#so yah another one that’s more metaphorical

[wigglebox]

Destiel Pride - Day 14; Transition

[andy4yippee]

DAMN. analysis (not beta read)

Hello. this is an analysis of one, or the darkest album from Kendrick Lamar. it goes into many themes of religion, guilt from religion, love, trauma, death, etc.

I'll start with BLOOD.

the first track.

it starts with "Is it wickedness" "It is weakness?" "You decide."

"Are we gonna live, or die?"

Wickedness - the quality of being morally evil or wrong

Weakness - a state or condition of lacking strength/a quality or feature seen as a disadvantage or fault

The back cover of DAMN. seems to represent wickedness. while the front, seems to represent weakness.

This actually, continues to be a theme throughout the album. each song stands for either wickedness or weakness. that last line, may not mean much, but it means so much after you fully understand it. you can interpret the song into whatever story you want, no matter what way it's played.

in BLOOD, it's a pretty short song, and it seems simple- but it bites you back In the ass when you relisten and understand the full album.

Kendrick helps an old blind woman who seems like shes lost something.

he decides to go over and help her, and says "Hello ma'am, can I be of any assistance? it seems to me like you have lost something. I would like to help you find it."

she replies, "Oh yes, you have lost something. you've lost, you're life."

and Kendrick gets shot and dies.

WOAH! right? You're like, what the hell is happening?

now, this may be some kind of metaphor, but, if it was a real encounter..

huh? kendrick is ALIVE? it seems super random, right? did the old woman shoot him, did a gang shoot him, did he shoot himself? whats going on?

To make sense, we have to go to the next song.

DNA.

In this song, Kendrick states 23 things that are inside his DNA. a strand of DNA contains 23 chromosomes.

he seems very confident on this track. too confident. so, why is Kendrick being murdered on the first track??

these are the 23 things he states are in his DNA -

loyalty

royalty

cocaine quarter piece

war

peace

power

poison

pain

joy

hustle

ambition

realness

kill shit

millions

riches

dark

evil

rot

troublesome heart

soldier

murder

money

sex

There are a lot of negative things in this, but there's a lot of good too.

this song seems to be more associated with wickedness, it even has evil in it, which is in the definition. the way he raps also seems aggressive, not weak.

onto the next track.

YAH.

in this, he seems tired, way more vulnerable, and weak.

this song visibly represents weakness.

Kendrick reflects on his fame. He's afraid he'll work himself to death, he's tired of the media saying shit. his radar is 'buzzing' and he becomes aware of how much his career affects him. he says he's tired of being gossiped about, on fox news, tv, interviews, etc.

when you see YAH, you'd think it's a abrv. for YEAH.

but, YAH is the name referring to the closest name to god. it fits, due to the religious themes.

another important line is -

"im not bout a' religion.

im an Israelite.

don't call me black no more"

He states he's not about 'a religion' although, this album contains themes about him BEING religious. seems confusing right? just like BLOOD.

He's not religious in any way, but he does call himself a Israelite.

in the bible, a Israelite are gods chosen people.

"these people with be cursed with confusion, frustration, and illness until they follow God's will."

so- what's this mean? we learn more In this album that, Israelites are all people of color.

his cousin carl, (theres a tape of a phone call in one track), that he believes that people of color are God's isrealites, and that they'll be cursed of all 'the bad shit happening'.

but, Kendrick, doesn't seem to care, he focuses more on his carreer.

that brings us to-

ELEMENT.

in element, it starts with "KUNG FU KENNY, AINT NOBODY PRAYING FOR ME." "GOD KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS ON EARTH STAYS ON EARTH." (kid capri)

lets go more into that last line. its a bit like, 'what happens in vegas stays in vegas', a term to promote for gambling, etc, saying that no one will know that you've done stuff if you do go there.

so if you take that in context, Kendrick realizes that :

nobody is praying for him, and that no matter what he does he'll end up damned in hell anyway.

he states he doesn't give a fuck about whats happening to him, and he says he would die for his career. this represents WICKEDNESS. you can hear it in his tone. he insults other rappers, and says he's the best rapper. its a response to his weakness in YAH, that he doesn't give a fuck that he's cursed.

see a pattern? weakness, wickedness, weakness, wickedness...

but then, Kendrick realizes.

he does give a fuck.

FEEL.

this starts off with,

"aint nobody praying for me." x3

this features one of his prouducers, VP, a female, named chelsea bylthe saying the same. this is to show that even in music, in his team, no ones loyal, no one truly cares.

this one visibly shifts to WEAKNESS. kendrick realizes...wait. what if I AM cursed. i DO give a fuck.

in element, kendrick hides in his rap career, to escape the fact he's 'cursed' or that he's 'damned'.

FEEL. lets out those feelings.

Kendrick feels like hes lonely, like no one truly cares, and that he's truly ALL ALONE, and that every in the industry is an enemy. he feels weak, so he fights back in this song to seem anything but that.

he still speaks about how hes the best rapper, but how its full of toxic people, showing weakness.

he starts to come with the fact that he might actually be cursed. 2 songs back, he was kind of mocking that.

LOYALTY.

This ones a short anyalisis. its a song about Kendrick trying to get people to pray for him, by having loyalty people by him.

people who he trusts, he needs loyalty.

but, this one shows weakness. the pattern breaks.

PRIDE.

this is considered the worst possible sin of the seven deadly sins.

pride makes you feel above everyone, even god.

this song is likely his post popular on the album, and its a very important song.

"Loves gonna get you killed. But Pride's gonna be the death of you and me..."

confusing, right?

but, you can notice, that Love will simply get you KILLED. pride will be the DEATH of you.

Death seems almost like it would be the end of you. the end of your soul, while love would simply kill you.

In this album, we can see how pride infects him throughout the song.

he states he cares more about his lyrics than others. he says that in another life, a perfect world, he was there.

maybe in that perfect universe, there is a Kendrick who cares about others- but he doubts there's a universe where he doesn't have pride like this.

this track shows weakness.

HUMBLE.

this is THE turning point in the album.

kendrick talks about trying to overcome his sin. pride, but, the fact that he cant help himself from throwing shots at other people.

this track shows wickedness, but almost accidental wickedness.

he wants to be vulnerable and get rid of pride, but he cant seem to do that.

Hes taking shots at other rappers or people, telling them to sit down and be humble.

almost like, "ill be humble, but you better sit down and do the same."

LUST.

this is another of the seven deadly sins. its considered as when sexual pleasure is isolated from the fact of making children.

its a very sexual song. infact, i never noticed how bad it is lol.

it tells the routine of a man/woman who only live for short kinds of pleasure, and wake up to do the same.

it also tells the story of how Kendrick has to change, but how he doesn't. he states he hasn't only been lusting over sex, but fame and money. he fears god now, because of his sins.

this song is the first time Kendrick talks about being afraid of being damned by god to hell.

he begins to be afraid of god in his healing process. he becomes more religious because he fears hell.

he drifts more toward weakness.

LOVE.

this is the oppisote of lust. he states his relationship with his wife.

but, he says he values loyalty more than love.

"ill rather you trust me than to love me."

going back to loyalty..

in the music video, a Kendrick in white gets choked and killed by a Kendrick in black.

they sort of reappear in LOVE.

the one is black is happy, in love, and in a happy relationship in the LOVE music video.

and the one in white is unhappy, and in a toxic, unhealthy relationship.

in love, you can see that he overcame he lust with love.

so..why is there a Kendrick in the music video, doing the COMPLETE opposite? he chose love in the end, right?

he overcomes his pride with humbleness and overcomes his lust with love. he lets go of his wickedness. right?

XXX.

it shows a poor understanding of America's problem. song talks about how young black kids in America will find a way to survive.

we get introduced to johnny, who doesnt want to go to school and wants to be a rapper like his uncle. (this may be keen, his younger cousin)

on a phone call, Kendrick says that if anyone touched his family he would kill that person and openly admit it- then, he quickly ends the call, saying he has to speak at a convection.

it talks about gun control, evil acts in America, etc, and how people turn a blind eye due to the American dream they're living.

kendrick talks about america like the complete opposite of a perfect world referred to in PRIDE.

XXX. could be the 'USA' X rated, but no ones exactly sure.

FEAR.

this starts with a voicemail from duckworth/carl, talking about how he knows that Kendrick feels like no one prays for him and he explains how they're cursed, and how it'll keep going until he follows gods wishes.

we get a verse from Kendrick sung backward.

random, right? but it actually means were going BACK in time.

he talks about when he was a kid, and his abusive mother. she threatened to beat him, and if he ran to his dad, she said she would hurt him more.

his father was the only one who could help him with his mother, and he really looked up to him.

the second verse takes place 10 years later. he was 17.

Kendrick mentions one fear: Death.

the lyrics speculate how he could die.

in 10 more years,

when he was 27, he has many more fears, saying that all the money and fame is a joke from god.

GOD.

God is a DIRECT response to fear, especially to the voicemail.

kendrick didn't want to feel cursed, so he turned to god, which to him, turns to weakness. vulnerable, that's how it seems to make him feel.

he says to god, don't judge me for my past mistakes. he says he was beaten, he did bad things..etc. he feels fear of god. its his way of asking god to not send him to hell.

he says he lives through fear. fear of god.

wickedness, or weakness? Which one?

weakness, right?

but, what if, he was never meant to choose?

YOU decide.

DUCKWORTH.

duckworth is the last track on the album.

he realizes that his biggest enemy was him, this whole time.

"i always thought it was me versus the world"

"until i realized its me versus me"

This is a story. a story of two men, one named ducky, one named anthony.

anthonys life turned into a life of crime. at 15, he was drug dealing, and continued in tih business. he gets approached by cops, gets offered to be a confidential comforter. he says no, and goes back to KFC to get something to eat.

Ducky worked the window and had a young son. he wanted to make money to get his son to college, but, obviously, he's not the only one who needs money, anthony does too.

ducky was aware, and he knew Anthony would. so, he got on his good side, gave me extra biscuits or extra chicken.

Anthony became fond of ducky, that he never robbed the KFC.

Ducky, is Kendricks father. kendrick was signed to anthonys label, and they met together, they laughed together.

because they realized that if ducky wasn't so kind to Anthony, Kendrick would have NEVER become a rapper.

WRAP UP.

to conclude.

you can play this album anyway. it can end, or start anyway. and it will still make sense.

if you play it backward, kendrick goes into a loop of crime, and died in blood, being shot after going into a life of crime after his dad dies from Anthony.

or, he can get better, closer to god, and be successful.

overall, this album was played out perfectly. and my hands hurt. thank you, bye.

THAT WRAPS UP, DAMN. THE ANALYSIS.

thank you.

[weishenmewwx]

Stars of Chaos 杀破狼

Volume 3, Notes 3/5, Pages 152 - 265

Cute trivia: in the online novel, this entire paragraph is One Sentence. 9 commas. No semi-colons.

This is (part of the reason) why it takes me 3-12 months to read a single Priest novel.

In case you don't already know, there is a lovely story about an emperor who had a male lover who fell asleep on the long, voluminous sleeve of his robe; and rather than wake the lover, the emperor just cut off his sleeve so that he could go work without bothering his sweetie. And now 断袖 "cut sleeve" is another word for "homosexual man."

I love the idiom for this situation: 投鼠忌器 "throw" "mouse" "afraid" "devices," or "afraid to throw anything at the mouse for fear of breaking the vases."

So, 蹂躏 does translate as "violated," but it also translates as "savaged" or "trampled," both of which I think fit here better.

Here, 完蛋 a little more vulgar than I like to think of it. I'm pretty sure this is a phrase you can use around elementary school kids. It means "to be done for," like "Uh oh. We've been caught."

Top: "Bat out of hell" in Chinese is 赶投胎似的 = like he's rushing to be reincarnated. (I find Western theology- based idioms disconcerting in Daoist/Buddhist- based novels. I understand that they convey the meaning most accurately, but it still weirds me out.)

Bottom: So cute! They are using food-based euphemisms. The Chinese for "eat his fill" is 吃了顿荤的 = "eat a meal with meat" ¬‿¬. And then they break the metaphor with "ended up in the wrong position" (on bottom instead of on top). And then return to the food euphemism with "nearly choked to death." Cute, yah?

xiansheng 先生 = "Teacher", in this context.

I added a （1) and a (2) because I started getting confused.

I also added unnecessary Chinese on "If you're so smart", that it started out (in the online version, anyway), as "你有注意" "If you have ideas,..."

OMG. If you go to a robust Chinese dictionary and search for the Chinese translation for "me," you will get SO MANY WORDS back.

One of those many words is 孤, which was used by feudal princes for a time? And 孤 usually means "lonely" or "solitary."

He climbed on Gu Yun's shoulder. 肩膀。

Either way, he's being carried around by Gu Yun and leaving drool marks on Gu Yun's shoulder <3

My DanMei Literary Adventure Masterpost

Stars of Chaos - All Notes Links

[psychewritesbs]

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR JJK CHAPTER 222

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Do you have any opinions on Gojo dressing the exact same as Toji in 222?? The black shirt, white pants combo. I feel like there's something significant there but idk what and it's killing me???

HOLAAA!

Yah I'm like totally behind on asks. But yes! Totally. Gege seems to be hinting rather heavily at how this Sukuna x Gojo battle is fate in action.

More under the cut.

It's just that this is all coming full circle on multiple levels. For one you have Gojo dressing like the guy he killed some 10+ years ago who also happens to be the father of the person's body he's fighting.

On another level, this is the fated Gojo CT vs Zenin CT ultimate battle showdown and I wonder if this battle will highlight more information about ct and how they are metaphors for the sense of self.

You get what I'm trying to say, right? THAT MEGUMI HAS ALL OF THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS IF ONLY HE BELIEVED IN HIMSELF!

Idk the clothing choice feels so weird to me that I'm wondering whether it is a red herring, or a red herring of a red herring. Lol. That's what jjk does to my brain. Total short circuit.

It's just that, because Gojo mentioned to Megumi this little fact about the Gojo and Zenin ancestors killing e/o, it has always felt like foreshadowing that such a battle would happen--I just always hoped Megumi would be the one to fight Gojo, not Sukuna in Megumi's body.

DAMMIT SUKUNA GO BACK TO YOUR BODY ALREADY!

So I guess we'll see if Megumi/Sukuna kills Gojo in a tragic twist of fate.

While I don't subscribe to the "cute dad Gojo" headcanon, Gojo is possibly the closest Megumi had to a father figure. So, to Megumi, it feels like Gojo represents an authority figure that he has to defeat in order to level up (the archetype of "self-consciousness" feels deeply entrenched in Megumi's character). But Gege could choose to execute differently.

I also don't want to say that Megumi would be avenging Toji because Toji was truly irredeemable, but it would feel like a total moment of cosmic retribution for Megumi/Sukuna to kill Gojo.

We'll see how Gege executes!

Anyways... I totally managed to turn this ask into a Megumi-related ramble lol.

Thanks for nerding out with me! Answering these asks has brought me back to life after the last 2-3 hectic weeks.

[yxstxrdrxxm-a]

POLL RESULT—! > Home. It's getting REALLY late now, don't you think?

After what happened today, YESTERDAY felt that they were more than happy to head home. Maybe it was something they weren't used to with going out often, so this was enough for the day.

Trudging back home, they felt something creep on their back. Metaphorically, of course, as they knew no one was on them... But the feeling persists, even if just for a moment.

They disliked the feeling they're getting. It was strange, unnatural, and it ate at them little by little.

They knew it was stupid to think of such a thing. They KNEW its the case. They KNEW its unreasonable, but they needed to hold it in. To keep going.

Touching the door, they could feel the feeling persist. It claws at them, whispering nonsense to their ear, trying to get them to look behind.

They needed to listen. They needed to hear them, lest they go insane.

Listen. Listen to me. LISTEN TO ME.

LISTEN TO THE VOICES, YESTERDAY.

LISTEN TO THEM, YOU COWARD.

YESTERDAY had all but forced themselves through inside their shop, slamming the door behind them and collapsing on the floor.

They took a deep breath, and exhaled.

This was fine.

Those voices were gone.

They were fine.

Yes, fine.

...

All they can feasibly do is regain their sense of self and stand. They couldn't risk acting out like this, they couldn't risk feeding into those things that ate at them.

They disliked going outside sometimes.

The sheer feeling of being expected to go and to interact when you're not at your best can be haunting. Maybe too much for one person.

But they were... Strangely proud of being able to go out.

Its the first they felt that way in a long time.

Regaining themselves, they flipped the sign to close and went to the counter. They placed their belongings down to the counter, quietly wishing they didn't outright broke them from their mini panic attack.

... It's fine. It's fine. Everything is fine.

"Tomorrow is another day," they murmured. "I can get through this."

If they can't, who would?

DAY 3

Just as they thought, today has been... Normal.

Save for the eccentric individuals they had the chance to meet.

Now, they had their fair share of them. They met the likes of Dr. Ratio and Dr. Lear, both who were lovely and eccentric individuals in their way. They even took care of a commission for one of their customers, and it had been a fascinating experience.

Though, after what happened yesterday, they felt a bit reluctant to get out. Maybe they needed more time to recover from what happened.

And in such a slow day, they decided to close up early and look over at the canvases they bought yesterday.

...

This poll will receive answers until 6 PM (GMT+8). Keep in mind that the majority will win, so vote what you think is right.

Additionally, any poll after this with additional votes WILL be null when the results are out. Choose wisely, focus on the recent poll, and ignore the past.

FLAWED TAGLIST: (send an ask to be added for Flawed!) @beloved-blaiddyd ; @mixed-kester ; @mochinon-yah ; @fffiii ; @leftdestiny-posts ; @ambrosia-divine

[soir-rouges-esprit]

xxxi.v: Coke, Blood & Handguns, The Viper is being cornered by a fat corporate bear and a cheap shot snag coyote … she's scared … It's her problem as much as it's mine, as much as it's yours … more yours btw! … you think you're off that hit list of his? he found me because I was in The City … I helped you escape so he couldn't do that … it nearly cost me everything … remember you're a walking target back home until that fucking loud mouth cholo is eating lead … he is, again … ALL of our problems. *CLICK* Secondly, you should never “cut her a break” she's a fucking insane drug-dealing mob woman … she cares for you as much as you can bring in … she doesn't hurt us for any of our “disobedience” as she'd say, because yes … she may harbor a sliver of love in that cold hollow cavity where a heart should be, for us … but it's a majority of the status we bring her, the production, the efficiency, the everything else that's way more important to her, that is why she doesn't do anything … if she did, she'd just be completely shutting that valve of gold we bring her definitely off … we're tools … to be used at her discretion so long as she can continue to rope us along and keep us orbiting her fucked up crime ring to cash in the benefits … nothing more … one day you'll see that she's always using you … and if not *Click* … It'll fuckin kill yah. “Whatever you say, right? Not like anyone else can get a different perspective on things Right? You know people, you read them perfectly Right!?” “Hey come on stop.” J proceeded to get closer and closer to me as he stood to my right, getting proceedingly more and more angry as he went on. “You've got it all figured out in there Huh!?” Never said that, I have my opinions … now shut it, you're gonna stand out again and draw even more unwanted attention to yourself … and me btw asshole. “Fuck That! How come I don't get a say in anything!?” What are you on about? You say more than anyone I goddamn know. “SEE!! All jokes when it comes to talking about my issues huh!? Always trying to deflect the conversation! … you know that's your fucking problem! Always has been! … can't ever be real when someone comes to pointing out the problems You bring!” *Click* Jesus projecting much? “Yeah that's right asshole, just keep on pulling the conversation away! I fucking see what you do! I see why you fucking have so many issues with Everybody!!” “ENOUGH J” “Piss Off Gutter Rat!! … You act like you're even one of us! You're not! Just a fuckin outcast that wandered back to the only sad band of individuals that you even knew left!” *Click* STOP!!! What the Fuck! Is wrong with your ass huh? You know how about you stop bringing in problems huh!? How about You! Get your shit together Huh!? or is it just one last puff? One last party one last joke? How many dirty street whores you plan on bangin till you contract something or have an unwanted kid huh!? How many people Are YOU GONNA BURN!!! … Till they're all gone and there is nothing left huh? *Click* “‘Projecting much?’ Yeah Yeah! Said the king of relationship cremation! *Scoff* I'M PRACTICALLY ALL YAH GOT LEFT!!! … Sorry … Outside this fuckin wayward winded blonde here!” “FUCK YOU!!!” ENOUGH J!! … You're gonna ruin another of a long list of nights for me! *CLICK* “ME RUIN YOUR FUCKING NIGHT?! You Fucking being here spitting all the same goddamn Bullshit! As you've always done has alre-” And before he could finish spewing his poison towards me … before we escalated further with metaphorical knives towards each other's throats … he was interrupted … by loud blaring of a speaker, that sounded like a mix of an air horn going off combined with a cowbell being rung over and over again … it sounded like we were front in center behind the net of a hockey game … and someone just scored a goal. Light's flashed all around coming from the slot machine … we all stopped with our infighting … [To Be Continued]

[woweewoweeo]

I really got excited for an opportunity to understand eachother and wake up the next day to I guess what I deserve

Welp love yah and see yah never I guess, I had just found us some shrooms and was so excited to ask you to come see ASADI with me in June and maybe trip before or after at hockings outside if you needed or wanted that but anyways, I’m sorry you felt the need to do this and I know I can’t say shit, I’ve said and done all kinds of awful things but that’s not what I want to carry into my death and I hope next life we can do better, I can do better for me and better for you. Sweet dreams always and stay safe Shelby, I’ll learn my patience and forgiveness and return it to those I’ve wronged.

 I love you but I’m not here for you anymore, you want to throw 555 metaphorical days away for no reason,  I’ll make it real for you. Goodbye. Hope you got the attention and response you craved. Won’t ever try to reach out to you like this again because you made it clear that’s what you need and want 👍🏼🫶🏻👋🏼 I blocked you on everything just like you’ve always done me, hope it helps whatever you got going on and makes you happy.

I told you not to talk to me because you said I deserve worse and that I didn’t get in enough “ trouble “. Shouldn’t have ever put myself back in your company. Lesson Learned. You were just bored and I was a way to stimulate yourself, find another way Shelby. I quit and I release you. That metaphorical connection of over 500 plus days was very important and you proved what it really meant to you. What I really have always meant to you, I’m just something you block, delete or ignore whenever you don’t want it to be around and it doesn’t fit your needs.

I hope one day you see people are here for more than validating your existence and giving you attention. Whatever, waste of my time and my energy but I don’t want to die not saying what I have to say which is you always accused me of such fucked sexual shit when at least I don’t get paid to fuck / be objectified and enjoyed the fuck out of it 🤣  You enjoy being an object for everyone’s consumption, I deserve something different. So do you.

Glad you said you didn’t want to be with me and that you just wanted to do what you wanted and showed who you really are, which also allowed me to see who I really am which is in serious horrible pain, needing to put myself in an environment where I’m properly heard and cared for and have a safe space to speak my emotions without them being manipulated back on to me because you lack basic emotional intelligence or understanding.

I hope you find deeper help as well and not just repeating loop of therapy you claim has helped you so much when you can’t even hold a conversation about in depth feelings and the layers/ complexity of those feeling and how they are affecting things.  I will find that depth with someone who appreciates and pushes me to be the best I can be. I’m so glad it wasn’t you, go “do what you want” Shelby.

Thanks for being the biggest learning lesson ever, never trust anyone. People lie when they aren’t honest with themselves, especially those who you expect to be close to you.   Can’t wait to start my life with beautiful souls who accept my faults and don’t hold them against me and refuse to let me grow and heal but actually hold and love and want to be with me wholeheartedly, not always looking for a reason I’m not deserving of love

I don’t think I ever did anything good enough for you. I was so excited to be good enough for someone who has actual faith in me and doesn’t crave to see me fail

something’s are bigger than your petty high school mindset you’re fighting with. I will fly. Dead or Alive.

[laqueus]

^^^^ me reading this

MUCH TO CONSIDER, like I really enjoy the contextualisation of magic as both an export & also a tool here. because a lot of the time magic is just, like. there. this is our local wizard who can shoot fire out of his hands. why? because he's a wizard.

but here it's like YES WE ARE MYSIDIA (formerly known as the powerful mage gang) AND THIS IS OUR EXPORT FOR USE IN YOUR HOME BUY BASUNA NOW FOR ONLY 800 GIL! plus how it's distributed between the towns is very crunchy to me (practical use!)

Post-Mateus, I feel like at first there would be attempts at being strict with who can use magic and for what purposes - all to help rebuilding - like, you can only have magic if you are using it for This One Specific Purpose. the best way I can think of it is like getting having to be forklift certified and then you can only use that forklift to move boxes around the warehouse. you can't take it away and use it to run over goblins in the car park outside.

plus, after mateus had his satan-sponsored rampage over literally everything, i don't that people are gonna be thrilled with magic, esp. strong magic, so in regards to using magic for rebuilding purposes, once your magic level in a certain area gets to level five, you get rotated to a different job, get a new tome and learn a new spell. like, people will tolerate your forklift, but once you put spikes and flamethrowers on the front, people are going to be less pleased about you using it. so now you get to learn how to use a pneumatic drill. or something. sorry this metaphor is a bit strange.

HOWEVER, I think that even thought there are people who are like "NO MAGIC", I think that others will spiral in the opposite direction, like, WE NEED STRONG MAGIC BECAUSE OTHERWISE HOW ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE IN THE MEANTIME??

but because everything is in ruins and there isn't really enough of a government(? or something) to enforce the restrictions of magic, I think that'd it'd be a case of 'yah, there's a restriction on magic, but everyone just ignores and it's not really enforced'. so you're driving around your level 12 forklift, running goblins over anyway.

once things are a lot, lot more stable, then I think the magic restrictions would actually end up being A Thing. BUT over time I think they'd just end up slipping, and in the end things would kinda end up in a pre-emperor state. like. you can certainly level up fire to 16 or whatever, but like. why. why would you need that. (WAIT FUNNY THOUGHT: FRAIL GRANDMOTHER WHO'S USED THE FIRE SPELL TO COOK ALL HER LIFE AND AS A RESULT IT'S MAX LEVEL. GO ULTIMATE-FIRE GRANDMOTHER)

and like, I think the magic restrictions slipping would also be in mysida's interest, because THAT'S THEIR EXPORT BAYBEEEE. and you know they'd be like "We Must Be Very Careful With Magic Because points at History", but people are people and end up forgetting, or just act like things can't happen again, even when it's spiralling that way.

MUCH TO CONSIDER

also i must admit that i haven't actually played ff2 myself, but instead watched longplays on yt of it, and also long covid has riddled my memory with holes, so if i forget or overlook something, i'm sorry. my brain is just. bad these days.

ON ANOTHER NOTE I think one of the funniest things is that for the longest time (and even maybe now) Firion, just. didn't have a fixed appearance. like for everyone else it varied a little but was generally consistent, but firion? different appearance in every bit of artwork. it'd be completely stupid but also very funny if he was this was in the game as well, like you look away for a second, and when you looks back his entire look has changed. king behaviour. you know what. he has so few traits that i am giving him pmdd now. sorry king.

biting and scratching and crying thinking about deumion, like. LIKE you don't want to kill but your skill means that you're now 1. immortal, 2. alone, 3. forced to kill anyone who reaches you (if you're unlucky.) HE'S LITERALLY SHACKLED TO DEATH ITSELF my man cannot catch a BREAK 💔 on a lighter note, leila is so fun! how did she escape the leviathan? who knows! but what I do know is that I have no choice but to stan. I am gently holding all the ffii characters in my hands. except for borghen.

IT MAKES ME FUCKING CRAZY. hes so young. one of the last things he hears before he leaves to be stuck in isolation for millennia is his mother wailing behind him, desperately crying out his name. hes just a KID THEYRE ALL JUST KIDS ITS NOT FAIR. to be forced (ITS STILL FORCED AND YOU KNOW IT. YOU CANT PUT ALL THAT ON A KID AND EXPECT HIM TO SAY NO) to hold the weight of the future on your shoulders without ever even getting to see it. to be able to do nothing but hope that mankind survives with your sacrifice. everyones futures in exchange for your own and youll never even get to see it.

LIKE. he doesnt know that the shit w mateus was going down!! he has no idea how the outside world is doing! its just him and his ouppy and the arcane labyrinth and eternity. AND THATS THE GOOD ENDING. ETERNITY FOREVERMORE ALONE AND FORGOTTEN BY THE GREATER WORLD. THIS IS NOT A GOOD ENDING DAWG IM CRYING!!!!!!

BUT HIS. HIS DESPERATION AS HE CRAWLS AFTER YOU, DEFEATED BUT UNABLE TO LET GO BECAUSE WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR IF HE FALLS HERE. IF HE RELINQUISHES DESTRUCTION TO A STRANGER HE COULD NEVER KNOW. and even then, all the others he himself had slain to fulfill his role, as someone who loves humanity so deeply that his love is all he is anymore.

HES A KID.

cough. erm.

smiles at u. leila. girlbossing it up in here. TBH even without a ship youd have to imagine shes prepped as a swimmer + leviathan would have no reason to attack her after swallowing down firion and the crystal rod plus the tower is otherwise surrounded by that ring of land. so as unlikely as it would seem, i wouldnt say its outside of the realm of possibility for her to make it to land, esp w leviathan fucking w the currents. the biggest obstacle aside from the open water would be the monsters, but then again, it's not like she doesnt come default w thunder (i have so many thoughts abt magic and mysidia and i would LOVE to hear what someone else thinks abt it if ur ever up for that). so its unlikely, but i cant say its impossible for her to make it out of there... her other obstacle would be making it off the isles Also without a ship but tbh if she swam out of the bay i think she can make it across that channel also. to be quite honest.

ff2 characters 🥰 paul my good friend paul. finally, my chance to live up to my blog title has arrived.

[skepticalarrie]

Your tags about the rabbit hole ALLIE 🕳

Right? I’ve been obsessing over this since the first illustrations from You Are Home came around and he keeps going back to this same concept over and over. Please check my REVERSED AND UPSIDE DOWN tag for more context.

But it all began with Eroda being Adore backwards, a lot of theories emerged about the music video being some sort of representation of a parallel universe. And then all those YAH posters with the door upside down, the teaser trailer for HSH was reversed, the cover of the album is literally Harry standing in the ceiling, the beginning of Boyfriends is reversed, he’s singing and walking backwards at the beginning of AIW…there so much to it. And then there are all the parallels with AIW, the most relevant theory of that music video (imo) is the Matrix red pill blue pill one. Besides the gender metaphor, the pills are a choice between two worlds, one is the truth and the other one is a simulation, “wonderland”.

The LNT music video starts with Harry almost literally falling down the rabbit hole (in blue socks)

And showing up on the other side (in the red socks), where he’s always in bed with a bunch of different people and everyone’s eyes are on him, always in the spotlight, in front of the cameras. A very obvious metaphor for how his image is portrayed in the media.

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice begs and tries to go through the door and go back to “reality” multiple times. She peers through the keyhole and sees another version of herself asleep outside.

The music video ends with Harry falling in the middle of a storm. In Wizard of Oz, a tornado is what takes Dorothy to Oz, away from home.

[nandorscloak]

Takeaway thoughts from the wedding in no particular order:

- does anyone ship the Djinn/Nandor yet? Because it’s kind of precious how he started by giving Nandor exactly what he wanted as soon as he said it damn the consequences ‘I teach lessons about desire and greed’ to ‘yah Instead of your basketball star I gave you a moving cardboard cutout idk man. You sure you want her parents back? Maybe temporary instead? Yeah cool, brunch the day after can-do buddy, wont even charge you another wish. Oh you ran out of wishes?…..here, three freebies. Happy wedding’

- The Guide is in love with Nadja

- everything about the baron was just perfect. His crispy bacon self sitting on the couch. The makeover montage. His beautiful gliding and how fucking serene he seems to be back in his body

- all the side characters lately, the way they’ve been treated is just lovely. Remember Darren? He got a job. Guillermo didn’t forget about him, he still feels bad and invited him to a wedding. Seanie? Well we GOT to have him AND his wife, it’s not a party without them. The sire and the hellhound? Still chilling and living their best afterlife. The Wraiths? Down to clown. We’ve hit the sweet spot where the show is shuffling people in without blinking and expecting you to keep up and I love it.

-Laszlo coming in late to drop a sick new tune and lust after the baron

-baby Colin and the Nadja doll

-Marwa is a gem and needs more screen time

-the Sklar Brothers continue to delight by existing

-screaming Guillermo. Guillermo screaming. More please

-Nandor. My big beautiful idiot. You’re so SAD this season. I’m sad for you. Please hug Memo, for both of our sakes. I need to see him comb your hair again. I want him to hold your hand as you retreat to your coffin. You’re using wishes to close your coffin because you construct intricate rituals to avoid the touch of another man.

-I’m seriously beginning to think the house is going to collapse. Metaphorically, physically. The home they had before is falling apart; it needs to break down so they can build a new one that fits their new family.

[sweetrabbit]

a milkshake date and a kiss under the rain

pairing: Kim Seungmin x gn! reader

genre: best friends to lovers, tooth rotting fluff

prompts: “I’ve learnt to love you.” “I could never get tired of you.” (prompt list by @scvrllet)

synopsis: and seungmin has loved them for 10 years (and maybe more) but it only took a strawberry milkshake and some rain for something to finally happen.

warnings: mention of death (in a metaphorical way) just some romantic tension idrk maybe even sharing a straw if that counts

a/n: fun challenge me and my friends did! Sorry if it's not too good but i just thought it was cute and decided to post it, so here we gaurr!

“i’m so tired, min.” yn slouched down on the plush chair of the school library. “it's only been an hour.” seungmin said unbothered, flipping the pages of the science textbook he was currently helping them with.

“yes, but don’t you think a milkshake sounds good right about now?” trying to persuade the boy “hey i’ll pay this time!” 

he rolled his eyes, “it’s raining, you’re gonna catch a cold if you keep eating cold stuff on a cold day.” 

“c’mon please? just this once and then we’ll continue working at the diner. pinkie promise!” 

“ugh fine, you’re so annoying.” he said getting up “oh but you love me~” yn teased.

and even if he held up a closed off facade he could never lie about the warmth he felt through his heart when yn flashed that sweet grin that caused his heart to swell.

since they were 11, seungmin seemed to have a tingly feeling at yn, the thought of them, the feeling of their hands brushing against one another, he didn’t understand why he felt that way, why he’d gush when they’d say something so cheeky like ‘why are you so red minnie? is it because of me? hehe’ 

the soft smile when yn tugged him towards the nearby diner “okay you go order and i’ll find a place to sit, here” yn said handing him some money. 

he stuffed it in his wallet but once yn was out of sight he went and grabbed his wallet “one strawberry milkshake and some cheese fries please, thank you.”

————— ୨୧ —————

seungmin walked to the booth where yn had been looking out of staring at the droplets on the glass panes. “here” he slid back the money “huh, this is the exact amount i gave you? wait, did you pay? whatever free food!” 

the corners of seungmin’s mouth rose up at yn’s antics. “we can study after we eat.” 

“okay.”

————— ୨୧ —————

the waiter set down the drink and the plate of fries “minnie, tell her she forgot the other shake” yn whispered “i only ordered one.”

“yah! kim seungmin, if you didn’t want a shake you could’ve just said so! what do you want to drink, i’ll buy it.”

“no, i want to share the shake.” he shook his head in such a nonchalant manner.

yn’s face went flush ‘I’M GONNA SHARE A SHAKE WITH HIM?!’ 

“ugh so eager to kiss me, just say it no need to be so obvious about it.” grabbing a fry from the cheap plate.

“if i asked you, would you say yes?” he smirked till a sting of coughs exited yn’s mouth, shrill horror growing on seungmin’s feature.

finally calming down, yn looked straight in seungmin’s eyes to see if he was lying or not “maybe i would '' they went to drink the milkshake.

“okay then, do you want to kiss me at least?” he grabbed the same straw that yn had just drank from. 

“hmm i don’t know… why don’t we talk about this outside?” they said, mischief written all over their face.

“but it's raining.” seungmin resembling a lost puppy. “so? you don’t want to kiss me under the rain? okay kim seungmin, your lost.” they shrugged before getting up.

seungmin follows behind, yn leading him to the back of the diner.

in the middle of the empty parking lot as rain taps their bodies, seungmin leans in “ah ah ah, not yet, i have something to say.” 

seungmin rolls his eyes, “be quick, i’m getting cold.”

“do you like me?” was that even a question? why would kim seungmin, of all people, ask you if he could kiss you?

“well more of love if you think about it. i’ve loved you since the day you hid behind my body when we were eleven because hyunjin was chasing you down, the way you wrapped your arms around me and even after that felt like heaven, and i never want to do anything else other than stay in your arms till i die. i’ve spent 10 years loving you, and i want to spend more of my life loving you because in the end it’ll always be you and no one else. since we were 11 i’ve learnt to love you, and my love for you only grows more and more everyday.”

and it didn’t need words for yn to exchange their feelings, in fact two soft lips landed on seungmin’s. it felt so soft and it was as if butterflies had swarmed both their bodies, the cold rain couldn’t compete as they were so red.

“ugh you’re so sappy, it makes me sick. who knew kim seungmin could be such a hopeless romantic, and a hopeless romantic for me!” 

“if you’re tired of me being sappy then i’ll stop.”

yn stared longingly into seungmin’s eyes, placing a quick peck on his lips once more “i could never get tired of you.” they wrapped their hands around his neck as he wrapped his around their waist.

————— ୨୧ —————

ln yn and kim seungmin could be seen walking through the dormitory with a lovesick expression and hands attached, their soaked study notes that could no longer be read in their bags.

“yah, you’re both soaking! go get dried!” hyunjin throws a towel at the two. “just let them be in love and then they’ll get sick, and then be sick and in love.” minho scrolled mindlessly through his phone. “god you guys make me sick.” jeongin walks past them.

“i’m so cold.” seungmin whispers “let’s go cuddle, yeah? i’ll take a shower first.” yn ran to seungmin’s room before he could respond.

ah he’s waited for this for so long and finally, yn was his yn and he was their seungmin.

-

taglist: @hwaranghae @i2abella

[ofgentleresolve]

kinged him~ ( ;D )

♔ ———–

   Right now, Hyuk truly could care less about the lack of formal tone in the other’s words. Whilst others would probably try to set boundaries, Hyuk is more bothered about hands pressing onto his body to be sent steps back. The detective responds out of instinct, lifting his hands and making them land on the other’s wrist as to toss limbs away from him. There’s the sudden urge to do the same thing this stranger did, yet he refrains with a tightened jaw. If he gets into a physical fight right now, there’s probably no way he’ll be able to gain access to this coffee shop unless he has some sort of warrant — which he doesn’t have at the moment and is very difficult to get when not being part of the official law enforcement anymore. 

    He takes a deep breath; straightens his back and places palms on his hips. Eyes narrow for a moment, staring at the other when he speaks. It sounds like a bad excuse made on the spot, if you ask him. Hyuk looks over stranger’s shoulder, then back at him. 

  “And the whole place is closed over a single machine you can unplug so the smoke ceases? And if there’s smoke, then where is it? I don’t see or smell it.” 

   He’d know how smoke looks and smells like, wouldn’t he? Some of his most unsettling experiences are tied to fire, after all.  

   “Shouldn’t you also empty the place if there’s a problem like that, for safety? I can see people inside.” 

    Not that he could see the faces, or how they looked like, exactly — he could only pinpoint faded silhouettes behind the glass. 

    “So, based on that, I don’t believe you. I’m not—” 

    He frowns at the random suggestions he keeps sending his way.

     “Yah! What’s with you, huh? Are you high?! Do you work here? I could arrest you for operating under the influence and for battery.” 

———– ♔

“It’ll show up. I’d give it about…” He looks behind him again. “A minute or two? Yeah, maybe like 1.5 minutes- you’ll get your SMOKE then.”

So perhaps he shouldn’t be so lackadaisical in this moment, considering that if the King does get inside, there will be…well, Alfred doesn’t actually know what would happen, but it will probably come at the price of property damage. Property damage that he’ll have to pay in full out of pocket. Inconvenient and not to mention expensive too.

But more importantly, he smirks in spite of the former detective’s wrath and wipes off the metaphorical dust from the King’s suit. “And with what authority, sir?” The address is said almost mockingly. “Unless I see a badge on you, you’ve got no chance of getting in.” Not that he’d let anyone from the Gangnam Police Station in anyways. Or at least to the back of the house. That’s where the King is looking to enter, probably. 

The important part, however, is that the King is pissed and if he’s yelling, then Myungdae’s bound to get the hint. At this point, it’s a matter of riling up the bull to the point of no return and truly, there’s nothing Alfred is better at than pissing people off.

“I’m not high, but it looks like you might need it more.” Granted, they’d have to be in another country to do weed- it’s times like that, however, when Alfred misses good ol’ New York City. Maybe he should take a vacation there when this is all over- he’ll drag Nell and Myungdae with him too. “You should try it some time, none of the hard stuff, but a good blunt of weed- it’d do wonders for your nervous system." He sounds almost nostalgic at this made up scenario. “But since you’re asking for smoke right now, it’ll be here in three, two, one…”

KA-BOOM.

And with that, as the smoke leaks through the window, the Rook lifts his arm, finally letting the King through the entrance.

[t-underneaththeradardancing]

hear merrow - wonder time - another and sez good kitty - always - and now that ur awake - wuz so worried u maybe idk died - it made me so sad and hungry -nonot that - something good - ok a since u gave treetz - wuz a time when the morning kitty pome wuz - heavier on the kitty part - she duznt like being photo  - someone sed i dont even think u have a cat - anyway too fukken early - it wood bee cold coffee if only - expecting to make while sleep groggy un caffeinated is barbaric and - every day?  duz t look like a barrista ffs - no notta k cup unless we in a hotel 

pt 2  cuz its gonna b too long to fit on one page on ig - oh the horror - fuck its monday - again - weekly u say - fuck - laundry - a hallelujah - anyway - a missive - wanna go back sleep so bad - where wuz i - murder no nor birdsong yet - its 2 fukken early - no cant metaphor this morning we already been conceptual  - is this a psycho hangover from ... no - not reality pleeeeeeese not that its torture - ok can start with shoes if so insist - then 1 foot - u so sneaky life terms  - laundry street fair fuck all dinner - a nap or 2 - at best im still a little sleep deprived tho 5 hours mostly better than 1 -3 yah and some daze          more my drug of choice or all of the above and below as well 

[sickybubbies]

A/n: Y'all I realised there's really not enough pregnant Jungkook on here with Jikook ofc I'm a sucker for them lately. Anyway, sorry for the crappy ending, enjoy!

TW: Emeto, Mpreg

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

"You alright babe?" Jimin rasps, leaning up so he was perching on his elbow as he squints his eyes where he could make out a faint figure of Jungkook half climbing; hauling himself onto the bed under the early greys of the morning. 

"Mhmm," Jungkook hums quietly for a response, grimacing at the acid like texture in his throat that he was left with after throwing up. It was raw and strained, and Jungkook didn't like it one bit. He huffs and slips a hand under his shirt to hold on to his pudgy stomach, for two reasons. It was pushing past the waistline of his sweats from how bloated he was, after expelling the contents of his stomach routinely which tires him out endlessly and he wants to rip his insides out. 

But Jungkook decides to be forgiving, because he's a few weeks into carrying the beautiful baby that he and Jimin had always dreamed about having. The pair had spent days and nights, with Jimin's head on Jungkook's torso as they both squabbled about how they'd raise their child way back in the boyfriend phase. (“One baby with your short genes, one with my tall genes and my good looks, how's that sound?" "Yah!") Jungkook reminds himself that it was all gonna be worth it in the end, it's always worth it. He imagines just how bright Jimin's eyes were to get once their baby was here, if it wasn't bright enough when Jungkook told him the news of his pregnancy; he fears he'd metaphorically go blind from his joy. 

"I've just been sick." He murmurs, leaning back onto the headboard. Jungkook slouches, the energy sucked out of his bones as he shuts his eyes to hopefully regroup himself.

Jimin hums in acknowledgement, more awake now that he was aware of his husband's strife and leans over to press a generous kiss to his forehead. He wasn't going to let the younger deal with it alone, though the ones he accidentally sleeps through he's always up and at his service when needed and to smother him in love for afterwards. 

"I thought you were gonna. I could hear your tummy all night going squelch squelch" He mumbles playfully, hoping it would lighten the dreadful atmosphere. Jimin places a hand on Jungkook's stomach and begins to rub circles into it, hoping it would ease him some.

 The latter's abs had begun to disappear and his stomach was slightly dome shaped from the swell he had, his skin was softer and squishier the closer he gets to the second trimester and Jimin couldn't keep his hands off of Jungkook. In his defense, his husband looked adorable pregnant, he adored the sight so much and loved the tiny being to bits already. 

"Shut up Chim, listening to you is making me wanna vomit again" Jungkook groans, shifting on the mattress so he could get comfortable and pressing a fist to his lips as he feels his stomach fizzle up and an airy burp escape from his lips. 

Jimin pouts, he begins carding through Jungkook's soft purple hair. "Still feel bad? Aren't you supposed to feel better after bringing everything up?" He questions, his heart clenching as he watches Jungkook's face begin to pale and paint a tinge of green. 

Jungkook shrugs. "Dunno about that hyung, I don't feel better at all. I feel queasy" He admits, he'd learnt to vocalize to the older about how he felt; if he doesn't it's gonna end up with another one of Jimin's shirts in the wash, trust he's been there and learnt his lesson. 

"My baby…" Jimin coos softly, propping up next to him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He keeps his fingers in Jungkook's hair, looking down at him and kissing the crown of his head as he slowly scratches his scalp. He holds the younger tighter when he stiffens and moans, his brows furrowing from the pain and havoc the nausea was causing in Jungkook's stomach from how he nuzzles his nose into Jimin's chest. "It's one of those days huh? Crackers and water, maybe some ginger ale if we feel less stubborn. How long does lil' bean plan to keep you sick for anyways?" 

"That feels nice..." Jungkook mumbles out, relaxing a little. Jimin's soft yet aimless conversations helped keep him distracted, and so were his gentle touches they did a great job in lulling him to sleep. 

Speaking of which, Jungkook is just about to drift into dreamland in the comfort of Jimin's arms when his stomach churns again. He feels a splash of bitter bile in the back of his throat, almost like the residue of sick that was still sitting at his throat from earlier. He almost sits upright, clenching his throat and covering his mouth as he belches. It catches Jimin's attention. 

"Jungkookie, Jungkookie" Jimin says in a haste, cursing under his breath as he looks around for anything Jungkook to spew in without jostling his stomach too much. His eyes drawing back to the younger one in worry when he next hears a wet gag which meant he couldn't hold on any longer now that his hand was leaving his mouth. 

Jimin looks around and finds the glass bowl he had on his side table which Jungkook had brought him months back, he sighs in relief. It was stashed with a bunch of sweets and random bits that he's quickly dumping out. He snags it up and under Jungkook's chin, straightening up with him and clicking his tongue when Jungkook whines and protests. 

"It's okay, Jungkookie it's okay, do it here. In here babe, I'll clean it don't worry. It's just a bowl" He assures softly, lowering it slightly so it wasn't right in his face as he slowly massages the back of his neck. 

Jungkook whimpers, feeling his stomach slosh and his muscles tense as he wraps an arm around his middle. He barely registers Jimin turning the lamp on before he's disgorging a stream of vomit into the bowl. 

He pants and grunts, jolting with a hiccup. His breath gets caught in his throat and he gags, coughing and spluttering before more chunky liquid is brought up which splashes into the bowl. Jungkook squeezes his eyes shut, just the fact that it looked so much like his dinner still sent his stomach into another wheel. 

"That's it, let it out Kookie, my sweet boy." Jimin hums, digging under the sick man's shirt and rubbing up and down his arched back. He grimaces when Jungkook retches again, throwing up even more which makes his heart ache.

"You're doing well bun, I'm so proud of you. Keep going until you feel like you've finished" He encourages, kissing his shoulder and pulling him closer before pausing when Jungkook sobs. 

"H-hyung…" Jungkook chokes out, hiccuping as fat tears roll down his rosy and embarrassed cheeks. Usually, he's never one to cry so easily but pregnancy hormones had him spiralling into a pouty and emotional wreckage in a flash. Something was gnawing at him. 

"Jungkookie" Jimin whispers so he didn't startle him, stroking his hair back as he listened. 

"W-why this bowl… I got you it f-for our anniversary!" Jungkook cries out making Jimin flinch, his mouth wide in realisation now that Jungkook's refusal to puke earlier was because he didn't want to do it in such a meaningful, meaningful bowl. He forgot Jungkook was so peculiar about the little things. 

"Y-you could've gotten-" Jungkook hiccups. "A-another bowl o-or the trashcan. I w-worked so hard to get you this. Do you know how much it cost me on our holiday? N-now I've been sick in it i-it's all ruined I fucking h-hate you" He rambles, in the spur of his overriding emotions he misses Jimin's amused expression.

"Cute" He murmurs under his breath with a quiet chuckle, wiping his tears with his sleeve. "I'm sorry. I'll clean it up, squeaky clean and good as new. You won't even remember that you've been sick in it. I'm serious!" Jimin's voice raises a pitch as Jungkook looks at him unconvinced, his doe eyes still holding tears.

"Gimmie a kiss" He giggles, crawling forward while moving the bowl away as Jungkook groans loudly and scrunches his nose and tilts his head back. "A-ah ew no I've literally- Jimin I just puke-" He stammers, pursing his lips as Jimin eventually steals a kiss from him.

His tears were dry now, the fit subsided and it was only laughter and giggles together even if Jungkook's morning was off to a rough start Jimin always made it better. 

[cherry-gemz]

Summary: This is a continuation of the movie Before We Go and my interpretation and imagination of an A/U. Brooke is you (Y/N) and Nick is still Nick :)

Prompt: "Just admit that I'm right." for @the-ce-horniest-book-club Drunk Drabbles for Nick Vaughan.

Pairings: Nick Vaughan x Y/N

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: <2k...is this a drabble still? Oopsies XD

A/N: I watched this movie for the first time just last week. It's now one of my top 3 Cevans movies! While I'm all for a romantic, serendipitous, spontaneous trope...much like Before Sunrise *no spoilers*, the ending was great, but I wanted a different spin. No pressure...yah, right! Either way, hope you enjoy xx.

Tags: @thesecretlifeofdaydreamss @tonystankschild @a-little-counter-esperanto

****************************************************************

You sniff and rub the end of your coat sleeve with your nose. Had to be the chill in the air, you thought. Not the fact that you just spent the most amazing and life changing night with a man you just met hours before and it was ending.

You stare out the train’s window; the gentle hum of the cart gliding across the steel tracks echoed in your thoughts. You shook your head in thinking that you made a mistake. I should have stayed...I should have told him how I felt…

“Nick. It's you again. Listen. I want to give you one more piece of advice. You're gonna be playing one night... Grand Central... thinking of every reason in the world to not go see the girl that broke your heart. Then, you're gonna meet somebody. And now, at first, she's gonna seem… icy. You're gonna know right away she's trouble. She's gonna take all your money. You're probably gonna get punched in the face. But stay with her; you're gonna need her a lot more than she needs you. And at the end of the night, you're gonna want to say some things, but don't. Don't ruin it. It's nothing she doesn't already know. Just give her a kiss. Wish her good luck. And thank her. Thank her for showing you that you can love more than one person in this life.”

He was unbelievably charming. You said so yourself. His raw talent with the trumpet was beautiful and different from what you were used to. The suburbia of the Boston bubble was what you were forced to live in now. You were from London, you were cultured and refined. Sure things with Michael were exciting at first, but the ho hum of the daily diatribe of routine became loathsome. Dépaysement. But you still never wavered in your marriage. Unlike Michael who had crossed that sacred line and lost your trust. It wasn't even fully the physical aspect that he went to another woman. It was the intimacy of telling her his deepest desires and then some that hurt the most. That he would want to share that with anyone else but you. But tonight. Tonight was what made you see clearly.

"It's possible, isn't it? It's possible that you could meet somebody who's perfect for you even though you're committed to somebody else," you asked as you bit your lip.

"No, no, see, I think if you're committed to somebody, you don't allow yourself to find perfection in someone else."

You found yourself blushing and cupping your cheek in thoughts of Nick. He was right. The whole night was a cluster mess of you trying to get home before Michael so you'd be able to throw away that wretched note. That he'd come to his senses and forget Linny. That he'd realized he was a fool and you'd start over. Just like old times.

However, slowly that feeling of reconciliation faded away little by little as each hour in the city passed. You couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but somehow the scrappy trumpet player Nick Vaughan etched his way into your icy heart and left an impression and stayed.

His fluffy, dark hair - so soft and inviting for you to rake your fingers through it was enough to drive you mad. His scruffy beard, which tickled when you kissed. You already loved ghosting your palms over it softly and imagined being able to do it whenever you wished. He said earlier into the night you weren't his type; you scoffed, but we're annoyed that it bothered you. You were a classic model of what guys were into, looks wise. Sure, your attitude was what rubbed some people the wrong way, but Americans really were too sensitive.

He however...he was the full package. Every toothy grin, wink, and full hearty laugh. He was addicting. He was a dead ringer for a heartthrob, but you also couldn't hate the guy for it. He was the friend you'd call to bail you out of jail at 4am and the boyfriend that you could see settling down with. It was nauseating really.

And then his lips. His soft lips...you can’t believe you kissed him in the hotel room. And then again at the train station. But you would have kicked yourself for not doing so in the first place. The way your fingers interlaced themselves on his terry cloth robe, how desperately you wanted to press your body against his. All you wanted was for him to feel that burning need within the apex between your thighs and extinguish it all night. But it was more than that, he was what you were missing. But you were kidding yourself. You weren’t running to Michael, you were running away from Nick.

But why? Because of the unknown? Because he actually knew who you were deep down inside? How could a man you barely knew, change you? Change what you thought was true, what you thought was love?

You dove your hand into your wool jacket’s pockets to push any thoughts of self-doubt, when you realize there was a piece of cardstock. You were puzzled to find it and immediately smiled in recognizing the hotel survey card. You bit your lip as you read down the survey questions one by one and notice Nick’s handwriting at the bottom, ‘turn over’ with an arrow.

Curious you turn over the hotel card and he’s written the word ‘yes’. Yes? You furrow your brow and contemplate further what he would be saying yes to. You think about the night - the time at the bar, helping him with Hannah, when you went to the psychic reading. Yes? What in the world - and then you turn the card back over and realize that on the second to last question it asked “Will you be likely to return?”

None of the boxes are checked, but he’d written ‘yes’ on the back. Yes. Yes he’ll return? Where? To the hotel? But when? You look up and rush to think about stopping the train dead in its tracks to return back to Grand Station. You breathe out heavily and come to terms that this isn’t a movie. He’s not chasing you down the tracks, jumping on the train to find you. Or is he? You wouldn’t put it past him. The whole night was filled with serendipitous concourses, this would be icing on the cake. You dart your head around to see if he’s in the cable car. It’s like in every rom com movie ending, the man of your dreams will be right there. He’s somehow charmed his way into boarding the train and found you waiting like a princess in her high tower. The train car is dark and bleak, only a few passengers are riding it as it’s the first route to Boston on a Sunday. You peer over to see if he’s in the next cart, but alas he is not. You slump in your seat and rub your thumb methodically over his words.

"Have you ever had a feeling that somebody was going to play a major part in your life?” you ask.

“Yeah."

“Do you know the most interesting thing about hotel art? It's what's on the back.”

It’s then you realize you have to return to New York. This story wasn’t about you and Michael anymore. No, it was about the man who selflessly helped you while you were in need, not only at your dire hour, but metaphorically as well. This was meant to be. You were meant to miss your train, break your phone, and meet the handsome man named Nick Vaughn. You knew he’d still be in the city because of his audition for the day with Duke at least, if you could just get to him somehow...

*

Your knees bounced as you sat on a cushioned chair in the hotel lobby. You had planned to wait there all day, but then realized the $13 train ticket was your only way of providing you security back home. So you went home. Confronted Michael. Cursed, cried, and then relief rushed over you as he had read your letter and how you knew about the affair. How you wanted to throw fists on his chest and tell him how much you hated him. But once you saw him, you found it didn't matter to you anymore. Someone else was worth fighting for. Your marriage was over. The hatred and spite you once had for your husband had dissipated. Your world didn't end like you thought it would. This wasn't your only chance at love. You were choosing to be happy, whether it was with Nick or not. This was the first time you were going to jump without having a net.

And Nick was wrong. Michael didn't want to work things out, he was coming to tell you that he loved you, but that and he'd be returning to Atlanta for good. The house, car, everything was yours: Nick said so himself, you gotta be okay with not being okay. So you walked away. You made the choice just like the psychic said and took it in stride, you faced the music.

However now you found yourself back in New York. Not the once stranded woman at a crossroads less than 24 hours before, but the woman that made a choice. You were worried that Nick would see it as you running away again. Running away because Michael didn't choose you. But in reality you didn't choose each other.

Still without an ID, you took your car and better against the four hour drive to the city and hoped a cop wouldn't pull you over. You thought of the night in the hotel. The laughs, the closeness you two encountered. The playful and cheeky way he could make you feel seen. You were starting to get nervous, what if he doesn't show up? What if I missed my chance?

"I'm an idiot," you murmur to yourself. "I can't believe I'm here."

You stand up and realize there Nick was there in your path. He looked a little worn, obviously from staying up all night. But he had changed and showered from the looks of it, and his signature trumpet case held in his hand.

"Well look who it is. The biggest loser in New York."

You laughed and blushed at the sight of him. He slung his trumpet case over his broad shoulder and walked over to close the gap.

“Just admit that I’m right.”

"Admit what?" You ask as you find yourself touching his jacket sleeve.

"Admit that you couldn't get enough of me." You hitched a breath from his words.

"You can say that."

"I can't believe you came back," he responded. His blue eyes gazed into yours as he brushed away a tendril of hair from your face.

"I read your answer to the survey...on the back."

"The stay did exceed my expectations and I did say I would return," he smiles.

"And here you are."

"Here I am…" he pulls away slightly as he's reminded that you're married.

"I jumped," you replied.

He's taken back by your statement and furrows his brow.

"What? With what?"

"I told Michael it was over."

"Wow. I'm so...sorry, Y/N."

"Don't be. You said so yourself, at some point it was time to face the music."

He nodded, absorbing the information.

"Say what's in your head."

He shook his head and grinned,"I'm just glad you came back is all."

"Yeah? How'd you know?"

"I didn't. Just sure as hell hoped you would."

He intertwines your fingers with his and holds tight. Like a missing puzzle piece found, your hand fits perfectly with his.

"Whaddya say we get out of here?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"I may know a place," he smiles devilishly and gives your knuckles a kiss.

You grab his dress shirt collar and turn him towards you. He runs his hands through your hair and places his lips upon yours, kissing you deeply. It's a kiss so passionate, so perfect - that after you part, neither open your eyes for a few moments afterwards and he embraces you tightly.

"Good, because I'm not going anywhere."

[painterofhorizons]

Floating Day WIP

Lovely @chyrstis and @theoriginalladya tagged me for the floating day WIP and as some actual writing has happened within the past four days, I am gladly able to share some. ^.^ Thanks for tagging me!

Will tag everyone who wants to share something. Yes, that you! @sheeplessthings @jedirangerpenguin @foofygoldfish @hunnybadgerv @chyrstis @theoriginalladya @shadoedseptmbr @shudder-shock @calendergirlff (are you still in the writing game, friend?) @swaps55 @rpgwrites @jediwalkerw @urrone

So, this is something that, lets say lets see where it takes us. :D Not sure yet where or how it will fit into the actual story, and it combines/reworks some earlier ideas and it’s pretty much a what if with different outsomes that I will play with. And it starts like this:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Alex had spent an undefined amount of time sitting at the kitchen bar table staring at her own hands when she heard a sound coming from the hallway. Immediately her heartbeat fastened, hands covered in cold sweat.

Play it cool, she told herself, it’s no big deal, just play it cool.

As if that was so easy. Because fuck, this was a big deal.

“Hey.”

She met Dave halfway between the front door and the kitchen. He kissed her hello and Alex tried her best to play it cool, with little to no success.

“Hey”, she said, trying to sound somewhat confident and normal. “I made” - dinner - “how was” - your day - “sit. We need to talk.”

Not the ideal way to start this conversation, but was there one, really?

Dave raised his brows but followed her order without second guessing it.

“Everything okay?”

Well, that was most likely a matter of definition. Alex shot him a look that could be read as everything ranging from sorry, I broke your favourite mug to we have to sell the house and leave the state, don’t ask any questions.

“Yah. Yah, I- no. Yah.”

At least Dave didn’t react to that senseless stutter. Alex sighed. She had been thinking about what to say and how to word it since she knew he would be back home this night, but her brain wasn’t capable to come up with any way that was even slightly convincing, not to speak of clever, eloquent or sensitive. And whatever she had said so far didn’t fall in any of those categories.

“No one is hurt or anything”, she made sure to clarify when Dave only gave her the same questioning but patient look he had since he’d sat down.

“Good.”

Alex took a deep breath, but it didn’t help. Well, at least nobody was harmed. That was probably a good thing.

“Everyone at work okay?”

“What do we need to talk about, Alex?” Dave asked instead of answering her rather distracting question.

“Yah… Well.” Alex shifted her weight from one foot to the other, hands buried deep in the pockets of her jeans. This moment had come sooner than she had hoped for - even though the last two days had been way too long for her taste. “Yah. There’s not really a sensitive way to put this so I’ll just put in on the table.”

Both metaphorically and literally spoken.

She took a seat at the opposite side of Dave and slid a used pregnancy test over to him.

Time froze. Alex could hear the non existent clock in the background going tick. Tack. Tick. Tack. One round and another and another, while Dave just stared at the small piece of plastic in front of him. His general calm attitude became noticeably less - it didn’t fade completely, Alex was pretty sure that was impossible for Dave or at least took more than the current situation - but some of it faded. He was still calm, but Alex could tell the difference.

“That-“

“It’s the third test from a different brand within two days”, Alex cut him. “I sure can get a fourth, but I doubt that will change the outcome.”

Dave looked up from the test and met her look. The expression in his face made Alex laugh, even if just for a second. A stranger wouldn’t notice it, Dave was subtle, at least more subtle than she was, but she knew him well enough to know exactly what he was hoping for. He was looking for a sign for how she was taking the situation, and how he was supposed to react now.

“Don’t give me that look!” The laughter faded into a grin that faded into a small twitching of the corners of her mouth. At least he had involuntarily cheered up the situation. “I don’t know what to say either, okay? This takes me as off guards as you. I don’t know how, or when, or what the fuck we are supposed to do now. But yeah. Welcome home, I guess.”

Dave slowly nodded.

“So. You’re pregnant.”

“Or so it seems.”

Another slow nod followed. Knitted brows. Familiar knitted brows that - fuck, she had missed him twice as much within the last week. Even if she had no clue what to say or do right now.

Dave folded his hands and the ever so calm and controlled manner of him changed into the same helpless and overwhelmed vibe Alex felt.

“I think I need a drink.”