#shoutout to my dad for telling me not to be dramatic when i told him i thought i'd broken my finger (it was purple and swollen and i couldn

[kirkwallsquad]

i feel like im going insane why is my family responding to me going "hey i have a massive throatache, i think something's inflamed, and speaking hurts so i can't go to brunch today" the most lukewarm "well alright if you insist" nonsense like.... not to be whiny or anything but hello have u considered sympathy ;;;;;;

[leclerc-s]

track four - the men start wars yet troy hates helen

series masterlist

SPAIN 2023

liked by alex_albon, louieee, francesca.cgomes and others

ines_sainz we are back in the motherland 🇪🇸

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user01 YOU'RE A BARCA FAN??

user02 she was a madridista by association not choice ines_sainz força barça!!! user01 fernando was found screaming and crying in a corner somewhere logansargeant you should see them on game days...it's way too intense

jensonbutton is that why you texted me, 'fernando's going to disown me' or was that over something else?

fernandoalo_oficial she is dramatic, i would not disown her. i am not some people user03 OH SHIT! HE WENT THERE!! ines_sainz no, that was because [redacted] almost set the kitchen on fire fernandoalo_ofical OTRA VEZ?? SAQUEN LO DE MI COCINA!! [again? get him out of my kitchen]

user04 see, part of me wants to believe that she's actually dating charles or oscar but neither of them dress that way. so it can't be them.

user05 hear me out, she dresses them so people won't suspect a thing. user04 that's very possible

charles_leclerc that explains the scream i heard from his drivers room five minutes ago when lando ran in there.

ines_sainz fucking snitch. this is why he has no wins louieee someone get this girl a pr manager maxverstappen1 no, please don't i'm loving this.

pedri paddock passes🙏??

ines_sainz barca game tickets for me and a few others?? pedri do i finally get to meet the boyfriend?? user06 SINCE WHEN ARE THESE TWO FRIENDS?? pedri honestly, i don't know but i can't get rid of her anymore? ines_sainz fuck you, forget about the paddock passes pedri NO AMIGA PERDONAME!! [no friend forgive me!!]

fernandoalo_oficial eres una traicionera [you're a traitor]

ines_sainz dad, you knew this about me when you adopted me? fernandoalo_oficial yes, but i chose to ignore that when it wasn't public information.

patriciooward my ahijada looks so cute in her outfit [goddaughter]

ines_sainz yes, [redacted] squealed when he saw her in that alex_albon thank you for blackmail infromation pierregasly he's not special, kika squealed too. alex_albon this is a grown man georgerussell63 is he grown?? logansargeant poor him catching strays when he can't defend himself

user07 INÉS SAINZ IS A CULER??

ines_sainz AND PROUD OF IT!!

user08 hear me out, she's dating pedri and is trying to trick all of us by telling us it's charles and oscar.

user05 BOOO!! THIS GUY SUCKS!! user08 PEDRI'S THE SAME AGE AS HER!! IT WOULD MAKE SENSE?? user01 just say you don't want us to have a throuple in formula 1 and move on.

ines_sainz posted new stories

shoutout to the fan that gave me these socks. they are my newest prized possession track walks with jb and father nando this is the face of a man who i just told who i invited to the race tomorrow

georgerussell replied to your story

georgerussell WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE SOCKS?? I NEED SOME!! ines_sainz george, a fan gave them to me, i think they made them. georgerussell boo!! i want some

pedri replied to your story

pedri is he actually mad? ines_sainz i think he's disappointed i'm a culer and not a madridista pedri tell your boyfriend i can't wait to meet him ines_sainz boyfriends* pedri perdoname, que? ines_sainz would you look at the time, i have to go walk my gold fish

ines_sainz posted new stories

cheerios are all back together again!! fredrickvestiofficial liamlawson30 logansargeant theopouchaire oscarpiastri not pictured is arthur_leclerc because he as fighting with charles over which kart he wanted oscar's learned some moves from track terror leclerc 💞💞

liked by pedri, oscarpiastri, charles_leclerc and others

ines_alonso new name, who dis?

jokes aside, papá, thanks for showing me what unconditional fatherly love was. no one's ever loved me (familially) the way you have. i haven't stopped crying since i got the news, [redacted] can attest to that. it means the world to me that we now, officially, get to be father and daughter after so many years of us joking about it. te quiero mucho papá 🩷🥹

tagged: fernandoalo_oficial

user has limited comments

aussiegrit he called me crying when he got the news

jensonbutton you have to clarify that he demanded a groupcall and proceeded to tell us through tears. ines_alonso wait, who else was involved? lewishamilton think the group chat you created ines_alonso he loves me that's why 🥹 fernandoalo_oficial yes, the whole world now knows that i love my kid

lancestroll congrats! he hasn't stopped talking about this for weeks.

ines_alonso i hope you people know i'm going to keep crying if you keep saying things like this lancestroll it's true, i think everyone on the team knew how excited he was to be your dad, officially that is.

louieee oh baby, i'm so glad you finally have someone who loves you the way a father should love his child. i'm actually crying for you. things are just starting to look up for you 🩷🩷

ines_alonso lou, i'm literally sobbing. a big thank you to you for sticking by my side through this entire mess and for always thinking i was capable of being loved 🩷🩷 louieee you've always been capable of being loved, it's not your fault they have the emotional range of a teaspoon and never knew how to appreciate you.

charles_leclerc félicitations! i know you've waited for this day for a long time

ines_alonso i'm still crying charles, please stop..i'm going to become dehydrated soon. charles_leclerc please drink water

patriciooward VAMOS!! AL FIN!!

ines_alonso MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER (OFFICIAL) patricooward wait, does this mean i have to give [redacted] a shovel talk?? ines_alonso no. max, daniel, and fernando already did that patriciooward thank god. i am not cut out for that.

mickschumacher welcome to the world champion's children club inés!!

ines_alonso who else is in the club? mickschumacher me, you, nico (reluctant) and any other world champion children

oscarpiastri finally, just let out a huge sigh of relief

ines_alonso thanks osc

maxverstappen1 oh thank god, it's about fucking time this happened. can he adopt me next?

ines_alonso back off!! i just got him, get your own dad. i heard kimi is taking applications, but you might have to fight osc

alex_albon WAR IS OVER! SHE'S FREE!!

lilymhe we can throw a party for them alex_albon that might be one of the best ideas you've ever had

georgerussell63 the sigh i swear i just heard nico let out

lewishamilton 🤨 what are you doing with nico?? georgerussell63 mind ya business

pedri felicitaciones!! al fin tienes un papá que te aprecia! [congratulations!! you finally have a dad who appreciates you]

ines_alonso por favor, parale, no puedo llorar más. [please, stop, i can't cry anymore] pedri eso es una mentira, siempre estás llorando [that's a lie, you're always crying]

fcbarcelona felicitaciones a ti y a tu nuevo papa!!

ines_alonso the scream i just scrumpt charles_leclerc i can confirm that oscarpiastri i can also confirm that

sabrinacarpenter congratulations you beautiful girl 💝

ines_alonso holy shit- oscarpiastri i can't take much more screaming charles_leclerc neither can i. please stop. sabrinacarpenter i'm sorry??

AUSTRIA 2023

SPA 2023

liked by louieee, isahernaez, judebellingham and others

ines_alonso 🌊☀️

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ines_alonso oops, sorry *shared one last name

user08 STOP! INÉS YOU CAN'T DO THIS!! user09 ICON!! BEING ICONIC RUNS IN THE ALONSO FAMILY LADIES AND GENTLEBITCHES!!

user10 she's so family jewels coded

louieee i would say i'm sorry but i'm not and the people deserved to know the truth 🩷

ines_alonso speak your truth king!! maxverstappen1 if you didn't say something, i would've and trust me i would've been a lot less nice alex_albon trust us, we're aware

user11 i don't know what i find more shocking that isa is in her likes or that jude bellingham is

user12 a footballer for real madrid in her likes after the barca post is fucking funny user13 i feel like we're forgetting that she's probably close with isa, she told her about carlos' alleged (confirmed but i don't want the sainz family to sue me for defamation) cheating

user14 the pictures 😃🩷 vs the lyrics 💔💔

mickschumacher i rate your first scandal as an alonso a solid 6/10

ines_alonso i definitely could've topped crashgate but dad said no fernandoalo_ofical i can only handle so much from you and [redacted]. if he sets my kitchen on fire one more time i'm going to ban him for a few months.

logansargeant hey, who got you smiling like that?

ines_alonso your mom logansargeant i hate you

maxverstappen1 a not so kind reminder to judebellingham she's a taken woman. not by me but i'll defend their honor

danielricciardo just say you think of her as a little sister and move on dude maxverstappen1 shut your mouth ricciardo ines_alonso it's okay i already know he loves me maxverstappen1 debatable

isahernaez que lindura, estás brillando inés

ines_alonso isa!! te extraño 🩷 isahernaez igualmente pequeña 💞 user15 oh i bet c*rlos s*inz just shit himself

liamlawson30 do you think he wakes up in a cold sweat whenever you post?

ines_alonso god i hope he does jensonbutton it's what he deserves, xoxo ines_alonso what is your ass doing here? go take care of your children?? jensonbutton you are my child??

user16 YES BABE!! CALL OUT YOUR SHITTY FAMILY!!! SERVE THAT CUNTLONSO!!!

user17 cuntlonso?? is that what we're calling them now?? user18 kinda matches them because they serve cunt!!

patriciooward when you said i'm so marina & the diamonds coded this is not the song i had in mind

ines_alonso what other song could you possibly think of?? patriciooward bubblegum bitch? primadonna? how to be a heartbreaker?? anything but this?? maxverstappen1 she's so matilda coded, according to twitter logansargeant MATILDA?? BY HARRY STYLES?? maxverstappen1 i don't fucking know who sings it. ines_alonso it's okay max, we can both be family line coded patricooward STOP IT!! GET SOME HELP!!! oscarpiastri THERAPY!! BOTH OF YOU!! NOW!! maxverstappen1 therapy is a hoax

user18 racing is a serious sport they said. our drivers are so serious they said. the said drivers are arguing over what song is them coded

user19 and they're all depressing..FIA get them some therapy we beg. user20 but for the record max is so seven coded and inés is so matilda coded user18 STOP MAKING ME SAD?? user21 and charles is so mirrorball coded user22 alex is definitely this is me trying coded user23 logan is also this is me trying coded user18 YOU PEOPLE JUST MADE IT WORSE?! STOP IT!! user23 but is so fun to share our pain with others??

¡taglist!

@minmira95 // @lesliiieeeee // @vroomvroommuppett // @prongsvault // @justtprachisblog // @scuderiadevils // @cataf1 // @chezmardybum // @formulaal // @lilsiz // @norstappenvibes // @ironspdy // @nikfigueiredo @hinamesgigantica // @niniluvsainz // @matchaverse // @fakeikeastore // @theseus-jpg // @six-call // @81folklore // @emppusofi // @luvsforme // @nichmeddar // @loloekie // @luvpedro // @donttouchthegnote // @nothaqks // @inferiusreggie // @mochimommy2002 // @rach3164 // @clove08 // @clove0 // @lillysbigwilly // @jenxjar // @blupblupfish // @thereadinggremlin05 // @meowiarty // @magical-spit // @camdensreg // @laneyspaulding19 // @ocyeanicc // @yelenasloverrrrr // @percervall // @blushmimi // @spilled-coffee-cup // @michelleyw81 // @greantii // @ietss

¡not taggable!

@ashlovestoread1411 // @books-thingys-andstuff // @nothanqks // @yeanoskrrt // @ale-522 // @aandreea_2005 // @Katness1 // @mgmoore // @Scott-McCall-could-lift-mjolnir // @xxx-betty // @ririyulife // @landonorizzz // @moldyshorts1997 // @itstimeforutogo // @yar16 // @em-andemm // @killjoycra

¡leclerc-s speaks!

note: i know next to nothing about soccer or football, whichever you prefer, but i do know enough to know that barca and real madrid have a rivalry. so i decided for shits and giggles to make her a barca fan. i love giving my female ocs so much power because it's what women deserve!!! anyways, got caught lacking by the 30 image limit. i could've written a bit more but it was cut short. perhaps i should stop rambling when it's not necessary but i can't help myself. i debated on whether or i should've had inés adopted by fernando but i decided that would be the ultimate fuck you so i did it.

¡disclaimer!

this is in no way making assumptions about the people involved in this story, this is all fake. it is a fanfiction please don't take any of what is said seriously. this is all for entertainment purposes and as a creative outlet for me. enjoy!

[teojira]

[Caesar and Proximus' day to day life] [headcanons]

Summary: You're a human companion to the two apes, this is little things to expect as you live with them and in addition, the rest of the apes.

Word count: 900+

Warnings: None that I can think of! This is mostly platonic, some romance in Caesars if you squint.

Pronouns: Not specified.

A/N: first Planet of the apes request!! I'm so excited, shoutout to the other writers on ao3 I've looked up to for years. I hope this is okay anon! I couldn't reference back to your ask since I lost it and I hope this is the general idea you were hoping for 💀🙏

[Caesar]

For the sake of this, Caesar did NOT die at the end of war, and you're immune to the disease! (Nova is also fine here bc fuck you that's my daughter)

Truth be told it was very very very fortunate for you that you appealed to his good side after all this time, He's tired.

Tired of being hurt, tired of losing family, but he has no choice but to push on, when you offered at first to help him with any injuries or issues that arise in the colony, it's a firm no.

Despite everything he's been through, Caesar does love humans, he think a part of him always will, so just keep trying and you will crack his shell.

Once you two finally have something akin to friendship, is when he finally learns that he can rely on you.

It isn't uncommon to see you holding Cornelius and walking to and from different parts of the colony, Caesar trying in vain to tell you to let the boy down, saying you'll start to spoil him (it's too late, Cornelius will start to go to you for when his dad tells him no.)

Caesar doesn't really think he'd ever find another mate, but without his notice, you start to fill in that role.

Spending the most time with him, helping him make decisions, taking care of Cornelius, helping the other apes learn and sign, you take on the role fairly well.

It isn't uncommon for you to tend to his wounds, he prefers to go to you versus the others, he acts akin to a child when in your care though, hissing dramatically when you rub a salve on his forearm. It results in you slapping his shoulder and it makes him laugh.

Speaking of laughing, he never thought having you around would lighten the weight of the world he constantly holds over his shoulders, you make him feel young again. Before all of this.

He grows fonder of you when he sees some aspects of Caroline in you, noting just how loving and caring you are not only to him, but to everyone, Maurice, Rocket, even Bad ape with how much of an odd ball he is.

Caesar may be the leader (and old, you remind him. He ignores you.) but it doesn't mean he can stay at the colony all day, he goes out to hunt with the others, and when he does, he'll come to you and do a palms up, waiting for your permission.

He doesn't need it, but it makes you feel better when you see him off.

Maybe this is me projecting but he is SO possessive of you, he's lost so much, he lost Buck, Luca, Blue eyes, Cornelia, Koba, Will, his grandfather.

It puts him on the defense, never wanting you to go anywhere without at least one ape to protect you. It'll lead to arguments you Will not win.

Sorry if you just want to go to the river to wash up, either he's coming with you or Rocket is. Too Bad so sad.

Other apes come to you to ask you to ask Caesar if they can do something they Know he would never approve of, it's because they know out of everyone here, with the exception of a handful of apes, you're his soft spot.

Many apes were concerned with you joining them, but you've earned your spot among them, you are loved and trusted.

Koba would be rolling in his grave, seeing you work alongside Caesar, being a genuinely good person and a loving companion.

[Proximus]

It's canon that Proximus has a fondness for humans, but it's so severely different than Caesars, no matter how much he claims to be like the former.

You're more so of a toy to him, similar to Trevathan, but while he reads the Bonobo literature and teaches him things, you're like a pet. You keep him entertained.

This isn't to say he treats you cruelly though, all things considered, you're taken care of fairly well with a lot of luxuries the other apes under his rule are not privy to.

You wear a collar, which is demeaning, but it is better than having a chain connected to it, so everyone knows you're his.

Poor Sylva being forced to be your guard when you ask if you can go walking alone the beach, he doesn't want to do it but he WILL (he becomes fond of you begrudgingly, partially out of respect for Proximus but you're too nice for your own good, asking him how his day is going and whatnot. He hates you.)

Proximus calls you pet, btw. He knows your name but will only use it when it's the two of you or for special occasions.

Brings you out into the colony to show you all the progress being made, he's looking for his ego to be inflated, go ahead and do it so you two can head back inside and get out of the heat.

He likes to show you off while he does, telling his subjects that you're special, like Nova was to Caesar. He's delusional and Caesar would be fucking pissed to be compared.

He doesn't need you to do much honestly, you're meant to sit there and look pretty and make him feel important. Maybe help him out with grooming and taking care of his belongings. He trusts you to mend and keep his crown and his attire in good condition.

Likes to play with your hair, the texture is different than apes, and he finds it soothing to run his fingers through it or just pet your head. Once again, it is very demeaning, but it could be worse.

Like Caesar, he is possessive and will try and limit your contact with the others in fear you'll like them more. Your little trio consists of you, himself, and Sylva. He lets you interact with Trevathan, but it's not an everyday thing.

He does care for you more than he'd ever admit, but it doesn't mean he'll particularly change for your sake, at least not intentionally. He's kinda insane and kinda a piece of shit, and you're aware of this.

Makes you sit next to him when he hosts dinners, making sure to pat your head and coo at you (When Noa first sees you at the table getting treated like how he'd treat an eagle, he gives you one of his signature side eyes bc lmao what the fuck is going on)

When it comes down to the ending of the movie when he dies, you're at a loss, Mae frankly thinks you're too far gone, and Noa is not willing to take a chance to offer you a home.

All you have really left to do is to go back to the colony and what's left of it, back to the remaining apes and humans still left unattended. Telling them they're free to go.

At some point among the years of being the closest to Proximus, you do care for him, and it's hard to think he's gone, he offered you a sense of security and belonging, but it's gone now.

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴏᴏɴ!

[pimento-playing-hopscotch]

TK Strand's growing up years- but what if he wasn't an only child? Here's the fic...

So I told myself I was going to write a fic covering TK's life from when he's a kid to the now, with the au addition of if his parents had another kid before they split- it starts when his sister is born when TK is five years old and in the most recently posted chapter, TK is fifteen and his sister is ten- also I fixed the spacing so it's more readable now and thus I want to share it on here (shoutout to the mutual who told me about this; I genuinely didn't know it was a thing)

This first excerpt is from one of the more fluffy chapters; I also included one of the more angsty chapters (also might coming up; an excerpt from one of the injury chapters; if there is one thing I believe, its that any and all Strand children are danger magnets and agents of chaos-

Fluffy chapter-

From 2001 (January)

“Now that I’m worried about”. Owen muttered as TK joined them.

“What?” Gwyn asked. “TK, eat your cereal”.

“TK on ice skates”. Owen said quietly. “I’ve seen him slip on wet grass and narrowly avoid cracking his head open. I’m worried about the odds when the ground is literally made of ice”. He glanced at his son, but TK wasn’t paying attention to his parents. TK was taking the fruit Gwyn had put in front of him and was trying to move it in front of Sophie as quietly as possible.

“He’s been in the PeeWee hockey league for almost two months”. Gwyn replied. “You just haven’t gotten to see him skate yet. He’s pretty good. TK, I put that grapefruit down in front of you, not your sister. Please eat it”.

“Do I have to?” TK whined. “It tastes so bad”.

“It’s good for you, TK”. Owen told him. “I’ve finished mine already”.

“You can have mine, Dad”. TK suggested eagerly.

“TK, you have to have more than that”. Gwyn said firmly. “You don’t have to finish all of what I put in front of you, but I need to see some of it gone, or you can forget about going anywhere today”. TK stomped and grumbled to himself, but he started slowly eating the grapefruit.

“Would this have anything to do with that fact that you can’t skate?” Gwyn asked Owen quietly.

“Oh, I am hurt”. Owen said, clutching his hand to his chest dramatically. Across the table, Sophie giggled. “I can too skate”. Owen said.

This, TK had heard. “Dad you can skate with me today!” he said excitedly, swinging his feet. “You haven’t seen me skate yet”.

“I know bud,” Owen said. “I can’t wait to see you skate”.

“Can Sophie try to skate?” TK asked as he moved his fork around his plate. “She can walk better now”. He turned to his sister. “Sophie, are you going to skate today?”

“Teek,” Sophie said, reaching for TK’s cup. They hadn’t gotten her to say “TK” yet, she either called him “Tee” or “Teek” which sounded more like a squeak.

“She’s still too little, sweets,” Gwyn said. “They wouldn’t have ice skates that would fit her feet”.

TK nodded. “Mom, can I go turn the TV back on?” He held up his plate. Almost half of the grapefruit was gone.

“Okay”. Gwyn said as she took his plate. “But only for a half hour, TK”.

And now for the angsty chapter-

2002 - January

“I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell me about this”. Owen sighed.

“Do you want the list of things I don’t understand?” Gwyn replied. “For instance — I don’t understand why you’re making a big deal out of this. So your son saw a therapist. Off all people, I would think—”

“For the thousandth time”. Owen pinched the bridge of his nose. “It isn’t that he saw a therapist. It’s that you didn’t tell me that he was seeing a therapist. In all the time it took to decide he should, and then to find one—”

“Keep your voice down, Owen”. Gwyn hissed. “I know this isn’t a place you’ve been frequently, but your children live here”.

“Goddamn it Gwyn”. Owen was trying to stay calm. Key word being trying. He breathed through his mouth slowly. “You didn’t answer my question”. He said as evenly as he could manage. “Why wouldn’t you tell me about this?”

“Which part?” Gwyn asked. “I’m being serious. Which part didn’t I tell you about? About our son having nightmares — cause I know I told you about that. The three times I told you that the school psychologist wanted to meet with us; as in both of us, because we’re both his parents? Or when I showed you the drawing that TK did with the title, “What My Daddy Sees When He Closes His Eyes?” Because I did show that to you after I went to the meeting. By myself”. She turned on her heel and walked into the bathroom connected to their bedroom. Owen followed her and leaned on the doorframe.

“You know where I was,” he said. “I wanted to be there. I don’t think that’s very fair”.

“Owen Strand, do NOT talk to me about what is and isn’t fair”. Gwyn said sharply. “That is something you don’t get to do”. She punctuated this by angrily shoving the drawer on the bathroom counter closed.

(Also I promise the story doesn't entirely take place in January; it just worked out these were the two that I picked).

This fic is ongoing- read more here-

[untaemedqueen]

Third Wheeling

CEO!Yoongi x Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 14.

Warnings (Updating Still): Smut, Cheating, Unexpected Pregnancy, Unfaithful, Emotional Damage, Love

Warnings For This Chapter: Heart Tugging Yoongi, Crying, Emotional

A/N: This chapter is early because I’ll forget to post at 5 like an idiot :) shoutout to the squad @xjoonchildx, @ladyartemesia, @ppersonna this chapter is goooood!

You have ascertained at this point that although Yoongi is incredibly fit -- he's never done heavy lifting in his life.

You watch him continuously mumbling to himself while carrying things over to the wooden porch, stopping himself whenever your father passes with something in his arms to show a tired smile.

It's kind of hilarious.

"Well! That's it!" you dad says, clapping his hands together happily. He stands on the porch, a smile etching onto his features as he looks at you.

Yoongi sighs happily beside Minho, feeling proud of himself that he's actually done something on his own for once.

"Will that be all, Sir?" Minho asks, his voice filled with amusement.

The CEO grimaces at him. "That'll be all. Be back here in two days with a new set of shoes for me and an Irish coffee."

Minho nods bowing to the both of you before climbing back into the car.

"Your mother is making bean paste in the back," your dad notifies you as he kicks off his sneakers.

You hum sweetly, walking up the steps to take off your own shoes.

Yoongi puts his hands on his hips, looking at the hanok with curious eyes.

"Here goes nothing," he mumbles, following after you.

"You didn't have to get us anything, you know," your father tells him. Helping him push all of the gifts into the house.

"It's my pleasure," Yoongi breathes out.

Your father turns to your boyfriend, holding up the Japanese whisky and winking at him. "It's a nice gesture though. I'll drink this well… by the end of the night." he whispers conspiratorially to him.

Yoongi finds himself smiling, chuckling to himself.

You're a lot like your father it seems. He likes that.

Stepping into the hanok, Yoongi feels like he's in a museum. Which, he can't help but kind of love. Everything seems so olden but perfectly taken care of.

"We do have a bathroom and beds, luckily for you." your dad jeers.

When you step inside, you feel so at home. Nothing has changed at all and it's so perfect.

"Wait for it," your dad tells your boyfriend, putting the gift baskets on the wooden table.

"MY GAESU!" you scream happily.

Yoongi jumps at your loud voice, eyes widening. He's never heard you screech so loudly.

A small corgi runs out to greet you, tongue sticking out with excited heavy breathing.

He watches you bend down, pulling the dog into your arms.

"Be careful," he admonishes you sweetly, watching you rock the dog in your arms.

Your father watches how concerned Yoongi is for you, how he presses his hand to the small of your back for support and he smirks at the sight.

"Whisky, Yoongi?"

"That'd be great, thank you Sir." he replies kindly, unbuttoning his suit jacket.

"Call me Dad," your father says with a wink.

The sentence sends Yoongi frozen. He's never heard such a gentle tone from a father figure before. He's only ever been used to tones of disappointment or anger.

"Alright," he whispers, grabbing the glass with a tentative hand.

You smile at the sight before you, Gaesu constantly licking your cheek to show how much he's missed you.

You know that Yoongi is going to love your parents, it'll just take a while to settle in.

"I heard the infamous scream," you hear from the back door.

Your heart warms at the sight of your mother.

"Mom," you whisper, taking in how happy she looks.

For the first time in a long time, she looks healthy.

"I missed you!" your mother whines, opening her arms to hug you.

"I missed you too!" you reply, hooking your chin over her shoulder.

The CEO can see how fond you are of your family. He hopes it'll be the same for this small family you're making of your own now.

"This is Min Yoongi, my boyfriend," you say, pulling away and nodding to the handsome man.

Your mother's smile seems to widen at the sight of him. "Oh, wow. You're so much more handsome in real life than on my t.v., as if that's possible." she breathes out, her cheeks starting to blush.

"It's nice to meet you," he laughs, bowing to her.

She bows back before sighing. "I'm a hugger!"

He hugs her awkwardly as she pats his back. You giggle at the warm sight before you, you know this must be so strange to him.

"You are the culprit that got my daughter pregnant?" your mother teases, sending him flinching.

He chuckles awkwardly, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck. "Guilty." he whispers.

"Well thank God, I thought I'd never have a grandchild," she says, slapping his shoulder.

"Okay, mom." you mumble, rolling your eyes at her dramatics.

"This baby is going to be cuter than a button!" she promises, pointing between the both of you.

Yoongi finds himself filling up with warmth, chuckling as your father rolls his eyes to him.

"Why don't you both get unpacked? And then we can start to make dinner," your mother suggests.

"Yoongi's never cooked before," you tell her, going to pick up your luggage.

The CEO groans gently as you all giggle. This is what family must be like. Joking and loving towards one another. He finds it akin to how him and Maya act sometimes.

"Don't even think about it," he tells you, watching you grip the handle.

"I can pick something up," you whisper as he narrows his eyes.

"So can I. Show me where the room is, little dove." he instructs, grabbing the luggage.

Rolling your eyes, you shrug to your parents as they give affectionate smiles.

"My room and the guest room?" you ask your mother, watching her hug your fathers side.

"Just your room. You're already pregnant, what else could happen?" she replies.

Yoongi's cheeks burn with embarrassment as he picks up your luggage. But, he's content with knowing that he can sleep with you for the next two nights.

He finds himself already fond of this wooden and paper house. And maybe even warming up to the people in it.

"Just through here," you tell the CEO, picking up Gaesu.

"I didn't know you have a dog," Yoongi says, stepping into your old bedroom.

"Leena's allergic so I left Gaesu home," you reply.

He hums understanding before yelping out as he looks around your room.

"What?!" you whine, putting your hand over your heart.

"THERE'S A CHICKEN ON THE BED!" he yells, dropping the luggage to the floor.

You can hear your dad laugh loudly from the kitchen and you snort loudly, stepping into the room and sliding the door shut.

The chicken takes one look at Gaesu before jumping off the bed and scurrying around the room.

Yoongi gasps loudly, jumping onto the bed with fright written all over his face.

"Catch it!" he cries out, shoving his hands in his hair.

"Relax, it's just Miguk." you say with a laugh.

"Why is there a fucking chicken in your bedroom?!" your boyfriend whines.

"Because we keep chickens for eggs? And Miguk probably wanted to be some place warm?" you ask confused, setting down your dog and opening up the bedroom door for Gaesu to chase Miguk out.

"So you don't have a heat lamp or some… warm place for a chicken to stay? Do I have to buy one for you?!" he asks, smacking the bed to get rid of a few feathers.

"It's just a chicken, you'll be eating one in like two hours," you say laughing loudly as the animals finally leave your room.

"It's disgusting. I need to change the sheets," he whispers, clearly grossed out.

"You know the walls are paper and wood?" you mouth to him, shutting the door.

"I shouldn't have to scream about a fucking chicken laying in the bed I'm sleeping in tonight," he mouths back, flailing his arms.

"Everything okay?" your mother sings from the kitchen.

"Yes!" you both reply at the same time.

The CEO finds it hard to not stare at where the chicken was standing just seconds ago.

"Come on, Yoongi. It's okay," you say, sitting down on the end of the bed.

"I don't think you understand that I'm fucking traumatized," he whispers fiercely, watching as a shadow of a chicken walks by the paper door.

"Do you need me to hold you?" you ask, sounding as if you're speaking to a small child.

He grimaces at you, folding his arms.

"No! I just don't understand how this is normal behavior," he retorts softly.

"Welcome to my home," you whisper, booping him on the nose.

He swats at your hand childishly, eyebrows furrowing deeply.

"I like your parents," he mumbles softly as you place both of the luggages on the bed.

"See, I told you. They're nice," you reply happily.

"You need to promise me that I won't wake up in the middle of the night to a chicken trying to poke my eye out with their beak. Do your parents feed them properly? Are they on a mission to assault guests?" he whispers fiercely, grabbing your hands.

"You're an insane person. You're actually fucking crazy," you whisper back, kissing the top of his head.

"What's crazy is that there was a fucking chicken in your childhood bed," he says appalled, appreciating the warmth of your lips on his skin.

"If I'm not worried about it, you shouldn't be worried about it," you say with a smile, grabbing your change of sweatpants.

"That's what they said about Pompeii and a fucking volcano erupted!" he barks out in a fierce whisper.

You find yourself giggling, combing your fingers through his hair. Almost immediately he feels himself relaxing.

After washing up and putting on comfortable clothes as well as insisting to your boyfriend a multitude of times that no farm animals would kill him in his sleep, you were ready for dinner.

Or, ready to make dinner anyway.

When Yoongi was younger, he used to watch Maya cook for him. His parents were never really home, it was just him, Maya and her daughter Myeyoung.

He has no real skills besides making money and playing poker.

Stepping back out into the hallway, he's surprised to witness such paternal affection.

Even from the short distance he can see how much love your father has for your mother as he cuts up an apple for her.

Would he ever get this? Would you be like this to him?

"My Gaesu-ah!" you call sweetly, slamming the paper door shut.

Yoongi takes this in also, how affectionate you are to an animal.

His father had hunting dogs that slept in cages outside of their home in hopes that they would feel less attached to humans.

There was once a time where his father bought him an expensive bird for hunting. He ordered Yoongi to train it. Being only six years old and without love, the CEO named the bird and praised it whenever it did well with orders.

He remembers showing his father, so excited that the bird did his bidding. But, Min Sangcheol was angry when he saw the bird catering to Yoongi's every whim.

"You made this bird adore you, that's why it does what you ask of it, you've ruined the fucking animal."

And his father broke both of the bird's legs.

"Yoongi?" you whisper softly, watching how entranced he is with your dog.

Looking up quickly, he gives you a sad smile and your heart tugs with uncertainty.

"Are you okay?" you ask, earning a gentle squeeze on your side from him.

"Come on," he whispers, pushing some hair back behind your ear.

Hearing your footsteps, your parents smile at the both of you.

"Yoongi, you didn't have to buy us such things!" your mother chides him, gently smacking his arm as she holds her new Chanel purse to her chest.

"I wanted too, it looks made just for you," he compliments, rubbing his hands together awkwardly.

In all actuality, it looks just perfect for her. With a gentle giggle, you can tell how absolutely smitten your mother is with him already.

"The tie you got me is perfect, I'll just have nowhere to wear it," your dad jeers to the CEO.

Yoongi chuckles, picking up his forgotten whisky glass and taking a sip out of eyesight from your parents.

"Very good manners," your mother whispers to you.

Humming, you can only agree. "He took etiquette classes when he was younger." you inform them.

"You should show Y/N's father a thing or two about etiquette."

Your father rolls his eyes, grabbing a wicker basket from near the sink.

"To the chickens, my love," you dad says, shooing you out the back of the house.

"Do you like dak galbi?" your mother asks, putting the gift baskets in the living room.

Yoongi watches you leave, his blanket of comfort gone from his sight. His left hand wraps around his right arm, feeling his usual comfort drift away. "Yes, Ma'am."

He feels awkward. He looks awkward as he stands beside the kitchen counter, watching as your mother begins to prepare ingredients.

The older woman can see how forlorn he looks, how completely out of his element he is and she can understand why you care for him like you do. He's broken.

"Come," she says, pointing to the seat across the counter.

He gives her a nervous smirk, sitting down in the seat she was just in.

"Have you ever peeled a potato?" she inquires softly.

With a small smile, he shakes his head. Black pieces of hair fall into his eyes and he goes frozen as your mother pushes them back just like you do.

"Well you're going to peel potatoes today," she tells him with a smile.

When she smiles, her face contorts quite like yours. And, suddenly he feels okay even for a little while.

Setting a bowl full of potatoes down in front of him, she hands him a peeler.

"We'll make you a chef yet, Min Yoongi," she winks.

Chuckling at her words, he begins to peel. It's clumsy and he loses the potato a few times from how wet it is, but he gets the hang of it after a few minutes.

"One time, when Y/N was younger she went on a potato ban. No french fries, no potato pancakes, no potato chips," your mother laughs at the memory, earning soft eyes from your boyfriend, "she was so adamant that she hated them for a good week or two. Then one night, I woke up in the middle of the night to crying. I went to check on her and she woke up telling me that she missed potatoes so much that it gave her nightmares."

Yoongi laughs along with your mother, shaking his head.

"I hope our baby comes out like her," he whispers hopefully.

In that moment, he realized just how comfortable he had gotten so quickly. It's easy to open up when you're welcomed. His instant reaction is to close himself off again but your mother catches it before he does. Not even giving him a chance to close himself off.

"You have a lot of good traits, Yoongi," your mother praises, beginning to cut peppers.

He hums unsurely, focusing on the task at hand.

"She's going to be a great parent, I'm not sure if I will be," he replies softly, he's so quiet if your mother wasn't paying attention she wouldn't have heard him.

"Why do you think that?" your mother asks and his eyes shoot straight up to hers.

In her eyes is softness and kindness that he sees in you on the daily.

In his eyes is worry and unsureness and your mother croons softly, petting his head maternally to give him some comfort.

He freezes at her gentleness but it reminds him so much of Maya that he feels his heart warm.

"Well my parents weren't very warm with me so I'm very cold with everything I do. Y/N isn't like that. She's understanding and always kind. She has patience and I lack that in spades." he whispers, washing some dirt off a potato.

Your mother hums. "Were your parents mean to you?"

He clears his throat, grabbing the whisky glass and turning away from her as he takes a huge gulp. "Yes Ma'am," he replies through gritted teeth, the alcohol warming his pallet.

"Well, let me tell you something about parents," she whispers across the counter, situating herself on her elbows, "some people aren't meant to be parents. They didn't have that affection when they were young and they don't know how to offer any to children as they get older and need to be cared for. My parents really shouldn't have had me, my father was cruel and my mother was obsessed with soju. I was a very mean, bitter child but as I grew up -- I came to realize that cycles must be broken in order for people to grow. Sure, I could have stayed mean and angry but that just leaves your heart black and broken. It's up to whomever feels this way to try and strive for a new path."

Yoongi takes in all her words, staring at her as she stares back.

Such wisdom. It's heartwarming and jarring.

"I see," he murmurs.

"Now, you're going to be a father. You should break that cycle, hmm?" she asks, picking her knife back up.

He nods thoughtfully. Just the way your mother speaks, it seems like she's lived a thousand lives. It feels as if she knows a part of his soul he couldn't begin to understand.

"You don't know how to be a father. Y/N doesn't know how to be a mother but you'll make that work. Because in actuality, you both care. You both want what's best for your child and you, sooner or later, will understand that they're the most important thing in your life. Not bitterness or hatred. Some people don't see that, but you will Yoongi." she says, throwing the peppers into a bowl.

"H-How do you know?" he stutters, gripping the potato in hand tighter.

"Because I see how you look at Y/N when she isn't looking at you. Like she makes the sun rise in the morning because she's willed it to be so." she says offhandedly, grabbing some green onions.

He whistles long and low at her wiseness, letting the potato fall from his hand to grab his whisky glass.

"I'm very grateful for how you raised her, she's wonderful. So thoughtful and caring… So completely different than anyone I've ever known before. She…" he finds himself saying, just letting his emotions fly out.

"She's bringing you inner peace and happiness." your mother says, looking up from the cutting board.

"Yes." he breathes out.

"And that's scary." she comments, wiping her hands on her apron.

Swallowing thickly, Yoongi turns to the open back door. Watching you gather eggs with your father. He can see your smile from so far away and his throat tightens at the sight.

"Y-Yes," he mutters.

"Y'know. The best thing about being frightened is knowing how at ease your heart will be when that's over." he turns back to your mother as she rounds the counter.

When she goes to hug him, he doesn't flinch this time.

"Your parents may have been mean to you, Min Yoongi. But, that doesn't define you. It shouldn't define you. If you need maternal affection, you can turn to me. I'm plenty of a mother for you and Y/N," she puts her hand over her heart, smiling down at him. He can feel his eyes beginning to burn and he apologizes as he bows his head.

"You don't need to be alone Yoongi, we're a family here and you're very welcome in ours," your mom whispers, cupping his face to raise it.

"Oh fuck," he cries gently, putting a shaky hand to his eyes.

He's never heard such earnest words like this from a parent and it brings him such relief that it makes his body wrack with sobs.

"All you've ever wanted was to be loved and be happy, I'm sure. We can do that for you, if you want that," she whispers, hugging him tightly.

His mouth opens, a small strangled groan leaving his lips as he cries louder.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand.

Clicking her teeth, your mother rubs his back. "You never have to apologize for being emotional."

"Everyone can pretend to be strong, Yoongi. It takes a real person to admit how emotional and hurt they are."

Biting his bottom lip to quiet his sobs, he buries his face into your mother's arm as she holds him tightly.

He's never been held like this. Maya never held him like this because she worked for him. She's never spoken so straight with him before. She's loved him and he knows that, that's why he loves her too.

But she's never seen into his soul like this. She's never sat him down and spoke the words he needed to hear, even if it made him break down. But, your mother has.

Your mother has given him something that he's never had. And, he wants it more as he holds her.

He wants that maternal affection.

He wants to be a part of your family.

He wants to be loved.

He wants to be cared for.

And it hits him like a truck when he thinks of you.

You can give him all of these things. You can make him into the one person he never thought would see the light of day. He never thought he could even be that type of person.

But from a distance, he can hear you laughing with your father and he cries harder.

He wants it with you.

He wants you to care for him.

He wants you to love him.

He wants you to be his family.

"Oh my God," he whispers, pulling away from your mother and wiping his face on his t-shirt.

"You will call me Mom from now on," she says, booping his nose.

With a small smile, he nods. He turns to the open paper door once more, watching as you smile and laugh with your father.

He wants this family with you.

"So," your father says, slinging his arm over your shoulders.

"So!" you reply with a laugh, hugging him tightly.

Nearing the chicken coop, you can hear clucks of excitement as the chickens wait for their food.

Stepping out of the way, you let your father feed the chickens seeing as how you haven't done it in so long. It's for expediency.

"I like him," your father approves.

You smile gently, gathering egg after egg and placing them in the basket.

"He's a little rough around the edges but he's a good man." you insist.

Your father wipes his hands on his pants, getting rid of the small flecks of feed that linger on his palms. "You know, he looks at you like you're the most important thing in his life."

Snorting gently, you lean against the chicken coop. Your gaze fixes on the sky watching as pastel shades bleed into one another. But, you focus on the orange that mixes with a hazy salmon.

"His problem is -- he doesn't know what's most important in his life. He doesn't know how to live normally. He doesn't know regular emotions and that scares him," you announce, tracing a cloud absentmindedly.

Your father leans against the chicken coop with you, tracing your gaze to the sky.

"I see. He's never had a family, has he?" your father prods.

You shake your head, looking down at the basket in hand. "No. He's only ever had himself and heartache." you affirm.

The older man hums, looking at the dirt beneath his feet. "We should give him a family then," he surmises.

With a gentle scoff, you feel your eyes beginning to burn with raw emotion. "He deserves it. He doesn't even know what he deserves."

"Well, you do, kiddo. You know." your father insists, nudging you with his elbow.

Humming, your arms fold like a comfort blanket around yourself.

You want Yoongi to be so at peace. To love and know his surroundings. To at least understand what he feels day to day.

"Come on, your mother must be putting him through hell," your dad jeers, wrapping his arm around your shoulders.

You laugh, wiping at a stray tear that's had the chance to fall.

You want him to be your family.

Stepping back inside, you can see his gummy smile while he talks with your mother and your heart soars at the sight.

"Here, Mom." he whispers, handing her the bowl of potatoes.

The word he utters, sends you spiralling.

"If she's Mom, then I want to be Dad. You promised!" your father quips, setting the baskets of eggs by the stove.

Yoongi turns to you both in the doorway, black pieces of hair in his eyes as he chuckles.

"Yes, Dad."

Your father hums happily, the smile lines by his eyes wrinkling.

You watch the sight before you, your throat constricting and your nasal passages burning.

Yoongi is happy.

"Excuse me," you gasp, taking off to your childhood bedroom.

"Y-Y/N?" Yoongi calls you, watching you rush off down the hall.

He stands up, bowing to your parents. "Pardon me."

He rushes off to find you, wiping his wet hands on his sweatpants.

"Little dove?" he calls gently, opening the paper door.

Sitting cross legged on your bed, you hold a tissue to your face.

"What did I do wrong?" he asks quickly, shutting the door for privacy.

He's done nothing wrong. It's a shame he always thinks it as such. You were just so astounded, so fucking happy that he could speak so warmly and freely. It took over your whole body.

"Are you upset with me?" he inquires, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

You shake your head violently, sobbing into the tissue.

"Then what is it?" his voice is soft and unsure.

Pulling the tissue away from your face, you take in the worry lines that are etched onto his forehead.

With a whine, you wrap your arms around his neck tugging him into a hug.

Yoongi croons softly, rubbing at your back with comforting swipes.

"Is it the baby? Are you in pain?" he whispers into your ear, hooking his chin over your shoulder.

"No," you breathe out, hugging him tightly.

"Alright." he whispers perplexed.

"I'm happy," you insist, burying your face into his neck.

He feels his heart slow down from the racing pace it was just at. His eyes flutter shut as he pulls you into his lap.

"Me too," he replies truthfully.

Holding each other so closely, your heart beats seem to meld as one. You sit in comfortable silence, your sobs stifling and quieting down to nothing.

"You just looked so h-happy that I…" you croak, balling his shirt in your fists.

The corners of his lips flick upward, his eyes opening to look down at your body in his lap. With soft eyes, he presses his lips to your temple.

"Min Yoongi, I'm going to cut this chicken without you!" your mother calls out.

You feel his body shake with a laugh. "One minute, Mom!"

Your lips press into a straight line, tears threatening to fall again.

"You're happy that your family is welcoming me?" he asks, pulling you away to cup your face with both hands.

You whine gently, nodding while his thumbs stroke at your cheeks.

"I'm happy they're welcoming me too. It feels warm." he whispers, shushing you as you let out a small sob.

"You'll let your family be my family, right?" he asks hopefully.

"Always," you whimper.

He smiles softly, his eyes taking in every curve and inch on your face.

"You'll be my family?" he inquires nervously.

"Yeah, I'll be your family." you cry happily.

He looks up at the ceiling, trying to ebb away tears that threaten to come.

"Good. I'd really like that," he replies gratefully.

Pulling your face closer to his, he kisses you softly, both of your eyes fluttering shut.

When you pull apart, his forehead presses to yours.

"I have to go cut a chicken," your boyfriend mumbles, earning a gentle laugh from you.

"Go cut a chicken," you whisper, sliding off his lap.

"I'm really happy with you," he says earnestly, pushing some hair behind your ear.

"Me too." you reply, watching how he smiles so brightly.

Holding his hand out, he dries your face with the hem of his shirt. "Come on, let's make dinner."

To watch Yoongi laugh and talk to your parents as if he's always known them makes you feel fuller than any of the food on your plate could provide.

"Y/N saved me in History class one time," Yoongi announces to your parents, picking up his glass of whisky.

They hum inquisitively and you lean back against the wall as he chuckles.

"I did really terribly on a quiz that I didn't study for. And, the teacher was embarrassing me. But Y/N told me when the Mongols invaded Goryeo."

"1216." you state, earning a smile from your boyfriend.

He holds up his fingers and you stare at them.

You do remember it.

You remember how embarrassed he looked as a child. You felt the overwhelming urge to help him.

"I remember," you whisper.

He chuckles gently with a hum. "Anyway, she saved my bacon."

Your mother watches you both as you continue to stare at each other over the table. This is good. This is healthy.

"Yoongi, do you play any card games?" your dad asks, setting his chopsticks down on his empty plate.

The smirk that graces his features is devious and you giggle.

"I play poker," he quips, watching as you set down your chopsticks.

"Every Thursday," you add.

Clicking his teeth, he puts a piece of chicken over your unfinished rice. "Eat more for the baby," he insists.

He sounds so sincere you find yourself picking up your spoon.

"Would you like to play poker, later?" your dad inquires.

Yoongi nods, his hand under his chin as he watches you eat. "That'd be great, Dad."

"So how far along is my grandchild now then?" your mother asks, cleaning up the empty plates.

Your boyfriend immediately begins to help her, something he's never done in his life. "Sesame is almost ten weeks old now." he replies and you sit back on your hands to watch him help her.

"Sesame is a cute fetus name, I like that very much."

You can feel the sheer adoration beginning to drip from your mother for your boyfriend. When you first entered his mansion, you had absolutely no idea that it would lead you here. You couldn't have even guessed that he would be becoming a part of your family.

"I have some pictures if you want to see them, I can get a few more copies made to send to you the next time we go to the doctors." he suggests to her as they enter the kitchen.

"I'd love that," she cheers happily.

"I really like this guy," your father whispers conspiratorially to you, picking up your plate and bowl.

You find your nose wrinkling in delight.

"Me too," you mumble, watching your boyfriend's black hair fall into his eyes as he chuckles.

"I really like him too," you mutter to yourself, resting your head against the wall.

"Something tells me that this is your first relationship," your father says, shuffling the deck of cards.

Yoongi looks up from his whisky glass, a small smirk gracing his features. "That obvious, huh?"

The older man laughs, setting the cards down in between both of their bodies. "Just a little bit," he quips.

The CEO chuckles to himself, looking around the barren land of your backyard.

It isn't quite a farm and it isn't quite a relaxing place either. But, he finds it quaint. It's the company that's more so relaxing.

"Everything with Y/N is a first for me," your boyfriend admits, dealing the cards.

"Oh?" your father pushes, picking up his glass of whisky.

Yoongi hums softly, almost unsurely. "Emotions. Caring. Being concerned. Happiness. Actually wanting to be happy. It's all new." he breathes out, looking up at the star flecked sky. 

Your father smirks over the lip of his glass, his smile lines appearing.

"It's hard to break out of a shell, isn't it?" the older man asks.

Answering the question, Yoongi nods.

"It'll be worth it though, won't it?"

"Oh yes, it will be. That's the thing about finding someone you want to care for. You find that everything you're feeling, whether it's new or not, is very worth it." your father replies, throwing a few peanuts into the bowl, in the place of poker chips.

Yoongi does the same, his cheeks puffing out as he thinks.

"Y/N's worth it," he surmises, picking up his whisky glass.

The older man smiles, raising his glass to the CEO. "I'm glad you think so too."

Their warm talk is cut off by the sound of a chainsaw a far bit of distance away. Your father huffs out, gritting his teeth in annoyance.

"Old man Im is at it again. Y'know, I can't stand that old prick," he gripes, laying his cards down on the small garden table.

"Old man Im?" Yoongi inquires, squinting at the house lights in the far off distance.

"I've been offering to buy that man's land for years now, it's lush and my wife would be able to plant flowers in it but he always asks for such a high price that it's nearly impossible! He wants to sell the land! He just won't give it to me because Y/N threw a rock through his window when she was a little girl," he proclaims, grabbing the peanuts and munching on them.

Yoongi watches how irritated his new family member is and he's immediately annoyed as well.

"How much is he asking for?" The CEO inquires, folding his arms.

"Five million," your father mumbles, grabbing the stack of cards to shuffle them again.

That's pocket change.

"Old man Im, huh?" Yoongi mumbles, watching the house lights shut off.

Yoongi knows you've been in bed for some time when he enters the shared room. The sheets are ruffled due to your constant turning and your hair is splayed all over your pillow.

He finds himself smirking at the sight, stripping off his shirt to climb into bed with you.

Sliding beneath the sheets, he shivers at how cold his side of the bed is. But he's immediately warm as you throw your body over his.

"Did you have fun?" you mumble somnolently, putting your head on his bare chest.

He snorts gently, smiling up at the ceiling. His eyes flutter shut at the comfort of your body on his. Stroking your head gently, he breathes deeply letting the pleasantness of today wash over him.

"I had more fun today than I probably have ever had in my life," he answers you truthfully.

Your fingers drift over his abs and it's instinctual that he flinches. "Sorry, still working on it."

He still finds it surprising how easy it is to apologize to you when he has never said he's sorry to anyone in his life.

You shake your head, kissing over his skin softly. The shock drifts away, leaving Yoongi to only be comforted by your lips.

"Why do you have so many small tattoos?" you inquire, dragging your fingers over the colorful ink.

Looking down, his tongue runs over his lips feeling as if they're drying out. "Each one is a memory I don't want to forget."

"A memory?" you repeat, picking up your head to look him in the eyes.

"A memory of every cigarette burn that wasn't my fault," he croaks, clearing his throat as he caresses the apple of your cheek.

Your blood runs cold at his strangled voice.

"Like this one, the one of the hummingbird. I put up a bird feeder on my balcony in the winter so they wouldn't starve. And, my father told me that I have no brain. 'Why would you invite those rats with wings into the sanctuary near your bedroom? Are you Mother Theresa, huh? You're making them weak for not finding their own food.' I remember it all the time." your boyfriend says, staring at the paper door as he recites the old memory.

Your teeth grit, eyes narrowing as you cover the tattoo with your hand.

"I hate him," you whisper fiercely, putting your head back on his chest.

"Get in line, little dove." Yoongi murmurs, closing his eyes with a smirk.

There are so many small tattoos that litter his chest, and your throat constricts just looking at them in the moonlit room.

Yoongi looks down at your hand that covers a selection of scars. "Interested in any others?"

He doesn't mind sharing his past with you. In fact, no one knows about these stories he would so quickly give up to you. Not Maya or Namjoon. No one.

"It'll just make me angry," you mumble, turning your head to look up at him.

He chuckles, running his hand over your arm to your stomach. "Well, we don't want that. Anger is poison for Sesame. I should know, I've been poisoned twenty eight years of my life." he sighs.

You scoff gently, moving to lay fully over his body.

"Watch the baby," he grumbles, running his hands over your back as he looks back up at the ceiling.

There's silence for a bit. You just stare at him. Staring at the handsome broken man that's never known happiness.

"I can feel your eyes burning holes into my face," he jeers, squeezing your side gently.

"I really like you," you tell him, sitting up.

He peeks one eye open, the corners of his mouth flickering up with a snort.

"I like you too, baby. That's why I want you to be my family." he replies softly, stroking your thighs with his large hands.

You hum assertively, putting your hands on your hips. "You are my family."

He chuckles, kissing his fingers then mushing them into your lips. "My family member without my blood, housing my family with my blood. My goodness. How much luckier can I get?"

With a smile, you tilt your head as he clears his throat. "Thank you for bringing me here, little dove." he thanks you, grabbing your hand and kissing the back of it softly.

"What'd you talk about with my dad?" you inquire, laying down beside him.

Turning his body to yours, he pulls your back against his chest, situating his hand on your stomach.

"Just this and that. I'm probably going to buy a farm tomorrow," he murmurs sleepily.

"A farm? What for?" you ask, running your fingers over his arm.

"I hear that a farm around here has great land for planting. And, I want my family to be able to plant." he whispers, burying his face in your hair.

You go to lift your head in confusion but he shushes you softly.

"Sleep now, little dove. Sesame is tired, just like their father."

The words warm your heart and you smile to yourself, tracing random shapes over his skin.

It's easy for you to wake up in your old bed to the sound of roosters crowing good morning. It's not so easy for the father of your child.

Folding the pillow over his ears, he kicks his legs childishly.

"I hate chickens!" he whines loudly, stamping his feet on the bed.

"That's a rooster," you correct him, stretching as you stand up.

"Smart ass!" he barks out, flipping his body over.

Smothering his face in the pillow, he groans loudly.

"Guess he's not a morning person," your mother calls from the kitchen and the CEO's head immediately pops up.

"Yes, I am!" he retorts softly, his eyebrows furring.

"Mhm," you droll, combing your fingers through your hair.

Sitting up in bed, his joints pop and crack loudly to which he groans.

"The air here is so fresh," you exclaim, opening up the bathroom window.

"Why are you so chipper? We went to bed late," Yoongi inquired with a grumble, standing up out of the bed to crack his knees.

"Because I'm with my family," you reply, turning on the sink.

The CEO turns to the mirror, tilting his head as his hair falls into his eyes.

You're with your family. And that includes him.

He finds himself smiling to himself, grabbing a t-shirt from his luggage.

"Family," he whispers, running his fingers through his hair.

The simple word has so much more meaning than two days ago.

"Did you bring another set of comfortable clothes?" you ask him, peeking out of the bathroom.

"Why?" he inquires, showing you a pair of expensive sweatpants.

"Because it's six o'clock in the morning and we don't get up that early to just stare at each other," you quip with a laugh.

His hand falls, clutching the sweatpants with a frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have you ever done manual labor?" your father inquires to the CEO, watching him sip his coffee.

Yoongi looks up from his Irish coffee, internally groaning at the question.

"No. I'm a CEO," he retorts, setting down the cup.

Your hand slides over your mouth as you begin to smirk.

"Well, my knees aren't what they used to be. You'll help me gather some apples from the trees out back, won't you?" your dad asks, a kind smile gracing his face.

Pressing his lips into a straight line, your boyfriend sighs. "Of course, Dad."

"Good boy," your mother praises, petting his head sweetly.

He smirks at how affectionate she is.

"And what're you going to do while I'm hard at work?" Yoongi inquires of you, watching you kiss the top of Gaesu's head.

"Probably help my mom cook lunch," you reply.

Yoongi immediately begins to smile, "I love when you cook."

With a giggle, you wrinkle your nose at his cuteness. "I know you do."

"Alright Mr. Never-Did-Manual-Labor. Let's go pick some apples!" your dad cheers, patting your boyfriend on the back.

Yoongi is grateful that you insisted on comfortable clothes. He would have never pictured himself climbing a ladder a day in his life, but here he is. Climbing towards the heavens to just reach for a few apples to fill up a basket.

"I was thinking about something last night," your father states, holding the ladder still as the CEO continues his journey upward.

"Oh?" your boyfriend replies, sitting down at the top of the ladder.

"Why'd you get married to that woman, if you don't like her?" your father prods.

Yoongi's eyes widen, staring at the canopy of leaves not so high above him. Oh, if the ground would only open up and swallow both him and the ladder whole.

His hand shakes as he reaches for a ripe apple, his Adam's apple bobbing uncomfortably.

To be truthful, even though he's only been here a day, he'd forgotten that he's married. He's forgotten that he lives with a despicable woman who ruined him.

"Because my parents made me," he announces, almost falling off the ladder due to nerves.

Your father holds the ladder tighter, watching how nervous the younger man's back is. He can see it tensing and shaking like he's frightened.

"They can just make you get married?" your father asks, clearly appalled.

Yoongi turns to him, dropping an apple to him with a smirk. "Rich parents can make you do anything in the world."

Your father hums softly, his eyebrows furring while he catches the apple.

"Is she mean to my daughter? Should I be worried?"

Yoongi finds his teeth gritting. The simple idea of your father being so worried about you in a house with that leech makes him wrought with anger.

Folding his body over the top of the ladder, he narrows his eyes at your father. "Dad, nothing will ever happen to Y/N and our baby. I would die before that bitch has a chance to hurt them or be mean to them. There is nothing for you to worry about, because I would never let that happen."

Your father's eyes widen at how angry your boyfriend has gotten at the drop of a hat. But, he knows just how serious he is. And he finds his body filling with warmth at how protective the father of your child is towards you.

He hums gently, nodding to Yoongi letting him know he understands. "Why don't you just divorce her?"

The CEO's arm stops as he reaches for another apple.

Why doesn't he just fucking divorce her? Who is she to him? No one.

And then he remembers. And he sees red once more.

"My head maid Maya. She had a daughter named Myeyoung. Sera made her move out when we got married because she was beautiful. I never thought so, she always felt like a sister to me. She was always around so she was just a comfortable person to me. When she moved out, I helped her get a job where she could make enough money and live a good life. She opened up her own art gallery. But I learned what a snake that woman is, that damned woman who loves in my house. If I ever divorced her -- Sera swore she would ruin her life and make Myeyoung suffer if I ever took her money away from her." Yoongi fumes, running his fingers through his hair.

Your father shivers at his words, completely appalled with how bitter and evil this woman sounds.

"I see," he whispers softly.

Yoongi can feel anger coursing through every part of his body as he hangs onto the top of the ladder.

He hadn't thought about it in so long, he hasn't wanted to think about how absolutely vile Sera is. But, she's always brought up and always around to make him miserable.

He takes a deep calming breath.

"Maya has always been like my mother when I didn't really have one. I couldn't just let Myeyoung get fed to the wolves. She's too sweet for that." he announces, grabbing an apple and ripping it from its stem.

"You're a good man, son." your father praises, catching the apple as it falls.

Yoongi chuckles darkly, his tongue licking at his lips. "I'll be a better man when the leech is out of my life."

"Where are we going?" you whine, following your boyfriend as he tugs on your hand.

"I'm going to buy a farm." he replies happily, wading through thickets of bushes.

"This is Old Man Im's farm! He hates me!" you insist, feeling old emotions of terror from when you were a child.

Yoongi stops in his tracks, turning to you.

The sun is setting now, the pretty colors of the sky highlighting your features.

How he adores you.

Lifting his hand, he cups your cheek.

"You know, I'm feeling an emotion that I've never experienced before." he states, stepping closer to you.

With both of your bodies shrouded in the large thicket, it's only you and him.

"What are you feeling?" you ask, concerned and wanting to help.

He hums unsurely, wrapping his free arm around you. Pulling you up against his body, he pushes some stray hairs behind your ear.

"Whenever I look at you, little dove, my heart races like a horse on Sunday. I feel weak and needy when I'm with you. I just want to hold you without the need for food or water. I just want to stare at you every minute of every day.  I just want to… keep you. Forever." he admits.

Your cheeks puff out, heart warmed by his kind words.

"Maybe what you're feeling is infatuation? Or maybe you're feeling comfort?" you ask, adoring how his arms wrap around you, tugging you to his body.

"No I'm not infatuated with you, I'm infatuated with art. My heart -- it bleeds for you." he says, putting his hand on the back of your head to bury your face into his chest.

"Well, we'll figure it out together then," you reply.

"I'd like that." he whispers.

He knows what emotion this is, even if he's never experienced.

He's falling in love with you.

Next Chapter ------->

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Sorry for those it didn’t tag!

[broadstbroskis]

our love lasts so long | william nylander

a/n: oh hello!! am i here with yet another childhood friends to lovers fic?? why yes, yes i am. one (mildly) based on a taylor swift song, as the title would suggest (seven, a underrated folklore BOP)? yes again. the biggest of shoutouts to anyone who let me talk about this over the past few days but especially to @brockadoodles who listened to many many things and to @danglesnipecelly for reminding me about my childhood friends to lovers brand

word count: 7k

-----

The girls are being mean to her.

They’re older than her, a lot older than her, like already in grade school, and they all have friends here already, because they’ve all been here for a while. Noah frowns. It’s not her fault her daddy just got sent here. Florida’s too hot anyway; she still doesn’t understand how this ice rink even stays cold!

She shuffles her feet along. The Christmas songs are loud and there are a lot of people here but Daddy promised he’d take her around really fast after he finished working on shooting the puck with Jake. She just has to be super patient-she thinks that’s the thing Mommy always tells her to be-while she waits and then Daddy will play with her and those stupid girls won’t even matter.

(And yes she can use that word; she just can’t tell Mommy.)

The ice feels funny, not like she’s used to back at home in Canada, but before Noah can start to look for her Mommy to ask her, someone crashes into her and they both end up on the ice.

The boy who flew into her isn’t crying so Noah sucks her lip between her teeth and fights back her tears. “Hey!” He whines over to someone and then says something she can’t understand.

“Hey!” She whines and shoves him. “You’re s’pposed to say sorry when when you hit somebody!”

“I know!” His eyes widen. The blue is a pretty blue; it’s like the ice and Noah likes it. “My sister pushed me first though.”

“Oh.” Noah says. Jake is always pushing her around and he never gets in trouble for it. It’s not fair.  “Well she should say sorry to you then.”

The boy nods in agreement, his blond hair flopping everywhere. “Yeah but she’s older so she thinks she doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to.”

Noah scowls. “So does Jake.”

The boy’s face lights up. “Well then we should be friends and we could fight them together!”

Someone else who’s going to help stop Jake from shooting pucks at her? Deal. “Okay.” Noah grins. “I’m Noah.”

He smiles back. “William.” 

-----

Willy’s at practice when he hears about the trade, the one that’s bringing Barrett Evans to the Blackhawks, and he hears it mostly because the boys think it means Jake Evans is going to join their team.

Willy’s playing a couple years up here, and there’s an argument going on during practice about if Jake’s doing the same; if he’ll join their team, how soon he’ll be able to get there if he is. That they’re more excited about the potential of Jake Evans joining this team than any discussion of his dad joining the actual Blackhawks is one of the reasons Willy likes this team so much. They’re all chill; no one cares what his dad does or where he plays. 

He’s just another one of the boys.

In about a week they find out Jake is joining their team, his mom quickly setting up a carpool to the rink with Willy’s, who is more than eager to agree, with the new baby taking up (in Willy’s opinion) too much space and time.

(What’d they need another sister for? Wasn’t two enough?)

Jake comes with two sisters of his own, another baby just like Willy’s sister, and then, even better, a dark haired girl that Willy only remembers from pictures and dreams, but a face that he recognizes instantly.

“Hey.” He taps the glass in front of where she’s sitting at his practice, writing something- probably homework. He’s supposed to do his in the car on the way to practice, Mum says so, but he never does, because he hates doing it, and like really, what’s the point if he’s going to be a famous NHL player anyway? 

Noah looks up, a little annoyed, but then her face breaks out into a smile when she sees it’s him. “William!”

“Willy.” He corrects.

She pulls a face. “Ew, like a wet willy?”

“No,” He laughs. “Like my name!”

“That’s dumb.”

“No it’s not!” It’s what everyone calls him.

Noah’s still frowning at him. “Yes it is, Will.”

“No dumber than the ark you’re named after.” He counters. If she’s going to be like that, he can play too. 

“At least I get cool animals on mine.” Noah huffs and then turns away from him, like she’s mad. 

“No hockey on it though.” Willy says and she turns back to him just to roll her eyes at him. “Not really worth it then, yeah?”

“You’re the worst.” Noah says, but she’s back to facing him and smiling again, showing off a couple missing teeth. “Don’t you do anything else?” He shakes his head, grinning. “That’s gonna change because I’m not playing hockey with you all the time.”

“Well I’m not playing dolls with you all the time.” Will says quickly. He has to do that enough with his sisters; he’s not doing anymore of it.

She rolls her eyes. “Stupid boys.” She mutters and goes back to her work.

“What does that mean?” Willy demands but before he can get an answer, his coach is calling them all back to practice and his break is done. He’s just going to have to bug her at the game tonight. 

(He does bug her at the game that night, but she annoys him right back, and by the second period, they’re laughing and grinning, friends once again).

-----

“Ok, but did you lose Alex or just like, misplace him?” Noah looks around her, searching for a head of blond hair in the crowd of people rushing around them in the mall.

“What’s the difference?” Will hisses, using her shoulder to stand on his toes, head turning as he searches for his brother.

“Like, are you actually asking because of a two language thing or are you just being a jerk because we lost your brother?”

Will glares over at him and drops down flat on his feet again, swearing as he does. “Mum’s doing to kill me.”

“Why?” Alex asks, reappearing suddenly with a soft pretzel in hand, and Noah screams, throwing her arms around him. “What happened?”

“We hate you.” Will says and Noah nods in agreement. “That’s what.”

“What’d I do?” Alex protests.

“Disappeared!” Noah cries. “With no warning.

“I told Will I was going to get a pretzel.” He defends. “He can’t listen and that’s my fault?”

Will reaches out like he’s going to pull his brother into a headlock-or worse, Noah’s not going to risk the two of them going at it like they do in their basement here in public-so she reaches out and grabs his hand, intercepting him before he can even make it to just ruffle his hair, or something. “Come on, Alex.” She teases, even as Will drops his jaw at her for stopping him. “We both know Will hears what he wants to hear.”

Alex laughs, looking as pleased as she knew he would, but Will’s jaw remains dropped. “Screw you” Will says, and because she’s still holding his one hand to keep it from going for his brother, she’s defenseless against the finger he pokes into her most ticklish spot.

“Stop!” She squirms away, or tries to- he won’t let go of her hand. “Will! Let go!”

He stops poking her side, but squeezes her hand and grins. “Nope, you chose this; now you’re stuck with me.”

“Your hand is sticky!” She whines. 

“I was testing tape.” Will grins, swinging their hands widely. “Now yours can be sticky too.”

Noah looks down at their hands, joined and still swinging wherever Will moves them. She hopes that’s all that’s on them but you never know with the DC Metro.

-----

There’s a girl giggling behind him.

Willy turns and she stops, but as soon as he turns back, she’s giggling again and this time, so is her friend.

He tugs at the blazer of his uniform, looking down at his shirt. Is his tie done funny? He’d gotten called out for that last week. But it looks fine, just like everyone else’s did earlier. He pulls out his phone. Hurry up. He sends Noah, watching the dots appear on his screen, like she’s texting back, but then she appears, right in front of him. “Finally.” He grabs her and tugs her away from this school, those girls, even more of them giggling at him.

Willy wipes at his face. Maybe there’s something on it? But nothing comes off on his hand and he frowns harder.

Noah’s biting her lip, like she’s trying not to laugh, and it only works for so long. “She has a crush on you, dummy.”

“Oh.” Willy says blankly, trying to sneak a look back at the first girl. 

“Oh,” Noah parrots. “Honest to god, Will, it’s a good thing you’re pretty.”

“Hey!” He forgets all about the girl, in favor of knocking his shoulders against hers-not hard enough to send her falling into the dirty snow of this New York suburb, but hard enough to make her laugh. “I’m athletic too!”

Noah bursts into laughter, this loud thing that’s bright and contagious and only serves to make Willy join in with her- not that he’s trying hard to stop himself. He’s always laughing when she is. “Sure bud,” She pats his arm. “You tell yourself that.”

-----

“Iced tea.” Noah hands a cup over to Will and then slides down so she’s sitting next to him, dangling her feet in the pool. It’s really too cold to go in, but that hasn’t stopped Will, who’s been swimming all afternoon on and off- and it hasn’t stopped him from pulling her in with him.

“How much sugar?” Will asks demandingly, as she rolls her eyes, like he’s not already taking a sip.

She’d normally answer with a snarky comment, just because he deserves it. But the nostalgia’s setting in; it’s been hitting her at random moments all week, and she’s inclined to just be nice to him, leaning against him as she says, “Come on, like I don’t know how you like your iced tea by now.”

Will sighs dramatically, taking her weight and pressing back against her. “Guess I’m going to have to make my own coffee now too, huh?”

“Two creams, one sugar.” Noah reminds him gently and he laughs, but it sounds kind of hollow, not at all like the honk that usually sends her into fits of giggles right along with him. It’s quiet after he stops, the only sound the pool filter a few feet away and the crickets just starting to chirp, and she hates the silence. In all their years of friendship, they’ve never been quiet people, never had to do an awkward dance while they figured out who they were each time they met. They fell right back into easy friendship, laughing and giggling, dragging each other into their favorite things and places, until one of them was leaving.

It feels different this time. “Are you really leaving?” There’d never been a doubt in her mind when her dad left DC that she’d see Will again. Maybe not for a few months, maybe not for a few years, but the day would come.

“For now.” Will shrugs. “I’m sure we’ll be back.”

“It’s Sweden.” Noah says quietly. She doesn’t have that same feeling this time. Sweden’s their home. Why would they leave? 

“It’s hockey.” Will says, like hockey, Sweden, and home- they’re all interchangeable. 

And maybe they are; hockey- the people Noah meets because of her dad’s team, the friends she’s made, Will, his family- hockey, as a concept, has been more of a home to her than any of the houses she’s known, than these temporary places she embraces every two years or so. 

But she’s been around long enough to know what comes after hockey and it’s the only thing that changes home. The offseason home becomes the main home. Dads start picking up carpool duties and volunteer coaching positions. The spotlight shifts to the kids and their dreams. 

It’s hockey and it’s Sweden and it’s home and whether they’re all different or the same, Noah knows this is the last time she’ll be seeing Will.

-----

Willy has minimal complaints about being a rookie, even if Reemer and Naz think he should have more. 

He’s, like, the definition of living the dream. He’s got a sweet apartment that he shares with one of his best friends. He’s on a dream line with two more of his best friends and they’re absolutely tearing it up. 

His team’s incredible, even if they’re a bunch of assholes sometimes (Willy is too sometimes, he admits), but they’re fun and they’re funny and they like to let loose and have a good time, for as often as they’re really fucking serious about the goal they’re all there for. 

Like today. Practice had been brutal and then there’d been a lift before a video session, but there’s nothing on the schedule for tomorrow so there hadn’t even been a question of if they were going out that night. Suggestions for where had been tossed out the second practice ended.

It’s a good night, things are going well and drinks are flowing (as they should be) and then Matts rolls back to the table, weirdly dejected after coming back from the bar trying to talk up a pretty girl, and he takes his chirps with as much grace as the worst loser Willy’s ever met can, but Willy looks over and he knows that girl. He’d recognize those eyes anywhere, even if her hair is longer and maybe darker? So he gets up, even as Matts calls after him, “Fuck you Willy,” and the rest of the boys laugh.

He leans his weight against Noah, laughing at the look on her face when she realizes it’s him. The annoyance leaves her face pretty quickly and a smile slides right in its place, like she’s waiting for him. “Matts is pretty annoyed you turned him down.” He teases, bypassing hello altogether.

“Yeah well,” She huffs and it’s like she’s trying for annoyed but Willy can see the smile that she’s hiding. “Matts needs to learn that just because he’s a big shot hockey player doesn’t mean every girl is going to drop into bed with him at the sound of his name and a free drink.”

“He’s a lot nicer than that.” Willy defends. “Usually. I didn’t mean it like that.” Because, well, Matts can be an asshole, but it’s not about bringing a girl home.

Noah looks at him skeptically. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Yeah, I’ve never led you astray before .”

She bursts into laughter. “Yeah, okay.” The sarcasm drips from her tone, even through the laughter.

Willy pokes her but it only makes her laugh harder. “Name one time.”

“Sledding in DC, winter skate in New York, ditching school to go to the mall that one time in Westchester, taking the train into-“

He covers her mouth. “I said name one.”

When he removes his hand, Noah’s grinning up at him, and suddenly he realizes what’s different. It’s not her hair (which is darker, he’s sure now that he’s up close), or her smile (still bright and laughing), or her eyes (bright and green and unforgettable). It’s the oh fuck running through his brain, because he’d definitely take her home.

-----

Falling back into friendship with Will is easy; it’s pretending Noah doesn’t want more that’s hard.

It’s always been easy to be friends with Will. She can’t remember a time when they didn’t click, when things felt weird or uncomfortable between them. 

But that was before he started dragging her everywhere around Toronto- to the greatest restaurants she’s ever eaten at, to the Christmas Market, to breakfast on Thursday’s every week he’s in town because he knows that she doesn’t have class until the afternoon. 

The flutter in her stomach is so unfamiliar, something so unassociated with Will, that it takes her a while to place it. And of course he’s doing something so normal, so innocuous, so casual, it shouldn’t even register on her radar. He’s buying coffee, for Christ’s sake!

But he’s remembering that she likes oat milk in her iced coffee, even though she hasn’t really actually told him that; it’s just the order she always gives when they go for breakfast. And he’s ordered her a size up from what she usually gets, without her even asking, just because she’d mentioned being up late last night with homework.

“Here!” Will chirps happily, passing her the cup grinning, and there’s that flutter again, deep in her stomach, and it’s that, that small gesture that means so much, just knowing that he’s looking at her enough to know that she needs this extra large iced coffee with oat milk without even being told, that tells her what this feeling is.

This is a crush.

“Thanks.” She’s gonna tamp this baby down and fast. Why is she even crushing on Will at all? It must be, like, the years they’ve spent apart; she’s been desensitized to him or something. Suddenly, his hair’s all beautiful and his eyes are pretty and shit. Unreal.

“You’re welcome,” Will smiles. “But I didn’t just get this for you just because you look exhausted.”

“Is this a bribe?” She demands.

Will laughs. “Kind of.” She side-eyes him until he caves. “We’re all going out this weekend after the game and the team wants to meet you.”

“Oh.” She says, surprised. “That’s it?”

“You were expecting worse?”

She nods. “Much.”

“Well, nope.” He pops the ‘p.’ “Just gotta come hang out with me.”

“Ugh.” She complains. “Maybe that is worse.”

“I bought you that coffee. I’ll take it right back.” Will threatens.

“Never.” Noah cradles it close to her chest. “Not allowed.”

Will’s watching her, smiling, like he already knows she’s going to say yes, but he says anyway. “So you’ll come?”

“Of course, I’ll come.” It really wasn’t even a question. She would have come even if he hadn’t bribed her with the most amazing coffee she’s ever had to drink, but he sweetened the deal with that, so that’s how she finds herself slipping into the VIP section of a club on a Saturday night, eyes scanning to find him.

It’s not too hard to spot him and she soon finds herself sliding into a group of teammates and significant others, fighting back a laugh at the look on Auston Matthews’ face. “Hi!” She drapes herself over Will’s back, actually laughing at the look on his face and clinging tightly to make him work at pulling her off.

“God, you’re a pain.” He announces, finally tugging her around. 

“Always.” Noah laughs, because this is easy, this is normal. Teasing Will just like always. “It’s what I strive to be, a thorn in your side.”

“You don’t have to try.” She miscalculated this gravely. He’s in the perfect position to dance his fingers into her most ticklish spots. “You just are.”

“Are you going to introduce us, Willy?” Someone asks dryly, one of the guys across from them. “Or just stand there pretending the two of you are in your own little world?”

Will’s cheeks flush-something unusual for him, he’s never embarrassed- but he says, “This is Noah.” Simply; like everyone should know who she is to him just from that alone, and it kind of seems like they do. A bunch of their faces light up and a few of them lean into each other and start whispering together. But she doesn’t get a chance to ask him what he has said about her, what kind of talk he’s been talking, before he’s listing names off of everyone around them, like she’s going to remember all these people.

There’s immediate chatter from almost everyone around her; it’s as if each one of them have been dying to meet her for a different reason. “Willy’s kept pretty tight-lipped about you.” Connor-James-Matt?-She’s already forgotten every name Will’s told her- says, almost too casually. “How long have you guys been seeing each other?”

“Before or after you turned Matts down?” Someone else adds eagerly, even as Auston groans, a little embarrassed.

Will’s fighting back a laugh next to her and she wants to kill him, honestly, she really does. But she settles for the next best thing, plastering her hand over his bicep, playing up a part that she isn’t. “Oh, you know. Fifteen years, on and off, right, babe?”

“Fif-what?” That’s Naz that’s narrowing his eyes at them; she’s pretty sure.

And now Will loses it, at either that, or the faces the rest of his teammates are making, and she pulls her hand away, laughing right with him. “What the fuck?” Tyler says flatly. “You really are just friends.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Will insists.

“He’s a terrible liar.” Noah says. “You’d know right away. His face gets all-”

“Nope.” Will pulls her away. “Think it’s time for a drink, don’t you?”

“Gets all what?” Someone calls. “All what?” 

She winks over her shoulder; she’ll get back to him later.

Noah doesn’t get around to him until much later, dragged to the bar with Will and then out dancing where they’re joined by a few of his fellow rookies. There might be times when they all go out looking to pick up, but this clearly isn’t one, every one of them out doing each other in the most ridiculous ways (Mitch wins; Mitch wins every time).

She gets back to the table a while later, when she’s dying of thirst and Will’s gone to the bar for refills, but it’s been long enough that she’s kind of forgotten she’s somewhat on the hot seat in this group. No one pounces immediately, but two of them- Morgan and Jake- move away from the team’s argument about a podcast they’ve been listening to and slide closer to her.

“So what’s the tell?” Morgan asks and Noah frowns for a second until she remembers earlier, laughing and declining. “Fine, sure. I admire the loyalty, I guess.” 

“It’s too easy for him to return the favor.” Noah laughs.

“Ok, so you’ve known Willy,” Jake says slowly, like he’s trying to calculate in real time. “For 15 years now?”

Noah nods. “Since we were four. Our dads got traded to the same hockey team and,” She shrugs. “Then again, and again, and again.”

Morgan kind of lights up, like this is the best news he’s heard all day. “What exactly was Willy like as a kid? Like has he always slept this much on any flat surface available? Or is that a weird thing he picked up in Sweden?”

“Always.” She laughs and then shrugs again. “I don’t know, I think he’s a lot like he is now. I don’t-I don’t think much has changed.”

And before she can even say anything else, the man himself is slipping in beside her, carelessly throwing his arm over her shoulders and gluing himself to her side. “Don’t talk to them.” Will demands. “They won’t have anything nice to say about me.”

“Rude.” Jake throws a wrapper at him, and it tangles in his hair but Will just shakes it out.

“Actually they’re asking me about you.” She tells him and he gasps dramatically.

“Don’t talk to them.” He demands again and she laughs.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want you ruining my image.”

“What image, pretty boy?” Morgan drawls, and Noah just laughs as Will retaliates by throwing the straw wrapper back at him but he doesn’t leave her side after that, remaining a comfortable weight pressed against her for the rest of the evening.

She doesn’t hate it. Stupid crush.

-----

“Happy Birthday.” Willy slides the gift across the counter but Noah doesn’t even reach for it, still looking down at the textbook she’s highlighting. She’s new-semester stressed still, the kind of stressed where her hair is constantly up in that bun for a few weeks and the bags never seem to leave her eyes. He can’t wait for another week or so, when she’ll finally crash and sleep for like, two days, a break she’s in desperate need of.

“What is it?” She asks skeptically and like, sure, the wrap job’s a little sketch, but Willy did it himself, no help from Mum or sisters. She should be, like, proud of his job mediocrely done. 

“Was I unclear?” He asks, and she gives him a look, reaching for it with an eye roll. 

“My birthday was last month.” She reminds him. “You sent me flowers.”

Willy knows. The flowers had been a placeholder because he’d wanted to be with her when she opened her real gift, to see her reaction, watch the smile grow over her face when she sees what’s in the box. “That was never your whole gift.” 

She smiles. “It could have been! It was just nice to know you were thinking of me.”

Willy stops just before he says something stupid, like that he’s always thinking of her. He hasn’t stopped thinking about her since they reunited last year and he probably won’t stop thinking about her, even after she finishes up with school and figures out her next step. It seems inevitable that fate will follow its same path they’ve travelled their entire lives, and they’ll end up crossing paths three times a year when Willy travels to whatever city she ends up in, knowing before they even meet for dinner that it’s not enough time, never enough time.

Instead he smiles and nods. “Come on, I’d never miss your birthday. Even if we have to celebrate late.”

Noah laughs. “Fair.” She says, finally reaching for the gift he’d laid out for her. And he knows what she’s going to find first, but that doesn’t change how nice it feels to know he nailed it when she opens the box of Swedish candies he’d brought back, a box of all her favorites. “Ohh!” She immediately pops one of her favorite chocolates into her mouth. “I don’t even care what the other thing is; this is amazing. Thank you!”

Willy laughs, kind of nervously. “At least look at it before you decide to stick it in a corner and never look at it again.”

She’s already pulling it out, peeling back the corners of the wrapping paper, and then looking up at him when she realizes it’s a jewelry box. He smiles encouragingly, feeling like he barely manages to get a full smile up before she’s opening, and then it stretches out fully in relief when she gasps. “Will.” She says finally, looking up at him, mouth opening and closing repeatedly. 

“Do you like it?” He asks hesitantly. He’d bought it on the spot the moment he saw it, the green of the peridot the exact shade of her eyes and her birthstone-or at least, it was, according to his sister. The necklace itself, a delicate chain dropping into a teardrop stone, this easy beauty that he couldn’t help associating with only her.  It’d felt too perfect to pass up. 

“I love it.” She says immediately. “This is-it’s-it’s perfect!” She gets out finally, and Willy breaks out into a smile, watching her lift the chain up to her neck. “Will you-” She breaks off, looking at him expectantly.

“Oh!” Willy gets it now, stands up to step behind her and gently takes the ends of the necklace. “Yeah, of course.” Noah lifts her hair and for a moment all Willy can concentrate on is the whiff of peach he gets suddenly. He fumbles the clasp for a second before he finally gets his shit together. “Why does your shampoo smell so good?”

She laughs, letting her hair tumble down again- another burst of peach to his nose- and turns to face him. “I switched it this summer. It’s nice, isn’t it?”

Nice? Maybe it’s because he spends all his time in a locker room with 23 other dudes, but it’s the best thing he’s ever smelled. He feels weird, knows it’s so not friends to want to pull her into his arms, just so he can hold her close and breathe in that smell, so he just nods.

“Yeah.” Willy says and his eyes are immediately drawn to her smile, to her fingers dragging the teardrop along the chain, and he- he flickers his eyes back up before he can go any lower. “It’s nice.”

-----

“You ready yet?” Will picks up his wallet off his island, where Noah’s been sitting for the last hour trying to tweak her resume one last time before submitting it to another job interview. “I’m going to miss my flight.”

“I’m going to kill you.” She says flatly. She’s only been calling that concern out to him since she walked in the door.

Will grins, throwing his arm around her shoulders and tugging her close into his side. If they weren’t about to spend the entire summer apart, maybe she’d fight it more, afraid that she’s taking too much from him to satiate her more-than-just-a-crush. But Will’s pulling his stupid Sugo hat on his head with the hand that’s not squeezing her close, and he’s about to leave her for four months, fresh off the devastation of the Bruins loss, so she curls in, greedily taking anything she can from him. “Save some cap space,” He hums. “If you did.”

“Oh my god.” She shoves him away. She takes it back. She takes it all back. She feels absolutely nothing for him; he’s the worst human she’s ever met.

Will pulls her back in and his arm stays around her the entire walk down to his car, when he only removes it so they can pack his bags in and then slide in their seats. As soon as he starts it and gets on the road, he reaches over again, just resting his hand on her knee.

“I can’t believe you’re just going to let me drive your car all summer.” Noah says, so she doesn't say something she regrets instead, like I love you, or worse, something about his hands and where else he can put them. 

Will glances at her briefly before turning his attention back to the road and Noah’s already grinning before he responds. “Don’t make me regret this.”

Shifting in her seat to better face him seems like a good idea until she actually does it and it means that his hand just moves further up her leg. She has to stop herself from looking at it, his fingers on the skin of her thigh. “You’ll still have a car when you get back.”

“The same car?”

“Maybe with a dent or two in it.” Noah teases, mostly just to annoy him. It works; he flickers his eyes over toward her in a glare. “I’m kidding.”

“You better be.”

“I’d totally get it fixed.” She continues, smiling when Will laughs. “Pristine condition. You’d never know.”

“Just how I want it.” He pulls up to departures and puts the car into park, so they can both step out; him to fly out and her to switch sides, meeting at the trunk. “Please don’t crash you or my car.” He says softly, pulling her into a hug.

“Please come back soon.” She counters, muttering the words into his chest.

It’s apparently not as quiet as she’d intended. “Wedding season.” He squeezes. “I’ll see you then.”

But that’s not what she meant at all. Noah doesn’t want him back for a weekend or two. She wants dry ink on a contract, locking him in to Toronto.

-----

When the start of the season comes around and Willy’s contract still hasn’t been signed, he can’t say he’s surprised to get a Snapchat from Noah, featuring her, Auston, and Mitch all pouting. 

“Come on.” He frowns at her, when they’re facetiming later that day- well into the night for him, actually. “You know why I’m doing this.” 

She pouts again, even though she’d been smiling only seconds before. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Why can’t you be in a standoff with management from here?”

“Why can’t you come work from home from here?” Willy counters and she actually huffs at him, but changes the subject.

When his holdout continues to last though, she does, finally, agree to come work from home from his place in Sweden, at least for a little, and Willy has to physically stop himself from fistpumping in excitement. It’s been too many months of seeing just her pixelated face through facetime, of conversations broken up by timezones, and late night calls that make him want things he knows he can’t have. 

It’s only a few days later but it feels like forever by the time that Noah is throwing herself into Willy’s arms the second that she exits the Stockholm Arlanda airport, and it’s only years of core stability training that don’t send them both flying to the ground. 

“How’s my car?” He teases, because it’s been a lot longer than the four months he promised and he just wants to see her smile, in person, without a lag from their stupid iPhones.

It works. “1 door left.” She chirps easily. “Don’t worry, Auston’s helping me fix it.”

“I’m sure he is.” Willy says darkly, because it was really no secret Matts still thought she was gorgeous, even if Willy was sure he’d never actually do anything about it. Pretty sure. At least 50%.

Noah laughs. “You’re hilarious.” She pats his arm a few times and pulls away to get in the car, but he wants to know about what. About Matts? It’s a legit concern, he feels. Maybe he’ll just fire off a text to Matts, just to be sure. “Will?” Noah’s leaning out of the passenger side. “Are we leaving or are we going to spend my whole trip here at the airport?”

“What if we are?” Willy shoots back, but he makes his way to the driver’s seat.

“If it meant that you were coming home?” Noah gives him a small smile. “I don’t think I’d even be mad.”

Willy gives her a tight smile. “Not yet.”

“Is it-” Noah makes a noise and then continues anyway. “Are you going to come home?”

“I want to.” She knows this; they don’t talk about his contract situation often, but they do, occasionally. “You know that.”

“Yeah.” She says softly. “I just-it’s getting close, yeah?”

Yeah, it was. The deadline was creeping closer and closer, with still no deal. He didn’t...love that, he’d say that for sure. He wanted to be back with the boys, playing; was ready to be back with Noah, for any time she’d give him. “Yeah.” He says, and then switches the topic completely, because he doesn’t want to think about what he’s going to do if this is the only time he gets with her until next fall. “You want to go to dinner with my family tonight?”

Noah’s eyes light up. “Yeah, oh my god!”

Willy laughs and takes the next exit on the highway, instead of driving further into town to go to his own place. Dinners with his parents and sisters is usually a quick cure to any spiraling thoughts about the signing deadline, and having Noah there today is even better. She’s a comforting weight against his side; a laughing presence with his mum as they gang up against him; a friend to his sisters after dinner, as they sit curled together in a corner of the living room whispering secrets and waving him away when he gets too close.

It’s a lot of things Willy doesn’t let himself think about, doesn’t let himself want, because Noah’s never given any hints she wants the same. And she’ll always fit with his family, because she grew up with him, with them, but one day she’ll find another guy who she just seamlessly fits into the side of, whose family she can easily laugh and joke with, because she’s that charming and friendly and nice. How could anyone not love her?

“I remember your sisters begging me to braid their hair at games all the time.” Noah says fondly, once she leaves their circle of secrets to come back to him. “God, I can’t believe how old they all are now.”

“Don’t remind me.” Will says darkly. His youngest sister just announced she has a boyfriend, her first boyfriend; he hates it the most.

Noah cackles, as if she knows what he’s thinking about, which, well, maybe she does, after the last hour. He doesn’t even want to know what they said about him (except he does, he really, really does). “If you promise to be nice to him, maybe she’ll let us go one a double date with them before I leave.”

Willy about blacks out when he hears her mention the word date and he’s pretty sure it shows on his face. “Really?” It’s the only word he can get out. Everything is wonderful; thank God, thank Jesus, thank who-fucking ever. This is the greatest-

Noah laughs. “Well I don’t think she’s going to let you meet him by yourself!” She nudges him with her shoulder. “But we could all go to dinner together!”

He takes it back. Everything is terrible and this is not even close to the greatest day ever.

They end up going for dinner with his sister and her boyfriend anyway-whatever, it’s fine.

“He was more than fine.” Noah protests, when they’re walking back to his place from the restaurant. It’s her last day here and Willy’s trying to soak up every bit of her that he can, so if that means walking to a restaurant in the cold, then so be it. “He was really nice!”

“He was, like, moderately nice, at best.” Willy pulls a face. 

“Don’t be that guy.” She shakes her head at him. “You know what guy I’m talking about.”

“Yeah.” He sighs. 

She nudges him. “You know, if you came back to Toronto with me, you’d never have to see him. Out of sight, out of mind.”

He wants to. He wants to so badly. He just...can’t. “You know I can’t.”

“But I don’t!” Noah says, frustratedly. “I don’t know why you can’t at all. You want to be there and they want you there. I don’t fucking get this!”

“Money. Terms.” He shrugs, sounding a lot more casual than he feels. “My agent’s taking care of things. That’s what he’s here for.”

“Well maybe it’s time to take care of things you want for yourself.” Noah mutters.

“What?” Will asks; he’s sure he heard her, but the bitterness is really unlike her.

“Nothing.” Noah curls into him and Willy wraps his arm around her shoulders without question. “Just cold. Left or right to get home?”

-----

Will’s text comes through in the middle of the afternoon, that they’re just ironing out the fine details and that he’ll be on a redeye that night.

You don’t even need to buy me a Christmas present this year. Noah sends in response. Best gift ever. 

When he doesn’t respond, though, she gets a little concerned. He always sends something back, always, whether it’s just a little emoji or some kind of quip, and that was prime for the taking. Call me at the airport? She follows it up. Do you need a ride when you get here? I still have your car.

Matts is grabbing me, going right to practice and meeting w kyle. Catch up later.

She actually startles at the response. He’s never, never been so short with her. It’s not even that the response itself was rude; it just...didn’t even feel like him. It feels like he’s pushing her away and the only thing she can think of is that he is. That he’d realized how she’d clung to him in Sweden in departures, the way she hadn’t been able to stop herself from running her hand down his back before pulling away, and he’d connected it to the fact that she’s definitely in love with him and was pulling away.

It’s the worst thought she’s had since she realized he was staying in Sweden for a while. She’d drunk a bottle of wine then to cope and she does the same now, but then she’s only more cranky the next morning when she’s still over thinking and she has a headache.

The knock on her door only makes her more annoyed, at least until she opens it and sees Will standing in the hallway. “Hi.” She breathes. She’d pictured him coming back to Toronto so many times, and look, she knows she doesn’t need to impress Will, who has seen her at her best and worst, but not once was she wearing sweats and the biggest sweatshirt that she owns. 

“Hi.” Will grins and she’s about to tell him to come in, but then he’s cupping her cheek and ducking down and it’s like time stops as he kisses her.

Noah can’t quite believe she was ever scared that Will didn’t love her. She doesn’t need him to say it, but he’s the one to pull away first, resting his forehead on hers, and they’re the first words out of his mouth. “I love you.” He kisses her again and god, she could do this forever. “You told me if I want something, to just take care of it myself, and I’m doing it. I don’t want to sit back anymore and let someone else love you. I love you.”

Will brushes his thumb over her cheek and Noah tries to gather a thought, any thought after a kiss that turned her brain to mush. “I don’t know when I started loving you,” She says, smiling when she sees the grin grow across Will’s face. “But I think it was before I even know what love was, and I don’t ever want to stop.”

The next kiss is the worst one yet, the smile still on his face (and hers), but that’s okay, Noah muses. They have time. 

[jaskiers-sweetkiss]

Sunset Swerve - Part 8

Pairing: Luke x OC

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: some light swearing

A/N: For some reason I really want to say ‘We’re in the endgame now” about this chapter but its not true? We’re in like the mid-game lol. Anyway, shoutout to @meangirlsx who unknowingly inspired some of the dialog between Luke and Jordan in this chapter with her tags on a previous chapter. Send me a message if you’d like to be added to the taglist and, as always, let me know what you think!

Part 7  Masterlist

___

When they arrived back in the studio, they had not expected it to be filled with music.

Julie grinned at them from behind her keyboard and everyone else stopped playing at their arrival.

“Grab your guitars, we’ve got work to do.” Even without saying it, it was obvious that the girl had forgiven Luke and Jordan wondered what Alex and Reggie had said to her.

Jordan did as she said, heading to her stand and slinging the strap of her electric across her body while Luke headed straight toward Julie.

“What made you come back?” He asked the question Jordan had been wondering herself.

“I realized how much music meant to all of us, and we’ve lost so much already.” The way Julie said it made it seem like she knew more than Jordan would’ve expected and she wondered again what the boys had told her. “We can’t lose this too.”

“Thanks,” Luke nodded thoughtfully, slipping the strap of his guitar across his body. “Alright boss, where we at?”

Julie smiled, settling into her place at the keyboard before leaning forward again. “Oh, and by the way, happy birthday.”

The genuine smile that drew from Luke sent a pang through her chest and she frowned, wondering if it was another one of those jolts. However, as she looked around she noticed none of the boys felt it. Oh hell, she cursed herself silently. She was so lost in her thoughts that she nearly missed Julie’s instructions to start at the pre-chorus.

Jordan was grateful for the distraction of the music, all her focus going into singing and playing, no room for stupid thoughts about stupid boys. Practice ended too quickly for Jordan’s taste but she knew realistically that Julie needed time to get ready and travel to the venue while they could just poof around. She just needed Luke to do something stupid so that she could remember why she hated him because her stupid smooth brain (Julie taught her that) had forgotten it.

Instead, he turned and directed his dopey smile at her and she swore she nearly swooned.

“We are gonna rock those managers’ faces off!” He exclaimed as they put their instruments away.

Jordan grinned back at him, silently blaming it on the rush of playing well and having a performance soon. She was always more agreeable around music. Out of the corner of her eye though she thought she saw Reggie and Alex share a knowing look and she glared at them suspiciously.

“Yeah man, it’s gonna be awesome,” Alex responded to Luke and the rest of the ghosts nodded in agreement as they shuffled around the studio getting ready for the performance.

Jordan decided to keep the outfit she’d been wearing all day, fishnets and her old black Madonna t-shirt under a pair of overall shorts and her Docs. With her outfit and hair already taken care of thanks to Past Jordan, she was just left to slap on some makeup, thankful that she hadn’t done it before she’d spent the afternoon crying. Luke sat down on the couch next to her, watching curiously as she worked.

“Do you mind?” She asked, looking away from the small mirror Julie had lent her to stare blankly at the boy.

“Nope!” He responded cheekily and she groaned, turning back to her mirror and her eyeliner.

She’d finally managed to get the wings down again, making only one mistake this time, so the process went by fairly quickly.

“Do you need me to do yours?” She deadpanned, turning to stare at Luke who was still watching her.

“Nah,” he breathed, smiling cheekily at her as he flipped his imaginary hair over his shoulder. “I’m naturally gorgeous, I don’t need makeup.”

Jordan gasped.

“Asshole!” She exclaimed, smacking his shoulder but laughing anyway. “You’re lucky it’s your birthday or it would be on sight for that.”

“‘On sight’?” Luke asked, puzzled.

“Some twenty-first-century lingo Julie taught me,” Jordan explained superiorly. “Basically means I’d fight you as soon as I saw you.”

Luke nodded lightly, eyes going wide at the threat but slowly a mischievous look began to take over his face.

“Hey Alex, Reg, who would win in a fight? Me or Jordan?” Luke called out and Jordan rolled her eyes, putting away her makeup stash.

“Jordan,” they both answered at the same time and Jordan laughed, giving them both high fives as she returned her makeup to her designated cubby in the back of the studio (they’d had to create an official organization system because the boys tended to just take anything they found and claim it as their own).

Luke pouted, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed like a petulant child as he glared at his bandmates.

“Sorry, man,” Alex shrugged, “Have you seen her boots? She’d absolutely curb stomp you without a second thought.”

Reggie nodded and Luke huffed, standing up from the couch and making his way to the door.

“You guys are mean,” he whined. “I’m gonna tell Julie.”

He’d meant it to be a threat but the other three ghosts weren’t fulling listening, only hearing Julie’s name.

“Oooh, I wanna see Julie!” Reggie exclaimed and Alex and Jordan responded with a chorus of ‘Me too!’s and ’Same!’s as they began clamoring around the furniture in the studio in a race to the door.

Luke rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath as he followed after them.

When they arrived at Julie’s door, Reggie held his arms out dramatically, effectively halting the movement of the three ghosts behind him. Once he felt sure they weren’t just going to barge in he stuck his arm through the door, knocking three times while the other ghosts rolled their eyes or laughed.

“What are you guys doing?” They heard Julie ask through the door and Reggie stuck his whole torso through.

“We’re being classy,” Jordan snorted at that and Luke huffed, pulling Reggie back through by his belt loops.

With Reggie out of the way, Luke stepped through the door but at the sight of the girl sitting on her bed, all thoughts of tattling left his mind.

“What’re you doing? We go on in twenty minutes,” he asked as the rest of the ghosts stepped through.

Julie was sitting on the bed doodling on her mic, still in her clothes from earlier.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

“I lied to my dad,” Julie explained forlornly, “So now I’m stuck in my room all night.”

“Yeah but like, the venue is packed with VIPs and managers,” Alex protested and Joran hit his arm.

“She’s grounded, the presence of VIPs and managers isn’t going to change that,” she huffed and Julie gave her a tight-lipped smile.

“What’re we gonna do about my aunt? She’s right downstairs.”

“Your aunt,” Luke repeated, chuckling as he crossed the room, throwing open her bedroom window. “You’re not taking the stairs.”

Jordan opened her mouth to defend the girl, never having been as big a fan of going around her parents’ backs as the guys had been, but before she could say anything Julie grinned at the group of ghosts.

“Okay. Let me get dressed, I’ll meet you guys there,” she said and the guys all grinned while Jordan looked at her nervously.

“Are you sure, Julie?” She asked warily and Luke whacked her arm with the back of his hand.

“Moss, don’t change her mind!” He hissed and Julie laughed.

“Thanks for the concern Jo,” she said, giving the girl a kind smile and Jordan felt her heart warm at the new nickname. “But it’s fine. We have managers to impress.”

She nodded and the ghosts prepared to poof out to the venue when Jordan stopped them again.

“Wait!”

“What now, Moss?” Luke groaned.

“I wanna grab my flannel.”

“Why?”

“It’s chilly.”

“You’re a ghost you can’t-“

“Shut up.” She said, ending their back and forth by poofing into the studio and grabbing one of her flannels from her cubby.

When she poofed back to Julie’s room the boys were gone and Julie was sifting through the trunk in her room.

“The guys went ahead to the venue,” Julie explained and Jordan nodded.

“Alright, I’ll see you there then,” Jordan nodded. “By the way, that vest is super cool.”

Julie smiled in thanks before Jordan poofed away to meet the guys at the venue.

___

The announcer had just called Dirty Candy to the stage when Julie arrived.

“Am I too late?” She asked, slightly out of breath.

“Too early,” Flynn huffed, gesturing up to where Carrie was taking the stage.

Jordan couldn’t figure out how she felt about Dirty Candy. On one hand, Carrie was the spawn of a fraud who she’d always hated and Carrie was mean to Julie and Flynn but on the other hand, the group was really talented and she loved their sound. She supposed it was like her feelings towards Sunset Curve, she loved the music but hated the musicians.

“Wait, did she just make a big show of putting on sunglasses just to throw them away in the first verse?” Jordan laughed, furrowing her brow in confusion at the choreography.

“Shhhh,” Alex hushed her, staring enthralled at the performance.

Before they knew what was happening he was on the stage, dancing with the group.

Jordan whooped excitedly, cheering him on while the rest of the group exchanged looks of surprise.

“You having fun out there?” Julie questioned when Alex poofed back to the group.

“It’s not my fault. It’s my, um… it’s my feet.” Alex gulped.

“Yeah,” Julie said, clearly not believing.

“Put me back in coach,” Alex breathed, poofing back to the stage.

“Why have we been keeping him behind the drums?” Jordan joked as they watched him dance out the rest of the song. “He’s got moves.”

Reggie nodded enthusiastically in agreement, their eyes never leaving the stage.

“I was just doing that for you guys,” Alex said when he returned and everyone expressed varying forms of disbelief.

“Mhmm,” Julie hummed while Luke and Jordan rolled their eyes.

“Yeah, you can’t stop smiling now,” Reggie smirked knowingly and Alex blushed.

“That was, actually kinda good,” Julie admitted, looking as though she’d rather cut her tongue off than admit it. Jordan knew what that was like.

“Yeah, I forgot why I hate her so much,” Flynn agreed.

“Hi girls,” Carrie said in her overly-perky voice as she made her way over with her entourage in tow. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

“Now I remember,” Flynn pursed her lips, glaring at Carrie and Jordan snorted.

“If you’re looking for nick, he didn’t come,” Carrie addressed Julie coldly.

“That’s not why I’m here,” Julie scoffed, squaring up to the pink-haired girl.

“Okay, we have one more act tonight,” The announcer called, reading off the list on stage. “Julie and the Fat Ones?”

Dirty Candy snickered while the rest of them turned to glare at Luke.

“Yeah man, my handwriting sucks,” he admitted and Julie shook her head, making her way onto the stage while Carrie and her group stomped off.

“Hey. It’s actually Julie and the Phantoms,” Julie greeted the audience, quickly realizing they didn’t seem to care. “Okay.”

Jordan rocked back and forth on her heels excitedly as Julie placed her hands on the keyboard, beginning the song.

“Hearts on fire. We’re no liars, so we say what we wanna say,” she sang, the apathetic audience starting to pay attention. “I’m awakened, no more faking. So we push all our fears away.”

“Don’t know if I’ll make it cause I’m falling under. Close my eyes and feel my chest beating like thunder.”

Jordan took a deep breath, steadying herself as their time to join in approached. She reached out, grabbing Alex and Reggie’s hands on either side of her repeating the small ritual Apollo 81 had always done before going on stage.

“I wanna fly, come alive, watch me shine,” As Julie sang the refrain Jordan squeezed the boys’ hands comfortingly, letting go just in time for them to poof onstage.

“I got a spark in me. Hands up if you can see and you’re apart of me. Hands up if you’re with me,” Luke joined Julie for the chorus as she made her way out from the piano to center stage. Jordan immediately made her way over to Reggie, the two ghosts rocking out together in front of Alex’s drum set. The mood in the venue had become electric, everyone’s interests piqued by their sudden appearance. “Now till eternity. Hands up if you believe. Been so long and now we’re finally free.”

Luke joined her and Reggie on Alex’s platform, giving Julie the stage as she sang the second verse. As arranged, Jordan hopped down, joining Julie for the pre-chorus.

“We know we can make it, we’re not falling down under,” they sang together, Jordan taking the lower harmonies. They’d bonded a lot after the dance, they could see it in each other’s smiles. It felt good to be performing together. “Close my eyes and feel my chest beating like thunder.”

“I wanna fly, come alive,” Jordan started the refrain with her before backing off to give her the final line. Rejoining Luke and Reggie in the back. “Watch me shine.”

The three guitarists jumped down from the platform as the chorus hit, Luke immediately taking up the mic next to Julie as he joined her in the chorus again, Reggie and Jordan singing the background vocals on either side of them and Alex in the back. At one point in the chorus, Reggie made his way over to Jordan’s mic, the two singing together briefly before he bounced over to Luke, finally returning to his own mic as they hit the bridge.

Luke and Julie took up center stage as they shared a mic, singing through the call and response bridge. The two had obvious chemistry and as Jordan watched she felt a pit forming in her stomach. She passed it off as just nerves, she was about to pick up the chorus after all, and exchanged smiles with Alex and Reggie, the two boys calming her down.

The crowd roared as they hit the chorus for the final time, Reggie and Jordan leaning into their mics as they joined the chorus.

“I got a spark in me. Hands up if you can see, and you’re a part of me. Hands up if you’re with me…” They sang through the chorus, Jordan taking up Julie’s part so that she could riff off the vocals. They’d decided the final run-through of the chorus was the perfect place to really show off Julie’s pipes.

As the song wound down, the three guitarists backed off again, leaving Julie to sing the last “Finally free” on her own.

The crowd erupted into cheers when the song ended. Jordan sung her guitar to the side as they all took a bow, the four ghosts disappearing. They reappeared at the back of the venue, sitting on the countertop of the bar and giving Julie huge thumbs-ups as she finished out their performance.

“Thank you. We’re Julie and the Phantoms,” she said into the mic, soaking up the applause before adding with a wink to her ghost band, “Tell your friends.”

The four phantoms nearly lost their minds at that, all of them whacking each other’s limbs as they yelled excitedly. They were only starting to calm down when Julie bounded over to where they were sitting behind Flynn, giving her best friend a hug before grinning at the ghosts.

“You were incredible!” Flynn gushed to her friend.

“Yeah, we were!” Reggie exclaimed and Julie rolled her eyes slightly with a grin.

Just when Jordan thought the night couldn’t get any better, a woman in a power suit started making her way over to them, gracefully dodging Dirty Candy on her way.

“She looks all business,” Alex whispered and Jordan nodded.

“Wait! Who should do the talking?” Reggie panicked before looking around at the group, all of them giving him looks that said ‘really?’ “Oh, right, Julie.” He nodded.

“You’ve got this,” Luke whispered as the woman approached, sticking out her hand in introduction.

“Hi I’m Andi Parker and I would love to-“ she began but was cut off.

“Julie,” Ray called sternly from behind and everyone’s eyes widened.

“It’s time to go.” He said and Julie gulped, dropping Andi’s hand.

Oh shit.

Part 9

___

JATP Taglist: @meangirlsx

Sunset Swerve Taglist: @oopsiedoopsie23 @angryknightstatesmantrash @onlygetaway @deni-gonzalez @advicefromnixxxx @brooke0297 

[gukyi]

for you, anything (post-script) | ksj

summary: in the midst of all of the coworker chaos over your newfound relationship, you and seokjin make a deal. 

{established relationship!au, friends to lovers!au, enemies to lovers!au}

pairing: kim seokjin x female reader genre: fluff word count: 2k warnings: bts being annoying coworkers a/n: shoutout to @aurawatercolor​ for being so wonderful and for commissioning this drabble’s monster predecessor: for you, anything!! thank you for being so patient with me and overall being a good friend of mine. much love!

Here

“Back off, he’s mine!” You shriek, furiously mashing your keyboard buttons as your eyes zero in on your computer screen. Maintaining as much of a grip onto your mouse and keyboard as possible, you push your office chair towards Seokjin’s in a desperate attempt to get him to lose his hold by crashing into him, bumper-car style. You hear the scratchy fabric collide, a soft thud that ricochets you forward, almost like you had crashed into a fuzzy rock. 

Naturally peeved, you turn around to find your boyfriend completely unbothered, having moved barely an inch. And yeah, you weren’t great at Physics when you took it in high school, but you have a feeling that that’s not how Newton’s Third Law works. 

Unfortunately for you, the split second you spend glaring at the back of Seokjin’s head means that he can go in for the killing blow, sword stabbing through the warrior king on the screen until he collapses in a pool of video game blood. The sound of a death cry and a cheer echos from your computer speakers, and you groan. 

“Not again,” you say, exasperated. You toss your head back against the chair, eyes rolling upwards, just enough to make out Seokjin eyeing you, a smug expression written all over his face. “I told you I had him.”

“You just weren’t fast enough, I guess,” Seokjin says casually, bouncing out of his chair to gloat to you all up front and personal. 

“You better share all of the money and rewards you got from that kill,” you demand, poking a finger against your cheek. Seokjin kisses you gladly, wrapping his arms over the chair and around you as he rocks your office chair side to side. The benefit of working together in Kingdom is that you always have backup you can trust (unlike some other MMO games, one of which rhymes with Meague of Megends), but Kingdom was designed for loot to be collected by whoever delivers the death blow, and not split evenly among all parties. 

Lucky for you, your boyfriend happens to be both good at the game and willing to share all of his treasure. 

“Ew, gross, PDA at three o’clock,” Jungkook says loudly, his whiny voice interrupting you and Seokjin’s lovers’ quarrel. 

“Ugh, just because you guys can have a successful and empowering relationship doesn’t mean you have to rub it in all of our faces,” Taehyung adds with a huff. At least nobody’s singing playground nursery rhymes about the two of you anymore. Since when last did people actually sit in trees, anyway?

“Get a room,” Yoongi deadpans as per usual. His attitude has not changed even though the state of you and Seokjin’s relationship definitely has. You know you can always count on him to give it to you straight. 

“Hey, no making out on office premises,” Namjoon says, barging into the room with his glasses tucked into the collar of his sweater, one of those pastel cream ones that dads who golf wear (though Namjoon is neither a dad nor plays golf). He’s switched to an iPad in recent weeks, which, despite being much more environmentally friendly, is still not Namjoon-friendly, and he often has to troubleshoot basic things like the functionality of the Notes app. Not to mention, his place of employment is filled with twerps who love doing things like spamming his camera roll and locking himself out of his own iPad. You think the record is three hours, but give the device to Hoseok and he’ll get it up to a couple of days with ease. “You guys agreed to that when you signed the employee handbook.”

“You always think so lowly of us, Joon,” Seokjin chides, and since he’s everybody’s best friend, he’s the only one who can get away with doing that. “We were just talking.”

“And playing Kingdom,” Yoongi pipes up, quickly switching away from his Haikyuu!!! tab. 

“If there’s a rule against Kingdom in the employee handbook, you’d have to fire all of us,” you remind Namjoon pointedly. Not even Yoongi would be spared, even if he’s terrible at the game itself. 

“But if you did, maybe Jungkook could finally live out his dream of being an E-sports gamer,” Taehyung adds, sending Jungkook into a tizzy. 

Seokjin scoffs, “He’d have to knock me and Y/N out of first and second place first, though.” 

“But please don’t fire us,” Taehyung pipes up weakly. 

“Nobody’s getting fired. You guys just better be doing your work,” Namjoon says. “Hey, it says that my iPad is going to be updated later tonight, do I need to do anything about that?”

Everyone groans. 

“Hey, what if we got married?” Seokjin nudges you with his shoulder. 

You sputter out the water you had been drinking all over your desk. “Married?” It dawns on you that shouting out that word in an office filled with nosy coworkers may not be the brightest idea. 

“You guys are getting married?” Taehyung shrieks excitedly. “Oh my God, I call being best man!”

“You don’t get to make that decision, idiot!” Jungkook shouts. “Besides, Seokjin would totally pick me over you anyway.”

“Who says?”

“Guys, we’re not getting married,” Seokjin says before the whole office breaks out into a brawl. Taehyung’s expression falls, sinking back into his chair, defeated. Yoongi had even quirked up for a moment before immediately turning back to his anime. “At least, in real life, we’re not.”

“Oh, you meant in-game?” You ask, the realization dawning on you. You notice everyone in the office eyeing you and Seokjin. Glaring at each and every person, you say, “He meant in-game, mind your own beeswax, you nosy freaks.” 

“Obviously,” Seokjin says with a roll of his eyes. “I love you, Y/N, but seeing as how we started dating three months ago, I think that marriage is pushing it. But in Kingdom, yeah, why not? We’ll get a lot of buffs from being married.”

Seokjin’s got a point. Being married in Kingdom means that the two of you will share wealth, property, and have the option of combining special powers during battles. It also means that the game will split boss and player rewards evenly amongst the two of you without you having to do it manually. Besides, isn’t it only right for the top two players in the game to get married? Assert their dominance? Remind Jungkook that he’ll never be an E-sports gamer for Kingdom? 

“Sounds like a plan,” you say, easily convinced. Besides, Seokjin could ask you to hand over all of your coins in the game, leaving you penniless, and you wouldn’t bat an eyelash. “We can do it later tonight.”

“My place? We can order takeout.”

“Only if we can get some cheesecake as well,” you say. 

“Done.”

Seokjin plants another kiss onto your lips before returning to his own desk, your office chairs facing away from each other as you get back to work, the promise of a nice meal and some quality time together keeping you motivated. 

Out of the blue, you say, “I would have said yes, you know.”

“To what?” Seokjin asks, not even turning around. 

“To asking if we could get married,” you tell him. He rounds on you, eyes wide. “I would have said yes.”

Seokjin seems frozen in place before he caves, body relaxing as his entire face begins to glow, red and orange and pink. “Tell you what,” he says. “I’ll ask again later, and if your answer is still the same, then we can.”

“How much later?” You ask. You don’t like to be kept waiting. Especially since the both of you know that your answer almost definitely won’t falter. 

Seokjin grins. “You’ll see.”

There

“I never liked fancy dresses,” you comment, pulling at the collar of the white dress lacing your features, hugging your body like a bedsheet. It’s scratchy and uncomfortable and restricting, making you feel like you can’t eat a single apple without popping open. There’s a veil with a train the size of the castle behind you, and the tiara on your head is so heavy and sharp that ti feels as though you’re about to topple. All this for a wedding?

“Good thing you’ll never have to wear one again after this, right?” Jin whispers back, the two of you facing the officiant before you as a crowd of onlookers watches the two of you. 

“Is that a promise?” You ask. “We’re making a lot of promises today, aren’t we?”

“And I will keep every single one of them with honor,” Jin says dramatically. It almost makes you reach out to punch him in the shoulder, but you don’t for the sake of publicity, hands wrapped tightly around the bouquet, filled with roses and tulips and carnations. You can’t believe you’re saying this, but you think you prefer your knight’s garb. At least it comes with flat boots. 

You even tune out what the officiant is saying, an old, monotonous advisor who oversees all military weddings, waiting boredly until you are prompted to respond. Time usually goes by rather quickly in the Kingdom, whether you are strolling through the market or on the battlefield, but here, it feels as though it’s taking forever and a day. Discreetly, you turn to look at Jin, who notices your gaze and rolls his eyes, just to make you laugh. At least the both of you feel the same about this whole thing. You wish there were an easier way to do this, perhaps just going to a courthouse and signing some papers and making a vow or two. Does the entire kingdom have to watch? 

“Do you promise to uphold these values, Jin?” The officiant asks. 

“I do,” Jin says. 

“Do you promise to uphold these values, Y/N?” 

Relieved that it’s finally coming to an end, you nod. “I do.”

“Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.”

Immediately, Jin turns to you, reaching an arm out to hold onto your waist as he pulls you towards him, your faces pressed up against each other, breaths hitting each others’ skin. 

“I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” he whispers softly. 

“Then don’t hold back,” you challenge. 

In one fell swoop, Jin presses a kiss on your lips, soft and warm and gentle. It’s filled with more promises than the officiant could even dream of making, filled with more vows than any wedding ceremony could produce. What this is is more than a silly pledge, a matrimonial technicality. It is an oath. To protect each other. To care for each other. To love each other.

And you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that for the rest of time, until the sun collapses and the moon vanishes, that you will.

↳ links are broken, but don’t forget i’m still taking commissions!

[punkscowardschampions]

Ava & Grace

Ava: Hey Grace: 👋 Ava: How'd it go with gym boy? Grace: 🤞 he's got the hint 👻 Ava: That good, huh Ava: how about the rest, you know, not boys? Grace: we so aren't here to talk about me Ava: Come on Ava: Give me some normal conversation right now Grace: !!!!!!!!! Grace: 100% not gonna be that bitch, talk to ME about what's going on in your oh so dramatic life! Grace: are you okay? Ava: Okay, okay Ava: I'll just come out with it Ava: no sugarcoating Grace: Duh 🚫🍫🍬🍭 Grace: it's not a cheat day Ava: 🤫🤫🤫 Ava: You wanna hear this hot, hot tea or nah Grace: obvs Ava: You'll be the least surprised so there's that Grace: 🚫😱😱😱 Ava: You know when you came here and then married guy couldn't come and then everything fizzled out? Ava: well, it actually did, for nearly a month Ava: but then he came back Grace: OMG Grace: it's literally the MOST 💖📽🎞 like FORGET before Ava: It really was Ava: remember when I got hit by that cyclist? Grace: that was so wild! OH was he the 🚴??? Ava: 😂 Ava: Imagine Grace: your otp Ava: But no, my parents were out of town Ava: and he came to the hospital, to make sure I was okay Ava: and he took me home and looked after me Grace: I'm like about to cry???!!! that's so Grace: 😍😍 Ava: Me too Ava: and of course, I had to go on Holiday like immediately after so that was shit but since then we've been talking and Ava: he's divorcing his wife Grace: I TOLD YOU HE WAS PURE Ava: I know Ava: and I'm sorry I had to kinda lie to you Ava: but I accidentally let slip I had talked to you and he freaked and that's why he first left so Grace: Oh please, if I filmed a storytime about this ALL the comments would be calling me out as #fake Grace: I get it Ava: It does sound pretty unbelievable Ava: even more so if I actually tell you who he is Grace: are you GOING TO???!! 😱😱😱 Ava: May as well, I've had to tell Nancy Ava: Parents and Buster to go Grace: Ugh! so sorry babes Ava: I couldn't tell you before 'cos they kinda know him Ava: knew him Ava: he was one of Buster's friends from School Ava: and his crazy wife is the main girl who bullied Nancy so Ava: that was fun Grace: Really?! wtf Grace: Chelsea is like Grace: so weirdly small Ava: That's why we call 'em villages, even though you're in a big city, the actual communities are ridiculously close-knit, for better and worse Ava: oh and Ava: make it weirder still Ava: you remember that boy from my party, Teddy? Grace: UM obvs I never forget a 💋 Ava: Well, that's his brother Grace: !!!!!!!!!!!!! Grace: do they look alike cos 🧸 is 😍😍 like 🙏🙏 Ava: Kinda Ava: [sends a cute photo he would've been able to send to the fake profile] Grace: oh Grace: my Grace: god Ava: I know Ava: 😩😍 Grace: did he edit his 👀??! I'm so shook 💙 Ava: No, I've seen them up close Ava: they're actually that unreal Grace: I can't even Ava: Guess what Grace: ?? Ava: He said he loves me Grace: NO WAY Grace: 😭😭😭😭 Ava: I know, I know Ava: I can't even Grace: so are you like a thing™ now? Ava: Yeah Ava: that's why I'm telling everyone Grace: Your parents are gonna be so Ava: Ugh Ava: it's going to be a whole thing Ava: with all of them Grace: mhhmmm Grace: like I feel like I know the answer but how did Nancy take it?? Ava: She just Ava: does my head in at the best of times and this was no exception, sadly Grace: at least Buster can't be telling ANYONE how to live their lives Grace: especially 😍💖 Ava: Watch him try though Ava: I'm expecting it though, they'll have to get over it on their own time Grace: 🙄 Grace: I feel that, Ri always thinks she can tell me something Ava: It's so Grace: IKR Grace: full offense babes I'm gonna listen to Janis before you & like no Ava: It's gonna be hellish but they can't do anything about it Grace: 🙏💜🤞 Ava: unless they do in which case bye and feel free to go through my wardrobe 🤷 Grace: duh Grace: but watch me also take your man Ava: 😏 cheek Grace: my crazy would look 😇 next to his ex's Grace: love that for me Ava: 'Til I haunt you crazier Grace: so scared obvs Ava: 😒 Ava: I only just got him, you can't be stealing him Grace: so sorry but like gotta get the full set on that fam now Ava: You better 🙏 my parents take it that personal Grace: 😇🙏💜 Grace: Jesus is totally my bae so Ava: and God's favourite son Ava: leave mine alone 😉 Grace: 😂😂 Ava: So you're not mad at me now, yeah? Grace: lowkey 💔 but not mad Ava: awh please Grace: ILY bitch you know it Ava: ily too 💙 Grace: & now I don't have to 👻💔 his brother so Grace: no way he'll be hitting me up after this Ava: Oh yeah, you're welcome for doing your dirtywork Grace: 💜😂💜 Ava: Has he hit you up then? 👀 Grace: 🤐🤐🤐 Ava: After I just poured my heart out? Ava: Rudeness Grace: you're in a 📽🎞💖 I'm in a 📽🎞😱 starring my crazy Ava: Girl, please Grace: I'm so serious Grace: & so over it Ava: You're not crazy Grace: I'm not not Grace: ask gym boy, but like don't Ava: I'm not gonna sleuth on you, don't worry Grace: if you had you'd see 🧸 on my pics hitting the 💜 Ava: Cute Ava: he must like you or he'd air you Ava: it's not unheard of Grace: like I said, thanks for putting that work in for me babes Ava: 😒 why not talk to him Ava: you don't have to see him 24/7 Grace: well duh I'm not about to move in with you Grace: but that's not why I can't Ava: ? Grace: he's like Grace: & I'm like Grace: It's not gonna be a thing Ava: You can't be friends? Grace: 😂😂 no Grace: that's as terrifying OMG Ava: 🙄 he is NOT scary Ava: though he is gonna hate me now probably so loyalties Grace: UM yeah he is Grace: he's nice & so I'm scared of him Grace: @ gym boy too Ava: 🤔 Grace: ugh whatever Ava: You're a nice person, you should hang with other nice people Grace: 🙄🙄 Grace: I've got friends he doesn't need to be one Ava: Okay Ava: not my otp, not gonna push that hard Grace: or ours its fine Grace: he won't be 😭😭😭 Ava: 'Course Ava: gonna have bigger problems to deal with, lbr Ava: 😬 Grace: yeah exactly Grace: maybe we can bond when the wife murders you but like Grace: black isn't my fave tbh can't 🤞 I'll serve my best look Ava: Funny 😏 Ava: she's actually 'out of the country' rn so you should probably watch your back 🔪🔪 Grace: you're so not gonna come visit me now you're 😍😍😍 are you? Grace: are you even doing holiday 2? Ava: time is getting away from us Ava: summer holiday standard Ava: it lowkey has not been organized so god knows now, I wouldn't be mad if it didn't but I wouldn't not go, I guess Grace: depends how they take your homewrecker status Ava: Yep, cheers 👍 Grace: people are shady Ava: Sure Ava: but my actual friend friends will know what's up Ava: everyone else chats about us anyway Grace: true Grace: shoutout to the fam for that one Ava: at least this one is something I actually did so Ava: oh well Grace: anyone who has a clue about his ex will know it's not even you Grace: like sorry hun you killed that 💍 yourself Ava: I'm not too fussed, it's my last year 💁 Grace: #priorities Ava: Exactly Grace: still so triggered by the idea of going back though thanks Grace: school is the WORST Ava: tell me about it Ava: won't miss that place Ava: Chelsea in general moreso but it isn't like I'll be a million miles away Grace: unlike me always a ✈ away Ava: Do you reckon you'll stay in Dublin? Grace: I guess Grace: where else would I go? Ava: You aren't going to make like Billie and Nancy and bounce then? Grace: being a or sleeping with models isn't very likely for me, babes Ava: Models are usually weird looking anyways Ava: oops accidental shade at your sister 🙊 Ava: don't tell Grace: thanks? I think Grace: shade her all you want, I'm about it Ava: How many times have you seen her kid? Grace: Like none Grace: we might get christmas but Ava: this family is messy Ava: watch me get lectured like it ain't Grace: preach Grace: maybe I shouldn't stay here Ava: you could stay or go wherever Ava: everywhere needs beauticians Grace: not Chelsea though, I'd run into your boyfriend's wife Grace: obvs can't escape anyone there Ava: 😂 truly Ava: I don't wanna be far away from the fam Ava: cracked as they are Ava: but that's just me Ava: I guess it isn't automatically selfish to move yourself halfway 'cross the globe hmm Grace: same though, I even miss Junie & like ?? why Grace: never saw him when we lived in the same house Ava: yeah Ava: that whole situation still fucks me off I Ava: idk Ava: I know it's not the kid's fault but I can barely even look at pictures of her Grace: Ri never should've done it Grace: like he didn't need a kid that bad Grace: obvs he didn't actually need one at all but nobody NEEDS one Ava: If they'd been together any amount of time Ava: Junior wasn't 20 fucking years old Ava: it was really stupid Ava: Buster said but oh well Grace: Demi is so Grace: I can't Ava: This family can't seem to help but add more fucked up people into its sphere Ava: like Ro hadn't just brought Drew back, AGAIN Grace: Getting pregnant by accident is one thing, like it's stupid but okay Grace: they planned that Ava: This family has way too many baby hangups dating back to nan Ava: can't blame her for all of this but break the cycle, someone, damn Grace: literally had my contraception on 🔒 since I was 13 thank you Ava: 'Accident' is some bullshit 9/10 times tbh Ava: you knew it was a matter of time, even if you don't know you knew it Grace: @ my mum & dad so hard Ava: and mine, they say the twins were an accident but they probably would've broke up if they hadn't have had them at that time so Grace: mhmmm Ava: ugh Ava: I'm just heated knowing how hard I'm gonna have to defend this Ava: like I've got myself pregnant Grace: don't even joke, she trapped that poor boy so hard like Ava: seriously, he probably never wants kids again Ava: not that I've asked because it's been like a month or so and I'm not psychotic, thanks Grace: do you? not now obvs Ava: I don't know Ava: like, don't tell my mother but I don't actually meticulously plan every aspect of my life Ava: if I ended up at a place and time in my life where it felt right, I could see it Ava: but if I ended up living a different life where they wouldn't fit, I wouldn't and I wouldn't be 💔 about that Grace: 😂🤐 Ava: Do you? Grace: girl, I'm too freaked out to let a boy date me, I don't think it's gonna happen Ava: you won't be 16 forever Ava: and if Ro can manage it Ava: your mum and Drew are probably the only people to see her vaguely undressed in her life Grace: idk sometimes it's all I want & sometimes it's the WORST thing I could think of Ava: I get that Ava: I don't think its a thing you can overthink, 'cos it's not usually right or wrong Ava: so people just do it and have to deal, better or worse Grace: Yeah Grace: maybe I'll get like that with dating Grace: or you know, get so lonely that I won't care that people always leave Ava: 😔 Ava: You'll get there, whether there is living your best life with or without Ava: I'm defs getting left after this fiasco so I'll come 😭 to you in a few no doubt Ava: we're walking Frank rn, so gonna enjoy this whilst it lasts 👌🥰 Grace: UM no! He LOVES you remember, you'll come at me with your 😍 more like Ava: 🤞🤞 Grace: 🙏💜

[inthedreamatorium1]

I would love one of your Ted-talks about the Jeudi 17.32 "I love you"-clip if you didn't already write one :) :) :)

I haven’t done this one yet and I was reaaaaaaaally hoping no one would ever ask me to do this one because I honestly don’t know what to say about it? Every. Single. Part. Is perfect.

I’m such a sucker seeing couples, particularly LGBTQ+ couples, show affection. Lucas and Eliott do it in spades. They legitimately cannot keep their hands off each other and they are so OPEN about it too! It’s not something they just do in the safety of their beds. We see it at school around their friends! We see it when they’re at the park, surrounded by classmates! The level of affection and intimacy they’re showing in front of others is so so sweet to see.

Remember how Lucas was so deeply in the closet that he had to google how to act straight? He latched on to Chloe whenever he felt his “straightness” wasn’t straight enough. He would say super offensive and vulgar things about women and things he would do to women to overcompensate that even Mr Gross-face himself, Basile, was shocked. My point is that imagining THAT Lucas be openly affectionate with another man in front of other people would have been wildly unbelievable to not only him but to us the viewers.

But being around Eliott changes things for Lucas. We saw and felt the level of intimacy he had with Eliott after their first kiss. Yes, Lucas initially reacted negatively when Eliott gave him a kiss in the middle of the hallway, but he still leaned in to kiss him again to say good-bye to him and was so disappointed it didn’t happen. He genuinely loves being close and intimate with Eliott.

(where the hell am I going with this? I swear, these two can take me on a million tangents)

YES ok Jeudi 17:32.

What I think I was trying to say up above in a very confusing way is that I love how openly affectionate they are around each other and how they don’t have any hesitations of showing that affection openly in public. They were at the bus stop (their spot!) and had zero awareness of anything outside their soft bubble. God, Lucas was full on clinging to Eliott and I dare Eliott to go a day without cradling Lucas’ face. There was no fear. No hesitations. The world melted away just leaving the two of them.

One of my favorite Isak and Even’s scenes is the bench one in episode 410. We had spent a lot of time witnessing Isak caring and supporting Even, so seeing them flip roles and having Even be the one to calm Isak and center him was so wonderful for us to see. We saw more of their dynamic and reminded us that Isak needs to be cared for too. We see that here. Eliott was supporting and caring for Lucas. He wouldn’t let Lucas’ mind go to a dark place. He was soft with his words and with his hands, gently tipping his head up every time Lucas’eyes dropped.

There are a million reasons why I love Skam France but one of the big reasons is the way they bring us, the viewers, into the scenes. We felt every bit of sexual tension between the two, the heartache and internal struggle Lucas was struggling with, the intensity of Eliott’s manic episode. This scene was no different. The camera stayed so close to their faces it allowed us to be a part of this quiet and tender moment. 

We joke about Lucas being overly dramatic about Eliott only going back to his apartment but we gotta remember that they spent an entire week together, a week that was probably very emotional for both. They talked a lot. They held each other. And chances are Lucas told him more about his mom and what his home situation used to be like. Lucas’s dad straight up left him, and not only left him but rejected him. While he now seems to understand his mom better, she was emotionally unable to care for him and so she too checked out. I can’t imagine where his mind is going. Eliottrecognized this. 

“Minute-by-minute, remember?”

This isn’t just for Eliott, it’s for Lucas too.

(also, just had to share, the way he says, “c’est pas des adieux” straight up murders me)

Jesus, Eliott in this entire scene is SO GOOD. He’s so tender with Lucas, I’m honestly getting teary-eyed thinking about it. How Eliott went through so much shit and walked through life pretty much alone and needed Lucas to save him from the darkness but he also got to be the hero in his own story and help save Lucas and it’s really really fuckingoverwhelming when you sit down and think about it.

(have I mentioned yet that I need an Eliott season? BECAUSE I DO. What’s his home life like? Why does he live in an apartment by himself? What’s his relationship like with his parents? When was he diagnosed? What happened with Idriss? Does he have any family? When did he start identifying as a raccoon? I have questions, David and Niels, and I need answers.)

I’m at like, 900 words and I didn’t even touch on the sweet kisses Eliott kept laying on Lucas. Or the way he gently wiped Lucas’ tear with his thumb. Or how he placed his hand on Lucas’ heart as he pulled away. 

Eliott Demaury is the most romantic and sensitive soul in this entire world.

Eliott Demaury is also the devil because he had to go all soft and “je’taime” us and then fucking Lucas Lallemant had to hammer in that final nail in our collective coffins and go all “moi aussi” 

THE SOFT WAY ELIOTT CLIMBS ONTO THE BUS BACKWARDS AND JUST STARES AND SMILES AT LUCAS AS THE DOORS CLOSE.

AND LUCAS’ TEARY EYED SMILE AS HE WATCHES THE BUS LEAVE.

RIP KERI.

(i would like to give a shoutout to the bus driver for recognizing that there was something superbly major happening because he was very patient with waiting for Eliott to not only get on the bus but he also let him block the doors. Because let me tell you, if Eliott pulled that shit here in DC, the bus driver would either have A) closed the door and drove off with him or B) refused to move the bus until he got out of the way of the doors. So thank you, kind Parisian bus driver.)

(apparently, I DO have a lot of things I to say about this scene…)

[shenanigans-academia]

Summer Training Camp Arc/ Rescue Bakugo/ The End of All Might

Episode 39: Game Start

•the fact that Denki and Mineta physically went to Mido’s house to invite him to the pool is actually kinda cute. Too bad they have creepy intentions

•Momo:”Aw I was supposed to spend several weeks traveling Venice with my parents”

Uraraka: “WHAT is YoUr LiFE??” I feel you girl

•Mineta/Denki:”TheRe’S BoObS At tHe End Of ThiS TuNnEL”

Iida-Absolute Unit-Tenya:”HELLO FELLOW CLASSMATES”

•Iida is built like a fucking TANK what the heck but why the fuck are you walking like that Iida lmao

•Iida talking about how far he and Izuku have come as friends, I’m soft

•Kiri refusing to come without Bakubabe convincing Bakugo to join then looking so defeated when he immediately starts picking a fight I can’t with these two

•”friendly competition between classmates” cuts to Bakugou looking possessed before saying “I’m going to annihilate you Deku/ Icy Hot Bastard” bruh do you have an off switch or at least take it down like 20 notches you’re exhausting

•”YOU DIDNT EVEN TOUCH THE WATER”

“ITS CALLED FREE STYLE SWIMMING”

•Lmao the whole class is cheating

•I love how it just cut to a dramatic montage of TodoDeku moments while Sho can’t take his eyes off Mido WHY THEY ALL SO INTENSE FOR YOURE 15 HANGING OUT AT A POOL DURING THE SUMMER WHY ARE YOU GUYS ALWAYS ON

•Mido/Todo/Iida all just staring at each other intensely having their own inner montages. Literally anybody watching them “...are they okay?”

•Aizawa you party pooper

•I’m sorry but Kirishima is so in love and no one can tell me other wise no I do not take constructive criticism

•Okay that end montage is so fucking pure I’m. So. Soft

Episode 40: Wild, Wild Pussycats

•Kirishima “can’t keep my hands to myself/off Bakugo Katsuki” Eijirou

•Class 1B to anybody they meet: “we’re sorry about Monoma”

•Aizawa loves his class can’t you tell

•”Long time no see” Aizawa’s a cutie

•Lmao KOTA the first of Mido’s adopted kids

•These poor fucking kids can’t catch a fucking BREAK

•Koda tried and I love him

•Kiri’s heart eyes are so LOUD

•I love when they all work together

•”YOURE IN MY WAY ICY HOT”

“Then pick another route” Todoroki doesn’t have time for your tantrums Kacchan

•These poor kids

•Kota went for the KO

•”YOU FIEND OF A CHILD. GEEZ KID HOW OLD ARE YOU”

•”Brats got spunk”

“He’s like a mini version of you “

He’s right and should say it

•Mineta needs a muzzle

•The boys are all like we’re just as curious to see the girls but Mineta needs to calm down 300%

•Kota to the rescue!

•IIDA GOT A FACEFUL OF MiNETA ASS HE DIDNT DESERVE THAT AGSFJSHHSJXG

•Mina almost killed a child with her boobs I’m dead and so is Kota

•I’m sorry but it’s both funny and weird that Midoriya is just naked while being told this child’s tragic backstory

•Aizawa you are actively trying to kill your students aren’t you just admit it

Episode 41: Kota

•Testutestu is such a good boy

•Good training idea according to UA Teachers: Break yourselves or else you’re weak. Just fucking die then you can be heroes

•Tiger is amazing “I’m here to beat you guys to a pulp”

“I have some questions about him...” ME TOO RANDOM CLASS 1B STUDENT BUT I LOVE HIM

•Iida tries so hard

•Momo explains how her quirk works: smart and precise description

Sero Fucking Hanta: “like how poop works” BRUH

•This kid is literally just a mini Kacchan

•I’m sorry but Mido why would you ask a small child who you’re trying to befriend about their murdered parents like what part in your mind made you think that was a good idea

•Mina And Bakugo sleep the same way, starfish style, I love them. But who the FUCK is sleeping under a bunch of pillows off their mattress on the straight floor with their butt in the air (I bet money it’s Kaminari)

•everyone complaining about training in the dark:

Tokoyami: ”Revelry in the Dark”

•Kirishima’s too tired to deal with his angry boyfriend

•Todoroki trying to help Midoriya with Kota “be careful what you say, you can be really annoying” he’s trying

•Tokoyami constantly whispering “Revelry in the Dark” to himself is the FUNNIEST thing to me I love you, you emo punk

•It Dabi Time

Episode 42: My Hero

•these poor fucking kids I swear

•”we want our treat Mr. Aizawa”

“Do you want me to tighten your bindings?”

Oooh Kinky Bad Aizawa akshdhbekal

•MONOMA SHUT UP

•Spinner is a long lost Ninja Turtle Brother change my mind

•”DIDNT ANYBODY TELL YOU ITS NOT A HEROES JOB TO BE HAPPY” clearly

•I respect Testutestu so much

•This muscley villain is Bakugo’s real dad and nobody can tell me other wise

•Okay that fucking Bondage villain is genuinely terrifying

•KOTA BABY STAY BACK P L E A S E

•it’s been X amount of days since breaking my bones- erases whatever number was there and puts a fat zero MIDORIYA YOU WERE DOING SO WELL but for this we will make an exception I guess

•oh my fucKING GOD KOTA JUST R U N

•Mido really thought he was gonna die holy FUCK

•”One For All One Million Percent” MIDORIYA YOU CANT EVEN HANDLE 5% BABY BOY WHAT IS YOU DOIN

Episode 43: Drive It Home, Iron Fist

•Shiggy thinking in Video Games format is honestly so on brand

•Mido is FUCKED UP right now poor boy

•”We’re in big trouble” YEAH NO SHIT ERASURE

•BAMF Aizawa is my reason for living

•Okay I forgot how much I love Twice

•Aizawa seeing Izuku’s broken bones: ”AGAIN???”

•Kota’s precious and I LOVE DADZAWA

•KIRI’S SO UPSET THAT THAT THE VILLAINS ARE HERE FOR BAKUGO IM SOBBING

•”Teachers changing their minds about fighting, why do I feel like this is Deku’s fault” BAKUGO SHUT UP YOU HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT NOW YOU DICKHEAD

•TESTUTESTU IS SUCH A GOOD BOY

•DUDE BROUGHT A FUCKING GUN TO A CAMP I FORGOT ABOUT THAT HOLY SHIIIITTT

•CLASS 1B MVPS KENDO AND TESTU MOTHERFUCKING TESTU

•Midoriyas doing a Naruto run because his arms are fucking broken I’m crying

•Tokoyami, Dark Shadow And Shouji IM READY

Episode 44: Roaring Upheaval

•Tokoyami tries so hard to be good I love him

•WE! DESERVE! SO! MUCH! MORE! SHOUJI!

•Yami is so emo And is just such a Good Boi AH

•Scared Bakugo is Baby

•Honestly they’re all Baby

•Toga:”I love messed up bleeding people”

Mido: shows up completely broken

Toga:”Mr. Stainy who? I want that one”

•Aoyama would be the kid who gets caught in hide and seek because they think they have a great spot and can’t be seen and try to peek them convince themselves still nobody saw them in plain sight

•Awase was fully prepared to die protecting Momo I’m CRYING he’s my new favorite

•Battle Plan Mastermind Mido is amazing

•Also poor unconscious kid just being dragged behind Uraraka haha

Episode 45: Shat A Twist!

•Kiri: “I cant let them take my boyfriend” poor boy just wants to help so bad

•Whelp nobody is safe

•LMAO Aizawa just stomping on Fake Dabi has me dying

•Shouto how long has it been since you last saw your brother...?

•Shouji SMACK A BITCH Mezo

•I LOVE SHOUJI

•Compress you freak get those kids out of your mouth ya nasty

•AOYAMA YES

•Dabi stop being a dick to your little brother I’m gonna tell Rei

•Kirishima is so upset AND IM UPSET MY BABIES

•These kids just wanted a fun week at camp LEAVE THEM ALONE THEYRE 15

•...Mic...is the traitor...

•I love how everybody hates All Might’s ringtone lmao

•All Might’s like only Us teachers are allowed to beat our kids to a pulp in order to better them as heroes y’all are just mean

•I know Mitsuki has just a bad a temper as her son but how do you think she reacted finding out her child was the kidnap victim of a villain attack? No matter what you think of her as a parent, that’s still her kid and she must have been devastated. But just like Katsuki she would never admit it to his face

•Precious Boy Denki And Class 1A coming to visit their hurt friends I love this class so much

•”I brought a present! I mean it’s from everyone. It’s a melon!” Okay that was pretty cute

•Kirishima being like “why is everyone crying we’re going to go get him let’s go gays time to get our Gremlin back”

•Kiri:”he’s still within your reach Midoriya!”

Mido:”...my arms are BUSTED my dude nothing is in my reach right now I’m still gonna come tho”

Episode 46: From Iida to Midoriya

•Kirishima is THE Best Boi I love him so fucking much I would die for him

•Iida’s trying his best not to blow a gasket

•”Hysterical Strength” yeah sounds like Deku

•”Go home and take it easy” lmao have you met this kid?

•Kota is so freaking sweet

•Izuku. Go see your mother

•Iida’s got some good points. I’m including that punch to Midoriya

•Bakugo must be so tired of being tied up and restrained you know he doesn’t have bondage kink later on in life just hits too close to trauma

•Kiri’s constant state of mind: WWBD (WHAT Would Bakugo Do)

•Mido: Stealth Mode=Wakanda Forever

•Iida has the best costume this is not up for debate. I also always forget he has an undercut, we Stan an icon

•”So the rich girl just wants to go shopping” I’m crying

•Clean Shaven/Neat Hair Aizawa? Hell to the fucking Yes Please

•I’m genuinely proud of Bakugo and the fact that he knows that he’s intense and scares a lot of people/ how he comes across is aggressive and almost villain like, he adamantly doesn’t want to be a villain even if everyone just assumes he would be. He wants to be a hero. Whatever it takes

Episode 47: All For One

•Rightful shoutout to Kendo and Testu

•”We are offering mental health counseling to every single student but right now we do not see signs of any serious psychological trauma” Nezu I’m sorry but those kids are officially fucked up for life you can’t be serious

•”what if they’re brainwashing young Bakugo right now towards the path of villainy” leave Bakugo ALONE

•Aizawa is like you come for my angry son I come for your throat try me again bitch

•FERAL GREMLIN BOY FIGHT OR FIGHT MODE ACTIVATED Bakugo has no flight mode only fight

•Mido: Incoherent mumbling

Momo:“this is peak Midoriya” I love how they’re just used to him now

•the boys are just like you’re not touching our friend you drunk creeps

•Kirishima came PREPARED to get his boy back I love him

•Bakugo just take the help you prideful little shit

•Okay Edgeshot is great where has he been all this time

•Annndddd it all went to shit so fast

•oh my god Best Jeanist is fuckin dead

Episode 48: Symbol of Peace

•”You won’t escape Shigaraki” umm so how’d that work out for ya All Might?

•Kamui Woods “IM SO SORRY” poor boy

•Talking to Best Jeanist:”consider me...pressed” All For One got jokes huh

•...yeah no BJ REALLY Fuckin Ded

•These kids are so fucking traumatized

•A WILD BAKUGOU APPEARS

•Twice has big Deadpool energy tbh

•Lmao Iida has had enough

•Mom and Dad of group award goes to Iida and Momo

•All For One: asks Kurogiri to help warp the League

Also All For One: Stabs him while doing it

•”I don’t think so. Because... I Am Here!” All For One really said Fuck All Might

•All these kids think in Video Game Lmao

•I know there’s a lot of commotion happening but I definitely feel like the villains would be able to hear them talking

•Midoriya went to Kirishima like time to get your asshole boyfriend back you lovesick fool

•”YOU IDIOTS” you’re smiling because your friends are here you jerk

•Everyone’s so intense then Kiri-fucking-shima is there smiling like an idiot because BAKUGO’S BACK

•ALL MIGHT ALL MIGHT ALL MIGHT ALL MIGHT

•...I always forget Shiggy’s familial lineage and it’ makes me sad every time

•I love this episode so MUCH

Episode 49: One For All

•YOUNG MIGHT

•Nana Shimura looks just like Momo...Todoroki Secret Lovechild Theories Intensifies

•”YOU GUYS DIDN’T RESCUE ME YOU WERE MY BEST ESCAPE ROUTE”

“You’re welcome!”

Oh Bakugo just say thank you

•...soooo many people died in Camino Ward, man...

•Aizawa looks so young

•ALL THE KIDS WATCHING THEIR TEACHER AND HERO GET BEATEN TO A PULP HORRIFYINGLY IM SO UPSET

•All For One really just pulled an “I am your father” move but with Shiggy and Nana that’s messed up

•THE PEOPLE RALLYING BEHIND ALL MIGHT IM SOBBING YALL

•NOW IS NOT THE TIME ENDEAVOR

•THERE WE GO THATS BETTER

•Everyone loves All Might I’m so soft

•I’m genuinely crying guys

•...can everyone hear All For One talking about Midoriya oorrrrr???

•All Might you’re pulling a Deku pleaSE STOP

•United States of Smash I cant

•Kirishima really tried holding Bakugo’s hand YALL

•...Bakugo knows

•I love this episode too I’m so upset

Episode 50: End of the Beginning, Beginning of the End

•Gran Torino explaining why they didn’t know about Shimura’s family/Shigaraki is. Sad

•Bakugo is traumatized someone please help him

•Endeavor and Bakugo are the same person and I hate it

•Midoriya and All Might running to each other on the beach is big Marty and Alex from Madagascar energy I’m cackling

•PROUD DADMIGHT MAKES ME SOFT YOU’RE BOTH CRYING AND I AM S O F T

• PARENT TIME YES

•Jirou’s parents are so cool, Kyoka’s so cool THE JIROUS ARE SO COOL

•Oh my god the Bakugos are so CHAOTIC

•It all makes so much sense why he is the way he is and it’s all. Too much. Poor Katsuki

•He’s so. Tired. You can tell. I just want to give him a hug

•”Be CoOl MoM” Izu you’re just as tense and you’ve been with All Might for literally HOW LONG???

•Mama Midoriya is. Right. But that sucks for Izuku

•This is. So. Emotional

Last part of Season 3 is next. DORM LIFE BABY just a little less angst thank god these kids need a break

[five-wow]

my (as always very elaborate) thoughts on 9.16 are under the cut! ✨

mermaids!!! i knew they were coming, but i have to make the (for people in roughly my age group) obvious joke: am i watching h50 or h2o? [cue recorded audience laughter]

oh god, the sudden bleeding? that’s very dramatic in the water, and i like the visuals of that a lot (in a “oh no that’d be horrifying in reality but is a really cool idea in fiction” way)

adam is moving house and i like that they’re showing that! i also appreciate the way he’s doing it all on his own and making kind of a mess of it, aw, but to be honest, i was just kind of watching him putter around and appreciating the props department for getting him all that stuff to unpack, and then suddenly, boom, KONO. in a picture, but still, it’s so good to see her face on this show again!! (even if it’s in a sad, adam-needs-to-let-go-of-his-past context which would not necessarily be my first choice)

okay. OKAY. this may be the point at which i have to admit that i never cared for adam overly much. i don’t dislike him, not at all, but i’ve been a little confused about his character at times and i didn’t necessarily want him to stick around after kono left, so i’m a little wary, still - which i’m mostly just saying because this, this right now, adam bringing a homeless guy sandwiches and respectfully learning sign language from him and earnestly asking about things going on in this man’s life? that kind of makes me love adam a bit, holy shit. THIS is what i want from his character, not all the weird yakuza subplots where he somehow always still has strong ties to criminals and new deep secrets despite supposedly completely having left that life behind half a decade ago

tani loves mermaids!!! i love that tani loves mermaids!!! it’s so fun seeing her be all excited and gushy to danny

danny: [some statistics about women using poison as a murder weapon] noelani: “for the record, we’re just as capable of using a gun or a knife.” tani: “ha haa! my sister!” LOVE THIS. GIVE ME MORE OF THIS.

a pyramid scheme! they’re dipping into a lot of relevant topics this season.

fjdkfdjk adam brings the homeless guy (do we know his name yet? i missed it oops) the purple elephant that the man wanted for his granddaughter and then adam hands him another bag and he goes “i get an elephant too??” and i laughed so hard, omg. that is ridiculously cute!!

IT’S CLOTHES. AND ADAM WANTS TO GIVE HIM A HAIRCUT. I’M CRYING. which isn’t even an exaggeration, i’m literally tearing up. i’m weak for this, why haven’t they always been doing this with adam’s character

tani and junior!!! i love basically anything that’s tani and junior, is what i’m growing to realize, because they, too, are SO CUTE

junior: “a little birdie did tell me this morning that you were pretty jealous at the mermaid camp.” tani: “um, did this birdie have a blond pompadour and talk with his hands?” things i adore about this: a) tani and junior being cute, obviously, b) “a little birdie”, c) “BLOND POMPADOUR”, and d) the implication that danny immediately told junior about tani’s enthusiasm (which sounds like some low key matchmaking to me, tbh)

tani’s story about her dad??? junior’s EYES when he watches her??? i keep being surprised over and over by how much i love them together even though i should definitely know that by now because it’s been this way pretty much from the start

danny’s phone starts ringing and it looks like he doesn’t even look at the screen before putting it to his ear and going “yes, steve”

kamekona’s story? i’m crying. again.

ALSO, i’m really happy that kamekona is bringing that up, actually: it’s good that adam wants to help his friend, but he can’t decide for the guy that it’s time to make a big step like mending bridges with his family. a helping hand is good, it’s amazing even, but the actual decision to change needs to come from the person in question, and as a friend you need to let this person make that decision on their own.

kamekona: “sometimes you have to ask yourself if you’re doing this for him, or for yourself.” i LOVE it when kamekona drops some serious knowledge. he’s so often a comic relief character, but he’s been through some shit and he knows his stuff, and seeing him dole out wisdom like this? always a gift.

adam talks to his friend (al? hal? he used a name but i’m still not sure what it is exactly) and this episode, god, it’s hellbent on getting me to reach for a tissue every other scene.

the look between danny and steve when danny says some smartass thing about steve’s dog? fjdfdjk. that’s all.

shooting suspects dead on sight is coming back to bite them in the ass! this guy knew something they kind of needed to know too, so, uh, oops.

THEY PUT THE DEAD GUY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH A HAT AND SUNGLASSES. they full on weekend at bernie’s’d this guy, I’M YELLING

danny with the kids!!! he’s so soft around kids and it makes my heart feel soft, too

depressing sidenote, though: this woman’s husband was shot through the head by the Bad Guys, right? and she’s going to prison for murder and other illegal activities, which means she’ll probably be there a while? the relief for these kids will be very short-lived, fuck.

team dinner at adam’s! good stuff

adam gets up and says “you guys all know what i’ve been through this past year” and we get a looong shot of danny’s face. is it very bitter of me if in the context of where recent episodes seem to be headed, i kind of hope he’s thinking about how horrible divorces are and how wrecked he was when he went through that with rachel and how it might mean they weren’t meant to be?

adam: “and then- just when i thought i lost my whole family, i looked up and- and you were all there.” oh SHIT. this episode is giving me adam feels like i never even thought was POSSIBLE. (also: ohana feels. that’s a smart play when it comes to hitting me right in the heart.)

HAL’S GRANDDAUGTHER. FEELS.

also: here’s the bit in the background with steve biting (licking?) danny’s arm or hand, omfg. blurry but beautiful. blurrtiful. (did i just reference my own fic? yes, i did.)

so i’ve said a couple of times already that i was crying. i’m going to have to say it now AGAIN because TANI’S FREAKOUT when she realizes what junior is giving her? MY HEART. FUCK. i don’t know if it’s just one of those days for me or if this is a normal reaction to this episode, but people freaking out with happiness? TANI, who i love, freaking out with happiness? YES. THAT WILL GET ME TO CRY.

JUNIOR, by the way. JUNIOR IS SO SWEET. junior and tani are i-need-a-dentist-now levels of cute together, but i also need to give junior his own shoutout here, because this is just him being thoughtful and nice and i love him a lot for it.

junior: “when you do cross me, i am blasting this thing on social media. i just have to join it first.” OH SWEETHEART

tani gets to swim with her mermaid tail! tani has her mermaid experience! tani is fucking ecstatic and i’m so happy for her!!!

last thoughts: while i like the entire cast a lot, i won’t deny that usually danny and steve are the main reason i watch, so, for an episode that had relatively little danny or steve in it and almost no danny&steve at all, it’s awesome how this still managed to COMPLETELY get me on board for the whole thing. i enjoyed this SO MUCH, gosh. i ship junior/tani harder than ever, i unexpectedly cried a lot and i have a whole new appreciation for adam! many good things!!! i’m so happy, yay

[sieben9]

“only you”/“an untold story” impressions

{Quick request to anyone reading: I’m watching OUaT for the first time, and I want to avoid spoilers. So, if you want to discuss something spoilery, I’d be grateful if you could start a new post for that. Thank you!}

Yes, both in one post. Mostly because I watched them in one go. And because they’re really just one long story, anyways.

please feel free to insert your own episode-relevant pun here

Before I get into anything else: NO MORE UNDERWORLD LIGHTING! I’d almost forgotten how much that stupid red filter bothered me, until I didn’t have to stare at it while going through my screenshots. Dobby is freeeee~

Anyways, to my intense surprise, especially after the mess that was “Last Rites”, I really liked this finale! Not as a season-finale, because it wasn’t, but it was a very solid, fun two-parter that feels like it should have aired halfway through the hiatus between seasons. (I have Opinions™ on the “season finale followed by a mostly-unrelated epilogue/setup for the next season” format, and not one of them is positive.) The setup for the next season did get me cautiously excited, though. Not quite the “holy crap, I have to watch that!” of the s4 finale, but still good.

Just for clarity’s sake: I will be referring to this two-parter as one episode, just for ease of conversation. I have not slept this weekend, and I refuse to juggle grammar.

OK, just so I have it out of my system:

Gay roadtrip!

“i know we spent the last ten episodes getting my boyfriend back from the dead, but there isn’t room for four in the bug, so bye!” — emma swan, apparently

My joyful little shipper heart aside, the Emma/Regina bits in this episode were just fantastic. From their little heart-to-heart about Regina missing Robin (and Emma actually properly empathising this time) to the oddly even more personal topic of Regina’s constant battle with her “evil” side, it was all that I might have wanted and more.

The scene also left me with a weird feeling, because on the one hand, sure, it’s hard to constantly have to censor a part of yourself in order to be accepted in the company of the people you love (and who love you), but on the other hand… if that part of yourself has “kill it with fire” as the first response to any and all annoyances, maybe, just maybe, that’s something that you should censor. That said, Regina, you should definitely make an appointment with Archie. That sounds like his cup of preferred beverage.

And now to maybe my least favourite part of the episode, so we get it over with… the actual “main” plot. Or the excuse plot, as I will call it, because, really, the whole “Henry destroys magic” thing never really felt like a credible threat. It was more something to get everyone into motion so they could do the actually interesting stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, Henry snapping after losing yet another person—even by proxy through his mother—is perfectly understandable and realistic. That he’d turn his anger on magic as a whole isn’t exactly out of left field, either. He’s done this before, after all. At least this time, he didn’t try to blow up the magic well. I like that well, recent drama notwithstanding.

instead, we get the reverse-cornucopia of magic, apparently

But the plotline itself seemed far too rushed and low-energy to really grab my attention. And the resolution was… ::sigh:: there’s a dilemma for me, here, because I unabashedly love cheesy “The Power Is In You” moments, and the scene at the well did hit that button. It just felt unearned, which is why I couldn’t really enjoy it. (Also, I don’t know what New Yorkers are like, but I know how people from around here would have reacted to a performance act like that. Ah, well. Never Mind All That.)

the real magic was convincing so many people to throw away their spare change

I don’t even know what to say about the Dragon cameo. Nice to see he’s not dead, after all, but everything else in that scene... Nick, if you’d be so kind?

OK, that’s over with. Luke-warm excuse plot with some nice elements to it. I’m not sure if Violet needed to be in this, but I guess Henry needed someone to talk to.

Just as a pick-me-up, I want to give a shoutout to one of the best-executed bits of comedy on this show so far:

“Guy on the third floor is involved in some kind of satanistic ritual and dumped his food on the floor. Pretty polite and tips well, though. 8/10”

Just… very good performance and comedic timing on both parts. I liked it.

Aaaaand over to the “they got sucked through a portal. Again.” part of the episode.

ah, zeppelins; the easiest shorthand for “alternate universe” there ever was

I do kind of like the sound of the Land of Untold Stories and I really, really hope this gets a little more fleshed out in the coming season. How do people end up there when they’re not sucked through Yet Another Portal Accident? Is this what happens to all stories that haven’t been written down by an Author, yet? Is Harry Potter in there somewhere?

So many questions, so little screentime… I’m not sure if I would have liked 8 episodes of stumbling around in this new world, but I would have liked to find out if I did. …listen, it made sense in my head.

This plotline included what is probably my biggest complaint about the writing this episode: Snow selling out Belle. Just… with little to no hesitation. Which is why blaming the writing and not her. If this was supposed to be some kind of big, dramatic moral dilemma, I expect we’d have seen at least some semblance of guilt on her part. Instead, she just told this clearly violent individual about the defenceless, sleeping-cursed pregnant woman within nanoseconds of him threatening Hook. I know Snow’s characterisation has been a bit inconsistent recently, but come on. This isn’t her, and I am disappointed that the show even tried to sell this to me.

And I think I would have believed the version where Snow just blurts out the information about Belle and later feels awful, because holy crap, how could she? (There’s… some precedent for poor judgment on Snow’s part when it comes to sharing information, after all.) But this wasn’t even a Thing for her. I just… ::frustrated noises:: why, show?

So, yeah, the Bad Guy kidnaps Belle. Well done, there. By the way, wasn’t it incredibly difficult at some point to make portals to the Land Without Magic? I get why portalling to Storybrooke would be easier—it’s got magic, after all. But hotel room 318, New York? I guess you could argue that the crystal brought the magic along, but still.

i giggled at this bit, i’m afraid. fellow cat owners will understand.

So, I’m not sure what the “intended” reading here is, but I find it interesting that Rumple seems to understand himself so much less than Hyde apparently does (prediction: they totally know each other; mostly because Rumple knows everyone—guy gets around…) So he went to protect the magic crystal, because what else would the thundering teleport-vortex of doom have come to steal? As has been noted before, Rumple doesn’t really go after people through their loved ones, with one very recent exception, and he had to ask his dad for help to come up with that one. The idea that someone would kidnap Belle to get whatever the hell they want from him, doesn’t seem to occur, even though it has happened multiple times, already. Just… maybe you should have kept that box in your coat pocket, my friend.

Yeah… this is sure going to be fun, I can already tell. What does Hyde want with Storybrooke, anyway? It’s been established that it has one of the least-fun-to-rule populations, and everyone and their dog has magic. Seems like a bad pick, overall.

You do you, though.

And from Jekyll and Hyde, we finally come to this…

that still looks so very unpleasant.

I’m… ambivalent about the personality split, and I really want to wait and see how it turns out. Clearly, this is a good way to have the Evil Queen around again without also having to sacrifice Regina’s redemption arc, which I’m grateful for, believe me. It’s bad enough to have one of my faves on a redemption-yoyo—no need to add a second one.

is it bad that i missed her?

OK, look I’ve seen this Star Trek episode. Ten bucks that it turns out the Evil Queen isn’t “just” Regina’s evil side, she also got many of her more forceful, but overall positive character traits, and both are less without the other, leading to them re-fusing or something. (Yes, wrong fandom. So sue me.)

…obviously, I’m willing to be surprised, but I like this version a lot more than the idea that you can just siphon out the “evil” parts of yourself. (Even Hyde wasn’t really Jekyll’s “evil” side—just the collection of his socially unacceptable traits made flesh. I only read an abridged version of that book, and that a while ago, but Jekyll still seemed like a bit of an ass to me.)

While we’re here: shoutout to Snow and her flask of cocoa-fortifier. That got a surprised (and amused) laugh out of me.

Also, do we want to talk about whether or not it’s healthy to be so at odds with a part of yourself that you think killing it is the best way to deal with it or…? ‘cause, honestly, I would like to talk about that. Seems like Regina is a lot less OK than she’d like others and herself to think…

yeah, that’s not a “finally i’m free!” face

So, cautiously optimistic about s6 so far. The villains definitely seem interesting, and this episode was a good reminder of what I liked about the character dynamic in the first place.

An addendum about 5B:

Goddamn, but this season dragged. There seems to be simultaneously too much plot for too little time and not enough plot to fill ten episodes. This is probably based in my personal biases for and against certain characters (and the fact that I was insanely busy and couldn’t watch the season all in one go), but… yeah, I’m kind of relieved it’s over, to be honest.

[nickireadstfc]

The King’s Men, Chapter 12 – Highway To Hell

In which things go really beautifully well, and then really fucking horrible.

Sounds good? No, it doesn’t. It’s time for Nicki to read The King’s Men.

You guys warned me about this one, and for the entire first half of the chapter I was like “what are they on about, this is wonderful, there’s so many great things happening”, like I was genuinely considering y’all might have had your chapters mixed up.

And then.

Oh god.

Oh god.

Let’s take it from the top, shall we? Let’s go back to a time where things were easy, chill and beautifully gay.

(Also, welcome to yet another 3k word dump, because this chapter is an absolute monster.)

The Foxes are on the road to Binghamton, their next big opponent before semi-finals. And less than half a page in, the first miracle of the day happens – or rather, the first miracle of the Day:

The monsters voluntarily and easily socialize with the rest of the team, led by none other than Kevin.

Granted, it’s to talk Exy strategies which, as we know, is Recommended Kevin Bait, but my teamwork-loving heart is not gonna complain.

The best thing about this, though, is that Neil actively refuses to join their sweet sweet Sportsball Talk just to make sure Andrew won’t feel left out.

Excuse me while I cry into my rainbow-coloured jersey.

Linked to that – and we’ve not had these in a while, so I’m proud to present you – Today’s Casually Mentioned, Yet Heartbreakingly Sad Neil Fact is:

             Neil had spent his entire life drifting by on the outskirts, looked over and looked past. It’d made him happy, or so he thought, because being ignored meant he was safe. He hadn’t realized how lonely he was until he met the Foxes.

Uhmm, cue my tears.

Kevin, though, isn’t so happy his favourite minion in training isn’t cooperating:

             “You gave me your game. You don’t have the right to walk away from me when I am trying to teach you.”

             “I gave my game to you so we could get to finals,” Neil sent back, “but you said yesterday you don’t expect us to make it there. You’ve given up on us, so I’m taking my game back. I don’t owe you anything.”

Damn, you tell him, Josten.

Neil has exactly -3 fucks left to give and it’s absolutely glorious.

In other news – we’ve reached the end of the Suspicious Countdown (shoutout here to the anon recreating this in my ask box, you sly fuck).

             Every night since his birthday he’d gotten a number texted to him. Today’s sobering “0” had arrived during lunch. Neil didn’t know what to make of it. (…) It was as anticlimactic as it was nerve-wracking.

Same, my boy. This shit is unnerving.

Well, I’m sure this is absolutely harmless and nothing will happen at all.

To distract himself from the Slight Feeling of Impending Doom, Neil engages in his new favourite pastime:

Adoringly gazing at Andrew’s handsome features like a love-sick pathetic idiot.

             Neil didn’t know what he was looking for. Andrew looked as he always had, and Neil knew his face as well as he knew every iteration of his own. Despite that, something seemed different. Maybe it was the sunlight streaming through the window, making Andrew’s pale hair shine brighter and his hazel eyes seemed almost gold. Whatever it was, it was disorienting.

Oh boy, oh my sweet innocent summer child, I can tell you right fucking exactly what it is.

Your ass is the fuck in love.

             “I’m not doing anything,”

             “I told you to not look at me like that.”

             Neil didn’t understand, so he let it slide.

…… //looks into the camera like I’m on the office.

Any time I think this boy is done being oblivious, he instantly goes back on his bullshit.

Although maybe –

             “I didn’t say anything [when we were talking about zombie apocalypses] because I knew I’d look out for only me when the world went to hell. I don’t want to be that kind of person anymore. I want to go back for you.”

Uhmm, EXCUSE ME WHILE I CRY.

Can these idiots like – fucking stop being sappy and gross, I did not expect this bullshit from them, give a girl some fucking warning.

Jesus fuck.

And they keep going, of course – being on the road to Binghamton reminds Neil of his time Being On The Road, and so he casually tells Andrew all the shit that happened to him on his travels, which of course he never told a single soul before.

Natch.

             It passed the time, though, and Andrew let him ramble. He never once took his eyes of Neil’s face or looked like he was mentally tuning out of the conversation.

Oh yeah, also of course Andrew is a love-sick pathetic idiot as well.

Natch.

And Neil uses that to get Andrew to open up about his travels between foster homes and his time with Aaron, which he also never told anyone before.

Fucking natch.

             [Andrew took] care of Aaron’s addictions. He stocked the upstairs bathroom with canned food and barricaded Aaron in there until he had finished withdrawal. Luckily (…) there were no neighbors close enough to hear Aaron’s best attempts at breaking out.

Andrew Minyard, putting the ‘love’ in ‘tough love’ since 2010.

These brothers are everything, haters please exit in a left-directed fashion.

When they make their next pit stop, Coach doesn’t even make any attempts at separating Andrew and Neil, which brings on one of my favourite bits in this chapter:

Neil’s oblivious ass comes to the realization that Coach Knows™.

             “I really want to know when Coach figured this out.”

             “It isn’t a ‘this’,” Andrew reminded him.

Oh yeah, please also know that every time I’m shouting at Neil to stop being so oblivious this of course also extends to his smaller, deadlier counterpart.

             Last November Neil put Andrew’s hands to his damaged skin and asked Andrew to believe in him. Somehow Wymack had seen right through Neil’s crushing guilt and Andrew’s grudging trust.

Well, if I saw two idiots that have been radiating tension all semester anyways suddenly fumbling under each other’s shirts, I would get suspicious too.

             “How did he see it when Aaron and Nicky still can’t?”

             “Coach doesn’t care for rumours and bias,” Andrew said. “He sees what is, not what people want him to see.”

Which is the reason why David Fucking Hufflepuff Dad Wymack is the best damn character in this series, no questions asked, no other opinions accepted. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

I need more Wymack love in this fandom always.

In related news, though – apparently the upperclassmen are betting on Neil’s sexuality, which is just about the best thing ever. Also, heck yeah, I called it.

Apparently, they’re split down the middle. In my book, this means Matt and Allison betting on Gay Neil, while Dan and Renee bet on Straight Neil.

(You’d think Renee would bet on Gay Neil since she’s subject to Andreil Pining every practice break, but nope – you can’t tell me Allison Reynolds, Lipstick Bisexual and Bad Bitch Extraordinaire doesn’t have her gaydar on lock.

I rest my case.)

             “It’s a waste of time and money. They’ll all lose. I’ve said all year I don’t swing and I meant it. Kissing you doesn’t make me look at any of them differently. The only one I’m interested in is you.”

I’mma go fling myself into the fucking sun.

Brutally Honest About His Feelings Josten is a very, very good Josten.

Also, someone finally teach this boy the definition of demisexual, please.

             “Don’t say stupid things.”

             “Stop me,” Neil returned. He buried his hands in Andrew’s hair and tugged him in for a kiss.

Happy to report the gays are back at it again.

Nothing like some fun backseat fondling before a big game, because sooner than thought they’ve arrived at Binghamton and their asses are in for a fun game of Orange Spotsball.

Did I say fun? I mean fucking stressful.

Almost-cards left and right, balls thrown in unholy places, all remaining chill has fucking evaporated.

But as always, when Sportsball Times get tough, there is one thing we can count on:

Andrew’s willingness to do kind of everything if Neil asks nicely.

             “I’m asking you to help us,” Neil said. “Will you?”

             Andrew considered it for a moment. “Not for free.”

             “Anything,” Neil promised, and stepped back to take his place in line again.

             Neil didn’t exactly know what he’d gotten himself into, but he honestly didn’t care, because Andrew delivered exactly what Neil wanted him to.

Which, in this case, means trashtalking every opposite player that comes close to his goal and fiercely fending off Exy balls as if they’re straight thoughts.

HEEEELL YEAH.

Also, I’m totally sure this promise won’t come back to haunt us ever again.

With Andrew kicking some major Bearcat butt in the back and Neil and Kevin fucking shit up in the front as per usual, the Foxes reign home a glorious close win! Celebration all around!

Girl dancing gif

And I’m sure there is exactly nothing at all that can go wrong now.

             Neil was halfway to the door when his phone hummed (…) He didn’t recognize the phone number, but he didn’t have to. He knew that 443 area code.

             Baltimore was calling.

Well, tits.

             “Hello?”

             “Hello, Junior. Do you remember me?”

             Neil’s heart lurched to a sick halt. (…) It was Lola Malcolm, one of his father’s closest people.

LOLA.

I’ve heard that name before. I swear to fuck I’ve heard that name before. Was she mentioned already? Did I just read it somewhere on tumblr? Whatever it is, I know that she’s not fucking fun.

We’re in deep, deep shit, people.

             “Are you listening? It is time to go. If you make this difficult for us, you will regret it for the rest of your very short life.”

Hell fucking no, lady. You can take that dramatic ass attitude and stick it right up your ugly butt.

Neil agrees with me:

             Fast on the heels of fright was an irrational and wild anger. He was halfway of winning Andrew’s trust, a weekend  from his first vacation, and one month from semi-finals. There were only four matches left in championships. Neil was so close to everything he wanted and Lola was here to steal it away.

             “Put a hand on me and you’ll regret it,” Neil said.

HELL YEAH.

Fuck this, fuck all of it, she is not getting us this easily.

We came so close, so close, and we are not here to have this taken away.

             “[Your father] is in Baltimore,” she corrected him. “His parole hearing was on your birthday. (…) We can’t kill [the Foxes], but we can hurt them. You’ll see.” (…)

             Jackson Plank was in the locker room with his team. A second later Romero Malcolm stepped into view in a similar [security guard] getup.

… Maybe we are here to have this taken away.

Hey, remember how literally a few pages earlier Neil said he wouldn’t save the Foxes, only himself, in an apocalypse scenario?

I’d like to call heartfelt bullshit on that.

             The five feet between Neil and his team could have been five thousand miles.  Looking at them all, Neil was as sad as he was proud. (…) He was sorry to leave them with all of his lies, sorry they’d have to get the truth from Kevin after the fact. They were all right here with him still but he missed them with a ferocity that threatened to turn him inside-out.

Also known as: The moment literal tears started to form in the corners of my eyes.

I say “omg I’m crying” a lot, but I very rarely shed actual tears. This was a moment that came close.

The last moment Neil gets to look at his team before being literally kidnapped, the moment he loves them more than ever, ever before, and they all have absolutely no idea what’s about to happen.

And it gets worse.

             Only Andrew saw the strain in Neil’s mask. (…)

             “Thank you,” Neil finally said. He couldn’t say he meant thanks for all of it: the keys, the trust, the honesty, and the kisses. Hopefully Andrew would figure it out eventually. “You were amazing.”

I’m so emotional. I’m so, so goddamn emotional. I can’t handle this.

I feel like this is as close to a love confession as we’re ever gonna get, and I’m not handling anything right now.

Deep breaths, Nicki. Deep breaths.

(Disclaimer: I’m not actually expecting Neil to die in Baltimore. I know this book has five more chapters and I know Nora is not killing off her protagonist, come on. But I am expecting some awful, awful shit to go down, like “way worse than the Raven’s Nest” shit, like “changes the game forever” shit, like just some majorly fucked up shit that I am very much not here for. And so let me treasure those last moments – not because we won’t come back, but because we won’t come back the same way we’re leaving right now.)

And with that, we’re off – kidnapped away in a whirlwind of fan riots outside, handcuffed and chained to the inside of a car, zooming along the highway off to god knows where, and now comes the moment where I understood why y’all were warning me about this chapter.

Aside from beginning to cut up his fucking hand as soon as they get in the car (really, what the fuck is it with this mob and knives), Lola has certain opinions about Neil’s facial tramp stamp.

             “I can’t take you before your father with such a stain on your face. Rome?” (…)

             Soon enough the dashboard cigarette lighter popped free of its lock with a metallic cling.

WHAT THE FUCK.

WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK.

And with that – the bitch burns Neil’s tattoo off.

SHE BURNS.

NEIL’S.

TATTOO.

OFF.

And not enough with that, she also presses her knife into his other cheek so he can’t draw back without literally cutting himself open.

What the absolute everloving shit. I literally sat shellshocked for a good ten seconds that that.

But oh, my friends, it gets worse – because apparently they also gotta question Neil about the whereabouts of his dear mom, and “she’s dead” of course isn’t a satisfying answer.

And when they’re done with his mom, they move on to questions about the Foxes.

And when they’re done with his face, they move on to his arms.

I will never, never be able to look at a car cigarette lighter the same way again.

             He didn’t want to think about this, didn’t want to feel this, so he thought about thr Foxes instead. He clung tight to the memory of their unhesitating friendship and their smiles. (…) The memories made him weak with grief and loss, but they made him stronger, too. He’d come to the Foxhole Court every inch a lie, but his friends made him into someone real.

More wet eyes. Such wet fucking eyes over here right now.

I’M NOT HANDLING THIS.

STOP IT.

             He’d hit the end of his rope before he wanted to and he hadn’t accomplished everything he’d hoped to this year, but he had done more with his life than he’d ever thought possible. That had to be enough. He traced the outline of a key into his bloody, burnt palm with a shaky finger, closed his eyes, and wished Neil Josten goodbye.

Oh my god.

             Nathaniel Wesninski let the last few miles fly by unnoticed.

OH MY GOD.

This is both super painful and super genius and I am FUCKING SHOOK.

STRONG YELLING, YOU GUYS.

             The worst injuries were the ones on his face, but the mess Lola made of his hands was the most inconvenient. It’d be hard to fight back when even the slightest twitch of his fingers made his hands ache.

Oh yeah, also by now we’re back to being Human Punching Bag Neil Josten.

Well. It’s rather Human Punching Bag Nathaniel Wesninski now, right?

             Nathaniel closed his eyes against the pitch black that threatened to swallow him whole. Lola smiled against his cheek and bit at his burns.

Y’all for real what the fuck is wrong with this woman.

Petition for her to decease right this very second, thank you.

And after that, Lola chloroforms him and drags him into to the house of his father, a literal Abusive People-Butchering Mob Head.

You guys. You guys. We’re in completely new uncharted waters now, and I have no idea what the hell is about to happen.

I both don’t want this to continue and really, really can’t fucking wait for this to continue.

If you like what I do here and you want to help me through the heartbreak of this chapter, why not buy me a coffee? Every lil bit helps, getting me through uni and all that jazz. Thanks so much!

[alexkablob]

Yang vs Raven: How The Turn Tables

OKAY HERE WE GO. Under a Read More because good lord this thing got long.

I just cannot stop laughing at the guys Yang beat up behind her while she walks into the camp. This whole sequence is staged like something out of a Spaghetti Western or a Sengoku Jidai movie, where Yang’s the guy who just showed up in town and Raven and her bandits are literally the villains from Seven Samurai. (At this point I remember that RWBY+the remains of JNPR makes seven people but then I remember that four of the samurai die and decide not to continue this comparison.) And of course, I’m remembering the other two times that Yang walked fearlessly into a den of thieves to demand something from their leader.

So Raven appears, being her default setting of Ridiculously Dramatic, and Yang is Instantly Done with this.

First time actually seeing her birth mother face to face and she’s just. “Mom.”

And then comes the part where I was instantly ready to jump through the screen and kill Raven my damn self.

“So! After all this time, you’ve finally decided to come visit me.“

Raven I just. Seriously. Why are you such a horrible person. The daughter you abandoned at birth in order to become a bandit queen shows up after nineteen years and this is the first thing you have to say to her. YANG LITERALLY GETS HER PTSD TREMOR SET OFF BY THIS BECAUSE SHE CAN’T BELIEVE RAVEN’S NERVE EITHER.

I just can’t get over how clearly Raven’s bit here is like. A Prepared Speech. It’s so theatrical. She’s staging this for the crowd’s benefit as much as for Yang’s. This bit about Yang’s determination like, yeah Raven you’ve got no fucking idea how determined your daughter is, but then OH HEY SUDDENLY SHE GOES EVEN FURTHER.

She tries to do the cute familiar banter thing with Yang. “But did you have to be so rough with my men?” She thinks it’s hilarious that Yang showed up in the area and immediately beat up some of her mooks.

And Yang is having none of it. “I didn’t want a fight. They started it.” She’s like, gee mom, one of them sexually harassed me and then after I literally punched him into the next room for it they tried to rob me, you tell me if i had to be so rough with them.

But also Yang is restraining herself from giving her mom the full bitching-out she deserves because she’s here on a mission, so Raven tries to continue the one-sided banter. “Well, you certainly finished it.”

And Yang is just.

Nope. Nope. I am not giving you the satisfaction of playing this game with you. You have not earned the right to playfully rib me. You know who can do that? Tai. Because he’s actually been her parent and they have a loving relationship where they engage in this sort of banter.

And then there’s just this deliciously awkward silence that Yang lets stretch out until Raven realizes the above and awkwardly switches tracks, continuing with the Theatrical Prepared Speech for when her daughter (inevitably, in Raven’s mind) shows up, assuming that of course Yang is here for her.

But SHE’S NOT HERE FOR YOU. And Raven is instantly pissed as hell. “What was that?!” Yang isn’t following the script that exists in Raven’s mind.

I feel just. SO incredibly vindicated that Yang only went to Raven in order to get help finding Ruby, because that’s exactly what me and @mylordshesacactus thought was going down with this plotline, and it’s perfect. Because yeah, Raven. When Yang was six years old and her actual mother had just died and she found out that she had another mother out there who had left her when she was born, she had fantasies that she’d find her and they’d be a happy family. But now she’s nineteen, she’s been through hell, and she knows that Raven Branwen is a horrible person who only ever gave her a cryptic save from Neo and genes for really great hair. She’s better off without Raven in her life, and she knows it. There’s only one reason she’s here: because Tai told her about Raven’s Family Fast Travel Portal semblance, and she wants to use that to get to Ruby.

I swear “And why would I do THAT” in response to people asking for help is like, Raven’s catchphrase. This asshole actually has the fucking gall to act offended that Yang sees through her bullshit. “Why not take that drive and use it to find your little sister if she really means that much to you.” Ohhh Raven, first of all, that was incredibly bitchy, that was somehow more bitchy than anything you said to Qrow in volume 4, which is saying something because you were a total dick to Qrow. And second of all, I am LIVING at how FUCKING MAD you’re getting here. I’ll be honest, the first time I heard Raven’s voice in v4 I wasn’t entirely sold on it? But her increasing inability to hide her agitation throughout this scene is glorious, they definitely cast her right. 

You know who else is living for Raven’s frustration here?

Honestly I keep cracking up at the way Raven mutters Tai’s name under her breath when Yang reveals he told her about Raven’s semblance, because it’s literally like

Yang: “But dad told me how your semblance works.“ Raven: “Fuck.”

Yeah, Raven, all Yang wants from you is to open one of your creepy portals so she can join up with her actual family, and you’ve got no right to be as pissed about it as you are. Raven almost literally says YOU’VE GOT SOME FUCKING NERVE GIRL, because she really is that much of a hypocrite.

(shoutout to Raven’s ridiculously giant hair)

I’m SUPER interested to find out just what Raven’s problem with Ozpin and Qrow and the whole “stop Salem from causing the literal apocalypse” thing is, but I have to say, in this show that constantly reinforces the theme of standing against the darkness even if your chances are hopeless (my actual favorite narrative theme ever but that’s another conversation), somehow I don’t think Raven’s intended to be right about this.

Which, again, Yang gets, because she’s wonderful. This is the part where Yang starts getting visibly pissed off too, because Raven’s spent this brief conversation making up for missing out on nineteen years of pissing off her daughter. “I don’t care what you think.” Literally just. Oh my god mother shut up already. Yang is 3000% done with Raven’s “come to the dark side” spiel before she even makes it.

(Side note: shout out to the reaction shot of Vernal being pissed at Yang telling Raven to shut up, because if my thoughts on her relationship with Raven are right she’s Raven’s actual adopted daughter and thus, what Yang would have been if Raven had been in her life. The best thing Raven ever did for Yang was leave her with people who weren’t terrible, which is faint praise indeed.)

“Save your breath. You can spout off whatever you want, but nothing is going to keep me from my sister.“

Yang’s relationship with Ruby is everything and I just. Love her so much. She’s just categorically shut the fuck up mom i don’t want to hear it you piece of shit.

Raven, having realized that Yang wants absolutely nothing to do with her, is immensely fucking pissed.

She even puts her hand on her sword hilt like dear god woman. But then in my actual favorite Raven line in this scene she (very unsuccessfully) tries to play it off like she’s amused.

“Well aren’t you stubborn.“

“I get it from my mom.”

Oh yeah Raven, THIS banter game she’s all too willing to play with you. Get fucking WRECKED.

Raven, being a total dick, tells her goons to get Yang out of her sight and starts walking off. Yang is of course not leaving until she gets what she came for (shoulda seen that coming Raven you just noted how stubborn she is).

(I don’t know why but I really love this shot of Raven looking back when Yang doesn’t let her get the last word)

And now Yang is IMMENSELY FUCKING PISSED at Raven’s gall to not do something as simple as send Yang to Ruby via Qrow because her feelings are hurt that Yang can see through her bullshit.

“Did you not hear me? I said send me to Qrow, damn it!“

#LetYangSayFuck

Yang’s so pissed she’s seriously ready to fight this entire goddamn camp which, girl, even you can’t do that.

...okay maybe she could actually do that if not for Actual Demigoddess Vernal Branwen standing just over there.

And then she punches Mook #2 through a tent and oh look. There’s Weiss. (the staging of this legit made me laugh out loud I love it) Oh yeah. Raven was doing her whole Welcome Home Long Lost Daughter speech while she knowingly had Yang’s teammate in a literal cage not fifty yards away. Which is just, what the fuck, Raven. What the fuck. With as much as you stalk Yang there’s no way you didn’t know that Weiss was one of her closest friends. And you literally pulled all this while you had Weiss imprisoned and awaiting ransom. What the fuck is wrong with you.

legit this moment is everything we’ve been joking about for the last two weeks just

Yang: “Hey mom fuck yo--WEISS?!?!”

Weiss: “Alright time to make my esca--YANG?!?!”

I am Living seriously I was so scared this was going to be a near-miss because this show is cruel enough to do that to us

Meanwhile, Weiss. “Okay. Okay. I’m gonna just accept this for the moment. New plan. Tiny Knight Friend, become Big Knight Friend and break us the fuck out of here.”

BACK TO BACK BADASSES oh my god how I have missed any of Team RWBY being together. And then this entire exchange is just, hilarious.

Yang: “What is THAT.”

Oh right, Yang’s never seen Weiss summon anything before, much less Giant Knight Friend.

Weiss: “Don’t worry about it what are you doing here?!”

Yang: “Well, that’s my mom and she can take us to Ruby.”

(Raven’s little exasperated “ugh” here on realizing that oh great she’s losing the Weiss ransom too now is everything)

And then we get ONE OF THE FUNNIEST EXCHANGES IN THE WHOLE DAMN SHOW

“YOUR MOM KIDNAPPED ME?!“

“YOU KIDNAPPED HER?!“

Seriously this scene had ramped up to the point where I had legit forgot that Actual Elemental Demigoddess Vernal Branwen was like, right over there.

(speaking of which, Raven’s quick “thank you” after Vernal stops everyone’s Drama is also everything)

(also everything is that Vernal’s reaction to Raven telling her to give Weiss her weapon back is literally “but mooooooooooooom”)

And look I’m super worried about the fact that Yang and Weiss are about to get the What’s Your Favorite Fairy Tale talk from Raven Branwen but instead of worrying about that for now I’m just going to revel in THE FIRST RWBYUNION

oh my god the last time Weiss saw Yang is when Yang was unconscious and still bleeding from her arm getting cut off oh my god Yang’s so much taller than her she’s not even touching the ground here oh my god i need a minute

this concludes my rambling about my new favorite episode of RWBY

[wreathedinscales]

@kipsiih​ i included a little shoutout to you at the end, i hope you get it :D

my writer’s block has been SO DAMN BAD with any luck this doesn’t sUck

Crime pays if you do it right, and Wally and Barry are pretty damn good at racing. Iris still thinks the cartoon portrait of them on the racetrack hanging over the fireplace is a bit too much. But it's not like the cops are gonna find them.

The thought clamps in Iris' throat.

A cluster of yellow lightning rushes Wally in front of her. He's understandably confused. Iris has never contacted him or Barry, much less used the spare key they'd sneaked through her mail.

"Wally," she says, "Remember when you said I had a free IOU?"

It'd been just after the particle accelerator explosion, when all the metas were being forced into hiding. Wally's racing had already presented a viable option for him. With their like powers, he'd invited Barry to join him. That'd been their last conversation.

Wally obviously remembers. His face tightens. He's realized Iris isn't here for reconciliation.

"Yeah," he says. The resignation there jams sympathy at Iris' ribs.

She holds firm. "I need to cash in on that favor."

Wally tries for a smile. "What's up?"

"I need an audience with the Don of Central City."

Wally sets her down in a garage hosting two cars, one yellow, one red. Identical lightning bolts adorn their hoods. An attendant is underneath the scarlet, dressed in a greasy jumpsuit and whistling.

Breathing past vertigo, Iris asks, "What do they call you guys?"

She already knows. Wouldn't be a very good journalist if she didn't. But despite whatever's happened between them, Wally's still the brother she hasn't seen in two years.

Wally's chest puffs behind his crossed arms. "Barry's the Flash. And I am Twister."

"No he's not!"

Iris whirls around, and there's Barry's mussed up hair. Not a random attendant at all.

Wally scowls. "I started before you! Why should I be called Kid Flash?"

"'Cause you're young."

"I am literally two years younger than you."

Barry points cheerfully at him. "Still young. Hey, Iris!"

He nearly lifts her off her feet. The workshop muddles in Iris' eyes.

"Long time no see," Barry murmurs.

"She came to get that favor," Wally says.

"Oh." Barry sets her down. His smile's diminished. "Well, uh. I'm guessing it's important if you came here?"

Wally whispers something in his ear. He blinks.

"Are you sure?"

Iris nods.

"But. Why? If it's for a story―"

"It's not."

Barry and Wally glance at each other uncertainly.

Iris huffs. "I get that it's weird. And dangerous. But if what I've heard is true, then you guys are my best shot."

"What have you heard?" Barry asks.

"Probably that you're Cold's main squeeze," Wally says.

Barry squawks. "I am not!"

"Come on, Barry. Everybody knows you think he's cool."

Iris wants to tease him too. Wants to close her eyes for a second and put them all back in their house, with their dad making lasagna while they all fight over what cartoon to watch.

"Guys!" she barks. They jump. "Can you do it or not?"

Another uncertain glance.

Barry blows out a breath. "I can try."

Iris smiles. "Thank you, Barry."

Barry zips to his phone on one of the workbenches.

"Just be prepared," Wally says.

Iris nods. "I am."

"No, I'm not talking about the Don. I mean, yeah, that's huge. But I mean what comes before that."

"...what do you mean?"

In just under an hour, Barry leads the way to the Don's favorite hangout: Saints and Sinners. Place has been lovingly preserved thanks to the new management, or so Iris hears. She's never been inside.

Leonard Snart's leaning against the bar. His long black coat has pointy lapels and everything. Given her research on how dramatic the man is, Iris shouldn't be surprised.

"Barry," he purrs, sauntering over.

"Snart," Barry replies.

They step into each other's space. Snart's smirking like a cartoon villain. Barry's trying to look serious, but his cheeks are dusted red, and when Snart tells him it's "ice to see him," he turns away to try to hide a smile.

Oh. This is what Wally meant.

"And you must be the long-lost sister," Snart says, "Always a pleasure seeing family members only when they need something."

"Len," Barry murmurs.

Snart doesn't stop scrutinizing Iris, but he adds, "But I suppose I can put in a good word with my sister." He looks back at Barry. "That's all I can do."

Barry nods. "Thanks."

Snart shrugs. "I owed you a favor. Consider us square."

Wally scoffs quietly. "For what? Paying for dinner last week?"

Iris suppresses a snort.

Snart puts up a finger. "If my sister doesn't deem you worth her time, though, I'm throwin' you out."

"Even Barry?" Iris asks sardonically. Wally coughs.

Snart's face goes cold. "If my sister told me to kill everyone in this bar, Ms. West, I wouldn't hesitate."

Barry smiles like there's nothing creepy at all about that. "You'd hesitate a little with me."

Snart switches back to his coy smirk. "Don't push your luck."

Barry pecks his lips, a rom-com in the middle of a seedy criminal bar. None of the patrons look over. Probably know better.

As Snart disappears through an EMPLOYEES ONLY door, a big guy at the bar raises a shot glass and calls Wally to a drinking contest. Wally speeds over.

"Don't worry," Barry tells Iris, still blushing, "Mick's good, but speedsters can't get drunk."

"Mick. As in Mick Rory?"

"Yeah, he and Snart are back on. I swear I'm the other man sometimes."

He doesn't look put out by this, as if the idea of Cold going for Heat Wave when he's in the picture really is just a joke. Iris wishes she had something that secure.

Wally and Mick are barely swallowing their second shot before Snart opens the door and signals for Iris.

Lisa Snart, AKA Golden Glider and the Don of Central City, relaxes in her private lounge on a gold chair with a beautiful woman in her lap and whiskey at her lips.

Before Iris opens her mouth, she asks, "Do you know what shame is, Miss West?"

Because Iris literally can't help herself, she asks, "Do you?"

Glider and her lovely companion laugh.

"Oh, darling," Glider says, "you're gonna be fun. But that's not what I asked."

"Yes, I do."

"Are you sure? Because those sweet brothers of yours just never shut up about you or your dear old dad. And now you, mean girl, come in and dash their starry-eyed hopes."

There's a gold shimmer in Glider's eyes. If she doesn't get an honest answer, there's a golden Glock on her glass coffee table and none other than Killer Frost nuzzling her cheek, just waiting for an excuse.

Iris briefly spreads her hands. "And I'm ashamed of that."

"Are you?" Frost says, voice tingling ice in Iris' ears.

"Yes," Iris replies emphatically, "Okay? Yes. Of course I am. They're my brothers, and it's not their fault that they're meta-humans. It shouldn't even be a problem! But we had to push them away so they'd disappear."

Glider looks unimpressed.

"Bad plan, I know," Iris snaps, "I know, Miss Glider. My dad and I had a good thing and we botched it. But I can't fix that right now, because my dad is missing, and I need your help."

Glider swirls her painted nails along the rim of her glass. Her other hand traces the same circle on Frost's stomach.

"What kind of help do you need?" Frost asks.

Iris dares a few more steps into the room, boots edging on the faux-fur rug. "I just need access to a few personnel records. You have eyes all over, the docks included. Whoever's taking all these police officers, they all disappear there. It's the only solid lead I have."

Frost's eyes narrow. "You think we have a rat stealing the clean-up crew?"

"They're cops."

Glider twirls a strand of Frost's white hair. "What's a cop to a mobster?"

"I know some of them are valued employees."

"Oh, how cute. A reporter who actually does her job. But since Lenny was so sweet about getting you in here, I'll let that slide for now. Let's talk price, baby."

Frost stands, white lace dress whispering at her knees. How she'd sat like that in that blue corset alone makes her terrifying. She offers a hand to Glider, who's just as much of a vision in her strapless gold cocktail dress and diamond jewelry. Even her heels are gold, because apparently the Snart siblings operate on their themes.

"What's in it for me?" she simpers. "I can't just hand over my files to a reporter. Not that you'll do anything else with them, of course, but it's the principle of the thing."

"There's one more condition."

Glider raises a perfectly painted eyebrow. "You've already laid quite a hefty request on the table, Miss West."

"I want a secure line to my brothers' phones." Iris swallows. "I'm not―now that I've seen them again, I can't. I can't go back to the last two years. Shouldn't be much more to ask. You have secure lines everywhere."

"How would you know that?" Frost asks.

Iris puts her hand on her hip. "Like you said, Miss Glider. I'm good at my job."

Glider tilts her head. She lets the quiet stew. Frost takes her glass.

"None of us are perfect sisters," she says at last.

"I'm not even a sister," Frost adds.

"I've made my share of mistakes with my brother. You do seem to know a little shame."

Glider approaches, not stopping until she and Iris are practically toe to toe. She smells like pomegranate and a hint of mint.

The Snart siblings don't seem to operate on personal space either.

"What's in it for my Family?" she asks.

Iris...had not expected her to be this beautiful. Blurry photos and mug shots do nothing for her.

"I don't have much money." She might not even have a lawful home after this. "But I can do a couple jobs for you. Get info, spread it, whatever. If Barry and Wally really have talked about me so much, you'll know that I have plenty of readers. As long as what I'm spreading is based on facts."

"Are all of you Wests and Allens so honest?" Frost sneers.

"We get it from our dads," Iris replies.

"Ugh. My father sucked."

Glider smiles. "So did mine. Yours seems like the bee's knees, though."

"I didn't tell Barry or Wally why I'm here. Our dad's a good liar," Iris whispers, "After what he forced himself to tell Barry and Wally―I'd understand if they didn't give you a reason to believe―"

"Are you kidding?" Frost says flatly, "They whine about how much they miss his cooking every time Cold refuses to make dinner."

"Cold cooks?" Iris says, before shaking her head and saying, "But he was. He was horrible to them."

He'd cried for weeks after. Almost drank himself down the drain. Iris doesn't say that.

"Yes, before contacting them and apologizing for―what was it, Lise?"

Glider giggles. "Had to've been an hour at least."

Iris stiffens. "He never told me."

"And we still haven't reached an agreement. I'll admit, I could use someone of your caliber. Considering the sensitivity of the files, I'll assign you to more than a couple. We'll be in touch for at least the next month."

Iris tries not to sound too eager: "I can do that."

"And to even it out," Frost says, showing her sharpest grin, "We'll present a second condition."

Glider looks pleasantly surprised. "Really, dear?"

Frost goes to a glass bar in the back of the lounge and fishes out three bottles. "Really."

"What is it?" Iris asks.

"Coffee," Frost says. "Giuseppi's, Saturday. Say, five?"

Iris looks between them. Frost hands her one of the beers. Both mobsters' scents are seamless together, kissing the fresh beer.

"For a meeting?" Iris says, not at all breathless and completely composed.

"Certainly," Glider says with the same purr her brother had used on Barry. "We'll call it that, Miss West."

Frost lifts her bottle. "A toast to good deals."

"Dad!" Joe's kids cry, shamelessly disregarding the other tied-up cops in the shipping crate.

"Iris? Barry, Wally―how?"

No sooner than the speedsters drag them into the open air than the family's collapsed in a laughing heap.

"Anyone who tries to tattle on the detective will make a pretty sculpture," Glider says. On either side of her, Cold and Frost wiggle icy fingers.

Iris puts on a black sequin dress and a necklace that hugs her throat like a collar. She has a feeling Glider and Frost are into that.

Not that she's been thinking about it. Or how many corsets Frost has.

They'd been very helpful with finding her dad.

The hostess welcomes her like she can afford the restaurant every weekend. "The private table in the back! Follow me."

A few Family members are scattered around the main dining room. Iris is pretty sure she sees Cold and Barry in a both, with Rory across. Rory seems a little too focused on his food.

Any implications of that winks out when Iris is ushered into a curtained off section to find Frost and Glider kissing over red wine.

Glider pulls back. She doesn't even try to look innocent. "Why, Iris West! Don't you look lovely. Please," she stands up, gesturing to the curved seat, "there's room for one more."

That's a double entendre if Iris ever heard one. There's no question what the Don means.

Iris sits. "What are we drinking?"

Frost's white hair recedes to red, ice giving way to controlled warmth. When she places her hand on Iris' arm, she's almost the same temperature.

"Oh, honey," she says, "whatever you want."

Len peeks in. "Sis, we're―oh shit!"

"Iris!" Barry shrieks.

Mick hums. "Nice."

"Okay!" Vibe squeaks from a nearby table, "We'll just tie these things closed!"

Glider laughs lowly in Iris' collarbone. "Thank you, Cisco."

Len's covered his eyes with both hands.