#yo i rise from my grave

[kayewrite]

At the same time, I wanna hug you

(...I wanna wrap my hands around your neck)

seungmin x reader!! enemies to lovers troupe!! genre; fluff. word count: 10.7k (long but still not enough)

summary; if you have teleportation powers you would bring seungmin in the middle of ocean and dump him there. that's how much you hated him. but wait.. why he was suddenly cool?

an: you dont know how much i went crazy seeing seungmin in uniform! like babe! why are my classmate not like him? and.. this was a birthday present cause this man just turn half 50 minus 1!! anyways enjoy reading

Kim Seungmin.

You hated that very name.

You hated his existence.

You hated his smirk.

You hated that he breathes.

You hated how he never failed to make your blood boil.

Like now.

You were practically crawling into the classroom, late again, knowing full well the teacher wasn’t going to let it slide this time. Slowly and quietly, you slipped through the back door, hoping to go unnoticed, but your hopes were dashed when Kim Seungmin turned in his seat and caught your eye. His face slowly morphed into that all-too-familiar smirk.

You already knew your fate.

"Ma'am, someone’s late again."

You clenched your fists, resisting the urge to punch him as the teacher ordered you to stand and endure a scolding. You stood there, bowing your head like a guilty child while Seungmin chuckled at your misery.

You hated him. You hated him so much you wished for teleportation powers—just so you could dump him in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and teleport back home.

The worst part? You were seatmates. In the one subject that made you contemplate dropping the class every week just to escape him. But no, you wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. You’d endure, just so he wouldn’t win.

"Why were you late again?" he leaned over, asking in the most casual, condescending way possible.

“None of your business,” you rolled your eyes and shifted your chair further away from him.

“Actually, it is my business.” He smirked again, lifting the attendance sheet. “I’m in charge of marking who’s here today, and guess what? I don’t see your name yet. Got a good excuse for me?”

Damn.

You glared at him, wishing your stare could send him straight to the hospital. “I hate you.”

“Oh, I love you too,” he teased, laughing at your frustration.

--

You were minding your own business, erasing the board, when out of nowhere, a crumpled piece of paper hit you square on the head. Annoyed, you turned sharply, searching for the culprit. Your eyes quickly landed on Kim Seungmin, who very obviously averted his gaze and started whistling—like that wasn’t the biggest giveaway ever.

Glaring at him, you felt your temper rise. Without thinking twice, you grabbed the nearest weapon of choice—the chalkboard eraser—and hurled it with full force.

"Hey—!" Seungmin barely had time to react, his hands flying up to shield himself. The eraser still hit him, sending a cloud of chalk dust everywhere.

Minutes later, there he was, sitting in the clinic, sulking like he’d been gravely injured. You stood over him, arms crossed, rolling your eyes at the ridiculous situation.

“You’re such a kid,” you teased, watching as he winced dramatically. “Crying over a tiny little scratch.”

He glared at you, clutching his arm like he’d survived a battle. “Tiny? You nearly broke my arm!”

You smirked, “If I wanted to break your arm, Seungmin, I wouldn’t have used an eraser.”

You and Seungmin fought like kids, constantly bickering and annoying each other to the point where even your classmates didn’t bother stepping in anymore. They’d seen you two nearly throw punches at each other too many times to care.

One day in the cafeteria, you were finally enjoying a moment of peace, savoring your lunch, when Seungmin suddenly plopped down in front of you. He smiled, but there was something odd about it. Well, Seungmin was always odd, but this felt extra weird. He wasn’t even touching his food; he just sat there, staring at you.

"What are you looking at, ugly?" you asked, scowling.

He leaned back casually. "My friends are coming, and we're sitting at this table. It’s up to you if you wanna leave or not."

You blinked, taken aback. "What?! I got here first!"

"Yeah, well," he shrugged nonchalantly, "I don’t care."

Before you could argue further, the cafeteria exploded with noise. His friends had arrived—there was no mistaking it. They were loud, famous, and had an almost cult-like following at school. You could practically hear the high-pitched squeals from the “fandom” as they entered. Without even turning around, you knew it was them.

Your frustration mounted as they surrounded the table, chattering loudly. You weren’t exactly fond of crowds, for that matter. Sitting there, sandwiched between Seungmin and his friends, you felt like a deer caught in headlights.

Hyunjin—yes, that Hyunjin—suddenly leaned over, flashing a bright smile. "Hey, what’s your name?"

You nearly choked on your food. Of course, the universe had to pick this moment to be cruel. Before you could respond, Seungmin cut in with a smug grin.

"She’s no one. Don’t mind her," he said, not even sparing you a glance.

Your face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. You stood up abruptly, knocking over your chair. "I’ve suddenly lost my appetite," you muttered awkwardly before storming off, desperately trying to escape the humiliation.

Why does this always happen to me? you groaned internally. I hate Seungmin. And I hate myself for embarrassing myself in front of my crush… Hyunjin.

If I see that KIM SEUNGMIN later, I’m going to kill him.

Later in class, your chance for revenge came. Seungmin was called on for an oral recitation, and—poetic justice—he stood there, stuttering and completely clueless. You couldn’t help but laugh under your breath as he floundered, finally getting a taste of the embarrassment he loved dishing out.

Justice had never tasted so sweet.

---

"I hope lightning strikes him," you muttered, glaring at Seungmin from a distance as you hugged yourself, shivering from the cold. You were stuck in a waiting shed, the afternoon bringing with it a torrential downpour that looked like the start of a typhoon. The weather had been perfect this morning—sunny, with not a cloud in sight. You'd made the mistake of leaving your umbrella at home, thinking it would only weigh down your bag. Now, you regretted every bit of that decision.

Across the street, Seungmin stood dry under his big, obnoxiously bright umbrella, almost laughing as he caught sight of you. His smug grin was practically glowing, and as if to rub salt in the wound, he waved at you.

You flipped him the finger.

‘When will his time come?’ you wondered bitterly. Why am I always the one who ends up miserable?

The shed's roof was doing a terrible job of keeping the rain out. Water dripped from all angles, splashing around you and soaking your clothes. You glanced up at the leaky ceiling and groaned. When will this stop? you thought—both about the rain and Seungmin.

If the two of you were friends, and if he weren’t the spawn of Lucifer himself, you might’ve swallowed your pride and asked to share his umbrella. Your house was literally just a block away. But no! You would not—under any circumstances—lower yourself to envy his dry, smug self.

You would never give him the satisfaction. Even if it meant sitting here the whole night, soaked and miserable.

Seungmin started walking toward you, his big umbrella swaying with each step. He stopped in front of you with the most annoyingly sarcastic smile.

"You wanna share?" he asked, eyes twinkling with amusement.

You rolled your eyes. "No thanks."

"You sure? The news said the rain’s stopping… tomorrow."

"Even if it never stops for a whole week, Kim Seungmin, I would never!" you snapped, glaring at him.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying your misery. "You sure? Last chance."

"Yes!" you practically shouted, arms crossed in defiance.

"Okay." He shrugged, stepping back. "One word is enough for me."

And with that, he turned on his heel and continued on his way, leaving you alone in the rain.

"I won’t regret it!" you yelled after him, though your voice sounded far less confident than before.

Ten minutes later, you were drenched and shivering, cursing under your breath. Regret started to creep in. You glanced down the road—completely empty. Not a single taxi in sight.

"Where are all the taxis when I need them?" you groaned, looking up at the dark, stormy sky.

And so, your day ended just as it began: with Seungmin somehow managing to ruin it.

--

It was Friday, and your first class of the day happened to be the one where your seatmate was none other than him.

Determined not to be late, you arrived twenty minutes early. The classroom was nearly empty, with only a handful of students scattered around. Feeling groggy, you slumped over your desk, letting the quiet atmosphere lull you into a light nap.

Of course, peace never lasted long when Seungmin was involved.

A sharp knock on your desk pulled you from the brink of sleep. You cracked one eye open to see Seungmin settling into the seat beside you, a smug grin already plastered on his face.

"Oh, you’re early today. Were you looking forward to sitting next to me?" he teased, leaning back comfortably as if he hadn't just ruined your peaceful moment.

"It’s still early, Kim Seungmin," you muttered, closing your eyes again. Not today, you thought. You weren’t going to let him ruin your morning. Not this early.

He glanced at his watch with a chuckle. "Well, it’s 10 a.m., and that’s not exactly early, is it?"

"Seungmin, if you’re bored and looking to annoy someone, talk to my hand." Without even opening your eyes, you lazily raised your hand in his direction, palm out.

Just then, Yuna, who sat in front of you, arrived. She took one look at the two of you, eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Why are you guys always fighting the moment you see each other?"

You opened one eye, giving her a pleading look. "Can you please let him annoy you instead?"

Yuna just laughed. "Oh, Seungmin wouldn’t annoy anyone else but you." She gave you a knowing smile. "He likes you."

Your eyes shot open at her words, and you squinted at Seungmin, who was now smirking as if he knew exactly how to get under your skin. "Yeah, likes to annoy me," you huffed, narrowing your eyes in suspicion.

Seungmin shrugged, leaning in a little closer just to provoke you. "Well, yeah, I like it sooo much," he laughed, clearly amused by your reaction.

Yuna, now used to your bickering, just shrugged and turned her attention to the front of the classroom, leaving you to deal with him.

You let out a sigh, hoping that Seungmin would leave you alone for at least a minute. "Is there any chance you’ll be quiet today?"

He pretended to think for a moment. "Hmm, nope."

You groaned, dropping your head back onto your desk. "Why do you even sit next to me?"

"Fate," he said casually, glancing over as if he hadn’t just said the most ridiculous thing ever.

You shot him a disbelieving look. "What?"

"It’s fate," he repeated with a smirk. "Out of all the seats in this entire classroom, I ended up next to you. Don’t you think that means something?"

"Yeah, it means I’m cursed."

He laughed, the sound annoyingly cheerful, and leaned in closer. "Maybe, or maybe you’re just lucky to have me next to you."

"Lucky isn’t the word I’d use."

Before he could respond, the classroom started filling up, and the teacher finally arrived. You sent a silent prayer of thanks, hoping class would be a break from Seungmin’s endless teasing.

“…you will do this assignment by pairs. To speed things up, partner with your seatmate.”

It was nothing new to be stuck with your enemy, but when you realized that the activity involved a short roleplay drama, you felt a surge of panic. Acting alongside him was nowhere on your bucket list of things to do—if you even had a bucket list.

“Maam, can I exchange my partner?” you raised your hand, desperation evident in your voice.

“Ouch, you hurt my feelings!” Seungmin clutched his chest dramatically, feigning offense.

“What’s wrong with your partner?” the teacher asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sometimes you wondered why everyone seemed to love this annoying dog sitting next to you.

With no choice left, you begrudgingly held the script with a scowl. When would you ever have a peaceful day in class? Why did you have to pretend to be in love with this guy?

“Come on, read your line!” Seungmin demanded, his annoyance bubbling over.

Of all the choices in your teacher's fishbowl, you’d drawn the romantic scene everyone praying not to get. You would have preferred a horror script over this.

“I don’t want to!” you protested, crossing your arms defiantly.

“Well, you have to! It’s your fault for picking it!” he shot back, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“I told you to pick it!” you replied, frustration mounting.

“And then I’d be the one to blame? We don’t have a choice but to do well.” He leaned back, crossing his arms smugly.

“Ugh! I hate you so much!” you exclaimed, slumping back in your seat.

“Well, you have to love me now.” He chuckled, clearly enjoying your misery.

“What did I do in my past life to deserve this?” You groaned, reading the lines again.

“Probably killed someone,” he quipped, shooting you a knowing look.

You glared at him, and he immediately raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing.

“Oh, apologies. Let’s practice! You don’t have a choice; it’s either fail or just accept it.”

“I hate you.”

“I accept it, Juliet.” He grinned, clearly relishing your frustration.

Thankfully, the teacher had given you a week to prepare, which meant you never took practicing seriously after that.

“We’ll practice tomorrow,” Seungmin stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“I have something to do tomorrow,” you said nonchalantly, hoping to deter him.

“I have things too, but I want good grades, so you have to come.” He started packing his things away.

“Hey, Seungmin!” You both turned at the sound of his friend’s voice. It was Hyunjin, accompanied by Felix and Jisung. You straightened up, suddenly conscious of your appearance.

“Let’s go somewhere!” Jisung draped an arm around Seungmin’s shoulders.

“I have important things to do,” Seungmin replied, and Jisung pouted in response.

“Oh, it was you in the cafeteria the other day,” Hyunjin said, looking right at you. It took you a moment to process that he was talking to you.

“Um…” Your voice faltered. “Yes?”

Hyunjin smiled at you, and you felt your heart race.

“Guys, wait for me outside. You just sneaked into my classroom,” Seungmin laughed, and his friends complied, heading for the door.

You were still catching your breath from the interaction when Seungmin turned back, grinning at you. “So, Hyunjin is your crush?” he asked, his tone teasing.

Oh no! Seungmin had caught on!

“Of course, I’m not!” you blurted out, feeling your cheeks heat up.

“Why are you saying ‘I’m not’ in such an awkward way?” He laughed, clearly enjoying this new revelation. “Then it is true!”

“Please don’t tell him!” You pleaded, realizing you were losing this battle.

“Of course I won’t…” He smiled coyly, “…I won’t do what you ask.” Then, with a laugh, he tossed his bag over his shoulder and dashed out the door.

“Oh, damn…” You froze in your seat, panic setting in.

“See you at practice tomorrow!” Seungmin waved annoyingly from the doorway, clearly aware that you had no choice but to comply.

As the door swung shut behind him, you sank back into your chair, contemplating your fate. Tomorrow was going to be a nightmare.

--

You arrived at his house and rang the doorbell repeatedly, knowing he would probably just hear it and take his sweet time.

“You’re late,” he said with a smug smile when he finally opened the gate.

“I’m not,” you insisted, holding your wrist up to show him your watch, the sleek silver face gleaming in the sunlight.

“You’re late by 58 seconds,” he replied, crossing his arms as if he were judging your punctuality.

“What?! It’s not my fault you opened your gate late!” You rolled your eyes, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He chuckled at your annoyed expression, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “Come in.”

“Not like I have a choice,” you muttered, stepping inside.

It was your first time in his house, and you weren’t surprised by how nice it was. The exterior was already immaculate, and the inside was just as polished—walls adorned with family photos and art that hinted at a cozy atmosphere. But you would never admit that to him.

“My parents aren’t home; they have work,” he said, glancing around the living room as if to check for any potential chaos.

“No one asked,” you shot back, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“Just wanted to let you know in case you try to kill me; there’s a CCTV camera around,” he said, half-serious.

“Oh, great. Just what I need,” you replied dryly, shaking your head.

He headed to the kitchen, presumably to get something to drink, giving you a moment to explore. You took the chance to glance at the pictures displayed throughout the room. One photo caught your eye—him as a child, beaming with joy as he played in a park.

When he returned, you pointed to the picture near the TV. “Is that you?”

“Obviously,” he said, rolling his eyes, his tone laced with playful sarcasm.

You squinted at the picture, then turned to him, suddenly serious. “I mean… will there ever be a time for us to stop bickering, even just for a bit? I'm trying to start a normal conversation here”

“Will there be?” he countered, sitting beside you with a teasing grin, his body relaxed as he leaned back.

“Yeah, right. Never,” you replied, smirking despite yourself.

He handed you the printed script he’d prepared, the edges slightly crinkled. “Why are we putting so much effort into this? It’s just reading the script, not really acting it out.”

“Because I have a goal grade, unlike you,” he said matter-of-factly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Have you forgotten I’m an achiever too?” you shot back, crossing your arms defiantly.

When would this bickering ever end?

“Hyunjin is coming,” he announced suddenly, the air in the room shifting.

“No one asked--” You paused, then asked, “Wait what?!”

“So you should behave if you don’t want to scare him off,” he added, the grin still plastered on his face.

“Seungmin, why would you do that?!” You lightly slapped him on the shoulder, half-exasperated, half-amused.

“Because… I can?” He laughed, shielding himself playfully. “I mean, what’s wrong with inviting a friend? He's good at acting he can help”

“I hate you so much,” you groaned, exasperation creeping into your tone.

Hyunjin had been your crush for as long as you could remember, and the thought of him being in the same space as you made your stomach flutter with nerves. He was perfect in every way—charismatic, charming, and completely out of your league.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Seungmin teased, leaning closer with that infuriating grin. “Oh, I forgot—you like him, right?”

You responded by giving him another light shove, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment. It was always like this between you two—endless banter, lighthearted teasing, but the presence of Hyunjin added a layer of awkwardness you couldn’t quite shake.

You both settled onto the couch, the printed script between you. Seungmin glanced at you, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Okay, let’s get this over with. You read Juliet’s lines, and I’ll read Romeo’s,” he said, smirking.

“Fine, but don’t mess it up,” you replied, trying to maintain your composure.

You started reading through the script, your voice steady but laced with a hint of nervousness. “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.”

Seungmin rolled his eyes dramatically. “Wow, so poetic. Just make sure you don’t faint from all that romance.”

You shot him a glare. “Shut up, Romeo.”

Just then, the doorbell rang. Your heart raced. Hyunjin was here.

“See? You should behave,” Seungmin teased, nudging your shoulder.

You threw him a playful glare, then he rushed to open the door. There stood Hyunjin, looking effortlessly cool, his smile warm as he greeted you both. “Hey! Ready to practice?”

“Uh, yeah! Come in!” you said, trying to keep your cool but feeling the heat creep into your cheeks.

Seungmin sauntered over, clearly relishing the moment. “Hyunjin! Glad you could join us! We were just getting to the juicy parts.”

You shot him a warning look, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass you. Hyunjin, however, seemed unfazed. “Nice! I can help you both with the romantic scenes if you want.”

You nodded eagerly. “That would be great! I need help with… you know, acting like I’m in love.” You winced at how obvious that sounded.

Hyunjin grinned, moving to sit across from you. “Alright, let’s try a scene. Here’s the famous balcony part. Juliet says, ‘O, for a falconer’s voice to lure this tassel-gentle back again.’”

You felt your heart flutter. “I’ll try,” you said, taking a deep breath. “O, for a falconer’s voice to lure this tassel-gentle back again!”

Hyunjin smiled, then gestured for you to continue. “And then Romeo responds with, ‘I would not for the world they saw thee here.’”

Seungmin picked up the line, and you both began to read, the atmosphere shifting as you focused on the scene. You felt a playful energy in the air, the tension of performing lifting your spirits.

“‘I would not for the world they saw thee here,’” Seungmin said, his voice low and earnest.

You replied, “Then there’s no need to be ashamed,” trying to put as much emotion into it as possible.

Hyunjin clapped after your line. “That was great! You both looked really good together!”

You and Seungmin exchanged a quick look. “No!” you both said in unison.

Hyunjin chuckled, clearly entertained by your synchronized denial. “Really, it’s just acting! But seriously, you guys have good chemistry.”

“Thanks!” you said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride.

“Alright, let’s keep practicing!” Hyunjin suggested, eager to dive back into the script.

You focused on the lines, the playful banter keeping the atmosphere light. As you practiced, you couldn’t help but enjoy the moment, the camaraderie making the task feel less like a chore and more like fun.

With Hyunjin guiding you, you felt more confident as you delivered your lines, ready to tackle the performance together.

--

The days passed in a blur as you and Seungmin practiced again at his house. You settled into a routine, the playful banter punctuating your rehearsals, and surprisingly, you started to enjoy the time spent together.

Finally, the day of the presentation arrived. As you stood in front of the class, you felt a mix of nerves and excitement. When it was your turn to deliver your lines, you poured your heart into the performance, channeling every emotion.

To your surprise, Yuna leaned over after the presentation and whispered, “It wasn’t like you were entering each other’s nerves at all!” Her compliment made you beam with pride.

Seungmin, too, impressed you with his serious demeanor. For once, he seemed genuinely focused, and seeing him so dedicated made you realize how much he cared about doing well. You couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride for both of you.

After the applause died down, your teacher announced, “I’m pleased to inform you all that I have chosen actors for the upcoming school play, and I choose…” She paused dramatically, glancing between you and Seungmin, “…you two!”

A wave of excitement surged through you, quickly followed by a burst of playful competitiveness. “See? You should thank me for picking a role that suits us both,” you teased, nudging him playfully.

Seungmin raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Oh, I’m grateful, alright. I forgot for a moment how you despise your pick. In fact, I’m so happy I’m going to treat you to cake and coffee.”

“Yes!” you replied enthusiastically, unable to hide your grin. “I deserve a treat after all that hard work!”

“Sure, but only because I can’t let my scene partner go hungry,” he said, winking.

As you both headed out, the bickering continued, light-hearted and familiar, but beneath it was a shared joy that made the moment all the more special. You couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, this experience was bringing you closer, even if you would never admit it.

At the café, the atmosphere buzzed with chatter and the rich aroma of coffee. You and Seungmin settled into a cozy corner, the tension from earlier melted away as you both began to chat more easily.

“So, do you actually love acting?” he asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Absolutely!” you replied, a grin spreading across your face. “I’ve always idolized Emma Watson. I mean, come on, I look just like her!” You struck a dramatic pose, fluttering your eyelashes.

Seungmin looked at you, clearly unconvinced, with a “Are you kidding me?” expression. You burst out laughing, the sound ringing through the café.

“Okay, maybe not exactly like her,” you admitted, trying to catch your breath. “But a girl can dream, right?”

“Sure, if dreaming means torturing the rest of us,” he shot back with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes. “Anyway, I’m planning to major in acting when I get to college. It’s my dream!”

“Nice! I like acting too, but I’m thinking about majoring in music,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

“Wait, you? You know how to sing?” You raised an eyebrow, unable to hide your skepticism.

“Wanna hear?” he challenged, a playful glint in his eye.

“Please no!” you teased, dramatically placing your hand on your heart. “I’d rather sleep forever than listen to your singing.”

Seungmin laughed, shaking his head. “You’re so mean! I think it would be the opposite”

“Mean? I’m just saving you from embarrassment,” you shot back with a grin. “You should thank me!”

"you'll regret what you're saying when I become famous."

As you exchanged playful banter, you realized that this was your way of connecting. The teasing and light insults had become second nature, and somehow, the hurtful words didn’t sting anymore. Instead, they felt like an essential part of your friendship, a comfortable rhythm that made you both laugh.

“Seriously though,” you said, softening a bit, “I think it’s awesome that you’re into music. We’ll be the dynamic duo of arts!”

“Absolutely! Just don’t expect me to duet with you anytime soon,” he joked, raising his cup in a mock toast.

“Deal!” you laughed, feeling lighter than you had in a long time.

--

As the practice for the play approached, your schedule became packed, leaving little time for anything else. Excitement bubbled inside you, especially since Hyunjin, a year ahead of you, was also in the cast. You could hardly wait for the next rehearsal.

One day, while waiting for practice to start, you found yourself lost in thought, staring at Hyunjin as he chatted with some friends. Seungmin, ever the observant one, caught you in the act.

“You look like a lovesick puppy,” he teased, a playful grin stretching across his face.

You quickly snapped out of your daydream, narrowing your eyes at him. “Shut up! I’m not!” You playfully punched his arm, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make your point.

“Uh-huh, sure,” he laughed, clearly enjoying your reaction.

“You’re just jealous that I’m not staring at you like that!”

As partners playing lovers in the play, you often imagined being paired with Hyunjin. But the teacher had chosen Seungmin, and surprisingly, it wasn’t as bad as you expected. You’d gotten used to the banter, and the awkwardness faded as practice continued.

Days passed, filled with rehearsals that drew you closer to Seungmin. The bickering remained, a constant source of amusement.

During one practice, while the two of you were warming up, Seungmin leaned over to Hyunjin, a mischievous smile on his face. “Hyunjin, have you already eaten? This monkey here asks,” he said, pointing at you as if you were some sort of pet.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help but laugh. “I am! Thank you for asking!” you replied, your voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Yeah, and she also said you were handsome,” Seungmin added, clearly enjoying the moment.

You felt your cheeks flush, and in a mock fit of outrage, you dashed toward him. “Seungmin!” you yelled, but he was quicker. He took off running, his laughter echoing through the practice room.

When you finally caught up to him, you wrapped your arms around his neck in a playful hug, making him squirm. “You’re such a tormentor!” you laughed, shaking him lightly.

From across the room, Hyunjin watched the whole scene unfold, a smile playing on his lips. “Are you sure they hate each other?” asked the director, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

Hyunjin just nodded, clearly entertained. “Definitely yes!” he replied, chuckling at your playful dynamic.

As you and Seungmin continued to tease each other, you realized that despite the playful bickering, there was an undeniable comfort between you—something that made every rehearsal just a little bit brighter.

---

The rain poured down in relentless sheets, and there you were, standing under a shed, glaring at the gray sky as if it were personally responsible for your soaked shoes. You had forgotten your umbrella—again.

As you waited, shivering slightly from the cold, you spotted Seungmin in the distance, standing confidently under a bright yellow umbrella. He was teasingly waving it over his head, a smirk plastered on his face as he called out, “Looks like someone forgot their umbrella again!”

You rolled your eyes and shot him a finger. “Very funny, Seungmin!”

He sauntered over, his grin widening with each step. "You wanna share?"

You rolled your eyes. "No thanks." you replied, crossing your arms defiantly.

“Okay, then. One word is enough for me.” He turned to leave, an exaggerated pout on his lips.

You hesitated for a moment, watching him walk away. “Wait!” you called out, and he turned back, an annoying smile in his lips. “Fine! We can share!”

Seungmin’s face broke into a triumphant grin as he rushed back to your side, positioning the umbrella over both of you. As you walked together, the atmosphere shifted from frustration to lightheartedness, laughter spilling out between the two of you.

“My shoulder is now wet,” Seungmin complained, feigning annoyance as he brushed water off his shirt.

“Is it my fault that you work out so much? Your shoulders are just too broad!” you shot back, unable to suppress a grin.

“Did you just compliment me?” he asked, his eyes lighting up with mischief.

“Ugh, it wasn’t a compliment!” you retorted, trying to keep a straight face.

“Then I’ll just have to embrace this wetness!” he said cheerfully, adjusting the umbrella with exaggerated flair. Before you knew it, he leaned closer, and water dripped off his shoulder, splashing onto you.

You burst into laughter, shoving him playfully. “You idiot!”

Seungmin laughed too, chasing after you as you dashed away, your heart racing with excitement. The rain seemed to fade into the background, the only sound being your giggles and the splatter of water against the pavement.

“You’re going to pay for that!” he yelled, laughter echoing through the downpour.

Just as you turned to look back, he splashed a wave of water right at you, soaking you completely. You retaliated, grabbing a handful of rainwater and splashing it back at him.

The playful battle raged on, and soon both of you were drenched, shivering yet exhilarated.

---

It was two weeks before the big play, and you were laser-focused on perfecting every detail. The pressure was on, and you found yourself spending more time practicing than ever. You wanted everything to be perfect, especially with the role you were playing. Seungmin, of course, was your partner in most scenes, so you had to rehearse together.

But as you delivered your lines, standing face-to-face with Seungmin, it became harder and harder to stay serious. Seungmin kept pulling funny faces behind his lines, causing you to break character and burst into laughter.

“Direct, please, punch him or something!” you whined dramatically, throwing your hands up. “He won’t stop!”

The director, seeing your exaggerated reaction, just chuckled. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast erupted in laughter.

"I’m serious now! I promise!" Seungmin said, shrugging off his antics.

You tried to continue, but the minute you looked at his serious face, you couldn’t hold back your laughter again. His deadpan expression was just too much.

“Okay, okay,” you said, wiping away a tear from laughing too hard. “Let’s take five. I need to compose myself.”

You sat down in the corner, still laughing. Seungmin joined you, shaking his head with a grin.

“Why are you always like this?” you asked, playfully slapping his arm. “We’re supposed to be professional!”

“Hey! I’m doing great! You’re the one laughing!” he protested with a smirk.

You couldn't deny it—something had shifted between you and Seungmin lately. There was this playful, easygoing dynamic now, and to your surprise, you liked it. You weren’t exactly sure when it happened, but the tension between the two of you had somehow dissolved, leaving behind a strange sort of camaraderie. And it felt... right.

---

Late again. You were quietly crawling your way toward your seat, praying that Seungmin wouldn’t notice. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be too preoccupied to see you sneaking in. But no such luck. Just as you thought you were in the clear, you saw Seungmin glancing in your direction, that infamous smirk already forming on his face. You knew that look all too well—he was up to something.

Desperate, you shot him a pleading look, mouthing a dramatic “Nooo,” and shaking your head in an exaggerated fashion. But the smirk only widened as he raised his hand.

“Ma'am!”

You squeezed your eyes shut, bracing yourself for the inevitable scolding. This is it, you thought. I’m done.

But instead, Seungmin’s voice rang out casually, “I forgot to give you the assignments I collected from the class.”

Your eyes flew open in shock. What?

“Oh right! Thank you, Seungmin, for the reminder.” The teacher smiled at him, clearly appreciating the help.

Seungmin stood up, cool as ever, handing over the pile of papers. He sat back down, a faint smirk still on his lips as if nothing unusual had happened.

You slid into your seat cautiously, your heart still racing. You glanced over at Seungmin, who met your gaze with a quick wink before turning back to his notebook. That was... new, you thought, utterly confused.

--

Practice resumed as usual, and you started to get into the flow of things. You liked rehearsing for the play more than you thought you would, especially with the creative freedom you were given. The only downside? Seungmin never missed an opportunity to get under your skin.

As you entered the practice room, sporting your freshly cut hair, Seungmin immediately took notice.

He eyed you up and down, a teasing grin already forming on his lips. “You know,” he began, casually leaning back in his chair, “short hair doesn’t really suit you.”

You rolled your eyes, knowing exactly where this was headed. “What are you talking about? I look pretty in it,” you shot back confidently, placing your hands on your hips.

Seungmin raised an eyebrow, the playful grin still firmly in place. “Pretty? More like you look like a monkey who tried to give itself a haircut.”

“Excuse me?” You gasped, pretending to be scandalized. “I do not look like a monkey.”

“Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night,” Seungmin shrugged, clearly enjoying how flustered you were getting. He leaned closer, dropping his voice dramatically. “But just so you know, if we ever put you in a zoo, you’d fit right in.”

You gasped again, this time more dramatically, then pointed at him with a mock serious expression. “You’re just jealous because I’m out here looking cute and you can’t handle it.”

“Cute?” Seungmin laughed, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Whatever, I know the truth. You’re just afraid to admit that I’m rocking this look,” you teased back, refusing to back down.

“Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming, monkey,” he said, chuckling softly as you narrowed your eyes at him.

--

Another day in class, you were erasing the board when something hit the back of your head. Startled, you spun around, spotting Seungmin sitting there, whistling innocently. It was the most obvious thing ever—he didn’t even try to hide it.

You glared at him, trying to keep your cool. ‘Let it go’, you thought. ‘Don’t give him the satisfaction’. But then, another paper ball hit you.

"Seriously?" you muttered under your breath, turning to give him a sharp look.

This time, Seungmin didn’t bother pretending. He smiled and pointed to the paper ball on the floor. “Read it,” he said, nodding toward the crumpled note.

You raised your hand, ready to throw the eraser at him with full force.

“Wait!” Seungmin said quickly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Just read it, will you?”

With a dramatic sigh, you picked up the paper, unfolding it. Written in his messy handwriting were the words: “Let’s eat. My treat.”

Before you could react, Jisung, who had been quietly observing the whole scene, burst into laughter. “What kind of lame drama am I witnessing?” he cackled.

You whipped around and threw the eraser at him instead, hitting him square in the shoulder. “Mind your own business, Jisung!”

“Hey! I’m just saying!” Jisung grinned, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Later that afternoon, you and Seungmin found yourselves at a seafood restaurant. Well, it was supposed to be Seungmin’s treat, but somehow the two of you ended up bickering over who would pay. Cause you wanna pay too.

“Let’s settle this the mature way—rock, paper, scissors,” Seungmin proposed, holding out his fist.

“Fine,” you agreed, thinking you had a good chance.

You both threw out your hands, and you won.

“Yes!” you exclaimed, triumph coursing through you for about five seconds. But then Seungmin began to order.

He grinned, shaking his head. “You’re gonna regret that.”

You frowned, confusion creeping in as the waiter approached. Seungmin rattled off an absurd number of dishes—enough to feed an entire village.

“Seungmin,” you hissed, eyes wide in disbelief, “do you really need to order enough food for 30 people?”

Seungmin leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. “You said it was your treat. I’m just taking full advantage.”

You pouted, crossing your arms defiantly. “This isn’t fair. You’re evil.”

“Evil? No way,” he laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I prefer the term ‘strategically gifted.’”

As the waiter left with the long list of orders, you grumbled, “You should’ve thought about that before challenging me.”

In the end, Seungmin ended up paying for most of it, but you insisted on contributing, stubbornly pushing a few bills his way. He didn’t argue too much, shaking his head with an amused smile. “You’re relentless, aren’t you?”

“Of course! If I’m going to be broke, I might as well be happy about it,” you retorted, a grin spreading across your face.

Seungmin laughed, clearly entertained by your determination. “Fair enough. Next time, I’ll just let you win without a fight.”

“Deal! But only if you promise not to order enough food for a small army,” you teased, raising your glass in a mock toast.

“Challenge accepted,” he replied, clinking his glass against yours, both of you laughing at the absurdity of it all.

--

Another rehearsal, and you were sitting on the sidelines, legs crossed as you watched your classmates perform. You had just finished your scene and were still buzzing from the energy of it all. The lights cast a warm glow on the stage, and you found yourself quietly admiring the atmosphere, the stars of the production shining brightly in your eyes.

Suddenly, the director's voice broke through your thoughts. “Seungmin, can you step in as the main character for a bit? Our lead’s absent today.”

“Sure,” Seungmin replied, standing up with an easy confidence. He made his way to the center of the stage, and you prepared for him to be awkward or hesitant. Instead, he surprised you.

As he took his place, he transformed. His movements were smooth and assured, his voice resonating with sincerity. You couldn’t help but lean forward, captivated. He moved across the stage effortlessly, delivering his lines with an authenticity that made you forget you were watching your friend.

Wow, he was really talented.

You shook your head slightly, trying to push the thought away. No way could you think Seungmin was handsome. That was just absurd.

Then came a scene where he had to hug the female lead. As he pulled her into a gentle embrace, your heart gave a small, inexplicable flutter. The warmth of his presence seemed to radiate even from where you sat, and you felt an unfamiliar tightening in your stomach.

You tried to shrug it off, focusing on the performance, but the feeling lingered, swirling with an odd mix of admiration and something else entirely. Watching him, you realized you were seeing a different side of Seungmin—one that was undeniably charismatic and captivating.

The rehearsal continued, but you found it harder to concentrate, your thoughts drifting back to the way he had held her, how effortlessly he embodied the character. What was happening to you? You glanced away, trying to regain your composure, but the strange flutter remained, echoing in your mind long after the scene ended.

You were still lost in thought about the rehearsal when Hyunjin sat down beside you. “You look really pretty with your hair like that,” he commented with a smile.

You blushed at the compliment, glancing down. “Thanks! Seungmin said it doesn’t suit me.”

Hyunjin chuckled softly. “Seungmin? He’s just teasing you. That’s his way of telling you he likes it.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

“Definitely,” Hyunjin replied with a smirk. “He wouldn’t bother teasing you if he didn’t like it.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “He always tease me.”

Hyunjin leaned back, still smiling. “How did you two meet, anyway?”

“We’re neighbors,” you explained. “Since elementary school. We were always competing—who could get the best grades, who could finish their homework first. It’s been like that forever.”

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. “Do you hate him?”

You laughed, thinking for a moment. “If I could push him off a cliff, I probably would.”

Hyunjin grinned. “Would you really, though?”

You hesitated, suddenly unsure. “...yes,” you admitted, half-joking.

Hyunjin chuckled, clearly sensing something. “Well, I hope I don’t hear about you two pushing each other off cliffs anytime soon.”

You shrugged with a playful smile. “No promises.”

--

Later, you were eating peacefully in the cafeteria, minding your own business, when Seungmin plopped his tray down across from you. He sat down without a word, digging into his food.

You raised an eyebrow, already knowing what was coming. “Let me guess... your friends are coming?”

Seungmin glanced at you lazily, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. “No, they don’t wanna see you.”

You pouted, pretending to be offended. “I miss Hyunjin.”

“Then ask him out,” Seungmin replied lazily, taking a bite of his bread.

You paused mid-bite, your eyes narrowing as you stared at him. “You think I have a chance with him?”

Seungmin smirked, shaking his head. “No, he hates monkeys like you who throw erasers at people.”

You gasped, glaring at him. “I do not look like a monkey!”

“Sure, whatever helps you,” Seungmin teased, his grin widening. “And for the record, Hyunjin’s probably just being nice.”

You frowned, “He said I was pretty with my new haircut.”

Seungmin scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Do you know how much he lies? He probably tells that to everyone.”

You didn’t bother arguing. Instead, you decided to change tactics. “Help me get him to go out with me, then.”

Seungmin snorted. “Do it on your own. You’re big enough for that.”

You groaned dramatically, leaning across the table toward him. “If you help me, I’ll buy you something. Anything you want.”

Seungmin looked at you, considering it for a moment before shrugging. “Buy me a house."

You rolled your eyes, giving him a deadpan stare. “Never mind. I’ll do it myself.”

He smirked, clearly enjoying how easily you gave up. “Good luck, Juliet.”

--

It was Friday again, and somehow, you found yourself seated next to Seungmin—again. This time, however, you arrived early, a full thirty minutes ahead of your usual time. Feeling tired, you laid your head on the desk, hoping to catch a quick nap.

Just as you were dozing off, you felt a sharp knock on the desk, startling you awake. You looked up to see Seungmin grinning down at you, clearly enjoying your misery.

“Missing me that much, huh?” he teased. “You’re thirty minutes earlier than usual.”

You groaned, rubbing your eyes. “We basically see each other every day. I’m already sick of it,” you replied with a shrug.

Seungmin chuckled, settling into his seat beside you. “You’ll survive. Anyway, I need to copy your assignment.”

You blinked, sitting up straight. “We had an assignment?”

“Seriously?” Seungmin raised an eyebrow, holding back a laugh. He reached into his bag and pulled out his own paper, handing it to you. “Here, just copy mine before Ma’am shows up.”

You took the paper from him, still confused. “Wait, I thought you said you didn’t do the assignment either?”

“I forgot that I had,” Seungmin said casually, smirking. “Now hurry up before it’s too late.”

Rolling your eyes, you grabbed your pen and started copying the assignment, scribbling quickly while glancing at the door every few seconds to make sure the teacher wasn’t close. As you worked, you couldn’t help but notice the shift between you and Seungmin. There was a time when you would’ve refused to help him—or worse, argued with him endlessly. But now? It felt... different. There was a weird sense of comfort in these small moments.

"What now? does our fighting over who finish assignments first done?" you laugh,

"Then give me back my paper. I've changed my mind."

You didn’t hate it. In fact, you kind of liked it.

--

 Seungmin was sipping on his water bottle backstage when Hyunjin approached him, all casual as ever.

“Seungmin,” Hyunjin started, leaning against the wall beside him. “Do you like her?”

Seungmin paused mid-sip, glancing sideways at Hyunjin with a raised brow. “What are you talking about?”

Hyunjin gave him a knowing look. “I’ve known you for years, dude. I know when you like someone.”

Seungmin snorted, trying to brush it off. “Why would that matter to you?”

“Well,” Hyunjin said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “if I asked her out, would you get mad?”

Seungmin’s eyes widened slightly before he quickly masked it, his expression turning nonchalant. “Why would I care?”

Hyunjin tilted his head, smirking as if testing Seungmin’s reaction. “Really?”

Seungmin waved his hand dismissively, though his jaw tightened slightly. “What am I, a matchmaker for you two? Why are you even asking for my opinion? I don’t care.”

Hyunjin chuckled and slung an arm around Seungmin’s shoulders. “Thanks, bro. That’s all I needed to know.”

As Hyunjin walked away, Seungmin clenched his water bottle a little too tightly. He wasn’t sure what irritated him more—the fact that Hyunjin seemed interested in you, or the fact that you two were making him feel like some kind of third wheel. Whatever it was, it was starting to get under his skin.

--

Seungmin was making his way back to the classroom, balancing a small box of milk he’d grabbed for you from the cafeteria. He'd overheard you mention wanting one earlier, so without a second thought, he picked one up, hoping to surprise you.

As he neared the classroom door, he paused when he heard your voice. You were deep in conversation with one of your friends, and for some reason, curiosity got the better of him. He stood just outside, hidden by the doorframe, listening.

"Why do you hate Seungmin so much, anyway?" your friend asked.

Seungmin’s ears perked up at the question, his grip tightening around the milk carton. He wasn’t sure why he was still standing there, but he couldn’t move. He just waited.

You sighed before answering, "He's so annoying. Always teasing me, always acting like he’s better than me. He’s infuriating."

Each word hit him harder than he expected, like tiny jabs that made his heart sink deeper and deeper. He already knows this what you felt for him but he doesn't know why it still hurts. He could feel his chest tighten, his breath coming out a little shallower as he stayed rooted to the spot.

But then you added something else, something he missed. A quieter tone followed the harshness of your earlier words. It was softer, almost like you were reflecting on something.

"Lately though... I don’t know. I guess I’ve started to see that maybe he’s not that bad."

But Seungmin didn’t hear those words. He had already turned away, stepping back before he could catch the change in your tone. His heart, now heavier, urged him to walk in the opposite direction, so that’s exactly what he did. The milk, once meant to be a small gesture of kindness, now felt pointless in his hand.

PE class rolled around, and with no rehearsal scheduled, you entered the gym, spotting Seungmin as usual. You both ended up being partners again—something that had become routine at this point. There were no protests, no over-the-top objections. Just quiet acceptance.

The first activity was jogging, but you immediately noticed something was off. Normally, Seungmin would be teasing you the whole time, making snarky comments about how slow you were. But today, he was silent.

"One minute," you said, reading his time on the stopwatch. Normally, this would prompt a laugh from him, followed by some sarcastic remark about how you'd be the first one caught in a zombie apocalypse.

But today, he just nodded and moved on to the next activity without a word. Weird.

The next exercise was push-ups. You barely managed four before collapsing, groaning in exhaustion. Seungmin, on the other hand, breezed through twenty without breaking a sweat. You tried to compliment him in a lowkey way, but he didn’t react—just kept going like a machine.

What is up with him?

Then came the sit-ups. You held down Seungmin’s toes, though it didn’t seem like he needed any help. His form was perfect, and he didn’t even look your way. The proximity of the exercise made you search for his eyes, but every time you tried to make eye contact, he avoided looking at you.

When it was your turn, you felt exhausted by your fifth sit-up, and Seungmin held your toes firmly in place. This time, he watched you more intently, though you couldn’t see him since you were focusing on the exercise. Only when you glanced up did he quickly avert his gaze.

After class, you caught him trying to leave and stopped him in his tracks.

“Seungmin, what’s going on with you?” you asked, planting yourself in front of him.

He gave you a blank look. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re acting... weirdly weird today. Did something happen?”

Seungmin sighed, clearly not in the mood for a conversation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said flatly, brushing past you.

You caught his arm before he could fully walk away. “Hey, you can talk to me. If something’s wrong, just tell me.”

He paused, looking at you for a moment with an unreadable expression before saying coldly, “Why would I? We’re not friends.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. You froze, watching as he walked away, feeling a strange pang in your chest.

Later, you sat next to Hyunjin, watching Seungmin perform his scenes on stage. He still ignored you, going through the motions of his role flawlessly, but there was no denying the distance between you now. The way he looked past you, as if you weren’t there, made you feel... sad.

“What’s up with him?” you muttered to Hyunjin. “He’s been acting strange all day.”

Hyunjin smirked. “He’s probably mad about what I told him.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What did you tell him?”

Hyunjin chuckled softly, leaning closer. “I told him I like you. And that I was going to ask you out.”

You blinked in surprise, staring at him. “Wait... what?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Why else would he be jealous?”

“Jealous?” you repeated, confused. “Why would he be jealous?”

Hyunjin let out a soft laugh. “I don’t know if you and Seungmin are both idiots, or if you’re just blind.”

“Ouch,” you said, feigning offense, though your mind was spinning. Jealous? Seungmin?

Hyunjin’s laugh faded into a small smile, and after a moment of silence, he sighed. “Wow, my confession really flew under the radar, huh?”

You looked at him, feeling a little guilty. Oh... right. His confession.

You smiled awkwardly. “Wait, was it serious? Or were you just joking?”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “You think I’m a joker like that puppy?” He nodded toward Seungmin, who was still on stage.

Normally, this would be the moment where you’d blush, stammer, and lose your mind. But something didn’t feel right. There was something nagging at you, something you couldn’t quite put your finger on.

“I...”

Before you could respond, Hyunjin raised a hand, cutting you off. “Actually, you know what? Don’t answer me yet. I’ll wait until after the play presentation.”

He smiled, and you smiled back, though it felt forced.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m just getting my water bottle,” Seungmin’s voice broke the moment as he stepped between you two, grabbing his bottle.

You opened your mouth to say something, but he was gone before you could. You stared after him, feeling more confused than ever.

-

In the past, this type of bickering was normal between you two. You had always gotten on each other's nerves, and usually, you'd be happy to ignore him, savoring the peace and quiet. But this time felt different. Why were you so affected by his silence? Why did it feel like a hollow pit had formed in your chest, waiting for him to fill it? You hated him, didn’t you? You used to hate him—right? But now, all you felt was a growing sense of confusion and frustration, like you were waiting for something that never came.

Seungmin had been avoiding you for three days now, and at first, you brushed it off, assuming he had something on his mind. But as time went on, the weight of his silence pressed harder. It wasn’t just affecting the play—it was affecting you. His avoidance felt more personal than it ever had before, and it gnawed at you until you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

"Seungmin, let's talk." You caught up to him backstage, your voice firmer than usual, trying to mask the vulnerability you were starting to feel.

"Why?" he responded coldly, not even looking in your direction.

You blinked, taken aback by the sharpness of his tone. "What do you mean, 'why'? We obviously need to talk about something."

"I don't want to," he replied like a stubborn child, folding his arms defensively.

You groaned, frustration bubbling inside you. "Stop giving me that bratty attitude, Seungmin. Let's just talk, okay?" Without thinking, you grabbed his wrist, dragging him toward the exit door for privacy.

Once you were both outside, you turned to face him, still gripping his wrist. "Are you angry at me?" you asked softly, though the edge of desperation in your voice betrayed you.

Seungmin pulled his hand away from your grasp, shrugging. "We're normally angry at each other," he muttered, staring at the ground as if avoiding your gaze would shield him from the conversation.

You furrowed your brows, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "Seungmin, we both know something has changed between us. We’re… sort of friends now, right? Why are you acting like this?"

He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "Why? This is normal. We’ve always been like this. Why are you suddenly acting like something's different?"

Your chest tightened, and you swallowed hard. "So I’m still just an enemy to you?" The words slipped out, raw and vulnerable, and you hated yourself for how much it hurt. You could feel tears prickling at the corners of your eyes, but you blinked them back quickly. "Because for me—" Your voice wavered, but you forced yourself to continue. "For me, things changed. I’ll be honest with you. I hated you so much before, Seungmin. I mean, if I could’ve thrown you into the fire pit, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat." You laughed bitterly, trying to lighten the mood, but your heart ached as you realized the truth. "But now, I see you as a friend."

Seungmin's breath hitched at your confession, and for a moment, his walls seemed to crack. But then his jaw clenched, and he shook his head. "No."

You stared at him, bewildered. "No? What do you mean 'no'?"

His voice was strained, like he was forcing the words out. "Why are you doing this to me? Why can’t you just focus on Hyunjin and pretend like I’m not even here?"

"Why would I do that?" you asked, confusion lacing your words.

Seungmin's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing in frustration. "Because you like him," he bit out. "You like Hyunjin, and you’ve hated me since the day we met."

You stepped closer, lowering your voice, "Seungmin… I told you. We're past that stage of hating each other."

His laugh was hollow, bitter. "You’ve hated me since we were kids. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? But you know what? I preferred it that way. I’d rather you keep hating me than whatever this is."

You were silent for a moment, letting his words sink in. It hit you hard—the realization that Seungmin had always been more affected by your feelings than you’d thought. And now, he was clinging to the past because it was easier to accept your hatred than deal with the uncertainty of whatever you were becoming now.

"But I don't hate you anymore," you said softly, your voice gentle but firm.

His gaze flickered up to meet yours for the briefest second before he looked away again, a storm of emotions brewing behind his eyes. His fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, you thought he might say something, but instead, he shook his head, taking a deep breath.

"Then what do you feel now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

It was a question you hadn’t fully answered yourself. What did you feel? What had changed between you two? The hate had faded long ago, replaced by something warmer, something deeper. But how could you put it into words when you weren’t sure what those feelings even were?

"I don’t know," you admitted, your voice trembling. "But I know I don’t want to keep ignoring it. I don’t want to keep pretending like we’re still stuck in the past. I care about you, Seungmin, and I—"

He cut you off, his voice sharp but shaky, "Stop. Don’t say it. Please."

His plea was laced with fear, and you could see it now—the fear of getting hurt, of being vulnerable. Seungmin had always hidden behind his teasing and sharp words, but now, as he stood before you, walls crumbling, you realized just how much he had been protecting himself all along.

"Seungmin..." You took a step closer, your hand hesitating before reaching out to touch his arm. "You don’t have to push me away."

He closed his eyes, his shoulders tense, and for a moment, you thought he might pull away again. But then, he sighed, the weight of his emotions too heavy to bear alone anymore. "You don’t get it," he whispered, his voice raw. "I’m scared. Scared that if you don’t hate me, you’ll realize… I’ve liked you for so long, and I don’t know how to handle that."

Your heart skipped a beat at his confession. The tension, the unspoken words, all of it finally made sense. You felt your chest tighten as you processed his words, the vulnerability behind them cutting deep.

Seungmin liked you.

And somehow, deep down, you’d known.

-

The day of the play had arrived, and for the first time, a tight knot of nerves twisted in your stomach. You'd performed in front of people before, but this time felt different. This time, you weren’t just performing in front of a crowd—you were performing in front of him.

As you paced backstage, waiting for the curtain to rise, you couldn’t help but glance around anxiously, searching for Seungmin. The others were already in place, getting ready for the opening act. But Seungmin… he was nowhere to be seen.

Your heart raced as minutes ticked by. What if he didn’t show up? What if his feelings, the tension between you, had driven him away? You shook your head, trying to focus, but the anxiety clung to you like a second skin.

The stage manager called for the cast to take their places, and you stepped toward the stage, dread settling deep in your chest. The lights dimmed, the curtains rustled, and the play was about to begin. But Seungmin—where was he?

Just as the opening music started and your heart sank, you heard footsteps behind you. You turned and saw him. Seungmin, slightly out of breath, his eyes locking with yours as he walked into place. He gave you a small, reassuring nod, and you felt a rush of relief. He had made it.

You took a deep breath, letting his presence calm you, and when the curtains finally rose, you stepped into your role. The lights blinded you for a second, and the sound of the audience rustled in the background, but none of that mattered. Your focus was on one person.

Seungmin.

You went through your lines, heart pounding in your chest. The audience faded away, and it was just the two of you on stage. But when you looked into Seungmin’s eyes, delivering your lines, it felt too real—like every word you spoke wasn’t part of the play but something deeper.

And then came the moment. The pivotal line.

As you reached the climax of your scene, Seungmin stepped closer, his gaze steady and intense. “I love you,” he said, his voice clear and sincere.

Your breath caught in your throat. The weight of his words, delivered in that moment, felt electric. It wasn’t just a line; it was a declaration that cut through the scripted lines and went straight to your heart.

Tears pricked at your eyes, threatening to spill over. You weren’t supposed to cry here—not in this scene—but it was impossible to hold back the emotion. The intensity of the moment, standing before him as he revealed his feelings, overwhelmed you.

Seungmin’s gaze softened, and for a second, the audience faded away. It was just you and him, wrapped in a moment that felt like the truth finally breaking through.

You tried to respond, but the weight of his confession hung in the air, filling the space between you. You swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay.

The play continued, but all you could think about was Seungmin’s words. He had spoken them as part of the script, but they felt so real, so genuine. Something shifted in the atmosphere between you two—something undeniable.

As the final act came to a close, and you took your bow, the audience erupted in applause. But even then, your eyes were only on Seungmin, wondering if he felt the same shift in the air between you two. Something had changed. Something profound. And while you weren’t sure where it would lead, for now, you were content just to hold on to the moment, letting it linger as the lights dimmed and the curtains closed.

For now, the stage had played its part, but what came next was something only time would tell.

-

a reblog, like, and comment is very much appreciated to keep me going. thanks for reading, love!

sorry for being inactive lately and not responding to any of your messages i appreciate you all love you sm!!

part 2 here!

[essentiallyleaf]

day 14. underwater sex. with. kim chaeyeon.

1164 words.

tags.

kinktober ‘23, idol x male reader, girlfriend chaeyeon, life is hard, sometimes i want to escape, underwater sex, a little jealousy, semi-public sex, breeding, do i use periods too much?, i’m writer, so if you find any bad takes in here, i blame the characters (and one of them is you, so who’s really at fault here?), terrible pacing, zero setup, just a bunch of fluff followed by some smut.

notes.

tararì tararà. inspiredly, leaf.

That sea blue van would be your home for the summer. You bought it second-hand after you got out of high school, painted it the least bland color you could find, packed it with your stuff and started driving. “Your stuff” included, in no particular order: a big boombox, an empty backpack, two plastic leis, a portable stove, a skateboard, a panda onesie and a giraffe onesie, a Rubik’s cube, a ukulele, Luffy’s straw hat, a My Melody trousse and an array of colorful carpets and blankets. (Oh, and all those “you”’s stand for youse, of course. Isn’t this language a peculiar one, where it’s all you’s, whether they come in ones or twos?)

You like Europe, Chaeyeon likes the sea. Sounds like a perfect match. She loves standing with her head and upper torso out of the window on the rooftop, and opening her arms wide, the feeling of the wind between her hair, on her face. It’s fast and it’s present, it’s right now. You love to just turn The Japanese House up when she does that, and watch the sun set, or rise, or just stay up at its zenith, or rest from its hard work while the stars embellish the night sky like shiny little white gems on deep blue velvet. You obviously can’t see her face from the driver’s seat, but you can picture it exactly in your mind, and it’s beautiful.

There was no set route, no bulleted list with places to visit, every night you went to bed not knowing where you’d head the next day. Just drove on seaside roads for hours until you found a nice spot, then parked the van, set up on the beach, and spent the day there. Reading coming-of-age books, playing go, debating Miyazaki (Ghibli Miyazaki, not From Miyazaki; you like the magic of Spirited Away, she likes the rawness of Grave of the Fireflies, she says as far as stories go, you can never beat humanity; for the other one, you both agree it’s Bloodborne and it’s not even close).

One day in early July, you were somewhere between Alicante and Cartagena, the midday sun was hot but still bearable (they say the low humidity helps), the beach fairly empty. You went to the kiosk to get Chaeyeon an orangeade, the girl behind you in line said hi with a courteous smile and started talking to you about vegan sunscreen. When you got back and gave her the drink, she said she wasn’t thirsty anymore.

“Did something happen?”

“I don’t know, you tell me,” she answered while pouting.

“What’s this all about? Did I do something wrong?” You asked, confused.

“Nah, you probably did everything right, I mean, that pretty girl looked so over the moon as you were hitting on her.” A veil of jealousy coated her face.

“Hitting on her? Chae, that girl is as pretty as she’s uninteresting, you have no idea”

“Yeah?” She tried to hide her legitimate curiosity.

“I asked her what drew her to Spain and she was like, ‘I heard you can get really good tans’” Chaeyeon snorted. Not exactly your type.

You made aglio e olio pasta on the portable stove for lunch; your mom always used to put a little anchovy paste in it even though you didn’t like it, it was one of the many silly reasons why you thought you hated her in your early teens, now it’s somehow become a fond memory of her. After a couple hours of fairly silent crosswords and solitaires lying down in her blue one-piece swimsuit, you asked her:

“Wanna put our feet in the water?”

“M'kay. Not too long though, I gotta finish this sudoku”

Feet became knees became hips, and in two minutes flat the two of you were twenty-five meters away from shore, the water at the level of your nipples, which is the level of her chin. Not that you expected anything different, she loves the sea like that, she just can’t help it. You hugged and kissed her and one of your fingers found itself under the strap of her swimsuit.

“W-What are you doing?” She giggled, startled and excited.

“Sh-shh, no one can see us”

“You are such a horny dork”

The strap came off, the other followed soon after. As you pushed the top part of her one-piece below her boobs to fondle them, her laughs only made space for soft moans. One of your hands reached lower for her core, first above the blue fabric, then pushing it aside and starting to massage her lower lips. She mewled in your mouth as your thumb circled around her clit.

“Can you do this for me, baby?”

“Mmh-what?”

“Turn around”

You rotated her hips as she was now also facing the shore, only a few people in the water, none at close, or even moderate distance. You helped her bend over slightly, one hand at her shoulder, one around her waist as support. Her hands lowered your swim trunks and stroked your erection a couple times before guiding it to her slit.

“Can I?” you asked.

“Yeah, just fucking, don’t make it obvious”

“You should be the one worrying about that,” you teased as you pushed yourself in.

She whimpered at your penetration, the water simultaneously making the surfaces feel more slippery and the space in between them feel more stuffy. It was quite a different sensation, but certainly no less pleasing. As soon as you bottomed out in her, you pulled your hips back and immediately hit her ass with your pelvis again in a quick motion (she couldn’t contain a high-pitched whine, which fortunately didn’t overpower the sound of the waves building up and crashing onto the sand). Rinse and repeat.

Your palms quickly found themselves on her irresistible tits again as she looked for support with her hands behind your lower back and on your asscheeks. Seeing the two of you in that state surely wouldn’t have been flattering, but fortunately no one did. So you could continue to pound Chaeyeon’s pussy from behind as you groped her beautiful, soft mounds, stimulating her nipples with your fingers. Her moans getting louder and louder told you everything you needed to know.

“Where do you want it?”

“Fuh- Don’t waste it”

At those exact words, you emptied yourself deep in her, the walls around you tightening repeatedly as she hit her own orgasm. You wrapped your arms all around her as you gradually slowed your movements down, making sure her legs wouldn’t give up on her now.

“Can you piggyback me back there?”

“Not even pull your swimsuit back up? Such a slut, for real”

“Oh, I’m the slut? What about the guy who flirts with any vegan tan girl he sees?”

You stayed silent as pushed two fingers in her slit and gathered some of your cum before bringing them to her lips and letting her lick them clean.

“None of them get this”

-

footnotes.

feeling like driving now. peacefully, leaf.

[applebinnie]

▶︎˗ˏˋ zom-baby >< ´ˎ˗

𖦹 prologue 𖦹 ▶︎next part

ᯤ zombie!Anton ᯤ

→ zombies were always known as brutal, vile creatures. You always thought they were gross and scary, especially having to instantly pulverize every zombie that comes your way can be sickening to even think of. But when you were greeted by an unwanted visitor, it didn't seem too bad. After all, what could go so wrong with a girl and a zombie?

warnings: mention of monsters (zombies!), I'm vv mid at writing and it's my first time writing in eng so please reduce your expectations to ground level 😭

💭: hi gais!! the idea came to me while I was watching the odd family and I was debating whether I should make this inspired by tof or disney's zombies bcs I LOVE both films but I decided to write this one first :') also, this isn't really a significant part, i jst dk how to begin this series so you can skip to part 1. But if you want to know more about the mc (you!) then definitely recommend reading this first!

☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎

What if the world was to plunge to the bottom, finally succumbing to the deadly virus that turns human beings into brainless, brutal, flesh eating monsters. such scenarios kept yo up at night. The idea of a dead man rising to their grave just to hunt and feed on functioning human brains has always terrified you. you always thought of the living conditions, the lack of food, water, and all that. but along with the concept of zombies is the concept of a half-zombie. They are the undead, or atleast half-dead. as you grew up, with your fear of zombies came a strange fascination to it.

Among the plethora of z-films that featured blood baths and a ferrocious amount of unwanted bites to the head, there were light, comedic z-films with a common trope: Romance.

It usually features a half-zombie, or a half-dead. Rare species of the undead that have the ability to recognize humans and restrain their appetite. You always wondered what their love interest saw in them, even thinking of giving them a kiss after seeing them mutilate and bite someone's limbs off. It was bizarre, but perhaps it's the irony of the situation that made you feel less scared of them. Zombies are gross, gooey creatures with not a single coherent thought, why would you even think of falling in love with one?

You slowly close your laptop after finishing all the work, and decided to lay back and find a nice show to watch. You grab on to your blanket, and click on a light, relaxing show. Growing up with a fascination for monster macabre can be mind-twisting, so consuming light and fun media once in while is refreshing. You were watching a film where a magic powder dust from a power petal turns any person who inhales it into a cat. It was sort of like an alarming potential apocalypse if you squint, but it happened only within the borders of a small town, unnoticed by the world. You think back, what if something like that were to happen in the real world? Who would be the first ones to notice? For sure it would be those who have keen eyes and a strong intuition, like the film's hero. But then again, there is no way something like that could happen in real life.

You are moving soon, to a place much more peaceful than where you are now, perhaps you can clear your mind, free from unwanted thoughts, or even more—unwanted memories.

▶︎next part

☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎ ☠︎︎

rlly shitty start but idk how to begin this piece (╥_╥) part 1 is much much more coherent than this, but I'm still posting this either way just because raghraghragh if you did read this sorry this took so long :( and thank you smsmsm for reading ily guys so much mwap mwap mwap (´ ε ` ) - val 🧸

[a-spes]

✧ Maxence, 19 yo, a woman obsessed with women.

✧ I am writing for : Natasha Romanoff, Kate Bishop, Carol Danvers, Brunnhilde, Wanda Maximoff, Maria Hill, Yelena Belova.

✧ I do write about : angst/comfort, dark topics, action, fluff, wlw or nblw relations.

✧ I do not write about : nsft stories, child!reader, pregnancy.

✧ Requests : open.

✧ My WIPs can be find here.

✧ Do not hesitate to interact with my blog (or me), I swear I do not bite (as long as you are respectful) 🤗

✧ Devious lies // part one. part two. part three. // Anon request - in writing ...

✧ Pretty faces, dark souls // chapter one. // you robbed the wrong person and she makes sure that you pay your debts, willingly or not.

✧ Rise of the darkness // Your family is cursed but you thought you were better, that you could keep the Beast away so you told no one about it. It turns out you can't.

✧ Six feet away // You were Natasha's girlfriend. It has been a year since she died and you still can't accept it, visiting her grave whenever you can.

✧ Stained hearts // Fury sent you and Natasha on a mission even if he knows you are in a relationship.

✧ Stolen Freedom // Anon request - Natasha became the most feared assassin yet again and a ruthless criminal, while you are working for the government, trying to take her down. You eventually face Nat' for the first time in years.

✧ The blood on my hands // When you kill someone on duty for the first time, Natasha is the one being here to stop you from falling.

✧ The dog's fall // Anyone that can beat her in a fight will earn her, and Natasha intends to be the one, working hard to get what she thinks is hers. A dog can't fight for eternity, can it?

✧ The shot you missed // you're spending a day at the fair with your girlfriend, the sweetest mob boss that possibly exists, and she makes sure that you've a good day.

✧ A deadly wish // It comes a day when you are so desesperate that you threw a coin in the lake, wishing for a better life. At first, you thought it was stupid, but was it? If you've learned anything, it is to never take ancient magic lightly.

✧ Church of the damned // in writing ...

last update : 05. 02. 2024.

[southernsolarpunk]

Hey check this out

I was making a zine (solarpunk ofc) and decided to use a bunch of old National Geographic magazines to cut up and use in a scrappy diy scrapbook fashion and of course I started reading them. This one in particular:

It caught my eye because it’s from September 1980 & talks about the Middle East. My brain wonders if they mention Palestine and they do! I copied the text for accessibility, but I put pictures at the end of the original pages.

“Jerusalem: reunited or occupied? The question has divided the city's 400,000 Jews and 100,000 Arabs since Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967.

BEIRUT, JANUARY 1975. Armed soldiers lead me through labyrinthine back streets, up a dark stairway to a midnight rendez-vous. Only a bare bulb lights the temporary command post; Yasir Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, seldom dares spend two days in the same place. “Our argument is not with the Jews” He tells me. "We are both Semites. They have lived with us for centuries. Our enemies are the Zionist colonizers and their backers who insist Palestine belongs to them exclusively.

We Arabs claim deep roots there too."

Two decades ago Palestinians were to be found in United Nations Relief Agency camps at places like Gaza and Jericho, in a forlorn and pitiable state. While Palestinian spokesmen pressed their case in world cap-itals, the loudest voice the world heard was that of terrorists, with whom the word Palestinian came to be associated. Jordan fought a war to curb them. The disintegration of Lebanon was due in part to the thousands of refugees within its borders.

Prospects for peace brightened, however, when President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, most powerful of the Arab countries, made his historic trip to Israel in November 1977. A year later Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David accords, a framework for the return of the occupied Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

The former enemies established diplomatic relations and opened mail, telephone, and airline communications.

The Camp David accords also addressed the all-important Palestinian question but left it vague. Sadat insists that any lasting peace depends on an eventual Palestinian homeland in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Israel agrees to limited autonomy for those regions, but, fearful of a new and hostile Palestinian state suddenly planted on its borders, insists that Israeli troops must maintain security there.

Crowded Rashidiyah refugee camp, set among orange groves south of the ancient Phoenician port of Tyre in Lebanon, lies on the front lines. Frequent pounding by Israeli military jets and warships seeking PLO targets has war-hardened its population, some 13,700 Palestinians.

At the schoolyard I watched a solemn flag raising. Uniformed ashbal, or lion cubs, stood rigid as color guards briskly ran up the green-white-and-black Palestinian flag.

Ranging in age from 8 to 12, they might have been Cub Scouts— except for the loaded rifles they held at present arms. Behind them stood two rows of girls, zaharat, or little flowers. Same age, same weapons.

Over lunch of flat bread, hummus, yo-gurt, and chicken I commented to my hosts, a group of combat-ready fedayeen, that 30 years of bitter war had settled nothing nor gained the Palestinians one inch of their homeland. Was there no peaceful way to press their cause?

"Yes, and we are doing it. Finally, after 30 years, most countries in the United Nations recognize that we too have rights in Palestine. But we feel that until your country stops its unconditional aid to Israel, we have two choices: to fight, or to face an unmarked grave in exile."

AFTER CROSSING the Allenby Bridge from Amman, I drove across the fertile Jordan Valley through Arab Jericho and past some of the controversial new Jewish settlements: Mitzpe Jericho, Tomer, Maale Adumim, Shilat. Then as I climbed through the steep stony hills to Jerusalem, I saw that it too had changed. A ring of high-rise apartments and offices was growing inexorably around the occupied Arab side of the walled town. Within the wall, too, scores of Arab houses had been leveled during extensive reconstruction.

"Already 64 settlements have been built on the West Bank," said a Christian Palestinian agriculturist working for an American church group in Jerusalem. "And another 10 are planned," he said. Unfolding a copy of the master plan prepared in 1978 by the World Zionist Organization, he read: "Real-izing our right to Eretz-Israel... with or without peace, we will have to learn to live with the minorities...

The Israeli Government has reaffirmed the policy. In Prime Minister Menachem Begin's words: "Settlement is an inherent and inalienable right. It is an integral part of our national security."

"Security" is a word deeply etched into the Israeli psyche. The country has lived for 30 years as an armed camp, always on guard against PLO raids and terrorist bombings.

Whenever such incidents occur, the response is quick: even greater retaliation.

In Jerusalem I met with David Eppel, an English-language broadcaster for the Voice of Israel. "We must continue to build this country. Israel is our lawful home, our des-tiny. We have the determination, and an immense pool of talent, to see it through." His cosmopolitan friends a city plan-ner, a psychology professor, an author gathered for coffee and conversation at David's modern apartment on Jerusalem's Leib Yaffe Road.

Amia Lieblich's book, Tin Soldiers on Jerusalem Beach, studies the debilitating effects almost constant war has had on life in the Jewish state, a nation still surrounded by enemies. As she and her husband kindly drove me to my hotel in Arab Jerusalem afterward, some of that national apprehension surfaced in the writer herself.

"We don't often come over to this part of town," she said. "Especially at night."

I DROVE OUT of the Old City in the dark of morning and arrived a few hours later at the nearly finished Israeli frontier post, whence a shuttle bus bounced me through no-man's-land to the Egyptian ter-minal. As a result of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, it was possible for the first time since 1948 to travel overland from Jerusalem to Cairo. An Egyptian customs man opened my bags on a card table set up in the sand. I took a battered taxi into nearby El Arish, to a sleepy bank that took 45 minutes to convert dollars into Egyptian pounds, Then 1 hired a Mercedes for the

200-mile run across the northern Sinai des-ert, the Suez Canal, and the Nile Delta. By sundown Cairo was mine.

Despite official government optimism, I found many in Cairo worried that President Sadat's bold diplomatic gestures might fail.

The city was noticeably tense as Israel officially opened its new embassy on Mohi el-Din Abu el-Ez Street in Cairo's Dukki quarter. Black-uniformed Egyptian troops guarded the chancery and nearby intersections as the Star of David flew for the first time in an Arab capital. Across town, police with fixed bayonets were posted every ten feet around the American Embassy. Others were posted at the TV station and the larger hotels. Protests were scattered, mostly peaceful. None disturbed the cadence of the city.

Welcoming ever larger delegations of tourists and businessmen from Europe and the U.S., Cairo was busier than ever-and more crowded. Despite a building boom, many Egyptians migrating from the countryside, perhaps 10,000 a month, still find housing only by squatting among tombs at the City of the Dead, the huge old cemetery on the southeast side of the capital.

Even with the new elevated highway and wider bridge across the Nile, half-hour traffic standstills are common. Commuters arrive at Ramses Station riding even the roofs of trains, then cram buses until axles break.

Cairo smog, a corrosive blend of diesel fumes and hot dust from surrounding des-erts, rivals tear gas.

Despite the rampant blessings of prog-ress, Cairo can still charm. In the medieval Khan el-Khalili bazaar near Cairo's thousand-year-old Al-Azhar University, I sought out Ahmad Saadullah's sidewalk café. I found that 30 piasters (45 cents) still brings hot tea, a tall water pipe primed with tobacco and glowing charcoal, and the latest gossip. The turbaned gentleman on the carpeted bench opposite was unusually talk-ative; we dispensed with weather and the high cost of living and got right to politics:

"Of course I am behind President Sadat, but he is taking a great risk. The Israelis have not fully responded. If Sadat fails, no other Arab leader will dare try for peace again for a generation."

Across town at the weekly Akhbar El-Yom newspaper, one of the largest and most widely read in the Middle East, chief editor Abdel-Hamid Abdel-Ghani drove home that same point.

"What worries me most is that President Sadat's agreement with Israel has isolated Egypt from our brother nations," he told me. "When Saudi Arabia broke with us, it was a heavy loss. The Saudis are our close neighbors. Now they have canceled pledges for hundreds of millions in development aid to Egypt. Some 200,000 Egyptians-teach-ers, doctors, engineers live and work in the kingdom.

"And Saudi Arabia, guardian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, remains for Muslim Egypt a spiritual homeland."

This magazine was published before my mom was born, and yet the sentiments have basically unchanged. An interesting look at the past, and more proof this didn’t start October 7th. (But imagine my followers already knew that)

[crystlizabeth]

Cowboy Casanova

Phillip Graves x Black!Shepherd!femreader

Warnings: age gap(reader is 23 Graves is 32), teasing, suggestive, cursing. Smut. Car sex bc graves and car sex itches my brain just right. Slight angst ig at the end. As always not proofread💆🏾‍♀️

Summary: going to the rodeo with your family, but your dad decides to bring some of his coworkers, little dose he know your dating the ‘Shadow’ as your dad calls him. It gonna be one hell of a night.

P.2

“Oh I forgot to tell you..” Your father spoke taking a drink from his beer. “I invited a friend, Graves.” He finished. Your eyes widen at the mention, your father had unintentionally invited your boyfriend. It wouldn’t be such a problem if one your relationship with graves was not something your father would be fond of and two he wasn’t almost 10 years older than you.

You shared a look with your older sister her already looking at you, she knew. She’s known but this she wanted to laugh at how scared you looked. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen him, he still workin’ in the air?” Your brother asked.

You finished your beer off removing yourself from the conversation they started grabbing your sister by the hand taking her back into the beer garden with you. Finally getting away from your family you looked at your sister “Im gonna actually off myself, Nessa WHY IS THIS HAPPENING.” You groaned your hands running down your face.

She laughed no that bitch fucking howled “This is fuckin amazing. Holy shit.” She slapped her hand landing on your shoulder.

“Daddy invited, yo lil boyfriend!”

“I hate you.”

“Yeah but at least you’re finna get laid tonight.” She continued laughing.

You internally scream as you paid for your beer, the two of you returning to your family through the crowd of people. Upon returning there the cowboy stood conversatating with your parents. His eye found your after hearing your mother call your name “You remember Phillip right?” You mother asked.

You nodded “Mmhm I remember him.” Smiling at him as he returned a smile, god.. He looked good in a cowboy hat, his shirt tucked into his dark wrangler’s a silver buckle and his square toed boots.. mmm you would mind taking him here but unfortunately your parentals were present.

“Babygirl how bout you show Philip to the beer garden, we’ll meet y’all at our seats yeah?” Your father spoke handing you two tickets. You gave your father a look, “your sister can go with yall if you’re shy babygirl.” He teased.

You rolled your eyes “common cowboy.” You said turning around. Phillip gladly following behind you after being for sure out of sight Graves came up behind you his and resting his hand on your hip his thumb going through your belt loop.

“Whats wrong doll.” He teased placing a soft kiss on your neck.

“Umm just that my Father invited my boyfriend who is seriously of limits to me in his perspective.” You spoke you hand holding his wrist.

“Scared we’ll get caught pretty girl. Common, ‘otta have s’more faith in me.” He said making you both stop facing eachother his calloused hands resting above your low rises on the bare skin, his face leaning in close a greedy smirk displayed on his face.

“Maybe because my father with actually kill you and burn your body in a foreign country.” You smiled letting your hands run down his chest slowly nails dragging slightly.

“Mmm probably but lets not worry ‘bout that right now sweet girl.” He said kissing you lips softly, your hand pushed on his chest.

“We get caught its on yo ass Graves.” You spoke pushing your lips together pressing color back into your lipstick, your hand wiping the darker neutral color of his lips. He gave you a smug grin slapping your ass lightly before continuing to the bar. Fuckin tease.

You placed your self next to him leaning against the bar your arms resting against under your boobs lifting them very nicely giving Phillip and the bar tender and nice view, your cropped gray tank top sat low showing off the top your pretty light blue bra the lace sitting all pretty. Your washed out miss me’s sitting low enough on your back to show your dimple piercings, mmm and did Lip enjoy the view, was he jealous that the other boys where looking at you oh of fucking corse but at the end of the day you were his all his so let ‘em little boys look. He continued you admire you as you both worked on your drinks you wore a straw cowboy hat with a little charm on the front and your belt the buckle bring your fit together yeah you looked so damn good…

“Finish that, we gotta go out to my truck.” He spoke, taking one last swig of his bud light.

“Why?” You asked eventually finishing your beer anyway 3rd one down.

He gave you a look motioning his head to the exit.

Oh…

Oh!

“Lets go!” You grinned pulling him by his hand through the crowd. Luckily it was starting to get dark and Phillips tint would do the trick, pulling out your phone you sent a text to your sister.

‘Hey cover for me be back in like 20-30 minutes love ya!💋’

Nessa💆🏾‍♀️

‘Ight j dont be to long dont want daddy getting suspicious.’

With that you put your phone back in your bag as you two walked to his truck, it being parked somewhere in a dead end street. Opening the back door to his GMC you quickly got it him following you after, he started his truck so the ac could start cooling the inside from the Louisiana sun.

“Lets make this fast don’t want your daddy to worry bout his little girl.” He teased taking your hat of replacing it with his, his hands starting to work on his jeans as you worked on yours you fully discarding your pants.

Your lips met his, both of your lips moving in sync. Phillips hands made there way to you ass grabbing a hand full of flesh as he rocked your hips onto him. “Matching set.?” Lip spoke in between kisses.

You smiled agains his lips “I thought it was cute..” you stated knowing damn well this was one of the sets he had bought you it being a favorite. You felt his hand go to move your panties to the side and he freed himself from his briefs.

You lifted yourself up letting him line himself up to you. Your hands griping his shoulders as you sunk down on to him letting out a soft moan, the movement of your hips causing his head to fall back against the window.

“God you feel so good sweetheart, made just for me huh?” He groaned, a small whimper escaping his mouth when you fasted your pace.

His hands moving your hips as well, your body falling closely to him placing soft kisses on his neck your lipstick leaving stains as well as soft red marks from sucking on him. The truck moving slightly at the fast movement, Phillip fucking himself into you. His arms hugged your waist as he kept his pace up as you fucked him back your cunt dripping of arousal the mix of fluids making a white ring around the base of his cock.

“Fuck Lip..” you moaned, your arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Common sweetheart hold on a lil bit longer for me I’m s’ close.” He slurred, feeling your walls tighten around him.

“Please.. please let me cum.” You begged her face muffled into his shoulder.

“Nah common baby let me hear you.” He spoke his hands gathering your hair pulling your head back.

“Fuck please let me cum, please daddy let me cum.” You begged, the knot in your stomach becoming unbearable.

He let out an amused chuckle his pace not slowing down. “Yeah you wanna cum?” He asked his tone faking sympathy. “ ‘mon pretty girl use that filthy mouth of yours.”

You squeeze your eyes shut, the pleasure causing your head to go fuzzy your mouth hanging open slightly as moans continue to slip from your lips. “Look at you all cock drunk.” He degraded.

“Please I- I cant hold it anymore… fuck daddy please.” You pleaded, your nail’s digging into his shoulders.

He wore an amused smirk enjoying your begging, they way you pleaded drove him crazy. Your walls pulsing he knew you couldn’t keep it together for much longer and that if he kept you her to long suspension would come upon your father.

He groaned his balls starting to tighten “mm cum for me sweetheart, fuckin cum f’ me.” He grip releasing your braids wrapping his arms hugging your waist once again his face buried in your breast as he came undone.

Phillip whimpering as he filled you up stuffing you full. After catching both of yours breath you began to redress yourself, Graves grabbing a napkin from his glove box cleaning up his mess that was currently dripping down your thighs into his leather seat, Also wiping the spot on his covers thigh.

“Made a mess did we.” You laughed noticing the stain on his leg.

“You made a mess.” He corrected.

“Could have been worse.” You winked, he knew what you meant and he nodded.

You both exited the vehicle a group of four walking by they looked away from the two of you minding there business. Cute.

Helping you out he took his hat back giving your back to you, placing the hat on your head he gave you a deep kiss. “Your lipstick is smudged doll.” He smirked.

Fuck, you let your hands whipe around your mouth. Phillip watching you he couldn’t help but smile, little did he know he had a few hickeys light but they were there. You both continued on to the gate getting a drink then heading in to the rodeo, your mother of course had to ask questions.

“Where has y’all be, it been like 30 minutes?” She questioned your father looking up taking a sip of his drink.

“I had to use the bathroom and feed him so fried Oreos because he’s never had ‘em.” You spoke innocently the lie rolling off your tongue so easily.

She shook her head letting y’all sit down you in between your father and boyfriend. Your father giving the two of you a look that caused your stomach to drop, but Phillip ignored it tried to anyway. You glance over at him noticing a light lipstick stain, your lipstick stain it wasn’t very visible but it was still there if your wore a lighter shade maybe could have gotten away with it but as of now he knew he had to.

“Graves come get a drink with me.” Your father spoke, Tapping your leg to let him through.

Oh shit, shit shit shit!

Lip nodded standing up going down the bleachers with your father. You looked over at your sister who was next to your mother, Nessa giving you a panicked look.

Phillip stood in line with your father the silence thick. The noise of the fair and rodeo seemed so dreadfully loud. Phillip soon opened his mouth to say something but was cut off “how long have you been sleeping with my daughter.” Shepherd spoke dangerously calm.

“Im sorry?” Graves asked, his heart dropped into his stomach.

Shepherd turned his head looking him dead in the eye “How. Long. Have you been sleeping. With my daughter.”

Phillip wasn’t one to show weakness nore fear but right now he was fucking scared, he made a reckless misstep because he couldn’t keep it in his pants for a few more hours. “Sir, I.. shit.” He took a breath his voice slightly shaky.

“For about 9 or so months now.” He spoke, you two have known each other longer but have been together since late February.

Shepherds head turned back looking in front of him ordering his beer. The two men stepped out of line Phillip trying to explain the situation but he wasn’t having it.

“You realize my daughter is almost 10 fucking years younger than you. And I told you Graves, you and your boys being around my family you were forbidden to involve your self with any on my daughters, Natalie, Vanessa, (name). Yet here I’m finding myself having this conversation with you because your sleeping with my youngest.” Shepherd spoke his voice still calm not wanting to cause a scene, but Shepherd was livid.

Graves had just dug his own grave, they had been caught. “Sir Im aware how old she is and I know I wasn’t supposed to get involved with your daughters life it just happened… we-” Phillip spoke getting caught off.

“I don’t want to hear excuses Phillip, let me make this clear. You can stay the rest of the night because I invited you but when you take my daughter to her apartment tonight because she’ll use her sister to cover for her. I want you to cut contact with her or I will release you if your duties.” Shepherd said his face close to Phillips.

“Do I make myself clear boy.”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.”

With that the two men returned on there way back. Phillip couldn’t believe how easily he gave into your father, how easily he just had to leave you. He couldn’t do that to you nor himself, but his career,  was at risk something he’s worked hard for something her loved yet cherished you. He loved you, so fucking much. Walking back up he saw the worried expression your wore through a small smile, he gave you a reassuring smile nodding at you as he sat down.

Your head turned looking at him, but you couldn’t read him, nothing.

The night went by slower than you would have liked, the rodeo ended at about 11 your family and Phillip now on the way out and you had done exactly what your dad had known. You had used your sister as cover walking the opposite direction with her and Lip Nessa soon seeing her way out.

Getting in the truck you finally spoke “What did my father say?” She asked, he brows frowned.

He didn’t say anything he only began to start driving, his blue eyes focused on the road.

“Phillip what did you and my dad talk about..” now you were scared.

“Baby…”

“Lets talk when he get you back to your place..” he spoke his hand laying on your thigh rubbing it softly.

So you guys did getting into your apartment you took your boots off placing you hat and bag down, Phillip followed in behind you but didn’t remove his shoes he wasn’t wearing his hat anymore. You walked up to him going to him your hands going to touch his face, but he stoped you his hands grabbing your wrist.

“We cant do this anymore..” he whispered.

What? No what the fuck.

“What do you mean..” you couldn’t feel the lump in your throat form you knew what he ment.

“Doll don’t look at me like that… please don’t look at me that way…” his voice soft, his blue eyes focused on you.

“No, no fucking tell me. You cant just.” You spoke, you voice breaking.

“What did he tell you, what did he make you think.” You asked your hands now in fist.

“(Name) dont make this harder than it had to be. He knows…”

“No shit he know you’re standing here breaking up with me!” You shouted pulling you hands from his grip pushing him back a little.

“What the fuck Phillip! are- are you kidding me…” you cried out.

“Why..” you asked letting out a frustrated cry.

“Im 32 sweetheart, your only 23 you have so much to live for. Im… im only gonna hold you back..” he spoke, that lie made him sick, you were living he would never do anything to hold you back. Yet that that excuse he chose to you and you called bullshit.

“Did he threaten releasing you from your position?”

He looked down at her “No.. no”

“Stop lying dont fucking protect him, tell me.” You spoke sternly few tears falling down your face.

Graves looked at you, he hated how you were about the only person that could see through his lies. “He did..”

And you knew how much that job meant to him, how hard he worked for the shadow company how many years he put into the military and now you stood in the way of that. You couldn’t blame him, but it hurt, hurt even more when you weren’t gonna let your father take that away from him. Phillip took a step towards you he wanted to explain you knew the love that he carried for you, but you weren’t gonna make him chose because he was considering it.

“Don’t let me come in between that, I sorry Lip I- I didn’t know he would do that. That he was going to threaten you position.” His heart broke hearing your words.

“Please don’t apologize, never apologize.. I love you so much I hope you know that. I don’t want to lose you.” He spoke taking your face in his hands making you look at him, tears stained your features.

“Phillip, your worked so hard for all of that, don’t chose me over 10 years of hard work. I cant make you do that. I openly went against my fathers wishes and his we were reckless and now you have to go back to work don’t let me drag you down.” Her hands held into his forearm your heads weight falling into his hands.

No, you couldn’t. You could never hold him down, he wanted you and would give up his line of work to be with you. But you wouldn’t let him.

“Doll, don’t say that you could never hold me back.” He spoke his eyes starting to gloss over.

Dont cry, not in-front if her not now.

“You gotta go Lip… you- god, you have to let me go as I do too” you sobbed quietly.

He pulled you in close wrapping his arms tightly around you, “please don’t give up on me.” He whispered his head laying onto of yours, your soft cries muffled into his shirt. He could feel the wet spot build up on his shirt.

“Go Phillip.” You said making yourself push against him, “Fucking go! Please!” You pushed him back.

“I love you (name)..” he spoke softly.

Your bottom lip trembled “I love you too..”

It felt as if someone had just stabbed him over and over and fucking over just left to bleed out.

Maybe this was it.



Okayy I felt dramatic so here’s some angst maybe a part 2 im not sure though we’ll see!

[evilfloralfoolery]

The Great Ginger Retaliation

Just a short thing because I had a burning need to torture Indigo for a minute.

An offer to make Grimm his morning tea goes horribly awry. Grimm's Guardian instincts flip the fuck out. That's it. That's the plot.

_____________________________________

Indigo pads into the kitchen to find his beloved dismantling his crossbow atop the counter, the handle of a small wrench between his teeth as he mumbles a swear at the weapon.  It is not annoyance that rises within him, but amusement.  

Life with Grimm involved such things on a daily basis.

“Would you like some tea with your grumbling?”  Indigo leans against the counter with a bit of a smirk.  “Perhaps some honey to sweeten your disposition?”

Grimm sets the wrench beside the pile of nonsense that was once a crossbow.  “Smartass.”  He runs a hand through his hair and tosses Indigo a crooked smile.  “But yeah, tea sounds pretty damn good.” 

“You enjoyed that ginger and hibiscus, did you not?” Indigo reaches for one of the lighter tins neatly arranged upon the opposite end of the counter.

“Whatever you make, I’ll drink.”

An easy request.  

Indigo attempts to pop the lid free, but ends up prying it open via sheer force, barely managing to keep it from arcing through the kitchen like some sort of lethal frisbee. 

And clearly, disturbing the contents of the container had been a grave mistake.  The peppery spice of ginger assails him, his attempts at fanning it away proving futile. 

Well, tea had been in order, that is until said-tea had seen fit to assault him. Indigo pauses, practically slams the tin closed.

“EKSSSHuh! EKSSH! EKSSCH! EKKSSSHH!!” 

“Bless you,” Grimm says. “Don't think you're supposed to breathe it, Indy.”

“Oh, do shut uuhhh!” Indigo lays a hand on his chest with a desperate, almost gasping inhalation. “Hhhuuhhh. . . !! EKKSSSSCHu!  My gods.”

“Bless you,” Grimm says again with a bit of a chuckle. 

“Thank you,” Indigo says with a pointed sniffle before turning away to give his nose a short, polite blow. “Blasted ginger.” 

He pauses, expression wavering behind the cover of the handkerchief. Gods, really? 

“EKSSSH! EKKSSSCCH!”  He wipes at the corner of one eye and flinches into an uncovered “EKSSSHH!!”  Muffles another into the handkerchief. And another.

“Goddamn,” Grimm says. *You good?” 

He lays a hand on Indigo's shoulder just as he struggles through another sharp gasp that borders on something painful. 

“-ihhhEKSSSSHH–iiUHH!   My gods, do excuse me.” 

His partner blinks. Stares. 

Grimm's flabbergasted and obvious distress is not only amusing, but quite endearing. Indigo does not protest when he is gathered into Grimm's sudden, protective embrace.

“Fuck, Indy. Bless the shit out of you.”

Indigo laughs in a whole-hearted, if not mildly self-conscious manner. “Thank you, Grimm. That was. . . most unexpected.”  He pulls back enough to run the back of his hand along Grimm's cheek. “It was not my intention to alarm yo-iihh. . . !”

Where had he shoved that blasted handkerchief? Far too late to consider it now. 

Indigo pulls the collar of his robe over his face just enough to manage some semblance of decency.  “EKSSCH! EKSSSHuh!” 

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Grimm says.

Indigo’s attempts to smother a rather undignified sort of snort-laugh are woefully unsuccessful. “Gods. My apologies, Grimm. It seems as if the ginger has gotten the best of me.” 

Grimm arches an eyebrow. “Ya think?” 

“Perhaps the jasmine green instead.”  Indigo untangles himself enough to reach for the tin beside the offending ginger, only to have Grimm slap a hand atop the thing before he can procure it.

“You know what? I’m good.” 

He slips an arm around Indigo’s waist and sweeps his feet from the ground with the other, hoisting him into a carrying embrace.  

“Ooh!” Indigo grabs the lapels of Grimm’s black robe to steady himself.  “Whatever are you doing?”

“Guardian shit,” Grimm says. 

“Removing me from the threat, are you?” Indigo slips his arms around Grimm’s neck and kisses his cheek.  “How very chivalrous.”

“Yeah, yeah.”  Grimm dutifully carts him out of the kitchen and into the living room where he makes himself comfortable on the couch, relocating Indigo to his lap.  “Goddamn, you’re a hot mess, Indy.” 

More laughter.  “Well, then.”  Indigo shakes out his wild mane of silver with one hand.  “Perhaps you should attend to that, hmm?”

Grimm’s voice dips into the abyss.  “Damn right.”  

[perspectivestarters]

Perspective's Sentence Starters; The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift (Part I)

FORTNIGHT

I was supposed to be sent away.

They forgot to come and get me.

I was a functioning alcoholic.

Nobody noticed my new aesthetic.

All of this to say, I hope you're okay.

No one here's to blame.

What about your quiet treason?

For a fortnight there we were forever running.

You're in my backyard turned into good neighbors.

I want to kill her.

All my mornings are Monday stuck in an endless February.

The effects were temporary.

I love you, it's ruining my life.

I touched you for only a fortnight.

My husband is cheating.

I want to kill him.

I call you up but you won't pick up.

Another fortnight lost in America.

Buy the car you want.

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

You left your typewriter at my apartment.

Who uses typewriters anyway?

You're in self-sabotage mode.

Who else decodes you?

Who's gonna hold you like me?

Who's gonna know you if not me?

We'rе modern idiots.

You smokеd then ate seven bars of chocolate.

I chose this cyclone with you.

Sometimes I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me.

Everyone we know understands why it's meant to be.

Because we're crazy.

That's the closest I've come to my heart exploding.

MY BOY ONLY BREAKS HIS FAVORITE TOYS

Here we go again.

You should've seen him when he first got me.

My boy only breaks his favorite toys.

I should've known it was a matter of time.

There was a litany of reasons why we could've playеd for keeps this time.

I know I'm just repeating mysеlf.

He runs because he loves me.

'Cause you should've seen him when he first saw me

I knew too much.

There was danger in the heat of my touch.

He saw forever so he smashed it up.

Once I fix me, he's gonna miss me

He was my best friend.

I felt more when we played pretend.

He took me out of my box, stole my tortured heart

Told me I'm better off, but I'm not.

DOWN BAD

Did you really beam me up?

Tell me I was the chosen one.

For a moment I knew cosmic love.

Now I'm down bad, crying at the gym.

Everything comes out teenage petulance.

Fuck it if I can't have him

I might just die, it would make no difference.

Come back and pick me up.

Fuck it if I can't have us.

I might just not get up.

I might stay down bad.

Did you take all my old clothes?

They'll say I'm nuts if I talk about the existence of you.

For a moment, I was heavenstruck.

I loved your hostile take-overs.

I'll build you a fort on some planet where they can all understand it.

How dare you think it's romantic leaving me safe and stranded?

Cause fuck it, I was in love.

Fuck you if I can't have us.

SO LONG, LONDON

Pulled him in tighter each time he was drifting away.

My spine split from carrying us up the hill.

I stopped trying to make him laugh.

How much sad did you think I had?

Did you think I had in me?

You'll find someone.

I didn't opt in to be your odd man out..

I founded the club she's heard great things about.

I left all I knew.

I stopped CPR.

Thе spirit was gone.

We would never come to.

I'm pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free.

Two graves, one gun.

I'll find someone.

You say I abandoned the ship, but I was going down with it.

My white knuckle dying grip holding tight to your quiet resentment.

My friends said it isn't right to be scared.

Every breath feels like rarest air.

Just how low did you think I'd go before I'd self implode?

You swore that you loved me but where were the clues?

I died on the altar waiting for the proof.

You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days.

I'm just getting color back into my face.

I'm just mad as hell cause I loved this place for.

But I'm not the one

BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM

I forget how the west was won.

I forget if this was ever fun.

I just learned these people only raise you to cage you.

What a mess.

I just learned these people try and save you 'cause they hate you.

Too high a horse for a simple girl to rise above it.

They slammed the door on my whole world.

But, daddy, I love him.

I'm having his baby.

No, I'm not, but you should see your faces

No, I'm not coming to my senses.

I know it's crazy, but he's the one I want.

Growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up at all.

You're this chaos, he was revelry.

Stay away from her.

Lord knows the words we never heard.

I'd rather burn my whole life down than listen to one more second of all this bitchin' and moanin'.

I'll tell you something 'bout my good name, it's mine along with all the disgrace.

God save the most judgmental creeps who say they want what's best for me.

Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I'll never see.

You ain't gotta pray for me.

It's just my choice.

There's a lot of people in town that I bestow upon my fakest smiles.

Scandal does funny things to pride but brings lovers closer.

We came back when the heat died down.

Went to my parents and they came around.

All the wine moms are still holding out.

Fuck 'em, it's over.

Even my daddy just loves him.

I'm his lady.

Oh my god, you should see your faces.

I know it's crazy but he's the one I love.

FRESH OUT OF THE SLAMMER

I'm running back home to you.

I know who my first call will be to.

He don't understand me.

Handcuffed to the spell I was under.

But it's gonna be alright.

I did my time.

Toss the ashes off the ledge.

I will never lose my baby again.

My friends tried, but I wouldn't hear it.

Watched me daily disappearing for just one glimpse of his smile.

All those nights you kept me goin'.

Swirled you into all of my poems.

Now we're at the starting line.

No matter what I've done, it wouldn't matter anyway.

Ain't no way I'm gonna screw up, now that I know what's at stake here.

FLORIDA!!!

You can beat the heat if you beat the charges too.

They said I was a cheat, I guess it must be true.

My friends all smell like weed or little babies.

The city reeks of driving myself crazy.

Your home's really only a town you're just a guest in.

Can I use you up?

I got drunk and I dared it to wash me away.

Well, mе and my ghosts, we had a hell of a time.

Yеs, I'm haunted, but I'm feeling just fine.

Well, no one asks any questions here.

So I did my best to lay to rest all of the bodies that have ever been on my body.

Is that a bad thing to say in a song?

I need to forget.

I've got some regrets.

Tell me I'm despicable, say it's unforgivable.

At least the dolls are beautiful, fuck me up, Florida

I need to forget, so take me to Florida

What a crash, what a rush.

It's one hell of a drug

Love left me like this.

I don't want to exist.

[shivunin]

Codex prompts, 11 or 13, for any of your Lavellans?

Thank you so much for the prompt! c: For something written about your OC in the two years between defeating Corypheus and the beginning of Trespasser: (1196 words, no warnings)

A letter of fine (if worn) parchment. It is sealed with emerald wax, a sparrow in flight pressed into the wax. 

My dearest Vernin, 

I can only hope that this missive finds you well and beyond the worst effects of that dreadful summer ague. It is a troublesome thing indeed when one cannot find prolonged rest from one’s duties, but I trust your retainer has had better luck than you at keeping out your rather formidable relatives. Good chap, Reginald, and all the more intimidating with every year that passes. You can tell him I said so—I think it would amuse him.

Now, as for myself—I must relate to you a most curious interaction I had this past week while journeying through the southern part of the empire. It is my hope that this strange incident will offer you some entertainment, as I have had difficulty thinking of anything else in the days since.

As I related when last we spoke, I have been journeying to my so-called sister in law’s family holdings in the Emerald Graves. There are many odd trinkets and curios which she had grieved most incessantly after the family was forced to flee to Val Royeaux. After weeks of hearing about it, I was happy enough to offer to retrieve them myself—empty manors being far better company than the woman in question. 

It was on the last leg of the journey, traveling through the Graves at last, when I heard the oddest sort of scratching sound off to the side of the main road. It did not sound like the many crows I’d passed that day, nor like the occasional august rams rooting about in the dirt. No, this sound rather reminded me of you, my dear, when you are most caught up in the fervor of your art. Of course, I had to step off the road and seek the source of the sound. I am far too curious a creature to do otherwise, as you well know. 

I am very glad that I did look, for on the other side of the rise I found an elven woman, hair wound about her head in an intricate helmet of braids. She was crouched before an odd sort of cairn and was taking a charcoal rubbing of the writing on the face of it. I do not know that she saw me before I spoke, but when I did she stood and reached for a staff half-fallen into the thick brush beside her. 

Well, I wished the lady (and I could see that she must somehow be a lady, for her cloak was as thick and fine as any of yours) a good morrow, asked her if I might inquire what she was about, all that sort of thing. All the while, she watched me with eyes of an uncanny green. I could swear, Vernin, that an uncanny light flickered behind them. It called to mind that most dreadful rift in the sky last year, and for a moment my usual ease with strangers nearly sputtered out entirely. 

“Thank you for asking,” she told me when I faltered, the picture of politeness. “I am making a survey of the area. There are grave markers like this all over the wood, you see, and I want to make sure they’re recorded somewhere in case some other conflict comes through and destroys them.” 

She went on to explain that she had made something of a study on the empire her people had built there, with a particular focus on the ruins scattered about the place. It is strange—I have gone to visit my brother more than once and I have never once wondered about the place beyond a passing idle curiosity. I’d intended only to see what she was about and be on my way, but I found myself offering her some of my own trail rations so I might go on listening to her talk about it. The lady accepted them graciously and offered some sort of tea in turn, a smoky-tart sort of thing I think you might have enjoyed. 

Now, I know what you are thinking, my darling Nin. “This story sounds rather like every other journey we’ve taken,” you might say, with a lovely smile tucked into the corner of your serious mouth. Ah, I suppose you might be right. It was not so very different from other meetings I have had on the road, after all. The difference here—aside from the lady’s near-encyclopedic knowledge of elven history in the region—is how our little repast ended. 

I was already shaking her hand and asking where I might find more comprehensive reading on the subject when a rather intimidating soldier woman stomped out from behind a nearby copse of trees. I suppose I might have thought the two of us in danger—her expression was grim as a funeral—except the lady turned with a smile and greeted the woman with a comfortable familiarity. We said our goodbyes then, and I might have never marked the entire incident as more than an interesting diversion from the course, if it hadn’t been for the name the soldier called her as they walked away. 

“Inquisitor,” she said. The Inquisitor.

 I am quite certain it really was her, too—her face had some otherworldly quality to it, as if she truly had been touched by the Bride herself. I have met the Inquisitor face to face, and even shaken her hand! Well, it is a great deal more than my brother has managed, no matter which strings he tries to pull in the court. I had quite the private chuckle over the entire affair, I can assure you of that! 

Of the rest of my journey, I fear I shall have to write in greater detail when I reach the next town. The light grows dim and I have already spent my last candle reading a volume on the history of the Emerald Knights.  

Do take care of yourself, my darling. I hope to pass your way again soon. 

Yours, 

Albertine D—

The signature at the bottom of the letter is faintly smudged along the surname. A postscript follows, written in slightly lighter ink:

The Inquisitor did say something you might find interesting. Well—I found it interesting, I suppose I ought to say. 

She said, “Each of these names had meaning beyond what we will ever hope to know. They are part of a story we may never find the beginning of, the ending of which will stretch far beyond our small lives. I am only a steward of the time in which they lived, and I will record all I can before I, too, am only a name etched in stone.” Or something like that—forgive me for paraphrasing.

I thought it a bit odd in the moment, if somewhat moving. Since then, I have been thinking—about your brother, dear Nin. I know you yet mourn him, and that his body has yet to be recovered from the Plains. I do not suppose that I’ve more to say here, only that—well. I thought you might want to hear those words, too. 

All my love, always—

A

[rebouks]

Previous | Next

Transcript:

Oscar: Are you happy now that you’ve triggered my thalassophobia? Courtney: It barely counts if it’s frozen.. but it wasn’t my wisest idea, n’ my ass paid the price. Oscar: Your ass-skating was impeccable though.

...

Oscar: Yo-.. ohh, someone found a hood. Ivan: Where’d you get to? Oscar: [shudders] The lake! Where’s Bruno?

Ivan: [big sigh] He ain’t here. Oscar: What did you do? Ivan: Nothin’-.. argued, I guess. I thought he’d follow me back.

Oscar: [scoffs] He’s not Tilda, most people ain’t gonna chase after you just to keep an argument going. Ivan: I s’pose not. Oscar: C’mon then, spill the tea.

Ivan: Nah. Oscar: I’m gonna bet it was something daft. Ivan: It’s better this way, apparently.

Oscar: Cut the shit, Ivan. What happened? Ivan: He said there ain’t much point in us being together. Oscar: Did he actually say those words?

Ivan: He said he didn’t want us t’get carried away, the fuck else is that s’posed t’mean? Oscar: Given our unique situation, I’m guessing he’s just tryna be cautious? Ivan: Yeah, but you n’ Courtney ain’t shyin’ away from the future.

Courtney: We tried to for a while, but fate had other plans! Ivan: I get wantin’ t’play it safe, but hidin’ how I feel is makin’ me act like a twat. Oscar: So, say something! You’ve already told me you’re in love, why is it any different with him?

Ivan: Because. Oscar: [tuts] Your dad ain’t rising from the grave to judge you anytime soon. Ivan: That ain’t the problem. I.. I’m scared of jinxin’ it, or makin’ things worse if somethin’ does happen.

Courtney: ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all; cheesy, but true. Oscar: Cheese is good. Ivan: The weather’s gettin’ pretty bad…

Courtney: Maybe he’ll come back. Oscar: I’m sure he’ll be fine… We’re gonna be lazy n’ watch some shitty movies if you want in. Ivan: [sighs] Sure.

[elektrischemaidchen]

Lisztober #7: Intoxicating Waters

@franzliszt-official is still asleep and we feel kind of exhausted since yesterday. ;)

Time for a little romantic walk along the bonny Rhine’s shores.

Oh, Father Rhine. They were all here. Turner, Byron, Goethe...and of course Franz. He arrived incognito with George Sand at Nonnenwerth (Mrs. von Cordier, the wife of the owner of the inn on the island at the time, wrote: “My son Emil reproached me and pointed out the peculiarity of the mutual relationship between the two famous guests.”)

Yes, we can well imagine the “peculiarity”. Best friends with benefits. Never mind. A little later, Marie D'Agoult joined them and Franz spent his “Liebestraum” with her here in seclusion (as best he could, once it was clear who had checked in, everyone wanted to have a look, of course). We drowned her in the Rhine in yesterday's song already, but we have to take up the cudgels for Marie. She must have had something, otherwise she wouldn't have given three children to him. The relationship between Franz and Marie was accompanied by countless ups and downs, her jealousy and her depression. If Marie had stayed by Franz's side, Cosima probably wouldn't have become so caustic. (Well, we'd definitely rather be Team Marie than Team  Pukey-Caroline).

But we digress: This is where Franz spent his last happy summer before Lola Montez came into his life. Regardless of whether something was going on or not. It was the end of Marie and Franz. (I would have ended it there too. Lola, yo. We even wrote a song about this episode.)

After 3 hours of trying in vain to capture a bit of Rhine romanticism in the lyrics, we got stuck again with Liszt himself. Why wrestle him away when he has already revealed all the secrets of his heart himself. I was listening to the elegy “Die Zelle auf Nonnenwerth” (dedicated to Marie) about 20 times in a row, with and without the text by Lichnowsky. Both are beautiful on their own. Together, unfortunately, horrible. There is an incredible amount of emotion in both, together they kind of fight against each other. So we brazenly broke down Franzen's Am/Fm/C/E/A/E/Am/A/C#/A  -scheme to more C#m/ B/ A /F#m , continued on from this (oh, I can hear the master writhing in his grave) and placed the enchanting verse in the foreground, which really beautifully reflects the autumnal Rolandsbogen outside my window. Oh, the German Gauen! We should use the word „Gauen“ more oftly. German can be beautiful at times, you know. It’s not always Tschechische Streichholzschächtelchen.

I had already written a lot about Nonnenwerth and its history up today in an earlier post. I actually live directly opposite oft he island. And yesterday I marched down to the Rhine (with my other Hungarian lover, Esterházy Ferenc Kunibert III (aka Kuni Kuvasz) to photograph this beautiful (now unreachable) piece of the Rhine just for you all. Every morning & evening I see the same sky that Marie and Franz must have seen - and I understand why they found it so incredibly beautiful here ;) Someday, someday I too will embrace the Liszt-Plantane on the island. (Quote from a friend who went to school over there: “What thing?”)

Lyrics: Ah, now rises the solitary cloister cell

From the water's waves,

And in my pain I see

That the cell is a stranger to my heart.

Not the castles, not the vineyards

Have bestowed their attractions upon it

Not the wondrous location,

Not Roland and his legend,

Not the cradle of German counties

That I may gaze upon from here;

For the chilly winds of autumn

And winter's cold crust of ice

Have knocked [on my door]. 

She had to flee,

[She] who conferred magic

Upon this cell, which is held embraced

By the Rhine with loving concern.

If I am to bear this pain alone,

Alone to lament with the cell,

Shall hope incline itself to me,

Should my songs cease.

This, the last of my songs

Calls to you:  Return, return!

[x-heesy]

Thanks lord for musick

I'm a Six Six Six

Triple six'n mother fucka

Demons coming

Try to touch me

Try to pull me under

Think that you could run up

I don't think that you

Could touch us

Pussy you a sinner

I'm a motha fuckin' lover

Yuh yuh

I'm shooting hollow tips

Up at yo crucifix

Cuz I love shooting shit

I think I'm losing it

That Lucy loosening my grip

Don't talk that stupid shit

I choke you straight to sleep

I hide yo body limp

You wake up drippin'

From the wrist

Aye fuck

This shit

You'd look better in a noose bitch

Think of the things

You would achieve

If you just

Shut yo loose lips

Useless

Be the mothafuckas that criticize The new shit

Proving that you're nothing

But a mothafuckin' nuisance

Creepin up outta gutter

I mutter the curse

Of the demons

I see em

Comin up under the graves of the One that stay on they team and

I tried to reach your fuckin god

But he never respond

Tell me why the fuck the devil Answer every knock

Hear these words

Hear my cry

Spirit from the other side

Come to me I summon thee

Cross now the great divide

Aye

Demon bless

From the kiss of death

And I'm boutta take the life

Of anyone left

Summon the darkness to

Vanquish my madness

The wickedly spirit has

Made its appearance

Demon shit

Wrists slit

Neck bit

What is this

Insidious bliss

In the abyss

Your eyes roll back into

Your fucking skull

Aye yuh

Imma blow my brains out

On these fucking walls

Aye yuh

The daemon says it takes it all

Aye yuh

It approaches with

The backwards crawl

Aye yuh

You see the devil in my eyes

Compromise

Any fucking ties

To that sucka life

On this planet he will never rise

I might catch on fire

Fuck yo god

Never lovin/ yall

I'm gon cock it back

Let it bang

To the mirror yah yah

I got four four fah

Bout to gun you down

Yeah that One Eight Seven

All up in my town

Gonna fold you up

Put you in the ground

Ain't gon make no noise

Ain't gon make a sound

I stare into the devils eyes

For the very last time

Of my fucking life

Of my fucking life

I break out from the void

Rip the fibers from reality

I'm bursting at the seams

Come face first to brutality

Ouija by lil sleepy, Warlord Colossus, SXMPRA, Saliva Grey @len0r @kattywompuss @bigbonzo @necro69mancer

[hypmic-translation]

Kaigen

JYUSHI If everything in the world is overwhelming darkness Then there’d be no point in having my eyes open I’d rather just keep them screwed shut tight Hoping that these tears might stop flowing Dreams and gods are all fake I’m the joke that everyone laughs at The more I try to keep myself from crying The more cold rain flows down my cheeks

HITOYA There are two things I just can’t stand One is defeat, and the other is Needing someone else to lick your wounds for you Stood alone, I looked up at the night sky Your cries are your own - I can defend you, but I can’t speak for you And just the same, my anger and pain are mine alone Don’t you dare interfere

JYUSHI: I’m exhausted, collapsed, withering away HITOYA: Writhing, struggling, enduring, in agony JYUSHI: Still I continue, into the future, determined HITOYA: Without stopping, into the future, determined KUUKO: If this pain is too much for your two eyes to handle, then I’ll take over from here

CHORUS Enlightenment! Now, look with eyes wide open KUUKO: Willingly! HITOYA: Stubbornly! JYUSHI: Living on! (1) Sharing a destiny, Nagoya Division Let us see with our six eyes, together (x2)

BAT Nagoya!

KUUKO Finally, it’s my turn Grabbing my mic puts me right in the centre Carved into my heart is a flower mandala You better be ready, bright red bandana! Even the detested higanbana Deserves to bloom like any other flower A sight so beautiful it’ll make your body shake Proving we’re alive, so put your hands together Everyone on earth makes mistakes But there are always ways to do them better Choose what’s kind, not just righteous Bad Ass Temple will shine brightly I’ve got no interest in words meant to comfort My bad, but I’m no god or Buddha Merely a monk that’s passing by- And your family, too

CHORUS Enlightenment! Now, look with eyes wide open KUUKO: Willingly! HITOYA: Stubbornly! JYUSHI: Living on! Sharing a destiny, Nagoya Division Let us see with our six eyes, together (x2)

KUUKO Yo, Jyushi! Hit ‘em hard!

JYUSHI “You’re just some weirdo in makeup and visual-kei” Cease speaking and observe my pre-written fate Shall I run away? Nay! I’ll put on a show Rising from my grave, now I shall awaken Having stared into a mirror longer than anyone else, I’m a narcissist That is why even if I fall to my knees I’ll just keep getting up, my way of life Is seared into every inch of my vision

HITOYA Does holding grudges make you feel stronger? Does hating others make you feel better? What was it for? Who was it for? Why’d you do it? Questions without answers I care about more than becoming strong I want to protect what’s important to me, that justice I believed in Should be a sturdy shield, not a weapon

KUUKO Earthquakes, storms, fire, your old man, but More than all that, what you should fear is your own self! This fire in my chest will ward away darkness A fighting instinct, hard work and perseverance Owari’s vigorous, red-headed monk (2) Will take apart the well-written bullshit on the folding screen Word by word, my lyrics unyielding Now listen close to this impulsive sermon! If there’s no clear path ahead, then that makes us lucky - it means there’s no way for us to get lost!

CHORUS Enlightenment! Now, look with eyes wide open KUUKO: Willingly! HITOYA: Stubbornly! JYUSHI: Living on! Sharing a destiny, Nagoya Division Let us see with our six eyes, together (x4)

Enlightenment! Now, look with eyes wide open (x3) Sharing a destiny, Nagoya Division Let us see with our six eyes, together

NOTES:

Each of these lines in the chorus correspond to a specific part of each members' history and personality - Kuuko, who always faces everything head on; Hitoya, who refuses to back down to anything; and Jyushi, who struggled with depression and suicide but continues to live regardless.

Owari was the name of one of Japan’s old provinces, making up the western half of modern-day Aichi Prefecture, which Nagoya is the capital city of.

[words-after-midnight]

Find the Word

Oh look, it's another edition of my favorite tag game! I was tagged by @elizaellwrites to find worse, wander, mindlessly, join, and hysteria.

Tagging: @pertinax--loculos, @klywrites, @sunset-a-story, @catchingbigfish, @winterandwords, @ls-daydreams, @oh-sisyphus, @westcountrygothic.

Your words are: dream, break, poor, light, yearn(ing).

All snippets are from the previous version of Life in Black and White.

cw: "Hysterical" references/alludes to a domestic dispute and parental abandonment.

Note: "Join" is from one of my all-time favorite scenes. 🥰

Worse

Jeff finds me in the bathroom twenty minutes later. He knocks on the door. “Yo, I have to piss.”

“Go fuck yourself,” I say loudly, but immediately feel bad.

He’s not fazed. “Dude, I would, but I seriously doubt I’m that flexible.”

“There are God knows how many other bathrooms in this house.”

“It’s the crack of dawn and I’m lazy. Get the fuck out.”

His nonchalant humor does nothing but make me feel worse. “Sorry. My meds are doing shit all for me right now, for some fucking reason.”

“Dude, can I please piss? You can tell me your life story after.”

Wander

Too quickly, I arrive at my dad’s – not wanting to speak to anyone, I close the front door quietly behind me and wander into the kitchen, hoping to make a straight run for it all the way to my room. Unfortunately, my dad ends up being in the damn kitchen... and I apparently look exactly as I feel, if that’s possible, because before I’ve even figured out what to do with myself, he’s on my back, following me into the living room.

“How did it go?” the stupid man asks gravely.

“How do you think it went?” I reply tonelessly, not so much as turning back. I just keep walking toward my room, hoping he gets struck by a lightning bolt on the way.

He grabs my arm, trying to hold me back. “It’s bad, isn’t it?” he asks. “You can talk to me.”

Mindlessly

Daphne explained the logic to me once before Christmas - before Silverwood was even in the picture, and before I started to see Jeff’s merits for myself. “The way Jeff sees it, people shouldn’t be forced to do anything they don’t want to do,” she said. The tone she used when speaking of him made me so sick at the time. “He thinks people are afraid of being themselves and of being free because of laws, and regulations, and blah, blah… it makes him sick when people just mindlessly conform to rules.”

Join

Standing beside him, uncomfortably close, I held up the candle to the breakers on the far wall of the basement as he flipped them all sequentially, not bothering to check which ones were which.

Nothing happened.

He turned to me, then, in the orange light. Looked me right in the eyes. There was no way he didn’t see them this time. He said, “Well, that’s a bust. Must be the power lines.”

We went back upstairs, and I joined Daphne again at the bottom of the staircase. His hand brushed mine as he took his candle back and returned to the window seat, watching the storm as though it was of his own creation.

Hysteria (hysterical)

All of a sudden, silence. With bated breath I waited. I heard footsteps coming my way. I stood from my bed. The door opened and I heard my mother’s hysterical screams more clearly, rising up from downstairs. My dad walked in with two big brown suitcases and knelt down in front of me, grasping both my little arms.

I looked into his face and I saw the tears in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks... and he smelled funny. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time, but now I know it was beer. Terrified, I asked him, “Dad, what’s going on?”

[pandemicwrites]

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023, before Tucker was fired from Fox)

Bad movie that I did not enjoy. Do not watch.

There's a reporter in this named Buck. Wonder if his last name is Sarlson.

omg... Buck is interviewing somebody from a multinational something about the mental health crisis. murders, suicides, robbery is, etc have all spiked, 6 months after the rapture. they call it... the plague of evil. they think Christians existing is preventing a plague of evil.

yo... this narrator is popping in to describe with words what I'm seeing on the screen. At least, that's the best case scenario; The worst case scenario is that the writers don't know how to show don't tell, so instead I'll have to deal with a narrator throughout this audiobook

"Our military and our police were decimated by the vanishings," said the CEO of Faux News to Buck Sarlson. I'm not sure it would be worse if he were right, or if he were wrong...

The berating narrator who haunts protagonists is back. He is describing how a once-mom, whose child vanished, is sad and confused. The woman is laying on her once-child's bed, cuddling a stuffed animal. What is this narrator adding?

White Jesus has hair of comparable length to me, but his is a wig... poser.

A mother screaming in emotional agony as she realizes she will be eternally separated from her child. The omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient god who created the situation is the protagonist.

I wonder if the narrator exists to create sound in scenes that would be otherwise silent. Don't give their Christian audience a moment to think about what it would mean if they were right.

Buck is meeting with red strings, a conspiracy theorists admits he is crazy, but is somehow the first to stumble upon groundbreaking information. Red Strings walks over to the whiteboard, spins it around, and reveals that the information is diagrammed on a literal cork board with literal red cotton string. I don't like that he and I both shop at Michaels.

They name dropped the Great Reset 🥳

A film professor might tell you this film's narrator is the answer to the question, "What's the opposite of the show don't tell rule?"

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Don't miss that drive by at evolutionary biology by knockoff Don Cheadle, explaining that maybe UFOs solve the "gaping holes in the fossil record."

The bad guys: played by the literal UN

Wait, the narrator just cut off the Antichrist. Nobody's even crying in this scene... Is this legal?

🤣 They couldn't figure out how to write the antichrist's pitch for the one world economy, so they did a meta thing where the narrator just explains whats happenning (or: cuts in). I mean this quite literally.

The church's sign is vandalized with the words "All souls matter"

Oh, I've cracked the case for real: the narrator is a propagandist. The narrator detracts from the film from an artistic perspective. Best case scenario, he is telling the audience what they're already being shown, and allowing the writers to be lazy in how they write the non-verbal parts of the scene. Therefore, the narrator is included for a non-artistic reason. He exists to guide the audience to predetermined conclusions. A propagandist.

Cut too: grave robbery. This scene is confusing, because in it the narrator says (redundantly) that Chloe found what she needed, proof. Proof means you know something... Or another words, is knowledge. In the last scene, they explicitly said faith was not knowledge. This means that Chloe is no longer operating on faith, which I think means she's no longer a Christian?

Cut to: Buck Sarlson finding Jesus in the bathroom. Buck didn't even let him finish; just ran in there and started shouting and weeping. Rude.

Is this narrator supposed to be a character in the movie, or an omniscient narrator outside of the movie? I don't think Kevin Sorbo ever decided, judging from what's on my screen

Cut to: car chases a plane, hoping to catch a draft... Up into the sky? Also, why did the gunman shoot at the car buck was in earlier, but they don't shoot at the plane?

I don't understand Kevin sorbo's theology. The last days are obviously preordained, because the pastor was able to read Revelation and understand the future. But, in the last scene, married or says that there's plenty of work left to do; that it's important even if a single soul is saved. So, it looks like accepting Jesus is an act of free will not preordained, but the last days are preordained. Clearly it's not possible for our ragtag bunch of heroes to convert 100% of humanity, because if they did that the future would change. So, what does that mean for the people who are not saved? Is it a zero-sum game, because there's only 7 years, so if you're spending your time preaching in Wyoming, the people in North Carolina are doomed? Or, is it that God has a certain percentage of the population that he will not let become Christian? Like, if our ragtag group converts 49% of humanity, would God stop accepting applications?

[year3000magazine]

10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now on Spotify, Youtube , Apple, & Tiktok

Finesse2Tymes, StreetMoney Boochie, AR The Mermaid, Slimeroni, and Diddy DaDon are among the artists on our radar — they should be on your radar, too.

Finesse2Tymes

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Finesse2Tymes began his career more than a decade ago as a member of Memphis Greatest Underrated, a rap group formed in the early 2010s alongside Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta. Over the last decade, prison stints slowed down his momentum: after building a groundswell of local support in the few years prior, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison on a firearm charge in 2018. Upon his release this past summer, he hit the ground running, releasing a string of singles leading up to his 90 Days project in December. On “Finesse Duh P” he brings his world-weary delivery to his relationships, rapping in his gravelly tone over bluesy piano runs.

Streetmoney Boochie

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Our first time seeing Boochie was 2016 with Bankroll fresh on “Walked In”, then with Nefew & Trouble “Soulja rags that went viral for bringing tanks to the apartments in Atlanta

A.R. The Mermaid

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Memphis TN has been consistently dominating air waves for a minute now, but these days it seems the stakes just keep escalating.  “Let A Hoe Play’ is undeniable! Her notoriety is rapidly going up as listeners grab hold of the latest drop. Even Drake has decided AR The Mermaid is a force to be reckoned with, recently dropping a follow on Instagram.

Trench Babys ENT

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Can’t lie the trench baby's Went In On This. self explanatory.

Slimeroni

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Slim, gorgeous and multi-talented, Miss Slimeroni is a female rapper hailing from Memphis, Tennessee!

Joining the company of veterans like Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, the late Young Dolph, the newest female sensation Glorilla, and many other greats, Slimeroni oozes on the scene as an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with.

Diddy DaDon

Hometown: Detroit, MI

For an artist so young, Diddy DADON has several lifetimes of experience behind him. His songs are filled with dense imagery and careful details conveyed in a measured cadence that exudes a hunger and intensity that far exceeds his age.

FreshDuzIt

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Spend an hour or two in a Indiana rap YouTube hole and you'll end up hearing a lot of songs that sound the same. FreshDuzIt on the other hand, tends to stand out. He's incredibly consistent (he's dropped 4 projects alone in 2022) featuring hits with the biggest stars in rap.

Sexyy Red

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Sexyy Redd has been our radar since her and Summer Walker teamed up for there "Sense dat God gave you" visual.

Kookie

Hometown: Detroit, MI

For a rapper with some of the hardest, most gore-fixated bars, Kookei has a laughably “soft” name. The Detroit native, whose sweets-invoking nom de plume was inspired by a childhood stint as a bake-sale maven, raps in a hushed, almost jokey tone, which makes his grim lyrics — about pissing on the opposition’s graves, when not outright blowing off their heads — sound both seductive and scary. Inspired by the carnage-heavy one-liners of early Eminem, Kookei decided, two years ago, to turn himself into a rapper. After posting a few loosies on YouTube, he released Psychopath, his excellent debut — boasting 20 macabre but mellifluous songs — earlier this year. You don’t have to have a cast-iron stomach to digest it: Psychopath is fun, provocative, and wildly inventive. “A lot of stuff you can’t take serious. You gotta laugh at that shit,” he says. “That’s just me. And I be high as hell.”

Luh Tyler

Hometown: Tallahassee 

I must say that majority of my favorite artists out right now are rising out of Florida. 16-year-old buzzing artist Luh Tyler is my latest obsession, and I can’t stop listening to his music. Just a few months ago, one of my friends texted me his single “Law & Order,” and wrote sign him now.