#uhh i was just bored at lecture

[likeprongstostars]

[jnnul]

mr. brawn and ms. brain

sum: you hate athletes. eunseok is an athlete. eunseok is in love with you. it doesn't take a genius to see that there's an issue with this equation. after a one-sided love for the past three years, eunseok is saved when the two of you are partnered to work on an english project together. which means that eunseok's first step of getting you to fall in love with him is done. next step: get you to give him the time of day... word count: 9.6k a/n: hehe i've been working on this for so long i can't believe it's finally out lol i hope that you all enjoy reading this as much as i loved writing this! <3 someone teach me how to make visually pleasing banners. quick note: feedback, comments, etc. GREATLY encourage writers! if you felt any sort of way (in a good or bad way!) about this fic, pls leave feedback warnings: mentions of reader's insecurities, sungchan being a horrible/amazing friend, simp eunseok, uhh love :D

EUNSEOK SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO WRAP HIS MIND AROUND YOUR SHEER GENIUS WAS A BAD IDEA. you were just so much smarter than him; he didn't know why he thought that he could even comprehend the meaning behind your actions anymore.

at least, this is what song eunseok gathers from your animated gestures and anger stained tone as you continue to motion at eunseok semi-offensively.

he's only half-listening (he's perfected the art of the blank stare) and you know that he's not listening too. but eunseok figures that if yelling at him to your heart's content is what would make you feel better, then he was glad to be your not-really listening ear.

"...and you know that i can't do it all on my own!" you yell finally, your distress coming to a climax. eunseok winces when your voice reaches a decibel he didn't know to be humanly possible. your chest is heaving and eunseok, from this, is now well aware that you're upset the fact you had to work on the partner project by yourself last night.

but he didn't know how else to explain to you that he had a soccer match last night that he couldn't just skip out to work on the project - even if it was a project that would more or less determine his grade in the class.

your arms are crossed against your torso, eyebrows furrowed as you wait for eunseok to say something. he's sat in front of you, looking akin to a statue, while you're standing up, glaring down at him and from this angle, eunseok is once again reminded of just why he lets you get away with saying pretty much anything to him.

eunseok is so incredibly in love with you that it takes every fiber of his being from telling you that any time the two of you were together. which was less often than he wanted but more often than you had had in the past so he was willing to take the wins he could get at this point.

"so you want me to the work on the project, that's it, right?" he says slowly and you damn near want to strangle him in that moment. you knew that eunseok wasn't dumb and that he had only sat through your entire lecture because you weren't going to let him hear the end of it anyway but would it kill him to at least pretend like he was remorseful?

"yes," you say finally, with an exasperated sigh. "i just want you to work on the project with me."

the corner of eunseok's lips twitch imperceptibly upwards in a soft smile before it disappears, bringing him back to his much more familiar bored expression. i just want you to work on the project with me.

that had to mean something, right? you wouldn't add the 'with me' without any particular reason, right? you actually meant to indicate something with that 'with me', right?

in all honesty, you're hadn't thought of what you were saying all that hard and had just said everything that came to mind in an attempt to rid yourself of your anger and eunseok knows that as well.

he's been in love with you for long enough to know that you didn't actually mean anything when he formed these delusions on his own but he couldn't help himself.

eunseok has loved you since the moment he saw you sitting inside the classroom, earbuds in your ears as you flipped through your notebook filled with notes while he was outside on the soccer field, squinting up at you against the relentless sun, three years ago.

he wasn't sure what it was. at first, he was sure that it was just the chase. the classic 'unattainable' trope where he was only attracted to you because of the challenge that you presented to him.

but it was strange.

eunseok wasn't a really big fan of cheesy clichés or overplayed poetry about something that he was sure didn't exist anymore but everything had changed when he saw you.

your looks, face, beauty - none of that seemed to be what clicked within him. the moment that you turned your head to peer out the window, your eyes landing on his, it was like his entire soul was breathing a sigh of relief.

if eunseok was any less of a realist, he would've genuinely believed that the two of you were soul tied lovers from previous lives.

the only issue was that eunseok was pretty sure his soulmate would give him the time of day. which you pretty much refused to do. it was like you were allergic to his type or something.

you kept to yourself in general, and didn't really have many friends but at the very least, you were friendly enough to those around you. no one really had anything bad to say about you bar the fact that you never allowed anyone to overtake you on your throne seated comfortably as number one in the whole school.

except for eunseok's friends. they all knew about eunseok's hopeless love for you and for the life of them could not understand why. you barely glanced in his direction in general, and seemed to always glare at any round object that could be used for a sport - and those who carried said offending objects.

which naturally meant that eunseok and the rest of his friends (all of whom unfortunately played some sport or another) were blacklisted by you.

he'd been curious at first why you had so much prejudice against sports and then one time, had seen you be forced to run laps around the field. needless to say, after he saw you nearly trip and fall on your face at least four times in one lap, he was vaguely aware of what prompted you to stay as far away from such activities as possible.

in fact, eunseok was relatively sure that he was going to have to graduate high school without ever actually having a proper conversation. until the fateful day that your english professor had assigned you and eunseok to work on the same project together for a final grade.

it was a simple research paper, but both of you had to submit outlines and drafts that showed how much you each contributed to the project, as well as how much of the project was done with each other - all of which contributed to your grade.

eunseok had thought that this was it! this would be his in!

he was wrong. to be honest, eunseok could count on one hand the number of conversations he'd had with you after starting work on the project together. and could count without any fingers the number of those conversations that were about anything other than project division.

which is why, when you're standing here, arms crossed against your heaving chest and looking at him with those eyes, eunseok has nothing running in his mind other than just how much he wants you to know what he feels.

"eunseok! are you even listening to me anymore?" you ask, waving a hand in his face. eunseok blinks before clearing his throat. he reaches out a long arm to pull out a chair in the desk next to his and indicates for you to sit down on it.

you eye the chair warily before sitting down, folding your skirt underneath your thighs as you sit gingerly, as if you were expecting it to explode.

the sight would normally make eunseok just roll his eyes for anyone else but with you, it makes him smile.

"okay, i'm sorry. with the game last night, i forgot to my part for the draft due friday. but i promise, i'm still going to make it up to you and finish all of the stuff i needed to do as soon as possible," eunseok says. you watch him for a moment before nodding and moving to get up out of the chair as eunseok rushes to come up with some reasoning to get you to stay with him a little longer.

"although, are you sure you're going to be able to finish the section by yourself? i had some issues with the first half of pride and prejudice because of the characterization and the time period," you say, although the last half of your thought seems to be much more reluctant than the first half, as if you didn't want to admit that you had any academic weaknesses to eunseok.

but eunseok barely pays it any mind, jumping on the opportunity as soon as he recognizes it. "oh...yeah, honestly i don't know if i can do it by myself. since we both have access to the late night study room anyway, do you wanna finish it together tonight?"

eunseok watches as the gears turn in your head, bottom lip caught between your teeth as you debate the possibilities in your mind. and even as you do, he tries to control the erratic beating of his heart at the chance of spending so much time with you.

if he could explain his feelings to anyone, which eunseok was not gifted with the vocabulary of attempting to do so, he was sure that they would ask if he was ripped straight from the novel the two of you were assigned to work on.

to be honest, eunseok thinks as he rests his temple against the heel of his palm, watching as you pull out a timetable and consult it with utmost seriousness, even he found it kinda silly.

well, not silly as in his crush on you was dumb per se (although, there were times where he realized just how unfounded his feelings truly were). more silly like i didn't even know these kinds of feelings could still exist in people.

silly like how a child discovering the world for the first time might be - awkward in their gait but curiosity shining brightly in their eyes, learning how to be human for the first time.

he knows that his whole 'true love' or 'soulmate' semantics were not for the weak of heart - and most definitely not for those who were too embroiled in the 'love' of today's day and age. but he couldn't bring himself to care.

it made him want to be a better person for you. to be the man that you would glance at in more than just passing. to be worthy of your love.

"alright. i'm scheduled for an english tutoring session but i'll ask them to meet me tomorrow instead. maybe i can use some of the stuff that we learn during our project," you say with a sigh, crossing out some of the timings written in your schedule and rearranging them.

eunseok's eyebrows furrow. "you take tutoring lessons? oh, like a private tutor?"

you eye eunseok strangely, as if you weren't sure if he was making a joke or not.

"no...i teach people. i tutor for english, mathematics, and some other subjects as well. it's how i'm adding to my resumé." the chair makes an awful noise when you push it back to stand up.

"oh," eunseok says. resumé? for what? college admissions? god, he really needed to start getting ready for that. his csat score was not high enough for him to even dream about getting into a good enough school for you to recognize him.

or, you know, secure brighter future in such a competitive job market. but that was mostly secondary.

"yeah. so..." you trail off awkwardly, toeing the ground with your arms behind your back. the sight of you being awkward or unsure of yourself was foreign to eunseok but nonetheless endearing.

"yeah. so i'll see you tonight then? after classes end?" eunseok prompts you and you seem to snap out of whatever reverie your mind was in.

"mhm." it's absent-minded and almost an afterthought, as you make your way out of the classroom, pausing at the door to look at him before leaving.

+++

classes end a couple of hours later, and eunseok is left waiting anxiously in the study rooms.

you'd agreed to meet after classes but eunseok realizes that he'd never asked for a specific time or your number to communicate with you, meaning that he'd been stuck in the study rooms for the past hour, unsure if and when you were going to show up.

eunseok had been productive with his time, of course. he'd tucked away the soccer ball he'd brought to school into one of the lockers in the back and popped a breath mint. not for any particular reason, but he didn't want you to think of him in the stereotypical 'jock who doesn't partake in hygiene'.

he'd even tried to make progress on the pride and prejudice chapters he'd been assigned (by you) to write about, only to give up three sentences in.

the one thing that eunseok had done incorrectly, however, was drinking too much water. see, eunseok had a strange habit of chugging water every time he got nervous. needless to say, about an hour of sheer anxiety of when you were going to show up made him down the whole waterbottle.

which was not good because now, eunseok had to relieve himself and you were still nowhere to be seen. and he couldn't just go use the restroom and come back because he was pretty sure you'd just leave and assume that he bailed on you if he left his post in the study rooms.

eunseok paces around the room, hoping that time would move faster if he moved faster (time-space was in same dimension after all, so technically...). he's taken about twenty-three laps around the study room when he finally hears the door click open and you enter the study room somewhat cautiously, looking worse for wear.

"I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!" eunseok manages to holler before sprinting out of the study room, not wanting to look back and see your undoubtedly bewildered face as he makes a mad dash for the men's restrooms.

it's not until eunseok finally relieves himself, washing his hands in the sink that was lower than his hips that he realizes what he'd just done.

eunseok berates himself more than once or twice in the bathroom, pacing back and forth once more when he realizes just how much of an idiot he must've looked like as he sprinted out of the room like a crazy man.

"it's ok. it's ok! having to use the restroom is natural! everyone needs to! it's not like y/n doesn't, right? don't worry, you look fine. you're so hot, she'll forget it happened."

you didn't forget. when eunseok slinked back into the study room, you can barely keep the silly smile off your face, trying your best to look understanding and apologetic instead.

"i'm - i'm so sorry for coming late eunseok. i heard there was soccer practice today so i figured you'd be late and decided to help mrs. kim with creating the study set for the upcoming math test," you explain, unable to keep the lighthearted giggle out of your voice.

eunseok offers an embarrassed half-grin as he waves you off.

"don't worry, i wasn't waiting long. i just got here too. uh, i asked coach to cancel practice since both captains wouldn't be able to make it," eunseok says, looking busily through his backpack in an effort to prevent you from looking at his red face.

"you asked the coach to cancel practice?" you ask incredulously and eunseok tries his best to act nonchalant.

"yeah. i mean, you're right after all. academics are more important than sports - it's not like i plan on going pro or anything so i figured that i should sit down and make some headway on this project," eunseok says with a shrug, and it brings him a strange sense of satisfaction when you glance at him as though you were suddenly looking at him for the first time.

"you don't plan on playing in college? i mean i've heard that you're good enough for it," you say, and you sound genuinely curious, rearranging the books in front of you.

"i mean i plan on playing in college but i can't exactly get into college just on sports. i'm not that good. i still need to have good grades and scores to get in," eunseok says and you frown, deep in thought, but eunseok can tell that it's not in a bad or malicious way.

"i'd never thought you would care that much about school," you say softly and eunseok can't help but shoot you a lopsided grin.

"we're not all just dumb jocks, y/n," he responds, his voice just as soft and he realizes just how much he likes the taste of your name on his tongue.

"yeah. i guess so," you say finally, offering him a small smile.

eunseok thinks he can die happy when he sees it.

+++

the two of you don't become best friends over the next couple weeks. in fact, you still don't have too many conversations with him other than about the project, but it's more than eunseok has been awarded with before.

you talk to him in between classes now, when you see him in the hallways, and ask him about soccer practice. eunseok always blushes, casting his eyes towards the windows so that he had something to look at other than your intelligent and probing eyes.

he even sees you wave at him during soccer practice, when you're headed out early for tutoring and eunseok nearly dies of heart attack, tripping over himself as he rushes to wave back.

wonbin didn't let him live that down for a full week after the incident occurred, laughing and waving in exaggerated motions every time he saw eunseok.

he even went as far as going up to you and asking you to come to one of the upcoming soccer matches, all in the name of good fun.

eunseok had had to literally tackle wonbin to the floor in order to keep him from spilling any vital information ("please come to the soccer match because our captain has been crushing on you since his first year and we can't see him like this anymore.") but it was clear that the message came through incorrectly.

"you don't want me to come to your match that much? i thought we were better friends than that, eunseok," you said with a frown, and eunseok had to scramble to his feet, kicking wonbin with his foot.

"no - no! it's not that. i do really want you to come to our soccer match. but i kinda wanted to be the one to ask you. you know, because you're so busy all the time and i thought you might say yes if i asked rather than this idiot," eunseok had explained, tripping over his words in an attempt to make sure that he didn't hurt your emotions.

you'd stared up at him, your face unreadable. that was the one thing that eunseok didn't like about you - he could never truly predict exactly what you were thinking unless you said it out loud. you were infamous for your poker face and it made eunseok incredibly nervous.

little did he know that that was the exact reason that eunseok made you nervous.

"i'll come if i have time," you had said simply, turning on your heel to flounce away.

"you're an idiot but goddamnit, i love you wonbin," eunseok had said, descending onto the right wing to tackle him to the floor once more with a hug.

"alright! i get it! get off of me, cap!" wonbin said, pawing at eunseok's arms to relieve himself from the bearhug he was trapped in. he'd just laughed, wrapping his arms around wonbin even tighter.

which brought eunseok to his current predicament.

not only had you come to the match, but you'd brought some of your friends with you. eunseok doesn't really recognize any of them but by the way that you're laughing as you're talking to them, eunseok figures that that you must be pretty close.

"if you could stop staring at the love of your life and finish warm-up drills, that would be great, cap," wonbin says and eunseok shivers, startled by the right wing's sudden presence.

"yeah. uh, team! keep up the drills for just two more minutes before debriefing," eunseok yells, finally forcing his head away from your direction to face his team.

"i invited her because i wanted to give you a chance to impress yourself in front of her. don't make this rare opportunity into a mess," wonbin suggests with a smirk, saluting to eunseok as he ran to sungchan to finish the last few drills with him.

"that brat. and he still wants to be captain next year," eunseok grumbles under his breath, begrudgingly joining the rest of the team. as much as he hated to admit it, wonbin was right.

getting you to come to this match was already more than eunseok had ever had in the past; there was no way that he was going to let himself fuck this up. that would be so incredibly embarrassing.

"alright!" eunseok shouts, clapping his hands and waiting for the team to huddle around him. "i don't need to remind anyone that just because our team has been doing well, we still need to play at our best, right? you all know how to play soccer so just do what you've been doing and don't let it get to your head. good and bad plays both."

he extends his hand out to the center of their huddle, and the rest of the team also extends their hands, chanting their school's soccer cheer before dispersing to discard any extra gear or possessions.

eunseok looks one last time to where you were sitting, just as a quick 'good luck glance' and he's startled to see you already staring back at him. you cock your head and smile slightly, offering him a thumbs up and eunseok feels as though he'd already won the match.

"seok, i've got an idea," sungchan, eunseok's fellow captain and one of his closest friend says, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

"what bullshit are you stirring up now?" eunseok says, his voice flat and unimpressed. sungchan grabs his chest where his heart was, as though he'd been shot, dramatically stumbling backwards.

"here i am, offering to relieve you of your pining and you say i'm stirring up bullshit," sungchan gasps. eunseok rolls his eyes, grabbing sungchan's jersey to pull him forward.

"what? match is starting soon," eunseok says, unable to keep the smile out of his voice.

"i'll make a bet with you," sungchan says. "if i score more goals than you do, you have to ask out y/n. but if you score more goals than i do, then you don't have to."

"this feels like a stupid bet. i'm not doing it," eunseok says, but he can already feel himself being swayed. he'd liked you for so long - at this point, he was just looking for the slightest push in the right direction to ask you out.

"alright fine. you don't have to. y/n's pretty cute, honestly, and she's hella smart too. so i'll make you a different deal. if i score more goals, i ask her out. if you score more goals, i won't ask her out," sungchan says, a devilish smile on his face.

eunseok's eyes look as though they'd burn sungchan to smithereens if they could but sungchan barely shivers, offering him a shit-eating grin and turning to blow a kiss to you.

"what the fuck? i should've known that you were up to something stupid," eunseok growls. "why the hell would you ask her out?"

"it's only an issue if i score more goals than you, right?" sungchan says, jogging backwards to join the team again, never breaking eye contact with eunseok.

eunseok knew that sungchan was a loyal friend and there was no way in hell that he was going to ask you out - even as a joke or as a push to get eunseok to confess his feelings - but eunseok was pissed. the idea of someone else confessing to you before he ever did made him see red.

the team barely sees eunseok the whole match. which is strange, because he's in for the entire match, but they barely even see him, his red uniform appearing as streaks up and down the field. he scores goal after goal, running towards the goalpost at speeds they'd never see the usually laidback captain move at.

and sungchan was no better than him. although his heart wasn't in it nearly as much, sungchan was hot on eunseok's heels, the two of them on opposite ends of the field and being the two people that the team relied on the most the entire match, carrying the entire team to victory.

which is why when the scoreboard reads 5 - 0, the team is shocked, but sungchan just has that stupid grin on his face. not only had eunseok scored one more goal than sungchan, he'd also gone mad, ensuring that the opposing team didn't score a single goal.

"what the hell did you do to cap?" wonbin asks sungchan, and the older boy just nods in your general direction.

"gave him the push he's been needing," he says, smirking with satisfaction when he sees eunseok jogging over to where you were sitting, after shaking hands with the opposing team and thanking the referees.

"thanks for coming, y/n," eunseok says, out of breath and sweaty when he reaches to where you were sitting. "i honestly didn't think you were coming - since sports aren't really your thing."

"i promised i would come, didn't i?" you quip, and a shy smile overtakes your face, making eunseok having to use every single ounce of his willpower to keep from squealing at how cute he found you. your friends slowly start to file out to leave the two of you standing there - you in the bleachers and him on the field.

"hm, yeah, you did." eunseok's face turns contemplative and for some reason, you rush to fill the silence, in a way that you'd never felt compelled to do with anyone else before.

"i have to admit...i had more fun than i thought," you say, choking on the words as you get them out. eunseok's eyebrows ascend into his hairline - which would be hilarious if you weren't the reason that they were doing so.

"you had fun? y/n l/n? having fun? that too, at a soccer match?" eunseok says incredulously, throwing his hands on his chest dramatically. "well, i'll be!"

you roll your eyes, but you can't help the silly smile you can feel start to form on your lips.

"i can have fun, you know. i'm not always studying and boring everyone. even at soccer games where all i see is a ball go up and down and i have no clue what's happening. i think you did well, though, since everyone was chattering a lot about your performance," you say, adding the last part to appease eunseok for inviting you.

"i don't care about what people say," eunseok says easily, waving his hand in the air as if to physically rid himself of the thought of other people disturbing his mental wellbeing.

"y/n! you have to get going; your tutoring starts soon and mrs. im is always super mad when anyone's the slightest second late!" one of your friends calls out, coming closer to physically drag you away from eunseok if need be.

even his ugliest stare doesn't work on discouraging them from approaching the two of you and eunseok figures that he should work on a mean glare instead of a blank stare; the latter wasn't helping as much anymore now that everyone just assumed that's what his natural face looked like.

"alright, alright. i'm coming," you say, stepping down the stairs of the bleachers carefully, tripping on the last step. eunseok's arm shoots out before he can even think of what he's doing, catching you as you fall.

"thank you," you say breathlessly, and suddenly, eunseok worries that you can hear the erratic beating of his heart from just how close you were to each other, your chests quite nearly touching.

"you wanna hang out some time? maybe prove that the academic queen, school topper, ms. brain knows how to have some fun?" eunseok asks, and he can feel the blood rushing throughout his body as his adrenaline is at an all-time high.

he doesn't think that he was nearly this nervous or that his heart was even pumping this hard during this match. but now, as he's looking down at the most beautiful woman he's ever seen in eighteen years of life, he can't help but feel weak in the knees and just a little too stupidly hopeful.

"i'm sorry eunseok. i'm pretty busy nowadays. especially with new people that i've been tutoring. i don't even have too much time to study myself; i don't think i can afford to take too many breaks now," you explain, somewhat sorry and somewhat sullen.

eunseok tries to keep the heartbreak from showing on his face and he nods, almost too excitedly.

"oh yeah, i get it! no worries! i mean, you are the number one student in the school! you've gotta keep those grades up!" his voice sounds fake even to his own ears and your friend winces apologetically but you don't even seem phased, flashing him a sweet smile.

"we'll 'hang out' when we work on the project next monday though right?" you ask, and eunseok nods, a plastic smile on his face.

"yeah, of course," he says, and for some reason, he can't help but wonder if you knew just how great you were at letting people down. eunseok knew that you were beautiful but no one had ever dared to ask you out, for fear of the fact that they would come second to your academics.

it's hard to ask someone out when you know what the answer is.

"well, i'll get going now then. mrs. im seems like a real tiger mom and i have my first tutoring session with her son today," you say, wrapping your sweater a little bit tighter around your body as you wave goodbye, retreating into the foggy afternoon.

"how did it go, cap?" wonbin asks, a knowing grin on his face, ready to tease/congratulate his captain on his definite success in asking you out.

eunseok doesn't even turn away from watching your figure until he's just staring at empty space and fog before saying, "tell the team we're running laps."

wonbin balks, looking in your direction to see if you'd come to save them. "but we won, cap!"

"no, sungchan and i won. the team is running laps," eunseok grinds out and wonbin immediately retreats backwards, understanding the situation a bit too clearly.

he sets off into a sprint and the team is quick to follow when they see the confusing expression on their captain's face. there was a mix of shame, heartbreak, confusion, guilt, and even some anger on his face and the team was just going to have to take the brunt of his emotions for now. he had a valid point, after all.

you were none the wiser about the soccer team's struggles until your friend, kim minjeong, looks back to see her friend, park wonbin, running in repeated circles before the fog starts to cover the soccer field. she shoves her hands into the pockets of her sweater before shaking her head.

"you know that eunseok was asking you out, right?" she asks and you scoff, pushing her slightly.

"you're insane minjeong. i think that jekyll and hyde is finally getting to you," you jest slightly, referencing her english project. "why the hell would eunseok ask me out?"

"because he wants to spend time with you? because you're a fun person when people get to know you? because he likes you, i don't know!" minjeong exclaims, stopping dead in her tracks and throwing her hands up.

"no, that can't be true," you say, but when you turn to look at what minjeong was looking at, you find that your eyes search the field until they lock with eunseok's eyes, which are trained on you and he cocks his head, causing you to shiver and face forward.

"are you sure?" minjeong asks, looking back and forth between you and eunseok as you march forward determinedly.

"i'm sure. there's no way that eunseok likes me."

+++

you were sure that eunseok didn't like you. that was what you had told minjeong and ning yizhuo, another one of your good friends, when the two of them had confronted you again later. that's the truth, as far as you're aware.

that's what made the most sense too; why the hell would the ace soccer captain be any level of interested in a person who spent all of their time studying and tutoring? someone who was known to be a reserved and kind enough person but a complete hardass when it came to their academics?

yizhuo's words echo in your mind as you sit on your bed, having completed your nightly routine of taking your vitamins and doing your skincare.

he'd never ask you if he wasn't interested.

you hated when she was right. especially when it meant that you were wrong about something. most especially because it meant that you were being emotionally unaware of something.

you stare at your phone, as if staring at it long enough would produce the answers you're searching for - the same thing you'd been doing for the past half hour. you know that you should go to sleep soon; you didn't have any tutoring tomorrow but you were planning on using the time to study, not having had much time over the weekdays to study.

but almost against your own reason and will, your arm reaches for your phone and types out a message recklessly, pressing send before your brain has the time to catch up to the antics of your foolish heart.

you: you wanna go to the arcade with me tomorrow?

you gasp at your own message, scandalized by your sudden initiative and something so out of character for you. you couldn't remember the last time you'd spent more than a couple minutes doing something fun.

actually, that was a lie. you'd just gone to eunseok's game. and you'd had fun. it was something about him that made you want to set down your pens and embrace life. or something else cheesy like that.

your heart jumps when eunseok's response comes, not even a minute after you'd sent the initial message.

song eunseok: i'd lvoe to. song eunseok: **love song eunseok: no tutoring tomorrow?

you type out a response, looking up to check the time on the desktop computer, catching a glimpse of your reflection. why the hell were you smiling?

you: not tomorrow. they canceled since they're going to busan for the weekend. song eunseok: ohhh i see. song eunseok: then let's do it! 1pm? you: sounds good. you: :)

you cast your phone aside on your nightstand, not bothering to read whatever messages eunseok had sent afterwards, instead drifting off into a somewhat peaceful and somewhat anticipatory sleep as you dreamt of the next day.

+++

you're uncharacteristically nervous, knee bouncing as you check your watch for the time for the third time in the past thirty seconds. much to your dismay, it was still very much 12:45 PM.

never had you been this nervous on the day of an important exam or a recital for violin. mostly because those were things that came somewhat easily to you - practice, practice, practice and you would succeed in any task given to you.

but friends? specifically friends who asked you on dates (according to yizhuo and minjeong, that's what this was)? you were somewhere between absolutely lost and crazy scared.

it's just eunseok, you have to breathe and remind yourself. just song eunseok. the stoic soccer team captain. your english project partner. the one that you've been getting a little too influenced by lately.

you consider turning around and heading home to safer territories (textbooks) and bailing on eunseok but before you can put your escape plan into action, the bane of your existence and cause for your issues appears in your vision, jogging over to you with the classic blank face that you've grown used to.

the shit-eating grin on his face that grows when he sees you already sitting on the bench outside the arcade is something that you're not used to, however, and it makes you blush at the implication.

"i'm a very punctual person," you say as soon as eunseok is in earshot, your ego smarting.

"i never said anything," eunseok retorts and you just harrumph, crossing your arms over your chest. "besides, i thought i'd definitely get here before you. you know, to practice."

your eyebrows knit together as you try to decipher the meaning behind his words. "to practice? practice what?"

eunseok's smile grows a little more bashful and sincere as he turns to face the arcade, unable to face you. "practice showing you that i'm worth wasting your saturday afternoon on instead of studying."

you fumble for words, leaping to your feet and marching into the arcade. "i'm not wasting my saturday afternoon on you! i'm - i'm showing you that i can be fun!"

eunseok just watches you enter the arcade, a dopey expression on his face and he jogs to follow you inside, slinging an arm around you in a casual motion that neither him nor you were expecting.

"you're plenty of fun, y/n. you have nothing to prove." eunseok's voice is soft and sweet above your head, and a little too sincere for you to pass over his words nonchalantly. you step just the slightest bit closer into his embrace, an action that doesn't go unnoticed by him and his grip, previously loose and lax so that you could push him off whenever, grows just the tightest bit stronger.

"that sounds like someone who's scared of getting their ass kicked in dance dance revolution."

"oh hell no. you're on, miss school topper."

+++

as much as you hate to admit it, you have an incredible time with eunseok at the arcade. although you don't live up to your own expectations of your performance at arcade games (you chalk it up to lack of practice), eunseok exceeds your expectations.

even games that he says that he's never attempted before come to him easily, and he beats you at every single one of them, even with handicaps such as shooting with one hand for the basketball game or closing his eyes and playing whack a mole.

it's somewhat damaging to your street cred (not that you were banking on any street cred, to be honest) but eunseok manages soothe your ego by winning you three plushies at the claw machine (which he was also good at; you were starting to think that he was ai). two of them were matching so you hand him one of them, saying that it could be a good way to remember this afternoon together.

"i don't think i forget this afternoon," eunseok says when you hand him the plushie.

"hm?" you ask, somewhat distracted by the cute plushies in your arms.

"nothing," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "what do you say we go get some coffee? there's a really nice café nearby here."

"oh yeah, lets go. i love memories café; i study there all the time," you say, hugging the plushies to your chest.

"really? one of my friends works there! you should've told me before; i would've gotten you free coffee this whole time," eunseok exclaims, waving goodbye to the arcade employee that he'd become rather familiar with after all his visits to their establishment. the employee points to you subtly and gives him a thumbs up to indicate her approval of eunseok's type, and he just fake bows in agreement, walking out the arcade with a silly smile.

"which one? the tall one? i forget his name but he's pretty popular on campus, isn't he?" you say, your voice growing unsure as you try to place him in your memory.

"sungchan?" eunseok asks darkly, a troubled expression on his face. "yeah, he's pretty popular. for being pretty. and popular. and good at a lot of stuff."

"yeah, sungchan! he's the one who works there, isn't he? yizhuo always drags me to go when he's working because she thinks he's cute," you say before turning to eunseok with a gasp. "don't tell anyone i told you that! god, i can't believe i let that slip!"

eunseok chokes out a laugh, shaking his head. "i won't tell anyone, trust me. but, uh, do you think that he's cute? i mean you come to café pretty often right? is it because...because you think he's cute?"

you frown, trying to conjure his face in your mind before shrugging. "nah. i mean i see why people think he's cute but he's not really my type."

eunseok's heart leaps for joy before stopping at the end of your sentence. "uh, you have a type?"

he opens the door to the café for you when you reach it. you enter it, mumbling a quick thanks as you brush past him.

"sure. which teenage girl doesn't?" you quip, not even bothering to read the menu, already sure of what you were going to get.

eunseok scans the café, before groaning internally as his eyes land on his co-captain, flashing sweet smiles to every person that steps up to the register, never failing to make them swoon.

"care to share?" eunseok asks, shielding you from sungchan, wanting to prevent the clash for as long as possible.

"only if you do," you retort, and eunseok's stuck between figuring out how to keep you from seeing sungchan (or realistically, sungchan from seeing you) and how to tell you that you were his type, without actually saying your name.

he's saved and damned at the same time when sungchan calls out his name, and you peek around eunseok's body to see sungchan standing there in all of his tall, beautiful glory.

"sungchan, hey," eunseok says with a grumble, and you look up at him worriedly. he rushes to fix his tone, not wanting you to think that he was a salty or shitty friend.

"i see you've brought a friend," sungchan says smugly, and he extends his hand over the counter for you to shake. "hi! i'm sungchan, eunseok's co-captain."

you accept his hand, shaking it politely. "nice to meet you. eunseok's talked you up a lot. i'm y/n, by the way."

sungchan's eyes dart to eunseok at the mention of his praise, who's still brooding slightly, with a slight smile on his face. "trust me, there's no person at our school who doesn't know our resident number one academic. you haven't given up the throne since the day you stepped in our school."

you blush, trying to shrug casually. "i'm just really lucky to have the opportunities i do."

"intelligent, humble, and beautiful? how'd you get a girl like this to give you the time of day, seok-ie?" sungchan says, and it's like rubbing salt in the wound. sungchan is joking, and eunseok logically knows that he is just teasing him for finally working up the courage to ask you out three years after he developed feelings for you. but for some reason, the sweet smile on your face directed at sungchan instead of him made him upset.

"trust me, i have no clue either. she's pretty much perfect, isn't she?" eunseok says finally, and the sheer sincerity in his voice is enough for you to rip your gaze away from sungchan and to eunseok, who's looking at you with honey dripping from his eyes.

the sweetness in his eyes makes your heart race for some reason and you clear your throat, unable to turn away from eunseok for a good couple seconds before looking at the menu behind sungchan's head.

"well, uh, could i get a vanilla latte please? hot, not iced," you say, hating the quirk in your voice. eunseok's gaze is heavy on your face and he can barely find it in himself to turn away, ordering the same thing as you.

sungchan smirks, entering the order as his eyes dart between you and eunseok, both standing less than a foot apart but unable to look at each other.

"alright. i'll bring it over to your table, then. pro tip, the second floor has the best spot to watch the sunset in thirty minutes," sungchan says. eunseok nods in thanks, pulling out his wallet to offer sungchan a ten thousand won bill to cover your coffee and his own but sungchan just waves him away.

"today's coffee is on me. for the momentous occasion of song eunseok going on a date for the first time in his life," sungchan says and your head whips to see eunseok's reaction.

this was his first date? you think. but he's so popular! and so handsome...how has no one asked him out before?

almost as though sungchan can read your mind, he responds for eunseok. "he's been asked out so many times but he insisted that he was waiting for the one."

sungchan's words barely register in your mind, and your thoughts are still racing when eunseok guides you upstairs and to the table that sungchan had suggested.

"you've been waiting for the one?" you ask with an incredulous tone and eunseok tries his best to play it off casually.

"sungchan just says whatever. it's mostly because i didn't have the time," eunseok explains. and because none of the people who asked me out were you, he thinks, but doesn't voice aloud.

"hm. honestly, before you asked me out, i kinda thought i was going to die single," you admit after a couple moments of silence.

"why would you think that? we're only eighteen! and besides, you're smart, talented at violin, beautiful, and a bunch of other things i can't think of right now. anyone would be lucky to date you," eunseok says indignantly and you smile, but it doesn't quite reach your eyes.

"if i'm being honest with you, it's all just to cover up my own insecurities. in middle school, i wasn't that smart and i didn't really care about my grades. i had a crush on this kid - i think his name was shotaro? - but he didn't really notice me. i wasn't the smartest kid in the grade, or the prettiest one, or even rich enough to dress up nicely and wear the things i wanted to.

"i don't think he actually cared about any of that stuff but my own insecurities sabotaged me enough to convince myself that he wanted nothing to do with me because i wasn't good enough. so i threw myself into everything i could. violin, academics, working out - everything. i started getting quieter and quieter because i thought that no one would want to listen to what i had to say.

"and the more i did things like that, the more i got used to being like that. i got used to being alone and focusing on my academics and stuff. even minjeong and yizhuo have always been closer to each other than they have been to me. they do fun things without me and that's mostly my fault because i never truly let them in but i don't know. it's hard to remind myself that people want to be my friend.

"especially because everyone thinks that all i think about is stuff like my studies and violin. it's hard to have fun and make memories when there's no one to make memories with. i just wish that i could have days like this, where i go out and have fun and do the things i want to with someone who wants to make memories with me."

you sigh, brushing away the tears that had welled up in your eyes as you had spoke. eunseok is silent the whole time and you finally come to your senses, rushing to lean forward in your chair and explain your sudden outburst of emotions.

"i'm so sorry for talking your ear off! i have no clue what my problem is; i promise i'm not usually so full of myself. i don't know why i'm talking about myself so much - "

eunseok doesn't let you finish. before your brain can even process, eunseok's lips are on your cheek, and your entire body just freezes.

and before you can understand what's happening, eunseok's back in his chair, looking at you as if you were the one who had kissed him, rather than vice versa.

"sorry! i just - i didn't mean to kiss you without your consent. i'm sorry. i just really don't want you to continue berating yourself," eunseok says. "i really like you and it really sucks to know that the one person that you like the most - the person that you wish nothing but the best for - doesn't like themself nearly as much as you do."

he leans forward in his chair, turning his head so that his cheek was facing you.

"you should slap me. i can take it! i deserve it, anyway," eunseok says, squeezing his eyes shut when he feels a breeze descend on his cheek. but instead of the stinging of a slap, it feels as though a soft pillow has touched his cheek.

eunseok opens his eyes to see you leaning over the table to press your lips to his cheek and in his shock, he turns his head and suddenly his lips are on yours and you're kissing in this café.

it's like fireworks explode in eunseok's body, especially when you raise your hand to touch his cheek gently before pulling away, eunseok resting his forehead against yours.

"this is cute and all but do you mind doing this at home? i'm gonna lose my job and maybe my lunch if i have to watch this any longer," says sungchan's smug voice from behind eunseok, and the two of you leap backwards into your respective chairs.

"sorry man," eunseok manages to choke out, and you just hide your face in your hands, too embarrassed to look up.

"don't mind me," sungchan quips, setting down the two cups of coffee and retreating down the stairs, shoulders shaking from trying to hide his laughs.

"this is going to be all over school, isn't it?" you groan, your head letting a resounding thunk when you collapse against the table. eunseok gets up to hunt down and sungchan and swear (read: threaten) him to secrecy but you reach out, catching eunseok's sleeve.

you let go when eunseok stops to look at you, a hot flush on your cheeks. "i don't mind it, honestly. i mean, i was never expecting my first relationship to be such a public one but there's no sense in hiding things right?"

"wait, wait, wait. we're in a relationship? that you're okay with being public with?" eunseok says, and he can see you visibly debate back-peddling and taking back your statement or going forward with conviction.

it seems that you've chosen full throttle when you cross your arms over your chest, leaning on the table. "isn't that what you want too? a relationship? i'm assuming that you wouldn't kiss me if you didn't want me to be something more than a friend to you and i wouldn't kiss you if i wasn't open to exploring being that something more."

eunseok feels as though he's on cloud nine, slinking back into his chair with the satisfaction of a cat with a bowl of cream.

"trust me, there's nothing that i want more than that."

+++

as the two of you had expected, the school is quick to catch onto the budding relationship between you and eunseok and quite frankly, it feels refreshing for you to be associated with something other than excelling your academics.

eunseok breathes fresh air into your life just by his mere presence. he coerces you into coming to his soccer matches, never failing to run into the bleachers to scoop you up in his arms and kiss you like you're the only two people in the world.

the news of the resident ms. brain and mr. brawn dating had spread like wildfire, and an instagram post with eunseok spinning you and kissing you after winning the seoul championships garners over four hundred thousand views, your romance going viral. so viral, in fact, that someone had created an instagram account just to document your relationship - the account had over three thousand followers, as of the last time you checked.

you'd initially thought that the attention that your relationship spun up would cause issues between the two of you but more than anything, it caused you to work through any issues that came up with communication and healthy relationship counseling (sungchan flirting with you until eunseok finally got off his ass and apologized after fucking up - only whenever fights were about stupid things that either of you were too proud to give in about).

and just like that, months passed by within the blink of an eye. the instagram account (you're somewhat sure that park wonbin and kim minjeong were running the account from sheer amount of footage from close up the instagram page featured) posted a video of eunseok playing insanely well at a match after one of the times that sungchan had been called in reinforcements.

eunseok's dream college had extended a soccer scholarship, and he'd committed within twenty fours of receiving the offer and soon after, you committed to the same college.

when various people, eunseok included, asked you why you'd chosen to go to the same school as eunseok, rather than a bigger or more prestigious school (although this school was still top six in the nation), you'd just smiled and leaned into eunseok's embrace.

"i can study and do well anywhere. i can't make memories to cherish and share for the rest of my life if i go anywhere else." is all you say to everyone who asked and eunseok thanks his lucky stars that he'd kissed you that day in the café to be able to hold you and talk about a future with the two of you like this.

and just as fast the last couple months had passed by, a full ten years pass by. the ten years are filled with moments of happiness and sadness, laughs and tears, but filled with life that you wouldn't trade for the world.

and when you and eunseok walk together to the high school reunion held at someone's restaurant, hand in hand, looking the same as you had as stupidly in love teenagers ten years ago, next to no one is suprised.

"look who it is! it's mrs. brawn and mr. brain now," someone calls out, causing all of your classmates to erupt into laughter. the both of you just look at each other and smile, flagging down where sungchan and minjeong are sitting and taking your own seats next to them.

"by the way, eunseok, how'd you get our resident genius to go out with you anyway? or even fall in love hard enough to go to the same college as you?" someone you don't really recognize asks from the other side of the restaurant and the entire restaurant buzzes with excitement, waiting for eunseok's answer.

eunseok smiles and exchanges a look with sungchan, a teasing glint in his eyes. "let's just say that sungchan isn't allowed within ten feet of my wife."

and with that, the restaurant breaks out into cheers and laughter, everyone returning to their conversation, the attention turning to the most eligible bachelor of their grade, jung sungchan.

minjeong leans over to whisper in your ear. "it's a good thing you had a private wedding; i bet half of these people don't know that sungchan was eunseok's best man."

you shrug, laughing freely with everyone else. "half of these people also don't know that you and sungchan have been dating for the past three years."

eunseok's wedding band flashes under the light as he raises his glass to toast to the 'inside joke' that the four of you shared, clinking his beer with the three of you.

"to the bambi boy and the winter girl!"

"to mr. brawn and mrs. brain!"

"i can't believe i graduated from ms. brain to mrs. brain."

"and i can't believe that you and eunseok have been together for eleven years instead of fourteen because eunseok was too much of a pussy to ask you out when he started liking you."

"JUNG SUNGCHAN, I'M GOING TO FLAY YOU!"

"don't skin my fiancé please. you can do whatever you want after the wedding."

"i can't believe my fiancé hates me this much."

"i can't believe these people are our friends."

"i can't believe i finally scored mrs. brain."

[pomefioredove]

if you're still taking requests for the event could i request floyd with "Maybe we should just kiss to break the tension" ? ty !

hehe ofc ofc!

summary: "maybe we should just kiss to break the tension" type of post: fic characters: floyd additional info: romantic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu, pre book 3, kissing, yuu is very much canon yuu here lol a part of this event

Riddle's noble efforts to warn you about Floyd Leech had fallen on deaf ears.

"And stay out of trouble!" were his exact words, if you remembered correctly.

You'd almost scoffed.

You had already been at NRC for months; you'd fought monsters, solved mysteries, and come out of all of it in one piece.

You could handle a history of magic project.

Sure, this is your first mixed-year assignment; and yes, the project itself makes up a great portion of your semester grade...

...but if anyone had asked you, you'd say that a measly school presentation is nothing compared to what you've already been through.

"Remember not to play along with his antics; it only encourages him,"

Riddle had wasted no time lecturing you about your mysterious project partner the second his name left your lips.

You'd come to him to ask if he knew the guy, not his entire life story.

"Stay focused... and stay out of trouble!"

Trouble. Ha. Every second at NRC since you'd arrived had been trouble.

You walk into the library; like usual, it's mostly empty.

Floyd Leech, Floyd Leech... now, where would...?

"Hey, you!"

You turn on your heels to face the source of the shout; leaning against a bookshelf behind you is the tallest boy you've ever seen.

He even gives off the vague impression of towering over you, making you feel small regardless...

"Man, I almost didn't see 'ya, you're so tiny," he grins, baring a row of sharp teeth. "I'm gonna call you Shrimpy. Now, come onnn, I've been waiting forever!"

You're early. Before you can say as much, he grabs you by the forearm and drags you off to a table.

"Alright, Shrimpy," he says, taking a seat across from you. "What's on the docket for today?"

"Uhh..." you're still slightly dazed. He's got some energy, that's for sure.

Riddle's words flash through your mind.

"...Well, I was thinking we could find our material first, then outline..."

"Reading?" Floyd asks, slumping in his seat as if he'd just received terrible news.

You blink. "...Well, we're going to have to read a little,"

He groans, loudly. A few people in the library turn to stare before awkwardly shuffling away.

"...Nah, I'm not in the mood. Let me do 'somethin else,"

What had Riddle said yesterday? "He changes his mind at the drop of a hat. Arguing is no good,"

"...Okay," you say, tentatively reading his expression. "I'll start with the outline. Do you want to look for pictures instead?"

He's quiet, as if seriously considering the pros and cons of the offer, and then he shrugs.

You sigh. Riddle was just being overdramatic. This is fine!

Floyd becomes lost in his assigned job, leafing through an atlas in search of a map from the time period you're researching, leaving you to your reading.

It'd be an easier job with two people, but...

"You're real quiet, Shrimpy,"

You look up from your encyclopedia. He'd shoved the atlas aside, his eyes fixed on you instead.

You raise an eyebrow. "I'm reading...?"

"Aw. Don't tell me you're the serious type?" a loud, dramatic sigh follows. "I was hoping we could have some fun. I was really looking forward to meeting you and all..."

You have to remind yourself that you have a reputation here. Great...

"Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm a pretty boring person. Normal,"

Floyd's brow furrows. "Nah, I don't buy that. You wanna know what I think?"

You don't like this. The way he's looking at you, like he sees something you don't...

"...I think you only act normal 'cause you're afraid of being judged. You try way too hard to be a good student and stuff 'cause you wanna fit in here,"

Ouch. You blink, momentarily stunned to silence. He could tell all that just from watching you read?

"I'm just 'sayin," he gives you another sharp smile. "I wouldn't mind if you stopped acting all serious around me. You're way too tense."

"...Tense? I am not tense,"

Your denial only encourages him. A wide grin creeps across his face.

"Yeah, you know. You could feel the stress in this place from a mile away...

...Maybe we should just kiss to break the tension,"

Riddle had drilled you for hours; Floyd stealing your things, making you chase him, getting bored and leaving, a thousand possible situations that could come out of a simple study session...

...This was not one of them.

Floyd grins again, wider this time. "Ahah, never mind. You're way too boring and normal for something like that, right?"

You suddenly feel hot; he's putting you on the spot, and he knows it. He seems to be living for your agitation.

"Hey, that's not fair-"

"Fair schmair," he cuts in. "I gave you a dare, and you can't do it. Happens all the time to you, I bet. It's-"

Riddle had warned you, several times, quite clearly, not to play along.

But... in your defense...

Floyd giggles against your lips, the delighted little noise giving away a hint of surprise. His hands, cold and clammy but nice nonetheless, grab hold of your face, drawing you closer into the kiss. He's threatening to pull you across the table at this point...

...It's a good thing you chose a time when the library would be empty.

After a minute or two, he lets go, leaving you breathless with another smile.

"I knew you had it in 'ya," he says, reaching across the table to pull the encyclopedia back towards him.

"My turn to read, okay? I was getting bored of the pictures,"

[shiratamahatsumiyo]

Ace Trappola with Ice Bear reader

• You and Ace did NOT have great first impressions. His recklessness reminds you of your older brother, Grizz, but even HE has boundaries of "fuck around and find out". He tends to belittle and jokingly insult you from time to time just because you're different. You favor Deuce more than him.

• You knew that this guy would ditch window cleaning, so you stood outside the his classroom door and clean the nearby windows. After a while, the students that are excited to leave the boring lectures flooded the hallways to the point you couldn't see him.

• You crawl up the wall without being seen and scanned the hallways... There he is! You dropped down, grabbed Grim, and then bolted to Ace. Ace somewhat sensed your murderous aura and ran the other way. You guys chased him until the moment you reach one of his classmates.

Ace, running: "Hey! Outta the way! This monster's trying to kill me!"

Deuce: "Huh?!"

Ace: "Do something!"

Grim: "Don't fall for it! He's ditching his punishment!"

Deuce, panicking: "UUUUUHHHH!"

• Before Deuce could take out his magical pen, you tackled Ace to the ground and wrestled him into submission.

Ace: "OW OW OW OK FINE I'LL WASH THEM JUST LET ME GO!"

Ice Bear: "😤"

Grim: "Fnyahahahah! Good job, my henchman! That'll teach ya not to ditch the cleaning punishment the headmage gave ya! Now ya better wash those windows!!"

Ace: "Ugh, seriously? Can't you two just clean the windows by yourselves? Those one hundred windows should be squeaky clean by now!"

Grim: "Shaddup! It's not something me and my henchman can do in a flash!"

Deuce: "Woah... a monster- i-i mean... What did he do for the headmage to force him to wash a hundred windows?"

Grim: "He charred the Queen of Hearts statue."

Deuce: "YOU WHAT?! Ahem, I mean, that's the most horrible and the most offensive thing you did! You definitely deserve that punishment!"

Ace: "Easy for you to say...er...who are you?"

Deuce: "You don't even remember your classmate's name! It's Deuce, Deuce Spade! You must remember that next time...uhh..."

Ace: "Wha- you don't even remember mine, Juice! It's Ace Trappola!"

Deuce: "It's Deuce, not Juice! Deuce! And... You must be the magicless monster I've heard about."

Ice Bear: "Ice Bear is not monster. Ice Bear is nice bear 😠."

Deuce: "Oh, you can talk! I'm sorry, who's Ice Bear?"

Ace: "WAIT A SEC THAT LITTLE GREMLIN IS GONE!"

• Should've guessed this was gonna happen. Ace dragged Deuce along with you guys although you didn't want anyone to be involved. You chased the little monster all the way to the cafeteria and ADeuce decided to do something stupid. You were gonna crawl up the wall but they shattered the chandelier before you could catch Grim, resulting with you having minor injuries after the fall. Luckily, you got up and check if Grim's still conscious so you could smack his head.

• You got up and walked to Ace. If the headmage hadn't intervened, Ace would likely to get punched by you. The Dwarf's Mine is the only chance of redeeming your stay. You made the others come, even if you're gonna do all the work by yourself.

• You guys went to the Dwarf's Cottage. Can't find anyone there, you just went to the mine. You realize that the Overblot monster is guarding the magic crystal and ran outside. Ace and Deuce argued, you decided to take matters into your own paws. You don't have time for arguements so you snapped them back to reality by carrying both of them back to the mine. You made a plan and a makeshift axe (you really miss your fire axe). You order the three to bait the monster out so you can finish it off. After the fight, the ADeuce realize that you mean BUSINESS and take absolutely ZERO SHITS from nobody.

• Ace also realized that maybe he's been judging you wrong. You helped him avoid punishment. You gave him a second chance. You really do deserve to be called a student at Night Raven College.

• When he ate Riddle's tart without permission, you let him stay inside Ramshackle. You even prepared treats for him but a he's a bit offended when you won't let him in the kitchen. You clean the dust off the couch for him and straightened the sheets so he could sleep better. He's gotta say, he was gonna thank you but stopped when he saw you stepping into a broken down refrigerator.

Ace: "Woah... Th-thanks, man. I didn't think you'd-"

Ice Bear: "Ice Bear says goodnight."

Ice Bear steps into the refrigerator

Ace: "...Eh? WHAT THE HELL?! H-HEY, WHERE DO YOU SLEEP? THERE'S A THING CALLED BED! WHY DON'T WE-"

Ice Bear: "Ice Bear sleeps in cold."

Ace: "Oh... I think I've seen a documentary on TV saying that polar bears live in really cold environments. I didn't think the same thing would go with monsters-"

Ice Bear: "Ice Bear is not monster 😠."

Ace: "Alright, I get. But... You sure you're gonna sleep in there? The fridge is barely running."

Ice Bear: "Ice Bear fix fridge tomorrow."

Grim, yawning: "Fnyagh, are you two just gonna talk all night? I'm tired, let's sleep already!"

• Ace and Deuce don't tolerate the other students insulting you. So when Ace punched Riddle in the face after the redhead insulted you, Ace really means it. He still teases you when you say something weird or cute in third-person.

• You gain some respect from him when you fought those territorial Savanaclaw students in a game of Magift. You guys ended up in a tie. Ace also learned that Bears are lot stronger than he thought.

• Sometimes, Ace couldn't help but complain every time you offered to help him and Deuce study in upcoming exams. For a talking polar bear, you're really knowledgeable. He really should have seen your disappointed glare after he signed the contract with Azul. After you save him a second time, he doubles the amount of respect.

• He notices that you don't use a phone despite the headmaster already giving you one. You said that you'll only use that for emergencies. He definitely traveled all the way to Scarabia with Deuce just to see if you and Grim are okay.

• During VDC, Ace now thinks that having this much talent is cheating. He knows that you never made a deal with Azul other than the time where you did just to free him, Deuce, and Grim. So why the hell are you so talented? Deuce says that he's overthinking too much and told him to brush it off. You're actually pretty hard to read...

• After this much thinking, he decides that whether you're magicless or not, you're still one of his best friends.

[wingedjellyfishflight]

Sexual Harassment Training

Captain Price has a permanent scowl on his face today, it seems. You see him stomping around like a toddler on a rampage at lunch.

"What's got the Captain all bollocksed up? Did I say that, right?" Soap grins, then grimaces as he thinks about it. Standing together, you dump your trays before Soap leads you to the team meeting.

"Ya, doll, that's how you say it. He's like this every year. Mandatory sexual harassment training for everyone this afternoon." You ponder it for a minute.

"Why? Like, it's just something to sit through, right? It isn't like anyone is harassing our team."

He chuckles quietly and answers, "they aren't worried about the likes of me getting harassed, but that we will harass you, Princess." You elbow him and sit next to Ghost, who has saved you as seat per usual.

"Hey Luv, ready to be bored and insulted for a few hours?"

"Are these really that bad, Bruv?"

"They are, Crumpet. They really are."

"Hey! You need to address your coworkers with respect! Nicknames have no place in this organization, Mr..."

"Riley, Lieutenant Riley." Ghost stiffens up in his seat, restrained irritation pouring off of him. The woman from human resources turns toward you.

"Ma'am I have the form here to file a complaint when you feel up to it. No rush."

"Uhh... a complaint?" You stare at her in complete confusion as she brandishes a form at your face.

"Yes, no one should be treated with such disrespect. Talking down to coworkers is frowned upon." Her voice is condescendingly sweet, grating on your last nerve already. You stare at her for a moment before nodding, and Ghost tries to catch your eye, looking shocked.

"Pet... I mean, Sergeant. Do my nicknames make you feel uncomfortable? I will stop if they do. You never said anything, or I wouldn't have..."

"Hmm...? Oh no, but I will be filing a complaint." Turning toward the smirking woman, you ask, "what was your name again? Brenda McMasters? Perfect." You quickly fill out the paperwork before handing it over. She skims it with a smile, then freezes in place as she reads it more closely, her smile falling. She looks up at you, then back at the paper, reading it again and again as the words sink in.

"You- you can't file a complaint on me! I'm the one teaching you about sexual harassment! I'm here to make sure these brutes don't attack you!"

You shrug before responding, "I feel singled out by you due to my gender and your policing of the camaraderie between myself and my teammates. It is making me feel very uncomfortable, Ma'am." Her jaw is hanging open in complete shock.

You stand and turn to the Captain, watching you with a grin on his face at the front of the room. "I don't know if I feel comfortable being taught by someone who is sexist and clearly violating policy, Captain Price. May we request a different lecturer? I know it will mean rescheduling, but I don't think we should be learning about harassment from someone who has a complaint on file."

Captain Price has to smother his grin and bite back laughter at your innocent expression when Brenda turns toward him. "You are right, Sergeant. Ma'am, I will take that complaint and file it. It wouldn't be proper for you to file one on yourself, or it might go missing in transit." He gleefully plucks the paper from her hands and walks out. She follows, looking ill. You can hear her trying to get the Captain to stop and discuss the matter..

You lean on the table with a pleased look. "So, free afternoon, now. Any plans?" The team just stares at you, still processing what happened. You see Ghost staring down at the table and tap his hand. "You alright, Tiger?" He looks up, visibly distressed.

"The nicknames, do they bother you, Sergeant?" He needs to know now. The last thing anyone here wants is to disrespect you.

"Course not. Makes my day. The only things better are cuddling after a long day while we watch movies in the rec room or killing fucks on the field together. HR doesn't know what the fuck they're talking about, Bruv." Turning back to the rest of the team with a grin you say, "How about we sun up on Captain's grass? He won't be back for a bit anyway."

"You're playing with fire, Lamb. We're in."

[slowd1ving]

[INAMORATA] SNIPPET . *࿐ SUNDAY, MOZE, SOMEWHAT JIAOQIU??

for some additional context reader is an incubus and also joined a class on catching/apprehending monsters in the modern world as a joke, but now is doing a project on said monsters (cough, incubi) thus is in a really fucking awkward position rn anyways this will probably be the last snippet before I actually post the work so enjoyy

HONKAI STAR RAIL MASTERLIST

MASTERLIST ・゜・NAVIGATION

“…edit it documentary style. It’s professional, organised, and will suit the Professor’s tastes.” Sunday’s mellifluous voice washes over you as you sit in the campus library with your classmates, desperately trying to look engaged. 

It does not work. 

Sunday’s fountain pen wavers in the air and turns on you, and your heart jolts and skips past a few beats—it looks far too close to a weapon for your liking, and you would not trust an angel with a dagger for the life of you. Or without the dagger. He does not inch it closer, but it’s rather an unconscious mirroring of his thinking that betrays that he’s about to scold you for falling asleep. You’re thankful for the table that separates the two of you, but you fear wood can only do so much to counter flames of divine punishment. 

But before he can lecture you, Moze beats him to it. And for the record, you don’t know how he ended up sitting right next to you, and you’d like to complain. 

Leaning across his chair, he gets unnecessarily close to talk to you, and it’s not like whatever he’s saying is important. 

“Do you have anything to add—” and here his leg ghosts up against yours, but you don’t flinch. At least, you don’t think you do. “—or did you not get enough sleep last night?”

His voice is low—enough that there’s an undercurrent of tension without him even trying. You choose not to reply directly to him; instead, you look at Sunday once more, and you swear you feel a spike of irritation from the angel. But, surely not, right?

Mulling your words over, you carefully select a sequence that won’t land you a one-way ticket back to hell. There’s a certain trick to this, you see—and that’s crossing your fingers and thinking of an escape plan in the event you fail, or the shameless cowardly demon approach. It may not land you a spot among the Lieutenants, but it sure is better than being skewered by some angel. 

Especially one named Sunday. You disguise your grimace. 

“Uhh,” you wrack your brains, before settling on the first thing your mind falls upon—yesterday night, all cozied up with Jiaoqiu. Fuck. “A horror movie.”

You can feel Moze’s stare burn into dermis, sizzle a bit, then singe your very bones.

“That’s an— unconventional idea,” Sunday coughs, and you remind yourself that angels are way meaner than you’d expect. 

“If you think it’s ill-founded, then I would like to remind you our professor’s maturity doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll enjoy an orthodox style,” you argue, suddenly remembering that angels are also ill-suited for debates and ‘gotchas’, and also that incubi can honey their tongue to saccharine degree.

Fuck. You’ve really spent too much time in the human realm. 

Before Sunday can get a word in, you keep talking, desperate to look enthusiastic to discuss incubi and possibly give yourself away. “If it’s being entered into the Film Festival, a mockumentary or a horror film could be both informative and entertaining. Or even a silent film.”

“It’s succubi and incubi,” Moze mutters. “If there were more people I’d bet there’d be one group submitting porn.”

You stifle a cough, but you don’t think you did it well. 

“What, with Hopkins as the intended audience?” you glance at him, and see the traces of laughter on his mouth, and suddenly your own feels somewhat dry. Just a little. 

“Yeah, imagine,” he matches your airy tone—and the proximity forces your heart to lapse. Just a little. 

Sunday’s glare bores into both of you. “Can the two of you take this seriously? We are absolutely not doing that.”

If you ever forgot he was an angel, this is a poignant reminder. Should you squint, you think you can see a faint halo around his head, but that could also honestly just be the library light causing the incandescence. 

“Yes, which is why we should do horror or a mockumentary,” you interrupt. This is the only fight you’d ever attempt with an angel, and boy do you deserve a medal for it like the humans do. “The topic isn’t particularly… uh… safe for work, so horror would convey the right message that we investigate in each class, while still having space for detail. Think something like found footage horror films or something.”

“You raise a good point,” Sunday deliberates—if there was anything good to say about angels, it would be that they are gracious with their concessions. Some concessions. “Fine.”

Fine. 

Fine.

Fine. 

With glee, you save the moment to brag about when you next visit downstairs. I got an angel to agree with me. 

But simultaneously, you compose your face, knowing the next item on the agenda will inevitably be the very topic of the proposal. 

Suddenly, you no longer feel the glee of just a minute ago. 

Oh shit. 

[b3rrymilks]

𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 !

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 : a cute lil sleepover with your boyfriend miles :)

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 : <3 this was also requested by anon, so enjoy luv ! (sorry for all the angst on my page rn..💔💔) this is very short due to my mind not being able to cook anything longer up. my minds been a bit all over the place😭😭 sorryyy💔 ART CRED : thokzu on tt

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : miles morales (1610) x reader

ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ

🕷️ while being conjoined at the hands, you both danced around in the pouring rain. your laughter filled the small space you danced in. miles was a nice change of pace in your life, ever since you’d gotten with him, things have changed for the better.

“you’re so beautiful” miles wasn’t usually the type to get all sappy without nearly having a nervous breakdown. “what did you do?” you replied, squinting and pointing an accusing finger at him. “nothing nothing, i just wanted you to know” miles laughed, watching you happily. this moment was cut short by his mother yelling. “MILES GONZALO MORALES GET INTO THIS HOUSE OR SO HELP ME!” her screams were louder than the rain. somehow.

when you two both walked into the house, rio had placed multiple towels on the floor so the rain wouldn’t get spread all over the floor. “you two—“ her lecture paused as she stared at the both of you. standing there soaked holding eachothers hands. “—get changed before you get sick.” she said, throwing even more towels at you two. “nowwww!” she added, watching you both still standing there, giggling.

what you two didn’t know, was that she watched the entire time as you two danced out in the rain. she found it heartwarming as her and jeff did the dame thing when they were kids.

miles wrapped a towel around you and rubbed it all around, creating friction to warm you up. “well, there’s no taking you home in this rain, my mom would kill me if either of us got sick.” miles spoke, looking around his room for a change of clothes for you. “uhh, here” he handed you one of his large white shirts, and fluffy pajama pants that his mom had bought a dupe of.

miles loved to draw, it was one of his favorite hobbies. he would often sketch you during class, as you would be nearly falling asleep at the boring lesson. no matter where he was or what he was doing he would always find himself drawing you. he had multiple sketchbooks already full, and every 2 pages there was a sketch of you.

there was something about the rain that was calming, making you tired. the rain definitely wasn’t going to let up soon, so you joined miles in his room as he completed his physics homework. he rubbed his temples in confusion. he had missed a few days of class, meaning he was behind in work. “you know it’s a trick question right miles?” you told him, giggling at his frustration. “no it’s not? it’s—“ he paused mid sentence, rereading the question. “no way…” he whispered, looking back at you. your giggling finally got to him, making him grab a pillow from his bed and toss it at you.

“hey HEY! it’s not my fault you missed class” holding the pillow up in defense. “you think it’s so funny hm??” he asked, picking up another larger pillow and threw it at you. loud laughter eventually filled miles’ room as you both began throwing pillows at each other.

his parents sat in the living room, listening to the laughter. “hope he’s done his physics homework.” his father spoke through an exhale, finishing his water. in honestly, they were all glad miles was happy and had someone to hang around with. (tehee.. get it? hang aroun? alr my bad don’t block me pls💔)

“okay okay fine! i’m sorry” you apologized to miles who was still hitting you with the large soft pillow. “i forgive you.. for now” miles spoke before falling onto his bed, pulling you close. his body heat quickly spread between the both of you.

soon the laughter died down, and the rain continued to patter against the window in his room. with slow blinks and miles caressing your face, you slowly fell asleep.

“i love you.” miles whispered pressing a gentle kiss onto your forehead, watching your chest rise and fall. “you are a lover boy huh? crazyyyy” his father peeked into his cracked open door. “dad! get—“ lowering his voice, “—get out.” embarrassment quickly setting in. as his father left, he closed the door. “he takes after his father.” he mumbled with a laugh.

[calcedon79]

I was bored

Okay, to prevent total withdrawal, I'll serve you guys from the mine crew a little treat from a nonsense story I write on from time to time. It's only roughly translated and not stylistically polished (and it's late). So have mercy.

Boli, this opening chapter was heavily inspired by your Mud story, but somehow our chaos-blorbos have to run into each othe

Random acquaintances

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sifo-Dyas brushed a few sweaty strands out of his eyes. His hairband had fallen victim to a low-hanging branch. (Message to self: pack a second one for next outing)

"Of course," Jocasta Nu gasped stubbornly, struggling the last few meters up to the ledge of the old castle wall, "Master Sinube did say we could look around a bit."

"Yes, but we were supposed to stay in sight," grumbled the third of the group, his normally immaculately groomed initiate tunic soiled and torn in one place. (Stupid thorns)

" We are, Yan." The petite girl took a deep breath and put her arms on her hips. " We can see the big plaza from up there."

"I don't think that's what he meant," the slender Minashee boy dared to disagree.

"Mmmpf. Then he should phrase it better next time." She stared calculatingly up the half-collapsed defensive wall. Why did all the masters thought that Jocasta was the voice of reason in their trio? (Laughable!).

"Come on, exploring an old fortress like this is much more exciting than listening to lectures about textiles all day."

The two boys looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. "True enough."

*

From the courtyard of the old fortress, there was the sound of metal hitting stone.

"Let's go and have a look."

"Jo, do you really think that's a good idea?" Sifo-Dyas made no secret of his skepticism.

"Oh, don't be such nunas." The eldest of their group rolled her eyes. "Come on. Let's go and see what this is."

"If we ever die trying out one of your ideas, I won't say another word to you," was Yan's reply as he walked past her.

After all, it had also been Jo's idea to bypass the fuse on the old turbolift and travel to the lower levels of the temple. (Maybe they should have checked the power supply first. Their two-week stay in the Halls of Healing had been no fun - neither had the trouble they'd gotten into with Master Sinube).

*

Jaster lowered his Beskard. (Okay, actually, it wasn't his.) Why did ba'buir have to take this job? No fighting, no proper libraries, how dull!

"That looks interesting," a friendly voice interrupted Jaster's exercises.

In front of him were three other children his age. Locals? Although, the other people's clothes were much more colorful than those of the newcomers. Maybe it was a school uniform or something. Jaster shrugged inwardly.

"Did you hurt yourself?" the tallest boy asked cautiously, taking a step towards him. "We didn't mean to scare you."

"No, no. Everything's fine." Jaster hurried to his feet. "I just didn't hear you coming."

"It's important to always keep an eye on your surroundings." The second boy's dark eyes scrutinized him coolly. At least until a blow to the back of his head from the girl sent the little guy staggering forward.

"Yan! Behave yourself and be polite," she hissed, to which the black-haired boy immediately muttered an apology in Jaster's direction.

Wow, the petite figure had her companions well in hand.

"Uhh, no problem. No harm done," Jaster waved it off. "My name is Jaster Mereel, by the way, and who are you?"

"The tall one with the long hair is Sifo-Dyas, the rude one is called Yan Dooku," introduced the girl with the turquoise ponytail. "And I'm Jocasta Nu."

Before any of the boys could make a sound, she continued: "Is that a traditional Midrim sword? I didn't know swords were used here. What metal is it made of?"

"What?" Jaster blinked, caught off guard by the volley of energetic questions. "Uh, no… it's a beskad and it's made of beskar."

"Beskar?" the boy introduced as Sifo-Dyas now asked with interest. "Ohh, that super cool Mandalorian metal."

"How did you get your hands on a weapon like that?" the Dooku boy wanted to know with narrowed eyes.

"How do you think?" Jaster rolled his eyes. They were asking strange questions. "I am a Mando'ad." "Uhh… Mandalorian?" he added slowly. Stupid basic. Jaster still had trouble with some words.

*

Oh.

Mandalorian?!

Dooku exchanged an alarmed glance with Sy. "'Mandalorian'?!"

Like in "Mandalorians - the enemies of the Jedi Order"?

Jo didn't seem to share their concern. A sparkle appeared in her eyes, showing her two companions that she had caught fire for a topic. Oh oh!

" Mandalorian? How exciting. I thought all Mandos wore armor."

*

"But not from the beginning," protested Jaster - horrified by so much ignorance. That couldn't be allowed to stand! "You have to earn it bit by bit. Look, I've already got bracers and a back plate. And my beskad."

"Yours? It's much too big for you." Oh, did this Yan know his way around swords? As professionally confident as his words sounded, that seemed to be the case.

"Well," Jaster admitted. "It's not mine. My ba'buir lent it to me."

"Your … ba'buir?" Sifo-Dyas tried to repeat after him and tilted his head questioningly.

"Ba'buir means … mmh grandparents in Basic. He is my grandfather"

"And he just lets you go off on your own with that?" The tall boy seemed taken aback by this.

"Of course." What was the problem? On safe planets and as long as he was back at the ship at the agreed time, he was always allowed to do what he wanted. Apparently this was a foreign concept to his new acquaintances. Poor things. "Ba'buir has to work, after all. How else am I supposed to practise? Besides, ba'buir always says it's too dangerous to go out without a weapon."

*

Okay, that was pretty sensible of said grandpa. The youngsters nodded in understanding. Children were kidnapped and sold into slavery all the time. That's why they were also allowed to take their training swords with them on their excursion. These weren't as dangerous as real lightsabers, but at the highest level they could still inflict quite serious injuries.

"Hmm, can beskar really withstand a lightsaber?" Jocasta suddenly wanted to know.

"A Jetii kad'au?" Mereel looked at her questioningly, as if he couldn't imagine how she had come up with this idea. "Hmm, I don't know."

"Maybe it should be tested." Jocasta's scientific interest was obviously piqued.

Yan didn't even bother to shield his alarm in the Force. "Yo! I don't think it's such a good idea…"

"Testing?" Jaster interrupted him curiously. "How is that supposed to work?

"Well, with this." Jo nonchalantly pulled out her training sword.

Cursing, the other boy flinched and then stared at the three of them like a Tooka in a thunderstorm. "Jetiise!… ah Jedi…. You're Jetiise?"

"Well, not quite yet," Sifo-Dyas clarified sheepishly, deliberately ignoring the other boy's raised weapon. "Strictly speaking, we're initiates. At the moment, anyway. You can only call yourself a Jedi once you've become a Padawan, built a proper lightsaber and then passed your knight's trial."

"Ohh." From one moment to the next, Jaster seemed to have overcome his shock and he lowered his sword again. "There are different Kad'aue … ah lightsabers? And how do you become a Padawan? Can anyone become one or do you have to fulfill certain requirements? How old do you have to be to take your trial?"

"Did you have a good day, ner ad?" Athas Mereel added the last of the spices to the boiling stew. A balanced diet was important for children. He may not have been the best chef in the galaxy, but he insisted on serving his grandson fresh food as often as possible. Ration bars were for emergencies. "Did you experience anything exciting, meet other children?"

"Hmm," Jaster barely lifted his head from the datapad, whose contents he was studying intently. Good boy. So studious. "I met some nice kids. We exchanged our com numbers."

(Communicators that the little Jetiise were apparently not allowed to have. "Don't you dare call us, Mereel. Only write, understand? Otherwise we'll get into real trouble with the masters.")

"That's nice," Athas nodded happily. Sometimes he was worried: Jaster was a bright boy, clever and resourceful, but he had a hard time making lasting friends. They had moved so often in the last few years, and each time his boy was forced into a new routine. Jaster's initial enthusiasm for adventure and new places had waned considerably in recent times. The new contact could only do him good.

*

On the other side of the planet, Sy, Yan and Jocasta didn't get a chance to talk about their Mandalorian encounter. When they returned to their quarters far too late, sweaty, tired and with dirty clothes, a highly annoyed Master Sinube was already waiting for them.

(Before the next outing, Yan would remember to pack some ration bars. Being sent to bed without dinner after a two-hour meditation was not acceptable to him or his body).

[snoreyua]

₊˚ෆ ⁀➷　come back to me // ep. 3

synopsis : you and riki were childhood best friends doing everything together. when you entered middle school, you overheard him talking shit about you to his so-called friends. out of frustration, you moved schools and cut all contact with him. now starting a new year in high school, what will you do when riki unexpectedly transfers to your school? can you rebuild your friendship or will something much deeper will bloom?

word count : 1k

warnings : angst?? lowercase intended, lmk if i should add anything

yua's notes : y/nki ship ?!?!!? 😍😍

previous masterlist next

story written under the cut

you span your pencil in between your fingers, not paying any attention to your teacher's monotonous lecture. you looked to your side, looking at riki who also seemed bored, his face resting on his arm. your mind traced back to yesterday, the events repeating in your head. the chocolate milk, his awkwardness, the way he ran away after. it felt weird but in a good way. as you daydreamed, riki noticed your gaze on him lingered on him than normal. you quickly turned around, feeling embarrassed. "and y/n! can you answer the question on the board?" the teacher picked at you, an impatient smile on her face as she tapped her foot on the floor. she cocked her head to the side, waiting for you to answer.

the equation on the board was like gibberish, none of it making sense in your head. you panicked, scribbling down random numbers making the best of what you knew. you felt a nudge, your eyes landing on riki again. he swiftly slipped a note to you with the answer. "uhh is the answer 91?" you read off the sticky note, hoping that he had given you the right answer. the teacher looked at you, then looked at riki, staying silent for a while before speaking up. "the answer was 128. looks like you need to pay more attention to my classes," she said disappointed before facing back to the class.

you elbowed riki, glaring at him. "good job genius you're 26 off the answer," you sarcastically congratulated him. he looked at his notes before looking back at you. "actually, it's 37-" you shot daggers at him, almost looking like you wanted to strangle him. "well close enough… you already know that neither of us are good at math," he scratched his head. you ignored him as you folded your arms on the desk, laying your head on top of your makeshift pillow.

as soon as you heard the bell go, you shot up from your seat and stuffed your things in your bag. you slinged your bag over your shoulder, trying to leave the classroom when riki appeared. " I know you told me not to talk to you unless you talk to me first but you have sport next right?" he stood in front of you, stopping you from leaving. you rolled your eyes, mumbling a bunch of swears trying to get pass him but he wouldn't budge. he blocked the doorway with his body, preventing you to leave the classroom. "answer the question." he tried to sound more demanding but failed. you groaned and nodded. "yes I have sport now why does it matter to you?" you crossed your arms, becoming annoyed. "can you show me the way to the gym?" he asked, coming closer you to, towering over you like a castle.

you knew there was no use in rejecting his request. "fine," you muttered, finally getting past him. he followed you, like a lost puppy. you looked him up and down, your eyes glued onto the blue bracelet he was wearing. "how come you still wear yours? it's not like we're best friends anymore," your feel your chest becoming heavy, as you tried to contain yourself. riki lifted his wrist, observing the bracelet. "it's because I miss you y/n. everyday since you left I've been thinking about you and I-" you cut him off, not looking at him. "just… don't. please," you felt your eyes stinging with tears. you took a deep breath before stopping in front of the gym. "just walk in and you'll see the boys' change room," you mumbled, still not looking at him. he nodded, looking inside for the change room. he then turned back, about to say thank you when you ran inside into the girls' change room.

"alright guys who's pumped for dodgeball?" the gym teacher hyped, signalling everyone else to be excited. most of your class cheered, people already making bets on who was gonna thrash who. you weren't bad at dodgeball but you weren't exactly good at it either. the gym teacher split your class and of course, riki was on your team. the whistle echoed in the gymnasium, chaos beginning to break through. balls were being thrown at every direction possible, people getting hit and balls were being caught every second. you felt an intense stare on you as you picked up a ball that rolled towards you. you looked up, seeing jihyun smirking at you before hurling a ball at you. you froze in shock, accepting that you were gonna get hit. you squeezed your eyes shut, waiting for the ball to hit you when you felt someone tackle you to the floor.

your eyes fluttered open. you found yourself on top of riki, way closer than you would of liked. you felt the heat rush to your face, as he softly smiled at you. "that was close… are you ok?" his grip around your body slightly loosened. it felt like the world had just stopped, all attention on you and riki. "I'm… alright," you were barely able to talk, feeling your heart beating out of your chest. before he could say anything else, you quickly stood up and walked towards the back. jihyun glared at you, throwing the ball away in anger. you were trying your best to calm down, but whenever he glanced at you, you felt like you were going to explode.

"and he saved me from getting hit from jihyun…" you furiously explained to eunchae, who was just able to understand what you said at your word spitting speed. she chuckled, putting her spoon down and scooching closer to you. "I think there's love in the air~" she teased you, making hearts with her hands and making kissing noises. you blushed, slapping her hands down. she laughed at your reaction, slinging an arm around you. "you know, I wouldn't be against it if you and riki were together. honestly, you should talk to him again. who knows? maybe you guys can become friends again or maybe even more," she smiled at you, wriggling her eyebrows at you. you rolled your eyes jokingly as you took a bite out of your sandwich.

you weren't totally against the idea of becoming friends with riki again.

taglist (open) : @viagumi @lilriswife4life @keiipopped @w0nslvr @mizomani @k25vi @bacterla @yumilovesloona @wendypopsi @ak-aaa-li @flwerfield

[nuttytani]

his vs your spice tolerance

characters: ieyasu, hideyoshi, mitsuhide, mai, gn!reader

warnings: none

a/n: I was daydreaming about spicy food during one of those boring lectures and then this happened. don't mind any typos or stuff, it's not proof read. p.s oh followers of mine, do you still wan't to get tagged on my hcs and fics? even though i pop in once in a century.

Ieyasu 

He’s known to be able to hold his spice

There hasn't been ANYONE who was able to surpass him in terms of spice tolerance

Enter: you 

Oh boy, he did not expect someone to handle spicier food than him

Genuinely feels scared as he watches you drown your meal in copious amount of hot sauce, roasted and cut chilli (yes, the green or red ones that grow on bushes) and straight up shove it in your mouth without a single flinch

He is scared. Saying that would be an understatement since he has tried your “food” once, and never again. Swears to not even dream about it. Ieyasu was crying his eyes out just from two bites and was chugging down glasses of water…. Which - uhh backfired. 

Needless to say but yasu was breathing fire like a dragon 

Now has profound admiration for your spice tolerance. No one can top you.

Hideyoshi 

He didn’t really have any spice tolerance from the start

Thinks you’re crazier than Ieyasu to…..be able to eat the demonic level of spice that you do

Doesn’t dare to even take a bite out of your food, he already knows that it would end badly for his mouth and his behind. 

But he does feel concerned about your health though, eating too much spice can be detrimental to your health after all

Somehow succeeds in making you eat at least a little less spice than before.

(actually, the only reason you reduced your spice intake was because of his puppy dog eyes. Darn em’ can’t say no to those shiny eyes)

Mitsuhide 

This man can’t even taste, what do you expect him to say about your abominable love for spice? Nothing.

Except, he does enjoy seeing you place a bottle of hot sauce and plenty of chillies on the side of your plate for every meal. 

Once, he exchanged your lunch box with Hideyoshi’s. For educational purposes. 

Gets punched in the face the very next day by Hideyoshi, who appeared to be unwell. 

He did try your food out of curiosity once, alas, no taste, but he did find the mild burning sensation on his tongue to be intriguing. 

You eventually make him addicted to eating whole chilli, ain't that nice? Better than eating random leaves in his garden (and who knows what else)

Bonus: 

Mai 

Thinks you’re some sort of godly specimen to be able to handle extremely spicy food.

Like, even Ieyasu is scared/amazed by your spice tolerance! 

She tries your food once, how bad can it be? Just a little bit of burning won’t stop her from trying it out!

Regrets immediately 

Curses her life choices and is now stuck in the toilet 

Is currently missing her 21st century western style toilets 

Gets the heebie jeebies whenever she looks at your food from then on

She does, however, tried eating whole chilli. After you taught her how to eat it like a pro

Mai is now unstoppable

Flaunts her newfound skill to eat chillies without a sweat to yasu. 

Gets kicked out of his room.

taglist : im sorry, i lost my old one- uhh if you guys ares still interested tho, let me know

[keiachi-chan]

Do you have OCs? If so, what are they like?

BOY DO I!

Actually it's funny! My username is the name of one of my ocs(Keiachi) and my pfp is a DIFFERENT oc (Pyra) bfnsnfms

Anyways Instead of Elaborating on that, I will talk about Sakusei & his Minor gods

So, here is Sakusei, he's a Major God! He usually has wings but I can't draw those very well. He's gray because his parents are Gray. His sister, Abyss, is also Gray but with stars.

I realize I go on for a WHILE here. If you are allergic to words I understand. Mwah.

So Abyss is his big sister, and his parents were like. "Oh we accidentally made another one what do we do" "Iunno put him in the river" "Okay"

And so he floated for like. Years. And currently has an affinity for water because of how much time he spent there !! He ended up in a mostly empty universe, except for a patio in the middle of a giant flower field!

These flowers had like. Instructions in em. Basically like when you interact with something in a video game and it pulls up a text box? That, it did that.

The text boxes in question explained to Sakusei that he's the God of Creation, which can be used for good, evil, and everything in between! Unfortunately to a brand new god who doesn't understand anything outside of basic knowledge, Good is boring, and Evil is more fun.

So, Sakusei is an absolute menace, basically playing the Sims Irl, creating things to destroy them, making intentionally unstable biomes to watch them collapse, just fucking up everything??

Eventually, he finds out he can just. Traverse. To other universes when he gets bored, and starts messing with OTHER gods, which gets him promptly Scruffed and Lectured by Dreveria, the God of Innovation.

I would include a drawing of him but the limit is 10 and I wanna show off the other Minor Gods.

So, Dreveria has a kinda job which is to monitor certain Gods who seem like they could be a threat, which doesn't happen often but when it does, it's good to have measures to take, yk? Anyways, so yeah he's with Sakusei, basically restraining him like

"Hm. This guy's not actually evil, we don't actually need him to be eradicated, uhh. Maybe I can help him???"

And so he does! Dreveria's not a good teacher per se, but he can like. Teach people not to kill things. And helps Sakusei with the whole "Lacks a moral compass" thing. So, Dreveria eventually looks at the notes Sakusei has and goes "Oh wow these explain NOTHING, read mine instead." And it's a large book. Which Sakusei hates. But he does admit that he learned from it! And so he's like "Oh, so this makes me an awful person. Let me, like, stop."

And starts working on the actual universe. And once the kinda "base" is lined out, Dreveria and Sakusei talk like

"Hey wanna make a kid"

"Fucking what?"

"Like a Minor God?"

"Oh you meant-"

So Dreveria helps Sakusei make some Minor gods!

Each minor god has an assigned Animal, element, and subdomain. Major gods have an assigned Trait, but whether they have animals or Subdomains is random. For instance, Sakusei is the Bunny god of Creation!

Zymira is the first and the oldest Minor God. The Draconic Goddess of Heat and Art. Most people call her the Goddess of Fire, which she doesn't MIND per se, but she'll roll her eyes if you're confused that she made your whole town a winter wonderland to help combat a heatwave.

Currently, she lives with Opal, a Minor God from another universe, who she has three kids with. Jamie, Jacob and Jaiden. They for some reason gave all their kids J names, which is likely why Jamie hates them. (She does not hate them, she's just having a rebellious phase.)

Here's Zymira, Opal, Jacob, Jamie and Jaiden. (Zymira & Opal drawn by @thissideup-box this time)

It's like a Nuclear family but. The parents. Aren't Romantically involved.

ANYWAYS The next God they made was Kanamaki. The god of Light and Dark. She was a bit unstable though, and split into two, Dani and Yami. Both of which are men. I cannot explain this. Sakusei figured that the Domain was too much for one Minor God to handle, and kept this in mind for later. So, Dani is the Deer God of Light and Construction, while Yami was the Snake God of Darkness. He didn't get a Subdomain, because Sakusei kinda looked over the fact that Dani was the only one to retain Kanamaki's.

Dani is about 16 feet tall, but frequently shapeshifts into a young girl to lure criminals away from the current Gods of Life, who are actual teenagers. It's like if Jesus was Chris Hansen.

Here he is!

Yami was a fucking menace, to the point where Sakusei would "reboot" him on occasion.

-Reset: when a God Dies/Is killed and reincarnates

-Reboot: When a God's energy disperses and reforms into the same God. Usually, this ends bad crises, but is painful for the Minor God. Yami, however, cannot feel pain, and so Sakusei is a bit more. Generous. With curb stomping him-

Yami would destroy cities, planets during tantrums, and generally just harass (and eat) people. Sakusei reversed everything when he was done EVERY time which kinda. Increased his anger. Because it was like nothing he did mattered unless Sakusei liked it. So that was a mental crisis for actually Billions of years.

Uhh. Eventually that gets fixed. Because Yami doesn't Reset, he actually develops a conscience with help from Quartz. Then he severs his ties to godhood and decides to live as a mortal. With like a husband and his daughter. (Another Major god, Sakusei's bestie and @thissideup-box 's character. I don't have their lore aside from they were chilling, Sakusei showed up and they changed each other's lives, but like. Not necessarily for the better.)

Btw, fun fact: Yami is actually entirely female, but uses he/him pronouns because what the hell are you gonna do about it?

I actually don't have a picture of Yami! I've DRAWN him, but it's not currently in my gallery, and in the latest image I have of him, he is. Dead. Anyways-

So, next comes the Cat Gods of Life. Life is SUCH a big domain that Sakusei made two Gods for it. They didn't want subdomains. Both of them wanted to be called Lilith, so he just. Named them Lilith(Fem) and Lillithe(Masc). Without the parentheses. He usually called them Lily and Lithe. For simplicity.

Uh so anyways they died-

On accident, mostly. They were kinda bored of being Gods, and instead of asking Sakusei they just decided to try something. Their intent was to sever their ties to immortality and Godhood, but Zymira interfered because they appeared to be resetting which. Um. She didn't want her siblings to die and actually ended up being partially responsible for their deaths because of it!

Whoops.

Anyways, The next Minor God is the Eel Goddess of Water and Skill, Selkie. Her nickname is based on the Folktale creatures, which is odd as she's an Eel and not a Seal, but her actual name is Sandeiva. She lives in the ocean and keeps it clean with the help of Dani, who made like. Basically a plastic magnet. It draws in plastic which Selkie then eviscerates. Just sends it into nonexistence.

Anyways, here she is.

She wears a mask like Sakusei because she wants to be like her papa. She gives blessings very freely, all you have to do is find her and she'll give you a new skill. Sometimes, she'll even let you choose what! She lives underwater, though, so.

Last but not least(that's Yami), the last Minor God to be created, technically, was Razurai. The Dog God of Energy and Performance. He's a singer and magician, and he lives in the sky. He zaps around for funsies and does his absolute best to cheer people up. Sometimes, he throws parties! He has Dani set it up, and has the current Gods of Life provide ingredients. Most of the Gods normally wouldn't be that close, but Razurai reunites everyone about three times a year.

Once, Razurai had a depressive episode, so he didn't throw any of his parties for like, a year.

Zymira and Selkie had the others set something up for him, instead. :]

Here's Razurai! His ears and tail blend with his attire a little too much.

So, Lilith, Lillithe and Yami are no longer Gods, making way for three new ones.

First, the current Cat Gods of Life, Phoenix and Pyra! These two are both 16, having been created at the same time. They DO have Subdomains, which change their titles entirely.

So, Pyra is the Cat Goddess of Fate. (Life+Death)

Phoenix is the Cat God of Willpower! (Life+Strength)

They fucking hate each other. Because they remind the other of themselves. And they fucking hate themselves.

"At least they're consistent?" -Sakusei

Phoenix and Pyra are actual literal children, so they don't do any Godly Responsibilities. Zymira handles all of it. She loves paperwork (Did you know that Gods can be autistic?)

They uh. Stream on Twitch. They have very popular accounts, because they are cute kids and good at playing Videos Game. In their free time they harass space pirates (Some more characters by @thissideup-box ofc) and also bother Sakusei, who loves them dearly.

They looked like small kids for a while, but now they look more their age. (I have to update my pfp eventually.)

Here they are! I have a Comic for Phoenix & Zymira, alongside just a standalone image for Pyra. They're. Weirdos.

Phoenix's actual name is Zvxeren, and Pyra's is Zerxymvera. They're stupid to pronounce so they just go by the Normal names.

And finally, the current God of Darkness, Aeyovae. He's like, BRAND new. The Fox God of Darkness and Music. He fucking hates Yami and everything the Previous God has done! He found out the snake bitch is still alive and cried. He's been trying to undo some of the traumatizing effects Yami had on people, and also trying to help his own image because well. Nobody is too excited for a new God of Darkness. Obviously.

He speaks very. Enunciated. Iunno how to get that across. He doesn't yell but like. If I wrote for him it would be all caps.

"GREETINGS. I AM AEYOVAE. WHAT A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU."

And again it's not yelling but it's LOUD.

Anyways ! Here is Aeyovae he's a cutie.

Uhhh That's all but I can answer questions I am excited

[frogskelton]

Part 3 of Team Chris is rlly smoking hot x Scooby do fanfic is here, because u were so nice ((:

PLEASE READ

This chapter explores themes of ableism against autistic people and the condescension that can with the infantilization of autistic people and this can be a very personal subject matter, so I feel everyone deserves a heads up

First if u haven’t read part one here

Now onto the actual thing -

“I’ll show you all to the guest rooms.” Alejandro said rather sharply

“Wait will there be any cops here” Izzy finally stopped zooming round, staring at Alejandro, with unwavering focus, still as Midas’s daughter.

“Uhh, probably, though it probably won’t be for a while at least”

“Uuuhhh, they’re so useless, we’ll have to avoid them, or get the meddling kids lecture, like I’m pretty sure our rate of actually solving mysteries is better than their one in a million” Noah grumbled

“We’ve got a good amount of time befor-”

“Yeah, like a couple millenniums” Noah sarcastically quipped, with Alejandro giggling at his wit.

“So like a team we gotta go now so we avoid cops, let’s go!” Owen enthusiastically yelled

“Too loud, buddy, we don’t want anyone to hear us.” Noah whispered, putting a hand on Owen mouth, especially climbing on him to reach.

“If you see anyone head back to the spare rooms,” Alejandro said, “And Izzy can hide from the cops.” He finished, not giving Izzy a moment to butt in.

The room was rather big, filled with fancy wooden furniture, with patterns carved in. There was a collection of photos surrounding a bowl of fake fruit on the buffet positioned across from what had to be a king double bed. Lots of photos of Jose and another boy seemed like they were Alejandro’s brother, judging by another photo where the three of them were positioned together.

“Wow, fancy. If I knew you were this rich I might have swooned over you, too,” Noah said in a monotone voice.

“This room is just for Noah, Owen and Izzy,” Tyler said patiently, staring directly at Alejandro.

“Well, course you can sta-”

“In your room, with you??” Tyler, desperate excitement in his voice crescendoed as he inched closer the the somewhat startled boy

“In another guest room”

“How many guest rooms are in this house?” Noah quietly mumbled to Owen.

“Nah, that’s fine I can just stay in your room with you, since we are best buddies!’ Tyler staring so intently he probably could burst an eye vessel and eye contact so intimidating it could intimidate a statue.

“I mean it sounds like it would be an okay idea to stick together, you know with everything going on.” Owen said, patting Tyler on the shoulder. “Besides, Al, I don't like the way the thing was looking at you Owen shifted his attention to Alejandro standing cross-armed, with a frustrated childish expression. “Oh, Alejandro, sorry man.” Owen attempted to pat him on the back before Alejandro flinched away, attempting not to snarl at him.

“So, Izzy will stay with us cause I don’t think you two can survive her.” Noah said

“Yep, sounds good.” Tyler grabbing onto Alejandro’s hand.

“Well, th-”

“Just let him,” Noah said, cutting off Alejandro, causing him to sulk.

“Yes, yes, yes, we are gonna have so much fun.” Tyler excitedly bouncy around shaking Alejandro.

The night seemed long, the dark sky looming outside, as they waited for the coast to clear to go and investigate. Noah and Owen were in charge of viewing the primary scene, Tyler and Alejandro would keep watch down the halls and out the front for when/if the cops showed their piggy heads (since Alejandro knew the place best), while Izzy would go and collect samples (Who knows how she does it, but she always seems to get results.)

[All good??] Noah texted, getting bored half ready to already shove his head over the side and start shoveling evidence.

[Yes, so far so good.] Alejandro replied, [Though be wary my father is by the left wing down the hall.]

[ewww, forgot this is some family thing for you, it sounds weird u calling him father]

[Hahah, would you please gather some photos.] Alejandro texted back [By the way, the hall at the front and exit by the main stairs is probably best, prioritize speed]

[Yeah, yeah, I know what, you might be surprised other people have a brain as ] Noah texted, though Owen stopped him before he could continue. Noah crept over the banister tiptoeing down close near the stairs, like a slender cat. Leaning his top half over the banister and zooming in, with filming, changing to creeping down the staircase. “That’s weird,” Noah quietly whispered under his breath, fixated on something in the video. “What’s up little buddy?” Owen attempted to whisper back, though probably still speaking too loud.

“If it came from the outside, why did the glass not fall inside?” Noah smirked,

“So it must have come from the inside!” they said in unison, their excited voices fusing together.

standing up losing the cautiousness in his movement, standing up placing a hand, leaning on Owen,

“Heh, so it’s something wanting to think it came from the outside, but was already inside?” The cockiness radiating from his voice, somewhat losing that quietness. “Let’s see that freaking eel solve that one, all he’d do is try and flirt with the monster.” The cockiness quickly turned to mumbled pettiness. Owen reaches out a congratulatory fist bump. Pow!

“Oh shit,” Noah quickly threw out.

“Huh, what’s wrong?” Owen quietly panicked remembering they need to be quiet

“We need to get back, Tyler texted that Mr fancypants is coming our way.” Noah said paraphrasing, “He’ll meet as bac-” cut off by the sounds of muffled unintelligible yells, the anger still piercing through the walls.

“Shit.” Noah muttered,

“Al, would you just bugger off.” Jose yelled in spanish, frustrated, loud and tired. “Just leave, you’re just a kid getting in the way, like always do, can’t you jus-”

“I’m almost an adult and I can help! If you would quit treating me like some little kid and thinking you are so much better than me!” Alejandro cries out back.

“Al, FUCK OFF.”

Jose raised his voice to a stable pitch, staring down at Alejandro from his tall figure, the lights burning bright behind him. “Yeah, almost an adult, but when me and Carlos were 13 me and Carlos didn’t still have some obsession on childish fucking shit like dinosaurs.’’

He stepped forward, looming over Al, causing him to stumble back. “Me and Carlos didn’t fiddle with random shit and couldn’t even make decent eyeconnect till you were what? Like 14.”

His eyes didn’t blink, just flickered. “Me and Carlos don’t have whatever you have wrong with your brain,”

The harshness in his voice felt like fangs digging into Al’s flesh. “You just when you actually started trying to be your age just acted like some copycat of me.”

Alejandro didn’t respond. He just breathed heavily, holding back whatever emotions he could. Staring at Jose’s silhouette toppling over him against the burning light, unable to look up. Jose took a step back, sighing. “Al, I’m sorry, I just, I know it isn’t your fault.” He ran his fingers through his hair, tilting his head up, staring at the ceiling. “It’s just- I know because of your autism you can’t be like Carlos and I.” Looking down, seeing his brother, unable to look at him. “Al”

Attempting to put a hand on his brother to comfort him was quickly shaken off. Alejandro walking off.

“Really, fucking really? How the hell have I still failed to prove anything to you .” He said

He walked away trying not to sprint.

[masaworkdesignfan]

STORYTIME..

So when I was bored I went back inside my house after in my OBLIGATORY backyard.. I've noticed my mom and dad are not in the house and my dad went to work and my mom went fishing, so then that, I thought my dad was in my aunt's house so decided to uhh dress up(I just only wore a t-shirt and a shorts) and walking and running. And befote I walked to my aunt's home, I asked my dad's niece where is My mom before I act, and she said "I don't know maybe she goes fishing" well then I decided to go walking but before I act again, I asked my sister (she's in my dad's sister's house.) she asked me where I was going and I told her I'm going to aunt's house and I wanted to invite her over but then she declined the offer so I just well then! I act now! I walk and walk and walk and walk and then run before it turns night, in the middle of the road a student (from class 6B let's call her ray) ray saw me and approach me and told me "where are you going qori" (mf used my first name but who cares) I answered "going to my aunt's house. Aunt [I'm not showing you her name.]" And then she's like flabbergasted and told me "it's Maghrib! You can't just walk and run here and all by yourself!" And I don't wanna talk too much so I just say "Bye." And walking and then ran and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and...and then there's a person told me "where are you going kid?" I told him "going to my aunt's house" and then we have a lil chat and the guy was pretty nice and I declined his offering of Take me to my aunt house. And then he went off and smiled at me. And then I walked and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and walking and run and I made it! Until I realized my dad was really there. But he was gonna go home. After wasted works and painful walks I came but no succesed. He wanted to go home. So my dad offered me to ride the motorcycle and when I got in the motorcycle he offered me if I want a BAKPAO and I accept that offer. I ordered 2 one for me and one for my sister. And then in middle of the ride my dad lectured to not walk in the fucking Maghrib and BLA BLA BLA ghost and stuffs. So then I promised to myself If I do that I'm gonna make a new DC novel.

[hidingoutbackstage]

Uhh I’m in a creative block so I can’t give you a specific prompt per se, but something Chamberfield 👀 for love and yuri?

Hell yeah peace love and yuri (putting beneath a cut so as not to clog anyone’s dash but yuri should NEVER be hidden <3 so pls read)

Claire was a special kind of homesick. The kind where she was sitting here, in her two bedroom apartment, at the table eating cereal she’d gotten from the grocery store down the street, while wearing cozy pajamas. In all perspectives, she couldn’t be more home. And yet here she was, missing home desperately, because home wasn’t the two wooden chairs where one slightly rocks and the other creaks when sat on, home wasn’t the couch from a a garage sale with a few cigarette burns and various stains, home wasn’t the nightlight in her bedroom that she’d had since she was a child to keep her from waking up terrified and screaming in the dark.

Home was a person, a person who was currently halfway around the world, a person who Claire could feel as she wore said person’s cozy sweatshirt, as she gazed happily at a framed photo of the two of them on the windowsill, as her sloppy handwritten grocery list hung from the fridge with a heart shaped magnet. Despite the lingering feeling of her presence, Rebecca, Claire’s home, was not here, and Claire was getting sick with yearning.

Claire sighed, finally picking up her phone. She told herself she wouldn’t do this today, but to hell with it. She was missing her girlfriend more and more by the day, and she was growing sick of wanting. She flipped open her phone and went into her contacts. To hell with international cell phone charges too.

Of course Becky picked up, because it was Claire who was calling her. Claire half-expected her significant other to lecture her first about being unable to go a day without talking to her, but that never came. She simply answered the phone with a smile apparent in her voice. She called Claire “darling” as she always did, in that sing-song way she was so fond of that made Claire’s heart melt a little bit.

Bashfully, as if they were teenagers, Claire admitted to Becky why she had called. It was probably a given to both women, but Becky “awww”ed like it was the first time she’d heard Claire say the words “I miss you.”

They made idle chit chat. How was Philosophy University? It was good. How was work at home? It was boring. Have you heard from Chris lately? No, have you? No. Watch anything good recently? Not really, you? Not really. Tried out a new recipe for eggs. Oh how was it? I think I added too much oregano. Oh well, maybe next time. Maybe I’ll make it for you. Sounds perfect.

“I really miss you,” Claire blurted out. She dropped her spoon in her mostly-empty bowl of cereal, making a satisfying clang as it fell.

“I really miss you too,” Rebecca said automatically. “I wish I didn’t have to be out here so long, but-”

“Becky, you don’t have to explain anything. It’s work, I get it,” Claire said with a huff. “I just wish work didn’t separate you from me for so long.”

“Well, that’s what these phone calls are for, isn’t it?” She was trying to be gentle, Claire could tell.

“I know, I know,” Claire groaned. “Gd, I’m so clingy. I don’t know how you aren’t sick of me.”

Rebecca just laughed. “Darling, you know I could never get sick of you.” She made a little kiss noise through the phone. “I love you too much.”

They’d been saying those words for years, but sometimes they’d catch Claire off guard and fill her with youthful giddiness. “Yeah, I know.”

“You should distract yourself more when I’m not there.” Ah, Becky. Always a problem-solver. “Go out and do stuff with your other friends.”

Claire snorted. “What other friends? The ones that are as busy as we are?”

“Work friends, then.”

“Is this your polite way of telling me to fuck off and stop calling you, my dear?” Claire teased. Rebecca scoffed.

“I’m trying to help my lovely wife come up with some things to do in her spare time,” Rebecca said monotonously, clearly not even realizing her verbal blunder. Claire did, though, and straightened up to attention.

“Wife?” she blurted out. Rebecca was silent for a minute. “Hun?”

“…Listen,” Rebecca started, and Claire just burst out laughing.

“Oh, hun, you can’t just call me that and expect me to stop missing you!”

“I think of you like that sometimes, okay? We live together, we’ve been dating for a while, I…some of my students have asked if I have a boyfriend, and…”

“Becky, you are so cute,” Claire teased. “It’s fine. That was adorable.”

Rebecca sighed. “Can I hang up now or will you hate me forever? I’m supposed to be meeting with the university director in a few.”

Claire snickered. “Go on, my wife, go do your school things. I’ll just be here thinking about it for the rest of the day.”

Rebecca sputtered, and Claire could picture the woman’s cute blushing face. “I love you. Bye.”

“Bye, my wife!” Claire called giddily as she hung up.

The sharp pang of homesickness in Claire’s heart had faded, replaced by the soft, warm embrace of love.

[holocene-sims]

next // previous

july 4, 2021 7:30 p.m. adam's house

[wyatt] i'm gonna ask again...

[grant] alright, well, let me put it this way. what i didn’t like was very, very specific to me. it was a me thing and you are totally different than me. we are different people and the time period won’t even remotely be the same for us, so things will have changed. so, the experience i had isn’t going to be the one you would have. it’s not worth talking about because it just doesn’t matter.

[wyatt] boo, that’s not an answer.

[grant] okay, yeah, i hated it. still, i would absolutely, like, with every fiber in my being and all of my heart encourage you to go play college hockey if you’re interested. and yes, at the school i went to, if you’re interested in that school in the future. it’s so far off from now that you shouldn’t worry about it but you know what your dreams are and you should follow them. don’t ever listen to anyone else. do what you want. you know yourself best.

[grant] the only thing i'd say–and this goes for literally everything in life–is that if you do something and think it’s going to be amazing and you find out it’s not, trust yourself enough to leave and change paths. don’t stay with something if you’re not having a good, healthy, or safe time.

[grant] now i'm really going to get off my soapbox. i'm not here to lecture you. boring! gross! i'm supposed to be the fun uncle.

[wyatt] safe? did you get arrested or something? my friend at school has a big brother in college and he's in jail for selling cocaine.

[ezra] HAHAHAHA!

[grant] uhh–

[grant] i don’t know what to say but, uhh, i have never been arrested.

[wyatt] so, you didn't get arrested like papa?

[grant] you know about uncle paddy going to jail?

[ezra] he has his mugshots in his car!

[grant] oh, i forgot about that.

[wyatt] wait, why did you call him–

[grant] uncle paddy?

[wyatt] he’s your dad.

[grant] oh, no, buddy, i'm about to destroy your whole worldview…

[ezra] hey, the dragon is here! geez, the head chopping thing took soooooo long.

[grant] yay, alduin time! RIP to the others, though.

[grant] but, um, buddy, he’s not my dad. and your dad isn’t my brother.

[wyatt] liar!

[grant] i didn’t know you didn’t know!

[wyatt] how’s he not your dad? you wear glasses like him! and you laugh like him!

[ezra] wait, what?

[grant] i guess you’re confused because he calls me his son? and, well, your dad and his siblings and i call each other by, like, sibling-y terminology.

[grant] my mom is your grandfather and aunt bridget’s older sister.

[ezra] no! great-grandma aoife and great-grandpa joseph don’t have another–

[grant] no, no, they do.

[ezra] you're lying! liar liar pants on fire!

[grant] i am telling the honest truth! and i'm sorry to surprise! i really thought you knew.

[ezra] well, uh, you can still be uncle grant because you’re cool. you fly planes and do cool stuff like that, and you’re nice and funny and good at video games.

[grant] aww, i still make the cut? i'm still good enough to be an uncle?

[wyatt] of course! but if you become less funner than uncle alex, then you’re gonna get fired from the uncle job.

[grant] at least i know the terms of the contract!

[grant] but damn, you don’t like alex?

[wyatt] he’s kind of annoying. and he and lilly have a crusty white dog. i'm scared of crusty white dogs. they look evil. they’re gonna eat my limbs in my sleep.

[grant] that’s very oddly specific.

[ezra] i'm scared of sporks.

[grant] sporks?

[ezra] and i don’t like ladders.

[grant] okay, but sporks?

[ezra] it’s a fork but uglier and stupider.

[grant] you know what? valid. you’re not wrong.

[wyatt] i hate clowns, too!

[grant] also valid.

[wyatt] you aren’t scared of anything?

[grant] lithium-ion battery fires.

[wyatt] what?

[ezra] that’s a lot of big words.

[grant] yeah, lithium-ion battery fires, especially on a plane, and people being mean to me. germs, too. can’t forget germs.

[wyatt] if i sneeze into an open hand, would it make you cry?

[grant] yeah, a little bit.

[grant] don’t make me summon the crusty white dogs.

[ezra] summon! summon! summon!

[bunnypansy]

A Fist Amidst The Hands

Rated PG, please view with caution!

The first episode of a series; Riddle is on a downward spiral, and with the "help" of delinquent classmate, he might be able to burn his college career to the ground.

Featuring: Riddle Rosehearts, Floyd Leech, (background appearances of Cater, Deuce, and Ace)

Beware! This film contains: Floyd x Riddle as the main ship, explicit self harm, uhh kinda implied delusions on Riddle's part, College au, hurt no comfort, mentions of violence, implied gang activity with the Leech twins, this is just a slow descant into madness guys buckle in

If you could call Riddle Rosehearts anything, it would be uptight. Not a hair out of place, not a second late; surgical precision seemed to be instinctual to him. The foolish amongst Night Raven College admired him, the more knowing pitied him; but most were just fucking annoyed.

For one, he was the strictest RA on campus, getting away with anything was second only to rocket science; and second, he was the kind of model student that professors pointed out in classrooms and lectures for his pristine notes and spotless attendance record. To put it shortly, he made everyone around him look bad. It was anyone's guess as to if that was his intent- people were inclined to believe the worst, purely out of annoyance.

All in all, there were plenty of reasons to hate Riddle, especially tonight, because Riddle had decided it was the perfect night for a room check. In no small part because of the party local junior Cater Diamond was throwing in his dorm tonight; but no sooner than he started on his way to Cater's dorm did a freshman come barreling down the hall towards him

"RIDDLE!!" Deuce's voice carried through the dorm.

"Deuce, quiet down! And no running in the halls!" Half the building could've heard Deuce screaming. "It's late, you'll wake people."

The freshman was flushed and flustered, sweating as he apologized, dropping his voice to a stage whisper. "Sorry, sorry; it's just- there's a fight in the bathroom!"

A hiss of annoyance pressed through Riddle's teeth. "Who is it? Which bathroom?"

"It's the first floor boy's room," the instant Deuce clued him in, Riddle started stalking off towards the elevator. "And it's Ace and some guy I don't know!"

They squeezed into the elevator, Riddle hardly giving Deuce time to enter before pressing the ground floor button. "Describe him."

The tapping foot, crossed arms, narrowed eyes; Riddle was growing impatient. "Uh, stupid tall, and skinny, with greeny-blue hair!"

In the course of seconds, Riddle went properly red in the face, jabbing the first floor button as fast as he could. "Fu- he's- I CAN'T BELIEVE-"

Deuce pressed himself into the farthest corner of the elevator and quietly prayed.

The elevator doors parted and Riddle took off like a force of nature. The clacks of his shoes against the floor like thunder, the building near trembled as RA Rosehearts tore through the common room. The boys bathroom floor slammed open and Riddle was greeted with a blood-pressure spiking sight.

Ace Trappola, a first year and general nuisance, beaten halfway to a bloody pulp and still struggling in the grasp of Floyd Leech.

"Floyd!" Riddle shouted from his chest, gaining both boys' attention.

Floyd had been holding Ace by the collar, a sick grin of enjoyment spread over his lips, but Riddle's yelling had snapped him out of it.

"Ah- hey goldfishy!" In an instant, Floyd dropped Ace to the tile, like a child growing bored of a toy.

Ace let out a long low groan of pain as his head hit the floor, but didn't yet move. "What the hell are you doing here? Do you know how many rules you're violating right now?!" Riddle prompted.

"Oh, just blowing off some steam!" Floyd nudged Ace's bruised up cheek with his shoe, watching his face scrunch up with pain. "Little crabby seriously helped out."

"Leave my freshman alone." Riddle made a little gesture for Deuce to go help his fellow first year. "What are you doing here?"

It was key to keep Floyd distracted, the man was 6 '1 and stronger than everyone in the room combined, not to mention highly temperamental and punch-happy; if Floyd felt so inclined to paint Riddle purple, he could and would.

"Ohhh, you know… just messing around." his gaze slowly pulled away from Riddle to Ace and Deuce on the floor. For a long moment, Deuce and Floyd made eye contact.

"In my dorm? Do you want to be arrested?" Riddle snapped at Floyd, shooting his dorm members a warning look.

"Auuuuugh, nooo!" Floyd let out a long groan of childish displeasure. "Jade is getting tired of bailing me out!"

Where both of those boys get all that money is lost on Riddle, but he's sure he wouldn't like to know anyway. "You'd think you'd learn after all that time. Get out of here already, won't you?"

Deuce is clumsily getting Ace to his feet so they can hobble to the door, just a bit longer. "Eh? But I'm not done..." Floyd turns his eyes back onto the freshman with an eerie glint, then flits back to Riddle. "You know, goldfishy, you're cute when you get all squirmy like that."

Riddle wiped the stupid, concerned expression from his face- he wouldn't give Floyd the satisfaction. Then, in a bold move, Riddle marches up to Floyd and grasps his upper arm in a tight grip, dragging him from the building. Both of them know that Floyd is letting Riddle yank him away, the man is twice Riddle's size and could probably bench press him on a bad day. Instead he's following the RA out of the Heartslaybul lobby and into the parking lot outside with a series of pleased giggles.

Floyd is still grinning when Riddle drops his arm and glowers at him. "Go home."

"But Ace still owes me money, that's not fair!" He whines like a petulant child, and for a moment Riddle considers how difficult it would be to knock Floyd out and drive him home himself. Too difficult. He wouldn't fit in the trunk.

"I'll make sure you get your money, one way or another." Riddle assured, quickly growing tired- it had gone from semi-late to far past due very quickly. "Please just leave."

Floyd tilted his head back to look at the stars while he thought, rocking back on his heels. "Nah." He sits down on a curb stop and holds a cigarette out to Riddle. "Smoke with me?"

With a sigh, Riddle takes the cigarette and tucks it into his pocket as he sits beside Floyd. "No, thank you, I don't smoke."

"Then why'd you take it, huh?" Floyd sounds smug, like he's caught Riddle in something.

"It's contraband. I should search your pockets for that." Riddle scolds emptily as Floyd pulls a second menthol Marlboro from his pocket.

He flicks a piece of pocket lint off of the filter and places the cigarette between his lips. "Yeah, yeah, shut up. You got a light?"

There's a heavy sigh while Riddle takes a little matchpad from his pocket and strikes a match head against the worn down lighting strip. Floyd leans closer when Riddle holds out the flame, letting it lick the tip of the cigarette. He pocketed the matchbook again and watched while Floyd breathed out a cloud of smoke into the air.

"Why can't you stay out of my hair?" Riddle regrets asking when Floyd leans nearly nose to nose with him, puffing that nicotine heavy breath into his face.

"Cus' it's fun." Floyd takes another drag, then blows it directly into Riddle's face. Riddle waved away the scent with a hand, but didn't cough.

"Lovely. Well," he stands up from the curb stop, "I'll be leaving. Return to your dorm after you finish that."

Floyd gives a lazy salute, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Screw off already."

Riddle grits his teeth for a second, and nearly picks a fight over that- but decides against it. He's far too tired, even Cater's party had slipped from his mind, he hardly cared anymore.

The building was quiet enough for Riddle's taste when he stalked his way up to his dorm room; either way he didn't feel like scolding his dorm members into getting their rest, he had an exam to study for, the rest could sink or swim for all he cared.

His dorm, a single and neat as a pin, was similarly comforting. Riddle removed his shoes at the door- he only owned the one pair, so he had no need for a shoe rack--and padded across the cold wooden floor. The chair tucked into his desk was far from comfortable on his boney body, but at least his desk sat in front of the window, he got a good enough view of the rose garden. Riddle opened his window to get a breath of the fresh night air, a sigh of relief passing his lips as the slight breeze ghosted over his soft skin. A deep breath, taken with the hopes that the earthy scent of the roses after rain would sink into his bones. If he leaned forward far enough, hands planted on the wooden desktop, he could feel the moonlight on his closed eyelids.

Riddle sank back into his chair- he considered yelling at the furniture when it creaked beneath his meager weight. What did a chair have to complain for? Such a charmed life it led! No one to expect a thing of him, no work to perform. Jealous of a chair. That was truly pathetic, if mother were here now- Riddle slammed his hands over his ears hard enough to make them ring, as if the pain could drown out his thoughts. He knew well that his hands alone could not do the job.

Riddle peeled his hands away from his temples, fingers quivering as he pulled off his gloves and placed them on the desktop. Forfeiting studies for this, he could imagine the look on his mother’s face. His lungs burned as he took each shuddering breath, his blistered fingers stinging as they fumbled within his pockets, searching for his match pad. Riddle hissed in discomfort as he rubbed his raw blisters against the strike of the match book, but didn’t stop himself.

Even miles separated, his mother stayed at his side, hovering over Riddle’s shoulder and hissing reprimands into his ears; reminding him to remain diligent, never lose sight of the ultimate goal- she never quite defined what that was. More often than not, Riddle couldn't get away with dispelling his mother's words from his head; areas too public or equipped with smoke alarms, but in the privacy of his dorm, Riddle was free.

A simple flick of the wrist and Riddle held fire in his hands. The flame flitted and swished at the match head, a hungry animal crawling down the wooden stalk of the match until it licked the tips of Riddle's fingers. The heat brought blisters to the surface of Riddle's skin, a seating pain that seemed to make the words of his mother burn away as well. The match had gone dead and smoking, shriveled from the voracity of the fire.

Riddle stared at the cold body in his palm, devoid of the life the flames had once brought it. The poor match, it had never signed up for this; or did it know its fate? Was it only waiting to go hurtling down its path to the blazing future ahead? Silly thoughts to have about a match, silly thoughts he could do with setting ablaze. Another match, then. The first found it's grave within the trash, the next awaiting it's destiny in his matchbook.

It took a lot to satisfy Riddle, that was well enough known, and by the time he'd made peace with himself, he had made a right mess of himself. Black ash collected under his fingernails and stained the tips of his fingers to match the fierce pain in his skin, the sting of burns and stretch of pus filled blisters. What a moron he'd been at the time, wasting precious hours of studying or sleeping with this nonsense, not to mention the difficulties he'd face taking notes with his hands in the state they were in. With a strained hiss, he forced his leather gloves on over his injuries; a punishment, well deserved for his foolishness, and the wounds would heal eventually, anyway. Thin black stripes were left on the desktop as he swept the collection of dead matches into the trash can; there was hardly anything in there besides matches and tissues, though Riddle never got sick.

The voice in the back of his head draws close, a little bit quieter than before. Hands smooth over Riddle's shoulders, and Riddle is a child again, small as he stumbles into his twin bed at the hand of his mother. She whispers to him, a soft ‘time for bed, dear’ as she sits him down on the edge of the mattress. Riddle is 9 years old, his mother uses gentle hands as she wrestles his little brown oxfords from his feet and sets them aside. She helps him out of his shorts and little white button up.

Lazy and loathing, on this night Riddle barely works his way out of his pants and blazer before he flops onto his once tidy sheets. The shitty provided mattress is firm and unforgiving, but Riddle appreciates the meager softness anyway. Laid out on his side, Riddle tucked his knees up to his chest, not bothering to shuffle under the blankets but pull them over top of himself into he was wrapped in a clumsy cocoon.

Tomorrow. He'd clean the desk tomorrow, he'd make his bed tomorrow, he'd be good again tomorrow.

This is the end of today's showing! Thank you for viewing, have a good day

We'll see if I can ever manage to shit out another one of these, but I like how it's turning out so far (: