#unfortunately i couldn't watch as i have a 4 hour drive today

[koalemosz]

just watched the inter miami highlights... man i missed a banger didn't i

[kazoosandfannypacks]

Sabezra Week, Day 6, “Stars” STAR crossed rebellion heroes... UPDATE!!!!!

summary: sabine and ezra finally share their first kiss. unfortunately, it’s on a broadcast to every rebel cell in the galaxy. chapter word count: 1674 a/n: i couldn't think of anything good to do for this prompt, but i had the fourth chapter of a fic with star in the title just WAITING to be posted and knew i had no choice. shoutout to the unbelievable super cool outrageous and amazing @kanerallels for betaing! taglist: @laughingphoenixleader@accidental-spice@kanerallels  @piraterefrigerator @jedi-nurse@dootchster  @lucasbridger@redroverrider  @light-umbra   @commander-tech  @jedimandalorian@notanodinarygirl  {if you’d like to be added to or removed from my Sabezra taglist, let me know!}

also on ao3!

Ch. 4 Ezra Actually Has The Worst Friends In The Galaxy

 At first, Ezra almost wished he hadn't missed the opportunity to ride the purrgil express to a distant galaxy. What was worth sticking around for, anyways? Life would be so much simpler if he was a million parsecs away, living out the rest of his days as a hermit, a street rat once again, without all these people watching his every move.

 Instead, he was in his own galaxy. The crewmates he cared about so much were making a field day of teasing him. The rebellion that hailed him a hero now smiled for different reasons when they saw him. And Sabine?

 Well, Sabine was actually what made it all worth it. He'd kissed his best friend, and now she was avoiding him.

 This was good, of course. If what happened between them was no big deal, she wouldn't be avoiding him. Instead, she would've just said something along the lines of, "oh that was so dumb, let's never do that again," and made sure a recording of that rejection was broadcast to every rebel cell, too. If that kiss meant absolutely nothing, she wouldn't say they'd talk about it later. She would shut it down faster than it started.

 Knowing this, he was still in pretty good spirits as he made his way down to the city square, with Sabine a respectable distance away from him.

 But he lost her pretty quickly, as the first place he made it his goal to stop by was the holo-footage control booth, where Jai sat, watching his datapad.

 Ezra didn't say a word as he entered, but watched as his friend looked up at him, a nervous expression crossing his face.

 "Well, if it isn't the man of the hour!" Jai said, "shouldn't you be off enjoying the celebration?"

 "I'm on my way there," Ezra said, taking his best "I'm not disappointed, I'm just mad" face for a test-drive, "just had to take care of something first."

 "I, uh," Jai said, "I take it you're not happy that your first kiss was live-streamed to the entire galaxy?"

 "Not particularly," Ezra said, before his train of thought hit a snag, "wait, first kiss? You didn't broadcast that piece of information too, did you?"

 "Was it your first kiss?" Jai asked.

 "That's not the point," Ezra said.

 "Chill your jets," Jai said, "I didn't add any context other than what the video itself gave. You ought to see the comments section, though."

 "Comment section?" Ezra asked, "since when do our broadcasts have a comment section?"

 "Oh, ours don't," Jai said, "but with millions of people watching, it's not a stretch of the imagination to assume at least one of them would've recorded and re-uploaded the footage."

 Ezra took the datapad out of Jai's hand and looked at the series of thumbnails on a holosite, seeing more images of him and Sabine kissing than any of his teenage dreams could've put together.

 "You and Sabine are already trending," Jai said.

 "Really?" Ezra asked. As upset and somewhat mortified as he was, he was also, at least a little bit, delighted to be associated so closely with Sabine.

 "And besides," Jai said, "we're already seeing an exponential increase in views today because of you guys' special moment— how's that for sticking it to the Empire?"

 "They're not watching the part where were talking about sticking it to the Empire," Ezra said, glaring at Jai before turning back to the datapad and reading off one of the video titles, "they're watching 'star crossed rebellion heroes share a passionate kiss on live broadcast, not clickbait.'"

 "Close enough," Jai said, taking his datapad back, "either way, nothing we can do about it now, sorry."

 "That's alright," Ezra said, "but do yourself a favor."

 "What's that?" Jai asked.

 "All that information you just told me? Don't tell Sabine."

 That warning had been more than fair and less than deserved, and there was admittedly a small part of Ezra that almost wished his friend wouldn't heed it. As he walked away from the booth, he couldn't help but relish the idea of Jai sharing all that data with someone involved who fundamentally leaned much more towards violence than him.

🧡.📱.💜

 It wasn't that Ezra had forgotten to silence his commlink. It was more that most of the people who communicated with him were either at the festivities, knew he would be at the festivities, or only had his contact signal for emergencies.

 Unfortunately, one person fit into none of the above categories.

 "This better be important," Ezra said, as he stepped aside to answer his comm.

 "Of utmost importance," the weequay pirate on the comm responded, "I just wanted to give my deepest congratulations."

 "For rescuing Lothal?" Ezra asked, "Hondo, you were there for that."

 "Not that," Hondo said, "when Melch started to talk about it, I thought it was only a wonderful rumor. How delighted I was to see you and the Mandalorian girl are, as they say, trending!"

 "I don't have time to talk about that," Ezra said, rolling his eyes.

 "Though, of course," Hondo continued, "it's bad business practice to become so popular under your real name, or to broadcast your affections so openly. I admire your audacity, Bridger."

 "Not really my choice," Ezra said. "Listen, I'll talk to you later, okay?" "Oh, but of course," Hondo laughed, "I'm sure you have something much more fascinating you could be doing right now than babble with an old pirate."

 "Thank you."

 "And someone much more fascinating to do so with, if you know what I mean."

 "Hondo!"

 "So long, my boy!" Hondo responded, quickly, before Ezra turned off his comm in frustration.

 So far the score was Friends Who Were Teasing Ezra: 4, and Ezra: uh.

 Well, he couldn't tell if he'd scored anything yet, but he certainly didn't feel like he was winning.

🧡.📱.💜

 Ezra hurriedly shoved his comm into his pocket and slipped out of the alleyway he was in, thankful he'd stepped aside to take Hondo's message rather than listen to it in public view.

 All his annoyance and frustration melted away, though, when he saw Sabine across the way from him, and, even from a distance, noticed the twinkle in her eye. How quickly her presence soothed him and slowed the rapid pace of his mind!

 "Yeah, Sabine doesn't want to talk to me about us," Ezra thought, already making his way through the crowd to her, "but hopefully she still wants to talk to me about other stuff, right?"

 He hoped the best moment of his life hadn't ruined the best friendship of his life.

 "Hey," Sabine said as he approached.

 "I know you don't want to talk about, well, you know," Ezra said, "but, uh, we're still chill to hang out, right?"

 He hoped that didn't sound as desperate as he thought it did.

 "Uh, sure," Sabine said, and though her response sounded cold, her eyes were warm and inviting, and Ezra felt it would be rude and against his own self interest to refuse their call.

 "Good," Ezra said, relief painting a smile across his lips, "because no matter what happens to us, I hope we never stop being friends."

 Sabine only nodded and smiled and said "yeah, me too," but it was enough to stop Ezra's heart, then start it up again, this time beating faster than before.

 There were a million things Ezra could say, but not here, not now, not with everyone in the world watching them.

 No, the words and requests that reigned in his mind would have to find their place later.

 "Glad to see we're still cool," Ezra said, turning away, hoping he could formulate a normal sentence if his gaze wasn't fixed on hers.

 "Yeah," Sabine said.

 The silence between them ended while it could still be called beautiful instead of awkward, and Ezra couldn't help but watch as Sabine walked away, intermingling herself into the crowd.

 A sigh forced itself out of his lungs, followed by half a dozen deep breaths in an attempt to bring his heartbeat back to a normal level.

 "Dude, you've got it so bad for her."

 Ezra turned to see Wedge standing next to him, datapad in hand. "At least, that's what the comments say," Wedge continued.

 "You believe everything you read on the holonet?"

 "Sometimes they've got some truth to them," he said, and began to read off the screen in front of him, "'A major win for swagless cringefail boys everywhere.' 'This was not on my 3273LY bingo card.' 'Didn't know Bridger could pull.'"

 Ezra looked over his shoulder at the screen. "Wedge, that last comment was yours."

 "Come on, let us have this," Wedge said, "rogue squadron's been waiting for something to happen with you guys for cycles now."

 "Why's everyone so interested in me and Sabine anyways?" Ezra asked. "Don't you guys have your own lives to worry about?"

 "Rebellions are built on hope, Ezra," Wedge said, "and if there's hope for you to somehow work your way out of a five cycle friendzone, there's hope for us all."

 "Shows what you know. Until I get a chance to talk things out with Sabine, I'm still in the friendzone." Ezra stopped talking and thought about his words for half a second. "That sounded a lot less pathetic in my head."

 Wedge laughed, as though he thought Ezra's verbal slip-up was an intentional attempt at humor. Ezra laughed along just to keep that illusion alive.

 "Whatever you say, Bridger." Wedge said. "Just do me a favor: If things don't work out with you and Sabine, wait to tell Darklighter until after I've gotten the thirty credits from him."

 Ezra shook his head. "I oughta tell General Dodonna that your squadrons have nothing better to do than place bets on other people's personal lives."

 "Like that's gonna do any good," Wedge said, "Mart's already got him down for seventeen credits too."

 For those keeping score, like Ezra was: Supposed Allies Making A Joke Of Ezra's Personal Life: 7, Ezra: zero.

 Definitely a zero.

🧡.📱.💜

[oftenderweapons]

Sugar and Spice | MYG | Ep.4

A Small Town Swoons story

Pairing: Yoongi x reader (nicknamed Spice)

Wordcount: 3.1k

Rating: 16+

Genre: fluff, friends to lovers, bartender!Yoongi

Synopsis: It’s the local community’s annual apple picking event and Yoongi is eager to spend more time with Spice. The lines inevitably start to blur.

Warnings: None, just mild swearing.

A/N: Unbetaed. I have the power of anxiety on my behalf. Also, this should have come out a lifetime ago, but this autumn I was insanely busy, so here we are, it’s almost Christmas and I’m writing about picking apples in October. Unfortunately episode 5 needs to be postponed because the Christmas special was planned for episode 6. Don’t worry though, I’ll find a way to make it make sense LOL. This time, let me thank myself for not losing it already.

Here is my general masterlist! Enjoy 💜✨

Navi: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7

“So, the new girl…” Marnie started, fixing her lipstick in in the shader mirror of her truck, which Yoongi was currently driving.

“Why don't we discuss you flirting with the priest's brother, uh? I bet that lipstick's all about him,” Yoongi taunted in return, trying to avoid Marnie's intended topic.

“Come on, we're just friendly. I'm old and lonely, which means you should hurry your cute bum with the new girl so I can get some grandchildren before I'm too ugly for family pictures.” Marnie shook her head before she started fixing her cotton candy perm. “She's cute, isn't she?”

Yoongi gave up. “Very.” He knew he could trust Marnie. She knew when to quit with the teasing and just listen to him. “Actually, she's beautiful. Very charming. Not in the conventional way, but still she has something that makes it hard to look away.”

“That's true,” Marnie confirmed. “And she has a strong character. She seems serious. Not one for fooling around.”

Yoongi hummed in confirmation. “Her life has changed a lot in the last few months so she's really looking for some peace.”

Marnie stayed silent for a couple minutes. “And you're the most peaceful person I've ever met, kid.” Marnie exhaled and shrugged. “But I guess I can only watch you fall for her until she makes a move. That is, hoping she's as smart as she seems and she actually makes a move.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes and gripped the steering wheel harder. “We'll see. Can I now please be dismissed from this interrogation?”

“Is she coming today?” Marnie mused distractedly.

“I think she is. Jeongguk said he would pick her up from her office. His studio is closer and we would have to detour.” Yoongi did feel a bit disappointed. He was somehow eager to spend a full day with you, but it wasn't the case. You would arrive later in the afternoon since you were still getting used to the new office and tasks. There were codes, agreements and long term partnerships that required special treatments, and special etiquette.

And of course there would be no way for you to learn that during your working hours, which were already busy by themselves.

And it was a shame since you were genuinely excited about apple picking. Life in the countryside was turning out to be way more fascinating and active than you had expected it to be. There was always a fair, a party, a community dinner, a celebration of sorts. And this weekend was all about apples. Yoongi had told you about the people gathering to help with the public orchard, founded by the town hall a few years before so that the youth could learn about the agricultural traditions of the previous generations. The orchard often hosted school visits, but also small conferences that gathered experts from all around the state.

In the city you had grown up in, a town orchard had never been an option. The council couldn't care less, and the people would never work for free.

Still, the more time you spent reviewing your clients' files, the more you craved to smell the sunshine and damp leaves of the late October day, to feel the crisp crunch of apples against your teeth.

You read and studied and waited. And waited some more. Coffee.

Water.

Stretching your neck.

More reading. A curious file that dated back to 1967, when a farm first started it's business. Now it was a wedding location, with a cottage, expert catering, a chef and several rooms for guests. Apparently the owners wanted to start a pet therapy centre with donkeys, which you found interesting and endearing at the same time.

You got lost in comparing how their financial situation had evolved. The papers were insanely thorough, offering you useful insights on the microeconomy of your small town through the years.

“You found the Gareths. Nice file,” Rita, your supervisor noticed.

“You could write a book with this! It's so accurate and thorough and interesting!” Your enthusiasm didn't stop. “Has anyone ever considered making this a case study? Anyone ever shown interest in this?”

“The Gareths are just one of the many businesses with files like that. There are many more with similar stories: family businesses that have been running for generations, their accounts administered by our office for decades. Still, the Gareths are quite extraordinary. The women of the family are excellent administrators by themselves and they've always been allowed — or rather, educated — to take care of money and organisation.”

Suddenly, your job felt interesting again. You would become part of decades of tradition. You would become part of the history of families like the Gareths. You would be able to access more than sixty years of incomes and outcomes, watch the inner workings of a small economy, but also verify the impacts of macroeconomy on such a small environment. You could write a dissertation on it. A dissertation…

“But before I introduce you to the notebooks, I think you should meet these people in real life. And we'd better reach the orchard or we'll find no lunch.”

You arched your eyebrows. “You mean it's lunch time already?”

Rita smiled and nodded. “It is, darling. We'd better go.”

As a further exhortation, you heard a clacson from the street and, after peeking from the window, you recognised Jeongguk's old Toyota — or rather, you recognised the tedious sticker on the bonnet, a large carrot the guys had placed there when they had paid for the car repairs as a birthday gift. He hated it, but he refused to remove it. It was too sweet a memory.

“That's my chaperone! Do you need a lift?” you asked the woman.

She shook her head. “I'm going home to my husband and then we'll get there. I'll see you at the fair, then?”

You grinned. “See you there!”

You rushed out and jumped happily in Jeongguk’s car. “Hello there!”

“Hey!” he replied with a cute grin. “Ready to go?”

Bibby, sitting in the backseat behind a grate, replied instead, barking enthusiastically.

“I agree,” you stated gleefully.

Jeongguk blushed and started the car.

The drive was quick. In five minutes he pas parking the car in a large field, along with the other cars. And right before you stretched the orchard. It was beautiful.

The leaves of the trees signaling the entry were turning orange in the late October day. Halloween was just a week away and you could only imagine what the local community would arrange for that, especially with the children being such a central part of any festivity.

“Okay, Bibby, you can sniff but be polite. No jumping at strangers. Roll on your belly and be a good doggo.” Jeongguk seemed slightly worried at his dog.

You turned to him and looked at the two with a funny expression.

The owner seemed to shrink. “He tends to intimidate people into cuddling him.”

You chuckled and fixed your jacket around you. It wasn’t too cold, the sun made it more comfortable. You just wanted to lay there, like a lizard.

“We have a place we usually take, this way.” Jeongguk walked ahead of you, a large basket holding a blanket and a couple bottles — as far as you could see.

The orchard was a human-sized anthill: people were restlessly moving stairs, climbing them, then climbing trees, collecting apples into large baskets hanging from their necks or shoulders.

“I know, it feels chaotic.”

You marvelled at your own response. “No, it’s beautiful.” It looked somewhat poetic.

Jeongguk snickered. “You’ll change your mind in a couple years. This way.” He led you down a line of trees which seemed less busy. “They already harvested here,” he explained.

After a few minutes, you noticed a set of blankets laying on the ground. Marnie was sitting on a small chair by a camping stove, a guy and a girl sitting there beside her.

“Seokjin and Buttercup! They made it, thank goodness!” Jeongguk murmured before waving at them with his basket-arm, making it dangle from his hand.

He rushed a little, and you waved too as you finally reached close enough to recognise the young woman from the bakery.

“Spice, these are Jin and Buttercup. They have a café near town.” Jeongguk put down his basket and bent to kiss Marnie on the cheek. “Hello, dearest.”

The woman giggled at Jeongguk’s nickname. “Hi, darling. Glad you brought our favourite newbie to this. I thought Yoongi would forget.”

“He asked me to go pick her up last week. He wanted to drive her himself, but you know he’s always here helping.” Jeongguk shrugged.

Bibby was trying to reach Seokjin, sniffing the air for whatever was cooking on the stove.

“Let me take him,” you told him while he set down the basket, frowning as the dog tugged.

He was reluctant, but he passed you the leash anyways. Unexpectedly, you managed to control Bibby by making him sit by Seokjin’s blanket, and while Buttercup petted the overgrown puppy, you introduced yourself to the baker and his…

Girlfriend?

You were almost asking them when Yoongi and Namjoon showed up, both in lumberjack attire — large flannels, beanies, kaki cargo trousers. “Hey! You’re here!”

“Just arrived. Wow, I’m happy to see you too, mate!” Jeongguk intervened, just slightly petty.

You snickered. “Marnie, do you need help?”

“Our special risotto is almost ready. We just need the dishes,” she reassured you, Seokjin immediately passing her a pile of them. “Sit down, darling. We’ve got this. You’re our guest. Yoongi, serve some cider, will you?”

In a couple minutes, Taehyung and Hoseok also arrived. “Jimin’s always last,” Seokjin complained, the dishes already set, fuming rice nicely served on each.

“You’re always complaining,” said a giggly voice from behind you. And there was the angel face with poisonous remarks. “Hello everyone.. Oh! Spice, right?”

You nodded, still a bit taken aback by how radiant Jimin looked. He was wearing a pale pink knitted sweater with deep red roses embroidered on the front. He had a flower crown on his head.

He looked ethereal.

“Hello, Jimin!” You replied politely, right before you were interrupted by Yoongi’s ‘Can we eat now?’

Lunch was immediately served. Everyone was chatting along, Marnie still comfortably sat on her chair while everyone was comfortable on the ground. Even Bibby was unexpectedly well-behaved, her leash latched onto Jeongguk’s ankle while the dog sat beside him, occasionally receiving treats as a reward for not smashing his face into anyone’s food.

Jimin was sitting at Marnie’s feet, his head leaning on her knee. “Thank you for the food,” he cooed once his dish was clean.

The woman patted his hair. “You’re welcome, angel.”

Everyone was chatting after lunch, the dishes collected by Seokjin, who passed them to Taehyung. “I can help wash once we get back,” he added before drinking some more apple cider.

“Don’t worry. I’ll wash.”

You heard Yoongi yawn loudly at your side.

Hoseok cackled. “Nap time for kitty!” he announced as you tutted, frowning at his boisterous attitude.

“Did you rest last night?” you asked him, a sliver of worry in your voice.

“Just finished late and started early this morning.” He yawned again. “Cider is kicking in.”

“Do you wanna lay down?” you offered. “You can lay your head on my legs.”

His head snapped towards you. “Are you sure?”

“Not before cake!” Seokjin quickly and loudly objected. He managed to distract a couple people — like Namjoon, Jeongguk, Hoseok and Taehyung. Buttercup and Marnie too.

But Jimin and himself did not get distracted. They were still staring at Yoongi, at how much his face seemed sad at his nap being postponed — at his time with you being delayed.

Still, he managed to eat his apple tart by your side, finding fickle reasons to get closer, to touch your hand, to lean into you, inch by inch, until Jimin read the cue.

“Guys, why don’t we take a walk? Bibby could use one, right?”

Seokjin made eye contact with Jimin. “Sure. Buttercup?”

The woman acted confused. “Of course,” she said with a questioning tone.

Namjoon was also easily convinced. Taehyung was persuaded by his best friend. Marnie decided to join her church friends while Hoseok was bribed with apple tarts and more cider.

Finally, you and Yoongi were alone. And as soon as you were, you heard him murmur tenderly. “Can I rest my head on your shoulder?”

You smiled and stretched your arm behind his back, cupping the side of his head and pulling it toward you.

He caved in and closed his eyes.

“You can rest. I can tell you’re more tired than usual.” You massaged his scalp. You felt him relax entirely. He noticed you were shivering. He opened his eyes just to make sure he wasn’t allucinating. He touched your ear. It was freezing. “It was a long day. I slept little and bad last night. I wish I had stayed in bed this morning.” As he spoke, he removed his beanie and slipped it onto your head.

You hummed at the warmth and softness, pouting a little as you thanked him.

He smiled ear to ear before he realised he was too fatigued and, unhappily, he laid down. He wanted to keep touching you, but he didn’t have to sulk for too long. Before he could notice, your hand was pushing away a wild lock of hair from his forehead.

It felt like you were asking for permission — permission to what, he didn’t know.

He didn’t seem to flinch or avoid you, so you kept toying with his hair.

“Wanna talk about it?” You said, worry growing within you.

He shook his head, eyes still closed. “I’d rather talk about your job.”

You chuckled but complied. “Well, this morning I found something incredibly interesting. There are files from the Sixties at the office. They were filled with details about the local economy until today. I was amused. I had never seen something quite like that. But good god, it made me feel like my job isn’t always all that boring.”

Yoongi hummed in interest, pillowing his head with an arm as he rolled onto his side to rest more comfortably. “That’s good news,” he murmured sleepily.

You wondered whether voicing your thoughts out loud would make your intentions fade away. You knew Yoongi would understand. He would also help you reason. “It made me want to complete my other degree.”

Yoongi’s eyes opened. “You have another degree?”

You shook your head. “No, I don’t. I never finished it.”

He sat up. “Why didn’t you finish it?” He was considerably less tired now that curiosity had stung him. “In what?”

“Economic history. It’s pretty useless except for teaching.” You shrugged and smiled. “I quit because it had become a burden.”

“How much were you missing?”

You stared at the tartan blanket below you. “Dissertation.”

“What!” he hissed. “Spice, what the fuck, you were almost there!?” He grabbed your face, but he stopped himself right in time. “Sorry! Sorry! That was not appropriate. Your choice to make, not mine. You made a decision and I’m proud of you. I’m sure it was no easy choice.”

You inhaled, exhaled. “Not easy, at all.”

Yoongi found your hand. Covered it with his. “If there’s any advice I can give you is to take your time to think about it. Put your safety first and prioritise your mental health.”

You nodded. “I would have to go back to the city.” You laid down. Did you even want to? Go back to the city, that is….

Yoongi felt his gut twist a little. Losing you. That would mean losing you. “Well, that’s something to take into consideration, isn’t it?”

You stared into the blue sky ahead of you. Suddenly it meant more than any sky you’d seen from your parent’s sleek loft, where you’d been raised. “I’m not ready to discuss this yet. I think it’s just an idea that popped up while seeing the archive. As soon as I remember how toxic the academic environment is, I will change my mind for sure.”

Yoongi stared at you from his seated position. “Don’t rush through it. Maybe give it a try someplace else.”

You shook your head. It was all too fresh to mull over it. You decided to change the topic before doubt could further possess you.

“So, is this how it feels to live in a small town?” You asked, stretching your legs out the flannel blanket. Sunlight came in through the yellow leaves of the apple trees. “I think so. Sometimes it feels like time doesn’t really exist. Until you don’t have any left and suddenly your friends are getting married and having children and all you have is a useless piece of paper stating that you’re a doctor.” He said. He stared into the distance. He could hear children screaming in the background. The youngest generation had some of its most delicate memories in the orchard. Learning how to pick apples, sure, but also how to climb trees, how to ride their bike, possibly, also how to kiss.

“But it’s okay. It’s lovely, at times like this.” He added, looking at the sky.

“Marriage and kids are overrated.” You said, rolling on your side.

He looked at you, your eyes closed, your hair coming out of his beanie, currently covering your head. He exhaled in relief. He was glad he had found you, and he wished he could find the words to tell you, but he could only stare at you.

You had a beauty he had never known. Or that maybe he had seen in his mother. That rough, tough beauty that looks dangerous from afar. Delicate from up close. You weren’t gracious. You weren’t cobwebs and golden hair and clouds. You were the ground, the trees, the stone. You were the mountains capped in ice, beautiful and so endangered. Still, so steady. You were the forest, eternal. Nothing could marr you. No man, no humanly disgrace. You would weather and transform, like nature does. Maybe he was idealising you, maybe he was giving you all those traits he had always wished in a woman.

Meanwhile, you could feel his gaze piercing through you. “Stop staring at me. Lay down. Enjoy your seconds before you turn into a fifty-something lonesome worm,” you teased.

He laid.

Your hand found his. “I’ll tell you how a small town feels like, based on the opinion of a girl from a big city.”

He breathed out  a laugh.

“It’s comfort. Like when it rains outside but you’re in your bed and you’re warm and you don’t have to get up. You can simply lay.”

He rolled onto his side, staring at your eyelashes. If I blink, will she disappear?

He could only hope once the spell would break, it didn’t hurt too bad.

Taglist is open!

Navi: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7

[cocobeanncteez]

ATEEZ Wooyoung- School President (Oneshot)

Genre: light angst, suggestive/steamy, high school au.

Pairing: SchoolPresident!Wooyoung x badgirl!reader

Warnings: none.

"Miss L/N, detention after school till 4 p.m." your chemistry teacher said, making you mentally groan. It was the last class of the day and you were dying to go home, but now you had to stay for an extra hour. All your classmates turned to look at you, but they weren't surprised. "You still haven't submitted the assignment."

"Can I just submit it tomorrow?" you asked in a bored tone.

"No, you were supposed to submit it a week ago," she said, gathering her stuff to leave the class. "Detention with Mrs. Hwang today." You heard people around you snicker. Well, fuck. Mrs. Hwang was the strictest teacher in school. Even you were scared of her despite your badass attitude.

You got up from your seat, leaving the classroom with an annoyed expression on your face.

"Detention again, Y/N?" your bestfriend asked as she made her way to you with your other friends.

You rolled your eyes. "Ms. Jang will never fucking let me live in peace. I'll see you guys tomorrow," you said, making your way to detention.

You were surprised to find the room empty. Usually, there would always be about three or five students. Since no one was here, you decided to ditch; you would skip school the next day so that your teachers will forget about it. You turned around to leave, but ended up bumping into someone, slightly startling yourself.

"What are you doing here?" you asked, raising an eyebrow at your school president and heartthrob—also called 'senior's eye candy' at your school—Jung Wooyoung.

You had to admit, he was certainly the most handsome guy you've ever seen. Jung Wooyoung was absolutely perfect. Every girl wanted him and every guy wanted to be him. You were sure half your school tried to hit on him despite the fact that he has a girlfriend.

"Unfortunately, I'm here to make sure that you won't escape detention as Mrs. Hwang is busy, so take a seat," he said, moving around you to sit on a chair and taking a notebook out of his bag.

You always found Jung Wooyoung very interesting. Other guys like him—the nerdy ones—can't even talk to you, let alone look you in the eye. Jung Wooyoung was the complete opposite.

You sat on one of the chairs, immediately taking your phone out.

"You can't use your phone here," Wooyoung said, not looking up at you from his notebook. "Why don't you complete your assignment?"

You scoffed. "And if I don't? What are you gonna do about it?"

"Nothing," he said, looking at you. "It's not affecting me in any way, so I don't care. However, Ms. Jang is gonna fail you again if you don't submit your assignment."

You knew he was right. And that annoyed you; you really just wanted to shut his pretty mouth up.

"Whatever," you mumbled, taking out a notebook and the assignment sheet to start working on the reactions you had to write.

However, you were completely blank. You didn't know or understand a word given on the sheet. You bit your lip as you stared at the sheet, wondering what to do.

Finally, you took out your phone and googled all the reactions, easily finishing the assignment in less than half an hour.

"You know, you won't be able to copy during finals," Wooyoung said, closing his notebook. "Even if you're copying now, at least learn what you've copied."

"I didn't ask for your comments," you retort. He was about to say something, but his phone rang.

"Hey, baby," he answered. " . . . I'm in charge of detention today . . . Oh, that's okay," his face fell slightly. " . . . No, it's alright. We can go some other day . . . Hmm, I love you too. Bye!"

You snorted, feeling bad for the boy. You were surprised someone as smart as him hasn't figured out that his girlfriend has been cheating on him. You've seen his girlfriend shoving her tongue down random people in the club, and hitting on people at your school. You remembered how shocked you were when you first found out that she was cheating on him; because why would anyone cheat on someone as perfect as Jung Wooyoung?

"You can leave now," Wooyoung said, getting up from his seat. "Detention is over." You nodded, leaving as fast as you can, just wanting to go home and sleep.

"Your grades aren't very bad, but they aren't great either, Y/N," your class teacher said. "You'll get into an average college with these grades. But I know you can do much better. So I've asked one of the prefects to tutor you in Chemistry and Physics."

You groaned. "Can I do it by myself?"

"You wouldn't do it by yourself," she said. "Anyway, Jung Wooyoung will be tutoring you. Discuss and decide your timings with him. I expect you to score well on the next exam. I do not want to see you fail in any subject again." Before you could say anything, the door to the staff room opened, revealing none other than Jung Wooyoung. "Ah, Wooyoung, I just told Y/N that you will be tutoring her," she said. "I'm expecting you to do a great job."

Wooyoung smiled. "I won't let you down, Mrs. Park. But Y/N must put in efforts or else there's no point," he stated in a polite tone, and you rolled your eyes.

"Yes, that's true," she turned to look at you. "I'm expecting nothing but your best efforts, Y/N." She's always expecting something, huh, you thought. You only smiled, bowing politely.

"I'll do my best."

-

"What the actual fuck is this?" you mumbled, staring at the lengthy derivation written in Wooyoung's notebook. He rolled his eyes, so tired of hearing you say that to literally everything you saw written in his notebook.

"Ah, why did they have to make me tutor you of all people?" he whined. "You clearly haven't paid attention in class for even half a second."

"No one told you to accept it," you said, ignoring his last comment.

"I had to," he scoffed, stretching his arms out, making you glance at the veins on his arms. "Extra credits, you know?"

"Nerd," you muttered under your breath. He heard you, but didn't say anything. He began teaching you how to derive it; you paid attention for the first few seconds before zoning out. When you zoned back in, he asked you to explain what he just explained. You bit your lip, thinking of what to say.

He sighed. "You didn't pay attention again."

"I zoned out, sorry."

"That's what you said for the previous derivation," he said, a disappointed look on his face while he packed up his things.

"You're leaving already?" you asked, glancing at the time on your phone; you still had twenty minutes left.

"I'm not going to waste my time teaching you right now," he said. "You clearly aren't in the mood to focus." You only scoffed, watching him leave the library. You bit your lip, feeling kinda bad for not paying attention when he was making an effort to teach you.

The look of disappointment he showed you had somehow made you determined to prove that you could focus and do better.

You were at Wooyoung's house, sitting on his bed and scrolling through your social media while waiting for him to finish changing out of his uniform. You spent an entire two weeks studying your ass off, and you were proud you made a big improvement, thanks to Wooyoung. He was quite surprised that you were actually making an effort to understand whatever he taught you. You both even became friends, and you were quite happy about that.

"I'm done," he said, coming out of his bathroom, making you look up from your phone. You held your breath at the sight of Wooyoung dressed in grey sweatpants and a black tank top. You couldn't stop yourself from checking him out: the veins running down his muscled arms, his exposed collarbones, his sharp jawline, his plump lips . . .

You were so immersed into checking him out, you didn't realize he was doing the same to you. He loved how your uniform skirt rid up your thighs, and how another two buttons on your shirt were unbuttoned, exposing a little bit of your cleavage. Before you knew it, he was slowly making his way towards you, eyes now locked with yours.

"Let's start, hmm?" he said with a smirk; he knew you were checking him out.

You clear your throat a little. "Yeah, let's start."

You spent the next half an hour trying to pay attention to whatever Wooyoung was teaching you. It didn't help that he absentmindedly placed his hand on your knee, or brushed your hand with his; he knew exactly what he was doing to you. Your mind kept wandering to the things you want him to do to you right now on his bed.

" . . . and now you should tell me," he leaned a little close to you with a smirk, making your heartbeat speed up. "Which formula should be used?"

"Fuck this," you muttered, pushing the books aside before straddling Wooyoung's lap.

"Took you long enough," he chuckled, and you crashed your lips on his. He instantly kissed you back, hands moving to grip your waist. You wouldn't admit it to anyone, but you have been dreaming about kissing Wooyoung the second he talked back to you a year ago.

You pulled away to litter his neck in kisses, sucking the skin gently. He groaned softly, making you smirk. "Fan of neck kisses?"

"You have no idea," he said, hands moving underneath your skirt to grip your bare inner thighs. He gave it a squeeze, making you involuntarily grind down on him. He moaned at the feeling, encouraging you to do it again. You moved your lips back to his, grinding on him even more. Wooyoung's hands slipped into your panties, grabbing your ass to help you grind down on him faster. The friction made you moan, craving for more. You tugged on his shirt, breaking the kiss to let him pull it off. You ran your hand down his toned torso in awe, loving the feeling of his abs beneath your fingertips. Your eyes widened at the tattoo above his hip bone. "You have a tattoo?!"

Wooyoung gripped your hips, moving you off of him so that he could hover over you. "Mhmm, bet you never expected the nerdy school president to have a tattoo, huh?" Your hands moved to his hair, playing it with while he began to kiss your neck, driving you crazy.

Wooyoung kissed down your chest till where your shirt was unbuttoned. He glanced up at you, fingers toying with the buttons. "Can I?" he asked. You nodded, letting him unbutton your shirt and slip it off you. You sucked in a breath when he ran his fingers over the lacy material of your bra.

"Take it off," you whined, making him chuckle.

"Patience, baby," he said, one hand gently rubbing your thigh.

But you really didn't have any patience right now.

You brought his lips to yours while you moved his hand to touch you where you desperately needed him, surprising him a little. He kissed you back hungrily while his finger moved on your clothed clit, applying pressure, making you get wetter. Your moans made him smirk; he loved how he was the reason behind it.

You both got startled at the sudden sound of his garage opening. He halted his movements, pulling away from you instantly.

"One of my parents is back from work," he said, quickly putting on his tank top and handing you your uniform shirt. You quickly buttoned it and straightened out your hair; you really did not want Wooyoung's strict parents to suspect anything since they already did not like the idea of him tutoring you in his final year of high school.

Wooyoung's father knocked on his bedroom door before opening it, finding you and Wooyoung busy writing equations.

"Oh, hey, dad! How was work?" Wooyoung asked with a sweet, innocent smile like as if he wasn't smirking a few minutes ago while touching you.

"Hello, Mr. Jung," you said politely.

"Hello, Y/N," he said. "Work was all right, as usual. How is your tutoring session going?"

"Good, dad," Wooyoung said, trying to control himself from smirking. "It's going really great."

[ryhyunie]

7 Last Day

Characters : no name mentioned

Genre : romance-fluff-lil angst

Word count : 1.8k

Now playing - Seamin Tak Seiman by. Petrus Mahendra

25 December

I wake up on your bed, facing the white snow outside the window. Today was 2 degree celsius, ​​it's a cold that pierces to the deepest part of your skin until it finally reaches your bones. But I'm not shivering. A pair of arms and a heavy breath on my nape brings me to a warmth that makes anyone reluctant to get out of bed

“You need to wake up and get dressed, baby. we can't be late.” I let out a heavy sigh when the men behind me pulled the blanket and covered us completely, instead. We both realized something was missing, wait, where’s the good morning?

Are we trying to get used to without saying good morning?

Oh no, it can't be like this, we can't, i can't. “I know it's perfect to have a dream under the snowy sky, but good morning sir, and get ready to face the world.”

He let out a little chuckle, “I will go to church first, you can go directly to mom's house.”

The moment I felt his movement rising from the bed, emptiness enveloped my body in the blink of an eye. “Uh, N-no! I’ll drive you, and wait.” I stood up and showed the purest smile I could, “It’s okay, I'm fine.” I raised both my hands to prevent him from speaking, that was the dot at the end of my sentence, then it's a final.

He walked closer to me and gave a small kiss on my forehead as an agreement.

If you enjoy it, time will run very fast. Nevertheless when you hate it and hope time will stop then it will forget itself and pass faster.Because in addition to healing, time can also give you a very deep wound.

Hour after hour passed, the sun did not seem to stay long in the sky, the dark was gripping the night coming so fast. The sparkling lights flashed as if they wanted to match the moon and stars, competing to give light. We sat across from each other, with a candle burning in the middle.

Vanilla and chocolate scents danced around us, ensuring that every inch of the room felt the sweetness of the two people staring at each other.

"So we've come to the final weeks." He finally spoke, breaking the silence between us.

“Please just, enjoy the meal.” Unfortunately, I prefer silence.

“Are you tired?” He was talkative, and I used to love it.

I put down my spoon and fork, losing my appetite for what looked so delicious. I looked at his face, stabbed right into his eyeballs, “What do you mean?”

“We’re already running away for 4 years and it's all going well, then why don't we continue like that?" He raises his voice unconsciously.

I look at him with disbelief, “Do you want to run for the rest of your life? We agree to not discuss it ever again, and do you want to close the book with a fight?”

He shook his head slowly, "I don't even want to close this book."

26 December

“Good morning.” He dropped his head on my shoulder. His head must still feel dizzy from the alcohol last night.

“Good morning, I made coffee and soup. Wait for me in the dining room”.

After finishing my business in the kitchen, I walked towards the dining room and prepared the dishes on the table. “So how's your plan for today?”

I inhaled the strong aroma of coffee, trying to find some peace in between. “Nothing. Wanna bingo watch?”

He smiled and nodded in excitement.

We both were homebuddy, we spent our time at home a lot. Cooking, watching, dancing, singing, gaming, or anything. We just loved to do anything, together.

27 December

“Im bored.” He says while cuddling around on me.

“Wanna go out? We can ice skate.” I keep scrolling my instagram, and smiling when he suddenly jumps and gives a peck on my cheeks.

“Perfect, I’ll make breakfast.” He ran towards the kitchen and I couldn't hold myself for giggling and taking a video of his extra-super-cute action.

I feel a little uncomfortable when that big baby squirms in my arms. “Uh what are you doing?” He completely drowned in his winter jacket, and snuggled around me, and he even wore a red scarf with a strawberry pattern. I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS BABY, IS HE TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE WANNA KIDNAP HIM?

“Babe it's cold outside~ let's just go back and cuddle and eat ramen together.”

28 December

“Princess,” His voice calling you was so soft, echoing on your head perfectly.

“Yes?” I left my book on the nightstand and watched him come out from the bathroom.

He took a spot next to me, put his head on my lap while his pretty fingers danced on my jawline. “I should have bought you flowers more often, taken you to either a romantic dinner or hunting street food that always makes your eyes shine, kissing you long and lovely every night, not spending every single day without saying i love you.”

I held my breath as strongly as I held my tears. How can it feel so painful but so sweet at the same time? I think I lost my mind. But it's okay, it's 100% better than I lost you.

Oh my darling, you are so perfect that sometimes I ask myself, how do I deserve someone like you? Instead of asking you that question to make your heart flutter, I'd rather improve myself to be that someone you deserve.

“Baby,” I felt his hand reach for mine and held it gently. I'm still in my position, and didn't dare to make a single move.

“We’re okay, right?” My voice above a whisper, in a dreamy silent night.

“Of course. We’re strong, our love is strong. Everything is gonna be okay.” He is smiling, and I always love the crescent moon in his eyes.

He isn't just trying to calm me

He is trying to calm himself too.

But human feelings are so fragile, that it already broke with just a glance.

29 December

I saw a beautiful and affectionate smile crossing his lips after he put the vinyl record. He greeted me with a usual good morning before he made his way to me and helped me stand up.

My heart unstoppably started to beat wildly as he leaned closer to me. We stood in the middle of his room, our feet were only an inch away from facing each other. His left hand gently took my right hand and his right found its way to my waist.

It was like slow motion and I could feel the world stop rotating. I'm about to open my mouth but came out with nothing because he started to guide us to move.

Every beat, every melody, every lyric, uh i can't process anything in my brain. It was already full of his name. We stopped at the last verse, my hands trailing to his face. Drawing an outline of every detail, instilled in myself to memorize every curve and moles he had.

He made a gesture on his mouth, saying ‘I love you’ without any noise. My love, I know by my heart how lovely your husky voices when you say those magic words. So without replying to any words, I took action. Caressing your cheeks and slightly pulling your hair so I could kiss you depper.

30 December

He woke up in surprise when he saw I sat on the couch immersed in the photo album. We loved to take a polaroid photo, we don’t know but it just feels more precious than the photo on our phone. I was cleaning and started packing my stuff so that i didn’t bother him more. But I immediately stopped when I found this album photo. I could help but drown in every memory we've been through.

“Good morning pretty darling.” he said while came and sat beside me, dropping his head on my shoulder and touching some photos from there. “This is your favourite sushi bar, and this is when we came to my mom's house.” He paused a bit, before his hand touched another photo “This is when I took you for our first date. Four years ago? Wow this polaroid had a good part for protecting our memories.”

“I told you.” I shifted his head and stood up slowly, took the camera that was located in the glass cabinet, “Let's take some photos.”

31 December

The last day of the year closed with a terrible snowstorm. Everyone will feel comfortable in their respective homes, but in our house even the heating doesn't seem to work. The cold air outside is not as cold as the room we live in. Here we are, facing each other in the silence of a room that is usually full of warmth.

some of the things that mostly belonged to me had disappeared, starting to return to being quiet like the first time I stepped in his apartment. But there is something quieter than this room. if you look deeper, the only living thing among these inanimate objects is the one who actually lost his life

We fell in love slowly, with every day as a melody who guided our steps to get to this point. This is it. The last page of our book. Not that we have finished the whole story, but we have completed our part as the main character. Because after this, the main characters are no longer us, but me, or you. We are the main characters in our respective stories.

This long journey must come to an end. Not because we are tired of continuing, but because we are brave enough to deal with the situation. No more running, no more hiding.

“This is it.” He looked around. No more our picture hanging on the wall, no more my perfume scattered in the room, no more my plate beside his. “Are you tired? Did you feel lamment about these past four years?”

I dare to hold his hands, “Never.” I stopped, preparing myself for what was coming next, “This is not what we want, but this is what we have to face.”

“What if…” He tried to say something but I cut it immediately, “ Stop with that ‘what if’ because it's only to kill ourselves even more. When you confessed to me, you said that we would find the way, so this is it. The way that we are looking for.”

I’m still and will always love you.

[vivisextion]

I first saw Slipknot at age 14.

No one knows how I managed it. I'm not sure I even remember. These days, you have to be 16 or 18 to get into Standing areas. I do know I had to buy tickets on the phone, back in the old days (2005, that is). A singular ticket, too - none of my friends, not even the classmate who had gone with me to see Linkin Park the year before, was that into Slipknot.

But I HAD to see them. This was the Subliminal Verses tour cycle, and Vol. 3 was my first and favourite Slipknot album, even to this day. It's the reliable old warm blanket for my soul whenever I need it. It's on right now, as I write this.

My memory isn't that good, but luckily I unearthed a livejournal (livejournal!) diary entry about the event I made the next day.

August 16, 2005. I went right after school. I went to a very conservative Anglican secondary school, too. I tried not to get caught in the bathroom, as I coloured my nails black with permanent marker (I know, don't laugh) and changed into my standard metalhead baby outfit - Slipknot band shirt, black cargo shorts, and my pride and joy: steel-toe boots I somehow managed to cajole my parents into letting me own.

I caught the bus to the open-air war memorial park where the gig was going to be. I got there at 4pm, 4 hours early. A couple other maggots were already hanging around. I found myself surrounded by tombstones, and I read them all. It was the middle of the Hungry Ghost Festival, too - a very fitting time for Slipknot to pay a visit to this godforsaken hellhole of a small town I lived in. (Especially given the paranormal circumstances surrounding the making of Vol. 3.)

While I wandered around the venue (no security or sound guys were around at all), I spotted two white vans pull up to the stage, in the middle of a clearing. It was them! I spotted Joey and missed him by a hair's breadth. I was quickly ushered behind the stone archway entrance by security then.

(Funnily enough, while walking around, I got mistaken for Joey more than once. I am the same height as him, had the same long black hair, same pale skin, and was wearing almost exactly what he had been. One person claimed from behind, I was a dead ringer, apart from when I turned around, and they realised I was Chinese.)

It was soundcheck time. A sound guy testing the mics would say random things, like "testing one two three two one.... fudge fudge, I like fudge...." The band even did Purity, so us earlybirds were given a rare treat, and we screamed along from the entrance, and drummed our fists on the sides of nearby porta-potties. I hope no one was in there at the time. Whenever we got a glance of any of them, we'd scream and cheer. Finally they left again, but were soon to return.

This was the first time I'd been a part of the metal community. I was barely allowed internet in those days. But here, random strangers were friendly, striking up conversations like they'd been friends for years. Two big guys, called Trevor and Ted, looked out for me the entire gig after, keeping other big dudes from crushing me too much (I'm 5'3, remember). Other people commented on me being so baby, because I was only 14, and said they would take care of me.

When we were finally let in, right after the usher cut the rope, I ran in, screamed "WOOOHOOO!" along with a few friends I'd made. I only briefly stopped to receive this RoadRunner Records compilation CD from a roadie, then resumed running like a madman screaming and dashing into the VIP cage.

I was right up against the barricade - the first time I would ever be at a gig. People from assorted magazines and press took photos of us, and I think I got my photo taken about 10 times at least.

(This is how I got in trouble with my parents the next day. My photo had ended up in a local paper - you can see examples of that here. They had no idea what I'd been to see the night before, and were horrified when they saw what Slipknot looked like.)

We saw Sid filming us from the stage with a camcorder and screamed at him. We saw Jim and screamed at him too, and he flashed the victory sign back at us. I remember Metallica playing at the time, another one of my favourite bands.

The concert was a brutal religious experience I will never forget. People with their arms outstretched, crying and screaming out loud, moving like the devil possessed them.

The new friends around me made sure I was alright after every song! There were huge guys fainting behind us who had to get carried out, but I endured, a tiny 14 year old child. We got a family speech as per tradition, of course. "Are you guys out there all looking out for each other? We're all one big family, and we gotta look out for each other." What Corey said held true - strangers hugged, shook hands, talked, and made friends. I was heartened by how close-knit the maggot community was. It really did feel like a family, and it's felt like that ever since.

Of course, I did my first Jump The Fuck Up. It is possibly the most euphoria I've ever experienced all at one go. (Later, in 2020, I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get to do it again in London.)

They did the death masks for Vermilion, and I remember Chris helping Sid fix his mask and shirt when they'd changed back. Sid hung out near Clown's drums for most of the time too, and hugged him from behind and just latched on at one point. It was pretty adorable.

Fun fact: The version of Eyeless you hear on the 9.0 Live album is from Singapore, as is Eeyore. There are very few photos and videos from the crowd of this gig, because in 2005, very few people had camera phones. The crowd at the Slipknot gig in 2020 was a sea of arms with phones, filming the gig rather than experiencing it. Yes, I'm going to be that cranky old geezer who complains about the good old days.

Joey as usual, was fucking amazing and never failed. However, due to the fact that I was right up front, only his tiny head was visible behind his vast drum set, I couldn't see him the entire gig.

Amazingly, the government told Slipknot they were not allowed to do obscene gestures, curse, vomit (possibly due to the decomposing crow pre-show ritual), simulate humping on objects, throw faeces, or jump off stage (looking at you, Sid). I don't think our totalitarian government knew who they were dealing with, because watch what happens next.

Near the end of the gig, Corey tells the crowd “your government has given us a laundry list of things we aren’t allowed to do, your government has told us we are not allowed to swear”. Crowd goes “BOOOOOOOOO” and Corey goes “BUT WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK!!” And they launch into Surfacing, the last song. Everyone riots. Best night of my life.

You can find the setlist from that gig here. It had everything I wanted and more.

This story later got immortalised when Kerrang asked maggots for gig stories, for an article which came out in 2020. I had forgotten entirely, until people began messaging me to tell me, and one friend sent me a scan of it!

On the way out, I managed to get a shirt. I remember calling my best friend at the time, and got everyone at the merch booth to go "IF YOU'RE 555 THEN I'M 666" for her. This shirt has since been lost to the landfill, because my Christian mother took it upon herself to dispose of it the first opportunity she got. Needless to say, our relationship is not very good.

After that, I even managed to get that Roadrunner compilation album they were giving out signed. The band was staying at the Carlton. Unfortunately, Joey wasn't there, neither was Clown, and Mick was swarmed by guitar nerds so, 6/9 it is. It is a great regret of mine that I'll never have anything signed by him, nor will I ever get to see him perform ever again.

The next day, I went to school, my head swimming. Yes, I went to see Slipknot ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. I was a giant bruise, from my ribs and my chest, to my hips and knees, from being slammed into the barricade like a screen door in a hurricane. Most of all, my sore, headbanged-out neck could barely hold my head up. Classmates thought I had been in a fight. I was torn between battle-scarred exhaustion and hyperactive ranting about the most amazing gig of my short life (it still is, to this day). When teachers spoke to me, I wanted to reply, "Fuck trigonometry! I've just seen SLIPKNOT. Do you not understand that my world is different? Do you not understand that *I* am now different?"

My country was a small, conservative town that Slipknot had graced with their unholy presence. Corey Taylor once said that where he grew up in Iowa had a way of making a 16 year old boy feel like a 36 year old man (or something to that effect). I felt that in my weary bones as a teenager, being from a place just like that. Years later, Watain would run into worse trouble, and wouldn't even be allowed to perform. The Christian stranglehold is stronger than ever. It was a good thing that back then Slipknot had the element of surprise, striking serpent-fast and choking this society by the neck for a too-brief time, before they departed.

After that, my desire to play the drums only grew like a weed. Joey Jordison had, has, and will always inspire me as a drummer, and seeing the beast live (or what little I could spy behind the massive riser) had only spurred me on. I had always been a noisemaker, be it driving my parents mad with chopsticks on pots and pans, or driving my teachers mad with pencils on my desk. But of course, my parents wouldn't have any of it. I'd have to wait a good 14 more years before I'd be able to afford lessons and later, a kit of my own. Better late than never, right?

There will never be enough words to describe the impact Joey has had on my life. And it isn't just Slipknot, either. I could write another essay on his time with the Murderdolls and its influence on my own gender-non-conforming ways. Suffice to say, my wardrobe doesn't look too dissimilar to his during the early Dead in Hollywood days.

I told my boss I could not come into work today. I was grieving. I said that my music teacher died, as I didn't think she'd understand the magnitude of my loss. In a way, it's true. And I am not the only one Joey has nudged on the path to being a musician, that much is certain. To the rest of us, I wish strength and love for you in this difficult time. The best way to honour Joey, who truly loved music, both the creation and appreciation of it, is to pass that gift on. Teach it to someone. He is the reason I picked up the sticks in the first place, and one day, they'll be handed on, the heavy metal baton for the next generation.

And finally: remember that the ones we have lost are never truly gone.

Vinnie

P.S. See if you can spot me in the crowd photos in this post!

[tillmays]

mind your business

Matty calls for a new mission. They Enter into the war room and see that matty is not there. All exchanges concerned looks and a video call pops on the screen. It's Matty.

Bozer- matty where are you?

Matty- im at the CIA.

Riley-what are you doing there?

Matty- mind your business.

Riley- ok.. *Mac laughs*

Desi- so what did you called us for?

Matty- something surged in Atlanta i need you guys to go and bring back a laptop and a pen drive that was stolen to an agent of the CIA.

Mac- so that's why you're there.

Matty- nope. Go do your job blondie. Riley i will send you the details.

riley- ok 

They are in the jet and started speculating what's the reason matty was in the CIA.

Bozer- I think we're getting a new boss. Which desi replied She not leaving the phoenix. I don't think she would do that.

mac- yeah me neither boz. definitely it's not that but is something.

Riley- or is nothing and yall overreacting.

Atlanta Georgia.

they landed in atlanta and arrived to this fancy hotel. bozer went to make the reservation, as soon as he reached to the receptionist he asked are you Wilt Bozer? bozer answered nervous yes.. and yelled Mac! come here! 

mac- yeah? what's the problem?

bozer- he asked for who am i! he knows my name dude!! 

the receptionist- miss matilda reserved the presidential suite for you, enjoy your stay. *mac laughed grabbed the card key and said thank you and smiled *

they entered the room and were really excited. they got set up everyone picked a section of the suite.

riley-  i think i speak for everyone when i said that this is weird why matty reserved a suit for us?

bozer- i don't know but this is amazing.

desi- i think we are going to have some fun.

bozer-  hell yeaah

mac-  hey riles did matty send you the information yet? 

riley- let me check. * she opened her laptop and and grabbed her phone*  yes she just sent it. *she starts to go thru the files* 

desi- so where we going? 

riley- well whatever you guys were waiting for today's mission... isn't what you expected... 

mac- what you mean? 

Riley- *she turned around looking at them and started to explain the situation* the laptop and the pen drive were destroyed, matty send me the location of the hackers and apparently i have to fight from here i have to get into their system and get the info back without them knowing what i'm doing. 

bozer- but that nothing new for you. 

riley- yeah i know, it's not gonna be that easy, they really have a good system, but not that good. *she smiled and hinted that she could do this* 

boze- wait, so we came all the way to atlanta for this? 

riley - apparently that wasn't the plan, the things we were going to get back got destroyed when we were on our way, they didn't want to leave traces.

desi- but what about the hackers? we left them free? 

riley- matty said that they aren't important, the CIA know who they work for. they just need to get the archives back. 

desi- so we have to wait until you hack them? 

riley- * typing in her laptop* yup das it. 

desi-  i guess we aren't having fun today. 

mac-  definitely no.

its 3:00 pm riley is still working, while bozer is busy ordering room service and watching his favorite movies. desi and mac are on the other side of the room talking.

desi-  do you really think she can do it? i mean it seem that those hackers know what they are doing.

mac- riley is the best hacker i have ever know, she's the best at her work trust me, you have to trust her. 

desi - i get it but what is she don't? 

mac-  you don't know Riley.. she will.

but they didn't know that this mission was especially for Riley. it's 5:15pm and Riley is tired but hasn't stopped since they got there still working without a break. her hands hurt from pressing the keys for hours. then mac approached to her to see how she was doing.

mac- hey how you doing, you almost done?

riley- yeah almost.. this guys are really good, their system is like..

mac- hey come on, stunt these guys, they won't know who hit them. but please can you hurry up bozer want me to read a script he wrote about some aliens.    *she laughed* 

riley- i heard you two back there. she looked at him in the eyes.

mac- *looked at her nervous* hey don't get mad at her it's just shes new to the team.

riley- i don't care about that, but thanks for trusting me. 

mac-  i'm here if you need me.* he looked at her and make one of those mac’s smirks*

Riley-  i got it. 

mac- what really *he got closer to her to see the screen and gave her a little push on the shoulder as he saying you did it* 

Riley- damn it. 

mac- what, what's going on? 

Riley- they found out. i'm sending it to matty. * she send it and deleted it from her laptop* i gave them a fake location so we can gain a little time. 

mac- we have to go they found out. *he said to bozer and desi while he was rushing to the door* 

it's 7:30 they are outside the hotel on their way to the car and the hackers were walking in front of them and bozer started to run and the hackers immediately knew it was them so they started shooting.

bozer- Riley i thought you gave a fake location . *he said yelling and running to the car* 

riley- i did but it was a matter of time to they to found out.* they got in the car while desi and mac were fighting the bad guys* desi left three of them  unconscious and mac trow a the other 2 inside some garbage cans* they got in the car and leaved as fast as they could.

los Angeles.

They are at the phoenix, as soon as they entered the room matty was there waiting for them. she looked really anxious. 

matty- what quite of a mission was that uh? 

mac - hah yeah it was * he said while crossing his arms and looking at Riley, and she looked at him and  raise her eyebrows*

matty- so i didn't know if i should said this to Riley alone but i prefer to said it to all of you instead. 

mac- * looked at everyone in the room and said: its something wrong? *Riley looked scared and anxious but did not showed her emotions she kept herself calm*

bozer- matty what's going on?

matty-  this mission was specially for Riley... Riley the information you recovered was from a mission this agent of the CIA was getting from a undercover job, unfortunately he was removed of the job, we don't know why. 

desi-  but what does that have to do with riley? 

matty- this mission was a test, if you could get the information back you would go undercover to finish the job instead of the other agent.. 

mac and bozer jumped and said at the same time: woow... hold on.

mac- matty are you sure about this?

bozer- yes matty don't they have like a bunch of agents there. desi, bozer and mac just looked at Riley 

riley- stayed in silence. and just nodded. and asked: but why me, why did they choose me?

matty- they want someone with your abilities and this is an important mission, Riley youre ready for this next step and i'm not asking you have to do it, its your job. and the rest of you can leave. 

mac and bozer looked at her angry. desi looked at them calm and then they left  the room and everyone went home except for matty and Riley.

matty- sit down.*Riley sat in the arm of the couch. matty got closer to her*

matty- i know this is a though one. and it was harder for me to accept that this work was for you... Riley you're like a daughter to me, never doubt that you're a very important part on this team, you need to know that this is a next step in your work, IN your life, i believe that you can do this. *riley’s eyes got teary* jack will be proud of you.

Riley- Matty, thank u, and as you said this is my job i have to do it so i will. 

Matty- good, they want you to start tomorrow but i talked to them so they can have you in 2 weeks. *Riley smiled and Matty gave her a hug* and matty continued and gave her the last details.

      ............................................................... 

I hope you liked this one i know is loong and probably not that good but whatever i wanted to write a little about Desi just cause she is a badass woman and i like her:) maybe tomorrow (well it 4:38 am where i am lol ) or today will post the 2 part, if you guys liked this one.

credits to the photos: @smoakgenius​  (the story is more about riley i know but i couldn't  stop looking photos of lucas lol)

[imaginetrahs]

4. Is this a date or what?

Solana

This morning I woke up around nine o'clock and stayed in bed for a while. Oscar wasn't coming until 12:30 and currently it's only 10.

I got out bed with a heavy sigh, and walked to my closet looking for an outfit. I wanted to look good but not like I'm trying too hard. However, I don't want to look like I didn't try. I decided on a cropped thin strapped tank top with ripped jeans and a light flannel shirt. I looked in the mirror and paused thinking about the weather. I checked my phone and it said 85 degrees. I went to change my outfit, but took a picture first. I ended up trying on three different outfits, took pictures of them, and then sent them to the group chat before hopping in the shower.

Real Hot Girl Shit 🤪

Hot Girl Lana

Which one 😭

Read 10:15

Hot Girl Brae

The first one is really cute but so is the third one 😗

Sent 10:18

Hot Girl Ziy

Where are you going 🤔

Sent 10:20

Hot Girl Lana

Out with Oscar 😬

Read 10:50

Hot Girl Brae

Hot Girl Ziy

Hot Girl Brae

Hot Girl Lana

Ok it is not that serious 🙄

Read 10:58

Hot Girl Ziy

Actually it is

Read 11:05

Go with fit 3 bitch

Read 11:05

Hot Girl Lana

Thanks 😊

Read 11:08

I promise to tell y'all everything later

Read 11:10

After punching the air a few times I got dressed and put some mousse on my braids to lay down any flyaways. I didn't do any special makeup just my eyebrows, some lashes and some lip gloss. I walked out of my room to see Jamal sitting at the table eating cereal.

"Where are you going? Did you put sunscreen on because last time you didn't you got burned and then you cried and had me rub aloe all over you and I don't want to do that again." He got up to put his bowl in the sick and crossed his arms across his chest.

"Yes Jamal, damn." I walked around him to the fridge to grab a water.

"Where are you going?" He continued watching me from the counter.

"Out." I sat on the couch and turned the tv on. Reruns of love and hip hop were on so I decided to just watched that until it was time to go.

"Where?" I sighed and threw my head back on the couch.

"What is this? And interrogation?" I tossed the remote on the coffee table in front of me. "You're not my dad! You always tryna hear something."

Jamal gave me a straight face and I couldn't help but bust out laughing. He did this to himself asking all these damn questions.

"Chill out J." I giggled to myself. "I'm a big girl, I can handle myself."

He rolled his eyes and walked down the hall to his room. I stayed on the couch watching tv for the next hour. I was hungry but decided not eat because I'm pretty sure I'll eat with Oscar.

~

12:30 came and went, Oscar still wasn't here. I waited until 1 o'clock to text him, it's only been thirty minutes but Oscar is very punctual it's sickening. I checked my phone again and seen that my message was left on read.

I twisted my face up and locked my phone. I sunk into the couch thinking that maybe he's busy right now and him leaving me on read is his way of telling me he's still coming.

Unfortunately that wasn't the case, I've sat here for another two hours. I laid down on the couch still watching tv, upset. I heard Jamal come out of his room and into the living room.

"I thought you were going out." He came and sat on my back.

"Yeah me too." I groaned out from under him. "Do you wanna go out? Like to eat or something?"

"Really?" His whole face lit up at my question.

"Yeah," I giggled at him, "why wouldn't I be serious?"

He shrugged his shoulders and got up to put his shoes on. I squint my eyes not believing him then got up myself to put my sandals on.

Before leaving I made Jamal take a picture with me for Snapchat. I captioned it with a red heart and posted it. I grabbed my keys from the key hook and left with Jamal behind me. I waited in the car while he locked the front door and pulled out when he got in the passenger seat.

"Where to brother?" I glanced at him but still kept my eyes on the road. Safety first.

"Let's go to the state fair." I stopped at a red light and looked at him surprised.

"Are you sure because last time you told mom and dad you were going to sue them for child endangerment." I laughed and pulled off to get on the freeway.

"I'm a new man now. I'm stronger," he flexed his arms to show his nonexistent muscles, "I'm taller."

"Right." I nodded at him slowly. "We'll see how much of a 'new man' you are when it's time to get on rides."

For the rest of the drive we sung most of the songs that came on Spotify together. Moments like these are my favorite because as we get older we started to drift apart doing our own thing.

About 45 minutes later we parked and hopped out to get to the ticket booth. It was almost 4 o'clock and the park didn't close until 8 so we had some time. For Christmas last year we were gifted membership passes so we didn't have to pay as much and I'm so thankful for our rich family members.

Looking around the park we tried to decide what we wanted to do first. I haven't eaten yet and I was super hungry, like hungry hungry. I looked around for the food truck that I wanted. They served these really, really good buffalo chicken calzones and then I would just get a bucket of fries from another truck and fried Oreos from another. Be honest, who comes to fairs to ride rides because I don't, I come to eat.

Jamal and I sat at one of the free tables and he watched me eat with a disgusted face.

"You know none of that is good for you and with the pace you're eating at, you're bound to choke." He stopped talking abruptly. "I'm not CPR certified." He whispered to himself.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Oh come on J, chill out. It's like I have to constantly tell you this. Enjoy and indulge in this while you can because once we go back to school it's back to eating prison food."

"I'm pretty sure school food is better than prison food." I huffed and stopped eating.

"That's not the point." I wiped my mouth with the napkins I grabbed. "My point is, enjoy yourself. You're too uptight to be only 14, that's not good. It gives you grey hair early."

"Fine." He sighed and went to reach for my food but I moved it out of his reach.

"What are you doing? All of these vendors and food trucks, and you want my food?" I looked at him like he had two heads. "Go get your own, loser."

~

We've been at the fair for almost four hours and we've ate and played more games than we can count. So far we've won a huge unicorn, big enough for me to sit on, a huge pillow pet and just a bunch of small and medium sized stuffed animals. Since we weren't ready to go yet, I put all of the prizes in a storage locker until we left.

"You ready to go yet?" I looked at Jamal and he looked like he was ready to pass out, truth be told me too. We've been walking around for hours, bumping into people and vice versa, quite frankly I'm tired of it.

"Yeah, you?" He looked back at me and I nodded back at him.

"Let's get a funnel cake before we go?" We both stood up and walked to find the booth that sold funnel cakes. Eventually we found it and stood in line waiting for the few people in front of us.

From the corner of my eye I could see Jamal fidgeting like he wanted to say something. I could feel him glancing at me but not saying anything so I thought I should say something first.

"What is it J?" I turned to him a little, it was enough to let him know he had my full attention.

"What — I don't — what?" He stuttered out.

I pursed my lips and rocked on the heels of my feet waiting for him to tell me. "I don't believe you. So just tell me or rather, I don't know, ask me like a normal person."

He took a minute and finally asked me. "Who were you going out with today?"

I stared at him in disbelief, "that's what you wanted to ask me?" I snorted out a laugh. "I thought you were gonna ask for money 'cause you're in trouble or something. Jeez, J."

He huffed and moved up ordering the funnel cakes for us. I had a feeling he already knew the answer so I didn't bother answering it.

"Are you gonna answer me?" He handed me my cake and we started walking to the front of the fair to grab our things and leave.

"No." I led some guys willing to carry all of the prizes to my car. "I'm pretty sure you already know the answer so...you tell me." I put one hand on my hip while the other held the rest of my cake.

Once the guys were done I tipped them and got in the car. We had a long drive back home because of traffic and it's dark out and people don't know how to fucking drive.

"How did that even happen? Why him of all people?"

To be honest I don't even know myself. Yeah I had a crush on him and yeah he's attractive, very attractive whew. But, the lifestyle he lives is very dangerous, he's older than me, which isn't really a problem I'm eighteen, and he's not really someone my dad would want me to bring home.

"I don't know." I pulled onto the freeway. "It's a long story I guess."

"We got time."

~

We finally arrived home after I spilled my guts about my feelings for Oscar. Surprisingly Jamal didn't say anything about how I felt, because we all know he always has something smart to say.

"I know you're older and you're supposed to look out for me but, you're my only sibling," he took my hand in his, "and I just want you to be safe."

I nodded and squeezed his hand. "Of course. Always."

He nodded back at me and got out the car making his way into the house. My parents were home, I could see their bedroom light on.

I sat in the car for a little while longer not ready to get out yet. My phone went off in the cup holder telling me I had a text message. I looked at it and seen a picture from Braelyn. In the picture it was Oscar, who looked way too high to function, and a girl sitting on his lap. The picture was screenshot from Instagram and it was captioned "Mine 🤪".

I couldn't help but laugh, out of both humor and stupidity. I text back the group chat, "Lmfaooooooo. Bet.", and got out of the car and went inside. I'd get the stuffed animals tomorrow or something, right now I just want to go lay down.

"Hey babygirl." My dad hugged me as I walked in the house. "Jamal told me y'all went to fair. That was nice of you."

"Yeah I thought we should hang before school starts." I kicked my sandals off at the door and grabbed a water from the kitchen. "I'm gonna go to bed, I'm tired.

"Ok, I love you." I repeated it back and went to my room. Today has been a long day.

~

I changed my clothes and then got in bed. I put on Netflix for background noise and check my socials. There wasn't anything special but I watched Jamal's snap and noticed he posted a few pictures of us from the fair.

One picture stood out the most though. It was a picture of me playing the basketball game, I was mid shot with a big smile on my face. It was about 6:30 when it was taken because the sky was a pink-ish orange color and I looked like I was literally glowing. I screenshot it and posted it to my story and locked my phone.

I got another text and seen it was from Oscar. I rolled my eyes and opened it to leave him on read and went back to watching tv. I didn't have time for the tomfoolery, if he didn't want to hang today that's all he had to say instead he stood me up.

"Can I watch tv with you?" I looked up and seen Jamal standing at the door with a disgusted look on his face. "Mom and Dad are...busy and your room is the farthest."

I chuckled and made a space for him on the bed. He climbed in and we watched tv for the next 2 ½ hours. When Jamal got up to leave to his room I laid my head on his shoulder.

"You're my favorite brother."

"I'm you're only brother, Solana."

[dukereviewsmovies]

Duke Reviews: Ant-Man And The Wasp

Hello, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Duke Reviews Where Today We Are Continuing Our Look At The Marvel Cinematic Universe...

Where Today We Answer The One Question Everyone Had On Their Minds When Watching Avengers: Infinity War...Where Was Ant-Man?... By Watching Ant-Man And The Wasp...

In The Aftermath Of Civil War, Scott Grapples With The Consequences Of His Choices As Both A Superhero And A Father As He Struggles To Rebalance His Home Life With His Responsibilities As Ant-Man When He's Confronted By Hope Van Dyne (Who Has Taken On Her Mother's Identity As The Wasp) And Hank Pym Who Come To Him With A New Mission...

Will They Succeed?

Let's Find Out As We Watch Ant-Man And The Wasp...

Starting In 1987, We See Janet Van Dyne (Played By A Digitally Aged Michelle Pfeiffer) And Hank Pym (Played By A Digitally Aged Michael Douglas) Tell Their Daughter They're Going To A Conference When Really They're Going Another Mission...

And Unfortunately, It's The Mission That Cost Janet Her Life When She Shrank Between The Molecules Of A Soviet Missile So She Could Disable It Shrinking Smaller And Smaller Until She Entered The Quantum Realm...

With The Hardest Thing He Did Being To Tell Hope That Janet Was Dead, We Cut To Now Where Hank Recalls How Scott Went Subatomic And Came Back Which Give Him The Idea To Dust Off Some Old Plans Of A Quantum Tunnel Which Will Shrink Them Small Enough To Enter The Quantum Realm To Get Janet Back...

Meanwhile At Scott's House, We Him Spending Time With His Daughter, Cassie In A Homemade Playhouse That He Made And Is Running With The Help Of Luis, As Scott's Been Under House Arrest After Helping Captain America In Civil War Which Was A Violation Of The Sokovia Accords...

But After Taking A Plea Deal, Scott Was Allowed To Return To The US And Was Sentenced To 2 Years Under House Arrest And A 20 Year Prison Sentence Waiting For Him If He Leaves His House Or Defies The Accords Again

And As Pym And Hope Had Provided Lang With The Technology He Used Against Iron Man, They Have Also Been Ruled In Breach Of The Accords And They Have A Warrant Out For Their Arrest Which Forced Them To Go On The Run And Sever All Contact With Scott...

Spending The Next Two Years Trying To Find Ways To Keep Himself Busy Including Learning Close-Up Magic And Setting Up A Security Company With Luis And His Partners, He Unfortunately Has A Dream Where He Relives Of Janet's Memories Of When Hope Was A Child 3 Days Until His Release From House Arrest...

Contacting Pym On A Burner Phone He Put Away, Scott Briefly Tells Him What Happened Before Realizing He Sounds Like An Idiot, He Apologizes For The Trouble He Caused Before Smashing The Phone...

Later That Night, Scott Hears A Buzzing Noise Before He's Knocked Out By A Small Tranq Dart...

Waking Up The Next Morning, Scott Finds He's Been Kidnapped By Hope, Who Left A Decoy In His Place To Not Arouse Suspicion From The FBI. Angry At Scott For Helping Cap And Forcing Her And Hank Into Hiding, Hope Tells Scott That His Dream Coincided With Hank Briefly Opening A Quantum Tunnel...

Seeing Scott's Message As A Sign That Janet Is Alive, Hank And Hope Work In Their New Lab To Create A Stable Tunnel So Hope Can Take A Vehicle Into The Quantum Realm To Retrieve Janet...

Reuniting With Pym Who's Bitter For Scott's Actions But Puts His Anger Aside As He's Their Only Hope Of Locating Janet Inside The Quantum Realm...

Hope Arranges To Get A Part From A Black Market Dealer Named Sonny Burch (Played By The Unicorn) But Realizing The Potential Profit From Pym And Hope's Research, Burch Double Crosses Her Which Leads Her To Suit Up...

(Start At 0:06)

But Despite Getting The Component, Hope Soon Faces A New Opponent In The Form Of The Ghost, Scott Goes In To Help Hope With The Ghost But Unfortunately The Ghost Escapes With The Part And Pym's Mobile Lab...

Hiding Out At Scott And Luis' Security Firm, They Tell Hank That They've Heard Tales Of This Ghost Of Theirs While Also Wondering If He Had A Tracker On The Lab Which He Did But It Was Deactivated At The Time The Lab Was Stolen And That Not Only Did The Person Who Stole It Knew What They Were Doing But They Were Phasing...

With The Lab Emitting Radiation, Hope Suggests Modifying A Quantum Spectrometer To Track It But To Do That It Means Going Into The Matrix...

I'm Just Kidding...Or Am I?

Meeting Hank's Former Partner, Bill Foster (Played By Morpheus) At The College Where He Works, He Helps Them Locate The Lab Just As The FBI Shows Up On The Campus...

Wondering If Foster's Idea Of Tracking The Suit Through The Regulators Could Work Hank Says It Could But They'd Need An Old Suit As The New Ones Don't Have Diffractors Which They Need To Track It...

Luckily, Scott Saved His Old Suit After Using It To Fight With Cap But The Bad News Is It's Inside Of A Trophy That's At Cassie's School For Show And Tell...

(Start At 1:01, End At 4:02)

Getting The Diffractor Out Of The Old Ant-Man Suit They Use It To Track Down The Lab To A House In The Middle Of The Woods Where They're Immediately Captured By The Ghost...

Wow, You Guys Think You Can Go 5 Minutes Without Being Captured By The Bad Guy...

Capturing Hank Too, Ghost Reveals Herself As Ava Starr...

Any Relation To Ringo?

Surprisingly No, But She Is Related To Another Former Partner Of Hank's Named Elihas Starr Who Hank Not Only Fired But Discredited And In An Attempt To Get His Good Name Back He Continued His Research Only For It To End In The Death Of Him And His Wife During A Quantum Experiment That Caused Ava's Affliction...

Though She Was Found By Bill Foster, Who Has Tried His Best To Keep Her Safe Since The Accident, He Couldn't Protect Her From S.H.I.E.L.D. Who Built Her Containment Suit And Used Her As A Stealth Operative In Exchange For A Cure..,

But Discovering That They Were Full Of Bullshit, Ava Left With Foster Who Created A Containment Chamber To Slow Her Decay But It's Too Progressive For Him To Stop...

Despite Ava Wanting To Kill Hank For What He Did, She Instead Watched Him Where She Discovered That Hank Was Building The Quantum Tunnel Also About Lang And His Vision Of Janet..

Revealing That They Want To Use The Quantum Tunnel So They Can Extract The Quantum Energy From Janet So They Can Repair Ava's Molecular Structure But Knowing That It Would Kill Janet, Hank Says No...

But Threatening To Turn Scott Over To The FBI, If He Doesn't Help, This Leads Hank To Fake A Heart Attack So Bill Can Open An Altoid Box With Ants That Will Grow Large When Opened So They Can Escape...

Getting The Lab Back Before They Leave, Hank Grows It Back To Large Size So They Can Get To Work Where Hank Reveals That Elihas Starr Was A Traitor Who Stole His Plans For The Quantum Tunnel As They Work...

But As They Do That Burch Captures Luis And His Partners So He Can Question Them About Scott As Ava, Desperate To Be Cured Decides To Kidnap Cassie But Before She Does Bill Tells Her That If She Does She's On Her Own Which Leads Her To Go After Other Options...

Injecting Truth Serum Into Luis, We Get Another One Of Luis' Stories As He Tells Burch Where Scott Is...

(Start At 1:14, End At 3:21)

Knowing That If Ghost Gets The Technology, He'll Be Ruined, Burch Decides To Call The FBI Believing It'll Be Easier To Steal It From Them As He Has A Contact There..

And While That's Understandable I Still Kinda Have To Say Where's The Logic In That?

Despite Having One Contact It's The FBI, There Are Agents That Are Likely To Recognize You And Are Likely To Get You...

Opening A Stable Tunnel, Pym And Hope Are Able To Contact Janet Who Gives Them A Precise Location But Warns Them That They Have 2 Hours To Do So Due To The Quantum Realm's Unstable Nature...

With Scott Back To Normal, He Gets A Call From Luis Who Tells Him Everything That Happened With Burch, Telling Hank And Hope Everything They're Rightfully Pissed And Sever Ties With Scott Once Again As He Takes The Suit To Rush Home Before Woo Can See Him Breaking House Arrest...

That Which He Doesn't But That's Just The Good News...

The Bad News However Is That Hank And Hope Are Arrested And The Ghost Kills Burch's Man On The Inside And Takes Back The Lab...

Convinced By Cassie To Rescue Hank And Hope From The FBI Despite The Risks, He Decides To Help Them Escape The FBI And Use A New Tracker To Track Down The Lab, While Scott And Hope Distract Ghost While Hank Deals With Bill Before Quantum Realm To Retrieve Janet...

Shrinking The Lab, Ghost Is Rightfully Pissed As Luis And Hope Drive Away With It Only To Be Confronted By Burch And His Men Which Leads To A Car Chase And Our Stan Lee Cameo...

Stan Lee Cameo!

With The Lab Going Back And Forth Like A Football On A Football Field Between Ghost, Burch And Team Ant-Man, It's Team Ant-Man That Gets The Lab Back However At The Last Second, Ghost Steals It And Enlarges It In The Middle Of Pier 39 In San Francisco...

But As All That Was Going On, Hank Finds Janet In The Quantum Realm, But With The Lab In Ava's Hands She Attempts Sabatoge Their Return So She Can Start Stealing Janet's Energy But Luckily Scott And Hope Stop Her And Hank And Janet Return From The Quantum Realm...

Using Some Of Her Quantum Energy, Janet Stabalizes The Ghost So Her And Bill Can Go On The Run While Burch And His Guys Are Arrested And Scott Manages To Get Home In Time For The FBI To End His House Arrest Despite Being Suspicious Of Him...

While Scott Reunites With Cassie And Gets His Buisness Up And Running, Hank, Hope And Janet Restore The Family Home On A Beach So They Can Live Happily Ever After For A While...

Or Until The Mid Credits Scene, Where Scott Ventures Into The Quantum Realm To Collect Particles In An Attempt To Heal Ava While Being Monitored By Hank, Janet And Hope, But Despite Being Successful He's Unable To Return As The Pyms Have Been Snapped Out Of Existence By Thanos...

There's Also A After Credit Scene But It's Not Important To Go Over So I'm Skipping It...

And That's Ant-Man And The Wasp And I Will Say It's Better Than The Original Ant-Man...

The Story Was Interesting, The Characters Were Better Written Than They Were In The First Movie, The Villain Was So-So But She Was Interesting I Will Say That Either Way I Say See It...

Now, Before I Sign Off I'd Like To Say A Few Words And Tell You About The Future Of Duke Reviews After We Finish The MCU...

First, I'd Like To Apologize For The Lack Of Clips In This Review But That's Because I Could Barely Find Any Good Ones On YouTube And Unfortunately It's Going To Be The Same Story With Next Week's Review Of Captain Marvel, I'll Post What I Can But For The Next 2 Weeks Be Patient With Me...

And Second As I Said I Want To Go Over The Future Of Duke Reviews After I'm Done With The MCU, Good News Is We Are Not Going Into The DCEU Or Any Other Superhero Properties For A While (And I Do Mean A While) As We're Going To Be Covering The Movies Of A Company That's Been With Us For Generations...

In Fact We're Going To Be Covering It For So Long That I'll Have To Pause In October, November And December So I Can Continue Our Traditions Of Duke's Monsterween And Duke's Yultide Reviews But Know That In January Of Next Year We'll Probably Be Back Working On That...

Now As To Which Studio I'm Not Going To Reveal Which Until My Spider-Man Far From Home Review Which Will Be In 3 Weeks But Next Week As I Said We'll Be Looking At Captain Marvel, So Until Then, This Is Duke, Signing Off...