#the mysterious adam lies in wait

[basingstokemercury]

Tenor doesn't seem to credit gifmakers (or maybe there's some way I don't know about) but this is a great one wish I knew who made it. Fantastic moment.

[mister-a-z-fell]

People often say to me ‘Aziraphale, what exactly is Firmament?’

And by ‘often’, I mean ‘twice’, and they don’t so much say it as send me little enquiries on the Twitters and the Tumbler, along with inexplicable demands to know whether Crowley or I go ‘on top’.

I’ll get to the point in a moment, but, since you’re here, I would like to make it clear that our sleeping arrangements are nobody’s business but our own.

In any case, we don’t own a bunk bed, so the point is moot.

The subject of Firmament first came up on a clear night a few hundred years after I followed Adam and Eve out from Eden. Seth — their third child — was lying on a stone outcrop near the settlement, watching the sky, and I was sitting a little way off, keeping an eye out for scorpions.

‘Ol-ah-kwa*?’ The boy was usually full of questions, but that night he’d been uncharacteristically quiet. ‘What are they called, the lights above?’ It wasn’t the first time he’d asked and he already knew the answer perfectly well, but that was his way.

‘Those are stars. Has your father shown you how to find your path by them?’ He shook his head, and I resolved to talk to Eve in the morning.

‘How are they there? Are they like flowers on a bush? Or spots on a lizard? How many there are.’

I wished Crowley had been there, just then. He could have explained it so much better. I did my best, although I think I left him with the impression that every star hovered high in the heavens like a hummingbird, and he took some convincing that they wouldn’t eventually grow tired, having nowhere to perch, and come crashing down around us.

‘But why are they like fires? If they were made to fly up there forever, why don’t they grow feathers and just be birds?’

‘Well, that would rather defeat the purpose, B-qa-lyl**.’ And that might have been the end of the matter, but the boy had long since learned my weakness.

‘Don’t you know?’

And this is what I told him:

‘They are stars, because God told them to be stars. If She ever decides that they should be birds, then birds they will become. She told your father and mother to be human, because there was a place made in the world for humanity. Your purpose in this life is to discover what it means to be human.’

‘What about the next life?’

‘Wait and see.’

And this is what I didn’t tell him:

In the Beginning was the Void. And God spoke into the Nothing -That-Was, and that word was the first Firmament.

Firmament exists without mass, without substance. It is the Almighty’s intent, Her design, Her love; it is a blueprint for reality, pure potential and the Universe is spun with its threads. In the hands of the Virtues, it takes on form, accretes matter — becomes Material, a mechanism turned with a key that sounds like ‘LET THERE BE’.

Firmament can only be seen by the shadows that it casts. Gravity. The way that particles converse. Electromagnetism. Slood. It moves in mysterious ways and it reaches everywhere that is not Void. One day, scholars will glimpse the outer edges of ‘omnipresence’, and call it ‘quantum entanglement’.

I should have found a way to explain that — while stars aren’t birds — they share their firmament as all the brush stokes of a masterpiece share their canvas, as the individual notes of a melody are carried on the same breath. Everything touches everything. ‘Look what ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, the same have ye done unto me.’

Perhaps if I’d taught Seth that all that lies between each of us and the furthest, strangest star is a triviality called ‘distance’, which only really has meaning inside the preserve of mortal dimensions, he might have understood. I tried to explain it to his descendants, but perhaps they were too old, too certain of themselves, to listen. I was never much of a teacher.

Later, in all the confusion of Babel, rāqīa (something beaten thin to form a surface) and rakhmyn (love) went their separate ways, and whenever I encountered the subject of… celestial scaffolding — for want of a better word — it came in the context of the former. A shell to support the stars, to hold back the upper waters. They forgot about the ‘love’ part.

Later still, Crowley got volubly drunk with a fellow named Copernicus and made some progress, but even his controversial model couldn’t let go of firmament as the pastry around the universal profiterole.

Then there was Giordano Bruno… but we don’t talk about him.

So, here I am, trying again. Hoping that I’ve explained myself better this time, because, after all, that’s what an angel is: Firmament imbued with mind, and grace, willed into life by words of purpose unique to each one of us. Wearing atomic fancy-dress so that we can speak to you in words you can comprehend (ideally without falling down and giggling while your hair smoulders gently).

We are, at base, figments of Her imagination, which is so powerful that it was necessary that She invent free will to stop all things yielding unfailingly to Her whim. As a consequence, reality tends to become malleable in our immediate vicinity.

What is Firmament? It’s everything. It’s Creation. It’s humans, and demons, and angels. It’s stars, and it’s the walls of Eden. It’s the bullet, and the finger pulling the trigger, the magician and the audience, and the shocked air expanding in ripples from the burning powder. It’s the scalpel, and the flesh. And inside, beneath the dancing atoms, it’s love.

Try to remember that part, because sometimes it seems very well hidden.

It’s love.

*Brother

**Something small

[storyscribeforthesentiment]

the detective & the dark knight | chapter 2

Summary: Detective Marie Manning, investigating a series of brutal murders in Gotham, crosses paths with the mysterious Batman. As they work together, their mutual respect turns into a deep, passionate bond. Amidst danger and corruption, their unlikely partnership evolves into a profound love, forever changing their lives in Gotham’s dark corners.

Pairing: Batman/Bruce Wayne x f! main character

Author’s note: I hope you guys enjoy a cute, budding partnership between Marie and Batman!

Word count: 6.5k

Warnings/tags: mentions of murder (what can you expect in Gotham!!), gun violence, mentions of police bribes

The Gotham air was damp, clinging to Marie’s skin as she hurried into the precinct, her boots clicking sharply against the wet pavement. Her coat, still heavy with the cold mist of the early morning, hung limply from her shoulders as she pushed through the revolving door. The usual smell of stale coffee and cigarette smoke greeted her, but it did little to ground her racing mind.

Last night replayed in fragments—broken images of shadows moving with impossible speed, the distant echo of a deep, commanding voice, and the weight of knowing she had just met Gotham’s infamous vigilante.

Batman.

She hadn’t even had time to process it. Between the chaos at the docks, the desperate rush to get the victim to the hospital, and Gordon’s cryptic phone call, her brain felt like a crime board with too many loose threads.

How long had Gordon been working with him? Years, apparently—but how many? And how had no one caught on? Was Batman really the unhinged vigilante people made him out to be, tearing through Gotham’s underworld without a leash? Sure, a guy who dresses like a bat and spends his nights breaking bones probably isn’t the picture of stability. But at the docks, he hadn’t seemed reckless or out of control. Every move was sharp, deliberate—terrifyingly precise.

Marie adjusted the strap of her bag, gripping it tightly as she passed the bullpen. Officers were scattered at their desks, some half-asleep, others arguing over paperwork or laughing at a joke she couldn’t hear.

It all felt so normal, so detached from what she’d seen just hours ago.

And she couldn’t tell a soul.

Gordon had been adamant about that—no one could know about Batman’s involvement. The very thought made her stomach twist. Every instinct screamed to confide in someone, even if it was just to make sense of the surreal experience. But who? Bullock? He’d mock her for even suggesting Batman was real. Any of the rookies? They’d either think she was lying or report her for talking nonsense.

The weight of the secret felt heavier with every step.

She reached her desk, dropping her bag with a dull thud. The coffee she’d grabbed on the way in—lukewarm and already tasting burnt—sat untouched.

Instead, she found herself staring blankly at the files piled in front of her, their grim contents blurred by the noise in her head.

How did Gordon do it? Work with someone like Batman in the shadows for years and never let it show?

Marie shook her head and leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.

A restless energy had taken root in her, the kind that wouldn’t be satisfied until she had answers. But answers wouldn’t come by sitting here stewing in her thoughts.

“Hey, Manning.” Bullock’s gravelly voice broke through her daze. He loomed over her desk, holding a folder and chewing on the end of a toothpick. “You look like you’ve been hit by a truck. You sleep at all last night?”

“Some,” she lied, straightening up. “What’s up?”

“Gordon wants you in his office.” He tossed the folder onto her desk with a shrug. “Said it’s important.”

Marie’s pulse quickened. So much for easing into it—she’d planned to wait for the right moment to ask Gordon about Batman, maybe casually drop it into conversation over coffee. But nope, subtlety was dead, and Gordon was going straight for the jugular.

“Got it,” she said, trying to sound casual.

As Bullock wandered off, muttering about something unrelated, Marie grabbed the folder and stood. Her legs felt heavier than they should have as she crossed the bullpen toward Gordon’s office. Every step seemed to echo louder than the last. She wasn’t sure if it was exhaustion or nerves—or maybe both.

At the door, she paused to collect herself. Her hand hovered over the handle for a moment before she finally pushed it open.

Gordon looked up from his desk, his glasses catching the pale light of his desk lamp. His expression was calm but firm, the kind of look that told her she was about to be pulled deeper into whatever this was.

“Close the door, Manning,” he said, gesturing to the seat in front of him.

Marie obeyed, the faint click of the door shutting behind her amplifying the tension in the room. She sat down, clutching the folder tightly in her lap.

“Sounds like you had a rough night last night.” Gordon said, leaning back in his chair.

“You could say that,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt.

He nodded knowingly, then leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. “I’m guessing you have a lot of questions after right now.”

Marie met his gaze, her own uncertainty mirrored in his eyes. “More than I know what to do with.”

“Good,” Gordon said. “Because you’re going to need some of those answers if we’re going to make this work.”

Marie leaned back in her chair, waiting for Gordon to start, her heart pounding. He lit a cigarette, the tip briefly casting a glow over his tired face. He didn’t speak right away, taking a long drag as if he were weighing every word.

“I’ve been working with him for about five years,” Gordon said finally, his voice low. “It started when I was still a lieutenant, during one of Gotham’s darkest stretches.” He paused, exhaling smoke in a slow stream. “Back then, the city was… rotten. Crooked cops on every floor, mobsters running the show. I saw men I respected take bribes without a second thought. I thought about quitting every day.”

Marie stayed quiet, watching him closely, her gaze drawn to the hard lines in his face.

“Then Commissioner Loeb was murdered,” Gordon continued, his voice tightening. “And somehow, they handed me the job of commissioner. I was drowning, Manning. Didn’t know where to start. And then we had this case—women and children disappearing. Bodies turning up mutilated. It was…” He stopped, shaking his head. “The worst thing I’d ever seen. And I couldn’t crack it. We couldn’t crack it.”

Marie shifted in her seat, the weight of his words settling over her.

“Then Batman stepped in,” Gordon said, his tone sharpening. “Out of nowhere. He caught the bastard—a serial killer we didn’t even have on our radar. Delivered him to us on a silver platter. The guy was sentenced to life in Blackgate, and for the first time since I had started at GCPD, I felt like justice had actually been served. Because of him.”

Marie blinked, caught off guard. “Seriously?”

Gordon nodded, taking another pull from his cigarette. “After that, I kept working with him. Quietly. Only on cases we couldn’t touch—things way above what we can handle here. And let me tell you, the guy has resources. Military-grade tech, surveillance, communication equipment I didn’t even know existed. I don’t know where he gets it, and I don’t ask.”

“But you don’t know who he is?” she asked, incredulous.

“Not a damn thing,” Gordon said flatly. “And that’s part of why I trust him. He can’t be bought. The mob doesn’t even know who to bribe. Everything he does is for the city. I’d trust him with my life.”

Marie stared at him, her mind reeling. “And no one else knows?”

“No one,” Gordon said firmly. “It has to stay that way. People wouldn’t understand, and it’d paint a target on him—and on us.”

She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “So, what now? You want me to… work with him?”

Gordon nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ve set up a meeting for you two. Tonight at an old warehouse on the Southside. But I’ll warn you—his methods aren’t like ours. Be ready for that.”

Marie let out a shaky breath. “Okay. I’ll be ready.”

Gordon stubbed out his cigarette, his voice softening. “This doesn’t leave this room, Manning. Not a word. Not to anyone.”

She met his gaze and nodded, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “Understood.”

They sat in silence for a beat, the enormity of what she’d just learned sinking in.

—-------------------------------

Marie parked her car on the cracked asphalt just outside the old clothing factory, the beams from her headlights bouncing off its crumbling facade. The warehouse stood like a forgotten relic, its windows long shattered, leaving gaping holes that let the damp night air swirl freely inside.

The exterior was tagged with graffiti, layers of faded paint overlapping like an accidental mural. A rusted metal door hung crookedly on its hinges, creaking softly as the wind pushed against it.

As she stepped out of the car, pulling her coat tighter against the rain, her boots splashed into the forming puddles. She glanced around, noticing no other vehicles in sight. Does he drive? she wondered, peering into the darkness. Or does he just swing in from the rooftops like he owns the place? Her lips twitched in a brief smile at the thought. The idea of Batman in a car felt almost absurd. But then again, nothing about tonight—or about working with him—was normal. The thought sent a flicker of nerves down her spine. She wasn’t sure if it was the ominous setting or the idea of meeting him again that made her pulse quicken.

Marie pushed the rusted door open, stepping into the darkness, her coat soaked through as water dripped from the edges. Her flashlight sliced through the shadows, illuminating old machinery, discarded pallets, and the damp haze that clung to the air. The smell of mildew and oil lingered, mixing with the scent of rain seeping in from the outside.

Her boots splashed against the puddles, and the sound of her footsteps echoed too loudly in the cavernous space. She was tense, nerves stretched tight as every creak of the building made her heart race.

Then, a voice—low, calm, and startlingly close—cut through the stillness.

“Detective Manning.”

Marie froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She spun toward the voice, flashlight jerking upward. The beam hit nothing but shadows for a split second, then the silhouette of Batman emerged from the darkness. His figure was an imposing mass, his armor gleaming faintly in the weak light, the rain dripping off the edges of his cape.

“Jesus!” she gasped, dropping the flashlight. It clattered against the floor, skittering across the concrete.

“Goddamnit,” she muttered under her breath as she crouched down to grab it, her hands trembling slightly as she picked it back up.

Batman said nothing as he waited, watching her with that cold, unreadable gaze.

“I saw you at the docks,” he said, his voice steady, but the weight of his observation lingered.

Marie blinked. “Yeah, that was me.”

He took a step forward, his movements almost soundless. “You took the victim to the hospital. Is he okay?”

Marie hesitated, surprised by the question. “He’s in stable condition. Still shaken up, but he’ll pull through.”

Batman nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on her, sharp and calculating.

“The case you’re working on—the Southside homicides. What do you know so far?” His voice was less a question and more an assessment, like he was testing her.

Marie stood up straighter, trying to mask the unease creeping up her spine. “The victims are killed in different ways—mutilation, drowning, blunt force trauma. All with the same red lotus symbol. It points to organized crime, but the leads are scattered. Nothing concrete.”

Batman moved closer, his footsteps soundless against the concrete. “It’s not organized crime,” he said, voice cutting through the rain. “Not in the way you think.”

Her brow furrowed. “Then what is it?”

He didn’t answer immediately, instead glancing around the warehouse, as if weighing the space, the distance between them.

“It’s someone trying to send a message,” he said finally, his voice low and deliberate.

“Who?” she asked, her impatience creeping in.

“Likely the mob,” he replied, voice harder now. “But not just any mob—this is bigger than that. They operate in the shadows—trafficking, extortion, murder. The killings aren’t random. The victims were chosen, not just for their value, but as an example.”

Marie tilted her head, trying to piece it all together. “Chosen for what?”

Batman turned to her then, his gaze locking with hers. “As a warning.”

Her pulse quickened, the air between them thick with the weight of his words. “A warning for who?”

“Gotham,” Batman said flatly. “Whoever’s behind this is staking their claim. They’re trying to take control, to make the city’s underworld their own. The murders are their way of saying, ‘Gotham belongs to us now.’”

A shiver ran through her, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the rain or the gravity of his words. “And you’re sure it’s not just some random psychopath with a fetish for killing?”

He didn’t flinch, didn’t waver. “No,” he said, voice low and cutting through the sound of the rain. “This isn’t the work of a lone wolf. The mob’s too methodical, too ruthless. This isn’t some senseless murder spree—it’s a takeover. They’re using fear to get what they want.”

Marie’s breath hitched as the full scope of the situation began to settle in. “So, these murders aren’t just about power—they’re about sending a message to everyone.”

“Exactly.” Batman’s gaze hardened, if possible, even more. “And if we don’t stop them now, that message will spread until there’s no one left to stand in their way.”

Her heart raced, the stakes of the case suddenly becoming terrifyingly clear. She took a breath, the weight of it all sinking in. “So, what’s the next move?”

Batman stepped back, the rain glistening off his suit as he began to retreat into the shadows.

Batman’s gaze remained steady, unyielding. “Meet me here tomorrow. Midnight,” he said, his form shifting as he turned back into the darkness. “I’ll have more.”

“Wait—” Marie called out, her mind filled with questions about the case, but before she could finish, he was already gone, swallowed by the shadows as if he had never been there.

Marie stood alone in the echoing silence, her breath fogging in the cold air. The sound of the rain outside was deafening now, filling the space with its relentless assault. She tucked her flashlight back into her coat and made her way out of the warehouse.

The rain hit her like a wall when she stepped back into the storm. The city stretched out before her, dark and alive with possibilities. But for the first time, she felt like something was moving beneath the surface—something dangerous—and now, she was in the middle of it.

—-------------------------------

The rain hammered the roof of the warehouse, relentless and heavy as Marie stepped back inside. It was almost like last night hadn’t happened, yet everything felt different. The air was thick with the smell of damp metal and oil.

The faint sound of water dripping echoed through the cavernous space, filling the silence with an uneasy rhythm. Her boots slipped slightly on the slick concrete, but she kept moving toward the shadows, eyes searching for the familiar figure.

She spotted him before he spoke, a quick flicker of movement that made her smile despite herself.

“Early again, huh?” she muttered, stepping into the darkness beside him.

“Detective Manning.” Batman’s voice rumbled from the shadows, a cold, commanding presence.

Marie rolled her eyes. “If you’re gonna keep doing that whole ‘saying my name in the dark’ thing, at least say ‘hi’ first. That’s creepy as hell.” She pulled a fresh flashlight from her jacket pocket, holding it up. “By the way, you owe me a new flashlight. The one you scared the hell out of me with last night broke.” Her tone was lighthearted, though she could sense he wasn’t the type for jokes.

He didn’t even blink, still scanning the warehouse like it was the last place on earth. 

Marie sighed, feeling the smile slip from her face. She wasn’t expecting anything more from him.

“I think Falcone’s behind the murders,” Batman said, his voice low and tight. “His men were at the docks during the last attempted murder, and he’s been trying to take Gotham for years. This is his move to solidify his grip on the city.”

Marie let the weight of his words settle in her chest, a sharp knot forming in her stomach. “Falcone… again. Jesus, how has he not been caught yet?”

“Connections. Influence. He knows how to keep the right people in his pocket,” Batman said, a flicker of frustration in his voice. “It won’t be easy, but this is the lead we’ve got.”

Marie’s eyes narrowed. “So what’s the plan?”

“Meet me at the shipping containers near the Narrows in an hour,” Batman said, his gaze sharp. “Falcone will be monitoring a shipment there tonight.”

Marie nodded. “I’ll be there.”

As they parted ways, she hesitated, her curiosity bubbling to the surface. “Wait. Before you go—can I ask you something?” She shifted on her feet, trying to shake off the tension. “Your name… what should I call you?”

Batman’s gaze was unreadable as it met hers. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, until finally he spoke.

“Names don’t matter.”

Marie felt a twinge of disappointment but nodded anyway. “Right.”

When they arrived at the shipping containers, the dim light barely cut through the haze of fog hanging in the air. They moved quietly, boots crunching gravel as they made their way deeper into the warehouse. The containers loomed above them like silent giants, casting long shadows over the cold concrete floor.

Marie swept her flashlight across the stacked metal, pausing when something caught her eye. The air smelled of rust and oil, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. She motioned for Batman to follow her as she moved closer.

“This could be where Falcone’s hiding something,” Marie said, her voice cutting through the quiet. “We need something—anything—that ties him to the murders.”

Batman’s presence beside her was almost like a shadow, silent and watchful. “Falcone’s empire is huge,” he murmured. “Anything we find here could be the key.”

Before Marie could respond, the silence of the warehouse shattered—gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks of the shots echoing in the vast, empty space. The sound slammed into her chest like a punch, her heart kicking into overdrive as she instinctively hit the ground. She scrambled behind a metal shipping container, breath catching in her throat.

Her eyes darted around, scanning for movement in the dark.

Batman was already moving, a shadow in the chaos. His silhouette darted between pillars and crates with the precision of a predator, taking down one of Falcone’s men in a blur of fists and speed. It was over in seconds—no hesitation, no mercy.

Marie's heart pounded in her ears, her body still pressed against the cold concrete as she watched the brutality unfold. The man went down hard, Batman’s gloved hand wrapping around his throat, lifting him off his feet before slamming him into the ground with bone-jarring force.

Marie’s eyes flicked to the remaining attackers. Her breath quickened, but her mind was clear—this was her moment. She was fast, moving with a fluidity that matched Batman’s, closing the gap between herself and one of the thugs. A quick sidestep, then her boot slammed into the man’s ribs, sending him crashing into a stack of crates. He hit the ground hard, gasping for air as she pinned him down, her knee in his back, her hand already grabbing for his cuffs.

But then, she heard it—a scuff of boots, the rustle of bodies shifting, and she froze, a cold chill running down her spine. More of Falcone’s men were closing in, their guns raised, their eyes cold and intent. But it wasn’t the thugs that made her blood run cold—it was the cop.

Standing just beyond the edge of the shadows, a low-ranking officer from her precinct was with them. The realization hit her like a gut punch, and she swore under her breath. How long had this been going on?

Her fists clenched. The anger, the betrayal—it all swelled inside her. Her eyes locked on the officer, but before she could move, a voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

“Detective Manning.”

The words were smooth, too polished—like a man who had lived in power long enough to know he had everyone exactly where he wanted them. Marie’s stomach turned as the figure stepped into the dim light. Carmine Falcone, his expression unreadable, his gaze cold and calculating.

“I didn’t realize you’d moved up from catching petty thieves to playing with the big dogs.” His smile was thin, his voice a velvet-coated threat. “You looking to make a deal?”

Marie’s jaw clenched, her fingers tightening around her gun. The disgust was palpable, but she didn’t flinch. “I’m not here to make deals with you, Falcone. I’m here to bring you down.”

Falcone chuckled, a sound that didn’t reach his eyes. His gaze flicked to his men, a subtle gesture that said Don’t move. “And what makes you think that’s going to happen, Detective?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Marie held his gaze, her fingers twitching near her holster, but her body was too exposed—no cover, no room to move. She needed him to make a move first.

“You’re a sharp one,” Falcone continued, his voice thick with menace. He took a step closer, his polished shoes clicking against the concrete. “I’ve been keeping tabs on all the detectives in this precinct. You think I wouldn’t notice the ones with potential? The ones with... drive?” He let the words hang in the air like smoke, then smirked. “I know all about you, Marie Manning. Know where you live. That shithole apartment near the Narrows—hell, I wouldn’t even let my men live there. But I could get you out. Get you into a penthouse. You wouldn’t have to deal with the roaches, the mold, or the constant sound of sirens. Just think about it. A beautiful woman like you deserves better than that.”

His words hit her like a slap to the face, but she didn’t let it show. Her fists clenched tighter, fighting back the urge to throw herself at him, to end this once and for all.

Falcone’s smile deepened, as if he could see the rage flickering in her eyes. “All it takes is a little... compromise. A little understanding of how things work around here.”

Marie didn’t move. She didn’t flinch. “I’m not here to make deals with you, Falcone. I’m here to take you down.”

Falcone’s chuckle was cold, humorless. His gaze shifted toward his men, and with a flick of his wrist, he signaled them to move. “You don’t have to make this difficult. My offer’s still on the table. Think about it.” His tone was silk, smooth and persuasive.

Marie’s voice didn’t waver. “You’ll be behind bars, Falcone. Sooner than you think.”

For a long beat, Falcone didn’t respond. He studied her, weighing her words. Then, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, he turned, his coat billowing out as he signaled for his men to follow.

“We’ll see about that, Detective.” His voice was soft, final. And then, just as quickly as they had come, they melted into the shadows, disappearing as effortlessly as smoke.

The noise of the retreating footsteps faded, but the tension in the air lingered like static. Batman stepped out from his cover, his gaze sharp as it scanned the room. He walked toward her, his movements purposeful, his presence a quiet force.

Batman emerged from his cover, his eyes scanning the room, assessing the damage, the threats that had been neutralized. Then, his gaze landed on her, something flickering in his dark eyes.

“You did well,” he said, his voice softer than usual, though the weight of his words held a quiet admiration. “Not many would turn down a bribe like that.”

Marie exhaled slowly, trying to steady her heartbeat. “It’s not about the money. This city’s fucked up, and I’m not letting it stay that way.” Her voice was dry, the humor forced. “Though, I wouldn’t mind getting paid to get out of my hellhole of an apartment.”

Batman’s eyes softened ever so slightly behind his cowl, something human there that wasn’t often visible. “You’re one of the few I trust in this city,” he said quietly. “That’s not something I say lightly.”

Marie didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just nodded, her breath still unsteady. She bent down, her hands on her knees, trying to regain control of herself. “Fuck those assholes,” she muttered, her voice low but resolute.

Batman caught the tail end of her words, and for a moment, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the familiar grim expression.

“We need to keep moving,” he said, his tone shifting back to business. “Falcone’s not done yet.”

Marie didn’t answer. She simply followed him, her footsteps heavy but steady, the weight of the city pressing down on her. As they stepped into the rain, the downpour relentless as always, it felt—somehow—not as suffocating as it had before.

—-------------------------------

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold, silver light over the abandoned building. The structure, once bustling with life, now stood in a state of decay, its windows shattered, the walls tagged with graffiti like some forgotten relic of Gotham’s dark side.

Marie and Batman stood at the entrance, their silhouettes framed by the broken structure. The wind howled, carrying with it the distant sounds of the city—a muffled cacophony of sirens and traffic. They had agreed to meet here, following whispers of the building being a hideout for one of Gotham’s elusive crime syndicates. But the truth remained shrouded in darkness, just like the city itself.

The quiet was almost eerie, the kind of silence that weighed heavily on the soul, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the leaky ceiling above. Marie and Batman moved through the rubble-strewn entrance with practiced caution, scanning for any signs of danger.

As Batman's eyes swept the darkened space, his posture rigid, Marie couldn't help but glance at him. The way he moved, the way he seemed to exist in a constant state of alertness—it was both fascinating and unnerving. She had worked with him for over a week now, and yet, there was always something new about him she hadn’t quite figured out.

The silence between them stretched, thick and oppressive, before Marie finally spoke, her voice cutting through the stillness. “Do you ever get tired of this?” she asked, her tone casual, but with an underlying sincerity. “I mean, Gotham’s corruption and crime—it’s like a never-ending battle. Does it ever wear you down?”

Batman didn’t look at her, his eyes fixed on the shadows that clung to the building’s dark corners, his mind focused entirely on the mission. But his voice, when it came, was rough, thoughtful. “It’s hard to avoid the fatigue,” he admitted, his words hanging in the air between them. “But knowing that every action, every investigation might lead to something—might lead to a breakthrough—that’s what keeps me going. Gotham’s problems aren’t solved overnight, but every small victory makes a difference.”

Marie nodded slowly, her hands tucked deep into the pockets of her blazer, her gaze momentarily drifting across the room. “I get that. I’m still new to the homicide division, but even in my short time, it feels like the deeper I dig, the more layers of filth I uncover. It’s fucked up.”

Batman’s jaw tightened slightly at her words, but his voice softened, an unexpected empathy in his tone. “I’ve been at this for years,” he said, almost to himself. “There are moments when it feels like nothing’s changing, like I’m just hitting brick walls. But... there are small victories. And they make it feel worth it. Even when it’s hard to see the bigger picture.”

Marie glanced over at him, her expression softening. She studied his profile, trying to understand him in a way she hadn’t before. There was something raw in his voice, something unguarded that wasn’t typical of the Batman she knew. And for a moment, she wondered how often he let anyone see that side of him. How often he let himself feel anything at all.

“What made you decide to become... well, Batman?” she asked, the question slipping out before she could second-guess herself.

There was a long pause. Batman didn’t respond right away. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his expression unreadable, as if her question had caught him off guard. But then, after a beat, his voice came again, quieter this time, almost hesitant. “It started with a personal loss,” he said, his words low, distant. “People I love were murdered when I was young.”

The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy and raw, and for a moment, Marie wasn’t sure what to say. She wanted to offer something, anything, but she knew there was nothing she could say that would take away the weight of what he had endured.

Instead, she gave him the gift of silence, walking alongside him as they moved deeper into the abandoned building. The quiet was comfortable now—an understanding passing between them. She didn’t push him to say more. She didn’t have to. She could feel the weight of his pain without him speaking it again.

After a few minutes, Batman continued, his voice just a little softer than before. “I vowed to prevent others from experiencing that kind of pain,” he said, the words thick with something Marie couldn’t quite place. “It became more than just revenge. It’s about making sure that no one else suffers the same way I did. I can’t change what happened, but I can do everything in my power to stop it from happening to someone else.”

Marie’s heart ached as she listened to him. She had always known that the Batman was driven by something deep and personal, but hearing him speak about it—hearing the honesty in his voice—struck her in a way she wasn’t expecting.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, her voice soft with empathy. “I can imagine how hard that must have been.”

He didn’t reply right away, but she could feel the weight of his gaze, even without looking at him. His silence spoke volumes. He was letting her in, even if just a little. And that surprised her—because she didn’t expect someone like him to ever allow anyone that close.

“My father was a cop,” Marie said, trying to break the tension, her voice more tentative now. “He always told me the best way to fight corruption was to stand up to it—no matter how daunting it seemed. I didn’t get it back then. But now... I’m starting to understand.”

Batman’s head turned, just slightly, his gaze meeting hers for the briefest of moments. There was something in his eyes—something almost vulnerable—that made her feel like she wasn’t the only one carrying the weight of this fight.

“You’re doing more than you realize,” he said, his voice low but genuine. “It takes courage to stand against the tide, especially here. Gotham’s a tough place to fight for, but you’re doing it.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of Marie’s lips, a little surprised by his words. “Thanks,” she replied, a bit breathless. “I guess we both have our reasons for doing what we do. Sometimes... it’s nice to know someone else understands the weight of it all.”

Batman nodded, his expression unreadable again as he turned his attention back to the shadows, but there was something different in the way he did it—more relaxed, less guarded. “We might come from different worlds,” he said, his voice carrying a rare warmth, “but we share a common goal.”

Marie watched him for a moment, her thoughts racing. She had always known he was different from the other people in Gotham, but there was something about him now—a depth, a sense of connection—that she hadn’t expected.

She wasn’t sure what it meant yet, but it was there. A bond. Something that went beyond just the job. And for once, Gotham didn’t feel quite as lonely.

The night stretched on as they continued their investigation, but the silence between them was no longer uncomfortable. It felt... connected. Like two people who, despite their differences, were slowly finding something they could share. And for Batman—perhaps for the first time in a long while—he didn’t feel so alone in the fight.

As Marie watched him, her gaze drifted to the silhouette of his figure—tall and imposing against the shadows. The black cowl that wrapped around his head was familiar by now, but tonight, there was something different in the way the light caught its edges.

The dark fabric seemed to blend seamlessly with the night, leaving only the sharp lines of his face visible beneath it. His jaw was strong, angular, a faint outline of stubble tracing its edge—something she noticed more when he wasn’t speaking, when the mask didn't conceal the small details that gave him a sense of humanity.

She could tell, even through the layers of his disguise, that his face was handsome. The sharpness of his features, the curve of his lips that rarely curved into anything resembling a smile—it was a face that could be considered beautiful, if only anyone could see it fully.

He didn’t show much of it, and she suspected that was on purpose. He’d rather remain an enigma than be scrutinized like everyone else in Gotham.

His jaw clenched as he surveyed the building, the muscle working beneath the dark fabric of his suit. Marie could feel the intensity of his focus, the way his every move seemed calculated, deliberate. There was something vulnerable in the way his lips pressed together—something more human than the mask let on.

Even now, as she looked at him, trying to catch a glimpse of the man beneath, she knew he wasn’t someone who allowed people to get close enough to truly see him. Yet, for a moment, she felt like she was standing just a little closer than before, like she was on the verge of discovering something hidden under the shadows.

—-------------------------------

Weeks had passed, and here they were again, back in the warehouse where they had their first official meeting. The rundown building had somehow become a strange refuge amid the chaos of Gotham’s endless night.

They hadn’t made a breakthrough on the case yet—not since their run-in with Falcone weeks ago. The answers felt just out of reach, every lead seeming to dry up before they could chase it down.

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t even close to comfortable. But it was where they had to be. Marie was hunched over a stack of case files, her eyes bleary but determined. Her mind raced through the details, each piece of evidence trying to form a bigger picture.

The room was littered with empty coffee cups, a faint smell of dust and decay in the air, and the constant hum of frustration that echoed between them.

Marie took a break, grabbing the container of Chinese takeout she’d brought along. She pulled out the chopsticks with a sigh of relief, letting herself have a moment of indulgence in the midst of the madness. A small comfort in the chaos.

Batman, standing by the wall, watched her with a curiosity that almost surprised him. The way she settled into her own rhythm, how she made the mundane moments bearable—it was... unexpected.

“You’re doing well,” Batman said, his voice deep and cutting through the silence. “You’ve got a knack for cutting through the noise.”

Marie paused mid-bite, looking up at him. She took a thoughtful moment to chew a dumpling before responding, her voice warm despite the exhaustion she wore like a second skin. “Thanks. Sometimes, I feel pretty useless here. I’ve made more progress with you than I could’ve on my own.”

Batman’s gaze flickered to the takeout container in her hands. His expression remained hidden beneath the cowl, but there was a certain curiosity in the way he regarded her. “Is that takeout?”

Marie’s lips curved into a small, amused grin. “Yep. It’s my survival food. You don’t eat, do you?”

Batman tilted his head slightly, considering the question. There was a moment of silence before he answered, a hint of something almost resembling amusement behind the mask. “I do. But not on stakeouts.”

Marie laughed softly, her weariness forgotten for a moment. She popped another dumpling in her mouth and then leaned back, stretching her tired arms. “You know, I was just thinking—what does a bat eat anyway? Must be a pretty weird diet. Bugs?”

Batman’s posture shifted ever so slightly. For a split second, he considered the question before giving a dry, almost amused response. “Not bugs. Mostly protein bars and coffee.”

Marie blinked in surprise, the smallest smile curling at the corner of her lips. She wasn’t sure why, but hearing Batman share even the smallest bit of personal information felt like a breakthrough. She knew nothing about him—his name, his life, who he really was under the mask—but now she knew his snack preferences. It was something. It was a start.

“That’s a diet fit for a superhero. No wonder you’re always so serious,” she teased, a playful tone creeping into her voice.

Batman didn’t respond right away. He seemed to contemplate her words before offering his usual reply. “Seriousness is part of the job.”

Marie shook her head, rolling her eyes, though the smile never left her face. “And eating takeout is part of mine. We all have our quirks.”

For a moment, Batman’s gaze softened—just slightly. A hint of amusement flickered behind the dark mask, the edge of his lips pulling upwards for the briefest of moments.

“Glad you’re finding a way to stay sane through all this,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost like he was letting his guard down just a fraction.

Marie looked up at him, her eyes meeting his—she couldn’t see the full depth of what was behind the mask, but for the first time, she felt like she was seeing a little more of the man underneath. “Same to you. We’re both making it work.”

The quiet hum of the warehouse, the flickering lights, the cold air that pressed in from the cracked windows—it all faded into the background for a moment. It wasn’t the case they were working on. It wasn’t the city they were fighting for. It was just them, two people sharing an unlikely, quiet moment in the chaos.

And somehow, that made all the difference.

Batman gave a slight nod, as if acknowledging something unspoken between them, before turning his attention back to the task at hand. The air still hung heavy with tension, but the brief connection they shared lingered, an invisible thread drawing them just a little closer than before.

As they continued their work, the sense of camaraderie between them felt more solid—more real. Something was starting to change. Something was beginning to grow.

[ggjunkie]

Showmance

27,318 words

Adam x reader

Musical theatre! AU; College! AU

For anyone who'd rather read it on here:

You straighten out your clothes, fingers brushing off invisible lint as you take a deep breath, the excitement bubbling just beneath your composed exterior. The echoing sounds of chatter and nervous footsteps fill the audition room lobby, where a group of hopefuls wait for their names to be called. It's finally musical season at your university, and you’ve jumped on the train with unrestrained enthusiasm.

This semester’s show is Little Shop of Horrors, a classic choice that feels like putting on a comfortable pair of your favorite pants—familiar and comfortable. Though it's a basic pick, you definitely aren’t complaining; this is your chance to shine. For weeks, you’ve been meticulously preparing, working with your private vocal and acting coaches, honing every note and every intonation for this audition.

As a musical theatre major, a spot in the chorus is practically a given, but you’re not one to settle for just that. No, no, no. You have bigger ambitions. Your eyes are set on Audrey II, the mysterious talking, and singing plant. It's a role that demands charisma, vocal prowess, and a certain je ne sais quoi that you’re confident you possess. Or at least you really, really hope so.

Of course, you also understand you aren’t guaranteed a role! It’s really no biggie, you’re just excited.

Although theatre wasn’t always your passion, taking the class in middle school had spurred something in you. Since then, you’ve worked hard at your craft. And it’s definitely paid off! You managed to make it into multiple audition-based schools. At the memory, you pat yourself on the back.

Middle school was where it all began. You still remember the thrill of your first performance, the way the stage lights felt warm and comforting, and the applause that followed. It ignited a spark in you, a passion that has only grown stronger with time.

In high school, you faced more challenges. The competition was fierce, and the stakes were higher, but you rose to the occasion. You worked tirelessly, attending acting workshops, vocal lessons, and dance classes. You balanced your schoolwork with your theatrical pursuits, often sacrificing sleep and social activities to chase your dreams.

When it came time to apply for colleges, you aimed high, auditioning for some of the best programs in the country. The acceptance letters that followed were proof of your hard work and dedication. You had made it into multiple audition-based schools, each one a testament to your talent and perseverance.

Now, standing here, you can't help but feel a swell of pride. You've come a long way from that middle school elective. You've faced rejections and setbacks, but you've also experienced triumphs and growth. Every step of the journey has been worth it, and you're excited for what lies ahead.

Eventually, you finally hear your name called, pulling you out of your thoughts. You smile at the runner, a freshman eager to get their required hours in, and hand them your resume. They take it gratefully, glancing over the neatly printed sheet as they lead you into the audition room. It’s a black box theater, a square room with black walls and flooring. The stark simplicity of the space serves as a blank canvas, allowing the directors to transform it into whatever they need, just as they have for these auditions.

Their table is set up near the back, papers and coffee cups scattered across its surface, giving them a perfect vantage point to observe and take notes without being overheard. They chat quietly among themselves, their voices a low murmur that blends into the background hum of the building. You can feel their eyes on you as you step into the room, the anticipation almost tangible in the air.

Near the door, a piano sits, and at the bench is what you can guess to be your accompanist—a tall, chubby brunette with a messy sort of look about him. He’s honestly kind of cute, but you can’t afford to focus on that right now. You have an audition to nail.

You greet the directors with a confident smile and a nod, then march over to the piano. Handing the accompanist your binder, you ensure it’s open to the marked sheet music. Like a seasoned performer, you’ve already highlighted the 32-bar cut of your song, clearly indicating where he should start and stop.

As he scans the music, you take a moment to explain your plan. You point out the precise places where you’ll be taking breaths and describe the tempo you have in mind. He listens attentively, nodding along as you speak, his fingers instinctively moving over the keys as if mentally rehearsing the piece.

You glance over at the directors, expecting them to be ready, but they’re still shuffling papers and folders on their desk, likely comparing notes from previous auditions. A flicker of impatience might cross another's face, but not yours. Instead, you smile, savoring the rush of adrenaline that auditions always bring.

The anticipation heightens the moment, and you use the extra time to center yourself even more. You roll your shoulders, subtly release the tension in your hands, and take another calming breath. The hum of quiet activity behind the directors' table, the muted clink of pens and rustle of paper, only amplifies your focus.

"So, got any plans after this?"

You frown, snapping back to the present as you turn to the accompanist. "Excuse me?"

He smirks, leaning in slightly. "I can take you out on the town, show you a real good time. My roommate is even out for the night, if you know what I mean." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

You scrunch your nose, not appreciating the distraction from your audition. You need to get in the zone and focus, but he’s throwing you off. You can entertain the idea after the audition, not during. However, at your reaction, he takes it as a no and furrows his brows. He starts to say something, probably something rude, before you walk off.

You head to the tape marking your spot on the floor, feeling the familiar buzz of excitement mingled with nerves. The directors stare at you blankly, their faces giving nothing away, but you know better than to let it get to you. This is your moment.

Taking a deep breath, you slate in, introducing yourself with a clear, confident voice

“I’ll be performing the song ‘Jenny’s Blues’ from ‘It Shoulda Been You,’ and a monologue from ‘Confrontation’ by Kelly Powell.” You smile before dipping your head, breathing in, and starting your piece. Your voice is strong, resonant, effortlessly sliding into the comfortable range of the song. Each note is delivered with precision, every word infused with emotion. You make sure to breathe deeply, expanding your diaphragm to support your powerful vocals.

However, halfway through your audition cut, you hear the piano falter and fumble, the notes coming out jumbled. You pause for a split second, a flicker of concern passing through your mind, but you quickly regain your focus. Mistakes happen, and you're determined not to let it throw you off. You press on, maintaining your composure and delivering a flawless performance despite the hiccup.

As you reach the climax of the song, you hold out your money note, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. The accompanist manages to catch up, albeit a little off rhythm, but you don’t let it deter you. With a final flourish, you finish the song.

You manage a quick glance at the accompanist before looking back– but wait, hold on. You look back again. That fucker has a smug smirk plastered across his face. His eyes twinkle with amusement, and suddenly it all clicks into place: He tried to mess you up on purpose because you ‘rejected’ him. Any chance you had with him suddenly goes straight down the drain, and now you're fuming.

You grit your teeth, trying to tamp down the surge of anger that threatens to consume you. How dare he sabotage your audition like that? But you refuse to let his petty actions derail your performance. Instead, you channel that newfound adrenaline, that simmering rage, into your audition.

With renewed determination, you throw yourself into the monologue, each word dripping with raw emotion. Your voice crackles with intensity as you inhabit the character, every gesture charged with conviction. The room seems to pulse with energy, your presence commanding attention as you deliver a performance that's nothing short of electrifying.

Well, not like you’d think as much.

You perform your piece, and as you finish, you try not to beat yourself up about it. It was… okay. A little frustrating, perhaps, because you ran more on muscle memory and pettiness than actually existing in the moment, but the dedication and hard work you had put into it still shone through. You remind yourself that perfection is an elusive goal, and what truly matters is the passion and effort you poured into your performance.

As for the song, you try not to dwell on it too much. Otherwise, you know you’ll get stuck in your perfectionist head, picking apart every single detail until it drives you mad. Instead, you choose to focus on the positives, reminding yourself of the moments where you truly connected with the material and let your talent shine through.

You take a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over you now that the audition is over. Whatever the outcome, you gave it your all, and that’s something to be proud of.

You thank the directors, offering them a quick but polite goodbye, and head over to the piano to retrieve your binder. The pianist smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he hands you the binder. But as you reach out to take it, he doesn’t let go. You tug gently, expecting him to release it, but his grip remains firm.

Your frustration mounts as you give the binder another tug, but still, he refuses to hand it over. With a growing sense of annoyance, you pull harder, and finally, he lets go. But instead of handing it to you properly, he lets it slip from his fingers, and it drops unceremoniously to the floor with a thud.

This bitch.

Instead of giving him the satisfaction of seeing you lose your cool, you bend down gracefully, feeling his eyes linger on your backside, and pick up the binder. Straightening up with a sense of quiet determination, you shoot him a subtle, sour look, and exit through the door.

–

You needed to be pinched awake.

There it was, plain as day—your name listed next to Audrey II. The role you'd yearned for, sweated for, poured your heart and soul into securing. And now, here it was, yours for the taking. You stare at the cast list, almost disbelieving, as if expecting the letters to rearrange themselves at any moment. But no, there it remains—your name boldly printed beside the coveted role.

Despite the adrenaline coursing through your veins and the excitement threatening to bubble over, you find yourself remarkably composed. It's as if a serene calm has settled over you, masking the tempest of emotions swirling beneath the surface. You're totally normal about this, you tell yourself, even as your heart races with exhilaration.

But inwardly, you're anything but calm. You're ecstatic, over the moon, practically floating on air. It's a dream come true, a validation of all the hard work, late nights, and sacrifices you've made in pursuit of your passion. And yet, there's a sense of quiet gratitude mingled with the jubilation—a recognition of the privilege bestowed upon you, the opportunity to bring this iconic character to life.

As you continue to scan the rest of the cast list, a few of your friends approach, their faces beaming with genuine happiness and excitement for you. They pat you on the back and offer heartfelt congratulations, their words a chorus of support and admiration. You take it all in stride, offering each of them an easy smile and a gracious thank you. At one point, you even go as far as to herd some of them into a group hug.

As you continue down the cast list, you recognize a few names, but none that you're particularly close with. Still, you can't help but feel a sense of optimism as you imagine the bonds that will form over the course of rehearsals. After all, there's nothing quite like the camaraderie that comes from working together towards a common goal.

One name stands out among the rest—Quinn, the guy playing Seymour. Memories of your collaboration on a project in Theatre History come flooding back, and you can't help but smile at the thought of working with him again. You remember how seamlessly you worked together, bouncing ideas off each other and complementing each other's strengths. With any luck, that chemistry will translate into a dynamic partnership on stage.

You can already envision the two of you bringing Seymour and Audrey II to life, each playing off the other's energy and timing. It's an exciting prospect, and you can't wait to dive into rehearsals and see how your dynamic evolves.

And then there's the puppet—your puppet. God, you were so excited for your puppet.

Still riding high on the euphoria of landing the role, you feel as light as a feather. It's as if you're floating on cloud nine, sipping Shirley Temples and being pampered like royalty. Every step you take feels effortless, every breath filled with a sense of elation. You glide all the way to rehearsal, anticipation buzzing beneath your skin.

But as you step into the rehearsal room, the bubble of bliss threatens to burst. There, standing before you, is the accompanist from before—the same one who tried to sabotage your audition. Instantly, the weight of reality comes crashing down, dragging you back to earth with a resounding thud.

You can feel his gaze boring into you, a silent challenge in his eyes. You roll your eyes in response, refusing to let him see how much his presence rattles you. At least he doesn’t seem too thrilled to see you either, his lip curling into a sneer as if he were growling in disdain.

Redirecting your attention back to the room, you notice that seats have been pulled to create a circle, a common setup for read-throughs. Your eyes scan the space, and you catch Quinn's enthusiastic wave, his smile infectious. You feel a sense of relief flood through you, grateful for the easy decision on where to sit, and you make your way over to join him.

"Hey!" he greets, his excitement palpable. "Congrats on Audrey II!"

You return his smile, the warmth of his congratulations washing over you. "Thanks! And congrats on Seymour! You definitely deserve it," you reply, genuinely happy for him.

The two of you strike up a conversation, the easy rapport between you quickly filling the air with laughter and shared excitement. But as you chat, you can't shake the feeling of someone's eyes on you. You glance around discreetly, your gaze landing on Adam, who's peering at you with a curious expression.

You lean over to Quinn, a puzzled frown creasing your brow. "So, why's the pianist here?"

Quinn follows your gaze before turning back to you, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Adam? I think he's getting extra credit for this. He's a music major, so... It's kinda cool."

You shrug your shoulders, a bemused expression on your face. It makes sense that Adam would be here for extra credit, but what doesn’t make sense is why he's glaring daggers at you. All you did was turn him down, and then get upset because he tried to sabotage your audition. What a dick.

"Are y'all exes or something?"

You shake your head, a perplexed frown forming on your lips. "No, definitely not."

"Then why is he glaring at you like you killed his dog?" Quinn presses, his curiosity piqued.

You roll your eyes, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "He tried asking me out in my audition, and I didn't respond because I was trying to lock in."

Quinn's eyes widen in disbelief. "Oh my god, you should've totally said yes! He's a total hunk!"

You can't help but let out a wry chuckle, acknowledging the truth in Quinn's words. "Yeah, he's definitely hot," you admit. "But he's a dick though. He purposely messed up my backing accompaniment."

At that, Quinn sucks in a sharp breath before nodding solemnly. “So just a one night stand.”

At Quinn's suggestion, you cringe, feeling a surge of indignation rising within you. "What?" you squawk incredulously. "No! I'm not sleeping with him!"

“Sleeping with who?”

As the new voice breaks through the conversation, you and Quinn turn to see a girl– probably playing Audrey, your brain retorts. She's thin and gorgeous, her presence commanding attention. It’s probably best to keep her away from Adam.

However, when you glance over to see Adam's reaction, you're surprised to find that he hasn't even spared the girl a passing glance. Instead, his focus remains fixed on you, his glare as intense as ever. Annoyance prickles at the back of your mind, and you return his glare with equal intensity.

Adam seems to realize that you're looking at him, and for a moment, you see a flicker of something cross his features. But in a swift attempt to maintain his cool guy facade—or perhaps because he enjoys the attention—he smirks and throws up his hands in a playful gesture, as if suggesting a game of rock, paper, scissors.

You surprise him by joining in.

Rock… Paper… Scissors… Shoot!

But instead of throwing one of the three conventional options, you catch Adam off guard by flipping him off, a gesture that leaves no room for misinterpretation. With a satisfied smirk, you turn your attention back to Quinn and the girl, refusing to give Adam the satisfaction of any further reaction.

“Hi!” The girl’s voice is perky and energetic. “Sorry, I hope I wasn't intruding with my earlier question. I’m Sadai! You’re playing Audrey II, huh? That’s pretty cool! I’m excited about your puppets.”

At that, you perk up. “Yeah, me too!”

She glances away before leaning in, just as you had done before. “I don’t mean to overstep but… I can't help but notice a certain someone’s eyes on you. Did you break up or something?”

You frown, sinking into your seat. “No, why do y’all keep asking me that…”

“Well, that’s the more logical explanation.” Quinn pipes up.

“There’s an explanation?” Sadai grins. “Spill!”

As your director calls for everyone's attention, the lively chatter in the room gradually subsides, replaced by an air of anticipation. Rehearsal is about to begin, and you can feel the energy buzzing in the air.

When it comes time for Adam’s introduction, it's surprisingly more formal than what you would’ve thought. But that's probably because your director is right next to him.

“I’m Adam,” he says, his tone serious and professional, “and I’ll be the accompanist for rehearsals. I’m also a part of the actual band you’ll be performing with.”

You can't help but roll your eyes at him. It's a stark contrast to his earlier antics, and you can't shake off the feeling of disbelief at his behavior. You stick your tongue out at him.

As Adam clacks his teeth in response to your gesture, a strange sensation washes over you. It's a fleeting moment of amusement mixed with something else—something you can't quite put your finger on. You quickly dismiss the thought, shaking your head to clear it.

As the read-through gets underway, you find yourself slipping into the mindset of Audrey II, the iconic character you're tasked with bringing to life. It's a role unlike any you've played before, and you can't help but feel a surge of excitement mingled with apprehension. With each line you deliver, you try to embody the essence of the character, exploring different nuances and inflections.

But despite your best efforts, you can't shake the feeling that your choices aren't quite hitting the mark. They're not big enough, not bold enough—at least not by your own standards. Still, you refuse to beat yourself up about it. It's only a read-through, after all, a chance to explore the character and experiment with different interpretations.

However, the distraction of Adam's antics doesn't help matters. Every time you say a line, you can feel his eyes on you, making faces and mocking you. It's infuriating, to say the least, but you try to push past the distraction and focus on the task at hand.

Adam can get fucked.

–

As the ballet class draws closer, the familiar excitement begins to bubble up inside of you. You eagerly anticipate the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of dance once again. Dressed in your favorite leotard and tights, you feel a sense of comfort and familiarity wash over you. The snug fit of the leotard and the sleek lines of the tights serve as a second skin, allowing you to move freely and gracefully without any hindrance.

As you enter the studio, you take a moment to soak in the atmosphere—the polished wood floors, the mirrored walls, the soft lighting casting a warm glow over the space. You’ve always made a habit to arrive early to class, giving yourself ample time to prepare both mentally and physically. Taking your place at the barre, you begin with a series of gentle pliés, allowing your muscles to awaken and loosen with each movement. From there, you move through a sequence of tendus, jetés, and dégagés, each step flowing seamlessly into the next.

As the warm-up progresses, you feel your body gradually opening up, the tightness in your muscles giving way to a sense of suppleness and strength. You revel in the sensation of your limbs stretching and extending, reaching for the ceiling with each grand battement and arabesque.

But it's during the stretch routine that you truly lose yourself in the moment. Finding a spot on the floor, you lower yourself into your middle splits, your muscles protesting slightly as you sink deeper into the stretch. With each breath, you feel yourself melting into the floor, your body becoming one with the music that fills the room.

But as you're bent over, laying your chest on the floor, you're suddenly aware of a presence behind you. Startled, you lift your gaze to meet the reflection in the dance mirrors, and your heart skips a beat as you see Adam standing there, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Adam.”

“That’s my name, baby. Go ahead and practice screaming it for tonight.”

You ignore that. “This isn’t an open class. You should leave.”

“Aw you’re looking out for me, how sweet. Good news though. I’ve been invited, bitch.”

You finally turn and look him in the eye. “Don’t call me that.”

Adam raises his hands in a mock gesture of surrender, but his smirk remains firmly in place. "Woof. Rough subject, huh?" he quips, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Alright, what would you prefer for me to call you? Sugartits? Sweet thing? Mine?”

Your patience wearing thin, you shoot Adam a withering glare. "I'd rather you leave.”

Adam's grin only widens at your request. "Again, I can't," he replies, his tone smug. "I need this extra credit."

Confusion furrows your brows as you try to make sense of his words. "What do you mean?"

His smile widens even further, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm playing piano for your class," he reveals.

"Oh god.”

Feeling the ache in your muscles, you mindlessly begin to pull yourself out of your middle splits, sensing that you're warmed up enough for the time being. But before you can fully relax, Adam's voice cuts through the air, drawing your attention back to him.

"You know what stretch might be good for you?" he asks.

Your eyebrows knit together in suspicion, wary of whatever suggestion he might have up his sleeve.

“Baby pose or whatever it’s called.” he licks his teeth.

“...Do you mean child’s pose?”

“I’m not sure. Why don’t you show me and we’ll find out. If you’re correct, you get a reward.”

The retort slips out before you can stop it, your frustration boiling over. "Go to hell.”

Adam's expression shifts into something more serious. "Hey, that's not funny,"

You're taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor, surprised by the hint of offense in his voice. "You're... religious?"

Adam's lips quirk into a wry smile, always ready to talk about himself. "Minoring in religious studies, babes.”

“And you act like this?”

Adam looks genuinely offended. “Hey! God loves all His creations.”

You decide to test the waters, aware that this isn't just a question about religion, but more about understanding Adam. “So, you’re okay with gay people?”

“What kind of porn do you think I watch?”

“You watch gay porn?” What the fuck.

“Only the girls– it’s hot as fuck. Besides, look at you– I’ve disrespected everything about you except your pronouns.”

Well you’ve got to give him that.

As your instructor walks into the room, effectively diverting your attention from the unsettling exchange with Adam, you're grateful for the interruption. She calls Adam over, and you watch as he trails obediently toward her, unable to shake off the lingering annoyance from the wink he sends in your direction. The gesture sends a wave of bile rising in your throat, leaving you feeling unsettled and off-kilter.

Thankfully, the start of class offers a welcome distraction as you begin with barre exercises. The familiar structure of the routine allows you to slip into autopilot, your muscles responding to the familiar movements with practiced precision. Despite the discomfort of the exercises, you push through, knowing that each repetition brings you one step closer to improvement.

When the instructor calls for places to run the combination, your heart skips a beat as you realize it's finally your turn. You take a deep breath, mentally preparing yourself to showcase the combination you've been practicing diligently.

But before you can fully focus on the task at hand, you notice Adam's persistent attempts to catch your eye in the mirror. His gaze feels like a weight on your shoulders, but you steel yourself, determined not to let his presence distract you.

As the instructor calls for Adam to take his place at the piano, you can't help but feel a sense of relief wash over you. With him occupied at the keys, you're free to focus solely on your own performance without the added pressure of his scrutiny.

As you wait for your turn to perform the combination, you can't help but find yourself drawn to Adam's piano playing. Despite the tension between you, there's no denying the skill and finesse with which he handles the keys. Each note flows seamlessly from his fingertips, filling the room with a melodic richness that captivates your senses.

You watch in quiet admiration as he navigates the piano with ease, his fingers dancing across the keys with precision and grace. There's a gentle quality to his playing, a delicate touch that belies his earlier brashness. It's clear why he's been enlisted to help with productions like Little Shop of Horrors and ballet classes—he possesses a rare talent that really elevates the performances he accompanies.

As you square your shoulders and turn out from your hips, preparing to execute the combination you've practiced tirelessly, you can feel Adam's eyes boring into you from across the room. Despite the tension that lingers between you, you refuse to let his presence throw you off course.

With a deep breath, you begin to move, allowing the music to guide your every step. Despite the lingering doubt that Adam's presence instills in you, the music never falters, reaffirming your belief that his attempts to sabotage you during the audition were indeed intentional.

But you refuse to dwell on the past, pushing aside the nagging thoughts and focusing solely on the dance. As you move through the combination, something feels different. It's as if you've suddenly become one with the music, feeling its rhythm pulsating through your veins and guiding your movements with an effortless grace.

A quick glance in Adam's direction reveals that he too is caught up in the magic of the moment, his expression mirroring your own sense of connection to the music. Despite the tension that exists between you, there's a shared understanding in that fleeting glance—a recognition of the power and beauty of the music that transcends any animosity or resentment. In other words, you can forgive him in this moment.

In that moment, as you dance to the haunting melody of the piano, you feel a sense of liberation wash over you. All the worries and doubts that had plagued you before melt away.

As you're swept up in the exhilaration of the dance, an unexpected twist of fate brings you crashing to the floor as your ankle buckles beneath you. Embarrassment floods your senses as you find yourself sprawled on the ground, the sudden halt to your movement jarring and disorienting.

But before you can fully process what's happened, a kind-hearted classmate rushes to your aid, offering you a supportive hand and helping you to your feet. Despite your attempts to brush off the incident with a forced smile, the humiliation of the fall lingers, casting a shadow over your confidence.

With your ankle throbbing painfully, you're guided out of the room by your compassionate classmate, grateful for their support and understanding. As you limp away from the dance studio, you can feel Adam's eyes following your every move, his gaze burning into your back like a weighty presence.

–

Thankfully, you hadn’t torn or broken anything. All that came out of that incident was a rolled ankle. The recovery was straightforward—alternating between icing and heating it. Before you knew it, your ankle was back to normal. You were able to rotate it without any stinging or pain.

The relief was immense. You had been worried that the injury might keep you from participating fully in rehearsals. Right before you walked into ballet class, you tested your ankle carefully, rotating it and putting a little weight on it. No pain. Perfect.

When you push open the doors to the space, Adam is already seated at the piano, idly messing with the keys. You know Adam never made a habit of being early to this class—especially since he didn’t need to be. During warm-ups, your instructor usually played music from her speakers. So why would he be here early?

Curious, you linger near the door for a moment, observing him. His fingers dance over the keys with a casual grace, producing a soft, almost melancholic melody. It's unlike the boisterous, cocky persona he usually projects. For a moment, he seems lost in the music, unaware of his surroundings.

You clear your throat softly as you walk further into the room. Adam’s head snaps up, and for a split second, you see a flicker of something—surprise, perhaps—before he masks it with his usual smirk.

“Good morning,” you say, keeping your tone neutral.

“Morning,” he replies, his fingers pausing on the keys. “Didn’t expect anyone else to be here this early”

“Same goes for you,” you counter, setting your bag down and beginning your stretches.

Adam shrugs, looking back at the piano. “Just felt like playing a bit before everyone else got here.”

You raise an eyebrow, skeptical but not wanting to pry. “Well, don’t let me stop you.”

He resumes playing, the notes filling the room with a soft, intricate tune. You settle into your stretch routine, focusing on your warm-up but unable to ignore the beautiful music emanating from the piano.

However, it seems as though Adam can’t go more than a minute without being a certified dick. He leans over the piano, watching you stretch, before speaking up.

“Seems like you healed up well.”

Your cheeks ignite, embarrassed by the reminder of your tumble. That shame shortly turns into anger, and you’re quick to throw it in his face.

“Yeah, and it seems like you finally know how to play piano, huh? No messing up?”

“Oh baby, daddy never messes up by accident.”

Indignation rises in your chest at Adam's casual confession that he's been deliberately messing with your music. The realization blooms on your face, and Adam smirks, clearly enjoying your reaction.

Just as you're about to take off one of your ballet slippers and give him a well-deserved bitch slap, Miss Nicole, your instructor, signals for class to begin. With a final glare at Adam, you take your place at the barre, forcing yourself to focus on the exercises ahead.

You spend the entire class wishing you were in tap, imagining the satisfying clatter of metal taps scuffing up the floor. Instead, you're stuck in ballet, with Adam just a few feet away, his presence a constant reminder of your frustration. You do your best to channel your rage into your dance, pushing yourself harder with each movement. The burn of exercise helps somewhat, providing a physical outlet for your anger. Your muscles ache as you stretch deeper into each plié and extend further in every arabesque.

By the time it’s your turn to work the combination, the anger has faded to a dull background hum. You step up, squaring your shoulders and prepping your feet before beginning.

Your chasse leads you into a middle leap. As you ascend, it feels good, almost as if nothing can touch you while you’re in the air.

Adam is a rude reminder that you are not.

But then, mid-leap, the music jarringly falters. You miss a beat, your landing is shaky, and the momentary lapse causes you to stumble. He had done it again, intentionally disrupting the music. It takes every ounce of your self-control not to let it throw you off further. You manage to avoid a full-on trip and finish your combination, but the disruption leaves you seething. As you head over to grab your water bottle, you glare daggers at Adam, who, despite appearing focused on the keys, is clearly smiling to himself.

One of these days, you think, you’re going to wipe that smug smirk off his face.

Class wraps up, and you see the clock signaling the end of the session. Why not today? The thought plants itself firmly in your mind. You decide it’s time to confront him directly.

As the other students start to filter out, you march over to the piano, your anger giving you a surge of confidence. Adam looks up, still smirking.

“What is up with you trying to sabotage me?” you demand, your voice edged with frustration.

He has the nerve to act confused. “Whaaaat? Lil’ ol’ me? I’d never! When have I even tried?”

“Just now. And my fucking audition.”

“Okay but is it really sabotage if you got the part? Think about it— maybe they were impressed with the way you continued on. Maybe I helped you,” he retorts, his tone flippant and infuriatingly smug.

Your jaw tightens, struggling to contain your anger. You take a deep breath, trying to keep your composure. “Impressed or not, you had no right to mess with my audition. It was unprofessional and disrespectful.”

Adam shrugs nonchalantly, not appearing at all remorseful. “Hey, it’s a tough world out there. Gotta learn to roll with the punches, sweetheart.”

“There’s a special place in hell for you.” It’s a low blow and you know it. But you get the reaction you’ve been waiting for, his nostrils flaring with offense.

“Bitch, you care way too much about college-level theatre.”

“At least I care about something other than myself,” you snap back.

“Aw, baby,” he drawls, leaning back and crossing his arms, “I can put some extra care towards you. Lay you out all nice for me, make you see heaven. Prove to you I can take care of you. Might make you beg a bit.”

“Eat a dick.”

“I know what you are, but what am I?” he retorts, a childish grin spreading across his face.

“That doesn’t even make sense!” you exclaim, exasperated.

Before the argument can escalate further, your ballet instructor, Miss Nicole, approaches. “Is there a problem here?” she asks, concern etched on her face. You stumble over your words, caught off guard by her sudden appearance and the need to explain the confrontation.

“No ma’am! Just some classic friendly bickering. You know how it is! We were just about to head out and grab some lunch, weren’t we?” Adam interjects smoothly, throwing you a glance that suggests you go along with his narrative.

You grit your teeth, seething at his audacity, but reluctantly nod in agreement, knowing you can’t contradict him in front of your instructor. The last thing you need is to cause a scene and get thrown out from the class.

“Yep. Just….bickering,” you reply through gritted teeth, your frustration simmering beneath the surface.

“Ah. It’s nice to see you getting along with our accompanist. I was a bit worried how everyone would treat him. Where are you going to get lunch?” your ballet instructor asks, oblivious to the tension between you and Adam.

“The campus cafe,” Adam responds smoothly, suddenly looking smug as if he’s won some sort of victory.

“Oh! I was walking that way. Mind if I join you on the walk? I’d like to talk to you about our future classes, Adam,” she says cheerfully, turning to you both.

You go to interject, to protest adamantly that this is NOT okay. But before you can speak up, Adam beats you to it. “Of course! We don’t mind, do we, babes?” he says, flashing a faux-charming smile in your direction.

You clench your fists at your sides, seething with anger at being maneuvered into this situation. With a forced smile, you nod curtly, not trusting yourself to speak.

"Great!" Your instructor claps her hands together in excitement, seemingly pleased with the arrangement.

The three of you walk. Adam seems effortlessly engaged, occasionally nodding and adding insightful comments. Meanwhile, you follow along half-heartedly, tuning out most of the conversation as your frustration with Adam continues to simmer.

You try to focus on the scenery passing by, the rhythmic sound of your footsteps, anything to distract yourself from the situation at hand. However, snippets of their conversation still reach you, reminders that Adam's presence is more entrenched in your academic life now than ever.

“So Adam, are you also the accompanist for the voice recital?” Miss Nicole asks, navigating the three of you past a group of what you assume to be freshmen.

“Oh, no ma’am. One of my classmates beat me to the punch,” Adam responds.

"Really?" Miss Nicole raises an eyebrow. "I thought for sure you'd be the first in line for that."

Adam shrugs, glancing at you briefly before turning his attention back to Miss Nicole. "I guess they were just quicker this time."

“Well I’m sure they’ll be good. Just maybe not as good as you,” Miss Nicole says, her tone warm.

You internally roll your eyes. Barf.

Adam seems pleased to hear that, and not just because his ego is getting fed. “Absolutely,” he replies, his smirk widening.

“You’re not a fan of them?” she asks.

Adam cringes. “You could definitely say that.”

“Is it that skinny blond kid? I know we were warned not to pair you two together,” Miss Nicole inquires, her curiosity piqued.

“Worse,” he says, his voice dripping with disdain. “It’s his girlfriend.”

Confusion clouds your expression as this new piece of drama unfolds unexpectedly. “His girlfriend?”

Your voice cuts through the conversation, drawing the attention of both Adam and Miss Nicole. They seem momentarily surprised, as if they had forgotten you were there amidst their discussion.

"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it, considering you two are friends!" Miss Nicole responded, her tone tinged with surprise and a hint of curiosity, her eyebrows arched expectantly.

"I don't think friends is the right word to describe us," you muttered under your breath, though Miss Nicole's sharp ears caught your words. Immediately, she began to backtrack, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I hadn't realized you two were... Well, you know what? That makes much more sense," she stammered, her words rushing out in an attempt to smooth over the awkwardness.

"What makes sense?" Adam asked, his brow furrowing in confusion as he glanced between you and Miss Nicole. Finally, it seemed, both of you were on the same page, even if it was only because you were confused.

"Well, would you look at that!" Miss Nicole diverted suddenly, pointing upwards. Following her finger, you spotted the familiar sign of the campus coffee shop. Finally, your destination had arrived.

"Here's your stop! I'll see you in class! Bye!" Miss Nicole blurted out, her cheeks now a deep shade of red as she hastily retreated. It was almost comical, and a snort of amusement escaped your lips. Even Adam chuckled softly before his expression turned mischievous.

"She totally thinks we're boning," Adam remarked with a smirk, his tone teasing.

Your smile faded instantly, replaced by a look of disdain as you curled your lip in disgust. "As if. You can only wish," you retorted sharply, the implication of Miss Nicole's assumption leaving a weird taste in your mouth. Not unpleasant, but you wish it was.

"Oh?" He challenged, striding ahead to hold the door open for you. "I'm the dick master over here. One of these days, you're gonna be begging and drooling for my dick, and I'm gonna say no, bitch."

You walked past him, rolling your eyes as he followed you into the store. "You've already been drooling for me."

"I drool for everyone," he retorts nonchalantly.

"That—" you pause, scrunching your nose, "that's not something to be proud of."

"So what're you getting?" he asked casually, not-so-subtly cutting in front of you in line. You sighed inwardly, not having the energy to react, so you let him take the lead. It was hard to gauge whether that pleased him or annoyed him.

"Probably just a chai with oat milk," you replied, your voice neutral.

"No food?" he inquired further.

"Eh, I don't know," you shrugged, feeling indifferent. "I don't feel like getting anything."

"Do you think their blueberry scones would be any good?" he asked, his voice contemplative as he eyed the display case of pastries.

You followed his gaze, your mouth watering involuntarily at the sight of the tempting treats. If only your bank account had a bit more padding, you might indulge yourself. A faint rumble from your stomach emphasized the point. "Yeah, they look really good," you admitted wistfully.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Cool, cool," he replied, his tone casual as he continued to scan the assortment of baked goods.

It didn't take long before it was Adam's turn to order. He stepped up to the counter, clearing his throat nervously. Glancing briefly in your direction, he then turned back to the barista.

"Could I get one large frozen hot chocolate, one large iced chai with oat milk, and two blueberry scones? Actually, make it three," he requested.

The barista nodded, punching in the order as Adam glanced back at you briefly, a subtle smile playing on his lips before he focused on completing the transaction. "Man, you must be hungry, huh? Your piano teacher starving you?" you teased lightly, trying to inject some levity into the moment.

"Piano isn’t my only hobby. I only learned because I have to if I want a music major," he replied with a hint of a pout, sinking into a chair. You took the seat across from him, the uncertainty of how to navigate this conversation lingering between you. Bickering was your comfort zone, but this felt like uncharted territory.

"So," you ventured cautiously, hoping to keep the conversation flowing. "Why did you become a music major?"

"I want to be in a band. Well, I am in a band. But I want to write our own music," he answered earnestly, his eyes lighting up with passion.

"Why the minor in religious studies?" you asked, genuinely curious as you leaned forward slightly.

He smirked, pleased that you remembered something about him. "My dad wanted that. It's my backup, I guess. Makes him feel better about paying all this money."

Nodding in understanding, you replied, "Yeah, sometimes I wish I took a minor—Musical Theatre isn’t exactly the most stable major."

"So then why'd you take it?" he probed gently.

You shrugged, a smile playing on your lips. "There isn’t a world in which I don’t do musical theatre."

Adam looked at you for a long second, his gaze almost penetrating, as if he could see right through you. That same unsettling feeling from before crept in, causing you to shift uncomfortably in your seat. However, before the moment could linger, you were saved by the barista calling out Adam’s order. He stood up and headed over to collect the snacks and drinks.

Meanwhile, you tried to steady yourself, willing your thoughts to stop spinning. He was so... infuriating. Yes, that’s it. You were still annoyed from earlier.

But then Adam returned, deftly balancing the tray of food and drinks. The sight of him bringing back lunch for you softened your irritation. Of course, you were grateful. That’s all it was.

The two of you ate in silence. Adam seemed content, devouring his two scones and his drink without a care. On the other hand, you found it difficult to swallow, the food sitting heavy in your stomach. It felt like you were on the brink of a realization, a sensation that made your stomach churn with uncertainty. Still, you weren't about to waste free food.

Once you managed to finish your lunch, you found yourself unexpectedly thanking Adam. Gathering your things, you prepared to leave. However, to your surprise, Adam stood up too.

“So where’s your dorm?” Adam asks, following you out the cafe door.

"We're not having sex," you retort firmly, making your boundaries clear.

"For once, not my intention," Adam replies with a grin, his charm still evident despite your skepticism. "It's getting late, and I'm offering to walk you back."

"It's like 1:30 in the afternoon," you point out, slightly amused by his insistence.

"Exactly," he counters smoothly, his tone making it clear he’s not backing down. "It’s going to get dark soon. Let me walk you home."

You exhale a dramatic sigh, reaching for your dance bag and slinging it over your shoulder with a practiced motion. “Fine. But I expect payment.”

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Payment?”

“Yeah,” you confirm, giving him a pointed look as you start heading towards the exit of the café.

“But–” he sputters, his voice trailing off as he rushes to catch up with you. “I’m walking you! What more do you want?”

“That was your own choice!” you call back.

“Okay, fine!” he exclaims, throwing his hands up in exasperation as he falls into step behind you. “How much do you want?!”

You pause mid-stride, causing Adam to almost bump into you. “How much– Adam, I don’t mean actual money. I just meant filling me in on your drama.”

His eyes widen in surprise as he forms a soundless ‘o’ with his mouth. “What, you mean with my ex?”

The two of you begin walking side by side. “The blond guy?” you ask, trying to piece together the details.

Adam scratches his beard scruff, his expression thoughtful. “No, well—no, I mean his girlfriend.”

You cringe slightly, trying to wrap your head around his words. “His girlfriend is your ex?”

Adam nods, looking somewhat resigned. “Uh huh.”

You frown.

When you arrive at your residence hall, you invite Adam to walk you to your room. His smile widens into a sharp grin as he agrees, and you both head up to your floor.

As you reach your door, Adam pulls out his phone, and you hear the distinct sound of a camera shutter. You glance at him, puzzled, but he doesn’t explain. Before you can ask, he starts to say his goodbyes, but you quickly shut the door in his face. The click of the latch echoes in the hallway,

–

You were backstage, flipping through the program selection, counting down how many performers were left until it was your turn to go onstage and sing. Voice recitals always made you nervous, despite knowing this was what you hoped to do for a living. The pressure for your notes to be pitch-perfect, the intense focus on your singing—it all weighed heavily on you.

Months of preparation with your vocal coach had gone into this moment. Together, you had meticulously chosen and honed your repertoire, though you only got to perform your favorite piece tonight. The culmination of all those hours spent practicing, tweaking, and perfecting was now just minutes away.

You took a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart. The murmur of the audience beyond the curtain was a constant reminder of the scrutiny you were about to face. You glanced around, taking in the familiar backstage chaos—the hurried whispers, the rustling of sheet music, the occasional burst of nervous laughter from other performers.

So far, only two people were left before it was your turn. If you really paid attention, you could strain your ears and hear the beginning notes of "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific. Your shoulders bounced in a silent laugh—what a classic choice.

The girl after him sang "Memory" from Cats, another timeless and powerful piece. As she exited the stage and entered the wings, she patted your back and gave you a thumbs up for encouragement. You grinned and whispered back, "Great job," before puffing out your chest and walking on stage.

The lights were bright, the audience a dim blur beyond their glow. You took your position at the center, feeling the familiar thrill of anticipation mixed with nerves.

Your vocal coach was busy introducing you and your piece—I Don’t Need a Roof from Big Fish—so you looked at the pianist.

Otherwise known as Adam’s ex.

Something about the thought pissed you off, but you refused to delve deeper into it. Her name was Lilith, and she was, without better words, hot. Which pissed you off even more. You dreamed about grabbing her by her waist-length hair and demanding to know how someone like her managed to date someone like Adam.

…Because she was totally out of his league, that’s all. You were just curious, yep. It’s not like the thought of her dating him filled you with this indescribable rage, something that felt so incredibly close to jealousy. She was hot, Adam was hot, and you... were not.

Lilith glanced up from where she was hunched over the piano, scanning your sheet music and cracking her knuckles. Seemingly unaware of your torturous thoughts, she offered you a small wave. The gesture made you feel incredibly guilty, and you forced yourself to smile back.

At that moment, your vocal coach seemed to have finished with the introductions, stepping off to the side of the stage to watch you. She gave you a wink of encouragement, and you took a deep breath, centering yourself.

Those past months of technique training come to mind, and you breathe out. You relax any tension in your shoulders before expanding your diaphragm, and start singing. Of course, you’re still a musical theatre major, so you act alongside the song. As you began to sing, you immersed yourself fully in the piece. The familiar lyrics and melody took over, carrying you along in a blur of emotion and intensity. You lost yourself in the character and story of the song, each word infused with meaning and purpose.

It goes by in a blur, too caught up in the song to really be conscious of what’s happening, but something feels wrong.

The piano.

It’s not as if Lilith is bad. Quite the opposite, actually. She’s practically perfect, understanding each breath mark and each shift in dynamics. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say the two of y’all work extremely well together.

Except… something is missing.

You don’t feel the music in your soul, like you did that one time in class. When Adam was playing. And even if Lilith is objectively better at piano than he is, it’s missing his spark. The final notes hung in the air, leaving you with a sense of dissatisfaction. In your own critical assessment, it felt like the worst performance you had ever given at a voice recital.

Someone seems to disagree though.

Hidden a few rows back in the audience, Adam suddenly leapt to his feet in raucous applause. His gesture, though likely intended to embarrass you, had an unexpected effect. Instead of feeling self-conscious, a smile spreads across your face. You were delightedly surprised to see him here, especially since Lilith, his ex, was seated right behind you.

As you listened to Lilith mumble something under her breath, your attention was drawn back to Adam in the audience. He was enthusiastically encouraging others to stand and applaud, and though most remained seated, a few near him joined in. When he called out your name, you waved your hand down at your side, a mix of amusement and exasperation at his antics.

His gesture, though somewhat obnoxious, strangely warmed your heart. Despite his teasing and occasional insensitivity, there was something endearing about Adam's unabashed support. He had come all this way just to see you sing—or at least that's what you hoped. Sure, he might be here for other performers or academic reasons, but the idea that he might have shown up primarily for you filled you with unexpected warmth.

As you processed these conflicting emotions, a sigh escaped your lips. Adam was, in many ways, a complicated presence in your life. His unpredictability, his charm, and yes, his 24/7 dickish behavior kept you on your toes. But underneath it all, there was a connection that you couldn’t deny, something past just irritation.

…

Fuck.

–

It's finally a rehearsal where you're called to the stage. The moment you've been waiting for, to step into the character's shoes and bring the scene to life. But for now, you're off to the side, nestled in a comfortable chair, flipping through your script and silently rehearsing your lines. The stage is a hive of activity, filled with the sounds of crew members adjusting lights, actors practicing their entrances and exits, and the director calling out instructions.

Right now, you’re using a facial steamer to help your lungs recover after a night of smoking weed with friends—which, in your opinion, is a good summary of theatre kids. The steamer emits a gentle mist, soothing your throat and helping you clear your lungs for the rigorous rehearsal ahead.

As you look over the steamer, eyeing the lines in your script, you quietly mumble the lines to yourself. Each word feels foreign at first, rolling off your tongue with an unfamiliar cadence. You're determined not to lock in one specific delivery, knowing that variability will keep your performance fresh and dynamic for the show.

You glance up from your script, noting how they’re almost up to your first line. The realization sends a shiver of anticipation down your spine, a delightful excitement curling in your stomach. You’re totally gonna blow the socks off of everyone here.

Speaking of people being here, Adam is in the audience. You aren’t really sure why, considering it’s just a blocking rehearsal. All you know is you'd prefer for him to be literally anywhere else. Ever since you found out you don't hate him as much as you thought you did, you’ve been avoiding the hell out of him.

This strategy has definitely worked against you. Adam probably thinks you're playing mind games with him, ignoring him just to get under his skin. He’s been working hard to try and catch your attention—apparently going as far as to show up to rehearsals. During breaks, you hear him call out to you, likely saying something provocative to get a reaction, but you always turn the other way.

Yes, you feel bad. No, you won’t stop.

The director calls for you, snapping you out of your thoughts. As you flip to the right page in your script, you feel Adam’s eyes boring holes into you from his seat in the audience. You awkwardly clear your throat, doing your best to ignore the sensation of his gaze, and instead focus on preparing for your section of the scene.

The director walks Quinn through Seymour’s blocking for this scene, giving detailed instructions and adjusting positions to ensure everything flows smoothly. You try to stay present, listening closely, but the awareness of Adam’s presence is a persistent distraction.

Finally, the director finishes with Quinn and calls for the two of you to begin. So… you do.

“Oh boy,” Quinn starts, reading the lines off his slightly crumpled page. “Here we go again. Look, I haven't got much left. Just give me a few more days to heal, okay? Then we'll start again on the left hand and—”

“Feed me!” you whine, your voice taking on a pleading, almost desperate tone. It feels good, acting. Not just good, but right. Like stepping into a pair of pajama pants fresh out of the dryer. The warmth of the role envelops you, and the words flow naturally, embodying the character’s urgency and need.

As you continue the scene, there’s a spark of energy between you and Quinn. The two of you effortlessly bounce off each other, each line building on the last, creating a dynamic and engaging interaction. You internally fist pump in victory.

However, you make the mistake of glancing out into the audience and meeting the eye of none other than Adam. Lately, since you’ve been ignoring him, he’s been wearing this resting pouty face that sort of looks like he sucked on a lemon. But not now. Watching the two of you, his eyebrows are raised as if he’s impressed.

You watch as he realizes you're looking back at him, and his expression shifts into something upset. The sudden change throws you off balance, and you stumble over your line. Embarrassed, you quickly avert your eyes to your script, desperately trying to find your place.

Quinn, sensing your struggle, tries his best to help by repeating his line. Your finger traces the lines on the page until you find where you left off. Taking a deep breath, you catch up, delivering your line as if nothing had happened. The brief disruption had felt like an eternity, but you manage to slip back into character, focusing on the scene and Quinn’s supportive presence.

The director, who had been watching closely, gives a small nod of approval as you recover. The scene continues, the rhythm gradually restoring itself.

You’re beating yourself up, disappointed in yourself for getting flustered. You need to get your head in the game–you’re paying a pretty penny to learn how to be the best performer, not whatever that was back there. You need to get it together, unless you want your director to replace you. That thought fills you with fear.

But then your blame shifts to Adam, and that fear transforms into anger, even though it shouldn’t. It’s easier to be angry with Adam than it is to feel the embarrassment and self-doubt that were creeping in.

You clench your fists, letting the anger simmer. It’s a distraction, but one you can channel. You mentally replay the scene, pinpointing where you stumbled and how Adam’s presence threw you off. The frustration fuels a determination to not let it happen again.

So when your director calls for a water break, you gracefully exit from the side stage and make your way towards the audience area. The theater is a hive of activity during the break, with cast and crew members scattered around, discussing scenes in hushed tones. You find your water bottle among the clutter of chairs

Chugging down over half of it in one go, you feel the cool liquid refresh your parched throat. As you lower your bottle and wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, you suddenly come face to face with Adam. He’s standing there, leaning nonchalantly against a nearby chair, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

For a moment, you just stare at each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. You resist the urge to say something biting, reminding yourself to stay composed in the professional setting of rehearsal. Instead, you give a curt nod, acknowledging his presence without inviting further conversation.

Adam’s smirk widens slightly, as if he’s enjoying the discomfort he’s causing.

“So, gonna blame me for sabotage with that one, too?” Adam quips, a smirk playing on his lips as he leans closer.

You roll your eyes and turn away, not in the mood for his teasing.

“Hey,” he whines, reaching out to grab your arm, but you pull away, annoyed. “Don’t be like that. I was only joking.”

“Piss off, Adam,” you retort, frustration bubbling up. “I’m trying to memorize my lines.”

“What, are your lines written in your water bottle?”

You glare at him over your shoulder. “Maybe.”

He laughs. “Yeah, you are definitely crazy enough to do that. How about we grab dinner after this and I can help you run lines.” He walks his fingers up your arm slowly. “And then maybe after dinner… we can have dessert…”

You flick his hand away, irritation simmering beneath your glare. His attempt at humor falls flat, and you feel a pang of hurt at how he’s toying with you, even if he doesn’t realize it. “Haha, very funny,” you retort dryly, crossing your arms defensively.

He frowns, but before you can respond, the director calls for places at the top of what you’ve blocked today. You peel yourself away from Adam and head to your seat on the side stage.

With Adam, it feels like one step forward and thirteen steps back.

–

You were still avoiding Adam, but he finally seemed to take the hint and left you alone. Occasionally, you’d catch him glancing at you from the corner of your eye, but whenever you turned to look, he’d quickly avert his gaze.

Rehearsals had been... okay. No matter how hard you tried and how much effort you put into it, it felt like none of it mattered. You weren't getting Audrey II down, and it was plain frustrating. The other cast members seemed to be finding their grooves, their characters coming to life in ways that left you feeling envious and disheartened. The role you had worked so hard for, the one you were so excited about, seemed to be slipping through your fingers.

You’d run through your lines over and over, trying different inflections, different approaches, but nothing seemed to click. It felt like you were hitting a wall, and every attempt to break through only left you more battered and bruised. The director's notes, meant to be constructive, started to feel like a litany of your failures.

The only thing you could fault was yourself. There were points where you would leave rehearsal in frustrated tears, feeling utterly defeated.

At one point, you had made the mistake of walking past Adam during one of those tearful nights. He stepped in front of you and blocked your path, his presence a sudden and unwelcome barrier. You could feel the heat of your frustration and sadness rising, threatening to boil over. The urge to scream at him, to lay into him and unload all your pent-up emotions, was almost overwhelming. Especially when he was looking at you with eyes full of pity, a look that made your skin crawl.

Instead, you swallowed it down, forcing the words to stay trapped in your throat. The effort it took to hold back was physically painful, like swallowing shards of glass. You clenched your fists, nails biting into your palms, and shoved past him with a force that surprised even you. He let you go, not saying a word, just watching you with that same pitying look that made you want to scream.

Today, though, was going to be a good day. The cast was scheduled to meet the band that would be playing for the show, and you were determined to make the most of it. You had been looking forward to this day, hoping that the energy and enthusiasm of the musicians might reignite your own excitement for the production.

As you arrived at the rehearsal space, you could already hear the faint sounds of instruments being tuned and tested. The anticipation in the air was palpable, and it gave you a much-needed boost. You spotted Sam, one of your acquaintances, setting up their drum kit with a focused expression. When you found out they had volunteered to help out, you had immediately warned them of Adam.

"Where's Adam?" you ask Quinn urgently, scanning the room for any sign of him. The last thing you want is to have driven him away from the show with your own behavior– you’d never forgive yourself.

"Aw, I knew you cared about me."

Startled, you spin around to find Adam standing right behind you. His smirk is evident, and you realize with relief that he hasn't left after all. On his back is an instrument case, not the familiar piano you've grown accustomed to seeing him with.

You purse your lips, still mulling over Adam's earlier comment. This conversation is the most you've engaged with him since that rehearsal.

"I thought you were our pianist," you finally manage to say, trying to sound casual despite the lingering tension between you.

Adam tilts his head, his expression shifting from playful to more serious. "For the extra credit. But piano isn't really my first choice. I learned it for music theory purposes."

Quinn chimes in, always eager to fill the silence. "So if you're not on piano duty for the band..."

Adam readjusts the strap of his instrument case, his grin widening mischievously. "I'm on guitar, obviously," he declares, a hint of pride in his voice.

That… actually makes a lot of sense. He doesn't fit the typical image of a pianist; his personality is more intense and unpredictable. You mentally correct yourself, aware of not stereotyping, but Adam's demeanor aligns more with someone wielding a guitar, ready to bring an edgier vibe to the performances. The image of him strumming away fills your mind, and you find yourself fighting the urge to bite your lip at the thought, because, well, yoohoo! Adam is right there.

Sadai bounds up to the three of you, playfully knocking Quinn on the upside of his head as she enters. Quinn, caught off guard, lets out an unattractive squawk that makes her giggle. Honestly, there’s something there that even you can see. And looking across at Adam, he sees it too.

He opens his mouth to say something, you assume to make a teasing remark on their romantic life, but you instead smack him on his head. Instead of a squawk, he lets out a huff of a laugh. He looks less pissed that you hit him, and more pleased to have your attention.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Quinn and Sadai share a knowing look. Are you that obvious? Embarrassed, you grab Adam by the sleeve and tug him away. Adam, still preening under the attention no matter how harsh, obediently follows you. Once you’re a reasonable distance away, you remove your grasp and it makes Adam frown.

“Listen. I know you have a big, trashy mouth—”

“You love it,” he interrupts with a grin.

“—And maybe no one has smacked actual sense into you—”

“You have,” he quips again.

“—Stop interrupting,” you glare, cutting him off. “But if you intervene in whatever the two of them have going on, I’ll personally murder you myself. Let them figure it out themselves, without any side comments from you.”

He raises an eyebrow, but mimes zipping up his mouth and throwing away the key.

Your glare is still flat. “Do I make myself clear?”

He points to his still zipped mouth and makes muffled noises. Annoyed, you roll your eyes before digging into your pocket for the key. You pantomime unlocking and unzipping his mouth. “You’re hot when you take charge.”

Exasperated, you lock and zip his mouth again, this time tossing the imaginary key as far as you can. Adam pretends to look shocked, making exaggerated muffled noises between his closed lips. You raise an eyebrow, silently repeating your earlier question. He sighs dramatically, as if accepting defeat, before slowly nodding his head in agreement.

In appreciation, you gently pat his cheek and he leans into it. You quickly redraw your hand, feeling your face burning up, before you march off back to your friends. You see the question on their faces, but they never get the chance to ask because your director is calling for everyone’s attention.

As she talks, you see a clump of music students behind her– Adam and Sam included. Using the basic common sense you sometimes have, you’re able to deduce that this is y’alls band. Despite most likely volunteering for extra credit, they seem excitable. Well, minus Adam, but he doesn’t count.

After introductions, your director has the brilliant idea to let the musicians show off. They set up in the pit, adjusting and tuning their instruments. Although they don’t have their conductor with them, they feel confident enough to perform the title song.

Adam and Sam take their positions, with Adam adjusting his guitar strap with practiced ease while Sam eagerly checks the tuning of their drums. The other musicians, a mix of eager students, also seem ready, their faces showing a combination of nerves and excitement.

As they begin to play the title song of the musical, the auditorium fills with the lively melody. Despite the absence of their conductor, the musicians manage to synchronize well, each instrument blending harmoniously with the others. Adam’s fingers move deftly over the strings of his guitar, adding a distinct flair to the music, while Sam’s drumming provides a steady backbone to the ensemble.

The image of Adam with his guitar has absolutely nothing on the actual sight of it. He looks, for lack of better words, sick as fuck. Incredibly hot. You feel yourself getting hot under the collar the longer you watch him.

His concentration is palpable as he strums the strings, his fingers moving with a practiced grace that speaks of hours spent honing his skill. The way his hair falls across his forehead, the slight furrow of his brow in concentration, and the way he leans into each note—all of it adds to his allure.

You’re really fucked.

–

Fortunately for you, the band wasn’t called back until the sitzprobe in a week, so Adam was back to playing the role of accompanist. Although you couldn’t wipe the image of him shredding the guitar, at least you weren’t getting distracted at rehearsals.

Considering how close you all were to tech week, rehearsals had been extended an extra few hours. The long hours were grueling, but you pushed through, knowing it was all for the final performance. Today’s run-through was particularly intense, leaving everyone exhausted and hungry.

After rehearsal, someone suggested grabbing dinner together, and the idea was quickly embraced by the group. It seemed like a good way to unwind and bond after a tough day of work. As you gathered your things, you noticed Adam packing up his sheet music, glancing at you every now and then with that familiar smirk.

“Ready to grab some food?” Quinn asked, nudging you gently.

“Yeah, I could eat a horse,” you replied, slinging your bag over your shoulder.

The cast and crew gradually made their way out of the rehearsal space, chatting and laughing about the day’s mishaps and triumphs. You tried to avoid Adam’s gaze, but you could feel him watching you. He was always watching. You wondered what the dinner would be like with him there, knowing his penchant for stirring the pot. But maybe, just maybe, you’d all have a nice, drama-free meal.

For whatever reason, Chili’s had been chosen as the restaurant for the evening, and the thought of their triple dipper had your mouth watering. Quinn had kindly offered to drive, and you gratefully accepted, settling into the passenger seat and buckling up. As Quinn gripped the steering wheel, he paused, not making a move to start the car. Concerned, you turn to him.

“Quinn? You okay there?”

“I have something to admit.” his voice was serious, the most serious you’ve ever heard him. He was avoiding your gaze, and alarms were sounding in your head.

“...Okaaaaay?” you encouraged him to continue.

“I… hm.. I..” he took a deep breath before blurting it out. “I have feelings for Sadai!”

You stared at him… Did he not think you could tell? You had to stop yourself from laughing, as he was obviously distressed. Instead, you placed your hand on his shoulder. “Quinn, dude, I know.”

Quinn's eyes widened in surprise, and his grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly. “You know?”

You nodded, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. The way you look at her, the way you act around her—it’s clear as day.”

He let out a breath he seemed to have been holding. “I thought I was hiding it well.”

You chuckled softly. “You’re not. And you know what? I think she might feel the same way about you. You should talk to her.”

Quinn finally started the car, a small smile forming on his lips. “Thank god.”

“I’m rootin’ for ya.”

As you drove to Chili’s, you felt a sense of hope for Quinn. Maybe things were finally falling into place for him.

When you arrived at the restaurant, the rest of the cast was already there, chatting and laughing. You spotted Adam at the end of the table, waving you over. At first, you ignored him, glancing around for other open seats. However, it seemed fate was against you, as those were the only two seats open. You sighed, making your way over to him. His smile widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes that you were starting to recognize all too well.

Sadai, who was seated next to him, perked up at the sight of you and Quinn. Or, you know what, maybe just Quinn. He froze up in response, so you pushed him down to sit across from her. You plopped yourself in the seat next to him… which was, of course, across from Adam.

Great.

You took a seat next to Quinn, who was looking more relaxed than you’d seen him in a while. “Feeling better?” you asked.

He nodded, glancing at Sadai who got dragged into a conversation with the group next to her. “Yeah. I think I will talk to her.”

Adam leaned over, grinning. “What’s the gossip?”

“None of your business,” you replied, shoving him away.

“Aw,” he whined. “I was nice enough to save you seats, and this is how you treat me?”

You raise an eyebrow in disbelief. “You saved a seat for me?”

“Yep.” he popped the p. “Had to make sure I had eye candy while I ate.”

Adam’s attempt at humor fell flat, and you found yourself frowning, feeling the familiar urge to shut down again. "Gross," you muttered under your breath, not appreciating his comment.

Despite his usual dense demeanor, Adam seemed to sense he had said the wrong thing, even if he didn’t fully grasp why. His expression shifted, suddenly looking bashful. “Besides, you three are the only people who talk to me here. Theatre kids are very...”

He trailed off, searching for the right word while you waited, arms crossed.

“Clique-y?” you finished for him, understanding all too well the feeling of being an outsider. His admission struck a pang of guilt within you. You realized you had been ignoring him, afraid to confront your own romantic feelings. It hadn’t occurred to you how this might have made Adam feel, especially since apparently you were his only "friends" in the theatre department.

He smiled lightheartedly, clearly not deterred by the topic. “Yeah, that’s the word.”

Quinn awkwardly cleared his throat, and you jumped, realizing you had forgotten he was there. You had gotten a little too wrapped up in your vulnerable conversation with Adam.

“Um, sorry to interrupt,” Quinn said with a hint of amusement, “but can we get back to the menu? I’m starving.”

You blinked, feeling slightly embarrassed by the abrupt shift in focus. “Right, sorry. Food. Yes.”

Adam chuckled softly. “Food sounds good. What’re y’all getting?”

Quinn is the first to respond. “I wanna try their quesadillas.”

You nod. “I want to get the triple dipper, but I’m stuck between getting the mozzarella sticks, or the eggrolls.”

Adam paused, gluing his eyes to his menu as he talked. “Get the eggrolls.”

You sigh, nodding your head in agreement. It did feel strange to be getting along with Adam like friends after all the tension between you. You weren’t sure how to navigate a conversation with him without being rude or defensive. Well, guess you’ll have to learn.

Eventually the waiter makes his way to the end of the table where y’all are sat. Adam is the last to order. As the waiter writes down his food, Adam clears his throat.

“Um,” he glances at you before looking back at the waiter. “Can you also add an order of mozzarella sticks? We’re gonna share,” he gestures to you. “Put it on my tab though.”

Your jaw slightly drops as the waiter scampers off. Apparently Quinn is just as shocked, as he nudges you under the table, out of Adam’s view. At your reaction, Adam becomes defensive. “What?”

His remark catches you off guard, but you resist the urge to retort with something sharp, something that would escalate into banter. Instead, you find yourself smiling genuinely at him, a gesture of gratitude you hadn't anticipated making. It feels different, acknowledging his gesture without a layer of sarcasm or defensiveness.

"Thank you," you say, the words soft but sincere. There's a flicker of surprise in Adam's eyes, quickly replaced by a faint smirk that hints at his usual playful demeanor.

"You're welcome," he replies casually, though his tone holds a hint of something softer beneath the surface.

Quinn, sensing the shift in dynamics, nudges you lightly again under the table, his silent approval evident. You keep your gaze on Adam, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before looking away, the weight of unspoken words lingering between you.

Sadai, unaware of the weird tension, turns to the three of you. “Okay guys, help me out. Is Hamilton technically an opera.”

Quinn guffaws, caught off guard by the question. Or maybe he’s just flustered, you can’t ever be too sure. Adam just narrows his brows.

You, on the other hand, nod your head. “It’s a rap opera– it’s completely sung through. Just like how Rent is a rock opera. Duh.”

“Thank you!” Sadai exclaims, clearly relieved to have you on her side. “They’re trying to tell me I’m wrong!”

She turns back to her group, her expression a mix of concentration and amusement as she engages in the lively debate. You and Quinn exchange a glance, silently observing the group.

Suddenly, a light tap on your head breaks your focus. You instinctively turn, catching sight of Adam across the table. He sits with a mischievous grin, busily rolling up straw wrappers into small projectiles. With practiced precision, he flicks them in your direction, each one landing with a gentle thud against your shoulder or bouncing off your arm.

You deftly dodge one of the trash balls, your reflexes kicking in as you narrowly avoid being hit again. "How did you even get those?" you ask incredulously, amusement dancing in your eyes despite the slight annoyance.

"I asked for a bunch before you got here," he replies nonchalantly, launching another wrapper ball in your direction. This time, it catches you off guard and smacks you square in the nose, prompting an involuntary grumble and a playful pout.

Before you can retaliate, another wrapper ball grazes your arm. Determined not to be outdone, you swiftly grab one from the table and send it sailing back towards Adam with a flick of your wrist. The small projectile arcs through the air, landing neatly in his lap with a satisfying thud.

Adam chuckles "Nice shot,"

You smile, finding yourself surprisingly enjoying the playful banter with Adam. Despite his occasional crudeness, his sense of fun is infectious. As you glance over at Sadai and Quinn engrossed in their conversation, a smirk tugs at your lips. It seems Adam has noticed too, his sly expression indicating he's been watching your reactions closely.

With a casual flick of his fingers, Adam pulls out his phone and swiftly types a message before sliding it across the table to you. You pick it up and read the screen.

‘Are they together now or what?’

You slide his phone back, shaking your head. "You're such a gossip, Adam."

He pretends to look offended. "Hey, curiosity killed the cat– but satisfaction brought it back."

As the waiter sets down the plate of mozzarella sticks between you, you and Adam both reach for one almost simultaneously. He's quick to grab one, popping it into his mouth with a satisfied crunch. Following suit, you dip yours into the marinara sauce before taking a bite, savoring the gooey cheese and crispy coating.

Mid-chew, you notice Adam staring at you with a peculiar expression. You tilt your head in silent question, wondering what has caught his attention. Without warning, he leans forward, and you freeze, unsure of his intentions. His hand gently cups your chin, and with a surprising tenderness, he uses his finger to swipe at the corner of your mouth, where a smear of marinara sauce has escaped your notice.

The brief touch feels oddly intimate.

All too soon, he leans back to his seat, bringing his hand with him.

"You had sauce there," Adam says with a smirk.

Is…

Is he flirting…?

The realization sends a thrill through you.

The rest of dinner goes on without a hitch. You and Adam keep flirting– at least you think so. But based on how Quinn keeps sending you looks, you’d say you weren’t wrong. However, with all the water you’ve chugged, you get up to use the restroom. Quinn, probably determined to talk to you about Adam, practically leaps up from his chair, offering to join you.

You accept.

As you make your way to the restroom with Quinn trailing behind, you notice him shooting furtive glances back at the table where Adam sits. The restaurant's ambiance wraps around you, filled with muted conversations and the clinking of cutlery. Quinn waits until you're both out of earshot from the table before he speaks up.

"So, what's going on with you and Adam?" Quinn asks, his voice low but filled with curiosity.

You pause, considering how much you want to share. Quinn has been your friend for a while now, always there with a supportive shoulder or a witty remark when needed. "I don't know," you finally admit, trying to sort through your own thoughts. "It's... complicated."

Quinn raises an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Complicated how?"

"I used to really dislike him," you begin, your words slow and thoughtful. "But lately, things have been different. He's been... different. I guess I've been different too."

Quinn nods, understanding dawning on his face. "So, are you saying there's something between you two now?"

You hesitate, unsure of how to answer. "I honestly don't know, Quinn. Sometimes it feels like we're on the same wavelength, and other times..." You trail off, not wanting to voice your uncertainty aloud.

He nods again, his gaze thoughtful. "Well, just be careful," Quinn advises gently. "You know Adam can be unpredictable."

You sigh, feeling the weight of his words. "I know. That's what makes this all so confusing."

Quinn gives you a reassuring smile. "Just take it slow, okay? Figure out what you really want and go from there."

"Thanks, Quinn," you say sincerely, grateful for his support.

You step into the restroom, taking a moment to freshen up before heading back out to join Quinn. There's a smile on your face, anticipation building as you look forward to rejoining Adam and continuing the lively atmosphere at the table. As you walk back towards your group, you feel a rush of excitement.

However, as you approach the table where everyone is seated, you suddenly come to a halt.

You freeze in your tracks, feeling a knot tighten in your stomach as you watch Adam leaning in close to Sadai, his fingers toying with her braids. The sight hits you like a punch to the gut, shattering the good mood you had moments ago. For a split second, you feel a surge of anger and betrayal, mixed with a pang of hurt that catches you off guard.

Quinn notices your sudden change in demeanor and follows your gaze to Adam and Sadai. He frowns, sensing the tension in the air. "Hey," he murmurs softly, touching your arm gently. "Are you okay?"

You swallow hard, trying to push down the swirling emotions threatening to overwhelm you. "I... I don't know," you manage to reply, your voice wavering slightly. “Are you?”

Adam and Sadai seem engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to your presence. The image of Adam flirting with Sadai stings, igniting a mixture of jealousy and frustration within you. You had started to feel a connection with Adam, and now it feels like a slap in the face to see him cozying up to someone else so effortlessly.

“Not really.”

You stand there, frozen in place, as Adam and Sadai continue their animated conversation, completely absorbed in each other's company. Quinn's quiet admission hangs in the air, echoing in your mind as you watch Sadai laugh at something Adam says, playfully smacking his arm. The joy on Adam's face is unmistakable, and in that moment, it feels like a dagger to your heart.

A rush of emotions floods through you—embarrassment, disappointment, and a profound sense of being utterly foolish. You had allowed yourself to get swept up in the playful flirtation with Adam, only to realize now that his attention has shifted elsewhere, toward Sadai. The bile rises in your throat, a bitter taste of rejection and self-doubt washing over you.

You glance at Quinn, who meets your gaze with a sympathetic look, understanding the turmoil churning within you. The urge to turn and walk away tugs at you, to escape this painfully awkward moment. But you stand rooted to the spot, grappling with your emotions and trying to compose yourself.

Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, you reach into your wallet, determined to handle the situation with dignity. Beside you, Quinn does the same, silently acknowledging the need to gracefully exit from what has become an uncomfortable scenario. Together, you count out enough money to cover your meals and leave a generous tip—a gesture of gratitude for feeding the group of loud theatre kids.

With a sense of numb resolve, you make your way back to the table, each step feeling heavier than the last. You avoid making eye contact with Adam and Sadai, focusing instead on the task at hand—settling the bill and preparing to leave. The once vibrant atmosphere around the table now feels tinged with an awkward tension, and you silently curse yourself for letting your emotions get the better of you.

As you approach, you set the money down on the table without a word, your movements deliberate yet distant. Quinn follows suit, his expression mirroring your own subdued demeanor.

As Sadai and Adam remain engrossed in their… position, seemingly oblivious to your departure looming nearby, Adam's intermittent glances in your direction don't go unnoticed.

You instinctively turn away, shielding your face from view, determined to conceal the raw emotion threatening to spill over. You muster a smile as you bid goodbye to the rest of the group.

As you and Quinn make your way out of the restaurant, you're caught in a whirlwind of emotions, trying to maintain your composure despite the disappointment weighing heavily on your heart. As you exit, you catch a glimpse of Adam's face, and for a fleeting moment, you swear you see a frown etched across his features. It's a look of disappointment, unmistakable in its fleeting intensity. Despite your efforts to avoid his gaze, his reaction doesn't escape your notice.

–

The next day brings rehearsal, a welcome distraction from the previous evening's emotional upheaval. You find it easy to avoid Adam; he's at the piano, absorbed in his music, while you remain backstage, clutching your microphone. The distance between you feels like a necessary buffer, allowing you to focus on your part without the complication of seeing him.

You can't help but feel for Quinn, though. He has the unfortunate task of performing a scene that requires him to make out violently with Sadai. This scene had always been your go-to for teasing him, but now the dynamics have shifted. Quinn is doing his best to avoid her backstage, and you choose to keep your observations to yourself, respecting his discomfort.

As you sit there, the quiet moments between cues offer too much space for your thoughts to wander. Each time you think of Sadai, your mind inevitably drifts to her interaction with Adam from the previous night. The memory stirs a sickening emotion within you, a queasy sensation that threatens to unsettle your stomach. The vivid recollection of their interaction gnaws at you, bringing back the bile that rose in your throat.

Your director calls for a water break, and you can't help but watch as Adam immediately stands up. He scans the room, his eyes moving through the various clumps of people, clearly searching for someone—likely you. When he doesn't find what he's looking for, he bangs a fist on the piano in frustration, a gesture that sends a jolt of mixed emotions through you.

As you're absorbed in observing Adam, a sudden presence at your side startles you. You spin around quickly, a small squeal escaping your lips as you come face-to-face with your director. The surprise causes your heart to race, and you notice out of the corner of your eye that Adam's attention has snapped in your direction. Thankfully your director is straight to business… well, once she’s done laughing.

“Sorry, sorry,” she says, wiping away a stray tear from laughing too hard. “I just came to tell you that your puppet is finished. Want to come look at it?”

You nod eagerly, feeling a spark of excitement light up within you. The emotional turmoil from moments before takes a backseat as anticipation takes over. You follow her backstage and into the workshop, your steps quickening with each stride.

As you enter the workshop, your eyes widen in amazement. The puppet, which had only been a concept in your mind and a sketch on paper, now stands before you in all its detailed glory. It's even more impressive than you imagined. Every joint, every feature, every piece of fabric and paint has been meticulously crafted.

"Woah," you breathe, stepping closer to inspect it.

The puppet was a mesmerizing blend of alien grotesquery and organic menace. Standing as the largest iteration of Audrey II, its slender frame defied your expectations, draped in sickly pink with accents of puke yellow that sent a shiver down your spine. The puppet's design looked like it was inspired by a Venus flytrap, with a face that opens like the petal-like maw of a demogorgon.

In other words, it’s sick as fuck.

“Go on ahead, you can touch it.” Your director gives you permission.

Giggling eagerly, you carefully lift one of the plant's roots. To your surprise, it's heavier than expected, its weight adding to the puppet's realistic feel.

You playfully make the root squirm in your hands, marveling at how lifelike the puppet is even in its stationary state. The texture is smooth yet strangely slippery, reminiscent of a reptile's scales. As you manipulate the root, you can’t help but continue to laugh in awe.

“Be careful though,” your director warns. “It’s not completely finished, so it’s easy to tear.”

You nod obediently at your director's warning, fully aware of the delicate craftsmanship that went into creating Audrey II. With careful hands, you gently place the root back onto the workshop's table, ensuring it rests securely.

As you do so, a sense of fondness washes over you. You pat the root gently once, twice. "Goodbye, Audrey II," you murmur softly, your voice filled with a weird mix of affection.

Your director smiles warmly at your gesture, appreciating your connection with the puppet. "You're going to bring it to life on stage," she says encouragingly, her confidence in you evident.

As the rest of rehearsal proceeds smoothly, you notice Quinn standing by the piano, deep in discussion with Adam, probably about the timing in the music. From the subtle shifts in Quinn's demeanor and the tension in Adam's posture, it's clear that the atmosphere between them is strained.

Taking a deep breath, you decide to suck it up like a big boy and offer Quinn some support. Swallowing any residual discomfort, you make your way over to where they're standing, determined to ease the awkwardness if only for a moment.

"Hey, Quinn," you greet him warmly as you approach, flashing a genuine smile that belies the effort it takes to maintain composure. You deliberately avoid making eye contact with Adam, focusing your attention solely on Quinn.

Quinn's relief is palpable as he meets your gaze, a faint smile of gratitude tugging at his lips. "Hey," he responds, his voice carrying a hint of appreciation.

"Have you seen my Audrey II puppet yet?"

Quinn glances at you, a flicker of interest crossing his face. "Oh, did they finally finish it?"

"Yeah, sorta! I was just heading to go look at it again now. Wanna come with?" you offer, hoping to include him in something that might lift his spirits.

He grimaces slightly, apologetically meeting your gaze. "I would, but I HAVE to run through my lines. Sorry, dude.”

"No big!" you reply with a casual shrug, trying to keep the atmosphere light.

“I want to.” Both you and Quinn swivel your heads to Adam. His tone carries a hint of annoyance, likely catching on to the fact that you've been pointedly avoiding him.

“You want to…?” you ask cautiously, unsure of his sudden interest.

“Look. I want to look at the puppet.” Adam interrupts, standing from the piano stool and closing his binder of sheet music. His abruptness catches you off guard, and you awkwardly laugh, glancing over at Quinn for his reaction.

"Are you sure you don’t want to join us?" you hastily interject, silently pleading with Quinn not to leave you alone with Adam.

“Oh uhhhhh yeah sure! Why not! In fact, let’s get the whole cast to come and look!” Quinn exclaims enthusiastically, seizing the opportunity to divert attention away from any potential awkwardness. His declaration gathers the attention of the entire cast, who readily agree to join in.

Grateful for the distraction, you lead the way to the workshop, guiding everyone towards Audrey II. As the group gathers around the puppet, curiosity and excitement fill the air. Conversations bubble up among the cast members, sharing their thoughts and impressions of the intricate design.

When one of your castmates reaches out to touch the puppet, you instinctively slap their hand away. “Don’t touch it— it’s still fragile,” you caution, a hint of protectiveness in your voice.

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Adam raising a brow as your castmate apologizes and joins the rest of the crowd to ogle at Audrey II.

After a few minutes of everyone marveling at Audrey II, they begin to file out of the workshop one by one. You watch the group gradually disperse, feeling a mix of relief and lingering excitement from the shared experience.

Turning back for one last look at Audrey II, you take a moment to soak in the puppet's eerie beauty and the significance it holds for the upcoming production. As you start to turn away, ready to join the others, your heart skips a beat and you clutch your shirt, a startled shriek escaping your lips.

Adam is still there.

His presence catches you completely off guard, the sudden realization causing a jolt of embarrassment to course through you. You hadn't noticed him lingering behind, and now he stands alone in the workshop, observing Audrey II with a thoughtful expression.

You could've sworn Adam had exited with the rest of the group, but there he stands, still in the workshop. Your attempt at a polite smile falters as you realize he’s holding one of the puppet’s roots.

"Adam, put that down," you warn firmly.

"Why should I?" Adam retorts, a playful glint in his eyes as he continues to hold onto Audrey II's root.

"It's not yours," you state matter-of-factly, trying to maintain your composure despite the frustration creeping in.

"Technically not yours either," Adam teases, a smirk playing on his lips.

You bristle at his response, the playful banter hitting a nerve. "It's my character.”

"And yet you don't move the puppets even once.”

"Adam," you warn, your patience wearing thin.

"Baby,"

You huff in frustration. "I'm not going to be nice about it."

"You never are.”

"Put. It. Down," you grit through your teeth. "Adam!"

He moves it again, and this time, you hear a faint tearing sound. Your heart sinks as you see the seam start to pull taut.

"Adam!!" you practically shout, urgency in your voice now.

Finally, Adam looks up, his expression shifting from casual amusement to concern as he realizes what he's done. The tear in the puppet's root is evident, a small but significant damage that threatens its fragile structure.

"Oh, shit," Adam mutters under his breath, his eyes widening in realization.

You stand there, a mix of anger and disappointment washing over you. "Adam, please put it down—" you start to say again, but it's too late.

Rrrrrrrip! The tear worsens, the fabric giving way under the strain. You wince at the sound, knowing the damage is done. You both stare in shock as the root rips from the body of Audrey II. Adam jumps, his hands instinctively letting go of the root, which drops to the floor with a soft thud. Your heart sinks as you quickly bend down to retrieve it, hugging the damaged puppet piece protectively against your chest.

The workshop falls silent, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air. You shoot Adam an angry glare, your eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and disappointment. His usual nonchalant attitude falters under your gaze, and for once, he seems genuinely remorseful.

"I didn’t know it was gonna do that!" Adam exclaims, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation as he tries to justify his actions.

Still, you say nothing, your focus solely on assessing the damage to the puppet. The torn fabric and strained seam speak louder than Adam's words.

"Seriously, I didn’t know!" Adam insists, his tone pleading now, seeking validation or perhaps forgiveness.

Silence greets him once more, your expression unreadable as you continue to inspect Audrey II's damaged root.

Adam's nervousness grows palpable. "Really, if it was going to be that fragile, then it totally would’ve ripped on stage!!" he continues, his voice rising slightly in frustration.

But still, you offer no response.

"Why won’t you respond? Say something!" Adam finally demands, his patience wearing thin.

“Why do you have to be such a dick?!”

Adam flinches visibly at your outburst. His expression shifts from defensiveness to a mix of surprise and guilt

“Seriously, you complain and whine about how no one wants to be your friend here, but then you go around and act like this!” Your throat hurts. “Do you have no common sense? No respect for other people? This isn’t some show, Adam, this is my future!”

Adam's tense and nervous laughter only serves to fuel your frustration, his dismissive response hitting a nerve as you confront him with the seriousness of the situation.

"I'm not joking," you assert firmly, your voice edged with determination. "This is my first chance at a lead. If I don't do well now, my director won't consider me for other roles. And without that experience, I'll have nothing to show for when I enter the real world. It's my dream, Adam, and it means everything to me."

"Baby," Adam begins, attempting to placate you, but you cut him off sharply. “I think you’re being a bit overdramatic–”

"Don't tell me how to react!" you snap, your anger bubbling to the surface. "You're such an asshole!!"

"Why? All I did was fuck with a puppet!" Adam retorts defensively, his frustration mirroring yours.

"And then you went behind Quinn's back and flirted with Sadai," you say, your voice cracking slightly with emotion. The reminder of his betrayal overwhelms any lingering anger.

Adam cringes visibly. "I wasn't flirting—" he starts to defend himself, but you’re quick to cut him off.

"Adam," you interject.

"Okay, fine!" Adam admits, his voice tinged with remorse. "I was, but not for the reason you think!"

You meet his gaze, your eyes searching his for an explanation. "Then why?" you ask quietly,

"Jealousy is a very powerful emotion—" Adam starts, but you cut him off, unable to contain your incredulity.

"—you flirted with Sadai to make Quinn jealous?"

Adam hesitates for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Well, I mean, something like that."

"What the fuck," you exclaim, your frustration boiling over. "You manipulative asshole."

Adam winces at your words, his usual bravado crumbling under your righteous anger. "Sadai was in on it!!!" he blurts out defensively. "We were just hoping that... he'd… make a move on her."

"Because he was jealous," you conclude bitterly, the pieces falling into place.

"Yes," Adam confirms, his voice quieter now, his gaze shifting uncomfortably.

"Well, good luck with that now! Now he thinks he has no chance, so he’s not interested anymore. And I can’t say I blame him," you say, your voice tinged with resignation.

Adam's gaze remains steady on you, his expression unreadable as he waits for your response.

"Are you?" he asks gently, much softer than before.

What?

"Am I..." you repeat softly, the question lingering in the air.

"Not interested anymore?"

You feel a lump form in your throat as Adam's gaze lingers on you, his silence echoing loudly in the workshop. The vulnerability of the moment washes over you, leaving you feeling exposed and uncertain.

"In Quinn?" you ask again, your voice barely above a whisper, hoping for clarity amidst the swirling emotions.

Adam's expression remains unreadable, his eyes searching your face as if weighing his words carefully. He doesn't respond immediately, the tension between you palpable.

"No," he finally answers softly, his voice steady but devoid of further explanation.

Your heart sinks slightly at his cryptic response, the lack of elaboration leaving you with more questions than answers. You struggle to maintain composure, your mouth dry as you attempt to process his words and the unspoken implications behind them.

You're very careful with your words. "If I were in Quinn’s shoes, I wouldn’t be.”

Adam sniffs softly, his eyes momentarily flickering away before locking onto yours again. He seems to choose his next words carefully, his demeanor serious yet contemplative.

"Okay. So you’re in Quinn’s shoes and you’re mad at Sadai. What now?" Adam asks.

"I wait for an apology," you reply firmly, your voice gaining strength as you articulate your stance.

"An apology? That’s it?" Adam questions, his brow furrowing slightly in apparent skepticism.

"No, that’s not it," you clarify, meeting his gaze unwaveringly. "But it’s the first step."

Adam purses his lips. "Okay, she apologizes to you. Now what?"

You shrug. "I don’t know.”

"The fuck you mean you don’t know?" Adam exclaims, his frustration escalating.

"Adam.”

“You’re right, you’re right. Whatever. So what, should Sadai just go up to Quinn and apologize? What if she’s not sorry?”

"Then she better not talk to him until she is," you assert firmly.

Adam frowns, his expression troubled as he considers your response. "What if Quinn doesn’t forgive her?" he asks, his voice tinged with concern.

"Then Sadai better respect that.”

"And what if it kills Sadai that she won’t have Quinn in her life anymore, if he doesn’t forgive her. What if that’s too big a risk to take— to apologize and find out."

You can't decipher if Adam is speaking from a hypothetical standpoint or if there's a deeper personal resonance behind his questions. Nonetheless, you stand firm in your belief, doubling down on your stance with resolve.

“At least then she’d know.”

Adam nods slowly in agreement, his expression thoughtful as he processes your words. "Right," he acknowledges, his voice subdued.

You stare at him, waiting for an apology that never comes. The silence stretches between you, filled with unspoken expectations and unaddressed emotions. When it becomes apparent that Adam isn’t going to apologize, you sigh deeply, the disappointment evident in your voice.

"Alright Adam, time for you to get out of here," you say with resignation, firmness creeping into your tone.

"But—" Adam starts to protest, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Just go, Adam," you interrupt, cutting him off before he can say more. "I’ll see you in class."

"C'mon baby—" Adam tries again, a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Goodbye.”

As Adam begins to muster a response, he catches sight of tears welling up in the corners of your eyes. The defiance in him wavers, replaced by a sudden deflation. Adam nods silently, his resolve faltering. Without further words, he turns and exits the room, leaving you to grapple with the aftermath of your exchange.

You’re left still hugging that damn puppet’s root to your chest. Holding it tight makes your heart hurt a little bit less.

–

After ballet class, you find yourself lingering with a mix of emotions. Adam's absence didn't go unnoticed, and while a part of you is concerned, you're also determined to convince yourself not to care. Getting over a crush is never easy, and you're trying your best to stay focused.

Class was fine. The familiar routines and movements provided a welcome distraction, allowing you to immerse yourself in the physicality of dance. Your muscles ache in that satisfying way that signals a good workout, and your mind feels clearer, if only for a little while.

The sight of Adam waiting outside the dance class catches you off guard. He's sitting on one of the benches, his head buried in one of his hands. At the sound of the door opening, he jumps up, his posture stiff with tension. You watch, puzzled, as he nervously gulps and reveals a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

For a moment, you just stand there, frozen. The confusion must be evident on your face because Adam's expression shifts from nervousness to something resembling desperation.

"Um, you're late to class," you say dumbly. Of course he knows that.

He glances at the clock. "Yeah, I was waiting for it to be over."

"Why weren’t you here?" you ask, still trying to wrap your head around the situation.

"I wanted to talk to you.”

You glance behind you to see more of your classmates piling out. Contemplating, you bite your lip. “Can it wait?”

“Oh, oh yeah, no, totally, that’s fine,” he stammers, his nervousness evident in the way he shifts on his feet. He passes you the flowers and you take them, cradling them to your chest.

“Okay,” you say, feeling the weight of the bouquet in your hands.

You awkwardly snap your mouth closed and wait for everyone to leave. Ms. Nicole is the last one out. She notices you, Adam, and the bouquet in your hands. She coos, her eyes twinkling with a knowing smile.

“Aww, you two look adorable. Have a good evening, okay?” she says, waving as she exits.

You offer a tight-lipped smile, feeling a flush of embarrassment rise to your cheeks. “Thanks, Ms. Nicole. See you tomorrow.”

As the door closes behind her, you and Adam are left alone in the now-quiet hallway. The silence is thick with unspoken words, and you shift uncomfortably.

“So…”

You click your tongue. "So..."

"Uh, listen." He finally looks at you. "I'm not good at apologizing—"

"Yeah, I can tell."

His eyes narrow at your interruption, but you remain firm. He hurt you, whether he meant to or not, and you're willing to hear him out, but you won't make it easy for him. "I'm trying here."

“Yeah?” you ask. “Well, try harder.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated but determined. “I’m sorry for messing with your puppet.”

“And?” you prompt, raising an eyebrow.

He grumbles, his voice dropping. “I’m sorry for flirting with Sadai.”

You nod your head slowly. “Okay.”

“Okay. So we’re good?” he asks, hope in his eyes.

You laugh, but it’s a bitter sound. “Fuck no. You were a dick.”

He winces. “I know, I know. But I apologized—”

“You tore my puppet after I told you to put it down. Who do you think got in trouble for that? Not you. And then you go behind our friend’s back and try to make him jealous. You didn’t even get anything out of it!”

“He wasn’t the only one we were trying to make jealous!” Adam blurts out, eyes widening as if he didn’t mean to announce that.

You don’t stop to think of the implications, your anger flaring again. “Right, because that makes it much, much better.”

“Well, I already apologized!”

“I know.”

“So, I’m forgiven?” he asks, hopeful.

“No,” you reply firmly.

“Cut me some slack here!” he begs.

“I have been. For a long time,” you respond, your patience wearing thin.

“I even got you flowers! I never get any bitch flowers!”

Your eye twitches. “Try again.”

He takes a deep breath, realizing his mistake. “I never get anyone flowers. I promise, I’m really trying here.”

“Trying what? Because you’re certainly not trying to apologize. You’re just saying the words.”

He groans, exasperated. “I’m trying to confess to you, alright! I’d like to take you out, but I can’t do that if you’re mad at me!”

You stare at him, the anger quickly being replaced by a deep sense of disappointment. “…so you’re only apologizing so I’ll go out with you.” It’s not a question.

Adam is silent, the guilt evident in his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He realizes how hollow his apology now sounds.

You sigh, continuing. “Listen, Adam, you’re a dick. But you can be real sweet when you try. Being around you can be a whole lot of fun, when you’re not being a little shit. I like you a lot too, Adam.”

He perks up, hope lighting up his eyes.

“—but I can’t go out with you.”

His face falls, the hope extinguished as quickly as it appeared. “Why not?”

“You’re not boyfriend material. You’re real rough around the edges.”

He looks desperate, pleading almost. “You can help with that!”

"Adam, I'm not going to fix you. You need to fix yourself before we even consider going out. And that starts with a proper apology. A meaningful one, not just because you want me to forgive you."

For once, he shuts up and nods. "Okay. I'm sorry."

"Nice try. I'll give you some time," you reply firmly, holding your ground.

Adam looks at you, seeming to understand the gravity of what you're asking for. He nods again, more earnestly this time. "I'll do better. I promise."

You give him a small, cautious smile. "I hope so, Adam."

With that, you turn and walk away, leaving him to contemplate his actions and words. It's a step forward, albeit a small one, and you're hopeful that he'll take the time to reflect and make the changes necessary. For now, you're content to wait and see what happens next.

–

The next day at rehearsal, when you walk in, Adam waves at you from a distance. You appreciate the space he's giving you; being around him still leaves your head spinning. The rehearsal proceeds smoothly, with everyone focused on their roles and scenes.

As you go through the routines and lines, you find yourself immersed in the production, trying to put the recent events with Adam aside. Your performance is your focus now, and you're determined to give it your best despite the distractions.

During breaks, you catch glimpses of Adam occasionally glancing your way, but he doesn't approach you. Part of you wonders if he's taking your words to heart and giving you the space you need. It's a relief in some ways, but also leaves you with a lingering sense of uncertainty about where things stand between you.

–

It’s finally sitzprobe time, which means it’s the first time the cast gets to sing along with the band, and not just Adam’s accompaniment. Usually, you’d be a bit nervous about rehearsing with Adam, but he’s been surprisingly respectful with your distance.

That, you’re incredibly grateful for, as opening night looming closer and closer, you haven’t had time to think about romance or drama or whatever. Your free time has been spent going over lines, rehearsing your music, and stressing over this show. Basically, your life is now revolving around your production of Little Shop.

You wouldn’t have it any other way.

You were all herded into the music room, music stands holding binders– or for the less prepared, loose papers. The actors were pushed to the back of the area to make room for the band’s equipment.

You flip through your binder, mentally going over your music in your head. The sitzprobe was to start in a few minutes, so you were making sure to have everything down. Since you were just singing along with the band, you didn’t need to worry about lines or blocking– just your music.

As the band fine-tunes their equipment, the room is filled with a low hum of anticipation. Adam, with his guitar perched on his thigh, looks focused as he adjusts his amp chord. The heat and the crowded space have left a sheen of sweat on his forehead, causing his messy hair to stick to his skin. You catch yourself biting your lip at the sight, your mind momentarily drifting despite your best efforts to stay focused on the rehearsal.

When he meets your eye– because of course he would– you almost look away. But you don’t. Instead, you hold his gaze, feeling bold. He stares back. From your side, you hear Quinn call your name.

“Do you have a spare pencil?”

You look over to see Quinn’s backpack completely turned inside out in search of a pencil. You laugh before handing him one of your extras. You nod at his quick and embarrassed “thanks” before looking back to adam–

–Who is still watching you.

You feel yourself blushing under his warm gaze, your cheeks tinged with a faint pink hue. Despite your shyness, you manage to muster a timid smile. His response is a surprisingly sweet smile that melts your nerves and sends a flutter through your heart.

This time, it's he who breaks the gaze, turning away to start tuning his guitar. Each testing strum reverberates loudly through his amp, filling the room with its vibrant sound. With every chord he adjusts, you feel yourself grow more and more hot under the collar.

So he looks sexy playing guitar– go fuck yourself!

When it’s time for the sitzprobe to actually start, you almost miss your cue, too distracted watching Adam. He’s completely focused on his guitar, and you’re completely focused on him. Can you blame yourself, though?

Eventually, it's your turn to sing, and you hear the familiar notes creeping in. Taking a deep breath, you belt out the song with all your heart. A smile spreads across your face as you feel the electric guitar blending beautifully with your voice.

–

Before you knew it, tech week had sneaked up on you. With opening night just around the corner, the days leading up to it were a whirlwind of adding the finishing touches—adjusting lights, fine-tuning sound levels, and perfecting costumes down to every last detail.

Today's agenda had been slated for running through lighting cues and honing the synchronization between your voice and the Audrey II puppet; You were eager to finally meet the puppeteer who would bring your character to life. However, upon meeting her, despite her incredible talents, it didn’t seem like she wanted to be there very much. Or maybe that was just her serious RBF. So instead, you spent your breaks avoiding her.

Since today was focused solely on lights, the band wasn't called in. Despite your best efforts to downplay it, you couldn't shake the disappointment that settled in. After the last sitzprobe, you had been eagerly anticipating another chance to watch Adam shred his guitar. The thought of his skilled fingers dancing over the strings made your mouth water.

Not that you’d admit it, though.

After checking in with the stage manager to confirm your attendance, you heaved your monster-sized duffel bag towards the dressing room. The door protested with a loud squeal as you pushed it open, prompting a wince from you. However, your expression quickly turned into a wide grin when you realized you had the dressing room all to yourself for now. It was a rare moment of tranquility before the whirlwind of preparations began—a brief calm before the storm of tech week.

As you approach your designated spot at the mirrors, you're taken aback by what you find. Sitting neatly on your seat is a fresh bottle of water and a thermos. Intrigued and slightly skeptical, you twist open the thermos lid and bring it close to your nose, taking a cautious sniff. A smile spreads across your face when you recognize the familiar scent of throat coat tea. Score!

You hesitate, momentarily questioning if you should be tampering with these items, worried they might have been placed at your station by mistake. Yet, your curiosity gets the better of you when you notice a card tucked behind the water bottle. With cautious fingers, you pick it up, finding your name neatly written on the back. Perplexed, you carefully tear open the envelope and pull out the card.

"Break a leg. Or whatever the fuck you say. This isn't an apology. Not yet. You deserve something better than a card."

You notice a few lines that have been crossed out, suggesting some hesitation or revision. But at the end, it's signed with a heart—

"Adam"

Giddy butterflies fluttered in your stomach, and this time, instead of brushing them aside, you allowed yourself to revel in the sensation of hope and happiness. It felt absolutely wonderful.

You opened the thermos once more, letting the comforting scent of throat coat tea waft out, and took your first sip. The warm, soothing liquid eased your nerves as you continued to prepare for rehearsal. You carried the thermos with you out onto the stage, still taking generous sips. .

Mid-sip, you choke slightly as your eyes meet Adam's in the audience. There's a moment of surprise, followed by a rush of warmth when you see the pleased—no, relieved—expression on his face as he notices you enjoying his gift. With the hopeful butterflies still fluttering in your stomach, you can't help but smile and wave in his direction, a silent acknowledgment of gratitude.

He blinks in surprise before a warm smile spreads across his face, and he waves back. It becomes clear that seeing you enjoy his gesture was his sole purpose for being here today. With a practiced casualness, he slips his hands into his pockets and begins to make his way towards the exit. For once, you’re the one watching him go.

You totally look at his butt while he walks.

–

The past two days of tech week had been long and grueling, each hour stretching into what felt like an eternity. Yet, somehow, you managed to push through, thanks in large part to an alarming abundance of energy drinks. Who could blame you, though? The relentless schedule demanded it.

You'd developed a strategic habit of stashing energy drinks in every conceivable spot—your bag, your dorm room, and especially your dressing room. This way, no matter where you were, a quick jolt of caffeine was always within arm's reach.

Today, as you arrived at rehearsal, you polished off yet another can and felt the familiar pang of needing a refill. Without a second thought, you made a beeline for the dressing room, determined to grab another energy drink before diving back into the demanding pace of tech week.

Now that the lights and sounds had been meticulously carved out, the band was invited back today to perform with everyone. You had already run through the show once, which meant it was now time for a break before notes and then another run-through.

You felt a wave of relief wash over you at the thought of a second run-through. The first one hadn't been your best, and you couldn’t help but replay every minor mistake in your mind. Although you knew you were your own harshest critic, you couldn't shake the desire for perfection. This show was important to you, and you desperately needed it to go well.

You finally reached the dressing room door, grateful for a moment of solitude. Everyone else was taking their water break and snacking in the lobby, leaving you the dressing room all to yourself, which you always appreciated. The quiet space provided a welcome respite from the chaos outside.

Plopping yourself down in your seat, you rummaged through your belongings in search of another energy drink. When your fingers finally closed around the familiar can (thank god), you quickly pushed on the tab to open it, savoring the crisp sound of the release. Without hesitation, you took a big gulp, feeling the rush of caffeine invigorate your senses.

Suddenly, as you were wiping your mouth on your shirt sleeve, a knock echoed through the dressing room door. Rolling your eyes, you assumed it was someone from the neighboring dressing room, probably looking for more hairspray or some other last-minute item.

However, what greeted you when you swung open the door was entirely unexpected. Instead of a fellow cast member, you found yourself face-to-face with a gigantic piece of poster paper. It took a moment for your eyes to adjust and process the sight in front of you.

"Pretend it's your director," the poster read in bold, messy letters.

"Um," you muttered, looking around in confusion. "I'm the only one in here..."

Before you could make sense of it, Adam's head popped up from behind the poster board. Of course—it had to be him. He looked absolutely giddy, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he took in your bewildered expression.

“At least pretend,” he playfully pouts, his eyes twinkling. It's surprising to see him in such a good mood.

“Okay, okay,” you relent, laughing. You can’t help but join in on his contagious amusement.

He flips the poster.

“With any luck, by next year,” it reads.

He flips it again.

“I’ll be going out with one of these people.”

The next flip reveals a collage of different models and celebrities. Despite yourself, you can't help but burst into laughter.

“Are you stealing this from Love, Actually?” you ask, grinning.

“Shhh, don’t spoil the surprise,” he replies, putting a finger to his lips dramatically.

“But for now, let me say,”

“Without hope or agenda”

“Just because its tech week—”

“(And at tech week you tell the truth)”

“…I’m sorry”

You raise your eyebrows in surprise, setting aside the signs to focus fully on him. His playful demeanor has shifted subtly, revealing a softer, more vulnerable side. His gaze meets yours, and you notice a hint of bashfulness in his expression. His Adam’s apple bobs noticeably as he swallows, the tension palpable in the quiet moment between you.

“I’m sorry,” he begins, taking a deep breath before the words tumble out in a rush. “I’m sorry I messed with your puppet, and I’m also sorry I flirted with Sadai. You made this whole point about how it upset Quinn. You didn’t say it, but I knew it upset you, too.”

He pauses, searching your face for your reaction. When you nod encouragingly, he continues, his voice earnest.

“It’s… why I did it. I hoped you would have confessed to me. But instead it hurt you. And so then I messed with your puppet because I’d rather you be mad than sad, but you still were and I was a dick. I’m really, really sorry. I’ll even get on my knees. I—”

"Adam," you interrupt softly.

He flinches, expecting a different reaction—perhaps yelling, tears, or a freak-out. What he doesn’t expect is for you to lean in and give him a gentle peck on the cheek.

Adam blinks in surprise, his eyes widening as he processes the unexpected gesture. His cheeks flush slightly, and for a moment, he's at a loss for words.

“I forgive you,” you say softly, leaning back into your own space.

His mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air, before a dopey smile spreads across his face, lighting up his features.

“I still feel like I need to make it up to you,” he admits, his voice tinged with relief and happiness, as if he's floating on cloud nine.

“You will,” you reply with a knowing smile.

“I will,” he agrees, a look of determination settling in his eyes as he finally comes back down to earth. He smiles at you, then places his hands on your shoulders with a resolute expression.“This doesn’t mean we’re going out yet, though. I need to sweep you off your feet.”

You can’t help but laugh at his declaration. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely,” he replies, his eyes twinkling with a mix of seriousness and playfulness. “You deserve the best, and I’m going to prove that I can give it to you.”

Touched by his sincerity, you nod. “Alright, Adam. I’m looking forward to it.”

He nods, then raps his fist on the door frame. “Welp, looks like we better get back to rehearsal…”

You hum in agreement. “Yep…”

A moment of stillness hangs between you before you grab him by his shirt collar and tug him forward. He grins the whole way, eyes sparkling with anticipation. You plant a kiss on his mouth, and he smiles through it, pressing his lips firmly against yours. The kiss is brief but charged, lasting only a second before you both pull away.

“Well!” you bring your hands together in a loud clap, bashfully embarrassing his eyes. “Gotta go!”

–

The next day, after a long rehearsal, you start packing up to head to dinner. As you're in the middle of a conversation with one of your castmates, your phone buzzes with a notification. You pick it up from the dressing room table, pausing mid-sentence to glance at the screen.

You tilt your head in confusion as you see that the notification is from a random number.

UNKNOWN

You hesitantly click on the attachment, and a video begins to play on your phone screen.

The video is of your song "Feed Me." You watch in awe as the puppet comes to life, synchronized perfectly with your voice. This is the first time you've seen yourself perform as Audrey II, and you find yourself captivated by the seamless blend of your vocals and the puppeteer's movements.

Surprisingly, you’re impressed with your own performance. Your voice sounds powerful and emotive, carrying the song with confidence and flair. Watching the puppet and hearing your own vocals, you realize just how much you've accomplished. A sense of pride washes over you, mixed with a touch of disbelief.

The video is taken from the pit of the stage, where the band is located. You notice the phone recording is propped up on what you assume is a music stand, angled perfectly to capture the stage. A hint of suspicion about who took the video begins to form in your mind.

Your suspicions are confirmed when, after the song ends, you hear an enthusiastic whoop and holler from behind the phone. A drumstick suddenly appears, swinging into view, and you hear Adam curse loudly, likely having been smacked with the stick. The unexpected moment makes you giggle; the scene is endearing and somewhat cute.

When you click out of the video, your phone buzzes again.

UNKNOWN You were super good. -your secret admirer

You can't help but smile as you type back.

YOU Adam

A moment later, your phone buzzes again with a quick response.

UNKNOWN Dammit.

You quickly add his number to your contacts, labeling it with a fond smile. As you finish, you glance up and catch sight of yourself in the dressing room mirror. The realization that you're grinning from ear to ear makes you blush. Your cheeks warm, and you can’t help but laugh softly at yourself.

ADAM Wanna sit next to each other at dinner I won’t bite And I know you won’t either ;]

YOU Are you gonna flirt with Sadai again

ADAM Okay so apparently you /will/ bite. And no I will not.

YOU Then yes

ADAM Ok I’m boutta leave I’ll save you a seat

Just as you're about to put your phone away, another notification pops up. You open it to find a selfie of Adam, flashing a peace sign with a goofy grin. The only caption reads, “Am I kawaii?”

You laugh but decide not to respond, clicking your phone off with a shake of your head.

Determined to get to the restaurant, you gather all your belongings and throw them into your duffel bag. Slinging it over your shoulder, you take one last glance around the dressing room, feeling a mix of excitement and satisfaction.

As you step out into the bustling hallway, you feel lighter, a spring in your step as you head towards the exit.

With your head down, still thinking about Adam’s ridiculous text, you almost run face-first into Quinn. He steps back just in time, and based on his expectant expression, you already know what he's going to ask.

“Yes, I can give you a ride.”

He cheekily smiles, his eyes lighting up. “Sick.”

You both walk to your car in silence. Once inside, you unlock it and slide into the driver’s seat. As you click your seatbelt in place and adjust the rearview mirror, Quinn awkwardly coughs, breaking the quiet.

“So,” he starts, his voice a bit uneven, as if he’s unsure. “You and Adam.”

“Me and Adam?” you prompt, glancing over at him.

“Are y’all… a thing now?” he asks, his curiosity evident.

You awkwardly shrug as you turn on the car ignition and begin to back out of your parking spot. Technically, you aren't lying. Adam hasn’t asked you out yet, but you did kiss—it's like some sort of limbo.

“Are you just going to look past his dick actions?” Quinn asks, his tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

“He apologized. Like, actually. It was this whole thing,” you explain, trying to convey the sincerity of Adam’s apology.

“Oh,” Quinn replies, looking down, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.

You get on the road and steal a quick glance at Quinn. He’s anxiously bouncing his knees, his shoulders as taut as a rubber band.

“So, you and Sadai.”

“Me and Sadai,” he echoes, his voice carrying a hint of tension.

You roll to a stop at a red light, keeping your eyes forward as you attempt to carefully breach the topic. He hasn’t stopped bouncing his legs.

“Have y’all talked after that night?” you ask gently.

“No,” he replies, his tone clipped and filled with frustration.

You click your tongue thoughtfully. “Maybe you should.”

“Yeah, maybe…”

You can’t take it anymore. The words burst out of you before you can stop them. “Sadai and Adam only flirted to make us jealous!”

Quinn’s legs stop bouncing, and he perks up, suddenly full of energy. “I knew it!” he exclaims, a triumphant look on his face.

You laugh, relieved to have finally admitted that information. But then you pause, realizing something. “What do you mean you knew it? And you didn’t tell me?”

“Well, you didn’t tell me!” Quinn laughs.

“Touché…”

“But yeah, no!” He sits back in his chair, a smug look on his face. “I totally knew it! They kept looking at us!”

You frown, trying to remember. “They did?”

“Yes! And when we left, Jared said they just... stopped talking to each other entirely!”

You groan, facepalming. “Oh my god.”

Eventually, you both pull into the parking lot of the restaurant. You park your car and step out, Quinn following suit.

“Uh, hey guys.”

You turn to see Sadai perched on the sidewalk, standing up and brushing off any dirt as she sees you. Her expression is tentative, eyes flicking nervously between you and Quinn.

You glance between Sadai and Quinn, noticing the tension in the air. Quinn’s eyes are locked on Sadai, a mix of emotions playing across his face. Just as he moves to open your car door, clearly trying to escape the situation, you quickly press the lock button.

He tugs at the car door handle, but the door remains firmly shut. His frustration becomes apparent as he glares at you, a mixture of betrayal and disbelief on his face. His eyes dart between you and Sadai, his shoulders slumping in resignation.

You stand firm, meeting his gaze with a resolute expression. “Adam’s waiting for me. Don’t take too long,” you say, your tone carrying a hint of finality.

With that, you turn on your heel and walk towards the restaurant entrance, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in your stomach. You can feel Quinn’s eyes boring into your back as you move away, his disapproval palpable even from behind. You almost falter, a pang of guilt hitting you for leaving him to face this conversation alone. But you remind yourself that sometimes, facing uncomfortable truths is necessary for growth and resolution.

You push open the restaurant door and step inside, the lively hum of conversation and clinking cutlery greeting you warmly. Your eyes scan the room, quickly locating your table. A wave of relief washes over you as you spot Adam among your friends, seated comfortably towards the middle of the group.

You wave hi to everyone, your smile widening when you see the empty seat next to Adam. You make your way over, feeling a mix of excitement and relief.

“Hey, dickwad!” you call out playfully.

Adam’s head snaps up at the sound of your voice. His face lights up instantly, his smile spreading from ear to ear. The sight makes your heart flutter, just a little, as you approach him.

“Hey, bitch!” he responds with equal enthusiasm, waving you over. “I saved you a seat!”

He pats the seat next to him, and you slide in with a smile. As soon as you’re settled, Adam wraps an arm around your shoulders, giving you a playful half-hug. The gesture feels warm and comforting, a stark contrast to the awkwardness you left behind outside.

“How’d you like the video?” he asks, his voice light and full of enthusiasm. “Aren’t you just the best?”

You feel your cheeks warm under his praise, and you duck your head slightly, a shy smile tugging at your lips. “My favorite part was when you got hit with the drumstick,” you admit, your eyes twinkling with amusement.

Adam dramatically groans, pulling his arm away and releasing you. “I really thought I cut that part out…” he says, pretending to be exasperated.

You laugh, the sound genuine and joyful, and it feels good to let go of the day’s stress. Reaching for the menu, you start browsing through the options, feeling the familiar sense of comfort and relaxation settle over you as the conversation flows around the table.

As time passes, you find yourself genuinely enjoying dinner. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is lively and warm. Adam is surprisingly attentive throughout the meal, making a point to include you in all his conversations. He listens intently to your stories and takes an active interest in the topics you bring up. His easygoing nature and the way he makes you feel heard only add to the evening’s enjoyment.

Despite the pleasant distraction, your mind occasionally drifts to the Quinn-and-Sadai-shaped hole in the group dynamic. They’ve been outside talking for what feels like forever, even after your food arrived. The minutes tick by, and you start to wonder what’s going on.

Just as you’re nearing the end of your meal, you catch sight of them finally making their way inside. Your gaze naturally shifts towards the entrance, and your eyes widen in surprise when you see them walking hand in hand.

Your jaw drops in surprise as you watch Quinn and Sadai approach the table, their hands intertwined. You glance over at Adam, who is mid-bite into a juicy rib, his mouth full and his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

You nudge his attention towards Quinn and Sadai. Adam’s eyes follow your gesture, and as he takes in the sight of them holding hands, his face lights up with genuine excitement and happiness.

“They’re holding hands!” you exclaim, unable to keep the delight out of your voice.

Quinn and Sadai settle into the only available spots— a table a few feet away from you. Without a second thought, you peel yourself off your seat, nearly bumping into other diners as you practically race to Quinn.

As you approach, you come up behind him and place your hands firmly on his shoulders. The sudden contact startles him, and he turns his head slightly, looking up at you with a mix of surprise and confusion.

You lean in slightly, a mischievous grin playing on your lips. “Hey,” you say softly. “I need to use the restroom. Care to accompany me?” You tighten your grip on Quinn’s shoulders just enough to make it clear that this is not up for debate.

Quinn chokes, his eyes widening in surprise. “Y-yeah. That’s all good. Let me just…”

He stumbles slightly as he stands up, clearly flustered. Your hands fall away from his shoulders, and he avoids making eye contact as you start walking toward the bathroom. You let him be, content to lead the way

You’re seriously getting deja vu from the last cast dinner.

Quinn, trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, shrugs casually. However, a telltale smile tugs at the corners of his lips, betraying his genuine happiness. “We talked,” he says simply, though the glimmer in his eyes suggests there’s more to the story.

You place your hands on your hips, trying to hide your impatience. “You have to give me the details! Now!”

Quinn chuckles, shaking his head. “There’s too many details to go over right now. I’ll just call you tonight and fill you in.”

You sigh dramatically but can’t help but smile at the thought of hearing all the juicy details later. “Okay, okay fine,” you concede. “I wasn’t kidding about needing to pee, though. Wait here for me, okay?”

After you finish up in the restroom, you and Quinn walk back towards your respective tables. As you reach his table, you pause for a moment and give him a quick, affectionate ruffle of his hair. The gesture is filled with genuine excitement and happiness for him.

“You really deserve good things,” you say warmly, your voice brimming with sincerity. “I’m so glad you and Sadai worked things out.”

Quinn's face lights up with a grateful smile, and he nods appreciatively. “Thanks for everything. I’ll fill you in on all the details tonight.”

You give him a final encouraging nod before turning back towards your table.

You slide back into your seat next to Adam, and immediately notice his subtle attempts to inch closer to you. His movements are slow and deliberate, as though he’s trying to discreetly close the gap between you without drawing too much attention.

For the fun of it—and maybe because you actually enjoy the closeness—you let him continue his subtle advances. You shift just a bit, allowing him to inch closer. His arm brushes against yours, and you can feel the warmth of his body next to yours.

Adam seems to sense your willingness and takes the opportunity to move a bit closer. His shoulder lightly brushes against yours, and he offers a soft, satisfied smile, clearly pleased with the closeness.

As you settle back into your seat, you feel Adam’s mouth come close to your ear. His breath tickles your skin as he murmurs, “Wanna get out of here?”

You turn your head slightly, catching the playful glint in his eyes, and nudge him away with a light shove. “I need to pay, dipshit,” you reply with a teasing edge to your voice.

Adam’s face lights up with a smirk, clearly pleased with his little revelation. “Oh, I already took care of it,” he says, his tone almost smug. He reaches over and gently brushes a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his touch tender and reassuring.

You blink in surprise, your eyes widening. “What??”

He chuckles softly, his smile widening at your reaction. “Yep. I’ve got it covered, baby. It was getting late, and you need to rest up for tech week.”

You let Adam guide you out of the restaurant, feeling a mix of excitement and contentment. As you walk towards the exit, you turn back to give a cheerful wave to the rest of your castmates, your smile wide and genuine. “Goodbye, everyone!” you call out, your voice full of warmth.

Your thoughts briefly drift to Quinn, who are likely only now getting their food. You’re confident that he’ll be just fine to ride home with Sadai.

As you approach your car, Adam walks beside you, his hand still gently holding yours. When you reach the driver’s side, he steps back to let you unlock the door. You’re pleasantly surprised by his gentlemanly gesture as he opens it for you with a wide grin.

You look up at him, your eyebrows raised in playful suspicion. “Did you make me leave early just so you could have a kiss?” you ask, your tone light but teasing.

Adam’s grin widens, and he gives a mock sheepish shrug. “Ya caught me,”

You roll your eyes with a playful sigh, feeling the warmth of the moment. Gently, you cup Adam’s face in your hands, and he melts into your touch, his expression softening into a dopey smile. His eyes flutter closed, and he purses his lips expectantly. You meet him halfway, leaning in for a kiss.

The kiss is sweet and brief, lasting only a second, but it’s filled with an undeniable connection. You’re pleasantly surprised when he doesn’t try to sneak in any tongue action; instead, he keeps it tender and simple. When you pull away, he surprises you again by planting a quick kiss on your forehead, his touch light and affectionate.

Before you can react, Adam’s hand gives your backside a playful smack, and he bursts into laughter. “Adam!” you gasp, your face flushing with a mix of shock and amusement.

He chuckles heartily, his eyes sparkling with mischief, and begins to sprint away towards his car. You watch him run, laughing at the impish grin on his face as he disappears into the distance

What a guy.

–

You’re sprawled out on your stomach, idly kicking your legs in the air, when you hear a knock on your dorm room door. Assuming it’s your roommate who’s forgotten their card key yet again, you roll off your bed with a sigh and pad over to the door, swinging it open without a second thought.

“Heeeeyyyyyy bitch,” a familiar voice greets you.

Your eyes widen in surprise as you take in the sight of Adam leaning casually against the door frame. In one hand, he’s holding a loaf of bread, and in the other, a steaming cup of what you assume is coffee.

“Why are you here?” you ask, the surprise evident in your voice. “How are you here?”

“Remember that one time I walked you home? Yep. Took a picture of your room number so I’d never forget.”

You feel a mix of emotions—both a little creeped out by the fact that he remembered your room number like that, and oddly flattered by his dedication.

“So,” you say, tapping on the doorframe. “what’re you doing here?”

Adam’s grin broadens. “I was thinking about taking a walk around campus. Care to join me?”

You glance down at the loaf of bread in his hand, then back up at him. “Do you need to put that down or...?”

“Nah.” Adam slaps the loaf lightly, careful not to crush it. “This big guy will be joining us.”

“Um, okay.” You smile, amused and curious. “Why?”

Adam tugs at his collar, a bit sheepishly. “I was hoping to take you to the lake down by the library. Maybe feed the baby ducks.”

You can’t help but melt a little. “Aww, cute!” you say, and Adam ducks his head, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

“Let me go change out of my nasty pajamas,” you add, stepping back into your room.

“Aw, but I like the bed head,” he teases, reaching out to ruffle your hair. You push him off, swatting him playfully until he steps out into the hall.

“Give me a minute,” you call out as you close the door. You quickly change into something more suitable for a walk around campus, then open the door to find Adam engrossed in his phone. When he notices you, he clicks it off and smiles, eyes lighting up.

“Here.” He shoves the hot drink towards you. Confused, you glance up at him through your lashes. He quickly explains, “I bought you an herbal tea. Figured it’d help for tech week.”

Your eyebrows quirk up in surprise, and a slight blush fills your cheeks at the thoughtfulness of it all. “Aw, Adam, you didn’t have to.”

“I know. Just wanted to.” He shrugs, but there’s a genuine warmth in his eyes.

You two had walked the expanse of the campus, mindlessly chatting. It was surprisingly pleasant, and you found yourself enjoying the conversation as you sipped on your tea. It was a bit bitter, but you appreciated the gesture, knowing it would help during tech week. When you finished, you quickly tossed the empty cup in the nearest trash.

Adam was just as bold and brash as ever, but as you looked past his jokes and playful banter, you noticed the subtle signs of his nervousness. The way he kept squeezing the loaf of bread, squishing the slices between his fingers, was almost too endearing. For someone who usually plays it so cool, seeing him so anxious about something as simple as feeding ducks made him seem more genuine.

You couldn't help but smile, appreciating this different side of him. It was clear he was trying hard to make the day special for you, and his nervousness only made the gesture more touching.

You eventually find yourself at the library’s lake, the peaceful setting a perfect backdrop for your outing. The ducks are a welcome distraction, and you both sit shoulder-to-shoulder, enjoying the serene atmosphere. The sun casts a warm glow over the water, and you can’t help but feel content.

You’re deep in conversation about the oddest things when you spot the baby ducks. Your excitement bubbles up, and you grab Adam’s arm, pointing towards the tiny, fluffy creatures. He turns to look and immediately lights up, a soft smile spreading across his face. He places his hand over yours, giving it a gentle squeeze before reaching into the loaf of bread he brought.

You both begin tearing off small pieces of bread and tossing them into the water. The ducks quickly flock to the crumbs, their tiny beaks pecking eagerly. You take turns feeding them, each small piece met with a flurry of happy quacks and paddling.

As one particularly brave baby duck waddles up almost to your feet, you struggle to contain a squeal of delight. The sheer cuteness of the moment makes your heart flutter. Adam chuckles beside you, clearly amused by your reaction.

That doesnt last long, however.

You hear a dramatic gasp of offense before some short, blond twink comes angrily waddling towards you both. Adam, upon spotting him, immediately glowers.

“Um, hey..?” You greet, unsure of the appropriate response.

The blond ignores you in favor of pointing a sharp finger towards the loaf in your hands.

“Is that bread?” He asks, incredulous.

“Yes?”

He furrows his brows and puffs out his chest. “And you’re feeding it to the ducks?”

You look to Adam for reassurance, however he’s too busy glaring daggers at the short man. “…yes?”

The man lets out an ignified squawk. “You can’t do that! You’ll fill them up with nutrition-less food, and then they won’t have an appetite for their actual diet! Are you insane?”

You sheepishly tug the loaf of bread behind your back, hiding it from the man. “Sorry.”

He goes to say something else, before finally noticing Adam next to you. His eyes dart between you both before coming to some sort of conclusion. His once offended face splits into a smug grin. You don’t like how he’s looking at you.

And apparently neither does Adam, because he’s maneuvering you to stand up. Before he gets a chance to turn you around, the man grabs your hand and starts shaking it.

“How rude of Adam to not introduce us! The name’s Lucius, but you can call me Lulu.” The man, Lucius, purrs.

You wrinkle your nose. “You want me to call you lulu?”

Adam forces his way between you both, managing to make Lucius let go of you. You’re thankful for him not to be touching you anymore. “Alright, cunt, leave them alone. You’ve already taken two, that should be enough.”

You’re somewhat offended to be reduced to some number, but your confusion stops you. Whatever dick measuring contest the two of them are holding right now, you want no part of it. “Adam, relax. He’s just upset about the bread.”

“Like hell he is! That’s how he gets you!

“Gets me to do what?”

You look between Lucius, who’s smirking and whistling like he’s in a cartoon, and Adam, who’s staring at the ground with a deep scowl. You feel like you’re missing something big, like there’s an inside joke you’re not a part of. The situation is honestly frustrating.

“Gets me to do what?!” You repeat.

Lucius ignores your question. “You know, you’re rather pretty, aren’t you?”

. “Don’t.” Adam says.

Lucius goes for a more personal approach, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from your face. You instinctively dodge his hand, but he doesn’t seem deterred. Instead, he rakes his fingers down past your head, his touch lingering as he toys with your shirt collar. His eyes glint with mischief as he leans in closer. “What’s a pretty thing like you doing slumping around a tool like Adam?”

“Lucius…”. Adam warns.

“Better to run while you still can.” Lucius laughs. You don’t think it’s very funny. “No one ever stays with him for too long, and it’s better to not find out why. “

Adam’s shoulders slump as his anger melts into hurt. He grumbles something under his breath before turning on his heel and marching off, leaving you standing there with Lucius. You watch him walk away, feeling a pang of disappointment at his sudden departure.

Lucius catches your gaze, his eyes filled with what seems like pity, and it makes you bristle. How dare he assume he knows more about your relationship with Adam than you do? The audacity of this man, who’s clearly intruding on your time together, is infuriating.

Before you have a chance to voice your frustration, Lucius’s lips curl into a reassuring smile. But something about it is far from comforting. The smile exposes unnaturally sharp teeth, making you feel even more uneasy.

You nervously flash him an almost-smile before scurrying off to join Adam. He seems honest-to-god surprised you chose him over that other guy, which is sort of rude, but you try to look past it. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.” He grunts.

“Okayyy…? Then where are we going? I thought we were getting lunch.”

It looks like it hurts him to say whatever’s next. “No. I’m taking you home.”

“Why? I thought we were going on a date?”

“Because.” He swallowed hard. “The date was ruined.”

You raise an eyebrow, taking a second. You know not to take it to heart— poor dude’s ego was just watered down right in front of him. So you choose a different approach. “Ruined?”

Adam, still sulking, nods his head. “Ruined.”

“Do you think it was ruined?”

“No, but you do.”

You scrunch your face up. “I do? Since when?”

Adam finally looks up from the floor and into your eyes. He’s a bit more energetic than before. “Since Lulu came in and ruined it?”

“First off, don’t call him that. Second off, he was just some crazy twink! What, did you think I was gonna run off with him into the night just because he gave me a compliment?”

“The others did.”

Okay, now you really are confused. “The others?”

Adam rolls his eyes, but not at you. He huffs and sits down on the nearest bench, encouraging you to follow. When you do, he grabs the bread from you, opens it, and starts absentmindedly chewing on a slice.

“I used to have two girlfriends. Not at the same time, though. That’d be way too much drama to deal with.”

Nice to know that that’s where he draws the line…

“But Lucifer—“

“Lucifer?” You balk.

He rolls his eyes and corrects himself. “Lucius set sights on both of them. When I wasn’t looking, he went behind my back and swept them off their feet. Both of them!!! Both of them chose him over me! So excuse me for getting upset when I thought you would too!”

A pang of sympathy plays at your heart, and it takes everything in you to not pull him into a tight hug and never let go. Sure, Adam’s a jerk. A cocky, jerky, dickhole. But he’s been sweet to you. And funny. And thoughtful.

“Well I’m not like your other two girlfriends, am I?” You carefully say.

Adam looks at you with a confused expression, not exactly sure on where you’re going with this. “…no.”

“Then Adam,” you reach for him and feel awful when he flinches away. However, you keep going and manage to pet his hair. “Why would I run away? I want you, plain and simple. I’m still waiting for you to ask me out, ya know.”

Despite everything, he bashfully smiles and looks away. “Yeah, alright. I get it.”

“Do you?”

He looks to you, really looks. And finally— “I do.”

You both stare at each other for a second. You’ve never seen this side of Adam before— vulnerable and open. It’s addicting, and you want more of it. You want to know him inside and out. Before you can think of the overwhelming ache in your bones, you’re standing again and brushing off your clothes.

“Alright, Adam, baby.” Your voice is still soft with emotion. You reach towards him and smile when he grabs ahold of your hand with no hesitation. “Let’s keep walking.”

You pull Adam up, and he follows your lead with ease. As he stands, he doesn’t let go of your hand, holding on tightly. His face is a mixture of emotions—pinched tight with tension and his eyes a bit glossy, but he’s still smiling. It’s a vulnerable sight, and your heart aches for him.

“Are you okay?” you ask softly, concerned.

Adam brings his free hand up, roughly wiping at his face as if trying to clear away the emotions that are threatening to spill over. “Yeah. Yeah, I just… I don’t know. I kind of expected you to run away after all that. I’m just relieved.”

Seeing his struggle, you squeeze his hand reassuringly. The touch is gentle but firm, a silent promise that you’re here for him. He squeezes back, and you both stand there for a moment, connected by this simple but meaningful gesture.

The air between you feels lighter, filled with an unspoken understanding. You take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day’s emotions start to lift. With a comforting smile, you nod toward the path. “…wanna go get food?”

He laughs. “Fuuuuck yes.”

–

Rehearsal later that day was so incredibly hectic, you didn’t get a chance to utter even a word to adam. Your time was spent polishing the show, as you opened tomorrow. The thought alone filled your stomach with dread and excitement.

However, after your songs and scenes, Adam did let out a few cheers. Of course, that led to him getting reprimanded while the director sat you down and gave you notes. You tried to get a peek at him, but he was too far and you were too busy jotting down your notes. Once he was done getting scolded from the conductor, he walked back down to the pit near where you were sat. He caught your eye and, despite having been dug into moments prior, brightly smiled at you. Your heart ached.

Eventually, rehearsal was called to an end. You were grateful that class had gotten canceled tomorrow, as you are quite literally dead on your feet. When you feel a pair of hands land on your shoulders, you jump a few feet in the air. You spin to see Adam, who had grabbed your bag before you could. He slung it over his shoulder, juggling his own guitar case, and held out his hand.

You took it, pressing yourself into his side. Normally you most likely wouldn't have done this, but you’re so exhausted so you lean your weight into him. He laughs and removes his hand from yours, instead wrapping it around your shoulders to pull you in. Together, he silently walks you to your dorm.

–

The velvet curtains closed with a final, satisfying thud, and the applause roared through the theater like a crashing wave. After rushing onstage for your bow, you stood center stage, chest heaving with exhilaration and relief. You had done it. The months of rehearsals, the late nights, and the countless hours of self-doubt had all led to this moment.

You could see the faces of the audience, all beaming with appreciation and admiration. But there was only one face you sought out among the crowd. You felt a rush of warmth, knowing Adam had seen you at your best.

As the house lights came up, you made her way backstage, your fellow cast members congratulating each other with hugs and high-fives. You accepted their praise graciously, but your mind was elsewhere.

You knew you had one more performance to deliver tonight.

Finally, the stage manager gave you a nod. It was time to greet the audience in the lobby. You took a deep breath and stepped out, your heart racing in anticipation. The crowd gathered, forming a semi-circle around the cast. Autographs were signed, selfies were taken, and congratulations were exchanged.

And then, there he was. Adam stood at the edge of the crowd, waiting patiently. As their eyes met, your heart skipped a beat. You excused herself from a conversation with an enthusiastic parent and made your way over to him.

"Hey, superstar," Adam greeted with that charming grin that always made your knees feel a little wobbly.

"Hey yourself," you replied, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. "What did you think?"

He grabbed both your hands, bringing them up to his mouth to press a gentle kiss. “You were awesome, really. I loved having you sing along with my guitar.”

You giggled, eyes sparkling. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” His smile was genuine, the corners of his eyes crinkling. You batted your hands away from him, relishing in his sickly sweet corniness.

“Oh?”

“I know people typically get flowers, but they die really quickly, so I thought, ‘Hey! Why not make something!’ So I did, but it honestly didn’t turn out very well, so—”

“Adam. Just show me, baby,” you interrupted gently.

He bashfully smiled and dug into his pockets, pulling out a pair of car keys. You balked, eyes wide.

“You got me a fucking car?”

“No!” he laughed, shaking his head. “It’s in my car.”

With that, you both head outside, Adam's hand resting on the small of your back, guiding you gently through the cool evening air. The sky is painted with the soft hues of twilight, casting a romantic glow over everything. When you reach his car, he glances at you with a mix of excitement and nervousness before popping the trunk. He steps in front of you, effectively blocking your view, heightening the anticipation.

You hear the rustling of items being moved around, and your curiosity piques. Finally, Adam turns around, cradling a large, beautifully arranged gift basket. The basket is wrapped in shimmering cellophane and tied with a big, bright bow. Inside, it’s filled to the brim with your favorite candies and your go-to drinks, each item thoughtfully chosen. Nestled among the treats are several gift cards to your favorite stores and cafes.

Your mouth drops open in surprise, and you quickly cover it with your hand, eyes widening in delight and disbelief. Adam, nervously waiting for your response, shifts from foot to foot

You lurch forward, grabbing the basket from him and carefully placing it back into his trunk. With a burst of impulsive energy, you grab him by his collar and pull him down into a passionate kiss. His lips are warm and soft against yours, and the world around you fades away, leaving just the two of you in this perfect moment.

When you finally pull away, breathless and with your heart racing, you can’t help but blurt out–

“I want you to be my boyfriend.”

Adam’s eyes widen in surprise before his mouth curls into a dopey, joyous smile. “For real??” he asks, his voice full of hopeful excitement.

“For real,” you affirm, your own smile spreading wider.

He pumps his fist in a triumphant gesture.

[hils79]

Hils Watches Mysterious Lotus Casebook - Ep 24

His little pleased smile when he tells Fang Duobing to dig up the body and he just does it without question or complaint

Well, I knew the missing body parts were an important clue but I didn't have 'the guy who was chopped into pieces actually died from a snake bite' on my bingo card

It was framed!

Fashion isn't a crime, Fang Duobing (I mean in this case it was to conceal a crime but still)

Holy shit every time I think we're at the end of the case there's another twist!

"If you're going to dramatically throw yourself off a cliff please don't land on me." I love him

I think Fang Duobing is starting to love him too

I'm going to be sad when Di Feisheng gets his memories back and they stop calling him A-Fei. I've got used to it now.

Cool motive. Still murder.

Mood

Oh my god is anyone on this island not involved in shenanigans (or dead)

Someone always asks, and Li Lianhua is just waiting for it so he can show off how smart he is

Yes, roast him Fang Duobing

The irony that Di Feisheng removed a signal to his sect, because he doesn't know that's where he's from

This is the least black and white case of all the ones they've solved but okay

Someone mentioned this on one of my other posts and it's a good point. She's been in this place for two months. How has no one noticed she's missing? A princess getting kidnapped is a pretty big deal. The guy whose island it is seems pretty well informed on what's going on in the world, to know which interesting people to invite to his island each year. Surely he didn't want to risk people looking for a missing princess turning up at his door and ruining his slave mansion and opium business. It just doesn't make sense.

This is about to get awkward in multiple ways. "Hi, yes, I bailed on our engagement. Also, this is my boyfriend."

I love that whoever is voice dubbing her has changed her voice now that she's revealed herself as the princess. It's like when Prince Adam turns into He-Man and his voice suddenly becomes deeper.

He pretends he doesn't give a shit but look at him smiling at the happy ending

Right, I'm away fro the weekend to visit my sister so there will be no more liveblogs from me until Monday. I have the day off so I might be able to squeeze in a couple of extra episodes 👀

[dia-souls]

Could I request a reaction from the Mukami and Tsukinami brothers? How would they react to finding out that Karlheinz has been reversing time? Yui falls in love with them, but Karl wants her to choose one of his sons as Adam. So, he keeps reversing time until eventually she does choose one of the Sakamaki brothers and doesn't remember them.

TW: Suicide, Blood mentioned, Yandere Themes

🔮 Karlheinz Reversing Time 🔮

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

📓 Ruki Mukami 📓

I can't believe it. Karlheinz-sama, I had a special devotion to you. I can't believe that you would do this to me. I owe you and if I am alive now it is because of you. But my life until now, although it wasn't possible without you, was completely meaningless to me. Yui was the only one who made me live again. I can't believe that you would take away from me someone whom I adored with all my heart. Perhaps this was my punishment for disobeying your order. But this is really cruel.

Ruki always owed his life to Karlheinz.

With the arrival of Yui, Ruki's life changed. He was able to understand the mystery of life again because of his love for Yui.

Realizing that Karlheinz tried to give a fake love to Yui hurts him a lot.

Ruki adores Karlheinz more than anyone.

Realizing this makes Ruki very disappointed.

He loses his trust in the biggest person in his life.

Ruki can no longer trust Karlheinz and considers him a guilty person.

Since Ruki knows that Karlheinz might try to take Yui from him again, he tries to escape with Yui.

They will run away all their lives but they will be together.

They may live in fear and running away, but Ruki is with his lover Yui and that is enough for him to be happy.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

🎤 Kou Mukami 🎤

This is not possible. Karlheinz-sama, how could you do such a thing to me? I always thought you were like our father. But you tried to take the person I love more than anyone else away from me. I knew I could never be Adam, but there was no need for Yui to forget me in order to find a new lover. We love each other. This is very cruel.

Kou always considered Karlheinz as his father.

Realizing this shocks Kou.

He loses his trust in Karlheinz and becomes very upset.

He doesn't talk to anyone for a long time, not even Yui.

Because he knows this is useless. He knows that he cannot have Yui.

At night, when everyone is asleep, Kou goes to Yui's room and looks at her while she is sleeping.

He strokes Yui's soft hair and kisses her cheek.

Kou knows that he can't love anyone more than Yui.

But he also knows that Karlheinz will never let Yui stay with him and even if Yui falls in love with him, time will go back again.

Kou kisses Yui's forehead and pulls out a silver knife and moves it towards Yui's heart.

"If we are not supposed to be together in this world, let's meet each other in another world."

The silver knife plunges into the heart of the sleeping blonde girl, and red blood spreads like red flowers on Yui's shirt.

"Fufu, I love you, my sweet M-Neko-chan. Wait for me."

Kou plunges the silver knife into his own heart and lies down next to Yui.

"Everything is getting dark. But when I am with you, despite this darkness, I can still see the blue sky."

Kou takes Yui's hand and puts her into an eternal sleep.

He closes his eyes while smiling. But it doesn't matter because his blue sky is with him and he is not alone.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

🍅 Yuma Mukami 🍅

Haaaaaaa???? How is this possible????? It's impossible, I can't believe this. The person who gave me life is now taking away my life again by taking the dearest person in my life. No, this will not happen. I have lost my family once. I won't let ya take her away from me anymore. I will not let Yui leave me like Lucks and my family. She is my dearest person. I will not lose her in any way.

Realizing this shocks Yuma.

But he is more nervous than shocked.

Yuma has already lost his family and friend. He doesn't want to lose an important person in his life again.

Yuma vows to take care of Yui at all costs.

Yuma always knew he couldn't be Adam, but he knows that he loves Yui from the bottom of his heart.

He is willing to do anything for Yui's happiness.

But he knows that Yui is not happy with the Sakamaki brothers because it is a love that Karlheinz forced on her.

Yuma might run away with her to be with Yui.

Maybe he will find a small farm and live in it with Yui away from everyone's eyes.

He is happy as long as he is with Yui.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

🗡 Azusa Mukami 🗡

No.... No..... Karlheinz-sama..... No.... Please don't take Eve from ..... me...... I.... know... .. I'm not good..... enough and I..... can't be Adam. But I love....... Eve. I love...... Yui-San. I can't..... live without her. Without her, my life...... would be terrible. Please don't...... take her from me. Please, Karlheinz-sama, don't..... do this.... to me. I can't..... live without her.

Realizing this is very disturbing to Azusa.

He loves Yui more than anyone else.

Azusa is deeply attached to Yui and cannot live without her.

The only thing on Azusa's mind is begging Karlheinz.

He doesn't resent Karlheinz because he thinks he is not good enough for Yui and Karlheinz has the right to separate Yui from him.

But Azusa can't live without Yui so he begs Karlheinz not to take Yui from him.

Azusa is very upset to find out that Yui has forgotten him and does not recognize him as her lover.

Azusa can't bear this pain and stabs himself every day.

Until one day his brothers found him covered in blood in the garden next to the roses.

Azusa is wounded, but this time the wound is not on his body. This wound is in his heart.

Azusa killed himself with a silver knife to reach his beloved Eve in another world.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

🔮 Carla Tsukinami 🔮

Such a thing was expected from that old man. He is the most selfish man in the world and is ready to do anything to achieve his goals. But he doesn't know that this means declaring war with the founders. He may be the king of vampires, but I am also the king of founders. I am the king Karlheinz should never have dared to do such a thing. Yui is my queen and no one has the right to separate her from me. I will show that man what is the result of daring before the king of the founders.

Carla, as a great and proud king, does not tolerate such humiliation.

In his opinion, Karlheinz is not in a position to separate his queen from him.

Since Carla is a founder king, he has more power than Karlheinz, but because he is sick, he cannot go to war with Karlheinz.

He orders his familiars to bring Yui back to him.

Carla will start a big war against him if Karlheinz tries to separate Yui from him again.

No one has the right to separate his beloved queen from him.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

🐺 Shin Tsukinami 🐺

Who does that old man think he is? He never has the right to steal from me what is mine and force her to forget me. He is so brave that he has the audacity to steal from the founders. Yui is mine and he cannot separate her from me. Nii-san will get very angry about this. This means declaring war against the founders.

Shin is a proud founder.

Upon realizing this, he becomes very angry and attacks the Sakamaki mansion with his wolves without wasting time.

He wounds the Sakamaki brothers and takes Yui back to their mansion.

Since Yui has forgotten him, Shin gets very upset.

He cannot bear the woman he loves not to remember him.

But Shin doesn't want to lose Yui.

Because Shin's behavior is a bit aggressive, Yui is afraid of him and tries to run away, that's why Shin imprisons her for a while.

Shin starts a great war against the Sakamaki brothers to avenge their father's actions.

No one has the right to separate Yui from him.

Yui is his forever.

🌹 _____________________________________ 🌹

[karizard-ao3]

My reactions to Evangelion, episode 15: Lies and Silence

Before I begin, I was thinking about it this morning and I'm wondering if NERV is indeed trying to bring on the apocalypse (and to create an Eden for fetus Adam to live in) and the Angels are in fact the good guys trying to stop them. There's a lot of talk about saving humanity but it kind of seems to me like the second impact was due to humans killing an Angel, who then exploded? It makes me wonder what kind of research they were doing on that Arctic base (Antarctic?) Idk, but to me it seems like humanity as a whole has not been in danger from the Angels: it's just NERV. But I'm also kind of hung up on the Instrumentality part of the Human Instrumentality project. Instrumental for what?

Anyway, I'll keep wondering on it, but I'm going to start the episode.

"Every project is interlinked"

is the first time we're hearing about the Marduk institute?

Oh, okay. So it sounds like the Human Instrumentality project is about trying to find kids to pilot the Evangelions. That makes sense. They are the instruments in piloting the Evas. So perhaps Adam has been genetically engineered to be the perfect pilot.

Asuka! Oh my gosh! Girl who cried wolf!

Shinji has been preoccupied with Rei since that thing happened in Unit 0, maybe?

Asking Rei for advice on how to talk to his own dad. Poor kid

He's comparing Rei to a mother. IS SHE A CLONE OF HIS MOTHER. Also, he's so awkward.

Or maybe she's a robot with his mother's personality inside. Oooooooh.

When Asuka asked to borrow Misato's lavender perfume my first thought was of Love Spell.

Oh, he's going to see his mother tomorrow! She's alive and also apparently negligent.

I'm chuckling because my first thought on seeing Kaji was, "You couldn't even shave for your friend's wedding?" and then Misato got on him for the same thing lol.

Nope, his mom is actually dead.

That's a very stark cemetery.

So he can't remember her face, there are no photographs that exist, the grave is just a facade... So mysterious.

"I see." What an ass.

I didn't know Shinji played an instrument! And so beautifully!

Shinji is so sweet and positive. I just love him so much.

Ritsuko's comment on transistasis and homeostasis has me thinking about the potential that NERV is trying to force human evolution. Perhaps they want to create a symbiotic relationship with the Evas? I don't know about that... Trying to evolve them to be compatible with technology? Space travel? Is the planet doomed?

Kaji is such a smooth talker.

Yeah, kiss her. That'll shut her up.

Asuka, Jesus Christ. Mocking Shinji about his dead mom to bully him into kissing you. Girl, please.

I'm wheezing! He turned fuschia!

Is it because he couldn't breathe? Omg

Asuka... Sweetheart... You're just repeating his warning back to him.

I wonder if Asuka realizing Misato and Kaji have a thing is going to interfere with her ability to complete her next mission.

There's the central dogma! Rei's in a tube hooked up to what looks like a metal brain.

Okay, so I'm thinking about how when Shinji was in Unit 0 he was like, "Oh, it's Rei. Wait, that's not-" and then creepy Rei looked up at him and jumped towards him and that is when Unit 0 flipped out and started trying to get to the real Rei. So I am thinking there are perhaps multiple people inside Rei (this is also influenced by the fact that when I was looking up to see if ep. 14 was a recap episode I saw it mentioned that Rei is schizophrenic. However, I'm not sure I believe she's actually schizophrenic. I kind of think she is actually harboring another person and that it's Shinji's mother.)

OHHHHHHHHHHHHH ADAM IS THE FIRST ANGEL?

I had kind of wondered if there was an Angel inside the facility. I had initally assumed there would be one kept top secretly but they kept saying how they needed to catch one for research so I was like, "Oh, maybe not, but that's weird that they wouldn't have on after all this time." Especially with everything they seem to know about them. I figured it had to be they either created them or were studying them.

In Closing

I'm so excited! Mysteries are starting to come to light!

Okay, let me see if I can organize my current theories:

Rei might be an imprint Shinji's mother - possibly she's an android, possibly just a person with an especially impressionable brain. But I think that there's Rei the girl and then also the additional personality/ies if this is the case.

NERV is going to perhaps force human evolution using genetic engineering. Or, they might be planning an apocalypse. The Angels may be trying to stop this from happening. I really have no idea.

I just considered that given the ages of the children and the timeline of the second impact, is it possible that children who were in-utero/ conceived around or after that time have some kind of Angel influence within their DNA? Like some kind of radiation? Could this be why only kids can operate the Evas? Are Angels neccessary for the next phase of whatever NERV has planned?

I feel like there's more but I want to hurry up and get to the next episode, so bye.

[assblastergaster]

okay so we know that the hidden cutscene at the end of veilguard is NOT implying that these new secretive enemies have been pulling the strings all along (1). given that whatever this invisible threat is is innumerably old (feared by the evanuris), i think it seems feasible that the true implication is just that they have been watching closely the events that have unfolded as a consequence of something they caused eons ago. a domino effect just like the first 3 games

like we learned more about what the evanuris actually were in this game, but not what their world was like (especially because the veil is kept in place). which leads me to the question: what draws the elven gods to need such immense power and control if they have already defeated those who were their greatest enemy? why does ghilan'nain need to form the blight into the greatest weapon even before they are banished? the titans were already dead by the time it was created. they were the only ones mentioned as their enemies in the game, and the forgotten ones (not to mention the forbidden ones???) were decidedly not their concern. (2)

again, no, I don't think it's what doomers on reddit are thinking (regardless of writer adamant denial! smh): this secretive enemy was not whispering in Loghain's ear, nor meredith's, nor corypheus and the other magisters, to get them to do what they did. they were simply there, watching the events that were directly tied to the fall of the Evanuris and creation of the veil take place. the fifth blight might not have been so bad had Loghain stepped in, the Mage/Chantry war may have been avoided had Meredith not put Kirkwall on the chopping block, and the blights may not have had entire armies to fight with if not for the tevinter magister's intrustion on the golden city. yes, they say "guided" and "whispered," but these are some fuck off bad guys who have only revealed themselves after 4 games, which is the same amount of time it took us to find out that the Dalish Gods, the Chant of Light, and the ancient Tevinter Gods are all fake. they are not telling us the whole truth and nothing but the truth in a 1 minute 7 second post credit scene. and why would they? why not lie and say they've caused the worst events in recent history? why not scare a weakened world into thinking they can't do anything to stop bad things from happening, making their coming harvest that much easier? as far as the world knows, the blights are over forever, so they might become powerful enough for to fight back as they move on—shouldn't The Executors/Mystery Bad Guys try to nip it in the bud? (or, of course, they surreptitiously guided and whispered the evanuris into becoming each other's downfall, leading to the events we see pictured and that's what whispered means)

"the poisoned fruit ripens" is the key phrase. they didn't make all of these people do these things (ripen), but they are seeking to reap the benefit of the fermented fruit. note that none of the events covered take place BEFORE the creation of the veil—even though we know of several events that took place then—meaning they probably don't have complete, ultimate power. they were likely competing with the Evanuris and the Qunari's progenitors, as we know in that codex entry that indicates that one of them was building fortifications for intruders from beyond the sea, and from Taash's tablet.

perhaps the "poisoning" was the creation of the veil, or the creation of physical forms from the fade, or the destruction of the titans, or anything of that huge caliber. i can't say for sure what i think is most likely. but i do believe that the fruit ripening is them waiting for an opportune time to pluck the world and plunge it into their control.

(1) Epler confirmed this. (different link if you dont have bsky account)

(2) i think this is probably intentional—and not the forgotten ones lore being abandoned, given that Anaris was literally an enemy in veilguard—the Dalish had a bunch of lies put into their head and may have twisted the forgotten ones into more of a threat than they were; such that their actual strife with the gods was about something other than their own struggles for power. perhaps they were a faction of former evanuris who believed in focusing on enemies beyond their borders rather than war against the Titans and the Dreadwolf, which is why he is known to be the only who consorted with both factions. OR the opposite—perhaps they welcomed these foreign enemies. they are also often mentioned with the void, which these Executors seem to be associated with, and were not locked away in the veil prison like the Evanuris.

[nysocboy]

BJ's Angels: A parody of Charlie's Angels and The Righteous Gemstones

Announcer: And now another episode of BJ's Angels.

Introduction

(BJ narrates off-camera): Once there were three little muscle boys who went to work on another show called The Righteous Gemstones, two in Kelvin Gemstone's God Squad, and the other as Eli Gemstone's driver. 

(Sarcastic) And they were each assigned very sexy duties. (Shots of Liam falling from a human pyramid, Sky being lowered into a tiger cage, and Gideon driving in a car chase).

But I took them away from all that, and now they work for me. My name is BJ. 

Montage

 Joel Rush as Sky (in his underwear, pulling a gun from his crotch)

Peter Kaasa as Liam (winning a bodybuilding contest)

Skyler Gisondon as Gideon (hacking into a computer)

Tony Cavalero as Mr. Keefe (trying to answer six telephones at once).

Guest star Adam DeVine as Kelvin (giving Keefe a bag lunch as he rushes out the door, like a 1960s sitcom housewife). 

And special guest star Tim Baltz as BJ (a mysterious hand on a computer keyboard)

Scene 1

The Angels in their dressing room. Gideon, fully clothed, is tying his tie, but Sky and Liam are still in their underwear.

Sky: Hey, this t-shirt is just extra-extra-large. Liam, I think you got mine by mistake.

Liam: (Checks.) Oh, right, this one is extra-extra-extra large. Sorry, Sky, I'll take it off. Of course, the only way I can do that is by taking off my jockey, too (Rips off his t-shirt, then lowers his jockey, displaying his bare butt.) That's one, by the way.

Gideon: (Glancing over) One what?

Liam: We're contractually obligated to display our butts twice per episode.

Scene 2

Keefe enters, wearing a suit, carrying a laptop.

Liam and Sky: Good morning, Mr. Keefe.

Gideon: Good morning, Uncle Keefe.

Keefe (to Gideon): Hey, don't tell anyone that we're related, or else the fans won't ship us, and we won't get a lot of play on fan boards. Those fan boards can make or break our characters! So just pretend that you're my very good friend.  What couple name do you like, Gideefe or Keefeon?

Gideon: That's gross! No way I'm going to queerbait with my Uncle Kelvin's boyfriend!

(Everyone gasps).

Keefe: You can't say the b- word on television!  The proper term is 'my Uncle Kelvin's...um..."

Sky: I'll queerbait with you, Mr. Keefe.  We've already been intimate, remember?

Keefe: The glory hole in the tiger cage?  How could I forget?  Wait until Episode 12, when we go undercover as the son of a famous televangelist and his boy toy. I'm the boy toy. Anyway, I have BJ on Zoom.

Scene 3

He opens the Zoom screen. A tropical setting. BJ lies on his stomach on a lounge chair. His face is not visible.

BJ: Good morning, Angels. Your assignment this week is to go undercover at a Speedo contest, to see who is...um, trying to sabotage...well, whatever, it's a Speedo contest.

Gideon: Didn't we go undercover at an underwear contest two weeks ago?

BJ: Do you know how hard it is to come up with scenarios that get you guys out of your clothes for extended periods? Lifeguard, surfing instructor, stripper, underwear tester, and that's about it.

Sky: What will you be doing while we're risking our lives and our virginity?

BJ: Oh, I'll be very busy...gathering intel....(two musclemen walk past)....taking measurements (a muscleman brings him a drink)...interrogating suspects under the covers...um, I mean undercover. (He ends the Zoom meeting.)

Liam: Wait, I thought BJ was straight. He's married to Judy.

Keefe: Of course he's straight.  He was just talking about detective work.  Everyone on this show is straight except me and my...um...  But there's no word in the English language to describe our sexual identity.  

Liam: Oh, please, you and Kelvin are g---

Keefe (cutting him off): NO WORD in the English language.

Scene 4

The Angels are trying on their costumes. Gideon looks at his with dismay.

Gideon (to Keefe): About this Speedo contest, I have a problem. I can't wear a Speedo on screen.

Keefe: Too small? Don't worry, we can pad you. We did it with Kelvin all the time. Take it from someone who's down there a lot.

Gideon: Gross! That's my uncle, dude!

Liam: I've been down there, too.

Sky: Me, too. What do you think the God Squad was about?

Keefe (looks worried): Well...um...that was before we were in a committed relationship. Kelvin is faithful to me now.

(Liam glances at Sky, who rolls his eyes.)

Together: Oh, of course.

Scene 5

The Angels continue to try on Speedos.

Gideon: Could we get back to my problem? I can't wear a Speedo. I'm too big. I'd never make it past the network censors. It would be like Burt Ward, when he was playing Robin in the 1960s.

Sky: Who?

Gideon: Burt Ward, Robin on the old Batman and Robin show. He was the keynote speaker at last year's WHA conference.

Sky: Let me guess: Well Hung Actors

Gideon: No, actors who are Woke Hunks, Also. 

Liam: We're all woke hunks, dude.  Why do you think we're so supportive of your Uncle Kelvin and his...um...?

Kelvin (off camera): Did somebody say Uncle Kelvin?   (Enters with a bag lunch, waits for the crowd applause to die down, and fist-bumps Gideon.) Where's my...um....?  He forgot his lunch.

Liam: I think he's in the supply room, checking on the kilts we'll be wearing in next week's episode.  We go undercover at a Scottish festival in Chicago, the Windy City.

Kelvin: I'll go surprise him.  They only paid me for a cameo.  (Exits). 

Sky: I wish they'd get married. You can say 'husband' on TV.

Liam: Don't worry, Gideon, you won't have to take anything off. I'm the face, in charge of seductions, love interests, and generally being beautiful. Sky is the muscle; mostly he chases people in his underwear. You're the brains, in charge of computer hacking, calculations, and anything involving reading.

Sky: Hey, I can read. I read a book just last week.

Gideon: Great! What was it? The Grapes of Wrath? The Sun Also Rises? The Color Purple?

Sky: 30 Days to Killer Abs.

Scenes 6-11

Something about the plot. Gideon performs calculations, hacks a computer, and reads.  Liam seduces two of the contestants. Sky chases some people in his underwear.

Scene 12

The Angels are talking to BJ via Zoom. BJ is still lying on his stomach, his face invisible.

Gideon: So that's how we discovered that the villain trying to sabotage the Speedo contest was last year's winner, who was angry because he wasn't qualified to compete this year. (Imitates a villain on Scooby-Doo) "And I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for you pesky musclemen."

Sky: Typical. Vanity leads to soaking the Speedos in itching powder.

Liam: You know the word 'vanity'? I'm impressed.

BJ: He's just quoting the moral of tonight's episode.

Gideon: Our episodes have morals?

BJ: Of course. We need a moral because the plot is so thin. Most viewers leave the sound off anyway, and just watch the guys' junk bouncing around.

Gideon: Who are our viewers, anyway? Gay fratboys?

BJ: Now there's an idea. I'll do an in-depth investigation of our viewing audience. (Gay fratboy sits next to him and offers him a drink.) Using all of the..ahem...tools at my disposal. Tell Judy I'll be working late tonight.  Good night, Angels. (Fade out).

The full story, with nude photos, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[yesimadeanotherblogfuckoff]

GO S2 OPENING ANALYSIS PT 1 (also Potential GO spoilers idk)

I haven't really seen anyone go in depth on the opening for season two yet so I'm making to this to point out all the things i spotted and some theories this is SUPER LONG POST SO BE WARNED

Crowley crawls up while Aziraphale floats down which is fitting but there's also storm clouds in the distance so there might be a scene after the flood or it's a sign of impending doom

right after crowley and aziraphale go through that dark tunnel Gabriel(?) can be spotted with that infamous box

they're in the middle of a scorched village and crowley sets goats on fire which pretty much confirms that they are somehow going to be involved with the story of Job if not directly involved

here we have that Gabriel statue from the trailer and a gravestone with "EVERYDAY" written on it, the reoccurring song that somehow related to the mystery

here's another gravestone with something written on it, this was the best photo i could get and i tried lightening it but i can't figure out what it says so if anyone has any ideas feel free to share

gravestone with jane austen on it, this author has been referenced quite a bit from the info we have about s2 so far and is on the cover for the episode "The Ball" so looking forward to that

"HERE LIES THE FORMER SHELL OF BEELZLEBUB" so i guess that's Neil's explanation for them having a different actor? Beelzebub molted? gross but very creative

also im pretty sure that bottom one says "Here Lies ADAM" as in antichrist Adam? oh man i hope he isn't dead he was such a sweet kid

there's a guillotine in the far back during their walk through hell hope that isn't foreshadowing anything 0-0

they also have this office on a pillar above the fiery pit of hell which i find very funny but this could also maybe be related to Shax? where she used to work maybe??

a sign for an underground train station so i guess we'll be expecting a train station scene of some kind?

the group walks through this gate with "GENTS" at the top no idea what that implys but i'll put it here anyways

there's a "WINGS FOR VICTORY" sign on the side of this bus which is a reference to British saving campaigns during WWII so confirms more WWII era stuff with aziraphale and crowley

there is this poster for STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN and my first thought was the LED ZEPPLIN song but actually it's a reference this 1946 movie

in which a British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl

so thats INTERESTING and COOL and totally doesn't imply ANYTHING about aziraphale and crowley's relationship or (potentially) maggie and nina's

but there is also a Zeppelin (it looks more like a blimp but whatever) and later on they go into a theater which looks very similar to the album cover for Stairway to Heaven

so I'm not gonna rule it out

there's a poster that says "THE FABULOUS LADIES OF CAMELOT" which is probably the group name of the show girls we saw in the trailer it says they are performing at the Windmill Theatre in London which is real and very famous for its Windmill girls who performed as nude living statues

i think this box is part of that saw a person in half trick and i can't wait to see Aziraphale attempt this trick and miserably fail like he always does, lot of laughs for sure

here's aziraphale on stage in his magician's outfit from the trailer but crowley is there as well so maybe he's his assistant? if so thats super funny and explains why crowley is not a fan of his magic act later on

very cute moment of crowley and aziraphale twirling around each other in the stars (this could be a nod to that moment that people spoiled for the first two episodes will know what im talking about )

this bridge they're walking on could potentially be the Humber Bridge near Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England (?)

or just a random ass bridge lol i do love to theorize tho

this airplane has "THY KINGDOM AIRWAYS" on its side very funny gag

these cotton candy hearts appear to be raining from the sky which im not sure what that implies but this season is focusing more on romance so it fits (also crowley and azira sitting together on the roof cute <3)

here we have maggie's record shop and nina's cafe right next to each other with record banners on the street, maybe a promotional party for the store? there's also a jukebox with records stacked in front of it. there's a promotional image of aziraphale holding everyday on vinyl (that i can't find sorry) so maybe he's gonna use this jukebox to play it?

i believe this is Gabriel(?) holding the package and going down an elevator from Heaven so he wasn't lying about needing to deliver something to Aziraphale something must've happened to him on his way over

one of the group is holding a sign for the "The 2nd Coming" as in the second coming of Jesus Christ?

A bar called The Dirty Donkey, new location for aziraphale and crowley to dine at? there's a smaller sign there but it's impossible to read HOWEVER

it looks like a holy figure standing in front of the opening of a cave, maybe an angel? considering the clothing maybe Jesus Christ?

I'm at my limit for photos so I will continue this in my next post!

(edit: here's the link for pt 2)

[thatpunkmaximoff]

[Book 4 of 4]

Story: 5 out of 5 Smut: 4 out of 5

I really thought this book was going to be my least liked, but oh my god did it prove me wrong!

It's a bit slow in the beginning, picked up a little after 300 pages, and made me fall absolutely in love. Not only did Stella become my favorite girl of the series, but Christian is warring with Rhys for that number one spot too.

This book has the perfect balance of mystery, romance, and angst. It kept me guessing up until the last few chapters and even solved the mystery of that ugly painting from book one lol.

Now enjoy my ramblings..

* Oohhhh. I love a good mystery. Who’s the stalker?

* Christian fucking with Dante and his fiancée is funny. He really is a possessive asshole.

* Christian shutting up Raya and Adam made me so happy. Take that middle school bs outta here.

* Brady suggesting Stella date someone for her blog.. I’m just imagining Christian’s reaction 😂 This won’t end well.

* It didn’t take Christian long to swoop in, huh? Lol.

* “I don’t believe in love.” — Famous last words, Christian.

* Oohhh. Pretty dress you got her, Harper.

* And social media knows Stella is “dating”. Let the shitshow begin.

* What is up with this turquoise ring?

* How fucked up would it be if Christian was Stella’s stalker? 😂

* Well at least she told her friends the truth.

* Lol at Rhys and Alex grilling Christian about Stella. I didn’t even know Alex and Christian knew each other.

* Goddamn. The stalker got close enough to slip a note in her purse?

* Awww. Christian helped her out of her panic attack 🥰

* Okay so I hate Stella’s family.

* Fuck the unicorn. I wanna cuddle Mr. Harper!

* Okay. The tension is THICK between these two at the art exhibit. Holy shit.

* Fuck. The stalker got into her apartment 😨

* Aww. Christian is so fucked. She’s sleeping in his bed 😂

* Damn. Christian is cold the morning after. Take that stick out of your ass, dude.

* Almost kiss.. oh my god! Just bang it out already!!

* Holy shit.. Stella’s fantasy 👀

* Awwww. Look at Christian and his heart of good saving the photoshoot 🥰

* He blew up a car 😂

* Christian keeps blue-balling himself. I don’t know whether to be proud of him or annoyed.

* Lol at the boys all teasing Christian over catching feelings 🤣

* Wait, wait, wait.. do Christian and Stella have a past that she doesn’t remember?! I’m so lost lmao.

* That family dinner was fucked from the beginning lmao. I’m so happy Stella stood up to her family. I had just hoped Christian would tell the sister shit for stirring the pot.

* Damn. Who is hacking into Christian’s systems? He’s gonna murder someone 😂

* ..and we have our first finger banging encounter. It only took 300+ pages 🤦🏻‍♀️

* STELLA!! — “I didn’t want soft kisses and gentle caresses. I wanted skin and blood. I wanted nails scratching down his back and bruises on my hips.” — Yes ma’am. Get it!

* Oh Stella. You’re my new favorite girl lmao.

* Way to go, Christian. Way to bring me down after that excellent scene. Just what lies are you telling, mister?

* Holy shit! He shot him 😂

* Fuck. This stalker is getting bold. Sending Christian threats? Wrong move, my dude.

* Awww. Christian’s in love with Stella 🥰 Now fess up, buddy! What secrets are you hiding?

* She told him she loved him and he implied it back 😩

* So that’s the story of the ring..

* “If she brought me to life with three words- I love you- she slayed me with an equal number. Don’t touch me.” — and my heart is broken. Ugh.

* HE FUCKING SAID THE WORDS 😭😭😭 I hate this book 💔

* Lol I love the guys teasing the fuck out of Christian.

* “You’ll always be my first, last, and only love.”

* WHO FUCKING KIDNAPPED HER?!

* So the traitor is Kage. What a dick. Now go find your girl, Christian. And figure out who the stalker is!

* Julian’s the stalker?! Wtf.

* He found her 😭

* So THAT’S the story behind that awful painting that keeps being brought up.

* Christian eats pussy like a champ 😂

* Wtf happened with the banana float 🤣

* He proposed! Oh my god, he proposed!

* They’re all sappy, married/engaged men and I love it.

* And now Stella is pregnant 😭

* They had a daughter! Oh how I wish I could have seen Rhys teasing the fuck out of him. Perfect fucking ending.

* I miss this group already.

[tunglo]

Been re-reading lots of Black Dahlia stuff for this set and the whole tragic mystery is just as overwhelming as the first time I went down the rabbit hole... (I was big into Marina and the Diamonds at the time; 'Teen Idle' kind of became my Black Dahlia theme song as a result.)

Beth's whole Hollywood life is just so, for want of a better word, weird. She lies to absolutely everyone about absolutely everything. She says she wants to be a starlet - but makes no effort beyond perhaps hoping to be scouted in the street or at a club. She tells her roommates she's getting married imminently - but rarely actually agrees to see any guy more than once.

She spends Christmas '46 overstaying her welcome at a total stranger's home, but tells all her friends she's visiting with a sister she hasn't actually contacted in years. Acts terrified every time somebody comes to the door, as though she's running from someone, yet sends endless letters and spends most days wandering around town, waiting to be asked out by random men she doesn't know from Adam.

Everyone who knows her says she doesn't drink and doesn't smoke, that she's a good girl who's usually tucked up in bed by 11, yet she's burning through money so fast she has to borrow a winter coat from Ann Toth and agree to dates just for food and lodging - the $100 Fickling wires her apparently blown the instant it reaches her.

You cycle endlessly from thinking she has to be involved in something else, something bigger, right back to her simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Because her death is so gruesome, the deposition so aimed at garnering as much publicity as possible. Is it a message to someone? The work of a secret cult? A lone psycho?

The LAPD of the 40s was so hopelessly corrupt - and where it wasn't, incompetence usually reigned - that the culprit could be any and none of the popular suspects, regardless of what remains in the files. Hodel seems by far the strongest candidate, but even then loose ends remain (as Larry Harnisch never tires in pointing out...).

I guess that's why it is such an enduring mystery. No matter how much is uncovered, how much digging is done, we will never know all of the answers.

[koji-haru]

Promises Part: 1

Something uncomfortably cold and rigid was pressed on Adam’s back, no, more like he was lying on it. At the same time, he felt something soothingly warm and tenderly soft, heavenly fabrics he had never felt before, against his skin carefully wrapped around him. The air felt still and cool with isolation save for the rhythmic flickers of something seemingly small. He tossed where he lied and felt a cushion move and accommodate his new position, the tussling causing some of the straw to jut out through the fabric and poking him uncomfortably. The textures, the sounds, it reminded him of the little cushion he made for his secret little space within the abandoned temple. Wait…

Adam jolted awake, sitting upright into a small, gloomy room with a faintly flickering lamp on the altar as the only source of light. Pieces of broken marble and dust were scattered about and around, especially behind the altar, where a marble statue of a winged lion once stood, leaving only the smooth, white marble podium to remain. Something of a considerable weight softly slid down onto his lap with a ‘poof’. Finally looking down, Adam regarded the item as the thing he was using as a blanket; it was an enchanting silky blue like the feathers of rare birds from countries far away. The top part of it was lined with beautiful golden fur as soft as the clouds so high up in the skies, almost shining like the night stars under the flickering of the lamp. These kinds of fabrics were something only the richest of nobles and royalty could afford, but even then, it would be a luxury. So how did he manage to get his hands on one? He only needed to ponder about the mystery very briefly as memories from earlier came rushing back to him. Him clumsily hitting the altar and injuring himself further, the marble statue cracking, a strange man dressed regally emerging from it…

The groaning of the rotting twin wooden doors echoing in the stillness of the dark brought Adam’s back to the present as he turned to see the ethereal man quietly slipping between the doors. He seemed to have noticed Adam too, and a brief but awkward moment stood between them as they met each others’ gazes, not fully sure how to greet the other. 

“Oh–” the man began.

“What–” Adam also tried to say before quickly cutting himself off. “Oh, um, you go ahead,” he insisted, feeling a little embarrassed for interrupting. 

The man gave him a soft smile as he closed the twin doors behind him before crouching down to meet Adam’s eye. Even in the cramped darkness of the room, the man had an otherworldly glow surrounding him, from the luxuries garments with ornate embroidery that he wore to his perfectly designed features – his golden threads for hair, the stars painted across his face, and of course, the magnificence of the three pairs of golden wings on his back. 

“You’re finally awake,” the man noted, his voice smooth and soft as the fabric Adam was covered in. “How are you feeling?”

It took Adam a few seconds to even register the fact that he had been asked a question, far too absorbed in the mystic beauty right in front of him. And it took for the strange man to tilt his head slightly and for those jewelled blue eyes to look at him in concern before the thought to respond finally entered his mind. 

With a stuttering breath, Adam finally answered, “O-oh, um, I feel…”

He felt around his body. Strange. Normally, he felt fatigued – his body always heavy and exhausted and drained of all energy; or he would be in pain, either mild, numbing inconvenient kinds of pain to sharper, difficult to move types; or even worse, a combination of the two, which wasn’t particularly a rare thing to happen. However, this time, he was free from either sensations. His body felt  light and rested, and there was no lingering pain anywhere, not even slight, numbing ones. He lifted his shirt briefly, rolled up his tunic sleeves and pulled the cloak off of him to examine even his legs, and no matter how thorough he looked, not a single scratch or bruise littered his body. He was as healthy as he could be. It was strange; he had grown accustomed to having some sort of ailment almost every second of his waking moment ever since he was a child that having felt none of those was almost terrifying to him. 

“I feel…fine?” he said aloud, though it was more like he wondered to himself.

“That’s good. I’m glad to hear that, although…” The man’s softly smiling lips downturned slightly as his blue eyes flitted towards the hard floor, a look of disappointment pooling in them. “I’m sorry I couldn’t fully heal you despite my best attempts.”

Adam cocked his head to the side, his confusion clear in the way his features wrinkle, the way his eyes look on questioning. It was an odd statement. Hadn’t he just told the man that he felt fine? In fact, this was the best he felt in years! 

“Huh? What do you mean?” he asked. 

The man reached forward, pointing lightly at Adam’s chest, though his eyes were definitely looking at something deeper, something hidden within the human. “There’s…something within and around you, like a grievous wound and I can’t seem to dispel it.”

Oh. Now Adam understood and knew what the man meant, a silent ‘oh’ on his lips as realisation hit him. Of course, he meant the thing that had been haunting his daily life ever since he had been offered to the Spider by the townspeople. 

“Oh, you mean my curse.”

“Curse? Who would curse you?” asked the man, genuinely curious about the source of such powerful magic, one that could even block his own. 

“Well, I call it a curse, but it’s more like a trade,” Adam shrugged nonchalantly as if it were the most normal thing in the world, which for him, yes, it was his normal life. “It’s for the good of the town, so it’s okay.”

The man eyed him silently as if carefully disassembling Adam’s words and actions to discern the truth behind his words as he settled more comfortably on the floor. “But didn’t you pray for my help?”

“I–,” Adam wanted to deny what the man was suggesting; it wasn’t like him to turn to the deities for anything. But then, when he really thought about it, he was tired and sick of it, of everything at that moment. Along with the mess that was yesterday and when he clumsily got injured again, and felt one his injuries reopen, well, he got reminded of the countdown on his life, and the stress simply got to him and he absentmindedly wished for his misfortunes to simply go away. He never thought someone would actually answer him, especially not in an abandoned temple. 

“I guess I did, huh? But nevermind that, it was a lapse of judgement, just ignore it,” he said offhandedly with a careless wave of his hand. That was right. He had a brief lapse of judgement; it would be incredibly selfish of him to pray for the exchange to cease, Adam convinced himself. 

Adam coughed into his hand, trying to disperse the awkwardness that he felt was slowly settling in the small room. “A-anyway! Who or what are you?” he asked as he gestured with his hand up and down at the man, trying to emphasize and move the attention towards his odd appearance. 

“You…don’t know who I am?” asked the man, his surprise at Adam’s cluelessness evident in the way his calm eyes widened a little, subtle, but Adam noticed it.

“Nooo? Should I?” Adam wondered sheepishly, awkwardly playing with the fur of the cape that covered him. 

A soft, amused chuckle sounded in the dark room, seeming louder than it really was with the still quietness of the air. “My name’s Michael, and this temple was built for me by your people.”

There was nothing in Adam’s mind, no questions, no conclusions, no thoughts; nothing but the deafening blank buzz in his head as the man’s words bounced back and forth, up and down in his mind. He gave the man another quick look over, really taking in his appearance; garments made of the finest fabrics, adorned with the most precious jewels, patterns that could only be made the most skilled craftsmen, his hair was of the golden clouds of dawn, wishing stars painted on his cheeks, and three pairs of wings that shone gold even in the dark of the room. There was no doubt about it. The person in front of him definitely wasn’t just some weird human. 

His mind couldn’t make up whether to scream or faint at the sudden revelation, and so Adam instead ended up merely letting out a pathetic little “Aaaahhh…” as he shrank back under the cape, feeling both panic and embarrassment swirling heavily in his gut. He couldn’t believe his luck, of all people to act so crass in front of, it just had to be a deity. No, actually, thanks to the Spider, he could actually believe his bad luck, but even then..! This seemed a little too much. 

Adam briefly gazed down at the soft of the cape he had pulled towards him in his attempt to hide his shame and fear, but quickly then realised that it also belonged to the deity in front of him, in fact he just now remembered Michael wearing it when he first appeared in front of Adam. With reflexes he never knew he had, Adam pulled the cape away from him, horror overwhelming him at his further display of insolence in front of the divine being. It wasn’t much, but he quickly patted the cape in an attempt to rid it of his filth before swiftly trying to return it to its rightful owner. He really couldn’t afford being cursed by another deity. 

“I-I’m sorry!! I didn’t realise–!”

“You’re okay. You’re okay,” Michael reassured him, his voice as soothing as the fire in a hearth on a freezing night and as soft as the feathery clouds on a day’s end, as he gently pushed his cape towards Adam. “I don’t mind. I offered it to you in the first place.”

Michael looked around the room they were in; the large twin doors with its red wood slowly rotting, the unpolished stone floors filled with dents and holes, the cracks all along the walls. He had taken a brief look outside as well, and all that greeted him were the faded paintings on the walls, vines creeping up and down the place, and forest animals who had found shelter in his temple. There were no other people besides the one who had called for him, in fact, it seemed that no one had been at the temple for centuries. 

A look of distant gloom washed over Michael’s eyes as the cold emptiness of what used to be a lively place settled within his being. How long ago was that? 

“And don’t fault yourself for not knowing who I was,” he continued, looking back at the human in front of him. He sighed a little dejectedly, “It seems that my presence has been lost to time.”

Whether it was his continued delusion or he had lost all semblance of reverence once more, Adam, for some odd reason, felt the need to somewhat alleviate the shadow that had gloomed over the blues of Michael’s eyes. With a quick scan of the room, he found what he had been looking for, his old book. He reached and grabbed it, placing the heavy book between him and Michael as he flipped through the familiar pages before stopping at one and turning it to show the page to the deity. 

“You’re the winged lion, right? I’ve actually read about you!” Adam said with newfound enthusiasm, his earlier panic and fear quickly fading into the background as he honed in on the person whose topics he had been reading about recently. 

“Or, well, at least your past connections to my town…But what I mean is that, you’re in a book, so I’m sure people still read and know about you,” he continued, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck, suddenly feeling very dumb as the embarrassment of trying cheer up a deity suddenly sank down on him. “I just didn’t realise you could look, um, well human-like.”

It wasn’t much, but Adam’s attempt seemed to have worked as a faint smile returned to Michael’s lips as he skimmed over the page Adam was showing him, humming softly in interest. “That’s a nice thought, thank you..?”

“It’s Adam,” answered Adam, still looking away embarrassed.

“Thank you, Adam, for reigniting my presence in this place.”

It was but a small flame in the cold stillness of the abandoned temple, but it gave off enough light for the two people that were there. It was enough life for the place to no longer be considered forgotten.

Prologue

Part 2

[laresearchette]

Saturday, September 14, 2024 Canadian TV Listing (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2024 (Paramount+ Canada) THE HEIRESS AND THE HANDYMAN (W Network) 8:00pm HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU (CNN) 9:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA BACK TO BLACK NWSL: ORLANDO PRIDE V KANSAS CITY CURRENT NWSL: NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE V BAY FC NWSL: PORTLAND THORNS FC V CHICAGO RED STARS

CBC GEM ALL MY PUNY SORROWS

HORSE RACING (SN360) 9:00am: Irish Champion Stakes (SN360) 5:00pm: Canada Turf Champions Day

MLB BASEBALL (SN1) 1:00pm: Red Sox vs. Yankees (SN) 3:00pm: Cardinals vs. Jays (SN) 6:00pm: Orioles vs. Tigers (SN Now) 7:00pm: Dodgers vs. Atlanta (SN) 9:30pm: Rangers vs. Mariners

CFL FOOTBALL (TSN/TSN5) 7:00pm: ALouettes vs. Stamps

MLS SOCCER (TSN3/TSN4) 7:30pm: Toronto FC vs. Austin (TSN3/TSN4) 10:30pm: Vancouver vs. San Jose

SHORT FILM FACE OFF (CBC) 8:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Amanda Parris presents Canadian directors sharing their films and vying for a cash award; films in this episode: "For Roy," "Home," "Bounce."

2024 CCMA AWARDS (CTV) 8:00pm: The 2024 CCMA Awards celebrating the best in country music.

BUYING BACK MY DAUGHTER (Global) 8:00pm: A couple organize a widespread search party when their 16-year-old daughter mysteriously disappears. When they discover she's for sale on an online escort ad, they try to buy her back to rescue her from the trafficker who abducted her.

ABDUCTED OFF THE STREET: THE CARLESHA GAITHER STORY (Lifetime Canada) 8:00pm: Carlesha Freeland-Gaither gets abducted by a homicidal predator while walking home from a family gathering. Determined to survive and outsmart her captor, she leaves clues behind at every opportunity, while her mother stops at nothing to find her.

WILD MEDITERRANEAN (Nat Geo Wild) 8:00pm (PREMIERE): Iconic creatures thrive in the remote inland habitats of the Mediterranean. Wolves stalk deer on snowy mountain peaks and two young foxes face their first year alone in Spain's dramatic coastal mountains.

LOVE IN TAHITI (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm: Brielle finds all sorts of lost items and returns them to their owners. When she helps Marcus find an engagement ring that was lost, Brielle soon discovers what has been missing in her life, a treasure of the heart.

ALL MY PUNY SORROWS (CBC) 9:00pm: A struggling writer returns to her hometown after hearing about her sister's failed suicide attempt.

ALL OF US STRANGERS (Crave) 9:00pm: As a relationship develops with mysterious neighbor Harry, Adam finds himself drawn back to his childhood home, where his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died 30 years ago.

BLACKMAIL, LIES, AND MURDER (Super Channel Fuse) 9:00pm: Candace and Kristen's conversation takes a dark turn when Kristen suggests they each kill someone who is tormenting them -- but swap the murders. Candace laughs it off, but when her mother-in-law ends up dead, Kristen expects her to return the favor.

WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH (Super Channel Vault) 9:00pm: The life and career of comedian Rose Marie is documented through interviews with friends and colleagues as well as never-before-seen home movies shot by the actress herself.

UFC 306 AT RIYADH SEASON NOCHE (SN Now) 9:45pm: UFC O'Malley vs Dvalishvili

EAST HARBOUR HEROES (CTV) 10:00pm: As the long-awaited crab season begins, hundreds of boats hit the water and one sailor hopes to set a world record.

THE MANNY (CTV Life) 10:00pm: Morgan stalks his way into the lives of busy social media influencer Lani and her son, Jaylen, to become their male nanny; as Morgan shows himself to be someone who is too good to be true, he meddles with Lani and Jaylen's lives.

SONS OF SUMMER (Crave) 10:50pm: To mark the anniversary of his father's death, Sean takes his friends on a road trip to a favorite beach.

DEADPOOL (CTV) 12:30am: Armed with accelerated healing powers and a twisted sense of humor, mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) adopts the alter ego Deadpool and hunts down the man (Ed Skrein) who nearly destroyed his life.

[ggjunkie]

Adam One-shot sneak peak

Musical Theatre! Au

College! Au

Words: 1,755

—

You straighten out your clothes, fingers brushing off invisible lint as you take a deep breath, the excitement bubbling just beneath your composed exterior. The echoing sounds of chatter and nervous footsteps fill the audition room lobby, where a group of hopefuls wait for their names to be called. It's finally musical season at your university, and you’ve jumped on the train with unrestrained enthusiasm.

This semester’s show is Little Shop of Horrors, a classic choice that feels like putting on a comfortable pair of favorite shoes—familiar, yet thrilling. Though it's a basic pick, you definitely aren’t complaining; this is your chance to shine. For weeks, you’ve been meticulously preparing, working with your private vocal coach and acting coach, honing every note and every gesture for this audition.

As a musical theatre major, a spot in the chorus is practically a given, but you’re not one to settle for just that. No, no, no. You have bigger ambitions. Your eyes are set on Audrey II, the mysterious talking, and singing plant. It's a role that demands charisma, vocal prowess, and a certain je ne sais quoi that you’re confident you possess. Or at least you really, really hope so.

Of course, you also understand you aren’t guaranteed a role! It’s really no biggie, you’re just excited.

Although theatre wasn’t always your passion, taking the class in middle school had spurred something in you. Since then, you’ve worked hard at your craft. And it’s definitely paid off! You managed to make it into multiple audition-based schools. At the memory, you pat yourself on the back.

Middle school was where it all began. You still remember the thrill of your first performance, the way the stage lights felt warm and comforting, and the applause that followed. It ignited a spark in you, a passion that has only grown stronger with time.

In high school, you faced more challenges. The competition was fierce, and the stakes were higher, but you rose to the occasion. You worked tirelessly, attending acting workshops, vocal lessons, and dance classes. You balanced your schoolwork with your theatrical pursuits, often sacrificing sleep and social activities to chase your dreams.

When it came time to apply for colleges, you aimed high, auditioning for some of the best programs in the country. The acceptance letters that followed were proof of your hard work and dedication. You had made it into multiple audition-based schools, each one a testament to your talent and perseverance.

Now, standing here, you can't help but feel a swell of pride. You've come a long way from that middle school elective. You've faced rejections and setbacks, but you've also experienced triumphs and growth. Every step of the journey has been worth it, and you're excited for what lies ahead.

Eventually, you finally hear your name called, pulling you out of your thoughts. You smile at the runner, a freshman eager to get their required hours in, and hand them your resume. They take it gratefully, glancing over the neatly printed sheet as they lead you into the audition room. It’s a black box theater, a square room with black walls and flooring. The stark simplicity of the space serves as a blank canvas, allowing the directors to transform it into whatever they need, just as they have for these auditions.

Their table is set up near the back, papers and coffee cups scattered across its surface, giving them a perfect vantage point to observe and take notes without being overheard. They chat quietly among themselves, their voices a low murmur that blends into the background hum of the building. You can feel their eyes on you as you step into the room, the anticipation almost tangible in the air.

Near the door, a piano sits, and at the bench is what you can guess to be your accompanist—a tall, chubby brunette with a messy sort of look about him. He’s honestly kind of cute, but you can’t afford to focus on that right now. You have an audition to nail.

You greet the directors with a confident smile and a nod, then march over to the piano. Handing the accompanist your binder, you ensure it’s open to the marked sheet music. Like a seasoned performer, you’ve already highlighted the 32-bar cut of your song, clearly indicating where he should start and stop.

As he scans the music, you take a moment to explain your plan. You point out the precise places where you’ll be taking breaths and describe the tempo you have in mind. He listens attentively, nodding along as you speak, his fingers instinctively moving over the keys as if mentally rehearsing the piece.

You glance over at the directors, expecting them to be ready, but they’re still shuffling papers and folders on their desk, likely comparing notes from previous auditions. A flicker of impatience might cross another's face, but not yours. Instead, you smile, savoring the rush of adrenaline that auditions always bring.

The anticipation heightens the moment, and you use the extra time to center yourself even more. You roll your shoulders, subtly release the tension in your hands, and take another calming breath. The hum of quiet activity behind the directors' table, the muted clink of pens and rustle of paper, only amplifies your focus.

"So, got any plans after this?"

You frown, snapping back to the present as you turn to the accompanist. "Excuse me?"

He smirks, leaning in slightly. "I can take you out on the town, show you a real good time. My roommate is even out for the night, if you know what I mean." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

You scrunch your nose, not appreciating the distraction from your audition. You need to get in the zone and focus, but he’s throwing you off. You can entertain the idea after the audition, not during. However, at your reaction, he takes it as a no and furrows his brows. He starts to say something, probably something rude, before you walk off.

You head to the tape marking your spot on the floor, feeling the familiar buzz of excitement mingled with nerves. The directors stare at you blankly, their faces giving nothing away, but you know better than to let it get to you. This is your moment.

Taking a deep breath, you slate in, introducing yourself with a clear, confident voice

“I’ll be performing the song ‘Jenny’s Blues’ from ‘It Shoulda Been You,’ and a monologue from ‘Confrontation’ by Kelly Powell.” You smile before dipping your head, breathing in, and starting your piece. Your voice is strong, resonant, effortlessly sliding into the comfortable range of the song. Each note is delivered with precision, every word infused with emotion. You make sure to breathe deeply, expanding your diaphragm to support your powerful vocals.

However, halfway through your audition cut, you hear the piano falter and fumble, the notes coming out jumbled. You pause for a split second, a flicker of concern passing through your mind, but you quickly regain your focus. Mistakes happen, and you're determined not to let it throw you off. You press on, maintaining your composure and delivering a flawless performance despite the hiccup.

As you reach the climax of the song, you hold out your money note, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. The accompanist manages to catch up, albeit a little off rhythm, but you don’t let it deter you. With a final flourish, you finish the song.

You manage a quick glance at the accompanist before looking back– but wait, hold on. You look back again. That fucker has a smug smirk plastered across his face. His eyes twinkle with amusement, and suddenly it all clicks into place: He tried to mess you up on purpose because you ‘rejected’ him. Any chance you had with him suddenly goes straight down the drain, and now you're fuming.

You grit your teeth, trying to tamp down the surge of anger that threatens to consume you. How dare he sabotage your audition like that? But you refuse to let his petty actions derail your performance. Instead, you channel that newfound adrenaline, that simmering rage, into your audition.

With renewed determination, you throw yourself into the monologue, each word dripping with raw emotion. Your voice crackles with intensity as you inhabit the character, every gesture charged with conviction. The room seems to pulse with energy, your presence commanding attention as you deliver a performance that's nothing short of electrifying.

Well, not like you’d think as much.

You perform your piece, and as you finish, you try not to beat yourself up about it. It was… okay. A little frustrating, perhaps, because you ran more on muscle memory and pettiness than actually existing in the moment, but the dedication and hard work you had put into it still shone through. You remind yourself that perfection is an elusive goal, and what truly matters is the passion and effort you poured into your performance.

As for the song, you try not to dwell on it too much. Otherwise, you know you’ll get stuck in your perfectionist head, picking apart every single detail until it drives you mad. Instead, you choose to focus on the positives, reminding yourself of the moments where you truly connected with the material and let your talent shine through.

You take a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over you now that the audition is over. Whatever the outcome, you gave it your all, and that’s something to be proud of.

You thank the directors, offering them a quick but polite goodbye, and head over to the piano to retrieve your binder. The pianist smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he hands you the binder. But as you reach out to take it, he doesn’t let go. You tug gently, expecting him to release it, but his grip remains firm.

Your frustration mounts as you give the binder another tug, but still, he refuses to hand it over. With a growing sense of annoyance, you pull harder, and finally, he lets go. But instead of handing it to you properly, he lets it slip from his fingers, and it drops unceremoniously to the floor with a thud.

This bitch.

Instead of giving him the satisfaction of seeing you lose your cool, you bend down gracefully, feeling his eyes linger on your rear, and pick up the binder. Straightening up with a sense of quiet determination, you shoot him a subtle, sour look, and exit through the door.

[schilderij1]

Decoding Art: Understanding the Symbolism in Famous Paintings

Art has always been a language of its own, with each stroke of the brush and every hue on the canvas conveying a story, emotion, or message. But beyond the surface beauty lies a deeper layer of meaning waiting to be deciphered. In this exploration, we delve into the realm of symbolism in famous paintings, unraveling the secrets hidden within the masterpieces that have captivated audiences for centuries.

Unveiling Symbolism: A Glimpse Into the Artist's Mind

Every great painting is a window into the soul of the artist, a reflection of their inner thoughts and beliefs. Symbolism serves as the bridge between the tangible and the intangible, allowing artists to imbue their work with layers of meaning that transcend the visual realm.

Take, for example, Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," arguably one of the most enigmatic paintings in history. Beyond the serene smile of the subject lies a wealth of symbolism, from the mysterious landscape in the background to the intricate details of her clothing. Some scholars believe that the painting contains hidden messages or clues, inviting viewers to unravel its secrets.

Similarly, Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" is not merely a depiction of a night sky but a profound expression of the artist's inner turmoil and emotional turbulence. The swirling patterns and vivid colors evoke a sense of movement and intensity, reflecting van Gogh's struggles with mental illness and his relentless quest for inner peace.

Deciphering the Language of Colors and Shapes

In the world of art, every color carries its own significance, evoking different emotions and associations. From the passionate reds of love and desire to the calming blues of tranquility and serenity, artists use color to convey mood, atmosphere, and meaning.

For instance, in Pablo Picasso's "Guernica," the use of stark black and white contrasts with splashes of bold primary colors creates a sense of chaos and despair, capturing the horror of war and the human suffering it entails. The jagged shapes and distorted figures further emphasize the sense of unease and dislocation, inviting viewers to confront the harsh realities of conflict.

Shapes and symbols also play a crucial role in conveying meaning in art. From the graceful curves of the human form to the geometric precision of architectural elements, every shape carries its own symbolism and significance. In Grant Wood's "American Gothic," for example, the triangular composition of the figures mirrors the austerity and rigidity of rural life, while the pitchfork held by the stern-faced farmer symbolizes hard work and resilience in the face of adversity.

Beyond the Canvas: Exploring Cultural and Historical Context

Understanding the symbolism in famous schilderij requires more than just a discerning eye; it also demands an appreciation of the cultural and historical context in which they were created. Art does not exist in a vacuum but is deeply intertwined with the social, political, and philosophical currents of its time.

For instance, the religious symbolism found in Renaissance art reflects the dominant role of the Church in shaping European society and culture during that period. Paintings such as Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam" or Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" are not merely artistic representations but also reflections of the religious beliefs and values of the era.

Similarly, the rise of symbolism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was closely linked to the broader cultural shifts taking place in Europe. Artists such as Gustav Klimt and Edvard Munch sought to explore the depths of the human psyche and the mysteries of existence through their work, often using symbolism as a means of expressing inner truths and universal themes.

The Power of Symbolism: From the Gallery to Your Home

While decoding the symbolism in famous paintings can be a fascinating intellectual exercise, it also has practical implications for art enthusiasts and collectors. Understanding the deeper meaning behind a painting can enhance your appreciation of it and deepen your emotional connection to the artwork.

Moreover, the symbolism in a painting can also influence its value and significance in the art market. Paintings with rich layers of symbolism and historical context are often prized by collectors and museums alike, commanding high prices at auction and garnering widespread acclaim from critics and scholars.

If you're inspired to explore the world of symbolism in art further, why not consider adding a painting to your own collection? Whether you're drawn to the mystical allure of the Renaissance or the avant-garde experimentation of the modernists, there's a wealth of symbolism waiting to be discovered in the world of painting. So why not take the plunge and buy a painting that speaks to your soul?

Conclusion: Unlocking the Secrets of Symbolism

In the vast tapestry of art history, symbolism serves as the thread that binds past and present, artist and viewer, in a timeless dance of meaning and interpretation. From the iconic smile of the "Mona Lisa" to the haunting beauty of "Starry Night," the world of painting is rich with symbols waiting to be deciphered and stories waiting to be told.

So the next time you find yourself standing before a famous painting, take a moment to look beyond the surface and delve into the hidden depths of symbolism. You may be surprised by what you discover and the new perspectives it brings to your understanding of art and the world around you.

And if you're feeling inspired to bring a piece of that magic into your own life, why not buy a painting that speaks to you? Whether it's a classic masterpiece or a contemporary work of art, the symbolism contained within its brushstrokes can enrich your home and your heart for years to come.