#we set a date/time to meet last week. one of them showed up early to reserve the room. another guy joined him there.

[legal-poppy]

i have a group presentation due tomorrow. i was the first person to add my stuff to the slides (last night). i made it cutesy and easy for me to reference when i record my part. one of my groupmates took it upon himself to redo the whole presentation and remove all of my formatting. it's not BORING. white and black and a hint of green. this is fr my last straw i hate being the only woman in a group full of men

[mashtatosworld]

sucker

summary: you meet someone very important on good day

*a sequel to 'only girl'

The small, cozy restaurant was empty except for the film crew and Jiyong. The warm glow of paper lanterns casted a soft light over the low tables.

The rapper stood near the entrance, hands tucked into the pockets of his blue jeans, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he kept glancing out the window.

It was rare for him to be early, but today, he’d arrived before the cameras were even set up.

A soft chime signaled the door sliding open, and his face lit up instantly.

You stepped inside, slightly breathless from the cold air outside. You greeted the crew with a polite bow as your eyes flickered around before landing on him, lips curling into a familiar smile.

“You look like you’ve been waiting forever,” you teased.

Jiyong hummed, stepping forward without hesitation. “Maybe I have.”

Before you could react, his arms wrapped around you in a firm hug. He smelled faintly of his usual cologne - clean, warm, familiar.

“You’re late,” he murmured against your temple.

You pulled back just enough to raise a brow. “By three minutes.”

Jiyong smiled down at you, lightly pinching the tip of your chin. “Hmm, three minutes too long.”

You rolled your eyes, and before you could even think to kick off your shoes, he was already crouching down in front of you, deft fingers reaching for your laces.

You waited patiently, resting a hand on his shoulder for balance. "I shouldn't have worn converse today."

Jiyong didn’t look up as he continued to unlace the sneakers. “Mm, maybe, but I like these ones.” He loosened the knots, slipping them off with practiced ease. His movements were natural, like this was something he’d done many times before.

But maybe that was because he had...

You watched as he neatly placed your shoes beside his own, then stood, guiding you toward the table with a light hand on your back.

By the time you settled onto the cushion next to him, he was already reaching for the glass in front of you.

“I ordered your favourite,” he said, sliding it toward you without fanfare. “Figured you’d want something strong.”

You had told him how you were nervous to appear on his new show, especially since your first episode would be with another guest. But he assured you that this guest was an old friend he trusted with his private life.

Refraining from falling into intimate touches and names in public had become increasingly difficult as your relationship developed.

He was becoming careless with hiding his affection, continuing to buy you coordinating outfits and 'forgetting' to check the background of his pictures for traces of you before posting them. The internet was convinced your hot pink Hello Kitty pj's were his.

Your fingers wrapped around the cold glass, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in your gaze.

“Do I look at you or the cameras?”

Jiyong smiled and placed his hand on your knee. “Whatever makes you more comfortable. Although I'm sure the camera would appreciate a glance or two from you.” He brushes your hair behind your shoulder. "You look so pretty, Jagi."

Before you could respond, the door slid open again, and a loud, dramatic sigh filled the space.

Jung Hyungdon enters, looking between you and Jiyong as he approaches the table.

"I rush over here because I’m told my first love wants to meet up, and yet - " he gestures vaguely at you "- I find him on a date with a younger, prettier replacement?"

You freezes slightly at the mention of a date, all too aware of the cameras that are now focused more than ever on your conversation, but Jiyong, completely unfazed, just leans back on one hand and smirks.

"Hyung, don’t flatter yourself. We wouldn’t invite you to one of our dates."

"Aish, you haven't changed at all, huh?" Doni plopped down on the pillow with a loud grunt, eyes scanning the food starters already displayed on the low table. "It's good to see you again. You're paying for this, yah?"

"You saw me last week." Jiyong laughed, his tilted back before he turned to you. “See what I had to deal with for years?”

You grinned. “He does seem a little high-maintenance.”

Hyungdon's mouth-dropped open. “Ay! This betrayal. Right in front of my kimchi. What happened to respect for your elders?"

"I'm sorry." You covered your laugh with your hand. "How about we order some more food for you? We can even get some abalone and boiled pork."

"Huh?" Jiyong's eyes widened as he fidgeted with his hat, leaning forward as he clocked onto the conversation in which you were raking up the price of the meal for him. Not that money really mattered to him.

"Ahhhh," Hyungdon leaned back slightly with a slow smile, crossing his arms over his chest. "I understand why you like her, GD."

"Oh?" He asked in return, a playful grin on his face.

"Yah. She is just like me."

The table burst into laughter as another round of dishes was brought out.

Jiyong took care of grilling the meat whilst Doni spoke to you about your band. Since you were late third generation, you never went on the variety shows like Jiyong had done, and the rapper nearly burnt the food when the comedian revealed how he was a fan of your work.

"Why are you so surprised?" You raised a brow at him and Hyungdon copied your action, both of you staring at Jiyong with mockingly sharp glares.

"I didn't mean it like that, Jagi, I just wouldn't have thought he still listens to music." He defended, running a soothing hand down your back. You both ignored his slip up but your eyes unconsciously slipped to the camera, staring straight into its lens with wide eyes.

"Hey! I am not so old that I'm deaf!" Hyungdon scolded loudly, returning your attention to the table.

Jiyong laughs and without thinking, reaches over to place a piece of grilled meat on your plate before even serving himself or his elder. You thank him, and Doni watches the exchange with narrowed eyes.

"Tsk, tsk." He points his chopsticks at them. "What’s this? Why does this feel domestic? Why am I being forced to watch this?"

Jiyong continues turning the meat over with his tongs. "I take care of people I like." He then placed a piece of meat on Hyungdon's plate.

Doni’s eyes widen at the gesture. "So you admit it! You like me!" He turns to the crew. "Camera, are you recording?"

They give him a thumbs up and Jiyong shakes his head, his shoulders shaking from his laughter.

𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪

An hour later:

The bottle of soju on the table is nearly gone, and beside it, were two more empty ones.

You, who had started the night sitting stiffly, now leant comfortably against the table, cheeks flushed from the alcohol. Doni is laughing at his own jokes, and Jiyong, looking entirely too pleased, is lazily swirling his drink.

"Okay, okay," Doni slurs slightly, squinting between the two. "Let’s be real. There’s something going on here, right? Right? Is this what Good Day is for? A dating show, huh?"

"Would you like it to be?" Jiyong raised a charming brow at him and Doni looks to you, slowly shaking his head.

"Always trying to reel me in... Be careful with this one, y/n."

You bursts out laughing, resting your forehead briefly against Jiyong’s shoulder eyes squinting shut. He glances at you before exhaling a soft chuckle, absentmindedly reaching to smooth down your hair.

"Ahh," Doni points wildly, head turning to the camera for confirmation, "did you see that? Camera, did you see that? He’s so soft for her, I want to puke."

Jiyong nods, refilling Doni’s glass. "That's the jealousy talking, hyung."

Doni narrows his eyes. "Aish, you little..."

𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪

The camera, slightly shaky, captured the three of them lingering at the entrance.

You were stood by the doorway, shrugging on your coat while Jiyong crouched at your feet, slipping your sneakers back on.

Doni, from the side, folded his arms and stared.

Jiyong tied the last knot and tapped the tip of your shoe lightly. “There. Comfortable?”

You flexed your foot lightly and smiled. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Doni let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "I see now.”

Jiyong stood, brushing off his hands. “See what?”

Doni shook his head in mock disbelief. “You. You’re done for.”

Jiyong smirked.

Doni continued, pointing aggressively. “You’re out here tying her shoes like a husband - ”

Jiyong raised a brow. “And?”

Doni gaped. “AND??”

You stifled a laugh into your sleeve as Jiyong turned to you, completely unfazed. “Ready to go?”

You nodded, biting back a smile. “Yeah.”

Doni groaned, throwing his hands up. “That’s it? No denial? No ‘hyung, it’s not like that’?”

Jiyong just patted Doni’s shoulder as they walked past. “Goodnight, hyung.”

The screen cut to black.

𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪

Good Day comments:

@chaoticfangirl: not jiyong introducing his ex to his new gf💀 he messy

@vipforeverrr: GDRAGON CASUALLY TAKING OFF HER SHOES FOR HER I’M SCREAMING

@bigbangggle: are they dating

@kpodteaa: "I take care of people I like" AND THEN PROCEEDS TO SERVE HER FOOD FIRST HELLO??????

@y-n-stan she looked at that camera TERRIFIEEDDD

@softkwon: Doni pointing out how soft GD is for her… I’m so unwell.

@legendaryyg: "i didn't mean it like that, jagi" SIR????

𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪 𓆩♡𓆪

this one has been stuck in my drafts

i got a good day request but i love hd x gd so i had to include him 🫶 if you haven't watched them together - don't miss out!!

taglist: @petersasteria, @mirahyun , @allthoughtsmindfull , @gdinthehouseee , @infinetlyforgotten , @redhoodedtoad , @kathaelipwse , @lxvemaze , @loveesiren , @sherrayyyyy , @getyoassoutthetrunk , @shieraseastarrs , @ctrldivinev , @xxxicddbr88 , @onyxmango , @tryingtolivelifeblog , @tulentiy , @bettelaboure

[supernovafics]

series masterlist | last part — next part

pairing: modern!college!steve harrington x fem!reader, bestfriend!eddie munson x fem!reader

word count: 2.9k words

warnings: explicit language, nothing else really?

summary: your life goes back to normal— how things were before you knew steve— and it’s fine (or at least that’s what you keep telling yourself)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN | ❝𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆❞

Spring Semester 2017

“This is how villain origin stories are born,” Robin said with a loud sigh as she closed her laptop for the time being. “Apartment hunting. Why does this suck so much?”

“Because everything’s severely out of our price range,” You responded, looking up from your own laptop. “Also, there are barely any three-bedroom options.”

“And the ones that are available and in our budget are very shitty,” Vickie added and you nodded in agreement.

The three of you were sitting on the carpeted floor in your dorm room. Living together for the next school year had been jokingly and playfully talked about in the very early stages of your friendship with Robin, but then as the months passed, it settled into an idea that actually became serious; mainly because of how much sense it made. And then Robin introduced you to Vickie and another friendship, and roommate, was born. 

Eddie was also set as a fourth roommate for a bit, but then he told you that he and Chrissy decided to live together for junior year, so it became settled that it would only be you, Robin, and Vickie. Which sounded great, and you were already excited about it since you hated living alone, but the apartment-hunting part quickly proved to be a lot more of a nuisance than any of you had expected.

“Fuck it, let’s just do a four-bedroom, then,” Robin said, shrugging. “There are a bunch more options for those, anyway. Like, the one I showed you guys yesterday. That place was perfect.”

“Did I miss the moment when our fourth roommate magically appeared?” Vickie asked, a playful smile on her face. 

“We can easily find someone else in one of those, like, Facebook group things.”

“That’s honestly not a bad idea,” You responded, already going to pull up Facebook on your laptop. 

Robin smiled. “Thank you. I always have great ideas.”

Vickie gave her a look. “Do I need to mention the ‘donating blood to get concert ticket money’ idea you had a week ago?” 

“No, that’s okay. We don’t need to discuss that low point.” 

You were the one who showed them Talia’s posting on one of the “searching for roommates” groups. She seemed nice and interesting and both Robin and Vickie thought so too. The three of you put together a quick message— briefly introducing yourselves and that you were looking for a fourth roommate— and sent it.

“Okay, fourth roommate, check,” Robin said once you pressed send. “Now, we have to get the place that I showed you guys yesterday.”

You laughed a little. “Let’s wait until she actually says something, Rob.”  

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

Spring Semester 2018

Initially, it felt equivalent to a family meeting. Well, more so what you imagined a family meeting would be like because the four of you never actually had to have one before. 

But then, it actually felt like you were giving some sort of speech or presentation because of the setup. Robin, Vickie, and Talia were on the couch and you were standing in front of the TV and explaining everything to them. 

You kept in most of the details— you and Steve agreeing to fake date, your feelings for Eddie being the reason behind it all, and how it was only meant to go until Spring Break. 

Aside from the fact that they all seemed shocked to learn that you had feelings for Eddie, their collective thought was that the entire relationship between you and Steve had seemed so real.

“We were just really good at faking,” Was your response to Vickie specifically saying how cute you two had looked together; especially during the one reality TV night where Steve came over and picked the show.

You remembered that night pretty well, but you didn’t remember any specific moments where you had felt as if you and he had to “play up” the relationship or lay the PDA on thick since Eddie wasn’t around that night, so you weren’t sure how that moment was considered a definingly cute one for the two of you. 

“Were you good at faking or was it not really fake?” Robin asked, giving you a certain look. 

“Definitely fake,” You didn’t hesitate to answer because you deliberately didn’t want to think about her question too deeply. “We’re not even really friends, and he just went on a date last night. Hence the Eddie punch.”

Eddie was still sleeping in your bed. When you got back from Steve’s place, you weren’t in the mood to wake him up or tell him to shift over and make room for you, so you spent the night on the couch. 

“Damn, it kinda sucks that we’re never gonna see him again. He was the only one that liked when I made the pumpkin cheesecake cookies,” Talia said.

Vickie laughed a bit. “The only reason we don’t like it is because that's clearly a Fall cookie, Tal, and it's Spring right now.” She then looked as if she thought of something. “Hey, but at least you won’t have to get stuck on a team with Eddie for game night anymore. We’re back to individual stuff or you being the referee.”

Talia smiled. “Thank you for reminding me.”

“Wait, that just made me remember something,” Robin started. “Guys, I need you to please hear me out on this one,” She paused for what seemed like dramatic effect. “I think it's time to bring back Monopoly.”

There was a collective groan that immediately filled the air upon hearing her suggestion. Monopoly was a near friendship-ending game for you all, and it was only meant to be played on the rarest of occasions; which actually meant never. 

You sat down on the small loveseat then, glad that the subject had been shifted and that your speech, mixed with a Q&A, was over. “Robin, why do you wanna ruin all of our friendships?”

She quickly shook her head. “Come on, it’s been months. We’re all much more mature and reasonable adults, and I doubt we’ll have any arguments like last time.” 

Before any of you could respond with any sort of rebuttal, your bedroom door opened and out walked a tired looking Eddie. 

“Somehow, I heard the mention of Monopoly and I’m here to immediately veto that suggestion.” 

Robin rolled her eyes at him. “Go back to sleep, Munson.”

The game night conversation continued, and from there, things were normal. And you didn’t mind the normalcy that your life settled back into over the next few days and then weeks— even though, at one point, the thought of it bothered you and you had missed a lot of the things that came along with fake dating Steve. Now you knew there was no point in missing any of it; in fact, it felt kind of dumb to. 

Your classes got more and more intense during the entire month of April, so there wasn’t that much time to think about Steve or wonder what he was up to. However, the moments you did think of him surprisingly hit hard. 

When you all ended up playing Monopoly at game night, after Robin’s many begs and pleads, you thought about Steve and how different things would’ve been if he was there. You imagined him as a pretty competitive Monopoly player, and felt almost certain that he would’ve either had the biggest rivalry with Robin or formed some sort of alliance with her; she was the one that actually ended up winning after an intense and exhausting seven hours of playing that night. You wished that he could’ve been there. 

And then there were the reminders of him that were left around— his t-shirt that you’d never gotten around to giving back to him, his sunglasses that you didn’t realize you’d stolen until you were finally finishing unpacking your stuff from the Mexico trip, and the bear that he got you for Valentine’s Day that you refused to ever get rid of, but you eventually stuffed Hartford away in your closet instead of leaving him on your desk to make things feel easier. 

Anytime one of those moments happened where you randomly thought about him, you immediately reminded yourself of the rule and simply buried yourself further in whatever school assignment you needed to focus on, or made abrupt plans with Eddie, Robin, Vickie, or Talia. 

It was late in the month when Talia wanted to set you up with a guy from one of her classes, who she claimed would be “perfect for you.” Initially, you were hesitant— more so leaning toward no than yes— but he had the Talia stamp of approval, so you let it happen. She gave him your number and there were a handful of text messages shared between you two that led to a museum date a week later. 

It wasn’t terrible. But, your heart wasn’t in it at all, and neither was your head most of the time. And by the end of it, more specifically as you were in the elevator headed back up to your apartment, you realized that you probably wouldn’t see him again. 

When you walked into the apartment, you spotted Talia in the kitchen and the entire apartment smelled amazing; which, of course, didn’t surprise you at all.

“Hey, what are you making?” You asked as you pulled off your jacket and hung it on one of the empty hooks next to the door. 

“I got bored, so I decided to do a quick roasted chicken. It’s in the oven now,” She said, shrugging as if that was entirely normal. It would never not amuse you how her boredom would always spur on elaborate meals. “So, how was the date?”

“It was fine. Good, actually,” You answered after the briefest moment of hesitation. “He was pretty cool and we had a lot in common and stuff. But, I don’t know… It just didn’t feel right, I guess. My head was in a different place a lot of the time. Thinking about other stuff.”

“About Steve?”

Hearing her say that, surprised you. “What? No. I haven’t talked to him in like a month.” 

She gave you a quick shrug. “That doesn’t mean that you can’t think about him.” 

“I guess that’s true, but I haven’t really thought about him,” You said. It was a small lie that you were okay with telling because you didn’t want to admit or even ponder what it meant that you did think about and were so easily reminded of him sometimes. 

“I’m kind of surprised that you two aren’t friends or something,” She told you as she went to grab something from the fridge. “I don’t think I could do a whole fake dating thing with someone and not, at least, be friends with them after it.”

You leaned back against the counter. “We came up with a bunch of rules when we started it, and that was one of them.”

“To not be friends after?”

“Not exactly that, but pretty much, yeah. The rule was to go our separate ways once the fake dating was done,” You shrugged. “Becoming friends was the last thing on both of our minds when we came up with that since we were basically strangers at the beginning of this. And when we were ending things, we both knew that it would be impossible to be friends after because of all of the lies that started this.” 

She looked at you then. “But we all know the truth now, though. So you two could be friends and none of us would question it.” 

Talia’s words made complete sense and they were something that you should’ve realized and thought about a lot earlier than this moment. You were quiet for what felt like forever because you didn’t know what to say in response. Your immediate reaction was to still say no, you couldn’t be friends with him, but if she followed up and asked why, you knew that you wouldn’t have an answer. 

When the oven started beeping, it felt like a very “saved by the bell” kind of moment. Talia pulled out the chicken from the oven and let the conversation shift from there. “You got back from your date just in time, by the way. You wanna try this?” 

“Of course, I’ll never turn down anything you make.”

You went to your room first to change out of your date outfit and put on some pajamas instead and then you joined Talia back in the kitchen. The chicken was quite literally perfect, which didn’t surprise you, and you retreated to your room for the night after you finished eating, while Talia put on a documentary that she had to watch for one of her psychology classes. 

As much as you tried to focus on anything else as you lay in your bed, you inadvertently spent the rest of the night thinking about Steve— it was too hard not to. 

You thought about every moment that you had been reminded of him over the past month— how it hadn’t felt like much at first, but when you thought about it all at once, it was a lot. You also thought about what Talia said and why you and he weren’t friends even though it was pretty obvious that you should be— what else could explain why you both had prolonged and dragged out the conversation in his car the night you two “broke up”? Neither of you had wanted to let the inevitable happen. 

All of this was about more than just following the rule to you. Of course, it was about more than just that. 

Deep down you knew exactly why you couldn’t listen to what Talia said— why you couldn’t text him, go to his place, or do anything else to lean into that short-lived friendship you two had that you actually had a feeling was still there— but right then you refused to admit it. 

Instead, you grabbed your phone and put on a random podcast just so you could use the noise to drown out your thoughts and force yourself to fall asleep.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

It wasn’t until a few days before finals that you thought about Steve again. It was kind of hard not to because you ran right into him— or more so tripped over him. 

The campus library during the week before finals week was probably one of the worst places to be, but you were in a last-second search for a book that you needed to do an essay on and you refused to buy it online because, for some reason, it was way too expensive.

Your eyes were trained solely on the spines of books as you searched for the one in particular when you tripped over something in the middle of the aisle. It wasn’t a full-on fall, just a very awkward stumble, but it somehow felt just as embarrassing. 

You let out an abrupt yelp in the middle of your stumble and heard a voice before you even got to see what caused you to trip. “Oh, fuck, I’m sorry.” 

You recognized Steve’s voice immediately and it sent a surprised jolt through you as you turned to look at him. He was leaned back against the long bookshelf with his legs stretched out and there was a textbook opened in his lap. He must’ve just been sleeping because you saw him rub his eyes and let out a quick yawn.

He looked up at you as he crossed his legs under him instead of having them stretched out in the aisle. He seemed as if he was surprised to see you too, but from the look on his face, you could tell that he saw it as a good surprise; you weren’t sure if you could say the same just yet. “Shit, now I feel worse knowing that I just did that to you.”

That got the smallest smile out of you. “Yes, you should feel a thousand times worse for almost ending my life.”

“I’m sorry.” 

“Why are you sleeping here?” You asked. Both of you were keeping your voices low because you were on one of the quieter floors of the library. 

He shook his head. “I’m not sleeping. I was taking a break from studying for a test and just resting my eyes for a second.” 

“So sleeping?”

“A very brief nap,” He corrected.

“Ah, okay, got it,” You nodded, words coming out completely sarcastic. “Sorry for interrupting your very brief nap then.”

“Sorry for almost killing you.”

“Thank you.”

You knew that you should’ve let the brief conversation end there. You should’ve looked away from him then and continued searching for the book you needed to find. But, you didn’t. 

Instead, after the briefest moment of lingering silence between you two, you sat down across from Steve. The book and the essay that you needed to work on became the farthest things from your mind for the time being.

You didn’t have the strongest grasp on what you were doing right then and why you were doing any of it, but you decided not to question it. Instead, you simply did what felt good in the moment. 

You leaned back against the bookshelf opposite Steve and crossed your legs as well. “Hi.” 

He gave you a questioning look at first— maybe he was also expecting the conversation to end in that previous spot; like it would’ve with any other two people who weren’t really friends that had just randomly bumped into each other. 

But then, he was smiling, a genuine Steve Harrington smile that felt really nice to see. “Hey.” 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

a/n: ….. i'm sorry for the cliffhanger !!!!

next part!

taglist (lmk if you want to be added or taken off<333); @eddiernunson , @loulouloueh , @the-aster , @blckburd , @totally-bogus-timelady , @yujyujj , @irhdifartzamfyaa , @mochminnie , @munsonssweets , @blckbrrybasket , @xprloki , @definitionwanderlust , @dwcode , @sun-fiower-seed , @keerysfolklore , @damon-loves-pie , @lodeddiperrodrick , @bisexual-and-intellectual , @munsonburn3r , @negomi123 , @khena , @facexthexsunshine , @seatbacksandtraytables , @suckerfordylansstuff

(if your user is crossed out it means i can’t tag you</3)

[bigtreefest]

A What in Church?

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x reader (can be read as a continuation of Meet The Parents or alone)

Summary: Ransom comes with you and your family to church…and then comes with you at church 🥴 (I’m sorry, but I had to)

Word count: 2,728

Content/warnings: 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI, SMUT, near-fingering, p in v unprotected sex (pls, for the love of all that is holy, wrap it up), sex in front of a mirror, sex in a church😬, creampie, established relationship, swears, Ran is a sneaky li’l gaslighter but not towards you, lying in Church?, kissing, pet name usage, choking on one’s own saliva, implied female reader, li’l belly bulge

A/N: I hope God forgives me for thinking this up during church…

This is for the Cum Together: A Community Revival Extravaganza set up by @labella420 and @stargazingfangirl18 with the prompts of characters cum together at the same time and praise.

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Main Masterlist

It was early Sunday morning when you dragged Ransom out of bed.

“Hugh Ransom Drysdale, come on. You have to get up. We’re already running late and I’m not dealing with disapproving looks from my parents for punctuality. It’s already bad enough every time the church ladies give me a side eye when I show up.”

He sighed as he rolled over in his high thread count sheets, the sunlight now hitting his face causing him to squint. He looked at you through one open eye as he made a light scowl.

“Sweetheart, come back to bed. It’s too early. I promise I’ll make it worth it.” A sly smirk crept onto his face as he reached out and pulled your hips closer to the bed.

You put a hand on his forehead, trying your best and failing to push him away. “Ransom, no. The only reason I stayed over was to make sure we got there on time. My parents think you’re picking me up right now and neither of us are even showered. If you get up now, maybe I’ll let you join me. Then we can get going.”

His arms snaked from your hips and around to give your ass a squeeze. “Hm….deal.” He rasped out in his groggy voice before shifting to get up.

“Whose idea was it to join your family at the 8am service of church this week, anyway?” Ransom threw the covers off the side of the bed in a mini tantrum before rising on his knees on the mattress to be face-to-face with you. You ran your fingers through his hair, slightly smoothing out the bed head before giving him a peck.

“Yours, baby. That’s what you get for trying to impress my mom.”

You fixed your makeup in the mirror of Ransom’s Beamer and smoothed down your baby blue linen dress after Ransom parked in the church parking lot. You turned to look at him as you straightened the collar of his shirt that peeked over his sweater.

“You look absolutely dapper. The church ladies are gonna love you. Probably enough for them to keep their judgy eyes off me. Now let’s just hope they don’t start asking my mom about a wedding date.” You grumbled the last part as you brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders before leaning back towards your own seat again and placing your hand on the door handle.

Ransom didn’t move a muscle as he sat there, leaning over the center console, with a look as deep at the ocean. That was weird. You’d expected him to have his cocky game face on, which he did, but his eyes showed something different.

“What? Is something wrong? Do I not look okay? Are you regretting agreeing to come along today?”

He sighed and shook his head before holding out his hand for yours. “No, you look heavenly. I am regretting sleeping in because if I wouldn’t have, maybe you would’ve actually let me touch you in the shower. I thought a shower with you meant with you, but you tricked me, you minx.”

You softly smiled at the beginning of his statement, placing your hand in his. As he kept going, you rolled your eyes before playfully shoving his shoulder. “Oh please. You and I both know you wouldn’t have gotten up for anything else. And if I would’ve let you touch me, we’d still be at your place.”

He shrugged before pulling you closer for a final kiss before heading in. It was the kind that left you breathless and speechless, and a little dizzy when he pulled away, but that could have been due to skipping breakfast, too. Your eyes were still closed when he spoke against your lips. “Don’t think you’re getting away with this that easily, though. Now stay here while I get your door. Gotta make sure the church ladies see me treating you well.”

Your jaw dropped as he gave you a smirk, fire rising in his gaze as he slipped out of the driver’s side and over to yours.

Ransom held your hand as he walked into the church, sliding into a pew near the back where your family had saved the two of you a seat. It was just in time for the service to begin. You were simultaneously filled with relief for not being late, but also anxiousness. You knew that when he held that look in his eye, Ransom was up to no good.

If someone had asked you what you’d gathered from the sermon so far, your answer would be ‘jack shit.’ You were too focused on Ransom, and the way his hand was creeping up your leg as he stared straight ahead. He looked enthralled by whatever the preacher was dragging on and on about, but you knew better from the way his lips curled just slightly at the corners and his ringed pinky finger was sliding under the hem of your dress. The cool metal gave you chills. Your breath hitched, just as you were salivating, imagining what Ransom could possibly have in store for you. Unfortunately, that didn’t make for a good combination, as you choked on your own saliva.

You tried your hardest to hold in your coughs, eyes watering, until you couldn’t take it anymore. They burst out of you and the sound of your coughs, one after another, echoed through the nearly silent room as you scrambled to get up and into the hallway. Ransom shot your parents a sympathetic look before wordlessly gesturing that he was going to check up on you. They nodded in response, glad you had found someone so caring and responsible.

You burst through the doors at the back of the room with Ransom hot on your heels. You fast walked into the family restroom and Ransom slipped in behind you. He locked the door and made his way to your hunched over form, your arms bracing you against the sink as you continued coughing and heaving, trying to catch your breath. Ransom rubbed your back in soothing circles until you took a final gasp for air and looked up at his reflection in the mirror with a scowl.

“You did this. This is your fault, Mr. Handsy.” It came out with the slightest rasp. Ransom’s face morphed from slight concern into suggestion. Now that he had made sure you were okay, he was more than happy to have you exactly where he wanted you all along: alone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not the one out there snorting my spit. I could probably successfully swallow, unlike you.” He knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to rile you up so you’d give in to him now since you didn’t earlier this morning. You’d never outwardly crumble that easily, though. Where was the fun in that?

“First off, you should be the one to know I’m great at swallowing. And secondly, if you believe you did nothing wrong, I think we should find you a neurologist for those wandering hands. Maybe the rings are causing nerve damage and cutting off the feeling in your fingertips.” Ransom couldn’t help but let out a small chortle at that. Good one, babe. But he knew what could push you a little farther. He knew how much you really did love the way his hands wandered, even if you’d say otherwise. He could tell right now even, as he shifted to stand behind you, soft fingertips tracing up the front of your thighs and under your flowy dress. His hand was in between your thighs, creeping dangerously close to your cotton panties. He used his grip to pull you back against him, eyes never leaving yours in the mirror.

“Oh honey, I don’t have to be able to feel my fingers to know how good they make you feel.” He ran his fingers over the dampening fabric as your breath hitched. Finally.

His grin grew wide as he slipped his pinky finger under the gusset of your panties and pulled it to the side, exposing your glistening folds to the cool air.

You hissed at the sensation as Ransom began running a finger through your wetness. If you were anywhere else but a church bathroom, he would have worked to pull even louder sounds from you than the tiny breaths and moans you were already making, but that’s not something that could be afforded right now. As his one hand continued to tease your entrance, the other moved to cover your mouth.

“Quiet, Sweetheart. You make a noise and I stop. Don’t want anyone to find out what’s going on in here.” You nodded in acknowledgment and Ransom was satisfied with that response, kissing your temple that was collecting a thin shimmer from sweat already. Just as he was about to dip a finger in, though, the two of you heard music start. That meant service was almost over. They would play a few songs, and then everyone would rush out the doors, making it impossible for the two of you to leave the bathroom undetected and unsuspected of what was going on right now.

Ransom didn’t waste a second, though, pulling his hands off you to unzip his slacks and pull them down just low enough. His eyes locked in on yours in the mirror again, deep blue irises thin around lust and mischief-blown pupils.

“Sorry, sweetie. Don’t have time to prepare you. But you can handle that, right?” You didn’t have a chance to reply this time, as his hand found it’s place over your mouth again at the same time he fully sheathed himself within you.

The little squeak you made into Ransom’s hand when you were trying to hold back was music to his ears. Oooo, he liked that. He was gonna make sure to do whatever he could in the future so you’d make it again, but he didn’t have the time for it right now.

His hand that wasn’t over your mouth snaked to your tummy from where it was gripping your hip. Ransom could just barely feel the bulge pushing against your softness with each thrust and it drove him wild, as he sped up his thrusts and babbled into your ear.

“Yeah you can. You can take it. Look at you. Taking this so well. Being so good for me. I’d say you were an angel if we weren’t fucking like two whores in church right now.”

His vulgar words always did something to you, causing your eyes to roll back and your pussy to clench. That was Ransom’s favorite, especially when he found it out that his sharp tongue was something you actually enjoyed and rewarded him for, instead of punished. Despite his hand on your mouth, you were still working hard to keep yourself quiet, only letting out a low moan in response.

“Fuck, so good. So, gah-tight. You’re so perfect. I’m gonna take my hand off, okay? You gotta keep it down and I promise I’ll make you feel good.” You gripped harder against the sink as Ransom removed his hand, using it to hike your leg up on the edge of the counter, his hand that was previously on your stomach moving to rub your clit.

You gasped for air, before moving your own hand to your mouth. If you were at home, moans and curses would’ve been profusely spilling out of your mouth with how near your were to the tipping point. Ransom’s grunts in your ear we’re pulling you even closer to the edge when he licked your neck, the sweet taste of your perfume mixed with salty sweat hitting his tongue, and the debauchery of the gesture tossing you over the edge of your orgasm. Your knee gave out as you came, Ransom’s strong arms holding you up against the sink as you felt him swell and release in you at the same time, still rubbing your clit and shallowly thrusting for both of you to come down from your highs.

“That’s it. That’s it, sweetheart.” His breath was hot against your neck, but you were both pulled out of the post-orgasmic bliss by the sound of the music changing. The last song of service was playing and within a few minutes, everyone would be emerging into the hall.

Ransom pulled out of you faster than he had before, both of you moaning with oversensitivity and the abruptness of the action. You gained composure on your jelly legs before pulling your panties back into place and doing your best to fix your makeup in the mirror. Luckily, the smudges could be attributed to your coughing fit earlier, but Ransom’s rogue hairs that had flown forward and stuck to his forehead couldn’t. You quickly pushed them back into a decent position and straightened his collar before rushing into the hallway and taking a seat at an old pew that was next to a table with water bottles and cookies on it, set out for the social hour that always happened after service. Ransom grabbed a bottle and quickly chugged it down halfway, handing it to you just as the last song was ending.

“Here, hunch forward like you’re still recovering. And take this.” He was too good at convincing people of the scenes they had walked into. But how could you complain when it had gotten you out of trouble with the cops more times than you could count? Including after the two of you had been parked somewhere a little too long having car sex, or when he had driven just a little too recklessly while fingering you in the passenger seat. He always knew exactly how to manipulate the scene in his favor, convincing others to not believe their own eyes, but the stories he presented them instead. But he didn’t do it to you, never to you. He learned that the hard way, it’s better to be honest and do it with you. You were his teammate, who better to use his skills for than the one he loved? Bring it up though, and he’d deny it.

So you and Ransom sat there, your elbows on your knees and him rubbing circles on your back with his large, warm palm. Sure, it was performative, but it was also extremely comforting and reassuring, especially with the way he just rocked your world in the bathroom.

The church-goers began to file out of the double doors and into the hall. You looked up through your eyelashes to be greeted by your parents. They looked at you with confusion and a hint of concern when your dad crouched in front of you and your mom sat next to Ransom.

“Everything alright?” Your dad looked up into your eyes and you managed a nod, taking a sip from the water bottle and clearing your throat.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Got into a coughing fit and couldn’t shake it. Much better now.”

Ransom heard the clarity with which you spoke. If he really wanted to be convincing, he should’ve had you suck him off. There wasn’t really the time for that, though. As much as he loved watching your lips wrapped around him, he came way faster inside you, and how could he allow for the evidence of scuffs on your knees when you were wearing such a pretty dress? Maybe next time, when you were in jeans.

Ransom was pulled out of his thoughts when your mom and dad spoke, thanking him for checking up on you.

“Oh no problem, don’t worry, I took good care of your girl. I always will.”

They smiled, and must’ve believed the scene in front of them, as the topic swiftly changed to what they wanted for brunch plans. Ransom met your gaze, giving a quick wink for only you to see before kissing the top of your head and giving his input to the conversation.

That was the last you saw of him for half an hour, though, as the church ladies descended, squeezing themselves between the two of you, oohing and ahhhing over your sly boyfriend. Every now and then, as they’d ask him a tidal wave of questions, his eyes would seek you, full of fire, secrecy, and love, paired with that signature smirk on his face.

Bonus A/N: I think something that this extravaganza has taught me is that I have a thing for mirrors….and that scares me. It’s so hot in fics, and sure, every time I walk past a mirror in real life, I’ve been told I stop, but I wasn’t aware of what a dangerous combination that made until now. Lord save me, but he’s probably too angry at me now bc I wrote this.

[wileys-russo]

childhood sweethearts (8) II a.russo x reader

series playlist one two three four five six seven

will they? won’t they? the age old question x

childhood sweethearts (8) II a.russo x reader

once again alessia found herself sat alone in the same cafe as last time, profound deja vu setting in. her leg was bouncing anxiously and her eyes flickered to the door every few seconds, nervous you'd not show despite having been the one to extend the invitation to her.

but this time alessia knew she was early, having been far too worried about what you might actually have to say to her that she'd shown up a whole forty minutes before your agreed meet up time.

having sat in her car for the last twenty five she'd ventured inside, waiting until it was five minutes before you'd hopefully show to order your coffees, remembering what you had gotten last time and crossing her fingers it was what you'd want again.

her body relaxed the moment you walked inside, raising her hand as you spotted her, the blonde cursing to herself at the awkward gesture as you sat across from her with a smile, seemingly quite relaxed which alessia didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad.

"is this mine?" you asked gesturing to the iced coffee in front of you as the blonde nodded, rambling out that she hoped it was right and that if it wasn't she could easily get you another. "hey, alessia breathe. this is my regular order, it could be two degrees and i'd still get an iced coffee." you joked.

the two of you made some polite small talk, alessia asking about your week as you enquired about hers. the two of you swapping a few stories and a laugh before you decided to put her out of her misery, easily sensing her obvious nerves for why you'd asked her to meet with you in the first place.

which you could hardly blame her for given how your last conversation had gone, and it had taken you a lot of thinking to actually move past that.

"so i obviously asked you to coffee for a reason." you started, alessia nodding as she finished the last mouthful of her drink, setting the empty glass aside.

"i know that the last time we spoke was a bit...tense?" you smiled awkwardly, as one does when the last time you're present in front of someone you scream at them about your dead dad and then promptly collapse into a disgusting sobbing mess.

"and i appreciate you giving me the space that i asked for." you thanked her softly. "there's obviously a lot of history with us alessia and its not something either of us can or should forget, the good and the bad alike." you continued, the blonde across from you twisting her rings around her fingers, clearly still apprehensive about what you might say but listening intently.

"i won’t lie i was so incredibly angry with you for a really long time. and i was hurt and upset and i didn't understand why you did what you did or why you thought i’d have not supported you from the beginning.” you continued, alessia accepting your words with a nod.

“it took me even longer to actually come to terms with my pain and start to move past the anger because it didn’t do me any good, leaving it and you behind. i remember when you won the euros i was grateful to be living overseas because i don’t know how i’d have coped seeing your face plastered everywhere when i had been trying my best to move on with my life.” you were perhaps a little blunt in your words but the blonde across from you appreciated the honesty.

“i got over the breakup a lot faster than i actually got over losing you. i may have lashed out at you about it but you weren’t wrong, we were a huge part of each others lives for a long time before we dated. and i think i felt like once I moved past losing you as a partner, it hurt more to grieve the actual history and years of friendship and that immense bond we had before which was just suddenly gone.” you admitted quietly, a flash of pain glancing across both yours and alessia’s faces momentarily as the blonde was briefly plagued by the memory of her own feelings toward the loss.

“but look i think there is some merit in saying that people change. and i can see that you're making an effort to try and show me that's not who you are anymore." you noted, pausing for a second to collect your thoughts.

"i still feel that the kiss was a mistake, and that it can't and won't happen again. i’ve moved past those feelings for you and i just can’t risk being hurt like that again.” you remanded softly, alessia's stomach clenching at the memory of your lips on hers but she made sure this was disguised, nodding along. unbeknownst to her all of this was also playing on your mind, but you’d shoved deep down how good it felt to lean into the feeling of her lips on yours in favour of not ever wanting to be so let down again, you had your walls up for a reason and you’d learned to protect yourself as best you could.

"but you were right, we do both live here now and its obvious our mums are clearly back in one anothers lives again so we are going to have to interact regardless. so, i guess what i'm trying to say is that i'm open to trying to be friends again." you revealed, alessia's eyebrows shooting upward unable to disguise the obvious surprise on her face at your words.

"but slowly. i still have a lot of trust issues after everything, and they don't just go away overnight." you warned as alessia nodded furtively, clearly trying to hold back the grin which you could see tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"okay." the blonde breathed out, biting her bottom lip to stifle her smile as you shook your head with a smile of your own. "okay?" you chuckled, sipping on the last of your coffee.

"okay. yeah this is good, this will be good. but slowly! i can do slowly." alessia nodded, more as if to reassure herself than you as you hummed. "and just friends less, that other chapter is closed now and i don't want to open it again." you cautioned gently, aware that obviously all of this would be triggering things for her too, not just within you.

"i understand. like i said, i've missed you. to have you back in any capacity is more than i deserve, thank you." alessia admitted quietly with a shy smile, her heart admittedly pounding. again there was the soft vulnerable shy side of her you’d rarely seen growing up, and it was obvious that in her maturity there’d been some changes to her once almost aggressively over confident demeanour.

but between this opportunity that alessia been presented to have you back in her life coupled with the fact you'd just not called her by her full name without correcting yourself, she was quite the happy mess.

"to friendship." alessia lifted her empty glass with a grin causing you to laugh. "really?" you raised an eyebrow in amusement as alessia nodded and gestured for you to do the same. "it's empty! its bad luck to cheers with an empty glass.” you accused pointing to her finished coffee with a roll of your eyes.

"there's some...watery coffee like liquid left." the striker peered into her glass with a wince, the two of you sharing a look and a wide smile.

"fine, to friendship." you knocked your glass into hers, downing the last mouthful of your coffee as the blonde sipped the few milimetres of melted ice left in her own, grimacing in disgust.

"so, how do we um…do this?"

~

walking into training that afternoon there was seldom a thing someone could have said to wipe the shit eating grin off of alessia's face.

she was always known to be a positive person by nature, never unkind or rude to any of the staff or her team, always yelling out encouragement during drills or games, cracking jokes or messing about with the girls who she was closer to.

however to those same girls it was also not hard to see that today there was very obviously an extra bit of pep in the young lionesses step as she sauntered into the cafeteria for lunch, flashing around a toothy grin.

"you're even more chipper than usual less. have a good morning?" lotte questioned with a surprised smile as alessia sat down with her tray of food, humming in agreement. "would you like to elaborate?" lotte chuckled picking at her chicken as vic sat down followed closely by katie and caitlin.

"russo! you're glowin today. have a cheeky midnight rendezvous did we?" katie teased as alessia's face blushed bright red which vac wasted no time teasing her about, pinching at her cheeks as alessia shoved her off with a playful roll of her eyes.

"no. just caught up with an old friend for coffee." alessia explained with a shrug, shoveling a mouthful of food in as lotte narrowed her eyes slightly. "not..." she trailed off with an insinuating look as alessia avoided her eyes.

"oh less." lotte sighed, shaking her head as she picked at her food. "not the ex missus from the bar?" katie caught on quickly with a shocked look, alessia hissing for her to be quiet and smacking her arm across the table.

"an ex girlfriend? you like girls? why am i the last to know about this?" vic scoffed in offence shoving the blonde beside her. "cause you chose not to come out that night! russo here got beyond blind pissed and called her ex missus who had to come and pick her up, and the poor girl was not happy about it." katie caught the dutch girl up as caitlin shoved her, nodding to alessia with a firm warning look.

"oh was that private information? sorry less." katie winced slightly as vic rounded on alessia with a hundred questions. "okay fine i'll tell you! just shut up for five seconds." alessia huffed at the shorter girls persistence who immediatley went quiet, all four girls now looking to the blonde for an explanation.

so with twenty minutes left before they were expected into the gym, alessia opened up about almost everything between you and her, well as much as she was willing to share with her friends anyway.

"christ russo, you planned on leavin without even tellin her? harsh. i'd have dumped ya too, and kicked your arse!" katie whistled, caitlin stomping on her foot with a firm look at her girlfriends inability to clearly read the vibe of a room.

suddenly the training staff called for everyone to head toward the gym as the girls stood, alessia appreciating the forced cut off of their previous conversation as they all dumped their trays and split up to head off out of the cafeteria.

"i stand by what i said early on, are you sure this is a good idea? that you're able to be just friends with her? that break up had you really not okay for a long time less." lotte questioned softly, eyes shining with care for the younger girl.

"look i can't answer that right now. but i would rather have her in my life as a friend than nothing at all. she’s been my best mate since we were five lotte and we've spent too long apart, i miss her." alessia admitted with a sigh, lotte nodding in understanding, pulling her into a tight side hug before they were split up for drills.

~

"oh look what’s come crawling out of its cave, it lives!" your older brother harry teased as he opened the door and let you in, causing you to shove him with a roll of your eyes. "hello stranger." your older sister lilly called out from the sofa causing you to groan in annoyance.

"sorry i have a life outside of mooching off mums cooking and fully stocked up cupboards." you retorted back, shrugging off your jacket and hanging it up by the door.

"they're not here yet." harry added as you glanced toward the backyard where several people littered about. alessia hadn’t been wrong your mum had organised another get together with the russo’s, however of course being the hostess with the mostess she had also invited several of her other friends and their families along too.

“why are you both hiding out in here then?” you chuckled, wandering into the kitchen and shaking your head at the amount of prepped food, enough to feed twice the amount of people. though it would mean you could likely steal some leftovers for your work lunches this week and that was a promising thought.

“i’m taking a break from all the polite small talk and lil’s sick of people touching her tummy.” harry chuckled nodding to your pregnant sister who nodded in agreement. “how is my little niece or nephew doing?” you grinned happily, thumping yourself down beside her and looking at your sister with hopeful eyes as your brother ventured back outside.

“i already told you we’re not finding out the gender until the baby comes, nor will i be revealing any names!” your sister warned making you groan in annoyance, giving her a pout to which she just playfully shoved your head away.

“buzzkill. where’s oli then?” you asked, unable to spot your sisters husband anywhere. “work. he’s taken up every second weekend to try and help us save for the little one.” lily patted her stomach. “you know for some extra money we could capitolise on you being pregnant. i’m sure thats like a fetish or something somewhere.” you shrugged casually as your sister looked at you like you had four heads.

“i’m not even going to dignify that with a response god you are so weird!” your sister shook her head as you only grinned. “so how was your date then? i don’t see a ring!” she teased as you rolled your eyes. “is there anyone mum didn’t tell?” you huffed in annoyance at the ever meddling behaviours of her. “please you know her hairdresser, the market attendant and her nail lady are all rooting for you to find a husband or a wife soon.” that caused both of you to break out into a laugh.

“i date all the genders and yet here i am the only single sibling. i’m honestly shocked mums not tried to set me up with someone or sell me off like a prized cow yet.” you rolled your eyes with a smile.

“oh believe me she’s open to it! but you’re lucky she’s so gullible because i personally know you didn’t go on a date, you were just avoiding alessia.” lily quirked an eyebrow knowingly. “i was not!” you defended though you quickly abandoned that strategy at her firm gaze, seeing right through your lies.

“it didn’t work anyway she just came over afterwards.” you sighed as your sisters eyebrows raised. “oo did you two have hot hate sex?” lily asked as your eyes bugged and you smacked her on the arm. “what? of course not!” you scoffed in offence with a deep seeded frown.

“please if you think i didn’t know the two of you were more than friends once upon a time then you’re even more of a moron than i thought. harry and i have known for years!” your sister chuckled as your mouth formed a small o in shock at the reveal.

“how?” you questioned with a frown. “well firstly because you didn’t just deny it-“ she started as you groaned. “and secondly you were both horrible at sneaking around. the shared love bites alone were enough, you’re just lucky mums so oblivious.” she chuckled as you sighed, head thumping back on the pillow.

you’d told her way back then that both you and alessia had decided not to be friends anymore after she kept going to college from you, but you’d never told her the true nature of your relationship.

“why didn’t you ever tell me that you knew! especially after i came out!” you shoved her in annoyance. “i figured you’d want to leave it in the past. plus with dad and everything you had enough going on without the added stress.” her voice softened as you nodded.

“so she came over afterwards? are you two working it out then?” lily asked curiously as you shook your head firmly. “not like that. but we are slowly working on building a friendship back.” you revealed as your sister squeezed your shoulder in a silent understanding.

“well that’s nice then. but come on, if we don’t go and mingle soon i fear mum will send in a search party.” your sister rolled her eyes before you helped her up, the two of you making your way outside, greeted by cheers as you were passed from old family friend to friend giving pleasantries and half sincere smiles.

and that’s exactly how alessia found you as the russo’s arrived, the sun already setting as they made their way around the side of the house, gio and luca bickering as mario warned them to drop it.

they were a little later than everyone else, as arsenal had just won 4-1 with a lunchtime fixture much as alessia had encouraged her family to come here and she would meet them later they never missed a match where they could and she was grateful for their undying support.

as her family dispersed to greet everyone alessia’s eyes of course found you first, a soft smile coming to her lips as she watched your head go back with a laugh at something.

long gone were the days the two of you would hide away from everyone up in your room, it had seemed time had busted you right out of your shell as the blonde watched you effortlessly and confidently engage in conversations with everyone, joking around and waving your hands about as you clearly told some sort of story which had the group around you in stitches.

but well aware that the two of you were trying to go slow alessia chose purposefully not to go to you first, instead making her way around to those who she knew saying hello. she found herself engaged in a heated conversation with her brothers and a few of her dads friends about the match which just passed, playfully taking the mick out of them for the fact they were spurs supporters and that’s who she’d just beaten.

“lessi darling have you eaten anything since you played?” your mum interrupted, grabbing her arm with a smile as alessia shook her head. “well we can’t have that. come with me!” alessia laughed as she was lovingly dragged inside where the rest of the food was, chatting away with the older woman as she piled a plate high with it.

“mum for god sakes stop force feeding people!” alessia’s head turned as you appeared, stepping through the back door with a playful roll of your eyes. “she hasn’t eaten and she’s just played a full match! let your mother be a mother would you.” the older woman swatted at you as you grinned,

“heard you lost, what a shame.” you sighed toward the older girl who rolled her eyes. “no it’s not like golf, remember the team with the most goals wins!” alessia quipped back, thanking your mum with a kiss on the cheek as the woman placed a stacked plate of food in front of her.

“boring.” you shrugged, sending her a smile and offering her a drink which she accepted, your mum excusing herself back outside. “you went to a sold out semi final of the world cup without even knowing the rules of the game, and as an english woman. you’re lucky you didn’t get your head kicked in on the train home!” alessia laughed after she’d swallowed a mouthful of food.

you chuckled at that and retorted that you were not anyone’s favourite person that next day at school especially your very torn up very australian students. but the comment did have you thinking back to that night, where you had to see her for the first time in years and she didn’t even know you were there.

your coworkers had all but dragged you to the match, and despite not being a football fan you didn’t live under a rock. you knew alessia was in the england squad, your social media had been drowned in friends and family all posting and sharing about the teams extremely successful tournament.

englands love and pride for football ran deep and despite being in another country it seemed you just couldn’t escape the beloved strikers face following you around.

it had been the same for the euro’s however you’d been able to try and avoid that as much as you could with that not being something many australians bothered about. but with this tournament happening on the same soil you worked and lived on, it had become ten times harder to ignore it.

it had taken two days of stress and panic for you to actually come to terms with the fact that you’d be seeing her again, even from hundreds of metres away up in the stands, kept safe by the four walls of the corporate box you were all being treated to. your coworkers had forced you into a matilda’s jersey however you made a point of buying an england scarf as to not entirely betray your home country.

it had comforted you to know that at least alessia wouldn’t know you were there, and unlike every other time you’d supported her at a match in the past her eyes wouldn’t meet yours with a cheeky grin and a point in your direction when she scored.

that didn’t however stop you from cheering when she did, you were after all still very proud of the team and knew what this would do for womens sports even if you weren’t personally a die hard football fan. the cheers which were very quickly silenced by the murderous glares of the australians surrounding you in the box.

“you wore an australian jersey?” alessia gasped in disbelief as you revealed that to her. “i was trying to fit in! i had an england scarf.” you defended yourself with a laugh, the two of you sat on opposite ends of the lounge after alessia had finished eating.

“traitor to your own country.” alessia tutted making you roll your eyes before the blonde let out a large yawn, quickly covering her mouth as her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “sorry!” she apologised, shaking her head as if to wake herself up a little.

“don’t be. i was actually going to head home pretty soon, do you want a lift?” you offered hesitantly, alessia assuring she didn’t want to be a bother. “you’re not, pretty sure everyone’s made a point to tell me you only live a few minutes down the road. and I’d like to get out of here before they break out the karaoke!” you joked as alessia couldn’t help but nod in agreement, accepting your offer.

it took the two of you a further hour to say your goodbyes, the time now ticking over past eight in the evening you accepted the boo’s and the jeer’s that you were bailing early, brushing them off with a smile and a hug.

promising carol you’d come over soon and see her properly you finally made a break for the exit, alessia following suit as you made a beeline out the door and toward your car.

“they don’t ever get tired of making the point we grew up and aren’t thirteen anymore huh?” you laughed as you both buckled up. “oh look at you! so grown up! so beautiful, looking just like your mother!” alessia cooed sarcastically, reaching over to squeeze your cheeks and shake your head back and forth as you laughed and swatted her away.

it was almost scary how easy it felt to slip back into this light banter with her, chattering away as if no time had passed it surprised you how effortlessly the chips had fallen into place.

though despite that your walls were still very much so up, and you knew there were certain topics of conversation you’d avoid with her, and you still wanted to take it slow.

“hey this is really random, and please feel free to say no. but do you want to go get ice cream? there’s a gelato place not far from my apartment and i’ve kind of been craving it lately.” alessia asked apprehensively, fiddling with her hands.

“weren’t you just yawning a few minutes ago?” you chuckled, not catching the way alessia’s face flickered into disappointment for a moment before a smile quickly tugged at her lips.

“but hey who would i be to say no to ice cream.”

~

“this is me just up here.” alessia pointed as you nodded, driving a little down the street until you found a park. “you really are quite close, i could have walked from my place.” you smiled as the two of you got out of the car.

“the winds picking up and it’s supposed to rain tomorrow you might want a jumper or something.” alessia noted as you nodded, opening the back door and frowning at the empty seats.

“oh my jacket!” you remembered with a groan as realised you’d left it at your mums house, and of course it was one of your favourites. “dressed inappropriately for the london weather, remember you’re not in australia anymore!” alessia teased as you closed your door with a huff.

“i had one! i left it at back at mums place.” you sighed, wrapping your arms around yourself as indeed the wind had picked up. “typical. wait here.” alessia rolled her eyes playfully, stopping herself from inviting you inside well aware that might be a little too soon.

“less its fine i’ll warm up as we walk!” you called after her but the stubborn blonde dismissed you with a wave, glad to be facing away from you as she hurried toward her front door, hiding the smile which wound its way onto her lips at you again not calling her by her full name.

progress.

“here.” the striker returned a few minutes later, holding out a large charcoal grey coat in your direction, having slipped on a hoodie underneath the puffer jacket she was wearing earlier and tied her hair back into a low bun.

“your arms are so long.” you shrugged it on with a huff and rolled up the ends of the sleeves making alessia laugh. “not my fault i had a growth spurt and you’re the same height as when you were twelve.” the blonde smirked causing you to push her with a roll of your eyes.

“i am not! i’m barely a head shorter than you.”

“wow i didn’t realise heads were a metre long.”

“at least i know the size of my own legs. i saw you fall over before!” you grinned, the blonde indeed having tripped over the leg of a chair and tumbled down to the ground, relentlessly ribbed by her brothers for it she had been grateful no one else had seen.

or so she thought.

“thank you though.” you spoke more sincerely, definitely grateful for the barrier from the icy sharp poke of the london evening wind.

as the two of you walked it took every single ounce of your restraint not to focus on the fact that the coat smelled like her and that her scent had changed over the years from how you remembered it.

no longer was it plagued with notes of bergamot and lavender, or her infamous green apple shampoo. now you found yourself drowned in the faint but still ever present aroma of what was likely a rather expensive perfume, much more floral and light but still with some woody undertones, like how the ground smelled in spring after it rained.

it seemed ridiculous to say but she smelled rich, and yet still just as ever alluring as she had when you were younger and you’d steal her hoodies. relishing in pretending that she was with you in bed on nights where the two of you had to be apart, the blonde away on some sort of football tournament or camp.

if anything that made it a little easier to just tell yourself it was someone else’s coat given the unfamiliar aroma, to delude your poor overworked mind that you didn’t notice that you could still find yourself in a drunken haze on how intoxicatingly comforting it felt to wear her clothes, which had always hung off of you in the most ridiculous ways given your height difference.

because you wouldn’t dare to fall back into that trap, you couldn’t.

“can i try that one please?” alessia asked politely with a smile, pointing to a rocky road flavour as your eyes surveyed the counter, biting down on your bottom lip as your options ticked over in your head.

“oh yum. hey try this.” she nudged your shoulder with hers and held out the half eaten spoon toward you without a second thought. you knew she hadn’t meant anything by the casual gesture, the two of you had always shared food or drinks without a care.

but now, with your walls up and already struggling to pull your head out of the hazy fog caused by the fact you were wearing her coat and drowned in her smell, the simple gesture felt far too familiar for you to accept.

so you shook your head, pushing it back toward her and avoiding her eyes you felt look toward you. “can i please get a scoop of the caramel peanut butter and one of the cake batter please? in a cup.” you requested with a smile toward the young girl serving you.

“can i get a scoop of the rocky road and the cookies and cream please? in a cone.” alessia ordered her own, moving toward the counter as you were preoccupied with reading all the other weird and wacky flavours in the small but seemingly busy shop.

with you distracted she wasted no time paying for both of them with a simple tap, thanking the girl and grabbing both her cone and your cup, chuckling at your sweet tooth and making her way to you.

“that’s not fair! you payed for coffee too.” you scowled once you realised what she’d done, the two of you sitting down on a small table outside. “you can pay next time then.” alessia smiled over her ice cream causing you to roll your eyes.

“so do you have a busy week? though that’s probably quite a stupid question given your job.” alessia asked and quickly clarified with a sheepish chuckle.

“you’re not wrong. but they’re actually a great group of kids, a couple i have to keep an eye on but i love teaching them at this age. they’re just starting to learn and develop opinions and big feelings and watching that and encouraging it is so rewarding. much as those big feelings can sometimes be very overwhelming.” you laughed and suddenly realised you were rambling, a slight blush covering your cheeks.

“sorry. but no my weeks okay? I actually have monday off because they have an excursion and i drew the lucky card of not having to chaperone.” you sighed happily, as much as you did adore your class to wrangle over 40 kids in an environment outside of the school was often a nightmare, so you weren’t upset at missing out and having a three day weekend.

“did you really draw cards?” alessia asked with an amused smile. “no we draw names out of a hat.” you teased before explaining there was a rotating roster of which grade teachers had to attend each excursion.

“but a three day weekend means rory is dragging me out tomorrow night. which feels illegal given it’ll be a sunday!” you chuckled with a shake of your head, your long time friend forever trying to harass you into going out with her had meant she’d capitalised on this opportunity as soon as you’d make the mistake of mentioning it.

“what about you?” you switched the focus back to alessia who paused to swallow her mouthful of ice cream. “a few of the england girls are around london for an award show tonight so we’re going out tomorrow night to catch up. though for some reason they’ve decided to let tooney plan it so god knows what we’ll end up doing!” alessia rolled her eyes with a smile.

“award show? look at you, the little football mad girl from Kent going from mud wrestling and slumming it in the boys team to living it up in london rubbing elbows with celebrities.” you grinned as the two of you decided to start walking back.

“hardly, it feels so odd. people knowing who you are, wanting your attention or an autograph, knowing you’ve made their day even just by giving them a wave. you ride out the highs but then there’s the lack of privacy and all the media assumptions and the news articles and the criticism of every single match. i’m so incredibly grateful for all of it but sometimes its a little much.” alessia admitted with a sigh.

“i’m sorry i can’t even begin to imagine how that feels.” you empathised with the taller girl with a small frown. “i don’t even think i know how it feels. one day it’s the best job ever and you’re getting silverware and praise and the next you miss one kick and feel like you’ve let an entire country down.” alessia continued with a wince.

“social media would really make it worse huh.” you winced along with her at the thought of the millions of trolls which could hide behind the anonymous natures of theirs accounts. “god you have no idea. it was really bad when all the contract negotiations were going on with united before i moved to arsenal.” alessia sighed as you listened intently.

“everyone was telling me what to do or assuming what i was doing and that would lead to another news article speculating about my future and suddenly everyone feels the right to tear down everything. my football, my family, my weight, my appearance, everything. and it felt like i couldn’t escape it anywhere, even my own teammates were questioning what i was doing and where i was going if not with united but without a contract signed with arsenal yet because of the transfer window i legally couldn’t tell anyone what was happening.” alessia vented, the two of you finishing your ice creams as you dumped your empty cup in a nearby bin.

“sorry! that was…look its in the past. but yeah, social media sucks.” alessia caught herself becoming overtly emotionally at the memories and quickly breezed over them. “hey that sounds awful and i’m really sorry you had to go through that, but less don’t diminish the fact it felt horrible. people can be so cruel and cowardly on social media.” you grabbed her arm and gave her a smile so soft it had alessia’s knees wobbling.

“thank you. if anything nowadays it just drives me to train harder and play better, the best way to shut them up is by proving them wrong.” alessia shrugged, wrenching her eyes away from yours for fear of drowning in them.

“wow well it’s comforting to know all those years of torture kicking footballs at my head was worth it then.” you smiled bumping your shoulder into her. “mmm yeah using you for target practice really paid off, thanks!” she bumped you back with a grin as the two of you arrived to your car.

“text me when you get home safe yeah?” alessia asked with a slight frown as you nodded, unlocking your car and shrugging off her coat, folding it neatly and handing it back to her. “they have these crazy things called heaters in cars now.” you joked before she could offer for you to keep it, not wanting to entertain the thought.

“thank you, that was nice. catching up and stuff!” alessia smiled, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. “yeah it was.” you agreed sharing her thought, as nice as it could be for exes who suddenly decide after six years to try and be friends, nothing weird or hard about that at all.

a silence fell between the two of you, both sizing the other up and very clearly unsure how to end things. did you hug? did you both just part ways? did you say goodbye?

you both obviously picked up on the slightly awkward tension and chuckled shyly, and then with a few more moments of silence alessia decided to go for it well aware of a potential rejection.

she stepped toward you and opened her arms slightly, clearly hesitant as you paused. but then your arms were wrapped around her and your face was pressed into her chest and alessia held her breath for fear if she even moved slightly you might disappear.

your body filled with a warmth you’d not felt in years as her taller form wrapped around you in a tight hug, the double layers of clothing covering her only bringing more comfort as you could have melted into her.

but your walls suddenly sprang back up and you pulled away, sending her a rushed smile and a quick goodbye before slipping into your car as she made her way to her front door, watching as your car pulled off and disappeared around the corner.

busy driving you failed to see your phone light up with a notification as you turned your music louder to try and distract your mind from overthinking.

@alessiarusso99 has requested to follow you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

chapter nine

[bratzkoo]

WGM episode 8 | dk

episode 8: amusement park

Author: bratzkoo Pairing: seokmin x reader Genre: fluff Rating: PG-13 Word count: 4.8k~ Warnings/note: fluff, fake marriage, and real feelings. cursing, seokmin curses a lot in his head.

summary: WE GOT MARRIED is back. Seokmin and Y/N pairs up to shoot 10 episodes for a special. Turns out, there are more things happenings off-camera than what meets the eye.

taglist (hit me up if you wanna be added): @ateez-atiny380 , @aeerio . @vernons-wifey12 , @odevote118 , @btskzfav , @codeinebelle , @syluslittlecrows , @minghaofied , @ikbennatas , @armycarat2612 , @smiileflower

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[Opening sequence: Highlights from Episode 7, focusing on their intimate photoshoot moments and the surprise cheek kiss]

Narrator: "After showing their sweet side to the world in their magazine feature, our favorite couple is heading out for a day of fun and thrills at the amusement park!"

---

Seokmin arrived at the designated meeting spot outside Lotte World twenty minutes early, as had become his habit whenever he was meeting Y/N. He blamed it on professional courtesy, but the members had taken to calling it his "pre-Y/N panic time"—a chance for him to get his nerves under control before the cameras started rolling.

Not that it ever worked. Seven episodes in, and his heart still did that ridiculous flutter when he saw her approaching.

The magazine photoshoot from last week had complicated things further. The physical closeness, the staged intimacy that hadn't felt staged at all, the surprise cheek kiss that he could still feel tingling on his skin days later—it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the mental barrier between reality and the show.

And now they were going to an amusement park. A classic date location straight out of every K-drama ever made. Seokmin had a sneaking suspicion the PD was working through a romance cliché checklist at this point.

"You're thinking too loud again," came Y/N's voice, startling him out of his thoughts.

Seokmin turned to find her standing beside him, looking casual and pretty in jeans, a light sweater, and a baseball cap—a far cry from the glamorous styling of their photoshoot, but somehow even more appealing for its naturalness.

"I wasn't thinking," Seokmin defended automatically. "I was... strategizing."

"Strategizing what? Optimal cotton candy consumption techniques?" Y/N teased.

"Exactly that," Seokmin agreed with mock seriousness. "It's all about the fluffy-to-sugar ratio. Very scientific."

Y/N laughed, the sound still doing dangerous things to his cardiac rhythm even after all this time. "Well, I'm glad one of us is prepared."

The production crew approached, cameras already rolling to capture their meeting. The PD handed them each a small envelope.

"Today's mission is simple," the PD explained. "Enjoy a day at the amusement park together! But there's a twist—in these envelopes are three challenges you need to complete throughout the day."

Seokmin opened his envelope, reading the card inside:

1. Win a prize for Y/N at a game booth

2. Take a selca at the top of the Ferris wheel

3. Share one cotton candy (one stick, two people)

Easy enough. Though the Ferris wheel part made his stomach flip with nerves—not because of the height, but because of the romantic implications. Ferris wheels were where drama couples confessed feelings or shared first kisses. The setting was laden with expectations.

Stop overthinking. It's just a theme park date for a TV show.

Y/N showed him her card, which had similar couple-oriented challenges:

1. Buy matching accessories to wear

2. Feed each other some amusement park food

3. Hold hands on a scary ride

"Looks like we're hitting all the couple clichés today," Y/N observed with a wry smile.

"The PD is nothing if not thorough," Seokmin agreed. "Shall we start with the matching accessories? Get that one out of the way early?"

"Lead the way, fake husband."

The term "fake husband" had become something of an inside joke between them, but lately it had started to pinch a little each time she said it—a reminder of the temporary, manufactured nature of their relationship.

As they walked through the entrance gates, cameras trailing discreetly behind them, Seokmin was acutely aware of the public setting. Unlike their previous filmings in controlled environments, this one would have regular people in the background, potentially recognizing them.

Sure enough, he caught the whispers almost immediately.

"Isn't that Lee Seokmin from SEVENTEEN?"

"And Y/N Y/L/N? The actress?"

"They're the couple from that marriage show!"

"Are they filming right now?"

"Ignore them," Y/N murmured, noticing his discomfort. "Just focus on me."

Focus on me. As if that wasn't what he'd been doing helplessly for the past seven episodes.

"Right," Seokmin agreed, straightening his shoulders. "Just us, having fun. Nothing to see here, folks. Just your average idol and actress fake-married for television, wandering around an amusement park with a camera crew. Totally normal Tuesday."

Y/N laughed, linking her arm through his with casual ease that made his heart skip. "Exactly. Now, about those matching accessories..."

They found a souvenir shop near the entrance and browsed the options. Couple headbands? Too obvious. Matching t-shirts? Too committed. Finally, they settled on simple matching wristbands with the park's logo.

"Subtle but identifiable," Y/N approved as they tied them on each other's wrists. "Perfect for a couple who's been married for approximately five minutes of real time spread across seven episodes."

"When you put it that way, our relationship sounds very efficient," Seokmin joked. "Most couples take years to go through what we've experienced in a few filming days."

"The wonders of television time compression," Y/N agreed, her fingers lingering perhaps a second longer than necessary as she finished securing his wristband.

With one challenge completed, they headed deeper into the park. The atmosphere was lively, with cheerful music playing through speakers and the excited screams from nearby rides creating a backdrop of joyful chaos. Despite his initial nervousness about the public setting, Seokmin found himself relaxing as they walked, falling into easy conversation.

"What rides do you like?" he asked. "Thrill seeker or more of a merry-go-round enthusiast?"

"Somewhere in between," Y/N replied. "I like rides that go fast, but I'm not a fan of ones that spin or go upside down too much."

"What about heights?" Seokmin asked, thinking of their pending Ferris wheel mission.

Something flickered across Y/N's expression. "Heights are... not my favorite thing."

"Really?" Seokmin asked, surprised. "But we have to take a selca on the Ferris wheel."

"I know," Y/N said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I'll be fine. It's just not something I'd choose voluntarily."

Seokmin filed this information away carefully. "We can save that for last, then. Build up to it."

"My hero," Y/N said with a playful smile, but there was genuine appreciation in her eyes.

They decided to start with some of the gentler rides to warm up. The bumper cars provided an opportunity for Seokmin to showcase his terrible driving skills, while Y/N proved unexpectedly aggressive, targeting him mercilessly.

"I thought we were on the same team!" Seokmin protested after she rammed into him for the third time.

"All's fair in love and bumper cars," Y/N called back, circling around for another attack.

The cameras captured their competitive banter, the PD giving approving nods at their natural chemistry. After bumper cars came the spinning teacups (moderately successful) and a carousel ride (during which Seokmin pretended his horse was in an intense race with Y/N's).

"I think it's time for something more thrilling," Y/N suggested after they'd exhausted the tamer options. "Maybe we can tackle the 'hold hands on a scary ride' challenge?"

Seokmin's heart rate picked up at the thought. "Sure, what did you have in mind?"

Y/N pointed to a massive roller coaster that featured multiple loops and a near-vertical drop. "That one."

"You're sure heights aren't your thing?" Seokmin asked skeptically. "Because that seems very... high."

"Roller coasters are different," Y/N explained. "You're moving too fast to really register the height. It's the slow ascent and hovering at the top that bothers me."

"Like on a Ferris wheel," Seokmin concluded, understanding dawning.

"Exactly," Y/N confirmed with a small smile. "But I'll be brave for the mission."

"We'll tackle it together," Seokmin promised, feeling a surge of protectiveness. "But first, let's see if I scream higher than you on this death trap."

The line for the roller coaster was long, giving them time to chat while the cameras captured their anticipation. Seokmin found himself sharing stories about amusement park trips with his members, while Y/N told him about a disastrous high school field trip where she'd gotten separated from her class and ended up accidentally joining a tour group of elderly tourists.

"They were so nice," she recalled with a laugh. "They kept offering me candies and asking if I needed to rest. I spent two hours looking at flower arrangements with them before my teacher found me."

"That's adorable," Seokmin said, genuinely charmed by the mental image of teenage Y/N being adopted by a group of grandparents.

As they approached the front of the line, Y/N's nervous glances at the coaster's imposing structure became more frequent. When they finally boarded and the safety bars lowered into place, she took a deep breath that was slightly shakier than her usual confident demeanor.

"You okay?" Seokmin asked, suddenly concerned that this might be more than just mild nerves.

"Fine," Y/N insisted, though her knuckles were white where she gripped the safety bar. "Just channeling my inner thrill-seeker."

"We can get off if you want," Seokmin offered, but the ride attendant was already moving down the line checking restraints.

"No backing out now," Y/N said with a tight smile. "Besides, we have a mission to complete."

Right. The hand-holding challenge. Though at this point, Seokmin was more concerned with Y/N's comfort than completing missions.

As the coaster began its initial ascent, he quietly offered his hand. Y/N looked at it for a brief moment before entwining her fingers with his, holding on with what might have been more force than strictly necessary for the show.

"I've got you," Seokmin said softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Y/N's smile was small but genuine. "I know."

And then they were at the top, teetering on the edge of the first drop, and there was no more time for conversation. The coaster plunged downward, and Seokmin found himself screaming at a pitch that would have made his vocal coach weep. Beside him, Y/N's initial scream of terror quickly transformed into shrieks of laughter as they whipped through loops and corkscrews at dizzying speeds.

Through it all, she never let go of his hand.

When they finally jerked to a stop back at the loading platform, both were breathless and laughing, hair windblown and cheeks flushed with adrenaline.

"That was AMAZING!" Y/N exclaimed, eyes bright with excitement. "Can we go again?"

Seokmin stared at her in disbelief. "You were terrified thirty seconds ago!"

"And now I'm exhilarated," Y/N countered. "That's the whole point of these rides."

They exited to where the camera crew waited, still holding hands without seeming to realize it until the PD pointedly looked down at their entwined fingers. They separated quickly, both suddenly finding the exit signs fascinating.

"Challenge completed," the PD noted with satisfaction. "What's next?"

"I think I need to restore my dignity by winning something at a game booth," Seokmin declared. "My screams on that ride were not my most masculine moment."

"I don't know, I found them endearing," Y/N teased. "Like a pterodactyl discovering it can fly."

"That's... not the flattering comparison you think it is," Seokmin replied, but he was laughing too.

They made their way to the game section of the park, where various booths offered prizes for throwing darts, shooting water guns, or knocking down bottles. Seokmin surveyed the options, trying to determine which game gave him the best chance of success.

"How about that one?" Y/N suggested, pointing to a ring toss booth where players tried to loop rings around the necks of bottles.

Seokmin eyed it doubtfully. "Those are notoriously rigged, you know."

"All the more impressive when you win," Y/N countered with a challenging smile. "Unless you don't think you can..."

"Oh, it's ON," Seokmin declared, immediately falling for her obvious manipulation. "I am about to ring toss my way into the history books."

They approached the booth, where an array of stuffed animals hung as prizes. Y/N's eyes lingered on a large plush dog with floppy ears and a goofy expression.

"That one's cute," she commented casually.

Message received. Seokmin paid for a round of rings and took aim at the bottles, determined to win that specific prize for her.

His first attempt sailed completely over the bottles and hit the back wall of the booth.

"Just warming up," he assured Y/N, who was poorly concealing her amusement.

The second throw bounced off the rim of a bottle and ricocheted in an impressive series of bounces before landing on the ground.

"Physics is clearly working against me," Seokmin reasoned.

The third attempt actually made it around a bottle, but it was one of the ones that only won a small consolation prize.

"Progress!" Y/N encouraged.

The fourth and fifth attempts were similarly unsuccessful, leaving Seokmin with empty hands and wounded pride.

"One more round," he insisted, paying for another set of rings. "I'm getting that dog if it's the last thing I do."

Six more failed attempts later, Seokmin was beginning to understand why these games had a reputation for being impossible. The booth operator was watching with increasing amusement, while the camera crew had settled in for what was clearly going to be an extended segment.

"Maybe we should try a different game," Y/N suggested gently.

"No," Seokmin replied, a look of determination settling on his face. "I said I would win you that prize, and I'm going to do it. No matter how many tries it takes."

"My hero," Y/N said, and though there was teasing in her tone, there was something warm in her eyes that made Seokmin's resolve strengthen.

Three more rounds and fifteen more failed attempts later, Seokmin was contemplating whether it would be easier to just climb over the counter and steal the plush dog when he finally, FINALLY landed a ring around the center bottle—the one that won the grand prize.

"I DID IT!" he shouted, jumping up and down with more excitement than the achievement probably warranted. "DID YOU SEE THAT? I AM THE RING TOSS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!"

Y/N was laughing, clapping her hands in genuine delight at his childlike enthusiasm. "That was amazing! I can't believe you actually did it!"

The booth operator handed over the coveted plush dog with a look of mild surprise, clearly not having expected anyone to actually win it. Seokmin accepted it triumphantly and presented it to Y/N with an exaggerated bow.

"For you, my lady. Only took half my yearly salary and possibly the development of a gambling addiction, but totally worth it."

Y/N accepted the stuffed dog, hugging it to her chest with a smile that made all those failed attempts completely worthwhile. "I shall treasure him forever. What should we name him?"

"Persistence," Seokmin suggested. "Or perhaps 'Financial Ruin.'"

"How about 'Lucky'?" Y/N countered. "Since it was lucky throw number twenty-something that won him."

"Lucky it is," Seokmin agreed, feeling oddly touched that she wanted to name it together, as if it were their shared pet rather than just a carnival prize.

With the ring toss challenge completed (albeit at great cost to Seokmin's wallet and dignity), they moved on to the food section of the park. The "feed each other" challenge from Y/N's card was next on their list.

They surveyed the options—corn dogs, ice cream, various fried foods on sticks—before settling on a stall selling hotteok, the sweet pancakes filled with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts.

"These look dangerous," Y/N observed as they received their order. "Very messy potential."

"That's half the fun," Seokmin replied. "Nothing says romance like getting syrup all over your face while cameras document your humiliation."

They found a table and sat down, the hotteok steaming between them. The cameras positioned to capture the feeding moment, which suddenly felt more intimate than Seokmin had anticipated.

"Ladies first," he said, breaking off a piece and holding it up for Y/N.

She leaned forward, eyes locked with his as she took the bite from his fingers. There was something deliberate in the way she maintained eye contact, something that made Seokmin's breath catch in his throat.

"Your turn," she said after a moment, breaking off her own piece and offering it to him.

Seokmin leaned in, hyperaware of her fingers brushing against his lips as he accepted the bite. The sweetness of the hotteok was almost overwhelmed by the rush of emotions flooding his system.

It's just for the show. It's just for the cameras. It doesn't mean anything.

But the soft smile Y/N gave him as she wiped a bit of sugar from the corner of his mouth with her thumb felt anything but staged.

"Two challenges left," she said, glancing at their mission cards. "Cotton candy and the Ferris wheel."

"Let's get the cotton candy now and save the Ferris wheel for sunset," Seokmin suggested. "It'll look better for the photos."

And give Y/N more time to prepare for her fear of heights, though he didn't say that part aloud.

They found a cotton candy vendor and ordered a single stick, the fluffy pink cloud almost comically large between them.

"How exactly are we supposed to share this?" Y/N wondered, eyeing the sugary confection.

"With great difficulty and maximum stickiness," Seokmin predicted. "Want first bite?"

Y/N tore off a piece, the sugar immediately dissolving on her tongue. "So sweet!"

"That's kind of the whole point," Seokmin laughed, taking his own piece.

They wandered through the park, passing the cotton candy back and forth, occasionally tearing off pieces for each other in a continuation of their feeding challenge. It was simple, silly fun, but Seokmin found himself treasuring these lighthearted moments even more than the more obviously couple-oriented challenges.

As the afternoon wore on and the cotton candy dwindled to nothing but a sticky paper cone, they found themselves approaching the final challenge—the Ferris wheel. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, creating the perfect romantic backdrop.

Too perfect, in Seokmin's opinion. It felt like a setup, a manufactured moment designed to push them into something neither was ready to acknowledge.

"We don't have to do this if you're really uncomfortable with heights," he told Y/N quietly as they approached the imposing wheel.

Y/N took a deep breath, clutching Lucky the plush dog a little tighter. "It's fine. I can handle it. It's just a slow-moving wheel, right?"

"Right," Seokmin agreed. "And I'll be right there with you."

The line moved quickly, and soon they were being ushered into a glass-enclosed carriage. The camera crew couldn't join them in the small space, instead giving them a handheld camera to capture their own footage. This created an unexpected sense of privacy, despite knowing the footage would be viewed later.

As the wheel began to turn, lifting them higher into the evening sky, Y/N's knuckles whitened where she gripped the edge of the seat.

"Hey," Seokmin said softly, covering her hand with his. "Look at me, not down."

Y/N's eyes found his, gratitude clear in her expression. "Sorry. It's silly, I know."

"It's not silly," Seokmin assured her. "Everyone's afraid of something."

"What are you afraid of?" she asked, seemingly grateful for the distraction as they continued to ascend.

Seokmin considered this. "Professionally? Losing my voice before a big performance. It's my recurring nightmare."

"And personally?" Y/N pressed gently.

The question caught him off guard. They'd shared a lot over the past few months, but rarely ventured into territory this vulnerable. The privacy of their current situation made it easier to be honest.

"Being forgotten, I guess," he admitted after a moment. "Not just as an idol, but as a person. The thought that I might not leave any meaningful mark on the people I care about."

Y/N's eyes softened. "I don't think you need to worry about that. You're pretty unforgettable, Lee Seokmin."

The simple sincerity in her voice made his heart constrict. "What about you? Besides heights."

Y/N was quiet for a moment, her gaze drifting to the sunset visible through the glass, though she kept her hand firmly in his. "Becoming irrelevant, I think. Not necessarily in my career, though that's part of it. But more... being someone people can easily replace or move on from."

The vulnerability in her admission struck a chord in Seokmin. Without thinking, he squeezed her hand. "Also not something you need to worry about."

Their eyes met, and Seokmin was suddenly acutely aware of how alone they were, suspended high above the world in their glass bubble. The moment felt weighted with possibility, with unspoken words hovering between them.

Then the carriage jerked to a stop as they reached the very top of the wheel, and Y/N's fear resurfaced as she glanced down reflexively.

"Oh god, we're so high up," she breathed, her grip on his hand tightening painfully.

"Hey, it's okay," Seokmin soothed, shifting closer to put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't look down. Look out at the sunset instead. Or at me. I've been told I have a very distracting face."

That earned a small laugh from Y/N, though it was tinged with nervousness. "You do have a distracting face," she agreed, turning to look at him rather than the view. "Very expressive."

"One of my many talents," Seokmin confirmed seriously. "Along with pterodactyl screaming on roller coasters and spending obscene amounts of money on rigged carnival games."

Y/N's laugh was more genuine this time, her body relaxing slightly against his. "Don't forget your superior cotton candy sharing skills."

"A comprehensive skill set," Seokmin agreed. "I'm quite the catch."

"You are," Y/N said, and something in her tone made him pause. There was a sincerity there that didn't sound like part of their usual banter.

Before he could respond, she seemed to remember the camera in his free hand. "We should take that selca now, while we're at the top."

"Right," Seokmin agreed, grateful for the distraction from the suddenly charged atmosphere. He held up the camera, angling it to capture both them and the sunset behind them. "Smile!"

Y/N pressed close against his side, her face next to his, smile bright despite her fear of heights. Seokmin took several photos, wanting to make sure they got at least one good one.

"Perfect," Y/N declared, reviewing the images. "Mission accomplished."

As if on cue, the Ferris wheel began moving again, beginning its descent back to the ground. Y/N visibly relaxed as they moved downward, though she didn't pull away from Seokmin's side.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"For helping me through that. For distracting me."

"Anytime," Seokmin replied honestly. "That's what fake husbands are for, right?"

There it was again—that slight pinch at the reminder of their arrangement. But Y/N's smile didn't falter as she nodded. "Right."

When they reached the bottom and exited the carriage, the PD was waiting with an approving smile. "Did you get good footage up there?"

"I think so," Seokmin replied, handing over the camera. "All challenges completed successfully!"

"Great work, both of you," the PD said. "That's a wrap for today's episode!"

As the crew began packing up equipment, Seokmin and Y/N found themselves standing together in the fading twilight, the park's lights beginning to twinkle on around them.

"That was fun," Y/N said, still holding Lucky the stuffed dog to her chest. "Even the terrifying parts."

"Especially the terrifying parts," Seokmin corrected with a smile. "Those make the best stories later."

"True," Y/N agreed. "No one wants to hear about the time everything went perfectly according to plan."

There was a moment of comfortable silence between them, neither quite ready for the day to end.

"Do you want to grab dinner?" Seokmin found himself asking before he could overthink it. "The cameras are off, but we could still..."

He trailed off, suddenly unsure if he was overstepping. They rarely spent time together off-camera, though their text conversations had become increasingly frequent.

Y/N hesitated, and for a terrible moment Seokmin thought she was going to decline. Then she smiled, nodding. "I'd like that. I'm starving after all that cotton candy and hotteok."

"A balanced meal of pure sugar," Seokmin agreed with relief. "The cornerstone of any nutritious diet."

They ended up at a small restaurant near the park, tucked into a corner booth away from prying eyes. The conversation flowed easily, moving from reflections on their day to stories from their respective careers to childhood memories. It was the first time they'd spent significant time together without cameras recording their every word, and Seokmin found himself cherishing the authenticity of it.

"Can I ask you something?" Y/N said after their food had arrived. "And you don't have to answer if it's too personal."

"Sure," Seokmin replied, curious.

"Why did you agree to do 'We Got Married'? You mentioned losing at rock-paper-scissors, but was that really it?"

Seokmin considered the question, wanting to give her an honest answer. "Partly, yes. The members volunteered me when the offer came in. But I could have refused if I'd really wanted to."

"So why didn't you?"

"I thought it would be good exposure," Seokmin admitted. "Both for me personally and for the group. And I thought it might be fun, in a terrifying sort of way." He paused, then added, "I didn't expect..."

"What?" Y/N prompted when he trailed off.

Seokmin met her eyes. "I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have. Or to..."

Like you as much as I do. The words hovered unspoken between them.

"Me neither," Y/N said softly, seemingly understanding what he couldn't quite say. "It's been... unexpectedly nice."

There was that word again. Nice. Such a simple word for the complex emotions swirling between them.

The moment was interrupted by the arrival of their check, breaking the spell that had settled over their conversation. They split the bill and made their way outside, where reality awaited in the form of their respective managers parked nearby.

"Thank you for today," Y/N said as they prepared to part ways. "For winning Lucky, and for helping me on the Ferris wheel, and... everything."

"Thank you for making it so easy," Seokmin replied honestly. "Being married to you, even just for a TV show, has been... nice."

Y/N smiled at his echo of her earlier word. "See you for episode nine?"

"I'll be there," Seokmin promised. "With bells on, probably, knowing our PD's penchant for increasingly elaborate scenarios."

Y/N laughed, then surprised him by stepping forward and giving him a quick hug, Lucky the stuffed dog squished between them. "Goodnight, Seokmin."

"Goodnight," he replied, watching as she walked to her manager's car.

Later that night, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, his phone buzzed with a message. It was from Y/N—a selca of her with Lucky the stuffed dog positioned on her pillow.

Y/N: Lucky says goodnight. He also says thanks to his ring toss champion dad.

Ring toss champion dad. The casual implication of shared parenthood, even of a stuffed animal, made Seokmin's heart do a complicated flip.

Seokmin: Tell Lucky he's welcome, and that his Ferris wheel survivor mom is the real hero of the day.

Y/N: We make a good team, don't we?

Such a simple question, laden with potential meanings.

Seokmin: The best team. Even if we disagree on rug colors.

Y/N: Especially when we disagree on rug colors.

Seokmin smiled at the callback to their decoration argument. There was something comforting about these inside jokes they'd developed, these shared references that belonged just to them.

Y/N: I had fun tonight. Both on and off camera.

Seokmin: Me too. We should do it again sometime.

Y/N: I'd like that.

Three simple words that made Seokmin's chest tighten with hope and fear in equal measure. As he set his phone aside, he couldn't help but wonder where this was heading. Two episodes left, and then what? Back to their separate lives, with nothing but memories of a fake marriage that had begun to feel anything but fake?

For the first time since the show began, Seokmin allowed himself to admit what he'd been trying to deny for weeks now: he was falling for Y/N. Not for the cameras, not for the show, but for real.

And that realization was both the most thrilling and terrifying thought he'd had all day—far scarier than any roller coaster or Ferris wheel could ever be.

[boldlyvoid]

Love Story

Spencer Reid x Fem Reader

Summary: About a week into knowing her, Spencer knew he wanted to marry her one day. So, for her birthday, at The Eras Tour, he kneels to the ground and pulls out a ring...

Warnings: allusions to sex, stupid couple fights, Spencer spoiling her, roadtrips, food and drink mention, talks of the future (future kids) proposals.

a/n: this fic is for my best friend in the whole worlds birthday. @reidsbookclub, i love you, i hope you have the best time at your concert tonight <3

Word Count: 6k

Set in the Sweet Nothing Universe

He’s been in Reno for 3 months and dating Y/N for 3 months now, too. 

They practically live together now that it’s summer vacation for her. She took on some kids for tutoring, and she sees them a few hours a week whenever they have time. She mostly goes to their houses or meets them at the public library, which is right next door to his work. She brings him in a coffee or a snack whenever she’s in town, they have lunches together and she even stays a little longer in town so she can drive him home afterwards. 

It’s been wonderful. 

Everyone at work knows her, they call her Mrs. Reid as a joke and she thinks it's cute… Spencer, on the other hand, wishes she was his wife so, so bad. It’s way too early to ask her, even if he knows in his heart that she’s the one for him. So he’s waiting. He’s not sure how long he’ll wait. He doesn’t even know if she wants to get married one day. He still has some things to learn about her. 

Her birthday is coming up, soon, he knows that much. He actually learned about her birthday when Penelope was first telling him all about her. August 4th, making her a Leo, the lion sign, even though she’s as gentle as a flower. 

They haven’t planned anything for her birthday yet, it's still a couple of weeks away. He knows she’s told her kids that she’ll be busy from the 3rd to the 6th, taking 4 days just to herself, she wasn’t planning on doing anything. Spencer wants to treat her to something so bad. Be it a nice dinner, a gift she wants or a trip somewhere. So he takes those 4 days off too, he books it in advance with his boss, it’s approved and now he just has to plan something. 

During one of his lunch breaks that she isn’t sitting in on, he takes out his phone and calls up Penelope. Having known Y/N longer, she’s the perfect person to discuss ideas with. 

“Spencer my lovely! What are you doing calling me at 3pm on a weekday?” She answers full of cheer. 

“Y/N’s birthday is coming up, I need your expert advice on what to get her,” he heads right into it, skipping all the niceties, he only cares about her. 

“Taylor Swift tickets, duh!” 

“I tried that months ago, they sold out way too fast,” he complains. “We missed the Vegas show 'cause I obviously didn’t know her in March, all she has left are the Seattle and California shows… but again, they’re all sold out and the resale tickets are insane.” 

“Hey, six grand for 2 tickets with the love of your life is so worth it,” Penelope teases. “I might have a connection to the Inglewood show… maybe I can see if they have any last-minute tickets?” 

“How do you have a ticket connection?” 

“My brother's wife works for Ticketmaster, she said they save some tickets for important people until the last minute and if they’re not taken, they get released to the general public and you can get better deals if you call Ticketmaster instead of going online,” she explains. “I’ll give her a call, I’ll see what she can do.” 

“Okay, call me back when you know more?” 

“Will do, Spence-roo,” she says before hanging up, making him smile. 

—

He goes home to Y/N’s apartment that night, they have a home-cooked meal together and they settle down on the couch to watch something on TV and just relax for the rest of the night. 

She’s cuddled into Spencer’s side watching TikTok on her phone. She scrolled and scrolled and scrolled, barely watching anything for more than 30 seconds and then she stops on one. Spencer can hear the music and the cheering, it’s a tour video. He peeks over to it, watching as someone proposed to their girlfriend in the middle of Love Story. 

She likes it, opens the comments and congratulated them. The next words out of his mouth are barely in his control. They just tumble out. 

“Do you ever think about getting married?” 

She smiles up at him, “To you? Absolutely.” 

He pulls her in for a kiss. She locks her phone and tosses it to the side so she can climb into his lap and kiss him some more. His hands migrate to her hips, and she runs her fingers through his ever-growing hair. Making out with her on the couch, she lightly grinds against him, he hums into the kiss, breaking it to kiss her jaw along to her ear. 

“I’d want to marry you too…” 

She cups his face, staring him down, “Ask me whenever you’re ready.” 

“It’s not too soon?” 

She shakes her head, “No… I mean, people will probably think you knocked me up because of how fast we’ve moved but, it’s been 3 months. We know everything about each other, we sleep beside each other every single night, and I never want to break up with you. The next logical move would be to get married.” 

He steals another kiss, “I think,” he kisses her again on her jaw again, making his way down her neck, “You’re right.” 

She smiles, letting him go down to her boobs, “about people thinking you got me knocked up?” 

He laughs against her, “I mean, we fuck so often—

“No, don’t even joke,” she pulls his attention back to her. “You can’t get me pregnant just randomly, I don’t have enough money to pay for my substitute. You’d have to knock me up so I can have the baby in the summer…” 

He laughs, “You’re not serious, right?” 

“I’m completely serious. I don’t get maternity leave, I have to have summer babies if I want to keep my job.” 

“I have money,” he reminds her. “If we get married it becomes our money, you’d never have to worry about anything ever again.” 

She settles slightly, her shoulders drop again and she stares at him so softly, “I’d still worry, you know me.” 

He kisses her again, reaching up to brush her hair back, “I’m going to take care of you for the rest of your life… and if we ever had kids, you know I’d do the same for them.” 

“Do you want kids, like genuinely?” She asks. “Cause I know you love Henry and you said that you thought about having them with Maeve but—

“I want you to have my babies… whenever you’re ready,” he tosses the phrase back to her. 

That does it, she dives back in for another kiss, heating it up tenfold, he cradles her head and back, leaning down against the couch so he can hover over her. Working the button on her jeans open, he starts to tug on them when his phone rings. He wants to just let it ring, but it’s Penelope's ringtone. He hasn’t changed it, no matter how long he hasn’t worked with her, it’s still the same thing. 

“Hold on,” he whispers, trying to pull away. 

“Leave it,” she tugs him back in. She gets a few more kisses in and then he pulls back further. 

“I can’t, I’m sorry, I have to take this,” he reaches out to grab his phone off the coffee table and walks out of the apartment to take the call. 

“Hello?” 

“Hey, sorry, I know it’s late,” Penelope answers. “But I have good news. We were able to pull some strings and I got you 2 floor tickets for the 4th.” 

“No way?” He’s gobsmacked. 

“Way!! I gave her your information, the tickets are in your name and they’re being mailed to you so you’ll have physical tickets. You can just pay me back.” 

“What was the damage?” 

“they were $1800 each…” 

“That’s a lot better than the resale price,” he’s so glad. “Thank you, Penny, really, she’s going to love this.” 

“Hey, she was my friend first, I’d do anything for her,” Penny teases. “Now go back to hanging out with her, I’ll talk to you later, okay?” 

“thank you, we love you,” he reminds her. 

“I love you too!” And then she’s gone. 

He heads back inside and she’s no longer on the couch. The tv is off, all the lights are out, and she’s retreated back to the bedroom. He knocks before he enters, “Hey… sorry about that.” 

“It’s fine,” she says, clearly a bit upset. “I get it, works more important that me sometimes.” 

“No, no it’s not… and that wasn’t work.” 

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Cause it doesn’t.” 

He timidly walks towards her, “Hey, hey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked out on you like that. I know. But it was important… it’s for your birthday, that’s all I can say.” 

She bites back a smile, looking him dead in the eyes. “Really?” 

He nods, “You still have from the 3rd to the 6th off, right?” 

She nods, “I do… why?” 

“I’ll tell you more when the day gets closer, just, don’t plan anything, I want to make this special. This is our first birthday together, I want to celebrate you.” 

“Okay, you’re forgiven,” she gives in, she rushes over to him and tosses her arms around his neck. “But next time it rings and you’re about to go down on me, it can wait.” 

“It definitely can,” he agrees, picking her up, he tosses her onto the bed. “Let me make it up to you.” 

—

She watches the era’s tour live streams on TikTok every weekend, she favourites outfits that she’d want to wear and she tells Spencer all about the surprise songs that she’d want to hear live one day. 

What she doesn’t know is that Spencer has memorized everything she’s said and he’s been using it to his advantage. He’s found her Pinterest board with eras tour dream outfits, and he’s made a playlist of her favourite songs so he’ll be able to sing along no matter what surprise songs happen. And he’s started to buy tour outfits for himself too. 

He puts a lot of work into her tour outfit, too. It’s midnights themed, he got her a denim jacket with the back panel cut out and replaced with a starry lace pattern. He bought iron on paper and printed out her favourite lyrics to iron onto the arms and put stars on a pair of dark blue Converse. He’s even been making friendship bracelets while on his lunch break at work. He just hasn’t been able to decide on what to get her to wear under the jacket and with the shoes. Nothing seems to be perfect enough. 

He’s walking home from work one night when he passes a window display full of sparkly dresses. He just doesn’t want to get her the wrong size. So he has the bright idea to take one of Y/N's dresses with him to the store to compare sizes. Trying to steal one of her dresses… that’s going to be difficult. 

“I have a question for you,” he asks that night at dinner. “But you can’t ask any follow-up questions or anything, okay?” 

“Alright..?” 

“Can I have one of your dresses to compare to a dress I want to buy you for your birthday?” 

She swoons, “Yeah… or you could take my measurements?” 

“Either way, I just want to make sure it fits.” 

And so that night she gives him one of her favourite dresses. She tells him the size she prefers in different fabrics and he makes a mental note of every single thing she says. 

-

The next day, he brings the dress to work with him, people want to ask questions but they don’t. He makes it through the day, walks out of work with the dress and right into the store he saw yesterday. 

The shop owner clocks him right away, noticing the dress, she thinks he’s making a return. 

“Hi, how can I help you?” 

“I’m surprising my girlfriend with Taylor Swift tickets for her birthday and I’m trying to plan her outfit, too, and the dress in the window is perfect! I brought in one of her other dresses, just to compare sizing so I get it right,” he explains. 

“Oh my god, aren’t you the dream boyfriend?” She teases. “Can I see that?” 

He places it on the counter for her, she takes a look at the tag and holds it up, “I think I have the window dress in this size… what era are you going for?” 

“I made her a jacket in the Midnights aesthetic and her shoes are evermore,” he shares. “The dress in the window is kinda mirrorball-esque, I like it.” 

“You know your shit,” she can’t believe it. “Do you have an outfit picked out?” 

He shakes his head. “No, I can’t decide if I want to do fearless or lover…”

“You could do both, get a puffy Romeo shirt and some pink pants, that would be cute?” 

“Yeah, yeah I like that idea… you know the Lover album cover, the heart she has around her eye? How would I do that?” He asks, he hasn’t had someone to talk to about any of this, so he’s taking a chance and asking everything. 

She’s really helpful, she’s able to get him the dress in the right size, show him where he can get adhesive sparkles for the face, helps him plan his own outfit and even get some accessories too. He spends a fair bit of money in her store and he thanks her. 

“I’m going to bring her back here after the tour, maybe she can get her engagement party dress here,” he suggests. 

“Wait, are you going to ask her to marry you at the show?” 

He nods, “During love story.” 

“She’s one lucky girl,” the shop owner swoons again. She’s overjoyed for them. “If you bring her back here for that I’ll give you a discount, that’s the sweetest thing in the world. I really hope she says yes.” 

“Me too.” 

—

He stole a piece of her costume jewelry when she wasn’t looking, a ring she typically wears on her right ring finger and brings it with him to all the jewelry shops he goes to. Finding a ring that feels like Y/N is hard. He wants it to be perfect, he wants it to be big and pretty and something she’ll show off to everyone. He wants it to be a ring that will stay in style for the next 50 years, he wants it to last. 

He’s looked at a million styles, every colour and cut imaginable… but nothing seems right. He knows the kind of rings she likes from her Pinterest, but even they don’t seem to fit what he imagines for them. This ring is supposed to symbolize their love and their relationship. It has to be perfect. 

He finds the ring on Etsy of all places. It was his last chance to get a ring. There were only 2 weeks until her birthday and he had to make sure the ring was in his possession before they took their trip to LA. 

The ring comes in two parts, one ring for the engagement and the other for the wedding. The wedding band perfectly encompasses the engagement ring, making the main ring look like it has little leaves coming out from around it. 

He gets them in white gold, the main stone is a man-made, oval-shaped diamond and the stones around it are man-made opal, 4 on each side to be exact, shaped like little diamonds. The wedding band also has man-made stones, in green. Together, they look perfect. He has them expedited, he pays the artist top dollar to make sure they’re at his house by August 1st and he prays they make it. 

—

She picks him up after work on July 31st and when they arrive at his house, there’s a package sitting on his front step. Part of him is furious that they just left it, they didn’t leave a drop-off notice and take it back to the UPS store for safekeeping, the rest of him is relieved that it made it. Y/N on the other hand, is nosey. She wants to know what he ordered. She’s curious as to why he didn’t want to open it in front of her, but she doesn’t bring it up again once he hides it in his room. 

They’re in the middle of cooking dinner when she wraps her arms around him, stands on her tip-toes and rests her head on his shoulder to watch him stir around the pan. “Can I ask a question about my birthday?” She pries slightly. 

“Depends on the question.” 

“Do I have to pack a bag or anything?” She asks the first question. 

“Yeah… I got us an Airbnb for the few days we’re taking off work,” he explains, not giving away too much.

“Okay, and what should I pack?” 

“Underwear, pyjamas, comfy clothes,” he lists off a few things. “Makeup and whatever you want to do with your hair… I’m going to tell you what’s happening the day of, you’ll have a few hours to plan for each event.” 

“Each event?” She picks that out. 

He just nods, “You’ll find out more later.” 

“Fine,” she sighs, resting her chest against his back now, she holds him tighter. “I’m going to go all out for your birthday too, you know.” 

“I know… we’re kind of obsessed with each other,” he teases. 

“I think it’s called love,” she reminds him. 

“You’re right… I do love you a lot,” he says as he spins around in her grip and hugs her close, kissing her neck gently. “I love you so much.” 

She hums happily, “I love you too, sneaky man. It’s killing me that I don’t know what’s happening but I trust you.” 

“Good,” he pulls back and cups her cheek. “How would you feel leaving late on the 2nd instead of early on the 3rd?” 

“We can do that, I know you prefer driving at night,” she knows him well. “We can pack after work and leave once we’re done.” 

“I will be packed the day before,” he teases. “I’m not a last-minute man.” 

“Oh, I know, you don’t do anything lightly, but I might need help packing,” she reminds him. “You can help me pick out accessories and shoes to match whatever you got me.” 

“You think I didn't get you shoes and accessories? Have you seen me?” He teases, that’s one thing she loves about him. He’s always matching.

She just laughs, “Of course you did.” 

—

Spencer walks from his apartment to hers with 2 suitcases, one for his own things and one just for their eras tour outfits. He has her second key fob, so he unlocks her car when he arrives and puts his things in the backseat and heads up to her apartment. He knocks once but ultimately lets himself in. “Babe?” 

“Bedroom!” She calls back, letting him know where she is. 

“Hey…” 

“So I’ve played out a bunch of outfits, what ones will be good for what you have planned?” 

“Anything is good, I have your outfit for the main event planned, the rests are dinners, brunches and us driving to and from California.” 

“We’re going to California?” She can’t believe it… but then she clues in. “Oh my god, Spencer, why are we going to California?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know, you tell me?” 

“I’m going to lose my mind if we’re doing what I think we’re doing,” she explains, rushing to his side, she places her hands on his shoulders, “I’m going to go nuts.” 

“I have no idea what you’re referring to…” 

She can’t believe him, she just hugs him and holds him there, “Oh, you’re so cute when you try to lie to me, I love you so much.” 

“I love you,” he hugs her back, kissing the top of her head. “Now, hurry up and pack, we can check into the Airbnb after 10pm tonight, if we leave now we could be there by midnight?” 

And so they pack her up, they check the apartment to make sure everything is off and all the widows are closed and they head out. She locks the door, he brings her suitcase down to the car and she lets him drive. He’s a lot more comfortable on the road at night, he takes them out of Reno, down Highway 695 towards Carson City. They see Bridgeport, Willow Springs, Mammoth and Crowley Lake, Big Pine, Independence, Long Pine and then they stop for gas and a snack. He drives from Long Pine to Ridgecrest and then they pass through Mojave around 11:30. 

They’re in the home stretch now. She knows exactly what’s happening when they go through Santa Clara.  She can see on their GPS that by taking the 405 south they’ll end up in Inglewood in just a few minutes. 

He got them a cute little Airbnb just a stone's throw from the stadium, they’d be able to walk to and from if they wanted to. Once he parks outside of it, she turns to him with tears in her eyes. “How did you manage to do this?” 

“Penelope,” he says with a smile. “She knows someone at Ticketmaster, they got me really good tickets for the 4th. I bought you an outfit, I made myself one, too… I know how badly you wanted to see her so I made it happen.” 

“You really are the man of my dreams,” she swoons. “Thank you.” 

“I’d do anything for you,” he reminds her. Meaning every word. 

“I know… now let’s get all our shit inside so I can give you a proper thank you.” 

—

They spend their first day there just looking around. They have brunch at a cute little spot she’s always wanted to try, they visit the National History Museum and Exposition Park. It’s a lovely day where they just get to hold hands and be together. They order dinner to their Airbnb and eat while watching TV and then they spend another night in bed together. It’s perfect. 

When they wake up on the 4th, Spencer smothers her in kisses and wishes her a happy birthday… they don’t leave the bed for a while after that. 

He orders her breakfast and while they’re waiting for it, he shows her the outfit he has picked out for her. The dress, her jacket, the shoes, a cute little clear purse for the stadium and a lot of sparkly makeup options for whatever she wants to do. 

“Spencer, this is perfect?” She’s amazed by it all. “How did you know?” 

“I found your Pinterest,” he shrugs. “and you always show me cute outfits on TikTok, I took a lot of inspiration from what I knew you’d like and your favourite songs to make this… and these,” he pulls out a ziplock bag full of bracelets. All handmade. All perfect.

She spreads all the bracelets out on their bed, and she reads each and every single one. He has sent titles, lyrics and abbreviations, even quotes from Taylor that he’s memorized from how many times she’s watched Miss Americana on her days off. “Spence, how am I going to part with these?” 

He shrugs, “Don’t trade your favourites? Maybe leave any special ones here?” 

“Yeah, I guess I could do that… I can’t believe you went through all the trouble of making these just for me, seriously, when did you have the time?” 

“On my lunch breaks,” he laughs to himself. “I had no idea what I was doing and then Keesha, our undercover girl, showed me how to make them better.” 

“Everything is perfect, Spence,” she stands and wraps her arms around him, holding him close. “This is going to be the best night of my life.” 

She really had no idea. 

“I was thinking we could maybe go get our nails done,” he says as she pulls away. “We don’t have to be at the stadium till 6, I think it would be nice to get some eras nails done? I might even get some colour?” 

“Yeah, that sounds amazing!” She agrees, not thinking anything of it. 

He really just wants her to think her nails are pretty when he slips the ring onto her finger later tonight. 

He already made the appointment with a local nail salon for 1pm, giving them enough time to head back to their Airbnb and get ready for the show and maybe even get something to eat before they go. He’s such a planner. She loved every second of it, it made her less stressed to know that he already knew everything that was going on and he was confident about it too. 

He gets his nails done as well. He’s always wanted to but never had the chance to. He gets just basic gel while she goes all out with a shorter acrylic shape, she gets sparkles and stars all in the 10 different album colours and she loves them. She keeps staring at them the whole walk home, she loves how they sparkle in the light and how pretty the shape makes her hand look. 

The ring is going to look even better on her hand now. 

They shower together back at their place, Spencer watches in awe as she does her hair and her makeup and it’s not until the end that he hands her the adhesive sparkles and asks her to help him put the lover heart around his eye. 

“What did you plan for your outfit?” She asks while carefully sticking each sparkle to his face. 

“I got some bright pink pants, like, highlighter pink, bright,” he smirks. “I also bought a puffy shirt like Romeo… I wanted to go for Lover Story.” 

She laughs, “Oh you’re going to look good.” 

“I also bought cowboy boots…” 

“You didn’t,” she can’t believe it. “What colour?” 

“Pink.” 

“Oh my god, Spence… really?” 

“well like you said Lover and Midnights go together like they were planned to be back to back and you’re my other half so I wanted us to match… and then I’m partly fearless which came after Evermore which is on your shoes, so, it all matches.” 

“I love you,” she cups his face gently, “like it’s insane how much I love you.” 

“It’s not insane. It’s the perfect amount,” he teases, pulling her in for a kiss. 

—

She doesn’t know they have front-row seats until they’re at the stadium getting their tickets checked. The best part of her reaction at the gate is that she thinks this is the last surprise… she’s so overjoyed with the thought of being that close to Taylor Swift that she can’t even fathom him proposing tonight. 

From all the Tiktok's that she’s watched since March, she knows that the best time to go to the merch stands isn’t before the concert. It’s during. So, on their way to their seats, they simply buy some overpriced drinks and trade a couple friendship bracelets before heading towards their seats. She looks around with her mouth agape, amazed at how big the place is and how much of the stage takes up the floor. 

At their seats, she shakes her head and lets out an exasperated laugh, “I can’t believe you got these?” 

“Only the best for my girl,” he teases, wrapping his arm around her, he brings her in and kisses the top of her head. “I love you, Happy birthday.” 

“I love you,” she smiles up at him. “Thank you for this, really. I’m going to thank you a million times.” 

“You don’t have to,” he waves it off. “I wanted to come too, you know, she’s a big reason we’re together in the first place.” 

“If only we could tell her thank you,” she laughs. 

“We should’ve made a sign,” he teases. 

“We should’ve…” she agrees. “Maybe I can just put big text on my phone and hold it up to her?” 

“That could work.” 

So that’s what she does, sitting in her seat, waiting for the opener, she drafts a few things to say while the stadium starts to fill up. 

It takes a while before someone behind them actually shows up. Spencer worried there for a moment that the seats behind him didn’t sell and thus part of his plan for tonight would be ruined… but then a couple girls, in their teens, show up just before HIAM comes out to play. 

Spencer takes something from his pocket, pretends to reach between their seats to the floor and turns back to one of the girls. “Um, I think you dropped this,” Spencer says to the girls behind them, he hands them a note and a $5 bill. Y/N watches him hand it back to them and then turns right back to watching the openers play. 

“Oh thanks,” the girl says with a smile. She opens the note and her eyes widen as she reads it. 

‘Can you please record me and my future fiancé during love story? I have an important question to ask her and I want to remember it forever.’ And his number at the bottom. 

She looks at Spencer with her eyes full of tears and nods, mouthing “I can do that.” 

He gives her a thumbs up and turns back to watching the show. HAIM are a band he’s heard Y/N play before, he’s surprised how many words he knows just from being around her. They’re amazing and he knows that because they’re on the tour now, that means their song with Taylor has been added to the setlist. He really likes that one, even if it is about premeditated murder. 

He knows the setlist like the back of his hand. It starts with Lover, the intro is a remix of all her eras names over top of the song Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince, the dancers wear these big sheets of fabric, peacocking around the stage and then they cover the middle of the main diamond stage. Once they lift the sheets back up, however, Taylor emerges onto the stage and the crowd goes wild. 

He’s seen the show on Tiktok live so many times that he’s okay with missing it in person, instead, he watches her. He watches the way she stares at Taylor like she hung the stars and the moon herself. Like she’s some sort of god and everyone here is blessed to be in her presence. She cries, shaking her head in disbelief, she chants the words back to her and doesn’t even realize Spencer has been staring at her the whole time. 

“Look how close she is,” Y/N bumps his shoulder and points. “She’s literally right there.” 

“I know,” he smiles, so in love with her he couldn’t even pay attention to Taylor. 

When Cruel Summer starts, she screams so loud, Spencer’s sure she’s going to lose her voice tomorrow. He finally starts paying attention to the show now. Singing along, he knows all the words. He actually really loves this song. And the man. He loves everything from Lover simply because he’s so deeply, deeply in love. 

Post-lover, Taylor heads in for a costume change and thats when Spencer starts to feel anxious. He’s 2 songs away from his big moment. He checks his pockets, he still has the ring, in its box staying safe, it’s right there and ready to go. He almost blacks out for most of Fearless, he snaps back into it for You Belong With Me and the first note to Love Story gets his heart beat racing a million miles a minute. 

He looks back at the girl behind him who has her phone out already she smiles at him, nodding like she’s ready to go and he takes a deep breath. Taylors walking down the catwalk, she’s going to be literally right in front of them when he gets down on one knee… he doesn’t think she’s seen a proposal this close and in person yet on this tour? Maybe she’ll notice them? 

He sings along, genuinely loving the song and it steadies him a little. Y/N is singing too, jumping up and down and pointing at Taylor during all the best parts. She’s having the time of her life… she has no idea what’s coming.

The second chorus comes and he reaches into his pocket, he’s holding the box in his hand and his heart is in his throat. 

“And I got tired of waiting… wondering if you were ever coming around, my faith in you was fading! When I met you on the outskirts of town!” Y/N sings along. “And I said Romeo save me I’ve been feeling so alone I keep waiting for you but you never come is this in my head I don’t know what to think, he kneels to the ground and pulled out a ring and—

She notices then that he’s dropped to one knee, following the song, he holds open the little black box and she screams. Everyone in their section is screaming. “Marry me, Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone I love you and that’s all I really know!” Spencer sings along to the song.

She’s frozen, can’t believe this is happening and real but she looks at the ring and then at him, her eyes full of tears. “Yes!!! Yes, I’ll marry you!!” She gets down to the ground with him and pulls him into a kiss, he smiles into it, happier than he’s ever been in his whole life. 

When she pulls back he takes the ring from the box and slides it onto her ring finger. He helps her back to her feet and all she can do is stare at it. “Holy shit?” 

“I love you!” He shouts, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I want to love you forever.” 

She pulls him into another hug, not even noticing that Taylor did see it. She pointed at them, she got excited and there was footage of it from a million different angles that she’ll get to see later. She finishes the song, running back to make her mark and then she disappears once again to get ready for Evermore. 

Y/N snuggles into his side, her left hand resting on his chest, she keeps pulling her hand back to look at it. There’s just enough quiet between eras that she asks, “Where did you get it? It’s beautiful.” 

“Etsy,” he says with a smile. “It was on my doorstep the other day when you came over.” 

“No way?” She laughs, “how long have you been planning this?” 

“Since I asked you how you felt about getting married one day,” he admits. 

She stands on her tiptoes and leans in for another kiss, “I Love you.” 

“I love you,” he reminds her. “Forever and always… but I actually mean that.” 

She laughs, “god, you really are the number 1 fearless stan, aren’t you?” 

He’s about to reply when the girls behind him poke him in the back, “Hey!” They both turn around. “I texted you the video and my friend got the other angle of Taylor's reaction!” 

“She saw it?!” Y/N freaks out. 

They nod, freaking out with her, “Yeah!! She pointed at you guys and she was so happy!!” 

“Holy shit!” Y/N shouts for the second time. “This is the best day of my fucking life, how does it keep getting better?” 

“I don’t know man, but congrats!” The girl says. “You guys are so cute together.” 

“Thank you,” they say at the same time. 

She looks at him this time like he hung the stars. If you told him just 4 months ago that he’d find the love of his life and get engaged to her at a Taylor Swift concert of all places, he would’ve laughed… now he can’t imagine his life going any other way. 

This is where he was always supposed to be. 

General Taglist 

@ncsls0515 @stevesmunsons @reidsbookclub @sweetyyhippyy @manuosorioh @mrs-dr-reid @k-k0129 @squishyturtle @katsukis1wife @babybisexual @marsmunson86 @buckleyhans 

[fappinreborn]

Hey there! I have an idea for the VR Story. Maybe you have a Date with someone you Just matched. She also didn't know she was pregnant, but Your app shows it to you. You say you're going to the bathroom, but in reality you're controlling her pregnancy. Suddenly she is 43 weeks pregnant and you have set the contractions to never happen (of course you can change that after the date) you make her overdue with twins, then triplets. While she didn't even know she was pregnant until now

First of all, not a VR Story (it's an old DA story of mine). Secondly, this is a really interesting premise to work with. I think overdue and multiples aren't feasible here so I'm going for early singles. Third, I try to stray away from dialogue, so you could fill in the words yourself.

Pregnancy Control 3: Date Gone... Right?

One of my regular activities as a young adult is looking for love on the job dating apps. I had been meeting several girls over the years, some ghosted me after the first date, some went along for a month or two before breaking it off, even had one that lasted almost half a year. All the girls I met were fun and interesting, but turns out this one new girl that I'm meeting tonight pales in comparison to all of them.

When I arrived at the apartment to pick her up, the pregnancy control app, as usual flared up to show some pregnant woman near that apartment.... but it also included the girl that I'm going with. I sort of panicked but quickly read through her file.

Apparently she's just barely 6 weeks pregnant but didn't realize she was pregnant yet and the app offered me to control her pregnancy. The app seems to know me so well and have upgraded itself to even give suggestions to make it cryptic pregnancy and when I should stop growing her pregnancy, presumably to make the cryptic pregnancy plausible for her. 'The girl's been sleeping with other men.' I thought to myself.

I was... hesitant at first, wanting to separate my... normal life with my fetish, so I held it off... for now.

I picked up my date, looking fine with her casual T-shirt and jeans and went to a nice restaurant. We sat down, selected our food and talked for a while, getting to know each other. Things were going well, but in the back of my mind, the temptation kept shouting at me until it was too great to ignore.

I excused myself to the bathroom, sat down at the toilet and began activating her pregnancy, tuning her cryptic pregnancy to ~39 weeks and activating her labor, but reducing her contractions pain to 0. Don't want to distrupt the date, after all.

When I came back, I noticed that her belly had grown slightly but she did not notice anything. The date went back to normal until we've finished our food. We... were starting to play with our phone, so I figured it's time for execute the plan.

I made her go into the bathroom and made her water break subtly and let her have mild cramps afterwards. She voiced out her complaints to me, so I decided to take her home, knowing that the date I'm with is actually laboring and is about to deliver a whole baby soon. I helped her get into the car and then ramp up the labor progression. I started the record on the phone and began driving back to her apartment.

I was lowkey worried about her, as her cramps are getting worse and her legs are slowly spreading wide. The baby is fully dilated at this point and is starting the descend. I can hear her moaning in pain like a laboring mother would until all hell finally breaks loose.

We were around... 10 minutes from her apartment when I noticed her tight jeans began to bulge out. She reached down and told me that she felt something hard and round. Another round of cramps, a push and the bulge became more pronounced. She panicked, realizing that the thing coming out of her was none other than a baby. I acted panic in return as she began pushing hard. I quickly parked my car at the side of the road and then ran around to help her out.

I tried to help her, but the legs were too spread out to even pull the jeans off. I cupped the bulge and felt like the head was fully crowning at this point. She decided to go all in, pushing hard until the head popped out of her. With a bit of breathing room, she closed her legs a bit so I can unbutton her jeans off and pulled the pants down before she pushed again and got the baby out with one single push. She embraced the newborn baby in her arms with a mix of disbelief and joy.

I... offered her a ride to the hospital instead and she accepted, so I made a trip to her preferred hospital and dropped her off at the ER. She thanked me for the help with the birth of her child before I went back home...

I hope she's okay now... and I hope we can get more dates with her after this...

[thebluemallet]

EARLY Predictions for Bridgerton Season 4

BENEDICT IS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED TO BE THE LEAD FOR SEASON 4!

I've had this in my drafts for a couple of weeks. But now that Benophie is officially happening next season, I have some EARLY predictions for the next season. I'll have more predictions when we finally have a clip or a trailer, but for now I'm gonna cast a wide net for what I think will happen in season 4.

1- MASQUERADE!

They really name-dropped that masquerade ball like Tahani Al-Jamil name drops her celebrity friends. And they mentioned it in the promo with Luke T. The masquerade ball is happening! My guess is it'll happen somewhere in the first two episodes of season 4. This will be where Benedict meets his Cinderella/mysterious Lady In Silver/Sophie Beckett.

The code name for season 4 is supposed to be Vauxhall, where we saw Daphne and Simon launch their fake dating plot in season 1. That was a public ball, which means that anybody who could pay the fee could get into it. Perhaps we'll return there for the masquerade ball. Makes much more sense for Sophie to be able to crash that instead of a private ball at the Bridgerton house.

Let's just hope her carriage doesn't turn into a pumpkin before she can make her escape.

2- A Possible Time Jump

In Benedict's book, he meets Sophie at the masquerade, she runs away at midnight, and then he doesn't see her again for another two years. I think a time jump could happen again. Specifically for a few of my upcoming predictions.

Also, it would add to the drama.

Can you imagine the reaction from the fans with the screen fades to black and then some text fades in that reads TWO YEARS LATER?

3- Kate and Anthony Might Not Make An Appearance Next Season

Possibly an unpopular opinion, but I almost dont know why they bothered with having Kate and Anthony in season 3. It seemed like it boiled down to "We're here! We're hot! We're horny! And we're fucking off now! Bye!"

At least when Daphne showed up in Anthony's season she helped drive the plot forward and tried to help guide her brother on the bumpy road to matrimony. Anthony had one half-assed conversation with Colin about his engagement to Penelope. Kate did most of the heavy-lifting when it came to important talks with the family. She did most of the talking to Colin the night before his wedding to Penelope. (Not that it mattered because all of her work was undone the moment Charlotte showed up to the wedding.)

Kate also gets credit for speaking with Eloise to try and smooth things over between her and Colin. And then they left their family for a third time to go all the way to India, a journey that's going to take them six months one way.

But with a time jump, that would give enough time for Anthony and Kate to go to India, have their baby, spend some time there, and then make the long journey back to be present after the time jump with a toddler.

(With how pregnant Kate was looking at the wedding, I would not be surprised if she gave birth at sea. She and Anthony did not think that plan through at all. And why the hell did they leave without attending Francesca's wedding??? And when the Queen was certain that a Bridgerton was behind Lady Whistledown???)

Anthony and Kate being absent would also be a convenient way to keep the Bridgerton House set around for a little while longer.

Anyway, sending Kate and Anthony off to India felt like a way to let Jonny and Simone do other projects for a season instead. Jonny himself is probably gonna be busy with all of the press for the upcoming Wicked movie. So if the announcement comes that they won't be around, I wouldn't be surprised.

4- Last Season for Queen Charlotte Queen Charlotte Lives Forever!

Bridgerton is not known for being 100% historically accurate. And let's face it, even if it were, people would still be complaining about the historical inconsistencies. But one thing Bridgerton is creeping up on is the year 1818. And it's in November of that year that the real-life Queen Charlotte passed away.

Season 4 will, I assume, start in 1816. If they do a one-year time jump, we'll get the rest of the season in 1817 when the main events of Benedict's book take place. If they do a two-year time jump, like they did in the books, then we'll be in 1818 and we'll be in the year we say goodbye to Queen Charlotte.

BUT, the showrunners have pretty much said that they've decided the show exists in an "alternate universe" and they're just going to keep Queen Charlotte around for a while.

The Queen lives. Long live the Queen.

5- Eloise Meets Sir Phillip Crane (?)

While the masquerade references were heavy-handed, the references to Philoise were more subtle. In episode 3x02, Eloise wears a dress that is patterned with the same flower that was gifted to her by Sir Phillip in the books. And in 3x05, when trying to make herself feel better about her betrothal, Cressida tells Eloise that the two of them can "flirt with widowers." The showrunners are slowly setting up the Eloise/Phillip dynamic--they have been since season 1. I think they'll set more things into motion in season 4 and set them up for season 5.

Eloise already expressed to Kate how she felt as if everyone was pairing off and leaving her behind. Benedict's marriage will end up being the tipping point for Eloise.

Phillip would have lived the life of a botanist/academic if it weren't for his brother's tragic passing. Perhaps his academic connections could play a part in Eloise's desire to meet new people and change the world?

If they meet in season 4, it could be the catalyst for them to begin to exchange letters like they did in the books. Which will ultimately set them up for their story in season 5.

Of course, this also means that Marina is going to have to die offscreen at some point 😐

6- Cressida Redemption (?)

One of my major gripes with season 3 was that they gave so much time to the threesome subplot that two other subplots seemed to have no real conclusion or were dropped completely. One of the subplots that didn't get wrapped up as nicely as it could have was Cressida's. We didn't see her reaction to Penelope unmasking herself as Lady Whistledown. She just kind of...left.

There is a long-standing fan theory that Cressida will have a part to play in the Benedict/Sophie story based on a piece of script that named Cressida's mother "Araminta". If this is true, then I think we'll see Cressida in some way next season. And maybe she'll get a happier ending. I never thought at the beginning of the show that I'd want Cressida to end up happy somewhere, but boy season 3 did a great job of making me actually sympathetic to her character.

7- Another Offscreen Wedding

One thing that I know frustrated Kathony fans last season was not seeing an onscreen wedding for Kate and Anthony. I mean, we saw a wedding, and Kate and Anthony were there, but he almost got married to the wrong person. The closest we got was Anthony disassociating so hard that he astral projected himself into an alternate reality.

The only onscreen weddings to canonical spouses we've seen have been the Daphne/Simon, Colin/Penelope, and Francesca/John weddings. But if anybody was hoping to see an onscreen wedding with Benedict in season 4, think again.

I believe that the drama of Benedict and Sophie's story will keep up through all eight episodes of their season. And, like Kate and Anthony's season, we'll flash forward in time at the end of the episode to Benedict and Sophie several months into their marriage. But we won't get to see the actual wedding.

8- Crossdressing Sophie (?)

Admittedly, this is less of a prediction and more wishful thinking on my part. This is the route I would go down if I was writing for the show, anyway.

Show!Benedict now being canonically pansexual has opened up the possibility for him to have an LGBTQ+ partner. But I have a slightly different idea. One plot point of Benedict's book is that Sophie, after running away from her stepmother's house, cuts off all of her hair to sell when she's desperate for money.

I think Show!Sophie could still get her hair cut off like in the book, and then go around disguised as a man for safety/freedom of movement/job opportunities. Then Benedict gets confused when he discovers Sophie in "boy mode" because he hasn't felt this level of attraction to someone since his Lady In Silver.

Maybe we'll get a Victor/Victoria scenario out of it (woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman).

Like I said, this is less of a prediction and more of the route I would go down if I was writing for the show. It probably won't happen this way. But maybe I'll give fanfic writers some plot bunnies.

[vorrentis]

Reader x Jihyo - Looking Out For You (Part 1)

I can't believe I haven't put this up yet lol.

Just in time for Jihyo's solo so let's say it was planned.

One of my first chapters ever so if it's crappy, I'm sorry.

WORDS: 6314

========================

It was early as usual, and you were the first one in class, since you had nothing else to do.

You walked into class, ready for the boring lecture set for today, but today had a surprise for you.

Behind your seat, was a girl you've never seen before. 

She was sitting there looking at her phone. 

You went towards the teacher who was at her desk.

"Um, Ms. (teacher)?"

"Hmm," You used your eyes to motion to the girl. "Oh, she's a new transfer student. It's her first day here. That's also her new seat by the way."

"Ahh, okay. Thanks." The teacher nodded and you went towards your seat, which was in front of hers.

She looked up and you waved your hand. She was really cute.

"Hey. My name is (YN). I'm guessing you're new here?" You asked.

"Jihyo, sorry, my English...not so good." She said with a bit of trouble.

"It's fine," You then looked down to see her handwriting, it was in Korean, "Korean right?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?" She nodded a bit surprised.

"Mannaseo Bangawoyo" (It's nice to meet you)

"You know Korean as well?" She said in her language.

"Yeah, my dad's side is actually Korean so I know Korean." You said in Korean.

(You're speaking Korean to her from here on out.)

"Hey, do you need someone to help you out? I'll show you around and everything, I can even teach you English if you want."

Her face looked surprised.

"Sorry, I know it's sudden, but I don't want you to be lost or anything."

"Oh no no, it's just that I don't want to waste your time though, and no offense, but you don't even know me." She said.

"Well, I know your name so that's good enough for me. Besides, it's much easier with a person translating than the machine you have." You said pointing at her translator, which was a mini laptop that she typed into to get her translation.

She looked back and forth at you and the mini laptop. Then she closed the laptop and put it away.

"Then (YN), I'll take your offer." She said smiling as you smiled back.

That was the start of a new friendship...

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

Throughout the next couple of months, she was by your side whenever you both had classes. You did not mind one bit though. You were helping her with her assignments, notes and even teaching her the basics of English.

She was learning pretty quickly, but she said that she was learning lessons at home to, so it was no wonder she was learning quickly.

By this time she was getting used to the language and soon was able to understand some of the lessons too. She was very thankful for your help.

You just waved your hand and said that it was nothing.

Soon both were hanging out outside of class: showing her around the city, taking her to your favorite places to eat, the mall, even each other's places.

She introduced you to her parents and her to yours. Her's were happy that she found a friend quickly that was helping her out and they were thanking you for it. Your's were happy that you've finally found a girlfriend.

You quickly corrected them as both you and Jihyo blushed. She knew what they were talking about since she was learning quickly.

But other than that, everyone was going smoothly...was...

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

"I don't know what to do bro." You were currently at your room, on your phone with another friend of yours, (FN).

"Easy, just ask her out. Simple."

"It's not that easy, (FN). Maybe for you, but for me-"

"Man you're really taking this hard...and since when did you start liking her that way anyway?"

"Last week, I took her out for dessert, you know the ice cream place at the mall."

"Yeah...and."

"and when we were at the table together, I just imagined that we were on a date..."

"But haven't you already taken her out before and stuff."

"Yeah, but last week was...different. I've never seen her that way before, but the way she looked, ate, laughed...It was just ice cream, but I really felt like we were on a date...and I wanted to go on more with her."

"So just ask her out."

"I don't even know if she even likes me. What if she sees me as a friend only? Imagine this...

"Jihyo, I was wondering...umm...would you like to maybe...go out with me?" 

"Ohh...(YN)...I'm sorry," You said impersonating Jihyo's voice. "I...I don't have the same feelings as you.

"(YN)...I'm sorry."

"No it's fine really...um...can we just...forget about this..."

"Y-yeah...sure, she says and then after that, we both don't talk regularly and both start to avoid one another

Yeah, that's how you thought in your mind the scene was going to go as you told your friend about your situation.

"Listen (YN), no offense, but you're pretty stupid for thinking that that's going to happen."

"It's just...I don't know what to say to her...we've only been friends for a couple of months, but-"

"I know, I know, she's the best girl you've ever hanged out with, she's different, she's funny, cute, etc, etc. I get it." Your friend said cutting you off. "Look she's not going to say no to you, after everything you both do. Look I've got to go, but you better ask her out soon, I'm rooting for you." Your friend said as he hanged up after.

With a sigh, you laid in your bed, covered your eyes and prepared for tomorrow.

========================================================

ONE WEEK LATER

Yeah, it's been a week since your conversation.

You were really nervous and kept coming back to your initial theory of what might happen. But today was the day, you had all your courage and made it a mission to ask her out.

You were looking for Jihyo, but she wasn't where you would usually meet. You shrugged thinking she went on ahead.

You then walked into the lunchroom and looked at your usual table, but she wasn't there. You looked around...until you saw something that was hurting you.

Jihyo was sitting somewhere and someone had their arm around her shoulder.

'No...don't tell me...'

Jihyo then spotted you and got up from her table and went towards you.

"Hey (YN), sorry for not meeting you."

"No it's fine, it's just that, why are you over there?"

"Oh...well, you know Daniel right." You nodded slowly. "I wanted to wait till I thought we were doing well and it just so happens that that day was yesterday. Dan and I are in a relationship."

'...No way...' Your heart was dropping after this.

"R-Really, umm, when did he ask you out?"

"Maybe a couple of weeks ago, we already went on a couple of dates too. But I wasn't too sure about the relationship, but he was sweet and told me that we could take it easy." Jihyo happily said with a big smile.

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

There was one major problem with that...

Daniel was a playboy.

No one knew to expect you. 

You caught him on multiple times with different girls, sometimes being with someone else when he already had a relationship with someone.

You've seen him with a girl at school and on that same night, with someone else.

You hated this kind of people that treated women like 'trophies'. 

How you caught him is that you got a job at this restaurant, one of the best around actually...as a busboy, but it still was a job for you.

The worst part was that it was Dan's family restaurant.

And being one of the best around, your guess was that he brought them here to show off his wealth. He even has his table prepared whenever he wanted.

Good thing was that he wasn't that smart. He doesn't even notice you since you've never interacted with him, school nor work, but you saw him from afar, flirting and holding on to his ladies. It was always the same antics.

You didn't see the same girl often and you've seen only about 1 or 2 girls from school. Your guess is that he dated girls from other schools as well.

And now here he was taking Jihyo as well.

You wanted to say don't bother and go out with me instead, but you didn't...you couldn't...but she seemed so happy at the thought that you couldn't just say don't do it to her.

Even if you did, she wouldn't believe it anyway or even simply agree with you.

"That's great Jihyo." You said with a fake smile.

"Thanks (YN)... but that doesn't mean that won't hang out though. Today I'm going to sit with them if that's okay with you?"

"No, go ahead. I'll hang out with (FN) instead."

"Great thanks (YN)." And with that she left, leaving you miserable.

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

ONE WEEK LATER

You've been hiding the fact that you still didn't like the relationship Jihyo has been on. You both still hang out, but whenever Jihyo brought his name up you couldn't help, but ignore her. You also spend fewer days together since she was now hanging out with Dan and his friends.

Saturday night came and it was your day off, you asked Jihyo if she wanted to do something, but she was busy studying for a test on Monday. At least she wasn't with Dan you thought. But your parents asked if you wanted to see the new Halloween movie that came out with them after the learned that you aren't going anywhere.

You nodded and got ready.

It was nighttime and you were leaving the movies with your parents, you both went to see that new Halloween movie that came out.

As you three were walking out, you saw someone at the side of your eye. Your eyes widened at the sight.

It was Dan and his friends...but that wasn't what caught your eye, Dan was with a girl...and it wasn't Jihyo. They were kissing with each other in line while his friends ordered the tickets.

'Damn it. I knew this was going to happen. Okay just need to take a quick-' but Dan then turned towards your direction, and you quickly turned around yourself and left.

'That was too close...' you turned around and saw them head inside.

'Well it's too late now, but at least I caught him. I knew it, I just knew something like this was going to happen...now for the hard part.'

Jihyo

=========================================================

THE NEXT DAY

You quickly went to find Jihyo, this wasn't something to do over the phone, but in person. You went early to school again knowing that she was going to be there, she was there earlier than you sometimes.

And it turns out she was.

She was at her locker grabbing stuff. 

You quickly went to her and she saw you while smiling.

"Morning (YN)."

"Dan's cheating on you." You whispered as Jihyo didn't seem to understand.

"W-what?"

"Dan, he's cheating on you." You were assertive as Jihyo gave an short laugh.

"Heh, are you serious?" 

You nodded.

"I've caught him last night. I went to the movie theaters and saw him with another girl."

Jihyo shook her head.

"(YN), Dan told me he was going to the movies with a cousin of his that he hasn't seen in a while. I didn't go because I was studying. It was probably her."

"Jihyo, they were kissing." You whispered the last part.

"Kissing? Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty positive."

Jihyo looked away for a few seconds and turned back to you.

"Do you have proof? (YN) this is-I can't believe that."

You mentally sighed.

"No I don't, but Jihyo I know what I saw. You have to believe me."

She took some seconds thinking and you saw her lips purse.

"...I'll talk to him."

"Talk? Jihyo he-"

"(YN), I'll talk to him okay. I need to hear from him."

"He's going to lie Jihyo." 

"He's honest (YN)." You rolled your eyes.

"No he's not Jih-"

"Hey babe." You both looked to see Dan coming closer as Jihyo smiled even more at him.

"Dan~"

He came close and the two hugged as you scoffed and gave a look at Dan.

"How are you doing?"

"Great, just talking to (YN)."

"Sup (YN)." You motioned your head to say hi.

"Hey sorry about yesterday," Jihyo nodded.

"It's okay, don't worry," Jihyo excused as you turned away from them and started walking, catching the eyes of her and Dan.

"Did I interrupt?" He asked as Jihyo looked at him.

"Dan, we need to talk." 

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

RING

10 minutes passed by and students were starting to get into their seats. 

Eventually Jihyo came along as well and sat behind you whie Dan came in with his friends.

TAP TAP

You felt a tap on your shoulder and turned as Jihyo leaned closer.

"I talked to him."

"And..." Of course, you knew what the answer was going to be.

"He said that he was with his family/friends and what you saw was him kissing her on the cheek, that was a cousin of his that he hasn't seen in a while. Even his friends confirmed it."

'That lying piece of-'

"He also said that I was the only girl he's ever had his eyes on. He said that he would never go behind my back. Even though we only been dating for some weeks now, but I can tell he was sincere in his words."

You couldn't say anything to argue that, what could you say. You didn't have proof.

"I know what I saw Jihyo."

"(YN) seriously, Dan is nothing like that okay. Just drop this." She said with a serious tone.

"...Fine."

"Good."

And after that, none of them said a word to each other. The whole day. It was hurting you, but you needed some kind of prove that Dan is cheating on her.

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

You walked home alone, you didn't bother saying goodbye to Jihyo.

About a good 10-minute walk from school and someone shouted your name.

"Hey (YN)."

You turned around to see the man you despise himself, Dan. Along with a couple of friends of his.

"Can I help you?" You asked.

"Yeah you can. So you're good friends with Jihyo, right?" You nodded.

"And as friends, I can understand how you would want to protect her."

"Where are you going with this?" You said as he had your full attention.

"Now I know that nobody knows about my...relationships that I had before. And somehow Jihyo knew about last night and of course, I had to sweet charm her into thinking I was the only one for her. Now I don't know how, but I know for a fact that she was told this...am I right." His friends then circled around you.

You looked around at the three.

"Jihyo deserves better. I know you're seeing someone behind her back." You said.

"Saw you last night...you were right by the way. Can't keep this a secret any longer from you."

"So it's true. Why?!" You said angrily.

"Why not, Sarah's cute and all, but Jihyo...with that body...I think I'll keep her for a while."

You clenched your teeth and formed a fist, but suddenly your chest felt pain and all the air was gone from your lungs as Dan kneed you in the stomach making you get on your knees.

You clenched your mouth and hugged your stomach as the pain was coursing through your body.

"If you ever, say anything to Jihyo again. I will personally make you suffer."

You got up after the three left you. You clenched your stomach. But the pain was going away. Now you know that it's true, you have one objective.

Catch him again.

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

ONE WEEK LATER

It's been a week since the incident and you were now focusing on trying to catch Dan. You barely even talked to Jihyo.

You came up with a plan though.

Your plan was the restaurant. You haven't seen Dan yet for a while, but that means he hasn't brought Sarah (his other girl) here yet.

You asked for a shift for each night, it was going to be hard work and you didn't know when he might come, but you needed to catch him. You couldn't get all the nights, but four of them only.

You were praying that this night was his night to be here.

'Please...you know you want to bring her here.'

Luck was on your side today, as of course, Dan came through the entrance with the same girl as you saw him with last time.

You smirked as you waited till you got some photos of him doing something flirty with her.

It took a while, but you saw him putting his arm around hers and even gave a kiss on the cheek.

SNAP SNAP SNAP

'Perfect' You thought as you scrolled through the photos.

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

The Next Day

You immediately went towards Jihyo's locker and there she was alone too. You both were always the first ones here. There was no one, but a couple of students walking around.

'Good.'

"Jihyo." You said as you fast walked to her. She turned towards her name and saw you.

"Hi (YN), look about last ti-" She said with a smile.

"I caught him. This time I have prove."

"Caught who?"

"Dan," Jihyo rolled her eyes, "I caught him cheating on you again, except this time I have some prove." 

"(YN), I'm not having this conversation again." She said with her tone getting agitated.

You didn't respond, but you took your phone out and showed the multiple photos that you took of Dan and the girl he was with.

Jihyo took the phone and looked through each one.

"(YN)..."

"See, now I know this must be har-"

"Have you been spying on us!?" She said angry.

"What?"

"These are fakes aren't they." She looked up at you.

You just blinked a couple of times. 

Surely you didn't hear that right.

"What do you mean 'fakes'?" You said confused.

"(YN) this is the same exact place that we had our date a couple of days ago. We're even sitting on the same table...wait...have you been stalking him?" She said with a shocked look on her face.

"N-No, Jihyo look I-"

"Why are you so hellbent on making us break up?" She spat as you...

"...I-I'm looking out for you Jihyo. What other reason could I possibly have or need?"

"..."

"..."

"...you have feelings for me." She uttered as your heart raced.

While it wasn't how you wanted her to know, it wasn't the time to act timid.

"My feelings have nothing to do with this Jihyo. He's been cheating on you this entire time," You pointed at your phone. "Look at it again and tell me that these aren't fake." You pushed your phone forward as Jihyo stepped back.

"(YN), now you're taking this too far...you're starting to creep me out." Jihyo said worryingly, "...maybe...maybe we shouldn't see each other for a bit." Jihyo said.

Your head leaned back.

"Y-you can't be serious?! You think this is a joke Jihyo?!"

"Why can't you understand (YN) that he loves me and I love him."

"Jih-"

"No (YN), you don't have the right to even speak! Dan is sweet and caring and he's been nothing but loving with me." Jihyo was getting angrier.

"And I haven't?! Who's been there for you since day one Jihyo! And now I'm suddenly the villain!" You pointed at yourself.

"Well you certainly aren't acting like a good person right now (YN)! Dan makes me happy! Why can't you get that!"

"He's only using you Jihyo, he wants to brag about getting you at his side! Jesus why aren't you getting this!"

Jihyo took a few moments.

"...you're jealous."

"Oh my-"

"No, you are. That's why you're trying so hard to get rid of Dan, so you can have me for yourself." She said accusingly.

"I told you my feelings-"

"Well it ain't happening. Dan is a lot of great things (YN), more than you can think! And right now, more than you! That's why I would choose him over you! Dan makes me feel wonderful and I want you to stay away from us!"

"..."

...

...

...

Your heart shattered at what she just said.

It was at that point that whatever you said didn't matter...not that you had anything else to say...what could you say?

You closed your eyes and shook your head.

"...do you what you want then," you muttered, "I was only looking out for you. And if you think it's best if we don't see each other, then, fine." You said while turning away, trying to keep your composure.

Jihyo then huffed her frustrations and turned around towards her locker. 

She couldn't believe what just happened. 

You were getting too far.

'I can't believe (YN). How could he just say things like that.'

Then she closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the inside of her locker door. 

It was with a two clips of selfies of you and her. Each photo had both of them smiling and goofing off.

She remembered each one when she and you took them in the photo booth machines in the mall. One for the first time they went there and the other wasn't that long ago with her new hairstyle.

She shook her head and closed the door after getting her materials. 

===========================================

TIMESKIP

TWO DAYS

Two days have passed and it wasn't good for Jihyo.

She didn't mean what she said.

She was angry at what you were suggesting and lost it.

She liked Dan a lot, but she enjoyed being with you too.

You were right, you were looking out for her well being.

She was going to apologize to you the next day and talk about this more calmly but you didn't show up.

She called you but no answer.

After school, she went to your home, but you weren't their either as your parents wondered the same.

That's when Jihyo started to get worried.

She went and called her friends and asked, but no.

She called your friends but nothing either.

That's when Jihyo started to panic.

She remembered the last words she said about not wanting to see you for a while, but she didn't think you'd take it this hard.

Guess that's what happens when you break someone's heart.

Now she felt horrid about what she said about 'choosing Dan over you' and 'to stay away'.

That's not true at all.

You made her feel welcomed and happy too.

God she was an idiot.

If she hadn't lost it, this mess wouldn't be happening and if anything happened to you...she didn't know what she'd do.

And now, sitting on her desk, staring forward at the lone table while students around talked, she couldn't think of anything but you.

'Where are you (YN), I'm so sorry. Please be safe.

As class was about to start...

"Jihyo?" The teacher approached her, "Mr. (Principal) wants to see you in his office."

Jihyo nodded slowly.

"Is it about (YN)?"

"I don't know."

Jihyo's breath shook.

"...okay,"

With that Jihyo sat up from her desk and with a heavy weight, proceeded outside the classroom, noticing the lack of emotions from other students, including Dan fooling around with his friends.

'Can't they see he's missing...'

With a couple of minutes walking, she made her way to the principal's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in,"

is what she heard and she turned the doorknob and stepped in...to see the principal, along with two officers.

She started to stress seeing them.

'No...no, i-it can't be-'

"Ms. Park, please sit." The principal waved at the empty chair as Jihyo sat down as her heart couldn't take it.

"Is (YN)-..." She couldn't bring herself to say what she thought.

"That's why we're here. We're from the (Location) police department, we're here to question students about him. His parents filed a missing report."

Jihyo felt her body go limp.

Ice in her veins.

And a loss of breath.

"M-missing..."

"Yes, now, Mr. (Principal Name) has informed us that you and (YN) are close. May I ask your relation to them?"

"..."

Jihyo's mind was scattered.

She just assumed you were at home moping.

'(YN)...missing...' 

"Ms. Park. I understand it's difficult to process, but we need your information."

Jihyo turned her head to the principal and then to the cops, one who had a notepad.

"...w-we're friends."

"And when was the last you spoke to them?" He wrote down her answer.

And that's, when the conversation of you and her came in like a flood.

"T-tuesday morning...a-are you sure he's missing?"

"His parents stated that he hasn't been in contact at all and based on the school cameras, he walked off the grounds shortly before school ended. You were the last seen talking to him in the halls."

Now Jihyo was starting to freak.

"May I ask what you were talking about?"

"...I-it was about my boyfriend...w-we were talking about...about..." Jihyo's breath rate increased.

"It's okay, take your time." The second cop suggested, "and take deep breaths. I know it's difficult, but we're doing everything we can to find him and every information helps." The cop explained as Jihyo nodded slowly.

"..."

"..."

"...we were talking uh, my boyfriend potentially cheating on me. I didn't believe him, we had an argument and he left."

"Did he say where?"

'What did I do...'

Jihyo shook her head.

"Did he say something that he was going to do?"

'I did this...'

Jihyo shook her head once more.

"He said that...that he was sorry about it and he left. I-I didn't see him after..." Jihyo rose her hand over her mouth, "I-I didn't mean to be rude-I-I-was mad at that point and-"

"It's okay Ms. Park, no one is blaming you." The principal lowered his hand but it was futile as Jihyo started to shake in her chair, "these men are looking for leads."

"Ms. Park, are you absolutely sure that he didn't say anything." The first cop asked as Jihyo shook her head as the first cop nodded.

"Well, then may we ask everything about (YN). We're hoping you have something new for us. Something that may lead us to somewhere."

Jihyo slowly looked up at the cop and nodded.

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

TIMESKIP

SLAM

Jihyo hurried and ran towards the door of your home.

Immediately after school, Jihyo drove towards your place.

After finishing up questions, she went back to class and hurried for school to end.

She only gave information that they seemly already knew from asking your parents.

Favorite restaurants, places, etc.

Although nothing was new as the cops assured her that they're doing everything they can and she was excused.

And when Jihyo left the room, she went to the nearest bathroom stall...and cried.

You were missing and Jihyo blamed herself for it.

After sobbing for some time, even when class was almost over, Jihyo vowed to find you.

She had to find you.

KNOCK KNOCK

"(YN)! Is that you!" Jihyo heard from behind the door.

The door swung open to reveal your mother with your father behind her

"J-Jihyo..." She said weakly as started to become emotional, "w-we don't know where (YN) is..."

"I know, the cops asked me about him."

"Oh god..." Your mom started to cry a bit. "We tried contacting him and now we have the police out searching, but...but..." She stopped talking as she broke down. 

Your father came over and consoled her.

"Jihyo, if you know anything, anything that could cause him to disappear, please tell us."

She broke your heart.

That's what happened.

"...N-no, I-I don't know. I'm going to look around as well."

"Maybe something at school, was he getting bullied?" Your dad asked.

Jihyo shook her head.

"My baby..." Your mom sobbed as Jihyo was almost at the same state, "(YN)..."

"Shh, he's okay (mom's name) he's okay, he's strong. Jihyo, help us find him," Your dad asked as Jihyo nodded.

"I-I'll look around..."

"Thank you," You dad said as he hugged your mom and ushered her back in, "I'll join as well," he said as he brought your mom back inside, instructing her to remain here.

Jihyo's eyes fell and her body felt like gravity increased by 100 times.

'I did this...'

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

TIMESKIP

Five hours later

Jihyo was sitting in her car, thinking of anything. 

ANYTHING that she could have missed.

It's been five hours since your parents and she couldn't find you.

She wished to every god and deity to find you sitting somewhere safe, but no.

It was getting night and Jihyo was all out of ideas on where you could be.

But she wasn't going to stop.

She'd search every corner of the city to find you.

'Where could he have gone...(YN)...maybe...maybe Dan knows something? After all, this started with him...but I'm hoping he didn't do anything.' She didn't think of Dan at all after these two days.

She texted and after a bit of not answering, she called him twice, but he wasn't answering either.

She scoffed and she drove towards his house to see if he was there. 

After a short drive, she arrived at his house, parked outside his pathway, went out the car and towards the door.

She rang the doorbell as she looked around the front yard.

CLICK...SWING

"It's about t-" Jihyo noticed that Dan's eyes widened to the fullest and he was all in a pretty nice attire as well, "J-J-Jihyo!?" He then looked over Jihyo's head and back to her, making Jihyo wonder why he was acting strange, "W-What are you doing here? Damn it you should have called!" Dan demanded and had panic in his tone.

That was a bit much, but Jihyo didn't care at the moment.

"Twice I called you pabo. We need to talk, but I'm guessing this is a bad time." She said as she nodded.

"I-I'm just about to head out with family, so we'll talk later okay!" Dan said quickly as Jihyo sighed. 

"Fine, I'll talk to you later then, but I have one quest-"

"Jihyo just go." Dan said as Jihyo burrowed her brows.

"Don't tell me to just leave!" Jihyo barked back. "And why are you so paranoid?" She asked with venom in her tone as Daniel's eyes tightened.

"Just ask your damn question." 

Jihyo did not like that language.

"(YN) is missing. Do you know anything about it?"

Daniel scoffed.

"How should I know? Maybe he's just done with life."

SLAM

Jihyo then rushed towards him as Daniel's eyes widened as the door was pushed open and Jihyo was in front of him with a glare that sends shivers down his spine.

"Don't! Don't you dare say something like that!" Jihyo pointed at his face, "this isn't a joke or laughing matter! (YN) is missing and I need to know if you know anything Kang Daniel!"

Jihyo was fuming and it was only going to be worse since...

HONK HONK

Daniel's eyes widened and prayed to the gods for help.

Jihyo turned around and noticed a pretty nice yellow car was parked and someone stepped out the driver's seat and started to come towards them.

"J-Jihyo I'll answer anything, but you have to leave now." Daniel said fast as Jihyo kept her eyes on the person arriving.

A blond girl with a nice attire as well.

"Hey Dan~" Was the girl's tone as she stepped closer "Sorry for being la-and who's this?"Jihyo didn't know who she-...no...wait...

No, no she recognized who she was...she just can't figure it out...

"M-Marissa...c-can you give us a minute." Dan asked cautiously as Jihyo kept her gaze on the girl. 

"Sure babe~"

.

.

.

Everything in Jihyo froze.

"B-babe..." She repeated.

Then it hit her...

It was the same girl from your phone.

Jihyo froze and stared at the girl's appearance, it was exactly her and her saying babe...

She turned around and saw Dan's perplexed face.

Her frozen body was engulfed with fury.

"(Y-(YN) was right...you were cheating on me..." Her fist formed and her tone was cold.

"Ji-" 

PUNCH

Dan held his nose hard as he looked at Jihyo, who had a glare that looked like she was going to murder him.

"You bastard! You two-timing bastard! (YN) was right!" Jihyo shoved him as Daniel went back a step.

"Ji-"

"We're done! We're so over! I don't ever want to hear or see you again you hear me!"

Jihyo screamed so powerful that it left Daniel and even the girl hurt in their ears as Jihyo stormed off.

"C-cheating?! You were cheating?!" Jihyo heard the other girl yell from behind, but she didn't turn around to observe.

She was so furious...and so blameworthy.

She, in quick time, got into her car, and drove away without looking back.

During the drive, she thought how incredibly stupid she was. 

You were right...

The whole time you were telling the truth and she didn't believe you because of affection for that piece of shit.

She drove you away from her because of that...

Because of her blindness and mistrust...

"(YN)...oh god...I-I'm so so-agh..."

The tears came down.

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

TIMESKIP

THE NEXT DAY

Jihyo was at her desk, by herself in the class. 

She came to school early to avoid that piece of garbage Kang Daniel, knowing he never arrives early to school

She was staring at her phone, nothing was going to distract her. 

The very millisecond it rings, she was going to answer and no one was to stop her.

All night last night, Jihyo cried and called you many times.

She felt horrible and felt every negative emotion in her as she was on her bed just calling and texting nonstop.

You were right...

You were looking out for her.

She should have known better.

And what hurt the most is that you could have been-

No, no she couldn't think of that ending.

Jihyo needed you to be with her ASAP and safe and she'll do whatever she can to have your trust and friendship back.

But she didn't even think that's possible now with what she said to you, but Jihyo will find a way no matter what.

"Jihyo?" Jihyo tensed up, she knew that voice.

It belonged to Leon, one of Dan's friends.

"How are you doing?" He asked but she didn't turn around.

"Ms. Park, Leon here would like something to you, I think you should listen." Another voice spoke up, she turned around to see the principal behind Leon, whose expression was hurt.

She didn't reply, nor did she want to talk to any one of them. 

If they were friends with Dan, then they were now nobody to her.

"..." 

The principal nodded and looked down at Leon.

"Understandable, Leon." He spoke with a serious tone as Leon gulped.

"Listen Jihyo. I wanted to tell you that we got expelled," Jihyo's glare softened and her eyes were curious, why was he telling her this? "Mason and Dan included." 

"And?" She spoke with confusion as he looked downward.

"We threatened (YN)." Jihyo recoiled, "Dan even hurt him."

Jihyo stood up with lightning speed and rushed at him only for the principal to stop her in time as a couple of other students and the teacher was staring with awestruck looks as Jihyo swung her arms.

"You bastard! ALL OF YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM LEON?!" Jihyo screeched with malice in her voice.

"Ms. Park, Ms. Park! I know you're disconcerted, but please lower your attitude. He knows nothing of (YN) after that." The principal fought against her grip as Jihyo lessened her movement, but kept her glare.

"...why? Why the hell would you hurt him?!" She barked at Leon as he looked down.

"Dan wanted to keep him shut, he told you that he was cheating on you." Jihyo's eyes widened and her whole body went solid. "He threatened him to keep quiet and...god I'm so sorry Jihyo, but I swear we had nothing to do with him after. I felt so guilty about it and I turned us in." He rubbed his arm as Jihyo remained still.

"The other two don't know about him telling me and all three will be expelled. Even though he says he's done nothing with (YN) after that, we fear that that bullying led (YN) to being scared and leaving." The principal added as Jihyo felt a dagger in her already wounded heart.

"Jihyo, I'm so sorry. I know it doesn't really mean anything now, but Mason and I were trying to find him too. We didn't mean-god we-I-I'm sorry..." Leon apologized, but it was meaningless as Jihyo didn't acknowledge him with the principal figuring that was it.

"Jihyo? Would you like to ask or say anything else?" The principal asked as she shook her head.

"I want him gone..." She muttered as he nodded.

"Leon let's go grab your belongings." He instructed him as Leon nodded with the principal walking forward and turning back to see Jihyo's heartbroken look, "And don't worry Jihyo, rest assured we'll find (YN)." He expressed up as she merely sat in response, as the principal felt horrible that she was like this and looked to see the teacher as she nodded at him. 

With one look at her, both males left the room as Jihyo sat with her face buried in her hands.

"Jihyo?" The teacher was near her as the other students watched, "I don't mind if you need to go home. Would you like to call your parents to leave?" She asked, "I'll send you-"

"No..."

"...Okay. And I'll allow your phone to be on your desk, but silent please."

"..."

The teacher knew how much you meant to her, you were her first friend here.

"We'll find him Jihyo, we will." She spoke with a soft tone as she patted Jihyo's shoulder and left her to her desk, leaving Jihyo. 

Dan hurt you, he hurt you...

Jihyo couldn't 'believe it...

She couldn't believe she dated that monster...and she said that she'll choose him over you...

.

.

SNIFF...SNIFF

Jihyo started to shake and cry silently.

If she had believed you back then, you would still be here.

They would still have lunch and be close and...

And...

Jihyo shook her head.

'(YN)...please come back...I'm sorry...'

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

THREE DAYS LATER

News about your disappearance was all over the school and even news station.

The students in the class at the time gossiped and of course, like any rumor, it spread like wildfire.

Students were chatting about you which led to multiple guesses about why you left.

All Jihyo did was search around and hoped that you will come to school or her home soon. 

She and her parents helped your parents by looking for you at places you have been to.

Jihyo went to each spot that was both her favorite place to go each day, but nothing but hurt and sadness were brought to her as she recalled memories of each place.

She left messages, voicemails, and calls just about every time she picked up her phone hoping you will hear her and come back to her. Each one was apologetic about how she was and that she needed you.

Currently, Jihyo was on her bed, holding onto her phone. She hardly talks at school and rushes home and lays on her bed, watching and waiting on her phone to ring.

Her parents were worried, but they understood that you were important in her life. 

Even though it was only about three months of them knowing each other, you were her first friend here.

You got her adjusted to the school, to the language and showed her around.

And what did Jihyo do...

Break your heart.

Told you to stay away.

That she'd want...

Jihyo just held onto her phone for dear life, she felt empty on the inside and she just wanted to hear your voice, she wanted to be near you.

She just wanted-

RINGTONE

Jihyo's eyes widened and answered right away.

"(YN)!" Her hopes were in the positives after what felt like an eternity...only...

"Jihyo?"

It wasn't your voice.

"Who's this?" Jihyo asked sadly.

"It's (Mother's Name), (YN)'s mom." 

Jihyo sat up in bed.

"Did you find him?!"

"Sadly."

She started to shake.

"W-where is he?" Jihyo asked frightened.

"..."

"Ms. (LN)?"

"...the emergency room."

=============================================

And that's that. 

Thanks for taking a pause in your life to reading this. Vote/Comment if you want. And thanks again.

[goodluckclove]

Obligatory Anniversary Wife Posting

Three years ago today I went to a queer improv social alone. I had a friend at the time that I also met there, but she was busy on this particular Sunday. I almost skipped, but I had nothing else to do until that evening and no interest in puttering around my terrible studio apartment until then.

It was a small group of usually the same people, but that week the coach introduced a new member to the group. They were a tall, steady-faced individual with a 90s color block windbreaker and copper coils peeking from a beanie. I was immediately struck by them. They had an exterior of stoicism, but with an undercurrent of something else that implied that perceived seriousness wasn't entirely accurate.

We were paired in a scene together with the theme of a first date and the prompt of the word "smoking". I immediately posed as if I was holding a cigarette to my lips, but as the scene initiated my scene partner launched into establishing themselves as looking to buy a smoker from me.

A smoker, like the type of grill. I immediately thought whoa before fumbling to follow the premise they set up.

During the last hour of the social reserved for chatting, I spotted this person alone and struck up a conversation. I got as far as hearing they were fairly new to town before my brain short circuited and I began rambling on every cool cafe I could think of in the area. I would not stop talking. They listened politely, and when I knew it was time for me to go meet my friends for dinner I quickly sputtered an offer to give them my phone number and got the fuck out of there.

When I got a text from them walking out of the restaurant after dinner and saw they asked me out for coffee, I shouted the news to my friends walking in the opposite direction.

Our first date was about five hours - coffee, then walking around, then later going to an improv show. For some reason at the end of it all I assumed they weren't interested in me romantically. Riley still teases me for this - as they should. I try and say they weren't giving "signs", to which they say "we spent pretty much the whole day together what other sign were you looking for", another valid point.

I actually met with my best friend at the time after our first date and explained to her that it went well, and that Riley was a lovely person, but I was pretty sure they only wanted to be friends. About ten minutes into insisting I was fine with this, Riley texted me asking me out to dinner the following weekend.

I looked at the text, stunned, and then showed it to my friend.

"You're a fucking idiot," she said with a scoff.

Riley told me early on that they weren't a Romantic type. This person, who proposed to me after four months so I could leave a job causing me multiple breakdowns and still have health insurance. This person, who misplaced the twenty dollar ring I got to propose with and tore apart the house in a panic until they found it again.

This person, who saw me crying around Christmas a few months after I cut off my family and immediately made a reservation to go to the zoo together. They saw my happiness at watching the bats and the seals, leaned in and said "we can do this every year if you want".

Riley, my wife, is one of the kindest, most generous people you'll ever meet. They're also the first to admit they're a terrible liar, so I don't know why they ever bothered pretending they weren't an absolute sap.

It is so jarring to go from assuming you'll be dead by 30 to suddenly having someone who has put their faith and trust and effort into you being around for the long haul. Someone who lives in the back of your mind whenever you veer towards self-destruction and suddenly forces you to think oh. There's someone else here now. I can no longer disappear off the faith of the earth without one person definitely noticing.

And it's terrifying. And it's wonderful. I told a friend one that I almost miss being single sometimes. Not because it was better, but because being in a healthy long-term relationship has made me have to actually value my physical and mental well-being. Which I've never done before. And it's hard.

Riley, if you're reading this, I'm delighted by you. I like you and I respect you and I think you're a little weirdo and I'm still very satisfied with my purchase. Also I didn't make a grocery order for you to pick up so guess who's getting a load of quesadillas for dinner tonight??

Happy anniversary Snoopert.

[lambsouvlaki]

For the Hell of It - Date Night

Characters: Jason Todd x fem!oc

Rating and warnings: G, no warnings.

Word count: 1,237

Summary: Dating a vigilante is hard, but worth it. Early on their relationship, she has to face that.

Masterlist

--------

On an early autumn night they strolled across Robinson park. Actors in Elizabethan costume were prancing around the low concrete stage, doing some warm-up crowd work. Jason’s arm was slung over her shoulder, and her dog Marlow trotted happily alongside them. 

They weren’t great at the actual Dating aspect of dating just yet. It was still early days, and they had sidled into being together by following the same trajectory as their friendship, now with sex. They supported and trusted each other, they were both loyal and committed. They had already had two years to figure all that out. 

Romantic nights out had been planned, postponed, and cancelled. Andy had eaten alone at a restaurant booked for two, not to know until later that Jason was fighting Killer Croc in a cage match. The week after he was blowing up an exotic animal trafficking ring before the major players could flee to south america. 

He was apologetic and self recriminating. She could already see the barbed little seeds of ‘can this even work?’ trying to take root in his mind. 

But she wasn’t a quitter. 

It wasn’t the first time he’d been forced to stand her up. It wasn’t even in the first five, and she’d long since made her peace with it. It just felt more calamitous because now it was called a date. 

It wasn’t a big deal, she decided. If other people could make it work, the partners of firefighters, nurses, other on-call professionals, then Wonder Woman help her, she could too. 

Despite telling herself it wasn’t a big deal and she wasn’t worried, when Friday night swung around: bright, warm, and dry she let out an audible sigh of relief. 

The light was swiftly dying but the park was surprisingly busy. It was the last Shakespeare in the Park of the year, and there were food trucks and little battery-powered candles for sale. Families and couples of all ages milled about looking for good spots. A polite group of children came over and asked if they could pet their dog, to said dog’s eternal happiness. 

“I propose a strategy,” Andy said.

“Hit me.” 

“We split up to look for clues, and by clues I mean the best food trucks. That yellow one has empanadas, and we passed a flag before that said something about paella.”

He nodded seriously. “You take Marlow, I’ll take the backpack, and we’ll meet back here in ten.” 

They broke off like fighter jets zooming away, and roughly ten minutes later they returned with arms full of delicious smelling cardboard boxes. They set up their picnic blanket on the slope some distance from the stage where they had a good view of the whole area. They’d arrived at the perfect time, because the park was filling up. 

They sat on the ground and laid out the spoils of their hunt, just as the show was starting. 

The empanadas were sold out, but they had choripan instead, which Andy picked up for Jason. The paella was with shrimp and mussels, and was absolutely delicious, if a little small. Jason had found Korean fried chicken, and little skewered things called tteokkochi that neither were familiar with but were excited to try. 

It was a confused and messy dinner that they dove into with relish, and some negotiations over final bites. 

Getting the choripan was a strategic move on her part, because Jason was a sucker for anything in the neighbourhood of a hotdog. The fried chicken was the perfect counter, he knew her weaknesses. The tteokkochi turned out to be deep fried rice cakes slathered in sweet and tangy hot sauce, that had them both licking sticky fingers and promising to try them again some time. 

Up on stage a short performance of the play within a play from Midsummer Night’s Dream was finishing up. 

Next up, and the main show for the night, was an abridged version of Much ado Nothing. Jason scrunched up their food packages and lobbed it into the nearby trash can, and Andy got out the thermos of non-alcoholic mulled wine from the backpack for them to share. 

They relaxed together on the slope, leaning back on their hands, with Marlow sitting up next to them on look out. 

Jason glanced away for a moment. 

“Hey, can I borrow your scarf?” he asked. 

“Yeah, sure.” She handed it over without questioning the strange request. 

He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then wrapped it around his neck so he could pull it up and hide his face.

“I’ll be right back.”

He snuck away through the crowd. 

The play continued, the actors hamming it up appropriately. The night had set in properly now, and large lights beamed down onto the stage leaving the rest of them in darkness. The audience around her laughed at the jokes and gags. 

She leaned against her dog. 

The night was getting cooler.  

Why did it hurt more now than it had when they were just friends?

She’d had no expectation of him then, she supposed. She hadn’t wanted him to be hers.

No. That wasn’t true, she had wanted him badly for some time, but squished it all deep down inside of her. Now it was out, with promises made and claims staked, it was hard to keep that once contained desire on a leash. 

He would give his life for her if the situation demanded it. She knew that, with the same confidence she knew tomorrow would follow today. 

But he would give his life for just about anyone if the situation demanded it. He was never going to change. She wouldn’t want him to.

She looked at the silhouettes of people in the dark around her, an elderly couple on camping chairs to her side, and ahead of her a family with two children who were fast asleep on a blanket. Not very long ago this park was so dangerous people rarely came here during the day. 

She looked at her things around her, and thought about what she would need to do if he didn’t come back tonight. She would take a taxi home and bring his stuff with her, hold onto it for him until he could come to her place to pick it up. It could be in two weeks, it could be tomorrow. 

This was going to be her life, forever. 

She pulled in deep breath and leaned her forehead on Marlow’s neck.

“Okay,” she said to herself. “Okay.” 

About twenty minutes after Jason left, Marlow looked up and to the side. She followed his sight line and she saw Jason returning through the crowd. He dropped something into the trash can with such a casual air it took a few moments for her to recognise it as a disassembled pistol. Nobody else noticed him at all.

He stretched out on the blanket behind her and gently pulled her back against him, his hands around her waist. He returned her scarf, wrapping it loosely around her neck. The knuckles of his right hand were grazed. He drew no attention to it, acting for all the world as though nothing had happened and nothing was ever going to happen. He definitely hadn’t just disarmed whatever dangerous hooligan had been planning to do something terrible. 

She loved this man so much it hurt.

“What’d I miss?” he said in her ear.

“Not much.” She leaned back against him. “But I’m starting to think this Benedick guy doesn’t actually dislike Beatrice after all.” 

He snorted a laugh. They settled in for the long haul.

Next>>

[freelancearsonist]

✨ wip wednesday ✨

thank you to my love @covetyou for the tag <3 this is actually perfect bc i've been stumped on what to work on so i need y'all to decide for me

free falling love addict [dieter bravo]

this was supposed to be a porn w/o plot one-shot and is now a 5-part series full of feelings 💀 basically dieter falls hard and fast for a non-binary co-star who just so happens to be playing his daughter. there's a lot of drama and uncertainty and angst and it's a whole roller coaster ride (thank u to @beskarandblasters for the title and an absolutely STUNNING graphic that y'all will see later)

You wake up from your four hours of sleep with a little clearer mind, surprisingly. Dieter’s hot and he’d be a once-in-a-lifetime lay, but you’re playing his daughter in this show. How seriously do you want to be taken in this industry? Because banging the actor who plays your father in your first serious project is decidedly not the route to being taken seriously as a moviestar; in fact, it’s the kind of scandal that could end your career before it even starts. You shower, do your basic morning skincare routine, get dressed, and head to set. All the while, you chant your new mantra: Dieter Bravo is off limits no matter how badly you want to play right into his hands. His big hands. His big meaty hands that you want all over your–

(untitled) dad's best friend wedding joel [no outbreak joel miller]

BILL X FRANK SUPREMACY. this is bill x frank's world and we are just living in it. but anyway it's 2013, no outbreak, we're fixing the timeline, reader is frank's adopted daughter and maid of honor, joel is bill's best friend and best man. there's an age gap and a lot of trying to deny attraction until it all comes to a head and they work out their frustrations in the coat room after the wedding

You would’ve sworn, when you first met him, that an elaborate wedding would be the very last thing Bill would want. And yet this has been as much his planning as it has been your dad’s. It brings so much joy to your heart that your dad has found someone who matches him so completely. You couldn’t be happier for them; and at the same time, you couldn’t be more miserable for yourself. Because, as dedicated as you are to making this day perfect for them, Bill’s best man and long-time friend is maybe even more dedicated. He’s been turning this wedding into a friendly competition between the two of you, trying to one-up you at every opportunity he gets. It’s infuriating—especially when he wears that smug grin that’s become his signature expression around you. It’s torture, too, because all you want to do is kiss that stupid smirk right off his handsome face.

(untitled) blind date [dieter bravo]

basically dieter goes on a blind date with someone who has no clue who he is (you) and falls in love so hard

He never should’ve agreed to this—and really, it’s not even his fault that he did. His assistant should know better than to ask him questions when he’s a joint and a half in.  Maybe it’s a sense of obligation after he pushed her into the pool last week—in his defense, she really needed to loosen up—or maybe he’s just plain lonely. Whatever it is, he’s here, the champagne is good, and there’s no point backing out now. He takes another peek at his watch and lets out a slightly-too-loud groan. You aren’t supposed to be here for another ten minutes, and he’s already been seated and drinking for fifteen. How Jennifer—the aforementioned assistant—managed to get him here early, he’ll never know. But he does know it’s the first and last time he’ll ever be early for an engagement; the anxiety of anticipation is far too stressful. Plus, he’s worried it makes him look desperate—too eager to meet a complete and utter stranger.

(untitled) dieter crashing your graduation party (consensually) [dieter bravo]

this is my baby 🥹 probably the most self-insert thing i will ever write tbh. yet another series that was supposed to just be a one-shot, i haven't actually planned how many chapters this is going to be yet but i know what i'm doing with the story line lol. basically your family throws you a graduation party when you finish cosmetology school, and because you're antisocial and don't want a huge crowd you tag people that won't/can't come on your invite post--but the one person you thought for sure wouldn't come actually shows up and it sets off the craziest series of events

The crowd has lulled a bit, and you’re just about to go find that bar you’ve been so excited about when someone you do recognize walks up the brick path to the gate. And god help you, your jaw actually visibly, physically drops. You blink once, twice, and then once again for good measure. But he’s still there–not wishful thinking, not a mirage. He’s real and solid and here. Dieter Bravo stands on your garden path with all the air of a god amongst men. He’s dressed in black from head to toe–perfectly tailored black suit pants and an open suit jacket over a silk button-up shirt. If it was anyone else, he would be overdressed; but he manages to make it look like the perfect mix of messy and put together.  There’s a part of you that still thinks maybe it’s not him, that the dark sunglasses he wears hide the eyes of someone who has an uncanny resemblance to your favorite actor. But the other, larger part of you knows. You’re face to face with Dieter fucking Bravo.

(untitled) joel x hairdresser [jackson era joel miller]

i think this is going to be a 2-3 parter bc god forbid i write anything short. basically you're the resident hair stylist in jackson, and joel has hair that needs to be cut. he does you little favors in turn bc that's how jackson runs, but he ends up falling for you in the process

He starts to see traces of you everywhere, and he’d be bothered by it if thoughts of you weren’t so soothing.  He sees wildflowers while he’s out on patrol and thinks they would be perfect to replenish the vase on your counter. He finds hair gel in a nearby drugstore and wonders if it’s something you could use. He pulls anatomy textbooks from a shelf in an abandoned library because he remembers you mentioning that you’d like to expand your services to include massage. He has to remind himself that he shouldn’t be thinking so much about someone who’s half his age–that it’s borderline creepy to see so many things and want to bring them to you as offerings. But then again, that’s how Jackson operates. If he wants a service, he has to be able to give something in return. And he wants your services most of all.

(untitled) shotgunning filth [lucien flores]

the doc title pretty much says it with this one 😂 i've only just started this one but here's what i have:

You see his car in your driveway when you get home and it makes you shiver.  That stupid mint-condition hot-rod red 2003 Ford Thunderbird activates the most ridiculous Pavlovian response–your heart rate quickens, your stomach tightens with anticipation, your pussy starts preparing itself for the inevitable delicious torture you’re about to endure.

and if you want to hear more about any of these options, pls send me an ask i love talking about my stories :)

[professorspork]

⭐️the triple meet cutes pls >:)

well, here is where the downside of the way I outline -- i.e. putting it directly into the document and then just replacing it with the prose itself as I go -- shows its head, because I'm not sure I can stitch the timeline on this together as perfectly as I'd like. luckily I can for some of it because I narrate the vast majority of my life events to @alexkablob thanks for being my searchable diary pal

lol gonna cut this too bc I AM VERBOSE

the true meet cute was always going to happen at a bar. "My friends are being jerks right now, can I sit with you?" is a line that was actually used on me (collectively, addressed to my friend group) at a bar, and it remains one of the BEST lines I've ever heard (love that poor little meow meow rizz), and it was always going to belong to Yang. I knew they'd begin there, and they'd end at "So you don't date. Do you make friends? I've been told I give great friend."

the question then became: how the fuck was I going to get Blake to go to a bar when I knew she's sober and a total hermit?

I considered her going to see a band she likes play, but didn't love that because it would put Yang in the rude position of interrupting something important that she was there to enjoy. I considered it being an open mic night, maybe something where they had an overlapping friend in common and didn't know it, but again-- that directs the scene, and suddenly it's about their mutual buddy rather than them and their chemistry. I considered several different settings (coffee shop? the park?) instead of a bar, to try and make it read smoother, but bar just Felt Right. as someone who's gone to bars to watch baseball when I didn't have access to cable, that cropped up as an idea, and then it was just a question of coming up with a sporting event Blake would possibly have interest in, and ice skating seemed feasible enough. back when I lived in the East Village, I had a corner bar I'd go to down the block from my place that had amazing fried pickles and I'd often do my homework there before it got busy, so that's where that came from.

the "last ferry out to Menagerie" paragraph, in which Blake recontextualizes and basks in her attraction to Yang after learning she's trans, is hands down the single excerpt I worked hardest on. the first step, as I was drafting it early last august, was coming up with the right metaphor in the first place. I wanted something which would help me avoid it reading like a "well you can always tell with those transes" cringefest

me: so now the thing i'm chewing on is-- is what we talked about before, which is figuring out how to write about blake being attracted to the parts of yang's appearance that are sort of self-evidently trans without it accidentally becoming a weird bioessentialist screed me: the best metaphor i've come up with so far is glasses, like-- like putting on your glasses after cleaning them when they've been smudgy for a week, and you suddenly have this wonderful appreciation for crisp little beautiful details me: but blake does not wear glasses and i'm not enough of a hack to give her glasses JUST FOR THIS (i did consider it) so now i'm trying to think of other ways to talk about that, like-- moment of dawning clarity

(sorry I did not give blake glasses. similarly, this past march while writing the big sex scene in chapter 9 I was like "well yes i'm 123k into this but what if I went through and edited everything to give Blake a nose ring wouldn't that be hot" and alexis talked me out of it so blame her.)

once I came up with the "last ferry" concept ("me, rollerblading down Main Street, AO3: HAVE YOU MARVELED AT THE CELESTIAL BEAUTY OF TRANS PEOPLE TODAY") I worked on those two sentences for over an hour. i am particular about my language and cadence always, but even for me this is uh absurdly excessive. WORTH IT THO, because it's the most important passage in the whole fic. i deleted and rephrased it probably a hundred times, trying to get the right flow, the right lyricism, and crucially not say "stars" 8 different times.

Blake's deep dark secret being that she's a country fan has been baked into this fic's essence from the very beginning; the title, "something wild and unruly," is from a Dixie Chicks song for this reason. IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE RELEVANT, and I had to get it in early.

as I've told several people, the "deck building game" joke also comes directly from my life. Helen and I went to New Jersey last June to do wedding errands -- tastings, fittings, engagement photo shoot -- and while we were there we visited a very cute bar in my hometown as a potential night-before-wedding hangout space. she casually mentioned that her sibling was texting her about... oh gosh, I can't remember the name of it, but I went "what's that?" and she said "a deck-building game" and because I was home, and thus around my mother and how she has HGTV on all the time, instead of oh, like Dominion I went "like a porch?" and then she laughed and laughed and I said "well that's definitely going in the fic."

luckily my wife is used to that, because I stole from our lives a great deal. she first started having car battery trouble in January of 2023, and then we opened up the hood and found scary corrosion and my dad talked me through how to clean that out the way Neptune does. from then on it was sort of floating in the back of my mind that this could be something I used in the story-- Blake's car is 100% based on Helen's car, which she bought at a police auction and clearly had a Rough Backstory-- but it was three weeks later that we finally got tired of jumping it all the time and called AAA. the guy really DID come like 2 minutes after I put the request in on the app, so shockingly Yang's fast turnaround time is actually based on life. and about ten minutes after that happened I declared:

me: no real-life anecdote is ever wasted and this is DEFINITELY happening to blake after she and yang have their meet-cute and it's yang who shows up and has to be like WELL HOW ABOUT THAT SERENDIPITY :D

about three months later I then had my OWN battery troubles, and that's when I went out of my way to ask the tech who came about a million questions about what the multimeter read and how cold crank amp tests worked. I pretty much wrote our conversation verbatim into a note on my phone, which became what Yang said. (the fellow who came then also had a very sharp and snazzy work shirt, and that's when I thought about how cute the little Yang on her breast pocket would be)

only it would be--

Yang

:) okay anyway

I don't know what it is about competent service professionals that make me go "you're Yang Xiao Long actually" but I've done it twice now, with my wedding DJ and with the AAA people

I went back and forth on whether the library meet-cute would come before or after the car scene, but in its earliest incarnation the idea was just that Yang would come up to the circ desk to check something out and oops Blake's standing there. at one point I even considered having Yang ask her out to lunch. once I realized it behooved me to have Yang and Pyrrha already be friends, so Pyrrha could vouch for her, I knew it had to come at the end to tie everything in a bow.

[fauxfickle]

We now return with your regularly scheduled and all too familiar feeling of malaise and the search for "The Great All American Pizza Show!"

So it's been a little under a month since my last post and I've been skimming through commercial compilations from the LA area. I've found some cool YT channels that archive old ads from that area but I obviously don't have anything to show for it. The ads are either too early or too late to be part of this campaign which is a bit frustrating. Something I neglected to mention last time was that I was also looking through Colossal Pictures demo reels to see if they had a snippet of the animated commercial but of course, there's nothing. There seems to be a cutoff point in the early 80s as most demos only show things from that far back. I was able to find some obscure, silent, avant garde, sci-fi film possibly connected to Colossal but I don't think that'll help me much.

Colossal had some sort of "meet the crew" type video where all the employees said they're names but only their first name so I can't really track them down or anything. I'll keep looking, I didn't look all too hard as I was kinda at my wits end at that time looking through ad comps for hours.

I took a bit of a break for a while before reading through the old Pizza Times newsletters from Dec 79 - May 80. The May 1980 newsletter had some cool info about commercials and news features filmed at the various stores. Some of these aren't technically part of TGAAPS campaign but ehhhhhh I don't really care. They're part of early PTT history and I wanna see them damnit!

Let's go through these starting with Citrus Heights. The Citrus Heights section is loaded with info regarding lost media, 3 in fact! Sacramento's Channel 40 (KTXL), which has since been bought out by FOX in the mid 80s, did a Newsplus at 10 feature on the cyberamic systems at the new store during it's opening week. If we consult the ever so useful Chuck-E-Pedia, we can find that this feature would have been shot and most likely aired on Christmas week of 1979. A perfect pin point set of dates to look through! Next, Chuck was seen in the lead up to the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon which also gives us some idea of where to look. Finally, a TV commercial was filmed, possibly with TGAAPS slogan. Bob Wilkins' ad agency produced it but I couldn't find ANYTHING regarding this company. It's mentioned on his wikipedia but not named, and a even his own website doesn't mention anything about it. It's surprising that someone who seems like a local celeb in there area could have an ad agency that goes almost entirely undocumented.

Next, we move to Sparks, Nevada. Channel 2 (KTVN) filmed a feature on the store for the PM Magazine. The store was visited by reporter Keith Hirshland. Now I'm actually pretty sure I've found this dude! I found a local online article talking about him and the timeline works perfectly. Assuming this was filmed in early 1980, Keith would of been still fresh out of college with a degree in journalism and around 23. He also says he grew up running down the halls of the KTVN office. As a little aside, I'd just like to say don't bother this man or anyone/company mentioned in any of my posts. The last thing we need is to scare off these people.

This last little piece of lost media probably has the best chances of being found out of all the rest. Ben Wattenberg's 1980, from what I can find, is a dry, uninteresting TV news segment hosted by an equally dry and uninteresting host, the neo-conservative Ben Wattenberg. Ben Wattenberg's 1980 itself seems to be almost entirely lost media as only a few stills, episode descriptions, and TV listings exist online. However, this show was on PBS which no doubt has it somewhere in it's archive. What's better is that that there not only an exact date of when the episode will air, but also the name of the episode itself! One user on taptalk was able to find a TV listing which unfortunately doesn't lead anywhere and isn't archive on the WayBack machine. Luckily people actually said the name of the supposed episode which would of been "Silicon Valley: The New Entrepreneurs". We can also find evidence of it in a newspaper from that June 15th.

I sent e-mails to KTXL-40 and PBS on 2/24, so far no responses. I'll wait a little longer and in the mean time look for more leads and contacts. As I said before, don't bother these people/companies. I don't want them to be swamped with calls and e-mails and clam up on us. Bye for now!

[valentijnsstuff]

Absolute unhinged week. I might have to dump the person that I developed feelings for, because it's going all kinds of bad

I wake up after having performed on sunday night. Say goodbye to the drag collegue who slept over. Call boo (person Ive been dating). Go back to sleep and have a really fucked up nap. Slowly get into car to drive to boo. Arrive there for aftercare for having worked all weekend, but it's them who are having a worse time than me. They fall asleep on my lap while watching Howls moving castle. Make pasta. Almost have sex, but I feel like something is off, like the anxiety in the room is too high. Cuddle and talk instead. Have sex in the end anyway, after they take anti anxiety meds. Cautiously have a broken up sleep in one bed for the night.

Tuesday morning cuddles. I have to leave for therapy but I am almost late bc we stayed in bed too long. Tell therapist about how stressed I've been, but how well I have set boundaries bc of it. She is proud. Therapist shares that she wanted a full masectomy, despite being cis(?). I open email and see I have been rejected for artist residence (sad). Go home, nap, open door for my weekly hangout with dad. Doorbell rings a second time. My boo showed up to surprise me and is now faced with having to suprise-meet my dad. All goes well. Boo stays over. Make rice for dinner. Try really hot new things during sex. Boo tells me some intensely sad personal traumatic things post sex and I get really overwhelmed and triggered. Cry a lot, feel very unsure on what to do. Heavy trauma regarding my mom resurfaces and I don't quite remember the rest of the evening.

Feel very tired Wednesday. Don't do very many things on purpose. Boo is still in my house at this point, but they barely slept, so I do my best not to rush them and have a chill morning. Sex happens. We have a really long nap, till end of afternoon. By the time they have to leave, its already starting to get dark. Panic takes over and they go nonverbal. Not sure what to do, I try my best to take the wheel. Strain from all the mental load from the past few days gets to me and I get a massive migraine and I start to cry. They snap out of their panic and call for a friend to come pick them up instead. Everyone tired and stressed. Somehow we still flirt over text after this (????)

Oversleep for therapy on thursday, barely make it in after rushing myself (I hate rushing). Talk about the strain of the week, instead of doing the actual therapy thing I came for. Go for walk while half awake. Get heavily flirted at by Boo over text. Somehow it hasnt clicked yet I am allowed to be angry at them, too tired, I get buttered up too easy. I do tell them that some of the stuff they told me is too difficult for me too handle. Go home. Nap. Hot girl (who does NOT want to fuck) comes to hang out and cuddle. But she DOES want to watch bad porn together, touch my titties and take half naked selfies with me (boner=confused). Boo calls bc they are upset, but hangs up when I tell them I am hanging out. Have a chill late evening by myself for the first in forever.

Get woken up way too early by a call from panicky Boo. They tell me that they have been slipping back into depression, and have been too preoccupied the last few weeks to notice and are now really scared. They tell me some distressing things. I do my best to calm them down and try to go back to sleep but I get really upset. I find it unfair to be told that the reliability I had hoped for in this relationship might be lost to this depression. Talk it trough on the phone again. Calm down again. Watch show. Get migraine. Get mad forreal because this is the worst one so far. And its thanks to them calling me awake and putting more mental load on me. Feel really disregulated. Get only angrier, because I have fucking family therapy in a few hours. Fall asleep and SLEEP TROUGH MY DAD BANGING ON MY DOOR. Wake up drenched in sweat, to see I have 9 missed calls from my dad. Rush to family therapy in so much distress that it makes me pissed. I would not be this disregulated if Boo did not lean so anxiously on me. Sit trough family therapy with a headache, console my sister while she bawls her eyes out in front of dad and stepmom (most intense session so far). Semi-ignore all following texts from Boo, go hang out with a friend and vent to her instead. No longer feel like I want to emotionally rely on Boo, as it becomes clear they are mostly relying on me. Have a really fun evening with friends, anwser anxious text from Boo with 'I cannot call, I'd like to spend me attention on this right now'. Go home at reasonable time, take bath. Cant fucking sleep because the whole week (and especially this day) sits heavy in my stomach and chest. Also my fucking neighbors are loud untill 4 am and I have another migraine.

So rn I think Ive been awake for almost 24 hours. Minus a very fucked up migraine nap. I dont think this is healthy. I had more migraines this week than ever before. This person keeps giving me sexual attention, because boners are a fun distraction thats stronger than their depression, but I dont think the way we've been doing things is healthy. The sex is fun, but the amount the mental load that it takes to be with them is going to destroy me. Them telling me they dont want to solely emotionally rely on me, but then still being really anxiously attached, telling me very triggering things and relying on me for food or check-in calls is not fucking helping. Plus I have a very hard time up-and-leaving people in distress, because its exactly what my ex did to me.

I think I might have to be a bitch and tell them 'I cant date you like this, this is a disaster, even you know this'.