#tom either picked greg up on the way (why??) OR

[successionable]

i don't think we're talking enough about how tom and greg rocked up to logan's wake together even though tom was last seen accompanying shiv (back to their apartment, presumably) and shiv was last seen lying in bed alone

[tyranasauruslex]

I loveeee your account and the way you think about Roman and Lukas. How do you think they are and act when it’s just a random Thursday at home? How they spend their domestic time together?

Awww thank you, that's very kind of you to say. :)

I adore domestic RomeLukas! They’re just so snuggly together. 

A random Thursday would be spent at home together in their cosy little bubble.

They don’t really do dinner out too much because they both struggle with food, Roman with his ED and Lukas with his sensory issues. Plus being at home means that Lukas can be in his comfy clothes and Rome can lay all over the floor instead of sitting in a chair. They either order in or try and cook something together. Or rather Lukas cooks and Roman reads him out the recipe because he can’t even boil water sufficiently. They then end up arguing over measurements because Lukas doesn’t know what Roman means by a cup of something. Which cup? Because Roman has three different sizes in his cupboard and the imperial system is stupid.

They don’t really talk about work over dinner, although Lukas will tell Roman all the idiotic things Tom said throughout the day or when Oskar yelled at Greg over using the wrong recycling bin. Mostly they talk about Roman’s art projects or the gallery he’s preparing to open. It’s so far removed from Lukas’ line of work that he finds it fascinating and wants to know everything, right down to the type of paint brushes Roman uses. At first Roman found this quite stressful because nobody was ever interested in what he did, which resulted in him giving up on something before he's even got going. Now he loves coming home to show Lukas his sketch books or explain to him all the variations of painting techniques.

Once dinner is finished, they settle into their favourite spot on the couch, curled up together under a big woollen blanket Lukas brought back from Sweden. Neither are big drinkers and they only really have alcohol when they go out to dinner, but they might share a beer or two. Or Lukas will make them both a big cup of tea before bed. They alternate between who gets to pick what they watch and as it’s Roman’s turn he’s insisted on Grease, appalled that the man he shares a bed with has never seen it. Musicals as usually a no go due to them being too much of sensory overload but Roman knows all about that so he trusts that it should be ok.

Except Lukas just doesn’t get it. Why are they singing? Why are 30 year olds playing teenagers? Why are they in a flying car at the end? He voices all these questions to Roman who, far from being annoyed, is excited that he finally has someone to unload all his film trivia onto. He's not entirely sure that Lukas gets it but they've agreed to watch it again tomorrow night.

It’s late and Lukas has to be up at four for a meeting so they get ready for bed - still talking about musicals and Lukas still being confused by them. Roman has to sleep with one of the lamps on which doesn't bother Lukas too much because he has to sleep with a white noise machine on, which they both have a good laugh about. They had to get a bigger bed so that Lukas's feet don't dangle off the end which makes for a very cosy, cuddly way to wind down before they both drop off to sleep.

[hefellfordean]

uhhh i wrote a tomgreg fic to cope with that episode...

read it on ao3

who do you turn to?

He’s actually surprised that Shiv asks him to join her in the car. He hasn’t seen her since she asked for the divorce and they spent one last, painful night together. There’s just enough love still between them that he doesn’t like to see her hurting like this. There's enough resentment that he wishes she would just leave him alone in his own grief and fear.

The car starts smoothly and the driver begins to steer them away from the tarmac and the plane where he’d been trapped with Frank and Karl and the body of Logan Roy. Beside him, Shiv sniffles and he reaches out to comfort her – almost on instinct. His hand lands on her knee and she pulls away, automatically, like that’s her instinct.

“Sorry,” she says, but she doesn’t look at him. Instead, she turns and gazes out the window like she can pretend that way that her lip isn’t trembling.

Tom sighs and glances at his phone. He has a slew of texts from Greg, updating him on Cyd’s behaviour and whereabouts, interspersed with messages asking if he’s okay and how he’s feeling. There’s also one from his mom: Greg called and told us about Logan, hope you’re okay, sweetie!

“Are those all from, Greg?” Shiv asks, startling him. She juts her chin towards his phone which is vibrating with another incoming text.

Tom nods. “Uh… yeah. Most of them.” Shiv scoffs, shaking her head. “What?” Tom asks, wondering if she’s going to bring up the Disgusting Brothers thing again.

She shrugs. “I don’t know, Tom. I guess I never really understood what you saw in that leech.”

A sharp breath escapes him. “Leech is a strong word. He’s part of the family, isn’t he? Why shouldn’t he ask for a leg up?”

“Oh yeah, sure. Why not?” Shiv says patronisingly. “Jesus Tom, he’s not actually family. Not like me and Ken, and Rome.”

“Or Connor,” Tom reminds her somewhat spitefully.

She throws him a biting look. “Yeah, or Con. Anyway, I hope you’ve prepped your little minion for the fact that now my dad isn’t around, he’ll be on his way out.”

“Believe me, Shiv, I’m not under any illusions about how long either me or Greg will be around now that Logan is gone.”

Instead of reassurance of his position, Shiv just offers him a bland smile – like he’s some nameless underling and not her soon-to-be ex-husband. His phone rings and he picks it up without even looking at who it is, just glad to not have to speak to Shiv anymore.

“Hey, it’s me,” Greg’s voice says from the phone Tom is pressing to his ear.

“Hey,” Tom says and he can feel himself relaxing just from speaking to him. “What’s up, we’re on our way into the office now.”

“You are?” Greg asks, surprise colouring his voice. “I mean, that’s good. I just… really wanted to check up on you. See if you’re all right. Are you?”

“Yeah. Not really,” Tom says, aware of Shiv pretending not to be listening to his side of the conversation. “Shiv and I will be in soon though. Depends on traffic.”

“You’re with Shiv?”

“Yeah, not my decision really. I felt bad.”

Greg sighs in commiseration. “Oh. Do you want me to meet you in your office? Before you meet with the board and everyone?”

Tom hesitates, torn between seeming unbothered and the fact that he just spent an hour in the air with the corpse of his father-in-law. “Yeah,” he says eventually, voice cracking a little. “If you could, that would be… yeah, please.”

“Yeah, of course,” Greg says. “I’ll see you soon, babe.”

“Uh-huh. Yeah. Bye,” Tom mumbles, trying not to colour at the endearment and praying to everything that Shiv’s hearing wasn’t sharp enough to pick it up.

This thing between him and Greg isn’t that new but they’re trying to keep it as private as possible – and Shiv is the last person Tom needs to know, especially if they’re going to be going into divorce proceedings soon.

“Was that Greg?” Shiv asks, her eyes narrowed in distrust.

Tom nods, staring straight ahead at the leather of the passenger seat in front of him. “Yeah.”

“What did he want?”

He shrugs. “Nothing, just checking in, I guess.”

Shiv scoffs, but when Tom glances over at her, she’s staring at him with a calculating look in her eyes. He quickly turns back, stomach doing summersaults and she laughs. “Jesus Christ.”

“What?” he asks, busying himself with his phone so as not to look at her.

“Oh my God…” Shiv pauses and then laughs again in disbelief. “You’re fucking him? Are you fucking my cousin, Tom?”

A burning flush rises on Tom’s neck and travels up to his face. “It’s not… We’re not fucking.”

“But you’re what? Dating? Going steady?” Shiv taunts. “You know he’s going to drop you as soon as you’re of no use to him anymore?”

“What, like you did?” Tom shoots back and Shiv sucks in a sharp breath. “Why does it matter to you?” he sighs. “Why do you care?”

“What? What do you mean why?” she sputters.

“Why?” he repeats again. “You don’t care about me anymore, right? You don’t want me anymore – if you ever did – why shouldn’t I… Why shouldn’t I get to be happy for once?” Maybe it’s cruel, saying these things to her less than an hour after her dad died, but a small, spiteful part of him wants to hurt her. “Why are you the only one who’s allowed to have love, Siobhan? Why is it always you who gets to do what they want? All I wanted from our entire fucking marriage was for you to love me. But you didn’t. But he does.”

There are tears stinging his eyes and he exhales shakily as Shiv stares at him, spots of colour high on her cheeks.

“He loves you?” she says slowly, like she can’t quite believe what she’s saying.

“He does. He… we’re happy, Shiv. I want you to be happy, why can’t you want the same for me?”

Shiv sniffs and shakes her head. “I do. I do… But this… This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This isn’t how things were supposed to go, Tom! We were supposed to be happy, and I was supposed to get Waystar, and my dad is supposed to be alive!”

Her tears finally get the better of her and she lets out a loud sob, turning away from Tom and covering her mouth with her hand. Tom reaches out hesitantly, settling his hand on her shoulder and this time she doesn’t pull away. She doesn’t turn around again so they just stay like that: Shiv crying into her hand and Tom keeping his on her shoulder.

They’re less than five minutes away from the Waystar building when Shiv finally stops looking out the window and faces him again. Tom offers her a tissue, which she uses to wipe at the make-up under her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “I didn’t… That wasn’t the time -”

A loud sniff interrupts him. “I don’t think there’s ever a time to tell your ex-wife you’re fucking her cousin,” Shiv says with a wet laugh.

“I’m not...” Tom starts but then decides it’s not important. “Yeah. I know. Are you going to be okay?”

Shiv shrugs as they pull into the underground car park. “Sure. Maybe. I don’t know.”

Tom nods, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Yeah.” She stays motionless in her seat. “Shiv?”

“What, Tom?”

“Why… why did you want me here?”

He looks up from his nervously twisting hands and Shiv offers him a weak smile. “I don’t know,” she says. “I guess I thought… We used to be able to comfort each other.”

“Yeah, yeah we did,” Tom says quietly. “Bye, Shiv.”

She doesn’t say anything, just nods as he opens the door and slides out of the car. He swipes his way into the elevator, mashing the button to his floor so hard his finger hurts for most of the ride up to the top of the building.

The top floor is an unholy mess of ringing phones and scurrying secretaries and Tom wordlessly moves through the frantic mess of employees to the office he is still afforded here even though he’s usually at ATN.

The blinds are down, but the lights are on and Tom knows that Greg must be waiting in there for him. He has his hand on the door when someone calls his name.

“Tom,” the person calls again and there’s Stewy, looking about as ruffled as Tom has ever seen him, striding towards him. He’s still impeccably dressed of course, in a dark maroon suit, but his eyes are dark with worry and there are deep lines around his mouth.

“Stewy,” Tom says tiredly. “Hi. You heard?”

Stewy nods, dislodging one of his perfectly styled curls. “Obviously. Everyone in the whole fucking world has heard by now.”

“Right… Well, I don’t know if there’s anything I can help you with because I’m not on the board,” Tom says but Stewy interrupts him with a wave of his hand.

“It’s not the board. It’s… have you seen Ken?” he asks and his voice is laced with genuine concern.

“Yeah,” Tom says. “I saw him at the airstrip.”

Stewy sounds a little desperate when he asks: “How was he?”

Tom shrugs. “His dad died, man. He seemed pretty together though. He should be on his way in.”

“Right, okay. Thanks.” Stewy is gone before Tom can process he’s leaving.

With a deep sigh, Tom lets himself into his office. Greg is sprawled on the couch but scrambles to his feet when Tom enters.

“Hey,” Tom says quietly, locking the door and ensuring all the blinds are down again. He’s barely turned around again before Greg has his arms around him. “Hey, honey,” he says again dumbly, returning the embrace.

Greg kisses the top of his head and disentangles himself just enough from Tom to lead them both over to the sofa. “How are you?” Greg asks into Tom’s hair, as Tom lets himself slump against Greg, letting the other man hold him up.

“I… I don’t know,” he says. “He’s gone and… without him I don’t know where I stand.”

He feels Greg nod, chin moving against the top of his head. “We’ll be okay, Tom. We will.”

Embarrassingly, Tom feels some tears slide down his face, dripping off the end of his nose and onto Greg’s shirt. “You, ah, you should probably start looking for a new person to latch onto,” he tells Greg, his voice thick. “I won’t be much use to you now he’s gone.”

“Tom…” Greg’s grip on him tightens painfully. “You’re not – I’m not with you for what you do for me. You know that right?”

“Sure,” Tom says. Because it’s true. He does know. He trusts Greg more than he probably should, loves him more than he ever thought he would. And he usually manages to believe Greg when he tells him he loves him too. “I know. It’s just in the car… Shiv said –“

“Whatever she said, she’s wrong,” Greg cuts him off. “She doesn’t know you and she definitely doesn’t know me. She… she wouldn’t even speak to me at the wedding - how could she know what I feel? But I love you. I really do.”

“I love you too,” Tom says, sitting up so he can kiss Greg, even though his face is wet and he’s still sort of crying.

Greg cradles his face and smooths his thumbs over Tom’s cheekbones, under his eyes where the wetness has gathered. “I called Grandpa Ewan,” he tells Tom.

Tom turns his head into Greg’s hand, kissing his palm. “How did he take it?” he asks into Greg’s skin.

A gusty sigh escapes Greg. “I don’t know. He’s sad, I think. He said something about how Logan’s passing is the end of the perpetration of his empire of evil, but then he said he was coming down to New York. He had a complicated relationship with Uncle Logan.”

“Didn’t we all?” Tom mumbles and lets Greg kiss him again.

They reposition themselves so that Greg is pressed more firmly into the corner of the couch, Tom curled against him, hands resting on Greg’s waist, under his jacket where Tom can feel the heat of his skin. An exhausted silence settles between them and Tom allows his eyes to slip shut. Greg rubs little circles into the back of Tom’s neck.

“Was it bad?” Greg asks eventually, his voice hesitant and somehow sounding much younger. “Being on the plane when he… when it happened.”

“I heard his ribs breaking,” Tom says numbly. “When they were doing CPR. They have to break them, to be able to push down far enough. But… I heard it. I heard it, Greg. And I had to…”

He trails off and Greg kisses his head, still holding him securely against his body.

“I had to drag him out of there,” Tom whispers. “He collapsed in the bathroom and they opened the door but the attendants… they couldn’t lift him. And Karl and Karolina and Frank couldn't… so I had to. He wasn’t breathing, I could feel it. I think he was gone already but I had to drag him out so they could work on him.”

“Oh, Tom,” Greg says, so softly that Tom barely hears him. He sounds like wants to say more but both of their phones start buzzing at the same time. “Hello?” Greg answers his phone. “Hi Frank, yeah he’s here. Okay, yeah. Yeah, we’re on our way.”

“What did he want?” Tom asks, staring at Karl’s name on his phone which is still ringing.

“They want all the executives in for a meeting before the board convenes,” Greg says and Tom stands with a groan, beginning the arduous process of straightening his suit and putting himself back together.

“Come on,” he gestures to the door and then reaches for Greg’s hands. “We need to go.”

Greg takes his hand and squeezes it gently. “Are you going to be okay?”

Tom takes a moment to consider everything that has happened in the last day, everything he’ll be facing in the coming days. “I have you, right?” he asks.

Taking a step closer, Greg nods, ducking his head to look Tom in the eyes. “Yeah. Of course you do.”

“Then I will be,” Tom says and kisses him. “I’ll be okay.”

“Yeah.” There’s a small smile on Greg’s face. “Me too.”

[gregoftom]

Good God the camera works in ep 4!!!! The way shiv was talking and then it focused on tom coming in, to shiv's shock expression and then again to tom going to another room and then showing greg coming behind him, even turned his head towards shiv (!), but shiv immediately pointedly turning his head the second greg comes through, and then the focus is only on shiv's face while greg following tom in the background becomes blurry. This must be deliberate I swear!!!

Also I know we all laugh at greg asking to become second in command, but why was his name even on that paper??? Surely it's not just about money/inheritance because I'm sure that one piece of paper doesn't cover all the inheritance logan would give to his family.... Artifacts? But what did greg get? They didn't really say except ask for his opinion when choosing for CEO in that room... I don't get it

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I KNEW YOU'D PICK UP ON THAT i fucking knew. you see. you see. you see. jesus. like. yeah. it's absolutely deliberate and i would really love for someone to explain to me why the fuck she can look at tom but simply must turn away as soon as greg walks in afterwards with him without saying the word affair. what is it about seeing her cousin walk in with her husband, arrive at logan's wake together, that makes her need to look elsewhere? it's ridiculous!!!!!!!!!

and when it comes to that paper i'm not exactly sure what greg's name on there means like, there are multiple things it could be referring to. it could be meta for the show itself like, telling us that greg will be instrumental in the episodes to come wrt the ceo spot/the battle for the company, it could be logan in one of his moments of loss of clarity, it could be logan being an asshole and messing with his kids, it could be logan just putting greg down wrt general inheritance, who knows. but greg bringing up it being about the position to me reads as though both he and tom decided they would go for it the night previous. bc tom suggests himself and gets beaten to fuck by karl, and greg suggests himself too and gets beaten to fuck by everyone in the room. no one takes them seriously but they both have to try because they'll keep each other safe if there's any possibility at all for either of them, if you get what i mean. as for what greg got in the end... i have no idea and that is a great point lmaosdjksdjsd rip

[saipng]

okay i’m now gonna give my personal take on the escape room scenarios:

connor and willa

as you walk in, connor immediately tells you both to sit back and relax cuz he’s confident he can solve it all by himself in no time (spoiler alert: he can’t). if you tell him he’s wrong at any point, he’ll get super offended and will refuse to participate any further, so willa has to talk him down. willa herself is actually pretty decent at escape rooms, so about twenty minutes later she starts giving him subtle hints (‘hey con, have you checked this drawer yet? maybe you should? oh what, there was a vital clue there!? well done, babe :)’) and, once you pick up on the pace of the things, it’s not a terrible experience.

verdict: you make it out of there before time runs out, though just barely, and connor will take most of the credit.

stewy and high!kendall

stewy takes the initiative and is actually really organized and proactive. you and him cooperate well. kendall just kinda - lingers somewhere in the middle, jumping up on furniture, messing around with the props, singing made up songs about the situation, and just being a general nuisance - but nothing you and stewy can’t handle. about halfway through though, kendall’s mood suddenly dips and he’s suffering a major comedown. stewy has to tag out to tend to him, so you’ll be left on your own for a while.

verdict: near the end, when you think all hope is lost, kendall, who’s just somewhat calmed downed and is beginning to sober up, accidentally uncovers an important clue you and stewy somehow missed and that’s what actually gets you out of there, with just seconds to spare.

stewy and sober!kendall

they spend the first fifteen minutes arguing about the approach to the situation, with kendall trying to be the leader and stewy telling him he’s acting like a dick. eventually, stewy concedes, but because he’s now pissed he just sits back and let’s kendall command you around the room. and kendall is NOT good at it at all (my man couldn’t figure out how to work his coffee machine, let alone an escape room). eventually he gets pissed at stewy for doing nothing and they start arguing again, but now it’s charged with this weird homoerotic tension that makes you feel like the third wheel.

verdict: you may or may not get out, that will largely depend on your personal skill at escape rooms because the other two will be useless.

tom and greg

no. just no. you’re done for. greg does try, bless his heart, and you and him might have figured something out together, but tom keeps dragging him around and focusing on all the wrong things and then blaming him when nothing seems to fit together. you can try to coordinate them all you want but it’s like herding cats - you’ll get them back on track and focused for five minutes and then you turn around and they’re back in some random corner staring at a blank wall, loudly debating whether something is a random smudge or the solution to the whole thing (‘if you look at it from this angle, it looks like the number four!’ ‘um… i don’t know, tom, i don’t see it-?’ ‘oh my god, greg, open you gigantic eyes for once-‘ ‘oh wait, yeah, yeah, i kinda see it now! maybe it’s a seven?’)

verdict: about halfway in, either one of them accidentally breaks something important and you get kicked out.

tom and shiv

shiv will take the reigns and starts ordering the both of you around. tom really wants to impress her and that’s why he’s somehow even worse at this than he would be normally. both of them tryhard at first but about twenty minutes in they lose interest and give up so they decide to wait it out, leaving you to do all the work. another ten minutes, and you hear them not so quietly arguing over their issues because ‘this escape room is like their marriage’ or something.

verdict: whether you escape depends solely on whether you actually try and beat the game alone or if you wanna try and meddle with their relationship instead. either way, no one leaves happy and everyone is emotionally drained.

gerri and roman

you think this would be the easy win, huh. and sure, gerri will be as helpful as she can be - at first. and roman will be the complete opposite. he will look at a single clue for half a second, decide the whole thing is dumb, and then go sit in a corner letting the two of you do all the work. ten minutes later, he’s bored so he starts pestering gerri. she waves him off at first, but another thirty minutes of that, and gerri is no longer paying any attention to any clue you try to show her. you’re not even the third wheel at that point - you’re not in the car at all.

verdict: you can try to escape on your own but the veil of sexual tension is so thick it’s actually physically obscuring your vision so you’ll probably be stuck there until the timer runs out. and it WILL be uncomfortable.

shiv and roman

i think this is a fun one because shiv, once again, will take the reigns. and roman, once again, will look at a single clue and then decide it’s dumb. but then shiv will start mocking him and teasing him for how he doesn’t have the brains for any of it and roman will start arguing right back. through the sheer power of spite and sibling rivalry, each of them will be desperate to outwit the other and they will constantly drag you from one corner of them room to the next to help them out. they’ll probably get caught up in another huge argument towards the end, but by that point you’ve all made so much progress you can easily finish the room on your own.

verdict: it will be loud and full of never before heard insults, but you get out in record time (compared to all the others) and this experience does bring you closer together, even if they refuse to acknowledge it.

[mischiefmanaged71]

The Love Hypothesis (7/22) - Stephen Strange x Reader

Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is a PhD student who wants to prove to her best friend that she has moved on and dating. With no way to prove it, she kisses the first man she sees, which ends up being none other than Dr. Strange, known as one of the most unapproachable and critical professors in the university.

A/N: AU! Stephen Strange is a Professor/Doctor at Columbia University and reader is a Ph.D. student (Reader - 28, Stephen - 34). Credits to Ali Hazelwood for the original story. This work is a piece of fiction. I have no ownership over anything, this is ff.

Pairing: Stephen Strange X FEM! Reader

Word Count: 2.3K

Series Masterlist

As the time drew close to 11:00am, Y/N was almost done with Tom’s report. Organised under titles, size 12 font in Times New Roman, each section devoted to its designated focus area. Coming round to enter her lab, she glanced around the room, recognising the lack of women present. Despite trying her most to clear through the constant struggle of being a woman in STEM, she still found herself in a majority-male laboratory. 

Her gaze fell on her lab mate, Greg, who planted himself on the chair opposite with an aggravated noise. “Everything alright?”

“Not. At all.” he grunted.

She offered a sympathetic look, “May I ask why?”

He made eye contact with her, leaning his elbows on the table as he gripped a pen tightly, “Your boyfriend happened.”

“Who?” she blinked and Greg all but, spat his name out.

“Strange.”

Chase, sat next to him, continued, “He’s on Greg’s dissertation committee.”

Her eyebrows raised, “Right. What happened?”

“He failed my proposal.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Greg.”

Greg ran a hand over his face, “This is going to set me back months. It’ll take so long to revise, because Strange just had to nit-pick. I didn’t even want him on my committee. Dr Xavier forced me to add him because he’s so obsessed with stupid computational stuff.”

Y/N sighed, not sure of what response she was supposed to give. “I’m really sorry to hear that.”

Chase cut in, wide-eyed, “Y/N, do you guys talk about this kind of stuff? Did he tell you that he wasn’t going to pass Greg?”

She gaped at him, “What? No. I-we don’t talk about that. It would be against regulations if he did.”

Greg continued on, “God. He is such a dick. Asshole.”

Y/N’s face hardened, hearing people talking about Stephen in that manner. From her end, they weren’t actually dating, but she still felt this sense of guilt and awkwardness, sitting here as they shit-talked her boyfriend.

“Did he tell you why he failed it? What do you need to change?”

“Everything. He wants me to change my control conditions, add another one, which will make the project more time-consuming. It’s not even just that-the way he said it-this air of superiority. He’s so arrogant and high-strung.”

Well, it wasn’t news, but it still hurt to hear. She wasn’t sure what else to say besides another apologetic look. “I’m sorry, that sucks.”

“Yeah, you should be.”

She narrowed her eyes, “Excuse me.”

Chase glanced between them, a tension filling the air. “You’re his girlfriend.”

“And? I am not him. I’m dating him. Do you see the distinction?”

“You’re fine with it all. How he acts - like an asshole on a power trip. You don’t give a shit about the way he treats people, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to stomach being with him.”

“Hey, now. Let’s not-”

Y/N stood from her chair, “No, Chase. Let him.”

Greg and Chase both paused, watching Y/N with a cautious look. 

“I didn’t fail you, Greg. That was Dr. Strange.”

“Maybe, but you don’t care that half of the department lives in fear of your boyfriend either.”

She clenched her jaw, leaning her hands against the bench “You know what your problem is? Instead of focusing on making your project better, you're too focused on your pride. Maybe that’s more to do with you, than a professor with a few suggestions.”

“You obviously don’t give a shit about anyone but yourself.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, “What the hell do you want?”

“Get him to stop failing us.”

She laughed, right in his face “Greg. You’re asking the impossible. How is that a rational response for you to have in response to Stephen failing you-”

“Stephen?” he repeated back, watching her meet his gaze and slink back to her side of the bench.

“Yes. Stephen. What else should I call my boyfriend? Professor Strange?” she narrowed her eyes in frustration.

“If you were a half decent person or ally to any grad, you would just dump him.”

“Do you realise how stupid you sound?” 

With no other reason to stay, Greg left the room and Y/N found herself inhaling deeply and allowing her eyes to fall shut.

“He doesn’t mean all of those things, at least about you. He’s just really upset about the review.”

She huffed, “Yeah, whatever.”

“It’s not personal. It’s just...Strange is notorious for failing projects. You know of his reputation, yes?” she nodded in response. “Now you guys are dating and...it shouldn’t feel like a matter of taking sides, but it can feel like it, you know?”

Y/N looked down, unsure of what to feel. Those words stuck with her for the rest of the day as Y/N ran through her schedule. Among her friends, Sam and James had unpleasant experiences with Stephen. After the initial shock of the news, they got over it and it seemed normal. Now, this new perspective shook her for a moment as she thought it over. Tugging her phone from her pocket, she ran through the contacts and to the one she saved under his name.

Y/N: Did you just fail Greg?

She didn’t expect a quick response, but her phone buzzed almost immediately.

Stephen: Y/N?

Y/N: Yes, it’s me. Did you fail Greg Cohen? I ran into him after his meeting with you and he was very distraught.

Stephen: I can’t discuss other grad’s dissertation meetings with you.

Y/N: I know. I’m not asking you to tell me anything. Greg already used me as a punching bag, so it was pretty clear how he felt.

Y/N: Because I’m your 'girlfriend'

Because of you. Because we're dating

A moment passed as Stephen was typing.

Stephen: Committees don’t fail students. They fail their proposals.

She huffed.

Y/N: Tell that to Greg, Stephen.

Stephen: I did. I explained to him the weaknesses in his study. He’ll write up a new proposal and then I’ll sign it off for his dissertation.

Y/N: So you admit that it was your decision to fail his proposal?

Stephen: Yes, currently, his proposal is not going to find anything of scientific value.

Y/N sighed, staring at the screen. How could he just ignore the fact of the situation? Fragments of her previous conversation flickered in her mind and she took the plunge.

Y/N: Couldn’t you have tried to word it in a nicer way?

Stephen: Why?

Y/N: I don’t know, maybe so he wasn’t so upset. He seemed very angry.

Stephen: My job isn’t to coddle grad students. He’s in a Ph.D. program. He’ll be inundated his whole life if he can’t take a bit of feedback on his project.

Y/N: Still, maybe try not to look like you enjoy delaying his graduation.

Stephen: The reason he needs to revise his proposal is because it’s set up to fail in its current state. My job on the committee is to provide feedback and that is what he got.

Y/N: Do you realise you fail more people than anyone else? Your criticism is unnecessarily harsh. You have to know how grads view you.

Stephen: I don’t.

Y/N: Antagonistic. And unapproachable.

A moment passed before he began typing again and the message flickered on her screen.

Stephen: My job is to ensure we nurture researchers and scientists, not clutter academia with terrible and mediocre scientists. I could care less about how your friends perceive me if I work up to standard. Not everyone has what it takes to be a scientist.

Y/N stared at the screen, her heart hammering in her chest with each word. She had barely slept properly the last few weeks because of her report and extra work. Hearing those words repeated back to her was not only disappointing, but filled with a sense of inferiority as the words blinked at her.

She had to make this path especially for herself just to be accepted into a position in the program. So it was easy for her to simply leave him on read.

***

“Go right.”

“Got it.” Sam flicked the turn signal, “Going right.”

“Don’t listen to Steve. Go left.” Natasha said.

Steve leaned forward and swatted Natasha’s arm, “Don’t listen to her, Nat’s never been to this farm. It’s on the right.”

“Oh, my god.” Y/N exclaimed, “I’ve got Maps open and its says...” she trailed off, “its on the left.”

“Google maps is wrong.” Steve replied.

“It can’t be wrong.” Y/N’s face scrunched.

“What do I do?” Sam made a face to Y/N in the rear-view mirror as she held her phone. “Left or right, Y/N?”

“Right. If it’s wrong, we circle back.” She quickly shot Nat an apologetic look, but she knew Steve wore a smug look.

“That’ll make us late. God, I had these stupid picnics.” Sam groaned.

“We’re already one hour late. I doubt being any later will make a difference.” 

Her stomach grumbled after rushing out to meet up with the group. The argument with Stephen almost made her skip, but then they would all know. She could’ve used the time to work in the lab, but now she was here.

“Don’t worry, Sam. We’ll get there eventually. Oh god, why is it so hot? I brought sunblock, by the way. No one is going anywhere until they put it on.”

When the arrived, the picnic was bustling around, faculty members crowded around a station, grads mingling and playing sports. Making eye contact with Dr. Xavier, Y/N happily waved and smiled. Glancing over at the various games going on, she watched another group in a circle.

“What are they playing?” she squinted, the sun catching her eyes. 

Nat responded, handing Y/N the bottle of sunscreen “Ultimate frisbee. I don’t know.”

“Sounds fake.”

“You know what isn’t?”

“What?” she looked at Nat.

“Melanoma. Now, put the sunscreen on.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Y/N grinned, taking the bottle, “Is there any food left?”

“None if you don’t count corn bread.”

“Do not eat that.” Steve replied, “Jess said that a pharmacology major first-year sneezed all over it. Where did Sam go?"

“Parking-holy shit!”

“What?” Y/N jumped, looking around before returning to Nat, “What, Nat?”

“Holy. Shit.” she grabbed Y/N’s face and shoved her in the direction ahead of her. Her eyes widened, heart racing all too fast at the sight.

“Is that Strange?” Steve remarked, “Is that him running around shirtless?”

“Shit. Is that a six-pack?” Nat exclaimed, looking at Y/N with a bewildered look. Y/N stared in amaze all the same as he moved around under the sun.

“Is he actually sculpted that way?” Nat nudged Steve.

Sam arrived back, without food, of course. “Was that under his shirt the entire time he was destroying my dissertation? Y/n/n, you didn't tell us he was ripped."

Y/N was just as stumped, glued to the ground. Arms limp at her sides, she remained frozen while staring at his form. She had seen the outline of his body, but not-never like this. 

“Unbelievable.” Nat grabbed the bottle, squeezing the sunscreen onto her hands, “I’ll start putting on your arms and you do your legs.”

“Nat, calm down. I’ll get to it.” 

“Quick, before you get too much exposure.”

The others were throwing around questions about the actual studies on melanoma and skin cancer, but she wasn’t listening. Y/N was still absorbed in her boyfriend, forgetting to correct herself, and just where he had to be right now. She wished to be anywhere else right now.

Nat suddenly squeezed another large amount of slabbed it into her hand. “Hey!”

“There. Now you are protected against carcinoma. Sounds scary on its own.”

“Ugh. This is so oily.” Y/N groaned, “What am I supposed to do all of this? Where did Sam go?”

“He’s over there with Jordan.”

“Jordan?”

“Yeah, she’s a fifth-year-”

“Oh, my god, guys. Fix this now, Nat before I dump it on your head.”

Natasha rolled her eyes, “Alright. Alright, you are so dramatic.” waving her hand to someone behind Y/N, “Hey! Dr. Strange! Have you put on sunscreen yet?”

Y/N’s eyes bulged, wanting to hide as Nat continued to wave him over. In the span of a few seconds, she wished desperately to strangle her friend. Her brain told her not to turn around. “No.” she heard him say from afar.

Spotting the pile in Y/N’s hands, it was pretty obvious what Nat had intended as she smiled at Y/N knowingly. “You do realise how inappropriate this would be, right?” she hissed.

“Why?” Nat blinking at her innocently, “I put sunscreen on Steve all the time,” squeezing an amount and slapping his face. “I am putting sunscreen on my boyfriend. Do you think its inappropriate to protect him from getting melanoma?” Am I inappropriate?” she shone.

Y/N would murder her when they were alone.

Finally turning to Stephen, she met his eyes for the first time since their argument and it all seemed to dissipate away. She would have apologised, but this was out of her control now. Nat had a radar for this sort of thing now. She waved and he nodded, throwing the frisbee to Dr. Reyes, “I’m taking five!”

They were really doing this in front of everyone.

“Hey,” he said once he was close enough.

“Hey,” she tried to avoid looking at his chest but it was right there in front of her. “Can you turn around?”

He paused before following her request. “Duck a bit.” she suggested.

Soon enough, she was slathering the sunscreen on his back, trying hard not to think about all of the people staring at them. It wasn’t the first time she touched him before, but the intimacy of touching someone’s skin was a little uncomfortable in front of all these people. Many, of which, she knew. Faculty included. 

“This probably isn’t a good time, but I’m probably running out of apologies for these weird situations.”

“It’s fine.” she felt the vibration of his voice against her hand as she moved to cover his shoulder. 

“Really though. I don’t know what it is...” she trailed off.

“It isn’t your fault,” he continued, a slight change in his voice that she caught.

“Are you alright?” she froze up.

“Yeah,” he nodded, although she was hesitant to move on.

“How much do you hate this on a scale of the scenarios we’ve found ourselves in? Where does slathering sunscreen on you in front of the entire science cohort fall?”

“I don’t hate it. And this isn’t your fault. Again.” he repeated.

“This is probably the worst thing-”

“It isn’t, Y/N. These things will continue to keep happening.” he turned to look at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes at her discomfort.

“Figures.” she huffed, blowing her hair from her face, the breath brushing Stephen’s face. He stole some of the sunscreen from her palm and rubbed it on his chest. Dr Xavier was probably watching them, along with the rest of the Ph.D. program. “I am regretting befriending Nat right about now. She’s getting out of control.”

She ducked around to get the front of his shoulders, “Hey, at least that part of our plan is working out. The Department chair definitely can’t miss this. You looked like you were having fun.” brushing the sunscreen along his collarbone.

Her face burned, freezing as he paused “I meant playing frisbee. Or whatever.”

“Beats small talk.”

“Hey, you’re doing fine now.” she mustered a smile. “You must have played sports growing up, I suppose. Explains why you’re-”

“Antagonistic. And unapproachable?”

Her smile dropped, faltering to a guilt expression as she froze up. She looked down from her stance, “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to-”

Catching the slightest curve of his mouth, she tilted her head and huffed out a breathy laugh, “You little s-” she would have slapped the rest on his head if not for his grin that caught her off-guard. 

She shook her head. So what if he was attractive and handsome. That was a fact. Just an observation that she had taken into account. Nothing more. 

Once she was done with the sunscreen application, she rubbed her hands together, “Alright. Good to go, Dr. Antagonistic.”

“Thanks.” he remarked, “Thank Nat, I guess.”

“Not gonna happen.” she replied, a smirk on her face as she gestured for him to go back to his game.

“What do you think is next?”

“Maybe she’ll elevate her game.”

“Hand holding.”

“Fake-move in together.”

“Fake wedding.”

“Fake-honeymoon?”

Y/N laughed, but the way he looked at her threw her off. It was attentive and curious. The way one might focus on every word. 

“Hey, Y/N,” she turned to Tom who approached them. He too was shirtless and fit, and yet for some reason or another, she didn’t see to care.

“Hi, Tom. Loved your talk the other day.” she smiled.

“It was good, wasn’t it? Did Stephen tell you about our change of plans?”

Her smile faltered, “What change of plans?”

“We’ve made progress on the grant, so were going to Boston next week. We’ll finish setting up the stuff on the Harvard side.”

She slowly nodded, understanding and yet felt a disturbance as Stephen forgot to mention it. Or he chose not to. Either case, she was pushing it aside. He was a grown man and he didn’t necessarily have to tell her everything in his life. It wasn’t as if she were his real girlfriend anyway.

“That’s great news.” she smiled warmly, “How long will you be gone for?”

“Just a few days.” Tom’s tone was quiet, “Would you be able to send your report by Saturday so we can discuss it while I’m still here?”

Something sparked in her chest as she blinked at him numbly. She forced a smile on her face, “Sure, course. I’ll send it to you Saturday.” She surely wouldn’t sleep at all this week.

She mumbled under breath, “No problem.”

“Perfect.” Tom winked, but it was anything but. “You going back to play?” he turned to Stephen who nodded and followed.

Shuffling back to her friends was the awkward moment of scanning for watching eyes after what had happened.

“So, what’s he like?”

“Who?”

“Strange.” Nat asked, “I should say Stephen, shouldn’t I? You don’t call him Dr. Strange do you? Because if you’re into that-I do not need to know.”

“Natasha.” she blinked, aghast at the implication.

“Yeah, I’m curious. How is he any different when he’s with you? Or does he also critique the font size for the labels of your x and y-axis?”

A smirk appeared on her mouth as she imagined him saying just that. “No. Haven’t gotten that yet.”

“What is he like, then?”

“He’s...” she paused, staring off.

“He’s?” Nat pressed.

“You know.” 

“We don’t. There must be more than meets the eye. He’s so moody and negative, and angry-”

She wet her lips, interrupting Nat “He’s more than you guys think. He isn’t like that. He can be some of those things, sometimes. Just as the rest of us.”

“If you say so.” Nat shrugged, “How did you even meet? You never told me."

"We just talked and then got coffee. And then..."

"How does that happen?" Steve interrupted, "How does one accept a date with Strange? Before seeing him half-naked, that is. He's not exactly the most inviting character."

You kiss him. You kiss him twice and then he's helping you convince all of your friends that you're in love. He is saving you and buying you coffee. He's calling you a smart-ass and calling you out on your weirdly specific questions. And then you insult him and probably ruin it all.

"He asked me out and I said yes." She repeated to them, staring almost defiantly to make them believe it.

"You didn't meet on Tinder?"

She sighed, "No. I'm not even on Tinder."

"So...does that imply Strange was?"

She rolled her eyes, "No it does not."

"I suppose his profile would be very bland anyway." Nat remarked.

"Who is saying we met on Tinder?"

"Everyone. Someone said Craigslist." Sam cut in, tracking back to the group, although his gaze was set on Hayden Reyes in the distance.

"Craigslist?"

"Not saying that people believe it."

"Who are these people you're talking about? And why do they care about my relationship?"

Nat brushed her shoulder, "Don’t worry. This will all blow over and all the rumours will die. Dr. Moss and Sloane had a very public argument about..." She drew an arm around Y/N, "Hey. Everything will be fine."

"I know some people may be hyper fixated on this, but Steve, Sam and I - we are so happy for you." she added.

TAGS

@goldencherriess @severuined @thewinterpoet2 @pasta-warlord @typical-bistander @judig92 @captainbarness @gaitwae ​ @sleutherclaw @angstsfordays @mavsketch @mando-is-the-way @samisubi @liar-liar13 @evelynrosestuff @stanny-uwu @colorfuly-blog04 @frostandflamesfanfic @katsuphobic @fiadh-bell @awmysherl @sourgrapes-aa @orighami @apple-and-berry @blue-aconite @kaykay0315 @hunterofshadows04 @ohchoices @empty-canvas @99queenrory99 @savage-rhi

[mandareeboo]

SU Music Rankings

Bc I can and I wanna start some Disk Horse rip. These are all in order of preference, with explanations, etc. It’s a long bitch. That said, I’m not counting little short jingles or small joke songs like Little Butler. This is the meat and potatoes of SU music- just under 30 songs. I might do the rest if people like my takes lol.

I scored it mostly on three bases- how dear it was to my heart, how much/often I relisten to it, and also what it means to the plot. That said, little fun songs don’t automatically go farther down than big, plot-heavy songs either! It’s a strange little balance.

Special Note: I don’t dislike any of this music! I love SU and that includes its bumps and glitches. I just pick favorite children lol.

1.) Change

Was there ever a more Steven moment than when he wiped the blood off his face and kissed it into sparkles? I think not. 

If “Be Wherever You Are” is an ode to young Steven, then this is teen Steven’s. Talking about change, and how much and how little it can do. How he holds his arms up for Spinel to hug him, so trusting. How he seems able to just. Break into soft tears at will, and not to be manipulative- it’s just his kind nature. The warmth in his voice. Fuck yesssss.

2.) Change Your Mind

This song is only fifty five seconds and it’s EVERYTHING to me. It really felt like someone was speaking the words I’d always held deep inside of me, unsure of how to say. It feels like a goodbye to someone who never really loved me. 

As much as I enjoyed Future, if this was the finale of SU, I would’ve been perfectly okay with that.

3.) Drift Away

This song gave me legitimate shivers the first time I heard it, and it still haunts me to this day. Spinel stayed, and waited, and all she got was a transmission thousands of years later. Fuck.

4.) Here We Are In The Future

THE MOVIE IS SU AS ITS BEST AND I WON’T BE SWAYED ON IT. Steven being a teen who loves his weird family but is growing just a bit sarcastic to their drama. The adorable love he and Connie share. His slow realization that he will always be working, always have things to do, is both somber and real. The Crystal Gems won’t be safe with one epic battle. They’ll be safe with years of hard work and love. HIS LITTLE HANDSHAKE WITH AMETHYST.

This is a helluva bop and a great way to summarize the main character’s backstories.

5.) Let’s Only Think About Love

Did ya’ll know that Zach Callison killed his throat with that last note? He gave his all for this performance in a vocal range he no longer comfortably do and by god did it SHINE. The FLAIR. The FORESHADOWING. All of the Gems all being awkward about Rose and Steven trying to bring them to the present. Peridot having a mini-existential crisis in a cute yellow dress. I love Zach Callison’s normal singing voice but man is that a fucking bop. Nothing will ever beat it.

6.) Here Comes A Thought

This bad boy helped me out a LOT with some mental issues I was dealing with in high school. I was unmedicated, unsupervised, and full of anxiety. I’d have break downs when I tried to speak about certain things. I couldn’t function. This song inspired me. It helped me feel okay with my intrusive thoughts.

And the episode! -chef’s kiss-. Once again bringing up the morally gray area of training child soldiers. Connie expanding her social group. Steven’s trauma hauling ass in that second half. The ANIMATION. Stevonnie’s gorgeous singing voice. GOD yes.

7.) It’s Over Isn’t It?

Just barely squeaking above Stronger Than You, this ballad is everything gorgeous. The whole episode is. I think Mr. Greg stands in the top five of my episodes for the entire show. It even got nominated!

There’s just so much about this song that I love. The gentle melancholy of Pearl’s voice. How the crew had to redo the shots for this bit bc Deedee went so fucking hard. The hard cuts between Pearl, remembering the love of her life, and Steven, who has begun to feel like he took her away. I’d recommend this song to anyone, regardless of what they do or don’t know about SU, simply bc it tugs so many heartstrings of love, loss, and responsibility.

8.) Stronger Than You

Did you realize this episode aired SEVEN years ago? This bitch was what got me into SU! Hearing about Ruby and Sapphire made my little gay heart so happy inside, and then getting a whole song confirming that they were a couple, that their love powered the strongest Gem on the team? Aaaaaaaaa

To this DAY I get excited when I hear Estelle start singing. This song is timeless. This song will live in media history. God I fucking love this song.

9.) Other Friends

I’m not the biggest musical person, so I hadn’t heard of Sarah Stiles before her casting as Spinel, but JESUS CHRIST the lady went hard. She went SO fucking hard. Sarah Stiles started on 100 and somehow just kept CLIMBING. You can just hear the sheer manic energy building in her voice, the anger and resentment. 10/10 Sarah Stiles is a queen.

10.) Independent Together

This made the list entirely bc the crew was like “you’re gonna get a himbo ass Steven-Greg fusion singing with Opal while Garnet flies across the moon on Lion while floating” and I am forever thankful to them for it

11.) Who We Are

Bismuth deserved more songs. ‘Nuff said.

12.) Peace and Love (On the Planet Earth)

It Could’ve been Great is EASILY one of my favorite s2 episodes. I love the entire concept of this song. Of Steven making music to reflect how much Earth means to him and his family. Of him teaching Peridot some self-care. Also Peridot’s singing voice is really cute and squeaky. 

I know it’s silly, but I would’ve really enjoyed a flip around of this in Future! Like Peridot reminding Steven how much he loves music, that he needs to take time to relax for himself, maybe with a new verse or just a remix of the original song!

13.) Something Entirely New

I watched this episode as it aired, and I legitimately almost cried. I love Charlyne Yi’s voice so much ya’ll- her raspy, not perfect singing voice against Sapphire’s deep soothing lull is great.

And to have Ruby and Sapphire’s meeting be the way it was- for Ruby to bemoan Sapphire losing Homeworld, to being stuck with a single Ruby, while Sapphire is a noble who has always been taught everyone in her “caste” is vitally important (and has, in her own mind, taken that to mean every Gem, as she should) and how they come together and make each other happy. Good shit good shit.

14.) I’m Just a Comet

The fact that Greg’s music career never really blasted off pisses me off to this day bc Tom Scharpling’s voice is fucking BUTTER. Also the song really feels like a jab at his parents now that we know the kind of dynamic he had growing up. “This life in the stars if all I’ve ever known” is definitely him wiping away their existence after reminding them (and himself) the things they used to say about him.

15.) Do It For Her

This episode. This fucking episode. This episode got me permanently hooked on SU. I’d just binged season 1 and was kinda meh about it overall after the bop of Stronger Than You. “Oh,” I thought to myself, foolishly, “I’ll probably just casually watch this from time to time.”

Like three days later Sworn to the Sword aired and that was it. I was hooked! Pearl’s gentle training song turning darker and darker, Connie’s accompaniment from nervous to determined to fully into such a toxic mindset. The fact that SU had the BALLS to discuss the repercussions of training child soldiers, now and later. This episode was everything to me, STILL is everything to me.

Six years and well over 100 fanfics written later, I think it’s safe to say this show swallowed me whole and never let go.

16.) System/Boot.pearl_final(3)

I debated putting this on the list because it’s not anything crazy important, just a way to show things are Wrong, but I had to do it entirely bc Pearl is so damn SALTY.

Like telling us about the Gems makes sense, she felt like she was given a duty, but she went so damn petty. WHY is that Ruby alone. Gross. This Amethyst is a trash dump. Wtf are you people.

17.) Full Disclosure

This episode really feels like a turning point for SU. Before, the show had its dark moments- but now we’re in the thick of it, and it’s not going away. Full Disclosure felt like an rebuff to the idea of returning to any normal we’d established in season 1. Gems are actually a giant species now. Gems tried to kill us now. There’s this Yellow Diamond bitch who got namedropped. Something about a Cluster. 

The song itself is BALLER, with its ingenious use of Steven’s ringtone and photos as he tries to decide whether to clue in Connie on all this nonsense. Meanwhile we, the audience, already know damn well Connie about to yeet some common sense into him.

18.) What’s the Use of Feeling Blue?

I’mma admit it- I’m a Yellow Diamond stan. I’ve always loved her- her anger, her poise, her hardworking nature. I actively argued against the “Yellow Shattered Pink” theories back in the day. But, man, when this arc leaked? I got so overexcited I was too jittery to watch it for like two days. It’s easily my favorite arc of the series. The sheer alien nature of the zoo, the Famethyst, and absolutely Patti Lupone’s beautiful ballad. Goddamn. Yellow singing to Blue to try and help her regain her old status, the warble in her voice as she reminds Blue she misses Pink too, the movement of the bubbles as she talks about attack. It gives me shivers to this day. FUCK.

19.) Tower of Mistakes

This is, fun fact, that only SU song I have completely memorized. The story itself is kinda funny! See, we lost internet at my house for a solid 5 to 6 months when these episodes aired, so I only got a very brief window to view them all. But this was the first Amethyst song in a long while, and I didn’t want to forget it! So I keep replaying it in my head for ages. And that’s still definitely a thing.

Anyway will never not be sad that this entire song was about making it up to Garnet for Amethyst’s perceived slights with Sugilite (which was a two-way road), only for Garnet to pressure her into fusion later when pissed and never discuss it again bc Garnet probably never thought twice about it and Amethyst has the emotional openness of a clam that’s just been told its ugly. Helluva way to make someone feel like shit, G. Helluva way to bottle that shit, Ames.

20.) On the Run

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Amethyst! Needed! More! Songs! 

The dichotomy between Steven’s play and Amethyst’s honest desire to run away from home is so well-done, especially when you consider a lot of Steven and Amethyst’s actions are playing together. The song is also near and dear to me simply bc it’s my favorite Amethyst episode to exist (well, maybe second to What’s Your Problem, but not by much). Moments like these are all the proof I need that they were right to fuse first.

21.) Be Wherever You Are

This tune really just feels like an ode to who Steven was as a kid. Trapped on an island with no way home, and he’s just happy to be with his friends. The stars are beautiful and not oppressive. Also that one animatic with Lars and the Off Colors playing in the Homeworld Kindergarten to this music was iconic and made this song get stuck in my head for a solid month.

22.) Familiar

I ADORE how the crew use bright neon colors to show how alien Homeworld can be. And Steven recognizing that the Diamonds treat him how the CGs used to, and how prepared he is to “fix” a broken family. It’s a soft, gentle tune about melancholy. Also the Pebbles are beautiful.

23.) Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart

Such a cute little love ballad, but every time I listen to it now I just imagine the heart attack Rose must’ve had at the line “And if we look out of place/Well, baby, that's okay/I'll drive us into outer space.” like there’s a Vietnam war flashback if I ever heard one

24.) What Can I Do?

I’m kind of neutral on this one? Rose and Greg both have great voices, but the song itself lacks many lyrics. I think it was definitely a good way to show Rose’s flaws in thinking.

Also, I’m shocked they managed cram that much vaguely sexual innuendo into two minutes, followed by how Not Hetereo that dance between Rose and Pearl was, and not get their asses chewed by it. You go guys.

25.) Cookie Cat

I love a lot of the vibes this song has. The lyrics are so damn prophetic, but they also sound like the kind of weird 90s commercials I grew up on. It’s been like two decades since I saw the Shirley Temple commercial but I’ll be damned if I don’t remember “Animals crackers in my soup! Monkey and rabbits loop-de-loop.”

26.) Giant Woman

I am. NOT the biggest fan of Steven’s original singing voice. I feel bad saying that, since it was just Zach Callison as a kid, but he never jived well with me for some reason. So I wouldn’t listen to this on the fly. 

The song itself is still really good though, with all sorts of fun animation of Amethyst and Pearl being bitchy to each other. It’s a bit sad in hindsight to see tiny Steven trying to get his moms to get along. Ahh, season 1.

27.) Strong in the Real Way

This song has SUCH a strong start. Pearl reflecting on Sugilite’s problems, but the show making sure to show us that Pearl’s lack of enthusiasm towards her also lends itself to jealousy as well as just general malaise. How much she cares about Steven, and wants him to grow up strong. 

And then Steven just kinda. Ruins it? I appreciate his enthusiasm for tryna bulk up but to take what was starting as such a rich, personal song and broadcasting it to random strangers just makes me a bit sad. Almost a bit angry on her behalf?

28.) That Distant Shore

I KNOW this is gonna create some discourse, but I’m just not the biggest Lapis stan. I love her voice. I love the visuals of the song. And I get why she felt afraid and needed to flee.

But Lapis never got to take responsibility for her own actions. And, in the end, the song feels hollow to me- because we all know she’ll never talk to anyone about it, know she’ll burst back in and destroy the barn, and no one will ever question it. I like Lapis a lot, but I feel like her arc never was fully finished. She never got help. She never learned to feel safe.

29.) Dear Old Dad

I’ve yet to meet a single human being who likes this episode tbh. There’s some great discussion about what kind of parent Greg is from it, and what kind of dynamic he has with the Gems that he felt he had to fake an injury to hang out with his son. Honestly the first half was fine and dandy. It’s just that then they Greg just went out of his way to drag Steven away from missions and such. It never jived well with his character before or after.

Also, is it just me, or does Zach himself sound like he hates the song as he sings it? There’s no passion or heart in his voice. It sounds like they told him to read off cue cards and he did. Tom Scharpling’s best attempts didn’t save this one for being a skipper. But the episode, unfortunately, isn’t, so it gets a spot on here.

[reidgraygubler]

5 Times Aaron Hotchner Cares For You +1 Time You Care For Him

Title: 5 Times Hotchner Cares For You +1 Time You Care For Him

Request: kinda, not really

Couple: Aaron Hotchner/Reader

Category: Angst w/ the littlest bit of fluff

Content Warning: swearing (if any), several instances of injuries, assault, car accident, being sick (nothing serious, just a bad cold), gun violence (but no one actually getting shot), talks of near death experiences, canon consistent injuries (hotch's injuries from foyet), season 9 ep 5 spoilers/mentions, vague mentions of something bad happening to kids

Word Count: 5,601

Summary: the five times aaron hotchner takes care of you when you’re injured, plus the one time you take care of him when he’s injured.

A/N: this was writing for pom’s discord server fic swap! I was paired with the wonderful @ontheoddoccasioniwritestuff! I took a few of his favorite tropes and prompts he likes and came up with this! The first two instances there’s no relationship, but by the end it’s sort of an implied relationship. Also, I binged dharma and greg while writing this… So Hotch definitely has more of a domestic vibe in a few of the instances. thank you all so much for the support! i really do appreciate it. check out my masterlist!

{***}{***}{***}

One

It was a regular day. You stayed behind to help Aaron and Jennifer work over some cases. The extra pair of eyes would be nice, and maybe they’d be able to get home sooner rather than later. You knew it’d be a late-night no matter what. So you decided to work through your files quickly.

Although, you wished you’d slow it down a bit. You wished you slowed down after you moved a paper just the right way across your finger. A hiss came from your lips as you dropped the paper and file to the table.

“You alright?” Jennifer looked over at you as you stood up. Looking down at your fingers, liquid red came seeping from your finger. Your nose wrinkled as you looked at the injury. It took you a minute to realize what happened as you started at the minor injury across your finger.

“Papercut,” you winced as you looked between Jennifer and the cut on your finger. You brought your finger to your lips, sucking on the wound like a child would have done.

“I have bandaids in my office,” Aaron spoke, looking up from his file and right at you. You looked over at him, your finger still in your mouth. You felt a little weird staring at your boss and superior with your finger in your mouth. “Here, I’ll go get you one,” he looked up at you as he stood. You stared at him, watching him leave the conference room.

“I should go with him, right?” You asked, looking back at JJ. She looked up from her file and right at you.

“He offered you bandaids quicker than I could,” JJ laughed as she lowered her file to the table. You raised an eyebrow at her. “I’d go with him,” a smile grew on JJ’s lips as she looked back at her file.

“Right, I should,” you mumbled as you rushed to your feet. JJ grinned, watching as you rushed out of the room. You were quick as you rushed down the platform, going right to Aaron’s office.

“Unfortunately, I only have Batman bandaids. Is that alright?” Aaron looked up at you, holding a bandaid with Batman and Robin on it. You looked at him, feeling a small smile grow on your lips before nodding.

“Batman will work just fine,” you laughed as you met Aaron in the middle of his office.

“I don’t have anything to clean it with either. So you’ll just have to go to the bathroom. Next time I’ll be better prepared.” Aaron laughed as you took the band-aid from him and looked down at it. “Jack’s the one who picked the theme of the band-aids… Insisted that superheroes help heal all owies.” Aaron laughed again as he watched you examine the theme.

“Oh, no, really. Batman is perfectly fine," You spoke as you peeled the band-aid open and put it over your cut. “And, who said there would be a next time…?”

Two

You sat at the table, sweat pouring off you, while you somehow shivered like a leaf in the wind. You were simultaneously hot and cold, and you couldn’t stop your nose from running like a character in a Tom Hanks movie. You didn’t even realize Aaron was talking to you, everything he said to you went in one ear and out the other.

“Are you even listening to me?” Aaron stopped talking about the case and looked right at you. You looked up from the table and at him.

“Yeah, yeah you said something about…” Your words trailed off, just like any other thought you had at that moment.

“That’s not even close to what I said,” Aaron spoke as he stared at you. He placed the file he was holding on the table and stepped up to you. “Are you feeling fine?”

“I feel great, Aaron. Really. Let’s just get back to work so we can go home,” you rambled as you tried to hold down a cough. Aaron looked down at you as he placed the back of his hand on your forehead. To anyone on the outside, our relationship was strictly professional. But behind closed doors, you both had a pretty simple and normal relationship. It would have seemed weird only to the people in a work environment. But you were used to it and love that side of him.

“Nope, you’re going to the hotel. You’re burning up.” Aaron folded his arms over his chest as he stared at you.

“But I feel fine.” “You’re burning up.”

“But-”

“You’re going back to the hotel,” he spoke sternly, "Don’t even think about calling Garcia to spy on the case. Go back to the hotel, and get some rest.” Aaron looked down at you. You stared up at him, trying to hold back the sneeze or hold down the cough that was making you suffocate.

“I feel… I feel…” Unfortunately, you were cut off by a sneeze, then a cough, and then another sneeze, “Fine!” You tried not to shout, but at that point, you had never felt so… defeated. So you finally let your shoulders fall as you looked up at Aaron. “I’ll go back to the hotel,” you grumbled before grabbing your things.

“Call me if you need anything, please.” Aaron stared at you as you struggled to put your jacket on. He was quiet as he walked over to help you, grabbing a sleeve to your jacket and slipping it on you. You looked up at him with dewy eyes.

“Be safe out there, please,” you quietly pleaded. Aaron pressed his lips to your forehead, which he would regret because of how sweaty you were. You were happy it was just you and Aaron in the precinct, as all the other members of the team were at separate locations.

“Let me know when you get to the hotel.” Aaron walked beside you out to the parking lot. You looked up at him and nodded. “Get all the rest in the world, and drink plenty of fluids.” He looked down at you as he pulled the door open for you.

“Okay, Doctor Reid,” you scoffed and glared at him as you slipped into the car. Aaron returned the glare before pushing the door to the car shut.

The drive to the hotel was quiet, and thankfully pretty quick. You weren’t sure if you were happy to sit this case out. Sure it was nice to have a break from the stress. But you did enjoy being with the team and actually working.

When you finally got to the hotel, you were quick to change from your business-work attire and into your pajamas. You clicked the TV on and laid in bed. You weren’t sure when you drifted off, but you awoke to the door of your room clicking shut, and in a puddle of your own sweat.

“It’s just me,” Aaron spoke into the darkroom. You reached over and blindly turned the lamp on. Aaron was standing at the foot of the bed holding two paper bags in hand. “Sorry to wake you,” he whispered as he cringed. You assumed you looked like a mess as you sat up. You felt like one at least.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t restful anyway,” you sighed as you rubbed your face. It was an obvious lie too. You hadn’t slept that hard since before you started at the BAU. Aaron knew for a fact that you were sleeping pretty hard. The line of drool coming from your mouth, the exhausted look in your eyes, and the indentations in your skin from where the blankets were indicated just how hard you were sleeping.

“How are you feeling?” Aaron asked as he placed the bags on the table. You watched as he pulled out a bottle of orange juice, a box of popsicles, and a bowl of soup.

“Like I ran headfirst into a brick wall then hit by a semi-truck.” You spoke truthfully. Aaron raised an eyebrow as he walked over to you with the soup in one hand and the orange juice in another. “It’s probably a good thing I didn’t stay at the station with you.”

“Well there was a reason why I sent you back here,” Aaron laughed as he placed the two items on the nightstand beside you. “I also got you NyQuil and Ibuprofen. And, I can get you ice from the machine down the hall,” he continued as he sat beside you on the bed.

“You’re the best,” you whispered as you picked up the soup. “How’s the case going?”

“It’s going. There’s been another victim,” Aaron honestly answered. You frowned as you looked away from the soup and up at him.

“I wish there was something I could do to help.” And it was true. But there was a little bit of a lie in your words. You’d much rather stay in the hotel room wrapped up in blankets watching movies on your phone.

“You’re helping by staying here and getting rest. We don’t want Reid overreacting to you being with the rest of us,” Aaron laughed as he looked at you. You laughed and nodded.

“You’re right, you’re right,” you sighed and sat back in the bed, “You should get rest too. You’ll have an early morning….”

“Now… I’m the one who’s taking care of you,” Aaron scolded. You stared at him before blinking slowly. “I’m at least going to shower first. You better be asleep by the time I get out.”

“Can do, Sir… But only if you give me that bottle of NyQuil first.”

Three

“Get down!” You shouted as you looked at the victim. The little girl looked over at you with terror in her eyes. You looked at the little girl, then up at the unsub. “Let the girl go, and maybe we can talk about a deal,” You spoke softly as you lowered your gun. Your partner in crime and in life, Aaron, appeared by your side, his weapon still in hand.

“Get out of here,” the unsub muttered as he shoved the little girl towards you and Aaron. The little girl went right to Aaron’s arms, causing you to look over at him.

“Take her, I got this,” You whispered as you nodded to the girl. Aaron wanted to argue, but he knew it was useless. Aaron glanced at you one last time before lifting the girl up and leaving.

“Look, I’m putting my weapon away,” You looked back at the unsub as you holstered your gun. The unsub looked at you for a moment before tricking you. The way the unsub moved made you think he was going one way, when in reality he went the other.

Before you knew it, the unsub threw a fist at your face before shoving you up against the wall. If you weren’t sitting on the ground, you would have chased after him. But you were too busy recollecting yourself to bother. It was a shock and everything happened so quickly. So it was a relief when you heard Aaron’s booming voice renter the room.

“Stay down!” Aaron yelled as he looked down at the unsub. You sat against the wall, your hand over your eye where the unsub punched you. Aaron was quick as he put cuffs on the already down unsub. The way Aaron glanced over at you worried you a little bit. You could tell there was a tiny bit of worry in his eye. You two would have to wait till other members of the team showed up before anything would happen.

“I’m fine, Aaron,” you mumbled as you stumbled to your feet. Aaron glanced down at the unsub before going to you to help you to your feet. “I said I was fine,” you whisper once you were standing behind him.

“You go outside, and get yourself some help. I’ll be right behind you with him,” Aaron’s grip on your arm was tight as you stood. You glanced at Aaron with a raised brow.

“I’m fine, Aaron,”

“Just listen to me,” Aaron insisted as he guided you towards the door. You looked at Aaron and the unsub one last time before going outside.

The rest of the team was by your side, bringing you to an ambulance.

“Where’s Hotch,” Emily asked as one of the EMTs helped you. You graciously took the ice pack from the EMT and held it to your face.

“He said he’d be right behind me. Is the little girl okay?” You asked as you worried more about the little girl, rather than yourself. Emily gestured over to where the little girl was reunited with her family. A wave of relief washed over you once you saw the family back together.

Aaron was quick to your side when he was outside. You didn’t want to question why he took so long inside with the unsub. You were just happy he was back beside you.

“Bastard packed quite the punch,” you nervously chuckled as you looked to the ground. Aaron leaned against the ambulance rig before looking over at you.

“Next time I’m staying with the unsub,” Aaron muttered as he rested a hand on your shoulder. You looked up at him as you dropped your hand and ice pack from your face.

“You know, Aaron,” you started but let your words trail off with a chuckle.

“Are you going to finish that thought?” Aaron asked as he raised an eyebrow at you. You laughed again and shook your head.

“It’s no big deal that I got punched by an unsub. It wasn’t the first, and it most certainly won’t be the last time it’s happened,” You spoke softly as you tried to reassure your partner. Aaron breathed out a laugh and nodded.

Four

The unsub was cornered. Stuck between you, Aaron, and a brick wall with no way over it. You and the team had profiled everything about this guy perfectly. Or so you and Aaron had thought. You hoped there was an easy way for this to end. But you ended up being wrong when he raised his weapon in your direction. Aaron was doing everything he could to talk the unsub of the edge, to get him to lower his weapon. But it all ended up being for nothing.

For a brief moment, you weren’t entirely sure what had happened. All you knew was there was a loud bang, followed by a second bang, followed by you fell back to the ground. The wind was knocked right from your lungs, and breathing seemed to be a chore instead of a freewill thing. A sudden pain was in your chest, and sitting up was the furthest thing from your mind.

“Are you alright?” Aaron looked down at you with wide eyes.

“Am I dead?” You asked once you were able to take a deep breath. It was still a struggle for you. Aaron offered you a hand to help you sit up. You looked up at him before looking down at the bulletproof, kevlar vest. A bullet was lodged in the vest, saving your life.

“No, you aren’t.” Aaron helped you take the vest off. You sat back against the wall, the pain in your chest only growing.

“Are you sure?” You asked again, looking at Aaron with a small, but nervous, smile. Aaron returned the look with a raised brow, silently telling you now was no time for joking.

“You’ll have a bruise on your chest, but you should be fine. I would still get it checked out, just in case.” He added before helping you to your feet.

“Is he dead?” You looked down at the ground, your eyes instantly going to the cold body of your unsub. Aaron looked over at you with a crease in his brow and a solemn look in his eye.

“I couldn’t take any chances that he’d try to kill you. He’d already shot at you once.” Aaron explained once you had realized he’d killed the unsub. You understood why he did it, though. And frankly, you’d do the same if your places were swapped, you thought.

“Are the rest of the team and the police on their way?” You asked, already assuming the answer.

“Called them when you were down. Should be here at any minute.”

Five

“Are you alright?” Aaron asked as he looked over at you. The expression that he wore on his face was… exhausted and sad. You were sure you had the same expression, more on the sadder side. This last case was… a rough one to say the least. You tried not to think about the details of it, but all you could think about was Jack, and your nieces and nephews, and their safety. But it was hard when that was the only thing that occupied your mind on the ride home.

“No,” You muttered as you looked over at him. It was hard for you to hide the tears in your eyes. “I just wish there was more we could do,” You sighed deeply before bringing a hand to your face.

“We did everything we could do. You know that,” Aaron whispered as he looked over at you. You glanced at him, noting that he was still looking at you. “It’s always hard to know how things like this play out.” He added as he reached out to hold your hand. The grip he had on your hand was firm, tight enough to let you know he was there.

“No, no I know… It just… Sucks… I couldn’t even imagine being in the position as those parents.” You shivered with your words. Aaron glanced at you. You wiped your cheeks and shook your head. “Sometimes I wonder why I’m still even in this occupation. You ever wonder that?” You asked as you looked up at him. Aaron’s jaw steeled as he kept his eyes on the road. “Because, like… To me… I don’t know… With all the shit we see… Sometimes I’d rather just stay home with Jack,” You concluded with another sigh. That time Aaron looked over at you with a certain sadness in his eyes.

“I understand.” Aaron nodded. You weren’t sure about his tone. Though there was some honesty, at the same time you picked some uncertainty. You knew how long he’d been in the BAU, and you knew it’d be an even longer time before he left. He’s seen some shit. And, well, been through a lot of it as well. He’d fallen victim to a number of unsubs and lost more than one thing.

“You’re bad at this.” You stared at him as you pressed your head into the headrest. Aaron had a sad smile grow across his lips before glancing at you.

“I’m just a sounding board.”

“But… But you’re also my boss… And my partner… You should be more than a sounding board, Aaron.” You pointed out as you sat up a bit. “I might take some time off. This case really… It’s really affecting me in a bad way.”

“I’m sure Jack would love that. And Jessica,” Aaron laughed sadly as he glanced at you. “I’m always here for you. You know that. And if you feel like you have to take some time off, then I’ll be by your side then too.” He glanced over at you. You swallowed roughly before nodding.

“I’ll have to tell my boss when we get back to the office,” you laughed lightly. Aaron returned the laughter and shook his head.

“Don’t worry. He already knows.”

Plus One

When Aaron had gotten home from the hospital, you made it a point to take as much time as needed off so you could help him. Part of you thought everyone just assumed you were the one to go to Aaron’s apartment to help him. Of course, it was a fair assumption.

It was a rough scene when you arrived at Aaron’s apartment. It was a mess, but you partly expected that. It was more of a cluttered mess, with Jack’s toys and Aaron’s files strewn around the place. Maybe you’d help the pair out by cleaning up a little bit for them, too.

Jack was with his Aunt Jessica for the time being. He didn’t need to be exposed to the injuries and pain his father was going through. It wasn’t fair to the young boy. Jack had already gone through so much… What, with losing his mother, and nearly losing his father?

You quietly brought your go bag and backpack up the stairs and towards Aaron’s room. This wouldn’t be the first time you’ve spent the night at his house, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Although this time was different.

“What are you doing here?” Aaron asked as you entered his bedroom. You looked down at him with confusion and mild anger on your face.

“You… You had no one to take care of you,” You whispered as you looked at him. Aaron’s features softened slightly, but you could still see his own confusion and annoyance on his face. “What? With Jessica taking care of Jack, and the team off doing… team-y things… I figured I’d help,” you shrugged as you dropped your bags to the foot of Aaron’s bed.

“I don’t need anyone taking care of me. I can do it myself,” Aaron stubbornly refused your offer. Although it wasn’t an offer. You were determined to help him whether he wanted it or not.

“Don’t be silly, Aaron,” You crossed your arms over your chest as you stared at Aaron, “I’ll take care of you." You looked down at Aaron as he readjusted his position. You grimaced as Aaron winced from pain. You were quick to his side, trying to help. But it was clear Aaron didn’t want it. You’d be lying if you said his refusal hurt your heart.

“It’s rotten work,” Aaron said once he was finally in a comfortable position. You looked down at him, feeling your face fall slightly from a sudden sadness.

“Not to me… Not if it’s you,” You whispered softly before taking Aaron’s hand into yours. Aaron looked up at you, a certain pain in his eyes. You didn’t question it as you looked at him. “Please, Aaron… Let me help you… The team doesn’t need me right now. But you do,” You kept your voice low as you worried it’d crack.

Aaron looked back up at you, watching as tears fell from your eyes.

“I won’t be easy on you,” Aaron looked at you as he spoke. You smiled softly before nodding.

“That’s okay. I’ll help you. That’s why I’m here,” You nodded before you brought his hand to your lips. Your lips rested right on the back of Aaron’s hand as you stared at him. “Think of it as payback for all those times you’ve helped me. It’s only fair.”

{***}{***}{***}

Of course, you went into this thinking it’d be easy. You thought that Aaron would help you help him. The first day was easy. But the following days were rougher. You weren’t expecting Aaron to argue with you. It was a fight to try and convince him he needed help.

Like today, Aaron had to go to the bathroom. And when you went to help him, he fought. You loved him, that was why you were helping him. But he was beginning to test your limits.

“Please stop fighting me on this, Aaron. I know you know what’s best for you, and you know yourself better than I know you… But you have to take your medicine and get rest,” your voice wavered as you looked down at the man. Aaron looked up at you, a scowl on his face and a stone-cold glare in his eyes.

“I don’t need or want your help,” Aaron hissed as he pulled his arm from you. You stared at him, watching him wince as he adjusted the blanket over his legs.

“If that was the case then you would’ve pissed the bed,” you scoffed as you stared at him as you folded your arms across your chest. Aaron looked up at you, the hardness on his face softening a little bit. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me. But you made it very clear that you don’t.” You returned the glare before leaving his bedroom.

You quietly left the room, resigning to the living room where you had bedding set up on the couch. All of the belongings you had brought over were strewn across the coffee table. Various case files sat open, highlighters and pens sitting on them. They were files you were helping Aaron with so he wouldn’t fall behind workwise.

With a deep sigh, you sat on the couch, pulling a blanket around your body before you picked up a file. You worked in silence, but you were on high alert waiting for a call of help. But Aaron was stubborn, you knew there’d be no call.

You wished you could just help Aaron without the fight. It was exhausting for both you and Aaron. The days the team had off, a few of them would visit and help out with what they could. But Aaron still refused anyone’s help. You could tell that it was even frustrating for the team. And they could tell it was frustrating for you when you faked a smile as you exited Aaron’s room. You had nothing better to do than refuse their help when they offered.

You couldn’t help but let out deep, frustrated sighs as you continued to read over files. Some things didn’t make much sense, so when you needed help in that area, you would give a call to Emily or Penelope for the help. Thankfully they were able to quickly lend a hand.

Time was quick as it ticked by. You weren’t even sure what time you had started, but you knew it was late. Sleep would never find its way to you though. No you were too busy staying away, waiting for Aaron’s calls of help.

“You’re still working?” Aaron asked from behind you. That was when you finally looked up at the clock and saw that it was 3:30 in the morning. It was probably a good thing that Aaron came out at the time he did. You needed a long break, and some sleep.

You looked away from the file and over at Aaron. He stood a few feet away from the couch, his robe hanging off his frame as he stood. That reminded you that you really needed to change out of your day clothes and into your pajamas.

“Well when you’re the one who constantly works and you’re out sick… I’m the next best person since I know everything you do. So I figured…” You shrugged looking back down at the file on your lap and highlighter in hand. “And you wouldn’t let me help you.”

“That’s how you’re helping?” Aaron asked as he stepped around the couch to sit beside you. You looked up at him, watching him press a hand over his injuries.

“How else am I supposed to help?” you scoffed, looking over at Aaron again, “I mean, you know what’s best for you, Aaron. I’m just trying to help and follow what the doctors told you to do. You’re just too…” You let your words trail off, not finishing your thought. It wasn’t mean, you thought. But you didn’t want to take that chance.

“I…” Aaron started but failed when you cut him off.

“You almost died… Twice… All I want to do is help you. That’s all anyone wants to do, is help you.” Your voice broke off at the end. You had given up the fight. There was nothing left in you to keep going. So, you looked away from Aaron and tried to ignore the tears rolling down your cheeks.

Aaron silently reached out to hold your hand. You looked at him, your eyes wide as you stared.

“I’ve just never had help with…” Aaron’s words trailed off. You blinked slowly as you turned to face him more. You watched as he struggled to stand, and you could tell that he was trying to hide the real pain he was actually in.

“Come on.” He gently pulled your hand as he stood. You looked at him, your eyes wide and dewy. “The way you can help me is to lie in bed with me. You can keep working, or you can just lie beside me. That’s how you can help.”

“Aaron...”

“I don’t care what you have to say. You’re coming with me.” Aaron looked down at you with a furrowed brow. There was a certain softness to his features.

“Fine,” You whispered as you begrudgingly stood to your feet. Aaron looked over at you before taking the lead back into the bedroom. You were both quiet as you slipped into the bed.

“Will you rest now?” You looked over at him as he laid beside you. You were too focused on being annoyed and wanting to help him that you didn’t even realize he had fallen asleep. You didn’t know when, but he had also had an arm thrown over your body. Usually the roles were reversed. And you realized just how much you actually loved Aaron, even though he’s stubborn and hard-headed.

if you want to be a part of a taglist or have any comments about this one shot, let me know here

[sigurdjarlson]

I think Logan could potentially be another person for Greg who take care of him. Other than the boar on the floor there were no bad moments between them and I still remember Nick saying that Logan feels like a father figure to Greg, more than Ewan. For him Logan probably feels very secure (he didn't go to jail because the company protected him, Logan never punished him for being with Kendall). There's also some level of weird unspoken respect there, although it's likely because they're not close enough and Logan isn't invested in him, but compared to Tom that kind of treatment is probably more preferable for Greg. And we all want a tomgreg roommate era but what if Logan helps Greg with a new place to live? He also can play the family card with Greg to manipulate him and if Ewan dies Greg will be more receptive to it. Or it can be genuine bonding after his death (I really want Ewan dead ok, for angst and breakdown). With the phrase "who's ever looked after you in this family" being the reason why Greg went with Tom, it gonna be the reason why he would leave him. Choosing between family and non-family? I feel like it can be a good arc, especially if Marianne gets involved.

(No matter how much I think about it, Greg's betrayal (and most likely it will be for Logan) makes a lot of sense for so many reason, no matter how predictable it is. There's a 98% chance it will happen, I only hope it makes sense and isn't the end of their relationships but I will support him in any case)

I’ve considered Logan being the catalyst for a betrayal before because you’re right there is a weird respect between the two of them or “kinkship” “inexplicable connection/bond” as Nic said

Sorry to make this a whole thing but I actually find Logan and Greg’a dynamic pretty interesting?

I think Logan would absolutely want to have Greg under his thumb so he can keep an eye on Tom. I also think even though Greg is more cynical than he once was he could easily be manipulated if you played the right cards and god knows Logan knows how.

Interestingly enough I think Logan does like Greg (this doesn’t mean he won’t throw him to the dogs or fuck him over of course I mean look at s1 Frank)

He wouldn’t let Greg keep tagging along if he hated him

The original pilot script isn’t canon but Logan does later canonically say he likes Greg I think it’s fitting. In the 1st draft of the pilot script he says to Shiv. “I like him [Greg]. I think he’s a hard little piece underneath. A Diamond in the rough.” Or something like that

He sees something in Greg.

and idk if it’s just me but sometimes I get the impression he’s trying to teach Greg how things are done in a couple of scenes (like the negotiation and when he lets him in on picking the next president)

But for the most part he’s been focused on his kids until now so it never went anywhere besides a couple scenes between them here and there. With his kids out of the picture for now? He might take Greg under his demonic little wing.

(It would also do a few things things (1) infuriate his kids (2) infuriate Ewan (3) give him a way to keep an eye on or control Tom if he can get Greg to stick with him (4) if Greg does turn out to be worth something to him on his own then that’s a benefit too)

Also I know people love to obsess over Greg’s nepotism for some strange reason. (Despite the Roy kids being the biggest nepotism babies) Greg did grow up less wealthy than the Roy’s.

He didn’t grow up poor like Logan by any means but he wasn’t living the Roy type of high life. “I’ll teach you how to be rich” Tom tells him because Greg didn’t probably live like he was..not in the way the Roys are at least.

With Nic saying Ewan was stingy with his money leaving his mom and Greg to try to ration what little he gave them and snippets from Jesse Armstrong like “it’s clear this guy [Greg] has never owned a pair of laced up leather shoes”

Greg wasn’t poor but he wasn’t Roy level rich either.

And he had his brief moment of homelessness too for a little while after he arrived there. Dude only had $20 bucks left and Shiv stole it lmao

The thing is Kendall wasn’t wrong when he said Logan was jealous of his children. He’s jealous they’re given everything (despite the fact that’s on him…) when he had to work and struggle for it all his life

And while Greg was obviously better off than Logan was he is still closer to his type of situation than his own kids. It wouldn’t surprise me if that makes Greg more..tolerable than his own in his own way sometimes?

Greg got his job through Tom (and technically Logan) so it’s not the same as Logan working his way up but it’s also not completely dissimilar either because Greg has struggled in ways that his own kids haven’t. And I think that would create a respect for him he doesn’t have for his own kids.

He can relate to Greg in that sense more than he can his own kids

Not completely because as I said Greg still had his privileges but he wasn’t the Roy kids. (Tom is in a similar situation. He clearly didn’t grow up poor but he didn’t grow up Roy rich either)

There’s another thing too.

Greg is..actually pretty damn bold with Logan sometimes?

And Logan is kind of weird. He seemingly likes when people stand up to him but he also hates it. It makes him respect them more even if he wants to strangle them at least.

Greg is still terrified of Logan though and Logan does dryly comment on that but I think he knows Greg can overcome his skittishness eventually or rather Logan can iron it out of him.

It’s rare the Roy kids actually yell back at Logan like Greg did on two separate occasions lmao. His “maybe it is how it works” he’s implying Logan might be wrong which…is very bold of anyone to do

Then of course his insistence Logan listen to him at the party in episode 1. Logan tries to blow him off and Greg quite firmly insists he listen and he does.

Logan claims he values loyalty but he’s proud of Kendall for betraying him (while being simultaneously furious)

“You’re not a killer, you have to be a killer.”

I think Tom betraying Shiv has only made Logan respect him.

And honestly I think Greg has the potential to be more of a killer than any of the Roy kids because he doesn’t have as many emotional attachments and baggage tied to the family because yes the Roy kids betray each other but there are still lines they won’t cross.

And Logan would like that potential for ruthlessness in Greg. He’d respect him for it.

And if Ewan dies? It presents Logan with an opportunity to swoop in and get Greg firmly on his side. (He knew what he was doing when he told Greg he likes him that one time)

Greg is going to be extremely vulnerable in this scenario and Logan it’s always would take advantage of that in a heartbeat.

And maybe he does genuinely like him but that doesn’t mean he won’t use and abuse him.

I guess what I’m getting at is I think that’s a perfectly plausible scenario and it’s painful to imagine but it would be interesting

[hardcorehardigan]

[Cover: GREG WILLIAMS/AUGUST IMAGES]

Tom Hardy interview and exclusive David Bailey shot

Tom Hardy interview and exclusive David Bailey shot

By DANIELLE DE WOLFE

02 September 2015

ShortList meets the British actor who took on the Kray twins and won. Plus an exclusive image of the actor taken by the inimitable David Bailey.

Interviewing Tom Hardy is not like interviewing other film stars. From the moment he arrives – alone, dressed down in hiking trousers and black T-shirt, puffing away on a complex-looking digital e-cigarette – it is immediately clear this is not someone who will be exhibiting any kind of on-promotional-duties polish. He is very, very nice (I get a hug at the end of the interview), but there is unmistakably a wired edginess about him. When we sit down, it starts like this:

Me: I’m going to start with an obvious question, which is… Hardy: Have you seen the film? Me: Yes. I… Hardy: Right, well that’s the first question, then. The second one is, “What did you think?” I tell him I loved it, and why, and he is pleased (“That’s a f*cking result!”). When we move on to me asking him questions, his answers – again, in contrast to other film stars, with whom the game is to get them to veer slightly away from prepared, succinct monologues – are smart and eloquent, but long, drawn-out and enjoyably all over the place, veering off into tangents prompted by thoughts that have clearly just formulated. At the end of our allotted time, we are told to wind it up not once but twice, and even then he is still going, launching into theories about American versus British gangster films and life and humanity and such things (“Sorry man, I can talk for f*cking ever!” he laughs). He will be talking with a seriousness and sincerity (“All the risk was taken by [writer and director] Brian [Helgeland], to be fair…”), then will switch without warning into a piercing, mock-hysterical falsetto (“…letting me PLAY BOTH F*CKING ROLES, MAN!”).

In fact, briefly, while we’re on the subject of the way he speaks…

Tom Hardy’s normal speaking voice is not something we have been privy to onscreen. Since he delivered – whatever your opinion of it – the most imitated cinematic voice of the decade in The Dark Knight Rises, we haven’t come close. That thick Welsh accent in Locke, The Drop’s quiet Brooklyn drawl, the Russian twang in Child 44: we just never hear it. And this might be because it doesn’t exist. It’s five years ago, but if you watch his Jonathan Ross appearance in 2010, where he is very well spoken, he confesses he “sometimes picks up accents, and sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to sound until I start speaking”. If you then watch another video of a feature on GMTV, dated just a month previous, while addressing some young people from troubled backgrounds as part of his charity work with the Prince’s Trust, he is speaking to them in a south London street kid drawl. Today, in the flesh, he is about halfway between these two.

A natural-born chameleon.

Tom Hardy shot by David Bailey for ShortList

BEING DOUBLE

The role we are here to discuss today does not, by Tom Hardy’s own standards at least, involve a huge stretch accent-wise. But it is “the hardest thing that I’ve ever done, technically”. This is because, as mentioned, he plays not one role, but two. In the same film. You will likely have seen the posters for Legend by now, depicting Hardy as both of the Kray twins. Which seems an ambitious, almost foolhardy undertaking.

Hardy agrees. “It is one of them situations,” he says. “You get an actor to play two characters, and immediately, it’s pony. It’s gonna be rubbish. Just: no. It’s a bad idea.”

This particular “bad idea” came to him when he first met writer and director Brian Helgeland (who had previously written screenplays for – no biggie – LA Confidential and Mystic River) for dinner. Brian wanted Hardy to play Reggie (the hetero, alpha male, more-straight-down-the-line Kray). Hardy, though, had read the script, and of course, being Tom Hardy, was drawn to the more complex character. “I was like, ‘Well, I feel Ronnie,’” he says. “So which actor am I gonna give up Ronnie to, if I play Reggie? Errrrrggh…. I can’t have that. ’Cos that’s all the fun there! And Reggie’s so straight! But there was a moment when I could have come away just playing Reggie. We could have gone and found a superlative character actor to play Ronnie, and that would have been the best of everything."

But Helgeland sensed the dissatisfaction in his potential leading man. “I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, he wants to play Ron,’” he tells me. “And the paraphrased version is that by the end of the dinner, I said, ‘I’ll give you Ron if you give me Reg.’”

And so began their quest to turn a risky, potentially disastrous idea into something special (as Brian puts it to me, “the movie’s either gone right or gone wrong before anyone even starts working on it”). Hardy found some comfort in Sam Rockwell’s two-interacting-characters performance in Moon. “I’m a big fan of Sam,” he says.

“And Moon gave me reason to go, ‘I know it’s possible to hustle with self, to create a genuine dialogue with self.’ So then it’s the technical minefield: can you authentically create two characters within a piece at all? So that the audience can look past that and engage in the film? It is what it is: it’s two characters played by the same actor. But I think we got to a point where people forget that and are genuinely watching the story."

This was the ‘why I liked the film’ reasoning I gave to him at the beginning of the interview. And it is a remarkable performance, or pair of performances, or triumph of technical direction. The opening shot features both Tom Hardy Krays sitting in the back of a car, and feels strange, but very quickly, within about 10 or 15 minutes, you settle into it, and forget that it is actually the same guy. This was made possible, in part, by Hardy’s stunt double from Mad Max: a New Zealander named Jacob Tomuri.

“He inherited the hardest job of my career,” Hardy grins. “I put on a pair of glasses, played every scene with Ron, then took ’em off and played Reg. And we went through every scene in the film, recording it on the iPhone. So he’s got every scene of me doing both characters, on his iPhone. He actually played both brothers, had to learn all of the lines. He was paying attention twice as hard to keep up. But he superseded that, and was eventually ad-libbing. There’s a line that ended up in the film, where Ronnie goes, ‘I bent him up like a pretzel, I hurt him really f*cking badly.’” “Where did that come from?!” Hardy shrieks, in that falsetto again. “It came from New Zealand."

The wife’s tale

The other big potential pitfall, as Hardy sees it, was contributing to the ongoing glamorisation and eulogising of two brothers who were, to say the least, not very nice. Somehow they have become almost as iconic a piece of the Sixties puzzle as the Beatles or the Stones. But this was not something that Legend would be setting out to reinforce. “One has to approach these things thinking about the families of the victims who were involved in the other end of it,” he says. “Before you find the heart to like somebody, you’ve gotta look at their track record as best as possible: the people who’ve been hurt, the bodies, the suffering, people who were bullied, who lived in terror, who lost significant parts of their lives in the wake of these two men. There’s a lot of sh*t to wade through. And a lot of people who do not, quite rightly, want to see anything to do with these two men. And if I were them, I wouldn’t want to be involved myself, but there’s also part of me that wants to know. That wants to get under the skin.”

So how do you go about doing that? About humanising, to any extent, such people?

“I think the first port of call is, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to do and say whatever you wanted to do and say in the world, regardless of the ramifications and the consequences?’ Ultimately, when I – we – go to the cinema or read a book or we go to escape, we respond to certain types of characters that go, ‘F*ck it: I’m gonna do whatever I want.'

And that’s because we can’t. Because most people would feel a responsibility.”

The answer to how Legend would do this came in the shape of a person who did feel some responsibility, namely Frances Shea: the troubled wife of Reggie, who died in 1967. Played by Emily Browning, she became the centre of the film when Helgeland met Krays associate Chris Lambrianou, who told him that “Frances was the reason we all went to prison”.

“We could have put more of the carnage and the crimes in that film,” says Hardy. “Not to say that it is not there, but what you do see, really, is Reggie, Ronnie and Frances. That’s the dynamic we focused on, that space, which hasn’t been seen before. What was that dynamic like? I don’t know if we came anywhere near the truth, because we weren’t there. But that was the playing field, if you like: Frances Shea, future ahead of her, caught up in something, and no one with her, the suicide. That sits with me in a way as the lead. She’s who we forgot. Ronnie, Reggie, they’ve done their bit. Frances was forgotten. And that kind of all ties it together for me."

FUTURE LEGENDS

The initial praise for Legend has been plentiful, but the mindset of Tom Hardy right now is such that he does not have the time to bask in it. There are other quite ludicrously challenging projects to be pressing ahead with. Coming in autumn is The Revenant, starring his good friend Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu of Birdman fame. Its trailer, as well as doing the not-going-anywhere trend for big beards no harm whatsoever, suggests that it will also match Mad Max in terms of an unrelenting barrage of intensity. Further into the future there’s the Elton John biopic Rocketman (initial challenge? Hardy “can’t sing”) and another foray into comic-book adaptation with 100 Bullets (news of which broke just after our interview).

And right now, as in this week, he’s working on a BBC series called Taboo, which is set in 1813 and stars Hardy as an adventurer who comes back from Africa and builds a shipping empire. The story has been developed by his production company Hardy Son & Baker (formed with his father, Chips) and has been written and directed by Locke/Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with Ridley Scott also exec producing.

“We’re sat on something really awesome,” says Hardy. “And it’s trying to piece it together. I’ve never produced anything before, so I basically don’t know what I’m doing. But I’ve got some options and solutions: if you say something is not working, you better come up with at least four other options. But it’s good. It’s just different.”

Another day, another big challenge. Another chance to do something different. It isn’t an easy life being Tom Hardy. But neither will it ever a boring one, and that’s good news for us.

Legend is at cinemas from 9 September

Words: Hamish MacBain. Images: David Bailey, Studio Canal

You can also read the Hardy interview in this week's ShortList Magazine. It'd be a crime to miss it.

Source: https://www.shortlist.com/news/tom-hardy-interview-and-exclusive-david-bailey-shot

[hobiwonder]

Gym | (m)

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Smut, Businesswoman!reader, fratboy!jungkook. Older reader. Age difference. 

Warnings: Explicit Sex, foreplay. Balcony sex, cream pie, cum eating, dirty talk, unprotected sex. slight fluff if you squint. 

Words: 8.5k

Summary: Jungkook has a crush on you and has been watching you work out at his gym. One day you finally confront his obvious crush.

A/N: another shitty not-proofread smut coming right up lmao. this was supposed to be released near kook’s bday :/ but i got distracted and only wrote half. So just added smut and here ya go. not very good. I’ll read over it tomorrow. let me know what you think! i wrote this in an hour pls 4give wubfwbf.

(he really built like that huh?)

“Right, three more reps to go. Lift that perky ass of yours Y/N, a bit more – that’s it. Atta girl. Hold it.”

You wish Seulgi would shut the fuck up. Also not shut the fuck up because your personal trainer – and best friend - could work you out so much better than when you did it all on your own. The adjectives she used to describe your firming body parts though, were exceeding by the day as she saw the progress you had made because of her recommended workouts. And she wore it like a badge of honour every time you asked her to tone down her hooting and yelling when a certain position highlighted your toned bottom or thighs. It always brought more attention to your corner whenever she got particularly boisterous. Especially from the male patrons who littered the gym either flexing or pretending to lift more than they actually can whenever Seulgi was on a shift with another female client.

“Tuck your tummy in Y/N, c’mon!” You tighten your abdominal muscles and lift up your body as much as you can, a groan leaving your lips at the building burn you felt deep in your core muscles. In your absentmindedness you’d apparently been slackening your posture in the current plank you were doing.

“I’m trying,” You groaned once again through your teeth at the effort it took you to keep your body completely flat as a table top and hovering above the ground. It was getting easier to do planks because you were a regular gym goer and your stamina was in a far better shape than you had ever imagined before.

“Keep taking deep breaths to fuel you up. You don’t want to look like a blown up gold fish when lover boy is looking at you now, do you?”

Ah, there it was. The playfulness to her voice had you glancing your head up to look in the mirror mounted on the wall right across from you, confirming your suspicion that a certain peach haired boy was watching your ass perked up high in the air as he pretended to do pull ups. How you know he’s pretending you ask? This was his usual routine, either be suspended mid-air – god, how much power did his muscles hold? – pretending to be between a pull-up or be holding a weight – again, how? – above his head while he watched you work out, slack jawed. Sometimes the boy was almost visibly drooling whenever you wore your tight workout shorts and a sports bra to gym and did your daily squats.

It was flattering, really. A hot, twenty-something, fit guy – not forgetting, hot as hell – was so transfixed on watching you work out that he forgot how obvious he looked. Seulgi had told you his name, Jungkook, as she worked with him as his personal trainer for a trial period that the gym’s membership included. Cute name, you’d thought the first time you’d caught him staring at you running on one of the treadmills. Though of course, sweet Jungkook had no idea that you’d actually caught him since he no doubt thought that he had successfully evaded your gaze before you caught on. This continued on for the next month and at first you felt a bit annoyed that he wouldn’t just come up and say something to you. You almost considered approaching him to ask if he needed something but the more time went on, you realised that he was just shy. He never took off his shirt like the other men who loved to flash and flex their pecs and abs not-so-subtly, even if he was dripping with sweat after his workouts. That was your favourite actually; When he dripped with sweat and his white t-shirts clung to his sculpted torso so tantalisingly. It was honestly fascinating how much his face and his demeanour contradicted his body.

He looked like a walking sin and yet whenever you rounded the corner to the locker rooms, he would start walking the other way. Why was he so shy around you? You’d seen him walk past girls closer to his own age with no problem, you swear you even saw a little smirk on his face whenever he knew they were watching him lift 50kg weights like it was fairy floss. How did he keep his face from contorting in ugly formations, yet, have an attractive smirk on his face? Will always be a mystery to you.

“He’s still looking?”

“Yup, though he’s moved on sit ups now. Damn, the kid’s got it bad for you. Should go talk to him.”

“Shut up it’s just a crush. He’ll probably pee his pants if I make direct eye contact.” Seulgi is scoffing and tapping you with her foot to indicate your planks are over after the excruciating 3 reps. Getting on your hands and knees you try to catch your breath before sitting back on the workout mat as Seulgi hands you a water bottle.

“Won’t hurt you. You’re hot as fuck and he obviously wants to bone you.” You scrunch your nose in thought, deliberating if you should finally do something about his staring but no approaching.

“Of course he does,” you say with a roll of your eyes as you walk towards the treadmills and setting your normal speed before starting your run, “I’m probably his older woman fantasy that he jerked off to as a teenager.” This time, Seulgi scoffs.

“Bitch you’re not that old. He’s hot, shy and clearly your type. Maybe go teach him a few life lessons, he can learn a lot from you.” Her eyebrows are shooting up and down as she suggestively licks her lips and you’re shaking your head at her wildly inappropriate remarks but consider them anyway.

“Since when is shy my type? The hell?”

“Since you only seem to notice him despite all these manscaping Gregs and Toms pretty much ready to whip out their dicks for you.”

“…Okay. Fair enough.” It was true, you guessed. The gym didn’t lack in the department of hot guys you could take your pick from to take home for the night but somehow, your mind always came back to Jungkook and his shy bunny smile whenever he spoke to Seulgi or his – god - toned abs and thick thighs that almost made your mouth water a bit too much.  No harm in playing a little right?

A smack to your ass brings you back. “Twenty more minutes on that and you’re done babe.” She’s walking away, sashaying her hips away to her next client as men stare at her shapely bottom walking away. You can’t help the smirk on your face as you shake your head at her again. She knew what she did to every man in this gym and she loved it and you loved the unrestricted self-confidence your best friend possessed. You sneaked a glance at Jungkook again and as expected, he diverts his gaze fast like he hadn’t just been staring at your ass again. Just as you’re finishing up your run, your alarm goes off indicating you have work in thirty minutes and a wave of meetings to attend.

Seducing bunny boy would have to wait.

It was a week after your chat with Seulgi about finally making the first move as your secret admirer didn’t seem to have any plans – or had the guts to, it seemed – to approach you first. Same rehearsed routine; putting your gym bag in your locker before you start with your abdominal work outs near the front of the gym whereas Jungkook, already being there, working out a few feet behind you. No doubt his genius plan to watch you without getting caught or interrupted. Today, you’re on your own as Seulgi had taken the day off to run a group fitness class instead. Jungkook was a slave to his habits it seemed since you manage to catch the last few seconds of his face that had been slack jawed, mid pull-up with his doe eyes watching you work out and break a sweat in your skimpy workout clothes that you had to wear today, having forgotten to wash your usual gear the night before.

Today, instead of going for your usual 4 mile run, you cut it short halfway, hopping off the treadmill when Jungkook isn’t watching you – shockingly. Walking out towards the bathrooms, you quickly look in the mirror and check your appearance. You wanted to look appropriately flushed and not a – as Seulgi so gracefully put – a blown up gold fish. Taking a sniff to make sure no unpleasant odours are being exuded, you walk out of the bathrooms and out to the main floor. Spotting Jungkook looking around nonchalantly as he takes place on the gym floor to start his sit -ups, you decide that this is the perfect opportunity to burst his bubble. You almost stop to watch his cute face contort in confusion as he attempts to crane his neck to look for you no doubt, cheeks hollowing as he bites the inside of them.

The gym is fairly vacant today as you make sure no one is around to witness what’s about to happen since you didn’t want to embarrass the poor kid. Just play a little. You choose the moment when he’s laying back down on the mat, to loom over his figure, hands on your hips and eyes square on his face so when he sits up again, he is faced with your toned thighs right in front of him. The whole situation is so bizarre to you – and quite hilarious considering you could literally see the wheels turning in his head. His face is slack-jawed again as his eyes slowly travel up to your face. You cock up an eyebrow in question.

“H-Hi?” He gulps and continues his sit-ups but much more hesitantly this time, eyes avoiding yours from direct contact. You never expected his voice to be this raspy, it sends a delicious shiver down your body and you can almost imagine how he’d sound in a certain uncompromising position. God bless morning workouts. Twirling a stray strand for good measure, you continue to stare as he increasingly and visibly starts to sweat rather profusely, clearly embarrassed.

“Didn’t your mother teach you it’s not polite to stare?”

“Oh, um… Sorry! I-I wasn’t-” His face is beet red and even his stuttering is adorable to your ears. Damn it.

“So,” You crouch down, leaning forwards slightly to give him an eyeful of your chest, “You weren’t looking at me?” He’s sitting up now, looking like a deer caught in the headlights contemplating his fight or flight instincts.

“I-I, well…Y-You see,” His eyes are darting everywhere and he is twiddling his thumbs in this adorable way that reminds you of your baby niece when she’s trying to convince you that an extra block of chocolate is approved by her mum just before bedtime. Then, he’s closing his eyes shut, taking in a deep breath before he says his next words in a rush that you almost don’t make out what he’s said.

“You’resohotpleasegooutwithme.”

“Huh?” Your eyebrows are furrowing in amusement and Jungkook is opening eyes to watch your reaction.

“N-Nothing.” He’s scratching the hair at his nape nervously as he continues to avoid your gaze. You on the other hand, want to take this up a notch, loving every second of his cheeks that are tinged pink, hair a mess from his hands and shirt sticking to his chest like it usually does. He smells fresh and his skin glows. Looking around the mostly empty gym this early in the morning, you widen your stance and then squat down until you are straddling Jungkook, not quite sitting in his lap and more so just sitting up on your knees, eye to eye. You place your left hand on his shoulder as the right one trails down his clavicles to his hard pecs, slowly, searing his skin as he watches your every movement.

“So, you don’t want to take me out?” He gulps again as he rests back on his hands, eyes levelling with your chest before he hurriedly brings them up to your face again when you tilt his chin up. He flushes an even lovelier shade of red, knowing he’s been caught once more, gawking at your chest.

“Um… I do?” It comes out as a question rather than the cool persona Jungkook had been trying to stipulate and redeem his earlier outburst.

“You do?” Cocking an eyebrow in mock amusement, you lean forward for extra effect before you whisper close to his face that is glistening in perspiration, “Or you just want to fuck me?”

Jungkook at this point almost resembles Bambi. His wide button eyes that are almost childlike, peering at you most likely scandalised at your brusqueness. How is he acting this shocked when he was practically undressing you with his eyes and not with subtlety either. Young men were rather unaware sometimes. But it’s okay because at least this one is cute.

“I don’t.” When your eyebrows shoot up again at his blatant lie he quickly adds on, “I-I mean I do but,” he gulps, “I also want to t-take you on a date? If you would… still want to.”

It’s hard to imagine that someone possessing physical features much like a Greek god, all chiselled and refined, would have the social dexterity of a sweet, shy boy-next-door. Maybe that’s what made him more endearing to you.

“Good. The eye-fucking was really starting to frustrate me.” He opens his mouth again, no doubt to apologise but you lift a finger to his lips, effectively quieting him, “Give me your phone.”

It takes him a few seconds to get moving but eventually he’s reaching over to his bicep where the phone is strapped on, fumbling with it for s few seconds before handing it to you. All the while you watch on with amusement as his hand shakes a little when he holds out his phone for you. As the screen lights up on his phone, his face goes red again when you see his wallpaper is a woman in a bikini posing next to a sports car – how typical. At first, the image is a reminder of how young Jungkook is – having a half-naked girl as his wallpaper but then Seulgi’s words are ringing in your mind again that he’s pretty much smitten with you or at least the way you look. But still, you can’t deny that you end up comparing the much younger woman with her flawless body with your own. Chuckling, you just send him a grin as you type in your number, saving it with your name and sending yourself a text.

“I’ll text you when I’m free.” He nods, taking his phone back.

“Y-Yeah, sure, all good no prob-”

Leaning in, you leave a chaste kiss on his cheek before getting up and making your way back to the locker room – sashaying your hips for extra effect knowing that Jungkook is probably still watching with his mouth wide open.

Gosh, he was cute.

-      First date

The first time you text Jungkook is five days later. In your pursuit of ‘seducing’ the adorable bunny boy, you’d kind of forgotten the upcoming meetings and stacks of paperwork that awaited you due to your company’s new policy launches. Your position at work being one that required you to oversee a unit of employees, it didn’t take long for you to put the task of texting him on the back burner. Today however, you text Jungkook in your break, letting him know you’re available on Saturday.

[12:46 PM] You: Hey, I’m free tomorrow if you still want to take me out?

His reply comes almost instantly.

[12:46 PM] Jungkook: Hey! Yeah defs! Was beginning to think you were messing with me :/

[12:47 PM] You: Who says I’m still not?

[12:47 PM] Jungkook: oh

It’s hard to not tease him when he makes it so easy to. Nevertheless, you don’t want to sound actually mean so you ease his worries.

[12:48 PM] You: Relax, just kidding :) want to meet at the froyo place near the gym?

[12:48 PM] Jungkook: you’re mean :(

[12:48 PM] Jungkook: but I still wanna go out with you so I guess I’m a masochist.

A scoff leaves your lips at his unexpected reply. Though it’s not too hard to imagine him as a masochist.

[12:50 PM] You: Well, Mr Masochist, I’ll see you there at 5.

[12:51 PM] Jungkook: See you then :)

“For fuck’s sake.” You’ve been cursing under your breath for the past 5 minutes, trying to find a parking spot. Saturdays are always crowded around this area as it’s located just a few miles away from the CBD, lined with cafes, restaurants and high-end fashion stores. Though you’d hoped that it was late enough for most of the families that usually strewed the streets to have moved on to the playgrounds or other areas so you could easily park your car. But to no avail, you pull out of the underground parking area towards a street few blocks down from the froyo place you were supposed to meet Jungkook at. Walking up the topography of hilly roads lined with Victorian style buildings wasn’t so bad. You always enjoyed walking to work as you didn’t live too far off from your building. It was a move of convenience a few weeks ago. You still hadn’t gotten around to completely unpack as you were thrown right into work that required your attention more than to decorate your apartment to make it a bit more informal.

Someday you’ll open those boxes.

The little bell above the door twinkles pleasantly as you enter the café, immediately spotting Jungkook’s mop of peachy hair sitting in a booth farther down, near the open windows at the back. It was a discreet spot that allowed you to survey the scenery outside and people go by but kept you isolated enough from the rest of the crowd in the busy little café.

It was a distinctively very Jungkook choice.

He’s on his phone when you slip in the booth, prompting his attention towards you as he stares up wide-eyed before breaking in to a nervous grin.

“Hey! W-What’s up? You look amazing.” He winces at his own greeting and you can’t help but let out a laugh at his nervous rambling.

“Nothing much and thanks bro. You look pretty good too.” You hold out your fist at him which he bumps with his own as his lips stretch into a more comfortable smile at your light-hearted reply.

“Sorry, I panicked. You r-really do look amazing.” His eyes are scanning you from top to bottom as he takes the corner of his bottom lip between his teeth. Somehow, he doesn’t look sleazy as he blatantly checks you out again. Instead, it’s almost as if he’s doing it subconsciously because he can’t help it and it sends a shiver down your spine that you thankfully conceal by rolling your shoulders back. Jungkook was great for your self-confidence, that’s for sure.

“Shall we go order?”

“Uhh I can go order for us both? You can save our spot.”

“Sure,” you’re taking out your wallet to get some cash, telling him what you want, “two scoops of Spanish caramel.” He waves his hands in dismissal at your card.

“Don’t worry about it,” he leans in as if about to let you in on a secret, “ I have connections here.” You lift your eyebrows, playing along as you nod. He walks away after sending you a wink to which you can’t help but grin. The date had barely begun but you were already immensely enjoying yourself. The café was nice and casual and not overly crowded that you two would barely be able to hear each other over people talking loudly or laughing like they usually tended to do. A couple of minutes later, Jungkook has returned with the desired flavours of each of your frozen yogurts as he settles in across from you.

“Thank you.” Your tone is light and you make sure to smile his way when he nervously apologises when his hand accidently touches yours while he hands you the dessert glass. Then, there is just some awkward silence as he takes spoonfuls of yogurt as his shiny, doe eyes flit across the café shyly. He’d been so confident before he’d left to get your desserts but not it was as if he was meeting you for the first time. His cheeks puffed every single time he took a bite and every single time – he put more than necessary on his spoon, making them swell up endearingly even more. He was too cute and you were finally realising you never asked him how old he was.

“Jungkook, how old are you?” Your eyebrow is cocked in question and he stalls for a few seconds as if you asked him about his most embarrassing memory from high school. Which doesn’t seem like too long ago to be honest. His body told a different story though so you had to be sure.

“Uh,” he scratches the back of his head nervously and you’re slightly scared now. He wasn’t 18 was he? That’s barely legal, fuck. “I just turned 21 a few months ago.”

Okay. So he was just legal but still considerably younger than you. Fucking hell. You were becoming That woman already.

“H-How old are you?” He asks after a few minutes when you’d been just quietly watching him eat but not really paying attention as the voices in your head kept telling you to leave this kid alone.

“Too old to be on a date with a 21 year old.” And it’s the first time he isn’t hesitating before acting and rolling his eyes as he leans back in the booth.

“You’re not even that old.” You smirk.

“So you do think I’m old.”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that.” He looks at you nervously, holding out his hand in front to defend himself and you can’t help the laugh that escapes you at his naïve and pure temperament – taking your teasing slightly too seriously.

“I’m just joking babe.” You curse yourself inside your head for letting the pet name escape. You were used to calling your younger colleagues – female, mind you – all sorts of pet names and Jungkook’s sweet face and even sweeter smile just had all the ridiculously cheesy nicknames coming to you at the speed of light. And the blush on his face as he bites his lip before looking away for a second and then returning his shy gaze to you with his sheepish smile.

“Your laugh is really… nice.” You laugh out loud again when he hesitates as if deciding what word to use in order to compliment you and you decide to tease him some more. He was way too nervous for no reason. He didn’t need to impress you anymore.

“That won’t be enough for you to get in my pants, I’m afraid.” You smirk, taking a purposely sensual bite of the froyo as his wide eyes and wide open mouth watch you. Gosh, he was too cute. You don’t think he even realises that he spaces out quite often and quite obviously in front of you. And that makes you feel somehow even more of an evil old witch feeling like you’re corrupting him when you’re just have dessert.

“I-I didn’t say it to- Oh. Damn. I fell for it again.” He realises halfway again when you start chuckling under your breath at his horrified expression while he only smiles, throwing his head back on the leather seat of the booth.

“I’m s-sorry,” you’re still giggling and your heart jumps when a pout is forming on his mouth, brows frowning at you, “it’s just too easy to tease you sweetheart.” Fuck, damnit. You needed to filter yourself a bit more because Jungkook’s cheeks are going bright red and he almost has his mouth hanging open again but this time with a slight smile on his facelike he can’t believe you said it again.

“I like it when you call me those names.” His voice is so soft that it’s almost a shy whisper but you just shut him down when you shrug.

“I call everyone that.”

“Well,” his tone defiant as he shrugs right back at you, “I still like it. You’re mean but I know you like me.” His tone is almost accusatory in the playful way kids tease each other on the playground and for the first time that day, you’re the one that’s pausing and watching him finish his yogurt with the proudest smile on his face while yours remains serious.

“You’ve got a mouth on you, don’t you?” He continues to smirk, shrugging once again as you just shake your head, finishing the delicious caramel treat while you two chat some more. You find out he lives at a frat – not surprising – studying film and photography – very surprising – and he just loves to work out. When you joke about him only coming to the gym to watch you, he’s back to being a stutter mess and it’s just hilarious and the cutest thing to watch him trip over his own words until he’s grumbling under his breath that you’re doing it on purpose. Which you don’t deny of course. He tells you about his hobbies that include singing, making beats, drawing and playing video games. Which you learn that he has an extensive collection of and it makes you feel wrong about being there with him even more. The boy talked about his PS4 like you talked about your PhD. Maybe even more passionate.

You seriously needed to not lead him on and just call it quits after tonight. He just looked too happy and cheery for you to cut it off in the middle and waltz out of there. So you opt for waiting until you’re about to leave and you decide you’ll apologize to him for taking up his time and let him know this will just have to end here. And it’s even worse when the waitress has come by to collect your empty glasses and makes a comment about how nice it is of him to take his older sister out for frozen yogurt. Fucking awkward is an understatement.

“That’s actually my girlfriend,” his tone is even, no sign of the flustered boy you’d witnessed just minutes before as he smiles proudly at the girl that’s closer to his age while she only looks at you both  sheepishly, mumbling a sorry before bolting away from your table.

“What did you do that for?”

“She clearly saw we were flirting.”

“You still didn’t have to say that Jungkook,” you don’t sound angry nor you actually are angry. But you certainly don’t want him thinking he needs to shoo away every other college aged kid who thinks you’re his older sister than someone he wants to bone. And you do too, damn it.

He doesn’t get to find out too much about you, only that you work a lot – are the commanding manager of about a unit for 100 people and his eyes go wide while he tells you how cool that is. He’s certainly good for your ego, that’s for sure. By the time you’re both done – it’s been four hours since you two met up and you didn’t even realise how quickly the time went. It’s dark outside now and he’s walking you to your car when you decide you’re going to have The talk with him. That sounds like you’re going to teach him about the birds and the bees. Eugh. Why did you feel so damn old already. You’re at your car and you turn around to let him know exactly where this would be going. Nowhere. But your stomach is dropping, though you don’t get much out.

“I had a lot of fun but-” Because Jungkook has gently pushed you against your own car, threading one hand in your hair while the other pulls you closer by the waist like he’s done this a thousand times and finally – his lips have taken yours between his. You don’t fight him. You don’t push him away or even make a noise of protest which is exactly the opposite of what you’d been constantly telling yourself the whole time you’d been on the date.

Instead, you kiss him back, opening your mouth when his tongue probes your mouth open, tangling his hot one with yours and you can’t help but moan at the delicious taste of the frozen yogurt as well as something that you can only guess is distinctively him. His head is tilting to the other side as he starts placing short, open mouthed kisses on your lips again and you’re getting carried away before you finally give him a push back.

“Jungkook,” your breathless call of his name only has him leaning down to bite your lip tantalisingly – nothing like the shy, meek boy you’d been teasing all day.

“I like you. And I know you like me. There is no point in you trying to get rid of me.”

Well, when he puts it like that. That was pretty much true. And what do you know? Your mind is hazy from his skilful tongue and the taste of his lips and all you find yourself doing is nodding. He kisses you softly goodbye once more, making you promise to set up a date again.

You drive home, not knowing how the fuck a 21 yr old bunny boy had just turned the whole night around and had you putty in his hands – very strong and vascular you might add.

___________________________________________________________________________

It’s been a week since ‘the date’ and you’ve texted him non-stop. Well, he’s texted you and you hadn’tnotreplied to be more technical. Okay. Fine. You wanted to text him. It was like you were in college all over again when Jungkook actually was in college. But gradually, you’d stopped texting him to set up more dates when once again he’d been mistaken for your son, yes that’s right; people had no fucking sense of age difference and literally thought he was your son. Maybe because his face made him look younger underneath all his baggy clothes? But whatever it was; it really pissed you off and was a bitter reminder of your age difference. You two had only been getting coffee on your break just outside your office and the stupid barista – of all people – say that how nice it was that mother and son were having a coffee date. Since you’d offered to pay, Jungkook had been standing outside and didn’t hear any of it but that was the day you’d decided you really needed to put an end to this. If normal lay people were thinking all sorts of relationships that were definitely not romantic between you two – you can only imagine what your colleagues would think at the charity gals and events you had to attend throughout the year if you did end up dating him.

You can’t believe you had to succumb to society’s standards of what’s right and what’s not and end a relationship that you could see yourself in for a while. Oh well. Too bad. It’s over.

“You’re serious? Are you mad?” Seulgi is almost yelling at you.

“It’s the right thing Seul. He’s too young for me. I’ve had enough of people thinking I’m either his baby sitter, sister or his fucking mother for god’s sake.”

“You’re still bloody mad for cutting him off because of that. You like, barely give a shit about anything others say. Why now?”

Good question. Why now?

Maybe you just didn’t think you were good enough for him. Whatever. You weren’t going that rabbit hole. Seulgi is still cursing you out when you leave her place and head back to yours. It had been two weeks since you last saw or texted Jungkook. You’d gradually pulled away and hoped that he’d get the hint. But of course, he’d started to send you shirtless selfies, tempting you in to texting him back and it was embarrassing how much will power it took to not text him back. But it had to be done.

But what you don’t expect is him standing outside the building of your penthouse, talking to the guard like they were old pals and you almost want to bolt and hide before he sees you. In fact you are about to do exactly that but the stupid guard spots you. You take that bad. Bernie was the sweetest man alive.

“Miss, y/n! This young man has been waiting for you a while.” You’re glaring at him while Jungkook only sends you a sheepish wave – looking slightly nervous. “You never have guests so I thought it best to wait for you to let him in.”

“Thank you very much Bernie.” You glare at Jungkook again before smiling at Bernie again, “You did the right thing. Goodnight!” You don’t even bother with Jungkook because you know he’s following after you like a lost puppy with his black hoodie and black sweats basically making him look like an oversized puppy.

“Y-Y/n, hey!” You’re getting on the elevator and Jungkook has just managed to slip in before the doors close.

“What are you doing here, Jungkook? Don’t you know this is stalking?” You’re only trying to scare him but he looks slightly tipsy when you take a look closer and smell the sweet smell of apple cider on him and he is looking way too smug for his own good at this moment.

“Nope. Not when you want me here.” You just roll your eyes, ignoring him as you walk out to your penthouse, Jungkook still following in but now he was ‘ooh’ and ‘aaah’ing at your place. It must definitely be an upgrade from the frat he lived in and you still can’t figure out why you let him in and didn’t kick him to the curb.

Setting down your stuff in your room and telling Jungkook to stay in the living room, you’re just about to take off your formal button up when you hear his deep voice that almost has you screaming.

“Jungkook! This is my room. I was about to change.” He only pouts, leaning against the door, looking too cute for his own good as your heart pounds. You missed his bunny smile, his dimples and the little scar on his cheek. Fuck you were in deep. Denial that is.

“Why have you been ignoring me? I’ve missed you.” Your heart clenches. No one has ever said those words to you except Seulgi. And you suddenly want to hear them again.

“I told you I was busy and that we.. we can’t continue. I’m sorry.” He tsks, stepping inside your room, lazily walking to your bed and plopping down right in front of you, thighs spread wide and you can’t help but notice how loose his pants were and how thick his thighs were…

“Can you say that without staring at my dick?” What? Your mouth is wide open at how bold he’s being. It has to be the alcohol but still – you can’t help the slight shiver of arousal with the way he says that, hands resting behind him – looking all too comfortable on your bed.

“You’re clearly drunk. Sleep it off on the couch or the guest bedroom and leave without telling me.” Maybe too harsh. But it needed to be said. Apparently he didn’t think so because just as you’re pulling on his hand to get him up – he’s instead pulled you forward in a harsh tug, right on top of him as your hair hangs on one side while his hands pulls your thighs on either side of him making you straddle him. Fucking hell. What was happening. Drunk Jungkook had moves.

“You want me. I want you. Why are you being difficult. Is it what all those people say or is it me?”

You hate yourself – or probably will in the morning but you say it anyway. Lying straight to his face. “It’s you. I want a man Jungkook. Not a boy.”

The dead silence in the room is making you increasingly nervous because like usual, you can’t read Jungkook at this moment. He’s simply staring at you. And when a minute passes and he’s still staring at you – you decide it’s probably a good time to get off of this compromising position and that’s the exact time Jungkook has you flipped over. A surprised gasp is falling from your lips when you’re the one laying on your soft bed while Jungkook towers over you. His musky scent surrounding you and you have to refrain from taking a deep breath. Fuck he even smelled good.

“Yeah? When did you actually get laid by a ‘man’ exactly?”

“T-That’s none of your conce- Oh!” His hand had slipped right up your skirt, palming roughly at your underwear that’s absolutely ruined and even you’re surprised how fast it got to the state it was in.

“Hm,” he continues to slowly circle your clit with the whole of his palm, over your panties and you’re falling back on the bed, moaning out because he was right. Again. Fuck. It had been a while since you’d slept with someone. “That’s what I thought,” he leans in close to your face, bypassing your lips to whisper in your ear, “noona.”

The moan you let out is of appreciation and it truly is embarrassing how fast you’ve given in, letting Jungkook have his way with you.

“Jungkook you need to g-go.” And the brat has the nerve to scoff while he looks down at his hand palming you, his other spreading your legs further as your skirt has now completely ridden up to your waist – your ruined panties in full sight and the sticky, erotic sounds are starting to surface as you leak more and more arousal.

“No. I need to remind you that I’m not a fucking teenager.” And just to test him, you stare him right in the eyes, almost challenging while still breathing harder with each roll of his palm on your clit.

“And how exactly are you going to do that, kid?”

You’re not sure where all this confidence has come from suddenly because he doesn’t look THAT tipsy anymore. Slightly flushed face but he seems perfectly steady. And then he leans down close to your face, breathing on your lips.

“By fucking the wit out of you, Noona.” His smile is saccharine sweet while you’re losing your mind now. The filthy, scandalous words from his usually innocent disposition have you feeling hot all over. Not to forget that he was built like a powerhouse. And the face of an angel and suddenly you have the urge to kiss him. And you do. Moaning in his mouth as he returns the passion with which you’d grappled his face and brought it down to yours.

You can’t remember how long you made out with him on your bed, skirt pushed high and his hand still working between your legs. But when you feel the familiar knot in your stomach, you’re pushing him back until he finally relents and breaks the connection between you two, sitting up. His hair is a mess, his lips are swollen and you know you don’t look any better.

Still the longer you stare at him, the more apprehensive you start to get. And Jungkook must have noticed because in a swift pull, he’s pulling off his hoodie, wearing nothing underneath and if you weren’t so tuned on, you’d roll your eyes that he’d thought he’d be getting lucky. Which he was but that wasn’t the point.

“Y/N.” You just stare at his defined abdominals, completely in awe at his youthful, tight body that has your mouth salivating. You weren’t so shabby yourself but nowhere near Jungkook. “I’m going to fuck you on this bed, on the kitchen counter, on the couch,” he looks out at your balcony before looking back at you again, “on your balcony and every other surface on this house until you admit you want me.”

You’re speechless and so fucking turned on and Jungkook doesn’t waist any time in ripping your shirt open as the buttons fly everywhere. Shimmying you out of your skirt and taking his own sweats off. You know you’re gawking. There was no other reaction that you could have. The boy was long, girthy and incredibly veiny that your pussy was clenching around nothing. All speech had left you and you were glad that Jungkook had taken the reigns when it was usually you. But maybe you felt something for him and maybe there was more involved than just a high libido and hormones that had you so stationary. Thankfully you don’t need to stand there and contemplate the deeper meaning of this rendezvous because Jungkook is pushing you on the bed, similar position to before but now no fabric between the both of you. His skin is laced with a healthy glow as he ogresses his warm body over yours and just the feeling of it has you moaning his name. He’s spread your legs wide, hitching them up his waist and with one thrust, he’s all the way in.

“Jungkook!” You’re so slick and wet that no lubricant is needed as his impressive girth stretches open your pussy until it stings deliciously – the pussy lips hugging his hardened cock, all puffy and swollen as he looks down at where both of you are connected. And as gone as you are, you can finally see the sweat dripping down his face and see that his resolve isn’t as steely as he’s trying to portray.

“I-I’m clean y/n. I just couldn’t wait I needed to be inside your cunt. Fuck.” His growl is sending electric shocks straight to your pussy and all you can do is nod and let him know it’s okay, you were on the pill. Maybe you were being a little too reckless but everything you did with Jungkook was reckless. So you guess this was inevitable.

“Ah.” The high pitched mewl leaving your lips is unavoidable when Jungkook finally starts to speed up, thrusting in and out in a steadily increasing rhythm. He’s utterly concentrated on your face that thrown back in unbelievable pleasure. Is this what you’d been missing out on? Because he’s fucking you so good that tears are welling up in your eyes with each thrust that pushes you slightly forward on the bed.

“Yeah? Like this?” your vigorous nodding is confirming the angle at which he’s snapping his hips in to you, his balls making an absence sound that even makes you bite your lip shyly every time they smacked against your ass.

“Yeah. F-Fuck. Jungkook, right t-there.” Jungkook had pushed a leg up high, almost making it stand up straight in the air as he ruts his hips in yours, the wet sounds of your continuous leaking only making a mess on your nice Egyptian cotton sheets but you couldn’t careless when you were getting the shit fucked out of you. God, bless young men and their stamina.

“Your cunt is so tight. Fuck, fuck. I’ve wanted to fuck you for so long noona. Your pussy is so wet. Just like I imagined.” You’re whimpering when his thumb has slipped down to rub circles in your clit as he continues to snap his hips forward in a punishing pace, now knowing that he’d thought about you like this before – unsurprisingly. But it’s the way he growls out his words like he’s mad that his fantasies weren’t just mere fantasies but actually a reality. You could relate. Jungkook was just as good as you thought he wouldn’t be. Caring, smart, sweet and now you knew, an excellent lover.

You can feel the familiar knot in your stomach tighten rapidly now that he’d started to strum your clit in time with his snapping hips. You’re crying out high pitched moans with each thrust and every so often, Jungkook spreads or pushes your legs up to target another area in your pussy you didn’t even know existed. And just in seconds, it’s like your orgasm sneaks up on you because suddenly you’re screaming out as a gush of wetness is releasing around Jungkook’s thrusting cock.

“Fuck yeah. Keep cumming on my cock like that noona. Fuck.” He’s cursing like a sailor and you know your pussy muscles clenching around his still hardened length must be torturous but you don’t have time to either recover or offer to help. Because Jungkook is picking you up – cock still inside you and all – and does what you only think he said for the imagination. He’s opening your balcony door, stepping outside and bracing you against the railing, your arms going around his neck on instinct when you look down at how high up you are.

“J-Jungkook.”

“I’ve got you Noona. I told you I’m going to fuck you everywhere in this house.” His eyes are tense and he looks like a man on mission. You can see the buildings opposite yours. They aren’t close enough that they would be able to see every explicit detail but they are far enough to spot two completely naked figures – doing something that you’ve only seen in movies. But all thought flies out of your head when Jungkook is starting to thrust inside you again.

“Oh… Jungkook. Y-You’re so,” you hiccup, “big… ah.” His speed had increased. He hadn’t cum and he was desperate for a release right now with the way he was rutting in to you. Your hands had automatically gone to either side of you to steady yourself by grabbing on to the railings as you’re pushed upwards and then down again and then upwards again with every thrust of his cock inside you. The thrill of knowing there could be people watching you right across the other residential building has you building back up to the brink again so fast and Jungkook’s dirty mouth isn’t helping.

“You like this don’t you, noona? The fact that anyone could be watching us. Watching me pound this big cock inside you. I just wish they could see the way your cunt stretches around me too.” He’s saying the last bit in a hiss as he looks down between the two of you and suddenly you want to make him cum; because you were about to.

“J-Jungkook, I’m going to cum again. P-Please.”

“Play with your tits. C’mon. I know you’re just as filthy as you pretend to not be. Come one. Give us a show.” Damn his tantalising mouth because despite the fear of letting go of one of the railings is there, you’re far too gone to even care about your safety as your hand is on your breasts, pinching, pulling and moaning loud like a porn star. All your inhibitions were gone and this was pure, raw, need. And Jungkook was more than happy to oblige.

“Yeah, just like that. Pinch your nipples noona. I wanna suck them so bad. So pink and pretty.” And just then he’s leaning forward and taking one nipple in his mouth, pace somehow increasing and after a few minutes of sounds of skin against skin, crying moans that have tears streaming down your face; Jungkook cums with a shout.

“Fuck, y/n! I’m cumming. I’m filling this pussy up. Oh god. You’re so tight.” He’s come so much that it’s spilled around his length that’s still thrusting inside you, a little slower but still milking out every last drop – an obscene squelching sound echoing with the amount of cum that was pushed back in and pulled back out with his cock. You’d cum with him inside you and were now just holding on to him before you passed out and possibly fell over the balcony and died.

After catching your breath, Jungkook slowly lets you down – your legs all but jelly.

“You okay?” He asks gently, holding on to your waist to steady your swaying body that had been almost fucked to death. Really. Bless Jungkook’s hips. The boy had more horsepower than actual horses probably did. You expect him to walk you inside the bedroom again but he gently pushes you back against the railing again.

“Jungkook, no more I’m sore,” you pat his cheek softly but he only smiles his bunny smile – contradicting the way he’d fucked you not even just minutes ago almost violently – before he’s sliding down on his knees. Gently he’s bringing one up and placing it on your shoulders and it hits you.

“I’m sensitive, Jungkook.” Though it wasn’t an excuse for him to stop. You just never had anyone want to go down on you after they’d finished inside and the fact that Jungkook wanted to makes you horny all over again. Your libido was turning in to one of a college boy too.

“I’m just cleaning you up. I bet we taste better than the froyo,” his cheesy wink has you pinching his cheek as a smirk finds its way to your face. Though it’s wiped pretty quickly when you feel his warm tongue part your ruined, puffy folds. Slowly licking away the white stickiness of your combined fluids. And it doesn’t help when he’s moaning in your pussy like he’s just had the best dessert ever and you’re back to holding the railing again to steady yourself.

“F-Fuck. Jungkook, you’re so good baby. So good.” His eyes are lighting up at your praise and he gets slightly too enthusiastic when he licks up your clit but apologises when you wince in sensitivity.

“Am I good boy noona? Cleaning you up.” Your hands are threading in his luscious hair as your head is thrown back – in absolute heaven despite the twitching in your body from being so sensitive.

“So good baby. You’re the best. Such a good boy. Noona’s special boy.” And when he’s made you cum one more time, you’re just about to fall and thankfully, he’s carrying you inside the bedroom. Finally, you’re both on the bed and he’s already made you the little spoon, cuddling you from behind. You both lay in comfortable silence. Like you’ve both done this a thousand times.

“I do really like you Y/N. Please like me back.” Your heart is about to burst at his meek voice that comes from behind you sometime in the night. The only light in the room is the moonlight shining in because you forgot to close the curtains. And you can’t help but tell all your negative thoughts to shut the fuck up, force yourself to face him before you place a sweet, chaste kiss on his lips.

“I do really like you. Please stay.”

And he just smiles his sleepy, dimply smile. Both of you content in this moment.

a/n: im going to YEET out of here. thanks for reading and let me know if you liked it?? kinda??  

[the--blackdahlia]

Royals Chapter 2 (Tommy x Nikki)

Title: Royals Chapter 2

Summary:  Tommy’s hiding a secret from the rest of the band. He hoped it would never come out, but somehow, it did.

Warnings: Maybe just some language for this chapter

AN: Thank you guys for all the feedback! Here’s chapter 2! (and my lazy ass will make a masterlist for it soon)

1981

Los Angeles, California

“Hey kid,” Tommy was leaning against the door frame. “When you leaving?”

“Couple hours,” Athena told him, not looking up from her magazine. “But I’ll be back before you know it. Can’t get rid of me for that long.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about you coming back. You’re a pain that won’t go away,” Tommy laughed. Athena flipped him off without looking up from her magazine. “You sure you wanna spend the whole summer with mom?”

“Yeah. It’ll be fun,” She told him. “Just stay out of my closet while I’m gone.”

“But your clothes look so much better on me,” Tommy laughed. Athena lowered her magazine to glare at her brother.

“Did you want something?” She asked. “Or are you just trying to get the last few minutes of annoyance in?”

“Just saying bye and reminding you to bring me back a shot glass,” Tommy shrugged. Athena sighed.

“It’s just the summer, and you have the whole Strip to get in trouble on,” She told him. “You know, mom extended the invitation to both of us?”

“Yeah, and listen to everyone talk about my long hair and my tattoo? No thanks,” Tommy shook his head. “Listen, I’m gonna bail before dad gets here to get you. He asks where I am…”

“I don’t know where you went and when you’re going to be back. I know, I know,” Athena shook her head. “You’re eighteen Tommy. I shouldn’t have to be lying about where you’re going anymore.”

“Yeah but it’s dad,” Tommy sighed. “And technically it's a school night.”

“Everyone knows you haven’t stepped foot into Royal Oak in months now,” Athena told him.

“Yeah, well, dad hasn’t said anything and I want to keep it that way,” Tommy sighed. “Well, I’m out. Have a nice trip…”

“See you next fall,” She smirked at him. Tommy gave her a little wave before grabbing his jacket and drumsticks and heading out into the night, hoping that he could avoid another awkward conversation with his dad.

****

Tommy had gone to a few shows. He had started out at a Rock Candy show, moving next to Vendetta, and finally ending up at London. And fuck, was London so good. Tommy had spent most of the night staring at the bassist, with that large black hair and that smirk that just made Tommy melt. And how cool he looked after he got into a fight with the other band members.

Fucking Nikki Sixx. He was never going to meet the bassist, so why get hung up on someone like that.

Tommy stopped outside a music store down the street from the clubs. Every day for the past six months, he had stood outside this store, staring at that very drumset in that very window. He was sure that if he told his mom he wanted it, she would get it for him, but he wasn’t about to ask. He wanted to get this on his own, without his parents help. His dad had got him his first one, the one he used today, when they first moved into the house that they currently lived in, put he wanted to prove to everyone that he could do things without his parents.

He was so lost in his thoughts as he stared at the drums that he didn’t notice someone coming up by him.

“That’s a beauty,” A voice said, making Tommy jump. He turned to see a mop of thick, black hair, and that was about it. Because the hair was hiding the eyes of the talker. But Tommy knew who it was.

This was Nikki Fucking Sixx.

“Would be hard to smuggle out in a guitar case though,” Nikki continued. Tommy just kept staring at him. “You okay there?”

“Uh, I, uh, I have your poster on my wall!” Tommy blurted out, mentally kicking himself. Nikki chuckled and glanced down at the leopard print pants Tommy was wearing, where he had a pair of sticks sticking out of the waistband.

“You carry those with you everywhere?” Nikki asked. Tommy looked down and pulled out the sticks, twirling one of them briefly.

“Never know when it’s time to rock,” Tommy smiled at him. Nikki stood there a moment, sizing him up, before he nodded.

“Come on,” He nodded for Tommy to follow him as he went to the front door of the store and unlocked it.

“What are you doing?” Tommy asked.

“It’s cool. I stay here a lot,” Nikki told him. “I give the owner his 3 b’s, and he lets me stay here, gives me records, and let’s me try out instruments.”

“The three b’s?” Tommy asked.

“Babes, booze, and blow,” Nikki told him. He stuck a few sheets of paper onto a receipt spike. He headed to an office and left a baggie and a couple bottles from the bag he had on his back. He grabbed a stack of records from the desk and headed back out to where Tommy was still standing in the middle of the room like a deer in the headlights. “So, you got a name? Or am I just going to be giving you nicknames all night?”

“Uh, I’m Tommy,” Tommy told him. “Tommy Lee.”

“Well, since you got my poster on your wall, I’m assuming you know who I am?” Nikki asked, sitting on the sales counter to look through the records he had been left. Some of them he would sale, some he would end up keeping.

“You’re Nikki Sixx!” Tommy all but squealed. Nikki’s lips curled into a smile as he laid the records on the counter and hopped off. He made his way over to Tommy.

“Might wanna take the poster down,” He told him. “London’s dead. At least, with me in it. But I’ve got a plan for a new band.” He smirked at the drummer. “Why don’t you show me what you can do and we’ll talk some more about that?”

“Do?” Tommy asked.

“Drums.” Nikki nodded to the set Tommy had just been admiring.

“Oh, yeah,” Tommy nodded and took a seat behind the kit while Nikki leaned up against the wall. Tommy took a deep breath before beating out a pattern on the drums. He glanced over at Nikki, who just kept watching him. When Nikki didn’t tell him to stop, Tommy started in on some different drum solos and such he had heard, or performed in the past. When he figured that he had done enough, he ended the performance with a loud cymbal crash. He looked over at Nikki, who had his hair pushed back so Tommy could actually see his eyes.

“Well, that was a lot better than what I was expecting,” Nikki chuckled. “How old are you anyway?”

“Eighteen,” Tommy told him. “I’ll be nineteen in a few months.”

“Do anything?” Nikki asked. “I think I’ve seen you around the strip before.”

“My buddy Greg and I were in Suite 19 for awhile. Third guy wanted to go out on his own and Greg and I are trying to find a band,” Tommy explained.

“What’s he do?” Nikki asked.

“Greg’s a singer. And he plays guitar. He’s pretty awesome,” Tommy told him. Nikki loved the way his eyes lit up when he was bragging about his band mates.

“Call him up and bring him here tomorrow night,” Nikki told Tommy. “We need a good front man and an even better guitarist.”

“We?” Tommy asked.

“Well, we’re band mates, aren’t we?” Nikki asked. “Don’t think I just ask every random drummer I see on the streets to give me a private performance, do you?”

“I...uh, that’s cool,” Tommy smiled a bit. “I’ll call Greg and have him be here tomorrow.” Nikki smiled and picked up his bass.

“You know any Kiss?”

****

Tommy quietly snuck into the house early the next morning. He had spent most of the night jamming with Nikki, laughing at his dark sense of humor, and just having the best time he had ever had. As he shut the front door, a voice made him jump.

“Well, there you are,” David Bass said from his chair as he sipped some coffee. “You know, I stopped believing Athena when she would tell me that she didn’t know where you went or when you’d be back about three months ago.”

“Uh, hey dad,” Tommy laughed a little. “You’re up early.”

“There was a good marathon on TV,” He grumbled. “Took her to the airport. Thought you would’ve been home.”

“Yeah, sorry. I got caught up in a thing…” Tommy looked down at his scuffed and worn Converse.

“I’m assuming that thing wasn’t a study group,” David commented. Tommy didn’t answer. “Royal Oak called. Asking if you’re sure about dropping out.”

“Shit,” Tommy grumbled.

“Look, I’m not mad, but your mother will be,” David told him. “I know school isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Trust me. But Tom, this is no way to live your life.”

“We moved here for a second chance, right?” Tommy looked at his dad. “This is my chance. I have the perfect opportunity to separate myself from yours and mom’s shadows. I have a new band. Me, Greg, and Nikki Sixx. We’re going to be awesome dad.” David sighed.

“You know, your mom misses you. Why don’t you go see her? Maybe that would be the perfect chance to start a new life…”

“You couldn’t be there either dad. That’s why we’re here and she’s there.”

“I love your mother. I never stopped loving her. Things just got in the way,” David sighed. “I’m not going to stop you from making your choices Tommy. I just want you to know that once you make them, that’s it. There are no do overs. This isn’t the game of Life. This is just life.”

“I know dad. But I really have faith in this band,” Tommy told him. “Can’t you have faith in me?” David sighed.

“I always do Tommy,” He told his son. “Just get some sleep. Think it over, okay?” Tommy nodded and headed upstairs to his room. He knew Athena’s was empty and would be until she had to go back to school. It just left him and his dad alone in the house. Tommy sighed as he pushed open his bedroom door and headed in. There were flyers covering the walls from different bands he had went to see, including his own.

His eyes fell on the London poster. Black and white with the members and the information for the concert. Part of him wanted to rip the poster down, because Nikki wasn’t with them anymore and he would need a spot for their band’s flyer. But instead, he left it hanging right where it was.

A good reminder of that night as he fell into bed.

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[kimmie113080]

Refusing to Yield Chapter 37

This is based on real life. Just names have been changed to protect the person identity. There is mention of all types abuse. If trig, please don’t read it. Reader get into a relationship with Kim Seokjin and Min Yoongi but all BTS is in this series. There are other people mentioned in this series.  

Ann had a flash back before we went on tour. Amber admitted to Ann she was always at the parties that they threw. She took Ann’s phone, so when Ann saw her parents’ house. Ann could not call little w to come get her. I noticed the way Brad would look at Ann like she was just a piece of meat in school. I asked him the one day and he told if you only knew why. We need to get Miss Potts here and let her know there is at least three staff members at the hospital who need to be fired.  Mike yes Mark we need to let Ann know Miss Potts is coming and why. I do not want to upset Ann. Believe me when I said none of us want Ann to upset all today specially after she just had back surgery. 

Uncle Carl yes little w is there more names that has raised your interest to see if any us of know them. Those are the three name that I saw from Ann record’s I know. I have not had the chance see if there are more name that match names in Ann’s records. Mike yes Mark maybe Ann should look at the hospital staff list before Miss Potts gets here. Mike yes Tim I agree with Mark to let Ann look at the list. Bill yes Mike what do you think. I say yes because if Ann needs to go back to the hospital. We will know she is safe there. Mom and dad what do you think we should do? Let Ann look at the list to see if there are names. 

If she does remember them but does not remember if they hurt double check with her records. I just want Ann to relax and be calm. Mike we all want that for Ann specially today too. Why don’t we all go out there and let Ann decide. That is a great idea Greg. Plus, if she wants Miss Potts to come today or wait until she has looked at the list. Uncle Carl yes, Tim once Ann looks at the list double check with her records. Greg and Jason stay calm please while I explain something. Ann blocked out what her Uncle Jim and David did to her. Ann had flash back before Jason and Greg came into the group.

The first night Jim was here Ann took a bad flash back with Jin in the bathroom. Are you saying Ann blocked out what David did to Ann in the boy’s bathroom at school. Yes, that is what I am saying. Remember what Bryan said our first day in Philadelphia sometimes people block out the hurt people did to them until the right people come along. Little w did you do back around check on David when you learn his name. When Ann came home from the party happy. She told me met a guy there. Right away I asked for his name knowing everything Ann went through it came back he has abused chargers on him. Ann asked him right in front of me about them. He told us he could not watch his father beat his mother and sister anymore.

I am telling you both the same thing I told Tim when we learned the truth about David. I believed he was telling the truth and if I had any suspicion. I would have call Tim right away to make sure Ann would be safe around him. I did go over everyday for the first four months to make sure Ann was okay. The last day I saw her in our home area. Ann was screaming David hit her because she was trying to meet me outside. She lied to me saying she fell, and David was picking her up. Remember when Uncle Carl told Ann on tour in San Diego. They were plotting against me and other five on rape chargers. He knew I went over everyday to check on Ann to make sure there was no bruise on her.

He threatened Ann that day if she did not say what he wanted her say. Us six would have landed in jail on false rape chargers. I am sorry Ann was put back in their hands after I saved her over four years before the night she went to the party. Ken you did your best by hiding Ann in our home area. You changed her name and made her feel loved. That party Ann went to was not our fault. I still wish I did more to protect Ann. Ken yes, papa m you came to Ann side again when she was able to call you for help. You taught all of us how to give Ann her medicine and help with the collapse, flash backs, and panic attacks. Please remember you did a lot more for Ann without knowing about her.

I will remember that papa m. What I am talking about the night Ann had the courage to leave home she thought about killing herself. On the way there is when she met little w and Big R. They took her in when she had nowhere else to go.  Yes, I remember Ann talking about that before we went on tour that Friday Jason and Tom join our family for the tour. Mike what are you saying is little w saved my niece life. Yes, Bill that is what I am saying. Little w yes Bill Jr. thank you for everything you guys have done for my niece. It is not a problem at all. I think we all should head back in there to talk to Ann.

Ann yes papa m we need to talk to you about hospital staff list. Okay papa m what is going on. There are three names that show up in your records from home. What are their names. Kelly Smith, Amber Wilson, and Brad Smith are on the staff list. Tim did you explain who Kelly Smith is to everyone. Yes, Ann I did explain who Kelly Smith is. I promise you she will not get anywhere near you again. We all know Amber is the one who helped them get their hands back on you. Sam do you remember Brad Smith from school.

I remember he used to look at you like a piece a meat. He was part of them who Steve would let use me. Ann yes, Sam I promise Brad will not get nowhere near you either. Can I look at the list to see if I remember anyone else. Yes, Ann you can look at the list but if you do not remember Uncle Carl is going to cross check the list with your records. We want Miss Potts to come over today, so she knows those three need to be fired at least. Can we please wait until we know if more need to be fire than just those three. Yes, Ann we can wait to contact Miss Potts. Bryan look at the date those three were hired. Ann what did you find?

Bryan are you seeing what I am seeing? Yes, Ann I see the date those three were hired. What are you two talking about. Bryan please explain while look at the rest of the list. What Ann and I are talking about those three were hired the same day we saw Dr. Storm and schedule Ann back surgery. Everyone there are more dates within that same week of people being hired. Uncle Carl yes Ann I need access to my records like now. Ann honey what is wrong? There are to many people who have been hired the week I saw Dr. Storm. Ann how many altogether were hired the same week you saw Dr. Storm beside the three we know about.      

There are at least seven more within that week. Andy yes Carl we might need access to people working in your office. There are to many people for my liking hired within the week Ann saw you and her surgery was schedule. Carl yes Andy I am thinking the same thing. Bryan yes Ann did you confirm my appointment with Dr Storm office before we went? No, Ann I did not confirm your appointment. I thought you confirmed because I never got the call. I never confirmed the appointment either. They were supposed to call my office or your cell phone Bryan. I remember we gave both numbers.

Greg did you answer my office phone at all to confirm any appointments before we left? No, Ann I did not answer your office phone. Fred, little w, or Tim any of you confirm any appointments? Ann yes, none of us confirm any appointments for you before we left. Crap he tried again but he failed this time. Ann honey what are you talking about? The night I told everyone that I was having back surgery three weeks after we came back. There was only one person who did not look surprised. Uncle Jim was the only one who did not look surprised. He was also the only always in my office.

He must have confirmed the appointment. Your right Ann because my office wrote down everyone’s name who confirmed my patient’s appointment. I remember seeing the name James next to your appointment for that Wednesday. I figured if he confirmed your appointment that he knew about it. No, we did not tell anyone until that Friday night when Jason and Tom joined this family. We just told them it would be three weeks after we got back from the tour. How did they learn that my surgery was today. Dr. Storm what is that lady name who schedule your surgeries? Melissa Weaver is the one who schedules for me. Ann why do you look like you seen a ghost.

She looked like someone I know from my past. Okay Ann I will cross check her name from your records. Tom or Uncle Bill please call Chris. Why do we need to call Chris. I need his help along with Sam, and little w. Ann honey what are you going to do? First, I am going to see how I know her. Then I am going to see if she gave any tips on when my surgery was being done. That is why I need Chris, little w, and Sam help. Ann yes, Sam what do you need me to do?

I need you to search her name and find out if she has two cell phones’. Little w hack into Dr. Storm employee records see where grew up at? I can do that Ann. Ann yes; it is Chris how can I help you? I need watch Dr. Storm office feed and keep tabs on a Melissa Weaver? I can do that for you. Ann yes, Sam she has to cell phones. Great Sam you take the one cell phone and give me the second one. I did not see who called Chris and put him on speaker phone. Greg yes, Ann set up your laptop please for me. I can do that      Ann.

Uncle Carl are all my records saved to your computer. Yes, Ann they are on my computer. Okay good because I am hacking your computer in two minutes. Greg your computer set up for me to use now. Yes, Ann you can access what you need to. I thought you knew a little more than what you let people believe. You are right Ann on that. Good watch my computer any suspicious text message to my Uncle Jim’s number. I can do that Ann. Uncle Carl yes, Ann do you make a list of everyone involved with hurting me?

Yes, I did Ann, but it is encrypted. I have already found that file on your computer. I am sending it to Greg’s computer now. I left an encrypted file on your computer. Little w due your thing because Melissa Weaver is on the list. Chris do you have eyes on Melissa now. Yes, I do Ann, but she likes nervous some reason. Tim and Fred give me your phones because I want to see her look. We can do that for you Ann. Little w what did you do?

I did not do anything. Ann yes, Sam she has text messages from a lot of different numbers on this phone. Okay run the numbers to see who they belong to. Ann, yes Greg she sent two text messages to Jim. The first one was telling him you had an appointment with Dr. Storm that Wednesday before we left. The second one was telling him the date when your surgery was going to be done. Okay we know she was working with my Uncle Jim but who else? We cannot get her for sending those texts message because at that time. There was no stay away order against my uncle Jim. I need to find out who else she was sending message to?

Sam have you found out the names yet? Mike, Uncle Bill, Uncle Carl, and Uncle Mark yes, Sam can you come over here please? Yes, Sam we can do that for you. Ann yes, Sam there are names I do not know. I want your dad and all your uncles to look at these names before I say anything to you. Maybe Tim should have a look at those names also. I am on that Ann. Chris yes; Bill send Clint and Nat to pick her up. She was texting Frank and David about anything. I can do that for you Bill. The seven other people the same week I saw Dr. Storm were in my records of people hurting me in the past. We called Miss Potts over to give her the list everyone needing to be fired from the hospital and the reason why.

Miss Potts was shocked how quick we found the rats since I was discharged to go home. Uncle Bill and Uncle   Carl would be present when Miss Potts fires them all.  After all that was done. I      change focus on seeing if anyone submitted any entries for our contest. I was surprised there were over two hundred entries. Lisa yes, Ann didn’t you there was no entries for the contest after released the statement about my surgery. Yes, Ann I did say that why. There are over two hundred entries now. Ann yes, Greg maybe everyone was waiting to hear how your surgery went before entering in the contest. That would make sense since        Army knows how the guys feel about you. We need to start writing down the areas that have been submitted to us.

Plus, make sure no area the group has been in has been submitted. Ann why do you look like you seen a ghost because someone submitted my home area to have a concert there. I want to know if this person is a fan or is there a hidden motive behind this entry. Ann we can always skip that area. No, we will not do that if there are true army fans there. I am not going to deny anyone the right to see this group in any area. If we find out there are true army fans there. We will just have to double the security on tour if that area winners. I have the perfect idea on how to find out if there are fans there. Jason, Tim, and Big B are going to go home to see their families but also learn if BTS has fans there. Ann honey yes, papa m that is a smart idea sending those three back home.

I hope your guys are okay with doing that. Ann yes, Tim it will be fun going home to see our parents and see if there are true army fans there. How do you want us to do that Ann? When you guys are home please visit the music stores to see if they are selling BTS albums and ask around if people have heard about the group. We can do that for you Ann. Greg and Lisa yes Ann I need you two checking social media to see if anyone is posting stuff from that area. This is how we are going to find if this entry is real or someone planning something for that area. We are going to random checks for that area. Greg, Lisa, and the group are the only ones who will not visit that area. How does that sound to everyone?

Ann honey yes, papa m that sounds like a great plan to me. It is the smart way to see if it is a set up or if there are really fans there. I am not allowing any of us to walk into a trap for someone can get their hands on me. If my home area as true fans security is going to have to be doubled. I do not know if there are anyone working with them in jail because of me. I know the police department cannot be trusted there. Ann we might be maybe to get help from all the other police department that have become your friends. I think that might work since I do not know if the cops there will want to protect us. Ann yes, Tim all those cops might be retired now. They might be or might not be.

I do not know if there are cops there might have been part of hurting me in the past. Ann if we go their security will be tight around the hotel and concert. I am okay with that. We have entries for areas in Florida, Texas, and California. Cool we just need to double check to make sure the has never been in those area before. Nana and pop what do you think we should do? Ann let’s go by what you suggested first. If it is true, there are fans there. We all will come up with a plan for your safety okay. Yes, I am okay with that. I want to release a statement to the Army.

Ann honey why do not want until tomorrow to release a statement. You have been through enough today. Okay papa m that sounds like a good idea. Is everyone staying or are certain people going home. Ann honey do you want everyone here with you? Princess how about for the next couple days everyone here stays overnight. If they have work, they come back for the night. How does that sound to you? I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable or it be inconvenience anyone. Mom and dad yes Bill sometimes Ann cannot voice what she is feeling or bothering her.

Ann yes, nana I have the next five nights off from the shelter, so it will not be a problem for us to stay with you. If us staying with you helps make you feel more relax and calm. We are happy to do it. Yes, nana that would help me feel more relax and calm. Papa m you do not mind if they stay here. Ann honey yes, papa m I told you whatever helps feel calmer, relax and safe that it is not a problem. You all know I do not like be a burdened to anyone. Ann you are not being a burdened to any of us. I am being a burden to telling everyone how I feel. Ann yes, nana you not being a burdened by telling us how you feel.

You have never been a burdened to me since the day I might you. You a sweet, loving young lady who has been put through more things than I as an adult have been. What you have been through no one should go through, but you went through it. We cannot change the past because the past is behind us. The future is unknown to us, but all we have is the present. Each day you push forward is a day you win, and not the people who hurt you. Mrs. Brown thank you for saying all that to Ann. Everyone can call me Joy or nana if you prefer. I can tell there are more than just Ann who had a rough start to life. Joy yes, Mark yes there are two more who had kind of same past as Ann, and one where they lost their family.

Chris, John, and Lisa all look at Ann has they are all sibling. John and Lisa can relate to Ann about what they been though in their past. That is one reason I asked John to be the air marshal on their flights from Philadelphia, Pa until they came home. He was the only one I trusted to protect Ann they way she needed to be. I asked Chris to work the day they landed in San Diego since he was head of security out there. I knew Ann was safe with everyone around her. I just wanted to feel safe after what happened in Philadelphia and Dallas. By me doing just that little giving extra security comforts. Ann brought home my three kids to me. After the first problem they had in San Diego Ann and John started talking.

She wanted to meet Lisa plus, take Lisa on stage to show her there are kind people in this world. That same of Ann showing Lisa there are kind people in this world is the night everyone but Sam and I why she was put through everything. I was on the phone with John when the power went out. At moment I caught the red eye to San Diego and met them at the hotel to give Ann an extra support person. Uncle Mark yes, Ann I just thought of this how did you know what hotel we were at in San Diego? I text Uncle Carl when in landed to find out where us guys were staying at. Ann here are the text messages. Thank you both for showing me them. Ann yes Uncle Carl I told you in San Diego I will always let you see and hear anything when it comes to you. I remember you saying that to me Uncle Carl.

It as been a long day for everyone how about we all get ready to go to sleep. I think that is a good idea Mike. Ann you specially need to get some sleep because I know you baring slept last night. Ann yes Bryan before you try to fall asleep let’s get all your treats in your system but if you wake up from pain please wake someone up. If it is time to give your treats again. We will do that but if not, we will give you Tylenol to help with the pain until you are able to have all your treats again. Bryan that sounds good to me. Okay everyone understands the plan. Yes, Bryan we all understand the plan with Ann treats. Okay are to be given every six hours for pain. Okay it is 9 pm now.

[imagine-loki]

You were saying, little mortal?

TITLE: You were saying, little mortal?

CHAPTER NO.: 1/?

AUTHOR: Solaramoonset

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine being a passive superhero fan. You’ve read a few comics, you’ve seen most of Marvel’s movies. One day on your way to work, you get pulled over and arrested. The police don’t explain why, only demanding you keep quiet. You’re taken to an abandon looking warehouse. Roughly you’re tossed into a makeshift cell. Really its just an office someone empty and replaced the normal door with a metal one. You don’t expect the voice behind you.

“So kid what are you in for?”

Its Robert Downey jr, sort of. Something is off and he seems confused to be called by that name. You hear a scuffle outside your shared cell. The door bursts open and in walks Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Although something is off about him too. You soon find all the “Avengers” actors there. You don’t know whats going on but the longer you are around them the more crazy you feel. They don’t seem to know their actor names, and you can’t find any cameras around. Its like for them this is real.

They decide to take you back with them (clearly thinking something is wrong with you). You find yourself sitting next to Loki. Having enough of this craziness you go on a rant, expecting you are ranting to Tom Hiddleston. Loki lets you say your bit, seemingly amused by you, before holding up his hand and bringing forth just enough seidr to glow and flow around his hand. “You were saying, little mortal?”

RATING: Teen

NOTES: Also on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18953773/chapters/45003085

Chapter 1

“Wake up

Grab a brush and put a little (makeup)

Grab a brush and put a little

Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)

Hide the scars to fade away the

Why’d you leave the keys upon the table?

Here you go create another fable

You wanted to”

Enid groaned as she blindly reached over for her phone. Who’d call this early? A quick glance showed it was her boss. “Enid Rose here.” She mumbled into the phone.

“Good morning. How is my favorite secretary slash unofficial office manager?” A far too cheerful voice answered her.

“Duncan, its three in the morning. Please get to the point.” Enid rolled over to stare at her ceiling.

“Gregory needs a ride to work. If I remember correctly you pass his place on the way in. Care to give him a ride?”

“Gregory who?” Enid knew who Gregory was. She actually got along pretty well with the head of maintenance and IT support, even though most thought he was a little weird. He was a brilliant engineer, but for some reason, chose to work in a small office setting.

“Gregory Stark, naturally. His hover car broke down again. Go figure, man makes the first hover car but can’t keep the damn thing running. So about that ride?”

“Yeah Duncan, I’ll pick him up. I’ll text him when I’m on my way. Now if there’s nothing else I think I’ll get back to sleep.”

“Don’t forget it’s your turn to bring breakfast. Please make sure its something unhealthy, totally bad for you and full of sugar this time.” Duncan hung up before Enid could protest.

“I bring pumpkin-carrot muffins one time.” Enid threw off the covers. There was no way she’d be getting back to sleep. Might as well go for a morning jog.

XOXOXOX

Enid pulled up outside a group of apartmentsshooting off a quick text. ‘ERose Taxi service. Searching for brilliant engineer, who killed a hover car. Again.’ Almost immediately she received a response.

'Good morning my beautiful, intelligent, wonderful, sarcastic savior! I’ll be right down to your death trap masquerading as an SUV’ a few minuets later Gregory hopped in.

“If you don’t like my baby, you can always walk to work.” Enid pulled out of the apartment complex and back on the road.

“My lovely queen of the office file system, I shall endeavor to keep my mouth shut. I think we both know how monumental a task that will be.” Enid began laughing, Gregory joining a moment later.

“Did you see Venom yet?”

“Enid, the only reason you went to see that movie was to watch Tom Hardy. Besides I have issues with villains getting their own movies.” Gregory grumbled.

“Tom Hardy is nice to look at. I wasn’t expecting the twist they put to Venom though. In the Tobey Maguire spider-man, Venom was a villain. In this new story there’s no way anyone will call him a hero but he is a very interesting anti-hero.”

“What about that new avenger’s trailer? Have you seen that?”

“It had me in tears Gregory, tears. It looks like they’re going to kill off Tony! They already killed Bucky and Loki! … Dammit. We might have to test you keeping your mouth shut sooner than expect. It looks like we’re getting pulled over.” Enid frowned looking in the rear-view mirror. Gregory tensed up.

“Call me Duncan around the cops. Lets just say I’m not exactly here legally; I’ll explain later.” Enid gave a quick nod grabbing her wallet and putting both hands on the wheel. She lowered the window as an office approached.

“Step out of the vehicle please.”

“Sure office. Can I ask what this is about?” Enid gulped. What was going on?

“Both of you need to get out of the vehicle, hands in the air.” Both Enid and Gregory stepped out of the SUV hands raised. Rough hands grabbed Enid, slapping cuffs on her wrists.

“What the hell?” Enid tried to look at the officer. A heavy hit to her temple had her stumbling.

“Enid!”

“Shut up! You’re both coming with us!” The world faded in and out as Enid was shoved in the back of a cop car. She shook her head to clear it.

“Keep quiet, they’re after me. I’m sure when they figure out you aren’t part of anything they’ll let you go.”Gregory leaned in and whispered into Enid’s ear. She knew he was probably trying to be reassuring but it was freaking her out more. What could her friend be involved with? The patrol car slowed down outside an abandoned looking warehouse Enid’s stomach dropped. She was pulled from the car one way, Gregory the other.

“Move it.” Enid was half dragged through the warehouse into what could have been an office once. As the door was slammed in her face, Enid made a quick look around for anything useful, but it appeared someone had removed everything already. Enid tried not to hyperventilate as she looked at the closed door. It was metal, and looked heavy. Probably not the original door. She tried to wiggle her wrists, the cuffs were digging into her skin.

“So kid, what you in for?” Enid jumped at the voice and spun around. Sitting in a dark corner was none other than Robert Downey Jr. As impossible as it seemed, the man she was starring down was a dead ringer for the actor.

“Robert Downey Jr.? How? Why? What is Gregory mixed up in?” Enid stammered. The man gave her a confused look.

“Whoa there Kid, my name’s Tony. Did you say Gregory? Cause I have this brother named Gregory and those thugs were looking for him. Was your Gregory with you when you got caught?” the more she looked at him, the more something seemed off about him. She just couldn’t figure out what.

“Yeah, I was giving him a ride to work. But you don’t look anything like him.”

“That’s not good news to me kid, my brother looks nothing like me.”

“Please don’t call me kid.”

“Okay short stack. Just sit tight, my friends are coming to bust me… I guess us now, out.” Enid rolled her eyes at Tony. At least he’d apparently stopped calling her a kid. Enid heard a shout and a thud from outside the door She step closer to listen better but Tony pulled her back. “If my friends are here, it won’t be a good idea to stand by the door.” The door groaned and burst open. A tall figure stood in the smoke. Enid gaped.

“Oh my god! Its Tom Hiddleston!” Enid was stunned. The man in the doorway seemed confused.

“I am Loki, of Asgard. Come Stark, I was sent to free you.” Enid was practically vibrating in her excitement. She bounced over to Loki with stars in her eyes. A thought struck her and her excitement disappeared. She rounded on Tony.

“Wait Stark? Your name is Tony Stark? Were your parent’s Marvel fans or something? No this is too much, its gotta be some sort of prank.”

“I’m getting out of here short stack, you coming or what?” he followed Loki, Enid trailed behind the two. There was no way she was staying. As they reached the main floor of the warehouse, a huge fight was going on. Enid could see Scarlett Johansson in a black skin tight suit. Jeremy Renner was in the rafters shooting arrows! There was even someone dressed as Captain America. The fight was intense, the hits looked and sounded very real. The one thing Enid couldn’t seem to find, were any cameras.

“Head down!” Enid didn’t know who shouted that or who pushed her down but her instincts were screaming at her this fight wasn’t staged. What the hell was going on? Enid stayed down, shaking as the fight continued around her. She had no way to judge how long the fight lasted, time had no meaning for her. It was Gregory’s soft voice which finally had her looking up.

“Hey E, it’s okay. Its over now.” She shook her head at him and held up her wrists which were still cuffed. Scarlett knelt beside her and picked the lock, freeing Enid’s wrists.

“How’d you do that? I mean your charcater Natasha is a complete badass but I wouldn’t think you’d have to learn something like this to play her.” Enid whispered in awe. Scarlettt gave her an odd look.

“So how are you?” Gregory winced at his own question. Enid blinked. She wasn’t sure where the laughter or tears came from but she couldn’t seem to stop either. “Tony, we can’t leave her like this, they’re bound to come back.” Gregory called over his should.

“Greg, why doesn’t she know us? She didn’t even know Loki, called him Tom Hiddleston.”

“It’s a long story-” Gregory started.

“It always is with you. But your right, we can’t leave her. Something is wr… isn’t right. Did she get hit in the head?” Gentle hands help Enid stand, she looked up into bright blue eyes. It slowed the tears. By the time she had been led onto a weird plane, quinjet her mind supplied, she was reduced to soft hiccups. Gregory sat on one side of her, oddly enough Loki sat on her other side.

“You’ve had an interesting day, would you like to talk about it?” Loki gave Enid a gentle smile.

“What are you up to brother?” Enid turned her head to look at Chris Hemsworth. Something in her snapped. She turned back to Loki.

“Interesting isn’t the right word. Impossible is so much better! This entire day should be impossible! I’m surrounded by the actors from the Avengers movies only they don’t seem to know it! Tony Stark or Robert Downey Jr? Tom Hiddleston or Loki? Cause I swear I’m talking to the actor, not the character. And you just had to go and say the line, why did you have to say the line? Haven’t you seen other fans swoon from it?!? Don’t get me wrong, all of you are brlliants actors but superheros aren’t real! The Avengers aren’t real! It’s just a movie! The costumes, the fight, and no cameras! ANYWHER! None of this can be real! What the fuck is going on?!? I have to be losing my fucking mind or sometihng. Greg if this is one of your pranks I will stab you.” Enid ranted. There was a twinkle in Loki’s eyes.

“Wow two 'fucks’ and a death threat all in one day, today has been rough hasn’t it?” Gregory muttered. If looks would kill, Enid would have murdered him.

“Language!” Steve called from somewhere up front.

“Dude so help me, this is a FUCK, FUCK, FUCKITY, FUCK kinda of day!.” Enid snapped. The plane was deadly quiet. Enid looked back at Loki. He was wearing a smirk and his eyes were practicly glowing. Slowly he held his hand up, his seidr flowed around his hand like a green mist. Enid looked from his hand into his eyes, her mouth gaping, her eyes wide.

“You were saying, little mortal?”

“No fucking way…” Enid’s eyes rolled back into her head and her body slumped. Loki caught her before she could fall out of her seat.

“So Greg, we’ve got a long flight ahead of us, I think it’s time for that story.”

[massmurdera]

2019 & 2010s Best/Worst

Because I like lists and cataloguing the dumb shit I cared about. As my brother once said after seeing and reviewing NOW YOU SEE ME on a lazy Sunday, ‘Some would say it was a waste of time, others might say it was a colossal waste of time.’     

I’ll admit, it’s a bit over-the-top. Particularly including the Pats, but yeah, in the Tom Brady era that started when I was 14 as a Freshman in high school to 33 years old now and wrapping up soon-ish (?), there’s not a chance in hell I’ll care as intimately about this shit. I grew up with it at just the right time.

2019 MOVIES  TOP TIER 1) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2) Uncut Gems 2nd TIER 3) Knives Out 4) Parasite 5) Little Women 6) Midsommer 3rd TIER 7) John Wick III 8) Ready or Not 9) Marriage Story 10) Joker 11) Irishman 12) Shazam! 13) Us UNDERRATED Ready or Not TOO LONG John Wick III; Irishman SOLID El Camino GOOD BAD 6 Underground OK 21 Bridges; Avengers: Endgame; Dolemite is my Name; Dragged Across Concrete; Fighting With My Family; Hustlers; Knock Down the House; Longshot; the Report; Two Popes MEH Always Be My Maybe; Death of Dick Long; High Flying Bird; Spiderman: Far From Home; Standoff at Sparrow Creek DISAPPOINTING Hobbs & Shaw; Toy Story 4; Triple Frontier SUCK Laundromat; Under the Silver Lake OVERRATED Ad Astra; Booksmart; the Farewell FUNNIEST SCENE Dicaprio flipping out in movie trailer BEST CLIMAX/ENDING Once Upon a Time; Uncut Gems HAVEN’T SEEN 1917; Apollo 11; Beach Bum; Dark Waters; Ford vs Ferrari; Honey Boy; Jojo Rabbit; the Lighthouse; Star Wars 2019 TV  TOP TIER 1) Succession 2) Fleabag 3) Watchmen 2nd TIER 4) When They See Us 5) Barry 6) Unbelievable 7) Chernobyl 8) Sex Education DAMN GOOD Big Mouth; the Boys; Brockmire; Derry Girls; Euphoria; Loudest Voice; Mindhunter; Pen15; Righteous Gemstones; Veep WATCHABLE Atypical; Bosch; Dark; Goliath; Karate Kid; Kominsky Method; Mandalorian; Mr Robot; Mrs Fletcher; Russian Doll; Warrior HIGH/LOW I Think You Should Leave SHIT END FOR ALL-TIME GREAT Game of Thrones HALF-WATCH Living With Yourself; Raising Dion; the Society NOT UP TO STANDARD Stranger Things; GLOW; Killing Eve; True Detective BAD Luther; Shameless; Silicon Valley; SNL SUCK 13 Reasons Why; Big Little Lies; the Witcher FUNNIEST Desus & Mero DOCS 1) Fyre: both  2) Ted Bundy Tapes 3) American Factory 4) Leaving Neverland STAND-UP SPECIALS 1) Burr 2) Chappelle 3) Jeselnik 4) Birbiglia 5) Gulman BEHIND ON SHOWS I DIG Brooklyn 99; Catastrophe; Corporate; Expanse; Good Place; It’s Always Sunny; Letterkenny 2010s TV  DRAMA 1) Breaking Bad 2) Game of Thrones 3) Justified 4) Mad Men 5) Hannibal 6) Banshee ANTHOLOGY/LIMITED SERIES 1) Fargo SII 2) True Detective SI 3) When They See Us 4) People Vs OJ Simpson 5) Chernobyl 6) Show Me a Hero 7) the Night Of 8) Honorable Woman COMEDY 1) Atlanta 2) Fleabag 3) Veep 4) Big Mouth 5) Parks & Rec 6) Rick & Morty 7) Nathan for You 8) Review 9) American Vandal HIT/MISS Black Mirror OVERRATED Boardwalk Empire; House of Cards; Peaky Blinders; Westworld UNDERRATED Banshee; Brockmire; Hannibal FUN HATE-WATCH Newsroom DOWNHILL Homeland; How I Met Your Mother; Legion; Sons of Anarchy HATED Girls; Leftovers; Rectify UNWATCHABLE Twin Peaks BEST ENDINGS Breaking Bad; Justified; Fleabag; Parks & Rec DUMBEST ENDING Dexter; Sons of Anarchy LATE NIGHT Desus & Mero POLITICAL John Oliver 2010s MOVIES 2010 Social Network Animal Kingdom; the Fighter; Four Lions; Inside Job; Jackass 3; MacGruber; Shutter Island; Toy Story 3; True Grit; Winter’s Bone 2011 the Raid Descendents; Drive; Fast Five; the Guard; Mission Impossible 4; Take This Waltz; Warrior 2012 Magic Mike 21 Jump Street; Argo; Cabin in the Woods; Chronicle; Django Unchained; Goon; Looper; Queen of Versailles; Silver Linings Playbook; Skyfall 2013 Wolf of Wall Street Before Midnight; the Conjuring; Gravity; Her; Inside Llewyn Davis; Prisoners; Short-Term 12 2014 John Wick the Drop; Edge of Tomorrow; Gone Girl; the Guest; Lego Movie; Nightcrawler; the Raid 2; Whiplash 2015 Mad Max 7 Days in Hell; Big Short; Brooklyn; Creed; Ex Machina; Fast 7; It Follows; Logan; Magic Mike XXL; the Martian; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation; Sicario 2016 the Nice Guys Deadpool; Edge of Seventeen; Everybody Wants Some!; Green Room; La La Land; Manchester By the Sea; Moonlight; OJ: Made in America; Popstar; Sing Street; Weiner 2017 Get Out Blade Runner 2049; Coco; Dunkirk; Lady Bird; Logan; Thor Ragnorak; Tour de Pharmacy 2018 Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse BlacKKKlansman; Den of Thieves; Hereditary; If Beale Street Could Talk; Minding the Gap; Sorry to Bother You

THE BEST Mad Max BEST DOC OJ: Made in America FUNNIEST DOC Tickled UNDERRATED DOC Weiner HORROR Hereditary FAVORITE/FUNNIEST PERFORMANCE Ryan Gosling (Nice Guys) DESERVED 5 SEQUELS the Nice Guys SUPERHERO Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse WAR Dunkirk BEST FIGHT SCENES the Raid UNDERRATED any Lonely Island project NICE TRY Dark Knight Rises; Inception; Interstellar; Widows STAND-UP 2010s FAVORITE Bill Burr NEXT BEST Ali Wong; Anthony Jeselnik; Kyle Kinane; Bert Kreischer; Marc Maron; John Mulaney; Patton Oswalt; Rory Scovel; Tom Segura COMEBACK Chappelle DOWNFALL Louis CK DIED BEFORE PRIME Patrice O’Neal, Greg Giraldo UNDERRATED Joe Derosa MUST-SEE LIVE Robert Kelly  PODCASTS 2010s  BEST/FUNNIEST/UNDERRATED Walking the Room RUNNER-UP 600 Dollar Podcast ONE-MAN RANT Bill Burr Monday Morning Podcast SPORTS Pardon My Take RIFFING Bodega Boys HISTORY/COMEDY Dollop HISTORY DEEP DIVE Hardcore History MOVIES Rewatchables HATE-WATCH CRITICISM West Wing Thing POP CULTURE/FILM Frotcast MIXED Revisionist History GOOD/BAD Joe Rogan: GOOD: propping up comic friends; BAD: useful idiot for propping up bad faith fascists who should be put out to pasture INTERNET CURIOSITY Reply All LEFTIST POLITICS Chapo Trap House TRUE CRIME In the Dark ADVICE Don’t Take Bullshit From Fuckers LAME Pod Save America OVERRATED Missing Richard Simmons DIDN’T LIKE S-Town SERIAL Season 3>Season 1 TRUMP Trump, Inc SPORTS SCHAUDENFREUDE Fuck the Chargers OKAY Bill Simmons WTF WITH MARON good when he talks to comics MURDER My Favorite Murder OTHER GOOD ONES Hound Tall; Press Box

2010s MUSIC  FAVORITE anything Brian Fallon ROCK BAND Menzingers SONG Robyn-‘Dancing On My Own’ POP-PUNK BAND Wonder Years LIVE ALBUM Horrible Crowes-‘Elsie’ HEAVY BAND Every Time I Die ELECTRONIC Chvrches SOLO Rihanna COVER ALBUM Dustin Kensrue-‘Thoughts on a Different Blood’ GO-TO AT GYM Story So Far OFF THE INEVITABLE & IRRECOVERABLE DEEP END Kanye KIND OF LIKE THE MUSIC/HATE THE PERSON: LIKE KANYE Taylor Swift, Bieber THOUGHT I’D HATE BUT DOES NOT SUCK Lana Del Rey; Post Malone OTHER FAVES 1975; Arctic Monkeys; Beach Slang; Black Keys; Bon Iver; Carly Rae Jepsen; the National; Thrice MIXED Chance the Rapper; Kendrick Lamar I’ll be honest I spent far more time listening to podcasts nearly all the time and just listened to mostly the same couple of things I liked. 2010s PATRIOTS  2010s BEST GAMES 1) Seahawks Super Bowl 2) Falcons Super Bowl 3) Ravens 2015 Divisional 4) Chiefs 2019 AFCCG UNDERRATED CLASSIC Ravens 2015 Divisional BRADY/GRONK GO DOWN LIKE CHAMPS 1) 2018 Eagles Super Bowl 2) Broncos 2015 AFCCG: Brady’ offensive line was a sieve EITHER WAY Giants Super Bowl: game changed when Brady’s shoulder got fucked up by Tuck FAVORITE PLAYER TB12 MOST FUN/DOMINANT Gronk HEART OF TEAM Edelman BELOVED Wilfork ROCK SOLID 1) Hightower 2) McCourty 3) James White 1st BALLOT HALL OF FAMERS 1) Brady 2) Gronk 3) Revis LATER BALLOT 1) Edelman 2) Scarnecchia 3) Welker 4) Wilfork 5) Slater MAKING AN ARGUMENT Gilmore PATS HALL ONLY 1) McCourty 2) Hightower 3) Mankins 4) White 5) Gostkowski 6) Mayo 7) Chung UNDERRATED/GOOD VALUE 1) Amendola 2) Vollmer 3) Ninkovich 4) Chung 5) Woodhead DESERVED BETTER Welker UNSUNG Slater OVERRATED 1) Solder 2) Brandin Cooks NO-SHOWS Dolphins (Dec ’19); Jets Divisional (Jan ‘11) BEST REGULAR SEASON WINS 1) 2013 Broncos 2) 2017 Steelers 3) 2013 Saints BEST REGULAR SEASON LOSSES 1) 2012 49ers 2) 2016 Seahawks 3) 2014 Packers 4) 2015 Broncos LOL Miami Miracle: saved by winning Super Bowl LEAST TALENTED TEAM 1) 2013 by a mile 2) 2010 3) 2011 4) 2018 BEST TEAM 1) 2014  2) 2016 BEST PLAYS (NON-GRONK) 1) Butler INT Seahawks 2) Edelman TD pass vs Ravens 3) Buttfumble Jets 4) Edelman catch vs Falcons 5) Walk-off TD vs Falcons 6) Dan Connolly kick return 7) Brady TD pass to LaFell 2015 Divisional POUNDED TABLE TO DRAFT 1) Lamar Jackson 2) Kittle 3) AJ Brown 4) Honey Badger 5) Stefon Diggs WANTED BUT OUT OF REACH 1) Aaron Donald 2) Quenton Nelson 3) Derwin James 4) Hopkins 5) TJ Watt 6) Saquon 7) Keenan Allen 8) McCaffrey 9) Gurley WOULD’VE WON IT ALL IF NOT FOR INJURIES 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017. That’s football HEALTHIEST SEASON 2018 ROPE-A-DOPED/GOT BY ON VETERAN GUILE 2018: Belichick’s best coaching FAVORITE PICKS AT THE TIME OF GUYS I WANTED 1) Gronk 2) Hightower/Chandler Jones 3) Shaq Mason MOVES I HATED THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT 1) Stephon Gilmore 2) trading Jamie Collins MOST IMPROVED Marcus Cannon BEST FIND Kyle Van Noy MOVE I LOVED getting Blount back the 2nd time IF BUTLER WASN’T BENCHED, DO THEY BEAT THE EAGLES? Yes 100%. If only because, if nothing else, he can tackle BUTLER’s INT KILLED THE ‘LEGION OF BOOM’ SEAHAWKS WOULD-BE DYNASTY Yes DRAFT REACH THAT MADE NO SENSE Jordan Richards: Tavon Wilson 2.0 BAD DRAFT MOVES 1) Dominique Easley 2) Cyrus Jones 3) Dobson 4) Mallett DIRTY SECRET Belichick sucks at drafting in 2nd round WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD IF HE STAYED HEALTHY Malcolm Mitchell HATE TO SEE WALK BUT COULDN’T AFFORD 1) Trey Flowers 2) Chandler Jones 3) Jimmy G 4) Talib 5) Akiem Hicks DEFLATEGATE fraud/power trip job by Goodell/owners BRADY OR BELICHICK MORE VALUABLE Brady 100% DISAPPOINTING/GAMBLES 1) Ochocinco 2) Michael Bennett: got him 2 years too late 3) Fanene signing 4) Haynesworth BEST SHORT-TERM 1) Martellus Bennett 2) Chris Long 3) Revis 4) Brian Waters SUSPECT CHARACTERS/EDGY PERSONALITY MACHINES Brandon Spikes; Brandon Browner…SERIAL KILLER Aaron Hernandez PERSONALITY DISORDER DISASTER Antonio Brown: bad signing/unexpected HOW THE FUCK DID WE LOSE TO THAT GUY? Eli Manning/Nick Foles LIFESAVER Scarnecchia MCDANIELS Frustrating—but continuity matters REFS FUCKED OVER Gronk  MISCELANNEOUS 2010s GOOD/ENJOY Bernie Sanders/AOC: people who actually want to get good done that’s long overdue…Lebron James; Stephen Curry; Kawhi; Zion Williamson; Luka Doncic...Lamar Jackson; Pat Mahomes; JJ Watt; Marshawn Lynch…Coach Ed Orgeron...David Ortiz…2011 Bruins…memes…Don Winslow crime novels…David Roth writing on Trump…David Grann non-fiction…’Book of Mormon’ DID NOT ENJOY Kyrie Irving…Deflategate…LeBron on the Heat…Bobby Valentine DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ‘Between the World and Me’…Elon Musk…Lin Manuel-Miranda/’Hamilton’ INDEFENSIBLY AND INFURIATINGLY BAD THE MORE YOU LOOK AT IT Facebook…Obama Presidency/Democratic Party Leadership EVERYDAY DISASTER Media: CNN; Fox; MSNBC; NY Times Op-Ed…Trump/Republicans: Trump presidency was basically 2010s 9/11 for inevitable disastrous fallout & consequences my generation will never recover from…Grifters Trojan horsing way in shamelessly (Trump administration; Ben Shapiro; Alex Jones; Milo; Jordan Peterson, Tomi Lahren, etc.) and no repercussions...Republican Party basically one goal: to troll libs even with shitty ideas that suck FAVORITES WHO DIED Bourdain; Elmore Leonard; Garry Shandling; Muhammad Ali; Robin Williams; Tom Petty BEST TALENT CUT SHORT Philip Seymour Hoffman SHITTIEST PEOPLE WHO DIED Antonin Scalia; George HW Bush; John McCain; Osama; Steve Jobs; Whitey Bulger I FORGOT THAT SHIT HAPPENED Charlie Sheen loses it JEFFREY EPSTEIN did not kill himself WHAT DEFINES 2010s Amazon/Bezos…Climate Change/Gun Violence inaction…Journalism being taken over by Bane Capital-esque vultures/local places dying...one-sided Class War by the uber-rich…#MeToo…Netflix…Opioids…Outrage/Cancel culture…Police Injustice…Silicon Valley…Social Media…Superhero shit…Your mom

[sporadic-writer]

Straight out of the movies

Tom Holland x Reader

Warnings: drinking, swearing

Summary: every great story or scene starts with a girl's night out

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Ah girl's nights. A cherished and universal concept known to all. Friends gather in their best outfits for certain occasions and let loose. Just as you and your friends were doing throughout the city of New York. You had a long weekend from your school, 3 friends not too far at NYU, and none of you opposed the idea of hitting the town. Gathered in hot party outfits you went from bar to club and back again. None of you were sloppy drunk, but you certainly weren't sober. It was just a perfect night to get drinks, dance, and have fun. However, as the night progressed you all got hungry.

The night was still young at only 12:30 so you popped into a less occupied bar close by to Central Park. There were a few people in the bar; older men were playing darts and manning the juke box, a couple couples together, and just a handful of people your own age in their own group. The smokey scent filled your nose and you all stepped forward to sit at the bar. Being a bit overdressed made some heads turn, but quickly you girls were ignored. After ordering your food and some more drinks, you all giggled and talked together in happiness. Fries being done, you looked around to check the place out. It was a nice contrast to the clubs and bars you previously visited. It was a classic dive bar and oddly made you feel relaxed. Turning to your friends, you spoke up to change the topic.

"Who wants to play some pool?" Your friend, Olivia, hopped off and said she wanted to. Grabbing some quarters and your drink, you smiled and both walked to the table.

The men by the music smiled kindly at you both. "What song would you ladies like to hear?"

"I don't care. Y/N?" Eyes looked to you.

"Uhh Cheap Trick? I've had Surrender in my head all day or some reason." They remarked in appreciation for your song choice. You racked up the balls in the wooden triangle and let Olivia break. You smiled and teased her as nothing went in. Soon the song played and you both danced as you played, you sang softly to yourself as well. While in your own world the group if you failed to notice the group of younger guys checking you out.

"Dibs on the blonde at the bar." Mark sipped his beer and kept his eyes on the girl he overheard be called Whitney, if he even heard correctly.

His friends chuckled, and one guy named Greg spoke up. "Yeah because we are even going to approach them tonight. They have clearly been out and not looking for guys. Although that hasn't stopped Tom from staring at the girl who picked the song. But I don't blame him, in that outfit every time she bends over the table to play I even can't help but appreciate the view. They aren't even trying and they're hot." This caused Tom to stop looking at you, smiling and singing, and laugh at them.

"So what? She seems cool and looks good. And he's right I think we might get shot down if we try. The girl at the bar in the blue dress has glanced at us a couple times though." Looking back over to you, he saw you and the girl he heard you call, Liv, do a round of shots with the older men playing darts. They weren't being creeps, just nice guys appreciating you all enjoying yourselves. They were almost living vicariously through you all.

Harrison scoffed and stood to get more drinks. His friend saw how you and Liv glanced and slightly looked over them each. "Ridiculous. We are good looking forgeiners and they are beautiful locals. There is 4 of them and 4 of us. Tom come to the bar with me please. We are going to get the 2 playing some new drinks and play them next. You can have the y/h/c." Tom sighed and follwed along. They ordered their drinks and he held your martini in his hand.

The sound of the boys walking made you look up as the game finished, you being the victor. "Hello boys! To what do we owe this pleasure?" Your half smirk, half smile made Tom lost and almost bump into Harrison. He recovered and got the chance to check you out properly. The maroon dress and black heels you wore made your skin glow under the table's hanging light. Each ring on your finger glittered as you leaned on the pool cue. Harrison speaking broke his trance on you.

"We simply wanted to play the next game against you and come bring you each some drinks." Handing Olivia her gin and tonic she blushed and told them to rack up. Tom watched you strut and look to him.

"This for me? Thank you Tom." As you grabbed it from his hand, fingers grazed each other lightly.

"You do know who we are. Here I thought we were unknown to you girls." He smiled as he grabbed a cue.

You chuckled lightly and sipped the new drink. "Nah I noticed once I started playing. I don't know who the 2 going to my friends are, but you and Harrison are hard to not notice. You're out of place in a New York bar a tad."

"We are passing through. I have press stuff in the city and the other guys are some friends from old sets who live here." Olivia breaking made your head snap to look at the game. The older men put on Hotel California and the 4 of you played while your other friends at the bar chatted with their new company. After time the boys were winning and you tried to up your game.

"I don't care how famous you are, we are winning this." Playfully you grumbled a little and stomped your foot. The others laughed at your antics.

"Come on Y/N, show them your skills. After this game Whitney and Sam said the guys would take us to hang out in the park. A nice evening stroll. You and Tom are joining right?" Olivia looked to Harrison as she finished speaking. But it was one the older men who spoke in return.

"Ha they will for sure. These boys would be nuts to not hang out with you ladies on a fine evening like this." Tom and Harrison looked to you and Olivia and smiled.

"Let's finish this and we can head out"

Nearly 5 or so minutes later, the boys won the game and everyone paid their tabs before walking towards the park. Whitney and Sam walked with Greg and Mark. Trailing behind was you, Olivia, Tom, and Harrison. Somehow you all paired up with the men respectively. As a group you all made idle chit chat and got to know each other.

"Are you guys staying in the city long?" Whitney's words made your heart flutter with hope that they would be. You also noticed how she was holding Mark's hand gingerly. The thought of how soft Tom's may be lingered in your mind.

"Until Wednesday I think. Why? Dreading us leaving? Getting attached rather quickly ladies." Tom looked to you as he replied.

You smiled at him, "They live here, go to NYU. So no need for them to dread. I however live in Connecticut. I go to school there. I go back Sunday or early Monday." Hands brushed each other and heat rose to your cheeks. Luckily the night hid your blush.

"Damn. Tom get her number now then. Make the night count. He's smitten Y/N, don't let him fool you." It was Tom's turn to blush as Greg spoke. He acted unfased though as he grabbed your hand and threaded fingers through each other. Biting your lip, you smiled at him while handing him your unlocked phone.

He looked to you in question. "He's not wrong. Get to it movie star." Doing as he was told, he let go of your hand and added his information. As he handed it back his arm went around your waist rather than back to your hand. The night was progressing swimmingly as you all sat on some rocks in the park.

As it began nearing 3 am everyone got tired as the alcohol wore off. Sam told the guys were all of you lived and they offered to walk you all back. Tom's hold on your waist made you want to walk back as slow as possible. You laughed a little at how the night turned out. He looked to you in question again that night.

"This night was fun. Started as a girl's night, then we end up meeting handsom Brits at a bar and take a moon lit stroll. Almost like something out of your movies."

"Well, it is only Friday, Saturday morning to be technical. I say we pick it all back up at lunch. But either way, I'm going to kiss you to cap off the evening." Turning to him you looked in teasing shock.

"Is that so? Think because you are a big shot and I am enjoying the walk you get to be so bold?" He laughed and you caught Liv looking at you together. Slighly, you winked at your friend. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood. But you don't have to wait til we get back you know." He stopped as the others trailed ahead. Looking at each other, you leaned closer and he got the message and met you half way. The kiss made you sigh contently and he pulled you closer. Harrison yelling to keep up made you break apart.

"I wanted to do that when I saw you at the pool table. Your singing along to rock and roll was the best show I could ask for." You shoved him lightly. "It's true! You are very eye-catching Y/N."

The next thing you knew everyone was at your place. Everyone was saying goodbye and then it was just you and Tom as the guys waited for a ride.

You smiled at him. "I am growing fond of this little film sequence we are apart of movie star. Don't let tonight be the end of it."

He kissed you again. In order to leave your impression, you bit his lip a little as you pulled away. He groaned, "Oh Lord trust me I won't. It will continue I promise. I will text you later darling. Goodnight." He kissed your cheek and walked off to his friends. You simply smiled immensly and walked inside to your friends.

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