Part 1 - What Would You Do If I Went To Touch You Now
Pairing: Lando Norris x Reader
Warnings: none
Words: 1.7k
Summary: y/n's affection for Lando hasn't gone unnoticed by the Australians she works with but despite their encouragement, she's convinced that finding things to dislike about Lando is the only way to save herself and her job.
A/N: Well hello there, it's been quite a while. I've been terribly busy with school things but I'm finally free so I'm gonna try and start posting again. Most of my WIP are xmas' themed (that's how long I haven't written for) but I have other ideas so bear with me pls :)
After joining McLaren in 2021 as Danielâs PR manager, the girl had found a routine in her work with the papaya team, some comfort and calm in a world that always seemed rapid. That had, however, all been blown to pieces when Daniel had announced he wasnât coming back the year after. With this new piece of information had come the sadness of losing someone she had grown accustomed to calling a friend more than a coworker but also the uncertainty of her place within the team without the Australian. Â
Luckily for her, the arrival of a rookie in the team also meant that the PR manager position she was occupying was still available and so she kept her job. If Oscar and Daniel were both Australian, the resemblance pretty much stopped there. Where Daniel was all loud laughs and obnoxious jokes, Oscar was quieter and understanding his humour had taken some time.Â
Despite that, Oscar and y/n became friends quickly. The girl was always there for him when the car wasnât working like Zak had promised it would and even when they had media to attend and her work should have been her priority, she always made sure Oscar was 100% okay before sending him into the lionâs den. It made her a good PR manager and an even better friend.Â
Being level-headed was a necessary part of the job and y/n liked to pride herself in how well she dealt with tricky situations without ever losing her cool or at least without showing any signs of it. It seemed like nothing or nobody could crack her. Except one person with a dimpled smile and green eyes that mostly sparkled with a hint of mischief whenever their eyes met. Â
Falling for someone who worked for the same team had never been in y/nâs plans, especially not falling for a driver and yet that was the predicament she was in now.
From the moment Lando had grown out of his timid shell, y/n had known she was done for. Lando was everything she liked in a person, he was funny, kind, smart and so beautiful it made her head spin. If the situation had been different, maybe she would have allowed herself to feel like that but she couldnât risk her job for what she hoped was some silly crush that would pass.Â
However, the crush never faded and the more time passed, the more she found to like about Lando. She tried her best to ignore him, to ignore how her stomach felt when he was around and how she seemed to just forget how to act, how to be when he was close. She had hoped no one would notice it but the problem with spending so much time with a driver was that they got pretty good at reading you over time.Â
Daniel had caught on exactly as it happened and he had teased her relentlessly for it when he knew she was in the mood for that. When he noticed how she was beating herself up over something she couldnât control, Daniel offered a reassuring smile and a hug, reminding her that she was only human and having feelings for someone, no matter how great they were, wasnât worth getting all worked up about and feeling guilty for. Â
For the two years they worked together, Daniel tried to convince her to shoot her shot because if the longing glances his teammate was always throwing their way said something, it was that Lando was in the same predicament as her. No matter how insistent the Australian was, y/n never agreed to do anything to make her feelings known or even test the water with Lando.
In the end, Daniel gave up on her side and instead tried to convince Lando to do something. Just like she didnât believe Daniel, Lando didnât believe him when he told her that making a move was a good idea. Lando wasnât confident enough to risk getting rejected, especially by someone he saw every time they were at the track. Before the Australian could make what he thought was a great love story happen, he stepped down from F1 and despite being a reserve driver for half of the season, he wasnât there or had enough time to play Cupid so he just prayed that the two idiots he called his friends would wake up one day and realise how stupid they were being.Â
When Oscar took his seat and started hanging out with the two of them, it didnât take him long to put two and two together and realise that they were both painfully into each other but too blinded by their fears to actually see the whole picture. He found it sweet at first how Lando would always keep a seat for y/n in meetings, acting like he hadnât meant to when she came in or how he would always make sure her favourite coffee was available in the McLaren hospitality when she worked trackside. He could tell that despite being scared, Lando desperately wanted something to happen. All the Brit needed was a little push and Oscar was determined to be the one to do it.Â
When Oscar had told y/n that he knew about her feelings for Lando, she had wanted the ground to swallow her whole right this instant. Working with a new driver that didnât know her or Lando had let her hope that she could pretend easily but Oscar wasnât blind. The girl had immediately answered that her feelings would soon be old news because she had made a plan to be over Lando by the end of the 2024 season.Â
Her so-called genius plan was simple: if she managed to find things to dislike in Lando, enough for her to have the ick, her feelings would certainly go away all at once. So this season, she was determined to pay attention to Landoâs every move and find negative things to say about it. Despite thinking that the plan was terrible and wasnât going to work, Oscar knew he had to somehow warn Lando. He couldnât break her trust by telling him so he had to convince Lando that he absolutely needed to make a move before somebody else did and stole y/nâs heart away.Â
Oscar decided to start his master plan before they filmed a few challenges for McLarenâs youtube channel. Lando and him were hanging out in an empty meeting room, waiting for the shooting to start so it was the perfect opportunity to talk freely.
-â I think Logan has a crush on someone at McLaren.â Oscar stated out of nowhere
-â Why do you think that ?âÂ
-â Heâs always hanging around the garage. He says heâs there to see me but he doesnât really talk to me when heâs here. He mostly talks to y/n. Actually, he only talks to her.â
-â So youâre saying heâs interested in her ?âÂ
-â I think so. We never really talked about this kind of thing but it looks like it.â Oscar lied, knowing he would have to warn the American about the lie he had just fed Lando
-â Oh, okay.â Lando paused, toying with the hem of his sleeves â Do you think she likes him back ?âÂ
-â I donât know if heâs her type but I donât see why she wouldnât. Sheâs always with me and Logan is too so that has to mean that she enjoys his company a little. Otherwise she wouldnât hang out with us.âÂ
-â Did she ever talk to you about her dating life and stuff ?â Lando asked, trying to look uninterestedÂ
-â Well, I know sheâs pretty shy so sheâs not one to make the first move, even if she likes a guy.â
-â Yeah that sounds like her.â he smiled fondly, remembering how she had been her first days at McLaren, all soft spoken and keeping to herself, not wanting to bother anyone
-â So, letâs say if somebody likes her, he better make a move soon because sheâs not going to do it herself and also thereâs other people who may be interestedâŚâÂ
-â What are you insinuating, Oscar ?â
-â What do you think ?â
-â I do not like y/n like that.â Lando argued
-â So it wouldnât bother you if I set them up on a date, then ?â Oscar said, pretending to take out his phone to text either of them
-â Wait !â Lando exclaimed, grabbing Oscarâs wrist before letting go of it like he had been burnt â Please, Oscar. Donât do that.âÂ
-â See ? I knew you werenât dense.âÂ
-â Iâm not. I just donât want to ruin our friendship or how comfortable she feels at work right now.âÂ
-â Thatâs not going to happen and anyway you wonât know what she thinks until you actually ask her out.âÂ
-â What if she says no ?âÂ
-â What if she says yes ?â Oscar mimicked his friend with a knowing smile
-â Youâre so annoying.â Lando scoffed, rolling his eyes
-â Does that mean youâre going to at least try to ask her out before giving up ?âÂ
-â Iâm going to think about it.âÂ
-â No, that wonât cut it. You have to promise me youâll try.âÂ
-â I donât owe you shit, Oscar. Why are you so persistent anyway ?âÂ
-â Iâm doing this in the name of love, mate. I just heard through the grapevine that she might like someone and from all the time I spend with her, Iâm saying you should shoot your shot.âÂ
-â What does that even mean ? Why are you being so cryptic ?âÂ
-âI canât explicitly tell you because that would make me a bad friend but you have to trust me on that one. Just ask her outâ
-â Alright, Iâll do it. But donât you dare pressure me or anything. If Iâm doing this, Iâm doing it on my own terms and thatâs it.â Lando caved in, pointing his finger at the Australianâs face
-â Iâm so glad you said yes. I hope I at least get to be the godfather of one of your kids.â he laughed as Lando became bright red and slapped his shoulder
-â So youâre going to tell Logan not to go for it ?âÂ
-â I donât need to.âÂ
-â What ?â
-â I donât need to and you donât have to worry about him.âÂ
-â Oh my God. You lied !â
-â It was for a greater cause so itâs okay, right ?âÂ
-â Greater cause, my ass ! You just like to torture me.âÂ
-â MaybeâŚâÂ
-â Iâm gonnaââ Lando started before being cut off by someone calling them both to start filming, saving Oscar who just smirked and walked away.
He might have lied to have what he wanted but it wasnât selfish if he just wanted his two friends to be happy so he didnât feel too bad.
Can I get an Oscar Piastri and Lydia moment? Will she be shy or stay sassy as she rules the whole paddock haha
This sat in my inbox for a few weeks đ
Lydia Verstappen princess of the paddock part idk đđ
Word count 738
Fluff
Lydia was anything but shy. Her sassy demeanor often belied her young age, yet there were only three individuals who could bring out her bashful side, and one of them was Oscar Piastri. The reason for this reaction was a mystery to most, with many attributing it to Oscar's kind, soft, and gentle nature.To Lydia Oscar was like an older brother to her that is why she went shy around him.
Today Max and y/n agreed to let Lydia spend the day in the Mclaren Garage. This was pretty normal for Lydia going from garage to garage Spending time with the drivers who knew Lydia her whole 10 years of life.
Lydia was dressed in a cute orange and papaya colored outfit, her excitement about spending the day in the Mclaren garage evident in her wide eyes and beaming smile. As they approached the familiar entrance, she couldn't contain her excitement any longer.
"Can we go see Oscar now, daddy?" She asked, almost bouncing with anticipation.
Max chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Of course, sweetie. But promise me you'll be on your best behavior, okay?" he replied, knowing how Lydia could sometimes get a bit too excited when Oscar was around. Lydia nodded eagerly, her blue eyes sparkling with determination. "I promise, daddy! I'll be the best behaved kid ever!" She declared, a hint of mischief in her smile. Max just shook his head, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He knew his daughter's spirited nature all too well.
They made their way through the bustling garage, the familiar hum of car engines and the chatter of crew members filling the air. As they turned a corner, Lydia's gaze immediately fixated on Oscar, his kind smile and soft demeanor drawing her in like a magnet.
Oscar looked up from his work, a warm smile spreading across his face as he spotted Lydia and Max. "Hey, there's my little friend!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet to meet them. "How's my favorite ten-year-old doing?" Lydia's cheeks flushed slightly, and she shyly hid behind her father's leg for a moment before mustering up her courage to speak. "Hi, Oscar," she said timidly, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'm really happy to be here today."
Oscar's eyes twinkled with warmth as he crouched down to Lydia's eye level. "Well, we're happy you're here too," he replied genuinely, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Your dad mentioned you wanted to learn a bit more about race strategy today, is that right?"
Lydia's eyes widened with excitement, the shyness momentarily forgotten. "Yes, please! I want to know everything about race strategy!" She replied eagerly, her earlier bashfulness replaced by her usual inquisitiveness. Oscar chuckled softly, delighted by Lydia's enthusiasm. "Well, then let's get started," he said, standing up and motioning for Lydia and Max to follow him. As they walked, Oscar began explaining the ins and outs of race strategy, using terms that even a ten-year-old could understand. Lydia's eyes lit up with understanding, and she eagerly asked questions, absorbing every word like a sponge.
As Oscar patiently answered her questions and showed her diagrams illustrating different strategies, Lydia's earlier timidness melted away, replaced by her usual confidence and passion. She was absorbed in the information, her mind racing with excitement as she envisioned implementing these strategies on the racetrack.
Throughout the day, Max stood by, observing the interaction between Oscar and his daughter with a mixture of pride and contentment. He saw the evident connection between them, how Oscar brought out not only Lydia's curiosity but also her sweet and shy side. It was clear that Lydia looked up to him. As the hours passed, Lydia soaked up not only the information about race strategy but also the positive energy and kindness Oscar radiated. His gentleness and genuine interest in her questions and well-being made her feel valued and respected, something that made a deep impression on her.
Eventually, the day came to an end, and Lydia reluctantly bid farewell to Oscar, knowing they'd see each other soon during the next race. As she walked away, clutching her new notebook filled with race strategy notes, a shy smile played on her lips. She had learned a lot, but more importantly, she had formed a special connection with Oscar that she treasured.
warnings: mentions of jealousy, shauna being slightly toxic when it comes to her feelings, fluff, no nsfw but characters are always aged up, not proofread
ŕ¨ŕ§ being friends with shauna shipman was like having a second shadow, she was always glued to you. you didn't mind, you liked having her always by your side
ŕ¨ŕ§ shauna always knew she had feelings for you since the day you met but would rather die than admit that
ŕ¨ŕ§ she got accepted into brown university which means that shes really smart so you had your own personal tutor
ŕ¨ŕ§ "this is so easy, i can't believe you don't understand that," she mocks you, a smug grin on her lips. you were friends with shauna for long enough to know that she wasn't the most extrovert person in earth but she loved to tease you over small things
ŕ¨ŕ§ "not eveyone is as smart as you, shipman!" little did she know that you were hiding your aced tests under your bed while putting on your best show to pretend you sucked at math just to listen to her
ŕ¨ŕ§ even if you weren't much of a extrovert, shauna was worse. she would cling to you in parties like a lost puppy and would panic if had to stay by herself for a few minutes while you grabbed drinks or said hi people
ŕ¨ŕ§ however, that didn't mean that she didn't praise some alone time.
ŕ¨ŕ§ shauna seems to be a lonely girl and a people hater (shes just like me fr) and she would always be reading something. when she was alone, she was also busy girl with her most loyal friend; her pencil
ŕ¨ŕ§ she would write about you on her mf journal 24/7!!! it didn't matter if it were good or bad things, she would go from cursing you and your entire family to calling you beautiful words and rant about you being the love of your life
ŕ¨ŕ§ very very very jealous. can kill someone just with her angry gaze if they look at you in the wrong way or act too friendly (only got worse after you started dating)
ŕ¨ŕ§ shauna would never, ever discuss her feelings, so if she felt jealous, angry, or upset, she would become a ticking time bomb, unpredictable and ready to explode at any moment
ŕ¨ŕ§ would 100% say the meanest and cruelest words to hurt you on purpose, looking into your soul. my girl has some anger issues ok...
ŕ¨ŕ§ she regrets all of it later but is sooo embarrassed to apologize, stuttering and struggling to look you in the eye. it's not like you could stay mad at her when she looked so cute...
ŕ¨ŕ§ being friends with shauna had a great advantage; she had a car. you had made her your personal driver and she would always find a way to complain
ŕ¨ŕ§ "i'm not your butler, you know," she rolls her eyes after agreeing to drive you to the mall. and then at the beach. and at the bookstore and the movies and the ice cream shop
ŕ¨ŕ§ she was always making disapproval noises and acting annoyed but you knew she enjoyed driving you everywhere when she would act pissed if someone else did that
ŕ¨ŕ§ "are you gonna sleep at school tonight?" shauna asks as she notices you not following you to her car. she was so used to drive you home that it was a natural thing already
ŕ¨ŕ§ "you're so funny," you taunt her. "you're free today. lottie's going to give me a ride to the mall. i need her help to buy new clothes."
ŕ¨ŕ§ "oh, okay," she forces a smile. "good, cause i hate driving you all the time. that's great," and its just shauna and her sad brown eyes against the world on her way home to write horrible things about you two and draw lotie with devil horns and a mustache
ŕ¨ŕ§ in the classes you shared, she always sat by your side and paid no attention to them. she was too busy staring at you
ŕ¨ŕ§ if someone was being annoying by always asking dumb questions, she would be so stressed. constantly bitching about it with whispers in your ear. but then if you asked the professor why the sky's blue she would be the first one to keep an eye on everyone and see if any of them was mocking you
ŕ¨ŕ§ during mari's birthday party, shauna decided to play seven minutes in heaven with you and a bunch of "stupid drunk weird idiots" (more like forced to because she didn't want you to be out of her sight)
ŕ¨ŕ§ coincidentally, she turned out to be your partner for the game. panic flashed in her eyes, and her cheeks flushed crimson as she heard her name paired with yours
ŕ¨ŕ§ "we don't have to do this if you don't want to," you whisper, you and shauna exchanging awkward looks inside the closet
ŕ¨ŕ§ "it would be so weird, don't you think? we are friends," a sheepish chuckle fell from her lips. yet, she takes a step closer
ŕ¨ŕ§ "so weird," you nod, your fingers brushing against shauna's by chance, yet she made no move to retreat. instead, she timidly intertwined her fingers with yours
ŕ¨ŕ§ "but spending seven minutes locked in here seems like a bit of a waste. it's just a game anyway, right?" her words incresed your heartbeat, your gaze flickered to your entwined hands as shauna drew nearer, her nose was inches away from touching yours
ŕ¨ŕ§ "and it would be just a one time thing. and for the sake of our friends too, we don't wanna ruin their game," you agree, adding to her comment, lips grazing against each other
ŕ¨ŕ§ "you're right," she murmurs, her hot breath tingling against your skin
ŕ¨ŕ§ judging by her shaky voice and unsteady stance, it seemed that the scary shauna shipman was more nervous than you. offering her a reassuring smile, you reached out to stroke her cheek, drawing her closer until your lips met in a tender kiss
ŕ¨ŕ§ thank god because she would not have the courage to kiss you or ask you out, only if it happened during a fight and she was so full of anger that would just force you to shut up by crashing her lips into yours
ŕ¨ŕ§ it soon became clear that it wasn't just a one time thing. no questions asked, kissing shauna shipman became a habitual affair and, just like that, you were dating
ŕ¨ŕ§ if shauna was jealous before, she was a green eyed monster now. extremely protective and would make it obvious by always touching you in some way. a hand over your body, a caress on your face, kissing you like she was about to devour you in front of everyone and holding hands were just a few examples
ŕ¨ŕ§ shauna could be shy in the first weeks but then she would call you pet names like sweetheart or baby (like when she called lottie sweetheart in that episode đ)
ŕ¨ŕ§ and you were completely fine with that cause calling her sweet and cheesy pet names ever was your thing; honey bunny, cupcake, pumpkin, sunshine, buttercup, the list was endless
ŕ¨ŕ§ your favorite part about it was to watch shauna's cheeks getting rosy in a matter of seconds whenever you affectionately called her those names in front of your friends. she'd act all shy but the moment you left to grab some food, she would tell the others to fuck off
A/N not me doing another imagine based on a Taylor song whhhaaaatttt I love Taylor so so so much. I was listening to music in the shower and dress started playing I was like holy shit, I have to write a tension filled imagine with Spencer and this song??? Also, forewarning, I will be using gender neutral terms as usual but I will be using more feminine things and mentioning things like wearing dresses. one last thing, i just started my summer classes. so, i wont get to edit these as much as before. i apologize for any mistakes!
TRIGGER WARNING// some angst and tension:)
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Our secret moments in a crowded room, they got no idea about me and you.
Parties and little get togethers are a common thing with the Smosh cast.
They always find some reason to rent out an air bnb to throw parties.
Chanse suggested throwing a little party before you all got to leave the office for a two week break.
âY/N! Iâm so glad you could make it!â You hear Chanse screech whenever you walked into the front door with your suitcase. He come running up to you, to give you a quick hug.
âOf course, I wouldnât miss something like this. The parties you throw are always absolutely iconic.â You respond giving him a tight squeeze back.
âSo, who all has made it?â You asked and looked around. A lot of the cast and crew had arrived, including Spencer. The house was absolutely packed but there was something about him having his eyes on you, that made you feel like you were on fire. The last time a party was thrown for the crew, the two of you had ended up in a bathroom, doing things you shouldnât be doing to then turn around and call yourself only friends. The two of you played it off really well after though because no one knew who you had snuck off with.
There is an indentation in the shape of you. Made your mark on me, a golden tattoo.
âI still want to know who you snuck off with last time we had a party.â You hear Erin say whenever she approaches you and Chanse. âYeah!â Chanse agrees.
Whenever she mentions that night, you see it catches Spencerâs ears. He perks up in his seat and gets that infamous smirk on his face.
âI donât know what youâre talking about. Can you show me to my room?â You mumbled and shook your head.
âIâll show you but dude, that is such a lie.â Erin says and starts walking towards a hallway, where a bunch of bedrooms were located. âYou had hickeys all over you. It was so obvious you tried hiding them too but you are not good at covering marks.â She said laughing loudly.
You just shook your head again and denied it.
âWeâll eventually pull it from you. Everyoneâs going to be getting ready in a few minutes, if you want to go ahead and get dressed.â Erin suggests while opening your bedroom door. âYouâre sharing with me and Angela, by the way.â
You nodded your head and let her know, you would go ahead and start getting ready.
Erin quickly nodded her head and pulled the door behind her, so you could get ready in private till her and Angela joined you.
You quickly pulled this dress on that Courtney had pointed out to you one day while at the mall with a bunch of the crew. They were recording a spend the day with us at the mall where they done random little challenges. You, Spencer, and Courtney had went into a store, trying to find goofy looking outfits for everyone to wear. The three of you walked around for a while before you just started looking at the clothes for things for you. You hear Courtney shout, âI genuinely just found something for you, Y/N! You would look so hot in this.â You turn around and see Courtney holding up a mid length black dress. There was a high slit in the thigh. It was a spaghetti strapped dress. It was simple but looked comfortable. You actually thought it was really cute. Courtney asked Spencer what he thought and his face flushed red very quickly and all he could do was nod his head yes.
You tried the dress on for fun and Spencer looked like his eyes were about to bulge out of his eyes. You didnât end up buying the dress that day but you went back and bought it the next day. He wasnât aware that you had gotten it, no one was.
You stood there for a minute, looking at yourself in the mirror, when you heard a knock come from the door beside you.
âYou can come in!â You shout softly, flattening the dress against your body.
The door pushes open gently and you see Courtney and Angela standing there. Spencer was back behind them.
âHoly shit, is that the dress we seen in the mall?â Courtney asks, getting excited.
You just smiled and shook your head yes.
All of the silence and patience, pining and anticipation. My hands are shaking from holding back from you.
All of the silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting.
My hands are shaking from all thisâŚ
Say my name and everything just stops, I donât want you like a best friend.
Spencer looked like he was about to pass out behind the two.
âWow, you look⌠wow.â You hear Spencer whisper from the doorway while Courtney and Angela walk to sit on the bed behind you.
You acted like you didnât hear Spencer, so you turned towards him. His eyes were just filled with desperation. It was like a mutual feeling between the two, you knew he wanted to reach out and to touch you. You knew that he wanted to kiss you, to hold you. You were dying for him to reach forward and to just put his hands on you, to kiss you as well.
âWhatâd you say, Spence?â You ask, trying to play off the little moment the two of you had.
Courtney and Angela were behind the two of you, looking at each other with complete confusion over what is going on.
âYou look really beautiful, Y/N.â He says and clears his throat then gives you a tight lipped smile.
You just smiled back at him and shook your head. âThank you, I really donât though.â You say giggling. âI havenât even done anything yet, besides put a dress on.â
Spencer walked around you to go sit in a chair beside the two beds but then realized that the tag of your dress was sticking out. He quickly walks up behind you and pushes your hair over your shoulder. You tensed up and froze because you didnât know what was going on.
âOh, uh, sorry. Your-â Spencer got quiet then pushed the tag softly under the neckline of the dress. âThe tag was sticking out of the dress.â Spencer whispered and gave your shoulder a soft squeeze.
The two of you move apart quickly whenever you hear coughs. Courtney and Angela quickly stood up. âWeâre gonna go grab a drink.â Angela says very quickly, pointing at the door with her thumb. âUh, will be back in a few minutes!â Courtney practically shouts as Angela pulls her out of the room.
The two might as well have ran out of the room and slammed the door shut behind them.
You and Spencer look at each other with confusion, acting like you didnât understand what was going on.
âWhen did you end up getting this dress?â Spencer asked sitting down on the chair near you.
Only bought this dress, so you could take it off.
Carve your name into my bedpost cause I donât want you like a best friend.
Only bought this dress, so you could take it off.
You had pulled another chair up in front of the full body mirror, to start curling your hair and to do your makeup.
âI just decided to go back the next day and buy it.â You respond, slightly shrugging your shoulders.
âIs there a reason you went back and bought it?â Spencer asked, trying to seem chill about the piece of fabric on your body, but he wasnât playing it so calmly.
âI dunno.â You whispered while placing soft curls throughout your hair with a curling iron. âA certain someoneâs reaction to me in it, just made me curious to how they would react to it if I wore it to something where weâve made certain decisions in the past.â
Spencer didnât say anything, he just stared at you with a shocked expression.
You started to do the pigtail trick with your hair, that makes it quicker to curl your hair. You parted your hair and put it into two pigtails then quickly curled the two pigtails. It only took two minutes to do then you pulled the two hair ties out of your hair. The soft curls had flooded down your back while you looked for your makeup bag. It hit you that it was still in your bag, on your bed, beside Spencer. You quickly sprayed hairspray throughout your hair and nodded back towards Spencer.
âSpencer?â He just nodded while staring at you. âCould you get in that bag and hand me my makeup bag?â
Spencer quickly stood up and grabbed your bag from the front of the bed. He unzipped it then retrieved your makeup bag, to hand it to you. He walked over and handed the makeup bag to you but the two of you practically grasped hands while he just stared holes into you. You felt like electricity was just shooting throughout your body while he quickly stepped back.
The two of you didnât realize it but Courtney, Angela, and Erin were just staring at you two in shock from the doorway.
Spencer looked over at the door quickly then stepped back towards his seat to grab his drink that he carried in.
âI should probably go finish getting ready and help getting everything, uh, set up.â He whispers before quickly heading out of the room.
âDo you want to explain what that was?â Erin harshly whispered, looking at you with nothing but excitement in her eyes.
âWhat was what?â You asked nonchalantly, acting like you didnât know what was going on.
âOh my god!â Angela practically screams. âYou hooked up with Spencer last time, didnât you?â She whispered excitedly, jumping up and down in her spot.
You, once again, tried playing the question off but the redness all over your face completely called you out.
âOh my god! Spencer is the secret guy you hook up with every time! Are you two like a couple or something?â Courtney asks while quickly pulling one of the chairs over beside you while you finished up your makeup.
You shook your head no, âIâm not going to lie to you about that. I honestly wish we were.â You whispered while finishing your eyeliner with a soft laugh.
The three women were practically exploding with the information they had just found out tonight.
âWhat happened the last time?â Angela asked, pulling a chair alongside Erin.
Inescapable, Iâm not even gonna try and if I get burned, at least we were electrified.
Iâm spilling wine in the bathtub, you kiss my face and weâre both drunk.
Everyone thinks that they know us but they know nothing about all of this silence and patience, pining and anticipation.
You kept working at your makeup and decided to just explain to the three women what had caused you two to end up in the guest bathroom, away from the New Yearâs party.
âI have had the biggest crush on Spencer ever since Iâve joined the crew. I had convinced myself I would never tell him how I feel. The night of that party though, oh my god. It was like there was something in the air.â You paused for a minute to just laugh, remembering how you felt that night. âEvery single time we would brush hands or something, it felt like electricity would fly throughout my body. I thought at first, I canât do this. I ended up getting a little too drunk and so did Spencer. We were sat together in this hallway, just drinking and talking. I finally just told him how I felt. I panicked and jumped up, to run off but he grabbed my hand. He started to tell me how he felt then I, of course, happened to spill a little bit of my drink. He pulled me into the bathroom, to help me clean up. While we were in there, he was just wiping away at the alcohol with a wet rag. It literally felt like my body was on fire. I donât know what made me do it but I just leaned forward and kissed him.â
The three women around you looked like they were about to explode with the biggest smiles on their face.
âWait, so you two had sex in the bathroom?â Erin bluntly asked then got whacked on the arm by Courtney.
You just laughed and shook your head no. âAgain, I wonât lie to you, we almost did. My dumbass stumbled and knocked over the rest of my drink into the shower. The glass shattered, so Spencer panicked and made me sit on the sink while he cleaned it up. We decided maybe the bathroom, during a party, wouldnât be the best first time for something like that.â
âHow did we not see something happening between you two?â Angela asked with genuine confusion on her face.
âOh, there isnât anything going on between the two of us. Weâre only really friends, to be honest. I hate that weâre only friends but we never really approach the topic unless itâs in situations like us being plastered.â You admit, shaking your head in shame. âI think itâs because weâre both too scared to admit that weâre something more than friends.â
Erin laughed loudly, âYeah, Iâm sorry but the two of you are not just friends. You were, like, sucking each otherâs faces off in the bathroom and being like little leeches.â
You just laughed and stood to face the three around you. âIâm done getting ready, so Iâm gonna just head on out there.â
âYou just wanna go see your little boyfrienddddddd.â Angela says in a singing tone.
You just laughed once again and shook your head at the woman before exiting the room.
You look around the entire room to see who all is here tonight. Not everyone is staying in the Air BNB, only a few of the crew are.
You spot Kiana, Spencer, and Shayne standing at a table in the kitchen, getting drinks.
You approached them and give Shayne a soft smile. âHey guys!â You say with a smile on your face.
âHi, you sweet angel! You look beautiful!â Kiana says with a big smile on her face.
âOh, why thank you.â You take her compliment while grabbing a red solo cup from the counter and poured some kind of whiskey from the counter.
âThereâs glass cups you can use, you know?â You hear Shayne say from beside you.
You look over and see Spence looking you up and down while Shayne is nodding towards the glass cups.
âOh, thatâs okay. I would probably end up accidentally breaking it again.â You say chuckling and sent Spencer a quick glance. He catches onto what you were talking about and heat flooded his face once again.
Spencer goes to take a sip of his drink, trying to act chill, whenever Kiana calls him out. âSpence, if you stare any harder, your eyes might get stuck.â
Spencer choked on his drink and shook his head. You were shockingly the only one to pick up on it but his hands started to tremor.
My hands are shaking from holding back from you.
All of the silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting, my hands are shaking from all of this.
Say my name and everything just stops, I donât want you like a best friend.
Spencer quickly tries to shake the feeling he has and change the conversation but he canât stop the feeling of heat flowing through his body due to you. He couldnât keep his eyes off of you. He was literally shaking from how nervous just your presence alone was making him. He couldnât get over how beautiful you looked.
âHey guys, Iâm gonna step outside and get some fresh air. Itâs getting kind of stuffy in here.â You say quickly to the group, feeling like you were starting to suffocate in the room. You didnât want to admit it but the look Spencer was giving you was extremely intense. You couldnât deal with it anymore because you were dying for him to just do something.
You walked away from the group and start to head out the door to walk outside. You didnât know it but Spencer trailed behind you, wanting to get a moment alone with you.
You stepped outside, slightly agitated. You were getting so tired of having to hide everything. You were so tired of acting like you were just friends with the man whenever you both knew friends donât sneak off to make out at parties with their other best friends present. You wanted him to hold you. You wanted him to kiss you, to touch you, to just show you that he wants you.
Only bought this dress, so you could take it off, take it off.
Carve your name into my bedpost, I donât want you like a best friend.
Only bought this dress, so you could take it off.
âYou okay?â You hear Spencer ask from behind you as you sat down on the porch steps.
You just laughed. âYou know, I bought this dress with the idea that the next time you saw me in it⌠You might actually make a move further and act like we arenât just friends. I mean this in the nicest way possible. I donât want you like a best friend, Spencer. I want to be able to kiss you everyday and call you mine.â You answered him in an aggravated tone.
âI donât want you like a best friend either, Y/N. Are you that oblivious? The day I fell in love with you, I thought that you knew.â Spencer laughed and said while sitting down beside you.
You just stared at him with confusion on your face, âWhat do you mean the day you fell in love with me?â
Spencer sat in silence for a minute, just taking the cold air in. âI have been in love with you for so long. The first time I remember realizing that I had fallen so hard for you was whenever I had first bleached and buzzed my hair.â
Flashback when you met me, your buzz cut and my hair bleached.
Even in my worst times, you could see the best in me.
Flashbacks to my mistakes, my rebounds, my earthquakes.
Even in my worst lies, you saw the truth in me.
You chuckled remembering the first time you had seen him with his new haircut. âI remember you came around the corner and I became like a stuttering mess.â
You started to shiver and Spencer noticed it. âWould you want to head inside? We could chill upstairs in the movie room? We can finish talking about this whenever we get in there.â
You shook your head yes, freezing in the dress.
The two of you headed inside and walked up the steps to the movie room. Everyone was in the big living room, drinking and dancing.
You two headed into the movie room and sat down in the plush love seat.
âWait, so are you saying my reaction is what made you fall in love with me?â You asked once you got inside and processed what Spencer had said. You folded your knees under you and pulled a blanket over your lap.
Spencer smiled and nodded his head at you.
âThat was during the worst time of my life, though. I was severely depressed and going on dates left and right because I just wanted someone to love me.â You said silently laughing over how desperate you sounded.
âYouâve always had someone who has loved you in front of you. Youâve just never realized it.â Spencer says and reaches his hand out to rest it on your knee.
The two of you sat in silence for a few minutes before Spencer broke the silence. âI want to make a move or whatever it was you said outside. I want to call you mine. I just donât want to do that while weâre tipsy. I want to talk about it while weâre sober.â Spencer says giving you a soft smile on his face.
You nodded your head at Spencer, âI agree. It is probably best that we do talk about it while weâre sober.â
The two of you sat and talked for almost three hours straight, while people would pass by and make comments here and there. No one ever stuck there though, they were just letting the two of you soak up each otherâs presence.
Before you knew it, you had passed out and Spencer had fallen asleep as well.
I woke up just in time
Now, I wake up by your side, my one and only my lifeline.
I woke up just in time, now I wake up by your side.
My hands shake, I canât explain this.
You woke up and felt a pressure around your waist. You hear whispering and open your eyes to see Chanse and Erin peeking their heads around a corner.
âHoly shit, look at them.â You hear Chanse say while giggling.
âIâm awake asshole.â You whispered towards the two freaking out and they took off running.
You turn your head to the side and realized, you and Spencer had fallen asleep rambling over random stuff to each other. You know you had admitted your feelings to each other last night but you couldnât help trembling due to excitement. You finally had the guy by your side that you had fallen so hard for.
The two of you were laid out across the couch. Spencer was laid on his side and had you in a tight hold around your waist. You were laid on your back. You reached your hand up and ran it softly through his hair.
Spencer scrunched his nose and pressed his face softly into your neck. His facial hair, tickling the side of your neck. You giggle trying to move your head away whenever you hear him slightly whisper, âStill donât want me like a best friend?â
Not that filthy, who do you think is mtl into anal? Giving and receiving? And do you think they would be into anytime or only in certain scenarios, like DP or moresomes?
Fuck! Yes I love this. So... I'm obsessed with anal play on this blog and want to say each and everyone of skz is into it. But... I'm going to think about this properly and give you a run down of my thoughts.
Minho Loves to give it to you. Whether it's just him and you, or there are multiple people involved. Whenever you're up for it. He knows how you fuck your ass so good. Heâll build you up so slowly and have you on the edge for so long that you beg for release. He knows you so well - your body, the sounds you make. He knows when youâve reached the precipice. He pulls out halfway and pauses when youâre almost there, when youâre in that moment when time stands still, and then heâll time his next thrust to push you over the edge of that cliff. But you donât fall, you soar high through the clouds as though your body is everywhere all at once, and then heâll hold you as you come back down.
Contrary to what most ppl believe, he also enjoys receiving. Maybe not as much as giving, but when he's whipped for you, he just wants you to take over his entire being. He craves for you to fill him. Whether that's with and actual dick or a strap. He wants to be a pretty little mess for you and show you how weak you make him.
Jisung also loves to both give and receive. I know he's mostly written as a needy sub bottom. BUT he's a switch (I actually think that has become the consensus these days). He loves being fucked so hard and overstimulated, but there's this need in him to top from time to time. If he's with a female partner, he sometimes can't decide if he wants to fuck your pussy or ass. He wishes he had two cocks (I wish he had two cocks... and there is a fic out there where he's and alien with two purple cocks). He's up for DP with you (maybe minho can join?) One of his favorite scenarios is him inside you and someone inside him. Greedy shit wants all the stimulation.
Felix. He's obsessed with anal play. He loves to have anal with you where you're the receiver, but he's more into anal plugs and dildos. He likes to spread your cheeks and see you're wearing a cute little plug. He likes to wear them too, and It won't be long until he's asking you to wear a strap. He's a curious freak in the sheets tbh. He loves the plugs with dangly charms (I'm sure I've mentioned that before).
Chan. Giver of the best anal of your life. He's big and he stretches you so good. He's noisy when he fucks you like this. You're just too tight. He whimpers, shakes, moans... he's extremely vocal. He has a fantasy of double penetration and is so excited when you mention you want to try. He calls upon a trusted friend and together they fill your holes. He secretly wants to dp you same hole. I think he'd let someone fuck him too, but it would have to be someone he trusts. He feels very vulnerable about it.
Binnie. I feel like he's not as into anal as the other guys, but he still enjoys it. He can't say no to you when you beg him like you do. He always ends up enjoying it when he does. It's something about how much your anus has to stretch to accommodate his thickness that has him whimpering. It's so hard to hold back from fucking into you hard, and once he fully seated inside you, it takes all his self control to not blow immediately. I honestly think you could easily persuade him to let you play with him too. I bet he'd secretly love you to finger him (why does that thought do things to me?)
Jeongin. He acts like he's not into it. He pretends he's not interested. But he's conflicted. It started when you put ideas in his head about how good it'd feel. The more you talked about it, the more normalized it seemed. Then he started to fantasize about it. Jerk off to images of it. He watched a bit of porn. And when he finally agreed to it... well... he's kind of obsessed.
Seungmin. All I can think is "anal as punishment". Like he'd get so angry (roleplaying of course), and he'd tell you what a filthy, pathetic little slut you are. "You don't deserve to have your needy pussy filled. Nope, you're gonna take it in your ass, and you're gonna feel me for days." He's rough, and it stings, but he needs to punish you. It always feels too good for you, and you come so fast even though you weren't given permission to come at all. Deep down he loves that your body just can't stop itself. He also likes that it gives him an excuse for him to punish you more. He isn't one for receiving. But I don't know, maybe you could convince him? He's just a little nervous, and he doesn't want to relinquish control.
Hyunjin. I'm obsessed with imaging Hyunjin and sexual activities to involve art somehow. Especially sculptures. He has this sculpture that resembles a cock that he uses on himself (in front of a mirror because he loves to watch how erotic it is). He uses it on you too, before he sinks his cock into you. With Hyunjin you need to be open to experimentation. He wants to try anal in all the positions you can think of. He needs to see or feel it from all angles. The sex swing he owns comes in handy too. He is up for all combinations. Giving, receiving, dp receiving (yes I said that) dp-ing you - two holes, one hole... he loves it all. Also, the more the merrier for him. I think he'd be involved in group sex. He finds it erotic and expressive.
permanent tag list : open (if you are on my series taglists but want to be tagged in all my posts, please let me know and I can add you to the permanent tag list)
So! Brennan lied to all of us, so let me tell you what actually happened here.
Couple things to keep in mind, Ivy is curating her mean girl reputation 110% at all times, and because her and OisĂn are executing a plot, they can't draw too much attention to themselves (and someone has to stay at the ping pong table). Also, Lucy's proclaimed dead right now, and they don't want to draw attention to her being revived (especially if she came back with a rage star).
Ivy notices "Lucy" (and OisĂn doesn't). A 19's a pretty high roll, and with a 19, OisĂn doesn't notice "Lucy", which means that on a lower roll, he would've noticed (and possibly caused some trouble). Ivy sees a hint of blue, and turns around to find "Lucy", and meets her gaze. (Used to looking for Lucy, perhaps?)
Ivy's microexpressions. Do not listen to Brennan. Do not listen to the IH. Hold my hand, come with me, let me show you the truth. Ivy's facial journey is eyebrows up, then a slow blink as her face relaxes into a slow smile. The nonplussedness that Emily read in her face would not show like that. It would be just as easy to be surprised and then drop her eyebrows and keep her face straight. That's not what's happening here. When her face relaxes, I know the camera turns away (trust me, I know, I'm pissed to all hell about it), but you can see the edges of her lips start to turn up, in what looks like the start of a smile!
Ivy's interaction with "Lucy." "Lucy" waves to Ivy and ducks away, so from Ivy's pov, "Lucy" has come back to life, and reached out to her, but wants to meet somewhere not around people. Ivy asks if it's cool that they meet up now, and Lucy agrees. Here's the important part, pay close attention! She doesn't tell OisĂn. She doesn't tell her best friend, who we know she's close with! She doesn't tell him that Lucy's here, she doesn't tell him where she's going, she just says she's done and walks away. I rotate that in my mind a lot.
So basically, Brennan and the IH lied to you, and actually this is 90% of my propaganda for Lucy/Ivy, please see the truth. Like, I said in my tags on @ratgrinders post, to just see your not-dead friend and go 'oh! oh. :) I'll catch you up on what you missed' like. That's not Mean Girl! That's not Bitch! That's just Ivy! She is a hater and I love every moment where she hates someone, but that's not what this is. This is a moment of softness in the middle of Everything.
Okay, picture this (this is not like a fic it is just my ideas):
Marc crams himself in his shop late at night, long after he flipped the "open" sign to "close", and he hunches over in his chair, frantically scribbling design idea, the thoughts in his head moving much faster than what he can do with the pen, but he tries to keep up as to not let any idea slip through the cracks.
He loves that people want to get tattoos from him, but late at night he bites his nails, wondering how he is going to top himself with the next tattoo. Ălex knows this, knows that if he wants to find Marc at midnight on a Friday, he should start with the shop. So that is exactly what he does. He has a spare key so he lets himself in and walks to the back to grab Marc.
He throws a shirt at Marc and tells him to get up, that there's a new club in the city and he thinks it would be good for Marc to get out and let loose a little. Marc agrees but very reluctantly, putting on the tank top Ălex brought for him.
Little does Marc know, this new club's little theme is UV/black lights. When the two of them get to the little sign outside a small door tucked into a busy street labeled "Neon" Marc is already like, oh no absolutely not, but Ălex pushes him in, already seeing the tattoos that cover Marc's arms, legs, neck, and face start to glow.
Marc doesn't like to respond to people when they give him shit for being "a tattoo artist with no tattoos" because, why get into that argument. In reality he is actually covered from head to toe in UV tattoos, which don't show up under normal light, they only show up under black light. So he just lets people believe he has no tattoos.
However, when he gets into this club, he lights up like a glowstick LOL. What he doesn't know is that earlier that night, Valentino's two little gremlin children convinced him to go out with them to a :new club" in the city as well. Pecco and Bez spot someone turned away from them from across the room and they notice all the glowing tattoos decorating his body and tap Vale on the shoulder and tell him to look.
*cue dramatic turn around*
Marc turns around to look at the scene and Pecco, Bez, and Vale are able to see that it is him, the bottom half of his face covered in what looks to be a realistic skull tattoo, from his nose down it almost looks like those x-rays you get at a dentist office.
And like after that, ya know, whole big shock factor, people are looking blah blah. IDK MAN I wanna make a comic of that.
also shout out my beloved best friend @vanillow for yelling with me abt it
Chrissy Cunningham has tickets to see her favorite pop star perform. It's a concert she'll never, ever forget.
Past Eddie/Chrissy, current female Pop Star!Reader/Rockstar!Eddie
*In the 3rd person, can also be read as an OC
Word Count:Â 3k
Rating/Warnings: Reader is female presenting and performed Espresso originally by Sabrina Carpenter, and I describe her as moving and posing, but possibly with the aid of dansers? - blank slate otherwise. No Upside Down. Could be read either canon!AU (mid 90s or so as they're adults now) or modern!AU. If I missed anything AU wise or blankslate!reader wise, please let me know kindly <3 I'm only human.
This work is rated PG but this blog is always 18+
A/N:Â The song got me, what can I say? Somewhere in my head Espresso mixed with Sk8er Boy by Avril Lavigne and here's what you get. A little fic to whet your appetite. Not edited, not betaed, written in about 1.5 hours while also at work- but I hope you enjoy it anyway <3
divider by @saradika-graphics
âSay you can't sleep, baby, I know
That's that me, espresso-
Chrissy giggled as she sang along to the track floating from the state of the art boombox on her dresser. Her best friends, Cindy and Linda, danced around the bedroom with her, feeling like teens again as they got ready for the concert that evening.
âI canât get enough of this song,â Linda gushed as she leaned close to the mirror above Chrissyâs vanity. She stopped singing along with the other girls long enough to apply her shiny lip gloss to perfection.
âSheâs the best.â Chrissy agreed, turning the volume up even farther, hitting the threshold as the boombox reached max volume.
âCan I borrow this?â Cindy asked, picking up one of Chrissyâs eyeshadow palettes.
âOf course,â Chrissy agreed without thought, only to pause. âWait- as long as you use that pink,â Chrissy amended, pointing to the neon hue. âBecause itâs perfect with your outfit.â
The girls all laughed as they agreed on it being the perfect shade.
âHow did you even get these tickets, itâs been sold out for months?â Linda asked, turning away from the mirror, bopping in place to the music.
âDaddy has a client whose sonâs fiance got mono on her bachelorette vacation, so they canceled the wedding. They sold her tickets to afford the cancellation fees.â Chrissy explained as she compared two necklaces against her outfit. The girls cringed in sympathy, but the mood was quickly uplifted as they all tuned back into the music, forgetting the unknown coupleâs problems. The tornado of excitement and glitter moved through the room until suddenly the girls all stopped what they were doing to sing along in tandem.
âI'm working late 'cause I'm a singer
Oh, he looks so cute wrapped around my finger
The three faced each other as they sang, sharing the moment as they each performed their hearts out as if they were the one performing on stage tonight. The three danced, twirling their hips and waving their arms the way they did as teens, trying to get all the boysâ attention. Not the three grown adults they were, with homes, partners and responsibilities. It was freeing to feel so young again.
âMy twisted humor, make him laugh so often
My honey bee, come and get this pollen-
The three all shrieked with laughter as they reached the end of the verse, laughing at each otherâs lewd dance moves in camaraderie.
âOh shit, is that the time?!â Cindy gasped, cutting off the raucous laughter. The other two girls turned to the clock Cindy was staring at, noticing time did indeed fly when you were having this much fun. If they didnât finish getting ready soon, they would be late and then have a hard time finding a good spot to watch the show from.
âShit!â Chrissy cursed, barely audible over the blasting music. She jogged over to the boombox, turning it down a few notches to a more reasonable volume.
All three women snapped back to task, perfecting their make-up and concert looks. It wasnât long before they were running out the door and into Chrissyâs powder blue Beamer. Chrissy hadnât even backed out of the driveway before Linda had the car stereo blasting the album, right where they had left off in the house. The three women sped down the highway, singing along to the tracks they would soon be hearing live.
Chrissy was sure her perfectly coiffed hair was falling and frizzing up, her carefully applied make-up turned into colourful smudges across her cheeks, the boots styled to match her outfit splattered with dirt and mud - but she couldnât care less. She was having the time of her life at the concert. The singing was amazing, even better than the album. The dancing, the choreography - the hunky dancers. She was having the best time, dancing and singing along with Cindy and Linda.
âThis is AMAZING!â Linda shrieked as the song ended. Chrissy clapped and cheered while Cindy jumped up and down.
âAlright, alright,â the woman on stage spoke, waving off everyone still cheering after the last number she performed. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath from the singing and dancing, skin glistening with sweat under the stage lights. Her hair hadnât fallen and her make-up hadnât budged. Chrissy watched her in awe, quieting her own thrilled cheers to hear what her favorite artist had to say next.
âOh my god, Indiana, you guys are crazy!â She laughed, waiting for the crowd to die down. Unfortunately, the comment made them cheer in agreement. Chrissy and her friends jumped up and down, cheering along.
The performer on stage dropped the microphone to her side as she laughed again at the crowdâs reaction. She looked off stage and made a little shrugging motion, a smile on her face all the while. Chrissy couldnât see who she was looking at from her angle - someone on her team, her manager, someone running the equipment; she wasnât sure. She kept looking between the crowd and the wing of the stage until they quieted enough for her to speak once more.
âSee I have a friend,â the singer started, roaming the stage with ease. Her presence filled the large space as the crowd - Chrissy, Linda and Cindy included - took in each word with bated breath. A field full of fans waiting to see what she would say or do next. âA very good friend, you might say.â The singer admitted with a sly smirk.
The crowd exploded - some cheers, some boos of disappointed fans.
âDid you know she was seeing anybody?!â Linda gasped.
âI hadnât seen anything in The Enquirer!â Cindy shook her head, flailing her hands as if trying to fan herself. âOh my god, who do you think it is?â
âIt could be anyone,â Linda started, only to be interrupted by Chrissy.
âMaybe Leo!â She laughed, joking while all the while loving the idea that her favorite pop star might be dating her favorite hunk of an actor. Linda and Cindy agreed by way of shrieking and jumping with excitement. Chrissy joined in immediately.
âSee, my very special friend is from right here in Indiana!â the star continued over the mic, halting the girlsâ theorizing. They quieted down, Linda blindly grabbing for Chrissy and Cindyâs hands as she never took her eyes off the stage. No one wanted to miss a hint on who the mystery âfriendâ was. âHe told me that you guys⌠Well, he doesnât seem to like his home state very much.â The star fake pouted as the rapt audience booed. She looked off stage, pointing her exaggerated pout that way.Â
âOh my god, is he here? Who is it?â Cindy nearly fell over, trying to lean over far enough to see backstage.
âI canât see from here!â Chrissy huffed, craning her neck to get a better look. It was no use, they were too far to the same side to see into the wings.
âI know! What a meanie!â The singer laughed joyfully into the microphone. âI tell him heâs a big meanie all the time, but he doesnât believe me.â She rolled her eyes playfully.
A dull laugh rolled through the crowd and the performer gave it a moment to breathe before continuing with her story. âI think you were all a bit mean to him too once, but maybe one day youâll forgive each other.â She tutted. The crowd cheered their agreement - anything to make their idol happy. The reaction made the singer beam brightly, glancing over her shoulder yet again.
âThis next song⌠I wrote it for him, and-â
The crowd cheered and awed, interrupting her briefly. She shot a wink offstage before rolling through the crowdâs roar.
âI wrote this for him, and right here in front of everyone he says he hates, Iâm dedicating it to him! Letâs show him some love!â She yelled over the mic, the crowd growing louder as it fed off her excitement.
There was a short beat of silence before the opening notes to Espresso started, making the crowd go wild once more as the smash hit song started.
Chrissy, Cindy and Linda all screamed along with the crowd, jumping with excitement despite their sore, aching feet after dancing all night. Chrissy pulled her camera out of her fanny pack, snapping pics as the song started. The singer smiled and danced to the opening notes, waiting for her cue to start singing. The dancers around her grooved along with her, waiting for the choreography to start.
"Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh
Is it that sweet? I guess so
Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
That's that me, espresso-
The trio of women sang along at the top of their lungs, as loud as their already sore throats would allow. Chrissy couldnât be bothered to care that she likely wouldnât have a voice tomorrow, it was worth it to sing along.
"Too bad your ex don't do it for ya
Walked in and dream came trued it for ya
Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya
I know I Mountain Dew it for ya
That morning coffee, brewed it for ya
One touch and I brand newed it for ya
The singer and her group of dancers made their way towards their side of the stage, the crowd around them cheering for her as she approached. The three girls got their cameras ready as they snapped pictures of their favorite singer performing their favorite song just a dozen feet away from them. The male dancers fawned over her as the female dancers backed her up, dancing with her.
"Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh
Is it that sweet? I guess so
Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
That's that me, espresso
Move it up, down, left, right, oh
Switch it up like Nintendo
Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
That's that me, espresso
The singer moved back across the stage, doing her best to perform to all sides, giving each fan in the crowd a chance to see her and her dancers. She had been doing it the whole show, but the crowd predictably was even more lively for her big, hit single.
All too soon, the song ended with everyone on stage hitting a final pose. The singer was center stage, looking upwards towards the stage lights as the dancers posed around her. Cameras flashed through the people as everyone took their chance to get a decent shot as everyone stood still aside from their heaving chests as they caught their breath.
Chrissy, Linda and Cindy followed suit, cheering and taking pictures between their jumping and flailing. Chrissy was lifting her camera for her fourth or fifth photo of the pose - she lost count - when Linda grabbed her arm and her attention.
âLook!!!â Linda screamed as others in the crowd started reacting too. A tall, lanky figure had emerged from the wing, sauntering proudly towards the singer at center stage. He wore dark coloured jeans and a black t-shirt. His face wasnât visible past the mop of inky curls when they first caught sight of him, but Chrissy felt a sinking feeling in her stomach at the silhouette. It was too familiar, a memory of her past, but surely it wasnât-
More people from the crowd started screaming as the man crossed the stage. The singer finally dropped the pose, lowering her eyes to look at the crowd. She was smiling, face flushed from performing, but she soon noticed the crowd looking to the side.
Chrissy heard a man behind her, arguing with his girlfriend, the conversation fading in and out of the ruckus around her. â... -ed Coffin⌠telling you thatâs him⌠think I know what âShredderâ Ed-âŚâ
The pop star on stage looked surprised to see the man at first, but by the time he pushed through the cluster of back-up dancers around her, she was smiling up at him. The smile was brighter than any sheâd given the audience on stage that night, a smile that shone in her eyes in a totally different way than performing on stage made them shine. The pop star started to speak, the microphone still held to her side not picking up any of the words. She didnât say much before the man interrupted her, cupping the back of her head and dipping down to kiss her.
The crowd cheered through the passionate kiss. The back-up dancers around her reacted with joy and surprise at the public display of affection, some gasping while others applauded or laughed.Â
The man pulled the woman to him, holding her like he might be able to absorb her into himself in front of everyone. The singer didnât fight, but she was obviously caught off guard at first. It barely took a moment for her to drop the microphone, a loud thunking noise booming from the speakers as it clattered to the stage. Her arms wrapped around the man, returning his embrace as she kissed him back. The sound of camera shutters nearly drowned out the voices of the crowd as everyone rushed to take pictures of the pop star and her apparent boyfriend - some to brag to their friends, some to try to sell as the first appearance of the worldâs newest celebrity couple.
Chrissy stayed frozen, camera to her side as she watched who she was sure was her high school ex-boyfriend, Eddie Munson, having a heavy makeout session on stage with her favorite pop star.
âWait, is thatâŚâ Cindy asked, starting to also recognize the man who had yet to turn his face their way. Cindy looked at Chrissy, her frozen reaction being all the answer she needed. Cindy prodded Linda, trying to get her to smarten up to what was happening to their friend.
The couple on stage finally parted, catching their breath as they only had eyes for each other. The pop star looked up at her man like he was the only person in the whole state, let alone in a crowd of hundreds. The manâs hand, covered with large silver rings, cupped her cheek gently. From where she stood, Chrissy could see his thumb caress her cheek. Despite the warm summer day, Chrissy shivered as she felt a ghost of a touch, a memory, across her own cheek.
The man leaned in, speaking directly into the singerâs ear for a few seconds. She let go a second later as he released her, bending down to pick up the microphone that was left abandoned on the stage. The man turned towards the crowd, finally showing his face to the entire audience. Some cheered as they recognized the lead singer and guitarist for the heavy metal band, while others who didnât listen to heavy music waited for a clue to who the man was.
âIs that Eddie?!â Linda gaped, looking up at the man who was once the boy dating her friend.
He was older now than he was then, obviously. His mop of curls were still present, if possible better cared for. He had inky tattoos up and down his visible arms and some high on his neck, coming out of the collar of his Metallica shirt. Heâd grown a short goatee, but the dimple in his cheek was still visible as he addressed the crowd. He looked⌠Great was probably not a strong enough word for how good Eddie Munson looked.
âYour Ex? Like, Eddie Mu-oofâ Linda continued until Cindy elbowed her harshly in the side. Linda finally noticed the pale, frozen expression on Chrissyâs face. âOh.â She mumbled lamely.
âWho's a freak now, Indiana?â Eddie growled into the microphone, his voice raspier than Chrissy remembered it- age, constant performing and steady smoking had settled into his vocal chords in an appealing way. It reminded Chrissy how he used to sound after a show at The Hideout, voice rough from a night of screaming into the mic.Â
Eddie tossed the microphone to a nearby dancer, not bothering to check if the unsuspecting man caught it (he did, barely) as he stuck his tongue out, devil horns atop his head. Just like that, Chrissy could see the boy underneath the age, tattoos and facial hair. The 18 year old who couldnât promise her the world, but promised everything in his world, only for her to break his heart a year and some months later. Out of everyone there, Chrissy looked up and saw no one but Hawkinsâ freak with a heart of gold Eddie Munson, but she realized Shredder Eddie Munson of Corroded Coffin didnât even know she was there. She hadnât even realized heâd gotten signed, or the band was famous- when had that happened?
Eddie turned, planting another passionate, borderline messy kiss on the pop star's laughing lips. The crowd erupted in another set of cheers, harshly pulling Chrissy back to real life.
Eddie ended the kiss, resting his forehead against the singerâs. The twoâs lips were moving through their wide smiles. Chrissy could only imagine the sweet nothings being exchanged. Once upon a time, in a different life, in a quiet trailer park, those sweet nothings had been reserved just for her.
Eddie patted the star on the ass before releasing her from his arms. She laughed as he jogged back to his spot in the wings, hand over her mouth like she couldnât believe the kiss theyâd just shared. Eddie didnât bother to acknowledge the crowd as he left, no wave goodbye or lude gestures. Before he disappeared from view, he turned to blow a kiss in her direction.
Red faced but smiling gleefully, the starlet pretended to catch it, placing it on her cheek. She stared after him even once he was out of view, only remembering herself when the dancer handed her the microphone.
âOh, umâŚâ She stumbled her words into the mic, giggling bashfully. She lowered the mic and took a deep breath, physically shaking her limbs. âI was expecting that even less than the rest of you.â She joked once she brought the mic back up to her smudged lips. âLetâs, uh⌠Letâs move on with the show?â She laughed, unsure how else to move forward with the setlist. The crowd cheered their agreement as she nodded to all her dancers and musicians to get ready to start back up.
âShould we leave?â Cindy asked quietly. Linda stared at Chrissy, waiting for her response.
It was definitely a concert sheâd never, ever forget.
i am in suuuuuch a weird headspace rn, my brain is like. i want half a boyfriend i want a husband i want an easy carefree hookup i want to have sex with only one more person in my entire life i want to have a slut era i want someone to fall in love with me i want to ruin a man's life. who am i
Good evening girl I am thinking about how the owl house lured me in with fun, surface level elements and aesthetics before ambushing me with themes grief and familial conflict that make me want to cry so hard I throw up. Why did they do that
It's very strange seeing other people interpret your relationships through the lens of a story, and seeing them do it completely incorrectly
I get why it happens obviously- to them it is just a story, and everything is open for interpretation, and the version of events that I'm from is only one of many possibilities.
We have work days usually on Friday to work on whatever upcoming assignments we have due. I have a lot of costume work (mostly detailing) left for me and theoretically I want everything done by like 3 and I get out of class at 2. Tomorrow is Friday. Which might be a work day for my only class. All of my upcoming assignments r done. I could show up (which would get me out of bed dressed and moving) and then if itâs a work day leave for my costume. This is a very good idea actually I will be doing this
I've always been on the aro spectrum even before I was fully aromantic and thinking back to so many TV shows/movies I would always think that "unnecessary" relationship plots/drama made the media actively worse and was very rarely into them. Now I realize that the few pairings I did like on my own (and not bc everyone else did so I just fell for it too) was because the writers were able to convince me that the characters respected each other on a personal level. If I couldn't see or even imagine the respect I didn't like them as a couple (not that I realized it until I was older). That still holds SO true for me, and let me tell you the numbers haven't gone up much.
okay, bear with me: so as you may know, harry houdini and arthur conan doyle were friends, at least for a while.
by the early 1920s, both arthur conan doyle and acd's wife jean, aka lady doyle, believed whole-heartedly in spiritualism, talking to ghosts and all of that. (sidenote: this was of course right on the heels of a devastating world war and a devastating pandemic, both of which had created a huge population of grieving people, so spiritualism was having a moment.)
lady doyle sincerely thought she had the ability to go into a trance state and pass along messages in writing from the dead. she offered to do this for houdini. houdini agreed.
lady doyle attempted to channel houdini's late mother. she basically drew a cross at the top of the paper and filled it with generic platitudes addressed to "harry." houdini's mom was jewish and didn't talk like that, so houdini knew the jig was up, even if lady doyle didn't. but not wanting to make the situation awkward, he kind of went along with it to their faces.
then acd decided to publish a glowing account of the seance, and since both he and houdini were super famous, it got a lot of attention, and letters started pouring in for houdini, asking if this was true. ultimately, houdini couldn't lie about it. so he essentially said, like, "yeah, i think lady doyle THINKS she can talk to ghosts but she absolutely can't." and it ruined his friendship with acd forever.
and then of course a lot of the people running seances weren't even well-intentioned like lady doyle, they were just simple charlatans taking advantage of traumatized people mourning loved ones. in houdini's youth, he and his wife had traveled the carnival circuit where he did an act pretending to commune with spirits, so he knew all the tricks of the trade AND he had lingering guilt over having done this, AND he was infuriated by this increasingly popular wave of con artists so he decided to assemble a team of anti-grifting grifters and together they went on the road exposing whichever spiritualists were preying on the locals.
houdini's best agent was a young woman named rose mackenberg, who donned disguises to visit the fraud de jour and then importantly sussed out what non-supernatural thing was actually happening, and then houdini would demonstrate the techniques onstage to packed audiences.
(if you want to know more, check out episode 175, "ghost racket crusade" of the podcast Criminal or read Tony Wolf's book The Real-Life Ghostbusting Adventures of Rose Mackenberg.)
but yeah, what really gets my goat is that all this happened and as far as i know, we still don't have like four seasons of a Leverage-style historical procedural about rose mackenberg and the rest of the crew having adventures in the 1920s as they unmask craven hucksters all over the united states. (what we do have, apparently, is one season of a show called "houdini and doyle" which is about the oddball friendship of two contrasting men solving sometimes-actually-supernatural mysteries, and whose premise does i think at the very least a real disservice to houdini's whole quest and also totally erases rose, who is arguably the most interesting part of this story to me.)