#this isn’t even going into the whole “we both get PLENTY of use out of it

[olderthannetfic]

I mean, I do feel like if someone was traumatized by their religious upbringing, helping them to recognize that as a bad thing and helping them to be free of it is arguably the right move? Yeah just telling them “god isn’t real, get over it” is most likely insensitive but arguably freeing them of their self hating beliefs is the ideal outcome?

--

Man... I was raised to despise religion, but a steady diet of nerdy youtube and really weirdly anti-intellectual takes on tumblr has forced me into repeatedly defending religion. I did not ask for this, but here we are.

Personally, I find most religion kind of dumb, but it is a key part of a great portion of humanity's search for meaning. It's the backbone of so many cultures in so many places and times. Knowing about it is useful for everything from being more politically informed to making up better fantasy world building in fiction.

When a person has religious trauma because they were told that their religion, in this context probably Christianity, hates them, telling them to ditch religion is like telling them they're not allowed to ever have a birthday party again because their abusive parents did something awful at their past ones. Ah yes, cut yourself off from major celebrations and cultural experiences, not to mention community. That's sure to fix things!

It would be far more effective at 1. making them feel better and 2. making them stop adhering to a shitty religion if we introduced them to better religion.

The history of Christianity is one of the most studied subjects on the fucking planet. There are a multitude of progressive scholars who have explored things like how the early church very possibly had major female figures that later asswipes tried to downplay and cover up. I think Religion for Breakfast has some interesting videos that at least touch on this.

There's a whole complex conversation to be had both about how the early church actually handled same-sex relationships and about why a given prescription is even in there from an anthropological perspective. Take the pork thing: it's probably about taxes. Some of the others are about differentiation from nearby groups at the time. Understanding the historical cultural context helps dismantle the idea that this or that specific prescription is a vital core part of the religion that must remain unchanging thousands of years later.

"A true Christian wouldn't have abused their gay kid" is a far better message than "Give up everything you know", and it has plenty of support from scholars who are deeply religious but not dumbass textual literalists who can't grasp that even if a holy text were the word of god, English language edition such-and-such is subject to human interference in the form of All Your Base-level translators.

If Christianity or whatever religion is the issue is a no go due to the traumatized person's past experiences, plenty of people would still be happier finding a different religion than going without.

I really, really cannot emphasize this enough: Religion is a key part of many people's lives the same way, say, sex is.

A lot of people around here seem to fundamentally not get this in the same way that you see people who haven't realized how ace they are going "But whyyyyy?" over the central role that horny plays in somebody else's life. You don't gotta get it, my dudes. Doesn't mean it's going away.

Even just understanding the parameters of what counts as religion and all the different flavors that exist out there will help put the trauma into context for many people. Your asshole parents are in a cult not because all religion is lies but because this Christianity has been perverted into a vehicle for abuse. Other religious people like the scientific method, research, logic, and evidence. It's just your church that's atrocious.

Shitty religion leads to self hate.

You can pick another religion.

[fioredeciliego]

Hell of a Ride (Wish there was a Car) - Karina x Fem!Reader

Be warned, there is smut 15k words

The jungle was thick with the midday sun, beads of sweat trailing down your neck as you trudged after Jimin. She seemed oddly serene, picking her way through dense vegetation with a kind of breezy confidence that only made you feel more uneasy. Each step away from any familiar landmark left you feeling more lost, yet Jimin seemed entirely unbothered. As she led the way, her hand brushed against a massive fern, sending droplets of morning dew sprinkling through the air.

“Are you really sure this is the right path?” you asked, trying to sound calm but unable to mask the tension in your voice. You’d lost track of how many times you’d already asked, but this time, you hoped she’d finally admit they might be heading in the wrong direction.

Jimin turned and flashed you her signature grin. “Totally sure. It’s just… a scenic route,” she said, her tone a little too carefree.

“A scenic route,” you repeated flatly, your eyes scanning the endless sea of green surrounding you. The air was thick and still, with only the occasional call of a distant bird breaking the silence. “You mean the path where we haven’t seen another soul in hours?”

“Exactly!” She laughed, nudging you with her elbow as if the whole thing was a harmless joke. “You’ll thank me later when we’re out of here with the best story to tell. How many people can say they’ve been ‘lost’ in the jungle? This is the kind of story people want to hear!”

An uncomfortable laugh escaped you, though it was more a reflex than actual amusement. “Lost isn’t exactly the word I’d use. We’re… stranded, Jimin.”

Jimin chuckled, apparently amused by your escalating nerves. “Stranded? That’s such a strong word! We’re just… wandering with a purpose. Besides, we’ve got food, water, even a little signal now and then. We’re fine.”

Frustration bubbled up in your chest, the tension reaching a breaking point. “Jimin, wandering with a purpose only works if you actually have a direction. We’re just walking aimlessly!”

She stopped, finally looking you in the eyes, her smile faltering as she registered the worry in your face. Her voice softened. “Okay, okay. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Worst case, we’ll just retrace our steps.”

“Retrace our steps? Do you even remember the way we came?” you pressed, crossing your arms as you took in the pathless jungle surrounding you both. “I don’t think ‘back’ is even a possibility anymore.”

Jimin hesitated, glancing over her shoulder with a thoughtful expression, and you could tell she was trying to play it off. But it was painfully clear she hadn’t been paying attention to the way they’d come. She shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “Well, it’s not like we’re out here without resources. We’ve got plenty of daylight, food, and I’ll get us back to where we started.”

You sighed, exasperation lacing your words. “Jimin, this isn’t a movie. We don’t have some magical compass that’s going to lead us to safety. This is real. And it’s dangerous.”

Jimin’s face softened, and for a second, she almost looked apologetic. She took a tentative step closer, reaching out as if she wanted to comfort you. “Hey, I get it. I do. But… maybe this could be a fun experience. Something we’ll laugh about later?” Her eyes sparkled, an optimistic light that seemed wildly out of place in the suffocating jungle.

“A fun experience?” you asked, unable to hide the mix of irritation and worry. “This isn’t a weekend trip to the beach. We’re in the jungle, miles from any kind of help.”

Jimin looked down at her feet, a sheepish expression crossing her face. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I wasn’t… thinking it through. But look, we’re here now, and I’ll make sure we get back. Worst case, we’ll head in one direction and keep going until we find a trail.”

“Assuming that actually works,” you muttered, scanning the tangled undergrowth with skepticism. The sheer volume of plants and trees was overwhelming, every corner of the jungle looking like an endless mirror of the last.

Jimin reached out, gently brushing a leaf off your shoulder with a smile. “Hey, at least we’ve got a good view, right?” she joked, gesturing to the towering trees and vibrant green around you. “This isn’t just any regular adventure. It’s, like… a private jungle getaway. Just the two of us.”

“A private jungle getaway?” you repeated, the disbelief clear in your voice. “Are you seriously calling this a romantic outing? We’re lost, Jimin.”

She tilted her head, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Come on, just go with it! Imagine it’s like… a spontaneous date, complete with the best ambiance nature has to offer. You and me, lost in paradise… don’t you think it’s kind of nice?”

You let out an exasperated huff, though you couldn’t deny the flicker of warmth her words stirred. “I don’t think you get it. This isn’t some fun little escapade, Jimin. We’re actually stuck, and there’s a good chance we won’t get out of here by nightfall.”

She held up her hands defensively, a guilty smile creeping onto her face. “Okay, fair point. Maybe I’m downplaying things a little. But hey, I’ve been camping before. I’ve got some survival skills,” she said, attempting a confident grin.

“Oh, great. So you know how to toast marshmallows? That’ll really save us,” you replied dryly, though her attempt at humor brought a reluctant smile to your face.

Jimin laughed, a genuine sound that cut through the tension for a moment. She reached out and ruffled your hair affectionately, a teasing smile on her lips. “I know, I know. I’ll be serious. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for any sign of a trail. Just don’t worry too much. I’ve got you.”

A sigh escaped your lips as you looked away, the worry still a tight knot in your stomach, but her sincerity softened your anger a little. Jimin’s confidence might be misplaced, but it was hard to stay completely mad at her when she looked so earnest. Maybe she didn’t understand the full weight of the situation, but there was no denying she genuinely cared.

“Fine,” you said, giving in with a reluctant smile. “But no more detours, okay? We’re sticking to whatever you think is the straightest path out of here.”

She gave a little salute, her expression brightening. “Yes, ma’am. No more detours.”

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t hide a small smile as you followed her through the undergrowth, her confident strides taking her forward with a purpose you weren’t sure she actually had. Her energy was reassuring, even if misplaced.

--

The late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow over the jungle, transforming the trees into towering green pillars and the undergrowth into a vibrant tapestry. You and Jimin finally emerged into a small clearing, a brief break in the dense foliage that gave you both a moment to breathe. Though neither of you would admit it, you were both hoping it meant you were finally headed in the right direction.

Jimin, of course, was still trying to appear as confident as ever, even though you’d caught her glancing over her shoulder more than a few times as if she were second-guessing herself. She wiped a thin sheen of sweat from her forehead, hands on her hips as she surveyed the area. “Alright,” she declared, as if she’d just led you on a great expedition, “I think we’re back on track.”

You raised an eyebrow, biting back a smirk. “You think we’re back on track?”

“Hey, I’m pretty sure,” Jimin replied, shrugging. She flashed you a lopsided grin, her confidence radiating even though it seemed clear she was mostly guessing. “Besides, you don’t see anyone else here with a map, right?”

“Yeah, because we don’t have a map,” you pointed out, unable to keep a small laugh from slipping out. Jimin’s misplaced confidence was somehow endearing, even though you still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in your stomach.

Ignoring your tone, Jimin gestured forward with a flourish, as if presenting a path only she could see. “Look, I know it seems like we’re lost, but trust me. We’re not,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

You glanced around the clearing, squinting into the dense underbrush, trying to find any indication of where you’d come from. “Okay, well, if you’re so sure, let’s try heading back the way we came, alright?”

Jimin shrugged nonchalantly. “Easy! Just follow me.”

But as she took a confident step forward, her boot caught on an exposed root hidden beneath a layer of leaves. With a startled yelp, Jimin stumbled forward, reaching out instinctively for balance. Unfortunately, you happened to be right in her path, and before you could even react, she grabbed onto your arm, pulling you down with her.

You both hit the ground with a soft thud, leaves crunching beneath you. Jimin landed partially on top of you, her weight pinning you down for a moment. A shocked silence hung between you both as you registered the tangle of limbs, your faces just inches apart. She blinked, eyes wide with embarrassment, her cheeks flushing as she quickly scrambled off of you.

“Oh my god—I’m so sorry!” she sputtered, cheeks flushed as she tried to brush the dirt off herself. “Are you okay?”

You groaned, propping yourself up on your elbows as you brushed a few stray leaves from your hair. “I think I’m fine. But maybe let’s leave the dramatic falls to the action movies, yeah?”

Jimin let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. “Guess I got a little overzealous there. Sorry for, you know, tackling you.”

Despite the dirt and the sting of impact, you found yourself laughing, the sound surprising both of you. Jimin looked at you, wide-eyed and slightly taken aback.

“Wait, are you… laughing at me?” she asked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

You shook your head, but the laughter only bubbled up more. “No, no, I’m just laughing at… the situation. Here we are, ‘retracing our steps,’ only to end up face-first in the dirt. It’s… fitting, somehow.”

Jimin’s lips curled into a reluctant smile, and soon she was laughing too, her soft giggles filling the clearing. “Alright, alright. So maybe I’m not the best at leading us through the jungle. But look, I’m keeping things interesting, aren’t I?”

“Interesting is one way to put it,” you replied, still smiling as you pushed yourself up and brushed the dirt from your clothes. “I mean, there’s never a dull moment with you around.”

She grinned, giving you a mock salute. “Glad to be of service. Now, let’s try this again… maybe without the acrobatics this time.”

Standing side by side in the clearing, you both took a moment to reassess your situation. Jimin straightened her shoulders, attempting to take on a serious, determined expression as she glanced around, as if searching for any sign of the way forward.

“So,” she began, looking around with a touch of genuine uncertainty, “since we’re clearly both experts in navigation, why don’t we try to divide up what we’re carrying? If we’re going to find our way back, we should at least make sure we’re both prepared for anything.”

You nodded, grateful for the small bit of planning. “Good idea. Let’s take stock of what we’ve got.” Together, you emptied out the few supplies you had between the two of you: a half-full water bottle, a granola bar, a small flashlight with a barely-charged battery, and a few other random items neither of you had expected to need in the middle of a jungle.

Jimin eyed the meager supplies, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “So, you carry the flashlight and water, and I’ll hold onto the snacks. That way, if we get tired, I can give you a pep talk with food,” she joked, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

You rolled your eyes but handed her the granola bar, trying not to let your growing worry show too much. “Just don’t eat it all yourself. We might need it if we’re still out here for a while.”

Her smile softened as she looked over at you, her expression unexpectedly gentle. “Hey, don’t worry too much. I promise I’ll get us out of here, okay? I might be a little clumsy, but I don’t give up easily.”

Something in her tone reassured you, a quiet conviction that made you feel a bit more grounded. You gave her a nod, tucking the flashlight into your bag. “Alright. Then lead the way, oh fearless one. Just… watch out for those roots this time.”

She chuckled, giving you a playful nudge as she started forward again, her gaze more focused as she scanned the ground in front of her. And as you followed her deeper into the jungle, you couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she would find a way to lead you both out of there—without too many more bruises along the way.

--

The sky shifted from bright blue to soft hues of pink and orange, signaling the day’s end as you and Jimin continued trudging through the dense jungle. Despite her determination, both of you knew that walking aimlessly in the dark wouldn’t get you anywhere. Finally, you spotted a small, open area nestled between a few large trees.

“I think we should stop here,” you suggested, setting down your bag and glancing up at the streaks of fading sunlight poking through the canopy. “It’s going to be pitch-black soon, and we’ll just end up tripping over ourselves in the dark.”

Jimin glanced around, hands on her hips, then nodded. “Good call. I mean, it’s only one night, right?” She shot you a quick, slightly nervous grin as she looked around, already beginning to gather sticks and leaves in a valiant attempt to make a shelter.

You couldn’t help but smile as you watched her struggle with the basics of shelter-building, her clumsiness getting in the way. She tried stacking some larger sticks against a low-hanging tree branch, but they slid down almost immediately, leaving her standing in a defeated, tangled mess of branches and vines.

“Need a hand?” you asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Jimin’s face turned slightly red, though she managed a lopsided grin. “What, you don’t think I know how to set up camp?”

You chuckled softly, reaching out to steady one of the sticks she was holding. “I’m just saying, if we leave it up to you, we might end up sleeping under a pile of leaves.”

Jimin laughed, scratching the back of her head as she stepped back, letting you take the lead. “Fine, fine. I’ll let the expert take over… for now.”

You started rearranging the sticks, weaving them together to make a sturdier frame. As you worked, you couldn’t help but feel her eyes on you, watching intently, as if she were genuinely impressed by your makeshift construction skills. When you looked up, you found her staring at you with a small smile, her expression softer than usual. Your cheeks warmed, and you quickly looked away, focusing on the structure.

Jimin cleared her throat, taking a step closer as she bent down to help. “So… any camping trips in your past that I should know about?”

You shrugged, placing a handful of palm leaves on the frame to create a sort of roof. “My family used to go camping a lot when I was younger. I guess I picked up a few things along the way.”

“Ah, see, you’re full of surprises,” she said with a grin, carefully placing leaves beside yours. Her fingers brushed yours for a split second as she worked, sending a strange but pleasant jolt through you.

The sun dipped lower, and you continued working side by side, occasionally bumping elbows or reaching for the same spot, only to pull back with shy smiles. Eventually, you’d pieced together a small but sturdy shelter, just big enough to fit you both and keep the wind out.

Jimin stepped back to admire your work, her eyes shining with genuine pride. “Not bad! I guess we make a pretty good team.”

A smile tugged at your lips as you looked at her, noting the way her face lit up despite the dimming light around you. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

She settled down inside the shelter, patting the spot next to her with a playful grin. “Come on, don’t be shy! Your construction, your prime seat.”

Rolling your eyes, you crawled in beside her, grateful for the shelter you’d built together. With the last bit of daylight slipping away, an unfamiliar yet comfortable quiet fell over the two of you. The jungle sounds became more pronounced as night fell—crickets chirped, and the occasional rustle of leaves hinted at the hidden creatures nearby. You hugged your knees to your chest, glancing over at Jimin, who sat with her legs stretched out, leaning against the shelter frame with a relaxed smile on her face.

For a moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the world, the isolation of the jungle bringing a rare kind of intimacy. You turned to her, breaking the silence. “Do you think anyone’s noticed we’re gone?”

Jimin shrugged, glancing up at the now star-speckled sky. “Probably… though I doubt they’re panicking yet. They’ll figure out we’re missing by morning, I bet.”

“Guess that means we’re stuck here for the night, then,” you murmured, a touch of worry in your voice.

Jimin must have sensed your unease because she gave you a reassuring smile, reaching over to pat your shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. It’s kind of like an adventure, right? Just think of it as… our own little jungle getaway.”

You snorted, rolling your eyes. “Right. The ideal vacation spot: stranded in the jungle with no food or water.”

She laughed softly, nudging you. “Well, maybe not ideal, but… hey, at least we’ve got each other.” Her eyes met yours, the soft light in them making your breath hitch for a moment.

You managed a small smile, leaning back against the frame of the shelter. “Yeah. I guess that’s true.”

A comfortable silence settled over you once more, broken only by the symphony of nighttime sounds. You felt Jimin’s shoulder brush against yours as she shifted slightly, leaning in closer as if to share warmth in the cool night air. Her presence, though often clumsy and exasperating, was undeniably comforting in this strange, lonely place.

After a while, she spoke up, her voice softer than usual. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever spent a night like this before. It’s… kind of nice.”

You glanced over at her, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. “Yeah? Even though we’re, you know, lost?”

She laughed quietly. “Yeah. Maybe it’s the whole survival thing, but I feel… I don’t know, alive. Like, really alive.”

You found yourself smiling at her words, understanding what she meant. There was something oddly exhilarating about the danger, the rawness of the situation you were in. And though you wouldn’t admit it, you were grateful for her company.

As you both settled into silence once more, your eyelids grew heavy, the sounds of the jungle lulling you into a surprisingly peaceful state. Just as you were on the edge of sleep, you heard Jimin mumble softly, almost to herself, “Don’t worry. I’ll keep us safe.”

--

The night air in the jungle quickly grew colder as the sky darkened, the warmth of the day fading into the cool embrace of the evening. You huddled closer to the shelter, pulling your jacket tighter around you, but the chill still seeped into your bones. You could feel the air turning brisker, the jungle’s nocturnal hum growing louder in contrast to the stillness that had settled between you and Jimin.

Jimin shifted next to you, clearly uncomfortable, her shoulders hunched as she wrapped her arms around herself. She glanced over at you, her lips curling into a mischievous smile as she attempted to break the tension.

“So, uh, is this… how you imagined our first night alone together?” she asked, her tone playful but laced with a nervous undertone. She gave a slight shrug as she shuffled closer, her eyes catching the moonlight, making her look almost ethereal. “I mean, I gotta say, this isn’t quite the cozy, romantic campfire I was picturing, but… maybe I’m just doing it wrong.”

You shot her a look, suppressing a grin at her antics. "Definitely not the romantic getaway I had in mind," you said dryly, though the teasing tone in your voice didn’t quite mask the warmth you were beginning to feel. It wasn’t just from the campfire; it was from being in such close quarters with her.

Jimin shifted again, now sitting much closer to you, though you hadn’t moved at all. She glanced over at you, her eyes softening for a moment before she broke the silence with another joke. “You cold?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because if you’re cold, I mean, you could always snuggle up to me. I’m pretty good at staying warm… you know, since I’m basically a walking heater.”

You couldn't help but roll your eyes at her flirtatious remark, but something inside you stirred at her words. It was so casual, so effortless, yet you could feel the shift in the air around you. The closeness, the playful teasing—it made your heart race in a way you weren’t quite ready to acknowledge.

“I’m fine,” you said quickly, though the words felt hollow as the chill gnawed at you once more. You pulled your legs up to your chest, trying to stay warm, but you couldn’t deny the sudden longing for her proximity, for her warmth.

Jimin noticed the small shiver that ran through you, and her teasing smile softened. “You sure? I can’t let my teammate freeze, you know. You’re kind of important.” She gently nudged your shoulder with hers, a little more sincerely now.

You let out a quiet, half-laugh. “I’m not going to freeze. I’ve been through worse.”

Jimin’s smile remained, but there was an underlying concern in her eyes. “Still, it’s not just about surviving, it’s about being comfortable, too.” Her voice dropped slightly, and you could hear the sincerity in it, which made your heart flutter a little.

She hesitated for a moment before sliding closer, her body warmth becoming more apparent as she sat beside you, a little closer than before. She tugged her jacket tighter around herself, but it was clear it wasn’t enough to keep her warm either. Her eyes met yours briefly, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of something unspoken in them.

“Come on, don’t make me beg for it,” she teased, her voice light again as she nudged you more insistently. “I’m just offering my body heat, not a lifetime commitment. Though, if you’re into that…” She waggled her eyebrows dramatically, and you couldn’t help but snort at the sheer ridiculousness of it.

“Jimin, you’re impossible,” you muttered, though you didn’t push her away. Instead, you found yourself unconsciously leaning into her, the warmth she offered starting to feel too tempting to resist.

“See? I knew you were secretly into it,” she teased softly, though her voice was warmer now, less cocky. She wrapped her arm around you, pulling you close in a comfortable embrace, the kind of closeness that felt both natural and slightly awkward at the same time.

You froze at first, a little startled by how easy it felt to just… fall into her. But then the warmth from her body enveloped you, and you sighed in relief, your tense shoulders loosening. The cold from before seemed to melt away, replaced by the undeniable warmth of her embrace.

Jimin leaned her head lightly against yours, her breath warm against your ear. “See? This isn’t so bad, right?”

You couldn’t suppress the smile that tugged at your lips, even as you tried to act nonchalant about the entire thing. “I guess not,” you muttered. You didn’t want to admit how good it felt, how right it felt to be this close to her, especially with everything that had happened earlier. You weren’t sure why the touch of her skin against yours sent a flutter through your chest, but you weren’t ready to acknowledge it just yet.

There was another beat of silence between you two as you both just sat there, the only sound coming from the distant jungle creatures and your shared breaths. You felt Jimin’s hand slip just a little lower down your back, her fingers brushing against your waist, and your heart skipped.

She pulled away slightly, her voice soft but playful, a teasing edge still lingering. “Are you comfortable now? Or do I need to get even closer?” Her grin was mischievous, but you could tell she was still testing the waters, gauging how much you were willing to let her in.

Your face warmed at the suggestiveness in her voice, but you didn’t pull away. Instead, you found yourself leaning in closer, your head resting against her shoulder. “This is fine,” you said softly, though you could feel your heartbeat quicken.

You couldn’t help but chuckle, trying to break the tension, even though part of you didn’t want to. “You really like to joke around, don’t you?”

Jimin grinned, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “Hey, I have to make the best out of our romantic jungle getaway, right? Just trying to keep the mood light.” She tilted her head, her voice taking on a more sincere note. “But seriously, I’ll keep you warm. I don’t mind.”

Something in her words—soft, but unspoken—made your heart race. You looked up at her then, her expression unreadable for a second before she nudged you with her shoulder, her grin returning. You couldn’t help but smile back, your feelings all tangled up in this strange, overwhelming mixture of warmth, laughter, and unexpected connection.

--

As the first rays of sunlight broke through the thick canopy above, you stirred awake, rubbing the remnants of sleep from your eyes. The morning was calm, with the soft hum of the jungle waking up around you. Jimin was already up, fiddling with the last of your shared provisions to make some semblance of breakfast. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, her hands fumbling slightly as she tried to tear open a package of granola bars.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” she greeted with a smirk as you sat up, blinking in the dawn light. “Just in time to join me for this… Michelin-star breakfast I’ve whipped up.” She raised an eyebrow, brandishing a half-crushed granola bar with mock grandeur.

You chuckled, rolling your eyes. “Ah, yes. The classic ‘lost in the jungle with no real food’ breakfast. How gourmet of you.”

She grinned, delighted to have coaxed a laugh out of you. “Hey, I’ll have you know that in some cultures, this counts as a romantic adventure date,” she quipped, her voice light but with a mischievous edge.

You froze mid-reach for a water bottle, raising an eyebrow at her. “I’m sorry—adventure date?” You couldn’t help but scoff, though the corners of your mouth threatened to lift. “Are you seriously calling this a date?”

Jimin shrugged, her eyes sparkling as she looked at you. “Well, I mean, think about it: secluded location, scenic views, lots of quality alone time…” She raised her hands, gesturing at the sprawling jungle around you. “Besides, you don’t seem to be hating it as much as you let on.” She shot you a grin, clearly enjoying every second of teasing you.

You bit back a smile, trying to look as exasperated as possible. “Jimin, I think I’d prefer a less ‘lost and starving in the wilderness’ kind of date,” you said, though your tone was soft.

Jimin leaned in, nudging you with her shoulder. “Aw, come on. Think of the memories we’re making! Just imagine the stories we’ll have to tell… if we make it out, of course,” she added with a laugh.

You gave her a sidelong glance, but her enthusiasm was infectious, and you found yourself smiling despite yourself. “Fine, but next time I get to choose the date spot. Preferably somewhere with less… potential for starving,” you replied, only half-joking.

Jimin put her hand to her chest in mock offense. “Noted! Though, I don’t know, you’ve been a pretty good sport about it all. You’re even smiling at my jokes now.” She leaned in a little closer, her tone dropping as she added, “See? I knew you’d come around to liking me.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help the warmth that crept up your cheeks. “I wouldn’t get too cocky just yet,” you muttered, though the small smile tugging at your lips betrayed you.

She looked at you, something playful but genuine in her gaze. “Admit it—you’re having a little bit of fun,” she teased, tilting her head to try and catch your eye. “I know you can’t resist my charms forever.”

You shook your head, trying to hold back your grin. “Jimin, I’m just doing my best to survive out here with you. Let’s not read too much into it.”

But as you both started packing up to continue your trek, Jimin kept up her playful banter, her flirtation escalating in small, unexpected ways. Every so often, as you made your way through the thick jungle underbrush, she’d lean over, whispering dramatic “observations” about your surroundings as though narrating a romantic survival film.

“Oh, look over there,” she whispered in a hushed, faux-dramatic tone as she pointed to a patch of sunlight filtering through the leaves. “Nature has provided us with mood lighting for our romantic hike. It’s practically begging us to lean into the ‘lost lovers’ vibe.”

You gave her a disbelieving look, stifling a laugh. “You really know how to spin a narrative, don’t you?”

She flashed you a grin, proud of herself. “Hey, one of us has to lighten the mood. And, by the way, you’re welcome.” She glanced over, her eyes warm and inviting, and you couldn’t help but feel your defenses soften around her.

The path became a little trickier, with tangled roots and slick patches of mud, and Jimin offered you her hand to steady yourself more times than you’d care to admit. Each time, her hand lingered just a moment longer than necessary, and each time, you felt your resolve weaken just a little bit more.

“Jimin, I can handle myself, you know,” you protested lightly the fifth or sixth time she reached out to you, though you took her hand anyway. Her grip was warm and steady, a stark contrast to the damp chill that surrounded you.

“Sure, sure,” she said breezily, giving you a wink. “But where’s the fun in that? Besides,” she added, her voice dropping a little, “I like helping you. It’s nice to feel… needed.”

Her words caught you off guard, and you glanced over at her, but her expression was soft and sincere. For a moment, the playful mask had dropped, and you saw something else there—something that made your heart skip.

“Well,” you said softly, unsure of how to respond but unable to look away, “thanks, I guess.”

She shrugged, her smile returning as she released your hand, but not before giving it a little squeeze. “Anytime. It’s what co-workers… and adventure dates… are for.”

You gave her an exasperated look, but this time, you didn’t bother hiding your smile. “I’m sure this is the most unconventional adventure date of all time.”

Jimin just laughed, her voice ringing out through the quiet jungle, her happiness infectious. As you both continued onward, her flirtations and teasing became a little bolder, a little more natural, as if she were testing the waters between you with each lighthearted quip.

--

The two of you had been walking for what felt like hours, cutting through thick vines and maneuvering over gnarled roots, Jimin’s lighthearted banter punctuating the stillness of the jungle. Despite the challenging terrain, the growing camaraderie between you made the journey less daunting, even fun. But then, as you stepped around a massive tree trunk, everything changed in an instant.

Jimin froze beside you, her arm instinctively reaching out to block your path. You followed her gaze, feeling your heart drop as you spotted a snake in the clearing ahead, coiled and motionless at first. Its thick, scaled body gleamed in the filtered sunlight, but its head was raised, alert—and pointed directly at you.

“Don’t move,” Jimin whispered, her voice low and tense, as if any sound could set it off.

“Jimin…” you breathed, feeling a chill run down your spine. The snake’s body tensed, its gaze fixed on both of you, and you instinctively took a small step back. The movement seemed to trigger it. In a flash, it uncoiled, darting forward with terrifying speed.

“Y/N, stay back!” Jimin yelled, reacting on instinct. Without a second thought, she grabbed you and spun you behind her, shielding you with her own body as she faced the snake, her stance defensive.

The snake reared up, striking out, and Jimin quickly grabbed a nearby branch to hold it back. You watched, wide-eyed and breathless, as she waved the branch, creating enough space to maneuver backward with you. Her gaze stayed fixed on the snake as it hissed and snapped, still pressing toward you both, its anger evident.

“Just… keep moving, slow and steady,” she whispered, her voice tight as she pushed you back. “We don’t want to make it angrier.”

You obeyed, retreating step by step, but your heart raced wildly. Despite the danger, the way Jimin stayed protectively between you and the snake left you speechless, your nerves twisting into a strange blend of fear and… something else. Her hand never left your arm, holding you close even as she guided you both away.

Just as you thought you were out of reach, Jimin stumbled over a stray root, her grip on the branch slipping. The snake lunged forward, its body a flash of movement, and you instinctively grabbed her, steadying her before it could strike. Heart pounding, she managed to pull you both further back, the distance finally enough to make the snake give up its chase. It hissed once more before slithering off into the underbrush.

You let out a shaky breath, your hands still clutching Jimin’s arm as your eyes met hers. For a few seconds, neither of you said a word, the intensity of the moment leaving you both frozen in place.

“Are… are you okay?” she asked softly, her own breathing heavy as she took you in, concern etched on her face.

“Am I okay?” you replied, a shaky laugh escaping as you felt a strange warmth flood your cheeks. “You’re the one who just took on a snake!”

Jimin chuckled, her shoulders relaxing as she slowly lowered the branch and dropped it to the ground. “Guess I just couldn’t let anything happen to my favorite jungle explorer,” she quipped, her tone trying to lighten the mood, though her gaze stayed focused, her eyes scanning your face as if to make sure you were truly unharmed.

You exhaled, still holding onto her arm as the reality of what had just happened settled in. “You didn’t have to—”

“I know,” she interrupted gently, squeezing your hand. “But I wanted to. Besides,” she added, trying to play it cool, “I couldn’t let you go running off without me, right?”

Her words sparked something inside you, and the reality of her protectiveness, her quick instinct to shield you, left you speechless. “Jimin…” you whispered, not quite sure how to express what you were feeling. Your gratitude, your surprise, the slight flutter in your chest—it was all tangled up.

Jimin’s expression softened as she took a small step closer, her hand lifting to brush a stray leaf from your shoulder. “You look really flustered,” she said with a teasing smirk, trying to ease the tension with humor, but her voice held an unmistakable warmth. “Was it the snake, or was it me?”

You scoffed, a nervous laugh slipping out. “Just... I wasn’t expecting my trip partner to go full survival mode on me,” you muttered, your gaze dropping to the ground as you tried to process the overwhelming moment.

She tilted her head, a soft chuckle escaping. “Guess I surprised you, huh?” she whispered, her fingers tracing an absentminded pattern along your arm, her touch grounding you.

“You did,” you admitted, finally looking up to meet her gaze. “Thank you, though. Seriously.”

Her gaze softened further, her thumb brushing over your knuckles, and for a moment, it was as if the two of you were in your own little world, the jungle fading into the background. “Anytime,” she murmured, giving you a playful smile. “Now, come on. Let’s try not to make any more angry friends out here, yeah?”

And with that, she took your hand in hers, leading you onward, her grip steady and reassuring as you walked deeper into the jungle.

--

You and Jimin finally find a small stream after hours of trudging through dense foliage. The soft trickle of water over rocks is a relief, and you both settle down on a smooth boulder near the bank, grateful for the brief reprieve.

You take off your shoes and dip your feet into the cool water, sighing as the chill soothes the soreness from walking. Jimin follows suit, gingerly lowering her feet beside yours. The two of you sit in companionable silence for a moment, just listening to the sounds of the forest and the gentle stream.

“Honestly… I didn’t expect the jungle to be this intense,” Jimin says with a small laugh, breaking the quiet. “Or for us to end up lost like this.”

You smile, the tension of the day beginning to ease. “Maybe next time, we leave the navigating to someone who doesn’t have a talent for getting us into trouble.”

She grins, nudging your shoulder playfully. “Fair point. Though, I don’t know, it makes things interesting, don’t you think?”

“Interesting, maybe,” you reply, glancing at her with a small smile. “But it’s not exactly the ideal place to get lost.”

Jimin chuckles softly, but there’s a momentary flicker in her gaze as she looks away, her fingers lightly trailing over the water’s surface. The joking air between you both fades a little, and she seems to fall quiet, a pensive look crossing her face. She dips her head, absently tracing small circles in the water.

You give her a sidelong glance, sensing something she isn’t saying. “Hey, you okay?”

She hesitates, then smiles, but it’s a quieter smile than usual, lacking its usual spark. “I’m fine, yeah. Just thinking, I guess. You know… I joke around a lot, but it’s probably annoying sometimes, huh?”

The comment catches you off guard. You shake your head. “No, it’s not annoying. You’ve actually been keeping things… less terrible. Besides, that’s just who you are, right?”

“I guess.” She pauses, her fingers trailing over the rock beside her. “It’s funny, though. It’s like… if I didn’t make people laugh, they wouldn’t even notice I was there. And sometimes… I wonder if that’s all people see.”

Her voice drops, a vulnerability in her words that you’d never heard before. She’s looking down, her fingers absently playing with the edge of her shirt, and for once, the usual spark in her eyes has dimmed.

You hesitate, wanting to say the right thing. “Jimin, I know you’re funny and lighthearted, but I think that’s only one part of you. You’re… a lot more than that.”

She looks up, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “You really think so?”

“Yeah. You can be… thoughtful, too,” you say, glancing at her with a small smile. “You’re protective, like with that snake earlier. And you’re just… real. You’re not just hiding behind some persona.”

Jimin’s expression softens, and she smiles, a shy, almost relieved look crossing her face. “I guess I’ve just never thought of it like that,” she murmurs, her gaze dropping again.

There’s a quiet moment between you as she lets those words linger in the air. Something in your chest aches for her, for this hidden vulnerability she usually covers up so well. You reach over, your hand brushing hers, a comforting squeeze to let her know she’s not alone.

“I… care about both sides of you, Jimin. The funny, playful side, and the thoughtful side, too,” you say softly. “You don’t have to hide anything.”

Jimin turns to you, her expression unreadable for a moment, but then her eyes soften, a teasing glint appearing once again. “So, you do care about me after all, huh?”

You can’t help but roll your eyes, but a smile sneaks onto your face as you do. “Well, maybe a little bit,” you admit, your tone light, though there’s a warmth in your words that’s unmistakable.

Jimin grins, her confidence returning in that familiar, infectious way. “I knew it. Knew you’d come around eventually.”

You shake your head, amused but undeniably touched by the way she’s trusting you enough to let her guard down. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

She laughs, the sound echoing over the stream, but there’s a softness in her gaze as she looks at you, a gratitude that needs no words.

--

The steady flow of the stream had guided you both along as the day stretched on, the warm sun hanging in the sky. After hours of trekking through the dense jungle, you and Jimin stumbled upon a small, secluded cave hidden behind a waterfall. The perfect spot to rest for a while.

Jimin, ever the optimist, was quick to suggest a little fun, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "What do you say we jump into the waterfall, clothes and all?" she asked, grinning at you. You raised an eyebrow, skeptical at first, but the heat of the jungle and the lure of the cool water soon won you over.

You both stripped off your outer layers and leapt into the waterfall, laughing as the cold water hit your skin, splashing around in the flow of the rushing water. It was a strange freedom, something raw and invigorating, and for a few moments, you forgot about being lost in the jungle. But all too soon, the playful atmosphere shifted when you noticed the darkening sky.

"Uh-oh," Jimin said, squinting upwards. "That doesn't look good."

The rain began as a light drizzle, but it quickly turned into a downpour. Cold water, mixed with the chill of the air, hit your skin like little needles, and you both scrambled out of the waterfall, soaked to the bone. You rushed to the cave you’d spotted earlier, dripping wet as you sought refuge from the increasingly heavy rain.

Inside the cave, Jimin let out a loud, exaggerated groan as she shook her hair, spraying droplets everywhere. “Well, this is fun. I don’t think we planned for a jungle rainstorm.”

You glanced back at her, your teeth chattering. The temperature had dropped significantly, and it was clear you both needed to find a way to warm up. You quickly scanned the cave. “At least we’re out of the rain now,” you said. “Let’s get a fire going.”

Jimin nodded eagerly, and while you went about gathering some leaves and kindling for a makeshift bed and warmth, she started fiddling with a pile of sticks, trying to get a fire started. You both worked together in silence, each of you grateful for the brief respite. The rain continued to pound against the cave’s entrance, but you were safe for the moment.

As Jimin finally managed to start a fire, the warmth from the crackling flames began to feel like a blessing against the chill of the rain. You huddled near the fire, your clothes drenched and your body still shivering.

Jimin, clearly cold but still determined to keep up her playful attitude, shot you a mischievous grin. "So, what now? Should we just sit here and freeze, or...?"

You gave her a dry look. "I don’t know, Jimin. What do you suggest?"

Her grin widened, and she quickly looked around the cave. "Well, you mentioned getting warm earlier, right?" She raised an eyebrow at you, a glint of humor in her eyes. "How about we take off these wet clothes, let them dry by the fire, and maybe... cuddle to keep each other warm?"

Your breath hitched at her words, a mixture of surprise and something else fluttering in your chest. She was joking, right?

But Jimin, ever confident, started tugging at the hem of her shirt as if it was the most casual thing in the world. You blinked, flustered, unsure of what to do. "Wait—what are you doing?" you asked, voice coming out a little higher than you intended.

Jimin paused and glanced at you, confusion crossing her features. "What? You said we should get warm." She shrugged, unfazed, and continued to pull her wet shirt over her head. "Might as well make it efficient, right?"

Your eyes widened. "But... I—" You quickly averted your gaze, suddenly embarrassed. You hadn't expected her to take your suggestion so seriously. Still, as you glanced back, you couldn't help but notice how her well-defined back muscles flexed as she stripped off her shirt, leaving her in just her soaked pants.

Your heart was racing. You felt your cheeks flush as you awkwardly looked around the cave, trying to avoid looking directly at her. "Are you—uh—sure about this?" you asked, unsure of what was happening.

Jimin, now only in her underwear, was looking at you with a playful smirk, clearly enjoying your reaction. "Come on, you’re acting like this is something weird," she teased, her voice light and flirtatious. "We’re stranded in the jungle, remember? Might as well make the most of it."

You hesitated for a moment, your mind racing with thoughts of how ridiculous this situation was, but then again, you had to admit that you were both soaked and freezing. And... well... the idea of getting warm didn't seem all that terrible.

With a heavy sigh, you reached for the hem of your own wet shirt, deciding to go along with it. As you pulled it over your head and joined her in your underwear, you could feel your face burning hotter.

When you were both down to your underwear, Jimin laid down next to the makeshift bed you had put together with the leaves. The warmth of the fire cast a soft glow over the cave, making everything feel more intimate.

"Come on," Jimin said softly, patting the space next to her. "It's more comfortable here. Let’s just rest for a bit, yeah?"

You stared at her for a moment, trying to keep your composure, but there was something in her gaze that made your heart flutter. The silence between you felt charged, the space around you suddenly too small.

You slowly lowered yourself next to her, lying on your side, your eyes never leaving hers. The tension in the air was thick, the distance between you both a mere inch or two.

Jimin’s hand reached over to gently touch your waist, her fingertips grazing your skin. You inhaled sharply at the contact, a shiver running through you, though not from the cold. Her touch was warm, and it sent a jolt of heat through your body.

Without thinking, your hand moved to her cheek, brushing a loose strand of wet hair behind her ear. Her breath caught slightly at the soft gesture, and the closeness between you grew undeniable.

"Hi," she whispered softly, her voice barely more than a breath. You couldn't help but smile, your heart racing.

"Hi," you whispered back, your voice trembling just a little.

For a moment, you both just stared at each other, neither of you daring to move. But then, Jimin’s hand slid from your waist to the small of your back, drawing you even closer. Your hand instinctively found its way to the side of her face, your fingers lightly tracing her jaw.

And then, without a word, your lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss. The feeling of her lips against yours, warm and tender, made everything else disappear. The fire crackled behind you, but in this small, cozy cave, with the rain still pouring outside, all that mattered was the shared breath and the connection between you.

It was slow at first, a testing kiss, but the warmth between you grew with each passing second. You could feel her hand gently pressing at your back, pulling you closer as the kiss deepened, and the tension that had been building for so long finally began to unravel.

She pushed you into your back, getting on top of you, her hands gripped your waist tighter, while yours moved from her cheeks to grip her hair, tugging it as you moaned into her mouth. She took the opportunity and slipped her tongue, rubbing it against yours.

Jimin pulled away, breathing heavily as she looked into your eyes. “Is this ok?” She panted. You nodded, pulling her back into a bruising kiss. Her hands moved down to your thighs, making your legs wrap around her waist, and moved her head down, leaving open, wet kisses on your neck and collarbones. She reached up, making you arch your back so that she could unfasten your bra, and you did the same as well. With one hand, she played with one of your breasts, while she took the other into her mouth, sucking and biting your nipple.

You whined, arching your back again and pulling her even closer to you. Jimin’s other hand moved downwards once more, playing with the strap of your panties. She looked up at you with hooded eyes, asking for permission. You whimpered and nodded, making her move your panties down. She kissed down the valley of your breasts and stomach, stopping at your chore.

Jimin breathed in and moaned. “You smell so good.” She whispered, and gave your clit a quick swipe with her tongue, making you let out a loud moan, with one hand you gripped her hair, while the other grabbed at whatever you could find in the ground.

Without wasting more time, Jimin dived in, eating you out as if you were her last meal. Her tongue moved in and out of your pussy while simultaneously sucking on your bundle of nerves.

“Fuck, Jimin!” You screamed out, feeling in cloud nine. She hummed into your core, making you shudder with pleasure. Your moans sounded louder and louder each time, but when Jimin shoved in two fingers, you let out a gasp turned moan. She was good. Too good.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, Jimin.” You whimpered out, feeling your orgasm building up. She pulled away for a second, still having two fingers inside you while her thumb circled the 8 figure on your clit.

“Come for me, baby. Show me how good you feel.” She encouraged. Your back arched once more, letting out a pornographic moan as you felt the tightening on your stomach snap, and you came.

You only saw white for a minute, trying to calm down your breathing, twitching from time to time as Jimin cleaned you up with her tongue.

Jimin sat up on her legs for a second, looking at you. She thought you looked beautiful like that. Your eyes that were half closed in euphoria, your chest heaving up and down as you tried to catch your breath, your body in a thin sheet of sweat, that glistened with the light of the fire. You looked stunning in her eyes.

After seeing that you had managed to catch your breath, Jimin grabbed one of your legs, putting it up on her shoulder, she slotted the other between hers, both your clits touching. Both of you moaned at the feeling, and she started to grind against you. The feeling of your cores together made you let out the loudest moan again.

“Hmm, does that feel good?” Jimin teased, a smirk on her face as she looked you in the eyes. You nodded, blushing as you put a hand over your eyes. She had an intense look in her eyes making you shy. “Come on now, darling. Don’t hide that beautiful face from me.” She cooed, her hand that wasn’t gripping your ankle moved to grab your wrist. “Be a good girl for me and keep those eyes open, ok?”

You were sure that the moan you let out shook all the animals outside from how loud it was. You looked at her, the way her well defined abdomen flexed everytime she thrusted forwards, how her eyebrows furrowed with concentration, how hot the small grunts that left her lips were. God.

“I’m-I’m coming again, Jimin.” You managed to whine out, but she shook her head in disagreement.

“Wait for me, my love. Let’s come together.” She panted out, grinding against you even faster. You nodded and your eyes closed in concentration, trying not to come just by the nickname. “I’m so close, baby, so so close.”

You sobbed in pleasure, not knowing how much longer you could hold on to. “Please, Jimin. I can’t do it anymore.”

“Come baby, come for me.” She moaned, and grinded even harder. With a last moan, you let go, Jimin close behind you. Your mind was in a haze, you couldn’t even think. Jimin rode both of you out of your orgasms. Once you whined from sensitivity, she let go of you leg gently and looked down at the mess.

With her two middle fingers, she reached down and cooped up some of your mixed juices, putting them in her mouth while looking you in the eyes. She let out a moan at the taste. “Stick your tongue out.” She demanded.

Once you did, she leaned down and took it into her mouth, sucking it. You moaned at the lingering taste of both your cums combined. Once she pulled away she kissed your forehead. 

“Tired?” She asked you, her hand running through your messy hair. You nodded, feeling your eyelids get heavier at the feeling. “Ok, let’s sleep.”

The sound of rain falling and thunder lulled both of you to sleep, with your head on her chest and her arms around your waist in a protective manner.

--

The morning after the storm was damp and heavy, the jungle floor slick with mud and puddles, making every step feel like a chore. You and Jimin trudged along the barely-there path, both of you weary from the days spent navigating this unyielding wilderness, definitely not from last night. For a while, the only sounds were the soft squelch of mud beneath your shoes and the distant calls of unseen birds echoing through the trees.

Jimin, as always, was beside you, humming to herself, seemingly unfazed by the worsening situation. It was beginning to wear on you—the endless walking, the uncertainty of your location, the dampness of your clothes clinging to you—and the fact that despite your efforts, you still had no idea how to get out of the jungle. The sun was sinking lower, casting an orange glow across the trees, and there was no sign of civilization in sight.

"Ugh," you muttered under your breath, pushing your hair out of your face in frustration. "This is ridiculous."

Jimin shot you a playful glance. "What’s up? Did the jungle get to you?" she teased, stepping over a fallen branch as though it were nothing.

"It's not funny, Jimin," you snapped, your temper fraying at the edges. "We’ve been walking for hours and have no clue where we are. You keep getting distracted and we’re still nowhere closer to finding a way out!"

Her smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, it’s like Jumanji. If we make it to the top and scream ‘Jumanji,’ I’m sure we’ll be out of here in no time!" she joked, her voice light.

You stared at her, exasperated. "This isn’t a joke, Jimin. This is real. We’re lost. We don’t have food. It’s starting to get dark. And you—" You paused, your frustration taking over. "You keep acting like everything’s fine when it’s not."

The air between you thickened. Jimin didn’t respond immediately, her eyes flicking away from yours. You knew she was trying to deflect the tension, but it wasn’t working. She had always been like this—clumsy, absent-minded, carefree, but in moments like these, it just seemed like she wasn’t taking things seriously enough. The pressure of being stuck here, in this place that felt so endless and uncertain, was wearing you thin.

For a moment, Jimin remained quiet, and the teasing, playful energy around her slowly faded. You didn’t know why it felt like such a weight, but it did. Then, Jimin’s voice broke the silence, softer than usual.

"I’m sorry," she said, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "I know you’re frustrated. I’ve just been trying to make it fun, y’know? But... I guess I’ve been making it worse."

You looked at her, surprised by the shift in her attitude. There was no usual wink, no teasing smile, just a genuine sadness in her eyes.

She met your gaze, her expression unreadable. "I didn’t mean to make it harder for you. I know you’re trying to stay calm and figure things out. I’m... I’m sorry."

Your chest tightened, the anger you’d felt slipping away as quickly as it had come. You took a deep breath, realizing that, maybe, you were just as much to blame for the tension between you two. You hadn’t meant to snap at her like that. She was trying, in her own way, and it had been a long, exhausting day for both of you.

You sighed, your gaze softening. "No, Jimin, it’s not just you," you admitted. "I’m just... really frustrated. And scared, honestly. I don’t want to be lost here forever. I’m just... worried, okay?"

Jimin stayed quiet for a long time, her eyes searching your face. The tension in the air seemed to melt, replaced by something softer, something vulnerable. She gently nudged your arm with her shoulder, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"You know, if I had to be stuck with anyone in the jungle, I’m glad it’s you," you said, your voice quieter, more sincere. "I might be mad at the situation, but... I’m glad it’s you here with me."

Her eyes widened slightly, then softened with warmth. "I’m glad it’s you too," she murmured, her voice small but genuine.

You hesitated, then spoke again, a little more quietly this time. "I was... worried last night didn’t mean anything to you," she confessed, her voice a little shaky. "I was just so scared of—well, you know, how things could change after that."

Your heart skipped a beat, and your cheeks heated up. You hadn’t expected her to bring it up, not like this. You had your own fears, your own doubts. You thought she might have been joking, but hearing her voice crack like that made everything feel too real, too vulnerable.

"I don’t think you’re stupid for thinking that," you said softly, glancing down at your feet. "It did mean something to me. A lot, actually."

Jimin’s eyes searched your face, as if looking for any hint of truth. When she didn’t find any signs of you lying, she relaxed a little, her shoulders dropping as if a weight had been lifted. You could see her visibly exhale, the tension that had been in her body fading.

"I just—" You felt a lump form in your throat. "I’m just scared of not being found, you know? Not knowing if we’ll ever get out of here... It’s overwhelming."

Jimin’s gaze softened, her lips curling into a small smile. "I get it. I’m scared too. But hey," she said, nudging your shoulder with hers again, "we’re together. And I’m not leaving you."

You met her eyes, the sincerity in them reaching deep into your chest. "Thanks, Jimin," you murmured, feeling your heart swell with something more than just gratitude.

She smiled again, a little more teasing now, but the warmth in her eyes was unmistakable. "Of course," she said, "I’m your jungle guide, remember?"

You laughed softly, shaking your head, and you grabbed her hand, interlocking fingers. Both of you walked onward, a little closer, a little more at peace with the chaos around you.

--

As dusk fell, the jungle’s colors softened, bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. Jimin crouched beside a small, flickering fire, carefully arranging a modest “feast” she’d put together from whatever she’d managed to gather that day. She’d scoured nearby bushes for a handful of berries, found a few edible roots, and portioned out the last bits of snacks left from their supply. Despite the meager offerings, she presented them with a proud little smile.

You sat nearby, watching her in silence, and noticed the nervous flicker in her gaze when she glanced your way. She was clearly trying her best, and for a moment, the effort she’d gone to melted away some of your lingering frustrations from the day.

“Alright,” she announced, brushing her hands off and setting her makeshift ‘spread’ in front of you, “it’s not exactly a gourmet meal, but I’d say it’s a fitting peace offering. What do you think?”

You couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at your lips. The gesture was sweet, in the end. “I think it’s… perfect,” you said with a chuckle, letting a bit of warmth slip into your tone. “As far as jungle dining goes, you really went all out.”

Jimin sat down across from you, her expression softening. “I know I’m not the easiest to be around sometimes,” she admitted, scratching the back of her head, “and I definitely didn’t make things easier by getting us lost out here. So… I just wanted to say I’m sorry, for real.”

You met her gaze, and something about the sincerity in her eyes stirred something in you—a tug of warmth, a release of the tension that had been building between you both.

“Jimin… thank you,” you murmured, looking down at the ‘feast’ she’d prepared. “Honestly, even though you can drive me up a wall… I’m glad you’re here. I’m not sure I’d be handling all this as well on my own.”

Her face lit up at your words, and she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “I knew it,” she said with a playful glint in her eye. “You like having me around, admit it.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide your smile. “Fine,” you said, pretending to be reluctant. “Maybe you’re not completely unbearable.”

She chuckled, reaching over to brush a stray piece of hair from your face, her fingers lingering against your cheek just a second longer than necessary. Her smile softened.

The silence stretched, comfortable yet charged. You could feel her gaze locked onto you, tracing the gentle lines of your face, and your breath hitched slightly as her hand slowly dropped from your cheek. She leaned in, her eyes never leaving yours, and you found yourself drawn closer, the space between you shrinking until you could feel the warmth of her breath.

Under the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the trees, her lips met yours, gentle at first. You leaned in, your hands coming up to rest on her shoulders, pulling her just a bit closer. She responded, her lips pressing more firmly against yours as the kiss deepened, the world around you melting into the quiet hum of the night.

When you finally pulled back, your faces still inches apart, you found yourself smiling, cheeks flushed. Jimin’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight, her playful expression gone, replaced by something tender.

“Well…” she whispered, breathless and smiling. “Guess it’s official—you’re stuck with me.”

--

The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the makeshift camp as night settled in. You and Jimin sat close to the flames, the night air cool but comfortable. The silence between you was soft, contemplative, as if both of you sensed there was more to say but weren’t sure where to begin.

Jimin leaned back, stretching her legs toward the fire, her shoulder brushing against yours. She let out a deep sigh and glanced over at you, her expression thoughtful. “You know… there aren’t many people I’d want to be stuck with out here,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But I think… I’m pretty lucky it’s you.”

You felt your cheeks warm as she looked at you, her gaze steady and sincere. “Really?” you murmured, tilting your head as you studied her face. “I thought I was the one lucky to be stuck with you.”

Jimin chuckled, shaking her head. “I know I joke around a lot, and I know I’m kind of… well, clumsy and all over the place. It’s hard to be serious about stuff. But with you… I feel like I don’t have to pretend to be anything else. I can just be… me.”

Her words settled around you, stirring something warm in your chest. “I get that,” you admitted softly, surprised at how natural it felt to open up to her. “I think I’ve always been so focused on keeping it together, on being the responsible one… I sometimes forget to let my guard down.” You looked down, feeling a little exposed but relieved to finally voice what you’d held back.

Jimin nodded, a sympathetic look crossing her face. She reached out, brushing her fingers gently over the back of your hand. Her touch was light, but it sent a soft shiver down your spine, a reminder of how much closer you both had become over the past few days. “Then maybe we’re both learning how to be ourselves a little better,” she murmured. “Together.”

Without thinking, you slid your hand over hers, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze. Jimin looked down at your hand covering hers, a small smile spreading across her face. “Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?” she said, leaning into you a little.

You nodded, your voice quiet but sure. “Yeah… we do.”

The conversation drifted on, each of you sharing small pieces of yourselves, moments and memories that you hadn’t told anyone else. The firelight flickered, illuminating the soft expressions on both your faces, the shared laughter, and the subtle way Jimin’s hand remained in yours, never breaking contact.

As the night grew late and the fire burned low, Jimin let out a small yawn, stretching her arms overhead before lying back on the ground beside you. She looked up at you, patting the spot next to her, and you lay down as well, feeling her warmth radiate beside you as the cool night air settled in.

Without a word, Jimin draped her arm over you, pulling you close as you shifted into her embrace. Her fingers brushed softly over your back, a soothing rhythm that matched the steady beat of her heart against yours. “This okay?” she whispered, her voice soft.

You nodded, leaning your forehead against her shoulder. “Yeah,” you murmured, your own arm slipping around her waist. “This is perfect.”

Jimin’s fingers traced lazy circles along your back as you lay together, her touch warm and comforting. The night sounds of the jungle surrounded you both, but for the first time since you’d arrived, you felt completely safe, anchored by her presence. The quiet grew deeper, words fading away as you settled into the warmth of her embrace, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her breathing.

For a moment, Jimin pressed a gentle kiss to the top of your head, and you felt her arms tighten around you, as if she were trying to keep you close even in sleep. A small smile tugged at your lips as you relaxed into her touch, letting the sense of comfort and understanding wash over you.

And in that moment, there was no fear, no frustration—only the steady warmth of her arms around you as sleep gently pulled you both into its embrace.

--

The sun was barely filtering through the dense canopy as you and Jimin carefully trekked deeper into the jungle, pushing past vines and thick vegetation that seemed to cling to every step. After the peaceful closeness of last night, the silence between you was comfortable, each of you sharing the occasional smile as you moved along. But as the hours stretched on, an uneasy feeling began to settle in the pit of your stomach. It was quieter than usual, the normal jungle sounds muffled, and every shadow seemed to stretch just a little longer than before.

You slowed down, glancing nervously over at Jimin, who seemed oblivious as she hummed a tune under her breath, her usual upbeat self. “Do you hear that?” you whispered, stopping in your tracks. Jimin halted beside you, looking around as she tilted her head. “Hear what?”

But before you could answer, a low, growling sound rumbled from somewhere close by. You both froze, every muscle tensing as the growl echoed through the dense trees. Slowly, you turned toward the direction of the sound, and there, partially hidden in the shadows, was a large, sleek figure—a wild cat, its intense eyes fixed right on the two of you.

“Jimin,” you whispered, barely able to breathe. She instinctively moved in front of you, her arm stretched protectively, her body suddenly rigid with tension. “Stay behind me,” she murmured, never taking her eyes off the wildcat.

Without warning, the animal lunged. Your stomach dropped as you both scrambled to dodge it, stumbling backward. “Run!” Jimin yelled, grabbing your hand and pulling you along the jungle path as you both broke into a desperate sprint. You could hear the wildcat’s low growls and snapping branches behind you, its chase relentless as it closed in, and a surge of pure terror shot through you.

Jimin kept a tight hold on your hand, leading you down a narrow path through the trees. But in her haste, she tripped over a root, sending you both sprawling forward. You hit the ground hard, leaves and dirt scraping against your skin as you fought to stand, the wildcat’s growls now terrifyingly close. Just as you struggled up, you felt its claws brush past your leg, inches from grabbing hold. Heart pounding, you staggered back, feeling yourself shake from the close call.

In a surge of determination, Jimin grabbed a large branch off the ground and turned to face the animal, her eyes fierce despite the fear evident in them. “Come on, you overgrown housecat!” she shouted, her voice wavering slightly. She swung the branch as the wildcat lunged again, managing to hit it hard across the side. The animal yelped in pain and backed off, momentarily stunned but still watching you both with menacing eyes.

With a quick glance back at you, Jimin picked up a fist-sized rock and threw it with all her strength, catching the wildcat square on the nose. The animal growled and hissed, finally retreating into the shadows, its eyes glinting as it slinked back into the dense jungle.

For a few moments, neither of you moved, both breathing hard as you processed what just happened. Your body was shaking, your hands scraped and sore, but the sight of Jimin, fiercely protective and standing between you and the wildcat, grounded you.

“Are you okay?” she asked, turning to you, her eyes softening in concern as she took in your frightened expression and the small cuts on your arms and legs.

You managed a shaky nod, trying to keep the trembling in your voice under control. “I—I think so,” you said, exhaling deeply. “But that was too close.”

Jimin’s shoulders dropped in relief, her face breaking into a small, reassuring smile as she reached over, gently brushing a stray leaf out of your hair. “Good… I thought I was going to lose you back there,” she admitted softly, her tone far more serious than usual.

“I thought I was a goner,” you replied, half-laughing as the tension finally started to ease. “And here I was thinking you’d be the one I’d need to protect.”

Jimin chuckled, her gaze warm as she gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Guess I just couldn’t let anything happen to my favorite jungle companion,” she said, her voice soft but steady. “Annoying as I am, I like having you around.”

You rolled your eyes, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “I don’t know how to say this,” you began, your tone half-teasing, “but I’m actually… impressed.”

“Is that so?” she smirked, her playful demeanor returning as she leaned in close, her eyes searching yours. “Then let’s call it even—today, you get to be the damsel in distress, and I’ll be your knight in shining armor.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “You were clumsy the entire way, and yet here we are. So maybe I do need you around after all.”

Jimin’s expression softened, and she brushed her fingers across your cheek. “Well, good, because I’m not planning on going anywhere without you.”

--

The jungle was surprisingly quiet that night, the hum of insects and occasional rustle of leaves blending into a gentle symphony that seemed to wrap you and Jimin in its embrace. The fire crackled low between you, casting soft shadows over her face as you both settled into a rare moment of calm after the chaos of the past few days. You glanced at Jimin, who was lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the flames. She looked different in this quiet moment, more grounded, and something in your chest tightened at the sight.

The words lingered on the edge of your mind, hesitant to be spoken, but you found yourself breaking the silence. "Jimin," you began, voice soft but steady. She looked up, her eyes meeting yours, and the warmth in her gaze somehow made you bolder. "I didn’t think I’d be saying this, but... I’ve actually grown to like being around you."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise, a slow smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Really now?" she said, her voice soft but playful. She shifted a bit closer, her fingers brushing against yours in a way that sent a small thrill up your spine. “Are you saying I’ve somehow charmed you with all my clumsiness and terrible sense of direction?”

You rolled your eyes, cheeks warming under her amused stare. “I guess that’s one way to put it,” you mumbled, struggling to maintain your composure. “It’s… been nice to have you around, I guess. Even if you almost got us killed a few times.”

She laughed, the sound rich and comforting. “I like having you around too,” she said, her voice softening. Her fingers lingered over yours, almost testing the waters, and then she gave your hand a gentle squeeze. "And for the record, if I got us lost just so we’d end up on this little adventure together, I think it was worth it.”

You snorted, unable to hide your smile. “Oh, so this was all part of your elaborate plan, was it?”

“Absolutely.” Her tone was teasing, but there was a glint of sincerity in her eyes that caught you off guard. She shifted even closer, her eyes never leaving yours. “So… does that mean I’ve earned a second date after all?”

You felt a jolt run through you at her words, warmth pooling in your stomach as you tried to hold back a smile. “A second date?” you echoed, the words a bit flustered as you met her gaze. “This isn’t exactly what I’d call a first date, Jimin.”

She tilted her head, grinning mischievously. “Well, if it was, then I’d say it was pretty memorable.” Her gaze grew a bit more intense, and she leaned in, her face mere inches from yours. “But if you don’t see it that way, maybe I should’ve taken it slower with you. Didn’t know you were the type to jump right to…” She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

You felt your cheeks heat up, caught completely off guard by her boldness. “That was… different,” you stammered, struggling to keep your cool under her teasing gaze. “I don’t usually… it’s not…”

Jimin chuckled softly, her hand tightening around yours. “Relax,” she whispered, her tone gentler now. “I’m just messing with you.” She brushed her thumb over your knuckles, her eyes soft as she studied your face. “But, for what it’s worth… I’m glad we ended up here together.”

The vulnerability in her voice made you pause, your heart skipping a beat as you took in the expression on her face—open, genuine, and maybe even a little bit nervous. The same feeling settled in your own chest, the realization that you didn’t just enjoy Jimin’s company; you genuinely liked her, maybe more than you’d admitted to yourself.

For a long moment, the two of you sat there in silence, your hands still intertwined. The air felt heavy with unsaid words, the jungle around you somehow amplifying the weight of the moment. Slowly, you leaned forward, your face so close to hers that you could see the faint rise and fall of her breathing.

And then, with a soft, nervous laugh, you whispered, “So… maybe a second date wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

Jimin’s eyes sparkled, her smile widening as she brought your hand to her lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your knuckles. “I’ll take that as a yes,” she murmured, her voice filled with warmth

--

The morning light cut through the dense canopy, its warmth a reminder that you had somehow survived yet another night in the wild. Every muscle in your body ached, and a strange, bittersweet quiet hung between you and Jimin as you packed up the small camp. Last night had been a whirlwind of relief, confessions, and laughter—and though you hadn’t said it out loud, part of you dreaded leaving the small, strange world the two of you had created here.

As you pushed forward, both of you moving slower than the past days, Jimin kept glancing back at you. You caught her eye more than once, and each time she’d flash you a small, encouraging smile, the kind that made your heart race no matter how many times you saw it. The silence between you was comfortable, weighted only by the feeling that you were nearing the end of something beautiful and rare.

Just as you were beginning to think the forest would stretch on forever, you heard it. A distant, rhythmic thump. Jimin stopped mid-step, her eyes widening as she turned to you, her face a mixture of disbelief and hope.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

You strained to listen, feeling the pulse of the sound reverberate through the trees. And then it hit you—a helicopter. A real, tangible reminder that the world beyond the jungle hadn’t forgotten you. Relief flooded your chest, and Jimin let out a breathless laugh, her eyes shining as she grabbed your hand.

“Come on!” she exclaimed, pulling you toward an open clearing she’d spotted nearby.

You stumbled together, tripping over roots and branches in your haste until you both broke free from the tree cover. Together, you waved your arms, shouting and hoping with all your heart that the search team would see you. The helicopter seemed to pause, and then it began circling lower. Jimin’s face broke into a grin, and she tightened her grip on your hand, shaking it slightly as if you were sharing a private celebration.

"We’re going home," she whispered, her voice full of awe and gratitude. But as the sound of the helicopter grew louder, the realization hit you both that this—this strange, shared adventure—was about to become a memory.

Jimin’s smile softened, and her eyes met yours with an intensity that sent a shiver through you. She looked at you like she was memorizing every detail, every freckle, and every line. “Guess this is it,” she murmured, a note of wistfulness in her voice. “Our little jungle getaway is officially over.”

Your throat tightened as you swallowed, struggling to keep your voice steady. “Yeah… guess we’re going back to reality.” It sounded strange to say it out loud, as if speaking it made the end more real.

She lifted her hand to your cheek, fingers brushing against your skin with a gentleness that made your heart twist. “Reality isn’t so bad, though, is it?” she murmured, a teasing glint breaking through her serious expression. “Besides… I think we still owe each other a real first date. You know, with less mud and maybe a shower?”

You laughed, a small, shaky sound that was half relief, half longing. “Deal,” you said, voice soft but sure. “But no jungle hikes, please.”

Jimin let out a small laugh, her gaze never leaving yours. “No jungle hikes,” she promised, though her smirk suggested that she’d find another way to keep you on your toes. She held onto your hand a moment longer, thumb brushing over your knuckles as if she, too, was reluctant to let go. So she didn’t, she pulled you closer and kissed you hard and deep, full of emotions. She beamed at you once you both pulled away, making you break out in a grin of your own, happy evident in both your eyes.

The helicopter hovered just overhead, its blades kicking up a fierce wind that whipped through the trees and pulled you both back to the present. The rescue crew lowered a ladder, and one of them gestured for you to climb. Jimin gave your hand a final squeeze, releasing you with a soft smile.

“After you,” she said, a hint of playfulness slipping back into her voice, but her eyes were full of something deeper—something that made your heart skip a beat.

Climbing the ladder, you stole a glance down to see her watching you with a wistful smile, her gaze filled with promises. And as she climbed up behind you, the roar of the helicopter above you and the rush of wind around you, you felt a pang of something bittersweet. It was over. No more snakes, no more wildcats, no more berries; for a while at least.

By the time you settled into the helicopter, you were both quiet, letting the weight of everything that had happened sink in. Jimin’s hand found yours again as the helicopter lifted, squeezing it with a gentle reassurance. As the jungle began to shrink below you, you realized that even though you were leaving it behind, the closeness you’d found here wouldn’t fade.

Jimin turned to you as you neared the edge of the jungle, her voice barely audible over the helicopter's hum. "Maybe reality can be our next adventure," she said, her eyes bright with that familiar spark.

--

The fluorescent lights hummed softly above you, the steady buzz filling the otherwise quiet lab as you wrapped up your final tasks of the day. The sterile, clinical atmosphere seemed like a lifetime away from the jungle you’d left behind only a week ago. Your heart still carried the echoes of that wild, exhausting adventure—the adrenaline of survival, the closeness you’d shared with Jimin, and the overwhelming emotions that came with it. It was all so vivid in your mind, impossible to erase, and sometimes, it felt like you could still hear the rustling leaves, feel the humidity on your skin, and even catch a glimpse of Jimin’s teasing smile.

“Hey, got a minute?” Jimin’s voice broke through your thoughts, bringing you back to the present. You looked up to find her leaning casually against the doorframe, her usual confidence on display, but with an unmistakable softness in her eyes. She was wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt, but somehow she seemed different—less like the clumsy, adventurous woman you had gotten to know in the jungle, and more like the person who had somehow wormed her way under your skin.

You smiled at the sight of her, your pulse picking up despite your best efforts to remain composed. “Yeah, what’s up?” You didn’t need to ask—it was obvious that she was here for something, and you couldn’t help but wonder what exactly was on her mind. After everything that had happened, things felt... different between the two of you.

Jimin stepped further into the lab, her hands slipping into her pockets as she walked toward you. “I was just thinking…” She trailed off, her gaze flicking to the floor for a moment as she scratched the back of her neck. “You know, we never actually got around to that second date.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Second date?” The idea felt almost surreal, considering everything that had happened. But here she was, standing before you, asking for something as normal as dinner. You tried not to think too much about how quickly your heart began to race.

She nodded, her grin widening. “Yeah. I mean, I know we were kind of busy—what with all the, you know, being stuck in the jungle and running from wildcats—but I figured since we’re back to regular life now, we should give this whole ‘date’ thing another shot. A real one this time.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at her suggestion. “You’re sure you’re not just trying to make up for all the times you almost got us both killed in the jungle?”

Jimin made an exaggerated offended face, but there was a playful glint in her eyes. “Hey, that’s unfair. I was—” She paused, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. “—a brave and fearless leader. You were the one who didn’t trust me with the map.”

“Trust you? You were reading the map upside down!” you shot back, unable to keep the grin off your face. There was something about her that made it impossible to stay annoyed for long. Even now, when things were back to normal, the memory of her teasing and her warmth still lingered in the air.

“Alright, alright, you’ve made your point,” Jimin said, shaking her head with a grin. “But seriously. What do you think? How about that second date? No wild animals, no getting lost—just you and me, a nice dinner, and the chance to actually talk without worrying about survival.”

You felt your heart flutter in your chest, an unfamiliar but welcome feeling. You’d spent so many days feeling frustrated and confused about how close you’d gotten to Jimin, how you felt drawn to her despite the clashing parts of your personalities. But here she was, asking for something real. You couldn’t ignore the fluttering in your stomach as you thought about it.

You leaned back against the desk, trying to appear nonchalant despite the growing warmth in your chest. “You really think dinner’s going to make up for the chaos of the past week?” you teased, but there was a softness to your tone that betrayed how much you appreciated her persistence. Despite all the joking, despite how annoyed you’d gotten at times, there was a part of you that had found solace in her presence. And the more you thought about it, the more you realized how much you wanted to explore this, whatever it was between you.

Jimin’s eyes sparkled. “Well, we don’t have to call it a ‘makeup’ dinner, but yeah… I’d really like to see you outside of that jungle madness. Just us. No distractions. No dangerous animals.” She stepped closer, her voice lowering. “Maybe… just a quiet evening with a little less chaos?”

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and despite the playful tone, you could sense the sincerity behind them. Jimin had a way of making everything seem lighthearted, even when it mattered most. It wasn’t that she was just carefree; she had this way of carrying the weight of the world lightly, as though nothing could truly bring her down. And you admired that. But there was also something else there, something deeper, hidden behind that playful façade.

“Okay,” you finally said, your voice quieter than you intended, the simple word feeling like it carried so much more weight than it should. “A second date. I think that sounds… nice.”

Jimin’s eyes lit up in delight, and you couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She seemed genuinely happy, her face breaking into a grin that made your heart skip a beat. She didn’t say anything for a moment, just stood there, as if savoring the moment, before her expression softened and she took a step closer.

“So, dinner tomorrow?” she asked, her voice laced with that same playful tone. But this time, there was something more vulnerable about it. Something quieter, more uncertain, as if she wasn’t quite sure what you’d say next.

You nodded, your heart thumping in your chest. “Yeah,” you said, swallowing back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm you. “Dinner tomorrow. Sounds perfect.”

The two of you stood there for a moment, both unsure of what to say next. It felt like there was a new energy between you, an unspoken understanding that things were changing. The jungle was behind you, but the feelings you’d shared in those wild days hadn’t gone away. If anything, they were growing stronger.

Then, without warning, Jimin took a small step closer, her hand reaching out to brush against yours. Her touch was light but steady, her fingers grazing yours in a way that felt so familiar and yet so new. You felt your breath catch in your throat as she looked at you with those soft, dark eyes of hers.

“I didn’t think I’d miss getting lost in the jungle,” she said softly, her gaze never leaving yours. “But I kind of do.”

You felt a laugh bubble up from your chest, but it was soft, a little breathless. “Yeah, it wasn’t so bad after all,” you replied, the words feeling lighter now that the tension had broken. You felt more at ease, more certain about what you wanted.

You didn’t give yourself a chance to second-guess. Before you could stop yourself, you leaned in, closing the space between you. Her lips were soft, warm against yours, and the kiss was everything you hadn’t known you needed. It was gentle at first, almost tentative, as if both of you were testing the waters, unsure of how to move forward. But as you kissed her again, deeper this time, there was a sweetness to it that made everything feel right. The world outside the lab, outside of everything that had happened, faded into the background.

When you pulled away, you were both breathless, smiles lingering on your lips.

“So… tomorrow, yeah?” Jimin asked again, her voice soft, almost shy now, as if the kiss had made her feel just as vulnerable as you.

You smiled, a little unsure of yourself but more than ready for whatever this new chapter was going to be. “It’s a date,” you whispered.

a/n: tried a new writing style!

[nebulablakemurphy]

The Winner Takes It All (Part 2)

Summary: Moves and Countermoves AU in which the rebellion never happened and Haymitch is now mentoring his own child for the games.

Warning: 18+ ONLY MDNI Depictions of forced prostitution, a pregnancy resulting from it, and alcohol/drug addiction.

Part 1

“We need a minute.” Y/N tells Everest and Whimsy, once they’ve boarded the train.

Haymitch storms off in the opposite direction, his eyes cast downwards, unable to bear the sight of his son…his tribute.

Effie isn’t sure what to do either, excusing herself to her room.

Y/N shifts between feet, “make yourselves comfortable, ok? There’s plenty of food.” She offers, motioning toward the arrangement on the dining table. “Eat, drink-”

Everest sighs, “you can go, Mom. We’ve got it.”

Whimsy peeks up at her mentor, from the plush velveteen chair.

“Everything’s going to be ok.” Y/N insists, promptly exiting the train car to find her husband.

“You should eat.” Everest tells Whimsy, after the door closes.

“I’m not hungry.” The girl crosses both arms over her chest.

“It’s important to stay healthy for the games.”

“Why do you care? You’re just gonna kill me anyway.”

“I am not going to kill you.” Everest huffs, taking the seat beside her.

“Yet.” Whimsy bites out. “You’re not going to kill me yet.”

“Nobody really knows this, but I was named after the last word in a sentence my mom’s district partner couldn’t finish.”

“W-why are you telling me then?” Whimsy cries. It doesn’t matter, she’ll be gone soon.

“Because you’re my partner and that means something.” Everest insists, “I don’t want you to die and neither do my parents.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Look, giving you your best shot is a severe conflict of interest for them. But my parents are good people, you can trust them. District 12 tributes aren’t known for having a high success rate, but they were able to get Katniss out alive.”

“Even if you’re right about your parents, no one stands a chance against the sponsors you’ll be able to pull. The whole thing is rigged.” Whimsy whispers.

Everest leans toward her, “I think so too. But just because a game is rigged doesn’t mean you can’t win. All you have to do is understand what rules they’re playing by.”

“And what rules are these?”

“No holds barred. The winner takes it all.”

————————————————————————

“Haymitch,” Y/N finds her husband, double fisted in the bar car.

“Hi, angel.” He drawls, “shouldn’t you be fingering a tablet by now?”

“I need you.”

“I’m here.” Haymitch sets the alcohol down, closing the distance between them. “But there’s no way I’m getting through this sober.” He cups her face in his hands, “I need to think. Figure out what we can do.”

Y/N leans into his palm, nodding as she fights back tears.

“Snow’s expecting us to be beside ourselves, irrational. We can use that to our advantage.”

“What about Whimsy?” Y/N wonders. “We can’t sentence that girl to death.”

“You also can’t give her a fair shake.” A voice interrupts them.

Y/N startles, Haymitch pulling her tightly to his chest. Prepared to use his body to shield her own.

“Jesus, sweetheart. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Katniss. What are you doing here?” She hasn’t been to the Capitol with them in years. Rarely makes it beyond her front door without crippling anxiety.

“You can’t mentor that girl and you shouldn’t have to. I’m gonna do it.” Katniss lifts a shoulder, handing an open bottle of blue spirits to Haymitch. “This one’s all yours.”

“Thanks,” Haymitch takes a swig.

“Tastes like shit, by the way.” Katniss cracks a grin as she exits the bar car.

————————————————————————

Everest hasn’t slept in his parent’s room for years, so when he wakes to find them curled up on the floor of his room, he’s rightfully surprised.

He sighs, sitting up to stretch, still in his father’s suit from the day before. Oh, that’s right; this isn’t his room. “Mom,” he yawns. “Dad?”

Y/N stirs, in her husband’s arms. Focusing her puffy eyes on her son.

She’s been crying, Everest realizes. Probably most of the night.

“Are you ok, honey?” She asks, immediately.

“I’m fine,” Everest assures her.

“Haymitch,” Y/N jostles him.

“Hmm?”

“Everest’s awake.”

He grumbles out a string of profanities as he drags himself upright. “How are you?”

“M’fine.” Everest repeats, “you didn’t have to sleep on the floor.”

“We wanted to stay close incase you needed us.”

This is his parent’s worst nightmare. The one they’ve been preparing him for since his eleventh birthday. One they will never wake from. “We should probably head over for breakfast. We’ll be in the Capitol soon.” He knows this trek well enough.

By the time they reach the breakfast spread, Katniss and Whimsy are already eating. Effie is powdering her face in the corner.

“Morning.” Katniss greets them, “you look well rested.”

“Slept like crap, actually.” Haymitch informs her, “woke up with a kink in my neck.” He plops down in the nearest chair.

“Yeah, I meant Everest. You both look like hell.”

“Manners.” Effie scolds her.

Y/N forces a smile as she sits, “thanks, Katniss.”

“You should have a drink.” Katniss suggests.

“I’m fine.” Y/N sniffs, “just need a little coffee.”

“Sure.” Katniss isn’t convinced.

“We should talk about what to expect once we arrive in the Capitol.” Haymitch is quick to change the subject.

Everest is seated between his parents, picking at his helping of eggs.

“When the train stops, peacekeepers will come in and escort you to the tribute center. From there you’ll be separated into rooms for your prep teams. They’ll hose you down and get you ready for your stylists. After the tribute parade, we’ll meet up backstage and go from there.”

“Then we’ll start discussing strategy for the games?” Whimsy suggests, flicking through slides on the tablet before her.

Katniss swipes the presentation closed, locking the tablet screen and all but tossing it to the ground.

Haymitch bites back a grin. He’s always hated those damn things.

Y/N scowls at them, collecting the device. “Some tributes find it helpful to look over the strategies this way and make their own notes.”

Everest hasn’t taken the time to look over his own yet. But he always enjoyed his mother’s notes, the way they felt like an extension of her. When he was growing up and old enough to stay home with Aunt Madge, while his parents mentored the games; Y/N would leave him his own slideshow. Pictures of them as a family with hearts around him, or little blue stars, she’d drawn with her stylist. His sisters are probably flipping through their own shows right about now.

“Can I see?” Everest holds out a hand.

Y/N allows him to take it from her.

These images are very different than the ones he grew up with, no hearts. Lots of stars though and annotations. It must take hours to update each year.

The computer generated bodies move upon demand, to demonstrate each technique from every angle. This is his mother’s love language, one other tributes couldn’t understand.

“This is really helpful, Mom. Thank you.”

Y/N flounders, only one other person appreciated this particular gift and he is long dead.

Katniss pushes away from the table, without a word.

Peeta Mellark left a gaping hole in each of them, although Katniss would never admit that.

The rest of their morning is spent in quiet solitude. Until the telltale hum of the train engine comes to an end. They’ve reached their destination.

As promised, peacekeepers do come for Whimsy and Everest.

Before his parents disappear completely from view, he watches them depart the train, hands entwined. Haymitch presses a single kiss to Y/N’s knuckles before they set off in opposite directions.

————————————————————————

Y/N knows the house she’s headed for, she could find it in her sleep. Tungsten Pruit took a liking to her back before he could have her. Sponsoring her tributes year after year, buying her tapes.

The first night Y/N was offered up individually, Tungsten paid a cool million for her. But he’s never hurt her, and for that reason alone, a night with him is preferable to some of the Capitol’s more…colorful patrons.

Y/N knocks once before he answers.

“You’re expensive tonight, Little Minx.”

“More or less than a million?”

“More.” He swings the door open wide for her. “Come in.”

“Is this new?” She points to the settee.

The man wraps his arms around her waist. “It is.”

“I like it.” She allows him to sway her slightly, from side to side.

“About your son…”

“Mhm?”

“I’d like to sponsor him.” Tungsten’s lips brush against her jugular.

“That’s very kind of you.” She swallows down the bile creeping up her throat.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh?”

“In my room.” Up the stairs, down the hall, last door on the right. Illuminated by candle light.

Finnick Odair.

————————————————————————

Everest hears the steady spray of water and scrub brushes. Cleaning the tributes behind the curtains beside him, as he sits untouched; twiddling his thumbs.

Eventually a prep team joins him. Standing nervously, shoulder to shoulder, at the makeshift room’s entrance.

“Uh, hi.” Everest waves, “I’m Everest. You’re here to get me ready for the parade?”

The smallest of the three, a girl with long magenta hair, nods.

“Alright, well here I am.” Everest lies back on the cool, metal table, covered by nothing more than the paper gown they’d left out for him.

Anytime he moves they jump, gasping as they remove their hands.

“Sorry,” Everest clears his throat, “tickles.”

“Are you uncomfortable?” The older woman asks, “we’re under strict instruction to make sure you are safe and comfortable at all times.”

“I’m fine.” Everest blinks up at the ceiling, “just treat me like you would any other tribute.”

No one utters a word, until Vanity burst in some time later.

“Where is he? Where’s my boy? Is he ready for me?”

“Vanity?” Everest narrows his eyes at her. “You’re not a stylist for the games anymore?”

“That’s because you weren’t in the games.” She rolls her eyes, their natural color eclipsed by purple contacts. “I’ve styled you from the day you were born, you think I’m going to stop now?”

Everest smiles, with a shake of his head. “Of course not.”

————————————————————————

Y/N and Finnick are left alone to redress.

“See yourselves out once you’re decent.” Tungsten shrugs on a pale yellow dressing gown before vacating the room. Closing the door behind him.

“I’m so sorry about Everest.” Finnick murmurs, reaching for his bottoms and pulling them up over his hips.

“Me too.” Y/N steps into her dress, zipping it closed against her side.

“Beetee has control of the comm system-”

“I can’t listen to any more of Plutarch’s planning and plotting.”

Finnick hushes her. “It’s not just Plutarch.”

“Was my son getting reaped part of his ‘plan?’”

“This wasn’t a part of anyone’s plan.” He continues buttoning his shirt.

Y/N is silent, buckling the strap of her heels.

“I saw Honey at the reaping.”

She blinks at him, helplessly.

“She’s beautiful.”

“I know.”

“What’s she like?” Finnick hasn’t seen the little girl in person since she was four. The age when Y/N and Haymitch stop bringing their children along to mentor the games. He only gets to see Capitol coverage, a picture or two a year, if he’s lucky.

“Kind and thoughtful and funny.” Like her other children, “too good for this world.”

Finnick’s lips quirk upward, into a lopsided grin. “Tell her Finnick says hi.”

“I will.” Y/N doesn’t want to talk about it anymore “How’s Annie?”

The love of Finnick’s life never blamed Y/N for anything. Still watching a little girl grow up, with Finnick’s smile and another woman’s eyes isn’t easy on her. “She’s alright.”

“And Mags?”

“She’s as good as she’s gonna be, honey.”

“Do you know who has Haymitch?” How bad is it?

“Synchrony.” Finnick says. “She’s harmless, I’ve seen her a few times. She probably wanted both of you, but no one can afford you tonight.”

“How much?” For the star-crossed lovers of District 12?

“Starts with a b, ends with an illion.”

“A billion dollars?” Y/N scoffs.

“Snow knew you’d want to be together.”

How long is he gonna punish me for what I did when I was fifteen?

“I got you something.” Finnick reaches into his back pocket, producing a bottle of pills. “They’re new. I know you don’t like to take anything, but these work well. Better than the others, you can still think clearly it just suppresses everything else.”

“Did you take one?”

“No.” He shakes his head, “I wasn’t going to take one if you couldn’t.”

He wouldn’t leave her in that room to be flayed open with no anesthetic as he watched, perfect numb. He learned years ago to separate himself from his body.

Having only ever been with Haymitch, who she outright adored, it wasn’t a skill Y/N had. So Finnick forced himself to remain as present as she was. Even though she never asked him to.

Together they created life, one he couldn’t be a part of. Sharing a love for each other that doesn’t belong. Sinful and messy. Bleeding into everything they touch.

The agent in charge of their audio feed removes his headset. Disposing of the evidence and moving leisurely through the mansion halls to the presidential office.

Snow looks up at him and curtly excuses his advisors. “Clear the room.”

They do as they’re told, latching the white double doors securely behind them.

The president arches a brow, expectantly.

“The feed from the Odair, Abernathy room was disposed of, Mr. President.” Agent Barton Clares reports. “I know you’ve asked to hear it before hand, but I-”

“I trust your judgment, Agent Clares. That’s why I’ve assigned you to this task. You understand the delicate nature of the situation and what would happen if these…details were released to the public.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Their images would be shattered and from there it would be their word against mine. People would die, the system would collapse.”

Barton nods.

“Was there any other information passed between them?”

“They were strictly discussing the child, Mr. President.” He lies.

“Very well. Were you able to get more information from the Nicholo girl?”

Cashmere. “No.”

“I’ll arrange for you to see her tonight then.” President Snow decides, with a sickening smile. “Do try harder.”

————————————————————————

Everest doesn’t see Whimsy again until they are mounting up for the parade.

His suit will send up sparks similar to a stick of dynamite. Her dress is a canary yellow silk design, which spreads like wings as she opens her arms.

“Woah.”

“There’s already been a girl and boy on fire.” Cinna says. “But that doesn’t mean you have to dress as coal miners. Let’s make them remember you.” He winks at Whimsy.

“You’re sure to have all eyes on you.” Vanity adds. “Make us proud.”

Everest nods, stepping up onto the carriage and squaring his shoulders. He notices Whimsy nervously fidgeting with her gown. “If you need more room for the wings, you can come farther this way.”

She nods, “thank you.”

The horses set off down the runway at a steady pace. District by district, the chariots disappear through the archway and into view of the audience.

Whimsy looks to Everest, once they are visible to the people, “now?”

“You first.” She deserves a moment to win them over.

She spreads her arms, revealing the unique design of her dress and the wings they never saw coming. More applause, whistling, white roses falling from the stands.

Everest can’t find his parents amongst them, he tries one last time before hitting the button which ignites his suit. The material sparks, like the lighted end of a burning blasting rope and the audience loses their minds.

Oh, to be Everest Abernathy.

————————————————————————

The elevator doors open once they reach the twelfth floor. Revealing the penthouse living quarters of the tribute center. It’s more lavish than Everest remembers from when he was small. With crystal chandeliers, a sizable dining table, sitting room and multiple projection screens.

“Woah,” Whimsy marvels, gazing up at the vaulted ceiling.

Katniss commandeers the room nearest the entrance. Locking the door behind her.

“Why don’t you both get settled in? Get some of that make up off before dinner.” Haymitch suggests, rubbing circles into Y/N’s back as she leans into him.

Whimsy takes the room across from Katniss and makes herself comfortable. Leaving only Everest and his parents.

“Where were you while I was getting ready for the parade?”

“Out scouting potential sponsors.”

“There’s a line out the door to sponsor me.” Everest narrows his eyes, “if I’m old enough to fight to the death, I’m old enough to know what’s going on here.”

Haymitch sighs, “leave it alone, Everest.”

The boy asks again. “Where did you go?”

“There are certain responsibilities we have while here mentoring.” Y/N explains.

“That’s bullshit!”

Haymitch holds up a hand. “It’s been a long day, we could all use a good night’s rest.”

“Is that why Honey-”

“Keep your voice down.” Haymitch seethes. “You’re allowed to be angry. Hold onto that, let it drive you. But this is bigger than any of us. We do what we have to, to keep our family safe. It’s not your burden to bear.”

“I just want to help you.” Everest murmurs.

“You can help us by staying alive. That is your only job. Do you understand?” Haymitch is cracking under the pressure, beneath the unimaginable weight of it.

“Yes,” Everest nods.

“How long have you known about Honey?” Y/N wonders.

“I don’t really know anything,” Everest purses his lips.

“If anyone found out…” about Honey, “it would come back to bite all of us.”

“I wasn’t going to tell anyone, Mom.” Everest breathes, “I just want it to make sense.”

“The things we have done will never make sense.” Y/N murmurs, “but that’s for us to live with. Not you.”

He would argue more, under normal circumstances. But right now, he can’t bear the thought of causing her anymore pain. “Ok.”

————————————————————————

What his father said is true, about the anger as fuel thing. If it weren’t for the proverbial guillotine hanging over his family’s head, Everest would be storming Snow’s mansion himself.

He loses himself in the sparring, nearly injuring the career boy from district 1. Cashmere’s tribute. “Are you ok?” Everest attempts to help him to his feet.

“I don’t think you should be out on the mat.” The boy slaps his hand away. “It’s bad enough that you’ve got immunity, you don’t need maim us before hand.”

“I wasn’t trying to maim you and I don’t-” the boy is gone before Everest can finish, “have immunity.”

Whimsy approaches her partner, carefully. “Do you have a weapon of choice? Or do you intend to kill with your bare hands?”

Everest shakes his head to clear it. “My dad said we shouldn’t demonstrate our skills in front of the other tributes.”

“Well Katniss said that’s a crock of shit so…”

Everest chuckles, “of course she did.”

“I don’t think it really matters what you do or don’t do at this point, there’s a target on your back.”

“You’re probably right.” He admits, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I can wield and throw knives, I’m pretty good with a sword or an axe. Not great with a bow, but I can shoot.”

“Very victor’s kid of you.” Whimsy reaches for the nearby sickle. “Do you know how to use this pointy hook thing?”

“No,” Everest laughs. “Do you?”

————————————————————————

Despite her initial hesitation, after three days of training. Whimsy receives a solid seven at her assessment.

“Good job.” The occupants of District 12’s sitting room rejoice, huddled together on the lavish couch.

“Told you.” Everest bumps her shoulder with his own.

“And lastly, Everest Abernathy, from District 12. With a score of…” Caesar pauses for effect. “Twelve.”

“Twelve?” Whimsy turns to him. “No one gets a twelve! Not even the careers.”

“Good thing we’re allies, right?”

Y/N leans closer to Haymitch, whispering to him, frantically. He listens, with a blank expression, all the blood having drained from his face. Running his hand up and down his wife’s back, over and over again, too hard and fast to be comforting.

Everest feels the erratic movement of the cushion beside him before he sees it. “Dad?” He places a hand over his father’s to still it.

“Yeah?”

“Are you ok?”

Haymitch forces a smile, “of course. We should celebrate.”

————————————————————————

“Now Everest, you know I have to ask. How does it feel to receive the highest assessment score ever given to a tribute?”

“Good, I guess.”

“You guess,” Caesar laughs. “So funny, our boy.”

The crowd joins in.

“How did you do it? Have you been training? Planning to volunteer perhaps?”

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, Caesar, but I was raised by Y/N and Haymitch Abernathy.”

More cackling.

“Was I planning to volunteer? No. But am I prepared for this? Yes.”

“Some might argue that victory is in your blood.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

“You’ve been on this stage since you were in diapers.” Caesar paints on a somber expression. Or perhaps it is a true representation of his grief. “It seems odd to say goodbye without knowing if we’ll see each other again.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Everest lays it on thick.

Caesar nods, as tears roll onto his cheeks.

“It was really nice knowing you, Caesar.” Everest takes the man’s hand. “It was nice knowing all of you.”

The crowd begins a tearful round of applause.

“It was nice knowing you too.” Caesar places his free hand over his heart, to still it. “Let’s hear it, one last time, for Everest Abernathy!”

Everyone in attendance is on their feet. A standing ovation.

Everest squints into the audience, against the harsh stage lights and finds his parents among them. Clapping for him. Proud of him. Scared for him.

When it is over, he makes a beeline for them backstage, flying into their arms.

“We’re so proud of you, baby.” Y/N runs a hand over his hair.

“That was perfect.”

————————————————————————

Everest’s last night before the games is spent with his parents hovering over him. “I’m going to bed.”

“Everest, wait.” Y/N stops him.

“Yeah?”

“Remember what we said about the arena. Once you’re inside, there isn’t much we can do besides send gifts from sponsors.“

“I know, Dad. We’ve been over this like ten times.” Everest smiles, “I got it.”

“A-alright.” Haymitch stammers.

“I’m gonna fight like hell, ok?” Everest promises, looking between his mother and father. “I’m going to do everything I can to come home to you, but if I can’t…. I need you to know that isn’t your fault.”

Y/N stares at her son with glossy eyes. How did we get here, my sweet boy? How did this happen?

“You are the best parents any kid could ask for. You loved me and protected me and taught me how to be a good person. That’s a rare thing in this world.” Everest reminds them. “I love you so much.”

“We love you more.”

“I know! I know how much you love me. I know how much you tried to prevent this from happening. I know how hard you’re fighting for me still. I saw it all. I know.” Everest’s voice cracks, “I’m your son. Nobody can take that away from you, ever. You’re my mom and dad. Nothing will change that.” Not life or death, or anything in between.

Everest is sandwiched between them again; and he welcomes it.

“I have something for you.” Haymitch says, after a long moment. Producing a token for his son. One that had once been his.

Everest stares down at the flint striker, secured on a yellow metal chain which is surely part of his mother’s token. Pieces of them together. Just like him.

————————————————————————

At some point the Abernathys must’ve fallen asleep on the sitting room sectional. Everest wakes long before dawn to a clattering near the bar cart.

“Shit.”

“Katniss?” Everest rubs at his eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was out here. Go back to sleep.”

“Don’t think I can now.” He admits, joining her at the opposite corner of the room.

Katniss stares down at the bottle in her hand, “your mom probably has something to help with that.”

“My mom has something to help with everything.” Everest chuckles.

“She’s been a wreck, your dad too.”

“I figured.” He blanches, “take care of them for me, will you? No matter what happens in the arena… knowing they have you helps.”

“Of course.” Katniss agrees, “but you’re not dying in that arena.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know you and what you’re capable of. You’re going to finish what your parents started. What I failed to do.” Katniss tells him. “You’re going to win the games.”

“No one ever wins the games.” His father taught him that.

“You will. You have to.” The girl on fire insists, with embers burning in her eyes. “This is our last chance. Our last hope…is you.”

Everest sucks in a breath.

“When you hear that cannon tomorrow, run as fast as you can. Don’t be a hero. Take Whimsy with you, if you can. You haven’t made any other alliances, which I think is smart. It’ll be easier to do what you have to that way. You aren’t there to save them. You can’t. You’ll die trying.”

Everest nods.

“Focus on your surroundings. Find water, food and high ground.”

“I got that part.”

“Good, go get some more sleep. You’ll need it.” Katniss squeezes his shoulder, leaving him to it.

Series Taglist: @lovely-waves @pookiei-bookie @derersketnoget @getawaycarsficrecs

[notalostcausejustyet]

Here’s the thing, I’m a giant DT fan. Have been for a loooooong time. And he’s incredibly talented. Probably my top pick for any Shakespeare ever. Amazing. But can we just appreciate the fact that Michale Sheen can say more with absolutely ZERO dialogue than any actor I have ever seen. It’s insane the amount of control he has over his micro expressions. Bonkers talent, that. I will also add, however, that no one can get their pupils to dilate on command. That’s just Michael being Michael, 100% comfy in his own skin and how he feels about DT. Like, yes, they are BFFs. Platonic soul mates. But he’s not shy about how attractive he finds David and I love that he just ran with it.

Asexual or not, you cannot tell me these aren’t looks of pure lust.

4 times Aziraphale had a hard time keeping his cool while looking at Crowley.

1- Paris, the Reign of Terror.

2- 1941, the N4zi Zombies incident.

3- Edinburgh. This one is insaneeee.

4- When Crowley says “ask me anything about love”. My boy Azi was about to jump on him.

[boochwe]

Dream About Me

Pairing: Vernon x Reader

Synopsis: There's a world you go to each night in your dreams, a reality between realities. That is where you find him. That is where you feel most at home.

She/Her pronouns used

Warnings: None that I can think of, this is pure fluff. Maybe just a small, small hint of angst but more melancholic in vibes than actually sad or upsetting.

Word Count: 784

Notes: First fic posted on a new blog. I wrote this a bit ago and never really thought about doing anything with it until now. No idea of what's to come from it, but I hope you guys enjoy. I listened to Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old-Girl by yeule on repeat while writing and half ass editing this.

“Do you dream of me?”

The question hung heavy in the air as Vernon turned his head to the side to look at her, brows furrowed as he pondered over her words. The answer was so obvious and yet she had him second guessing himself.

“Is that not what I’m doing right now? Dreaming of you?” He asked, wishing she’d turn her head so he could look her in the eye. She didn’t.

Instead, she leaned to fidget with the volume of the music they’d been listening to until it was adequately regarded as background noise for their conversation before returning to her original position. His fingers itched to pull her closer- to turn her head towards him so he could get a read on her- but he hesitated and let his hands stay by his sides, twitching with the need to touch her.

“I don’t think so. I think right now…right now we’re wide awake, and when we leave these moments- whatever they really are- that’s when we sleep. Does that make sense?” She asked though from the way her voice stayed quiet, barely audible over the music she’d already turned down, he knew that she wasn’t even sure if it made sense to herself.

Vernon let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding as he dragged a hand through his dark hair, needing something to keep them occupied or else he was sure he wouldn’t be able to keep them away from her much longer.

He’d been finding himself in that situation a lot since this whole thing started, unable to stop his hands from finding their way towards her- her hands, her hair, the hem of her shirt. He could almost feel the soft fabric between his fingertips when she shook him out of his own thoughts.

“It doesn’t make sense,” She muttered as she finally turned to look at him, eyes squinting to fully make out his features as only moonlight illuminated the room. “I can’t explain it any better than that. I just can’t imagine that the world I’m awake in isn’t this one. Where you’re here, and you’re tangible, and I can always find you. I can’t have you out there but every night I have you right here beside me. I don’t want to believe you’re just a dream.”

Her words rolled down his body like condensation on a glass, starting in his mind and dripping all the way to his toes until his whole body was chilled and warm all at once. He didn’t give a damn about holding back anymore as he turned to lay on his side, one hand coming to rest on her waist as his large fingers tangled around the fabric of her shirt until it inched up enough for him to slip his hand down against her bare skin. His touch was hot but so was her skin, as if the pair were flushed head to toe just with the weight of their affections.

“I’m not,” he said, cheeks burning at how simple his statement seemed compared to her confession. “A dream I mean. I’m not a dream. I’m real out there and I’m real right here. And so are you.”

“But how are you sure? How can you know?”

Her eyebrows scrunched together, some semblance of a pout settling on her lips. He considered kissing it away for a moment before he forced the thought away. There would be plenty of time to kiss her later, but now he had to talk, he had to reassure them both.

For a moment, he pursed his own lips as his eyes darted away from hers and tried to find the right words among the millions of reasons rushing through his mind. She always did this- overwhelmed his brain with so many thoughts and words and feelings. He hated how much he loved it.

“I just know. I know it when I hear your favorite songs or when I see certain things. I could never dream up something like you.”

This time, it was her turn to lose herself within her thoughts because several moments passed by with nothing but the steady beat of a song that he was sure he could have fallen asleep to under normal circumstances.

Finally, as one song came to an end and the next began, she spoke.

“I think I’m in love with you,” she said as she turned onto her side and shifted so their noses were brushing.

“I know I’m in love with you,” Vernon responded and he leaned in to brush his lips against hers. Not quite a kiss, but not quite less. “So yes. I do dream of you.”

[shmothman]

Internet Safety

(Casper x reader, 500 words, post-ending 3, T for language)

“Casper. I need you to listen to me very carefully right now.”

You turn your phone around to face him, and he looks at you confused before reading aloud: “‘Immediate action required for your bank account.’” His brows knit as he looks up at you. “That sounds serious, are you in some kind of trouble?”

“No, no. Look at who it’s sent from.”

He reads the (incredibly phony-sounding) email address back to you, and then looks at you again, still confused.

You point at it. “This is what a scam text looks like.”

Casper narrows his eyes. He looks back at the text, then looks back at you. “But… it says your immediate action is required. Isn’t your bank account very important?”

You sigh. “It’s a lie, babe. They want me to click that link and put in my bank password. They’ll take that password to hack into my actual bank account, and then they’ll steal all my money.”

He still seems unconvinced. “But… what if you’re wrong?”

“You really are a scammer’s wet dream, you know that?”

He bristles slightly. “I do not want to risk not taking immediate action on my bank account.”

That gives you pause. “Wait, do they have banks in the underworld?”

“Yes? How do you think we deal with money?”

“Even in the underworld you have to deal with capitalism?” Honestly, you thought that his society was better than yours at that kind of thing. Though, maybe the whole ‘he was created for one purpose and that purpose is his job’ thing should’ve tipped you off. The billionaires of the mortal realm would love that shit. “Fuck, next you’re gonna tell me there’s capitalism in the afterlife, too.”

He shrugs. “I do not know. It is possible.”

“Please don’t say that to me. Anyway. If you’re gonna live in the mortal world for now, you’re gonna need to be able to tell what a scam looks like.”

“As far as I can tell, I cannot have a bank account here without an ID. Which, as I am not a citizen of this world, I do not have.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know I’m your sugar daddy from here on out. But there’s still plenty of stuff I want to help you not fall for. Like the fucking virus you gave my computer last week.”

He frowns. “It said I had won a prize.”

“Also, what if we have to forge some documents for you and get you an ID and bank account?”

There’s a hint of a smile on his face. “Are you looking to break as many of your world’s rules as I have mine? It will be much harder for us if we both have to go on the run.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose and heave an exaggerated sigh. “Point taken. Just. Please. If you get any texts, emails, or popups like this… come to me before you click anything, okay? The geek squad guys think I’m an idiot.”

“It is not—“

“So I told them that my idiot boyfriend is the one who clicked the link.”

He pouts, and it’s very, very cute. “Very well.”

[sp-by-april]

FILTHY kyle x girlfriend f!reader who is in therapy and recovering from a depressive episode and she finally starts looking and feeling like herself again. this is the girl he first fell in love with and is so happy she’s happy and can’t help but want to fuck her into the mattress (she dresses like 40s-60s definitely totally not self indulgent what do you mean and by this you probably know who it’s from LOL)

Girl, I gotchu!! 😉

Kyle x F!Reader

[Kyle Broflovski Master List] [South Park Master Lists]

Okay, full disclosure: I had a depressive episode. It’s whatever. I went to therapy, I did the work and finally came around to being me again. I was back to my many cute hairstyles, putting make up on everywhere I went, and my favorite vintage dresses were getting used like they were going out of style – Again. 

And my boyfriend Kyle? He went through the whole roller coaster ride with me. Doctors, therapy, drowning my feelings in ice cream and bad TV – the whole nine yards. 

Of course, when I started feeling better, our relationship felt a lot better and lighter. But yeah, okay, our sex life suffered while I was going through it. I heard that it was normal, but at the time? It was just another thing that made me feel like shit.

Yes, it sucked. I have depression and some days are still better than others, but the point is that I was finally myself again. 

And Kyle noticed. He was more touchy-feely. We were cuddling more and even having a lot more sex but in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t like it used to be.

Until the night of our mutual friend’s wedding. We reserved a room in the hotel that was hosting the reception. We were getting tipsy, making jokes about other guests and just having a good time. 

We were hopping from table to table  (mingling and searching for new bottles of champagne) when he pulled me aside near the coatroom. 

He leaned in so close that I could smell the tang of alcohol on his breath and feel the heat fall over my ear, “Let’s go upstairs,”

I glanced at him and giggled softly, “The night isn’t even over,”

His hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him, “That means there’s plenty of time for me to fuck your brains out,”

I didn’t need any more convincing. After a quick walk out of the ballroom, we were on the elevator. As soon as the door closed, his tongue was in my mouth and his body pinning mine against the wall. 

With a low growl, Kyle shoved a thigh between my legs, applying delicious friction to the ache building there. I whimpered desperately, my hips rubbing against him almost involuntarily. He chuckled deep in his throat as he watched me whine and writhe.

"That’s my girl. So fucking responsive," he purred, shallowly thrusting his leg against me for emphasis, "I bet you're soaked just from a few kisses. I could probably make you come purely from rubbing my leg against your greedy little pussy."

He was right and I knew it.

When the elevator doors opened, he pulled off me quickly, adjusting his blazer and tie in record time. I was both relieved and frustrated while I smoothed down my dress making myself presentable for the walk to our hotel room.

The long walk down the hallway felt like an eternity. By the time he unlocked the door and we got inside, I felt like an addict ready for my next fix. 

To my surprise, he didn’t jump on me like he did in the elevator. His eyes scanned me as he shrugged off his blazer and loosened his tie before tossing it aside. 

I awkwardly began to unzip my dress when he stepped behind me and grabbed the zipper instead.

“What do you want?” He asked as the metal teeth came apart at a tortuously slow pace.

I gnawed on my bottom lip for a moment before answering, “I want you to fuck me,” 

“Tell me the truth,” He asked, kissing the back of my neck as he pushed down the sleeves of my dress and let the whole thing fall to the ground.

He caught my earlobe in his teeth before running his tongue over it. 

“I want you to fuck me,” I said again with a shudder, “Fuck me until I can’t remember anything but you,”

I finally craned my neck to look behind me and there it was –  An expression that I knew all too well, but hadn’t seen in a long time. 

Kyle wanted to devour me alive.

He pushed me down onto the mattress, face down ass up. He quickly pulled my panties down to my knees. 

One of his hands grabbed a fistful of my hair while the other fumbled with his pants. I should’ve been shocked by the use of force, but it just made me so much wetter. I loved it when he wanted me so badly he could barely control himself.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” He groaned as his cock rubbed over my slit, picking up the slick evidence of my desire for him, “You’re not leaving here until I fill you so deep you can fucking taste it,”

His grip on my hair tightened, pulling me back on him as he pushed every thick, luscious inch inside and filled me up completely. Once his hips started moving – hard and fast with no time to adjust to his size – he let go of my hair and his hand grabbed my waist instead. 

He held me in a bruising grip as he pounded into me, each thrust hammering me down into the mattress. 

Fuck, he felt divine.

Each time he slammed into me, his cock massaged my g-spot so hard my vision was blurring at the edges. I was a moaning, whining, drooling mess. 

He snaked one arm under mine and further between the mattress and my chest, until his hand covered my throat. He pulled me up on my knees and quickly resumed his punishing pace as he held my back up against him.

“I’m gonna – Fuck – I’ll...” I babbled nearly incoherently, “Please,”

“Come on my cock,” He ordered in another low growl just before licking a broad strip up my neck.

My body seized up and if he hadn’t been holding me up, I would’ve collapsed. The wave of pleasure that hit me was so overwhelming and all consuming that I saw every star in the sky explode behind my eyes. A primal sound of female satisfaction escaped my lips and the soft walls inside of me fastened up around Kyle’s cock desperately. Like the desperate, needy girl he always reduced me to when he fucked me like this.

Kyle muttered curses in my ear as his hips jerked up into me violently. His cock jumped and twitched deep inside me, each aggressive movement pumping fresh new spurts of hot, wet cum into my core.

I panted harshly, trying to find my strength with each ragged breath. He kissed my shoulder before letting me go.

We collapsed next to each other and I looked him over carefully.

He rolled his eyes, “Just say it.”

“It’s nothing,” I mumbled, “Just hasn’t been that intense in a while,”

He grabbed my chin and forced me to look him in the eye, “I wanted to make sure you could handle it.”

It was my turn to roll my eyes, “You don’t have to protect me,”

“Shut up,” He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight enough to make I didn’t squirm out of his grip, “I’ll always protect you,”

[all-about-kyu]

Summary: You were enjoying a peaceful moment in the cafe when a man came to sit across from you at the table. Something in you changed. Pairing: Yunho x fem!reader Tropes: meet cute, nonidol au, strangers to something more Genre: fluff Rating: PG Warnings: language Word Count: 794 Note: for @cultofdionysus language of flowers event! Thank you to @anyamaris for proof/beta reading! Prompt: Magnolia - Natural

This is one of your favorite places. Being in this small little hole-in-the-wall cafe, peacefully crocheting while enjoying the low, peaceful music. Not many people know about this place. The Magnolia isn’t a known place, even by locals, even if it is on a rather busy street. That being the case, there isn’t much seating. You’re sat in the back corner of the establishment, and the lull of the employees talking and the music easily puts you into the zone with your current project. 

“Excuse me?” Someone calls.

Looking up, you see a young man, probably about your age, with a soft smile on his lips. You lower your project into your lap and give him your full attention.

“Hmm?” You hum in response.

“Is this seat taken?” He questions, gesturing to the chair across from you.

You shake your head, “No, it’s all yours.”

The chair scrapes against the hardwood flooring as he pulls it out. You go back to your project, fully ready to get lost in your work again. Then, in your peripheral vision, you see him pull out a book along with a pencil. The book isn’t academic, though; it’s a copy of the first Harry Potter book.

“First reading?” You question, not looking up from the yarn in your hands.

“Hmm?” He hums back, “Oh, no, it’s not I just wanted to reread it and annotate this time. What are you making?”

“Just a scarf. Nice and straightforward. I know it’s almost summer but I might as well get ahead of schedule with making things my family are bound to ask me for in a few months.”

“I like the yarn color. Baby blue is a good color, especially for winter.” He comments, “I’m Yunho.”

You look up from the yarn and smile at him, telling him your name in return. You start humming to the song as you crochet again. Yunho mumbles lightly when he places the book down and starts underlining a large section of the page. Giggling, you look up from the yarn again.

“Something you didn’t notice before?”

“No, I just fucking hate the Dursleys.” He grumbles, jotting down a little comment in the margins of the book.

“They had their reasons, though.” You comment.

He sighs, “I suppose so, but they did abuse the poor kid.”

“Yeah,” you nod, “but when you realize they did the things they did overcompensate the wish to protect Harry, it makes more sense. It doesn’t excuse their behavior in any way, but it does make sense.”

Yunho sits back in his chair and sighs, “You read the whole series?”

“Of course,” you chuckle, starting to work on your scarf more, “I read it when I was little, and I read it as an adult, too.”

“Any commentary on how useless Dumbledore was?”

“At first, he was useful…” you start, still crocheting as you speak, “By the end of the series… I’m still trying to figure out why he was letting kids and teenagers do his bidding. That doesn’t make any sense at all. There are plenty of adults who are more trained in magic, and he was literally the wielder of the elder wand… he could’ve done so much to prevent things.”

You and Yunho continue to chat about the book series and the gripes you each have with it. From there, your conversations branch off into other books and further into topics outside of literature. Speaking with this man you just met seems so natural, as if you were in your own novel and were destined to meet this man on a random day in a small little cafe. By the time you finish your scarf, you realize that it’s drawing close to evening. Looking at the time, you let out a puff of air. Yunho seems to have noticed your slightly upset state.

“You okay?”

“They’ll be closing soon… Probably means we should both be heading out.”

Yunho sighed, pursing his lips, “You know about the little restaurant downtown?”

“Which one?”

“It’s small. Not many people know about it. Kinda like this place. It’s called Lavender Forget-Me-Not…” He chuckles, “This town really loves flower-named establishments, huh?”

“I suppose they do.” you match his sentiment, “Is that an offer to go together?” You tease slightly.

Yunho chuckles, scratching the back of his neck, “Is it too presumptuous to offer that?”

You shake your head, “Absolutely not. It’s a date.”

You put your yarn and finished project in your tote bag before standing up. Yunho follows suit, tucking his book under his arm. Even if you met this man a few hours ago, it all feels so natural to be around him and spend time with him. This could go somewhere, and you can’t wait to find out.

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Tag List: @sanjoongie @jaehunnyy @ericssmile @anyamaris @almondmilkeu @shinestarhwaa @northerngalaxy @jwnghyuns

[jungwondazed]

18+ only / emotion heavy sex w heeseung

i think there’s a loneliness hidden deep inside heeseung that is sort of masked with his flirty and bold interactions with fans. he’s charismatic, no question but i like to think there’s some of us who can kind of see through that.

i believe he longs for a love so deep it could heal the innermost parts of him, the parts of his childhood that he couldn’t live out regularly due to the stress of trying to debut. growing up in the spotlight under strict scrutiny and never having the chance to be like any other young adult, leads me to believe that heeseung craves a genuine relationship.

he’s gentle with you, patient. he plays his role of a man well. protective, caring, and nurturing you in the times that you need. when you come to him about personal problems he nods with every sentence you express, he tilts his head at your hurt, and wraps his hand around your fingers, reminding you of his presence. heeseung is anything but abrasive and abrupt, he is the wind blowing through a field that follows you every way.

he loves so hard that it hurts. there is no getting mad at him, he’s never wronged you of any sort. he’s sensitive, more than most guys are. as tough and head strong as he is, when he welcomes someone like you into his life that turns him into a vulnerable man there are softs spots that you must tip toe around because loving him is learning the parts of him that needs healing.

with his emotions set in place, it translates over to how he takes physical affection, and he is a fool for it. heeseung would never casually sleep with anyone, his values and life experiences has shaped him into a guy that can only get off if it’s with someone he desperately loves.

“is this okay?” he asks every single time like this isn’t anything you aren’t used to. you nod, and he continues, his breath staggering when you grind down and he pushes up.

heeseung doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to this overwhelming feeling of love and warmth through genuine and meaningful sex. the way your skin presses on him, the outline of your body in the dark when you ride him, how pretty your face is so up close he could kiss every inch of it. there were days when he was so alone that even if a thousand people showed up at his door the isolation swallowed him whole. with your one body on his, he thanks all his lucky stars that he was patient enough to await for someone like you. the nerves on the pads of his fingers are stimulated by your breasts, how he loves feeling them knowing you gave all yourself to him. his grip on your waist as you fuck yourself is tight, not wanting to ever let you go.

heeseung stares at you like the world gives him a few seconds of more time, his gaze lingering down your face and body like there is no tomorrow. he soaks in the image as if there aren’t plenty of more chances to make love, yet he treats you with speciality each time.

“ah”s and “oh”s fall from his lips, some stuck in his throat when you stroke him with your walls. he feels your love in every way like this, never closing his eyes despite how good it truly feels.

“i love you, ____” he’s the first to say those three words each time, and you kiss them right from his mouth, giving it to him like he needs it.

he fucks like both of your lives depend on this one moment, thrusting up into you when you’re too tired to keep going, showing you how love is supposed to be. that we bear the weight when the other can’t, that there is a pleasure is doing the labor for our partner.

“feels too good hee,” your grip on his shoulder almost hurts but that thought vanishes in seconds when he hits it right where you love it. he keeps his pace at that same spot, listening as you tell him over and over again how good he makes you feel, how you love him so much, drinking your words up.

he presses you tight against his chest when you’re both close, trembling as each passing stroke inches you towards your high. there are moments in life heeseung looks back on that makes him think every hardship he has encountered was worth it. some of them being his first call back, first congratulations from his family, and a performance here and there. but the majority of those moments are all linked to you. memories of how you look when you cum on him flashes through his mind, because there is no closer bond in love than through feeling a moment so intense together: with you struggling to take it, spitting out i love you’s and every word of affirmation there is, he’s delighted that all the sacrifices and tears that he gave, rewarded himself with you. he cums in you deep, almost whining by the time it spills into you. he loves you so much, the feeling of his orgasm and his never ending affection for you is euphoric, you experience it in every part of you. he is raw and tender, making you feel like it was the first time after each one ended.

“i love you so much, ___, i love you, just so you kn-“ and you’re all over him again, not once letting him slip out of you.

[commanderyes]

The Commander Says Goodbye

I’m not going to lie, I’m extremely anxious as i’m writing this, out of what these news could mean to a lot of people, and my heart feels heavy enough it could drop down my ribcage any minute from now and squish all my other organs. But I’ve been dancing around this topic for a long time now, and I think i’ve finally reached a point where i can’t ignore it anymore, for my own sake.

I hereby announce Commander Yes has come to an end.

As I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, here and to many other people, when I began this comic all the way back in 2018 I was in a really bad, really low place in my life in every sense of the word, and it was a spur-of-the moment decision to cheer myself up, because Path of Fire had just released and my enjoyment of the game had reached fever pitch and I had been playing Guild Wars 2 alone since as far as launch, and none of my other friends had ever really gotten into it. I guess I just, dunno, cried out into the big maelstrom of the community, one voice amidst millions, because i wanted SOMEBODY to look at what i did and revel in the nerdery with me.

And somehow the snowball began to roll and people wanted more and more of what I could do, and I was being actively reached out to, and, well, some time after that I landed my first ever job, I discovered a lot of things about myself, and I found myself in communities that welcomed me with open arms, and many of the people in there have since become among the best friends I could’ve possibly encountered, kindred souls who i’ve shared joys and sorrows for many years and who I can’t imagine living without anymore.

And all the while I kept making the comics, and with every entry posted every week I’d keep having people stopping to comment on them, and whether they were dumb jokes or personal takes on the story, they’d all share how much what I do kept hitting them in the kokoro, and to this day whenever I play anywhere in the game I still get people who recognize me and thank me for doing what I do. It was wonderful, it IS wonderful, and seeing that response motivated me to keep going, because what did still mattered to people, out there.

But I did always say I planned to keep doing these comics until I ran out of energy for them, and I think i’ve finally reached that point.

Because ever since I actually landed that job I’m exhausted and sleep-deprived every other day, so much so that I only have time to work on the comic on saturdays and sundays, and it gets harder and harder to just sit and draw, and at that point it was just more work, and while I still enjoy and play Guild Wars 2 a lot, it no longer consumes my time and attention like I’ve used to and i’ve been having fun with more personal projects, and honestly the direction the story is taking these days does not sit right with me and it’s hard to find inspiration in that, and this might be borderline selfish but every year I find people care less and less about the comics and it really takes a hit to you motivation when hardly anybody responds after you’ve spent a whole weekend trying to squeeze a five-page comic out.

And, well, I have been doing these for six years straight, and I think that’s a good run. I’m tired, and ready to move on, at long last. Let it be someone else’s turn.

But that’s the beautiful thing about this community, isn’t it? Even if I’m hanging up the hat, there are a whole lot of fantastic artists out there, as we speak, still cranking out works of art, deserving of all the attention they can get. And think of all the artists yet to come! For every story that ends, another story is just about to begin!

The world keeps on spinning, one way or another.

I’ll be closing my patreon shortly after this, but the reddit archives and tumblr blog shall remain for people to browse whenever they feel like (or until they both go in flames, i guess, what social media isn’t about to these days)

I still don’t think I ever was that much of a big deal, but all the same, to everyone who’s ever supported me and helped me be the person I am right now, to everyone who’s been there from the beginning, to all the devs of this game that has captured us for nearly a decade now, to all my fellow players and artists out there

Thank you.

See you out there, fellow commanders. Still the stars find their way.

[shintaru]

🪼 m.list ♡ taglist ♡ recent fics 🪼

Synopsis ~ Y/N goes on a blind date with a guy who has a huge ego 🤢

A/N ~ this is my first blue lock fic if it’s too ooc I’m sorry I just got really excited to write one as I was catching up on the first season. I haven’t read blue lock in over 3 years so there is a lot I don’t remember. AHH HE IS SO FINE!

You’re sitting waiting at the restaurant that you didn’t want to go to in the first place but your cousin Anri insisted that you go on a blind date. She promised to set you up with a nice man your whole family has been in your case about when you’ll get married and when they’ll be receiving grandchildren. You’re not interested in dating, marriage or having children. You were only going on this date so they would ease up on you.

“Hopefully he’s a jerk so I can leave and have an excuse to reject him” you think to yourself. A y’all oddly skinny man sits across from you. You eye him up and down wondering what Anri saw in him. Why would she pick him as your blind date? He has this creepy vibe to him. He seems like the type to not care if he hurts anyone’s feelings. He clearly isn’t your time; you can’t stand nonchalant careless men.

“I’m Jinpachi Ego” he says, interrupting you from your judgmental thoughts that were wandering moments prior. “Ego? My cousin works for you… is that why she set me up with you?!” You ask. “She wanted me to do you a favor,” he replies. “She what?!” As if I’m doing your skinny ass a favor” you reply back gritting your teeth staring at him angrily. You can’t believe the nerve of this bastard.

“Fuck off” he replies. “What the fuck is wrong with him the you?” You felt like the vein in your forehead was going to pop and he was laughing hysterically at your reaction. “I said fuck off” he repeats him self. “Go fuck yourself asshole” you shout throwing the menu at him standing up heading towards the restaurants exit. “Enjoy your meal” you shout turing to look at him while giving him a middle finger.

Which only makes him laugh even more. “Interesting” he says smiling at you in asusment. The restaurant went silent for what felt like an eternity as you were exiting the establishment. The only sound that could be heard were a few gasps and occasionally whispers. You recall your cousin saying he was a nice man… “What a joke, nice my ass” you thought to yourself. You call a cab over and open the door preparing to get in when a long slender hand stops you by grabbing your wrist.

“Hey what the fuck is your problem?” You say while yanking your wrist out of his hold. “I’m… sorry” he says. “What was that?!” You reply. “Don’t make me say it again…” he says. He lets out a big sigh before placing his hand on his face and continuing “Anri will give me an earful if she finds out so let’s pretend like it was a good date” “I have a better idea” you say smiling.

“Pretend to be my boyfriend” you say looking up at him confine up with the perfect plan. “No” he says. “What? Why? It’s a good idea! Anri will leave us both alone if she is under the impression we are dating! It’s not like you’ll be my real boyfriend.” You say trying to convince him. “She will find out it’s pretty obvious we aren’t a couple” he says laughing. “What’s so funny?!” You ask him.

“I just can’t see you being in a relationship with that personality” he says continuing to laugh at you. “Oh really ?! You’re one to talk, yours is worse” you reply. “I have plenty of people wanting to date me” he says. “Yeah right and I’m married to Noel Noa it’s good to have some confidence but don’t lie” you say scoffing. You notice the mentioning of Noel’s name caught his attention but he doesn’t question your taste. “I’m not lying” he replies. “If you’re not lying then why am I on a blind day with you and not someone else” you ask.

He doesn’t say anything making you laugh in victory for the first time tonight. “Also I could be in a relationship. I just don’t want to be in one” you reply to his statement from earlier. “Yeah right” he says, mocking your response from before. “I can!” You say again. “Prove it” he says. “How the fuck can I prove that if I’m single?” You ask before you let him respond you pull him into a kiss by wrapping your hand around his tie and yanking him closer to you.

You pull away after you're satisfied and seeing the expression on his face was priceless. “HAHAHAHA you should see the look on your face!” You say while laughing. He quickly goes from being caught off guard back to his normal obnoxious self. “That doesn’t prove anything,” he says. “Maybe it doesn’t but it was worth it” you reply. He offers to give you a ride home while saying “I agree to your terms, meet me at blue lock during my lunch break and we will discuss the conditions” he says while getting in his car. “Jeez he makes it sound like a contract” you thought to yourself while you hop into the passenger's seat.

[physalian]

On writing a double-sided argument

If you’re trying to write a story where there’s multiple arguments/philosophies/POVs going on, and there isn’t supposed to be a clear winner that the audience is supposed to root for, I think one of the best things you can do—and this is just from experience with other people, haven’t tested it yet with my betas—is to have every side diminish the other into one correct but unfair assumption, ignoring all other traits.

Having one or more parties in the debate be complete nonsense with no leg to stand on won’t have your audience thinking they’re anything other than a willful idiot.

I’ll use my WIP as an example, Eternal Night's TBD sequel.

Side A: Mortals are uniquely brutal and bigoted toward each other, basing their entire lives on superficial prejudices and love nothing more than tearing each other down in the perpetual climb to the top.

Side B: Vampires are unchanging, petty, and arrogant, throwing their weight around and subjugating mortals to feed themselves when there’s plenty proof of concept that cohabitating with willing mortals, or surviving off animals is doable, they want to be superior, so they become slavers.

—

Why Side A sees it the way they do:

Person 1 was enslaved to mortals already as a vampire (in this world slaving goes both ways and that's kinda the whole point) and has seen mortals be particularly brutal to vampires knowing that they will survive any torture done to them, and any living conditions, being treated with less respect and care than livestock.

Person 2 is biracial, and in their village, it was life or death that they could successfully pass, and they watched their parent get humiliated and butchered by the town who only saw them for their skin and hair.

Basically, these two have legit cause to think the way they do, and Side B can’t refute their claims, because these things did happen and do still happen, but Side A refuses to see mortals as above their basest monstrosities, when it concerns ever sharing a world.

Why Side B sees it the way they do:

Person 3’s sheltered life constantly on the brink of starvation or hypothermia is directly caused by vampires triggering a winter apocalypse on half the planet, destroying the environment and sending their people deep underground for 300 years. Even today, vampires have every advantage, and still maintain what they see as a bitter, petty, useless grudge against mortals who can’t hope to stand up to them anyway.

What Person 3 refuses to see is Side A’s proven track record of providing stability and protection, a thriving symbiotic society, wells of knowledge that were never recorded, and simply that they are still people, many of whom did not choose to be here, whose only way out is intentionally getting themselves killed.

—

Basically, neither side is totally wrong, but most importantly, neither side is totally right. Both are only seeing the worst of each other, but that worst is a valid and paramount concern, not to be dismissed lightly.

Choosing sides is inevitable, but I really want it to come down to the characters’ own flaws and refusals to learn, rather than either’s philosophy itself being their downfall, because it needs to be a character-driven conflict, not lore and world history.

A “listen you’re both right and wrong here but this guy went too far trying to win this argument and now here we are with a mess to clean up” kind of thing.

Does that make sense?

A lot of times I’ll see stuff where you have Heroes vs Strawman, where the other side’s argument is weak at best and nonsensical at worst, seeing patterns where none truly exist. They’re wrong just because. They think the way they do just because. It doesn’t matter, you’re siding with the heroes anyway.

Heck, this can also be used to equalize lopsided love triangles where there’s the clear winner and then the delusional loser who hasn’t figured it out yet.

[nihilistem]

Hey! I read your study tips both posts regarding adhd . (Feel free to ignore )

I am still undiagnosed and I think it's adhd but i do not have the resources nor the environment or support system to do anything about it .I am a high schooler preparing for entrance exams and i really need to like get my shit together and i feel like i have wasted sm time already but i really do want to get better. When i sit to study i just can't focus if I keep my phone in some other room then also i would just sit and stare at my books without accomplishing something. I am trying really but it's feels like my brain is frozen and my body is moving .my brain keep screaming guilty and ashamed but i can't seem to do anything about it.your study post actually i related to a lot because pomodro kind of seems to be working for everyone but me and the you described the exact same things I do

I know this is a lot to ask for please feel free to ignore but how do I stop Letting my emotions take over and study consistently because I only have one chance at the exams

Oh my, first of all I’d like to say that, as cliché as it is, I know exactly how you feel. I was undiagnosed for so long (I was only diagnosed a few months ago) and I didn’t even know that the adhd things I experience on a regular basis wasn’t normal or neurotypical for so long.

first up : I know this is difficult, but please do not say such things about yourself. I’m not gonna get into the whole thing, (cuz I have done a post on that already) but it’s true that the more you drill that bad stuff into your brain, the more it’s gonna stick. We need our brains to be in the best condition possible to study efficiently and saying bad stuff about yourself that isn’t even true is just going to hinder your performance. You got this. I promise you’re not lazy. Your brain just isn’t motivated by the same things others are, but we can work with that simple difference.

I’ll make a separate post on how not to let your emotions take over, but for now …

adhd study tips for those trying to get into the habit.

— by a stem student with adhd.

here’s my first post on adhd study tips.

— don’t put your phone in a different room. Instead, download an app that prevents you from using other apps on your phone.

there’s plenty of apps that do this but the one I prefer is ypt because all its features are completely free and it stops your timer when you exit the app unless you enter ‘allowed app mode.’ I don’t know about you, but if I find that I’m just zoning out on my textbook then I end up stopping my timer and deleting the record because I know I didn’t actually study, and this motivates me to actually get some work done. The timer also gets me motivated to keep going for longer so I have physical proof of my focus time and studies. It will feel good to even have just 1 hour of study time on it, I promise.

— even if you’re not interested in your studies, try your best to find even one thing that interests you.

novelty, challenge and interest are some of the best motivators of the adhd brain, so use it. I know that sparking your curiosity for a subject you hate seems impossible, but hear me out.

ever since I was young, I was exposed to books and I drew everyday. This caused me to become very passionate about the arts, but since I had adhd and didn’t know, I failed all my classes and specifically hated chemistry because it was specifically designed to be everything that I can’t be good at due to my poor memory and the need to memorize a TON of concepts. Then during class one day, I was doing chemistry work with my friends and felt frustrated that they could easily balance equations and work out which compounds were acids or bases purely by its chemical formula. And that’s what sparked me to start reading my textbook to see what the big deal was. How was it possible for one to just know when something is a acid solely from looking at a bunch of letters? This started a chain reaction; I found my answer, and found that the process of finding my answer and learning this new information was fulfilling. So I looked at all the other chemistry topics, and it turns out chemistry was fun. I was supposed to be an art student but now I’m majoring in chemistry and biology, all because of that sense of challenge and curiosity I was given that day.

tdlr; I was bad at chemistry but I’m now majoring in it because I felt challenged by a friend and was curious to know how they could solve chem equations easily.

All it took was a bit of curiosity. It’s a very powerful thing to the adhd brain. And if you use this as a motivator for your studies it might even cause you to hyper-fixate on your work, which means you’ll naturally spend more time studying just to find all the answers you’re now dying to know.

— use the pomodoro timer, but think about the things that you have to do that seems a little impossible to do under 25 minutes.

This fulfills the ‘challenge’ category I mentioned in the previous tip.

Let me explain; I subconsciously started doing this to myself without anyone telling me this and it’s helped me a LOT. Here’s an example;

“This chapter’s too long, it’s impossible to read through everything and understand the key concepts in just twenty five minutes.”

is it, though?

So I was off to the races, genuinely reading through every page and taking note of every single heading or bold or italicized word so I will be able to summarize the entire topic by the time the twenty five minutes is up.

And it doesn’t even matter if you don’t make that twenty five minute mark, because you’ll feel a sense of defeat and try it again with another chapter/topic.

this accomplishes two things; one, the work you’ve been putting off or zoning out on is now probably 20% - 50% completed and now you feel motivated to continue. Two, this method will train you to be faster in learning or studying new material or even just completing work in general, depending on what you’re challenging yourself to do.

— dress up, do your hair, study at a library or cafe you love (and possibly make pretty notes.)

I’ve talked about interest, I’ve talked about challenge, and now I’m gonna talk about novelty.

Do this with purpose! But what do I mean by that?

I’m sure you’ve come across studious girls in media or even people on social media making videos and taking pretty photos of their day out to study. Usually they’re dressed the part and even if they’re not, there’s a certain vibe, aesthetic or aura about them that is just so desirable that it makes you wish you were doing what they were doing. And if you don’t feel this way, find content creators or media that do make you feel this way.

How will this help me? Well, there are actually a few reasons but the first one that comes to mind is that this is also an adhd tip used outside of studying. Combining a task you don’t want to do with a task you’d like to do is a faster and more efficient way of convincing yourself to do long, difficult or even tiring tasks. Another is that doing this would also mean you’ve technically gotten yourself to desire studying, something more commonly known as romanticizing studying. If you make studying look fun, glamorous or even desirable for yourself then you’re sure to get to the hideous parts of it. Think about being a straight A student, someone who’s always wearing nice clothes with great hair and such a focused work ethic. Once you desire to be that person and you dress like that person, you’ll start to do the things that person will do.

— use the pomodoro timer but set it to even shorter bursts instead. (e.g. 15 minutes work, 5 minutes break.)

Or hell, on my worst days I set it to 5 minutes work, 5 minutes break.

The whole point of this exercise is to just start, because that’s arguably the hardest part about studying, you can’t get yourself to actually start or to actually focus. So promise yourself a five minute break after a very short amount of time of reading.

— skip straight to the questions of a topic, try to do them and identify the information you need to get the answer right.

For example, I came across a bio question that was rather simple but I didn’t know the answer to because I haven’t revised the topic for a while, and the question was, what is needed in the body for anaerobic respiration to take place? And the answer was simple, but I didn’t know because again, I didn’t study the material before answering the paper.

one’s brain can have the habit of being complacent especially when you don’t wanna do work, so diving head first into the questions and realizing that you don’t know jack shit would be a good wake up call for you and your brain—and this can connect to the second point that I made because you might find that you’d be eager to get the answer right all on your own, and become curious as to what the answer is.

important to remember …

erase everything bad that you were told or led to believe about studying. I promise that if you look for ways to make it engaging for you and form a habit, studying can be something you don’t dread or worry about everyday. You are capable. This is the start of your journey. Yes, the question of ‘what if I get distracted again’ will always be there but think about what could happen if today is the first day you’re not distracted. If you don’t at least try to start now, you will have zero chance of being able to actually focus and study. But if you try, the worst that will happen is that you tried. If you keep trying, it will happen. I promise.

If you need any more tips regarding adhd, (or being undiagnosed,) please do let me know. I’ll do my best to help.

[dollscircus]

Ghostly Company

Jason Todd x ghost!(Kinda)Reader

Chapter 1

Word: 2.6

Tags: Mild violence. Talks of death, thoughts of insanity. bullshitary

Summary: You’ve always had some psychic powers, nothing to powerful. Nothing ever being able to use in crime fighting or anything however when you’re put into a coma after a car crash, it seems your powers went unstable and latched on to someone who tangled with death.

(Tag list is open)

—

“There’s another big guy coming around the corner.” I said from my perch on top of the fire escape, watching as Jason, The Red Hood beat out the group of men. Throwing them around like they weighed nothing, sometimes I’d get worried he’d get overwhelmed, but he always came out on top. The big guy was wading through the smaller ones, “Oh he has a baseball bat. How cute. He’s gonna swing up in 3…2…1- Now!”

Jason turned on his heel and slammed his fist into the big guy's face, I winced as I heard the bones break under his fist and sending him tumbling to the ground. I barked with a shocked laugh, clapping my hands and cheering. The fight cleared up quickly, the goons knocked out at his feet. He stood there for a moment catching his breath.

He glanced up to the fire escape where I was perched, he didn’t say anything while catching his breath. He was also aware how crazy he’d look because he was the only person who could see me. “You're welcome.” I said with a cocky grin while crossing my arms over my chest.

I could feel the eye roll from my perch but also hear the ever so deep chuckle he let out which brought a smile to my face, I slipped off the edge of the fire escape and floated to the ground. I’d gotten freakishly comfortable with the whole ghostly thing.

My powers hadn’t ever been anything special, just the usual seeing ghost and minor telepathy. Most I can do it throw a glass across the room, not anything to impressive so I didn’t really tell anyone. I didn’t really care to much, sure every so often I got a weird look from a passer-by after I accidently spoke to a ghost in public, but I’ve learnt how to separate the living and dead even in Gotham, there was plenty of the dead.

The day I died (not really but got put into a coma) started off pretty normally, I woke up normally. Got up for work, dressed and went about my day. Rushing through the usual gloomy Gotham weather, I looked up at the street's lights. Rolling on my boots while I waited for the lights to change, it soon flicked from green to orange to red. I rushed from my spot on the sidewalk, trying to get out of the rain as soon as possible. I didn’t see the car lights cutting through heavy rain until it was too late.

I don’t know why I don’t remember much of the crash; you’d think I would? A car slamming into you isn’t a feeling you would forget but maybe it was just my brain trying to spare me the pain. I suppose I should be grateful. I’m not sure what happened. What my powers did in response to my injury but after my vision was swallowed by car lights, I blinked a few times and the next thing I knew; I was standing in a- motel room?

I blinked a few times once again, looking around with shock and confusion. It wasn’t the best motel room, I looked around trying to figure out what was going on. Glancing around I noticed it just sitting on the bed, the red helmet that I instantly recognised from the news. Kingpin turned vigilante. Red Hood. My lips started as words died on my lips, what in the actual fuck was going on!?

I jumped when the bathroom door clicked open, the light from the bathroom streaming into darker room I was standing along with the steam from the hot shower. To be honest, I always liked to think I’d be the fight type of panic response, but apparently, it’s freeze. I stood still like a moron as the stranger- apparently Red Hood stepped into the room just a towel hanging from his hips. Oh god he was shredded but my eyes caught on an- autopsy scar- what the fuck?

We made eye contact.

Long, awkward eye contact. Both staring at each other in shock. I don’t know if he moved first, or I yelled first but he dashed across the room clearly searching for a weapon. The towel dropped. I screamed and he threw a lamp at me and it just- phased through me. Now that caused me to scream louder and Red Hood to freak out a little more.

So yeah, that’s how my limbo undead state came about. I still hadn’t figured out how I got attached to Jason in particular but Jason, the pretty son of bitch refuses to tell me much about his life. Always changes the subject or goes into the bathroom. Asshole.

I walked alongside him as we returned to- he called it hideout. I called it home. I hummed to myself while letting myself float up into the air, hovering over him.

“You have way too much fun with that.” He said while dropping down on to the couch. The helmet making a metallic click as he took off his helmet. His eyes flicking over to me, and I floated upside down.

“Perks of being in limbo.” I said, twirling my body around and floating down to the ground again. He watched me with an amused expression. Jason still hasn’t decided if he believes that I’m real or just a figment of- what did he say in passing once? The pit? He got pretty grumpy with me when I made a joke about that sounding like a gay bar. He hid in the bathroom for 2 hours after that.

“Don’t you ever feel tried?” He said while flopping back on to his bed, I tilted my head to the side at him. There was a stench of silence. “Oh, right. Coma thing, so you’ve claimed.”

“I’ve given you, my name. You can always go search up who I am.” I said while walking over to his bed, swinging my foot into leg like I was trying to kick him, but my boot passed through his body. Jason huffed and moved his leg away.

“That’s cold.” He huffed in irritation; he leaned back up to look at me. “And I’d not. It would either confirm I’ve gone insane, or I’ve got an actual Ghost haunting me. Remain blissfully unaware.”

I opened my mouth to protest when Jason’s phone rang which piqued my interest, in the- 3 weeks I’ve been floating around. He hadn’t gotten any calls. I perked up and peaked at the phone screen, “Who’s daddy dearest?” I asked before Jason just- walked through me to get his phone in a mild panic.

That was a weird feeling. I groaned while wrapping my arms around myself. “Augh! Don’t do that you ass!” I cursed while floating up into the air while he answered the phone. I pouted while twirling around in the air while looking at him talking on the phone, his back to me making the effort to hide it.

I stared for a moment before ever so slowly floating over to Jason as he stood talking on the phone, I only caught enough to hear the words ‘bat-cave’ and ‘tonight.’ I grinned widely while Jason turned to look at me after he hung up.

“Are you going to see Batman?” I smiled; Jason stared at me. His usual grumpy expression shifted into an amused laugh before he caught himself and shook it off.

“You need to behave while we’re there.” He pointed at my face; this stern expression half hearted. I barked with a laugh while throwing my arms in the air.

“Yes!” I saluted playfully, “I will be on my best behaviour.”

“You are a big liar.” He said, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Maybe.”

I could tell that Jason wasn’t pleased with knowing I was tagging along with him to the Bat cave, but the pretty idiot had no choice. I had no choice. I wasn’t even paying attention to Jason’s less then pleased expression when we arrived at the fucking Wayne manor. I gasped while looking up at the place. “No fucking way.” I grinned as his bike down through a tunnel under the manor, “Bruce Wayne is batman!?”

Jason grunted, “You-” He trailed off, clearly about to tell me to not tell anyone then remembered that I can’t. I stared at him with an annoyed expression, and he made the conscious effort to avoid my glare as he parked. My irritation wore off instantly at the sight of the Bat mobile, I flung myself across the room. Stared at the car in awe and Jason scoffed under his breath and started walking deeper into the cave. I, however, did not notice this until whatever connection kept me bound to him started dragging me to follow him.

I caught up with him, “Hey, Red. Have you told anyone about me?” I asked.

“Absolutely not.” He said quickly, well, I guess that made sense. Didn’t want to be called crazy but uhh, he runs around is some comicon like cosplay beating up criminals in an ally. That’s pretty crazy but I decided not to comment.

We moved into the much bigger cave, and I squealed in glee while floating up to look around the save, “Is that a fucking dinosaur!?” I gasped while pointing to it, twirling around. “What the fuck is this stuff!?” 

I look down to Jason who was watching me, I couldn’t make out much from behind the helmet as I swooped down to follow him as he walked to a centre platform. There was a big fuck off computer, with massive screens filled with information I couldn’t keep up with. I stared in awe then landed on the ground when actually seeing Batman himself, sitting at the massive computer. 

“Might’ve been something real important to drag me all the way back here.” Jason comment, Batman- Bruce? Shit. What do I call him internally? Bruce. No that feels too personal. Batman? But that also feels weird. Mr Wayne? What the fuck is he? My teacher? Mr Wayne sounds like a spy name. Hello Mr Wayne, you’ll never stop me from ending the world. Mwahaha!

“There’s been strange cases around Gotham.” Batman- Bruce, yeah, we’ll go with Bruce said while he typed on the computer, bringing up hospital files. I narrowed my eyes a little.

“That’s illegal.” I commented, Jason’s head flicked towards me a little, but he caught himself before he could scold me.

“All minor injuries, car crash. Fall down the stairs.” Bruce carried on, “Yet people just aren’t waking up again. The first case was around three weeks ago.”

“Ok?” Jason said, “This doesn’t seem like your territory.” 

“It wasn’t until I noticed each other the victims were members of wealthy families.” Bruce said while typing on the computer a little more. I frowned a little, a pit welling up in my stomach. My usual playful smile fading into a worried expression. I almost stumbled back with a gasp when my own picture got pulled up on the large screen. “They were the first victim, came from a wealthy family. After a minor traffic collision, they slipped into a coma despite no brain injuries.”

As he spoke, the sound in my ears began to feel distant. What is he saying? That- someone did this to me? I think Jason said something, but I didn’t hear it.

“After the next victim well into a coma, her families bank accounts were completely emptied shortly after which is the same pattern with the others aside from the first. I don’t know why.”

“So what?” Jason said with a cock of his head, “You think someone is robbing rich people by putting people in coma’s?”

Bruce scowled; it was a very tried expression like how silly it sounded said so bluntly. I looked over to him, watching him for a few long moments before looking to Jason. A desperate expression on my face.

“I’m aware of how it sounds, I called you here since the area your patrol is the central point of all the victims.” He explained while flicking his eyes back to the room with so much information that it made my already panicking mind swirl. “And well aware that you dislike any of us stepping on your toes.”

“He’s really saying someone did this to me?” I said in a quiet voice, mostly to myself then Jason who shuffled a little while looking at the screen.

“How would someone even put people into coma’s and not leave a single trace?” Jason asked, walking towards the computer scanning over screen. Bruce sighed.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

I’m not sure when I zoned out while scanning over the screen, all the information as the sounds of Jason and Bruce talking faded into the background.

Someone did this to me? To try and rob my family? My life forced into limbo for fucking money?! Why. Why. Why. Why. 

I felt the tug of my connection to Jason start to tug me along while he started to walk away from the platform we were standing on. I blinked a few times after getting dragged out of my anger and confusion filled spiral. This didn't make sense. I opened my mouth to behind to protest walking away. I wasn’t done looking at the screen! This wasn’t fair! Jason tilted his head over his shoulder, I couldn’t see his face, but I could only imagine the angry glare he was shooting me.

I followed along without much argument, head down while we returned. Jason and I were silent while slipping back inside the ‘hide out’, I didn’t say much while moving over to the corner of the room. Sitting on the ground and pulling my knees to my chest, pressing my forehead into my knees.

Time passed; I wasn’t really paying attention to what Jason was doing. I just couldn’t make sense of any of then thoughts rushing through my head, it just felt like it was to much. Someone did this to- what? Rob my family? How many people has this been done this too? It was so- It just didn’t make sense. Why-

Hearing my name snapped me out of my spiralling thoughts, I jolted a little while flicking my eyes over to Jason who was standing on the other side of the room. Clearly during my spiralling, Jason had showered and changed. He was staring at me with a look I couldn't quite read but definitely hadn’t seen on his face before. 

“Yeah?” I said while painfully aware of how meek I sounded; Jason sighed. There was a moment of silence that passed between us before he finally spoke up again.

“We’ll figure out who did this to you.” He said, looking at me. I stared back at him for a moment, there was a look behind his eyes. An intensity that I felt so exposed in front off, like he was reading everything going through my mind. I looked away unable to withstand being under his eyes. 

“I-” I said while looking down at myself, my shape was always a little hazy. “Why?”

Jason’s brow furrowed for a second and I could tell he was holding something back, something he wanted to say but decided against it. He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair.

“The bat asked me too.” Jason said, avoiding looking at me. So that’s it?

“You don’t really seem like the type to do as he’s asked.”

“Do you really want to spend time thinking about why or do you want me to catch the person who fucked you over?” Jason said while raising his eyebrow at me before caused me to let out a soft little laugh while looking away from him.

“I guess you’re right.” I said with a tried smile, I flicked my eyes over to him again. “Thanks.”

[bumblebeehug]

How do you feel about Hiro M. continuing the story after 100YQ?

Murdery horribly and terribly.

No, that’s a lie, because it isn’t all that bad, but it’s my initial reaction.

Like in my opinion it’s a sign that he doesn’t like, or knows the public won’t like how the hyq is going or how it will end. Which worries me, yk?

When the hyq was the only thing that was left of the Fairy Tail franchise, I could lay my trust in Mashima making nalu canon: it’s the only missing cornerstone for a great story. But now? For all we know Mashima might scrap that.

I’m not saying that there’s only bad things to come out of a situation like this: I LOVE fairy tail, and continuing the story makes the fandom stay alive as well. But my problem is how Mashima’s gonna treat nalu again. Because, though I’m aware of the amazing writing we could be subjected for, I’m also painfully aware that Mashima won’t write it.

I love the hyq, but it’s kinda mid. Mashima doesn’t realise that he focuses too much on developing new characters and complicated plot elements for no reason — the characters he already has are plenty to work from (I’m talking about how he could write stuff for the FT guild, not just team Natsu, for sabertooth, for oracion seis, crime sorcerière, literally you name it). And I’m saying this out of love, because the original series shows us how great he can write — his character developments CAN be out of this world!!

Look at Erza when she goes from scary-evil-cruel-strict-boring to a loving, emotional, quirky friend who spreads more love than fear. Or look at Gray (and here I gotta give cred to Mashima for his writing in the hyq) bc he goes from angry, emo, snarky, nonchalant, rejects all signs of happiness to someone who can finally stand beside his friends and allow them to love him.

I could go on about character developments (like Laxus, Jellal, there’s so many) but this post is getting so long already so I’ll keep my point clear:

Mashima could focus on characters and write the best spin-off ever. But he won’t. And that’s the problem.

Mashima can’t write characters in a relationship to save his own life: look at how gajevy and elfever is treated (though these are kinda mild examples imo — a better example would be Shiki and Rebecca, how their relationship both developed and ended up: Shiki gave us like one (1) moment where he showed the readers his feelings, while Rebecca had to take the many many many other hints of them being a thing… not unlike how Lucy’s the one who has to set the status on her and Natsu’s relationship, and never Natsu.)

So since there’s a 0.001% chance that Mashima can write nalu in an active relationship (in EZ he solves that conundrum by killing the pair/avoid writing scenes with the pair/end the whole story, same with FT: keeping the love interest away most of the time to avoid having to write emotional scenes — jellal, juvia. Oh and he kills Mavis and Zeref. And he keeps away from writing elfever, well, ever, and he only writes what he deems absolutely necessary for gajevy. Even the whole Edolas thing was easy for him, bc he only had to write silly aftermath instead of actual emotional connection between two characters.)

This became SO long I’m so sorry. But my main worry really lies with the fact that nalu might be even further postponed, and I’m not really sure I can take another 20 years of this, yk?

[musicalmoritz]

this is a silly question sorry if you already answered it but why do you ship aoinene? any canon material you especially like that make you ship them? i like to hear (in this case, read) people talk about their (fav?) ship and see their reasoning ^_^

Omg hi!!!! Thank you for this question, I love talking about this kind of stuff. I know I’ve made a few posts on TikTok about it but I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it on here. So let’s get right into it!

The first reason is a little silly so I’ll go ahead and get it out of the way. I have a major femslash bias. This doesn’t mean femslash ships are always going to be my favorites (I have plenty of favorite mlm and het ships as well), but it’s very hard for me to dislike a wlw pairing or to flat out not care about it. Take Bungou Stray Dogs for example, when I was writing for that fandom I was heavily invested in Dazai and all his ships, but Higuchi x Gin (a wlw couple) still ended up being my second most written for pairing in the fandom. And so before I even watched TBHK, when my sister told me Aoi and Nene were best friends and that people shipped them, I knew I was going to be a fan of the ship. However, I never expected it to become my favorite

I had quite a journey with what I deemed to be my “favorite” TBHK ship. At first I was saving that spot for Mitsukou, but the anime made me really adore HanaNene. It was also Sakuhiko for like a day, and I briefly anticipated AoiAoi would take the throne. It’s a little funny to me that before I got into Aoinene, I was so fascinated with their main rival ships. Aoinene became my favorite purely by accident, because of the femslash bias. This is how I accidentally get invested in many sapphic pairings that don’t have much basis in canon, lesbian content is a huge comfort for me and so I end up seeking it out the most in fandoms. Even before Aoinene became my favorite, it was the main ship I was reading fan fiction for. I was also searching up edits and fan art for them far more often than any other ship

Don’t laugh, but I do think it was the fanfics that solidified Aoinene as my favorite. Which is funny to me because nowadays I have a lot of problems with the way they’re typically written. But I still have such fond memories of fall of last year, staying up late every night and burning a candle whilst reading Beecalm’s Aoinene fics. It was one of those times in my life when everything felt right, and so I associate the ship with a lot of positive things

But fanon isn’t the only reason I like Aoinene, far from it!! I have plenty to yap abt with canon Aoinene as well

My favorite ship trope ever is friends to enemies, and though Aoinene only had that arc briefly, it’s still my favorite part of the manga (not just Aoinene, Grim Reaper arc as a whole!). I love the built up resentment between them, how they both hide so much from each other. Aoi wants to tell Nene who she really is, and Nene wants Aoi to talk more about herself, and yet they’re both too conflict-avoidant to realize they want the same thing!

That brand of friends to lovers has always been my favorite, when there’s so much unresolved tension between them wrapped up in a history that both of them feel tied to. They can’t walk away from each other, but they can’t quite stay together unless they talk about things. It puts them at a standstill. Many fans use this as a reason to hate Aoinene but for me it only makes me love them more, that miscommunication is so delicious to me. When it happens with Aoi and Akane we get a little bit of resolution as soon as Aoi lets it all out, whereas with Aoinene that resolution is dragged out more (and their development is expressed through smaller details). Don’t get me wrong, I love Aoi and Akane’s development too, but the subtlety of Aoinene’s conflict makes it sm more interesting to me. Like c’mon, don’t be shy. Tell me moooooooooooore

I also strongly feel that their type of conflict is unique to female friendships. I have had so many relationships like theirs, where you share a whole life together yet you know nothing about each other beyond a surface level. It’s interesting to me how women can just sorta cling together like that, how willing we are to fake it ‘til we make it just to keep our best friends in our lives. I like to joke that some female friendships act like old married couples who are bored of each other but don’t want to divorce. It’s very codependent by nature which is an element I love to see in ships (for the toxicity ofc, if I like a ship for its healthiness I don’t want to see them that way). And female friendships are so layered, the line between platonic and romantic is very blurred. There are women who have fully made out with their female friends and still identify as straight because that was nothing serious or romantic to them. On the other end, there are women who never got o kiss or hold their female friends but were still deeply in love with them. A woman might say her best friend is like a sister to her and then later realize she was misplacing the root of that intimacy. I have had friends go from “she’s like a sister to me” to “we’re best friends” to “when did she get so pretty??”. And that kind of complexity is exactly what draws me to sapphic ships like Aoinene

I like that Aoi so desperately wants to open up to Nene about her true personality, and in fact she makes multiple attempts to throughout the manga. But she’s so terrified of Nene hating her that she can’t bring herself to fully do it. Similarly, Nene does notice that something is going on with Aoi, but she brushes it off because she’s too overwhelmed with her own problems to pay too much attention to what her friends are doing. She also has a highly romanticized view of the world that causes her to see everyone in an idealized light. Aside from Aoi she also does this with Kou, Teru, Akane, and Mitsuba (briefly). There are times when she empathizes with certain characters- she saw right through Yako and Sumire, showed a deep care for Mei, and makes an active effort to understand Hanako. So her selfishness is a lot more nuanced than people think. But when it comes to the people she’s familiar with in her every day life, they become part of a routine. It’s easy for her to develop expectations for how they behave because she spends more time with them. Whereas with Yako, Sumire, Mei, and Hanako, she doesn’t really know what to expect from them. This allows her to approach their problems with a more unbiased view and- okay now I’m rambling

After the Grim Realer arc, Aoi and Nene are still lying to each other. Nene still hasn’t told Aoi about her lifespan, Aoi hadn’t told Nene about her hand. It’s likely Aoi hasn’t told Nene the extent of her problems either, tho they seem more comfortable around each other after their chat in the firework chapter. It seems to me like they’re working through things bit by bit, but they still have a long way to go. Their combined character flaws (Aoi hiding her true self vs. Nene being blind to other people’s true selves) make a recipe for disaster. And as much as I really want to see them struggle with that, I also want to see them overcome their problems together and develop a stronger friendship

I also want to add that I love how Nene interacts with new timeline Aoi. This is an Aoi that doesn’t hide herself; she’s forward about what she wants and her attentiveness towards Nene seems very genuine in comparison to OG Aoi’s fakeness. What makes me hopeful is that Nene really seems to like this version of Aoi!! She looks at her with interest and indulges her clinginess by going to the festival with her, giving her the kind of reassurance OG Aoi needs (actually OG Aoi needs wayyyyy more reassurance but it’s a good start). They seem to be much closer in this timeline than they were in the OG so I am very excited to see where their relationship goes from here. I’m hoping this leads to development for OG Aoinene

One of my favorite things about Aoinene is how they fall into the hero x damsel in distress trope. Nene has had to watch Aoi die so many times, it’s insane. First the Misaki Stairs, then the Picture Perfect arc, then the Grim Reaper arc where Aoi actually was fully dead for a while, and she had to grieve her in the Ghost Hotel au too. I understand why a manga with so much going on doesn’t have time to unpack all of that but I do wish we had a few more scenes addressing the trauma Nene is sure to have from watching her best friend die over and over again (MadoHomu core?). From the way she reacts to seeing Aoi again after watching her die, it’s clear those memories do impact her. And I love love love how protective she is over Aoi as a result. Nvm my favorite parts of the manga are when Aoi gets kidnapped by a supernatural and Nene sets out to find her. They are so classic fairy tale coded (yes I do have a fic about this…technically two…technically three…)

That makes it even more interesting when their hero x damsel trope turns into hero x villain. Ughhhhh the panel of Aoi throwing Nene into the pit is so famous to me, I really wish antagonist Aoi had lasted longer. Her fakeness leading up to the betrayal!!! The ultimate act of her faking her personality, and Nene still doesn’t notice because she never noticed before!!! Rahhhhhhhh they make me ill. There is a reason the Grim Reaper arc is my favorite and admittedly a lot of it is of Aoinene (other elements too tho, I love everything about it). I did not know the “damsel becomes the villain” plot line was something I need it but reading it in TBHK was so mwah mwah mwah, 5 stars I need to see that a million times again

Another thing I like about Aoinene is all the cute details we have about their friendship in the manga. Their character designs complement each other so well, I can’t help but feel that was intentional (like Gojo and Geto). There are so many official arts of them in matching outfits or just doing cute things together. They canonically go to the beach together every summer. They canonically do karaoke together. Aoi canonically buys snacks to share with Nene at school. They are at the forefront of so many AUs, namely HKOM where Aoi tells Nene she loves her. They have been friends since middle school. Aoi initiates physical affection with Nene a lot which often makes Nene stunned or flustered. Aoi shares all her rumors and ghost stories with Nene. We’ve seen Aoi cry in front of Nene and Nene comfort her. I like how panicked Nene gets when she’s trying to comfort Aoi, it’s clear she’s not good at that sort of thing but still makes an effort. I like that Aoi can be passive-aggressive with Nene at times. I just like. Man. I love every single thing about them

Given the Hanako possession scene, I would say the yuri fan service with them is intentional (that scene as gross but it was still very much fan service). The fact that AidaIro have thought of their relationship that way makes me so giddy…I just wish they could fan service them in a way that wasn’t lesbian fetishization and SA but ig beggars can’t be choosers. Ultimately tho idc if this ship has implied moments, as I said it’s just fan service and it’s never going to be canon. It does seem to me like Aoi might have been intended to have a crush on Nene at the start of the manga with the whole “I missed my chance to tell her” thing, but if that plot line was ever considered it’s clearly been scrapped. I don’t need my pairings to be canon in order to be happy, the fun of shipping is getting to make shit up!! And I have so much fun reading into their friendship and fleshing things out. These two have become one of my favorite ships of all time. Possibly my favorite. I am so unwell about them

Anyways, sorry this took me months to answer. I had typed out part of it and then got lazy and let it collect dust in my drafts for far too long. It feels good to finally be replying, I’ve been looking forward to posting this one. Hope this response satisfies your curiosity!!