#synopsis is from faulkner

[coryosbaby]

Your Face .

Fandom: “Saw (2004)”

Pairing: Adam Faulkner Stanheight x fem! Reader

Synopsis: you’ll never leave him again.

Cw: angst, mentions of past murder, injuries, money struggles, mentions of past sex work, night terrors, codependency, attachment issues // nsfw . hand jobs, nipple play, cum eating, praise, mommy kink, oral (f recieving)

🪚

Couple’s therapy really isn’t easy when the both of you were victims of a fucking serial killer.

If you can even call it couples therapy— talking about how you feel towards each other and trying to fix your relationship is some sort of therapy, you guess.

Maybe it’s not healthy to stay with the person you were held in captivity with. But even before that, you were attached at the hip. Even if you were both on and off before the incident, you were still both incredibly infatuated with one another. You would never be able to escape that face: Adam’s beautiful, almost angelic face. It’s been that way since the end of high school graduation, and it’ll be that way until the end of your life.

You know why Jigsaw had chosen you. It was obvious, wasn’t it? Your money situation had been terrible before he had taken you, and in his mind, you were a whore, a dancer, a prostitute. But never in your mind could you ever contemplate why he chose Adam: your sweet boy, your best friend, your sweetheart. Adam.

You still dream about the last day you were there, sometimes. When you had carried out the plan Adam had come up with: just shoot me. Shoot me in the shoulder so he thinks I’m dead. And then get us both out. And when you had, trying every desperate attempt to find the key to the chains, you had reached your hand down into the sink drain. It was a wonder you had somehow escaped those chains without having to cut your own foot off. Adam’s cries sounded a lot in your ears, now. In your own haste to go and get help you had left him there with John Kramer. Even when he had begged you not to. Even when he almost died.

It was a wonder you both got out alive. It was a wonder you had managed to come back, fight the man off, and get him out of there.

And ever since, it’s like Adam has only ever though about that. The moment you left him in that room. The fear he felt, the impending doom.

Maybe you both need an actual therapist .

Some nights, nights like these, Adam has problems sleeping. When he does, it’s like he’s placed back in there in that room with you— being tortured, shot, and humiliated. And on some nights like these, he wakes you up for your affection and assistance. Eyes shooting open, an extreme amount of fear goes through the poor boy’s tired body. He’s there.

He’s quick to shake you awake. Your eyes open with confusion, and then once the situation settles in you understand it’s one of those nights. Lifting yourself up, you frown when you see the tears beginning to well in Adam’s eyes.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

He sniffles, trying to cover his face now that he’s being half brought back into reality.

“I just woke up. I don’t—“ his hands grab at his hair, pulling, as he cries. “— I don’t know. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, sweetheart..”

You push his hands out of his hair and replace them with yours instead. You soothe his scalp with your fingernails, and kiss him. You used to have night terrors for this same reason, so you understand how this must feel for him. He moves down so he can lay on your thighs. He feels sad and embarrassed and scared. You stroke the outline of his face with gentle fingers: beautiful, strong nose, sharp jawline, gorgeous eyes, plump lips. Any woman’s dream.

“Do you want to talk about it?” You murmur to him. He quickly shakes his head. He lets out a pained little moan, almost like a scared little rabbit. You lean down, and kiss him on his nose.

“I know, honey. I know it’s hard. But you aren’t there anymore, okay? You’re right here. I’m right here.”

He nods, but you know he’s just trying to stop you from seeing how deeply the night terrors affect him. He’s always been such a strong boy.

Your forehead pressed against his cheek, you whisper to him.

“Do you want something to drink? Some water, some tea? I can make you some..”

“Y-Yeah. Maybe some water, momma, if that’s okay.”

That sweet little nickname you adore so much from him. You smile.

“Okay.” You lift him off of you, rounding the bed to make your way out of the bedroom. “I’m gonna go into the kitchen—“

“Please don’t leave me!”

It’s immediate, the way you freeze up and stop at the end of the bed. You almost start to cry yourself.

Adam is embarrassed at his outburst, and he sobs, all of his emotions flooding out. He crawls over to you and wraps his arms around your waist. He rests his head against your thighs. You know now that the glass of water will have to wait a bit when he utters that familiar set of words. The same tone, same amount of fear lacing his cracking voice. It brings it all back to you, just as Adam’s dreams bring it back to him.

You let him cry out for a few more minutes, stopping to grab some tissues from the bedside table and clean him up when he’s calmed. Your fingers settle into his hair; soft and wavy under your fingertips, you shush him with a gentle hum.

“I’ll never leave you, Adam,” you whisper, soft. “Never. I swear.”

And you know that it’s true. Your fingertips move down to his jaw, lifting his face up so he can look at you. He’s coming back down from his nightmare, and real life is starting to seep in. He isn’t in that bathroom anymore. He’s in his apartment— our apartment, including you, in his brain. Not the one he got taken from. Not the bathroom. This is new, this is safe— and jigsaw is dead.

You sit down next to him on the queen sized mattress you had bought together. He buries his face in your neck, breathes in the familiar scent of vanilla, laundry detergent, and sweet strawberry perfume. Unadulterated bliss.

“Promise?” He sniffles, sticking his hands in between the valley of your breasts and traveling down to your tummy. He rests it there, soft.

“I promise.”

And when he’s calmed, when you’ve wiped all his tears away, you go and get him a glass of water. Only this time, his arms are wrapped around you from behind tightly the entire way to the kitchen.

Safe.

He drinks about two glasses. When you guide him back to your shared room you sit him down on the bed.

“I don’t think I can go back to sleep,” he murmurs, embarrassed. You make sure that he doesn’t become ashamed of nights like these.

“It’s okay,” you reply. You smile as you kiss his forehead “Im off tomorrow. We can just stay up and go to sleep when you feel like it.”

Adam is now thankful that you’ve moved on from your life of sex work and into retail, because that means that he doesn’t have to worry about you as much. So it puts him in a good mood to remember that, and also to remember that he’s gonna have you for the rest of the day. He leans forward, plants a kiss to your lips. He smells like cigarettes.

You kiss him again. Harsher, a bit. Tongue slipping inside the warm canal of his mouth. Perfection.

You don’t want to urge him to do anything sexual with you right now unless he doesn’t want to. So you pull away, thumb brushing over the scar on his shoulder. It’s a spot you’ve come accustomed to— one that he’s sensitive about, but not with you. Never with you.

He leans in again and his kiss is heavy. He’s desperate, now, not only craving your body but also craving a distraction.

“Wait,” you breathe against his lips. “Are you sure, baby? Sure you wanna do this right now?”

“I want it..” he whines. His hand grabs yours and places it over his bulge. “Please? It hurts..”

You can’t resist him when he gets like this, and you know it helps him forget the things that plague his thoughts. So your palm grinds down into that spot that he laid your hands on. He breathes out a small breathy sound, one that makes him grind up into your hand. His body is slowly making its way down onto the bed. Laying down, he can see the lace slip adorning your body starting to fall down, down, down. Your cleavage is pretty, he thinks. Nice and soft enough to stick his cock in between.

He’s wearing one of his white shirts, and you lift it up to his shoulders to expose his bare torso. He’s gained a bit of weight since that wretched room, a little bit of his tummy beginning to fatten up. You find it absolutely adorable. Kissing there, you make your way up to his chest and pepper small bites on his chest. Marking him there is your favorite activity.

Your tongue laves over one of his areolas, kissing and scraping your teeth on it. He mewls, a small little “‘s good.” leaving his pretty lips. He’s always had sensitive nipples, and you love to play around with them.

He lifts himself up so he can slide the rest of his shirt off. Pretty muscled biceps replace the white fabric of the sleeves, and on one of them the gunshot scar sits. He’s still so perfect.

“My perfect boy,” you coo. “God, look at you. You’re gorgeous.”

He blushes, a thank you making its way from him. You move away from him, farther up to the head of the bed, and lean against the bed frame. He knows instantly that you want him up against your chest. You reach towards the bedside table and reach into the drawer where you keep your special things. When you pull out a vibrator, Adam crawls towards you with morbid curiosity.

You’ve used toys on him before, but for some reason, not this one. He leans back against your chest and adjusts so you can take his cock out of his pajama pants. It slaps against his lower belly, wet and dripping. He’s always had such a pretty cock, all thick and hard and red. He’s got a lot of girth, enough to make it hard to close your fist around him.

The vibrator has a lot of power to it; you know this because you’ve used it on yourself many times. You hold Adam’s cock with one hand, and with another you switch it on. He gulps as he watches the toy in your hand.

“Okay?” You ask. He nods, pretty lashes fluttering shut as you watch his confirmation. His head tilts back and his mouth falls open in ecstasy when you press the vibrator to his aching tip.

“Oh, god.” He moans.

You move it down to his base, rubbing teasing circles into the soft skin there. Adam wraps his hands around your arms, desperate to have something to grab onto.

“So pretty like this,” you praise him. You move one of your hands up to his hair so you can rest it there. You kiss his neck gently. “My sweet Adam. Your cock is so hard, isn’t it? So hard for mommy.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He chants, whimpering. “It’s ‘s good.. love you so much.”

Your heart flutters, breathing in against his neck. He smells so nice that it almost makes your head tingle.

“I love you too, sweet boy.” You say. You move the vibrator down to his balls, and a moan rips through his throat. He sounds so heavenly that you can’t resist reaching down in between your thighs and rubbing your clit. When you pull away your slick coats your fingers, and you rub them up against the boy’s lips. He accepts them greedily, keening at the taste of you on his tongue. Crooking the digits, you make sure to keep them flush against Adam’s teeth; he loves having them in his mouth.

“Never gonna leave you again, honey. Gonna stay with you forever and ever, gonna make this fat cock cum… ”

And god, if that doesn’t make Adam’s balls draw up tight then he doesn’t know what will. Precious noises spew from his lips as his orgasm approaches him.

“Yes! Please, mommy, pleasepleaseplease, gonna cum—“

And although he didn’t last long this time, it doesn’t matter to you. Once his cock is dripping white, you set the vibrator aside. Your fingers scoop up some of his creamy spend, and with a lolling tongue you lick it all up. He tastes amazing, just perfect. Your perfect boy.

Sighing, he leans against you for a moment. He turns around, gives you a sweet little sultry smile, and returns to you the same perfect amount of pleasure. He does this by shoving his magnificent tongue in between your thighs. And skilled, the boy is— he loves to please. He thinks your pussy is the best he’s ever tasted or smelled in his entire life, and while he rubs his soft wet muscle against your clit his eyes roll back and small moans leave him. When you cum he makes sure you have two more orgasms— one from his fingers, another from his cock that had somehow gotten hard for you again.

And in the scene where his cock is inside you, you’re on top of him while he lets out little grunts and moans. You bounce up and down on him until your slick is white and wet, dripping down his thighs and onto the sheets. He had lit a cigarette somewhere between three fingers inside you and now, and his lips are wrapped around it while he watches you ride him. Holding it between two of his fingers, he exhales smoke at the same time that your teeth scrape along his nipple and your nails dig into his shoulders. He gasps— angelic. Then he tilts his head back, and cums.

That face is another one you’ll never forget— his pretty eyes shutting, mouth agape and cheeks ablaze. You don’t think you could ever leave this pretty thing ever again.

© 2023 bratty-lxndry444 🤏🏻 all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, modify, repost, or claim as yours !!!

[seangelfish]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR A LONG TIME YEIII amh I could ask for headcanons for bae and kanata with a cute mc fem from the town who just arrived in the city therefore she doesn't know anything about paradox or hiphop or the city in general je but she is open to learning new things uvu that would be all ~ thank you

MEETING A NEWCOMER

Featured characters: Allen Sugasano, Hajun Yeon, Anne Faulkner, Kanata Yatonokami ♡ Tags: Headcanons but also a bulletpoint fic, mutual crush, casual romance, she/her pronouns, not really proofread! Not really sure what to write for Hajun, so I'm sorry if it's not up to standard! ♡ Word count: 1,895 ♡ Synopsis: You, a newcomer, was introduced into a city of hip hop. You didn't quite understand it, but you were eager to learn from the people around you.

You have moved here for university, not knowing what this city was actually known for. You just assumed it was any other ordinary city...

Allen, who was one of your fellow classmates at university was an odd one. He didn't look friendly so you didn't try socialising with him at first, but when you saw how he acted towards his friends, you decided to at least try.

You found out that he was just awkward. He greeted you in return when you introduced yourself, but his eyes started sparkling when you mentioned that you were new to the area. He asked whether you're into hip hop, but if you weren't, he had some recommendations for you to listen to.

"Is hip hop that big here?" you asked him curiously.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed. "There used to be this place called Club Paradox where..."

You listened to him ramble on and on about hip hop and these legends called 'Buraikan' who founded these so-called 'Phantom Lives.'

It was all a little confusing, but it had you intrigued. Because of this, the two of you had exchanged contact info so Allen would be able to send you his recommendations. When you were finished listening to them, you would text him your thoughts. Gradually, you started having a taste for hip hop that in your free time, you'd visit record shops looking for songs that you haven't heard of yet!

Allen was always so appreciative of how willing you were to indulge in his interests — in his life. He wanted to show you more about the city and about hip hop, but he also just wanted to spend more time with you.

"I also produce and write my own songs!" Allen said one day, hoping that would impress you. "Would you like to listen to them?"

"Seriously? That's so cool. Of course, I'd like to listen!"

"Alright, just meet me at the club! I'm performing there as BAE with Anne and Hajun."

"C-Club?"

"Oh, haven't you been to a club before? Then I'll accompany you before our performance starts. It'll be fun!"

Why not? you thought.

Allen picked you up before his performance and showed you around the club. It was an interesting yet fun experience, but what you found kind of weird was how he kept holding your hand throughout it all. You didn't think too much of it though. He was probably doing that in consideration of you, so you wouldn't get lost in the crowd.

"So yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it!" he said. "Will you be okay here? We're starting in ten minutes."

"Yes, I'll be fine," you replied. "I can't wait to see you perform!"

"Alright, see you later, (Y/N)!"

Watching him perform live was amazing. You finally understood why people here liked watching 'Phantom Lives.' They were incredible! You were so drawn into Allen's performance that you couldn't see anything else but him.

"Haha, how was it?" he asked you, panting.

"It was so cool!" you chirped. "And that was the song you wrote too? It was great!"

"Hahaha, thanks, (Y/N)!"

So whatever Allen did with hip hop, you were there too. You became closer to him than before that he no longer was a classmate to you, but someone even more special.

Just like everyone else, you were drawn to Hajun's prince-like charms, but you never dared to speak to him. He was definitely on another level than you, and you didn't want to disturb him with your plain, ordinary presence.

However, fate brought you together when Hajun spoke to you first. He picked up clues that you were new around here and wanted to help you familiarise yourself.

Confused but thankful, you accepted his offer. He was like a tour guide, bringing you in his limo around the city. It was kind of awkward at first, but he eased you into it when he would ask you where you came from and why you decided to move. He was friendly, but you could taste the way he teased you too.

After bringing you to so many places, Hajun had asked you if you knew about hip hop or anything to do with phantom lives. When you denied it, he merely chuckled and said that you should watch him perform. He didn't go further than that, so you had to find out yourself what he meant by it.

BAE was his hip hop group where they performed phantom lives at clubs. You entered by yourself, waiting for the show to begin. Hajun was up there on stage accompanied by Anne and Allen. Their performance was spectacular. The way Hajun rapped was something you didn't expect coming from him, but at the same time, it made perfect sense.

"So you made it," he teased. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Y-Yes, it was good!" you exclaimed. "Those were the illusions you talked about? They were pretty! How were you able to do that?"

"With my phantometal, of course," he replied, showing you the feather ring on his finger. He let you touch it due to curiosity. "Isn't it cool~?"

"It is!" you giggled. "Can I watch you perform again next time?"

"Haha, sure."

Not only did Hajun help you with familiarising yourself with the city, but with university work too. You should be grateful though because he wasn't doing this for just anyone. However, he was also questioning his actions when he thought about it.

He supposed that he was helping you out so much because he was also in a similar position when he arrived in Japan. He just wanted to make your experience here easy for you.

Plus hanging out with someone cute like you was actually fun. He loved answering whatever questions you threw at him especially those relating to hip hop. He always looked forward to your daily greeting in person and text.

Anne had caught an interest to you almost immediately. Of course, it was because you were cute, but it was also because your outfits were embarrassingly plain. They wondered if you'd allow them to dress you up. So one day in class, they introduced themselves.

Once Anne took in the info that you were new here, they were even more excited to become your friend. They wanted to show you everything! Entertainment, fashion, music, everything you were interested in!

And that's how you were introduced to hip hop too.

Taking in the knowledge of the city from Anne was like homework. They dumped everything on you so quickly that it was hard to grasp, but as they pulled you around the city, it was always so exhilarating.

"Oh, I'm also a part of BAE," they said. "It's the hip hop unit I'm in with Allen and Hajun. We usually perform at clubs, but we're going to be competing in Paradox Live next!"

"P-Paradox Live?" you queried. You knew of phantom lives since Anne mentioned those before, but this was different.

"Yep, it's gonna be huge! We're going up against other hip hop units to win ten billion! You'll come support us, right?"

Of course you were.

But standing in front of Club Paradox was intimidating. Everyone around you looked excited out of their minds, but you were the opposite.

"(Y/N), over here!" called out Anne. As you turned, they linked your arm with theirs and led you inside with Allen and Hajun. "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to leave you here," they continued. "But watch us closely, okay?"

Watching Anne perform that night was thrilling. Even when the rest of the units performed their songs, Anne's performance was something you couldn't shake off. The illusions that they described to you through words could not compare to the real thing.

After that, you would always watch Anne in person whenever they were performing with BAE in Paradox Live; cheering them on and voting for them. Anne would always look for you in the crowd too, happy that you appeared in their life.

Unlike BAE, you didn't meet Kanata at university. You bumped into him on the streets to university. You were lost and that's how you ended up at the slums. He thought you were an idiot, but he helped you out anyway.

You explained that you were new to the city, so you still didn't know your way around. Kanata was disinterested, but when you asked him why hip hop was so prevalent around here, his ears perked up.

He explained everything, but he also mentioned how there's 'real hip hop' and those who desire to make hip hop but fail. You were curious about what he meant by this, so you pressed him further into showing you what 'real hip hop' was.

He was about to refuse. He didn't really want to get close to you to begin with, but seeing that sparkle in your eye made him think otherwise. It also didn't help that you were kind of cute.

"Fine," he breathed. "When do you finish uni? I could show you today."

And so he did. After dropping you off at university, he picked you up straight after you were finished. It was evening by then, so the streets you walked on were crowded with people waiting for a team called 'Cozmez' to perform.

He grabbed your wrist and dragged you into some shady underground business, situating you in a corner where he was sure nobody could disturb you.

"Just stay here," he said. "You'll be okay."

"W-Wait, where are you going?"

"I'm performing."

Before you could say anything else, he grinned. "You'll see what real hip hop is, (Y/N)."

And he was gone. You noticed that he was with someone else too, someone that looked oddly similar to him that you just knew he was his brother. When they were on stage, the crowd cheered louder than before.

That's when Kanata started rapping. You watched him intently, your eyes following his every movement, his every word. The music was loud, but it was exciting.

"So this is a 'phantom live'..." you murmured to yourself as you watched the illusions the twins were creating. "It's beautiful..."

You didn't expect Kanata to come back to you right after performing, but he did, asking you what you thought of it. You caught the slight bit of excitement in his question which also surprised you because even if you had just met him today, you already had his character noted down in the back of your mind. He was rude and aggressive, but he was also kind in a way.

You smiled. "It was awesome! I can't believe this is what I was missing out on!" you replied. "You were amazing, Kanata!"

His cheeks heated up, but you couldn't tell as it was dim. "Thanks," he said casually.

"Eh~ who's this?" asked his twin. "Kanata, I didn't think you were that type of person–"

"I-It's nothing like that!"

Nayuta introduced himself because if his brother was willing enough to bring a random girl to a place like this, he was sure that Kanata was a little interested in you.

"Be good to my brother, okay?" he whispered into your ear teasingly.

From then on, you became close to the Yatonokami twins, but you were even closer to Kanata, the boy who helped you on your first day. He became a lot more patient with you as he introduced you to even more places around the city, familiarising yourself with hip hop and the story behind it. It was always so fun learning more things when it was with Kanata.

And perhaps, Kanata was a little thankful that you got lost in the slums that day too.

Intro page | Paradox Live masterlist | Request rules

[pillow-anime-talk]

music & vocaloids month ; seventeenth day.

synopsis: Being a fan is a 24/7 job.

# tags: scenario; idol-fan dynamic; fluff; comedy gold; soft!kaito; cute!reader; video call; sfw

includes: female reader ft. kaito {vocaloid}

Kaito was used to various kinds of live performances: concerts, music programs, television and radio interviews. He also talked to fans more than once at Meet&Greet or during breaks between songs, thanking for coming or asking random people about their well-being or their favorite song/album. However, his music company decided to do a little experiment and the young idol was in the middle of a video call with one of his fans; video fan call was something new, strange, exciting and fun for him. It was just him and the person on the other side of the screen who was showing him a drawing of his character and thanking him for so many beautiful memories. Kaito was delighted, moved and incredibly happy that his CEO came up with such an interesting idea.

The young idol had already had several such conversations and each of them was amazing for the artist; one of the male fans sang a self-written song for him, another young girl told him a touching story in which she said that during hard times, Kaito’s songs helped her feel better. He also heard many words of thanks and words in which people said that the twenty-year-old inspired them to create music, sing or dance and express themselves.

After about twenty people, it’s finally time for you; you waited patiently in line with your idol’s little mascot and a glass of water just in case. The moment the connection started, a huge smile and a very big blush appeared on your whole pretty face.

“Hi, I’m Kaito. What’s your name?”

“... Uh, hi. I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you, really.” You said with a slightly shaky voice, then waved the blue mascot gently. “I don’t know where to start... But I really thank you for what you do and you’re amazing. It’s not just that you’re an amazing idol, but also that you’re a wonderful person.” You hesitantly started the conversation, and Kaito listened to your words intently. You told him that his music helps you study and often helps you fall asleep – singer was really happy.

“Do you have a wish, Y/N?” He asked suddenly and you just nodded.

“May my loved ones always be healthy and happy.” You answered truthfully. “And the people I like always be fulfilled in life and professionally, for example – you.” You added with a smile. “What about you, Kaito-san?”

“I? Well...” It was a nice moment. Usually people talked about themselves or their love for Kaito. This time, however, he answered your next questions with a smile. You helped him to relax and mentally take a breath.

It was definitely one of the most interesting conversations in his life.

previous day ; otome tohoten from party of words ♡ next day ; anne faulkner from bae

[moonartemisia]

✧.* HOMEBDY || Hajun Yeon × OC

SYNOPSIS: Starting to question where their bond lies... hitting on their private room inside the club without no one is looking. Their friends and fans might be suspicious of the two of you getting comfortable with each other. Away from the noisy rave, the breath of intoxicating cigarettes, people drinking and chattering; what's left between the tension folds? "What are we?" Is the question to this desirable feeling of uncertainty that you wish to fade... Tags: drugs, fwb, situationships, mentions of alcohol, foreplay, rough sex, semi-bondage, mutual stimulation, edging, one-night stand turned sneaky link, drama, psychological matters, familial issues notes: no beta reads! This is a oc × canon story, dark contents will be present in this prompt by the following tags, and korean or any foreign words in the story. Based on the song "HOMEBDY" by DEMÍ ft. slimedemidemislime & Madman Stan

╰┈➤ i. Talk the Talk ✧.*

A hefty rain poured the dim night, and the city neon lights glimmered along the corner street alleyways of Roppongi. Around those tall buildings, the busy crowd of people walking at 10 pm — between two stores where a club was held "Razzle Dazzle Bar". An opening reservation of VIPs and regular customers come to attend this certain rave inside, this known club is home to one of Japan's most popular hip-hop groups performing among others.

Cheering, the clanks of shaking ice in their glasses; sipping alcohol. A fog of smoking cigarettes filled the area as the loud music pounded the dancing herd of raving people at the center of the dance floor. They lost their minds over the beat of the EDM drums the DJ played going wild. As if the music trampled their minds over their dignity releasing all the freedom they can do once in a while.

Different groups sitting in different seats, different people in different places where they can drink, smoke, chatter, some have their ways to sneak into weed, beans, and damn inhaling whatever illegal substances under their pockets without getting caught — a Sabbath party full of people you'll meet at a typical club. Not technically. Lastly, it's no surprise of common hookups here and there. A room was made for special hookups in this particular bar.

Inside this crazy world, a trio where present at their usual spot talking to a bunch of fans who recognized them as having a good time rambling about random stuff. Entertaining them delighted by how popular they are in Japan's hip-hop industry.

"Ah, B.A.E. is so cool! I've been a fan! This is such an opportunity to talk to you, Suzaku!"

In his manner to greet his fans, a boy around 20 years old humbly thanked them, his hand scratching the back of his hair. Giddy at his overwhelming happiness complimenting him, the boy chuckled.

"It's no big deal, the B.A.E. are trying to make good music for everyone. Please to meet you, I'm happy you love our songs."

"Hey, Allen! More drinks to clunk in!"

"Of course, Anne... geez!"

The boy walked back towards their special seat where he heaved a relieved sigh. Grinning at them, one of his members was also busy chatting with their guests and fans.

"Don't drink too much, Hajun... you know you'll get the reactions at this time later."

A clink of glass echoed the crowdy noise, bringing his hand down away from his lips.

"I know how to take my alcohol intake. Don't lecture me like a child."

A smooth peeved of his lips coiled a thin line — his eyes intently viewed through his pink neon glasses meeting the other's gaze. As they chuckled, sitting down with their legs crossed.

"Man, I'm only being sarcastic! This night was the best!"

Flipping their long red strands fabulously with a sip of whiskey on the side.

B.A.E.'s members; Allen Sugasano, Anne Faulkner, and Hajun Yeon gathered the night's sensational performance. They never expected to exceed far, but as they know what they stand defining their music with passion the trio embodies confident upbeat. They are one of Japan's popular hip-hop groups representing unique songs without limiting their ability, of who they are; self-expression is the key to their moving success.

"Right, but we are ahead, humbly speaking we have to keep our heads low. I mean — "

"Come on, Allen... don't sugarcoat you enjoy this recognition you wanted."

Anne chided as they grinned at Allen. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Rapper took a seat at the center of his members.

"Now the time, I cheer to us for this wonderful night performance!"

With a toast of their drinks in hand, the trio clunked their glasses shouting their congratulatory greetings in all relieving glee on their faces. Anne pumped up high, Allen in his wide gaping smile, and Hajun... Hajun maintained his calm composure sharing his toast with the two.

"Man, I hope this night is endless... we should party more!"

"Anne, remember don't be so reckless at nights like this... you'll get the reactions." Hajun confided taking his whiskey drink in his left hand a sip before putting it down back at the glass table. Spatting the same lecture as Anne did.

"Right, but it won't be a hassle? Come Allen—"

They dragged the young rapper onto their hands bringing him onto the dance floor along with other people dancing at the centre of. It left Hajun alone to sit by — guarding their spots and drinks aside, he shook his head. He thinks about what kind of friends he has gone wild over gaining recognition, but he certainly enjoys how Allen and Anne are serving their time in this bar.

Although, Hajun is always acquainted with such parties, watching other hip-hop groups perform live here. He shows a distinct approach to anyone he sees. Relatively enough to distance himself, since he partakes in no social connections, unlike Allen and Anne. He, on the other hand, has much regard for his friends or what could be...colleagues he thinks.

It's so keen to think this blonde rapper underneath his charming smile has a side they don't know for certain. He is mysterious behind the mask to unveil.

Whilst the duo danced and cheered all night, Hajun couldn't care less. He sits there only to watch his precious ones enjoy the night of their own — he has his own... But not at this moment to rejoice. It doesn't feel like he is into it at all. The mood is loud compared to what the Korean rapper anticipates. This gave him a silent sigh watching the duo intently along with the crowd joining them to dance.

"Oh, I didn't see you here, Hajun."

His ear perked up, hearing his name from the noisy background of the playing EDM music banging his consciousness. Hajun turned his head to see a familiar figure, standing across from where he sat. A person in all black, merely resembling a gothic chic look. The tight black blazer underneath is probably a simple strapless tube to keep her modest in all forms. A tight black pencil-cut skirt with matching fishnet stockings and boots to compliment the blackening aura. Those striking hairdo of her thick black hair — a hime cut, that has both of her ends in all white highlights. Lastly, her mask concealed her face only showing her glimmering blue eyes facing Hajun's red-pink pupils on lock, blinking.

"Mind if I sit here? I see Allen and Anne were partying wild as ever."

"Letitia... You surprised me. How's your flight from Manila?"

"It went well, though I must say flight allegations were true in my country's customs... The service lacked my expectations there."

"I see, I haven't been there in your country as much as I want to visit. Glad to see you here again, Tish."

The girl beside Hajun took Allen's sit next to his. She reveals her face to show Hajun — not common for him to see her take off her mask. Casually he sips another drink of whiskey. It's been a long time since this girl throughout the industry Hajun met. He seems to have internal affairs with her. Slowly she puts her mask inside her blazer's pocket, her complexion is fair — her dark red plumped lips accessorized with a piercing on showed smiling in Hajun's direction.

"I heard your new release track before your flight. It has already gotten viral." Hajun commented as he looked at her.

"Impressed?"

"Not quite, you haven't seen the rest we had in mind for B.A.E. but — "

Pausing for a while though, Letitia is pleased to hear. Hajun is rather cunning so that statement is not a surprise for her to predict. Nonetheless, she can tell the Korean rapper is impressed by the track he heard of. Letitia curled a smiley giggle from him.

"Oh? I'm not in competition with you guys. Very well, any critics to say, Hajun-nim?"

Hajun slightly gave a turn on her hearing the honorific, how sarcastic of her to pull him that way.

"Overall, you still need more than you can get to impress me. Though, I must say..."

"Liar, tell me it's good."

Hajun scoffed at Letitia's remark. This girl knows how to dig into his skin.

"Yes, however, you being in a solo career away from this kind of battle I have with Allen and Anne to deal with is not fair."

"That's because I wasn't invited to, you were chosen so be it, Hajun-ssi," Letitia spoke looking at Allen and Anne already approaching their way back to their respective seats. Allen was completely off guard as to who he met before his eyes. He froze for a bit seeing Letitia take his seat.

"Ah— hey! Wait—! Letitia? You came back!?"

"Yes, sir~ in the house!"

Allen rushed in to give her a hug from his seat, and immediately Letitia stood up. Finally, Allen was excited to see his long-time friend again here in Razzle Dazzle.

"Sorry, I occupied your space. I was talking to Hajun for a moment."

"Don't be! Take my seat!"

His fiery phoenix enthused her excuses, he didn't mind at all. The delighted presence of her beamed the young rapper to let her sit down for more. Anne chuckled as they went back to theirs, Allen only assisted to sitting at Hajun's which he isnt pleased to give in a space.

"Lucky Filipina, how's vacation back there in your country?" Anne asked her.

"Usual, but I posted my new track before taking my flight back here. I saw your tweets that you three are hanging out in this spot. So, here I am."

"Glad to see you back! Ah, I'm curious since you've been back and forth to come here. It must be a nuisance for you."

"Oh no, it's only three hours to take. It's just the flight that is... Umm, stressful." Letitia slyly said as Anne leaned over a hand placed on their chin listening. Oddly how B.A.E. knows her — Letitia Heidi, the rapper, Filipino, who is a solo freelance artist at 20. Now based in Japan solely focusing on creating a name outside of her country. She is learning to live independently and figure things out. How does B.A.E. even meet her in the first place?

Letitia kicks back in when she stayed in Japan for a couple of months, her previous tracks that she records from her family's agency surfaced internationally. But caters to her Japanese fans more, which opted for her to plan a flight there. Her songs consist of daring tunes that establish herself within her soul self. Talking about embracing what you have deeply — more like a spiritual connection to meet yourself. Plus, self-confidence which Allen was astounded by her motif of music. Similar to his music style. A talented multilingual rapper known for her rapping styles switching from different languages in speed. Aside from rapping, her passion is mainly dancing. The app has a separate account for that. Letitia often shows up with a mask on her face to conceal her identity, a private matter. She isn't fond of meddling with her artist status to her fans. She does entertain them sometimes. Long story short, Allen was the first person to recognize her, specifically here in this bar. And that's when she and B.A.E. have an inner social circle together.

It's a good thing... I came back...

"Lemme hear the song you posted. Is it on your usual platform?" Anne quipped to check their phone from the bag beside them while they pipe up their cigarette in hand.

"Of course, Anne. Take your time!"

"You fucking kidding me? Already viral!? At what time did you post your new song?"

"Umm, about hours ago?"

Allen couldn't hold his bearing shock looking through his phone— showing Letitia's numbers on the track so far. Through his screen, amazed by the rocketing views.

"Uwah— you're something..." the phoenix exasperated.

"Allen, we are better than Tish... Don't get your hopes down over a solo foreign artist who juggles to switch speaking 4 languages in one track." a cocky remark coming from Hajun which Letitia playfully rolled her eyes at him.

"Is it something you're also into, Hajun-ssi? Don't deny..."

"I know, just stating." The blonde teased.

Shrugging off his comeback comment, Letitia tilts her focus on Anne, who is now browsing her songs through their screen. Much to their amusement, they looked proud of how their fellow artist friend also gained quite a lot of views from her new track. Anne excitedly skipped towards Letitia's seat — an arm extended to her shoulder.

"That's my girl~, when will you hold another venue for your performance, Heidi~? This is dope!"

"I'll consider it the next time I have my performance at home, in the Philippines."

"Maybe next time you'll perform here!" Allen suggested.

"Isn't it right, Hajun? We will make up for it— showing up to your stage someday!" The Phoenix rapper nudged Hajun's side expressing his support to a friend he sees concerning the distinctive genre of music they perform. Hajun, on the other hand, only expresses his sigh of composure at Allen's gesture. But, you can't tell if he is giving the same support as the two were.

"Don't pressure him, Allen. Maybe not now—"

"Tish, it would be off best to. I guess..."

His sudden answer shocked them, Hajun giving regards to her for the first time.

"Hey, are you drunk, Hajun? Must be the alcohol."

"No." Hajun pressed Allen away from him as he looked in Letitia's direction. Scoffing at the red hair.

"Weren't you before trying to beat down Letitia?" Anne inserted as they chuckled at Hajun's change of mind towards the Filipino rapper. Not expecting such an answer, despite knowing Hajun shows competitive remarks upon other artists proving his worth and perfectionism, printed his guard. Which is not something Hajun is to mess with.

Hajun and Letitia were particular co-artists. The day Allen introduced Letitia. Their first impressions of his perspective were complicated to describe. He is skeptical of her work. Also, having the same reform of music, she works dedicating homage to herself, additionally her multilingual raps. His reactions to her music kept him motivated to be better yet a competition. Hajun and the rest participated in Paradox Live performances to gain the stepping stones to the goals he wished to validate.

The repression felt inside. Letitia is the exception. She isn't part of it. A solo artist conceals much of her artistic background by just how personal her labels are and even showcasing her life as an artist. Frequently, she engaged such fans to interact about her updates and what her latest works to spoil.

As earlier Hajun mentioned it isn't fair that she isn't competing for ParaLive like an insult to injury for his pride. However, it has appeared to change.

"That's another reason for me, not to say. You did improve a lot..."

"Hajun, you know you shouldn't be so opted about Heidi's progress. I thought we should use her as a tool to, y'know~"

"Anne, no comment."

In between the exchange conversation of the two rappers, Letitia can only laugh at them bickering.

"But, Letitia..."

"Yeah, Allen?"

"As much as you're apart from us in this rap battle. I do believe Hajun dismissed his repression towards your work."

"Hm? Why?" Letitia curiously asked.

"I don't know, I can't tell him sometimes. Rest assured, before he may prick his words by how you were a solo artist and worked all the music. Probably, he changed the way he sees you." Allen reassures her, bringing his odd grin, making things sure. Hajun has no ill intentions.

"Hey, enough of the talk. That's all Hajun is... Allen you sentimental punk!"

Anne jumped into them, tugging the red-haired phoenix over his shoulders, making the other squirm from their grip. Allen tapped them to stop dragging him from his seat — feeling he could topple down any moment as Letitia chuckled, Hajun could only react in silence with how much of a gag the two are together. Moreover, they didn't mind the blonde Korean seeing them being chaotic every day. They were his friends, after all. But to deem Hajun's repressed feelings about Letitia's work as a solo artist is something she isn't aware of. Does Hajun have plans to be one like her, too? Does he ever plan to be a soloist in the future? Letitia's thoughts wandered off deeply. Hajun's mind is not something you can not grasp or tell what he wants to convey. In all respects, Letitia and Hajun may have close ties, but not too close. Yes, she is with the one and only B.A.E., the popular hip-hop group. However, she is mostly with Allen and Anne hanging out. To her, Hajun is a different story. Does he think he can pull off to decide for his future or otherwise?

I don't know what's up with him... Hajun is so mysterious.

"Tish..."

"Hm?"

Hajun called, Letitia's thoughts popped out of the blue.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Come, I just want to tell you something important."

What does Hajun want? Letitia's sky-blue hues met with his red-pink irises on lock as if Hajun's gaze were hypnotizing her way. He does look charming in those eyes the way he asked her. But, this feels quite strange...

Hajun rarely asks me anything noteworthy. What is he up to?

"O-oh? Where are you two off about?" Anne suddenly questioned, still clinging onto Allen, Hajun was already standing in front of Letitia, barely reaching for her hand.

"Nothing, it's only for me and her to know. Allen..."

Allen's ear perked up abruptly towards Hajun's tone when he called him. So firm —

"What, Hajun?"

"Next time... I'll be the one to say to Letitia. You didn't quite get what I wanted to say to her, specifically as I heard." the blonde said with a snot, taking Letitia's wrist in his hand and dashing away from the two. Leaving them dumbfounded and clueless from their seats.

"Wait, H-hajun... Allen didn't mean to speak your repression on your behalf."

Between the filled crowd, Letitia apologized to Hajun for what Allen said. She knows how badly it feels for Hajun if someone ever dares to explain whatever thoughts he has on his mind. Although as Hajun dragged her passing by — he blatantly ignored.

It's unsettling for the Filipino rapper not to know where Hajun is going to take her at this point. However, in the dark alley corner away from the crowd. He sides Letitia against the wall as Hajun stands before her — not pining or blocking her way. His eyes gazed down upon her meeting their height differences, and she gulped. Nervewracking as it looks, only the stares; louder than the silence, testing the tension between the two artists. Standing alone in the corner.

"Maybe, Allen was right. I was repressed." Hajun was then admitted.

"Huh, wha— why?"

"Tish, you know how much I wanted my goals... Call me selfish, but later, you understand what I aim for this. Winning is my boost, and I will do anything just to seek what I want."

"Hajun... look, I may know nothing about you. But, what is it that made you feel repressed about my abilities and my music?"

Hajun paused for a bit — snitching his breath as if he was about to cuss at her. His hand brought up to his lips hissing underneath, laughing at her mockingly.

"you... You're too special, Tish."

"Special?"

"You're special. A wild girl wandering off without any circumstances. Cunning to say, you got no worries at all, huh?"

The blonde spatted at her, giving off a smug look.

"Just say that you wish to be like me so we can finish this off. I'm intimidated by the way you pushed me here just for your bullshit, Hajun."

"Oh? This is bullshit? Save it when you regret it, sooner or later, Tish."

She rolled her eyes at him. This seemed so petty of him. Hajun bringing his ego out of his pride down here wouldn't be a pretty excuse. How pathetic he came up to her like that, irritating the girl before him. So, he sees competition with her, at what cost? The unreasonable insults to pull off of his sleeves were his coping mechanisms if he wasn't in his best mood.

"If I would know sooner, look... I don't like this kind of vibe you're giving me, Hajun. What're all this for to gain your pride aside for nothing?"

"This isn't better for nothing, Tish." Hajun retorted.

"And how cute you even calling me Tish, we are not that close enough as I'm around with your duo!"

Hajun had enough. It snapped him inside, slamming his hands on the wall and cornering Letitia. A loud thud banged by his palms made the girl shrivel. She was shocked to see his reactions.

"I tried to... but probably you out of our league for this. But, no, you are not getting in my way slowly if I do something upsetting, wouldn't it?"

"Hajun, I'm confused really about the way you are behaving towards me. Ever since in this bar, Allen introduced me to you guys... The atmosphere changed when I was with you. Was there something in me that you don't like?"

His repression surfaced once again, biting his lower lip while avoiding his glances at Letitia's question — that he wished not to answer. It only remains a fragment he hated to express.

I don't want to be unwanted over someone who achieves their accomplishments... I feel pressured.

"Hajun... Do you hate me?"

"H-huh?"

"I said do you hate me—"

"Why would I hate you if — if I'm here close to you..."

These senses the tension, uplifting an unexplainable feeling. Hajun's unwavering thoughts on his swirling head almost crossed his mind. He shrugged, one of his hands extending to Letitia's chin tilting the girl upwards; she looked at Hajun firmly as their faces were leaning close to one another. She can sense his strong whiskey from earlier, but to think Hajun's tolerance is this high. The heat got tight and too enduring for the both of them. Silent breaths heaved the articulation of their lungs enclosed.

"You know what? Forget what I said... You will understand about me when you can..."

Before Letitia could say anything else; a pair of lips were met. Hajun leaned in, pressing his lips and shutting her mouth. Letitia's eyes dilated in surprise at his actions. The kiss was not in her thoughts. They were only arguing for just a moment as Hajun involuntarily stole a kiss. His hand was still placed on her chin, facing upward as the kiss deepened. The other hand was positioned on the wall above her head. Cornering her further, he brought his knee between her fishnet thighs. Already begging her consciousness if it wasn't real for the Korean rapper to be bold — Letitia prayed for her dignity to fight back and not dwell on the kiss. But it felt so intoxicating when Hajun did it. Her eyes couldn't take it as she closed them. The kiss kinda felt right. It turned roughly as soon as Hajun pushed his tongue inside of her mouth — Letitia meeked.

"H-hmmm—"

Giving into Hajun's advances, he fought his tongue inside of her — hearing Letitia's retort, he didn't pull away. It rather entices him more when he listens to Letitia's fumbled hums weakening under his French kiss. She could almost taste the bitterness of his whiskey alluring her tastebuds. But soon, he pulled away, leaving a single strand of saliva connecting their tongues. Speechless and unforgiving, the way Hajun kissed her made the Filipina breathless under his wing. Her face was painted red , and Hajun was certain of how he did unimaginable yet bizarre and addicting.

"Cute, but sorry... I got carried away."

"W-why did you do that..."

"Instinctively for you to forget but... I do think I might not forgive myself later."

She couldn't control her numbing lips, Hajun kissed her...

Why did he do that? And yet... A first sudden kiss—

"What do you mean?"

"Follow me, I'll take you somewhere you'll be satisfied to hate me more."

(To be continued)

✧.* @.moonartemisia 2023 || do not copy my works

╰┈➤ masterlist navigation ✧.* || chapter two

[batking-lich]

putting the poll up early so i can go ahead and jump into the next book when i finish this one.

if any book(s) other than the winning choice gets notable support i'll mark it down for after the winning book

synopsis under the cut

prose and cons by amanda flower

Magic, books, and cats collide in a village near Niagara Falls in the latest Magical Bookshop Mystery from the author of Crime and Poetry.  In Cascade Springs, New York, Violet Waverly and her grandma, Daisy, are the proprietors of Charming Books, where the power of the written word is positively enchanting...  October in Cascade Springs means tourists are pouring in for the annual Food and Wine Festival, and Daisy hopes to draw those crowds to the store. She asks Violet and the local writing group, the Red Inkers, to give a reading of the works of Edgar Allan Poe in the shop’s back garden to entertain the revelers. Everyone eagerly agrees.  Yet their enthusiasm is soon extinguished when Violet discovers one of the writers dead during the event. After the shop magically tells Violet she’ll need to rely on Poe’s works to solve the murder, she enlists the help of her trusty tuxedo cat, Emerson, and the shop’s crow, Faulkner. But they must act fast before someone else’s heart beats nevermore...

(this is a sequel but cozies are generally pretty standalone & i'll give you a recap of the first book)

pearl by josh malerman (previously published as on this, the day of the pig)

From Josh Malerman, the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie, comes the legend of Pearl, a strange new monster unlike any other in horror (previously published as On This, the Day of the Pig). NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL • “Daring readers should find this tale of a malevolent telepathic pig to be a memorable experience.”—Booklist (starred review) There’s something strange about Walter Kopple’s farm. At first it seems to be his grandson, who cruelly murders one of Walter’s pigs in an act of seemingly senseless violence. But then people in town begin to whisper that Walter’s grandson heard a voice commanding him to kill. And that the voice belongs to a most peculiar creature: the pig named Pearl. Walter is not sure what to believe. He knows he’s always been afraid of the strangely malevolent Pearl. But as madness and paranoia grip the town and the townspeople descend on Walter’s farm with violent wrath, they begin to discover that true evil wears a human face.

the murder wheel by tom mead

In London, 1938, young and idealistic lawyer Edmund Ibbs is trying to find any shred of evidence that his client Carla Dean wasn’t the one who shot her husband dead at the top of a Ferris Wheel. But the deeper he digs, the more complex the case becomes, and Edmund soon finds himself drawn into a nightmarish web of conspiracy and murder. Before long he himself is implicated in not one but two seemingly impossible crimes. First, a corpse appears out of thin air during a performance by famed illusionist “Professor Paolini” in front of a packed auditorium at the Pomegranate Theatre. Then a second victim is shot dead in a locked dressing room along one of the theatre’s winding backstage corridors. Edmund is in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time, and attracts the suspicion of Scotland Yard inspector George Flint. Luckily, conjuror-turned-detective Joseph Spector is on the scene. Only Spector’s uniquely logical perspective can pierce the veil of deceit in a world of illusion and misdirection, where seeing is not always believing. Tom Mead continues to pay homage to the locked room mysteries of the Golden Age in this second Joseph Spector novel.

(another sequel, but again mysteries can generally stand alone & i'll recap book 1)

grave witch by kalayna price

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say. As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself—who happens to look fantastic in a pair of jeans—nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high profile murder when she’s attacked by the ‘shade’ she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off her day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around... To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something—though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex—but Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life...and her soul.

[trial-songs]

Trial Songs Masterpost

Since Tumblr mobile doesn't show our links properly, here is a masterpost of information about Trial Songs (such as characters and information on the series.)

Happy reading! ---

About the Series

Synopsis:

“Trial Songs is a collaborative story written by multiple authors, with LGBTQ+ characters, previously penned as a roleplay campaign.

It is set in a fantasy-esque world with sprawling empires, small countries, and varying levels of technology and magic intertwined.

The story mainly follows two main perspectives: the perspective of Lyre, a runaway from the Blackstone Empire, alongside his partner Casper, and the perspective of the Cabinet of No Man’s Land, an ex-province of the Blackstone Empire that declared independence – said Cabinet consisting of Izaiah, Naomi, Jeremy, and Queue.

Previously, No Man’s Land and the Blackstone Empire were at war – in which No Man’s Land fought for its sovereignty. Trial Songs takes place in the tentative ceasefire that has been reached between the two powers.

The events of Trial Songs will threaten that ceasefire … and stretch the peace to its very limits.”

--

Trial Songs is a text-roleplay campaign turned digital novel! A variety of characters belong to different people.

Currently, the existing authors are as follows:

Ven & Tea (Founders)

Awisha & Cyc (Cowriters)

Royal Road Link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/82067/trial-songs

---

Characters

Trial Songs has a variety of characters, and here will be featured the official designs of the main cast once their references are completed.

–

Lyre Ambrosia - he/him (questioning) - 21 Writer: Ven

A voidfolk hybrid and escapee from the Blackstone Empire. – Casper - he/him (genderqueer) - 23 Writer: Tea

A friendly ghost. For the most part. –

Izaiah Marris - he/him (ftm) - early 30s Writer: Tea

Mr. President (of NML's Cabinet). Don't call him that, though. – Jeremy Collins - he/him (male) - late 20s Writer: Tea

Secretary of Treasury of NML's Cabinet (... and designated errand boy.) – Naomi Agbayani-Calinao - she/her (female) - late 20s Writer: Awisha

Ms. Vice President (of NML's Cabinet), currently trying to hold it all together. – Queue Andrews - he/they (nb) - 30 Writer: Ven

The designated Community Manager of NML’s Cabinet -- and a hopeless romantic. – Clover Andrews - he/him (questioning) - 17 Writer: Ven

A young goat hybrid with enchanter’s blood native to NML. Alex's best friend. –

Alex Blossom - she/her (mtf) - 16 Writer: Tea REF TBA Just a lass, native to NML. Clover's best friend. – Dr. Laurence Faulkner - he/him (ftm) - 39 Writer: Cyc REF TBA DESCRIPTION TBA – Octavian de Vitis - he/him (genderqueer) - 36 Writer: Cyc REF TBA DESCRIPTION TBA – Chaos Ambrosia - he/him (male) - 40s Writer: Ven

The ruling Emperor of the Blackstone Empire.

---

That's all for now! Thanks for reading!

[hobidreams]

february 1872.

you cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

pairing: joseon king!yoongi x reader words: 3.3k a/n: a million thank yous to @idkijustlovebts​​ for reading an early draft of this for me and just being the most helpful, the most kind and sweet 💜 

moonlit throne index. this is drabble 44. start from the beginning?

“I want an audience with jungjeon-mama.” Though your legs are trembling, you stare down the guards posted at the door of the queen’s chambers. The sun has only been in the sky for a few hours, but you could not wait to come here any longer, lest the anticipation consume you whole.

The two guards exchange looks, obviously recognizing you but unsure whether to let you in. Unsure if they want to be responsible for any possible altercations, you think. You cannot fault them for it. But before they can decide, the door opens from the inside to reveal one of the queen’s maids.

“Su-uinyeo-nim,” she says. “Please, come in.”

You follow the maid down long corridors, the dream from last night repeating over and over in your mind. You hadn’t been ready to accept Queen Jeonghui’s words then, too afraid of the consequences of wanting. But now. Now, the reality of living without him is too much to bear without putting voice to your truth at least once.

In front of the sitting room, the maid comes to a stop. “Jungjeon-mama is in here.” Another set of doors are eased apart.

The queen, beautiful and composed, sits on a bench before a low table, with another maid brushing her hair. She slides her cool eyes towards the noise.

You can see no surprise in her expression as she realizes who has come to her. What does that mean? You tense your muscles and walk in, until you are standing directly in front of her.

Perhaps the queen senses your determination, for she says to the maids, “Leave us.” Then, when you are alone, she gestures to a bench. “Uinyeo-nim. Take a seat.”

A direct order from the queen, but you shake your head. “No, thank you.” Afraid you’ll lose your nerve if you do.

“Hm.” The queen doesn’t mention it. Instead, she opens her jewelry box, casually lifting a pair of earrings as if you aren’t present. “So, what brings you here at this early hour to pay me a visit?”

You’ve gone over this conversation so many times in your head, again and again, but none of those careful, diplomatic words feel right in this moment.

For once, you want to cut right down to the core of it. Past the politics. Past the veiled subtleties that make up the royal court.

“Jeonha,” you start, your voice raspy but you continue. “Jeonha and I have an intimate relationship. Though he is the king and I a mere—” You cut yourself off, shaking your head. No more of that word. “And I am an uinyeo, not a palace woman, we have been lovers. We are lovers.”

The queen’s eyebrows raise. But before she can speak, you plow on. It’s your turn now, damn it.

“If that makes you uncomfortable asking me for medical advice, I can arrange for one of my disciples to act in my place if you wish. If not, I assure you I will do my best to aid you in all matters, including conception and delivery. But I…” You scrunch your hand into a fist, forcing yourself to breathe, willing yourself stand up straight. “I’ll no longer pretend as if he and I have no relationship.”

The words are coming on their own, your voice building in shaky volume with each syllable. Everything you’ve wanted to say for so long, tumbling free. “I will not step aside. I won’t acquiesce and let him go. Not even to you, jungjeon-mama. Even if I’m not an official concubine and can never be one, I will stay by his side. I will stand. I will—I will demand my space in this palace, regardless of what you or any of this country’s people may think…!”

Instantly, a thick, pensive silence falls in the room.

It’s a silence that begs you to say more to break it, but the words die on your tongue. You can only wait. Wait for the explosion you’ve just lit to blow. But then—

Jungjeon-mama is laughing.

Laughing.

The sound rings out across the empty hall, filling the blankness with your confusion and her mirth. It takes her a full minute to calm, to distill the sound down to quiet chuckling. You are too frozen to ask what the hell that just was. Instead, you just watch as she, still smiling, sets the earrings down and drapes a hand over her lap.

“I wondered how long it would take you to tell me the truth. I’m impressed, uinyeo-nim.”

Your trimmed nails bite into your palm as your heart thuds louder in your ears.

“You… You already knew?”

“But of course! How could I not?” She presses fingertips to her flawlessly smooth cheek. “It was one of the first things I learned when I set foot on palace grounds. And even if one of the ladies had not told me, it would have been plain to see on jeonha’s face that he is absolutely enamored with you.”

Thoughts collide against each other in your mind. It takes all your strength to gather them, to pick out one coherent question. “Then why?” You ask. “Why did you come to me all those weeks ago as if you had no inkling of such things?!”

Jungjeon-mama shifts, her elaborate chima spilling over the bench. “I won’t ask for your forgiveness. You must understand I had to test you. To see the strength of your relationship for myself, so I could know whether or not it could ever be broken.”

Broken. Your heart pangs with the mere thought.

“You see,” she continues, “I have no interest in a man who cannot return my affections. Life is far too brief for such wastes of time.” She moves her hand to her arm as she leans forward towards you. “I want to live happily. I am already queen. It was a decision made for me by my parents, but one that will ensure my survival in this world. Having the king’s attention means very little to me after that.”

Wait.

You feel your eyes widen. If she has no interest—Could that mean? Could it be?

“How much of it was a lie?” You ask bluntly, already steeling yourself for whatever answer comes. But you now know the truth is far better than endless wondering in your own head.

The queen smiles as if she was expecting that question. “Jeonha and I have never been physically together. You will have to ask him for the details of our wedding night, but nothing of consequence happened. Of course, the people believe otherwise, because they must.”

“Never?” You repeat, numbly.

You could weep from relief. It washes over you, filling, mending every cut on your heart from these past, vicious months. You were prepared to accept anything she said. You understand the importance of conceiving an heir. But this… This truth is beyond anything you’ve ever dared to dream of. Yet, that was for good reason.

“What about an heir? Who will rule the throne if not your son?” You ask.

The queen is chuckling again, as if she finds your simple reasoning extremely amusing. “You may have seen the official lineage records, uinyeo-nim, but I have heard the stories. The older servants in the palace know the rumors from several generations back. Do you think our king the first to fall for someone he shouldn’t have?”

“I… I suppose not,” you reply. She’s right. There must have been others trapped by royal responsibility. Others who have let themselves be happy.

“By now, the royal bloodline has likely been muddied so many times that I’d be surprised if there were continuity at all between any three generations.” Now, you meet jungjeon-mama’s eyes. You find in them an unexpected warmth as she declares, “I certainly don’t plan on being alone for the rest of my life. And there are plenty of eligible men in this palace.”

She speaks with such authority that you can’t help but feel envious. It seems to come so inherently to her, while it has taken all of your courage to even be here. To speak. But still—You are here, standing your ground. You are fighting for yourself.

The queen pushes to her feet and begins to cross the floor to you, but you are no longer scared of such actions. “All I care about is being comfortable. And that my children will be taken care of,” she says. “A royal name will more than secure that, regardless of whether or not they are truly of jeonha’s blood.”

But that’s not enough. You have one last question. Perhaps the most crucial one of all. “And if I become pregnant?”

Yoongi’s story about his father’s former concubine and the assassins haunts your thoughts. You will not allow that to happen again.

“Then all the better.”

She stands right in front of you, her hands held regally in front of her as her silk sleeves drape down. “The court will not bother your children as long as I have my own. And if it comes to it, your sons will be eligible for the throne. Better any heir than none in desperate times.”

“But you. You will not hurt them?” You press, needing confirmation.

“Never.”

Elegantly, Seong-min reaches out her hand, beckoning you to do the same. Though you are bewildered, you offer yours before you can think better of it. She links your fingers together in an uncharacteristically delicate hold.

“Uinyeo-nim.” Her voice remains strong, but for the first time, you think it might be kind. “I want to be happy. And now I know what you have decided happiness is for you. It would all be easier if we cooperated.”

You nod, immediately, still incredulous at what the truth has brought. “I agree.”

She gives your hand a fond squeeze.

As you look at her so closely like this… How very similar to the former queen she is, you think. A comparison that is no longer a dagger through your heart, but a welcome embrace for what is to come. All that is to come, if your king will forgive you for being so utterly foolish for so long.

You want to see him. You need to see him, to tell him all you have uncovered. To share everything that has been lost these past few months.

“Jungjeon-mama… I must go,” you say.

She smiles widely as she releases your hand. “I know. Go. Quickly!”

You are panting when you reach the imposing doors of jeonha’s residence, your legs aching with how quickly you ran here but each second that passes without seeing him feels like a waste.

Jeonghun stands guard today, and he gives you a friendly smile as you approach. “Su-uinyeo-nim, good morning! Thank you again for your medicine.” Then he pauses, noticing your expression. “Ah… Uhh, are you alright?”

Hands on your knees, you nod as you suck in deep breaths. “I-Is jeonha… Is he inside…?”

“Yes, I believe he should be in the middle of his morning readings.”

“Thank you. Thank you.” Somewhat properly breathing now, you straighten. Push back the hair that has come undone from your bun. You must look like an absolute mess, but you don’t care.

To his credit, Jeonghun doesn’t give you the chance to ask for entry. He simply opens the door for you, his grin warm and encouraging.

“Thank you,” you say one last time before you hurry inside.

The residence is enormous, but you know the way as well as the paths of your own hall. None of the servants hurrying about stop you, as if they too believe you belong there as you speed through the corridors towards the study. Towards your heart.

When you open that final door with a shaking hand, you find Yoongi sitting behind his royal desk, papers scattered everywhere on the wide surface. He looks slightly better than when you saw him last night, but fatigue still has its claws in him, drawing wrinkles and shadows on his brow.

“Eunuch Kim,” He starts, without looking up. “I told y—”

“Jeonha.”

Yoongi’s eyes flash up with an almost inhuman speed. There is surprise, then a joy that takes over his entire face. A relief so undeniable that it almost overwhelms you to see it.

“You’re here,” he says, his voice dropping down to a whisper.

There is so much you want to say. You should first explain everything the queen has revealed. You should apologize for the cruel things you’ve said to him, telling him to be with her again and again. But the thing that spills out of your mouth is, “I’m a fool.”

He looks bewildered at this confession. It’s one of the few honest things you have said to him since your argument and it clearly confounds him.

“Jeonha, I have been a coward,” you say.

He seems like he is about to refute your words but just like with the queen, you won’t let him. You’ll say your share, even if your hands are clammy with nerves and sweat.

“All this time, I have waited. Sat there hoping for you to come to me. I’ve answered your summons. But I’ve… never had the courage to reach out for you in turn. Never asked for more because I always thought this had to end someday.” You’d been searching for ways to protect yourself, to pull away before he abandoned you without a thought to how that would hurt him in turn. Foolish.

You take a step towards him but no more. Wanting to be in his arms, but afraid you’ll lose your conviction if he touches you. “I should’ve told you my fears. I shouldn’t have tried to take every burden onto myself.”

He murmurs your name now, not to interrupt, but because he cannot stop the sound. His eyes are so tender, so full of affection and sorrow.

You exhale, letting your fears flow from you to leave only sincerity behind. “Jeonha, I know the truth. You’ve never taken another woman. But even if you had… Despite everything, you’ve thought of me. You’ve made me a priority. And I—I had thought myself powerless all this time.”

He pushes up from his seat. Slides out from behind his desk. You watch him descend from the platform until he stands on the same hard ground as you.

“Powerless, when you have all this power over me?” He asks, almost amused at the absurdity of the thought.

You nod. “I should’ve known that. Should’ve held my head up high no matter what the other palace women or former concubines said about me because… I have no reason to be ashamed in front of them, regardless of my class. Because I’m the one you chose. Out of all of them. Me.”

“And I will always choose you.” He is closer now. A few more steps and he’d be close enough to touch, but instead your hands stay knotted together before you, his at his sides. “But it was not my choosing that gave you strength. You are more accomplished in your own right than any of those women. You have improved the lives of everyone in this palace, whether they will admit it or not.”

Yoongi has the tiniest smile on his lips, but it carries sadness, fear. “I’ve never wanted to force you to stay. Or to pressure you into any decision,” he murmurs, and you know this to be true. It was true when he asked you to the Chuseok festival back when you were both so young, and it was true when you told him to leave all those months ago. “What my mother had to experience was far too cruel. I didn’t want—”

“Jeonha.” You make him pause with one hand on his arm. “I-I know it is impossible for me to officially be your concubine, but… I don’t care about titles. I will determine what worth my life has. And I choose to remain here in this palace as an uinyeo. As… your lover.”

“Is that truly what you want?” He asks, softly, his dark eyes searching your face as if he is still uncertain. “Even though being involved with me has only hurt you, again and again?”

“Don’t you see?” You exhale, moving your hands until you are pressing both palms against his chest. Through his silk, his heartbeat is quick, but so utterly steady. “You are not your father. You will learn from his mistakes, not repeat them. And there is nowhere else I want to go. Not when you are here.”

His hands are trembling when he brings them to your arms, holding you gently. Like this, you can see yourself reflected in his dark eyes. Eyes that are no longer unfathomable, but warm as they focus only on you.

Your voice is a whisper when you confess, “I want to have a family with you.” The secret lifts from your chest, blooming in that precious space between your bodies.

“I do too,” he says, “So much.”

He leans forward until your foreheads touch, his breath brushing against your nose. You inhale his scent, scrunching your fingers in his robes as if you could have him like this for a lifetime. But then, the corners of his lips turn down.

“But I have to tell you… this might be the one thing I cannot give.”

You raise your head. “What? Why?”

“My father… had difficulty conceiving an heir. It is why I have no siblings when a royal family would typically have many. When I asked my father’s physician after his death… The doctor told me he suspected a hereditary condition.” Yoongi eases back, covering your hands with his own. “One that would pass onto me. And make it unlikely that I will father children.”

You shake your head. “Jeonha, unlikely does not mean impossible. You are alive, are you not?” His heartbeat pounds steadily under your grasp. “If we never try, there is never the possibility we might succeed.”

Yoongi gives a surprised bark of laughter, the sound waterlogged with emotion thick in his throat. “My mother. She used to say that.”

“I know. And it’s only now that I understand exactly what she meant.”

Leaning down, Yoongi presses his lips to yours. The first kiss you have shared in months, and it isn’t until his softness is tangible against you that you realize how much you have missed him. How all your reasoning and logic could never compare to the simple touch of the man you love. You let your lips part, wanting more as you feel him smile into your kiss.

No more words. You don’t need them to know how he treasures you. Not when it is evident in the way he cups your cheek with a warm hand, the pad of his thumb brushing your skin. The way he bumps the tip of his nose into you because he needs to be closer.

When you finally pull apart, his lips a little wet, yours still needy, you’re both smiling like it’s your first time. And in a sense, it is. The first time in this new era of your lives. One that promises to last as long as you are both willing to fight for it.

“Eunuch Kim!” Yoongi suddenly yells towards the door. As you stare at him, puzzled, the door slides open. When the man in question appears, looking harried, Yoongi commands: “Cancel the afternoon meeting.”

“But jeonha—”

“Cancel it. And leave us alone.”

Eunuch Kim’s eyes flicker from you to his king, then back to you. His sigh of surrender is far too exaggerated to be anything but ‘finally’ in disguise. “As you wish, jeonha. Su-uinyeo-nim.” He bows as he shuffles out of the room, nearly bumping into the door frame with how he refuses to raise his head again.

“The man is absolutely delighted,” Yoongi mutters when you are alone again, his voice as sarcastic as it is fond.

“I know exactly how he feels,” you say, grinning as you pull your king, your love in for another kiss.

a/n: didn’t i tell you to trust me? 🌸

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[quoteablebooks]

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break—because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.

*Opinions*

So I bought this novel for a class in college and remember not having a super high opinion of it. Upon a second read, I think I can understand the message that the book is attempting to get across, but it’s not going to be on my favorite shelf any time soon. Someone Like You follows Halley and Scarlett through their Junior Year of high school where quite literally everything changes for both of them. Scarlett’s boyfriend died during the summer and she finds out that she is pregnant with his child. As Scarlett and Halley attempt to navigate this new normal, Halley catches the eye of Macon Faulkner, the mysterious boy in school that is a complete enigma. Both Scarlett and Halley transform throughout the year and their friendship since kindergarten is strained for the first time as they both attempt to figure out who they are and where they fit in each other’s world.

This book reads very much like a Young Adult novel, I don’t mean that as an insult, but this isn’t one of those books that straddle the line or slips into another genre. I found myself annoyed with Halley on a number of occasions but then had to remind myself that she was only sixteen and we were all kind of annoying and made bad choices at that age. Still, Halley was a character that things happened to instead of a character that does things. While Halley acknowledges this in the novel, about how she always follows Scarlett or her mother’s lead, I think my problem is that when Halley does make her own decisions they always end up being the “wrong” decision as pointed out by those two important people in her life. It’s almost as if her mother was right not to trust her to have agency because she can’t make the right decision until the very end of the novel. Again, teenagers make mistakes, but Halley in this novel is just carried by the currents of Scarlett, Macon, and her Mother, she never even attempts to swim to shore on her own. I mean, we get told that Halley has a number of ribbons from gymnastics and other hobbies, but apparently she doesn’t do any of them any more because her entire existence in this novel is her relationship with Scarlett, her relationship with Macon, and her relationship with her mother. That makes her a rather boring narrator and protagonist even if she does have a bit of growth. 

Now, as with any teenage pregnancy story, there is that moment when we have to address the elephant in the room, abortion. I have to say that Dessen doesn’t vilify abortion, but the way that it is written also doesn’t make it seem like a good option either, if that makes sense. The two people who state that Scarlett should end the pregnancy, Marion and Elizabeth, are not always portrayed positively if they are portrayed positively at all in the novel. I’m not saying that Scarlett shouldn’t have kept the baby or that abortion is the right answer in every situation, and this could just be my personal bias, but the way that it is discussed sat a little awkwardly with me. Sex was treated the same way. The girl who is known to have a lot of sex, Elizabeth, if vilified while Scarlett is punished for having sex just once by getting pregnant even though the novel points out how unlikely that is, though in no way impossible. Halley ultimately doesn’t sleep with Macon and sex, much like pregnancy, isn’t denouced as awful and sinful, but not exactly treated fairly. One of the things I think this book really captures is that first wild love, especially with a boy that you find cooler and hotter than you are. So many girls feel as if they have to change themselves or become who they were always meant to be if pesky things like parents and society weren’t in the way. They also rush into things or make decisions they could regret to make sure these boys don’t wander off to someone else. Many people, all genders, have sex before they are ready because they think it will keep their significant other from breaking up with them or cheating on them or because everyone else is doing it and it’s no big deal. Halley’s concerns and thought process in this novel are very true to life. The friendship between Halley and Scarlett is also beautifully depicted in my opinion, those close friendships are to be cherished beyond all else and it is terrifying when something comes that could destroy it. The normal ‘girl’ drama is pretty much missing from the book, aside from one blow up between the two of them, and mostly it is about how girls support other girls through all sorts of crises. The relationship between Halley and her mom is also done well, the battle of independence versus a parent trying to stop their child from making mistakes, if a bit heavy handed. While it is hard to ignore the juxtaposition of Halley and her mother and Scarlett and Marion, both relationships are believable. I noticed is that most of the men in this novel are not treated well. Micheal is dead, so he can’t do much, but it’s implied that he might have been cheating on Scarlett or still in love with someone else, Macon is...well...Macon, Noah who is the boring boy next store almost sexually assaults Halley during prom, and her father is depicted as a floor mat to her mother. The only one that is seen as completely kind, though they think that it’s weird that he goes to Renaissance Fairs or LARPs as it is not cleared up, is Marion’s boyfriend and that’s because he’s just a background character. Normally I am complaining about the female character representation, not the other way around, but even Cameron is seen as failing Scarlett when she goes into labor. Overall, I think this would be a good book to give to a teenager to start the conversation about sex and relationships, but just as a novel a little unforgettable and slightly preachy.

[littlemisssquiggles]

I remember this old tweet from Miles around the beginning of Volume 6 where he mentioned the pain of sometimes having to “kill your darlings” as a writer. Do you think that one of these “darlings” he was referring to could’ve been Oscar’s development between C8 and C9?

…Ahahaa I hope not, Miggy. Because if that’s thecase then that would imply that Miles, as a writer for RWBY, planned to NOTgive Oscar the proper development he deserved between those two episodes.

If the CRWBY Writers intentions were to nevergive Oscar the focus he needed especially after how they left off C8 I would’vemuch preferred if they had not given us that subplot for V6 and rather reserveit for another time when they can give it the focus it needs and deserves. 

‘…According to Writers.org, in writing, killing one'sdarlings means getting rid of the things you love themost. That line in your book that you think makes it seem unique and powerfuland strange, that scene that you feel really expresses the essence of what yourwork is about, the accent that you have given your main character that youbelieve really helps your readers see into their soul…

Yes, those are your darlings. So why do wehave to get rid of them? In reality killing your darlings has to be done wisely and somewhat sparingly. If you simplydecide to hit ‘delete’ on all the best bits of your book the chances are you’llend up with gaping holes in your story and, actually, some of the best bitsshould almost certainly stay.

What Faulkner meant was you need to let go ofthe bits of your writing you are holding onto selfishly. Those words, sideplots, characters or turns of phrase that you personally love but, actually, ifyou are being truthful, don’t really advance your story in any way.

You might, for example, have thought of akiller line that just perfectly sums up an emotion or scene, it might have cometo you in the middle of the night and you might have written it down with suchexcitement you couldn’t wait to get it into your story the next day...

However, when you tried there just wasn’t aplace for it, you wanted to make it fit, but it didn’t. It couldn’t work. Don’tforce something no matter how much you love it. If it is not meant to be inyour current story simply save it for the next one, and then let it go…’

According to this website, killing yourdarlings is something that should be done wisely to avoid any gaping plotholes. Oscar’s missing side of the story from C9 is more than an example ofkilling your darlings. In retrospect one might even argue that it’s a plot holewithin itself. It’s jarring for me rewatching C8 and C9 in succession, seeing Oscar go fromappearing completely depressed in one episode to perfectly fine in anotherwithout any sort of on-screen explanation to support this transition at all. 

 I will always chastise C9 and regard it as myleast favourite episode of V6 for how it handled Oscar’s development in hatepisode. If the Writers’ intentions were to resolve the conflict left behind inthe aftermath of C8 in C9, I wish they had killed off the darling that wasEmerald and Mercury’s scene in that episode.

When I look back on that episode, did theEmerald and Mercury moment really add anything to it? Sure it established some elements for Emerald andMercury’s story while providing us some insight into what’s next in Salem’splans for Atlas. However…when I think about this scene in the context of theepisode itself I honestly could’ve done without it.

I wish the Writers had cut out the scene withEmerald and Mercury and use their time to flesh out any progress for Oscar thatcould’ve been tossed into that episode. They could’ve had the entire focus on C9 be about JNR and Oscar. They could have still left in Jaune, Nora and Ren having their closuremoment at the Pyrhha statue with Jaune meeting Pyrhha’s mom (I think that washer mom).

As a matter of fact, when I first saw the leaflead Jaune to the statue, I was expecting Jauneto find Oscar at the statue. Like I saw itas a moment of Pyrhha’sspirit guiding Jaune toward Oscar. We could havehad Jaune find Oscar at the statue and have the two have their moment. Theepisode synopsis for C9 mentioned ‘JNR beingconflicted about what they would do if they found Oscar’.

Something that the actual episodecontradicted because JNR neverfound Oscar. It would have been interesting if JNR or atleast Jaune found Oscar curled up by the Pyrhha statue in the cold unsure ofwhat to do and where to go from there. We could have gotten Jaune trying toreach out to Oscar but him being too emotional and betrayed to talk to Jauneafter what transpired between the two last episode. 

Shit! We could have even had Jaune justify his frustration to Oscar whilefittingly showing him the Pyrhha statue. I would haveloved for a moment where Jaune just sitsdown and talks to Oscar about Pyrhha in front of her statue which would help explain to Oscar his anger and distrust to what helearnt regarding Ozpin. That could have been a nice sweet scene to see Jauneand Oscar bond before reuniting with Ren and Nora and eventually the wholegroup. Because at least that would have made more sense than having Oscarmagically reappear, acting like he didn’t run away at all and being all finewith everything.

What disappointed me the most about C9 isthat the Writers finally had an opportunity, an opportunity that they set up bythe way, to do that and rather than commit to it, they revert back to an oldhabit that they have always done with Oscar’s character up until his point. Tell but never show. Leave anything remotely resembling his growth handled off-screen. Not showingwhat transpired with Oscar’s side of the story in C9 was about the third timethe Writers have done that type of thing with his character. Speaking as a Pinehead, that’s aboutthree times too many.

I just…of all the darlings the Writers could havekilled, why did have to be Oscar’s focus episode in a season that teased thathe was going to be a focus for this volume.

Certain FNDM fam already consider Oscar to bemishandled and very poorly written in RWBY and V6 C9 only added more gasolineto that inferno that’s causing backlash for his character. Do you know how many negative things I’ve heard aboutOscar since his introduction? There are folks saying things like Oscar is aproblem. Oscar is overrated. Oscar is a Mary Sue/Gary Stew character. A meatpuppet. And the greatest insult of all, Oscar isn’t his own character, justanother body/skin for Ozpin to wear.

As someone whose favourite character in RWBY isOscar, believe it or not, I really hate seeing comments like that. But what’seven sadder is that I can’t even get butt hurt at the folks making these kindof remarks because in hindsight, have the CRWBY Writers done a good job atfleshing out Oscar in the series canon since his debut?

As a proud Pinehead who adores Oscar and seeshis potential and what the Writers COULD do with him, I have to admit that theyhaven’t done Oscar justice these past three seasons. Ironic because the same canbe said for many other characters in RWBY besides Oscar. 

I mean, just look atthe Ruby Rose fans who complained about her lack of focus and developmentbetween V4 and V5. And don’t get me started on the Adam Taurus stans who Icould still see fuming after how the CRWBY handled his story for V6 leading upto his final curtain call.

As a Pinehead, it annoys me how the Writers just never focus on Oscar. Even when the actualplot that they concocted themselves kind of demands of it, they just don’t. They don’t commit to it which often leads me toask the question what the Writers have planned for Oscar’s story.

I really want to try and remain optimistic and hope that Oscar’sstory gets properly fleshed out in the seasons going forward.  However following V6, I’m not sure how much expectations I’m going forward into V7 with. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have my Oscar-centric musings and Pinehead headcanons as much as the next RWBY theorist. 

Yet still, I’m kind of nervous tohope/expect anything from the CRWBY in terms of Oscar based on how he waswritten in the Mistral Arc. The Mistral Arc was supposedly our first insight intoOscar and his role as a technical hero in the story and even after three volumes, there is stillPLENTY left to be desired of this precious freckled farm boy.

I will admit that the Writers did not do agood job with Oscar for Mistral. V6 was a step in the right direction however, like I said, they need to dobetter. They CAN do better. It’s just a matter of when and how. The one saving grace of this misstep from the last volume is if theWriters are saving Oscar’s true on-screen growth for the Atlas Arc. There arelots of good ideas and subplots they can write for Oscar’s story for Atlas. Butagain, it’s what the Writers have in store and only time will tell with that.

Too many times have the Writers killed darlings in the midst of fleshing them out. Either they commit to their darlingsin the timeframe that they’ve set them up or they don’t do them at all whilepossibly saving them for a time they can commit to them. Part of the CRWBY Writers’problem and why some fans might be frustrated with the writing for RWBY thispart arc is that too many times, the Writers set up certain things giving theaudience the impression that they are going to develop it in some shape or form only to killit/squash it/never touch on it ever again.

In my opinion, that’s not really killing yourdarlings.  That sounds more like goinginto your story without proper planning and structure. RWBY Youtuber EruptionFang mentionedin his review of V6 that the CRWBY Writers seem to be figuring out the plot asthey go along and…admittedly, I don’t blame him for thinking that way becauseit does feel like that at times. Particularly in the third act of V6 from C8.

Rather than planning things out and goingaccordingly, things are figured out as they go and sometimes that could workswimmingly for the CRWBY. Other times, the odds are not in their favour.  Again, this is only my views on that. Feelfree to respectfully disagree with me if you will but that’s how I call it as I see it. No disrespectto Miles and Kerry as the CRWBY Writers. All I’m really trying to say here isthat they can do better because they are better and Oscar is an example ofwhere they can do better.

~LittleMissSquiggles(2019)

[criminalmindsjournal]

102: compulsion

masterlist

air date: 28 september 2005

wiki synopsis

Criminal Minds (season 1) - Wikipedia

When a Tempe, Arizona college student dies in the latest in a series of fires, the BAU attempts to think outside the box as they juggle profiling the serial arsonist-turned-serial killer and preventing them from setting another fire. Gideon recovers from a near-death experience and the team welcomes sex crimes expert Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini) into the fold.

location

tempe, arizona, united states of america

beginning quote

imagination is more important than knowledge. knowledge is limited. imagination encircles the world.

~albert einstein

ending quote

don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. try to be better than yourself.

~william faulkner

profile

oops

unsub(s)

clara hayes

rating (🌟)

🌟🌟🌟

thoughts

i will never figure out why the footpath killer decided to target gideon when he saw his gun

i’d be like “nope, stay away from that guy” “one-way ticket to getting caught”

“you’re on your way to becoming a part of the behavioral analysis unit, elle, you tell me”

what a cop-out, gideon

6 fires in 7 months

the guy who’s roommate caught on fire was quick thinking to try to put it out; honestly, i’d be like 👀 and probably wouldn’t think to do anything but scream

“rely too much on precedent, you don’t leave room for the unexpected.”

really the theme of this episode, don’t you think?

“try to look less official”

this is my favorite line in the whole episode, maybe even the whole show other than “we save one life, we save the world” but i don’t remember what episode that’s in

i’ve decided i don’t like early-season morgan that much

he’s just kind of. . . abrasive?

people running into the building after gideon runs out of it yelling “get out of the building” is hilarious to me

but to be honest, i can’t tell if he’s running into a building from another building

so they could just be running into a safer building, idk man

“we know how he did it”

how do you know how it was done???

i doubt investigators would give a bunch of students, researchers or not, evidence to look over in an active case

awh, yes, the homicidal triad

fire-setting

bed-wetting

cruelty to animals

(for those who don’t know)

i’m gonna be honest, if you asked me what i profiler was BEFORE i watched this show, i wouldn’t have been able to tell you what they did

so this kid who knows “one look at a crime scene at you can tell what kind of shampoo he uses” baffles me

reid rambling is my religion

how does one drill a hole in a lightbulb without breaking it

garcia and jj ❤️

maybe it’s because i know what is being said on the hotline recording but it does not sound like “karen” is what is being said to me

reid, bringin it home

reason #12 as to why i changed my mind on being a profiler: i don’t notice things that easily

see: hotch noticing the unsub turning her ring in intervals of three

“wait ‘til you see this place”

jealous of the officer who pulled the fire alarm, always wanted to do that

for legal reasons, this is a joke

“don’t try to convince her to stop, because you won’t be able to”

well, shit, hotch. what’re we supposed to do?

and then he does exactly what he said not to do

i totally missed the profile because they didn’t present it in this one and i, honestly, am not super interested in this one. not sure why though. also i was eating.

[luminouslibrary]

If you were to go on a cruise, what would your dream destination(s) be? For those who’ve been on one before, what did you enjoy about it? I’ve always dreamt of sight seeing in the tropics or visiting Mediterranean Europe. 🚢 From the acclaimed PEN-Faulkner Award-winning author of The Great Man comes a riveting high-seas adventure that combines Christensen’s signature wit, irony, and humanity to create a striking and unforgettable vision of our times. . The Last Cruise by Kate Christensen is a sly, romantic story that is perfect for thriller fans! So excited to partner with @doubledaybooks & @storygramtours - thanks so much for sending me a copy! To learn more or purchase a copy of your own, click on the link in my bio! 🚢 SYNOPSIS: The 1950s vintage ocean liner Queen Isabella is making her final voyage before heading to the scrapyard. For the guests on board, among them Christine Thorne, a former journalist turned Maine farmer, it’s a chance to experience the bygone mid-20th century era of decadent luxury cruising, complete with fine dining, classic highballs, string quartets, and sophisticated jazz. Smoking is allowed but not cell phones–or children, for that matter. The Isabella sets sail from Long Beach, CA into calm seas on a two-week retro cruise to Hawaii and back. . But this is the second decade of an uncertain new millennium, not the sunny, heedless fifties, and certain disquieting signs of strife and malfunction above and below decks intrude on the festivities. Down in the main galley, Mick Szabo, a battle-weary Hungarian executive sous-chef, watches escalating tensions among the crew. Meanwhile, Miriam Koslow, an elderly Israeli violinist with the Sabra Quartet, becomes increasingly aware of the age-related vulnerabilities of the ship herself and the cynical corners cut by the cruise ship company, Cabaret. . When a time of crisis begins, Christine, Mick, and Miriam find themselves facing the unknown together in an unexpected and startling test of their characters. 🚢 https://www.instagram.com/p/BlIqaQilifV/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=t0dlhyhl1eu

[seangelfish]

"Can you peel me an orange?" (w/ BAE)

Featured Characters: Allen Sugasano, Hajun Yeon, Anne Faulkner ♡ Tags: Fluff, established relationships, no mention of pronouns ♡ Word count: 1,184 ♡ Synopsis: Inspired by the Orange Peel test that's going around the internet lately, but this time with BAE! Click here for Kanata's version.

🍊 ALLEN SUGASANO

It was around 10pm when you asked him to peel you an orange. You had gotten this idea from a video Anne showed you, so you were curious about how Allen would react especially when he was busy writing new music.

But you did feel kind of bad asking him to do this now, when he was so concentrated and in his element. However, you knew this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

"...Huh?" Confusion was scribbled on his face, but he didn't put his pen down, so you assumed he wasn't listening.

"Allen, could you please peel me an orange?" you repeated.

Still not stopping his rhythm, he replied, "What...? Why can't you do it?"

You could tell he was just genuinely confused by how his eyebrows were raised.

"Are your hands okay?" he continued, looking up at you. "Let me see them–"

"What? No, they're fine!" you laughed. "It's okay, you don't have to."

You weren't too upset at his reaction to this test. After all, he was busy and 'in his zone', so you decided to just leave it at that.

Allen stopped for a moment as if he was thinking about something. If he rejected your request, would you be disappointed in him? Maybe your hands do hurt, but you didn't want to admit it. Or perhaps it was just something a boyfriend should do for his lover? 'Yeah, it's probably that...' he thought.

He stood up from his seat and headed over to the kitchen. He grabbed an orange and washed it before peeling it. He was rather quiet about it as if he was pouring all his concentration on this one simple task.

"Well, here you go, (Y/N)!" he exclaimed happily once he was finished peeling. "That was random, but I hope you enjoy!"

You instantly smiled at this, appreciating how cute and kind your boyfriend was. "Thank you, Allen," you said softly. "I love you."

"Mm, no problem! I love you too, (Y/N)."

Allen was already back in his seat, scribbling away at his notebook. You couldn't just leave him here to himself after he kindly accepted your request, so you kept him company the whole night, feeding him pieces of your orange before drifting into a peaceful slumber.

🍊 HAJUN YEON

You had just returned home from a long day of work, annoyed but still upbeat. After all, your boyfriend Hajun was here to greet you with one of his sweetest smiles.

"Ah, welcome back, (Y/N). How's your day been?" he asked you, looking up from a sheet of paper that he was previously scanning.

"It could've been better," you answered with a yawn.

However, this time, Hajun didn't greet you with his usual hugs or kisses. You wondered why until you noticed the orange he was eating.

"Hmm... I want an orange too," you said nonchalantly.

"Sure, go ahead and get one."

"Aw, but Hajun... could you not peel one for me, please~?" you playfully begged as you clasped your hands together in a way to get him to oblige. "I've been having a rough day so it would be nice if you could do that for me!"

You were just joking, but when Hajun wouldn't move from his seat and then stated you could peel an orange yourself because 'you were perfectly capable of doing so', it ticked you off.

"Come on, Hajun... You're my boyfriend..."

"Are you really that dependent on me, (Y/N)? Haha, how cute..."

He was clearly making fun of you with his lighthearted jokes. You just weren't in the mood for that today and because of that, you got easily irritated. You didn't really want to go back and forth with him even if it was playful banter either.

“Here, an orange for you to peel yourself~” Hajun continued to joke.

You stared annoyingly at the orange he tried to give you. You rolled your eyes in response, preparing to make your leave to your room.

"Why couldn't you just peel me an orange...?" you muttered to yourself. Hajun had caught that, but before he could reply, you were already in your room.

You laid yourself on your bed, groaning into your pillow. “He’s so annoying!” you yelled, your sounds muffled by the cotton.

“Who’s annoying?” asked Hajun as he opened your door.

“You obviously.”

He chuckled and sat beside you on your bed. “Are you really that upset I didn’t peel you an orange?” he questioned, stroking your hair softly. “Is that what you really want?”

You didn’t respond.

“Please look up, (Y/N).”

You groaned again but obliged. As you lifted your head, you noticed a bowl of oranges in front of you, peeled and separated.

“There you go. An orange peeled just for you~”

You couldn’t stay mad at him. A giggle escaped your lips. Throwing a pillow at your boyfriend which he caught with his face, you finally said, “You’re so annoying, but thank you.”

As you happily began eating the oranges, Hajun watched you attentively. Maybe he should peel you more fruits from now on if that's what makes you happy.

But not after teasing you, of course!

🍊 ANNE FAULKNER

It was a chill day where you and Anne lazed around on the couch together, scrolling through your phones. A particular video had caught your eye and so you decided to test your partner on it.

"I'm hungry..." you groaned.

“Okay! Then I’ll tell Hajun to cook something up for us!” exclaimed Anne.

“No, you can’t!” you quickly refused. You didn't want to disturb Hajun especially when he had already cooked lunch for everyone a few hours ago.

"Well, you know I can't cook," said Anne.

"I know you can't," you teased which resulted in Anne tickling you in response. "Hahaha! Could you just give me an orange?"

"Haha, sure thing, love."

They jumped off the couch and walked towards the kitchen. You waited not more than a minute for them to come back to you with an orange.

Now this was the best time for you to drop the question. To ask them to peel that orange for you. The video that caught your interest earlier mentioned the orange peel test where you tested your partner in doing a simple task for you. You wondered whether Anne would peel you an orange or not. You didn't doubt that they would though, but it didn't hurt to try.

You began, "Oh, Anne, could you–"

Yet they interrupted you. "Wait a minute," they said.

You watched them in surprise when they started peeling the orange in front of you. Even when they kind of struggled with it, you watched your partner in awe and love. Anne would peel an orange for you without being asked to.

"Okay, done~" they sang. "Here, love. Say ahhh~"

You giggled, playing along to their game.

"Ahhh~" you repeated as Anne plopped a piece into your mouth. It was sweet just like your partner who smiled at you brightly.

"You passed the test!" you exclaimed, eating yet another piece that Anne fed you.

"Hmm? What test?" they asked curiously.

"Hehe, don't worry about it~"

Intro page | Paradox Live masterlist | Request rules

[pillow-anime-talk]

music & vocaloids month ; nineteenth day.

synopsis: Ritsuka is not very good at talking about his emotions and feelings, but his singing expresses more than anything else.

# tags: scenario; current relationship; sing a song; slice of life; soft romance; fluff; sfw

includes: gender neutral reader ft. ritsuka uenoyama {given}

my inspiration, song: “dobrze, że cię mam” by kortez

The studio where Ritsuka and the band had practiced for a long time was empty at the moment; you couldn’t hear Akihiko’s strange jokes, you didn’t feel the calm presence of Mafuyu, you didn’t see Nakayama who always well dressed. Instead it was just you and your boyfriend rehearsing new songs, getting into conversation with you from time to time. So you sat across from him, carefully watching him play the electric guitar. Sometimes you asked the boy a quick question about music, and sometimes you asked him out of curiosity if he was tired or hungry – in case of the latter need, you wanted to take out the bento prepared for the two of you and a paper bag with sweet buns with cottage cheese that you bought on your way to meet a high school student.

However, Ritsuka didn’t seem to be tired or hungry right now. His face was calm, his eyes was focused, his heart beating at a steady rate and his breathing was calm. He looked really good, you could also say, really manly. You liked the sight and you were really delighted that Uenoyama became interested in you more than half a year ago and was the first to ask about being in a relationship.

“... What are you thinking about, Y/N?” A man’s voice pulled you out of a small trance, and you only blinked your eyes a few times, smiling at the young man.

“About you, about us.” You answered truthfully, which made the boy only chuckle.

“I see.”

Ritsuka was a really cute boy; he had so many qualities you loved; he kept making your face blush warmly and your belly tingle pleasantly. Your boyfriend was always honest and helpful, he was always there when you needed support or conversation. He never got angry and instead carefully explained your mistakes and ill-considered decisions. He was intelligent, talented, conscientious, and always tried to make your relationship flourish. He didn’t have much savings, but he loved to buy you a flower or your favorite cookies from time to time.

“... I don’t like changes and I don’t know anything about colors...” A calm song echoed through the small room, and you lifted your head to look at the seventeen-year-old. His soft, but also uncertain voice was really penetrating. “It’s good that I have you. Do everything as you want... You know me well enough – I wish it stayed as it is.” He added a little more confidently, and you immediately straightened your back.

Your loving gaze was now focused only on his parted lips, small nose, shining eyes, ruddy cheeks and sometimes fingers holding a guitar.

“Breath, hair, touch at night. And how do you know so much? Do you stray or do you have a goal?” He smiled hesitantly, and you returned the smile, making the teenager gain confidence. “Where you go, take me along. The only thing I want is to have a view on your day...” He finished singing and the guitar stopped. “I don’t have the whole song written down yet, but I was thinking of you when I wrote it...” He admitted, and you, touched by his words, only moved closer to the black-haired male, inhaling his sweet scent.

Your hearts were beating in unison now.

previous day ; anne faulkner from bae ♡ next day ; ren jinguji from st☆rish

[ehpodcasts]

The Sonata - Film Review

The Sonata Film Review

The Sonata is a 2018 Mystery thriller film directed by Andrew Desmond from a screenplay written by Desmond and Arthur Morin stars Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, James Faulkner, Rutger Hauer, Matt Barber and James Kermack. It’s release date in the United States was January 10, 2020. It grossed $146,595 at the box office. The Story Synopsis: A gifted musician (Freya Tingley) inherits a mansion…

[johnsbookshelf]

‌🇧‌🇱‌🇴‌🇬‌ ‌🇹‌🇴‌🇺‌🇷‌ 🇵‌🇴‌🇸‌‌🇹‌

𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧

by Barrie Faulkner

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Today it’s my turn to share my thoughts on Turkish Delight, as part of the blog tour hosted by Random Things Tours on behalf of BSA Publishing. Thank you for my spot on the tour, and for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis

London private eye Ben Nevis, ex SAS/OCS/N14 gets a peculiar request from a new lady client, ‘kill my husband’. A few days later the husband appears in Ben’s London office with the request ‘kill my wife’.

Ben has his partner the Gold Digger take a good look into the pair and some illegal international arms dealing is exposed with missiles going from the UK through Cyprus and Turkey to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and on to terrorist cells in the Middle East.

After a surprise visit from Ben’s old boss at MI6 Ben finds himself enrolled in a mission to stop the trade with help of the British SBS based in Cyprus who are to get him into Turkey to blow up the arms and then get him out again.

But things don’t go to plan.

It is a full action novel set in the present day with twists and turns bringing it to the final explosive conclusion.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

I haven’t read any Barry Faulkner before, but I’m so glad to have come in at the beginning of what promises to be a great series of books.

Private investigator Ben Nevis, and his professional partner, ex-MOSSAD agent The Gold Digger, have become involved in a case where each spouse from one marriage, has approached Ben asking for the other to be killed. What follows is an unexpected meeting with MI6 and an operation to enter Iran to destroy weapons, which does not go according to plan.

What I found here was a fast paced, compelling story, peppered with a nice serving of dark humour, which fitted such an adventure perfectly. I liked Ben almost immediately. His quick witted style, and experience of special forces, made him tough as nails and able to handle just about anything, especially with Gold Digger backup. They worked seamlessly together, looking out for each other, with a strong mutual respect borne of shared hardship.

The story built on it’s pace, carrying me through to the inevitable showdown. It was such an exciting read that my smart watch reported my heart rate was 15bpm higher than my normal by the time I finished.

Overall, I think this is a very well written action thriller which left me wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and look forward to reading more Ben Nevis and Gold Digger adventures soon. I gave Turkish Delight, by Barry Faulkner, five stars.

[whatsheread]

A misguided synopsis led me astray

A misguided synopsis led me astray

BOTTOM LINE: Disappointing because I was not ready for the harsh social commentary

Genre: Literary Fiction; Women’s Fiction Publication Date: 10 July 2018 Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis from the Publisher:

” From the acclaimed PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author of The Great Mancomes a riveting high-seas adventure that combines Christensen’s signature wit, irony, and humanity to create a…