#although it's only natural that there's more on the list the closer to the present it gets

[becomingthatgirl111]

organize your week like this to be closer to the best version of yourself

i interpret the process of becoming our best version as climbing a ladder, on each step, we learn something new that serves us, and the next we complement it with something new, and so on until we reach the end and after many small habits we have become that version we wanted to be. little by little we are learning and although sometimes it is complicated to climb because of the adversities that may arise we can always take up the path again and put into practice what we have learned. that said, today i want to share a method that i have created to organize our habits and thus fulfill them more effectively and feel motivated. in this post i will only present some examples, you have to apply it to your own situation and my recommendation is to start now even with small habits that will be the ones that will lead you to success. i recommend that you try it for this week and write down your results, if it has worked for you keep using this "organization method" and adding new habits or increasing its time.

organize by categories.

create groups to categorize the habits you want to implement in your life, for example like this (the habits are examples, use your own)

🌿 health (body and nutrition)

10 minutes of exercise every day

30 minutes of walking every day

drink a lot more water

start eating consciously

one self-care day a week, for example on friday. we can take this day more relaxed and take more care of ourselves, dedicate more time to our personal and mental care.

do massage with the quartz roller and gua sha

make an appointment for nails, hairdresser, spa, eyelashes or even go to a coffee shop with yourself.

use a face mask and hair mask

🌿 personal growth

read 10 pages a day

listen to personal growth podcasts or audiobooks (choose one and listen to it all week long)

choose an affirmation and write it down every day

record in a diary or an app your mood and what you did during the day.

create a to-do list of what you will do for the day (the night before)

choose a video of affirmations and listen to it every day at a time that suits you best

🌿 studies

study about what you are studying or training for.

dedicate e.g. 20-30 minutes each day to study or review.

study a new language, 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

🌿 hobbies

1 - 2 hours to what you enjoy doing (depends on the day and your schedule)

you can write down in a notebook the groups you want to choose for yourself and then the habits you are going to implement, even if they are very small, for example 5 minutes of daily exercise, that is a good start.

to stay focused and not fall into old habits we can also replace the old habits with new ones that we want to implement in this way.

old habit: too much time on instagram new habit: reading or listening to an audiobook while i take a walk. or even just 15 minutes of social media a day.

other examples:

drinking soda or alcoholic beverages > drinking a lot more water and starting to drink natural juices.

watch a lot of series on netflix (or any streaming platform) > read or listen to podcasts/audiobooks that nourish my mind.

overthinking, worrying > meditating for about 5 minutes

lying in bed without doing anything > organizing my room

think in negative > think about the things you would like to happen to you

other tips to connect with your best version

write in your diary how you would act, be and what habits your best version would have. this will give you clarity about what you want and you will feel closer to that because you will know how to act.

establish small habits to start with and take it as a kind of game or test during this week. don't push yourself too hard.

at times when you don't know how to act or react, think about how your best version would act and what it would do.

write down things you are proud of or would like to be proud of.

if you are easily distracted or do not know what to do at any given moment, set alarms to know what to do at that moment.

if you use social media a lot, set a limit of use.

choose habits that you know you will be able to do easily, that will make you gain confidence and little by little establish those habits in which you have procrastinated or which are more difficult for you.

think big, open yourself to the possibilities that life offers you every day and keep a positive attitude towards any situation.

apps i recommend: habit: it serves to keep track of your habits and also get organized, it's a kind of to-do list. daylio: you can record your mood, what you did during the day and your habits, it also allows you to write and add photos. it is very complete, it can be used as a digital diary. notion: to get organized.

duolingo: if you want to learn a language a few minutes a day will be enough. i learned a lot of grammar in english thanks to this, which works if you practice daily.

and as always my blog is about this and there will be many more related posts in addition to the existing ones, all to be our best version 🤍 in fact if you try it i would love to know your results.

#health and wellness #healthy #health #habits #habit tracker #healthy lifestyle #healthy living #level up journey #levelup #leveling up #feminine energy #divine femenine #that girl aesthetic #that girl #clean girl aesthetic #clean girl #pink pilates princess #greenjuicegirl #green juice girl #dream life #self love #self improvement #self concept affirmations #healthy weight loss #health journey #high value mindset #high value woman

[onskepa]

I really liked your moat and human child series. Seriously cute and wholesome after the hells gate incident. Tgere arent any confirmed human children on pandora, besides spider. I would love to headcannons for Na'vi seeing human children and human mama's in general cause they are so different and yet so similar.

Hellooooo!! Honestly this is a good idea! Had a lot of fun with this cute list. Hope you all like it!

------------------------------

Motherhood

If there is one thing that is common in both Earth and Pandora that is universally treasured, it be mothers.

Earth has their mother earth, and pandora has Eywa.

Eywa is the prime example, she loves all her children and gives them life and welcomes them back when it is their time to return.

So when the female humans begin to show their pregnancy, their symptoms began to show but a little different that they would have experienced on Earth.

The cravings would still be present, but not for human food, rather the need for na'vi food. The need to go outside and enjoy the nature. The need to be one with the land.

These symptoms are different, yet familiar.

At the same time, female na'vi would show their pregnancy as well. Feeling blessed to be given the chance to bring a new generation of their people.

However, for the female na'vi, they would have a strange need to see the humans. Even the ones who dont like humans. But the need grows stronger with each day they ignore the feeling.

As if Eywa commands it, by the natural pull both female na'vi and humans would meet.

To each show how far long each soon-to-be-mother is, the hatred subsides and a new form of friendship grows.

The na'vi mothers would share their knowledge to the human females, and vice versa.

Crafting things was certainly a stable activity for both kinds. Creating things for their children. Blankets, nets, carrying swings, toys, etc.

Both female kinds would even gossip like old friends. Talk of each others experience and interesting knowledge they each like to share.

The na'vi women would quickly learn how more fragile the human women are during their pregnancy. Na'vi women arent slowed down, sure things will be tiring but they still continue their duties.

That is where the na'vi women grow protective of their fellow human sisters. To make sure they are safe, have everything needed and no danger is near.

In return, the human women would teach the na'vi women some soft melodies to sing to their future children.

Soon when it was time for the two kinds to give birth, it was something to remember.

Many called it "Eywa's gift" as it was a day where BOTH human and na'vi women would give birth at the same time.

The tsahik would believe it was eywa's will to bring the two kinds closer.

The bonding didnt stop there oh no. It only strengthened.

The na'vi mothers were so surprised to see just how small human babies were. So small, fragile, and weirdly cute.

The na'vi women would bring their children to meet the human children, while both are vastly different, they are all still cute.

The human mothers would have a chance to hold a na'vi baby, as do the na'vi mothers getting a chance to hold a human baby.

Although the na'vi mothers were more scared since the babies fit at the palm of their hands.

The mothers would still group together, bond more with their children as they grow, in hopes that the new generation would have peace.

And don't forget the fathers. Tough and ready to defend each of their own families. But like the mothers, the fathers had come to a peaceful grounds that they are not so different from each other.

Eywa sees her children, both na'vi and human. She has plans for the new generation. In hopes to bring peace and unity. To love and to hold one another. And what is a more powerful way than that through the love of a mother?

And that is it for this one! was so cuuuuuuuute to write! Hope you all enjoyed this one! until next time! see ya!

#avatar #na'vi x reader #avatar the way of water #na'vi avatar #avatar 2 #na'vi x human #lo'ak #kiri #jake sully #lo'ak x reader #neyetam #neytiri #omatikaya #omaticaya clan #metkayina #neteyam #kiri sully #tuk sully #lo'ak sully #tsireya #ronal #tonowari #ao'nung #rotxo #mo'at #eytukan #tsahik #olo'eyktan #mother

[solarisgod]

i am here with a small question ! (❁´◡`❁) what flower(s) or tree(s) would you associate with beloved micah ? and would micah ever be interested in having a garden, or maybe in growing vegetables and fruits in a tiny field ?

Hello, Bunstar! Thank you so much for this wonderful set of questions! (≧▽≦)ﾉ彡☆ ( A small question to a large answer, heheh . . . ) The Starwake System holds a special connection with nature because of Micah’s surrogate parent who is Incarnation of Earth who birthed xem through the soil and water, initially the Sun and Moon creating xem as a starseed. Due to this, a lot of the plants are meant to be associated with Micah, but I will list six most prominent flowers and trees that I associate with xem!

Before I start, though, I'd love to answer the plant association question with the other main Starwakers!

◜ ⟢ Phoebus ◞ Phoebus is associated with plants that bring vitality and healthy products, such as herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Phoebus is highly nurturing and solicitous in their own quiet and firm ways to their starmates, always wanting only the best of themself and the system since the moment they all existed, so plants that are known as culinary and medicinal applications best aligns with their main role of encouraging growth and providing care. Phoebus is a cooker and healer at heart, using plants for the system's meals, beverages, and natural medicines often, as well as they usually front to take care of themselves when sick. ┊ Figureset : ⁽ ¹ ⁾ Jasmine. ⁽ ² ⁾ Marigold. ⁽ ³ ⁾ Violet. ⁽ ⁴ ⁾ White Pine. ⁽ ⁵ ⁾ Apple Tree. ⁽ ⁶ ⁾ Sugar Maple

◜ ⟢ Philos ◞ Philos is associated with plants that are known to be distinct and conspicuous, the kind that stands out from their unique shapes and / or features. Philos shares the similar attributes with these sort of plants by her alluring appearance and powerful personality, wanting to make her presence the most striking. However, he holds an essence that often makes him appear as more honourable than dangerous. Be closer to him and he may bring out what are the worst than best from another. They look into plants more based on their aesthetic and aroma appeal, the aspects Philos cares about with their self image the most in the system. ┊ Figureset : ⁽ ¹ ⁾ Rose. ⁽ ² ⁾ Bleeding Heart. ⁽ ³ ⁾ Passionflower. ⁽ ⁴ ⁾ Golden Chain. ⁽ ⁵ ⁾ Okame Cherry. ⁽ ⁶ ⁾ Wisteria.

◜ ⟢ Phobos ◞ Phobos is associated with plants that are carnivorous and poisonous, what matches with its sharp and stealthy nature. Along with Philos, it is dangerous, although rather than acting out of maliciousness, it exists as a defence or mechanism for itself and the system, harming those that tries to ruin them while giving themselves the resources to continue living. Phobos holds greater fascination in these plants than everyone else within the Starwake System─ some people don't believe this fact because of its harsh and careless attitude, but Phobos also takes wonderful care of them when it can. ┊ Figureset : ⁽ ¹ ⁾ Sun Pitcher. ⁽ ² ⁾ Flame Lily. ⁽ ³ ⁾ Angel's Trumpet. ⁽ ⁴ ⁾ Manchineel. ⁽ ⁵ ⁾ Sandbox Tree. ⁽ ⁶ ⁾ Milky Mangrove.

In regards to Micah now, xe is associated with the following six most prominent flowers and trees : ⁽ ¹ ⁾ Shooting Star. ⁽ ² ⁾ Firefly Flower. ⁽ ³ ⁾ Dandelion. ⁽ ⁴ ⁾ Ginkgo. ⁽ ⁵ ⁾ Rainbow Eucalyptus. ⁽ ⁶ ⁾ Cherry Blossom. These plants are linked to the concepts of hope, resilience, and love that Micah represents. Xe have memories with them since childhood while they present as personal and symbolic reminders to xem.

`˳⟢˚، ⁽ ¹ ⁾ When Micah as a starseed was brought down to Earth from the Cosmos in the grasp of Ilios and Fengari before xe was buried within Gi's existence and then be birthed, Micah rose from soil and water with Shooting Stars growing around xem. Since then, Solaris Kingdom with the Solar Pantheon considered Shooting Stars as Micah's main sacred flower. While the Shooting Stars flower doesn't have cultural symbolism, the namesake celestial events are generally perceived as a symbol of good luck and positive change, as well as of passion and aspiration; these being what Micah represents when xe always make good changes in everyone and everything around xemself out of love and hope. `˳⟢˚، ⁽ ² ⁾ Firefly Flowers is another Micah's creation when xe was a toddler under Gi's care. Micah's celestial powers were still extremely strong at the time and having to spend excessive time with the plants near a lake, xyr cosmic light eventually bled into them, making changes inside of the flowers that would make them be able to glow in the dark and bloom during nighttime. Fireflies is one of Micah's sacred and favourite animals that symbolize the illumination, teaching that the light within is the power of life, and the heart and soul can always shine even in the time of darkness. `˳⟢˚، ⁽ ³ ⁾ Micah's childhood neighbourhood and elementary school have a lot of dandelions. Xe always loved to play with this plant and blow their seeds, making wishes from them. ( Xe still does in the present. ) Whenever Micah returned home after a long day without xyr adoptive parents, such as being at school, xe would usually bring them dandelions, not realizing the mess of the white seeds scattering everywhere in xyr home from the excitement of seeing xyr family and giving xyr parents flowers. Xe didn't understand the concept of " messiness " until a year later since xe engaged in this tradition when xe was six, but xyr parents only accepted xem and xyr dandelion gifts while they never complained or scolded at xem for mess xe'd make with the dandelion seeds. Dandelions means hope, perseverance, and transformation; being a reminder of strength and freedom. `˳⟢˚، ⁽ ⁴ ⁾ Ginkgo is one of the Everlove family's famous symbols. Over thirty years ago, Micah's parents planted a Ginkgo tree in the middle of their backyard shortly after they moved to their home with a vow that they'd raise a wonderful and happy family together. This Ginkgo tree was the establishing point of the Everlove's existence. Ginkgo is known to be called as the " living fossils " because they have survived for million years. They symbolize longevity and promote rejuvenation, and they are the reminders of one's resiliency, vitality, and endurance; paralleling to Micah's own ever constant perseverance and willpower. `˳⟢˚، ⁽ ⁵ ⁾ Micah doesn't have any direct experiences with the Rainbow Eucalyptus, although xyr parents did when they went to Hawaii to do film some scenes there before they had the time to admire the Rainbow Eucalyptus, sharing photos and videos of them to their kids. Micah dreams of having a Rainbow Eucalyptus in xyr large backyard one day when xe can figure out where to plant it. Rainbow Eucalyptus represents creativity, adaptability, and resilience by its myriad of colours on the barks. `��⟢˚، ⁽ ⁶ ⁾ Micah went to a park with Adoniram where the cherry blossom trees were blooming in one of their first few dates. Xe always have a deep liking in this sort of trees and finds them quite beautiful. Xe have several pressed cherry blossom petals on xyr journal and plant collection books that xe cherishes them dearly. While many is familiar with cherry blossom being linked to rebirth and new beginnings, because cherry blossoms are quick to die, it is also symbolized as loss and temporariness. Cherry blossoms is the life and death that Micah can associated with, being part of them both since the beginning of xyr existence. Although with everything, this tree is especially the representation of love itself.

Onto the secondary question re : Micah's gardening, for around ten years before the Antineon Hieraeon canon timeline, Micah had xyr personal garden shared with Adoniram's at the backyard of their home! ( In the present canon timeline, a close friend of Micah's and Adoniram’s, Father Lucas, have been taking care of their home along with the garden. ) The greenhouse, garden of flowers and natural food, and the treehouse were some of the things that xe most forward to having at xyr backyard when xe was house searching. Located at the secluded area where it is void of human related activities and disturbances, Micah's and Adoniram's backyard was as massive as their home, so they had plenty of space available to engage in gardening.

Micah sometimes donates xyr natural goods to the local food stores or food banks, as well as giving them and flowers to xyr friends and family relatives, also even strangers to make their days a bit more brighter. Phoebus highly enjoys tending to their plants and the garden is usually where they’d stay in more out of all spots at their home. Philos have a more difficult time handling plants, so he’d rather have Phoebus tend to them, but she does enjoy admiring their garden. Phobos had a " secret spot " somewhere in the garden where it could take care of a few carnivorous plants. Micah did discover them and question their existences, but didn't dwell on them for too long when xe also enjoyed carnivorous plants and believed xe did buy them, but forgot.

Micah's interest in gardening was inspired by not only the Ginkgo tree that their parents planted within xyr childhood home's backyard, but xe shared xyr mother's endless passion in the nature and art of gardening. Maria Everlove have always been most careful and precise taking care of their plants, and being able to sense how much the plants love her back, Micah deeply wished that one day, xe could have xyr own garden to love and care as well.

#VULPESSE #/// #// #/ #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ ANSWERS . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ CANONS . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ STUDY . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ MICAH . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ PHOEBUS . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ PHILOS . › #𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ PHOBOS . › #[ AAAAAAAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE LOVELY QUESTIONS BUNSTAR!!!!! ] #[ I love the questions so muchhh omfg it’s always so fun and fascinating thinking about associations / parallels with characters!!!!! ] #[ I’m soooooooo ;^; Micah would certainly be more to happy to gift Ahwi flowers uwu ] #[ also also Phobos + Philos and Ahri bonding respectively poisonous / carnivorous and aesthetic appealing flowers… AAAAA ] #[ we’re giving you all of the flowers heheh thank you again smmm we had so much fun answering this!!! 💖💖💖 🌹✨🌸✨🌷✨🌺✨🌻✨🌼✨ ]

[creepylittlelady]

The different types of Ghosts in my AU! [Puppet Strings/Creepypasta AU Lore Dump]

Hi! As promised, your Christmas present is a brand new lore post! Sorry I've been so inactive lately, what with school and now the common cold kicking my ass, I just could not be asked up to type up a new post. But now I am here and better than ever!

The ghost characters in Creepypasta have always fascinated me, such as Ben, Sally and Lifeless Lucy, I just think they're all so cool and bring a lot of potential for LOORE! I think all of these characters have their own classification of Ghost; HOWEVER it's slightly different in my AU :3

Introduction

-Ghosts are one of the supernatural creatures in our Universe that are the most abundant and the most easily spotted. They come in all shapes and sizes depending on who you were in life, how you spent your life, and how you died. They are a sort of midway between Humans and Demons, with some types of ghosts being closer to humans, and some types of ghosts being closer to Demons.

Ghosts are very enigmatic as only a small handful of people can truly contact and study Ghosts enough to gain any information on them; as most cannot be perceived by a regular mortal unless under very specific conditions. Due to this, there is a sort of 'hierarchy' of Ghosts based on perceivability and malicious intent. However, ghosts are a very scattered species and this Hierarchy is rudimentary at best.

Just because two Ghosts are the same species, it does not mean they have the same level of power. At times, some lower ranking Ghosts have been proven to have higher power levels than commonly accepted high-ranking Ghosts, such as Poltergeists.

Without further ado, let's dig in!

Apparitions

-Apparitions (also referred to as 'Visitors') and Shadow People are often seen grouped together in Ghost listings, as both types of Ghosts have almost identical properties, but they do have some key differences.

Apparitions can manifest as just about anything that isn't a full corporeal form. They can appear as disembodied voices, or as temporary humanoid forms from the corner of your eyes. They usually only appear for a few seconds - a minute at a time, and although they can appear more than once, they're generally considered to be temporary Ghosts. They usually are bound to the place they died, and can only appear to someone whom they were close to in life, or someone trained in the field of Ghost Hunting.

They generally don't display any notable abilities. Usually Apparitions are people that have died peacefully or in regular circumstances, and they tend to have been more calm-natured and placid in life.

They generally don't communicate, just whisper often un-processable words. Their intentions are unknown, and many people believe they simply exist to 'visit' the place they died, henceforth why they are nicknamed 'Visitors'.

Shadow People

-Shadow People manifest as just that, shadow people. They are completely pitch black and have no discernible bodily or facial features. They are some of the more enigmatic types of Ghosts, as they are very hard to figure out.

Most people theorise that they were formerly those who died due to their own volition, whether it be suicide or something else. They don't appear in any particular place, but they are mainly perceived by those under the influence of drugs, people who are about to die, or those undergoing various degrees of distress.

They only display a small level of power, as they are able to lull people into a trance like state and make people believe they are in a dream.

They can communicate, but what they say is generally too ominous or nonsensical to deduce any meaning. Their intentions are unknown, but some Shadow People can be known to try and give a symbolic message to the people they are perceived by. They are somewhat temporary as they disappear shortly after the person is out of whatever situation they were in prior.

Messengers

-Messengers, also known as Guardian Spirits, are the most common to decipher going by their name alone. Messengers often take on a symbolic form of what they were like in life, and sometimes have more supernatural features to their spectral forms.

Messengers are temporary Ghosts; they only manifest in the human realm for a singular purpose. This is, to send an important message to the group of humans they are bound to, or to temporarily save them from unwarranted danger. This second purpose is rarely seen in a Messenger.

As stated beforehand, they are chained to a group of humans, sometimes random, sometimes not. Some can be bound to a particular human, or multiple. These humans can either be friends or family from when they were once alive, or a random human who is similar to what they were like in life.

Once they fulfil the singular purpose they were manifested for, they disappear. Often information about Messengers are not provided by the ghosts themselves, but rather the humans they contacted or saved.

Spirits

-Spirits are the most common out of all Ghosts, as you do not need set conditions to turn into a Spirit. Spirits commonly manifest as a dull, colourless humanoid version of what they looked like right before they died, including any scars.

Spirits do not retain any memories of their life besides some glimpses of their death. They aren't violent in nature, however it truly does depend on the kind of person you were in life. Spirits are purely made out of soul, meaning that they are raw emotion. This often means that Spirits can be quite tiresome to deal with. However, they are the closest to human and therefore are the easiest to contact and perceive.

Whilst Shadow People and Apparitions don't have their own ways of truly contacting the human realm, Spirits can manipulate white noise, and can speak through spirit boxes and some times manipulate Ouija boards or any spiritual communication device.

Spirits never truly give an intention as to why they are here; some will say to find peace or to just go to places they feel as if they've never been before. If a Spirit truly has found the peace they lacked in life, they can disappear/move on to the afterlife.

Spirits are quite easy to contact and easy to deal with (most of the time), as they don't hold any grudges or prejudices.

Vengeful Spirits

-Vengeful Spirits are the most mysterious and enigmatic of all Ghosts, and are often theorised to be the closest to Demons. They are incredibly volatile from what little research Ghost Hunters have been able to conduct, and are almost impossible to put on a spectrum or Hierarchy. They are unpredictable, and due to majority of them having an incredibly violent nature, most beginner Ghost Hunters are told to steer clear of them.

Vengeful Spirits are what most people think of when thinking of hauntings in Horror Movies, they are incredibly violent and are well known for their ability to physically harm humans. They are not bound to one place or to any person, they are what's known as 'free-roaming' spirits.

Vengeful Spirits manifest in very gory and bloody forms, often consisting of every major injury they'd ever gotten throughout their life. They are quite unsightly to look at, and as such as pretty easy to spot from any other kind of Ghost.

Vengeful Spirits are made out of pure Anger and Vengeance, which gives most of them their violent nature. However it's important to note that these aren't the only emotions they can feel; through what little observation can be made, they have shown the capability to feel emotions such as Happiness and Fear. It's theorised that their violent tendencies and malicious intent are more-so simply just violent outbursts and impulses.

They can openly communicate with humans that can perceive and can easily manipulate White Noise, meaning they can talk through Spirit Boxes, however most refuse to talk and may simply lash out instead. Some have shown high levels of intelligence, which may make them closer to humans. Vengeful Spirits are often thought to be people who died violent deaths and lived less than satisfactory lives.

Their power levels cannot be measures, but from what has been observed, they can be highly powerful and dangerous, one of their most well-known abilities is to strike fear or paranoia in their victims and be able to leave permanent wounds on humans when they attack. Some have been shown to have supernatural abilities too, as some can appear in dreams.

A good example of a Vengeful Spirit would be Lifeless Lucy.

Spectres

-Spectres are commonly mistaken for Spirits, however they have a lot of key differences. Spectres generally aren't colourless and instead look the exact same as how they died, and look very human instead of holographic. In fact, in some cases they are even mistaken for Zombies (more on that explained in another post).

They commonly only appear to a select demographic of people, such as children or those in distress. They can speak through Spirit Boxes, however most only choose to communicate to those that can perceive them.

Spectres have the unique ability to achieve a full corporeal form in a Labrinth; meaning they can achieve a physical body. This makes them able to interact with things and be perceived as a normal human would. It's unknown why Spectres have this ability. However once they step out of the Labrinth then they'll go back to their Ghostly form.

They also have the unique ability to be able to possess inanimate objects, however they have to fit under certain symbolic requirements. Such as, Sally Williams can only possess Teddy Bears, dolls and any form of traditional children's toy as they were the objects she interacted with most during her life.

Spectres are often those who died in tragic circumstances, however it's unknown how this can differentiate a Vengeful Spirit and a Spectre. Most spectres are rather melancholic in nature, but are known for being very placid and calm.

They can communicate through Spirit Boxes and Ouija Boards.

Poltergeists

-Poltergeists are widely accepted as the most powerful kind of Ghost. They are only really considered as Ghosts due to having the same limitations as most Ghosts and being made from dead people. They manifest as a symbol of what they were most associated with in life, or the thing that killed them. An example would be Ben Drowned, who takes on a more corrupted appearance of Link from the Legend of Zelda, his favourite video game in life. He takes on an incredibly glitchy appearance, like that of a game console dunked in water, as he was drowned.

-Poltergeists have unique abilities tailored to their design as a Ghost. Ben Drowned can manipulate Technology and can traverse through Video games and be perceived as a distorted version of Link, in almost all forms of video games. He can also corrupt games and add in a save file in consoles named 'BEN'.

-They all have unique spiritual mediums that they can talk to, and can pick who they want to be perceived by. This makes them exceptionally powerful as they can appear to one person one second and completely disappear the next. They can also choose if they want to be heard or not. On occasion, a Poltergeist will choose to just be a disembodied voice.

-Poltergeists main intentions are to cause mischief and have a fun afterlife. Due to their immense and unique powers, they often can do things that not even regular humans can do, and can get away with causing any manner of trouble. This makes them particularly frustrating to deal with.

Poltergeists are exceedingly rare and are not easily spotted, as they are more likely to simply poke you and run away then stay for a chat. Most that have been observed simply just want to cause trouble and delight in getting away with it.

They are incredibly powerful and not easy to deal with or spot on camera, and usually they can only be caught by highly trained Ghost Hunters or a particularly gifted Seer.

Well, this was extensive! As of finishing this post it's no longer Christmas, so happy late Christmas! Once again sorry for being inactive lately, more posts will be coming out soon!

-Little Lady, December 26th, 16:39pm

#littlelady #creepypasta #creepypasta fandom #puppet strings #creepypasta au #ben drowned #ben drowned headcanons #sally williams creepypasta #sally williams headcanons #ghosts #creepypasta headcanons #creepypasta lore #lifeless lucy headcanons #lifeless lucy

[deathbind]

MEKETI ORDERS.

This post will serve as an overview for Meketi's best known orders. This is not an exhaustive list of all orders, organizations, leagues, etc. throughout Meketi history. It's only the best known and most influential with a focus on those acting in present day. I Furthermore, I intend to keep these descriptions brief. More detail will come in future posts.

MANTHU.

The Manthu form one half of the Soshist priesthood. Soshe had many followers before Her martyrdom, and three were closer to Her than any other. To these, She taught the secret of drawing from the Plane of Life, granting them unique ability to heal and revive. These followers gathered Her ashes and still-intact heart after Her "death", and worked tirelessly to revive Her. Three days later, Soshe appeared to them. She chastised them for being so obsessed with Her physical remains, for that is merely the vessel for the soul, and regardless, She was no mere mortal. She charged them instead with safeguarding Her heart that remained: a symbol for safeguarding Her teachings. They gathered Her faithful thereafter, and formed both the priesthood and the beginnings of the faith.

During Serot's lifetime, they allied with his gathered ghul lords to heal the land of Meket after the Beetle Death. When Serot formed those ghul lords into the Anactaci, it was deemed the will of the One Above that they become part of the priesthood. This was as much to the Manthu's benefit as the Anactaci's. As drawing from the Plane of Death has consequences for the Anactaci, so does drawing from the Plane of Life have consequences for the Manthu. They become entirely locked into that plane, unable to draw from any other. They can only cast spells of creation and restoration — that which is in keeping with the nature of that plane. But over time, the Manthu become so full of life their bodies cannot contain it. Their bodies are consumed and cease to be, while their souls merge wholly with the Plane of Life. Close work with the Anactaci keeps this in balance.

ANACTACI.

Prior to Serot, the ghul lords of Meket — and, indeed, all of Zakhara — were scattered and outcast. Some found a place in remote communities as speakers of the dead, but their connection to the Plane of Death and the way their spells reacted violently with anyone else's led the majority to mistrust. Although they experienced a surge in business during the Beetle Death, there were those who blamed them for the appearance of the kheprer. Serot's role in gathering them together to end that blight changed everything.

Now they form one half of the Soshist priesthood, and they stand as one of Meket's most respected orders. The Manthu specialize in healing, revivification, guiding the souls of the living; the Anactaci specialize in divination, necromancy, guiding the souls of the dead. They are two sides of a coin, two ends of a scale, reflections in the river water. Like the Manthu, they are locked entirely into drawing from their patron plane. They may only cast spells relating to death and decay — that which is in keeping with the nature of that plane. Also like the Manthu, this comes at cost. Their health suffers over time, their life sacrificed to their casting, until their souls are lost and their bodies become restless undead. Close work with the Manthu keeps this in balance.

NRA MYETME.

When the Nra Myetme were founded is unclear. Truly anything about them is unclear. It must surely have been after Soshe's lifetime. Some speculate they existed in a different form beforehand but were transformed by Her teachings. Whatever the case, they are firmly Soshist now, keepers of Her Eternal Heart. They truly rose to prominence during Meket's subjugation beneath the newly formed Yikarian Empire in the early 400s DR, though there are indications they existed before.

They are a secretive order. How they are organized, to whom they answer, where they make their home — all this is uncertain, though they rarely hesitate to bow to the authority of a priest. They guard the oldest of Soshist relics, rites, and holy sites, and journey far seeking what has been lost. They're among the few willing to brave the depths of the Haunted Lands. They are also known to appear where "balance must be restored". This seems most often to be where great supernatural threats are afoot. Much of the populace takes them for legends. But when their presence is marked, they are greeted with mixed respect and wariness.

GUARDIANS OF THE SEAL.

It is part of Meketi funerary rites to inter the dead with all they might need in the afterlife. Everything from clothing to wealth to weapons goes with them — whatever their relatives can afford. Unfortunately, it has happened often that a family inters something with a loved one of which they later have need. More unfortunately still, unscrupulous treasure hunters, most from abroad, have invaded the houses of eternity to steal what they can.

This led to the formation of the Guardians of the Seal. These people work closely with the Anactaci to catalogue all goods going into a house of eternity. Their records are extensive and meticulously kept, dating back over a millennium. These are not open to the public, but individuals may petition for access. Additionally, the Guardians may be entreated to recover gravegoods. Working with the priesthood, they are able to do so respectfully. The bravest and most skilled of them may even enter the oldest houses of eternity where the kheprer keep their eternal vigil. (It is a rumored they share an alliance with the Nra Myetme, although this has not been substantiated.)

CHILDREN OF ERUTI.

Meket's prosperity has made them the target of conquest, failed and successful, many times over the centuries. Thus they were the first in Zakhara to maintain a standing army and navy. The Children of Eruti are an order of Meket's most skilled merchant captains, recognized by the Monarch. They are adept at navigating the most dangerous waters, whether the threat be piracy or weather or monsters from the deep. At times when Meket's navy is lean, they are called upon to act as privateers. Normally a lauded order, their reputation has become somewhat muddy of late. Meket's recent alliance with the Isle of Gardens has seen some pirate captains issued pardons and inducted.

Their name comes from a creation myth. It is said that there was a great snake, Eruti, who the One Above set to guard the border of Heaven. The many stars are said to be Eruti's eggs, as yet unhatched. Then Eruti became voracious and began to devour all in her path. When she tried to devour Toril, the One Above struck her down. Her body fell to Zakhara where it forms the Eruti River. Her eggs, the stars, are arranged into constellations depicting great legends that they may forever prevent her from repeating past transgressions. Now she guards the land of Meket and the boundaries between life and death. All souls sail down her lengths to the Great Sea from where they may enter Heaven. The unworthy will have their souls devoured by the great snake or else sail forever, lost on her undulating scales. Thus the Children of Eruti are so named for their ability to navigate the waters, as if favored by the snake herself, and their role in guarding the safety and sovereignty of Meket's waterways.

SERPENT'S FANGS.

The Serpent's Fangs are Meket's most elite soldiers. They are the Monarch's bodyguards, the protectors of the borders, and among the fiercest fighters in Zakhara. They say one Fang is worth thirty fighters. Their name was not given by Meketi, however, but by their enemies. They liken these ferociously effective soldiers to snakes hiding beneath the sands who kill a man with a bite before he has noticed them. They embrace the moniker readily. If they are the fangs of the snake, then that snake is Eruti, whose blood waters Meket's soil. They have sent many souls to her waters.

It is the dream of every Meketi child to join their heroic ranks, but few succeed. Their training is brutal, and has claimed the life of many an aspirant. They specialize in the bow and mounted combat. They are trained to be capable with a variety of weapons, however, and are drilled in tactics and strategy. This facet of their education is rigorous, but it is not the most grueling. What truly culls the ranks is survival training. They are taught to thrive in the harshest environments with the barest resources. They must navigate, hunt, forage, improvise tools, in groups and alone — whatever will enable them to accomplish their objective. There is no shame in failing the training, for it is enough of an accomplishment to have lived. Those who do not make it are still more effective than most soldiers and may try again if they reprove themselves.

THE MONARCH'S VEIL.

Details regarding the Monarch's Veil are even more scarce than those regarding the Nra Myetme. Indeed, even the Nra Myetme take them for ghost stories. It is said Monarch Khemiftreby founded them to spy on and assassinate their enemies. They have thus been passed down from monarch to monarch, always serving the interests of the throne. They say a goat can't fart in the desert without the Monarch's Veil fluttering, and one whose life has been marked is already in Eruti's coils. Most likely these are fanciful tales. Still, they persist.

#META / HC: WORLDBUILDING. #RE: MEKET. #RE: ANACTACI. #RE: SOSHIST CHURCH.

[blue-opossum]

How WATER Reveals Sleep Dynamics and Levels of Wakefulness 1

        How WATER Reveals Sleep Dynamics and Levels of Wakefulness 1

        Thursday afternoon, 28 September 2023

        For over 50 years, water has remained my most reliable signifier of specific physiological responses to sleep and, when awake, my level of sleepiness in contrast to wakefulness. Attributes of water, including images, sounds, and sensations, have occurred several times throughout every sleep cycle since childhood. The following list is incomplete but includes some of my most fundamental signifiers in no particular order.

        The pothole trope (which sometimes morphs into a rock pool when anticipating entry into deeper sleep, based on how much real-world physical activity I had engaged in that day and how physically relaxed I had become by this point): Occurring every sleep cycle all my life, this marks an otherwise undefined transition into post-hypnagogic sleep, where the first staging is always the "loss of leg mobility" event. The contrast is that when the illusion of my foot (or feet) slipping forward while walking and falling backward as if kicking an unseen ball (or kicking and missing) and rapidly waking with leg myoclonus, I do not perceive it as stepping into a pothole (though which would otherwise impede or halt viable mobility in a real-world scenario regarding both legs and moving vehicles).

        Water lowering over time: This common dreaming trope usually only occurs during the outcome of my last dream of a sleep cycle and signifies my intuitively cast anticipation of leaving my sleep cycle. I became aware of the causality of this waking trope at age 5.

        Parallelism: Water lowering after a flood and seeing a statue "coming to life": A parallelism is when two intuitive sleep cycle responses simultaneously occur. Water lowering and a statue moving or "coming to life" mean the same thing - simply that I am exiting my sleep cycle to attain real-world mobility. Parallelisms are more likely to occur during a lengthier dream state engagement with precursory liminality (when I am more aware of sustained sleep cycle dynamics between dreaming and waking and thus spontaneously cast more than one signifier to initiate protoconsciousness or “come to my senses”).

        Someone sleeping underwater, typically a girl (including Naiads): This regularly occurring trope holds residual associations with the Naiad factor - water as my usual induction into sleep and my absence of real-world emotions (the sound of water used as such to “cure insomnia”, decrease emotions, or induce sleep on virtually countless commercial recordings) including (expectation of) eventual slow-wave sleep (or so-called “deep” or “dreamless” sleep). It simply means I am asleep in the dream state. My level of whatever concern I might have about this event depends solely on my depth of sleep and its corresponding mentation. For example, wariness or concern about a person sleeping underwater would be more present when I am further away from consciousness or protoconsciousness.

        Waterfall: Waterfalls feature when I am intuitively aware of imaginary kinesthesia or its possibility (not necessarily with myoclonus, the illusion of falling, or a "sleep start"), which is the false sensation of movement caused by vestibular ambiguity because of natural REM atonia dynamics, a predominant causality factor of dream content.

        Being suspended near the top of a waterfall reveals specific dynamics of REM atonia. (I learned this in 1972.) "An unfamiliar and unknown man remains, horizontally oriented (matching my sleeping position), from within a waterfall, protruding outward from above the waist." This scene signified that, although REM atonia was still a factor in my leg immobility, I had some potential or precursory mobility above my waist in anticipation of being closer to consciousness. Ultimately, this would correspond with a physiological induction of arm mobility. In the second half of my sleep cycle, it most often comes before leg mobility (while loss of leg mobility, followed by loss of arm mobility, occurs in the first half of my sleep cycle).

        The Dam: At age 12, I wanted to learn how seeing the same images all day while repeatedly reading the same text affected dreaming. I read the same "Little Dot" comic book from that morning until I went to sleep, trying to ignore my real-world environment as much as possible. In the middle of the night, I saw a vivid scene in the form of a comic book panel (unrelated to any of the comic book's stories and without any text) of Little Dot and Little Lotta standing together in a rural area while looking at a dam with vague concern. The colorful drawing implied a small amount of water trickling over the top of the dam. I realize this signified my lack of more restful sleep, with "overactive" proto-cognizance (while sleeping) from reading all day (and my level of residual boredom). The dam indicated the "blocking" of water-based sleep dynamics around the middle of my sleep cycle. Dams, being a type of wall, are a virtual barrier between changes in sleep cycle dynamics and otherwise occasionally develop from my intuitive navigation of predictable and self-evident REM sleep (and REM atonia) responses.

        I will elaborate on more specific types of my sleep cycle responses with the water signifier on future pages, revealing details that measure sleep dynamics to a higher (and more traceable or self-evident) level.

#dream journal #meaning of dreams #dreaming #my dreams

[realestateppc]

Easy Ways to Improve Real Estate PPC Ads in 2023 - 7Search PPC

Strategies for Generating Real Estate Leads

1. Expand Your Circle of Influence

7Search PPC is one of the greatest real estate advertising networks on the market today. It is an efficient method of increasing revenue for your real estate company.

Your network of friends and associates is referred to as your sphere of influence (SOI). real estate agent ads They could be friends, previous coworkers, classmates, colleagues in related fields, suppliers, and so on - essentially anyone with whom you have built a trustworthy relationship. You will be one step closer to a transaction if they realize you can help them overcome any initial reservations they may have about purchasing or selling a home.

Your prior client sphere of influence (PCSO), or the folks you've previously assisted in buying or selling a home, is very valuable. While homeownership lasts an average of 13 years, there are numerous markets where people frequently relocate considerably sooner. After five or six years, some might even be prepared And you'll want to make sure you're the first person on their list to assist them if that happens.

2. Go to networking occasions

Have a narrow SOI? The greatest method to start growing your pool of prospective high-quality leads is to put yourself out there and start networking, regardless of whether you're just starting your real estate ad business or seeking to break into a new area. 

Once you start looking for them, networking events are spread out all over. A wonderful way to start meeting local residents in the neighborhood is, for instance, your local chamber of commerce. Keep an eye out for any group gatherings, speeches, or social activities they may be organizing. Additionally, if a convention center is nearby and frequently conducts business events, this could be a wonderful way to meet new people. Alternatively, if you have children in school, remember to bring some business cards the next time you attend a PTA meeting. cards. Who you might encounter is always a mystery.

3.Organise open houses

Open houses have long been a mainstay of generating real estate magazine ads leads. They are an excellent, low-effort technique to draw potential customers from all over. Naturally, this does not imply that they are simple. For instance, converting a visitor into an active lead can be one of the largest challenges. Although you could print some helpful pamphlets and hope they get in touch with you, or even urge them to sign up, there might still be too much friction involved.

Instead, experiment with adding a digital component to this conventional analogue strategy. With the help of the Sierra Open House Form, you can quickly gather and register all of your leads at once. 

Open houses should be held to draw prospective purchasers and gather their contact information. Simply hand them a phone or tablet and ask them to enter their information. They will be added to your account as a lead after they click submit. 

Luxury real estate ads are even better, by appending a keyword to the end of a URL, you can quickly convert any property listing page into an Open House Form. For instance, "/openhouse" will generate a form that you can use to register all lead kinds with a single link, while "/buyer-open house" will generate a form that is exclusive to buyers.

4. Create a website for IDX lead generation

Real estate IDX (Internet Data Exchange) websites are now an excellent way to advertise properties. They not only provide individuals with a thorough and current resource for looking at properties, but also with the option to conduct independent research—which is now preferred by nearly half of today's buyers. They are therefore good sources of high-quality leads.

You'll need to do more than simply add a lead generation form to your IDX website if you want to convert visitors there. By specifically adjusting the way you present a lead capture form, Sierra allows you to go considerably more granular. It could be a good idea to allow users to access the listing after logging in if they are arriving via a PPC advertisement, for instance. In the end, they probably have more of a motivation because they clicked on an advertisement.

You could choose from a number of different alternatives if visitors came to the site directly, real estate agent advertising examples such as needing registration in order for them to view any non-featured listings or simply displaying a registration form if they looked at numerous listings, among others. This kind of strategy may be a far more effective way to raise the quantity of leads your IDX website generates.

5.Send direct mail campaigns

While some real estate professionals might consider direct mail campaigns to be overly conventional or outdated, this lead generation tactic has persisted because it is effective. The return on investment (ROI) of direct mailers can be as high as 29% when sent to the correct leads at the right time. Additionally, they can be a terrific method to connect with customers and sellers you might not otherwise be able to. Additionally, direct mailers can be a powerful tool for building trust with a little imagination. For example, real estate ads on Facebook may promote local businesses by providing tenants or new neighbors lists of suggested plumbers, electricians, contractors, and other handyman services rather than merely sending out a postcard or brochure with your listings they could discover useful.

Make it a magnet that they can use to attach to their refrigerator so that they can view your face every day. There isn't much more effective marketing than that.

#real estate ads #real estate ppc #real estate facebook ads

[danajeep19]

Helpful Suggestions In Marketing Your Real Estate Property

Marketing real estate property is definitely an extremely complex approach. Moving the treacherous waters of pricing, inspections and legitimate deals is actually difficult for that newbie. The advice presented in this article, although, can offer support so you can make these selections with full confidence and reduce any misunderstandings you could have about what is happening. Consider the sales price and select it carefully when marketing your property. Should you set up the price too much, it would switch off numerous customers. You can not undo this harm once it has been carried out. All those customers will always understand what you actually asked and they will look at it as being a weakness. When you're able to sell your residence, decide on a real estate agent who will give you a lesser estimation. It could seem like a blow for the gut, but that's almost certainly even closer to a realistic transaction selling price. Naturally, you may nevertheless start off high, but this way you'll a minimum of know what you should expect! Understanding a lttle bit in regards to the options that come with a property might help know how very much to sell or provide to get a house for. Things like pools, two-auto garages, individual vehicle detached garages or linked garages can create a big difference in the value of your home. They may possibly raise or reduce the price of the home dependant upon the location where the property is. Once you promote real estate property by means of the web, it is important that you continue to be in addition to the newest instruments and techniques in the world wide web. Should you not comprehend the ever-altering framework of the world wide web, then your internet site will fall behind and you will definitely get rid of 1000s of clients in the end. To generate money turning real estate you have to get reliable properties that want cosmetic maintenance. While not having to make investments a lot of money into significant system repairs, you may get much more value for your money by updating and freshening a home's plastic look to make it attract clients who do not possess the self-confidence to perform those kind of repairs. If you need to promote your house rapidly, list a value twenty percentage underneath the comparable houses for your personal place. A prospective purchaser will be curious about the less value, which will inspire her or him to look at the home. When exhibiting your home, it is recommended to get rid of your personal touches before anyone opinions your home. Potential customers will not wish to see a great deal of family photos and children's art almost everywhere. The aim of looking at a house is very the consumer can envision on their own in your house. It will make it difficult to do when you have somebody else's loved ones staring at you. Painting fairly neutral colours so they can snapshot them selves in the home. Make biscuits and light-weight candle lights. Not only will this make your residence odor great, nevertheless, you will offer the cupcakes to potential customers. A cozy and peaceful atmosphere will appeal to customers. They will sense that men and women enjoy located in this house, and discover they would love it way too, and decide to buy. As has in the past been mentioned, it is not necessarily easy to sell a house, specifically in a repressed economic industry. Due to this, you ought to take the time to educate yourself from the promoting process. The previous assistance was compiled to assist you from the selling of your residence, stress-cost-free. blog url

[onepartbrave]

TRANSIT :  for one muse to sit next to the other on a public transport. -burntchild (hello!)

a comprehensive list of scenarios for @burntchild

Often to remain inconspicuous to the outside world and its reaction to his newfound ‘popularity’, Squall travelled using whatever public transport options were available to his destination. Frequently if using a Garden owned vehicle or the alike, he was noticed quickly (annoying) and hounded by outside influences that he held no authority over in telling to get lost (even more so annoying). With the growing expanse of alternates available of buses, trains or boats, it was simple. Simpler was blending into the background when wearing plain, boring civilian clothes instead of his usual ‘darker than black’ attire, jacket missing and all. To his dismay naturally, but it was the lesser evil of equalling privacy. To complete the ‘Everyday Joe’ outfit, some form of hat on his head concealed the tell-tale scar of his forehead from view. 

Again… the appearance was necessary and for his benefit (but it didn’t mean he liked it).

His choice today was using the train. Private compartments were available but stepping out from those drew unwanted attention, so he was in the backrow of the last civilian ‘economy class’ module instead. Along the narrow walkways, two seats occupied each side. He, being the wonderfully social person he was, occupied the very end row by the emergency exit and the seat closest to the window so he had something to idly stare out of. A single bag he packed took up half the space on the overhead rack and he personally was a million miles away. Gazing out at the briskly passing scenery, his chin rested upon an upturned palm, elbow on the arm rest and only the muffled rumble of the train skirting along the tracks was heard from his location. All other people present were at the front of the cart since it was closest to getting off at the next station. 

Unfortunately for him, his station was a little further away than most. Fortunately… everyone ignored him sitting back there, ergo, a peaceful trip ensued. …Well, until the next station that was. 

Eyes closing as the train pulled to a slow halt, Squall passed the brief switchover by contemplating a short nap. Gradually, his head sunk closer to now be resting lightly on the window while supported still by his arm and the idea felt more enticing as a heaviness overtook his unusually quiet mind. Background noises indicated people leaving the carriage and, after a fleeting spell of silence, a final whoosh of the compartment entry door issued. Absently he pondered the concept of being alone and able to accept the catnap, but booted footsteps informed him he was not alone.

Of course. Tch. 

Like before, he ignored the other occupant, not bothering to steal a glance at the who or what. Seemingly bored was the pace of the unknown person, seeking out the best seat likely. After an almost stumble (or what sounded like it), they paused abruptly. More silence, although a little less peaceful. He was almost tempted to glance at what the stranger was doing but really… he couldn’t care that much. Not enough to open tired eyes. To follow that thought as though to contradict his not-worried mind, the footsteps started up again, this time with purpose. Quickly deducing that they were not stopping before his row or slowing, Squall hadn’t the chance to sneak a peek before someone plonked their rear boldly into the empty seat directly next to him. 

…Are you kidding me. Of all the available seats, they chose the only one Squall privately dissuaded people from taking. …Should’ve left my bag there. 

Irritation blossoming rapidly, Squall noted sourly he had to interact with the unfamiliar cretin that rained heavily on his solitude parade. One quick, withering glare of the coldest manner commonly fixed what was ailing him when it came to people, so that was his weapon of choice. Grudgingly opening his eyes and lifting his head away from the now gently vibrating window—the locomotive was on the move—he tilted his head enough for a sidelong glare of chilling doom to settle on the impudent one beside him from beneath the shield of his hat.

Normally, the irksome grin he spotted on an entitled ass’s face would result in a nonchalantly brutal insult to source from him… but the sheer surprise at witnessing who the grin belonged to was astounding. Momentarily stunned from such levels, Squall’s acrimony melted away for shocked bewilderment and the contempt died on his tongue.

Of all people and places, he hadn’t expected to meet Seifer here. 

Confusion was soon replaced with suspicion. The sheer level of coincidence they both boarded the same train going the same direction in the same carriage was… unlikely, he guessed. Not impossible as they derived from the same origin despite treading different paths prior, but unlikely all the same. Just as it was unlikely Seifer was staking him out and engaging in some form of premeditated attack… he wasn’t that paranoid and was armed despite being without his gunblade. Old habits and all that. 

No. What pissed him off the most was… “…All those empty seats and you sat there?” The volume of vexed exasperation in his tone was high. Squall’s eyes narrowed as the arm he wasn’t leaning on lifted to wave idly to the rest of the vacant cart. “Like, really?” 

The ‘go away please’ was implied in both posture and expression.

#burntchild #hey there! :D #please enjoy instant gremlin squall #it's a personality hazard m'fraid

[sinningbutsoft]

Happy belated New Year folks. Saw folks making their top songs of the decade and thought I’d give it a shot cause I’m bored but also curious to see my own list. I’m not making this as a “top” list as I’m sure if I did it would be filled w/ common songs, but this is more of a “I have such a soft spot in my heart for this song” type of list, if that makes sense. To be honest there’s no format in terms of limits to how many spots for each year, as I include multiple songs in one spot and even include a mini album at one point cause what even are rules? I did bold a few that I think might have been missed due to them either being from artists not as well known, or for those that aren’t that well known outside of Korea, so there’s that.

Time to show how much of a fandom old I am!

2010

I Go Crazy Because of You by T-ARA

Lucifer by SHINee

M.E.P by BoA

I Can’t by 2PM

Wake Up by SNSD

Shake it Up! by Super Junior

Mr. Boogie by f(x)

2011

the entire “Fever’s End: Part 1 “ by Tablo

Opera by Super Junior

꼭두각시 by Sunny Hill

Mach, A, and To Me by Rainbow

Can U Smile by Infinite

Trick by SNSD

Lie (Korean ver) by CNBLUE

Hands Up, Tonight, and Somebody to Love by Big Bang

Fiction by Beast

Shampoo by After School

the near entirety of SNSD’s first Japanese album

2012

베짱이 찬가 by Sunny Hill

Lips by Miss A

the near entirety of the “Slip Away” album, but especially 그리고, 남겨진 것들 by Nell

Not Over U by BoA

Blue and Bad Boy by Big Bang

Midnight Sun by Beast

Flashback by After School

I’ll Be There by SPICA

2013

Tonight by SPICA

No.9 by T-ARA

어둠 속을 밝혀줘 by VIXX

Don’t Touch by Rainbow

Wild and Action by Nine Muses

My Lady by EXO

the entirety of the “Pink Tape” album by f(x)

the near entirety of the “Blessed” album by Clazziquai Project

A.D.T.O.Y. by 2PM

2014

Gentleman by Mamamoo ft eSNA

Domino Game by Kiss&Cry

Pretty Pretty by Ladies Code

U by John Park

Wait a Minute by SNSD

Fxxk U by GaIn ft Bumkey

One More by Fiestar

the entirety of the “Red Light” album by f(x)

the entirety of the “Blink” album by Clazziquai Project

또 싸워 by Epik High ft Younha

the entirety of the “Play” album by AKMU but also 시간과 낙엽

Ain’t Nobody by HA:TFELT

2015

Stress by Taeyeon

the entirety of the “Frank” album by Baek Yerin

Calling in Love by Suran ft Beenzino

Love Belt by Jonghyun ft Younha

Hurt Locker by Nine Muses

the near entirety of “The Red” album by Red Velvet

느낌이 좋아 by HALO

Rude Love by f(x)

What If by EXO

너 같은 and Joker by Dal Shabet

Domino by CNBLUE ft Wheein

Butterfly by BTS

Ah Yeah by EXID

Diphylleia grayi by Jonghyun

2016

Drip Drop and Press Your Number by Taemin

11:11 by Taeyeon

I Don’t Love You by Urban Zakapa (cover by Sojung of Ladies Code version)

the entirety of the “Flower” mini album by Subin (or is it DalSooobin now?)

Bye bye my blue by Baek Yerin

Fantasy, Dynamite, and The Closer by VIXX

Emotion by Mamamoo

All Mine by f(x)

Tell Me What To Do by SHINee

the entirety of the “I am Sam” album by Sam Kim

One Step Two Step by Oh My Girl

any song featuring Hoody on the “Everything You Wanted” album by Jay Park

Summer Night (Remix) by Gray ft Hoody

Hold On by IOI

Ohio by hyukoh

By Your Side by Hoody ft Jinbo

the entirety of “The Day” album by Day6

the near entirety of the “Red Planet” album by BBOL4

First Love by BTS

Re-bye by AKMU

지독하게 by 4ten

Suit Up by Jonghyun

2017

the entirety of the “Circle Dreams” album by Subin/DalSooobin

Walking by Suran

1 of 1 by SHINee

Love Don’t Hurt by Shannon ft Amber

Like This by Pentagon

the near entirety of the “Rookie” album by Red Velvet

A Girl Like Me by gugudan

the near entirety of the “23″ album by hyukoh (especially Tomboy)

the near entirety of the “Everyday #5″ album by Girl’s Day

Wake up by Dreamcatcher

Excuse Me by AOA

Reminiscing by Ailee

the near entirety of the “Moonrise” and “Sunrise” albums from Day6

Ending Scene by IU

One Last Time by SNSD

the entirety of the “Eclipse” album by EXID

I Wander and Read Me by HA:TFELT

the entirety of the “My Voice” album by Taeyeon

Move by Taemin

~42 by Primary ft eSNA and Sam Kim

ONLY 너, FFW, and 24/7 by Twice

얼굴 찌푸리지 말아요 by Highlight

Loonatic (English Ver( by Loona Odd Eye Circle

2018

the entirety of the “Void” mini album by The Rose

Sunset by Twice

the near entirety of “The Story of Light Epilogue” album by SHINee

Not That Type by gugudan

Lucky One and Artificial Love by EXO

Mayday, What, and Full Moon by Dreamcatcher

U&I and Recollection by BoA

숨 by cacophony

the entirety of the “Poet|Artist” album by Jonghyun

Fermata by SNSD Oh!GG

Circus and Something New by Taeyeon

Trivia : Seesaw by BTS

hello myself by Choi Yegeun

Look by Red Velvet

the entirety of the “Warning” album by Sunmi

DKDK and Love Bomb by fromis_9

Girl Front and Sweet Crazy Love by Loona Odd Eye Circle

Memoria (Japanese ver) by Gfriend

예쁜 게 죄 by April

2019

Better Babe, Wine, and Blue by Taeyeon

4x4ever and 25 by Mamamoo

%% by Apink

Silent Night by Dreamcatcher

Flower by N.Flying

Boy with a star by Hyuk

No Different by Epik High ft Yuna

SOSO by Winner

Blueming by IU

Want by Taemin

Tika-Taka and Picky Picky by Weki Meki

Hush by Everglow

Face by Kim Woosung

Run by Grizzly ft Chungha

the near entirety of “The Book of Us: Entropy” album by Day6

Superhuman by NCT 127

어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어, 널 사랑하는 거지 by AKMU

Get Loud, Trick It, and Love Foolish by Twice

I Wanna Be, One of those Nights, Forever Yours, Chemicals, Easy to Love, and I Will Fight by Key

Fever by Gfriend

Noir by Sunmi

Katchup by Dalsooobin

#me #kpop #honestly making this list was kinda fun #and kinda telling #clearly i was a bigger SM stan in my start #more boygroups than I thought too tbh #also the songs of the earlier years did not age well lol #wayyyy to much electronic sounds for my taste now #although it's only natural that there's more on the list the closer to the present it gets #as it's a wee bit fresher in the memory #still fun though #i'm prob gonna remember shit to add to this later but whatever #this list is already chaotic as is

[cyraspace01]

Debunking Certain Myths About Plurality

Edit: We'd like to thank @altercourses for correcting some of our misinformation and providing sources, and since then have corrected some things, we are very sorry for the misinformation.

1. Every system has a headspace/innerworld

Nope! Actually, it's quite normal not to. When you find a professional who specializes in helping patients with DID & OSDD function, they actually have practices for creating or finding your headspace. This can be done with a professional, or by yourself with caution. And also, headspaces and innerworlds aren't special to those who are plural, anyone can have one. It's just more common for us so our headmates have places they can go when they aren't fronting.

2. Every system is medically recognized as overt or covert

Yes...But no. Overt and covert labels can be very harmful actually, and aren't use by professionals, they were mostly picked up by the community. That isn't to say they are wrong or bad, but medical professionals do not see a system to be overt or covert, very obvious, or not obvious, it's not that simple to them.

But these labels have been seen to be helpful or interesting by the community, and in that, there is no harm.

3. OSDD-1B and OSDD-1A are medical labels

Actually...No. OSDD-1B and OSDD-1A are not medical labels or terms, in fact, these two aren't even in the DSM, they were later named and found by the OSDD community to differentiate different ways of osdd presenting. As you know, OSDD means Other Specified Dissociative Disorder, otherwise known as a dissociative disorder that may not catch all the symptoms of DID but is pretty close. It is a catch-all. Although the DSM does not ever state OSDD-1A or OSDD-1B, the DSM does give 4 examples of what OSDD can look like. Two of the 4 are what have been named.

So, no, it is not necessary to think or say you have OSDD-1B or 1A, If these labels and distinctions make you feel comfortable go ahead, but others should know, these really aren't important to anyone but the OSDD haver themselves.

The DSM itself.

4. DID & what counts as amnesia

You do not need to have full blackouts like media says to qualify for DID, these things actually aren't as common as they may sound amongst DID havers. Here's a great video about what dissociative amnesia can look like if you think you experience it.

Edit; I had quite the misinformation here, there has been a wonderful reblog you can find on my blog made my @/altercourses please go read it they corrected and made some very important points I would not like to copy and discredit to them!

5. Only certain traumas can result in having DID/OSDD (sexual abuse, physical)

Well...No. That isn't true and the DSM does not inherently ever state that those are the only way an unstable sense of self with parts can exist. The only thing it ever states is if it is long-term childhood abuse, that could cause this disorder to happen. Long-term abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, can come from natural disasters, troubles at birth, etc.

6. You can't be aware of being a system on your own

Ah...You see, making this claim doesn't really make sense to me. That's like saying people with psychosis can't be aware that they are experiencing a delusion, or people who feel depressed for a long amount of time cannot recognize that they have chronic depression. While the popular claim of people do not realize that they might have DID or OSDD until they are well into adulthood or in their 30s is not false, It's fairly common and normal to suspect yourself of having a disorder even if others don't suspect it first, you know yourself better before anyone else does, and just because DID/OSDD is supposed to be hidden from everyone not just including but especially for the host, it's very possible.

7. You always know who's fronting or who you are

Perhaps this is true in some people, that's totally cool! But it's normal and perfectly fine to be blurry or not be able to put names or labels to yourself sometimes. It doesn't need to be this way, let's erase the stigma of this. The Rings System has some great videos on this.

8. Fusion and integration are the same

We must look at what integration and fusion actually mean. Integration means bringing down the dissociative barriers and things that separate the system, making it easier to work together and bring everyone closer together, but this has nothing to do with becoming one! Just improving communication and functioning together. It can sometimes even seem like you are on the same wavelength, which is good.

This often gets mistaken with fusion. A lot of people with plurality say they do not want to integrate, because they mistake integration for fusion! Fusion is actually what you're thinking of. Fusion is the practice of bringing all parts and fragments together to make the failed self at childhood, a whole one person.

While some systems find that fusion, or just merging some parts together is their goal, other systems work towards integration and communication instead, and the professional you're working with should have a positive mindset on both if you work with one.

It's very normal for systems to want to be more distinct or work on themselves separately, or work on getting along as a collective instead of wanting to be one.

9. Endogenic systems are an excuse for hardcore, or no double, "kinnies"

System ≠ kinning. We are not the same, of course, you can be both, but being a system is different. No system I have ever met has not been alright with seeing someone similar to them, or the fictives I know have no issue with seeing another fictive of their source, and if they do, they usually handle it respectively. You are talking about a specific person or a very small amount of people here, and I promise you all plural people don't operate that way, although I do not doubt that it does look like a fine line to the average person.

Also, kinnie can be very offensive to otherkin and therian people, please, let us not use this term regarding those people, or systems.

I tried to list sources for some of my most important claims, but if you want sources for other things, or you believe something is wrong, do not be afraid to correct us on it or send us an ask!

As always,

The (White) Sakura System 🌸

#sakurasys #actuallymultiple #actuallyosdd #actuallyplural #actuallydid #did #did system #endo system #endogenic safe space #osdd 1b #osdd 1a #pluralgang #plural information #did information #myths #osdd system #osdd

[alluringjae]

until dawn - ljn

part I | part II

⤑ summary: basic number one rule of the museum is not to touch the art. but no one told jeno that falling for one of them isn’t allowed either.

⤑ pairing: jeno x female reader

⤑ word count: 14k

⤑ genre: fluff, humor, angst | broke architecture major!jeno, historical figure!reader, college!au

⤑ warnings: jaemin mentions onlyfans as a joke, references to actual historical figures (some try to flirt with jeno lol) and literature, explicit language

⤑ author’s note: wow, i’ve had this idea for almost two years! this one was inspired by one of my favorite childhood movies, night at the museum. it definitely required a lot of research and brainstorming, and finally i brought it to life! it was so fun to play around with the characters, and even if majority of them are real people, this is all still fiction.

i also wanna mention one of my moots, marge for enlightening me about her life as an architecture major.

⤑ taglist: @renjunniehome​ (dm me if you want to be added) 

⤑ leave me some feedback, constructive criticism or hellos!

Dormitory rent was another thing to worry about aside from the inflated university tuition per semester. Although he’s lucky to have his parents backing him up already on it, paying the monthly rent for his dorm was the remaining objective on Jeno’s list.

Plus, money for food. The man was a heavy eater, following the whole “gym is life” mantra.

Splitting it already with two of his dorm mates turned best friends, Renjun and Jaemin, his plate felt lighter. But the question still lies: where on earth was he going to get the money?

He’s practically checked out every available part-timing job in university and anywhere near campus. Barista at the same café Jaemin works at, teaching assistant for an art school for kids, convenience store cashier, library assistant, all taken in a heartbeat. The burden of his friends paying his debt these past months took a toll on him, almost to the point he almost considered making an Onlyfans.

“Yah, just find something else! Part-timers are in demand right now!” Renjun intensely closed his laptop before his older friend gets any suggestive thoughts.

“I mean, you didn’t work out your body to look the way it is for nothing.” Jaemin pitched otherwise, lifting the front back up. “When do you want to start filming? Loads of chicks would dig a piece of you!”

The contradicting opinions of his friends were like the devil and angel debating on his shoulders. Useless, he gave this worry a rest and returned to drawing new plates. A common thing when you’re an architecture major. Those deadlines were nearing. Looks like he’ll pull another all-nighter again.

Good thing most of his classes were late in the morning until 6 pm.

As if someone from above heard his petition, Jeno saw a help wanted sign posted on the bulletin board outside of the university museum. He initially went there to document some artwork and architecture models from Greek and Roman times, further analyzing how they’re still apparent in modern buildings.

The sign explained the need for one part-timer from any college to cover the night shift of the museum due to the current night guard’s full semester absence. He only had to come in 3x a week, choosing his days since he was still a student. Even the pay was above average, considering that most part-timers never go beyond midnight. Jeno would, on the other hand, always staying for his projects or gaming with the boys. Drinking sometimes during late-night Fridays with his entire college crew.

The pay would leave him a load of extra cash for himself, thus he sent an application to the museum office right before he left. A week later, while he was out with the boys, he got a text from the office that they wanted to meet him again for a final interview first thing on Monday.

Perhaps it was having architecture as his course and a healthy physique that landed him the part-timer position. Mainly, the latter because guards required strong endurance and fighting skills when worse comes to worst. It would start at 9 pm until 6 am the following day, and there was a designated uniform of it too. Blue blazer with matching trousers, white dress top, and loafers.

Aside from the typical museum etiquette the head director instructed him about, there was an unofficial list of tips written on paper given from the night guard on leave when the director handed you over his box of office-related things.

Only read at the night guard office once you’re the remaining staff left.

He did as he was told like an obedient son, flipping the succeeding page.

 To my temporary replacement,

This part-timing job is nothing regular than the other jobs. You’ll witness things as you’ve never imagined them to be, almost like witchcraft. You’ll be lost and maybe frightened, or that’s how I felt the first time because no one led me through it all those years ago. Lucky for you, I made this small guide on how to properly take care of the place that the other staff doesn’t know about.

Before you proceed, I request you take a 5-minute stroll around the lobby first to understand what I’m talking about. After such, go back to the office or somewhere quiet then browse through the guide as quickly as you could.

Art is timeless here, so they need to be taken care of.

Good luck!

 Park Sanghoon

Night Guard on Leave

 Nothing could’ve prepared Jeno for what’s to come once he unlocked the office door. They say that art brings so much color to our life, allowing us to feel all sorts of emotions in a glimpse. But no one ever interpreted art to be literally alive and walking in the halls.

Behold, random wax figures and marble sculptures that he’s seen in the past roamed the hallways, as well as the paintings were interacting with each other side by side. Even the standee of a puppy from the entrance played fetch with one of those sculptures. He swore he looked like Hermes the messenger god from his arrow headpiece and sandals.

It made more sense why the guard on leave explained his feelings during the first day because it resembled Jeno’s. But unlike that guard, Jeno sucked it up. No one ever does well on the first day, even if others say otherwise. The first day was a learning experience, so he collected his thoughts even though the goosebumps triggered his body during that one rotation.

There was an indoor garden, already locked by the day guard earlier. The only room without any art piece, where students lounge to study the plants or relax in nature.

The sculptures section ahead, showcasing various fictional figures specifically from Greek mythology, chattered away about family drama and beliefs. The sculptures of Hades and Zeus, according to their title plate, argued relentlessly about power while Athena always intervened by shouting or even throwing arrows or daggers to any of the lightbulbs there.

That was one rule in the guide, but Jeno didn’t know yet until he came inside the room and swerved the attention of the arguing duo.

“Well, what do we have here?” Zeus, in the center, straightened his posture on his throne to present himself in a more regal way. “Are you perhaps the temporary replacement of Sir Sanghoon?”

“Sir Sanghoon’s stand-in is rather good looking, don’t you think?” Hera mused, stepping down from her throne beside Zeus to take a closer look at the taller male. Her cold fingers trailed his jaw until his chest, where his heart was beating intensely. She even pinched his toned bicep, mouthing wow.

“Truly handsome you are, my dear. So full of life, please introduce yourself to us.”

While Jeno introduced himself to everyone in that room, he answered any sorts of questions they had for him too. From his age, educational background, hobbies, Aphrodite just had to ask him if he had a girlfriend because he was that handsome.

“Nope, I’m single. With my degree in architecture, the requirements are so heavy I can’t even try dating.”

Mentioning his degree excited the gods, telling him how their people created and designed all these temples to house them and perform rituals. They loved it so much. This was a copy-paste of what Jeno learned from his history classes, and for a first, he’s hearing the perspective of the Greek gods.

Mind-boggling that he hasn’t fully freaked out yet. That’s what Athena anticipated when Sanghoon told her about his short leave, putting her in charge of everyone for the meantime while the replacement settled down.

The college museum was built during the late 70s as a gift from one of the alumni. It was for the purpose to preserve history and educate college students outside the classroom. The Greek mythology exhibit was the oldest one, making Athena have more seniority. Over her stay, she’s seen every new guard lose their senses during the first night. Some not even returning for a second night. She got used to every outcome, and so far, only 8 people lasted after the first night. A couple of students in the 70s and 80s, Sanghoon in the 90s, and now Jeno was one of them.

“Jeno, aren’t you terrified by us? You just got a job in a museum that comes to life every night, and it’s not a normal thing.”

“Well, I’m still shaken up about it. But it’s my first night, and it’s when I learn everything about the place from head to toe. Plus, I really need the money.”

“Money for what? But you’re young, a student even!”

“Yes, I am. However, I do pay for the rent in my dorm. So, this job is like my first big responsibility, and I want to perform well.”

Athena commended his sense of authority, capable of leading himself. She noticed how well-spoken and poised he is, respecting and listening to everything the gods and goddesses said even if they were nonsense. She never liked to compromise with her power, taking a while to like Sanghoon back in the day. Though Jeno looked like a natural leader on his first night. If he could take care of himself well, he’s skilled to take care of the rest in the museum as well.

Plus she had full control on the nights he won’t be there, especially the weekend.

With his potential, Athena mentored him the entire night about the gist of the entire museum. Every upcoming leader needs an intelligent mentor, right? She was naturally gifted with worthy leadership skills, managing Jeno like her own child.

Athena explained how the museum came to life, which was through a royal golden plate from the Oriental room. It was a gift from a popular sorceress in China to an affluent family from the Han dynasty, who wished them a long life after she was saved from invaders due to them. The plate preserved over time, becoming an artifact. Its power remained immortal, mutating to bring life wherever it goes. In this case, the museum since its arrival in the late 70s as well.

“That’s why the Oriental room must be locked always so no one could touch or break the plate.”

After she ordered Jeno to lock the mentioned room, alongside the Foreign Art Exhibit Room which he checked out for his class, she led him to the best view of the entire museum. Center of the second floor, where stairs were on both sides. Jeno marveled at the vivacious atmosphere, witnessing actual art living, breathing, and enjoying themselves.

“Unreal, right?” She leaned in the railing, scanning through the chatty paintings.

Jeno also leaned down, deep in thought and wonder. “Absolutely, Athena. How come no one knows about this? Art coming to life? It’ll invite more students to the museum.”

“That goes against a golden rule as a night guard in this museum.” She replied bluntly. “The life that goes on inside this museum at night must remain a secret to the public.”

Jeno predicted this kind of response, having watched too many films where anything supernatural mustn’t be revealed. Although he liked the advantage of knowing something this powerful, he’d never abuse it.

Athena’s intellect was beyond the world, seamlessly reading Jeno’s expression and what he was thinking. He had good intentions even if he’s a bit mischievous. She needed to keep a keen eye on him, but for now, he needed to explore on his own.

“Anyways, Sanghoon still left out some other details. So if you have any questions, I’ll be at my exhibit trying to shut my father and my uncle up again.”

“Can you not use any weapons to do so?”

“Can’t make any promises, Jeno.” She slyly cracked her knuckles and neck as if she was fighting another battle.

Jeno was silently left with himself, finally browsing through Sanghoon’s guide while seated in one of the museum benches.

It consisted of 25 rules, wherein the first two rules consisted of locking up. One, for the doors and gates of the museum, so no art piece could escape. If they do, they will turn into dust when the sun is out according to Athena. Two, locking the Oriental and Foreign Art Rooms, which was already done.

Rule #5: Let Mochi the puppy from the lobby tag along with you; feed him treats if you have any.

On cue, the little guy barked from the corridor and raced to his side. Jeno carried him, babying him for a little and letting him lick his face a few times before putting him back down. He’s surely going to the pet store first thing in the morning with the museum allowance the director gave him.

Since he was on the second floor, he read and followed the rules that fit in before returning downstairs. On the other side of the floor were the wax figures exhibitions: one for prominent men in history while the other for prominent women. Well, more people to get acquainted with.

It’s the exchange of gasps and profanities he received when he chose the latter room. Seeing their faces, these were women he’s learned in school and online. Now in the (fake) flesh. Except for one girl he’s never heard of, unbothered in her corner sketching her life away in a sketchpad. But before he could check who she was, a suggestive touch on his arm distracted him.

“My, oh my, Hera wasn’t lying when she said that the new night guard was a fine specimen.” By her dark blue eyeshadow and eyeliner with the snake-like crown, Cleopatra studied him like he was one of the most renowned art pieces. Even patting his chest, abdomen, and arms with both her hand, Jeno caught a suggestive glint in her eyes and a smirk across her red lips.

Rule #13: Reject Cleopatra’s seductive advances at all costs.

“Goodness, Cleopatra. It’s only his first night, and you’re scaring him.” With her accent, round eyes, and a chic formal outfit, she carried a posh aura while unhesitatingly scolding the Queen of the Nile.

“Come on now, Diana. He’s stunning, who wouldn’t go after him?” If no one knew her, you’re not reading up on your world history. She’s said to have been a lovely and intelligent woman, gone so soon. Jeno definitely understood why after she detached Cleopatra’s raging hands off him.

Rule #14: Treat Princess Diana and Hera like your own parent.

“Your highness.” Jeno nodded at her out of respect, only making her chuckle uncontrollably.

“No need to address me like that, love. Now, come here.” She widened her arms for Jeno, hugging him amiably. He sensed her motherly warmth, accepting such a gesture. “You remind me so much of my youngest son, Harry. Welcome to the night shift of the museum, love.”

Similar to the Greek mythology exhibit, he introduced himself and responded to any questions that the women wax figures may have. Good for him, they weren’t crossing any borders and kept him at ease.

“A student like you working at night to pay rent?” Katherine Johnson, an African-American NASA mathematician whose calculations led to the success of a lot of famous spaceflights, cannot believe her ears. Students must only focus on school, nothing else. “What about your studies, boy?”

Rule #15: Engage in academic discussions with Katherine Johnson whenever you can.

“Most of my classes are in the afternoon, Miss Katherine. So I’ll sleep in the entire morning later and study during my breaks.”

“Mr. Jeno, what do you like to do outside of work?” Anne Frank, a German-Dutch teenager whose revolutionary diary that documented her life in hiding from the Nazis gained popularity worldwide after publication dreamily asked from her section of the exhibit. Her life was robbed of greatness merely because of her religion and war.

Rule #16: Bring delicious food or gifts to Anne Frank.

“Well, I like to bike with my friends, exercise, and draw whatever comes into mind!”

Everyone he’s met so far acquired pleasure in knowing about who he was and his passion for architecture, ridding the “freaking out” phase Athena assumed he had. Yet not everyone in this exhibit bothered to give him a shot.

Jeno’s attention from Anne talking about her crush towards Peter van Daan, a teenage boy who lived with her, switched to the section beside her, where an unacquainted figure was zealously sketching as if something was due to the following day. It reflected how he’d look when he’s cramming one of his plates due to first thing in the morning. While he properly excused himself, he quietly gazed at the way this woman scrunched her eyebrows when she erased something then drew it again. She was someone he’s never seen or heard before, reading the information plate in front of him about her.

 (Y/N) (Y/L/N), Explorer and Author. (1854-1900)

 Wealthy women in the Victorian Era only served one purpose in society: marry a man from a prestigious family, have his children and join whatever interests they have. However, for (Y/N), she wasn’t going to conform to those standards.

Born into the affluent house of (Y/L/N), she was the youngest of 8 children. She was said to be the kindest and sweetest sibling out of everyone, not capable of hurting anyone or anything. She said it herself that she can’t throw away a dying flower because it’s too painful. While 5 of her older brothers were sent to school, she stayed at home with her 2 older sisters Cecilia and Amelia where she learned how to play the piano and take voice lessons from impressive teachers. Due to the huge age gaps between them (12 and 8 respectively), she never felt close with them. She was only closest to the 6th and 7th siblings, her twin brothers Benjamin and Liam whom she only had a 2-year gap. She was also best friends with one of the scullery maids her age, Lily, because she found her amusing that than the boring rich girls her mother forced to interact with.

The moment it bothered her that she wanted to live a more meaningful life was when Amelia got married. She was 12 years old at the time, and it left her as the last unwed daughter in the family. Badly did she want to revolt, which she gradually did. Instead of practicing piano, she’d sneak in to read every book in her father’s office. She secretly studied the notes of her older brothers from school and even dressed as a boy numerously thanks to Benjamin and Liam to join their classes or field trips.

This was her routine up until the age of 18 when she stomped her foot down and expressed to her parents that she wasn’t going to let Victorian society dictate her. The night before her parents were bound to send her to her great aunt’s home down South to sort her out, she successfully snuck out her house thanks to Lily, Benjamin, and Liam. It’s another good thing that she saved a lot of money for that moment.

Off she went across Europe first, then sailed to America and even parts of Asia. Initially under the name Lilibe, coined from picking the first two letters of her brothers and best friend, she documented her days and nights through her journals and sketches. Over time, she sent them to her brothers for publication. It started the franchise, “The Adventures of the Young and Free Lilibe”. There are 10 books under it.

She learned French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean by herself as she made friends from those places. It was rare of someone like her to be fluent in Oriental languages, surprising locals every time she spoke to them. She was the only explorer to vividly describe life in different Asian lands in English, talking about their history and culture. With her accurate drawings of diverse citizens and their daily lives, it educated a lot of those living back home in Europe about them rather than speaking lowly of them.

In Seoul did she stayed the longest until her death from pneumonia at the young age of 46.

In her posthumous work, Finding Me, did she reveal her real identity, dedicating it to her parents whom she apologized and expressed her love for them despite everything that occurred between them. She talked about the last years of her life in Seoul, how locals were so nice and inviting to her, and how she adopted kids instead of having her own through the years.

“It’s not because I never found love in men. It’s more like I found love in doing things I’m passionate about. Traveling, learning new cultures, it outweighed the human need of romance.”

Due to her thrill in taking risks and embarking on wondrous adventures, it brought inspiration to a lot of young girls pressured to marry at that time to pursue what they really want.

 A remarkable background you had, Jeno contemplated. How come no one discussed her in his classes?

You kept brushing the bangs of your hair back as it fell repeatedly. But you got irritated instantly because it sabotaged your drive, you brought out a hairpin from her desk and attached it on both sides. But when you shifted your angle of focus, the corner of your eye locked with Jeno’s attentive gaze.

He didn’t flinch, even he should’ve. He wasn’t one to linger his look on anyone’s physical appearances, but your story and the passion on your face as you sketched mesmerized him. He was charmed, to say the least.

“Uhm, hello there?” You broke the silence due to your uneasiness about it. What’s his deal?

Jeno bowed, reintroducing himself to you. As soon as his presence settled in the room when Cleopatra attempted to hit on him, you could’ve cared less. Though this man was a first for you, a first in a long time as all guards would feel intimidated by you during the first night. Even your sharp tongue didn’t faze him. “Staring is rude, sir. Didn’t your mother teach you manners?”

“She did,” He wandered through the exterior of your section, by the fence that separated you and him. Not breaking eye contact, his eyes turned into moon crescents as he smirked with trouble. “Though she also told me to appreciate the art too.”

Snorts noisily exhaled from Cleopatra, who took the center section of the exhibit, succeeded by Princess Diana’s whispered gasps and Katherine’s side-eyeing Anne beside her while she taught her math. That was an odd way a guard conversed with you, but Jeno was merely doing what the rules stated. Partly, he was impressed with his cheesy pick-up line, partly embarrassed because he’s never spoken like this to anyone.

Rule #17: Act playfully around (Y/N) (Y/L/N) to break the tension; she’s a harsh one.

There was irony between the information he read about your life versus the wax model. Even when you faced sexism and ran away according to your history, never were you impolite to anyone in your life. You couldn’t even kill a lurking fly when it roams around your food! It showed Jeno a possibility that as much as you’re just a wax version of someone famous in the past, maybe the external environment around you had a heavy influence too.

“You fool!” His confidence exasperated you, urging you to persistently throw balls of paper with your failed sketches at him. No one dared to talk to you like that, most especially a night guard. “Take that for your comment!”

If you thought he’d scram away and act repentant, you were proven wrong. His reflexes were parallel to a spider, capturing every single paper ball without fail. Up and down his body went, one arm held on to them and no more were left on your part. Never a single defeat during the first meeting in years, but that seemed to alter now.

“Give up already, Ms. (Y/L/N)?” Jeno remarked vibrantly as he discarded your mess in the trash bin behind him. If he managed to get everyone to like him tonight, he wanted to make sure to have you onboard too.

Whatever agenda he had, you weren’t up for it. You’d treat him the same way you usually treated Sanghoon for the past 20 something years: cold and ignorant. From your stool, you left your comfortable position to come face to face with this man. He better be grateful for that barrier in between you, or else you would’ve caused mayhem.

“Never in your wildest dreams, Mr. Lee.” Your mouth gave a half-smile, clenching on the bars to liberate your annoyance. Before you could fend back, that’s when Princess Diana intervened between your heated dialogue.

“Oh heavens, children!” She stood by the barrier, mostly to protect the newbie Jeno with her body. “(Y/N), he just wanted to know you. Must you be so cross?”

This Princess Diana embodied all the traits the real one had: soft-spoken, intelligent, and protective. She’s gotten so used to your gradual temper, staying on standby whenever anyone tried to mess with you. Even if it was harmless, you could get so mean!

“Diana, he was mocking me! Saying such a sleazy phrase as if to amuse me, ha! Not a chance, I hate people like that.”

“Not us women though; you just despise men in general.”

“And you’re absolutely right!” With a smug smile, you greedily rejoiced. “Anyways, escort this disgrace out. I’m not in the mood to get angry when I have a lot of inspiration on mind right now.”

While you resumed your sketching to let go of that extra steam, Jeno was left with Diana who apologized on your behalf. Your pride was too high to do that, and as the motherly figure among them, she always took care of things in your exhibit.

“I’m so sorry for that, Jeno. She’s not really like this, but I know how much you tried your best. It was quite a fresh spectacle honestly.”

Whatever was responsible for your abrasiveness, Jeno yearned to know. He couldn’t understand who you were yet even knowing your life story. All he wanted was to get along with everyone. It was the key to successfully maintain his job for the next 6 months.

“How can I make her come around then?”

A demanding question that no one had a solid answer to. Diana recalled how much Sanghoon didn’t let your dislike for him get to him, maintaining a respectful boundary in between each other after his past attempts. Though with Jeno, observing how he riled you up and your focus entirely on him, she hasn’t seen anything like it since the 80s.

There was something in Jeno that may just get you to warm up and return to your kind nature.

“Aside from acting playful, as Sanghoon recommended, I can think of two ways, love.” By the doors of her exhibit, where Jeno was already waltzing the corridor to visit other rooms, she suggested smartly. “One, argue back to her opinions. She hates whenever anyone tries to get her way, but boy, you’re just as wise as her. No one was brave enough to peeve on her until you came.”

“How about the second way?”

“Do your research, love. Aside from libraries, you have those small technology devices that allow you to search up anything.” She tousled Jeno’s brown locks as if it were her actual son’s. Some habits just don’t die when you do.

“Brush up on your history, Jeno. Not only will it help you with (Y/N), but it’ll serve purposefully with the other art pieces here.”

Boy, he was ready to crash in his bed for a few hours after all those interactions. His introverted nature required to be revitalized.

Towards the last hours of his shift, the art pieces who’ve strolled in the first floor lessened his plate by not leaving any major clutter behind. As if she listened to him, Athena didn’t break any lightbulbs too.

His main highlight would be meeting the men of the historical male section, who flaunted a more humorous ambiance. Freddie Mercury from Queen insisted he drink a glass of his wine and to bring more wine next time, which he denied since it would against Sanghoon’s rules. King Sejong the Great and Martin Luther King Jr. argued back and forth over the most random things (pineapple on pizza specifically), while Steve Jobs mediated whenever one crossed the line. Meanwhile, William Shakespeare was too preoccupied in his writing and speaking to himself about his books, wondering how to improve them.

During one of his breaks today, he multitasked drawing a new plate with his research on every art piece to know them better. He started with the exhibit of sculptures of the Greek gods and goddesses, which were Zeus, Hera, Hades, Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Artemis, Dionysus, and Circe. They weren’t the complete roster because the rest were in other museums across the globe, as said by Athena before sunrise. The majority of them he knew what they were in charge of, but the rest were foggy to his knowledge. Typing away and jotting notes down, he started downloading his favorite jazz songs too.

Rule # 4: Play jazz music to the paintings on the first floor so they can relax and dance within their frames.

Circe is a minor goddess, the daughter of the sun god Helios. She’s recognized for her versatility in incantations and herbs, capable of transforming people into animals. From Jeno’s perspective, she’s mostly within her space with her journals and magic wand, trying new spells or combinations of herbs. For the latter, he had to keep a closer eye on.

Rule #9: Don’t let Circe, god of potions, into the Oriental Room to get plants and herbs.

He discovered that Dionysus is the god of wine, happiness, and theatre. That’s why every god in the exhibit had full wine glasses during their gathering. It also added up why Freddie Mercury always comes to him when his bottles run empty, though he mustn’t go overboard.

Rule #18: Make sure Freddie Mercury doesn’t get too drunk from the wine of Dionysus; he might make numerous scenes if he does.

After his lone studying session, he took a short trip to the pet and convenience stores to buy food. He got a dumbfounded look from Jaemin back in the dorm room, who was studying for one of his quizzes in Biology in a couple of hours.

“Woah what’s with this stash? Is it for yourself or something?”

“The museum surprisingly has a lot of tasks needed to be done at night. And no, not from my wallet but the allowance they gave me before you get a heart attack.” Jeno plopped on his solo bed, covering his face with a pillow.

“Thank God.” A relaxed sigh escaped Jaemin’s lips, taking back his balled-up fists meant for his roommate. “I think I would’ve stormed that boring museum if they made your broke ass spend a cent.”

“Boring?” Jeno removed the cushion hastily, eyeing his busy and coffee-high roommate. The scent of black coffee from his mug spread in the room, assuming that this upcoming test was testing his roommate’s patience again.

Not even trying to look at Jeno while reviewing his handwritten notes, Jaemin continued giving his opinion. “Museum culture is dead, Jeno. Not everyone has the time to roam around one, plus people can always look up the artifacts online these days.”

People were entitled to their own opinions on numerous things, though Jeno begged to differ with his roommate’s. Especially after witnessing the magic of the night shift, you shouldn’t merely judge a book by its cover. In this case, you shouldn’t judge an artwork or art piece merely on its history and legacy.

Maybe because his roommate was in the science department, he thought this way. A lot of art students regularly visit the museum both for fun and for their classes, and Jeno was one of them. Though he was too sleepy to explain his side, he let it slide for now and snoozed throughout the late afternoon.

An hour before the start of his shift, Jeno promenaded the emptying museum to inspect anything else he might’ve missed out on from last night. There were two areas according to his rotation, both in the first floor.

One was the Diorama Room. Divided into 4 sections, highlighting some of the well-known ancient civilizations in world history. Ancient Egypt and Ancient China to your left, Ancient Rome and Ancient Maya to your right. They acted as if they were the actual people during those times, giving Jeno a laugh when they cracked jokes in between. Such tiny figures, yet the rule for them said otherwise.

Rule # 7: The small figurines in the Diorama Room are feisty, so make sure they don’t fight with one another again.

The remaining room left was the Theater Room. He’s never been here, though his art friends have for film festivals held by the university.

The interior of it was set to look like an actual cinema place you’d see in a mall. There was a mini lobby with a few posters of iconic films over the years. Singin’ in the Rain, Back to the Future, Titanic, those were some framed and hung on the wall. There were two other doors there: one leading to the chairs and the other where the movie projector was. The latter room was pretty riveting, wherein you can choose to watch old short films through an 88mm film projector or switch to a cd player for the newer releases.

Back to those posters, they weren’t an exception to the magic and a simple rule was left for Jeno to do.

Rule # 10: Chatter with the movie posters in the lobby of the Theater Room; they love meeting new faces.

Since there wasn’t anyone checking out the Art Rooms on the second floor, he closed them. Though as he was about to lock the Oriental Room, the ravishing plants around the royal plant appealed his interest. Said to hold magical properties from his research, Jeno was reminded of another rule to keep in mind for later.

Rule # 3: The fake flowers in the Oriental Room come to life too at night, so when no one is lurking, water it diligently.

Instead of lounging at Sanghoon’s office first, he brought his important items to the front desk of the lobby and continued sketching his plate. He wanted to watch the art come back alive with his two eyes. Usually, he’d have coffee when he does his work, but due to another crucial rule in the guide, he’d rather not take the risk.

Rule # 6: The lobby room can get rowdy, so keep any drinks away from important items.

On the dot, the cries and yawns from the art pieces around him reverberated. Closing his sketchpad, his night guard mode was on. Connecting his laptop on the aux cord of the museum speakers, he tapped play on his playlist of jazz music that’ll last for the entire shift duration. As the first notes flooded the entire vicinity, sounds of joy left the lips of each painting. Some were humming, dancing, and even singing along.

“You can never go wrong with Frank Sinatra!”

“This Jeno lad really did the heavens’ work quick!”

Having the sense of accomplishment on his sleeve, the small barks of his fluffy pal reached closer to him. As he kneeled to find him, he was only taken by surprise as Mochi excitedly jumped on him. Tumbling over, Jeno chuckled innocently as Mochi licked his face numerously. This puppy was friendly, easily liking everyone at first sight. He wasn’t as choosy like Daegal, the puppy of his friend Chenle studying Business Management.

Once he composed himself and cradling the dog like his own, he fed him a dog treat from the desk.

“Good boy, Mochi!” He rubbed his fur while the puppy happily munched on it, ready to fulfill more of his duties.

He skipped the Greek mythology exhibit since Athena was doing a good job not letting anyone go overboard with their powers, though he’ll check in again in a few hours. He met the posters of the theater room, who were celebrities he grew up watching on tv. Sanghoon was right; they were the kinder group in the entire museum because they were more laidback.

On to the second floor, all the female wax figures lounged by the male section due to another lecture from Shakespeare. Although the guide informed him that most of the time it could get boring, this lecture was more stimulating. On his platform, he elaborated with conviction the lines of one of his famous books, Romeo and Juliet. A must-read book back in his high school days, there’s no way Jeno could’ve missed that out.

From the looks of it, Jeno perceived that Shakespeare was performing spoken word poetry due to him reading only Romeo’s lines while Cleopatra read Juliet’s beside him. This kind of show was one of the sources of entertainment to these figures, so Jeno leaned by the side of the door to listen. After all, the famous author of it was a few feet away. Cleopatra channeled such a naïve character to her ability, absentmindedly saying as she clutched her chest.

“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.”

“Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?”

“'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose-”

The flow of an engaged Cleopatra was abrupted by the loud yell from Shakespeare in front, specifically to an amused Jeno. “Jeno, my boy! Welcome back!”

Such an announcement diverted everyone’s attention to the back, some running to Jeno to give their respective greetings. It’s rare for everyone to feel at ease with a new guard, taking them weeks to approach them due to the intimidation. Though Jeno’s bright presence felt welcoming, so they accepted it. Perhaps it’s because of his youth, it reminded them of theirs too.

Shakespeare highly requested (or forced) Jeno to take his part as Romeo, intrigued to watch someone younger read his lines. Since most of the male wax figures were aged, it never satisfied Shakespeare so he jumped on this opportunity as quickly as he could. With the roaring cheers from the other figures, Jeno might as well give it a try. It wasn’t like his friends were here to clown him like they usually would if he did something humiliating.

Jeno shockingly liked this activity as he wasn’t much of a performer on stage, but someone who does the behind-the-scenes of it. He realized as he read the lines from the book Shakespeare asked him to follow along with why people held university-wide spoken word shows a few times per semester. He was no actor, but it’s delightful to have tried it at least once in his life.

“O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?” As if the edge of the platform was the balcony of Juliet (or Cleopatra rather), he knelt as he ardently spoke his lines. He’s emphasizing this rush of uncontrollable desire for her, rambling whatever he would do to get the girl.

“What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?” Cleopatra questioned from her chair, inching closer to the young boy. Even outside character will she attempt to charm Jeno, but Jeno was quick to catch it and kept his distance.

“The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.”

“I gave thee mine before thou didst request it, and yet I would it were to give again.”

“Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?”

“But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.”

Everyone was condensed by their top-notch acting, as if this was the actual play unfolding before them. Jeno wasn’t so sure how he got himself in character without preparation, yet he felt what his character felt. He comprehended the material a lot better now than when he was still in high school.

However, there was always that one killjoy to ruin the heartfelt mood.

“How dumb is it to say that you’re in love after the first glance?” You opposed, putting the spotlight on you. This book was said to be a classic in literature, but as you matured physically and mentally, you could no longer agree with it. “Isn’t love the same thing that killed Romeo and Juliet in the end?”

Remembering what Princess Diana told him, he wasn’t going to let this pass. He wanted to give a piece of his mind too, caring less if the show must be paused. “Love is an emotion we don’t ask to feel. It’ll come to us when we least expect it, even when the timing of it can be crucial.”

“Of all the people Juliet could’ve gone for, it just had to be the enemy.” In all the years you’ve been brought to life, no one dared to test your opinions because they were aware of your intelligence, from the streets to the books. When someone bark, you’d bite back. Hard. “With all due respect, I love your works, Shakespeare. Yet the fate you’ve given these two at a young age was grave, could’ve you given them a better outcome or another character to love instead?”

“Giving them extra characters to love won’t address the horrific life fact that love can be dangerous. Regardless of what status you’re in, you can’t stop the attraction towards someone. The heart wants what it wants.” Jeno pressed his hand to his chest, pumping it a bit. Unknown to you and him, the audience found more entertainment in your argument. Anne, who was munching on the popcorn Jeno gave her earlier, passed the snack to Katherine who just couldn’t stop watching.

If this man wanted a challenge, you’re all ears. Who was he to compete with you? Was he not intelligent to know who you are?

“So are you insinuating that we just go with the flow? Be a slave to our emotions too and let them dictate our next motives?”

“Slave is such a strong word to use, (Y/N). But it’s not like we can’t choose who want to love because we actually can. In this case, Romeo chose Juliet and vice versa.”

“But what happens if the person you choose doesn’t choose you in return?”

“At least you tried your best, right? It’ll hurt like hell though, but it won’t last forever.” From his kneeling position, Jeno strutted his way with confidence. Trying not to let it mess with you, your extreme stare at him as if they’ll shoot lasers. Inches away from you, Jeno declared. “Love always has risks, that’s a given. Romeo and Juliet still tried and followed their hearts despite the downfall. But it was a needed downfall to get the message across.”

“No one would be that foolish to risk their lives for love though, right? Life is so precious, why would they do such a thing?”

“Even if they knew what their lives were without each other, they still preferred living a life where they were both in the picture. Therefore, they tried all they could that time because the regret of not doing anything at all carries a heavier burden.”

Whenever anyone argued with you, their debating points they spat back would further piss you off because most of the time, it never made sense. Back when this rude man told you to go home and be a wife in your earlier years of exploring, you civilly told him to fuck off, kicking his balls because he cornered you in an alley. For the first time, a man who tried to challenge you actually made sense. Was it because he lived in a modern time, where minds were more open? Because of the amount of sexism you faced in the past, you’ve turned a blind eye to the current period.

But your high pride maintained, not submitting into anything he said. “I still think it’s stupid to risk your life for love. There’s no such thing as having only one true love anyways, and you have to be alive to see it.”

“Fair point, but again, the feeling of regret and carrying it your entire life doesn’t fade easily. It’ll make you reflect on the what-ifs, and it’s heart-wrenching.” Jeno digressed, walking around you in circles. He’s intentionally trying to drive you mad, but he could care less. He wanted someone to put you in your place and open your mindset. “The question stands: would you rather try and go for it even knowing its risks or regret not even trying for the rest of your existence? Quite ironic for me to ask you that, don’t you think?”

Past the information board, Jeno researched more of your life history online. Your whole life was grounded on risks, from breaking the standards of your society, leaving your family and home country, to fending yourself from disrespectful men. Rather than living the original life expected from you, you chose not to because it didn’t make you happy. Such a risktaker he knew you are, but with the topic of love, he wondered why you were on a fence with it. Though some records stated you’ve had rendezvouses with a few men in your journeys, love was never in the equation. The single life was what you chose and you were more than satisfied, plus your adopted kids filled that supposed void anyways.

This man may have studied your history, but so much he still doesn’t know. Information that never made the books because you chose not to write or tell anyone about it. Aside from the discomfort growing in your chest, everyone else felt the awkward tension when you were lost for words.

Never been defeated in an argument, until tonight. Your mind lost its drive and willpower.

“Touché, Lee Jeno.” Indeed, his name you’re acquainted with. Numerously passed around in your exhibit, mostly from the lips of Cleopatra, who’d fantasize all the graphic things she would do to him. Too much information, least of your interest. “Please excuse me. I’d like to work on my sketches to ease my mind.”

As you quietly exited the room, an all too familiar sculpture leaned against the railings overseeing one side of the museum. Just like you, she hated accepting defeat or compromises. She always rooted for you to win. With a faint chuckle, “Facing a loss for the first time, I see.”

“Don’t even lecture me about it, Athena. I’m still fired up, and I need to relax.”

“Jeno is a different breed, isn’t he?” She stuck to your side, strolling wherever your feet led you.

“Different as in he’s a man? Yes. What else is there to it?”

“Men these days aren’t as trashy as those back in the day though. Shouldn’t you give him a chance?”

“Last time I did, it destroyed my heart. I’m not allowing myself to let men in even as a friend, Athena.”

She knew exactly what you were referring to, not touching on it further. No way will you let heartbreak or disappointment from men bother you. Even Sanghoon’s sweet company took a while to tolerate. You really needed to sketch this out on your pad right now, excusing yourself from Athena’s presence. Isolation wasn’t new to you; it’s what’s protecting your entire being. Immortal as you are, you had to recover from the past pain so the next decades won’t feel as brash.

You hoped to return to your old self when you were a fresh new figure in the 70s. So naïve, only proud of your accomplishments, and purely happy.

While Jeno continued to finish his scene in respect to Shakespeare, he received a standing ovation for his mini-show. Cleopatra didn’t expect such talent from him, growing fonder of the younger male. Whether she seduces him or not, he was never afraid to try new things and she liked that about him.

“Bravo, love!” Princess Diana praised, clapping at him.

Although Jeno appreciated all this positive attention, his thoughts bounced back to your and your stance on love. The debate earlier was just out of being playful, interested to hear your opinions. Though, he’s worried that he might’ve offended you. It may have been time to finally witness something like that, but then again, he was sure he touched something personal to you. No matter how you tried to fight it off, your eyes can’t lie. Staring down at him, there was pain beneath it. Your eyebrows scrunched to the center, thinking deeply yet remained utterly speechless.

A win he didn’t feel good about.

“It’s time she encountered something new in the years she’s been here. Give her some space tonight, then try again to reach out to her. Kindly this time; I’m not in the mood for another brawl that could end up like the Greek gods’ past fights downstairs.”

These clever words shared by Katherine loitered his mind for the rest of the night, eventually going back to finishing his current plate since everyone was behaving well. As great it is to get the approval of the majority, he tried brainstorming ways to make you like him too.

He understood the whole “men are trash” concept in today’s modern society, but if he could prove it wrong to at least one person, it would be you. Whatever is holding you back, he only hoped that you’d let it go. Questionably unsure as to why he was so persevering, he concluded that it was so he could perform his job better as the night guard. Set higher standards than Sanghoon even.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Weeks passed, and his attempts continued to be unsuccessful.

The capability for you to ignore his efforts remained strong, whether he was pestering you over small things or debating with you again about anything. Life, books, morals, the two of you always head butt each other. Anything good he did, you searched for a flaw in it. Whatever acts he’s tried and continued trying, not one flinch from you ever.

Even if that’s his state with you, his job no longer felt stressful nor strenuous. He’d try to sleep more on days he was off-duty. Although the fatigue of staying beyond his usual sleeping time was inevitable, he compromised to take a nap lasting an hour or two when the art pieces weren’t acting frisky.

Plus, there have been multiple times they adapted to any alterations so his physical well-being wouldn’t fall sick. Per order of Princess Diana and Hera, who by instinct became his motherly figures here, only wanting what’s best for the kids.

He became accustomed to everything that went on at night, discovering things on his own without Sanghoon’s guide. Anne talked about how much she missed biking in her neighborhood, so one night, Jeno snuck his bike inside and let her use it around the first floor. With proper monitoring so none of the paintings would be unbothered or pieces wouldn’t tumble.

Hermes the messenger god was fluent in every language possible, so every so often, Jeno would freely speak to him in Korean because sometimes he felt he could explode by the amount of English he used every night. Bilingual things, you know. He knew you were multilingual too, but for obvious reasons, he couldn’t converse with you.

Because Jeno was heavily favored, that should’ve been enough to push through his night shifts before the end of the semester. In addition to that, the hourly rate was above the average of whatever Jaemin or Renjun was earning. For the past 2 months, Jeno paid upfront first, even paying back all his debts. It almost made Renjun want to switch jobs with him.

“Trust me, Renjun. You don’t want it, being the lowkey scaredy cat you are.”

Work no longer felt like work, and that’s what everyone aspired to feel. Nevertheless, he tended to worry over you mid-shift, glancing at you from his side view. Sketching, reading, and writing were your default actions. No matter how many times he said to himself not to let your dislike for him affect him, it’d always backfire.

Why were you so cold?

What made you lose your fire from all the research he did about your lively personality?

When morning arrived and he gathered his stuff, you’d be the last thing he’ll check on. Frozen in your standing pose, smiling as you held a book and a pencil, he detected how fake it was. Bystanders would only assume your happiness was from your achievements, though Jeno’s gut firmly pried that something grand overpowered that happiness. And definitely, not in a good way.

Out of all the art pieces, he investigated on you the most. Skimming through every material in the library, endless searching on the net, even asking professors from the History department thanks to Renjun, he did whatever he could. People may already think he was obsessed with who you are, but only little did they know.

Another plate was done and submitted, and he promised himself to look you up one last time before surrendering. For someone who’s rarely given up on a challenge, this one was really out of his control. Maybe he should follow Sanghoon’s footsteps now.

You lived centuries before him, and there’s limited material of you left. Rather than learning of your adventures again, he dug through what things you liked over your life. Maybe by giving one of them, it’ll lessen the tension from a 100 to 99. Maybe you preferred gifts over words, he’ll never know until he tried.

Boom.

According to one of your journal entries, there’s a fond liking you’ve acquired for lavender roses from Benjamin and Liam when they visited you in Paris in secret because of how much you missed them. It went both ways, praying your family ties could be recovered.

It’s a good thing he needed to refill his stock of items for the art pieces so he could pass by the flower store a few blocks away from his dorm. That night, without further words, he graciously offered you a fresh lavender rose in between your new sketching session.

“I may not know exactly why you’re spiritless around me, but with this rose, I hope we could work something out.”

Your frigid face of disdain, keeping your chin high and squinting your eyes with judgment, began to crumble down.  Of all things as a peace offering, he gave you that? Then again, it’s not like he knew that an item you liked so much became something you’ve grown to hate and why so. No history books could teach him that.

Vulnerability was a normal thing, yet feared by many. Once one uncovered your weak spot, they could harm you. You still couldn’t trust Jeno fully, not willing to show your helplessness nor were you ever going to tell him. Hidden from his knowledge, everyone else including Sanghoon were familiarized as to why this kind of flower tormented you.

You sprinted like thunder out the exhibit room to wherever it’s private to control your senses. You may not have a physical heart, but your emotions were just as actual as a human’s. You needed to regulate your panting breath. In the past decades, you’ve not shed a singular tear but the cycle broke when they streamed out your miserable eyes like a flowing river. Quiet sobs, an empty corner near the fire exit was where your wobbly legs faltered, the painful memories of the past replayed in your head. Once beautiful, but now an agonizing reminder of what could’ve been.

Katherine, Cleopatra, and Anne were swift on their feet to hunt you down, anxious of what you may do next. Seeing or the mention of these flowers still affected you despairingly. Sanghoon must’ve forgotten to write them down, or perhaps he didn’t know either about this fact during all the years he’s worked there.

It’s one of the biggest secrets of his museum. By the clueless face Jeno had with his eyebrows raised, mouth, and small eyes slightly open, he repeatedly asked what he did wrong and adding that he never meant to harm you. Indeed, they knew that yet what occurred involved a secret in the list of museum secrets. Confidential only between art pieces according to Athena, none of the male wax figures spoke a word, only pitying the boy.

“I wasn’t here yet that time, but they said that it was once beautiful, but now it’s a rough period.” With hesitation, Princess Diana chose to reveal it to rid Jeno’s misery. She didn’t mind having to argue about it with Athena later on, as this may further affect the two of you later on.

“A long time ago in the early ‘80s, there was a night guard around your age named Junmyeon. Also, a college student, trying to make ends meet. He did it for 3 years until he graduated. Though within his stay, not only was he such a delight to everyone, he broke a golden rule in the guide. I believe you do know the guide much more now, Jeno?”

“Yes, I do, Princess Diana. Memorized it even, but which one specifically?” Jeno’s desperate eyes pleaded, only hoping for the best and to fix what he messed up.

“You can form friendships with the art pieces, but nothing more.” Princess Diana replied bitterly. “Junmyeon was an aspiring painter, a different path from his business-oriented family. He was seen as the black sheep. She resonated with him, sharing the burden and lifting it by doing whatever fun they could in the museum. In time, they both fell in love with each other; they were each other’s first loves.”

“Why must something beautiful like love be broken? It’s not like you can control it. That golden rule makes no sense.”

“It does, unfortunately. Wax figures like me cannot age, while humans like you can. None of them could accept the reality, always pushing it away. Until Junmyeon’s last week in university, he broke it off with her unexpectedly. From there, (Y/N) was heartbroken for decades. With heartbreak, giving the cold shoulder and bitterness followed. Then with the lavender rose you gave that she used to love became a flower that she associated with Junmyeon too because he gave her one almost every night for those past 3 years.”

Things finally added up, and the guilt in Jeno’s gut expanded. His major lightbulb moment was a major failure.

“Has Junmyeon ever returned to try and win her back?”

“Well, there was one time he did come back for an art exhibition for his paintings in the 2000s. I was already here, then he had a woman around his shoulder with an adolescent boy holding his hand. He roamed around our exhibit and kept gawking at (Y/N). We may be asleep, but we remember the conversations exchanged in the room. So, his son then asked him if he knew who she was.”

“What did he respond?” Jeno attentively listened, on the edge of such a hurtful tale.

“He knew her name, praising her for historical achievements. However, nothing as a former friend or lover. From what I predict, he ingested one of Circe’s potions.”

“But I thought Circe isn’t allowed to make potions for actual consumption. She’s not even allowed to enter the Oriental Art Room.” Jeno pointed out, overwhelmed at the puzzling past. Princess Diana was mindful that she had to stop spreading too much information, so she had to end her discussion with the lost boy.

“There are a lot of secrets about this museum, Jeno. Unfortunately, I cannot reveal to you to protect our peace.”

With due respect, Jeno quit his follow-up questions and concerns. The only thing he wished to do was mend his relationship with you. As vague as to where you even stood in the first place, he unintentionally crossed a line due to his selfish intention to befriend you.

“What can I do now, Princess Diana? You know I’d never push her buttons like that, even if I’m a whimsical person.”

“Oh, my boy.” Princess Diana soothed, holding both her hand on his sweaty palm and cupping his cheek. “For the meantime, give her space. No taunting for a while, and just observe her from a distance. Though do not fret the slightest; I’m sure she’ll be okay again.”

During that interval, you were hunched on the wall, bawling and weeping like the wound was brand new again. While Katherine and Anne stood by your side, on the lookout for anyone who’d be spying on you, Cleopatra knelt in front of you as your infinite tears gushed down.

“My dear,” She tried to wipe some of them while holding your hand. “It’s been years, and Jeno didn’t know a single thing. He didn’t mean to do it.”

“I don’t care, Cleopatra! He should’ve stopped trying to socialize with me because I won’t ever live down my experience with Junmyeon.”

“As if crying like this will bring Junmyeon back to your life,” Cleopatra exclaimed, holding in her temper. Acquainted with heartbreak, it’s awful that it changed you entirely, but you should’ve found a way to heal. Throughout your attitude change, it’s mostly you in pain, not those you inflict it to. “My dear, I love you a lot. But this Jeno boy is different, and you know it.”

“He’s still a nightguard, for Christ’s sake, Cleopatra.”

“You shouldn’t generalize that all night guards are bad just because of one encounter that occurred at the wrong time.” Brushing some strands stuck by your wet visage, she professed to you bluntly. “You’re never going to know how good Jeno is unless you slowly open up again, (Y/N). Not forcing you the slightest, but healing started once you’ve acknowledged the past and move on from it.”

“But I’m scared, Cleopatra.” You restlessly admitted, hunching even more against the wall. Your poor, metaphorical heart could only take so much. You barely expressed sorrow towards others as you always held a strong exterior, only letting it out alone. Not holding back anymore, Cleopatra brought you in for a hug. The last time she did that was the first night after Junmyeon left, calming your intensified emotions so you wouldn’t do anything dumb that night. No violence, just pure sorrow.

“My dear, it’s alright.” She whispered while stroking your back upwards. “But you’re a risktaker; that’s how people remember you. Now, you must challenge yourself to move on from things that didn’t work out. Because once you do, it’ll put your heart and mind at ease.”

“Do you think I’ll be okay again?”

“Yes, you will be, my dear. You are not alone, and never will be.”

Acting like the dutiful son he always was, Jeno distanced from you.

He still cracked jokes, chatted with the art pieces, and followed the rules, yet never did he utter anything to you. You’ve proudly anticipated it since day one, not wanting him up in your business or teasing you ever. But this time, it felt odd.

On nights he didn’t report, you’ve unconsciously wondered what he may have been up to. A job like this at his age was just as Sanghoon once said: nothing in the regular.

Was he with his friends?

Was he resting well?

From the moment you chose to let go of your limitations and old thoughts, it included your grudge against past guards. Asking for forgiveness to Sanghoon when he returns was on the top of your list, however, that’ll take a while to happen. In the start, you’re baffled as to why he no longer picked on you like every night he’s been present. Somehow, it became a habit you’ve gotten used to, having so many comebacks planned to fend yourself. But you didn’t want to concede to it, maintaining what was left of your pride since that breakdown.

While on the subject, you suspected if anyone told him anything that night because that also indicated the last time he reached out to you. By anything, it would be your unwritten past with Junmyeon. A part of yourself in the museum that you didn’t want to disperse like rapid-fire again. It would be the last thing you wanted Jeno to know.

To your misfortune, Princess Diana came clean due to your growing concern over it. Although your attitude changed and people got used to it, you could only blame yourself that you were responsible for Jeno’s change.

“All he wanted was to understand and enlighten us with his likable presence. Then with you, you were his challenge because of your high walls. Out of everyone, he tried to learn everything about you. From my observation, whenever he has a goal, he’s determined to achieve it.”

“But I’m trying to be better now, Diana. Why did he stop?”

“He may have determination, but he knows where the boundaries lie.” Princess Diana patted the side of your arm, giving you a half-grin. “It hurt him when he hurt you, even if it was accidental. So he opted to give you space; that way, you could catch a breather and he wouldn’t harm you anymore. It was what you wanted from the start anyways, right?”

A hard pill to swallow, though it was a fact. It’s just that now, you’re slowly willing to release yourself from the dark. It’s been decades, and more to come. Nothing can move on unless you do.

“Where is he, Princess Diana?”

Just as she predicted right on the edge, Diana completed the grin on her face and led you to the entrance of your exhibit. She may be younger than you, but you’re reverted in your twenties while she remained in her mid-thirties. Gaping the wide museum from the railing, starting from the painting exhibit in the lobby to across the other side of the museum, Diana spotted the black hair of the boy in the Foreign Art Room.

“Over there.”

Observing where her eyes focused, you caught a glimpse of a recognizable side profile. The owner’s eyes were completely taken by whatever he was drawing on the fold-up desk he brought out from the storage room. By the tedious action of his right hand going up and down, you’ve gotten so used to his part-time identity as the night guard to entirely dismiss his current status as a university student.

Architecture specifically as he first introduced himself to you. The same path your oldest brother, Christopher, worked in. The look of tenacity Jeno presented as his eyebrows continuously scrunched, his crescent orbs hastily spied his work for any unnecessary details and his veiny hands brushed his already messy hair, you were profoundly reminded of Christopher when he was designing his possible future house. You were 8 years old, and he was 22, who just got married. He explained how many floors it’ll have, what rooms to put and what extra furniture he’ll place to make it feel more at home.

Seeing how exceptional his art skills were, you started to sketch like him. With flowers first, it turned into bedrooms and sceneries of your neighborhood. You felt your shoulders rise in accomplishment when you were able to accurately draw people. As much as you credited Benjamin and Liam the most in your works, it’ll only be within yourself to know that you also held a soft spot for Christopher.

Excusing yourself to Princess Diana, you bravely yet quietly ventured into the Foreign Art Room. Hiding first from one of the cement columns, you resumed watching him sketch. Instead of a pencil, he used a black pen with a tip as thin as a pencil. Your assumptions would be it was for a class, basing it on him informing everybody earlier that he’ll be inactive for the remaining hours of his shift to focus on his midterm requirements. That must be difficult to balance, yet he still does everything expected from him. Maybe the second cup of iced coffee beside him stimulated his bones and mind, letting his imagination free.

Through the limited space, you tiptoed whilst holding the side of the column to make up his work. There were 2 and a half rectangular shapes stacked on top of each other, the third one he was still tracing. A sign encrypted with tiny written words you couldn’t decipher, the beauty and modernity of Jeno’s plate cannot go unappreciated.

“That’s absolutely beautiful.”

Sweet words you didn’t think would bounce back in the room, Jeno’s pace ceased whilst you hid again. Art pieces capable of walking weren’t allowed here, he locked the door even beforehand! Or he thought as he was rushing to get his work done because one of his terror professors moved up the deadline to tomorrow morning. Not even 25% finished, he petitioned for everyone’s cooperation just for tonight.

He used up his 2 days of not having the night shift for other projects, and not wanting to ruin his perfect attendance, he proceeded to show up.

The voices from the foreign paintings around him hushed for him out of respect. So possibly someone snuck in, his head looking around for intruders. But only did he quit it when he saw your blurry reflection leaning against the column. The glass windows slightly mirror back what it sees, without you knowing that.

Not to mention, the small bit of your lilac dress was left out. Of all people, it was you?

“Do my eyes deceive me or is Miss (Y/N) (Y/L/N) inside when she’s not allowed so?”

To break the killing tension, he tested the waves with an innocent taunt. Never did you reach out to him, so least to say he was entertained whilst keeping his distance.

Fixing your proud stance, you responded in a low baritone voice you used to persuade numerous men in her adventures. “Uhm no, I don’t know who she is.”

As intelligent as you were, Jeno was a few steps farther than you this time. Educated about the risky ways you’d get around and one of them was changing the pitch of your voice, he heartily laughed at your unsuccessful attempt.

“Okay don’t lie, (Y/N). I can see a trail of your dress and your cloak. Oh, your reflection too.”

Damn, you peeked a little to realize that he was correct. Hauling your dress back in to readjust your outfit, you pushed your hair back before appearing to him. Though when you did such, you didn’t suppose that he was practically beside you the entire time. Bumping into his towering stance of 5’10 while the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up, your proud posture loosened up. He even discarded his blazer. A few more inches, he could’ve cornered you on the column if you didn’t take another step back.

Has he always been this tall or were you so used to your boots having high heels under? Oh wait, maybe because you wore flats this time because it’s making your toes sore. Your head bowed from struggling to maintain eye contact with him, your palms caressing your cheeks that suddenly heated up. Clearing your throat, you straightened your back again like nothing happened.

Jeno thought otherwise, shrugging his shoulders as he chuckled. He’s never seen you get shy, not that it was a bad thing either. The temptation to play around it more was there, but he was running out of time for his assignment.

“Come in. I’ll let you off the hook this time.” His arms opened up, allowing you access to such a wonderful exhibit. Paintings from different European periods, miniature versions of famous infrastructures inside glass containers, and replicas of Greek columns in the front entrance, no wonder it’s important to protect them all.

“Are you sure?” Watching him return to his spot, which was a bench in the center of the exhibit with a table in front, it didn’t process that you were gawking at his toned back. His broad shoulders and the evident muscles in his arms while he stretched, your eyes were speedy to look away when he tried to take a glance at you.

“I don’t think the paintings here and I mind.” Sitting down again, he tapped the vacant space beside him. “Feel free to watch me draw if you want to.”

Settling by his side, he recommenced where he left off. Now with a closer view of his piece, it did look like a building as you thought. He was sketching the remaining outline of the 3rd floor of this hypothetical place, continuously checking his ruler to monitor if the lines were consistent. Able to pick up on the words of the sign beside the building, you wowed with one hand on your lips.

“You’re redrawing Seoul National University Museum of Art?”

“One of my plate assignments was to visualize a renovation of a certain place, so I chose the museum.”

“Why so?”

“Well,” Jeno shook his pen so the ink could come out. “This entire place comes to life with the royal plate, so I think we should expand the space and bring in more art pieces to life if we add another extra floor. A rooftop area for visitors and events would be fun. And definitely, we should modernize the exterior and interior a bit because it looks outdated personally. That’s also what my friends think too.”

Noticing the minor details of his plate whilst removing any unnecessary pens so it wouldn’t smudge, “Huh, I quite agree with you.”

For the first time since his night shift, you, (Y/N) (Y/L/N), came into an agreement with him. He became so accustomed to clashing opinions that now, you had no contrasting points to make at all. A good change perhaps was what he’s witnessing.

“Woah, who are you agreeing with me and where’s (Y/N)?” He creased his brows whilst locking eye contact with you. This time, you didn’t wince away and just nudged him on his shoulder to get back to work.

“Hush, Jeno. Isn’t that due later? Get to work, I’ll roam around here for the meantime.”

After decades in this museum, you’re enlightened with the foreign paintings in which some you’ve heard of in your younger years and some that were created beyond your time. The Birth of Venus, Liberty Leading the People, Girl with a Pearl Earring, there’s an advantage of learning about their stories that humans couldn’t interpret. Logical that this section must be off-limits because these pieces were extra special, yet there’s so much more than what meets the eye.

There’s peace in silence while you wandered around, though it doesn’t hinder only at the art. Jeno hasn’t uttered a word since he got back to drawing, and once you asked him what’s doing now, still no answer back. Odd, he’s constantly awa-

Oh, my. You must’ve jinxed it.

Your eyes laid on Jeno leaning forward on his desk with his arms serving as his pillow, resting his head sideways. Soft snores and minimal movement in his upper body to shake the growing cold temperature of the room, he was sleeping like a log.

Putting into perspective, he hasn’t acquired enough rest specifically this past 2 weeks. The endless number of plates due making him work extra during his shift rather than sleeping in the slightest, exhaustion must be an understatement. Coffee no longer pushed him to his maximum for this week even.

But this was the path he chose, and it’ll have its challenges. Still, if you could relieve the stress in any way, you would. This would be one of the ways to repay for all the rudeness you’ve passed on him. Scurrying to his side, placing the plate on the side with his other things. You returned the caps of his open pens so they don’t spill. They must be expensive, recalling how Jeno shared the cons of being an architecture major to Princess Diana. One was the pens needed for sketching, and any tiny damages to them meant buying them again.

With his watch on clear display, he only had 2 hours left until his shift was done. Then, 4 hours until his plate assignment was done, and his current plate was far from done.

The blunt impulse to wake him up slithered your mind, though his calm state deflected your duty. As if you were on board a ship again for your explorations, you paid attention to the view with a relaxed mindset.

Lee Jeno specifically was the view.

His coffee-stained lips were parted and his sharp nose breathing in and out at a relaxing pace, he must be dreaming a happy moment the way half his lips curved into a smile. If he’s resting well, then you too would be calm.

Because of your past disinterest in him, only at this moment did you observe how sharp his jawline was and the cuts on his arms he sought refuge in. No matter how many times you tried to deny Hera’s compliments of him on the side, you couldn’t.

Lee Jeno embodied attractive features; both physical and emotional.

Back to his plate, it’ll put him at a disadvantage if he submitted the way it looked before he passed out. But you remembered all those extra details he mentioned and wanted to add to this project. Being an explorer, you documented all your ventures through words or drawings. You’re fast to adjust to anything new too.

For all the good he’s done for everyone, he only deserved some help in return.

Your version of help was sketching the remaining details of this plate, using other pens for more emphasis. It’s a risk also, but no way could you turn a blind eye on Jeno this time.

Around 5:30 am, Jeno’s eyes blinked open due to a brightening light from the outside. Stretching his limbs, he finds a velvet cloak wrapped around him like a blanket. But before he could question it, he pulled his arm in to see the time on his watch.

“Fuck!” He cursed, realizing that his so-called 10-minute snooze break aborted.

“Oh my, you’re awake!” From his frazzled state, there you were. So put together yet active, some strands of your hair falling down your face even with your hair up in a ponytail. “How was your sleep?”

This whole time he could’ve been woken up, yet you chose not to. You’re aware of his deadline, yet you let him rest entirely. He could’ve burst out in stress, yet he didn’t. You and he may have started on the wrong foot, yet it’s impossible of you to do such an evil thing. He’ll just have to tolerate the outcome later today.

“Refreshing. I really needed it.” Packing his things in his bag and closing the table, you trailed along as he exited with you. Locking up, he has 30 minutes left to accomplish the cleaning. A long good morning indeed.

But his worry of that vanished when you admitted that you had it all covered.

“Everyone helped out in cleaning, plus there are no damages made either.” From your hand, you returned one of his keys that was on his guard blazer. “I double-checked the Oriental Room and locked the doors again.”

“Why are you suddenly so nice to me, (Y/N)?” He questioned with confusion, wearing his blazer again and patting away any creases. He placed your cloak over you again like a true gentleman.

Without a word, you simply invited him to walk you back to your exhibit as parts of the sun began to rise. As you returned to your section, your fellow figures readying themselves to pose again,

“It’s my way to apologize for my very rude first impression and the succeeding moments after. I was too cooped up in my past that I was too afraid to let humans in again, night guards in particular.” You admitted, removing your cloak and placing behind your chair like always. “I’m so sorry, Jeno. Everyone was right about you and your kind heart.”

“About time.” Cleopatra’s sultry voice cut in, laying on her day bed.

Before you had the chance to flip off, Jeno mediated swiftly. With a gentle smile, “No worries about it. I’m just happy you’re okay, after all you’ve been through.”

“Can we start over then?”

“Absolutely.” With his free hand, he brought it out. No matter what kind of introductions, shaking one’s hand was the best way to start a friendship. “Good evening. I’m Lee Jeno, the new museum night guard.”

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N), explorer and author.” Sighing at his humor, you still replied by shaking his hand. “And I believe you’re mistaken, Lee Jeno. It’s a good morning.”

Seconds after, you imitated your typical pose and smile. Only now, the latter was more genuine. Finally, a fresh start to end your agony.

Once the sun fully revealed itself, every figure including yourself froze back to sleep. Something Jeno wished to catch up on if it weren’t for his damn plate. He was so screwed, already contemplating his next steps if he does fail this class. The possibility of getting delayed in all aspects, he dreaded it already.

Heading back to his dorm, where both his roommates completely passed out from soju on the couch, he sat by his work desk and turned on his night lamp for more light since the sun wasn’t strong enough yet.

With another cup of coffee, he cracked the joints of his knuckles and laid out his pens. He had 2 hours left to submit this plate, and at most he should accomplish 50% of his initial plan. However, he didn’t anticipate such a gorgeous outcome when he brought out his plate.

Picture perfect of every detail he desired, even adding a rooftop area with that he’d love to have if ever the museum does go under renovation one day. Rather than setting the plate during the day, it was at night as the skies were dark and bright specks of yellow inside the building symbolized light.

So much for wasting coffee, he’ll just give it to Jaemin when he wakes up later. Below the final product, a note written in cursive was stuck on it.

 I knew you wanted to get this specific plate done, but you mustn’t compromise your sleep for it. It’s your inhumane professor’s fault!

To make up for my faults, I wanted to help you out. I paid extra attention to the details you spoke highly about, so I only hoped that I interpreted it correctly. It’s risky, but as someone who researched so much about me, would you be surprised that I did such a thing?

PS: Get back to sleep. I’m quite sure your desk is laid out the same way in the Foreign Art Room.

Respectfully,

(Y/N)

 Turning off his lamp, Jeno jumped the covers of his bed to continue his lost sleep. Without an ounce of care that he hasn’t changed into cleaner clothes, he’s relieved that he won’t flunk his class.

Most of all, he’s relieved that you’ve melted the ice in you and allowed kindness to come in. Jeno may never understand how hard that must’ve been for you, yet he raved you for it.

“Oh, (Y/N) (Y/L/N). Surprise is an understatement when it comes to you.”

#nct #nct au #nct scenarios #nct x reader #nct fluff #nct angst #nct smut #nct imagines #nct dream #nct dream au #nct dream scenarios #nct dream x reader #nct dream fluff #nct dream angst #nct dream smut #nct dream imagines #lee jeno #lee jeno x reader #lee jeno au #lee jeno scenarios #lee jeno angst #lee jeno imagines #lee jeno fluff #lee jeno smut #jeno #jeno x reader #jeno au #jeno scenarios #jeno imagines #jeno fluff

[pingutats]

For the “ways to say i love you” prompts, 43 please!

thank you for the request! from this list, prompt 43: "I picked these for you."

warnings: none! this is just fluff!

word count: 1.8k

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

This is definitely Harry’s domain.

Y/N hugs her shoulders as she stands in her bedroom-turned-dressing-room, staring at the rack of expensive clothes that have been left for her. Through the door, she can hear the noise of the crew bustling around her living room. This house has, of course, been the site of many Harry-hosted parties that had packed in a lot more people than there are present here today — despite that, this smaller group is threatening to become overwhelming for her.

She’s doing this for Harry. A couple of months ago, he was approached by AnOther Magazine to do a big feature with them — a kind of sequel to the one that he did when they were still called Another Man — and he’s been pouring his heart and soul into it since then. It feels like every single day, he’s been off chatting with a writer or meeting with the creative director. He dragged boxes out of storage to rifle through for mementos of his life as a solo artist last week. Y/N knows that some of their friends have been interviewed to talk about Harry. She’s pretty sure Stevie Nicks is one of them.

The centrepiece, though, is a photoshoot more intimate than he’s ever shared before. In the same way that the shoot set in his hometown years ago illustrated where he came from before he rocketed to stardom, this one will reveal who he is underneath all the make-up and glamour of fame.

Harry as he exists in private: in his home, with his girl, sharing this image of himself for the very first time.

Y/N was apprehensive at first — hell, Harry was too — but they’ve discussed it at length. He’s always been a private man, but his ethos is that honesty is integral to his art. He sings in detail about her in his music and puts that into the world with minimal censoring. This magazine feature, at its core, is just another artistic venture. He doesn’t want to hold back. When she understood it like that, it was easy for her to agree.

Her conviction that this is an important thing to do for Harry doesn’t stop the nerves, though. She’s never been a model, or even remotely a figure of interest beyond her connection to Harry. It’s his limelight that she’s stepping into. She can’t help but feel nervous about it.

The first outfit she’s wearing is a boldly patterned dress, custom-made by Gucci at Harry’s request. This isn’t the first time she’s wearing something this expensive (there are no compromises on fashion when you’re with Harry) but it still makes her feel like a fish out of water. She holds the hanger at arms-length for a moment, vaguely anxious that she might have put on weight since the fitting and it won’t fit her anymore, then carefully slips it off. She steps into it gingerly and shrugs it over her shoulders, then reaches behind her to pull the zip up as far as she can reach. She stands in front of the mirror and looks at her reflection, frowning.

Her make-up, which was done earlier, is colourful and dramatic. The point of this home shoot is to show the dichotomy between Harry’s celebrity persona and his private life, illustrated through the elaborate costuming inside their relatively normal home. She doesn’t recognise herself in it.

There’s a knock at the door, startling her out of her thoughts. She whips around, back straightening. “What is it?”

“Can I come in?” It’s Harry’s voice, and just those four short words in his gentle tone are enough to dissolve some of her anxiety.

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself into a calmer headspace. “Yeah,” she answers.

He opens the door discreetly and slips inside, careful not to reveal her to the people in the living room while she’s not properly dressed. She appreciates his caution. Although he’s apparently comfortable enough to walk around near-strangers half-naked—he’s only wearing his boxers right now—she definitely isn’t.

“Everything alright, darling?” he asks. Every step that brings him closer puts her more at ease. She’s always been an anxious person, but he’s like a drug to her. From the very first time they met, he’s been the person she feels most natural with. They just work. Things feel right with him.

She smiles at him. It’s a weak stretch of her lips, but a smile nonetheless. “Yeah. Can you zip me up, please?”

“Of course.”

She turns back around to face the mirror and reaches behind her head to pull her hair out of his way. His fingers are warm against bare skin of her back, finding the zipper and dragging it up, his knuckles brushing against her skin more than is probably necessary. He fixes the way the straps sit over her shoulders with the same attention to detail that she’s seen his stylists give for him a hundred times before. His lip is tucked between his teeth as he does so, glancing from the mirror back to her, his face the image of concentration.

Finally satisfied, he takes a step back and rakes his gaze up and down her figure. “Y’look gorgeous.”

She shrugs, staring at herself. “Thanks, H.”

“I mean it.” He plants a kiss on her cheek, holding her by the waist as they look at each other through their reflections. “Pretty dress for a pretty girl.”

Heat rises in her face and she drops her gaze to the floor. “Now you’re doing too much.”

He shakes his head. “‘M not. Promise I’m not.”

She hums, appraising their reflection with a frown. Even in his underwear, Harry is Harry, and she… She feels like she’s playing dress up in someone else’s wardrobe, dipping her toes into someone else’s life. Harry is at ease in a place like this but she certainly isn’t.

Harry seems to sense this. “Something the matter?” he asks her gently.

“No, just —“ she wrings her hands in front of her, searching for the words. “I don’t feel like me.”

He furrows his brow. “I know what you mean. ’S weird when you do all this—” he flutters his hand around the room, at the rack of clothes and towards the door where they can hear someone giving directions to shift the couch slightly to the left “—just to get a photo done. And I know you’re not used to it.” He squeezes her waist gently. “But you look beautiful. Just like you always do.”

She can’t suppress a small smile at that, bumping her head against Harry’s shoulder with a quietly mouthed, “Thank you.”

He turns his head to kiss her hair, then releases his grip on her waist and moves over to the rack of clothes. “But did y’see…” He bends down to pick up a plastic container marked Look 1 from the shelf at the bottom. He opens it up to reveal various pieces of jewellery inside, and delicately picks out a couple pieces with nimble fingers. “I picked these for you.”

They’re her earrings. More specifically, they’re the earrings that he gave her for their first anniversary. A couple of dangling pearls—he’d bought them during his obsession with the gems. They’re a sweet memento of that time of their lives, of the honeymoon phase that felt like it lasted forever, that never really fizzled out even to this day. They’re her favourites.

She realises her mouth has dropped open. “When did you sneak those in?” she asks.

He shrugs, smirking. “I have my ways. I’m sneaky.” He returns to his previous position standing behind her, nudging her hair behind her ear with his knuckles. “May I?”

She nods, trying not to shiver as his fingers brush against her ears.

“There we go,” he says, stepping back. “Is that a bit better?”

The girl in the mirror looks familiar now. Despite the make-up and the dress, she can see herself. The same face, framed by the same earrings, that has accompanied Harry through all sorts of days and nights. Today is just another one of those things. Something they’re doing, together, and isn’t that all she wants, for them to do everything together?

Being with Harry is a dream she never wants to wake up from. They’ve built a paradise together and now they get to share a tiny part of it with the world—not for the world to share in it, but to see just how beautiful it is.

There’s a little part of Y/N that hopes it makes the rest of the world jealous. They should be, she thinks.

“It’s perfect, H,” she tells him, glancing over her shoulder so she looks at his real face, not just his reflection. “Honestly. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.” He looks proud of himself—his eyes are shining and his dimples are on display as he looks her up and down once more. “It’s all you.”

Y/N mirrors him, her gaze travelling down his body. She bites her lip.

Harry seems to remember suddenly that he’s only in his underwear—his hands fly to cover his thinly-clothed privates and he looks at her, his mouth open in a sly grin. “This is not the time,” he scolds, his shoulders shaking as he suppresses laughter.

Y/N rolls her eyes, grabbing him by the shoulder and pushing him to turn around. “Go get dressed, you dork.”

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

The suit that Harry wears is made out of the same material as Y/N’s dress, bright and bold colours. The photographer is accomodating of her nerves as he has them sit on the couch. The window is wide open to allow the natural light to illuminate their faces, and the Y/N can feel the warmth of the sun on her face. The sky is a brilliant blue. It’s a perfect day.

“Okay, look this way,” the photographer tells her, drawing her attention from the window to the camera. “A little closer, Harry.”

Harry shifts over, his thigh pressing against hers. His hand comes to rest on her knee, then lifts suddenly as if he’s remembered something. “Hang on a minute,” he says to the photographer, holding up a finger.

He twists around to face Y/N and carefully sweeps her hair back over her shoulder, tucking it behind her ear to ensure the pearl earring is on clear display. She smiles at him, which he returns in a quick unspoken exchange of gratitude and care.

“Alright,” Harry says, settling back to face the photographer. His hand finds Y/N’s and he squeezes it. “We’re good.”

The camera clicks and the flash goes off. Their hands remain joined on Harry’s lap.

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

hope you enjoyed this!! if you did, a reblog & any kind of message would be really appreciated. i'm open to any requests, from the prompt list linked above or from your own imagination, which you can send here. all my other writing is linked on my masterlist. have a lovely day!

#harry styles blurb #harry styles fluff #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fic #fic

[badassbuchanan]

After Hours

Plot: Ransom always gets his way, even if that means taking what he wants without asking. 

Warnings: smut; non!con, unprotected sex, quickie.

Word count: 1728

A/N: I got very distracted writing my Bucky smut because of this sexy asshole - REQUESTS AND TAG LIST IS OPEN

My clenched fist knocked on the heavy door, only slightly making a sound. It had been a long day at work, but when Ransom requested a meeting with me, it had instantly lifted my mood, even if he had requested the meeting an hour after everyone finished work.

Ransom was the newly appointed manager of Blood Like Wine Publishing, after the retirement of his grandfather and owner of the company, Harlan Thrombey.

Harlan had, to everyone’s surprise, chosen to hand the company over to his wild, rebellious grandson. It had caused a lot of upset within the family after Harlan had announced to the public that Ransom would be taking ownership. “It’s time for Ransom to add a refreshing touch to the family business.” Harlan had told the press at the grand re-opening.

Ransom had been targeted by the media as a wreckless, selfish party animal who slept with whoever he set his eyes on.

I hadn’t seen a lot of Ransom over the duration of the few weeks he’d been here, no one had. He spent most of his time in his office, his head buried in reviewing drafts, determined to prove to everyone that he was the leader the company needed.

“Come in.” His voice called out as I opened the wooden door slowly, immediately noticing Ransom’s intimidating figure standing behind his desk.

The beige knitted sweater he wore hugged his body nicely, he’d never made the change to dress corporately and encouraged us all to dress as we pleased, although I’d chosen to stick with Harlen’s preference of ‘office attire’. He let out a sigh, concentrating on the papers in front of him as he ran his hand with his signet ring through his tossled hair.

“You asked to see me, Sir?” My voice came out as a squeak, walking cautiously towards his desk after shutting the door behind me. The room was silent, which only made me more aware of the sound of my heels against the wooden floor boards.

“Yeah,” His alarming tone notified me that he had been far too preoccupied to notice who had entered his office and most likely forgot our scheduled appointment. “Come over here.”

His natural dominance had my panties glistening, along with the fact that Ransom just happened to be the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.

His blue eyes shone like diamonds, even in the darkness. His lips were pouty, yet gave him a smile like a naughty school boy. The crease between his eyebrows that appeared whenever he concentrated. His thick thighs that sat tight against the dark denim of his jeans. And most importantly, his big, dangerous hands.

I adjusted the bottom of my skirt that sat just above mid-thigh as I walked over to his desk. Noticing the way his hand held a sheet of paper up for him to observe.

There was a record player in the corner of the room that sat next to the window, evidently the item had been either left there by Harlan or something Ransom had purchased to make him look more distinguished, purely for decoration purposes only.

I stopped when I reached his desk, watching him intently as he grabbed his glass of whiskey from beside him, taking a large sip.

Our interactions had always been professional and yet somehow flirtatious at the same time. Simple things like him complimenting my work whilst I mentioned his great style somehow made us feel so electric.

“This side.” Ransom glanced up at me momentarily, his voice was soft, but still made me want to obey any request he sent my way.

I did as I was told, walking around to his side of the desk, standing to look at the papers in front of us as he adjusted himself to stand behind my body.

I could feel the tension begin to build as soon as he came closer. I tried to avoid the way it made me feel to have him so close. Someone so powerful. So in control. So fucking handsome.

“See this?” Ransom asked deeply from behind me, pointing to a document scattered on his mahogany desk. I could feel his crotch against my ass as I rubbed against him testingly.

I leaned over slightly to take a better look at the document, catching Ransom out of the corner of my eye put his whiskey glass down beside us.

That’s when I felt his hand slide up the inside of my bare thigh, bringing my skirt up with it until he reached my panties. I bit my lip, ignoring his action as I nodded, reading over the paper in my hands.

“I need you to review the highlighted paragraphs for me.” He requested as his fingers hooked into the crotch of my panties. My breath came out shaky as a blush covered my cheeks, knowing he’d be able to feel the leaking wetness.

“When do you need it done by?” I asked calmly, hearing the sound of a zipper behind me. I carefully anticipated his next move, having no objection to where this was headed.

“Next Friday,” He responded, slowly pulling my panties down my legs, my ass now on full display for him from where he’d bunched my skirt up around my hips. “That’ll give me time to prepare before the presentation.”

With his last words he pushed his cock inside of me without warning, filling me up. It was a tight push considering my legs were still almost fully shut. But feeling my tightness around him only made Ransom more eager.

He stilled when he was fully sheathed inside of me, his body pressed tightly against my back as I closed in eyes in ecstasy. My breathing shallowed as my pussy drenched his cock that was twitching inside of me.

It was a painful stretch, but one that I welcomed. My mouth hung open slightly as an ache shot through my pussy. I couldn’t help but wiggle my hips open slightly to allow him more access.

Ransom groaned so softly that I almost missed it, his ring clad hand digging into my hips as he made a slow move of pulling out until it was just his tip in me.

I licked my lips and leaned forward slightly towards the desk, arching my back. Ransom then slowly began moving back in me, stopping momentarily when he was inside me before repeating the action.

He moved at a painfully slow speed, but he was too invested in watching where his cock disappeared inside of me. His eyebrows furrowed and his nostrils flared with arousal, his jaw clenched.

I bit my lip, trying not to break the silence that filled the room, with the exception of my wetness. I couldn’t believe how aroused he had me just from his cock being inside of me.

Ransom continued at his agonising pace, letting out small grunts every time he bottomed out inside of me. I could feel his cock twitch inside of me, his balls tapping against me slightly with every thrust.

Ransom’s breath was hot on my neck as his hands wrapped around my body, hugging my ass against his cock. There was a sharp pain in my core, his cock deep inside me as he began thrusting faster, our hips moving in sync as he pounded me against his desk.

I clenched around him, my orgasm hitting me by surprise. I let out slight cries, trying to stay quiet as my clit rubbed against the wooden desk. Ransom’s hand laid flat on my stomach, pushing me back against him harder as he spurted his cum deep inside of me with a final moan.

His breathing quickened, his hands squeezing my hips as I expectantly waited for him to pull out, but he didn’t. He stayed burried deep inside of me. I whimpered softly, feeling so sensitive as he tried to catch his breath.

I leaned back against him more, his chest firmly against my back as I took advantage at the feeling of his warm cock inside me.

When he did finally pulled out, I sighed, feeling empty. I pulled my panties back up my legs, hearing him zip his pants back up. I adjusted my skirt, tugging it back to its usual position before scrambling to grab the papers we’d earlier discussed.

“I’ll have these on your desk by next Friday, as requested, Mr Drysdale.” I said slightly uncomfortable with the fact that Ransom hadn’t said a word.

“Y/N,” Ransom called out to me as I reached the door, causing me to turn around and notice how fucked out he looked. “Call me Ransom, yeah?”

——————— a few days later ————————

“Wait what?” Y/F/N almost completely brought the car to a standstill on the busy road. Her head whizzed around to give me a wide eyed, baffled look after I’d just told her my boss fucked me.

“He just kind of, put it in?” I tried to recall the exact circumstances which lead to the situation, all of which made sense at the time but now seemed to escape me.

“Without mentioning it? Without talking?” She shook her head, baffled by the situation I’d found myself in.

“No, of course we were talking. Just..not about fucking.” I squinted, knowing none of what I was saying sounded logical out loud.

“How the f-“

“I don’t know!” I whined in confusion, covering my face with my hands as I slouch back into the car seat. “You just had to have been there I guess.”

“Please don’t tell me you let him cum inside you.” She says with reservations, knowing me too well.

My silence said it all. “For fuck sake, Y/N! What if you get pregnant?”

“I don’t know!” I whined loudly, my mind whirling with possible scenarios. “I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Y/F/N chuckled as she drove, shaking her head. “So have you spoken to him since?”

“No, I’ve obviously seen him around, but we haven’t talked about what happened.” I admitted shyly, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like an idiot who’d been used by her boss.

“Well, I don’t think that’ll last forever.” She said matter-of-factly, raising her eyebrows.

She was right. It wouldn’t last forever. I’d eventually have to face the repercussions of my, well our actions. I’d eventually have to come face to face with Ransom. After all, he was my boss.

tag list:

@harrysthiccthighss

@annestine

@bestofbucky

@be-patient-be-good

@nothing0is4here

@velvetcardiganbucky

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[kiribaku-queen]

The Blood King and his Queen [3]

Pairing: Bakugou x reader

Romance, Angst, Drama

Word count: 2.3K

Summary:  From being a mere servant girl to marrying the scariest prince in existence, your world changed right before your eyes. Exchanging places with the princess, you knew, wasn’t going to be easy. But could you have found love on the way? Or was it never meant to be?

A/N: I hope you get just as much second-hand embarrassment from this episode as I did. Thank you for waiting and being patient! I hope this chapter was worth waiting for! Look forward to the very end for a special ending scene. Honestly, I was imagining it like an anime and its like an extra that they put in... idk please bare with me. I thought it was funny! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list! :) happy reading, loves!

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Dinner was eaten in silence. After your smart remark, you didn’t have anything more to say to each other. At least, you didn’t know what to say to him. Was it the best choice to be sassy with him? Probably not. But did he deserve it after being rude to your first? Absolutely.

You looked up from your meal to see Bakugou stuffing his face in an angry matter. Only, Bakugou wasn’t angry. He was just like that, little did you know.

The next morning was no different. Breakfast was eaten in silence. If it wasn’t for that small interaction you had with him the night prior, you would have sworn the mighty Blood Prince was mute. But Kirishima swore to you that the prince doesn’t usually act this way. You’d believe it when you see it.

You had joined Bakugou for breakfast and to your surprise, the table was full with dishes; dishes you recognized and dishes you’ve never seen before. Everything was neatly organized and pretty to look at. It was a sight that you’ve seen before. You don’t know why you’re shocked every time.

“Princess,” Bakugou’s deep voice greeted you out of nowhere. You were startled and confused to hear the prince greet you. Up until this point, he has never even greeted you let alone acknowledge you when you step into the room. Was he finally out of his ‘bad mood’, from what Kirishima told you?

“Your Highness,” you greeted him back with a small bow. Kirishima led you to your spot at the table. When you got situated in your seat, he moved like how he did the previous night and stood guard while you and your ‘fiancé’ enjoyed your meal.

The food presented to you, although foreign looking, looked mouthwatering. And when you looked closer, there were many dishes that you actually knew but only plated differently. So of course, you dug in. Like a princess, no doubt. Or, what you thought like what a princess would do. You took itty bitty bites with your best posture: back straight, chin high, careful not to spill any food on you. Since you don’t have many chances to talk to his highness, meal times are the only times that you could make an impression. Last nights endeavors didn’t seem like it made a lasting impression of hate. Looks like its time to bring it up a notch.

“Excuse me for the corniness, your highness,” you started. Bakugou glanced up. Once again those piercing red eyes made you hold your breath for a second. You raised a spoonful of the yellow corn that was on your plate and gave a cheeky smile. “But this is really a-maize-ing!”

Only the sound of your laughter echoed throughout the dining room. Kirishima’s jaw physical drops in shock. Meanwhile, Bakugou stopped chewing, stopped eating and stared at you.

“Lettuce celebrate to our engagement,” you continued to joke, stabbing your fork in the green leaf and held it high as if you were giving a toast. Bakugou’s face didn’t change one bit. But Kirishima looked mortified. He looked back between you and his angry-looking friend, afraid of how he would react to your not-so comical puns.

The longer he stared at you with his blank eyes, the more cold sweat you began to accumulate. The more cold sweat, the more nervous you became and thus, the more panicky you became. He wasn’t laughing at anything you were saying. You panicked. This was not the reaction you were hoping for. You had to say something. You gave him a nervous laugh again and frantically searched for the next best thing.

“Kiwi at least be friends?” you lifted up the delicate fruit with a glimmer of hope in your eyes. Again, no reaction. Kirishima wanted to cover his face so bad. He couldn’t take this torture anymore! But he had to remain professional. “No? Okay,” you gave up, your voice disappearing into a whisper. Pouting and looking down, you ate your meal quietly. You’ve never felt more embarrassed for yourself than in this moment. Heat rose to your cheeks and you wanted to hide away, never to be seen again.

The moment you looked down in embarrassment, Bakugou tried to stifle a laugh. The sides of his lips couldn’t help but curl up in a small smirk. He tried to eat something to calm him down, but as soon as his lips met the metal fork, his lips curled into a side smile that couldn’t be hid. But you were unable to see this side of Bakugou due to your mortification. Kirishima, on the other hand, raised a brow in amusement. This wasn’t a sight you could see every day.

“Kirishima,” Bakugou addressed the red-head. Straightening his posture, Kirishima put his hands beside his back and raised his chin high.

“Your highness,” Kirishima answered.

“Make sure the princess is ready by the time the horses are packed. We have a long trip ahead of us,” the prince announced and was about to leave, but not before you stood up to stop him.

“Trip? Where are we going?” you asked in a frantic matter. There was a moment’s pause.

“As my queen-to-be, you should know the kingdom, no?” he glanced back. This time, his eyes were not so aggressive. There was amusement and a hint of a challenge, as if he was trying to challenge you. The prince made his way out of the dining hall and back to this residence.

 After taking you back to your room to get ready for your trip around the kingdom, Kirishima made a pitstop at the prince’s quarters to pay visit.

“I saw that,” Kirishima commented, relaxing the moment the door closed behind him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bakugou tried to brush it off, but he knows that he’s been caught.

“I’ve never seen you like that around a princess, before. You like her?” Kirishima teased. Bakugou let out a breathy smirk.

“She’s interesting, that’s for sure,” he admit.

“I mean, what was she saying out there? Out of character for a princess, right?” Kirishima finally let out a laugh.

“So out of character that it was funny,” Bakugou, too, let out a small laugh. A moment of laughter passed and Kirishima got serious.

“You think she’s the one you’re looking for?” he asked. But Bakugou couldn’t say for sure.

“We’ll find out after this trip, won’t we?” Bakugou grabbed his iconic cape, draped it over his shoulders and powerfully made his way to the front entrance.

By the time that you were finished getting ready, you made your way to where Bakugou and a group of soldiers was getting geared up. You were dressed in a lighter, more fit for travel, dress. If you moved, the dress wouldn’t be in your way. Although white, your servants packed you many more dresses just like the one you were wearing. Your hair was flowing naturally down your face, leaving an ethereal, fairy-like appearance.  

Bakugou has brought several soldiers along for the trip, all either carrying a box, securing it on the cart, or making sure that all the materials are present. Insides the boxes ranged from a variety of things: food to wood to medicine supplies. You weren’t sure why you need so many things, but you thought it was for safe precautions? Bring more so you don’t worry about it.

“Your highness, everything has been prepared,” Kirishima announced, saluting to his highness. Bakugou stood tall with his signature glare that didn’t seem to faze Kirishima at all.

“Double check?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“We have extra food and clothing?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“The tent is packed?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“Weapons are secured?”

“Yes, your highness.” Bakugou flared his nostrils and nodded his head.

“Good man. Let’s head out!” he bellowed. On cue, all of the soldiers that were coming were hopping on their horses. You looked around nervously. You had never ridden a horse before, let alone seen one in person. Did they expect you to know to ride one? But there was no extra horse for you. You were about to ask Kirishima but then, a hand is reached out to you. Turning around, you see the Blood Prince, himself, giving you his hand.

“My lady,” he gently grabbed the tips of your fingers, bringing them to his lips. His gaze never leaving yours for a second. You were expecting him to kiss your hand, but instead, he gently laid his lips on top of his thumb where it rested between his lips and your fingers. Heat rushed to your cheeks and you couldn’t stop the shocked expression that was blatant on your face.

The prince helped you on the horse but what you weren’t expecting was him to hop on the same horse right behind you. His presence closer than what you have wanted in such a short amount of time. His arms reached around your waist to grab the ropes, unexpectedly pulling you closer to his chest.

Sitting in front of him, you were as stiff as a board. You couldn’t relax your shoulders because if you did, you would be resting against his body. The beginning of the ride was met in silence. No talking was happening, not even among his solders. Talk about an awkward trip. You hoped it wasn’t going to be like this the entire trip. You would be so miserable.

It took a while to escape the palace grounds, but once you did, you were surprised by how beautifully green and luscious the scenery ahead of you was. The sight bestowed upon you was nothing like your imagination. From the rumors, if the prince was that bad of a person, then surely his kingdom would portray that same image: full of poverty, death, killing, blood. But no. His kingdom was thriving.

In order to continue on with the trip, you and your crew had to pass by the local town. The people looked content and happy. They were flourishing! There were many stands selling essentials such as clothing and food. Others were selling odd objects foreign to you. The smell of meat grilling and sweets filled your noise. Kids were running around without a care in the world. There was so much going on that you didn’t know what to focus your eyes on.

Bakugou happened to look down at you, only to see your eyes wide with excitement and wonder. Your head twisted left and ride to grasp the whole world around you. Bakugou looked at you and back at what your eyes were focused on. Behind you, he had signaled his soldiers to halt and move to the side. But you had noticed immediately.

“Why are we stopping?” you asked, curiously.

“One of these idiots forgot something.” Bakugou made up on the fly.

“But we didn’t forget anything,” the soldier with electric blonde hair commented, so quietly that you couldn’t overhear him. Kirishima just nudged him in the gut to shut him up. “Would you like to explore with me while they get it taken care of?” Bakugou asked. You were surprised but intrigued by his question. This was probably the only time in your whole life that you could explore in such a manner. You had to take advantage while you could.

“Please,” you say.

And just like that you looked like a child exploring the world for the first time. And really, that’s what it was. All your life, you served the princess. Your earliest memories were of the palace. You never knew what it was like outside the palace. Everything fascinated you: the food, the smells, the sights, the clothes, the jewelry, the accessories, the people. How could you not know about any of this?

Bakugou watched you closely as you explored on your own and smiled to himself. He was not expecting the princess to act like such a kid.

“You must never get out much in your kingdom,” he comments. You look at him with a shy smile.

“Was it that obvious?”

“Maybe just a little,” he jokes. Your shy smile turns in a more comfortable, laid back laugh.

“I’ve never been outside the palace walls. It’s a first for me,” you say. You weren’t wrong. You were speaking for yourself, but you’re sure the real princess was able to explore her kingdom.

“Now that won’t do. Get whatever you want, my treat,” Bakugou offers to you. Your eyes up once again like a kid. Bakugou gives you his head of approval and now your options were opened like you never imagined. Anything you wanted? What did you even want? You felt like just looking was a treat for you. You were about to decline until the sight of the street food caught your attention. You got a closer look and the smell just enticed you immediately.

From there, it was nonstop to discovering new foods. You tried all these sweet that you didn’t know existed. It moved from food to trying on luxurious clothing and feeling fabrics that was foreign on your skin.

You were following Bakugou around blatantly. He was commenting on some things to help educate you better. But your eyes were so easily distracted. Due to the overflow of people, if you didn’t pay attention, you could easily get lost within the crowd. Unlucky for you, the moment you looked away, the prince had already disappeared from your vision. Panic ensued in you. No matter where you turned your head, you couldn’t see that tall, blonde anywhere.

“Bakugou!” you reached out, terrified. Thank god Bakugou has good ears. The instant you called his name, he was already looking back for you. You reached out and grabbed his forearm, tightly, determined not to let go. Your actions caused Bakugou to become flustered.

“Don’t get lost,” he scolded. Idiot¸ he thought while covering his mouth and looked away. He wanted to hide the very clear blush that was on his cheeks.

A/N: As always, I would love to know your thoughts! The adventure officially begins now! If you would still like to be tagged for future chapters, please let me know! They are always open!

Spoiler! Next chapter will make your heart go doki-doki <3

Tagged: @superblyspeedydragon​ @melasnchz-things​ @animexholic​ @bkgwrites​ @sam-i-am-1025​ @apexqueenie​ @katsukibabe​ @germfart3​ @tspice283​ @angie-1306​ @bakugous-trauma​ @bakugousmrs​

After scene credits:

“Oi, you seeing what I’m seeing?” Kaminari, one of the soldiers chosen to tag along, observed. Kaminari and Kirishima were resting on top of the roofs, getting a clear view of you and the prince.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up. Kaminari,” Kirishima rubbed the temples of his head. Kaminari pouted and continued to drink out of his canteen.

“I’m just saying,” he mumbled, sadly.

#bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugou #bakugou #bnha bakugou #bakugou imagine #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bnha imagine #bakugou angst #bnha art #bakugou romance #bakugou drama