#when youre 40+ years old and your only friends are freshman college students and a vampire whom you hate and who hates you

[mysterysciencewhatever]

I love s4 unemployed mid life crisis giles so much lets goooo anthony stewart head make that old man pathetic

[galamalion]

┈ ✧.* 𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒

╰┈➤ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ summary﹕upon turning 18, you begin your new life at grand line university, a college within red line. while you once had a boring, uneventful life, you now find yourself in the middle of several conflicts, and several romances. what's a struggling college student to do in times like these?

╰┈➤ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ pairing﹕one piece x fem!reader

┈ ✧.* chapters﹕[i] [ii] [iii] [iv]

╰┈➤ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ w/c﹕3.2k

┈ ✧.* chapter i﹕new beginnings

The obnoxious chatter of your fellow bus riders, combined with the unpredictable thumps when passing over the occasional pothole was enough to drive you mad.

There was a baby two seats behind you bawling its little eyes out, a businessman screaming into his phone, and two little old ladies gossiping about the affairs of their next-door neighbor— but you didn’t mind their conversation too much. 

You would be wearing your headphones in order to escape the hell you were placed in, but on your way to the bus stop you snapped the audio jack while struggling to jam it into your cheap MP3 player. As a result, you were damned to listen to the screeching around you. But you were able to breathe a sigh of relief, seeing as nobody had dared to sit next to you on this—

“Hey! Is that seat taken?”

You jumped in your seat at the sudden intrusion, eyes darting to your left to see the sudden encroacher. And, much to your shock, it wasn’t a 40 year-old man trying to snuggle up close to a college girl, but his voice already ruled out that possibility. Instead, it was a young boy, probably around your age. He looked a little out of place in his summer attire, but school had only just started, so it was no surprise that some people weren’t ready to let it go quite yet.

“Uh, no,” you finally spoke up, silently pulling your bag closer to the wall of the bus.

With a grin the boy threw his incredibly robust bag next to your own, taking the seat next to you. “My name’s Luffy!” he said joyously, sticking out a hand for you to shake.

You gingerly extended your own, watching helplessly as Luffy snatched it, wildly shaking it up and down. ‘My first new friend,’ you thought sarcastically. ‘It could certainly be worse.’

“I’m ____,” you said slowly, contemplating the consequences of telling this stranger your name. He did look like a student, at the very least. This line of reasoning failed to put a light on your current situation, but with enough deep breaths you could ignore it.

“You’re a student, then?” you asked, gesturing to his incredibly full bag.

Luffy excitedly nodded. “I’m a freshman! See, I got everything I need for today!” 

Inside Luffy’s bag weren't pillows, blankets or even clothes. Instead it was chock full of various foods, mostly greasy meats. You were slightly impressed at how the smell remained hidden inside the shoddy hand-me-down bag.

“Ya like it?” Luffy ruffled through the bag, pulling out a large seared steak. “My neighbor Hancock made it all for me! Said I needed to be well-fed while I was here!” 

All you could do was nod along as Luffy continued to speak. You originally assumed that he was some kind of farm boy, based on his current attire, ready for his first day in the big city. His strange quirks and interesting home life began to intrigue you, creating a need for answers.

“Grand Line University?” you interrupted, paying more attention.

Luffy looked at you cluelessly for a second before vigorously nodding his head, that grin still stapled onto his face.

“Yep! That’s where my two brothers go! We all promised we’d go to the same college when we grew up!” he explained.

“Brothers?” you gently pushed further, hoping to learn more.

“Ace and Sabo!” he shouted, excitement barely contained, “Sabo is studying scoliology and Ace is a super awesome hockey player!”

“Scoliology…?”

“Yeah, sockiology!” Luffy assured, his grin unfaltering.

“And what does Ace study?” you pried.

“Um…” Luffy went quiet for a few seconds, scratching his head to emphasize his uncertainty. “I dunno! I think he’s just taking a bunch of different classes. That’s what I’m gonna do!”

“You’re undecided, then?”

“Hm, well I kinda know what I wanna do. I wanna be like my big brothers, but I also wanna do fun stuff! Like eating!”

“So you wanna be, like, a chef?”

“Nope!”

All you could do was stare at Luffy, dumbfounded by his confidence.

“Are you a student too?” Luffy bounced excitedly on the bus seat.

��Well, he catches on quick.’ You rolled your eyes internally. “Yeah, I’m a freshman too. Psychology major.”

“Oh, oh! Like a brain doctor!” Luffy pointed at you, enthusiastic at his confidentially incorrect assumption.

“Uh, yea, close enough,” you sighed.

A second of silence passed between you before Luffy began speaking again.

“Do you wanna be friends?” he asked.

Such a bizarre question forced you to pause, staring at Luffy blankly. Did you want to be friends? You’d known him for less than ten minutes, but he’d grown on you in that time. You knew little about him, but he also knew little about you, and isn’t that how all friendships start?

His talkative presence had provided levity to your headphone-less journey. Admittedly, you had grown to slowly appreciate his presence, letting him talk your ear off and drown out the noise of the other passengers. It wasn’t how you dreamed your college life would start out, but you could make this work. Yeah, this wasn’t bad, and it could certainly be worse! You could make this work. You could make this work.

“Sure, Luffy,” you smiled, “I’d like that.”

Fifteen minutes later and you and Luffy disembarked from the bus, walking side-by-side up to the school. It was far from a quiet walk, Luffy currently yapping about the different kinds of meat he was carrying in his bag.

“So, what dorm are you in?” you questioned, swinging your bag around carelessly.

“Uh…” Luffy searched his pockets, looking around for the paper given to him. “Poseidon!”

“Damn, I’m in Pluton,” you groaned, disappointed at the loss of your new friend.

“That’s ok! We can still see each other at the cafeteria! Or in the halls! Or outside!”

A smile found its way onto your face, the corners of your mouth upturning ever so slightly. Despite your attempts to keep your distance from Luffy, his constant jabbering and peppy attitude had grown on you.

“I’d like that,” you smiled, tucking your hands in your pockets. “I’ll see you around, Luffy.”

The two of you parted ways, separating to your respective dorms. Most of Grand Line’s buildings fell between vintage and just straight decay, brick walls and vine growths contrasted with the cracked interior walls and gross carpet. But you knew what you signed up for when you applied to this damn place.

A couple minutes of walking later and you found yourself standing in front of Pluton, towering brick walls casting a looming shadow cast over you. You shuffled through your bag to grab your ID, swiping it through the card reader and hearing the click of the door unlocking. 

Swinging it open, you marched through the ancient hallways, taking in the ‘wonderful’ sights that Pluton had in store for you. You’d exchanged a couple of emails with your roommates, and what you’d gathered from their personalities made you want to shout for joy and scream in agony.

 The first to contact you, Nami, was undoubtedly a spoiled brat. She informed you that she would be bringing a fridge and trash, something you had greatly appreciated at the time. But the next sentence revealed that she would be charging you for their use, which caused you to chuck your phone across the room. Needless to say, you weren’t looking forward to meeting her.

Vivi, on the other hand, seemed like an absolute delight. She explained that she was a foreign exchange student looking for a new outlook on life, hoping to meet some new friends at Grand Line. It surprised you that she hadn’t applied for the Mary Geoiose Institute, considering her immense status in her home country, but if it was a new outlook she was searching for, she’d most definitely find it here.

Furthermore, on account of throwing your phone, you were unable to search up any kind of pictures of the two, much less send any other communications. You lacked the funds to purchase a new phone and thus were forced to submit it for repairs, informed that it would be finished in around two weeks, which unfortunately lined up exactly with move-in day. It would seem your life was fraught with inconvenient coincidences, especially considering your two roommates.

A greedy business major like Nami and a selfless political science major like Vivi sounded like a recipe for disaster, and you weren’t looking forward to playing psychologist for the two of them. You crossed hallways and climbed up stairs, arriving at your floor and scanning the doors for your room number.

Judging by the open doors and giddy voices around you, it would seem like you were the last one to move in. The only thing you could do was pray your roommates were still late to the party, if only to avoid the drama that would most certainly result if they were to collide.

At the end of the hallway was your dorm and standing uniformly amongst the rest, waiting to be decorated by its inhabitants. You stepped towards the door, laying your hand on the doorknob and slowly twisted, anticipating the worst behind the door—

“Oh my god, you actually have those heels? They were only sold for a single day, how in the world did you get them!”

“Well, my dad bought them as a birthday present for my sixteenth birthday…”

“Your dad bought them? What’s he like? How old is he? How much does he have in his bank account?”

You stood frozen before your roommates, watching them talk as if they were old friends meeting up after a long time. But that was hardly your greatest concern at the moment. Your roommates were drop dead gorgeous. Long, effortlessly wavy hair; clear, glowing skin; and their absolutely rockin’ bodies. It made you question whether or not you had the correct room.

“Nami and Vivi?” you interrupted, sheepishly moving your hands behind your back.

Instantly the two turned to look at you, momentary confusion clouding their face only to be washed over with smiles.

“You must be ____, right?” the blue-haired girl spoke, rising to her feet, “I’m Vivi, it’s a great pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Nami!” the ginger waved, flashing you a wide grin, “don’t forget about the fridge policy! You can put the money in that jar.” She pointed to a very decorated glass mason jar, complete with a small sign labeled ‘FRIDGE FUNDS :)’ beneath it.

You damned yourself for forgetting Nami’s inclivities. ‘How could I forget?’ you internally cringed.

“Right…” You warily scratched the back of your head. “So, which bed’s mine?”

“You can have the single!” Vivi keenly blurted, “unless you’d rather the bunk! Nami called dibs on the top bunk, and I’ve never experienced a bunk-bed before, so I was hoping I could have the bottom. But if you, would like it, it is no problem—”

“Single’s fine!” you whistled cheerily, cutting her off before she could change her mind.

“Perfect!” Vivi clapped her hands together. “Nami offered to go out to eat today, and I was wondering if you would like to join us? It would be a great way to learn about each other!”

You shrugged, “Sure, but I’m kind of broke right now, so if one of you could pay for me I can pay you back in a week.”

“No need to worry!” Vivi reassured, “I will pay for you two, consider it a gift to honor our new friendship!”

“Thanks, Vivi…” you sighed in relief, tossing your bag up onto your mattress.

“Well, I say we get going!” Nami interjected, hopping off the couch below your bed, “we can look around and decide what sounds good.”

The three of you filed out of the dormitory, crossing the campus in order to reach downtown. It felt strange seeing your fellow students around the campus, some entering buildings and others lazing around on the grass. You failed to recognize even the most colorful characters loitering about, and judging by some of their rather explicative attitudes, you wanted to keep it that way.

“We could get Japanese, Italian, Indian,” Nami listed, leading the charge down the street.

“I wouldn’t mind Italian,” you muttered, not wanting to be the deciding factor.

“How about you, Vivi? Does Italian sound good?” Nami turned to face her roommate.

“Of course, I am fine with—”

“____!” a voice called out.

The three of you turned to the sudden outcry of your name. You hardly knew anyone on account of being a shut-in orphan for most of your life, despite living in Red Line for so long. But you did recognize the voice that shouted your name.

Across the street stood Luffy, flanked by three odd men. He waved at you madly, sprinting across the street with no regard, much to the horror of his companions, who chased after him, much to the dismay of traffic.

“Friends of yours?” Nami asked, a mixture of apprehension and curiosity covering her face.

“Just the black-haired one,” you whispered back.

Luffy dashed onto the sidewalk, followed by his terrified partners, and ran straight up to you.

“____, these are my roommates!” Luffy stretched his arms around their shoulders, pulling them in close. “This is—”

“Sanji!” the blond interjected, pushing in front of his roommate, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, mes chéries.”

Viv blushed at the pet name, but you could see the dollar signs bulging out of Nami’s eyes. You weren’t one to swoon head-over-heels over a little French, so you tucked your hands in your pockets and waited for the next introduction.

“I’m Usopp!” the curly-haired man cheered, giving two thumbs up and not-so-subtly ushering his green-haired companion to speak.

“Zoro,” the moss-head gruffed, shuffling his feet boredly.

“Aren’t they great?” Luffy shouted, grinning from ear-to-ear.

“Yeah, glad someone else gets the pleasure of knowing you, Luffy,” you joked.

Zoro snorted at your comment, a smirk appearing on his face for half a second.

“Well, if you three aren’t doing anything, wanna join us? We were just going to eat and hang out,” Nami offered.

“Okay!” Luffy agreed immediately, “I’m suuuuper hungry, so let’s go eat somewhere with lots of food!”

“Everywhere has lots of food, Luf,” Zoro yawned, scratching his head.

“We were planning on Italian food, that sound good to you?” Nami placed a hand on her hip.

Before Luffy could make any further statements, Usopp clasped a hand over his mouth. “Italian sounds fantastic!” he assured us.

“My dad owns a place,” Sanji remarked, “he probably won’t let us eat for free, but I could probably get a discount.”

Nami grinned, clapping her hands excitedly at the thought of saving money.

“Perfect, lead the way, Prince Charming!” Nami cheered, twirling her finger in the air, leading your newly formed crew behind Sanji.

“Your brother is Ace? Like, Portgas D. Ace? Like, famous hockey player for the Grand Line, that Ace?” Nami exclaimed, jaw dropping open in shock.

“Yeah! Do you know him?” Luffy replied, shoveling down his seventh slice of pizza.

“Know him?” Sanji hissed, “what part of ‘famous hockey player for the Grand Line’ do you not understand?”

“He is quite famous…” Vivi whispered.

While Nami and Sanji continued to prod Luffy for more answers, you and Zoro quietly ate your food. Well, you’d consider what you were eating as food, a plate of carbonara and a side of asparagus, but Zoro was eating a singular piece of bread with a bottle of red wine. ‘To each their own,’ you shrugged.

“So…” you started, turning to Zoro, “what’s your major?”

Zoro stared down at you intimidatingly, unflinching at your question. Maybe it was his bulky frame or fiery green hair, but something about him sent shivers down your spine. Did your question offend him somehow? How the hell could he take a question like that in a bad way? 

“Exercise science,” he answered, taking a swig from his bottle, “I wanna be a personal trainer.”

‘Huh, guess he’s not that scary…’ you thought to yourself.

“Are you planning on being a coach or something? Or do you have different plans?” you continued, praying the conversation wouldn’t fall flat.

“...I’d like to open my own dojo, but I’m not opposed to doing one-on-one training for the beginning of my career,” he mumbled.

“People always say to dream big. I hope it all goes well for you.”

Any malicious energy that Zoro had previously held seemed to dissipate with your response. You weren’t a psychic by any means, but as you looked into Zoro’s sharp eyes, you could make out a little softness within them.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he sighed, taking another sip of wine.

Your conversation reached its course as you both went back to eating. Nami was currently trying to get Ace’s number out of Luffy, not for any romantic reason from what you could tell, however. Those dollar signs were back in her eyes, glimmering with greed as she pestered Luffy.

“I think it starts with a three. Or maybe it was an eight?” Luffy asked himself, confusion clouding his expression.

“Who cares?” Sanji groaned, “he’s just a womanizing pretty boy!”

“Pot calling kettle black!” Usopp pointed out, sticking his fork at Sanji for emphasis.

“Yeah, butt out, Sanji! Mama’s gotta get herself a sugar daddy!” Nami hissed.

“You can find plenty at the Mary Geoiose Institute, Nami,” you teased, “unless you wanted a military man, in which case Marineford is probably taking applications.”

Nami faux gasped, a hand pressed to her chest in shock. “I prefer my lovers to be more down to earth! Money isn’t everything, you know? Besides, I’d never date someone so uptight, either.”

All of you laughed at her over dramatic act, even Zoro, who gave a soft chuckle. In less than an hour all of you were cracking jokes and carrying on a conversation, nobody left out and nobody reigning over the others.

Your life had been uneventful, plagued by boredom without a dream to call your own. You hadn’t needed anyone before, so you weren’t expecting to need anyone now. But being here with your new…friends? It felt like that missing piece of your life had finally clicked. Maybe you didn’t have a dream quite yet, but you certainly had a wish: that this moment would last forever.

“Pardon me!” Vivi announced, gently ringing her wine glass. She stood up, smiling at everyone.

“I would like to make a toast,” she smiled, “to our little crew!”

“Doesn’t a crew need a name~?” Nami drunkenly jeered.

Vivi pondered for a moment. “I suppose it does! Any suggestions, my friends?”

“The Ero-Cooks,” Zoro offered, taking another swig.

“Oh, very clever! How about the Marimos? Huh?” Sanji growled, shaking his fist in anger.

Nami, Luffy, and Usopp attempted to give more suggestions through Zoro and Sanji’s argument, though Nami was a little too drunk to be offering any kind of advice. But while everyone was speaking, an idea struck you.

“The Straw Hats,” you said, pointing at Luffy’s hat. “Technically speaking, Luffy’s the reason we’re here right now. Makes sense to name us after him.”

“The Straw Hats…” Vivi murmured to herself, “a perfect name!”

Vivi raised her glass.

“To the Straw Hats!”

Seven glasses rose in unison, meeting in the middle of the table to clink together.

“To the Straw Hats!”

╰┈➤ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ a/n﹕hello, and thank you for reading this work! i highly recommend reading 'Ace of Spades' by Mihawkuri, as it inspired me to write my own college au! i hope you all enjoy reading, and while updates may be spaced out, i promise i will not abandon this story! i plan on going all the way to senior year if possible!! once again, thank you for reading! here is the ao3 link!

[artemiseamoon]

Hey gorgeous :)

Could you maybe write something with Ivar and Roman please? I kinda would be interested in them with being soulmates to a female reader....only if this would interest you?!

The Three of Us

Soulmate au | Modern Ivar x f reader x Roman Godfrey

Oh how I love this pairing and soulmate trope! Here you go @walkxthexmoon (thanks for your patience)

Words: 9,876  (holy crap officially my longest oneshot ever)

Warnings: some yelling and aggressive reactions, curing, mentions of sex/ sex life, sex scenes but I wouldn’t say smut like - i went a more poetic route, you’ll see, drinking 

An: I do tend to write modern Ivar without his disability. This is not meant to offend anyone, or meant as erasure. It’s just my choice as a writer. So if this detail bothers you, I respect that but please move on to other works. We don’t need to argue or fuss about it. There are plenty of people who write modern Ivar with his disability. You’ll find many. Thank you 💕

Credits: some GIFs are mine, others are not. Credit to those creators.

Many little things made your life with Ivar and Roman special. Favorite places, songs, movies, sweaters, mugs - even Ivar’s camera. Ivar received a vintage camera for his birthday two years ago and ever since he took that thing everywhere.

The three of you have accumulated a collection of mini-movies. Your adventures and daily life caught on film. It was sweet. At first, Ivar didn’t let anyone touch his camera. Not that this mattered, Roman was always taking it anyway, breaking into Ivars photography room and putting everything back when he was done. It didn’t take Ivar long to catch on.

The two lived in one of the fanciest buildings in the downtown area. You nicknamed it ‘trust fund row’, it was where most of those kids lived, including the well off students of the nearby university and the mid-twenty to early 40-year-olds who had money to burn.

Both Ivar and Roman fit in this category. They came from money and have mothers who spoil them rotten. You’ve had to deal with their rich kid syndrome at times, but for the most part, Roman is the worst about it. Ivar, despite his family name and background, is the more down-to-earth of the two, but he has his moment too.

Even with the frustrations, and coming from different backgrounds, you loved them. Unlike the boys, you worked hard for what you had. Your family did okay, but you still needed a loan for college, thankfully, you got a scholarship too and it took some of the pressure off. You even worked the entirety of your college years at one of the popular cafes within walking distance of campus. It was how you met the guys during your freshman year.

While you made coffees, heated pasties, and in the evening hours served wine or beer, the boys were partying, still never lifting a finger for anything. College, like this luxury apartment you sit in right now, all paid for by their parents.

The first time you saw them, it was your 5th week of work. You were switched to the evening shift after someone called out. It was busy all day in that cafe, but at night even more so. It wasn’t as rowdy as a bar, since they didn’t serve hard liquor, but enough beer and wine can still have a very - noticeable effect on people.

Your boss was pretty strict about his ID policy, and since you weren’t 21 yet, you just served the drinks. Your supervisor kept a pretty close eye on you too, so sneaking drinks never happened at work.  

With a full class schedule and a job, you didn’t have a lot of time for fun things. Even though you lived on campus. The most fun you had involved simpler yet fulfilling things like spending time with your friends, live shows, and things like that.

You didn’t know it at the time, but your life would change drastically when those two showed up that night. You were clearing empty glasses from a table when they walked by, you noticed them instantly and to your surprise, their eyes were on you too.

Everyone knew or heard stories about these two, Ivar and Roman, trouble makers, ladies men, party animals - you’ve heard quite a bit about them yourself and would spot them around campus from time to time.

The duo was, is, impossible to ignore. Tall, lean, well-dressed Roman who strolled into every room as if he owned it. He loved all the attention he got, he ate it all up. There were three kinds of girls on campus when it came to Roman, the ones he hooked up with and now hated his guts, the ones he hooked up with and though he never got serious with them, they keep coming back, and third the ones he hasn’t hooked up with, yet.

In contrast to Roman's golden boy looks, Ivar has more of a mysterious, dark, sultry vibe to him, he’s also stronger, and more muscular. Ivar is shorter than Romans 6’4, but not by much, just 4 inches. Both guys have chocolate brown hair and light eyes, but their eyes couldn't be any more different.

Ivar’s eyes you noticed first, something about them drew you in, you found yourself hypnotized by those enigmatic, breathtaking blue eyes. The sinister smirk he flashes at you from across the room didn’t help your racing heartbeat any.

Roman’s eyes are a beautiful green, like precious gems in the sunlight. Big chartreuse eyes that hold innocent almost puppy dog-like energy as easily as they hold desire and mystery. When you first saw Roman, his attractiveness aside, you also noticed his lips, his beautiful, full lips.

When the guys arrived, they went to the bar area which had the nighttime look now. You noticed the way the bartender, a senior, checks them out and you don’t blame her, the two of them were walking heartbreaks waiting to happen.

Throughout the night, you worked your section and went to the bar as needed, each time you and the guys stole a glance, each glance sent your pulse through the roof.

You never expected them to say anything, you had confidence, it wasn’t that. You just didn’t look like the type of girl the two usually had on their arm or hanging around, you were quite different. So an hour after they arrived, when the guys ended up moving to your section, it took you by surprise.

It was Roman who spoke first as both men observed you, you never felt more visible, more seen than under their hungry curious stares. As Roman spoke, Ivar leaned back in his chair, watching you. It felt like your skin was on fire, having just one of them look at you was exciting enough, but both?

When you returned with their drinks, Ivar finally spoke, in a very casual way, he asked what time you were getting off of work. And that’s how it started, the complicated, warm, exciting, streamy three-way (relationship?) you ended up in.

Late night drinks, all-day hangs, and crashing in each other's beds soon led to the friendship lines being blurred between you and both men. Any jealousy at the start, and it was there, was long gone by now.

As far as your heart was concerned, you loved them both, not that you were ready to admit it in the beginning. Falling for two playboys? Not you. But it happened, it happened fast.

As time went on, your longing for something more serious grew. Unofficially you had two boyfriends, but officially, all three of you were single and free to do as you choose. Though you never strayed outside of your little triple love nest, there was no reason to. Together, Ivar and Roman make your perfect guy.

…

Now, with college in your rear view mirrors, Ivar and Roman still living in their fancy apartment, the three of you continue your unconventional story. You share Ivar and Roman. They share with you. Amazingly, there was never an official conversation stating labels, it just happened. Somehow, even though it’s crazy, it mostly works- or has been minus some hiccups.

Your non-traditional relationship has hit its fair share of hiccups and issues lately, even though you love them dearly, it seems like more bad times than good. It’s been weighing heavily on your heart and making you question if this was right for you or if they were right for you .

This was the very thing that drove you to take the test . The one that’s been causing all the rage lately. You can still remember when you saw the commercial. You were sitting on the couch, snuggled between Ivar and Roman as when it came on.

- Flashback -

The person on Tv: No more guessing. No more dating apps. Find your soulmate today.  

You don’t know why at the time, but you held your breath as you watched. You even noticed Roman, who perpetually had his phone in his hand look up and raise a brow. When your eyes drifted to Ivar, he was staring at the TV wearing that amused expression he gets.

You diverted your eyes before either guy could see how closely you were watching the commercial. You reach for your phone and look at a random message. When your eyes were downcast, you heard Roman comment.

“What the fuck? I bet that's just some scam to get ass.” He shakes his head, eyes going back to his phone, “could you imagine? You’re my soulmate, let’s fuck.” He snickers.

Ivar chuckles to your left, “do you think that thing works?”

“Dude, of course, it doesn't. There’s no such thing.” Roman replied.

Ivar shrugged and looked at you. You felt his eyes burning into you.

“What do you think, hmm? Maybe it is bullshit. Maybe it’s real.”

“I don’t know.” You shrugged, pretending not to care.

“It’s bullshit, probably invented in the old days to get into a chic’s 10 layers of underwear,” Roman tossed his phone aside, and it landed on the cushion. With a yawn, he stretched his arms over his head, “I’m hungry. Let’s get food.”

- Flashback over -

You’ve become so lost in your thoughts, and the memory, that it takes you a moment to realize Ivar is recording you. Normally, you didn’t mind the camera, but right now, you feel too overwhelmed by it. Your mind is heavy with the test, the recent issues you’ve been having, and the last two times you tried to get a serious answer out of the guys about what this is.

Sure, it was fun for a long time just going with the flow. But as of late, you’ve been craving more stability, and hearing the words “were just having fun”, “don’t be so serious just enjoy it” or “we’re exploring” was no longer fun or exciting, it was depressing.

Returning to the present moment, you lower your head and take the camera from Ivar, turning it on him. “No, let me play director.”

“Oh come on, I was getting the good stuff. You were so - reflective…silent…” He grins.

“It’s your turn.” You grin back at him as you zoom in on his face, focusing on those beautiful blue eyes. Those magical eyes that still pull you in, still hypnotize you years later.

The sweet moment is short-lived. You think about the test again. You officially received the results last night, but you’ve been too terrified to read them. They sat in an envelope in your backpack. As for the digital version, you hid the app in a ‘don’t open’ folder on your phone and avoided the email account you used.

The guys didn’t know you took it. You’d have to tell them. You had to tell them before they found out.  

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you focus on Ivar again. He makes silly faces at the camera, it gives you a much-needed laugh. You savor this light moment and make faces back at Ivar.

In the background, you hear Roman rummaging through the room for something, followed by a clicking sound.

“Stupid shit, “ Roman curses under his breath, “I need a lighter. Mine is dead.”

“You know I hate when you smoke in here, both of you.” You wag a finger at Ivar who flashes his puppy dog eyes at you.

Yes, it was technically their apartment, but you spent so much time here, you lived here too. The 4 bedrooms were way too excessive for just two guys. In college, Ivar turned one room into his photography room and the remaining room was just used by friends or when Ivar’s brothers visited until you came along.

Ever since, that last room, in between Roman's room and Ivar’s has become yours. It’s personalized and everything. But you did try to split your time between here and your actual apartment. You worked hard to have a place of your own and weren't ready to give it up yet.

After keeping it to yourself when you all first started dating, you eventually grew more vocal about the smoking thing and the guys eventually agreed to smoke on the balcony outside only. Except when they were feeling rebellious.

Roman walks by the couch and imitates your words in your voice before stealing a quick kiss. You watch as he continues his search for a working lighter. Across from you, Ivar puts the camera down carefully and grabs your hand, “Come here.”

He pulls you closer. You sit next to him and rest your head on his strong broad shoulder. It feels nice. A much-needed comfort for the storm brewing inside of you.

You and Ivar sit in blissful silence as he wraps one arm around your body. You loved cuddling both of them, each guy has something special about his touch and the way he holds you.

The silence is soon cut by a cold feeling. You feel the air shift in the room as a rock sinks in your gut, nervousness suddenly washing over you. It’s not until Roman storms into the room, holding the envelope, do you know why you feel this way.

Roman throws the envelope down on the table before you. You flinch and sit up, and so does Ivar.

“What the shit is this?!” Roman barks, his green eyes burning with anger. He leans over the table, lays his hands flat on it, and stares at you dead on.

Confused, Ivar’s eyes move between you and Roman before he grabs the envelope himself. He looks at you once more before opening it.

Your heart sinks. You hold your breath.

“What the fuck is that!” Roman points at it, still yelling.

Your eyes jump from him to Ivar. Sweat beads on your forehead as anxiety washed over you. You know the answer, of course, you do , but it doesn’t meet your lips. You just look at Ivar, then Roman, then at the contents of the envelope as Ivar examines them.

Ignoring Roman for now, because his anger makes you freeze, you watch Ivar. He slowly shakes his head. When his eyes meet yours, they’re heavy with disappointment.

“I - “ you inch closer to Ivar as he waves the papers, anger seeps into his eyes, “I uh - “

Roman aggressively lights a cigarette and shoves it between his lips.

“Your name is on it. It’s yours,” he takes a long drag and looks at Ivar, “it's yours. Why do you have that?!”

You swallow and cross your arms defensively. You practiced this conversation in your mind a dozen times, but right now you can’t even form words.

Roman forces a laugh, “ I’ll tell you why, shes’ fucking leaving us!”

Ivar looks up at him. The loving soft expression from earlier is not gone, his face is cold, still, dark.

“Roman I didn’t - “

Ivar carefully places everything back inside the packet and places it in your lap, “did you do this?” He asks, but you know,  he knows you did.

You stand, moving away from both of them. Feeling overwhelmed, you head to the balcony and slide the door open, a fresh breeze rolls in and hits your hot face.

“I was going to tell you guys, I just...you weren’t supposed to find that.”

Roman responds, Ivar is still silent, “I was just looking for a lighter. You always have candles and shit, I knew you had one somewhere.”

You press your lips together in a tight line, still watching them over your shoulder, your body facing the balcony. You take a deep breath, then turn to face them, “yes. I took the test. I was curious. And no, I wasn't leaving you, either of you, I just wanted to know.”

“So what are we then? Are you bored already?” Roman grows increasingly hostile by the second, his tone more aggressive.

You glance at Ivar who takes a cigarette from Roman's pack on the table. He doesn't say anything to you, doesn't even look at you, and that somehow hurts more than Romans yelling.

Ivar walks over to the balcony, right past you, and steps outside to smoke. His back is toward you now. He feels cold, so far away. You step back into the apartment and lower your head. This is bad, this is bad.  

Behind you, Roman continues to go off. Each word from his lips increases your stress and anxiety.

“Ivar, “ Roman stands in front of you, his eyes locked on yours as you stare back at him, “I wonder what else we don’t know about her. Lies. Secrets - “

“Roman just, shut up!” You yell, surprising yourself. The room goes so still, that you could hear a pin drop. Ivar turns around.

Roman does a double-take before sitting on the couch. He continues to smoke, his eyes on you the whole time. The anger in his face starts to melt into something else, if you look close enough, you can see a small pout on his lips.

Pacing, you push through the tightening in your chest and speak up, “I asked you, both of you, what this was,” you move your finger between you and Roman then you and Ivar.

Ivar puts out his cigarette, walks past you, and sits on the couch next to Roman.

You continue, “I know we’ve been having fun but I never know if one day it's just going to end, or if one of you will decide you’re bored with me and move on. So yeah, I took the fucking soulmate test.”

Ivar shakes his head, not saying anything, Roman continues to smoke his cigarette. The tension in the room, mixed with cigarette smoke, is making you feel dizzy.

It could also be a panic attack.  

You push the thought back and walk over to the table.

“You both never take me seriously when I ask. I have a right to ask what this is and if it's sustainable.”

Neither one responds, they just stare at you. Needing to get out of the apartment, you snatch the envelope and retrieve your backpack. You can hear Roman shout from the living room.

“Going to meet your soulmate now?”

Rolling your eyes, you pause and look at the envelope again. The name of the test is right on the cover. You look over the items Ivar reviewed and notice inside is a single sealed envelope. The results. Ivar didn’t open it.

Your heart is beating so fast now, it feels like you can’t breathe. You shove the envelope in your bag, grab your charger, and zip it up. Tossing the bag over one shoulder, you grab the jacket on the hook and head for the front door, passing the living room in the process.

“You gonna fuck him? Or will he have to wait?” Roman hisses.

You spin around and charge into the living room,

“You are an asshole!” You say through gritted teeth. ”We’ll talk about this later when you've calmed down.”

Roman stares at you. Ivar sits back and crosses his arms. For the first time, you don’t feel welcome here. You don’t even want to be here.

Turning around, you head to the door, open it, and leave. Letting it slam behind you.

….

This is the longest you’ve gone without talking to the boys, your boys. You didn’t text them, they didn’t text you. You haven’t stepped foot into your second home for 4 whole days, almost 5.

You miss them.  

You’re also pissed at them.  

You kick yourself for taking the test and regret doing so. At the same time, you don't regret it. Even in the face of the test, you still didn’t get an answer. They just - stared at you like angry children.

Is it wrong you don’t want to “go with the flow” your whole life? Is it wrong to want no one else involved in your special little relationship? Your questions are valid. Upset or not, hurt or not, if they couldn’t give you answers, maybe a little break is needed before any of this is discussed further. After leaving that apartment you shoved the envelope in a drawer and continued to ignore the app.

It’s Thursday night now.

After a couple of hours at the bar with the girls, your frustration leads you to the fancy apartment, three rounds of drinks coursing through your veins.

Standing in front of the door, you knocked a few times, but no one answers. When you pressed your ear against the door, you hear a tv, a game on. Someone is in there.

“Roman! Ivar! Open the door, or I’ll use my key.”

No one answers.

Sighing, you dig in your pocket and retrieve your keys. You flip to the key with a purple sticker and unlock the door.

Once it’s open, you step inside the apartment hallway. It’s long, dim, the only light is coming from down the hall, to the left, where the living room is. You pass the kitchen, it’s semi-illuminated via the moonlight peeking through the window. You can see dishes piled up in the sink, take-out containers, and empty beer bottles.

Walking past the bathroom, you stand in the living room threshold. Ivars on the couch, laying back, playing a video game. It’s loud, most of the lights are off and he’s in his underwear, the couch blanket draped across his legs.

Ivar’s eyes stay glued on the screen for a second longer before he looks at you. He pauses the game and puts the controller down.

“Can we talk?” You ask, nervously shoving your hands in your pockets. The angry courage you had seconds ago is fading.

Ivar stares at you and takes his time responding. “Yeah.”

Taking your one word in, you enter the room fully and sit on the loveseat left of the long couch.

Ivar watches you sit and rolls his shoulders before asking, “Why’d you do it?”

You break eye contact and stare at the floor, “I would have loved to explain the other day. But Roman was being a brat and you just, you checked the fuck out.”

Ivar lifts his chin and crosses his arm, “you dropped a bomb on us.”

You sigh, “what happened the last time I tried to ask you both, seriously, what we are doing?” Your eyes meet his again.

Ivar sits back, arms still crossed, “I remember.”

“Neither of you took it seriously. You made fuck buddy jokes, Both of you.”

“You never got upset before.” He shrugs.

“Yeah, when I was 20, 21 - we’re not in college anymore. We are in our adult lives, Ivar. I’m a more mature version of that girl you saw in the cafe that day. You guys mean so much to me but I can’t lie to myself anymore. I realized I need more. Yes, you are my best friends, yes we have a lot of fun and good times, more good times than bad. But - “ you pause and take a breath, “I want…commitment. Real commitment and not feel silly when I want to talk about this stuff with you guys. Or like I’m killing the mood. I did try to bring all this up and you two brushed me off.”

You stop, trying to read Ivar’s expression. He’s still silent. Still holding your gaze with his intense stare.

“Ivar - I took it because I am frustrated. Because I’m not getting everything I need. My efforts to have an open honest conversation with you two was treated as a joke. So I was pissed and hurt. And angry. Plus, we just got over that two-month rough patch where shit was just - weird, with all of us. Put yourself in my shoes…sure, I should have tried to talk about the test with you all first but I have my reasons. I took it because I needed to know one of two things. Is there someone out there for me who can check all the boxes and if that person is one of you two, or not?”

“If it’s not one of us?” Ivar asked. “Then what?”

You start to reply then pause. As you think over your reply, Ivar’s blue eyes stay fixed on you.

“I have thought about that possibility. A lot actually - I mean, statistically neither of you have taken it right? So if it is one of you, I won’t have a match at all -”

“Who is it then?” Ivar asks before you can finish.

“I don’t - I didn’t open it,” you answer honestly, “I’ve been too afraid to see it.”

The answer seems to surprise Ivar. Readjusting on the couch, he kicks one leg up on the table and uncrosses his arms.

“Well, what are you waiting for. Check.”

He suggests this huge act in his usual calm tone, his unique accent always sounding sweet to your ears. But you can see he’s still upset with you, his walls are up. Even with barely any clothing on, he feels guarded.

The idea of opening the letter, or the app puts a sour taste in your mouth. Dropping your gaze, you break eye contact with Ivar a second time.

“Go ahead. Open it.” Ivar presses on.

“But you didn’t take it - “

“I know that,” he raises his brows as he says your name, “open it.”

Though it was fun downing those drinks, they feel anything but now, settling uncomfortably in the pit of your stomach. You glance at Ivar once more before pulling out your phone.

Once the screen is unlocked, you dig up the app and open it. As the main page loads, a chill moves over your body. Your phone feels empty in your hands. Following the prompts, you reach the results scene, mouthing the words as you read them;

“No match at this time.”

5 words. One sentence.

It’s enough to help you breathe easier for the time being. You take a deep cleansing breath, your eyes drift to Ivar’s.

Feeling slightly better, you continue one of your earlier thoughts, “I was planning on telling you guys. I just needed time but Roman found it and freaked out. I wasn’t going to keep it secret and I wasn’t planning on leaving you guys.”

Ivar’s hard gaze starts to soften, he lowers his leg from the table. As he moves his arms to rest on his thighs, you watch his stomach and arm muscles flex. If it wasn’t for the tense situation, you’d be throwing yourself on top of him right now.

It was a treat whenever you found him like this, nearly naked, reclining on the couch, his delicious sculpted body on display. You calm the rising sexual thoughts in your mind and shift back to the more emotional subject at hand. The fact that you’ve been fighting back tears since laying eyes on him helps you temper your desires.

“Test or not, I can’t just…leave you two behind, you both are part of me,” you say softly, speaking in a lower tone, “and if It was some random person, I wasn't going to just run off with them. I would have talked to you guys first.”

Ivar sighs, looks you over, then pats the cushion next to him. You stand and sit beside him, facing him. Ivar leans forward, staring deep into your eyes, and says, “I believe you.”

A smile slowly builds on your lips. You cup his face with your hands. “Thank you,” you whisper.

Lowering your head slightly, you blink away oncoming tears. They weren’t entirely sad ones, you feel relief too. Ivar gently wipes the tears from your cheeks, his eyes never leaving you.

With every passing second, you feel more relaxed, you feel the tension leave your muscles. You didn’t know what you were expecting when you charged over here.

Even with your anger, you were afraid of losing them, especially Ivar.

Roman isn’t the only one with a temper, Ivar has one too. Ivar could hold epic grudges. In a way, his anger is the worst. Roman's anger is hot, fast, and explosive; like lightning, firecrackers, or a storm. Even if it lingered, it didn’t go bone-deep for Roman. But Ivar, Ivar’s is like poisonous roots of a tree, seeping down into the soil, to the foundations of the earth and gripping the very core with a death grip.

In your mind, you figured all of you would be upset for a bit but you’d mend fences with Roman first. Then, hopefully in this century, Ivar. So, it’s a nice surprise he’s being so gentle with you, so understanding. He hasn’t raised his voice at all, not once. Unlike Roman. As soon as your other love returns to your mind, you feel sadness and a sense of loss.

At least, you try to remind yourself, Ivar believes you. You still have Ivar.  

As Ivar’s eyes move over your face, the remaining stress in your body melts away. Thoughts of Roman drift to the background as you focus on Ivar. The way he looks at you still takes your breath away, you find yourself under his spell in seconds.

Your gaze falls to his lips as he smiles at you and says, “I'm sorry," he pauses, "I love you.”

When your eyes meet him again, Ivar grins and draws you closer with his steamy gaze. You find your body inching forward, same as his. When Ivar rests his right hand on the side of your neck and gently yet firmly holds it, an intense warmth moves through your body, your cheeks grow hot. Desire floods in, taking hold of you as his lips meet yours in a kiss.

Ivar’s kisses always leave you breathless, and this one is extra special. Maybe because you’ve been apart for 5 days, or maybe because he was afraid of losing you too - Ivar spells you with his lips, his touch, the way his hands move over your body. As the kiss intensifies, you feel your hearts reconnecting; you feel the broken connecting mending, becoming stronger than before.

When the heated kiss breaks, you and Ivar stay close, holding each other as you catch your breath. Stimulated and breathless, you run your hands up and down his arms while gazing lustfully at his beautiful face, “I love you too Ivar.”

The way Ivar’s eyes light up at your words makes you smile and before you know it, he’s kissing you again, pulling your body beneath his on the couch. The second kiss leads to an ever-heavier make-out on the couch. Your hands explore each other bodies as you lose yourselves to passion.

With emotions high, and the two of you longing for each other, Ivar wastes no time taking you back to his bedroom. Being with Ivar again, though it’s only been 5 days, feels like the first time. It feels like a cure for your sad heart, it feels like heaven.

Ivar is the perfect blend of rough and sweet with you, with your body. From the very start, he’s always been an intuitive lover and he worked your body and awakened all your spots like no one else could. In his large soft but firm bed, your body pressed beneath his, you happily and excitedly give yourself to him.

Ivar’s kiss, his touch, the way he fills you - it's like a drug, you’re utterly and completely intoxicated by him. As you look up at him, your hips moving together, you can barely believe this is real, that Ivar is real. Ivar feels the same way.

He has to remind himself to go slow, to take his time, to show you how much he loves and appreciates you. But he slips, speeding up, going harder, it's impossible not to when you feel the way you feel, smell the way you smell, when you look at him with those eyes - the most beautiful eyes he’s ever seen.

To Ivar, you are perfect, a goddess, a dream come to life. Clothed or unclothed you are a work of art and he needs you to know it, to believe it, to feel it. Ivar tells you with his kiss, his hands, his lips, by the way, he fucks you and looks you in the eye. Each purr, each moan, each breath that leaves your perfect lips makes him fall harder for you, makes him love you more than he already does. Your name is signed on his heart, now and forever.

Needing more of you, needing to be deeper inside of you, Ivar changes positions, guiding you where he wants you. The moan that leaves your lips is sweet music to your ears.

He loves you

He's sorry

He should have listened

He loves you

He loves everything you do  

He loves every sound and word that leaves your lips

Ivar already has your heart, you already love him and when you fall asleep in his arms, your bodies warm, sweaty, and buzzing with euphoric bliss, you love him even more.

…

When you wake next, the room is pitch black except for the moonlight streaming through the window. You let your eyes settle in the dim room before crawling out of bed.

Though Ivar’s room has a half-bathroom, you don’t use it, you don’t want to wake him. He’s sleeping peacefully, so you decide to quietly leave the room and use the one in the hall, closer to your room.

Roman found this apartment first, he chose it for the view, which to be fair is fucking amazing, and he liked that it’s the deluxe top-floor apartment of the building. Roman loved feeling like a king and this ridiculous apartment gave off that vibe.

Naturally, Roman took the gigantic master bedroom and its attached full bathroom for himself. Ivar was living with his brothers Hvitserk and Ubbe at the time, then moved here, taking the 2nd largest room. When negotiating one of the rooms as his studio, Ivar used the whole “you have a full bathroom I don't" thing in his favor.

Your room is the smallest of the three (well, it's not that small really) and doesn't have a bathroom, but you didn’t mind. It was nice having your own cozy nook here, even if it was small. Besides, most of the time you were sleeping in either Ivars or Romans bed anyway or falling asleep on that massive wrap-around couch they have in the living room.

Thinking about both guys, you finish up in the bathroom and consider peaking into Roman's room. Letting curiosity take over, you do so quietly and find it empty, he wasn’t there.

Your heart sinks a little. Where is Roman? And was he coming home? He hated to guess what a sad angry Roman could be up to; he was the most self-destructive of the two. He was better with you two in his life, less reckless but who could say he wasn’t doing something stupid right now.  

Closing the door quietly, you return to Ivars' room and climb into bed. He wraps his arms around you, pulling your body close to his. In no time you fall asleep again in his arms.

…

3 Days Later

Finishing up at work, you put the last of your things in your bag. One of your coworkers peeks her head into the room,

“Hey I meant to tell you, your boyfriend was hanging around but didn’t come in.”

You crook a brow and look back at her.

She laughs, “oh, yeah, I should clarify, the really tall one who likes to wear black….Roman.” She smiles at you.

“When was that?”

“About an hour ago, sorry I got swamped and thought you may have seen him yourself.”

“Uh, thanks.”

“No problem…” she lingers in the doorway, “what's the secret? I wish someone could tell me they saw my boyfriend out front and I could ask, which one.” She chuckles.

“None of it was planned, I can tell you that.” You respond, slinging your bag over your shoulder. Normally you would laugh at something like this too, but only one-half of you was happy right now.

You still haven’t spoken to Roman. You gave in and texted, then called, and got nothing in return. Just dead silence. Top-tier cold shoulder treatment. So right now you can’t find it in you to laugh about it with her.

You’ve mostly been at the boy's apartment, a mix of making up with Ivar and hoping to see Roman walk through the front door. But he still hasn’t come home and is ignoring Ivar’s texts too.

In the back of your mind, you feared, for a fleeting moment, Roman was in trouble somewhere. He did drive fast when he was upset and got in the habit of getting in fights when he had steam to blow off. Maybe he pissed off the wrong person? Or got a DUI?

It was one of the reasons you were late to work today, you were looking up arrest records and news reports, hoping to not find his name. Ivar did try to calm you, he had a valid point, if Roman Godfrey got in trouble it would A, be all over the place, public news or B Oliva would get him out of it in 5 seconds and he would have come home. Ivar guessed Roman was out self-medicating and would come home in a day or so.

Hearing Roman was outside like a stalker instead of responding to your texts was pretty on character for him. It also confirmed Ivar’s suspicions were right. By the time you say your goodbyes and head outside, Roman is nowhere in sight, not his very loud, very ‘Roman’ car. This likely means Roman is finally back at home.

Instead of going 20 minutes south back to your place, you head to the guy's apartment. On the elevator ride up, you stare at your phone. The Soulmate service has been sending you emails, but you don’t open them. You swipe and delete, just like you have with the other ones.

You decided to not worry about that right now. You wanted to fix things with Roman before anything else could happen. The last few days with Ivar have been great, but it still feels like your other half is missing, you need Roman too, you want Roman too.  

Shoving your phone back in your pocket, you get off on the last floor and walk to the door. Taking a deep breath, you lift the key and slip it into the lock. Before you can turn the key, the door swings open, nearly taking you with it.

“Look who it is.” Roman hisses, he crosses his arms, blocking the doorway.

“Roman.” You regain your footing and look up at him.

He frowns, “how's your new boyfriend? Is he good fuck? Better than us?”

Cursing under your breath, you throw your hands in the air, “Roman please, can you just stop? I don't want to fight with you!”

You and Roman lock eyes, staring each other down. Roman takes a step back first, then shrugs. “You're the one keeping secrets.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose, take a breath, then push your way inside, knocking past him as you do.

“What the shit?”

“I need this cleared up, now. I don’t care if you’re in a bad mood, hungover, still drunk whatever. Just sit down, shut up, and listen.” You toss your bag on the floor.

Roman’s brows come together as he watches you. He closes the door and walks past you, then sits on the couch. The expression he’s wearing now is like a little kid who just got yelled at.

“What were you doing at my job?” You ask hands on your hips.

Roman reclines back, a defiant look in his eyes. “ I can go anywhere I want.”

“You’re such a fucking brat.” You stay stern, rooted in place. You and he are having this talk now, whether he likes it or not.

Roman breaks eye contact first and digs in his pocket for his cigarettes. Just as he’s about to pull it out, and you’re using every ounce of control you have to not go off on him just yet, he grabs his phone as it makes a sound.

“Can you put that way for a bit, we need to talk Roman.” You sit on the couch a few inches away from him.

Roman’s green eyes meet yours briefly before he looks at the phone again. He’s sulking. He’s still very pissed. Annoyed. you watch as he swipes something open and his eyes grow wide at what he’s seeing.

“What?” you ask curiously.

“Shit, I fucking matched.” He lowers the phone, bringing his eyes to yours.

“What?” You ask again, not sure you heard what you heard.

Roman rubs the back of his neck, his eye darting to the phone, then to you again, “I took the stupid test today...” he trails off, watching the emotion in your eyes, “I was so mad at you I -”

You break eye contact and looks down at the phone in his hands. Sadness washes over you.

What kind of pandora's box did you open by taking this fucking thing?  

You wish you never took it.  

You hate that commercial.  

You want to erase it from your memory.  

Now Roman would be gone forever, your Roman.  

You feel your spirit, your sense of hope, your assertive energy you walked in here with all melting away. Clearing your throat, you stand up and move away from Roman.

“I’ll leave you to that then.” You barely get the words out, your throat feels dry. A numbness starts to mix with the sadness, slowly reducing it until you no longer know how you feel.

Roman lowers the phone, confusion on his face as he watches you walk away. When he calls your name, you stop and look back at him.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.” You say.

Roman stands too, “I only took the stupid thing because…” he pauses, thinking about something, “did you look, who is it?”

“I don’t have a match.” You say the words are ever sadder out loud than in your head. You feel your shoulders curving forward like your body is making itself smaller.

“Shit, I’m sorry, fuck,” he scales the distance between you in no time with his long legs and cups your left cheek with his free hand. His eyes search yours.

You shrug, pretending not to care, “it’s fine.”

“Hey, “ Roman whispers your name so tenderly you feel your chest expand, “don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. It’s fine. It’s not the end of the world.”

Roman shakes his head, “ you know what, fuck this stupid test, the whole thing is - fuck it, I’ll delete it right now - “ Roman swipes at the phone with one hand, while caressing your cheek with the other.

When his eyes drop to the phone, he mutters under his breath and goes still. He opened the results instead of deleting them.

Not wanting to see who this person is, you take a step back and divert your eyes.

“I took it, I won’t rob you of knowing so just - look, it’s okay.” You cross your arms, fixing your eyes on a painting on the wall.

When you hear nothing but silence, you bring your eyes back to Roman who is staring at you.

“Don’t be a brat, come here.” He grins and presents the phone.

“No, I don’t want to see it.” You wave your hand in the air before you.

Roman walks over to you, “just look at the godamn phone will you.” He shoves it closer and you grab it reluctantly.

Even when the phone is in your hands, your eyes stay locked on Romans. He urges you once more to look at the phone.

“Fine.” You drop your gaze and read the email, your eyes freeze on the name. The phone nearly slips out of your hand, Roman catches it.

When you look at him again, his smile fades, “you wish it was Ivar?”

“Why would you say that?” You ask, still processing what you saw.

Roman starts to make a joke, then stops. He radiated confidence and to those who didn't know him, they would never guess how insecure he actually is. He had his moment, and this is one of them.

“Hey, look at me,” you grab his arm, his eyes meet yours, “listen to me closely okay, don’t say shit like that.”

Roman just nods, but you can tell he’s still feeling doubtful.

You pull out your phone and find the deleted emails, quickly opening one you see you have a match. You open the email and hold it up to Roman's face.

“Do you see that?” You point at the name and photo, his name, his face. Then at his phone where your name and photo appear.

Roman forces a smile, “so, you’re not… disappointed it’s me?”

You shove your phone back in your pocket with a sigh and drag Roman over to the couch. Once you are both sitting, you hold his hands in yours.

“I know you and I have more fights than me and Ivar. And you know there are things you do that I don’t - agree with but it does not, at all make me love you less. I love you, and I love Ivar. You are part of me, same as he. I feared not seeing either of you as my match, that scared me the most. I don’t want some stranger or some new person.”

Roman relaxes as you speak, you can see a light returning to his eyes.

“I’m not leaving you, I wasn't secretly planning to break up with you. You just didn’t give me a chance to speak, to explain. I love you so much but you have to do better, okay? We need to be able to talk about things without you freaking out.”

Roman nods, hearing everything you are saying. Roman wraps his arms around you, holding you tight in his arms. He takes a deep savoring breath and buries his head in the nook of your neck.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers against your skin. You rub his back and close your eyes. You missed him, you missed his scent, the way he feels.

The two of you sit there quietly, just holding each other and breathing. There's so much to say, you two have so much to talk about but right now it just feels so good to be held by him, and hold him back.

Roman moves first, leaning back so he can look at you, “ I miss you. I love you.”

“I love you too, Roman.”

Roman smiles wide, it reaches his eyes. You missed that face, the look of happiness illuminating his handsome features. Roman strokes your cheek as he inches closer. Your heart is pounding in your chest, your eyes locked on his.

You watch as Roman stares at your lips, strands of his hair fall into his face, and you gently smooth them back. Roman's eyes close at your touch, he loved when you touched his hair. He would often lay in your lap and request it.

You feel butterflies in your stomach as your foreheads and noses touch. A tingly feeling moves over your body. Roman locks eyes with you again while grabbing your hips, he pulls your body closer to his until you’re nearly in his lap.

“I was afraid - “ he starts, stops, then starts again, “I was afraid I lost you.”

“You didn’t lose me,” you brush your lips against his, “I’m right here Rom-”

Before you can say his name, Roman's lips meet yours. You move your hand to his shoulders as the kiss deepens. The taste of his lips mixed with his scent and his hands on your body is dizzying. You feel a tingle down your spine mixed with nervous excitement.

As you kiss, you feel love blossom in your body, you feel the threads of your heart repair themselves. Roman wasn’t an easy man to love, but you do, you love him completely, endlessly, fully. You heard once that some soul mate connections weren't easy, maybe there’s some truth in that.

As you part for air, Roman stands and offers you his hand. He walks you back to his bedroom, body pressed against yours as he plants kisses on your neck, the sides of your face, and on your shoulders.

The moment you step foot in his bedroom, you’re kissing again and pulling clothes off each other. When your naked bodies meet the mattress, Roman takes his time tasting you, worshipping you, devouring you.

He makes sure he leaves no part of you neglected, no area of skin devoid of kisses - everything disappears as you lock your legs around him, his cock deep inside of you, his perfect thrusts sending you closer and closer to your peak.

As your bodies move as one, in a rhythmic sensual dance, Roman whispers praise against your hot skin and declare his love for you in between heated kisses. Each time you pull his hair and run your nails down his back he groans, losing himself further in you.

The sweet release comes as reach your apex of desire. Roman continues to fuck you through it until he comes. Catching your breath, the two of you lay still, savoring the wave of ecstatic pleasure as he moves through your bodies.

Roman gazes at you with heavy lids. He needs you. He loves you. He's going to try his best to be better, for you.  

…

Your body is utterly but blissfully exhausted, you rest your head on Roman’s naked chest and drape your arm across his body. You feel him hum contently under you.

Roman skims his fingertips over your skin, following the length of your arm. Under the tangled sheet your legs are wrapped around each other. You don’t know how long you’ve been in this room, or how much sex you’ve had at this point, you just know that this is exactly where you want to be.

“In the beginning,” as Roman starts speaking, you lift yourself so you can see his face, “ I did see other people, sometimes, not a lot. But over the years it’s just been you, “ his eyes are clear, honest, “I only want you - since you have Ivar too I thought maybe I’m not enough so I tried seeing other people. I can't. They’re not you.”

Touched by his confession, you move up his chest to get closer to his face, and you plant a kiss on his lips, “I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t tell you, I should have told you. I guess the jokes were my way of…dealing with it. I know I fuck up, I fuck up a lot. I’m sorry. I’m trying. I’ll keep trying to do better.”

“Good,” you and kiss his lips again, “ I believe in you. I know you can. Since I’ve known you, you have grown as a person, I’m really fucking proud of you Roman.”

He smiles and touches your face, his other hands still lingering on your ass under the cover. He loved praise, he lit up each time.

“We gotta tell Ivar.” A worried look flashed on his face.

“I know, we will. The sooner the better, I think. Tonight?”

Roman nods and shifts his head on the pillow, his eyes still on yours. Your mind starts to drift as you think about Ivar. It feels like one big problem was just resolved but now you had to tell Ivar about the test, about Roman being your match. It would crush him, even if he denied it or joked about it. You didn’t want to hurt him, you didn’t want to hurt any of them.

“I’ll just go out there and tell him I win. End of conversation.” Roman boasts with a grin.

“Are you crazy, he’ll stab you. Or throw a knife at you,” You were joking, half-joking. But you also know Roman loves Ivar, they joked around a lot and gave each other shit, but still, Roman wouldn’t want to hurt Ivar either. He was a lonely rich kid with no real friends before Ivar. Roman is just as attached to their little triangle as you are.

You continue, “we talk to him at the same time, and give him all the space he needs to digest it all. Yeah? And make it clear that I’m not going anywhere, you either. It’s the three of us, just as it's always been, just… a better version.”

Roman grins, “sorry I was distracted by your perfect tits. What was that?”

“Oh god,” you roll over on your back and laugh.

“No, I was actually listening though, and looking at your tits, “ Roman lays on his side too, his eyes full of adoration as he studies you, “it’s a plan.”

As you start to rise, Roman pulls you back to bed.

“I want more cuddles.” He demands.

“Okay, you can have all the cuddles you want.” You melt against him and close your eyes.

After a few minutes, he speaks again, “you know you don’t have to work that job. I’ll take care of you. I mean it. Anything you want. You don’t have to work again.”

“I don’t want to be a kept woman,” You run your fingers through his hair, “but thank you for the offer.”

“No don't think of it like that. Let me take care of you. I’ll do it. Ivar too. Between the both of us, you’ll have anything you ever need.” Roman rests his head against your chest. “Think about it.”

…

When the two of you finally leave the room, Ivar still isn't home. After checking the fridge, you settle on take-out. Since Roman needs more cigarettes, he offers to pick them up and get his smokes at the same time.

After Roman leaves, you sit on the couch and look for a movie to watch. When the door opens again, you lower the remote,

“That was fast.”

Ivar comes into the room and you feel your heart sink, it must show on your face because the way he looks at you changes from excitement to confusion. Ivar’s observant, he’s always been and you know he knows something is wrong.

He drops his gym bag on the floor and walks over to you.

“What is it?”

You sit up and frantically search for anything to say in your mind, anything but the test.

As Ivar sits next to you, you crumble under his gaze and spill the beans, you spill everything telling him about the test and Roman being your match. You’ve never talked so fast in your life and when the last words leave your lips you don’t feel lighter or relieved, you feel worried, and scared.

Ivar reclines back, his eyes focusing on the tv absentmindedly.

“Ivar, say something.”

He smirks, but nothing about it is warm, “something.”

“Ivar, don’t shut down on me, please,” you grab his face, making him look at you, “I know taking the test started a lot of shit but I can’t take that back now. All we can do is move forward okay. You know how much I love you, love isn’t even a big enough word. I’m not going anywhere. You still have me, I still have you.”

He takes a slow breath, eyes locked on yours.

“You, me, Roman. That’s all I want. It’s the three of us, and no one else. If you want that too, if you are okay with that, then let’s just move past this test okay and go back to our normal.”

Ivar presses his lips together in a tight line, and his jaw tightens. You can tell he’s battling with himself. Part of him is upset and jealous. The other part is okay with all this and happy to move forward.

“The three of us, “ you repeat softly, “the test gives you one person, yeah? Well the way I see it, and their research out there to back this up, a person has more than one soul mate so the test, in a way is only half the story. I have two soul mates, I know it, you and Roman. I don’t need a test to tell me that.”

Ivar smiles. He caresses the side of your arm.

You move closer to him, “tell me what you want, Ivar. Please?”

Ivar takes a moment to think.

He loves you.  

He loves you more than he ever thought he could love a woman

Before you, Ivar didn’t think he could fall in love or have a relationship, but you changed all that. In fact, Ivar fell for you hard and fast and stopped seeing anyone else within the first year.  

You made Ivar better, whole, you softened him up in good ways. You made him realize aspects of life he was missing and now can’t live without.  

Learning to share you wasn’t easy for him, but one day it clicked and it just - worked. Ivar made a choice years ago that he would rather share you than lose you, and now, as he stares into your eyes and feels your soft hand against his skin he knows his mind remains unchanged.

Ivar suddenly pulls you beneath him on the couch and litters kisses on your neck and face.

“You’re not getting rid of me that fast.” He smiles against your skin before planting another kiss.

“Good, “ you wrap your legs around him and rub his back, you can feel the sweat under this shirt, “you are very wet and stinky.”

“And you smell like hot sweaty sex, so we’re even, “ he sits up, still pinning you beneath him, “well, almost. Romans had you all day, you’re mine tonight.”

Turned on by his words, you grab his collar and pull him down into a kiss. The front door opens and closes. Caring a bag of food, Roman peaks inside of the living room and laughs, finding you and Ivar making out on the couch.

“I guess the talk went well.”

Ivar breaks away, looking at his friend, “very. I know about the test. It’s cool. But she’s mine tonight, and tomorrow. And the day after." You quirk a brow as you listen to Ivar.

Roman chuckles, “we’ll see about that” he winks at you and heads to the kitchen.

Ivar stands and helps you off the couch, “ come on let's eat.”

“I’m starving.” You wrap your arms around him, walking behind him to the kitchen.

Over dinner any tension is gone, the three of you talk and laugh. Ivar and Roman make jokes and take verbal jabs at each other. It’s perfect, it's just as it should be. You feel happy. You feel at peace.

After dinner, the three of you watch a movie on the couch. You take turns cuddling with each of them during the movie, with stolen kisses in between scenes. After dinner, Ivar takes you into the bathroom where you share a very steamy shower before settling in his room for the night.

You fall asleep like a baby that night and look forward to tomorrow and the rest of your life with the two men you love.

...

Thanks for reading😁 @walkxthexmoon maybe? @punkrocknpearls @youbloodymadgenius

[haiyuta]

|| sugarbaby.com || bang chan

Summary: Struggling college student Y/n is on her last year of college as the bills stack she’s in a tough situation. Her roommate recommends her a website for local sugar daddies. That's where she meets Mr. Bang Chan a producer who is just a nice guy that has a lot of money.  

word count: 5.1k || genre: smut, lots of smut, kissing, dry humping, light choking, praise kink, soft dom chan, like soft, like he’s a caring daddy btw, light barely their daddy kink. 

a/ n: the end plot is so sloppyyyy but I put lots of plot and love and smut this could be better but its 5k of hard work so enjoy yall~

Chewing on your lip you eyed the website your finger hovering on and off the signup button.

Sugarbabys.com the website read on the front page in a quote read "where sugar babies meet high-quality Sugar daddies".

Taking your finger away you gave it a thought all the scenarios going through your head. What if it didn't go well? What if the men were creepy? Your friend already gave you tips 'meet in a public place' 'only if you want to you have to' things like that.

Your bank account was desperate though. Between school and working, you were left with little money. Lingering in the back of your brain you knew you couldn't the reality of having to borrow more money from your friend making you cringe.

Were you desperate enough for money to even sign up for this site? It was something you considered before knowing a few girls who used the website your roommate included for a while until she got what she wanted her debt paid off.

'Its easy just sign up it couldn't hurt' she explained to you. You grimaced it could hurt the many thoughts popped up in your head bad and good.

Your finger hovered over the signup button with great reluctance decided to sign up. Entering your email and information you looked at the rules. It was simple enough the men contacted you based on profiles near them. They recommend you do a date in public for safety reasons etc.

Some of the profile content was questions like the financial level you needed and what you could provide and some small information about yourself.

Your fingertips hovered over the keys writing some info about yourself.

"Hello I'm a graduating student soon with ambitions to join the workforce soon financial help would be the main  and I am very open with new options and experiences"

Finishing off with some fun facts age and a pretty picture your friend took of you. etc you clicked the finished profile you sat back looking at the website shaking your head you closed your laptop work was going to be early tomorrow.

You didn't check the website but a lingering message sat in your inbox.

As the week went on it a few messages popped in your inbox with a variety of guys some seeking immediate sex for money, some promising you the world but then there was one message.

Bang: Hello I'm sure you got many messages you're very pretty I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me. I'll pay of course and see if we are matchable. If not just ignore this.

The message made you quirk your eyebrow it felt real and raw in a way the others didn't. And with no picture, you decided to go and message 'Bang' back.

You: Thanks for messaging me I would love to just send your phone number and I'll talk to you more.

Nerves in your stomach grew as you waited for his message. A night went by until his reply.

Bang: Thanks so much here's my number can't wait to talk to you more :)

You've been texting back and forth with Chan for a week till he scheduled a date setting a date that was good for both of you.

You were nervous your stomach turned with butterflies, the restaurant you were in was a fancy Italian restaurant downtown it had deep mood lighting with a clean crisp look to it.

"May I help you," the hostess gave a kind smile.

Shifting in your tight black dress your own but the gold necklace with a nice handbag were thanks to your roommate.  "Um yes," you said nervously "I have a dinner date with Mr. Bang," you said.

Looking at the list she nodded "oh yes he's waiting for you," she said leading you to the back.

Walking through the restaurant your stomach twisted leading towards the table. Questions ran through your mind. Why were you even doing this? It was to late to back down now you thought.

"Here you go," she gestured to the table. Laying your eyes on him you were slightly taken aback at his appearance. He was handsome.

Looking up from his phone a handsome smile lit his face. Slipping the device into his pocket he got up quickly.

"Let me," he gave a sheepish laugh moving toward you. The smell of his cologne filled your senses it was nice really nice.

"Thank you," you said sitting putting your loaned clutch on the table. Drinking in his features you noted he had sandy blond hair, deep dimples, and perhaps an accent. Dressed simply in a black button-up and black jeans expensive chan sat handsomely on his neck.

An awkward silence filled the table until he chuckled "I'm sorry I didn't even introduce myself I use Mr. Bang on my profile but you can call me Chan," he said. Yup, definitely an accent you noted.

His friendly smile radiated causing you to let a small smile "I'm Y/n thank you for taking me out". More like thanks for messaging me and taking me to a restaurant normally college boys would take you out to the best they could do. A local taco joint close to the university which was amazing but you did yearn for something romantic.

"You were beautiful I had to," he flirted with a charming smile. Stomach knotting at the word beautiful and how his foreign accent whispered them out.

"Thank you," you beamed shifting in your seat. The more you talked to him the more comfortable you became with him.

"So, you work in the music industry," you asked wanting to get to know him. Quickly thinking of his profile on the website. Young, producer and money to spend. The website though matched you and you couldn't directly message them until they choose you. Chan would be snatched up quickly if any sugar baby could choose.

"I do I'm a producer I also sing and rap a bit," he explained, "its something I like to do a lot" he added.

"That sounds like a lot of fun," you giggled poking at your food already full from the soup and salad but wanting more.

"It's long hours of editing and writing music," he perked up his eyebrow you noted he had a small cut in his eyebrow. "Hearing my music be sung by artist and people loving my lyrics is all worth it."

"But it's my passion but sadly my passion is mostly inside so it's hard to meet people," he explained eyeing you.

"May I ask why a guy like you would be on a sugar baby website," you said hoping you weren't overstepping your boundary. "I mean not that you can't be on these sites," you quickly blurted out feeling warm at the question you asked.

He laughed a little "I'm not a 40-year-old businessman with a wife and kids," he smirked out.

"Kind of," you trailed off staring at him.

"Well some of my friends were doing it recently saying they met some great people," he said "I also like showering my girl with money might as well see if this will work." he finished.

"Ah okay," you hummed eating some food.

"I'm just a nice guy who has a lot of money," he grinned his cheeky dimple popping out.

You snorted at the comment "wow," you laughed a little.

"Sorry was that cringy," he gave a sheepish smile.

You nodded covering your mouth trying not to laugh out loud.

"Anyway what about you," he asked.

You explained a bit about yourself adding what he needed to know you were almost out of college the struggle to finish was getting harder. He understood explaining he came to Korea from Australia looking for a fresh start. He found his talent when he sold one of his songs for the first time. You were shocked that it was called "Why so lonely" a classic a song that use to be on your freshman playlist every day.

The experience was new but something you would soon treasure a good conversation a lovely meal and getting money for it.

"Did you like the meal," he asked eyeing you placing his black card in his wallet writing down a quick tip.

"It was amazing," you gave a gentle smile. A little bummed this dinner had to end. Also anticipating if he wanted to continue this.

"May I drive you home," he asked giving you his arm. You smiled nodding slipping your arm through his arm.

The small private parking lot on the side as you browsed the expensive cars till you landed on his BMW with admiration a beautiful car that fit his aesthetic. Playful yet luxurious. Sliding into his car you shivered at the cold leather seats.

"Where do you live," he asked.

"Student apartments right next to the university," you explained "just that general area," you said hitting yourself of how dumb you sounded.

The car ride had light chatting he played some music from he wrote. You were shocked to find out it had some of your favorite artists under it. Learning he did some music for a trio group named 3racha.

Coming up to your apartment you sighed glancing at him "thank you so much," you paused letting out a soft "sir" at the end of it.

A moment passed over the both of you until Chan let out a laugh "Sir," a deep cute laugh.

A blush went to your cheeks at his laugh"You're cute enough you don't have to try okay," he assured his you pressing his hand to your cheek gently.

Your face was warm but his hand felt warmer. "Sorry about that," you said softly cringing at yourself. How natural this felt was amazing.

"May I kiss you," he whispered out his lips so close.

Your eyes connected to his light brown eyes your lips wanting to touch his "please."

It was a swift moment as his lips capturing your own. It was soft as he greedily consumed your kiss you were shocked at how good it was to be kissed.

Pulling gently apart your eyes flickered to his noting his eyes were so warm and deep you could drown in them.

"Um thank you for everything," you said feeling warm and frazzled at him. Opening the car door you could feel your heartbeat a little faster and your mind swirl with want.

"Your welcome baby girl," he winked watching you with as you trailed yourself up the steps and into the apartment building.

Its been a few months since your first date with Chan. Honestly, it felt too good to be true. Soon as got home he texted you some information and the next thing that morning a pretty number with 4 digits now sit in your account.

It took all your will not to scream in a pillow at the money. That's what you make in a month for a date.

As the relationship continued Chan was giving you money for your attention dates, kissing, sex all of the above. Honestly, he could pay you nothing and you would still jump at the opportunity to sleep with him. You shuttered a little thinking of the sex simply put it was amazing.

Some basic rules were gently inforced. 1. You or have the right to end it at any time 2. Stressed the fact that this was an exclusive relationship. Light rules but Chan was very laidback.

Currently, you were in a store way too expensive well use to be way too expensive picking out a dress that would look good for this event with Chan. "This one," you hummed walking out in a cream-colored dress. It hugged your ass but the color was sort of off-putting.

Chan sitting on the seat in the private dress area leaning back his hair messy and untamed with a touch of curls. Your fingers always itched to touch those curly locks.

"I don't love it," he hummed eyeing you up and down. "Just the color it looks amazing on you though," he grinned. Sitting next to a pile of dresses that you both didn't like very much.

You frown this was the fifth dress you've tried but to be honest you didn't love it that much either.

"Okay I have a few more," you bit your lip as you went back to the dressing room. The event was tomorrow night performance of some underground rappers and Chan said he might perform with 3racha if he had time. Being on his arm for this event was important.

You shyly claiming you didn't have many dresses for something like that.

Sipping into the dress that caught your eye the most a deep rose gold dress with just a touch of sparkle. Eyeing yourself you smiled at how the dress fit you the price tag with the glaring 1k on the tag.

Slipping out the dressing room your gazed landed on Chan his eyes ran up and down your body. "Wow," he whispered out getting up to inspect the dress. "Do you like it," he asked placing his hand on your hip.

"I love it," you paused eyeing you and Chan in the mirror admiring how you looked and how he looked next to you. His eyes glazed with lust. "It's pricy though," you hummed looking at the price.

Chan leaned over kissing your temple "you know I'll buy it for you," he grinned pushing his hips closer to you.

"You spoil me," you hummed posing lightly in the mirror. It complimented your skin the way it fell made you feel utterly amazing.

"You look beautiful," he said pressing his body against yours. His chin resting atop your head as he stared at your dress in the mirror. You giggled at the reflection. He looked at you with an admiring lust-filled look. You perked up when you felt his bulge pressing against your ass.

Glancing at him through the mirror his deep brown eyes basically told you what he wanted. You've had sex with Chan before and to say the least you would fuck this man for free. You were just lucky enough he was paying your tuition with a sweet payday every other Friday.

You pushed your ass into him feeling his eagerness waiting for you. "We shouldn't," you hummed glancing at him. Leaning over he hummed his lips connecting with your neck. You sighed at the kisses leaning away for more access.

"We just need to be quiet," he whispered in your ear. Grabbing your hand he lead you to the small bench settling you on his lap.

His lips captured yours hungrily your mouths moved in a gentle rhythm. Pulling away Chan looked at you grabbing your exposed thigh placing you across his jeans. "Come on baby we don't want to wrinkle this beautiful dress up," he said pushing the dress up.

A small mew slipped out of you at the feeling of Chan lightly bouncing his leg. Wrapping your arms around his neck to steady yourself you moaned as he added more pressure to your clothed slit.

Your body was heating up at the feeling "come on baby girl," Chan whispered in your ear. Biting your lip you squeezed your eyes closed feeling your stomach twisting at the sensation. God, he got you off so good your mind raced with want.

Clenching your thighs around his you gave a soft moan as you rocked against his leg. The lewd act of humping his leg made your stomach twist with want.

Chan let out a light chuckle you gave him a small embarrassed glare at your current position. "Don't pout you look adorable," he gave a small smirk. "We better finish this off before we are found," he grinned as he proceeded to bounce his leg.

You were already damp as it seeped into Chan's black jeans. Pushing your head into his neck you let out small whimpers as you got closer to the edge. Ready to fall any moment but Chan holding you so tight you never wanted to let go. Pushing down on his thigh you gave a deep moan as you desperately humped his leg.

Leaning over you placed your lips moaning in the kiss. Your eyes twisted shut as waves of heat rolled down your body.

Chan pressed his lips hard against you as you sloppy kissed him. You came down from your high it took a moment but you felt Chan hand run up and down your back.

Biting your lip you gazed up at him giving him a light smile "we should get out of here," you hummed pushing your dress back down and getting up,

You lightly grimaced at his leg with had a decent size wet mark on them. "Fuck sorry," you said also eyeing his bulge.

He hummed grabbing your hand "don't worry about it lets just buy the dress and go back to my place," giving you a wink.

Your stomach stirred thinking of going to his house with him laying in his bed as he pushed your deep into his sheets "Let's," you grinned eagerly.

"How does it look," you asked your roommate coming from your room in the dress you bought last week. It took a dry clean to get the smell of sex from the dress but it still looked clean and new.

Her gaze went from her phone taking a double-take at your dress. "Look at you in that dress," she hummed. Smiling you gave a small twirl the gold shimmering.

"I know I love it so much," you hummed going to the mirror to check your makeup and hair.

"So Y/n how's Chan," she said leaning on the couch her eyebrow raised at you.

"He's good he's taking me to a club tonight," you said.

She nodded "so you don't have feelings for him or anything right," she hummed out looking at you.

Pausing you stared at your eye makeup looking at her through the mirror image you felt your heart leap "of course not he pays me," you told her.

"Yeah I mean your college semester is almost over when will you break it off," she asked. You paused wondering if you would. You did get mostly what you wanted. Clothing, money, your schooling has been paid up to last semester. The thought of breaking it with Chan made your stomach drop.

Before you could answer you heard your phone ring. Grinning you picked it up avoiding your roommates grilling question.

"Hey baby are you ready," Chan spoke.

Glancing at your makeup and outfit you looked good. Shyly remembering what you did in this dress earlier that week. "Yeah I'm good," you hummed out.

"Great I'm downstairs," he said.

"Okay bye," you said clicking off the phone.

Your roommate was still looking at you "you're like into into him," she commented.

"I'm into his money," you easily lied to yourself. The money was great the clothing, the tuition all was amazing. But Chan as a person he was the best of all the gifts. Repressing these growing thoughts was the best you could do.

"Sure you are," she said pulling out up her Netflix. "Just let me know when you move into with him so I can find a new roommate," she teased.

Rolling your eyes you stuck out your tongue  "will do but won't happen," you said leaving.

"Have a nice night," she called out.

"Thanks," you yelled back leaving. Your stomach turned excited to see Chan. Hurrying downstairs you quickly came outside to see Chan leaning on the side of his car. You eyed him loving his outfit.

"Hey," you grinned going to him wrapping your arms around his neck. Your eyes held his from the told of his dirty blond hair to the way he had a smile chain around his neck and his signature black style.

"Aw you missed me," he grinned a small dimple popping out.

"Always," you flirted back.

Giving you a quick peck he opened the door for you. The drive to the small club was nice his hand firmly on your thigh as he navigated the roads driving up to the club.

"You'll meet some of my friends just fellow producers," he explained. The word date stuck to your brain well you were his date. The words girlfriend would be amazing to hear out his mouth.

"Do your friends have any sugar babies," you asked out the blue. Remembering he told you months ago some of his friends use the site.

He pursed his lips "some do some have two or more," he explained closing the door on the side parking.

Taking his arm nerves bubbled up in your stomach as you entered the low lit club. It was loud with live music on the stage was a male he had dark black hair with deep black makeup and he was rapping.

"That's Jisung he's a close friend and producer," Chan said leading you toward the back. The club was lowkey as people enjoyed the fast rapper on the stage.

"He's really good," you called out to Chan.

He nodded "yeah we are underground rappers are normally producers but we like to stay out of the limelight," he added. "I'll be on stage in a bit hope you'll cheer for me," he grinned.

"Always," you grinned. Sipping on the drink you were introduced to lots of people Felix an upcoming solo artist in the company.

"Time to get on stage baby girl," Chan hummed giving you a light kiss on your lips. His eyes lingered on you for a moment "After my set will get outta here," he said.

"Sounds good," you replied.

Felix stayed next to you as you two chatted while Chan was in the back. "Yeah, Chan told me a lot about you."

You nodded "can I ask about," you asked curiously.

Felix nodded his head "just you're really good for him is what I'm going to say," he explained.

Before you knew it the lights went down once again as Chan got on stage with Jisung and another male "who's that," you asked Felix.

"That's Changbin he is just an underground rapper Chan likes to promote with they call themselves 3racha," he explained.

You watched Chan on stage it was like he was a natural. His smile lit the stage his outfit clean making him look fashionable and handsome. That messy hair was darkening.

Your heart speeds up as you watched his performance him bouncing on stage, the way he hyped up the crowd and his fellow rappers.

Chan never really talked about the performing aspect of this. You were transfixed on the performance the lyrics, his movements it was all amazing. Then cheers filled your ears Chan had a small layer of sweat on his forehead "thank you for coming everyone we have so many new acts tonight please keep a lookout for them," he yelled in the mic.

"They were amazing," you said excitedly.

"Yeah, I love watching them perform," Felix agreed. "It doesn't happen often but when it does it's always great," he praised his friends.

Soon after Chan came back to the table with Jisung and Changbin behind him. A layer of sweat on all of them. "Guys I want you to meet Y/n," he said. "My girlfriend," he said glancing at you for a second.

Your eyes widen at the work girlfriend but decided to act cool "um Hi guys I love your music Chan's showed me some samples," you said.

"Ah thank you so much welcome to our little circle Chan's been meaning to introduce us to you," Jisung said giving a wide smile.

"Has he well my boyfriend is so mean not introducing me to his friends sooner," you side-eyed Chan. You felt Chan wrap his arm around your waist.

"Well we should all get together for some food soon," Felix added.

"That would be great," Chan said slipping his arm around your waist. "Sorry to be rude me and Y/n have to dip," Chan said. Giving his friends a few fist bumps he pulled you out the dark club soon after.

The cool night hit you giving you some much-needed space to breathe. "So Chan girlfriend," you quirked an eyebrow stepping away from his. Your insides turned at the word.

"I'm sorry that just slipped out," he spoke quickly apologizing, a red from the tips of his ears to his cheeks maybe from performing but it made him look different. Vulnerable to you like a confession. "I meant it I'll admit it," he added.

There was a pause as you looked at him and he looked at you. Before you knew it your lips were on his. His plush lips felt so good your heart beating rapidly at his confession and you think you got your answer across. He wrapped his arms around your waist pressing deeply into the kiss.

Pulling apart you gazed up at him he had a handsome smirk on his face. "your place," you bite your lip.

He hummed "I gotta hear it one time," he raised an eyebrow.

"Can my handsome boyfriend take me to his place," you admitted your arms thrown around his neck.

Grabbing his keys he and you hurried to his car. You praised his performance as you rode to his place. His hand now firmly placed entwined in your hand.

Stumbling into his condo you and his lips were attached to one another. Closing the door behind him you giggled as his hand slide through your once neatly curled hair now messy from the night.

Grabbing your hand you lead him to his bedroom it had deep blacks and grey al round. Your lips met in a messy haze of lust.

"Fuck you do things to me," Chan whispered pulling his lips away from you. His fluffy hair was now matted to his forehead attractively from his performance those brown eyes of his blazing with want.  

Sitting on his bed eyeing you from the high ground. "Look what you've done," he chuckled out touching himself. Your fingers itched to unzip him and help him.

"Can I," you asked reaching for his zipper.

"Ask properly," he leaned his hands behind him his hooded eyes stared you down.

"Please daddy," you whined out  On your knees, you unbuttoned his pants revealing Calvin Klein's you loved so much. When you got a peek of those they really set you off.

Slowly touching the hard outline you licked your lips in concentration as you teased him from the base circling around the tip feeling he was wet.

"Fucking hell Y/n," his hips involuntary jerked up to your touch. Your fingers raised under his black tee feeling his solid abs under your fingers tips.

"I love your body," you hummed feeling his stomach circling little shapes right above his waistline.

"Yeah," he stared down at you with hunger loving the praise that you gave him. Something you learned early about Chan is praise could get you a long way. Your nails dragged down his abs loving the feeling of them under your fingertips.

Pulling him out you admired his length. You gave his slick head a small kiss as you gently bobbed.

Chan lifted his hips letting you slip more into his mouth. "Fuck," he moaned as he started to hit the back of your throat.

"Relax your throat Y/n," he said gently brushing your hair. Chan gently rolled his hips deeper in as you relaxed your throat. You lightly choked on it pulling off quickly. You blushed realizing even with the training you couldn't take him very far.

"Sorry," you flushed embarrassed you couldn't even deep throat him.

Pulling you onto the bed Chan's eyes were gentle and lustful. He lightly patted your head lovely "you got better," he hummed. Grabbing your wrist he gently took it placing gentle kisses across your wrist. He stared at you with a smoldering look of want.

Leaning down his mouth attacked your neck you felt so close to him you could hear his heart race just like yours. His dick hard against your thigh so close to your entrance.

"Chan I need you," you moaned in his ear as he left wet kisses across his neck.

Pushing your dress up his fingers went to your panties taking them off "where do you need me," he groaned. His finger went across your slit petting you lightly.

"Right there," you moaned body heating up from the petting. He pulled your hips so close to him "please chan," you hummed desperate him to fill you.

He gave a cheeky smile "no need to beg," his Australian accent deep and thick. He grabbed your leg hiking you up. Hooking your leg around his hip as he entered you. The feeling of him stretching you making you wince as you took him between your folds.

"Ah fuck," he cursed out his face twisting into pleasure. His nose scrunched up in pleasure as his hips rocked into you.

Pushing your head into the pillow you let out mews of pleasure as he gave gentle thrust. The closeness of him in you made your head twirl. "Harder," you panted feeling him almost hitting that sweet spot.  

You felt his hips pace start to pick up as he went deeper. "Ah," you moaned out feeling the tingle of an oncoming orgasm come. You pushed the feeling down trying to savor the feeling of the pleasure.

Looking up at Chan his mouth slightly slacked as he focused on his thrusts fuck he was handsome you thought. A vulnerable look of want and pleasure twisted on his face.

He looked down at you a small smile lit on his lips "you look hot on your back for me." His words made your stomach twist with want and love.

"May I," he hummed his fingers wrapping around your neck. Your stomach tingled with want something about choking made you excited.

"Please," you begged.

Wrapping his hand on the side of your throat made you lick your lip making your head dizzy. Honestly, you didn't know you had a choking kink until Chan introduced you to it.

"Thank you, daddy," you hummed loving the way he pressed lightly on your throat his thumb gently tracing your windpipe. His thrust hit hard as he tightens his hold restricting your breathing.  

"Your welcome baby," he said thrusting into you deeper. Lifting into him you enjoyed the way his body pressed into you.

"I'm close," you moaned out feeling him hit that spot over and over making your eyes roll back.

"Hold your breath baby," he said tightening his hold. His pace got faster as he chased his own orgasm small groans left his lips lovely. "Fuck," he moaned "You feel so good," you moan feeling the sudden warmth of his cum spurt out. The warmth of it pushed you over the edge.

Clutching your leg behind his back black and white spots filled your vision. Chan let out sensual groans as he came down from his high. His hand released your neck as he went to pet your hair. 

Shifting your leg you felt him pull out of you. You bite your lip smiling at the feeling of him pulling you close. 

“Fuck,” he moaned taking off his shirt laying on the silk sheets. You turned to him a grin on his face. 

Wrapping his arm around your midsection he curled up to you. “Chan you smell like sweat,” you whined at the smell. 

“You know you love it,” he grinned as you pushed your face into his curly hair. 

“Mmmhh,” you hummed feeling him pet your head as his fingers up and down your body. 

[svtxsoju]

02. morning glory fizz | dear miss soju

ღ Synopsis: College is hard. Love is even harder. Good thing the students of Mansae University can write in to Miss Soju, the campus’ very own romance advice columnist! The only problem is she’s never been in a relationship. Ever. There’s no telling what kind of chaos she may cause in the love lives of several of MU’s most eligible bachelors. Too bad no one knows who she really is! ღ Characters/Pairings: college AU! Seventeen & OC’s, Joshua x baking major!OC, and more TBA!  ღ Genre: Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life ღ Warning(s): Mentions of alcohol, suggestions of sex, language  ღ Word Count: 4.9k words  ღ Binu’s Note: a week late but better late than never i guess 😌 i’ve been avoiding tumblr to finish writing this, but i just kept getting distracted by choi seungcheol. hit that mf like button if you relate. i’m so excited for the special album y’all the teasers and concepts are so sadkfklsj i love seventeen

anyway, i apologize not only for the late update, BUT ALSO bc this chapter is also a lot of exposition again 😔🥺 i promise i’m done setting it all up and that some real shit will go down in the next chapter!! hopefully people will still be able to enjoy this chapter huhuhu 😭💗 if you’re reading this, i love u and i hope u have a good weekend!! 

《 ⊛ Author’s Note & Credits ⊛ Disclaimer ⊛ Masterlist ⊛ 》

《 Previous ⊛ Next 》

Having already completed the first half of her college career, Joohyun was well aware of the value of sleep. And yet, like most college students, she could never  seem to manage a decent sleeping schedule. She had only slept 2 hours when her alarm went off at 5:30AM. She groggily rolled out of bed, mentally cursing her past self for thinking that this was a good idea when clearly, the best idea at the moment was to snuggle back up under her covers and sleep in until afternoon. Only one of her eyes seemed capable of staying open as she pulled on her clothes and got ready for the day. When she suddenly heard the front door close behind her roommate, she cursed out loud, throwing her laptop into her bag before she rushed out the door. She half-wobbled, half-hopped along the second-story walkway while she tried to get her shoes all the way on.

“Bok Bongseon! Wait for me!” Joohyun called out in an aggressive whisper.

“HOLY SHIT! You scared me, Joo!” her roommate, a shorter girl with full cheeks and pouty lips, screamed at full volume. She clutched at her racing heart and leaned against the wall while she caught her breath. 

“Shut up, people are still sleeping!” Joohyun linked arms with Bongseon and dragged her down the steps leading to the street. It was still dark outside, but she could already hear the faint bustling of the mart located below their apartment. It was nice to know that they weren’t the only two people in Seoul insane enough to be awake at this hour. 

“I thought you were the ghost of my grandma, you bitch! You know she visits me in my dreams to tell me how disappointed she that I’m a baker,” Bongseon said indignantly, though she still cuddled closer to Joohyun when they were hit by the morning chill. Once they reached the street, they both headed towards the train station without having to say a word.  “What are you even doing up?” 

“I am simply accompanying my favorite roommate to work to make sure that she gets there safely,” Joohyun crooned sweetly, and made kissy faces at the girl, who in turn pinched Joohyun’s lips between her calloused fingers. She tried to protest but could only let out pained whines until she was mercifully released. “Ow!” 

“Sorry but I cannot fulfill your roommates to lovers, 12k slowburn fantasy,” Bongseon continued on nonchalantly as they climbed down the steps to the platform. “You had your chance, but I am a taken girl!”

“Oh, so you and Josh are together today?” Joohyun teased. Although it probably wasn’t the best idea, considering her lips were slightly throbbing from the girl’s attack. “I’ll just wait until tomorrow then.” 

“Wow, bold words coming from Miss Fish Lips.” Bongseon raised an eyebrow and smiled tauntingly. “Understandable, considering  that that was probably the most action your lips have gotten in your entire life. I could probably set it up on a blind date with my fist, if you’d like.” 

Joohyun’s laughter echoed off the walls of the mostly empty station, startling the only other person waiting for the morning train (an old woman, who was still half-asleep prior to being rudely awakened by two very loud girls). Bongseon often made some colorful threats, morning or not, but Joohyun was one of the very few people who could be assured that her words were empty. “Don’t you know that it’s rude to stare, lady?” she barked at the old woman, who was openly glaring at them. Everyone else, on the other hand, was subject to Bongseon’s sharp temper.

This even included her boyfriend of approximately 4 years. ‘Approximately’ being the key word, because the two often took breaks--  a natural phenomenon when one partner was easily provoked and the other loved to do the provoking. Jihoon had told Joohyun that the two had met at the cafe in their freshman year, when Bongseon came in as a part-time baker and Joshua was merely a barista trainee. They started dating within a month and moved into an apartment together in two. That went just as well as anyone would expect. By the grace of whatever entity that was chaotic enough to keep their relationship intact, they made it 7 months before nearly breaking things off for good. As luck would have it though, a new hire and his roommate were in the same exact predicament as them. Kind of. 

Joohyun shuddered to recall her freshman year when she and Jihoon somehow convinced themselves that it was a good idea to share an apartment. In principle it made sense; they had lived across the street from each other since they were in diapers. Two exhausting months into trying to irritate the other into breaking the lease first, they met Bongseon and Joshua when Jihoon started working at Smile Flower. It didn’t take long for Joohyun to suggest the switch— she would move in with Bongseon and Joshua with Woozi. Just like that, she saved both Bongseon and Joshua’s turbulent romance (temporarily) and her and Woozi’s fractured friendship (now thriving). 

She and Bongseon have been roommates ever since, and Joohyun knew her life was a little easier for it. 

“Joohyun, you better stop looking at me with those heart eyes before I really act up,” Bongseon warned. They had boarded the train, but hadn’t bothered to sit down since Mansae University station was only two stops away. 

“But I just love you so much,” Joohyun pouted, affectionately resting her head on her friend’s shoulder. “What does Joshua have that I don’t?” 

“A dick. And that’s about it.” 

“Damn you, heterosexuality!” 

Bongseon snorted out a laugh. “Seriously Joo, how are you awake right now? You’re only ever this lovey-dovey when you’re severely sleep deprived. I know you don’t have classes until 3PM today. You also don’t have your internship today,” Bongseon narrowed her eyes when Joohyun visibly tensed up at the mention of her current occupation. “Also, since when do you watch Youtube videos until 2am? And don’t think I didn’t notice that all of them were titled ‘Relationship Q&A’s’ and ‘I confessed to my crush and he said this!!!’. Got something to tell me, missy?” 

It was so quiet on the train that Joohyun worried that Bongseon could hear all the wires in her brain short-circuit. With Bongseon’s cross-examination skills, it was a wonder why she pursued baking instead of joining her family’s firm. Come on, Joohyun, just tell a white lie. Easy, simple. Don’t need to overcomplicate things. “Oh, uh I— um— well, I j-just thought they were entertaining?” She was done for. 

“Right. You thought random couples self-indulgently talking about their love lifes for 40 minutes with default iMovies effects were entertaining.”  

“Y-yes?” Joohyun threw in her most convincing smile for good measure, but it did nothing to soften Bongseon’s hard gaze. “It’s my new guilty pleasure, haha!”  

“Hm, interesting,” Bongseon was momentarily interrupted by the sound of the arrival bell. Joohyun eagerly pulled her friend towards the exit, hoping that the distance from the train could also get her further away from the topic. Unfortunately for her, Bongseon did not plan on dropping it so soon. “You sure you don’t want to tell me anything, Joo? About your internship?” 

Joohyun began to sweat. Was she really that transparent? “Okay, don’t get mad--”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m super jazzed that you’re getting into relationships and everything, but really Joo? Youtube? You could just talk to me if you need help talking to your new crush at your job!” 

“Oh.” Joohyun would have let out a sigh of relief if she wasn’t out of breath from climbing the mountain of stairs up to the sidewalk. “Right. Confessing. To my crush. That I definitely have.”

“It’s okay to admit you have one, Joo. I’m no  stranger to workplace romance,” Bongseon said, her breathing completely even. A measly flight of stairs was nothing compared to eight hours of kneading dough. “Who’s the lucky bastard, Joo?” 

“Well, I’m not sure I would call it a workplace romance, per se…” Joohyun laughed nervously. There was no way she could stick another clean landing if she kept talking. 

“Shut up, I bet that guy is in love with you already. Who wouldn’t fall for the only editing intern at The Front?” 

“Haha, I don’t know…” Probably no one, because the only editing intern at The Front doesn’t exist? 

Joohyun could not be more relieved to see the small store front of Smile Flower Cafe. It was one amongst the many cafes located near campus, but Joohyun felt like nothing really matched its comforting home-like ambience. But that probably had less to do with the soft wooden floors and pastel ceramic mugs, and more owed to the three years Joohyun had spent hanging around there, usually bothering Jihoon and joking around with Josh. 

The two boys already stood waiting at the cafe’s entrance, too bleary-eyed to notice Joohyun and Bongseon quickly approaching. “Hey, ugly!” Joohyun called out, snickering when both of them turned to look at her. 

“What the hell, why are you awake?” 

“Good morning to you too, Jihoon,” she answered, blowing him a kiss. “I’m actually here to see you, believe it or not. Don’t you feel special?”

“Oh? That’s interesting, because you told me that you came here for me,” Bongseon broke away from exchanging actual kisses with Joshua to look between Joohyun and Jihoon in a way that Joohyun did not like too much.  “I guess it wasn’t a workplace romance after all.” 

Joshua mirrored his girlfriend’s implicating expression as he unlocked the front door, simply because he knew it made his friends squirm. “Wow Joohyun, you woke up this early just to talk to Jihoon? You really couldn’t wait to see him, huh?” 

“Uh, yes because I need his help—”

“Ah, his help, gotcha! Come on, Bongseon, I’ll go help you in the kitchen while these two help each other out here,” Joshua snickered. Before Joohyun or Jihoon could roast the couple in retaliation, they had already disappeared behind the counter. 

After years of similar taunts, all Jihoon could do was shake his head. “Okay Joo, what is so important that you need my help at 6 in the morning?”

“I wrote my first response last night!” Joohyun whispered excitedly, taking out her laptop from her bag. “Well, a few hours ago. I wanted to show you before continuing on with the rest! Here, look.” 

① Dear Miss Soju, 

I just started my first year at MU and she’s an exchange student from New York. We met at a party and talked for two hours about comics, aliens, anything we could think of. It was perfect. She even asked me to walk her home. When the time came for me to make a move though, I kind of dropped the ball. Since we had just met that night, I didn’t want to come off too strong. Now I really regret it - I don’t even have her phone number. I feel like such an idiot! I can’t stop thinking about her, but I don’t even know if I’ll ever talk to her again. Did I make myself seem disinterested? Will we meet again? Will she even remember me?

Sincerely,

Big Cringy Idiot

She let Jihoon read the asker’s message first, then scrolled down to show her answer.

Dear Big Cringy Idiot,

You and your crush seem to have a lot in common. There is nothing wrong with being nervous around someone you like. In fact, it is fairly normal and is a good sign that you like this girl very much. She also seems open to any future possiblities, since she did ask you to take her home. You need not worry about coming off too strong in this situation, although I do admire your dedication to respecting women’s boundaries. I hope you are able to find this girl again so that you can truly tell her how you feel. Best of luck to you!

Sincerely,

Miss Soju

“Joo, that was…” 

“Poetic, beautiful, life-changing?” Joohyun grinned, and nudged her best friend with each suggestion.

“Boring. It was boring.” Joohyun’s face fell, and Jihoon could only offer the girl an apologetic smile. “Dude, you’re gonna put people to sleep if you keep it up like this. I almost took out a pillow to take a nap on the floor.”

“But this is how I write my articles— Informative and concise! How else am I supposed to write it?”

“I mean, that’s great for reporting articles, but this is an advice column. It’s supposed to be fun, sarcastic maybe. Like your promo piece! That was good.” 

“I wrote that as a joke, hoping they would fire me for it,” Joohyun admitted, eyes wide in panic as she looked at her best friend. 

“Huh. Well, I think it would sound better than this Wikipedia article you got going on,” Jihoon shrugged. “Try to be fun!”

“I am fun!” Joohyun cried out defensively, her nostrils flaring with passion. When Jihoon responded with a doubtful look, she let out a dramatic gasp and snatched up her laptop, stomping over to her favorite corner in the cafe. “I can be fun! I’ll show you fun!” 

 “Atta girl,” Jihoon’s signature cackle filled the cafe, further fueling the girl’s aggressive typing. 

Just another morning in the life of So Joohyun.

To the surprise of the cafe’s current occupants, a student already tapped at the glass entrance, clearly in desperate need of his morning americano. He had walked all the way from the freshman dorms after a restless night of tossing and turning. When his phone screen told him it was already 6:05AM, he decided to just give up on sleep altogether. So there he was, trying to start off his day right, at Smile Flower Cafe, only to be stopped at the door by the grumpy barista with the red hair. He always felt like the other one was way nicer, especially since he would go out of his way to sneak him free cookie samples and made pleasant small talk while ringing him up (what was his name? Jonathan?). 

  All the red-haired barista ever did was scowl at him when he asked for a student discount. Now, he scowled at him as he gestured at the sign that indicated that the cafe would not be open until 7AM. The fatigued freshman had half a mind to make some choice gestures of his own, but he refrained and just whipped out his phone instead. He gave the mean barista one last pout before turning around and walking towards the 24-hour convenience store on campus.

➠ [ to: vernonie 😌😎  ] Good morning king. Are you still on your shift ?

➠ [ from: vernonie 😌😎  ] gm seungkwan pls k*ll me 

Seungkwan took that as a yes. It didn’t take long for him to arrive, the entrance bell ringing lightly when he stepped into the small store. At the register sat his roommate, who was clearly fighting to keep his eyes open. “Wol-cuh ‘n—” he tried to greet through a wide-mouthed yawn. “Excuse me, welcome in! Oh, hey Seungkwan.”

Seungkwan answered with a grunt and headed straight for the refrigerated coffee section, choosing the largest can.

“Uh dude, you good? You look like—”

“Like I haven’t slept all night? I am aware,” He immediately opened his coffee and took a long gulp of the beverage in hopes of feeling even a little better. When it did nothing after 30 seconds, he frowned at the concerned cashier. “Vernon, I will not be paying for this drink, because it is clearly defective. Coffee is supposed to fix everything.” 

“Is this about your audition today?” Vernon asked, eyebrows furrowed. “Your monologue sounded really solid last night though. Your audition songs were great too. You totally got this in the bag!” 

“It’s not just about the audition, sweet Vernon,” Seungkwan sighed. “It’s about who I’m going to see at the audition. I still don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do.”

“Oh yeah, you are probably going to see them later.” For the past week, all Seungkwan could talk about was the theater tech sophomore that he had met at the theater department’s welcome party. They had sat beside Seungkwan and had helped him through all the fast-paced drinking games, and even took some of his shots when he kept losing. Surely, this was what love felt like.

That was what Seungkwan hoped anyway, because whatever it was made him feel all warm and tingly inside (or it could have just been the alcohol). Nevertheless, he had made big plans to confess to his crush as soon as possible. His dilemma for the past several days was merely a matter of how it would be done. “Not probably! I know for a fact that they will be there, because they told me that they couldn’t wait to see me,” Seungkwan let out a wail and slumped over the counter. “They’re the sweetest, most beautiful person to ever walk the earth and I just want to tell them that I would actually jump off a bridge for them. Why is that so difficult?” 

Vernon nodded sympathetically as he always did. “I mean, if you’re not ready today, maybe you could wait?”

“Wait?! No offense babe, but last time I checked, waiting didn’t get you anywhere,” Seungkwan said,  patting his roommate’s arm. Vernon cringed as he was forced to remember his own romantic blunder from the past week. “Clearly, we are both in major need of help. That Woozi guy’s show didn’t do anything for us! Also, we still haven’t heard from that Miss Soju character and it’s been what? Two days? If she’s such an expert, she would know that love is time sensitive!” 

“Ugh, I know. I keep refreshing The Front’s website just to see if she’s posted it yet.” Vernon sighed forlornly, which was a common punctuation to his sentences lately. “It’s getting me really antsy. What if she doesn’t even choose to answer our emails this time?” 

Seungkwan quickly covered the other freshman’s mouth. “Don’t say that! The universe manifests what we say will happen. We should ask for divine intervention instead.” He cleared his throat in preparation and threw his hands up to the sky. “O Eros, god of love, please shine your blessings down upon my and Vernonie’s love lives for we are but two humble, clueless freshmen in need of romantic guidance. Send down two of your swiftest, sharpest arrows, so that those that we desire may hear your soft whispers—”

Ding. The sound of the entrance bell rang once more, stopping Seungkwan’s prayer short, much to his irritation. “Is this a bad time?” the new customer, an ethereally handsome blonde, asked amusedly. He strode into the store and grabbed two spicy tuna triangle kimbab’s before approaching the counter. 

“Jeonghan hyung!” 

“Ah, Vernon!” Jeonghan smiled. “I didn’t know you worked here. You should come by my and Cheol’s apartment again soon, that was fun!”

“Hyung, this is my roommate that I told you about-- Seungkwan. And Seungkwan, this is Seungcheol hyung’s roommate,” Vernon said all while ringing up Jeonghan’s food. On the side, Seungkwan bowed sheepishly after unfreezing from his previous pose. “How’s your morning going? You wake up pretty early!” 

Jeonghan laughed heartily, shaking his head. “Oh no, I just finished an all-night stream. I just came by to get a snack before heading to bed. Seems like you two have been having a fun morning, though. Do you two always start your day off by praying to the ancient Greek god of desire?” 

Seungkwan flushed a deep pink. “Uh no, it was more like a cry of desperation. Vernon and I are having a pretty tough time confessing to our crushes, so I figured we should just try out anything that might help us. Nothing else seems to be working…” 

“Wait, that’s so cute,” Jeonghan cooed. 

“Would you be able to give us some advice, hyung?” Vernon asked. He didn’t know anything about the senior’s love life, but he did give off the vibe of someone who would know… a lot. 

Jeonghan’s eyes twinkled dangerously, a lazy smirk on his lips. “I mean, I could go talk to your little crushes for you, if you’d like. I’m sure I could get some sort of response out of them.”

One look at Jeonghan had Vernon and Seungkwan shaking their heads vehemently.

“No, we’re good.”

“Yeah, no thanks.” 

“Mm, good call.” Jeonghan took his food from the counter, and winked at the two boys. “I really wish I could help you both more, but I’m sure you’ll get what you’re waiting for soon! Today, if you want it enough.” 

There was something in the way that the senior stated those words that made Seungkwan believe him without a question. It wasn’t a naive suggestion or an optimistic prediction; Jeonghan spoke like it was the truth plainly written on the walls. He finally felt a long-awaited wave exhaustion wash over his anxieties, softening them until they fizzled away alongside the ebbing foam. All that was left behind were grains of sand. Suddenly, Seungkwan yawned,  and he wanted nothing more than to curl up in his twin bed at the dorms. 

“Well, I should be heading off to bed! Looks like you should be too, Seungkwan,” Jeonghan said, suppressing his own yawn. The freshman nodded in agreement. He definitely needed to rest up— this was going to be a big day, after all. 

“Say hi to Cheol hyung for me when you get home!” Vernon said. 

Jeonghan hummed thoughtfully as he made his way back to the entrance of the store. “I will if he’s there! He didn’t come home last night.” He turned to leave the boys with one last sleepy smile, seeming to laugh at something only he knew. 

“At least one of us is doing something right.” 

“Jihoon, why can’t I get this right?” 

“I’m sorry! This just sounds nothing like you,” Jihoon shrugged. It had been a rather busy morning, but things slowed down as it approached noon, giving him the chance to look at Joohyun’s fourth draft of responses.  “I’ve never heard you say stuff like ‘rad’ or ‘hella’... Like are you aware that you sound like a skater from the late 90’s?” 

“That’s because the reference I’ve been using is from 1997!” Joohyun huffed in frustration. She was already backspacing albeit with a little more force than necessary. “I wasn’t even born in ‘97!” 

“Exactly, so stop trying to write like that. What if you tried to—” 

“Eat my ass, Hong!” The sound of the kitchen door slamming open interrupted Jihoon’s (probably unhelpful) suggestion, and the two best friends watched as Bongseon stormed out of the cafe in a familiar rage. Luckily, there were no customers to witness it this time. 

Instinctively, they looked to the kitchen door, where Joshua stood with a resigned smile on his full lips. “Oops,” he said, scratching at the back of his neck apologetically. “Guess it was too soon to joke about our last break. Sorry about that, Jihoon. I’ll try to call in the head baker early to finish up the rest of the pastries for today.” 

He walked over to where they sat and plopped himself across from Joohyun. She offered Joshua a look of sympathy, but he responded by twisting his face up in a dumb expression, reassuring her that he was just fine. Still,  she couldn’t help feeling worried for both of her friends. No matter how many times Bongseon and Joshua broke it off and no matter how much Joohyun joked about it, she knew that their strong feelings for each other meant that it hurt a little every time they got into a fight. At least, that’s what she gathered from the various nights she spent soothing Bongseon while the girl cried into a toilet bowl, soju bottle still in hand. 

“It’s okay, Josh, you probably don’t have to worry too much. Knowing her, she’ll probably be back in 30 minutes to make up with you and then Jihoon will have to find someone to take over your shift,” Joohyun piped up. “But please take it back to your apartment this time, because I don’t make enough money to have every surface of my apartment sanitized again.” 

Joshua let out an easy laugh, as though he were not a man in deep shit. “Thank you, Joo. You always know what to say to make me feel better,” he sighed. “I should probably go after her. I’ll be back soon, Jihoon!” 

She waited for him to disappear out the door before turning to her best friend. “Wow, that’s gotta be a new record for them, right? I didn’t even know they got back together until this morning.” Joohyun was surprised to find that Jihoon had been silently staring at her for a good minute now. “...Why are you looking at me?” 

“What you said to Joshua,” Jihoon simply replied. 

“Oh, I was only joking about the sanitation thing. I just walked in on them once in the kitchen—“

“No I mean, how you said it. Maybe that’s how you should be writing your responses.” Jihoon grinned, watching as Joohyun gave him that look again, the one where she looks at him like he’s speaking from a third head. But he knew that this was going to be another Jihoon Genius moment, which seemed to be happening more frequently lately, much to his satisfaction. “Like you’re talking to one of your friends. I mean, it made Josh feel better, right?”

Joohyun’s eyebrows scrunched together and she mulled the idea over. Without another word to Jihoon, she began to slowly type on her laptop, gradually tapping faster and faster as she gained momentum. Her best friend giddily returned to his place behind the counter to tend to the customers that just walked in. He knew that once she got into a groove, there was no hope of stopping her. 

An hour later, Joohyun finally pushed away her laptop and waited for Jihoon to finish wiping down a table before calling him over. For some reason, she was anxious to show him the final product and even when he already sat besie her, she hesitated for a beat. Usually, her writing was professional and objective, always ending with a declarative period. She had spent years perfecting her reporting style so that when she presented the facts, that’s all they were. This, however, felt personal, like it was a part of her. And even though Jihoon probably knew her even better than herself sometimes, there was something so vulnerable about showing someone a side of her that she had only just discovered. 

And yet, she was curious to know— desperate to know: was it any good? 

“Well?” Joohyun watched for Jihoon’s reaction closely, both impatient and terrified to hear his thoughts. 

“Joohyun, this...” Jihoon started slowly. She braced for impact. “This is it. I think you’ve found Miss Soju’s voice.”

She exhaled. “R-really?”

“Yes, really. You answered the questions so thoughtfully, so you know it’s not just some generic bullshit you found on the internet. Plus, it was fun to read, like I think I’d read this even if I didn’t send a letter in,” Jihoon gushed, all while skimming over the words again. He turned to smile brightly at her, reminding Joohyun of a much younger Jihoon back in their elementary school days. “Most importantly though, it’s so you.”

Joohyun returned the smile, just as brightly. Warmth bloomed in her chest and across her cheeks. “Thanks, Jihoon, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Honestly, me neither,” Jihoon laughed.

“Um, can I ask you one more thing though?” Joohyun scrolled down to the last two entries, both of which asked for advice on how to make things official with a guy they’ve been talking to. The two letters were extremely similar in detail, but had been sent from two different emails and two different signatures. At first, she thought that maybe her judgement was muddled by her lack of sleep, and as the day went on, she figured her inability to recognize any nuance between the two letters was thanks her lack of experience. 

There was just something about the way they had described the boy. She knew that  intelligent, funny, kind-hearted, and unbelievably handsome were pretty generic adjectives. But what were the odds for both letters to also mention his infectious laugh and deep, dark eyes? “Do you think these two are from the same person? I’m trying to go for a confession theme for this article, so I included them both, but I’m afraid they’re too similar.” 

Jihoon read them over a couple of times, then shrugged. “They do sound pretty similar, but a lot of people go through that sort of thing. Also, so many people describe their crushes like that, but let’s be real, most of them end up being fuckboys. So trust me, both those people probably need your help. I mean, what’s the harm in publishing both, right?” 

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Joohyun bit her lip, needing every ounce of reassurance she could get from her best friend. She read over her writing once, twice, thrice more. This was it. No more edits and no more excuses. Her finger hovered over the mousepad. “Okay, I”m going to send it in for approval now. Jihoon, you are about to witness me publish my first article for The Front.” 

Joohyun took a deep breath and clicked. Finally.

[thejudgingtrash]

Virgin Percy and chad Annabeth omg

Here you go, love! :D Also kids feel free to stay away. It’s sfw/nothing explicit is going on, everyone is an adult but obviously there are small references about sex.

Let me swing that cliched trope, anon! :D also thank you again Torie @percyheartsannabeth ^^

Red Solo Cup (WC: 2.4k)

It didn’t come as a surprise to Percy that Annabeth rushed past him into his apartment and threw herself onto the sofa. She basically was at home at the Jackson’s and a more than welcome guest. “What happened?” Percy asked.

“Broke off with Ethan,” the blonde shrugged and grabbed his cherry coke. Another boyfriend that the college freshman dumped, another nonchalant reaction from his 19-year-old friend. Percy had learned early on not to ask Annabeth why her relationships didn’t work out. His best friend would rage into a monologue for hours and talk about every little detail. Every single one.

From the small size of a penis, to the number of warts her ex’s grandma had. Every detail. Percy had been burned more than once before.

“Well another one bites the dust,” the young woman said and turned her favorite show on. Percy had to admit. He was jealous. Whereas Annabeth was living her fullest and free as a bird with relationships and flings, he didn’t. Instead of hanging out with new friends, he stayed in and babysat his sister. His interactions were mostly limited to group chats. The Dominican rarely got out. Percy didn’t know whether it was social anxiety speaking or just an extreme case of introversion.

He looked okay, passable. According to some of Annabeth’s girlfriends he was cute and looked exotic, although he didn’t like that word. Having light eyes and a deep complexion shouldn’t count as looking exotic. Percy wasn’t built like his cousin Charles Beckendorf and he also didn’t have the charm of Annabeth’s ex Luke Castellan. Or the coolness of Annabeth’s latest fallen boyfriend Ethan Nakamura. But he was passable. More than fine. Not a huge slob, a great listener, an amazing cook and a great friend. So how come he never had a real relationship. How come that he never had been kissed, that he still remained a virgin to that day? Was his quietness that off putting? Percy just hoped that he wouldn’t join the crazy ranks of 40-year-old incels spewing their bullshit online and potentially harming people. He just wanted to find his soulmate he could cover in his baking goods.

“What’s going on?” asked Annabeth who was confused at his silence. Percy was usually way more talkative and would fight for the remote control because he hated watching her dramas.

“I don’t know. I’d really like to meet someone to talk to,” he confessed and didn’t dare to look her in the eyes.

“Huh? What do you mean? We’re talking right now.” She took another sip from his drink.

Percy rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant. I’d like to have a relationship. Explore crushes and love and all of that.”

Annabeth was surprised. She didn’t know that being single annoyed him that much. “Oh please. Relationships are overrated. Trust me.”

“It’s not just that. I haven’t got any experience.” Percy was a terrible flirter. Sweaty palms, accelerated heartbeat, and stuttering. Middle school and high school had been hell. “I haven’t even kissed someone and I’m nearly twenty!”

“So what? You’re making a deal out of this. It’s so weird and just not like you. That literally doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of life. Don’t force it. When you’re ready, you’re ready.” His friend shrugged. “Also, if I remember correctly, we have kissed before.”

A sloppy wet kiss that Percy buried deep into the darkest pits of his mind.

“Come on, Annabeth.” Percy rolled his eyes. He almost would have been offended if he hadn’t been so tired. “That was in ninth grade and part of truth or dare.”

Annabeth crossed her arms. “I still think that counts!” she disagreed.

Percy just sunk into the sofa and sighed. “Alright. How many people have I kissed that haven’t been you?”

Annabeth remained quiet. Percy had a point. He really didn’t go out to meet new people. Meet new friends or acquaintances. Meet someone who he could see as a date. The blonde felt uneasy and licked her lips. Her gaze rested on the young man next to her who had a sour expression on her face and continued watching Grey’s Anatomy against his wishes.

“Okay, Mr. I’d like a relationship. There’s a party next week at Reyna’s,” Annabeth started and caught his attention.

“You want to have some experiences? That’ll be the place to be and see what you’ve got. You’re in?”

Percy had to admit. He felt uneasy and nervous. But then he sealed his fate and nodded.

“Okay, let’s go to bed, I’m tired.” Annabeth and he sleeping in the same bed was a habit they had ever since they were nine and it never stopped.

The week passed. Seminars and classes had been attended and assignments were half way done. Friday evening was the time where everyone was finally letting loose. Percy was getting ready in his room.

Annabeth’s advice was a text she had sent an hour earlier which only said don’t show up naked, wear something comfortable. Not particularly helpful. He settled for a white dress shirt and dark jeans. Perhaps too much, perhaps too little. He wasn’t a party person so he wouldn’t know. It wasn’t much until he saw Annabeth in front of Reyna’s house where people were already drinking and laughing in front of it. She was speaking to a little group of people and seemingly cracked a joke as they began to laugh.

“Percy!” She waved him over. She looked good in her jeans and the dark crop top. Lose golden curls that rested on her shoulders. The group dissolved and entered the house.

Annabeth examined him. “You look good,” she smiled.

“Likewise.”

Annabeth’s mouth was agape. Then she laughed. “You really need a lesson in flirting. Let me be your teacher.” He’d rather not. Annabeth in hunting mode was something you only wanted to witness once.

As soon as they stepped into the house, they were greeted by clouds of weed, sweat and cheap alcohol. A brunette shadow walked up to them.

“Perseus! You made it!” Reyna hugged him and he stiffly hugged her back. Yes, he was that bad with people. Even people he had known for years.

“Hi Reyna,” he laughed. Reyna raised an eyebrow and looked at Annabeth. The native Puerto Rican thought that Percy would bounce like he always did.

“Reyna!” Thalia, Reyna’s girlfriend called for her.

“Okay, see you guys around.” Reyna excused herself.

Annabeth turned to Percy. “Alright. Let’s scout and watch out for some prey for you.”

“You’re making it sound like you’re Bear Grylls ready to fight for some survival shit.” Percy was weirded out. Party Annabeth was scary.

Annabeth laughed and slapped his shoulder. “That’s basically the spirit.”

He followed her into the living room which was full of drunkards shouting and grinding over the worst DJ Khaled remix that he has ever heard. Before Annabeth could talk about the plans she had in her mind for Percy, the fates had other intentions for them.

“Oh hey! Annabeth, right?” Some blond schmuck approached them. He looked like a trust fund baby that has never heard the word no in his life before.

“Octavian! Oh my god, it’s been a while!” They hugged and Percy felt incredibly awkward. Being the third wheel was not fun.

“Who’s that?” Octavian eyes the tall young man behind her.

“Oh, that’s just Percy, don’t mind him.” Ouch. That hurt.

“I’m going to get myself something to drink. You two have fun,” Percy decided. Annabeth waved and promptly forgot about him.

Percy fought his way to the kitchen. He had forgotten how rude drunk and high people could be, especially when they loved to block paths. As he entered the kitchen, he ran into someone. A young woman with auburn hair and a frown on her face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, are you okay?” He asked and helped her stand up right.

“Oh yeah. I’m just tired of this place. Why did I agree to come to this party?” she sighed and was glad that the cute stranger wasn’t part of the annoying drunk crowd.

“I feel you. I hate this,” he sighed. They both shared a smile and a laugh.

“Why did we agree to this?” she giggled.

“I guess we like to torture ourselves,” Percy chuckled. She was nice. Found an instant liking to her. “Percy,” he introduced himself.

“Call me Calypso,” she smiled. An instant connection had been made.

“Want to drink something? Non-alcoholic that is?” Percy proposed and hoped that his voice didn’t crack.

“Gladly,” she left and took his hand.

It dawned Annabeth slowly. She had forgotten something. Didn’t she come to this party with an intention? Not just drinking and dancing. But something else. The college student had been talking to Octavian, danced with him, talked a bit with his friends and now they were alone again. It was abundantly clear that he was interested in a short fling.

“Oh fuck,” she remembered what she had forgotten. Or more who she had forgotten. Percy. Where was he?

“Huh?” Octavian asked.

“I’ve got to check in on a friend, don’t move, I’ll be right back,” the blonde smiled and winked.

“Oh, alright.” Octavian said. He was trapped in Annabeth’s web. Just the way she liked it.

Annabeth looked out for Percy. She had seen her friends Piper, Clarisse, Hazel and Reyna again but none of them had seen him. Annabeth checked her phone. Apart from Instagram stories that had been shared frantically, no new messages. Percy was the type to text her immediately should he leave. Hell, he would have told her in person.

She reentered the living room with a frown on her face. Her gray eyes scanned the area and actually found his messy black haircut on the dancefloor fairly easy. Percy and dancing. A smile slipped onto Annabeth’s face. Then it dropped. Percy wasn’t working it in the middle of the room alone. He had his hands around the waist of a curvy small brunette. Percy had gotten his wish. The entire purpose of this operation was to meet someone new. And the way he threw his head back to laugh proved that he fairly enjoyed himself.

Annabeth felt a thing and that one thing only: boiling rage. Her feet acted immediately. She marched to the dancefloor and pushed everyone aside that had been in her way until she got to Percy and the mysterious girl at his side.

“Percy! There you are!” Annabeth said and threw herself onto him in a hug and broke his embrace with the stranger. Then she grabbed him and pulled him out of the crowd. Confused, the mystery girl followed them.

Percy was perplexed and looked down at Annabeth, who was behaving very oddly. That was not the usual chill Annabeth he knew. Percy looked to Calypso and saw the hurt in her eyes. Oh no, she must think we’re together, he thought.

“Uh, Calypso this is Annabeth, a friend of mine,” Percy explained and saw how the brunette visibly relaxed.

“Best friend you meant to say,” Annabeth corrected and stole his red solo cup. She had to admit that being reduced to a friend hurt her way too much. Her smile cracked at the taste of soda instead of a delicious liquor. She had forgotten that Percy was a non-drinker in the heat of the moment. She needed something that would wash her annoyance away. Annabeth shook hands with that Calypso girl.

“Calypso, like the dance?” she asked with a slightly condescending tone.

“Uh yeah, exactly. Like the dance.” Calypso said and raised an eyebrow as Annabeth got a hold of Percy’s arm.

Percy looked back to Annabeth and gently tried to pry her off. Her grip only tightened, and her fingernails dug into his skin.

“And what is this supposed to be?” Calypso asked and pointed at Annabeth who claimed Percy’s complete right side. She sounded annoyed.

“Nothing,” Annabeth innocently smiled. The cold harsh look in her eyes said something else.

“Um, Annabeth, weren’t you talking with that Octavian guy? Or what was his name?” Percy’s discomfort was clear, and Annabeth ignored the hint.

“Oh yes, but I’d rather spend my time with you!” she grinned and didn’t let go of him.

“Sorry girlie but it’s clear that you’re ruining our moment.” Calypso’s hand waved between her and Percy.

“What moment? Am I not allowed to hang out with my best friend?” The irritation in Annabeth’s voice rose. Percy and Calypso looked at her in shock.

“If he’s your best friend, then I’m pretty sure that you’ll see enough of him? Just leave.” Calypso rolled her eyes.

“What if I don’t want to?” Annabeth innocently pouted and tilted her head. “Percy’s always there for me which is what I want right now. Sorry Calypso. We’re having a moment right now.”

Calypso’s mouth pressed into a thin line. Annabeth enjoyed seeing her frustration rise up.

“Alright, listen Annabeth normally I wouldn’t say this but you-” Calypso’s eyes widened. Annabeth had turned Percy’s head to herself and pressed a kiss onto his lips.

Percy’s eyes widened before they automatically shut down. Annabeth was an excellent kisser and her soft lips felt like a dream. Percy had to admit that he enjoyed the kiss. He enjoyed it way too much. Then he broke it off. Shock was written on his face and his eyes wandered from the all too pleased Annabeth to a speechless and hurt Calypso.

“I can’t believe it.” Calypso shook her head, turned around and left.

Annabeth smiled a victorious grin. Then she looked up to Percy and saw him for the first time. Not as a friend, but as a handsome guy that she happened to know all too well. His sea green eyes scanned her face and his lips were slightly parted.

“Annabeth, what in the fuck was that-” Annabeth cut him off with yet another kiss that she deepened. This time Percy didn’t break the kiss off. He held her tight and touched her warm back. He felt her grinning between the kisses.

“Come with me.” Annabeth said. She didn’t give him a choice. She took his hand and dragged him out of the building. Party be damned, they could celebrate at home amongst other activities. Alone.

“What are you doing? Where are we going?” Percy asked.

“Oh,” she said and turned around to look him in the eyes. “I’m just making sure that no one else is bothering you.”

The End

Tbh, I don’t mind me some hot girl Annabeth... Thanks again for the suggestion, anon!

All Cookout Fics

Cute/Cursed Cookout Writing Prompts

[alarawriting]

Writeober #4: Loud

The children were playing. It was toy hour, so they had out Legos, and dolls, and wooden trains, all that sort of thing. Quiet, by the standards of an orphanage. A couple of Eights were reading, an activity they preferred to playing with toys. Children’s babble filled the air, but not the shrieks they made when they played outside.

And then Jayden started screaming, almost painfully loudly. “I want my mommy! I want my mommy!”

Laurie ran to him and gathered him into her arms. “Oh, Jayden, I know,” she said, rocking him. “I know, honey, I know. But she’s not here.”

Jayden was a Four who had just been surrendered a few weeks ago. “Where is she? I want to see her! I want my mommy!” He thrashed in Laurie’s arms, but the limiter prevented him from exerting any more strength than a normal four-year-old child.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry. But this is your home now, and any day now, a new mommy or daddy might come through that door and see you and say ‘What a beautiful, wonderful little boy! We want him for our own little boy!’ and take you to a new home with them, and they’ll be your mommy or daddy.”

“I don’t want a new mommy! I’ll kick the new mommy!” Jayden howled. “I want my mommy!”

“I know, sweetie,” Laurie said, sadly. It was all she could say. It was all she could say to any of them.

Several others started crying for their own mommies and daddies. Basil, who’d been in the back working on the finances, came out to help, and the other childcare workers moved around the playroom, soothing children. In her mind, Laurie damned to hell the men and women who’d abandoned these children. How could they do that? How could anyone do that to a child?

But humans weren’t designed to have children who never aged, who lived 40-50 years and grew more knowledgeable but never substantially more mature. Laurie loved the Calvin children desperately, and wanted to save all of them, and if she had been queen of the world she would have made their continued manufacture illegal and had everyone involved in creating and marketing them arrested. There shouldn’t be any more Calvin children coming into the world; it was far too terrible a place for them.

At that, it was better than it had been when Laurie was younger. In her freshman year at college, her roommate Kathy had recruited her in a panic to help her save her little brother, an Eight. Like most families who bought them, Kathy’s had gotten a Calvin child when they’d had no children of their own, but then Kathy’s dad had undergone an experimental fertility treatment, and for him, it had worked. Turned out down the road to cause prostate and testicular cancer, but he’d managed to get his wife pregnant with a healthy baby.

Kathy’s brother had fallen in love with the new baby, playing with her and cooing at her and taking care of her, even learning to change diapers and feed her a bottle. So her parents had kept him, for the help he gave them with her. By the time Kathy was old enough that they didn’t need him to watch her anymore, she’d been so attached to him they hadn’t been able to get rid of him. He’d been Kathy’s older brother that she looked up to, and then her peer that she played with, and then the little brother she protected.

In those days the Calvin Corporation had only leased Calvin Children; you couldn’t buy them. It was intended as a measure to protect the children from abuse, but it almost guaranteed that if parents had their own child, or grew tired of a child who never aged, or were tight on money and needed to cut costs, they would stop leasing, returning the Calvin child to the corporation… where their memories would be wiped, and they’d either be sent on to a new home, or destroyed if they couldn’t be leased. So Kathy’s parents had waited until she was out of the house, at college, and then returned her brother to the corporation. If her brother hadn’t been a model with an internal cell phone antenna, and been able to call Kathy for help, she’d have lost him forever.

As it was, Kathy and Laurie and Basil had had to drive five hundred miles and jump through flaming hoops to get little David back before the mindwipe. As college students without money, they didn’t have the funds to lease him; Kathy pretended to be her mom, got the contract re-activated, and then Basil jailbroke David, replacing his internal antenna with a new one that wouldn’t report his whereabouts to the Calvin Corporation, allowing them to effectively “steal” him. And even then, he’d had to dye his hair, alter his skin tone, and wear glasses he didn’t need and put a thick sole insert in one of his shoes to throw off his gait so recognition software couldn’t find him.

It hadn’t been until ten years later that Kathy, Laurie, Basil and their friends had won the court case that made it possible to purchase Calvin children outright, and with depreciation, and Kathy working at a law firm, and Basil’s IT job, they’d had the funds to buy him, so he’d be safe. He lived with Kathy and Kathy’s girlfriend Imani, and took care of his niece and nephew when Kathy and Imani were at work. They were currently three and five. David was an Eight. Eventually they’d catch up to him and go past him, again, but Kathy owned him outright and loved him tremendously. He was a happy Eight.

The world was full of Calvin children who were not happy.

Parents leased-to-own their children because that was the model Calvin Corporation was currently pushing, with the court order that required them to make full ownership not only available but affordable to their customers. And then, either they had a biological child – most men in the developed world weren’t fertile, but there were plenty of men from all around the world who still had sperm and were selling it, and many men would eventually give in and agree to let their wives buy some so she could have a bio-child at least – or they simply grew tired of a child that never aged. Calvin Children ranged in age from Threes to Tens, but whatever they were, they would be that forever… or at least until their internal battery ran down and their bodies wore out.

(Once, Laurie had gone to visit a brand new care home, for Calvin Children dying of old age. She had never been back. As heartbreaking as it was to deal with children who’d been abandoned by their parents, it was so, so much worse to see those children dealing with their own growing exhaustion and slow decline into death.)

And now, there was a new model of Calvin Child, who could grow older. Their brains were modular, and could be removed from their bodies and put into a new body a year older, every year, updating their firmware in the process to grow more mature – which was costly, but many people were willing to pay. Even if they needed to skip some years, they wanted a child who could grow to adulthood, to take over the family business or help work on a farm or go to college and make something of themselves. No one knew what would happen to the legal framework that allowed people to own Calvin Children once they were “adults”; the fact that Calvin children were chattel didn’t usually conflict with people’s understanding of what adults were allowed to do to their own children. You weren’t allowed to abuse a Calvin child any more than a “real” child, and in general parents of “real” children were allowed to do anything to them that wasn’t abusive.

The only thing you were allowed to do with a Calvin child that you couldn’t do with an organic child was abandon them. People who couldn’t or wouldn’t take care of their Calvin child anymore could return them to the corporation, who would still mind-wipe them and resell them, or, if the thought of their child forgetting everything about them didn’t sit well and they didn’t want to take the risk that the corporation would decide their child was too worn out to resell as used and destroy it, they surrendered them at homes like the one Laurie and Basil ran, where Calvin children would be cared for until an adoptive parent could be found.

Before the new models came out, it wasn’t hard to find adoptive parents. Laurie and Basil charged a pittance for an adoptee, not even enough to cover their costs, mostly because people took better care of things they’d paid for than things that were free. Plenty of people who wanted a Calvin child were happy to give a home to a used one for far less than they’d have paid for a new child, or a used one from Calvin Corp directly. But now that the new models were out… everyone who wanted a Calvin child wanted the kind who could grow up. Laurie had, in desperation, waived the fee, to get someone, anyone in the door to love these children, but no one who could pass the background check had done so in a month.

It burned that she felt like she was lying to Jayden, that maybe there wouldn’t be a new parent for him, that there almost certainly wouldn’t be one in a little while like she was saying. But Jayden was a Four. He wouldn’t understand or appreciate brutal honesty; he needed hope to keep him going. Laurie wasn’t going to lie to him and pretend the mother he remembered, the one he’d spent six years with since his original purchase, would ever come back. But she would try to make him happy, or at least content, to bide his time here until a parent came for him… even if one never did.

Jayden’s sobs wound down. Older children, Eights and Nines and Tens, programmed with an incredibly powerful drive to care for and protect younger children, had reached out to the little ones that Jayden’s outburst had set off, and soothed them, despite their own hearts breaking because their own parents had abandoned them, and they were old enough to know their own parents were never coming back.

“How come she left me here?” Jayden asked, no longer crying, but the streaks of tears still all over his face. They cried, they ate, they pooped, they slept; in all regards but one, Calvin children were virtually indistinguishable from organic children. But it was that one regard – the fact that they’d never grow up – that caused all the problems. “Was I bad?”

“Oh, no, Jayden. You’re a wonderful little boy. It was nothing you did, okay? Nothing you did or could ever do. Your mommy just ran out of money and she couldn’t take care of you anymore.” This was a lie. Jayden’s mother had just been sick of having a four-year-old child for six years. Laurie would never tell any of the children something like that, though.

“I miss her.”

“I know you do. And I know that even if you get a new mommy or daddy to love you and take care of you, you’ll never forget your first mommy, and you’ll always miss her. But there will be a new mommy or daddy someday, and they will love you even more than your first mommy did.” Laurie made prospective parents watch videos of children having meltdowns like Jayden just did, sobbing and begging for their parents to come back, and then impressed on them that this was a lifelong commitment. You were signing on to take care of a Calvin child until you died or they did. Parents who expressed horror or pity or empathic pain for the abandoned children were much more likely to go home with a new member of the family than parents who seemed to shrug it off. Laurie wanted these children to find new homes, but she wanted them to be forever homes, with parents who would never abandon them again.

Laurie stood up. “Now, I think it’s snacktime, kids. Who wants a snack?”

“Me! Me! I want a snack!” children who’d been crying five minutes earlier chorused.  

“All right! Everyone take your seats!”

Children were resilient. Even Calvin children. If she couldn’t give them their own mothers, Laurie would be the best mother figure to them she could be. She’d adopt them herself, but there were so many children who needed help, and a mother with too many children was no different from a child care worker in the attention and love she could give each one. Better to be the mother figure of the orphanage and take care of all of them as best she could.

[tristanis-starweaver]

Generations...

Note: A lot of this is my own personal ideas, head canon and guesses. You're more than welcome to take and use some of it!

A lot of us toss out the fact that we know ninety percent of the Quel'dorei population was killed by the scourge, but what effects does that have on a person, a smaller community, not just the nation as a whole. It's something I've wondered ever since I made Tristanis. 

The age old question

You have to start with age first. A lot of sources, the RPG in particular, say that Quel/Sin'dorei hit adulthood at 60-100 years. One one hand can you imagine the "Terrible Twos" lasting for years, maybe even half a decade?

Being an adult is more than just physical maturity. We know that their lifespans can reach several thousand years. How does that affect how you look at maturity, and even time itself when a decade or three following some pursuit can look like a summer vacation laying around. 

This is how I've always approached elven aging. Birth to 40 is physical growth roughly analogous to birth to 18 in human terms. At 20 they start puberty (roughly 13 Human years) and at 40 they are physically pushing into being a young adult. Once that threshold is passed aging becomes a slow process. Forty to death physical aging just seems to stop from a human perspective but slowly crawls on as they live out millennia of life. 

So what about that range from 40 to 70-100? They are physically mature but not an adult in their culture. It's the "freshman in college" years. Decades of hard study or training for some, traveling for others. The time when some find themselves and try out new ideas and experiment with who and what they will become. A time for them to question who they are before they set down the paths of their life. 

"There taking the summer off to find themselves." or "They are spending the year traveling the country" suddenly becomes "Oh, they are just spending the next three decades under a master craftsperson." Time takes on a whole new meaning when you look at a decade as your summer off. Conversely, an elf would not look at months of study and even consider that scratching the surface of a subject. 

But within that range between being physically mature and considered an adult you have the pressures of elven culture to be superior, but not the expectation to be fully capable. But that is a society view, not an individual view. A specific master would push their students to be perfect at every turn. Even knowing that they will not be. Practicing over and over, year after year until perfection was a habit. After all, what's another decade consumed by a young elf.

The Lost Generation

The Scourge changed all that. 

Think of a stadium filled with 50,000 Sin'dorei. Suddenly only 5000 remain barely able to fill one section. A good 500 of the remaining of the strongest left to follow the prince, with only a few fraction of that returning. If you're lucky you're in a set that has your friends still near it. If not, the nearest elf could be dozens of seats away. It wasn't life that was lost but culture too.

Let's look at a real world example. Roman Concrete. Developed and known by artisans of the empire. Somewhere around 200-300 the knowledge was mostly lost. Not completely, but it took centuries to understand why it was as effective as it was. Trade secrets, and competition helped to push that knowledge away and be lost as the western empire fell. What would happen if 90% of teachers, doctors, scientists, researchers, builders, construction builders, baristas, students, politicians, administrators,... (and so on) were gone after an invasion. How much knowledge held close to the chest by jealous rivals would be gone forever? How many stonemason techniques that had only been half learned would become the norm? How many teachers, now forced to be experts in their fields when they were not fully understanding all they needed to grasp. 

Imagine being a student, and having to go to teacher to teacher. Teachers who were overwhelmed with limited resources and had to pick and choose who they would teach. Elven culture would color their choices. They would choose the best and the brightest in their mind. Ones that could learn the best from them. They could only teach so many and there would be so many that would fall to the wayside. Untapped potential pushed back by both limited teachers, and elven ways of viewing things. 

Entire trades would be obliterated as the knowledge to effectively run them would have been lost. Higher ranking socialites having to 'lower' themselves to doing menial tasks because there was simply no one else to do them. A lord who had never cooked in their life having to learn to manage a house. Others having to make the very real decisions of continuing to battle for the Horde, or having a family. Having children would be a civic responsibility. Young ones who's entire lineage was eradicated, taken into houses where they had no place or purpose. 

The soul of the people may be strong, but the culture would be hard pressed to survive. It would weigh hard on those that have no remembrance of that culture. Those that were viewed as children, yet grown. Thrust into places they were not ready to stan, but forced to.

Diverging paths

Imagine you're in that idealistic generation. Mature, but not yet fully adult. The only thing you know your whole life is that there's been war always at the edges of things. Your uncle lost to the invading monsters in the first war. Heard stories of ships limping back to Sunsail Anchorage in the second. Then your friends and family. Everything that made you, you to the scourge. You're still alive, but in a world where you try to learn and get turned down at every chance. You are called Lord but you're not part of that society. You hear calls to "Remember the sunwell." But you never even made a pilgrimage to it before it was corrupted and reclaimed.

You're told to act more like an elf, but all you've seen is people clamoring over the remains of what was left. You don't remember what it was like in the glory days as you were not even born yet, or too young to have memories of it. You read of heroics others lived in the past, but look up to see broken remnants just left over. Older elves balk at the way you act and dress or carry yourself, but you have never known how to act any different. You have friends that accept you, Goblins, Trolls, Tauren. Yet elders would be mystified as to why you would even consider them equals. 

Like many your age, that idealism needs to have something to grab on to. Is it the horde and its ways? Do you begin to resent Silvermoon and all it stood for as you gravitate further into a culture of mixed beliefs.  Does a faction within your own people call to you? A faction that might not be eye to eye with those in power now, but that drive to be part of something drives you headlong into it. Do you look at the death and see that things are at an end? Looking to other outlets and other ways of power since you are ignored. The void won't ignore you. That idealism sending you in many ways further from what it was to be Sin'Dorei to what you believe it should be. A unified culture, fracturing. 

The scar is not just a tear through Quel'thalas. It's a tear into the soul of every one of her people.

Growing young ones, not ready to be adults, forced into stations they needed to fill.

What does it mean to be Sin'dorei when you do not know how.

[polygarnstars]

part 1: 4, 12, 15, 18, and 19

If you think I’m going to have common sense and not answer all of these in a single post, I have Bad News lmao

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you? Smart, mostly. “Gifted”. This very much Did Not Last lmaoooo

12. name of your favorite playlist? I literally never make playlists I’m a stupid fuck who uses their spotify premium to skip freely through all my thousands of liked songs on shuffle until I find something I want to listen to lmaooooo (Having said that: Rey and I put together a playlist for some characters we were entering a contest to win last fall which I titled Story and Song after the TAZ arc and also because we wrote Way Too Much for it and I’m Very Proud Of That)

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment? Okay upon reading this I initially genuinely couldn’t remember any of the books I read in school because for the last several years of my schooling I just fuckin Sparknotes and TV Tropes-ed everything lmao... having said that, I do remember enjoying Maus! It was neat having a graphic novel assigned amongst all the “literary classics” that I couldn’t sit through a sitting of without falling asleep, and it may be the furry in me but the depiction of the characters/people as animals was Good :0c See, if all history was depicted with methods like this, I’d maybe actually be able to remember it ghfdjhgjfkdl

18. ideal weather? Depends on the day, but generally: Between like 65-80°F, not humid, not a lot of wind, and either sunny, partly cloudy, or drizzly but not outright storming. Basically decent temperatures without feeling like I’m walking through soup because of the humidity and weather that’s not completely gray and boring. Aka what Maine basically never is lmaoooo

19. sleeping position? I change positions every five minutes I swear to god (don’t take that out of context gfhdjbhvjd). Usually with at least one arm draped over a pillow that is Definitely Not Being Mentally Portrayed As A Character I Like To Supplement The Fact That I Did Not Get Enough Affection To Be A Functional Adult As A Child ghfdjknbhgfjdk

21. obsession from childhood? bold of you to assume i don’t still obsess over nintendo games (and just video games in general tbh)

23. strange habits? OKAY I COULDN’T THINK OF ANYTHING FOR THIS AT FIRST BUT I HAVE ONE NOW: MIDNIGHT FRIES

28. five songs to describe you? Speeding - LightsDaydreaming - ParamoreMusic - Mystery SkullsNo Lullaby - SIAMÉSLonely Dance - Set If Off+Bonus because it came up on Spotify while I was shuffling for songs for this and it’s a Mood: Pineapples Do Not Belong on a Pizza - Vargskelethor

29. best way to bond with you? I don’t know I usually just scream about ocs or video games with people and suddenly it’s been a year??? @riskreyes how has it been a year since we started talking but also how has it only been a year??? Wild bvhfdjkbhvgfjdk

30. places that you find sacred? Lmao I’ve never had anywhere like that really. Need a goddamn lock on my door :p I guess... the woods by my house? As a little kid before things got shitty my neighbor’s cousin or niece or something would go out there wandering around catching frogs and stuff in the spring or almost falling into the frozen streams during winter. When things started to go to shit in my life as a teenager I would hide out there to get away and nobody would find me. I haven’t been recently but the last time I did my friend and I walked along the train tracks and dove off into the woods by the side to avoid the amtrak coming by, it was great lmao. Uhh, other than that... I dunno, Boston and New York and New London all make me feel good to visit. Probably mostly because during those trips I don’t feel trapped in a dying land like Maine feels like bgvhfdjkhvgfjd

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names? ......my entire wardrobe is my work outfit, excessive graphic tees, and jeans. So uhh... I dunno. I guess my NWTB shirts are pretty rad, I’d kick a dude’s ass wearing Nate’s merch

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head? if i have to see another ad for some fuckin branch of the us military while i’m just out here trying to watch people play video games i swear to god-

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school? Oh boy I don’t know how weird these are but do you want a list??? I can give you a list hang on- In 4th grade we had a day of class where we all just had a party and ate chips and salsa and stuff because the pats won the super bowl and our teacher was Obsessed- In middle school my math class started working out of college textbooks, which is a bit much when you’re 11, advanced classes or no. Yet somehow none of the other students had any problems with this- Also in middle school, the school counselor really wasn’t very Good at his job so I usually just ended up playing Rock Band in his office instead of talking out any of my Many, Many Problems. I played the drums, for the record- Also in middle school, one time I straight up fell down a flight of stairs? Like, a full flight of stairs. Fuckin somersaulting down the stairs. The binder I was carrying broke open, papers went everywhere, my arm got cut open somewhere along the way and started bleeding. I get to the bottom, the other students are staring at me in horror, aforementioned counselor fuckin steps out of his office which is, of course, right at the bottom of the stairs, all concerned because what the fuck a kid just fell down the stairs, right? And so I, laying on the floor disoriented and laughing, declare, and I quote: “That was fun, let’s do it again!”- THE MOTHERFUCKING MAC AND CHEESE MUFFINS IN HIGH SCHOOL. Macaroni and cheese baked into the sweet batter of a muffin. I refused to touch the stuff but a friend of my did and it was bad enough he had to go to the trash can and fucking empty his stomach in it.- SAID FRIEND ALSO MANAGED TO GET A CARTON OF MILK THAT EXPIRED A MONTH BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED AT THE START OF ONE OF OUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL and if I didn’t trust cafeteria food before that sealed the deal on me Never Trusting It Again- OH BUT SPEAKING OF CAFETERIA FOOD one time in the old school before the renovation, in like freshman year I think? I laughed so hard a piece of spicy chicken strip flew up my windpipe and got stuck in my nose and it was too big for me to snort out so I had to suck it back down and for the rest of the day all I could smell was burning- ON ANOTHER FOOD RELATED TOPIC down in the library I was on my iPad and 3DS because I had Long Since Given Up On School and some asshole dudes threw a rotting orange at me and it splattered all over the screens of both? So I picked up the remains and chucked it back at them and yelled “Do you wanna fucking NOT?” and they all ran off. The librarian heard me yell and saw me throw the orange back at them and she just didn’t give a fuck lmao- The librarians at my school were cool as shit really during one of our years we had to do x hours of volunteer work so I did some adjustments to the library catalogue for mine but the thing is I was fast enough at it that there really wasn’t enough to fill up my required hours so instead of giving me more to do they just sort of let me and my friends hang out playing Yu-Gi-Oh and called that good lmao. (For the record I only had one starter deck so I let my friend pick half of the cards and I would use the half she didn’t want. I managed to fuckin WRECK her with throwaways it was Iconicque)- OKAY ONE LAST LIBRARY STORY on the last day of finals I was hanging out in one of the smart tv rooms in the library right? My last finals weren’t for a few hours and lord knows I wasn’t gonna study, ADHD ass couldn’t do that and I’d already given up on school lmao. So I fucking... I brought my Wii U to school, hooked it up to the smart tv, and just started playing Splatoon there in the library. One of the librarians walked past to check on everyone, stopped at my room, watched me play for a minute (I noticed her and just sort of nodded and waved like ‘Sup’ so she Knew what was going on), and then just LEFT. Like, she didn’t give a fuck. Shoutout to the librarians, the Chillest- ALRIGHT LAST STORY LAST STORY I straight up never got all the credits I needed to graduate lmao. I was missing half a credit but they let me go anyway and to this day I cite the reason as being my high scores on the SAT/PSAT? I was the first student at the school in like, a decade, to have gotten an award from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for my performance on them, and I guess they must have thought that me failing to graduate on time would look bad on them because, uh, yeah, it would, if people found out their teachers couldn’t handle a ~smart kid~ to the point that they did poorly enough to not even graduate with the rest of their class nobody would be willing to send their kids there lmao. And that’s the story of how I graduated when I wasn’t technically supposed to!!!

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have? That’s a good fuckin question hey shit memory what was that thing that made us laugh so hard we couldn’t breathe again?...Don’t remember? Yeah I thought so lmaoI dunno, probably a joke in some let’s play? Or... god. Now that I think about it was probably the Slicer of T’pire Weir Isles moment actually. Holy shit, that was good.

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried? That I’ve ever tried? Jesus, I dunno, I have issues with texture more than flavor. I Refuse to eat my mother’s stuffing because it’s literally just soggy ass bread. In terms of pure flavor alone? Her shepherds pie. It’s just... there is no flavor. It’s like eating cardboard. I’m begging you, De, use seasoning. If I ever have to eat shepherds pie that just tastes like tin from canned peas and vague hints of unseasoned beef again I’m going to go on a murderous rampage.That said? F in the chat to Cameron for that mac and cheese muffin. Rest in pieces

73. favorite weird flavor combo? GVFHDJBVDN JUST GONNA MAKE ME SHARE THE DILL PICKLE/CHOCOLATE PUDDING PACK COMBO FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE HUH

93. nicknames? Gar, Garn, Lane, Bill, Master, Pants, Shortpants. The first three are self-explanatory, first two are shortenings of my name and then my masc/surname. The latter four come from usernames of mine - Bill from Bill Ciforce (If you stack a Bill Cipher on top of two other Bill Ciphers, you get the Ciforce), Master, Pants, and Shortpants from MasterShortpants in reference to one of Link’s nicknames in Skyward Sword

95. favorite app on your phone? Does the internet app count? No? Lmao. Spotify I guess :p Need me some Tunes

[mdpthatsme]

50 OC Questions

I was tagged by @astraeanevermore over on newTumbl so I’ll post here too.

This time, let’s do our girl Dahlila Zarren:

01. How old is your sim? 22

02. When is your sim’s birthday? October 5th

03. What is your sim’s zodiac sign? Libra

04. What is your sim’s ethnicity? Half sorceress, half Shade elf

05. Does your sim have any nicknames? Her dad calls her Lila. Latimere calls her Dah.

06. Do they have a job? She is a student right now, but is working to become a private investigator.

07. Where does your sim live? Misplaced Stream

08. Who does your sim live with? Her twin sister, Delania.

09. What environment did your sim grow up in? (strict, loving, cold etc.) Loving, but strict too, depending on which parent is in charge.

10. What is your sim’s favorite food? Chinese food, specifically sweet-n-sour chicken.

11. What is your sim’s favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

12. If they have one what is your sim’s favorite color? Between black, green, turquoise, and purple.

13. Does your sim believe in any clichés? (love at first sight, etc.) Leave no stone unturned.

14. What is your sim’s sexuality? bi-curious

15. What is your sim’s gender identity? Female

16. Is your sim type a or type b? Type A

17. Is your sim introverted or extroverted? I think she is in-between, but if I have to choose more extroverted.

18. What is your sim’s favorite woohoo position? Cowgirl

19. Is your sim a pet person? If so what is their favorite animal? She has a dog named Anubis

20. Does your sim have a best friend? Austin McCarren and her sister.

21. What is/was your sim’s favorite school subject? Band/music

22. Is/was your sim a high, mid or low achiever in school? Low, in high school. After her freshman year in college, she started to get more serious about her future.

23. Are they planning to go or have they already been to college? If so, what would be or what was their major? She is working towards degrees in supernatural studies and criminal justice. 24. What are your sim’s political beliefs? Pro-supernatural

25. What is one thing your sim wants to do before they die? She wants to visit Arda and see where her father grew up.

26. Does your sim have a favorite TV show (cable) and/or movie? Supernatural is her favorite show and she has watched Cloud Atlas on repeat.

27. Is your sim a Netflix viewer? Binge watching weekend?

28. Does your sim like books? She never liked reading until she started visiting Greenbrooke Estates, where Latimere inspired her to start reading.

29. Does your sim enjoy video games, if so what is their favorite one and do they play on PC or console? Any fantasy role playing game where she can beat up a tough guy.

30. What is your sim’s personal style? punk rock, leather, studs, and plaid.

31. Does your sim have a lucky charm? Her father’s necklace.

32. Is your sim religious? She is partial to the Ardan goddesses, particularly Alumpius as her grandmother was the former high priestess.

33. What kind of music does your sim listen to and who is their favorite artist? Mostly rock, but she won’t she away from good techno or pop. 3 Days Grace and Imagine Dragons can always be found on her playlist.

34. Is your sim a festive person? If so what’s their favorite holiday? She likes Halloween, but is not particularly a festive person.

35. What is your sim’s favorite type of weather? Winter, she likes layers.

36. Does your sim prefer to start fights or finish them? Both, both is good?

37. Does your sim have a dream job? She never really had one besides that she wanted to do something in the preternatural community. Now she works hard to become a private detective.

38. Does your sim have any siblings? The one and only twin sister, Delania, but she does claim Samuel Steel and Austin McCarren as her adoptive brothers.

39. Does your sim get along with their family? When they get along with her, more likely.

40. What is your sim’s favorite hobby? She used to write music as a teenager, then lyrical work. But her most prominent hobby of late would be photography.

41. What does your sim look for in a romantic partner? She doesn’t really look for anything particular, besides having a good time.

42. What is a secret about your sim? She actually envies Delania a lot.

43. What is a wish your sim has? That she can get to know her grandfather, Gregoral.

44. What is a flaw your sim has? Many, where to begin. But I suppose most often, she’s her own worst enemy.

45. How do others generally perceive your sim? Depends on the person really. She’s very gutsy and aggressive, but some might just describe her as fun and outspoken.

46. Does your sim have a greatest achievement? Not yet, but she hopes that graduating college will be up there.

47. If they have one, what is your sim’s greatest regret? Everything with her friend Taryn. She felt like they just fell out after high school.

48. Does your sim have a favorite emoji? 😉

49. Does your sim use simstagram? lilainvestigates

50. What is the last text your sim sent (and who did they text)? “You here?” to Hector Lin.

[piercingpages]

welcoming committee

Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Click… Clack.

“Room 36B, this must be it.”

Liz stood panting in front of a door at the corner of a dark hallway. Its knob and peep hole are rusting on the surface of the old jaded wood, reminding her of how the dormitory existed from about 40 years ago before she was even born. She wondered why the management never lit the area properly or why they never replaced the old door that she almost forgot about the suitcases standing beside her. This is it, her new home for the rest of freshman year. She gently knocked on the door as she felt her heart racing against her chest with excitement and nervousness. She knocked again before her new roommate opened up the door for her. At the other side of the door stood a young girl about her age with long raven hair and pale white complexion. Her bloodshot eyes stared blankly at Liz.

“Hi, I-“

“Bottom bunk, that’s you.” The stranger said flatly as Liz struggled to wiggle in her huge bags through the door.

She examined the place and saw scratches on the wall above the worn out couch. She walked to it out of sheer curiosity and THUD! A loud sound of an object falling made her jump. Liz looked around for what it might be but she found nothing. There was nothing on the floor and no one else in room but her. When did my new roommate leave, she thought. With that, the young girl decided to just call it a night.

To Liz, weekdays meant volleyball training. As a student-athlete, the routine wasn’t new to her – get off school by 5, do school works at six, and train from nine until 11. First day of college was relevantly more fun than first day of high school and she was looking forward to train with her new team. After the three-hour training, Liz decided to make her new friends go ahead of her as she went to the dugout comfort room to freshen up.

It was eerie inside and the broken lights above the row of sinks did not help make it less spooky at all. Liz was washing her face when she heard a stall open. It must be the wind, she convinced herself. She carried on with washing her face and drying it before she felt someone standing behind her. She slowly looked up to gaze at herself in the mirror when suddenly, she saw a nun with a huge cut across her neck and a multiple gun shot wounds staring directly at her. She had a huge smile on despite missing one eye. Liz froze. She closed her eyes and started to pray,

“Hail, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you.” She opened her eyes just to see the nun standing behind move even closer.

Liz started to cry and continued praying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.”

She wanted to move and run away but she felt as if someone was holding her feet down on the cold tiled-floor. Once again, she opened her eyes only to see that the nun’s face was now beside hers. She was about to open her mouth to continue the prayer when,

“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners,” the nun recited.

The doors of the stalls flung open, the lights started to go on and off, and the faucets started running while the voice of the nun’s spirit echoed in her ear, “Now, and at the hour of our death,” completing the prayer before bursting out in hysteria.

“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners,” the ghost repeated angrily.

“Now, and at the hour of our death,” the nun screamed the last line and laughed evilly. Liz fainted.

The other night seems just like a blur to Liz. She always knew things like that could happen. As a child, Liz used to see things from outside this realm on a regular basis, but when her family moved the city and she became a busy teen, she found herself distracted that she rarely pays attention to unearthly beings.

Because of the stress she went through after the other night’s event, Liz decided to meet up with one of her classmates in the park near the school campus to talk. She would have chosen to bond with her new roommate if only she ever catches her at home. She never saw her again since the day she moved in and the only way she can tell she was around is when doors open and close, and lights turn on and off in the middle of the night when she is either half asleep or is too tired to open her eyes.

Moments later, Jess, Liz’s classmate arrived. She was unusually quiet tonight, Liz noticed. The usual Jess would be a ball of energy and would normally be hard to shut up, but tonight she was different. The night is cold and the park is dark, maybe Jess just feels uncomfortable in this place, she reasoned to herself. “Jess, do you want to walk around while we talk until we find a better spot in the park?” Liz asked Jess who hadn’t said a word since she arrived. Once again, Jess just nodded. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz… Buzz. Buzz. Buzz…

Liz reached for her phone and saw a missed call from Jess. “Jess, check your phone. I think something’s wrong because you keep dialing me from your pocket.” Jess did not answer again. Liz continued going through her phone when she received two message notifications from minutes ago. Ting! Ting!

From: Jess Hi, Liz! I’m so sorry to keep you waiting at the park but I’m afraid I can’t make it.

From: Jess Liz, I really want to apologize I stood you up. I had to go back to the province. My dad just had another heart attack. I’m really sorry.

"Jess,” Liz murmured before turning her head towards where Jess sat down.

Shocked and confused were understatement of how she was feeling at the very instance she saw the figure that was Jess turn out to be a teenage girl with a huge wound on her left cheek, extending her creepy smile to her cheek. Liz was shaking beyond terror but she was too disoriented to take her eyes off the girl and the stab wounds on her neck and chest. The girl slowly titled her head and began to laugh in a big echoing voice.

“Do I look like your friend?”

Liz finally found the courage to scream and run away back to her dormitory. It was the fastest sprint she has ever done that what feels like seconds later, she found herself at the front desk.

“Tita Emy, I have an emergency. I think I have to get home as soon as possible.Would you mind telling my roommate at 36B that I won’t be back until next week?” Liz said.

“Roommate? What roommate? No one occupies that room but you, sweetie.”

[tiny-personal-university-thing]

My {Formerly} Bad Student Story: Physical and Mental Health Almost Destroyed Me - But I’m Back and Better Than Ever

Please read if you have suffered from chronic illness/pain or with your mental health to the detriment of your education!

Where to begin?

To start, a little bit about me. I am 21 years old, and currently a junior in college at Texas Tech University. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but I currently go to school in Lubbock, Texas – 532 miles from where I grew up in Houston. I’m what my school calls a “University Studies” major, which means that my degree is comprised of three “disciplines.” Those include Women’s Studies, Legal Studies and Environmental Science. This is all in the hopes that I will make a well-rounded candidate for law school.

 So this is where it gets interesting; this is the “{formerly}” bad student part. Basically, I didn’t do so hot my first two years at college. I suffer from chronic nerve pain due to 6 bulged discs because of a really bad car accident I had my senior year of high school - my truck was actually totaled. Additionally, I have this autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s. It’s also called Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis. It’s not fatal - it just sucks. In fact, it’s fairly common. My mom also has it. It’s just a major lifestyle change because my thyroid is either under-functioning or over-functioning. One of the most common symptoms across the board is debilitating fatigue. One may also experience copious hair loss (from it literally breaking off), hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, unexplained weight gain, depression/anxiety, joint stiffness, memory lapses, or complications such as heart disease. You can’t really be cured of Hashimoto’s, you just have to do your best to keep your life in a state of equilibrium. On top of all that, I was also officially diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (GAD), my freshman year of college; however, I have suffered from high-functioning anxiety since I was in the 2nd grade. I actually tested in the 98th percentile for anxiety. With my Hashimoto’s and chronic pain severely limiting my ability to even physically get out of bed, my grades really suffered. I was involved in a total of 8 organizations my first year of college, co-founder of two (one that focuses on raising awareness about sex trafficking that I am particularly proud of), and another that raises funds to establish legal aid clinics in less developed nations. I was also an officer in three of the aforementioned organizations, including the president of my dorm. But when I started to really get sick, participating in anything became so hard. I felt my peers judging me. I knew they didn’t believe me. My anxiety, which had been dormant for a couple years, came back with a vengeance. It almost destroyed me. I became isolated. I barely left my dorm - only to feed my horse each night or to buy food on campus. Every Friday, my mother would literally beg me to go out with friends, to reach out to literally anyone. I frequently considered the possibility of taking my own life - although I would describe it more along the lines of a general desire to cease existing, or to have never existed at all. I had never been so low in my entire life. My first semester, I did decently. I managed to go to the majority of my classes, and make decent grades that didn’t raise any red flags with my family or my school. While my social life did pick up my sophomore year and I began to form the close friendships we associate with college; unfortunately, I continued to regress academically in the semesters that followed.

 But, enough about that. The fact that I was always in pain/tired to the point of delirium/constantly ill made it really hard for me to focus on school. Often, the pain or fatigue was so bad I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t participate in the organizations I was excited about, ride my horse, play violin, or go to classes despite being eager to learn. When I did feel okay enough to go to class, I was bombarded by pervasive, irrational thoughts like “I’ve missed class for weeks, the professor/students are going to judge me when I show back up again tomorrow.” I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand how I went from the girl who begged her mother to let her go to school when she was violently ill with the flu in 7th grade because I loved it so much, to the girl who hadn’t gone to class in so many days she lost count. I ended up having to take a semester off from school. I remained in the city where my college is and bided my time by working - serving and eventually bartending full time. While working 40+ hours per week, I also tried to find a good pain management doctor and a decent endocrinologist. By remaining in the city I went to college, I was able to maintain a facade that I was still in school. When anyone asked me about school, I kept my answers terse, and general. School was “good,” I was taking “some classes.”

 When my semester off came to an end, I actually elected to take another semester off. I was torn in my decision to do this. I felt like I was letting everyone down a second time, that I would be stigmatized as a “drop out,” and I felt like no one believed me when I said I was going back. However, in my heart I still knew that I wasn’t in that much better of a place than I was when I left school. I am so glad I made that decision.

 My second semester off, I found a good pain management doctor not far from where my mom lives. My insurance covered spinal injections frequently used to treat bulged discs, where I underwent general anesthesia and essentially my doctor went into the epidural space in my spine to administer steroids to the bulged discs that he believed to be causing my nerve pain. While these injections are temporary and I’ll have to go back and get more injections whenever the pain returns - they have brought me great relief.  I continued working my job at the restaurant and became much more financially independent. This helped me to feel like less of a burden, and much more productive, in turn helping me with my anxiety. It also felt good having money. I was able to take over paying my rent, utilities, groceries, and costs associated with my horse. I also learned about Hashimoto’s, the symptoms (intolerable fatigue, insomnia despite said fatigue, gluten intolerance, inability to lose weight, my hair literally breaking off at alarming quantities, unbearable intolerance to the cold, inflamed joints, etc.) and how to live with it.

 After that semester, I was ready and determined not to fail. As the Spring 2018 semester neared, I made an appointment to see an advisor at my university, who became one of the two advisors I saw about every 3 weeks. They knew all aspects of my life; my mental health, my physical health, my struggles with my job, my aspirations, everything. It was in meeting them that I realized my first year at Tech I made a huge mistake by only meeting with the advisor assigned to me when I had some sort of hold on my account - which was once a semester at best. My advisors have fervently supported me. I am so grateful to them for the resources and affirmation they have provided me with this semester. Additionally, I learned to be more honest about my struggles with the rest of my support system, including my family and friends. I kept the secret of my two semesters off from everyone I was related to except for my mom. Even my dad was unaware until my second semester off. I did this mostly out of shame, but now that I’m back on track I actually want to tell everyone my story.  I also learned to be honest with myself about my genuine short comings that are unrelated to my health - including my organizational skills and time management skills. Lastly, I learned to be proud of myself, even for little victories.

 This is now (as I am writing this) my first semester back at school in two semesters (not including the summer sessions). Again, I am actually genuinely proud of the work that I have put forward. I’m aspiring to make my school’s Dean’s List or President’s List every semester from now until I graduate (which, by the way, is still in 2019 - the same as it was when I first came to college, which just goes to show you that it’s okay to take time off from school if that’s what you need). I’m aspiring to graduate at least cum laude. I’m aspiring to receive at least a 172/180 on the Law School Admission Test, and I will get into law school. I know that I am capable of these things because of the time I took away from school to better myself. Finally, my hope is that other college students facing similar adversities will be able to resonate with me, realize that college is not a race (you are under no obligation to be out in exactly four years or less), and see that they absolutely can overcome their obstacles.

Finally, I am certain that my struggle is not rare. I know that some of you may struggle with anxiety or depression. I know that some of you may suffer from chronic illness or pain that peers your age cannot truly relate to. I know that some of you may fear disappointing your family. I would like to add that I am here for you. I can promise you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If anyone - ANYONE - feels like they need someone to talk to, please feel free to reach out to me. I am up at all hours of the day and night usually. If you need just general advice, I got you. I hope that my story resonates with some of you.

My Story will be permanently linked to my blog via the “My Story” tab. As always, happy studying, fellow realistic students. And thank you again for 100+ followers. I am overwhelmed by your continued support. 

[heartthatfollows]

Prompt: Secrets

A secret is just something you don’t think to tell anyone, so here’s something: for a long time, my biggest secrets were walks. There was a bamboo grove behind my house growing up; for some reason some orientalist in Northern Virginia decided to plant bamboo without knowing it’s an invasive species in North America, and it was always strictly forbidden to wander in. Not only were there bats nesting in the canopy, but baby bamboo stuck up from the ground like spikes, spiders regularly made their webs at face-level, and the old forest grew tight together so that at times you needed to squeeze through the shoots. But, cross through about 40 feet of bamboo grove and you’d come to a clearing and a footpath. Take a left and in about 3 minutes you’d end up in a Red Lobster parking lot, but a right took you past every backyard on South Lee street. Follow it down and you’d end up down by the creek, Tripp’s Run. Across the footbridge was the first fence I ever jumped into an elementary school playground. This bridge was also about a 5 minute walk out the front door of my house. There were large sidewalks and paved roads with street lamps lining the way, but I rarely took it once I found the path. There were many semi-wooded walks like this along my hometown, and I never told my family that I was walking them. In my mind groves and clearings were liminal spaces where it was possible to enter into another world. Like Mr. Tumnus my first latch key boyfriend led me on paths I didn’t know, and I would continue to walk them without him. I would stand near Tripp’s Run, facing the woods and the setting sun, with the healthy fear of someone young, female and alone. I’d do mental gymnastics about the suburbs, the crime rate, and ghosts, and rush home through the bamboo grove.

Fast forward to 2009. I left my car at home for college, and suddenly I wasn’t able to go on 3 hour long drives listening to new albums while winding on suburban roads. I was smack dab in the middle of Baltimore and a particularly fearful and introverted freshman. Our campus was situated around a main drag called St. Charles and it ran about half a mile before spilling into the mythically dangerous North Ave. Two students were mugged at gunpoint my first year there, and campus security sent carefully worded emails about not listening to headphones or walking alone at night. Yet, lonely, anxious and stupid, I needed to walk, and almost exclusively at night. The main drag was just too crowded during the day. I would listen to my headphones, smoke, and pace along that half mile for hours in the evenings, careful not to veer into any dangerous side streets. I would think about everything and nothing all at once, and while my peers were locked in their dorm rooms working on art that we were paying thousands a year to improve, I had to keep walking or I felt like I would break apart. Sophomore year, when I had made a few friends, people kindly suggested that they would come with me for an evening walk if I wanted. I would smile and lie, telling them I don’t walk as much as I used to, because I didn’t want them there or for them to worry about my safety. This cavalier attitude is foolish, certainly, but if I’m a fool then I’m lucky as well. I would walk about 1-3 hours a night, pacing on this little loop the city made for me. This is how I got to know My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, how I was able to think about my work and my art without crying in my studio, how I realized that I was falling in love with someone. In my darker moments I wonder what would have happened to that time if I were less wasteful or lazy or unmotivated, but I know in my heart I would not have survived if I didn’t feel like my legs could continue to carry me.

Fast forward to 2014. While rushing for a subway in the winter my knee slipped so badly that I could hear it in my ears. I collapsed into the car. People parted quickly and rose from their seats and I shakily extended my leg and muttered thank yous. I barely got my breathing back normal before my stop. I hobbled to the movie theater late and painfully limped into the dark room moments before the movie started. I don’t remember the first half because I was wiping away too many tears. That night I wrote in my journal about how walking is the only way I make myself feel free, and I cried in a way that reminded me of something.

Years before, when I was still walking through bamboo groves and when my knees were just beginning to slip, I arrived in the nurse’s office in tears. She had seen my knees slip before but had rarely seen me cry, so she patiently laid me down with two ice packs and closed a curtain. Nearly an hour later I was still sniffling to myself and my next teacher called, asking for me. “No, she needs a little more time,” the nurse said quietly. “Her knee is probably better, but it’s something else.” It was something else, I think. It was my shitty boyfriend, my friends drifting apart, or my body image. It was probably my parents, or some stupid party. It was frustration that something as simple as mobility had become complicated, and I wasn’t even old yet.

When I walk it’s something else. I don’t know what, exactly. Maybe therapy, distraction, or just something personal that doesn’t amount to much; it’s just a way to spend some time alone. Or maybe it’s that I love a overwrought visual metaphor, and there’s something heavy handed and silly about intentionally choosing unpaved roads. There’s something nihilistic and hopeful in walking a half mile loop, again and again and again, and somehow it finds a way to heal you. Maybe it’s that it taught me that sometimes your body is just naturally bad at doing a thing that you love, a thing that many people can do, so some people just need to take extra care.

This is not a confession but this has been a secret, and in some ways it still feels like one, because it’s still only mine.

--

In literature, secrets are uncovered, discovered, confessed and developed. Today write about a secret of yours or character’s. Or, write a secret you’ve discovered that has improved an aspect of your life: the secret to making good soup stock or the secret to writing a resume; examine the secret for how it relates, as a metaphor, to your values.

[bae-b-8-imagines]

Youth - Poe x Reader (College AU)

Author’s Note: It took me so long to get this out, but it is finally here! I hope you like it @summerlogy! Requests are open! Feel free to message me! :) Stay gold! 

Request: Hello! Could you do Poe X Reader Modern University student AU based on the song Youth, by troye sivan? Where they are best friends for life and known each-other since they’re babies and everybody knows they are best friends but suddenly Poe notices that he loves her and propose quoting the lyrics of the song. I hope this is not too much, and sorry if my english is poor. It’s not my first language btw 😭💧 And your writings are sooo amazing 💘💘

Warnings: None, Fluff

Word Count: 2100+

ALL LYRICS TO THE SONG BELONG TO THE ARTIST

Your hair was slowly falling out of the messy bun that sat atop of your head. The pencil you were holding scratched across the exam that you were writing right now. You blew air from your lips to try and blow the stray hair out of your face, but to no avail. Eventually you finished scribbling your answer on the paper and set your pencil down. The strand of hair was tucked behind your ear and you walked up to the professor to turn in your exam. He nodded his head and wished you a good summer holiday. As you walked out the door you saw your best friend of twenty years, Poe Dameron. He looked shocked to see you finished so quickly, you stuck your tongue out at him and exited the classroom.

That was your final exam before your last semester of university! You were going to graduate with a bachelors in mechanical engineering, and Poe with a bachelors in astrophysics. The two of you had been inseparable since you were about four years old. You had met at preschool and were best friends since then. You both loved and hated the same things, and there was never a dull moment when the two of you would hang out, which happened to be very often considering you were both roomates.

It had felt so normal when the two of you had moved in together. Like nothing in life could ever push you apart. It just seemed to work perfectly with you two together. One of the main things that worked great between the two of you was that each one of you were respectful about the other’s life. If there was something that Poe wanted to do with his friends, you were okay with it. Why would there be any reason not to be.

The two of you hadn’t encountered any situation with opposing significant others though. The last time you had been on a date was in high school, since then it was mostly drunken kisses that you didn’t remember the next morning. As for Poe, he had been in a long term relationship with a girl since the middle of high school till the first year at university.

As you rode your bike to the shared flat on the outskirts of the town you passed by a small ice cream shoppe that was only open in the Summer. You were happy to see that it was finally opened, and stopped by to get a scoop. The shoppe was crowded with students who had also just been released from the tightening grips of college exams, but the cold treat was worth the wait. You picked up a pint of chocolate ice cream to bring home for you and Poe to share.

When you got home you took of the bookbag that weighed down your shoulders and flung your body onto the couch that sat in the living room. You glanced at the clock that read 3:15, before closing your eyes. The slamming of a door made you open your eyes once more, slightly aggravated that you were woken from your small power nap.

“Poe, do you have to be so loud?” You groaned looking back up at the clock, only to see that you had been asleep for more than four hours.

“I wasn’t aware that you were going to be asleep. I thought you would’ve already called the take out for our celebration dinner tonight!” He exclaimed reaching for the phone.

You closed your eyes again, completely forgetting about the fact that you and Poe were supposed to order Chinese food and have a few friends over to celebrate. You could hear him speaking on the phone, but then he got really quiet and exited the room. You were confused. Poe was never the one to be quiet on the phone, especially not to the man who worked at the Chinese restaurant, the three of you had this odd relationship where you both accepted each other.

You sat up from your position on the couch and grabbed your phone from the coffee table in front of you. There were your typical instagram notifications, a few snapchats - although probably nothing more than a streak - and one or two texts from your friends who were coming over tonight. You opened Rey’s message first.

Hey Y/N, Finn and I should be there around 8:30. Do you think you could ask for extra duck sauce for us?

You laughed, whenever the two of you would go out for Chinese food and study dates she would always ask for extra duck sauce, even if she didn’t need it. Because, “It’s too precious to not use it on every bit and if you run out of duck sauce halfway through your spring roll what else is there to do in life but to die?” Sometimes she could be dramatic, but that’s just another reason why you loved her.

Glancing at the other text you saw that Hux and Ben would be here around the same time. You and Hux had shared many classes together. He wasn’t the nicest, or the coolest, dude to be around, but he had helped you so much that you figured inviting him over for some Chinese wouldn’t hurt. As for Ben, he was basically your cousin. Your godparent’s son. It was pretty much mandatory for you to invite him. Poe wasn’t the biggest fan, but he could deal with it.

After texting back Rey and glancing at your clock you realized that you only had about twenty minutes to do a little bit of cleaning and getting ready for everyone to be over. You put the little items that cluttered the room back in their places and headed to the restroom that you and Poe shared. You could hear that he was in the shower, but that was not going to stop you from using the mirror and putting on a little bit of makeup so you didn’t look like a zombie.

“Y/N? What are you doing?” Poe questioned, knowing it was you.

“What I do every time your taking a shower...duh.” You sated.

You were quickly finished and left, so that Poe would be undisturbed for the rest of the shower. You knew that he liked his privacy when it came to his hair routine. There was a knock at the door, so you closed the door to your bedroom and went to the front of the loft.

Sure enough your four friends were all standing there ready to welcome you. You hugged each of them before leading them into the living room to find a place to sit. There wasn’t much of a plan for tonight other than pigging out on Chinese food, and watching a scary movie. Immediately after you had taken your place on the couch, leaving enough room for Poe as well, the bell run. You stood up announcing that that was probably the Chinese delivery guy.

You opened the door and welcomed him in, like you normally did. Handing him the $50 bill you told him to keep the change.

“But it’s only a $32 charge, I can’t take a nearly 40% tip.” He said, cautious to take the money.

You insisted that he keep it. You were once where he was too. On the edge of 17, not knowing what you wanted to do with life, struggling to save for a college that your parents weren’t able to help pay for. Eighteen dollars wasn’t a lot, but it could help. Finally he accepted and made his way to his next delivery.

Poe came out of the restroom, hair as perfect as ever, wearing sweatpants that made him look nice. You weren’t going to lie to yourself when you said that you had the tiniest crush on Poe. It was basically impossible not to. You had always promised yourself that you wouldn’t let it get in the way of your relationship with him though. You knew that having Poe as your best friend was better than dating him and then it not working out and then not being friends at all.

Poe’s POV

Everyone was seated around the coffee table. Y/N was sitting next to me, her hair smelled so wonderful. Had she showered after she got home? That wasn’t important. I felt so nervous. Just last week I had realized the truth, that I was in love with Y/N. I had been since I broke up with Anne back in Freshman year. Y/N was the only girl I had eyes for, and I couldn’t let her slip through my fingers. Sure we would always being friends, but that wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to share everything with her, for the rest of my life. I had went out and bought a simple ring about two days ago. Finn was the only one who knew what I had planned for tonight.

“Alrighty what does everyone want to watch tonight?” He asked picking up the remote and turning on Netflix.

“Actually Finn?” I stopped him, “I have something I’d like to say to everyone.”

Your POV

Poe stood up holding his red solo cup in the air like he was about to toast.

“I just wanted everybody to know that all of you helped to make senior year great. Tomorrow we will be opening a new chapter in our lives, and I can only hope that we all continue to stay great friends. Hux, I know we aren’t the closest, but thanks for not totally freaking out when I am sarcastic with you. Ben, we may not get along, but any family of Y/N’s is a friend of mine. Rey, thanks for always being there for Y/N and for Finn. If you didn’t keep those two in check I’m not sure they would’ve graduated. Finn, thanks for being the best friend anyone could have asked for. So here’s to new chapters!” He cheered and raised his glass.

You played along with it, and raised yours as well, but you had to admit you were a bit hurt that he didn’t even mention you in his little speech that he gave. You looked into the TV screen as you drank from your cup.

“I have one more thing to say.” His voice rang out above everyone else’s cheers, “Y/N, what if we run away? What if we left today? What if we said goodbye to safe and sound?”

What was this? What was he getting at now? You weren’t entirely sure what was happening, but for some reason it made butterflies rupture in your chest, and a light blush to dust your cheeks.

“Y/N my youth is yours, tripping on skies, sipping waterfalls. My youth is yours runaway now. And forever more my youth is yours. A truth so loud you can’t ignore that my youth is yours. Y/N, we’ve been best friends since preschool. And I’ve been in love with you since high school. Our entire childhood, I have been wrapped around your finger. My youth is yours. And the fact that I love you is something you can’t ignore. I can’t imagine living another day being just best friends, because to me you are so much more than that. I want to grow old being yours. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Y/N L/N. We may have mortal bodies, but we have timeless souls. So this is me asking you. Will you marry me Y/N L/N?”

Poe was now on one knee right in front of you as you sat on the couch, cross legged, wearing your oldest tee shirt and sweats. Yet he still was here asking you to marry him. A tear made its way down your cheek and you quickly wiped it away before wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him into a bear hug.

“Of course I’ll marry you, Ace.” You choked out. That was all you could say because your throat was tight with emotion.

Poe hugged you in return, his arms clinging to your waist. You opened your eyes and could see that Finn had been recording the whole ordeal. He had to have known what was going on. Poe pulled away and placed the ring on your finger before kissing you on the lips. And while it was an unconventional proposal, you wouldn’t have had it any other way. Poe and you had spent your entire past together, so why not the entire future as well?

Tags: @heyohheyitsgabi @mrsdaamneron @o-brienwrites @summerlogy @emily-vole

[byul-bit-arae]

Astro Coffee Shop AU

Astro drabble inspired by @alternateastro ’s coffee shop au 

Um hi 

So you are this struggling college freshman 

It’s just your first year but you already learned that caffeine is your friend

And that’s probably the main reason you got excited when you heard a new coffee shop opened on the way to the bus stop you usually board from to college

The coffee shop is really cute and has a welcoming feel to it

Also it opens as early as 6am so it’s perfect for grabbing a cup of cappuccino while waiting for your bus that takes off at seven

A tall decent young man that is around your age is always there, a warm smile on his face as he serves you, probably his only customer at that early time since the shop isn’t that popular yet nor is in a remarkable place 

Cha Eunwoo, his name tag says

Eunwoo is quite friendly for a barista whose shift starts at six in the morning and even bothers to start small conversations with you as you sip on your cappuccino by the counter

About two weeks in and you’re addicted to their coffee

You didn’t know if it was just you, or that it had some really special taste to it 

There was just something about it that you couldn’t get enough of, and most importantly, couldn’t go on your day without

Waking up at five thirty, getting ready, leaving your house and passing by the ‘Dream Store’ to have a cup of coffee and a small chat with an ever so energetic Eunwoo became a part of your routine

Until you ‘accidentally’ wake up late one day 

Maybe your alarm went off by itself, maybe it really rang and you turned it off and went back to sleep, maybe you didn’t even set it in the first place, what mattered the most is that it was a quarter past six and you were still in your pjs

You jump off your bed and quickly wash your face before grabbing the first combination of clothing that looked reasonable.

Smashing a bit of makeup on your face, you decided there was no time for more than a natural look for today, 

a bb cushion, brown eyeliner pencil, transparent mascara and and a warm orange gradient lip was the best you could achieve 

Throwing on your hood over your ‘whatever’ looking hair you grabbed your bag and sprinted your way out

You glanced at your hand watch to check if you had atleast a few spare minutes to order a coffee for take out but then you stopped at your tracks 

Because it was freaking 5:40 in the freaking morning aka an hour early 

The Dream store wasnt even opened yet and you felt like an idiot because your shitty clock was probably running out of battery and was showing the wrong time 

Groaning you glanced again at the cafe to see that the roller shutter of the front door was half rolled up

And that meant that atleast someone was inside

Looking around you one more time you figured out there was no other safe place for a lonely nineteen year old girl to stay in while waiting 

So you just decided to sneak inside and just hope it was Eunwoo getting ready to open the shop

You weren’t really that close to him but you just thought he wouldn’t be that freaked out if he saw you at such an hour 

Entering the shop you quietly muttered a “hello” as you heard faint sounds coming from the staff area 

“Eunwoo shi are you here” you dumbly murmured then figured out it was better to just take a seat and wait for whoever was there to appear

But you kind of accidentally doze off over the table because you woke up in such a hurry that you were feeling a bit drowsy by that time

Rocky takes off his sailor moon apron and hangs it after finishing with decorating the pastries and cleaning the kitchen

He leaves the kitchen and checks the café since he heard some sounds coming from there 

“Eunwoo hyung you’re here earl–”

He sees you sleeping on one of the tables and sort of just-

–For a second but not enough for you to wake up then purses his lips, not knowing what to do

Rocky always disappears so early in the morning after he’s done with his work so he doesn’t get to interact with any customers, and even when he comes in the afternoon to test out new recipes with Bin, he doesn’t leave the kitchen. 

So he gets so frustrated seeing you there bc um help what am I supposed to do with this creature it looks like a human

Luckily Eunwoo comes in just at the right time and is rather confused as of why rocky is still there 

Also why is he standing still like a statue 

“Good morning minhyuk, what are you still doi–”

Eunwoo looks at the same direction as rocky and takes a step back in surprise

But he soon recognizes your sleeping figure and is way more confused now but decides to wake you up anyway

You slowly open your eyes and find none other than the most beautiful angel you’ve ever seen in front of your eyes that you can’t help but yelp bc are you already dead and is this heaven 

You blink for a few seconds and look around the place then at Eunwoo and the other guy 

“…w-welcome to Dream sh-shop !!!!” Rocky says in a super nervous tone that his voice cracks as he tries to sound the brightest he could “is that how you do it” he whispers to Eunwoo bc he honestly had no idea how things went outside the kitchen

Then Eunwoo kindly introduces you to Rocky to break the awkward atmosphere

And hey Rocky is quite cute and hyper 

And that’s how you start meeting the boys one by one 

And you just have to embarrass yourself each time 

Like that other time you were soooo sleepy that you were walking with your eyes closed

Maybe bc you had so much work and didn’t get enough sleep 

But that didn’t really matter bc you knew the way too well that you could manage 

You instinctively make a turn to the left to enter the coffee shop

But then you just bump into the glass door like an idiot

Bc it’s usually always open

Truth is Bin came earlier than usual that day 

And usually whenever he comes he always closes the door

Since he claims it’s way too cold in the morning

And Eunwoo is like uhh ok nvm 

And since Bin always comes later you never really saw the door closed 

Being still as sleepy as heck you groan as you lazily push the door open with literally your whole body, pouting since it was too early for embarrassing yourself yet here you are

You enter the shop to see an ever so amused Bin holding his laugh 

“Welcome” he says quietly and you awkwardly smile with half closed eyes 

And wth wth wth why are all the ppl working here so cute 

And that other time you got dismissed early in the afternoon so you decided to pass by 

And you go up to the counter only to be faced by like a giant five year old 

And you’re like “uhh excuse me where’s the one in charge here?”

And Sanha just blinks for a second before blurting “it’s me!” 

And you’re like “but you look so young ??????”

And Sanha just smiles cutely then takes your order

And from that day you always stop by whenever you have time in the afternoon

Bc Sanha is just too adorable and his smile gives you so much energy to go on with your day

And that OTHER time the Dream Store was having that spring cleaning thing and there was actually a notice on the front door but you’re too reckless to realize that and just legit barge in to JinJin dancing with a broom to Plz don’t be sad by Highlight while singing with a really, really High pitched voice

And you never felt this attacked honestly

JinJin is caught off guard and immediately restrains himself 

“My apologies. How can I help you? I’m Park Jinwoo, the Dream Store manager”

And you’re like ????? Okay ????

AND THAT OTHER TIME you were with this senior of yours in art school 

He’s reaaaally kind and cheerful and you’re actually good friends

So one day he invites for coffee in what he claimed to be his store

And you’re shook af on the way bc uhh isn’t this the way to Dream Store?

You two enter and everyone, legit every single member of the staff (aka astro) stops wtv they’re doing and 

“Y/N iS MJ hYunG’s gF ????!!!!?!!!”

And you’re like um wat 

And this is how you get to know all of them

And you never felt happier tbh 

Bc they are all so lovely 

Also bc you get to prank them 

You figured pranks were a thing after getting to know them all 

Sometimes you drop by to do your assignments there

Bc your house is too boring

And as an art student you need a lot of inspiration

Also bc MJ is there and is always ready to help you with studies

Other times you help them with serving bc the shop is getting more popular by the time bc of the quality of the food and the hostility of the staff

Also you’re prolly the only one Rocky allows to touch the pastries

He lets your help him with the decorations and even keeps your suggestions of new desserts in mind

JinJin seeks your and MJ’s help before making any changes in the store’s decor or theme 

You secretly help JinJin to become faster with the drinks 

And ofc you help with advertising the store 

Like you legit tell everyone you meet about it 

You’re basically just really happy you got to meet these cuties bc your life would 794261% be hella boring without them

[sunshinekarliekloss]

Karlie Kloss On Her New Cole Haan Campaign, Back-To-School Fashion, And Why She Still Feels Insecure "All the Time"

It’s no surprise for a model to say she’s having a “busy week” at the end of August, when New York Fashion Week castings are happening and the rest of Fashion Month is fast approaching, but on a recent afternoon that found her curled up in a corner of a WeWork in New York City, Karlie Kloss was having a particularly busy end of summer: She’d just wrapped week one as a camp counselor, coaching the 40 girls enrolled in just one of the 15 free summer programs happening around the country that she organized this summer as part of Kode with Klossy—the coding scholarship program for girls that the supermodel runs in her little to no free time.

It’s spearheading this extracurricular—a descriptor that may seem like an understatement but is in fact literally what it is, given that Kloss is not only a model currently gearing up for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, but also a student currently enrolled at New York University—that makes what one might call Kloss an extraordinary woman—which is exactly what the luxury leather brand Cole Haan anointed her when it put her at the center of its Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories fall 2017 campaign, out today.

Most importantly to Kloss, though, she's not alone in the ads: She’s costarring with none other than Christy Turlington, her supermodel predecessor whom at this point she’s been idolizing for at least a decade—and whom, just like the campaign’s photographer, aka the “force” that is Cass Bird, has brought Kloss plenty of laughter and tears along the way of their working (and definitely not working-related) relationship. With the fall semester—and of course Fashion Week—fast approaching, Kloss took a break to talk how she got so close with another extraordinary woman in her life, Jourdan Dunn; how Turlington ended up going from her idol to the one writing her letter of recommendation for N.Y.U.; and how she, like any other human, feels insecure and intimidated “all the time”—and yet still gets it all done.

You have a relationship with Christy Turlington outside of modeling, but had you ever actually gotten in front of the camera with her before this campaign?

It’s funny, I don’t think we’ve ever done a photo shoot before—definitely not a campaign—so it was really special when I first heard about this. I was so excited about Cole Haan’s idea as a whole about extraordinary women and immediately wanted to be involved—but I also wanted any excuse to hang out with Christy. [Laughs.] Obviously in her career and in fashion, she’s a living icon, but being on set with her, I definitely understand why she’s the definition of a supermodel—even though I feel like we chatted and caught up the entire day, so it definitely did not feel like work. She’s flawless and beyond beautiful, but she just has this grace and this presence and this strength that she brings to set. And off-set, she’s obviously an extraordinary human being, a mother, a friend, a philanthropist—really just extraordinary in every facet of her life.

How did you end up getting close with one of your idols?

Christy Turlington is, you know, one of the defining supermodels of our time, and I really just admired her from a distance, long before I even was a model myself. And then when I started my career and got into the industry, I really wanted to learn about the careers of the women who had come before me, and I found in my research Christy’s images were just so elegant and so timeless—and as I learned more and more about her as a person, beyond just her as a supermodel, I grew this tremendous respect and admiration for what she used her voice and career and platform to do—really meaningful work she was really passionate about, and that defied the rules every step of the way. It was around the time she’d produced and directed No Woman No Cry, her documentary [about pregnant women who die to improper healthcare], and it made me realize that Wow, this job as a supermodel—it doesn't just stop there. Long before she started Every Mother Counts [her nonprofit that provides mothers around the world access to maternity care], she also went to school. I’ve really taken so much note from her journey and the way that she’s lived her life—and all that was long before I met her.

And then, I think I was probably around 16 when Donna Karan invited me over one day. I’d probably been working with Donna for two years, and somehow she found out how obsessed I was with Christy, and she invited me to come to Urban Zen on a day when Christy was doing a photo shoot there. I walked in and didn’t know I was going to meet her, and I was totally—I had this out of body experience that’s never happened before and it’s never happened since, but I basically just burst into tears, out of shock of meeting this woman I’d really admired so much from a distance and knew so much about. In person, her elegance and her grace were just so striking—I think that’s why I burst into tears. [Laughs.] I think she thought I was a little crazy.

How did she react?

She just laughed at me. She found it amusing. Hopefully she doesn’t hold it against me, but I really did have a major fan girl moment.

I don’t think you have too much to worry about, given that she still wrote your college letter of recommendation—and told the New York Times it was all about her "crush" on you. How did that end up happening? So—hopefully—eventually she realized I wasn’t a crazy stalker, and that I was someone who really admired her and had aspirations to continue my modeling career but also it with my balance my education—that I had ambitions to go against the grain and against the rules in the same way that she did, and kind of march to the beat of my own drum. So she told me about N.Y.U. and Gallatin [School of Individualized Study] and the program that she was a part of, and basically she was the one that proved that you could go back to school and that it could be done—that you could have it all. She balanced her career and education, and has gone on to continue to do extraordinary things and has paved the way.

I know bursting into tears was a one-time occasion, but in one of the videos for this campaign, you touch briefly on how you feel intimidated “all the time.” How have you been able to balance those feelings with such a successful career? What I meant by saying that is that I am human, and I am a 6’2” or 6’-something human who has insecurities and flaws and fears and anxiety just like everybody else. It’s funny, I think people forget—including, you know, even probably myself, when I had my fangirl moment for Christy: I had idolized her so much from a distance and found her so beautiful and extraordinary just by learning about her story that I put her up on this pedestal. And the more that I got to know her as a woman, as a human, as a mother, as a friend, I did find her to be more and more beautiful, but in a realer and rawer way. For me, that’s what I mean by saying I feel insecure all the time: I’m lucky to have a day job where I get to be a super confident supermodel and put a face on for the world, but at the same time, I’m a 25-year-old girl figuring out life like everybody else. But I think the important thing to learn—and this is something that I feel lucky to have strong women like Christy to learn from—is that you can’t be paralyzed by those insecurities. You have to recognize them, and it’s important to feel them—they can be humbling and keep you grounded and keep you human—but you can’t be paralyzed by those fears and insecurities and feeling inadequate.

Who are some women you consider extraordinary, whether that you know personally or admire from afar? Well, in my personal life, my gram, who’s no longer alive—she was my mom’s mom and truly extraordinary; she lived through World War I and World War II and some of the most tumultuous times in the last 100 years, but she was so strong and so gentle and so kind. And I have lots of friends I’ve gotten really close to over the last 10 years [while modeling], like Jourdan Dunn—we met backstage at Prada six months into both of our careers, and we’ve been very close friends and in each other’s support system through a lot of these experiences ever since. Those strong relationships with women in your life, whether you’re related to them by blood or not—the family you’re born into or the family that you make—shape the person that you become, or at least they have for me. Christy’s definitely one of them, too.

Empowering women is of course a large part of Kode with Klossy, but as a public figure, do you feel compelled to do so in other ways, too, especially in today’s political climate? Yeah—I think in the world today, now more than ever, it’s important to be educated and informed on what’s happening and how you can play a role and how you can contribute and stand up for what you believe in. And no voice is too small; no act is too small. I think for me, why I care so much about investing in girls’s and women’s education is that the girls in our coding camps are the future leaders of tomorrow, of whatever industry they choose to go into. Education, for me at least, has been one of the most empowering things—to continue my education, to keep learning and challenging myself, whether in a traditional environment or not. It makes me feel more fulfilled and stronger as an individual, and it’s now more important than ever to be informed and educated and empowered.

Are you going back to school this fall? Yeah, I’m getting ready. But I’m still in denial that summer’s over. I loved your Cindy Crawford sweatshirt on your first day of freshman year. Do you have any other back-to-school looks up your sleeve? She's another extraordinary woman. I definitely need to do my back to school shopping, but I love sweater weather, I love cozy jumpers and great jeans and boots—and accessories. But usually I’m running from class to the airport—because class is the only constant variable in my schedule—so I’m usually racing to a photo shoot afterwards or to a show if it’s during fashion week, or to an airport. I’m a bag lady.

This is kind of the perfect collection for you, then—it's all about clutches and crossbodies, and I see even managed to snag a backpack in the campaign. What other items have you been eyeing from this collection? I’m really excited about a couple of things—there’s this pair of shoes that are leopard print and so chic. They can kind of be worn any season, but they’ll definitely be a key staple in my fall wardrobe. Getting back to Cindy, her daughter Kaia Gerber, who just turned 16, also just said she “really looks up to” you for pretty much the same reasons you said you look up to Christy. What does it feel like to have things come full circle? It’s really surreal, especially because I feel like I definitely have a lot to learn myself, and though I have experienced a lot, by no means am I an expert on fashion or life. Still, I’m excited to see the next generation—which is so funny to be saying at 25—and Kaia is very special. I think she’s a really smart young woman who’s going to have a spectacular career in modeling—really, in whatever she wants to do. And I’m excited to share any wisdom or things I’ve learned from my experience with her, because that’s just part of the privilege I get to have, being surrounded by strong women helping other strong women. Kaia’s definitely a future strong lady herself. (x)