#they just talked to each other for the entirety of every lesson

[klaus-littlestwolf]

Unconsummated -Aemond T.

Aemond finds himself quickly falling in love during the week long celebration of Aegon and Helaena’s wedding. Sadly his perfect lady is already married to a Baratheon. Happily, the idiot has yet to consummate their marriage as he never wanted to marry Y/n Arryn in the first place.

Aemond sets out to take the sweet girl for himself and he will not take ‘No’ for an answer…

It was much too loud for her tastes.

Y/n’s husband lived for parties like this, being honored that he was invited to the wedding of Aegon and Helaena and enjoying himself in every way he could. He was drunk 10 minutes after the ceremony and would be for the entirety of the next 6 days that the week long party went on for.

Y/n left the room as soon as it was acceptable for her to do so, her husband being locked on another noble woman, one who would happily spread her legs for him in a dark hallway later that night and she could do without the embarrassment of that. She ended up locating the library on her walk through the castle and she couldn’t help but stop. The room was huge, 10x the size of her husbands library as his father, his fathers father and on and on before had never been able to read (and neither could her husband).

He forced her to read all of his ravens to him in private as if he believed that no one was aware that he couldn’t read them himself. Y/n ended up knowing quite a lot about the houses and their leaders, her husband threatening to kill her if she ever breathed a private word of it. She was privy to quite a bit of sensitive information because of his illiteracy, knowing that many houses had secretly sworn to follow Aegon as the true born King or people like her husband who were sworn to Rhaenyra as the King commanded. She honestly didn’t care who ran the realm, all Y/n cared about was her small life, her duties, and her children (of which her husband didn’t seem to care to give her). He was too busy with his whores to give her a child.

She found herself a book that interested her, it was a book on High Valyrian which she had always wanted to learn. She had been teaching herself for only about 20 minutes before she heard a throat clear and she jumped up in fear, the book landing on the floor as her eyes met with one purple one staring back at her.

‘My Prince! I am so sorry! I did not know anyone would be here while the celebration went on…’

He stared at her for a moment before responding. ‘No reason to apologize, I understand more than anyone not wanting to celebrate with drunken strangers.’

‘Thank you for your hospitality…I will leave you be then-‘

‘No!’ He insisted, startling her a bit. ‘I’m sorry, I mean no, you don’t need to leave. Please, sit.’ He moved to take the seat beside her, picking up her book and looking at it before smiling. ‘Teaching yourself High Valyrian? Impressive…I am Aemond by the way, might I know my beautiful company’s name?’

‘Y/n Baratheon, my Prince. It is an honor.’

The two of them spent the next 3 hours by the fire in the Library just talking. They got to know each other very well and Aemond even gave her her first lesson in High Valyrian which he admitted she was a quick study at. It wasn’t until Aemond asked about her family that any of their conversation became uncomfortable.

‘You’re married to the eldest Baratheon son, are you not? I knew he had a wife but I did not know he had brought her with him while he-’ Aemond stopped himself as if he was unsure if she knew what her husband was up to.

‘I am aware of his indiscretions. It is how he has always been, nothing to concern yourself with my Prince.’ Aemond’s face was stoic as always but she sensed sympathy like she got from most other people. ‘He never wanted to marry me, his father wanted my name and the alliance of certain supporters. He had hoped marrying me to his son would stop his…activities and make him happy to have a family…he has no interest in such things however and I am left 6 months after our marriage unloved and childless…I’m sorry…you don’t care about that.’ She laughed though Aemond could tell it was hollow.

‘Your husband is an idiot if he does not want you my lady. I have known you for mere hours and I know that you are a smart, kind hearted girl without a judgmental bone in your body. You would be a good mother, of that I am sure.’ Aemond had no clue where that came from. Seeing this girl all alone and feeling unloved was breaking his heart…what is she doing to him?

‘Thank you my Prince, you are too kind.’

Y/n retired not long after, in bed hours before her husband joined her, collapsing into the bed in his clothes and for once she did not move to take care of him, Y/n left him in his clothes and on his chest in the bed.

Her days went on like that for most of the week. She would have breakfast and enjoy a walk in the gardens before finding her way to the library again and spending the rest of the entire day with Aemond. They both made an appearance at the party every night as was expected before abandoning the noisy, drunken mess and enjoying each others company again.

Aemond continued teaching her Valyrian and they could hold conversations now (albeit simple ones) as she was a fast learner. He also told her all about Vhagar, loving her interest in his dragon where most ladies were terrified.

She had raged when he told her of how he really lost his eye, furious that his nephew would do such a thing, all of them. She also condemned the ladies in the court who had made Aemond feel ugly just because of his injured eye. She swore to the heavens that he was one of if not the most beautiful man she had ever seen and she would not take his negative words into account.

Aemond had quickly come to love Y/n and she loved him as well, they both knew but neither of them crossed the line to say it. Though as her husband had never consummated their marriage Aemond had decided that he was going to ask his father to annul the marriage so that he could marry her instead. It would be a good match for his family, Y/n originally being an Arryn, and he knew that her father would take insult from the Baratheons for not taking care of his daughter or making their marriage legal. He was determined to convince her that night, the second to last day of the celebration, however his soon to be Princess never arrived.

Aemond waited for over an hour before searching the party. He found her husband, nearly as drunk as Aegon and with his tongue down a ladies throat but Y/n was not there.

He then left the castle and walked the gardens in search of her as he knew she enjoyed the Red Keeps gardens. After about 5 minutes he found her sitting on a wall overlooking the beach.

‘You are difficult to find, my dear.’ She jumped, turning slightly but not looking at him, turning back to the view.

‘I am sorry my Prince. I have enjoyed our time together but it must come to an end, please forgive me but I wish to be left alone now.’ He was stunned, unsure of how to respond but knowing that he wasn’t about to leave her like this.

‘Whatever I have done, please forgive me Byka Zokla? I do not-‘ (Little Wolf)

‘You have done nothing my Prince! It is I who is in the wrong. I have led you to believe that we could be friends and that was wrong of me. My job is to be there for my husband and I have not been doing my duty-‘

‘Your duty? What about him? He has not taken care of you as is his job as your husband and protector! You’re not waiting on him hand and foot anymore so he is upset, yes? Please? Do not push me away Y/n, I can help you to-‘ he cut himself off as he turned her head to make her look at him and he finally saw what she was hiding from him. Her right eye was black and blue, her bottom lip was split in 2 places and her throat was bruised, clearly in the shape of hands. ‘Oh my Love! No! This will not stand! Come with me.’ He insisted, holding out his hand. She hesitated but he looked down at her softly, giving her time to decide. ‘Trust me?’ After another few seconds Y/n took his hand and allowed him to whisk her off and they arrived in the Small Councils meeting room where the Queen walked in not a moment later having been fetched by a guard for her son.

‘Aemond…what is the meaning of this?!’ Alicent snapped, storming over to the girl and seemingly thinking that her son had done it but she changed her tune when the girl flinched away and hid behind him instead.

‘Mother. This is the girl I spoke to you about, her husband has proved…ungallant. I wish to take her as my bride.’ Alicent was looking over his ladies face when she fully understood what he had said and jerked her head up.

‘My son, she is married already. You cannot just take another man’s wife, even as a Prince of the Seven Kingdoms. You-‘

‘Their marriage has not been consummated.’ She stopped speaking and looked between them in shock.

‘Well…that changes things…she will need to testify it to the King and he will need to annul the marriage before anything else can happen. It will take time. I will speak to the Hand and start the process for it, we will find a room for her here to keep her safe from now on.’ Alicent turned to Y/n and held out her hand. ‘Come, let’s get you out of those dirty, bloody clothes and put you to bed.’

‘I will come and say “Goodnight” in a bit. You have a bath and relax…I will take care of you, I promise.’ Aemond swore, kissing her hand and watching her blush before she walked off with his mother.

Aemond straightened himself as she left the room and turned to head back to the party where he almost immediately found the man he was looking for.

Y/n’s husband was holding a full goblet of wine with his arm around a ladies waist looking quite content. Aemond moved beside him to grab himself a cup of wine, purposefully causing the idiot to bump into him.

‘Fuck! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.’ He laughed obnoxiously and Aemond found himself wondering how Y/n ever stood being around him at all.

‘Evidently.’ He rolled his eyes and could instantly see that this man didn’t appreciate the action.

‘You may be a Prince but you’re still only a second son, and no where close to Daddies favorite. Watch yourself. I am the head of Storm’s End and soon enough the Vale, you are nothing and even less than that without your Dragon behind you.’ The man was clearly drunk as fuck but Aemond was happy with that. It would make this easier…

Aemond smirked as he leaned in close, the young Tully girl that he had had on his arm long gone, not willing to upset a Prince, let alone the one eyed prince himself. ‘I fucked your wife.’ He mumbled, close enough that only he could hear and he absolutely did.

‘What the fuck did you say?’ He snarled, eyes nearly catching fire in his instant rage but Aemond stayed calm. He needed to control himself for this to work.

‘I fucked…your wife…Gods knows you weren’t doing it. Such a lonely girl, desperate for a man’s affection and all she was given was an insolent child. It’s pathetic. Don’t worry though, soon enough she will be raising my son and she won’t be worried about you anymore.’ The boy was practically shaking in his rage, fists clenched and men were beginning to take notice, several of the women moving to alert the guards so Aemond would need to do this quickly. ‘Give it 9 months and everyone will know exactly who your wife strayed from you with, the silver haired boy suckling on her tits will be evidence enough. I’m sure with enough words to the King I can ensure my son will inherit all of your lands when you die. Too bad you weren’t man enough to impregnate her yourself or y-‘ He was finally cut off by a truly pathetic punch to his face but he played into it, falling dramatically to the ground and biting his tongue, spitting blood out to make it seem worse than it had been.

He was grabbed instantly and held back from coming at Aemond again who smirked up at him, the boy only seeming to now realize what had happened. ‘Chain this drunken fool and take him to the Black Cells for-‘

‘No!’ Aemond snapped, cutting off his Grandsire. ‘It was me that he assaulted and as a Prince of the realm it is my decision what happens to him.’ He declared and though Otto looked at him strangely he nodded nonetheless. He reached out, grabbing the collar of the drunk and yanked him forward, dragging him from the party and outside through the front gate.

‘Aemond-‘

‘He dies tonight, would you like to argue?’ The one eyed Prince hissed at his Grandsire who knew not to argue with him in this state.

Vhagar peeked her eyes open at the sound of men approaching her beach, seeing her rider dragging along a man that was trying very hard to get away or hurt him making her bare her teeth and hiss instantly.

‘Dokimarvos Vhagar! Umbās!’ He spoke to her and she sat her head up and waited for her rider to speak. *Pay Attention Vhagar! Wait!*

‘This is a message to anyone that thinks to defy me or Gods forbid, harm the people I care about. I am not merciful, you can find mercy with my family but not here. Anyone who wants to disagree with this will not end up in the Black cells, but with my Dragon as their punishment!’ Aemond ignored Otto who was trying to stop his rushed decision. ‘Dohaerās Vhagar! Kisās!’ *Obey Vhagar! Eat!*

Everyone watched on as the giant she-dragon lifted her head over the abusive asshole and opened her mouth wide before chomping down on the man and seeming to swallow him whole which had several people screaming and one man actually fainting.

Aemond was proud of himself, he had saved his girl and it barely took an hour.

He quickly made his way back into the Red Keep and up to the room that he knew his mother had put his soon-to-be wife in. As he entered, knocking softly as to not frighten her, he saw her in a sleep shift and he couldn’t help but stare. His girl was beautiful and she was going to be all his now.

‘Did you have a nice bath?’ He asked, moving to pull the blankets back for her and enjoying her soft blush as she crawled into the bed.

‘It was very relaxing. I’ve never had servants to wash me like that before.’ She teased, though Aemond was surprised by that.

‘You are a lady, are you not? How-‘

‘My mother took care of us as children and when we grew she insisted that we were able to bathe ourselves. My husband however, did not want anyone seeing me in a state of undress…it was strange but nice I suppose. A lady could get used to such treatment.’ Her soft laugh was everything Aemond loved as he reached out and cupped the side of her face.

‘You will get used to it. You are to be my wife, and my wife will have the best of everything. I will bathe you myself if it brings you happiness.’ He teased her, kissing the side of her head before standing again. ‘Get some sleep my lady, no one will bother you, you have my word-‘

‘Will you stay?’ She asked and though he was startled he did not let it show, knowing she was still probably feeling afraid after all that had happened, especially now that she’s in a strange place that she’s sure to never leave again. She would need to get used to being his and knowing that she is completely safe here, she would learn to trust what he said when he told her that he would never let anyone harm her again-let alone another husband. Aemond removed his shoes and coat, as well as his weapons before crawling onto the other side and feeling her head rest on his shoulder. He was careful not to touch any of her injuries as he let her drift off to sleep. He knew his mother would be upset at his sleeping here but he didn’t care. Y/n would be his wife by the weeks end and he would give her everything that bitch of a “husband” could not.

Aemond Targaryen Masterlist

[simp4wom3n]

Why Don't I Know You?

Requested: Yes/No ~ How about Regina having a crush on the reader but not saying anything bc she thinks the reader won't like her, but when the reader starts talking to her and everything, Regina is suddenly possessive ykwis

Pairing: Regina George x Reader

Summary: Shocked when a face she doesn't recognise shows up in her class, Regina makes it her goal to learn everything about them, even if it leads to her gaining a massive crush. ~ Word Count: 4.1k ~ Warnings: lotta swearing, one slur, otherwise mainly fluff

A/N: HI!!! FIRST RENEE/REGINA FIC!!! she is criminally underwritten, so I thought I would do my part (other people pls do right for her I need stuff to read). I love her so so much, and I had a blast writing this, so pls enjoy <3 + I will be creating a Renee rapp taglist so comment or message me if you wanna be on it :)

The halls of North Shore High were like a second home to Regina. Some would call it her hunting ground. Each year, she relished her opportunity to prowl the hallways, hunting the new freshman as she committed every new face and name to mind, with the intention of digging up all the dirt she possibly could. With thanks to Gretchen, she knew everything about everyone.

But then there was you.

"Alright, we have a new student joining us today."

Regina's eyes widened in pure shock as you walked into the room. With your bag casually slung over your shoulder, you make a beeline for the empty tables surrounding Regina. Ignoring the intensity of her gaze, you drop your bag and settle into the chair next to her. The faint strains of music emanated from the headphones hanging from your ears as you began organizing your belongings, only to be interrupted by the teacher.

"Y/n, if you could please stand and introduce yourself."

Your eyes flicked nervously towards the teacher, and the entire class turned to look at you. The intensity of Regina's gaze made your cheeks glow with a faint red before you sighed dejectedly and reluctantly stood up, pulling out your headphones.

"Um... Hi, I'm Y/n... not really much else to say."

The teacher nodded at you before turning around to start the lesson. Watching as you sat down, Regina's focus shifted entirely to you.

She couldn't tell whether it was because she knew nothing about you, or that you were just so damn hot.

Maybe it was both.

As soon as the bell rang, signalling the end of the class, Regina wasted no time storming off to find Gretchen. Having watched you for the entirety of the class, she was desperate to find out everything about you.

Strutting through the packed hallway, everyone staring at her in fear, Regina locked onto her target as she came into her view. "Gretchen!" she called irritatedly. The small girl quickly turned around as her eyes widened in fear. "Tell me... How is it that I don't know anything about this new Junior, Y/n? Why wasn't I informed? I need all the details now!"

Gretchen, scrambling to keep up with Regina's relentless pace, stammered out an apology. "I-I'm sorry, Regina! I didn't even know they were coming."

"God, you are useless!"

In only a week, not only had watching you become her routine, but she had even started to develop a crush on you, as painful as that was for her to admit.

She was supposed to be chased, not the one chasing.

Seeing you had become the favourite part of her day, even above having the whole school bow at her feet. She hadn't even talked to you. She just watched.

She meticulously studied your every move, subconsciously committing all of your subtle mannerisms to memory. Like the way you would take notes, or the way you would nibble at your fingers when you were focused. Or her personal favourite, when you knawed at the end of your pencil when you were nervous or stressed.

Fuck, she wishes she was that pencil.

She hated to admit it, but the thought of talking to you terrified her. Her usually overbearing confidence drained away whenever you sat in the chair next to her, your mysterious yet comforting presence causing her to malfunction.

And yet, as she sat at lunch with Gretchen and Karen, she refused to mutter a word about you to them. The furthest they pushed was when Gretchen asked about you after catching Regina staring at you, and the look Regina gave the poor girl made her shut up immediately.

The lunch tables were packed as usual, but Regina's eyes scanned the hallway beside them. She was well aware that you never sat at any of the tables, so she patiently waited for you to return to your locker, which was conveniently placed within sight of her table.

Karen and Gretchen's incessant babbling went unnoticed as you finally appeared. She couldn't help but notice your slouched posture and sluggish movements. You looked exhausted. Your headphones, which you always had on you, dangled from one ear as you forcefully opened your locker.

As if she wasn't already concerned, the table of varsity jocks had also noticed you, taking your clearly irritated mood as a green light to push even more of your buttons. From across the room, Regina watched with a clenched jaw as three of them stood from the table and made their way towards you.

Her body ached with anger as she watched them grab you by the shoulder and throw you against the lockers. Your exhausted expression turned to one of fear as they held you up against the cold metal doors. The guy forcefully snatched your headphones away, callously tossing them to the ground and obliterating them with a single forceful step.

Regina choked on a gasp. She knew how much you loved those headphones.

She was annoyingly out of earshot as she watched them continue to laugh at and berate you whilst shaking you against the lockers. Her blood was boiling. The others had noticed her expression and cast confused glances towards the commotion, which only confused them more.

The Regina they knew would be laughing.

After Regina's next victims finally let you go, your body shook as you realised that the whole school had just watched you get shamelessly belittled. As soon as your gaze locked with Regina's, your embarrassment grew unbearable, triggering you to hastily get your belongings before moving to make a swift escape.

The last Regina saw of you, you were frantically running away, desperately trying to hide your state as tears streamed down your face.

Those jocks had no idea what was coming for them.

The next time she laid eyes on you was the week after. She had already exacted her revenge on the jocks, having called their parents and telling them they all had STDs, yet when she caught sight of your weary expression as you entered the classroom, the familiar sense of triumph eluded her.

As the lesson passed and the teacher blabbered about a new group project, Regina's eyes never left you as you buried yourself in your notebook.

"Ok, listening, please." the teacher announced, garnering both of your attention. "The groups are as follows," you patiently waited for your name to be read out so you could go back to absentmindedly doodling in the margins of your book, whilst Regina similarly waited to hear the name of the poor soul who would be stuck with her. Yet, to her surprise, she wasn't disgusted by the name read beside hers.

"Y/n and Regina,"

With eyes wide and fixed on the teacher, Regina failed to notice the sudden blush that crept onto your cheeks, causing you to quickly lower your head. "You have the rest of the lesson to plan." the teacher mumbled before returning to their desk, where they sat silently.

Neither of you moved. After a second of secretly hoping Regina would make her move, you figured she wasn't interested in you or the project. Opening your computer and immediately diving into research, Regina sat at her desk, trying to build the courage to talk to you.

God, she hated being a coward.

After a few minutes and a few internal pep talks, she decided to take her one excuse to talk to you as she finally scooted her desk towards yours and turned to face you. As she inched closer, your heart began to race, sensing her gaze fixed on you. With a bashful smile, you diverted your attention from your screen and finally made eye contact with her.

She was breathtaking.

Clearing your throat, you quickly turned back to your computer as you scratched the back of your neck. "I-I'll just do it all when I get home," you spoke nervously, presuming THE Regina George would want nothing to do with you or the project.

"What makes you think I'd make you do it alone," she retorts, her tone more flirtatious than she had intended, but she wasn't mad about it. You looked back at her, lost for words for a second as you tried to scramble together a response.

"Well... I-I just presumed you wouldn't want to help." A small smile formed on her lips as you briefly glanced at her, "I mean, you hardly pay attention, so I just... figured." She softly giggles at your words, her laughter sending a flutter of excitement through your body.

Little did you know she was distracted by you.

"Come to mine later. We can do it together." Regina's unexpected display of confidence caught both of you off guard as her usual flirtatious demeanour made a comeback. Meanwhile, you stared at her in disbelief, trying to process what had just happened. "Ugh... Yeah, sure, if that's ok?"

"I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't"

As the school bell rang through the corridors, you were overwhelmed with both relief and anxiety. After enduring a tedious day at school, you were now faced with the terrifying task of not only talking to Regina but also spending hours alone with her at her house.

Walking out the doors and towards the car park, the sound of the bustling school fading into the background, your eyes catch a familiar blonde leaning up against her Jeep. Your heart began to race faster as you approached her, your bag feeling heavier with each step.

Her expression softened as she noticed you approaching, a warm smile gracing her lips, and she pushed herself off her car. "Hey," she greets softly, a soft shade of pink painting her cheeks as you both smile at each other. "Hi," you said breathlessly with a small chuckle.

Without another word, Regina moves to get in, and you follow suit, chucking your bag into the backseat next to hers before climbing into the passenger seat.

The breeze gently tousled your hair as you drove to her house, the soothing tunes of music filling the air, matching the nervous excitement between you both. Your heart beat along with the music as you snuck glances at the girl sitting next to you. With her eyes focused on the road and the wind softly brushing her skin, you were utterly mesmerised by her.

Of course, you had heard of Regina George's horror stories, but this girl was different.

Sure, you hadn't spoken till this morning, but there was something about her you couldn't quite describe. Something that brought you to school every day, comforting you as you sat in undoubtedly one of the most boring classes, and that gave life at North Shore High purpose.

Frankly, you rejected any idea of her being a heartless bitch.

When you eventually turned into her driveway, your gaze was forced away from her as you caught sight of her house, or should you say mansion. The house was almost cinematic in grandeur, your eyes growing wider by the second as you drove closer before eventually stopping at the door.

"Wow," you mumbled under your breath as you exited her car, your eyes not leaving the building as you reached for your bag. You heard Regina chuckle lightly as she led the way to her door. "My mum's not home, thank god, so we have the place to ourselves."

You nod mindlessly as you follow her through the front door. As you trailed behind her, the pristine marble floors beneath your feet echoed with each step, a stark contrast to the scuffed linoleum of the school corridors.

Just when you thought you had gotten used to it, Regina led you to her room. Stepping inside, you find yourself mesmerised by everything around you. "This is your bedroom?" you asked, clearly taken aback. Regina glanced back at you, a shy smile on her face.

"Yeah, It was my parents, but I asked them to trade me." "Right...". You couldn't help but be captivated by the array of decorations adorning the walls, taking in the posters and photos that offered a rare glimpse into her life beyond her reign as the queen of North Shore.

Sitting on her bed and removing her shoes, she motions for you to do the same. Dropping your bag next to her massive bed and grabbing everything you need, you carefully sit down next to her, leaving enough room between the two of you so you don't seem invasive.

Opening your laptop and notebook, you place them on the bed as you pull up the project materials. You can feel Regina's gaze on you even though she's trying to be subtle, and the thought instantly makes your cheeks glow softly.

"So, uh, where do you want to start?"

The next few hours flew by as you worked on the project together. Regina was surprisingly helpful, the two of you moving closer as your work drew to a close. Now that the project was over, the familiar awkwardness lingered in the air as you searched for something to talk about that wouldn't embarrass you.

"You're really good at drawing, you know." Regina compliments softly, pointing at your notebook margins before you can say anything as you blush at her words. "Thanks... I've been doing it more since-" "Your headphones broke." Regina cuts you off as you look at her surprised.

"Yeah... How did you know that?" It was Regina's turn to blush as she realised that she had just revealed herself. Stammering to find an excuse, she looks away for a second, embarrassed. "I-I'm just a very observant person."

You look at her suspiciously with a small smile gracing your lips, the thought of Regina watching you making your heart flutter.

"You're different." you find yourself blurting out, "from how everyone else describes you, I mean." you finish quickly. Regina chuckles as she smiles at you softly. "You're different too. Good different. I like it."

The tension between you grew as you stared into each other's eyes. A softness behind her pale blue eyes drew you in, and before you knew it, you were slowly leaning in. Your heart was beating out of your chest as you caught Regina glancing down at your lips, her own caught between her teeth as your faces grew closer.

"Regina, honey!" You scramble backwards as Regina's bedroom door flies open, revealing who you believe to be her mum. "Oh. Hi there!" "Mum, seriously!?" Regina yells in disbelief. Your ears begin to ring as your head pounds, thinking about what would have happened if you had not been interrupted.

"I'm sorry, honey, I didn't realise you had anyone over." While Regina's mother was apologising, you could hear Regina sighing in frustration next to you. "I'll just go to the kitchen." Her mum suggests as she begins to leave the room, but you beat her to it. "No, Ms George, it's okay. I was on my way out anyway." You offer her a smile you hope appears as genuine as you quickly throw everything into your bag.

Trying to ignore Regina's pained gaze, you threw your bag over your shoulder, grabbed your shoes, and quickly exited her bedroom, making your way out the front door. You had no plan on how to get home, but you would rather walk than have to sit in that room after what had happened.

Walking into school the next day was like walking straight into a nightmare. You already weren't fond of the school, having been called slurs and made fun of constantly, but adding to that, your usual excitement of seeing Regina had been replaced with pure fear.

In just one night, you managed to spin every interaction you ever had with the girl, leaving you incredibly embarrassed about how you had let it all happen. Who were you to think Regina might actually like you? You were probably just a pawn in some big game.

Unlocking your locker and throwing it open, already fed up with the day before it had even begun, you began to unpack your stuff, completely ignorant of the approaching jock.

Walking into school with a similarly distraught look, Regina's mind was stuck reeling over the events from last night. The question of why you ran away was all she could think about until she heard a sharp bang.

Before you could react, you were once again thrown against the lockers, an irritated grunt leaving your lips. Your eyes met the same bastard who had made bullying you their new hobby. "Back for more, dyke?" he taunted you, your fists clenching involuntarily as you awaited the verbal abuse he was undoubtedly about to unleash on you.

Regina's head immediately whipped in its direction, a new sense of anger rushing through her body as she saw your saddened figure being pinned up against the lockers. Without hesitation, she storms towards the jock holding you against the wall with a fire burning behind her eyes.

"Fuck off, asshole!"

The boy's expression quickly shifted, causing him to release his grip on you and hastily retreat in terror. You sighed in relief as you observed Regina approaching you, her face contorted with unmistakable rage.

You found it quite amusing how scary everyone found her, causing the boy who had just been full of confidence to shrink into insignificance, like a tiny ant that she was about to step on.

"Look in her direction again, and it won't just be STDs next time."

The boy's face flashed in realisation before hurriedly scrambling off. All eyes were fixed on you as Regina directed her gaze towards you, her expression instantly softening with a hint of concern in her eyes. "Are you ok?" you managed a nod as the softness of her voice filled you with a comforting warmth.

"Yeah… Thanks," you replied softly, your familiar awkward energy filling the air. She watched you momentarily as you remained silent, hopeful that you would acknowledge her. Yet, as you continued to avert your gaze away from her, she gave you a soft nod before turning to leave. Her stomach sank as the failing state of your relationship grew more and more obvious.

With an unfamiliar burn of tears behind her eyes, her pace quickened as she tried to get as far away from you as she possibly could.

But you stopped her.

"Regina, wait!"

Looking over her shoulder and meeting your sorry gaze, her heart can't help but flutter as she watches you slowly jog after her. "Sorry, I-" you hesitated, feeling a surge of nerves as you came the closest you had been to Regina since yesterday. "Did you want to maybe... hang out at yours after school again?"

"Didn't we finish the project?" She seems confused, completely missing that you wanted to spend time together outside what was needed. "No, we did. I just thought we could, you know, just watch a movie or something, but if you're not into that-"

"I would love to." She interrupts your anxious babbling with a gentle laugh, her gaze filled with admiration as you stare at her in a state of surprise and joy. "Meet me at the same place, ok?" "Yeah". Regina walks away from you with a smirk as you stand there frozen.

Holy shit, you just asked Regina George out.

The trip to Regina's after the bell finally rang was much like the day before.

She waited for you by her car, dismissing her other friends when she spotted you. Greeting each other warmly before jumping in the car, you once again listened to music whilst the wind swept through your hair, a nervous yet warm sense of anticipation falling between you.

Pulling up to her house, which you were still in awe of, you jumped out of the car and walked towards the front door behind Regina. "This time, my mum actually isn't home and won't be. I made sure of it. So we really do have the place all to ourselves."

You both laughed at her words as a small blush crept onto your cheeks. You walked behind Regina as she entered her bedroom, studying the now familiar walls as she set up everything you needed to watch a movie.

After sitting on her bed with the TV switched on and Netflix loaded up, you still remained standing in her doorway, nibbling on your pencil, which you always kept stowed away in your pocket, causing her to glance at you with a puzzled expression. "You seem distracted. Everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft yet discerning.

Snapping back into reality, offering her a sheepish smile, you replied, "Yeah, just lost in thought, I guess." taking the pencil from your lips, you slowly moved towards her bed, your eyes subconsciously scanning every inch of her body, your mind going wild seeing her so comfortable.

Her gaze fixated on you, her piercing blue eyes captivating in the sunlight pouring through the window. She laughed softly, the sound filling the room with a pleasant melody. "Lost in thought or thoughts of me?"

The comment caught you off guard, and your cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I… um, what makes you say that?". Regina, who reclined into her bed, gestured towards your hand, occupied by a chewed-up pencil.

"You always chew on that when you're nervous," she spoke softly. Your eyes widened in astonishment as the familiar burn returned to your cheeks. "How do you know that?" She smirked, "I notice everything." Regina's gaze never wavered as she continued watching you, a playful glint in her eyes.

"So, what's got you so nervous, Y/n?"

You felt a lump form in your throat as Regina's question hung in the air, filling the lavish room with tension. You couldn't help but fidget with your pencil, trying to find the right words to capture the overwhelming mix of emotions that Regina's presence constantly stirred within you.

"I, uh… it's just… everything, I guess. School, people, this…" You gestured vaguely between the two of you, unable to articulate the chaotic mess of feelings inside. Regina leaned up, her voice softening. "Well, you don't have to be nervous around me." Her eyes locked onto yours, a sincerity beneath the confident facade. "Now sit."

Slipping your shoes off and sitting on the bed, you move closer to Regina, who is lying against her pillows, her gaze unwavering. Eventually settling next to her, you turn to look at her, your heart fluttering as her soft eyes meet yours.

The room seemed to buzz with an unspoken energy, and all you could hear was the sound of your shared breaths. You caught your bottom lip between your teeth, watching Regina's eyes analyse your face. A blush painted her cheeks, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Regina seemed hesitant, her mouth opening as if searching for the right words. "You know, I've been infatuated with you ever since you first walked into class." Your heart did a somersault at her words. A dreamy smile spread across your face, and you couldn't help but feel a rush of joy and disbelief.

"Regina George. Infatuated with me?" you teased playfully, her confession coursing adrenaline through your veins. With a gentle laugh, she hides her face briefly behind her hand before looking back at you, matching your wide smile.

"Shut up."

Leaning towards you, Regina's hands delicately wrapped around your neck, a slight shiver travelling down your spine. The room appeared to tighten as Regina held you, her touch confident and gentle. You caught your bottom lip between your teeth, your eyes never leaving Regina's as she closed the distance.

Time seemed to stand still as her lips met yours.

The touch of her lips against yours was gentle, her hands brushing your neck with a mix of desire and passion. Everything else faded away as you fell into the kiss.

Her breath mingled with yours, and you could feel the rapid beat of her heart echoing your own. The room seemed to buzz with an electrifying charge, and the only sounds that reached your ears were the shared breaths between you two.

As Regina pulled away, a shared moment of breathless silence hung in the air. Once buzzing with unspoken energy, the room was now filled with the soft sounds of your intertwined breaths. Regina's cheeks were tinted with a deeper blush, and a subtle smirk played on her lips.

Your mind still reeling from the feeling of her lips on hers, you speak with a breathless chuckle, "What's everyone else gonna think?". Regina smirked at your question, a glint of defiance in her eyes as she pulled you back in, mumbling her response on your lips.

"Let them talk."

Tag-list:@nitchxhdc @emeraldevan @looseheartedlady @the-night-owl-blr @badassjaguar @txmxav @oh-thats-cute @blckrwidow @cacciatricediartemide @flaiire1805 @rainbow-love4ever @fall-08 @simp4nat @natashadeservedmore @livingforwaddams @alexkolax @ssinfulprayers @wifeyjennaortega @thenextdawn @wol-fica

[enviedear]

oh em geeeee… honestly part of me wishes to train with him a bit. or like just watch him train,,, idk why… jace is eating at my brain for no reason. srry this isn’t a lot 😭😭😭 let me think — 🦢 (if nobody has used this one already)

i also want to train with our communal baby daddy, here's some fluffy training with jace. i hope you love it swan nonnie! enjoy the hints of societal misogyny i added in <3

request ⊹ send me your thoughts

night grips the entirety of the red keep, castle almost eerily quiet. you glance around your chambers, heart pounding. the court expects you to be confined to traditional duties—embroidery, etiquette, and endless tea lunches. despite your betrothal to the future king, education for your regency remains lackluster.

but tonight, you have other plans.

carefully, you slip out of your chambers, the soft rustle of your plainclothes barely audible. you navigate the winding corridors with practiced ease, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the stone walls.

each step bringing you closer to the training grounds, where your betrothed awaits.

as you approach, the sound of steel clashing and the grunts of exertion reach your ears. you quicken your pace, eager to see him. rounding the corner, you spot jacaerys in the courtyard, his sword slicing through a practice dummy with precision. he looks every bit the warrior prince, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he moves.

"you're late." he teases, a playful glint in his eyes when he sees you.

"i had to make sure no one saw me… or followed me." you reply, grinning. "wouldn't want to ruin my prince's reputation with my unladylike behavior."

jacaerys laughs, the sound warm and genuine. he steps forward, handing you a practice sword. "let's see if your skills have improved, my lady."

you take the sword, feeling its weight in your hands. despite the countless hours of secret training, the weapon still feels foreign compared to the delicate quilting needles you're expected to master.

but as you face jacaerys, determination sets in. you refuse to be underestimated.

he takes a offensive stance, and you mirror him. the first clash of your swords sends a shiver down your spine. the thrill of combat, the crash of steel—it’s intoxicating.

jace had mentioned the fact the first night he decided to train you. he was adamant, talking out of his head, rash yet horribly kind.

your prince has never fully bent for the rules. while the rest of court frowned upon their future queen welding the weapon of men, your love did not. he seeks only to encourage you.

jacaerys pushes you, sending you backwards, testing your limits. his movements are fluid, graceful even, but he holds back, allowing you to find your rhythm.

"you've improved!" he says, parrying a particularly aggressive strike. "but you still leave your left side vulnerable."

you huff, annoyed at his observation. "show me how to fix it, then."

with a grin, jacaerys steps closer, his eyes locked onto yours. he adjusts your stance, his hands firm and guiding. "like this..." he murmurs, his breath warm against your ear. your heart skips a beat, the proximity of his body sending a jolt of electricity through you.

you nod, trying to focus on his instructions. he steps back, and you both resume your positions. this time, you're ready. when he strikes, you deflect, moving with more confidence.

slowly, jace’s hits grow less suppression— his eyes alight as you begin to match his pace. his true equal.

jace finally errs, striking out hastily and allowing your to draw back. quickly, and before he can recover, you leap forward and strike him. your swords’ edge pressing lightly into his practice chestplate. you lower your sword, panting. jacaerys stands opposite you, a proud smile on his lips.

"using my own teachings against me." he says, voice filled with admiration. "should i be wary of your true plans with these lessons?”

you laugh, shaking your head. "never, my prince. i simply mean to protect at your side."

he steps closer, his expression softening. "that's all i could ask for." he whispers.

"perhaps one day." you reply, a smirk playing on your lips. "save you ever entertain the notion of a mistress."

jacaerys chuckles, a twinkle in his eyes. "i would sooner seek the fate of dragonfire."

you can't help the foolish smile your lips curve into, “i’ll hold you to your promise, my prince."

he bows slightly, his dark hair falling back from his face. "i eagerly make this oath,” he looks up at you, soft smirk on his face, “my queen.”

you pull him into a hug, free of the watchful eyes of the usually bustling castle. he melts into your embrace, agile hands finding home at the small of your back. the pair of you stay like that for a while, fueled purely by each others company.

"i should probably head back before someone realizes i'm missing," you say reluctantly, already dreading the return to your stifling halls.

jacaerys nods, understanding flickering in his gaze. "until next time then, my lady. on time, perhaps?"

with a roll of your eyes and a soft smile, you hand back the practice sword and turn to leave. you feel his eyes watch you as you disappear into the castle’s walls—and somehow, the knowledge of that feels much more powerful than any weapon.

[yourlocalgrass]

Listen. Listen. Hear me out ok.

I LOVEEE Thirteen, Mephisto and Raphael ok, I would die to date any of them.

But the thought of them becoming dateable, as much as I want to date them… not so much, honestly… gives me constant anxiety, like… big time.

I mean the devs couldn’t even handle the SEVEN main love interests in S1 or S2. I mean cmon who doesn’t know how Asmo and Beel were the devs obvious least favourite. There are times where all the brothers get a kiss except Beel or Asmo.

And then when 4 more characters entered the intimacy system, they handled them really good actually, amazing even. S3 was great imo, for the new dateables that was. But again, half of the brothers were forgotten to be love interests. But, they did do the new dateables good.

But then, by S4 they all literally reverted back to being side characters again and not dateables from what I could see.

Diavolo seemed the exact same as he was in S1 and S2 except maybe in one romantic scene with him. Solomon was only playing the role of a teacher and almost nothing more. If you played S4 without S3 context, you wouldn’t have even guessed that they were a dateable. Same goes for Simeon (even though almost the entirety of S4 was centred around him) Barbatos just became a more romantic dateable so, we did get one kiss by the end but… felt really rushed.

And don’t forget before we had the spotlight events how bad, cliche and repetitive the events were? Because we had to make sure we kissed all of them (except luke ofc) so an entire event chapter was dedicated to making sure we spend time and kiss all of them. And then even then there were characters who weren’t kissed or got fair time and treatment.

Finally, in Nightbringer, during S1 Solomon had a lot of spotlight for once and some Diavolo, while Simeon didn’t even exist. When it came to S2, we got Simeon spotlight but Solomon and Diavolo just went -poof- and vanished just like that.

Don’t forget that every near to end of a season, we kiss all the dateables right? And for some very weird reason, we kissed every character, but you know who we didn’t? Diavolo. And what’s even more weird is that, there was no reason not to because we’ve already kissed him previously, and the scene was in perfect timing for an MC option to kiss him, we talked to him, but just didn’t… kiss him? It’s just so… confusing.

Oh right, don’t forget how the brothers went through their special arc or whatever you’d like to name it, with MC who’s helped the brothers through and through of course, so we get to kiss them each at the end, except you know which brothers didn’t? Asmo and Beel. That’s right. Even in Nightbringer the devs never changed. Well, actually, they got even worse. You know who else didn’t get a kiss? Belphie, who we know isn’t the fandoms favourite brother, so of course… no kiss either… that’s now another brother who the devs are starting leaving to the side.

So, the entire game is a current mess and if Solmare couldn’t handle 7 love interests properly, and added 4 to the mix, which upturned everything into chaos, adding another 3 into the dateables section… is it reeaaalllllyyy a good idea? I mean to let the devs handle them…

Again it’s not like I don’t want them to be dateable but just like… how are they going to handle it? You know… considering they actually can’t handle it?

There will have to be more romance in the story, or people would complain, they’d have to fit 15 characters in, and they can’t make the lessons short, which they already do, there’s a chance we’ll get to kiss some while others won’t even get screen time, Thirteen, Raphael, and Mephisto can’t be set to the side during events either otherwise there would be complaints, and there’s no way writers won’t get tired of writing Devilgrams for 15 characters so other characters will be bad, while others who always get the top will have a decent Devilgram story. I bet the writing for almost everything will go into mess…

And that’s my only problem cus I love them and I do want them to become dateable but I also want the game content to be good even though it’s… not… really. Ok ngl it’s already a mess. And that’s just something I feel very anxious about when thinking what’s gonna happen when there are more dateables…

[ilguna]

☼ lovable friend (Finnick Odair) ☼

summary; you thought you and Finnick were nothing but friends, while he was developing feelings for you the entire time.

warnings; swearing, high school au, emotional cheating.

wc; 2.4k

–

The only reason why you refuse to let your English teacher move you from the back of the class anymore, is solely because she placed Finnick Odair in front of you. If it weren’t for him, you would’ve begged to be moved closer to the window by now. 

There’s something about him that makes the class go by faster. There’s never been a day that you don’t look forward to coming in. He’s always the first person to greet you with a smile when you walk in. And his attention doesn’t leave you, because he’ll turn around in his seat just to ask you how your day’s been so far.

In a way, you’d consider him to be one of your closest friends, despite never hanging out with each other outside of the classroom. You’ll see him in passing periods, at lunch you’ll spot him across the room, and you share a few mutual friends like Johanna and Peeta. Still, you’re never at the same place at the same time, except for here.

And today, he’s nowhere to be seen.

Which is fine, of course. You’ve missed a few days of school yourself. However, each time, you managed to find yourself feeling a little absent because you missed your piece of sunshine for the day. A bright smile, the crinkle at the corners of his eyes, his contagious laugh.

You push yourself to the end of the day to see him, because he can make your day better than anyone else you know. You wonder if he feels the same way that you do, sitting on the edge of his seat, waiting for you to round the corner. While you brace yourself to hear his shout.

You’ll survive without staring at his bronze hair for the entirety of class, dodging his head to see the board for even a second. Maybe you’ll finally understand a lesson enough to not have to ask for his notes, teasing him about the fact that the two of you should switch seats.

You sigh, doodling a flower in the corner of your paper. It’s going to be a long hour.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” Cashmere asks. You assume she’s talking to someone else, probably Enobaria. Her newest boyfriend is a weightlifter. You’re not sure how she finds him attractive. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

You’re in the middle of drawing another flower, this one intertwined with the first, when the side of your desk is kicked by a white tennis shoe. You pause what you’re doing, taking in a breath through your nose, before turning to look at Cashmere. Not only is she looking at you, but so is Enobaria and Gloss.

These three are the reason why you would’ve moved closer to the window a long time ago. They’re loud and annoying. You’re not sure who decided they should be the popular and well-known friend group of your grade for all these years, but they chose the worst. Out of all the people you’ve tried to make friends out of, they were the first you got rid of.

Which is a shame, because you like having friends in all corners of the school, in case you need to pull a favor out of thin air. It’s worked, the yearbook team has already agreed that you’ll be nominated for the ‘lovable friend’ title, which is something you’ve been gunning for since your freshman year.

Cashmere, Gloss, and Enobaria are just plain mean, though. There’s no point caring about their opinions, because you already know how everyone else feels about you, and that’s all that matters. They must’ve figured this out, though. It’s why they try to get under your skin at every chance they’re given.

“Where’s yours?” You shoot back, watching Cashmere’s nose crinkle.

Enobaria looks you up and down, “Maybe he finally got tired of you.”

“Not as tired as I am of hearing your nasally voice.” You roll your eyes.

“Ouch, that one really hurt.” Cashmere mocks, flickering her curls over her shoulder. 

They don’t say anything else, so you go back to your flowers, trying to make this one more detailed. It doesn’t work, it looks like the other flower, which loosely resembles a daisy. You try to draw a tulip, or a rose, and they all fall flat, so you settle on erasing it all, leaving a dark smudge on the corner of your paper.

“Johanna, I told you to drop it.” A familiar voice snaps.

Your eyes dart up, you straighten up at your desk at the sight of Finnick, who’s clearly agitated by his best friend. Johanna’s a hard person to make a friend out of. She’s like Cashmere in a way, but less bitchy and more straight-forward. While Cashmere has a tendency to be mean behind people’s backs, Johanna has no problem airing her issues to your face.

“It’s kinda hard to drop it when Annie’s been hounding me for the past two weeks.” She snarls. Following Finnick up the aisle. He briefly locks eyes with you, and immediately his face twists at the sight of you.

You sit back in your seat, crossing your arms.

“I don’t know what she wants from me. I broke up with her.” He drops his bag on the floor carelessly, the strap whips your ankle, you let out a hiss. In return, both Johanna and Finnick glare at you. 

There’s an uneasy feeling rising in your stomach, so you avert your eyes and try to rub at your ankle without drawing too much attention to yourself. It stings for a few seconds. When you’re done, you pull out your phone to scroll through tweets while they argue. You know, to give them the false idea of privacy. 

“She wants a reason, Finnick.”

“I don’t have to give her a reason.” Finnick shakes his head. “I like someone else, it’s as plain as that.”

“Except, you’ve been dating her for three and a half years!” Johanna suddenly bursts, slapping her hands onto his desk. A few students around her quiet briefly, before trying to resume their conversation. You wince at her tone, partially wishing you could disappear into thin air when she sends you another look. “And now you have a crush on miss—!”

Finnick stands up from his seat, getting within inches of Johanna’s face. You can’t stare at your phone, gritting your teeth, slightly afraid for her. You’ve only seen this side of Finnick when he gets competitive. It’s almost like he becomes a completely new person.

“Don’t.” The word is firm.

The bell rings. Your teacher normally sits next door until the bell rings, so it’s only a matter of time before she comes into the classroom. Despite this, neither of them move, and it’s arguably the longest thirty seconds of your life. It looks like they’re playing a game of chicken, as if Johanna’s trying to see if Finnick’s bluffing, but he holds his position.

It’s only when the sound of heels on tile is heard, does she finally move. “You don’t even know her, Finnick.” She shakes her head, and then heads to her seat. She used to sit to his left, but got moved up front when her grade dropped. She pays more attention to her phone than she does the class.

“Go ahead and take her side, Johanna. It shows what kind of friend you are.” He says back.

She sends him a look over her shoulder.

Finnick makes sure she doesn’t turn around to retaliate, before he bothers to sit in his seat again, back facing you. You were halfway expecting him to finally say something to you, but that fight obviously has something to do with you. JOhanna blatantly glared, and she’s right, it’s not like Finnick to break up with Annie. He gushes about her too often for that. And yet…

You bounce between staring out the window and writing down what little notes you can see on the board. You can’t focus on what she’s trying to teach, so you hope that you’ll be able to make out the notes later on. If Johanna was implying that FInnick likes you… You try to keep track of time, counting down the minutes until your escape. You think it’ll be faster if you go around the back of the classroom instead of the front. Even if that means you run into Cashmere and Enobaria.

The worst part about this, is that you really don’t want to get caught up in whatever’s happening in their friend group. You know Annie, and Blight for that matter too. They are a tight-knit group. When they get in fights with each other, it’s usually a big blowout, because they don’t fight often. 

Annie and Finnick have been together since freshman year. They’ve been elected homecoming king and queen of your class every year so far. The yearbook group was talking about putting them on the ‘perfect couple’ page. If they’ve actually broken up, it’s going to be the most talked about subject of the school. 

And if Finnick did it for you—not saying that he did, but you have a strong feeling that it’s the case—then you can kiss that yearbook title goodbye, as well as most of your friends. The last thing you want to be is on everyone’s shit list because Finnick developed feelings for you. You never thought that you’d care about status this much, but it’s the only thing you have going for her.

Besides, the idea of the Finnick Odair having a crush on you is a joke of itself. He’s gorgeous, and funny, and a complete dreamboat of a boyfriend. He’s the epitome of popularity, everyone knows his name. You can ask anyone how they feel about him, and all good things would come out of them. If you asked who his soulmate is, they’d all say Annie.

You let out a quiet laugh to yourself, hiding your face in your hands. 

You need to stop thinking about this before you get your feelings hurt. Finnick doesn’t like you. He’s just a friend. There’s probably another girl that he’s got his eyes on, and Johanna was just mad because you were clearly eavesdropping. Although, maybe she should consider lowering her voice next time if she doesn’t want you listening in.

As soon as the bell rings, signaling the end of class, you shoot to your feet. Your bag’s swung over your shoulder, and you’re turning to leave, when a hand grips onto your wrist like an iron lock. You don’t move from where you stand, staring at the bookcase in front of you, before closing your eyes.

“(Y/n), can we talk?” Finnick asks, fingers loosening.

You take in a shaky breath, forcing a smile while you turn around. You don’t look at him first, though. You find Johanna, nose flaring, face turning a shade of red at the sight of the two of you. When she meets her eyes, she shakes her head at you, telling you not to do it.

“Don’t look at her.” Finnick murmurs. You find a small smile on his face, and he’s doing the thing where he looks through his lashes.

You swallow thickly, wondering if you can smother the butterflies that are swarming in your stomach. “Um—only for a minute, I’ve got something planned with Katniss and Peeta.”

“Unbelievable.” Johanna sighs, stomping out of the room.

Finnick lets go of your wrist, which feels bare without the warmth of his palm. Your teacher looks up at the clock, before clearing her throat. “I’m going to the teacher’s lounge for a minute, Finnick. When your club gets here, can you let them know?”

“Of course.” Finnick smiles, “Can you shut the door? I need to talk about a student council surprise with (Y/n), and I can’t have anyone listening in.” 

“Not for long.” She gives him a pointed look. “Five minutes at most.”

“Five minutes.” He agrees. 

On her way out the door, she sweeps up the door stopper. You and Finnick watch in silence as the door shuts tightly, sealing the two of you in here together. Five minutes begins.

You take in a breath first, “Please tell me that argument with Johanna had nothing to do with me.”

Finnick makes a face, tilting his head. “I really wish she hadn’t said that.”

“Well, you two were looking at me between sentences. It wasn’t subtle.” You murmur, rubbing your wrist.

He lets out a sigh, “Listen, I wanted to do it a different way, but Johanna has a way with ruining stuff when a situation doesn’t go the way she wants it.” Finnick gives you a smile, “I like you, a lot.”

You stare at him, waiting for him to laugh, a part of you hoping that this is some sort of cruel joke. There’s no way that he would throw away a three year relationship because of you. You almost never talk to him outside of this classroom, so what does he really know about liking you? He doesn’t even know you. Johanna’s right.

“Are you sure?” You ask, watching as he jerks back in shock. You keep your voice steady, “Because right now, it feels like you’re confessing on a whim. It’s been two weeks. I’m a rebound.”

“I’ve liked you for months.” He tells you, “I broke up with Annie because I want to be with you.”

You raise your eyebrows, staring at him wordlessly. This really has to be a prank.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why?”

“How could you like me, when the only time we talk in the day is this class?” You shake your head, “You see how you sound ridiculous?”

“(Y/n), you have listened to me more than Annie has in our whole relationship.” He sits up, “You’ll bring up stuff that I wouldn’t expect you to remember. You’re kind, and passionate, and beautiful—on the inside and out.”

You don’t know how he wants you to react. This is so surreal.

“Fine, don’t believe me.” He stands up, and your gaze directs up to continue to watch his eyes. “I’ll give you time, I’ll wait, because I have no issue doing that. Please, just think about it.”

There’s pounding at the classroom door, drawing the two of you out of the conversation. Finnick turns slightly, and you peer around him to see the faces of his friends, pressed against the glass. He lets out a sigh before turning back to you.

“Promise me that you’ll text me later.” He grabs your hands. They’re warm.

“I promise.” You whisper, “But this feels wrong, Finnick.”

“It doesn’t have to feel that way.” 

[hurgablurg]

So, Undertale.

The funny thing to me about Undertale is that anything the game, and it's fangames, try to tell the player about peace and choosing non-violence falls completely and pathetically flat for at least one big reason: no one who isn't a main character takes that lesson for themselves.

Sure, Undyne chills out, you can guilt Toriel down, you can therapize the Amalgamates, you can even redeem Asriel, but what about the random encounters and side bosses...?

When does Washua stop trying to drown a child? When does Froggit stop pouncing? Why does Snowdrake, a literal child, think it's a cool idea to murder someone in the woods? When does Tsundereplane finally figure out that killing her senpai doesn't work? When exactly is Muffet supposed to learn that killing and eating people for not giving her money is bad? Are any of them even meant to go through the same improvement others do?

Are they after human souls? In most cases, apparently not, because much of the Underground doesn't even recognize Frisk as human in the first place. Even Undyne apparently needs to be told what the human is wearing to find them, as if she wouldn't be able to recognize a human right away.

Are they trying to "communicate through magic" but are inadvertently doing harm because magic is like that? No, that was a fan theory people came up with to explain why they attacked first. If monster magic really did work like that, then Frisk would have to avoid projectiles in every. Single. Conversation. You can buy items without dodging the SOUL around heaps of merchandise. You can talk to the Snowdin bear without having to duck around the presents he's setting under the tree. You can hang out with Papyrus without having to dodge his bones during the entire date.

The only explanation we are left with is that some people in the Underground just really love murder, and will happily attack anything that crosses their line of sight.

Hell, even the cripplingly depressed Shyren will STILL make a token effort to kill Frisk. Like, whats her deal?

Why do we want to befriend people like that? Especially if they keep trying it after being spared? It'd be understandable if each encounter only showed up ONCE and then was befriended from then on, but no, every time until post-game True Pacifist they will keep coming back to try to kill Frisk.

Where are all the moralizing friendship speeches about their actions?

Random civilians are free to attack children with impunity, but those same children acting in self-defence or fighting back is abominable, enough to make humanity in it's entirety worthy of genocide.

And genocide is the Underground's goal, in case everyone forgot. The whole purpose of Asgore absorbing the human souls and "becoming god" (that's literally how it's described in the game) is to take revenge on humanity. Asgore may not be willing to go through with it because he's a depressed weeny, but everyone else is pretty hyped for the destruction of humanity once the doors are open.

And for what, exactly? The Underground is perfectly livable. All that's missing is the sun, but unless a lack of vitamin D is what's turning everyone into slavering psychopaths, I don't see the problem. They can probably even just make their own artificial sun with the technology they have. Everyone's just hyped up on propaganda about how cool the surface is.

Is their bereavement worth the explicit extinction of the human race? Is it worth the inevitable monster casualties that will come from humans fighting back? I don't think so, to be quite honest.

I think the hypocrisy of this running thread is best displayed in the Yellow fangame, by Martlet during the game's Genocide route:

"We only took five, but you've taken dozens".

Sure, that's factually true, but it's also a fact that you intend to take the rest of humanity whether they fight back or not. It's not equivalent if the plan was always to do worse damage. It's hypocrisy.

The player (and by extension Frisk) has to put in extreme amounts of work into building relationships with people who will gladly turn physically violent at the drop of a hat, who are literally planning a genocide, constantly defying logic and self-preservation just to get a couple shots in on Some Guy.

Hell, I don't think Frisk as a person even comes into it in the first place. They are just a shell for us, the players, to experience the story.

And why? Because we saw a let's play of it? Because game reviewers said it was game of the decade? Because we want to see what it's like to play? To "befriend" these oh-so-whacky, predictable characters again and again a decade after the game's heyday?

The story, in the end, is all to fulfill a narrative who's foundation is a shaky legend about humans being mean to monsters millenia ago, some immortal, royal brats having bruised egos, and a mutated goat prince scaring a bunch of peasants into violence, told from the perspective of the Underground, with little inference as to what the surface is actually like.

For all we know, Asgore and Toriel are lying and were the conquering tyrants of a human-monster empire who were sealed underground by opposing kingdoms of the surface in the days of yore, causing them to rewrite history (and "rewrite" population demographics) to make themselves look like the victims to their entirely-captive audience. If the barrier was a cooperative measure, it would go a long way to explain why human and monster souls are both needed to break it. if the humans really DID want to kill all monsters to prevent their souls being stolen, why were the monsters allegedly allowed to surrender? The royals even have an equally-immortal "war hero" at their beck and call with a cross-game skill for writing Tolkien-esque fantasy literature, settled down "doing archaeology work" in the region where the Underground's supposed history is written. That's a coincidence, I'm sure.

All that said, and mostly by the by, I say Deltarune is the better game.

The previous, pitiless freaks are friendly neighbours. The foes in the Dark World are overlords, mercenaries, guards, animals, and madmen - people with purpose to capture or kill the Lightners, rather than random civilians who see fit to attack anything that crosses their path. It makes sense. Plus, the story is actually engaging, the mystery is more intriguing, the characters are more entertaining, Kris is an actual character with a will of their own that we are explicitly subverting, and the "evil route" is actually, undeniably evil.

Deltarune came first conceptually, if you will all remember. Undertale is the weird off-kilter AU Toby made for practice. Not the other way around. And it definitely shows.

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

HI

ive been ever so sneakily updating the playlist on yt, mostly for lucio my beloathed and im here to share

BUT ALSO i went to look at lucios official playlist to check for repeats and was appalled to find that it was like half comprised of julian songs istg. im kidding of course its subjective but still the bidding?? THE fucking Bidding???? THE most julianest song ive ever heard and its on Morgassons playlist. i simply cannot even with this.

and so to start this off im giving the floor to julian with the entirety of Tally Halls The Bidding! *polite applause*

I've been sleeping in a cardboard box, Spending every dollar at the liquor shop/ (yeah this ones obvious) And even though I know I haven't got a lot I'll try to give you lovin' til the day you drop/ 🥺🥺(wait i just remembered mc technically has dropped one time already on his watch but i suppose hes learned his lesson bhjzdljzg)

I've been training like a Pavlov dog, Let my independence out to take a hike/(😩😩🙄🥵😤😤🥺come ON this is the most julian line ever) All you're gonna have to do is ring my bell/ (ok confession time i edited this line because this is the first time im actually reading it and im sorry but it looks so wrong who tf says Activate my Bell what in the hell) And I'll fetch you anything you like/ (in summary: heeeere subbysubbysubbysubby)

Going once, going twice, Every man here has a price/ (i highkey Love this one so much in relation to the game in general because boY DO THEY fucking EVER have a PRICE THEY GOT ME CRAWLING BACK EVERY DAY GRINDING FOR THESE DAMN COINS) Over where? Over there, sold To not a single lady in here

I've been here like a thousand times, Dated every woman in the atmosphere. I've been to every continent, Broken all the hearts in every hemisphere/ (mmm yaass we love a well travelled king. also yeah i can see that other bit being accurate, he is a catch) And if I'm not the type of guy you like to circumvent, Just remember not to love me when I disappear/ (yeah that sounds like him alright)

I graduated at the top/ (Mmmm we LOVE a medical degree king slay) I like to take advantage of the bourgeoisie/ (maybe not exactly how it happened i mean he worked for him for the most part but i count it as a lucio reference lmao) So if you have a fantasy of being a queen, Maybe you should blow a couple bucks on me/😏😏

Going once, going twice! Won't these gentlemen suffice?/ (*brain animatic director voice* pan over to the rest of the lads standing at their respective game show-y podium stands; a somewhat disgruntled asra, lucio preening for anybody paying attention, muriel's left already) Any here? Any there? Any motions anywhere? Going twice, going thrice, Guess this means we'll go four times a lady

I promise I'll be all you'll need, ever need You'll never have to shop around (don't shop around) And I'll give you all you'll ever need, ever need, Don't worry I will never let you down, let you down- Don't worry I will never let you down/ (admittedly this doesn't sounds exactly like something he'd say, the insecure avoidant wretch of a boy kjbdfkjadf maybe a bit later, god knows hes trying bless his little heart)

So many ladies are wanting for mates, And the prospects are good but the date's never great- Over here, over there, over where? Anywhere! They're too busy with winning the bidding to care! And he's sold!/ (*film director voice* the gavel bangs one last time, the doctor & mc pushed into each others embrace laugh together before going in for a kiss; curtains fall; brain animatic over, credits roll kbhsrjkdgh)

Alright lets get the lucio show on the road number one: Central Cee Retail Therapy which ive been obsessively listening to basically every day now for some reason but also im skipping like half the song literally only because i genuinely could not understand wtf hes talking about in there lmao

Fly uptown when I'm feelin' down I wanna do retail therapy/ (only kind of therapy i can imagine him pursuing) Been with the gang all week I need some female energy/ (ok tbh i dont remember how it went with him and nadia before they got together but this line just has me picturing him in his soldier mercenary days, back home from whatever job, done with boys nights, lookin to get bizzayyy) Sucked my soul, I lost my breath She got me breathin' heavy, Toxic relationship with my queen But me and the T got chemistry/ (ok im just now learning T means trap house but imma pretend i didnt see that gjhfhkgk)

Told her that I'm a Gemini Now she on Google checkin' the compatibility, She wanna see if I got the agility She wanna see if I got the ability/ (this bit may be silly but the first time i heard this while thinking about lucio i just instantly went "omg itd be funny if hes actually a gemini and it fits" and i checked, hes not, of course hes capricorn lol (but also wasnt there that one time when they gave him two birthdays on accident jgxgnvgs that just makes this even more in character bear w me) and after i learned that i just instantly reasoned that, at least to me, him lying about his star sign to get with nadia totally sounds like something he would do xD im not sure i can see him putting in the effort of actually researching which sign is compatible with nadia, but i mean hey he wants to bag a whole princess hes got a lot riding on this he might as well memorise some charts dgkhgj/ ok update i did in fact google the compatibility for cancer/gemini and its utter shit😂😭 she actually supposedly is more compatible with his actual sign but also, like. come on. look at them. if any relationship can be used to prove that thats all kinda bullshit or bad writing for a game about all this astral stuff? its probably them lmao

I went 'round three, she want round four- she killin' me, ADHD, my trigger finger fidgety

Walk in- Walk-in wardrobe look like the stockroom - Mum said I'm materialistic/ (literally canonically them fr shes such a hater bmvxhkhx) When you're the boss, that shit will cost, I'm buying my mumzy a crib for Christmas I'm livin' a movie, but it ain't scripted/ (oh honey if you knew how scripted your life is) God is my witness, get out my business, Back in the day I had one pair of trainers I wore that shit 'til it gave me blisters/ (also pretty canonically accurate sentiment i reckon with the living in a hardcore arctic hunter tribe situation n whatnot)

numba tew: Panic at The Disco's Emperors new clothes~ the music video for this one kinda fits the vibe for his storyline too a little bit at least aesthetically lol

Welcome to the end of eras, Ice has melted back to life - Done my time and served my sentence, Dress me up and watch me die - If it feels good, tastes good, It muuuust be mine~ Dynasty decapitated, You just might see a ghost tonight/ (kinda could describe his debut as a ghoast (ghost goat?)?)

And if you don't know now you know

I'm taking back the crown/ I'm all dressed up and naked/ (naked ghoast ass mf) I see what's mine and take it (Finders keepers, losers weepers) oooOOOh yeeeah, the crown/ So close I can taste it, I see what's mine and take it (Finders keepers, losers weepers)/ (yeah this bit speaks for itself i think, pretty biblically accurate lucio characterisation)

Sycophants on velvet sofas, Lavish mansions, vintage wine~ I am so much more than royal/ (i mean. mister I Deserve Everything. cmon) Snatch your chain and mace your eyes/ (man i dont know something something devil deal chains😭)

If it feels good, tastes good, It must be mine/ Heroes always get remembered/ But you know legends never die/ (yeeesss YYYEEEEESSSS UGH the auDACITY)

number 3: Nick Lutsko's Sometimes!

Swinging for the fences, Hanging from the moon, I cut my tongue on the rust of a silver spoon, I bet my billionth bottom dollar on a hopeless case-/ (i like those two lines for him being a nepo baby theyre so nice and evocative) And now the devil on my shoulder has a knife to my face/ (obvious allusion is obviousing)

Racing toward the mailbox With a letter in your hand But the postman's gone away, and you begin to understand- That you're no hero to this story, You're just another wretched pawn, Who bought his tickets to the sideshow And then slept through the alarm/ (UGH this song is just good i dont even have anything to say about that little blond bitch anymore htkjyufh no theres something in there i swear. about him taking on this bigger than life endeavour to acquire all this unimaginable power and dealing literal demons and barely even taking it seriously sometimes and not realising how played hes getting)

Sometimes the short end of the stick is the sharpest/ Sometimes the only road to take is the darkest/ Sometimes all you gotta say is "mommy make it go away"/ Sometimes the only way out is as a carcass💀

Sometimes you gotta finish what you shouldn't have started/ Sometimes you gotta shoot before you see the target/ Sometimes mommy's gonna say, "You're not worth the price to pay" Sometimes the tunnel only leads to darkness/ (this is where im cornered into admitting i only associate this song with lucio cause of the mommy issues. yippee)

im not saying anything but if you havent heard these songs before theyre reeeally fun to listen to and worth checking out i prommy👀 i enjoyed thinking through this so much im not great at Lucio so the details might be iffy i hope it made any sense thank you bye goonight🥰🥰

@tetsuoooooooooo HII!

Ugh I can't begin to say how much fun it was to read all of this, thank you!!! I always love how you unpack the lyrics for different characters ^.^

I've just added all of your suggestions to the playlist and I'll put them on the tag too. (Istg I will never be able to listen to The Bidding the same way again, you've effectively Julian'ed it for me XD)

Cheers friend!

[c-schroed]

With season eight of Within the Wires fresh on the air for the next nine weeks (I guess), I though it would be nice for me to write another podcast review. But as much as I love Within the Wires in its entirety, I have the strong feeling I would not give it justice if I just made a review of its so far seven seasons as a whole. Because (a) they are very different from one another; with every season having new voices and a new tone and atmosphere and (b) the seasons need not to be heard in the order they were produced, one can skip seasons or listen to more interesting ones first.

I mean, I'm not perfectly sure about this, because I have listened to the show in its original order. But I think that at least after season three one can really choose freely. Season one sets the mood, and seasons two and three tell you most you need to know about the alternate history of this universe. But we'll talk about this in a few weeks. Because I've decided to review one season at a time, always around sunday. Plus the book which premiered during season six, You Feel it Just Below the Ribs, then I should be done with my little project when the finale of the current eighth season is close.

So, without more ado, let's begin with

Podcasts I Adore - Within the Wires, Season One: Relaxation Tapes

"Are you breathing. It's important you remember to breathe."

Season one starts with a blast. With an image I never was able to forget again, one that would forever change my view of damselflies in particular and harming insects in general. And it started a motif that we'll encounter and reencounter in every installment of this series so far. And that was just in episode one, back when I still thought it was just some mockery of relaxation cassettes.

But episode two already told me there is more to get. That I will witness the unfolding of an escape plan, told entirely through smuggled in relaxation lessons. This is congenial on so many levels!

What I mainly love about this is that the authors, Jeffrey Cranor (of "Welcome to Night Vale" fame) and Janina Matthewson (who also worked on the BBC audio dramas "The Cipher" and "Murmurs"), are perfectly aware of the backgrounds of the narrator as well as her recipient. And it becomes clear very quickly that what we hear in season one is not made for our ears, but for a certain person in some weird kind of medical prison, with cameras and security nurses everywhere (I really love the word "security nurse" for all its ambiguity!). This whole found audio vibe is just perfect for podcasts, because it works with a high level of intimacy in a medium that's perfect for transporting this kind of closeness.

It is also a great way to put an audience directly into the action. Between narrator and recipient, explanations and expositions are not necessary at the beginning, thus the plot unfolds quite directly (for them as well as for us listeners) and with a unique kind of suspense, because the narrator knows that she must be very careful with how she smuggles in the information to the person she wants to help. She can't just plainly tell her plan. What she sends to her client must still at least on the surface seem like a normal relaxation lesson.

Plus, our dear narrator often cannot know exactly how her client will react, and if the plan will unfold as plotted, or if something will go wrong. And we listeners also have to wait until the beginning of the next episode to find out if all went well, or if there has been a setback. And what to do then. To me, "Within the Wires" is a show characterized by high variety of its seasons, and each season excels in another aspect than the other seasons. And for season one, this aspect clearly is how it transports suspense. No other season is as thrilling as season one (although season three sometimes came pretty close, for similar reasons).

The production of season one is flawless. The narration is done by one of the authors, Janina Matthewson, and the music that's added is diegetical, supporting the surface appearance of a relaxation audio cassette.

One does not learn too much about the world of "Within the Wires" yet, but season one still is a perfect introduction, because it demonstrates perfectly what this unique podcast is capable of. Which gives season one a head start of 8 out of 10 points.

My review of season two >

[alxanderturners]

 | 𝓀𝑒𝑒𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝒸𝑜𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓂𝑒, 𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓉 𝒶 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜𝑜𝓁  |

Something had shifted in Alex recently. He found himself staying out later, going to parties that he'd lost interest in long ago, essentially anything to avoid going back to increasingly suffocating hotel rooms. He wasn't entirely sure if it was the lifestyle of life on the road that he was growing weary of - or the person he was sharing it with. The more he pulled away, the harder Louise tried. If it wasn't coming to all of his shows, it was arranging 'girl dates' with his band mates wives, calling his mother for catch ups that consisted of a lot of vapid small talk, or even posting him on social media more and more - that she knew he hated - as if she had something to prove. It all would've been endearing, if it didn't feel so claustrophobic.

Just the other night, he'd been out in Glasgow after the show, which was rare enough in itself, when he'd caught a man smiling over the bar at him. But that wasn't unusual. He'd grown used to the all knowing smile that said "I know who you are" - what was more unusual was his bodies response to it. For the first time in a long time, instead of dreading the common request for a selfie, he had sort of wanted the man to come over. But he never did. That alone was enough to make him pull the "not tonight, darling, I've got a bangin' headache" excuse out the bag when in bed with his girlfriend later that night.

Once again, he found himself back on home soil, doing anything to keep himself occupied. He wasn't sure whether it was his prior conversation with Mike that had brought him to see Brokeback Mountain, or the sheer coincidence that he had walked past a large poster announcing the show on the side of it's theatre. Whatever the case, it was a decision that had left him in near-tears. Whether it was the intimacy of the performance, or how true some of the moments had rang, Alex knew he had to commend the man who had brought him here.

Throughout the entirety of the show, his eyes gravitated towards Mike - whom was playing the bolder character, who was evidently more in touch with himself than the other - and he was reminded of Miles. He remembered precisely the moment his best friend had burst into his life, in the very early days of The Little Flames. Every body harboured a crush on the band's female vocalist, but Alex had gravitated naturally towards the man who would have a massive impact on his life. He was a much better guitar player than him at the time, and once Miles had begun to help him improve with lessons down at the local park, they fancied themselves as the next Lennon and McCartney. Even went as far as donning matching Beatle-esque hair styles. It wasn't until years later that Miles had put their friendship on the line on some random Tuesday night. Alex could remember it vividly. He'd told Miles about his plans to move an ocean away with Alexa - things had started to get more serious than he'd ever anticipated - and Miles' response had been to lay a kiss on him. A kiss that he could never quite put his finger on. Had it stirred up so many emotions within him because it had tested his very real love for Alexa? Or because that love would always be shared with his best friend?

Over the coming years, a lot of casual kisses followed - each one more daring and exciting than the last. They'd pose it as just dicking around on stage, though what they followed it with some nights was far from playing up just for the sake of the crowd. Once it had moved into private quarters, Alex was no longer certain if he was straight, bi, or only had feelings for one man. And he would never speak on it. Even now, he hadn't told anyone about his history with Miles - though he had a feeling those closest to him had always known. After all, how could they not?

"One heck of a show, that". After the last of the remaining stragglers at stage door had dispersed, Alex had waited until Mike was within ear shot to catch him before he made his way home for the night. "You fancy a beer?" @mikeefaist

[glitch-pep]

This is fan content unaffiliated with partycoffins work. Welcome Home belongs to partycoffin!

Alright, the paralels between these two are as obvious as it can get, so what's up with them?

[The answer to that is under the cut! Everything here is written as if it was written by the people running the website.]

Since the creators of Welcome Home couldn't find any use in Molly Moon and Sunny Sunrise separately, they've decided to combine the two, and give them their own little spin-off show, titled "The Plan!"

Well, at least, that seemed to be the plan, (Pun intended.) since we have managed to find a decent number of scripts for it. And, interestingly enough, the number of scripts doesn't line up with the number that was planned originally.

There seem to be far more than what was needed.

We haven't restored the entirety of them yet, because some scripts are damaged more than others or are just missing entirerly. Like the first episode, for example. While we found the other episodes with ease, episode one is nowhere to be found, except for a brief description of it's contents as a note:

"The origin story of how Molly and Sunny met, and an insight of what their lifes were like before that happened."

We have managed to compile enough information about the show as to where we can talk about it.

Supposedly, the show was about the unused concept characters Molly Moon and Sunny Sunrise, who were put together as a comedic antagonistic duo, due to their opposite personalities and designs, which oddly enough fit together perfectly without it being planned that way. They would've been redesigned to fit the finalized versions of the Welcome Home cast later on but the development of the show was cut short before it was ever fully finalized.

The show was supposed to be animated instead of it being done with puppets.

Episodes lengths were: 5 minute shorts, 11 minutes for regular episodes and 22 minutes for  specials.

The plot would follow the antagonistic leader Sunny and her sidekick Molly, as they try to ruin Sally Starlets life every episode... with plans that don't really cause that much damage anyways.

Episode structures were always the same, with the same kind of scenes and dialogue but with differences added to keep it interesting. (Note: Like Phineas and Ferb.) Every plan would fail in some manner at the end of every episode.

Besides being leader and sidekick, Sunny and Molly were also best friends, despite their many differences.

Sunny is there to motivate Molly to get out of her shell, and Molly is there as a voice of reason, to remind Sunny when something isn't a good idea. These two would compliment each other well, which would make for a fun watch.

Although the show would mainly focus on the comedic aspect, sometimes it would also include a lesson, which falls more in line with the original Welcome Home.

The direct reason for the erasure of the show is currently unknown, and even though we do have some theories about it, we'll wait until we gain more information about the overall production of it until we try to piece it together any further.

[ragamuffin-ponies]

My friend made this, it fills me with joy and good emotions. I think the idea of a "comfort character" is lost on a lot of people outside of fandom culture, and even to those within it.

With MLP G4 rising back into a viral sensation, a lot of people are using this to point and laugh at G5. "G4 got trending to beyond its peak in some spaces, and G5 is blah blah blah". That's fine, I don't think there's a problem with comparing old nostalgic good thing and new flashy 'not as good' thing. It's just part of our biology I think, to OVER value the old and UNDER value the new. But I do think a lot of the popularity G4 has been receiving recently is manifesting into people becoming bullies, ironically using the same lame talking points people did against G4 when it first came out and Bronies started leaving the dark pits of 4Chan. "The animation is bad!" "It's for kids" it's too this it's too that it's just trying to sell you toys. It's cute. It's funny. It's fun.

When I was 10 years old my best friend told me a story about a group of six magical ponies who went on adventures while we did classwork under the computer desk. It was so incredibly enticing, he would tell me all about the nerdy one, and the silly one, and the shy one, all of them. He would tell me about their adventures and I couldn't believe it! I laughed at them and I was so suprised that a show that his sister should be watching had them fight big monsters. He told me about Applejack, and I knew right then from the start that she was my favorite pony. She was a silly cowgirl who loved her family no matter the obstacle; and although I may have waivered, she is still my favorite pony to this day and forever more.

It's hard to properly explain well exactly WHY I love her so much. I mean, beyond why she's just my favorite character. Applejack is a lesbian orphan who grew up poor and has to raise her kid sister and has to struggle to be everything all at once and is constantly desperate for to prove herself and for approval because of her tramua and tries to be everything for everyone and still manages to smile and have fun. She grew up too fast and HAS to please everyone always. No job is too small to give 110%, and that includes jobs bigger than she can handle. The fandom called her the "mom of the group" and like yeah she kinda is. She basically was a mom before she graduated high school. She had to step up, and she did. I often think of the lullaby AJ sings to Apple Bloom every night when she tucks her in. Or the Apple Family Reunion episode. Or the entirety of Somepony To Watch Over Me. Behind that unwavering love there is fear, fear of time slipping through her proverbial (and non-existent) fingers. Fear of not making that 110% most out of every instant, fear of losing again.

AJ keeps it all inside, and in my giant list of things I wish they did an episode on, I really wish they did one where the lesson was it's okay to feel sad, sad about things even if they happened a long time ago. I think it would have worked really well with AJ and the rest of the Mane 6 in season nine. You can't keep it all inside, you gotta be honest with yourself. I guess that's what fanfic is for though.

Applejack is more than just a fictional pony I love, to me she is the closest thing to being real as anything fake can be. Seeing her, thinking about her, it literally makes me happy. It's like an old friend I grew up with over the last 12 years, and we still check in on each other time after time. No matter how much I change, she will always be the most loyalist of friends and the most dependable of ponies. I can count on her to be there by my side. Those crazy Tumblr folk are right, it really is more like a kinship.

I'm very happy my friend likes Misty, the same way I'm very happy my other friend loves Trixie, and Fluttershy, and Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, and Twilight, and Dashie, and all the other little ponies all my friends like. Finding that one character you can cling to and who speaks to you is magical.

Back in say 2013 or 2014, people did not love Applejack or appreciate her at all. She would be bullied constantly by fans and no one would take her seriously at all. That is no longer the case, and although she will never be as liked as the rest of her friends, something tells me that doesn't bother her too much.

I saw a lot of Misty hate online today, and I just don't get it. I've seen very little G5, but she's so cute and fun! I could have watched nothing at all and you know what, I bet she'd still be cute and fun! Because she's a magical pony. And she means the world to many people, and THAT'S awesome.

I think the idea of a "comfort character" is lost on a lot of people outside of fandom culture, and even to those within it, but I think it can be explained to people at least within the same fandom. I'd do it like this: "you know how we all feel any My Little Pony? Well, I feel that way about this character, within My Little Pony." These worlds mean the world to people, and so do three characters inside them. I know she makes me feel safe and calm, anyway. A little crazy, but so is all of this anyway.

I hope G5 only gets better, and I hope everyone stops being so mean to people who love their ponies a little bit different than what they are used to.

Stay safe, love a pony 🧡

safe space

[interpreterslinguistics]

Conversations with Leviathan #4, Dream Lessons 22/2/23

The meditation begins with him sitting cross-legged in an encompassing, slowly spinning if moving at all orb of dark mist, near-black, tinged either with purple or with grey - I can't tell. The shadow and vagueness of his form deeply betrays the fact that he is inhuman. He barely pretends; the way he walks shows under his robes more colourful than his usual appearances the legs of a reptile and the impression of a similar trailing body; moving to the window though not leaning on it, he looks outside. The scene out there is bright and familiar, the usual view outside my window, but thoroughly dreamlike. Dreamlike... Not metaphorical, I feel like my consciousness is falling down into sleep as I watch the scene. 

In another world, in reaction to my sleepiness, I see him lean down tucking me as a child into bed, and I sink off into sleep.

-

We talk for a moment on the physical plane - mostly in energy - on the nature of waking up from this dreaming state. How am I to wake up from dreaming? He says that it's a matter of clinging on to something physical, real. He also points out that there's an art to moving inwards; he says to go from experiencing oneself out of one's body to moving inwards and experiencing oneself awake. Isn't that how it works? Where dreaming you spill outside, and waking you're self-contained?

-

Dream 1: 

He sits before me asleep, emanating lines of stories from his body. These arch as pictographs across the cave walls, humans hunting bovines with spears... And yet each emanating line is different, like arms of sun rays: they're indvidual timelines, individual universes. 

Outside the cave is a world I've never seen before. It's lush and prehistoric and yet the density radiating off the plants gives the distinct impression that this is every time and place - or more so the same time and place but in all universes overlaid into one. It's not that they're overaid like onion skin, it's more just that they are ethereally omnipresent like a nest of the very first eggs to ever hatch before the population eventually becomes worldwide. It's beautiful; I can't help but want to touch but he urges me from his position inside the cave to leave it be. 

Travelling outside of it leads to a clear path in the natural easing of the tree trunks, though it's completely shaded by sunlit tree leaves making each leaf luminescent emerald green. I see a small frog hop across the clearing but it's not... real? It's like a ghost as if it were on a different plane passing through, unable to see me as I see it. 

-

That's the ground he implies, and now it's time for the sky.

Leaving the cave as a brown eagle - I presume it's an eagle form - he beckons me to follow him and I do as a crow. The sky grows colder and colder as we ascend but less because of the height of it and more bcause I feel like we draw closer and closer to the Black Sky. The Day seems to give way as if the Night were pressing on its skin, transitioning through it, revealing the strangely organic, almost body-fluid-esque darkness with the speckling of stars... It's as if they're placed purposely on the skin of something or each of its cutaneous layers, hung like off the Firmament - he laughs and turns around ushering me to do the same and we look back down, not through the day sky on to the far ground but through the night sky to the day sky, creamy, translucent blue.

It feels as if this is... I can't word that. It's a view he's familiar with is all I can say, that this is something he's familiar with seeing. On the other side of the sky I can tell he's holding it in its entirety, the size of the Earth itself, with his left hand; he's so expansive I can't even see more than a portion of his body as he fades away from view. It's... 

I get the feeling he's holding things to show me, so I peer into the blue - he chuckles and implies I should move back. "Perceive the entirety."

It's almost hard to perceive it in its entirety, though. It seems to encompass parts of me or rather this attempt at viewing is tied to senses within me I never get to open and experience through. "But what do you feel?"

I move to a more electric-based view, no, even that isn't right, but he says I'm getting closer. Physically he takes control of my body to put on a song I associate with what it feels like to be a sky spirit and puts it on loop.

What do I feel in it? I feel lost in it, that's what I feel. I struggle to keep track of the way it flows, as if it were parts of my own internal organ system floating away and outwards instead of staying in a predictable position. I poke him about possibly being wrong and he reassures me "There is no wrong answer."

It feels thick, and material, and - "Pause there for a moment. Material?" I mean that it feels so tangible and like something to cling on to. He very gently, subtly, implies that that may be something to look into with regards to waking up from a sleeping state. What is it that's material about it? What is it that my consciousness is doing when it experiences something as real?

He takes me through it, clouds somehow indistinguishable from the sky as if they were the milk in the homogenous mixture that makes it opaque like pale blue paint, and yet still whipping past us as we fly through. I feel everything get dimmer and dimmer but not the sky itself, just, my eyes, getting closer to....

-

Dream 2: 

He sits ahead of me slumped over asleep in a cave. From him emanates lines of stories, individual universes, reaching outwards in pictographs towards the incredibly lush outer world. Outside though will collapse into one world when I go out there this time. I see his huge hands, clawed and inhuman though covered in human skin, in some sort of illusory state - as if he's manipulating reality with illusion so that they're invisible, but since they're really there if you're consious enough to see them you can - picking at and moving around and... Influencing, this line of history. He's outside of time and space in this cave controlling and reorienting certain universes - oh, plural. Because if you look around and know what to look for you can see many hands absolutely betraying the fact that this human body, as each hand let alone its arm is bigger than this sleeping human body he's presenting itself, is just a projection. He's directly... Well, it feels more so that he's showing each part of these timelines where exactly he had an influence; it's not that he's saying he's influencing them after they were written but he sure is suggesting being outside of the confines of time and space when he influenced them. Humanity sees him enter and exit at certain points on their linear historical timeline, I guess this i how he sees he same thing. I get a glimpse outside and for a split second I see it's on fire and being destroyed horrifically and violently by said fire before it flashes back to 'normal', I don't have any idea what that was about.

"But you do, don't you." 

He appears at the cave entrance looking like a black reptilian canine, huge like a two-story building, teeth sharp like tusks and pupils glowing near-white. behind him the forest is on fire again but it's so strange, it's so thick as if the scene used to be water and now is mucous, and the implication is that this firey version is one of the many overlaying pan-possibilities somehow growing more and more 'possible', more and more significant to the timeline. 

He invites me to come outside.

-

Dream 3: 

I'm running with a pack of fellow black canines as fast as my body allows through a blackened, firelit, explosive battlefield. There are bodies strewn about that stagnate and blur in my vision long after I pass them - but not because that's something horrific and so much more because I'm putting off the understanding that that's food from the hunt that I'm missing out on. In the far distance, racing in the same direction as us, is the Storm Mother riding atop a... big wolf? Something heavy and obscured by dense smoke but her energy signature is unmistakable, looking as if the Sun itself is haloing her entire form like the Moon races with your car in the night. 

He overshadows the battlefield, even more torn from 3D space than she was, overlaid as if this reality were just a video on a screen over which a translucent image of him is shown. His left hand behind his back, he holds something outwards in his right... I'm running still but focused on this unveiling image. Holding... A key? And a lock? The key enters into a lock and the scene forcibly is pulled into the Black Hole in a fraction of - 

-

Back to the sky I pull my head from it as if all these visions were just seeing through it.

"Isn't that what a scyring mirror is, no?" He stands before me cloaked in pale blue - he's wearing other colours but my brain can't register anything other than sky blue looking at him. His face is blurred entirely, except for crows' eyes as sleek black as the long hair framing his face. 

-

Dream 4:

We're alone on a boat in an endless sea, illuminated green by the green and pink sky above which churns around the piercing orange Sun. He rows, the gentle sound of oars in the water floats about; the ocean is warm as if it were a body. There's an implication that our shared house is carried atop the boat as it seems barely in reality, illusory vision showing metaphor so thick that it almost becomes reallity. It's a strange calm, as if we were sitting on summer's afternoon on a hillside watching the afternoon sky.

In the water are fish, long and thick, in strangely mechanical sine wave lines, looking like endless lemniscates. The closest ones seem to mostly move with us though these endless lemniscate fish go in every direction, like an intersection, like passing a car on a motorway and being struck with the understanding that the people inside have their own life you'll never know, it's almost bittersweet watching them go in their own directions. 

They're DNA, aren't they? He nods, and as I look back to him rowing I see he's so much more familiar now - black hat covering his eyes, facial hair, black coat. It feels like we're rowing over a huge, pale body of some divine force. 

[went-to-sleep]

The Sumeru Akademiya Summit was the most prestigious event any scholar could ever hope to attend. Brilliant minds from the entirety of Teyvat gathered together to exchange knowledge of any subject, as a way to promote technologic and scientific development throughout the Seven Nations. And to celebrate such an occasion, the Akademiya paid little mind to expenses: the food was abundant and delicious, the floors of every room reflected the figures of those who walked upon them, and the students’ dorms were to be used as accommodations for the guests, obviously free of charge. The meetings, talks, lessons, and debates went on for a full week, filling the corridors of the Akademiya with invaluable wisdom.

As far as he was concerned, Albedo had planned to act exactly as he did four years ago, when the previous summit took place: attend some meetings, give some lectures, enjoy some free food. Despite the reputation of the event, he found himself hardly caring about anything that was discussed, especially if it involved people whose opinions he did not respect. To be frank, he was only there to represent Mondstadt, as the Nation of Freedom was hardly known for its scientific achievements. Besides, he had been concerned Grand Master Jean might have had a nervous breakdown if he refused to go.

And so, the alchemist was once again roaming the numerous rooms of the Akademiya, hoping that no one would notice his presence, or even worse, try to start a conversation. What a foolish dream. Just an hour after his arrival, before he could even reach his room, a young researcher had already started to pester him with questions, each dumber than the previous. It was only a matter of time before another overly enthusiastic scholar found him. Nevertheless, he refused to head back to his room so soon, having promised himself not to completely avoid any and all social interactions. He opted to sit in the back of a mycology lecture given by a local Forest Watcher. It was interesting enough to keep his attention for the most part, but Albedo’s mind could not help drifting away more and more as the time passed, as he grew gradually more tempted to leave. Once the lecture was finally over, he had already made his decision to head back and work on a personal project— the day had been exhausting enough already.

Nothing could have prepared him for seeing her again.

Standing in the Main Hall, wolfing down panipuri like there was no tomorrow, was none other than his former colleague and friend, Mona Megistus. She seemed torn between two equally important things that begged for her attention: the very serious scholar she was in a conversation with, and the delectable snacks offered by the Akademiya.

Albedo froze in his tracks. It had been years since he had last seen the astrologist, and spotting her again with no warning had brought back way too many memories— both pleasant and not. She was more beautiful than ever. A long, form-fitting silver dress draped across her body, making her shine between all the dull blues, greens, and purples that most researchers opted for. Her hands donned elbow-length sheer gloves, her hair fell loose on her shoulders, and an elaborate silver necklace adorned her neck. And of course, every single piece of the ensemble brought attention to those moon-kissed eyes of hers. No matter what room she entered, she would have had all eyes on her, as not even the most logical and cold of researchers could have ignored her presence. Albedo felt himself go from shocked, to transfixed, to burning with envy for the man she was speaking with, all in a matter of seconds.

A half idea to greet her and rekindle their friendship started to form in his mind: any excuse would have been acceptable if it meant he could be in her life again. It wasn’t long before that idea was being drastically torn to shreds by the bitter, petty, and frustrated side of him. He couldn’t quite tell who or what he was mad at— whether the astrologist for leaving him behind, or the fate that separated them. Not that it mattered. The only things he knew was that he could not bear to look at her for a moment longer, and that he was completely captivated. Try as he might, he could not stop staring at her from across the hall. It should not have come as a surprise, then, when Mona started heading towards him, a wide smile on her lips. Albedo did not remember her smile being this bright.

“Good evening, stranger! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Her tone was jovial, happy to have found a friend she had cared deeply for in the past once again.

He was furious.

How could her smile be this wide, when the mere sight of her tore his heart out of his chest? How could she be this calm, when he had felt nothing but emptiness after she left?

Did she even know what effect she had on him?

The coldness he greeted her with was on instinct. Maybe it was to send a message, though he couldn’t quite tell what he even wanted to say.

“Lady Megistus.”

Mona stuttered, and as her smile dimmed, if only by a little, Albedo could see confusion in her silver eyes. He wouldn’t admit it to himself, but seeing her happy expression disappear did, at the very least, bring him some comfort. He didn’t give the astrologist any time to process his response, as he finally gathered the strength to move his legs once again, and left for his room.

He felt her eyes on the back of his head as he walked away, but this time, he refused to look back.

[nicknellie]

boyfriends💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[atlabeth]

a lady's guide to surviving the ton - benedict bridgerton

summary: you've prepared an endless list of rules and notes for the season to ensure a successful debut. benedict may be in need of some tips for a courtship of his own.

a/n: thank you for all the love on my first bridgerton fic!! like the amount of support has been insane and ily so much <3<3 bridgerton has just been really good for inspo lately so yk i had to write abt good ol benny boy. its just a short lil fluffy piece abt fun idiot courting methods lol but i hope you enjoy

wc: 1.4k

warning(s): none i think. just pure fluff

“Are you ever going to dance at one of these balls, or is writing your only intention?” 

You glanced up from your journal and smiled, perhaps the only man in the ton capable of causing the reaction. “You may have years of experience from accompanying your siblings, but I have  just debuted with my only experience being my older sister’s season. I am merely documenting everything I can so I shall be able to perform at my best during the season.” 

Benedict chuckled. “Documenting everything? Making it through the season is quite simple — a couple charming smiles, a few courtesy dances, and you will have the men falling at your feet. Or, if you prefer, you can go the route of my brother — Anthony despises the season, and yet he still manages to have every lady at his beck and call. I truly do not understand how he does it.” 

“Perhaps it is because of his attitude that he is so desirable to them,” you pointed out. “There is nothing a man loves more than a seemingly unattainable woman, but I’ve found the ladies of the ton to be quite similar in regards to untouchable men. It is the reason why, apart from riches and status, dukes and marquesses are so appealing to the masses.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You have certainly done your research on the ton, my lady. Maybe your wallflower strategy is indeed working out for you.” 

“I try,” you said, bolstered by his praise. “Though, of course, the reason for his desirability could be much more simple.” 

“And that is?” 

You shrugged and smiled at him. “Anthony is devastatingly attractive. I find that works wonders on a lady.” 

“Your deduction forces me to question the legitimacy of your work,” Benedict said with a slight frown. “Though I think we have an opportunity to prove it now.” 

“Oh?” 

Benedict offered a smile of his own along with his hand. “I consider myself quite attractive. Should it work wonders on you, your research shall be fully accepted.” 

You couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of you as you gave him a sideways smile. “That is awfully confident of you, Mister Bridgerton.”

“That is simply because I believe I am worthy of it, Miss Beauvale,” he responded in kind. “I would be grateful if you would indulge me in a dance.” 

“Well,” you said with mock haughtiness as you accepted his hand, placing your journal on a table to the side, “how could I ever refuse?” 

You each took your positions on the floor as you joined in seamlessly with the other dancers, one of Benedict’s hands on the small of your back and the other intertwined with your own hand as you set the other on his shoulder.

Only once you felt the movements register in your muscles, the waltz that had been ingrained in your mind after hours upon hours of dance lessons, did you begin to talk, trusting in your ability to continue without stumbling. 

“The more that I think about it, the more I realize I have in fact never seen you on the dance floor with a woman other than your sisters,” you said. “Not in the balls we have had thus far nor the entirety of my sister’s season. However have you managed it?”

“It is the often overlooked privilege of the second son,” Benedict responded. “My siblings are quite skilled at taking over the spotlight, and thus I am rewarded the courtesy of remaining in the shadows and indulging in my own wants. It also helps that most ladies go after a title, and Anthony has far more to offer there than I.” 

“Ah,” you nodded. “You are quite fortunate, Mister Bridgerton. No matter how hard I try to blend in with the walls, a suitor always manages to find me. It becomes exhausting after a time.” 

“Then I suppose it is quite fortunate now that you have a suitor you can bear on your arm,” Benedict said playfully. 

“Is that what you are?” you asked with a raised eyebrow. “A suitor?” 

“I thought it was quite obvious with my asking you to dance,” he said, tilting his head to the side slightly. “Though I must admit, I am not very knowledgeable on all a suitor must do. If you have spent so much time watching, you ought to have some advice you can share.” 

You looked at him with thinly veiled amusement. “Am I providing the resources for my own courtship?” 

Benedict shrugged with mock ambivalence. “That is a secret, my lady, but it would mean a great deal if you could share some of your notes with me.” 

You hummed as you pretended to think long and hard. “Many of my tips are for the ladies of the ton, but I suppose that I have some advice that can apply to gentlemen.”

He grinned. “Fantastic. Do tell.” 

“Well,” you started, “it is most important to be kind, above all else. A lady will not entertain anyone who only deigns to insult her. Compliment not just her appearance, but her skills and mind as well — it can be upsetting to be praised only for the things one cannot control.” 

“So if I were to, say, compliment a lady on how well the blues of her dress highlight her eyes, I should also commend her on how brilliantly articulated she is,” Benedict said with a coy smile, his eyes leaving your own for a moment to linger on the cerulean fabric of your outfit.

“Yes,” you responded with a nod, a smile of your own tugging at your lips, “though it is also polite to let her know when you are complimenting her. Perhaps when you are dancing with the aforementioned lady in blue.”

“I believe she understands what I am trying to say,” he said, eyes twinkling. “Please, continue.” 

You rolled your eyes goodnaturedly but obliged nonetheless. “If a gentleman is interested in a lady, it is imperative that he asks her for a dance — a lady is unable to ask for a dance herself, but she is, on the other hand, barred from refusing an offer. It is the easiest way to show interest.” 

Benedict hummed as he led you through a spin. “I’ve already asked a lovely lady to dance, so I believe you can move to your next step.” 

You felt your cheeks heat up at his words, the bottom of your skirt twirling with your movements before you took up your regular position again. “Apart from asking for dances, a gentleman must also be an active caller at his lady’s estate if he wishes to woo her. I’ve found offers of gifts and his company to be the most effective, especially if those gifts involve flowers.” 

“Flowers,” he muttered to himself before he met your eyes again. “Completely off topic, but it is necessary all the same — what is your favorite type of flower?” 

You grinned, now fully unable to hide your joy at his unconventional courting. “Purple hydrangeas.”

“Very lovely,” he nodded. “This all does seem to be coming together quite nicely. I feel as if you know the way to a lady’s heart better than I do.” 

You chuckled. “That is simply not true. I am skilled at listening and watching from the sidelines — you are perfectly capable of gaining a lady’s affections.” 

“You say it with such confidence,” Benedict said, the twinkle in his eye returning. “Could it be that I have already gained the affections of a certain lady?” 

“Perhaps,” you said, barely managing to bite back your smile. “But perhaps you have held the affections of the lady in question well before this season.” 

“Certainly a twist of events,” he said with mock austerity. “Though I suppose the confession means I was correct all along. A pretty face truly is all it takes for a lady to fall.” 

You felt your cheeks flush yet again and Benedict smiled, though his expression faltered for a moment. “That is— if you are the lady in question.” 

“Of course I am, Benedict,” you giggled. “I thought it was quite obvious with my blatant flirting.” 

His sheepish smile told you all you needed to know as the dance came to an end, the two of you separating as you bowed to each other. “I take it this means I am officially courting you, Miss Beauvale?” 

“I would love nothing more, Mister Bridgerton,” you responded proudly. 

Benedict beamed at you as he offered his arm to you, and you began to walk off to the side of the dance floor together after you took it. “Perfect — with your advice and my charm, I am sure we can muddle through this courtship together.” 

"Certainly," you nodded with a smile of your own. “As long as we are together.” 

-

perm tags: @dv0412 @siriuslyslyslytherin @maruchan77 @simonsbluee @kwyloz @masteroperator 

[2kverrr]

YOᑌ ᑕᗩᑎ'T ᑕᕼIᑕKEᑎ OᑌT ᑎOᗯ

Rachel Amber 🤝 Reader

Summary: Complete and utter shit. I was sleep deprived for the entirety of writing this.

Warnings: Swearing. Can’t remember anything else.

Rachel is always up for a new adventure, no matter how crazy it might be. She's always dragging me into her latest conspiracy theory or hare-brained scheme. It keeps me on my toes, so I don't have much to complain about.

Our day had been a relaxed one, we had breakfast in the diner, visited the newborn ducklings near the docks, and sat on the bench overlooking the ocean next to the lighthouse. In the setting sun, the sky coloured with beautiful hues, sit back and take in the view.

There was a slight breeze keeping our hair out of our faces as waves crashed against the rocks below us. In this moment of relaxation, our shoulders gently brush against one another.

We sit there for a long time, just enjoying each other's company and the peacefulness of the moment. It's wonderful being able to just sit and talk, without having to worry about anything else in the world.

You can tell we don't have too long before sunset, Rachel turns to me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Eventually, Rachel speaks up, her voice filled with excitement. "I've been thinking... we should do something fun"

I grin at her, "Where to this time?" I sigh, hiding any excitement in my tone.

"Blackwell,"

"Oh wow. Thrilling." I chuckle, facing the ocean again.

"You haven't heard the idea yet!"

I raise my eyebrows, giving her the hint to explain whatever was going on in her head.

"Okay, so..."

She waffles on about the plan for a solid 10 minutes, with no pause, no break, I'm not even sure she was breathing while talking.

"I kind of already started putting it together so you have no choice... You down?"

"Totally," I smirk, the idea of potentially getting into trouble got my blood pumping.

-----------

Monday came around, and Rachel and I rocked up to school in casual attire, showing up to our first two lessons as we would every other day.

"Okay, we go to third period, just like the rest of the day, nobody can look in our bags, we can't have Victoria Chase running up to Wells." She begins, "Meet me after your lesson in the gym closet, and then we'll begin." She reminds me, "Oh, and don't forget to tell Warren about it, he could be a good addition if it turns out shit." She adds.

"Right. May the Gods guide you, spirited one." I fist bump her and make my way to my science class.

I'm greeted at the door by Ms Grant, "Hey, Y/n. Long time no see." She teases, I'm not exactly one for showing up to her lessons.

I take my seat next to Warren and nudge him, "What's up?"

He looks up from his phone, "Not much, life's been a drag lately. My parents are coming to visit, I got a B- on my test, and Max won't go ape with me!" He complains with a huff.

"Oh,  boo-fucking-hoo. How about I make your life better." I smile, the plan was too good.

"Uh- um. Y/n, you're a good friend and all, but, I just-" He stumbles, his face completely red and his flailing arms topping it all off.

"Ew, no. I mean, me and Rachel are setting up something."

"Oh... cool. Setting up what?"

"Okay, I'll put it into short words for your B- mind. Prank call. Glitter bugs. Conditioner from 1975. Lawn mower maniac. Best macho-man wrestling competition, with a sprinkle of a mariachi band. In-fest-ation." I grin.

"Y/n, are you having a stroke?"

"No! I just fucking explained it to you." I playfully hit his arm.

"Well, I'm really confused but I'm all for it." He agrees. I continue to go into depth about it.

I send a quick text to Rachel, just checking she hasn't backed out, and she responds at the speed of light with a paragraph containing how awesome it's going to be.

----------

I quickly slip into the gym closet, unnoticed, and I'm met by the blonde talking to someone on her phone, "Yes, they will be held at Blackwell academy- Uh, yes I just said that. Of course, you can bring your friend too, as long as they're entering the contest, okay? Good luck." She rolls her eyes at the speaker but smiles once she makes eye contact with me.

"You brought the phone?"

I dig through my bag in search of the burner phone, digging out the small black device and handing it to Rachel. "Right, I'll get started, you get up into the ceiling."

"Gotcha."

I rummage through the shelves of the gym closet, trying to find something suitable to get into the ceiling panels with. I find a pretty big box that's 100% for the job.

During my attempt to lug the box out of its space, Rachel's voice distracts me.

"Has Blackwell academy experienced an observation within the last 4 months?" She interrogates the person on the other end of the call (Mr Wells) with her best adult voice. Her eyebrows furrow with each exaggerated word that leaves her mouth. All that acting really paid off.

I pull out the box and place it underneath the loosest ceiling panel, judging by looks.

I continue to slowly climb up, using my phone's flashlight into the space beyond and see the complete and utter darkness. I keep climbing until I'm completely in the ceiling. It's a dusty old crawlspace, but I'll have to suck it up.

"Well, the school has had an anonymous report on Blackwell's health and safety guidelines being disrupted, I recommend you obtain an observation soon. You will be receiving a call later on today, It is my duty to alert you of this issue and to advise you to deal with it within the day." Rachel continues, hanging up the phone.

"Hey Rach?"

"Yes, light of my life?" I hear her giggle in return

"I think I just saw a spider."

"Yeah, there's probably loads up there. You'll be fine."

"No Rachel," I stick my head towards the gap left by the missing ceiling panel, my eyes burning into Rachel's, "I will not be fine. I'm fine with, rats, cats, bats and gnats, but not fucking bugs, I did not sign up for this!"

Rachel scoffs, rolling her eyes, "Come on, you can't chicken out now Y/n."

I groan, continuing my journey to where I predict the hallway is. Once I feel I'm far enough, I reach into my bag, taking out as many small dispensers as I could and placing them down next to me. Most of them contained bug-shaped glitter, and a few of them contained some weird gooey substance with small black beads in, acting as glitter-bug eggs.

I slide my fingers in between the crevices of the ceiling panels, creating a tiny gap. Enough to stand the dispenser's nozzles between.

I continue to crawl through the ceiling and place the dispensers until there were no more to go.

I gently take a hold of a small red string attached to the nozzle of each and every dispenser, once that string is pulled, the contents of the dispensers will be released. It's genius.

I carefully reverse crawl back to above the gym closet, red string held lightly in my hand as I climb out.

"Thought you go lost up there," Rachel smiles once I'm on the ground, ", looks like you got a little dust allergy there, Y/n/n." She gestures to my florescent red arms.

"Worth it." I grin.

"Okay, come on, we've got more work to do. I've got to go chat to Samuel and make sure he's cutting the grass where the band and competition are going to be. And-"

"I know, I know. I've got to go ruin some bitches hair." I finish her sentence.

"Good girl, now remember. It should be their half day, so it's going to be soon that they go for a shower, be quick." Rachel warns me.

"No like literally. Run." She urges me, pushing me out the door.

I jog to the dormitories, slowing down when I notice Bitchtoria's trio of bitches. Sadly, she clicks onto my presence. "Hey whore, committed any crimes today? Of course besides the ones against fashion that you seem to be a professional at." She hisses, her little minions giggling at her harsh words.

"I may have, Victoria. I may have." I answer with a smirk.

"Whatever," She huffs, ", get lost, I can't stand seeing your face."

"Anything for you," I respond, returning to the task at hand and walking through the dorm doors and almost sprinting up the stairs.

As I make my way to Courtney's room I reach into my hair, pulling out a hairpin that should come in handy and letting my hair loose.

I try the door handle to her room but, unsurprisingly, she didn't lock it. I mean, what am I expecting, the girl doesn't even know her lefts and rights.

I slip into the room undetected, and oh my God. Her room gives me the chills. It's like normal and everything but there are like 8 photos of dogs, and none of them are of the same dog, I wouldn't be shocked if they weren't even hers.

I put my many questions revolving around her room to the side and search for Courtney's wash bag, finding it sitting on her desk. I reach in taking out a small pink bottle of her conditioner. I empty it into a container and fill the bottle up with the new conditioner, very... very new. 1975 to be exact. If I'm being completely honest, I don't think Courtney deserves this as much as the other 'friends', but the more the merrier, am I right?

I leave the room, my next victim being Taylor, who actually had enough common sense to lock her door.

I unlock the door, and immediately try to find her conditioner. I doubt I have long left before everything kicks off so I best be quick. Taylor's wash bag hiding underneath a bunch of dirty clothes, that I simply just kick aside. I finish the business and leave, walking down the dorm to Victoria's room. I pull out the hairpin once more and insert it into the keyhole,

"What are you doing?" A voice questions from behind me. I freeze solid.

"I left my phone in her room." I turn around to face the stranger.

Juliet the fucking reporter, I can either win this (which I most likely will, I never lose) or I can lose this (tiny chance).

"Why would you be in her room anyway?" She digs.

"What's with all the questions, Watson? I've got places to be."

I continue shoving my pin into the keyhole, clicking up all the smaller locks until it finally opens. "Y/n, tell me what you're doing. I can see your phone in your back pocket, so there's clearly another reason." She reasons in a slightly higher voice, luring out Dana from her room, "Hey, what's going on?" She stands outside the door in her cheerleading uniform.

"She won't tell me what she's up to."

She examines me for a moment, "Well if she's broke into Victoria Chase's room there's clearly a very good reason."

Kill me already, I can't be getting caught I'm so close.

As if on cue, I hear the bitchy voices from outside of the dormitory door.

"Please, I am begging you. Give me a bit of time to do what I have to and distract them, I'll tell you everything once I'm done." I beg, I've never sounded more pathetic in my life.

Juliet's face showed she was going to resist but Dana pulls her aside to go distract the trio. I quietly close the door and rummage through the shelves in her room for her conditioner. I soon find it in, of course, a designer wash bag, typical.

I pour the conditioner out and put the absolutely disgusting new one in.

The pretty loud quarrel distracts me as I put away any evidence that may be deemed suspicious, "Nice bruises on your knees where'd you get them, whore?" I hear Victoria's mumbled voice screech through the door.

Well shit, they were meant to get her away from the fucking door. How am I meant to get out now?

I look around the room for anywhere to hide or to escape, yeah, definitely no black void scheduled to show up out of nowhere and teleport me outside the dorms. A girl can dream.

"You're just upset you don't get any play, virgin-slut." I hear Juliet bite back.

Okay, so I either hide under her bed like a creep or go skydiving out the window and hope there are some bushes for me to land on.

Neither sound too appealing but I've gotta go with the second option. Lifting up the window and throwing my bag out, probably breaking everything inside of it. I pull myself up and slide my legs through the window, letting my feet find themselves along the small white rims. I shuffle to the right just until I reach the window of Kate's room.

If she's in I could climb through into her room and then go fetch my bag later. Okay, easy. Not completely terrifying at all.

I can feel my feet slowly slipping and it's getting exhausting doing some sort of dance with my feet just to cling on.

I let my hands grasp the sides of her window frame, one hand letting go to urgently knock on her window. I see the poor girl scared half to death by the knock and falling off her chair.

"Hey, Kate!" I shout, her eyes catching mine and a visible sigh of relief leaving her mouth before she scrambles off the floor to the window I'm clinging onto dear life for. I signal for her to open the window with my hand and she does so within an instance.

"Y/n, what are you doing!" Her voice full of concern as she opens the window.

"Potentially saving my own life." I laugh, still hanging off the window frames.

"Give me your hand." She urges, taking my hand while I lean through the window face first. I let the top half of my body fall into the girl's room.

Kate laughs as I land in front of her, she quickly pulls me to her chest and hugs me as tight as she possibly can.

"Oh my goodness, you scared me! Now tell me why-"

"I snuck into Victoria's room and she was going to burst in, I had no choice," I answer her question before she managed to say it.

"Right, I really need to go, we'll catch up later, alright?" I smile, giving her a friendly peck on the cheek before I rush out of the room.

I look to my left and see Juliet and Dana awaiting my return post-argument, they both share a baffled expression, that I'll have to explain later. But for now, get bag, and find Rachel.

----------

"So, is it-"

"Done." I finish for her aggressively.

Rachel rolls her eyes, "What's up your ass?"

"I have just been through hell and back, I am traumatised Rachel. Traumatised. You should've seen Courtney's interior design. The smell of that conditioner I have had to experience, not once, not twice but thrice!" I huff, eyes wide open.

"Wow, you're a trooper, Y/n/n." She chuckles at my seriousness.

"Oh, and to top it all off, Victoria almost fucking caught me, and I'm sure I'm going to be in Juliet's newspaper.

"Shoulda-" She tries to butt in, but, oh no, I'm not letting this one go easily. She's had it easy so far.

"Not finished yet, Amber. I had to climb out of a fucking in Victoria's room and shuffle down to Kate's. Do you know how much space there is for your feet on those walls?" I question.

"No, I don't" She answers, clearly trying to hold back a laugh.

"Not fucking much..." I finish

"You finished yet? The mariachi band is about to make their entrance, and Samuel should come in after them, and then the frenzy will begin. Within the time Samuel starts a riot and Wells witnesses, the referee of the macho-wrestlers should begin the first fight while he's distracted. Then we can begin the infestation. And, of course, the troublesome trio will be running up to Well's on a warpath." She explains for the like 70th time today.

"Right, message me when I should pull the string." I request, referencing the glitter- bug string.

I wander inside the school to the gym closet, but inside I notice Warren. I walk in and close the door behind me, "What're you doing?" I ask him, confused as to why he's here.

"Okay, don't be mad, well, I don't think you will. If anything you'll-" He waffles on, saying anything but the point.

"Spit it out, Graham."

"I made the infestation way more realistic-"

"Don't say you put real bugs in." I groan and my fingers massage my temples.

"No, I'm not a monster. I've planted more around the school and put a chemical in the glitter bug dispensers that can give off different reactions depending on the force. So, say it hit the floor, it'll make a bang. And if it reaches past its boiling point, which is 12 degrees Celsius, it'll release methane, so basically farts and create small coloured clouds." He speaks passionately, my head raised at his speech, my arm dropping back down to its side.

What an absolute legend, I begin to thank him for his work but a notification from Rachel giving me to go interrupts me. I pull the string while Warren presses a small makeshift mechanical button.

We immediately leave the gym closet and notice the chaos achieved already. We jog over to the entrance, Rachel waves us over to view the menace caused to Blackwell. Samuel running away from the mariachi band with his lawn-mower, while students think some sort of bug is going to kill them, and not to forget a hundred macho-wrestlers going at it (not like that you horny shits) on the floor.

And still yet to come, Victoria and her friends' little hair issue. The three of us walk down to the dormitory courtyard as Victoria's volcanic fury beings to erupt.

We watch numerous students exit the dorm to escape the trio's wrath, some getting caught in the crossfire. The three storm out through the doors, growling at any who dared them in the eye. Their hair soaked and... well, you know, covered in (at this point) nuclear conditioner from the dinosaur ages.

"I will find out whoever did this, and they will fucking pay!" Victoria screeches, balled fists ready to swing at anybody who dared oppose her.

"For the record, I didn't do this," I chime in, just to push her that tiny bit over the edge.

"Shut your damn mouth," She yells, her face red with anger.

"Hey, no need to be like that, hair is washable, y'know." Warren speaks up trying to hide a cheeky grin, gaining a scoff and shrug from the three of them as they leave.

Screams follow their trail, and Mr Wells' voice is soon added to the mix. "Victoria, I do not have time for your personal issues at the moment. Can't you see, " He gestures his hand to the courtyard chaos unfolded before him, ", Blackwell is currently under some major stress and I don't need you on my late as well." He raises his voice.

Rachel and I sit back on a bench, Warren wandered off to go try and impress Max of his partaking in the mayhem. We view Mr Madsen's poor attempts to disrupt the wrestling competition, while Mr Wells' fails to calm down Samuel. And if I look close enough, I can still see students patting small glitter bugs off of their clothes. "This'll keep me happy for a while, I think." Rachel speaks proudly, a quiet tone in her voice as she takes delight in the view.

"So, what do you wanna do now?" I ask, turning my attention back to Rachel.

"Well, it's been a long day, we could go to the lighthouse." She suggests, stretching out her arms.

"Sounds good." I shrug, climbing off the bench.

----------

We sit on the bench next to the lighthouse just as we had done two days ago. My mind wanders back to the events of earlier today, eyes slowly falling shut as I zone out. Rachel's loud waffling now quiet out-loud thoughts put me to sleep.

See, the good thing about Rachel's adventures is she never gets bored, ever. Well, she does, but only because she has no one to talk to. I, however, it gives me a good night of rest. Win-Win.