#this lives in the hall of fame of his best looks

[cosmicdreamgrl]

𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴: (119/?)

[ladykailitha]

The Au Pair Boy Part 3

I'm living for the love for this story!! Thank you everyone!

I'm sorry to say that any requests to be added to the tag list will be ignored. It's all full up! But! You can follow me and put on notifications. That seems to work for most people!

In this we have a lot of growing pains and the girls try everything they can think of to keep Eddie home.

Part 1 Part 2

~

The next couple of days were spent ironing out of the kinks and setting expectations. Like when Steve scolded Janice for pulling on Joan’s braids and she yelled back that she wasn’t the boss of her.

Both girls went running to their dad.

Eddie looked down at his two little sun spots. “I don’t know why you’re coming to me about this, if Steve saw Jannie pulling Joanie’s hair, then he had every right to call it out. Just like Chrissy, just your uncles. He is in charge while I’m gone, so you better get used to his authority. Both of you girls go sit on your time out chairs for five minutes.”

Both girls gasped in shock, but after an intense showdown, they did as they were told.

“Thanks for that,” Steve said with a huff. “There’s always a little bit of give and take for first couple of weeks, and you laying down the law will really help that.”

Eddie smiled up at him. “It’s just been a tough year for them both. They’re old enough to remember Ethan, but young enough that it’s all the good and none of the bad. So they don’t understand why he left. I’ve been talking to a couple of therapists that think once they’re a little older, they want to start seeing both girls.”

“Nothing quite as traumatic as abandonment issues from an early age,” Steve said with a nod.

Eddie huffed out a laugh. “Sounds like you’re talking from experience.”

Steve sat down on the sofa with a sigh. “Unfortunately, yes. Only my parents did just enough to make sure I wasn’t taken away from them. Making sure their trips would only last long enough that it would be considered child abandonment and endangerment. Sending me gifts for my birthday and Christmas, but not being there.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Then as I got into high school, sending me money for groceries and gas. As well as a hefty allowance to make sure that I wouldn’t talk. ‘Let’ me throw lavish parties and then ground me when they found out. Only they would pack up and leave, knowing I’d ignore the grounding because they were gone. Just a bunch of stupid shit like that.”

Eddie’s expression softened. “In the Hall of Fame of shitty parents, that’s really up there, man.”

Steve let out a huff of bitter laughter. “I got the last laugh though. The second I turned eighteen and finished school, I told them I was running away with my best friend and joining the circus. Then I told them I was bisexual and never looked back.”

“So how was the circus?” Eddie asked with a grin.

“Not as fun as you’d expect,” Steve conceded. “Robin and I didn’t have anything like skills to be a performer, and wasn’t experienced in running the booths and rides, so we were part of the put up and take down crew.”

“So how did the nanny thing come about?” Eddie asked, crossing his legs and leaning his elbow on the arm of the chair.

“I used to babysit these kids when I was younger,” Steve said, putting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together, “and when the one’s dad died and left a hefty life insurance to his mom. She suddenly was overwhelmed and hired me to nanny for her.”

Eddie thought back to the resumé the agency had sent over. “Mrs. Henderson, right?”

“That’s the one,” Steve leaned back on the sofa. “Dustin was a good kid. Too smart and arrogant for his own good.”

“Then of course, Mrs. Henderson recommended me to her friends,” Steve said. “One of them said they would only hire me through an agency. My ex-girlfriend happened to work at a nanny agency while she was going to school and offered to put in a good word for me.”

Eddie raised his eyebrows. “That was nice of an ex. I don’t know if I have any exes that would do the same for me.”

Steve just shrugged. “We didn’t exactly part on the best of terms either, but I used to babysit her younger siblings and knew how good I was. Nancy Wheeler is nothing but logical. She knew I would be good at it.”

“I spoke to a Nancy earlier,” Eddie said thoughtfully. “She really went to bat for you.”

“That’s Nance for ya,” Steve huffed. “Tenacious to a fault. This is her last semester at college and then she’s going to go to Emerson to get her journalism degree. She wanted to get her generals out of the way so she wasn’t paying out the ass for them.”

Eddie smiled. “Looks like I really lucked out then.”

“I guess you did,” Steve said softly. “I did too. Having you here these last couple of days have really helped out. They are still going to have the worst meltdowns during that first week you’re gone, but knowing you’ve already set the boundary they’ll only butt against it instead crossing it.”

Eddie smirked. “They’ve chased off nannies before. It’s why I have a very specific list of do’s and don’t’s with anyone I hire.”

“Oh I don’t doubt it,” Steve chuckled. “Normally, I’d put them to bed, but because it’s your last night with them, I’d suggest you do it.”

“Of course,” Eddie said softly. “Thank you for taking good care of them, Steve. I’m really grateful to be leaving them in such capable hands. I don’t want to go on this tour, not really. But I need a break. I love my girls, but with Ethan leaving it feels like he took away my right to chose how to live my life.”

Steve got up and moved to the desk and sat down on it half way. “But at least you have the money and the wherewithal to make sure they are taken care of. Every parent needs a break once in awhile. You’ll go out there make your fans happy and then when you come back, you’ll appreciate them all the more for leaving.”

Eddie looked up at him, then his eyes fluttered shut. He pursed his lips together and leaned his head back. He opened his eyes to look at him again. “You don’t think I’m being a bad parent?”

“It does you no good to burn yourself out,” Steve soothed. “It would do them more harm if you burned out and couldn’t take care of them anymore.”

“I love them so much,” Eddie said, his lower lip quivering. “But not having any help except Chrissy occasionally made it hard.” Tears trickled down his cheeks.

Steve pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. Eddie let out a watery chuckle. “You didn’t have anyone close that could help you?”

Eddie wiped his eyes and shook his head. “My former bandmates kinda scattered all over the globe. Gareth in Wales where his family is from, Jeff in New York, and Brian in LA. My uncle, Wayne broke his leg just after Ethan left and he’s just barely moving around without a cane. I couldn’t make him watch two rambunctious four year olds.”

He let out a shuddering breath and then another. “A lot of the nannies we had kept trying to be their mother. One was even caught trying to teach Joanie to call her Mama.”

“That’s rough,” Steve murmured. “But I’m here to help you. I’m not going to try and replace you as their dad. Or even Ethan, really. I’m just an extra person you can rely on.”

“You don’t mind setting up the household staff do you?” Eddie asked, his voice still rough from the crying. He blew his nose and then threw the tissue away in a nearby garbage. “It’s just that I want people that will work well with you and not try to fight you on every little thing.”

Steve shook his head. “No I get it. Plus getting help for a place as big as this one, I’d need the help otherwise I’d wear myself out before you got home.”

Eddie chuckled. “Do you like the house? Some of the other nannies thought it was creepy.”

“Mr. Muns–” Steve began but Eddie cut him off.

“Call me Eddie,” he said softly. “Mr. Munson makes me feel old and I’m not ready for that yet.”

“All right, Eddie,” Steve murmured back, “I think it’s spooky in a fun way. It’s not creepy. It’s beautifully decorated. I’ve seen creepy. Like tiger and elephant heads mounted on the walls with fully stuffed birds and in one horrifying case a Tasmanian wolf.”

“Aren’t those extinct?” Eddie asked with a grimace.

“Oh yeah,” Steve said, moving to sit on on the desk all the way, to put some distance between them. Before he did something stupid like kiss his boss. “I made sure to report his taxidermy to the Feds on the way out.”

“Brutal.”

“Dude was creep and his wife wasn’t much better,” Steve said with a shrug. “I felt sorry for their kids. They didn’t deserve having parents like those.”

“What made you leave?” Eddie asked, honestly curious on how Steve could have gone through so many clients considering he didn’t seem very old.

Steve kicked his feet a little, careful not to kick Eddie. “They aged out of needing one. They were already pre-teens when I got hired. They basically only needed someone to pick them up from school and make them dinner before their parents came home.”

“How long were you with them?” Eddie asked, more to keep Steve there then any real curiosity he had. Yeah, he had been curious about what made him leave, but this was blatant flirting at this point.

Steve laughed. “What’s this, more interview?” he teased. “No, in all seriousness, it was about a year. Most of my clients only need me temporarily anyway. I’m pretty sure that for at least three of them, their friends or family got to them about me being a guy, because they hired a female nanny soon after.”

“That’s bullshit,” Eddie huffed. “I’m sorry that they kept doing that to you. If anyone says anything to you, send them my direction. I’ll set them straight.”

“Thanks,” Steve murmured. He checked his watch. “It’s about time for me to make dinner.”

Eddie nodded and watched him leave. Once Steve had closed the door to his office behind him, Eddie put his head in his hands. It was so hard to keep his hands to himself when Steve was that close.

He just hoped that the three months he was going to be gone would be enough to put out the fire in his gut for his new nanny for fuck’s sake. He needed to get laid, Jesus fucking Christ!

The rest of the night passed with relative ease. Steve made meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes with corn on the side.

Night time went well, too. Both girls drifting off to sleep quickly.

Morning, though? That was what was fraught with difficulties and tantrums.

Joan refused to get dressed, flopping on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably. Janice dumped her cereal on the floor, kicking and screaming like a toddler. Joan threw herself at the door while Janice tried to hide Eddie’s shoes.

Eddie stared Janice right in the eye as he pulled out another pair of shoes out of his carry-on. And then another out of his suitcase. He put the shoes back in the suitcase, but pulled on the shoes from his carry-on. All while Janice stood there with her jaw on the floor.

Steve pulled Joan away from the door so Eddie could open it and both girls started crying. Eddie hugged and kissed each girl goodbye.

Steve picked up both girls and held them up to the window so they could wave goodbye as Eddie drove off.

He set them down and they both flopped on the floor like ragdolls. He let them lay there for awhile, even taking advantage of Joan not moving to get her dressed. He put his hands on his hips it was going to be a long week. A very long week.

~

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Tag List: CLOSED

1-@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

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9- @sadisticaltarts @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @dolphincliffs @steddie-as-they-go @steddieislife

10- @kultiras @morallyundefined @ollieolive @themoonagainstmers @tartarusknight

[morganbritton132]

I absolutely love every time other people find something out about Steve and are just like ???

I wonder if any of his student’s parents are fans of Eddie’s but have no idea their kid’s teacher is married to him (perhaps finding out at career day 👀)

I love the thought of some rock n roll dad (aka: the guy in the minivan blaring Rage Against the Machine during morning drop off (aka: aka: my dad)) meeting his kid’s teacher during open house and seeing a picture on his desk of him and guitar legend, Eddie Munson.

Steve’s in the middle of explaining the curriculum for the year when Rock N Roll Dad points to a picture of him and Eddie backstage at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame last year when Eddie presented like, “You like that guy?”

Steve looks from Rock N Roll Dad to the picture and then back, “Yeah, you could say that.”

Then he goes back to talking about what they should expect in terms of homework and that was that until parent/teacher conferences.

The first thing Rock N Roll Dad clocks in the new picture on Steve’s desk. It replaced the Eddie Munson one with a new one of the two of them in the parking lot after a local show. Steve’s got his arm thrown around Eddie’s neck, both of them smiling wide, and Gareth is in the background giving them bunny ears.

Rock N Roll Dad points to the framed picture like, “Pretty cool to have met ‘em.”  

“Yeah,” Steve nods. “It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

Rock N Roll Dad is not gay himself but he is not one of those ultra straight Corroded Coffin fans that liked to pretend that half the band isn’t queer. He was actually watching the MTV Music Awards show that Eddie publicly came out at by declaring his love for some guy named Steve, and actually.

Rock N Roll Dad thought it made a lot of sense that Eddie Munson was gay because well. A lot of his songs were… phallic.

So, he knows.

He knows that Eddie Munson is gay and that he’s married to some guy whose name isn’t even listed on his Wikipedia page, and he knows that he lives in Chicago, but what he doesn’t know is why he never put two and two together and got Steve Harrington.

There’s a different picture of Eddie Munson on Mr. Harrington’s desk when Rock N Roll Dad goes to talk to him after his kid gets detention for being a little shithead. There is framed original concept art for CC’s first album on the wall behind Steve when Rock N Roll Dad checks in on his kid during a zoom study session.

Hell, Rock N Roll Dad follows Eddie on Tiktok.

He has seen the ass shots that Eddie has posted of his husband in his running shorts, and he did think, yeah, that’s a great ass. He didn’t know he was thinking that about his kid’s math teacher!!

It’s not even Career Day when he discovers it. It’s the day before when they can set up their booths in the gym because Rock N Roll Dad may be a heavy metal fan always, but he’s also an accountant from 8:30 to 4:30 Monday thru Friday.

 He’s struggling to keep his poster board up when in walks guitar legend, Eddie Munson. He’s carrying a box, following behind a guy carrying an iguana.

Rock N Roll Dad abandons everything and walks over to the booth across the way. He can hear the two bickering with each other but before he can say anything, Steve Harrington is there and he is distressed, “Why do you have that?!”

“Her name is Leia, Steve,” Dustin says, “and she has separation anxiety.”

Steve opens his mouth like he wants to complain but doesn’t even know where to begin so he just accepts it, “Is she going to eat somebody?”

“That happened one time!”

Eddie Munson, infamous guitarist that lived on Rock N Roll Dad’s walls as a teenager, uses the opportunity to slide up next to Mr. Harrington and wrap an arm around him. He kisses his cheek, “Baby, we’re here to help.”

“You’re here to guilt me into letting you be a part of Career Day.”

“I can multitask, babe,” Eddie grinned, still so close to Steve that his smile touches his cheek. Steve just sags against him and Rock N Roll Dad thinks, oh. He thinks, oh, shit.

“You have a fan,” Steve mumbles, pulling away a little. It takes Rock N Roll Dad a second to realize that they’re talking about him and then he thinks, fuck.

“Hey – Hi. Uh.” He stops, thinks about lying and saying he needs tape or something, but settles on, “I didn’t know my kid’s teacher married you.”

“Technically, I married him.”

“Technically, I married both of you,” Dustin pointed out. “I officiated the wedding.”

“Ah,” Rock N Roll Dad says because what else is there to say. “Big fan.”

“Yeah, I can tell.”

[obsessednothing]

When the time is right

George Russell x reader

Summary: everything needs its own timing to finally get it right.

Warning: no hate on Carmen - it’s just fiction; maybe some curse words; slight implication of cheating but not really; fluff and love

A/N: this has been in my drafts since George’s win at Vegas and I really didn’t know how to end it, so it took some time. Again - no hate on Carmen, everything just clicked for the plot. Also the timeline of this is a little tricky, but whatever. Enjoy it!

Please don’t use my writings without permission! Pictures found on Pinterest.

Las Vegas. The city of sin, gamble and this weekend also of F1 racing. Sitting at the luxurious table, all clad in green colour, expensive decorations and flowers, I looked at my name on the card, just like any other women sitting around me. Some of them were watching me like hawks, I tried my best to smile politely, but deep inside I was so pissed. My gaze turned to the entrance of the hall, buzz and squeals echoing from there, indicating that the hostess of this dinner just arrived. Girlfriend of George Russell. I really didn’t have the best relationship with her, but somehow she always tried to get closer with me, inviting me to the parties, events and even this dinner. But this time I felt furious, because she invited all sorts of women here, it was to celebrate women in motorsport, but most of them were just influencers, trying to get their fame by running through the paddock and making content for their socials.

Why that pisses me off so much? Some would say, that it’s because Carmen, George’s girlfriend, was using his fame and brand collaborations to her advantage, but that wasn’t the case, I really didn’t care about it, when there’s opportunity, she grasps it with everything she can. The thing was that I was the one to be responsible for the supplies of tools, tyres, all the stuff that makes it possible for mechanics to get to their work through tough times at the races. Hard work, same as getting my engineering degree. Then applications, internships, interviews, and voila. I’m working for Mercedes. That pisses me off. That I was working my ass off to get where I am now and some other woman can come, make a video about formula cars and boom, you’re THE woman who means something.

But whatever. My opinions weren’t meant to be shared tonight, I was about to get some good meal and champagne and then go back to the hotel, bickering to my friends over FaceTime to oblivion.

As the night approached, Carmen had an inspiring speech, yeah, she had it in herself, everybody loved her. Even me. Even though I had a crush on her boyfriend. Just like every other woman have. When I walked out of the photo booth, my phone just dinged with the message, which was strange.

“Enjoying the night?”

Looking at the screen of my phone, seeing who is texting me, well, my face was shocked.

“A little bit. You know my opinion on those events. Even if your girlfriend is the hostess.”

Like if I could hear his chuckle beside me at my reply. My relationship with George was casual, sometimes a little awkward, but after all we were good friends. It felt like I met him ages ago, but truth was I met him in his days in F2, when I was rocking through my internship at engineering. Always acting like a sweet boy, he also knew how to make me mad, and especially when he was racing for Williams. But as I moved to my position to Brackley, we haven’t seen each other that much. I also never really understood, what he must’ve said about me to Carmen, because she was always so chatty and smiley around me. Or maybe she’s just keeping her enemy so close. Whatever. I wasn’t the one to destroy peoples lives just because I want something for myself.

“When do you plan to leave?”

Moving to the secluded corner in the room, I smiled to the screen, typing fast.

“Any minute now. I don’t want to be eaten alive by those influ girls.”

“I’m still in garage, I had a debrief with Toto. You can come, if you want.”

Have my cheeks just reddened?

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

Carefully, not to disturb the atmosphere of the women chatting around, I made my way out of the hall and out of the building, while I grabbed my coat on my way. Calling a cab, my feet were now walking through the empty paddock, towards the Mercedes garage. Weather was really chilly and my coat wasn’t doing much work to keep me warm, of course, because I didn’t expect to end here, with my heels clicking against the floor of the garage, taking in how George grinned at me, lifting his gaze from his car.

“Good evening, sir.” My voice came out shaky, trying to be funny, my teeth clanking as I tried to rub my arms to get some warmth. George noticed my discomfort immediately and he handed me one of his Merc jackets pulling it around my shoulders, standing near me.

“Better?” He smiled down at me.

I nodded with huge smile plastered across my face. “Much better, thank you.”

“You should get yourself a woollen coat, you know.”

“Or I should get right back to my hotel from the event and not go somewhere I shouldn’t.”

“You know that this is maybe the only chance to talk to you without being interrupted by gossip and Carmen?” His gaze was intense as always, his hands rubbing my arms gently to get me warm even through his jacket.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Maybe?”

I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief.

“I have some coffee, if you want.”

“You know that I can’t say no to that.”

We sat on the work bench, sipping coffee, content with the silence. My eyes were locked at his car, always amazed by the details and design.

George noticed how I’m staring, also looking to the direction of his car.

“You’re always in awe of cars.”

“I simply love the technology.”

“I adore how you’re a tech girl. You’re not like others, you’re not just pretty face.”

“So, you think I’m pretty, huh?”

His soft laugh rang through the garage. “You got me on that.”

My laugh turned into soft, maybe a little bitter smile. “I should get going, George.”

His hand grabbed mine gently, urging my gaze to lock with his, while I sighed and averted my gaze to the side.

“You’re doing that again.”

“What?”

“Avoiding me.”

“George.. I-“

“I’ll break up with her.”

Shock written over my face was quickly replaced with snort. “We both know that you won’t. You’re invested in yourselves too much to just end it now.”

“I mean it. Really.”

“George, please. You’ve said it for many times and you did nothing. Things are better this way. Me in Brackley and you out in the world together with Carmen.”

Words that cut me deep in my heart, but it was sad truth. We tried so many times to navigate our feelings around our lives, that being hurt was a our standard.

As I waited for his response, all he could do was just nod and look at the ground. And again, this was my time to leave. My hands gently took off his jacket from my shoulders and I placed it on the work bench as I got back on my feet.

“Thanks for coffee. I’ll be rooting for you through the weekend.”

With that I left without turning my head. It was already hard enough.

March 2025

Debriefing was held in the headquarters at Brackley. My lunch break was longer than usual, so I literally ran into the conference room, trying not to disturb Toto Wolff’s speech as I was late already. Last and only free seat was beside George in the first row. How cute. As the meeting was going my mind was filled with his cologne, numbing my senses again and again, which felt like home, but that pang in my chest was still present.

“I hope that we will see each other on the weekend at Silverstone, where we’re gonna crush Verstappen like we do from the start of this season.” Toto was so enthusiastic, drunken by the last victory George managed to get.

Everybody made their way out of the conference room, I was trying to pack my things, when strong arm stopped me.

“What about a dinner tonight?” George had his intense look again, giving me signals that “no” is not in his option list.

With a sigh I zipped my bag, looking at him. “I can’t. I need to get to London for the night.”

“Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“What? Nonsense.”

“I’m serious.”

“I have a business there.”

“Then you’ll get the business and after we’re gonna get dinner.”

“We can’t, George.”

“We can. And we will.”

And somehow I was now sitting at this fancy restaurant in London, after some shitty meeting I had with our main sponsor, watching George how he’s looking through the menu and trying not to steal any glance at me. There was one unspoken question, but I was dodging to ask.

“Just ask.” And he always knew.

Shifting uncomfortably in my seat I placed the menu at the table, giving him a serious look.

“What would Carmen say, that you’re here with me?”

His eyes lifted from the menu to give me kind of unbothered look. “Why would she have a say in this?”

My brows furrowed at that question while I let out a scoff. “Why? What about the fact that she’s your girlfriend?”

George ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, looking out of the restaurant window as if he was looking for some kind of peace. Then he looked back at me.

“I thought you knew.”

“What? What exactly?”

“That we broke up after the end of the last season.”

What the hell. How come that I don’t know that? Should I know that?

“That’s.. I’m sorry. I really didn’t know, George.”

My voice came out a little strangled, due to my surprise.

“No- that’s- I am sorry. How could you even know.. We made an agreement to not shout it to the world with Carmen. But I thought that you heard some rumours or something..”

“No, I- I really did not.”

Waitress came to collect our orders and then we looked at each other in silence. George placed his hand under his chin, his lips curling in smile, which made me smile too. But overall I didn’t know how to feel in the moment.

“So..”

“So?”

“I don’t know what to think now, George. I know that there’s no possible “us” in this moment, I don’t even know why you’re telling me about the break up. Somehow I know, but no, I don’t want to be hurt just by my fantasy or what ifs.”

George leaned forward to me across the table, gently taking my hand into his.

“I don’t want to rush things.. that’s the last thing I want now. Also I don’t want to hurt you more than I already did. Let’s take things easy and slow and we will see where it leads us.”

Giving me a reassuring smile, I felt the comfort I needed. I nodded, squeezing his hand gently.

“Yeah, leave it up to fate.”

But slow and easy wasn’t really our style…

December 2025

Trains at underground were so busy at this late hour that it was insane idea in my mind to think that I’ll be able to get to the Bond Street at ease. But I did it, once I was outside the station, the beautiful scene of the Christmas London evening was shining bright in front of my eyes. This city was my all time favourite, and it was the main reason why I moved here, leaving Brackley and everything that was linked with it. Throughout the race season I wondered about my job at the factory, yeah, it was amazing working for Formula One team, working for Mercedes, but I craved my own piece of work, that would be seen. Taking my money I saved for the years I was working hard, I started my own business with luxurious watches, and I was asked to collaborate with the company IWC Schaffhausen as a designer for season. And they gave me an opportunity to come with my own collection of watches, my own design being displayed everywhere for the Christmas. I always loved wearing multiple styles of watches, that was a hobby I shared with my father.

Now I was about to get to the event in one of the boutiques at Bond Street, revealing my collection to the business partners, influencers and public. The bell at the entrance door signalled my arrival, Harry, one of the associates of the boutique greeting me with a huge smile plastered on his face.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here, our rising star.”

“Ah, don’t flatter me that much, Harry. It might get to my head. Am I too early or…”

“No, no, everything’s perfect, actually we needed to get a guest list for today, because number of people who wanted to see the revelation of your collection wouldn’t certainly fit here in our shop. But someone arrived early to see it himself first.”

Harry was wearing his huge smile and sparkling expression in his eyes. My face twisted with little frown. He guided me to the room in the back, where they always showed the best sets and to my surprise, there stood the man. The man, who was staring at my work, admiring it, being mesmerised by it, the silver edges of the watches reflecting the blue colour of his eyes.

“Mr. Russell insisted to see it when we first released the info about the Christmas collection.” Harry spoke nonchalantly, but inside he was over himself to have a famous F1 driver in the room. Meanwhile I was just standing there, trying not to smile like crazy. George turned around, seeing my expression, his face softening with smile, which was all the same - beautiful.

“I want to buy the whole collection. Those first produced pieces you have here.”

Harry blinked for a few times, staring at him, then at me. “It’s up to her, she owns those. Fact is that those firsts are expensive, because they have a special engraving on the back. It was made just for the pieces you see here. There won’t be any for mass production.”

Yes, I insisted on making those watches special, because they were meant to be mine after the special deal of Christmas ends.

“That’s gonna be really, really expensive.” My lips were curled into amused smile, looking at George.

“Maybe Miss could show you the collection herself, before the other guests show up? And I’m gonna get you some champagne.” Harry giggled and disappeared to the front of the shop.

George landed his gaze on my figure. “What engravings do those watches have?”

Taking a few steps next to him, I carefully took one of them into my hands, the delicate silver stinging into my skin.

“Those are my favourite.” I turned them over to show the engraving on the back.

15.11.2025

There was also a silk white ribbon with text tied around the silver strap.

Your look is an essence of life for my soul.

George looked over the watches, his breath catching in his chest, I could also see the tears burning in his eyes.

“Those are absolutely enchanting.” He was almost breathless.

“I wanted something to match with this.” I raised my left hand to show the silver engagement ring with small almond shaped diamond at its centre. “This is my engagement gift for you, George. Because there are no possible words to describe how much I love you.”

“You did this for me? Whole collection?”

He was really on the verge of tears.

“I would do a thousand more just for you. I wanted for people to feel the little piece of our love through this.”

George put the watches back to its place, turning back at me, his hands cupping my cheeks.

“I knew that you’re the one from that day I met you. I just needed to understand that feeling over the years. And I’m glad that I finally got some sense. Because I so freaking love you.”

My heart nearly bursted out with all the excitement and joy I felt.

“Let’s celebrate our new collection at this special time of the year. Feel the warmth in every piece of our unique silver watches with our soon to be married couple - The Russells.”

[skylarksilver]

Hall of Fame (In my Home)

After finishing Cloudcalling, I had some thoughts.

In the universe where Leona likes Yuu and wants to keep them around. Be is romantically or plaronically, both work because he would be underhanded and possessive of his significant other and his friends. But the sneaky lion doesn't talk about that, he just focuses on obstacles that would prevent Yuu from living close by. He's had a plan in the works for a while to keep the prefect close.

But now, Leona has to take care of the obstacle of his own making. The title of Sunset Warrior is a big deal in his homeland. So the names of the participants and winners are probably recorded in a Hall of Fame somewhere. This means the prefects name is put down as a winner of the Bead Brawl. Neji covered for him in the moment. But Leona won't leave it to chance that someone will recognize the prefects name, see them in person, see how they move and realize that it was almost certainly not them who won the Bead Brawl. No, Yuu has to learn enough to act the part should it become necessary.

That's Leona's excuse to spend lots of time with them and he's running with it. He sets aside time to teach them how to fight in the Bead Brawl and persuades Yuu to join him for some one on one coaching. They had looked like they wanted to participate but had allowed his team to remain focused. He prepares to review the rules, but Yuu just grins.

"It's like flag football meets tag. I can play that. Let's do this!"

Leona's ready to write this off as overconfidence. But after several minutes of him trying and failing to get the beaded ribbons that they are using in place of beads, the lion beastman is honestly surprised. Yuu's past experience is formidable, and they honestly seem like they are having the time of their life dodging around him. It's not that they are faster than he is. They just judge his reach, speed, and their own position so well that cornering them is no easy task. And they are very good at deflecting his attempts to grab their agreed upon flag. His hunting instincts are on fire and he is having a fantastic time chasing his herbivore around their makeshift ring. And if there's trash talking? Game on. He's already planning the next session.

He does manage to snatch their beads and stop the training round, but it takes considerably more time and effort than he anticipated. In all honesty, it wouldn't take nearly as long as he expected to get the prefect to such a level where it could be reasonable for them to genuinely have won the Bead Brawl final.

Not that he let's the prefect know that. Nope, he goes straight into breaking down their performance and where they can improve. He's gonna milk as much time out of this as he can. It's time when Yuu's attention is on him and him alone. And his herbivore is both popular with their friends and extremely busy. He's a master long-term strategist, and his plan to coax Yuu to settle in the Sunset Savanna is gonna take years to play out. Especially since he needs them to think it is all their idea and not because he wants them close. But Leona can bide his time with the best of them, especially with such a prize as his herbivore on the line.

[stellayuta]

The Promiscuous Viscount - Gojo Satoru

A jujutsu kaisen x Bridgerton story

content: mdni 18+, depictions of intercourse, swearing, adultery, multiple partners, angst (lots of it), political marriage trope

word cnt: 3.6k

For the first time in the storied decades of the 'social seasons,' no title had ever felt more destined for him, the most eligible bachelor in the ton. Dearest readers, this season's incomparable diamond was no fair lady but a gentleman of legendary charm. Enter the illustrious Viscount of the famed Gojo family—Satoru Gojo. At twenty-eight, he stood as though sculpted by the gods themselves, with tresses of silky moonlight and eyes that eclipsed even the queen’s most opulent sapphires. When Her Majesty proclaimed him this year’s most eligible, the announcement was met with both astonishment and unanimous approval.

Yet, the perfect equilibrium of things was thwarted when Lord Satoru chose his bride. Whispers filled the grand halls, naming the daughters of Duke Zenin, Viscount Ieiri, and Earl Iori as the likeliest contenders for his favor. These were women of impeccable rank and beauty, often seen basking in his fleeting attention. None could have foreseen the twist of fate when Lord Satoru—known for his roguish courtships—turned his gaze away from noble lineage and crowned you, Y/N L/N, an untitled lady, as his heart's sovereign. With no rank to your name and little knowledge of aristocratic customs, you stood as an unlikely contender in this glittering world of prestige. Yet, your unwavering belief in the possibility of lasting love and your determination to face the enigmatic Viscount was incomparable too.

You stared at the antique grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Time was marching towards 9 PM at a snail's pace. Your new husband's living quarters were by itself larger than your entire shack back in the countryside. This room was made with fine upholstery, and its walls and floors were made of hardy, imported material you had never seen before. A gigantic bed was centered off and leaned against the eastern wall, with its four posters draped in midnight blue fabric.

Prior to the wedding, you were just a guest of the town. The Kugisaki family — the baron and his headstrong yet kind-hearted daughter weren't the most prestigious of families but still, they were nobility. They lived further away from the heart of town and right on the edge of the countryside. You had grown up with their daughter, Nobara, dreaming of finding the perfect man and accomplishing all your dreams along with that. Though Nobara had a stricter checklist, you simply wanted someone who would love you with all their heart. Nobara had promised you that she would take you along when it was time for her debut in the social season. And she kept her promise and the rest is history.

You hugged your knees closer to your chest as you watched the minute hand creep past twelve. It was 9:10 PM. Lord Satoru was late to his own wedding night. The covers that you currently sat on were made of icy blue satin — like your husband's eyes. You had seen your husband up close only once - during the wedding. He was ravishing beyond belief. You had stopped dead in your tracks while walking up to the altar, earning whispers and sneers from the guests. Lord Satoru maintained a cool look. Beside him, you looked much more simpler, much more common. You borrowed one of Nobara’s white dresses — the best fit you could find — a proper wedding gown was completely out of budget afterall. The ceremonies were per custom and the kiss was quick and formal and shorter than you wanted it to be — a simple peck. Maybe — the Lord was saving all the affection for this eve, you thought optimistically. 

The maids and governesses were on high alert post the wedding. They certainly weren’t expecting the bride to be non-aristocratic. They weren’t expecting to teach someone everything from scratch. Anyhow, half a dozen of them stole you post the ceremonies and covered the basics of dining, honorifics, etiquette and what to and what not to expect from my wedding night. They told you it would be enough to survive the night. They told you not to ask the Lord too many questions and try to be genial and compliant. They told you to wait on the bed patiently and not make the first move. You must not make eye contact until the lord speaks first. Then, they undid your braid, brushed your hair straight, unrobed you of your white dress and put you in something pale pink and light, removed the makeup, added makeup, plucked you like a bird being prepared for a feast. But that’s what one does for the sake of love…

You had begun to nod off from the day’s exertion when the door finally opened with a creak. You immediately jolted up and looked around, each hair on your body stood up straight and adrenaline coursed through your body. The snowy haired man entered the room with the quietness of a cat’s footsteps. His blue eyes gleamed like an otherworldly phenomenon even in the dark. He had dressed down into freer, bedtime clothes too. Subconsciously, your knees wanted to come closer to your chest at the sight of him. He neared you with an apprehensive look on his face, nothing you could quite read at an instant. You made your first mistake then, making eye contact and initiating conversation. 

“L-Lord Satoru, I— Please take a seat!” Heat crept up into your cheeks. Who are you to order him around his own house?

He looked slightly puzzled but eventually a small smile made its way up his face. 

“All of this must be new and jarring to you. I apologize.” He says, his voice steady yet soft. 

“Not at all! Why would you apologize!” this time you clamp your hands onto your mouth. In comparison to him you sound so much more brazen.

“The man should apologize first, always. Key to a healthy marriage.” He states, taking a seat beside you on the bed, facing you and using a hand to sway a lock of your hair out of your face. Your breath sways along with his movements. You immediately lower your gaze and scrunch the fabric of your night dress under your balled up fists.

“Nervous?” he asks, leaning in. He is barely a few inches away from you now. Up this close, his eyes look like the ocean — with sparkling and never ending waves. It looks beautiful. Ethereal. Your lips part at the sight. His do too. His white hair is so long and full that it nearly covers his eyes. You have the urge to push it out of the way but you resist the urge. 

You want to hold his handsome face and reprimand him. For not kissing you enough during the wedding ceremony. Right now, your heart’s beating too fast, your brain is working too fast and you could do something very stupid.

“What’s wrong? Did I lose you there?” He blurts out, breaking your trance. 

The moment stretches like a taut string between you, fragile and electric. His breath brushes against your cheek, warm and steady, and you realize just how close he is. Your gaze flickers back to his, and for a heartbeat, you wonder if he’s thinking the same thing you are.

“Nervous?” he asks again, but this time, his voice is lower, softer, like he’s testing the waters.

You open your mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. You’re too distracted by the way his thumb, rough but gentle, brushes against your cheek, trailing down to your jaw. The contact sends a shiver through you, heat pooling low in your stomach. His fingers linger for just a moment before retreating, leaving your skin tingling in their wake.

“Your eyes…” you manage to whisper, barely audible even to yourself.

He tilts his head, curiosity flickering in his oceanic gaze. “What about them?”

“They’re…” You hesitate, feeling the heat rise to your face again, but the words spill out anyway. “Beautiful.”

His smile widens, a boyish charm softening the sharp edges of his face. “You’re bold,” he murmurs, the words carrying a hint of amusement, but there’s something else there too—something darker, heavier. “I like that.”

Your heart thuds painfully in your chest as he leans closer, his lips now just a breath away from yours. For a moment, you think he might kiss you, and you don’t know if you want to stop him. His hand comes up again, this time brushing against your collarbone, and the simple touch feels like fire.

“You’re trembling,” he notes, his voice a rasp that sends a jolt through you.

“I’m not,” you lie, the words shaky and unconvincing.

“Liar,” he whispers, his lips curling into a smirk that’s both teasing and predatory. His fingers trace a featherlight path up your arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and you suck in a sharp breath. “Do you always wear your heart on your sleeve, Viscountess?”

You don’t answer. You can’t. The way he’s looking at you, like he’s trying to memorize every detail of your face, steals every coherent thought from your mind. You’re aware of how close you are, of the way the air between you feels charged, like a storm waiting to break.

And then he pulls back, just slightly, enough to give you space to breathe, though the heat of his proximity lingers. His gaze softens, and he reaches up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice so tender it makes your chest ache. “I’m overwhelming you, aren’t I?”

You shake your head quickly, your hands clutching the fabric of your nightdress even tighter. “No… It’s just—” You stop, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to even begin to articulate the whirlwind of emotions coursing through you.

He chuckles softly, the sound low and intimate, and for a moment, you think you see something vulnerable flicker in his eyes. But then he stands, breaking the spell, and you’re left feeling oddly disappointed.

“Things must be confusing for you —” He sighs and you almost want to whine. “Not to worry, leave it up to me!” he grins at you, fist-bumping his chest. “This viscount is a tactful man. He would not touch the lady until she’s ready!”

Huh?

Before you can protest though, he turns to leave.

“W-wait, that’s not what I—”

“Get some sleep tonight, you must be tired. It’s been a long, chaotic day after all. Let it soak in now that you are the viscountess!” and with that declaration, he shuts the giant oak door behind him. 

For a minute, you try to process what just happened. Your husband came in, assumed you weren’t ready to have a wedding night and just left! Where did he go? This is his room after all.

You make yourself get out of his bed and rush to the door and into the hallway to bring him back. 

Well, at least he should sleep in his own bed. Where did he go? You think. There’s so much you want to talk about, so much you want to know about him.

You check out each door in the hallway lined endlessly with doors. The flicker of candlelights casts long shadows, making the air feel heavier. After the tenth door, when you are about to give up, you hear voices. 

A short walk ahead is an ajar door, emitting the yellow glow of a candlelight. You walk toward it, skeptical as the voices become clearer.

“What took you so long!” It's a woman’s voice. 

“I thought you are quicker at resolving sticky situations at this, Lord Gojo. Looks like that isn’t the case.” You hear another woman giggle followed by the abrupt sound of lingering smooch. 

“Oh my!”

“You talk a lot…” this time, it’s a man’s voice. Satoru’s steady voice, which isn’t soft anymore, it’s a bit condescending now. With your heart thrumming against your chest, you take a peek through the gap and your mouth pops wide open. Before you can scream, you slap your hand onto your lips.

Two familiar looking women are lounging lazily on the bed, naked and sweaty. Lord Satoru stands before them, hands on his hips, eyeing them shamelessly. 

You try to get a better look at the women’s faces and sure enough, they are the daughters of the Iori and Ieiri families. What are they doing here? In that state?

“Mmm’ Toru, come already.” Iori whines, extending her arms as her breasts flop about comically. “I can’t believe you’re wedded to that nobody just to give your family a compliant bride. That’s so stupiiiid!” 

“Come, come.” Ieiri lights up a cigar. “Uta here’s been waiting desperately and eating my ears off. Let’s get this started.” She moves her hair off her chest and gingerly sits beside Iori. 

“You nasty girls.” Lord Satoru snickers, taking both their faces in each of his large hands. He begins to derobe himself before you close your eyes shut tight and break into a run.

You don’t want to see any of this. You don’t want to hear any of it. You just want to go far, far away.

You run blindly down the hallway, your footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Your chest tightens, a bitter cocktail of anger, shame, and humiliation swirling inside you. Of course, it was all a game to him. A political maneuver. A compliant bride. The words sting, sharper than they should.

Why did you believe, even for a moment, that someone like him could see you as more than a pawn? A viscount picking a nobody — it was never about love or even mutual respect. Your legs burn as you push yourself faster, desperate to outrun the image etched into your mind: his laughter, their mocking gazes, the way he had touched them so freely.

So he was buying time for them, telling you to wait until you were ready. 

Lies. 

You burst into the first room you see, far away from that rotten place. It seems like a dusty storage — filled with old furniture and cabinets. You slump down into one of the creaky chairs and throw your face into your hands. 

What now? What happens now? It hasn’t even been a day.

What about your dreams? What are you going to tell your family? Nobara?

A sharp knock at the door jolts you from your spiraling thoughts. You freeze, gripping the armrests of the chair like a lifeline. Who could it be? No one should know you’re here—not in this forgotten corner of the estate.

Another knock, softer this time, yet no less unnerving. “May I come in?” a voice calls out. It’s low, smooth, and completely unfamiliar.

You don’t answer immediately, your heart pounding in your ears. The voice doesn’t belong to anyone in the household staff, nor could it be one of the viscount’s guests. And yet, it’s calm, deliberate, and impossibly steady, as if it knew you’d respond eventually.

“Who are you?” you finally manage, your voice sharp despite the tremor in it.

A pause. Then the voice replies, “Yuta.”

That doesn’t help. You rack your brain for any connection to the name, but nothing comes to mind. The name is ordinary, the tone unsettlingly confident. A shiver runs down your spine. What business could someone like this have with you?

Before you can decide whether to tell them to go away, the door creaks open slightly. Instinctively, you press back into the chair, your breath catching.

The man who steps inside is cloaked in shadow, his face dimly lit by the faint moonlight streaming through a small window. He’s tall and unassuming, dressed in simple but well-made clothes that bear no insignia, no hint of rank or allegiance. There’s no reason he should be here—no reason he could be here.

“How did you get in?” you demand, your voice more forceful than you feel. You rise to your feet, keeping the chair between you and him. “This estate is guarded.”

“I have my ways,” he says cryptically. His eyes, calm and hollow, meet yours. “I mean no harm.”

“Why are you here?” you ask, trying to keep your voice steady. “What do you want?”

“To speak,” he replies simply, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He doesn’t come closer, instead leaning against the wall as if to give you space. “And to offer a warning.”

“A warning?” Your stomach twists. “About what?”

“About your husband,” he says, the words sharp but measured. “And about what kind of man he truly is.”

His words cut through the air like a blade. Your chest tightens, and for a moment, you’re too stunned to respond. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” you snap, though the tremor in your voice betrays your uncertainty. “You’re trespassing. Get out.”

“Could you say that after that erotic scene you just saw?” He presses and leans in.

“Do you wish to go back and see it through to the end?”

“What the hell?!” you jerk away from him.

“Apologies,” he says, raising his hands slightly, almost mockingly. “Perhaps my words were harsh. But they were honest.”

You grip the edge of the chair to steady yourself, your anger bubbling beneath the surface. “Honest?” you scoff. “You don’t even know me, or my husband. You have no right—”

“I know enough,” he cuts in smoothly, his voice low but firm. “I know what kind of man he is. I know what kind of man hides behind charm and power.” His gaze sharpens, pinning you in place. “And I know what you saw tonight wasn’t the first time, nor will it be the last.”

“What do you want from me?”

“Listen carefully and don’t overreact.” he says as a precaution. What could he possibly say— 

“Leave this estate and that man. Come with me as the duchess.”

The next morning you wake up with the worst headache imaginable. Daybreak is just on the horizon and the birds have started chirping their songs. Your eyes hurt and your cheeks are still stained with tracks of tears. The icy blue satin has snaked its way around your legs and waist, imprisoning you to the bed. What a metaphor. 

You somehow prop yourself up and take a look around the room. Maybe what you saw was a bad dream. Maybe none of it happened and it was all nerves. You hallucinated the worst because of your disbelief at marrying Lord Satoru. 

Your memory feels so blurry and the headache is so strong, it is painful to even think.

Right then, the door to the attached bath opens and out walks a figure with snowy hair dripping with water.

The sight jolts you upright, your heart pounding in your chest. He steps into the soft light filtering through the curtains, revealing Lord Satoru in nothing but loose, low-slung trousers. Droplets of water slide down his toned chest, glistening in the pale morning glow, and for a moment, you can’t look away.

“Morning,” he says casually, running a hand through his damp hair, sending more droplets cascading down his neck. His voice is warm and unhurried, as if the chaos of the previous night hadn’t happened at all.

You blink rapidly, the haze of sleep and confusion battling the vividness of this moment. Was this real? Was he real?

“Y-you’re…” you stammer, clutching the edge of the blanket as if it might shield you from the sheer intensity of his presence.

“Alive and well, if that’s what you’re wondering.” His grin is easy, teasing, but his eyes sharpen as they meet yours. “Though I can’t say the same for you. You look like you’ve been wrestling demons all night.”

You look away, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself. “I’m fine,” you lie, your voice brittle.

“Viscountess—” Satoru purrs, bending down to meet your eyes, he shakes his head playfully to shower droplets of water onto you, making you hide your face in your palms. 

“Rule number one as the lady-head of this house.” He says, sticking up one long finger and poking your nose with it. “You tell me everything that’s bothering you. I’m the number one person you can trust!”

He smiles gleefully and it makes you want to frown. Why does he want to convince you so bad. It hurts. He could come clean and you would have no power to do anything. 

He does seem to notice your inner conflict and raises your chin to meet his blue eyes. 

“Is something bothering you?” His question is straightforward but his glare seems to be burning holes into your being. 

Yes. You were fucking two women behind my back. Committing adultery. That’s what’s bothering me. You think.

And then almost as if he could read your mind, he swoops down and places his soft lips onto yours. You come as close to cardiac arrest as possible. Eyes wide open like saucers, you cling onto his bare shoulders, begging for air. This only makes him melt into the kiss deeper, he encircles your waist and pulls you closer to him, snaking his way up your back and onto your shoulders, trying to pull your flimsy sleeves off. 

You manage to barely escape from the kiss, with your lower lip still stuck between his teeth. He looks up at you, feral, from underneath his white, misty lashes. 

“L-L-Lord Sa-Satoru. What are—”

“First of all, no lords and sirs. It’s just Satoru to you.” he states, finally letting go of your lip that recoils back into its place, bruised and swollen. 

“B-but, Lord Sa—”

Before you can finish, he’s now onto your neck, kissing, biting and licking at the flesh. He climbs onto the bed, lifting you slightly and placing you on his lap for better position, both of your thighs circling his waist. Any reasonable stream of thoughts is drowned out by his onslaught.

“Satoru, what’s gotten into you?” you ask finally before he can go south from your cleavage. 

“Isn’t that what it is?” He cocks his head to the side and you do too. “... you felt bad that we didn’t have a wedding night. So we’re having one now!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” you try pushing him away. “My governess could come in any minute.” 

“They know better than to burst in when the viscount is in the room, my dear.” He states, stealing another peck from your lips, attempting to catch your lower lip again before you purse them for good. 

For a second there, no words are exchanged and the two of you just stare at each other. 

Is there a possibility that whatever happened yesterday was just a dream? 

There’s this weird scratch you feel on your back that you can’t seem to get rid off or tolerate anymore. 

“Excuse me —” you say, getting off of him and heading to the bath.

When you lift up your skirt a crumpled piece of paper pops out.

You lift it up and inspect it, opening it up and smoothing it out against the marble counter.

“Don't trust him. My offer still stands. 

— Y” 

You swallow hard.

It was no dream.

to be continued......

a/n: like reblog and comment to show some love and support!

[lemurianwaves]

Tones of Love

Of all chapters he adore, yours is the one, most.

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author's note: before you guys get into this, may i suggest listening to isn't she lovely by stevie wonder (spotify link is included in the story!) as this song implies how sylus thinks of [your name] ! this is my first fanfic ever since... i was getting busier with my degree somewhere between 2022 or 2023. but now that i am free, i am slowly coming back to tumblr and write <3. as always.. so not proof-read. but please give Tones of Love well, tons of love!

word count: 2,441 words

theme: fluff, just sweet ol' fluff. romance. comedy/crack

taglist: @grimmweepers @shadowarchon @nkogneatho @noritoshiikamo @aphoticfirefly @abyssal-blossoms @olderthanthestars @afortoru @diaferia-dhades

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Sylus. The voice actor to the very stars.

The man has always loved the energy of fan meetings—from the nervous excitement in the air, the shine and twinkle in the eyes of his fans, to the lovely words of encouragement and support that blesses his ears and heart. These moments reminded him of the path he chose, and why; to bring the characters to live, to connect with the ones who work hard behind the scenes and of course, to inspire lingering emotions long after the credits roll. Sylus slipped into his charming persona with ease, welcoming the fans with a warm grin. He read iconic lines from his roles, answered questions about his process, and reenacted fan-favorite scenes, much to the delight of the crowd. 

Adjusting the cat ears headband given to him by manager, Sylus scanned through the crowd of 40 lucky attendees. His ash silver locks caught under the soft stage lights, his gaze landed on the first row. There... there she was, sitting quietly with her hair tied up in a bun, and in matching cat ears headband. The love of his life. The one person who knew not just Sylus, one, if not, Linkon's most loved voice actor, but Sylus the man who whispered sweet nothings during the nighttime and laughed at his siblings, Luke and Kieran's pun jokes.

The room vibrated with a gentle buzz of anticipation as over 40 lucky fans filled the small, well-lit hall. It felt like an intimate space—designed to feel less of a staged event but akin to a reunion, friends of old. Posters of Sylus’ photoshoots, along the characters he played, from his role as Jacaerys Spellman, a famed painter with the ability to sew memories into each pigment, to his most recent one, James Kinsley III, a widower left to rule a state after the death of his wife, hung neatly on the walls.

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“Hey, you guys,” he greeted, his voice warm and rich, exactly like his characters he portrayed.

“Woah, you guys, you all look amazing. Are you ready to spend a long afternoon together?"

The crowd cheered, and Sylus chuckled, setting his microphone down, giving his audience 2 thumbs up. Soon, the meet and greet session began. Sylus made sure to give each fan his full attention, accepting gifts, signing posters, and gave every person his undivided attention, listening with much intent to their stories of how his performances have brought them much comfort, emotionally and mentally. 

One fan, a university student with a notebook full of sketches, hesitantly slid their notebook towards him, a water painting displayed for him to look at.

"I know you get loads of these, but I— uhm, drew your character from Abyssal Mark... I believe that this is one of my best piece."

Examining the artwork, his eyes lit up. "Are you kidding me? This is amazing. Look at this— hey! Manager, look, look at the details of this. You've something going on here, you know?" 

The student’s face turned a deep shade of red, silently thanking him, with looks of admiration planted upon Sylus from fans waiting for their turn, for his genuine expression for his own fans. Another 4 minutes passed by and a fan presented him with a keychain featuring one of his most memorable quotes: "There's no love is purer than mine." He turned it over in his hand, a soft grin plastered on his face.

"That line... man. I remember when the director told me to say that line. Think of the happiest memory you could ever think of, and say that line with much love in your heart, she said." 

He paused, his thumb grazed across the quote once more. "Did it in one take and it's probably the best line I've ever recorded. Thank you for this— it's going on my bag."

The line kept moving and as it was about to end, there she was, right in front of Sylus. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my biggest fan," he teased softly, the tone of his voice professional yet carrying that familiar warmth enough for her to melt under. 

“Hmm... I don't really know, Sylus,” [your name] replied, her voice light.

“It seems like I've lots of competition here today, heh." 

He smirked, leaning in a little closer. "But there's only one of you, sweetie,” he whispered.

The words words hung between the two of them like a secret, hidden in plain sight. As he signed her copy of an artbook belonging to a game called Love and Deepspace, in which served as one of the main characters, he added a quick note at the bottom: Dinner’s on me tonight. Same place as always, sweetie?

[Your name] exchanged one last fleeting smile before stepping aside, blending seamlessly back into the crowd. Once Sylus went through with the individual meet and greet, he moved onto the next event, which was the Q&A session. During the Q&A session, Sylus leaned forward with a grin as a fan asked about his university days.

“Hmm.. university life was definitely a hectic point in my life, but don’t get me wrong, I loved it. Every single second,” he said.

“I majored in theater, with a minor of… Ancient Chinese Mythology, so I was constantly juggling rehearsals, assignments, and late night study sessions. I think because of the routine where I have to be at my best, it really shaped me.”

Another fan asked, eagerly, about his love for voice acting and what made him pursue this particular path of performing arts, to which he responded with a spark in his eyes.

“I believe that it’s the freedom to become anyone, theater allowed me to do that as well, but there is something about telling stories, voicing characters with just your vocals alone, without having to show your face that much, it gives both me and the audience a chance to use their imagination to. There’s a certain magic to it.” And when asked if he’d take on another live action role, Sylus chuckled, with a playful shake of his head.

“I’m not and never ruling it out! I loved my experiences in front of the screen, and the perks of taking props home for decor, but for now, I am happy bringing characters to life from behind the mic! Never say, never, though!” Sylus’ answers were met with laughters, oohs, ahhs and applause, the sincerity of how he consider each questiona lighting up the room.

Moving on, his manager hands him a stack of fan letters, adorned in ribbons, stickers and colourful envelopes, Sylus placing it on his lap. Picking one at random, he smiled and began reading.

“Dear Sylus,

Your voice has been nothing but a delight to my ears. I’ve been a fan from your first role to your most current one and every time I hear it, it feels like I am reuniting with an old friend. Well, except for your villainous role, where fear made friends with my spine. But it goes to show just how much effort you put into your lines. Thank you, for the ones you inspired and for everything you do.”

The audience let out a collective “aww”, and he chuckled, placing the letter down carefully. Another letter described a fan’s struggles, and how his role as a dragon, feared and hated by the people yet never once he lost his spirit inspired them to keep on moving with life and that even though their current situation feels hard to go through, they should never give up. Sylus’ expression softened as he said,

“Well, thank you for sharing that with me. It means the entire world to know I’ve done a small part in your journey in life. It feels surreal whenever I’ve people come up to me and say how much my work and to some extent, myself, impacted them. It’s.. wow.” The room went silent, with the occasional sniffles and soft “aww” as Sylus continued to read his fan letters, his voice laced of love, gratitude and adoration for his fans.

⟡ ݁₊ .⟡ ݁₊ .━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

As soon as the reading event was done, Sylus spent 10 minutes backstage to change his outfit and took some time to stretch. As he returned, he stood on the small stage set up at the front of the room, with a mike in his hand and a smile on his face. 

"Alright, guys." he began, holding a script, that was read one too many times, in the other.

"You guys know this one animated series I am doing, right? And there's this one  argument scene from Radiant Bonds?"

The crowd cheered for Sylus as he cleared his throat and stepped into character, his tone shifting effortlessly to match the vulnerability of his character dialogue rolled off of his tongue, and the fans hung onto every word. But... every now and then, Sylus couldn't help but lose focus. Something feels, a tad bit off.

Taking a deep, deep breath, the young man of red eyes and ash silver hair smiled and said "I apologize, you guys. I don't think this dialogue can be delivered... with me alone. It wouldn't be the same without my partner in crime. Rafayel! Get in here!" 

The room erupted with cheers and gasps. Fans whooped as Rafayel, his co-star and longtime friend, took steps to the centre of the stage, bowing to the audience before giving Sylus a hug, earning the duo a round of applause.

"You're lucky I like you, Sylus. Hearing just how real that scene was in the recording booth, I swear, I thought of an early retirement right after." he joked, the audience laughing at his words. 

The two then launched themselves into a spirited reenactment of the scene, complete with exaggerated gestures and improvised lines that had the crowd in gasps and sighs. By the end the two voice actors broke character, laughing themselves to bits they couldn’t finish the last dialogues.

As the event is coming to its end, Sylus and Rafayel gathered everyone for a group photo. “Alright everyone, scrunch in! Raf! C’mere! I know you miss your bodyguard but come!” he teased. 

Fans reluctantly started filing out, thanking Sylus and Rafayel for their time. Before each and everyone of them left, his team handed everyone with a gift box, a cap, two bracelets and a ticket to his upcoming movie airing in theaters next week, as well as Sylus personally paying for their ride. He addressed everyone one final time.

“Thank you for being here. Honestly, your support is what makes all of this worth it. I’ll see you guys at the next event—promise.”  And with that, Sylus gave them all a wave and a now, and remained in that position till the doors closed.

The event wrapped up after nearly five hours, and once the venue cleared out, he helped his team to clear the space and before he took his leave, he thank everyone and informed the head of the team that dinner is on him, handing his manager his black card,

“You’ll meet me next week at work, it’s fine. You guys worked really hard.”

Once all was done, Sylus walked his way to through the building and slipped away through the back door, where his lover waited for him just out of sight.

⟡ ݁₊ .⟡ ݁₊ .━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Oh my god~ it’s Sylus, the greatest voice actor of all time!” she said, her voice warm with playfulness, Sylus grinned, brushing his digits through his tousled hair.

“Oh my god, if it isn’t the love of my live, [your name].”

A kiss was planted on her cheek, before he wrapped his arms around her in a lingering hug, just happy to finally have her next to him, [your name’s ] body warmth settling against his skin. As she pulled away from the hug, he gentle held her hand, guiding across the softly lit parking lot towards their car; the air was cool, the sun is slowly setting, carrying the faint smell of its rays, a grin never leaving her face as they both moved in sync.

Once she was seated in the passenger seat, [your name] waited for him to start up the car, and scrolled through her playlist, before connecting to the car’s system, letting Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder play with her voice joined the melody, soft and slightly off key. Sylus glanced at her a smile tugging at his lips as he gripped the wheel; the hum of the engine and her carefree singing blending in perfectly as he drove them towards the bistro. In that moment, everything felt right.

They walked hand in hand to the entrance of the bistro, and inside, they chose a tucked away spot where they wouldn’t be bothered by anyone. Sylus took a deep breath, patting his chest, finally allowing himself to relax, he, no longer a confident star, but just he, himself.

“You were incredible today,” she said, before popping a peanut into her mouth, giggling as she looked at him with unfiltered pride in her eyes.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, sweetie,” he responded, a chuckle leaving his lips after, reaching across the table to hold her hand.

“But since it comes from you, I’ll gladly take it.” Their conversation flowed effortlessly, as it always did. He did silly impressions of his own characters, including an imitation of a crow named Mephisto, earning delighted laughs that makes him feel happier than ever. As their cocktails and desserts came, [your name] and Sylus swapped bites, his grin widening, eyes softened each time he gazed at his lover’s face light up.

⟡ ݁₊ .⟡ ݁₊ .━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The two love birds took their time after finishing dinner, and decided to take a stroll beneath the city lights, not really wanting to go home just yet, with her arm tucked into his, leaning close against Sylus under the crisp breeze of the night.

“It’s funny,” she murmured, her tone thoughtful.

“Seeing you up there, knowing how many people adore you. But what really warms my heart?” she paused, Sylus looking at her with his brow raised, emitting a soft “hm?”.

“It’s that, at the end of day, you’re my Sylus. Mine and mine alone.”

He stopped, in the midst of his tracks, cupping her face, lips pressed against her forehead for a gentle kiss. The world around them blurred, leaving only the two of them in a quiet, perfect moment. It was an ending as heartfelt as any of Sylus’ performance—a reminder that yes, while he might be a voice actor for countless stories, his favourite chapter will always be the one they star in.

“And I’ll always will be.”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━━━⊱⋅•☽༓☾•⋅⊰━━━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

© writings belong to lemurianwaves. reblogs + likes are appreciated. thank you !

[leather-n-velvet]

High & Low: Part I

A Drew Starkey x singer/actress!OC SMAU

Summary: While on hiatus from touring and wanting to branch out with her career, Ivy Blake auditions for OBX, immediately hitting it off with none other than Drew Starkey in their chemistry read. As tension and drama brew between the two, can they get through the highs and lows that come with fame and relationships together?

Part I

Author’s note: ok guys here’s the first part! I’m not completely happy with it but I wanted to set the stage a little bit. Enjoy!

Divider by: @cafekitsune ⭐️🌙

Next Part // Masterlist

ivyblake

Liked by drewstarkey, madelyncline, and 19,097,092 others.

ivyblake life in the obx 🌴

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madelyncline marry me

ivyblake signed. sealed. delivered. I’m urs bby.

User1 i am Maddie, Maddie is me

madisonbaileybabe 😍

drewstarkey 😌

User2 DREW WRYD HERE

TheIvyLeague MOTHER LIVING HER BEST MERMAID LIFE

ivyupdates

Liked by rafespookie, raila4life, and 12,386 others.

ivyupdates Drew via Ivy’s Instagram story

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raila4life CUTIE

User1 Y U SO SAD DREW UR LOTERALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF A QUEEN

TheIvyLeague hmmmm 🧐

User3 ugh I hope this doesn’t mean something

User4 and if it does? he seems really nice and they’re probably just friends. Ivy said in an interview recently that she’s not looking for anything rn

User3 he’s been up that one actress’ ass from Grand Army, Ivy doesn’t need to get tangled up in that mess

ivyblake

Liked by drewstarkey, obx, and 26,324,781 others.

ivyblake name a more iconic duo…. I’ll wait 😌

#Raila #gettinkookywithit

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madelyncline the Kook prince and Pogue princess

drewstarkey period.

User1 sassy Drew is everything

user2 MARRY ME DREW

ivyblake 💁‍♀️

rudeth hall & oats

ivyblake ur fired

User3 HAND PLACEMENT

user4 HIS HANDS IN GENERAL

drewstarkey

Liked by obx, ivyblake, and 2,342,877 others.

drewstarkey Railaaaaaa.

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ivyblake yummy

user5 UMMMM???

user1 IVY BETH BLAKE

ivyblake @/user1 not my government name 🫣

madelyncline 🤭😏

User2 me thinks maddie ships 👀

obx when two worlds collide #Raila

user2 that’s quite a grip y’all have on each other 👀

Ivy’s Phone:

Madelyn Cline replied to your story: 👀🤭

Carlacia Grant replied to your story: hmmmmm 🧐

Odessa A’Zion replied to your story: cute dog

_____________________________________________

A/N: aaaaand here’s a little bit of intro to Drew and Ivy’s relationship. What do yall think about this format? I went back and forth between this kind and making the actual Instagram posts. Please let me know what you think and if you’d like to be tagged in future parts!

[snootlestheangel]

Bringing back the royal au i had but like make it different

Lot more fantasy elements (magic use primarily)

Still Prince/King!Soap with the head of the Royal Guard being Price

Gaz is the personal guard to Soap

Simon grew up with Soap and became a knight from an early age. Goal was to have a close relationship between "the common" (Simon was from the poor part of the city) and the royalty.

They had fallen in love over the years, and at a certain point everyone basically knew the crown Prince was madly in love with his Knight, but honestly the kingdom was at peace so they saw it as a sign of their prosperity.

But then one night, the night Ghoap are about to um... you know... when an alarm goes off.

A fire had been set in a major part of the city and was burning everything down. Simon's family was still in there, and he left to try and save them.

Dozens of knights bravely lost their lives that night in the fire, yet Sir Riley's body had never been recovered.

He had been named "The Lost Knight" because Soap had refused to give up on looking for him. Their Prince himself spent a week in the ashes of their homes searching. He saved more lives and helped rebuild all because he kept searching for Simon.

Its been years and Soap has only just now given up hope on Simon finding his way home.

Hes given up because now he's suddenly King. His parents murdered brutally in the middle of the night, several guards and servants slaughtered for being in the way. It was traumatizing to see the King and his queen in their night robes, bloody and left for dead in the grand hall.

They know who did it: a man named Manuel Roba. He's known for being the puppet master of a massive ring of assassins.

He spends so much time and resources trying to hunt Roba down, but is unsuccessful. He's so good at covering his tracks and he has so many goons to sacrifice for his own safety.

Its been months since the assassinations of his parents, there's been raids on the smaller towns of his kingdom. They're losing resources, money, and are no longer the great kingdom they once were. They're being slowly taken down, and Soap's counsel of advisors is trying to arrange things with an allied kingdom.

Soap's people need a victory. And he is a King for the people

So they work it out with a few allied kingdoms to host a competition of sorts. Like a games

Except there's an expected winner: this is all for fun, to give Soap's people something exciting to distract from their woes.

The Prince of a neighboring kingdom is expected to win. And the people are happy about this. He's charming, good looking, talented. His kingdom is wealthy and will be able to provide for them.

The winner of the competition gets Soap's hand in marriage.

Anyone and everyone is allowed to enter to compete, and many of Soap’s royal knights enter, if only to have fun and make jokes about possibly marrying their King (Soap who has remained very close with the guard after Simon's death, they were a second family to him)

The famed assassin Ghost is rumored to be one of Roba's best puppets. He's not credited to a single assassination in Soap’s kingdom, but his name still strikes fear in everyone.

And Ghost is a last minute entry into the competition

[basu-shokikita]

Happy Birthday Dethday, Toki!

I've been busy this week so I tried to whip out something real quick for the best boy's birthday! 🎂🌈

Happy Birthday Toki, you make my world a better place 🩷

Birthdays weren’t exactly celebrated in the Wartooth household, so Toki didn’t know they were supposed to be important. He never received a cake for it, or even a congratulations from his parents. He didn’t have friends, either, so it’s not like someone else could’ve celebrated for him.

Birthdays were just another regular day as far as he was concerned, and that’s exactly why he had no idea when his was. So, when Charles asked him, a few days after joining Dethklok, he panicked and went with the first date he could come up with. September 1st.

Later on, he realized that he had seen that date on a movie displayed on the big TV screens displayed by an old store, right across the alley Toki used to sleep in. The children were happily going back to school to reunite with their friends. It was September 1st.

He couldn’t imagine it being that important, so he quickly forgot he ever gave that information. Nor did he think it would be relevant in the future.

…

“Toki! Hey, Toki!” Someone shook him violently. “Toki, wake up!”

“Mmh?” Toki turned around in a daze. “Pickle?”

“We’re late, Toki!” Pickles said, seemingly stressed. “Get up already!”

“L-Late?” Toki sat up and grabbed his pants. “Lates for whats?”

“The…The show!” Pickles urged him with his hands. 

Toki glanced at the clock in his room. “But it’s-”

“Just huhrry up!” The drummer dashed to the hall and out of Toki’s sight. 

“Wait, Pickle!” Toki put on the nearest t-shirt he found and followed him.

The apartment seemed near empty, which was weird because it wasn’t even 10 am. Because of their growing fame, they had moved to a new place in LA. It was more spacious than the Florida apartment and now everyone had their own rooms, but still you could hear what everyone was up to. Which made this silence even more ominous.

“Pickle?!” Toki called him, to no avail. Suddenly, he heard a scream coming from the living room. Freaked out, he ran towards the voice, hoping nothing bad had happened to Pickles.

When he walked into the living room, the words ‘Your time is up’ were written in thick, black letters on the wall. Whoever had written that, was still in the house because the ink seemed fresh. Horrified, Toki looked down to see Pickles’ body lying next to the message.

“Pickle!” He screamed and bent down to hold his bandmate. He seemed unconscious, was he even breathing? “Oh, no, Pickle…” Toki sobbed quietly. 

He didn’t have time to grieve, because a couple of footsteps behind him chilled his blood. The subsequent creaking on the floor confirmed it, there was someone else in the room. And he was fastly approaching him. Toki felt his breath hitch and his heart about to burst out of his chest.

Slowly, he turned around but before seeing the face of the assailant he was splashed with a thick liquid. He screamed and closed his eyes as he awaited for the substance to melt his skin or something equally deadly. When a few seconds went by and he felt no pain, he opened his eyes. 

“Huh?” He cautiously touched his face in fear and stared at his hands stained with red gooeyness. “Whats the-” 

“Happy Birthday!” Several voices went off at once, prompting him to look up. 

Murderface was right beside him, holding the empty bucket in his hands with a smile. Nathan, Skwisgaar by the table a handful of feet away, clapping in delight. Even Pickles, held between his arms, was cheering too. 

Toki felt close to fainting.  “What ams…what ams goings on?”

“Its yous borfdays, dildos.” Skwisgaar said, with a smile. “Remembers?”

Like a hazy dream, Toki remembered giving the information to Charles. Right, so today was September 1st. Still, it didn’t explain this demented display. He looked at his completely ruined shirt, entirely lost. 

“It’sch pig blood.” Murderface helpfully informed, with a grin. “Pretty brutal, right?” 

Toki was bewildered. Blood? He splashed him with fucking blood?

“Dude, look at his face.” Nathan commented, told Skwisgaar. “He totally didn’t see it coming.”

“Tolds you, he wouldn’ts eggspekts dis.” Skwisgaar snickered back.

“Oh, yeah, Pickles, the pretending-to-be-dead bit was a really good touch.” Nathan said.

“Nuh, that was forreal.” Pickles pointed at the bottle by his feet. “I tripped. Behd.” 

“Oh.” 

Groaning, Pickles got up, leaving the speechless Toki crouched on the floor. “Come ahn, Toki.” He offered him his hand. 

Toki grabbed it and Pickles pulled him on his feet. It happened kinda fast, though, so it left Toki feeling kind of dizzy.

“Check out the cake we made.” Pickles said.

“Yeah, it’s pretty fucking brutal.” Nathan agreed and Toki followed his stare.

There was a big black and white cake on the table, with a deformed thing on top that seemed to be his old Flying V. Red stripes decorated the sides and Toki assumed they were supposed to be blood. 

“I deskigneds its.” Skwisgaar said with his chest puffed up. “You ams welkomes.”

“Tis ams for mes?” Toki pointed at himself. 

“Well, ye!” Pickles patted him in the back, joyful. “Its yer birthdei, dood!”

“We schtill get to eat schome, though.” Murderface added, appearing on his other side.

“Wowee…” Toki was overwhelmed. “I…Is never…”

“Had such a brutal birthday celebration?” Nathan completed his sentence.

More like, never had anyone celebrating his birthday. He nodded with a smile. “Ja.”

“Obviouslies.” Skwisgaar said, putting a black cone with sloppily drawn skulls on Toki’s head. “Happies birthdays, eh, Toki?” He patted him on the shoulders. 

Toki looked down, unable to process all the attention given to him on a day that, until moments ago, was just like any other for him. He really didn’t want to cry, because that wasn’t brutal, and he didn’t want them to see his flushed cheeks either, because that was embarrassing. “Thanks you…” He muttered, unable to meet their eyes.

There was a short-lived silence, because the others weren’t any more able to deal with emotional stuff either, until Pickles shouted. “Alright, get the alcohooool!”

While the rest dashed to the kitchen to get drinks, Toki wiped his eyes surreptitiously. Honestly, it’s not like they’d notice if he cried with all the blood he had on his face. He looked at his cake again and noticed the date written under the guitar.

Guess his birthday really was on September 1st.

[animatorweirdo]

Soundless

Your father discouraged you from seeking the elf, but since you were desperate to have your locket fixed -- you decided to let his words go soundless in your ears. Turns out, the ill-famed Feanor wasn't so bad after all.

[] = Sign language

Warnings: mentions of a dead mother, hearing loss, rumors, Feanor's reputation, softness, and Feanor not being bad after all.

(Note: I decided to take a softer turn for this guy,)

---------------------------------------------

Your life has not been an easy one. Despite being born into nobility as the child of a Telerin lord, you faced your share of hardships from a young age. Your mother passed away shortly after your birth, and then you lost your hearing to a strange illness.

Growing up without the ability to hear the sounds of nature or music was incredibly challenging. Many people looked at you with pity, and some even speculated that you were cursed, given the unfortunate circumstances surrounding both your mother's death and your hearing loss. This placed a heavy burden on your father, who was left to care for you alone.

You two shared a great bond, and he had been genuinely a good father to you, helping you adapt to your disability and trying to make sure you were happy. However, you knew how tired he was and how he held a look of longing in his eyes. He was most likely still waiting for your mother to return from the halls of Mandos. 

Your mother had been born with a weak body thus the childbirth took a severe toll on her and her spirit. The Valar and the Maiar assured that she would heal over time, but it would take a long time. There was a high chance she would return when you had already grown into your teens. 

Your father was deeply saddened by the news and carried a heavy burden of guilt, believing that he was responsible for your mother being stuck in a state of recovery. Despite any rumors or beliefs held by others, he never allowed you to bear the blame. Instead, he shielded you from such notions, ensuring that you understood it was not your fault and that you were not to blame for your mother's passing.

You didn't want your father to blame himself, so you always strived to be on your best behavior and do things that would make him happy. You also wanted to prove to him that he didn’t always need to worry about you and that you could handle yourself, even if you were deaf. That was one of the reasons why you were determined to learn how to read people’s lips and make communication easier for yourself.

One of the only things you had from your mother was a silver locket.

Your father allowed you to keep it, and you held on to it ever since. Unfortunately, the lock had gotten stuck, thus making you unable to open it. 

Your father didn’t know what the locket held inside, so you pleaded with him to have someone fix it. However, since the locket was an older design from the First Age, none of the craftsmen knew how to repair it. They all advised you to dismantle the locket and salvage whatever was inside, but you were unwilling to do so. You were fond of the locket itself and didn't want to risk damaging whatever precious contents it held.

You began to lose hope when there were no more craftsmen to turn to, and even your father seemed less eager to save the locket. He eventually told you to simply keep the locket as a memory, assuring you that knowing what was inside was not important.

You valued your father's advice, but you also couldn't shake the desire to know what was inside the locket. Perhaps it contained a picture of your mother, since you had so few of them in the house, or maybe it held a cherished item she kept as a memory.

You then heard about an elf who was rumored to be one of the best craftsmen known in history: Feanor, King Finarfin’s older brother and the eldest of Finwe’s children. You heard that he had done troubling things in the past and nowadays lived in seclusion with his sons, rarely attending social events. Despite his reclusive nature, his reputation as a skilled craftsman persisted.

You felt hope for your mother’s locket, but when you asked your father if you two could meet him, he suddenly became angry and refused. You were startled as you had never seen him so angry before. 

Your father apologized for snapping at you and then explained that Feanor was not someone who should even be spoken about. Despite the passing of many years, the wounds he had inflicted were still fresh in the hearts of many. He was not to be trusted, so it's only for the best that you forget the whole thing.

Normally, you would have listened to your father, but your stubbornness to have your locket fixed strived you forward. 

During a celebration event with most noble houses and the city attending, you sneaked away from your father’s side and made your way to the workshop where you heard Feanor usually occupied alone with his gadgets. 

You had visited many workshops while trying to get your locket fixed, so you had a good idea of what to look for. It didn’t take long for you to find the place and walk inside. The workshop was empty, as most of the people were attending the celebration. Although it was a bit eerie to be alone, you pressed on until you found a door with light emanating from the room beyond.

You quietly peered inside and observed a dark-haired elf seated beside a table, engrossed in some task beneath the flickering candlelight. For a moment, you were awestruck, realizing that this was the famed Feanor, the elf who had allegedly committed terrible deeds.

With cautious steps, you entered the room, mindful not to startle the elf, and pondered how to approach him without alarming him. Unbeknownst to you, the door behind you closed shut, causing the elf to startle and snap his head towards you.

You were frozen in your place when you locked your eyes with Feanor. His features were sharp and he frowned when he saw you. For a moment, he looked a bit terrifying. 

“Child? What are you doing here alone? Where are your parents?” Feanor questioned, but you awkwardly remained quiet as you only managed to catch ‘here’ and ‘parents’ from his lips. Your lip reading skills weren’t the sharpest despite you having been trying to improve them. 

You took a deep breath and then tried to explain in sign language why you were there and that you had hoped he could take a look at your locket and perhaps know how to fix it since no one else knew how to. 

Feanor gazed intently at you as you signed, and then there was an awkward pause. You weren't sure if he understood sign language, and you mildly regretted not bringing a piece of paper and a pencil, which would have made explaining much easier.

Feanor’s eyes then softened, and to your surprise, he motioned his hand in sign language. 

“[Come here…]” he said. 

You then walked up to him and handed him your locket. 

He inspected it carefully, taking in the design and the lock. After he tested it and tried to open it, he then laid it down on the table. He grabbed one of the vials and what seemed to be a small tool. You looked at him curiously as he started doing something. 

He then glanced at you. 

“[Take a seat. This might take a while…]” He signed. 

You nodded and quietly sat on the opposite side of the table, watching as he gently poured drops on the lock. 

“[What is that?] you curiously asked. 

“[A type of acid. It can remove the rust that had locked the locket from the inside,]” he explained. 

“[Wait! So you can really fix it without having to break it?!]” you asked excitedly.

“[Of course I can. I do need to take the lock apart to clean the excess rust from the inside,]” Feanor explained while dropping drops on the locket. 

“[How do you know sign language?]” you asked. 

“[I was the one who first developed it,]” he answered, making your eyes widen. 

“[Did you or anyone in your family have hearing problems too? ]” you asked. 

“[No. I just wanted a way to bad mouth my half-brother without him understanding anything. I was a bit of a drama seeker,]” he explained, making you giggle. 

“[Then it was adopted by those who were unable to speak or hear words,]” he added.

“[How long have you been unable to hear words or sounds?]” he asked while cleaning your locket’s lock. 

“[My whole life. I lost my hearing somewhere in my birth,]” you answered.

“[Do you want to talk about it?]” Feanor asked, and you became excited. No one else besides your father has spoken to you in sign language this long. 

You then talked about your life. How your mother died during your birth, and how your father had taken care of you your whole life. You also talked about how your father seems to be blaming himself for your mother’s death and how you hated when others would look at you with pity and think you had been cursed. 

Feanor listened attentively while fixing your locket. 

After half an hour of talking and watching him work, you took a break, but then you saw how the elf in front of you placed all the parts back in the locket and opened it. 

You looked at him eagerly as he closed it and then opened it, making sure the lock worked properly before handing the locket back to you.

You grabbed the locket and took a look at what was inside. It was a small picture of your mother and father. They looked happy together, and there was also a small gem inside. It was most likely the gem your father gave your mother as a gift, and she had kept it inside the locket for safekeeping and carried it with her. You felt immeasurable joy looking at the picture and holding the gem. 

Your father would be so happy when you showed these to him. 

Feanor then caught your attention by tapping the table in front of you. 

“[The locket should work fine for now, but make sure to take care of it and not leave it somewhere where it could rust again, ]” Feanor explained. 

“[I will. Thank you,]” you signed. 

“[Now come on. I take you back to the entrance. You shouldn’t be here,]” he said, then stood up. 

You followed the elf out of the workshop, and you two then stood on the empty street while the celebration was still going in the distance. 

“[Do you need me to escort you back there?]” Feanor asked. 

“[No. My father is pretty easy to find, and I don’t think he even noticed that I’m gone. I’m pretty quiet after all, ]” you answered. 

“[Very well, and by the way,]” he said, making you look at him curiously. 

“[Your mother’s passing was not your fault. No matter how tragic it was, you are not at fault,]” he explained. 

You looked down for a moment. 

“[But others think differently,]” you said. 

“[There will always be people who will judge you for what you don’t have. Don’t let their words get to you. Otherwise, your life will become difficult and harder to enjoy,]” he signed.

 “[And remember, hearless or not, your mother would have loved you]” he added. 

The thought made you smile. Your mother had a weak body, but it didn’t mean she did not want you. Your father and the rest of the relatives always explained how she was excited to have you. 

She might be in Mandos, but she was going to return one day. 

“[I won’t. Thank you, Mr. Feanor,]” you said, and he softly smiled. 

“[Now get along now. Your father will notice your disappearance soon enough,]” he said. 

You then suddenly hugged his legs, making him look at you surprised. He then patted your head as you freed him and began making your way back to the party. You waved at him, and he waved in return till he saw you disappear into the crowds. 

Feanor returned to his workshop, feeling pleasant over the encounter. 

[gaysindistress]

Limits of a Fae Heart - two

Pairings: Azriel x reader

Summary: part two for this.

Word count: 2.6k

Warnings: mentions of past abuse but no detailed descriptions gaysindistress masterlist one | three | four | five | six

“Impossible?” I hiss at the High Lord of the Night Court. “Tell me how this seems impossible when your own mate was Made as well as her sisters. Tell me how it’s inconceivable when I was stuck forever living and dying.”

He says nothing, only staring down at me with those violet eyes. I sarcastically chuckle.

“Since you drug me here and will be forcing me to stay as it seems, I would like to retire to a room now,” I snap at Rhys and he nods. He goes to place a hand on my upper back and the shadows are quick to rip it away. Rhys sighs but keeps his hand at his side and settles for just pointing to the hallway for me to follow.

He wordlessly leads me up the stairs and down a dark hallway. All the while I feel the blazing stare of the Shadowsinger on my back.

Rhys stops a door at the every end of the hall and gives it a light shove to reveal a bedroom that is cozier than I expected. Dark wood planks cover the expanse of the floor and an equally dark green shade covers the walls. Upon closer inspection, I see that there are trees of varying greens painted all around the room. Surrounded by a forest that feels like home but so foreign, my soul yearns for something I can’t give it.

“This will be your room,” Rhys explains as he walks further in and candles ignite as he passes by them, bringing with them light. “There is a bathing room here,” he explains while pointing a doorway off to his left and then points one to his right, “and there is a wardrobe. If you need anything, my wife’s and my room is to the left of the stairs, Cassian and his mate are on the right, and Mor’s are next door. Kitchen is downstairs and past the living room. I’m sure Mor will come bother you at some point but I’ll try to keep her away as best as I can. Is there anything I can get for you before I leave you for the night?”

It’s not lost on me that he didn’t mention where Azriel’s room is and he knows it too. He shifts his weight ever so slightly under my unwavering stare.

The words spill out of his perfect lips much to his surprise, “He’s across the hall but I can have him stay somewhere else for the night.”

Happy with his confession, I turn away to take in the rest of the room. “No, this is his home after all. Warn him that I will not hesitate if he comes near me.”

I don’t have to elaborate, Rhys understands my meaning. I can feel him grappling with why he told me that so I answer for him so he’ll leave.

“I take it you didn’t think my famed ‘sociability’ was more than a good personality?”

“I’d heard rumors of people telling you their darkest secrets without prompting but I figured it was because of who your mate was.”

I stopped trailing my hand over the cream knitted blanket on the simple wooden framed bed.

“And who was he? What name do they give him now?”

“He’s the King of Hybern now.”

“Of course he is,” I snort and continue my inspection of the blanket. “You may leave now.”

He’s gone in an instant and silence surrounds me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the bathroom and debate whether or not I want to truly see my current state. I’m sure I look like a complete disaster but I’m not sure Im ready to face my reflection.

A sharp pain hurts through my back and the heat of my body disappears as fear takes over me. I can hear my heartbeat pound in my ears as my breathing starts to become labored. Already weak from death, my knees buckle and I stumble forward, desperately searching for something to grip onto. I find nothing as the pain in my back becomes a searing sensation that is only amplified as my knees and hands catch on the floor. They tear into the soft skin and cause blood to leak from the cuts. The candles are blurred around me, and the silence surrounding me becomes suffocating. Water starts to envelop me from within as my breathing picks up pace even more, making it harder to swim to the surface of my emotions. Pain continues to spread from the torn skin and my back when I hear an awful tearing noise. I let out a sob as I feel the skin of my back break open and something tears itself free.

Blood drips onto the pristine wooden floors around me and there is a heavy weight at my back now but I can’t move. I don’t dare to move. I stay with my hands and knees firmly planted on the floor as sobs rack over my body.

I don’t know how long I stay on the floor but no one comes no matter how loud I scream at the agony in my back. Shadows, the persistent bastards, flood underneath the door and rush to me. I bat them away, unwilling to accept their help. They refuse to listen to me and hover with nervous energy as I crawl to the bathroom. I wince and bite back more sobs as the things that tore themselves free drag on the floor. They catch and hit furniture, ripping at them as I slowly make my way to the massive sunken bathtub. I don’t bother to pull off my clothes and instead just allow myself to fall right into the warm waters that are already waiting for me. I hiss at the feeling of warm water on my skin but it eases the ache in my body enough that I don’t wish for death.

Floating in the water beside me are membranous wings.

Ones similar to those of Cassian and Azriel. I snap my eyes shut and push myself further under the water. A deep dread sets in as I start to accept that this isn’t another nightmare created by my shattered mind.

I’ve been resurrected.

My former mate is now a king while the one I seemingly gained is a Shadowsinger and his pets are frantically tending to me.

What a shit show my life has become.

Waves of cedar, freezing mist, and olive filter through the room as my eyes flutter open. Sweat pools at the hollow of my throat and causes my skin to stick to the sheets beneath me. I brush back strands of hair that are plastered to my feverish forehead as I stare up at the ceiling above.

Shadows hover all around the room and I can only assume they’re standing guard outside of my door.

A shine from beside me catches my eye and I turn to see a blur of those creatures next to my hip. Cautiously, I shift and they awake at my movement to reveal a mess shiny black hair laying on top of muscular golden arms next to my hip. Unwanted comfort washes over me and my chest aches to be so close yet so far away from him.

He stirs for a moment and moves his head so he’s facing me. With his eyes still closed, I get a good at the face I already know by heart. The brave candle light that breaks through the shadows dances across the elegant planes of his face. Faint pale scars litter his skin and my fingers itch to trace them until my touch heals them. Scars cover the skin on his hands too but they are harsher, more jagged and deep than the others. Their angry deep brown color tells me that they’ve been inflicted many years ago and never healed properly. With how deep they go, I can practically feel the pain and damage they must have caused him. Something breaks inside of me to see that he’s been through so much but knowing that it’s similar to my own trauma is too much. I can’t fathom another ever coming close to going through what I did and I have to tear my eyes away from him.

Fate has been cruel to me and I suspect she will forever but this? Giving me a second mate and one who no doubt has the same nightmares that I do? That is a string even she wouldn’t think to weave herself. A part of me wonders if my first mate had anything to do with this. If he’s been able to take the crown, could he have been able to force the hand of Fate in his favor?

I scoff at the idea. That would be giving him too much credit to assume that he could do that or even would. He’d used me until I had nothing left to give and nourished me back to health only to restart the cycle. He’d whispered the most foul words a mate could hear as he bound my wings to my body after he found me. He’d forced me to be his own spy master and extract any and all information from his targets. It didn’t matter if it was important to his mission, he needed everything. When I proved to be too broken and weak to be of use to him, he’d left me for dead. He’d allowed his men to chase after me like hounds chasing a fox. He even demanded that they keep me alive so he could be the one to finish me off. It had my mate, the man the Cauldron said I was fated for, that put me on that island where I laid half alive, half dead for years. I don’t even know how long I’d been there but it doesn’t matter anyway.

Regardless of who Azriel is, I don’t want him. I can’t want him.

I can’t need him the way I thought needed the King of Hybern. I can’t allow myself to be in such a vulnerable position again even if I know Azriel would never do that same.

The two men have to be the same in my mind if I’m going to survive.

And I’ll do what I should have the first time; reject the bond and save myself.

It’s Feyre who does knocks at my door first. A woman who looks like a sharper and more intense version of her stands behind her. I quickly learn that her name is Nesta and she’s mated to the man child Cassian. She laughs and makes a side comment about how we’re going to get along when I tell her that. Feyre laughs as well but she stays quiet, probably in fear that I’ll say something less kind about her mate.

”We thought you might like company,” her gentle voice answers my unspoken question. She sits in the chair I assume Azriel was sleeping in earlier while Nesta makes herself comfortable on the bed next to me.

I go to push myself up but am stopped by the heavy weight at my back. My wings, I realize, as I push myself onto my forearms and watch as they emerge from under my hair. Feyre gasps and I quickly glance over to her to see that she’s also looking at them. She looks at me in wonderment. Nesta shares a similar look but keeps it isolated to her eyes and her face remains a facade of collected beauty.

“He…Rhys didn’t tell me you were Illyrian,” she mutters more to herself.

“Bold of you to assume that I am,” I say with a hint more edge than I intended. Her gaze flickers for a moment and Nesta chuckles under her breath.

Feyre goes to apologize but I stop her, “I was teasing. My father was Illyrian.

“And your mother?” Nesta asks and earns a stern look from her sister.

“Hybern.”

“Oh what a disgusting revelation.”

Once again Feyre tries to reign her back in while I feed into it.

“Yes it is quite unfortunate; however I don’t imagine the King would’ve taken me if I wasn’t from his land at all.”

Nesta shrugs her shoulders, “he’s a disgusted man. He probably still would have just for the fun of it.”

“Nesta!” Feyre gasps and looks to me with apologetic eyes, “I’m so sorry. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to bring her.”

“Do I look offended?” Both women look at me and scrutinize every inch of my face. “No, she’s fine and it’s…refreshing to be around someone with a sense of humor.”

I try to move again and my wings quack against my back from the pain.

“You’ll get used to them with time and practice,” Feyre tells me. There’s an underlying order in her words; don’t push yourself.

“I know you’ve only been here for a day but how is everything?”

I arch a brow at her, “define everything.”

Nesta snickers.

Cutting her off before she melts into her chair, I say, “everything is fine. Thank you for all of it.”

A gentle chill overcomes the room. One of those pesky shadows creeps in and slides over the back of Feyre’s chair. It plays with the ends of her hair before making its way to Nesta and halting by my foot. Nesta shivers and looks like she wants to bat at the shadow.

I clench my jaw and finally push myself further up so Im sitting against the wall. It’s painful and almost leaves me in a tears but I do it anyways. The shadow darts up to me but waits for me to invite it closer. The sisters are watching my every move as I reach my hand out with my palm up. It hesitates for a moment and then circles around my fingers. The shadow is cold but it’s not unpleasant. It crawls further up my wrist and to my arm. The ache in my chest feels content as this shadow traces my arm.

I let out a sigh. Warmth fills me and there is something akin to hope in the waves of comfort but it’s foolish. Hope cannot exist when the king still has his cold hand wrapped around my throat.

I swallow thickly despite the cold pressure on my neck and look to Feyre. “Why am I here?”

Nesta shoots her an uncharacteristically nervous look. Feyre sits straight up and clears her throat. “We need your help.”

“With?”

“The King. He’s planning a war and…”

I interrupt her, “let me guess; you’re running out of options and Rhys thinks that I’ll have some insight you haven’t found anywhere else.”

“And she’s smart,” Nesta pipes up and the shadows agree with her. They’ve made themselves comfortable on my shoulder and nestle against my neck.

“Well I can’t tell you anything you don’t know already. He isn’t the type to sip tea by a fire and spill his darkest secrets. That and I’ve been dead far longer than even your High Lord has been alive. Tell me, Feyre, how did he know about me.”

I want to feel bad about using my powers on her but I don’t think she would tell me without it.

“Az was the one who told him. I…I don’t know how he knew.”

The shadows shutter at the mention of their master and sink onto me even more. Feyre blinks in shock.

“It seems like I need to pay him a visit next.”

With that, the sisters leave. Now it’s just me with the shadows of a man who knows more about me than I would like.

[seunmong-in]

💋🌧️Kiss Me in the Rain🌧️💋

Pairing: Non! Idol Seungmin x reader Genre: Love at first sight (They did meet before but never gotten close), humor, cursing per usual, fluff, references to video games and anxiety Summary: Unable to go home due to the heavy rain outside, Seungmin is faced with being stuck at Changbin’s house until the rain clears out. But what happens when Changbin’s roommate, who Seungmin has only met once, is also home and steals Seungmin’s heart at first glance? Words: 2.9k A/N: So this may be a bit longer than I intended… but my insomnia got the best of me and my brain kept rambling with thoughts so here we are, my longest POV. I know I said this under my Felix POV but I have to say it again because I can not EXPRESS how much I am grateful and overwhelmed with joy about how many people liked my POV’s!! It truly means the world to me and it makes me strive to write more for everyone to enjoy! If you haven’t read Felix’s or Han’s story and want to, click on their name, it should send you to their stories. Later in the week I will be making a poll on which member I should write next about so stay on the lookout for that in the next couple days!! Anywho, getting on to our scheduled program now, I hope you guys enjoy Seungmin’s story!! 

P.s. Who else is going to Lolla this year and is secretly wishing Straykids play Topline or Hall of fame so they can scream their lungs out? I know I am!! 

♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆

Oh, fuck me. 

Those were words Seungmin thought when he opened the door to reveal the pouring rain outside. He regretted not listening to Jisung when he said it would rain heavily later in the afternoon as he left for Changbin's. Mentally cursing himself out, knowing he couldn't drive home as planned, Seungmin sighed as he closed the door and walked back to the living room, throwing himself on the couch. Seungmin would've gone upstairs to Bin's room to bother him, but his hyung had left a few minutes before the rain started to pick up Jeongin. Pulling out his phone, Seungmin texts Changbin, letting him know that he is staying until the rain dies down and for him to stay safe. He puts his phone away, leans over, and grabs the TV remote. There wasn't much on the TV, so Seungmin watched anime to pass the time.

"Binnie, where the fuck did you put my gaming headset- Oh shit, Hi, um… Seungmin, right?"

Completely engrossed in the anime, Seungmin suddenly jumps when the soft-spoken voice speaks, pulling him out of his trance. He turns to see Y/n, Changbin's roommate, standing at the bottom of the stairs. Seungmin's heart skipped a beat as he took in her appearance. Y/n was wearing an oversized hoodie that belonged to Changbin and biker shorts. The hoodie engulfed her petite frame, making her look delicate. Her hair was still wet from a recent shower, and the sweet fragrance of vanilla filled the air as she approached him. Seungmin couldn't help but admire her beauty, noticing her glasses slightly fogged up from the shower's steam. He found himself getting lost in her sparkling eyes and felt his heart racing. Although he had met her at Changbin's housewarming party a few months back, Y/n looked different, and Seungmin couldn't resist but admire her beauty. 

"Yeah, And you're Y/n, right." 

Y/n positions herself comfortably on the couch beside Seungmin, crossing her legs as she nods in agreement with him. Seungmin pauses the series he is watching and turns to face her fuller, a hint of shyness creeping onto his face. 

"By chance, where is my wonderful hyung? The bastard misplaced my gaming headset, and I need it to play Overwatch with a couple of my friends."

Ignoring the first part of her question, Seungmin's excitement beams through when Y/n mentions she plays his favorite game. He usually plays with Changbin and Jeongin, but it has been a while since they've played. He primarily plays alone or with Felix and Chan, though they are more severe players. 

"Wait, you play Overwatch too?"

Seungmin's voice was filled with so much excitement that Y/n couldn't help but giggle. She got up from the cozy couch and approached the stairs. She looked back at Seungmin, still sitting on the sofa, staring back at her.

"If you want, I can show you my gaming pc setup. It's not much, but it's something," she offers as she continues to walk up the stairs.

With a slight hesitation, Seungmin followed Y/n up the stairs to her room, still feeling shy around her. But as he stepped inside, his eyes widened with amazement. The room was spacious and decorated with album covers and paintings, gifts that his other hyung, Hyunjin, had given her. The LED lights wrapped around the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting orange glow that made the room feel cozy and welcoming.

Looking around more into Y/n's room, his eyes were immediately drawn to her gaming setup. It looked like a gamer's paradise with a customized PC, fantastic LED lighting system, custom gaming keyboard, and sleek wireless mouse in pink and black. Y/n's setup was impressive, nonetheless. While one of her monitors had Overwatch already launched, the other screen had a Word document open, with the title reading "Kiss me in the Rain. "But before Seungmin could see more, Y/n quickly minimized the tab, leaving him curious and intrigued. He couldn't help but wonder what that document was about.

"You write as well?"

Y/n's heart skipped a beat as she looked down, realizing she had been caught red-handed. Hot flashes crept up her cheeks as she realized that no one, not even Changbin, had ever laid eyes on her writing. It wasn't that she was embarrassed about her work, but the fact that she had always thought of writing as her own private sanctuary, where she could feel vulnerable and have no judgment. Writing was also her second safe place, her go-to whenever she had a panic attack, with Changbin being her first. When distressed, Changbin would soothe her with warm hugs and cuddles until she felt better.

Y/n settles into her gaming chair, her fingers tapping nervously on the armrest. "To be honest," she says, "writing is my go-to when I'm anxious or want to feel vulnerable for a while. There's something about putting pen to paper that just helps me calm down." Seungmin couldn't help but be intrigued by her words. Though the pair rarely spoke when he did come over to visit, it felt nice to be able to interact with her on this level. Not wanting to bombard her with more questions, he simply asked more about the story she was writing. 

"What's this story about?"

"It's about two friends trying to complete their bucket lists before the summer ends, and they have to go off to college. They devised a plan to complete each of their bucket list dreams one by one until the very last day of summer. On the last day, the FMC added one more thing to the bucket list she wanted completed before leaving: for the MMC, her newly developed crush, to kiss her in the rain while it was pouring out."

"Kinda sounds like how it is right now," both laugh as Seungmin looks out the window. The rain is still pouring hard outside, and there is no sign of stopping soon. Y/n's phone vibrates as she turns her chair to grab it off her desk. It was a message from Changbin.  

"Well, Binnie isn't coming back tonight. He says the roads are bad, so he's staying at Jeongin's. Which sucks cause I still don't have my damn headset," Y/n pouts as she puts her phone back on the desk. Without saying a word, Seungmin gets up from the beanbag chair and exits the room, only to appear minutes later, handing Y/n the headset he took from Bin's room.

"I keep a spare one in Hyung's room whenever I stay over; here use it.”

"Oh, Minnie, you didn't have to."

Minnie... Feeling his face turn red with the new nickname Y/n gave him, he continued to hold out the headset in front of her. 

"Seriously, take it. Besides, I wanna see you play. I have to see what my competition looks like."

Without backing down from Seungmin's challenge, Y/n confidently takes the headset, puts it on her head, and connects the aux to her PC. As the match starts, Seungmin is taken aback by her intense focus. He is fascinated by her gameplay, which is different from his own. Despite her unique approach to defense and combat, she continues to win match after match.

Seungmin sat back on the beanbag chair as Y/n continued her winning streak. However, he wasn't watching her play; his eyes fixed on her. He couldn't help but notice the small details of her behavior - the way she would scrunch her nose to keep her glasses from sliding down her face, the little victory dances she did when she won matches, and the lightning-quick movements of her hand when her hair fell over her eyes. He was amazed by her skill and grace, and he felt a sense of awe and admiration wash over him.

But as he watched her, Seungmin realized his feelings for Y/n were changing. A strange sensation began to stir in his stomach like a flock of butterflies had taken flight inside him. Feeling flustered and confused, Seungmin tapped Y/n on the arm and excused himself. He ran out of her room and hurried downstairs to make an urgent phone call to the only person he could think of who might help him figure out what to do next.

"Hey Min, what's up," Binnie answers, yawning mid-sentence.

"What do you do when you like someone?"

"What?"

"Changbin, I know you heard me. Answer my question," Seungmin demands. 

"It's Y/n, isn't it? See, I knew it from the first day you met her. Your eyeballs practically almost fell from your face," Changbin teased. There was nothing but silence and embarrassment as the banter continued. 

"Jesus, Bin can you shut the fuck up for a minute and help me, please," Seungmin practically begs his hyung. It was rare for Seungmin to say please, nonetheless, curse at anyone. This was serious for him. 

"Okay, okay, sorry, I'll stop," Changbin laughs. "What exactly do you like about her?"

Seungmin paused, taking a moment as he tried to collect his thoughts. Y/n is kind-hearted and gentle, with a soft-spoken voice that makes him feel safe. Her writing was outstanding, and he hung on every word she said. However, it wasn't just her mind that he was drawn to. There was something undeniably alluring about her physical presence as well. The way her hair fell in soft waves around her face and her eyes lit up when she laughed - every little detail about her seemed to captivate him.

Seungmin's heart was heavy with emotion, and he knew he couldn't keep it to himself any longer. "Hyung," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes darting around to ensure Y/n was out of earshot. "I can't help but feel drawn to her. She's like a dream come true, the perfect match for me. Changbin, I didn't expect to fall for her so quickly, and I don't know how to handle these feelings. What should I do?"

"Tell her how you feel. Knowing Y/n, she would be flattered hearing this. Oh, just to give you a confidence boost—you didn't hear it from me—but when everyone left after the housewarming, she thought you were the cutest out of all the boys." 

When Seungmin heard that, a bright smile that stretched from ear to ear was plastered on his face. It indeed gave him a boost to follow his heart. Before ending the call with Changbin, he asked for one more thing from Seungmin. 

"Just don't hurt her, Min. You both mean a lot to me and if things don't go well with you guys, I refuse to take sides. Plus, I don't want to fight you for hurting my best friend; you are too soft and cute to hit." 

"I won't, I promise."

Trying to contain his happiness, Seungmin quickly runs up the stairs. Ideas on how he could tell Y/n how he felt started going off like fireworks until he thought of the perfect one. He softly opens Y/n's door just as she stops playing OW. Instead, she had the same document open and was typing away. Feeling like she was being watched, she turned her chair around only to meet Seungmin's soft gaze. She softly smiles and asks, "Everything okay, you were gone for a while. I didn't make you nervous with my gaming skills, did I?"

Chuckling at her joke, Seungmin shakes his head as he approaches her.

"I was just telling Binnie I was staying the night since it's still raining out," Seungmin lied. Though the rain was starting to die out a bit, the roads weren't safe to drive in. Suddenly, Seungmin reaches out for Y/n's hand, pulling her out of her chair and her room. Confused with what was happening, Y/n couldn't help but question what was going through his mind as they both walked down the stairs, heading towards the house's back door. 

"Minnie, what are you doing?" Y/n asked as he let go of her hand and opened the door to reveal the rain outside. Though it wasn't as hard as at the beginning of the afternoon, it was still pouring down at a decent rate. 

"When you mentioned your story earlier and how the friends had things on their bucket list they wanted to complete, I realized that I had some of my own I have never completed. And well, playing in the rain is one of them. So I was wondering if you wanted to help me with that," Seungmin's cheeks turn bright red as he extends his hand towards her. Without a second thought, Y/n grabs his hand as the pair goes outside into the rain. 

As the chilly raindrops cascaded from the overcast sky, Y/n and Seungmin stood opposite each other in the backyard. They gazed at each other with wide grins and intertwined their hands, feeling the warmth from their palms. They began to spin slowly in a circle, their movements cautious at first, and then they picked up speed, their feet sliding on the slick grass. As Y/n lost her footing, Seungmin swiftly grasped her by the waist and pulled her toward him to prevent her from falling. Although the darkness enveloped them, Y/n's cheeks flushed a bright red at the proximity of their bodies.

"Is this okay?" Seungmin asked, trying to read her face to see if she was uncomfortable. The last thing he wanted was to make her uneasy, ruining his chances of possibly being with her. Y/n smiled as she nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck, softly swaying. The two continued to sway slowly, staring into each other's eyes without saying a word. The moment couldn't be perfect for Seungmin as Y/n, their eyes now connected. 

"As much as I want to continue dancing in the rain, I want to tell you something. That phone call with Binnie-hyung wasn't about me staying the night, though I know he would be okay with either way. It was about you," Seungmin starts to explain. Y/n's face turns into shock, and she tries to figure out if she did anything wrong. Seungmin must've picked up on what she was thinking and started to chuckle. 

"I want you to know that you haven't done anything wrong. In fact, you have done something that I didn't think was possible. It's difficult to express myself, but I want to take a chance. Y/n, I have strong feelings for you. I understand this may seem sudden, especially since this is our first time hanging out alone. However, there is something about you that draws me towards you. There is so much more to learn about you and I want to know everything about you- your likes, dislikes, fears, and dreams. I want to be there for you in every possible way imaginable. You don't have to say anything now; I don't expect you to feel the same way as I do. I simply wanted to tell you how I feel before I get inside of my own head." 

Y/n took a moment to process everything that had been said and looked down for a moment. She started catching feelings for Seungmin too, whose shy and calming manner perfectly fit her sometimes crazy personality. Looking back into his eyes, she noticed that his now wet hair covered most of his vision, so she softly pushed it away, revealing her cheeky smile. She was going to ask him something that the FMC wanted done in her story.

"I also have a bucket list I didn't get to complete. Do you mind helping me," Y/n asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Kiss me in the rain."

Seungmin's heart races as he looks at the girl he confessed to. Without wasting another precious moment, he gently takes her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. He can feel the warmth of her skin against his as he pulls her closer, his other hand cupping the back of her head as he leans in for a kiss.

The rain slowly begins to let up, creating a serene backdrop for their first kiss. Seungmin's lips are soft and tender against hers. As the last few drops of rain trickle down, Seungmin finally pulls away.

He doesn't want to let go of her just yet, so he takes her hand in his, holding it tightly as they both catch their breath. Their eyes meet, as he is the first one to speak. 

"So, I assume you feel the same way then.”

"Yeah, I do. And by the way, you don't have to ask; I'm yours now, Minnie."

As soon as she responded, he couldn't help but smile, feeling a rush of warmth in his chest. He pulled her in without hesitation for another passionate kiss, their lips meeting perfectly harmoniously.

After their little moment, the couple realized they were soaked from the rain, so they decided to change into dry, clean clothes for the rest of the night. They spent most of their time playing Overwatch together, with short intermissions in between as Seungmin helped Y/n with her story. 

When morning arrived, and the roads were clear, Changbin came home and peeked into Y/n's room. He saw Seungmin sleeping beside Y/n, with his arms wrapped around her. Her head was resting comfortably on his chest. Changbin smiled and took out his phone to send a picture to the boys' group chat. He knew Seungmin might be annoyed with him later, but for now, he was happy to see his friend with his dream girl.

[annieqattheperipheral]

Mitchy read Naz's book and has a review on the back cover!

(not my hand lol)

"Nazem Kadri epitomizes the heart, grit, and skill it takes to be a leader on and off the ice. This is a story of determination and perseverance in the face of doubt. The lessons shared through Kadri's memoir, from his family's remarkable journey to his unrelenting belief in himself, are an inspiration for anyone who dares to dream." DOUG GILMOUR, MEMBER OF THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME, AND FORMER CAPTAIN OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

"In this book, Nazem doesn't shy away from addressing the tough topics throughout his NHL career, on and off the ice-including experiencing death threats and Islamophobia to a degree that would make many quit their jobs, or worse, fear for their lives. Nazem meets every peak and valley with thoughtful and honest reflection. Mashallah!" ARDA OCAL, ESPN BROADCASTER

"A must-read book about one of the best team players to play the game. A lion of a competitor." LOU LAMORIELLO, LONGTIME NHL AND TEAM USA EXECUTIVE

"Naz is the kind of teammate you know will always stand beside you. He's a warrior on the ice and a leader in the locker room. His memoir is one of hockey's great stories." MITCH MARNER, NHL ALL-STAR

"A fascinating look at the unique experience of not only trying to make the Toronto Maple Leafs, but doing it while navigating a sport that hasn't always welcomed ethnic minorities. It's hard not to appreciate Kadri more after going behind the scenes of some of his biggest moments and really feeling what he and his teams were going through." JUSTIN BOURNE, SPORTSNET BROADCASTER AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DOWN AND BACK

"Whenever a player like Kadri comes along, the game wants him to change. Maybe it's the game that needs to change. When it does, we will have more players like him-strong mindset, strong family, strong will to win. Kadri's book shows us what we need in the game." TED NOLAN, FORMER NHL PLAYER AND COACH, AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LIFE IN TWO WORLDS

You can read a preview of the first few pages here

[reysdriver]

Reminiscence | R.L.

You and Remus confess your feelings for each other at James and Lily's wedding, but it's never too late — remus x fem!reader fluff

warnings: brief alcohol consumption, some foul language

words: 1.4k

It was the night that your best friend Lily was getting married to James Potter of Marauders fame back at Hogwarts. You were proud to say that you were the maid of honour for Lily, with Alice and Marlene at your side as bridesmaids.

They had found each other at school, James had courted her for years, and they had been dating since year seven; three happy years together. Though, you couldn't say the same about yourself.

You did like someone—one of your best friends, Remus Lupin—but you didn't think he liked you back since he never made a move or showed any true interest. And you didn't want to say anything, as it had potential to ruin a great friendship.

After you and your friends graduated from Hogwarts, you decided to put your feelings for him away for good, and just accept the fact that you're only friends. It was what you thought best for everyone involved.

Although, your hope for a purge of feelings didn't seem to be working. Two years after graduating, here you both were; he was in his groomsman suit, and you were still thinking about how you want to be his.

The wedding ceremony was lovely, taking place at Hogwarts while it was empty for the summer. They got married in the courtyard, where Lily and James had their first date and the reception took place in the Great Hall, where Lily agreed to date James. 

It was almost over, with only about half of the original number of guests still hanging around. You had a half-full glass of firewhiskey as you talked with Lily, James, and Sirius. You were all reminiscing about life at Hogwarts. Even though it was just two years ago, it felt like a decade.   

"You know what?" You said with a faint gasp. "I wonder if our carvings in the bedposts are still there in our old dorms." 

"Oh Merlin, I forgot about those!" Lily giggled. 

"I want to go check! I know if I don't it'll be on my mind forever, I'll be back. I'll let you all know." 

"And with her leaving, this is my cue to get another glass." Sirius said, getting up right after you. 

You started to head out of the Great Hall, but you bumped into Remus by the doors, almost spilling your drink.

"Oh my, Remus, I'm so sorry." 

"No, don't worry, I wasn't looking where I was going." He apologised. 

Trying to shift and carry the conversation, you mentioned where you were headed. "I was just going to the dorms to reminisce." You said with a soft smile. 

"Oh, well, have fun with that." He said, excusing himself and walking to the table. 

Slightly disheartened, but not too thrown off, you continued heading to your old living quarters, unaware of the conversation starting in the Great Hall between Remus and Sirius. 

"Moony, mate, you have absolutely no game." Sirius taunted as he walked towards his friend with a fresh drink in hand. 

"Shut up." Remus grumbled. He had been tired of the years of teasing from his friends about his crush on you, and assumed it would have stopped when you graduated, but it never did. 

"Moony, 'Hey Remus, I'm just going to see my old bed, and oh Godric, I wish you would join me!' and you reply with 'have fun with that'?!" 

Sirius had apparently overheard your exchange, and was clearly having fun with it.

"She didn't say that." 

The two young men sat down at the head table, a few seats away from the happy couple. 

"But she meant it. Believe me, I know what it looks like when someone wants to sleep with you, and that was it."

Remus looked at Sirius with a questioning look. "If she likes me so much, why hasn't she ever mentioned it?"

"You've never told her about it either. Plus, she thinks you hate her."

"What? How could she think that? I could never hate her."

"Every time you're near her, you get all awkward and nervous and weird! What do you expect her to think?"

A wave of realisation washed over Remus as he thought about your perspective of everything. "Oh fuck, you have to help me, Pads."

"You don't need help."

"What are you talking about? Of course I need help! You just pointed out that (y/n) thinks I hate her!"

"Exactly. She thinks you hate her and she still likes you. All you need to do is talk to her and tell her how you feel." 

"Now?"

"Well I think now is the best time, besides the last decade or so. Don't you think so?"

Remus realised what he needed to do, and started to head up to your old dorm rooms. He had an advantage due to his long legs, and so he strided quickly to catch up to you. 

Once he reached the Gryffindor girls dorms, he found you leaning down, focused on the wooden bedframe where you used to sleep. 

"It's all still here." You said, catching Remus off guard as he didn't know you were aware of his presence. 

"What?" 

"The carvings the girls and I made on our old beds." You clarified. "Our names, little hearts and flowers, 'L.E. + J.P.', 'M.M. + D.M.', all of it." 

"What about your initials? You never wrote down your initials with someone else's in a little heart?" 

You shook your head. "I never had anyone to do it with." 

"Why not? You never liked anyone? Because you could have anyone you wanted."

Memories started to flood through your head. Memories of crushing on the man in front of you throughout your entire academic career, plus the time even after you graduated. 

"I did like one person. But nothing ever happened between us. He didn't—doesn't—like me back." You confessed, fidgeting with your fingers. 

"That's not true." 

"I think if you knew who it was, you would disagree."

"I think I do know who it is." His words caused your gaze to suddenly shift from your hands over to him. "(y/n), is it me?"

"Yes." You said ashamedly. 

"Then I was right. The person you like feels the same way. I do, I've felt this way for years."

Millions of new thoughts rushed to you. Remus Lupin likes you, and he has for years.

"Why didn't you say anything?" 

"Why didn't you? Merlin, (y/n), you're stunning, and you're kind, and you're funny. You're perfect." He took two long strides towards you, then took your shaking hands in his. "You're so incredibly out of my league, I never thought you would like someone like me. A mon—"

You cut him off with a soft hand over his mouth before he could finish that word. As you slowly pulled your hand away, he pressed a gentle kiss on your palm. 

"Remus, don't say that. We've been over this. I promise you that you are not a monster. You are the exact opposite of that. You're my best friend, you're the sweet, witty, adorable man I've been in love with for half of my life." 

Remus placed a large hand on your reddened cheek, lightly stroking his thumb under your eye. 

"Since the day we met?" He said in a half joke. 

You laughed lightly and looked back into his soft eyes. "Of course. I've been in love with you since the day we met." 

"Good. Me too." 

He leant down to your height and pulled you into a long-awaited kiss. It was sweet, and it started with just a small brush of your lips. It quickly became gentle yet passionate, as you now had all that you have been waiting for. 

The two of you pulled apart, smiles strung across both of your faces. 

"I really should have done that a lot sooner." Remus admitted. 

"Me too." You said with a slight giggle as you indulged your younger self. "But I think we should go back downstairs, I promised to tell Lily about the carvings." 

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson and ITV Big Brother's AJ Odudu lead red carpet best dressed at Rolling Stone UK Awards

Louis Tomlinson and telly presenter AJ Odudu were just some of the names gracing the red carpet at Camden's Roundhouse for the Rolling Stone UK Awards and they did not disappoint

By Daniel Bird | Assistant Showbiz Editor

Louis Tomlinson, AJ Odudu and Mae Muller certainly ensured all eyes were on them at the Rolling Stone UK Awards.

Celebs gathered in Camden, north London, for the first-ever Rolling Stone UK awards in collaboration with Remy Martin. The glitzy bash celebrated all things music and will also see 13 artists be inducted into the Rolling Stone UK Hall of Fame.

Throughout the night, those in attendance will see Ozzy Osbourne pick up the Icon Award. However, the Prince of Darkness won't be performing, instead, he will deliver a speech. Meanwhile, Jessie Ware went up against Raye, Jorja Smith, Romy and Grian Chatten for the Artist Award.

Meanwhile, Louis Tomlinson went up against the likes of Yungblyd, Elton John, Nova Twins, Loyle Carter and Rina Sawayama for the Live Act nomination. Here, we take a look at some of the hottest red carpet looks from the night.

1. Louis Tomlinson

Chart-topper Louis Tomlinson may have only recently finished the sold-out and critically acclaimed UK leg of his Faith In The Future World Tour but he stopped by the glitzy awards. The rocker from Doncaster, South Yorks, is nominated for Best Live Act.

Louis Tomlinson, Rolling Stone UK Awards 2023