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blluespirit · 2 months

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Overall NATLA Thoughts

Okay, now that I've watched the series, I can give my thoughts.

Overall, I thought it was good!!! I had fun watching it! I'd rate it a solid 6.5/10. It's nowhere as good as the original, but it was definitely enjoyable and made some nice changes here and there that I liked. There were also some things I was also Not a fan of too.

I said in another post that it's best to treat this like an AU of the original. There will things that are great and things that are bad. That's the nature of adapting something.

Having said that, I need to get my initial thoughts off my chest... here we go.

Things I thought were good:

Sokka's characterisation - I really enjoyed him! I thought Ian did a good job! He played the funny moments well and retained the underlying seriousness/cautiousness. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed the changes a lot and think it was overall a solid performance.

Zuko's characterisation - Like Sokka, I do think I was most satisfied with their performances. A lot of Zuko's moments from the cartoon are sometimes... well, cartoonish and definitely wouldn't translate to live action, but I think Dallas did a nice job at balancing Zuko's desperate anger and that occasional sassiness well.

Zuko and Iroh moments were great. Had me on the floor crying. As it should have.

The bending looks a trillion times better than the movie - I understand it would not have been easy for the actors but, overall, I was very happy about it.

The scenery was stunning. It just looked so beautiful. I loved it so much.

Absolutely ADORE that they made Zuko a good calligrapher and artist. I read a fic about a million years ago where Zuko is a fantastic calligrapher and I thought it was perfect and made so much sense, and now I can say it's canon. This is perfect for me.

S U K I

The Freedom Fighters were ✨ perfect

They were so real for making Oma and Shu lesbians

Koh, Wan Shi Tong and Hei Bai looked fantastic, but I have more to say about all of them below, unfortunately.

I actually like the change they made that Katara is Aang's sole waterbending teacher.

Aang is not perfect, and needed more goofy scenes HOWEVER, I did like how they've had Aang's guilt more prominent in the story. The original didn't do a very good job with that, imo.

Zuko entering is breaking and entering era by breaking into an impenetrable Earth Kingdom prison is just perfect.

In Masks, I like how Aang and Zuko got a longer conversation - that was pretty cute.

I liked how they changed Yue a bit and got her out of the arranged marriage... how Yue saw Sokka in the Spirit World before meeting him in the real world.

Things I didn't like:

Far too much info-dumping/exposition. So much spelling things out. It was not as egregious as the movie, and I get there's a lot of information that needs to be conveyed well and quickly... but sometimes it really took me out of the show.

Why are Mai and Ty Lee here.... I was hoping the live action would give them a bit more depth (and they might as it goes forward!), but why put them in season 1 at all if they're just going to stand around???

Some odd changes - putting this as one point, but there are some bizarre changes that didn't make sense to me, as they did not benefit the story or deepen the characters. I have two main examples: a) making it so Aang didn't run away from home, and b) making it so Zuko actually fights Ozai in the Agni Kai.

Characterisation of Katara was Not Great. I don't think I got many hints of the reckless, compassionate, badass Katara until the end when she fights Pakku and rallies all the women together to fight (which happens off-screen). She was sweet and kind, but she just lacked the fire that OG Katara has.

Azula's characterisation - Azula is desperate to impress Ozai and so her character is just…. brewing with anger, frustration, desperation. I was SO excited to see the Azula we are introduced too… perpetually and irritatingly calm, calculating and ruthless. She's perfect, she's terrifying! She's literally the character of all time. But this Azula had more Zuko vibes? I don't think there's anything wrong with giving Azula more concrete motivation by wanting to impress Ozai and establishing that Ozai is abusive to both his kids, but I do think trying to do that right off the bat is a mistake.

WHY is Wan Shi Tong here. I love Wan Shi Tong, but like I said: Why Is He Here? Why could we not have his iconic, ominous as fuck introduction from The Library, and instead he's introduced in a random season 1 episode giving Aang Information(tm) about the Spirit World.

When Aang gave Koh the statue, and then he just takes it and immediately lets all the villages go, and neither of them even say anything, I actually laughed out loud. Like, I am so sorry, but what in the jesus fuck was that.

Speaking of Koh - I think Koh is better the less we know about him. Roku saying ~all Koh wants is a family like the rest of us~ just pissed me off?? I like my Koh the Face Stealer Terrifying and Unknowable, thank you.

NOTHING EVER REALLY HAPPENS WITH HEI BAI!!?? where's my precious spirit bear?? Like Aang never really does anything with him and the replacement Koh story is boring and it sucks.

Bumi.... sorry I just didn't vibe with him at all.

Things I can't decide on:

Fancy spirit knife to kill the moon spirit annoyed me a bit, but I guess they wanted to Kuruk something to work with and a little bit more interaction with Aang which I get but idk. I really flip/flop on this one.

I've been very on the fence about having Azula (and Ozai) being in the show in season 1 in general. I'm not sure if it benefited either of their characters.

Azula & Ozai's dynamic - Okay, so, I think they're trying to give Azula more depth, right? They're trying to establish what it was like for Azula to live with Ozai and that she's also (like Zuko) trying to desperately prove herself to him, but Ozai using Zuko's... achievements to do that just felt so weird. I get he's doing it to manipulate her, but that just felt so wrong when in canon it's very obvious that Ozai just didn't give a single fuck about Zuko. Ozai pits Azula against Zuko by saying he's a failure, he's a bad bender etc. Azula is born lucky, Zuko is lucky to be born - like, Ozai says that to Zuko's face. I don't know if I am communicating this point very well, but it just didn't seem right to me??

Zuko vs Zhao in the Siege of the North... I genuinely do not know how to feel about it! I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I don't know how to feel about Zhao telling Zuko that his mission is a sham and that Azula is the prized one... It feels like it's saying the quiet part out loud? In the OG we all know that Ozai sending Zuko on that mission was an excuse to get rid of him, but we can work that out, no one actually says it. And then Iroh just fucking killing him/mortally wounding him instead of the Iconic scene where Zuko reaches out to save him despite everything Zhao has done to him, but Zhao's own pride gets in the way from letting him accept help from Zuko.

Zuko’s crew being the 41st is not necessarily a bad thing at all!!! But I do just want to say that in the original, the attack goes ahead, and presumably, those soldiers die. It’s horrible. Zuko’s sacrifice is in vain, and it was always going to be in vain because the Fire Nation as it stands would not allow Zuko's compassion to win. Ozai would not allow it. While not necessarily a bad choice (all the soldiers bowing to Zuko on the boat was so sweet I loved it!) but I think it does take away some of the horror of Zuko’s story (same as it does with making Zuko fight back in my opinion) because the whole point is that Zuko did the right thing - and he was punished for it, and those soldiers died anyway.

anyway...

Okay!! got that off my chest. I know I just had a big whine here, but I still had a lot of fun watching this show. I think some of the backlash is a bit over the top and unwarranted. It was never going to stand up to the original - and that's okay.

Enjoy it for what it is!

#zuko #sokka #katara #aang #yue #iroh #zhao #azula #ozai #jet #koh the face stealer #wan shi tong #hei bai #natla #avatar the last airbender #atla netflix #avatar netflix #jack talks #live action series

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inbarfink · 3 months

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After all these years, ‘I Remember You’ is still one of the great highlights of Adventure Time Storytelling. And not just in the basic ‘what???? Silly children’s cartoon does something SAD??? HOLY SHIT MIND BLOWN’ way. But with the execution of that Something Sad. How it manages to pack so many Complex Emotions into just 11-minutes of television. And especially the way it utilizes the basic Adventure Time format for that purpose.

So Adventure Time is a Board-based show. Each episode has an outline pitched and written down by the writer’s room, and then this outline goes to a team of (usually) two Storyboard Artists who develop that simple outline into a full story. And with the show’s art-style deliberately eschewing staying perfectly ‘on-model’ in favor of having the animators take direct reference from how the different storyboarders draw the characters

And the show being generally extremely versatile in terms of themes and tone - AT has allowed a lot of their Storyboarders to really express themselves and their unique artistic vision as part of the Big Collaborative Narrative that is Adventure Time.

Now, the Boarders who worked on ‘I Remember You’ are Cole Sanchez and Rebecca Sugar. These two were a Storyboarding Duo from the start of S4 and until Sugar left the AT Crew during S5, and they always struck me as a curious combination. I think really from all of the individual boarders working on AT during that time, these two really are the closest to having like… Totally Opposite Artistic Sensibilities as boarders.

With Sugar favoring a style that is very loose and sketchy and also very rounded. Focusing on expressions and subtle body language and lighting. And being famous for going deep in depth into Big Moments of Emotional Catharsis

And Sanchez having a very clear art style that emphasizes strong silhouettes and clear lines that suggest flatness. Focusing more on major poses and the character’s positions in the space. And having just a really great eye for AT’s brand of silly humor.

Like, I almost kinda suspect these two were paired together so they can each cover for the other’s “weakspots” in writing ‘Adventure Time’.

And there were a few episodes that did some really interesting stuff with this very contrasting pair - ‘Jake the Dog’ is another example. Giving most of the Farmworld scenes to Sugar and most of the Time Room scenes to Sanchez both plays to their personal strengths as storyboarders and helps to emphasize the strong emotional contrast between these two scenarios.

And ‘I Remember You’ is actually kinda unique among Adventure Time episodes cause… Most episodes will have the two boarders alternate between working on the episode throughout it. Like you’d have Boarder A draw a bit and then Boarder B and then Boarder A again… But “I Remember You” is divided between Sanchez and Sugar… basically perfectly in the middle.

So the entirety of the first half of the episode was boarded by Sanchez

Until Ice King pushes Marceline and then leaves the room in shame.

And then, Sugar takes over.

And, like, even if you don’t know anything about the Behind the Scenes of Adventure Time or who Cole Sanchez and Rebecca Sugar even are - the Shift is noticeable. The shift in tone, in narrative focus, in the subtleties in which the characters are drawn.

The entire first half of the episode has this thin veneer of just being a Silly Goofy Ice King Episode. Sanchez’s talent for Adventure Time’s brand of comedy is on full display… but there is also this underlying feeling that Something is Happening just under the surface. And these hints of the Big Emotions of ‘IRY’ expressed via Sanchez’s kinda goofy style really create this balance between putting the audience into a false sense of security that this is just a Very Normal Episode about two characters hanging out and the Tension constantly brewing in the subtext.

And then it all comes to a blow.

And then the Shift happens. And now we are in Sugar’s court.

And this subtle shift in the artstyle and storytelling also coincide with Marceline finally openly expressing her feelings and the Reveal of Simon and Marcy's shared past. The episode changes focus from Ice King's silly antics to Marceline's feelings. Everything changes, everything in the first part of the episode gets recontextualized and... even on the most basic level, the episode is now Noticeably Different.

I would almost say that Sanchez’s half of the episode has Ice King define the tone, while Sugar’s half of the episode has Marceline define the tone. But more than anything it’s the catharsis. The reveal and release of those emotions that were building up so expertly through the Sanchez half of the episode. All of the Sugar-boarded scenes in this episode are really heartbreaking on their own, just through the tragedy of the story and Sugar’s expert knowledge of howto convey emotion in the visual medium - but it’s so enchanted by what came before it.

“I Remember You” is truly a great testament to how ‘Adventure Time’ could use every aspect of its medium to tell a great story in such a short time.

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greatooglymooglyyy · 29 days

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The Last Ride Chapter Six (AU Cowboy!C.Sturniolo)

summary: when spoiled and sheltered city girl Y/N finds herself in running in the wrong crowd, her dad gives her an ultimatum. it's either spend the summer of her gap year on her uncle's ranch or face being cut off and finding a job. just when she thinks it can't get any worse, she meets Chris, the brooding farmhand who thinks he knows her type. but as the summer goes on, they both realize there may be more to the other than meets the eye.

requested and advised by @rootbeerworshiper

series masterlist

contains: angst, mentions of parental death, parental abandonment, fluff, cussing, 2.8k words

“Fuck!”

I yank my fingers out from where they’ve been caught in the wooden gate, wrapping my other hand around them to try to alleviate the throbbing sensation that overtakes my every thought.

Chris tuts, running back to the truck to grab something while I blink back tears. I do not want to cry in front of him over a jammed finger, even if it hurts like a bitch. He jogs back quickly with the ice pack from our lunches that he’s wrapped in a bandana. “Let me see.”

I reluctantly place my hand in his and let him apply pressure to my fingers with the cold damp cloth, hissing when he makes contact.

We lock eyes for a second but I look away, taking the ice pack from him and pulling away. The last thing I want to do right now is give him another chance to create a meaningless moment between us.

Chris takes the hint, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. “It looks like it’s gonna swell up on you. Maybe you should go find your uncle and take the day.”

I nod, examining my fingers and cautiously moving them. It strings but I doubt they’re broken. Still, any excuse to get a day off this ranch is one I’m willing to take. I start to head back towards the chickens, where I saw my uncle last when I hear Chris softly call my name.

Turning back, I give him a hard look of disdain. I can only assume the worst is to come out of his mouth. “What?”

His face drops and he shakes his head, muttering a low “never mind” before he heads back to the pickup truck. He’s actually given me a rare amount of space today after the weekend’s events, only speaking to me to give out tasks and then making himself scarce.

I watch him for a second, taking in his seemingly hurt expression. Something like sadness settles in my chest before I force myself to look away and shrug it off. I won’t allow myself to feel guilt over something that isn’t my fault.

Hopefully, he’s feeling regret after giving me yet another tragic date story to add to the books. That is if he’d even call it a date. Not that it matters. I’m here to pay off a debt, not worry about whether or not some small-town playboy is hot or cold.

*********************************************************

I wake up still a bit woozy from the pain medication that Aunt Birdie gave me when I got home. Not wanting to force myself back to sleep, I head into the living room to watch TV. I expected both of them to be sleeping by now, but Uncle Buck sits rocking gently in his chair when I enter the living room.

He looks up at me and gives me a gentle smile. “How ya feeling, darling? How’s the hand?”

I flex my fingers for him, only the slightest bit of tenderness still lingering. “I think I’ll keep it.” I joke, walking over to take the seat nearest him.

Buck laughs softly, bringing his beer can to his lips and taking a sip. He clears his throat before he speaks, trying to sound casual. “And Chris? You keepin’ him?”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward in surprise. “Not you too, Uncle Buck.” Birdie had tried for hours to convince me of Chris’ merits after Friday’s shit show but my uncle had kept silent. Until now.

He puts the beer down and runs a hand over his face as if he’s already exhausted of the conversation. “I don’t wanna get into young folks' business or nothin’. But I heard through the grapevine what went down.”

Rolling my eyes at the small-town rumor mill, I sit back with a sigh. “Uncle-”

“I just wanna make sure you’ve got the whole story, Y/N. That’s all. Y’all are more similar than I think y’know.”

He breathes out heavily as he starts, shaking his head like the story pains him.

“Chris’ mama and daddy were one of those old classic love stories. I mean real lovey-dovey shit, high school sweethearts, prom king and queen, write a song about it, whole nine yards. Never seen two people be in love quite like that.

They got hitched fresh out of school and had him not long after. We all thought they were seven fools for getting settled so young. But they didn’t care. They were happy as a tick on a fat dog. You’d catch ‘em round town, hand in hand with this little boy, lookin’ straight off a Hallmark card. Picture perfect for years.

But then she got sick. Somethin’ wrong with her heart. Docs say she needs this big scary surgery or she won’t see another year. But right before it’s scheduled… they find out she’s pregnant. All those years after Chris. A little girl. So she refuses the surgery. The whole town tried to talk sense to that woman but nothing worked. And his daddy… man it was like he was this shell of a person. Like he was already gone before she had a chance to get better.

So when she died giving birth and he took off a few months later, it wasn’t even a surprise to much of anybody. Something snapped inside of him and I’d bet my last dollar that wherever he is, he’s still broken.”

My heart feels like it’s straining against my chest as I listen to his story, the air seeming so thick I can’t breathe. “And Chris?”

Uncle Buck closes his eyes for a moment before he answers. “He grew up. He grew up way too fast. They moved them into their grandma’s house. Lord bless her. She was already well into her aging by then. Imagine that. Man of the house at fifteen years old. Raising a baby damn-near by yourself. I still remember the day he came knocking at my door, hat in hand, beggin’ for a job. He was just a twig of a thing then. But anybody could see he had the world on his shoulders and he was terrified of dropping it. He still is.

Now I ain’t tell you this so you’ll take him back. Or whatever it is you kids are gettin’ up to. I’m just saying… if you’re gonna put him down, do me a favor and set him down easy, he’s been dropped enough.”

*********************************************************

The next night, I wake up to a sharp knock on my window and sit up straight, a tinge of confusion setting in until I fully wake up. I rush over to the window and throw it open, knowing there’s only one person it could be. I passed him a note before I left work, asking him to visit me tonight. But I’d fallen asleep waiting on him when the night dragged on.

Chris leans awkwardly into the window, the energy so different from the last time we knelt here. He bites his lip, his eyes bouncing between my room and my face before he finally speaks. “Y/N. I am so fucking sorry. I didn’t think you wanted to hear it from me but it’s no excuse. I shoulda said it as soon as I saw you-”

Reaching out softly and lacing our hands together, I cut into his rambling, eager for him to know that it’s all okay now. “My uncle told me everything. I’m sorry too. It’s not fair of me to assume I’m the only one with a fucked up life.”

He grimaces, breathing out heavily through his nose. I can feel him fight the urge to shut down, relief engulfing me when he doesn’t pull away. “We should start a charity, huh? The deadbeat parents society. We’d make a fuckin’ killing.”

I smile weakly, knowing what it is to cover my pain with self-deprecating jokes. Knowing how it never once stopped me from hurting. Instead acting as a bandaid, simply covering the problem but not solving it.

Chris laughs out a bitter half-chuckle with a shake of his head. “It’s just ironic, you know? All those lessons, he’d drill into me. All that big talk about what it means to be a man. Just for him to turn around and walk out on his family. The one he had left. Some man he was.”

He clears his throat, trying to suppress the emotion in his voice, so I squeeze his hand in encouragement. He gives me a sad smile before he continues. “You know I used to think it was me. Like I wasn’t enough to make him want to stick around. But now? I look at Evie and it just don’t make sense. Ain’t a thing in the world could make me walk away from that face.”

His earnestness cracks me open and I bring my open hand up to cup the side of his face. “Take it from someone who’s got years of top dollar therapy behind them. None of it was your fault.”

Giving me a nod like he wants to believe me, Chris blinks at me slowly. “Maybe not.” He sighs and pulls away, drumming his fingers on the windowsill. “But last weekend was. What do you say, you let me try to make it up to you?”

“Depends on what you have in mind.” I lie for the second time in a row. But this time, the smile he gives me tells me he’s calling my bluff.

*********************************************************

“What if I told you I’ve never fished before in my life?” I say anxiously as I watch Chris set up my rod, trying my hardest to keep my disgust at the bait out of my tone.

I’ve never been on such a small boat either, it’s more fun to feel all the waves this way, but I definitely will not be telling him that.

He gives me a lopsided smile, looking up from his hands. “Was that supposed to be hard to believe or somethin’?”

“Well I don’t know, people usually have a dad there to take them out fishing, even some of my city friends, but my dad was too preoccupied with everything work-related.” I sigh, not expecting the innocent conversation to take such a sad turn. “But I’m a country girl now I gotta learn the ropes.” I mock a Southern accent, trying to bring light to the clouded atmosphere.

Chris just laughs, shaking his head as he hands me the fishing rod, bait now attached and swaying slightly. “That’s okay. No time like the present.”

I look between him and the rod a couple of times before I give him my best puppy dog eyes. “Can’t you just cast it for me?”

He scrunches up his nose and shakes his head back at me. “No can do, Scotch. If I do, you’ll never learn and then you’ll tell the next country boy you pull, I never taught you right. And that I cannot have.” He jokes, leaning over and adjusting my hold on the pole.

“Oh, I promise you, you’re the only boy who will ever get me on a fishing boat.”

He’s silent for a beat before he locks eyes with me, a glint I can’t place in his eyes. “Careful with those promises, darlin’. Round here we make you keep ‘em.”

Chris doesn’t let the moment hold long enough for me to reply, standing and moving to sit beside me on my bench. He moves my hand from where it had been lying on my leg to join the other one on the pole. “Take your index finger and hold the line. Not like that. Perfect.”

It’s so funny how easily he slips into a bossy voice but I kind of love it. I’m starting to realize how much I like every version of him. He whistles low for my attention and I glare at him. Okay, maybe not every version.

“Watch me, okay.” He says as he picks up his own rod, narrating his movements as I study him. “Pull back to about right here and then swing forward. Make sure you’re watching the water where you want to land. When you’re about here, let go of the line. Simple.”

Chris smiles at me but I just stare back blankly. If he thinks I got any of that he’s an idiot. But, I’m way too stubborn to ask him to show me again so I take a deep breath and try to imitate him.

To my surprise, my cast actually lands somewhat near where I was aiming for and I laugh in shock. “I did it.”

“You did!” Chris says, matching my excitement while he reaches over to close the bail for me. He takes the pole from my hand and places it into his holder. “Watch it now. If you see a tug, you gotta grab it fast.”

“Got it, captain.” I bring my fingers to my forehead, saluting the boy who’s shaking his head and avoiding eye contact with me.

In between laughs, he speaks. “You have got to be the corniest motherfucker alive.”

Before I can even muster a reply, I get distracted by the sight in front of me. Well, I get distracted by the boy in front of me, taking off his baseball hat and ruffling his hair before placing it back on his head.

For whatever reason the sight of him puts me in a trance, and it’s incredibly embarrassing. “Whatcha looking at sweetheart?” He asks, taking full advantage of my flusteredness.

I scoff, turning away to hide the blush that threatens to taint my smiley cheeks, keeping a firm grasp on the rod in front of me. “Don’t get cocky now, Christopher, it's a bad look even for you.”

“Somehow I get the feeling you don’t think I have many bad looks.” He taunts, only earning a punch to the shoulder. “Okay, Scotch. I’m kidding, I'm kidding, really, I’m flattered.” He places his hands on his heart, only furthering my annoyance.

“We’ll just forget all that talking you’ve been doing about me around town then yeah? People here seem to have an understanding that you speak highly of me.” I argue, proving my point when his eyes roll to the back of his head in annoyance.

“Is that why-” He starts, but from the corner of my eye, I notice my pole begin to bend towards the water and gasp.

“Oh! It’s moving!” I say, jumping up from my seat and cutting him off. I grab the rod, fumbling a bit and almost dropping it but Chris saves it before the fish can pull it under.

I flinch a bit, expecting him to yell about almost losing his rod but he just hands it to me with an encouraging smile. “Okay, babe. Pull it up to ‘bout 45 degrees. Okay reel down and then pull up. Keep doing it just like that.”

I do exactly what he says, watching the fish skip across the waves until he is squirming the air in front of us. I let out an excited yelp as Chris unhooks it and holds it up. “Damn, Scotch. This is a big sumofabitch for your first catch. You wanna take a picture?"

My excitement dwells a bit as I stare down at its beady little eyes and Chris laughs before he tosses it back. I lean over the boat, unsure why the tiny accomplishment is making me feel so emotional.

Giving him a huge grin, I turn to wrap my arms around Chris, still bouncing slightly with excitement. “I really caught one all by myself.” Any other time, I’d be embarrassed at how young I sound but right now I don’t care at all.

Chris returns my hug, laughing into my hair as we sway back and forth with the waves. I pull away slightly, staring up at him and admiring his icy blue eyes in the low moonlight. And before I can talk myself out of it, I lean up, pressing my lips to his in a fraction of a kiss. He looks stunned but leans back in, chasing my lips but letting me lead. I keep it chaste, wanting to know he wants this as much as me before I go any further.

He pulls back first, eyes scanning my face for any sense of discomfort, only finding my begging eyes. “I really like hanging around you, you know that right?”

I smile, relief washing over me when I come to the conclusion I didn’t make a complete fool of myself. “Yeah? Do I make the job of scooping up horse shit that much better?”

His hands lift to the sides of my face, practically covering my whole cheek with his palms. “So much better.” He leans back in, this time guiding the kiss, leaving me in a butterfly-filled puddle in his grasp.

Everything besides the two of us seems to dissipate around me, nothing but the warm rough feeling of his fingers on my cheek keeping me grounded.

When we finally pull away, Chris resting his forehead against mine as the lightening bugs flutter near the bay, I realize how insane I've been for ever once comparing him to Jace.

Jace couldn’t kiss like this if his entire life depended on it.

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rpgchoices · 8 months

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Misdirection (Astarion romance route)

BG3 spoilers

I am obsessed with the misdirection in Astarion's romance. I said it before, I was absolutely tricked too. When you read a text or consume media every line is put there for a reason, it is a waste otherwise. By the party scene you kind of have a certain idea of what Astarion is. You know that he dislikes helping others, you know that he lies, he flirts a lot, he is vain, he is a killer, and he wants power (from the conversations about the tadpoles and Raphael).

At this point, if you chose him as a romance, it could also be that you enjoyed the idea of him being a vampire and all the tropes that come with it.

So when, after the first night together, you can ask him "It felt like you weren't fully there" there had to be a reason. From a writing pov, why was that line added?

As a player, you have to wonder. And by this point in the story it seems like a warning there is little that might convince you that what he answers with is not the truth, mainly because it falls right into the classic stereotypes of this kind of romance. Of course he is a danger, he did not want to lose control, be careful in the future - this is how it would sound to me if I romanced him without spoilers. I know because when I got his sex scene, I reloaded and romanced someone else because this kind of aggressive seduction vampire fantasy was not my thing.

If I had read this line, I would have been sure it was a small hint that romancing Astarion could end up very badly. Another small misdirection that could easily end up as a clue is in their second pre-sex scene together. Astarion is making sure the MC will stay with him, and he is very seductive. The funny thing is that if you choose the "yes" (1st option in the pictures just below) you don't get any other information or clue, but just flirting. You actually get even more of the fantasy, he talks about how he cannot stop thinking about you, he even presses on the word "dangerous", and his mannerism is all business

If instead you ask him to be better he goes on and on about his lines, he directly tells the player that these are all fake, basically. You can even ask him if these lines work on Cazador's targets, and he says "well, they worked on YOU".

So at this point as players we know that the player is being manipulated and teased up till a point. I definitely fell for it by immediately cutting the romance short, and never thinking about it again until I got the strenght potion scene. I got that scene as a friendship one, which has different options.

It is a bit different than the romance, he is much more direct in my opinion. He talks about his body as one of the few assets he has, and he is much more confused about why he was being "too precious" about the potion, he is actually surprised by himself.

And as I said, it is much more direct when he says that he never had a choice before (and he is specifically talking about sex). In the friendship version you can also convince him that he needs to use all of this that he has because he might, to protect himself and get advantage, which at least gives credit to our MC if we do romance him.

(TW!! for SA) In the romance scene instead you never get these options, you CANNOT convince him to keep using his body, and if you try to do so he will break up with you, as he should, he is much more confident.

And regarding the whole misdirection if you have not maximized his approval, you won't get his confession but you will find out the whole of his story after the drow potion scene. That is the scene where he thanks you for respecting his consent. I feel like it is such a monumental and surprising one, definitely not one I expected.

And the options are SO SO TELLING. The one sex option you get in this dialogue is the WRONG one. The game directly tells you that by choosing it you assaulted him and disregarded his consent.

There are instead 5 good options. I checked and they all seem to have the same amount of approval.

They are:

1. Showing him that your feelings are real so he can trust them. 2. Showing him intimacy without sex (hug). 3. Confirming that you want to be with him even with his burdens (he often mentions them in other dialogues, especially when you choose between him and Gale). 4. Saying you can be together without sex. And my favourite: 5. ASKING him what he wants, CARING about what he wants.

So yeah, I admit I absolutely fell for it, I was convinced this would take such a wildly different road. Glad to see it did not.

#baldur's gate 3 #astarion #meta #astarion romance #baldur''s gate 3 spoilers

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margotwhites · 2 months

Text

Jason Todd x Singer reader (fem)

Author's note: I received such a surprisingly positive reply from this! I haven't posted in months, so this caught me off guard completely. (Yes 15 notes is good for me lmao 🥹) In this version, Jason knows who reader are since the beginning. I thought it'd be more fun.

So, basically this a longer version of the first part + a second part. I intend to write this in chapters. Enjoy and please give me your thoughts ❤️

Part two:

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

Jason Todd knew one thing or two about twitter. Or X, whatever. The thing is: he's at least three times a month in the trending topics. Not him exactly, but Red Hood. Red Hood is always there.

It goes from people hating on him, to young girls (psycho's in his opinion) calling him babygirl or daddy. He doesn't understands and he doesn't want to. He's not much one from social media, so when he is on the trending topics, normally someone from the family teases him about it.

This time is no different. Dick Grayson and Tim Drake are laughing way too hard. Looking from Tim's phone directly towards Jason. He sighs, closing the book he is reading. Currently they are all comfortably sitting on the library, eating Alfred's cookies and tea.

"What is it?" Jason asks, already regretting the question.

"Open twitter." Tim says, a huge smile on his face. Jason feels a chill down his spine because he knows it's going to be bad. Not that he cares. He doesn't give a shit about public's opinion.

But sometimes the comments about him, the mean comments wishing him to die... Those get to him. So he's prepared for that. For people hating, or for his fangirls fighting deciding who'd be his next imaginary girlfriend.

But he never expected to be shipped with someone else. He knows who you are. Everybody knows who you are. A talented young singer, that ascended till the top in less than three years. Doing some works on modeling from time to time for McQueen or Vogue or Versace, because you're that beautiful.

He wouldn't call himself a fan, but he does think you are musically talented. Anyway, everyone is shipping him with you.

And he doesn't know why.

"Why am I being shipped with her?" He asks, out loud. Before Dick or Tim can answer, Steph bursts into the library's door laughing.

"Jason-"

"I know."

She laughs again. He starts to scroll down the comments, until he finds a video of a live interview you did on Kurt's show, that prick. The journalist is famous for doing weird questions.

"So, everybody knows you have a bit of thing for vigilantism. How did that start?" Kurt asks, crossing his arms and giving the public a charming smile.

"Oh, it started with Batman, of course. I was a little kid when I heard the stories about the man that haunted the nights in Gotham. I am a L.A girl, but either way I absolutely felt enchanted. It's just so cool that is there someone out there that takes justice in their own hands."

Yeah, right. She's a fan of the Batass. Jason scoffs while watching the video, but continues anyway.

"And who is your favorite vigilante?" Kurt asked, leaning closer to her. He was a charming man, young and successful, just like her.

"Oh, Red Hood, definitely." She says that without a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Just a plain, simple answer.

"Red Hood? Isn't he a bit... extreme?" Kurt said, tilting his head.

"I think he is doing good in his own ways, and that is so freaking cool, you know? And I think his motorcycle is super... uh, how can I say? Hot." She says, and gives the public a little giggle. She continues:

"Which doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. But I find his persona interesting and refreshing. He's different from the rest, different approaches and all. It makes me curious about who is the man behind the mask."

"If you could say anything to him, what would you say?" Kurt asks, smiling.

"Oh! I'd probably ask him to take me on a ride with his bike. And to get a girlfriend. I think he needs a feminine touch in his life." She answers, with an amused grin.

The video ends and Jason doesn't really know what to think. You just said he needed a girlfriend. A feminine touch.

The truth is, he can't really disagree. When was the last time he felt a woman's body close to his? More time than he wants to admit. Months. Maybe more than a year. In his defense, it's not that he doesn't have the game. He just don't have the energy to play it.

Steph laughs takes him out of his wandering thoughts. He looks up at his siblings, an irritated expression in his face.

"Read the tweets, the tweets are the best part!" She says, chuckling again. Jason goes straight to the shipping hashtag. People saying they want to be Jason, people saying they want to be you, people saying they want to be the bed where you both - forget it.

He sighs and throws his cellphone on the couch, sitting back and beginning to read his book.

"That's it? That's your reaction?" Dick asks, tilting his head like a curious dog.

"It's just a bunch of tweets. People will forget eventually. Nothing I should worry about." Jason replies, not taking his eyes off The Catcher in the Rye.

Little did he know.

__________________________________________________

Okay. Maybe you shouldn't have said that. Maybe you were dumb and reckless. And now your agent and her team are almost killing you.

It's not your fault. You were always told to be honest, because your fun and outgoing (at least on stage) personality were one of your best traits.

"Are you crazy! This could have led to terrible repercussions. What if everyone focused on the fact that you support a murderer?!" Claya, your agent says, almost shouting.

"Well, they didn't. Now they are just shipping him with me." You say, trying to defend yourself. The truth is, behind the cameras and the stage and all the "popstar" persona you have to pull out, you are an introvert. You have two lifes.

"Yeah, and you should be grateful for it. This can even be a good sign. It seems people are interested in your love life. We can use that for our advantage." Claya says.

You adore her, really. And it's her job to figure it out how to make your career ascend. And she does it very well. But sometimes you just wish it wouldn't be about money or status. It would be just about how to do good music.

Anyway, you don't want to be ungrateful. You're living your childhood dream. So you take those thoughts out of your mind.

"Well, what do you have in mind?" You ask, blinking in confusion.

"We're going to Gotham. You're going to do a show there." Claya says, confidently and typing on her computer.

"Are you out of your mind? Shows in Gotham always go wrong. The Chase Atlantic show from last month was attacked by Pyg!" You say, trying to contain your agent's wicked ideas.

"Honey, don't worry. Maybe Red Hood appears in to save the whole ordeal. It couldn't be better." Claya says, standing up and closing her computer.

Claya and the team leave you alone to think. It's not like you have a lot of choice in the matter, anyway. If she says you're doing the show, you gotta do it.

But it's just a show, right? Nothing to worry about.

Little did you know.

#jason todd #jason todd reader #batfamily #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd deserves better #dc memes #jason todd drabble #jason todd x fem!reader #jason todd x you #jason todd blurb #jason todd fluff #jason todd smut #jason todd headcanon #jason todd imagine #jason todd x female reader #jason todd x reader

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depraved-gf · 6 months

Text

PART 1 OF 3.5 [PREMATURELY ENDED]

**There will be no more updates unfortunately. I've been ghosted. :(

MASSIVE TW'S: CNC, STALKING, RAPE FANTASY, ETC ETC. Basically if you are triggered by intense, dark kinks or sex, please do not read. I do not censor words.

*tagging under #repressedh0e's adventures

Aight so, I can't tell anyone else this because they'd probably call the cops lmao, but I know I can tell y'all freaksss about what happened today. Essentially, I'm being VERY marinated in a cnc stalking scenario for the very first time... Finally! And according to him, it's going to be a very slow burn for anticipation.

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

So, I've been talking to this local guy for a lil bit that's very, very much into cnc just like I am (and y'all, he's a whole FOOT AND 2 INCHES taller than me, and has the biggest fucking cock I've ever seen. I'm not even lying - this man is going to rip my little, only-had-sex-with-one-person body to SHREDS). Once we both got a good vibe, we moved towards more kinky territory, talking about safe words, limits, and scenarios for when we eventually meet. He then asked me to send a single photo outside of my bedroom window, and promised he'd find me.

Intrigued, I sent it. I can see my city from my window. Beautiful, really.

But within 15 minutes, he sent me a live snap of my apartment building with the caption: Found you, princess. After losing my shit (in a good way), I confirmed it was my building, and he said he actually lives really close by.

I suspect you're in a corner apartment, 2nd or 3rd story, I'm not sure yet but I'll figure it out. I say nothing. I'm not giving any hints. I'm impressed by his perception at this point. But I am, in fact, on a corner on the 2nd story. How will you figure that out? I ask in innocent curiosity. All I get back is a 🤫 emoji.

And then, maybe 3 hours later, I get a random snap - a chat that simply says, I have a question, Isa. I told him to shoot, go ahead and ask!, and again, he simply asks:

Do you have a fan in your window?

I freak the fuck out (again, in a good way), and confirm that, um, yes... I enjoy the cold, and why do you ask?

About a second goes by, and he sends a live snap of MY 2ND STORY BEDROOM WINDOW with the caption, You can't see me, but I can see you.

How the FUCK this man was able to tell it was my window in a fully wrapped around 6 story apartment building, just by the angle of my one photo, was astounding. I was truly perplexed.

I then get another ding before I can truly wrap my brain around what was happening.

Turn your light off.

I do as I'm told.

I then receive a live video of my bedroom window, with the light shutting off.

I freak out a third time (y'all already know I'm soaking by now), but I realize I couldn't see him. There were 4 cars a little ways down the street, parked in the night. Any of them could've been him. None of them could've been him. I can't see you.. Is all I managed to type out through trembling fingers. It was so intense, and I was so turned on, I barely knew what I was saying at this point.

His response: Good. Let's keep it that way... For now.

Not long after as I'm continuing to try to look into any and every vehicle, I receive a live video. It's him stroking his massive cock in his car with the caption, You know what I want.

Y'all. When I say I about came undone, I MEAN IT. My heart is pounding, my pussy and inner thighs are both absolutely drenched. The moment is so thick with sexual tension, and I'm so entranced in it, I could've sworn I saw god at that point lmao.

But I continue looking out the window, my light still off so I can see into the night. But nothing. All is still. And finally, the car in the very front down the street slowly drives away.

About 5 minutes go by, and it feels like a lifetime, before I receive a chat: You're so close to me. I'll be watching. Waiting. Checking on you every time I go out. Stroking my cock outside your apartment until the day I can finally tear those holes apart.

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

Y'all, I... have been dreaming of living out a stalking scenario since I started becoming interested in sex as a teenager. I begged my ex, and while they were into cnc, it was never like this.

Never in my life did I ever imagine these scenarios to be so intense in real life. It's so damn different when it's really happening. Intense, I use that word a lot but there's legitimately no other way to explain it. Exhilarating, even. Psychologically it fucks with you, because you truly never know when they're looking at you. He could be outside right now as I'm typing this, stroking that huge cock, thinking about raping my holes, and I genuinely wouldn't know it. And it turns me on so, so much.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what else happens. 🫣

***DISCLAIMER: yes, I'm being safe!! I've told my roommate and another good friend all about him/the entire situation and the man was of course good with that as well. I'm very willing in this situation, and incredibly aware of any red flags that could arise, pls don't worry<3***

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scarvain · 1 month

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omg i loved your hamzah fic! every time a hamzah fic shows up on the tl jesus sheds a tear!!

feel like it’s so awkward to request but would love for u to write about dating hamzah on the dl & being a guest on the patreon pod

giving relationship advice to some sad slushys while being all sweet n giddy with each other……

STAWWWPP I LOVE THISSSS I GOT U!!!

✶ sweet nothing — hamzahthefantastic x reader

WARNINGS: tooth-rotting fluff, i used the name junia for the slushy that msgd and reader has a dog named loki

A/N: i'm not subscribed to the patreon and i don't entirely know what goes on there BUT i just know hamzah's alone for that???? even in a fictional universe, hamzah still can't read too BAHAHAHA also sorry if this took so long, i had this in the drafts for a while but just finished it now!

the whole day, you’ve been overthinking about being on your boyfriend’s podcast.

you’ve been on out of character before but martin would also be there with you and hamzah.

so here you were, zoned out while your boyfriend explained everything you're gonna do for this episode.

"okay, so... are you ready?" he finally finished talking, now looking at you and then seeing the state you were in. his eyes soften and he walks toward you.

"what's wrong?" he held your hands in his as he tried getting your attention. you look up and give him a smile.

"just a bit nervous," you force a chuckle then he pulls you in to kiss your forehead. "you think they'll notice we're.. y'know." you tilt your head, placing a hand on his chest before wrapping your arms around his neck.

he shrugs in response, hands now on your hips, caressing the exposed skin from your top. "i don't know honestly but i don't think it'll be a big deal for them cause i love you."

you giggle before pulling him in for a kiss.

"okay let's start then!"

the podcast went on like it usually did, you and hamzah spoke about everything and anything you could think of — from the recent movies you've watched to activities you guys have been doing.

the next part of the podcast's segment was introduced by hamzah, he pulls out his phone and looks at his instagram messages.

"okay so this is the first one, i'll read it first and tell me what you think."

you nod at him to start the he starts to read.

"hi hamzah, i'm f-17 and i finish high school very soon. for the past year, i've realized that i lick—oh sorry it's like my best friend who's m-18 and he's had girls chasing him for a while now and he was entertaining them but ended up not having anything with any of the girls. but recently he's been hinting at liking me and flirting with me playfully i guess i don't know if i should let him know i like him, help me please."

you look at him to see if he was finished then he puts his phone down, now turning to look at you. “okay so you like your best friend that sounds familiar,” hamzah gives a teasing look to you with a smirk on his face.

you roll your eyes playfully, inching closer to him on the sofa until your knees are close to each other.

“i can relate to this, i was clueless too if he was flirting with me or not,” you glance between hamzah and the camera as you speak, holding the mic a bit closer. “but in the end it still worked out and he’s… well my boyfriend now!” you both chuckle and you feel yourself blush, hiding your face with the mic.

hamzah places a hand on your thigh which thankfully wasn’t caught in the frame. “oh my god okay, since you’re sooo happy talking about him, continue the story and give our girl… uh… wait what’s her name—oh there it is! junia!”

you get closer to hamzah, now shoulder to shoulder, and interlocking your hands with each other.

“okay so before i dated my boyfriend, he really wasn’t entirely my bestest best friend but more like a close best friend? he had a special place in my heart–”

“oh really what kinda special place?” he nudges you which you ignore.

“and even before i realized i liked him, it was like i’m always wanting to be around him or talk to him a lot.” your gaze was entirely on him as you said this, completely forgetting about the camera recording and a smile started to grow on hamzah’s face, looking down at his lap to try and hide it.

“i’ve known my boyfriend almost 5 or 6 years before we started dating and it really took me a while to realize i was in love with him.” you were already smiling at him, rubbing circles on the back of his hand.

his head shots up and looks at you, eyes a bit wide.

“wait you were in love already?”

you bite your lip to try and stop yourself from smiling bigger. “yeah, dude, i’ve told you this before!” you let go of his hand, the smile still prominent on your face as you punch his arm playfully.

“okay loser, just continue,”

you roll your eyes and scoff jokingly. “but in all honesty, i know i barely talk and post about my boyfriend but he knows i love him soooo much,” you look up at hamzah who was trying to hide his smile by biting the insides of his cheeks.

you lean closer to him before continuing. “so junia! if you really think you both like each other then go for it! you never know what could happen.” you said and it was like you had hearts as your eyes as you looked at hamzah.

he indistinctively puts an arm over your shoulder as the podcast continues, reading more of the messages and giving the viewers advice.

“oh hamzah! i think this one you can help with,” as you were about to show hamzah the message, your dog, comes out of the room and tries pulling you away from hamzah.

“jesus christ, loki, stop stealing my girlfriend.” he muttered but was still heard on the microphone.

you leave the couch for a while and place your dog in the room.

“okay so here’s the message.” you hand him the phone and he reads it.

“hi hamzah, i don’t know if you’re taken or single cause honestly you’ve been sending us mixed signals at the moment but if you are taken, can you help me flirt. i start college soon and i still don’t know how to talk and flirt with girls—okay i see what you’re trying to say here y/n what the hell.” he glares at you as he finally finishes reading and you stick your tongue out at him which he just smiles at.

"just a tip to everyone who's watching, never ask hamzah how to flirt cause this boy can't flirt to save his life!" you laugh as you said the joke, hamzah putting the phone down and covering your mouth to stop you from saying anything else.

the recording went on for a few more minutes, you ended the episode on a positive note since all you did was tease and make fun of each other.

"i don't think i'll ever be invited back here again after that, so bye you guys!" you blow a kiss to the camera before standing up and stopping the recording.

✶ taglist — @cdbabymp3 @noturbabe22 @dabuggh3 @kingvioleta @tumb1rgir1z LMK IF U WANNA BE ADDEDDD!!!

#hamzahthefantastic #hamzahthefantastic x reader #hamzah x reader #hamzah fanfic #savi's works ✶

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lexi-the-demon-69 · 1 month

Text

Just a random rant about how I want a new Dark Cacao update-

TW: Mentions of emotional neglect and ab*se

Yeah, as I brought up in my live stream yesterday, I really want another Dark Cacao update because my main problems with the game's story lie within the Dark Cacao characters and their writing.

It honestly infuriates me that Dark Choco's character and trauma are so watered down in the games, to the point where it's almost put in a positive light, ESPECIALLY his relationship with his dad. It's heavily implied in episode 14 that Dark Choco was neglected emotionally by Dark Cacao when Dark Choco says this: "In this kingdom, I knew no love nor sweetness, but rigid cold! What makes you think I care about you or this forsaken land?!" Obviously hinting that Dark Cacao is emotionally neglectful.

I hate that the fandom and Devsisters just glosses these issues aside and portrays their relationship as happy and healthy when in reality, Dark Cacao likely had Dark Choco only as an heir to the throne when he gets too old to rule. Don't get me wrong, I love these little moments, but these issues must be addressed. It would be an amazing way to show survivors of emotional neglect that they're not alone.

Maybe in this new hypothetical update, these issues can be addressed properly by having Mystic Flour Cookie, one of the beast cookies, attack the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Dark Cacao is forced out of the citadel and it's up to him, Caramel Arrow, Crunchy Chip, and Dark Choco to save the kingdom. (Dark Choco would more than likely be nearby and he decides to help)

During their journey, some old memories, both positive and negative, are brought up as Dark Cacao and Dark Choco start to catch up after what happened. However, something mentioned by Dark Cacao (more than likely his non-apology in episode 14) touches Dark Choco's nerve and an argument ensues. Dark Cacao says that he apologized to him and that sends Dark Choco off the rails.

He screams at him that what he apologized for was not the real problem. The REAL problem was the fact that he emotionally neglected him for all his life and then he endured more abuse as a member of the COD. He goes on about how badly he was treated, how Pomegranate used his own trauma against him as punishment, and how he beat himself up for something that was caused by a sword that he thought was going to help save his kingdom and would finally have his father notice him. Hearing his son explain everything that happened to him broke Dark Cacao's heart. He truly felt like pure scum as Dark Choco ran away in anguish.

After Dark Choco runs away, Caramel Arrow and (possibly) Crunchy Chip talk with Dark Cacao, taking Dark Choco's side in the manor since they would likely see the neglect firsthand. However, they obviously don't go off on him since, well, y'know. After their talk, Dark Cacao fully realizes that he fucked up and now he wants to give Dark Choco a proper apology. BUT! Not until Mystic Flour comes in and does some evil shit, probably taking Dark Cacao hostage or something.

Dark Choco notices nearby and it's up to him, Caramel Arrow, and Crunchy Chip to save him. During this section of the story, we can have Dark Choco and Caramel Arrow interact more (because I love Carachoco lol) as they make their way to wherever Dark Cacao is being held. After that, they save him and Dark Cacao gives an ACTUAL fucking apology and they all live happily ever after. The End.

Also, some other small bits of shit that I would love in this update:

-a Dark Cacao buff -Dark Choco's magic candy -Caramel Arrow's magic candy -Crunchy Chip's magic candy -Affogato's magic candy (maybe-) -More bond stories that involve Dark Choco -Matching costumes with Dark Choco, Caramel Arrow, Crunchy Chip, and Dark Cacao

That's it lol. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

#cookie run #cookie run kingdom #dark choco cookie #dark cacao cookie #caramel arrow cookie x dark choco cookie #crunchy chip cookie #caramel arrow cookie

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taranida · 5 days

Text

What exactly happened in the 70’s

I’ll start with The Poet and The Muse. I’ve written about the real Thomas Zane being a poet already, but left out this piece of evidence (not at all on purpose, truth be told), but I want to discuss it here, since it goes well with the point I want to make.

In the song we learn the story of a Poet living happily with his Muse and telling her stories about treasures beneath the waves. Then one morning the Muse goes to the lake and drowns. The Poet at some point realises that something happened and comes to the lake, calling for the Muse, but to no avail. Whole day spent in search, and in his desperation, he swears to bring his love back. He writes a story and succeeds to some degree. The husk of the Muse comes to him in the night, possessed by some dark force. The Poet takes her in, but in trying to fix his mistake, vows them both to silence beneath the lake. The story concluded with the peculiar:

Now if its real or just a dream One mystery remains For it is said on moonless nights They may still haunt this place

Now, what exactly the boys of the Old Gods of Asgard are hinting at here (aside from the existence of the Dark and Bright Presences) I can’t tell for sure: they might just toy with all those who have that buzzing question of “who wrote whom”, but I will treat the story of Thomas Zane the Poet as a true story, that happened without any help of tortured writers. Although I will use the manuscripts as well as every other source of information.

Prepare for a long read, since firstly, I would like to present all the bits and pieces that I’ve managed to collect, and then tie them all up in a version of events, I believe, happened in July 1970.

First, the dialogs.

Tor and Odin (whom I cannot stop lovingly call “the boys”) say this:

“Tom’s just lost, is all. Baba Yaga got to him too, the damn witch!” “She used us all, taken from all of us. Took my thunder, the witch.” “And my ravens, what was...what were they? Memory and Thought! The hag.” “She took something from you too, didn’t she? That’s what she does.” “Oh, we’re better off. This place, the lake, it gives you power. If you’re a creator.... An artist, a god!” “Nightmares shifted in their sleep in the darkness of the lake...” “Heh heh, yeah, that’s the one. She makes sure it comes out twisted and wrong. Just ask the Lamp Lady. She knows what happened to that other writer.”

Cynthia Weaver tells us:

“I knew them both. Tom and Barbara. I had such a crush on him...such a beautiful man. I was jealous. There was a part of me that was maybe a little glad when she had the accident. And then Tom started writing and woke the darkness up.... He tried to bring her back...but you can’t do that. There are no free rides like that.” […] “The witch looked like her, but it wasn’t. Barbara was sweet. He didn’t understand until it was too late. He tried to undo it, wrote himself, her, everything he’d ever written out of the world.”

We have Samantha’s dream in “This House of Dreams”, that gives us even more details:

“The diver told me that a dark presence had taken over his girlfriend (the woman in the photos). He’d tried everything he could think of to banish it from her, but everything had failed. In the end, he finally understood what he had to do, finally understood the true nature of the dark place that was hidden under the waves of the lake where they lived. The lake was an opening to dark place that was much bigger than the lake itself, in fact, much bigger than the whole universe we live in. He wrote one last poem, his masterpiece, a secret poem, a hidden poem, a poem that’s not among the poems I’ve found in the shoebox. And he took his girlfriend for one last dive. Together they sank down into the depths, far deeper than he had ever dived before.”

Then we have the manuscripts, that expand on the story:

More so, we have the dates and newspaper articles:

The last one is cut awkwardly, but, really, all I needed from it are the dates of publishing and of the seismic activity.

So, what really happened during this week? On the morning of 10th July Barbara went for a swim and drowned. As Cynthia notes in her article, Barbara was quite a swimmer and her death does seem odd. At the same time, we have another article (that I will put in the very end for those who are curious) about a writer visiting the area and encountering Taken — Robert “The Colonel” Hambleton dated 6th July 1970. Thomas even makes a snarky remark about not ever hearing about him and calling him “an uninvited guest”. All hints that with all the artists in the area: the boys of Old Gods of Asgard, Thomas Zane, Cynthia Weaver and Barbara Jagger, the Dark Presence still pounces on every other creator unfortunate enough to choose Bright Falls as a place to visit. Might’ve been because it could not make the gang mentioned above do its bidding?

The Dark Presence might be of a very different mind, alien to humans, but it’s cunning. As stated in one of the manuscripts, when it senses Alan, “all he'd need was a little incentive.” For Alan it had to drag Alice to the pier and into the lake; for Thomas it might’ve used the help of its ravens or some other means necessary to overwhelm Barbara long enough for her to drown, as at the time the Dark Presence had no physical body (but there might’ve been some other Taken swimmer around). And after Thomas spent the whole day searching for his lover, succumbing to desperation more and more, he got that incentive, the Dark Presence needed.

In the night Thomas wrote a poem to bring Jagger back. The Dark Presence plan worked and it was now in the world, almost free, wearing Barbara’s skin. But it was still constrained by the story Thomas wrote, and in his story he surely wrote something along the lines of them being together and in love again, therefore we see that the Dark Presence cannot do anything to Thomas as he ties it to the chair, carves its heart out and writes countless pieces to undo his mistake. It just couldn’t get out of the role of the loving Barbara, who would never hurt Zane. It had to go through the story in which, probably, Thomas and Barbara lived happily ever after and died on the same day, to be completely free. Which doesn’t mean that the very, pardon, presence of the Dark Presence in the world was not affecting Bright Falls at the time, the Taken might’ve been multiplying and awful things happening during this week. Yet, unlike Alan, Thomas didn’t go into the woods, fighting for his life, he searched for a solution at the cabin, armed with his typewriter and the (kitchen) knife.

The only solution he found in the end — one last dive. To bring this darkness back to where it came from.

There are still a few mysteries left:

in the guide for the first game we can read excerpts from the book “Taken by the Dark Presence” found in a shoebox that has no author, but has initials of T.Z. and J.Z. on some pages, apparently written in the late 1960’s. And, oh boy, I have lots of questions for this one!

the Bird Leg Cabin and the Diver’s Isle, that might or might not been retroactively removed by the eruption under the Cauldron Lake.

the extent of Thomas’ writing powers, since as much as it is stressed a lot that he wrote himself out of reality, Barry, with a little research, is still able to find out about his existence, yet Alan in one of the “Writer in the Cabin” TV’s claims “A story is a beast with a life of its own. You can create it, shape it, but as the story grows, it starts wanting things of its own. Change one thing, and you set off a chain reaction of events that spreads through the whole thing.” The chain reaction here never happens: we have hard evidence that both Thomas and Barbara existed.

But those are theories for another day. This is already a long enough read to throw those into the mix.

And here’s the article about Robert “The Colonel” Hambleton (spoiler alert: there is another one, confirming that he died):

#alan wake 2 #alan wake #thomas zane #alan wake ii #alan wake remastered #remedy entertainment #remedy connected universe #remedy games #RCU theory #alan wake game #tom zane

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stellari-s · 1 year

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Hi!

First of all i love your Ithaqua stories and head canons. Unfortunately, since Ithaqua is a new Hunter, I can't really find stories with him.

But here is my request for you. I really want to see like a Ithaqua x reader story. I was thinking maybe the story can be about the reader is a survivor and like they meet in a match and fall in love or something like that 😅

Thank you for reading this little message. And you don't have to write this request if you don't want to.

💕

aw, thank you so much, anon! i really really appreciate that you like what i write 🥹 lemme know what you think!

request; yes, and they're open! especially ithaqua ones. please gimme them 🥺🤲

wc; 732.

tags; a tiny bit of violence? first meeting, some romantic hints, gn survivor! reader, literal midnight writing 😳

summary; you run into a new hunter who goes by ithaqua during a match, and he invites you to play a small game...

whenever someone enters oletus manor, rumors spread like wildfire.

you’ve heard all about it from your fellow survivors.

how there is a new hunter who carries with him strong gusts of wind that could make the snow dance to his will. a masked and hooded hunter who stood on high blade-like stilts. an axe wielder with a single lantern that glowed blue and yellow as if under a spell.

at first, you were not all that interested. at this point, you have been stuck in this manor doing spontaneous matches for an owner whose face you never saw before.

things were starting to get a bit dull.

that is... until today.

“don’t rescue me!” your teammate shouts, tied securely the tall red chair. “go for the tie!”

you want to win, but you see the navy-clad hunter near the chair, looking at you with his head tilted, as if trying to read what move you will make and when.

eventually, your teammate’s chair starts spinning faster and faster until it flies into the sky, leaving you completely alone with the hunter.

“are you just going to stand there?” the hunter asks. his voice, contrary to his intimidating appearance, is rather light, laced with some curiosity. “if that’s the case, how about we play a little game?”

you pause for a second before responding cautiously, “...what game?”

“a game of tag,” he replies, “i’ll give a 10 second head start. if you don’t get caught by me before reaching the dungeon, you’re free to escape. otherwise, i’ll do the same as i did to your teammate.” with his weapon, the hunter gestures to the now ashen spot on the ground where the chair had unceremoniously flown off. the lantern hangs on the edge below the blade, so it dangles hypnotically back and forth as he swings it. “how about it?”

at the very least, i can snag a tie.

“alright,” you concede after some thought, “deal.”

laughter echoes through the map as you run. the hunter keeps his promise, giving you a full 10 seconds before pursuing you.

there are times as you’re running when you feel your breath being cut short by strong wind pulling you in. sometimes, you slam into a wall, and while the impact hurt, it helps you keep distance. this game of tag continues on with you running him, occasionally playing some mind games to get yourself out of a pinch.

eventually it hits you like a gust that this chase is interesting.

it’s fun.

such fun can only last so long, though, as the hunter hits you from behind, causing you to stumble forward and collapse. your body is aching from running, bumping into walls, and now from being hit, but nonetheless you muster energy to try and struggle when he ties you to a balloon.

oh god, i’m going to be chaired...

thinking about how the chair’s spinning gives you nausea gives more drive to struggle free.

much to your surprise, though, he takes you to the dungeon and pops the balloons, causing you to fall to the ground with a thud.

“you... you’re letting me go?”

the hunter tilts his head again - it reminds you of a cat somewhat - as he replies, “you played the game well, so why not?”

you crawl toward the dungeon’s dark entrance as you half-jokingly reply, “not one to keep promises, are you?”

“normally i would chair you, but take this as an acknowledgement.” his tone matches your own.

you have a feeling you are going to run into him a lot from now on.

inside of matches... and outside of them too.

of course, you don’t know that for sure. it’s just a strange, inexplicable feeling tugging on your chest.

you are about to jump down to the dark depths of the dungeon that is linked back to the manor, but before you do, you turn back. the tugging in your chest grows stronger, feeling like a stretched rubber band, every step you move away from him.

“can you tell me your name?” you ask.

the hunter chuckles, index finger over where his lips are under his mask like sharing a secret. “just call me ithaqua.”

that mysterious taut sensation in your chest seems to subside the moment you hear his name, and with a small smile playing on your lips, you jump, your surroundings turning dark.

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project-sekai-facts · 7 months

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idk if I can ask u this but what is ur opinion on arata and kotaro

hello first off SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO ANSWER but no i don't mind giving my opinions on the side characters

Arata and Kotaro are actually two of my favorite side characters! I didn't like them that much at first to be honest but they've definitely grown on me a lot recently.

I think Kotaro is really overlooked actually. Like I still see people bring up his actions in the main story when he’s moved on a lot past that, and then just write him off because of it. And I mean, it’s probably because he never got too much screentime between then and Power of Unity, but since he’s been making more regular appearances I think they’ve taken his character in a really interesting direction. He initially became a singer because he wanted to be a cool older brother for his baby brother and just happened to see RW at that time, which pushed him into street music. He just did it as a passtime because he was sort of good at it. However, RW did have a big impact on him, just like it had on An and Akito, even if he was only sorta casual in the street music scene. He admits in POU that the reason he never went further was because he was afraid, and seeing VBS putting their all into it inspired him.

It’s sort of subtle up until Light Up the Fire, but Kotaro doesn't have a lot of self-esteem or confidence in his singing. I think the first time it's ever brought up is in Power of Unity as far as I remember, where he asks once or twice if he's holding everyone back. LUTF makes it really clear that he has a lot of insecurities: he believes he's holding everyone back and he believes that he has no talent compared to the others. And that's what sticks out to me, because 3/4 of VBS have felt the same way. Kohane, Akito, and Toya all at some point or another believed they were holding everyone back, be it because they were a rookie, lacking talent, or had no resolve. Kotaro has been all of those and it’s obvious that he is written the way he is to serve as a mirror character to those three. He's had the same insecurities but the way he goes about dealing with them is totally different. While VBS had each other to rely on, Kotaro doesn't have a singing partner or group. He's a solo artist. And while he works with VBS, Arata, and EVER, he isn't part of any of their groups. Even Arata who also works alone still has Souma, but more on that in a minute.

(Also just an aside, I think he’s a mirror to Kohane slightly more than the others, and that slightly being the fact that VBS is what got him inspired to take this seriously, because that’s how Kohane got inspired she saw the others and wanted to be just like them, she wanted something to throw herself into and give her all to. The fact that she’s the main one who tries to call out to him when he breaks down in LUTF I think also plays into this, like it seems to hint that she’s able to relate to him.)

I really think Kotaro is much more than how he was presented in the main story and could definitely become a pretty strong side character if he ever got an event with a bit more focus (like how Vivid Old Tale gave Nagi a lot of screentime or POU had a lot of focus on Arata). Also clpl have you ever considered giving Kotaro a partner please give him a partner. Considering you rubbed in how important singing partners are before now why haven't you even tried to give him one?

Arata has definitely been given more development than Kotaro and I genuinely think he has one of the best arcs of any side character. Like he starts out as a rival for Akito, a foil to Akito. He's basically everything Akito wants to be, and also kind of a dick. Him getting beat by Taiga though, even though it was a small moment, was definitely an important turning point for him because it put him on the same level as everyone else. Because even he has someone better than him.

Oh and his development in POU was so good I'm probably gonna go on a little tangent about his relationship with Souma now because it's so important to his character. Arata's doing all of this for Souma. Souma was the one who wanted to do street music, Souma was the one who took Arata to RW, everything was Souma's dream, but it was still important to Arata. They were partners after all. But that's what it is. Were. Even if Arata wasn't the one who was in that car accident, it still took a toll on him. Souma has been forced into a position where he isn't going to be able to achieve his dreams, so Arata has to carry all that weight on his back. Surpassing RW suddenly has become so much more important to Arata because he wants, needs, Souma's dream to become a reality. The thing is, with how caught up he was in doing everything for Souma, he approached everything on his own. Surpassing RW isn't something he can do alone; the original was a collaboration between several groups, there's no way Arata could do it alone. He needed to work with people again, which he finally realised in POU.

Actually I think one of my favorite moments in his arc has to be his showdown with Taiga in LUTF. Because he's been able to overcome what was holding him back, he's actually able to get closer to Taiga's level. That is, until Taiga drops the "we're not so different" bomb. Because that moment is so powerful. Because at that point we see Arata as less of a foil to Akito and more of a parallel to Taiga. Both of them went through a similar loss of a partner, and Taiga uses that to get under Arata's skin and he goes for a deep cut. Souma is incredibly important to Arata, and Taiga knows that and had a similar experience of losing someone important to him, and is able to see exactly what’s still holding Arata back from reaching his full potential. Arata is doing all of this for Souma. For Souma. Taiga points out that Arata isn’t carrying Souma’s dream, he’s clinging onto the idea to cope with his grief. The thing is, Souma can’t surpass RW anymore. Arata’s loaded that responsibility onto himself, without even considering his own feelings on the matter. As Taiga says, Arata is good, great even, but he can’t be the best unless he asks himself if he wants this. Arata can’t even say that he is carrying Souma’s dream, that he does want to do this and he isn’t just clinging onto the idea to cope, and it crushes him to the point of leaving Shibuya.

Honestly I think leaving was what was best for Arata in that moment. Because he does need to take a step back and just let himself actually process his grief. Because even if Souma is still alive, that partnership was still lost and Arata had dedicated everything to that partnership and to Souma, and really he still does. And honestly I think this is what he wants even if you take Souma’s dreams out of the equation, but he needs time to himself to think about what he wants. I don’t know when we’ll next see him again honestly it might be a while but I’m interested to see how that goes. Arata is surprisingly developed and nuanced for a side character and the fact the devs managed to do this across 3 events, two of which he only appears in for a couple chapters is insane. Oh yeah also I like him a bit more than Kotaro if the wall of text wasn’t obvious.

#it's actually impossible for me to give my opinion on a character without writing a character analysis instead #asks #mod talks #apologies again for taking literally 2 months to answer this #arata tono #kotaro mita

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nalyra-dreaming · 1 month

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hii! i was wondering if you’d be willing to provide sort of a summary on armand’s backstory? i don’t mind spoilers, it’s just that i’d really like to know a bit more about him and what shapes his actions. i’ve read iwtv and he happened to be my favourite character in it :) plus, i’m very excited for his involvement this coming season, especially in the present day interview. i’m trying to read the books in order so i’ll probably fit in tvl before may but there’s no chance of me reaching qotd or tva until after s2

Hey!

Sure! TVL will have some of it in it (though not the whole story).

I'm putting this under the cut, just in case. Obviously this is the backstory as it stands right now... though given the little hints we have already I actually do not think they will or need to change that much.

This is a rough overview, with a handful of comments wrt the show.

Please let me know if something is unclear.

Armand was born near today's Kiew, that area was heavily contested then. He was a gifted icon painter, and more or less expected to be one of the entombed monks one day. His actual name is Andrei.

On a ride with his father he is kidnapped and sold as a sex slave to brothels. Marius, an ancient, blond, originally roman vampire who likes to dress in red eventually buys him and gives him a home and education, with other boys, in Venice. Over the years their relationship develops, and Armand, then called "Amadeo" grows more to, let's say an intimate confidante slash lover to Marius. He knows Marius is not human, and he wants to be what he is. Marius is not wholly willing, though over time his resolve breaks, and when Armand is mortally injured he turns him as not to lose him.

Shortly after the turning they are attacked by the "Children of Satan", who kill (most of) the other boys, and who kidnap Armand. Armand thinks Marius destroyed, since he saw him burning.

Armand is tortured until he breaks and accepts the rules of the "Children of Satan", led by Santino. He lives with them, until he is assigned the role of the leader of the coven in Paris. Allessandra, who gives him the name "Armand", goes there with him.

A few centuries later Armand encounters a blond blood drinker who wears red - he is heavily reminded of his maker, and in a way "imprints" on him - this is, of course, Lestat. Lestat, who brings his mother Gabrielle, and then his lover Nicolas across. Lestat who defies the rules Armand tries to impose on him (Armand tries to enforce the rules and make Lestat submit by hunting him, and kidnapping and torturing Nicolas) immediately, and who ultimately ends up destroying the remnants of Armand's world view when he does so.

Armand, unmoored and almost alone after having thrown a lot of his own coven into the fire, tries to find a new purpose. Lestat gives the theater to him, and Nicolas, who has gone more or less mad after turning. Though Armand tries to make Lestat love him, the way he goes about it actually makes sure he does not succeed, because he tries by force, by spell-binding and force-feeding. There is attraction though, but it stays an attraction that never takes the last step.

Armand tells Lestat and Gabrielle his story, and hopes to come with them, but Lestat and Gabrielle decline. Armand tells Lestat he can always come back for help.

Lestat leaves Paris with Gabrielle to look for Marius, of whom he knows from Armand's story.

Armand leads the coven in the theater, Nicolas writes plays and music for them, until he goes so mad Armand knows no other way to control Nicolas other than to cut off his hands and starve him, and eventually Nicolas goes fully mad by hunger and pain, and when he gets his hands back (limbs/digits etc can be reattached) he throws himself into a fire.

(In the show we know Lestat returned twice to Paris, so it stands to reason they might have met up again then as well, but that is a change from the books.)

Armand continues to lead the theater, but he gets more and more disillusioned with it all, and when Louis comes along the coven of that theater consists of (almost completely) different vampires than when Lestat left there.

It's a bit unclear what the exact time frame is, but Lestat arrives approximately at the same time as Louis does.

Lestat goes to Armand after the murder attempt, to beg for healing blood - and Louis' (and Claudia's) life. Armand, mightily interested in this "Louis", this most human vampire... throws Lestat in a dungeon and goes to meet Louis. And, fortunately, falls for him.

He influences Louis to turn Madeleine so she and Claudia can leave, but Louis refuses to leave them. The coven knows that Claudia attempted to kill Lestat and there is a trial, a trial Armand does not stop. A trial where a tortured and half mad Lestat is made to testify against them. A trial where Louis is judged to be entombed, and Claudia and Madeleine to death.

Armand sees this as an opportunity to try out a surgery, ostensibly to give Claudia what she wants most - a grown up body. He chops off her head and sews it onto another vampire's body. The procedure works, but Armand himself is repulsed by the horrific result and has Claudia and Madeleine put into the sun, where they burn to ashes.

The vampires give the yellow dress Claudia wore to Lestat afterwards. Armand (eventually) frees Louis, claiming he could not prevent it, and takes him to Claudia. Louis tries to gather her ashes but Armand takes him away, and spell-binds him, when he asks for Lestat.

Louis eventually breaks free, and tells Armand not to go to the theater the next night. He goes and burns the whole thing down, killing all inside.

Armand takes Lestat and throws him off a tower, telling him Louis is dead.

Louis is numb after, and Armand goes with him. Armand tells Louis Lestat is dead. They wander the world for decades. Live in New York for a long time. Eventually Armand tells Louis that Lestat had not died in the fire, which makes them go to New Orleans. There Louis tries to find Lestat.

Supposedly Louis finds Lestat, broken and still healing, and leaves him there. (Lestat contradicts that later.) And supposedly Armand goes to Lestat to complain about Louis.

Armand and Louis break up after that.

Armand goes on alone, for a while (in the books).

When Louis gives his interview to Daniel in San Francisco he is around though, and he saves Daniel. In the books, he puts him in a cage, and then tells him to run. He hunts Daniel around the globe. The hunt becomes a chase, and eventually Armand falls in love with Daniel - and Daniel with him, though the relationship is not exactly the healthiest for Daniel. (That is "The Devil's Minion" chapter in QotD.) Night Island happens.

Lestat wakes up, tries to find Louis (and shield him) by becoming a rockstar, giving out their secrets, and writing his own life story. In the books Akasha rises, and burns a lot of their kind. Armand brings Daniel across in more or less desperation, on the way to Lestat's concert.

>> This obviously has been changed. I have theorized that Akasha did not rise, which would have chain-event repercussions. But we will have to see that, for the show. Daniel did not get changed but loses his memory instead.

In the books Akasha is eventually defeated, and the remaining vampires all come together on Night Island afterwards. But most of them are not "ready" yet. They break apart again.

When Lestat encounters the Devil Armand is there for him, and after Lestat goes mad at the end, he tries to commit suicide, but fails. In the aftermath Marius turns two mortals he loves for him, Benji and Sybille, because Armand would not. Armand dictates his life story to David.

Armand is also one of the few who may drink from Lestat while he is in the coma (and who sees "Christ" when he does so), and who can wake Lestat. He is also the one who routinely "cleans up" everywhere he is (namely any other vampires around).

Armand eventually goes back to New York, and acquires three connected town houses, the so called "Trinity Gate", in which many vampires seek shelter from time to time. Louis eventually goes and lives with him there.

>> That might be the show's Dubai penthouse, we'll see.

Armand has "lost" Daniel to Marius for a while. Daniel went a bit mad after turning, and Marius took care of him.

When the threat around Amel and Rhoshamandes happens and Lestat opens his castle in the Auvergne most vampires come together there, including Louis and Armand (and others).

Armand and Daniel reunite there, and last we see them they are together again.

Armand is one of the major players at the "court", and the past has mostly been forgiven (to errr... simplify it).

In the end, he lives with Daniel, Marius, Lestat and Louis (and a lot of others) at the court.

... I'm not sure if this summary suffices to "understand" Armand. I think you might need to actually read the books (and especially his book) there... but feel free to ask if you have further questions :)

#Anonymous #asks #ask nalyra #the vampire chronicles #vc #vampire chronicles #iwtv armand #armand #iwtv #armand's backstory #backstory #summary #lestat de lioncourt #louis de pointe du lac #claudia de lioncourt #daniel molloy #marius de romanus

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snailsgoingdowntown · 8 months

Text

Blood-Stained Relationship

Prologue i

Slight Yandere! Blade x Fem! Reader

Disclaimer 1: No incest will be in this story. It may seem that there is, but no, there isn’t. Everything will be explained as the story goes on, but again, there will be no incestual acts in this piece of fiction. The brother is NOT attracted to the reader in a romantic or sexual way.

As a matter of fact, the brother is bitchless lmao –

Warnings: talk of a sister complex, toxic and borderline abusive familial relationship(s), implied toxic marriage, implied borderline abusive parenting, obsessive and overprotective behavior/thoughts, hints of depression scattered about, repressed emotions, one suicidal thought, murder, blood. Please tell me if I missed any warnings so I can add them accordingly.

Disclaimer 2: I do NOT condone any of the harmful behavior or thoughts that take place in this piece of fiction. None of these actions should be romanticized or considered normal, as it is extremely toxic and dangerous.

Minors and Blank blogs DO NOT INTERACT

Note: I just kinda gave up in the end, I don’t even know what that last conversation was.

Wordcount: 3144k

===

Your brother loved to spoil you.

Cosmetics, designer brand clothing, the newest high tech, pretty nails that feel a little too heavy at times, and personal stylists that made sure you looked like you just stepped out of a fashion magazine cover. Not to mention the lavish furnishing in the spacious house you share with him. Almost anything and everything you could ever want right at your fingertips.

And you’re extremely grateful for everything he has done and more – after all, where would you be if it were not for his generosity?

A dingy little apartment on Burn Street, working as a barista, a two-room lease that you could barely afford rent for. The shady part of town where shop windows get boarded up every second month because someone decided to rob the place at midnight. Needing to use a sperate and out of the way laundry mat because you couldn’t trust the apartment’s commute one. Going by yourself without a watchful eye making sure that you’re safe.

Which is why when your brother asks for a favor, you return it. Smiling, laughing, wearing a dress he picked out for an event, or making friends from a specific group. He feeds you well, and you cook with the ingredients he provides. Unemployed, sure, but you think you became a good enough homemaker.

It was the least you could do, especially since he doesn’t make you pay rent or bills. He would insist that you just enjoy your time at home, or just going around town, with a watchful eye of course, you need to keep your safety in mind.

Even the pretty apron with lace ruffles adds to the aesthetic, the experience. If someone would give everything to you, then shouldn’t you do the same for them?

And that is the exact reason the kitchen smelt of exotic spices, with your hands kneading the yeast while keeping an eye on the meat simmering in the pan. The stove was one of the newest modes in the past decade but purchased two years ago – when your brother gave you, his hand. There were too many settings for the thing, but you knew enough to use it properly.

Am I using too much, or this fine?

You finish beating the yeast into submission – gently kneading until it is good enough. Egg yolk gets drabbled on, and you open the oven to put it in, the heat a little too close. Even with the oven mitten on, it reaches your skin.

The oven door closes with a ‘beep,’ as you set the timer. The clock on the wall reads 6:00PM. Your brother won’t be home until Ten. Whatever his job was must keep him busy. So busy, that he tells you to wait until around 7 seven o’clock if you plan on cooking, and eight pm for takeout. And like a good little sister, you listen to your dear elder brother. But you decided to start a bit earlier, today.

The meat is still shimmering by the time you check on it. Carrots were in the pan too, but you still cut bell peppers to cook them separately. And then, maybe you’ll scoop them open and fill them with melted cheese – or were you supposed to bake those? No, you don’t.

And then, after that, you’ll mop again, the smell of bleach filling your nostrils until you felt dizzy, and if the bread is still baking, then you’ll watch one of your shows until the oven makes a ‘ding!’ and then you’ll take it out and get the table ready.

You smile at the thought, washing your hands with cherry-scented hand soap, the water cold. It brings comfort. And smells sweet, the smell gently urging you to bring your hands to your face and take a sniff. You resist the urge.

“Mm, I should get started on mopping,” you take a right into one of the corners in the kitchen, the mini ‘storage’ door opening with the twist of a knob and a pull. Grabbing the mop and bucket set – that costed more than it should – you fill the bucket with bleach –

Ring! Ring! Ring!

You fill up the bucket, the liquid swishing within. You add some water, dip the mop in, and then place the head of it in. Then, with one hand, you grab the bucket handle, and the mop handle in the other, making way to the living room. The floor was made of tile, cold to the touch as you step out of your house slippers, bare feet touching the white material.

It’s colder than expected.

With a small sigh, you start to mop –

Ring! Ring! Ring!

“House, turn on the TV to channel sixty-five.”

The Tv turns on, the channel immediately showing after a few seconds. The news is on. You don’t pay much attention to the current events, but here and there you’ll listen in about one thing or another.

“Mm, I should do laundry tomorrow. And then I’ll ask Mei to accompany me to the store tomorrow; I need to get groceries. Oh, maybe I’ll look online later today for a new dress –

Ring! Ring! Ring!

“…”

A defeated sigh and you drag yourself to the kitchen to retrieve your phone, rather upset, which was uncharacteristic of you. You’d like to put your phone on ‘Do not disturb.’ But the model you use doesn’t have that setting, surprisingly. You should ask your brother for a new one. You told him that you didn’t trust that phone company or that seller.

But he had trusted them more than you. Close friends, perhaps?

“Who is it, who is it…,” it vibrates against the marble counter, the shrill noise making your ears bleed. You should ask Mei if it’s possible to put it on silent. It won’t let you do that either, but your brother knows how to bypass it. He’s smart, like that.

And you think you like that about him. Just how he likes the way you are. Because he loves you, his dear little sister, and because you’re a good little sister, you behave. Like you should, and how you were told – suggested – by Mei when you were first welcomed into your elder brother’s home with open arms.

Because he loves you.

Dearest Brother flashes across the screen, and you wait a few seconds before answering his third call. He doesn’t like how he deals with his employees and co-workers. He’s always gentle when it comes to you.

“Hello?” You put him on the speaker, placing your phone back on the counter. It was time to check the shimmering meat anyway. “Sorry for not answering sooner, I didn’t check the caller ID. I’ll make sure to give you a customized ringtone later.” You chirp while opening the lid of the pan. It was almost done; your hand takes the wooden spoon and stir the meat to make sure it wouldn’t burn.

“It’s fine,” comes his relaxed voice from the other side of the line. “I know you don’t check your phone often to begin with; you would rather watch TV or do chores around the house. We have a maid for a reason, you know,” he jests, a chuckle low in his throat. How classic.

“Hehe, I just like being busy. It’s hard to get out of that mindset.”

“Even after two years.”

“Mm.”

When he laughs, it sets off bells in your head. Loud and shrill. “I just wanted to check up on you. You didn’t answer my text an hour ago, so I got worried.”

He could have checked the cameras. The house is littered with them, but to his credit, he is removing most of them. Little by little. However, he’s considerate enough to leave them out of the more… private rooms.

That was a line that should never be crossed.

But, of course, you still gave Mei permission to report to – to tell him what you do with your day. To look around in your room, and it was okay. Because it was Mei. And Mei cares about your safety, even if she reminded you of your roommate in terms of emotional distance.

It was fine, it needed to be. Because you were still an intruder who was as lost as a lamb. Even with guidance, you still had a hard time adjusting. And thankfully, both were so patient it made your heart swell.

You just wished it didn’t hurt as much as it did. Hearts weren’t supposed to do that with good news. With good and sweet actions.

“I’m just happy that you’re safe. You know how much I care about you.” There’s shuffling in the background and whimpers. You can imagine that he’s with a woman, a lover perhaps. Because why else would you hear those types of sounds? It is odd, however, how… masculine they sound. And how far they are, with a crunching sound.

You can hear something break in the background. Sharp yet dulled – it wasn’t glass or porcelain. Your smile is shaky as you imagine what type of stuff he might be into. It’s only natural to be curious, but you push the thoughts away anyway.

“I know.”

And truly, you do. Why else would he take great care to keep track of your location. The people you meet, the men he chooses – it’s all for your sake. And you make yourself believe as much.

The air smells weird. Burnt and heavy. Also, is it just you or is there light smoke coming from somewhere?

“…When are you going to be home for dinner? There’s bread in the oven. And the meat is almost done.”

You look at the clock on the wall. The time reads 6:54PM. Quickly, you take off the lid of the meat. It’s burnt. Well, at least that explains the smell.

“Did I forget to tell you?” Your brother’s voice is light and airy, already knowing that you did remember what he told you. But he plays along anyway. Because that’s what good brothers do.

And he is a good brother. Who loves you so much… that sometimes, it feels a little suffocating.

How ironic. He’s the one who provides the air you breathe, and yet, he takes it away all the same. But it’s okay. Because he’s your brother, and you love him too. Just not as much. And he’s okay with that.

“I probably forgot. You know how I am, brother.” Now that you think about it, when was the last time you called his name, instead of ‘brother’?

“Haha, you’re right. I said around ten, but…” More noise in the background. This time there’s a gushing sound. Coughing. Wheezing. He’s into some weird stuff, isn’t he?

You hear a woman’s giggle in the background. But it doesn’t sound playful or innocent.

Your manicured nails rapidly tap against the counter. A little too loud it could probably be heard on the phone. He doesn’t comment on it regardless.

“Later than ten? Oh my, you sure do sound busy today. Be careful, alright?” Your concern is genuine, but these days, it’s starting to come from a different place. You wonder if this is what your parents went through when they were younger.

If that’s why your mother would call you so often the moment you hit fifteen. Worried about your safety, paranoia creeping up her neck like a snake. If you recall correctly, father did this with mother too. So, it’s natural for people to be worried.

It must be.

“I do, however, have a request of you.” His tone turns serious, and you already know what it is. It’s always the same thing every time. Sure, he loves buying you pretty dresses and nice nails, a personal stylist who listens to your every whim. Usually.

Because there’s another reason, he loves buying you expensive, yet simple jewelry, and clothes that complement your skin-tone and curves. It was usually Mei who chose the clothing, though. Because your brother still does care about your privacy, because he’s –

“Good brother, I was hoping you would set up another playdate. Same person, or is it a different one?”

You can practically hear the smile in his voice. You’re a good sister, so you play along with your brother’s schemes. Although, these days, it’s getting a bit… annoying. Every man is the same, and if they aren’t, then they’re shy and can barely meet your eyes. It’s cute.

You tap against the counter faster. Be a good sister because he’s a good brother. He loves you. And you should love him.

But love wasn’t always healthy.

Sometimes love hurts.

“It’s a different guy, but don’t worry – he doesn’t bite. I’ll never allow someone to even do as much as nip at you.” He sounds so confident you almost feel relieved. It’s common. Be a good sister, like how mother would always tell you.

Behave, dear daughter. They love you. We love you.

And you love us, don’t you?

“Of course; I know you’ll always protect me.” Your knees are starting to get weaker. Maybe you ate something bad because now you’re starting to feel sick. Bile is building up. “But if I may make a request…, can it be an hour or less?”

Even though you love your brother, you hate how long these dates can get. And you hate how boring they become after the first five minutes. But recently, they’re dull right off the bat.

“Thank you for everything, (name). I’ll make sure to make it up to you.”

Before you could reply, or he could say “I love you,” the line ends suddenly. You had heard more wheezing in the background before he hung up. Along with multiple apologies that came from a man.

The meat got burnt so badly it turned black.

The bread has another hour or two to go. All is well.

Because if it wasn’t, then one of the knives in the knife holder would find home in your wrist. In your chest. In your neck.

Like a crumbled piece of paper, you fold into yourself as you fall to the floor. That was enough playing for today. Oh. He never even told you what time he would be home.

Distantly, you hear something break before you close your eyes. You’re tired.

You hope your sleep won’t be interrupted.

“I love my sister.”

“Mm, I can see that. Although… perhaps, you love her a little too much, to the point it’s off-putting. People may get the wrong idea, you know.”

Your brother turns around to look at the woman speaking – beautiful, with dreamy pale purple eyes that are jaded. Almost lifeless, yet full of mischief. Like a snake waiting to pounce, she watches him, her purple hair swaying with each step she takes towards him.

One hunter against another. In the end, who will go down?

She must step over the corpse laying on the floor, blood clinging to her heel. It’s nothing more than an inconvenience to her. As though she simply stepped in a water puddle.

“I don’t have a sister complex.”

“Your actions say otherwise. But” she stops right in front of him, gloved hand pulling down her sunglasses from the top of her head to the bridge of her nose. They gleam underneath the light, your brother’s reflection in them. He sees how thin of a line his lips are.

He’s not amused.

“It is because of your behavior that others stay away from her. That’s what you want, right?”

“No comment. But just know that I don’t have a sister complex. It’s closely associated with incest, and I don’t – “

“Alright, alright. We’ll just ignore that for now – “

“What do you mean ‘for now’?”

“– and get to business. So, you want to hire us, correct? For a baby-sitting job?” Her head tilts to the side, a lazy and smug grin pulling at her red lips. Despite her words, everything about her screams gentle. But the neon purple strings in her hand that are connected to the corpse say otherwise.

It’s – She – is as beautiful as she is dangerous.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘baby-sitting’ job, but yes. Besides, I don’t need to hire you to begin with.” Your brother shrugs his shoulders before crossing his arms. “I mean, I am one of your most valued resources.”

“Oh? Are you now?”

“Who do you think provides the funds? But, of course, if money is a thing that would make things easier, than… I wouldn’t mind paying a bit more.”

She smiles at that, releasing the string as it fades into thin air. “Mm, does the gender matter?”

“Yes. Unless, of course, you have a trusted gentleman.” He glances at the clock on the wall; 9:00PM. He wonders if dinner is ready by now, or if you burnt the food again. Maybe he should stop calling after five, else you get distracted. He needs to be a good brother and remember that you tend to get distracted easily.

“Is it 24/7? Or just during certain events?”

“For now, I’m not sure. But for sure, during her blind dates. There’s a lengthy list of them that I’ve been putting off. She’s just been so tired that I decided to give her a break, oh, but – “

“Please don’t go on a rampant. I know enough to judge the situation. But yes, I do know a trusted ‘gentleman’… I just need to clear his head occasionally. But for your sake, I think it’d be best if you introduce them soon.” She adjusts her glasses, fixing them on top of her head again.

“I can promise you he won’t show any interest.”

“But there’s a possibility he might harm her?”

Gently, her hands clap together. “There will always be a possibility that someone you hired might hurt her. That’s just something you can’t avoid. But if we avoid certain triggers, he’ll be as harmless as a fly… towards her.”

Humming in thought, your brother mulls over it. He did ask, so…

“But do not worry, for I will also be there, at times. But Elio has been sending me more scripts these past few months compared to him.”

“Him?”

“Bladie.”

He chokes on his spit. “You want me to entrust my dear sister to – “

“Trust me, he won’t lay a hand on her. Not if I tell him not to.”

“You mean force him to, you little she-devil…” he chuckles lowly, no true amusement in his voice or eyes. Again, he did ask, but still…

“What about Silver Wolf?”

“She’s more interested in her games than a baby-sitting job. And Sam… at least Bladie looks human. And rather handsome, too. But from what you’ve told me about your sister, he’s not her type. And she’s not his either; too young.”

“… I’ll entrust her to you, Kafka.”

#yandere #yandere x reader #yandere hsr #blade x reader #yandere blade x reader #honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #blade honkai star rail #yandere blade #hsr

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aguamarinee · 9 months

Text

➪ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Maki × reader

➪ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fluff, crack

➪ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Y/n and Maki have been trying to set up two of their friends for dates, but so far all of their tries proved unsuccessful. Luckily for them, there comes a perfect opportunity to try again. But the events don't turn out exactly the way they want them to... and this time they have to get involved, way too deep for their liking.

➪ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭: ,,Seven minutes in heaven? With you? I didn't sign up for this."

➪ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 6,7k (I went so overboard with the plot man T_T)

"—What?! You're kidding!" Maki freaked out quite loudly in the school cafeteria, earning some weird looks pointed towards our table when it was just the two of us sitting there.

It didn't help that in the heat of the moment he stood up and lightly slapped his tray down onto the table — he almost knocked over his milkshake but I caught it at the last minute before it could spill out everywhere.

All I could do was sigh and give him a judging look, thankfully he got the message and sat back down quietly, and I handed him back his precious drink.

"Yeah... I wish I was, but I'm not." I continued, toning down my voice and leaning closer to him to resume the story. "I swear I hinted pretty damn aggressively to her that she should wait at the courtyard after school. I mean I had no idea how much, but I told her nonetheless. That was what we talked about all day! And we had two empty classes to talk because the teacher was absent..." I sighed again and took a bite out of my sandwich, so while I'm spilling the news to Maki during the lunch break, I get to eat something as well.

"Anyway, that was until you messaged me about the exact time." I gestured towards him, he nodded, confirming while listening intently. "And by then we were having our last class which was different, but I tried to catch her in the corridor. I almost missed my lesson since I couldn't find her, so I just messaged her instead. I told her to wait for me, so I can keep her company while you and your friend arrive. She saw my message and answered as well, during the lesson. But when I ran to the courtyard 5 minutes after we were dismissed, she wasn't there!" I whisper-shouted to Maki, getting a bit too into my story. I took another big bite out of my sandwich and waited for him to talk.

At first, he just lightly facepalmed and let out a quiet groan.

"Then I don't understand— it was so obvious! No offense but your friend can be a bit absent-minded sometimes..." He trailed off, then started to eat his lunch too. I just shrugged at his remark, still munching, motioning him to continue. "It's true that we got there like 15 minutes after classes were over, but we had P.E. for last and you know how that goes." He rolled his eyes. "Also, our team lost the impromptu basketball game so we had to sweep out the gym and gather all the lost footballs, volleyballs, basketballs, and other supplies, then take them back to the storage room. That's why we were a bit late, but after we got the packing done, damn, I was rushing to the changing room so fast, dragging my friend with me." He laughed a bit and sipped on his milkshake.

I acknowledged this silently while continuing to eat, nodding along and smiling at his silly side of the story.

"I wanted to give a heads up that we're running late but I left my phone in the locker so I figured whatever, and just tugged my friend with me through the corridors so we don't waste more time. But as I saw from afar that neither you nor your friend was there, I got pretty confused. And slightly alerted." Maki looked me in the eyes a bit sharply, expecting me to continue again and explain my situation further. I swallowed my drink and began talking yet again.

"Well — 10 minutes earlier —, seeing that she wasn't there I went into panic mode too and immediately messaged her, thinking that she got lost or got caught up by something — I don't know, I was short on time." I smiled sheepishly at him. "But she wasn't answering and wasn't online, so I opted to try and call her. I started pacing around the courtyard while dialing her number, but I was worried that you guys can arrive anytime and it would be incredibly awkward to see only me standing there, waiting anxiously. So after a minute, I ran off to her classroom, to check there. Although I told her clearly where to go, I thought I should see, just in case. Then I ran to our shared classroom. Then ran to our shared lockers, but still no luck. So I grabbed my coat and went to the school's gate for a last effort, but of course, no luck there either. Between running around I was trying to call her nonstop but she never picked up, not even once! And that was my last straw; I couldn't reach you or her, so I just went to the bus stop and traveled home... I don't know, at that point, I really didn't feel like doing anything." I chuckled lowly and shrugged my shoulders again.

"Right, I saw the messages and two missed calls after I went back to my locker and I felt bad, but it's not like I knew that things were going South this much. But really, it just came out to be the worst-case scenario this time. We suck at being good wingmen, aren't we?" He laughed too, between small bites.

We haven't got much time left from our lunch break so it was time to get to the end of the story.

"...But I'm curious," I said after a minute of eating in silence. "When you saw that none of us were there at the courtyard, what did you do? How did you play it off? Did you just tell your friend to forget about it or what?" I asked and locked eyes with him once again, with a hint of mischief.

"To be honest I tried playing it off cool, but I have no idea if I succeeded or not. We just walked around the courtyard a bit, in a big circle while talking about everyday stuff. I lied that I just wanted to have a nice chat with him — which wasn't suspicious at all..." He dragged the last word out and rolled his eyes playfully.

"—Good thing you didn't start holding his hand or something, to guide him around the courtyard as if you're on a date." I cut him off laughing, already imagining the scene. Maki gave me a look but continued after a few seconds, elegantly ignoring my previous remark. "But yeah, in the end, it seemed like he got over it. Pretty sure he found it strange but it didn't come out as embarrassing as downright telling him that I set him up with a girl and it backfired." We both snorted at this then sighed quietly, finally finishing our lunch.

After a couple of last gulps from our drinks we stood up, took our trays to the disposer, and walked out of the cafeteria side-by-side.

"Do we know what happened to your friend though? She's okay, right?" Maki stole a glance at me while we were walking back to our classrooms, ready for our last class of the day.

"Yeah, in the evening she called me back. She told me she suddenly needed to run off because something important came up, so she couldn't wait. I guess we were just incredibly unlucky." I looked at him and hit his shoulder playfully while grinning.

Although it wasn't as funny 24 hours ago — running around and planning this whole thing in the morning —, as talking about it now, but our idea backfired so much that it was truly laughable.

It wasn't our first try though, we attempted to set up our friends countless times in breaks too — pushing them towards each other accidentally, or making them sit at the same table at lunch and other things like that.

But this was our very first bigger 'operation' on getting them to talk.

I have no idea when did we start doing this, or why did me and Maki think that this is a good idea, but it seemed fun.

And we both agreed on the fact that they should date, so why not?

But after this unlucky experience, I guess we need to think even bigger...

What though? How though?

Drag them into a double date—?

"Y/n!" I heard Maki calling my name from further away in an excited tone.

Oops, seems like I fell behind while thinking hard about our next step.

I ran up to him, meanwhile, I heard the first signal of the bell and took a mental note that it was almost time for our last class to start.

"What's up?" I raised my eyebrows, wondering why was he acting very chipper and happy all of a sudden.

"I just remembered something very good and useful, for our next plan." He was grinning widely, his eyes almost disappearing because of his signature smile, creating small crescent shapes.

This is the first time I'm noticing something about his smile...

"Yo, did you just get your braces taken off?"

I asked with a similar grin while turning to him, but at that exact moment the bell started ringing and both of us dashed into our classrooms without another word.

...Something very good and useful, my ass.

This party is neither very good nor useful for our plan at this moment.

I hope you're rushing Maki, because I'm about to die of boredom.

I thought we agreed on a fixed appointment when we would all get here!

But of course, the boys had to be late — almost 30 minutes by now.

I suddenly heard a light buzz and I snatched my phone from the coffee table without thinking.

I was pretty invested in the conversation with my friends, but even more invested in my master match-maker plan with Maki.

As I had the phone in my hand the screen lit up and I saw Maki's incoming message.

» The eagle has landed. We're coming at 3 o'clock, through the garage. «

I stopped drinking my alcohol-free minty mojito while rereading his text, because I needed a few moments to myself, trying to understand his written words.

What the heck, Maki...

But when I looked to my right — where the second entrance took place, straight from the garage — I caught a glimpse of his green jacket and he sent me a subtle wink, signaling.

That means the operation is starting.

His friend didn't see us and headed to the kitchen immediately to get a punch or a cocktail for himself, Maki following close behind.

My friend didn't catch our small spark of interaction either as she kept drinking her own light piña colada, happily chatting with her other friends.

The house was lively, to say the least. This made me excited too about what was to come, but this was the moment I relaxed completely since finally the two of them arrived.

People from our school were everywhere in high spirits and a bit tipsy from the small selection of colorful alcoholic beverages.

Although, weirdly enough I didn't see anyone else come in after Maki...

Where are his other eight friends though?

Because I know all of them have been invited.

Compared to a real nightclub the lights were pretty ordinary and weren't as hard on the eyes, but for a normal family's home, there were sure some funky lamps and ceiling lighting, top lights hanging down to illuminate us.

For a moment with the small flickerings above us, it also felt like the lights were illuminating our whole night extending into the future, predicting how will this crazy evening end.

I kept looking through the crowd that was gathering in the spacious living room, a part of it lingering towards the balcony, and also more people were coming out from the kitchen; catching up, introducing each other, or starting to mingle to the soft music.

But no matter how eagerly I searched for our other friends that I knew were invited, I couldn't find them in the tremendous number of my schoolmates.

They're probably not here yet... It's possible that they're coming even later, I guess?

Although I don't think everyone is coming — I doubt that Yudai or Fuma is bothered enough about a simple party when their finals are at stake.

...They'll get the key events in picture or video form anyway, provided by Nicholas and Harua.

Scanning the whole room again — and still finding nothing — I resumed the talking and put my phone back on the glass table.

I guess we're good to sit here until the music gets louder, after that — as we're not planning on taking part in the dance party — we'll just go upstairs to one of the bedrooms and play the game.

Which is supposed to be the big sensation of the party, at least in my and Maki's book — because that's where our mission starts.

Spin the Bottle and from then, Seven Minutes in Heaven.

And we plan on pairing up our friends with... A little bit of cheating but that doesn't matter.

Or, technically it's not even cheating, we're just changing the rules a tad bit. It's fine. It'll be worth it.

I hope.

"—Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!"

Suddenly a random mic went off loudly in the building, the speakers blasting the sounds through our ears.

As I looked to the front I noticed none other than Nicholas, being the owner of the booming voice, holding the microphone with a way too excited grin.

He was standing on a small podium and beside him Yuma was turning up the amplifier's volume which caused the sudden surprise and earache for everyone.

Way to announce their arrival...

And my prediction was on point; everyone came except for the two oldest who were probably at their homes and studying their asses off even at this hour for their finals.

Although, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

At least they won't see much of the stuff that'll happen here tonight, but at the same time I'm scared nobody will be able to hold back Nicholas—

"How y'all doing? DJ Nicholas is in the house!" After a bit of silence, the crowd started to hype him up and I hid my face in my hands, feeling incredibly embarrassed to call him my friend at this moment.

Someone stop him, please.

As I looked at the others Yuma and Taki were trying really hard to keep it together, while Harua was already filming the very first cringe event of the night. Euijoo and Jo just seemed lost and confused beside them.

A bit further away I noticed Maki and his friend exiting from the kitchen with their drinks, Maki joined Taki and Yuma and told them something, then signaled my way.

Taki immediately noticed me and waved, which also meant it was about time I take my friend and leave the living room and Nicholas' newly made chaos.

As I kept looking at them, waiting for them to go up the stairs Yuma noticed me too. He smiled in his signature way with his snaggletooth showing, then Harua made eye contact with me for a moment as a greeting, not giving up on filming the older.

I have to give it to Nicholas, he's hyping up the crowd well and the real party is finally starting.

I don't know if it was intentional or he's just being extra and bored, but this means we're able to sneak away with the others.

I caught a glimpse of Maki already going towards the stairs' direction, beckoning the boys to follow him and having to drag away Jo and Euijoo from the show.

But he purposefully left out Harua because we need the cringe content and occasional blackmail material for Nicholas... Usually, he's the one who has his camera on 24/7 and has tons of embarrassing pictures and videos saved. I mean the rest of us doesn't have that many files combined, as he has alone.

Which is scary. But at least we're getting back at him a little bit.

Trust me, he deserves it.

"Hey, do you want to go upstairs? I'm not feeling the party vibe right now so maybe we can get away for a little? It feels a bit too crowded right now." I turned to my friend and I paid attention to express my words carefully so only she was able to hear them.

She pondered over my offer, taking another sip from her drink then shrugged her shoulders and stood up.

I copied her moves and set my sight on the staircase not too far from us.

We sneakily made our way around the big 'L' shaped leather couch we were sitting on and carefully pushed through the already dancing crowd.

Damn Nicho, you could have waited a little bit with the music though.

As we got closer to the first row of people that were in front of the DJ counter, I caught Nicholas' eyes and stuck out my tongue to greet him in my own way.

His grin grew wider and he quietly laughed while still mixing the music.

I nodded my head in the second floor's direction, signaling that all of us will be there if he would grow tired of being the in-house DJ.

And while we were at it I said hi to Harua as well, with words this time, giggling at the fact that he was still recording.

Finally, as we went up the stairs we came across a couple of rooms and as we looked through the aisle of doors one of them towards the back was left open and light came out from inside.

I guess we've found the others, nice.

I hope they haven't started the game yet.

"Yo, check this out, Y/n!" Taki bumped my hip playfully and suddenly his phone came into my vision.

"Harua sent the video into the group chat and Fuma just answered!" He said between giggles. "But I think Yudai is also with him since they saw it at the same time. They're probably having a break right now if they checked their phones."

As I looked at the device and read through the short conversation in the chatroom I chuckled as well, a smile forming on my features.

I happily laughed with Taki, a bit further away from the others.

We were still waiting for Harua to join us, especially since we ordered him to steal some snacks from the kitchen.

Our group was seated in a semi-circle on the bedroom floor, everyone still chatting and joking, not prepared for the upcoming game.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Maki eyeing me, but I didn't think much about it. I ushered Taki a bit closer to the others but remained next to him, still talking.

He was playing with an empty wine bottle in his hand that he picked up when he arrived — and it will be our helper for the game.

Because, well without any kind of bottle it would be pretty hard to play Spin the Bottle.

Shortly enough Harua arrived with chips and some sweets and he informed us that Nicholas will be present soon too.

I guess he doesn't want to miss the real sensation of our night... And the real chance to take those embarrassing pictures and videos.

We settled into a nice circle with everyone — in the meantime a couple of other girls joined as well after they noticed me and my friend were missing, but I didn't mind — as long as a lot of us gathered up, the fun is just increasing.

"The more, the merrier." Taki whispered to me with a grin and plopped the empty wine bottle into the middle of the circle.

As I looked through our group of friends everyone was comfortably seated beside each other, and I started counting them for the sake of the game, and when it came to Maki we made eye contact immediately and I was sure we were thinking the same thing.

"—Wait, we're odd." Maki interrupted the chit-chat as I was preparing to say the same thing. "We have to be even because later on we'll make pairs." He said with a serious face.

"Well, Nicholas is coming too." Harua chimed in.

"Oh please, we'll complete at least three rounds until he escapes from the party down there." Yuma rolled his eyes with a snort, dismissing Harua's answer.

"Then I'll join too, so we'll be even. And the only game master left is Taki then." I said with a small sigh, getting slightly impatient.

"Are you sure? I can join too, instead. You don't have to if you don't want to." Taki leaned closer, his brows furrowed in a slightly concerned expression.

"It's fine, it's better if you're the game master anyway." I smiled at him then caught Maki's eyes again, nodding.

"Okay, cool. Now, we can start the game. Bring on the first spin—!"

"Wait, how does this work exactly?" Maki's friend interrupted at the last minute, catching him off-guard.

The others just looked at him with a confused expression.

"You guys said that later we'll make pairs. And as far as I remember, you don't need pairs for the traditional version of the game." My friend joined, backing up his statement. "Or at least, I think that's what he meant."

I bumped Taki's shoulder and sent him a meaningful glance that he, as the only remaining game master — and the third person who knew in detail about my plan with Maki — should explain and refresh the rules.

"Okay, then allow me to explain!" Taki announced eagerly. "We're combining two games; Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven. First, we'll spin the bottle and when that stops on somebody, the others — with the game master's guidance — get to decide that person's partner for the next seven minutes, in that closet." Taki pointed to the corner of the room where a seemingly spacious wardrobe stood, emptied out — as many clothes were thrown on the bed — equipped with double doors. "That's all. Everyone ready?" As he finished, there were some groans and whistles heard, meaning that some people were more excited than others.

Before we started I exchanged one last subtle wink with Maki as he was sitting beside his friend, my friend beside his in a good mood and the other girls scattered around, a lot of them sitting close to Jo or Yuma and the small snack bar Harua set up before.

I purposefully settled opposite Maki and our two friends whom we set up, so I can keep my eye on them from afar and occasionally tease them.

...Also to keep Taki in check, because you never know with him.

"How much time is left?" I whispered to Euijoo because he was the one who had set the timer on his phone for this round's seven minutes.

"They have less than a minute." He responded and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Do you think anything happened?" One of the girl's friends asked.

"I think Jo is just trying to survive in the corner." Yuma laughed and after his remark the whole group let out a snort, approving of his words and some of them already imagining the comical scene.

"...She's been crushing on Jo for years now, but she always said that he's just her hallway crush." Said the same girl who asked the question.

They were a group of four in my class that I wasn't so familiar with, and one out of these girls got chosen as Jo's partner for this round — mainly by her friends but Taki allowed it so as a result he got a slight glare from Jo before he went into the closet.

And now as their time was coming to an end suddenly everyone started guessing and whispering, trying to listen in if something was going on or not.

"Hallway crush? Does she have different types of crushes? For every occasion?" Yuma asked in disbelief.

"Well not every single occasion, but to say another example, your friend, Nicholas, he's her P.E. crush." She shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

"What? How does—" Yuma raised his voice as he grew more interested in the topic but luckily Euijoo's phone cut him off.

"Okay, times up!" Taki shouted to them, then stood up and opened the wardrobe's double doors, dismissing the previous conversation.

Jo immediately stepped out with a slightly worried expression. The girl a couple of seconds after him, with relaxed, even confident strides as she sat back beside her friends.

Nobody said anything, Taki was chuckling lowly, trying to keep it together just like the others.

Jo averted his eyes and walked back in a robotic manner to sit back down beside Harua.

He said nothing but his ears peeked out from his shorter hair and they were a bit reddish, differing from his natural skin tone.

Yeah, something definitely happened.

Although Harua kept on giggling as well, he patted Jo's shoulder in a comforting manner to make him feel better.

"Hey, Jo..." Suddenly Maki spoke up, making eye contact with the said boy. "Not to be like that, but there's a lipstick mark on your left cheek." He informed him as discreetly as he could, without laughing loudly but he almost lost it at the end.

As I looked at Jo I noticed the mark that Maki was talking about and I had to use my hand to tone down my laugh.

He just looks so lost and embarrassed. Sorry, Jo.

We'll make it up after this night... Somehow.

"Thanks." The tall boy muttered in a low voice, barely audible to the others and suddenly stood up and excused himself to go to the bathroom.

"I think we broke Jo." Euijoo said after the friendly banter and laughter died down.

"...You got a photo though, right Harua?"

"Let the guy live, Yuma! Or I'll make sure that you'll be the next candidate." Taki threatened the older with a smile, but there was a naughty glint in his eyes.

"Bring it on!" Yuma retorted enthusiastically with a big grin, his snaggletooth showing again.

"Oh-oh, Y/n." Taki's teasing tone woke me up from my daydream and as I looked at him I noticed the bottle's mouth was pointed towards me.

"Now you wish you've stayed as a game master, don't you?" My friend asked me with a playful smile.

"Your time will come too. Very soon!" I replied with the same attitude.

"Now, now. Let us choose your dear partner for the seven minutes." Taki continued teasing, then turned to the others to start deciding my fate.

Challenge accepted.

Honestly, I didn't think I'll have to participate in the game for real — I mean there was a slim chance for the bottle to stop on me.

And I planned on reclaiming my position as game master after Nicholas shows up, but that didn't happen yet, so I guess I'll have to take up this challenge.

"—Right! It's decided then! Y/n's partner will be Maki!" Taki announced happily and I snapped my head in his way, then in my friend's way.

Challenge not accepted. Challenge declined.

As I saw her laughing with Maki's friend and I felt a weird feeling in my stomach that I couldn't explain right now.

I knew immediately something was going on, but when Maki stood up and looked at me expectantly to accept our penalty I needed a moment to calm down and stand up without staggering.

"Well, I guess we got set up this time." He laughed in a carefree way.

"Yeah, and I guess I know exactly who set us up." I gave him a lopsided smile as we walked to the wardrobe.

You know... Now that I'm looking at it up close, it doesn't look that big.

Ok, maybe it won't be as comfortable but this is Maki we're talking about, he's been my friend for ages!

There's nothing weird about this, besides, it's only seven minutes, like come on... You can do this Y/n.

We won't end up like poor Jo over there.

....Right?

"Okay! The seven minutes are starting now! Have fun, kids! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Taki closed the double doors on us with a sudden movement and we were left in the dark.

This is so weird already, it's just the two of us here, but at the same time, I know everyone is eavesdropping just a door away.

I couldn't see much, but I was sure Maki stood opposite of me leaning into the corner because I felt his presence quite closely.

If both of us would move just a bit, then our bodies and faces would be touching for sure.

Should I start a conversation? We're going to be here for seven minutes... Why am I acting all weird and embarrassed, this is Maki I'm locked in with!

"...Man, I want to get out already." I heard Maki whisper, his voice came from even closer than I had anticipated. I could almost feel his breath and a small sigh on my face.

"Same." I answered, trying to move my head a little bit to the side. "But we have to wait seven minutes for that." I said nonchalantly.

"And if I kiss you?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

You do what—?

I suffered in silence after I choked on my breath, hearing his quiet words.

"I mean, maybe the sooner we kiss, the earlier they're letting us out. It's worth a try."

He was speaking in such a casual tone that I didn't know how to react properly.

I was relieved he couldn't see me at this moment otherwise, the heat creeping up my neck and cheeks would have debunked my feelings.

It's not like I don't find Maki handsome or attractive, but I've never thought about him in this way...

And I'm sure he would say the same.

But what is his plan?

"I don't think it works like that, Maki..." I whispered back a bit firmly, trying to dismiss his hasty idea.

But before I could knock some sense into him I felt his hands softly sneak onto my sides, one of them stopping at my hips and the other reaching for my waist.

"Maki, what are you doing?" I whisper-shrieked and as I was panicking about where to put my hands, they bumped his chest; I was lightly trying to push him away.

Not that there's much space where I could push him off, but still.

My cheeks were getting dangerously hot so I had to do something.

"Just trust me, I'm sure they'll let us out!" I heard his words directly beside my ears, and I felt goosebumps traveling up my exposed arms because of his low whisper.

"They didn't let out the others either, what makes you think they will do it for us?" I was getting slightly frustrated by his actions.

He was holding me so tenderly and I swear I saw the way his eyes sparkled in the dark.

And it proved really dangerous for my heart at this moment.

"We're not supposed to interact with the others in these seven minutes, we're supposed to concentrate on each other only." I spoke softly and unintentionally moved my head closer to his to emphasize my words, and that's when I felt our noses touch.

My heart skipped a beat and I released a small gasp of air.

In the meantime, my hands stopped pushing him away and they just lay comfortably and peacefully on his chest.

He didn't respond right away and as I heard him take a bigger breath, his hands attached themselves more firmly to my sides.

"I am concentrating on us right now. I want to get us out. Will you let me?" His hand moved to my chin from my hip and he lightly tilted my face. And I still felt our noses touching softly.

I didn't imagine being close to him is like this... But I don't hate it that much.

Aren't we friends though?

Aren't we supposed to watch our friends kiss, rather than ourselves?

....Did they really set us up?

I can't believe we didn't notice it sooner.

"Y/n, you're not paying attention." I heard Maki's soft low voice once again, but his lips slightly touched mine as he spoke.

The sudden butterfly touch and the friction his plush, pillow-like lips caused made me try to move my head to the side, but his hand on my chin kept it still, besides there wasn't much room to move at all.

My breath hitched but Maki seemed to elegantly ignore that and connected our lips finally.

I quickly shut my eyes, even if it was dark and my actions didn't change much about my sight, it was reflex.

My mind felt numb but at the same time, thousands of questions circulated through it within seconds.

This is not my first kiss and I know this is not Maki's first kiss either, but then why does it feel special?

I'm not in love with him, we're just doing this because of the game.

But this feels... nice?

Does he think it's nice too?

I had no idea for how many minutes have we been here, but I prayed that this won't be the end of our seven minutes.

Because that would mean the doors opening and the others seeing... This.

And I didn't want that.

I wanted this to stay in between us, our first and last shared kiss staying between only our lips... And not passing it onto other people's mouths, to talk about and create gossip.

The kiss was slow, and soft, neither of us was rushing things.

It went on much longer than I had expected it to, but — sadly or not — not longer than I would've liked to.

It's still weird that I'm enjoying this, but we won't talk about it after this, and won't mention it to the others either.

I was sure that we were taking this to the grave as well as any sudden spark of sympathy or romantic feelings.

As our long kiss ended I noticed that instead of Maki's chest — beyond my knowledge —, now I was comfortably holding his shoulders, and his hand that held my chin at first, now is caressing my cheek.

I opened my eyes but obviously, all I saw was darkness.

Maybe a tiny line of light seeped into the inner part of the closet since the doors didn't align perfectly but it was at our feet, it reached neither of our faces.

Nevertheless, I still desperately tried to search for Maki's eyes and guess his expression, and how he felt.

I knew that his face was in front of mine, so close yet so far from more intimate acts—

"Guys, you can let us out already! We kissed!"

...Damn you, Hirota Riki.

Damn you, and your big mouth.

As he raised his voice, alerting the others of our situation despite my irritated thoughts on the inside, on the outside my body became still, like a statue, and for the umpteenth time this night I choked on a gasp of air in disbelief and surprise.

"...Good, now go on! You guys still have 3 minutes left! Hahaha!" I heard numerous voices from outside, but mainly Taki's as the only game master.

Now my friend's last words before Maki got chosen as my partner hit even harder.

If only I'd stayed as a game master, really.

...Or Nicholas got his partying ass here sooner.

Damn everyone, I'm never going to a house party with my schoolmates again!

And I can already imagine Yuma, Taki, Harua, or the others typing away on their phone to that ominous group chat they have, sharing this exact moment with the two oldest.

It was embarrassing enough the first time when Yudai found out that I said he used to be my senior crush, barely after the first time I had met him.

I didn't dare to look him in the eye for a month!

And I'm still heavily blaming Taki's loud ass because of that!

Now I won't dare to look into his or Fuma's eyes until I die.

I will never hear the end of this—

"Huh? They're not letting us out! Why not?" Maki's frustrated whisper shook me up from the sea of my cringe memories.

"Told you, dummy." Instead of resting my hands on his shoulders further, I pulled them away and folded them in from of my chest.

It's not like he saw me, and it's not like the feeling was unpleasant for my palms... But I did it anyway.

Maki sighed louder this time and I felt him tap the door a few times but it was clear that someone was keeping it close from the other side.

Yup, we're definitely not getting out sooner.

He lowered his hand, feeling defeated but his other one was still gently placed on my cheek.

But he did raise or turn his head because I no longer felt his quiet breaths fanning my cheek.

"You don't regret that kiss though, do you?" As heard his cheeky tone, I knew that he was smiling.

Do I?

"Because I definitely don't." He said after I stayed quiet.

"No, I don't regret it either." I answered finally with a small, bashful smile, still somewhat relieved that he can't see me.

"...But do you know what I do regret?"

Maki hummed in a curious tone, his hand on my cheek alerting me about our situation once again as he continued caressing it and my blush deepened.

"Not kissing you first." I sighed and casually let out a careless laugh because of how absurd this whole scene is and what I'm about to tell him. "I... Kind of wanted to kiss you first. After we got locked in here, and when you suggested... Well, I'd be lying if I'd say that it wasn't in my head."

His warm palm stayed where it was but I felt him move again, and now his other hand supported the wardrobe's wall behind me, trapping me in a way and expressing his interest.

"And isn't it possible anymore? Only I kissed you, but you didn't kiss me yet. We still have some time left." His soft words made my brain and my body slow down, but on the contrary, my heartbeat quickened once again.

I guess that's how it's done.

His forehead touched mine as he hung his head a little to reach my height and that's where I saw my chance.

I put both of my palms on his warm, tender cheeks that were always stretched in the happiest smile, and at first, I pressed a butterfly kiss on his nose, then onto the corner of his mouth, slightly kissing his adorable dimples when I felt him grinning between my actions and finally I found his lips again and planted a longer kiss onto them.

I didn't dare to keep it as long as our first one, while feeling comfortable in Maki's and the closet's embrace I was starting to think that we don't have much time left.

Seven minutes seemed a lot in the beginning and when the others said that we have three minutes left, I relaxed that there wasn't much left.

But now am I getting paranoid or what?

Or is it my sense of time that is off?

Like three minutes are such a short amount of time, and as much as we talked or stood in silence it should really be over by now——

"Rise and shine, lovebirds! Time's up!" The doors slung open, revealing Taki's wide grin along with Yuma's eager expression and Nicholas' teasing glance behind his phone's camera.

Wait, since when is Nicholas here?

And why is he holding his phone like that?

"Say cheese, guys!" He said in a playful and upbeat tone and we heard him snapping pictures while Maki's arm was supporting the closet behind me, his other hand on my left cheek and both of my palms rested on his cheeks. But our heads were turned to the side, looking at the others in shock.

"Scheisse." Maki cursed under his breath at the sudden interaction, but he didn't let go of me.

If this photo is for the group chat...

...Oh Nicholas, you won't be going to live the next sunrise.

We'll make sure of that.

➪ 𝐀/𝐍.: This came out much longer than I wanted to but I'm not mad at the extra details and scenes! However, it really proves that I can't write short scenarios lol. (Also #SaveJo.)

➪ 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 【𝐌 𝐀 𝐒 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 𝐋 𝐈 𝐒 𝐓】 !

#&team #&team imagines #andteam #&team x reader #&team scenarios #&team drabbles #&team maki #hirota riki #andteam maki #Spotify #&team fluff #&team fanfic #&team oneshot

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jaesqueso · 1 year

Text

Paid love (m)

pairing: stripper!taeyong x CEO female!reader (feat taeil, mark, haechan, doyoung and mentions of jaehyun and johnny)

summary: you’re a regular at taeyong’s shows at the strip club, but you want to give him more than just paid love

word count: 5,748

warnings: fluff, smut, slow burn, stripping, protected sex

a/n: time for the birthday gift to myself! this turned out way bigger than I intended but this story has been on my mind for so long that it just made sense to have it ready for today, must I say his solo stage on their tour was a big inspiration 😉 I hope ya’ll enjoy it ❤ not proof read yet

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

“Come in.” Taeil responds to the knock on his office door.

“Mr Moon, she’s here.” Mark announces with a smile.

“Oh, perfect!” Locking the computer, Taeil follows the bartender back to the club.

Mark goes back behind the counter as the other makes his way on the costumer side.

“Miss Y/LN, always a pleasure seeing you here.” He takes your hand kissing the back of it.

“Taeil…” You tilt your head with a knowing look.

“Right, I’m sorry. Y/N.” For a long time you’ve been insisting on him treating you by your first name but it still seems like a hard task. “You look beautiful tonight. As always.”

“Oh, you are too sweet.” You chuckle teasingly tapping his shoulder.

“Do you have something to drink yet?” He asks but then notices a bartender deliver it, right on time.

“Yes, Haechan was already taking care of it.” You assure him and then return to the bartender with a playful wink. “Thank you darling.”

“Let me walk you to your table.” Taeil gestures for you to take the lead, following right behind.

For months you’ve been coming to this club and you’re not particularly shy with the money you spend here, so that comes with some advantages like some VIP treatment and your own reserved table specially at a particular time.

“You’ve arrived just in time, he’s about to start.” Taeil helps you take a sit right in front of the stage.

“Don’t I always?” You smirk.

Ladies, a round of applause for Jaehyun!

“Of course.” The owner of the club smiles. “Enjoy the show.”

“Thank you, Taeil.” You say but your eyes are already glued to the stage as the stripper leaves and they announce the next one.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. With you on stage: TY!

Your eyes light up as the room goes dark. Then the curtains open and there he is, laying on a moon shaped light structure. A sexy upbeat song starts playing and he starts bouncing his head as some lights come back up.

The audience sheers as he runs a hand down his torso before lifting up to a sitting position and turning to face the front of the stage. Your heart almost skips a beat as he gets up and starts walking like he’s coming your way, lip syncing every word like he wrote it himself.

Sipping on your drink, you take some time admiring his attire before it goes flying around the room: black shiny boots with a bit of a heel, brown sparkle pants with a snake print, leather black vest and gloves overlaid by a camel leather jacket.

His body starts moving along the beat, like he’s taken over by the music and they become one, just like every night. His moves are smooth and sexy, using the whole stage as his own. His hands travel freely over the clothes as his hips move at such a controlled pace.

Teasing the audience by dragging his jacket down his shoulders, he then pulls it back up with a smirk and spins, making everybody scream in anticipation. But has the song comes to a bass drop he finally gives the public what they want, removing the jacket and throwing it somewhere you don’t even care to look at, your eyes only fixed on him.

You now notice the cut outs on the sides of his vest, giving you a hint of that lean torso of his. But as the music progresses you’re given an even better look as he rips the vest open, rolling his body at the perfect tempo.

Having enough with the piece of clothing he removes the vest too, making your mouth water as he runs his glove covered hands down his chest until he reaches his crotch, giving it a tight squeeze.

Coming to the bridge of the song he dolphin dives into the floor, staying down practically humping the stage as the crowd goes wild. You feel yourself tugging on the collar of your shirt, your body heat increasing by the second.

Unfortunately you know the track by heart and can feel it coming to its end as he gets up and dances his way back the moon structure, standing in front of it. When the final beat hits the smoke fire and he rips his pants, giving you only a glance of his legs before the lights go out once again.

That was TY, ladies, make some noise!

The audience does not disappoint, cheering and throwing dollar bills at the stage, begging him to come back. But that doesn’t happen as the speaker announces the next performer.

It’s hard following on that but you know he never disappoints. Give it up for Johnny!

The crowd quickly forgets about him as the taller tanned man gets up on stage to do his thing, but you get up and walk back to the bar.

“Miss, the room is ready.” Another worker of the club approaches you after Haechan treats you to a re-fill of your drink earning himself a generous tip.

“Thank you, Doyoung.” You follow him with a smile into the private rooms on the left side of the club.

“Make yourself comfortable, TY will be right with you.” He lets you know as you get inside.

“Perfect.” You take a sit on the purple couch but call the boy before he closes the door. “Tell him to keep the gloves on.”

“Will do, Miss.” Bowing he leaves you to anxiously wait in the neon lit room with a pole in the middle.

Some sensual R&B song starts playing in the room, giving you chills as you know he’s arriving. A light knock on the door is heard before you finally make real eye contact.

“Hey.” The sound of his voice is enough to make you feel at home.

“TY.” You bite your lip as he enters the room in only his boots, gloves, as you requested, and the black leather underwear you barely saw before.

“Did you like my show today?” He takes a spin around the dance pole.

“It was perfect, as always.” You admire the way he moves so naturally.

“What about the outfit?” He leans against the pole tugging on his gloves. “I heard you requested to keep these on.”

“I did.” You adjust on your seat. “Seeing you touch yourself with them, I couldn’t help wonder how they’d feel on me.”

“Why do you keep trying to corrupt me?” He walks your way with a smirk. “You know there are rules.”

“I know, I know.” You sigh. “But a gentle touch in the arm is not forbidden, is it?”

“You always know how to get your way don’t you?” Suddenly he leans forward, one of his hands resting on the back of the couch, right next to your head, while the other follows your request gently moving down your arm.

“I do my best.” You close your eyes taking in the touch. “And I have a feeling you don’t mind walking on the line for me.”

“Aren’t you cocky?” He leans back again rolling his body to the beat, this time in a slower sexier way than before on the stage.

“Aren’t you avoiding the question?” You smirk attentively following his moves with your hungry eyes.

“Well played.” He grins turning around, continuing to dance.

“So, have you thought about it?” You ask the question stuck in your throat for a while.

“About what?” He glances back as he pretends not to know what you’re talking about.

“Oh c’mon…” Moving your hands to rest on the couch at either side, you give him room to sit on your lap, his back facing you. “Ok, I’ll play your game and ask the question again. When are you going to let me take you on a real date?”

“Why would you want to take me on a real date?” He asks back instead of replying, moving his hips against you.

“Because I like you, you know that.” You tuck some money on the side of his underwear. “And I want to know more about you.”

“You don’t like me, Y/N, you like the idea of me.” Grabbing your hands he runs them up and down his torso, it’s forbidden for you to touch him but not if he leads you.

“How do you know that?” You take a deep breath, inhaling his hypnotising scent.

“Because you don’t know me.” He gets up and turn not face you. “Not outside of these walls.”

“So let me get to know you outside of these walls.” You rest your head back on the couch, eyes still on him.

“What if you don’t like me out there?” He climbs back on your lap but this time facing you, one leg at each of your side.

“You’re scared I’ll break your heart?” Watching the way he looks down you can tell that’s a weak spot for him. “TY, I’m not like those other women out there. I want to get to know and I want to treat you right. Why do you think I come here only for your shows and this time alone with you?”

“For the fantasy.” He looks back into your eyes. “The TY fantasy.”

“As much as I like the TY fantasy, I’d rather have the real you reality.” You lift your hand to touch his face but stop yourself before a body guard barges in.

“If you don’t stop the smooth talk I might believe it.” A nervous smile grows on his face as he supports himself on the space between your neck and your should to roll his abs right on your face.

“You sound like I’m trying to convince you of a lie.” You tuck some more money, now in the front of his underwear. “But deep down you know I’m telling the truth, you’re just scared to be vulnerable and open the possibility that you might like me too.”

He doesn’t reply and keeps teasing you with his body at the beat of the track list. You decide not to insist, enjoying the show as you empty your wallet on the waistband of his underwear.

It’s weird to be silent like this, you usually talk about everything and anything, teasing each other in between, honestly enjoy these moments alone, even if you’re being watched by the security camera at the corner of the room.

“I should go.” He sighs getting himself together as the music set comes to an end indicating the time in the room is up.

“They should really let me book the room for longer.” You try to lighten up the mood.

“Yeah…” He almost whispers heading for the door.

“TY?” You call out before he reaches the handle.

“Yes?” He doesn’t turn around making your heart tighten

“If this is starting to make you uncomfortable let me know and I’ll stop.” You get up and tell him honestly. “I just want you to know that I mean what I said. I like you and I’d really love to take you out and get to know you. But I won’t insist anymore, I don’t want you to feel pressured just because of the money.”

There’re some seconds of more silence that make you sigh and sit back down. But then he speaks.

“I’m not working Friday night. You can take me to dinner.” He keeps facing the door.

“Really?” You gasp, not believing what you’re hearing.

“You can pick me up here at 7.” He then glances back. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t, I promise.” You give him the biggest smile you can pull out and he turns away and heads out before you see how happy he is too.

A few days go by and it’s finally Friday. In front of the mirror you examine every inch of your look making sure you are perfect, from your killer dress showing off all your best atributes, to your stiletto heels, matching bag and fur coat. One final touch on your lipstick and you head out the door ready for the date of your life.

At the same time, your date changes his shirt 5 times before realising he doesn’t have any shoes to go with it and has to change it once more, his hair does not seem to work on his favour and, since he’s working against the clock, he decides on pushing it back with some wax and praying for the best. Taking a deep breath in front of the mirror, he nods as if trying to convince himself he looks good enough for you before he grabs his jacket and leaves.

Pacing from side to side, he starts picking his nails as he second guesses himself. Maybe he should’ve kept saying no. You’ll probably lose interest in him today and he’ll lose the one he expects to see the most when he goes on stage. He’s not even sure if by doing this he will put his job on the line. There’s still time to go back, hide in his covers and pretend-

Beep Beep

Startled he looks to the road where a black low sports car pull over. The passenger window rolls down and he leans to see who it belongs to.

“Hey, pretty boy.” You greet him with a grin. “Need a ride?”

“I- Hm- Yes!” Stumbling over his words, he enters the vehicle.

“Are you ok?” You chuckle as he observes the luxurious inside with widen eyes.

“Yeah, I just…” Gulping he turns to you. “You have a really nice car.”

“Thank you.” You bow. “Now put that seatbelt on, we don’t want any bad thing to happen to you.”

“Oh, right.” He follows your request as you take the car off the parking mode. “Wait, what bad thing-”

You don’t let him finish the sentence stepping on the gas, gluing him to the seat. His heart beats like crazy but the adrenaline running through his veins hope this ride never comes to an end. But it does and soon enough you are parking the car in front of a restaurant as fancy as your car.

Getting out, you walk around and open the door for him that is still trying to put himself together after the crazy ride.

“You coming?” You chuckle holding a hand to help him out.

Slowly taking your hand, he gets out of the car and takes a look at you from top to bottom, jaw dropping at the view.

“Do I look ok?” Tilting your head you adjust the fur coat over your shoulders.

“Ok?” He gulps, looking at himself before back at you. “I look ok. You look amazing…”

“Oh c’mon.” You playfully tap his shoulder. “But I must say, as good as you look in leather, I really like seeing you in casual clothing.”

Unable to stop a shy smile on his face, he closes the door and takes the arm you’ve opened for him. Eyes glued on you, he doesn’t even properly analyse the restaurant before you’re about to head inside, stopping you in the front step.

“Wait,” you can sense the nervousness on his voice, “this si where we’re having dinner?”

“That was the plan.” You look at him trying to understand what’s going through his mind. “Unless, you don’t want to.”

“Well, it’s just…” He trails off, looking around.

“What is it?” You turn your body towards him, gently caressing his arm.

“I…” Taking a deep breath he looks down. “I don’t think I belong here. Not when I look like this…”

“Hey,” with your hand you tilt his chin up to look at you, “we can go somewhere else if you want.”

“No, I mean, you probably made a reservation and everything, I just wish you’d told me so I’d dress up more…” His voice slowly disappears by the end of the sentence.

“I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to be yourself, not to put on a mask just because we were going to a certain place.” You explain. “I told you, I want to get to know the real you.”

He doesn’t say anything and you start to feel like you’re screwing things up already. But you can’t bring yourself to accept a defeat, you turn this around.

“Ok, come with me.” You take his hand and start walking away from the fancy restaurant.

“Wait, where are we going?” He follows, confused.

“Somewhere else.” You smile back before checking the road so you can cross it.

“But what about your reservation?” He asks matching your steps to the other side.

“Screw that.” You stop making him almost bump into you. “Do you like burgers?”

“Hm?” He lifts his brow, confused with your question but you keep awaiting his answer. “Well, yes.”

“Perfect.” Pulling him again you enter a modest dinner and find a table.

“W-what are we doing here?” He looks around at the half empty place as he sits down.

“We’re having dinner.” You smile, grabbing the menu. “Does this feel more comfortable?”

“Well, yeah… But you-” He tries to debate but you cut him off.

“Don’t worry about me ok?” You take his hand over the table. “I honestly don’t care where we are, as long as I’m with you. Now take a look at this delicious menu!”

Smiling he picks up a menu and eventually the waiter comes over to take your order. The evening is spent talking, laughing and sharing embarrassing stories over fast food and fizzy drinks, contrasting with fine dinning and expensive wine you had in mind. But it is true that none of that matters when you’re finally sitting in front of him outside the strip club walls.

Both wish for the night to never end but truth is all good things do and you drive him back to where you picked him up.

“I hope you didn’t regret coming.” You glance at him after putting the car on park.

“I didn’t.” He confirms looking back at you. “Thank you for tonight and sorry for ruining your plans.”

“You didn’t ruin anything.” Gently you take his hand. “I had a lot fun. I’d really like to do this again sometime, if you want to, of course.”

“I’d like that.” He nods with a smile.

For a few seconds you just sit in silence looking into each others eyes, but there’s no awkwardness, simply comfort.

“I should go.” He finally announces.

“Of course.” You sigh.

All you want to do is kiss him and ask him to go to your place instead so you can show him all the things you’ve been fantasising for months. But you can’t. You want him to know this isn’t just about sex, you really do like him and therefore you should take things slow and-

Your thoughts are interrupted when he leans over and kisses your cheek.

“See you around, Y/N.” Bitting his lip he turns to the other side to open the door.

“Definitely, TY.” You’re barely able to reply, still startled by his act.

“It’s Taeyong.” He corrects you.

“Taeyong.” You repeat with a smile. “Goodnight, Taeyong.”

He closes the door and you watch him skip his way home before turning the car back on and driving away. You really feel like this could be the start of something real, something good.

Taeyong enters his house and melts down to the floor, the corners of his mouth almost reaching his ears. Even if he wanted to he wouldn’t be able to explain what you’re doing to him. This is the happiest he’s been in a long time and he wants to explore that feeling, but he’s still scared.

The next week brought a second date, and then a third, a forth and a fifth. The more you knew about him the more you got to see the beautiful person he is, inside and out, and you were sure you made the right decision on never giving up on asking him out.

The more he opens up to you, the more he feels he can trust again, his past trauma almost seems to fade into the background.

“You seem really close to your parents.” Taeyong comments after you share a funny story at a family gathering as you sit on the hood of your car by the beach on your sixth date.

“I am.” You smile gazing the waves under the moonlight. “I mean, they trusted and invested in me when my idea seemed so small and without a future. I now I’m a successful business owner. I owe everything to them.”

“That’s nice…” You notice he’s gone a little quiet.

“What about you?” Turning to him you try to be careful with your words. “You never talk about your family.”

“Well I…” He starts bitting his nail and you know him enough to understand the topic his making him nervous.

“You don’t have to talk about them if you don’t want to.” Gently you caress his back.

“It’s just that I never really had a family.” He sighs. “My parents abandoned me when I was a newborn. I kept bouncing from foster home to foster home. Nobody really understood me you know?”

Nodding you let him know you’re listening, letting him open up at his own pace.

“I always dreamed of becoming a dancer and the kids at the orphanage kept teasing me whenever they caught me dancing in my room or somewhere I thought I was alone. And then I met Johnny and he took me to Neo City, where he said he danced for a living. Obviously I didn’t have money to go to an academy so that seemed like a good step to take to pursue my dream. I know it’s silly,” he chuckles, “but at least I can do what I love. When Mr Moon saw me on the stage he offered me a job and, well, the rest is history.”

“I’m so proud of you for never giving up on your dreams.” You motivate him. “I know you can climb higher if you want to.”

“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better.” He’s still cautious about your encouragement.

“I mean it. Channing Tatum was once a stripper too and look at him now!” You nudge his arm wiggling your brows.

“Nobody ever compared me to him.” Taeyong chuckles.

“See? It’s never too late for anything.”

Suddenly it starts raining heavily and you two run back into the car, laughing at how wet you got in a matter of seconds.

“We should go dry up.” You suggest as the laughter dies off. “My place is not far, but I can take you home instead.”

“It’s ok, we can go to your place.” You widen your eyes at his easy response.

“Are you sure?” You have to ask. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to.”

“I’m sure.” He assures you with a smile. “Besides, I always wanted to see where a woman like you lives at, considering your ride.”

“Well, let’s go take a look then.”

You drive back and take him to your twenty seventh floor apartment. As he enters, he’s surprised with the place. For someone who obviously has a pay check way above average the place is not huge. Minimalistic decoration, not a lot of color, fancy yet simple. But the view…

Taeyong approaches your living room window and admires the beautiful city that seems so small and insignificant below him.

“That’s why I bought it.” You walk to him and hand him a towel. “When I saw this view I couldn’t let it go.”

“It’s so beautiful.” He comments as he wipes his hair.

“Do you want to take a shower?” You offer. “I’m sure I can find some clothes for you and put yours in the dryer.”

“Oh, that’s ok, I don’t want to bother.” He waves his hands.

“It’s really no bother, I just don’t want you to get sick.” You take your own towel and wrap it around his back.

“O-ok then.” He ends up accepting. “Thank you.”

“C’mon, I’ll show you the bathroom.”

You guide him and close the door as he takes off his wet clothes. As he showers, you take his and your own to the dryer and put on a robe.

When he walks out wearing sweatshirt and pijama pants you borrowed him he finds you in the kitchen.

“I made us some tea to warm up.” You offer him a cup putting yours in the counter. “I think the clothes are done.”

Leaving to go pick them, Taeyong takes a sip as he waits your return.

“Here you go.” You place his folded clothes on the couch. “I hope you don’t mind, I put some scented sheets on the dryer to make them smell good-”

“Why are you doing all this?” He quickly asks, startling you.

“What do you mean?” You tilt your head in confusion.

“Taking me out, being so nice… And you never once tried to kiss me.” He looks down. “You told me you liked me. Did you change your mind?”

“Why would I change my mind?” You walk towards where he’s sitting on the counter. “Taeyong, you’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I said I like you before and I can tell you I like you even more now. The reason I didn’t kiss you yet is because I don’t want to force you to do anything. I’m just waiting for you to like me back-”

You’re interrupted when his smooth lips make their way to yours. It’s just a few seconds before he leans back and you blink taking in what just happened.

“I’ve always liked you back.” He whispers. “I just wanted to know if I could trust you with my heart.”

“You can trust me, Taeyong.” You caress his cheek looking straight into his eyes. “I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

“Thank you.”

He kisses you again, this time with passion without holding back. And this time you kiss him back, your hands on his cheeks pulling him closer. Hesitantly his hands also find you, running down your back to your waist. Then he moves them to the front grabbing the strap on your robe to pull it open.

“Wait…” You stop him. “We don’t have to do that.”

“You don’t want to fuck me?” He bluntly asks.

“No.” You step back. “If anything, I want to make love with you, Taeyong. But only if that’s what you want, too.”

“I do.” He smiles at your correction.

“Are you sure?” You insist.

“Yes.” He nods.

“Come with me.” Taking his hand you lead him further inside the house.

“Where are we going?” He almost doesn’t care at how excited he is.

“To the bedroom.” You announce as you open the door. “If we’re doing this, I want to do it properly.”

Closing the distance once again he kisses you and you two stumble to the bed. You push him down to your bed where he adjusts to lay his head on your pillow, waiting for you to join him. But you have other plans.

“All this time I’ve watched you strip for me.” You stand at the end of the bed with a smirk. “This time, let me give you a show.”

Slowly you descend your hand down your chest to grab that strap he tried undo earlier. Biting his lip, Taeyong watches you gently pull on it, but before the front opens you turn around. You hear him groan at the tease, only encouraging you to continue.

Swaying your hips, even if there’s no music, you let the robe easily fall down your shoulders revealing your naked back. Looking back you see him gulp excited to see more. And so you give him more, letting the piece of clothing descend all the way to the ground, leaving you only in a sensual pink thong.

Finally you turn back around revealing your bare breasts that make his jaw drop. You then climb on the bed, crawling your way to hover him.

“Not bad for the first time?” You ask.

“Hm…” He pretends to debate it in his head making you tap his chest. “It wasn’t bad! But I can teach you a few things, if you want.”

“I’ll take you up on that.”

But for now you take his mouth instead. Your hands make their way to the hem of the sweatshirt he’s still wearing and drag It off his body. You start kissing down his neck and into that smooth chest you’ve been dreaming to feel as you please, without fearing a bodyguard from the club comes to stop your party.

Reaching the hem of the pants he’s wearing, you look up to get one more sign that this is ok and by the way he nods biting his lip you get your answer. Taeyong lifts his hips to help you remove the last piece of clothing on his body and reveal the only place you hasn’t seen and been dying to.

Licking your lips you settle between his legs admiring his dick. You’ve imagined how it looked like more times than you’ll bring yourself to admit. But finally seeing it in front of you pushes everything you ever thought of to the side.

You start by taking a long lick from the base to the tip where you can taste the pre-cum oozing out. You look up as you hear small whines coming from his mouth and you are presented with an adorable pleasure face of someone who’s trying to hold themselves back.

Inch by inch you take his cock into your mouth, twirling your tongue around as you listen to him slowly letting go, his whines turning into moans that echo around the room. You bob your head up and down feeling him throb inside your mouth.

When you feel him hard and ready, you kiss your way back up his torso to your mouth, straddling his hips. You two moan into the kiss when you rub your wet underwear over his length.

“Condom-” Taeyong murmurs between kisses. “My wallet-”

“Don’t worry,” you reach into your bedside table and grab one, “I got it.”

Rolling down the rubber on his delicious cock, you take the moment to get the last piece of clothing off your body before aligning his dick with your hole. Again you search his face for acceptance and he gives you pleading look as he grasps your thighs in despair.

Finally you let yourself go down on his lap and be filled by his length. Moaning you throw your head back as you adjust to his size. But soon enough you start bouncing up and down his dick, feeling every inch move in and out of your body.

The sounds leaving his mouth encourage you to keep moving faster and you move his hands from your thighs to your breast that he instantly starts massaging, increasing your pleasure. Your dreamt about this moment for so long that it almost feels unreal that it’s finally happening.

Leaning forward you take his mouth again and a sloppy kiss, filled with love and passion. You can feel his hips move up to meet your thrusts, hungry for release.

Taeyong’s hands move from your breasts to your waist and in a quick move he flips your bodies around, leaving him on top. You yelp when he pushes your thigh up against your torso, changing the angle and making him reach places inside you you’ve never known was possible.

You can feel your orgasm fast approaching and by the way his movements starts getting faster and messier you know he’s close too. You wrap your legs around his waist, forcing him to lay closer to you and he kisses you again as you two let go, the ultimate pleasure making your bodies tremble in satisfaction, finally being united as one.

You stay just like that for a few minutes, your hands slowly moving up and down his back as you place gentle kisses on his shoulder, his smiley face nuzzled in the crook of your neck. How you wish you could stay in this sweaty bliss forever. But as he goes soft inside you, that tingling feeling on your core transform from pleasure into something else.

“Hey,” you roll your bodies to the side giving him a kiss on his forehead, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

As you leave the room the smile on his face fades, all his insecurities coming back. Maybe now you got what you wanted and you’ll be different towards him. Maybe he should just take this opportunity and go before you send him away.

Getting up, he makes his way to the living room, throwing the condom in the trash before picking up his clothes and getting dressed.

In the mean time you come back to the bedroom and encounter an empty bed.

“Taeyong?” You search around the house until you find him zipping up his pants. “What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.” He says picking up his shirt.

“Why? Did I do something wrong?” You furrow your brows taking a step closer.

“No, I just…” He sighs. “I just need to go.”

“Oh… I really wish you could stay, but if you need to go I can take you wherever you want.” You turn around to go get dressed too.

“You want me to stay?” You stop when he speaks up again.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Turning back around you approach him and caress his cheek, showing him you’re being truthful. “Let’s do the following: I’m gonna go back to bed and you’ll take off those clothes again and join me, we’ll fall asleep in each others arms, then tomorrow I’ll make us breakfast and then we can do whatever your want, go for a walk, make some popcorn and watch a movie, or just stay in bed and be lazy, you choose.”

“I-I’d love that.” He whispers the smiling coming back to his face.

You make your way back to the bedroom and lay down, arms open to welcome him. Once his clothes are back on the couch he takes the place next to you cuddling his head in your chest as his arms go around your body.

All Taeyong ever wanted was to be loved and now in your embrace he finally feels like that can happen.

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

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