#we’re they ALL penpals????

[highlyincorrect]

It’s so funny reading about queer male classic authors bc it seems like every single one of them-across continents even- knew each other by name. Like you’ll look up Bram Stoker or some shit and Wikipedia.org will say “had several orgies with Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman, hung out with Alaina Locke in spare time to shit talk F. Scott. Fitzgerald” and you have to say well okie dokie then

[azalea-bee]

ideas for my fictional cg journal:

• letters written to them as if we’re penpals

• song lists of music i think they’d like or that reminds me of them

• lists of places i want to go together

• journal entries telling them about my day or how i’m feeling

• an envelope or pocket glued into the front of the journal for stuff like little trinkets/buttons/pebbles/etc that i want to show them

• habit/rule reward charts to put stickers on and pretend it’s from them

• plushie friend introduction pages so they will know all their names and personalities

• recipes i want to make together

• glued-in little flowers/leaves i’ve found as tiny gifts for them

• letters or notes from them (aka written while big) to read back when i’m small and need comfort

• lists of favorite nicknames for each of us

• my coloring pages, to show them off as if they’re being put on the fridge

• fanfic or fanart about them/us

• to-do lists, so i can feel like we’re doing it all together

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Kinda tempted to write another Mercelot fic that’s just Merlin and Lancelot’s letters back and forth after Lancelot left Camelot.

Lancelot being a good penpal sending:

“I’m working by the coast for now, there’s a large amount of boar attacking the village I’m staying in so I’m assisting the hunting party. I met a lovely woman named Merida who says I remind her of her late son. She’s been allowing me to stay in her home which I’m very grateful for. I think you’d like her, she almost reminds me of Gaius in some ways.”

Or something normal.

Then Merlin sends back:

“Merida sounds lovely! I always wanted to see the coast. What’s the ocean like? I sent a protection charm to keep you safe against the boar, I know you’re the best swordsman there but I’d feel better knowing you’ve a little magic on your side too while I can’t be. Camelot is well, there’s stories I’ll have to tell you when we’re together again but those can wait. I hope all is well. I miss you. P.s. I can talk to dragons now”

And it’s always added in with no other context, leaving Lancelot to worry about what on earth his warlock is doing, and Merlin feeling glad that he’s not dropping too much of his problems on Lancelot.

[soukokuforthesoul]

married!soukoku aus where they always get married/engaged in somewhat unconventional ways every time

- just saying “ok we’re married now” and that’s that

- buying rings together and calling it a day

- writing their own marriage papers because they do not need any records of them, even marital ones

- saying their vows in bed a moment before they go to sleep

- ^ or whilst killing people together

- ^^ and being enemies

- ^^^ or marrying before becoming enemies, then treating dazai’s betrayal to the mafia as a divorce contract… at first, seriously, then just joking about it and getting ‘remarried’

- drawing a line on each other’s ring finger

- chuuya accidentally cutting dazai’s finger exactly where the ring would go, and dazai saying that it means chuuya had proposed… so they’re married now

- ^ trying to carve a ‘ring’ into chuuya’s finger but he says no and just gets his own ring

- “let’s marry�� “ok, when?” “now” “ok” and so they were bound through life and death, and vowed to hate (love) each other till death did them part

- eloping from the mafia?? (so chuuya leaves, too)

- high school au and they marry on the rooftop of the school just for fun

- marrying before dating

- marrying on the verge of death (both of them are about to die)

- getting caught (or kidnapped) together, and the worst decision their captors made was to put them in the same room. so they make one of the captors the priest and the ring is taken from a grenade as they run away and let the explosions behind them be the symphony to the newly wedded couple—

- ‘marrying’ as children (elementary school, probably) and one of them takes it seriously and to heart, so the other feels bad to say it hadn’t been literal… and then they actually do marry

- ^ OD: “i can’t wait till i find a beautiful woman to marry and die with ><!!” CN: “…i thought we were married, dazai?” *insert the most pathetic expression ever* OD: “w…we were?”

- “chuuya, you have to say ‘‘till death do us part.’” “why? death ain’t got shit on us!” “i don’t wanna be stuck with you even when we’re dead.” “asshole.”

- dazai breaking into the mafia after years, kneeling before chuuya whilst simultaneously avoiding the guards + other pm members who surround him, taking chuuya’s hand, taking the glove off, and sliding a ring onto his finger then just. leaving. 100% to confuse chuuya and give him shit in the pm so they start questioning him until he manages to talk his way out of it (and later confront dazai about it)

- marrying whilst drunk and not remembering anything about it the next day

- marrying as an ‘act’ under enemy territory to catch them off guard, then attack

- ^ later being like “can it just have been real so we don’t have to deal with the cheesy shit again?” “bet.”

- lmao dazai proposing to corruption!chuuya only for the ring to be utterly crushed under his fingers before dazai turns him back… and dazai being upset about it so he doesn’t talk to chuuya for a week

- a ring… made of bandages? just tying a strip on and being like “there! now we’re married <3” “you idiot—“

- putting a ring in chuuya’s food but chuuya nearly ends up choking on it

- putting a ring on the other’s hand when they sleep so there’s no room for rejection… and when they wake up they’re all confused like “did… i just miss a couple years of my life?”

- “truth or dare?” “dare.” “i dare you to marry me.” “…okay?”

- ‘arranged marriage’ but it’s actually dazai manipulating mori/or his parents into wanting to make him marry chuuya—so that chuuya has no choice (he did have a choice bc dazai consulted him about it before, but dazai announced to their families that there had been no choice) and so they can do it technically with the parents/mori’s consent (they didn’t want to ask like normal people)

- marrying through letters… penpals? “dearest chuuya, will you marry me? (enclosed is a ring, if you say yes. if not, send it back without an answer). sincerely, osamu.” “to osamu— fuck yeah?? also this looks expensive as shit… its mine now!! — chuuya.”

- bribery that wasn’t necessary

- ^ “i’ll give you (thing) if you marry me.” “…i would’ve said yes, regardless, but now that that’s on the table—yes please:3”

- pop star/singer au and popping in a “slug/mackerel, marry me!!!” whilst on live… knowing the other is watching

- long distance au and marrying on call, but they were both already prepared so they say their vows and present rings that they’d had sent in mail to each other and put them on themselves

- ^ doing it late at night just for the fun of it and falling asleep amidst giggling and hushed promises to see each other soon

- college au and proposing at graduation !

- fanfic writers au and they slip in a “btw if u see this, pls marry me chibi/idiot (depending on who it is)” in the notes, and later the other frantically texts them asking if they were being serious

- adopting a kid together and then, years later, realizing they never married

- forbidden lovers au but they marry publicly

- ^ that but royalty au and they propose in front of the entire kingdom/broadcast it to the world

- thinking they’re gonna die: “fuck it, marry me, dazai!” “wha—okay!!”

[gerec]

Hello! Your fic recs have brought me so much joy and they were one of the things that made me really into cherik! Like I'm crazy about them now.

And I don't know if you're accepting request if not I'm sorry for disturbing please disregard this part of the message or this entire ask

But I wanted to ask what fics do you read whenever you need a pick-me-up or when you need a laugh.

Because I just watched this YouTube video about this horror novel penpal by dathan auerbach and it was really sad and disturbing but mostly tragically sad and I really wanted to read something sweet or funny as a pick-me-up.

Sorry for the long ask (I can't help but yap) and if its incoherent (English isn't my first language 😅). And thank you so much for your contribution to the x-men Fandom. Both your fic recs and fics brought me so much joy and made it really exciting for me when I was just starting to get into x-men and cherik ❤️💖

Hi Anon,

I'm sorry for the wait, but here's a (very long!) list of fics I go back to over and over whenever I need a laugh or I want to feel the warm fuzzies :D I hope this serves you as well it has served me all these years!!!

Protect, Serve, Troll by keire_ke

Erik’s fire department has a special relationship with the local university. They visit often. Sometimes, there even is a fire.

Erik Lehnsherr’s Guide to Parenting by keire_ke (series)

Alex disapproves of school car washes, despite the abundance of wet bikinis on pretty girls. Erik doesn’t approve of his son shirking money-making duties.

Humane Society by smilebackwards

Once Erik finally allows himself to decide that Charles is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread, he spends the next week being incredibly bitter that he’s Charles’ cat and not his boyfriend.

Other Life Challenges by professor (series)

“Why am I here again?” Erik groans.

“I need you to lift things and glower at people over my shoulder when I tell people that it’s not ‘politically correct’ or a ‘war on Christmas’ to have a non-denominational winter holiday festival,” says Theresa Pryde.

Well, at least those are two things he’s good at.

Wednesday by Red

Getting confined to a nursing facility for a six-week course of iv antibiotics would have been dreadfully dull, had Charles not found a way to “occupy his time.”

In which Erik Lehnsherr, retired nazi hunter, becomes the latest victim of Charles Xavier’s charms.

drastic measures by goodmorningbeloved (3799steps)

Erik glowers.

“I can’t believe we’re back to this,” Charles says, like he wants to throw his hands in the air. He’s pouting a little bit. “Years of progress, and we’ve returned to you brooding. Don’t tell me I have to break out the terrible flirting again.”

Erik glowers a little less. “Flirting,” he repeats, bland but also maybe just very, very, very slightly, faintly, vaguely hopeful.

“Oh, yes,” Charles says absently, until something seems to strike him. “Don’t tell me you don’t…” He raises his left hand and brandishes the ring. “We promised ourselves to each other last week.”

–

Alternatively: Erik’s memory is swiped clean of his and Charles’s relationship.

One Hundred One Night Stands. by Sophia_Bee

Charles has a rule. Never fuck the same guy twice. When he refuses to see Erik again after a one night stand, Erik goes about trying to get Charles to violate that rule using accents and disguises.

Suddenly There’ll Be a Blizzard (Let It Snow Remix) by kianspo

Charles was never at his best while jetlagged, but locking himself out in a snowstorm while barely dressed might be a new low. The last thing he expected was to be rescued by his high school nemesis, the man he hadn’t seen in over ten years, who might have broken his heart for good once upon a time.

All We Are We Are by kianspo 

Charles’s boyfriend breaks up with him days before the holidays. Not willing to ruin anyone else’s festive mood, Charles hides this fact from his sister and his friends, and retreats into the family mansion, letting the world move on without him. He’s flirting with depression when a one-time ex and a long-term friend surprises him. Long-kept secrets are revealed, and it turns out, Charles hasn’t been paying attention to the right things.

Your Heart Just Couldn't Wait by Pookaseraph

Charles and his BFF Tony Stark have the life - they're co-valedictorians at the most prestigious high school in the city, they have their own condo in Manhattan, and they get to go to all the awesome parties. Charles just wished he understood relationships and sex as well as Tony does. His theoretical bisexuality starts to feel a lot less theoretical when he and Tony end up in Professor Lehnsherr's Physics III course at Columbia University, but Charles' decision to take their relationship further leaves both student and professor with more than they bargained for.

this is only now (where do we go from here) by thebodyeclectic From this prompt on the 1stclass_kink meme: Modern AU, where an older Alex (in his mid twenties?) somehow figures out/recieves the news that, no, his younger brother didn't die in the crash like he'd been told, and then sets out to find him. The catch is, Scott's been adopted and adores his 'dad', who is incidentally the adorkable Hank McCoy.

Not So Much the Teacup by thehoyden

“Charles is basically the bride whisperer. It’s like he can read their minds.” (wedding planner AU)

Math Reasons by pearl_o, pocky_slash (series)

"Mom says Erik always knows what he wants, it just sometimes takes him a little while to actually realize it," Ruth said.

Charles fell in love with Erik the first night they met, the first week of freshman year. Two years of friendship, adventures, arguments, hijinks, secrets, and summer visits later, Erik is starting to catch up.

On a Beach, With You (The Tel Aviv Remix) by niniblack

Charles Xavier meets Erik Lehnsherr on a beach in Israel.

Growing Up Lehnsherr by DeerstalkerDeathFrisbee (series)

For someone who hates feelings, Erik gets dragged into an alarming number of conversations about them. In which there are confessions, declarations, awkward first meetings, accidents, explanations, endings and beginnings.

Otherwise know as Five Conversations Erik Didn't Want to Have and One That He Did.

Got You Locked Down Like Police by brawlingdiscontent

Mob AU. Logan’s straightforward ‘retrieval’ job gets complicated. 

One big family by ximeria

There is a house in New York (no, only Charles calls it a house, and his perception of such is a little warped, so let's try that again)...

... There's a building in New York, owned by XavierMedCorp that caters to mutant tenants, their families and a handful of humans. You need to know someone who knows someone who knows someone to get an apartment there. Or maybe just be very lucky. Or have a mutant son who has the tenacity of a pit bull. Anyway, Edie Lehnsherr has moved in and she is slowly getting to know the other tenants, the superintendent and the owner.

Making perfect by aesc

As is the case with most trials in Erik's life, this one starts with Charles gazing beseechingly at him and asking him for a favor. Not that their going-on-three years relationship is a trial, even though it started with Charles giving Erik the full benefit of sad blue eyes and asking him if he wouldn't mind opening his car door since he'd locked his keys inside, but still.

love like toy trucks crashing by midrashic

Charles Xavier may be young, but he knows what it means to love.

Love Runs Out by ikeracity

Hammer Bay, one of the most mutant-friendly apartment buildings in all of Manhattan and affectionately nicknamed the Hub by its residents, is home to an eclectic mix of families, broke college students, scientists, artists, and high school dropouts. Charles Xavier, new arrival to apartment 3K, catches the attention of everyone on the third floor but he only has eyes for one: cranky author Erik Lehnsherr who lives directly across the hall in 3B.

A Nice Boy (The Family Matters Edition) by pocky_slash

Erik's not sure whether the problem is that he doesn't want his parents to meet Charles or that he doesn't want Charles to meet his parents. Either way, he never invites Charles to brunch. Why should he? It's not like they're dating.

soul of my soul by ikeracity 

You can imprint on your soulmate anywhere — school, work, on the street, in a restaurant, on the subway.

Charles and Erik imprint on each other just in time for the holidays.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland by TurtleTotem 

Charles hasn't seen Erik since their devastating breakup ten years ago. He's certainly the last person he expects to run into at a Christmas lights display.

[queenie-official]

Okay so you’re one of the only ones I’ve seen mention AJ recently so I wanted to come to you with this thought. You know the ‘write a prisoner’ website it went around tiktok for a little? Well I was thinking, in a universe where his ending is different (no spoilers just in case your other followers haven’t watched it) reader finds him on the write a prisoner site and they become penpals. You’re able to develop a genuine connection with one another and he’s able to talk and vent to you about everything that’s gone wrong/right in his life and you’re able to do the same thing. He ends up writing you sappy little poems and love notes eventually cause he realizes you are more than just a penpal to him. At some point you end up surprising him with an actual visit and it just solidifies his feelings being able to finally see you in person. If we’re going off of the mafia!au for him, then maybe he ends up having some of his men on the outside start to keep tabs on you..solely for protection purposes of course not because he wants to make sure he’s the only guy you’re talking to. There’s a couple videos I saw where the girls were still able to be surprised with flowers on the doorstep somehow by their penpal and I definitely feel like he’d do the same thing. There’d be a line in one of his notes afterwards of like ‘Did you get my little surprise, sweetheart? Just wait till you see how much I can really spoil you once I’m out of here.’ Ahhh maybe it’s just me that gets all giggly at this idea. Idk just a little thought 😅

main masterlist

OMG STOP I LOVE THIS SM!!

okay so ima break this up a bit because it’s easier for my brain to focus 😭 will start with looking at it from Aj’s character and then from if it was Mafia!Ani

(i’d also like to state idk how the ‘write a prisoner’ website works exactly but i feel like it’s pretty self explanatory so ima just roll with how it works in my mind)

Aj: becoming pen pals with a prisoner and bonding is a lot easier then you went into the website thinking, you only really go in with the fact you’ll be speaking with a criminal. once you see his photo your interest is peaked (i mean how could it not look at him)

anyway you guys start off with simple topics when messaging like favorite hobbies and Aj mentions to you that he has a love for playing the piano- (idk about you guys but there’s nothing hotter then a man who can play an instrument and play it well) maybe he even makes a promise to you that when he gets out he’ll play for you.

and Aj is such a sweetheart he so would write you poems maybe he starts off with something simple and sweet that can be interpreted in a friend way because for as confident as a guy he is you make him nervous. he only started writing you poems once you two where close enough for him to feel safe and be open with his thoughts and how he got into this situation. and honestly you don’t think he’s to bad of guy after all he never went out of his way to kill anyone during a heist and he always made sure to donate a percentage to charity organizations, so you’re able to push the fact he’s a criminal aside.

as your relationship with him progresses and his friendly poems slowly turn into something more you realize how badly you want to visit him. to see his pretty face in person (even if it is behind a glass frame) and to hear the voice you’d been imagining in your head. so with all the courage you can muster you do some digging and make plans to surprise him. Oh boy are you grateful you went through with it- seeing him in person was almost surreal. somehow he was more handsome in person and furthermore his gravely voice was definitely hotter then you ever could of imagined. he’s a smooth talker, seemingly more bold in person then he was through a screen (which shocked you since with most people it’d be the opposite). oh and when he sees you… sees your smile- the way you flutter your lashes when listening to him speak- he knows he’s done for, knows that there’s no one else he wants more in his life and even more importantly he cannot wait for his release date.

you make the effort to visit him as often as you can…

Mafia!Anakin: we all collectively agree Ani is a possessive man- even if he doesn’t always show it but Mafia Ani, oh that man isn’t afraid to show he’s possessive in fact as far as he’s concerned he owns you. so to no one’s surprise he 100% has men on the outside looking after you. making sure you’re safe, single unbothered by those around you.

Anakin has connections everywhere, i mean he’s the top boss. so if he wants to surprise you with something he will, and he’s got the money for it so honestly what’s stopping him?

waking up and getting ready to start your day only to here your doorbell go off, opening your front door to see a huge bouquet of flowers. it really confuses you at first- i mean you don’t really talk to other guys (probably because every time you did they suspiciously disappeared- if you had their number and messaged them all they’d say is they moved away) so who are they from. taking them inside and seeing a note on the ground that must of fallen out of the bouquet your question is answered.

‘Hope you like them Pretty girl’

it’s not even signed but you know exactly who it’s from. of course you confront him at your next visit, and once you do all he does is give you a sly little smile through the glass as you both hold the phone next to your ears.

‘just wait till you see how much i can really spoil you once i’m out of here’

ugh that resonantes with me sm 😩 he 100% would say that and then swiftly move the conversation along as you blush silently, something about how he said it or maybe it’s the look in his eyes that leaves you flustered.

i think i ranted a bit to much about this 😀 my apologies huns 😭 but anyways you’re so real for this and thank you for dropping it in my asks 🫶🏼

you’re actually my first ask too so 🤭🤭 thank you for the absolute serotonin boost this gave me Xx <3

[severelystrangewriter]

Penpal (Flufftober 2023 Day 1)

Pairing: kazutora hanemiya x female reader

WC: 1279

Warnings: none

Summary: baji insists on finding kazutora’s long lost penpal

Note: this is my first time posting to tumblr so if it’s a little wonky forgive me. also this is my first ever time sharing something i’ve written so i hope you enjoy :)

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

“Who’s that?” Baji pointed at the picture in Kazutora’s wallet.

“N-nobody!” Kazutora snapped the wallet shut, but Baji was already stealing it from his hand and opening it back up to get a better look.

“If she’s nobody then why do you have a picture of her in your wallet?” Baji tilted his head as he studied the photo, “She’s pretty cute.”

“Lemme see,” Chifuyu leaned over to look, humming in agreement when he saw her.

“C’mon, give it back,” Kazutora tried to grab it, but Baji kept the wallet just out of reach.

“Not until you tell us who it is,” He insisted.

Kazutora sighed, feeling his face heat up, “You remember in middle school when we had that penpal assignment with that other school? Well she was mine. Her name is (Y/n).”

“Do you guys still talk?” Chifuyu asked.

Kazutora rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “Not really. Last time we talked was right before we graduated middle school.”

“And you’ve kept it this whole time?” Baji laughed, “Dude, we’re about to graduate high school! That’s so creepy.”

“Don’t laugh! And it’s not creepy! I just never got around to getting rid of it,” Kazutora whined as Baji continued to poke fun at him.

“Why don’t we just throw it away now?” Baji questioned.

Kazutora’s eyes widened and he quickly snatched the wallet away, “No! Don’t!”

“Why not?” Baji raised his brow, crossing his arms.

Kazutora shrugged, looking down at the picture of your smiling face as he tried to think of a good reason. If he was being honest, he never forgot about the picture being in his wallet. In fact, he always thought about you, wondering what you were up to, what you were like now, just wondering about you. He wondered if you thought about him too.

“She was nice,” He said quietly.

Baji made a noise of disbelief, “That’s it? You don’t want to throw it away because she was nice?”

“Why’d you stop talking to her then?” Chifuyu tilted his head.

“Well, I offered to meet up with her once, but she turned me down because she was too nervous,” Kazutora explained, “She gave me her phone number… But I lost the letter before I could message her.”

Chifuyu nodded in understanding and Baji looked a little thoughtful at this admission.

“Then why don’t we just find her?” Baji suggested.

“H-huh?” Kazutora’s eyes widened.

“Yeah,” Baji nodded, “We can go look for her.”

“You’re suggesting we search all of Tokyo for just one girl?” Chifuyu asked skeptically.

“I’m sure we would find her eventually. We just have to ask around,” Baji shrugged, making it sound like the easiest thing in the world.

“Where would we even begin?” Kazutora shook his head in disbelief.

At this Baji grinned, “I know just the place.”

~~~

“Well that’s cute,” Mikey commented after Baji finished explaining the predicament of finding Kazutora’s long lost penpal.

“Or really weird,” Draken muttered, eyeing his friend.

Kazutora’s face flushed in embarrassment as he looked away. He should’ve known that when Baji said they were going to search for you that it would undoubtedly involve their friend Mikey. As much as he wanted to cringe at the inevitable teasing that would come from his friends, he had to admit that Baji was pretty ingenious. His reasoning being that they had a decently sized gang so someone was bound to know something.

“Hm…” Mikey studied the picture of your face closely, “You know what, she actually looks pretty familiar.”

Draken took a look next and nodded his head, “I think I’ve seen her hang around Takemitchy before.”

Mikey snapped his fingers in realization, “Yeah! That’s right!”

“Takemitchy knows her?” Kazutora asked in surprise.

“Uh huh,” Mikey nodded with a smile, “We were actually about to meet up with him at the park if you wanna come with.”

And so the five of them made their way to a park where they met up with Takemichi and his friends as well as Hinata and Emma. Baji didn’t even greet them before he was shoving your picture in their faces demanding if they had seen you before.

“Dude, isn’t that your neighbor?” Yamagishi asked Takemichi as he adjusted his glasses while squinting at the picture.

“Yeah, it’s (Y/n),” Takemichi nodded.

“That’s her!” Baji said excitedly, then he went on to explain how they had been looking for you because you were Kazutora’s old penpal that he lost contact with.

Kazutora couldn’t believe his luck, the fact that he found you so easily seemed like a dream. And the fact that you had a mutual friend was astounding; he briefly wondered how he had never seen you before.

“I can call her if you want,” Takemichi offered suddenly, throwing Kazutora out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” He asked with eyes wide.

“Yeah! Why don’t we invite her!” Mikey sounded equally eager to meet the long lost penpal.

“Uh… I-I dunno guys,” Kazutora hesitated.

“Oh come on, don’t chicken out now!” Baji groaned, poking his friend in the forehead.

“What are you afraid of? Are you thinking she’ll call you a freak for keeping her picture this whole time?” Chifuyu questioned with a smile while resting a hand on Kazutora’s shoulder in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but his words filled Kazutora with anything but.

“Well I wasn’t,” He said pointedly, but now he was. Because Chifuyu was right! It was cringey and weird to keep a picture of a person he hasn’t spoken to in years! He didn’t even know if you were even going to remember him! “What’s the worst that can happen?” Mikey shrugged.

“I don’t know, the whole calling him a freak thing sounds about as bad as it gets,” Emma commented, “He’d never live it down.”

“Thanks Emma,” Kazutora mumbled sarcastically.

“(Y/n) wouldn’t do that though, she’s super sweet,” Hinata spoke up, trying to ease his growing nerves.

And so you were called. Takemichi didn’t mention that you were being looked for by Kazutora, which they all thought would be for the best. You agreed with enthusiasm, having nothing better to do in the first place.

It didn’t take long for you to show up and when you did, time seemed to slow for Kazutora. You were beautiful. Your eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, and he knew that if he was given the chance, he could get lost in them for hours. Seeing that bright smile on your face in person made Kazutora’s heart skip a beat. You were perfect.

“Hi guys!” You chirped to your friends, who greeted you just as happily.

Your smile dropped as your face morphed to one of shock upon seeing Kazutora.

“I know you!” You exclaimed, pointing at him.

“Y-you do?” Kazutora questioned, an ounce of hope finding its way into his tone.

“Yeah! You’re Kazutora, right? We used to be penpals!”

His heart soared at the fact you remembered him. You really remembered him! 

“Well isn’t that a crazy coincidence!” Baji grinned mischievously, slinging an arm around your shoulder.

When Baji told you about the picture in the wallet, you didn’t cringe away like Kazutora feared. Instead, you smiled up at him and told him that it was endearing, then you confessed to keeping everything he’s ever sent, including his picture that you keep tacked to a board hanging in your room. No one could wipe the beaming grin off his face even if they tried after you said that.

The rest of the day was spent at the park, having fun and chatting, and mostly reacquainting yourself with your old penpal, Kazutora.

You even put your number in his phone so he wouldn’t lose it this time.

[theinternetisaweboflies]

Love’s What Makes a Shatterdome a Shatterhome

There wasn't a sufficient sample size of Jaeger pilots who had both survived long enough for chronic effects of the drift to be studied comprehensively, but there were a couple of disability discharges who reported ghost drift over a decade after service.

It was usually stronger in REM, shared nightmares of shared trauma. It could also manifest as emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, or even idiosyncrasies. Raleigh Beckett swore he had never bitten his nails till he drifted with Mako Mori.

As Dr. Hermann Gottleib put it once (but only after he’d drifted with Dr. Newton Geizsler), “The ghost drift is hinky.”

It was hinkier if you third-wheeled with a kaiju.

Newt and Hermann both experienced the surviving hive mind’s collective fury at their inability to reopen the Breach. It kept them in Medical for two weeks, clutching their heads, or sometimes each other’s.

A paragraph from Hermann’s 2021 paper on drift-related neurological damage suggested that co-treatment benefited the affected pilots, but it was the response from pilots themselves that cemented it as medical practice. Queen-sized gurneys and hospital beds were standard at most Shatterdomes by 2025.

After a couple o f weeks in Medical, Hermann’s migraines began to dissipate. 

Newt’s did not. 

The Ghost drift was even hinkier if it was just you and the kaiju.

“Hey, Hermann?” said Newt. 

They finally had a brief respite from Medical’s gauntlet of neurological tests, from MRI scans to a a brain biopsy when Newt's scans revealed encephalitis. They were sitting in bed, side by side, Newt filling out reports on his tablet, and Hermann writing equations on the actual paper that he still insisted on using like he was Amish or something. Newt definitely did not think that was cute. He’d only indulged it during their penpal days because something about pen and paper seemed to slow down his thought processes a little. Unless that was just Hermann.

Hermann gave a distracted but encouraging hum. 

“We’re going to be together for- for a while longer right?” asked Newt. 

Hermann looked up, no longer distracted now that there was an opportunity to be snippy. “Were you even paying attention to the doctors this morning?”

“No.” Newt shrugged. “I knew you were.”

Hermann gave one of his long-suffering sighs. “According to the medical professionals who are doing their utmost to keep you alive despite your predilection for suicidal recklessness and energy drinks, we will be together for the foreseeable future. I am, apparently, the only available control for all of your…” he gestured vaguely at all of Newt, “variables.”

“That was a yes, right?”

“Yes.” Hermann sighed again. “I was just beginning to picture a life outside of this place too. Can you imagine? No more brutalist architecture.”

“I found the brutalist architecture comforting. It’s always the same, where you go. Like McDonald’s,” said Newt, before adding, “No more morning reveille.”

“Of course that’s what you would look forward to.” Hermann rubbed his bad hip absentmindedly.  “No more having to traverse miles of Jaeger bays for coffee that tastes like it was brewed in one of your sample tanks.” 

“You didn’t know about my side hustle?” Newt joked, because he was still Newt, at least for now. The world could be ending, and he would be joking about it. He had done so repeatedly, in fact, until Stacker Pentecost took him aside to tell him that ongoing counted as ‘too soon.’ After that, he kept his gallows humor to the lab, where it was, if not appreciated, at least tolerated. 

Hermann almost smiled. 

It was now or never. 

“Hey, uh, can I ask you for a favor?” 

“What?” Hermann’s eyebrows shot up so high they were hidden by his bowlcut. 

Newt never asked for favors. He demanded: peer review, full control of their ostensibly shared radio, attention. He took: liberties, five hours to reply to an email despite having a comparable number of screens open simultaneously, bites of Hermann’s food when he was distracted. 

Newt didn’t like to ask for anything. He had gotten the impression early in life that the answer would always be no. 

He hadn’t even asked Hermann to drift with him. Sometimes that helped with the guilt, but not often. 

“If I start acting weird- I mean weird for me- Look, you know me better than anyone.” Newt couldn’t look Hermann in the eye after that, so he made his request to Hermann’s knees. “Promise me if I start acting weird in a weird way, you’ll stop me.”

“Stop you?” 

“Just do something. Or make sure I don’t do… something. I don’t know, man. I-”

“Newton, you’re shaking.” Hermann sounded like he had just finished an equation only to realize he forgot to carry the two several chalkboards back. “You’re scared. You’re never scared…. You weren’t even scared when you drifted with a kaiju.” 

Newt was suddenly grateful that Hermann hadn’t accompanied him to the bone slums, and not just because he never would have made it to the shelter on time. 

“Maybe I should have been?” It was the closest Newt would ever get to admitting he was wrong, at least in front of Hermann. 

“What are you talking about, Newton?”

“It’s like…. I can tell when you’re ghost drifting with the hive, right?” Newt started awkwardly. “It’s always at night, and it always wakes you up, even though you act like it doesn’t, like you forget you’re attached to about seven different monitors, and I can feel it through our ghost drift, but it’s so fucking faint .”

“Faint?” repeated Hermann, although for a second Newt thought it was a warning because he had gone even paler than usual. 

“When I see them…. it’s different. It’s intense, but I don’t think it even makes it through our drift. It’s like they’re in my brain instead of my mind.”

“What does that even mean ?”

“I don’t know, man. Maybe there isn’t a word for it in our language, like schadenfreude or something. I don’t fucking know. All I know is-” here Newt realizes he hadn’t inhaled in a while and took a deep breath. “I’m the only connection left. Maybe it would be better if-”

“No!”

Newt was usually the loud one, but this time it was Hermann turning heads. A nurse hushed them. Hermann didn’t seem to notice.

His forehead hit Newt’s own hard enough to be considered assault, but then he just… left it there. 

Usually, when they weren’t in the middle of a seance with the Hive, they kept to their sides of their Queen-sized hospital bed, despite the lack of tape. Now Hermann’s breath was on Newt’s face, and his hands were on his wrists, white-knuckled, like he knew what was under the tattoos. 

Newt felt something through their ghost drift, but it was gone before he could parse it. 

“No,” Hermann said again. Well, it was his favorite word. “We’ll talk to Medical. We’ll explain that you- we require further testing.”

“Hermann, they biopsied my brain. If they tested me any further, it would be vivisection. They haven’t found shit. Whatever the Precursors are doing to me-”

“What did you call them?” Hermann interrupted. He rarely let Newt finish his sentences, which Newt had tried to convince himself was romantic at one point. Then again, Newt’s sentences did tend to run on. Sometimes even he lost track of what he was saying. It had been happening a lot more often of late. 

“I- What? What did I call who?”

“The- You just called them the Precursors.”

Newt hadn’t even noticed. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said, mostly to himself. “I can’t speak their language. How could I tell what they were saying?”

“Please tell me this is all one of your horrible jokes,” said Hermann. “I would be so relieved that I probably wouldn’t even slap you.”

“That actually sounds kind of hot, but I’m not joking. Even I have my limits. Apparently.”

Hermann shook his head, either in disagreement or in disbelief. 

“Look, Hermann… If I tell Medical about this, I’m probably going to end up in some basement facility in New Mexico for the rest of my life, or- hell, maybe they will vivisect me.”

“You can’t believe that.”

“You can’t believe that ! They’re not going to risk another war over one annoying scientist.”

“You saved the world,” said Hermann.

“Not if I end it next,” said Newt. He let that sink in for a moment before continuing. “Look, man, I’d have already given myself an air embolism, but I would appreciate some time to settle affairs first. Say goodbye to Dad and Uncle Illia, make sure the history wikis get it right- that sort of thing. You’re the only person I can trust to buy me that time.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, while Hermann processed that. Newt knew better than to rush him. He was calculating probabilities in that big beautiful brain of his. At least the Precursors hadn’t gotten it. Newt could die happy enough, knowing that.

“It might yet fade,” Hermann said eventually. “Ghost drifts often do. Until then, we’ll stay together. I’ll monitor you for aberrant behavior, as you requested.”

“You’d do that for me?” Newt asked, and didn’t redact himself this time. 

“Yes.”

“You’d kill me?” Hermann flinched, but Newt could never shut up, even when he knew he should. “Only if I’m too far gone to do it myself. Please, Hermann. Promise.”

“...I promise.” Hermann’s voice was so quiet that Newt could barely hear it over the hum of their fourteen collective monitors. 

“Thanks, man.” That didn’t exactly cover it, but Newt didn’t think either one of them could handle what he wanted to say. He cleared his throat. “So when we move in together…. What’s your pet policy?”

“Please tell me you have not cloned miniature kaiju, Newton.” Hermann still sounded like he was doing that stiff-upper-lip thing even though he wasn’t even really British.

“Shh. Don’t give the Precursors any ideas.”

“Precursors. Are you sure you didn’t make that up? You do make up a lot of words.”

“All words are made up,” said Newt.

“Not usually all at once though.”

“Is this about ‘al desko’ again?”

“The term is ‘al fresco’.”

“Not when it’s at your desk. Loosen up a little, Hermann. It’s a neologism. English is a living language.”

He sniffed daintily. “Well, perhaps it should be put out of its misery.”

Hermann was still sniffing a few minutes later, so Newt turned to face the window and give him a little privacy. He supposed small talk was a lot to ask someone who you had also asked to euthanize you. 

He couldn’t tell Hermann that the ghost drift was doing the opposite of fading. Already, he could feel the Precursors’ presence in his mind, not quite constantly, but near enough, like a song that gets stuck, or guilt you can’t talk yourself out of, or a headache that no amount of military-grade Ibuprofen can cure.

Newt also had a real headache, but that might have been from Hermann’s headbutt. He was surprisingly strong for a… Herman. Must have been all that physiotherapy. Newt tried thinking about baseball before the monitors could give away the direction his thoughts had actually taken. Unfortunately, he knew jack shit about baseball.

“Hey, Hermann?” Newt turned back around, figuring he’d given Hermann at least a minute to himself, which was probably some sort of record. 

Hermann was already looking at him, an unreadable expression on his face. Maybe the stiff upper lip was something they taught in those British boarding schools.

Newt found he didn’t know what to say. Not that it had ever stopped him before. “I don’t know about you, but I’m actually going to miss this place a little.”

“Medical?”

“Hong Kong,” he corrected. “Well mostly the lab, I guess.”

The stacks of books they used as furniture because the furniture was all covered with books. Hermann’s chalkboards with the ladder he insisted on climbing, despite the pain it caused him, and despite the fact that Newt always offered to give him a piggyback ride instead. The Milking Machine, which Newt referenced by name as often as possible just to see Hermann’s wince. 

“We really made this Shatterdome a Shatterhome.”

Newt felt something like pain through his ghost drift with Hermann. He was about to protest that his joke wasn’t that bad, when he realized that it was everything Hermann had just been trying to hide. 

Hermann had Kept Calm and Carried On for over a decade of war, during which Newt had only seen him cry once, and that was when he had to use the eyewash station after a possible kaiju blue contamination. Even so, he’d seemed embarrassed. Now there were tears dripping down his ridiculous cheekbones and he wasn’t even wiping them away. 

Newt wiped a few of them away before he realized that was probably weird. He’d sort of forgotten they weren’t his for a second. His hand hovered in midair between them, movement aborted but not yet redirected.

“Yes,” said Hermann, taking hold of Newt’s hand and enclosing it between both his own. “I suppose we did.”

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

May 25th

Today, we’re meeting two new penpals! Starting with Dr. John “Jack” Seward, the epitome of joy:

Ebb tide in appetite to-day. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty feeling; nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be worth the doing.... (<- 4 dots. You know it’s serious.)

I like that he’s keeping his diary on a phonograph as if he were retelling medical observations. It’s a nice touch!

So how does this fine young man handle rejection, you ask?

As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing was work, I went down amongst the patients. I picked out one who has afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am determined to understand him as well as I can. To-day I seemed to get nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery.

I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to making myself master of the facts of his hallucination. In my manner of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to wish to keep him to the point of his madness—a thing which I avoid with the patients as I would the mouth of hell.

(Mem., under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?) Omnia Romæ venalia sunt. Hell has its price! verb. sap. If there be anything behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore—

… Well at least he’s self-aware. So there’s that.

R. M. Renfield, ætat 59.—Sanguine temperament; great physical strength; morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, ending in some fixed idea which I cannot make out. I presume that the sanguine temperament itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished finish; a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for themselves. What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal; when duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it.

Why do I have a feeling this guy is going to be important. Noting it down.

Now onto our second penpal:

Letter, Quincey P. Morris to Hon. Arthur Holmwood.

[Slides in with a cowboy hat and a rose between my teeth] Hey ~ 🌹

My dear Art,—

We've told yarns by the camp-fire in the prairies; and dressed one another's wounds after trying a landing at the Marquesas; and drunk healths on the shore of Titicaca. There are more yarns to be told, and other wounds to be healed, and another health to be drunk. Won't you let this be at my camp-fire to-morrow night? I have no hesitation in asking you, as I know a certain lady is engaged to a certain dinner-party, and that you are free.

How does this book keep getting bi-er and poly-er. We must study it for science.

There will only be one other, our old pal at the Korea, Jack Seward. He's coming, too, and we both want to mingle our weeps over the wine-cup, and to drink a health with all our hearts to the happiest man in all the wide world, who has won the noblest heart that God has made and the best worth winning.

Case in point.

Yours, as ever and always,

QUINCEY P. MORRIS.

Man I wish that were me…

< Prev 🦇 Next >

[luffysprincess]

hiii amira! you know not who i am, but i think your selfships are cute. i know for your genshin selfships, you're a sumerian princess and my question is what is your base lore (like are you from the rainforest or desert, do you have a vision) and how does your journey differentiate from selfship to selfship with how you end up meeting them and how you think your life changes per individual?

Hi nyla!! Ahhhhh I’m flattered that you think my selfships are cute 🙈

So I’ve actually only thought up lore for my selfships with cyno and capitano and a little bit for tighnari, kinich and kazuha. I have almost nothing for the rest which is quite a few (im sorry im a whore for genshin men 😅).

And of those ships, I am only a Sumerian princess in my selfships with cyno and kinich. And even in those two, the lore differs a lot.

But one thing I have in common in all my selfships is that I have an anemo vision and use a polearm.

I’m gonna try and summarize things bc there are too many details in some of these and I’m worried things will be too confusing ha ha. Also this is gonna be so long I’m sorry

CYNO

With cyno, I am princess of the Kingdom of Sahra (made up) in the desert of sumeru and am betrothed to Alhaitham who is prince of the Kingdom of Ilm (also made up) in the forest side of Sumeru. Long story short, my kingdom is attacked and there are threats of my assassination being sent to the castle. So Alhaitham sends his lead guard, Cyno, to escort me safely to the forest.

The art I have with cyno is when I first meet him actually!! That very same night of our first meeting is when my palace is attacked and cyno and I escape through the walls and underground routes. He is then tasked with guarding me across the desert while avoiding a group of hunters that want me dead. (They want me dead bc of a prophecy that says I’ll be the one who kills their organization’s leader).

During our journey we go through different cities, tiny villages, mysterious runes etc etc. We even come across this little guy who Cyno hatesss bc he distrusts it but I love him and drag him along on our journey. I still haven’t picked a name for him but he is our adventure pet (every good adventure needs one)

As we travel, we learn more about each other and in turn fall in love. I fell first he fell harder. I’m the first person to laugh at his jokes (I genuinely love his jokes they make my day) and he’s so protective of me that it makes me swoon. Fun fact is that I pretend that I’m absolutely helpless bc I rather like watching him fight for me and I’m a sucker for being the damsel in distress. But at some point I am forced to actually fight and ofc I kick ass. However cyno is completely surprised by my skill and finds me admirable but also ridiculous bc why have I been hiding it????

There’s also definitely a moment where we’re stopping by a village with an ongoing festival and bc it’s me I can’t not join their dancing. Eventually I pull him in to dance with me and it’s one of those oh moments where he realizes he’s falling for me. Which is bad bc I’m supposed to marry his friend and prince, Alhaitham. So that’s where the angst comes in but by the time we get to Alhaitham’s palace, I too have fallen for cyno duh.

I am stubborn af so I straight up tell Alhaitham I don’t wanna marry him and he’s like yeah ok I don’t have a problem with that. (Me and haitham are chill penpals and also he has a separate romance with a friend of mine in this au). And instead me and cyno get married but only after we work with Alhaitham and co. to take down all the people behind my death threats etc.

This was all inspired by this art I saw. It’s one of my fave cyno fanarts and this whole idea rushed into my brain when I saw it

KINICH

With kinich, I’m a Sumerian princess also from the desert side but I’ve run away for the chance to adventure. And bc I have no sense of direction but find trouble easily, I end up in a deadly situation where I’m running for my life from a yumkasaurus on the cliffs of natlan. I slip off the cliff and my scream alerts kinich who is nearby and swings over to save me from my death kinda like a spiderman moment. When we get to safety he scolds me for being so careless, which makes me wanna annoy him even more so he low-key starts to hate me.

When he brings me to Mauvika (by force btw bc I don’t want to see her) she recognizes me as royalty right away (that’s why I didn’t wanna see her) but I convince her to assign him as my travel guide so I can adventure natlan safety. Our relationship is very I annoy him and he is forced to just deal with it. He’s a very patient man loooool

CAPITANO

I’ve written something for my selfship with him here!!

TIGHNARI

With tighnari I’m a new scholar at the akedimiya who took on a research product about a specific consecrated red vulture that was acting abnormally. But I somehow got caught in its grip and it started flying me to its nest in the forest (that’s the abnormality. It lives in the cool wet forest instead of the hot dry dessert). At some point while it’s flying I try to fight my way out of its claws and I succeed but then fall a big fall in the middle of the forest. The trees slow down my descent and tighnaris quick reflexes catch me just in time. That’s how we meet!! I don’t have anything else for this ship but I know that he makes me very flustered 🙈

KAZUHA

With kazuha, it’s kinda angsty and that’s bc he took fucking forever to come home so I created this based on my upset feelings when pulling for him. I’ve spent the most money and wishes on him and everytime he makes me use the absolute maximum amount of wishes I hate him (I don’t).

But basically I’m a simple village girl from inazuma who fell in love with kazuha but he left on that ship with beidou one day without telling me which broke my heart. For weeks and weeks, I wait for him to come back but all he does is send one letter explaining why he had to leave. But it hurt me too much already, so I leave our house bc I don’t want the reminder of him being gone. By the time he comes back to visit, I’ve also left. There’s no trace of me left. And now he’s determined to travel teyvat to find me again.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏ

I don’t have much lore with rest of my genshin faves (scara, childe, heizou, zhongli, aether, lyney etc) but one day I’d like to brainstorm some!!

[darlingvernon]

you've got mail! | 03.

Author: darlingvernon (prev nonrevblr)

Pairing: Chwe Hansol x Fem Reader

Genre: strangers to lovers, college au, penpal au

Rating: 18+

Warnings: swearing

Word Count: 4,791

Description: The concept of Equivalent Exchange is not foreign to you, and since you need Jeonghan to participate in a Social Experiment for your Psych Thesis, you inevitably have to participate in his too. It isn’t the walk in the park you thought it would be, especially when your penpal Vernon keeps knocking down the walls that you’ve built; scratching an itch you couldn’t reach.

Author's Note: i'm so sorry this took so long! i had a couple of other projects before i could finish it. i am... not entirely happy with it because i was working another fic with a different writing concept so i think i lost the writing style near the end there. anyhow, i'm still putting it out because if i touch it anymore i'll end up scrapping it. hopefully, you guys enjoy it. please, let me know what you think! happy reading!

This place is one of your absolute favourites. 

The hole-in-the-wall cafe, Casa Mia, is only a couple of blocks from campus and you stumbled upon it one day when you were out on a walk with Jeonghan. The exposed bricks paired with the mason jar pendant lights give it a rustic feel and with the added touch of mismatched tables and chairs, it nevers fails to make you feel at home and cosy.

On one end, the wall is lined up with shelves from the floor to the ceiling and filled with a random assortment of books from The Aneid by Virgil to Eragon by Christopher Paolini. The next book on your reading list is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which is just on the shelf over from where you’re sitting. 

However, right now you’re balls deep into Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet instead, sitting across from Wonwoo and his thick rimmed glasses, nose buried in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The pair of you have been grouped together for your English Literature report on ‘Romance: Comedy vs Tragedy’ and this beautiful Friday morning, is one of the only days you both have available to meet up.

“Are you still reading?” Wonwoo questions, sitting back as he stretches his limbs. “Or have the words started to blend together to you, like they have for me?”

“Neither,” you answer truthfully. “I’ve been a little…”

“Distracted?” Wonwoo offers, smirking when your eyes go wide, like a deer caught in headlights. “You’ve been on the same page for some time now and your eyes keep drifting towards your laptop.”

Placing a hand on your chest, you feign offense. “Jeon Wonwoo, have you been watching me?” you ask, scandalised.

Wonwoo rolls his eyes, laughing at your antics. “Just watching to see if I’m going to be left to do all the work,” he jokingly accuses, and earns himself a smack on the arm. 

“I would never.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Sorry, I’ve just got a lot on my plate with my stupid Psych Thesis,” you explain, but don’t divulge any further. It’s not a lie that your thesis is laborious, but he doesn’t need to know that the real reason you’re distracted is because you’re itching to see the reply from your penpal.

Wonwoo nods, accepting your answer. “I can imagine,” he hums, “Jeonghan seems to be stressed about it, too. He was complaining about having to go out on all of these blind dates. Though, he did come home with a little skip in his step last night.”

This piece of information perks you up but you try to be subtle about it, knowing Jeonghan would kick your ass if he finds out you’ve been prying about him behind his back. “Oh, really?” you ask, nonchalant. “Did he say anything about it last night?”

Just as Wonwoo’s about to answer, your phone vibrates incessantly on the table, interrupting him.

“It’s almost like he knows that we’re talking about him.” You shake your head, turning to face the phone towards Wonwoo so he can see that Jeonghan is ringing you. “What do you want, you heathen?” you answer the call.

“You ungrateful brat,” Jeonghan bristles on the other line. “Is this how you say thank you after I went on that date for you last night?”

You roll your eyes even though you know he can’t see you. “I’m pretty sure that you’re the one who’s meant to be thanking me,” you remark, snidely. “Wonwoo said— ow!” You shoot Wonwoo a glare after he lightly kicks you on the shin.

The other line goes quiet and you almost think that Jeonghan’s hung up until he quietly asks, “What did he say?”

Across from you, Wonwoo’s hand gestures closing the zip of his mouth, before joining his hands together in prayer, begging for you to spare him. Considering you still need him for your English Literature report, you do just that and throw yourself into Jeonghan’s hellfire instead. “If I shout coffee for the next two weeks, will you spare him?” You tempt the demon. “I need him to finish his end of this Shakespeare report before you off him.”

“I’ll see you soon,” Jeonghan smugly accepts your bribe and hangs up.

Slowly, you gather your belongings, shoving them in your bag as you prepare to make your way to the library to meet Jeonghan, making sure to kick Wonwoo in the shin as a payback.

“What was that for?” He glares, rubbing his aching leg.

“It’s your fault that I owe him,” you huff. “Don’t even think of making funeral arrangements until you’ve finished your share of our assignment.”

“My fault?!” Wonwoo’s mouth gapes at you. “You’re the one that almost sent me to an early grave. I haven’t even met the Hermia to my Lysander yet. I’m never sharing any more ammunition against Jeonghan with you ever again.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” you challenge. “Don’t make me go Tybalt on your ass.”

Rolling his eyes, Wonwoo grabs your laptop for you. “How about a truce?” he suggests as he hands you the device. “We can both take Jeonghan down together.”

“Sounds like a plan.” You thank him. “I’ll send you my half of the report in a couple of days. See you later, Wonu.”

Waving in farewell, Wonwoo watches as you exit the cafe and head over to meet your doom.

Some might wonder why you would bother to go to Brew’d, the campus cafe, when you can easily purchase coffee at the cafe you were just at, but nobody knows Jeonghan as well as you do. Even though he only ever orders an Iced Americano, he swears only Brew’d makes it well and he’s sure to complain your ear off if you thought otherwise. 

“I didn’t think I’d see you here today,” Joshua comments as you approach the counter, punching in your usual order in the register.

With a sigh, you hand over the money required for the purchase. “I could say the same for you,” you reply, shoving your wallet back in your purse. “You don’t usually work Fridays, right?”

“Don’t get me started.” Joshua rolls his eyes and heads over to the coffee machine to start on your drinks, with you following. “I had to cover because someone called in. At least it’s a short shift and I finish in about half an hour.”

“I’m jealous.” You pout. “I have another couple of hours with Jeonghan and this stupid thesis before I go to work.”

“Eww.” Joshua wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Too bad we don’t sell any vodka here. I could’ve added some in your coffee to help.”

“Joshua, did I ever tell you that you are my favourite?” you declare, touched. “It’s the thought that counts. Also, don’t tell Jeonghan about you being my favourite.”

Joshua laughs as he hands you the drinks. “Of course, I have to tell him,” he scoffs. “That demon needs to be taken down a peg or two.”

“Okay, I take it back. You’re no longer my favourite.”

“No take backsies!”

“Boo!”

Rolling his eyes, Joshua gently ushers you out of the cafe. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to be dressed up at your funeral,” he remarks, bidding you farewell from the door.

“I’m going to haunt you!” you yell, not bothering to look back to see his reaction as you quickly make your way to the library, hoping to have a few minutes to yourself before Jeonghan gets there to view your pen pal’s reply. 

Weaving your way expertly through the crowd, you reach your destination in no time, only to be disappointed when you find the hired study room still occupied. Lightly tapping on the glass to announce your arrival, the group of students give you an apologetic nod and start gathering their belongings.

“Well, you look like shit,” Jeonghan comments upon his arrival. 

“Is that what you said to yourself in the mirror this morning?” you retort. “Don’t make me throw your coffee in the trash.”

“Then I’d have to murder Wonwoo tonight. His blood will be on your hands, and the same goes for his part of the report.”

Rolling your eyes, you deliver the Iced Americano into his outstretched hand before entering the now empty study room. Sitting across from Jeonghan, you quickly unpack your belongings and get straight to the point. “So, how was last night?” you ask, voice ladened with genuine curiosity.

Jeonghan relaxes in his chair and contemplates your question for a moment. “I’ll give you the short version since you’ll get the long version in the report,” he starts, “but it was honestly a lot of fun. Stephanie was really sweet and adventurous and we went on almost every ride. That’s why we were late last night.”

“I did think you guys would get along,” you reveal. “I’m glad it worked out.”

Laughing, Jeonghan resumes his position with his laptop. “Same here.” He nods. “It would’ve put me off going into the other dates if it didn’t. Anyway, how did you go?”

“Surprisingly good,” you admit, knowing he would find out anyway. “Bands boy sure is interesting. Anything else you would like to clue me in about him?”

“Tsk tsk, _____,” Jeonghan teases and you want to lean forward and sock him straight in the face. “That isn’t how this works and you know it. Whatever you want to know about him, you can ask him yourself. I need this to be as organic as possible.”

Sighing, you turn your attention to your own laptop and bring it to life. “You’re no fun.”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know once this social experiment is done,” he promises before adding, “if he hasn’t told you by then.”

Before you can utter a retort, the words ‘You’ve Got Mail!’ suddenly rings in the air. Without a care about what Jeonghan could be thinking right now, you open the email with haste, fingers fumbling over each other as you do so.

<To: Girl Magnetic> <From: Bands Boy> <Subject: Your Turn 12:10AM>

i finished my essay woo!

your move, girl magnetic

x sweet dreams

“Damn.” Jeonghan whistles. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that.”

“If you don’t shut the hell up,” you retort. “You’re the one lighting up this room brighter than the fluorescent light while you write that report.” Jeonghan is about to utter a comeback when you add, “By the way, I sorta promised to tell him the story behind Girl Magnetic and I wanted to ask you about it first because I wasn’t sure if it’s too much information.”

“Yes, it is,” Jeonghan agrees. “I’m sorry but you’ll have to offer him something else.”

Sighing, you nod in agreement and type out another apologetic reply. The sinking feeling in your gut of having to disappoint your pen pal is beyond unpleasant and you don’t want to make a habit of it. With a shake of your head, you rid yourself of the negative thoughts that are brewing in your mind, not wanting it to show in your message.

<To: Bands Boy> <From: Girl Magnetic> <Subject: Re: Your Turn 1:15pm>

nice work, bands boy! i’m super proud of you :) 

unfortunately i can’t tell you the story behind girl magnetic after all *siiiiiiigggghhhhhhh

jeonghan vetoed it. apparently it’ll reveal too much about me

but! he has given me permission to tell you all about it later on

i’m really sorry *cries

so in exchange, i’ll answer any other question (that doesn’t reveal too much about me) with no complaints! so hit me with your best shot!

regretfully, girl magnetic

You read through your letter once before sending it away, almost wishing you can reach through the screen just to take it back. The dread sets in and you sink down your chair, wanting the ground to swallow you up.

“God, stop being such a drama queen,” Jeonghan reprimands. “It’s just a delay in response, it’s really not a big deal. He won’t even bat an eye because you can still tell him something else.”

“Fuck you. Why do you have to be the voice of reason?”

“Isn’t that why I’m your best friend?” he asks rhetorically then proceeds to jab his index finger towards your laptop. “Now, hurry the fuck up because I need that report before you leave for work.”

Sitting up, you refer back to the blank document staring back at you and start writing your report, mumbling quietly to yourself about needing to find a new best friend. Jeonghan laughs and you know it’s because he thinks he’s a diamond in the rough and that you won’t find anyone else like him. Quite frankly, he’s right, but you won’t be the one to inflate his already huge ego.

Your allotted ‘thesis time’ concludes in a flash and you start gathering your belongings, preparing to make your way to your shift at the diner. Just like before, Jeonghan hands you a piece of paper, but this time it contains a question.

What is something you’re passionate about?

Staring at the piece of paper, you can’t help the laugh that escapes you. “Why is it so serious this time?” you question, a brow raised in confusion.

Jeonghan merely shrugs. “The topics will be a mixture of both easy and hard questions and will most likely alternate because I’m trying to see something. By the way, the reason I handed you the question this time is because I want you to initiate for this one.”

“Sounds good, I’ll get on it as soon as I get his reply,” you inform Jeonghan, shoving the note in your back pocket as you bid him farewell. “I’ll text you the details of your next date later!”

Meanwhile, Vernon lugs his tired body up the stairs of the frat house and deposits himself on the comforts of his bed. After a long day of classes, his plan was just to have a nap and relax for the rest of the night but unfortunately, his Music Theory professor had given his class another essay to complete. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he quickly orders himself some takeout and decides to start working on his essay as he waits for his food to arrive.

Turning his laptop on, he’s surprised to find a reply from you waiting for him in his inbox. Honestly, when he found none as he checked this morning, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. But, he quickly shut that down especially since he’s realised how busy you are. Nevertheless, seeing your pseudonym on his screen has given him the bout of energy he needs to get through his essay.

“Hansol, I’ve got your food,” Jeonghan calls out from the doorway, a plastic bag held hostage in his hand.

“Thanks,” Vernon replies as he walks towards the elder. “You here to give me the next question?”

Jeonghan shakes his head. “Nah, I want her to initiate this time because there’s something I’m trying to see. I’ve already given her the question and she’ll hit you up again after she finishes work.”

“Sounds good.” Vernon nods. “Is there anything else?”

“I vetoed her from telling you about Girl Magnetic” —Jeonghan rolls his eyes— “and before you start, I’m just delaying her from telling you. It’ll reveal too much and this experiment is just in its beginning stages! Instead, she’s giving you something else in return.”

“Fine.” Vernon pouts. “This all better be worth it.”

“Oh, trust me,” Jeonghan replies, smug. “You’ll be thanking me once this whole thing is done.”

Vernon watches as the elder retreats and shuts the door behind him none too gently. Only Jeonghan could walk into a room and suck all the happiness out of it. With a sigh, he opens your email, shoving pieces of chicken in his mouth as he reads through the words.

Your apologetic tone and regret is evident, even if you didn’t say so yourself. It makes Vernon want to forget the setback in your friendship, especially after speaking with Jeonghan, considering the matter is out of your hands. Besides, your counter offer is there, just as he was advised and it’s another offer that’s hard to pass up.

Taking a moment to himself, he sits back and tries to consider what question could give him as much satisfaction as the story behind Girl Magnetic would have given him. It doesn’t take him long to decide and he sends his reply back sooner rather than later since he’ll most likely be knee deep in his essay before long.

It’s well past dinner time by the time you arrive back in your dorm. Fridays are always the longest days on your schedule but you don’t mind it most of the time as it makes the weekend that much sweeter. Heading straight to the shower, you wash off the stress and tension in your body and prepare yourself for a relaxing night ahead.

It’s when you’re making yourself a cup of tea that your phone goes off with a notification from Jeonghan.

[9:00pm] thing 1: don’t forget to send me the details about my date tomorrow [9:00pm] thing 1: and don’t forget about your penpal

Sighing, you walk towards the couch where you unceremoniously threw your purse as soon as you arrived, fishing out the notepad that had the details of Jeonghan’s date on them.

[9:04pm] thing 2: you’re meeting patricia at mi casa for brunch at 11am [9:05pm] thing 2: and thanks for the reminder! [9:05pm] thing 2: i’ll get onto it now

Fetching your mug from the kitchen island, you make your way to the desk where the laptop is. Sighing, you take small sips of your tea, not in any hurry to read the email your pen pal has sent. Once you’ve finished the last drops of your drink, you know you can’t delay any further and opted to get the whole ordeal over and done with.

<To: Girl Magnetic> <From: Bands Boy> <Subject: Re: Your Turn 6:28pm>

don’t even sweat it! jeonghan explained everything to me. 

i don’t mind keeping the mystery about you for a bit longer, it’ll make getting to know you later even more interesting :)

another offer i can’t refuse? i think you’re spoiling me haha.

hm, well i’m plenty curious when it comes to you but let’s go with something easy.

what music are you into?

x bands boy

ps. jeonghan says you have the next question ready?

If you could describe your pen pal in one word, you would go with unpredictable. He never acts or reacts the way you expect him to and even his question is unexpected. But he’s right, it makes the whole thing rather interesting, and you find yourself plenty invested.

<To: Bands Boy> <From: Girl Magnetic> <Subject: Passion 9:03pm>

hey, b! 

(i hope this is okay, having to type out our full usernames all the time is so tiring T-T)

thank you for going easy on me haha

i’m honestly into most music, but my playlist is usually filled with your typical punk/emo/indie rock music lol. it’s probably not what you expected right? but i’m definitely not opposed to some carly rae jepsen or avril lavigne lol.

and yes! jeonghan has given me the next question which i spoilt in the title of the email:

what is something you’re passionate about?

i’ll go first!

my passion is… writing. this is also probably unexpected huh?

i’ve always been super into reading and always found myself daydreaming and imagining other ways stories could have gone and one day decided to put my thoughts onto paper and i’ve never looked back.

i can’t wait to hear about yours!

waiting patiently, g

Whoosh!

Biting your lip, you sit back and think about what just occurred. There’s not a lot of people who know that writing is what you’re truly passionate about and you’ve often held back on revealing that fact to anybody because of the sometimes negative reactions people have about the occupation. It surprises you that there was no sign of hesitation when it came to telling Bands Boy about it and you don’t know what to make of it.

Is it because you know that you have to be truthful, mostly anyway, for Jeonghan’s experiment to work? Or is it because Bands Boy is just somebody behind a screen, a complete stranger who you may never meet and therefore will never be able to tie this conversation back to you?

The only other possibility you can think of is that despite him being a stranger and despite the short amount of time you’ve known him, he’s managed to start breaking down the walls that you’ve carefully built around your heart. It’s scary to think about, especially with how careful you’ve been but you have too many things on your plate to worry about so you push it to the back of your mind.

It’s when Vernon was about to get up to grab a drink in the kitchen when his notification goes off, alerting him of your email. Desperate to quench his thirst for information more than his thirst for a drink, he settles back onto his gaming chair and opens your reply. The grin on his face grows at every line he reads and not wanting to waste a single moment, he chooses to write back to you straight away.

<To: Girl Magnetic> <From: Bands Boy> <Subject: Re: Passion 9:15pm>

hey there, g!

(oh, you’re so right! it’s a lot better to refer to ourselves like this)

wow, you never cease to amaze me

you’re right, i really did not expect any of those answers honestly

thank you for sharing them with me. i know that sometimes it isn’t easy to do so, especially with a complete stranger. so, i’m honoured that you’ve allowed yourself to be so open with me. i’ll make sure to thank you properly for your efforts and hope to return the favour soon!

so, writing huh? does this mean you actually want to become a professional writer? which field? journalism? novels? research?

and wow, it totally makes sense now as to why you’re doing psychology. 

hm, so what is something i’m passionate about?

mine is fairly simple: my passion lies with making music i enjoy

and when i say that, i truly mean it. i don’t make music to match the trend or to go against the grain so i stand out. the music i make isn’t always set in any particular genre. i just… want to make music that i like… if that makes sense? haha

now that i know you’re a writer, do you wanna… maybe… do a collab someday?

i am shocking when it comes to lyric writing haha

you wouldn’t mind helping me out with that right?

surprised, b

ps. what are you up to on this fine friday night?

You wouldn’t dare tell anyone how fast you ran to your laptop as soon as it notified you of Bands Boy’s response, almost tripping over your own foot and face planting on the floor. As your eyes glide through the words, you can’t seem to find yourself going past the first half of his email. Tears pool at the corner of your eyes, threatening to spill over but you are able to compose yourself in time. 

Yet again, he’s managed to put your mind at ease and made sure that you didn’t regret opening yourself up to him. However, you don’t let yourself delve deeper into these uncertain feelings, forcing yourself to move on and read the rest of his message so that you can answer him.

<To: Bands Boy> <From: Girl Magnetic> <Subject: Re: Passion 9:37pm>

omg i am so down for a collab!!

i’ve never ventured into lyric writing before but i am up for the challenge

i promise not to let you down!!

yes, i want to become a professional writer. a novelist in fact.

and yes, that’s why i’m doing psychology. i’m hoping to gain a better understanding of people and why they are the way that they are so that i can use it to improve my characters :) 

you know, i think it’s really cool that you just want to do music that you enjoy. there’s so many musicians out there who just do whatever’s popular and are only in there to make money and not much else, so you’re a breath of fresh air. 

i can’t wait to hear all the songs you create, i’m sure they’ll be great!

especially with me writing your lyrics ;) haha

oh, and i’m not really doing anything tonight but resting. i’ve had a big day with classes and work on top of that so i’m ready to wrap myself in a blanket and sit on the couch for the rest of the night.

what about you? i hope you’re not doing another essay lol

ps. you can thank yourself for the reason that i was able to open up to you :) 

Grabbing your laptop, you carry it to the couch and place it on the coffee table as you reach for a cushion to bury your face and scream into.

Meanwhile, Vernon gingerly rubs at his shin after tripping over on the stairs and bashing it against a step, in his hurry to get back to his room. Your email announces its presence as soon as he walks in and he makes sure to lock the door behind him before settling himself back on his chair and reading your message.

The smile on his face is so big that he can barely hide it behind his hand. Taking a deep breath to try and keep his cool, Vernon wipes his clammy hands on his pants and nods to himself before replying.

<To: Girl Magnetic> <From: Bands Boy> <Subject: Re: Passion 9:52pm>

no take backs on that collab!! i’m gonna hold you to it!!

i’m so excited i’m literally buzzing with ideas already hahaha

i think it’s super cool that you’re working on your very own novel

how far have you gotten with it? is it already in the works?

if you ever need someone to make a soundtrack once your novel becomes a major motion picture, you know who to hit up ;)

damn, you had a full day that’s for sure

work huh? i guess you’re probably not allowed to tell me where lol

your guess is half correct… i’m technically not doing an essay but i’m already doing some research since it’s due on monday

in need of saving, b

ps. hopefully i can keep making you comfortable enough to continue opening up to me :) 

The smile on your face from receiving his reply eventually turns into a frown as you read it a second time, when you realise that it’s time to cut your conversation with him short once more.

<To: Bands Boy> <From: Girl Magnetic> <Subject: Re: Passion 10:06pm>

i’m still world building right now. i have a bunch of random pieces of writing here and there but don’t have anything concrete just yet

omg would you really? i’ll definitely have you make me a soundtrack either way!!

let me go ahead and write my workplace to the list of things i’ll be revealing to you once this experiment is over haha

and i can’t believe you have another essay to do. it’s like your prof doesn’t want me talking to you lol

you know what this means right?

feeling bad, g

Groaning, Vernon drops his head face down on his desk. Yes, he knows what it means. An obstacle towards getting to know you more has presented itself yet again. It does feel like fate is working against the both of you but he isn’t one to give up so easily. Besides, Jeonghan did promise him that he still has plenty of opportunities to find out more about you.

Especially once your anonymity is no longer a hurdle to him.

<To: Girl Magnetic> <From: Bands Boy> <Subject: Re: Passion 10:24pm>

i know what it means *sigh

i hope you know that nothing will stop me from getting to know more about you once your thesis is finished

not even these damn music theory essays *shakes fist

determined, b

His reply stuns you. Albeit, his forwardness always does. But, you appreciate it nonetheless because it leaves no room for confusion. At least not from his end. Now, the only thing you have left to wonder about is how you feel about him.

<To: Bands Boy> <From: Girl Magnetic> <Subject: Re: Passion 10:33pm>

i’m looking forward to it

waiting for that day, g xo 

TAGLIST: @teapartydreams @aperson394 @cixrosie

© darlingvernon

pls do not copy/repost my work

[afyrian]

hello [ @toges-cough-syrup ], thanks for signing up for the ☆ switch it up penpal service !! sunny side of love agency | m.list

above is your chosen stamp! the unique colors and themes seemingly fit your answers <3 but we always appreciate a good questionnaire, so let us run the numbers and give you your well deserved analysis…

mmmh you chose a big box of food? a foodie i see.. or perhaps just a fan of trying new things. whether you’re a big fan of home cooked comfort meals or trying every new restaurant on the block, it’s clear that enjoyment of food is a big part of your relationship with life (and i might just have a match for you…) and what about your music choice? music can be so vibrant or so dreary, much like being the listener amongst talkers. make sure that being your friends’ therapist isn’t your only role and that you are able to vent as well ahh, the sunny weather, able to warm up even the coldest of days. from sitting out at the park or having a cool drink on a porch, you clearly adore the kinder days. you love the days when you can sit by the pool and just enjoy the day pompompurin… an amazing choice. a popular choice! the world famous golden retriever who has a twinge of mischief inside. similarly to him, your foodie side is hidden within. picking him gives me the idea that you like to kickback sometimes, spend time with friends!! and something deeper, something different. we all have friendships, relationships, but sometimes you just want something past that. you want someone who knows your inner thoughts, how you work. but maybe that something deeper is inside of you, you love yourself and finding outward relationships will come <33

obviously, i’m just human, so these may be wrong. so, let’s just blame the algorithm ;) if you have anymore questions regarding this service, feel free to connect! - wyr (your handler)

hello [ @iluv-ace ], thanks for signing up for the ☆ switch it up penpal service !! sunny side of love agency | m.list

above is your chosen stamp! your little fuzzy friend wanted to pop by <3 but we always appreciate a good questionnaire, so let us run the numbers and give you your well deserved analysis…

mmmh you chose a big box of food? a foodie i see.. or perhaps just a fan of trying new things. whether you’re a big fan of home cooked comfort meals or trying every new restaurant on the block, it’s clear that enjoyment of food is a big part of your relationship with life (and i might just have a match for you…) and what about your book choice? a fan of literature and learning! reading a story and imagining a whole new world within your mind is truly a sign of a creative individual. representative of intelligence and warmth, imagining pressing flowers between the pages ahh, the cloudy weather, my favorite. it’s neither stormy nor sunny, but the perfect in between. you’re someone who is the baby bear of the world, just trying to find something that’s just right for you. the extremes of either end never quite suited you pompompurin… an amazing choice. a popular choice! the world famous golden retriever who has a twinge of mischief inside. similarly to him, your foodie side is hidden within. picking him gives me the idea that you like to kickback sometimes, spend time with friends!! and just conversation, most of the time we’re fulfilled with most of our relationships. but sometimes, you just need someone to talk to. whether it’s stuff in your life you’re not willing to divulge to someone personally or just needing to talk to someone new, it’s totally understandable! hopefully our match can fulfill that need for you <3

obviously, i’m just human, so these may be wrong. so, let’s just blame the algorithm ;) if you have anymore questions regarding this service, feel free to connect! - wyr (your handler)

[pizzaqueen]

#23 for the spotify wrapped fic thingy!! 👀

23 was Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace by Cheap Trick

I feel like I’m cheating a little, here, because this is a snippet from a WIP (called Ain’t Even Done With the Night where Steve and Eddie go to a concert somewhere and then Steve wants to pick up a couple of girls when they go to a bar after and Eddie goes along with it because he just does—nothing really happens between them and the girls btw!!) that just happens to have this song on the ‘soundtrack’.

But I do think it fits the song? And I did write it just for this, so hopefully that counts!!!

“So…” Steve shifts, making the ancient mattress dip as he moves; the springs creak, echoed moments later through the wall from the bed in the adjoining room. Those springs are probably squeaking for a different reason though. “Are you going to see that chick again?”

Eddie glances over at Steve. There’s something guarded in the tone of his voice, and his face doesn’t give anything away either. “Maybe.”

“Cool.” Steve nods, pressing his lips together. “I mean, she gave you her address, and we’re not that far away, so it would be easy.”

“Yeah, she said we could be penpals.”

Steve huffs. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

“It would just be as friends,” Eddie says, cautiously, wondering at the bitterness in Steve’s voice. Or maybe he’s imagining it.

“Sure.”

“No, really.” Eddie’s brow furrows. “I’m not interested in her. She wasn’t interested in me.” He pauses, then adds, “Except as a friend.”

“Then why…” Steve shakes his head. “Why did you agree to go back to their place?”

“Because you wanted to.”

Steve blinks. “You’re saying you just went along with it because I wanted to?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to ruin your night.” Eddie lets his head tip back, thunking against the wall. “Which I guess I did, anyway.”

“Dude. I told you—” A muscle in Steve’s jaw ticks. “Look, if I cared more about getting laid than I cared about you, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be back there with her.”

“Aww, shucks.” The beat of Eddie’s heart belies his teasing tone, and he’s glad Steve can’t hear it.

“I mean it. You don’t know…” Steve toys with the comforter. “You don’t know how much you…” He sighs, shaking his head.

“Steve?”

“Nothing, man.” Steve runs a hand over his face. Silence stretches out, punctuated by the continued creaks from the other room, now accompanied by grunts and moans, and the buzzing of the bare bulb, the traffic outside. “Look, I’m glad you’re feeling better and…” He sighs again. “We should probably get some sleep if we want to get back early.”

Eddie doesn’t say anything, just watches as Steve slips down, rolling over so his back is toward Eddie. There’s a churning in his stomach and, before he knows what he’s doing, he’s saying, “I wasn’t sick.”

“What?” Steve glances over his shoulder.

“I didn’t feel sick, back at the apartment.”

More creaks as Steve pushes himself up, sitting beside Eddie again. “Then what…”

“I just…” This is it, Munson. Now or never. Eddie draws in a deep breath and says, “I couldn’t be there, knowing you were with her.” He looks at Steve. “You know?”

“Did you like her?”

Eddie sighs. “Steve.”

Steve gives a little shakes of his head.

“C’mon, man,” Eddie says, hating the pleading tone in his voice, “don’t make me say it.”

There’s a sharp inhale of breath and then a soft, “Oh,” and Eddie’s chest goes tight and his stomach drops.

“Yeah…” The noise from the next room over stops; a door opens and closes down the hall. “Do you want me to get another room?” Eddie tries to keep his tone light, but he’s pretty sure he fails. Spectacularly.

“No.” Steve’s voice is certain, brooks no arguments, and when Eddie looks at him, he doesn’t see disgust or pity or anything except… Oh. Oh shit. “No,” Steve repeats, hand darting across the worn comforter, stopping short of grabbing Eddie’s, “I want you to stay,” and it’s all Eddie needs to hear.

[kittkatattacks]

Wip Wednesday 7/24/24

Here are my sentences for this week and thank you to everyone who commented on my community post, it really helped me get some much needed writing done!! <3

All sentences are under the cut :)

Perfect season 20-22 for:

@zyrafowe-sny @kidsomeday

Neil had said that they needed to make a call, but if he’s being honest with himself, he’s still reeling from the fact that he likes Andrew.

He decides to put it aside for the moment as there are more important things that they need to do, so he follows when Andrew gets up from his spot by the window.

They make their way up the stairs and all the way to the edge of the roof. Andrew pulls out his phone and hits a button on his phone and it begins ringing. It only takes a few rings and then Neil hears his uncle’s voice tiredly say, “What?”

Andrew hands the phone to him, but doesn’t make any move to get up so Neil assumes that they’ve done this before.

“Hi uncle Stuart,” Neil says.

“Oh, hello Neil,” Stuart says, sounding more lively. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

AFTG space au for:

@somefishycat @eriquin @scifikimmi @lizhly @enigma-the-mysterious

The next morning Neil gets up, careful not to wake Jean and heads out for a run.

By the time he makes it back to the dorm, Jean is gone and Neil still has a while before his first class so he decides to look over the program Jean has gotten them into.

He opens his computer and looks over the email he received from the head of the math department the other day, reading it out loud to himself:

Dear Neil Hatford,

Welcome to the PSU pen pal program. We would like to inform you that your penpal for this semester is Andrew J.M who majored in Engineering while at PSU. We hope that this placement will help you learn more about your options as a STEM student and that this may find the major that best suits you. As was previously stated in our prior email, please remember to:

Be polite. The graduates involved with this program are all volunteers and deserve to be treated as you would treat any other peer.

Be patient. As many of our graduated students are located around the world or in space, it may take some time for them to reply back.

Have fun. This program is all about getting to learn more about what you can expect in the future and to help you make connections with those in a similar field of interest as you. 

Again if you need any help do not be afraid to reach out to me or any other member of faculty in the math department if you have any questions or concerns. And lastly, have a great semester!

Sincerely,

Stanley Hawthorne  Ph.D

Neil sighs, and reopens the blank document from the day before and begins typing. “Hello, Andrew.”

He stares at the screen for a bit trying to figure out what to say and sighs in frustration when his mind comes up blank.

He thinks about slamming the computer shut but knows it’ll do little to help him, so he takes a few deep breaths and just starts typing whatever comes to mind.

“My name is Neil and I’m a math major, although I'm not quite sure yet what exactly I want to do. My friend Jean convinced me to do this program since we’re the odd ones out at this school; being older than the average freshman."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

YLPWBOYF for:

@post-and-out @auburnlaughter @1attheedge @adhdavinci

Neil begins struggling against the grip on his arm, trying to pull himself free, but is unable to as Romero drags him down the empty street.

A car pulls up further down and the passenger side door opens revealing Lola Malcolm.

She makes her way over to them, a cruel grin tearing through her face.

“Well lookie what we have here,” she says, closing the space between them.

Nathaniel doesn’t respond, knowing it’ll piss Lola off more, but and not caring anyway.

“What’s wrong, junior?” She asks with fake concern, grin somehow getting wider. “Cat got your tongue?”

When she gets no response, she shrugs and comes up on Nathaniel’s other side, griping his other arm and digging her blood-red fingernails in.

Once they arrive at the car, they throw Nathaniel into the backseat and Lola climbs in after him.

Nathaniel backs up until he is against the car door and schools his expression into one of apathy.

Lola pulls out a pair of handcuffs and throws them at him, but Nathaniel just stares at her, refusing to me any of this easier.

She pulls on another sharp grin as she unholsters a gun and points it at his forehead. “Put them on.”

Nathaniel wants to push against it, already knowing how this is going to end, but truth be told, he’s not ready to die.

So he does as he’s told and as soon as the second cuff clicks closed, the car starts moving.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

DMRA for:

@aparticularbandit

“Moreover, your theory on the twelve-minute limit of the brainstorm is wrong…” Aaron comments.

“Six to twelve minutes, Mr…” Hill says, a vicious look in his eyes despite the smile on his face.

Minyard. Aaron Minyard. And to clarify, Dr. Hill, I’m saying that your theory is… outdated.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

[jennshiro]

by age 26 you should have:

• an unhealthy attachment to a fictional character

• weird relationship with the media you loved as a teenager

• a friend from a completely different part of the world that you never met IRL but you’d trust with your life

I know this is just a random post from a random social media app and it’s totally random to think about it this emotionally but I can’t help it.

Before age 26 I had all these items checked off. Fandom life was so much fun and I really felt bonds with the people I was engaging with in our fan community. I even had a friend that felt like a true friend for life.

We talked on WhatsApp, outside the fandom circle, had our own jokes, and learned about each other’s real lives. We were penpals, exchanging letters and small gifts in the mail. It felt like another level of trust to share my home address, but my friend reciprocated.

And then one day it all stopped.

My friend didn’t send a reply letter when I was expecting one. They didn’t respond to my messages on any platform. It’s like they just dropped off the internet.

I felt very hurt and confused.

Did I do something wrong?

Did they actually not like me this whole time?

I hope they’re still safe and healthy.

Is this a malicious thing, or happening because of circumstances I’m ignorant to?

Y’all, I was ghosted before I even knew what that term meant.

This didn’t make sense to me and sent me into a bit of a spiral, with other life events contributing to a depression. I don’t say that lightly, I take my mental health seriously and have since been through some shit. Take your medication folx. Use the tools in your mental health toolbelt.

I stopped participating in fandom life and stepped away from tumblr and other social sites for a while. I had to take time to let myself heal.

I’m back in a fandom space now after a long time away. It feels familiar, refreshing and brand new all at once. This is a long-established fandom with a much larger community. I already feel accepted and can feel the beginnings of friendships forming.

I know that true friendships take time to build trust and nurture a relationship. For a long time I wasn’t ready to risk my heart again.

But that past experience taught me something. It made me more cautious of choices to be vulnerable and at the same time recognize opportunities for connections. I can engage and be involved and not get hurt this time if I protect myself and check in with others to see if they feel the same way.

After all, we’re all just some silly humans in the internet.

Let’s have fun and support each other. 💖

[a-strange-inkling]

How does Eddie handle it when the girls start dating? And was their any moment where he caught the girls in compromising positions? Like any boys sneaking into Maggie room? Or walking in on Davy and Olivia making out?

Not very well 😆

He’s very protective of them, especially sweet and sensitive Livvy, and it’s just hard for him to think about them growing up and leaving him someday.

Eddie: I don’t know why you keep encouraging this! They’re going to get married and he’s going to take her away from us and then we’re stuck with Maggie taking care of us when we’re old! Is that what you want!?

Chrissy: *just trying to sleep* they’re twelve, Eddie.

Eddie: Oh yeah, sure, that’s fine then, whatever, nothing to worry about because twelve-year-old crushes never go anywhere, do they, Christina!?

Chrissy: *long tired sigh*

So yes, no, he’s not keen on either of them dating, but when the time inevitably comes, he deals with it because he himself knows what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl and to not be accepted by her family and not all because Chrissy reminds him he’s being a total hypocrite whenever he gets upset about the girls dating boys in bands who have tattoos.

Oh yes and yes! It inevitably happens. All I can think about is Fresh Prince when Will walks in on his little cousin with a guy. “Baby, no!!!” 🤣

Davy and Livvy are penpals and “just friends” up till their junior year of high school when they start dating. And the running gag is that Davy never does anything remotely wrong ever and is always a perfect friend and boyfriend to her, but Eddie’s just always giving him the side eye anyway lmao.

Eddie: What the hell is she wearing!?

Chrissy: …

Eddie: Is that a guitar pick!? Where the hell did she get that?

Chrissy: …David gave it to her.

Eddie: That punk ass little shit.

Chrissy: Eddie!

Eddie: There he is! Look at him all smug and smiley. Don’t think I don’t know what giving a girl your guitar pick means, you miniature Steve Harrington!

Chrissy: *face palms*

He really does love the kid, but Olivia’s his baby, and his first baby too. On the other end of it Steve and Gwen LOVE Livvy and really want her as a daughter-in-law so they’re always rooting for them to get together.

I imagine Chrissy and Eddie walking in on Livvy and Davy kissing on the couch when their seniors or something and Eddie freaking out and Chrissy just ushering him away.

I think he’s a little less worried about Maggie as she’s a little more fierce and thicker skinned, but she’s got her fair share of boys hiding in the bushes outside their house and climbing up the trees to her window that he’s always like six steps ahead.

I’ll probably write a little one shot on both situations in the future lol