#the amusement park scene inspired me lol

[ssahotchnerr]

I hope you meant it to be dropped here 🥺

So, about jealous Y/n: I had been thinking about this after seeing the episode where Beth (that runner-woman?) appears. I thought about the scene, with "y/n" either getting to know he was handed a paper with a number

Or maybe Aaron and "y/n" had been running together and Beth approaches without any care and reader just is like: 🤨 watching the interaction, lol

knowing you

🤭 cw; JEALOUS fem bau!reader, teasing banter (hehe r and aaron are sooo in love), suggestion/sex allusions (i'm blushing), based off of aaron and beth's first interaction in 7x10 wc; 1.3k

"Okay, okay." You panted, coming to a stop. You directed your voice forward, loud enough for Aaron to hear you, a few feet ahead. You resumed walking, slowly, hands on your hips. "Let's take a breather, yeah?"

"What's wrong?" Aaron asked as he met you halfway, a teasing smirk growing on his face. "Can't keep up?"

"I can keep up jus' fine." You insisted, still catching your breath. The afternoon breeze blew into your face, cooling the sheer layer of sweat that had collected. "Just... not for a prolonged amount of time. There's a," Another staggered breath, "difference."

"Is there?" He asked humorously. His chest rose up and down, regulating his own breathing as well. "I can easily go another mile or two.

"Fantastic. I'm so happy for you." You quipped sarcastically, causing him to laugh and a smile of your own pulling at your lips. "And that's why you're the one participating in the triathlon. Not me."

"You know..." He began proposing in a light tone of voice, eyebrows raised wittingly. "There's still time for you to sign up."

"You know, you're funny." You bantered back, a pained expression pulling onto your face at the mere thought. You shook your head, "I think my time is better spent cheering you on from the sidelines, along with the others. And then reviving you afterwards."

"Oh yeah?" He chuckled, a fondness in his eyes. All banter aside, he switched tactics, softening to a sweet sincereness. "I appreciate you accompanying me. Seriously. You know you don't have to run with me, although you do inspire me to persistent. Gotta impress you, keep you interested."

"Please, as if there's anything you could do to cause me to become uninterested." You poked a finger at his chest. "And if running means I get to spend an extra hour with you, I'll gladly accept. Besides, there's something in it for me too. Makes it all worth it."

"And what's that?"

You looked around, spotting a park vendor supplying drinks, playfully brushing his question aside. "Want a water?"

The warm glint in his eyes lingered, admirably amused. One that read: you were the most difficult person he'd ever met, but he wouldn't have it any other way. "Sure, sweetheart."

"I'll grab it," you began walking, "You stay here. Catch your breath."

Aaron grabbed your hand the moment you had stepped a foot away, smoothly drawing you back with just an equally suave grin. Once in reach, he placed his lips onto yours, interrupting your growing smile.

Your nose scrunched when the two of you parted, "You're all sweaty."

"That's never been a problem before." His smirk returned, the wet cowlicks draped over his forehead bringing a multitude of images to come to mind.

This is why you ran with him. You'd never deprive yourself the hot visual, one you'd never get tired of. The overexertion, the sweat, the defined athletic wear clinging onto his body, the heavy breathing too.

You playfully rolled your eyes, granting him another kiss before you trailed off. You steadied your breathing again, in attempt to slow your heart rate a second time.

Retrieving the waters couldn't have taken you more than five minutes: waiting in a small line, supplying cash, issuing a thank you. But when you turned back towards Aaron, your feet already moving to their own accord, you stopped short - suddenly. As he wasn't alone.

He was talking to some woman - brunette, in workout clothes of her own. Her backside was facing you, so you couldn't see any specific features; to determine who she was, a familiar face or not.

You tried to ignore the uncomfortable sensation of jealousy filling your body, drawing the conclusion that she wasn't an old friend rather quickly. It started from the bottom of your stomach, crawling up your spine, spreading widely to your limbs.

Could it be harmless? Sure, that's what you were telling yourself, until the woman in question handed him a small piece of paper. She began to retreat - finally - causing a breath of relief to escape you, until Aaron calls after her.

When she turns, you're able to see her face. She’s cute, all smiles and outwardly confident. She responds to whatever he said, follows it with a laugh, before continuing her jog. 

You bit your lip, returning to Aaron with a bit more urgency, your ponytail gliding swiftly between your shoulder blades.

"Here," You handed Aaron his water, your gaze moving past him and continuing to watch her leave. As if she can feel your stare, she looks back. Your eyes may have been playing tricks on you, but you could've sworn she gave you a cunning smirk.

Your jaw clenched, nothing but that red-hot jealousy overtaking you. It blocks out all of your surroundings - Aaron's going on about something, but you don't hear him. He's muted, fuzzy, far away. You don't realize he's talking to you until he says your name, with a tad more volume.

You startle, blinking, "Sorry, what?"

"I said, do you want to go again? Or we can take a slow, evenly-paced walk back." His lips turned upwards humorously, taking a drink. "More your speed."

He's attempting to resume the ongoing, fun banter to draw your focus elsewhere, knowing you.

"Who was that?"

"Oh, nobody." He shrugged, securing the cap. "She just, er, handed me this." He explained carefully, holding up a small piece of paper.

He did it quickly; again, making it as nonchalant as possible. But even at the heightened speed you're able to see her number scrawled across the surface.

You immediately impede forward-

"Sweetheart," Just as he expected - he grabs your arm, holding you back from any impending confrontation you were set on.

"She gave you her number?" You looked at him, perplexed. The audacity. "Did you see the way she looked at me? She probably saw us kiss and yet-"

"I know, I know." He comforted, his voice a deep contrast compared to yours, hardening the more you spoke. He can practically feel you vibrating in fury. "Hey, it's okay. I'm discarding it, of course." He crumbled it in his fist, "Have zero need for it."

"But that doesn't excuse what she just did." You try to look past him again, but he uses his body to shield your view. "And I don't like it. Not at all."

"You're right, it doesn't, but it's okay." Aaron presses a kiss to your forehead, muttering his next sentence into your skin. "I'm yours. Nothing changes that."

"Damn right you are," you huffed, crossing your arms. Despite the distance (she's almost long gone by now), you're at the ready to grab Aaron, to kiss him fiercely if she ever so lightly takes a peek back.

"Forget about it, and I don't mean that in a dismissive way. Look at me when I say this," He tossed the paper in the nearby trash, grabbing ahold of your shoulders instead. "I'm uninterested. Unfazed. Utterly in love with you and greatly anticipating showing you how much once we're in the privacy of home. Preferably in the shower, and then again in bed afterwards."

He manages to pry a smile out of you, a blush forming at your cheeks, although it doesn't dissolve your pout just yet. "But..."

"But what?" He asked gently as he releases his hold, swiping his thumb across your cheek soothingly.

"What if she can run faster than me." You mumbled pitifully. You said so half jokingly, half seriously.

Aaron laughed warmly, spanning an arm over your shoulders and pulling you directly to his chest. "I highly doubt that."

"You promise?"

"With every ounce of me."

[herefortheships]

Considering Betelgeuse is a shapeshifter, it'd be cool if he has a scene in BJ3 where he looks like he did when he was alive, but all cleaned up and handsome. He doesn't have to come back to life; he can just make himself look like he is, for a scene or two. He can turn into a creepy snake and into something like an amusement park attraction 😂 Making himself look like a gorgeous, living man, should be a walk in the park for this Trickster Demon. Like, think about the possibilities lol. He could use a disguise to get something he wants; or he could try to get closer to Lydia without her knowing it's him (okay this one is kinda evil, so eventually he'd have to drop the act and come clean. Hey, great moment for character development, admitting he's done wrong lol. Unless, plot twist! Lydia always knew, sort of like how Jasmine knew Prince Ali was actually Aladdin 😜 But I digress).

I want to see him with his luscious blond hair in full color ✨. The black and white wasn't flattering; just look at the photo below: he looked gorgeous in full color.

Let us see him trying his best to woo Lydia, doing whatever he can to win her over. Imagine he makes himself look alive, all gorgeous, and gets rid of all the bugs and, well, rotting corpse filth 😅, as part of his efforts to convince Lydia to give him a chance. And then surprise: Lydia prefers the filthy, sleazebag, bug-ridden Betelgeuse 🤭.

Listen, I think he is gorgeous as is. Bugs and all. Obviously. Part of the character's appeal is his iconic Beetlejuice look. But let me see him in full color, wearing a cravat and everything, with his light and fluffy blonde hair falling over his shoulders like in this bts photo:

✨ Give him to me in full color. ✨

Also get your hand off there, Mr. Burton 😂 Sorry, the photo's angle makes it look kinda wrong. Oops.

I was inspired to write this post after seeing this lovely fanart by @nickbn26

This particular screenshot was originally posted by @beetlejuice-fan-zone , cropped by me to show Beej in more detail. Gorgeous Michael Keaton as alive!Betelgeuse.

[lorena12me]

well they gave me a finger and I grabbed the whole hand lol since they liked this I doodled some more (Doing whole drawings and that takes me a lot of time, so I prefer to doodle and color them, and call it a day).

What ever. While she was reading about Dionisio and the domain that he represented and that is "Inspirer of Ritual madness and Ecstasy?" Baby I'm vibrating in my seat. So I translated all of this into Bernard's powers being high-level magical empathy, like, he can influence people's feelings but, since he doesn't know how to control it, he can also be influenced by other people's emotions. In this scene Tim and Bernard decided to go to the amusement park (they are not a couple yet, just friends hanging out) and there Bernard begins to be approached by the emotions of those who were also hanging out, said emotions are not bad by themselves (happiness, some euphoria, a little fear, etc, etc, etc,) but at one point it ends up being too much, so Bernard has a Flashback to the cult of the Sons of Dionysus. Since what they were looking for in the cult was "Freedom from earthly ties" or something silly like what the cults are looking for, and he remembers some of the rituals fulls of "happines" from him and they send him straight into a magical panic attack. The emotions of almost all the people in the park begin to get out of control and people go crazy and uninhibited, as if they were drunk or drugged and they start causing damage and hurting each other to try to get "more" or that is to say "less" control of impulses, worries, fears. Stop worrying. The only ones who are immune to his power are children, since infants are quite uninhibited (control and all that are things that parents teach their children) and those people who do not want to escape reality. They don't have to be perfect people, just those who have come to terms with their lives (it's not that easy to do, we've all wanted to run away from reality at one time or another). Why isn't Tim in a trance?, then because he's a vampire. Vampires are predators that can influence people's emotions (hypnosis, illusions, etc.), you cannot attack a mental predator with mind games, they cancel each other out. Tim isn't scared of Bernard, he's scared for Bernard. He finally has to call the rest of the family to contain his friend before something irreversible happens. Cass is sent to deal with Bernard.

[shokinlima]

SANRIO DORIAN SANRIO DORIAN

"Feeling cute might commit arson later".

[beevean]

A but of an inconclusive rant that makes more sense in my head.

“Humanization” seems to have become a synonim for “adding positive/likeable traits to a character”...

But it’s not necessarily that?

For example, when I write Hector, I add more negative traits to him. I wrote him being mean to Isaac, aiming at his insecurities when he’s fed up with him. I wrote him being condescending to Rosaly, looking down on her for being too pious for him (he gets better lol). I wrote him having zero empathy for humans at first, not even understanding the concept that children are supposedly innocent. I emphasized how self-centered his heel face turn started out. I keep repeating that I'd love to see more of the coldhearted General Hector who committed war crimes in the name of a genocidial Dark Lord. And I even praised two parts of N!Hector: the fact that he himself burned his own parents, unlike in canon where the animals/demons did it for him, and the fact that he saw humans as animals to be culled, but without a hint of resentment, almost out of innocent pity.

Isn’t that humanization too? Isn’t that fleshing out a character? Or does it count only when it’s time to give an unrepentant manchild of a villain sudden fatherly emotions?

Speaking of Eggman, you know what also counts as humanizing him for me?

Eggman loves amusement parks and circuses. There is no deeper reason for it, no secret childhood trauma. He enjoys creating colorful places and if they can be used to exercise control, all the better. It’s his unique way to shape the world. It’s a character trait that he doesn’t need, but he has it, and it fleshes him out.

And you know what else humanizes him? The Egg Memo where he complains that Maria stole the spotlight from him because she dared to be ill and be killed. He’s jealous and selfish and insensitive and constantly seeking attention - aren’t those human traits too? Can’t they be relatable too, as much as we wouldn’t like to admit it?

Another villain who got humanized in a negative way is Isaac in the MF manga. Once again, I link to my analysis of that scene (bottom of the post) where he killed his own underlings because he wanted to disobey Dracula’s direct orders, all while thinking of himself as his most loyal servant, in a brilliant display of hypocrisy and denial that IMO makes him even more interesting. From the same manga, I also am still not over that one page where he shows fear over being approached by his caretaker (?): however you interpret it, whether it’s a reaction to nearly dying, to losing his master and home, or to being betrayed by Hector, this is a human reaction, albeit a negative one.

On the flip side, what about Sonic? Does Sonic need to be humanized by making him more of a jerk? Or, god forbid, by adding a completely unnecessary moral “dilemma”? Or is the fact that this speedster actually loves sitting down and reading books enough to give him more depth? Or the fact that he loves nature, or the fact that he is both empathetic and has a noticeable ego that sometimes gets him into trouble? I think it is. Sonic is a simple character at his core, but he has so many cute quirks that he ends up being both an inspiration, which is what he’s meant to be, and endearing :)

“Humanization” means writing a character in such a way that they’d feel human, like people you could meet in real life. It doesn’t mean “adding more palatable traits”. Humans are not inherently good, nor they are inherently evil, they are simply complex. You can write the meanest bastard in the world, you can write the goodiest hero with the most unshakeable heart, and if you add extra traits like tastes or quirks, and if you can make them fit with their core characterization, that counts as writing them as human.

[oddishblossom]

Tag People You Wanna Get to Know Better

Tagged by the wonderful and lovely @lans-rabbit-glade 😊💖! Thanks for tagging me izzy! I loved reading your answers :)

Relationship Status: It’s just me here (single pringle)

Favorite Colors: Pink & Red

Song Stuck in My Head: Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys… I’ve listened to that song probably a million times and I’m still not tired of it nor will I ever be 💖. I’m definitely not looping it for writing inspiration or anything (also izzy I see your song choice and I am tempted to roast you for being a mobile gamer 😜)

Last Thing You Googled: “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball.” I was looking up song lyrics (I listen to other artists besides arctic monkeys, I swear 😅)

Time: 11:47 PM when I’m writing this. But I usually queue most of my posts so it’ll be 10 AM when I’m posting this :3

Dream Trip: Hmmm, idk. I’m not much of an explorer lol. Maybe Japan or New Zealand? Just to say that I’ve been there before. Honestly, as long as I can go either shopping or to an amusement park I’ll be happy as a clam.

Last Thing You Read: It’s rare, but sometimes I want to read a cute high school AU with a love triangle. So the last thing I read was a tyrus fanfic called Of Course by CaithyCat & imnotanauthor. I’ve been rewatching Andi Mack, an old comfort show of mine. I know it’s a disney show “for kids” but sometimes I just feel like watching disney or nickelodeon shows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Also this one in particular I started watching when I was bedridden for a month so it’s very dear to me :)

Last Book You Enjoyed Reading: Believe it or not, I actually read a paperback book last week. I was looking for a quote, so I opened my volume 2 of *cough* Scum Villain’s Self Saving System *cough*. And then I found the quote. And then I just kept reading until I was halfway through volume 3 and it was like 3 in the morning. Seriously, that book makes my brain go a little bonkers. The scene where Shen Qingqiu tries to hide Luo Binghe from Zhuzhi Lang nearly made me cry from laughing too hard.

Last Book You Hated Reading: Excluding fanfics, I can’t think of one… Maybe Tokyo Ghoul/:re back in 2017? I remember really hating that manga. Honestly, I’m really picky when choosing something to read so the stories I end up disliking I tend to just drop them and then completely forget they ever existed.

Favorite Thing to Cook/Bake: I’m kind of a terrible chef ngl. But the reviews are in and I make a pretty stellar spaghetti. Whenever my niece visits, she always asks me if I can make her my spaghetti because it’s way better than any she’s ever had. Getting that kid to eat anything is a struggle, so I’m really glad that she not only eats my food, she asks for seconds.

Favorite Craft to Do in Your Free Time: When I think of the word “crafts”, I imagine, like, art projects made by hand, so I’m not sure I can include writing and gif-making on this one. So excluding those, does drawing count? Even before I got a drawing tablet, I used to doodle all the time even on scraps of paper. I’m not really good at it, but it’s always been something I do just to kinda get my brain to chill.

Most Niche Dislike: Hmm. You know, it’s funny that you mentioned nail polish, izzy, because the first thing that popped into my head was long nails. I have tried to be that girl who gets a full set at the nail salon and I never did it again because the sound of my nails clacking against things bugged me. Like, I can’t even stand the feel of my own natural nails when they’re the slightest bit too long lol.

Opinion on Circuses: Never been to one. But, clowns slightly freak me out so I don’t have the best opinion of their home turfs.

Do You Have Any Sense of Direction: I’d say I do. Or maybe I think I do by association? My parents both have a pretty bad sense of direction and I used to help them a lot by printing out maps and searching for streets in relation to where we were. One of my older brothers used to always assign me as designated navigator because I’m good at keeping an eye on where we are and how to get back on track should we get lost

I liked this tag game! It was fun and refreshing. Gonna tag a couple of you, but please no pressure to respond! Only if you feel like making one 😊 @bioerin @kimievii @koujaaku @ashinlae @wallynorthbynorthwest @fluffyrabbitofdoom @apocalyptickoala @theraincanttouchus @mdzs-rabbithole + anyone who sees this and wants to make one 💖

[g4rous]

Sunlit memories (Garou x Reader)

tags: fem! Reader, no warnings lol, this is just the first chapter a.k.a the introduction

words: 1.1k

notes: ok so this is the first chapter of the series that I plan to write, so pls feel free to give me some feedback on this and whether you like it and should I continue :'0 💕 Thanks a lot for any kind of support ee 💗

series masterlist

Chapter one

Playful footsteps scattered across the freshly-cut grass, followed by a few equally spirited barks. Whether the small chocolate-colored dog was chasing the ball or the children lay undetermined, nonetheless they all seemed amused. A mother stood next to the gleeful dog owner, both exchanging chuckles and commenting on how adorable the sight in front of them is. Above them dozens of birds filled the air with a familiar amicable tune, as if the soothing music coming from a nearby café wasn’t enough. The park was never lonely, yet so pleasant at the same time. All those chirps, chatters and noises were like an extra spark, and frankly it’d be rather uncanny if it weren’t for them and the pastel sky above, radiant with soft hues. Cases where belligerent monsters ruined the harmony were rare, although enough to cause one to succumb to unease. Be that as it may, people always push through it and find a reason to enjoy the now sunlit park.

Though, while it was interesting to observe the scenery it wasn’t quite what you were looking for. Fiddling with the pencil in your hand, you stared displeased at the blank page of your sketchbook.

“Why isn’t there anything interesting today?” you pondered, eyes impatiently shifting over the scenery.

Almost every day for the past few weeks you’ve been sitting at this very bench, looking out for something eye-catching to draw. It’s funny how you coincidentally came across your now daily go-to place, a surprisingly comfy wooden bench underneath two large oaks, their treetops creating enough shade for another twenty people. Luckily you had your own peace there without anyone bothering you.

“Hmm… Maybe I just don’t feel like drawing people?”

After a small sigh you leaned against your hand and looked up at the treetops. The sky turned golden already, painting the leaves in shades of olive and amber. Your eyes steadily trailed down to the path next to the old oaks, now noticing a small patch of lilies that with their vivid hues and delicate form drew you in almost immediately.

“Huh. Maybe I should just go for something simple and quick?”

Well, that was what you though right before something else caught your eye. Someone to be exact. A few meters away a rather peculiar-looking guy sat on a bench. He leaned against the bench leisurely while folding his arms, his tight black shirt complementing his muscular built. His gaze was relaxed, albeit alert, and his features were sharp. Sunlight peeked on his wild, silver hair, coloring it with subtle sandy hues almost matching with the golden in his eyes.

Now, if this didn’t give you inspiration then what did? And here you thought you’d be drawing those lilies. You sighed in content, stretching your arms for a few seconds before you got to work. Subtly glancing at his direction from time to time, you had already outlined the portrait. Though, truth be told, he had such a pretty face you were trying not to stare at one point.

“What are you doing?”

You didn’t even manage to let go of your pencil before an unknown voice jolted you out of your thoughts. Much to your bewilderment you looked up to see that same man now only half a meter away, glaring at you.

“Well shit.”

Should you apologize or straight up act like you weren’t just secretly drawing some random person? Or better yet, how the hell is that same person in front of you right now? You were embarrassed as much as you were confused and to make things worse the drawing wasn’t even in your sketchbook anymore.

“Are you a hero or something? I don’t remember seeing you anywhere.” the man asked, shifting his gaze from the drawing in his hand to you.

“Hey when did you take that?!” you finally spoke, an apology being far from your mind at the moment.

On one hand it could be legitimate since you didn’t ask for permission to draw him in the first place, but on the other… What kind of punk would just rip the piece out like that?

“If you’re some c-class dunce trying to gather info on me with this-“, he grinned, still analyzing the art piece “-you’re gonna be sorry pretty soon.”

“Dude I’m not a hero.”

“Wait, what?”

That threatening, cocky grin of his from a moment ago dissipated into thin air like it was nothing, but your confused expression on the other hand only grew bigger. Was he serious?

A soft shade of pink made its way to his face for a brief moment, to which you almost chuckled.

“So you’re seriously not a hero?”

“Um, no..?”

“Your luck.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.” He headed the opposite direction of you, drawing still in hand.

“Ahh so… can I get that back now please?” you walked behind him, surprised he’s oh so casually trying to leave the scene after such odd behavior.

“Nope, sorry.”

“Aw what, why??”

“Let’s just say it isn’t convenient for me at the moment to have that lying around wherever,” he put both hands in his pockets, “plus I didn’t say you could draw me did I?”

Now your face turned red in embarrassment again. He was right… Though, you still couldn’t help but wonder who this strange guy is. While tearing that drawing out of your valued sketchbook didn’t make for the best first impression, his demeanor wasn’t really belligerent either.

“Ah, sorry about that… However I must say it wasn't polite to take the drawing away like that either.”

His eyes slightly widened in embarrassment before turning away his face again.

"Eh..."

"Don't worry about it though," you smiled for a moment, "I guess it was just a weird misunderstanding or something."

Your eyes shifted on the path you were walking on, already dim because of the now darker sky, “if I may ask, is someone like… searching for you or something?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he glanced back at you, “why are you still following me anyway!? Just go home it’s getting dark.”

“Well, this is the way I take in order to get back home so you can’t really complain,” you smiled to his mild annoyance.

The night sky engulfed the city by now, leaving behind a tranquil atmosphere. Nonetheless, compared to the center of the city, your street wasn’t as bustling. Light shone from the surrounding apartments and lamp posts, and the only sounds present were from the neighbors’ TV’s or the occasional car passing by, much in contrast with the city’s center and night life.

You didn’t ask many more questions as you walked, despite the faint haze in your mind. The man obviously wasn’t too chatty, yet alone keen on sharing any personal details. Be as it may, much to your surprise what you thought would be an awkward walk was actually somewhat refreshing. Hell, you even let out a laugh or two together. Who would’ve thought the on-first-glance intimidating teen is pleasant to be around? Or, well, at least you thought of it like that. In any case way better than walking through those dark alleys alone.

next chapter

[interact-if]

Day 9, 1/2 of the A/PI Heritage Month featured authors interview! Please welcome to the stage... Bubs!

Bubs, author of To The Whistling Winds

A/PI Heritage Month Featured Author

You’re a pretty normal young adult living in the 21st century: you have exceeding amounts of student loan debt, a housemate, and a job that pays just above minimum wage. You didn’t exactly dream of being a tour guide for the historical Chester Theme Park, but you’ve grown used to your every day life.

You thought you knew the park better than anyone, but as the friendly surface begins to crack and unexplainable events begin happening, you’ll need help dealing with the vengeful Fae, who seem to have a bone to pick with you in particular. Fortunately—or maybe unfortunately—there seem to be a Covey of fae seekers that might be inclined to help you…

(INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT UNDER THE CUT)

Q1: First of all, introduce us to your project! What is it about?

Hi! My interactive fiction game is called “To the Whistling Winds,” and it’s a magical realism mystery set in modern day. The player plays as a tour guide at a Southern Californian theme park, where strange events have begun occurring.The plot and lore of the story draws from folktales about the Fae, as well as the general air of conspiracy and mystery revolving around liminal spaces such as theme parks.

Q2: If it’s not too spoilery, what are you most excited about your project?

I’m really proud of my cast of characters and the stories they each have. Each of the non-playable characters that the player can choose to bond with have their own dynamics and inner turmoil unrelated to the player, and I really am excited to explore them. Furthermore, there are some twists and more dramatic scenes I’m excited to write,especially considering that the earlier chapters thus far have been pretty slice-of-life.

Q3: What inspired the current project you’re working on?

Theme parks and spaces designed specifically for amusement, especially certain ones that have been around for a while and have established their own brands, really have their own modern folk stories told about them. There’s a common thread between the kinds of stories told about theme parks that were once told about space such as open fields or mysterious meadows, and I really wanted to explore it!The idea of nostalgia and a “perfect memory” is also really interesting to me. So much of the appeal of theme parks has to do with reliving the past or recapturing a certain feeling, and Fae folktales often feature listless protagonists who are aspiring after exactly that.

Q4: Do you pull from your own identity for inspiration? How has that been reflected in your work?

I think being Asian-American has definitely influenced my story, from the player character to the general setting. For example, character customization is really important to me, and I’m careful that the MC doesn’t have a set ethnicity. It’s not uncommon for IF games to have a racially-neutral MC, but then go back and say something about their parents having blue eyes, or them having specifically celebrated something like Easter, so I try to be mindful about that. I also have a lot of fun writing my cast, many of whom come from different backgrounds! There are two romanceable characters that are Asian: Clémence Choi (who’s Korean with French nationality), and Alejandro Flores, who’s Filipino. Additionally, the player character’s roommate, Julia Reddiar, is Indian-American.

Being Asian is a pivotal part of Clémence and Alejandro’s respective backstories - they more than their ethnicities of course, but that doesn't mean it doesn’t have an impact on their life. Alejandro’s an aspiring actor, and part of the reason he struggles to find work is because roles for white actors are just easier to come by. Clémence has spent a lot of her life wanting to fit into just one box - Korean or French. I was also mindful of a lot of stereotypes relating to Asian romantic interests while writing their romantic routes: such as how Asian women are often exoticized and hypersexualized, while Asian men are desexualized and brushed off as unattractive. That's not to say that either of the characters are me, or that I only relate to the Asian characters! I actually think the character I most relate to is Bridget Sweeney, who’s white Irish,but is very creative and restless in a way I can really identify with.

Q5: What’s been your experience so far? With writing,with the if community...

The community has been really great! I think I’ve been relatively lucky in my interactions with my fellow authors and players: most people I've met have been really nice and helpful. Talking to them always motivates and inspires me. Some real life events have gotten in the way of more steady writing, but I’m hoping to update the public demo again soon!

Q6: Do you have any future projects in the works?

Honestly, something I’m debating is just moving TTWW from ChoiceScript to Twine, but that’s mostly hypothetical right now. I’m not the kind of person who multi-tasks well, so I wouldn’t start another interactive fiction until TTWW is done, but I’d love to write a classic murder mystery on a train.

Q7: Finally, what piece of advice would you give to fellow authors?

Nothing’s helped me more than the website MyNoise (not sponsored, LOL). I love listening to different soundscapes to get me into the mind of my character, whether it be a mysterious forest or a busy tourist destination. It really helps!

[purplesurveys]

1522

Have you ever written a song?: Just when I’ve had to do it for class. < Same, though I haven’t had to do this since like, grade school so it’s definitely been a while. I wouldn’t be interested in penning a song just on my own.

What was the last drink you had?: Coffee.

Do you ever feel numb?: I’m on autopilot at my job these days. I’ve stopped finding fulfillment from it for the most part and when faced with stressful situations I kind of just go into overdrive in a very dead way until it gets resolved, hahaha.

Which do you think would be scarier to experience, an avalanche or tsunami? :   Both are horrific but tsunamis are realistically more likely to happen where I live so I’ll have to go with that.

Do you currently have a honey jar in your pantry?: We do. It was part of the company’s Christmas gift box last year.

Do you always find a silver lining in bad situations?: Yes, I give it a shot every time. I try to avoid being pessimistic.

Do you prefer being inside or outside?: It depends on the occasion. Like if I’m just relaxing, I like to stay indoors but have a great outside view. But if I’m having dinner or drinks with friends, I always push to get al fresco instead of being cooped up in the indoor area.

When did you last use a lighter or matches?: Few months ago when I lit a candle.

Do you think the ocean needs more exploring?: For sure. So little of it has been discovered.

Do you ever experience panic attacks?: I have, but they haven’t visited in a while.

Have you ever had to call 911 or your country's emergency number?: Nope.

What was the last conversation you had about?: I don’t remember lol but it was with my sister not too long ago. We were just talking about Agi having some excess #2 stuck near his butt so I asked her to help me take it out.

Are you doing okay?: I’m great as long as you don’t ask or remind me about work.

Do you know an Olivia?: Nopes.

Is there a past relationship/friendship you miss?: There isn’t.

Do you like mangoes?: Never liked it in any form. As a Filipino I feel like I have a responsibility to like mango to some extent hahaha but it’s just never worked out for me.

Last song you listened to?: My Universe by Coldplay and BTS was on as I was parking earlier tonight.

What do you believe in the most?: That there are other beings in the vast universe. Maybe they aren’t humans like us, maybe they look vastly different, but I believe we aren’t alone.

What was the last movie you watched and enjoyed?: My sister’s thesis film. It’s quite short, only a little short of 20 minutes; but knowing that she made it and put a lot of effort into it made me proud. And the film itself was great, too! Do you use captions when watching TV?: Yeah, for everything I watch it’s ideal to have subtitles even if I can understand the language. It’s easier for me to pick up information/remember scenes if I can read through them.

What was the last app you used?: YouTube. What's your most used app?: Probably Facebook.

What percentage is your phone battery on?: 84% the last time I checked, which was only a few minutes ago. I’m too lazy to confirm if it’s still the same but it most likely is.

Are there any recipes you'd like to try?: I mean I watched a menbosha-making vlog yesterday and ever since then I’ve been thinking about trying to make it on my own. Did you use Vine when it existed?: I never made a Vine but I sure as hell enjoyed the viral ones that came out. I still miss Vine and prefer it a lot more than TikTok, lol.

What decorations do you have in your bedroom?: Some portraits and a few posters are up on my wall. I also have a corkboard with a bunch of BTS knickknacks, and it’s situated right in front of my work station so it can sort of serve as an inspiration for me to keep going haha. Who is a celebrity you'd like to hang out with?: Jimin.

How many amusement parks have you visited?: Around two or three. Not a big fan of them.

Do you prefer chewy or crunchy textures more?:   Crunchy.

What last broke your heart?: I follow a local NGO called Strays Worth Saving and the stories that come out of the page are always so devastating. Last night I shared a call for donation for this dog who was heartlessly stabbed but managed to survive. 

What is happiness in your own words?: Feeling at peace with who and where you are.

Do you still live in the town you grew up in?: Yes. Are there any events coming up you're looking forward to?: We have a holiday this Friday so I’m pretty fucking stoked about the 4-day work week ahead.

What's the most random collection you've had or known someone to have?:   I’ve never personally understood restaurant/hotel tissue collections (unused, of course) but Filipino parents LOVE to start one; hell, even my mom has one lol.

Are you currently wearing anything green?: Nope, I’m all maroon tonight.

Do you google your symptoms everytime there is something wrong?: Yeah, for reassurance. I try to avoid going the opposite route, i.e. Googling my symptoms and going straight to the conclusion that I’m close to death lol.

Have you or would you ever go see a psychic?: Nope.

Who is the strongest person you know?: My mom.

What's your go to Chinese food order?: Not really a big fan of Chinese food but I do like to get minced pork and eggplants.

When was the last time you visited family?: Last Sunday, as is our tradition. We didn’t do it today though since we had to run a few errands and I also booked a trip to a museum.

Do you currently feel restless?: A bit, which is usual on Sunday evenings. What is something you're naturally good at?: Writing.

Have you had coffee or tea today?: I’m currently having coffee.

What flower did you last see?: I can’t recall. What's your favorite fictional book?: Everyday by David Levithan.

[redxblueihateloveyou]

Ok so I've been stalking your blog for the past couple of hrs after seeing your TadaAi posts (I'm drowning in the period drama that is this ship) and I find you ship Tododeku and rinharu (god i can't stand bakudeku and makoharu) and seems like we share a lot of our views on fandom and ships probably because we're older (I'm 22). Followed and looking forward to your input in the future!

Also you might've given me the motivation to finish watching Free! XD

Hehe yay, please, we need more ppl in our “house of oldies”, make yourself at home lol. And we share a lot of ships?! Even better <3

I knooow, I can’t believe we’ve got a gay “master who fell in love with his servant” ship in the anime, just what I needed for my idiotic collection lmao

But also these two have too much going on between them, so much wasted potential in my opinion, it’d be so interesting to explore (but sadly no xD), they were still the only interesting thing for me lolz. I love complicated morons, who became the victims of a huge unrequited requited love misunderstanding, bc they’re insecure morons lmao and they just have 2 of my fav ships vibes, so it’s probably mostly this haha. 

Oh, I’m inputting *wink wink*, can’t wait to finish the vid, I’m having too much fun with it. I’ve just literally spent several minutes trying to get whether I’ve put Tadashi’s sexy mole in the right distance from his eye in the “him moaning on the table” manip lolz. What can I say... I picked the best hobby, with all the support I’m getting with my vids, I’m living a dream xD

You know, I think I’ve said it before, but when it comes to bakudeku, I at least understand what ppl hope to see there and why, but like.. it’s just not happenning. Also imagining Bakugou lovingly hugging Midoriya is just so OOC I start laughing all the time. And whatever ppl say, in any ship whether they’re enemies or rivals or anything, if you can’t imagine them being tender with each other, smth is not right in my opinion. Also once again, who needs idiotic bleating Midoriya, idk. I’m just tired of the endless “die, deku/out of my way” yelling, I like watching Bakugou going to parties and amusement parks and doing silly stuff, too. Like I’ve said before, pride won’t ever let him change the way he behaves with Midoriya, even when they’re doing “great”. If he was the one, it wouldn’t have mattered, no matter how tough you are, and it wouldn’t take that long. I also don’t think they’re that kind of relationship, like they move each other for sure, sometimes, yeah (not always in a good way tho), but be together in a relationships? Can’t imagine that. Like not all rivals have the rivals to lovers dynamic, no matter what ppl say. But I get the shipping, bc 1stly these two are playing too huge of a role in each other’s lives, 2ndly Midoriya is obsessed with him and Bakugou obsessed with him too (just in a bad way lmao) and 3rd ppl want that “enemies to lovers” dynamic, since many love it (me included, when it done right and progresses right), so they’re trying to write that “to lovers” bridge, that just doesn’t fit here in my opinion, simply bc Bakugou won’t be soft with Midoriya, like ever in a way, you’d want, and I don’t think it’s possible for them to go there.

Tododeku on the other hand, 1stly they also play too huge of a role in each other’s lives, 2ndly Midoriya is obsessed with him too and Todoroki is lovingly obsessed with him in return, 3rdly they are also rivals to lovers, and I have no problem imagining the second part, it won’t be OOC, 4thly Midoriya when he’s with Todoroki is my fav Midoriya, he’s happy, he is cocooned and he’s badass af (and like when he told Endeavor to fuck off or yelled at Todoroki “the fuck are u doing?” xD are still the best), 5thly Midoriya forgets about Bakugou, when he’s with Todoroki a lot and it’s just funny to me, 6thly they healed each other so nicely, I can’t not be into that, 7thly when they’re together I have like 0 worries, idk I’m like “he will catch him” anyways haha, Bakudeku just don’t give me this vibe. It’s like yeah, they won’t let each other die, but it’s always this chaos of “out of my way”, “I don’t want your help” and “let me punch you before I punch the villain” that I’m just “oh for god’s sake, pls bring in Kirishima and Todoroki so we could just go home, it could’ve been solved in 2 minutes” lmao. Etc, etc.

Tododeku just have too many winning points over bakudeku for me, same with kiribaku over bakudeku, even tho I 100% get bakudeku as a ship ofc. Also idk whether things would be different if Todoroki wouldn’t exist in the equation, but the moment I saw that s2 scene where Bakugou started yelling and Todoroki just ignored him and was like “was Midoriya always this good?”, there was no going back to me XD. Like they both obviously see that Midoriya is wonderful, but only one reacted to that in a way that I wanted. And I’m a sucker for the ships who don’t give a fuck and like “yeah, I find him amazing and everyone should know that”. Todoroki is also one of those guys, who if you give them the much needed love, they’ll return it tenfold with a forever devotion. And all of my fav ships are like that: Yullen, Rinharu, Mikayuu, Wangxian, Akakuro, etc. They’re like “well, I ain’t an idiot to let someone this precious go”, you know lol

On the other hand, when it comes to Kirishima, Bakugou can do all kind of ridiculous thing I wouldn’t imagine he would do to keep him or make him happy, you know. Kirishima is also the only one, who can put his arm around Bakugou without it being cut off, so I don’t make the rules here lol.

So it’s not like I can’t stand bakudeku, more of like can’t imagine this work, to me it’s easier to imagine todobaku in a relationships, but not bakudeku lolz.

But when it comes to makoharu, I just have a huge problem with it and I will never get it. Bc they don’t bring anything good in each other like AT ALL, I don’t even understand what kind of relationships this is from their shipper point of view; they give each other nothing, and one of them is totally in love with someone else and wants a future with him. And that someone also head over heals with him and also wants a future with him. And I hate how 99,9 % of mh fans don’t give a fuck about Haru or Rin whatsoever and just ignore their character’s everything. Bc Makoto. I’m also like if you love him so much, the fuck would you want him to be with Haru anyways, dude doesn’t reciprocate, like at all. I’m at confusion, like name good points of this ship and what good can they do for each other characteristically. There is none, it’s like a damn swamp. Like usually I can give my notp some points, but this is like... they’re both no good for each other... like... why would anyone even want this idk. Don’t tell me “for the childhood friends” one-sided dynamic, like why won’t you also ship Shion with Safu then, like even he seemed more invested in that, than Haru in makoharu lol.

Even if you think of them from the point of view of “the two who are always walking together” ships, that are everywhere nowdays (even tho since Haru moved to Tokyo, he was always with Asahi instead), but even if... those kind of ships are usually at least make each happy and are enough for each other. Haru on the other hand, when he doesn’t have Rin, he is walking with Makoto like a ghost, not even caring if he’s talking next to him AND he’s getting ennoyed by him. Like explain, how someone’s shipping them romantically. It’s been showed like 20 times, that with Rin, but without Makoto, he can be perfectly happy, without Rin tho, he never is.

Also someone explain, what exactly is the point of splitting up two characters, who are happy together, make each other the best versions of themselves and want to be together whole-heartedly? Like I know many start shipping smth, bc the relationships are better in the other pairing, for example, but this is like... definitely not the case here. Like what exactly is missing in rinharu, that makoharu has? Lack of progression and mutual inspiration?

So yes, if you’re into rinharu, totally finish Free! They’re like doing sooo incredible and holy shit they’re inspiring, I mean, look, they’re now the tokyo olympics ambassadors, like how many of yall gay ships reached that? you can’t miss out on them, and also they’re so hilariously romantic, they literally made a wish to swim with each other since they were 13 and did everything to get each other there, I’m.. you’re lying, if you didn’t cry watching them as chibies making wishes on a star and watching them now. One of the most wonderful development in my opinion. Like who would’ve thought back in s1, that we’ll get Haru yelling on top of Rin about how he made him want a future with him, def not me lmao and now all the olympics boyfriends fanfiction are true, I mean, idk what to say anymore. I miss them so much, I can’t wait for the movie :D

[brokenmusicboxwolfe]

Geez, I miss writing about movies, but I never have time or energy. Let’s see if I can write some very quick thoughts on my most recent viewing. 

History is Made at Night- Loved this genre mashup, and was completely sold on the romance. Who knew I could find Charles Boyer attractive? I know the ending was inspired by the Titanic sinking, but did James Cameron watch this movie. Girl leaping from a lowering lifeboat to be with her more financially disadvantaged love, having fled her rich mate, facing seeming doom together on an ocean liner that has hit an iceberg? This 1930s film seemed a wee bit familiar for a moment! 

The Mad Fox- Like some Japanese puppet theater telling of a folk tale, but live action and gorgeous . 

Giants and Toys- Darkly sad and funny Japanese cousin of Sweet Smell of Success. The most amazing aspect isn’t it’s skewering of the marketing and promotion that rot a commercialized society, but that the movie doesn’t feel like the product of the 1950s. I actually thought it was 1960s until I checked. 

Howl from Beyond the Fog- Actual Japanese puppets telling a short kaiju story, and gorgeous. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark- The classic film about a hero with who apparently was involved with his love interest when she was under aged, and that traumatized her. Reading the novelization as a kid weirded me out when it said how young Marion had been. But then the dude is more thief than archeologist, stealing an idol from a shrine if a very living tribe when we meet him, so hardly a great guy. Love the movie anyway, and still long to have Marion’s outfit from the marketplace scene. 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- It’s a prequel, so no Marion and Indy having a casual hookup with a comedy girly girl out of an old movie  is fine. The heart (excuse me mentioning hearts) of the movie is the paternal relationship Indy has with young orphan Short Round. Thank goodness the kid didn’t end up like his namesake in that film Samuel Fuller (my beloved) made, but I STILL wish one of the later films said what happened to him. Depiction of of India is, um, well, yeah…but typical of the genre. Is it weird that this time watching the colorful meal scene I got hungry? It’s amazing I didn’t end up with scars after all the times my brother tried to emulate that certain scene while I was on the pool ladder. His fingernails HURT! 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade- Everybody is a total idiot, Marcus is comedy relief, Indy had dumped Marion for Nazi Barbie, and Daddy Jones is an asshole.  River Phoenix was too old to be junior Indy, but he sure pulled off a  great Harrison Ford.  My least favorite Indiana Jones movie. No really. At least Indy ends up with Marion in the 4th film. 

Jaws 2- You have got to be kidding me! There was potential for interesting PTSD stuff with the hero that if well written could have excused all the stupid going around when he isn’t believed. It is now well written. And OMG, those teenagers all forgetting how to sail and crashing their boats into each other at the sight of a shark just so they can be stranded is hilarious! The pilot of the helicopter should have been carrying some of Batman’s shark repellent, and yeah that was hilarious too. Apparently if a girl is brave about helping a kid she dies but if she screams and screams and screams while being utterly useless she lives. Maybe the shark had sensitive hearing? LOL 

Jaws 3D-  In 2D. The movie where you can say “Sharks aren’t like that” and “amusement parks aren’t like that” and “movies shouldn’t be like that”. Oh look, in this alternate universe Sea World is on the ocean and not Orlando, and unlike the Orlando my family visited in 1983 when the movie came out, 100% of the tourists are white! No, making the guy running the park and and a nearly no dialog shark bait technician black does not make it any less noticeable. And aww, just like their dad in the previous film, the Brody boys grown up are cool with drinking and driving. And losing control at the sight of a shark continues, with professional water skiers ALL dropping their lines to fall in the water when a shark shows up!  

Tapeheads- I wanted to like this movie about dudes trying to become music video filmmakers, I just didn’t find it all that funny. It worked best when it wasn’t straining itself. It’s kinda bad that my favorite joke, set up with parking tickets under a windshield wiper, doesn’t get a payoff until the closing credits. 

Mirror- Ah, the last film I needed to see by my beloved Andrei Tarkovsky. What? Some people have actor crushes, and I have director crushes. Don’t get me started about ***swoon*** Guillermo del Toro! LOL Anyway, he made a semi autobiographical,  poetic film that seems like it could be a deathbed dream, a meditation about how the past shapes and stays with us. Funny how I love poetic films but hate actual poetry. I’m sad I have no more of his film to watch…

[staytheb]

Scenery

Pairing: SF9′s Youngbin x OC [Seul] || TBZ’s Sangyeon x OC [Yeon] ] Genre: slice of life, slight fluff Word Count: 3,453 Summary: Seul and Yeon are having a female-only bonding time before attending to their respective bosses after the outing.

Warning: none... i’m pretty sure.

hello! it’s been awhile hasn’t it? had writer’s block but eventually found some inspiration and came up with this. anyways, this is the Office Life with Yeon and Seul which i’ll make a separate post soon as it’ll get crowded later if i continued writing for these pairs lol but yeah, i think that’s about it. so happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

Yeon held a large leaf in hand whereas Seul held the clear umbrella over them with one hand as the sisters looked at one another with smiles on their faces to which they posed for the so-called candid shot in request of their mother and soon-to-be stepmother.

"Ooh, lovely, girls!"

Narae exclaimed as she proudly took the picture of her two daughters before looking over at her ex-husband's fiancee.

"Don't you think, Sanghee?"

"Yes, Narae. They're quite lovely."

Sanghee then glanced at Jangmi in her arms.

"Right, Jangmi? Mommy and Auntie Yeonnie looked pretty, huh?"

"Pretty! Pretty!" Jangmi cooed with a laugh as Sanghee continued speaking.

"That's right. You can't tell that they were annoyed with us at all throughout the day."

Jangmi agreed with a happy-go-lucky attitude as the older women chuckled leaving the younger two to eyed them a bit annoyed. Of course Jangmi had no clue what was going on besides knowing that she was having a grand time.

"Obviously." Yeon curtly responded while fingering the plant between her index finger and thumb before handing it to Jangmi.

"When y'all wanted to talk about the future of our soon-to-siblings, I didn't expect to be out here at Dream Forest having a grandmother-mother-daughter-granddaughter-auntie-niece whatever bonding time."

"Yeah," Seul agreed while handing the clear umbrella to her daughter as Sanghee set her down as the little one ran about them.

"Although I don't really mind, but we haven't even talked much. Just sight-seeing."

"If we did that, then we knew that Yeon wouldn't come." Sanghee explained with a knowing look.

"Um, yeah."

Yeon shot them a pointed look.

"I wouldn't even be wearing this dress if it was my choice."

"But you look so beautiful, my daughter." Narae cooed. "I can't imagine how you'll look at the wedding for Sanghee and Kisuk soon."

"Or for yours and Yongin." Sanghee added with a similar attitude.

Both women gushed at the idea of their weddings, but also that the other three would be a part of it. Yeon's face scrunched at both possibilities being very likely soon as Seul shoulder her with a mischievous look.

"Yeah, two events where you'll have to be all dressed up."

"Ugh. Don't remind me. I still have to go dress shopping for Sanghee's engagement party."

"Yeah, you still have several weeks before then." Sanghee smiled as Yeon sighed tiredly.

"But I still have to get dressed up."

"Oh, you'll live." Narae told her eldest daughter before taking another photo with a grin.

Narae took a few more of her  granddaughter.

"No wonder you get that from her." Yeon remarked to Seul as the younger sister chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyways," Seul changed the topic, "What else is on the agenda for today?"

"Nothing really." Narae answered with Sanghee nodding.

"Yeah. We mainly just wanted to get away for a few hours."

"Seriously?"

Yeon was not amused.

"We could've gone literally anywhere outside of Seoul for a better scene."

"Well, technically, it was more for the two of you then us." Narae explained with a sheepish look. "Sanghee mentioned some incidents at work and we both agreed that the two of you needed some relaxation in your schedule."

Sanghee held up a hand in her defense.

"To be truthful, it was just our idea. Kisuk is still unaware that the two of you work at EDAM since the both of you have applied under an alias."

"Okay, but y'all still could've just told us that, too." Seul said with a firm tone. "It's not like we're three."

"That's quite true." Narae agreed before shooting her daughters a knowing look. "But the same goes for the two of you when applying for a job outside either family's workplaces. You could've just rejected the positions we had aligned for you."

"Nah, Dad would've forced us either way."

Seul remarked as Sanghee nodded knowing that was the truth.

"Yes, that's true. Kisuk seems like the type."

Narae changed the subject a second later.

"Yes, he very much is. Anyways, let's get lunch on our way back home. Jangmi you're hungry, right?"

"Yeah! Food! Let's go!"

Jangmi charged on ahead as the umbrella and leaf in each hand moved about her in motion while the quartet followed suit with smiles on their faces. The quintet enjoyed a nice meal at a nearby restaurant while discussing Sanghee's engagement party as well as the future of the newborns. After that both Narae and Sanghee went about their own day leaving the trio to return home after stopping by a bakery along the day.

"Can Auntie have some of your milk bread?"

Yeon asked her niece while placing her hand near the said dessert.

"No."

Jangmi declined with a giggle as she moved the treat away from Yeon's reach.

"Are you three, too?"

Seul questioned her sister with Yeon frowning.

"Um, yeah I am because that was mine before your daughter wanted to trade because she didn't like the mango yogurt."

"Then you should've just ordered her the same thing than let her decide."

"Yeah, I know, but I wanted Jangmi to decide for herself since she liked how the drink looked."

Yeon went back to eating the yogurt while watching her niece happily tear apart the milk bun. Seul scoffed with a knowing smile.

"Sucks for you."

Yeon ignored her as Seul answered a call that came shortly after.

"Hello?"

Seul immediately muted the call while facing her sister.

"Um, it's my boss. I'll be back."

Seul patted her daughter's head.

"Mommy got a call, okay. Be good for Auntie Yeonnie, okay?"

"Otay!"

Jangmi responded cheerfully as Seul cast the two a smile before standing and walking out of the shop. Yeon watched her sister before facing her niece.

"If auntie buys another one, then you won't take that one, right?"

"No."

Jangmi giggled while chewing a piece of the condensed milk bread as Yeon knew that her niece was lying, but smiled anyways.

"Hey," Came Seul's voice as she returned, "I have to run some errands for my boss. Will you be able to watch Jangmi alone?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Do what you gotta do." Yeon told her sister.

"Thanks."

Seul patted her daughter's head.

"Mommy gotta work. Be good for Auntie Yeonnie until I'm done. Okay?"

"Otay. Love you."

Jangmi puckered her lips as Seul leaned closer for a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, and Mommy loves you, too."

Seul returned the same gestured before leaving with the umbrella that Yeon handed to her.

"Okay, so it's just you and me, MiMi. What do you wanna do after this?"

~~~~~~~

"Thank you for taking care of this errand on short notice, Ms. Lee. I really appreciate it."

Youngbin thanked Seul with a grateful smile as she brought him the Milkis cake from Tous Les Jours for a business function at the Four Seasons Hotel. He noticed her attire with a slight frown as the pair met at the front desk.

"I didn't pull you away from a previous engagement, did I? You didn't get caught in the rain either, I hope."

Seul shook her head.

"Oh, no. You didn't and the rain was very light out, but you're welcome, Mr. Kim. Luckily, I was nearby after an outing with family."

She vaguely informed him as she knew that Youkyoung was supposed to have ordered the cake and have it deliver beforehand, but no order was made and it left Seul to scramble at the last minute on her boss' behalf. Youngbin was unable to get a hold of his secretary as well.

"Oh, okay. That's good to hear."

Seul cast him a small smile.

"Will there be anything else, Mr. Kim?"

"No. I should be fine now. Thank you, Ms. Lee."

He looked about him before returning his gaze onto his personal assistant.

"Hopefully Ms. Seo will arrive and I won't have to bother you too much."

"Well, I am your personal assistant and it is my job to take care of errands and other miscellaneous things that Ms. Seo is unable to."

"Yes, very true. Well, Ms. Lee, have a wonderful evening."

"And the same to you, Mr. Kim."

Seul cast him one more polite smile before turning away. Her attention soon drifted to another part of the lobby upon recalling Sanghee wanted to have her engagement here at the same hotel. The hall was large and consisted of an indoor pool along with an amazing view. This piqued Seul's curiosity as she entered.

"Wow, this is really pretty."

She said to no one in particular as she moved closer to view the outside better, but avoided being close to the pool itself as she didn't have spare clothes to change into if she did get fully wet.

"No wonder Sanghee wants her party here. This will definitely be beautiful at night."

There were other guests of the hotel and of the business function scattered about in the room as well.

"Whoa, Yiseul Park, is that you I see looking so lovely right now?" Dawon said with a surprised teasing tone in seeing his friend and fellow colleague.

"What are you doing here?"

Seul turned and made a face at him using her real name.

"It's Seul Lee, remember?"

"Oh, right. Work-related. You and Yeon both. My bad."

Dawon chuckled as he neared.

"I thought you were on a family outing. Why are you working?"

"Youkyoung didn't bring the cake for your boss and I had to do it."

"He's your boss, too."

"Mmhmm. Anyways, why are you wandering around? Shouldn't you be mingling with the others and assisting Mr. Kim and what not?"

"The talk gets boring over the years and they have really long speeches that really makes no sense to which I don't have to listen in on as that's Youngbin's job. Anyways, I'm also trying to avoid a certain someone at the moment and do not want to meet their boss. By the way, you looked good in that dress."

"Thanks. You're not so shabby in your own get-up."

Dawon made a face.

"It's gets stuffy at times, but I can't wait until this is over and I could get out of this."

Just as Seul was gonna comment she was suddenly bumped from behind and stumbled into the pool.

"Yiseul!" Dawon called for her while turning to face the person that caused it.

"Seriously, Yuri?"

"It was an accident. It's not like I purposely did it."

Yuri countered. She was the person he was trying to avoid

"Right and the fact that you didn't  fall in either."

"I righted myself before I could."

Dawon ignored her.

"Yiseul!"

Seul resurfaced as she tread water to stay afloat while making sure all of her belongings didn't float away. Dawon called his friend's name and she waddle on over to him.

"I got you."

Seul reached for Dawon's outstretched hand as he pulled her closer to the edge of the pool. She coughed up the water as she breathed in air until her breathing returned to normal.

"What just happened?"

She looked at her friend as he motioned with his head towards Yuri.

"She happened."

"Who's she?"

"The one I mentioned earlier."

"I see."

Before Dawon could help Seul get out of the pool, Yuri pulled him away.

"C'mon. My boss is looking for you."

"Let go. I have other things to worry about."

"But she wants y-"

"I don't care."

"Dawon. It's fine. Just go before something else happens."

Seul told him as she managed to lift herself out of the pool and sat beside it.

"But-"

"I'm fine. Really."

"See, she's fine."

Dawon's jaw tightened as he looked at his friend. Seul gave him a nod that she was fine.

"C'mon, Dawon, let's go."

Yuri urged as she continued to pull on Dawon's arm. He shook her hold off of him with an annoyed look while casting his friend a worried look.

"Just call or message me when you get home. Okay?"

"I will."

"Alright, then. Take care."

"You, too."

Dawon cast Seul another concerned look before turning around and walking off. Yuri followed after him and tried to hold his hand, but he shook her hand away. Seul sighed wondering if the other woman thought she was competition, but recalled that she was the younger sister of Yuna. Seul scoffed at the idea that Yuri still clung to Dawn even after school when she knew that he would never like her back like that. Seul dismissed the thought as she wrung out her hair and dress with an even deeper sigh. Despite the whole dress being white she was glad that it wasn't see-through. She needed to dry off soon before returning home. Just as she stood up and had turned around, Youngbin was there with a towel for her.

"Are you cold?"

She eyed him weirdly not taking the towel.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Not that long."

He continued to hold the towel for her to take. She tentatively took it.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

She placed it around her shoulders and noticed that he was still standing with her with no cake in hand.

"Shouldn't you get to the event?"

"Just some speeches going on that I just have to make sure to check in every now and then."

"Mmhmm. Well, thanks again. Where do I return the towel?"

Seul had removed the towel from around her as she used it to dry off the rest of her.

"Oh, they have a hamper at the changing room over there."

Youngbin pointed to the other side of the room that had a small area that disappeared around the corner.

"Okay, thanks."

Seul was about to walk off, but Youngbin stopped her.

"Hey, wait."

She watched as her boss began removing his suit jacket.

"Um, what are you doing?"

He didn't answer, but instead draped the fabric over her shoulders. He cast her a cheeky smile as he secure the jacket upon her.

"You can return it the next time you see me."

"Bu-"

"Sorry, gotta go. It's in your care for the time being."

Youngbin rushed off with a playful smile as Seul was left staring after him with furrowed eyebrows. She sighed, but nuzzled into the warm clothing.

"He's so weird. I'll see him the day after tomorrow."

Seul didn't ponder on it for long as she returned the towel, made a call to her sister using the front desk's phone, and drove to meet them as Jangmi wanted to go shopping.

~~~~~~~

"Okay, MiMi. Mommy needs new clothes. Let's find her some."

Yeon informed her niece once they were on the fourth floor of the Shinsegae Department Store and had entered Lucky Chouette.

"Why?"

Jangmi asked while holding her aunt's hand as Yeon lead the both of them around.

"Something happened when she left. Let's pick something Mommy would like."

"Otay!"

Yeon received the call from Seul after she had explained what had occurred. Yeon thought it was stupid on how that played out, but told her sister that she was lucky she was in Myeongdong. Now here she was looking for something that Seul could wear for the mean time until they all got home. Yeon remembered her niece still had the plant from earlier and wondered why she hadn't tossed it.

"Jangmi. Why are you still holding the plant?"

"Because it's nice."

"I know, but it's becoming dried up. Let's toss it, yeah?"

"No. Auntie gave it to me."

"I know, but it'll ruin the other things here."

Jangmi frowned.

"But, it's so pretty."

Yeon reasoned with the child.

"Nex time, Auntie will give you something else, okay?"

Jangmi beamed as she handed her aunt the plant.

"Otay. Promise."

"Thank you and yes."

Jangmi giggled as she wandered a bit to choose something for her mother to wear as Yeon sighed with a smile. She knew her niece liked the piece of nature, but she really didn't want the toddler to spread it throughout the store and cause the staff to be inconvenienced. Yeon placed the plant inside her bag before focusing her attention on something for Seul to wear. Yeon had chosen a few pieces of clothing when she heard her niece called for her.

"Yes, MiMi?"

Yeon glanced at Jangmi and noticed that a little boy was with her. She kneel to be at eye-level with a concerned look.

"Hi. Jangmi, who's your friend?"

"This is Howon. He lost his uncle."

She introduced the other toddler as Howon held back tears, but still sniffled.

"Oh. Well, hi, Howon."

She glanced about her and wondered if the boy's uncle was still in the store or something. Yeon stood again to scout for the boy's uncle, but there were only other females walking about. She kneel to Howon's eye-level again.

"Um, where was the last time you saw your uncle?"

"I don't know."

The boy replied and Yeon wondered how she was supposed to find his family member.

"Okay. Let's go to the front and see if we can find your uncle, Howon."

Yeon decided to head to the front to purchase the clothes while informing the staff of what had occurred. Just when Yeon was informing the boy of his new situation, Howon became upset. In the end she left her contact with the staff while Yeoon took both children to Vecchia e Nuovo which was a restaurant and bakery on the same floor as Lucky Chouette. Both children were hungry and Yeon thought it would be better if they were still in the same area for the uncle to find his nephew. After ordering Yeon messaged Seul about the situation and a moment later her boss' name popped up calling.

"Hello, Mr. Lee?"

Yeon answered with a confused tone.

"Uh, yes. I'm Yiyeon Park. How do you know that? Oh, uh yes, he's with me."

Yeon glanced at Howon learning that he was the nephew of Sangyeon.

"Um, we're at Vecchia e Nuovo. Uh, yes, we've already ordered."

The pair were too engrossed with the menu as they made a game out of it to listen in on Yeon's conversation.

"Yes we're on the fourth level. Ah, yes. See you soon."

Yeon ended the call while looking over at Howon.

"Howon, you're uncle will b-"

"Uncle!"

Howon exclaimed upon seeing Sangyeon entered the restaurant a moment later. Yeon's gaze went to the male as she watched the pair soon hug while her boss informed his nephew that he shouldn't have wandered and all that other stuff. Sangyeon's attention went to his secretary.

"Thank you for watching him, Ms. Lee."

"Um, you're welcome, Mr. Lee."

"Hi."

Jangmi greeted Sangyeon with a smile upon remembering him.

"Hi, to you, too."

Sangyeon greeted in a softer tone than he did Yeon.

"Did you and Howon become good friends?"

"Yes!"

"Yeah, Jangmi gave me this."

Howon held the leaf that Yeon had put away earlier. She couldn't resist the pair when they begged to see and play with it.

"Yeah, it's a token from something earlier today."

Yeon shot Sangyeon a small smile hoping he wouldn't probed further.

"I see. Did you say thank you?"

"Mmhmm."

Soon the staff brought out their meal and Yeon suggested for Sangyeon to join them so that Howon could eat before leaving.

"I want to sit next to auntie." Howon stated as he moved to sit next to Yeon.

"You don't want to sit next to me?" Sangyeon asked.

"Nope."

"But I want to sit next to auntie." Jangmi whined as she stood off to the side.

"You can sit next to uncle." Howon suggested, but Jangmi frowned.

"No."

This caused Sangyeon to slightly pout as he played along with the kids.

"No one wants to sit next to me?"

The pair shook their heads as Yeon stifled a laugh which caused her boss to glance at her. Upon seeing his supposed hurt look Yeon couldn't help but let the words flow on out from her mouth.

"Are you jealous?"

"Not at all." He replied nonchalantly while composing himself.

"I see."

Eventually, Yeon managed to get Howon to sit with his uncle leaving Jangmi to sit beside her. It wasn't that bad as the quartet ate and talk for a while before Seul messaged her sister. Yeon decided to cut their meal short after informing Sangyeon about the situation with her sister. The four bid one another goodbyes before parting. Yeon hoped that her boss wouldn't ask about her real name and just let things be, but she received a messaged later that day with him asking if he should address her with Park instead of Lee. Yeon didn't respond and would deal with it on Monday.

[mobage-ramen]

rating A3 troupe songs

because...... no reason really

debut plays | other plays 

disclaimer: these are opinions & i have no technical background in music!! :)

Spring Troupe

Spring Has Come! - very cute!!!! the bells are my fav part of the instrumental. i thought they were gonna have all of them introduce each other but they didn’t :( if this song had a mv it would be one of those behind-the-scenes types where they show cute backstage moments (obviously includes a curtain call scene). overall: just........ cute. wholesome. not much else to say

Haru Desune. - these boys and their punctuation... harugumi is just wholesome ok. i feel like my soul is being cleansed. i close my eyes and feel a breeze pass through the trees. i’m on a picnic with my friends. it’s just a good time. overall: makes me miss my friends

Summer Troupe

Oresama Natsu Summer - they actually had everyone’s names in it thank god. we all know natsugumi is here to make us party and they delivered. it’s a pool party specifically. mv for this would be an actual vacation with extreme sports, and maybe an amusement park (gotta get the rollercoaster footage). overall: KA⭐ZU⭐NA⭐RI

Natsutte Party Party! - somehow even more hype than the previous one?? the whistles definitely make it. giving me flashbacks to b.a.p’s prime time 😭 this video of the natsugumi VAs just encompasses my mood during this whole song. overall: NATSUTTE YAY YAY

Autumn Troupe

One x One - REALLY my type of song. made me a whole akigumi stan. just goes SO HARD from the start. just know that if i had a lightstick i would be waving it aggressively rn. takes a weirdly inspirational turn in the chorus??? lol i dig it tho. i’ll never let you down guys 😔✊ overall: AN ANTHEM.

Second Shot - when they said “open your eyes & see the sky” i was instantly like 👀 again, goes HARD. makes me want to jump. idk why akigumi songs make me feel so inspired???? lmao. every time i take a shot it’ll be for them 😔✊ drink responsibly!! overall: taking another shot & getting h---

Winter Troupe

To Bloom... - “you know what happens in winter?? christmas” -the producer of this song. the snow halation of a3. pov: your doorbell rings. when you open the door, you see fuyugumi caroling. you give them all your money because they’re so talented. overall: happy holidays

Precious to Us ~ Bokura no Kisestu ~ - WHY did they go so hard in the intro????? attacking us instantly with the harmonies & the SYNTH????? ugh fuyugumi my favorite 90′s boy band. have i mentioned their harmonies yet???? they really have the best out of the troupes i think. the Snow Halation in the sense that it’s iconic. overall: precious to me too

[rinrin-obliviate]

23 and 25 :)

23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?

I guess pretty much all of my life experiences have helped me write my fics, but obscure ones? Hmm, I guess amusement park trips and some of my most unforgettable experiences contributed to the inspiration behind my writing 😂😂 But honestly, I usually assign a little part of my personality and experiences to the scenes that I write. James Sirius Potter has a girlfriend named Betty in A Force To Be Reckoned With simply because I loved Folkore so much I had to take the opportunity. Albus and Scorpius kissed in a ferris wheel because I rode in one years ago (I didn't have a date, but that's fine lol). I included a scene where Albus got drunk in a Gryffindor party because I remember laughing wih @sapphicadhder thinking abut how hilarious Albus is (or will be) after drinking Firewhiskey. So yeah, I guess those little moments affect the scenes that I write!

25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you are particularly proud of

This one is from Amuse Me

"That's when he realized, he didn’t have to be a Gryffindor to be brave. He didn’t even have to be a Slytherin, or a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. He just had to be Albus."

[elixir448]

All the wishes I’ve made during the countdown.

Hialriously, I made the same wish twice, which I’ve pointed out. I started wishing for stuff about halfway through the countdown. Gosh, hiatus was rough. I’m planning on crossing stuff out if they ever happen. Lol, as if. Here’s to a fab season everyone!

0 days – Can we all just be cool please?

1 day – Beth, Annie, Ruby and Rio all together at some point this season. Like in the same scene. I think this is one of the main reasons I miss the drops in season 1.

2 days – More Judith and Beth scenes (totally inspired by what Christina dropped in her interview) where they have thinly veiled yet profound conversations about how much men suck.

3 days – Getaway car scene. I don’t care if it’s the girls or Beth and Rio speeding away from a scene. Or Beth speeding away along. I just think it would be cool.

4 days – Rio playing Turner. I think we all have a feeling that Rio’s going to use Turner to clear the board and it would make a lot of sense.

5 days – Beth not being able to hold a gun. Until the moment where she can.  

6 days – Beth and Rio openly yelling at each other, like in 2x07, and getting all in their feels for each other.

7 days – More flashbacks to Beth, Ruby and Annie’s lives. Doesn’t even need to be to when they were kids. I would love to see a flashback to Annie finding out she was pregnancy or Beth going through post-partum depression.

8 days – Beth touching Rio’s tattoo(s). I don’t think this will ever happen but I can dream. Like can you imagine her touching or kissing his neck? Or any of his other tattoos WHEN they have sex again?

9 days – Can I get Beth recklessly driving her car? We saw that chaotic energy in 1x01 but then she just point blank refuses to get tickets haha.

10 days - Beth and Rio in each other’s cars. We had it in 1x05, 2x02 and 2x12 but I want it again! And look, I’m not saying that they need to have sex in each other’s cars. I mean, I wouldn’t say no...it would be nice. It definitely doesn’t need to happen though.

11 days - I seriously doubt this will happen but Beth and Agent Turner having a drink together. I don’t care that they’re antagonists, I feel like they genuinely get such a kick out of each other. I want to see this even if it’s just Beth drinking and Agent Turner crashing her alone time and then he orders a drink too. Give me all the snarky banter!

12 days - Beth and Rio panting against each other’s mouths again. Rio furrowing his brow. Can you believe that they were so overcome that this is what they did in 2x09?

13 days - Protect Stan and Ruby. Manny saying that he’s super excited for Stan’s storyline has stressed me the hell out. Please just let the Hills be okay! I want Stan to have an awesome storyline but I’m not sure I’m ready to see my bbs in pain.

14 days (REPEATED WISH) - Rio pushing Beth’s hair out of her face (haha, he’s not even pushing it away, he just wants to touch her). You know what would kill me? If he reaches towards her and starts to push her hair away and catches himself. And then gets annoyed with her and with himself.

15 days - I really, really, really want there to be a moment where Beth and Rio team up against a common enemy. And we know that’s going to happen in some way from what Manny has said about them being forced to worked together this season. What I mean is, I want there to be a scene where they come together (and it’s not quite forced) and turn on someone and then that person realises they’ve fucked it.

16 days - I kind of wonder what would happen if one of the kids started to clock on to the shady stuff their parents are involved with. Sara had that last year and Sadie kind of had it when she called Annie out for always lying. I kind of wonder if Sadie will question how Annie gets the money to pay for her hormone blocker medication? I guess I want a scene where Sadie realises that something’s not right.

17 days - A scene between Rio and Dean. Oooooffft. Imagine how loaded it would be. Rio resisted spilling the beans in front of Dean at the end of 2x04 because Beth asked him not to. There’s nothing much stopping him now, aside from the fact that he potentially regards Dean as inconsequential and he may want to keep certain aspects of his relationship with Beth to himself. Hmmmm…i’m not really sure. Regardless, I want a scene!

18 days - Oh god. A significant moment where Beth sees the scars on Rio’s chest, from the gunshot wounds she inflicted. I don’t know if this will happen but I can picture it as either:

1. A taunt from Rio to Beth. Him wanting to see the guilt on her face, to drag up the trauma she’s been trying to suppress, to show her that there’s no way she can run away from what she did because he himself is a constant reminder and that he carries the scars that represent what she is capable of, something she spent a huge chunk of their relationship denying.

2. A fragile moment of tenderness, guilt and longing. Omg. Give me Beth kissing Rio’s scars.

19 days - Beth and Rio eating together. Not Rio eating and Beth refusing to eat or them drinking together, although I need more of both of those things too. Both of them eating at the same time in one another’s company. Even if they are angrily eating together haha. I’ll take it.

20 days - (again, inspired by the shooting in the hotel, specifically in the bathroom) Repeat bathroom sex. That’s it. This show loves it’s parallels so give it to me!!!!

21 days - Beth and Rio pushing each other out of harm’s way. Oh my god. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to make that happen. Imagine they’re being shot at and they start scrambling to push the other person behind some cover.

22 days – (totally inspired by the new info about shooting for 3x09 taking place at the Millenium Biltmore hotel) Beth and Rio somewhere fancy or semi-fancy. Even if it’s just work related, which it definitely would be lol. And then it’ll probably all go to shit.

23 days - I am sooooo excited for the show to dip its toes into “the adult world”. I feel like that sounds patronising but I absolutely don’t mean for it to sound that way. The show deals with a lot of adult concepts, such as misogyny, disillusionment, boredom with the life you’re living etc. And it’s amazing in that it does so in such a dynamic, fun way that doesn’t detract from how serious the issues are but just highlights that a lot of us have these problems but just kind of continue to bumble along living our lives.

What I mean by “the adult world” is related to the strip club that has been theorised to be Stan’s place of employment in season 3. I didn’t really think we would see something like this in GG and it makes me happy that doors seem to be opening into parts of the world we haven’t seen before in the show. I dunno, I just really want to see how it’s included in the wider storyline. Like, will the girls wash cash through it? Haha, I kind of just want to see all 3 of the girls in the strip club and how they act in there.

24 days - Will we ever find out what happened to Beth and Annie’s parents? I really want to know! Are they alive, dead, divorced, together?

25 days - Beth playing piano. I seriously doubt it will ever happen other than in fanfic but I want to see it. And Beth singing. So basically, Beth playing piano and singing.

26 days - A really heartfelt scene where Beth looks at Marcus and thinks of Rio. Maybe sees some of Rio’s traits in him and she just looks and OMG THE PAIN.

Seriously though, who thinks:

(1) Marcus is going to recognise Beth and she will explain to Rhea that she met Rio and Marcus in the park.

(2) The writers ignore the fact that Marcus should recognise Beth and Rhea thinks that this is literally Beth’s first time meeting Marcus.

27 days - Ruby and Annie realising who Rhea is and what Beth is doing. Even though it looks like a great storyline and I’m excited to see it unfold, it’s super unhealthy and deceitful behaviour. I wonder if Rhea will ever find out who Beth really is?

28 days - You know what? Screw it! I want to wake up to the trailer. Bye.

29 days - Ruby and Annie becoming aware of the nature of Beth and Rio’s relationship. Pretty sure I’ve done a wish like this before (wanting Annie and Ruby to call Beth out for feeling relieved that Rio is alive). But I’d really like to see them realise that Beth and Rio’s relationship was far more complex than just sex and eye fucking.

30 days - Beth feeling sad about Rio. Sitting on the couch thinking about him. Lying in bed thinking about him. Going to the park and thinking about him. Standing in front of the fridge and thinking about him. Looking at the picnic bench and thinking about him.

31 days - Rio’s boys knowing what’s up between him and Beth. I loooove it whenever people realise or know what’s going on between the two of them and are either confused, horrified or amused by it.

32 days - Can we meet another crime boss or kingpin? I wonder if that would make the season too crowded since there already seem to be quite a few new characters and a lot going on because of the fallout from season 2. I just really want to meet someone else who is actually dangerous to the girls. I think Rio can be dangerous to the girls, especially now, but he and Beth have a lot of history and that affects how he interacts with her.

33 days - More Gretchen! She was under utilised in season 2. I’m not sure why but maybe they filmed scenes and decided to cut them out after. With everything going on with Rio and Jimmy, it only makes sense that she’ll be in the picture.

34 days - Flashback to Rio teaching Beth how to use a gun. “Just like we practiced.”

35 days - Sadie with Dakota. Annie with Dakota. Nancy with Dakota. Beth with Dakota. Greg with Dakota. I want a baby on the show other than Mary Pat’s!!

36 days - I really, really want a moment where Beth and Rio are standing or sitting next to each other. We had it in 2x03 in the park but they were sitting on different benches haha. We also had it when they were sitting in eachothers’ cars. And again in 2x08 with the picnic bench scene (I could ugly cry just thinking about it). They are so often depicted standing opposite one another (even in 2x04 and 2x09), positioned as though they are semi-antagonists sometimes and as equals at others.

I just want something where either:

1. They are standing next to one another against a common enemy. Like, on the same side. I can picture them joining forces, even if it’s just temporarily, against a common enemy. Maybe even permanently if it’s at the end of the season? (Or season 4?)

Or

2. They are sitting next to one another watching something in front of them. Maybe they’re sitting talking about business and then it shifts into something quiet and content, like watching Jane and Marcus play in the park. And then just turning to look at each other with something on their faces.

37 days - At some point in the season, Rio pushing Beth’s hair off of her face (bahaha, he’s never actually pushing her hair off her face, he just wants to touch her). Maybe it’ll be towards the end of the season when their has been some kind of resolution or tentative healing between them. Or maybe it’ll be because he can’t quite help himself. Or maybe he’ll be in the middle of doing it before he even realises.

38 days - Backstory for how Rhea and Rio met and got together. How much she knows about his life and why they split up. Maybe some info about his family and his real name (I do actually like Christopher now).

39 days - Annie, Ruby and Rio scenes. We were robbed I tell you!!!! I would have killed to see more of them in 2x10 and I’m holding out hope for season 3. It’ll be so interesting, as neither Annie or Ruby shot Rio. And I think they’re going to be really curious as to why Beth and Rio are still undoubtedly going to be orbiting around one another. I just need some scenes where Annie and Ruby are scared but then it shifts into them hesitating to ask him questions and then just borderline interrogating him.

40 days - A major Beth and Dean confrontation. Like, something that absolutely drags all of his wrongdoings out and lays them on the table. If he tries to make excuses, I want her to call him out and absolutely wreck him. If he tries to flip it around and blame her, I hope she completely obliterates him. Fuck that guy.

41 days - Sadie and Sara in scenes together. And like basically parenting the other kids. These two have such strong presences on screen, I need them in a scene together. You know they would kill it. Also, Beth and Ruby are besties and Annie is Beth’s sister but we never really see their kids interact with one another.

42 days - Beth in a dress at least 4 times OR those t-shirts that she wears when she’s in the house chilling (I specifically remember the grey one in 2x07 and the pink one in 2x10). And Rio seeing her all of those times. More up and down looks regardless of what she’s wearing. Can you imagine though? Given the weight of their history, it almost being a habit, can’t quite help himself, doesn’t actually care because he likes looking and it sets her off kilter.

43 days - Dean moving out at some point and a divorce. I mean, all that stuff costs money but please don’t drag it out. At the very least, I need this to happen before the end of season 3. Like, if this doesn’t happen, the chat that Beth and Dean had with the kids in season 2 would have meant nothing.

44 days - An indication at some point that Beth is relieved that Rio’s alive, rather than just scared. Like maybe she says it to him towards the end of the season or Annie or Ruby call her out for looking at him a certain way or for her conflicted feelings, given that he’s probably going to be spending this season terrorising them.

45 days - More Nancy and Annie scenes. Maybe with Annie helping out with Dakota or giving advice. And then Nancy helping Annie navigate stuff with Sadie.

46 days- Beth doing something to protect or help Rio, maybe even save his life. Not because she wants anything in return but because she doesn’t want to see him hurt or in trouble anymore. I low-key think that towards the end of the season she might do something to help him and, as a result, it’s pretty clear that what’s going on between them is more than how fucked up their relationship is inevitably going to be throughout most of the season. Haha, I’m probs wrong though.

47 days- Beth and Rio have angry sex. On a table. Or anywhere really.

48 days - Can Dean just get what’s coming? I’m sorry but it wasn’t enough that he was shot, especially with all the shit he did in season 2. And please bring up the cancer lie. I just need retribution. Anything. PLEASE.

49 days - Actual mental health consequences for Beth after being kidnapped and shooting Rio. There’s no way anyone could walk away from that unscathed, especially since she cared about him. The show’s touched on issues like binge eating and post-partum depression and I’m curious to see if and how they can incorporate anxiety disorders, like PTSD. I need at least one scene where Beth experiences a physiological fight or flight reaction or wakes up from a nightmare or has a flashback or hypervigilance. Just something to acknowledge that it’s normal to walk away from trauma and not be okay afterwards.

50 days - No more paying people off unless it actually makes sense or will work.

51 days – (POTENTIAL SPOILER) An extremely satisfying scene where Boomer dies. From the spoilers, it looks like Rio’s gonna be shooting someone in front of the girls. Please God, let it be Boomer. It would be amazing if he shot Boomer and Annie just had a total non-reaction or wasn’t frightened.

52 days - Please god, Rio interacting with Beth’s kids again and Beth interacting with Marcus. I especially need to see him interacting with Jane since it looks like Marcus is her bestie.

53 days - More scenes with Beth and Turner. For me at least, their scenes were some of my favourites in season 2. The way that Turner’s always chasing after Beth, trying to pin her for something and how she’s always getting away and sassing him. And, oh my god, I really want their reunion in season 3 to be good.

54 days - More context for Rio’s actions. Now that Rio is presumably going to be working with Turner, I feel like we need more scenes of Rio, out with Beth and the girls, for plot progression. It’s fun theorising on Tumblr and reading explanations in fic but I need the show to help him make sense. The show is about the girls and should always be but I need some things to make more sense.

55 days - With Beth becoming her own boss, I really want some doors to open into the dark underbelly of Detroit. I want to meet new characters who are criminals and who the girls have to be really weary of when they’re navigating their new business.

56 days - I really wanna see Annie, Ruby and Beth interact more with each other’s kids but, more than that, I want to see Stan with Sadie and with Beth’s kids because talk about wholesome.

57 days - The return of Beth’s pearls. I don’t even care what the context is at this point but I would die if we had either:

1. Rio using the pearls as a way of fucking with Beth when she thinks he’s still dead / using them to announce that he’s not dead

2. A Rio POV scene where we see him take out the pearls from wherever he keeps them and like touch or hold them and then the show cuts to a scene with Beth (this will never happen in a million years but I can dream)

58 days - A scene where Turner tells Rio about Beth’s lie in 1x05. I kind of picture a scene where Turner is being snarky about it but also failing to hide his curiosity as to whether or not anything ever happened between them. The other scenario I picture this happening in is Turner slowly realising over a few episodes that Rio and Beth had more than just a “work” relationship and he tells the story just to see Rio’s reaction.

[prettyyoungtragedy]

Written in the Stars (5)

Characters: Bodyguard!Bucky Barnes x reader

Summary: You’re the type of woman who is headstrong and fiercely independent. Heiress to a fortune and one of the most brilliant minds of the 21st century. Until you’re forced into witness protection. Your “Protection” turns out to be 220 pounds of dreamy, sassy, delightful Bucky Barnes. Whatever could go wrong?

Warnings: Swearing, gun violence, blood and angst

A/N: This chapter gets a little intense. If you watched bodyguard on Netflix you will know one of the scenes in this chapter! Also took a little inspiration from a scene in CATWS, if you get it holla at me lol. There’s a lot of drama so buckle up bitches lol. Also if you love me throw me a reblog bc i always need validation! lol

This was generously Beta’d by my beta @suz-123 without whom I will never have any good ideas! thank you buddy!

Tags: Hit me up in my ASK box!

“There’s mail for you,” was the first thing you heard before the box your colleague, Lola, carried was dumped on your desk.

“What the-” You replied, startled.

“Yeah, I don’t know where it came from and don’t care,” She yawned, “Hey, is your hot bodyguard around? I wanna stare at him until its creepy.”

“Ugh, he’s probably skulking in a corner somewhere.” You waved your hand dismissively at the thought of Bucky’s hotness. Things had been tense between the two of you since that day at the tower, you’d been avoiding speaking to him and Bucky seemed to be trying harder to be nice to you. Of course, you weren’t ready to forgive him and what he’d done so you brushed off his niceness with stoic coldness.

When he was around you, you gave him tightlipped answers and a cold shoulder, only conversing with Arcas and Achilles. Both of whom were thoroughly entertaining to hang around all day. Bucky got the hint after a few days and he stopped trying to be nice, withdrawing from you completely and only speaking to you when necessary.

The trial had started again, and it had begun to take its toll once more. However gone were the days when he asked you if you were okay, instead, you were met with pitiful glances from Bucky at the end of each session in court, which you just ignored.

You had finally been able to get to work and had a moment alone before Lola interrupted you with mail. You reached for the box and letter she’d dropped onto your desk, grabbing a pair of scissors of the table and sliced open the tape of the box in an attempt to open it.

“Oh, too bad, I want to touch his biceps, my god that body of his. Ugh, can you imagine being beneath him and him just slamming into-”

Lola is cut off when you both hear a distinctly male voice clear his throat in the doorway, both of you whirling around in its direction.

“Fuck.” You muttered when you saw Bucky standing there with an amused look on his face.

“Oh, hi Sergeant Barnes,” Lola said, flirtily walking over to Bucky, she held out her hand for him to shake but he just looked at it, and then at her, before walking into the lab.

“What is that?” Bucky asked, seriousness suddenly lacing his tone.

“What now?” You sighed your hands still on the box as you pulled it open, Bucky was always bitching about something you were doing. It was exhausting, especially after the other night and your drunken escape from his protection. Needless to say, he was watching you like a hawk now, every second of every day he was hovering and it was driving you mad.

“Wait, don’t tou-” Bucky begins to say, rushing towards you, but, before he can finish his sentence, you pulled open the top of the box and flipped it open, dropping the contents onto your hand.

It was sticky and slightly warm, and when your eyes gazed down at the object in your hand you let out a horrified scream, flinging it onto the table in front of you. Lola backed away from the table, her hand flying up to her mouth to cover her own scream.

Bucky is beside you in a flash, his metal arm whipped across your body shielding you from the horrifying sight before you.

“Is that a fucking tongue?!” Lola exclaimed.

You couldn’t find any words at the moment, your mind was racing through the possibilities of what this package meant. But of course, you already knew who it was from, and what it meant. It was Hydra, they had sent you a fucking tongue in a box. Why? Because that’s what they did to traitors. Cut out their tongues and their hearts and mailed it to their families.

“Where did the box come from? Who brought it here?” He demanded looking between you and Lola,

“I-I don’t know.” Lola stuttered, “It was left at reception.”

“Was it cleared with security?” Bucky is hauling you out of your chair and backing you away from the bloodied tongue that now lay on your desk. It was the most vulgar thing you had ever seen and you had gone to medical school.

“I don’t know, they just handed it to me when I came to her lab.”

“Fucking fuck!”

Bucky pulled out his phone and quickly hit speed dial, he waited a moment before he began barking orders into the receiver.

“We have a problem, a big fucking problem. I need forensics and Banner here, now.” He waited for a response, “Yes, Jesus fuck, I know. No, no, it’s a body part.”

“Copy, Switch protection mode.”

“We have to go, now,” Bucky ordered, he shoved his phone back into his pocket and took you by the elbow, hurriedly guiding you out of your lab with Lola a few feet in front of you. Your mind isn’t processing what just happened, your heart is thundering in your chest and your mind is racing.

They sent you a fucking tongue in the mail. A bloodied, severed tongue.

~~~

The calm before the storm.

That saying always stuck with you, something you never understood really. Because you never found the calm before the storm a real thing, it always felt like chaos before a storm arrived. But at that moment, when Bucky hustled you into the backseat of the armored car, a strange sense of calm settled over you.

As if, after all these weeks of protection details and court dates, Hydra were finally stepping out of the shadows and doing something. It had been weeks of looking over your shoulder and sleepless nights that something, anything, was going to happen to you and, suddenly, here it was, that moment of panic.

“The Tower, now!” Bucky commanded the driver, as he got into the front seat beside him.

Almost immediately the car is kicked into drive and it speeds off the curb, from your seat in the back of the car you looked at Bucky’s face, his brow is furrowed, mouth set in an angry snarl, his usual starlight eyes seem cold and hard.

This wasn’t the Bucky Barnes you were used to.

“Bucky, what’s goi-” You started to say but there was suddenly a crack against the driver’s seat window that startled all of you in the car, it sounded like someone throwing a rock at the glass.

Your eyes flew to the window and you see it splintering as if something had been slammed into it with brutal force. The whiteness of the cracks spreading rapidly across the glass, each little shard of apparent bullet proof glass being crushed beneath the force of the object fired at it.

A bullet from a sniper rifle.

It doesn’t shatter, then again another round slammed into the window the driver skidding off the road as he attempted to get clear of it and away from the sniper.

“Get down!” Bucky bellowed at you before turning to the driver, “Go! GO!”

The driver speeds up the car, and a scream erupted from your throat, terror ripples through you, your heart lurches in your chest. Bucky’s metal arm reached over to the back seat and pushed you down to the seat in an attempt to shield you from any harm. He is rougher than he realizes, and you felt the bruising force behind his metal arm and it yanked you down onto the seat, gripping onto the flesh on your arm.

A  third bullet is fired at the window, shattering it this time, and suddenly the driver is hit straight through the side of his head with a second instant bullet.

Brain matter and blood splatter everywhere, all over you and Bucky, covering you in the warm slick blood and matter. You shut your eyes and screamed again, it’s terror like you had never felt before.

“Fuck!” Bucky shoved you to the floor while trying to get control of the car at the same time. It’s pointless, as the vehicle skidded off the road, slamming into a nearby car parked by the curb. Your body is lurched forward at the impact, another scream erupting from your throat, terror clawing its way through your limbs and almost paralyzing you when you opened your eyes again.  

Bucky utters a string of curses and drew his weapon, another three shots are fired, slamming against the armored metal of the car. It sounds like a sledgehammer being battered against it, the sound rings in your ears, your heart pounding harder with each shot fired at you.

“Window integrity 45%.” The programmed AI announced, its voice startling you as it rang through the car.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The rounds hit the windows, splintering the glass and you screamed again.

“Get us out of here!” Bucky yelled at the AI.

“Propulsion systems are offline, Sergeant Barnes.” Came its reply.

“Then fucking reboot, god damn it.”

“System reboot initiated. Medics alerted. STRIKE security signal alerted to an imminent threat.”

The robotic way the AI spoke made you terrified. Something was wrong, of course, something was fucking wrong. Someone was fucking firing bullets at the goddamn car.

Another bullet hits the window and you screamed again, covering your ears and shutting your eyes in terror.

“Stay down! The bullets can pierce the windows but it can’t get through the armored metal.” Bucky exclaimed at you before he touched his comms, signaling he needed help.

“Sam!” He said into it, “Sniper, situation critical. One casualty, Achilles enroute I don’t have a visual on the shooter, the rounds seem to be strong enough to pierce the metal with a few rounds.” A pause, “She’s in the car, I have to get her out of here. Track my location and alert Strike, propulsion systems are offline.”

There’s a pause and four more shots are fired, and you scream, again. The wail of sirens pierced the air and civilians start screaming, chaos ensuing outside.

“Of course I fucking rebooted it, just fucking get here god damn it.”

You couldn’t hear anything that Bucky is now yelling into his comms and he shoved himself out of the seat and into the back seat beside you. The air in your lungs is scarce, blood rushing through your veins, heart slamming against your ribcage. Every instinct in your body is screaming at you to get out of there, that is all.

“It’s okay,” Bucky suddenly said softly to you, his  blood covered hands gripping yours and you both crouched down in the back seat of the car, “It’s okay, the bullets can’t get through the armor plating.”

His voice is calming to you, he spoke in a low tone and held your hand, tightly. You know he is trying to soothe you through the situation but the blood that covered his face, and the wild look in his eyes, is doing nothing to calm you. It doesn’t stop the panic that is rising in your chest.

Once again your breaths are ragged and escaping you, wrong time to be having a panic attack as you struggled to breathe.

“Bu-Bucky, I can’t breathe.” You gasped.

“Sergeant Barnes, protection subject Aphrodite’s vitals show she is having a panic attack. Immediate action is advised.” FRIDAY stated through the watch you wore.

“Fuck, hey hey. Look at me. You’re fine, I am here, I will protect you. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Bucky looked up through the splintered window, he had to assess an escape route for the two of you. Right now, you were sitting ducks and there could be more Hydra operatives on foot on their way here. His eyes moved over the terrain quickly, A coffee shop, an apartment building, a massive office building. He had to get you off the street and into one of those buildings and then he sees them.

Twelve men rushing towards the car decked out in full tactical gear. AR-15’s, kevlar vests, black masks that covered their face. He didn’t need to think twice to know who they were or who they worked for.

All he knew was that he needed to get you out of there, now.

His training kicked in, and he shifted his mind moving into battle mode.

“Steve, I am moving her. ETA?” Bucky said touching the comms in his ear.

“Negative, we’re exposed. At least a dozen hostiles excluding the sniper, AR-15’s, full tactical. I stay here, we die.”

At that admission, you whipped your head towards Bucky, eyes wide with fear. You weren’t ready to die, not like this at least, panic rising even further in your chest.

“Do you trust me?” Bucky said in a low voice, gripping your arm tighter, his blue eyes searching yours for the trust he seeks.

You just nodded, and with that, Bucky pulled you towards him, holding you close to his chest and kicked open the back door of the car. He slid out, hauling you with him, his glock in one hand, raised and clocked, and the other arm around you holding you close.

You clung to him, your nails practically digging into his clothes, your hands ached from how hard you were holding onto him as your eyes darted around the area looking for the attackers. Bucky cursed under his breath, kneeling behind the car with you. The asphalt feels hot on the skin of your legs as he slowly begins to move the two of you.

Crawling behind the armored car, you hear the sound of more bullets hitting the metal and you open your mouth to scream but Bucky quickly covered it, his blue eyes meeting yours and he shook his head to silence you.

“I need you to be quiet, okay?” He murmured, “When I tell you to run, you do it.”

“I can’t.” You whispered in terror, feeling paralyzed. You hung onto him, not wanting to leave the safety his arms were bringing you at that terrifying moment.

“Listen to me, sweetheart, I need you to follow my instructions, okay? I am going to get you out of here, but you have to trust me.” He said, his voice is low, but firm.

“No, no, please don’t make me do this.”

More gunshots are fired and there are shouts, Bucky glanced over the top of the car and he sees the assailants drawing closer. The two of you were running out of time.

Where the fuck was Sam and Steve.

“You have to go, now.” Bucky urged you, he pushed you in the direction of the nearest building. A bistro which was obscured by the truck which was parked in front of it, it gave him the perfect eye line to see you escape, and also hid you from the attackers, “Please, I need to keep you safe.”

“What about you? I can’t leave you.”

Bucky flashed you a reassuring smile, “I’m the god of war, remember?”

Even in the midst of all this chaos, Bucky smiling at you somehow sends an injection of calm through you and it was like you could move again. Nodding at him, you sucked in a deep breath and steadied yourself a little, Bucky gives you the signal, and you break out into a crouched sprint across the sidewalk.

Just as you enter the bistro you see Bucky stand up and face the attackers, multiple gunshots going off all at once before strong arms closed around you, one hand over your mouth to silence you the other around your waist lifting you off your feet and you screamed.

~~~

Bucky Barnes prided himself on self-control because half of his existence was spent being controlled by someone else. He couldn’t control when he ate when he slept, where he walked, how he spoke. He controlled nothing about his being.

So when his freedom was handed to him, Bucky prided himself on being able to give and take that control as he pleased.

He prided himself on the control he had in his job, that was the ultimate trust the people around him had given him.

So when that controlled slipped the moment he walked into that tower, blood and grime covered bellowing orders at the strike team, Steve Rogers his trusted best friend knew that this meant more to him that just a job.

“Buck,” Steve said softly, firmly placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

“What?” Came his snappy reply.

“Take a breath, she’s alright.”

Steve’s words seemed to penetrate his mind and settle under his skin, Bucky took a deep breath to calm himself down. That morning had been one from hell, and Bucky needed to reign in his anger and focus on the real problem here.

How the fuck did Hydra get her that package and know their route.

“Where’s Tony?” Bucky asked, “I want to know how that package got to her?”

“He’s in the lab, Banner and Sam are there too.” Steve was already walking in that direction, Bucky immediately falling into step beside him. There were quick glances and soft murmurs passed through the agents on the floor as they blew passed them.

Bucky’s visage was terrifying, Steve noticed this immediately. Everyone skittered out of his way as they marched towards Tony’s lab. Some even averted their gaze, Bucky Barnes was a terrifying man when he was in a mood, even more so covered in blood and grime, funny enough none of the blood was his.

Steve walked into the lab a few feet behind Bucky, who interrupts the conversation between Tony and Bruce. He slammed his hands down onto the table and hunched down before looking up at his fellow teammates.

All three men turn towards Bucky and Steve, their gazes flitting from Steve’s concerned expression to Bucky’s thunderous one.

“Anyone want to tell me how the fuck that package got through our security at her lab?” Bucky demanded, in a deadly low voice.

Tense looks are exchanged between the three men, none of them have an answer yet. They scoured every inch of the lab and reception, and were currently running through the security footage, but had come up with nothing. It baffled Tony especially because no one and nothing got past his security.

“We are running through all the footage, hopefully, there’s something we missed,” Tony said.

“We have searched every inch of that lab, and the surrounding floor. We will find something.” Steve said, with an assured nod.

“Nothing on the individual who delivered the package?” Bucky asked turning toward Steve.

Steve shook his head, “We must have missed something.”

“No, there’s a mole. That’s the only way.” Sam interjected all of them turn their gaze towards the Falcon. His expression is hard, a frown on his face as Sam looked at the file before him.

“What do you mean?”

“How is that possible?”

“We vetted every person who has been in contact with her this past couple of weeks.”

Sam nodded slowly, and tossed the files onto the table, “Exactly, there are only six people who know every single move she makes, Bucky, Steve, myself, Arcas, Achilles, and Dionysus.” Sam laid a finger on one of the files, “I know I didn’t leak anything, Steve and Bucky you two are too righteous to pull that shit, so that leaves us with our three other trusted agents.”

“Motherfucker.” Bucky cursed picking up the files of the three agents and clenching them tightly.

“But how? It’s not possible.” Steve said shaking his head, “We ran every single check on all of them, they are the highest ranking security in our protection detail program.”

“Maybe Hydra got to one of them?” Tony suggested.

Bucky stopped listening to his teammates for a moment and looked at the files in his hand, he flipped through the pages, scanning every detail in the files, searching for something that he might have missed and he finds nothing. This bothers him, he couldn't understand it, there must be something he missed, there has to be.

“Figure it out, now.” Bucky said in a demanding tone, “Until then, no one is around her unless it's myself, Sam or Steve. She stays in the tower, I want Astro mode around her at all times, I don’t give a fuck if she feels like a prisoner, she is our number one priority as of this moment forward, got it?”

All of them nod, no one is about to argue with Bucky, especially not when he uses that demanding tone of his. Bucky Barnes may have been a Hydra weapon all those years ago but today, he is one of the foremost Avengers and his teammates listened without hesitation when he gave an order.

But his control was slipping all of a sudden, and Bucky felt terrified for a moment.

~~~

Helen Cho is speaking to you in a soft voice, but you aren’t listening to her. Instead, you stared down at your hands, blood covered and dirt stained and just felt numb.

It had been Arcas that had pulled you out of that coffee shop and to safety, you had no idea if Bucky was okay but they had assured you he was. Helen immediately gave you a calming sedative when they brought you to her lab, she checked you for any severe injuries and when she found none she tried to speak to you about the attack.

“Y/N?” She said frowning at you.

You finally looked up at her and shook your head in confusion, “Sorry what?”

“I asked if you want to go and shower?” She repeated.

“Yeah, yeah…” Your voice trailed off as you looked back down at the blood that covered your clothes, staining the white lab coat you wore, a scarlet red. Your skirt was ruined and half your face and neck were sticky with blood.

“Captain Rogers will escort you to the residents level, okay?”

You just nodded numbly and hopped off the bed you had been sitting on. Your legs felt a little wobbly and unsteady from the sedative but Doctor Cho gripped your arm to steady you, she gives you a reassuring smile just as Steve walked into the lab.

Steve didn’t say anything to you at first, he waited by the door with his hands crossed in front of him and just watched as Doctor Cho took off the lab coat you wore and handed you a bottle of pills.

“Anti anxiety medication.” She smiled at you.

“Thanks.” You mumbled closing your fist around it tightly before walking over to where Steve stood.

Steve gives the doctor a quick thank you nod before he scans his badge on the system, and the door slides open. You walked out first, with him falling into step beside you. Steve walked you in silence to the elevator, his eyes cautiously trailing over your face every few seconds as you fidgeted with the watch on your wrist.

A nervous tick you had was to fiddle with whatever you wore on your wrist which, lately, had been that watch Bucky had given you. Despite the sedative that you had been given, your nerves were shot to shit, and you felt more anxious than you ever had before.

The whole ordeal that morning had almost cost you your life and, worse yet, it could have cost Bucky his. You knew he was your protection detail, it was his job to do so, but the thought of him being your human shield, or giving his life to save yours didn’t quite sit right with you. Even though you were still pissed off at him, and he worked on your nerves more than anyone else on the planet did, you felt a tinge of guilt for not thinking about what he must have been feeling at that moment.

As you and Steve walked into the elevator and stood side by side you finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

“Is…” You cleared your throat, hesitating for a moment, “Is Bucky okay?”

Steve looked surprised that you had asked but he quickly hides it before answering, “Yeah he is fine, pissed off, but fine.”

“Pissed off?”

“Yeah, Bucky doesn’t like when things don’t go according to plan.”

“Like assassination attempts on his protection detail?”

“Sure,” Steve smiled at you, “but he’s fine, don’t worry about him. He’s a trooper.”

“Oh, I wasn’t worried, I was just thinking if something happened to him I’d have to get another bodyguard I’d have to hate, and the thought of that exhausts me.” You said quickly trying to play off your concern as irritation rather.

This made Steve laugh, he tilted his head back and his laughter sounded through the elevator. To your surprise you found yourself smiling at this, Steve seemed to have a calming effect on you. And you decided you liked him, for all the pompous patriotism, Steve Rogers was a decent guy.

~~~

“Shower has everything you will need in it,” Steve said pointing to the door on the other side of the spare bedroom he had led you to, “There are clothes for you on the bed and if you need anything else just ask FRIDAY.”

“Thanks, Captain Rogers.” You said.

“You can call me Steve.” He flashed a smile at you before he nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Once he is gone, you walked into the bathroom and slowly began to strip out of the bloodied clothes you wore. Your body ached for some reason, must have been all the stress. As you pulled off your shirt, you hissed in surprise when you look at yourself in the mirror and see the angry bruises already forming from where Bucky had shoved you down onto the seat to protect you. The bruises trailed along your upper arm and shoulder, clear bruises where his metal appendage held on too tightly.

Your reached up and ran your fingers over the bruises wincing when you poked one of them too hard, and pain lanced through the area.

You sighed deeply and closed your eyes, taking several deep breaths. The cold feeling in your stomach hadn’t left you yet, this anxiety that was currently plaguing your mind was grappling with your sanity as you tried to process the attempt on your life.

Feeling tears prickle in the corner of your eyes, you squeezed them closed a little tighter forcing mack the tears. You weren’t going to cry, no, you had to woman the fuck up and take the hits that were coming your way like a champion. This was what you signed up for, you knew this was going to happen and you had to face it head on. When you opened your eyes again, you sucked in a deep breath before moving toward the shower. You turned on the water and waited for it to heat up, then got in.

You felt relief seep through your aching body as the spray of hot water cascaded over you. Looking down at the water on the floor, you watch as it changed from clear to stained red as the blood slowly washed away from your body, disappearing down the drain.

A few minutes of just standing beneath the water and you finally mustered up the strength to use the body wash to rinse away the rest of the dirt from your body and shampoo your hair.

Once you got out, you patted yourself down with a towel from the rack and wrapped it around your body before walking out of the bathroom. You were so preoccupied with your own thoughts that when you walked back into the bedroom, you hadn’t seen Bucky sitting on the edge of the bed, and when you finally looked up and saw him a terrified scream escaped your throat as you stumbled back in fright.

“Oh, shit, fuck. My bad, sorry, sorry.” He said quickly getting up, he started towards you but stopped short when he realizes you’re naked and scantily covered by a small towel.

“Jesus H. Christ, Bucky!” You exclaimed the watch on your wrist going crazy as your heart beat spiked.

“Sorry, I should have knocked or something.”

“You think?!”

“I...I just wanted to see if you were okay and if you needed anything.” He explained running his hands through his hair, he seemed nervous or agitated, you couldn’t tell.

“I could be better.” You shrugged and winced when pain lanced through your shoulder at the movement. Bucky notices your wince and he frowned before his eyes traveled to your bare shoulder and he sees the bruises on it, along with the ones peppered on your arms.

His eyes almost bulged out of his skull, you watched as his whole body tensed up and he clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists beside him.

“Did I do that?” He asked slowly.

“Do what?” You asked in confusion as he approached you.

Bucky reached up and brushed his fingertips against the bruises on your arm and you realized what he was talking about.

“Oh, yeah, it’s fine, don’t worry about it. I am fine.” You waved him off and turned away quickly, walking over to the bed where you took a seat.

“I am so fucking sorry, I wasn’t thinking-” He began to say but you shook your head vehemently at his apology.

“Bucky, I am fine, don’t apologize, you were doing your job.”

“I...fuck...it won't happen again.” You could almost hear him beating himself up inside for hurting you, and you can’t help but feel a little guilty. So you shake your head again at him and give him a smile.

“I’m okay, Bucky, and that’s all that matters.”

“I know, I don’t know what I would have done if…” He stopped himself before he finished that sentence, the two of you lock eyes for a moment. Your heart was beating slow and hard as you looked at him, the way he stood before you, tall and assertive, those starlight blue eyes filled with remorse.

And suddenly all you wanted to do was hug him, and tell him it was okay.

What the fuck? You thought to yourself, shoving those thoughts aside and quickly getting up.

“Well, can you get out so I can get dressed? I mean unless my protection now requires you to watch me naked as well?” You said clearing your throat.

“Oh, right, sorry I’ll leave you to it.” Bucky chuckled and quickly walked towards the bedroom door.

“Bucky,” You said and he immediately stopped in the doorway though he doesn't turn toward you.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you, for saving my life.” You said softly.

And the look he gives you over his shoulder almost has your heart falling out of your body, the soft half smile and the twinkle in his blue eyes,

“Always.” was all he said before he walked out and closed the door.