#the song choice really complements it too!

[imaginidol]

Yunho: Table Manners

!!mentions of nsfw!! 18+ !! do NOT interact if you don’t like smut!! As requested, here is another ateez smut fic! I haven’t even finished my ot8 fluff stories and I’m already pumping these out ahead of time! Naughty atiny!! In case you are interested, here is a San ver. smut and a Hongjoong ver. smut and a Mingi ver. smut, Wooyoung ver. smut and jongho ver. Smut. I’ve already gotten another asmuteez request so be on the look out for that if you NEED it *squints suspiciously at you*

"A pleasure to finally meet you," Wooyoung quickly bows his head in your direction, followed by a gentle greeting from the rest of the ATEEZ boys.

Tonight was a special night, as it was the first night Yunho was properly introducing you to his best friends in the world as his official romantic partner.

He had invited his members out to a very nice dinner for the occasion, and everyone had dressed casually elegant.

You, however, looked exceptionally beautiful in your choice of clothing for the occasion: a slim-fitted black halter-maxi dress with a plunging neckline, all of which graciously outlined the alluring curvature of your body. Your hair was pinned in a high ponytail and your sparkling heels complemented the final look well.

It was no secret that you were total eye candy at first sight, and one of Yunho's members in particular had taken special notice as well.

As the night progressed, the initial light conversation turned into full conversations about hobbies, industry gossip, how-we-met stories, and other fun interests.

Wooyoung takes a slow sip of his white wine, turning his attention to you.

"You said you'd want to learn more about recording songs, right?"

"I'd love to, actually," you smile, turning to Yunho. "Will you take me one day?"

Yunho's eyes softened. "I'll bring you this week to studio, if you'd like."

"Thank you! I feel like it would be so fun to see how you guys work!"

"Why don't you record stuff for fun while you're there?" Wooyoung smirks, taking another sip of his wine. "I could show you a few things, too."

"Really?" you smile eagerly, "What about music production, could we try that too?"

Wooyoung nodded, leaning back into his chair and crossing his arms, eyeing you steadily. "I could definitely do that for you."

"Wooyoung, you're not too buzzed yet, yeah?" Hongjoong says, rubbing his palm against a now half-drunken Wooyoung's neck.

Wooyoung scoffs, shaking his head quietly. "Nah, not yet."

Yunho takes notice of his friend's odd behavior. While he wouldn't be upset if Wooyoung did find you attractive, he was going to be upset if Wooyoung intended to do something about it and passively flirt around you all night long.

"Would you please excuse us," Yunho politely nods towards the rest of his members, pulling his chair back to stand and lightly tapping you on the shoulder.

"Oh?" you look up at your boyfriend and let him wrap his hand around yours as you follow him out to the restroom hallway.

"What's wrong, babe?" you place a hand against Yunho's arm as he turns towards you, his fingers rubbing his eyes in visible annoyance.

"It's nothing that's necessarily your fault, but I don't... I think... I think Wooyoung's got an eye on you, or something like that."

"Wooyoung?" you start giggling, cupping a hand around Yunho's jaw. "Awe, are you getting jealous?"

"Shh, it's not funny," he mutters, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.

"Yunho, I don't think I've ever seen or heard you when you're jealous. I kind of like it," you tease, placing your hands against his chest and leaving a soft kiss against his lips.

"Just don't give him too much attention anymore, alright? I'll deal with him after," he mumbles into your lips. He gently wraps his arms around your waist, not wanting to think about his friend's behavior anymore.

"But, does this mean I can't go to your recording studio anymore?"

Yunho's eyebrows furrow slightly. "Only if you're with me, and you let me show you how things work."

"Oh?" you cock your head to the side, smiling, "So, no Wooyoung?"

Yunho's eyes grow hooded. "You want him to come? What, so you like his attention on you now?"

You shrugged. "I guess I like it when I get attention," you smirk.

Yunho furrows his brows more, studying your expressions carefully.

She's doing it again, he thinks.

"You're doing it again," he mutters out loud.

"What am I doing?" you say, placing your index fingers around his belt loops.

"Don't fuck around with me like that, especially not with Wooyoung," he mumbles in a low grating voice, bringing his face closer to yours.

"Okay, I won't," you smile, "just as long as it means you are giving me all the attention I want."

Yunho's eyes jump from your eyes to your lips, his hands still clutched around your waist. "And what if I don't? Should I get worried?"

You drop your smile quickly as you bring a hand up to his face, rubbing your thumb steadily against his bottom lip. "I'll get it from Wooyoung."

Yunho immediately rams his lips into yours out of pure frustration, shoving your back against the wall.

"Say it again, I fucking dare you," Yunho mutters breathily, digging his fingernails into your ass.

You let out a soft groan as you feel his harsh kisses trace a line from your jaw down your neck, both your hands now gripping his waist.

"If I see you giving him the attention he wants one more time, I'll fuck the shit out of you until you regret it," he hisses.

"Do I... do I have to wait to give him attention for me to get that punishment?" you tease softly, pulling against his belt loops again.

"Fuck it, you're done for," he snarls, looking over his shoulder and locating your next impromptu destination: a janitor's closet.

He quickly pulls you in, shutting the lights off and locking the door behind him before turning his attention back to you.

You feel his strong hands wrap around your back as he slams your body against the wall behind you, making a rattling noise as several custodial objects toppled all over the floor in the process.

You tug at his pants desperately, begging with your fingers for him to take them off.

"Oh, fuck no, you're not getting shit unless you beg me for it," he snarls, slapping your hands away from his belt and unzipping the back of your dress.

You whine in protest, pulling your arms out of your sleeve holes and slipping out of your heels in a few swift motions as Yunho pulls his sleeves up to his elbows.

Yunho lifts a couple fingers to his lips and quickly drenches them in spit before proceeding to glide his hand down your stomach and into your panties.

"Yunho,” you whisper as you feel his fingers find their way onto your clit. He began massaging you gently; kneading strategically against your sensitive happy button as soft moans began escaping your lips.

“You like that, princess?” he mumbles under his breath, soft grunts escaping his lips as he felt you drenching his fingers more and more.

“You’re so fucking wet,” he hisses, scrunching his face in deep pleasure as he felt a boner rising somewhere deep within his pants.

He raises an arm against the wall next to your head and encloses his mouth around yours, keeping his other hand busy rubbing two drenched fingers against your bean. You have one arm wrapped around his shoulder and neck, the other tugging desperately at his arm as you raised one leg around his hips, nudging him to start fingering you.

"You want attention, princess?" he breathes, biting your lip profusely as he followed his fingers down your labia to reach your hole.

"Fuck," you whimper, raising your leg higher in desperation at the feel of Yunho's steady fingers gently teasing your entrance.

"Beg for it," he sneers, his breath hot against your neck as he cravingly bit into your skin.

"Please, finger me already," you whimper, "just please fucking finger me!"

“You’re so fucking needy,” Yunho scoffs, inserting his fingers into you and pulling out steadily, his cock now fully hardened and poking you through his clothed crotch.

Your soft moans being to match the pace of his fingers sliding in and out of you, your hole growing wetter and looser alongside his every rapturing stroke.

"Please, Yunho, fuck me," you achingly plead, shamelessly tugging at his zipper in an attempt to pull it down.

"You're gonna be fucking patient," he growled, seeing as how your itched fingers had managed to thirstily slide their way underneath his boxers.

You pulled down his boxers and out popped his wet, hardened cock. You traced circles around his tip as he kept ramming his fingers in and out of you, ignoring your hungry requests for more.

Suddenly, a devious thought lingered through your mind.

"You know,” you smile, “I bet Wooyoung would've had his cock inside of me already a long fucking time ago," you tease.

That sentence alone is enough to force Yunho to rip his dress shoes, black turtleneck, and pants off his body, desperately fumbling his way out.

You clench your jaw as he lifts your legs off the ground and wraps them around his waist, his hardened member already seeping wet drops of cum at its tip.

"Say... that... again... SAY IT!!" he pants desperately as he begins pushing himself roughly into you, every word coming out of his mouth in unison with each deep thrust. Your loud moans began to fill the otherwise quiet and voided air around you.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," you moan loudly, clawing your fingernails deeply into the soft canvas of porcelain-like skin of his back as each intensifying stroke slipped in and out of your pink-fleshed caverna.

--

"They've been gone awhile; do you think they're alright?" Yeosang turns to Hongjoong, taking a sip of his hot tea as quiet jazz tunes play from the ceiling speakers above.

"Hmm," Hongjoong turns toward the end of the restaurant where he last saw you and Yunho disappear. "Don't know."

"Probably arguing, as healthy couples do," Jongho says, taking a bite of fish cake. "Wooyoung, I blame you,” he sneers through a mouthful of food. “Keep your eyes to yourself next time, yeah? It's bro code."

"Right," Hongjoong turns back around thoughtfully, popping some kimchi into his mouth.

--

You slam both hands against the wall as Yunho roughly turns you onto your stomach, spreading your legs wide as he began hitting it from the back.

Yunho's bangs are drenched as tiny drops of sweat splash onto your hot, glossy back, both your bodies growing warmer under the intensifying and sexy heat of friction. With every passing desirous moan and grunt, Yunho thrusts himself deeper into you, bending over to firmly clasp his hands around your hips and then biting profusely into your neck.

Loud moans escape your lips as you're no longer able to keep them in, your body under complete control of the boy masterminding an orchestra of your vocal chords behind you.

Yunho's breathy gasps slowly turn to soft whimpers as his wet, throbbing member slips in and out of your loosened warm, velvety inner walls. He seemingly felt himself on the verge of reaching his limit, but refused to let go until you reached the pleasure you oh-so wonderfully deserved.

"C'mon, baby," Yunho whispers into your ear as you throw your head back into his shoulder, "cum for me already," he whispers gently. At that, he begins fucking you harder and faster, throwing any and all signs of polite and gentle sex out the window.

You fail to hold in a loud, pleasurable groan as your lower abdomen is joyously overwhelmed by the full extortion of your final orgasm, to which Yunho takes the full and pleasurable joy of feeling his throttling member drench completely at your release.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Yunho hisses, sinking his teeth deep into his bottom lip as the sensation of your warmth overwhelms his hot, throbbing member. He pulls out quickly with only seconds of limited time to jerk himself off before a steaming hot jet stream of cum shoots all over your back.

"Fuck," Yunho takes a couples steps back, outstretching his arms to lean against the wall in front of him with you underneath. He leans in gently, lowering his warm body against your back as several of his soft kisses are gently planted against your cheek. The small janitorial closet grew quiet except for the heavy panting in an attempt to catch your breaths. He looked around and only hoped that the custodians of this restaurant would take deep-cleaning requests seriously, and he cursed himself quietly under his breath for the uncanny mess that was left of the small room. He planted one last soft kiss against your shoulder as he stepped back and started shuffling through the storage bins in search of a roll of paper towels.

"Don't move, baby," he muttered, wiping what he could of his mess off your back and in between your legs. He folded the paper towel and with it finished wiping himself down, though he knew that you two wouldn't be fully clean until you managed to take a shower sometime later that night.

"Sorry, baby," he hummed, balancing you on your feet as he helped you pull your dress back on and slip into your heels. "I'll try to find an excuse for us to go home as quickly as possible."

You giggled as you helped your boyfriend dress himself next, leaving a quick, soft kiss against his V-line before pulling his pants up and zipping them shut.

"I'm gonna be so sore tomorrow," you sigh under your breath, annoyedly pinching your boyfriend's waist as you both awkwardly stepped out of the closet.

"How do I look?" you tiredly smile up to your boyfriend, trying to pat down your hair as best as you could. Streaks of your runny eye makeup and faded lipstick made him giggle softly, a proud trophy he considered after the sinful events of the last twenty minutes.

"You look like you've learned your lesson," he smirks, leaning over to plant a soft kiss against your cheek. He pulls out another paper towel and begins to gently touch up your makeup the best that he could, though with all his best efforts you still looked like you were lawlessly railed without any signs of regret.

"What about me? Do I look presentable?"

You giggled at the sight of his wrinkled shirt and mess of drenched hair, running your fingers through his bangs in an attempt to make him look not-so-guilty of the heinous acts he'd just committed out of distasteful jealousy.

--

"Oh, there you are. We thought you guys had left already," Yeosang smiles as you and Yunho hobbled awkwardly into your seats. You flinched as you sat, still feeling the rawness in your hole where Yunho had recklessly fucked you like it was no one’s immediate business.

"Were you crying?" Jongho says, noticing the smudged residue of mascara and eyeliner that Yunho had failed to completely wipe clean. Yunho takes notice and proceeds to gently pat a napkin against your face.

Yunho smiled assuringly in your direction. “What? No, those are happy tears, you see," he teased, flashing you a pretty grin with perfect teeth.

"Oh? That's good to hear, then," Wooyoung sighed, nudging Jongho's arm. "See? They weren’t arguing.”

Jongho rolls his eyes.

“Anyhow,” Hongjoong continues, turning to face you, "you’re very beautiful and we very much appreciated getting to finally meet you,” he smiles, turning his attention to Yunho next. “She's a real gem, so never forget to treat her right,” he finishes, sending a small wink in your direction.

Yunho squeezed your thigh under the table, turning a gentle smile back in your direction.

"Trust me when I say, taking good care of her is my top priority."

[criminal-act7]

Don't mess with my man

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Blk reader

Genre: fluff (for once)

Summary: One day during a case, Spencer gets jealous of some officers flirting with you, so he stepped in to get you. Since then, the BAU team has noticed your closeness and teased you both about your obvious feelings. During a night out, you get jealous when a woman flirts with Spencer, prompting you to step in and claim him as your boyfriend.

Warnings: jealousy, mild possessiveness

Notes: This song is stuck in my head. I also posted this on my K-pop blog, but I took it off real quick.

Spencer stood in the corner, his arms crossed, watching you as you spoke to the two young officers. The way you commanded their attention was effortless, a mix of professionalism and that unique charm of yours that always made people gravitate toward you. You were explaining to them what you did in the BAU, your hands moving expressively as you broke down your role with clarity and confidence. But Spencer could tell—the officers weren’t just listening because they were interested in your work.

They were flirting with you.

And, as usual, you hadn’t noticed.

It had been like this ever since you joined the team. At first, Spencer found your energy irritating. You were too happy, too bubbly, especially for someone working in a unit as serious and grim as the Behavioral Analysis Unit. He couldn't understand how you could be so cheerful when your job involved dealing with the worst of humanity.

But then, he saw you in the field. The first time he saw that shift—how you could still be warm and engaging, yet instantly serious and direct when needed—something shifted in him, too. You weren’t naive. You were strong, and your optimism was a choice, not a weakness.

He hadn’t meant to warm up to you. But you made it impossible not to. You were funny, kind, a good listener. You brought an energy to the team that helped them all, even in the darkest moments. And to top it all off, you were beautiful. But Spencer couldn’t ask you out. He didn’t think you’d be interested in him. Why would you be? You were the life of the party, the person everyone liked, and he… well, he was awkward, introverted, more comfortable with books than people.

Which is why he found himself here, leaning against the wall, trying to pretend he wasn’t watching the officers flirt with you. He clenched his jaw, feeling a knot in his stomach. You deserved better than that. They didn’t even care about what you were saying; they were just focused on how you looked. But Spencer knew you—really knew you—and he liked you for so much more than your appearance.

As he watched, one of the officers laughed a little too loudly at something you said, leaning in closer. Spencer rolled his eyes. They were so obvious.

You, on the other hand, seemed oblivious, smiling politely as you continued your explanation. Spencer knew you weren’t interested—you were always so professional when it came to your work. But it still bugged him. You sat on the desk looking pretty, and you didn’t even realize how pretty you were. Your soft wine colored off the shoulder top, complemented your brown skin with your light blue washed jeans. Your hair was braided up which was usual but this was a fresh this time. Then you wore your glasses they were fake but you liked having a different look to you and Spencer liked it. It was something about your glasses that made you ten times more attractive.

Morgan, ever perceptive, glanced between Spencer and the officers before smirking. "Pretty boy, I know that look," he teased, sidling up to Spencer. "You’re not jealous, are you?"

“What? No,” Spencer replied quickly, pushing his hands into his pockets, trying to keep his face neutral.

Morgan chuckled, clearly not buying it. “So you're just gonna let them flirt with your girl like that?”

Spencer bristled, his voice defensive. "She's not my girl."

Morgan raised an eyebrow and leaned in a little closer. "The way you're eyeing her says otherwise, jealous boy."

"I'm not jealous, and those guys aren't even that good looking," Spencer shot back, a little more heat in his voice than he intended. He looks at the guys again as they say something to make you giggle.

Morgan barked out a laugh, clapping a hand on Spencer’s shoulder. "Wow, you really are jealous. It’s okay, man. Happens to the best of us." Spencer tried to brush it off, but he couldn’t help glancing back at you, still in conversation with the officers. They were standing too close, and their smiles were just a little too wide for Spencer’s liking. He wondered what was so funny? It couldn't had been about the case.

“You know Hotch is gonna round us up soon,” Morgan said, his tone shifting to something more serious, though still playful. “You should go get her, pretty boy.”

Spencer furrowed his brow. "Why do I have to get her?"

Morgan grinned, stepping back toward the other room. “Because I'm not the one sitting in the corner jealous," he sang teasingly, disappearing through the doorway.

Spencer sighed, glancing one last time at you and the officers before pushing himself off the wall. Maybe Morgan was right... but he still wasn't sure if he was ready to admit it.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his heart pounding a little harder than usual. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but he couldn’t just stand there any longer.

"Hey," he interrupted, his voice calm but firm, "we need to wrap up here. We have a briefing in ten."

You turned to him, flashing that bright smile of yours. "Got it, Reid."

The officers seemed disappointed but nodded, glancing at you one last time before walking away. As they left, Spencer stayed by your side, and you gave him a curious look.

"Everything okay?" you asked, tilting your head slightly.

Spencer shrugged, trying to act casual. "Yeah, I just... thought it was time to go."

You smiled again, this time softer, more genuine. "Thanks for the rescue. Those two were nice, but I think they were more interested in... other things." You say as Spencer nods at you of course you picked up on their disinterest of the original topic.

Spencer couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I noticed."

"Why didn’t you say anything sooner?" you ask him confused as to why didn't he come to get you earlier. Spencer hesitated for a second, unsure of what to say. Then he looked at you, his heart racing, and said, "I didn’t think you'd notice."

Your eyes met his, and for a moment, the air between you shifted. It was subtle, but it was there. You smiled again, this time more thoughtful. "I always notice you, Spencer." You go into the room taking a seat. Spencer couldn't help but blush at what you said. When he goes in the room Morgan looks at him smugly as he takes a seat next to Emily while you sit in the front next to Rossi. Before he could ask how it went Hotch started talking.

The case was finally wrapped up, and you were just about ready to head back when one of the officers approached you, flashing the same charming smile he’d been using all week. Spencer, standing off to the side, rolled his eyes. Not this again.

The officer started his usual routine, laying it on thick. “You’re really something, you know that? A top-notch agent and, well, very easy on the eyes,” he added with a wink. You were about to say something but the guy cut you off.

Before the guy could even work up to asking for your number, Spencer decided he’d had enough. He walked over, his long strides quickening as the officer’s compliment landed. “Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Spencer said, cutting in smoothly, “but we really need to get going.”

The officer blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Oh, can I just—?”

“Sorry, no time,” Spencer replied quickly. Without giving the officer a chance to recover, he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, steering you away from the conversation. “We’ve got a flight to catch.”

You let Spencer guide you, surprised at the sudden shift. Once you were a few paces away, you glanced up at him, an amused smile creeping onto your face.

“Spence, what was that about? You’re acting weird.”

“It’s nothing,” he said, his voice a little too fast. “I mean, we do have a flight, and Hotch is waiting for us. He’s our ride.”

You raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh. Right.” You knew Hotch was still inside talking to the sheriff. Spencer tried to focus on the path ahead, but the warmth of your shoulder under his arm and the way you were looking at him made it hard to concentrate. “What? We do need to go,” he added, but you could hear the slight defensiveness in his voice. You just smiled, not pushing the subject for now, but filing it away for later. Spencer was acting strange—endearing, but definitely strange. And you had a pretty good idea why.

Later on the plane, you were sitting with Emily and J.J., enjoying some much-needed downtime. It didn’t take long for them to start teasing you.

“So,” Emily began with a mischievous grin, “what was up with those two officers back at the precinct?”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, how did you know about that?” you asked, glancing between the two of them. You had thought the flirting had gone mostly unnoticed, at least by everyone except you and Spencer.

J.J. laughed, leaning in a little closer. “It was kind of hard not to notice. Those guys were practically hovering around you the entire time.”

“Yeah,” Emily chimed in, “the way they were looking at you? They were definitely interested. Did they give you their numbers?”

You shook your head, smiling at the memory of Spencer’s intervention. “Nope. Spencer got to me before they could. Honestly, I’m glad. I didn’t want to have to turn them down like that. They weren’t my type.”

At that, Emily and J.J. exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. “Spencer got to you first, huh?” J.J. teased, a knowing gleam in her eye.

“Oh, this is even better than I thought,” Emily added, smirking. “So, did our genius save you, or did you just let him swoop in?”

You felt your face flush. “Come on, it wasn’t like that. He just... helped me out of an awkward situation, that’s all.”

“Right,” Emily said, drawing out the word as if she didn’t believe you for a second. “Sure, just helping you out.”

Their teasing continued, with both of them throwing in playful comments about Spencer’s timing and how convenient it was. Despite your protests, you couldn’t help but smile at the whole situation. Maybe there was more to it than you were willing to admit.

Meanwhile, a few rows up, Spencer was sitting next to Hotch. He had a faint smile on his face, one he didn’t even realize was there. Hotch glanced over, noticing the unusual expression.

“Everything okay?” Hotch asked, a little confused by Spencer’s out-of-character behavior.

“Yeah,” Spencer said, his voice calm but laced with an odd sense of contentment. “Everything’s fine.” Hotch said nothing more, but a flicker of understanding crossed his face. He had a pretty good guess at what was going on but kept it to himself.

Across the aisle, Rossi leaned over to Morgan, who had been watching the whole scene unfold from the start. Morgan smirked, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “My man,” Morgan whispered, nodding toward Spencer with approval.

Spencer, oblivious to all the glances and whispers, sat there quietly. Nothing between you two had really changed, but the way you’d looked at him earlier, and the fact that you’d let him whisk you away from the officers—it felt like the start of something, something... And for now, that was enough.

After the case, the team couldn't help but notice how close you and Spencer had become. Whether it was holding hands absentmindedly or you resting your head on his shoulder during long flights, it seemed like you two were always in sync. To anyone watching, it was obvious that something was going on between you two, but to you and Spencer, you were just friends. Sure, there were feelings simmering beneath the surface, but both of you were oblivious to them.

One day, after a particularly long and exhausting case, Hotch decided the team needed a break. As a reward for all the hard work, he gave everyone the next day off. To celebrate, Emily, Garcia, and Morgan started making plans to go out that night. Morgan, always the social one, immediately turned to Spencer.

“Come on, pretty boy, you should come out with us,” Morgan said, nudging Spencer, who predictably shook his head.

“I don’t really think—” Spencer started, but then he overheard Emily ask you if you were coming along.

“Are you kidding?” you said enthusiastically. “I’ve been dying to go out. I just need to go home and change first, but I’ll meet you guys there.”

Spencer hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the excitement on your face, he changed his mind. “Actually… I think I’ll go too.”

Garcia, overhearing this, snickered to herself. “Reid is so whipped,” she whispered, watching the two of you walk ahead together.

Emily, unable to resist, leaned in and quietly shared, “Did you guys notice the other day on the plane to South Dakota? She was holding Spencer’s hand the entire flight, and she didn’t even realize it.”

Morgan grinned, adding, “Oh, and last week? She fixed Spencer’s hair during the briefing, and the guy practically lit up like a Christmas tree.”

As the three of them exchanged knowing looks, you and Spencer, now a few steps ahead, suddenly noticed the group lagging behind. You glanced back and asked, “Hey, what’s going on back there?”

Morgan, Emily, and Garcia immediately straightened up, all of them wearing innocent expressions. “Nothing!” they chorused in unison, clearly hiding something.

You gave them a skeptical look but shrugged it off, turning back to Spencer as the two of you continued chatting. Meanwhile, behind you, the trio exchanged glances, silently agreeing that it was time to take matters into their own hands.

“So, what’s the plan to get those two together?” Emily whispered to Garcia.

“Oh, I have a few ideas,” Garcia replied, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. “They’re halfway there already; they just need a little push.”

Morgan chuckled. “Count me in. Let’s make sure tonight is very interesting.” As you and Spencer unknowingly walked into their plot, you continued to talk about your plans for the night, completely unaware of the matchmaking scheme brewing behind you. For now, you were just looking forward to a fun night out with your friends—and, of course, Spencer, who somehow made every moment feel just a little bit better.

Garcia, Emily, and Morgan waited at the bar, excitement buzzing in the air as they plotted their next move to bring you and Spencer together. Emily had devised a plan, making up an excuse about why Spencer couldn’t ride with them, and it had worked perfectly. You had hesitated at first, unsure about being a bother, but Spencer insisted he wanted to come with you, making you feel a little more at ease.

The three of them settled into a booth, sipping drinks and keeping an eye on the entrance. Emily leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, what’s our game plan for tonight? We need to get them talking more, maybe even dancing.”

Garcia nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely! And we should definitely have Spencer and her sit next to each other when they get here. That’ll give them a chance to get closer.”

Morgan leaned back in his seat, smirking. “You guys are way too obvious. It’s going to be hilarious to watch him squirm.”

Just then, they saw you walk in, and the conversation halted. You looked stunning in a fitted dress that hugged your figure perfectly, and the knee-high boots you wore added a fierce touch. Garcia couldn’t help herself. “Wow, look at her! That dress is incredible!”

“Check out those boots!” Emily added, eyes wide. “She looks amazing.”

Morgan grinned widely, his gaze shifting to Spencer, who was right behind you, taking in the sight of you with an appreciative look. “And look at Spencer. He’s practically checking her out.”

As if on cue, Spencer reached out, wrapping an arm around your waist, and you smiled up at him. “Oh my God, Derek!” Penelope exclaimed, barely containing her excitement.

It wasn’t until you spotted them that Spencer lets go of you as you pulled Spencer over to the table. As you approached the booth, you spotted them and your face lit up. “Hey, guys!” you greeted happily, your voice brightening the atmosphere around the table. “Sorry I’m 30 minutes late!”

“Not a problem at all!” Garcia said, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Morgan chuckled, leaning forward. “We were just getting an eyeful of your fashion choices. You look fantastic!”

“Thanks!” you replied, a little bashfully. “I wanted to look nice for tonight.” You paused, glancing at Spencer, who stood next to you, his expression unreadable.

“Well, it’s working,” Emily said with a wink. “You definitely caught our attention.”

You grinned, appreciating the compliment. “I’ll get the first round. What does everyone want?” you asked, taking out your phone to note their orders.

As you walked away to the bar, Emily, Garcia, and Morgan wasted no time in turning their focus to Spencer.

“So,” Emily started, feigning innocence, “what do you think of her outfit?”

Spencer, caught off guard, stammered, “Uh, it’s…nice.” He quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with a hint of pink.

Garcia giggled, nudging him playfully. “Nice? Is that all you’ve got, pretty boy? She looks stunning!”

“Come on, Reid,” Morgan chimed in, a teasing grin on his face. “You’re clearly checking her out. Don’t hide it!”

Spencer sighed, knowing he was trapped. “I just—”

“Just what?” Emily pressed, leaning in closer. “Do you like her or not?”

“I mean, she’s great,” Spencer finally admitted, his voice a mix of admiration and embarrassment. “We’re just friends.”

“Right,” Garcia said, barely containing her laughter. “Friends who hold hands and check each other out.”

“Reid, you’ve got it bad,” Morgan teased, leaning closer. “You can’t even hide it.”

Spencer shrugged, attempting to play it cool, but the flush creeping up his neck gave him away. “I just think she looks great,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Morgan chimed in, pointing at Spencer. “Seriously, man, you were totally checking her out.”

Spencer shook his head, trying to play it cool, but the slightest blush crept into his cheeks. “We just drove here together; it’s not a big deal.”

Emily smirked, leaning in closer. “Not a big deal? You were holding her waist! What happened when you two left? Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened,” Spencer replied quickly, trying to keep his tone light. “I just stayed in the car while she changed at the apartment.”

Morgan chimed in, pointing at Spencer with a teasing grin. “Seriously, man, you were totally checking her out.”

Spencer shook his head, trying to play it cool, but the slightest blush crept into his cheeks. “We just drove here together; it’s not a big deal.”

Emily smirked, leaning in closer. “Not a big deal? You were holding her waist! What happened when you two left? Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened,” Spencer replied quickly, striving to keep his tone light. “I just stayed in the car while she changed at the apartment.”

“Yeah, and you let her go out in that dress?” Emily shot back, her eyebrow raised.

“I mean, that’s none of my business. We’re not together,” he said, trying to sound indifferent.

“Not yet,” Garcia piped in, her enthusiasm unabated. “But you act like it. Make your move!”

Before Spencer could respond, Emily glanced around, her expression shifting slightly. “Where is Y/N, by the way? She’s been gone for too long getting those drinks.”

The three of them turned their heads toward the bar, and then suddenly caught sight of you on the dance floor. You were laughing and dancing with some girls, completely in your element.

Garcia, eyes sparkling with mischief, nudged Spencer. “You should go get her!”

Spencer hesitated, watching you dance. The way you moved, carefree and joyful, made him smile to himself. He didn’t want to interrupt your fun, but the teasing from his friends was starting to grate on his nerves.

“Come on, don’t just sit there,” Emily said, nudging him again. “You’re missing your chance.”

“Yeah, man, go get your girl!” Morgan chimed in, his voice playful yet encouraging.

Spencer felt the warmth of their gazes on him, urging him to take action. He glanced back at you, laughing and dancing as if the world didn’t exist. Maybe he could just watch a little longer, but as Emily’s teasing began again, he decided he didn’t want to be the wallflower anymore.

“Okay, okay,” Spencer finally relented, standing up from the booth. He took a deep breath, feeling a rush of determination. “I’ll go get her and grab the drinks.”

As he walked toward you, he could feel the weight of his friends’ encouragement behind him, but he also felt a thrill of nerves. This was different. You were different. With each step, he knew he wanted to take that leap, and tonight might just be the night. He continues to watch you dance your body moving to the beat of the song. You were having fun that was clear he admired how much your smile lit his whole world. He didn't want to remind you about the drinks so he went to the bar got the drinks himself and went back to the table.

You were on the dance floor, having the time of your life, but as the music slowed and your feet began to ache, you made your way back to the booth. Emily, Garcia, and Morgan were already there, sipping on their drinks, and that’s when it hit you—you had completely forgotten to bring them their drinks.

"Sorry, guys! I got caught up," you apologized, genuinely feeling bad.

“No worries,” Morgan grinned, glancing over at Garcia. “Spencer took care of the first round. He was supposed to come get you, but you were a little busy dancing.”

You chuckled sheepishly, glancing around the bar. “I’m sorry again. I didn’t realize.” You had to remind yourself to get the next round of drinks and spend two drinks on Spencer. Feeling guilty that he had to pay for drinks you offered to get in the first place.

“Speaking of which,” Emily said, leaning back in her seat with a smirk, “Spencer was supposed to be getting us another round, but he’s taking his sweet time. He’s probably distracted by the blonde at the bar.”

Your gaze snapped to the bar, and sure enough, Spencer was chatting with a tall blonde woman, who was laughing and leaning in a little too close for your comfort. You rolled your eyes, muttering, “She’s Cute,” in a snarky tone crossing your arms. As you eyed her up and down from a distance.

Garcia’s eyes lit up at your reaction, picking up on the jealousy you were trying to hide. “Ooh, look at you,” she teased. “She’s been talking to him for the past 20 minutes. Seems pretty cozy, huh?”

You waved your hand dismissively. “He’s just being nice. That’s how Spencer is.” You say Spencer was a nice guy especially when it came to women. He wasn’t awkward as most people saw him at least not with you. You both were inseparable spending time with each other in and out of work or talking late at night after cases.

Emily, always quick to stir the pot, leaned in closer, her voice playful. “Are you jealous?”

“No,” you replied, too quickly. The word came out sharper than you intended, which only made Morgan grin wider.

“Right. You’re not jealous at all,” he said, teasing you further. “Because, you know, you haven’t been clinging to Spencer this whole time or anything. It’s not obvious that you like him.” You tried to laugh it off, but their teasing hit a nerve. You didn’t deny your closeness to Spencer, but you weren’t about to confirm it either. Who wouldn't fall for Spencer? He was nice, smart, caring for his friends you included, and he good looking in your eyes. You especially liked when he spoke his nerdy genius facts, you always liked learning and you soaked up his facts like he was storyteller of facts.

“We’re just friends.” You say as that was the truth despite you wanting to be more. You knew feeling jealous was wrong but if Spencer wanted to date someone it was out of your control.

As the others exchanged knowing looks, you found yourself glancing back at the bar. The blonde was still there, her fingers twirling a strand of hair as she laughed at something Spencer was explaining. Your stomach twisted, and you hated that you felt this way. Spencer wasn’t yours, and he could talk to whoever he wanted. But still… something about it didn’t sit right with you.

Morgan, noticing your silence, nudged you again. “You sure you’re not jealous? Because it kinda looks like you are.”

You straightened up, forcing yourself to stay calm. “She’s a tall, bleach blonde with a 36D cup, and she’s probably pretending to understand whatever Spencer’s talking about. She’s got nothing on me. And besides, the only blondes I like Spencer with are Garcia and J.J.”

Emily and Morgan exchanged a glance, and Garcia practically cackled. They could tell you were trying to downplay your feelings, but your words only revealed how fired up you really were.

It wasn’t until you saw the blonde reach out and touch Spencer—first his arm, then his hair—that you had finally had enough. “You know what? The next round’s on me,” you said, abruptly standing up from the booth.

As you strode toward the bar, Garcia couldn’t contain her excitement. “Oh, this is it. This is the moment!” she squealed, practically bouncing in her seat.

Morgan and Emily high-fived, pleased with how their little mission was playing out. They had been waiting for a moment like this, and now it seemed like you were finally about to act on your feelings.

You didn’t care what anyone thought anymore. Watching that woman touch your Spencer like that ignited something inside you. As you approached the bar, your heart raced, but your steps were confident, purposeful. Spencer might not even realize what was happening, but you knew one thing for sure—you weren’t going to let some random blonde take your place by his side.

You approached the bar quietly, trying to catch the conversation the blonde woman was having with Spencer. She was leaning into him, laughing and commenting on how good he looked for an FBI agent. A wave of possessiveness surged through you, and before you could think twice, you walked up behind him and wrapped your arms around his waist. Spencer, caught off guard, glanced up at you, confusion flickering across his face.

“Hey, Spence, did you get the drinks for the others?” you asked, casually resting your chin on his shoulder. The blonde woman looked at you eyeing you like you did her. You swayed back and forth and Spencer as usual let you. To him and you this was normal but you wanted to give her the idea that he was taken.

“Oh yeah, that’s right! I’m sorry, I forgot,” he mumbled.

“No worries, I should’ve gotten the drinks when I had the chance,” you replied sweetly.

The blonde wasn’t done with him though. “Spencer! You were saying?” she interrupted, her voice laced with annoyance as she tried to pull his attention back to her. But it was all on you as you two had your own conversation.

Spencer blinked. “Huh?”

You leaned into him more, almost daring her with your eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” you asked, knowing exactly what you were doing.

“Yes—” Heather began, but Spencer quickly cut her off, clearly sensing the rising tension.

“No. Not at all. We were just talking about our jobs at the BAU… Oh, Y/N, this is- uhhh Heather! Her name is Heather,” Spencer introduced her awkwardly, stumbling over his words. You didn’t move from him, still holding onto his shoulders as if to make it clear to Heather that Spencer wasn’t going anywhere.

You eyed her up and down and rolled your eyes. “Heather, huh? Cool name. I'm Y/n ” you said, not bothering to hide your disdain. You reach past Spencer to shake her hand trying not to be rude to Spencer.

Heather’s smile faltered slightly. “You work with Spencer?”

“Oh yeah,” you replied, turning to Spencer with a sweet smile as you ran your hand through his hair, fixing it just how you liked. “We work tons of hours together, we're really...close aren't we, Spence?” you ask looking to him for his answer. Spencer didn’t understand it but he knew you were acting strange. Your tone the way your body language was different.

Spencer nodded, a little too enthusiastically. “Yeah, we do. Actually, we just got the day off tomorrow!”

You rolled your eyes again, internally groaning. As much as you adored him, he was too polite to recognize that Heather was blatantly flirting. Or maybe he did know but wasn’t sure how to shut it down. Or he could be interested in her but you didn’t let that thought linger any longer.

Heather’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, are you free tomorrow night?”

Before Spencer could even think of answering, you spoke up. “No, he’s not,” you said quickly, your voice firm.

Heather blinked, clearly taken aback. “I was talking to Spencer,” she said, her voice icy.

“And I told you, he’s not free,” you repeated, stepping closer to him, almost in front of him now.

Heather wasn’t giving up so easily. She gently nudged you aside, leaning in closer to Spencer. “Anyway, Spencer, are you free tomorrow?” you felt your body get hotter by the second she spoke. The urge not to hit her when she touched you, as you knew you'd be wrong if you did.

Spencer shifted awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. “I—uh—I mean—”

Before he could finish, you cut in again, your jealousy bubbling over. “He has a girlfriend,” you blurted out, shocking both Spencer and Heather.

Spencer’s eyes widened in surprise, and you could feel his gaze on you. If he didn’t know you were jealous before, he definitely knew now.

Heather crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “I don’t see her, and he hasn’t mentioned her.”

You stepped forward, standing your ground. “I’m right here.”

Heather’s eyes narrowed as she looked you up and down. “Please. You’re just jealous that Spencer’s interested in me. You don’t have any claim on him just because you work together.” Spencer looked at you wondering what your next move was, you didn't deny that you were jealous not once. Nor did he deny that you were his girlfriend, he could but he didn't want to. He tries not to smile but then he looks back at you as you grew quiet.

You were practically shaking with anger, but her words hit you harder than you expected. She wasn’t entirely wrong—you weren’t Spencer’s girlfriend, and this was starting to feel like a massive embarrassment. But just as your thoughts started to spiral, Spencer stepped in.

“Here are your drinks, miss,” the bartender said, sliding the drinks over to you and Spencer. He thought this was the perfect time to get the two of you away from Heather and back to your friends.

Spencer set the drinks down and took your hand in his, placing his other hand gently on your shoulder. His touch was grounding, and when he spoke, his voice was calm and reassuring. “It’s okay, Y/N. You don’t have anything to prove. I’ve got the drinks; let’s head back.” He wanted you to know there was nothing to worry about, he wasn't interested in Heather. Not even attracted to her, as he holds your hand and whispers in your ear how you're here to spend time with friends and have a good time. You smiled, feeling instantly soothed. He knew just what to say to ease your frustration. You look at him and he looks at you with hearts in your eyes like nothing else mattered. And it didn’t. The two of you leave heading over to your friends. But Heather wasn’t done though.

“Spencer, wait—if you’re free tomorrow, call me,” she said, handing him a napkin with her number on it.

Before you could react, Spencer turned and walked back to the bar, trying to give the napkin back. “Look, you seem really nice, and you’re very pretty, but I’m not interested.” You didn't notice Spencer wasn’t by your side at first but Emily and Penelope gave you a look as you turned to see Spencer stuck again. You leave the drinks at the table and go back over to Spencer. You sneak up from behind him listening to Heather’s desperate attempt to get with your genius.

Heather huffed, clearly not taking the rejection well. “Come on, Spencer. Are you really just trying to spare her feelings?” Heather refers to you as Spencer thinks about his next words carefully.

Spencer shook his head. “I’m not sparing her feelings because we work together. I’m sparing your feelings because I love her. For a long time and she feels the same way” Spencer says confidently as Heather scoffs.

The confession hit you like a ton of bricks, and you stopped in your tracks, staring at him wide-eyed. Did he just say he loved you? Well this was the time for you to say what you needed to say.

You stepped in front of him, your heart racing. Spencer looked at you, his expression soft, almost hopeful, as if he wasn’t sure you heard him. He didn't know what you were going to say, but he felt

“My name is Y/N, I have a name so say it.” you said, snapping back to Heather. “And you’re right. I am his coworker. But I can have him anytime I want to. So, thank you. You gave me the strength to fight for the man I love, but I’m not going to, because I’ve realized there’s no competition. You can't compare to me. This is my man, together or not and he certainly doesn’t want you, maybe if you weren't so desperate Heather you'd know that. So go find your own man and don't touch mine. We’re leaving now. Goodbye.”

With that, you turned and walked away, Spencer following closely behind, still reeling from what just happened. You called him yours. You were actually jealous and to him you looked pretty hot. He was used to you being so nice and he's seen you angry during cases but this felt different. Spencer takes you hand as you go back to the booth where your friends were waiting. The moment they saw the two of you, a chorus of cheers erupted from the table, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

"Finally!" Garcia squealed, clapping her hands. Emily raised her glass, and even Morgan was grinning ear to ear.

"Looks like the mission was a success," Morgan teased, and Spencer just shook his head, smiling, as he held your hand a little tighter. The two of you didn't discuss your obvious feelings not while you were being teased. But you both knew at sometime in the future hopefully tomorrow you'd talk about it.

As you and Spencer left the bar that night, you insisted on driving him home. The night had been fun, but you felt like there were some things left unsaid—especially after the events at the bar. Spencer agreed, quietly watching you as you drove, his eyes curious but gentle, clearly wondering what was on your mind.

When you pulled up in front of his apartment, you turned off the engine but didn’t make any move to get out. Instead, you turned to face him, gathering your thoughts before speaking.

“I wanted to talk about what happened earlier,” you began, your voice a little hesitant. Spencer raised an eyebrow, waiting for you to continue.

“I know I kind of... jumped in with that girl, and I didn’t handle it the best way,” you admitted, glancing down at your hands on the steering wheel. “It’s just... I got jealous. I don’t usually get like that, but when I saw her flirting with you, I couldn’t help it. And I guess that’s because—well, because I have feelings for you, Spencer.” You took in a deep breath looking up at him, waiting for his reaction. Spencer’s eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“I figured that might’ve been why you did it,” he said, his voice gentle. “But... I should probably confess something too.” Your heartbeat quickened as you waited for him to continue.

“I was jealous too,” he admitted, his gaze dropping slightly. “Remember those two guys at the police station about a month ago? They wouldn’t stop flirting with you, and... I hated it. I didn’t know how to deal with it, because I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way about me, and I didn’t want to risk messing things up between us.”

You blinked in surprise. “You were jealous? Of them? They're not my type”

Spencer nodded. “Yeah. I mean, you’re funny, kind, smart, beautiful—why wouldn’t they flirt with you? But it drove me crazy. And then tonight... seeing you claim me like that at the bar... it was, uh... kind of hot, to be honest.”

Your cheeks warmed at his confession, and you laughed softly. “Kind of hot?”

Spencer smiled a little wider, his eyes brightening. “Okay, very hot,” he corrected. “But more than that, it just reminded me how much I care about you. I guess what I’m trying to say is... I’ve had feelings for you for a while. And after tonight... I think it’s pretty clear that I’m your man now, just like you said.”

Your heart fluttered at his words, and you felt a warmth spread through your chest. You couldn’t help but smile as you leaned closer, gently pressing your lips to his. The kiss was soft, sweet, and everything you had hoped it would be. When you finally pulled back, Spencer was grinning, a little dazed, as if the kiss had left him breathless.

“So... does that mean we’re officially a couple?” you asked, still smiling.

Spencer nodded, his eyes twinkling. “I’d say so.” The two of you hold hands and sit in silence as Spencer looks at your lips again.

"Can we kiss again?" Spencer asked, his voice soft and a little shy, making you chuckle.

“You don’t have to ask, Spence. Just do it.”

Without hesitation, Spencer leaned in, and the two of you started kissing again. This time, it was deeper, more passionate. His hand rested gently on the back of your neck, and you found yourself pulling him closer, your fingers running through his hair, tugging lightly as the kiss became more intense.

Spencer responded eagerly, his other hand settling on your waist as you melted into each other. The air in the car felt warmer, filled with the heat of the moment. His lips moved against yours with a newfound confidence, and you could feel the electricity between you, making your heart race faster.

As you both paused for a breath, his forehead resting against yours, Spencer smiled, his breath a little ragged. "You know," he whispered, "this might be the best night of my life."

You laughed softly, still catching your own breath. "Well, it's not over yet."

Spencer's eyes sparkled at that, and before he could say anything else, you pulled him back in for another kiss, losing yourselves in each other all over again.

When you finally needed to cool down you leaned back in your seat, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders. The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying the shared understanding between you.

Then, Spencer’s smile turned teasing. “You know, I kind of like jealous Y/N. It’s a new side of you.”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Oh, shut up. I wasn’t that jealous.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You totally were. You didn’t even let me answer her when she asked if I was free tomorrow.”

“Okay, fine, maybe I was jealous,” you admitted, laughing. “But only because you’re mine now.”

Spencer’s smile softened at that, and he reached over to take your hand, intertwining your fingers. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

You both sat there for a little longer, basking in the comfort of your new relationship. It felt right—like everything had finally fallen into place. And as you sat there holding hands, you knew that this was just the beginning of something special between you and Spencer.

Monday morning, you and Spencer walked into the BAU together, and Garcia was waiting at her desk with an eager smile. "So... how was the date yesterday?" she asked, practically buzzing with excitement.

“It was great,” you answered, though you couldn’t help but smile when Spencer, standing beside you, started launching into the specifics. “We went to the museum, grabbed dinner, and—”

You gave him a playful nudge. “Spence, she doesn’t need to know everything.”

“Oh, but I do!” Garcia’s eyes gleamed. “This is exciting! You two are finally together.”

As Spencer talked, you felt a strange mix of pride and awkwardness. Being at work with Spencer now that you were officially dating felt... different. You weren’t used to having your relationship on display for everyone, and it was obvious that the team was already tuned in to every detail.

J.J walked in, noticing Garcia's unusually happy mood. "What’s going on with you today, Garcia?"

Before Garcia could answer, Emily and Morgan jumped in. "Oh, you don’t know? Y/N and Reid are finally a couple," Emily said with a grin.

J.J’s eyes widened. "Wait, what? How did that happen?"

You overheard the conversation and turned toward them, about to say something when Garcia started recounting the story of how jealous you had gotten at the bar.

"It wasn’t like that—" you began, but Spencer, with a teasing grin, added fuel to the fire.

"You wouldn’t even let me speak to that girl when she asked if I was free!" he teased, nudging you lightly.

You groaned, rolling your eyes. "I told you I was sorry the other night," you muttered, feeling your face flush with embarrassment.

"Oh my God, you two are really a couple now!" J.J laughed.

“Who’s a couple?” Rossi’s voice suddenly chimed in as he entered the bullpen.

“Y/N and our pretty boy,” Morgan answered with a proud smile.

Rossi chuckled, nodding in approval. "Well, it’s about time! How did this happen?"

Spencer, now getting into it, started explaining the events at the bar to Rossi and J.J—how you got jealous when the blonde woman was flirting with him, how you interrupted, and how you eventually claimed him as "your man." The others listened with wide eyes and amused smiles.

“And then Y/N called Reid ‘her man,’” Morgan added, laughing. “From there, it was all over.”

You were starting to feel more and more self-conscious as they recounted the whole night. You tried to defend yourself, your voice growing softer. "It’s not like that... I just... I mean, it wasn’t planned or anything, it just happened."

Spencer, sensing your discomfort, gently took your hand again. "There’s no need to be shy," he said with that soft, reassuring tone that always put you at ease.

Emily smirked, raising an eyebrow. “I know, right? Now she gets so shy about it, but the other night she was ready to throw down at the bar!” The whole team burst into laughter, making you even more flustered.

Feeling like you needed a break from the teasing, you gently let go of Spencer’s hand. “I’m going to the conference room. We’ve got a case to focus on,” you said, retreating to the room where the briefing would take place.

As you left, Spencer continued filling J.J and Rossi in on the rest of your date, telling them how sweet and simple it was—just dinner and a movie, but it was perfect.

A few minutes later, you called out from the conference room, “Guys, Hotch wants us all in here.”

They all looked at you, still grinning and throwing teasing looks your way as they made their way to the room. Despite the light-hearted teasing, you couldn’t help but smile. Your relationship was out in the open now, and it felt good, even if it was a little overwhelming at first. But there was no time to dwell on that now—there was another case to solve, and the team quickly shifted into work mode as the briefing began.

[heesuits]

cry baby - lee heeseung ♡

paring: co-worker!heeseung x reader

genre: soft

! the song lyrics are mentioned at some point.

wc: 3k+

.

Closed your notebook and stretched your spine... Just finished studying for today, your fingers feel stiff from all the writing, maybe they could even get cramps later. You've been having some online classes at night from different subjects to complement your degree and just got really immersed in it for a couple hours now. You lay your head back at the chair and look at the side glancing at your phone, completely forget about its existence, stretch out your hand to grab it... 10:02 p.m, some notifications and three unread messages:

[8:47 p.m.] heesu: hey wyd :)

[9:12 p.m.] heesu: are you there?

[9:46 p.m.] heesu: there's just something I wanna talk to you about, don't want to bother okay? nothing urgent don't worry, text me back when you can...

Heeseung is a friend from work, you've been working at the same shift for about 3 months now and he kind of makes your days easier with his periodic jokes. Even though he is a shy person overall, you found it funny how it looks like people are always looking for him, trying to find a thing to talk about and make the hours go faster, but you don't judge them, he's definitely a good listener and the big shiny eyes make it easier to know that he's truly paying attention to the issue. But when it comes to the introvert chart you're a full #1 and he's around a #2, cause he often comes to you with some random vent about his life, his meals, his gaming, his love affairs, and you usually just listen carefully and show interest in his matters, rarely opening up about anything, but you can swear he's too good with conversations and still get some facts from you sometimes...

He even caught you crying from stress once, you were hiding at the staircase and he just sat by your side and stayed there for a while not really saying anything but take your time, once you looked done from the crying session you two just got up and went back to work and later that day he brought some chocolate, giving it to you like some sort of secret weapon, claiming that it would help. It surely did. And you've never talked about it but you could feel like since then you've definitely become friends somehow, the atmosphere between the two of you have changed, he always notices when you are having a bad day and keeps looking for alternative ways to help you go through it, and you know when he's just tired of being the listener and needs to open up.

You didn't know what the messages could be about, it's monday, you were working together hours ago and had no other choice than to meet again tomorrow... "I was kind of busy when you texted earlier, here now, what's the issue?" You replied, locked the phone and put it in your pocket. Headed to the kitchen to fill in the water bottle, you were feeling kinda hungry so just got an apple to eat when you felt the phone vibrate, someone is calling, you read the name on the screen: heesu... that fast? Can't help but wonder if there was something happening and just picked up...

"Heeseung? Hello?" he never called before, ever...

"Hi... First of all you're a really bad emergency contact..." he didn't have a worrying tone at least, just the usual.

"And what's the emergency you're needing to contact me about?"

"None actually... did you still not unpacked your bag after work yet?"

"Umm, no... nothing to get off of it today, why?" just too curious at that point.

"I left something there, was wondering why you still didn't say anything about it... go check and then you talk to me okay?"

"I'm not working from home don't even try."

"It's not about that I swear, it's a surprise, cmon go see it."

"Okay mystery man, I'll follow your instructions."

"Bye."

As soon as he hangs up you almost run upstairs to check on the bag, leaving the water bottle and forgetting about the apple... What could it be? A present? A gift card to get some coffee? A prank? Heeseung often handles you pieces of paper during the shift, some just written [I'm bored x.x] sometimes complimenting your different hairstyles [nice buns :D], [cool bangs u.u], [fluffy ponytail ;D], thought it could be one of those and he just made it dramatic to be fun. You found it, now almost sure about the random piece of paper theory: An envelope, locked with an emoji sticker that I gave him some weeks ago cause you recorded yourself unboxing some stationary in your close friends and he said that he liked it. You sat on bed and opened it... Chocolate! And a... handwritten letter? Your face is confused, you tilt your head to the side and go straight into reading:

—

Hello there :D (I've never written a letter)

Is my handwriting readable? Hope so...

Where to start from?... I think I worry a lot... I've got this anxious feeling but it goes away for a minute when I'm with you. When it comes to you I think I talk too much and try too hard, I want to listen more. When we talk throughout the day there's this feeling of "I know I'll fall in love with you, and that's not what I wanna do" I can taste my heart breaking from the thought of you saying that you know it... but those are just my anxious thoughts and at least I should be honest and give you the opportunity to know about my feelings and decide about yours by yourself. Every single new thing I learn about you makes me hope that there's some more time to know much more, to fall some more. I swear I wanted so hard to shake my fears away and open up to you about this in person, but as my voice fails courage I hope my writings at least let you feel my honest intentions... Oh, right, the point of the letter...

Would you give me permission to know more about you, and fall even harder? I promise I won't be your cry baby.

[ ] yes

[ ] no

From: Lee Heeseung

—

You get up and grab a pencil to mark your choice, get your phone to take a photo and send it to him without any text or context...

[ ✗ ] yes

[ ] no

—♡.

[ivyminie]

Thoughts on WA:

It's the same old..and i really don't get why he is so keen on going down this route when it's clearly not working for him idk if all of this can be considered boldness or dumbness(maybe a bit of bot) ...like at least if you are aesthetics focused and want that european vintage recreation, the execution gotta be good. The muffled singing just ruins it and ruins the emoting part that needs to be the focus on slow songs like these with a baritone voice.

I don't get the park hyoshin choice or contribution..like okay i gotta give it to him that he doesn't have the awful singing with your mouth full case that tae has but the voices are kind of similar the way of singing too at times it was confusing who was singing..they are not complementing each other or bringing smth to the song/collab.

I know his main target audience made of tkkrs initially deep down hate his choices for his solo era (the songs and the storylines lmaooo)

[arcadia345]

Who’s watching you?🌺🔞

Pic a pile 1→2

My first time doing a pull for the collective, hope it resonates!🩷cress to art owners!

✿ Pile 1

Okay pile one I feel like you’ don’t know this person personally, like you’ve never spoken a word to them💀 or maybe you’ve cut contact with them so they have no other choice but to watch you from a distance, if so you and them both have undergone significant changes in your lives. I’m seeing they could see you in public often but they just don’t say anything???They could’ve done you wrong in the past but trust they are getting their karma especially now and it’s like they don’t understand why all this bad stuff is happening to them like they didn’t do it to themselves. I’m seeing a lot of fixed energy here but especially Scorpio/Libra. Even thought you could be on bad terms I see their feelings not being too harsh but still deep as a Scorpio is. They see you as nurturing and level headed, a little moody too. but you guys could have complemented each other very well and understood each other’s emotions on a level they find hard to get to with other people

Channeled song:Moving on-BTS

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✿ Pile 2

Pile 2 first off this person is having a 💩tyy time without you love to see it. And they seem to be stubborn and greedy, they’re a hard worker so they could care more about their materiel possessions then they do about themselves 😬 so they could look rough most Im of the time/low maintenance. Also they like to spend ALOT💀 just money money money with them. You two could be dreaming of each other, they could know where you live or they could catch you in public. When they lost you they could’ve lost some opportunities that came with you, some may resonate with being used by them but I really don’t see that they had evil intentions towards you you just really helped them be successful, you guys could been in each others life for a long time so losing you really jumpstarted a journey that they could be undergoing

Channeled song: Stay Woke -Childish Gambino

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✿ Pile 3

Pile 4 333 I’m seeing that this connection may have not been very deeply but still there’s really good energy here. You two have good memories together but someone here gaf to leave abruptly. This is someone who’s lost their job or is on the verge of quitting/losing it. Or they have lots of opportunities coming towards them that it’s hard for them to stay in one place for long. They could’ve been a fling also?🌝 Heavy Gemini energy but also fire signs.

Channeled songs: Ass like that-Victoria Monét

I did another pull for this pile, this person (or you)is someone who’s used to settling for less, feeling like there’s no better options and they’re fed up because they know they deserve better. I see the being blunt but not in a harsh way they just speak their mind and they have a good head on their shoulders. The vibes seem good here they could also be an empath and very creative. You’ve been on their mind heavy especially at night reminiscing 👀 they could be a night owl and also I’m getting strong Air sign energy especially Libra, Gemini, Pisces, and Cancer hhhm it’s 1111 as I type. I’m seeing you could be getting communication soon, this could be someone from your past thats coming back which wouldn’t be surprising since the Venus rx is coming up. But whoever it is I see them wanting to spill some beans about something

All night- Bree Runway

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

✿ Pile 4

Pile three there’s two people here both at your workplace/school the first person seems more emotional so maybe youve had a relationship with one of them in the past. 222 as I type this they could have Virgo/Scorpio/Aries placements they’re a workaholic. I feel like they could be reminiscing/ comparing you to other options. There’s a third wheel energy here like “what about me?🥺”towards you 💀. They feel bad like really bad and idk who’s the bad guy here them or you but they’re Sade you guys can’t hang out anymore they’re definitely missing you but I don’t see them coming in with communication anytime soon but their emotions run deep for you

This other person 🤨 they’re having trouble in paradise it doesn’t necessarily involve you I see maybe they could have a child? TAURUS CAPRICORN Aries and Leo energy, I also don’t see them making any moves soon. They could idolize you in a way?? Like things would be better if they were with you, but like I said they don’t plan on doing anything because they’re playing it safe🤨

Channeled song: Partition- Beyoncé

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✿ Pile 5

Pile 5 this is someone who’s could be a ex friend, a feminine energy. Mean girl vibes even tho they could be very beautiful and dreamy. This is someone who didn’t respect your feelings/they feel like you didn’t respect theirs. This situation has and friend group/ trio energy to it and they could be feeling left out but I don’t see any real resentment so maybe some time has passed and I see them reminiscing on good times. I saw two red birds while doing this reading so maybe you guys could be in competition with each other lowkey but this feels one sided since one of the the red birds was a picture and the other one was real👀First thing that came to mind was a friend who gives backhanded compliments but that may not resonate with everyone. Big Taurus energy here. This person doesn’t see the error in their ways💀 they really live in there own world, Pisces and Aries placements also I do see them wanting to reach out but they seem really stubborn and haven’t learned their lesson(s) so I wouldn’t wait on it but when they do they could message you to get together and converse

Channeled song:Love/paranoia- Tame Impala

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✿ Pile 6

Ouu pile 6 the tea is hot, I just want to say whoever this is needs to be left in your dust. But this seems to be very recent if it haven’t happened already. This is someone who’s very good at lying and not getting caught, they’re charismatic and charming on the surface, childish and narcissistic on the inside. You two could be in separation atm but I do see them love bombing you plenty. They seem to be stuck in the middle between two love interests and unsure on who to choose/ how good their options really are. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is someone close to you , LEO LIBRA gemini Sagittarius

Channeled song:Words to me-Sugar Ray

Hope you enjoyed!🩷 click here to book a personal reading

[sad-boys-book-club]

"&" Ampersand - A Literary Companion: Intros & Narrators

Hey everyone!

I'm excited to dive deeper into the literary companion I created for Bastille's upcoming project “&”. As you might realize from my previous post, each song has been paired with two books that complement its themes, so I’ll be breaking down why I chose each one of those books for each song.

Let's start with our first gorgeous, chef's-kiss of a track Intros & Narrators.

David Foster Wallace - "Oblivion: Stories"

This one might be a more obvious choice, as Dan’s lyrics explicitly refer to Wallace in the pre-chorus with “David talked about the daily trenches of adult life.” For anyone who might not be familiar with David Foster Wallace, I think most of his work can be a bit intimidating—who wouldn’t feel discouraged when facing the 1,079 pages of Infinite Jest? It gives me tendinitis just to consider the endeavor! But he’s a really talented (although controversial) author and a certified name you’ll see on multiple ‘1001 books to read before you die’ kind of lists.

I first came across his writing when I was still in university (Journalism grad here), when an overly excited J02 professor claimed that Consider the Lobster had changed his outlook on post-modernist literature. At the time, I was a bit skeptical—all I’d heard were jokes about hipsters carrying copies of Infinite Jest without ever reading it—so I did some digging into who this highly regarded author was. Not to take up much of your time, dear reader, so if you’re interested in learning more about him, I recommend checking out the movie The End of the Tour, which follows David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg), a reporter with Rolling Stone magazine, as he interviews DFW (brilliantly played by Jason Segel) during his book tour. It’s a bit of a depressing watch though, as Wallace struggled with depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicidal tendencies, which eventually ended in him ending his own life.

Anyhow, back to Bastille and some less depressing topics.

The reference in "Intro & Narrators" is a direct reference to David Foster Wallace‘s 2005 commencement speech to the graduating class at Kenyon College. The speech is long, definitely worth reading in its entirety, but if I could pick one single bit that feels the most relevant it is as follows:

“Probably the most dangerous thing about an academic education—at least in my own case—is that it enables my tendency to over-intellectualize stuff, to get lost in abstract argument inside my head, instead of simply paying attention to what is going on right in front of me, paying attention to what is going on inside me. As I’m sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive, instead of getting hypnotized by the constant monologue inside your own head (may be happening right now).”

The speech ended up becoming the posthumously published book This Is Water, however, I think Wallace's third and last short story collection, Oblivion: Stories (which I’m now wondering if it inspired the band’s Oblivion too), feels like a much better choice thematically and might be a better introduction to Wallace’s body of work. Just like the song, these short stories delve into the unreliable nature of our perceptions and the complex narratives we construct about our lives. Wallace's verbose, complex, convoluted style (including a bunch of words you might have to search online, at least, I did) works really well in those short stories, and is a sort of joke into the whole idea of an "unreliable narrator"—I think he’d argue that no one can be actually reliable when it comes to speaking about ourselves.

Aparna Nancherla - "Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome"

A lighter read, because life is all about finding a balance between existential musings and humor, Nancherla's book is a candid exploration of personal identity, mental health, and the ever-present impostor syndrome. Aparna Nancherla, a stand-up comedian and actress known for her roles in BoJack Horseman, Master of None and The Standups (also, for publishing a lot of essays on the New York Times), brings her unique voice to a collection of essays that tackle personal identity, mental health, and the ever-persistent specter of impostor syndrome.

Imagine a painfully timid person thrust into the limelight, grappling with a skyrocketing career and the gnawing fear that everyone will soon discover she’s a total fraud. That’s her reality, and she shares it with a raw vulnerability that is both touching and hilariously relatable. As a South Asian woman navigating the overwhelmingly white, male-centric world of comedy, Nancherla’s insights are as sharp as they are entertaining. Be warned, though, you'll laugh, yes, but you’ll mostly find yourself nodding along, recognizing some of the truths she unearths about self-doubt, mental health and the human experience.

With a background in Psychology, Nancherla doesn’t just present her experiences; she backs them up with research, adding depth to the whole thing. There’s a saying that comedy is the refuge of the chronically sad, and Nancherla embodies this paradox perfectly (as do, famously, a lot of stand-up comedians—Bo Burnham’s pandemic-inspired Netflix special Inside, immediately springs to mind). Stand-up comedy can often create the illusion that comedians are perpetually happy-go-lucky individuals, effortlessly tossing out jokes right and left in their day-to-day life. That is so far from the truth. You’ll find most of them are actually perfectionists with a capital P and little control freaks, obsessing over every word and timing to make sure their jokes land perfectly (this is not a dig at comedians, the same can be said for any other creative profession: writers picking out the perfect dialogue, actors who go method to embody a character, musicians who just can’t seem to stop tinkering with a melody…). 

Why does this book pair so well with this song, you ask? Well, both Nancherla and the song delve into the concept of being unreliable narrators of our own lives, often judging ourselves more harshly than anyone else ever could. The struggle of introverts in the public eye, the tug-of-war between creating art and performing a persona—these themes echo through Nancherla’s essays and Bastille’s lyrics. 

That's it for this one. Stay tuned as I continue to break down each song and its literary companions. I hope these pairings enhance your listening (and reading) experience.

Feel free to share your thoughts and any other book suggestions as well!

With love,

Cat

[smilesrobotlover]

skord skord?

Ah yes, another overhated Zelda game that is in my top three. I’ve played this game on the switch and I will say, it’s so much better than the Wii, so if you haven’t played it yet, try to play it on the switch.

Anyways this is one of the few video games that have made me cry. The story is so good and it makes me SUPER emotional. The Link is probably one of the few Links with so much personality poured into him, his relationship with Zelda is super sweet and fun, and the characters and world of skyloft is incredible. The side quests for gratitude crystals is not only wholesome but gets you closer with the residents, so it feels like an island where you grew up with these people. There’s so much to do in this game and I just… AGH I adore it to DEATH.

Groose is easily one of the best characters in Zelda with his incredible development. He’s so complex and insecure about himself and seeing him work through his issues in the game and become good friends with Link is so incredibly wholesome to me. Impa is a strict but sexy awesome character who’s entire story and character is insane to me.

And Fi… she is such an overhated character. Link in this story is super animated and full of personality meanwhile Fi is cold and distant, and these two complement each other so well. And even though she seems to lack personality, she has some moments here and there where she’s being a character, and those moments are amazing. Her saying goodbye to Link affected me more than Midna because you could just feel the bittersweetness. This character is with you through every game with the master sword. And despite not feeling emotions, Fi was happy with Link, and she truly cared about him, just like he cares about her. And I sob everytime. I love Fi she’s one of my favorite companions ever and I wish she wasn’t hated on so much because she doesn’t deserve it.

And let’s not forget Ghirahim, one of my fav characters of all time. He’s such a fascinating and well written villain who rivals Link perfectly! And most bosses in this game are relatively easy to me. But Ghirahim is one of the few bosses that is very hard. He’s not one of those villains that talk a lot of crap and then die in five seconds. He’s a challenge! You’re definitely inexperienced and he’s clearly just toying with you in the beginning! He actually works hard against you in this game instead of sitting around, and the final battle with him, he is truly giving his all, regretting not killing you in the beginning. When he said “what are you?” To Link after being defeated is INCREDIBLE. There was actually a character analysis about him and Groose so I really can’t talk about their characters without talking for five years lol. But yeah, Ghirahim is a GOOD character. And he actually succeeds in what he’s doing! He revives his master! That’s how you know that he’s a genuine threat! Gosh he’s so good

Now for the flaws, alas. The sky isn’t the best? The loftwings are underutilized (Link’s loftwing isn’t even named :/), the world is very small and limited (except for Lanayru, they put all their good ideas into there fr), and there’s a lot of fluff. Like hunting down the song of the hero is just unnecessary to me. Faron is an idiot for not trusting you despite saving her life, then Eldin is just, completely forgettable, and Lanayru is fine. I just don’t like the song of the hero part that much. But of course when you unlock it, that cut scene is incredible.

Another thing is Demise. He sucks. He’s such a boring character to me and he’s way too easy as a final boss fight. Like you see Ghirahim giving his all and then demise just dies immediately 💀💀 but the final boss is the most cinematic boss fight ever so that def is a plus. And I also don’t like the introduction of Hylia. She makes the lore so much more boring and confusing and I wish she didn’t exist. Same thing with demise. Having them there was… a choice that was made and doesn’t answer any questions about Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. Heck, Ganondorf really shouldn’t be included with them. Sure he’s a reoccurring villain, but he’s the same guy everytime, he’s never reincarnated like Link and Zelda. Unless you want to count that as Ganon but I don’t like that whole idea. Idk, it complicates the lore a bit and I can understand why people didn’t like that.

But otherwise a fantastic game that impacted me SO much.

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

True Playa'z in the Mix Vol. 2 by DJ Hype 2000 Drum n Bass

A piping hot slab of late 90s/early 2000s dnb fire here from the UK's one and only DJ Hype. Back in the mid-90s, Hype co-founded his own dnb and jungle label, True Playaz, with the two other guys that he co-habitates most of this mix's tracklist with: DJ Zinc and Pascal, the three of whom are also collectively known as The Ganja Kru. And with Hype himself manning the decks on this one, he churns out a versatilely booming mix that showcases all the dope stuff that he and his labelmates were producing at the time.

And perhaps the single-dopest thing about this mix overall is that not only was Hype responsible for its selection and top-notch mixing, but he also expertly incorporated something else that you don't typically hear on a lot of dnb mixes: turntable scratching. His choice to bring this skillful touch to some of these songs adds an extra special wrinkle to them, enhancing and elevating them as one-of-a-kind must-listens. Pascal's "Serious Sounds (VIP)" is probably not one of the top-tier tracks on this thing if not for Hype adding his own scratches to this already bouncy track 🥹.

And there's not too much in the way of jungle on here, but being that my preferences tend to lean towards that genre in particular, I really love the cosmically eerie-synthed "Toothbrush" by DJ Zinc, which Hype also brings his scratching prowess to at certain points. It's a pretty simple thing, but I am just such a sucker for those moments in jungle tunes when the chaotic break gets suddenly dropped into a serene setting 😈. That shit's like musical crack to me, and it happens a couple times within this very song.

And lastly, the closer on this mix is fantastic too. There's a good dose of hip hop attributes to be found all throughout this session, including sampled lyrics and Hype's own scratching, but Pascal's "P-Funk 2000" has another thing: a whistly-whiny-squealy G-Funk synth that's pretty melodically reminiscent of Notorious B.I.G.'s own "Big Poppa." Really complements the drum breaks well here and the sampling of a not-so-known feature from rap legend KRS-One is a sweet added bonus too 🤌.

So really good stuff here from the True Playaz team all around. Excellent selection and sequencing, and the whole thing's pretty well-mixed too. Both dnb and jungle are known to overlap with hip hop from time to time—people sometimes rap over dnb beats and rap lyrics from other songs get sampled and looped-up a whole lot as well—but the incorporation of scratching into a project like this is not something that I think is very prevalent, and DJ Hype shows you with his own skillset why that's turned out to be a pretty glaring oversight.

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

Freestyles - "Stronger" Pascal - "Favours" DJ Zinc - "Bring the Danger" Mampi Swift - "Reload" DJ Hype - "Closer to God" DJ Nut Nut - "Take Control" DJ Zinc - "Pink Panther (Remix)" DJ Hype - "Only One Life to Give" DJ Zinc - "Toothbrush" DJ Hype - "Peace Love & Unity (Remix)" The Ganja Kru - "Forbidden Fruit" Pascal - "Serious Sounds (VIP)" DJ Hype - "Jump" DJ Zinc - "Stretched" Pascal - "P-Funk 2000"

[milgramprojectfan]

I’m continuing my spiral into the Milgram covers, and I keep thinking about Amane’s cover of Animal. First of all, Animal is a WILDLY inappropriate song for a child character to sing. Some lyrics include:

“…I do it wild even if it’s ugly”

“I purr until I come”

“Why don’t you get h!g%, why don’t you go cR%&Y, why don’t we do it m0rE…”

Side note about that last one, here’s a quote from the wiki: “The first characters of each line (ア, ク, and メ) make up the French word “acmé,” meaning "climax.””

So yeah, it’s obviously about sex. Apparently it’s about embracing your wild, ‘animalistic’ passions, but it just has constant sexual references.

It should be obvious why this song was a poor choice for Amane. She’s 12. It’s downright creepy for a child character to be singing that. Don’t get me wrong the song itself is phenomenal, but I physically cannot listen to it without thinking of a child singing. I know it’s not actually a child, but it’s the representation of one. Not a diss to the VA, but I feel like she could’ve maybe refused the song? Idk what her situation there was, so she might’ve not been in a position to do that. But my point is the song choice had to go through multiple people before it could be produced. I don’t know how that process works, but… yeah. Creepy creepy CREEPY decision.

Secondly, if they HAD to give the song to someone, they had such a good opportunity to give the cover to KAZUI. He’s a fully grown man, so no creepy age stuff. Also his song name Cat would’ve perfectly paired with Animal. Not only because it’s both animal themed, but because cat in Japanese (neko) is slang for a bottom. The songs sexual nature would’ve perfectly complemented this reference, and given us a great new perspective on Kazui.

But I know they’d be too cowardly to give a guy such a risqué song, especially when he’s the most mature guy in Milgram. Still, I would’ve preferred to see Kazui sing it over Amane.

Anyways, we can’t really change that now. Personally, I just don’t listen to the cover, and if anything else creepy happens with Amane, I’m done.

[married-2-the-music]

K-pop Discography Deep Dives: LUCY

Lucy is the third full-fledged band I’ve covered here, which means that they compose, write, and play instruments. The members are Wonsang (bass), Sangyeop (guitar and vocals), Gwangil (drums), and Yechan (violin), and they debuted in 2020. Apparently, the name Lucy is in honor of a dog that lived close to where they practiced, which is pretty funny.

Here are my credentials: Uh…very few, I’m afraid. Lucy caught my eye in a compilation video (or rather, the violin did), and I decided to check out their music. I know a few title tracks, but very few of their b-sides, and very little about the members themselves, so I’m looking forward to learning more.

Flowering, their debut, was also the first song I’d heard of Lucy’s, from a compilation video (the name of which I’ve unfortunately forgotten). It begins understated, but later blossoms (ha!) into a very catchy though still gentle pop song, absolutely giving the feeling of spring coming into the air. The violin adds a kind of texture not usually seen in k-pop, and its beautiful instrumental section is one of my favorite parts. Really, this song is stunning. What a way to start. The intro is also quite lovely.

Jogging is, right away, a more bright and youthful song than Flowering, and I can always appreciate it when a band accepts the innate humor of their work. If Flowering was spring, this song feels like the beginning of summer: a touch childish, fun-loving, funny, and colorful. It got a few chuckles out of me, I’ll give it that, and that chorus was pretty catchy. I liked how they still managed to work the violin in and add depth, but not make the song less upbeat.

From the EP, Panorama, I enjoyed the violin flourishes in the post-chorus of Straight Line, Suran’s featured voice (which goes so well with Sangyeop’s) in the laid back Missing Call, and the rising tension that suddenly switches up to a great, nostalgic summer track in Flare (absolutely my hidden gem; it was excellent).

Snooze’s opening of only violin and piano is more melancholy than their other intros, adding well to the song’s general sense of nostalgia and disillusionment. The chorus brings in some much-needed levity, turning that nostalgia into something brighter but still deeply felt, connecting to many people who also feel like their childhoods have been lost. This may be my favorite so far! I’m a sucker for bittersweet songs with a driving beat, and as someone who grew up near the ocean, the beach and lighthouse in the MV only made me love it more. I also liked the slow burn of this single’s b-side, Farther and Farther, whose catharsis feels very earned.

Hero too starts with a more melancholy feeling, though instead of a beachside feeling in its later moments, it goes for a more truly happy retro one inspired by space. Like Snooze, it focuses on not living up to ideals, but this one takes the route of not being a perfect person but having a lover (or other loved one; it’s not specific) who lifts you up and makes you feel special, like a hero. In an industry so populated by love songs, I really enjoyed this slightly more vulnerable take on one; it feels unique. I also liked the very peaceful outro from this single. It felt like a score from a movie about fairies. Stove is also great, especially the ending chorus.

I Got U, instead of violin, begins with a minimalistic, finger-snapping gentle guitar and bass beat. Sangyeop’s vocals are especially nice in this song; they feel floaty and peaceful, and the synthesizers and strings emphasize those qualities. Again, I appreciate the vulnerability expressed in this song, and I think that the very sparingly used instruments really complement those choices. From the EP, Gatcha, I enjoyed the push-and-pull between the brighter and darker energies in the synthy One by One, the hand clapping percussion in Buddy, and the slightly more toned-down strings in Wonder.

This is more a comment on their songs in general, but I love how down to earth their music videos are and how much fun they seem to be having making music together. It’s easy to forget—even for me, writing these reviews—that the people in these bands are humans, with their own hopes and personalities, not just faces on a screen for us to critique. But they never let me forget it, and I appreciate that. I wish more bands would do it!

Irrelevant Answer is much more of a rock song, right out of the gate, which, with my love of Dreamcatcher, I’m totally in favor of. This song reminded me of a mashup of them and Day6 in the best way, with a propulsive energy that, despite a few dips and moments to breathe, never lost my attention. I was nodding my head from the first chorus, and I just didn’t stop!

Rolling Rolling feels a lot more like the k-pop I’m used to than Lucy’s past tracks (which, I want to be clear, isn’t a bad thing at all, since this is a k-pop review blog after all!). It has a synthier, more electronic background, with retro influences that give it an excellent beat for roller skating. Like I mentioned before, I think that the violin adds depth to what could be simple songs, and this one’s no exception. Also, I appreciate how the track goes from talking about how life just goes around and around to becoming genuinely inspiring as the MV shows people finally pursuing their dreams. From the EP, Blue, my hidden gem was You’re Right with its excellent guitar riffs, but I also enjoyed the more mellow Eclipse.

Blue Voyage is a single, and follows in the steps of Snooze with its nostalgic, beachside feeling, but instead of going for a bittersweet rumination on lost youth, it’s an upbeat and sunny love song. The chipper instrumental and light quality to the strings just feels like summer, and since it’s December when I’m typing this, it’s a nice reminder that it won’t be 30 degrees out until the end of time and that in a few months, short sleeves will stop being insane.

Play, unsurprisingly from an album called Childhood, follows in the steps of Snooze in the opposite way to Blue Voyage. It’s a reminder of simpler, happier times when you could just live life without cares, and how the people we love bring us back to those times. I like the choice to make the verses quite minor and almost sad, while the chorus is bright and free-wheeling, and the way they come together is great. I also enjoyed the “lalalala” fade out and the half-cartoony, half-realistic shots of the music video, which worked well with the subject matter.

From the full album, Childhood, I enjoyed the call-and-response in Knowhow, the way the drums and strings mix together in 10 sec, the rushing energy of Opening, the gentle guitar in You Are My Light, and Song Eun Hye’s feature on We Will Fly Away (which was my hidden gem).

Some Day In The 21st Century’s excited intro is a welcome shift from the sadder Play, though it sticks to Lucy’s running theme of wanting to hold on to the past and stay close to one’s own childhood. I’m normally not a fan of chanting in k-pop, but here in this song’s post-chorus, it really works with the feeling of nostalgia the track imparts and blends in seamlessly with the instrumental and the soaring vocals. Also, there’s the return of the violin solo, which is always welcome.

Unbelievable is on the brighter, more cartoony side of Lucy’s discography, and the MV made me laugh uncontrollably due to war flashbacks of the time I was obsessed with Minecraft as a kid, though I understand that the MV’s supposed to be a shoutout to a range of video games. Its choppy background, springy guitar, and incredibly fast strings do a good job propping up the song’s feel-good message of “believe in yourself”, though I had to watch it a second time because I was laugh-cringing too hard (which is my own fault, I suppose). From the EP, Insert Coin, I enjoyed the quite catchy beat of Tied Up, and especially the metal influences on Fill It Up.

Haze is only the second song I’d heard of Lucy’s, which is a bit funny as it’s also one of their most recent. It embraces the same kind of warm spring feeling that Flowering does, but with more of a soft rock edge. I enjoyed the muted, echoing chatting in the pre-chorus that felt like cheering someone on to get back again. I also really appreciate the messaging of this one to never give up, expressed through people facing bullying, a sports injury, and tests with the help of support. It’s a very sweet message, and everyone needs a song like it, sometimes. From the EP, Fever, I enjoyed the strong driving beat and call-and-response of So What.

Boogie Man goes further into rock than most of their songs, and I adore the over-dramatic direction they took with this one, since it feels right out of Halloween. The song is funky and a touch jazzy, and just generally fun, with some slight digressions here and there to give the violin some time to shine, and I also really liked the choppy nature of when the instruments choose to kick in and pull back, making it feel dynamic and playful. I didn’t expect to love this one so much, but it became one of my favorites.

So, I’m glad I did this! I wouldn’t quite call myself a Walwal (their fandom name), but I can definitely consider myself at least a fan. Their discography is so joyful and bright, while also being nostalgic and genuine in its emotions. They seem like they’re not afraid to laugh at themselves and have fun with their music, which is always great to see. Watching some behind the scenes content gave me some great laughs as well. Overall, I had a good time!

My Top 5 songs are Snooze, Flare, Boogie Man, Irrelevant Answer, and Flowering, with You’re Right as an honorable mention. Lucy gets a 9 out of 10 from me, which is a surprise for everyone involved, but a happy one! I’ll be looking forward to their next releases, and who knows? I could definitely see myself becoming a Walwal in the future.

Next time, we’ll be doing Part 2 of Girls’ Generation. Tschuss!

[beautifulpersonpeach]

My Ranking of Seven's Versions

The other versions are so much more satisfying than the original. Isn't it funny? Anyway, I'm so grateful these versions exist because Seven was the first disappointing project for me in Chapter 2, before we started getting remixes. It was the only 'just okay... good' song from the guys so far, in my opinion, which dampened my appetite to support it. But a few of the released versions are in my top 20 rotation now. They're actually good. And I'm happy we get to hear JK in more well executed styles.

Plus, with all the hoopla around Seven's versions lately (lol), I thought it might be a fun exercise to rank all the key Sevens so far. :)

8. Alesso Mix

A waste of time.

*

7. Summer Mix

It starts out really promising and then, just sort of fizzles out without really going anywhere.

*

6. Island Mix

Starting it with acappella is a solid choice. The chord choices and instrumentation in the pre-chorus, elevate this version to something better than the original. Too bad there's no real soul in the standard drumkit beat used throughout (save the bit just before Latto's verse).

*

5. Lofi Version

I typically love lo-fi so I wanted to love this, but it couldn't get more than a "Hmm, okay. Potential." from me. Sad really.

*

4. Explicit Version.

I like how Jungkook says "fucking". He stresses the right syllables and sounds both cute and filled with sin at the same time. I also feel the explicit version is closer to the original intent of the song.

*

3. Nightfall Mix

The violins? The insane bass riffs on Latto's verse?? The high notes??? The serve???? Listen, this song is the Jungkook complement to Like Crazy by Jimin. I don't mean they're equal in every way, but that stylistically Nightfall mix should be listened to, with Like Crazy, because every element I mentioned above - strings, bass, high-notes, cunt - all of that is most associated with Jimin. In my mind at least. Anyway, this is in my top 3.

*

2. Band Version

The only difference between this and the original is that this uses a live band. An actual live band plays the accompaniment and it sounds like a completely different song. So much more dynamic than the og. Jungkook's vocals are so crisp in this version too. Overall, it's a full summer delight.

*

Festival Mix

Nothing screams 'Summer' more than festivals.

[anjaleeverse]

Talking of July, it was special to me. I don't really know if she remembers it at all but for me this month holds the memory of coming across her. We were a part of an Instagram engagement group. Everyone was asked to like and comment on every other members posts. I used to see her comments on posts each day. She had way beautiful paintings in her name and it all convinced me to find my way to her personal message. I replied to her story that day. I had been not so keen at approaching girls, ever but here I was getting tempted to. It felt like I could not stop myself to know her a little more. I am a traditional man who would never dare to find a date online, but again, this girl was making me change everything. I was excited to know her and happy to have discovered that she wasn't committed. It seemed like It was all going on well. She had now started to send me her pictures. Mere her eyes with liner were making me crave her so much that I kept staring her in my phone for so many days. It began to feel like God made her, while I described her. She has full lips, complementing her big wide eyes. I liked her hair, her thoughts, her paintings, her aura. I loved her appearance altogether.

So July is gonna mark 4 years of me knowing her. Although it had been a rollercoaster ride but I know she would love to hear that. It has been on and off since I know her. I used to think we like different things but I highly doubt that now. However there are few things which are entirely different. She loves being traditional, family oriented and is people pleaser, whilst I'm a lone wolf who would not fear, how harsh the truth might be. She's often loving songs she can easily vibe to, and my song choices are way too different, but I know that anything happens, I really love her. Love is a heavy word according to her but I feel I do love her. It has been nearly 4 years, she has been away from me but I have not been able to forget her. Perhaps I'm knocking the wrong door but it all rests on a what if. What if we workout. What if she gets to see me with no filters. What if I'm able to tell her what I actually feel about her. What if we end up together. Because I have tried the other way round,and gave up. I know her, I know she'll trust me.

I don't know how will I ever be able to confront my feelings for her but I feel like I have to.

[chellyfishing]

i haven’t done a what i’m playing/watching post in awhile so let’s do that (no spoilers)

(thanks for finally fucking adding a read more button in mobile, jeez)

been watching nge with phil for a bit, we’re quite near the end and would be done by now if i hadn’t had to press pause cause my mental health unexpectedly got real bad 😔 thank u bestie for your patience with me 🙏 i’ve been promising to do this with her since forever and i feel pretty shitty bringing it to a halt like this lmao.

last night bella and i started watching channel zero on a whim, we’re nearly through the first season aka teeth child the child made of teeth. i don’t know how intentional some of the humor in this has been but i’ve actually guffawed out loud at some points. i feel like it is somewhat meant to be a bit cheeky and dark since it’s kris straub-derived, you know in that way when something fucked up happens and somebody smiles and says “everything’s fine” as if you didn’t see the fucked-up thing with your own two eyeballs. that kind of funny. (“these are tortillas.” you know what i mean.)

we also binged good omens season 2 in one afternoon. uhh i really enjoyed it. i liked how it decided to tell a smaller story this time. you know how so often in shows and things the stakes have to keep escalating. and good omens started with the literal end of the world so they were like hm. let’s just scale it back and tell a love story or two. all on this one little street. like… it feels like fun supplementary material to the first season. like a tie-in novel kind of thing if that makes sense. i dunno it just feels kinda like… the right move. it makes it more, dare i say, human and personal, which kind of dovetails well with the themes of the first season. like a little complement. and ofc. the casting and acting are just so exemplary. i have a crush on every boy.

we’ve also watched some movies. i’m not sure i remember them all but here are the most recent ones:

i watched the heathers musical (a proshot is free with adds on roku). here’s a confession: i’ve never seen the movie and didn’t fully know the plot other than murder? so i was like hm maybe the teen suicide satire was not the best choice for a bad mental health episode. but anyway i watched all of it. the performances are really good, especially heather chandler who just ate every scene and knew it. the songs were pretty good too, dead girl walking and i say no were probably the best ones. ohhhh and i loved the actress who played martha, she was flawless. it was pretty fun(?) but weirdly like… sincerely uplifting for being a dark satire. more has been written by people who know much better than me about the “musicals for teens” trend so i won’t go into it but it feels like this is an extension of that.

i also watched legally blonde the musical (uploaded probably not legally to youtube from when it aired on mtv in 2007 so the quality isn’t amazing but it’s perfectly watchable). it is a lot of fun. a couple of weird added-in race things? but again, it’s from 2007. oh but i hated paulette’s intro song and i just don’t understand why they decided to do… that with her character. just a baffling choice. the actress was really good though. we also did some dissecting about how they gave elle less agency in her own empowerment in favor of emmett doing it which wasn’t a great choice!!!! anyway definitely not as good as the movie but very fun as a supplement to it. and dogs!!!!

i saw the autopsy of jane doe for the first time. it was a pretty good time! some really good spookenings and lots of little fucked-up things happening, which is what i like in a horror movie. i’ll definitely watch it again.

we watched infinity pool and i just don’t know exactly how i feel about it! i prrrrobably won’t watch it again actually, but not because it was bad, just because it was like, ah well that was an experience, but not one that needs to be repeated. the themes and ideas were good and executed in an interesting way, i think ultimately it’s just not exactly For Me. however mia goth as always is perfection. remember when i saw emma period and i said harriet stole the show. i was ahead of my time.

we also watched influencer which might kind of be a new favorite! such good acting especially by the lead. just loved all the choices it made, most of which i was not expecting. a good fucking time tbh. also absolutely gorgeous scenery, every frame a painting truly.

a little while back i watched gone in the night with winona ryder. i need to stress that i watched this in two halves a couple days apart cause that really drove home how fucking off the rails this movie gets in the latter half. the first half is a pretty standard intriguing mystery and then the second is just like let’s answer all these questions in the most out-there way possible short of bringing anything supernatural or aliens into the mix. not a good movie i’ll be honest!!

i really want to see talk to me, which will maybe be on streaming next month but probably only for renting/“owning” blah. also red white and royal blue drops next friday! i think that’s gonna be a fun time with the girlies.

i haven’t really read anything lately, i started a book a few weeks ago but haven’t really had the mental fortitude to focus on it.

as for the games i’ve been spending some time with my switch lately. i’ve messed around quite a bit in zelda, did my third divine beast. i have to admit, guys. i just really fucking hate the weapon degradation system. combat in general in this game just isn’t a thing i enjoy at all. it’s very hard for me to get stuck in which is why it’s taking so long to finish it. i have to spend so much time breaking and changing weapons and i just really really don’t like that. and then hitting with the weapons isn’t fun and then they break again. which is a shame cause i like so many other things about it. exploration is like my favorite thing to do in games. if it wasn’t so bogged down by the stupid weapon system i’d be having a lot more fun. idk why this choice was made. it wasn’t a good one. at the very least they could have made things not be SO brittle so that it’s not SO VERY MUCH of the gameplay. but anyway. I like collecting all my little items and making little gear upgrades and throwing things in a pot and seeing what comes out, especially when it makes that little noise that means you did real good.

i also have finally got back to hadesgame. I remember why i stopped!!!!! because i feel like i’m hitting my head against a wall and not actually getting any better!!!!! but i have done lots of little side things, upgrades and relationships and prophecies and things. plus it’s just a really good time sink, which i’ve kind of needed lately. i could switch on god mode at any time, but i know i can succeed without it, i just… don’t know how. cause i am constantly not succeeding. blaaaaaaaah.

(playing it has made me need to listen to hadestown several more times tho. as an aside.)

i also started kentucky route zero. i like it a lot so far, but it’s like reading in that it’s not an instant gratification colors and noises game, it’s something i gotta focus on, so it’s been a bit slow. still, definitely my shit and i’m looking forward to seeing where it goes. might have slightly spoiled myself trying to find out if the dog dies but. whatever. the journey not the destination.

i’ve probably watched more stuff but i don’t really remember it. that’s probably the bulk of things from the last couple months anyway. happy august ig.

[doctor-donnas]

your icon gives me serotonin (and i would die for your thoughts on 10 and donna PLEASE I AM STARVED)

ok i don't have a lot of time but i'm gonna start writing a reply

LISTEN

it's been already a few weeks (months?) since i finished DW but ALL THE TIME i was watching dw after season 4 i was just like "i miss donnaaaaa"

the Donna&Doctor dynamic is until my favorite doctor/companion combo EVERRRR and I cannot get over them

the 60s anniversary specials are gonna KILL me i just know it

anyways... my thoughts on them... where do I even begin?

First of all, they are idiots. I love them dearly, they complement each other fantastically <3

bc idk what exactly you want to know I'm just gonna go on a ramble of one of my fave moments (that i wanna explore in a fanfic one day mayhaps)

i suck at episode names so please forgive me but it's the episode where they are on the planet with the Ood and the Ood in captivity are singing their song and it is heartbreaking and beautiful. there is this moment where 10 shares with Donna what he hears, because she can't hear it. And she can bear it for maybe... five seconds? and then she asks him to make it stop. He does it without questioning. He is not angry or disappointed with her for not wanting to hear that. She has the choice to hear it and it's too much (so she knows her boundaries) and he respects that. I think she's crying at that point. Idk if that's in the show or if it's such a strong headcanon of mine but she asks him if he hears that all the time and he's like "yeah" and that just.

That whole scene. man...

Despite all the chaotic things they do, all the fun they have, it's funny that I chose *this* scene to talk about because I feel like it shows how deep their connection is.

First of all I think that David Tennant shows the pain that he constantly carries with him bc he's a timelord the best of all the doctors. baby is NOT okay. And I think in the scene I just described Donna really, *really* understands that. She understands how much he suffers, the gigantic burdens he constantly carries with him and that are only piling up. I think in that scene she sees it more clearly than ever and it changes perhaps the way she views him. She's still gonna annoy him, but idk man, I feel like that it's an important moment in their relationship.

And again, she usually doesn't hear the Ood, but in that moment she does, and all their pain SUDDENLY crashes down on her, that *must* have been unbearable. And 10 just taking the pain away with such grace and no judgement BREAKS me.

idk if what I'm saying actually makes sense but it's one of my favorite scenes and I wish we'd gotten a scene afterwards where they kinda talk about it. And Donna can't do much bc she *can't* stop 10 from haering the songs, she *can't* take his pain away, but she *can* be there with him, she *can* support him emotionally and if it's just for a second.

anyways, that was my very long ramble about one of my favorite DoctorDonna scenes and my favorite DW scenes in general I think (also because the music is just the most beautiful in the world)

if you have any more questions, more specific or not please send them my way, i could ramble about this chaotic duo for forever

p.s. thanks, i love my icon too, i wanted it to be donna and 10 first but i didn't find a photo that gave off the chaotic energy i wanted so it became much ado about nothing <3

[moonlitgem]

✩ prompt three: era breakdown – halfway to forever

title track: "drive" – liv’s title track received a wave of feedback that highlighted both praise and critique. fans praised her "breathy yet controlled" vocal tone, noting how it gave the song a more reflective and melancholic vibe. netizen comments included: "her version feels like a late-night drive alone, rather than a road trip with friends," and "it’s like she stripped the song down to its bones—unexpected, but it works." many noted how her stage presence was minimalistic but captivating, with discussions centering around how liv avoided flashy choreography and relied solely on vocal nuance and atmosphere.

however, not all feedback was glowing. some netizens commented that her performance was "too somber" or "lacked the energy expected for a debut track," with comments like: "she’s talented, but i’m not sure if this will connect with mainstream audiences," and "beautiful voice, but i wish there was a moment that really stood out." still, others defended her approach, appreciating the intentional shift from typical debut norms: "liv isn’t here to fit a mold—she’s carving her own lane," and "her version feels like a story unfolding, not just a song."

fan perception: many fans didn’t know what to expect after her time in syren. this debut era showed a side of liv that was more reserved, sophisticated, and introspective than the vibrant persona expected from a former idol. some were drawn to her quiet confidence, while others felt her approach might limit mass appeal. yet, as the album’s narrative unfolded—slow, immersive, and personal—her unique artistry earned widespread respect.

styling: minimalistic and timeless, but softened to reflect fresh, youthful visuals. flowy dresses in pastel shades, soft-toned silk blouses, and minimal accessories defined this era, offering a balance between elegance and approachability. stage outfits leaned into elegant casual wear, letting her voice take center stage without overpowering visuals. her hair, often styled in loose waves or soft ponytails, complemented a look that whispered sophistication with a subtle warmth reminiscent of spring afternoons. this refined aesthetic echoed the tone of her performances—understated yet captivating, staying true to her introspective image while still aligning with the approachable charm expected during debut promotions.

highlights:

first music show win with "drive."

viral acoustic performance clip showcasing her raw vocal tone.

praised for you, clouds, rain performance for its emotional subtlety.

critic response: critics noted how liv had “redefined the rookie soloist narrative” by eschewing flashy choreography and focusing on vocal nuance and storytelling. many admired her bold choice to debut with a track that relied so heavily on emotional delivery rather than traditional hooks, calling her debut a "quiet revolution."

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 7th January

It's the 60s! What an exciting time to be alive! Or not, it turns out. Because our first taste of the swinging 60s is... a Christmas hangover from 1957?

Jingle Bell Rock - Max Bygraves (peaked at Number 7)

This song was only in the top 10 for one single week, and it was this week, from the 1st to the 7th January. This is notably 2 weeks after Christmas. Were people really still buying this in the week between then and New Year? Or is this some quirk of how record sales were collated and counted? Either way, it's a bit of a curiosity - could we not have had this a week or two earlier? It would have felt suitably festive, then. As it stands, it's just an annoyance, a curio that gives a weirdly backwards-looking feel to the start of a decade otherwise known for its innovation and futuristic experimentation. I know that the start of decades can sometimes feel like that, but still, it's frustrating, at least for somebody committed to blogging about it all!

Thankfully, as Christmas songs go, I quite like Jingle Bell rock. There's just something kind of cool about it, from the distinctively squidgy opening chords, to the funky opening bass and the little electric guitar squawks cutting in throughout, to the bluesy notes you get scattered around the place. Add in some sleighbells to complement the lyrics, all about snowy weather and sleigh rides, and you've got yourself something that's really fun - it's one of those songs that gets stuck in my head pretty much every year. And I have to say, the more I'm listening, the more I'm noticing little things I like about it, from the daft but kid-friendly and distinctly 1950s nonsense of now the jingle-hop has begun, to the repeated that's the jingle-bell line at the end, like the record's skipping, to the little guitar quotations from the more traditional OG "Jingle Bells" song. It's all good stuff, you know?

It's not a Max Bygraves original - instead, this was originally performed by one Bobby Helms, an American artist, back in 1957. Actually, there's apparently some controversy about whether or not Helms actually wrote the thing, too - it's credited to a writing team, but Helms and his session guitarist both claim that they re-wrote it to create the actual version we have today. Either way, this is not that version, though it's a fairly credible imitation.

I should note that Max does lose points, because he's made the ever-dubious choice to add a children's choir, which is particularly jarring here, since while Max is pulling off a very plausible pseudo-American accent, the children's choir isn't even trying, resulting in a weird mismatch between his casual, slangy vocals on lines like mix an' minglin', jinglin' feet and the kids much more prim and proper delivery. It's a variant of the same issue that caused Tommy Steele issues last week, and you really think they'd have picked it up at some point, but apparently not. Grrrr.

I have to say, I enjoyed listening to this more than I expected to. Perhaps it's because I'm listening an appropriate distance away from Christmas - and not two weeks after Christmas, as the record-buying public apparently were (?) It's not the most 60s-sounding start to a new decade, but it's not bad, either. If you're going to have a Christmas song, this is a great pick.

Favourite song of the belatedly Christmassy bunch: Jingle Bell Rock