on obtaining the Yangs’ whereabouts. We thought it best not to tell her that their bodies are sunk in the Han river without your input.”

     Renjun opens the French doors separating the foyer from the kitchen. “Hello again, sweetheart. A moment alone with her, please.” 

     “What the hell did you do to them?” you cry, struggling against the ropes that bind you to a chair at the breakfast table. “I want to see them!”

     He sits down across from you, interlacing his fingers on the dark wooden table. “Look, you’ve put me in a tricky situation. I told you to drop it, yet here you are. What am I supposed to do with you now, hmm? If I let you go, will you contact the authorities?”

     “Immediately.” 

     Renjun puts his head in his hands and takes a moment of silence. His next words come out muffled. “You’re supposed to at least pretend to say ‘no.’ Haven’t you ever watched a crime show before?”

     “Screw you!” You thrash some more. “You won’t get away with this, you monster.”

     One hand goes over his heart. “Now you’re hurting my feelings. The Yangs are much worse than me, I assure you. You won’t make this simple for me, will you?” 

     “Go to hell.”

     “Okay, great,” he says, “so I believe you’re going to have to stay with me for a little while until we come to a more civil agreement. What kind of arrangements shall I prepare for you? I have a very nice guest room in my home.”

     “My family will go to the police.”

     “I’ll take care of that, don’t worry. They won’t know anything happened. Is there anyone else I should contact on your behalf?”

     You stare, defiant.

     “If you prefer them to end up wrapped in this mess and in the ground, that’s fine, as well.”

     You huff. “My best friends. You’ll see our group chat in my contacts. One of your girls took my phone already, so.”

     “There we go,” he coos, leaning forward. “You’re learning to be good.”

Jeno

     It’s a week night and you’re sitting on the couch watching a movie that’s not very interesting. When your doorbell rings, you frown and set your bowl of soup down on a side table. You aren’t expecting anyone, but you answer anyway.

     It’s the boy from the mobster-sister-revenge-killing situation you got caught in the middle of and tried to block out completely. Your eyes scan the area behind him to see if he’s brought anyone else. “What are you doing here?”

     “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something,” he says, hands shifting in the pocket of his blue zip-up hoodie. He looks so mundane, standing in your doorway in the moonlight, for a sophisticated criminal.

     You start to ease the door shut. “You can’t be here. That was like a one-time thing—letting you come here to rest and eat—because you looked like hell and, honestly, I was still in shock, but you’ve got to go now.”

     “Wait, please,” he says, his voice gentle enough to bring up a wave of sympathy for him. You nod. “Thanks. I just—did you go to the police about me?”

     That’s not what you were expecting. “Uh, no? That was like a month ago. Why would I call them now?”

     “Okay, awesome. Somebody else must’ve seen what happened, then. I had to know if it was you. I couldn’t believe you’d do that.”

     You cross your arms. “You don’t even know me. But, no, I didn’t say anything and I’m not going to. It’s over. So, if you don’t mind . . . good night.”

     “Yeah, right,” he says sheepishly. “Good night, Y/N. Thank you for everything.”

     The way he almost seems shy and unsure of himself makes your brows furrow. Is this actually the same guy who claimed to be a gang member? “Yeah, whatever. Are you, like, okay? You’re acting weird.”

     “No, it’s nothing.” He scratches the back of his neck. “It’s just, do you think we could maybe, like, go out sometime or something?”

     “No!” you say. “I don’t go out with gang members, dude. It’s not gonna happen.” 

     There’s a hint of a smirk on his lips. “Never? Not even if I took you to eat somewhere nice?”

     “Okay, maybe next Friday.” A smug expression dominates his entire pretty face. “Go! Leave before I change my mind. Seven o’clock!”

Haechan

     Since the stunningly attractive boy approached you outside a cafe two weeks ago, your life has brightened up considerably. Your friends have caught you jumping in excitement each time your phone buzzes and smiling at your phone. It should be embarrassing how much you’re starting to like him, but you simply can’t help it. He’s just so goddamn charming.

     You’re waiting for him to pick you from your front steps. There’s already a grin on your face and butterflies in your stomach. When his car pulls into the driveway, you wave. 

     To your surprise, he steps out of the car. “You look beautiful.”

     “Thank you,” you say, blushing as he opens the car door for you. “I like your shirt.”

     It’s a patterned button-up that suits his figure well. As you head toward the mini golf place, you feel like a fool for a second when you realize how crazy he must think you are. You won’t stop grinning and you’re already in the palm of his hand, but you barely know him. 

     Then you catch him looking over at you the exact same way, smiling to himself. “I think I should tell you now that Haechan is a nickname, not my real name. Can’t start this off with dishonesty.”

     “Oh? And what’s your real name?”

     “Can I trust you?” After your easy nod, he shares a conspiratorial look with you. “It’s Donghyuck.”

     “A pretty name for a pretty boy,” you say, pointing to a flashing sign. “That’s the place on the right.” 

     He pulls the car into a spot near the front of the dirt lot, cutting the engine and turning to you. “Tell me, was it the sister-in-law in the end?”

     “Yes, it was!” You’re flattered he remembered the topic of your very first conversation. “I’m reading the sequel now. The main character got help from a childhood friend and she’s still running for her life.”

     When you glance over at him, you expect to find the polite but ingenuine interest most have whenever you mention books, but his full attention is on you—and it’s not just to be polite. In this moment, you think to yourself, god, how did I get so lucky?

Jaemin

     After a stressful week of laundering money and evading capture by his enemies, Jaemin is happy to finally have a day off. He’s come to try a new coffee shop that he researched on the internet. When he saw the pictures of the interior and the latte art, he knew he had to come here. 

     The person ordering in front of him steps aside, so he clears his throat and looks up at the menu board handwritten in chalk. 

     “Hi, what can I get started for you today?” Your eyes meet and you stare at one another, dumbfounded. “Oh, it’s you.”

     “And it’s you,” he echoes. “I didn’t know you were a barista! I’m glad to see you back in superb health.”

     Your tone is light. “No thanks to you. What can I get you?”

     “Surprise me. As long as it’s heavily caffeinated and dairy-free.”

     As you punch in the information on the tablet register, you hold a smile. “This one’s on me. Consider it payback for the free check-up.”

     “Thank you.” He watches you scribble something onto a cardboard cup, moving along the counter with you as you make his drink. “How have you been?”

     “I’m fine,” you say. “I’ve been working a lot, but I love my job, so it’s not so bad. You?”

     He leans against the counter. “Lots of work for me, too. This is my day off, actually. How long have you been working here? This place is so cool.”

     “Almost a year now. I started out doing all the menu art.”

     Jaemin catches another glance of the chalkboard, with its loopy writing and shaded drawings. “Oh, wow. You’re good.”

     “Thanks.” You hand him a cup over the counter. “Here, it’s a red velvet latte with oat milk. Enjoy.”

     Your hands touch as he accepts the drink. His hand is warm. “Excellent drink, excellent customer service. I’ll have to come here more often, I think.”

     “I’ll look forward to it,” you say. “Until next time . . .”

     “Jaemin.”

     “See you around, Jaemin.”

Chenle

     That night, he really believed there could be something between you two. If it hadn’t been for his mission to catch a target, he would’ve spent the whole night with you. Alas, his business card and a flirty grin is all he left you with. 

     Honestly, the fact that you never called hurts his ego. Chenle thought he had you in the bag. Her loss, he thinks to himself as he sips a glass of expensive wine on his yacht. It’s been three weeks and not a whisper from you. 

     A noise from the dock gets his attention. “Mark! It took you long enough, man.” 

     He stands up and puts his glass down on the coffee table, ready to embrace his friend, but the sliding door shatters and shards of glass rain down on him. Everything happens too quickly—someone’s in the room with him and he’s on the ground. Looking up, his eyes narrow. 

     You smile down at him, but the look is evil. “Sorry I didn’t call. Been busy.” 

     “Don’t tell me I’m about to have to kill you,” he says, masking his surprise as best he can, “it’d be such a shame to watch the light go out of those pretty eyes.”

     “Relax, I’m not here to kill you.” You reach for his wine glass and take a long swig, then put it back on the table. “I’m just going to need the keys to this boat. Oh, and your little Tesla out there, too.”

     Sitting up, he runs his tongue over his lip and gives you a nasty glare. “So you aren’t working for Crystal Company after all. Who are you working for?” 

     “Don’t worry yourself with that,” you say, voice smooth as velvet as you examine the contents of a bookshelf, pocketing a few odd figurines. “And don’t move again or I’ll introduce this machete to your kidneys.”

     “Whatever they’re paying you, I’ll pay you double.” Chenle crosses his arms, reaching for his wine. You lift your weapon, but he puts an arm up. “Just trying to relax . . . Y/N, wasn’t it? You obviously have a valuable skillset. I’d like to have you on my team.” 

     Knocking the wine out of his hand and onto the floor, you grab his chin, forcing him to look in your eyes. “I’m listening.” 

     “How much are they paying you?”

     “I want two hundred thousand,” you say, to which he nods. “And, I’d like the Tesla.”

     Chenle rolls his eyes. “Fine, whatever, now let go of me before I change my mind and let you rob me instead. You know, you were really smart. Hiding in plain sight during that ball.”

     “My intellect is all yours now, for a rather generous compensation, and perhaps a nice dinner?” 

     He stares at you, then laughs. “Are you flirting with me? After you just tried to steal my shit? Unbelievable.”

     “Fine, I like a challenge.”

     “Then you’ve come to the right place.” 

Jisung

    Jisung’s face remains expressionless. “How did you find my address?”

     “I did internet research,” you say dismissively. “Anyway, I came to ask for your help.” 

     “Okay?” His confusion is transparent. He motions toward the bench on his front porch. “Do you want to sit?”

     The both of you settle next to each other in uneasy silence. “Will you testify in court about the night I was attacked?” 

     Instantly, a thousand thoughts swim through Jisung’s head, most of them screams. He knows that getting anywhere near the law is a bad idea for someone like him, should they get even slightly curious about his background. Plus, he was literally out searching for a person he kidnapped that night. 

     “Umm, I’m not sure,” he says, tensing. “So it’s going to trial soon, then?”

     You nod. “Three weeks. I want justice for what she did to me. You’re the only other witness. Please, I really need you. My story won’t make sense without you and they might subpoena you regardless once everything comes out.”

     “Shit, they definitely will. Look, I wasn’t up to my best behavior before I ran into that night, so we’re going to have to figure out that part of the story. It won’t make me look good.” 

     “My attorney can help,” you assure. “She’s really good and you’re not the one on trial. She can prep you. This really means a lot to me, so I appreciate it. Here, take this.”

     He lets you put the sticky note in his hand. “Is this . . . ?”

    You stand as if to go. “Her number is the second one. Mine’s the first. In case you need anything. You did literally save my life, so it doesn’t really matter to me if you were out buying pot or something before you did it.”

     “Close enough,” he says. “I’ll call you tomorrow about getting our story straight?”

     “That works. Thank you! Seriously.” You’re on the sidewalk now. “Good night, Park Jisung.”

     “Did you find my social security number while you were investigating me, too?” 

     Your face is taken over by smugness. “I was totally gonna use it to blackmail you into testifying if you hadn’t agreed.” 

     “Now you know I won’t ghost you,” he jokes. “Good night!”