#to be honest i do not know much about him. because i do not like the settlement building mechanic.

[indehed]

But let’s not forget the difference between queer baiting and, I guess let’s call it fan service. Look at what Xena did in the 90s… they had to hint, they had to imply, because they were getting around the likes of censorship or attitudes of parts of the audience. Creators may actually be on board sometimes but be stifled by executives… actors may be on board but be stifled by creators… they do the hinting or comments because they don’t have another way to show support for you and/or they know a lot of people want the ship and they think they’re doing you a solid by giving you something. Attitudes change slowly (at least TV execs think they do) so there was a time that we had to take what we could get. Times have changed, we get more explicit (in terms of more than just het relationships existing) media but execs, at least at certain companies, are still wary. So even today there is still a case for subtext but a lot of audiences demand explicit text - and we should, while respecting any honest creative vision.

But as the post says, and like I’ve said for years, the term is supposed to mean it as a deliberate strategy to advertise and get eyeballs and ratings even though they KNOW it’ll never be a thing. And many times I see people cry queer bait when it’s just fan service with good intentions and not some wider strategy to promise that they are ‘going there’ in an advertising technique.

I am, however, on the fence about whether it counts as queerbaiting when joking about the ship, either the characters in the thing itself or outside of it in interviews etc so long as it’s obvious that they are joking around.

Mcdanno is a prime example of that, with the creator and CBS marketing team joking or leaning into the ship, making online comments and using the hashtag, and then a character in the show using the ship name and making that element canon. But the main creator (Lenkov, euch) treated the whole thing as a joke or no homo and never had ANY intention of allowing it to be canon as he had his own endgame. On the other end of the spectrum, the actors involved talked honestly about their chemistry or how important their characters were to each other and we know they’d have been fine taking it further if for no other reason than the potential drama and acting challenge and that’s what they like to do. And then when one of those actors spoke out against Lenkov’s preferred het ship, he punished him by giving his character the exact line in the script that he said would be stupid and that he disagreed with.

I think my point is, let’s not sweep everything by a cast and crew into one basket - while a creator or marketing team queerbaits, others involved might be doing things honestly, innocently, or subversively as best they can to let certain fans know they agree with them but can only do so much.

seriously i wish people understood that queerbaiting has almost nothing to do with the actual content of a story. two men can gaze soulfully into each other’s eyes for 45 minutes straight and then at the end be like “oh yes my good pal friend no homo” and its still not anything more than homoerotic and kind of stupid writing.

queerbaiting is a marketing technique to get gay people to buy a ticket. it’s hemming and hawing whenever someone asks about subtext, giving long answers that don’t mean anything to sort of imply “maybe you just need to wait and find out. ;)” it’s interviews where the actors talk about how much they love that particular relationship, and they think they will ~surprise~ you with how it turns out. it’s every single trailer showing these two people almost kissing, even as the creators talk about how offended they are that anyone would think it’s gay.  it’s disney’s 65th First Gay Character that they sort of imply might actually be a main character this time but is yet another nameless asshole. it’s evil, because it’s completely deliberately misrepresenting the actual media just to make a buck.

[capseycartwright]

can i get 'piggy back rides' if you're inspired ? 😊

“You’re drunk,” Eddie spluttered. He was also, objectively, quite drunk – but one of the two of them needed to be sensible, there and then. Buck had a grin on his face that only appeared when he was his happiest drunk self, blue eyes bright as he looked at Eddie. Eddie loved him so much, he didn’t know what to do with the feeling sometimes, and this was one of those times – Buck, his bright, beautiful Buck. Eddie was sort of always overwhelmed when he was around him.

“You’re drunk,” Buck countered, which wasn’t incorrect, but sort of wasn’t the point. It was the first date night where they’d been able to go out, and get a little stupid and drunk – they were parents, so it wasn’t always possible to go out, and get silly, but Christopher had his first sleepover since they’d moved back from Texas, and they’d gone for dinner, and to an overpriced cocktail bar, and they were drunk.

They were drunk, and stupidly in love, and in the middle of WeHo. It was a thing. Eddie was embracing his joys

“Buck,” Eddie spluttered. “You are not giving me a piggyback right now. We’re only going halfway up this street to get ice-cream.”

Buck honest-to-God pouted. “Why not?”

“Because! You’ll do your back in, and then I’ll be the one who has to listen to you complain about how much your back hurts for weeks until its better,” Eddie shook his head. “Buck, I’m too heavy.”

Buck fixed him with a smirk that Eddie could not think about too deeply in public or he’d commit an arrestable offence. “I think I’ve more than proved I can easily throw you around since we started dating, Eddie.”

Eddie’s face turned a shocking shade of red. “Buck! You throwing me around our bedroom is one thing,” he hissed, not wanting the throng of strangers around them to hear this utterly ridiculous conversation. “You giving me a piggyback in the middle of a busy street on a Saturday night is another thing entirely.”

Buck pouted again. “But I want to.”

Goddamnit. The pout was, unfortunately, growing to be one of Eddie’s greatest weaknesses – and Buck knew that, the fucker. “Fine,” Eddie sighed. “But don’t come crying to me when you throw your back out.”

Buck grinned, pressing a sloppy kiss to the corner of Eddie’s mouth. “I love you,” he beamed, turning around and stooping so Eddie could get on his back. “Come on. Up and at ‘em.”

“You are, without a doubt, the most ridiculous man I have ever met,” Eddie rolled his eyes, his tone loving. “What are you trying to prove here, Buck?”

“Nothing,” Buck hummed. “I just like proving I’m stronger than you.”

That was also admittedly true. Eddie relented, wrapping his arms around Buck’s shoulders, his boyfriend standing up easily. “You might be stronger than me, cowboy,” Eddie hummed, pausing to nip at Buck’s earlobe. “But which one of us has the stamina to ride you into the mattress when we get home? You’ve been skipping a lot of leg days lately, sweetheart.”

(They skipped the ice-cream.)

send me a physical intimacy prompt

[domoz-writes]

Am thinking about non transmigration au where SY discovers his sexuality via 400k of unposted Mobing...

My thoughts are as such:

Right before the end of PIDW Airplane posts an update that basically says "Hey due to a mix of health and personal reasons I won't be able to post for a while sorry!!"

SY, who is in the hospital with horrible food poisoning isn't happy about this!! Something like this right after a cliffhanger??? Really??? And he's not got a lot else to do In the hospital, so he kind of... accidentally... doxxes Airplane...

He was just looking for an account that he thought that hack author would check since he's obviously not looking at zhongdian, honest!!! But it turns out that this person lives somewhat nearby where SY does and is much cuter than he expected some hack author to be

So he maybe goes to wander around the area (its nearby!! He's allowed to go on walks isn't he!!) And as a matter of fact finds Airplane!! Right on the sidewalk!!!

And starts off with a rather aggressive introduction before realizing that his favorite shitty erotica author 1) has obviously healing electrocution burns, 2) is?? Way too skinny? Like on par with SY himself and hes chronically ill, 3) is standing outside a social services office and 4) appears to be carrying everything he owns with him on his back

He immediately feels so guilty that he pivots from angry ranting to guiltily offering him a place to stay or, he can at least pay for a hotel room?? SQH does a very brief amount of mental calculus on if he'd rather deal with government bureaucracy or getting kidnapped and axe murdered by a crazy fan, shrugs, and chooses the latter.

When SQH point out that he can't pay SY back in any way SY tells him that he can pay him back by writing a better novel!!! SQH teases him about being a devoted fan and offers to let him read some unpublished extras and backstory stuff (like SJ & YQY backstory, that sort of thing). Predictably, SY likes this a lot more and complains that it wasn't in the novel, in turn Airplane laments that if more readers were like SY he wouldn't be in this situation in thr first place.

Related: SQH can't update because his laptop is fried. SY claims "to know a guy". SY does not know a guy, but he has money, so... (the files are fine and saved in like 3 different cloud locations, Airplane already learned that lesson)

But PIDW ended on a cliffhanger! SY doesn't want to wait!!! So he bothers Airplane until he finds out that Airplane actually haS two endings waiting in the wings and he still hasn't decided which one to post. Reason being: he's kinda 80% done with writing a sequel of sorts, but he knows if he posts it it will basically get his zhongdian account nuked and remove his chances of making money from it ever again, because the current readers of PIDW would HATE IT

Sy eventually argues that *he's* a reader and that Airplane should let *him* read it and if he deems it good then it's certainly good enough to post!! SQH finds this very funny because SY is not the average PIDW at all, but decides to allow it

The sequel in question is a slow burn romance from Mobei-Juns point of view that leans heavily into drama and political intrigue. He stands by Binghes side and quietly pines and remains loyal and Binghe slowly discovers that devoted loyalty and understanding is actually the thing that makes him happy (vs empty relationships with his many wives)

(Mobei Jun is written in a very grey-ace way, not understanding the carnal desires of other demons but would do anything for Junshang if asked etc etc)

SY ADORES this book and thinks that if it were posted online it would be his #1 favorite. He really relates to MBJ as a protagonist and Binghe is still the best!! And then he is completely blindsided when the two of them have tender emotional gay sex

Being SY, he absolutely tries to justify this to himself as like, aha,what a clever subversion...! You can tell because this sex scene was way better written then all the ones in PIDW, but obviously they aren't gay (He is too flustered to bring this up to Airplane in person despite having no problem doing so with the het stuff)

The novel ends with, like, Bingge sealing away Xin mo and promising to be just as loyal to his general as MBJ is to him, and is very obviously romantic to the point that even SY can't miss it. So he goes back and rereads it to make sure it was actually meant to be a romance (...danmei) novel all along. And then again just to make sure and he's kinda losing his mind a little because he really related to MBJ in this book and... MBJ had gay sex??

Of course you also have the "and they were roommates" situation going on at the same time. The rituals are intricate. Airplane is aware that's he's giving SY some kind of sexuality crisis but he has no idea how intense! He's genuinely fine having an unrequited crush on SY. Homoerotically teasing him is fun and it doesn't have to go further than that! Hes not really in a place to be doing any dating anyways and bro-cuddles have him covered!

Side note: I like the idea of SY being very proud when Airplane gains weight bc its Physical proof that he's taking good care of his friend and also maybe catering to what he finds attractive

When SY finally gets to the point where he asks about his sexuality, Airplane pretty much gives him the "I don't see a point in labels, I just like who I like" speech.

SY who loves categorizing and labeling things: can you do that?? Is that allowed??????

He then gets pointed to Baby's First LGBTQ resource website, and after determining that he's maybe not gay but maybe is something else immediately jumps into googling "how to date your best friend who is also your roommate"

[afantasyoffiction]

i’m fucking obsessed with this post but it left us with one crucial question i want to yap abt!!!

this is abt to be so undercooked so buckle up (ha. buck. lol) and brace urselves for me to pretend i know how to answer the question ‘why are they using something Buck hates (basketball) as triggers for his major life changes?’

point the first. it may be something buck doesn’t like, but it represents a large deal of social bargaining/power given that eddie and tommy and chimney and probably everyone else DO like it. this means it’s relevant in every single instance where Buck is not just approaching a major like change, but is specifically trying to win ppl over. whether that’s Chris, a conversation abt Buck’s literal abandonment issues, or his jealousy around eddie in several episodes.

point the second. the basketball is not a neutral symbol, coincidentally assigned significance on an ad hoc basis. it’s a symbol of a popular thing Buck hates, a symbol of the type of persona that buck (1.0 especially) has always nonetheless presented to the world (jock, womaniser, player {ha, again} etc etc). So when we see Buck with a basketball, it represents his need to blend in and garner approval through a shared interest.

point the third. again, buck fucking hateesssssss basketball (and fair enough, bc it’s netball with all the cool clever parts missing) (omfg i NEED a netball au. someone write a sapphic buddie netball au. i am down on my knees BEGGING YOU). anyways what this MEANS is that every time he’s doing anything with a basketball, he’s pretending. he’s lying, either to others or himself or both. he’s pretending to be something he’s not.

even if the SCENE doesn’t involve Buck lying or pretending (and many of them do, especially the later ones), it signifies Bucks constant need to put on a persona that makes people like him more. that makes them want to stay - bc let’s be honest, as much as we all laugh at the software updates, and as much as self growth is a good thing, most of Bucks are driven by insecurity. so, basketball means Buck wants approval - and means he doesn’t think he himself is enough. he thinks he needs to be something more, someone cool, someone who loves the game…

since 8x11, i have not stopped thinking abt Buck trying to bond with Ravi, and bringing up things (basketball) which he DOESNT LIKE?!! because the point is to bond over shared interests, right. like that’s what the aim is there. but Buck doesn’t start with his own interests and then start pretending to like things later to win Ravi over - he starts with the lie, and then his actual honest confession is made to feel awkward and inauthentic.

now lots of u have argued this is bc buck is starting with eddie’s interests - which is v true and also hilarious - but i don’t think that’s the whole story. i think basketball is a symbol of who buck thinks he should be, who the people around him will like most. (after all, eddie likes it, and who wouldn’t love eddie?) so when buck is trying to bond with ravi, he’s putting on a front - at least until drunk!Buck starts rambling abt Eddie.

i may be making this up as i write this post, BUT i think there are banger implications for season 7 especially 7x04. because tommy has been consistently linked with basketball, hinting that he’s not the authentic relationship Buck truly wants, only the one Buck WANTS to want. and Buck’s jealousy plays out in real time - he goes to the basketball because he thinks on some level that being ‘that guy’ will make eddie and/or tommy like him more.

finally….i gotta address the lakers game. if we take that latest ramble to ravi to be about the lakers game, which tommy got buck tickets to (showing he doesn’t know him all that well), then does eddie going to said game with buck similarly undermine the authenticity of their relationship??? no. absolutely NOT!

the thing abt that game is that it’s evident how fond that memory is for buck. he loved spending an evening with eddie, basketball or not. hell, he volunteers to play that goddamn sport for eddie all the time. i think this former instance is relevant because it suggests that Eddie doesn’t magically ‘fix’ Bucks need to be seen a certain way and all his insecurities. instead, Eddie helps allay some of those fears, and supports him through the rest. with Eddie, basketball isn’t something Buck simultaneously envies and despises - it’s something manageable. even, on occasion, fun. Eddie is the best partner for Buck in every way because he builds Buck a bridge, instead of simply expecting Buck to be on one side or the other

TL;DR: of COURSE the symbol for changes in Buck’s life and character growth is something he hates. Basketball is something Buck pretends to enjoy when doing so presents an image he thinks people will love more than the real thing. Eddie is at times a trigger for this, but ultimately he’s the one who helps Buck overcome it <3

oh, and if you made it to the end of this MAMMOTH fucking post (i’m sorry!) i love u and tell me either ur fave or most hated sport…

Welcome to a guide to all basketball references around Buck's character so far written by the crazy color theory girlie who happens to be a former basketball player and might get too excited writing this!

Okay, first time we encounter a basketball in Buck's journey is actually in 301. The ball is there when Eddie drops Chris off but we do not get an angle of that table in 303, so it's unclear if it's still there.

But I can tell you it's no longer there the next time we see that table. And pretty much every other time we are in that area.

So the ball is only there for the beginning of Buck figuring out he loves Chris like a parent, not enough to create a pattern, BUT, it is the beginning of a major arc for Buck. So something to look out for.

The next time basketball comes up in relation to Buck doesn't really involve Buck. It is during 404 when Chim and Albert are discussing the Daniel secret and the way Buck is unaware of this big secret that shaped his whole life. In the episode he finds that out. So, look, another major event in Buck's life having basketball smacked in the middle.

Once is an instance, twice is a coincidence, so let's keep going.

Next time we see a basketball is in 608. When Buck is babysitting Jee while madney house-hunts.

608 is not a particularly eventful episode for Buck, but the house-hunting leads to the Buckley visiting, which ends up being a key part of his coma dream, a bit of a stretch, but I'll keep it here for further consideration.

Then we get to 704. 608 might be a stretch, but this sure ain't. So basketballs seem to be tied world-altering arcs beginning for Buck somehow.

704 first references basketball when Buck mentions the pickup basketball game Eddie is going to with Tommy. That's not the beginning of Buck's jealousy, but it is the first time he says he's upset he's being "excluded" even tho Eddie keeps inviting him. But that is what starts Buck's escalation.

Which then leads us to the scene everyone misunderstood.

We still don't know who Eddie was talking to, since who is talking to is fully irrelevant, but it is kinda funny that Buck is desperately trying to get Eddie's attention.

The thing here is that the dialogue "I was thinking we should, we should get a hoop, huh?" is easy to misinterpret as Buck trying to invite himself to the game and not knowing the proper language for it, since "shoot some hoops" is a casual way to invite someone to play basketball. But we establish that Buck has a standing invitation, he just keeps saying no because he doesn't like it. He hates in fact, as stated twice in the show. Buck wants to get an actual hoop for the station so that Eddie doesn't have to go with Tommy to play it. Buck already has a ball, we saw it in the loft twice. He got a ball for the station and he wants to add a hoop to the recreational area of the station. They have pool tables, and ping pong tables, and the gym, not that far fetched to have a hoop too.

But that does not work in getting Eddie's attention, so Buck decides to ask Chim to go to the game with him, so he won't just show up.

That leads us to the actual basketball game.

I think the actual game is choreographed in a very fun way. Buck is getting really frustrated, but for me, it has 3 key points.

Buck slamming into Tommy.

This line.

And Buck slamming into Eddie. (I'm not gonna add a gif, I don't like to look at that particular event)

The thing that's interesting that Buck slamming into Tommy, is that Tommy doesn't move. Buck gets all the impact. It adds to the way Tommy is unbending. Tommy is not presented to us as someone who compromises, and that makes that visual of Buck ricocheting from his chest something that catches my eye. I feel like even 811 adds to it, because he only decided to come back when he thought that he had won by default.

"You ain't getting past me" is just one of the many crazy wording lines we've gotten since s7 started. It is true within the context of the scene, Buck in fact loses possession of the ball to Eddie, so he doesn't get past him, but in the overall picture of their relationship, there is no getting past Eddie for Buck. Eddie is it. And Buck can pout, and lie, and distract himself, and pretend to be fine all he wants, he can't fill Eddie's space in his life with something else.

Obviously, we then have the too aggressive block that makes them believe Buck broke Eddie('s leg). This part is interesting because it takes Buck a while to react. This is a person who clawed at the dirt for Eddie, who ran into gunfire for Eddie. The fact that he freezes says a lot. His emotions get away from him and his immediate reaction is to hide. He only reacts when they determine that Eddie's leg might, in fact, be broken and he offers to be the one to drive him, but he doesn't push once Tommy tells him not to. He gives into the instinct to hide. And that ultimately is the thing that triggers the biggest change in Buck's character arc, the bisexuality once Tommy shows up in his house. But interesting enough there aren't references to the actual game during that conversation.

But we are not done with the basketball of it all in 704. Because we have the conversation with Maddie.

Up to that point everyone is interpreting what happened as an accident. Trust me, as someone who's dislocated a couple of fingers and has permanent damage on my ankle and knee because of basketball, it's ridiculously easy to injure yourself or someone else on a basketball court. But that's the moment Buck admits he is jealous and acting out. That scene is important because Buck admits to it being about Eddie, before Tommy offers him an explanation that's easier to live with and allows him to project that into somewhere safe. But that scene is also important because we find out that Buck didn't actually break Eddie('s leg), he's just scared that his big feelings scared Eddie away. But ultimately we know that Eddie is physically unable to hold anything against Buck so that turns out fine. He always going to be able to come back from his acting out, as also shown in 809.

Basketball is then not brought up again until 806, the anniversary dinner that leads to Buck and Tommy breaking up.

Hey, look, another subtle what got Buck together with someone is part of what breaks them up.

Anyway, Buck hates basketball. Interesting to think that Tommy would think that's something Buck would enjoy, since it is an established fact that he doesn't like it. But this dinner ends up the beginning of the end. Again, basketball is involved in a major life change, since the breakup ends up extended in 811 and we get confirmation on who Tommy thinks is Buck's last. Interesting, right?

We then get Buck holding a basketball as he goes crazy on the potential renters in 809.

The ball appears at a very interesting point in the conversation because when confronted with a mother and her kids, it almost makes it seem like he is "guarding" Christopher's room. And he only has the ball when talking to the mother, the one person that he feels threatened the most. Almost as if the idea of another family there is the thing that bothers him the most.

It is also what triggers Eddie telling him to leave, which makes him overhear Eddie, which makes him act out, which makes him take over the lease which creates all the problems from 811 that will probably definitely eventually lead to Buck's feeling realization. Yay for basketballs present in Buck's triggers.

But if you think I'm reaching on blaming 809 for the events of 811. Fear not because that's not where the basketball ends.

But Buck can't sleep in the house, so Maddie tells Buck to make new friends and Buck, bless his heart, tries to make friends by bringing up stuff Eddie likes because what he likes is Eddie.

But hell, basketball is present when he asks Ravi for drinks and it all leads to Ravi leaving him with Tommy and Tommy calling him out on possibly having feelings for Eddie that definitely won't lead to Buck figuring out any big thing about himself, right? 👀

And we also get a possible confirmation of the fact that Buck did in fact take Eddie to that Lakers game. Because if there's one thing Evan Buckley will do is yap about Eddie.

Why are they using something Buck hates in these triggers? Well, that's the part I haven't figured out yet, but it is something that is present, so I will be on the lookout for it to come up again lol

That's all for today, if you read this I love you.

[ssentimentals]

Hi nini <3 hope you're doing wonderful!!

Can I request 24. showing up injured at their friend/mentor's place with Mingyu? Like, reader is blood soaked or has broken ribs or bones or something and mingyu fixes them? And maybe a really tender and classic™ kdrama moment where mingyu tends to their injury on face/lips 👀

hi lovely! <3 i am doing good, hope you are too! thank you very much for requesting, hopefully you'll like it <3

prompt: showing up injured at their friend/mentor's place

'your first time in my house and you're coming here looking like you're back from the war,' mingyu mutters, coming back with scissors. he kneels in front of you, carefully extending your right leg on his thigh. 'let me know if it hurts.'

'it hurts,' you instantly quip, because it does. everything below your right knee stings and hurts like a bitch.

'that fall was nasty, huh?' mingyu questions, looking at the torn up state of your jeans. 'you sure you're fine with me just cutting them?'

you nod, grimacing a little. 'yeah, go ahead.'

falling from the bike and almost scraping whole right side of your body raw was not on your bingo card for the holidays, but you should've had a better grip. you and mingyu were supposed to meet in two hours and the joke about how you couldn't wait to meet him so you fell off the bike is not very funny, to be honest. everything aches and you pitifully watch your favorite pair of jeans being cut by your friend, who looks way too concerned. 'you trust me, yeah?' mingyu suddenly asks, looking up.

that's a loaded question. it kind of is embarrassing how much you trust mingyu, because.. it's mingyu. your best friend/kinda a crush/best boy on this planet and of course you trust him. 'yep,' you answer and then shout loudly, when mingyu very quickly picks you up bridal style. 'mingyu!'

'gotta take you to the bathroom, those cuts need to be washed and desensitized,' he explains like him picking you up is nothing.

'i could've walked!' you argue, gripping his shoulders.

mingyu sends you a pointed glare and you huff, rolling your eyes. yeah, okay, maybe walking would've been a lot harder. mingyu is incredibly gentle with you: from the way he settles you on the edge of the bathtub to the way he takes off your sock and starts cleaning your cuts. every touch is full of care and even when he starts blowing on the cuts after desensitizing them, he only reverently caresses your skin, when you try not to cry. it makes you feel a little dizzy inside and you shake your head, trying to come back to your senses. 'it looks like someone died here,' you joke, pointing at the all red bathtub. 'my god, just few cuts and so much blood.'

'not just few cuts, you're literally bruised everywhere,' mingyu tsks, gently rubbing your leg with a towel. 'we still need to go to the hospital, i think.'

'what a great weekend you're having, tending to my injuries and then taking me to the hospital,' you cringe, sighing. 'sorry, mingyu. it's such a downer to our plans.'

two slim fingers take a hold of your chin, making you look up. your breath hitches at the proximity of his face, of his big sincere eyes that look at you with nothing but reverance. 'what are you sorry for?' he asks quietly, not letting you look away. 'it's not a downer, i just want you to be okay. i'm the one who's sorry for your jeans.'

you both smile at this. mingyu doesn't lean back and you can feel your cheeks heating up, when he leans closer, inspecting your face. god is there something- 'hold still,' he orders gently, carefulyl dabbing at your right side with a wet towel. 'you should be more careful, dear. can't have you hurting yourself like that.'

it stings. cuts sting, but your close your eyes not due to the pain; it's too hard to stare at mingyu this close. because from this up close it's so easy to mistake his friendly care for something else, something much more intimate, something like-

'open your eyes,' he whispers and when you do, he smiles at you lovingly. he's so close that your noses are almost touching and it's messing with your head more than you care to admit. catching your eyes, mingyu smiles. 'hi.'

you blink. 'hi.'

his eyes never leave yours and it feels a bit surreal. it's like time stopped and it's just you two together, staring into each other's eyes like there's nothing else exists. little did you know that it is like that for mingyu - he can easily spend hours getting lost in your eyes, but he doesn't think you're ready to learn about it just yet. with a great restraint, he leans back, smiling at the way you exhale loudly. good to know that he's not the only one affected. 'i'll find you something to wear instead of your jeans and let's get you to the hospital.'

you nod, not trusting your voice at the moment. mingyu helps you up and then carries you again but this time to his bedroom, which makes you blush even harder. while you're trying not to let your feelings show, mingyu is trying to not overthink - his mind keeps on picturing other scenarios of why you'd might need his clothes (because you stayed the night. not as a friend, but as his lover, as his girlfriend, as-

'mingyu?' he comes back to himself, turning to you. 'i said that anything of yours is fine.'

you have no idea what you do to him with those words. or maybe you do, judging by rosy blush on your cheeks. mingyu has to re-think his idea that you're not ready to hear about his feelings. looking at you sitting comfortably on his bed, looking like you belong there, he thinks that you might be very, very ready.

a/n: hopefully this was alright dear, let me know! - nini

request your own here

my other seventeen work is here

[cosmowgyral]

Villain's Festival 2025

This is a fan translation so please don't expect it to be 100% accurate. Creative liberties have been taken. All content belongs to Cybird. Reblogs are appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

⊹▸ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

A long time had passed, yet there was no sign of the battle to determine the strongest man coming to an end.

Jude: Tch…ya dodged even that kick! Movin’ like a proper gentleman, ain’tcha?

William: I’m honoured by your praise.

Jude: That weren’t no damn praise!

Meanwhile, Liam, who had vanished, crept up on Victor.

Liam: Gotcha….!

Sensing his presence, Victor shifted slightly to the side, adjusting his position just enough.

Liam wondered why Victor had suddenly shifted, but pursued him nonetheless.

In that instant, he collided with Ring, who was in the middle of fighting Nica.

Ring: Whoa, what is this…? Feels like there’s some invisible wall here…

Nica: That’s Liam, isn’t it?

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nica fired at him.

Liam: Damn that was close!

Twisting his body at the last second, he narrowly dodged the bullet.

Victor: Phew…so much to think about in the middle of this chaos.

With just a single step, Victor had maneuvered Liam and Ring into colliding with each other. He tightened his grip on his sword once more.

Harrison: Hate to interrupt your breather, but you’ve got more than one person targeting you.

Without giving Victor a moment’s rest, Harrison swung his sword at him.

Next to them, Alfons and Darius were locked in a clash of sword and staff.

Darius: Hehe, you’re stronger than I expected.

Alfons: If you eat everything without being picky, you’ll grow stronger.

Darius: Isn’t that just an excuse from someone who doesn’t have the luxury of choice?

Darius: Also, mind your footing.

Aflons: Footing?

The moment the question left his lips, Alfons’ foot caught in a dip in the ground, throwing him off balance.

Darius: See you later, Alfons Sylvatica.

Darius raised his cane, ready to strike.

But before it could do that, a bullet knocked it aside.

Roger: How about you hold off on taking him down for now?

Roger raised his rifle once more, taking aim at Darius.

Darius: A touching display of friendship, is it?

Alfons: Could you not say such unsettling things?

Roger: Haah. I just figured I missed out on giving him a proper fight.

Roger: But.. you are first. I’ll be the one to show you your worst future.

As he taunted Darius and pulled the trigger, Alfons swung his sword, diverting the bullet’s trajectory.

Roger: You…! I just went out of my way to save you..!

Alfons: I didn’t ask for your help. I don’t like dancing to your tune.

Roger: You little….

On the other side, Elbert sensed someone approaching from behind and raised his sword, blocking the attack in one swift motion.

Ellis: Amazing…how did you know I was there?

Ellis, who had tried to ambush Elbert, let out an honest sound of admiration.

Elbert: You’re quick, Ellis, too fast for the eye to follow…but you can’t control the shadow you cast on the ground.

Ellis: …I see. So you spotted my shadow.

Ellis: Well then… how about this?

Abandoning his surprise attack, Ellis swung his knife straight at Elbert.

In response, Elbert deftly parried the attacks with graceful swordplay.

Amidst the chaos, Victor noticed someone entering through the training hall’s entrance.

Victor: …Kate?

Kate: Ah, Victor….! You’ve been fighting for ages now. Isn’t it over yet?

Kate: If this goes on any longer, I’m worried someone’s going to get seriously hurt.

Victor: Sorry for worrying you, but this fight won’t end until there’s only one left standing.

Kate: I heard from William too. It’s a battle to decide the strongest man, isn’t it?

Kate: Why did it come to this?

Victor: Well, it’s because of something I said.

--(flashback)--

Victor had invited Crown and Vogel to inspect the newly built training grounds on the outskirts of the palace.

And just as the tour of the training grounds was coming to an end—

Victor casually brought up an out of context topic.

Victor: By the way, I was thinking of buying a dress for Kate for her mission, but I can’t decide on the color.

Victor: Would it be alright if I asked everyone here for their opinion on what color would suit her the best?

All 11 of them suggested different colors.

Liam: Pink, for sure! I know Kate’s style better than anyone, so there’s no doubt about it.

Ellis: I think… violet would suit her. It would make Kate’s gentle smile stand out even more.

Each of them had their own opinion on which color would best enhance Kate’s charm.

Jude: Hah…so stupid, pickin’ colors like that. No wonder ya missed the mark on yesterday’s mission.

Harrison: I didn’t miss it. That was a distraction shot to draw the enemy’s attention. Maybe it’s you who doesn’t get it?

Before long, the conversation spiralled out of control, turning into a full-blown argument that was impossible to contain.

Victor: Ah, for heaven’s sake! Fine, fine! Let’s just settle this with a fight and see who’s the strongest man here!

Victor: The one who wins gets to decide the color of Kate’s dress…is everyone okay with that?

--(flashback ends)--

Kate: No way��is that what this fight is all about?

Victor: The desire to wrap someone as beautiful as you in my own color… that’s not something I can suppress.

Victor: Well, I want to gift you a jet-black dress….so I’m off!

Kate: Huh?! Wait, Victor…!

Ignoring Kate’s plea, Victor joined the chaos with a playful wink.

Kate: Everyone! Stop this at once! Don’t fight over something like this!!

Whether the twelve would stop or not was uncertain, but I knew I had to say something.

Kate: I’ll choose the color that suits me the best myself…!!

Kate: Whoever doesn’t stop this fight right now, I’ll never wear the color chosen by that person ever again!!

Kate: I’ll choose the color of the dress! I’m the strongest one here!!

The moment I raised my voice in concern for them, the villains froze in place…

Eventually, everyone lowered the weapons and relaxed their fighting stances.

And so, the long battle to determine the strongest man—sparked by the question of Kate’s dress color—came to an end.

Her single remark finally brought it all to a close.

[Chapter 4] [Masterlist]

➽──────────────❥

Oh lord, this was so silly!

But 12 hot men fighting over who gets to choose a woman's dress? Now that feels like a real dream. 😆

[acphengene]

Chapter 1 - It’s her

₊ ⁺ pairing: Jay x reader

₊ ⁺ genre: fantasy, fluff, angst, found family, brotherly love, death of family, loss, heartbreak, swearing, smut

₊ ⁺ word count: 7.6k

₊ ⁺ note: this is my baby… the amount of brainstorming - rewrites and hours I’ve put into this chapter over the last few months is something else. I really hope you love it as much as I do

You had always loved to travel. Today was no different. You slid down the soft material your seat was covered in and closed the window cover to block out the blazing sun from scolding your skin.

The usual travels you embarked on were for relaxation or fun, this, as fun as it might end up being, was for the better of your kingdom.

When your older brother had left The Kingdom of Night, he had not only left you and your father behind. He had left your people, and because of that he had also left you the crown.

You couldn’t help the sigh that escaped your lungs, you had always been ‘just’ a princess, but now it said crown in front of it, and that single word came with a shit load of responsibilities.

Which meant training of your powers, and learning of foreign policies and the history of all kingdoms. Because of that you were on board a plane, soon to enroll in the ‘University of Heirs’.

Despite the name it wasn’t only the heirs of each kingdom that attended, which was your luck. Two of your three best friends were currently enrolled in the prestigious school that was located in The Kingdom of Day.

Sunoo was a siren from The Water Kingdom, with beauty, brains and a voice who could make even the stone giants from Fire cry. He studied medicine and marine biology and hoped that the plants only his people could get beneath the waves, would change the face of the medicine most used on land.

Jungwon was a Night fae studying gastronomy. Always passionate, always kind, and with a serious addiction and fascination of mixing everything with chocolate. However, his experiments didn’t always end well. The two of you had grown up side by side, as his father had been a chef in the royal castle since before you were even born.

The last one was Niki, even though he did not attend the school he still called Day home, at least until his profession would whisk him off to the next far away land. He was a dancer, with charisma and an almost dangerous appearance very similar to the black panther he could shape shift into. You and Jungwon had met him in the forest behind the castle when you were little and the three of you had been together ever since.

You smiled a little by the thought of your friends, before shooting them all a text telling them you were officially on your way. They had all been ecstatic when you’d informed them of your official acceptance to ‘UoH’.

In front of you stood a glass of sparkling light wine, one you quickly drowned before finally calling your brother. As per usual he didn’t pick up.

“Hey I just wanted to let you know we’ll be taking off soon. Can’t wait to see you” you said before hanging up.

Despite your brother having earned the title; ‘the lost prince of Night’, he wasn't really lost. No, Jake had left to go do… Well if you were being honest you didnt really know. But he would get to live a normal existence as of now.

The two of you had always been close, two halves of one whole, born no more than a few minutes apart. So it had felt a little like a betrayal when he had left to live in the cold and white tundras of The Winter Kingdom.

He was, just like your friends, now enrolled in UoH, with three best friends of his own, or brothers as he liked to call them. You had no idea exactly what he was studying, he had always been vague about that, but you guessed it didn’t really matter in the end, as long as he was happy.

The plane started its motors and off you were, all you could do now was hope that everything would work out in the end.

As you’d touched down you were quick to find your bags, you had decided to travel without any kind of security, hopeful you wouldn’t draw too much attention to yourself. It was possible most of the time, as long as you hid your eyes behind sunglasses.

They looked much like the night sky, dark black with small specks of grey, they were a physical manifestation of your bloodline, of where you belonged. Despite having tried every colored contact out there, it was impossible to mask them. It seemed that ordinary fae magic couldn’t keep the magic of a royal at bay. But that wasn’t really a surprise.

Jake had sent you a message somewhere along your journey, telling you that he would be there to pick you up and take you to the apartment your father had secured for you off campus. As far as you knew it wasn’t one of the complexes that hosted most of the heirs, which made it a lot more bearable.

Your hidden eyes searched for his dark messy hair, but instead all they found was what looked like a thousand black and silver balloons, and a few bouquets of flowers. In the midst of it stood your brother, surrounded by your best friends.

Sunoo threw his bouquet into Jake's arms, startling him, and sprinted towards you. You let out a high-pitched scream and ran to his arms. A second later Jungwon was there as well. And as you looked towards your last bestie, you saw him hand what you assumed to be sparkling wine to your brother who now had all your presents in his arms.

Niki’s walk was slow and elegant, and he had a feline smirk painted on his lips. The last few steps he lept as the cat he was, just before wrapping his long arms around the three of you. Kissing the top of your head. “We’ve missed you” he whispered.

The little heart in your chest was beating so fast it felt like it would beat out of your chest by the pure joy you felt of finally having them all so close. It had been so long since you were all together, too long.

Sunoo was the first to look at you, his tears had already spilled from the prison that was his dark blue eyes. “You’re a bitch for leaving us for that long” He said as he willed his voice to not break.

Jungwon chuckled at the statement. You laid your hand on the siren's cheek. “I know, but I’m here now” you whispered. He nodded as a response, just before Niki pulled him closer to his chest.

“He’s right you know, you literally have the ability to shadow jump, yet you still choose to stay away from us most of the time. It’s not fair” Niki had a twinkle in his eye as he spoke and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes.

“I hope you don’t mind that I brought them,” Jake said with a smile before he bit his lip. Niki was by his side quickly, helping him get rid of everything they had thrown at him, so that he too could welcome you.

Jake grabbed your wrist and pulled you into a bone crushing hug, and for the first time in a long time, you felt whole. You smiled into his chest. “I’ve missed you” you whispered into his shirt. He hummed in response.

After a little while you pulled away and grabbed his face. He laughed a little with his eyes closed. You took him in, he looked older.

“Look at me Jake” you said with a little laugh.

His smile disappeared with an instant, and you felt your blood go cold. You removed your hands from his cheeks and lifted the sunglasses that until now had hid your eyes. In a much harsher tone you repeated; “Look. At. Me”.

You punctuated each word, and it was said with a dominance that was well known between royals and their subject. You saw how both Jungwon and Niki squirmed by the command beside you. Saw how there was a hint of gratefulness that the words weren’t directed at them.

And as he opened his eyes your previously beating and happy heart stopped. Where his eyes had previously mirrored your own, were now only filled by the dull grey that were typically known in Winter.

Jake sighed. “It’s just contacts Y/N, don’t make such a big deal out of it”

In an instant you grabbed his chin with your thumb and index finger as you crept closer to him, turning his head from side to side as you inspected them.

“That’s not contacts” you whispered.

The two of you weren’t identical in any way, but the one thing you had always shared had been your eyes. It seemed however that Jake didn’t share the sentiment, and had chosen to replace them. His nickname suddenly made sense however, the one thing that identified him as a prince had been erased.

You let out a huff of air as you finally let go of him. “I’m not done discussing this with you”. He chuckled nervously, as he turned towards Niki, most likely to gain some kind of sympathy from him. The two had always shared a brotherly like bond. Niki being the younger brother none of you had ever gotten.

“You brought this upon yourself my guy, don’t look to me for help” he crossed his arms over his chest, one of which you quickly hit with a flat hand. He only sent you an annoyed look, as to say; seriously?

“This is getting a little boring, so let’s instead discuss what we should be drinking tonight” Jungwon said, as he snaked his arm around yours, suddenly dragging you along, not giving two shits if any of the other ones came along.

When you were out of earshot he whispered: “I know I should’ve warned you, but Niki swore us to secrecy”

“That’s just because he wants to be present whenever I kick Jake’s ass,” you whispered back to your best friend, just before you turned your head to look towards the three other men. “It’s creepy, it’s almost like he’s no longer my brother…”

Jungwon squeezed your hand in a reassuring manner. “Let’s just get you home, and we’ll fill you in on everything”

“Hey, where the hell is Jake?” Heeseung yelled from the bathroom. The cracked door had resulted in the smell of his perfume traveling out of the room as an insane amount of steam escaped with it.

The heir to The Winter Kingdom liked the feel of the scalding water on his skin despite the fact that he could survive days if not weeks in the snow. One of the many perks that came with his title.

His younger brother was currently laying on the large couch in the living room. His arms and legs were spread out, and at this moment he looked more similar to a sea star than the ‘Ice Prince’ he was.

“He said something about picking up his sister” He yelled back. The sudden start of the conversation kicked him out of the hangover he had been nursing all day, and for the first time in hours he actually sat up.

In the kitchen not far from him stood yet another young man, Jongseong, or as his friends called him; Jay. He was currently occupied with cutting up different kinds of vegetables all the while he laughed at his best friend. Sunghoon held up a finger, as to say; hold that thought. As he fought his body's need to throw up.

Jay shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re still hungover,” he said laughing. Sunghoon sent him a glare in response.

“It’s not my fault, blame the star shots my love” he said as he once again fell back onto the couch.

By the mere mention of the beverage, Jay shuddered. “Gods, why would you drink that shit? You always get so miserable, plus it taste like unicorn piss”

“It’s because he thinks they give him the ability to dance whenever he drinks them,” Heeseung said as he appeared in the room, wearing nothing more than a towel, as he tried to dry his white hair with another. “And that being said I’ve actually been told unicorn piss isn’t that bad”

He sent a pointed look towards the suffering man just as a groan escaped him. The two older men responded by laughing.

“Don’t worry baby, you always have an incredible talent for shaking ass” Jay commented.

“Have anyone ever told you two, you’re disgusting?” Heesung said as he threw himself on the other end of the couch.

“I think you might've told us once or twice”. Jay said as he sent a wink his way.

“Always defending my honor” Sunghoon said before he crawled towards his brother, dropping his head in his lap.

“Gods you need a shower, brother” the look on Heeseungs face was nothing short of disgust.

The three of them shared an apartment with Jake, and the connection they all shared was nothing short of brotherly love.

Jay walked over with a bottle of wine in hand. “I’m guessing you don’t want any of this?” he said as he poured the red liquid into two glasses. Heeseung took one with a sigh and a thanks. Jay had always had a talent of foreseeing whatever those closest to him needed, and when Heeseung was tired he typically craved red wine.

Sunghoon lifted his head from the couch and narrowed his eyes to look at what bottle he held in his hands. “Please give it to me”

“Cheers to yet another night guys” Jay said as he gave him one of the glasses. Sunghoon drowned it quickly, hopeful that it would cure him in an instant. “Fuck that’s good”

Heeseung sipped to his glass, as Jay turned to fetch one for both him and Jake, he couldn’t be far behind.

Jay had been raised like the prince he was, always polite, always well dressed, rarely caught unguarded. He had always had a signature smirk painted on his lips whenever he was out in public, and his eyes bore the darkness and secrets from his kingdom; The Afterlife.

He grew up without many friends and the spirits didn’t always feel like keeping him company, so instead he had spent time with his parents. He had travelled with the pair whenever their duties had taken them beyond the grey mist that surrounded what would end up being the resting place for all souls.

Despite what most people thought, he was capable of love, of laughter and of heartbreak.

When he was no older than 8, he and his parents had travelled to Winter, to collect the soul of the late king of the Kingdom. During the festivities of saying goodbye to both a father and grandfather, Jay had run into the two princes.

They were burdened by grief, but instead of teasing them for their tears, he had instead explained the orb or pure blue light his father had collected to bring within their borders. He had asked them if they had a message for the man they had lost, because if they did he would be happy to deliver it once he stood on solid ground again.

The three had been inseparable ever since, always so connected to one another that their parents teased that they could speak into each other's minds. They had sworn nothing would ever come between them.

Jay and Sunghoon were however kindering spirits, they liked to joke that they had probably been lovers in another life, hence the disgustingly sweet pet names they always had called each other. They were a unit, and one was rarely without the other.

Shortly after Heeseung had accepted his position at ‘UoH’ he had run into Jake at a coffee shop. The sunglasses indoors in the middle of a snowstorm called out to him, and after Jake stared into the beaming grey and blue orbs of the prince, he had felt comfortable enough to share the secret of what had happened to ‘The Lost Prince of Night’.

No longer than 3 weeks after Heeseung had left them to travel to Day, they had followed him. Not to enroll, no it hadn’t been their time yet, but to be near one another, and together they had all found an apartment.

Now they shared a home, and for some reason it worked perfectly despite them having four somewhat contradicting personalities.

As Jay returned to the living room the magic of their front door clicked open, and through it walked their dark haired friend. He gave them an almost sad smile.

“You owe me 30 gold leafs,” Jay said as he held out his hand to Heeseung.

“Fuck she clocked it that fast?” He asked as he got up to fetch Jay his well earned money. Heeseung was back in the living room, changed into the clothes of the night, gold leafs in hand, before the guys had even blinked.

Jake just nodded before receiving the glass Jay had just poured for him. “Yeah, I don’t even think it took her a full minute” He didn’t drink, he just swirled the liquid around, almost hypnotized by it.

After about a minute he looked up and saw his friends who all stared back at him. “Look, can we talk about something else?”

Heeseung slapped his brothers naked thigh, and said as he screamed out: “You can tell this dickhead that politics is an important subject to have, even though you’re not crown prince”

Sunghoon stuck his tongue out. “Don’t see why I would need to, it’s not like I’m ever gonna use it”

Jay got up once again and went to get a different bottle of wine, since Sunghoon had drowned his second glass efter Heeseungs comment. “Well if you think about it you could use it to get to The Summer Kingdom and seduce Beomgyu’s sister?”

He pointed towards him in response. “I like that!” Sunghoon said as he took the bottle of light wine out of his twin flames hand and cooled it down instantly.

“Look, if you want I can remove the veil from your eyes whenever you’re around her, that way she might not be as triggered by it” Jay said as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Jake just shook his head. “No, she’s already seen it, and I don’t really want people finding out.”

Heeseung shrugged. “Maybe she’s not really mad at you veiling your eyes, but more the fact that she has to step up as crown princess?”

Both Sunghoon and Jay sent him somewhat panicked looks, it had never really been something they all talked about. None of them had ever wanted Jake to explain his actions unless that was what he wanted. He himself had never brought it up.

“No way I’d ever take over for your brother, so don’t even think about stepping down” Sunghoon said in an effort to make light of the situation.

“If Hee didn’t want the throne, no one would ask you babes” Jay said before ruffling his hair.

“I get why that would make her mad, but she’s just always been more headstrong than me, so honestly I didn’t even think she’d mind. I mean she has her powers, and she’s so much like our father, whereas I… I just run when things get hard.”

His head was hanging low, as if finally admitting what he had always felt would somehow make him less of a male, less of a prince in his friends eyes.

Instead of judging, Jake's three brothers pulled him into an embrace.

In an apartment not far from the four princes, you too opened a bottle of wine, only to plop down on a pillow in the empty living space.

You sighed. “I’m never lifting a box ever again” Sunoo said as he threw himself next to you.

“I’m pretty sure it was my shadows that did most of the work” you said as you grinned and a shadow stroked your cheek lovingly.

“Plus we gave you all the light ones, so I don’t really think you have anything to complain about” Jungwon said as he put down the final box.

Instead of answering, Sunoo just rolled his eyes, as he held out his hand, just as Niki brought over one of the bottles of sparkling wine.

“So, how long have you known about Jake’s eyes and not told me?” You said after taking a few sips directly from the bottle.

The three men looked at each other, all with a similar expression; like the last thing they wanted was to speak. Instead of forcing them, you just waited patiently.

Niki was the first to respond, as he shrugged. “It’s been a few months, for a while I thought it was just the light, or that maybe the sparks of the grey and silver had taken over… that was until I actually talked to him for more than 2 second, and then he was forced to maintain eye contact with me”

Jungwon took over as Niki seemed to look for the right words. “We sought him out when it was made public that you were taking over as heir, I mean we’re at the same school after all, his disappearing act won't really work on us”

They both sipped at their bottle before looking at one another. “I wasn't exactly nice to him,” Jungwon finally said.

You couldn’t help but raise a brow at your best friend. He was known for being level headed, keeping cool even as things were tough, so him losing it, even if just a little, was everything but normal.

“Yeah, he said some stern words that’s for sure” Sunoo said as he picked at the dust stuck to his trousers.

You couldn’t help but chuckle. “I would’ve liked to see that”

Jungwon smiled a little. “Sorry we didn’t tape it for ya”

You sighed as your fingers found the label on the bottle, as much as you wanted some type of explanation as to why you found yourself in this mess, you knew they couldn’t give you one.

“Now” you said as you stood up and opened one of the boxes. “How about we get some of all my junk put in these cabinets, while you give me all the tea on those spoiled heirs I’m gonna spend most of my days with”

“Now you’re talking!” Sunoo said as he got a sudden rush of energy. He was by your side in a heartbeat.

“Okay, Jake’s powers have for obvious reasons not manifested yet” Sunoo said and the two of you did a dramatic eye roll together.

“Obviously not” you echoed as you pulled out a few wine glasses from the bubble plastic they’d been hidden away in.

“I’m pretty sure Sekura is currently in the top of the class” Jungwon said, as he inspected a vase for cracks.

“Yeah she’s incredible, someone pissed her off the other day and she started a full blown storm” Sunoo commented as he started pouring the wine into the glasses.

“Okay, so powerful but not in control then” You made a mental note of that.

“Heeseung and Yeonjun is currently on a shared second place” Sunoo tried not to look at you but couldn’t help it. It wasn’t that you hated Yeonjun, you just didn’t like how he had almost laid a claim on you since you were kids.

Your father of course loved the idea of a marriage between the two of you, especially now that you were heir, him not being crown prince only made the match between the two of you more perfect. He himself had used that pun once or twice.

Instead of commenting on it you just hummed and tried to seem like his rise in power didn’t piss you off immensly.

“Heeseung has as far as I’ve understood only shown his speed, but we’ve all figured there's something else lurking under the surface” He shrugged.

“Jay is third” Jungwon said, desperate to change the subject. "Although I’m pretty sure he has as much if not more power than his father”

“Jay is from The Afterlife, right?” You felt how the shadows almost reached out by the mention of his name.

They had always done that whenever the kingdom was mentioned. It had frightened most you grew up with. They saw it as a bad ownement, but they had always refused to explain why.

Sunoo nodded. “And he’s hot”

“Heeseung and Sunghoon too” Jungwon added.

You couldn’t help the laugh. It was something they had always been masters at, taking your mind off whatever might cloud it with negative thoughts or energy.

“Jay is kind, kinder than people give him credit for. But then again I don't think he lets anyone in. Sunghoon is… an acquired taste” Niki had decided to chime in. He didn’t know a lot about what happened at school, but he knew the elites.

You sent him an interested look, urging him to explain further.

He shrugged. “The two are rarely without the other, pretty sure Sunghoon only leaves Jay’s side if he’s hooking up with someone - plus they call each other every pet name under the sun. Not gonna lie it’s pretty fun to be around them”

Niki smiled, clearly thinking back on one or two interactions he had with the pair in the past.

“I could set you up with one of them if you’d like. Sunghoon owe me one after I let him see my answers for a test a few weeks ago”

“Fuck no!” Niki was quick to say.

You all laughed at his reaction. He was not alone in being protective over you. Jake and Jungwon was just like him, Sunoo on the other hand was like a demon on your shoulder, always urging you to do whatever might cause the most trouble.

“Sunghoon might not be an official heir, but he is powerful” Jungwon said as the laughter died down.

“Yeah, he’s like the talk of the grounds. People say his mate has to be someone extraordinary for him to be this in control of his powers. He didn’t only get his nickname ‘ice prince’ because of his cold heart ” Sunoo said with a shrug.

You couldn’t help the roll of your eyes. You had heard people speak of that so-called theory your whole adult life. When your powers had manifested everyone had been in awe. It had been generations since Night had a shadow jumper, even longer since one had the ability to talk to them, to see them as sentient beings.

It had been everyone's theory that it had to mean you were mated to someone powerful. Whoever that being was, they too would also gain an immense power almost overnight if you decided to join them by their side.

Every royal on the continent had dropped by or invited you to their galas whenever one was held. And every single one of them had made sure to introduce you to every nobel-being from their court, hopeful that a bond would snap between the two.

Nothing had come of it, all you remember from those days was a voice in your head, one that had seemed to follow you at every dinner og party since, you had never quiet figured out who it belonged to though. You did however have your theories.

“So people are throwing themselves at him and he’s entertaining it? Can’t say I don’t understand then”

Niki shrugged. “I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason. Apparently he had been the perfect prince up until a few decades ago, and then a switch flipped”

“Nothing breaks a being as bad as heartbreak” Sunoo sang, the sound of his voice was instantly calming the somewhat tense in your brow.

He smiled. “Sorry” he said as he started fidgeting with some paper.

“Never apologize for who you are” you said right before kissing his cheek.

The next morning Jake came knocking. After a long talk with the guys the night before he had decided he owed you a bit of an explanation as to why and how he had lost his eyes.

You opened the door for him, letting him in, and this time around his eyes were back to their normal glory of darkness and light.

“Hey” he said. His shoulders were drooping, and his usual confidence seemed to have disappeared as soon as he stepped through the threshold.

“What can I do for you?” You asked, the question seemed colder than you had intended it to.

“I actually wanted to talk, you know, explain myself” he said as he bit his bottom lip, he had always done that. And when he did he was either excited or nervous. This time it had to have been the latter.

You raised a brow in response before you moved into the room and threw yourself on the lounge chair the guys had help you build last night.

“I’ve never really apologized for leaving, for putting this burden on you. I know I should have discussed it with you beforehand, but it just seemed easier for me to just disappear” He had sat down on the couch across from you. His elbows were resting on his knees and his whole body seemed to reach out for you.

A small smile painted your lips, but it was easy to see the hurt displayed in your eyes. “You never left me any choice. I had to take over, I had to step up. If you would’ve just talked to me, we could’ve figured it out, we could’ve talked to father together”

You reached over the gap between you and took his hands in yours. The two twins of night, the moon and the stars as they had called you. He had managed to break decades worth of trust between the two of you with just one decision.

Jake shrugged, and squeezed your fingers. “My powers never came, and it felt like the land itself rejected me as heir, as if I wasn’t worthy to bare the title nor the crown after father. And then you got yours… And they were stronger than anyone had seen for generations. I know it wasn’t your fault, that you couldn’t help it, but it was the last straw, the final thing that broke my belief in myself. Why would the people rally behind me, when you were right there for the taking?”

“This is gonna sound harsh, but the land did reject you Jake, you were always running off to other kingdoms, always leaving especially after mom... The magic had nothing to stick to, no vessel to blossom in. It wasn’t because you weren’t worthy, it was just because you weren’t there. The crown is yours if you want it Jake, all you would need is just to spend some time back home”

He let go of you then as he leaned back into the cushions of the black couch. He smiled, and he somehow seemed lighter than just a moment ago.

“No, that would do more harm than good. And if I’m being completely honest, I kind of like living like this. Everything is so slowpaced and not really that serious, and I like Jake Sim, much more than I liked crownprince Jaehyun” he smiled, and this time it seemed genuin, so you returned it.

“Good, I’m glad. But just promise me that in the future, you’ll come talk to me, okay? No more secrets”

He reached out with his pinkie and grabbed a hold of yours, as the two of you had always done. And then you laughed, and for the first time in a long time, you felt like a part of you had healed.

“By the way” you said with a smirk. “What contacts are you using? I’ve never gotten any of them to actually work”

He poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. “Oh wouldn’t you like to know”

You raised a brow at him and he chuckled in response. “It’s one of my friends… Jay, he can veil anything. It doesn’t really matter where you are, when it’s up it’s up”

Jake saw how your eyes widened as he spoke “yeah, he’s pretty darn strong”

“We’ll see who’s the strongest in a few days” You winked at your brother.

One bad thing about emptying all boxes while drunk on sparkling wine, is that nothing ends up where you intended it to.

You had rushed most of the morning trying desperately to find the little bottles of cream and serums you had gotten from a prince when you’d turned 200 a few years back.

It was your first day and you felt almost sick by the thought of all those princes and princesses under the same roof.

Of course you had all run into each other at every other gala held to celebrate whatever your parents had deemed to be important, but you had avoided most of them after the whole mate-ordeal.

But this, this was now your time to get to know people, to socialize and build alliances, not just for you, but for your people. It had previously been Jake’s job, so instead of getting to know these people you had just had fun with what some would call “the help”.

The school was grand, with cathedrals and corridors almost longer than the wings of the castle you had grown up in.

Every door opening were covers in gold emblems that represented each kingdom. There was nowhere, where the ceilings didn’t seem to stretch into the sky. Didn’t matter if you were on the ground or the first floor.

The beings of every kingdom scattered the halls and it seemed like the trend was that people stayed in the colors that represented their home.

You saw snow fox shifters in all white, summer fairies in light green, angels in light blue and the mermaids seemed like they had been dipped in liquid pearl.

Jungwon spotted you before your eyes found him and Sunoo in one of the many halls. He had you in a tight hug even before you were able to greet your two friends.

A genuine smile broke out on your lips as you returned it. “Thank you” you whispered before kissing his cheek.

Sunoo was like both you and Jungwon in all black, something that made almost everyone stop and stare, he however didn’t seem to mind. Instead he quickly returned every disgusted look people would send his way.

“Gotta let people know that I have a future queen in my life” had been his response when you had asked.

The pair had followed you to your first class, and you looked over the people in the room. The winter princes were the first to spot you. Both beautiful with their white hair and blue and grey eyes. Sunghoon sent you a smile, reassuring but still somehow curious.

Heeseung on the other hand gave you a nod. Respectful and royal, like the heir he was raised to be.

Yeonjun noticed you almost instantly and he left whatever conversation he was having with a dark angel, and walked straight towards you.

“It’s good to see you Y/N” a voice said behind you, and you quickly tore your attention from Yeonjun to greet whoever had sneaked up on you.

You met the tall figure of none other than prince Soobin. He smiled at you, dimples on full display. “Soobin” you said before embracing the royal.

Soobin was the youngest brother of King Jimin of The Water Kingdom. Jimin had always had a soft spot for you, both because of your love for Sunoo, but also because of the way people had fought over you. He too had been in a similar situation, not because of his powers, well that too, but mainly because of his beauty.

“Incoming” Soobin said before he let go of you.

“Y/N, hi… It’s good to see you” the red haired male bounced on the balls of his feet as he greeted you. The action seemed almost child-like.

Soobin rolled his eyes right before he put a hand on the small of your back. Startling you. Somewhere in the room you heard a growl.

“Let’s get you out of here before the fire spirit set’s fire to your hair, shall we?” Soobin sent you a sweet smile, completely ignoring the red prince before him.

He guided you past Yeonjun and you sent him a somewhat apologetic smile as he said: “Oh come on ‘Bin, you can’t still be mad at me because of that!” He laughed and it only grew louder when Soobin glared at him.

You sat down next to the siren prince. And somewhere in the back of your mind you heard that small voice repeat one word over and over again: “fuck”.

“So how did the training go?” Jake asked as he stuffed his mouth full of rice.

He looked between his three friends. Friends that were all uncharacteristically silent.

Sunghoon coughed as Heeseung hid his head in his hands.

Jay swallowed and said with a low voice: “your sister just shot to the first in the class” he send your brother a serious look, he tried to smile but failed.

Jake dropped his spoon into the bowl. “What, how?”

“Oh god Jakey, you could’ve told us she’s absolutely insane!” Sunghoon said before leaning back into his chair.

“Insanely powerful is what he means…” Heeseung said as he rubbed his temple. “If you thought it would be hard to keep the royals away from her before, god just you wait until they phone home and tell them what happened”

Jake sighed as he started stress eating. “Just tell me already”

“She’s new, so our teacher likes for people to demonstrate their talents, and you know she just stayed seated - everyone was so quiet, like so so quiet” Sunghoon said dramatically.

“And then some idiot decided to say, out loud I might add: that she clearly had no powers, that she was nothing more than a scammer” Heeseung said as the color drained from his face.

“Gods” Jake said as he shook his head.

“Yeah, and then the ground swallowed him. He literally got eaten by his own shadow, and a few seconds later he was catapulted out of the shadow the chandelier made on one of the walls” Jay said.

It was now Jake’s turn to hide his face in his hands. “Did she make them sentient?” He asked but his voice were muffled by his hands.

The spoons the three princes held in their hands dropped then, making a loud sound that made him remove his hand quickly. His friends all stared at him while they gaped.

“What. Do. You. MEAN?!” Sunghoon almost yelled in what sounded like dispair.

Jake rubbed the nape of his neck nervously. And as if on cue, a small shadow crept over his shoulder and looked between them all, right before bit slithered back to your outstretched hand.

You send them all a wicked smile. Heeseung stood up with a small ‘nope’ and left his lunch behind. Sunghoon stared into the thin air as if he would turn to stone if he met your eyes, and Jay sent you a look that was almost impossible to desipher. Gods he was beautiful.

Jungwon and Sunoo laughed at their reaction. You turned toward your friends and dropped the mischievous mask. The smile on your lips turned genuine and soft.

“That was mean” Sunoo said as he tried his best to hold in his laugh.

“Mean? That was absolute perfection” Jungwon’s laugh was contagious, and soon the three of you were almost rolling on the floor unable to take a normal breath.

When you finally got it back to normal Sunoo looked a little more serious. “Since Niki isn’t here I’ll be the bummer and ask; are you sure you didn’t do too much in there?”

You grabbed his hand. “I chose not to downplay my powers. And it might work for Jay, and I’m sure there’s other people in there that doesn’t show their full potential” you shrugged. “But I don’t wanna hold back, I’m already a little behind compared to the rest, and I don’t need them to think I’m completely useless”

Jungwon sent you a dimpled smile. “And what about your dear little friend, did you hear them again?”

Since you were very young, you’d heard a voice inside your head. It wasn’t your own monologue, it was more like a presence of someone else. Someone who would offer comfort and sweet words of encouragement when you needed it the most.

It had showed up shortly after your mother died, and you liked to think it was her looking out for you, as if not even death could keep her from being there for her daughter.

When you woke up this morning you had hoped to get words of encouragement maybe even a phantom hand to brush your cheek. “Yeah but all I got was ‘fuck’”

Sunoo raised a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well how the hell would I know, it at least sounded like it. Literally repeated over and over for at least five minutes”

“Maybe dear old mom doesn’t think you taking over is the best idea?” Jungwon said teasingly.

“Oh she definitely would’ve hated every second of this” you said with a smirk as you picked the skin off a grape.

“Maybe she said something else?” Sunoo said, trying to sound reassuring. “I mean after all it is kind of muffled, the sound of her voice I mean”

You shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter, I mean maybe they just dropped something on their feet”

“So what are we doing to night?” You quickly asked to avoid sticking to the topic.

“I’ll see you at home guys” Jake said to both Sunghoon and Jay, he had afternoon classes, where as these two twin flames were lucky enough to have an early day.

When Sunghoon had asked Heeseung if he wanted to go home with them, he had mumbled something about putting out a fire in the library. Not that that made any kind of sense.

Sunghoon looked at Jay as they walked across campus, he had been quiet today. And usually a quiet Jay meant a hurting Jay.

He had learned it the hard way through the decades, but after almost two centuries he now knew if something was going on by the mere way he took a breath.

There was no need to bring it up, least at all when they were out in public, so instead he let his friend be as the two walked home in silence.

Jay had been there for him all the times he had cried and yelled, even when he wanted to claw his heart out of his chest with his bare hands. He owed him to be there for him, he wanted to be there for him.

“Jay…” Sunghoon said cautiously when they were outside the door of their apartment.

“Just open the damn door Hoon” he said with gritted teeth.

He obliged, and as soon as the lock had clicked open, Jay threw himself at the door and the second he was inside he released a nightmare of pictures.

What had a second ago been their entry way was now a cascade of flashing locations. Grey mist, was replaced with complete darkness, the darkness with the night sky, to be surrounded of a thousand bushes of moon light lillies.

Sunghoon tried to remember where the furniture was as they had disappeared when Jay had veiled what seemed like the entire world.

The Afterlife heir had thrown himself up a wall and was now clawing at his mind, his neck and his chest as he hyperventilated. Sunghoon could hear the frantic beating of his heart, and tried his best to get him to calm down.

“It’s okay, we’re home Jay, just breathe” he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder.

His face shot up to meet his best friends worried eyes. But instead of eyes all he saw was stars, thousand of thousand of stars. The world around them stilled to that exact picture as well. And the pair stood somewhere in the sky.

“Breathe” Sunghoon repeated as he himself took a deep breath. Jay mirrored him, and a few minutes later the stars disappeared, and they were once again back in their entry way, and the darkness of the heirs eyes were back once again.

“What’s going on?” He asked as he sat next to him on the floor.

Jay rubbed his face with his hands, as he took a shaking breath. “I’m so fucked Hoon, so fucking fucked”

He shot up, as if finally opening up made it impossible for him to sit still. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Gods I’m so fucked!” He kicked the chair that stood closest by.

Sunghoon laughed a little, trying his best to ease the tension.

“It’s her…”

For a split second Jay thought Sunghoon moved as fast as his brother. Because before he knew it he stood up and were walking towards him.

“Who’s her…?” He was suddenly more serious than Jay had seen him in a long time.

“She’s … Y/N. It’s her…” he said.

For a second Sunghoon was certain the world had stopped spinning.

“WHAT?!” Sunghoon yelled so loud, that Jay was certain even the dead back home could hear him.

₊ ⁺ please comment, like and reblog if you like the story - it helps me so so much ₊ ⁺ please let me know what you think, if you have theories of both Jay and our sweet reader but also about the rest of the guys ₊ ⁺

₊ ⁺ let me know if you wanna be added to the tag list

⁺ taglist: @1-itsneverthatserious-1 @flawlessapollo6 @ijustwannareadstuff20 @azzy02 @zaycie

[the-blind-assassin-12]

You know what's funny? You saying "This isn't much of anything" in the author's note, only for it to be SO MUCH SOMETHING that I am basically as out of breath as Javi in that gif. HOT. FLIPPING. DAMN. When people say that sex with a hot stranger would fix them, this is exactly what they mean.

I loved the description of the bar and of Javi beginning the eye-fuck from afar. That is so very him I could see it play out perfectly. Gosh, he's smooth. That jerk. (I love him.) I love that they talk for a while about their shitty days. He does seem like someone who would be easy to like and easy to talk to, even if he probably doesn't share too much right off the bat. And that's fine because what he does do off the bat is flirt and act slutty. Which I love for me.

And then! Just! Up against the wall in the alley! I mean! Fuuuuuuck! It's so goddamn hot and I'm not talking about the temperature. (I am talking at least in part about that red shirt because oof it is a good look.) The way he loses it so quickly too. Idk who needed this more to be honest, but it sure did work out for both of them. To have him invite Reader back to his place afterwards? And all that SMOOCHING! Wow. Never have I ever had a day go from zero to hero quick like this. Reader is living her best life right now and I'm so happy for her. Go girl, get that slutty man to make good on his flirty promises. You deserve it.

Thank you for this hot sauce, it was delicious.

perfect strangers (Javier Peña x Reader)

Warnings: 18+, NSFW; oral (m receiving), semi-public, cursing, drinking, smoking.

Pairing:  Javier Peña (Narcos) x F!Reader

Word Count: 1,545

Prompt:  “You look so good on your knees like that.”

A/N: This isn’t much of anything, but I haven’t written just straight smut in ages and I feel like I need the practice so I took three prompts from this list using a random number generator, assigned them to my favourite characters with another random generator, and this is the first of those three short smut fics.

Day drinking has never been the best idea, you know that, but fuck if you don’t need it after the week you’ve had.

Keep reading

[daenysx]

tangerine and misunderstanding trope 🥺? i love how you write him!

-send me drabble requests!

tangerine x fem!reader

It hurts more than you think it would. The messages he didn't reply, the missed calls, the invitations to your apartment he didn't even respond to.

Maybe you were fooling yourself.

You don't let yourself fall into self pity, though. Tangerine is not your boyfriend. He's not, right? Because to be your boyfriend, he should've done something about it. Instead he's been ghosting your efforts to reach out.

You think being hurt over a man who's not your boyfriend is a terrible thing. For many reasons.

He is your something, though. You really like him. You like his deep blue eyes, his kind smile, his stupid jokes, and his frown. You like how soft he seems to be next to you, how his lips curl upwards when he talks about Lemon, how his hands always find yours under any table. You don't want to let this go. You just wish him to try a little, at least.

And, you know what? Fuck him, if he doesn't. Maybe he's not the man you met, maybe he's changed. Maybe he doesn't have enough courage to come and say he doesn't want anything to do with you. Maybe he's just a coward who doesn't know how to end something that didn't even start.

You wish you could stop liking this coward so much.

The day goes on just like any others. You come home earlier, luckily taking the emptier bus and buying some much needed groceries. You settle down on your evening routine easily, a nice shower and dinner afterwards, picking up something to watch as you mindlessly scroll on your phone. The couch is comfy under your body as you get a book in your hand, minutes slipping quickly, you think you can fall asleep here tonight.

Someone knocks on the door.

You flinch, sleep leaving your body immediately. No one called you before coming over, who's at the door? You walk slowly, trying to get a glimpse of the person outside with your hand on your heart.

It's him.

Is it too late to pretend to be asleep? No, you're not running away from this. You're having this conversation, what is he doing here anyway? He doesn't even have the decency to let you know before he comes over. You open the door with a rush of anger in your chest.

"Hey, darlin'," Tangerine says. Is that blood on his hands? "Sorry, were you sleeping?"

You shake your head, trying to get your mind work properly. "You didn't call."

He looks sorry. He should look sorry, actually. You didn't deserve any of it.

"Can I come in?" he asks. You let him take a few steps inside. He follows you to the living room, leaving his suit jacket on the side of the couch with practiced movements. It suddenly hurts how he looks like he belongs here. How he acts like it.

"Where have you been?" you ask without thinking. "You didn't answer my calls for days."

You don't care if you sound pathetic. He really worried you.

"I apologise," he begins. "I- I lost my phone on a business meeting and couldn't get a new one, I still don't have one actually, didn't have time to-"

This sounds like a shitty excuse and you talk before you can stop yourself.

"You know what- don't explain. I mean you don't have to. I'm not your girlfriend, so it's none of my business. I was just thinking you'd at least say something real. Something that sounds like a proper excuse."

"Wha- What do you mean you're not my girlfriend?" Tangerine asks. He looks genuinely confused.

You part your lips, then close them. He does surprising things tonight.

"I mean, we never made that clear, did we?" you say, slowly. "And to be honest, it's worse if you think I'm your girlfriend and still ghosted my texts for days."

"I didn't- Look, I'm sorry if this sounds like a fucked up explanation, but I'm telling the truth. I-" he takes a deep breath. "I never properly told you what I do for work, and it was wrong of me, but I was afraid that if you know- you'd never want to see me again."

You know bits and pieces about his job, you think you don't care about it now, though. You can get over it probably, but being hurt by him and feeling like he ignored you all this time is harder to accept.

"I really did think we were in a relationship," he says. His eyes are- oh, fuck him. They look so beautiful under this light, all wide and somehow innocent, he's telling the truth. "I promise, I didn't ghost your calls. I tried to do better, but I- I'm really sorry."

You take his hand. He looks at you like he's lost in all the emotions. Tangerine is not used to this, to have someone other than Lemon who worries about him and he clearly doesn't know how to make his thoughts on relationships clear. You know things don't work well over assumptions, but it doesn't look hard to fix them. You really like him. Like him enough to forgive him when he's telling the truth and rub your thumb on the back of his hand.

"Do you want me to be your girlfriend?" you ask, bravely. Things are gonna be okay, you believe.

"Of course," he replies. It's a risk, but he's made for worse of them. "More than anything."

"Okay," you say, nodding with a nice smile on your face. "But if we're gonna start this properly, we need to communicate. I don't wanna lose my mind over doubting if you like me enough to reply my texts."

He holds you, unable to stop himself from kissing your forehead. An untold apology lingers in the air. You like having Tangerine in your space.

"I like you more than enough," he says. "I know I don't deserve it, but I'm a lucky bastard that you even care to give me a chance. I'll try to be better, yeah? Really, I'll do better."

You kiss him, it's a good one for your first kiss as lovers. You squeeze his hand in yours, he kisses you back with a rush of big emotions. He's gonna carry them well, though. He has to, otherwise he'd never forgive himself.

"You can tell me all about your job when you get cleaned up in the bathroom," you tell him. "Maybe I'm being an idiot for starting a relationship with a guy when I barely know what he does for work, but I'm gonna take that risk."

Tangerine likes risks. He likes the idea of someone taking risks for him, it's a delicious feeling on his chest. He promises to be honest. Anything comes after, is a risk for him to take.

He lets you take him to the bathroom.

[biancadoes1]

Hi Bianca. I hope all is well with you. My name is Gracie and I know I'm anon atm but for personal reasons, I can't reveal my account name here on Tumblr. For starters, I have to warn you that this might be long, and I will apologize for that but I hope you find this worth reading.

I know nothing of Bridgerton, Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan. Although I am familiar that they all are actors. I heard the names before. I know nothing of the lore, the fandom nor the shipping. But my close friend does. This morning, she came to my office on the verge of tears and I tried to comfort her. We had this series of conversation, hence I ended up here. She showed me an IG story of Nicola, and I noticed it was a reposted story of user JakeLDunn congratulating her on BAFTA nomination(CONGRATULATIONS!!) and I looked at her with questioning look, so I told her that, "Well that's sweet of him. A friend congratulating a friend on achieving such feat on her career." And then here what's started everything. My friend looked at me like I just said something life changing and then she seemed relief for some reason so we had a chat. "So it looks that way to GA huh. Gosh."

My friend told me that she admittedly shipped Nicola and Luke. And she also said she is so confused about Nicola and Jake because they are reportedly dating but a lot of you here felt differently so she asked me to offer my thoughts objectively as a outsider so I said sure. And my friend specifically told me that I can understand Nicola and Jake lore personally and I can understand now why.

To give you a little bit of info about me, I have a bestie (guy) that I met through a common friend. We have a huge age gap and we have a dating rumour amongst our friend group, even to outsiders. I thought about that way too at first, but then this bestie of mine started exhibiting odd behaviours that I only noticed. I saw the way he looked at our coworker (guy). His gaze lingered on our coworker and waaaaay too many signs that led me to conclude that he may be gay. So one day I asked him directly, because if he was really gay as I thought him to be, then the rumours of romance between us might cause some sort of rift and I want to correct that so I sat down with him, and clarified everything. And yes, he is gay. He said it himself. And he is also aware about the rumours of us dating and he did apologize for that. He felt like he used me as a cover up about his sexual orientation and he felt guilty do so, but his trauma about him coming out has led him to remain silent. But he also said it didn't stop him from slowly coming out, hence the signs that I saw. The one point where I truly believe he was gay is that I saw on his personal profile that he is following this painter in our city which is known for its nude paintings of men so yeah that pretty much summarizes it.

My point is, we got close, like real close and I don't mind holding hands with him. Hugging him, taking personal pics of each other without this gender norms. It seemed intimate to outsiders but we know the real deal between us. We are besties. And I secretly helped him with his love of his life, on how to pursue him while on the outside, and its the perfect cover up to be honest. Like I am being pressured to date somebody and I hate that, and now my parents don't bug me that much about dating because of my bestie and they are trying to respect our relationship (no we are not dating) but our age gap is making them feel odd but they are trying to respect that. I feel bad about lying but I don't want anybody really poking about my business, especially my love life and I suspect that something really similar is happening to Nicola.

If Jake Dunn suddenly came into picture without any warning, and if he is also rumoured to be part of LGBTQ+, you guys have the right to be suspicious. Because that's how I deflected any other romances with other people without being obvious and not to mention, its the perfect cover up. He is part of my friend group, my bestie and I am comfortable with him, but our relationship is mostly sister/brother that. If you guys felt like Nicola at some point tried to deny the narrative about her and Jake Dunn dating, you would've seen signs. Maybe personally or in social media where all their moves are being monitored. And then suddenly, you guys felt like the narrative is being pushed onto you guys, that's where you have to suspect something behind the scenes is going on. Because that's exactly how it happened to me, about my career and my family. Not to get detailed about it but all I did was I made sure the me and my gay bestie are kinda like in a romantic relationship to ensure the safety of our real relationship. He needed me to cover up his relationship with his bf (now fiancee) because of career issues and mine too. It was mutually consented and beneficial.

Ah, sorry that this have been long, but if you want to know my thoughts about Nicola and Jake Dunn is that, no, I don't believe they ever dated. Because I can see myself in Nicola. That's how I acted around my gay bestie. But you don't have to take this seriously tho, but its just a personal opinion of mine. And an outsiders point of view.

And my friend brought up a timeline, it made me suspicious because I think something happened last year that made Jake came into the picture. I don't have the complete lore yet but the way she told me about the events, I feel like I am missing something completely big.

And thank you miss Bianca! My friend told me if I wanted to share my thoughts about N&J situation so I said why not.

This is such an interesting perspective!!

I really enjoy hearing from people outside of this and what they think is going on based off what they see and having all the lore.

Thank you for sharing ❤️

[yanderedrabbles]

Yandere Movie Week [review]

Day 1 - Fear (1996)

Yandere Scale: 8/10

Overall Rating: 7/10

Fear does exactly what it's supposed to. Not perfectly by any means, but well enough that I don't mind spending an hour and a half in its world.

A very fun world too - cute fashion, a great score, pleasing cinematography and a male lead who slowly becomes more despicable the longer the film goes on. Alyssa Milano, Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon look incredible the entire movie. And I guess their acting isn't bad either.

We start off with a man out on a jog. And we know it's going to be a thriller because a) shaky cam and b) very dramatic music just two minutes in. Great start. After that, we're introduced to Nicole (Reese Witherspoon), a high schooler with a slightly strained relationship with her dad and teenage angst lite.

She's cute. The girl next door with a daddy's girl bracelet and a kid brother who loves her. If she didn't have the bad luck of running into a bad man, I'd say things would have worked out just dandy.

But no such luck. Not for you kid.

Enter David.

He walks on screen to audible screams from the audience (me). He's hot. And the way he's introduced is hot. Shady bar, music in the background, leather jacket delinquents playing pool. From the get go, he screams bad boy. Rubbing (read: jerking off) his pool cue - at hip height - while looking at our female lead? C'mon, that's too easy.

I won't go into detail, but they obviously end up in a relationship. And it's hot stuff. At one point, he has his hand up her her skirt while they're on a rollercoaster. Yeah, we all see the symbolism. Coming (down) must be pretty fun on a ride like that, huh Nic?

It's not great the entire movie - their first conversation is stilted and awkward, filled with clichés. But the build up in tension is what does it for me.

There are plenty of little things that tip you off from the get go. David isn't as nice as he seems, not by a long shot.

It starts with a few tense looks between him and Nicole's dad. Just a father being a bit picky, right? Nope. He turns back the office clock so he can have a little more time with Nicole before curfew. He flirts with her best friend. He tells Nicole to, "Get me a coke." Bossy. Commanding.

I'll be honest, if I didn't know the synopsis of the film, I'd say dear old dad was being overly protective. Nope. Those red flags are about as red as they can get.

When things start going off the rails, the movie handles it pretty well. The scenes are decently tense, even though they're missing that little bit of careful handling that would make them terrifying.

As a yandere, David does everything you'd expect. He's manipulative. He's violent. He doesn't know where to draw the line in anything. Oh, and he's hot. Did I mention that already?

He's a Levi's and t-shirt kind of guy, with a great car, a nice voice, and biceps you want to sink your teeth into. When it comes to deranged stalkers, you can do a LOT worse.

The third act is a ball of a time. There's room for it to have been a bit more tense - it suffers from being a little too short, the twists not having enough time to breathe. The pace doesn't feel quick in the so much happening, I'm at the edge of my seat sort of way, but in the oh no, we only have the budget for thirty more minutes of run time sort of way.

Still, it's very enjoyable. David says and does plenty of very yandere things. I'm absolutely stealing some of his lines.

In terms of style, the movie is a knockout. I think it's a big part of what carries my recommendation. The cinematography is really pleasing, with lots of reds and dark greens. Very 'Seattle on a rainy day.' The sound track is totally 90's, with a nice mix of rock, pop and indie. It gives the movie a sense of place and time that exponentially improves the story.

How does it hold up as a piece of yandere media? It doesn't do anything radical or new, but the classics it sticks to are done well enough that it's worth the watch.

Oh, and David is very hot. I don't know if I mentioned that. 

Day 1 - Fear (1996)

Day 2 - Secret Obsession (2019)

Day 3 - Hush (2016)

Day 4 - The Perfect Guy (2015)

Day 5 - The Boy Next Door (2015)

Day 6 - The Invisible Man (2020)

Day 7 - Til Death Do Us Part (2017)

[thegurlwhoisntthere]

Currently thinking about The Batfam and what Hogwarts houses people usually put them in vs what house I think they’re actually in, Let’s go:

Starting off with Dick Grayson, he’s the oldest and most of the fandom knows him as “the golden boy”! The original Robin and the mother hen mediator of his siblings… he works so very hard to keep this reputation, inside he is a feral feral child. Defo got some anger issues that he shoves down because he blames himself for Jason’s death of reasons. Most people put him in either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. As an adult, I agree he does fit these houses… however. The children of Hogwarts do not get sorted as fleshed out adults, they get sorted as feral 11 year olds. And 11 year old dick was as feral as they come. I think what house he’s in really depends on what age you think he was when his parents were murdered. The most accepted ages are 8-12, which means that there’s some wiggle room here. Pre-orphan hood I feel like he could swing that Gryffinpuff nature that many people believe him to be. However, if this is after the accident, I believe that it would be a toss up between Gryffindor and Slytherin depending on how long ago it happened. If it’s 8-9 I believe it’d be closer to Gryffindor because he’d have more time to settle into his role as Robin and maybe he’s starting to lean more toward Reckless and fun than “I will murder those that have wronged me” that early orphan-hood brought him. If he was 10-11 and still feeling that rage, then Slytherin.

Next we have Jason Todd-Wayne! Second Oldest… kinda, I think he and Cass are tied. Second Robin and first adopted, Jason grew up on the streets of Crime Alley and his tough skin showcased that. But! Don’t let his past fuel you, this boy is famous for his “Robin makes me Magic” quote (I’m so sorry if that’s not the actual quote, but I’m not doing research this is vibes and past knowledge only) and made Batman wait until he was finished with his homework to go on Patrol. Though Famous for his death, Resurrection and anger issues and murder, once again he did not die until 15/16, so we will be sorting him based on his 11 year old self. Now, honestly I don’t know where most people sort him beyond Ravenclaw because the Ravenclaw people are correct. This man has valued education since the day he was born. Pre-adoption or not, the moment he hears that Ravenclaw has a built in Library he was never going anywhere else.

Down the line we have Timothy “Tim” Drake-Wayne! Third Robin, ace photographer and Detective, he figured out who Batman was when he was 9. I don’t feel like Tim needs much explaination for me to say Slytherin, but I’ll give a bit anyway. It’s commonly believed that as an adult, Tim would be in Slytherin. It’s also commonly believed that the only reason he doesn’t kill is because Bruce doesn’t allow it. At 11 years old, not adopted by Bruce or in regular contact with him at all and criminally neglected, Tim has no super vision, resources, a brilliant mind, and too much time on his hands. When I say he would do anything to get what he wants, or what he thinks needs to happen, he fucking will.

Alright! Next up we have Stephanie Brown! Now I will be so honest, a lot of these next characters I don’t know a lot about them or their backgrounds, so I will be trying my best. This girl has ✨daddy issues✨, her dad is the knock off Riddler: Cluemaster. She grew up in Gotham proper, though I don’t know the specific neighborhood. She donned a mask costume to take him down herself, running into the third Robin, befriending him and eventually takes over for him a bit when his dad’s being a Debby downer. Valiantly refuses to be adopted by Batman. Very tough, very classy, I dub her a Gryffindor through and through… Although she can get into the Ravenclaw common room with ease.

Following her, we’ve got the legend herself Cassandra Cain-Wayne. Raised to be a living weapon by her father and escaped him after her first kill, she was never taught how to speak, only read body language. Found by Barbara Gordon at… 16? I think, she was eventually either taught how to sign and speak or had her brain magically rewired to understand speech and learned it alongside sign then. Again, don’t really understand her personality, but from what I’ve read she has a vicious sense of right and wrong and a mischievous streak just as long and wide and her brother’s, though the adults never suspect her. At 11 years old, I feel like she would find a home in Hufflepuff. She doesn’t quite know who she is, but she’s hard working and vicious like a badger if you fuck with her.

Finishing off the Batgirls, we have the original: Barbara Gordon! Originally Batgirl, now Oracle, I have no idea where people normally put her. I can see her going into any house: she’s hard working and kind like Hufflepuffs, Reckless and Brave like Gryffindor, Cunning and Resourceful like Slytherin, and Smart and Creative like Ravenclaw. I’m leaning toward Slytherin for her as an adult, but I don’t know a lot about her younger self to say anything too definitively. Maybe Gryffindor when she’s young and reckless, but grows into Slytherin more and more? Or maybe just Slytherin through and through.

And now, rounding off the Robins, we have Damian Al Ghul Wayne! Son of Talia Al Ghul and Bruce Wayne, Damian was raised to be the perfect assassin with the disposition and arrogance of a prince. His entrance to the family was rocky, but he’s grown more and more into his place as time passed. If he’s very new to the family at 11, Slytherin without any doubts. Two and a half years and on, I think he’s a Hufflepuff who’s got a lot of Slytherin habits. He was raised to beat down his kindness and natural loyalty, but being with Bruce, Dick and the rest of his family brings it out more and more with each year. So, the longer he’s with them, the more chance I think he has of being in Hufflepuff, though I do believe it’s really just down to him deciding, similar to Harry in the books.

And Last, but most certainly not least, we have the newest member of the family: Duke Thomas! Not yet adopted by Bruce (and maybe never, we don’t know) Duke is the only Metahuman member of the Batfamily. His parents were rendered insane by the Joker when he was young and he was pushed into the system… I think. For probably the fourth time in this post, I’m not as familiar with his character. I know at some point he either started a child gang or was one of the leaders of a child gang called “we are Robin”, so while he never had a Batman as Robin, he did don the symbol at some point. Now I know Duke like Poetry, was kind of a loner before he joined the Robin gang, and that a lot of people debate whether or not he’s chill or just as insane as his other siblings. In my opinion, he’s just as insane, but when he first got to the manor he was kinda nervous and accidentally conned everyone into thinking that he was normal, when in fact, he’s there for a reason. At 11, I believe that his parents had already been Jokered, so similar boat to baby Dick, but I feel like the toss up is between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, rather than Gryffindor (though that was briefly considered). Idk I think anyone who’s part of a child gang is gonna be cunning and Ambitious, but also I’ve read a lot of things where he’s quite creative, good at thinking outside the box, good at writing Poems, and good with Brain teasers, so I think he wouldn’t be out of place in Ravenclaw.

And those are my opinions on the batfamily and their Hogwarts houses. I forgot while writing the post that I could’ve included Bruce and Alfred, so: Bruce is Gryffindor, Alfred is Slytherin and I won’t be explaining that further. Good day and good night 🫡

Tell me ur opinions please please please please ple-

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Wednesday amazing readers and wonderful fandom :) Writers put themselves right back on course with this one. Returning to a balanced and all around amazing episode. End to End. It's been their thing this season and I'm happy to return to form with this one. The giving season continues to give with this episode.

I'm truly so satisfied with this season it's unreal. Once again can see why Eric said it's his favorite. Why they had the cast in such a social media lockdown about it. It's been worth every bit of waiting and hold out from the cast. We've been # 1 on Hulu every week it seems too. So I hope that trend continues this week with this ep. Makes me giddy to see us on top. Love to get some S8 news next month, but until then let us break down this gem of an ep shall we?

7x11 Speed

We start out with Lucy missing that sweet T.O. money already. Awww. I'll be honest I didn’t think about her losing her pay cause of stupid Seth. But it makes sense since she is now Rookie-less lol Heh I love her spending that extra money on self care. That’s the best. Also very Lucy to do so. It's fantastic. Proud of her for doing that. It's not an easy thing to do tbh.

I love her face as he hands her the file at the beginning of the scene btw LMAO Always say it's the little things I love between these two. *happy sigh* So much said in such a little glance between them. If you don't catch it you'll completely miss this cute exchange. Also it frees his hand up to look sexy af just hanging out on his duty belt. So thank you for your service Lucy ha

I will say her comment about her budget reminds me when she tried to get Aaron on one back in 5x14 LOL Tim telling her to just go to T.O. permanently then. I mean logically that makes sense. She would crush that test and then some. Tim knows it too. So that'll restore that extra money she is currently missing.

I knew she would be hesitant to do this because of losing focus on the Sergeant exam. Honestly I don't blame her. She was derailed a bit by T.O. in the first place. Although it did lead her to this Sergeant decision. Also training another rookie would take a lot of her time. Like to note even though Tim is giving her sass about training a new rookie, his body language shows that he is intently listening to her and I love it.

They're in their usual lock step as they make their way to roll call. Always floors me how they do that. Tim trying to find the words to describe Ridley and Lucy beats him to the punch. I mean he was that and more for her oh my lord. Was a hell of a first rookie for her. So can't say I fault her for being hesitant to dip her toe back in.

Hahahaha 'That is a horrifyingly high ratio.' LMAO It kinda is tbh. Not doing her any favors here love. Or convincing her to go back to being a T.O.... Lucy is firm in her decision to focus on Sergeant instead. That it'll just give her peace of mind instead of doing something else to detract.

Tim has to give her one last sassy comment before they part. 'Guess that means bye bye cleaning lady.' I love these two idiots so much I cannot stand it. Their banter is unrivaled. Ain't no one got what our ship does in just banter alone. Damnit I love these fools.

Look at Tim giving the same Sergeant speech Grey gave him so many moons ago in 4x02. to Lucy. Saying how she needs to learn to supervise from the sidelines. To delegate if she's wanting to be one. Look how far you’ve come my love. It's the little steps of growth that make my heart happy. Also loving the amount of scenes they’re having this early on in the ep. I knew was gonna be a good one.

Like a gift after last week's low amount and unbalanced ep. I LOVE him letting her practice being a Sergeant. To call the shots today. Like an advanced version of PCD for her. Lucy getting excited and pushing her luck like only she can do with him. Asking if that means she gets to drive? Tim sensing this and shutting it down. Naturally he wouldn’t let her drive haha Her face. So rare when he allows it. hehe These two dopes just low key flirting most of this episode.

Angela calling Tim 'Timothy' on the radio LOL Telling him not to be such an ass. I love this episode. Only two women he would allow to be that forward with him are in this convo. Lucy being wifey af rips the radio from his hands and he allows it. Cause well it's Lucy.

Of course she has a good idea. I mean selling stuff suckkkksss. Especially when it has value, but if it saves a job you love it’s worth it. Also loving all the hand touching with the back and forth of the radio. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you two...Bickering like an old married couple as they advise poor Miles.

Hahahaha look at the growth in our boy. Calling himself an ass when Lucy calls him out for his comment. Fantastic. Although I always enjoy his pot shots at Nolan LOL (Sorry John you have been much better this season) This new Tim delights me to no end every week in so many ways I cannot even tell you.

I'm a happy girl. As is Lucy. She has a smile for days for Tim this entire episode. Look at her when he says his line. Couldn't love that man more if you tried my friend. Seeing that change in him and loving it.

Oh my, Tim calling her Sergeant Chen. *fans self* That did things to me holy cow. Loved hearing him call her that. Also the confidence she is exuding when he does. Letting her lead this entire operation. Not questioning a single thing she does either. How far we have come fandom. How far we have come. Always love watching her be a friggin kick ass leader when given the chance.

Oh Lucy you are so much more of a BAMF than you ever give yourself credit for. I love how Tim doesn’t allow the pot shots at herself. Refuses to let her sit in that for even a moment. Reminds her of how she saved him back in 6x10. That SHE IS a bad ass. Making her smile with his sass. 'You're right....Totally lame.' God I love s7 Tim fandom. I can totally cross off 'Seeing a new side of Tim Bradford.' off my bingo card confidently.

Look at her smile. He did that. By building her up. Not letting a single second go by without him reminding her how amazing she is. Also Lucy you would've jumped even if there had been ten bombs. Why? Because it was Tim you were jumping to my girl. Just adore her smile after he makes his playful joke. She is melting everyone. Slowly but surely. Especially with moments like this. Keeping showing up for her babe. She is noticing and liking what she sees.

One of the best parts of the episode right here. Let us begin to dissect this glorious shop scene. Let me start with the 5x08 vibes I was getting from this scene. Some of their best moments are in a shop together. Most truthful and honest moments. Love when they have pod car eps. We always get such good scenes from it. Iconic ones.

Their body language alone is enough to make my shipper heart happy. The way they check in on each other when the other isn't looking. Gah I love these idiots in love. The heart eyes are plentiful in this scene. First off let me say I'm so glad she crushed being a Sergeant. Not at all like her detective run. No complaints from Tim. Came naturally to her. 'Ordering around people is one of your gifts.' The man isn't wrong....

'I've never heard you complain.' LOL Lucy Friggin Chen. Oh my lord The subtext in that line had my head spinning. ZERO doubt in my mind Tim ever had issues with her bossing him around. At work, In their relationship, In the bedroom... Where I am sure this flirty line stemmed from. That's just my opinion though....The flirtatious nature of that line and his devilishly happy smile right afterwards proving that IMO. ‘I don’t mind.’ Heh he sure doesn’t….This man is all giddy smiles most of this scene. Making me lightheaded with shippy joy. He is glowing in this first portion. The man couldn't be more in love with her if he tried. Or be happier to be in this light flirty place with her.

Lucy is getting flustered af with Tim's forward flirting. His smiles and not holding back at all. Letting her know he is A-OK with her flirting with him. Transparent Tim is sending her into a tailspin in the best way. It's making me insanely happy. He is just being candid with her and she is feeling it. Has no where to go but face the music in this moment. This woman just navigated a potential bus bombing as a Sergeant no sweat and it's the man to her left that is her undoing.

Once again, he is all smiles as she tries to steer her way out of this flirty situation she's put them in. His cute 'No idea.' I cannot. Also ‘Just co-workers’ my ass Lucy Chen. You will never ever be just that. Tim is enjoying this ramble so very much as she stumbles her way to her point. I think it is HUGE she is letting Tim know she’s not looking to date or has any interest in doing so. And of course he has zero himself. Man is a walking 'I love Lucy Chen' Billboard.

Has been all season and will continue to be as such. Now we all knew this. (If you didn't then this scene will help resolve that pretty quickly) Knew there was no way these two would go looking for anyone else. They are each other's endgame. But just like Tim going to therapy and working on himself. Getting the actual proof of hearing it makes it so satisfying. Just like it was in 7x07. Physically hearing them say it is literal ship crack right now. Hearing the confirmation from the both of them is EVERYTHING. We are headed in the right direction people.

Lucy continues on with her 'boundaries.' They need to have. Which they do need to have until this is truly sorted. Till they have that talk. Tim letting her know he respects them and will continue to meet her where she is at. Which he has done a masterful job of throughout the season. Never pushing her or trying to get her to talk more than she is ready to. Respecting what she wants to give him and thriving off of that. Continually showing up for her. Which has led up to this wonderful moment. Lucy reminding Tim that she still hasn’t fully forgiven him yet. As she should honestly.

That’s a deep wound he needs to remember he caused, and it remains ever-present. One he still needs to fix. That they're getting there but it's not quite healed yet. His soulful ‘I know.’ Is everything. Eric getting me right in the damn feels with it. It's very loaded with emotion and heavy. He is extremely aware he still has ground to make up with her. Penance still to be had. I love that he knows it and is telling her as such. They're being so open and vulnerable I wanna cry with this progress. Lucy’s reply is wonderful. Saying When not IF but WHEN she does. This is massive. We all knew she would get there. Because it's who she is to forgive of course.

But also she is seeing the change in Tim. How consistent it is. That it's not going away. There hasn't been an episode this season he hasn't shown that change to her. She still loves this man so much and he is slowly making his way back in. So much so that she is saying 'When' instead of If. The shift here is monumental. Her following it up with 'Maybe you can come help me study.' The subtext is unreal. It’s quite the olive branch. His smile is so cute and he is delirious with joy. He couldn't be happier with this reply. Keep putting in the work babe. This is the result. Heart eyes abound at the end oh my lord. Look at these two. Eric and Melissa convey SO much with just their heart eyes. I'm flying high.

If that final scene wasn't enough. That PROMO. OH. MY. LORD. Just coming by with flimsy excuses, just to have her way with him whenever she damn well pleases? Ok! Sign me up haha. He sure as hell is not gonna say no. Clearly. They messy and I don't hate it. Especially after that final scene. Also Lucy showing up looking like a bombshell. Holy hell. How could he say no? I mean she could show up wearing a paper bag and he would be panting after her. Let's be honest.

But legit her goal from that 5 seconds we got was to come and seduce him. I don't know what's going on or what is prompting this scene but I'm excited. Feral Caitlin is going to make an appearance if we're getting Half naked Tim in sweatpants at home. and he looks GOOOOD. Phew lord. I love this season everyone. Every week is a friggin joy. My happy place truly delivering in so many ways.

Thank you forever and always to my incredible readers. I would not be here without you. Thank you for every like, comment (seriously love chatting with you all. Come chat) and reblogs of these first impressions. You are the best. Shall see you all in 7x12 when we lose our minds over whatever is happening. Looks like it'll be a solid ep all around as well :)

~~~

Side notes-Non Chenford

Poor Miles LOL learning all his lessons the hard way ahaha Tim making his ass run for their coffee and their shop.

Always enjoy Nyla and Angela in the field. Gimme that all day in an ep I'll be happy.

Celina handled herself like a bad ass. AND got a Tim compliment in the process. He don't give those out lightly unless your name is Lucy. and even then took her some time to crack him for it. The continued growth astounds me in him.

Wes being adorable worrying about Angela. Love me some Wopez.

Oh and Monica is back least important info of the ep haha Was hoping we'd see Oscar before her but oh well. She's back I guess. Yay....

[smilesrobotlover]

A super out of context thing for Edmund’s brothers. Basically something happened with the second-born Charles and the brothers all split on what they wanted to do. Ares, Louis, and Dante on one side, and Silas, Matthias, and Edmund on the other, while our unbothered chill guy Maximus not taking a side cuz he doesn’t gaf lol.

I’m gonna be so honest, I know nobody cares about these characters who aren’t even in my fanfic, but I really like them. I’m very proud of the designs (at least faces) and personalities, so safe to say I like them a lot 😔

Some info on the brothers for the 5 people that care

Ares is the first born, and is 43 during Love at Twilight. He’s the crowned prince and is the “golden child”. He thinks very highly of himself, and is very aware of the reputation he must uphold. But he does a VERY good job at upholding the reputation. He’s the golden child after all! A perfect prince! He actually loves his family a lot, caring deeply for his parents and his younger brother Charles. But the other brothers are sorta ignored by him. He’s more focused on taking over the kingdom anyhow. Which honestly makes him come off as aloof.

Charles is the second born, 42 during Love at Twilight, and feels like the failure to his parents. He gets second everything, always in his older brother’s shadow. He doesn’t feel like he can amount to anything, even with his younger brothers, he can’t seem to be special like them. Ares loves him, but Charles deep down resents him and everyone else in the family. But cuz he’s nothing compared to everyone else, nobody really cares. He’s just kinda there, and he’s frustrated about this. When Zelda enters the family, he really takes his frustrations out on her, cuz even tho she’s queen, she’s just a woman, right?

Silas is the black sheep of the family. Aged 40 during LaT. Many believe him to be a child born from a different father, and many hate him for it. He doesn’t deserve to be apart of the royal family, he clearly doesn’t belong! Because of this, he comes off as cold and avoids the others, not really bothering to reach out to the others. But he actually is quite smart and has a good moral compass, being very dependable when he needs to be. Quite underrated if you ask me. The queen defends Silas constantly, saying that he is of royal blood and she was never disloyal.

Maximus, Age 36, was born way later because the king and queen had a lot of issues with Silas. He’s a very aloof guy who never takes charge, letting things run their course which makes him chill and also very indecisive, which is no good. I don’t have much on him but he’s very neutral on things a lot, which can be good, can be bad.

Louis, age 34, had become the high priest of Labrynna and is EXTREMELY self righteous. He constantly condemns others and preaches repentance, however he has a lot of skeletons in his closet, he just believes that as the high priest, he’s perfectly fine. A bit of a… bad fella, probably the worst on this list, because he doesn’t come off as bad, which makes him extremely manipulative. Of course, he doesn’t think he’s being manipulative. You just don’t want to see him snap and lose it. I might make him narcissistic but I don’t know enough about that to feel confident in writing it, and people just throw the term around with no issues so… we’ll see? But he’s a very fascinating character to me.

Matthias, age 32, is a very caring soul who really looks out for the youngest brother, Edmund. He wants to watch over and care for the “little guy” and is deeply loyal to those around him. He doesn’t seem to like Charles all that much, and the two argue constantly. Other than that, he gets along with everyone and serves his kingdom in whatever way he can. He seems to be the only one in a genuinely loving relationship with his wife.

Dante is a very materialistic, greedy, and prideful man. Age 30, Dante is highly confident in himself and looks down on others, believing them to be below him. Even his older brothers he finds to be foolish, though he’s a bit of a yes man to Ares. I also don’t have much of him but yeah. A guy.

And ofc our guy Edmund! Age 28.You kinda know him. He’s known as the smallest and weakest brother, having severe asthma, so he can’t do things the others can do. He was also very sickly as a child, hence why Matthias is so protective of him. But he makes up for it with his wit and unique ways to be strong. He’s very pompous tho, and I like him a lot.

[withahappyrefrain]

Bob is so quiet that i imagine this is how the team finds out he's married. he usually keeps his wedding ring on a chain round his neck under his uniform, scared it'll get lost or fall off, and sure his phone background is you and there's a picture in his wallet but no one pays attention to just bob

until they see the bright, red, angry scratches down his back and the faintest mark of a hickey that's just about healed

Bob being secretly married is one of my favorite tropes for him tbh.

Obviously, Natasha and Mickey know. They've played D&D at Bob's house a few times and have met Mrs. Bob.

Jake, however, is beside himself.

"Did you get in a wrestling match with a bear baby on board?" Because somehow, that option is more believable than the alternative.

Bob's blue eyes narrow, his lips forming into a tight line, "No. I spent time with my wife."

"Your what?!" Now everyone has gathered around because it's a rare occasion for Jake Seresin to be speechless.

"It's not like I tried to hide it!" Bob lifts up his dog tags, a gold wedding ring glittering in the sun. "What do you think this was for?" He points to the small tattoo on his bicep. Etched in blank ink is the date 9.17.

"Gonna be honest, I thought that was your mom's birthday," Bradley admits sheepishly. He feels bad for not noticing the signs sooner.

"I thought it had to do with your dungeon and dragons game!" Jake defends himself.

"You're hopeless," Reuben sighs, walking away to get a much needed beer. Being the other married man in the squad, he had his suspicions about Bob but recognized at the end of the day it was none of his damn business.

Bob appreciates Ruben so much.

[1982grapejuiceblues]

The Lingering I

Official Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Part 1 | Part 2

The Wrong Pitch Part 3

Summary: In the quiet aftermath of their almost, Harry and Y/N navigate the silence of what wasn’t said. Through unsent drafts, pacing thoughts, and overthought messages, one of them finally reaches out — and the other answers. It isn’t grand. It isn’t dramatic. It’s careful. Intentional. Honest. And it’s enough to change everything.

A/N: AHHHHH These two are back!! I really love this story and the slowburn of it, The Lingering is going to be at least three parts, I have it all written out its just the editing that takes FOREVER. I do it in batches though so thats how I'm able to upload these so quickly! Let me know what you guys think so far!

Warning: Anxiety spiraling / overthinking | Emotional hesitation and vulnerability | Unsent texts and delayed communication | Fear of saying the wrong thing | Internalized self-doubt | Extended emotional tension (but no conflict) | Slow pacing, realism-focused inner monologues | No physical intimacy (just yearning and care)

Word Count: 3.5k

────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

Saturday — 6:42 p.m. — Y/N’s Flat

Y/N didn’t turn on the lights when she walked in.

She didn’t like the way switches filled the room too fast. There was something about the soft, creeping dusk she preferred — the natural fade of light across her hardwood floor, the dim orange glow of a streetlamp just starting to warm the sidewalk outside her window. It gave her time to land. To figure out who she was again, alone, after being something else in someone else’s company.

She slipped her shoes off one by one, the way she always did — toe to heel, heel to toe — and left them by the door. Her coat slid down her shoulders in a single movement, familiar, practiced, and landed on the hook like it had been trained to return there.

Everything about her flat was warm and quiet and intentionally hers.

Usually, she liked that.

But right now, it felt a little too quiet. A little too much like a place that expected her to think.

She padded into the kitchen and turned on the kettle out of instinct. Not because she wanted tea — not yet — but because she didn’t know what else to do with her hands. She moved slowly, methodically: mug, spoon, tea bag, water. Not committing to it, just lining up the options.

She wasn’t hungry.

She wasn’t tired.

She just felt… untethered.

The moment she sat down on the couch, the silence hit her square in the chest.

It wasn’t harsh. But it was immediate.

The kind of quiet that creeps in when you realize someone else’s presence had taken up more space than you thought. That Harry had taken up space — not just in her periphery, but in her head. Her day. Her body, somehow. Like his voice had carved out a rhythm and her breath was still matching it.

She hated how much she noticed the absence.

She hated even more that it didn’t feel like an absence at all — just a… pause.

A question mark.

She reached for her phone almost reflexively. Unlocked it. Didn’t open anything yet.

She stared at the home screen for a few seconds, as if some app she hadn’t downloaded yet would offer a solution.

Then, slowly, deliberately, she tapped into the message thread.

Harry Styles.

The name felt strange every time she saw it written out. A person who had once been a complete stranger — someone with a name that meant nothing to her, just a man sitting at the wrong table — was now… something else. Undefined. Quietly insistent.

A presence she couldn’t unfeel.

She scrolled up.

Read what she had sent. What he had sent back. The part where it stopped.

Thank you for saying that.

I was scared too.

Still am.

But I’d rather be scared with you than wonder if we missed it.

That last line hit her harder than she expected. Again.

She had read it before. She’d felt it earlier, in the booth, in the quiet between them. But here, in her flat, in the silence of her own space, it felt sharper. Heavier. More true.

And still, she hadn’t answered him.

She opened the keyboard.

Typed:

Are you home?

Deleted it.

Typed:

I haven’t stopped thinking about earlier.

Deleted that, too.

Tried again:

I want to see you again.

Her thumb hovered.

She knew what that meant.

She also knew she couldn’t send it yet.

Backspaced. Cleared the screen. Let her fingers rest over the glass.

What was she doing?

Why was this so hard?

She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, hands clasped around her phone like it might reveal something if she just held it tight enough.

And then she whispered it out loud — just to herself, in the soft, safe dark of her apartment:

“I liked being with you.”

The words surprised her. Not because they were true, but because of how much they meant. How heavy they sounded in her own voice. How simple they were, and yet how deeply they landed.

She rested her phone on the couch beside her. Let her hands fall into her lap. Stared out the window as the last of the daylight bled into blue.

She thought about the way he had looked at her when she walked into the café again.

Not surprised. Not alarmed.

Just… relieved.

Like she had made a choice he hadn’t wanted to ask her to make.

Like he had hoped — quietly, without pressure — that she would come back.

“You already are,” she had told him, when he said he wanted to show up.

That sentence had stayed with her all the way home. It was still here now, in the room, in her hands, in her mouth like a thing she might say again if he were sitting beside her.

But he wasn’t.

And she didn’t know when he would be.

Or if she’d be brave enough to ask.

7:09 p.m. — Harry’s Flat

Harry had stared at the same sentence for thirteen minutes.

It wasn’t even a complicated sentence.

It was just the close of a paragraph — something small and transitional. Something that should’ve taken thirty seconds to finish and forget. But instead, it was sitting there like a brick in the middle of the page, daring him to make it sound like he believed it.

He leaned back in his chair and pressed his knuckles against his temples.

Focus.

The cursor blinked at him.

It wasn’t the writing. He could write. Had written better speeches than this one in worse conditions. It was the space he was writing from — the place in his head that felt suddenly unfamiliar. Crowded. Warmer than usual.

Full.

Which was ridiculous. They’d only seen each other again this afternoon. They hadn’t even kissed. Had barely touched. Had said maybe two sentences that could be considered emotionally intimate.

But God, the silence after?

It felt like it carried weight.

He pushed the chair back from the desk, stood up too quickly. Pacing helped. Usually.

He ran a hand through his hair and crossed the room toward the kitchen, trying to remember what he even came in for. Opened the fridge. Closed it again.

There was a time when a quiet Saturday night like this would’ve felt like relief. A long exhale. A moment to recharge.

But tonight, it felt like too much room.

Too much space to think about what he should’ve said when they were standing at her door.

Or what she hadn’t said.

Not in a way that made him second-guess her — he didn’t. He just knew that she was trying. That she was letting herself feel this in real time, and he didn’t want to be the reason she retreated.

He didn’t want to fill the space too quickly. But he didn’t want to leave it empty either.

He opened their text thread again. Not for the first time. Not even for the fifth.

It wasn’t that he expected anything new.

He just wanted to remember the way her words sounded.

Even when they were just black text on a white screen.

“I was scared too.”

“Still am.”

God, that had floored him.

Not because she’d said it — but because of how much he’d believed her.

He hadn’t had that in a long time. Someone honest enough to admit fear, but steady enough to still show up anyway.

He wanted to tell her that. Not poetically. Not dramatically. Just plainly. Just… truthfully.

But every draft he started felt like it leaned too hard in one direction — too casual or too intense. Too soon or too vague. Too much or not enough.

He hated how much he cared about getting the tone right.

He hated how much he wanted to get it right.

He sat back down at the desk. Pulled the laptop toward him. Tried to re-engage with the speech. Something about unity. Shared vision. The usual stuff.

But even those words felt hollow.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her — sitting on her couch right now, probably. Maybe drinking tea. Maybe overthinking this the same way he was.

And maybe she wasn’t.

Maybe she had already moved on from the softness of the afternoon. Maybe he was reading into something that had already cooled.

But then he remembered the look in her eyes when she walked through the café door.

The way she looked at him.

It wasn’t casual.

It wasn’t over.

It was something waiting.

He typed a new message.

Let it sit on the screen.

I’m not going to crowd you.

But I do want to see you again.

Read it. Reread it.

Then deleted it.

Too soon.

Or maybe not soon enough.

He stood up again and rubbed his palms over his face. Walked to the bookshelf. Pulled out the small notebook he kept on the second shelf, tucked behind the short story collections.

It was older. More scribbled than sorted. Just fragments, mostly — moments, half-thoughts, things he couldn’t shake.

He opened to the last blank page and scribbled one sentence.

I don’t want to be afraid of this before it even starts.

Then closed the notebook.

Slid it back into place.

Walked away from the desk and sat on the couch.

He didn’t touch his phone again for a long time.

But he didn’t stop thinking about her, either.

8:14 p.m. — Y/N’s Flat

She hadn’t moved in over twenty minutes.

She was still in her jeans. Still sitting at the edge of the couch. Still staring out the window like something might happen if she just stayed still long enough.

Her tea had gone cold.

She hadn’t touched it.

Didn’t even remember making it.

Everything around her looked the same as it had this morning — the blanket folded neatly at the corner of the couch, the stack of manuscripts on the dining table waiting for her notes, the email inbox she hadn’t opened once.

But she wasn’t the same.

And that realization — as soft and quiet as it was — made her sit up straighter.

She felt unsettled in a way that didn’t have a name. Not anxious, exactly. Not regretful. Just… aware.

Of how much had shifted in such a short span of time.

Of how little it took for someone to take up space again.

And how badly she wanted him to stay in it.

She picked up her phone and stared at the blank message screen.

Typed:

I made it home.

Paused.

Deleted it.

Typed:

I haven’t stopped thinking about the booth.

Deleted.

Then she did what she’d been trying not to do all evening — she opened the notes app. Scrolled past her work drafts. Her to-do lists. Her grocery reminders. Until she found the untitled one from earlier this week.

It was a draft of a message.

One she’d written but never sent.

Dated two days after she left him sitting in that café alone.

I don’t know why I left the way I did.

I panicked.

You were kind and good and you didn’t deserve the silence.

I haven’t stopped thinking about that conversation.

About you.

She read it twice.

Then hit select all.

Deleted it in one tap.

She didn’t want to send him something old.

Not now.

Not after seeing him again. Not after the warmth of the afternoon. Not after the quiet understanding in his eyes that said, You don’t owe me anything, but I’m still here if you want to try.

She opened the thread.

Typed:

Hey.

Waited.

Then added:

I don’t know if I’m doing this right.

Deleted that.

Typed:

Is this still okay?

No, not that either.

She let her hands fall into her lap and stared at the screen for a while.

She thought about what she really wanted him to know.

What wasn’t performative or clever or distant.

What she would say if he were sitting right here, across from her on this couch.

And slowly, carefully, she typed:

I’ve been thinking about earlier.

About how easy it felt.

And how hard that is to find lately.

I don’t know what this is.

Or if I’m supposed to know yet.

But I’d like to keep figuring it out.

With you.

She stared at it.

No emojis. No qualifiers. No softening the landing.

Just truth.

She hit send before she could overthink it.

Then set the phone down, facedown this time, and stood up.

She turned on the light in the hallway.

Went to the kitchen.

Poured out the cold tea.

Started boiling the water again.

She wasn’t going to wait around watching the screen this time.

She already knew she’d hear from him.

8:51 p.m. — Harry’s Flat

Harry was lying on the couch with a record playing low when his phone buzzed.

He almost didn’t check it.

Not because he wasn’t waiting — he was, in the quiet, resigned way people wait for things they know might not come. He’d done it before. Had entire evenings pass with his phone untouched, just to prove to himself that he could.

But this buzz felt different.

It wasn’t the group chat. Not a push notification. Just a single, simple vibration against the wood of the coffee table that made his eyes flick open and settle on the screen.

And then he saw it.

Y/N.

He sat up too fast.

The message preview was just a few words, cut off mid-line — but his chest tightened before he even unlocked the screen.

I’ve been thinking about earlier…

He blinked.

Held his breath.

Opened the thread.

And read.

I’ve been thinking about earlier.

About how easy it felt.

And how hard that is to find lately.

I don’t know what this is.

Or if I’m supposed to know yet.

But I’d like to keep figuring it out.

With you.

It took him three full reads to stop blinking.

Then he exhaled — loud and uneven, like it had been building all day and only now found a way out of his body.

He didn’t move for a long time.

Just held the phone in his hand, let his eyes trace the words over and over. Let himself feel every inch of what she was offering: not certainty, not resolution — but permission.

A beginning.

An opening.

A reach.

His first instinct was to reply immediately.

To give her what she’d given him — honesty, vulnerability, forward motion.

But then the overthinking kicked in.

What tone? What length? Was he allowed to be excited? Should he be measured? Was there a way to say me too without sounding like he’d been waiting by the phone all evening?

Because he had.

But still.

He opened the keyboard.

Typed:

You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.

Paused.

Backspaced.

Tried again:

Me too.

Too short.

Tried:

I’d really like that too.

And I think maybe we don’t have to know yet.

We just have to keep showing up.

He stared at it.

Nodded to himself.

Then, instead of hitting send, he set the phone down beside him and stood up.

He walked to the kitchen.

Opened the cupboard.

Pulled out the tea he had no intention of drinking — just needed to move. Think. Let the weight of her message land.

It wasn’t romantic, not in the sweeping-movie-score kind of way. It was grounded. Measured. Real.

But it meant something.

And the way it made his hands shake a little as he poured water into the kettle — yeah, that meant something too.

Back in the living room, he picked up the phone again.

Read the message again.

Still hit him like a warmth in his chest he didn’t know how to name.

He typed:

Can I see you tomorrow?

Then paused.

Edited:

I know it’s soon.

And I know we said we’d take it slow.

But I think I’d like slow better if you were next to me while we figured it out.

He didn’t overthink this one.

He just hit send.

And leaned back.

And smiled.

Not because he was confident.

But because for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t alone in the wanting.

9:03 p.m. — Y/N’s Flat

Her phone buzzed right as she was pouring the hot water over the tea bag.

It was quiet, almost tentative — like it didn’t want to assume it was important.

But her body stilled anyway.

She reached for it with one hand, the other still holding the kettle mid-pour, and nearly spilled it when she saw his name.

Harry Styles

I know it’s soon.

And I know we said we’d take it slow.

But I think I’d like slow better if you were next to me while we figured it out.

She didn’t breathe for a full second.

Then she exhaled all at once.

The kind of breath that felt like she’d been holding it for days.

She put the kettle down.

Left the mug where it was.

Walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room, phone in both hands, rereading the message over and over.

She smiled.

Then bit her lip.

Then sat down on the couch and tucked her legs under her, trying to figure out why this — this exact combination of words — was hitting her so hard.

It wasn’t flowery.

It wasn’t performative.

It was just… him.

Direct. Earnest. Just vulnerable enough to feel real.

He wasn’t asking her to give him certainty. He was asking to sit in the uncertainty together.

And she wanted that. Badly.

She typed:

You’re very good at this.

Paused.

Backspaced.

Tried:

I think I’d like that too.

No.

She wanted to be sure. She wanted him to feel it.

She typed:

Yes.

I’d really like to see you tomorrow.

And I think you’re right.

Slow might feel less terrifying if it’s next to you.

She stared at it. Her fingers trembled a little.

But this time, she didn’t doubt it.

She hit send.

Then she dropped the phone in her lap and just sat there.

Let herself feel how good it was to say yes to something that didn’t demand her to be perfect — just present.

A minute later, her phone buzzed again.

I’ll make the plans.

She didn’t even realize she was smiling until she saw her reflection in the window — soft, lit by the glow of the lamp behind her, eyes tired but bright in a way she hadn’t seen in a while.

Okay, she thought.

This is something.

Let it be something.

Sunday — 9:03 a.m. — Y/N’s Flat

Y/N woke up before her alarm.

Not with a jolt, not in a panic. Just… aware. Like her body had been keeping time without her.

She stayed under the blanket for a few minutes longer than usual, watching the light crawl in through the window. It was that kind of golden pale that made everything look like a film still. Like the city was trying to convince her to say yes to things before she could think of reasons not to.

And for once, she didn’t try to talk herself out of it.

9:17 a.m. — Harry’s Flat

Harry stood at his kitchen counter, eating toast he hadn’t meant to make.

He kept glancing at the clock like he was going to be late for something, even though there was nothing scheduled. Nothing formal. Just a maybe. A sometime today.

But it felt like a thing he didn’t want to miss.

He’d already checked the weather (mild, clear, cool breeze). Already shaved. Changed his shirt twice. Put on the one that didn’t look like he was trying, even though he definitely was.

He didn’t know where they were going yet — not exactly. He just knew he wanted it to feel easy. Low pressure. Like an extension of the café booth, but out in the world.

Like something real.

10:14 a.m. 

Do you trust me to pick somewhere?

As long as there’s coffee involved.

I’d never disrespect you like that.

Then yes. I trust you.

That last part wasn’t just about the coffee.

She hoped he knew that.

She had a feeling he did.

11:08 a.m. — Somewhere on the Northern Line

They weren’t meeting in the city proper. That had been a conscious choice on Harry’s part. He figured a smaller street, a quieter café, fewer things pulling at their attention — it might give them space to just… be.

He had no idea if it was the right call.

But when he got off the train and stepped out into the soft, sun-filtered morning, he felt like it might be.

He adjusted the bag on his shoulder, checked his phone again.

No new texts.

But she was coming.

That was enough.

11:26 a.m.

She saw him first.

He was leaning against the wall just outside the café entrance, phone in hand, one ankle crossed casually over the other like he was built for waiting. Like he didn’t mind it.

She stopped just short of being in his line of vision.

Took one second.

Then walked forward.

He looked up just as she reached him.

And smiled in that small, surprised way — like something he’d been hoping for had just appeared in front of him.

“Hi,” she said, soft.

“Hi,” he replied, quieter still.