#so sorry this took forever

[xxweyussyenjoyerxx]

@jeffrey-combs-smash-or-pass here she is!!! Indigo, my queen!

[setsuuestsu]

After the Trip

Note: I’m so sorry this literally took like 4 months to complete.

Sickie Hoseok | Word Count 7177

There was a knock on the door of his hotel room.

“Hoseok-ah, will you be ready to leave for the airport soon?” Sejin asks. “The car just pulled up out front.”

He glances at the clothes meticulously placed around the room. If he quickly folds them into his suitcase, he could probably be done within the next five or so minutes. 

“Coming!” he calls back, scurrying around the room first grabbing the socks he had hanging up to dry on the hotel lamp and the shirts he had folded and set on the desk. He places them in his suitcase (color-coordinating them, obviously) and then sets to work on the rest of his clothing. Five minutes later than he said he would be, he opens the door to the room and greets Sejin, who is standing outside holding two coffees with a suitcase and a carry-on bag next to him. One of the two coffees is handed to him and he bows gratefully to his manager. 

The older man shakes out his hand, most likely tired from holding the coffee for so long. Hoseok feels bad. He issues an apology, but the elder is quick to shake it off. “Are you ready to leave now?”

Hoseok nods, holding up his carry-on bag (Louis Vuitton obviously) and his suitcase (also Louis Vuitton). “I’m ready! Do you need me to carry anything for you?”

Sejin smiles. “That won’t be necessary, Hoseok-ah. I know you’re still tired from your performance.” 

That assumption is absolutely correct. It was only two days ago that he had performed at Lollapalooza, starting ten minutes early and ending ten minutes late because of how anxious he was. Thank God Jimin had come to support him, because he would not have had the energy to perform. His maknae had left the previous day, however, having had schedules to return to. And then after his performance, he flew to New York for some very important business.

“Try to rest on the plane.” Sejin says. “You have a schedule to return to once we get back. I wasn’t in favor of it, but …”

Hoseok understands. He is an idol, after all. He just wishes he could have a small break. But with the Busan concert drawing near, he knows it’s not feasible to ask for time off. 

They make it to the elevator and step inside. There’s a mother and a small child inside already. Hoseok awkwardly slides past them and heads to the back of the elevator with Sejin in tow. The manager looks almost comical in his large (and this is by Hoseok's standards) sunglasses and Hawaiian print shirt, despite them being in Chicago at the moment. The little girl is coughing and sniffling and Hoseok cringes, leaning more against the wall.

He internally panics. He doesn’t really get sick easily or often (excluding if one of the other members gets sick, since they’re all always together, so that doesn’t count) but he’s just done a long set and he’s exhausted and feeling weak already. A cold on top of that would not be pleasant.

But maybe it’s allergies. He shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It’s an elevator, it might be dusty. In fact, Hoseok feels his own nose start to tickle a little. He rubs it with his knuckles, willing the tickle to go away.

It takes a moment, but he’s good now. The kid coughs one last time before the elevator doors open, and everyone piles out. 

He spots the car almost immediately, the black contrasting to the rest of the cars lined up outside of the hotel. The driver hops out and assists Hoseok and Sejin in piling the bags into the trunk. Once finished, the driver motions for the two to get into the car. The two climb into the backseat and wait as the driver buckles himself in. 

Hoseok pulls out his phone as the car pulls out from the area of the hotel. He opens the group chat he has with the members and snorts softly as he sees some of the messages from Taehyung the previous day. 

Thankfully, it’s not terribly far from the hotel to the airport, so he probably won’t be too bored. 

He sends a quick text to the group chat to let them know that he’ll be at the airport soon. Of course, the members text back pretty quickly, sans Jungkook who could be doing all of the above right now.

Taehyung: See you soon hyung!

Suga hyung: Safe flight, Hoseokie.

seokjin hyung: Jwee-Hopeeee, let's go for drinks when you get back!!

Hoseok smiles and closes his phone. It won’t be long until he’s at the airport. Then he can spend time with all of the members when they’re preparing for the Busan concert.

Sejin hands Hoseok his passport, an item the managers tend to hold onto now ever since the Namjoon Incident. The two step out and behind them, the car holding his bodyguards stops. Hoseok bows in greeting at the two bodyguards and then proceeds to follow Sejin towards the doors of the airport. 

Immediately, he’s met with the sound of screaming. Fans crowd the barricades and he sends them as many finger hearts as he can until he nearly walks into a wall and his security guard has to pull him to the left. 

One of the security guards takes his and Sejin’s suitcases and the idol and manager are led to be boarded for first class once they go through passport control and walk through the metal detectors. 

“Do you have a mask?” Sejin asks, pulling his up his nose and mouth. 

Hoseok shoves his hands in his pockets, frowning when all he’s met with is a bit of lint and a small RJ plushie Jin had shoved in his bag before he had left. “No … I think I left it in my suitcase.”

The manager digs through his own pockets. “And I didn’t think to bring any extras … Maybe we could stop to buy  another one?”

Just then, the announcer calls for them to board. Hoseok frantically looks towards the duty free shop and the gate and accepts that he has no time to buy a mask. And yikes, who wants to breathe nasty, nasty plane air???

Sejin looks at him apologetically. “Try not to breathe?”

Hoseok wrinkles his nose and follows close behind Sejin to their seats. 

On their flight, there’s honestly a good amount of people flying first class. And by that, the other eight seats are full. Hoseok glances to his left and spots what is most definitely an ARMY as they are holding a Mang plush and he can see them mouthing the lyrics to The Truth Untold.

ARMY to the left spots him and Hoseok holds back a laugh as the person’s face turns red and they frantically wave at them. Hoseok waves back, then settles down in his chair, Sejin across from him. 

Behind him, Hoseok hears a mother and her crying child. The mother speaks in a language Hoseok can’t understand and he immediately gives up even trying.

Hoseok turns to Sejin. “Do I offer a lollipop? Would that help?”

The manager frowns. “I think the saying in America is ‘Don’t take candy from strangers.’” 

Hoseok nods in understanding, though he doesn’t truly understand. He would love candy …

Anyways …

The child continues crying and sniffling and Hoseok feels bad. He really wants to comfort the child but it is true that he doesn’t know the mother or the child and he doesn’t think they would appreciate some random guy trying to talk to them. 

Eventually, the rest of the passengers are boarded onto the plane and Hoseok turns to the screen on the back of the seat in front of him. It’s Rom-Com time, and now he has to decide which one to watch.

The pilot announces that they’re going to take off now and Hoseok buckles himself in. 

Thankfully, the child goes quiet and (probably?) falls asleep. Though then, the snoring starts.

Hoseok takes a glance at the snoring child and immediately shoves his headphones on, trying to block out the loud noise. It’s a fourteen and a half hour flight and if there’s too much noise, Hoseok would cry. 

The headphones don’t do much, and the child continues to snore. 

He very much so wants to scream.

♪♪♪♪

Halfway into the flight, Hoseok feels his nose start to drip. He frantically reaches for one of the napkins he had saved from the last snack the flight attendant had given him. 

He blows his nose, taking care to be as quiet as possible so as to not disturb some of the other passengers.

He sniffles, nose ever so slightly still running. He blames it on plane air quality. And if you know, it’s not quite the finest. Plus, now he’s fine. 

Maybe he needs a nap.

Another two hours later, he wakes up from his desperately needed nap and his head is aching. 

It’s not because he’s getting sick. It’s because of the way he slept. Yeah … that’s it. Neck pillows don’t really work anyways. They’re like … a sandbag for the neck. Not. Comfortable.

He glances over to Sejin, who is currently enticed with some American rom-com. He’s watched that one before. Yoongi had picked it out last movie night, claiming that he had owed Jimin one or something. 

That was obviously a lie.

His nose tickles ever so slightly and he rubs at it with the back of his hand. “Heh-hh”

The manager glances over at him, pulling an earbud out. “Did you say something?”

Hoseok wills the sneeze down and shakes his head. “No.”

Sejin goes back to his movie and Hoseok lets out a breath he had no clue he was holding. It’s bad enough to get sick. It’s even worse when other people find out. 

And besides, he’s not sick.

The kid with the mother sitting behind him coughs loudly and Hoseok cringes. What is it with kids and germs these days? Is every kid just automatically germ-infested? He thinks to predebut Jungkook and how he would sit with him if his maknae would come home from school under the weather. 

The tickle in his nose grows even stronger and he has no time to search for another napkin. He quickly cups a hand over his nose. “HhITSCH!”

A few people glance over at him and Hoseok sinks down in his chair. That was so loud and embarrassing and he’s never wanted to be ejected from the plane more than this moment.

His nose tickles again and his hands frantically fly to cover his face. He tries his damn hardest to stifle, pinching his nose as tightly as he can. “hh-ngxst!”

Unfortunately, that stifle meant that his nose is now frustratingly wet. And he’s out of napkins.

He glances over to Sejin, who once again is engrossed in his movie.

“Hyu’g.” he softly calls, though his voice is congested so it doesn’t come out sounding quite right. “Do you ha’be a tissue?”

Sejin looks up and stares at him for a moment. Hoseok stares back.

He blinks. Neither of them move.

Sejin seems to snap back to reality because once Hoseok’s words echo in his brain, he snaps to action. “Do you want the lotion infused ones or the regular?”

Ah … he feels like Jungkook now. Usually things like this happen to the maknae, not him. But, he digresses. “Lotion please.”

At this rate, if he doesn’t take the lotion infused tissues, his nose is going to be red and feel so uncomfortable. And he feels another sneeze building up in his sinuses.

Sejin digs through his pockets, then seems to realize his movie is still playing. He stops for a minute and Hoseok feels his heart drop. He needs that tissue. He feels so gross.

“Hyung,” Hoseok softly calls. “Tissue?”

Sejin quickly returns to his manager-ish self. He eventually fishes out a little pack of tissues after searching through his carry-on bag. He hands them to Hoseok, who gratefully takes one and immediately holds it to his nose. He sneezes as quietly as he can, and thankfully, no one looks over at him. He blows again, and then once he’s finished, he crumples up the tissue and sets it to the side to be thrown out. He takes an antibacterial wipe and wipes down his hands. 

By now, he’s hopefully done.

But as luck would have it, he’s not. An hour later, Hoseok feels a tickle in the back of his throat and the next thing he knows, he’s trying to hold back a coughing fit into his fist. Sejin reaches over and pats him on the back. 

From the seat behind him, he hears the child’s voice talking to the mother. “Mommy, that man is being really disruptive.”

Hoseok frowns, forehead creasing. Hadn’t the child cried for like, a hot half hour before the flight? He shakes his head. Children don’t know any better. He himself cried often as a child, his sister always attesting to that. 

When the flight attendant brings him his dinner, Hoseok feels a strong tickle deep in his sinuses. He stutters out a breath and then turns so he doesn’t sneeze directly on her, instead turning into his opposite elbow. “Hah-tschh!” 

She hands him a napkin, sets his tray down, and then moves to assist the next person. He blows his nose, the sound quite pathetic, and then sniffles. He’s starting to become congested now and despite the few naps he’s taken throughout the flight, he’s exhausted. He feels like he could sleep for days, perhaps even weeks at a time. 

Although hungry earlier, now that the food is here, Hoseok really isn’t hungry. He closes the lid on the container of bibimbap the flight attendant gave him and curls up to the side, shutting his eyes once more. 

♪♪♪♪

The next time he wakes up, the plane seat screen tells him that there’s four hours left in the flight. He feels even more congested, if that’s even possible, and his nose is running again. 

Using his last napkin, he blows his nose, trying to blow as hard as possible, since it’s the last napkin and he has too much shame in asking for some more. 

Sejin looks over at him and seems to realize that Hoseok is starting to become unwell. “Is it allergies?”

Can allergens even reach him from his high in the air? He voices this thought to Sejin who nods. “Yeah, pollen can stick to other passengers, or the air may be too dry in here for you.”

Judging by the tell-tale tickle in the back of his throat whenever he gets sick, this isn’t allergies. But one can dream. So in that case, Hoseok shrugs. “Maybe.”

His sinuses tickle and he raises his elbow to his nose. “Heh-ITSCHiew!”

“Do you need antihistamines?” Sejin asks, already rummaging through his carry-on. “I thought I might have packed them …”

Another minute passes, and eventually Sejin emerges empty-handed. “Apparently I lied to myself. Sorry, Hoseok-ah.”

The dancer waves him off. “Don’t worry about it, hyung. I’ll be alright.”

But now he’s a snotty-nosed mess and he doesn’t have any napkins left. Sejin, seemingly reading his mind, waves down the nearest flight attendant. Hoseok quickly shields his nose with his hand so she doesn’t have to see how gross he feels

“Could we have some more napkins?” Sejin quietly asks. 

The flight attendant nods. “We have tissues too if that’s better.”

Hoseok’s eyes widened. Were they gate keeping the tissues this whole time? He pleads with his eyes for Sejin to get the tissues instead. 

The manager nods in understanding. “Hoseok-ah would like the napkins.”

Hoseok smacks his forehead with his non-busy hand. Sejin bows in apology. “Sorry, we’ll take the tissues. Oh, and another bag of those chips… the nacho cheese flavor? Those were good …”

Thankfully, since they’re first class, the flight attendant returns quickly and Hoseok is graced with soft, soft tissues. 

Once he finishes blowing, his throat tickles slightly and he muffles a cough or two into his elbow. Sejin reaches over the aisle and pats him on the back. 

“I’m going to return to my work.” Sejin announces softly. “You look tired, so get some rest. But if you need me, just let me know.”

Hoseok knows that the “work” that Sejin is talking about is just another movie, but he gets the point. Besides, the man has already done so much for him.

He nods, eyes threatening to slip shut. “Thank you, hyung.”

♪♪♪♪

The last, final time he wakes up, the first few seconds are pure bliss. But then a headache slams into him full force and he can’t help but let out a groan. 

“Shhhh.” the annoying kid behind him says, finger to his lips. “We have to be quiet. Mommy says that it’s time to sleep since we’re almost there.” 

The ARMY with the Mang plushie glares at the child. “You can’t say that to J-Hope-ssi!”

The kid blows a raspberry and Hoseok gets scared that this argument will escalate, but thankfully, the pilot calls over the speakers for everyone to put their seatbelts on since they’ll be landing in a couple of minutes.

Hoseok tries to sniffle, but frowns when he realizes his nose is completely blocked. There’s an uncomfortable tickle in the back of his throat and he covers his mouth with his sleeve, trying to muffle the coughs as best as he can. 

“Are you alright?” Sejin asks, perhaps finally realizing that Hoseok isn’t feeling well. And maybe Hoseok himself is coming to that conclusion that it’s not just his allergies. 

“I feel like I might be coming down with something.” Hoseok admits, rubbing his nose with the back of his wrist. 

Sejin frowns. “Does it feel like a cold?”

“Yeah. I feel really stuffy …” 

The manager feels Hoseok’s forehead with the back of his hand. “You aren’t warm. Once we get you back to your apartment, I’ll run and grab you some cold medicine. You should be fine in a few days.”

Hoseok nods. All he really wants to do is shower and then sleep and never open his eyes ever again. 

The pilot announces that they’ve begun the descent back to the ground and Hoseok sniffles thickly, feeling more and more miserable by the minute. 

“Are you buckled?” Sejin asks, glancing down at Hoseok’s waist. When he notices that the idol isn’t buckled yet, he reaches over the aisle and tightens Hoseok’s seat buckle for him. The dancer can only give him a grateful nod as he’s so exhausted despite sleeping for hours. 

Once they land, Hoseok can’t really remember what happens. He knows that someone must have grabbed his suitcases because the next time he’s fully aware of his surroundings, he’s in a van with Sejin seated next to him. The elder hands him a pack of tissues that a staff member must have gotten from somewhere and Hoseok is so grateful that he can’t help the tiny tear that slides down his cheek. 

“I know Seokjin-ssi wants to go drinking with you.” Sejin jokes. 

“Hyung knows I can’t hold my liquor.” Hoseok says with a sigh. “Besides, I just want to sleep until the Busan concert.” 

The manager pats his arm. “Don’t worry, we’re heading to your apartment now. We’ll be there in less than an hour.”

Hoseok lets out a congested sneeze in response, pulling out one of the tissues from the little pack. It feels like heaven on his nose and he can’t help himself from grabbing another. 

“Can we stop at a pharmacy or something? I don’t think I have enough tissues at home.” 

Sejin shakes his head. “We’ll get you home and then someone will go and get them for you.”

“Hyung, it’s okay, I can get them.”

“Hoseok-ah, you don’t have a mask. Someone will recognize you.”

Hoseok sighs, unable to argue with that. He really wants those tissues though …

“I’ll go in and get them.” Sejin offers. He turns to the driver. “Once we get close, could you stop at a nearby pharmacy?”

The driver only nods, and the van is left in silence once more. Hoseok takes this time to shut his eyes. He feels a tickle in the back of his throat and turns to the side, coughing harshly into his elbow. 

He must doze off because one moment, they’re only just leaving the airport and now, they’re parked in front of Hoseok’s apartment. Hoseok feels his nose tickle and he lets out nearly a dozen sneezes, all hastily covered and half stifled. Noticing how the driver and Sejin stare at him in concern, he feels his cheeks burn in embarrassment. 

The driver takes his bags out from under Sejin’s in the back of the van and wheels them towards the elevator. The manager takes Hoseok by the wrist and gently pulls him to where the driver is. Hoseok hasn’t realized how dazed he is until now.

“What floor?” the driver asks, voice soft.

Wait … he can’t really think straight.

“Um … five?” He guesses. 

Sejin frowns. “It’s floor twelve.”

Ehhh. Close enough. He would have made it there eventually.

Hoseok muffles another sneeze into his elbow. His head is starting to feel more congested and heavy by the minute and he really wants to lay down again.

“Almost there.” Sejin assures Hoseok quietly, patting him on the shoulder. Hoseok slumps to the side, resting his head on the wall of the elevator. The manager frowns and feels Hoseok’s forehead again.

“You have a slight fever.”

Hoseok sniffles, coughing weakly. Great.

At last, they reach his floor. Hoseok’s hands are shaking too much to enter the door code. 

Sejin rests a hand on his arm. “I’ve got it.”

He enters the code and immediately, Hoseok is hit with the smell of his apartment. It lures him in, draws him towards his bedroom, where he flops down with an undignified huff. The driver rolls Hoseok’s luggage to the corner and bows deeply before leaving. The idol makes a mental note to write a thank you note later once he’s feeling better. Sejin sets a shopping bag down on the nightstand and leaves the room. He comes back into the room a moment later with a bottle of water and then digs in the shopping back and pulls out a bottle of cold medicine. He opens the bottle and presses two tablets into Hoseok’s palm, and then hands him the water. “Take these, okay? You’ll feel better.”

Hoseok nods, swallowing the tablets without hesitation. Sejin sets a box of tissues next to him and then pulls the throw blanket (Snoopy themed) at the bottom of Hoseok’s bed over the dancer. Once he’s finished tucking Hoseok in (the idol was almost positive that the manager would have kissed him on the forehead) , he heads towards the door. “Text me when you wake up, okay?”

“Thank you, hyung.” Hoseok sleepily murmurs.

The manager gives him a soft smile and heads out of the apartment.

♪♪♪♪

The next morning Hoseok feels even worse. 

As soon as he wakes up, he’s hit with such a strong sneezing fit, he’s breathless by the time he finishes. He doesn’t have the strength to lift himself up, so he resigns himself to laying in bed all day. By now, he’s only been awake an hour and he’s already half finished with the box of tissues.  

On the nightstand to the right of his bed, his phone starts to buzz, an obnoxious ringtone so loud, Hoseok feels like a spike has been driven through his forehead.

After laying still for a moment, contemplating his life choices, Hoseok reaches for his phone and answers. “H’llo?”

“HOBI-HYUNG!” Taehyung yells so loud, Hoseok feels like his head is being squeezed like a balloon. Holy fuck, Taehyung is loud.

“Taehyungie.” Hoseok greets, at a much more respectful volume than what the second maknae greeted him with. 

“I heard that you’re back in Korea!” 

“Yeah. I got back last night.” Hoseok explains. “I’m still so …” He takes a break to yawn, “tired.”

Taehyung hums. “Are you up for visitors? Jungkookie, Jinnie-hyung, and I wanted to see you as soon as you got back.”

That comment makes Hoseok smile. “Ah, I want to see you guys too. But I’m kind of sick right now. I caught a cold on the way back.”

“A cold?” Taehyung nearly shouts. “And you didn’t tell us sooner?”

“I didn’t want you guys to—“

He hears the sound of the code being put into his door. He sighs and would have facepalmed had he had the energy to do so. He hears the door swing open and the sounds of hurried footsteps on the way to his room. Despite all this, he’s smiling. He really missed his members and even under the circumstances of him being sick, Hoseok is really glad to see them.

“Don’t get too close.” Hoseok warns. “This cold is no joke.”

Seokjin rolls his eyes. “You could have easily prevented this. It’s summer for god’s sake. Were you even taking vitamins?”

Hoseok pouts. “Of course I was.”

“Jungkook-ah! Go to the store! You know, the one … the one …” Jin starts, snapping his fingers repeatedly, as if that’s actually going to help him remember.

Jungkook bounds over. “Your old brain is acting up again.”

Jin fumes, slapping the back of Jungkook’s head jokingly. “Just remember the store name for me and go there, okay? I’ll text you the list in a minute.”

The maknae grabs his wallet and with a wave of his hand, he’s gone.

Hoseok feels his nose tickle again and he groans. It’s only ten o’clock in the morning, but he’s already ready for this day to be over. He plucks a tissue out of the box and lets out a ragged sneeze. He blows his nose loudly afterwards. 

The eldest member pats him on the head. “You sound horrible, HobiHobi.”

Hoseok sniffles, but that doesn’t help at all. He’s far too stuffed up for anything to really help. 

Taehyung enters the room again (when did he even leave?!) with a wet washcloth and lays it down over Hoseok’s face. “It’s warm, hyung! It should help your congestion.” 

And actually, it is helping a little bit. 

“Jungkook suggested it.” Taehyung explains because of course the maknae did. Jungkook was like a walking, talking, breeding ground for cold germs. The poor maknae was down with a cold at least once every month or two. It was an annoying cycle, although thankfully the maknae didn’t really contract serious illnesses because of this. 

“Yoongichi and Namjoonie are bringing over some more blankets. They should be here soon.” the eldest says. It makes Hoseok furrow his eyebrows. There’s tons of blankets in his apartment. Why would they need more?

Jin seems to be able to read his expression. “Yoongi-ah doesn’t want to admit that he’s worried. The blankets are his excuse.”

That sounds about right. But of course, Hoseok knows that his Yoongi hyung cares about him a lot. 

Hoseok coughs softly, throat tickling no matter how many times he clears it. The coughing gets worse and worse until he’s left barely able to sit up any longer and Jin is eyeing him worriedly, looking as if he wants to step in, but there’s really nothing else he can do. 

“Jungkook should be back with some medicine in a few minutes.” Jin finally says. “Do you want to keep laying down? Or do you want to sit up? I think sitting up will be better for your lungs, so I’m gonna sit you up.”

The second youngest frowns. “Why did you ask him if you were gonna do it anyways?”

Jin’s eye twitches. “Don’t you have a wall to talk to?”

“What does that even—!”

Hoseok blocks out the rest of the conversation. Usually he loves the banter between his members but right now, he really isn’t feeling well and all he wants to do is relax and not have to follow along to the conversation.

“Think there’s …” he starts, trying to remember what he was about to say. “I think there’s some cold medicine in the bathroom. Sejin hyung bought some yesterday.” 

Jin nods. “Taehyung-ah, go grab it. And some water too, okay?”

The youngest in the room nods and hurries off. 

Jin sits back down on the edge of the bed next to Hoseok’s sick, aching body. He starts running his fingers through Hoseok’s bangs and the dancer is so blissed out, he’s nearly asleep. “Sorry you don’t feel well.”

Hoseok hums. “Least it’s after I performed …”

Jin nods and then a moment later, Taehyung returns with the bottle of cold medicine and a glass of water, Yoongi and Namjoon in tow. His fellow ‘94 liner gives him a small wave and a concerned look while the elder rapper immediately rushes to the side of the bed.

“Seok-ah,” Yoongi greets, slightly breathless. Hoseok is confused about that part. Did he run here? “How are you feeling?”

“Could be better.” Hoseok croaks out, then immediately clamps his mouth shut. Does his voice really sound like that??? Yikes …

His younger hyung presses a gentle hand to Hoseok’s forehead with his brow furrowed and a frown crossing his lips. “You’re warm …”

Jin shoves a thermometer from god knows where into Hoseok’s mouth under his tongue and then scowls. “You didn’t tell me you were running a fever.” 

There’s a silence as they wait for the thermometer to beep. Once it does, Jin yanks it out of his mouth in order to read the degree.

“Yah … 38 degrees already.” the eldest sighs and shakes his head. “You really need to take better care of yourself.”

Hoseok goes to pout, but just the action of scrunching his face must make the congestion in his nose shift because now his nose is tickling quite badly. He quickly rolls to the side to where his nightstand is and plucks a tissue out of the box. He holds it to his face and waits for the oncoming sneeze. 

“Heh-TSCH!”

Yoongi frowns, patting him on the head. “Bless you, Seok-ah.” 

The elder waits for him to blow his nose a couple more times before speaking again. “Joon-ah and I brought you some blankets. And I think there might be some throat lozenges that we may have brought too.”

“Thank you, hyung.” Hoseok says gratefully, his voice cracking every other word. He must sound so pathetic.

Yoongi smiles, gummy and small. “Don’t mention it.”

Jin frowns. “There’s too many of you guys in this room! Namjoonie, Taehyungie, go home! Hoseokie needs his rest! And we’re still waiting for Jungkook-ah to return, god! Text Jimin-ah to not even show up at this point, I can’t believe he’s even late for this, Jesus Christ! Can make it to Chicago on time but not one building over from his my ass!”

Hoseok’s congested brain can’t even keep up with how fast his hyung is talking. He sniffles a couple more times and then reaches for another tissue. His throat tickles again and once he’s finished blowing his nose, he’s thrusted into another coughing fit. 

“Shoo!” Hoseok can make out Jin yelling before he collapses against his pillows, too tired to continue sitting up and following along to the conversation.

“Close your eyes.” Yoongi whispers, tracing his fingers down Hoseok’s cheekbones and over his forehead. “Jungkook-ah is still shopping and he’ll be back with the soup ingredients in a while. I’ll wake you up after Jin-hyung and I are finished.”

Hoseok nods faintly and that’s all he remembers before he fades out. 

♪♪♪♪

The sensation of his forehead being traced once more brings him back to consciousness. 

He keeps his eyes shut, relishing just how cooling the hand on his face feels. He lets out a tiny sigh and shifts in the bed slightly. 

The hand moves down to his eyes, which he hadn’t even realized were burning a bit from having been so exhausted earlier. Then, to the bridge of his nose, maybe in the hopes of loosening his congestion? It ends up doing just that, though not by much, but enough that he can breathe just a bit easier. 

And then a finger is tracing down the slope of his nose. Hoseok feels his breath hitch and his nose twitches. He needs to sneeze, and he needs to sneeze now.

He weakly reaches his hands up to gently swat the hand on his face away. He prays that whoever it is (most likely Yoongi due to the hand size) won’t feel offended. 

It isn’t much longer until Hoseok is sneezing, a congested sound due to just how stuffed up his nose is. It must be messy because Yoongi(?) presses a tissue directly to his nose as the second sneeze bursts out of him.

“Bless you.” Yoongi murmurs, waiting for Hoseok to blow into the tissue. He crumples it up once the dancer does and tosses it into the trash can into the corner of the room. 

Hoseok sniffles, feeling just as miserable as he was when he fell asleep. He slowly opens his eyes, which are slightly watering. Yoongi is sitting next to him, body angled above Hoseok’s to the side and he helps the dancer sit up. 

Once he’s sitting up, Hoseok feels the dizziness set in and he thinks he might be running more of a fever now. The congestion shifts in his nose and it isn’t long before he’s stifling a string of messy sneezes into a tissue. Yoongi starts running his fingers through his hair again, then hums softly. “You have a fever again.”

The dancer groans, but that irritates his throat, so he quickly shuts up. His nose is running again, even though he had just blown it. Yoongi presses another tissue to his nose and Hoseok blows into it, having lived with Yoongi for so long that he’s not even embarrassed at this point. The elder fixes Hoseok’s blanket so that it’s tighter and more around him and Hoseok nods gratefully. 

“Are you hungry?” Yoongi asks. “Do you want some soup?”

Hoseok shakes his head. He feels a pit in his stomach and it’s making him nauseous. “No… what time is it?”

The elder glances at his phone. “Around seven o’clock. You’ve been asleep for the last couple of hours.” 

Hoseok brings the corner of the blanket up to cover his mouth as he coughs. He really feels worse than he did yesterday. He sniffles, but he can barely breathe through his nose since it’s so blocked. “I wanna go back to sleep.”

The elder rapper nods. “Okay. We’ll be here when you wake up, okay?”

Hoseok nods and then he’s fading out again.

But sleep doesn’t really come easy.

♪♪♪♪

He’s back in Chicago in his trailer. He’s just seen J. Cole and although he couldn’t get a picture or even get his idol to notice him, at least he got to see him (from a distance). 

At least he’s here, breathing Chicago air and representing BTS and furthering the name of the group. Although Jimin couldn’t make it, he had gotten many “good luck’s” from his members. 

“Becky G just cancelled.” his manager states. “She got held up at the airport. We’ll just use a backing track, okay?”

Hoseok nods. They had made a backup plan for this scenario just in case she couldn’t make it and while it was a bummer, it wasn’t out of the ordinary that a featuring artist wouldn’t be able to make a performance. Artists are busy people. “Should I keep going with the choreography and keep it the way it is?”

His manager shakes his head. “No, we have another choreography planned for this. We don’t have time to teach you so follow the backup dancers’ lead.”

Huh?

All he can do is nod, however, because managers know best. He’s ushered to the corner of his trailer and handed an outfit to change into. It’s a pale pink and long, skin-tight hot pink pants. Hoseok holds in a breath. Were his and Jin’s wardrobes switched back in Korea? Was Jin now practicing in the outfit Hoseok had decided on for his performance. But there’s no time. He’s going to have to wear it.

“You look so ugly!” one of the makeup artists exclaims once he’s done changing. This brings in a crowd of staff. “Get his makeup done immediately, I can’t look at him like this!”

Another woman ushers him to a chair and quickly pushes him down. “Quick, quick. I need to fix your eyebrows. I might have to wax them a little.”

Hoseok whimpers. He hates the feeling of being waxed, despite having dealt with it for many years as an idol. 

“Fix his nose.” one makeup artist looks at him in disgust. “He has a huge pimple.”

Immediately, Hoseok covers his nose with his hand. He doesn’t feel anything …

“No time!” the manager yells. “He’s late! He needs to be on stage now!”

Hoseok’s wrist is grabbed and he’s yanked out of the chair and out the door of the trailer. His manager pushes him onto the lift that’s going to spring him onto the stage and starts a countdown on his fingers. Hoseok closes his eyes and sucks in a breath. 

“5 … 4 … 3 … 2 …”

Hoseok braces himself.

He jumps and it feels so freeing and when he lands he’s going to sing and he’s really so excited to see …

No one.

There’s no one there. 

The field is empty, it’s so empty that the security guards left. All of the park is closed down and inside, he can hear the faint sound of laughter. 

Is he being laughed at? He really doesn’t know.

His heart drops and he feels like crying. Why is no one here? Is he really that disappointing? He slowly walks down the stairs attaching his “box” and the stage. There really is no one here.

Then, he hears footsteps behind him and he spins around. Maybe this is all just a prank. Maybe everyone just happens to be in on this prank. 

“Look at you, so disappointing.” his manager says, tutting at him. 

Another person walks up and Hoseok can see that it’s Jin. “Didn’t you wonder why we couldn’t be bothered to come to Chicago with you?”

Hoseok reels back. That stings. He opens his mouth to reply but the entrance of another person cuts him off. This time, it’s his fifth grade math teacher and he has no clue how she got here. 

“Still so stupid.” she snarls. “Couldn’t do anything right back then and certainly can’t now.” 

“-seok.”

“No son of mine will dance on a stage.” his dad spits out.

“-seok.”

“So ugly, why did he even take his mask off?”

“-Hoseok”

“Why can’t he be more like me? Mom’s traveling to work without us just for him?”

“-up…!”

Hoseok lets out a sob and he falls to his knees as the people crowd around him and he claws at his hair and his chest is heaving and he can’t breathe and …!

“Baby, wake up!”

Hoseok’s eyes slam open and he knows he’s crying because he can feel the tears running down his cheeks and maybe it’s the fact that he feels infinitely worse that’s making him cry or it was just his nightmare but he really doesn’t know and he wants someone to hug him so badly.

Jin is staring down at him, brows creased and he looks so worried that Hoseok just wants to pat him on the back and tell him it’ll be okay, but he really doesn’t know. 

His head pounds and he can barely see straight. He coughs and his chest hurts. The congestion is also worse too and it feels like his nose is on fire. 

“We’re getting you help.” Jin says, a hint of panic in his voice. “Just relax, okay? Yoongi-ah is bringing the car around.”

He can’t recall if he says anything in response or not. Maybe a groan slips out but either way, Jin just looks even more worried. He feels his body being picked up and he’s carried somewhere, most likely the car. 

Whoever’s driving drives fast. Hoseok finds himself shivering and immediately, someone helps him sit up and he’s leaned against someone really warm. He’s thankful for that. 

He feels a burning in his chest and then he’s coughing, and it’s like he can’t stop. He’s gasping for breath and everything’s so hot, hot hot, and he feels like passing out. 

“Stay with me, okay?” Jin murmurs, worried. He’s sitting with Hoseok, so they must be in the backseat, and he gently pats Hoseok’s cheeks. But it’s not really working and Hoseok can feel himself slipping away anyways. 

The next time he really knows where he is, there’s two strangers looking down at him, who he presumes to be a doctor and a nurse, considering how they’re dressed. They must swab him or something because his nose feels like it’s burning and then he’s sneezing once, then twice, then three times and it takes him a few more seconds until the tickle eventually goes away. 

He shivers despite the hoodie he’s wearing. It’s large on him and it smells like Taehyung, so it must be Taehyung’s. He buries his nose into the collar of it and shuts his eyes once more. Jin rubs his back and he appreciates it. He feels so awful. 

The doctor must have left the room for the swab results because he comes back a moment later and Hoseok is finally, finally, gaining some awareness. Jin helps him sit up, but then his chest is heaving and he has to double over into a coughing fit.

“You have the flu, HobiHobi.” Jin says worriedly. “Did you feel that bad?”

Hoseok frowns. They already had the results? How lucid had he not been?

Jin seems to realize his confusion. “You were really out of it for maybe a half hour give or take. You’re a bit dehydrated, so until you finish that IV bag, you’re not going anywhere.”

The door to the room slams open and a wild looking Yoongi hurries into the room. “Is he alright? Is it pneumonia? Where is he!”

The eldest member pats Yoongi on the shoulder. “He’s right here. It’s a pretty bad case of the flu, but he’ll be okay.”

Yoongi breathes a sigh of relief. “You really worried me, Seok.”

“Sorry, hyung.” Hoseok murmurs, feeling the congestion still building up in his nose. 

No one speaks for a moment. Hoseok listens to the hum of the machinery and it starts to lull him to sleep. He’s feeling better with more fluids in him, and maybe this time he won’t have any nightmares. 

A hand cards through his hair and that’s it until he’s finally closing his eyes.

[befuddled-calico-whump]

putting one more Cinderglass drabble request in your askbox (i am so sorry for the spam but i’ve been thinking about them nonstop aghfsk). again, feel free to ignore this!

i‘d love to see Sarah help Lex work through a panic attack or a traumatic flashback! maybe either so that he doesn’t have to drown himself in alcohol about it or she’s helping and calming him down while he’s drunk

Wildefire Masterlist

cw: alcoholism, emeto, hallucinations, withdrawals

He'd been sober for thirty seven hours.

Not long at all, really, but it was something, and he was trying, and it was fine.

Well, it was fine for thirty seven hours.

Outright quitting was the only thing Lex dared to do. Trying to just cut back wouldn't work, because what was cutting back? He didn't keep track of how much he drank anymore, he just drank until he felt like it was enough. Even just trying to regulate himself to one a day seemed risky business. Would he be able to stop, once he started?

He didn't want to find out.

Lex didn't tell Sarah, didn't want her saying it was a bad idea or insisting on staying with him. It was a rough ride ahead, and he didn't want to somehow hurt her in the throes of his panic or sickness. He... He didn't want her to see him like that.

So he locked himself in his room, told her not to bother him this week, that he'd be busy. The safehouse was old and decrepit but huge, and his room had a small bathroom attached, something he was doubly grateful for now.

He stocked his room with water bottles. It was impossible not to think of Sarah whenever he looked at their plastic cases now, Sarah staying up until early daylight, because she was worried. That was good. He could use his guilt there as a reminder; a reason to hold out.

He sipped at them and stared at the wall, every light in the room on, the old radio Sarah had gotten for him positioned at the foot of his bed. She'd given him a battered CD case with it, packed full of a few dozen discs. A Guns n Roses album was currently in, playing just loud enough to pull his thoughts.

She's got a smile that it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories

By now, Lex was pretty good at doing nothing, letting himself sink into the thankfulness that nothing was being done to him. Even a year after the Tower and weeks free of Uriah, the talent hadn't faded. Day one turned into night, and he didn't dare fall asleep. Just swapped one CD for another and let his mind cling to the lyrics.

Too late, my time has come

Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time

It was around hour twenty two that the headache started, and it only got worse from there. Not long after that, Lex was clinging to the toilet bowl, heaving up the half-dozen water bottles he'd drank throughout the day, his head swimming, the pit in his stomach insisting couldn't he just do this later? Would it hurt to have one drink, to get rid of this shitty feeling?

No. All or nothing.

He moved the radio to the bed, putting his ear to the speaker, trying to drown out everything else. The album came to an end, and he replaced it with another, as quick as he could without scratching the disc with his stupid metal fingers.

Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile

The girl with the kaleidoscope eyes

Fuck. He just needed to hold out, just for a few days, and this would be over. A little self control, and maybe he could call himself worthy of the people here. Not a loose end. Not an ex-enemy or a liability. Something better.

Lex wrapped the sheets around himself, held the pillow over his head to try and ease the pounding in his skull with the pressure. It didn't help. He almost fell asleep, but the nausea pulled at his stomach and his skin was crawling and too hot, and then he was throwing off the blankets; stripping down to his boxers in an effort to ease the heat.

Exhausted but unable to find sleep, he sat with his back against the cool wall and sipped water, trying to find the lyrics again and hold them.

I don't really want to stop the show

But I thought you might like to know

That the singer's gonna sing a song

And he wants you all to sing along

It didn't help, it wasn't enough. His own body was fighting him, roiling nausea and sickness insisting all he needed was one drink and it could all go away, it could all be okay (fray, gray, stay).

The radio hummed as the CD came to an end, a few seconds passing before the album began again.

What would you think if I sang out of tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

At long last, his own exhaustion was catching up to him, and he dragged himself back onto the bed, the heavy feeling in his chest spreading to his eyes and mind, as the music faded to a buzz and sleep overcame him.

He woke in the Tower.

It was impossible, he knew it was, but the fear seized him all the same, the crushing weight of walls he couldn't escape, the knowledge that this time, there would be no one to free him; this time he was here for good.

And the floor was wrong and Lex knew there was never music, but he fucking knew where he was.

He sat up, wincing at the sharp pain that rang through his skull at the movement, forcing down rising nausea. No one here cared if he was sick, if he was hurt, they'd hurt him more anyway, they'd do what it took to keep him down, keep him in line. He wrapped his arms

(Arms? It's wrong, stop, you aren't---)

around himself, squeezing his torso with a pressure that wasn't comforting. He felt shaky, blurred, weak. Had they drugged him?

(just one drink and this all goes away)

He tried to reach for the techniques he'd used to get through the days, tried to remember the things he'd done to stay sane, to stay alive, but any useful memory fell through his hands like sand, leaving nothing but the shadows, the nightmares (snares, glares, spares).

He knew what happened here, in his cell (hell). He knew what was waiting to spring on him at any moment, what would surely come for him if he let his guard down (drown), if he fell asleep, if he---

"Morning, scum."

Lex froze as the door swung open. Morning? But it was so dark, but it was always dark, the light never hits you here, and when it does there are worse things waiting---

"I knew you'd come crawling back. This is where you belong, it's home."

He could hear the voice clear as day, but couldn't see its owner. It didn't sound like Wade. It almost sounded like...

"Alexei. Did you really think you could hide from me?"

Uriah Fox stood over the bed, a smug smile plastered on his face.

"No," Lex choked out. "Y-you can't--"

"You always knew it would end this way."

(Fray, pray, stray)

He climbed onto the bed, straddling Lex, easily pinning him despite being so much smaller, despite Lex being so much stronger, and he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe---

"Lex."

The pressure in his chest faded, and he gasped for air, squinting into the dim light, unable to make out anything. A hand fell onto his shoulder, giving it a light shake, and he flinched back.

"Sorry."

Sarah? He forced himself to breathe deeply, ease his eyes open. Her silhouette was blurry above him, and it was only then that he realized he was crying.

He brushed the tears away hastily with the back of his hand. "You... You should go," he managed to say.

She sighed. "I'm sorry if I scared you, I just... I heard you... screaming. Not loud or anything, but..." She tapped her earlobe. "Can't get much past these."

He swallowed, trying to push himself into a seated position, but his shoulders shook, his stomach twisting, and he fell back onto the pillow.

"Lex..." She bit her lip. "You could've told me. You know you don't have to do this alone."

He almost laughed out loud at that. What other way was there? It was his body, his choices, his mistakes. He'd drowned himself for too long, hoping it could save him, knowing it never would. He was reaping his rewards. No one else should have to deal with the mess that was him.

"I'm not your problem," he murmured, letting his eyes close again. What could she do, besides be there to fill the silence when music wasn't enough? Besides grounding him and telling him it wasn't real, he wasn't there?

"You're not a problem, Lex," she said, her voice serious. Tired. How late was it? Even trying to be fucking better, he was still screwing up her life.

"I just want you to take care of yourself, okay?" She kicked at an empty water bottle. "Is this the best way? I'm glad you're trying, I am, but don't you think it'll be easier on you if you come downstairs and hang out?"

He didn't want any of them to see him like this. "What good would that do?"

"Distract you, for one. For another, it'll be easier to remember meals. When's the last time you've eaten something?"

He sank further onto the bed, his gut twisting again at the thought of food. "I don't know."

"And have you been drinking anything besides water?"

"No, that's--that's the whole point, I'm not---"

"That's not what I meant. Electrolytes? A protein shake, maybe?"

"No," he answered after a moment.

She dropped her eyes, a grimace tugging at her mouth though she seemed to be trying to hold it back.

"Do you not think I can do this?"

"I think you're punishing yourself," Sarah said. "And I think you should stop."

Was he? His head spun almost too much to think about it. This wasn't self-inflicted punishment, it was cause and effect. It was something he had to get through if he ever wanted to move past the Tower.

"It'll be over soon," he muttered, and he hoped he was right.

She dipped her head, pressing her lips together tightly, and pushed off of the bed, moving to sit cross-legged on the floor.

"Sarah..."

"Look, I don't wanna push your boundaries, but I can't leave you like this. It's not safe."

"It'll get worse from here."

"Which is why I'm staying." She gave him a stern look. "If you want to be alone, I'll leave, but I'll be right outside your door."

Lex clenched his jaw. "I'll be fine."

"You're detoxing. You're already feverish. What if you start seizing up?"

"Then I've already dug my own grave."

"Lex." Her expression darkened. "You can't keep doing this."

"This is the only time--"

"Not this. Self-destructing. You..." She did grimace then, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You keep hurting yourself, and I can't keep watching."

He pressed his cheek further into the pillow, knees drawing to his chest. "Then why do you?" he said. "Why haven't you thrown me out yet?"

The words came out too angry. Accusatory. His own fault. Any filter he had was lessened by the pain in his head and the nausea and the fucking exhaustion. He didn't want her to throw him out, he... he needed her. Not in some bullshit emotional way, but as a reminder that there were still good things. Things worth fighting for, worth living for.

"I'd never throw you out," Sarah said, her expression turning to something that bordered playful. "I like you too much for that, you know. I just..." She exhaled through her nose, pushed soft dark hair over her shoulder. "I want you to try, okay? Can you agree to try to do what's best for yourself? To stop taking the harder path just because?"

Could he? Even if he wanted to? The harder path was what he was used to. Less traveled, less trapped. Suffering for a goal was a habit. Muscle memory.

Would the path to freedom be as clear if there was no pain to pave it?

Still, something in her voice pulled Lex to nod against the pillow. "I'll try."

Her smile shifted to something more genuine. "That's all I'm asking." She began to push herself up. "I'll, uh... I'll be in the hall then. You are eating breakfast in the morning, mister."

"You... You don't have to do that," he started.

"Do what? Bring you food? Or stand guard? I already said I'm not leaving you alone--"

"You don't have to stay in the hall." Lex swallowed (followed), and it took him a second to form the words. "You can stay here. If you... If you want to."

Her expression softened. "Yeah. I do."

She found a spare pillow and blanket in the room's closet and began to settle down on the floor beside him, picking out a new CD to start the music playing again.

While we're on the subject, could we change the subject now

"I'm here if you need me."

"I know." I need you.

It was a paradox. The easier path to recovery, to a clear head, to control being the more difficult one. Because it was untravelled. Because he almost felt he didn't deserve it, that he should bear the punishment for his own vices.

But even if the path was unchartered, he had a guide. For once, he didn't have to walk it alone.

oh, and we carried it all so well

•°•°•

Tag List:

@whumpacabra @enteredin2eternity @kixngiggles @whumpsday @kiichu @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump @shywhumpauthor @distinctlywhumpthing , @bloodinkandashes , @fleur-alise , @whumpy-daydreams , @whumpwillow , @honeycollectswhump , @snakebites-and-ink

[kikikakapo]

I saw that you had a kakapo slugcat and I want you to know that makes me so happy I really like rainworld and kakapos are my favorite bird so now I'm just sitting here. quietly happy. and I think you should know about this. your kakapo slugcat delights me. if you wouldn't mind could you tell me about them?

omg this makes me so happy!! I’m so glad I could bring someone joy with my art, I’ve always wanted to do that, and it just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about that, thank you for telling me :D

ok so about my kakapo slugcat!!

Really its just my kakapo sona but as a slugcat because I got into rw but I do have a little campaign idea for them! So first off, its abilities! It would be able to glide, kinda like real kakapos, climb up really tall vertical walls and be able to track things with a strong smelling ability, and it would also be able to blend into greener backgrounds when hunted.

It would be also friendly and curious, with a higher reputation among scavengers but other creatures would be more likely to go after it. It would be nocturnal, coming out at night time and be completely vegetarian, with a small amount of food pips needing to be filled. It would be fat like the gourmand but able to run faster because of its strong legs and able to store a large amount of food pips.

Now for what kind of region it lives in! My idea for now, was that it would live in a region based on kauri forests like in nz, with tall trees and other nz based foods that you could eat. There might other regions, like a more mountainous one with snowfall or something.

I would totally mod this if I could but I dunno how to code haha maybe one day though.

that’s all I’ve been able to think of right now, I might have more ideas later, if it’s a bit long and rambling, sorry! It’s just sorta the first time I’ve put these ideas to words so I’m not 100% sure how to word it correctly, anyway hope you like what I have to say on it and also SUPER SORRY FOR TAKING FOREVER I’ve just been distracted and procrastinating but I finally did this so here you go ^_^

[lenorethequietbookkeeper]

Caspian x Mermaid S/O he accidentally caught in a net

Tw for kidnapping and gross imagery

-You were caught alongside a batch of slimy fish. You can feel them wriggling desperately against your body as the fishing net is dragged to the surface. Being blindsided by your sudden capture, you struggle to comprehend what has happened to you.

-Upon breaking the choppy water's surface, you are left further disoriented by the blinding sun. Beneath you, the mangled, undead crew of the Bitten savagely rip apart and consume whatever moursel of meat slips out of the net and hits the grimey deck.

-There is no doubt you would have been made into dinner for these brutes, but something about you catches their captain's frozen eyes. Whatever that something is, he swiftly has you separated from the massive catch.

-Capsian apologizes profusely for almost serving you to his crew for dinner. He will be very cordial with you, much unlike the stern and harsh demeanor his crew is accustomed to.

-He decides to further ask about you, specifically what brings you to the area, your cause of death, and how you became the creature you are now. While inquisitive, he will not pry into something if it clearly upsets you.

-During your exchange, he proposes that you stay on board the ship for lunch. As compensation for the upsetting inconvenience, he explains. You can reject the idea, and you will be sent on your merry way with no strings attached. Although your decision seems to slightly sadden the frozen undead.

-But let's not kid ourselves, you are clearly here to see things go wrong, so let's say you agree.

-Giddy at your decision, the captain immediately orders for accommodations to be made for you. In no time at all, a makeshift fishtank that you can comfortably reside in is built within the captain's quaters. The tank's interior is unsurprisingly lacking in decor, but there is plenty of space for you to move about smoothly.

-While your meal is being prepared, Caspian keeps you company. The two of you continue to chat about random things; life at sea, your hobbies, the different mutilated bodies you've both seen floating in the water, casual stuff like that.

-You notice during your conversation, the pirate seems enamored by what you have to say. His mature composure is still present, but you can tell he is deeply invested in the discussion.

-Soon enough, a buffet of perfectly seasoned multi-eyed fish, jumbo isopod guts, and many other Cottonmouth delicacies are rolled into the quarters. A tray is hung on the edge of your tank, where the dishes of your choice are placed.

-The light-hearted banter between you and your multi-limbed host proceeds as you eat. You have such a good time, you hardly take note of the room's blood stained floor, or the multiple pieces of furniture that appear to be made with human bones.

-After being released back to the waters, you find yourself coming back to that dreary ship again and again. Maybe you'll let yourself be caught in more fishing nets, maybe you'll follow the Tempest's patrol of the icy wastelands. Perhaps you go as far as assisting in the Bitten's attacks on lost humans- er, shady characters within the Alps.

-Regardless of how you instigate your future meetings with the captain over the next few months, Caspian will eventually catch on to your intentions.

-During one of your little dates in the open waters, he will ask you a simple question; "Say, would ye be interested in callin' the Tempest home, love?"

-You are no doubt honored that you have earned an offer to join the Bitten's rank by their very own captain. With the guaranteed benefits and security such a position brings, you quickly agree.

-Suddenly, you are quickly plucked from the sea and dragged through the ship to Caspian's quaters by two of his bigger henchmen. You'll obviously struggled and cry out, but your demands to be released will be ignored.

-You are thrown back into the very fish tank built for you at the start of all this. It has been upgraded significantly since then. Several passive, colorful species of fish and plants from the Alp's waters now call the space home. The far more upsetting change is that the aquarium has been sealed off, trapping you inside.

-Capsian soon comes down to see you again. You have plenty of nasty words for him no doubt. Not that there are many words to accurately convey your panic and anger at this imprisonment.

-No matter what words come to you in the moment, the captain will attempt to calmly reassure you, and offer you this explanation;

'Oh no no, don't be afraid! Can't ye see, my lovely pearl? This is the only way to keep ye safe from these dark waters. I know it'll be an adjustment, but trust me, this be for your own good."

[ghostiesim]

what reshade did you use for your yellowjackets inspired stuff? :)

here u go! i do have some tweaks to my settings.

[soldiersscream]

"Oi. Old man." That's one way to say happy birthday. Levi holds out a bottle of Erwin's favorite alcohol; he even wrapped a little bow around its neck, just to be funny, or something. "Have dinner with me tonight." That's his way of asking, of course, if he'd like to. It's not like them dining together is anything out of the ordinary or something that requires a special occasion, but... "Of course, unless you already have some other hot date lined up for your birthday."

(I'm continuing my tradition of being fashionably late with birthday things.)

@polishedforsurvival || Birthday 2024

Erwin looked up from his desk, a slow smile spreading across his face at the sight of Levi standing in the doorway, bottle in hand, was that?? Erwin breathed out a laugh at the small, slightly crooked bow perched at the neck. "Old man, is it?" he replied with a raised brow, humour glinting in his eyes.

He leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to enjoy the sight, seeing the slight fidget in Levi's stance, "Well, Hanji has suggested a birthday trip to capture me a titan" he mused as if seriously considering her offer. "But I think I'll take dinner with you over so much excitement. My old heart can't take too much these days" he laughed, his hand reaching for the bottle.

“Thank you, Levi,” he said, voice softer, genuine. “For the drink, and for thinking of me. I’d be honoured to spend the evening with you.” With a faint glint of mischief in his eyes, Erwin leaned forward, studying Levi. “So, what exactly do you have planned? Or should I expect nothing more than a stiff drink and your usual insults?”

[blorbo-autism]

can I have uhhhhhhhhhh isaac from paranatural. If that’s chill

Posted!!

[dungeons-n-muses]

🌹 Muse A sneaks out onto the porch to away from people at a house party - only to find Muse B already there, having done the same thing. - for Dany from Pike

Meet Cute Starters / Memes

Dany wasn’t sure what this party was about or who it was for. But she needed the free food and tossing a couple spells to trick the guards was easy enough.

Upon getting her fill, she decided she was just about done with all this noise that came with parties and decided to step out. Not that anyone was looking to talk to a half demon like herself anyway.

The air was brisk. Could be a chance of snow. But the fire in her veins kept any attempts made from nature to push her back inside. Besides. The night life with its lights and stars were pretty. Why would she leave this view for some dumb ol’ chill?

Though despite the chill, it would seem Dany was not the only one who wanted some time away from the senseless noise as she could detect a sound of footsteps coming up towards her general direction.

Despite her efforts to keep to herself and not get kicked out/arrested, her natural curiosity wanted to know who this person was. They were brave enough to approach her after all (as she had heard so many times before).

“Pretty loud in there isn’t it?” She asked before looking in the direction of the footsteps.

[thecommanderzoe]

🌿🍒 ~

@theackerwitch || mistletoe meme like 3 months ago

Celebrations were in full spring, the flow of wine and beer, the tavern was alive with all matter of people. Hanji didn't care so much for the big wigs Erwin had dragged her to so many times, getting out of it this year was a blessing!

Instead she decided to hang out in one of the local watering holes, dance with the people, sing with the drunks, just let her hair down completely. Not a squad leader, not worried about keeping up appearances. It was the holidays after all.

Finally she took a break, grabbing some mulled wine to warm her hands as she stood outside in the doorway to shield from the cold. Hanji grinned, arm thrown around the woman, "Kuchel! You're here? Stayin' away from the stuck up brass too?" she slurred a little, catching a glimpse of the mistletoe in the porch.

"I hope y'don't mind but I don't fancy gettin' bad luck from some old wives tale" she laughed, putting her glass on the window ledge and grabbed Kuchel's cheeks for a simple kiss. "Mmmwah!" she cheered, "What a night huh".

[pigswithwings]

PRINTER?? or brick phones :3

hi its been like 4 months enjoy

[quixoticprince]

When your medic leaves to go pocket another man or something

[megullumverrr]

hhhheeeeeAAAHAUBSSFGS THANK U FIR THE TAGS 🫶🫶🫶🫶

last song: cyberpunk deadboy

fav color: lavender

currently watching: classic 2009 mmds

relationship status: beating away hoes w/ a stick

spicy, savory, sweet: spicy and sweet BUT they have to be at the same time

current obsession: prsk, vocalsynths

tags: @lesborayne @mizuribbons @vivid-badsquad @floofypancakes uhhh i forgor

Nine people i'd like to get to know better:

Tagged by: @bell-of-indecision, thank you so much for tagging me <3

Last Song: Gmfu by Odetari,6arelyhuman

Favourite colour: Dark red, violet, pink

Currently watching: Death note, ep6

Spicy/Savoury/Sweet: Spicy

Relationship status: Single

Current Obsession: Mbti types and cognitive functions.

Tagging: @somin-yin @a-cloud-for-dreams @axepen @hinsaa-paramo-dharma @basic-bitch-alkali @rhysaka @blackknight-100 @squishywizardd @reykalot

[snoopysnose]

Mutuals' favorite moments in Game Changer 1/? requested by @greenieflor

GAME CHANGER

5x09 - ESCAPE THE GREEN ROOM

[ttoya]

Gojo Satoru ✩ S2E9

↳ anime vs. manga

[lulu-draws-stuff]

How does that sound?