#summertime netflix

[manicpixiedepressedwitch]

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

finally finished summertime season 2 and they are so wrong for doing lola like that. did she not suffer enough getting cheated on by ale and then getting dumped for the girl he cheated on her with (only for those niggas to then breakup an episode later?) AND SHE HANDLED THAT SHIT WITH SO MUCH GRACE (disregarding her pick me dance conversation with summer...) much better handling of the situation from me

getting bullied by her coach and ale trying to sweep that shit under the rug the entirety of their relationship... for her to get into a likely fatal accident for the finale?????

someone please stop the summertime directors

[sparklejumpropequeen1949]

GEEKING 😃😆😆

[bonobochick]

Some ships to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  💋  🥰

urls: Post 1 / Post 3 / Post 4

[tardis--dreams]

I actually realized i hate work. Won't be putting any effort into this anymore ♡

[k-star-holic]

Song Hye-kyo Ripped, Kim Eun-sook Beautiful...Miribo Is 'The Gloria' Part 2

[adventures-in-mangaland]

Another Dead Boy Detectives Fic Rec List

Netflix sucks and I'm sad, but the Dead Boy Detectives fandom continues to be awesome, so here are some more very quick fic recs!*

Tonight's the Night You Fight Your Best Mate's Dad by Opossum_Subatomic

Everyone's Alive College/University 5+1 things fic featuring Charles bringing Edwin coffee and slowburn payneland. Also Family/Wedding Drama involving Everyone Thinks They're Dating so acute is verges on Fake Dating. This author is seriously fantastic, everything they write is gold.

You should also check out Kissing Lessons, which is a high school AU that does what it says on the tin while also giving non-binary Monty and polyamory.

Ornithology by Rosie447

Monty gets a job working at Tragic Mick's. This one's not actually payneland, being gen and Monty-centric. I know, gasp. It's a fantastic and very sweet exploration of Monty discovering his sense of self post canon and works as a great metaphor for recovery from toxic family/relationships. Also, the ex-animal solidarity and bonding with Mick is lovely.

what some circumstance stole by Chrome

The Sandman crossover featuring Edwin and Hob being kidnapped and tortured together. Their friendship is really wholesome with eventual Father Figure and Found Family Feels for the whole agency and background Dreamling.

dandelion wine (life and death in summertime) by world_wanderer

Payneland Right Person Wrong Time AU in which neither of them die but they still meet and become friends. The May/December friendship is sweet but tragic, with a bittersweet ending. Superb.

Mirror Image by Anonymous

Charles' afterlife gets taken over my an evil shape-shifting doppelganger, leaving him with plenty of time to regret never talking to Edwin about his feelings. Angsty but with Feelings Realisation and the Power of Love and Friendship vibes.

my healing needed more than time by babyseraphim

Case fic with de-aged Charles! Baby Charles is precious but be prepared for discussions of childhood trauma/abuse.

The same author has also written I'm So Aces at Babysitting, which is a really cute two-chaptered AU featuring Charles and Edwin babysitting the kid versions of each other, with bonus Crystal and Niko doing the same. It's very wholesome and the author writes little kids really well.

Pouring into me by tragedy_machine

Love me some "Charles wants to date Edwin to figure out his feelings but gets turned down" fic. Feelings are hard, OK?

thank u, next by KiaraSayre

Edwin fucks and Charles seethes. It's very funny and also features some interesting worldbuilding with the Fae.

Like We've Never Known Hurt by dearheartdont

Just cute established relationship PWP and praise kink. So good.

all of these hollows by handwrittenhello

The boys are alive again but sans memories. Can they still find each other and prove their devotion to the Night Nurse?? While also evading heavenly and hellish forces trying to keep them apart??? Very interesting concept executed well.

Suo Gân by emryses

The agency takes on the case of a traumatised Edwardian ghost searching for her missing baby... Read it for Edwin family feels.

Where Primroses Bloom by PantryJesus

Reading aloud as a love language and Watership Down feels. Idk, I'm now convinced that Edwin is kind of rabbit-coded with the whole "if they catch you they'll kill you. But first they must catch you" thing. A lovely well written fic.

I'm so sick of online love by Hse11z5

College/University AU where the boys meet through a dating app. It's cute.

you can have the best of me, baby (and I will give you anything) by aletterinthenameofsanity

Again, it's the Friends with Benefits but with real feelings and mutual pining for me. Now has a Charles PoV companion fic.

True Love's Kiss by Asidian

In which Charles curses himself with a Sleeping Beauty enchantment in order to confirm his feelings for Edwin and Crystal is the real MVP. I love this one because the boys are both SO stupid but in very different in-character ways.

I also recommend Promised, in which they kind of play the Green card angle to keep Edwin out of Hell? Which honestly needs to be more of a trope. And Tight Quarters, starring the boys trapped in a magic circle, leading to Forced Proximity induced Feelings Realization (in more ways than one! 😉).

Something I Can Turn To by DontOffendTheBees

I love some domestic fluff, in this case as an Everyone's Alive/Childhood Friends AU in which the boys are poor but happy living together. I liked how they both survive their respective traumas, but Reality Ensues.

I also recommend Lived My Whole Life Before the First Light for a lovely but melancholy Soulmate AU that goes for the "seeing colours" trope for extra wistful angst.

Dining at the Ritz by TerresDeBrume

Meeting the Parents fic in which Edwin's parents are awful and Charles is Not Having It. This has Everyone Thinks They're Dating and autistic Edwin stimming representation, plus discussions of racism, classism and ableism. The fic is also part of a great Modern AU series in which the boys attended St Hilarion's at the same time and Charles saved Edwin from a non-supernatural but still almost deadly prank. Highly recommended!

The Case of the Couples Retreat by juliasfanart

Listen, I can't get enough of undercover fake dating/relationships at a couples retreat, OK? Some minor angst but overall very cute and fluffy.

acu (aysar cinematic universe) by ObsessedWithFandom

The agency is hired to solve the mystery of Charles' death and bring his killers to justice. I'm genuinely obsessed with this series; I love its OCs and Charles having an exboyfriend gives Edwin a fun crisis. Plus haunting Charles' killers is very satisfying and cathartic. Just imagine they're Netflix execs, y'all.

*Not actually quick, as it turns out. 😅

I love doing these lists because I always think I've only got a few recs and then I look back over my recent bookmarks and I've got a metric ton of great fics to rec. You guys are so talented. ❤️

[sparklejumpropequeen1949]

Nothing broke my heart more then watching the scene in baby where niccolo and Chiara made love 😞😔🙁

[merakiui]

Are there any mangas or anime you really enjoy?

Yes!!! :D here are just a few I especially love:

✧ Summertime Render - I LOVE THIS ANIME/MANGA OMG...... I cannot hype it enough. The plot and its twists had me at the edge of my seat throughout. All of the characters have such strong personalities, the villains are really well done, the mystery and action are executed wonderfully, the pacing is great, the setting is amazing, the ost scratches my brain!!! In short, everything about this series is 10/10 for me.

✧ Great Pretender - another series I love to pieces! The backgrounds are so aesthetically pleasing,,, uuuwaaaa. The characters are so memorable, and the plots for each individual con are amazing. I'm left breathless every time because somehow the stakes just keep raising. It's so good!!!!! The opening song is also such a banger?!?!!??!! orz I could listen to it forever.

✧ THEO by Aono Nachi - it's such a cute BL. 🥺 I loved the dynamic between Theo and Rei. Maybe it's because I'm weak to master-servant dynamics, but then I also like how emotional their romance is and how stubborn Rei is. It was really wonderful!!

✧ Marriage to the Wolf by Inui Hana - another lovely BL!! I adored the dynamic between Kaede and Ren. The way they couldn't stand each other in the beginning..... slowly growing closer and softening to each other. The way they're both doing things out of obligation at first because it's an arranged marriage and the fact that Ren is holding back for Kaede's sake...... THEIR BANTER!!!!!! orz orz

✧ Devilman Crybaby (the netflix adaptation) - THIS SHOW. It hurts me every time I watch it. The ost is a banger, the art style is amazing, the way I cried ugly the first time I watched it. The "why am I the only one speaking, Akira?" haunts me to this day. I highly recommend it.

✧ ODDTAXI - the plot and the twist omg!!!!!! And the mystery!!!!! I may be biased because Riddle's VA voices Odokawa and I love anything that Natsuki Hanae does!! His work is always outstanding. The opening is also another banger. I can't say much without spoiling something major, but I highly recommend this anime. It's definitely worth the watch!!!

✧ The Disastrous Life of Saiki K - Saiki K my beloved. It always manages to make me laugh. I love Saiki's character. He's so funny, as is the rest of the cast. Kaidou never fails to make me laugh, especially in the dub. He's so silly. I think about "drowning in inch-deep water isn't easy" every day LOL.

✧ Romantic Killer - AAAAA I LOVED THIS SHOW!!!!! Maybe it's because Anzu is such a relatable female lead to me (but also because Riddle and Leona's VAs voice two of the main love interests hehe). It's so fun! It also handles the serious aspects of its plot really well. I loved Anzu's dynamic with Riri.

✧ Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess - it's been a moment since I've caught up with this manhwa, but I love it!!! The characters are all really striking. Most of all, I really like Penelope's character!!! <3 she's such a strong female lead. I like her interactions with all of the characters.

✧ Toilet-bound Hanako-kun - this manga is everything to me!!!! I absolutely adore the plot and its characters. Hanako and Yashiro's dynamic is really cute. :D I forgot what chapter I left off on, but I remember it left me in shambles. T^T

[captainjoongki]

The difference between watching a drama written 10 years ago and one airing right now is truly astonishing. I re-watched I hear your voice and whatever anyone's feelings about it or its couple, the way the writing is there to tell a story, and a big part of that is a love story and you can feel the way this writer is genuinely trying to weave a tale of two people surviving together and being there for one another and protecting each other. Now most of the time when I watch something I feel like there was a zoom meeting where they went over talking points and hashtags where they said "this is the dynamic that sells right now be sure that's how you tell your story" and that's just sad tbh.

CLOCK THEM ANON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hear your voice is just so beautifully written it has such wonderful rewatch value it's the perfect summertime drama imo, and i feel the same way about the majority of older dramas. do you know what they let characters do? they let them exist in silence and space. they let them process things for actual screen-time. i feel like ever since the netflix overlords and other streamers and the internet in general got their hands on kdramas, they've become more monetized than ever. i mean yes there was awful PPL for a good amount of the later 2010's kdramas, but the way kdramas have just become this "hire big names, a script, and budget" and the rest just gets thrown in the air is wild to me. it's the same way with literature these days; it all exists to sell a trope and tag and promote to tiktok and whatever godawful website controls society in our time.

the dramas back then didn't have the pretty cinematography or fancy budgets but they had so much fucking HEART and SOUL. i constantly find myself rewatching them and maybe it's the nostalgia in all of us, but i just cannot help but feel like we truly went backwards in many ways. we exchanged the wide eyed kisses for makeout scenes, yes, but somewhere along the way, we lost what made kdramas special.

[heirloomcaterpilllar442]

i will love you.

I will love you if I am all the way across the world, and I will love you if I am just down the hall. I will love you as an Arkansas sky loves tornados and as shoes love sticking to gum on the sidewalks, even if the internet crashes into oblivion and nothing on Tumblr is ever relevant again. I will love you as the wind loves the chase and as the children love puppets and as the music loves a stage. I will love you as a computer loves the beeping sound and as my grandmother loves her Alexa, as Netflix loves capitalism and Kamala Harris loves to laugh in her videos. I will love you as a teacher loves her apple-iest student and as a parking loves a new coat of asphalt. I will love you as sweat loves the back of my legs in summertime, and summertime loves watermelons, and watermelons love dripping down onto the trampoline until someone has to come out with a big hose and spray it all down. 

I will love you as the pandemic loves a vaccine, and the vaccine loves an arm, and the arm loves to hold someone tightly, and holding someone tightly loves the cool dark rooms of a small black car. I will love you as a white board loves a marker, and as a marker loves color, and color loves to make a person smile…I will love you until all our colors are seen, until I can look at any little wheel and know you in every combination, every blue and red/yellow and all the others in between, above, below. I will love you until all the Super Bowls are over and all the TikTok videos are deleted and until every cat doesn’t give me hives and every Starbucks girls never turns her head to look at you. I will love you until every iceberg freezes back and a polar bear stands in every corner of the ocean on its own four bearish paws. I will love you until a boy hates his dog and a nightmare never comes before Christmas. I will love you as we feel the world shift every single day, where we don’t recognize much… I will love you until you remember what is constant. I will love you no matter what you eat and how many toilets you blow up in the process, I will love you if you get tired of me and look for another pair of eyes, hands, ears to know. I love you if you get tired of me and find someone who keeps you a little more awake, I will love you if you don’t get tired of me at all and stay with me until my fingers curl and my smile fades behind wrinkles. That is how I will love you even as the world continues to melt and freeze and burn and cry. 

[k-star-holic]

Lee Do-hyun's 'horse, horse, horse' hiding behind 'The Gloria' glory

[wonderdave]

🌟 Hello Friends and Fans of Wonder Dave! Hope you’re all having hot fun in the summertime.  We’ve got some hot takes from amazing comics coming your way real soon! Here’s what’s on the horizon:

🌈 Safe Words Comedy Showcase presents: UNICORN COMEDY 🦄 🗓 When: Wednesday, July 24th, 7 PM doors 7:30 show 📍 Where: The SF Eagle Bar, San Francisco 🎟 Tickets & Info: Get your tickets here 📸 Follow: @safewordscomedy

Enjoy a night filled with humor that's as queer as it is funny! This month we’re celebrating the bi/pan ladies we love! Headliner Emily Van Dyke returns to the Safe Words stage for the first time in over a year. She’s joined by the hilarious Adrianna McCain, Ashley Monique, Ivy Vasquez, and Natasha Vinik!

Also stay tuned as we’ve got an exciting all trans line up with headliner Nina Nguyen coming Wednesday Aug 28th. Nina rocked our stage at  SF Sketchfest this year and we’re excited to be bringing her back to the city by the bay. 🌉 Tickets are available now.

🧠 Mental Health Comedy Hour at All Out Comedy Theater

🗓 When: Every 2nd Friday at 8pm Next show is August 9th 📍 Where: All Out Comedy Theater 2550 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612 🎟  Tickets & Info:here 📸 Follow: @mhcomedyhour

🏳️‍🌈 DeAnne Smith is Queer, as in Funny ➕ 2nd date added!

🗓 When: Saturday Sept 21st & Sunday Sept 22nd, 7:30 doors 8pm show 📍 Where: The Lost Church 988 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 🎟  Tickets & Info: here 📸 Follow: @safewordscomedy on instagram We’re excited to announce we’re adding a 2nd date to DeAnne Smith’s San Francisco stop. DeAnne will now be erforming at the Lost Church on Saturday Sept 21st AND Sunday Sept 22nd. Get ready to meet DeAnne Smith. While you’ve likely already heard of them; They recently were featured in Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda on Netflix, opening for Hannah shortly after at the Fox Theater in Oakland. They’ve been on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedians of the World, Last Comic Standing, and more. However, this is the first time you’ll be able to see them headline their own show in the Bay Area. Joining DeAnne and Wonder Dave on the show will be special guest Rea Kapur!

🎭 The Ruckus Revival 🗓 When: Every 2nd Thursday of the month Doors at 7 PM, Show at 8 PM ⏭️Next Show: August 8th 📍Where: Continental Club, Oakland 🎟 Tickets & Info: Join the chaos 📸Follow: @theruckusrevival

Hosted by Jamie DeWolf and Wonder Dave, enjoy an evening of circus, aerial, burlesque, and comedy! California’s largest and longest running variety show has been called "The Fight Club of Underground Art" by the Huffington Post.

🎤 Hysteria Comedy Open Mic

🗓 When: Every 2nd (and 5th) Wednesday of the month.

⏭️ Next Show: July 31st 7pm 📍 Where: SF Eagle, San Francisco 📸 Follow: @hysteriacomedy 🎟 Register for free

This month is the rare 5th Wednesday we means we’ve got a bonus Hysteria Open Mics on the way. Join us for an open mic night focused on empowering women and queer voices in comedy. Free entry. Enjoy the Queer Comedy Stars of tomorrow TODAY!

Hope to make you laugh in the near future. Also stay tuned to @teamwonderdave on social media for exciting announcements about upcoming NEW projects! We’ve got some exciting things coming your way real soon.

Excelsior! -Wonder Dave

[marilynthornhilllover]

Follow the sun

Witch Sarah alder x fem! Princess reader

Warning: sadness, grief, heartbreak, protection, spells use, depression themes, anxiety, mother & daughter relationship,fluff, song lyrics included in etc.

A/n: this is based on the TV series "the witcher" on Netflix. connections from : tissaia de vries, yeenfer and ciri. I highly recommend you watch the witcher it's a good show:).

♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡

|Kiss me hard before you go|

"Please Sarah no" you cried as you tugged your arm away from her grip. You both stood there staring at eachother with tears in your eyes. You started hyperventilating, Sarah pulled you close to her. Hugging you tightly. Her fingernails slightly scratch against your scalp trying her best to calm you.

"You have to go my child, soilders will be showing up her soon looking for you" she whispered, her voice was scratchy but she tried her best not to make it break. "Y/n my love you have to go. protect yourself" she whispered holding your head with both her hands.

"But what about you" you said beginning to break down in tears. She pulled you back towards her chest cradling you like a baby. She mumbled a soft 'I'll be ok' but you knew too well she won't.

"Promise" you whispered as you leaned back to look at her face, she softly smiled at you before kissing your forehead. 'Promise' she mumbled.

"You are my light y/n, now go, run along, follow the sun" she whispered as she squeezed your hands in reassurance. You felt like crying again but you gaved her a soft kiss on the cheek before backing away from her.

Wiping your tears you spoke" I love you mother" before running off. You could hear Sarah break down as you did but she wanted what's best for you. Even if it means sacrificing herself for your safety.

|I just wanted you to know, that baby your the best|

You kept running and running and running. You've been running none stop. You finally took a break and hid behind a big tree trunk. You then began to have flash backs. Of how your parents were killed, the kingdom was destroyed. You ran far away into the woods and that how you met Sarah. She took you in. Clothed you, fed you, taught you, just like you were her child. She was a mother to you. She was the best.

{9 years later}

| nothing scares me anymore |

You were now queen of Many lands. Sarah made you stronger. You tried looking for her but you never found her. It's been years since you lasted talked to her. Since the time in the woods. You were really young. Now your older and stronger all thanks to Sarah. You never told anyone about your powers that she gaved you. That if you scream too loud glass breaks, can move things with your hands etc. You were a witcher, taught by the very best.

Everytime you went to war you'd always win. You had the biggest army in all of the kingdoms. You wish Sarah was here to see all your hard work, to see how brave you've become. She'd be so proud of you. Proud that you followed the sun. You were the light to her world. Everyday you'd pray that she was alive. That she was watching you from the side lines. That she still existed and that from that day in the forest she had made it out alive.

|Got that summer time summer time sadness|

You stared out the window of you room looking at the blue skies and the happy children playing in the village, people working- suddenly someone cleared their throat. You sighed as you turned around. It was apparently one of your message men. He bowed as he placed a note with a red stamp on your table.

He then bowed again began before leaving. You slowly walked up to the piece of paper, staring down at it in confusion. You picked it up and opened it. The letter read.

- you are my sunshine, the light to my world. You glow brighter than the sun ever has for those past 9 years. - love, ' your mother' . Inside was a small bracelet that you were wearing when the kingdom was attacked, the night of your coronation as a princess. It was a sliver bracelet with three pendants on it. The sun, the moon and the stars. You put the bracelet around your wrist and smiled softly at the letter, tears Started to blur your vision as you knew full well who it was from.

| think ill miss you forever. Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky, later is better than never|

It was your first proper coronation since the attack, and instead of you being crown princess you were being crown queen. At the after party ball there was music, drinks and lots of delicious food but you couldn't fit the vibe. This was just history repeating itself for you. You were filled with fear, anxiety and depression. You excused yourself from the royalty table and went out side on the balcony to get some fresh air.

You went very far away. So far you couldn't even hear the loud music anymore. The cold air dried your tears but more kept coming. You missed your birth parents and you missed the one woman you had that loved and took care of you.

"It's not nice for a queen to be crying on her coronation day" a voice rang from behind you. A female voice, a familiar one. One that always brought you comfort, joy.

You slowly turned around to see Sarah, she still looked the same, beautiful and young, like she hasnt aged. You didn't know how to react. If to be happy, sad angry-, angry? God no. " well I'm not a ghost am i?" She spoke sarcastically.

You chuckled as you ran up to her, she smiled and opened her arms for you. You may have hugged her to hard making you both fall.

" wow, easy tiger" she cooed wiping the stray tears from your cheek. You both got lost in eachother's gaze for a moment before embracing eachother in a warm but loving hug.

" I miss you" you whispered getting up and pulling her with you.

" I know. But I've watched you grow into this brave strong fearless, your majesty" she spoke before bowing, you laughed as you slapped her hand playfully.

" you followed the sun y/n, you went through so much darkness in your life but your still shining my love" she cooed as tears filled her eyes as fast as it did with you.

" remember when that day you said you couldn't do it?" She asked as you hummed it response.

" Well look at you now sweetie, you did it, you survived " she said as she whispered the last two words. You started crying more as she held you against her chest as she did that day. You soon realized how much you've missed being held in her arms.

She kissed your forehead as you pulled away.

" there's so much I wanna say" you said as your voice broke. She pouted as she kissed your nose and squeezed your hands.

" and you will darling but for now enjoy your coronation, it was taken away from you once so this time don't take it away from yourself" she whispered kissing your cheek.

She held you close to her as you both walked back into the castle. You danced and ate and sang and you had a good time with everyone.

Sarah got a room in the castle and became one of your heir, Sarah also opened a magic school to teach young kids about magic and make them as powerful as you. So that in anytime of war the kingdom won't fall, and if one day you passed you leave behind and army of strong, brave people to fight for your legacy.

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

moonlit company (miorine rembran x reader)

tags: gn!reader

a/n: i always thought my first gundam fic would be about duo because he was my first gundam love but here i am. duo, my beloved, it’ll be your turn eventually.

It was guilt that led to you being Aliyah’s plus one tonight. Her parents were entrusting her to lead. It was bad luck this was the week the rest of your mutual friends were busy. 

Nika was busy helping Martin organize his notes for their shared civil engineering class. Ojelo and Nuko were out of town. Lilique, popular as ever, was on a date with someone who really seemed to be the one according to Aliyah’s most recent reading for her. And Chuchu? Everyone in your group of friends knew that she would rather bite off her tongue than subject herself to being around the wealthy for any amount of time.

Aliyah only gets the pass because her family started from the bottom and clawed their way to higher status. It also helps that you all grew up together, your friend group solidifying your first and second years of high school.

When Aliyah inevitably made her way to asking if you could be her plus one so she wouldn’t entirely be alone at this event, you felt too bad to tell her no. It would be quick, she promised.

I’d literally rather be anywhere else, you groaned quietly into your champagne. Your original Saturday plans had included ignoring your essay you planned to write the morning it was due in favor of watching the newest season of Summertime. But when you saw her, you were glad you took up the offer to tag along 

The woman is gorgeous, dressed in an off the shoulder evening blue dress with matching heels and beautiful pale silver hair pulled back into a bun. Her silver eyes are sharp and she is standing alone, a look of displeasure all over her face.

It’s then that you remember the reading Aliyah gave you a few days ago. “Once you start getting out of the house more, an opportunity for love will rise in an unexpected place,” Aliyah said as she observed the results of her reading. “But I’m seeing it could go either way, this person is a bit hard to get a read on. If it works out, though, things look like they’ll be really good.

If Chuchu had come, you know what she would be telling you in this instant. Something fervently along the lines of ‘eat the rich’, ‘class traitor’ and ‘you aren’t even going to ever see this girl again’. In this moment, you can’t find yourself caring.

She’s beautiful and you want to talk to her, even if she looks like she might try to kill you if you do. Maybe she just has resting bitch face. Or maybe she just wants to be alone. I’ll never find out staying over here though.

Your personal motto in life is simpleー rejection is better than regret. That’s what spurs you to walk from the table you plastered yourself to most of the evening to the one this girl is standing by. “Not a fan of these kinds of events?” You aren’t too surprised when you receive a look of suspicion. From this angle, she almost looks like Weiss Schnee, minus the dope scar.

“I’m not a fan of cesspools where everyone gathers just to brag about their shares and talk about outdated business plans,” Not-Weiss-Schee replies tersely. Yeah, she’s definitely been to one too many of these parties. “And what company are you from?” Despite the question, you can tell that she couldn’t care less about whatever business you’re associated with.

“I’m associated with the Best Friend Company,” there’s no look of recognition in her eyes and you are relieved there really isn’t a Best Friend Company either of you know of. ‘It’s the service where your friend begs you to tag along so they don’t have to be alone and you ditch your plans to stay home and watch Netflix all night. But she’s off talking with someone right now so I’m just sitting back and letting her have fun”

Her guard doesn’t lower but she huffs silently, “so you only sought me out to ease your boredom?”

“Oh no, I love this kind of stuff,” you grin, holding your drink lazily. “Just call me the modern day Lady Whistledown.” You gesture to the rest of the members of the event you’re attending, settling your sights on a woman at random. “See that lady over there? You’re looking at Kiona Brown. She owns a world-famous boutique in Milan but I’m pretty sure no one knows it is actually the base for her underground boxing ring.”

The white-haired woman raises an eyebrow and you aren’t sure if she is simply unimpressed or finds you stupid. “That’s Rasheeda Washington and she owns the largest black-owned software company in the state.”

Wow, I wasn’t even close with that name.

“But the stuff I just made up is still a lot more amusing than truth, right?” You down the rest of your glass with a smile, taking it in stride. At least she didn’t outright tell you to get lost, that’s better than nothing. “So she isn’t from Milan and she isn’t in fashion, but you have to admit that you would have found her a lot more interesting if it turned out she was hosting some type of Fight Club thing no one knew about.” 

You thumb in the direction of some brown-skinned man with long blond hair. “Like that guy. Is he actually some old money douche who thinks he worked hard for what he has? Or is he actually a vampire who decided to go on a world-wide wine tasting tour and is posing as some old money douche because it adds to the experience?”

She tries fighting against it but despite her best efforts, Not-Weiss-Schnee’s lips quirk into a small but visible smile. “I read a book once where the protagonist and his love interest would ride on the bus for hours making up stories about the passengers,” you recall the smell of the pages and the book’s poetic prose. You were so enamored that you eventually began trying it out yourself, making up stories of those who crossed your path and you knew you would never encounter again. “It’s pretty much my secret weapon to surviving parties.”

You nod in the direction a tall gentleman in a suit. He’s handsome with his black and pink hair and a beauty mark under his right eye. “Take that guy for instance,” you begin. “I’ve been calling him Faizan Abdul. He invests in mechanical engineering projects and he is definitely a jock. Probably basketball. But deep down he wants nothing more than to be a househusband of his working woman wife. I mean the cute apron and watching Real Housewives kind of vibe.”

She opens her mouth to protest before she closes it, surprised. “That’s,” she looks at the man who is now talking to a warm-faced woman with red hair and the cutest eyebrows you’ve ever seen. She reminded you of the last puppy of a litter waiting to be adopted, complete with a heart of gold. “a surprisingly accurate description of Guel Jeturk. But Shaddiq Zenelli isn’t old money or a wine-tasting vampire.”

You set your empty glass on the table beside you. “I pride myself on my having a 50/50 chance on being right 100% of the time,” you laugh and you’re pleased when you see the change in your companion’s body language. Her arms are still crossed yet her arms are loose and she is facing you completely.

“Alright,” silver eyes look at you with sharp amusement. “What’s the story you’ve picked out for me?”

“Your story?” You hum, drawling out your answer. “You’re definitely an entrepreneur. One that’s always several steps ahead of the game; that’s why you’re the type of stand in the corner at events. You wanna observe the competition,” maybe she has her basis in engineering as well. No, her foundation certainly lies in business. “And don’t get mad but I’ve been calling you Weiss Schnee for the past five minutes. At least, this is your cover story. I’m going all in that you’re secretly a spy and you’re here to snuff out the bad guys. How close did I get?”

“Pretty off about most of it,” Not-Weiss-Schnee admits, a tint of sadness in her smile. “Weiss Schnee is a lot cooler than Miorine Rembran, I wish I was like her.” There’s a story there but you respect where she finishes it. You don’t know the problems that plague Ms. Miorine Rembran, but you hope that tonight she feels at ease.

“Damn,” you clutch your chest with a faux hiss of pain. “50/50 chance it goes either way 100% of the time.” You click your tongue but you make sure your tone is light. “But whoever Miorine Rembran is, I think she’s a lot cooler than Miorine Rembran is giving her credit for.”

Maybe it’s arrogance or severely estimating your ability to cheer people up, but you think Miorine looks happier ーlighter?ー at your words. “And do I get to know your name now?”

“[First] [Last],” you introduce yourself seamlessly and with a mocking bow. “I kinda got dragged here by a friend. She didn’t want to come by herself. Her parents wanted her to meet some guy name Lauda, I’m here as her backup if the guy turns out to be a creep.” Other than his habit of fiddling with his hair, however, the guy seems decent enough. A bit stiff and overly serious but decent. “She’s over there with the dude who keeps playing with his hair. The sap must be nervous, I don’t blame him. Aliyah’s a total catch.”

“Aliyah Mahvash?”

“Oh you know her?”

Miorine shakes her head, “not personally, I just know of her family.” 

Family.

“Wait,” you say, feeling a new buzz of excitement as Miorine looks at you completely. “I think I recognize your name!” Miorine’s face seems to blanch at your words but the word vomit flows past your lips before you can stop yourself. “You don’t happen to be related to a Nortrette Rembran do you? It might be a long shot but that isn’t a common surname.”

The grimace quickly turns to wide-eyed surprise. “I,” she pauses before quickly collecting her composure. “Yes, she’s my mother.”

“That is so cool,” a wave of nostalgia passes over you. “After watching Jurassic Park I had a phase for a week where I wanted to be a botanist. I remember seeing her name a lot. I even watched a couple of her documentaries. One on the cultivation of tomatoes and another on the histories of other well-known crops.” You always wanted to taste the variety of tomatoes the world-famous botanist produced, but they were too rare. Not to mention expensive. “Never did go into botany but I have a few succulents. What about you? Are you in the field?”

Miorine pushes a stray lock of hair behind her ear, “no, but I garden in my spare time.” She is the most at ease she’s been since you approached her. “I mostly focus on growing her tomatoes but there are other plants I grow too.”

You consider this an invitation to pursue further conversation. “I’ve always wanted to try those,” everyone makes them sound like a gift from the heaven’s. “Do you focus only on growing produce or do you plant flowers too?”

And that is how you fall into a lengthy conversation about Miorine’s greenhouse. Growing her mother’s tomatoes is her pride but she grows a plethora of other thingsー heather, potted hydrangeas and other assorted flora. You’re halfway through a conversation about her attempts to keep a calathea alive with some sort of fungal fertilizer when you notice a persistent movement.

From the corner of your eye, you see Aliyah’s wave. Guess we finally capped at the length of time she’s obligated to be here. “Looks like we’re about to bounce,” you nod in your friend’s direction before turning your gaze back at Miorine. 

“Then you should get going,” Miorine sighs, glowering at as she stares in a particular direction. “It gets more boring from here. Escape while you can.”

You can’t hold back a snicker, “thanks for the warning, we’ll head out then.” Rejection’s better than regret. “But if you still want company so you don’t have to die from boredom, we can swap contact info if you want.”

Miorine practically shoves her phone, unlocked, in your hands. “I would have been really disappointed if after all that you didn’t ask for my number.”

“Maybe I just didn’t want to assume one good chat was an invite to make this more than a one time talk,” you laugh as you type your number in her phone and give yourself a quick ‘Not Weiss Schnee’. Your phone vibrates and you are more than satisfied.

“You don’t get to interrupt my misery and then make a break for it before this party gets unbearable.” Miorine looks at you you sharply, but it isn’t intimidating when her cheeks are flush pink. “I’m expecting you to hold up your end of the deal,” say continues briskly. “Keep me company.”

Who are you to abandon a woman in need of your help? You respond by immediately sending her the most recent meme that made you wheeze at 3 o’clock in the morning. “Prepare for a lot of made up BS about whoever my uber driver is. I’m calling it now that they’re actually a popular idol but they go under disguise as an uber driver in order to get some normalcy in their life.”

A chuckle, light and mellifluous, escapes Miorine’s lips, “let me know about your 50/50 chance of being right 100% of the time then.”

I’m never doubting the cards again. A thought that makes no sense when you never doubted Aliyah’s divination to begin with.

You give Aliyah an inquisitive but amused look when you both settle in the uber, “so? Is that Lauda guy nice?”

Aliyah looks reluctant when she admits, “he wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be. He’s pretty serious but he cares a lot for his family.” There is a strong ‘but I don’t want to tell my parents they were right, the guy they’re trying to set me up with is actually a decent guy.’ “But what about you? I lost track of you for a bit. Who was that you were talking to? I didn’t get a good look at her.”

You grin, grip tightening on your phone, “yeah, pretty sure I just got a date with the prettiest girl in the room.”

Your friend perks up in excitement. It shouldn’t be a surprise for either of you, Aliyah’s readings always come true. “What’s her name?”

“Miorine Rembran,” you answer offhandedly as you see you already received a message from the woman in question, demanding you to not change her contact to Weiss Schnee. You chuckle and quickly reply that she’ll have buy your compliance by agreeing to meet up soon. Dinner and a movie is too awkward and restrictive. ‘You ever been to a cooking class? Because there’s a class I’ve been wanting to take and they let you bring a plus one’ you thumb out onto your screen. “She’s the daughter of Nor-”

“Miorine Rembran.” Aliyah’s eyes look like they’re going to bulge out of her sockets. “Miorine Rembran,” she wheezes. “The only daughter of the president of the Benerit Group?!” 

Your jaw goes slack. The president of the Benerit Group. The guy Chuchu curses vehemently whenever he is on the news.

Your uber driver whips their head at the both of you when they stop at a red light. “You chatted up that Miorine Rembran?!”