#so them just coming to the merch table or the bar area after getting off the stage and giving out free hugs >>>>>

[born-to-lose]

[ghoul-slime]

Pictures with Jutty and a (too long) recap under the cut!

Ok first of all WOW, what a weekend. I flew into NYC and met up with @papaslittlesunshine a day before the show. We hung out around the city and did all sorts of fun things, ate good food, and did our best not to melt in the heat and humidity. The day of the show it was raining pretty hard, so we showed up to the line about an hour or so before doors, but the venue was super small and we still ended up getting great spots a few rows of people back.

I'm once again blown away by how great these guys sound live. The guitars are so much heavier and louder than the studio recording and Jutty's vocals are fucking outstanding. It's a completely different experience. Speaking of Jutty, his stage presence is amazing. He'll make (and hold!) eye contact with you a bunch and you can tell he's having a great time and knows exactly what he's doing and how to work the crowd. He also did the as above, so below sign with his hand again before he went off stage, same as he did at the LA show.

Afterwards the guys all hung around the venue and took the time to talk to everyone. It seriously seemed like they must have met just about every single person who came out.

Ross was super cool and easy to talk to, he signed my vinyl and asked if I was coming to the following night's show. I told him I had to go back to LA and he gave me a sad little pat on the arm, which was funny and sweet. Matty was working the merch table. He'd come out of the backstage area after about 10 minutes and realized that they actually had nobody behind the counter selling merch, so he jumped in. He was super nice as well. I told him how great they sounded live and he said thank you. I bought a tote bag and he signed my record and told me very excitedly that the tote bags fit the vinyl records perfectly (he was so excited he told me the same thing again later that night haha.) He also gave me a little handful of DT pins.

I chatted with Hayden the longest, who was SUPER sweet, and very easy to talk to! We talked about living in LA and he said LA was his favorite city in the world, which made me super happy to hear. He told me he lives downtown and I told him I work in the same area and that I live in Koreatown and we talked a bit more about our favorite neighborhoods in the downtown area. He mentioned his dogs and I told him that his dogs were super cute and then he asked if he could show Sunny and I a picture! Of course we said, yes please do! It was a picture of one of his little dogs laying in his open luggage and it was EXTREMELY freaking cute. He said that he'd been asking his dog sitter to send him pictures while he was away, and I said I'd similarly been pestering my friend for pictures of my cats all weekend. He signed my vinyl and I totally forgot to ask for a picture (but that's more than ok).

After that I went outside and there was a line of about 20-30 people waiting to talk to Jutty. Despite there being so many people (and it starting to rain), he took his time talking and listening to everyone who came up to him. The person in front of me in line had made some incredible pieces of art and gifted them to him, and he was just so genuinely excited and in awe and grateful. It was so cool to get to see that exchange. When it was my turn I was fucking nervous as hell, but I talked to him for a short few minutes and gave him a couple of the keychains I'd brought to trade. He said he loved collecting trinkets and then we talked a bit about NY being a refreshing change of scenery from LA. Honestly I was VERY nervous meeting him, but he was incredibly sweet and very attentive. Talking to him is intense, he maintains eye contact with you and listens very carefully to what you have to say. He was so nice and patient and then was sweet enough to sign my record and take a picture with me. (Thank you Sunny for taking the photos!)

We also managed to snag Neil real quick to sign our records as he was heading to the bar across the street and tell him thank you. I also chatted for a bit with the singer from Silent Mass, the opening band, who was originally from LA and we talked about some of the differences between LA and NY.

Overall the entire experience was incredible. Just as good if not better than the first show in LA. I'm also SUPER grateful to Sunny for pushing me to be less shy when it came to meeting/chatting with the guys. If it wasn't for her I'm sure I'd have chickened out and just left! It was also incredible getting to meet so many cool people in line and after the show. I traded keychains and got a lot of cool things in return. Seriously, we met so many creative, cool, funny, and GENEROUS people there (our line neighbor's mom gave us freaking COOKIES from Katz's across the street!). If you were at the show and see any of your goodies here (the picture is most of Sunny and I's combined haul), then thank you so much!!! I will treasure them always.

Here's to a hundred more Drag Talk shows in the future! I seriously hope anyone who wants to see them gets to, because it was such a fun and uplifting experience, between how gracious and genuine and down-to-earth the guys are and how creative and warm all the fans are. Hands down one of the all-time best live music experiences I've ever had.

(This got super long and I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of stuff, but I wanted to get this out of my head while it's still somewhat fresh.)

[hyacinthdoll1315]

The Doll of Night City

"Did you hear?" the man spoke up. "Someone's been goin' round taking out people left an' right!"

The noise of the bar stereo did well to drown out the hushed whispers of patrons as they spoke about their day-to-day, handling business, or just nursing a drink before a big op. The man sitting at the front shook with nervousness Ill-fitting a Valentino.

Beside him, his compatriot looked surprised, putting his glass down in front of him. "No, what do you mean taking out? they got a target?"

"That's the thing! No one knows. It's almost random, but the person's zeroin' gangs, corpos, street thugs! heard they even went and clipped off a whole maelstrom hideout!"

"What? Who was helping them?" the man drank the rest of his drink before slamming it on the table. his pupils dilated as his voice trembled.

"No one, went in alone. Some guy noticed someone go in the back, heard gunshots, and yelling, then silence. Didn't even see anyone leave. from what I hear, when the cops showed, the scene was a bloodbath, people cut apart like scop, with bullets through all their heads."

the man's friend had trembled with his next words, eyes tracking across the room. "y-your kiddin, how? That can't be true. no way they did that without at least a long checkup after."

"And yet, that same damn night, Militech convoy is transferring some new, top-of-the-line merch. moving from the plaza to Kabuki, seems simple. Then, out of nowhere, while moving through a less busy street, there's a quiet bang and the driver's seat is now painted red.

truck stops as the guards come out to see the problem. and the place is completely silent. Another bang, and the guard to the right drops dead. there's this quiet ticking somewhere as the militech peeps are getting antsy, looking left and right, it goes completely quiet again as the soldiers are scanning around for danger, a closer ticking and bang, another one flatlines. 6 more soldiers are there and they start talking loud, looking for their target, fingers on the trigger of their guns.

the area is silent again until they hear that ticking getting closer. before it was as quiet as the wind, now it's just above a whisper, but they're too busy talking to tell where it's coming from. A third bang and guard number three's down. this time these guards know exactly where it came from and so point all their guns in the direction of the ticking. all their eyes are on the area where the shot came from and there's still that damn ticking. suddenly, one of them just starts firing. wether they saw something is hard to tell since it's pitch dark out here, but he just starts shooting his gun out across the whole area, hitting walls, a fence, a signpost, but not a single sound of someone getting hurt.

Bang. Completely opposite of where they were looking, and the man shooting his gun drops dead. now there's only two and they're panicking. they move back to the convoy for cover and start wildly looking around, ones already pulled the old driver out and are prepping to get in when suddenly, the ticking stops as a doll steps out from the shadows."

The man's partner slams his glass down, "A doll!? what, one of those JoyToys? okay, now you're fuckin' with me."

"N-not one of those dolls!" the man yells, loud enough to make his friend pause any laughter he was about to have. the bartender gives him a wary look before continuing her work.

"Sure, we all know that kind of doll, but I ain't talkin about them. I mean literally. Body covered in porcelain, limbs moving on ball joints, the thing was borged-up, nothin but chrome. it's got nothing on hand, looks completely unarmed and is wearing some rags you'd get in an XBD.

And while those two guards are tensed up, prepping for the worst, this thing is just slowly walkin forward. The thing was moving like it was on strings, face showing no emotion as it trudged forward, slowly and methodically. finally the guard not getting in the truck has enough and tries to take it out. Except the bullet never hits as the doll is suddenly to his right, still moving forward. guy keeps trying to shoot, to make it flinch, get it to stop getting closer, but every shot misses as it moves to the side. and then it's in front of him. ripping the gun out of his hands and knocking him to the floor. It aims the gun into the truck and shoots the other guard dead, before... it's arms open into mantis blades and...a-and,"

The man stops talking as his whole body trembles and shudders, his friend just takes it all in while trying to comfort his friend. it takes a few minutes for the man to get his breathing under control, and stop the tremors that shake through his body.

Once he's got himself stable, gets another drink and drinks it all down, his friend finally questions. "What happened to the convoy?"

"I don't know," the man answers, "when people found the scene, convoy was still there, all in one piece except for the two blasted windows. only thing missing was some cyberware for camouflage."

"how do you know about this?"

The man trembles. "I got help from a netrunner, wanted to see if we could try hit a convoy ourselves so asked them to track it. thing is that it noticed the camera moving and broke it. that netrunner, after sending me the video, said something had gone wrong. I've tried contacting them but haven't heard a word from them since. I think that thing knew we were watching, and now it's coming for me."

"That's crazy though," the friend said. "there's no way that you could have been tracked. I mean, aside from the video, only other person who knows would be the netrunner and there's no way they'd say anything, right?"

"m-maybe," the man considered.

"so cheer up choom! No way you flatlining aside from having too much to drink, c'mon, lets get you home to rest."

the two got up and left the bar, the bartender making a note of putting it on their tab.

No one noticed how the door stayed open for longer than it should have. No one noticed the quiet sound of ticking that got quieter as it moved. No one noticed the way the air fizzled just slightly as the door closed behind it.

[finchinmoria]

LOTR characters at Pride 🏳‍🌈

(A little silly and out of character but aren't we all.)

(Also, I headcannon them all queer but left out my specifics so they could be read how anyone wants them to be.)

Speak friend and enter the pride fest:

Frodo, Sam, Rosie and Rosie's girlfriend/theyfriend (Who? You? Me? Reader's choice!) are a powerhouse polycule with a YouTube channel. Even though Frodo made a list of events they were going to hit, they keep getting sidetracked by fans who want to talk and take selfies. So they mostly just wander and enjoy the day. Sam does have a backpack full of necessities to keep everyone comfortable and makes sure everyone, even complete strangers, are wearing enough sunscreen.

Arwen and Aragorn may not be 👑royalty👑 in this timeline, but are still pretty high profile so they keep it pretty open and casual. They set up all day in a shady spot at the public square on a bench with blankets laid out on the grass so they can talk with anyone who passes by. It's the pit stop for their friends to come cool off or relax when they need a break. Arwen brings a bag full of hair supplies and makeup so people can come in for touch ups throughout the day. She can do anyone's pride flag eyeshadow look flawlessly in under two minutes. (So could Aragorn, probably.)

Pippin's main goal is to eat something from every single food truck, deli, and coffee shop in the area. He says it's so he can post actual helpful reviews but he ends up only posting one Instagram reel where he speaks incoherently with a mouthful of vegan chili fries and that's it. Takes a bunch of pictures of different food items with different pride flags but forgets about them and doesn't post them until September.

Merry will buy from every single vendor at every event. You have flags? T-shirts? Jewelry? Art? He's going to buy one of each from every artist and organization. (He then donates most of the things he buys to the local lgbtq community center.)

Boromir doesn't want to wander around too much by himself because it's his first pride, but sticking with Merry and Pippin means he becomes responsible for carrying all their stuff. Within an hour he's absolutely covered in merch with three tote bags on each arm. He knows his flag is one of the 27 he now has hanging on or tucked in every available space on his body but if you asked him which one it was he would have to ask Merry. Pippin does keep him hydrated at least, a new flavor of iced lemonade always appears in his hand whenever the last one runs out.

Éowyn and Faramir run the table for the local non-profit advocacy group that educates citizens on important legislation that impacts the queer community. They can explain the details of different bills and current issues being tracked in the legal system, organize volunteer groups for different causes, and hook people in need up with outreach and activist organizations.

Gimli and Legolas disappear on June 1st and don't emerge again until the month is over. People will catch glimpses of them pretty much everywhere, and when they do there is always either a lot of glitter or alcohol involved (and let's be honest, most of the time both). No one can figure out how they managed to be on multiple floats in the same parade but after a while no one questions it. 

Haldir saw once a long time ago that some orientations weren't represented very well and has been on a mission to rectify that ever since. Even though things have gotten better, he now always has a table where he gives away stuff for the underrepresented identities. He's got all the genderqueer flags, tons of neopronoun pins, and whole decks of cards with just aces in them. If you're demi or flux or anything else not widely represented, Haldir's got you.

Gandalf loves the drag shows but since they are all either outside or in very crowded loud clubs, he usually hits one then spends the rest of his time in a very air conditioned, quieter, industrial style bar with elder queers and some bears.

Bilbo coordinates all the literary events like the queer banned books mobile, drag story times, poetry readings, and elder queer panels. Definitely tells his own activist stories from back in the day to anyone who will listen (and many do!)

Elrond goes just to check things out for an hour or two, but ends up having the time of his life and signing up to drive the queer banned books mobile for the rest of the summer. 

Happy pride, everyone! 🌈

[kravkalackin]

“Barry? You back here?” 

He flinched at the sound of Lup calling his name, quickly trying to get his breathing under control, to get his heart to stop feeling like it was pounding out of his chest, to stomp down this panic that had built up out of nowhere. He couldn’t let Lup find him like this. 

“Bar- oh, there you are dude,” Lup said, sounding relieved to find him. Which made sense, he had run off kind of out of nowhere. Honestly though, he hadn’t expected either of them to notice. 

He was just their driver after all. Sure, they’d been traveling around together for a while now, almost a year if he remembered correctly. He tried to stay out of their way though, just keep the trains running on time. It was a good job, dealing with the nitty-gritty of keeping Sizzle It Up with Taako and Lup running, but he knew it was a job. He wasn’t being paid to be their friend. 

“Oh, are we heading out?” he asked, taking one last steadying breath before turning back around. Lup was standing in the doorway to the storage cart Barry had hidden in, and even backlit as she was he could see the frown on her face. 

“No, not yet,” she said, taking a step into the storage area. “You good my dude? You kinda ran off in a hurry,” she pressed, which was exactly what Barry was hoping wouldn’t happen. He didn’t know how to explain it. One moment he was fine, watching the twins perform their show like he did more than weekly for the past year, and then- 

He didn’t know what it was. Taako had made a joke, one that clearly wasn’t rehearsed, sending Lup into a fit of genuine laughter. She’d been wiping away tears when she looked over at him, catching his eyes with a tired grin, different from the one she put on for the show. 

And suddenly he was a million miles away. All his thoughts were abuzz with static and that was when the panic started to claw at the inside of his chest, like a second heart trying to dig its way out. 

He didn’t see Lup’s expression when he’d booked it to hide back here until it stopped. It’d been over fifteen minutes now, they had finished up the show and yet he still felt shaky and he didn’t know why. 

“Yeah, yeah of course. Just, ya know, don’t do well in crowds. It’s- prefer to be behind the scenes, I’ll never be up there like you two,” he said, and it wasn’t like that wasn’t true. It just didn’t happen to be the reason for this particular freak out. Even still Lup nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. 

Barry wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t for her to come all the way to where he was against the back of the cart. He definitely didn’t expect her to go and sit down on the floor, back against the wall with a small huff. Unsure what to do, he slowly sat down as well. For a long moment it was quiet, the only noise the muffled sound of the crowd outside, Taako probably still running the merch table. 

“You know, you don’t have to hide yourself away all the time. I’m not saying you gotta come up on stage, I know that’s not your scene. But like, you can hang out with us, if you want,” Lup said. Barry was surprised, but at the same time he wasn’t sure why. Lup was just that great of a person, of course she would reach out to him like this. 

Barry flinched, his thoughts rolling like waves and crashing like static against his skull. Lup clearly noticed, a panicked look on her face. 

“Barr-” she started, and when she reached over he quickly waved her away, shaking his head. 

“It’s fine. Just- just a migraine,” he said. A little hesitantly Lup nodded, putting her hand down. He could tell she was still staring at him in worry, and for a second a part of him wanted to lean over and kiss her to quell that fear. That was probably the most irrational thought he’d had so far tonight, but he supposed it made sense. He had a hell of a crush on her after all. 

“You should probably get back out and help Taako with the crowd,” he said after a moment. Immediately Lup frowned, somehow managing to sit down even firmer. 

“Nah, he can deal with it for once. I’m feeling this sitting in a cold, dark room thing,” she said. Barry chuckled at that, resigning himself that he wasn’t going to get Lup to leave him alone right now. Really, he didn’t want to. 

“Huh,” Lup said suddenly, a strange tone to her voice that Barry couldn’t place. 

“Hm?” 

“Nothing. Just, weird sense of déjà vu,” she said. Barry hadn’t realized how close she was until she slumped against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He could feel himself freeze for a moment, before taking a breath and letting himself relax. 

“Yeah no. Really strong déjà vu.” 

[vanillann]

five star conversation (r.p)

a/n: i’m going to cry, i can’t believe this is the last part of my favorite mini series:(

word count:

5 star conversation masterlist

place four: a 1 star gig

Flynn was always on top of things, she always was, but when she wasn’t you didn’t want to be lodged on a tour bus with her. She had already tried to throw her phone out the window, thank God Alex was looking for his hat and he caught it.

“They canceled our reservation! That must be illegal!”

I curled closer to Julie on her bed, letting my head rest on her shoulder every time Flynn let out a line of words. Reggie had a small panic attack with the yelling and Flynn tried to apologize but he didn’t blame, he was just as mad. So now the boy walked around the gas station we had stopped at and Julie and I let Flynn rant to us, she deserved it.

“Maybe another venue will host us,” Julie spoke up when Flynn didn’t yell again, her feet had finally stopped leaving marks in the carpet from pacing.

“I’ve already called two and they said their full, which had to be a lie, and plus how do we get the word out to the fans!” Flynn reached down and grabbed my knee, looking at me with sad eyes.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, waving it in the air while I sat up.

“I can always do a live and explain everything, why don’t you get some air,” I rubbed her shoulder, hoping she would take my advice, She had always given Reggie and Alex a heart attack and maybe going to the little nature walk across the street would be good, she could throw some rocks at some trees.

“I’ll get some air, yeah okay.”

She hurried off the bus, most likely to throw or kick rocks around the parking lot as Flynn never liked nature trails, it was nice to dream. If she dented this bus, we’ll be in debt.

“I can’t believe the venue canceled, it was our last gig on tour too!” Julie stood, looking down as I laid on her bunk and played with my phone in between my fingers.

I didn’t have to heart to tell the fans that we didn’t have a venue, that we wouldn’t have a final gig that was supposed to help release the new album coming out in five months.

It might have seemed small, we were blessed we even had this opportunity but it doesn’t change the fact that the one we're most excited for now was not happening.

“I’m going to find the boys, you coming?”

I closed my eyes, the boys. Everything they worked for was now becoming a nightmare, their idea of the perfect tour was ruined with falling through plans and missed opportunities.

“No, I need to go live and get the word out anyways,” I brushed off Julie, I didn’t have the heart to look any of them in the eye and tell them. To break their heart like everyone else in their life has, I just couldn’t do it. Julie waved behind her, I waited until the bus door shut before I let my head rollback.

I looked up at the bunk above me, Flynn’s, and let my mind wander over the past few months. They were perfect. Watching the fan scream their name for hours and they showed them in their element. The pictures that have been taken, many saved in my phone of the people I would always turn to. The edits that have been made have made me laugh harder than I imagined. Before this tour, nobody knew me, not that I ever cared, but I was behind the scenes. Now, the fans want me on the stage even if I don’t contribute to the music.

The music, the music had been show-stopping. Luke has been through four journals the past few months, writing back fast food drive in’s and doing stupid things with friends, that how the new album was coming out so fast. They were all so excited, Reggie was so excited to have one of his own songs featured as a single.

Reggie.

I let my hand run over my face, feeling the embarrassment from the incident at the fair. Watching his face move closer to mine, like a slow-motion picture and then ripped away when it was ripped in half. I took a minute and tried turning it into a moment, but it was never our moment. All the giggles and inside jokes hurt my chest and I thought back to the more recent time of the tour.

The motel, the way the light shines across his face and we wondered would the world cave in around. The feeling of his hand gripping my shirt because he always felt he had to be touching someone, he said it reminds him not to act so dead.

The diner when he gave me sweet little comments and took my fork from my lips. When we laughed about food poisoning and wondered would we ever be the same people after he played with my finger from across the table.

The fair where I gave him his first horse, then named it after an artist I introduced to him too. The way the wind passed his hair like he was made to run away from the world that had disappointed him more than once.

Every one-star establishment that made me believe could kiss my butt because now we had nothing. I didn’t need any more one-star buildings and places in my life. They’re just cheap and used for people who have no other options.

I sat up quickly, so quickly my head hit Flynn bunk.

No other options and cheap, exactly what someone in our situation could use right now. I let my phone spin between my fingers, unlocking it quickly before finding my search bar. We sat in the center of California, there had to be a one-star building somewhere near, one that we could turn into a dive bar or something. I smiled when a cheap bar popped up first, the area large enough to hold people and a small stage the band could work with.

Larry’s Bar was suddenly open for business. I dialed the number quickly, praying for the first time in a week something would go my way.

“L-larry’s Bar,” the woman sounded out of breath but I couldn’t care.

“Can we rent out your bar for a band?”

“Huh?”

“We need a venue for a band performance,” I realized why Flynn handled this and not me, this was out of my comfort zone.

“Are you sure you have-”

“Incredibly sure, yes or no?”

The line went silent, for a minute I thought she hung up on me and I considered crying with Reggie’s stuffed horse for a minute.

“The bar’s yours,” the lady's voice sounds light suddenly like we finally both got some good news. She definitely made my week without knowing.

“We’ll be there in forty-five minutes,” I didn’t wait for a response, rushing out of the tour bus to find someone. When I spotted everyone leaning against an ice machine outside the gas station with sad faces, my legs couldn’t stop me from rushing. I was happy Fylnn already kicked all the rock because otherwise, I would have felt.

“Guys!”

“Hey,” Alex's voice was sad and sincere, about to place a hand on my shoulder but I was bouncing on my toes.

“Whip off your sad faces, I got us a gig!”

*

“Just got off live, the fans are going to spread the information,” I yelled throughout the bar, and Luke and Jessie, the lady from the phone, moved the last few tables around the bar to make more room. Reggie and Alex did a quick soundcheck, we were currently renting amps and such from across the street since the owner's daughter was apparently a “Luke Girl”.

“Thank God, I would hope we don’t do all this work for nobody to show up” Alex called back as he did the classic comedy drum sound, giving a smile as he grabbed the extra drumstick from his back pocket.

I rolled my eyes, hopping off the stage to the small table at the door for Flynn and me to sit at for tickets and shirts, CD including, and a special code for the single Reggie was presenting tonight.

Luke and he had been fighting over it for ten minutes because Reggie changed the one he wanted to release last minute, it must have been good if Luke was letting him get away with it.

“I can’t believe you pulled this off,” Flynn sat in her seat with her arms crossed, people would be arriving as soon as possible and we were prepared for anything.

“What can I say,” I smiled brightly, taking the seat beside her.

“What made you think of this?”

I wanted to say, Reggie, that he almost always somehow inspired my best ideas but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Almost everyone knew of the almost kiss and how awkward things have been between us, so awkward I couldn’t say his name.

“Just about what happened at the motel, how we had to make it work.”

It wasn't a lie, that was for sure.

“Well, you saved the tour,” Flynn leaned over and squeezed my shoulders, her bucket hat titled as it smashed against my face. I hugged her back, smiling into her shoulder, I saved the tour.

*

The crowd screamed as the band finished off “Bright”, sweat dripping down them as they gave wide gestures.

“Thank you! Now it’s surprise time!” Julie passed the microphone to Luke, who looked so excited for his next set of words.

“The rumors about the new album are true,” he let the mic drop until the screams died down, “and we are here to show one of the singles for the said album that will drop on March 3rd at midnight!”

The crowd went crazy again and I laughed against Flynn, we both decided to stay in our chairs for the performance as we had an amazing view and we didn’t want to push through everyone. I was scared that everyone would see the one-star and turn the other way but every ticket that was bought came.

Reggie smiled as he took the stage, his bass switched for an acoustic, which confused me but I didn’t think much about it, I knew he liked to mess with it sometimes.

“Hi everybody!”

Reggie gave a peace sign to the crowd, the few girls who wore Reggie’s face on their shirt screamed at the top of their lungs.

“This is a song I wrote a few weeks ago on tour called “Five Star conversation.”

I looked over my shoulder at Flynn, her eyes wide as she watched Reggie get situated on his stool in front of the mic.

“What song is this?”

“Uhm, this one?”

All she did was point and I decided to go back and watch him play. I could always ask later, I’d have to make merch with it anyways.

“Dingy bathrooms and motel floors, I’d never wanted you more than right now,” Reggie's voice came out rough as his voice played with the melody just right. His finger-picked at the string and I was shocked by the slow melody. This definitely wasn’t a song I’d heard.

“The city lights across your face, I swear you fell from grace. The world around me seemed to disappear the second you spoke,” that when it happened, the moment he turned his head. He looked in my eye, the words rooting themselves in my chest, tattooed across my heart.

“Our five-star conversations were softer than the pillows beneath me, I wish you could have really seen me.”

I felt myself chew on my bottom lip, feeling my eyes turn to me as his attention never left my face. He was watching me, the same way he had in every other one-star establishment, but this felt different.

“Oh, you wouldn’t know the five-star conversation I had with your soul.” The medley rang out, Julie’s soft humming joined in behind and I wondered how anyone could focus.

How could anyone think straight when someone was looking so adoring under the flashing light of a cheap bar that smelt like feet?

How could I pay attention while he looked at me like I hung the stars in the sky when he hung the moon?

“Crappy food and screaming doors, I wonder if you knew of your own grace!” His word rang back in my eye, like a bug that wouldn’t quite go away, not that I would ever want this to stop.

But it had to stop because I was suddenly the center of attention and I couldn’t handle it. I couldn't know the world more than I did. But I was rooted in place watching the boy I had fallen so hard for a look at me with his puppy eyes and wonder where we would stand after this.

“Don’t let me lose our five-star conversation in a one-star world after all,” he strummed the last bit of the song, I barely processed half the word before I let my legs go. I was walking somewhere, wherever my feet would allow me to go. I was outside, the brick wall of the bar brought me back to reality.

The same reality where I didn’t think boys wrote songs that sweet and they didn’t look at you like that. They didn’t look at you like you spun gold strings and gave them pretty smiles, but he did.

He always did, he always looked at me like I belonged next to him saving tours and making horrible plans. He looked at me like I could be his muse for the rest of his life, of death is more appropriate. He looked at me as if I was more than his because I wasn’t his, I was myself and that’s all he wanted.

He was in love with me, the same person from the motel, the same person for the diner, the same person from the fair.

I was the five-star person in the world star world, I was the extra star he was always looking for.

“(Y/N)!”

As soon as I watched his body slide out the door of the bar, I walked to him. I didn’t realize how far I walked until he started rambling.

“I’m sorry to put you on the spot but I couldn’t stop-”

My hand gripped the thin jacket material, not thinking twice and my lips smashed against his with force. He fell back slightly, his hand grabbing my wrist for a second before he was running them over my shoulder and down to my elbows. He pulled me closer if that was possible, and I let my hand touch over his heart.

The heart that wanted me, Reggie wanted me. There were girls who would wear his face on a shirt and he wanted the person that made those shirts.

I was his five stars, even if I loved him in every one-star and three-star establishment.

I felt myself pull away, our forehead resting on one another and I took a shaky breath.

“I’d give that kiss two stars.”

He smiled down at me, raising his eyebrows and letting his tongue run over the side of his cheek with a smirk.

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll make it five stars.”

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[high-functioning-lokipath]

Song of the Heart - Loki x Non-Powered!Reader - Words: 1,518 (including song lyrics from: Rise by Katy Perry, Dancing Queen by Abba, & Perfect by Ed Sheeran)

"Ugh, why did I have to wake up today," you groaned, turning off your alarm clock. You rolled out of bed and begrudgingly put on your clothes for the day. "I hate working early." You schlepped down to the kitchen to make some breakfast but found someone was already there.

Cause when, when the fire's at my feet again

And the vultures all start circling

They're whispering, you're out of time

But still, I rise

This is no mistake, no accident

When you think the final nail is in, think again

Don't be surprised, I will still rise

"Oh my goodness," You whispered to yourself. The music was blasting in the kitchen and there, in the middle of the room, dancing and singing as he cooked, was none other than Loki.

Don't doubt it, don't doubt

Oh, oh, oh, oh

You know it, you know it

Still rise

Just fight it, just fight it

Don't be surprised, I will still rise.

"You made me breakfast?" You interrupted, attempting to keep a straight face. Loki whipped around, shocked. That's when you noticed what he was using as his 'microphone'. "Is that a spoon?" You laughed. 

"Laugh at me again and I'll cut you," He threatened, suddenly brandishing a knife as well. "Now leave, mortal," He growled. 

"Fine," You grumbled, only mildly scared by his outburst. You'd really been looking forward to a nice breakfast but now it seemed like you'd have to wait or stick with granola bars. On your way back to your room, you bumped into Thor in the hallway. "Oh! Sorry!"

"It's quite alright, Lady Y/N," He grinned. "Is Loki in the kitchen?"

"Quite. He threatened me with a knife before ordering me to get out. Should I be concerned?" Thor looked away embarrassed.

"He’s my brother, don’t worry. That's just his style. He," Thor sighed. "He truly wants to be accepted but I think he's afraid of being betrayed again by those he chooses to trust."

"I see," You said. "Well, sorry again. See you at dinner?"

"Of course, m'lady!" You nodded and headed to your office on one of the other floors. Stark had hired you to do graphic design for his fundraiser events and Avengers merch and, after finding out you had to commute all the way across town, offered you an apartment in the tower.

Later on in the morning, a delivery boy knocked at your door. "Miss L/N?" You nodded and he handed you a long, thin box. When you opened it, you found a single long-stem red rose with a note. 

Lady Y/N,

These past months since you've taken residence here have been considerably more enjoyable due to your presence. If you would allow me to be so forward, I would like to invite you to join me for dinner on the rooftop at 8.

Respectfully Yours

You flipped the note over to see if there was any signature and checked the box twice over but to no avail. There was simply no clue as to the sender. You reread the note, however, and smirked. "Lady Y/N," You murmured. "Well there are only two people I know who speak that way. And I'm meeting one of them at 8." You decided to text Thor and tell him you likely wouldn't see him tonight at dinner as you had other dinner plans come up. He never replied though so you couldn't get any clues from him.

That evening, when you walked out onto the roof, you were surprised once again. There were beautiful fairy lights and flowers strung up everywhere, candles flickering on the table, and you could faintly hear classical music playing. "Wow," You said under your breath as you stepped out further and looked around. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you, my dear," a deep voice said from behind you. Turning around, you saw the mischievous grin of your favorite Tower resident. 

"Good evening, Loki," You smiled. "Pray tell, what is the purpose of your invitation this fine night?"

"My my! So formal!" He smirked. You blushed brightly and looked away. 

"Sorry. I-I tend to get a little dramatic when I-well, just sorry."

"I quite liked it," He assured you quickly. "It suits you." 

"Thanks," You grinned. "Really though, what's all this for?"

"I wanted to make up for the inconvenience I caused you this morning."

"Is it just my imagination or did you just apologise?" You teased. He chuckled and nodded. "You know, you really don't have anything to apologise for," You said slowly. "I know it's just kinda who you are and," You shrugged slightly. "I really don't mind."

"While it is true that I threaten my brother and his teammates quite often, I never do so without proper cause. This morning was unjustified." He leaned on the edge of the room and looked out over the glittering skyline.

"You were embarrassed. I think that's due reason," You smiled, stepping closer to him. "I caught you acting mortal." He laughed once again, shaking his head. 

"You are more than kind."

"Why shouldn't I be? You deserve it just as much as everyone else." You reached out and inched your hand closer to his. "Maybe more," You added. He glanced down at your hand next to his and a light blush rose to his cheeks.

"You think so?"

"I know so," You replied. He took your hand in his and kissed it. 

"Thank you," He said. You giggled lightly and glanced at the table. 

"So, can we eat now? Because as much as I love being all mushy and emotional and stuff. I'm starving!" He laughed heartily and he led you to the table, holding the chair out for you and all.

After you'd both finished eating, you were sipping on the glass of wine he'd served you when you noticed he was staring. You raised an eyebrow curiously and he looked away. "Sorry," He said quickly. 

"It's fine," You replied. "So, what does all this mean? Like was this just your way of apologizing to me? Or-" you trailed off, unsure of how to finish that question. 

"I was hoping it could be more than that," He said nervously. "I've been watching you for quite some time now. As I said in the note, I've very much enjoyed your presence. You bring a different kind of happiness to the tower. Or to any room you walk into really," He added. "If you would be amenable, I wish very much to court you."

"I think I would be ok with that," You mused. "On one condition."

"What's that?" He asked worriedly. 

"That you dance with me tonight," You replied, standing and holding out your hand. He grinned and took your hand, leading you out to an open area. You let him lead for a few minutes, of course. An elegant waltz that matched perfectly the music playing. "Where's the music playing from?" You asked. He held out a smartphone and you grabbed it. "May I play one of my favorites to dance to?"

"Of course!" He replied. 

"Even if it's a little," you paused. "Different than what you're used to?" He hesitated only for a moment before nodding once again. You smirked and quickly brought up youtube. "Now here on midgard this is somewhat a cliche dancing song but," You chuckled, "I like it." 

Ooh

You can dance

You can jive

"What exactly is jiving?" He asked. You laughed and took his hands.

"It's slang for dancing and it goes something like this."

Ooh, see that girl

Watch that scene

Digging the dancing queen

You danced to the music, trying to pull Loki along with you. He eventually sorta got the rhythm and started to follow your moves. "This is quite different than what I've learned." You laughed and smiled at him. "If I did this back on Asgard they would say I wasn't actually dancing."

"Oh really?" You replied. "So this isn't dancing?" You bopped and twirled to the music, making Loki laugh loudly. 

"When you do it, how could anyone say it was not?" 

"Oh stop it!" You exclaimed. "I'm sure some version of you in another universe would be simply wonderful at this!"

"Meaning?" 

"You just have to practice a little more! You were doing wonderfully this morning!" He shook his head and smiled affectionately at you. "In the meantime," You scrolled again through YouTube and brought up another song. "Perhaps we can dance a little slower for now."

I found a love for me

Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead

"That would be perfect," He replied, completely innocent to the song title. The two of you swayed to the music and you sighed happily. 

"I still want you to make me breakfast one day."

"Alright, how about breakfast in bed tomorrow?"

"Glorious," You smirked. He gave you a light kiss on the forehead before twirling you around and pulling you close once again. 

Now I know I have met an angel in person

And she looks perfect

I don't deserve this

You look perfect tonight

[mosh-4]

you’re great and you know it

harry styles imagine

you’re great and you know it - your family comes to one of his shows, and he meets them for the first time. 

you rarely get to see your family. you started touring when you were 19, and you spent every summer in college on tour. when you started touring, your first job was to help set up the stage. you made sure that each speaker was in place on its marker, and then after each show, you helped the crew strike the stage. you did this all summer, and you made enough money to pay off some of your college tuition.

eventually, before your 4th year of college, you needed to complete a stage management internship in order to receive your bachelor of fine arts in stage management. you applied to intern at a touring company recommended by the stage manager from one of your previous tours. somehow, you ended up on Harry Styles: Live on Tour. your job on this tour was as a backstage manager. you set up the dressing rooms and made sure each of the musicians had everything they wanted before each show. you spent a lot of time running errands to get snacks for the artists. you rarely got to see the band since you set up long before they arrived at the arena and tore down after they had already left.

one night, Harry stayed a little longer at the arena than he usually did, and you got to know each other. ever since then, you had both been super close. he stayed in your small hotel room every night, just because he tended to get lonely in his big room by himself, and it was nice to have someone to talk to. you hung out and made snack runs ever night in the hotel gift shop while he showered and got in his comfy clothes. when you got back, you would do the same while he made himself comfy on your bed finding a random movie on tv.

soon after that started, you started to become more than friends, and then eventually you made it official just between the both of you. you hadn’t had the chance to tell your family, but you weren’t sure if this was just a fling while you were both on tour. you didn’t know what would happen after the tour ended so you spared yourself the heartbreak of having to tell your parents that it was over. the less they knew, the better it was for everyone.

you hadn’t even considered telling your parents until they called and asked if there was anyway they could visit you during one of the shows that was near your hometown. you were kinda surprised by them wanting to come to a show. you had just expected to grab dinner with them when you were in town, not take them to work with you. of course, harry, the overeager boyfriend who wanted to do overly nice things for his independent “i don’t need anything-im fine-please don’t buy that for me-i love you regardless” type girlfriend, offered to set your family (FAMILY not just parents, ‘yes the cousins could come too’) up in a VIP box. you obviously declined and attempted to find resale tickets that wouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket on StubHub. with no luck (Harry even helped you look because he knew you were going to be stubborn about this), he offered again. you accepted and told your parents that your boss was very generous and gave them a box to stay in for the show.

--

             “how do i look?”

             “haz, you look great,” you say running your hand down one of the lapels on his jacket. “i really like this suit.”

             he turned back to the mirror. “mmhm, that’s what you said last show.” he gave you a pointed look.

             you met his eyes in the mirror, and you threw your arms around his waist. “what? can you blame me? each suit is better than the last. i love them all.”

             “yeah,” he murmured before throwing an arm around you. “i suppose you have a point.”

             you pull him to face you slipping your arms completely around his waist. “what’s got you so bugged out? i’ve never seen you second guess yourself this much.”

             he wrapped his arms around you. “suppose ‘m just a bit nervous. i just want to make a good first impression.”

             “haz, don’t worry about it.” you place your hands on each side of his head. “they’re gonna love you. i mean, they already love you. they just don’t know that you’re my boyfriend.”

             “yeah, i guess so.” he rubbed his hands over your arms mindlessly.

             “yeah, you’re gonna kick ass. just like you always do, right?” you said trying to get him to meet your eyes. you bend your head into his line of sight. “right?”

             he met your gaze. “right.” he pulls you into a tighter embrace, and you rest your head on his chest.

             you both rest like that for a minute before he finally speaks up again. “is that my sweatshirt?”

             you look down to the black merch sweatshirt that you pulled from his bag this morning. “yeah, it is.”

             “rude.”

--

             at 6, you met your parents, brother, aunt and cousin at VIP entrance. you chatted with the staff while they received their badges. once they got in, your cousin practically tackled you in a hug.

             you both laugh and exchanged “i missed you”s before you gave both of your parents, brother, and aunt a hug.

             “how are you? are you sleeping? eating?” your mother starts fussing over you.

             you gently pull her hands from your face. “yes mom. i’m doing fine. i’m sleeping and eating.”

             “good, good.” she finally let you go.

             “do you want to stop at a merch table before we go up? it���s less crowded now.” you said pointing to the nearest table.

you mom and aunt spent the next half hour at the merch table looking at all of the different options before deciding on a sweatshirt similar to the one you were wearing while your cousin bought the signature black “treat people with kindness” shirt. after that exhausting trip the merch table, you led them upstairs to the VIP box. after showing the staff member your crew member badge and your family’s badges, you were able to enter your suite.

             “wow, you’re boss is very generous,” your dad said. he hadn’t been to a concert in so long. you were excited that he was here.

you awkwardly scratch the back of your neck after he mentioned your boss. you try to ignore the fact that “your boss” that you told them about was actually your boyfriend that you hadn’t told them about.

             “umm, yeah. he’s great. super nice.” you said taking a seat at one of the bar stools next to your dad.

your mom took a seat next to your dad as you all chatted and caught up. your aunt soon followed sitting on your other side. your cousin and brother wandered out to the seats that were outside your box. you watched them make conversation pointing out all the things on the stage and watching the crew and staff wander about the arena. “i have something to tell you guys,” you say to your parents and aunt in a semi-serious tone. you were finally going to tell them about harry.

             their conversations halts. “oh my god.” your mom gasped covering her hand over her mouth.

             “YOU’RE PREGNANT,” your aunt shouted as your parents went wide-eyed at you.

             you jolted back in shock. “oh my god, no.”

             everyone let out a breath. “thank god.” your mom dropped her hand to her heart. “you scared me for a second. i’m not ready to be a grandma.”

             you roll your eyes at your dramatic mother. “what is it?” you dad calmly asked leaning to look at you.

             “i’m actually seeing someone right now,” you finally let out.

             “oh,” your mom said shocked. you hadn’t had a boyfriend for a while. “is he on tour with you?”

             you nod. “do you want to meet him?” you ask looking up at your family.

             “absolutely,” you aunt answered for your parents. “text him.” she grabbed your arm that was holding your phone and shook it. “text him. have him come up here.”

             you laugh. “he’s busy right now. he’s getting ready for the show.”

             your mom and aunt lean back in their seats. “oh,” your aunt said in a suggestive tone.

             “oh,” your mom repeated looking at your aunt.

             “is he in the band?” you aunt asked like it was a secret.

             you laughed. “kinda?”

             “damn girl, good for you,” your cousin shouted from the doorway. your whole family laughed along with you.

you slyly sent harry a text.

             “haz, they are so excited.”

           “good, i can’t wait to meet them.”

--

harry was phenomenal. he floated across the stage without a care in the world, confident as ever. he was amazing, and you were so proud of him.

you aunt turned to you expressing how impressed she was of him. throughout the show, you and your cousin danced and sang along to the music. you had a blast, and you were so glad your family was there with you.

at the end of kiwi, Harry looked up at your suite and blew a kiss in your direction. you smiled down at him with a hand over your heart. you shrieked and cheered loudly for him. you looked like a mad woman, and your family laughed at you. you didn’t care because your eyes were on your man. you caught him laughing at you before he turned his attention to the rest of the crowd. Sarah and Mitch waved to you as they moved to take their bows with Harry. You waved back at them laughing as you clutched to the railing that enclosed you in your box. you loved your tour family just as much as you love your actual family. 

when they finally left the stage, you helped your family pack up their stuff.

             “are we going backstage?” your cousin asked.

             “yeah,” you nodded your head. “is everyone ready? we are gonna take the back way to the backstage so you have to stick with me.”

             “yes, let’s go,” your mother said gesturing toward the door. it was getting a little late for your parents, but they wanted to meet your boyfriend. you sent him a warning text to let him know you were on your way to him.

you led them down to the backstage area. you passed through all of the guarded security check points with your badge. your cousin and brother were amazed at everything. they were pointing at everything and had to make a comment about it. you rolled your eyes at them. they could be goofballs sometimes.

when you reached the dressing room area, you turned to your parents.

             “so he’s in here,” you point to the door of Harry’s dressing room. “are you ready to go in?”

             “yes, let’s go,” you mom waved at the door.

you knocked twice before opening the door. you peaked your head inside to make sure he was still dressed before fully opening it. Harry was standing next to his suit rack hanging up his jacket.

             “hi,” you waved entering the room with your family following.

             he turned to you. “hey,” he greeted before pulling you into a hug. he finally looked up at your shocked family. “hi, (y/n)’s family.” he gave them a small wave.

             “holy shit,” you cousin whispered.

             you turned to your family with Harry’s arm still around you. “so this is Harry, my-uh-boyfriend.” you gestured to him. “Harry, these are my parents, aunt, brother, and cousin,” you said pointing out each of your family members.

             “hi, nice to meet all of you,” he said shaking each of their hands. “would you like to take a seat.” he offered gesturing to the sofas that were in his dressing room.

they all took a seat and began to gush about how much they loved the show. they asked you both question after question about your relationship as you leaned into his side with his arm still wrapped around your shoulder.

he looked down at you, and you smiled looking up at him. it was a good day.

--

later that night, as the two of you curled up in your hotel bed, you placed both hands on his face and stared into his eyes while he held you close.

             “see i told you.”

             “hmmm?” he hummed tiredly.

             “you’re great, and you know it.”

hope you enjoyed :) - mosh

[ourladyofomega]

Summer of 2006. I waited to take the trip to Philadelphia for a month to see Sleater-Kinney since my former ‘friend’ and fellow DJ D-Klein offered tickets for people to go with him. We had no idea who else would be playing up until then. With us was Elizabeth, D-Klein’’s friend and a huge Sleater-Kinney fan. And off we went to Philadelphia in a sweltering partly cloudy 95* day.

We travel through Coney Island when out of nowhere D-Klein and Elizabeth decide to stop at Astroland to ride the Cyclone. It put the trip on pause like a video game to take a spontaneous time out. But they enjoyed themselves, and why not? I wasn’t going to keep them.

We then drive through the Verrazano Bridge, then Staten Island and through New Jersey. I see all the industrial areas, petrol-storage facilities, the many rest stops, restaurants, and Sunocos lining the New Jersey Turnpike. Last time I checked, the Sunocos averaged no more than $3.05 a gallon. The music played nothing but, you guessed it, Sleater-Kinney, a taste to what to expect. So Olympian, so Kill Rock Stars. Also on the player was D-Klein spinning almost the ntire X-Ray Spex CD as well. We finally arrive in the Philadelphia outskirts at around 6:30 PM and shortly thereafter we cut through Chinatown. I didn’t know Philadelphia even had a Chinatown, but the three of us riding around assumed this was where we would go for some sushi.

Eventually we drive past the venue and see the young Philadelphia hipsters do nothing but stand in line waiting for the show to start and others walking the Philly streets towards the venue as well. We park in front of the bistros and tables and chairs set up on the sidewalks of Philly. At this point we still had no idea who else was playing other than Sleater-Kinney.

We choose Swanky Bubbles, a champagne and sushi bar. For a small eatery it was pretty neat with well-lit ambience and matching low-volume music to go with it. Me, D-Klein, and Elizabeth sit down and talk about the difference between the Philadelphia and Long Island punk scenes, some college student economics, party appearances, and other fine places to eat over our sushi dinner. We order between us wasabi mashed potatoes, a lychee drink, six spears of buttered asparagus salted with parmesan cheese, and sushi rolls such as California, Tuna, Philly, Spider Leg, Time Bomb, and Double Dragon (wasn’t that a video game?); and for dessert, a crispy Thailand banana split. $110.00 was the bill. Sold.

We walk back to the venue and the valet parking guy allowed us to park right in front of the entrance. It was now Club Polaris, formerly the Starlight Ballroom. We get there and find people with extra tickets to give away or sell. In the meantime, we hang out with the organizer of the venue. D-Klein was talking to him about the past shows of yester-years and decades ago. The promoter informs us that Clear Channel was trying to buy out both their venue and Philly scene. It’s depressing to think that Clear Channel would buy out the punk, indie-rock, and hardcore kids and tell them to fuck off so that Clear Channel can put their clean, polished, packaged industry acts in there, with no other outlets for these kids to go who call the streets their own. How we thought that pretty soon, the scene could implode with nowhere to go and be swallowed up into nothing. Where else would we go but further down?

It was when we stand in front of the Polaris waiting to get in that we heard music from inside the venue. We all finally find out to our surprise from the organizer the band was sharing the bill with Sleater-Kinney:

…The Roger Sisters.

Me and D-Klein were floored and it was then we knew that a great show was already going to become even greater.

We go in and this truly was the scene the magazines always talked about. Guys dressing hardcore, some moppy, some Napolean Dynamite cartoonish, and some slim t-shirts. The girls were pretty cute as well with their art-school haircuts, skirts, funny tees, piercings, and either Olympia-type or Williamsburg-type super-feminist style. Imagine makeoutclub ever having a meeting center.

Polaris was dark and crowded. All around us were many bars to get beer. There were many booths where kids sat around and mostly in groups drinking beers and water. (Remember, this was during a heat-wave. The Eastern board was hit with 90 degree-plus weather with lots of humidity). Some were quiet, arms crossed and minding their own. Others were very delighted to see each other and were greeted with hugs and kisses. We witnessed a couple of lesbians making out as well. And you had to give it to one fan who came to the show in a wheelchair.

The ballroom, as expected, was huge with lots of standing space. When the three of us got there, the front of the standing room was taken up but we managed to make our way about ten feet from the speakers, with a very lucky few who took a spot standing right under the vent. We had a good view to see the Rogers Sisters perform. Miyuki Furtado (bass / vocals) dedicated a song to Spiro Agnew, but took it back and later dedicated it to Condoleezza Rice. Jennifer Rogers (vocals / guitar) applied her lip gloss to prepare for the end of their set. Miyuki whipped himself around in a frenzy, performing sonic guitar tricks and creating feedback for all of us. We literally see the sweat and mist come off of his forehead. Laura Rogers (drums / vocals) whipped herself into a frenzy, too. The set lasted only 45 minutes but it was a good set. As we didn’t even know that the Rogers Sisters would play, it was no loss and all gain. Everyone wins.

The three of us hit the merchandise tables. I score Sleater-Kinney’s self-titled CD for $15.00 and I wanted to get some Rogers Sisters stuff but no one was at the tables yet. We sit around taking in all this humidity and heat observing the scene for a little bit more before we hit the merch- tables again where Miyuki and Laura finally set shop. A d.i.y. ethic. For $7.00 I grabbed three 7” singles from the Sisters who came off as very nice and gracious people. Elizabeth scores a Roger Sisters CD and matching Sleater-Kinney tees for her and her friend.

What hooked me to the Rogers Sisters was that I discovered them on WUSB’s Riot Grrrl Plus show in Summer 2003 and happened to record “I’m A Ballerina” on tape. And every chance I had I aimed to play them on the air. Why not? I figured people can be art-smart from getting into them. Bonus.

Sleater-Kinney finally came to play for a good 90 minutes. I believe D-Klein’s life has now culminated into this one night: he’s a huge fan who never had failed to play them on his show on a consistent basis (and he’s known to do that with Sonic Youth as well). Without him he wouldn’t have made this attempt to see them one last time.

One last time? Yes, Sleater-Kinney would finally call it quits after eleven years of making Kill Rock Stars a lot of money. This was their last tour and The Woods was their final record. They had to go out with style big time.

They came on and it was deafening. These ladies knew how to rock. Listen to the way they sound as theirs was rivaled by no other. Mid-set, Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker faced off and play their guitars towards each other and it was amazing. I was taken over. For 90 minutes I was trying to follow and absorb everything that Sleater-Kinney performed. Janet throws drumsticks and Carrie shakes out water bottles at the crowd to cool themdown. Fans screamed for them to keep going, not to go. They really loved this band that truly represented the indie-rock crowd and grrrls / femmes in general. One guy even ran on stage and urged the crowd to get ready to catch him up as he was about to stage-dive. He jumps off and instead lands on his feet. Sorry, Charlie. It’s not how it goes here at a Sleater-Kinney show.

After a while, they walk off-stage and fans just did not want to get it, so they stand there cheering and clapping heavily for five minutes more. And yes, they came back to play a few more songs, some off of The Woods. And that’s all she wrote in Philadelphia. An extended ovation as one-by-one Sleater-Kinney walks off-stage and acknowledge their fans with handshakes and smiles.

I don’t know about D-Klein or Elizabeth, but my head was about to explode. Throbbing. My entire body dripping of sweat, my shirt damp from the humidity. We leave Polaris and start driving home, a very exhausting three-hour drive compounded by listening to more Sleater-Kinney, X-Ray Spex and now The Rogers Sisters, taking home a still-pounding headache and wonderful memories from the last day of July that year.

[zankivich]

The Arrangement: CEO’s Son/Dom!Shawn x Black Sub Reader Chapter 1

This entire series is thanks to this gif set by @fallininyou

a/n: She’s a mouth full but I think this is going to be my next series post Neighbors (I promise that epilogue is still coming though!) I’m honestly so excited to explore this. I think it’s gonna be a Dom/sub relationship in my eyes, like one I would feel comfortable with which isn’t necessarily what everyone else would consider it. I will admit this isn’t going to get MAJOR kinky? But I want to use the relationship as a means to reflect what a sexual relationship can offer outside of everyday life? It’ll make more sense as you read. this is wildly different for me and I’m so so so nervous to put it out. Let me know what you think. Idk I’m scared. Please don’t hate it. 

WARNINGS: Heavy smut. No condom (wrap it up kids)

It’s just a glance across the room. That’s usually all it takes. He’s standing next to his father and tugging his fingers through his curls in that way that is entirely unnecessarily but absolutely tantalizing. The pheromones this man could cause in the room. And that’s on a regular day. Add in the added bonus of a banquet where the son of the biggest music exec in the industry was officially joining his father’s company, and the result was a suit tailored to the very millimeter of his body. It was a bit ridiculous. But every woman, and frankly anyone with sight and a sex drive, couldn’t keep their eyes off of him. And he knew it, which is exactly why you weren’t interested. That didn’t mean you couldn’t look, right?

Mendes Industries was the end all be all of the music industry. It helped to have a rags to riches story of Mandy Mendes pulling himself up by the bootstraps and creating his company from scratch with a pristine ability to know a hit when he heard it. It was like the american dream personified, except they were Canadian. Looking at Manny now, no one would ever be able to guess the rags part. He practically glides across the floor with entitlement, smooshing investors and shaking hands with every old, rich white man in the building. And there are many.

Shawn Mendes was on track to follow directly in his father’s footsteps with everything from the asshole grin to the billion dollar inheritance waiting for him the second he turned twenty-five. In the meantime, he was just a rich daddy’s boy with an ego that surely had to be bigger than his dick. Word on the street was that was pretty big too.

“You know for someone who frowns so much on all these rich pampered white boys, you sure seem to have an eye for ‘em.” Tiana snickered over her champagne glass.

You let your eyes fall away from the Mendes boy as he fluffed his curls again and turned them to your obnoxious best friend turned assistant instead.

You rolled your eyes. “I’m not doin’ nothing but people watching. What else is there to do at these events? I haven’t got my white supremacist chuckle down yet, so I can’t go mingle unfortunuately.”

Tiana laughed at your quite accurate joke as you both took sips of your drinks.

At thirty years old you were the up and coming manager in the industry. At just twenty five you’d come in a number one on Forbe’s 30 under 30 list, and you had yet to slow down. In fact it seemed to be that most of the biggest artists in the industry fell under Mendes industries, except for the ones who fell under you. You had a feeling that was the only reason you were invited to this dumbass event to begin with. Mandy was the type to keep his enemies closer than his friends, and he was also the type to definitely view you as an enemy. Oh well.

Speak of the devil.

“Y/n! Darling.” Manny greeted hand coming naturally to your arm against your will.

His son was right behind him, and he was a lot more to deal with up close. Maroon printed button up with one too few buttons undone. The dark suit that he only drew attention to by sliding his hands purposely into his pockets. You noticed the way that his eyes ran over your body with heat. And the way that he seemed to pay attention to nothing in the world but the way your dress melded to your rounded thighs. You would have liked to think that you would be a lot less affected by that gaze, yet the way your inner thighs pulsed told a different story. When he licked his bottom lip, you leaned a little harder on the table.

“Manny,” You breathed smoothly. “You sure know how to plan a party.”

False. You had clocked fifteen changes you would’ve made the second you walked in the door.

“Well that certainly means a lot coming from you. I saw a couple of your artists next to mine on the TIME’s most influential. You’re coming up, aye?” He chuckled.

Your eyes widened. “Yes. You know the come up is hard Manny. I remember when we got Ariana on the cover of that issue that’s exactly what I was thinking too.”

It has its intended chilling effect on Manny. It seems to have the opposite effect on Shawn who’s now biting his lip at you like you’re something to eat. Men. So obvious.

“Oh no need to get yourself in a tizzy, y/n. We’re all friends here.” He grinned. “Have you met my son yet? It’s his celebration after all.”

You rolled your eyes but turned to him regardless. He still was refusing to mask those bedroom eyes of his, and stepped just close enough to be in your space as he reached his hand out for you to shake.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure, yet.” He smirked.

It was a much different smirk than his father’s. Still arrogant, still totally full of himself. But, there’s something less sinister about it. He clearly hasn’t gotten around to being the bad guy yet, he’s just immulating his dad.

But, also what a cocky asshole to say “yet” as if it was inevitable that he would be getting any pleasure from you ever. Wild.

You took his hand and squeezed it gently. “You most certainly haven’t.”

Someone else comes to wisk Manny away leaving you there with Shawn who has neglected to let go of your hand yet.

“Let me buy you a drink.” He murmured, eyes just as dark at the suit on his back.

You hummed. “You old enough?”

He nodded. “I’m rich enough too.”

“Oooh child, I must be going. Bye now!” Tianna giggled disappearing into thin air.

You made a mental note to fire her tomorrow.

You peered over at where your assistant had practically flown into the crowd in her attempt to abandon you, before peering back at Shawn. He was still holding your hand, but he took it upon himself to lean against the table so that there was even less space between you.

“Now that we’re alone and you can stop pretending you weren’t eyeing me earlier, how about that drink?”

The fucking gall. Ooooo you wanted to hate him. And you did. A part of you definitely hated him and everything that he stood for. And when you thought about the years it took you selling t-shirts at the merch booths, being the assistant to every white guy who thought his shit didn’t stink, just inching for the opportunity to do the work you got to do now? When you thought about the fact that this man-child was just going to step directly above you without any hard work, without anything? You did hate him, at least everything that he stood for. The major error here was that your body had not quite gotten the memo that your head had settled on. And for whatever fucked up reason, he was getting to you. The worst part of it all was that he knew it.

“I’m still a little curious how this all is going to work. Do you have to go get Daddy’s credit card, or do they just have someone follow you around to make your purchases for you?” You grinned. “I’m a grown ass woman, not one of them girls you’re used to.”

He took a deep breath and nodded. He released your hand, and your fingers clenched uncontrollably at the loss. For a second you thought he might actually give up. Your stomach tightened.

Instead he leaned across the table and brushed the curtain of waist length braids you’d sported for the evening off your shoulder. His lips pressed just right against your ear, and his thumb sent absolute fire into your skin where he grazed your hip.

“Listen, whatever you think I’m capable of, or not capable of? I’d suggest you toss that all out the window. I’d be without a doubt the best you ever had. That’s not a dig towards the type of guys you’re pulling because I think you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s just a fact. A very fortunate fact I’d like to show you if you stop thinking about who my dad is for two seconds and just let me buy you the damn drink.”

It was without a doubt the wildest shit a man had ever said to you in your life. And you worked in the entertainment business. Your eyes fluttered shut, and your teeth sunk into your bottom lip. He had you. It was bad. Like breathy sigh, stumbled a little closer to him type bad. Shit. Where in the hell did this one come from?

“Fine. Buy me a damn drink.” You huffed.

“Good. Come with me.”

He led you with a hand on the small of your back, a very delicate and sensitive area on your body, to the bar. It did not go unnoticed that Shawn Mendes was talking to y/f/n/ y/l/n. But he seemed to feed off people staring at him, seemed to thrive under it even. He got you a vodka soda and a whiskey for himself. He’s still way too close to you, and you’ve yet to ask him to step back. The heat that radiates off his body is doing things you’d rather not think about. And you keep squeezing your thighs together in a desperate attempt to ignore whatever he’s got going on in your underwear.

“You don’t like me.” He smirked into his drink. “Or my dad, I presume.”

You rolled your eyes. “I don’t like what you stand for no. And with all due respect, your dad is an ass.”

He laughed and clapped that catcher’s mitt he called a hand against his thigh.

“No offense taken, we can definitely agree there. You don’t need to like me. I don’t need to like you. Not for what I’ve got planned.”

“And just what exactly is that?” You snorted.

“I wanna take you home with me tonight.”

“Bold!” You grinned. “You are so bold.”

He simply shrugged at you dark eyes raking in your every movement like you were his prey. Shit maybe you were.

“Maybe. I meant what I said earlier. It’d be good for you. Real good. But I have a feeling you already know that.”

It wasn’t exactly news, especially not in A&R. Shawn got around, but he never left a girl unsatisfied. His sex life was an underground running joke at this point. Didn’t matter if the woman was twenty, or apparently as old as fifty.  He was selective enough that it hadn’t gotten out to the press, but the industry knew. You knew.

You bit your lip and stirred your glass anxiously to avoid those dark eyes of his.

“So I’m just supposed to let you take me home tonight, just cause you want to?”

He shook his head. “No. I only want you to come home with me if you want it. But, I think you do. And I know I can make it worth your while. What do you say y/n? Do you want it?”

You could feel your heart beat a little faster in your chest. Your thighs were getting a hell of a work out as you felt yourself practically pooling. This was ridiculous. This was unsustainable. There’s no way in hell you should go home with him. No way. You couldn’t!

A voice on the mic system broke you out of your daze as someone made the announcement for people to head toward their seats as the program was about to begin. Shawn rolled his eyes and reached into his suit jacket to produce a thin piece of plastic.

“I have to go get another position handed down to me. I’m staying in the penthouse tonight. You can either get yourself another drink on my tab and go home, or you can meet me there. It’s up to you, sweetheart.”

He placed the key card on the bar top beside your drink and squeezed delicately at your hip as he passed. You weren’t able to breathe until he was no longer in front of you. Fuck.

The ridiculousness that was a thirty year old grown ass woman shaking in her thong over this….this man. Who was barely a man. What were the chances that he was actually going to show you something special? What were the chances that he had any idea what he was doing? It just felt unrealistic. And you still wanted to hate him.

Then Manny pulls him on stage and he leans against the podium. His hands are so large that the mic gets eaten up every time he reaches for it. He tugs at his curls again and you squirm against the bar before knocking back the rest of your vodka soda. It’s even worse because he’s charming. He’s got that dumbass smile and he gets the crowd laughing. It’s charisma and spunk and everything you wish you didn’t want.

You get another vodka soda and watch him accept all the love and adoration that the crowd is throwing at him. The final straw comes when he makes eye contact with you. All of the heat comes roaring back immediately. His gaze is tense and unwavering. He’s got you.

You reach for the key card and stomp off in the direction of the elevators before your liquid courage can diminish. When you peer back over your shoulder you catch him walking through the crowd ignoring hand shake after handshake to get to you. It’s not just you. Apparently you have him too.

***

The penthouse suite is bigger than your first apartment. There’s a full kitchen, mulitiple bedrooms, and a fucking jaccuzi that you’re a little curious about. None of that matters the second he steps in the room though. His suit jacket is already off and lands on one of the many expensive couches. His sleeves are rolled and he’s got those damn hands in his pockets again as he looks you over. You wish you didn’t practically keen under his gaze, but there’s no denying how hot this is.

“Hmmm” He hummed taking you in. “You wanna pick a bed? Or we can get creative if you’d like.”

It was so fucking cocky! Ugh.

“How is it that every time you speak I both want to punch you and sleep with you?” You groaned.

He smiled. “It’s my speciality. Here, come here?”

“What?”

“Just come here.”

He reached his hand out and you sighed and took it. You know? Like an idiot.

He spun you into his arms and ran his fingers over your hips, nose skimming along yours. You felt your eyes widen as he leaned in to kiss you. A new problem arose. Boy. Could. Kiss.

It’s gentle at first. His lips are soft but sure of themselves as they wrap sweetly around yours. It’s inquisitive though. He’s trying to figure out what you like, what you want. So, when he captures your bottom lip between both of his and you groan, he keeps doing it. And when he nips playfully at you and your fingers tighten against his shirt, he seems to know exactly what it is you need. And he’s certainly prepared to give it to you.

He licks inside of your mouth and his fingers grip at your neck as he ropes you in. It’s breathtaking. Like honestly so. It’s hard to breathe when he’s biting and licking and making you moan. It’s even harder to focus on breathing when you feel like he’s consuming you. His hands travel back down to your waist and then lower and lower until he’s lifting you clean off the floor.

“Shawn!” You gasp, hips tightening considerably as you hide your face in his neck.

“I’m gonna guess you’re good with me picking a room?”

He takes you to the master bedroom where your body nestles perfectly into the sheets. Your ass bounces a little bit and he gives you a look that practically has your clothes coming off alone. The verbal command is merely an added bonus.

“Take your clothes off.” He murmured voice authoritative and rough.

You do as he asks, not wanting to look away from him for even a moment. He’s got one hand on his groin and another on your calf and the second your dress is off he makes a sound that makes your nipples harden.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”

He reaches for your face with those big, warm hands as he stares down at you like you’re already his. You melt beneath that gaze. When your fingers reach for the expensive belt on his expensive slacks, his fingers turned to steel around your wrists.

“Not now. Lie back.”

He taps at your leg and watches as you shuffle back on the bed, crawling in after you. His chest nestles between your legs and you bite your lip as he kisses your inner thigh.

“You wet for me yet?”

God his voice was so husky and gravely, you could practically feel it. His lips map out whole stories along your thighs. You arch your back as his thumbs push just below your ass. It’s not enough to actually touch you, he has to destroy you first.

“These fucking thighs.” He sighed inching closer to skin his nose against your heat. “Bet this pussy tastes good too.”

He doesn’t even have the decency to move your thong out the way, has to lave and soak it through with his tongue instead. The piece of fabric nestles just perfectly against your clit and he licks it back and forth. You’re so wet already it’s obscene. You tug a little desperately at his palms on your hips as he suckles at your outer lips. It’s too much already. How the fuck is it that good?

“Shit. Oh shit.” You whine.

He leans up on his knees and pushes his face closer chasing you every inch you try to wiggle away. His eyes get darker and pulls back to sink his teeth into your thigh. You let out the most embarrassing sound, something between a sob and a groan. The pain gave way to pleasure and traced the skin with his tongue immediately after.

“Stop that. Let me make you cum, or you won’t get to cum the rest of the night.”

He gets more and more direct with every passing moment, and each time he makes a demand, your hips only pulse a little more. It’s so good. He wraps his lips around your clit and sucks and it drives you up the wall. Your moans pours out into the air and your fingers tighten into the sheets. He’s sucking sucking you hard and fast, his tongue flicking over and under and around that small bud like he’d already memorized every nerve ending. You find heaven against his mouth and ride the wave while he sucks you for every single drop you have.

“Oh my god. What the hell was that?”

You peer down between your legs and there his dumb fucking face is nestled against your thigh. He looks soft for just a moment, curls tickling your stomach.

“Yea. Feels good, aye?” He chuckled. “It gets better.”

He slides from between your legs and reaches for his belt. The whole time his eyes burn into you making your toes curls in the expensive ass sheets.

“Flip over. Ass up.”

You sighed softly letting your legs plop down on the bed.

“Give me a second.”

His toned arms flexed as he worked on the buttons to his pants, teeth sinking dangerously into his lip.

“Don’t make me have to do it for you, honey.”

You’d never done quite well with orders. Your job was always to mitigate people who thought they could overpower you, who thought they were smarter than you. It had always been about fighting for every inch that you had, and never letting go. In this moment with him, in this penthouse that cost more than your rent, you feel…oddly safe with him. Like, giving up a little bit of your power wasn’t going to be used against you. Anything that you let up, or let go of, was only going to result in your pleasure. He didn’t want to hurt you. He wanted to make you feel good. You just had to let him do it.

Your shoulders relax as you flip over onto your stomach and listen to the sound of his pants hitting the floor. His large palms ease over your shoulders and down your back as he settles behind you. It already feels good just to have him touching you. And then the second he picks up the pace and spreads your thighs, your heart rate picks up again. Just let go. Let him have this.

“Do I need to use a condom?” He hummed voice puffing against your neck.

You wiggled impatiently. “I’ve got an IUD. Are you clean?”

“Yea. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

His hands come to your hips pushing down at the arch in your back to make it more prominent. You feel him against your heat and it’s a bit intimidating at first. . Mostly because the rumors of whether or not he’s packing is literally being confirmed against your vulva. And also because he’s rubbing his head against your clit like it’s your own personal sex toy, and you are…a mess. He hadn’t even put it in.

“You’re so fucking wet for me.” He sighed rubbing a little firmer against you. “Talked all that shit downstairs but this pussy was made for me, aye? Tell me you need it.”

All your inhibitions are gone. Sex is a hell of a thing. Makes the wildest shit okay in the right setting, and you’ve completely fallen into his spell for the night.

You whined against the sheets pressing yourself against him.

“Shawn, please.” You whimpered. “Need it.”

“Fuck. I’m gonna give it to you.”

He pushes in, filling you up inch by inch and your muscles spasm around him as he stretches you perfectly. Your eyes close and your lips open to let his name come out of your mouth in a voice that is just as filthy as the way his cock feels inside of you. It’s too much already. You don’t see how the hell you’re gonna make it out of this in one piece. You quickly learn that was never his intention in the first place.

His hips set a brutal rhythm against the back of your thighs, the noise in the air lewd and filthy. His fingers dig so deep into your hips you might have felt yourself bruise if you weren’t so concerned with how good he feels inside you. It’s instantly too much. And he’s not letting you up, not letting you breathe. He flips you over without even dislodging himself and the feel of it is incredible. He gets close enough that you’re pressed together chest to chest and it feels like your skin is on fire. God, it’s too much.

Eventually the sounds you’re making start to get embarrassing and you have no choice but to start sucking at the skin of his collarbones and chest just to have a chance at avoiding combustion. That’s where you discover the nipple thing. Your thighs bracket his hips and your tongue traces his right nipple and the results are exquisite.

“Shit” He whined. “Don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

You let your teeth graze the flesh as it pearled in the air and he pushed his hips harder against yours.

“Fuck! You trying to make me cum?”

His voice was more raw, less perfect chiseled sultriness and more fucked out bliss. It turned you on more than ever.

“What if I am?” You whispered peering up at him.

You bit your lip and clenched slightly around him endlessly enjoying the way the muscles in his jaw twitched in response.

“You’re so fucking bad.” He grunted and ran his thumb along your bottom lip. “Gonna have to gag this pretty mouth of yours sometime.”

You giggled softly letting your teeth nip at his thumb.

“Wanna see you try.”

“God, where the hell did you come from?” He whispered.

“I’m a Black woman. I come from the sun and the earth and everything God herself made. Duh. Now fuck me like you mean it, white boy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He leans up on his knees and takes that hold on your hips again. There’s sweat on his brow and he’s biting his lip and he genuinely gives you all that he’s got. He has the audacity to slow down, but you wouldn’t even know it the way he’s dragging his hips. In a dick crazed brain you’d say his cock was meant for you. His hips swirl against yours and he fills you over and over again making sure to stop just long enough on every lunge to get your moans to keep coming out into the stale air.

You reach for his thighs with your fingers and push back against him with your hips. He cries out for you again and it’s like an adrenaline kick. His grunts and moans are like food for your soul, and there’s no stopping either of you. His thrusts get more rugged, less precise, but more piercing, and your moans get higher. It feels so fucking good. You never want him to stop.

“Please! Please!”

“Fuck! Where do you want it, baby girl? Tell me where you want it.”

“In me.” You sigh breathlessly. “Want it in me.”

His fingers digs into your ass and he pulls you into him raggedly over and over and over until he’s pumping you full, warm and overflowing. You collapse there in one massive, tangled heap as you both try to regulate your breathing. He’s heavy as shit, but somehow it manages to feel good. You feel like you might float away if he weren’t there to hold you down. It’s as your looking up at the cieling, and all you can smell is sweat and sex and him, that you realize just how fucked for him you are already. And how bad this was going to be for you. Shit.

TBC

Please consider buying my broke ass a Kofi!

permanent tag list: @simpledomain @liliane106 @kamahriii @thecurlsofgod

Arrangement taglist: @shawnase @mani-lifes @littlefiercequeen 

[purplesurveys]

914

Do you prefer bar or liquid soap? Liquid. I don’t like how a bar soap tends to slip out of my hands. What's the speed limit on your street? I live in a gated village with tiny streets and kids that can run out of their gates any time, so the maximum on our widest roads is 40 kph. In more cramped streets, it’s recommended to drive 15-20. When was the last time you wore your favourite article of clothing? With my favorite pair of jeans, it was at the start of the month. I don’t have a favorite top; I find them all nice. Do any of your family members have an upcoming birthday? I don’t know anyone in my family who celebrates their birthday in August. If there’s someone, I can’t place them at the moment. On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best, rate your last kiss. 5.

What is your favourite flavour of Jolly Ranchers? I don’t eat those. Where was your Facebook profile picture taken? It was taken in the basement of my college, which had been converted into a makeshift photo studio for a few days so that we could take our senior photos there. The basement has several rooms so most of them got used for different purposes like a hair and makeup room, a changing room, the actual photo studio, etc. Do your parents smoke? No. I think my mom mentioned experimenting with cigarettes when she was in college, but she didn’t like it, quit as soon as she started, and hasn’t had one since. My dad never smoked, period. Would you rather bake cookies or a potato? Cookies. It’s more nostalgic to me, which makes the experience more fun. Who was the last person to stay the night at your house? Gabie, probs. She’s the only one who sleeps over anyway. Do you live close to a park? We have our own tiny parks in our village; but no, this country is generally not public spaces-friendly. Is your favourite animal endangered? One of them is. Have you eaten pizza in the last week? Nah man, I haven’t had pizza in a WHILE. Not since February, I’m pretty sure. Who was the last person you added to your contacts list? I don’t remember. I think it was my hair and makeup artist for a test photoshoot that I did last December. How long does it take you to shower? 7-10 minutes. Do you prefer a brand of bottled water over others, or is it all the same? Sure. There are brands that have a slightest taste, and I try to avoid those. Have you used Wikipedia today? Yes. I read at least one article a day, whether on purpose or coincidental. Idk I think that despite the fact that it’s not a credible source to include on essays and papers, I still think it’s super informative and helpful and it’s at least fun to read through and spend hours in if I’m doing leisure reading.   Are you better at writing fiction or non-fiction? Non-fiction BY A MILE. The idea of writing fiction terrifies me...I’ve never been able to reach that level of creativity. Do you know anyone who has moved to a different state? I’ve known people who have moved from one province to another (we don’t have states). But in terms of the US, I also do know someone who moved from one state to another. I went to school with this girl who migrated to Hawaii a few years back, then she moved to California last year. How many pens can you see from where you’re sitting? Zero. Have you ever dated someone one grade/year above or below you? Nopes, but I’d assume that’s pretty common.

What language do you think you’d be good at? Spanish for obvious reasons.

What language do you think you’d fail at? Russian. And the African languages that have click sounds in them; I’ve always found this SO fascinating, but I know I'd never be able to perfect those. Do you still have a landline phone at your house? Yes. I have older relatives who still prefer talking on landline, so we keep it around for them. What is your current desktop background? One of the default wallpapers on my laptop. I changed it recently though. My old one was a mountain shot that mostly had a pinkish hue; and my new one is still a shot of a mountain range, but now it’s orange-purplish-pinkish.

How big is the television you last watched? Haven’t watched TV in a while. Have you ever been stung by a bee or a wasp? NOPE, one of my biggest fears.

How many schools have you been to in your lifetime? Two. I went to my first school from kindergarten to high school and the only time I transferred was when I went to college. Are you of legal age in your country? Yes. I have been in the last four years.

Why did you last visit a doctor? I had been sick for days and I was convinced it was no longer just a fever because no medicine and amount of sleep were helping, so I got myself checked. Would you prefer an ice cream cake or a regular cake? Regular cakes. Omg I hate ice cream cakes...I was never sold on the idea of cake not only being painfully cold to bite, but also capable of melting and getting all liquidy. I’m not gonna hate on other people who are into those, but I honestly never saw the hype. How old is your best friend? Gabie’s 22. Angela’s turning 22 in September. What is/was your high school’s mascot? My old school doesn’t have a mascot. We have school colors but that’s it. Do you carry pain relievers with you at all times? No. I didn’t want to be too dependent on them (still don’t) when I was still in school, so I just left the pills at home. My headaches sometimes go away on their own, anyway. Where is your mother right now? She just went upstairs to settle in their room for the night. What was the last thing to make you smile? A meme Angela sent a couple of minutes ago. Are you currently saving up for anything? Not currently since I don’t have money coming in. I imagine I’d be saving up for Airpods and a new set of braces once I start having a salary, though. Priorities, hahaha. What’s the view like from your bedroom window? Not too impressive. I just see the houses behind ours. Generally speaking, do you prefer sweet or savoury? Savory. My cravings for sweet only come once I’ve had savory. What would you do if you got home and you saw your house had been destroyed? Check the scene and see if my dogs made it. I’d try asking neighbors and the guards if they saw what happened; and I’d be devastated and anxious as fuck, of course. When did you last go outside, and what for? I walked Kimi outside an hour ago so he can do his business. We’ve closed off the balcony for now (his usual spot) since it’s been raining all day and evening, so I walked him in the area of our house that’s under a shed. Who is your favourite Sesame Street character? Didn’t really grow on Sesame Street. I suppose I liked Big Bird most, but I was never too attached to the character. How often do you check your emails? Everyday at this point. Do you have any plans for this Thanksgiving? No. What colour is your backpack? Baby pink. Would you slap the last person you talked to for twenty dollars? It’s not completely off the table, but you’re gonna have to pay me a lot more for me to slap my girlfriend lol What search engine do you usually use? Google. How much did the shirt you’re wearing cost? Couple thousand bucks. It’s official WWE merch. Patrick Stump or Pete Wentz? I never compare members within the same band. I like them both. Do you know anyone who gives way too many hugs? Laurice. Not that that’s a bad thing. She hugs eveeeeeeryone, and she’s the sweetest for doing so. What time do you usually wake up on Sundays? 7-8 AM these days, like for all days. Have you whispered today? I don’t think so. What grade did you get on the last test you took? I never got to find out my grade in my Rizal exam since the lockdown happened shortly after. That’s the only test I got to take in the second semester.

[jj-lynn21]

You will remember things that we never said ch 6

Warning: angst, fluff,  

Radiohead -talk show host

Dolly Trauma songs: "Stephanie" , Trepana 

ch 1,  ch 2,  ch 3, ch 4  ch 5 ch 7

Stephanie gets ready nervously. She doesn’t want to disappoint Axel but is pretty sure she will. She knows in all reality Lisa wasn’t the only person he has been with. And She is practically a virgin in his world. A big part of her doesn’t even know why he is interested.

She thinks, the fact he said he loves me doesn’t really mean he does, does it? Why am I even going though with this with someone so experienced? She looked in the mirror. Twirled in her black flirty mini skirt. Adjusted her breasts in her hot pink low-cut t-shirt. And took a deep cleansing breath. To late to back out now girl he will be here any minute.

       Axel texted:

        You ready?

       Stephanie:

       I think so. Be right down.

She grabbed her phone. Put it in her backpack with some over night necessities. And went to get in Axel’s truck.

As soon as Stephanie is in his truck Axel pulls her face over to kiss her deep and powerfully. Her hands go under his arms to hold his shoulders while he keeps kissing her until he needs a full breath. His eyes are dark green hungry when he eventually pulls away. “You look so good I could eat you right now Stephanie.” A low growl rumbled from his chest. “But I can wait.” He pulls away from the building to head to the venue.

Stephanie gasped as she heard the sound coming from him. Her eyes were wide. She was a mix of turned on and scared. She decided talking about schoolwork would calm her body’s reactions.

“I got a lot of work done.” She tried to sound casual. “I’m ahead on most of my subjects.”

“I’m sure you always get your work done and do what your told,” He picked her hand up to kiss it while focusing one eye on her and one on the road.

Stephanie was amazed how he could do that.  He liked she hadn’t mentioned how weird his eyes were. He knew she had to notice.

“Did you do your tattoos yourself Axel?” She watched him drive so confidently.

“Some of them.” He kept a hold of her hand like it was a lifeline.

“Why the one on your neck.” She was curious about all of them really. “It is so abrasive.”

“That tat scares off most of the people that fucking suck.” Axel was bluntly honest. “You know how the world is Stephanie. Most people are just asshats.”

“I guess,” She looks down biting her lip.

“My innocent pretty girl.” He smiled. “I guess that’s why I love you. I think my next tat will be the picture I did for Art class. Somewhere everyone can see it.”

She giggled, “Really?”

He pulled into the bar parking lot. “Yes, really.”

Axel gets out of the truck. He rushes around to open Stephanie’s door. “Todd and Drake have all the equipment with them. I need to help them carry things inside after I set you up at the bar, alright?”

“You want me to help carry equipment?” She asked.

Axel puts his hand on her lower back ushering her inside. “No need for that. Sit right here for now.” He kisses her quickly. Then gets the bar tender’s attention. “Give her a virgin colada. Does that sound good Stephanie.”

“Yes, Axel.” She smiles.

Axel leaves to help his bandmates who are just coming in the door. They set up a merchandise table in the back with CDs and T-shirts before setting up their equipment.

 Stephanie sips on her drink watching excitedly as they set up on the small stage just a few feet away. Drake slams his drum set. Tightens a few things. Then slams them some more. Todd tunes a few of his guitars. Axel blows in the mic and grins at the sound and how Stephanie is watching. He puts a guitar around him starting to play a few cords with his back turned. 

Stephanie perks up as she hears him play. It’s the first time she has seen him play the guitar and not just sing. Even though there isn’t to many people in the bar her initial instinct is to rush up to the stage. She holds herself back.

“Let’s warm up with Talk Show Host by Radio Head ” Zeitgeist starts playing. Axel turns around to start singing into the microphone.

“I want to I want to be someone else or I'll explode Floating upon the surface for the birds The birds The birds

You want me Fucking and come and find me I'll be waiting With a gun and a pack of sandwiches and nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing

You want me Well come on and break the door down You want me Fucking come on and break the door down I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready”

Stephanie is biting her lip as Axel jumps off stage and walks over to her. His face is emotionless. He kiss her cheek and rests a hand on her knee as he look around her to get the bartenders attention. “I need two Millers and a bottled water.”

The bar tender nod and gets him what he asked for.

Axel looks at Stephanie intensely. “How did that sound from here Stephanie?”

“It was great Axel,” She was all starry eyed. “I love that song.”

“Me to,” He grins rubbing his hand over her knee. “let me give these beers to the guys and we will all go hang out by the merch table until it is time for us to go on.”

“Cool,” Stephanie said.

Todd and Drake were setting the bands equipment aside. They took their beers and hoped off stage going straight to the merchandise table. Axel took Stephanie’s hand. People started filtering into the bar. They went to the back, Stephanie sat down as Axel and the other guys started chatting with fans and selling their merch. Occasionally, Axel looked back to Stephanie with a nod. She smiled and nodded back.

A young girl Stephanie thinks might have snuck in the back of the club or had a fake ID giggled as Axel shows her the merch on the table. After she buys something, she leans in, to hug Axel. Stephanie gets up. She rubs Axel’s back. He puts his arm around her. The girl stands with a smirk on her face.

“Sally this is my girlfriend, Stephanie.” Axel kisses Stephanie’s cheek. Sally walks away. Axel holds up an XL sweatshirt to Stephanie. “We don’t have any smaller left, but you want this one?”

Stephanie nods yes. Axel slides it on her. Then puts a CD in the front pocket. He whispers, “You can wear this when you miss me. Listen to the CD to hear my voice.”

Shivers run through her body. “Thanks Axel.

Drake shakes his head watching them, “I didn’t know we were giving free merch to band bitches now.”

Axel glares at him.

Stephanie laughs, “Well, now you know.”

Axel looks at her and chuckles. “Yeah Drake, now you know.”

He introduces Stephanie to a few more fans as she helps sell the merch. He gets a guy to buy an extra large for his girl because it looks so cute on Stephanie. She blushes a little when Axel has her turn around to model the look. Zeigeist packs up their merch as the next band comes in to sell their stuff. 

Drake and Todd take the boxes of left over merch to the van. Axel pulls Stephanie into a dark corner to kiss her. He reaches under her skirt rubbing her slit through her panties.

“Not long now,” He whispers to her. “Go on up in your spot. I have a performance to do. And Then we go to my place..”

Stephanie gasps when she feels Axel’s touch. She bites her lip not to make a sound. With the loudness of the crowd no one would probably hear her anyway, but she didn’t want to take that chance. Axel goes to the backstage area. Stephanie makes her way to the front of the stage. It is not super packed so she has no problem. She notices all females up front and smirks. She knows what most of these girls are after and he’s taken.

When Zeigeist takes the stage and begin to play people scream. Axel nods to Stephanie. Then acknowledges the audience. “Thank you for coming out to hear us tonight and buying our shit. This first one’s called Trepana 

The music starts. Axel looks down until its time for him to start singing. “Stealing one glimpse of a moment forbidden. Each tells the other it laid as we planned it. Ten minutes later a whisper in my ear. Two minutes later, why am I still here. Will you remember things that we never said.,,If this was simple would sleep follow liquid. And if he was watching would I still make you wet? And why is it up to me always, always up to you, up to us. Two minutes later I’ve known you forever. In the next life, Will you remember things that we never sang…darling first my darling first, You will remember things that we never sang, you will remember…tell me how this will end…we never said…Just because.”

Stephanie revels in the sound. She worships at the stage alter like many others there. Some stand with their arms wrapped around their partners in front of them. They’re not jealous how horny Zeitgeist, especial Axel, gets their partners. They know it will only benefit them at the end of the night.

“This is something new,” Axel straps a guitar around him. “It’s called Stephanie” He begins to play and sings, “She’s on her knees and she lying, she’s one degree from receiving, there’s got to be why she lying,  beer on the floor, she a diamond, So, where will you sleep tonight,,, Stephanie I think your minds miles away, your talking to rocks again, its funny how I can’t believe you today, this time was no good for us,  luck justified is amazing, she is a tease like a new string, theft justified is amazing, so take what you need, it’s a good thing, And where will you sleep tonight… Stephanie I think your minds arms away,  I wanna go, we need to go, I’d love to go…This time is no good for us,.. You say, you say, I want everything to be great for us, happy like nothing’s wrong…when will the fire be going out. When will divine voices call you out.. Want me, Stephanie…When will you say that we’re going out…”

Axel takes the guitar off. He jumps down to Stephanie. She wraps her arms around him tightly tears in her eyes.

Axel holds her as some fans stare, “Sorry if that’s not what you expected. I was still fucking pissed when I wrote part of it.”

“I loved it Axel,” She kissed him. He kissed her back. “And I will tell whoever you want, we are going out.”

“Will you be sure to tell Ryan?” Axel murmurs in her ear.

“I haven’t talk to him since the movie Axel.” She leaned her forehead against his. “But I will tell him I only belong to you the next time I see him.”

“I like the sound of that,” Axel grins. “Your mine. Let’s go to my place.” 

He puts his hand on her back, escorting Stephanie out of the club. A few people stop to say they loved the new song. He just nodded as he moved on with her. His hair and body dripped with sweat. Some droplets dripped down his face. There was something about the pheromones he gave off that still attracted Stephanie in his perspiring state. She didn’t mind being close to him at all. 

[unclejuho]

sf9 in london event + concert experience ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

this is my 5k essay on what happened 190512 // enjoy reading!!!

so i got to the venue at 11pm the night before bc i was so stressed by the other concerts (ppl at la started lining up at 6pm??) i really wanted to be near the front since im coming all way from the netherlands anyways i better go big or go home!!!! so like i waited there for an hour amongst other fans who were still waiting from a diff concert and when they left other fantasy arrived so we started queueing up. i rlly have to thank sf9 uk casue they were so nice to me and they kept letting me use their hotel next door to let me go to the bathroom and change ♥️

i ended up getting nr1 (or nr21 ig isbdhs) so!!!! we did it LMAO succesfully got a good spot even though my feet and butt were dead by the time anything even happened,, its so hard to wait for 16+ hours to go to a concert but its sf9 so who cares about health 🤡 we didnt get knifed and a lot of ppl came up to ask who the fuck we were waiting for hdbshsh it was so funny

so i started handing out my juho stuff ofc and ppl seemed to like it!!! so im glad haha eventually even i didnt have any anymore so i was happy ppl liked it!

skip to like 1pm which is when the members arrived at the venue, i was a lil late noticing cus i was waiting for those signed narcissus albums but i ran to the front anyways n saw youngbin chani tae leave the van (like what they posted in the travel preview) so that was!!!!! jdbdbsb they were so unbothered it was so cute so i went to get my albums and came back to line (i got all hwiyoung pcs oshshah) 

also there were so many other fans handing out fanmades it was so sweet the entire atmosphere was fantastic bc everyone was nice to eachother, rlly everyone i talked to was super sweet!!! also so many fansites with slogans or fans so i went broke once more but it was all worth it theyre so pretty...

at like 4.30 was the special event which lmao i rlly was so tired and i got sooo nervous i had my already signed fanfare from mwave bc if ure gonna sign any album it should be fanfare (looking at ALL the ppl that gave them narcissus) sooo us 20 were led upstairs to some sort of bar area and they had a long table w water bottles so we had to wait a lil while the staff checked our signed items if they were ok and then we had to form a line to wait (they were late) i met another dutchie so that was nice hdhshsh

finally the members walk out and im shaking bc baek ju is the first to enter the room!!! he was wearing that leopard sweater and i didnt even hate his mullet seeing it upclose...

jae was wearing that stupid unbottoned shirt skbssbsb and he came in giving ALL the fanservice like him and inseong were here for the entire thing osbdbsb the other members just sat down and sociaized with eachother like yb kept being adorable and pulling faces at the table it was everything and i couldnt see rowoon bc ppl were standing in front of him but i was!!!! shaking already bc whos idea was it to start off this event with fucking rowoon lmao is like immediate heart attack! ju was last which was oof...

so i had like ideas of what i wanted to talk abt w each members but lmao??? i didnt talk abt any of it to any member my mind was so shook...

first up was rowoon and he just hdhshsh???? the eye contact of this man and just seeing him upclose was so intense tf he rlly was.. so gorgeous n bc of his hair up his eyes looked even bigger n shimmered and the pics rlly dont do him justice... so the first thing i said was wow so handsome bc why not.. i was gagged indeed hdbdbsb he said like woooow our debut album and you already have it signed oabdbs i didnt explain the entire mwave thing bc wud he understand haha but he opened n he saw the pic of himself hes like what do u like better me now or me here??? me being myself im like fanfare bc ur hair down is so cute oahdhshs i rlly not a narcissus hag anyways but fanfare was best rowoon as always... so rowoon did his sign and i asked him to do sky castle impersonation he didnt understand so i just repeated sky castle he was like ah the voice thing im like yes cha minhyuk isbdbsh so he did the fucking thing and i was dying lmao great to have seen it in the flesh ofc...

after rowoon was taeyang and taeyang!!!! was so hyper and attentive like hdnsb whenever u see him in vids hes usually very casual but he was soooo sweet and he too was like ahhh fanfare he took a while to say but he said his heart was still in there hdhdhsh so i was 🤧🤧 i just asked tae if he was doing okay or if he wasnt feeling tired and he said he was doing great bc i was there im like dying hdhshsh so i said yah me too!!!! 

jae was after taeyang n jae was jdhshshs soooo into it i know korean fans say ppl change biases to jae after meeting him and i have to say i can see why!!! i didnt rlly know what to say to jae beforehand but he said oooo i really love london and im like haha i dont like it here im like im from the netherlands so he was shocked he said thank you for coming to travel here and he held my hand isbdbsbsb

next was inseong and... the eye contact level was sooo severe he rlly threw all into it hes like hi thank you for coming so much so i was wearing this shirt w a 🥩 on it and im like inseong do u like my shirt bc i know u love meat iahdhahsh so he was laughing n said yea wow this is my favorite shirt oshdhshs rlly had me going LOL he asked if it was my first time seeing them im like yea but im going to korea in the summer tho oshdhshs he said that was great n asked how long i was staying for,,, so im like im going a month so he asked why i was going so long im like im going for u!!! hdbshsb he gave me some hearts and i moved on ndhsbsab

so chani was next up and he looked so shy,,,, im sad bc i forgot to say everything i wanted to say to him at the beginning and i was just like chaniiiiiii and he laughed and signed my album before i went i quickly pushed in a URE MY FAVE DANCER n he highfived me hdhsbs

so youngbin was next and i... lmao... i was weak haha he just read my name hes like hiiiii gia im here being depressed saying HI YOUNGBIN I LOVE U SM thank u sm for everything u do for us and i shit u not my eyes like tearing up oshdbsbs yb asking me how im feeling im like YEA GREAT tears in my eyes oabdbs i rly couldnt speak otherwise id actually have them roll down my face so i just nodded and moved on iabsbs

hwiyoung im so sorry... i was still emo from yb and i even forgot to say happy birthday like pls hit me... hwi cheered for the fanfare album and im like yess hwi i love ur hair here i love the blonde;; hwi thanked me for coming 

next up was dawon and jdbsbs i came in saying hi fantasy president so he said yeeee fantasyyyyy and hes an unbothered legend oabbdhssbn he signed quickly and within a minute i was away again jdhdhs

so juho.. my god oshdhshwh hes so:((( pretty let me breathe liek... i came there im like juho i love u oahdhshsh hes just nodding his way going to sign my album and he drawing that heart stickman so im like i have a question can u draw— hes like this is my signature drawing LUCKILY i drew the jucasso next to my name so im like pointing at it being like lmao boy we dont want this heart flop bdhdhsh so he quickly drew it and i said i hope u feel better soon and i was off again,,, rlly dawon and juhos signing went so quick...

so we moved on to the pictures and they were grabbing the chairs and ju was standing all way back at first but then no members went to sit on the chairs oahdhs so JUHO THE MAN WENT FOR THE SEAT NEXT TO THE MIDDLE HDHSHSH and hwi on the other side and jae behind so im blessed like juho... he rlly did it... hdhshsh i quickly go to grab one of my banners bc im like bitch i gotta fucking rep for it now otherwise i wudnt know a pose anyways oahdhshs so i quickly took off my glasses as well

so its my turn im going up and sitting down and like handing this banner to ju and hes like ???? oh???? he quickly reads it n was impressed hdbsb so there was one pic and tae was sitting next to ju and wanted to read what was on the banner so he turned to us but then we had to take another pic so he had to turn back quickly again oahdhshsh and then i had to go again but as i walked away ju was explaining to the members what was on my banner so i :(((( 

after everyones picture was taken they said goodbye and waved and inseong stayed behind a lil to joke abt drinking beer (i rlly hate him but also me?) and then they left and we got our merch bags n went back downstairs

so i quickly ran over to my bestie to tell her abt it before realizing we had to line up to go inside for the concert so i was like stressed running away i rlly almost lost my first spot LOL but we were let inside the venue i had like 50 bags but i ran to the front and BLESS IT there was like tiny space left at the left side which is were i wanted to be bc juwoon!!!!!! so i rly did get barrier thank god i could put down all my bags as well and the fantasy next to me were great as well!!!!

// i’ll add the concert later as im tired rn and this is already 5k osjbhdbhjas

[loudsuitlover]

Flirt

When you first applied for the job, you had never even imagined you were going to like it, much less that you were going to be so sad when it came the time for it to end. That was the thing about seasonal jobs- it was easy to say yes to them because you knew they were going to end but then it also left you with a bit of a broken hearted feeling underneath the satisfaction of a goal completed. At that point in your life you had already come to terms with your fear of commitment and you had actually learnt it was the reason you were always indecisive, borderline confused about what you wanted to do, about the decisions you had already taken; but now as you leaned your elbow on the bar and enjoyed playful conversation with Clare, there was not a single trace of regret in your mind.

“I can’t believe I’m about to agree to this.”

The memory of that day, right before you had finally walked down the street and inside the building where Harry Styles Live On Tour team was making the interviews for the new crew that was going to join Harry Styles on his first solo tour, crossed your mind as you saw Paula laughing hard with Harry Lambert from the corner of your eye. She had made fun of you all day at how indecisive you looked once again.

“It’s not like we’re going to rob a bank.” She had said. “You’re just deciding whether or not you want to join Harry Fucking Styles on tour and trust me, bitch, you want to.” She nodded her head, her dark eyebrows raised as she tried to convince you.

“Do I though?” You smiled. “I don’t know, Pau, I’ve worked my ass off in college these last few years maybe I wanna, you know, keep studying or like- at least try to get a job kind of related to my dreamed career.”

“Okay, first of all, who says your job at HSLOT can’t be related to your dreamed career?” She had challenged to which you had rolled your eyes and sighed.

“He surely has a professional photographer already, Pau. It’s not like he’s just going to hire whatever girl comes over with a Nikon on her neck.”

“You’re not whatever girl with a Nikon on her neck! You’re awesome! Come on, Y/N, I’ve seen your pictures and you could make a gorilla look pretty. Plus, I don’t know, there’s always time for that! I mean even if he does have a so called professional photographer already, think of this as a chance to get to meet them and like learn from them even!”

At that you had smiled and Paula couldn’t tell yet, but your feelings were starting to change towards that stupid job she wanted you to apply for. The corners of your mouth had curled upwards at the only thought of carefully listening to every little thing whatever photographer he had hired could say, something about the light or the angle, or the way to take a picture just when he was about to sing as if you could capture his voice on the shutter too and everyone could see how a voice looked like.

“Besides, have you seen how hot he is?” Paula had shut her eyes, her fingers had formed two identical clamps on the sides of her temples as if she was carefully holding the word hot right in front of her eyes. “I would work for him even if it was as the person who washes the floor right before he steps a foot into it.”

“I really hope there’s not such position.”

“He’d deserve it.” She defended.

“You do realize we probably wouldn’t even see him, right? I mean even if we did get the job- which we don’t know if we will- we’d probably get some job as the girl who brings the coffee to the girl who brings the coffee to everyone else.”

“No, that’s not it! They do a personalized interview with you and then they as a professional team in human resources give you a position that goes along with your personality and your abilities as a professional and as a person and I mean, given my history, I’ll probably work side by side with his stylist.”

And she wasn’t wrong. After her TED talk, you had walked inside the building and you had reciprocated every kind smile you got from every single person in the team and you remember you met his eyes just as you tucked a loose strand from your low messy bun behind your ear. Paula was already inside doing her own interview and you were standing right at the entrance of the hotel chatting to one of the other girls in the team when you noticed his green eyes staring at you from the other end of the hall. He was talking to a tall man and he was wearing a light camel colour shirt but the truth was, since he had spotted you at the door, his eyes hadn’t left your figure. You just had a beautiful smile, he had thought, and he had thought that for the rest of the days he had seen you on the arenas.

Treat People With Kidness Team, that was where you had been given a job which consisted of doing research of charity organizations in the area where the next concert was taking place, making contact with them, and letting people know they were going to help them with the purchase of the merch and the ticket concert itself. So yeah, it was not really related to photography, but if you could ask for a dream job, it would be that and the photography could be your forever hobby if it meant you got to help people in such a magnificent way. You probably fell in love with Harry the same night you read the project, which he had carefully thought with the aid of his lawyer, and you couldn’t contatin the giddy smile and the butterflies as you read the letter he had written to everyone in the team, not being able to believe how someone could put out so much kindness into the world.

As expected, you didn’t really see Harry much, except from moments before the concerts where everyone was really invited to hang out in the arena and the weekly meeting on Wednesday morning when your team would present their ideas and Harry would grin and thank you the entire time. Even if today was the last day of tour, you still remember the first, back in London before everyone packed their bags and left to the States when he walked straight towards you and introduced himself to you right before the first meeting with TPWKT was held.

“Hello, I don’t think I’ve had the chance to introduce myself to you before.” He smiled, letting you see his dimples as he offered his big, inked hand to you. “I’m Harry.”

“I know.” You grinned, nodding your head like a lunatic because you had literally just fallen in love with him the night before right after you binged read his charity project. “I mean not in a creepy way, you know, I just know because you’re famous and all that.” And that was when you started to ramble wildly. “I know you hate the word famous, Miranda told me that, I don’t know why I used it, I mean you’re very... Well-known, you know? And.... And kind and... young, not that old people aren’t kind. Actually, Miranda is super nice. I mean I’m not saying she’s old. Please stop me!”

He was laughing hard by the time you shut your eyes in a beg for mercy, resting your folder on the table and letting him properly see your tight skirt, the white blouse carefully stuck inside, and your hair once again in that low messy bun he had seen the first day. It took him just a few weeks to realize it was your professional hairdo, that an the low ponytail and he wanted to ask why you always wore them low instead of high or why you never braided your hair but he didn’t really think it was appropriate of him to ask you that and anyway he always got way too nervous when he had to talk to you and he always ended up making a fool of himself or not saying anything at all.

“Hey” He said one of the days you were getting coffee at the hotel with your coworkers and he had come over to talk to his manager Jeffrey first thing in the morning “I read your research about the charities here in Stockholm and I also think The Hunger Project will be a good choice.”

He smiled, enjoying the way your cheeks turned a light shade of pink as you tried to cover them with your plastic coffee cup. He had heard you and your friend Paula lightheartedly arguing the night before about your mild obsession with proper grammar for those essays about charity that nobody read anyways according to your friend and he had smiled as he walked passed your table at the hotel restaurant at the thought of how ridiculously adorable he found that. So he really read all of them and he’d have to admit he did that mostly because he knew you had written them but that morning he had walked over the catering table to pick a biscuit, even though he had aready had breakfast, just so he could chat to you a little and he had said that just so he could make sure you knew he had read it, that he read everything you wrote and for the first time he didn’t feel so awkward, because you were blushing and you had tucked your hair behind your ear, as you did when Miranda praised your ideas in the meetings, so he knew you liked that he was talking to you too.

“And I found a spelling error.” He teased, fighting his smirk so hard so you would fall for it when your eyes widened and you looked at him horrified, surely terribly embarrassed, and you waited for him to tell you where, where exactly as your mistake. “In the firs paragraph.” He lied. “It says new instead of knew once.”

“Oh, God, really? I read it like a thousand times. I can’t believe that slipped. Do you think a lot of people have read it? Maybe I can change it and print it again although that would be such a waste of paper which would hurt the enviroment and the-”

“I was kidding.” He smiled. “It was perfect, Y/N, as every other time.”

He remembers perfectly the way you smiled that day because your beautiful smile started drawing itself slowly as realization was hitting you that he was teasing you, maybe that he was even flirting, and he remembered he let his eyes fell to your mouth once, to kind of make himself clear that yes, he was flirting with you before he shook his head and followed Jeff to the elevator. You rested your hip against the catering table and giggled like a school girl before you grabbed a biscuit yourself, just because he had grabbed one, and you walked back to your desk, ignoring the way Adrian was smirking behind his laptop screen.

“What?” You demanded.

“Nothing.” He smiled. “He just never reads mine.”

And then after time had passed and he had found himself more and more attracted to you, he had finally confessed that to Clare who seemed to have gotten rather closed with you after a few days sightseeing around some European beauties like Copenhagen or Oslo, and ever since then it had been constant teasing of hers everytime she would catch him staring.

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” She had exasperated once back in his wardrobe.

“Because what if she says no? I’m like her boss and I’m sure her knowing I have a thing for her would be awkward.” He shrugged.

“Unless she has a thing for you too.” Clare wiggled her eyebrows.

“Sure but we don’t know that.”

“Yeah and you won’t let me ask her.”

“Of course you can’t ask her! What is this? Ninth grade? She would totally know I like her.”

“So you do like her?” Clare smiled.

“Clare, have you even listened to me this whole time? Of course I like her.”

“Well you had said you had a thing for her, not that you liked her as in you know wanting to date her! That’s a whole different thing!”

“You’re so in ninth grade.”

And with that he shook his head and walked away but as the days passed, he started realizing he surely did seem like he was in ninth grade himself with all the stealing glances your way, arriving unnecessarily early just so he could bump into you or even just hanging aroung the common areas in the hotels so he could possibly see you and maybe talk about something silly with you or gladly make a fool of himself so he could make you laugh and think that you had laughed a little because of him so your day had possibly been a little better.

And now four months later you were joking around with his bandmates and trying to keep your nerves at cool as you thought he was about to join you all. He had been staring at you the whole night, grinning blantly because now the flirting was strong enough for him to have no doubt you liked him too so now he just had to make the move and if the constant flattering of his heart was the way he was going to feel every time you were around then he only expected for you to never leave. It had all really started three months before when Clare had had the ninth grade idea of making a group chat, giving Harry and you the opportunity to text each other.

Clare Uchima created the group “Harry Styles’ Ego Affected Association”

Clare Uchima added you

Paula: Is this group chat so we can check Y/N’s grammar before she sends the essays to Miranda? lol

Y/N: Is this group chat so we can let Paula know she is not funny?

Clare: As the creator of this group chat, I declare it a hate-free zone. Please don’t get your panties in a twist on my watch, ladies.

Harry: How exactly does my ego affect the three of you alone?

Clare: See? You’re so full of yourself you think your ego also affect others. Not that important, Styles.

Paula: Yeah, probably half the tickets you sold were just so they could see what amazing shoes I chose for you that night.

Harry: I knew letting you choose my shoes would get into your head...

Paula: I think you should appreciate it more. It is extra hard to choose an specific type of Chelsea boots when your roommate is “reading” like this.

Harry still keeps the picture your friend sent that day because even though you weren’t looking at the camera, your hair was all messy around your face, having fallen from the bun you used to held back just with two bobby pins and you the light from the candle you had lighten up next to your laptop was illuminating your face in such an intimate way and you were biting your bottom lip, your hand tucked on the crook of your neck and he almost wanted to set that picture as his background because he thought you looked like a proper angel.

Harry: Is she working or advertising a yoga class?

Y/N: I’m working at such ungodly hour because my boss is such a bully...

Harry: hahahaha I’ve heard he’s really kind.... and young... not that old people aren’t kind ;)

Y/N: Hahaha I see you didn’t forget about that, despite the multiple head injuries you’ve shown us so far

Harry: Oi, how dare you? Maybe it’s Paula’s fault... After all, she does indeed choose my shoes

Paula: Now that was uncalled for. You know, Harry, I’m actually sorry for you. It must have been hard for you to live 24 years without knowing us...

Harry: You have no idea...

Paula: I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you to live in a Paulaless world...

Y/N changed the subject to “Paula’s Ego Affected Association”

Harry: Thank you, Y/N x

Y/N: You’re welcome, Mr Styles X

Clare: Paula I think we are surplus here

And three months had been time enough for him to find the perfect excuse to text you privately and then your private text thread had started to grow and each time you sent more XXX and each time the talks were until later in the night and with that and a couple group parties he had lost the awkward fear of talking to you and you had grown close enough to run up to him to tell him things straight in person when you found a new exciting thing about whatever organization it was you were collaborating with at the time and he had grown more confident so he would wrap his arm around your shoulders and he would tease you almost every time you talked to him. “Careful with the wires, love, we all know how clumsy you can be.”

“So now are you finally going to tell her?” Jeff asked him because it was the last day of the tour and he could tell he hadn’t torn his eyes from you and Harry just blushed and chuckled, scratching the back of his neck as he looked at his feet.

“I think I have to tell her something because she goes on holidays in two days and I don’t want her to think I don’t want to see her again.”

“I don’t think she thinks that.” Jeff laughed. “You drool over her!”

Instead of denying it, for it was useless anyway, he just chuckled and shrugged, having a sip of his own drink as Jeffrey laughed at his friend.

“I think you did the best thing at keeping it professional while she worked here though, you know?”

“I just didn’t want her to feel like I was taking advantage of her in any way? I know she wouldn’t have but I think it’s best if we start things this way.”

“If you start things?” Jeff raised his eyebrows. “Sounds like you want things to last.” He smirked.

“Stop it, Jeffrey!” He feigned to panic making Jeff laugh as his kind eyes met yours.

“She’s been watching you all night too.” He smiled. “Just go with her already.”

With that he chuckled and made his way towards you, his green eyes never leaving yours until you had no doubt he was coming your way and then you looked ahead, pretending to ignore him as he got closer to the group.

“Oh, there he is!” Clare cheered him up as he made his way inside the group until he was standing right next to you, your left bare shoulder barely skimming his chest.

“Hi.” He whispered and even though you couldn’t see his face you knew he was smiling.

“See?” Paula almost yelled when the bartender looked back at you again “He just looked your way again! He clearly have the hots for you and you have to pass him down to me. You can’t have everybody!”

She frowned jokingly at you but you just smiled as you enjoyed the way Harry frowned and looked for the bartender, his chin moving right next to your temple until he spotted him.

“If you had taken any longer I might have started flirting with him.” You joked, raising your eyebrows as you tried not to smirk but failing once he spinned your stool around making you face him.

“What did you just say?” His green eyes lowered as he stared right into your own.

You just smiled at him, your eyes flicking to his lips and back to his eyes in a brief second, driving him crazy. His hands had stayed on the sides of the stool, trapping you between his muscular arms and making the desire of wrapping your arms around his neck almost unbearable.

“I’m just teasing.” You whispered.

“Well, don’t.” He whispered back, kissing your forehead as you smiled.

“Okay, no teasing then.” You smiled. “Do you wanna sit? I’ve been sitting long enough.”

“No, that’s okay. You stay-”

Except you had already stood up and were now looking at him with a teasing smirk, despite your previous promise. He chuckled as he sat down, ordering another drink to the waiter who couldn’t seem to stop looking at you and then his green eyes amusedly watched your figure walk away.

When you came back though, although Harry’s eyes were still on you, this time it was him who was smirking smugly as you narrowed your eyes slightly at the pretty girl that was now hanging next to him. You had seen her before, she was one of your coworkers except she worked selling merchandise at the concerts, but you had seen the way she flirted with him and the way she always laughed way too loud at his jokes, even at the bad ones. You decided on pretending you didn’t care though and chose to stand next to Adam instead, engaging in conversation with them as you tried your best to ignore Harry’s eyes on you.

You could hear his deep voice making conversation with the other girl and as hard as you tried you couldn’t help but to look at him from the corner of your eyes sometimes, only to draw stupid smug smirks on his face so he ended up winding you up and you turned to Paula, right next to the girl, and asked her to dance. For the first few songs you managed to stop making your entire world revolve around Harry but you still enjoyed the feeling of his eyes on you the entire time. Apparently, they were trying to play some game back in the bar but you could hear everyone scolding him for not paying attention which only encouraged you to sway your hips in wider movements.

“Do you want to dance?”

Despite the loud music, you  still managed to hear her voice asking Harry and you started planning her murder the moment he said sure and followed her to the dance floor. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 started playing the moment they joined Paula and you and you rolled your eyes at Harry as he chuckled and started moving closer to you in a very dorky way every time Adam Levine sang yeah, yeah, yeah and you laughed but pushed him away.

“No, I don’t want to dance with you now.” You pestered.

“Why not? I wasn’t-”

You shook your head and gave a few steps back as Call Out My Name by The Weeknd started playing and for the first minute you just flexed your knees the slightest bit until he sang the first chorus and you started moving as seductively as you could manage, your eyes set on Harry’s as he just looked at you with his lips parted, his green eyes burning your skin.

“Y/N.” He whispered, trying to get your attention but you just smiled and kept on dancing swaying your hips slowly, caressing your body with one hand as the other tangled in your hair. “Y/N.” He tried again.

You bent your knees, lowering your buttom slowly until it almost touched the floor, your legs opened before you stood up and kept on dancing; you could feel yourself getting wet at the way he was staring at you and you bit your bottom lip when your eyes fell to the now prominent bulge on his pants.

“Y/N.” This time he was almost begging you to stop but his desperation only encouraged you to go on.

“What, Harry? You don’t dance?”

“You’re kind of distracting me.” He complaint.

“I am? How?” You played down, looking at him with big innocent eyes as he nodded his head, his eyes roaming your body up and down.

“You know how.”

“Dance with me then.” You smiled. “Come closer.”

“You come closer.” He challenged. “You’re the one playing with me.”

“Just teasing, H.”

You smiled, walking closer and almost moaning at the way his hands grabbed your hips and pulled your body against his. His ragged breath hit the skin of your face.

“I thought we agreed no teasing.”

You chuckled, unable to contain your belly from flipping as you stared into his green eyes, both his hands resting on your hips as he held you close to him. Paula and the girl you wanted to kill were still dancing next to you both and you smiled at her, enjoying the fact that she was watching Harry’s hands on you and not on her.

“Heard you had trouble focusing on the game too... Maybe you’re just naturally distracted...”

“I think it has something to do with a girl.”

“Oh, does it?” You raised your eyebrows, resting your arms on his shoulders as he nodded.

“Yeah, you didn’t see the hot girl next to me? I wish you would have seen the way her thighs look in that skirt...” He bit his bottom lip and you frowned, your eyes falling to the skinny bitch’s thighs before you pouted at him.

“Are you serious?” You were pretty sure he was teasing before but now you weren’t so sure.

“Yeah.” He laughed. “You’re not mad... are you?”

Was he being disrespectful? Talking about your thighs like that? He had chosen the word thighs instead of ass precisely to avoid being rude but maybe he had crossed a line nonetheless? You shook your head but removed your hands from his shoulders walking down the hall towards the lobby so you could reach the elevator to the rooms in the hotel.

“Y/N, wait!” He grasped your wrist, turning you around as you wait for the elevator but his frowned turned into a smug smirk the moment he catches up with your behaviour. “I can’t believe you’re jealous of Sylvia.”

“I’m not jealous of her.” You lied as you made your way inside the elevator, him following suit right before the doors closed.

“Yes, you are.” He smirked smugly as he cornered you against the wall right after you pressed the bottom of your floor. “But you don’t have to be, love.” He whispered.

“I am not jealous of anyone.”

You challeged, your faces so close he could feel your breath against his skin. He rested one of his hands on the side of your head and with the other caressed your bare arm from your shoulder to your hand until he curled his pinky finger with yours and enjoyed the way your body seemed to react to him. He could see the goosebumps in your skin and he could tell the way your chest was going up and down now more visibly than before. He smirked before he licked his lips and pressed a kiss to the corner of your mouth, holding your hip with the hand that had been playing with your fingers.

“Admit that you’re jealous.” He whispered against your mouth as if you needed to say that if you wanted a real kiss.

You could the anticipation abrading your chest, your belly doing somersault at the thought of his lips against your own.

“Fine,” you admitted making him grin “but only because she’s been flirting with you forever and now you’re saying she’s hot.”

“You are so silly.” He chuckled, pecking your lips innocently just once.

“Excuse you?” You scowled looking up at him as he squeezed your hip.

“Do you think I would look at any other girl when you are there? Especially if you’re dancing like that? In this fucking skirt?” His hand on your waist moved down to caress your thigh and you swallowed a breath. “I was talking about you.” He whispered.

“Well she was still flirting with you.”

“So what?” The hand that was resting next to your head now cupped your cheek, tilting your head so you had no other choice but to look into his eyes. “I’m crazy about you.” He breathed inches away from your mouth. “How can you not see what you do to me?”

You swallowed the anticipation as he held your hand and lead him down to his jeans. You barely skimmed his warm erection but that gesture, and the feeling of his rock hard excitement on your hand, was the hottest thing you had ever seen. A small gasp got trapped in your throat as he pressed your hand against the cold elevator wall and he hissed at the sound.

“This is what you do to me.”

With that he shifted his hips so his erection was pressing against your belly and that was all it took for you to really moaned, crunching your eyebrows and pouting your bottom lip out, making it impossible for him not to to lean down and captured it between his lips, sucking on it as his hands hungrily moved down your back, only managing to pull you closer to him before the lift stopped and the doors opened on your floor.

“Fuck.” Harry cursed as his mouth pulled apart from yours making you laugh.

“You wanna come into my room?” You asked, your eyes big and innocent, all of a sudden full of insecurities as you stared into his own.

If he rejects you you’d fly out of the country and change your name and make a new life in Argentina. But he nodded, intertwining his fingers with yours as you walked towards your room. You feel a fire burning deep within your body, starting at the bottom of your belly but climbing up to your throat, setting your entire ribcage on fire and you’re afraid he might notice because you’re sure your skin must be as read as his lips are from all the sucking.

“You are so beautiful.” He whispered in your ear as you opened the door, his hands failing at his attempt of keeping them to himself at least until the door was closed behind you and you were both alone in the intimacy of your room.

The moment you closed the door, you rested your back against it, burning your wild eyes into Harry’s and drawing him in like a magnet. He almost wanted to start crying but instead he grunted as he crashed his lips against yours. How was it possible that every day you got more beautiful?

“Harry” You gasped, your tongue hungrily sliding inside his mouth and across his.

“Y/N, wait, wait.”

He pulled apart and you felt the most intense embarrassment you had ever felt overflowing your entire body, so you looked at the floor, unable to look into his eyes until he lifted your chin with his fingers forcing the eye contact so he could read your expression.

“I want you.” He whispered, as if trying to calm your second thoughts down. “But I also want to do this right. I really like you, Y/N,” he chuckled, embarrassed at his confession but the way you smiled calmed his nerves down “so.. I mean I just don’t want this to be like your way of saying goodbye, you know?” He chuckled.

“I really like you too. I’ve liked you since the first week I’ve worked here.”

He laughed, relishing the way your cheeks heated up under his hands,

“That’s good. So... Do you want to give it a try?”

“To give what a try?” You just wanted to hear him say it really so he rolled his eyes playfully because he knew.

“Me!” He chuckled, blushing himself. “Us, I guess. I can take you out and you can see whether you want to be with me or-”

Your lips had crushed against his before he could keep on rambling and now the two of you were smiling against each other mouths, your hands pulling him closer from the back of his neck as he grabbed your thighs until he had picked you up. He sat you down on the couch on your room carefully before he grabbed a blanket and sat down next to you with a big grin but you frowned, grabbed the blanket for him and drop it on the floor, climbing on his lap as you had dreamt of doing so many other times and threaded your fingers through his head, leaving soft kisses along his jaw.

“What are you doing?” He shivered, his hands gripping your hips on top of him.

“You said you wanted me.” You whispered against his mouth pressing your hips down on his earning a deep growl from him. “And you showed me what I do to you, don’t you want to see what you do to me?”

“Fuck, baby.”

He felt the oxygen being knocked out of her lungs as his mind clouded. You shifted on top of him, pushing your hips down against his creating the friction he desperatedly wanted. It drove him crazy and gripped your arms forcefully, pulling you impossibly closer to him, as he got scared at the realization that he had never wanted anyone the way he wanted you then. Sure he had fucked other girls but it had never been about getting them closer and closer but rather about satisfying his own needs but now that you were sitting on top of him, it was as if nothing was close enough.

He gasped when you eagerly threw your crop top over your head exposing your lilac lace bra to him and your fingers pulled from his hair as he kissed and sucked the skin just below the cup of your bra. One of his hand squeezed your butt cheek under your skirt while the other tucked your bra under your breast, wrapping his pink lips around your nipple and gently sucking on it, bringing more and more wetness to your entrance and driving you crazy for him.

“Oh, Harry.”

He groaned and grabbed your bum harder when you moaned his name and gave the same loving attention to your other breast as you started moving your hips against his jeans, trying to find some release from the friction with the crease on his pants, his hard on pressing agonizingly against your soaked panties. His moans were muffled with your skin on his mouth until the sounds were replaced with the pop sound of his mouth releasing your breast when he touched the dripping wetness on your panties as he thought of offering you some relief by rubbing your clit.

“Fucking hell, love. You’re soaked.”

“I want you, Harry, please, I can’t wait.” You pouted, making him groan and want you more.

He lifted your body from his and placed you on the empty space next to him on the couch, taking of his shirt, pants and boxers and telling you to lay down on your back in a whisper as he rolled the condom down his shaft and his eyes went wild when he saw you sliding your skirt off your legs. He had never seen anything sexier in his entire life but that was only until you stood up from the couch and slid your panties down your legs until they drop to the floor around your ankles and, fully naked now, you climbed back on his lap giving him a perfect view of your body as his hands caressed the soft skin of your waist and thighs. The juicier thighs he had ever seen he could swear.... Oh, how would he like to bury his head between them...

He embraced the surprising position and pulled you closer to him, tangling his long fingers in your hair and attaching his hungry mouth with yours. Accomplishing your pleas, he lowered you onto him, swallowing your cries as he as well moaned into your mouth. He started moving slowly, enjoying the way you cried out loud every time he hit that soft spot inside you, gripping your hips and your waist and every part of skin he could reach as he slammed agonizingly slow into you, letting you feel every inch of him. He thought he could cum right then when your eyes rolled to the back of your head as he fastened the rythmn.

“You’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, Y/N.”

“Fuck, Harry, you’re so big.” You cried, getting him impossibly harder by the second. “I can feel you everywhere.”

“I’m deep, ain’t I, baby? Bet you can feel me all the way in your belly, can you?”

“Fuck!”

His arms immediately wrapped around your back to pull you even closer to him until your chests were touching and he could feel every inch of you. He growled, biting onto your shoulder when you started circling your hips so that his hips would lift and slam into you just as you slowly circled around him, changing the angle every second. He couldn’t describe how he was feeling if he tried and then it all started being about you and about the way you sounded and the way you felt and the way your lip sounded when it hit your mouth back after he had pulled from it with his teeth. And he felt as if he could never have this with anyone else, his heart beating so fast and so strong and this feeling of total bliss as he drove himself into you and you whimpered and shivered and he knew this was something only you and him would ever share and that no one would ever compare to you and nothing would ever compare to this.

“Harry” You gasped, biting your bottom lip to calm yoursef down at the verge of tears as if you had heard his thoughts, turning him on even more than he already was.

“You feel so good, Y/N.”

The pressure started to build in his stomach when he sees your niples getting impossibly harder, your entire skin covered in goosebumps as you arched your back and he knew you were close so he circled your clit with his thumb and bit his own lip before he watched you come undone trembling right after your body had stiffened for a few seconds and then moaning and clenching around him until he came himself, squeezing your hips and taking your grateful kisses as long, thick spurts of cum filled the condom.

He chuckled at your tired smile before you yawned and scrubbed your eyes like a little girl and he kissed your lips a few times until he could control himself.

“I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.” He confessed. “But I never thought you would feel this good.”

“I hope you haven’t had enough.” You smiled lazily, your eyes already closing as he chuckled and took you to the bed.

“Of course not.” He laughed.

“Good. You’ll stay, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

[sierrabinondo]

woodland creatures tour - day 5 (jacksonville)

day 5 was the last day we would spend in florida. i was actually really enjoying it down here and would have loved to stay longer. when we were planning this run i really wanted to do all florida shows but we couldn’t afford the extra mileage that would add to our van rental and in hindsight i think that still going to the carolinas was a good move.

i’m so glad this next gig was so close though, because we could still enjoy our time in orlando for a little bit longer. apparently we needed to check out of the airbnb by 10 or the host would charge us $20 for every like 5 minutes we kept the cleaning ladies waiting outside. so we hauled ass and then decided on a breakfast spot for everyone to go to. i really didn’t want to go to a chain restaurant. after a little bit of searching i found keke’s breakfast cafe, which seemed like a local franchise. had good reviews and looked interesting so we took a chance. i think this was the first like meal we all sat down and had together all of tour. we talked about anime while we waited for our food to come. we ate probably the best breakfast all of tour. my omelette was pretty damn good. santino ordered pancakes and i’m pretty sure they were the fluffiest ones we’ve ever had. 

if anyone knows me they know that i love food. once my mind is set on eating something i will literally not rest until i’ve had it. and for the entirety of our time in florida i DESPERATLEY WANTED ICE CREAM. i couldn’t find an ice cream spot on the other side of disney springs we ended up on after my lunch with eton and jeri so we left without ice cream. and i wanted ice cream really badly lmao. apparently, you can still go hang out at the disney resorts even if you don’t have a reservation. that was what all the disney blogs said. so i suggested a quick pit stop at the polynesian for dole whip before we hit the road for jacksonville. the guys were cool with it but it actually took much longer than it should have so it led to a chain of unfortunate events that i will divulge on later. at the time it was fine.

when i’ve stayed at disney i’ve only stayed at the port orleans resorts (which are BEAUTIFUL), and the last time was at a huge condo off the resort. the polynesian is one of the most expensive disney hotels you can stay at. we pull up and at first the security guard doesn’t let us in. i peered my head out the driver’s side window to let her know that we were here because we wanted dole whip lmao. i must have conveyed well enough that we aren’t a threat because she let us through. the resort is soooooo beautiful. and it was so nice out so it was nice to walk around. we had to walk quite a bit to get to the dole whip stand and luckily there wasn’t a wait. 

i don’t understand why it was my first time finally having dole whip when it’s always been available to me every time i’ve gone to disney??? but holy shit it was so tasty. i got the pineapple/vanilla swirl. i would have gotten something more elaborate but i was still about to consume dairy the day of a show which is already risky for me haha. joe got a float, i tried a sip and it was so good. i think kris just got pineapple soft serve. it was such an amazing snack while we were sitting there in the heat. i felt pretty damn good.

we then left for jacksonville and what was supposed to be a 2 hour drive turned into 3. that tends to happen (normally we account for this) due to pee breaks and a stop or two for gas. we ended up arriving to the hotel waaaaaay later than we were supposed to, around 5 pm. i still needed to shower, run to walmart to get antacid medicine, and we STILL needed to eat. we needed to load in no later than 7 for the show. i started to get really anxious. i knew there was nothing i could do but i went into panic mode. 

we check into the hotel, which actually seems OKAY at first. the girl at the counter is pleasant and complimenting me on my hair while she checks us in. but all i could think of was how fast i was going to throw down my bags and go pick up the tofu stir fry i ordered. i don’t get the luxury of just waiting until we get to the venue to eat because the sooner i eat the less likely my throat will be shitty when i have to sing. so i run to walmart to get my meds and then pick up my food. i went to walmart alone which was ill-advised. for the first time in ages i get cat-called. i know i was wearing shorts that made my non-existent butt look good but i walk around like that all the time and don’t get harassed, ever. the dude didn’t just say “what’s up”. he was like “ooooooOOOOOOOH hey girl what’s UPPPP that booty (yes he literally said ‘booty’) lookin FINE as HELL. what’s up??? how you doin??? what’s up??” like............would not shut up. i just looked down and sped inside the walmart, it looked like he was loading his bags into a car and i assumed he would be gone by the time i came back outside.

nope.

i called jeremiah for when the harassment continued lmao, i was just like “please stay on the phone with me until this is over, in case something happens to me.” i was livid. i go pick up the food while having a quick call to catch up with jeremiah and then i returned to the hotel. and i really thought the misery would end there. but i come back to the room to find out that there are BUGS ALL OVER THE FUCKING WALLS and PUBES IN THE SHOWER. i marched back to the concierge and told that girl in front of a family she had JUST checked in that our room had bugs and pubes. i felt bad for putting that on her but i was furious. she gets us a new room that is still pretty sketchy looking, but we do a check and it’s not in nearly as bad of shape as the other room.

i don’t even get time to shower, i just quickly rinse and shave. i didn’t even get to really do my makeup, i just like touched up whatever was on from this morning and inhaled my stir fry. at least the food was good. pulses. is hitting up the tour chat because they arrived before us (where’s the surprise lol) and they kept saying THERE WAS A DOG AT THE VENUE WHOSE NAME WAS ALSO SIERRA. so whereas this show seemed like it was going to be the least attended i was still pretty damn excited. they also said it was even smaller than will’s pub. i wondered how small they could mean, haha. but yeah. it was small! but! it was in a really cool little bar. there was a beautiful outdoor area with graffiti and the inside was definitely small but it’s not like we were bringing out 30 heads. it ended up working out fine. with the help of one of the locals named adult life, we moved the tables outside to allow for more room. 

adult life kindly hopped on the show a few days prior when one of the locals bailed. they were a really tight, awesome punk band that sounded awesome. i did like this weird like nod or like verbal acknowledgement when i saw the vocalist outside warming up lmao it was something like “MY MAN” and i immediately regretted being a fucking weirdo hahahaha. they covered dog days by florence it was so cool. i really enjoyed their set. most importantly they drove alllll the way out from orlando to play with us on a work night which we all immensely appreciated. they were awesome to talk to and it was great to meet them. 

while i believe like only 6 people came to this show, the jacksonville crowd was one of the highest quality audiences we played to. everyone was dancing and being really into both our sets, it was cool. i noticed they knew all the words to pulses. songs!!! i always think about how cool it is that if you can get one or two people to dig your music outside your friends circle, it just means that there are infinitely more people out there like them who would come through too, if they knew about your band. 

little did i know that more weirdness was unraveling after our set. i notice some guy is chatting up my bandmates as they’re loading up the van. i was outside when he says “oh so i own a couple buildings in the area, this one across the street and two down the road (something like that). i have a couple of employees inside getting a drink, i’m just waiting for them.” ????????? so weird. there’s like a total of 5 people inside that weren’t there for the show, or already working for the bar, and there was no way they were with this guy. the math didn’t add up. but i bopped back inside to go watch the last band, digdog. 

digdog ripped. they called themselves party prog and i absolutely back that statement. a really interesting mix of punk and prog music. not like new prog, but like rush and yes maybe??? whatever! they were great!!! really entertaining guys. super nice, too. my bandmates were still outside and i wanted them to come inside and watch so i was blowing up our van’s group chat. i shut off my internet cause my phone was dying and i figured they’d eventually come inside. after like ten minutes, only kris comes inside and no one else. i was like “??????” so my phone dies while we’re watching digdog. and after digdog finishes playing, we’re packing up merch, and my bandmates finally come back to explain to me that the reason why they stayed outside by the van is because that sketchy guy that was chatting them up was conspiring to rob us!!!!!! he started to ask them questions about where we were staying and where we were from. they didn’t want to leave our shit until the guy was gone. oh my god i didn’t even think of the possibility that someone might try to follow us back to the hotel and steal our gear. we’ve been sooo lucky, and we haven’t been robbed on tour. yet. lmao 

all in all, jacksonville was definitely a good time but very weird. if we come back (and we would like to!) we will definitely be on our toes lmao. 

oh. and we still found a roach in our room the next day. roaches are the devil i know (had them for years at the apartment in asbury) but that still sucks. don’t stay at the hospitality inn jacksonville!!!!!!!!!!

[yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy]

Magic and Miracles and BEYOND

AAAAnd here we have chapter 1 of my series that is the follow up to Magic and Miracles called Magic and Miracles and BEYOND. ok so underneath the line of klienfelds, if you are going from left to right, that first dress is Crowe’s dress, Luna’s dress is the next to, showing the front and back and then Selena’s reception dress is next to that and her wedding dress is all the way on the right, below that, again going from left to right, we have Selena’s veil, Iris’ veil and the middle is Luna’s veil. Then next to that is the top of Stella’s dress, then the light blush dress is Pashmina’s dress then on the bottom row from left to right is the choker Iris will wear at her wedding, the rest of the bodice of Stella’s dress, the middle is Yasmine’s dress, the next is Iris’ wedding dress and the last dess is the dress Ada had her eye on. (*wink wink*) 

So you can enjoy this on either AO3 or below, hopefully Tumblr will be cool and KEEP this under a cut. *fingers crossed* 

Um for now I’m just gonna tag @the-immortal-marshal if anyone from the Magic and Miracles crew wants to get tagged or if I have any new followers who want to get tagged in this, let me know and I’ll tag you. 

Magic and Miracles and BEYOND

“Ok, do you guys have everything packed?” Sylva asked as she watched Luche, Libertus, Crowe, Ravus, Selena, Nyx and Lunafreya pack everything they needed into her Escalade as Noctis, Ignis, Gladio, Pashmina, Pelna, Yasmine, Prompto, Cindy, Craig, Iris, Stella and Tredd packed everything they needed into two gigantic RV/ tour buses that Sylva had rented them and even got them drivers, since Noctis, Ignis, Gladio and Prompto would be doing a summer band tour. Their music that had been recorded performing for the kids at Miracles had gone viral on YouTube and they got calls to book gigs across the country and with a lot of planning they were all able to make one huge plan together which was really exciting to do.

First the whole group was going to Cedar Point for a few days during the week and then that weekend was Noctis’ and his friends first gig in Pittsburgh, which Sylva and Regis were going to be taking Gladio’s parents and Prompto’s parents with them to come and be in the audience. Then after that, Sylva would take Gladio’s parents and Prompto’s parent’s home and get some work done while Noctis and his group and Luna and her group were going to take a road trip to New York where Noctis and his friends would be doing gigs in between going to Klienfields again for all the girls to pick out wedding dresses and Sylva would be flying everyone’s family and extended family in for that too and then after that Luna and her group along with Crowe and Libertus would be house hunting in New York for when she and Nyx as well Crowe and Libertus would be moving there for college because Nyx, Libertus and Crowe had all got accepted to CIA too before Luche would leave with Sylva to continue working with her while Noctis and his group continued to tour while Luna, Nyx, Selena and Ravus would be going to their first vacation house, a cabin in Maine on the coast to check it out and see if they wanted to keep it or sell it.

And then Sylva and Regis and Luche would be taking Sylva’s super yacht down the coast to follow their kids who would be driving down the coast themselves and even boarding the yacht for some sailing and fishing in Myrtle Beach before they would meet in Miami at Luna and Ravus’ second vacation house before they would all take an extended family cruise on the yacht around the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands and all over the Caribbean for a nice summer vacation then once back, Luna and her group and Noctis’ and his group would continue their trek west, along route 66 on their nation wide food crawl while Noctis and his friends would continue to go on tours and stuff before they would reach the west coast where Sylva and Regis would go and Sylva and Regis would tour wine country and meet again in Ravus’ and Luna’s other vacation house in wine country before they would also go up the coast and then once they got to San Francisco and would go on two more cruises, one to Hawaii and then another to Alaska before coming back and Luna and her group and Noctis and his group would go up the coast to the north wast to Oregon and Washington where Ravus and Luna had yet another vacation house in Seattle before having a nice little trip through Vancouver, Canada before they would make their trips back east where they had another vacation house in Aspen, Colorado and then again in the other vacation house in Montana where they would all meet up again to do some fishing before heading through Chicago then back home in time for Luna, Selena, Stella and Iris as well as Noctis and Prompto to go to their classes for their senior year before Crowe and Libertus would get married that September, along with Gladio and Pashmina and Pelna and Yasmine before the winter where Luna and Nyx would get married and move to New York with Crowe and Libertus, Crowe got into the wine courses that the New York campus had and the business part of it too as well as the best Bar School New York had that was also in New York City.

But for now Sylva just went around with a clip board and went over everything with everyone to make sure they got everything and didn’t forget anything as they all answered and made sure they got everything that they needed packed. She had spent a small fortune making sure Noctis and his friends had really good instruments and speakers and stuff and of course plenty of merch and once they were all packed, they got one last family picture as the Ulrics, the Amicitia’s, the Shammas, the Argentum’s, the Lazarus’, the Ostium’s, the Altius’, Tredd’s dad, Stella’s parents, the Khara’s, the Patel’s, the Aurum’s and the Fosters all made sure their kids were all set too before they got one last huge group/family photo before all the kids took off and all the moms started crying before they went back inside to Sylva’s house where Sylva’s kitchen was stuffed with food and wine and stuff as all the parents officially celebrated a nice break without kids, of course, Luca, Luche’s little sister, Crowe’s younger siblings, Lily and Yusuf being the only ‘kids’ that didn’t go with the teenagers but they didn’t mind one bit, the parents were busy talking and gossiping in the kitchen and Yusuf finally worked up the courage to sneak himself and Lily off for just a moment.

“Where are we going?” Lily asked as she held onto Yusuf’s hand as he seemed like he was off to show her something special before Yusuf managed to find a lonely hallway near Sylva’s office and just around the corner and completely out of sight, Yusuf took Lily’s face in his hands and kissed her the way he had seen Gladio kiss Pashmina and kissed her sweetly. Lily made the tiniest of surprised hums and breathed in sharply before she pulled him to pin herself against the wall like she had seen Craig do to Iris on occasion and it was the perfect first kiss for the young couple and their budding romance that Sylva sensed would last their lifetimes.  

But in that moment, Luna and her group and Noctis and his all drove towards Cedar Point and went out to dinner that night once they got there and then into their hotel rooms, all of them staying in the same hotel, all of them, with some pleading with the hotel manager, managing to get on the same floor even. The next day the whole group took Cedar Point by storm, all of them getting the fast passes to cut all the lines and several times, they all got on the same train for all the rides which made for some epic ride pictures as well as great pictures period, Luche not feeling so bad being the third wheel even though he wished Ada could have come too but Cor was taking her to Canada instead, but they would be meeting up with everyone in New York because Ada wanted and needed to be there for when Crowe picked out her wedding dress since Ada was Crowe’s maid of honor.

After that, then when everyone got to Pittsburgh, they all tried to get rooms at a nearby hotel to where Noctis, Ignis, Prompto and Gladio would be performing before Sylva came with all the parents who also stayed at the nearby hotels too. Thanks to all the friends and family, the place was packed and they all cheered super loudly, Sylva doing so the most as she recorded it and was live streaming it to YouTube which got tons of hits and Sylva put Noctis’ band which they named The Chocobros- which was a reference to their favorite video game- schedule in the description. After the show The Chocobros were invited to perform the next night in another club, a bigger, nicer one and everyone stayed and a huge crowd gathered and Noctis and his friends got to sign autographs on the T-shirts themselves and sold out of half the T-Shirts the second night which Sylva immediately ordered thousands more and would be giving them to the group in New York when they would meet up again. Iris, Cindy, Pashmina and Stella setting up a table to sell them since they would be traveling with them all summer as Craig and Tredd would be running “security” and Pelna ran sound and Yasmine was their official ‘manager’ but really she was the best at negotiating pay, tour dates, keeping everyone on schedule and making sure they all stayed safe and after wedding dress shopping and house hunting in New York, Crowe and Libertus would be joining them, Libertus would help with security while Crowe would be running security for the girls at the merch booth to make sure they were taken care of too.

When they all finally reconvened in Klienfields, the whole group practically took up all of Klienfields waiting area.

“Moms, Grandma Edie, Grandma Susan,” Ravus began as he stood in front of the couch his mother, Sabrina, Edith and Susan were sitting on once he heard them oohing and awing the bigger ball gowns in the reception area and their murmurs of how Selena would look in them and knew he should step in because Selena wouldn’t necessarily tell them no.

“Selena and I have been looking at dresses on Pintrist and so I mean this with the utmost respect, but you guys need to abandon any vision you have of Selena in a big extravagant ball gown, she wants something simple and something lace and she doesn’t like ballgowns, it’s a summer wedding and she wants the dress to be light and comfortable and she doesn’t want to be a Disney Princess, she just wants to be her ok? For her, bigger isn’t better, whichever dress she wears that she’s wearing the biggest, brightest and most genuine smile, that’s her dress, despite however you personally feel about it, don’t push her or let anyone else push her to get something she doesn’t absolutely love, tradition be damned- ok? If you have issues or problems with this, you’re going to talk to me about it. The most important thing is that Selena will be happy and she will not sacrifice or compromise any of her own happiness to make you happy, you’ve all gotten your own weddings and they were hopefully what you wanted. It’s her turn to have her own wedding just the way she wants it.” Ravus communicated firmly with them, Ravus standing in front of them and taking turns looking each of them in the eye. Susan and Edith were taken aback by that, Sabrina blinked in surprise as before her face changed into a challenging frown as she crossed her arms over her chest but Sylva just beamed proudly at her son.

“You’re absolutely right, these appointments are all about finding the perfect dresses for the girls, I promise not to push my opinion on Selena, simply support her and give her my stamp approval on her favorite dress which I’m sure she’ll look gorgeous in, thank you for the reminder Dear.” Sylva placated.

“But,” Sabrina began before Ravus turned all of his attention to her. “Can’t she just at least try on, just one ‘Princess ballgown’, I’ve wanted to see her in one of those for 17 years, surely trying one on couldn’t hurt.” Sabrina reasoned as Edith and Susan nodded in agreement with that sentiment.

“Well that’s up to her, but again, I don’t want anyone to push her, persuade her, guilt trip her or talking her into doing something she doesn’t want to do.” Ravus insisted.  “Because I don’t do any of those things to her and I don’t want anyone else to do those things to her either.” Ravus pointed out and fixed them with a respectful but firmly determined look back. “Any other questions or concerns?” Ravus asked before they shook their heads no.

“Excellent,” Ravus beamed proudly before walking back over to Nyx and the rest of the guys who would be hanging out while their fiances would be doing wedding dress shopping while the brothers would be called back to see their sisters in their dresses.

“Wow, he’s uh, quite, protective isn’t he?” Susan noted.

“Yeah,” Sylva sighed wistfully. “I remember when his father used to do that to my parents. Tell them exactly when and where to get off when they were being overbearing. At least Ravus was respectful about it.” Sylva grinned proudly as she recalled fondly all the times Victor had gone toe to toe with her parents. “Trust me, it’s a good thing, especially when his goal is Selena’s happiness, that’s his driving force behind all his actions, once he has his eyes and heart set on something, he’s quite driven and always accomplishes his goals.” Sylva revealed before they were all shown the largest seating area to sit down and await their consultants. The guys continuing to hang out in the reception area.

“Selena Ulric?” Debbie asked and Selena raised her hand and waived excitedly.

“Hi, I’m Selena,” Selena greeted back happily as they two shook hands.

“And Lunafreya Nox Fleuret- Caelum?” Antonella greeted before she recognized both Luna and her mom from Sylva’s appointment. “Well hello again!” Antonella greeted happily. “Oh my goodness we have another big group today.” Antonella noted when she saw everyone as the other consultants came and greeted their brides and their families too.

“Yeah, it’s a family affair. So this is my husband Regis, I’m sure you recognize our son Noctis and his fiance Ignis, of course you remember Luna, this is Selena, our other son Ravus’ fiance who’s practically Luna’s sister because they’re best friends, her parents, Sabrina and Dorian Ulric, Dorian’s parents, Cliff and Susan Ulric, Sabrina’s parents Edith and Joseph Bakas and who you don’t see is Luna’s fiance Nyx who is Selena’s big brother who’s in the reception area and will be called back for when Selena picks her dress and Ravus of course is with him and Ravus will be called back for when Luna chooses her dress.” Sylva introduced as Debbie and Antonella went down the line to shake hands with everyone as the other consultants got to meet everyone else.

“Wow, ok, well what are you looking for Luna?” Antonella asked.

“Big princess ball gown with flowers and bling and poof galore actually I’ve had my heart set on this Malya Rovaolga gown,” Luna said as she pulled up her saved Pintrist images of the gown she found.

“We actually have that gown and you will look gorgeous in it.” Antonella reassured her.

“And what are you looking for Selena?” Debbie asked thoughtfully.  

“The exact opposite of everything Luna said, A line is all the poof I think I can stand, I really like sheath silhouette, maybe mermaid or even trumpet perhaps a fit and flare if the flare part isn’t too poofy and outragious and I’m looking for an all lace gown, now I won’t say no to a tiny bit of bling but I’m really wanting something  really simple.” Selena answered truthfully.

“And modest.” Sabrina, Susan and Edith added.

“And is there a price point we’re comfortable at?” Antonella asked.

“Nope sky’s the limit.” Sylva answered happily.

“Well we’d like to stay under five thousand.” Sabrina answered carefully.

“And if Selena falls in love with anything over that limit I’ll be more than happy to make up the difference.” Sylva volunteered as she heard all the other parents give their price points before Sylva piped up and stood up to make an announcement to the whole group.

“Ok, actually, the first figure they all just gave you guys is what they’ll pay for the first part, anything and everything above that, I’ll pay for, all these girls are like daughters to me, so none of these girls has a price limit, I don’t care if any or all of them fall in love with fifty thousand dollar dresses for their weddings and receptions each, I’ll pay for all of it, I want each girl to fall head over heels in love with their dresses and veils and accessories, no matter what the cost is.” Sylva announced and everyone cheered, the girls especially as all the girls bombarded Sylva with hugs and kisses from all the girls because Project Recovery had just hit the market that week and Sylva found herself fifty million dollars richer because of it and was feeling especially generous.

Ada got the distinct feeling that if she had stayed with Luche and was trying on a dress today too that Sylva’s invitation would have been extended to her too and that Sylva herself would have offered to fly her parents here for this too. But Cor was insistent, if not quite adamant that if they were going to get married, that they should do it all on their own and that David’s Bridal was just as good as any other dress shop and she needed to learn to be happy and content with just that and Cor was doing everything he could to save up for an engagement ring for her.

But seeing all the girl’s engagement rings had her feeling jealous, especially when Pashmina and Yasmine were flaunting the fact that Sylva had simply gifted them their large, gorgeous and stunning engagement rings and their right hand rings as Iris boasted that Ravus had given Craig one his father’s engagement rings that he had made for his son before he died because the two were like brothers and it’s because Iris and Craig had agreed that that was so sentimental that it would be her official wedding ring that she’d be getting after she graduated next year but that was why her ‘promise ring’ also from Sylva was as amazing as it was because Sylva was so touched by Iris and Craig’s sentimentality too, letting Iris have any and all rings and jewelry she wanted which she was currently sporting a diamond choker just for this occasion that she’d also be wearing on her wedding day that her parents would be taking home with them so it didn’t get stolen, lost or damaged during the summer.

Sylva’s generosity knew no bounds for her ‘kids’ but Ada felt and knew she wasn’t one of them. Not that Sylva was ever rude or mean or anything like that to her. Sylva treated her politely and in a friendly and kind manner but not near the adoring, loving and fawning nature she did all the other girls and Ada knew why and had made peace with that and knew not to expect it either. Ada had made her choice and made her bed and was now gonna lie in it.

However, since Luche had seemed to improve so much she found herself thinking back on all the good times they had had and feeling regret that she hadn’t been happy and content more then and maybe she should have seen Luche’s wisdom in trying to network that night of Sylva’s wedding and hadn’t needed to be so selfish that she needed to be his center of his attention in that moment in time, Luche always treated her like she was at any and all other times and he was doing it because he knew it would only help him take better care of her, Luche had been really good to her, and even now she was finding that she was drawing comparisons between Luche and Cor and since Luche had started improving and had dropped his problematic behaviors, the comparisons were starting to favor him more and more, even the pregnancy thing didn’t seem to bother her so much, especially once Luche had apologized for that and had explained his very flawed reasoning and had owned up to it all and took responsibility for it- at his own graduation party and that’s what really spurned herself to draw close to him again as a friend and was rediscovering him in a sense and seeing everyone all together like this, she found herself feeling hollow and saddened and regretful that she seemed to be or at least felt like she was on the outside looking in on all of it. All her friends were having the summer of her dreams without a care in the world while she was firmly planted in adulthood and unable to get out of it. Where she was finding out just how important Cor’s career was to him, how she found herself playing the supporting role to that and how doing anything fun was always reduced to how much it would cost and budgeting and stretching every dollar because living expenses were so high and while her parents had tried to teach her about it, now she was getting first hand experience just how hard it could be. Somehow she felt she knew her own wedding dress shopping experience wouldn’t nearly be as magical as this all seemed to be for her friends and that she found herself feeling somewhat sad while also somewhat jealous too but she had swallow all that down and not show any of that. This was about Crowe, so she had to just smile for Crowe’s sake.  

“Ok, well let’s get you girls back and into some beautiful dresses,” Debbie invited as she and Antonella brought Luna and Selena back as the other consultants got all the other girls into the changing rooms and talked with them privately to get further details on what they wanted, all the girls taking up a whole hallway.  

Once they were out of sight, Sabrina, Edith and Susan as well as all the other mothers all got up and went ‘shopping’ themselves. Sylva sighed exasperatedly and begrudgingly went after Sabrina, Edith and Susan, kindly repeating Ravus’ instructions, knowing Ravus would appreciate at least her trying to reign them in before she eyed a dress herself that she thought Selena would look ravishing in, perhaps as a reception dress and grabbed that before Sabrina, Edith, Susan and Sylva all walked to Selena’s room.

“Yes?” Debbie answered the door.

“We heard what you said but perhaps you could humor us and try these on too?” Edith asked as she held up her choice.

Selena sighed in defeat and decided to at least indulge them in trying them on before they came and hung up their dresses before leaving, Sylva staying behind a little as Sabrina, Edith and Susan happily walked back to where everyone else was.

“Ok, Ravus actually sat all of us down and told us not to do exactly what we’re doing and I’m sorry, I tried to stop them but as you can see they were bound and determined, please don’t agree to these dresses just because they are our picks ok? You have your vision and you should be true to that. It’s your wedding, not ours. Now that being said, I know your family is wanting something very modest for the wedding which is perfectly fine if that’s what you want too but might I suggest perhaps a second, tastefully provocative dress for the reception that you by no means have to do but if you felt so inclined I would love to buy for you whatever you decide.” Sylva grinned mischievously as she showed Selena her pick and grinned wider when Selena’s eyes widened and she ‘oohed’ at Sylva’s pick before Sylva hung it up with the others.

“Ok, I’ll do my best to keep them from interfering any further.” Sylva assured Selena before Selena got up and hugged Sylva tightly.

“Thank you so much for understanding and trying to curb them, I know it’s like herding cats.” Selena thanked Sylva gratefully as Sylva hugged Selena back just as tightly as the two shared a hearty laugh.  

“Of course Sweetheart, we love you, we just want to see you happy and that’s all the matters ok? Now get dressed and enjoy this moment. You don’t owe your mother, or me or your grandparents anything. Just have fun and relax and don’t worry about anything, Debbie is amazing and we’ll have no trouble finding you the perfect dress.” Sylva urged sweetly before letting go and left the room and Selena smiled appreciatively. “And that’s why I love and adore my future mother in law, supportive but indulgent at the same time.” Selena giggled as she looked at Sylva’s pick appreciatively as she realized she actually really loved it before she looked at the others blew out a breath, trying to decide which one she should put on first.

“Ok, put me in Mom’s pick.” Selena sighed in defeat as she pointed to the dress her mother picked out.

“It’s pretty, not what I’m looking for but pretty,” Selena admitted as Debbie put her into the dress.

“It is, but hopefully they’ll see how unhappy you are in it.” Debbie offered comfortingly as Selena made a face at herself in the mirror.

Luna and the other girls got out at the same time and gave Selena a questioning glace as they all looked at each other’s dresses first.

“My Mom and my grandma’s went dress shopping too. This is my mom’s pick.” Selena deadpanned as she gestured to herself in the dress while giving off an unimpressed if not irritated look before they all looked at Selena in various pitying looks while others quite liked the dress but for themselves.  

“Well it’s pretty, not at all what you’re looking for but pretty,” Luna shrugged which got Selena to laugh as all the girls agreed to that.  

“That’s exactly what I said!” Selena revealed which got Luna and the other girls to snort a laugh.

“Come on, let’s go out and show them.” Luna suggested.

“You go first,” Selena suggested before Luna and Antonella got in front of Selena and Debbie and all the other girls got in line behind them.

“May I present to you the most bodacious big princess ball gown ever!” Luna announced proudly as she marched up to that podium and let go of the underskirt to let it fall down to her feet as Antonella fluffed out the long skirt as everyone oohed and awed before Luna turned around, her brighter than sunshine smile lighting up the salon. “Tada!” Luna said as her arms gestured to her dress.

“Oh yeah, that’s the dress,” Noctis grinned which got Luna to squeal and clap in excitement as they all nodded in agreement.

“Go get Rae,” Luna told Noctis who obediently got up and got Ravus who after a few minutes appeared as Selena didn’t even bother to hide.

“What the hell?” Ravus asked when he saw Selena and went to her first.

“My mother and my grandma’s went dress shopping just after your talk with them.” Selena deadpanned before Ravus narrowed his eyes.

“I thought I had that handled but apparently I didn’t and I apologize for not being more explicit in our wishes Darling.” Ravus apologized before he went over to Lunafreya and smiled proudly when he saw how happy she was.  

“Wow,” Ravus breathed when he saw Luna in her dress.

“That is your dress Lunafreya, does it come with a matching veil?” Sylva asked before Antonella got one of the accessory consultants to find the matching veil. She came back and put the gigantic and over the top veil on as everyone fawned and gushed over the beautiful sight of Luna in her wedding dress.

“Ok, ask her the question,” Regis prompted Antonella as he wiped his proud and happy tears away, knowing that if Victor was still alive, he would have been sobbing by now because of how sensitive he was.

“Lunafreya, are you saying yes to the dress?” Antonella asked excitedly.

“Yes!” Luna cheered happily which earned a round of applause and hugs from everyone but Ravus stayed planted in his spot.  

“Ok, now I want to point out something, you’ve all adopted me right?” Luna put to Selena’s family as they nodded in agreement. “Ok, so you’re getting exactly what you want, one of your daughters slash granddaughters got the big princess ball gown and it’s everything I could ever want, now, let’s let Selena get what she wants.” Luna repeated pointedly at Sabrina, Edith and Susan who gave her unimpressed looks back as Luna gathered her dress up and got off the pedestal so Selena could get on herself but stood off to the side with Ravus.

“Ravus, you’re not supposed to see your bride in her wedding dress, it’s bad luck! Now go back with the rest of the boys.” Susan chided.

“And I thought I told you three not to pressure Selena into a big princess ball gown, but what exactly is she wearing?” Ravus turned and gave the three of them a pointed look who looked away guiltily as Selena came forward and Ravus held her hand and helped her up onto the podium but otherwise didn’t move from her side.  

“You look gorgeous baby,” Sabrina cooed at the sight of Selena in the big poofy princess ball gown.

“Yeah, but that’s not the same super happy smile Luna was wearing, that’s a polite, doesn’t want to hurt your feelings because she hates it- smile.” Sylva pointed out before Sabrina looked from the dress to Selena’s face and had to admit Sylva had a point as Ravus still refused to move and continued to stare Sabrina, Edith and Susan down.

“It is a gorgeous dress but Sylva’s right, you’re not happy in it.” Susan admitted first. “Don’t even bother putting my pick on, just find the dress that makes you happy.” Susan advised which got Selena to smile gratefully back and Ravus didn’t ease up until Edith agreed and told Selena not to try on her pick either before Ravus finally let up.

“Yeah, it’s pretty, but not the right dress, next.” Cliff said.

“Agreed, you’re beautiful, but that’s not your dress,” Dorian shook his head no which made Selena blow out a breath of relief and say a silent thankful and grateful prayer that everyone could see she wasn’t happy in it before Ravus beamed proudly back at Selena while she smiled appreciatively back at him for standing up for her the way he did.  

“Ok, thank you for indulging me Baby,” Sabrina nodded as she got one picture of Selena in the gown before Selena picked up the dress and happily got off the pedestal and off to the side before Ravus kissed her cheek sweetly before he returned to the rest of the guys, taking Noctis and Ignis with him while each girl then got her turn on the pedestal so all the family could appraise the dresses, all the dads especially choking up and crying at seeing their baby girls in wedding dresses, Clarus doing so the most before all the girls got off and followed Luna back into the dressing rooms. Luna got changed out of her dress and changed back into her regular clothes came out of her dressing room and got Nyx from the lobby since he could sit in for the rest of Selena’s and the rest of the girl’s appointments but Ravus couldn’t resist himself and had found a few dresses he thought Selena would like and possibly love and gave them to Nyx and Luna to give to Selena before they walked back to the dressing room Selena was in.

“Ok so who picked these out? Because these are actually what I’ve been looking for, your mom?” Selena guessed to Luna who shook her head no.

“Are you sure you want to know?” Luna hinted giddily.

“Yes,” Selena nodded as she looked from Luna to Nyx.

“Beavus,” Nyx answered which melted Selena’s heart and made her gasp softly.

“Really? Aww, the man knows me, I love them.” Selena smiled excitedly as she looked them over.”

“And I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about dresses but this one is my personal favorite, it’s the most...you.” Nyx said as he gestured to his favorite one that Ravus had picked out.

“And I completely agree with Nyx, this has to be my favorite too, although this one is really gorgeous.” Luna noted before she noted her mother’s pick. “But again, it’s all completely up to you, you don’t have to pick this just because we like it.” Luna reassured her.

“Thanks, actually your mom picked that one out for me, believe it or not, said it could be a reception dress. But don’t tell my mom or my grandmothers but I actually really love that one.” Selena informed them proudly.

“Go Mom! And don’t worry about it, that can be our little secret, what they don’t know can’t hurt them.” Luna cheered which just made Nyx roll his eyes and shake his head but he knew Luna had a point.

“I take it if you go that route, she’d buy the second dress?” Nyx guessed and Selena and Luna nodded adamantly before Luna and Nyx left and rejoined the group.

“So which is really standing out to you?” Debbie asked.

“This one, their favorite out of Rae’s picks, I love the peekabo back,” Selena decided giddily before Debbie put her in that one.

“Oh it’s so soft too!” Selena gushed as she looked at herself excitedly in the mirror and ran her hands over the lace of the bodice. “And I love the illusion lace at the top and I thought I wanted all lace but I really like how there’s a break here and I know I didn’t want poofy but this just the right amount, I’m actually ok with the little bit of poof, and it’s not heavy, it’s really light and really comfortable.” Selena praised.

“And the sweetheart neckline is perfect for you and the off white/ ivory really compliments your skin tone. It’s a beautiful, very romantic, very classic dress as well.” Debbie added. “And look at your smile! That’s the smile I think your future mother in law was talking about, you’re really happy in this dress!” Debbie smiled happily and knowingly before Selena started to cry a few happy tears.

“He found me the perfect dress.” Selena happily cried as she took a tissue from Debbie and dabbed at her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling her own brighter than sunshine smile, loving how she looked in the mirror as she just knew she had found her wedding dress, she felt like a bride and she felt like herself wearing the perfect dress, not like the dress was taking over and wearing her at all.

“Let’s go show them.” Debbie suggested before they walked out and Selena showed off Rae’s dress to all her friends who absolutely loved it and loved that Selena loved it and everyone oohed and awwed again before Selena revealed she felt like this was her dress which earned a round of cheers from all the girls who hugged and congratulated her before Selena practically strutted back out to everyone.

“There’s the smile,” Sylva smiled knowingly when she saw Selena come back to them in the second dress. Wearing her own brighter than sunshine smile and walking tall and proud.  

“She cried tears of happiness just putting it on.” Debbie informed them before everyone started to get choked up as Selena started crying and laughing at the same time again.

“It’s perfect baby,” Dorian cooed as he discretely wiped the tears escaping his eyes.

“It really is, that dress was made for you,” Cliff praised.

“You look like the perfect bride, everything about it is perfect.” Edith cooed.

“I agree, you’re so beautiful baby, this is your dress.” Sabrina cried happily before everyone else gave Selena and her dress their praise and stamp of approval too.

“Get her in a veil.” Sylva suggested again and Antonella left to go get a few different veils that could match the dress.

“And plus if you guys still wanted that grand train look, you can accomplish that with the veil,” Debbie pointed out as she put the grandest veil on Selena and everyone ‘oohed and awed’ again.

“Ok I gotta admit I do absolutely love the veil.” Selena admitted.

“You’re so beautiful Selena,” Nyx cried as Dorian put his arm around Nyx’s shoulders. “Beavus is so going to cry his eyes out when he sees you.” Nyx teased lightheartedly which got them all to laugh.

“He is, you’re going to have to stuff your pockets with as much tissue as possible.” Sylva immediately agreed.

“I have never seen you look more beautiful my Darling Divine,” Luna cooed as she got up and hugged Selena tightly. “You don’t have to tell anyone who picked this out ok?” Luna whispered and Selena nodded in understanding.

“Selena you look absolutely radiant and you look so happy in that dress, you found your dress,” Sylva praised and Selena nodded along and began to sway in the dress, watching it swirl around her in amusement.

“So, Selena, are you saying yes to the dress?” Debbie asked excitedly.

“Yes!” Selena answered brightly and everyone cheered. “But,” Selena began and everyone stopped and stared in surprise. “It was suggested that I could have a dress for the wedding and a second dress for the reception and there is just one more dress I want to try on.” Selena began with a meaningful look and smile to Sylva who returned it giddily. Selena’s family looked at each other curiously but the looks between Nyx, Luna and Sylva were the most telling before Selena left to return to her dressing room.

“Ok, I really love my future mother in law, this is just...this is amazing, I feel like a million bucks in this, it’s still pretty modest but it just hugs my curves just right while still allowing me to move in it and it has just that special something and it has just enough bling in the details and in the lace that I didn’t think I would like but I just...I love it. I really do.” Selena admitted as she tested to her movement in the dress to make sure she could still dance in it.

“Well that and you shine like a jewel in the dress too.” Debbie praised. “And you’re wearing an excited smile in this dress. I think Rae is really going to love you in this and just imagine his surprise when you change into this.” Debbie noted.

“Well I feel just plain giddy in this dress and all I can think is how much fun Rae’s going to have taking it off of me and how much fun I’m going to have having him take this dress off of me too.” Selena giggled which got Debbie to laugh too.

“And that’s the whole point of having a reception dress, Rae is a very lucky man.” Debbie cooed.

“He is but I’m just as lucky, if not luckier because I get to marry him and get to be in this amazing family.” Selena nodded. “OK, let’s go show them.” Selena suggested as she couldn’t help but squeal in delight and outright strutted out to her room to show all the other girls who cheered and hooted and hollered and whistled at Selena dancing seductively in the dress before she went and showed her family.

“Wow,” they all collectively said as Sylva beamed a smile so bright she shamed the sun.

“Yeah, I’m totally getting this as my reception dress.” Selena informed everyone.

“Well how much is it?” Sabrina asked a little warily.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m going to buy this dress if you’re ok with it Selena.” Sylva volunteered to which Selena nodded adamantly to that with a bright giddy smile.

“Ok fine, Ravus is in for a treat.” Sabrina grinned.

“Yes he is.” They all agreed.

“So, Selena, are you saying yes to this dress too?” Debbie asked excitedly.

“Yes!” Selena answered just as brightly and excitedly as she did the first time.

However not all the girls had an easy time finding their dresses. Yasmine was unbelievably picky while Iris had a hard time finding a dress that didn’t swallow her petite body whole before Selena offered the other two dresses that Ravus had picked out for her, Iris falling in love with one of them immediately and how simple yet very traditional it was on her, she didn’t think she wanted lace at all but the lace of this gown had her feeling like a bride- Gladio, Clarus and Rose and Rose’s parents and Clarus’ parents all practically sobbing tears of joy by how beautiful Iris was in it as Iris also got an over the top cathedral veil and added a blinged out belt and it was perfect before she got a reception dress that was shorter, to her knees and blinged out like crazy that was so Iris’ personality that her own parents and grandparents were ok with.

Pashmina and Yasmine were both having traditional Indian wedding dresses for their actual ceremonies, but they were there to find reception dresses that were the traditional white and Yasmine wasn’t happy until the actual designer came over and designed her- her own custom gown that had elements from all three of her favorite dresses as well as something perfectly unique just for Yasmine as her parents rolled their eyes and thanked Sylva repeatedly for paying for it since it was now quite expensive because Yasmine was a Princess in her how right too. Crowe had a hard time finding a dress that was ‘kick ass’ but when she found a high low dress that could be customized and once she learned that on the underside, they were willing to add actual camo to the underside and to the belt, Crowe was sold and finally really happy, actually crying tears of joy herself that had all the girls hugging her in a group hug. Sylva and Crowe’s mothers getting up to do a victory dance themselves that Crowe wasn’t going to leave empty handed because they had been sweating bullets because she was picky for completely different reasons. Stella however, was having a hard time finding a dress ‘sexy enough’ and Stella’s mom Samantha nearly pulled her hair out because it was a god damn wedding dress, not a burlesque outfit and that Stella wasn’t actually going to strip for Tredd at the god damn alter, before Sylva just huffed, stood up and marched over to a Pnina Tornai that was currently the sexiest dress Pnina had yet to design and brought it over.

“Samantha, it’s Stella’s wedding just let her get whatever she wants and make peace with it.” Sylva very firmly advised at her BFF before addressing her niece. “Stella, this is the sexiest dress in here, I know because for giggles I tried it on when I was here but it was too sexy even for me, if you don’t like the bottom we can customize it until it’s perfect ok?” Sylva offered as she handed the dress over and Stella’s eyes went wide when she realized it was mostly sheer and dripping with jewels before Stella happily took it back and practically ran back to her room with her consultant.

“God damn it, my aunt was right, it’s perfect, except for the bottom, if we could get the bottom of the other Pnina on this one, I’ll be happy.” Stella beamed happily as her consultant blew out a breath of relief before Stella strutted out in the dress, making the Amicitias and their parents and their grandparents, especially Rose and her mother start praying in Spanish and kissing their crosses and rosary and all of them doing the crosses over themselves- that Iris or Pashmina hadn’t picked anything like that as all the other girls who stayed in their wedding dresses watched on, Luna getting back into her dress just so that they could all get a picture of all of them in their dream dresses and Stella had been the last one to find her dress.

“Ok, now, Sylva, you made the best call because this is her dress, she just wants this bottom on this dress.” The consultant said as she went behind Stella to hold up the bottom of the dress in front of Stella in the mirror so Sylva, Stella and Samantha could envision it.

“Ok, yeah, you’re right, it’s perfect.” Samantha finally caved, desperate to just get out of there and grateful that Stella was getting a wedding period.

“So Stella? Are you saying yes to this dress?” The consultant asked.

“Oh I’m saying hell yes! Woo!” Stella crooned as all the other girls cheered before they all got together and everyone got pictures of all the brides to be in their wedding dresses.

However Sylva did notice that Ada herself seemed to be drawn to one of the gowns there and made an actual note in her phone that once Ada left Cor for Luche again, that she would bring her here just to try that gown on for her and to invite her parents and Luche’s mother and little sister for it too. However as everyone started to go through the check out process and Ada wasn’t looking, Sylva stayed behind and snagged another consultant to make sure that dress would still be there for them in 4-5 months time and was relieved when it would be. Sylva however knew that Luche’s mother wouldn’t be thrilled to have Ada as a daughter in law and knew she’d probably have to be the buffer for Linda, Luche’s mother between Linda and Ada but knew of a solution that would make everyone happy before she spotted another dress that Sylva felt Ada would look amazing in for a reception dress and made a note of that one too and made sure it would be there in 4-5 months too.

“Mom? What’cha doin?” Selena asked as she came up behind Sylva and hugged her from behind and set her head on Sylva’s shoulder before Sylva swore Selena to the utmost secrecy and told her what she was doing. Selena being both amazed yet saddened to hear what Sylva saw for Ada’s very near future but at the same time, happy that Luche would get the love of his life back at the end of summer and that he’d get his happily ever after- after all and that they’d be back here so that Ada could have her own magical wedding dress experience.

“So I’ll do my best to discourage him from getting another attachment while he’s with us.” Selena offered. “Yes, please, thank you Dearest.” Sylva thanked her daughter as she hugged her tightly.

When it was Sylva’s turn to check out, paying for the remainder of everyone’s stuff, she didn’t even bat an eye lash, in fact she was so all too happy when she did her own check out and simply charged it all to her black card, the one that didn’t have a limit because all her ‘daughters’ and their happiness’ were definitely worth it. Sylva got out of the office and saw Cor and Ada leave, knowing Cor was anxious to get home and get back to his case and all she could do is watch Luche become downcast that Ada was leaving.

Sylva then took everyone out to dinner at one of the best restaurants in New York City. The restaurant dividing the group up where the parents sat at one big long table while all the younger couples sat at another huge long table, Selena made sure that Luche sat in between Ravus and Nyx while the younger kids got their own table too. And the food was some of the best food everyone had ever had, Nyx and Libertus taking notes before Sylva had the chef come out and talk with Nyx and Libertus personally which was an honor they really appreciated.

Meanwhile Ada pouted and huffed from her spot next to Cor on the flight home, watching as picture after picture was posted to social media of everyone out for the evening, all of them out to eat and posting pictures of their food while she resentfully ate her airline pretzels that tasted stale to her. She wanted to stay with Crowe longer, she wanted to get to see Noctis and his band perform, she wanted to hang out with her friends and go out to dinner with everyone, to stay at the freaking Four Seasons Hotel with everyone that night and to go house hunting with Crowe the next day but Cor had to work the next day and Crowe had barely had gotten to pick out her wedding dress before Cor was chomping at the bit and pushing Ada to leave to get to the airport to get back home so they would have time to go through security and stuff and Ada felt so rushed and the rushing took her joy from it all, the whole group had gone to one of the best restaurants in all of New York City and Sylva had paid for everyone to stay at the Four Seasons and would be taking everyone who wanted to go to The Met for a ballet and was going to take all the girls shopping for appropriate dresses because all the guys had brought suits, well except for Cor, he didn’t want to do any of that and had only flown them there for the day because he wanted to see Iris get a wedding dress too but while Ada wasn’t into the ballet and Cor was definitely not, she still wanted to be with everyone and get a nice new dress and enjoy the new experience. She was missing out on so much fun damn it! And before she knew it she felt like she was seething.

“What is your problem?” Cor asked as her huffs got his attention.

“I’m missing out! I wanted to stay!” Ada snapped angrily as if that was glaringly obvious.

“Well I’m sorry, but I need to get back and I couldn’t leave you there by yourself.” Cor argued.

“I wouldn’t have been by myself! I would have stayed with everyone else, I would have stayed with Crowe.” Ada argued.

“Yeah, no,” Cor shook his head.

“Why not?!” Ada demanded.

“Hun, everyone was coupled up except for Luche, I’m not leaving you alone with him.” Cor pointed out.

“Oh, like you don’t trust me to be around him? Is that it?” Ada accused.

“I trust you, I don’t trust him.” Cor countered evenly even though he found himself getting jealous that they were talking and starting to be friends again and that worried him and her behavior towards Luche had started to bother him but he didn’t want to start a fight. Younger people always seemed to think that you can be friends with your exes and Cor’s experience had taught him otherwise.

“But he’s gotten better!” Ada argued as tears came to her eyes.

“Why are you crying? Why are we even fighting about this?” Cor asked, now he really was worried if Ada was so quick to defend Luche now.

“Because you love your job more than you want me to have fun with my friends.” Ada spat.

“That’s not true! Quit acting like a spoiled brat! I flew you here didn’t I? You still got to hang out with everyone all morning and we got to go to brunch afternoon, you got to see Crowe pick out her wedding dress. You got exactly what you asked for. So stop this nonsense!” Cor growled.

“Yeah, that was until, we got invited to go out to dinner, and got invited to stay, we could have stayed, Sylva would have flown us home in her jet with everyone else and all it would have cost us is our time. Why didn’t you take Regis up on his offer, he wanted you to stay, he wanted you to hang out with him! Him and Clarus did! The case would have still been there when we would have gotten home, it’s not that urgent. You won’t make any progress in the few days we could have stayed with them that you couldn’t have made in the few days after we could have gotten back.” Ada argued, trying not to cry and failing.

“Look, it just didn’t sit well with me alright?” Cor whispered, not wanting to cause a scene.

“Oh that Regis and Sylva would have paid your way?” Ada sneered.

“Yes and there is no way we could have afforded to go out to eat with them and we definitely couldn’t have afforded to stay with them, there’s just no way, we’ve over extended ourselves just for this already.” Cor explained.

“It was all a gift! You’re not freeloading! If your ego and your fragile sense of masculinity wouldn’t have been upset by them being generous with you, and if you would have had some bloody grace in accepting it, it wouldn’t have cost you a dime, so it’s nice to know that you hold your own ego ahead of me too. First it’s your job and now it’s your ego, what’s next? Sports?” Ada snarled angrily which just got Cor to growl in frustrations.

“Ada! Just grow up already! You are not the center of the world or the center of the universe, not everything revolves around you and you having fun. Get out of that fantasy dream world that you think everyone else is living in because sooner or later reality is gonna bite them in the ass and you’re just getting your bite first.” Cor hissed and Ada just wanted to strangle him, hit him, something. She couldn’t believe she was missing out because Cor just couldn’t accept a fucking gift.

Ada just glared daggers at him and just turned and looked out the window as her legs crossed and her arms crossed over her chest as she just stewed about it for a while. She knew she wasn’t the center of the world, she knew that. But Cor had always told her that she was the center of his and she felt and thought he was the center of hers. A sentiment she had no trouble believing or living for that matter...in the beginning, but the more time went on, she had a harder time believing that because while he said that, his actions didn’t always align with that while her own continued to prove true. And Cor had always treated her like an adult, as if she was already grown up, and she loved that about him but there was a line between between that and being blunt, harsh, critical and just plain mean which is how she felt Cor was being now. At least Luche always had been gentle with her emotionally and mentally anyway, and what had felt like babying before, was now refreshingly pleasant. And then her phone went off.

‘I’m sorry you had to go home early, I wished you could have stayed.’ Luche texted her and Ada wanted to cry, she got up out of her seat and went to the airplane’s bathroom and started sobbing.

‘I would have given anything to stay. But Cor needed to get back.’ Ada texted as her teardrops landed on her phone’s surface before she wiped them off.

‘I don’t mean to pry or anything but did you have to go back too? Did you need to work or something? You could have stayed with all of us and Sylva would have taken care of you and made sure you would have gotten back safe and sound and if Cor would have been worried about ‘us’ I would have stayed as far away from you as Cor would have wanted, you shouldn’t have missed out on all of this just because of me.’ Luche offered and Ada just sobbed harder, god damn it, she should have dug her heels in and refused to leave and to spite Cor she would have sat right next to Luche at dinner and would be having so much fun right now. Choosing Cor over Luche so far had cost her dearly and right this second, she regretted it.  

‘Cor is allergic to ‘charity’ and you’re right, Cor didn’t trust you to stay away even though I do, I know you would have and I know we would have been fine. He hates the idea of anyone paying his way and all that like it’ll make him less of a man if he accepts help.’ Ada revealed.

‘Does he think less of every guy here? Does he think that every father that was here tonight is less of a man because she chipped in getting all the girls their wedding dresses and for going out to dinner and for going to the hotel tonight or even to the Met? Sylva is just generous by nature and she knows that life is hard and she knows that most of us would never be able to afford any of this but she wants to lesson the sting as much as she can and she genuinely loves everyone and just wants to help and treat us all like family. This is a once in a lifetime thing and it’s a special treat and she’s just trying to make this moment perfect for everyone, that’s all it is, she can easily afford to do this, she knows it means the world to the rest of us. She’s just trying to help. What’s so wrong with accepting help and accepting gifts? Do you think I’m less of man for being here too? I don’t care if Cor thinks that but I do care what you think.’ Luche asked worriedly.

‘No! Not at all! I know that’s what’s going on! I don’t think less of you at all! In fact I think it’s brilliant that you can accept gifts with as much grace as you do! I just wish Cor could too is all.’ Ada immediately reassured him and Luche blew out a breath of relief.

“What’s going on with you?” Libertus and Crowe asked as they had been sitting across from him and watched his facial expression and he was texting under the table before Luche showed them his phone screen. Crowe’s face immediately twisting into an angry snarl.

“Oh he’s dead meat as soon as they land.” Crowe snarled.

“Babe, come on.” Libertus pleaded before Yasmine got a chance to look at it and just shook her head.

“That’s ridiculous and very unfortunate and a damn shame Cor feels that way because it’s literally all his fault that she’s not with us but at the same time...you know what? She’s made her bed, she gets to lie in it now and chances are he’d kick her out if she tried to come back and join us again. She can’t risk it. She’s just going to have to make peace with it. There’s nothing any of us could say or do to change his mind, Pelna over heard Regis and Clarus try their hardest to keep him here and if Cor couldn’t stay for Regis, who he was a groomsman for, there’s no way any of us will sway him either. I feel so sorry for her. I can’t imagine the shoe string of a wedding they’ll have, if Cor won’t accept any help at all? Does he not know that weddings in themselves are just ridiculously expensive these days? Everyone needs help. It pisses me off that he thinks less of every man here, especially my own father and everyone else’s father, how could he even be Regis’ groomsman, does he think that of Regis too?” Yasmine speculated.

“Ok but for Ada’s sake can we just keep this to us now? I don’t want things to get any worse for her than they already are.” Luche pleaded.

“Of course,” Yasmine immediately agreed before Luche gave a pointed and expectant look to Crowe.

“Fine,” Crowe grumbled as she stuffed her mouth before Luna changed the subject to something lighter.

“Yeah but I can’t imagine Ada will stay with Cor much longer if he’s going to be like that. That’s just ridiculous, she’s clearly not that happy with him.” Ravus murmured to Luche encouragingly which did give Luche a glimmer of hope.  

‘I just wish there was something I could to help but I know all that will do is cause more trouble and I don’t want to cause you more trouble than I already have because you need a break. All of us wish you could have stayed but we all get the feeling that if we all offered to fly you back right as you land, that Cor would get pissed and either force you to choose us or him and threaten to kick you out or even bring Baxter into this somehow if you chose us over him and we can’t do that to you. It’s really unfair and there’s no way I or anyone else can make it fair to you and we’re sorry. I’m sorry most of all. I would have gladly left and flown back tonight if it meant you could have stayed, you should never have to choose between your love life and your social life and friends.’ Luche texted and Ada just sobbed even harder and hugged her phone. How come Cor couldn’t see it that way?! God fucking damn it, she wished she would have just dumped Cor right then and there and gotten back with Luche that instant because then she would have just dealt with the fallout later. Luche still obviously still cared for her so much that he was willing to give up his own fun if it meant she got it instead. How come Cor couldn’t sacrifice himself for her like that? Did Luche really care for her more than Cor did if he was being that self sacrificing? Oh she never should have left him. If she had a time machine, she would have gone back in time and slapped Crowe for suggesting to find her own fun that night. She would have slapped herself and gone ‘HOE DON’T DO IT! IT’S NOT WORTH IT!’ but she couldn’t. Someone knocked on the door and Ada did her best to find her composure before finally stomping back over to Cor and sat back down and continued to sulk.

“Love...” Cor began, feeling guilty about this and was going to apologize as he gingerly reached out and tried to touch her outer thigh with his knuckles.

“Don’t call me Love, don’t fucking touch me unless you want whatever you’re touching me with to get chopped off and unless the next words out of your mouth are ‘I’m going to fly you back to New York as soon as we land’ without asking me to choose us over them or that you’re going to be making this up to me one way or another, heaven help you- or the biggest fucking apology ever for your ego costing me my social life and making me choose you over my own friends like some abusive boyfriend who won’t even let me have friends because how dare I have a life outside of you, I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” Ada spat angrily.

“Fine,” Cor returned. She was being impossible and he wasn’t going to cause a scene. Let her stew and be angry if that’s how she wanted to do this whole cold shoulder, silent treatment to him, he could do it too, he had two hands to please himself and his spare bedroom was just fine to sleep in anyway and give her a taste of her own medicine for a couple of days and she’d come around just fine. Give her a couple of days and she’d gain some perspective and he considered himself a patient man.

That night Selena laid in bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes as she thought over everything.

“Everything alright Darling?” Ravus asked as he came and got into bed with her.

“Yeah,” Selena nodded.

“Did you get the dress of your dreams?” Ravus asked.

“Yes,” Selena answered as her smile was brighter as she said that.

“But...I get the feeling there’s more to it than that.” Ravus gently countered and Selena opened her mouth to reassure him that nothing was wrong but hesitated.

“Oh no, what is it Darling?” Ravus asked worriedly.

“It’s not about me, or us. I absolutely loved my dress, or dresses I should say, your mother simply suggested I get a reception dress and picked out the most amazing reception dress and I am head over heels in love with both dresses, so don’t worry about that. No, I’m...concerned about someone else.” Selena worded carefully.

“Who?” Ravus asked and Selena took a deep breath and held it for a second before found she had to tell him, but only him.

“Ada.” Selena answered as she exhaled and cuddled up to his chest as he looked at her strangely.

“Well it is a shame things worked out the way they did for her today.” Ravus remarked as he held her close, happy to have her so close again and also happy that Selena wasn’t holding anything back from him and talking to him about what troubled her. Communication was key.

“Well, there’s more to it but your mom made me promise not to tell but I think she’d be ok with me telling you as long as you don’t tell anyone else because we shouldn’t keep secrets like this between us.” Selena ventured as Ravus nodded along with that before Selena told him what his mom had told her but Ravus didn’t look surprised at all by it which in turn surprised Selena.

“Yeah I figured as much myself, when I saw Luche get Ada that tea and when I saw Ada react to Cor being in the hospital I came to that conclusion myself. Cor’s in the hospital all the god damn time because he’s reckless with his life, always has been, always will be and the fact that Ada was the last to know was the biggest mistake Cor made. And today was just a glaring example of how it’s not gonna work out. Did my mom give an estimate on a time frame?” Ravus asked curiously.  

“Two months, three tops, Luche and Ada just might get back together by Crowe’s wedding.” Selena answered.

“Wow, ok that’s way longer than I personally gave them, like I gave them to the end of the week but my mom has always done this, she’s nicknamed ‘The Oracle’ for a reason because she’s always right too. Always.” Ravus chuckled. “But thank you for telling me. I will always want you to tell me whatever is on your mind and heart ok?” Ravus offered as he gently stroked her face with his hand.

“It was just...sad because I think all of us could see Ada wanted so bad to be included with all of this but couldn’t be. Hopefully when she goes back to Luche for good and we do this again for her, she’ll have her moment too.” Selena hoped.

“I’m sure she will.” Ravus nodded before he kissed her softly.

“So do you get all oracle-y too?” Selena asked Ravus thoughtfully.

“I used to as a kid, it’s just...a gift that’s always been in my family, I felt like I lost it when my dad died. Luna gained it when I lost it but I think she lost it when Andrew came into her life and I don’t know if she ever got it back. But when you came into my life, I got it back and it’s stronger now than it’s ever been.” Ravus confessed with a lop sided grin.

“Aw, so what do you see for us?” Selena asked giddily before Ravus rolled her over to her back with his body and pinned her to the bed before he started to sensually kiss her neck and chest as she relaxed completely and started to feel heated.

“Oh that you’d find your perfect dress today, that we’ll have the best summer this summer so far,” Ravus murmured into her skin between heated open mouthed kisses to her hot spots as his hands sensually took her pajamas off before his hands roamed and stroked her body, his touch igniting a fire in her as her breathing changed as her own hands took off his pajamas. “That we’ll build our dream house and that you’ll get inspired by all the vacation homes you’ll be shown this summer so that our house will be spectacular and perfect,” Ravus revealed before he attached his mouth to her breast and started sucking as hard as he knew she liked as he buried himself to the hilt in her as her silky soft legs immediately locked around his waist and hips, making her keen as her fingernails raked down his back. “That we’ll wait to have kids until after the house is finished and we’re settled and we’ll have a few at least.” Ravus murmured into the valley between her breasts before sucking on the other as Selena’s hands went to thread themselves in his hair as his hips worked up a good rhythm, grinding himself into her just the way they both liked.

“And that you’ll be the hottest MILF ever, that if we have sons, all their friends will get crushes on you.” Ravus predicted with a bright smile as Selena giggled at that notion as he kissed back up her chest to her neck to the hottest button she had and pressed it firmly with his tongue and grinned wider when she moaned and her back arched off the bed.

“Will our daughter’s friends get crushes on you because you’ll be a DILF?” Selena asked breathlessly.

“Yeah, but I will always only have eyes for you.” Ravus reassured her.

“Well, yeah, I think that would be a given.” Selena giggled.

“And you’ll be the best mom ever and when we retire early, we get to enjoy our own grandkids a lot.” Ravus predicted with a beaming smile.

“Awww!” Selena gushed but she knew she could put faith in every word.

Meanwhile in Luna’s room, she was holding onto the bedding for dear life as Nyx went down on her, holding her ass with one hand while the other palpitated her G-spot as his mouth sucked her clit, his tongue swirling over her nub and she was panting, writhing and keening and crying out in bliss because this was magnificent and because the Escalade had been so full of their friends they couldn’t get away with car sex or even fingering and so between all that pent up passion and the high of finding her dream wedding dress and it looking even better on her than she could have imagined and knowing her Daddy would have been sobbing today looking at his Princess in the perfect gown and seeing her Dad- Regis and even Dorian cry to see her in it too had been all she wanted and needed and she knew the moment she put it on, it was her dress. It was perfect and that high of finding it had yet to leave her.

“Nyx!” Luna cried out as she came and rode his face as her orgasm flooded her senses, making her whole body tense before it finally went lax as her brain swam in the endorphins.

Nyx licked his lips and grinned proudly, being quite pleased with himself for being able to still be the best at giving her that pleasure.

“Wow,” Luna panted as she caught her breath as her whole body seemed to hum and buzz but her smile was still brighter than sunshine itself as Nyx kissed a trail up her body before sheathing himself into her and groaning at how good it felt. He had missed her something awful and hadn’t realized how much sex they usually shared until they had an audience and couldn’t.

Nyx started up an earnest if not slightly desperate pace, enough that it rattled the bed a bit but Luna wanted and needed it just as much as he did.

“Oh God,” Luna groaned as she clawed his back and clung to him for dear life as Nyx licked, kissed, sucked and softly bit at her neck and chest, leaving hickey after hickey in his mouth’s wake before he kissed her deeply, swallowing down every noise she was making as they both hurtled towards release before Luna cried out in ecstasy as her inner walls fluttered and constricted and milked Nyx for all he was worth as he finally pumped her so full of his seed it came seeping out at their joining.

“And that ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done!” Luna crooned which got both of them to start busting out laughing before he rolled off of her but they still cuddled close as Nyx kissed all over her face as he held her close.

“I love you.” Nyx professed.

“I love you too.” Luna giggled as she returned his kisses, his stubble tickling her lips a little. “I can’t wait for tomorrow, we get to go house hunting! Well, apartment shopping. I really hope we can find a duplex so Crowe and Lib are right next door.” Luna hoped as she rolled over to rest on top of him.

“Me too,” Nyx grinned as he pet her hair and scratched her back.

“I’m so happy everything is falling into place, once we get a place, that’ll be one less thing to worry about. I actually really want to take the chocolate class and the bread and pastry classes, just the one day ones.” Luna revealed.

“Me too, I think they might try to steal you away from medical school though.” Nyx playfully warned which got Luna to laugh.

“Yeah no, I’m happy to learn all that stuff but it’s gonna stay at home because a chef is a busy life and our kids are gonna eat really well, because I’ll be the one cooking for them.” Luna insisted.

“I’m sure they will.” Nyx agreed with a proud beaming smile as his hand subconsciously went to her lower belly and gently stroked it affectionately. “But not yet.” Nyx added.  

“Agreed, not yet.” Luna nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile in Crowe and Libertus’ room. Libertus had a firm hold of Crowe’s hips and was driving into her so hard her whole body was practically shaking. It had taken everything he had to get her to stop fuming about Ada and rough sex seemed to be the last resort. So he had her laying back on the bed as he held her pelvis up in his hands while he stood on his knees and had her legs had wrapped around his waist and he has pounding into her as hard as he could, he was pretty sure his fingertips were leaving bruises but Crowe had begged and pleaded for ‘harder’ until he was at his current pace, but this angle meant his dick was hitting her G-spot so hard she had cum hard and fast but Libertus wasn’t done yet, he wanted to prove it to himself that he could get her to two. But the moans and keens and desperate cries Crowe was making the exertion worth it. He had been the only one brave enough and smooth enough to finger Crowe in the car since they had taken the far back seat while Luche sat in the front with Ravus while Nyx sat in the back with Selena and Luna and Crowe had done amazing in hiding her orgasm and had used a blanket and pillow to hide their actions and also to hide her jacking him off in turn as everyone but Ravus who was driving and listening to music seemed to doze off.

“Lib!” Crowe cried out as her legs clamped down around his waist and hips to hold him still as her second orgasm snapped and flooded her senses as Libertus just ground himself in her and used her own second orgasm to get him off finally as his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he huffed and puffed and groaned himself before they collapsed on the bed, tired and spent but sated and happy.

“Holy shit Lib, WOW. You are the fucking man!” Crowe praised as she curled herself around him before she took the sheet to wipe all the sweat from him as he panted to catch his breath.

“Thanks Babe.” Libertus grinned in triumph before they gave each other a fist bump with a chuckle before they moved up the bed to get settled for sleep.

“I’m so happy you found your dress today.” Libertus admitted as his limbs felt like rubber.

“Me too. God I didn’t think it was gonna happen for a minute there. But thankfully we got it.” Crowe smiled happily.

“And hopefully we’ll find a decent place tomorrow.” Libertus hoped.

“Me too, I’m not worried about it, chances are Luna and Nyx will buy it outright and we’ll “rent” from them. I missed my baby.” Crowe admitted, referring to the bulldog puppy Libertus had gotten her for graduation that was currently in it’s own little bed on the floor nearby but had been at the same kennel Luna and Nyx had put Pryna and Umbra while everyone else who had dogs had gone and taken their dogs to as well and would be getting some obedience training while they were gone too. It had been a little boy they named Oscar and he was the cutest puppy ever in their opinion and they had both fallen in love with him so dearly and Crowe felt like a proud mom for taking pictures of him almost constantly and posting them on Facebook and Instagram and felt like she couldn’t take a selfie without him, that puppy was going to be their ring bearer for the wedding. He was just precious, he was mostly gray but with splotches of white and so many wrinkles and rolls. He was perfect. But after they found a place, Crowe and Libertus would be going with Noctis and his friends and Pashmina had kept Diana with her the whole time and now Diana would have a playmate on the road. Libertus had held onto Oscar in his own ‘dog purse’ all day, occasionally going outside to let it go potty and taking care of it while Crowe was dress shopping.

“Me too, goodnight Babe,” Libertus offered before he settled in for sleep with Crowe cuddling up with his chest for a few moments of quiet bliss.  

“Oh and remind me to ask Sylva for more birth control, cause I ran out at Cedar Point and I keep forgetting to ask her...” Crowe mumbled sleepily as she fell asleep but Lib was already out.

Meanwhile in Pelna and Yasmine’s room, they were currently doing their favorite position from the literal Kamasutra. Pelna had felt a little guilty for having sex with Yasmine before marriage but as soon as they knew they were going to marry each other and had found their one and only in each other, it couldn’t be helped.

They had spent the majority of their own spring break in their room because finding opportunities to have sex at home was really hard but thankfully after prom, they were able to bang again at the Nox Fleuret-Caelum house but once they officially got engaged, both of their parents eased up a lot and especially once Pelna had proved to her parents by his own job offer at Miracles that he could and would take care of Yasmine, they were especially pleased by that and Pelna and Yasmine had even found an apartment together in a really nice, really upscale apartment complex that was a whole 7 minutes away from the hospital and her medical school and would be moving in together once they got back. Plus they were both really happy that they shared the same languages and culture and food tastes. Yasmine had since actually really learned how to cook traditional Indian food from her mother, her aunts and her grandmothers whereas before she had little interest in it and they were so happy she was now leaning towards more ‘traditional’ ways because she wanted to make Pelna happy and before meeting him, she had always had the view of ‘what could this guy do for me’ but since Pelna was unlike every other guy she had ever met and restored her faith in humanity. Plus he was fi-yi-yine in her opinion and treated her like a goddess and in return she liked to treat him like a god. Because he really was, so sweet and so humble and so thoughtful and super romantic and yet they were both super health conscious and helped each other stay super fit too. And that’s what Yasmine needed, she needed someone to keep her focused and driven yet would never fat shame her which was a hard balance to have and achieve but together they had that down pat.

“Purna!” Yasmine keened which is what Pelna’s name sounded like in Marathi as Pelna held onto one of her legs that was over his shoulder before he moved his hands to her pelvis to really pound into her as Yasmine threw her head back in bliss. “Come on, come on, come on!” Yasmine pleaded desperately as Pelna reached and tried to stroke her clit, he wasn’t great at it but he was trying to do his best and once Yasmine came, Pelna followed before he collapsed on the bed with her, both of them cuddling up to each other as they pulled the blankets up to cover themselves and settle down to sleep as they continued to coo to each other in Marathi like two love birds.

Meanwhile in Stella and Tredd’s room they were on their third round of sex and now that Tredd was mostly healed and didn’t have to be on the bottom anymore, Tredd was currently reminding Stella of the out of this world sex they had in the beginning of the relationship and Stella was barely hanging on for dear life because even she had almost forgotten how great he could be. Fuck he was almost too good because she was barely coming down from one orgasm before he was giving her another and she was flirting pretty hard with over-stimulation. She was almost ready to beg and plead for mercy and a break so she could recover but she was sucking on Tredd’s fingers again so he could work her clit like the maestro he was and neither of them wanted this to stop.

Meanwhile Luche was just jacking off again in his room next to Ravus and Selena, only for a new change, he wasn’t imagining Sylva this time, no, instead he was back to fantasizing about Ada and imagining her in a wedding dress of her own, one that she would wear to their own wedding, because he just...he wanted her back. To see her so sad and disappointed as she left Kleinfelds really tore him up, and to text her and find out that it was because of Cor’s pride that they were going home pissed him off to no end. At least he could say in clear conscience that he had never done that to her, would never dream of doing that to her either, if he could have her back, he would never make her choose like that because her love life and her social life would kinda be one and the same. There would be no telling the lengths he would go to to just make her happy. He would have given anything for Ada to find her own perfect wedding dress that day but he also knew that if she had looked she would have had Cor in mind of who she’d be wearing it for and that thought literally made him sick. Cor didn’t deserve her. Cor was fucking up, in Luche’s opinion, way worse than Luche had ever fucked up and he felt like he was powerless to help, to do anything to say anything. He had his hands tied and he hated it. He felt there was a line between respecting her and her decisions and letting her experience the consequences of her actions and her choices and actually saving her from the more tortuous aspects of those consequences. He felt she had been through enough, there had to be a stopping point somewhere. But as long as Ada continued to choose Cor over everyone else and anything else, there was nothing to be done on Luche’s end. But Luche swore to himself that if he ever got the chance, he’d take Ada back in a heartbeat, his mom would be pissed but he didn’t care, he still loved her damn it only now he was more educated and equipped to show that love properly. Ravus had estimated that Ada and Cor’s relationship was on it’s last legs and all it would take is for Cor to fuck up one more time and Ada would be done. Luche could and would wait for that. That’s why he wasn’t going to join the band’s tour because he didn’t want to get distracted or meet someone along the way. He was going to stay with Sylva, she would keep him focused and keep him working on himself as he waited. It would be worth the wait. Ada would be worth the wait.

Meanwhile Regis was currently finally succumbing to Sylva’s machinations as she rode him with reckless abandon as she ground down in his lap as she rode out her own orgasm, her own keening cry of bliss echoing in his ears as they held onto each other tightly.

“So I’ve been thinking.” Regis began as he looked at his wife adoringly as they both came down from their respective highs.

“Oh?” Sylva blinked in surprise.

“I’m thinking this fall, when we’re not running around so much with the kids, I should get my knee replaced, you’ve only been on me about it for five years, I think it’s time.” Regis announced and Sylva lit up ecstatically.

“Really?! Yes! Finally!” Sylva cheered as she bounced and cheered in his lap in excitement before peppering his whole face in kisses. “I’m so happy and proud that you finally decided to do that!!” Sylva praised before she kissed him earnestly and started up round two.

“So what changed your mind?” Sylva asked as she started up another earnest rhythm because that decision deserved it’s own reward.

“Well seeing Lunafreya and Selena in wedding dresses reminded me that we’d be getting grandkids soon and I really want to bounce them on my knee among other things, like take them fishing and stuff and I think it should heal completely before that happens.” Regis reasoned as Sylva was near tears at the thought of getting grandkids too before she just started giggling while crying happy tears at the same time.

“We are going to be getting so many grandkids we’ll run out of knees.” Sylva giggled as Regis kissed her tears away.

“Yeah? How many do you think we’ll get?” Regis asked.

“Oh over a dozen. At least, just between Lunafreya and Selena, Noctis and Ignis will probably only adopt a couple of kids.” Sylva predicted. “Chances are, Noct and Iggy will give us our first grandkids, all it will take is for a mother to abandon her baby in the nursery and Noctis will pick up that baby, wonder how any woman could do such a thing, fall head over heels in love and all of us will be shit out of luck trying to get that baby out of his arms.” Sylva revealed.

“Oh lord,” Regis chuckled. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” Regis had to admit.

“But again, I’ll try to keep him out of the nursery until after he and Iggy tie the knot.” Sylva offered.

“Thank you.” Regis thanked her. “So who do you think out of every couple today will be the first to get pregnant?” Regis asked.

“Oh Crowe and Libertus, hands down, followed closely by Gladio and Pashmina.” Sylva grinned.