#you can't hold a grudge over something that petty for that long can you

[theinfinitedivides]

me: i would love it if Man Hwi is being a little bitch and f*cking around with Woo Hyul for literally no reason other than he can

also me: but think about it tho. they are both very old vampires (it's been established that Man Hwi is older than at least one of Woo Hyul's friends). they both dress in suits to this day, although Man Hwi skips out on the tie and usually leaves a button or two undone to flout tradition (and possibly piss off Woo Hyul whenever he sees him bc yk. Man Hwi). there's a possibility that he not only stole the gold from the mansion but may have kidnapped In Hae's father (i'm going based off of the shoes and the car and the suspicious house) but somehow he still passes the background checks. every time we have seen him on the hunt he has always fed from men (or tried to at least but was stopped, Mr. Ko i'm looking at you). our first encounter in ep 1 that we were privy to between him and Woo Hyul screamed queer energy (and bloodlust. but mostly the queer energy). iirc he was the vampire during the flashbacks that Woo Hyul scared off in the canyon back in the Joseon era. whenever someone mentions Woo Hyul's name he gets skittish and annoyed. he is hellbent on ruining whatever is left of his life. he will team up with a human who only offers as much info as he needs to to close a deal to do so. what are they not showing us what kind of history do these two really have and why the f*ck is Man Hwi so obsessed with continuing it

[oceaneyesinla]

What if instead of Togame jumping in to save you, it's you who leaps into action for him?

You're in the konbini down the street from your apartment, deep into a serious debate with yourself over what flavour of ramune to buy. The sound of a raised voice draws you away from your contemplation, and you look over. The store owner is berating someone; your eyes focus in on the yellow jacket the young man is wearing, and the lion embroidery you can just about see from your position. It doesn't hold your attention for long; you can't help but let your gaze slide up to the man's face, beautiful even in side profile.

"You Shishitoren aren't welcome here!" You frown as the owner continues to shun the young man, and you go to take a step forward, only to halt when one emerald eye slides to meet yours, almost as if telling you to let it go.

You can't, not when you see his shoulder slump a little and his face drops. Especially when the owner begins making accusations of theft - at that point, you know he's just holding a grudge; Shishitoren have a reputation, but they've never been petty thieves. Besides, things are changing - there's a new friendship with Furin, and all of the Shishitoren boys seem happier than they have in a long time.

So you insert yourself between the owner and the young man, your voice more stern than you've ever heard it, "You have no right to talk to him that way! Just because he's part of Shishitoren doesn't mean he's trouble. Besides, you heard what Umemiya-san said; Shishitoren are friends of Bofurin now." You cross your arms, "You owe him an apology."

The owner stares at you for a moment before giving the most half-hearted apology in history. You'll take it. You watch him walk away, making sure he's back behind his counter before you turn to the young man.

You would have said something, but your words dry up. He's closer than you thought, and you didn't realise just how big he is, until now. He's towering over you, and he's taken off those yellow glasses, revealing those emerald eyes. They crinkle up as he smiles down at you, and you're pretty sure you forget how to breathe.

"Thanks, sweetheart." His smile turns teasing, "You jump in to defend everyone's honour like that?"

The way he's staring at you makes you brave, and you look up at him through your lashes, hoping you're reading the situation right, "Only the pretty ones."

"Guess it's my lucky day, then. What's your name?" You tell him and he responds with his own - Togame Jo. You commit it to memory immediately; you don't want to forget him.

His eyes run a burning trail over your body before lifting up to meet yours once again. He holds out a hand, "Don't suppose you'll let me thank you properly? Not often a pretty girl like you leaps in to defend me like that."

You take his hand immediately, letting him lead you out of the store.

And that's how you end up in his bed, hand threaded through his hair as he lies between your spread thighs and thanks you with his fingers and his tongue.

You don't go to that store anymore, but you end up seeing a lot more of Togame Jo.

[atxxzist]

sweetest lies | c.s (03)

prev // next // series m.list

pairing: choi san x f!reader

word count: 7.7k

warning: none but lmk

you didn't want to go home because you knew that you'd have to face your sister.

look her in the eyes and see those very lips that yunho kissed and those hands that he probably held on more than one occasions, the wound still too fresh that it all still hurts.

but you didn't think you'd run smack into her before you could even pass the entrance, stopping in your steps immediately with surprised eyes similar to hers, the both of you swallowing down the same time as the air turn an awkward one.

you're about to just walk past her, the day from work leaving you tired and not in the mood for another long conversation about the topic, when your sister musters up the courage to let out a soft, "can we please talk?"

the tone aggravating you more than anything; how she can still sound so sweet and worried after what she's put you through.

you huff and merely roll your eyes, absolutely refusing to look at her although you know it's silly and petty--you being the older one but holding a grudge like no other, so much more less mature than her.

"i don't know what else is there to talk about," you respond, trying your very best to sound annoyed.

but she continues to make you feel worse with an even sweeter tone, "i'm sorry. i really am." and you can already picture the pearls in her eyes and pout on her lips despite still facing the other way.

"i know you like yunho. i do. but..." he's too handsome and charming; too sweet and kind that she also can't help but fall for him. she would never intend to steal him from you if he didn't return the sentiment.

"but he likes you too," you finish for her, something shifting in you that makes you finally look her in the eyes. "i get it. what am i gonna do? you're two grown consenting adults so i'll get over it."

you didn't even think such words could ever come out your mouth, but for the first time sounding surprisingly selfless because maybe talking to san did helped out a little.

there's a silence after that you're sure has marked the end of the topic, striving a step forward when her voice stops you again.

"we're planning on telling mom and dad and yunho's parents over dinner..." she says, delivery timid like she's just the slightest scared of your reaction.

you gulp down the knot, mumbling a dry, "good luck with that." and sliding past her.

you start seeing how truly mundane your life is once the person it used to revolve around is no longer there.

how, it’s a continuous cycle of work and coming home to a big empty house most days and watching reruns of shows until you’re bored out of your mind.

which is how you wind up at a co-worker’s house party, the young woman from the office next to you going by the name of dahyun kindly asking after a conversation with your boss about the paperworks regarding the transfer.

she joined the firm a few months after you but you’ve always known her to be outgoing and a people’s person, recalling the girl’s familiarity with everyone from the floor her second week of work.

it wasn’t like you had anything better to do, so you accepted the invitation and saved the following day for a night of fun, or at least you hoped so.

dahyun had said it’s just gonna be a regular house party; none of that crazy frat bullshit with the chance of someone under 20 attending, so it’s just gonna be chill and relaxing.

fives minutes into your arrival and it’s not too bad but you already find yourself hiding in a corner despite recognizing a few faces from the same working floor.

“if you’re gonna be here, you should at least try and have some fun.”

the familiar sounding voice from behind makes you quirk a brow, barely looking over your shoulder to see, probably the least expected person standing with amusement in his expression.

“seonghwa?” you say in disbelief, your body naturally following your curiosity to stand before him. “the fuck you doing here?”

“attending the party, isn’t that obvious?” he quips, continuing to close the gap before stopping with just enough space.

you scoff and roll your eyes, the sight bringing a smirk onto seonghwa’s lips.

“shut up. you know what i mean.”

“dahyun’s a friend,” he says casually, the answer making you squint.

“seriously? hongjoong and now you?” the complaint rolling off like it’s seonghwa’s fault. you can only cross your arms and sulk.

you can’t even recall the last time you actually saw seonghwa. it must’ve been your graduation or one last coincidental meeting… you don’t remember. it’s been that long.

“yeah, cause you have better things to do?” he pokes fun at the very obvious fact you came alone. “where’s that jeong boy? you know, the one that always got you on a leash.”

between hongjoong and seonghwa, seonghwa’s always been the more calm and level-headed of the two; being the voice of reason when you and hongjoong would lose it.

but on the occasion when he’d just let it go and be snarky, seonghwa could really pull a nerve.

“is that all people associate me with?” you have the audacity to click your tongue in annoyance and scoff like you didn’t do it to yourself.

seonghwa snickers.

“oh i’m sorry. it was just my most recent memory of you,” he says cheekily. voice calm but you know there’s hidden animosity underneath.

he never explicitly said whose side he took, but it was obvious from how he treated you the same as hongjoong did. it only made sense because they’ve known each other before you even came along.

you never fault him, knowing it mostly had to do with your own fuck-ups.

“hmm,” you hum, tone setting into the same sarcastic and dry one he has. “well, it’s nice catching up and all but i don't feel like reminiscing the past, so if you’ll excuse me.”

because you can admit your wrongdoings and also be both embarrassed about it, attempting to brush past him when his speaking voice stops you in track.

“hey, i was just trying to find something to talk about after all these years,” he says, half chuckling and staring at you from the opposite side now that you’ve managed to make it past him.

you snicker lowly.

“what?” you quirk a corner of your lips, continuing with amusement in your voice, “then you’re gonna say sorry? or expect me to?”

he shrugs.

"that's your choice."

but his body language now shifting, that playful look no longer in his eyes or tone, it's almost scary how fast it happened.

the next few seconds is a silent stare off, the only sound is the party music in the background and the slight beating of your heart at the ominous delivery.

"i'm not asking for an apology or whatever. frankly, it wasn't even my problem, but i'm just saying... your life would be a lot easier if you know how to say sorry for once."

seonghwa thinks you have too much pride; the same thing you believe to be keeping you intact is gonna be your ultimate downfall because even when you're clearly wrong or you know you're wrong, you never say it.

you're one to keep it bubbled inside and carry the guilt just because you think you should be unbreakable at all times. it's such an unrealistic standard you've set for yourself.

you raise a brow at that, tilting your head in confusion.

"i know how to say sorry," you tell him sternly, attempting to convince him as much as you are to yourself.

“i’m uhm… i’m sorry,” you utter lowly, sounding and appearing ashamed by the way your fingers fiddle with each other at your front, san almost can’t believe it.

“pardon?”

“i’m sorry, about this morning.”

it's beyond comprehension how san must've been the first person you've genuinely apologized to after going so many years of the word kept to yourself.

it must've been the absolute humiliation and loneliness that day that really got to you, breaking you down until you were so vulnerable with nothing but the choice to fold in front of the one person you felt you could still confide in.

san being that person is also beyond what you can explain.

but seonghwa only merely puffs and crosses his arms.

"i just think it would be great if we could be friends again one day," he says, the ominous dropping and voice turning soft and reminiscing again that it makes your eyes go wide before you see a smile turn up on his lips.

"if you ever want to reach out to me or hongjoong again, you know how to find us."

he leaves his last words of the night opened and vague, disappearing off with one last smile before he's out of your sight, leaving you with much to think about--just exactly as he intended.

there's only so much excuses to make or places to be after work just because you don't want to be there for dinner, knowing it's the day both yunho and your sister are gonna tell your parents and his the good news.

know that they're all gonna react with surprise and be so happy for them, erupting in cheers and congratulatory words that the two children they've been rooting for the longest time has finally gotten together.

there really isn't a lot, that you just sucked it up and stayed the few extra hours overtime to make up for all the instances you've slacked off, even starting on work saved for the following day, hoping it's long enough to just miss the dinner.

and just enough it is, you return right as the table's just about to be cleared, the chitters and chatters around loud enough to drown the opening and shutting of the front door with yunho the only one catching your presence standing in the hall.

"they were really happy, yeah..." he says awkwardly, standing before you in the cold chilly air of the backyard.

you really didn't want to talk about it anymore, the subject like beating a dead horse at this point. but yunho had approached you so cautiously and calmly, something genuine in his action that you couldn't say no when he asked to talk for one last time.

"hmm," you merely hum, really not made for comforting or encouraging. most of the anger already dissipated although the hurt's still there, you can't bring yourself to not feel even the slightest happy for him, even if the smallest percentage because you saw the biggest smile ever on him back at dinner.

you contemplate on what to say because yes, you're still hurt and feeling betrayed, but it's not like you can hold it over his head forever. he isn't some stranger you can easily avoid.

he's yunho and you're just gonna have to get over it; not just for his sake but also for yours just so you can feel a little more at peace and move on.

"i'm sorry," he suddenly let out, your head snapping from the ground and to his guilt-ridden eyes.

because though he still stands by what he said, not a single word a lie, the few days apart also allowed him to think outside of the box--especially from your perspective.

how selfish he really was from the start, playing along when he was being dishonest the entire time, and how much pain he could've saved everyone if he hadn't been such a coward.

if he hadn't wanted the best of both worlds and knew he would lose you in some way if you found out how he actually feels.

you have to blink a few times, feeling like a lost puppy under yunho's apologetic gaze because you honestly believe that in comparison, you have so much more to be sorry for.

and as if he could read your mind; your expression speaking for itself because you have a certain look of bafflement or aloofness whenever you feel guilty.

you won't ever say outright that you're wrong, but your body language always gave it out.

it was one of the very first traits he picked up from being around you, having seen it for himself at the starting age of twelve when you pushed a much younger san to his injury and cried--not because you got yelled at by your parents but because you felt bad.

and how distracted you were at the movies the entire time after your fight with hongjoong because you confessed to yunho a few days later that you were being a shitty friend.

you have such a way of dealing with your emotions, he wishes for there to be an outlet for you to deal with them in a healthy and accepting manner.

one that doesn't depend on him or anything else for all the wrong reasons.

"i'm sorry," he says again, eyes now softer but still sincere. "i know i already said this last time but i really got carried away and couldn't finish. but i truly am sorry. i should've told you sooner. i should've never given you any sort of false hope, and i should've just been honest from the start."

he's sure he's out of breath when he finishes, just waiting for you to now say something in return because despite all the ups and downs and shortcomings, you're the one who's been with him through most of his lowest points and he's so grateful for that.

he wouldn't want to lose you over this.

you stay quiet for a few seconds more, a mental battle in your head just so you'll be able to form something coherent when you do speak.

"we both just weren't right for each other," you say, pausing briefly, "in that way... at least."

because yunho hid things from you and you were so in your head you were convinced he was in love with you at one point, always looking at everything through a rose-coloured glass but now able to see for yourself once it cracked, just how destined it was to fail from the start.

"sorry," he mumbles, low and head still hanging in shame, you can't help the dry chuckle that falls from your lips.

"you don't have to keep telling me you're sorry. like what i told minjeong: i'll get over it."

he picks his head up from the more cheery tone, the smallest smile forming on your lips that takes him by surprise because of the illusion it gives off; that you were able to come to terms with it so fast, but he knows you and knows it's all just a facade.

nonetheless, he nods, gulping silently to pass a comment.

"i hope you're taking care of yourself."

you smile, turning your back on him and crossing your arms to stare up into the stars in the nightsky who's currently the witness to the end of your 'relationship' with the boy you've loved your whole life.

"i've considered transferring work. it's not set in stone yet, but i did talked to my boss and he said he'd help me look for an opening if i'm interested."

you think it will be good if you can seek your own independence for once, unable to think of a better time than this one.

and though you can't see yunho, you can tell he's intrigued by how his question squeaks slightly when asking.

"where would you be transferring?"

"japan," you answer, once again facing him. "it's different, but close enough where i don't have to feel like i'm halfway across the world. my boss said i have about two months-ish to make up my mind."

plus, japanese is the only other language you're fluent in. the country a similar but new enough experience and the true testimony to how you'll be, away from the grasp of your parents.

"i see," yunho replies, nodding in understanding; so much to say but at the same time unable to say anything. he wouldn't ever want to hear someone he's close to plans on moving away, but he's almost proud of you for taking that next step.

"feel free to call me up any time if you need help," he adds, a soft smile gracing his features that makes the moment so bittersweet. you wish you have the guts to hate yunho, but you really can't after all he's done for you.

you nod lightly, at the same time allowing yourself to enjoy the breeze and calm silence before letting all your guards down.

"yunho..." you call his name almost timidly, the boy responding that immediate second.

"i'm not asking for an apology or whatever. frankly, it wasn't even my problem, but i'm just saying… your life would be a lot easier if you know how to say sorry for once."

"i'm sorry," you finally tell him, to wide and surprised eyes--unsurprisingly.

"i'm sorry for putting so much pressure and baggage on you. i also should've asked about your feelings from the very beginning. i shouldn't have just... assumed."

yunho knows it's the sincerest form of apology without the need to say a lot. from the nervous timbre to the guilt in your eyes, and even the way you start fiddling with your fingers.

he only snickers, much to your initial mixed reaction until you start warming up to it as well, the low but very real giggle leaving you putting a smile on yunho's face.

"apology accepted," he says.

you allow another giggle before cutting it short and looking at him through your blinking lashes.

"if you guys have went to this extent, then i hope you'll treat her right, jeong yunho."

you leave the night at that, a sting in your chest but you know that soon enough, you'll be relieved of it and you won't even think about him anymore.

it's after sitting down for a few minutes that you get a text from san, the funny coincidence that you were just talking about the transfer with your boss as well.

san: yunho told me

san: it's true you're gonna be leaving for japan?

you honestly can't recall how san even got your number. it must've been something you did drunkenly or he must've asked for it from yunho. but for sure, you did not give it to him willingly.

y/n: he really be snitching, huh

san: so it's true ☹️

you roll your eyes and try preventing even the smallest smirk. you haven't seen the man ever since that day and now is when he decides to reach out again.

y/n: maybe 🤷

san: 😔

san: just when we were starting to get along too

y/n: lol. you'll be fine.

shaking your head, you put your phone down to return to work, thinking to yourself there's no way san's actually serious because you're sure even if you did move halfway across the world, he would barely notice you're gone.

ten minutes of silence from your phone and you're also sure he's given up on the act--when your notification buzzes again.

san: ☹️ thought you weren't gonna run away

y/n: i'm not

y/n: i just want to do something different

san: if you say so

san: you free this evening?

y/n: i get off work in about 3 hours

san: wanna do something? 🙂

y/n: well aren't you a changed man 🙃

san: i thought it was nice the other day and i just figured you might need a distraction

you have to admit the fact you were taken aback a little; in a surprisingly good and touching way that san would care about you so much as to consider the after effect of what have happened.

y/n: if you're up for it 🤷 not like i have anything better after work

san: awesome! i'll see you then 😉

--

it's not everyday that you go waltzing into a guy's place; if at all, actually, because you've ever only graced the presence of the house next door because unlike san, yunho never had the urge to get his own place or be away from the watchful eyes of his parents.

it only takes two knocks in total for the door to come apart with san standing before it, a smile on his face and every body language welcoming.

"that was fast," you comment, walking past him to get inside.

"i was waiting," he says, calm and relaxed. "you took a lot longer than you said you would."

you shrug and plop yourself down on the couch, head snapping his way to reply.

"i had to get out of my work outfit."

he acknowledges it with a nod before seating himself next to you, his phone sitting on the coffee table in front of you gone unnoticed until you see him pick it up.

"what to order?" he scrolls through the delivery app, the same time you quirk a brow.

"stew sounds really good right now," you say.

"soft tofu stew?"

"that's fine. but make it spicy."

you weren't sure what you guys were gonna be doing once you came over, but he had just said to hang out and you thought any form of entertainment was better than none.

"any drinks?" he asks, after placing the order and getting up to walk over to the fridge.

"got any sodas?"

"i got some coke."

"that'll do."

he returns with two bottles, setting it on the table with a smirk stickered on his face, you have to reframe from rolling your eyes.

"what? no alcohol tonight?" he teases, his back falling onto the couch with hands behind his head.

"not in the mood," you reply, straight and simple.

"fair enough," he mumbles.

you let your eyes wander for a few more seconds before asking, "so, what's the plan?"

he gets up to sit straight and look you in the eyes.

"i was thinking a movie, video games, or we can just talk over food."

you hum with straighten lips, nodding and making yourself at home when it's your turn to fall back on the couch.

"anything's fine," you tell him, patting at the material under you and adding, "great couch by the way."

"yeah. it cost a fortune."

"good thing that wasn't a problem," you jab lightheartedly, because you always have wondered what the hell san does all day, besides the very obvious fact that he lives off the wealth of his parents and doesn't have to worry about anything when it comes to money... at least.

"i know what you're thinking," he says, not reactive of any kind.

"no but seriously, what do you do all day?" you ask, genuinely curious and interested this time.

he just quirks his lips, responding in the most lax tone, "enjoying life and doing what anyone in their 20s would?"

you scoff and shake your head.

you really do wish to be as untroubled and carefree as san is. the way he deals with and confronts everything as if there isn't a single thing to lose.

“it definitely bothered me at first, but i didn’t see why i should be losing sleep over it. me and yunho are two very different people after all who does our own things. i’m proud of what he’s achieved so far, and he’s always had my back when needed.”

you almost can't help but to have the tiniest respect for him in that regard.

"good to know." you giggle. "but what's the plan after?"

"working on it. but not really in the hurry to rush it or anything."

you nod courtly at that, another sinking thought about how similar, yet different the two of you really are.

growing up, you've never really paid much attention to san, always writing him off as annoying and obnoxious, but when left with no choice but to face him on a deeper level, you can't help but to notice the stark differences despite relating to him more than yunho.

"and you... are you really moving? like forreal?" he says, tone a soft worried that you almost want to believe he would be sad about you leaving... being this adamant and all.

"yeah," you answer, the disappointment befalling his expression completely flying over your radar. "forreal."

"but why?" he pushes.

you shrug, everything about you relaxed--as opposed to the boy standing across as he tries to digest the very big possibility of you going away, and most likely for a long time.

"i told you i wanted to travel."

"that's moving to a whole different country," he states the obvious, much to a laughter from you as the uneasiness on him only becomes more transparent.

you laugh some more, going on to say, "don't tell me you're actually gonna be sad?" your lips forming a frown after to tease him, and for the very first time, you think san might've blushed a little.

he opens his mouth as you watch curiously, but the moment shortly disrupted by the sound of san's phone going off.

"delivery will be here in 10 minutes," he tells you still holding the device in his hand before he tosses it aside.

"i also just want to try being on my own for a while," you bring the topic back into discussion when it seems like he isn't gonna answer the question.

you add, "if i do get moved, it will be on my own accord and everything will be from my own pockets... not my parents or anyone else. boss said i have about two months and i most likely will have to train the replacement but i think it's all gonna be worth it."

you're unable to read into san's reaction, silence filling the air until he finally speaks again.

"if you want to learn to be on your own, why don't you just get a place first? you know, instead of moving across the country. as someone in the current position, it's pretty nice if i say so myself."

your lips draw into a thin line, not because he's wrong but because you've never actually thought of that. you pretty much did just jumped ship into the next big step.

"i've uh... i didn't think of that," you mumble, the words cracking a smile on san's face before a snicker rolls out.

"jesus, y/n. a bit dramatic aren't you?"

"shut up," you hiss.

as the night goes on, any doubts and worries are long forgotten when the chatters with san would go on even after the food's arrival, both chewing and talking at the same time like you're never gonna run out of topics.

the eating soon turns into a search for something to watch while the two of you squabble about anything and everything, forgetting what the hell you're even fighting him about and being surprised you could even get this worked up without the help of alcohol.

and after you're both finally worn out from the long night; the foods on the coffee table now empty and dry and the tv running for far too long, you help clean the place up when it seems he's fallen asleep and quietly make your way out of the condo shortly after.

tuesday 4:32 p.m.

san: how about this one? looks really nice and is kind of close to my place 🙂

san: *attachment*

y/n: that looks way too fancy and expensive

y/n: i just want something that's enough for one person

it's impressive; the fact san even entertained the idea of leaving everything you've already got in mind to settle for something else, but even more so that you're even considering it.

getting a place of your own and learning to live on yourself would be a lot more doable than moving across the sea and away from everyone and everything you've grown up with.

you suppose it's not a bad idea. you're just not sure if it's the right one.

san: you're not gonna find anything if you're gonna be this picky 🙄

y/n: i'm just looking

y/n: if i'm really gonna stay, i'd do the search myself

san: 😢

you don't even realize how san starts weaving into your daily life and just integrating himself into it; whether through small, mindless texts, or bigger ones like actually inviting you out or over to his place (more frequently, at least).

wednesday 1:20 p.m.

san: what time do you finish work today

y/n: i always finish at 6

san: wanna come over? i got a game we can play 🙂

y/n: it better not that stupid truth or dare

san: ☹️

san: it's not

san: it's truth or dare spin the bottle

y/n: 🥱

san won't admit how fast he came at the sound of the first knock, and you also won't admit that despite him looking very much the same, there's something different about him lately.

something you can't pinpoint but it's almost as if he's gotten more attractive somehow even though you've never really cared about any of that.

"did you wear that to work?" he comments on your outfit as you make way past him and settling inside.

"yes," you answer dryly, tone soon overturning. "what? you think i was gonna get pretty?" you smirk.

he shrugs, mumbling a "maybe" that you quietly let pass to take off your shoes.

"wanna see a few places i've looked up?" he beams, going over to the laptop that was on the kitchen counter and running over to you on the couch with it.

"why not," you mumble, scooting closer, shoulder bumping into his nonchalantly.

you watch him scroll through the abundance of luxurious condos alike his, opting to raise your brow and turn to him.

"why are they all high-profile and in gangnam?" you question.

"pfft," he scoffs, facing you head on, standing the closest he's ever been to you in a long while and remarking, "it's not like you can't afford it. come on, y/n."

"i can't." you move away from him. "if i even get a place, it's gonna be with my own savings, not my parents. i definitely can't afford a place like these. can we please look at something a little less flashy?"

he shakes his head and eventually changes the area, but an hour into the search and you're still not satisfied. the prices are either not doable or the layouts and amenities aren't to your heart's content.

"let's continue this another day," you sigh out, throwing your head back and groaning as san chuckles.

"fine," he gives in, shutting the laptop and moving it out of sight. "you're so picky."

"well you got to be. i'm sure you didn't pick this place out in a day," you say at the same time you look around.

on your own, there's no way you'd ever be able to get anything like this.

"and you don't think it's nice?"

"are you kidding?" you say in disbelief. "it's amazing. if i had the money, it might as well be my dream place. but it's okay. i can also settle for much less as long as it accommodates all my needs."

san can't help but laugh, because he thinks you're both the snazziest person he's ever met, but also the most tame, it's a bit uncharacteristic of someone who grew up wealthy all her life.

"fair enough," he says, standing up abruptly to go grab at an empty beer bottle also on the counter which you're sure he most likely prepared for, given his next set of words.

"how about spin the bottle but no dares. we can only ask questions and the person has to answer truthfully." he places it on the coffee table.

you snap to him at that with something uneasy in your eyes, prompting a comment from him.

"you scared?" he tease.

"what? no," you blow.

"then what are we waiting for?" san doesn't hesitate with one of his hands already on the bottle but you have to stop him in the process to ask one more question.

"what kind of questions though?"

it takes him maybe a second for a light smirk to crawl out of him and with a shrug, telling you, "any."

you eye the bottle on the table anxiously as it circles and clinks; not afraid of the idea of the game but more so that you're playing with san and he's gonna ask the wildest shit.

fortunately, san shoots himself in the foot.

"oh fuck, it's me."

it's your turn to smirk, letting out an almost sarcastic, "yeah."

"knock yourself out. i'm an open book."

you roll your eyes because you know he is, which is why trying to come up with something that will even faze him is gonna be a challenge.

"most embarrassing thing you have done at a party?"

he scoffs it off in amusement, like he can't believe you're even asking that.

"i thought you could do worse, y/n. but sure."

he hesitates and hums for a few seconds more before answering, "got high as fuck and almost kissed wooyoung."

a dry snicker actually escapes from your lips at the confession.

"yeah i always suspected you guys had a thing for each other."

"please don't," he says in pure disgust. "i love wooyoung forreal but no amount of high can get me to kiss the man."

you laugh, now actually the one to initiate the spin because you think it can turn out fun. you think.

and thankfully, it's not you that have to answer a question, again.

"wow," san only silently curses the double misfortunate.

"how many people have you slept with?" you blurt, bold and straightforward, san even slightly taken aback.

"don't ask questions that will break your heart."

"tsk." you roll your eyes. "you could sleep with the entire population of earth and i wouldn't give a shit."

"not even the tiniest bit?" he plays on in that voice you hate because it's always when he's trying to flirt with you.

"i'd give the tiniest shit about everyone else because poor them."

"sharp," he retracts, the amusement all over his face. "but to answer your question, maybe eight? ten? to be honest, i've lost count."

"good to know," you reply nonchalantly, nodding for him to spin the bottle this time, but you know it's only so long before your luck eventually runs out, and so it does.

"ha," he says in victory, the top of the bottle pointing at you.

"i'll go easy, don't worry just yet," he teases annoyingly, you almost want to knock your foot into his.

"what did you think of me when we first met?"

you quirk your lips and pretend to think although you already know the answer.

"well, i thought you were gonna be sweet, but that was until i got to actually know you. then you were just annoying and a pervert."

he bursts out in genuine laughter and yeah, you think he's cute and endearing like this but 95% of the time, he's getting on your nerves.

the game continues on with a back and forth of innocent enough questions; just laughing and scoffing off the ridiculousness, and you're starting to think he might spare you, until the next one turns your eyes a dark one.

"what is it about yunho that made you like him so much?"

and again, you've already stated so many times why you like him. his kindness. his attitude. the way he presents himself. the way he treats you. but if you have to pick one.

"it just seems as if he accepted me for who i am. i don't know."

the way the atmosphere shifts is scary; both of the smiles on your lips wiped and replaced by unreadable expressions as san quiets without a reply, you have to be the one to speak again.

"and you... w-why are you helping me?" you ask him.

"huh?" he repeats just so there's no mistake.

"we don't even like each other and i pretty much treat you like shit but you still seem rather concerned about my wellbeing for whatever reason."

it has gotten so silent by now, you can hear san swallowing.

"you're the one who always says you don't like me. i never said i don't like you."

it's your turn to swallow, staring back at him with nervous eyes because you're not sure how to take the statement just now or what exactly he really means.

"i just thought the feeling was mutual," you mumble, shrugging lightly.

"no. i think you just didn't care enough to ask me," he says with a dry chuckle because he's right and even you know it. your mind at the time too occupied with his brother instead.

"so like, you really don't want me to leave?" you take the opportunity to tease him, a tone on you almost unrecognizable that you think even made san a bit nervous and shy.

"you could say that," he talks lowly, on the verge of stuttering. "i've known you almost my whole life."

"and if i did?" you ask, voice turning a more serious one as the words make an etch in san's heart. it hurts to even think of the possibility.

"then i would be really upset."

you watch his eyes and lips go soft, something so genuine and sincere in his response that makes you just freeze up before breaking the tension with a forced snicker.

"you still have some time to change my mind," you encourage, because you wish for there to be bigger reasons to stay so you won't regret the could of, even if san has to be that reason.

some might call it healing, some might call it a rebound if that even applies at all, but san successfully weaves himself into your life like a routine that you're no longer fazed by a morning text or even a goodnight one.

the way he'd just check up on you during work or call during the weekends to ask how you're doing and if you're up for something together.

it's a bit pathetic he's pretty much your only friend (and even that's a reach) at this point, but you genuinely enjoy his company.

he listens well, is fun to be around, and is almost like a life-long friend who's been missing your whole life.

but while those are the ups of being with san, there's also the downs--such as the long list of girls that'd constantly ring his phone or send him a text while the two of you are together, and while that isn't any of your business, that doesn't stop the few doubts that manages to plague your mind.

are you interrupting anything? does it make you a bitch for hanging with him when he has other girls lined up? does all of this even mean anything when you could very much just be one of them?

that maybe even if there's a possibility, you could never fully give and commit yourself to someone like san because it doesn't seem like he's ready to settle for anyone.

he haven't ever had a relationship that lasted more than a few months and you haven't ever known him to have less than two option on the table.

which might be why you were so much more attracted to yunho, because in comparison, yunho seemed like he would give away his heart and soul for just you.

but you know that, though. you knew that's how san is. you shouldn't have expected anything else, but you still can't help but to feel a strange, unfamiliar sense of loathing when he's distracted by another girl.

"i talked to the landlord a few days ago and she said if i wanted to see the apartment for myself, she would be more than happy to show me," you tell san over a late night eat out; the restaurant about to close in an hour but you're sure he's not listening because his head snaps to the text he got just now.

he still attempts to sound like it's the current topic holding his attention, which you have to give him credits for.

"that's good," he shortly says, fingers fast to type something on his phone before pushing it away. "so how many more days left again?"

"about two weeks, give or take," you respond, poking at your fries with the fork.

two weeks before you'll have to make the ultimate choice to leave or stay.

it's been that long, time just flying before your very eyes to the point where yunho's presence lingering around the house for the sole purpose of your sister almost no longer does an effect to you.

"wow. already?"

"yeah."

san offers to pay for the meal and drive you home instead of the usual catching a movie at his place before the actual end of the night and it's not like you're gonna fight him on it.

he's not your boyfriend and he definitely doesn't have any obligations to follow through any routines or whatever, so why are you all of a sudden feeling so tense about it?

tense and bitter about the fact that after he drives you home, there's a likely chance there's gonna be another girl at his place.

you think you're losing it.

you had let yourself indulge more and more into the possibility of staying, which was how you found the place that you could practically call ideal.

though it's only one bedroom, the modern but warm-toned style of the complex as a whole, as well as the location and pretty much everything else is convenient and accommodates all your needs.

when you had finally set a time and meeting with the landlord, you fell in love even harder in person because the second she opened the door to the place, it was like you knew this is it.

you think it can work out. you think you can see a future in this place; in this city still. and you have been much brighter and happier lately, even telling your boss the following day that there's a big chance you're gonna change your mind about the move given time is creeping up.

you had sent a text to san so excited because you want to tell him in person, every day the chance of you actually staying increasing by the second and he had told you he'd be available tomorrow night.

despite the conflicts swirling in your stomach a week ago, san had made up for it by being attentive as usual and making you feel like he really cares about you that the occasional rings and texts not from you were starting to become bearable.

after all, what does he owe you?

you're content with just having someone to talk and share your day with. you think you can live with that.

but you didn't expect nor think that all it'd take for the doubts to settle in again is to actually face the reality of your situation, making your way to san's place as promised and seeing a familiar face on the way in.

long hair and with a frame you've definitely seen before, it's hard to ignore the sensation she manages to conjure by just merely passing you.

“why don’t you ask the one person that would actually know where he is? or are you too good for that, too?”

you squint, confused, until he nods his head another direction and you follow, landing right into the view of the kitchen and to someone you know all too well just from the back.

his hands on some poor girl’s waist and lips running along with hers as her grip tightened at his disheveled hair, his body pressing her forward onto the counter, the both of them making out like there won’t be a tomorrow.

“no thanks,” you dismiss, managing to reframe from an eyeroll, pushing past hongjoong but not before you catch the smirk on him.

it wasn't the first time you saw her with san, because if it was, your body wouldn't have recognized her so easily as if she's a threat, replacing all the excitement and hope with nothing but old and plain insecurities.

then it's as if everything was a mistake.

choosing to stay because of san and with nothing but the hope that it will all work out... instead of going away on your own for some time and learning to really be independent.

your whole life, you've already been nothing but emotionally dependent on someone else, looking to them as a source of support, and you've realized that this time, it isn't any different.

you've just moved from yunho to san... and you didn't even like san for the longest time.

so how long before it will hit you that staying was a mistake; and especially that choosing to stay because of san was gonna be the biggest one of them all.

you have the tendency to catch feelings way too fast, and even if not romantic which you won't admit in this case (even if it might be), you react strongly to it and the feeling is consuming.

because how long before san will leave you the way yunho did?

everything may seem good for now but they will all meet the same ending. and to think of everything in perspective this way, you know you're not meant to stay.

your parents, yunho and your sister, san...

you don't feel ready for any of them currently, your life stuck at a point where you're not moving. and so you just turn back around and head home.

you think long and hard just to be sure this is what you want; then you think of how to tell your boss tomorrow, and about an hour later, you finally get a text from san.

san: you still coming? you said you have something to tell me

y/n: something came up sorry

y/n: i was just gonna tell you that i've made up my mind and i think i'm gonna go to japan

next // series m.list

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[arisveah]

thought about life series scott, and how infuriating yet so relatable his character can be (especially in relation to double life), and ended up using his and pearls relationship as a metaphor for chronic pain, which not even i know how happened. anyway its below the cut if you want 6 paragraphs of character study :)

life series scott is honestly such an intriguing and infuriating character. he is honorable, but in the same way he is petty and bitter. he pushes aside his wants and values for the better, more agreeable thing so much that he often ends up pushing the burden of emotional health onto his allies, and makes their choices for them. he's so parentified older sibling that becomes over controlling and emotionally repressed coded, yk?

in his never-ending attempts to do good, he saves the short term pain and leaves longer lasting scars and aftershocks. and scott does this a lot with his characters- think season 1 empires scott and his comparison to elsa. when something bad happens, he scrambles to take it on himself and inevitably creates rifts between himself and others in his plight to be a "hero". hes not evil, or even self centered- he cares so deeply about keeping his friends safe that he smothers them with jagged shards of glass, and when it hurts them he tries to deflect the blame. every person he sees is another he feels responsible for.

as a double life pearl apologist, it was kinda hard for me to see scott in a positive light. but if you think about it, all his decisions make sense for his character. in the last life finale, scotts final move is to kill ren as revenge for him killing pearl. they had been close the whole season, and scott lived to the end BECAUSE pearl was there for him to fall back on. for the first time on screen, scott relied on someone else- and then he saw her die and leave him alone. in the next season, its revealed that he will be tied to someone else again, and they'll need to share EVERYTHING if they want to win. and in this position, scott is most comfortable being the breadwinner. but it starts to seem like his soulmate doesn't need him, and he starts to panic, because the death of pearl (the last person who didnt need him) hit him hard and she might’ve lived if she wasnt giving him lives. he worries he will be a leech in their partnership, but he cant quite bring himself to terms with that. so when pearl and martyn step back into the overworld and take initiative on finding the soulmates at last, scott worries. he's never alone, never been alone, so he subconsciously goes to the closest source of non-painful comfort he can: cleo, his long(er)-dead ally from a previous life. he starts making allies, because scott is nothing if not diplomatic. and then he finds out that he is tied to pearl by life and death, again. that every time he dies, she will also lose a life, again. its a scathing reminder of the previous season, so scott pulls away. he cant do that to her, not again, and maybe if he pulls back she won't pity him when he fails to protect her. hell, maybe he wont even need to protect her.

but then pearl starts getting upset. and scott feels like he owes her, deep down, but he also feels like he's paying his debt and she just keeps hurting them, and he can't handle the blame from both sides anymore. he gets bitter, and decides that pearls death mustve been her own fault, that she's too emotional and that will get them BOTH killed- and he thinks of cleo and how much they need an ally and he cant just leave her- he needs to control the situation.

this whole post was inspired by the interaction during pearls video where hes digging at her tendency to hold grudges, and has her make the team diamond swords. it felt awful to watch, and kinda instilled a dread in me about how they are going to interact for the rest of the season. but i'm going to make a crazy analogy here so buckle up. as someone with chronic pain and joint issues in the american health/school system, the best metaphor i can come up with is when you go to a trusted adult for advisory, health interventions, or pain meds, but the system doesn't allow for them to help you. and its not their fault, but it starts to feel less and less like you should be saying thank you for trying and more like they just dont care. and you start to get bitter, and you start to pretend that you dont even care if they can or cant help you anymore, but you do. scott and pearls relationship feels a lot like putting your trust in someone for the first time, but they fall through by external means, and when they show back up you feel bitter and unwilling to let your walls back down. your fine, you can and have handled it alone your whole life. but everyone keeps offering to take responsibility and it just makes you sick that it took so long and now you dont even want their help.

basically, what im saying is pearl and scott could be besties again if they just talked over what they feel they owe eachother. but ALSO what im saying is yeah, life series scott kinda sucks- but he sucks because he tries so to be honorable that it circles back around to unfair and prejudiced. he just needs a bit of therapy and some anti anxiety meds <3 this somehow became a whole thing about disability and child neglect but like whatever

[hexcoreviktor]

As someone in your 30s what have you learned and would you tell someone who is in their early 20s like me

bold of you to assume i've ever learned anything

jk uhm okay

holding grudges is exhausting. being upset is fine, being angry is too. but not indefinitely, you can't live like that forever.

a lot of things don't get wrapped up with a neat little bow, sometimes you don't get the answers you want or need and there simply isn't any closure.

(i guess what these two things basically amount to is that you need to learn to let things go)

being petty usually isn't the way to go. if something makes you unhappy or if someone hurts you, say it, tell them. try to figure it out. or don't and move on. you don't have to let people walk all over you, but don't play stupid ass games.

tell people that you love them. tell them they're important to you and that they make your life better. ik it sounds cliche, but it's true. life's too short not to. more importantly tho, show them. make an effort, show up for them.

you don't owe people anything just because they're family. it's okay to have boundaries or even walk away entirely when all they do is make your life worse. go and make your own family, the one you get to choose yourself.

same goes for anyone actually. cut out people who make you miserable, no one is entitled to being in your life.

being a person in this world can be hard, life is hard, so try to give others and yourself some grace.

related: being kind to others makes it a whole lot easier to be kind to yourself as well.

but also some people are just assholes. there might be a reason for that and you can try to understand, but don't let them turn you into one and stay away from them.

exercising unfortunately does make you feel better, both physically and mentally. as does going outside.

vegetables are the best thing in the world once you figure out how to properly prepare them and which meals to put them in.

turns out drinking enough water is important.

sunscreen + moisturizer. use them.

if you wear bras, make sure they actually fit and are supportive without hurting your back, shoulders or skin.

if you have a uterus, your tummy is never gonna be entirely flat. that's okay. if you don't have a uterus and your tummy isn't entirely flat, that's also okay. having any kind of tummy is okay. actually, as long as you're happy and healthy, your body is fine as it is. you don't exist to fit into some kind of ideal society forces on people.

if you're one of the very few chosen ones, you do look better with bangs than without them because you have the kind of forehead the world simply isn't meant to see and you have to accept that. (this one's actually just for me personally)

but also who cares. you can do whatever you want with your own body. like i said, the only opinion that matters irt your looks is your own.

you don't have to figure out who you are and who you're gonna be for the rest of your life in your 20s. the person you were then most likely won't be the person you are in your 30s. we keep on changing, sometimes in small ways, sometimes a whole lot, and it's so so fun.

same thing goes for sexuality and identity. speaking as someone who thought they were one thing for almost their entire life, only to realize that's actually not the case, like, last year: it's fine to put a label on yourself because it currently fits and to then find an entirely different one later down the line. you're allowed to do that. you're gonna be so much happier once you give yourself that freedom. there's also nothing wrong with not wanting to label yourself at all.

there's no such thing as too old. you're not too old to start a new hobby, learn something new, do that thing you've always wanted to do, start over, be someone else. you're also not too old to still enjoy and love the things you did when you were younger. certainly not in your 20s, but also not at any point after that.

that all i've got for now because thinking and typing is exhausting and my brain is over 30 years old!!! might come back to this once i realize i forgot some really important wisdom, like, 'killing people is bad' or something.

[xxchthonicreaturexx]

I've got another request but I just love your writing sm. How do you think the boys (Curtis gang + Shepards) would act during and after an argument (like would they be cold to their s/o, would they be clingy, how long does it take to make up etc). I'm honestly such a sucker for angst like it's not even funny💀. Sorry, this is kinda a long one.

-🤍🤍

You're adorable :) <3 thank you for being patient.

Tim Shepard

Tim doesn't yell unless absolutely necessary. If you're the type to raise your voice and not listen to a thing he's saying, he'll probably yell a few times, but he easily will out yell you. It's quick and it's scary. He has that scary parent voice like Darry-

He's usually a quiet type of angry with a partner. A snide, backhanded comment here and there followed by the silent treatment until you're begging like a puppy for forgiveness. Or if he realizes he's being too harsh and he gives in first but usually it's the latter.

Fights can last up to a week depending on what it was. Usually it's only a few days before it's resolved, but if you're the stubborn type then sadly he can also hold a grudge. He'll never let it go past a week though. After y'all have time to cool off he decides it's time for y'all to act like grownups and talk it out calmly. Nothing really changes after the fight though. He's still Tim. He's still an asshole. 🤷

Curly Shepard

Motherfucking Curly Shepard can kiss my ass. I love Curly with a passion...BUT he can get slightly petty. When's he's upset with you, you'll know. Trust me. He's a fighter, and can be violent, but with his partner he'll channel his pissed offery in other... More annoying ways.

Oh, you need your morning coffee? Sorry babe, he just drank the last of it and the fucker doesn't even like coffee. 🤷

Oh, you're missing your work shirt? He "accidentally" spilled water on it so you can either go to work without your uniform or wear it wet.

Oh, you wanna makeout and watch a movie? Sorry, he's already getting ready to go hang out with friends even though you guys specifically planned to hang out that day.

He's a little shit but eventually it'll get so ridiculous you can't help but laugh and that's kinda how you guys makeup? 🤷

Darry Curtis

I mean- how the hell do you think that'd play out? He's a yeller. He pulls a loud disappointment card and talks with his hands a lot. If he's too mad he'll yell from a different room because he's scared he'll push you or something like what he does Pony. He really doesn't want to hurt or scare you, so he puts distance in between y'all.

And I swear, if you FOLLOW him while he's trying to put space in-between you, you just might get pinned into a corner. Not that Darry would ever lay his hands on you but the second he sees your scared expression, he's a mess. The yellings out the window and he almost looks like a kicked puppy.

I'd like to say that fights actually happen frequent with Darry but they're usually over things like your or the boys' safety and stuff like that. Doesn't matter if you're his kid brother, one of the other Greasers, or his spouse, he's overprotective. If he likes you even a tiny bit he's protective as hell. However, Darry is usually the type to apologize with a lame offer of a date or alone time within 24 hours.

Sodapop Curtis

Another silent type. This little shit will be kinda immature when it comes to the silent treatment. "Oh, Steve? Did you hear someone saying something to me? I could've sworn an annoying little voice was talking to me."

Yeah he pulls that shit. Kick him him in the shins and run away and he'll chase you. Honestly might end up with y'all play fighting despite him trying to be mad. He just can't keep it for long 🤷 unless it's serious that is.

If it's serious, I could see him raising his voice for a second, but never super loud. He'll do it to get his point across and then he'll want space. He might secretly cry if it's something bad, but Pony's got him, don't worry. Nothing a late night talk won't fix. Soda will probably phone you within a day or two and ask if you guys can take a walk and CALMLY talk things out.

Ponyboy Curtis

He's such a freaking whiner bro :/ y'all probably fight all the time with how whiney he is about shit. I like Pony, don't get me wrong, but Pony can be kinda sensitive. Don't even lie.

He's a sarcastic little shit that will make comments and pout whenever he's upset with you. Visibly less playful and acts around you how he does Darry most times. Sometimes if you guys start to actually argue though, he'll actually run away. He'S a TrAcK sTaR-

Trust me, just give him an hour or two. If he's out longer than that, check the lot. 🤷 Probably got lost writing a little sob story or reading a book. Also the type to write you apology letters though in a form of a poem. The poems are sweet I guess but kinda cringey when he's all awkward about it lmfao.

Johnny Cade

Probably guessed it but he hates fighting. He'll avoid it the best he can but it's unavoidable sometimes. You yell and he'll shut down. Come back and talk to him when you've cooled off. He refuses to be yelled at, reminds him too much of home, but he also refuses to yell at you.

I could also see Johnny giving you semi-playful pinches. You guys are talking about something and you're getting worked up and you're starting to raise your volume? Pinch. You're ignoring him because you're pissed off? Pinch. You guys made up and he's feeling a little cheeky when you guys hug it out? Pinch.

Fights never last long. He doesn't let you guys go to bed angry like his parents. He'll give you time to cool off, of course, but not angry.

"I know we're fighting right now, but I just want to remind you that I still love you, ya dig?"

Dallas Winston

Honestly, despite him being an asshole that deserves a majority of the fights thrown at him, he's a strong believer in not going to bed angry when he really likes someone.

"Oh come on, don't be like that!"

Cue the dramatic eye roll as you slam the door. A few cigarettes later and you guys are sitting side by side on the porch of Buck's place. Or yours, depends where y'all are.

It's quiet, he's just taking drags off his cigarette and suddenly his jacket is around your shoulders.

"I like ya, doll. We can talk about it in the morning if you want to cool off, but come to bed and we'll cuddle or something, capiche?" Usually you have to initiate cuddles, so the fact he's even mentioning it first is a total win for you. You're weird if you don't take the offer.

I could also see him allowing you to hit him if you're angry too. He's low-key a masochist so 🤷🤷🤷

Steve Randle

He's kinda dumb, fights are probably started because he did something dumb and didn't realize. Or he said something kinda insensitive without thinking. He won't even know that you're mad unless you tell him and then he kinda gets defensive? "Don't be so sensitive."

Go on, you can hit him, I don't mind. He'll probably glare at you, use that stupid mocking voice under his breath. Kinda childish? I also see him as the type that would avoid his partner once they get into a fight. Kinda scared of them and doesn't want to have to deal with the negative emotions, you know? He might run away a few times but he'll eventually come back. Threaten him. It works. Tell him if he doesn't call you back within 24 hours you're done and he'll be on the phone within 5 minutes.

He really does care, he's just not the best with lover quarrels. Probably one of the worst here because if you don't say anything this dude can go up to like two whole ass weeks avoiding you. It gets a little ridiculous. Once y'all make up though he's definitely more careful with his words for a while. Compliments you a lot more.

Twobit Matthews

Honestly? He laughs it off. You do most of the yelling. He'll make sarcastic little comebacks. Definitely the type to make petty comments whether it be bringing up your faults when you're ripping on him or trying to gaslight you into believing you're overreacting. He just doesn't want to deal with it. Let him have fun, you know? He just doesn't get that he can't be that way 24/7, especially now that he's in a stable relationship.

Fights don't usually last long. Few days tops as he's not one to hold a grudge. He might even forget you guys are fighting lmfao on the occasion that he didn't forget and he just misses you, he'll probably just say a quick sorry and go back to pretending it never happened.

Definitely the type to half-ass apologize even though he doesn't think it's his fault. He's just kinda a people pleaser? If his sweetheart is mad at him and he's cooled off, he's like a kicked puppy.

[allastoredeer]

Archangel anon again! Here for those extended Gabriel headcanons. Okay! Gabriel's the messenger of heaven, so i imagine that it's his's responsibility to convey messages between heaven and hell. That makes Gabe the only sibling Lucifer has been allowed to have simi-consistent contact with since his fall. They're not allowed to have long, deep conversations, but they do try to catch up a tiny bit. I see Gabe as a trickster with a heart of gold. Seemingly a charismatic goofball who takes very little seriously. A fast-talking, smooth-talking, ALWAYS talking jokester who can make you want to tear your hair out one second, then charm the pants off you the next. He's the best liar of the family, incredibly good at playing dumb despite actually being quite cunning, strategic, and above all else, PETTY. He is very protective of his siblings, especially Lucifer nowadays (side-effect of being the only sibling allowed to talk to him) and can hold a grudge like no ones business.

But, the main reason I wanted to give special attention to Gabe is because of his patronage. As I was doing research on Gabriel I made a delightful discovery ripe with potential. Remember how I said Gabriel is the patron of communication services? Well another way to phrase it would be he holds patronage over all forms of transmitting information from point A to point B. This includes telecommunications that transmit information through electrical means. Such as telegraph, telephone, internet, and broadcasting. ALL forms of broadcasting. Including both television AND RADIO.😃😃😃

Do you see? Do you see the abundance of potential that I see?? Gabriel is the Patron Archangel of both TV AND RADIO. He holds dominion over

TV AND RADIO

I cannot begin to describe the joy I felt when I made that discovery! Instantly got the brain buzzing.

Alastor and Gabriel have the capacity for either becoming instant best friends or instant enemies and I can't decide which one I like more... Oh who am I kidding, it's enemies. Imagine Gabriel is visiting Lucifer and Charlie and he inevitably buts heads with Alastor. Either Alastor says something snide about Gabe himself, or maybe Lucifer. Meanwhile, Gabe has gone uncharacteristically quiet and just stares at Al for a long moment. Then, an unreadable smile slowly forms on his face and he laughs good-naturedly, slapping Alastor on the back a BIT too hard but otherwise just says "You got me there, buddy" before sauntering away.

But the next morning, Alastor tries to enter his radio tower to do his morning show, only to find the door is locked tight and there's some kind of powerful ward keeping him from shadow-porting in. Then, every radio in hell suddenly comes alive as none other than Gabriel's loud, bombastic voice comes pouring enthusiastically from the speakers.

Gabriel has redefined the term "pirate radio" by not only hijacking Alastor's radio tower, but also literally every radio in hell. And worse, he's turned Al's show into one of those "zany" morning-zoo radio shows. The kind of shows thar are more annoying than funny that always play on the radio on your way to work or school? I imagine Alastor considers those shows a perversion of his medium. And as the cherry on top, Gabe refuses to relinquish control back to Alastor calls in (the number is 1 777 3625, that's 1 777 DMBK🤭) and apologizes ON AIR for all of hell to hear.🤣🤣🤣

You know what, I'm kind of with Alastor on this one.

If someone messed with my passion like that, I would never apologize. I would double down. I'd never stop pushing those buttons, consequences be damned. You want me to say sorry? Nah, bitch, how about you stop being a wuss?

LOL I think Alastor would take a megaphone, plop himself on a rooftop (or just roam the streets) and do his broadcast like that. He'd find himself a soapbox to stand on. You know, the old fashioned way. I mean, depending on if Alastor can control radiowaves, he might be able to hijack one of the speakers he set up all over Hell. He'd pick a new one every day, and diss on ol' Gabe. He'd go into how Heaven keeps repressing the sinners of Hell, first it was the Extermination, and now Heaven's silencing their voices. When will the tyranny end? How long will they put up with this??

LOL Idk now that I'm thinking about it, the idea of Alastor starting a revolution against Heaven purely out of spite is incredibly funny and I love it.

(Also that is really interesting about Gabriel patron of communication 👀 that has so much potential)

[felixcosm]

Thought about your Edgar post for like 5 seconds too long, and I wanted to say how much I think that it seems that Mike is really judging their characters based on personality rather than actions if that makes sense?

They've both done some truly awful and heinous things - Edgar especially - but when not caught up in time travel bullshit, Edgar is a genuinely kind and compassionate person. Something that, as his boyfriend, Mike sees a lot of. Mike on the other hand, can be a bit of a bitch sometimes. (said with all the love in my heart of course)

Obviously Mike Walters is the true champion at seeing his loved ones through rose-tinted glasses with Edgar being one of the two most blatant examples (the other being Anne imo), but I do think there's something about the Mikes saying that the truth is what they feel to be emotionally true. They have flaws that they don't like about themselves, whereas Edgar is someone they love, and someone who loves them back. They see a lot of cruelty from the both of them, but they also see a lot of kindness and love from Edgar. Therefore in the Mikes' eyes, they are a worse person than Edgar.

Not sure if I quite articulated this great, but your post got me thinking!

(also when I say Mike, I mean Mike Walters as a species)

No no you're absolutely right and I am obsessed with how Mike says things that feel true in the moment even if they are blatantly wrong or impossible to prove (him telling Matt he loved him may be a bad example since later Mikey says he was only trying to be nice but I feel like there is certainly more to that whole scene than Mikey was willing to admit to Matt or his podcast listeners at the time)

And I feel like even though Edgar has obvious personality flaws as well, like he can be petty and mean (re: Rugby) he often speaks over Mike as if Mike's feelings don't matter (making decisions for him, disregarding his opinions and emotions during missions, treating him like a warm body to be sent out into the field), or manipulating him (Dylan mentioned in the commentaries how often Edgar puts Mikey in a position where he's the "adult" and Mikey's the "petulant child" re: 118) - and it seems like the Mikes do sort of know about it. Like Michael's still holding a grudge about Rugby so he's clearly not blind to Edgar's less than savory moments.

But that won't matter to them because in the end they will look past facts.

I'm also fascinated at how much of an unreliable Narrator Mike Walters is. Even when we have an episode where he's speaking to other Mikes or to himself, we can't fully trust what he says because he will apply his emotions to a situation and make decisions based on that.

We rarely do see Edgar and the others alone in scenes where they are themselves without Mikey interjecting with his own narrative. Which makes sense, as this is WOE.BEGONE and its the story of Mike Walters, so we see the world through their eyes.

I think you can probably say Edgar is a better person than Mike though and I am completely agreeing with your points. But at the same time I do think its funny how Mikey leads us to believe that Edgar is perfect and holy while his boyfriend just can't fucking wait to get his hands dirty.

WOE.BEGONE is a show about power and how it can corrupt someone and I think Edgar is just as good of an example as Mikey. Mikey might've started as someone who was very happy to get into the time-travel murder game as he accuses himself of being in Episode 21, but Edgar goes from being scared and unsure to the actual leader controlling the fates of all of Base.

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

Do you think that Edward holds a grudge against Alice for ditching them before the Breaking Dawn confrontation, even if it was to find Nahuel? He was so pissy with Rosalie for not helping during the James chase; I can imagine him being snarky to Alice because she ditched them during such a big crisis, and she gave herself an easy out if the battle was going poorly. But at the end of BD, he seems to be fine with her?

Well, you said the difference right there, one of those people is Alice and one of those people is Rosalie.

The thing about Edward is he doesn't care so much what you do so long as you think correctly. (I feel like I have a post on this, but this post illustrates it well enough). Edward looks at everyone through the lens of their thoughts and as a result, it doesn't matter what you do, so long as he can rationalize it to fit in with how he perceives you.

In the example linked, Edward finds himself empathizing with a pedophile who ultimately gives into temptation to rape and murder his victim, because he listens as the man debates with himself on whether or not he should do it and feels quite guilty over a temptation he can't deny.

In the case of Bella Swan, everything Bella says or does becomes fuel for the persona he's already developed for her. The same goes for Rosalie, Alice, Carlisle, Esme, everyone he's ever met. This is how Edward just deals with the world.

What that means is when someone does something he doesn't necessarily like (or something he does like) he caveats it with what he thinks he knows of that person.

If Rosalie does something good, it must be out of her own self-interest, as she's vain and petty.

If Alice does something bad, it must be for the greater good and because she had a vision of the other paths being worse.

Add onto this that Alice did ultimately return and Edward will tell himself Alice always intended to return, or else forgive her for having a backup plan, in that this clearly must have been the best future overall.

Edward likes Alice and so there's very little she can do to make him not like her (evidenced by canon when Alice committed the ultimate no-no and personally offered to turn Bella Swan behind his back in New Moon, he was still friends with her).

[prismuffin]

Hey. Can I send in a watch dogs request please when sitara is R’s older sister, and they are mute; and Sitara is really protective of them like Josh? Maybe like someone makes fun of them online or something and Sitara goes full big sister mode and comforts R while going after whoever sent the messages?

A/n: sorry if this is a bit short anon but also I enjoyed writing for watchdogs !! Gn Reader !!

Simple Mistake

Sitara Dhawan x mute!younger!sibling!reader

( summary: when the HQ gets hacked by some trolls with a petty grudge against "S1lentz0" they don't necessarily hold back on the idiot that left them such an obvious trail to follow, you )

warnings?: cyberbullying, swearing, talks of violence and guns, reader knows sign language!! ( italics are sign language )

!-!more under the cut!-!

You hadn't meant for this to happen honestly. You were in the hackerspace in your usual spot on the couch just patching up some code in the servers on your laptop. Recently Lenni had hacked into your guys' network and left so many backdoors and holes in your servers meaning you were much more susceptible to hacks these days. If you didn't patch this now who knows who could hack you next. You typed away at the keyboard your eyes following line after line of code when Wrench called for you. You were busy, but he said it'd only be a second and that if you didn't hold a very specific wire for him while he searched for his pliers then the thing he was working on would blow up in all of your faces, literally. Josh was busy with a similar task to yours, patching up the network after Lenni got in and removing any potential backdoors she could've left. Sitara was helping Markus with the 3D printer as he got ready to leave for another physical hack across LA. So you reluctantly looked away from your laptop, leaving your unfinished vulnerable servers for just a minute too long.

Sitara shot you a smile as she noticed you walking over to Wrench and you shot her one back. It was nice that even after all these years you still had a good relationship with your older sister. Not a lot of siblings can say that they stay as close as you two have. You look up to Sitara, the way she's so bold in both her art and real life, sometimes you wish you could be like that.

But you're not.

And that thought alone used to bug you so much but Sitara reassured you that you were perfectly fine as you. She's always looked out for you since you two were kids. Being mute and more reserved, it was a lot harder to make friends or to feel useful most days. There was always something bad happening in the world and you felt terrible knowing there was often nothing you could to to help. But after joining Dedsec as 'S1lentz0' with Sitara you've found that there are tons of different people in the world just like you and they're all helpful in their own ways.

Speaking of helpful, you cautiously grabbed the wire that Wrench held. "Good now keep that steady, don't let it touch any other wires or we're all dead...mmm- probably." He ranted as he ducked underneath his workstation in search of his preferred tool. You glanced down at him every so often, cursing in your hands as your hands struggled to stay perfectly steady, though with the amount of energy drinks the whole team downs you're not entirely shocked that you can't help the involuntary motion. "Aha!" Wrench yelled, shooting up only to hit his head on the underside of the table, making the whole thing shake. Your eyes widened as sparks flew momentarily before you grabbed the device to steady it before the wire could react with anything else. "owww," Wrench groaned as he stood up straight, rubbing the back of his head, his mask showing his displeasure. You breathed out a sigh of relief at the lack of any sort of explosion before Wrench took over again, grabbing the wire from your hand delicately as he looked at you. "Your presence is appreciated my dear friend," he put on a fake British accent as he spoke, patting your cheek with the pliers twice before focusing his attention back on the device. You nodded and took that as your cue to leave. Walking back over to your laptop, you huffed down onto the couch with a sigh ready to get back to work.

The sound of beeping caught your attention and you froze, grabbing your laptop you stared at the screen with wide eyes as some stupid animation of a snake firing a gun with its tail played. It shot through your code, 1's and 0's flying everywhere as a mechanical laugh played. The snake slithered into the hole it shot and suddenly the rest of the TVs in your hackerspace were projecting the image of the snake. "What the hell is that?" Marcus questioned making everyone stop to peer at the screens. You cursed in your head as you frantically tried to stop the hack before it could get any worse.

At this point, the damage was already done though. Everyone crowded around the screens as a mechanical voice spoke. "S1lentz0 has left you vulnerable. That quiet idiot can't code to save their miserable life." It spoke, and you jumped reacting as if their words had physically hit you. You just tried to ignore their words as you started to lock them out of your system.

Sitara's jaw clenched as she stared at the screens. "Don't you talk about them like that you worthless pricks." She spat, anger evident in her voice as she crossed her arms. The voice let out the same mechanical laugh from before and Sitara only glared at the sound. "They brought down our encryptions and stole our codes to fix your vulnerable systems and thought we simply wouldn't take notice?" You'd began to sweat slightly as your fingers typed rapidly to shut them down. "Wait, so you're calling them worthless because they hacked you and took down your precious encryptions?" Marcus asked, holding back a laugh at their petty reasoning. "Snakes with cowboy hats? Who's idea was that?" Wrench spoke up, laughing much more boldly than Marcus making Josh roll his eyes at the situation. "I've heard of these guys, they're a newer hacker group called Ouroboros. Their systems are so outdated, I'm not shocked that you got your shit hacked and taken down so quickly," Sitara spoke, still glaring at the screen as she continued. "Don't be mad because my little sibling outsmarted your dumbass encryptions. The only reason you're even here is because some other hacker group weakened our system, not because you're skilled hackers." The mechanical voice tried spitting back but was washed from the screens as you finally kicked them out for good, patching up your network in the process.

With a sigh your head fell into your hands, you felt so bad that you let this happen. "welp, that was stupid," Marcus said before going back over to the printer but Sitara was looking at you. Her eyebrows were furrowed with worry as she saw you with your head in your hands, knowing exactly what you were thinking. Walking over to the couch she crouched down next to you, placing her hand on your knee as she softly called your name. "Y/n," You peeked from your hands to look at her. 'I'm sorry,' you signed, 'I didn't mean to leave us vulnerable.' you frowned, looking back towards your laptop to avoid her eye. Sitara sighed before moving to sit next to you. With a smile she bumped your shoulder and you looked at her again. "Hey, it's not your fault ok? If we're gonna blame anyone here its Lenni. She was the one to leave us vulnerable, you were just trying to fix it." 'Yeah but I got distracted.' "And that's completely ok," she placed her hand on your shoulder and you leaned into the comfort now going into a side hug with her. 'Is it really?' you signed, and she smiled "Yes! It is y/n, nobody's blaming you hun just look around." She was right, everyone had simply went back to their original tasks. It was almost as if you guys hadn't got hacked only a few minutes prior. "Those guys that hacked us are just run of this mill idiots they don't pose any real threat." She said with a playful roll of her eyes and you hesitantly smiled at her wording.

You guess she was right, you'd only hacked them a while ago to steal some parts of their firewall that you thought would be useful in your own. You often do that, stealing multiple different encryptions and putting them all together for one mega-encryption that was damn hard to hack. "Don't beat yourself up over this alright y/n? Trust me, me and Marcus are gonna get them back, right Marcus?" She smiled at the approaching male, "Damn right," Marcus said with a smirk, placing his newly made zap-gun in a holster under his hoodie.

Moving out of the hug you turned and smiled at Marcus. 'Thanks you guys,' You signed and Marcus looked at Sitara for translation, he was trying to learn more ASL for you but it's a lot harder than he thought it'd be. "You're welcome Y/n," She said, eyeing Marcus as she placed a hand on your head and Marcus nodded. You couldn't help but feel better at the interaction. Just having confirmation that they had your back in situations like these was enough to make you beam. You truly loved your team at Dedsec and you wouldn't trade it for the world.

----!----

( I'm very iffy on this one tbh I kinda don't like how I wrote it but imma post it anywayyyyy !!! )

Thanks for reading! Have a great day/night!!

My requests are CLOSED !! Check my req rules and info to see when/if they're open again !!

See my DIRECTORY for upcoming fics!

Masterlist

[gaoau]

swine's snout

good in yellow warnings — none. word count — 1.2k

next.

Cheng Xiaoshi has taught you how to miss him. you think it's unfair, how he holds the sunlight in both his eyes and his smile. every time he cracks another joke just to make you laugh, you do, because the grin on his face swears to you that losing him means losing the biggest fortune. you don't know what it is exactly, his heart so big you don't understand how it fits in his chest or the way he sees the world so uniquely, but it makes you want to learn everything he has to offer.

not that you'll tell him—if he can unknowingly make your stomach churn with one glance, then you'll knowingly keep your mouth shut as he chats your ear off. you lean back on the bench, head hanging upside down while you attentively listen. something about Qiao Ling, something about Lu Guang. then Xiaoshi asks you if you think he could be considered handsome (it seems Lu Guang fervently disagreed.) you snicker to yourself while he nudges you repeatedly for an answer.

he waits expectantly as you lift your head to scan your eyes over his face. you hum in thought, pretending like it's a much harder question to answer than it actually is. "well…" it's so endearing to see him perk up as you start to speak, "maybe in some cultures, i'm sure…"

his face falls instantly. you have to look away to not burst out laughing. he crosses his arms and slumps against the bench. "at least you didn't say no. or gag…" the way he so dejectedly mumbles the last bit of his sentence makes you break. Xiaoshi is not amused as you giggle, covering your mouth with your hand, but you both know he can't stay frowning for too long.

and you're always so pleased to hear him laugh with you.

"fine, i'll take it," Xiaoshi sighs, a few chuckles still dancing on his tongue. he nearly cackles, "a couple years back you wouldn't even have answered!" the grin pulling on his lips is so familiar. you have it carved in your memory and still find it just as beautiful each time.

a snicker slips from your tongue, "yeah, actually, i hated you back then."

he gasps so loud, eyes wide and mouth agape. with a hand on his chest, clutching at his wounded heart, he exclaims, "me?! why?!" he sounds offended, doesn't look it one bit as his initial shock crumbles into laughter. if anything, he seems genuinely curious to know how you could possibly have hated his pure, pure soul—his words, not yours.

to this day, you wish you could go back in time and kick yourself for holding petty grudges. so you smile at him, bringing your legs onto the bench and turning to face him fully. "our first day of uni; it was raining, remember?" you wait for his expression to do that thing where it lights up in recognition. it does and Lady Luck plays in your favor, throwing in an eager nod of his head. "you knocked me over and made me lose my rings." you wiggle your fingers in front of his face, jewelry dressing almost each one.

"oh…" he sounds so dejected that you consider slicing your tongue off. before you have much of a chance to regret speaking, he grabs both of your hands. his thumbs run over your rings as if they were precious gemstones. "sorry about that, i can make it up to you."

his words have you grinning instantly. you let him hold onto your hands, feeling your smile dig into your cheeks so stupidly. "nah, it's okay," you chuckle and shrug it off, "it was way back, i bought new ones."

Xiaoshi is stubborn—you know this first-hand, but you still act surprised when he shakes his head. "no, no, let me make it up to you, i'll make it up to you."

you don't get another word in as he springs off the bench and darts towards the bushes decorating the park. it's incredibly funny to watch a person as tall as Xiaoshi crouching on the floor and fiddling with his hands. you try to take a peek from where you're sitting, but he hops to shift his position and hide his bright idea from your line of sight. he's more than glad to have learned how to twist flower stems properly just for this very moment.

you can tell he's struggling a little—lack of practice that he curses in his mind, trying to remember each step correctly—and you can't help but laugh. "what are you doing? digging for lost rings in the ground?"

he shushes you instantly, throwing a glance behind his shoulder to catch your eyes. "just gimme a sec!" he protests. you can hear him groan quietly to himself, teeth nibbling at his lip. then his voice grows quieter when he starts, "…by the way, unrelated question…" 

sometimes, Xiaoshi starts fidgeting and fumbling with his words. this is one of those times. you hum to let him know you're listening. 

"what's your favorite flower?"

it throws you for a loop. you blink and frown and recoil and squint all at the same time, trying to wrap your head around what he's throwing at you. "i dunno, i never thought about… that…?" it's supposed to be an answer, but the confusion in your tone makes it sound like a question. your words die on your tongue when he shoots up from the floor, an all too familiar beam on his face.

"well," he giggles to himself. you laugh with him as he settles on one knee before you on the bench. "i hope you like dandelions." between delicate fingers, Xiaoshi presents a flower ring to you, the bright yellow dandelion only slightly crushed from his struggles. he grins so genuinely that you hardly care.

"oh, that's very cute." you decide to humor him—you always do—and reach for the ring. he brushes your hand off, holding your fingers like they're made of crystal. very carefully, he slides the twisted stem on. it fits perfectly. "thanks, i really appreciate it, Xiaoshi."

"yellow looks good on you."

you offer him a simper, although your attention immediately darts back down to admire the yellow petals covering up your steel jewelry. you think you should never own another ring that isn't this dandelion. call it a presentiment, a hunch, a simple feeling; you know you would do anything to have him not just for a moment, but every day possible.

"gold would look better, though."

but he's still the same funny, silly Xiaoshi you know and love.

a huff escapes you as you shake your head, rolling your eyes at his smug grin. "you're insanely poor, i doubt you can afford one."

"hey! that's not true!"

you snicker and smile amused, your usual banter kicking off smoothly. it's still very unfair, you think, that now you know how to miss Cheng Xiaoshi—that now you have a favorite flower and it's dandelions.

[mister-eames]

You really do be out here blessing us with all your headcanons 🥺 I’m thinking though... what about the first time Arthur and Eames make each other laugh? I am literally so about all those small and seemingly inconsequential moments that lead to the ‘oh’ moment 🥰

The Snort.

It's been an hour. A whole goddamn hour of listening to Edmund the Extractor droll on about their planned heist, circling around and paraphrasing it in so many different ways and Eames has had enough.

"...and so, if we can just reiterate the outline..."

That's it, he's zoning out.

Settling back in his chair he allows his gaze to roam around the rented office space. He catches Arthurs eye from across the room, who, if possible, looks even more bored than Eames does. At least it's not just Eames then. He tilts his head towards Egghead Edmund and makes a face, crossing his eyes and scrunching up his nose.

Arthur's lips purse as he supresses a smile, but his cheek indents, giving him away. Then, while Edmund is turned away, Arthur raises two fingers to his temple and mimes shooting himself, tongue lolling out for a moment as he plays dead, only to straighten when Edmund turns back.

The playfulness catches Eames so off guard he can't help the snort that escapes his nose.

The dirty stare that their extractor sends him is worth it.

2. The Snicker.

Generally speaking, Arthur believes in just desserts. He doesn't hold egregious grudges and tries not to interfere in matters of revenge too much. People who deserve it will get what's coming to them.

Except, Arthur also happens to have an inner thirteen year old that is not above petty pranks in the name of being the arbiter of said karmic justice - and Eames, that thief, that fucker, has been riling Arthur up all job. Little things here and there, stealing his pens, his keys, standing in front of the coffee pot in the kitchen and refusing to move when Arthur wants to make a coffee -- and on one memorable occasion, sketching dicks all over his paperwork. Dicks on his dossier.

Eames does this all the while looking at Arthur with an infuriating expression that somehow managed to be both blank and smug.

Well, that's it. Arthur has had it. He doesn't know how Eames manages to be so annoying to the point of Arthur breaking his composure, but he's achieved it.

The opportunity for a bit of pay-back comes at the end of long day, near the end of the job. It's only them and the architect left in the warehouse.

Eames goes to sit but Arthur, seeing the opening, kicks out at the base of the chair at the last second, wheeling it away. Eames drops to the floor with a heavy thud.

The startled look at his face is hilarious.

Arthur looks down at Eames with the same smug look he'd received these last few weeks.

"Messing with a mans chair," Eames grumbles, getting up, rubbing his rear with his hand as he does so. He nods Arthur. "I'm going to get you back for that, just you wait."

"You've got dust on your ass," Arthur says politely.

Eames looks back and down at his slacks, the dark fabric indeed imprinted with dust. Then he shrugs and jauntily walks away, hips swaying with an exaggerated swagger, the dusty handprint shifting with the bounce of his derrière. The architect barks a laugh at the sight.

Jesus.

Arthur swivels his chair around so Eames can't see him snickering into his palm.

3. The Giggle.

This has been the most boring job in the history of jobs.

They've been stood upon this rooftop observing the dreamscape for snipers and other assassins for hours. Worse, Eames isn't even here in the dream to forge, to be an acteur, he's here because Arthur called him and asked if he would like something to do and Eames was stupid enough to say yes. This mans mind is 'mildly' militarised, in Cobbs words, hence the need for extra manpower. At least Arthur is with his to keep him company.

It hasn't been all bad though. The boredom, after several hours, has clearly gotten to Arthur too.

"That projections' name is Brenda," Eames says. "She looks like a Brenda."

They've been playing this game for the last thirty minutes.

Arthur peers over the ledge at the projection, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, brushing shoulders with Eames to get a better look. Arthur nods, continuing their game.

"She works as a corporate receptionist by day."

The projection walks down the pavement in a respectable two-piece, talking on her phone. Eames asks, "and by night?"

"She works at a strip club."

"Oh, how saucy."

Arthur adds, "Also as a receptionist."

"Do strip clubs have receptionists?"

"The classy ones do."

"You would know, would you?"

Arthur shrugs. "It's how I got through senior year of high school."

The mental image of a barely-legal Arthur sat in the shady shrouds of a subterranean strip-club sends Eames mind to a strange place. The moment is silent, pensive. Arthur's face is solemn, like he's stuck in an awful memory, brow furrowed, lips twisted in consternation.

"You wouldn't believe how out of order their taxes were," Arthur says suddenly, shaking his head in disgust.

An embarrassing wheeze-giggle expels itself from Eames chest.

He thumps it with his fist when Arthur turns to him with a surprised smile, cheeks creasing with dimples Eames has yet to see up this close.

Oh Arthur, he thinks, grinning back as butterflies swarm in his belly, never change.

4. The Regular Laugh.

The email catches Arthur off guard. For one, it's delivered to his personal email address, the one he's had since the internet was a thing (arthur_is_king69) and secondly, it comes in the midst of a drought of work. A drought so severe that Arthur has been stuck home so long that indubitably become domesticated.

The email is brief.

at a bar for my mates 30th. they have a drink here called the king arthur. reminded me of when i stumbled across this e-male addy of urs LOL. embarrasing.

Attached is a picture. It's Eames, holding up an actual goblet and pointing to it proudly, like he's just caught a big fish. He's grinning widely, all-teeth, his eyes hazy with intoxication and good cheer.

He looks loose and happy and so dumb.

If Arthur laughs and saves the picture, well, no one is around to see it.

5. The Full-Body, Belly Laugh.

The couple next door have been going at it for an hour and Arthur is starting to get seriously pissed off.

Not that he would begrudge anyone a sex life and honestly, besides criminal activity, that's mostly what he assumes these motels are made for, but it's two in the morning and Arthur is tired, alright, he's been up for forty hours thanks to a job gone bad and has to lie low, has to share a room with Eames who snored the last two nights and it's two in the fucking morning.

"Yeah, baby," a woman moans through the wall, "so good. You fuck me so good."

Arthur stares in disbelief across the room at the other twin bed as the sounds of mattress springs squeaking rises in volume. Eames, tucked under the covers, is staring right back at him.

"How is this our life?"

"Better question is how are they still going?" Eames mumbles into his hand, eyes wide. He looks as traumatised as Arthur feels.

"Fuck yeah, slap my ass!"

Their eyes widen in unison as the headboard begins pounding against their shared wall. They say nothing for a long time, listening to the occupants next door having the most enthusiastic intercourse he has ever heard. If only the motel had working had working hot water, god, he'd get in the shower and try and drown himself - at least he wouldn't have to listen to this or Eames' snoring ever again.

"Do you think they're using a condom?" Arthur wonders idly, his will to live wilting at a rapid pace.

"Probably not, given the squelching."

A man grunts, "Oh, oh!"

For some reason that makes Eames snicker. "Fucking hell. Did you hear that bloke?" He imitates the sound. Arthur cringes at the accuracy.

"Stop."

"Fuck my ass," Eames says breathily, snickering when again when Arthur throws a pillow at him.

Arthur purses his lips together when they threaten to spread wide in amusement. "She said 'slap my ass', not fuck."

"Oh, did she?"

"Yeah."

"An important distinction, my liege."

The moans next door escalate in pitch, getting more excited and loud until its a cacophony of passionate screaming and wall-banging. There's a wailing crescendo as the occupants seem to reach completion and then --

Finally.

Silence. His shoulders relax and he slowly removes the hands that have somehow made their way to cover his ears during the climax. It's quiet. It's blissfully fucking quiet.

And then--

"Oh yeah," Eames whisper-moans, high and feminine, a grin on his stupid face.

It bubbles up and erupts unbidden. Arthur can't help it - he's so fucking tired and Eames is so annoying. He throws the duvet over his head to muffle his laughter, Eames' wheeze-laugh setting him off all the more, his stomach muscles straining with unbridled mirth.

+1. Laugh so hard they cry.

The next morning they leave their room at the exact same moment the couple next door appear to be checking out.

The woman with the mutant lung capacity steps out first, slinging a duffle over her shoulders. She's very pretty - tall, leggy and blonde who looks like she's got every inch of beauty sleep, amongst other things, that he and Arthur did not.

It's the man the steps out afterwards that has them all pausing.

He hates this man. He hates him so much he didn't think he could hate him any more before last night. A quick glance at Arthur's rigid posture, fists balled at his sides, would suggest the same sentiment.

"Edmund!" Eames greets, smiling brightly. "What a coincidence."

The extractor seems to shrivel into himself upon sighting them, as if sensing this. His fair-faced paramour has no such instinct, affectionately winding her arm around his waist.

Edmund clears his throat. "Arthur, Eames," he returns the womans embrace. "We work together," he explains to her.

"Oh, at the MoMA?" The woman looks impressed.

"And who are you?"

"I'm Brenda."

Out the corner of his eye, Arthur stills.

"What do you do for work, Brenda?"

"I'm a receptionist."

Eames bows his head, looking down at his feet, jaw positively burning with how hard he's clenching it to suppress his laughter.

"We gotta to check out," she says, disentangling herself and heading to the front office, waving. "It was nice meeting you!"

As soon as she disappears through the doors Arthur, who has not slept more than twenty minutes of microsleep in the past two days, plants his hands on Edmunds chest and shoves him, hard.

"Arthur---what??"

"If I ever have to hear you fornicating like a wild animal again I am going to shoot you. In the dick."

Fornicate, Eames recites internally, slapping a hand over his face as a hysterical snort escapes his nose.

"Wait--"

"Go."

Eames looks up just as Edmund skedaddles, sneakers squealing against the pavement in his hasty departure.

"And have some fucking decorum!" Arthur snaps after him. He turns to Eames, hands on his hips once Edmund is out off earshot. "Jesus."

Decorum. At this point his shoulders are shaking with laughter. Arthurs face.

"Brenda--" he wheezes helplessly, losing the words to laughter.

Arthur's whole body crumple into laughter at the same time Eames' does. And he doesn't know if it's the exhaustion, the situation or the utter delight of Arthur's disarming sense of humour, or all of it, but Eames can't help but follow, loud, braying guffaws breaching the containment of his body and out of his mouth, eyes burning.

Even through his tears Arthur looks both pleased and hysterical, even as he attempts to compose himself and Eames finds himself utterly charmed, stomach swooping, by the wrinkles pleating at the corner of Arthur's eyes as he fails to control his smile.

They head to breakfast once the laughter has petered out into the odd snicker. Noisy neighbours and jobs gone wrong aside, Eames is going to miss the easy camaraderie of the last few days once this is all over, if he must admit it.

In the meantime, he observes the fellow patrons at the diner whilst they're in the long line to order and starts making stories about them.

Arthur grins openly, leaning into him.

[erabundus]

TAGGED BY: @drolliic ( thank you!! ) TAGGING: @ironbloodcd @monogatcri @mmriesoftvat @geleum @custosavis @boughtastar you, if you'd like!

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?: ❝ depends on who's asking. ❞ hat guy? flying brat?

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME?: ❝ ... ren.  ❞

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE CALLED THAT?: ❝ considering i named myself, i think it's safe to assume i would. ❞

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN?: ❝ no comment.  ❞

5. WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS AND ABILITIES?: ❝  and  ruin  the  surprise?  figure  it  out  yourself.  ❞   flight.  still  developing  control  over  anemo  —  including  the  creation  of  various vacuums  and  blades  made  of  compressed  wind.  it's  ambiguous  (  purposefully  so,  on  ren's  part  )  whether  he's  retained  the  ability  to  use  electro,  though  he  was  once  able  to  coat  his  limbs  in  lightning  and  use  them  as  blades  —  as  well  as  "teleport"  by  dissolving  his  body  into  pure  electricity.  immense  durability  by  default,  augmented  by  the  ability  to  regenerate  from  every  possible  wound  without  a  trace.  enhanced  physical  strength, stamina and speed. near-perfect memory unless otherwise tampered with.

6. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?: ❝  indigo?  purple-blue?  exactly  how  poetic  are  you  expecting  me  to  get here?  ❞

7. HAVE YOU EVER DYED YOUR HAIR?: ❝ no. it probably wouldn't stick.  ❞

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS?: ❝ no comment.  ❞ he has a few ... but he wouldn't necessarily count his mother or sibling among them. it's complicated.

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?: ❝  no.  ❞  though  he  does  possess  an  uncanny  ability  to  draw  animals  to  his  mere  presence.

10. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE: ❝  there's  a  lot  of  things  i  don't  like.  how  much  time  do  you  have  to  spare?  ❞  he  isn't  going  to  wait  for  an  answer  before  he  starts  spouting  off  examples.  ❝  clutter.  sweets  and  food  with  a  sticky  texture.  dottore. boring social situations without any good drama to make them worthwhile.  people  who  chew  without  closing  their  mouths,  first.  dottore.  being  lied  to.  small talk. cheaply  made  weapons.  dottore ...  ❞   this  may  take  a  while.

11. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?: ❝  a  few ...  but  i  only  engage  with  them  until  they  overstay  their  welcome.  ❞   he's  quick  to  pick  up  new  hobbies  and  discard  the  old  just  as  fast  —  though  there  are  a  handful  that  have  managed  to  keep  his  attention  long  term.  cooking,  sewing,  smithing.  rock  collecting  and  calligraphy.  much  as  he  might  try  to  feign  indifference  or  irritation,  he  also  admittedly  finds  writing  papers  to  be  strangely  cathartic.  whatever  manages  to  be  an  effective  panacea  for  his  eternal  boredom.

12. HAVE YOU EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE?: ❝ yes.  ❞

13. HAVE YOU EVER… KILLED ANYONE?: ❝ yes.  ❞

14. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU?: ❝ i guess cat would be the expected answer.  ❞ he thinks the question is a bit absurd either way.

15. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS: ❝  no.  ❞   assigning  himself  the  lion's  share  of  blame.  acting  purposefully  suspicious  and  antagonistic  —  both  as  a  defense  mechanism,  and  simply  because  it's  what  he's  accustomed  to.  oversteeping  tea  until  his  cup  resembles  an  inkwell.  holding  grudges;  allowing  himself  to  grow overly  petty  and  jealous.  a  litany  of  self-destructive  tendencies  he  refuses  to  see  as  a  problem  because  he  assumes  he  can  endure  anything.

16. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE?: ❝  i'd  rather  float  —  and  force  them  to  look  up  to  me.  ❞   he's  purposefully  being  a  bit  obtuse.

17. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL?: ❝ does it matter?  ❞ gay.

18. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?: ❝  allegedly ...  though  i  can't  exactly say  it  was  my  idea.  ❞ nor can he say he does more than precisely the bare minimum of what's required of him.

19. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY?: ❝  i  have  no  strong  opinions  about  the  former ...  but  i'd  rather  abstain  from  the  latter  for  my  own  reasons.  ❞

20. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANS?: ❝  unfortunately  it  seems  i'm  becoming  more  recognizable  by  the  day ...  the  real  test  of  their  affection  is  how  tolerable  these  so-called  admirers  find  me  after  i  open  my  mouth ...  ❞

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF?: ❝  why  would  i  tell  you  that?  ❞  growing  attached  to  someone,  only  to  lose  them.  being  unable  to  escape or move or scream  in  a  place  where  there's  little  chance  he'll  ever  be  found  —  crushed  beneath  a  cave  in,  for  example.  abandonment.  vulnerability.  his  own  immortality.

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR?: ❝  exactly  what  i'm  wearing  right  now;  i  don't  have  many  options  when  it  comes  to  attire ...  but  this  suits  me  fine.  ❞

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE?: ❝ do you love having all of your teeth? ❞

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU?: ❝ catalyst.  ❞

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE?: ❝  who  said  anything  about  having  friends?  ❞   he  has  a  handful.  whether  he's  actually  willing  to  admit  he  considers  them  as  such  varies  from  person  to  person. the closer the relationship, the more transparent he'll be.

26. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE?: ❝  it  makes  for  an  efficient  vessel  to  transport  food  in ...  but  the  savory  ones  are  the  only  kind  worth  eating.  ❞

27. FAVORITE DRINK?: ❝ tea ... although, i won't turn down black coffee, either.  ❞

29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE?: ❝  nowhere  specific.  ❞   not  anymore.  ❝  i'd  just  prefer  to  be  somewhere  high ...  and  away  from  other  people.  ❞

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE?: ❝  are  you  interested  in  having  all  of  your  teeth?  ❞

31. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN?: ❝  neither.  ❞  he  would  take  soaking  in  a  hot  spring  or  bath  over  both.

32. WHAT’S YOUR ‘TYPE’?: ❝  i  don't  have  one;  i  think  my  blood  type  would  be  something  closer  to  battery  acid.  ❞   ...  not  that  type.

33. ANY FETISHES?: ❝  is  that  meant  to  be  a  serious  question?  and people have the nerve to say i'm lacking in tact ...  ❞

35. CAMPING, OR INDOORS?: ❝  i  spend  more  nights  without  a  roof  over  my  head  than  the  opposite ...  so,  you  tell  me.  ❞

36. ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS INTERVIEW TO BE OVER?: ❝  that's  the  most  intelligent  thing  you've  asked  me  so  far ...  that's  the  ONLY  intelligent  thing  you've  asked  me  so  far.  ❞

[juuheizou]

Hello there!! Hope you're doing good! I love your writing for juuzou and mutsuki so i wanted to ask two ir more questions,,, 1.what would make juuzou genuinely upset/angry in an relationship and how does he act when he's angry/upset? and 2.what is something that would bring juuzou to tears and how does he's particularly sad? would he cry in front of anyone? how does he accept help and comforting? Ty in advance!!💕

Hello! You have no idea (well, you might once you read the full paragraphs below haha) how excited I was to answer your very important, deliciously angsty questions! Honestly I've been wanting to write some Suzuya hurt/comfort for aaaages, because I definitely see both of them having their moments though I know I tend to actually post my writings of one side more than the other. I hope I provided the insight into the inner workings of Suzuya Juuzou that you're looking for, anon!

1.what would make juuzou genuinely upset/angry in an relationship and how does he act when he's angry/upset?

Although we see him become a much more forgiving person in :RE itself and I say this as someone who adores him as a character, a lot of things make him angry. He is the type to have big anger over small missteps, especially those that make him feel like the offender is judging him. Little things that could come with good intentions from a partner, like messing with his doom piles, commenting on his snack choices, or trying to tuck in his shirt that he left untucked on purpose will flip his anger switch just as much as something truly heinous. As far as how he acts, he doesn't get mad. His eye might twitch or he might get a little more fidgety than usual when something upsets him, but for the most part, he just gets even. Now, getting even isn't always crashing someone's shiny new motorcycle or getting violent. It can be as quick and easy as making a hurtful remark back at the person who can't believe he's unwrapping a piece of candy before dinner or hiding something precious to the partner who messed up a pile that he had organized his way and seeing how they like it. He might have come a long way and forgiven Big Madam of all people, and he might actually let some slights against him go once he's had a chance to cool down, but he still holds grudges sometimes and can easily relapse into the vengeful soul he was before. Mutsuki's accepting nature protects him from this side of Suzuya a lot of the time because he doesn't try to fix or change people no matter how different they are from him. He even respects people who are disrespectful to him, but early in their relationship he probably did earn Suzuya's vengeance a couple of small, petty times just wanting to help with things he didn't completely understand. The first time, he apologizes and just takes whatever petty revenge Suzuya throws at him. The second time, the revenge is less petty and he's grown a little more assertive so he doesn't accept it and he's like "that was mean. Why did you do that?" Actually thinking about it instead of just acting makes Suzuya realize he cares about Mutsuki more than cares about making him pay for the initial offense, so they end up talking it out and from then on, Suzuya is better at asking himself if his first impulse is worth potentially hurting Mutsuki before he does whatever act of revenge he had in mind. The answer is just about always no. Gods help whoever makes him angry by hurting Mutsuki in any way, though.

2.what is something that would bring juuzou to tears and how does he's particularly sad? would he cry in front of anyone? how does he accept help and comforting?

Suzuya doesn't cry often, and he's more likely to cry from overwhelm than from sadness. He's more listless and may shut down in situations where others who express themselves differently might cry. Going quiet, staring off into space, not getting out of bed, vacantly trying to roll snacks towards his mouth so he moves as little as possible while comfort-eating, that's how you know he's sad. He would cry in front of anyone and everyone, because if he's at that point, he's beyond controlling his reaction to whatever drove him to tears. As we saw in the Owl Suppression Operation, if something strikes the right chord to make him cry, it's messy and out of control. Screaming in anguish, hammering fists on his surroundings, destroying things or hurting himself, curling up into a ball, it's a tempestuous fit to release the overload of whatever brought him to that point in any way he can. Considering his junior partner doubles as a personal care aide, he's actually pretty good at accepting practical help. Comfort, on the other hand, he often doesn't think to seek in other people. It's not that he doesn't want or need that sometimes, but very rarely does he recognize what he's feeling enough for the idea to occur to him. He's more likely to find distractions on his own until either the sadness passes or he can't handle it alone anymore. He's a hard person to read even for people who devote themselves to offering him their support, and often the first sign that he's in need of comforting is when Shinohara, Hanbee, Mutsuki, or someone close enough to have the opportunity finds him heavily self-soothing to comfort himself. Unless there is self-injury or damaging stuff involved, there's often no way to know if what he's doing is working and he just needs space to let it work or not except letting him know you're there and giving him the chance to do what he will with that information. Most of the time, Suzuya will eventually stagger to wherever Mutsuki is and wait quietly to be invited in for healing hugs, usually taking his sadness ball of blankets/plushies/etc with him, plus or minus venting to him about what's wrong.

[toribookworm22]

Incorrect Quote Tag

Thank you @axl-ul for the tag!

No pressure tagging: @minutiaewriter @ace-of-rabbits @aestatismors @mschvs @apocalypsewriters @gracebriarwoodwrites & leaving my open tag!!

Using StormWatcher (more under the cut):

Lisbet Hark: And I’d love to be sorry for that, but we all know I’ve done much, much worse.

Kib: Oh, so when crows remember people who wronged them and hold grudges, its “intelligent” and “really cool”.

Kib: But when I do it, I’m “petty” and “need to let it go”.

Merieh: I don’t think the therapist is supposed to say ‘wow’ that many times during their first session with a client, but here we are.

Daran: So what do you have planned for the future?

Merieh: Lunch.

Daran: No, like long term.

Mam: When I first met you, I did not like you.

Merieh: Oh...um, dinner?

Lisbet Hark: I'm aware of that.

Mam: But then you and I had some time together.

Lisbet Hark: Uh-huh?

Mam: So I’m the only one around here who can clean up, huh? You can't even lift a finger?

Mam: It did not get better.

Daran: *lying down and crying*

Kib: Do I get to pick the finger?

Daran: And what do I get out of this?

Kib: There, there. Why don’t you take some time off to not be around me while you’re like this?

Kib: I will give you a dollar.

Daran: What do you think I am? A chump? I would never do it for a dollar!

Kib: How bout two dollars?

Merieh: Kib won’t come out of their room!

Daran: You got yourself a deal.

Daran: Just tell them I said something.

Merieh: Like what?

Daran: Anything factually incorrect.

Merieh, shrugging: If you say so.

Kib: I told Daran that their ears turn red when they lie.

Kib, arriving moments later: Did you just say the sun is a PLANET?

Merieh: Do they?

Kib: No.

Merieh: Then why did you tell them that?

Kib: Because I can do this.

Kib: Hey Daran! Do you love us?

Merieh: You are irrationally angry 365 days a year.

Daran, with their hands over their ears: No.

Kib: Well, that’s just your personal opinion, I don’t have anger issues. Do you guys think I have anger issues?

Mam: I haven't slept in seventy-three hours.

Mam: Well, I wouldn’t really call it an issue. An issue is something you can fix.

Merieh: Eighty. Democratically elected leader of insomnia.

Kib: Bitch, it's been ninety for me. I'm going for an even one hundred.

Daran: You guys are fucking terrifying.

[killemwithkawaii]

If Larry was a dick to me, even over a misunderstanding, I'd never forgive him even after shit gets resolved. I'd ignore him. I'd shoot down his every attempt at making amends and tell him that he did enough damage already and to leave me alone. I'd tell him, "You should've thought shit through before being a dick to me."

I tend to still feel hurt and angry when someone wrongs me, even long after the situation gets resolved..

>I totally get it, Anon. For the most part, I'm a forgiving and loyal person (sometimes to a fault), but once I'm pushed past a certain threshold, I will hold grudges for a VERY long time... it also doesn't help that I can get absolutely furious over small things, and have a tendency to ruminate on negative feelings 😡💢🗯

>BUT, I must prescribe a hard pill to swallow: misunderstandings are MISunderstandings- honest mistakes that, while they can legitimately hurt your feelings, were not done with the intent of harm. You have to realize that people are flawed and it WILL show sometimes, examine why you can't forgive people for things they honestly didn't mean to do and feel bad about doing, and sort that shit out for yourself before YOU become the dick in the situation. Talk it out, be honest about your feelings and why you're feeling that way, and come to a mutual agreement to be more mindful of each other in the future, or you might end up throwing away an otherwise good relationship over something petty. 😥

>Luckily, you don't have to worry about all that jazz with an f/o! You have complete control over everything they say and do, so you can make Larry into a perfect mind-reading gentleman if that's what you need him to be. (Just keep in mind that you can't expect that standard from people IRL) 🤗💭

>Or, you could have him be a dick to you anyway, if you enjoy the ~drama~, or if you want to practice self-reflection and constructive conversation in a controlled setting, complete with a rewind and pause feature. I do this quite often with Sally- it's comforting, and it's lead to more than one very helpful psychological breakthrough 👍